In the morning I woke up next to the pile of ash that was the fire to see only Rose still asleep. I sat up, brushing the leaves off my hair and clothes before I glanced around.

Only ten or so metres from the camp, Tobias and Theodore stood face to face.

"She's not your responsibility anymore, Brynn," Theodore hissed, "Let her go."

He spoke quietly like he didn't want to wake us but his voice was still as sharp and commanding as ever.

"She's my little sister," Tobias replied.

"And she's my Luna now," Theodore said, "Trust me to take care of her."

Tobias's face creased, "Trust you? What reason have you ever given me to trust you?"

Theodore clenched his jaw, "What do you think I'm going to fucking do?"

Tobias shrugged, "I've learnt over the years not to underestimate what you are capable of. And I know for sure that you will take away her autonomy."

"For her own protection but also the good of my pack," Theodore said, "Esme is not like you and me. She's not even like Rose."

"And what exactly do you mean by that?" Tobias asked, raising his eyebrow.

"I mean she's not cut out to lead and will only get in my way. She cracks under pressure, she makes stupid, impulsive decisions and she's small and weak. For that reason, I will not be giving her any opportunity to lead my pack after the war. I will also not let her make any decisions that will compromise her own safety."

Tobias bit his lip and paused.

"You can't even deny it," Theodore said in an amused tone.

"Esme is young. She's still got things to learn," Tobias said.

"She's perfectly ready for everything I require her for," Theodore replied, a sly smile creeping onto his lips.

With that, Tobias shoved his chest hard. But Theodore seized his wrists and threw him to the ground.

"Stop!" I shouted, getting straight to my feet, "Stop fighting!"

Tobias was back up and refusing the surrender, he marched towards Theodore but before they could touch eachother, I had managed to slip between them.

"Tobias, please," I said, putting my hands on his chest as he glared at Theodore, "Calm down."

His breathing was heavy and his shoulders tense and raised as he pressed against my hands. Behind me, Theodore was silent but judging by the furious expression on Tobias's face, he was probably still wearing the sly smile and finding great amusement at my brother's anger.

At long last, Tobias took a deep breath and turned away, the muscles in his back still tight and flexed.

He paused for a few more moments before striding back to Rose, not looking back to Theodore once.

I turned around and scowled at my mate, "Don't you dare say another word to him," I hissed.

His amusement vanished and I found myself falling victim to a dark, icy stare. Without hesitation, I looked away and followed Tobias back to the camp.

Rose had just woken up so I sat down beside her as Tobias headed to the stream with our waterskins in hand.

"We might have to split up," I said with a sigh.

"But we're safer as a four," she replied, completely oblivious to what had just happened.

"Rose, you don't understand," I said, "We've really got to split up."

She looked from me to Tobias and furrowed her eyebrows, "Why?"

"Because Theodore and Tobias can't stand each other and are literally going to kill each other if they have to be together any longer. I take it you've noticed Theodore's black eye? Tobias did that."

Rose sighed, "One thing growing up with two little brothers taught me is that sometimes you just have to let boys fight it out, Es," she replied, "Let them row and they'll settle down...eventually..."

"They're Alphas," I said, "Notoriously stubborn and strong-willed. Neither of them is going to back down."

"But they might just learn to tolerate each other," she replied eyeing Tobias, "Put on their big boy pants and get over their differences."

I sighed and slumped on the floor.

"Oh, Esme have some hope, please," she groaned.

I put my head disparingly in my hands and looked up to her.

"They rub up against each other like a cactus and a hedgehog," I said, "Tobias already hated Theodore for what he did to our pack, then he hated him for dragging us into a war, then he hated him for being my mate. And Theodore hates everything about the way we run the Nightingale pack and can't stand having another Alpha around compromising his power. It's never going to work."

"But he's okay with you? You're effectively an Alpha," Rose pointed out, "You don't have the title but you have all the authority that Tobias has."

I shrugged, "I guess because we're mates," I said.

She looked at me and paused.

"What?" I asked.

"... nothing," she said before shifting her gaze ahead to where Tobias was returning with the water.

"How are you feeling Rose?" he asked.

"Better," she said with a smile as he kissed her on the top of the head.

"We were just talking about splitting up," I said.

"Well... it was just an idea," Rose said, looking up to Tobias who was narrowing his eyes at me.

"Splitting up?" Tobias asked.

"Preferably before you and Alpha Rivers kill each other," I replied.

"Or," Rose interrupted, "You could just tolerate each other. I know you hate him but we're allies and right now, all that matters is winning this war."

"He's the one provoking me," he grumbled, "Esme, you saw him. He was trying to wind me up."

I sighed, "I know. But you weren't helping. Which is why it would be better if you separated."

"Suits me," a voice grumbled from behind us.

I turned my head to see Theodore coming towards us.

"Would you come with Rose and I, Es?" Tobias asked.

"No," Theodore said before I could even open my mouth, "She'll come with me."

"Esme, it's strange. Your voice appears to have dropped a couple of octaves," Tobias remarked.

"She can speak for herself," Rose added. "It's your decision, Esme."

All three sets of eyes then fell onto me.

A nervous smile tugged at the corner of my lips. Rose gave me a reassuring look. Her face was so welcoming, urging me to stay with her. And with my brother by her side, the soft expression that I knew so well on his face, their pull was strong. But then I felt Theodore's hands on my shoulder.

His fingertips slipped under my shirt, brushing the skin on my neck with his warm, firm touch.

"I don't know," was all I could say. "I haven't decided yet."

I then looked away from Rose and Tobias's smiles and stood up, knocking Theodore's hand from my shoulder.

To begin with, Tobias and Thedore agreed that we all needed to head further South from the Northern border so we walked together for most of the day. Rose kept Tobias with her and I kept Theodore with me which meant they only had the opportunity to clash when we stopped to break.

We stumbled across some of Alpha Kane's men, none of whom lived to tell the tale, but we covered miles with no sign of any of our own soldiers. It was weird and eerie and the longer we walked without even the scent of a Pheonix or Nightingale, the more disconcerted we became.

"Alpha Rivers," A voice said, "Thank the Goddesses."

"Lou," Theodore said with a breath of relief, "We were beginning to think we were the only ones left."

I turned to see Theodore's Beta, resting his hand on a nearby tree. His cheeks were blushed pink and a layer of sweat on his face.

He took a moment to catch his breath before speaking again, "And we were beginning to think you'd been killed. The soldiers on the Eastern border are worried about Alpha and Luna Brynn too."

"We had to travel North to rescue Luna Brynn so my search for our men was put on hold," he replied, "Any indication of what's going on?"

"We've lost a lot. The patrol leaders have largely moved their soldiers out of the Northern sector in order to effectively protect the South where the farms and fertile lands are," Lou explained, "I've spoken to many of them. They're just about doing fine."

Alpha Rivers nodded, "That's a relief. The situation was looking dismal from up here."

"I suggest you go to meet with them, Alpha. Morale is dropping, especially as no one has seen you in days."

"I will now I know where they are. Any news of our patrol?" I asked.

"Miles, April and Asher are all still alive," Lou explained, "We've lost Lennon and of course Flynn and Eli were already dead, along with two hundred other Pheonix men."

"And Nightingale soldiers?" Tobias asked.

"Heavy losses I'm afraid," he replied, "But they still fight like with as much passion and spirit as they did on the very first day of this war. It's astounding to watch."

Tobias gave a sad smile and nodded.

"You look as though you need a break, Lou," Alpha Rivers said, "Take ten minutes and then you'll accompany me to our troops in the South."

Five minutes into the break, I was tightening the string on my bow when I felt a hand rest onto my arse and give it a gentle squeeze.

I looked up to see Theodore and smiled. But my thoughts instantly went to Tobias who was sat only a few metres away, talking to Lou and Rose.

As I turned my head to see if he was watching, Theodore grabbed my face in his hand and pulled me into his chest before leaning down and kissing me.

"Can I speak to you in private?" he said, both hands now resting on my arse as our chests pressed together, holding me in a way that meant I couldn't see Tobias.

"Sure," I said and he took my hand and we walked into the forest.

"Alpha Brynn and I have agreed to split now," he said as we walked, "We work better apart. I presume you will be coming with me?"

I paused for a second, "Where are you both planning to go?"

"Lou and I will head South to find my men. Alpha Brynn will head over to the Eastern border where many of the Nigtingale soldiers are fighting," he replied.

I nodded.

"So?"

"So what?" I asked turning my face away from him to look into the trees.

"You're coming with me?" he asked suddenly stopping and resting his hands on my shoulders, turning my face back to him.

I forced a smile but I didn't say anything. I just let my eyes drift into the forest once again, hoping that I could distract myself out of this moment.

"You're different with them," he said as he used the tip of his finger to flip an escapee strand of hair back onto the right side of my parting.

"I am?" I asked.

"You're bolder," he replied.

"Well, they're my family. They make me feel secure," I answered.

"You don't feel secure with me?" he asked.

He looked into my eyes and awaited my answer.

"I feel safe," I said.

"But secure?"

I shrugged.

He sighed and put his hands on my hips, "Spit it out, woman. What's up?"

I smiled and rested my hands on his chest, "I just can't bring myself to put all my faith in you yet," I said, "I don't know you well enough."

"So you don't trust me?"

"I'm starting to," I replied, "But you're...you and I'm...me. So it's gonna take some time."

He nodded before he rested his fingers under my chin.

"We'll get there and then we'll be happy," he said before kissing me softly, "So are you coming with me?"

I nodded, "...Of course," I said quietly as I swallowed a lump in my throat.

He kissed me again, this time pulling me closer to him with his hands that had slipped from my hips to my arse.

"Are we talking or...?" I asked.

"In a minute," he said as he kissed me again.

"Just to be clear," I said a few moments later, "I'm not having sex in a forest only a hundred metres away from my brother who hates your guts."

"Two hundred metres?" he asked hopefully.

I smiled and rolled my eyes, "keep it in your pants, Theodore," I said turning away from him, "Come on. I've got to say goodbye to Tobias and Rose."

"Just one more minute," he said, before leaning down to kiss my neck, "Lou needs to rest before we go anywhere."

I ran my hand through his as he kept kissing my neck with his soft lips. I felt my cheeks heat up and my heart began to race as his hands squeezed my arse again.

"We'll finish this tonight," he whispered in my ear, "When Tobias is far away."

He then finally pulled away and his eyes glanced down to my neck.

After smiling, he brought his thumb to just above my collar bone and ran it along the skin. I felt a slight sting and throb.

"To match the birth mark," he said.

"Theodore, you've given me a hickey?!" I asked bringing my fingers to my neck, "why?"

"Just to remind everyone here whose mate you are," he said kissing my forehead, "Come on. We better get back."

He then firmly took my hand and we walked back to the others. I adjusted my hair over my neck. Fortunately, I naturally had very curly, volumonous hair which with the knots and tangles of days in the forest, I could easily use to cover Theodore's mark.

But as I broke the news to Rose and Tobias that I was heading off with my mate, I felt his hands on my shoulders as he gathered up my hair.

"So yeh. I guess this is goodbye for now," I said as I smiled nervously.

With my hair securely brushed away from my neck, Theodore placed his hands on my waist and kissed my cheek.

"I'll take care of her, Alpha Brynn. You don't need to worry," he added.

Tobias and Rose had both noticed the blindingly obvious mark on my neck. Rose forced a smile but Tobias didn't bother to be so civil and just glared up at Theodore.

"Am I at least allowed her to hug my sister goodbye, Alpha Rivers?" he said in a low growl.

Theodore smiled and let go of me.

"All yours," he remarked as Tobias stood up.

He hugged me tightly.

"Stay safe," he said to me, "And stay strong. I love you."

"I love you too," I said resting my head on his chest.

There was silence for a few moments before he finally pulled away and Rose hugged me too.

"I believe in you little sis," she said.

I smiled and clung to her for a moment more.

"Come on, Es," Theodore said guiding me away, "We need to get going."

And with only a little nod of farewell, I was separated from my family once again.