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He crouched beside me for just a moment. He wiped the tears from my eyes and drew me even closer to him. He looked at me with warm eyes and his hands still on my shoulders.

“Why do you keep asking questions you know the answers to, little one?” he said with a frown.

“Because maybe one day the answer will be different Elijah. It hurts so bad.”He smiled softly and shook his head. “The dead never reply, Aegis. Only the living carry the truth. And the pain," He smiled sadly to me before raising my chin to wipe the tears away from my face. "One that has managed to escape the worst of earth finds ultimate peace and freedom. That is the secret of death."

He tucked a piece of hair behind my ear and pressed a kiss to my forehead before he stood up. He stretched a hand to me, “Come. Let’s go home before the stars forget us my love.”

****************************************

I had to keep reminding myself of that little quote as I carefully place the white lilies on Elijah’s grave, grazing the cold stone with my fingers.The wind is soft today and it carried the scent of the earth after last night’s rain. The Nightwisp pack remained exactly way I remember except the people I love now live in graves.

“You’d hate this,” I whisper, tracing his name. “All this ceremony, all these people coming to pay their respects when they weren’t there when it mattered. I miss you Elijah. The world has gone to shit. I died too and I tried to look for you but I didn't see you.” Silence. It's always fucking silent.

I swallow the lump in my throat and move to the next grave--Cece’s. My breath catches at the tiny headstone. The name carved in delicate script. The years of a beautiful life cut far too short. I kneel down to touch her.

“Hey, little troublemaker. It's been awhile. I'm so sorry I stayed away so long. Mommy's sorry love," I murmur, brushing the dirt away. “I met the King and you were right. He's huge but he's also kind of annoying. But that's a secret between us. Brianna would have my head if she heard me say that. You’d have loved Brianna. She’s scary but in the best way.” I manage a small smile. “She would have loved you too.”

A hand rests on my shoulder. Brianna. She doesn’t say anything for a while. Then, quietly, “I wish I’d met them.” I nod, gripping my wrist to stop my hands from shaking. She hesitates. “Cece… That was Alpha Elijah's daughter yeah?”

“Mine too.” I don’t elaborate. I can’t. Brianna watches me. Then, she squeezes my shoulder. "It's painful. I get it. But if you ever want to talk...” I nod. “I know.” She stays a little longer before stepping back to give me space. The others are waiting behind us. The guys approach silently placing their own offerings on the graves and paying their respects. I moves away from them to a grave to the faraway left.

"Hi Evangeline. How are you doing? Have you met your daughter yet?" I picked at a weed on her grave as I imagined how happy she'd be. "I try to be positive most of the times nowadays and not think about it too much but it's hard. I miss you", I dropped the last bouquet of flowers on her grave. "Thank you for not giving up on me Evangeline. I'm sorry you had to die because of me."

Today marks three years since we lost everything and it only gets worse with each passing day. I straighten and subconsciously shoved down the grief. We'll make them pay. Every single one of them.

“Are you guys done? We have to go now.” We turn to leave and everyone around me freeze up. I do same when I turn too.

Coming from the far left and standing in front of Evangeline's grave is Beta Solice with a bouquet of flowers. My blood runs cold and everything in me fights to attack him. How dare he show up here today of all days. He walks toward us, the perfect picture of grief, dressed in black. The murdering Bastard has a smirk on his face.

I clench my jaw. Emery instantly open a mindlink to me. "Aegis don't react. He's only taunting you. You can't give him what he wants. Especially not now."

I can’t.

Noah vibrates beside me but somehow his voice is still perfectly calm. “Beta Solice. What a surprise. What brings you to the Nightwisp pack?”

Solice exhales heavily flicking his eyes to Elijah’s grave. “The Alpha was a dear friend of mine. It’s only right I pay my respects.” Liar. Elijah hated him My fists curl.

He steps closer to the one grave with my name on it. A sick, twisted smirk tugs at his lips. “It’s tragic, really. So many lives lost that night. So many stories left unfinished.” His eyes flick to me. “Wouldn’t you agree… Alpha Aegis?” For a second, I forget how to breathe. I went into fight mode and I would have killed him but for Noah gripping my arm to keep me still.

I keep my face blank. Noah laughs lightly. “Funny, she never knew the pack.” Solice tilts his head. “Oh? Then how does she know where to stand? Which names to visit? Which graves to talk to?” The air around me is too tight and I'm seeing nothing but red now.

"Or are you saying your Alpha now sees the dead. Because if what I think is true and you lied about her being Brianna's daughter, then your Alpha is a fake and therefore would be killed as stated by the law of wolves."

I’m seconds away from losing it.

But somehow by the grace of the goddess, someone cuts in--, “Beta Solice” The voice is silk and steely in rage. Everyone turns. The King strides toward us like he owns the ground he walks on. The air around him vibrate with his powerful presence and every wolf around immediately bared their neck in submission-----well everyone except me. I've heard that he's powerful but I've never seen a more potent or blatant show of his raw power before. Even I'm tempted to bare my neck.

His lips curl into a smirk that shows he knows exactly what he's doing. He's such a Show off.

His sharp eyes locked on Beta Solice, “Is there a problem here?” Solice straightens.

“No problem, Your Majesty. We were just… reminiscing.” The King’s smirk doesn’t waver. “Is that so?” He steps closer to him, his aura pressing down upon us. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks a lot like you’re harassing someone under my protection.”

I swear.....the temperature drops. Solice stiffens. “That’s not my intent.”

“Good.” The King tilts his head, his normally calm voice turning lethal “Then I’d hate for that to change.” The warning is clear. Solice forces a smile. “Of course, Your Majesty.”

The King hums. “Good boy.” Solice's jaw tightens at the implied suggestion that he was a dog, but he doesn’t push further. I on the other hand let out a laugh at the subtle insult. The King turns to me.

“Come.” I don’t move. Not until Solice does. Only when he steps back do I turn and walk toward the King.

"Don't tell me what to do." I snap at him. He ignores me and places a hand on the small of my back. I flinch at the zing of his power running through my blood stream as we walk toward our car.

I cross my arms. “I could have handled that.” He still doesn’t look at me as he unlocks the car. “I know.” I frown. “Then why interfere?”

He opens the door for me before finally meeting my gaze. “Because you weren’t going to.” I stiffen. He slides into his seat, leaving the door open.

“Get in, Aegis.” I hesitate. “Why?” He exhales, resting his arm on the wheel. “Because we need to talk. And because I’m tired of arguing with you.” I roll my eyes but climb in, slamming the door shut. We pull onto the road.

The silence is thick. I break it first. “Why do you hate Beta Solice?” The King doesn’t answer immediately. His fingers tap against his knee. “Why do you?”, he asks back.

I scoff. “Nice deflection.” He smirks. “Right back at you.” I don’t answer. Neither does he. But I catch the way his grip tightens slightly around his knee.

He knows something i don’t.

Ehh, I'll bug him about it later, for now I have to think of what to do about Beta Solice.

We've had almost gotten to the pack when it occurred to me that he didn't drive to the graveyard. I whirled to him almost immediately.

"How the hell did you travel 375 miles without a car?"

---Meanwhile…

(Third person’s POV)

Brianna watched as the King and Aegis drive away in one of the cars. She didn’t miss the way he touched her back or the way he watched her.

Noah stood beside her fuming with his arms crossed. She hums. “When are you going to tell her?”

He glanced at her. “Tell her what?” She smirks. “That you’re in love with her.” Noah chokes. “I’m not in love with Alpha Aegis.” Brianna raises a brow. He glared at her. “I’m not.”

She shrugs. “Okay. If you say so.” Noah scowls. “Why'd you ask?”

She looks back at the road as the car disappeared. “Because if you don’t tell her soon,” she says lightly, “the King’s going to steal her from right under your nose.” Noah went very, very still.