Twelve hours later, I pace the room.

Zyon has kept me locked in here for twelve hours. He did not return last night. I barely escaped being claimed by him.

He was relentless. The look in his eyes- he wasn't going to back down no matter how much I begged. He wanted revenge for all the years I'd known about him and this was the only way he knew how to get his vengeance.

Perhaps I understood his anger. I slept with someone else, despite knowing who he was to me. He didn't know about me when he slept with Aly. In my defense, I didn't think he'd ever find me. I had planned to hide from him forever.

I sink down onto the floor, running my hands through my hair repeatedly. I am beyond grateful to the timely arrival of Zyon's brother. He's only a year older to Zyon. While Zyon chose to take over the lands of his father, his older brother, Xander chose to create an identity of his own.

He plundered and looted vast lands in the South. Ironically, he was named Alpha of the South. What was it with these two brothers and their ruthlessness that gave them titles?

He had left to welcome him, leaving me here to pace the room. My anxiety hadn't let me sleep a wink. I knew Zyon was mad and perhaps a little confused and a part of me wanted to explain. I knew this part of me came from the bond.

The other part of me wanted to still keep the remaining bits of history Zyon did not know, locked away. I knew I'd have to let him in sometime. How much longer would this go on?

My utmost priority was finding Daniel. After I secured his release, I vowed to turn my attention to Zyon- give this bond a chance. He didn't entirely deserve the amount I'd been pushing him away.

I hear the sound of the door being unlocked and Zyon storms in. I rise immediately from where I'm sitting on the floor. He takes a step towards me and I take one back, causing him to halt in place.

Just because I decided to give this bond a chance doesn't mean that I'm not scared of him. He terrifies me, specially with how he loses control.

He says, as a dark smile overtakes his face.

I see he's still angry. He's this weird mix of angry, needing to get some sort of revenge over me, horny but also doesn't want to hurt me. He's conflicted. There's a part of him that wants to hurt me, but there's another part that just wants to talk to me and get answers.

I feel for the latter part of him, but it's the former part of him that inhibits us from getting anywhere.

He takes a few steps towards me, and I hold my arms out in front of me in defense.

He smacks my hands away.

I nod, without hesitation. It's the least I can do. I feel insanely guilty and by fulfilling some of my Luna duties, I can perhaps ease some of my guilt.

He says, grasping my shoulders.

I flinch slightly but nod my head anyways. He removes his hands off my shoulder. As he draws them away, my eyes happen to land on his knuckles- bruised and bloodied.

I draw up the worst possible conclusions in my head, but the sight of his knuckles and the pain I've caused him, just increases my guilt. I grasp one of his hands, and rub my thumb over his knuckles absentmindedly.

I look up to see his eyes have darkened considerably. I remove my hands at once and realize that I'm sending all kinds of mixed signals. I really need to get my head in place.

I whisper quietly, as I sidestep him and walk out of the room.

An hour later, I'm dressed in a white summer dress, white sneakers and I've put my hair into a high pony-tail.

As I descend the stairs, I hear people chattering away in one of the gardens. There's a BBQ going in one corner, as the high ranking officials of both packs socialize with each other. As I step out, pack members, lightly bow their heads as I smile back and make my way over to Zyon.

My eyes land on Xander. I always thought Zyon had a ruthless kind of vibe, but compared to Xander, Zyon seems kind. It's hard to describe but Xander seemed like the light had been sucked out of him. Ruthless, Uncaring, Rugged, Emotionless and Cold. But nonetheless, like Zyon, he was incredibly handsome.

Perhaps plundering an infinite number of lands will give you a dark persona. Despite his looks, it was his vibe, I couldn't get past.

When Zyon sees me approaching, he extends an arm towards me and I place myself next to him so his hand lands on my waist.

He says.

I note the hint of admiration in his tone. I guess even Alpha's look up to their older siblings. Not that I could ever understand how he could look up to someone as evil as Xander.

Xander takes my hand, kissing the back of it gently, as he says

I ask, jumping right to business. I'd rather not stand around exchanging pleasantries with him.

He says.

Zyon's hand tightens around my waist. I guess he hasn't told his brother everything that has transpired between us. It's almost as if he's trying to maintain this image in front of Xander.

He says. I can tell he wants to let on that everything is fine between us.

I plaster on a sickly, sweet smile and walk away from Zyon and Xander.

As I head inside, I hear a familiar voice, trying to guide people on how to make arrangements. I walk into the room to see Violet desperately trying to distribute duties between a group of thirty female wolves. They seemed clearly confused.

Whoever said Management was an art, was right.

They don't notice me enter the room, but their attentions snap to me once I clear my throat.

Violets eyes land on me. I feel my guilt increase ten-fold. I still need to find some way to apologize to her. She seems slightly agitated and anxious by my presence, not that I blame her.

There's a collective acknowledgement of my presence.

I say to Violet. She shakes her hand and hands me a clipboard. I scan over it really quickly.

I question.

Someone calls out.

I ask.

Someone calls out.

I say, pointing to one half of the crowd.

The wolves depart at once, heading to the guesthouse to make arrangements. I say, looking at Violet.

She nods. I see I'm getting the silent treatment. Again, I don't blame her.

I say.

The wolves acknowledge my instructions and then depart to fulfill their duties. Violet is about to step out of the room as well when I place my hand on her arm, halting her in place. She turns to look at me.

I say.

She says, drawing her eyes away from mine.

I say.

She asks.

When I nod my head, she continues,

She pauses and hesitates, perhaps feeling like she has said too much, but I raise my hand up and gesture for her to continue.

She says.

I smile at her.

Violet nods her head. As she moves to get up, I say,

With a bow of her head, she walks out to see to her duties.

I'm left sitting there, contemplating my thoughts. I owe Zyon an explanation. I will perhaps give him one when I get the chance. Even though, I don't want him knowing to what extent my life had been about him, I don't think I have much of a choice left.

Just as I am leaving the room to join Zyon again, I hear the sound of heavy footsteps coming towards me. Xander appears from around the corner.

I say.

He says.

I nod politely at him as he walks away. He looks forward to speaking to me? He speaks very formally. I'm not sure how I feel about him yet. But if he's important to Zyon, I'm open to giving him a chance.

Lost in my thoughts, I don't see Zyon turn the corner, until he's standing right in front of me.

I take a breath.

I feel his curiosity hit me, mixed with a bit of relief- almost as if he's been waiting since the moment he met me, for me to say those words.