I could see it then, the resemblance between Lilth and Alec, her half-brother. Grey-blue eyes which seemed to hold some sort of cold disdain at times, and the dark hair was what they both shared.

"Is something wrong?" Alec asked quietly when I remained unmoving in my seat, widened eyes travelling over his face again and again.

"Do not tell anyone that there is lycan blood in you." I finally spoke, my voice hushed as I held his worried stare. I didn't need to explain why; this boy had seen the massacre of lycans in that town, and understood that the chances of him being killed was possible.

Alec's eyes lowered to the okras on his plate, and he began to toy with it, whilst I didn't bother to eat. I had no appetite after witnessing today's events.

"You didn't tell me your name." Alec noticed after a moment.

"Olivia."

Alec's eyes narrowed slightly, and he paused, but then carried on eating just when I thought he was going to say or inquire more things about me.

I remained seated in the dining room chair as he ate, with my thoughts racing. Lilith and Alec's father were, more than likely, searching for the boy. And I knew that Alec obviously yearned to be back with the remainder of his family.

However, trying to leave, with just him and myself would rouse suspicion; an experienced trainer or commander would need to travel with those who chose to leave the community, so that there could be some form of protection if danger came.

And if I did manage to convince a commander to come with me, I had a strong inkling that they would be watching my actions closely, as I was still new to this community and I was certain that they didn't trust me.

I could attempt to make the excuse that I needed products for the food or something for the house, but there were several small shops nearby that provided those necessities already.

"Are you okay?" Alec's voice reached my ears and I frowned at the question, and it took me several seconds to comprehend his words.

His pointed stare made me realize that I had been rubbing my palms up and down my pants noisily and I stiffened, gripping the loose material and then stood.

"No," I told him truthfully, holding out a hand for his plate. "Are you finished with that?"

He nodded solemnly, handing it over and I went to the sink, washing the plate clean.

It was whilst I was turning and drying my hands with a kitchen towel that I noticed that Alec had begun crying, releasing soft, mournful sounds that made me shudder, and the strong, calm composure I had been struggling to keep up began to crack.

Walking to the boy and pulling him into a hug didn't ease his tears, which I expected. The killing of a parent caused much grief, and that overwhelming, heavy emotion was something I was familiar with.

Alec's hands wrapped around my neck when I stood with him in my arms, feeling his warm breath and tears hitting my collar bone as I carried him to my own room.

I didn't say any words of things will be better, or everything will be alright, because I couldn't promise him those things. Instead, I sat with him on my bed, just holding him as he cried, running my hands up and down his back, comforting him in ways in which I had hoped someone would have done with me after my parents were killed.

My eyes flooded with unshed tears as I thought of the extreme turmoil, confusion and sadness Alec was feeling, and I continued to hold him until he fell asleep.

I shifted him to lay on his back on the bed, lifting the covers to his chin and then grabbing a handful of clothes I would change into after taking a shower. I left the room, clothes under my arm as I walked quietly to the bathroom, but a knock at the front door made me pause.

My heart began to beat wildly in my chest, and I stood still for several long seconds, glaring at the wooden door, hearing the knocking again, sensing the impatience in the sound. I placed the clothes on a table and walked slowly to the door, cracking it open slightly and blinking in surprise at the sight of Helda.

"I need to speak with you." Helda spoke after we stared at each other in silence, our faces showing both of our distress. I nodded slowly, but raised a hand when she tried to step inside the house.

Instead, I joined her on the porch, my hands slipping into the deep pockets of my pants after the cold bit at my exposed fingers.

"Did you know that they were going to kill them?" I asked quietly, turning slowly to face Helda, who immediately shook her head. Her blue eyes were glistening, and I fought the urge to comfort her.

Helda wiped the back of her hand against her mouth, as if resisting the urge to vomit and she swallowed audibly, only lowering her hand to speak, "I didn't know, I swear," She blurted. "I was so confused, and I demanded that Ryker explain his and Corozal's reasons for doing something so…" She wiped her mouth again, and tears crept down her cheeks.

"What did he say?"

Helda inhaled deeply, hands lifting to brace against the railing of the porch, and after a moment of sweeping my gaze up and down the snow-covered road around us, I stepped to her, as she began to speak softly, answering my questions as best as she could.

The council of Corozal had came to know of the humans being imprisoned by a lycan in Woodsworth three weeks ago, and they had been told so by one of the few humans in that town, who had somehow caught knowledge of this.

It had been assumed beforehand that those imprisoned had left town throughout the night, with the intentions to live elsewhere months ago, which was why none of the lycans had suspected anything about their disappearance.

This person who had discovered the truth had chosen not to inform the lycans of Woodsworth about this imprisonment until the day before we came, and I suspected that the individual knew the intentions of the army in Corozal, and had wanted the slaughtering to take place. Ryker's words mirrored Eric's own regarding why the killings had to happen. It was a message that humans, at least the people of Corozal, intended to take back their towns, through violent force if necessary.

I chewed my lower lip as I thought over Helda's words. Many lycans had forcibly driven out humans from towns, but I also knew that some humans had willingly left towns once lycans came, as they had not wanted to live in the same area as them.

I could only assume based on the words of the former prisoner who I had given my coat to, and the behaviors of the lycans who had been present in that town, that the lycans had perhaps simply lived there, and had intended not to cause any harm to the humans who'd stayed in Woodsworth.

But that clearly didn't matter to the people of Corozal.

"Eric told me that you're allowing a boy to stay with you." Helda said, and I nodded in confirmation, not saying anything more regarding that subject.

"We can't stay here." I told Helda.

"I know. But Eric won't let us leave. The council won't let us leave either; they'd probably think that we would tell others where Corozal is."

Helpless. That was how I was beginning to feel. That, and terrified.

"Perhaps we should have stayed with Hannes." Helda murmured. My eyes shot to her's, and she held my surprised stare for a long moment before pushing off the railing and walking away, leaving me to stand alone on the partially snow covered porch.

**********

Alec sat cross-legged on the floor of the house, eyes staring into the flames and hands gripping his bowl of cereal with milk. I was behind him, pacing back and forth, eyes moving to the door every now and then, knowing that because I hadn't left for training today that someone would be knocking, inquiring as to why I hadn't left my house.

And, to my surprise, it was Quinn who came. Alec remained seated by the fireplace, back facing her as she forcibly entered the house.

"I can't come to training today." I told her, unable to hide my anger at her behaviour. Her green eyes narrowed, lips painted red thinning.

"Why?"

I allowed my body to become slouched, anger dissolving as I sought sympathy. "I wasn't expecting what happened yesterday, and I need time to process what happened."

Quinn Collins looked heavenwards, and the scent of ginger drifted to my nose, making it itch. "What do you need to process? That those beasts were killed? Get over it."

My anger returned swiftly and I fought to keep calm. "I won't be coming today for training, Quinn. I won't be arguing with you about that."

Quinn's chin lifted, a sheen coming over her eyes as she looked me over slowly. "I see." When her eyes went to the young boy behind me, I could feel every muscle in my body clench as she tilted her head. Her lips parted, as if to speak, but I spoke,

"Shall I walk you to the door?" I hissed, my smile as stiff as my body. Quinn scowled deeply, and she straightened.

"Let's get one thing clear, young lady," She spoke and her voice echoed in the house and the smell of ginger became even more overwhelming. "You are to respect me, and the people in the council." She stepped closer, and those harsh, calculating eyes seemed to penetrate my soul. "Watch your fucking tone when you speak to me, Olivia. Understood?"

My eyes flickered downwards, to her gloved shaking fingers and then back to her face, seeing the stress lines adorning it. She was restraining so much anger, and I wondered if something had occurred before she had came to this house.

I flinched as her hand shot upwards, as if to seize my shirt, but I grabbed her exposed wrist before she touched me, clenching it tightly, enjoying the grimace of discomfort on Quinn's face when I squeezed, and then released it.

"Understood." I finally responded, voice rough as I watched Quinn rub the pink skin. Her scowl deepend further, and wordlessly she turned and left the house, the door slamming loudly behind her.

After a moment of calming myself, I pivoted, grasping my own bowl of cereal and joined Alec in the living room. He searched my eyes, and there was something about the way he looked at me that made me think that he knew about something that I didn't.

His small lips twitched, but he said little throughout the half an hour in which we ate, and throughout the next five hours.

Eric didn't visit, as he usually would some evenings, which didn't surprise me, especially considering what happened yesterday.

"I need clothes." Alec said whilst I had been contemplating what to make for dinner. I nodded, agreeing with him, and then sighed softly.

There was a nearby shop which was open daily, and inside of it held many clothes which if anyone needed they could get, free of charge.

"Lock the door after I leave." I told Alec, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and squeezing him. He nodded, hair flopping as he did, and he turned back to a puzzle I had found in the house.

I left, noticing the absence of many people as I walked the short distance to the storehouse. A light shone dimly inside, and finding clothes which I thought to be Alec's size was a bit difficult.

I eventually pushed some clothes into a bag, hearing the sound of voices as I hurriedly did so. I was not at all in any mood to speak with anyone other than Alec.

I heaved the straps of the bag further up my shoulder and began to make my way towards the exit of the storehouse, but paused when I heard familiar voices.

"....they know that it was us who killed the lycans of that town," Eric was saying. "And they've requested a meeting."

"I am confused," It was Bryant who muttered. "How did they even request this? And also, of course we eventually wanted to let the Alphas know it was us who attacked the town, but how did they even come to know it was us so soon?"

"I don't know," Eric admitted. "However, the request was made through a broadcast over the radio. Quinn and others are contemplating agreeing to meet and discuss."

"Yeah, discuss." Sarcasm dripped in Bryant's voice. Eric chuckled lowly and my stomach twisted.

"Quinn recently spoke over the phone to the Alphas, and she suggested that they change the location in which they meet, for our benefit," Eric's voice became distant, as if they had begun to walk away, and I cautiously moved closer to the door, holding my breath and straining to listen to his words. "And they have said that they will agree, only under the conditions that Olivia Hamilton is present at the meeting, as well as one of the prisoners we saved."