The pic above is Jasmine aka Jazz. Nics best friend. She doesnt play a huge part until the end

I felt sunlight stream in from the blinds, allowing lines of bright light to cast over my closed lids. My eyes were swollen shut. The only sound being heard were the birds singing their songs and mummers from the wolves outside, splashes from the lake followed.

Glancing at my clock I noticed it was already 10 am. My brother Nic would be here at 12.

We were having a pack celebration for his homecoming.. I could smell the pig roasting from outside the pack house.

How will I make it through today...

Getting out of bed, I trudged to the bathroom across the room. My reflection wasn't me. Dark circles, gaunt cheeks, pale... What I've been dealing with has put my health on the lowest mark of the totem pole.

Grace... She comes from a pack that lies on old traditions.. I felt in my heart that despite Zaryn's words, he would mark her eventually.

He would have to if her father demanded something else if he refused to mark her... Which would either be unmated she wolves or pack land. Pack land was the most sought after but they had a large amount of unmated males from what I heard, he could request he come here and let them see if any of our females are theirs and take them..

Females always went to the males pack in that situation.

But I had a gut feeling... He would want the pack lands. Something inside me told me he would do anything to sway the Alpha into forcing his son to mate with his daughter... A female without honor especially the alpha's daughter would be a shame for him. A spot on his family record.

No alpha wanted that. And no alpha wanted to lose packlands. Especially a future alpha. Zaryn would have no choice.

I felt that familiar nausea rolling my stomach but I took deep breaths, calming myself as I repeated in my head that this wasn't my fault. It was Zaryn's and Grace's. More Grace's since he couldn't smell her heat coming.. An unmated male around an unmated female was like kryptonite. The wolves take over and they don't think about trivial things such as condoms which is why we all get locked up with a house mom in charge.

My heart hurt... I felt dead inside still. I was alone now...

Quickly showering , I fixed my hair loose and wavy, applied little makeup and put on a grass green sundress and gold sandals. I wanted to look halfway decent for Nic's homecoming.

The embarrassment I would have to endure at this gathering had my nausea coming back double time.. Yesterday's fight didn't help... Now they would all be whispering.

Pulling myself together, I made my way downstairs, making sure no one was down there so I wouldn't have to see anyone. I can only imagine what the females would say about me.. The juveniles anyway.

Deciding to skip breakfast in fear that I would see someone, I dipped out of the side door and ran up to the Alpha's office. The visit with my parents could wait. I didn't want to stretch this out, worrying all morning about what he would say to me. I knew it would be about Deacon but... I had to be strong for this part.

Knocking softly, I was greeted instantly.

"Come in Nova." Alpha Blakes firm yet softened tone had me pushing the door open quickly , dipping inside quickly.

I inched into the room, hands wringing. He smelled my nervousness.

"You wanted to see me?" I held myself together because I knew what was going to come. Alpha Blake seemed sad, eyes far off.. He was like a second father to me. I grew up with this man and his family as part of my own family.

"Nova..have a seat."

I eased myself Into a chair before his desk and folded my hands in my lap, looking down at the floor.. Ready.

A long sigh expelled from his mouth... Then taking in my scent of sadness.

"I'm sorry Nova. But as the Alpha, I'm going to have to ban you from being around Deacon. Just for a while... Its.. Become unhealthy for Zaryn to witness you two together while his wolf is preparing to be a father..." I glanced up into his eyes with mine blurred, not being able to see properly.

"Nova. Please. I'm sorry... I wouldn't have allowed this if I didn't think it benefited everyone. Its just for a while. Zaryn is more possessive with expecting a pup.. You are still his and He sees Deacon as a threat and that can destroy the pack. Grace could also miscarry.." He trailed

Hot lava burned through me, drying tears in its wake. "I want her to. I hope she does. We all hope she does. Zaryn too ." I spout out without thinking.

His brows furrowed. "You don't mean that Nova.. You're just upset." He flashed teeth a moment letting me know that I was walking on thin lines.. Wishing the Alpha's grandpup to die. He himself wasn't happy about this union and if she did miscarry, it would be rejoiced by the pack but at the same time, no one wanted to lose a pup. Especially an Alpha pup.

I lowered my head, bowed in submission. I felt angry... Hurt.. Betrayed.

Everyone I loved was fawning over this whore of a female who wound up pregnant with my mates pup... I bristle slightly.. A low warning growl came out of Alpha Blake's chest, advising me to calm down. My wolf surfaced slightly, her eyes seeing Alpha Blake's ..

Alpha Blake snarled. "Reign in your wolf Nova. Put away your claws. There's things you don't know that I don't want you to hurt over. Go to your family. Enjoy the day. Stay away from Deacon. If you must see him, make sure you don't get caught and that you don't smell like him or I'll have to punish you. Can you do that?" He pleaded with me.

He was giving me a way out...

A way to still see my best friend.

I nodded, bowing my head. I felt like dying inside... All this pain.. All this torture... Everyone's decisions have inadvertently affected my life for the worse and I'm the one who suffers. But what did he mean that there are things I don't know?

With his dismissal, I storm out of his office, heading down and out of the back door to my parents home. I just wanted to be with my family now. I'm too cried out to feel sorry for myself. I just felt angry now.

Just angry.

As I ventured down the dirt road, I noticed a few she wolves my age whispering , looking at me. I wanted to hide but my wolf wanted to come out and challenge those juveniles to fight .. I stopped, catching their eyes with mine, holding their gazes.

Both their eyes widened a fraction before looking away. They didn't want this fight. Not with a stronger juvenile then they. Deacon and Nic have always made sure I was trained in fighting. Enough to hold my own.

Turning back to the dirt road, I rounded the bend and walked up to my parents front door. That familiar turquoise door that I grew up with. The smell of home calming my nerves. I could already tell she was baking her famous cherry pie. Walking inside had me jogging down memory lane from my youth.