A loud noise startled her awake, but she couldn't move. She was held tightly against a warm hard body.

Lily drowsily looked back as Tristan abruptly sat up. She frowned at the window behind him with confusion when she saw it was still dark. Distant arguing slowly registered. Tristan shoved out of bed and headed for the door.

"Stay here." He said firmly as he fumbled into a pair of pants. Lily felt confused for a moment, before she pushed out of bed and found her discarded nightgown. She pulled it over her head as she followed after him into the hall to glance back at Willa's door. To her relief, she could hear the little pup's breathing still slow in sleep.

Lily turned toward the noise. She cautiously walked to the top of the staircase to peer down at the foyer.

"Sorry Alpha... I tried to stop him." A male voice spoke.

"She said she'd speak to me." Ivan growled. Lily blinked in confusion. She looked at the window again. It was still fully dark outside. She felt exhausted... Tristan and she had, er... spent more time with each other, the slight soreness between her thighs was a reminder of that, but she knew they hadn't been asleep long. It had to be around four in the morning if the sun hadn't risen yet.

"I said no." Tristan growled.

"Step aside." Ivan growled back. Lily immediately noticed there was no slurring in his words. He sounded sober.

... did she truly get through to him?

"Tristan it's okay..." Lily said from the stairs. Tristan shot a glare back at her.

"Go back to the room." He growled, and she could tell his wolf was riled protectively. She studied his face.

"Tristan-" Lily began.

"No." He said firmly before he looked back at his father.

"If I'd ever even consider letting you talk to her, it certainly won't be here, and it certainly won't be now. Go home." Tristan growled harshly. Lily stared at his back. She could see how tense he was. Agitated.

She had an initial inkling to argue, but she decided against it at seeing him so wound up. She looked at Ivan again and met his gaze.

"I'll honor what I said to you, but let us meet later." Lily spoke up, hoping to alleviate some of the tension. Tristan looked back at her. He looked frustrated, but more worried than anything. It was clear he didn't want her around him.

The fact that Ivan had once tried to kill her was not lost on her. She understood Tristan's reasoning.

Ivan's gaze lingered a moment on her, before he turned and left without arguing. Tristan stood there for a moment in tense silence before he shut the door and turned back to her. Lily observed his face, he had a possessive glaze in his eyes.

... it gave her a strange chill, especially as he stalked toward her and stopped on the steps just below her, one foot on the step closest to her as he staggered his stance. It just emphasized to her how truly immense her mate was. Even then, she wasn't fully eye level with him as they stared at each other.

"When did you talk to him?" Tristan asked her, he seemed perturbed. Lily brought her hands up to brush his mussed up hair back and lightly ran her fingers over his bare shoulders out of instinct to calm him. It was hard for her to keep her eyes from wandering down, the feel of his skin beneath her fingers was making her thoughts drift back...

Lily looked at his mating mark, the one they shared between them, unique to only them, near his shoulder. She had to force herself to keep from touching it.

She learned last night exactly what that did to him when she did...

"A few days ago, I ran into him." Lily said as she forced herself to focus on his face lest she be stirred further, but his expression changed slightly. It was clear he could smell her.

"Don't go near him." He said firmly as his hands slowly slid onto her hips and he jerked her forward against him with his thigh between her legs. Lily gasped in surprise as he firmly nuzzled into her neck, taking in her scent. Lily wrapped her arms around him and gently nuzzled him back. With a low growl, she felt her nightgown get shoved up and his hands start roaming her bare skin.

A slight shiver coursed through her as the cool air contrasted sharply with his warm hands, but he immediately hoisted her up to press her firmly against his warmth as he carried her back toward their room. Lily couldn't help but grin a bit, as tired as she was, she suddenly didn't care.

Especially as he laid her back onto the pillowy mattress and immediately kissed and sucked at her breast right onto her own mating mark.

She gasped and gripped his shoulders. It made her mind go to mush and made it impossible to think of anything else but him and what he was doing to her.

-

"You seem tired." Sawyer remarked. He stood near Noah. Tristan said nothing to that as he scrubbed a hand over his eyes. He was having trouble focusing.

"Yet... still in a good mood." He added with a grin. Tristan ignored him.

"Have a restful night?" His mother asked with a bit of a smile herself. She and Edith were eyeing him in a way that made him uncomfortable.

...how obvious was it?

They'd showered that morning. Not because he wanted her scent off him... his wolf wanted to wear her scent with pride, but he suddenly felt oddly possessive. He wanted what they did to be no one else's business but theirs... and he wanted it private between them for a while at least.

Not that it helped. He hated being a wolf at times... he knew he still smelled of her, and she certainly still smelled of him.

The very thought of it had him inwardly grinning like he was some love sick teenager, but he had to acknowledge that second round was probably not the best idea considering they got barely any sleep, Willa had woken them early.

"Fine." Tristan said calmly as he glanced at the window again. He couldn't get his thoughts focused.

He wanted to be somewhere else...

Especially now that he knew his father had been around her and apparently wanted to talk to her. He found Dena immediately after he left that morning to make her tell him what the hell happened between them. Why did she think it a good idea not to tell him?

He made it clear Lo didn't go near him without him there.

Tristan still felt the shock of seeing him that morning, sober...

"Dad, why don't you sit down? I'll have some lunch prepared." Ada said. Tristan glanced over at his grandfather. He had been anxiously pacing. His uncle Thomas stood beside him, as well as the Adalwolf Beta Reed.

Rafe was late.

"Dammit... that love sick fool." Hutch growled. Tristan focused on him again, just to make sure he wasn't looking at him...

"Maybe we should send a messen-" Ada began when the door opened. They all looked over.

"I'm sorry." A Cana wolf that looked fresh out of a shift stood there with one of their own enforcers.

"My alpha sends his apologies... but his mate is having a difficult time. He will not be able to attend." He said. Tristan immediately looked at his mother and Edith.

"Is something wrong?" Ada asked. The Cana wolf bowed his head respectfully.

"I was told it was her pregnancy." The wolf said. Tristan looked at Edith. She immediately frowned.

"Is she in labor?" Edith asked. The Cana wolf shook his head.

"I wasn't told, only that our Alpha was needed at home." He said. Tristan couldn't help but feel a spike of worry. His thoughts going back to Lo. He knew that female had become a mother to her.

"It's a little early." Edith said with a slightly worried tone. From what Tristan knew of their birthing season, they were still at least three weeks away from when most females began to have their pups.

"This is getting ridiculous." Hutch said irritably, clearly frustrated.

"Dad... now is not the time." Ada said as she looked at him, before turning her attention back to the messenger.

"Tell him we will of course respect his needs, is she requesting her daughter's presence?" Ada said as she looked at Tristan. He felt instantly tense, despite knowing he had no reason to be.

She clearly wanted to be with him now, but it didn't make his wolf any less agitated at the thought of her leaving again.

"Not at this time, I was only told to relay the message my Alpha cannot make it." He said. Ada gave him a smile.

"Thank you, you may go." She said. The wolf just gave another respect nod and left.

It was silent for a moment, before his grandfather deeply sighed.

"At this rate, we may need to have our meeting in his territory." Hutch said. Ada looked over at Sawyer.

"Has our guest returned?" Ada asked.

"Yes... she came back last night... and about that..." Sawyer said as he glanced briefly in Edith's direction, before focusing on Tristan.

"I think I need to talk to you in private." He said.

-

Voices outside stole her focus... especially as she realized who it was.

"I'll be right back." Lily said quickly to Willa. They were in the kitchen, getting ready for lunch.

Lily hurried outside onto the porch just as Sil began walking up. Kit was following her, and she had an annoyed look on her face.

"Are you sure we aren't mates?" He asked. Lily stared at the pup in confusion.

"Stop following me kid." Sil growled at him.

"I will once you've shown me your mark!" Kit said cheerfully. Sil avoided Lily's eyes.

"No." Sil said firmly.

"Why?" Kit said as he skipped up the steps behind her.

"Because it will ruin you for every women that comes after me." Sil said.

"What's that mean?" Kit insisted.

"Is everyone in your family this annoying?" Sil growled back.

"Oh, you've met Jake?" Kit said cheerfully. Sil huffed an annoyed breath as she finally met Lily's eyes. Lily yanked her into a hug.

"Where have you been?!" She demanded as she quickly inspected her. Sil was clearly fresh out of a shift. Sil's eyes immediately went to Willa behind her. Lily glanced back as well. The little girl was staring at her with interest, Kit pushed between them to walk over to her.

"Hi!" Kit said cheerfully to Willa.

"To get some air." Sil answered as she squirmed away and side stepped the children as she headed for the stairs. Lily frowned and quickly followed after her.

"Are you okay?" Lily asked.

"Yes." Sil responded evenly. Lily furrowed her brow and continued to follow her.

"I'm really fine!" Sil said firmly as she stopped abruptly and turned back. Lily paused and studied her expression.

She knew something was bothering her.

"Sil..." Lily said. Sil stared at her for a moment and huffed an annoyed breath.

"I. Am. Fine." She growled. Lily couldn't let this go...

She knew she was acting strange.

"No you're not." She said firmly. Sil's eyes went behind her, and Lily glanced back again. Dena was there at the threshold of the doorway ushering Kit and Willa into the kitchen. Lily looked back at Sil but she had already continued up and into her room.

For the briefest of moments, Lily thought to leave her alone... but she couldn't stop herself. She followed her in and closed the door to give them some privacy.

"What's wrong? Please tell me." Lily insisted. Sil sighed deeply in an irritated way.

"Nothing is wrong. Everything is fine. I'm just annoyed about something. That's all." Sil said. Lily just stared at her.

"I don't understand." She said. Sil stared at her face for a moment, before her eyes dropped down over Lily's whole form in an inspecting way. Lily felt suddenly self conscious, especially as Sil's eyes immediately went to her neck and a knowing look crossed her face.

"I see you're finally enjoying your mate." Sil said with a bit of a smirk. Before Lily could say anything, Sil was right in front of her forcing her to tilt her head so she could look at her healed wound.

"How did he do it? I was close to just taking you to Brielle." She said. Lily felt her face heat more.

"Um..." Lily fumbled for a moment, and Sil's grin widened knowingly.

"Give me details." Sil demanded. Lily felt her face get impossibly redder.

"Oh fine..." Sil said when she saw how uncomfortable it was making her. She turned to start packing. Lily watched her for a moment, confusion quickly overtaking her embarrassment.

"Where are you going?" Lily asked. She felt a strange panic well inside her. She didn't want her to leave...

"To make the rounds... it's driving me crazy staying still. I just can't do it." Sil said. Lily stayed quiet for a few minutes as Sil gathered the rest of her belongings and tossed them onto the bed. Sil finally looked over at her.

"What's with that face? You are doing well here, you don't need me." Sil said. Lily opened her mouth to say something, but closed it... because she didn't know what to say.

Guilt hit her suddenly. Had she been neglectful of her?

"... I will always need you. I'm stupid and pathetic... remember?" Lily said with some emotion. She couldn't stop the sniffle. Sil looked over at her, and they stared at each other for a moment.

"You know you aren't... right?" Sil said with a slight hint of amusement. Lily just gave her a look.

"Ugh... can this not be some big thing? I'm having cabin fever. That's all." Sil said. Lily just continued to stare at her. Sil shoved more things into her bag, clearly, she was getting more annoyed.

"Are you going to tell your mom?" Lily asked. Sil sighed deeply.

"No, I have some spare keys to the van. I'm just going to go." Sil said. Lily was feeling more and more uncomfortable. She didn't like this.

"Alone?" Lily asked.

"Yup... unless you want to come with me." Sil said with a hopeful glint in her eye. Lily stared at her in surprise.

"Who knows, maybe you can work more of your crazy memory shit and round up more fated." Sil added.

So many thoughts rushed through her head.

"But I-" Lily began.

"Your mate is about to go fight in a war. They are all talking about it. You realize how pack wars are right? You really wanna stick around for this? You know it's safer out there than here, and with you pregnant..." Sil said.

"I... I need to be trained for Alpha, and Tris-" Lily said.

"Fuck that, has she even said anything yet? Besides my mother already taught you everything you'd need to know. It's not that hard." Sil added. Lily frowned deeply as she studied her expression.

Lily knew something had to be bothering her. It was more than what she was saying.

And then it occurred to her.

...did Sil want to find her mate?

Why did it take so long for her to realize? Mia and Rin had, and Inaya and Imee had plenty of time being so young.

Not wandering anymore was a hinderance to her finding her own.

Lily felt suddenly torn. She didn't want her going alone, but she thought of that little pup down in the kitchen. Of all the responsibilities she would be having soon...

"...I... I can't." Lily said hesitantly. Sil huffed.

"Fine, but I'm leaving." Sil said.

"...is this about your fated?" Lily asked. Sil stopped and abruptly met her eyes.

"What? Did he say something?" Sil growled with a furious look. Lily blinked at her.

Confusion hit her hard, and the moment grew tense and awkward.

"...he?" Lily asked. Sil's face paled just a bit. Lily furrowed her brow.

"You found him?" Lily demanded. Sil glanced away and kept packing.

"Just forget it." She said.

"What? Who?" Lily demanded.

"No one." Sil growled. Lily's mind reeled. That night with Emma came rushing back... and Lily gasped.

"...is it Jake?" Lily asked. Sil scoffed.

"The moron that knocked up your mate's ex? No." Sil said with a semi chuckle. Lily furrowed her brow.

"But... I'm confused? Was it that night you came back late? What happened with Emma then? You seemed to have so much tension and... uh..." Lily asked.

"No. That moron just happened to come across me at an awkward moment, a misunderstanding... and when we got into it, I happened to see his mark. And I guess I pulled a you." Sil said.

"... a me?" Lily asked with confusion.

"I recognized it. Remember that female in Tanka? The one you talked to a lot? I can't remember her damn name... it was like, Sarah? Or Becky? Or Muffin?" Sil said. Lily stared at her.

"None of those are even remotely close to each other. And we have never met anyone named Muffin." Lily said.

"I don't remember! I don't have your freakish memory. It was just a fluke, I only remembered her mark because she was so damn annoying, constantly trying to touch me. It was on her upper chest... I pushed her away enough I just happened to practically memorize it. Anyway... I told that idiot where his mate was... and that he was a pig to have a relationship with another knowing he had a mate out there. And we got into it." Sil said with a satisfactory smirk. Lily stared at her in shock.

"I humiliated him in front of some of his pack mates, and that pregnant bitch, it was pretty satisfying actually... but obviously, that bitch panicked when she realized she may just lose her meal ticket. When she stormed off I didn't think she'd come here... she's clearly not over your mate." Sil said. Lily just stared at her for a moment as she took it all in. Emma's desperation seemed to make a bit more sense now...

"...what do you mean awkward situation?" Lily asked. Sil sighed deeply.

"Nothing." She said.

"Sil... tell me." Lily demanded.

"Ugh, my mate is just a fucking kid!" Sil growled. Lily gasped.

"Kit?!" Lily said with wide eyes.

"Huh? Wha- that little squirt?! NO! The other one." Sil growled. It took Lily a moment of thought.

"Will?" Lily asked. Sil huffed a large sigh.

"Yes." She said with some annoyance. Her odd interaction with Will the day before suddenly made sense. But... a kid? What the hell was she talking about? Lily stared at Sil as if she was crazy.

"He's only a year younger than you." Lily said.

"He may as well be a fucking child for all he's worth. I thought I'd get a massive swinging dick, cave fucker, not a pup..." Sil growled with frustration. Lily couldn't help the horrified look on her face.

She felt sick suddenly...

Was she going to...

"Get that look off your face, of course I'm not abandoning him. But he was raised so damn soft. How the fuck is he your mate's cousin? Like hell I'll let him touch me until he can prove he's actually worthy of it. I challenged him, and flattened his ass within a minute, Jake thought I was trying to kill him I guess... that's what started all that other awkwardness." Sil said with a huff. Lily just stared at her, dumbfounded.

"...but If he can't beat me, he can't have me. I gave him until a week before the next Mating moon. And if he doesn't beat me then... I'll go for another mating moon, and another, until he can." Sil said. Lily continued to stare at her with bewilderment.

"I'm confused..." Lily said. Sil paused again and took a very slow, very annoyed breath.

"Lily... I may be a certain way, but I still crave my male to be strong, to be able to pin me down and fuck me so hard I can't walk... And right now... that male cannot do that. He's got some growing to do, and I'm not the type to sit around and water him, but I will give him some motivation. If he wants this pussy, he will have to earn it." Sil said. Lily felt her face heat at her choice of words.

She couldn't help but think of the first night with Tristan. And even the subsequent night with him. The soreness she still felt. She would like that? And Tristan hadn't even been that hard on her. He was surprisingly gentle.

"...how would you even know what you like? You've never done it!" Lily said. Sil shrugged.

"I know what I want." Sil said as she zipped up her bag.

"You're crazy." Lily said.

"I'm a desert wolf. It's our tradition. Males can't mark us until they earn it. I'm making him earn it. And if he's supposed to be my ideal male... he's got a way to go." Sil said. Lo just continued to stare at her like she was crazy. She thought back to Rafe.

"Your mother-" Lily began to argue.

"Of course she did the same, she just honestly didn't try all that hard, and considering the condition he found her in, wasn't much of a fight." Sil said with clear annoyance. She stared at her in shock for a moment.

Lily still couldn't wrap her mind around this...

"I'm going to stay out for a while. I want you to come. I think it's safer for you to be away from here. I mean it when I say pack wars can get brutal. And it seems they need to sort shit out here, especially with that ex mate of your gifted's. She's not to be trusted. I worry leaving you here. I don't trust that bitch, or anyone who hangs around her. She's got that sharpness in her eyes. And so do some of the others. They have rats in their nest they need to kill." Sil said with a hard tone. Lily frowned at her.

"So are you coming?" Sil demanded. Lily felt her chest tighten. She stared at her sister with a bit of pain.

She'd never felt so torn.

"I..." Lily began. Sil huffed.

"Fine." Sil said as she slung her bag over her shoulder and headed for the door. Lily just watched her go with a sinking feeling, before she quickly followed her out into the hall and down the stairs.

Sil paused at the door, and a tense moment passed between them. She glanced back at her and Lily held her gaze.

"Please take care of yourself, and watch your back." Sil said firmly. Lily just nodded and forced herself to withhold tears.

It didn't occur to her until that moment, that she was truly breaking away with the family she had known for the passed few years. Sil studied her face hard as Lily tried her best not to cry... and eventually failed.

"God dammit." Sil growled as they stared at eachother.

"I'm sorry." Lily quickly said as she wiped her wrist across her eyes, but it just made it worse. She couldn't stop the sobs.

"Stop." Sil growled, but the gate had opened and she couldn't close it. Lily genuinely tried, but she truly couldn't.

"Is this some pregnancy bullshit?" Sil growled.

"...pregnancy?" Dena asked from behind them. Both of them glanced back. Lily felt suddenly tense, especially at the look on Dena's face. Sil looked back at Lily for a moment.

"You haven't told him yet?!" Sil asked incredulously. Lily took a few shaky breaths amidst her crying.

"I... I tried." Lily insisted.

"You're going to have a pup?!" Kit exclaimed excitedly. Lily looked over at him with a startled look. She felt the rising panic inside her.

... she hadn't meant for it to come out this way!

Sil slapped a hand over her face with a growl of annoyance, before she threw down her bag.

"Ugh... fine I'll stay a few more days. Just tell that idiot tonight!" Sil growled. Lily looked at Dena. The female was studying her with an odd look.

"Oh stop that. It's her damn mate's, she didn't have a heat on the mating moon because of that whole fuck up you all let happen to her. She was just being  dramatic and for some reason didn't want him to know yet." Sil said with irritation. Lily said nothing to that.

She hadn't meant for it to go this way.

"My brother really doesn't know?" Dena asked. Lily fidgeted nervously. She looked at Kit and Willa who stood in the doorway.

"No... please don't tell him." Lily said quickly. Dena sighed.

"I guess that explains Rose being weird. Why haven't you told him?" Dena asked. Lily felt even more nervous suddenly.

"I..." Lily paused as she looked at the pups again. They were staring at her now, Kit looked excited, but Willa seemed confused.

"I'm just... it's complicated." Lily said. She couldn't say it in front of them. Lily doubted she would have said it even if they weren't there.

She didn't want anyone thinking badly of him for the things he said to her before...

She just couldn't help the way they still affected her.

"Do you want to go see him?" Dena asked. Lily fidgeted nervously and shook her head.

"I don't want to bother him." Lily said.

"He really should know." Dena insisted.

"I'm going to tell him... please just let me do it my own way." Lily said as she again looked at the pups. Sil made a huff of annoyance behind her. Lily ignored her.

"Please don't say anything." Lily said. Kit just grinned wide.

"Like a secret?" He said. Lily nodded.

"We can keep secrets!" Kit said excitedly as he looked back at Willa. She was still looking at Lily. Charlotte was in the doorway behind them. Lily felt even more tense at the fact the whole household knew now.

She had wanted to tell Tristan first...

"Is that why you wanted to see Rose? We can go see her..." Dena suggested. Lily glanced back at Sil as she thought for a moment, before she looked back at Dena.

"No... but I really would like to see your father." Lily said. Dena looked more annoyed.

"I have been specifically forbidden from taking you." Dena said. Lily frowned. She should have expected as much.

"I made a promise to talk to him if he stopped drinking. I really want to keep it." Lily said. Dena seemed frustrated for a moment, but it didn't appear that she intended to budge.

"Please?" Lily pushed. Dena's expression faltered some.

"He's no danger to me now..." Lily reiterated. Dena huffed.

"I'm going to get in trouble for this." Dena said with frustration. Sil chuckled.

"Yeah... kind of don't think it will be that much of a problem. She's got him so wrapped around her damn finger it's laughable. She just doesn't realize it yet." Sil said with some amusement. Lily shot her a look.

"It's true." Sil countered. Dena heaved a sigh.

"How long are we talking?" She asked. Lily took a deep breath herself.

"As long as he needs. I intent to keep my word and tell him everything and anything he wants to know.... I... I'm hoping it will help him." Lily said. Dena studied her face hard for a moment.

"I can't convince you otherwise?" Dena asked. Lily shook her head.

"Ugh... fine." Dena said as she gestured for the door. Lily gave her a thankful smile and headed out.

"What about lunch!" Charlotte said. Lily glanced back, she seemed to be fixated on her belly now.

... was she going to obsess over her eating now?

"Just save some or something." Sil said firmly as she followed after her, muttering about caretakers under her breath.

"No you two stay." Dena said when Kit and Willa began to follow.

"But-" Kit began.

"Just listen!" Sil growled at him. Kit glared.

"Why do you get to go then!" Kit exclaimed angrily.

"Because I'm not an annoying little squirt!" Sil shot back.

"Llillllyyyy." Kit whined. Lily paused.

"I'm sorry... I promise we will be back soon," Lily said, but even as she said it... his sad little face nearly did her in.

"Ugh, you are way too fucking soft. Go!" Sil growled and shoved her shoulder to turn her back around.

"You don't have to come..." Lily said irritably and they started walking. Dena caught up with them.

"Not missing this. At least this sounds interesting..." Sil grinned.

-

Tristan stared at Sawyer.

...did he really hear that right?

He thought back to the night he caught his cousins fighting. Or so he thought.

This made a lot more sense...

"Noah and Edith don't know?" Tristan asked.

"Not that I can tell. I barely got it out of him when he tried to barrel off territory yesterday." Sawyer said. Tristan sighed.

"So what happened?" He almost didn't want to ask.

"I sent Nathan with him... wasn't going to have him run off on his own. They came back with her not long ago, poor kid was worse for the wear. It doesn't seem like she's making this easy on him. Nathan is finding the whole thing highly amusing, he even offered to train him some." Sawyer said with a bit of a grin. He seemed slightly amused as well.

Tristan had mixed feelings about it. He vaguely knew of the desert wolves and their odd customs.

"You're sure?" Tristan asked a second time. It just didn't seem plausible in his mind...

That female seemed wild and fierce. His cousin was mild mannered. Tristan couldn't even remember a time where he ever saw him truly angry aside from Ivy's kidnapping.

"From his own mouth, he told us. He's not one to lie." Sawyer said. Tristan sighed. At least one good thing came out of it...

That meant Sil was there to stay. It should make Lo happy...

"Have you heard anything from our hunting party?" Tristan asked. It occurred to him they hadn't got that far in their meeting and the thought that Will just went running through the unclaimed woods just reminded him of it. The Vargas were a thorn that didn't seem to want to go away.

And they now had bigger worries...

"Yes, I switched them out. Nothing has been found." Sawyer said. Tristan felt irritable. Maybe they had gone into hiding again.

"...one more thing. I didn't want to mention it at the meeting, and not to add to your worries... but, it seems there is some activity from the mountains." Sawyer said. Tristan looked over at him oddly.

"What? I thought you said you hadn't seen any of their scouts around?" He asked. He didn't know why that suddenly made him nervous.

They usually withdrew by now, to prepare for their harsh winter that froze the mountain more than it already was. The roads up and down were nearly uncrossable this time a year.

"Yeah, I thought so too. Some of our own came across an encampment of theirs. And they weren't exactly friendly, not that they've ever been, but they practically ignored them and refrained from engaging at all." Sawyer said.

... an encampment? They never sent more than just scouts. Tristan studied Sawyer's slightly worried face.

Did they know?

"How many?" He asked.

"At least thirty." Sawyer said. Tristan felt the worry dig deeper. It wasn't enough to be considered a war party, but it certainly wasn't nothing.

"What were they doing?" Tristan asked. Sawyer seemed to hesitate.

"I don't know, one of our scouts thinks they were mostly hunting. It may possibly just be a game shortage up on the mountain... it's happened before. But I have some of our own keeping an eye on them from a distance." Sawyer said. Tristan just nodded.

Dammit... could they have any more problems arise?

"You should tell Frid before he finds out, they are bound to notice her at some point. We are too close of neighbors for them not to." Sawyer said. Tristan felt frustrated for a moment.

He knew he should. He planned to honor his promise to Lo... But the conflict with Arthur and Cecil had him hesitating. And he needed to mark her before he did.

"Let me know immediately if anything changes." Tristan said as he turned for the door.

"Where are you going?" Sawyer asked him with a grin. Tristan just ignored him and slammed the door on his way out.

-

"So what's his deal?" Sil asked as they waited at the Dena's house in a back room. Lily was staring at the fire.

She felt nervous for some reason.

Dena refused to take her to where he was staying. She insisted they meet there.

"He lost his mate... he wants to know about her." Lily said. Lily glanced back at her as she plopped herself onto a lounge chair and draped herself over it.

"Isn't that just torturing himself?" Sil asked. Lily fidgeted with her dress a bit. Maybe it was... but she still promised him.

"I think it's closure." She said.

They waited in silence a bit longer, until finally they heard footsteps coming. Lily glanced to the door with building apprehension mingled with relief that wait was over.

Dena came in first, followed by Ivan.

Lily stared at him for a moment. He truly looked different. Sober, dressed and cleaned...

And yet, still sad and lifeless.

"Tristan is not approving of this." Dena reiterated as she glanced back at her father, but he hardly seemed to care. His gaze was fully on her the moment he was through the door. Lily looked over at the table and gestured to it, if anything, to relieve the awkwardness she finally felt. Ivan glanced to Sil, then to Dena.

"They have to stay," Lily spoke before he could inquire. She agreed to do this, but she didn't say she'd be alone with him. Ivan made no comment to it, he just moved to sit at the table.

Lily felt her chest tighten some. She agreed to tell him everything, and it occurred to her this may get painful for more than just him if he asked things she truly didn't want to re live.

With a deep breath, she moved to take a seat opposite him.

"What do you want to know?" Lily asked. Ivan's stare was intense but determined.

"Everything." He said.

- 

"Tristan!" Jake's voice gave him pause. He had barely managed to leave the pack house. Between his mother, grandfather and Sawyer, everyone had something they needed to discuss. He had been trying to leave for hours. It was late afternoon now.

Not that anything was getting resolved. Tristan tried to hide his irritation as he glanced back. But the moment he saw the state of him, he frowned.

"Hey... I... uh, I really need to talk to you..." He said, slightly out of breath. Tristan stared at him for a moment. Jake cast a quick glance around them.

"... in private." He added. Tristan just gave him a nod and turned to head back inside to the offices. He didn't care to go all the way back to his, he just went into the nearest unoccupied room and shut the door.

Jake was silent for a moment, and Tristan could feel the tension growing.

"I made a mistake," Jake said. He seemed truly vulnerable at that moment. Tristan just stared at his stubborn cousin. This was truly not like him.

He looked frustrated, haunted.

"I don't know what to do." He said with strain in his voice.

"Is this about Emma?" Tristan asked. Jake huffed.

"I know where my mate is." Jake said. Tristan was take aback for a moment.

"I don't know what to do," Jake growled. Tristan ran a hand down his face in frustration as he glanced at the window.

"How long have you known where your mate is?" Tristan asked.

"A few days... and I need to go. I can't stand it anymore," Jake said. Tristan was lost, and he didn't know what to tell him.

But he had put himself in this situation...

"You think Emma will-" Tristan began.

"I honestly don't care anymore. I've tried... I've tried everything... she is just as everyone says she is. I didn't see it at first, but I certainly can now. I doubt she ever cared at all about me, she's clearly still delusional about her standing with you. You have no idea what I've put up with... I was doing this for the sake of my pup, but I can't anymore... I don't know how you put up with her shit for so long." He snarled. Tristan stared at his cousin in surprise.

Tristan truly believed he had grown to care for her.

"I made a damn mistake!" Jake growled as he began to pace with agitation, his hands buried in his hair.

"It feels like she used me just to stay here. Ever since that female told me where my fated was in front of her... she's impossible to be around." Jake said. He glanced to the window.

"And now I feel trapped to the point I'm starting to resent that pup. And myself. I don't know what to do.... What would you do?" Jake said as he looked over at him. Tristan studied him for a moment.

"You know what I did, and I regret it, deeply. If you truly think you will be unable to continue living in the same pack, I can see if Hutch or Rafe will take her transfer, and you can figure out a parenting situation later." Tristan suggested.

In truth... he didn't fully want her around Lo. Maybe this would be the best solution for them all. His mother certainly wanted her gone.

Jake seemed relieved suddenly. He took a breath.

"You think less of me?" Jake asked. Tristan said nothing for a moment. He doubted he could ever feel that way about anyone.

"No, I have no right to judge anyone." He said seriously. Jake was silent for a moment.

"I have permission to leave territory?" He asked. Tristan nodded. Jake said nothing else and just left.

Tristan just stood there in the empty room for a moment, before he took a frustrated breath and headed toward his mother's house to talk to Hutch.

Maybe he could help him sort this out...

-

Lily wiped her tears as she sat in front of Ivan, but he hadn't cried, not once.

It seemed like he was emotionless now. It was almost unsettling.

But Lily was feeling everything. The deep pressure in her chest. He did ask everything she'd feared, and though she told him things from a child's perspective, she was an adult now.

... things were hitting her differently. Things she hadn't let herself think about, things she had pushed to the back of her mind.

She was seeing clearly now.

How much her mother truly had been breaking in those final days.

"... and what was her plan for you?" Ivan asked. Lily sniffled and stared at him oddly.

"What do you mean?" Lily asked shakily. Ivan was staring at her levelly.

"She did everything to make it less for you... and yet, she just planned to hand you over to them after your heat?" Ivan asked with a strange tone. Lily took another shaky breath. So many memories she buried were brought up by his questions...

It was painful.

"Um... she... she didn't have much of a choice, but she did tell me, one time... after Balor left and I was sitting outside on the steps, she came to sit beside me. It was the first time I asked her." Lily said as she took another pained breath. She thought back to that day, it was only weeks before the invasions.

Lily had been happy to see she was unharmed when she came out to sit beside her. But the scent of that horrible male still bothered her.

They had sat in silence for some time, before she finally forced herself to speak.

"I asked her if this was to be my fate too... and she told me... it's not always bad what they do. But that she asked the Alpha to allow me to mate with someone, and not be shared. It was at that moment I realized she had stopped telling me stories of gifted mates. She hadn't told me any stories in so long, I didn't see it then... but looking back now, I see how much she truly had broken down over the years..." Lily said with another shaky breath.

"What did he say?" Ivan asked. Lily looked up at him with an almost startled look. She'd nearly forgotten he was there with that haunting memory still floating in her head.

She vividly remembered what she had felt then. Feeling terrified of the approaching mating moon.

"She told me he hadn't made a decision yet... but... that she was hopeful. But I knew by her tone she wasn't. We didn't talk about it again after that... and then you invaded... and you know the rest..." Lily finished.

It went completely silent in the room aside from her sniffles. Lily had never felt so emotionally and physically drained in her life.

She glanced at the window, it was sunset now.

"Thank you," Ivan said as he stood. Lily tensed as he moved toward her suddenly and for a brief moment... she panicked when he yanked her out of the seat.

But she felt foolish a moment later as she was enveloped in his warm embrace.

"I'm sorry. The life you led was my fault, too." Ivan said firmly. Lily took another shaky breath as she tried to reel in her emotions, but failed. She let a sob slip loose as she returned the embrace, and let herself cry in his arms.

They stayed like that for some time, before he finally pulled away from her.

"Thank you." He said once more before he turned to leave. Lily stood there by the fire and watched him go, but he stopped in front of Dena and Lily noticed for the first time she was trying not to cry.

He pulled her into a tight hug too, and she lost the battle with her tears.

"I'm sorry to you, too," he said quietly. The room felt tense and emotional. Dena nodded and returned the hug.

"Take care of you and yours. Send Tristan to me when you see him." Ivan said firmly as he pulled away from her and left without a single glance back. Lily finally looked over at Sil. She hadn't got up from her place on the couch, but her gaze was focused on the door Ivan just left from.

"Well, that was a God damn downer. He's not the type to off himself, is he?" Sil asked bluntly.

"What do you mean?" Lily asked, a bit startled. Sil looked at Dena next. She had a deeply furrowed brow as she stared off after her father too.

"No... he wouldn't," Dena said firmly, but not that convincingly. She took a shaky breath.

"You sure about that? Because if I just heard all that, I don't think I'd want to stick around either." Sil said.

"I'll have someone stay with him tonight." She said firmly.

"Probably a good idea," Sil added.