Terry POV

Alyssa is taking care of my arm. During the heat incident, my arm wasn't broken. I just had a small crack of the bone... again. Thankfully, My hand managed to endure the pressure while rescuing Danny, but the throbbing pain returned.

"You should be careful with this arm for the next couple of weeks and still keep it wrapped in elastic bandage. You are almost healed." Alyssa says, eyeing my exposed chest.

Like every hunter, I have scars, lots of them actually, mostly claw cuts and bites, but thankfully I was never wounded badly enough to be close to death.

"Do you think it's repulsive?" I ask her, putting my clothes on.

"I would rather say it's sad. The body of none of us should carry such memories."

"How is your daughter?" I ask; I can imagine how awful it must be for her to endure.

"She gets better, but slowly, I keep her in a pharmacological coma. I'm also extremely grateful that Jason is always sitting with her. Her wolf has the strength to fight thanks to the presence of their mate."

"He is her mate. Is it strange?" I ask, although I must admit I can't decide on all this mating bond, is it a good or bad thing, actually?

"Yes, he is. But after what has happened, he has no obligation towards her. He is just a good wolf, so he doesn't want her to die."

I nod and start walking back into the main part of the packhouse, Jewels are probably with Trist and Danny now, but to my surprise, I see Julius waiting for me. He gives me a not-very-bright smile and says we must talk with Natasha now. I'm not happy with this news; Brandon has been dead for three days now, and shouldn't be any more problems, should it?

The library in the packhouse isn't empty. Besides Natasha, also Chen is there, and they all don't look happy. I keep my neutral appearance, but I worry something isn't right. Soon Alexa, with Danny and Mae, enters the room to sit, and that's when I start feeling uncomfortable.

"Something is wrong?" Danny asks, and Natasha stands up.

"We have a big problem. This morning I got the call from Alpha Ravenswood with a deal proposal."

"What deal?" I spit, clenching my fists; whatever that bastard wants is nothing good.

"He informed me that he knows his daughters are here and wants them back."

Her one sentence makes my blood cold; there is no fucking way I will ever allow it. He will never get his dirty hands on my daughters.

"Apparently," Natasha continues, "he promised to keep quiet if we sign the treaty, pay him a huge amount, and send the girls back to his pack."

"Keep quiet about what?" Mae asks.

"He knows about Red Venom, he knows that Brandon was involved with Red Venom and threatened to inform the Council about it, and we all know that no matter the circumstances if someone from the pack is involved with Red Venom, the pack is disbanded."

Dead silence comes to all of us; the situation is dire.

"Has he got any evidence to back up his threat?" Alexa asks. "After all, it will be his word against ours?"

"He claims he has recorded a phone call from Brandon. The son of the bitch called him to inform him about Pearl being here and offered to sell him a significant amount of Red Venom."

"Brandon saw Pearl first time during the heat incident; he recognized her from the posters and called Ravenswood. Of course, he and Madison needed the first buyer to move somewhere far away." Chen says, and Alexa growls.

"I think that was his plan. He wanted Ravenswood to report us and disband the pack. If he couldn't be an Alpha, no one could be either." Danny whispers as I keep cursing in my mind.

All the distrust towards the werewolves I've had my whole life comes to life. I glance at Natasha, she is the Alpha, and the Howl Pack is what matters to her, to Alexa and Chen. And the girls mean nothing, they are just rogues, and they can be sacrificed if that means protecting their pack.

I'm done; actually, I won't be able to run from here if they decide to trade my Jewels.

"So there is only one way to finish this," Julius spits. "We must ensure to get rid of Ravenswood and all the evidence. Have you already thought about how it should be done, Alpha?"

"That's actually what I want to talk about. Alexa, you were there the longest. How do you think it should proceed?"

Alexa takes her time to think as I slowly take in the feeling of relief. None of them has even thought about trading my girls. Does it mean we are safe?

"I think no one except him knows about the Red Venom. He is so alienated from his pack that I'm sure nobody knows about Brandon's offer to him. His pack is slowly crumbling. Certainly, they are not as loyal to him as they should be. The warrior from Ravenswood Pack who asked my help regarding his sister will help us. But I also think asking for the Beta's help is not a stupid idea."

"Why do you think so?" Mae asks.

"I think he is extremely frustrated, like everybody else, with how things are. But since he pledged loyalty and accepted his Alpha protection, it is difficult for him to disobey him or challenge him openly. But the death of his Alpha, who has no heir, is an opening for the Beta to take power. So this is the deal he can take under consideration. We don't need his involvement in actual killing, we need him to make sure that we won't be interrupted, and we must make it quiet enough so there would be no suspicion on our side."

"Which means I will have to be the one to do it," I say in a dead tone, and they all look at me.

"I will leave no traces. Officially I don't exist, so my smell won't be able to be identified. And if something goes wrong, it will be just a mad hunter who wants to kill an Alpha. So your pack involvement will never be discovered."

"Like with Anthony Howl, my dead mate," Mae finishes. "We can modify slightly the strategy which was used then, and like with Anthony, nobody would ever know."

"I'm not happy with that," Natasha states. "I don't like acting like that, but there are things that have to be done and choices that will always hunt you. I will call Ravenswood and inform him we accept his conditions, but because both his daughters managed to run away with their guardians, we will need some time to locate them. For now, I will send my people with money to his pack. Also, to confirm that he has actual proof and to ensure from him a guarantee that he will never use it against us. You have three days to prepare the operation, and I must think thoroughly about the backup plan in case you fail."

I gulp but squeeze my fist, and I can't stop the small thrill of anticipation. Finally, the bastard who dared to touch my daughter will be dead. The hunt is supposed to start soon.

Danny POV

Through the slightly ajar door, I watch Jason sitting next to Fiona's bed and gently patting her hair, whispering to her constantly. She is crying but keeps nodding to almost everything he says.

Alyssa decided to wake her a couple of hours ago, deciding that her wolf had healed her enough. Of course, she will not leave the Infirmary soon, but she is on an excellent road to full recovery. 

I see how strong she grips Jason's hand as tears go down her face.

I'm sure it's tough; it's extremely tough for her. I remember the first time Brandon hurt me, it broke something in mean, and I wasn't even in love with him. And Fiona? She loved him so much that she sacrificed everything for him, and he killed their baby and almost killed her.

Jason kisses her on her head and leaves the room, noticing me. We both step outside of the packhouse. My friend looks tired, and I'm not surprised; he also got a lot on his plate.

"How you called home?" he asks me, and I shake my head.

Two days ago, Terry, Chen, Alexa, and Julius went to Ravenswood Pack to do what has to be done.

"I want to wait for Julius to come back; I want to call them when everything is finally over. And you have called?"

"Also, not yet, but I've already made my decision. I intend to stay here for some time, " he smiles faintly. "Fiona will need me if she is to get better. And after everything, I think I want to try at least to know her better and see how it will go. No matter what she did, I want her, but I also must make sure she wants me for me, not out of desperation. And spending some time together with no strings attached is the best way to figure out if we can get connected but something other than a mating bond."

I nod; I'm happy he managed to find some hope and purpose in all this tragedy.

"Are you packed?" he asks, changing the topic, and I nod. If there is no news from Julius in two days, Jason will take me, Mae, and the Jewels into the Black Moon, and we will have to think about a way to protect them. Natasha will have to deal with threats towards her pack alone.

"Don't get so gloomy. I'm sure they will be alright" Jason gives my shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

I nod but am unconvinced as I notice Ivory and Trist sitting on the packhouse porch in silence. She is as worried as I'm, and I understand it. Hers and her sister's whole life are at stake here. She helped us prepare for this operation, answering many questions and giving details about her pack and her father. I remember how Terry held her before he got into the car. He was cold and focused on his job during the preparation, but the moment he hugged them, maybe for the last time, was heartbreaking.

The same way Julius was hugging Trist and me.

Trist is very sad because his mother was executed yesterday. Natasha made a harsh decision that it shouldn't have been postponed anymore. As a member of the pack, I understand her reason; as Trist's friend, my heart aches for him. I didn't care about Madison, but Trist didn't deserve to go through it, none of it. Well, let's say it honestly, none of us deserved to go through what Madison and Brandon had done.

"What about your paintings? You've made so many canvases since you came here and yet don't promote them anymore. Before Brandon, your carrier has nice prospects, and you haven't finished your studies."

"I wasn't in that house yet. I'm not sure if my paintings are still there. Brandon could've destroyed them all." I say quietly.

But the problem is not in my paintings, although I want them back, and thinking they were destroyed hurts. But truth be told, I'm scared to return to this house, which holds many painful memories.

"Danny, you sad?"

Jason and I turn around to face Pearl, who probably has just come from the walk with Doggy.

"Second Daddy will be back soon and we all happy and safe", she whispers

"You are right; we probably worry for nothing," I say, and Jason nods, but she bites her lips, not looking convinced.

"Mommy said that daddy loves Pearl and Ivory, mommy said everything will be good. But still not good, not okay. I want the second daddy to come back; I want to be with him. Ivory is sad because she wants it too, and Trist sad because his mother was like the first daddy. Why we aren't loved?"

Tricky question, honestly; I spend many sessions with my shrink wondering about that one question. Why my biological father didn't care about me at all? And truth be told, the reason was never found, at least not a good reason.

"I think we are just unlucky to be born to cruel or selfish parents," I say slowly.

"First daddy said that Pearl is weak and weak is shameful for Alpha blood. But Ivory strong and first daddy still want to hurt her. If weak is bad and strong is bad, then what is good?"

I don't answer; I hug her to give her a moment of reassurance. Trist and Ivory look at us from where they sit.

"Are you hungry?" Jason asks, "We can ask Mae to make us her famous sandwiches. What do you think."

Honestly, I doubt they have any appetite, but none of us want to be alone, at least as long as the ones we love are risking their lives.