After the deal, Osiris and I made we had agreed on starting first thing tomorrow morning. I wasn't exactly thrilled to be waking up before the sun was up but Osiris assured me that it was necessary.

Why exactly it was necessary, I have no idea, but I didn't object instead settling on showing my distaste with a cringe. Osiris told me to get over it and to expect early mornings until I'm able to shift.

I wished that I could know if this plan was going to work. I didn't want to risk growing more attached to Osiris. The thought of it made the pit of my stomach twist all the while my head painfully reminds me that he is the other half to me. He was a part of the missing piece that made my soul feel so empty. It wasn't just my wolf I was missing and needing to fix.

My phone buzzed as I wandered into the kitchen for a snack. A text message popped up on my phone.

Mara: We need to talk. Like ASAP.

Everything alright? :Me

Mara did reply right away. I chalked up her reaching out to some gossip she wanted to share with me. Mara was able to know much of the elite werewolves in Dark Titan's secrets. Being the future beta female she knew dirt of just about everyone. She felt safe telling me because it wasn't like I was close to anyone else in the pack. The only other person I would have shared the gossip with was Andy and by then Mara more often than not bet me to it.

Slipping the phone back into my jacket pocket I pulled the fridge door open. There was more in the fridge than there was the first few weeks I was here. I wondered if that was due to storage because of the winter or something else. Storage made the most sense to me.

Being courteous I grabbed a a single Tupperware of carrots. It wouldn't normally be my first choice but it wasn't the worst thing to grab from the fridge to snack on. I don't think chopped carrots was a bad option compared to turnip juice.

I closed the door to the fridge and nearly screamed.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" I squealed. "Jesus, Andy are you trying to give me a heart-attack?"

Andy looked apologetic as he murmured a sorry.

"Did you come in the kitchen for something?" I asked trying to calm my racing pulse.

"Uh- yea, I was actually looking for you." He cocked his eye brow as he eyed the Tupperware. "I thought you were part werewolf not part rabbit."

I rolled my eyes. "There wasn't much else. Want some?" I offered popping off the lid and toss a baby carrot into my mouth. He shock his head instead, leaning his arms agains the island as he watched me a small grin was on his face.

"You never came to get me like you said you would." Andy didn't show it but there was a flicker of hurt behind those eyes.

Guilt welled up in my chest. I had been so overwhelmed with everything else I had forgotten about Andy completely. What kind of friend was I?

I dropped the carrot in my hand back into the container. "I'm so sorry Andy, I forgot. Jensen came by the training cabin a little after you left. I had no idea he was coming to meet me there until he just showed up." I groaned, ashamed.

"Oh," He muttered half to himself. "-well why'd he show up there? Was there something wrong?"

"No, he just wanted to do a progress check or something. We found out that I'm becoming more and more wolf like. So that's good." I said with a smile. "Jensen wasn't sure about what caused the sudden change, but I-"

I paused catching myself before I opened myself up like a book to him. Andy was a close friend and he had always been there for me but for some reason I felt insecure about sharing the facts I knew now. The stuff I only just figured out with Osiris a few hours ago.

"But?"

"But I think I may have figured it out."

"Really? That's great! What do you need to do? I'll help how ever you need." His enthusiasm brightened my mood regardless of the fact I'd have to rely on Osiris to figure out exactly what needs to be done.

"I'm not exactly sure you can help me, Andy. Remember how Jensen had mentioned that the reason I'm not able to shift was because I was possibly cursed?" He nodded. "Well, I think he was right. I don't know exactly what the curse loop is but I believe that Osiris is tied to it... unfortunately." I sighed. "So, we've agreed to put our differences a side and work together to fix this."

Andy raised and eyebrow. "You two? As in you two are going to be together trying to figure out how you can shift? How is he tied to it?"

I shrugged. "I think it has something to do with him being my mate. It's all really up in the air. It a theory I'm trying to test." I popped another carrot in my mouth as I walked around the counter to sit on one of the stools.

Andy followed close behind instead deciding to stand next to me at the end of the island. "I-I thought you hated him."

An ear splitting whine echoed in my head. I flinched at the noise as I waited for the noise to soften. The sound wasn't the only thing that hit me as a sickening feel enveloped my senses. His words had hit me like a punch to the gut when they should have been voided of any emotional response.

They were empty words.

"I never said I hated him. I said he was a lair and an asshole. He still is a liar and an asshole. "

"And you're just going to work with him? Sera-" Andy rounded the end of the kitchen island. His height rose above me from where I sat. He gave me a shaky look. "-we're talking about an alpha using you."

I grimaced as he grabbed my hand. I tugged it away suddenly feeling his touch as something poised. "He's not using me, if anything I'm the one that is using him."

Andy shook his head in disbelief. I tried to understand what could have caused him to become so defensive. I had come up dry with every possibility but that was okay because Andy was more than fine clearing the air for me.

"Sera, he lied to you and then tried to play it off like it was no big deal. You even said it yourself, he's no better than how any other alpha treats their pack. I don't see you making amends with alpha Philip."

"We'll of course not, he's different. Osiris isn't Philip. I know that you haven't been around a lot of alphas, but not all of them are devils."

Andy practically snorted. "You haven't been around many alphas either, Sera. See, you aren't thinking straight and I think it's the mate bond doing that to you combined with whatever deal your mates concocted."

There was some sort of escalating annoyance that brewed inside of me. Andy was human, he had only ever been around Philip he wouldn't, nor couldn't tell the difference between good and bad alphas. Or so I told myself, unable to fathom that possibility of his words.

I didn't want to think that what he was saying was a possibility. I knew it already and contemplated over what exactly Osiris would try and get out of this deal. I had ran it through my head about a million times and I couldn't convince myself that he was manipulating me. It could be the mate bond that is leaving me utterly blind, wanting me to throw myself at him like a piece of meat.

I shook my head unwilling to let Andy nor my own thoughts get the better of me. I knew what was best for me and I intended to follow through with what our agreement was; it was the only way to ensure that I tried everything to reverse this curse.

"Andy, I appreciate the advice and your concern but we can't jump the gun quite yet. We don't know much about anything right now for certain and until we do we have to meet people half way to have any chance in getting what we want and making everyone happy." I explained hoping that it would ease whatever turmoil mess was going on inside him.

It didn't seem to help him though as he dug his fingers into his hair with a a frustrating groan. "This isn't a good plan. What happens if he goes back on his word and keeps you from leaving?"

"He won't" I assured him, though it was more of a reassurance toward myself.

"But what if he does?"

I rose my voice growing more irritated by the second. "Then that's a bridge that we'll cross when we get there."

Andy's eyes grew wide at my words as if I had said the most bizarre thing ever. I looked away with hast. I didn't want to provoke the conversation any further. Arguing with Andy was never a thing I had done before, it was odd and uncomfortable. He was one of my best friends and if I was being honest we never had huge disagreements, sure we argued about what flavor of jolly ranchers were the best and what super heroes were the most powerful but it was never over anything personal. It was never this load and this personal.

I moved quickly to the fridge placing the container back in the same spot and closing the door. I didn't look back at Andy as I ascending the stair case. There was a slight shuffling of some kind on the bottom floor but I ignored it chalking it up to Andy slumping himself into the sofa.

He could pout all he wanted I wasn't going to change my mind. I had too much to risk if I backed out and didn't try. The thought of not trying everything left me that much more determined to fix myself.

My phone buzzed again as I sat on the edge of my bed.

: No, not everything is alright. Philip I think has lost his damn mind.

You're only noticing that now?:

: This isn't a joke! I can't talk because he has spies listening to everything and everyone that was close to you.

What? Why?:

: Philip is planning something. I don't know what but your name and the alpha slayer keep coming up. My dad mentioned that they had people scooting out the alpha slayer's lands. They almost had you, they were looking for you. They were talking about how to get back at him or something. I have no idea what you are doing with that man but you have to leave, Philip isn't going to stop, and I don't want to loss my best friend.

Anxiety rushed through my veins as freezing up my blood like ice. I couldn't believe what my eyes were reading.

So those wolves were after me? Why? I didn't do anything but exist. I didn't hurt my old pack and I didn't betray them. Technically, I had found my mate; I had every right to leave my pack and make a home elsewhere. It was werewolf law. You weren't allowed to keep mates apart, unless it was the mates decision themselves.

The bubbles on the screen popped up and disappeared about a million times before another message appeared.

: You have to leave Sera. There's talks about killing you for being a traitor and siding with the alpha slayer.

I didn't betray anyone. He's my mate.:

There was another several seconds of silence before my phone started blowing up with a ton of questions.

: You're the ALPHA SLAYER'S mate? You are shitting me. That's crazy! Are you okay? Did he touch you? Do I need to come over and get you?

She had quickly peeled herself off topic I had to pull her back in. I needed details. I needed more information. I couldn't let this pack be harmed by Philip just because of me. None of this was making sense but I definitely wasn't going to put anyone else's life at risk for mine.

One, I am perfectly fine. Two, I need to know that my parents are alright. And three, I need to you tell me everything that you know.:

: Your parents are alright. My dad mentioned that they've ben keeping a close eye on them, something about them possibly fleeing. Why would they be fleeing? Is Philip going after them too? What did you do Sera?

I didn't do anything! You know who I am Mara. Think about it, have I ever done anything to amount to this size of a threat to an entire pack?:

: No, no you haven't. I'm sorry I'm just trying to understand everything and nothing is making sense to me. I'll try and get more information, unfortunately this is all I know so far. My dad wants me to be more involved with the pack since I'll be the next beta. I'll let you know if I find anything else out. Please stay safe until then.

I promise. You stay safe too and please don't get caught. I can't imagine what Philip will do to you if he finds out you're telling me anything.:

: Pshhh. That overgrown plush toy doesn't scare me. He should be more scared of your father finding out what he's doing. But I promise to stay safe.