I take a deep breath as we survey the scene.

Killian's territory is beautiful, no doubt, but I can sense something sinister as we look into the woods. Something terrible lies beyond these trees, of that I am certain.

A chill runs up my spine.

"Be alert," I tell the circulus, and they all nod. Layla gulps. Jae pulls out a knife. Kage wraps his shadows around him, and interestingly enough, I see some of them reach out towards Layla.

They watch as I take a few steps, trying to let my Sight guide me. It takes me a few steps to the right. "There's something... wrong," I say quietly.

"What is it Katrina?" Killian asks, and I can hear the edge in his voice as he begins walking towards me.

Suddenly, I realize what the problem is.

"No, don't!" I yell and tackle him before he makes the wrong step.

Killian looks at me in amusement. "I always knew you were a top."

I scowl and get off of him, making sure I dig my elbow into his kidney as I do so, and feel satisfied when I hear him groan in pain.

"Nobody move," I warn, and everyone freezes.

I pick up a rock and toss it where Killian was going to step. From a tree, a net on a wire drops down before ricocheting back up. It's a trap.

Layla squeals. "I love Seers!"

Killian inspects the net, hissing when he touches it. "Wolfsbane, silver wiring," He confirms.

Maryn frowns. "Traps for werewolves? Who would do this?"

None of us have an answer.

"This explains why we haven't been mindlinked when our wolves go missing," Gabe's eyebrows pull together. "The silver and wolfsbane would weaken them enough to cut off their mindlink."

"So, we were right," Jae says, pensively looking at the trap. "Whoever is taking our wolves wants them alive."

"For what?" Kage asks, his voice a whisper.

None of us have an answer for that either.

I walk to the net. "Maybe if I touch it," I begin to say, pulling off a glove and reaching out my hand. Killian grabs me by the wrist.

"No," He says, his voice and eyes equally dark. "It'll hurt you. Take too long for you to recover."

I roll my eyes. "It's just a little silver and wolfsbane, Killian. I think I'll live."

"I said no," Killian snarls.

"And I said yes," I counter, reaching with my other hand.

Killian grabs that wrist too. "No."

"I think you should let her do it," Maryn suggests. "Maybe she'll see something useful." Finally, someone with a brain.

"I agree," Jae adds, and Knox nods his head.

Layla's eyes widen, and she starts kicking around a rock, not making eye contact, trying not to get involved.

Kage quietly says, "It's a bad idea, Katrina. You shouldn't risk it."

Gabe adds, "I can smell the wolfsbane from here. That high of a concentration could seep into your skin and render you unconscious."

I sigh. "I won't touch it for long. Just give me a minute."

"Five seconds," Killian counters.

"Forty-five."

"Ten."

"Thirty."

"Twenty."

"Twenty-five."

"Twenty."

I sigh again. "Fine. Twenty. Gabe, you're on counting duty."

Gabe nods, but looks anxious.

Killian glares at me before I close my eyes, and I touch the silver netting. I bite my tongue to keep from crying out. The wolfsbane hurts, bad.

Still, I hold on, pushing my Sight to help me See something, anything. I'm on the edge of a vision, I can almost see it. Killian starts to pull me away.

"No," I gasp. "I'm fine, I almost See something."

Killian hesitates, and I can almost See the vision through the pain of the wolfsbane, and push my Sight even harder, though I can smell my flesh burning off.

Unfortunately, the wolfsbane knocks me out before I See what I need to See.

***

When I blink my eyes open, I'm in Killian's pack infirmary.

"This seems like overkill," I tell Killian, who's glaring at me from the chair next to the bed.

"You passed out," Killian says shortly. "I think this is a rational response to that."

I shrug. "I'm alive. I call that a win."

Killian's glare doesn't ease up. "The healer said you burned your hand down to the bone. Said it'll take weeks to heal."

"That is unfortunate," I agree.

And it is. I can feel my hand searing in pain underneath the cloth wrappings.

"Was it worth it?" Killian asks, his voice low, and I'm not really sure why he's mad. Injuries happen. "Did you See anything?"

I sigh in disappointment. "No... There was a vision in there somewhere, I'm sure of it. If you'll just let me try again-"

"No," Killian snarls. "We'll find another way."

"Oh come on, Killian!" I throw my arms up in the air. "It's a little burn. I've gotten worse burns from my curling iron."

Killian blinks.

"One more try," I bargain.

"I said no, Katrina," He says darkly, and for some reason, hearing my name from him instead of darling or dear makes me flinch.

"Fine," I mutter, disarmed by his dark eyes.

They soften. "I brought you something," He says, smiling slightly, though it seems forced.

He holds up a bag from my favorite fast food place.

"Chicken nuggets?" I ask, perking up slightly.

He nods, and a grin is coaxed out of him.

"You remembered," I say with a smile.

"I remember everything about you, my dear," He says softly, and hands over the chicken nuggets.

"There's something I want to talk to you about," He says slowly, and the trepidation makes my stomach knot.

"What?" I ask, suddenly losing my appetite.

"The Mating Gathering is being held next week at Iron Claw," He hesitates.

"And?" I prompt.

"I need you to come with me. Everyone in the circulus is too, mated or not," His words are rushed.

I narrow my eyes. "Absolutely not."

Killian's eyes soften. "I know that it's not a good situation to put you in but... We're running out of time Katrina. It won't be long until another wolf gets taken."

"Killian, you know why I can't go," I say quietly. "I'm sorry, really. Anything else you need, I'll do it. Not this. Please."

All of the Alphas and Lunas would be at the Mating Gathering. Which means my former mate and sister would be there. Together.

I could puke up my chicken nuggets thinking about it.

Killian looks disappointed. "Yeah... I know. I had to ask."

I nod, relieved that he's not making me go. I know it's selfish, because me going could help find out who's behind the missing wolves, but I wasn't ready to face my former mate yet.

"You should get some rest," Killian says, leaning back in his chair and closing his eyes. "You still have wolfsbane in your system."

"Killian, I-" I begin to apologize, for some reason, bothered that I'm disappointing him, but he interrupts.

"Don't worry Katrina," He flashes a smile, his eyes still shut. "You're still my favorite little Seer."

I roll my eyes. "I'm your only Seer."

"Shut up and go to bed, your voice sounds like nails on a chalkboard," His grin doesn't falter as he says that.

"Don't you have somewhere better to be?" I prompt, signaling that he should leave me alone.

"No. Shut up already."

I do as he says, and I tell myself it's the wolfsbane that lulls me into a comfortable rest.

***

~One year ago, Blood Lake

"Get out of my room," I tell Killian as soon as I walk back from Blood Lake.

The Alpha of Crimson Shadow is laying on my bed, his arms locked behind his head, and he gives me an annoying smirk.

"This is the first time a woman has ever been disappointed to see me in their bed," He tells me.

"Oh, I don't believe that Killian," I tell him, kicking off my boots. "I'm sure you've disappointed many women in their beds."

"Darling, I look forward to proving you wrong," He purrs.

I roll my eyes. "Get out, Killian. You came here to request a meeting at Blood Lake, tomorrow at noon. I already told Ares. Now leave."

Killian's eyes flash in surprise, and it's a small victory for me.

I gesture to the door. "Please, don't let it hit you on the way out," I pause. "Actually, let it hit you very hard on your way out."

Killian raises his eyebrows. "You weren't at dinner tonight."

"Not hungry."

Truth is, I was avoiding my mate. I could See that he would be at the dinner, and stayed at Blood Lake until I knew he would be in bed.

"You have to eat," He says, his eyes softening. "What's your favorite food?"

"What?" I ask in confusion.

"Humor me."

I sigh. "Fine. Chicken nuggets."

Killian disappears instantly.

I exhale in relief when he's gone. His presence deeply unnerves me.

I change into a soft tank top and shorts and crawl into bed, already ready for this day to be over.

Ready for this war to be over.

The stress was begin to take it's toll on my in the worst ways. My eyes and nose constantly bleeding, pounding headaches. My Sight would not ease up on my punishment.

I scream when Killian reappears after a few moments, smiling victoriously with a Harley's bag in his hand.

"Your chicken nuggets, my dear," He bows before handing me the bag.

I frown. "What's the catch?"

He looks offended by my question. "Why does there have to be a catch? Can't a friend give his very attractive friend chicken nuggets without having ulterior motives?"

I roll my eyes. "We aren't friends."

Killian grins wickedly. "I wasn't sure if you were ready for me to call you a lover, but I have no qualms if you don't, darling."

"Has anyone ever told you that you're annoying?" I ask, but eat the chicken nuggets anyways, deciding that even food from an annoying Alpha is still food. Besides, I hadn't eaten all day.

Killian rubs his jaw. "Delightful? Yes. Cunning? All of the time. Handsome? Can't leave my house without hearing it. Annoying? Never."

"First time for everything," I say drily.

Killian's eyes suddenly turn soft. "Listen, Katrina, about what happened with Leo-"

"Don't," I snarl, and hearing Leo's name feels like a knife in my heart. "I don't want to talk about this. Especially with you. The last thing I need is someone making jokes about my shitty love life at my expense."

Killian looks momentarily stunned, and takes a step back. He looks at me with pity.

"I was just going to tell you that he's an idiot," He says softly.

And then he disappears, leaving me infinitely more confused than ever.