Once i made it to the top, my secret spot, i felt at ease. My stomach wasn't in knots for once.. anxiety didnt cripple me, and my shattered heart was still, not moving. Looking down onto the pack house that seemed so small from this vantage point, I could see pack members having a mud fight near the lake. They seemed like smal grains from up here. I was on top of the world.

I dipped my feet in the stream along with my flip flops, cleansing them as i stared up at the clouds that seemed to be moving, spreading apart so that beams of sunlight could peek through but just barely. A rainbow appeared in the distance, shimmering through the sky.

I exhaed happily as I turned towards the wooded area behind the cliff and and walked through the wet clovers to the hidden tree house behind the treeline that shielded it. Once i finally made it up into the tree house, i checked our cubby hole, noting that there was no letter for me yet. Feeling slightly disappointed, I left mine.

Our first correspondence. I wouldnt keep this up, i just needed answers and I needed to tell him what I knew about Grace. I had this gut feeling something bad would happen soon and this was our way of keeping each other informed.

After sliding the piece of wood over the hole, i looked around the room, my eyes falling to the matress we had shared moments on. My stomach lifted with butterflies, remembering the things we did. The things we shouldn't have done. But i dont regret it. Not yet.

Just as i was about to leave, the hatch swung open causing me to jump in surprise until i saw it was Zaryn, his blue eyes widening when they landed on me. My heart was racing.

"Oh my gosh Zaryn what are you doing here!?" I panicked.

He smiled up at me, those dimples forming below his model high cheekbones. "the same thing you are i suppose?"

I glanced out the window, paranoia setting in. I know someone was out here last time.. i felt it. "Well we should come at separate times.. i dont want anyone snooping and catching us around each other." I crossed my arms as I shifted my weight to the side.

He stood to his full height, ducking slightly as his eyes raked over my body, darkening slightly. "Yeah. We can do that. Im sorry. I just wanted to give you this." He held out the letter and I took it, my skin brushing his for a brief moment, giving me chills up my spine. I would read the letter later, i thought, as i stuffed it into my pocket.

"Here" i took my envelope out of the cubby hole and handed it to him. "Zaryn you lied to me yesterday. About seeing Grace before you came here to see me." I accused, my eyes meeting meeting his, hurt crossing my features.

He let out a breath, lookin down. "Im sorry.. i didnt want you upset but i didnt exactly lie. I didn't lay eyes on her. I just asked Nic if the pup was ok. Im sorry Nova." He looked me in the eyes and I knew he was telling me the truth.

I nodded, expecting he would say that.

"Wheres your necklace?" He asked with a hurt expression. I cringed inwardly, remembering I had taken it off earlier.

I pulled it out of my pocket and put it on before i met his bright blue orbs once more. "I saw Deacon. He knows you gave this to me."

Zaryn smiled a little. "He should. I showed it to him the day after I came back from the North. When i told him i was stuck. He told me not to give it to you... but now here we are."

His smile was contagious but i didn't feel like i should be here in this moment. It felt so nice being in his presence but it was bad for me in the long run. I couldnt take my eyes off of his though.. "Zaryn. In the letter.. I'd like to go ahead and tell you.. my brother talked with Grace. She kept telling him that they couldn't have been together anyway.. said she never had any interest in finding her mate because she didnt want one. That he would have only gotten his heart broken. She told him even if she wasn't set to mate with you... she still couldnt be with him because he isnt alpha born. He asked what if he had been and she said it wouldnt have mattered .. that her path was already chosen for her. When he asked her what would happen if she lost the pup, she said it wouldnt matter because she would already be mated to you or either another alpha because she needs an alpha to bring to her fathers pack! You cant tell anyone i told you this... but Zaryn.. she assumes that you and her will be mated soon.. "

His eyes were wide, anger pulsing in his body. I could feel his agression radiating out of his skin the same while his jaw clenched. "No. That will never happen. Nova... between the fact i couldn't sense her heat.. and now this information.. her seeming so desperate for an alpha mate... im thinking she made this happen Nova." His eyes cast down on me, worry showing through as I expressed my sadness before they switched to anger once more.

I bit my lip, thinking if i should tell him the next.

I have to. I have to tell him.

"One more thing. Conrad is coming. He knows about Nic being her mate now but tell no one because she doesn't know and we want to keep it that way." I pleaded.

Taking a deep breath, he nodded solemnly. He stared down into my eyes, wanting to reach their depths. "Nova. I will find out what happened when i was there. I will find out what Grace is up to. I promise. " his hand rested on my shoulder at which i shivered and moved away from the satisfying touch.

My eyes darted around, ignoring the pain in his eyes. "I need to go. I just wanted to warn you.. and get answers. Ill... ill write you again soon if anything comes up." I made my way to the hatch before he spun me around, hand in my hair with the other on my lower back, eyes gazing at me with an intensity. "I love you. Dont forget." A blush crept up my cheeks and i nodded, smiling. My stomach flipped with his touch and his words...

If things would have been different, i would be happily with him. But even if he isnt at fault on this... he still has a pup on the way. That's something i can't compete with.

I climbed down the treehouse quickly, not wanting another moment there to make me fall for him and not wanting to get caught but its like i could feel eyes.. watching me.

I ran, speeding my way down through the path as the sun shown brightly above me now, drying up the rain. I burst out of the woods and into the grass at the bottom of the slope before i slowed down, the feeling of eyes on my skin had me spooked but I still felt them. As i began walking slowly, trying to catch my breath, I searched around, looking at the wolves swimming and laying out, playing volley ball on the lake's beach. The tap on my shoulder had me spinnimg around, ready to attack, my heart stuck in my throat.