The cabin had been a den of silence and tension for the three days since Hayden's disappearance was discovered. Viola spent a lot of time outside staring at the sky or the trees, not searching but just looking. Finn took every chance to hide at his friends' houses. Lea had continued to mope around the cabin, spending hours in the tub or sleeping. Even her dreams haunted her; flashes of blood, fur, and blonde locks. Emon had been searching every chance he got, but as an Alpha he couldn't leave the pack grounds. He sent hunting party after hunting party, that came up empty. He'd stopped speaking to Lea and couldn't blame him. She could have stopped this...

Viola had just stepped out of the bath as Lea nibbled on some bread when a scream could be hear across the pack. A scream that sent shivers across their bodies. Lea sprinted for the door, hearing her mother rustling for clothes behind her. She didn't know where she was going but her legs carried her as fast as they could. She wished she could shift quick enough to not slow down, but unlike her father, she had been unable to shift in motion. Lea stopped at the crowd of wolves near the edge of the clearing where the cabins sat. Viola pushed past her, dressed in a blue dress, her hair soaking the back. Her father held someone in his arms and he spoke in a whisper to his wife. 

"Dad..." her voice squeaked without permission. His eyes lifted to hers and he turned slowly for her to see. Hayden laid in his arms with blood on her clothes, head hanging limp. "She.." Her voice shook as her body went cold. A man pushed past her and leaned over Hayden, check her body. 

"SHUT UP!" Emon commanded, his Alpha tone ringing in the crowd's ears. Lea hadn't registered the crowd around them until they went silent, and the silence was loud.  

The man exhaled sharply, "She's alive. Get her cleaned and in bed, I'll be over as soon as I grab my things." When no one moved, he rested his hand on Emon's shoulder and forced their eyes to meet. "Hayden will be okay. I promise." Emon blinked at him and stood slowly. His family followed as he carried his daughter to their cabin. Lea paused, glancing behind her as she felt a presence. Seeing nothing in the trees, she caught up with the others.

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The doctor had looked over her to find no injuries but she continued to sleep. Her temperature was approaching hot and a sweat was coating her skin. Lea sat next to her in the tub, wiping her arms with a towel as her parents spoke with the doctor. He swore there was no reason for her unconscious state. 

Her mother appeared next to her, hugging her torso. "Anything?" Lea shook her head. "What happened out there?" Viola whispered, staring at her little girl. 

"Did they find Chris?" She didn't really care about him, but if they found him, he'd hopefully have answers. 

"He's alive but..." She pressed her lips together. "He was attacked, or something. He's so beat up they don't know if he'll live. He can't even talk; they have to keep him asleep for his wounds to heal..." 

"We can't wake him up for a minute to ask what happened?" It was cruel but worth it, she decided. 

"Your father's pushing but the doc won't budge." Viola shrugged, defeated. 

"What if..." Lea started but a sharp look cut her off. 

"I know.. but we can't. His family is just as concerned for their child." Her voice carried no room for argument. Lea passed her the towel and went to find her dad. He had the left the cabin and was standing outside with his arms folded, glaring at the grass. She stopped beside him.

They stood in silence, listening to the wind and distant pack members, until Emon broke it. "He should be dead." 

"Dad." She scolded softly. "You can't fully blame him..." She folded her arms as the breeze chilled her bones.

"I blame myself too." She snapped her head up to look at him in shock. Lea had meant she was also to blame. Her lips parted to protest but he growled suddenly, "He's going to tell me one way or another." He walked away from her in long strides and she ran to keep up. 

"Wait! Dad!" She panted, struggling to keep up with the grown Alpha warrior. "I want to help!"  He stopped, her slamming into his back with a yelp. Emon turned and stared down at her. "Uh, I could distract them. What if I went close to the border and you say I'm missing? That'll work, right?" Her confidence wavered as she spoke and she scratched her ear, breaking eye contact. 

"You can't leave the border." It was a fact, not a request. 

"But I can get close without being in any danger. I won't actually leave." She debated. he shook his head and continued to the cabin where Chris was healing. Lea sighed and followed reluctantly. 

As soon as the door open, her nose stung and she covered it quickly. The most pungent smells were blood and herbs, both covering most surfaces in the room. Chris laid on a bed, wearing only underwear and bandages. The bandages covered one of his thighs, his whole torso, and his arms. Blood and sweat pooled on her neck and face as he panted with his eyes closed. 

"Alpha, you shouldn't be here. He's still not well enough." The doctor's eyes flicked to Lea. "She shouldn't be here either. We don't know if there's a sickness here." 

"If Hayden has it, then I'm fine. I've been taking care of her." She insisted, stepping closer to Chris' bloody body. He looked horrible.

Her father stared down at him with a blank expression. "She's right. If they have the same illness, it doesn't matter now. Has he said anything?" The doctor shook his head. 

"He only screams when he wakes. I have to add nutrients to his water so he doesn't starve." 

Emon grunted, before leaving. Lea followed but her father had disappeared by the time she got outside. She sighed, taking a deep breath of fresh air. She sent a silent prayer to the Moon Goddess and walked home.

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Lightning flashed outside as Lea gripped Hayden's hand tightly. Her hands, wrists, and forearms were scratched to hell and bleeding. Her ears had a persistent ringing due to the damage they'd endured. Hayden thrashed again, her extended claws clamping on Lea's flesh. She flinched at the pain but wiped Hayden's forehead with a damp towel. 

Hayden's condition had worsened severely; screaming, thrashing, murmuring, and scratching. Scratch marks and blood covered Hayden's skin when Lea woke up during the night. When Lea pulled her arms away, the claws had attached themselves to her instead, then the screaming started. Her parents had gone to find someone to help and Finn was at a friend's, letting Hayden use his bed as she healed. The pain was something she could handle for Hayden. She could only image what she was feeling. If this is how she could help, she'd do it for as long as needed. 

Just as Hayden began to scream again, the door burst open and the doc appeared in front of her. The candle illuminated the blood dripping down Lea's arm. "Lea!" her mom shouted but Lea shook her head. 

"She wouldn't stop hurting herself. I'm fine." Lea closed her eyes as the pain seemed to intensify. A hand pried her away and her eyes snapped to her dad's as his hand replaced hers. 

"Take a break, kiddo. I've got her." He kissed her forehead and shoved her away. She swallowed and nodded, grabbing a towel and wrapping her arm. She stepped outside as the rain crashed overhead.  Her breathing grew heavy and her eyes watered as her mind raced with anxiety and she bolted from the porch into the rain. She didn't know where she was going but she needed to get away. Just for a moment. 

By the time her tears and the rain had stopped and her steps slowed, her clothes were soaked and she was ready to drop. Her eyes flicked around at the trees and she realized she was at the spot where they'd found Hayden. Lea stopped and let her body collapse in the grass. Panting heavily, she checked the wounds from her sister to find they were starting to heal and relaxed slightly. Whatever her sister had, it wasn't affecting Lea's healing. It's probably not contagious then...

A growl carried in the air and her body tensed. A presence appeared from the trees, followed by an unfamiliar scent. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized what that meant; a rogue had entered pack grounds and he was in front of her. She closed her eyes, bracing.

Something warm pressed against her arm and she gasp, peeking her eyes open. A giant dark wolf stood in front of her. It shifted into a man and Lea looked away before she caught a sight she didn't want. "You're not her, but you smell like her." 

"What?" Her brows furrowed.

"Where is she?" He demanded, without moving. She? Her head jerked as it connected and she stared up at him, concern for his nudity gone. 

"You mean my sister? How do you know her!? Are you the one who attacked her?" She growled as her canines extending, her shift starting.

"No. That mutt she was with did that." Her shift paused as confusion filled her again. "Is he dead yet?" He snarled. 

"N-no. But he's in really bad shape..." she whispered.

He huffed, "He should be and if he doesn't, I'll be happy to finish it." The rogue growled again as he looked toward the cabins. 

"Why did you attacked them? Why.. why haven't you killed me?" 

He stared down at her before reaching out his hand. She blinked at it before slowly taking it. He pulled her standing, "You said she's your sister? That makes you my sister."

"What?" She asked again, for what felt like the millionth time as of late. 

"My name's Kyren, it's nice to meet you, mate's sister." He held out his hand for a shake and her eyes widened.

"Mate?!"