At the unveiling of the mural, Dylan is mysteriously occupied and instructs Sam to go in his place.

Not too odd, Sam thinks to himself, considering that Dylan had missed an entire day of work to help with the mural, and his presence at the unveiling isn't strictly necessary.

However as soon as Sam spots a familiar, heart shaped face in the crowd, he wishes he had stayed home too. He freezes in his spot, cursing his lead feet as her eyes brighten, her body moving forwards more eagerly now.

She throws her arms around him as soon as she is able and it takes everything in Sam to not cringe away. He grabs her shoulders tentatively, moving her away, very aware of the small crease between her brows.

"Beth..." He signs, biting his lip.

She smiles broadly, her hands moving in the soft, familiar way that he had once grown to love. Now the sight is reminiscent of something long ago, something almost forgotten in his mind. He wants her hands to be larger, he wants them to be less assured, more hesitant. He wants them to be Kieran's.

"I've been so worried about you! I haven't seen you in so long and I..."

Sam looks away, ashamed.

He doesn't deserve Beth's kindness, not after ignoring her for so long. He decides enough is enough. She has to know.

He glances up, but his hands freeze in place when he spots Kieran's narrowed gaze honed on him. A small frown puckers his brows as he glances between Sam and the girl in front of him.

Sam looks back at Beth, sighing heavily as he draws her away from the crowd.

She watches him tensely, a frightened expression on her sweet, rounded face.

"I've found my mate, Beth." Sam signs.

He does it quickly, almost stumbling over himself in his eagerness to get it over with. But once it's done, he realises that he wants to say it again. Over and over again.

"I've found my mate." He signs again, slowly this time, a small smile overtaking his lips.

Beth's eyes widen, glancing back and forth between blue eyes that she loves and hands that she thought would hold her for the rest of her life.

"Your mate?" She questions, her heart breaking as Sam nods.

"I'm sorry." He signs, his fist continuing to rest against his chest long after he has stopped signing.

And he is sorry. Beth didn't deserve this, and he wishes that his own happiness didn't simultaneously result in her pain.

Beth bites her lip, shaking her head.

It's not like she hadn't known something was up. Sam has always been upfront with her, had never led her on. She has known for weeks that something is bothering him, and when she sees the Ironhill Beta glaring at her, she realises just what that thing is.

"The Ironhill Beta?" She signs, almost impossibly fast.

Sam's eyes fly open, his hands reaching out to lower hers as he glances about.

His eyes meet Kieran's for a split second, the Ironhill Beta's gaze lowering to their connected hands and Sam lets go of Beth like she's scolded him.

He steps away, glancing back at her as he rakes a hand through his hair.

And despite her own heartache, she empathises for Sam more.

She's known him since they were children, and the very things she loves about him are also his biggest weaknesses. Sam's loyalty to his pack, to his Alpha, have always been things that she treasured about Sam, but now she can see them tearing him apart.

"Sam?" She signs.

He looks down at her wearily, a small smile tugging his lips upward.

"Is he good to you?" She asks.

The question hurts, but she needs to know the answer regardless.

Sam's smile brightens, his eyes shining as he nods. Beth's eyes well with tears, but she smiles.

"Good. I'm so happy for you." She signs.

She doesn't quite mean it, but she wants to, and that's good enough for the both of them. Sam's arms engulf her in a hug and she sighs, closing her eyes as she relishes the tight warmth of his embrace one last time.

When they pull away, she has her lips pursed tightly together.

"Be happy." She orders, smiling as Sam rolls his eyes.

He salutes her, nodding mechanically and she grins. Her tears only fall as she turns away and for that she is glad. She doesn't stay to watch the mural unveiling, which is a pity, as she also misses the hungry stare of an Ironhill girl who thinks that she is nothing short of a fallen angel.

Sam runs another hand through his hair, aware that his mate is close by the tingling of their proximity to one another.

He turns around, his eyes meeting his mates' almost immediately.

"Who?" Kieran signs, his arms folded tightly across his chest.

"Beth." Sam finger spells.

Kieran's expression clears for a moment before becoming thunderous once more.

He can see the questions in his eyes, the frustration as he struggles to articulate a single one into a sentence that no one else can overhear. Sam's fingers fidget, desperate to reassure his mate.

With every second he dithers he can feel Kieran drift further from him, anger and hurt and confusion all riled together. He glances at the crowd, all of them milling around, busy and almost hidden by the foliage of trees around them.

He glances back at Kieran and sighs. He doesn't want to think anymore, so he doesn't.

He reaches up, his hand cupping his soulmates cheek, and presses their lips together.

Kieran doesn't hesitate, his lips pressing against Sam's eagerly as they share their first kiss. Sam smiles as he feels Kieran nudge him further into the wood, his back pressing against the trunk of a tree as their lips continue to mould together.

Kieran's hands find their way into Sam's hair, holding their faces close as they part, gasping for air.

Kieran's smile seems to light up his face and he dips down every few seconds to peck Sam's lips over and over again. Sam's head is fuzzy, giddy with the sensation of being in Kieran's arms.

But it can't last.

He comes back to his senses suddenly, his hands pushing his mate's chest away as he rights himself. He shoots Kieran a stern look, inclining his head towards the crowd and Kieran grins.

Sam rolls his eyes, making his way back to the clearing and ignoring his stunning, foolish mate.

He makes his way into the clearing just as the mural is about to be unveiled and he thanks his lucky stars. The sooner this is over with, the sooner he can get back to his mate's soft, supple lips.

But when the wall is revealed, Sam's lips press into a firm, tight line instead.

An imprint of a body and two large handprints scream prominently at the centre of the mural, and it doesn't take a genius to work out what's gone on here. Sam nibbles on his lower lip, glancing anxiously at Orion.

He looks decidedly out of it, his stare fixated on the red and blue hand prints.

Sam meets Kieran's gaze, spying an impish grin on his mate's face as he waggles his brows suggestively. He looks away, irritated.

Whilst Kieran may think this is funny, Sam is furious. He understands now the haunted look on Dylan's face this morning, his painful avoidance of this event. Because he is certain that whatever took place here last night, Dylan didn't instigate it.

Sam flicks his gaze back to Orion, glaring opening at him for just a moment before he reigns himself back in.

He can't react. Not now, not in front of their packs.

The crowd seems to have taken the unexpected addition rather well, commenting on the symbolism of their two packs coming together, and the unity that they are trying to promote. There's also a heated whisper as people suggest who the mystery couple might be.

Better they think that than sexual assault, Sam thinks bitterly.

He looks over to find Orion's gaze on him, and he can't help the slow, disapproving shake of his head.

How could he? How dare he?

Orion looks away, his face falling, twinged with shame, confirming Sam's fears.

Sam moves to leave as soon as he can, storming away from the mural, but Orion seems to have other plans. He jogs over, his large hand pressing against Sam's shoulder.

"Where is he? Is he alright?" Orion asks, his wide eyes searching Sam's.

Sam bats off the Ironhill's hand shortly but respectfully, standing tall.

He shakes his head, refusing to engage. Even if Orion could understand what he signed back, he wouldn't tell him anything. He doesn't get that privilege and Sam finally understands where Dylan is coming from. He gave away that right. He doesn't get to ask, not when he refuses to commit.

Sam moves to leave again, but Orion blocks his way.

He inclines his head toward the curious crowd still gathered behind them, his brows raising pointedly and Sam feels trapped, manipulated like a mouse cornered by merciless cats. He's being coerced into giving Orion what he wants, and Sam flinches at the realisation that this is what Dylan faces daily.

Be true to himself or put the pack first?

"Please. For the pack, for Dylan." Orion whispers.

His eyes look somewhat hesitant with Sam, though. Orion knows of Dylan's dedication to Bluewood, relies upon it every time he corners him with his need for proximity, but he's less sure about Sam's loyalties.

Instead, he's relying on Sam's loyalty to Dylan. The realisation makes Sam recoil. It's like he can sense their weaknesses, manipulating them to his own desires.

Orion's eyes bore into his own, demanding a satisfaction that he has in no way earned, and Sam resents him for it more than he imagined possible. He begins to wonder if perhaps Orion is more like his father than anyone had anticipated.

And as if Orion can read his thoughts, he visibly flinches, stepping back.

"I'm...I'm sorry." He mouths.

His gaze lowers, almost shameful and Sam wastes no time making his escape.

He makes his way back to the pack house shakily, his hands trembling. Tears roll down his cheeks, but he doesn't notice them at first. He isn't entirely sure why he cries, only knowing that a place in him, deep in his chest, is aching so terribly that this feels the only relief.

When he steps into the building, he spots Dylan in the kitchen.

Sam takes a moment to look at him. He looks duller, shining less brightly than the exceptional young man he has come to know and love. And that ache returns, the full force of it making him grimace. He hates the hunch of his best friends shoulders, the pained frown on his face, the darkening shadows beneath his eyes. He hates the sight of it.

But more so than this, he hates that he's not surprised by the image. He hates the thought of this becoming normal. Of this image becoming Dylan.

A small, silent sob wracks its way through Sam's chest.

Dylan looks up, his expression falling.

"Sam? Everything ok?" Dylan asks, signing quickly as his expression darkens.

Sam shakes his head slowly.

No, he doesn't think that everything will be ok. Not anymore.

Not unless something changes.