Three days.

Three days I stayed locked away in my room. I was nearing my wits end. I didn't want to see Desmond and I definitely didn't want to see Osiris. I've had plenty of time on my hands the last three days to play over everything. And I do mean everything.

For one Desmond miraculously started pestering me for attention. After my blow up in Osiris's office he's made it his goal to check up on me about a hundred times a day. I'm not saying I'm not enjoying it a bit but it's too little too late at this point.

Desmond's sudden attention to me isn't the only thing I've had time to process locked away. I've had time to think about how Osiris could so easily disregard my concerns for my family.

I wasn't ashamed for telling him he was wrong and not caring for his pack. Meeting with Philip wouldn't do anything, I'm sure Philip just wants to negotiate or talk alpha business. I couldn't understand why Osiris wouldn't budge.

"Phinny?" Ivy knocked on my lock door. I heard her jiggle the door knob from where I laid silently in my bed.

This had become a routine. Ivy would bring me food three times a day. She'd sit outside my door or a few minutes hoping to see a glimpse of me but I'd always wait until she moved along to grab the tray.

I opened the door once I heard her retreating steps, moving quick I grabbed the tray shutting the door and locking it behind me.

Peace. I needed peace of mind and no one was offering me that. Not between Philip and Osiris at least. Desmond tries, Ivy tries but I don't want pity or remorse, I want action. I want people to put their differences a side for the better good of everyone else.

Plopping down at the desk in front of the window I peered outside as I took a bite of the sandwich.

It was definitely winter now. The first frost had left behind a dead earth with bare icy covered trees and thelandscape was bleak, basket in a lifeless grey. The only pack members I saw outside were wandering around as wolves.

I guess that their wolf forms provided them with more protection against the harsh conditions. It must be nice being able to produce your own protection. It was something I'd never be able to do but it was still mesmerizing to say the least.

There was a knock on my door. I swallowed the mouth full of food that I had and remained still as I listened to the individual jiggle the handle.

I couldn't understand why they always attempted to open the door up knowing that I'd lock it every time. I guessed they thought that I would at some point "get over" it. How could I "get over" the possibility of my mother being tortured, or worse killed?

"Sera, it's me Desmond. Can you please let me in?" I heard a thud against the door and I could imagen him resting his forehead in defeat against the wood.

I glanced to the door then back out the window. It had started to snow again for the second time today.

Another jiggle of the door handle tore my gaze from the window and back at the bedroom door.

"I would make you come out of your room. I just want to see you. I want to make sure that you're alright." He mumbled his voice thick with dejection.

"I'm alive no need to worry about me." I muttered. It was spoken softly but I knew that he heard me.

I didn't want them to think that I would just forgive them for brushing off my concern and desperation. I was more angry at Osiris than Desmond but Desmond just sat there at let Osiris reject my need for help.

Desmond wasn't only the brother to the alpha but he was my mate. Even if Desmond wouldn't have been able to get Osiris to change his mind he stood there and did nothing. There was a sting I felt at the fact that he never stood up for me. He just stood there laughing at the whole ordeal like a child.

"Please Sera, I need to make sure." He insisted.

The sandwich that I had been holding squeezed through my fingers as I clenched my hand into a fist. The mayonnaise oozed between my fingers, the turkey tore as I squeezed in anger. The remnants of the sandwich fell to the floor with a splat.

"Leave me alone Desmond."

"Sera-"

I stormed over to the door yanking it open to come face to face with Desmond. I threw what was left of my sandwich into his chest smearing the mayonnaise into the fabric of his shirt. He took a few steps back at the force but was quick to regain his balance.

"Leave me the hell alone!" I screamed moving back to close the door once again.

Desmond moved quicker than I could react as he bent me over his shoulder and carried me inside slamming the door behind us both. He gently threw me down on my bed. I had to brush my knotted hair to the side to look up at him.

His massive arms were folded over his chest as he looked down at me. I did the same except instead of just staring I offered a cold glare.

"Get out Desmond." I huffed.

"No, you look worse than I thought." He told me scanning over my body with a frown.

I knew I looked a little bit like a mess but I didn't think I looked that bad. Sure, I hadn't brushed my hair in days or took a shower, but I at least brushed my teeth and wore deodorant. I didn't want to spend much time outside of my room feeling as though one of the three were going to corner me.

I sat up with an eye roll. "Thanks for the commentary now get out."

"No," He turned around to pick up my desk chair and sit in front of me. He looked just as comical as the last time sitting in the tiny chair. His huge frame and weight looked like the chair might break in half. "Sera, you haven't been eating."

"Sure I have. You just haven't seen me eating because I don't join you all for dinner anymore." I spat moving myself over to press my back against the wall.

He hummed as I stared in the opposite direction. I listened as he shuffled stuff around, I only turned to look at him when he slammed an object down on the floor.

"And what is this?" I looked at what sat between his knees. It was my trashcan filled with the various meals that I hadn't eaten entirely. "You call this eating?"

I bit the side of my cheek as I looked at the full trash can.

"Sera, this isn't healthy. You can't keep torturing yourself."

I scoffed at his word causing him to look concerned, his frown deepened. He probably thought that I was going to agree with him. I wasn't going to. It felt right to slowly starve myself. If my mom was being torture or harmed by Philip than it only felt right to do the same to myself.

"Say's who?"

"Me, god dammit." He stood up and leaned over the bed to grab me. I crawled up the other side of the bed to escape but I could only move so far away.

Desmond grabbed my ankle dragging me down the bed until I was basically underneath him. I rolled over to crawl back away but he pulled me further down the bed until my lower half fell over the edge of the bed.

"Desmond stop! Leave me alone."

"No, you're eating dinner with us."

"No, I'm not."

My knee hit the ground with a loud thud as I grabbed the sheets of the bed. Desmond and I wrestled for what felt like hours as we tugged back and forth with the sheets until he finally was able to tear the blanket free from my fingers.

Finally Desmond was able to grab me and lift me in the air kicking and thrashing from side to side.

"I'm not eating with you and your bastard of a brother." I grunted as he carried me across the hallway into the bathroom.

He shut the door behind us and placed me down. He made sure to put his body between me and the door as he pointed his finger toward the shower.

"Take a shower, you need one." He requested staring down at me.

His dark brown hair was tousled now that I looked at him. The wrestling match we just had left his hair an utter mess and his cheeks a little red. I had to admit he looked a little cute with his rosy cheeks.

Ridding my head of those thoughts I reminded myself why I was angry. "I'll take a shower but I'm not eating dinner with you guys." I sneered turning around to turn on the water. The water started falling into the tub as I turned around to face him again as it warmed up. "After I'm done I'm going to bed."

He looked me up and down again and cocked his head before he talked. "I was going to wait until dinner to tell you but I guess I'll tell you now, but I'm only telling you because I'd really like you to come to dinner." He ran a hand through his hair. "Osiris met with Philip today."

My fingers pressed against my collarbone as I looked over Desmond's features for any signs that he could be lying to me. He wasn't, his face remained flat.

"H-How long ago?"

He shrugged leaning against the sink. "Earlier this afternoon."

"What made him change his mind?" I stepped closer to him.

I was relieved beyond imaginable at the fact that he changed his mind. A small part of me yearned to know that I made an impact on him changing his mind. I hoped that he cared enough, genuinely, to seeing Philip.

"I sat down and talked to him the other day. Talked some real sense into-"

He didn't finish as I was so over joyed and happy that I jumped in the air wrapping my arms around Desmond's neck. He caught me in time curling his arms under my thighs as I pressed my lips to his in pure cheerfulness. It was quick but I still felt his lips move briefly over my own before he pulled back.

He looked stunned and a little freaked out at the sudden kiss. I didn't miss how he blinked a few times before training his eyes down to my own.

I had the cheesiest smile on my face as he let me down slowly. A little embarrassed at throwing myself at him I combed a piece of hair behind my ear. My smile faltered as I watched his face contort from shock to fear. I instantly felt regret.

"Sorry." I apologized not realizing that kissing him would freak him out.

I didn't think something as innocent as a kiss of joy would overwhelm him. Desmond always seemed to me like a man that has been around with women at least a few times. I didn't think my kiss would be too much for him. Maybe it was the mate bond and it was just.. intense?

"I-I'll leave you to take a shower." Desmond muttered hurrying to the door with his two fingers pressed lightly to his lips as if imagining my own on his. "Dinner is at six."

He shut the door behind him quickly leaving me puzzled. That wasn't like me at all. I didn't mean to kiss him like that, but I was just so happy.

He had talked to Osiris after all which meant he did care about me. He probably just didn't want to object his brother in front of me. The fact that he got Osiris to change his mind left me ecstatic.

I couldn't contain all my joy as I stripped out of my clothes.

For the first time I was more than excited to go to dinner.

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