Tyra

My heart is covered in stone.

"Why are you sitting alone in an empty park?" Jett asked.

"Because it's empty," I responded tersely, folding the papers into a single square and tossing it at him.

He caught it without a glance, was a blur of shadow as he went over to the parked car and came back within the time it took me to take in a single breath. Without the papers.

His speed was definitely impressive, nothing I'd ever seen before. Perhaps impressive enough to kill Light before the nightmare set Jett against himself? The thought evoked an unpleasant shiver that had nothing to do with the chill of the approaching dawn.

But it wasn't my place to worry about him. We hardly knew each other and he certainly wouldn't have any interest in getting to know me when this conversation was over.

My heart is covered in stone.

"Why were you running from us?" Jett asked softly, expression guarded but not scowling. "We've been following you around for hours."

"We?" I asked, definitely not stalling.

Jett tilted his head towards the car. "Kane and I."

The man you were just thinking it wouldn't be so bad if he died had spent hours driving around looking for you.

My less than stellar personality was exactly why Jett didn't deserve me. No more stalling. No more hesitation.

"I was making sure Light's cronies weren't following me so they could eavesdrop on our conversation."

Jett's posture tensed. "Light?"

My fingers clenched on the edge of the bench but I kept my voice steady, my tone nonchalant. Like my heart was covered in stone. "Light hijacked my home and kicked my parents out. Then I told him everything about you guys- including the seaweed."

I waited for the explosion. The anger, the shout of betrayal. Unsurprisingly, there was none of that. Yet. I went on. "I wrote about a possible way of stopping Light. It may be the best shot you guys have, and it's detailed so there's no point in keeping me around. Goodbye."

"You know it's pointless," he replied calmly.

My heart froze on a beat.

I quirked a brow. "Getting you to forgive me? I'm not seeking forgiveness, I did what I did to protect my parents."

"I'm not talking about an apology. I mean you can't get rid of me so easily- unless being truly and utterly alone is what you want the most in the world?"

I stared up at him.

He took a step back, gaze growing expectant. "Well? Is that what you want?"

What I wanted?

The thing about building a wall of stone around your heart is that you get so reassured about its presence that you forget nothing in this world is impenetrable. Apart from my foster parents, no one has truly stayed by my side for me and only me. I've been afraid even their loyalty was more out of habit than true desire, but here was someone I've caused nothing but trouble. Who was still willing to stay with me if that's what I wanted.

Crack.

The walls came crumbling down, leaving me a shattered mess sitting on a park bench.

"I'm sorry," I sobbed.

The tears came fast, hot and ugly, the burn of them only a hint of the pain in my chest.

Jett knelt down, drawing me against him, his sweet scent and warmth wrapping around me like a favorite blanket. My heart stuttered once more, but smoothed out as I inhaled into the wool of his coat.

I clung to him. "Don't let go."

"That's the plan," he replied, pressing a kiss to the crown of my head.

***

Ember

The next morning I stood sentinel at the front door, ready to face the pack. I had my hands clasped in front of me and a smile ready when the first car pulled up into the driveway. I felt the nerves flare up, fear rearing its ugly head and hissing that it wasn't too late to hightail it out of here and wait until I was back to normal. To wait until Kane and Jett were back.

"I'm impressed."

It was Helen, coming from the direction of the parked car with a man and woman following close behind. Her parents, I realized with shock. It was kind of like finding out the devil had parents.

I schooled my features while they walked up the porch, looking like they might have walked out of Hera Palace. The Laurences were both blondes and dressed a tad bit too formally for today's casual event. They gave off the same rich aura as Helen but- shockingly- there was a sort of pleasant surprise as they took in their new female alpha.

After last night I'd called forth all the knowledge I had on comic book alien princesses- lots of them thankfully came in different colors- and came up with the look I now wore: a white cardigan dress that stopped mid-thigh and hugged my curves comfortably, matched with white ankle boots and a simple white choker. I'd forgone the usual stores I went to and went to a few famous brands, something I was thankful for now as I faced Helen and her elegant parents. Even my hair and makeup had been put in the hands of a professional (I told him I was going to a cosplaying event) who had expertly applied nude lipstick to my lips, light mascara and straightened my curly hair until it covered part of my face in a vaguely seductive way that dared you to part the stands aside to get a better look.

When I'd looked at myself in the mirror I had the same thought as when I'd looked at those alien princesses: strangely beautiful.

Definitely not laughable.

"Ms. Yale," Helen's mother held out her hand.

"Call me Ember, please," I replied, shaking both of their hands with a smile that wasn't too friendly.

I had no idea if they knew how much their daughter had bothered me and I wasn't one to blame a child's bad personality on parents, but I decided to keep my guard up just in case. "Please go inside, there are refreshments and snacks in the kitchen."

"It's not our first time here," Helen's father grumbled, but his wife waved him off.

"Ember is trying to be polite," she started to pull her husband inside. "Thank you, Ember. We'll see you inside later."

"Wait, I want to ask her why she's turned red-" Mr. Laurence was promptly dragged inside by his wife though, her scolding fading as they moved further inside.

"You managed to pull it off at least," Helen said.

My smile was bland. "You can go inside as well, Helen."

She didn't move, seeming to contemplate something.

My smile turned brittle. "If you're planning on insulting me-"

"I get it now," she interrupted, dark blue eyes meeting my gaze. "I used to wonder what Kane saw in a loser like you." Her gaze shifted towards the open doorway, lips pursing. "Thomas is so fragile, so skittish and lacks any kind of fashion sense. But I still find him sexy. It makes no sense." That said, she shook her head and left me alone on the porch.

I pursed my lips at that. Was she saying I didn't look bad or that I did but it didn't matter because Kane would still be attracted to me? I didn't get the chance to dwell on it, more cars were already pulling into the driveway.

I braced myself.

I greeted each of them with a smile, not faltering once in the face of some of their shock, some casting mocking glances as they ignored my greetings. I made funny faces at kids, laughing along to their delighted squeals. I kind of felt like Santa. Maybe I'd volunteer for the role this Christmas.

Eventually the cars stopped pulling in.

Not one of them had called me out or attempted to perform a public shaming. Sure there had been snickers over barely concealed smirks but that had been about the worst of it.

I had several theories.

1. They just didn't have the courage to challenge me outright, even Beatrice hadn't been all that bold with her sneaky tricks.

2. Kane's threat about what he'd do to anyone who messed with me might still be fresh in their minds, especially if they weren't aware of the fact that he wasn't home.

Or 3. Beatrice had been the only insurgent left since Donna and Co had vacated.

Heck, it might be all three of those things together. Life wasn't ever black and white. You had to be ready for every kind of possibility, more so when you were an alpha.

Slam.

I couldn't see the car from where I was but I heard the three pair of feet approaching.

They were back, I thought, jumping over the stairs and jogging over to them. Tyra was holding hands with Jett, her expression tired but warming at the sight of me.

Encouraged by her reaction, I held my arms up to hug her-

And got swept upwards by a pair of hands at my waist.

"Was it the person you kicked out of the pack?" Kane demanded, scrutinizing me from top to bottom.

I nodded, drinking in the sight of him in return. He was thankfully safe and sound. "I'm otherwise unharmed. Put me down."

He obliged, kissed me on the cheek. "You did well handling it."

I smiled. "Don't leave me alone for another two years at least."

He smiled at that, then moved aside so I could give Tyra my hug.

"You're back," I said, ignoring the way her curls tickled the side of my face. Giggling wasn't appropriate at the moment. I gave her a serious look. "Hopefully to stay?"

She glanced up at Jett. "He'll have to chase me off before I leave this time. Looks like I'll have to start behaving."

Jett simply put his arm around her and pulled her to his side in answer.

I grinned. "Congrats you two."

"Alpha Ember and Alpha Kane, may we have a moment of your time?"

I whirled around. On the porch were ten of the most affluent heads of the werewolf families. The man who had spoken was Rodney's dad, the idiot who had punched Victor. He didn't look happy.

"I hope what you have for me is good news," Kane said, stepping forward so we were standing side by side. I appreciated the fact that he hadn't moved to shield me.

"That'll be for you to judge, Alpha," the man replied, expression contrite.

I didn't like his tone, didn't want to hear anything he had to say in fact. But Kane had taken my hand and was already moving. There was no way out of it.

Just another task an alpha couldn't run away from. In fact, I was starting to notice there were very few things alphas could escape.

I didn't know how to feel about that yet.