2 Weeks Later

He didn't answer her, not that day or the days after and soon it became evident to her that he wouldn't answer the question. He refused to add fuel to the small flickering flames of her fire, so he didn't answer and in that time of silence an ocean grew between them. Her mind could not be at ease until she had confirmation of his feelings but Simeon was negligent to her needs.

His silence became her answer and in that silence her doubts manifested into pulsing, drowning energies. It was hard for her to smile in the face of this pack when his inability to answer her played on her mind, making her doubt her choice in him. Their bond was coming to the end of its tether and she refused to subject herself to rebonding to a male who had no consideration to her, but then if she didn't what would it mean for her?

She wouldn't be his mate and by default she wouldn't be a Luna. The title had little esteem in her mind but what it offered, the protection for not only herself but Zosia.. She needed the title and so she was in a predicament.

As it stood now, she was a Luna who was preparing to risk it all to prove her position. There wasn't a thing she wouldn't do to secure her future and going to Rileys Ridge, facing the Resentiam, it was what she had to do.

Hairs stood along her skin at the thought of facing them, she felt fear and resentment. These humans were wrong, just pure wrong, the things they did in the name of liberation... It made her sick.

Neema had tried to shelter her from this part of the world but being Khan's shadow had meant that she had seen and heard firsthand some of the atrocities they committed. It was disgusting how perverse this world had become. How perverse it had always been.

The Resentiam's rise could be blamed on the Alpha's, the cruel Alpha's who claimed mates as if they were food to pick at and not living, feeling, autonomous beings. The Alpha's who had laughed as wolves brutally decimated humans in the mate trials. Cutting heads as they cut marriages as if they were nothing more than little ribbons. Puppets on strings who danced to the twist of the puppeteers hands.

This could be pinpointed on the heads of Khan and Simeon and all the Alpha's before and after them. They had forged their empire through carnage and now these humans were taking it back. It was just a shame that such a just cause had become so depraved and immoral.

They were no longer trying to liberate but to dominate and in that their whole ethos had changed. Anyone who didn't fight for them was an enemy and considering a large number of humans had been pacified by the Brethren, there were a lot of enemies to the Resentiam.

So many humans were finally finding a home that wasn't in the darkest dwellings of life. Where young girls weren't forced into marriages at ridiculously young ages just so they could eat. Young boys weren't forced to take on animals twice their size in order to provide, knowing that death faced them before life had embraced them. Their lives weren't shrouded in darkness, they had beds, homes, food and it wasn't the Resentiam who was providing for them.

Through guilt or morality, whatever it was, a large number of the Wolfen Brethren had installed policies of mollification. Human rights were being considered, though there was still a ridiculous number of Alpha's that were fond of the old ways, a large majority had turned to newer ways. Ways that were not so brutal.

This change of heart had only intensified the Resentiam's fervour and so here they were, at the precipice of the world they knew staring at the premature blossoming of a newer, better world. One that was based upon the dismantling of the Resentiam because without them, humanity stood a chance to prosper and not as lesser inferior beings but as equals. It wouldn't happen over night but they were making steps toward a better future.

Jana was the first to acknowledge that things needed to change, she was tired of having to prove herself just because she was human. At the same time it physically repulsed her when she heard stories of burnt homes, women charred and strung up in trees. Men with missing limbs and blood dripping from their pores as the iron brand, Traitor, rotted their skin. Black feathers glittering to the ground as the Crows hopped along trees and the vultures swooped low and picked at their decaying carcasses.

It was a scary world when you had to pick the lesser of two evils, not knowing which one would really be the one that brought forward the betterment of your society. Not knowing if the sweet symphonies these political and extremist groups sung were the truth or just empty promises meant to lure you in. It was a scary world they lived in, a scary time to be alive.

Her hands clenched tightly in anger, frustration, so many emotions just flitting through her body, so intangible but so real. The little body in her arms shifted on her lap, squirming in discomfort at the clenching digits. Jana quickly released her tight hold, soothing the little girls hair as her dark thoughts ebbed from her mind at the sight of Zosia's pouty lips in sleep.

"What has you thinking so hard?"

"Nothing," she sighed, looking up at the tan woman by the door.

Her grey scarf was around her shoulders showing Jana the burnt side of her scalp. The discolouration was unsightly and jarring when you moved from smooth warm skin to the pinkish brown charred parts of her head. No hair grew on the front quarter of her head closest to her ear and even parts of her ears cartilage was shrivelled in on itself. There was a story behind the horrid wound and Jana knew deep down that the Resentiam were at the heart of the matter.

"If you think too much you'll surely loose your mind." Jana wondered if she already had lost her mind.

"Careful" she grunted in annoyance rolling her eyes at Jene.

"You would think you would be over this by now, we've been doing this twice a day  for two weeks, Jana" he gasped in exasperation.

"Doesn't mean I like it" she grumbled like a sullen child who wasn't getting her way and she wasn't.

She hated the fact that she had to spend an hour a day in bed waiting for the damn blood transfusions to take place. She hated it, hated that this was what she had to do for Simeon to deem her healthy enough to go with him and the troops.

Rolling her eyes she fell back into the pillow of the bed, heaving a sigh in annoyance. This compromise wasn't so bad, it was just annoying and time consuming. She was practically all healed up. She hardly got any pains anymore and there was only the tinniest little line from when they had cut her open.

There was no evidence of what she had gone through, she could almost forget that it had happened. Almost, if only life hadn't cruelly reminded her of her inability to be a woman when she had missed that damned period that she had hated most of her life. She tried not to feel depressed about it, tried not to let her loss affect her mental state but the loss was constantly gnawing on her mind. Eating away.

Pick, pick, picking.

Until she couldn't look at children without wanting to just keep them, parents be damned.

The emptiness, the knowledge that she would never have her hearts desire... She couldn't fathom it. All she had left was Zosia and she would be leaving her behind soon, all so these wolves could respect her when this fickle mark faded... The mark that would fade much faster because she couldn't conceive.

"Morning" husked Zosia, her little fingers digging into Jana's hips as her head slowly popped up to see who was in the room with them. When she saw it was just the doctor and Carina, the breath she had been holding released in a little sigh and she relaxed a little more.

"It's okay love, everyone is a friend here" Zosia's beautiful green eyes were downcast, hidden by her thick blonde lashes but Jana could see the little drops of tears clinging to her wispy lashes.

"It's okay baby"

"I don't want tata or you to go" she cried clinging to Jana's neck so tightly for a girl so small and fragile.

She wanted so badly to tell Zosia she wouldn't go but she had to, because to stay wasn't an option either of them could live with. Not safely, not when she knew that someone was out to get her. She had no fear that Zosia wouldn't be safe because her psychotic aunty was still imprisoned and she was going to be protected by her own bear. It seemed that Niall was a softy at heart which didn't really surprise Jana but his soft nature had gotten through to Zosia on some level.

The little girl felt safe with him and though he was still adjusting to his new impairment, he was a giant that Jana had trust could protect Zosia.

So instead of saying all of those thing she kept quiet, giving Zosia no promises except her constant and eternal love. 

//--//

Simeon came to her that evening when she was getting her final blood transfusion of the day. Jana couldn't help the smirk that distorted her face as Jene told Simeon his prognosis; Jana was fit to go to war.

She could see the bitterness, the unveiled anger and frustration in his eyes at the doctors words but she was gleeful. Vindictively gleeful because for once Simeon had learnt a lesson that she didn't need to waste her breath by teaching him.

He couldn't deny that she was healthy, perhaps healthier than she ever had been. Though her body had initially rejected his blood,it now took his in like it was her own.

When Jene was done with his last ever dose, he packed up his stuff and exited their tent, leaving the two to their awkward and strained silence.

"Tonight will be our last night here."

She could tell that it pained him greatly to add her into his plans but he couldn't not tell her without showing her that he wasn't a man of his words. Even worse, going back on his word would also incur Jana's wrath and since her emotions were on a very small and tight leash, it wasn't a smart choice to make.

"As you are all better, you can join us in the final bathing."

Her eyebrows raised quizzically at what sounded like a weird and slightly disturbing group bath event that she wanted no part with. It was apparently a new term of their agreement though, if she didn't come to the baths now then she wouldn't go tomorrow. Jana doubted he would actually follow through on that threat, she wouldn't let him, but her curiosity won out. She wanted to witness what she could only imagine as an awkward bathing ritual.

She popped into the tent where Zosia played with some of the children of the camp under the supervision of some mateless wolves. When she was pacified that everything was okay, she followed Simeon towards the cabin.

They walked in awkward silence, down the stairs at the back of the cabin as the lights dimmed the further they stepped past the threshold. The steam tickled along her skin, sweat gliding down her barely clad body. The hot air was siffling in the dark but this time she was not afraid. She could hear the strong beat of Simeon's heart before she felt it along her back, his muscular chest resting behind her as he wrapped her body into his.

"Just feel" he whispered in her ear, hands wrapping around her thick braid and pulling her head back. She wanted him to just feel the hard punch of her fist, he couldn't just switch her body on and off when he felt like it. Being a patronising twat one minute and then all seductive the next, whispering in her ear like some weirdo.

But when his lips glided along the slope of her neck and up towards her ear, against all reason she let go and just felt. Her lids fluttered shut as the sensation of his wet tongue nibbling and sucking on her lobe caused her breathing to skyrocket.

Her braid unraveled along her back, the coily curls tickling along her shoulder and back. His hand glided across the silky strands, twisting her hair as his lips continued its exploration. Sweat glided from both their bodies, slickening their skin with the unbearable perspiration.

"Trust me" her eyes shot open as she wrapped her hands around his, gripping him tight as the light blinded them. Cold air smacked into her face as she took the fateful step and then they were free falling.

Bodies still interlocked as they crashed into the stagnant water, ripples of water washing over them as deep blue swallowed them whole. She resurfaced first, legs kicking strongly as she glided around the water in search for him. She felt his arms before she saw his head emerge from the water.

"Boo" he growled, gripping her face and wrapping his lips around hers. A sharp gasp left her mouth but then they were sinking back down into the cool depths of the water. Lips still joined as his tongue twisted along hers. Jana could barely breath, her eyes stinging as they bulged wide. When it got too much, she pushed on his shoulders and kicked back to the surface gasping and coughing for breath as she tried to see through her raw eyes.

"No more" she gasped as she felt his arms around her back and his lips on her neck.

"Yes more" he rumbled, pulling her harder into him as he swam towards a bed of rocks in the corner. It felt good just to let go and pretend that everything between them was okay, that everything within herself was okay. That she wasn't scared and nervous not only for what tomorrow held but for what her future held.

It felt good to just feel.

She screamed loudly as a large splash covered her agitated eyes with water. "Watch where you jump" he grouched as a head full of brown hair reemerged through the water, a bashful smile followed by the unnerving scar of Niall's eye.

"Sorry" he grunted before swimming off in the water.

Jana's eyes sprung impossibly wide as he grabbed Blake by the neck and kissed him. It wasn't a light and soft delicate kiss, not that she would have expected something like that from him, the man was a bear after all. The kiss was rough and even angry looking, tongues and all. Her face turned impossibly red which was a rare feet for someone of her complexion.

"Does it make you uncomfortable?"

"Yes!" She sputtered.

"Why because they are two men?" anger coloured his face dark, eyes narrowing and brows knotting.

"No, because they are practically fucking in the same water I'm swimming in" she spat, her nose wrinkling in distaste at the heavy panting coming from their direction.

"Get used to it, you'll see more than just some lovers kissing"

"I'll what?" her voice wavered, hand clenching into his shoulders as he hoisted them up against a rock. At his words her senses picked up, filled with sounds of more than just heavy breathing.

Skin slapped against each other as the water crashed around bodies. Slick hands jerking as cries of pleasure filled the air. Mouths wide as bodies hardened and others turned supple under their lovers touch. Shadows, creating graphic shows of lovers intertwined, the dim lights flickering creating a sensual glow. The smell of sex was heavy on the air.

"The fuck? You've taken me to a group fucking orgy!" Her hand thumped against his chest before she began pinching his skin when he only laughed at her.

His loud laugh brought the attention of more people, people who decided his laugh was invitation enough for them to appear with male appendages swinging and female parts glistening. Beings in all states of nakedness, bodies slick with water, sweat and something she tried to pretend she couldn't see.

He only laughed harder when her hand came up to cover her eyes and a short "Oh gods save me" slipped from her lips. She sounded as if she was on the brink of a nervous break down and so he tried soothe her worries, even though he knew Jana was only being dramatic.

"No orgy, we don't share" her mouth widened as if she wanted to rebuke his statement, because if everyone was happy with swimming around in each other's bodily fluids while they pounded into each other, then clearly they didn't mind sharing.

"We are just here for a swim, what others do is their choice." He murmured, his thumb stroking along her nipple bringing Jana's nakedness to the forefront of her mind.

This male had tricked her. Tricked her into coming along to what could only be described as an orgy even if they "didn't share". Her eyes were seeing things she didn't need to see, so they definitely were sharing. Sharing way too much.

Giving him the stink eye, she pinched his chest one last time before swimming off into the water, trying to stay as far away from all the activities and hoping to the gods no tadpoles found her in this infested water.

AN// I really hate putting these in the middle of a story especially one so long but quite a few people were curious and even mad that Jana snitched in the last chapter. I just thought I should mention that regardless of what the Resentiam stand for, they commit unspeakable acts all for their cause. They kill and brutalise humans and wolves in a campaign of terror, in order to assert their dominance in the world. They aren't just angry humans wanting to be respected, they are angry humans wanting to desecrate every living being that stands against them. Children, women, men- they all meet a brutal death or torture with the purpose of brainwashing, to meet their agenda. The Resentiam's behaviour was alluded to throughout every chapter they were mentioned in, particularly "birds of a feather" but now I'm just going to tell you guys outright so you know why she snitched on "her own kind". They aren't her kind.