"He's arrogant." Andy hissed, loathing thick in his voice.

He wasn't wrong, Osiris was an asshole for lying to me and forcing his brother and everyone else to play along with his delusional scheme.

Osiris tried to assure me his intentions were pure but pure or not he still viewed me nothing less than a pest. I was a nat that couldn't be swatted away. The same feelings that flooded me back at Dark Titan when I was picked on came back to me when I thought about what my own mate did.

He didn't really want me, he never did, if he did he would have came clean much sooner. He wouldn't have lied to me if he really accepted me.

The cool breeze that fanned my face made me aware of the tear that escaped my eye. I rubbed my cheek with more force than needed to wiped the remnants away.

"What do you plan to do now?"

His question left me speechless, as if I had thought that far ahead. It wasn't that I was not actively trying to figure out my next course of action it was the fact that ever attempt I made to decided left me with a sickening feeling. Every thought that started out as a great plan and hopeful in helping me heal left an ache in the pit of my gut. The thoughts left me revolted at any idea that entertained the possibility of leaving this pack.

I couldn't explain it but there was this nagging feeling that redirected me each and every time I came close to following through and packing my stuff up.

With a huff of exhaustion I flopped down into the desk chair. I rested the back of my head against the top edge of the less than comfortable swivel chair. The action drew a hiss out as my neck cracked from the awkward angle.

"So I take it you haven't thought much about what to do next?" Andy presumed.

His support and company was keeping me sane. I couldn't imagine how I would have handled this news alone.

"Not at all." I mumbled.

Andy moved to sit on the floor in front of me and as I gazed down I was welcomed with a sincere warm smile.

"If it's an constellation he isn't treating you much better than Philip did, and Philip isn't even your mate. I may be human but even I know that's no how you treat your significant other."

"I could leave this place." I blurted regretting my words as the fell from my lips.

It was something I thought about to myself, I had no intention of sharing that idea with anyone but it was now too late to take it back. I was thankful that it was only Andy who heard it.

"Where would you go? How would you live on your own? You've never lived my yourself before Sera."

I shrugged. "Who cares it probably much better than living in a house with a mate that never truly wanted me. For all I know he's just having me stick around to give him a pup. I wouldn't be surprised if he tossed me to the side afterwards."

"You think he'd really do that?"

"Philip would, and like you said they aren't far from being the same."

My heart felt like it was tearing itself up with each of my words. My mouth and throat had suddenly grown dry with apprehension. I had to tug the collar of my shirt from my throat when I found the fabric claustrophobic against my neck.

"Sera, you didn't get far last time and as your friend I honestly don't think it's a good idea."

"So you want me to stay?" I accused.

"No! Not at all, I'm just saying if I were you I wouldn't just leave. You don't know what else is out there and since your practically human the thought of you wandering around on your own is dangerous. Leave if you want, but I think you should plan it all out before you just up and go. You should probably wait until after winter."

Andy had a point. If I left now in the middle of the harsh winter I was as good as dead. Osiris mentioned how harsh the climate can get this high in the mountains and though I may see him as a manipulative asshole and a liar but I found this to be true.

Winters were difficult here and as much as I'd rather be anywhere but here, here is where I'd have to stay until spring. I could avoid him I thought. I could hole myself up in my room until I was able to see the greens of the trees again.

"It wasn't supposed to be like this."

Andy scanned over my face his earlier smile long gone now as he frowned. "He should have treated you better regardless if he intended for you to be Luna or not. He should be treating you better, he should be treating everyone better being the alpha slayer and all."

The resentment in his voice was clear causing my stomach to knot up more. There was this sick feeling that grew every time Andy spoke lowly about Osiris. It was like each negative word was some how digging deeper into my chest making my breath hitch with every exhale.

"Can- can we please stop talking about him. I'm so tired of thinking about him." I insisted clutching my chest.

"I'm sorry Sera, I had no idea."

There was a knock on the door as Andy moved to rub comforting circles into the meat of my calf. I was too busy focusing my breathing to notice the person at the door had walked in.

"If you could spend more time time reading your friends emotions instead of tearing down her mate to make yourself feel better you'd know your upsetting her." Ivy's voice captured my attention and I shot my face up to see her.

She eyes Andy through narrowed skeptical eyes. Ivy didn't like him much I could tell that from the way she stared suspiciously at him whenever he was in the same room as me.

"I heard what happened." She commented moving her focus to me. Her once edgy features faltered and she offered a remorseful expression.

"Did you know?" I blurted out knowing the answer already. Ivy didn't even attempt to answer as she averted her eyes from mine. "How could you lie to me too? I thought we were friends."

"I-I didn't want to, really Phinny, I never wanted to be a part of this. Osiris and Desmond wanted someone you could feel comfortable around and hang out with."

"You mean someone to watch her every move." Andy chimed in earning a feral growl from Ivy.

"Andy." I hissed. He remained glaring up at Ivy from the floor. I didn't want another confrontation the energy to handle such a thing was none existent.

"She started it spitting insults at me and-"

"Andy." I scolded. He tightened his lips together into a straight line before dropping his gaze to his lap.

Sighing I looked over at Ivy. "You did hide the truth from me Ivy."

She rolled the hem of her t-shirt between her finger tips. The tug of war her teeth fought as they dug down into the meat of her lip told me everything I needed to know. Ivy willfully played apart of Osiris's game of house whether she wanted to or not.

"I did like lying to you."

"Yet, you still did. Why?" Ivy didn't answer. "Did he force you? Did Osiris blackmail you into helping him? Did he give something to you to-"

"No." Ivy snapped.

The questions fired out of my mouth faster than I could comprehend them all. I knew Osiris wasn't the type to blackmail his own pack members but the possibilities were endless. There wasn't anything I wouldn't push pass that Osiris wouldn't have thought of doing to keep reality far from my view.

"Then what was it?"

Her eyes lingered at the hem of shirt she rolled between her fingers before rolling hers lips into her mouth. Ivy glanced in Andy's direction a slight sneer tugged at the corner of her lips.

"Make him leave." I blinked. She was being so short and rude to Andy, he hadn't done much of anything to spike such an aggressive demand.

I felt much more comfortable with Andy around. He hadn't done anything to harm me or make me feel insane for having been lied to.

"You can't just tell Sera to kick me out." Andy yelled standing up and approaching Ivy. Ivy lit up her eyes an emerald green allowing her canines to poke beneath her top lip. Andy took a single retreating step back from her his eyes flickering to the sharp points around her lip.

"You are a guest here, don't forget that." Her voice was guttural as her eyes beamed with hostility.

"Enough." I stood up sliding my body between the both of them.

I didn't need one of them to spit another insult at one another, I feared if they did Ivy or Andy might just snap. Andy may be human but he wasn't exactly weak or fragile. He was at least six foot or more and routinely workout nearly every day. For a human he was as fit as someone could be without being seen as a body builder.

I placed the palms of my hands flat again this pecks pushing softly I forced him to move back further. Once I had backed Andy away from Ivy a safe distance I dropped my hands but not before Andy clasped them in his.

My head cranes up to gaze at him a sad frown grew as he squeezed my hands.

"Don't make my leave Sera." He pleaded causing guilt to well up inside my chest. "You don't have to listen to her. She's just going to try and convince you they did nothing wrong."

There was a low rumble behind me as Ivy snarled at his assumptions. Andy peered over my head shooting her a glare filled with venom before training his gaze down to offer me a begging look.

"They're going to just spit out more lies. Sera. Don't let them convince you to stay or into thinking they are good people. They're no better than Philip."

I wiggled my hands free from his own. A sickening feel ached in my gut as he tried to fight my effort to break free, he didn't like the fact I couldn't stand his touch. It felt wrong and repulsive. Andy sulked when I took a step back from him.

"I'm not saying what they did was right Andy. I know it was wrong, we both know it was wrong but if I can't leave now I'm the middle of winter then I should at least let them explain themselves. I'll come get you after-"

"No, Se-"

"I'll come get you after I'm done talking with Ivy, Andy." My teeth had grind together as I mumbled through my clench jaw.

He glanced back to Ivy before huffing air out and storming out of the room. It fell silent and in an effort to give us more privacy Ivy picked up the door and attempted to close the door.

"I'm guessing Osiris broke the door." She muttered turning to face me. I nodded my head crossing my arms. "I'll have someone come fix the door for you." She beamed.

"Ivy, we are no longer friends. What did you need to say that you made me force Andy away?"

Her smile dropped when it finally dawned on her that I no longer trusted her. Though I knew Ivy and Desmond followed orders it still didn't change the fact that it was obvious were their loyalty lied. I didn't blame them, but I did intend to drive the fact home that they ruined any future of us being friends.

Friends don't put those that they care about in harms way.

"I don't want you to hate me."

"I don't hate you." I clarified. Her lips turned up but it was only brief. "I do not want to be around you, or Desmond or Aspen and definitely not Osiris. You all conspired to hide the truth from me, and for what?"

"To-"

"To protect me I know. You said that already."

Ivy swayed from side to side pursing her lips. "You aren't going to make this easy."

I snorted. "And why would you think I'd make things easy for you?"