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"Allie, calm down." Mom pulled on my arm. They were just lucky my inner beast wasn't awake to be part of this argument. Actually, why wasn't she? We were under attack, and I was fighting by myself.

"I'm calling this meeting to a close," Alpha Harris announced and then turned to mom. "You and I need to speak. Allie, you are free to leave."

Everyone rushed off until I was the last one standing there, still thinking the same question. Why hadn't my wolf come to defend me? I knew we were disconnected but had it reached a different level now?

Suddenly I was given a whole new thing to keep me up all night to think about.

***

I hadn't brought my own car which meant I was stuck here until mom finished things up with Alpha Harris. I snuck out the side door and went to sit in my favorite garden. I had just reached the pond when I realized who was sitting next to it.

I was going to turn and sprint but once again was too late.

"You don't have to avoid me, Allie." Zane's voice floated through the stilled night air.

Turning back around, I continued on my path to the pond.

"Thought that was what you wanted."

He shrugged his shoulders. "Thought you hated me." He gave me a blank side expression. "But then you did show up to the meeting, so that's something."

"Don'tsee the connection."

"Dad wants your memory linked back with ours, so you showingup at least means you're considering it."

"Zane, I haven't been wearing that bracelet for weeks." I don't know why but my voice had come across softer and calmer - what this man does to me.

The frown on his forehead was tight until his expression slowly faded with understanding and sadness in his eyes.

"What is it?" I suddenly had to know what he was thinking right now. Darn, if my wolf were awake I would be able to read his mind.

"Did dad take your mom aside to talk to her?" Suddenly he was panicked and jumping to his feet.

"Yes, he said something about talking details," I said, watching him sprint away from me.

Why wouldn't anyone tell me what is going on?! Everyone else seemed to have put the pieces together but me! All I wanted was answers.

Chapter Thirty-nine

ZANE

"You can't do it!" My voice was demanding and rough as I burst into dad's office. I knew what they were up to. They wanted to numb her wolf completely.

"Son, you need to calm down." Dad used his 'calm and controlled' tone on me. "This isn't crystal cut."

"So what if her dad is a traitor. I'll still have her. Don't numb her from me," I found myself begging for it not to happen. I knew dad's distaste for the fighters was strong. The thought that one of their breed would bind with me would be enough for him to want to kill Allie's wolf.

"It isn't about that." Allie's mom’s tearful face came into view now. "We haven't numbed Allie’s wolf or her connection to the pack. It has broken by itself." Her tears began to fall quicker.

"That's because of that stupid bracelet," I snapped. Why wouldn't they have thought of that? Wouldn’t that be the first point of call?

"She isn't wearing it, son." Dad's large hand landed heavily on my shoulder. It was the sorrow in his eyes that caused my blood to run with ice.

"Allie’s dying," I muttered, dumbfounded and…well, there weren't words that could be strung together to explain what I was feeling right now.

***

It was all planned down to the last second. Allie hadn't even picked up on it that her funeral was approaching. I found myself wanting to spend every moment with her, and she wanted to spend every moment away from me. That was Allie.