There was no way I could sleep anymore. But I was still too tired to lift a finger.

I could hear voices conversing downstairs. Surely Gramma didn't let Valente leave without having breakfast. I hope she didn't think too much of him staying the night with me.

I slowly got out of bed, the action still painful.

But when you gotta go, you gotta go.

I went to my washroom to freshen up, take a quick shower and change into a fresh pair of pajamas.

Cuz I ain't meeting anybody.

I was making my bed when I heard a knock on the door.

"You up sweetheart?" Gramma's voice came from outside.

"Yes Gramma," I said.

She came in and closed the door behind her.

"If you are up for it, I have a little surprise for you," she told me.

"What surprise?" I replied, raising an eyebrow.

I sat down on the bed as standing too long made my body feel sore again.

"She's up!" Gramma said a little louder, her head pointed towards the door.

It opened up to reveal two pups running towards me, attack mode on, Renee still holding the door handle and laughing uncontrollably.

I was pulled out of shock at the sudden weight of my nephews on either side on me, who jumped up to hug me.

"Aunty!" they screamed jumping over my arms to give me a hug, their laughter bringing happy tears to my eyes.

"Hello my little pumpkin and munchkin," I said. Bryn and Ymir loved those nicknames.

"Mom said we were coming to see you so we couldn't sleep all night!" said six-year-old Bryn the Second.

I looked up at Renee.

"Hey Rayne," she said, coming to sit beside me, pulling three-year-old Ymir aside so she could give me a side hug. "We missed you."

"I missed you all too. This is such a nice surprise Renee. Where's Otto?" I asked her.

"He couldn't stay long, and neither can I. I heard what happened, so I asked Otto if we could come see you for a little while. He said it would be possible, so here we are," she said, smiling softly.

She was so much like Gramma.

"Gramma what did you cook for us?" asked Bryn.

"Whatever you wished for little one," she said, taking Ymir from Renee's arms. "Come on Bryn, let's go eat. And you two can join us once you've caught up," she said looking at Renee and me.

They left the room leaving me with Renee. She gave me a hug, not too tight. Maybe she knew exactly what happened.

She held my hand. "Did Valente stay the night?" she asked me, her eyebrows raised suggestively.

I could feel a blush rising on my cheeks.

"Well, yeah, but, why are you saying it like that, I mean-"

"It's fine Rayne, I know he's been in love with you since you were kids," she said.

The thought made me turn even redder. How did everyone else see it except me? Why did he have to explicitly show interest in me to make me see?

"You're absolutely oblivious," Ima said.

"But it's true then, my baby sister Rayne's going to be Fathilagt's next Luna," Renee said, her eyes sparkling.

I didn't even think of that.

"We shouldn't get too excited Renee. Sylvia's doing everything in her power to pair him with Eidis," I told her.

The mention of these women caused Renee to wear a face of disgust.

"Trust me Rayne. Valente respects his aunt. That's the reason he's put up with her shenanigans till now. But when it comes to choosing his mate, he will never let you go," she said.

"I know Renee. He's assured me that much. But I don't want him or anyone else to be hurt in the process," I told her.

"He's an Alpha, and you'll always be his strength, not his weakness. Don't underestimate him Rayne," she said.

I sighed.

I would never underestimate him.

"He's going to fight Sgriosaire," I told her.

"What? Why?" she asked me, almost horrified.

"They took so many people from us, they near destroyed our pack. Valente has been planning it for a long time. Once he's Alpha, the warriors will go to battle," I told her.

"Rayne. Sgriosaire's Alpha is a trickster. I've learned a little bit more about them after leaving Fathilagt. I know he isn't a just leader, and even if it's a sudden attack on them, I don't know how well you can fare. He has eyes and ears everywhere," she said, worry evident on her face.

"They can't have spies in Fathilagt Renee. Valente would find out immediately," I told her, the thought of a spy in our tight-knit pack almost funny.

"Rayne I really worry about you, and mom too. Fathilagt is our home, our safe haven, but it is also talked about amongst the big guns during pack meetings. Otto isn't a higher up, but he tells me whispers from here and there," she said. "You need to tell Valente this because we can never be too careful. I've learned that we can't trust everyone around us, no matter how close they may be."

"Do you really think someone would sell themselves to cause havoc in our pack?" I asked her, incredulous.

She didn't answer. I knew she did think it was possible, but the very idea was painful.

"What more do you know?" I asked her.

"I don't know why, but Fathilagt is under the eye of the Palace. We are just too oblivious while we're inside. But on the outside, our pack is an interesting topic of conversation," she said.

"What do they talk about?" I asked.

"Nothing too out of the way. The usual, how's everyone at my previous pack like, who's heading things there at the moment. They ask about Grimmileg Árás too," she said, her face darkening.

"People remember that?" I asked.

"Seems like it. They know not to ask me about it anymore, but I know sometimes they do talk about it," she said.

"Why's it such a big deal Renee? We were the ones afflicted. How is it everyone's business?" I asked her.

"Because the Palace is involved some way."

I scoffed.

"They never held those responsible at trial, they never helped us recover when we were struggling, and they're interested?" I said, my temper rising.

A dull ache started to form in my chest, which caused me to shift uncomfortably.

Renee stroked my hair and gently touched my shoulder.

"Relax Rayne. Don't get worked up. Anything could trigger the poison," she said in a small voice, as if her talking normally could do it.

"Valente travels to the Palace occasionally," I told her, staying still so the pain wouldn't reach its threshold.

"I can't imagine why," she said.

"Are you being serious or sarcastic?" I asked her.

"I don't know Rayne. I'd think he would go there to probably demand what we deserve after what we suffered. He was too young to do it before, but now that he's older, maybe he's made it his responsibility to take what's ours. But on the other hand, why haven't we received any good news from the Palace yet? So no, I really can't imagine why he'd go there," she said thoughtfully.

"Just ask him Rayne," Ima said.

Maybe I should.

"I don't think Valente will turn back from the idea of fighting for justice. It's something he has practically grown up with and he's so close now, I don't think he could possibly call off the attack," I said, thoughtfully.

Renee sighed.

"Then tell Valente he should be better prepared than what he thinks will do against them. I can't help but feel they're backed by a bigger power," she said.

Her concerns seemed so genuine I felt a little scared thinking about the whole ordeal.

An uneasy feeling settled in my chest as my anxiety slowly started to rise.

This time, I could tell that the pain started at the threshold, and I'd have to go through another wave of agony.

Each time it came, the pain got worse, and I closed my eyes in a meager attempt to control it.

"Rayne? Are you okay?" Renee asked me.

"It's happ-"

Ungh.

The pain brought tears to my eyes, and I couldn't do anything to control my burning skin.

Renee was immediately up, and out of the room.

"Rayne are you okay?" Valente's worried voice came through my mind.

"I'm fine Val. Renee's here," I told him, doing my best impression of reassurance.

"Are you sure?" he asked again.

Renee came back in almost an instant with her purse, placing it on the bed to rummage through for something.

"Yes Valente, I'm sure," I told him as my body started to shake.

She took out a small vial and pulled my hair back from my face.

"Put out your tongue Rayne," she said.

I was struggling with movement again, my body shaking violently now, and the waves of pain returning.

I could see Gramma at the door now. She rushed to my side immediately.

"Mom, hold her steady please," Renee told Gramma.

Gramma's grip was firm, yet gentle on my aching neck, as she pulled my head back a little.

The added stability allowed me to put out my tongue, as Renee poured a few drops of the dark purple liquid on it.

It was extremely bitter, and made me gag instantly.

But after that initial horrid sensation, I felt my body going numb. The pain had immediately started to subside.

It was gone just before it was beginning to get worse, and I was grateful for it.

I didn't speak or move for a few moments, catching my breath, afraid the pain would come back.

After a few minutes of Gramma stroking my back, and Renee holding my hand tightly I decided it was safe to speak.

"What was that Renee?" I asked her.

"Belladonna," she said. "It counters the Wolfsbane."

She still looked a bit concerned.

"But that doesn't mean the poison is completely gone. This will only help control the pain," she said, putting the vial in my still shaking hands.

"Thank you," I said to her and Gramma in a quiet voice.

Renee's new pack, Haykadi, was skilled with plants and magic. I should have known she would bring something to help with her.

"Both of you need to eat. I'll bring you some breakfast," Gramma said, getting up.

I held her hand to stop her.

"No Gramma. I'll join you at the table," I told her.

"You need to rest Rayne," Renee said.

"I'm better now," I told her.

I'm better than this.