"Wake up, Vi."

Visena hardly jostled when Gideon lay her on the main room's couch or when Prim shook her lightly. The Alpha called both Eve and Prim to help Visena change while the men were ordered to stay in their rooms.

"Go away," Visena grumbled, tucking her face into the back of the couch. 

The women sighed. "Can't she just sleep in wet clothes?" Eve rolled her eyes at the grumpy Fae.

Prim frowned at her friend. "She'll catch a chill, Eve. Wait here, and I'll get her some fresh clothes."

Gideon watched after her with tired eyes. He should have kept Visena talking on the way back instead of being extra cautious when her body became floppy. She could sleep anywhere, Gideon thought wryly.

"Here." Prim plopped a new top and shorts in the Alphas arms along with one of his oversized jumpers. "I hope you don't mind." Prim flushed. He frowned slightly, but he didn't mind. On the contrary, it thrilled him that Visena would be wearing his clothes.

"Eve, you lift her, and I'll undress her. Alpha...just close your eyes, I guess."

Gideon turned his back on the women until an unfamiliar growl erupted from behind him. He spun to see a bleary-eyed Visena holding his Delta by the throat. Prim's eyes bulged and watered. Visena was still asleep, but her grip was crushing Prim's windpipe. Eve was about to break her wrist when Gideon growled loudly.

"Release her!" His tone seemed to breach her sleep-riddled brain, and her hand unclasped instantly. A fog lifted from her eyes as Prim coughed on the floor. Gideon expected her to be furious, but she looked like a kicked puppy.

"Prim? What happened?" Visena looked from Gideon to Prim, eyes wide.

"I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have tried to change you while you were sleeping." Prim wiped away tears as she sniffled.

Visena was horrified, "Did I hurt you?" She noticed dark bruising around her friend's throat. "Oh no. Prim, I'm so sorry." Visena reached for Prim but paused when she flinched. 

Her hurt expression physically pained Visena."I'm so sorry." She slid off the couch and sat on the floor next to Prim. She wanted to hug her but was afraid of Prim's rejection. 

Prim seemed to read her mind and leaned in for a small hug before gingerly pulling back and remarking, "you are insanely strong." They shared a rueful laugh at the comment. Visena brushed Prim's red locks behind her ears and rested their foreheads together.

Gideon and Eve looked on with a mix of confusion and frustration. A Fae had bested another high-ranking member of Gideon's pack.

Eve didn't understand why after being brutally choked, Prim wasn't angry with Visena. Instead, she appeared to be looking at her with awe.

The pack's Gamma started to suspect Visena was not who or perhaps what she said she was. Even when Eve wanted to be mad with Visena, she couldn't. She respected her. It was annoying.

"I'm going to bed," Eve grumbled before padding up the stairs.

"You should go to bed too," Visena told Prim. "I'm really sorry. I'll make it up to you in the morning."

"Yes, A-" Prim's head shook slightly, ridding a thought. "I mean, yes, Visena. I'll see you in the morning." She walked up to her room, head down. Prim's mate warmly embraced her at the top of the stairs. Gideon met Orion's eyes with an apology, and he nodded with a frown. 

Orion looked over to Visena, who was still dripping water on the hardwood floors with a question in his eyes, but Prim shut him down. "Let's go to bed."

When the house was quiet again, Gideon approached Visena. "What was that?"

"I don't know."

"You growled."

"I was asleep."

Gideon sighed. "Get changed into these, and I'll take you to your room."

"I can find it on my own, Gideon." Visena turned and stripped off her wet clothes.

He bristled and turned around too. "I'm just making sure you're not going to run into a dark forest in the middle of a storm or kill any of my pack members."

Guilt and shame were causing turbulence in Visena's stomach. She threw on the soft navy jumper and sighed before padding to the front of Gideon's towering form. "I didn't mean to hurt her. I would never want to hurt anyone in your pack. I swear it."

Her earnest expression and painfully obvious guilt troubled Gideon. The fact that Fae couldn't lie wasn't lost on him either. "Let's just go." He walked ahead of her, and she followed quietly behind.

Visena wanted to cry, but she couldn't. Instead, her gaze lingered on Prim's door regretfully before Gideon's grip on her shoulder spurred her onward.

The Alpha's muscular arm held the white door open for Visena to duck beneath slightly. She sat on the edge of the bed and kicked her feet. "Rest, Visena." She nodded without meeting his eyes. 

She didn't want to see whatever expression he had on his face. Anger, pity, betrayal, or worst of all...

Disappointment.

Gideon held no such look, though. He was just confused and dog-tired.

With a sigh, he closed the door and left her there. 

Alone.

***

It didn't take much for Prim to warm up to Visena again. Eve watched their interactions with mild chagrin. 

Prim probably forgave her while she was still being choked. 

Eve gulped when she realised how kinky her thought just was. She rubbed her face and continued watching Visena dart around the kitchen, making Prim breakfast. 

Prim was flushed and giggled as Visena got coated in flour. The Fae tried not to spit the white powder across the bench and had to stifle five sneezes in a row. "I'm trying to make crepes, okay? I just don't know why it's so hard to follow a stupid recipe!" Throwing the recipe book down was a terrible idea as more flour flew into Visena's eyes. "Ahh!"

Gideon walked into the bombsite of a kitchen slowly with a furrowed brow. "What is happening?"

Even Eve started to snicker. "Visena's apology."

Visena was still blinking rapidly, trying to rid her tear ducts of gunk. Suppressing a chuckle, Gideon marched over and raised his hands to her face. "Close your eyes." She obliged as he gently swiped all the dust from her cheeks and nose. Gideon even tousled her hair, sending shivers down her spine. "Now open."

Visena painfully pulled her lids apart, and he blew a sharp breath into them. "Ah, Gideon. You didn't even warn me!" She blinked a few times and realised her silver orbs were clear.

"Thanks." She murmured before turning back to the crepes.

Gideon sat back and watched with Prim and Eve, who gave him strange looks. 

Visena was surprised she didn't need to shoo anyone from assisting her, but Gideon understood. 

She had to do this on her own, to apologise. 

 Liam, Orion, and Jed came in when Visena finally had control over the condiments. "Why are you making us breakfast?" Jed's tired voice broke the silence. 

Liam's shoulder bumped him. "Have you ever heard the saying, 'don't bite the hand that feeds you? Jeez." He settled into his chair with a familiar grin. "Do continue, dear Fae." 

Visena grinned back. She was glad there was no animosity between them.

Orion, however, was cautious around Visena. He knew she had hurt his mate, but Prim was so quick to defend the Fae girl, which only confused him more. Orion sat next to his mate and held her close.

Soon, everyone in the packhouse had four crepes covered in jam, fresh strawberries, and chocolate chips. 

Everyone felt uneasy having Visena serve them but happily ate the warm food on their plates. She sat alone at the centre island to eat her breakfast when the previous chatter ceased. Prim, Eve and Liam sidled up next to her without a word.

"What do you think you're doing, Vi?" Prim questioned, nudging her arm.

"You don't need to isolate yourself," Eve added with a grumble. "We know it was an accident."

"Huh?" Liam asked with his mouth overflowing. "What are you two talking about?"

An uneasy quiet settled between the women. Their eyes were darting to one another. Finally, Visena gathered the courage and turned to Liam. "Prim tried to change my clothes while I was sleeping, and I um... choked her in my sleep." Visena felt even more guilty admitting it out loud.

Orion growled from the table, but Gideon shot him a dominating look. He quickly stopped and pouted slightly as he finished his breakfast.

"It was an accident, and I forgive you, okay? Seriously." Prim squeezed Visena's hand before leaving to wash her plate. 

Liam was still sitting with his mouth hanging open. 

Eve slapped him on the head. "Close your mouth, Beta. You'll catch rats." Liam nearly choked before swallowing painfully and returning the playful slap.

"Guess I was right about you having claws then, huh?" He chuckled and excused himself.

Everyone helped tidy the kitchen and prepared for training while Orion and Prim checked on the Blood Witch. 

~~~

A/N

For some reason, I can't think of anything clever to say!

Oh well, thank you so much for reading!

Until next time...

<3