It was Deacon.

"Deacon?" I frowned, looking at the woods behind him from whence I came.. then at the path to the left that led towards where Grace was staying with the oracle. "Where did you come from? Grace's?" I rose a brow.

He smiled, shaking his head. "No. I dont talk to that female. I was in the woods, saw you running so i followed you down here. Hey, you think we can talk?" He bit down on his bottom lip nervously, blue eyes pleading with me.

I sighed inwardly. I pray he didnt see Zaryn enter that treehouse after me.. I hope he didnt know anything about that. It would only cause chaos.

"Yeah sure. Where do you want to go?" I relented.

His lips turned up into a smile before splitting into a grin. "Come on, we are going out on the boat." He tugged my hand, pulling me along with him, not giving me room to protest.

I really didnt want to.. but then i recalled the last time we were out on the boat. When i was holed up in my room for two weeks.. he helped me then. He has always helped me and ive been pushing him away lately just because of his overprotective attitude toward me.. i owe it to him.

"Alright." I smiled

He led me to the row boat by the dock and helped me in before he climbed in himself. We began rowing down stream, the paddle caressing the water as it plunged through the surface but i felt eyes on my skin. Looking up behind Deacon, i saw Zaryn, looking down from the cliffs where i had been at just a moment earlier, he seemed to be frowning with fists at his sides. These two brothers were driving me crazy with both of their protective instincts.. hating each other.

We managed to row downstream, away from curious eyes before we stopped about a half mile away, just sitting.

Deacon's eyes lingered on me a moment before he gazed at the locket around my neck. I had forgotten to take it off.

"Nova. I want the best for you.. always." He spoke softly. "My brother.. he is going to wind up marking Grace and its going to crush you. I wish you could see that. When you would go see him.. building ideas in your head.. expectations..it only makes it worse in the end. I wish you would trust me."

I shook my head angrily. "I know what could happen Deacon. Im prepared for the worst case scenario.. trust me. But those moments, letting me know how he felt.. it helped me to become numb instead of dying inside, wondering if he just never even wanted to give us a chance. I got answers now.. and i can live my own life now. Im not waiting for Zaryn, Deacon. Im focusing on me. Yeah there are things im trying to uncover for the people that matter to me.. but this whole thing is messed up. Someone mainly Zaryn, im positive, is being played. So despite my feelings about everything that has happened... im going to be fine.. might even meet someone i like. But i wont let you or anyone else tell me what i should and shouldnt do Deacon. Im a big wolf now. If i want to bring myself pain then i will.. and if i want to live my life, i will.. which im trying to start doing. But people like you aren't helping." I growled low, watching his exlression.

He sighed defeatedly. "I get it Nova. Im sorry. You know i love you right? Im always here for you.. just come to me. Okay?" He softened his gaze staring into my eyes with those blue deep infinite eyes similar to Zaryn's just slightly darker.

I guess we buried the hatchet.

He sank down into the bottom of the boat and held his arms out with that puppy dog face that used to get me every time. Huffing, i fought a smile as i climbed down and turn to lay my back against him as we just watched the water splash occasionally with bass when they would flip out of the water.

"This is nice." He inhaled. "Just me and you... how it used to be before the unmentionables came along.

I couldnt help but to giggle at that. Peering up at him as my head lay on his shoulder, my lips drew into a smile. "Yeah. It is nice to have the old you back. Not the father version of you." I giggled.

We sat out in the boat until it started to get dark and that's when he suggested paddling back to the pack grounds.

After we docked, he pulled me up onto the wooden platform with him and into his chest, nose goig to my neck which made me uncomfortable. He was too close.

"Nova, your heat is coming soon. My wolf can smell the sweetness seeping from your skin." His voice was rough and broken. I felt warmth flood in my face, backing away from him quickly, his arms leaving my back.

"Um. Yeah.. mom is going to lock me away when it does. No worries. Its not for another week or two." I forced a smile. He pulled me into him hard again, nose going into my neck once more.

"I can almost taste your scent on my tongue Nova.." his tongue dipped out and darted across my flesh giving me that feeling only Zaryn has ever given me. Suddenly i panicked and my wolf surfaced, teeth coming out. A snarl from me broke him out of his trance and he let me go with widened eyes.

"I-im so sorry. I dont know why i did that." He looked down nervously, a blush spread across his cheeks. This was humiliating for the both of us. My wolf didn't like him getting too close. She wanted only one wolf... but my human form reacted to him.

It had to be his wolf sensing my heat.. its something you cant escape.

"Um.. its ok.. i know it wasn't you.. Well... i gotta go eat dinner. Ill see you tomorrow ok? Oh! By the way. Guess who is back!?" My smile brightened, not wanting him to feel embarassed.

"Who?" He frowned.

"Eden!" My grin was contagious because soon he was grinning too, all traces of embarassment vanished.

Deacon, Eden and I used to get into the biggest and best kind of trouble.. always sneaking around.. pulling pranks on other wolves.. they called us the trio of trouble.

"Shes with the oracle.. i dont know about living arrangements yet but shes here for good.

"Good" his grin toned down to that of a sly smile. He knew trouble was back in the crescent moon pack.. and it wouldn't be long until it started. "Hey Nova. Don't forget what tomorrow is.."

I turned to face him, confused as i cocked my head to the side.

"The healer is coming."

Words i didnt want to hear.. something i had forgotten about. I had a really bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.