"Why do you say that?" Shayne asked.

Now that the words had left my mouth I wished I could have taken them back. The last thing I needed was for Shayne to be curious.

"No reason," I said, trying to play it off. "I didn't mean anything by it."

"Sage, don't lie to me." Shayne warned.

I didn't want to lie to him, but I also didn't want to tell him the full truth. Being mates was making me too comfortable around him. I noticed how I yearned for his touch even though that's not what I really wanted. At least that's what I kept telling myself.

"There's a lot of things you don't know, Shayne, and I rather keep it that way-for your sake and mine. I'll stay and I won't try to leave if you stay out of my business."

"If something is wrong I have the right to know. I'm your mate and I can't protect you if I don't know what's going on with you."

I sighed and just decided not to say anything. There really wasn't anything that I could really do. I wanted to tell Shayne but he would kill me.

I walked in the pack house where Jake was waiting for me. As soon as he saw me he wrapped an arm around me and squished me against his chest. He ruffle my hair and kissed the top of my head afterwards.

"Jake," I whined.

"What's up, little sis," He said mockingly.

I smacked his arm away and glared at him. Shayne came inside the house and casually walked to stand by my side. He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me closer to him. I looked at Jake who was frowning at the two of us.

"I have to go take care of some things." Shayne said.

"Okay, I'll stay here with Jake." I smiled up at him.

Shayne smiled back at me and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

"I'll be back soon."

Shayne leaned down and gave me a peck on the lips. I stood there frozen because it was the first time he had ever made a move on me. Most of the times we would argue and stay away from each other as much as possible. I found it a bit strange but dismissed it. My wolf was purring and I was glad that she at least was happy.

"Don't ever do that in front of me again," Jake said pretending to gag. "or ever."

I rolled my eyes at him.

"He's just being possessive."

"Because he thinks you belong to him like some kind of toy?"

"Don't say it like that." I said frowning.

"Sage, I'm still trying to understand how on earth this happened."

I noticed that same had stepped behind me and it nearly scared me to death. I hadn't sensed him. He didn't look too happy with me but then again, when did he ever look happy with me? I sighed as he crossed his arms waiting for an explanation from me.

"So, what's the story here?" Sam asked, suspiciously looking between me and Jake.

I tried to think about a way to tell him that didn't make it sound so bad. I opened my mouth but Jake interrupted me before I could get a word out.

"You're actually going to risk telling him?" Jake asked me.

"Jake, what else am I supposed to do?"

"Run away with me like you always do." Jake said like it was the logical thing to do.

"She isn't going anywhere." Sam said.

"You stay out of this, mutt." Jake snapped. "You don't know what's good for Sage."

"She's the Luna of Night Shade now." Sam stated. "She can't leave and I won't let her."

Sam and Jake both started bickering back and forth. Mostly they were insulting each other and I was left forgotten.

"I'm not going anywhere." I reassured Sam who looked just about ready to attack Jake.

"Sage, you can't stay here." Jake said whining.

I have Jake a pleading look. He wasn't making things easy for me. I was hoping he would understand. Shayne was my mate and I couldn't just leave him now. Despite everything, I really enjoyed being with him.

"I'm tired of running, Jake." I said, defeatedly.

"I can protect you." He said looking pained.

Jake and I had grown very close ever since we met. I had been chased by three wolves when I stumbled across him. I was in pretty bad shape and Jake helped me out. He saved me from being killed that day and for that I was so grateful. After that incident Jake and I were inseparable until now.

Jake had to take care of some business with other people he was close with. It seems that they had gotten themselves in a tough situation. I knew he took time in getting here because of that.

"I know, but you don't have to anymore." I said.

"That's what I'm here for." Sam said.

I smiled at Sam and nodded. Maybe this could actually work for me and no one would find out, right? I could stay here and ask Shayne to keep me hidden from other packs. First I would have to come clean and I wasn't so ready for that.

"I don't like this."

"You don't have to like it." I told Jake.

"Then I'm staying here with you." The way Jake said it left no room for argument.

I didn't think it was a good idea for Jake to be here. If something happened then he could end up hurt. I wouldn't allow anyone to take a fall for me.

"You have to leave, Jake." I said frowning. "I don't want you to get caught in the middle of this if things get messy."

"Can you further explain?" Sam asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Right," I said remembering that I still had to give Sam an explanation.

I took a deep breath before I said a word. Talking about it was hard. It was a part of my life I wanted to forget but I couldn't. To me t wasn't a possibility to just put it behind me. I kept running from it. I had no way out. I just hoped that Sam wouldn't look at me like I was nothing to him.

"I was kicked out of my pack a few years back. I was stupid back then and I wanted my parents to be proud of me. Our pack was having problems with another pack. There were a lot of problems and the Alpha kept most of them a secret. All we knew was that there would be a fight between the two. I-I was supposed to do something terrible..."

Jake pulled me into his arms and I quietly started crying. I had told him this story many times and none of those times became easier. Now that I was telling someone else it was hitting me hard. I was a coward. I could have done something to stop all of it but I didn't.

"I'm sorry, I still don't understand what happened." Sam said.

"I-I killed someone." My voice trembled when I finished those words.

"It wasn't your fault." Jake said kissing the top of my head.

I buried my head in Jake's chest and continued to cry. I hated that I was crying in front of them. I didn't want them to feel sorry for me. But having Jake there made it so much better. I felt safe and protected.

"I-I killed her, Jake." I sobbed.

"Who did you kill, Sage?" Sam asked in a whisper.

I pulled away from Jake and turned to look at Sam. I wiped the tears away and tried to control myself. I couldn't be like this here. I couldn't let anyone see me this way. Sam was giving me a sad look which only made me want to cry more. He looked just like I felt- pained. I had so much pain inside me that I wish there were some way to just let it out.

"That doesn't matter anymore," I said shaking my head. "I've been on the run for years because the Alpha has been hunting me down."

"He wants her dead for something that wasn't her fault." Jake added.

"And where do you come in?" Sam asked Jake.

"I was so close to being captured a few years back and Jake helped me out. I was ambushed and I would have died if it weren't for Jake."

Sam still eyed Jake suspiciously but didn't add anything. I could tell he was deep in thought and I waited patiently for him to say something. He couldn't tell Shayne yet.

"You can't tell anyone, Sam." I pleaded. "I can't risk him finding me and hurting this pack. He's gone mad looking for me because of what I did."

"Shayne has to know." Sam objected.

"I promise I will tell him but not now. I do want to stay here and I will if this stays between us. I want to make sure that no one will think of looking here for me." I said.

"Sage, you're really making this hard on me." Sam said groaning.

"I'm sorry." I said breaking out crying again.

The last thing I wanted was to out Sam in a bad position. Shayne was his Alpha and had no reason for being loyal to me. He didn't know me, he didn't owe me anything. I hated myself for putting him in that position.

"Don't cry,"

Sam reached out for me but Jake growled at him. Jake wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pressed me against his chest. I clung to Jake longer than necessary but I needed to calm myself a bit. I felt like I was going to break out in never ending tears.

"Okay, I won't say anything but you do have to tell Shay." Sam said. "You also have to tell him the mutt isn't your brother."

Jake growled again and I chuckled. When I looked up at Jake he looked down at me with a sad smile.

"I will, I promise," I said turning to give him a smile. "just give me some time."

"I suggest that you do it soon because Shay has a bit of a temper. These past few weeks have been hard for him and you haven't made it easy. He's calm around you but that doesn't mean he hasn't taken it out on the rest of us."

"I'm sorry, Sam. I'll tell him, I will."

"And you two can't be in the same room alone." Sam was still looking at Jake with guarded eyes. "He might be close to you sage but he's still a male. By the looks of it, he's unmated."

"So are you!" Jake snapped. "Sage is like my little annoying sister."

"Thanks." I muttered.

"She's my Luna, I wouldn't even dare think of her like that!" Sam looked horrified.

"I don't know if I should be relieved or offended." I said.

Surprisingly, both Sam and Jake chuckled at me. I was being serious but seeing them both smiling made me happy.

"I'm really sorry if I'm putting you in a bad position with Shayne. I know he's your Alpha and he will always come first."

"You're my Luna now and I'll do anything to protect you. This is my job. I'm just worried how Shay will react once he finds out. I hope you know he'll kill us all."

I wasn't worried about what Shayne would do to me. I was worried about him taking it out on Sam and Jake. I was just bringing more problems to them.

"He's going to be one pissed Alpha." Jake said.

I could only nod and agree with him.