They rode in silence, Simeon and two other males by her side as Ju-long sat up front. The vehicles was cramped due to the extra bodies they were taking home with them. Some wolves had opted to run but most wanted to get in a car because they were tired. The 7 seaters were not big enough to take everyone especially as the females were now coming back with them. More than half of the survivors had decided to disband and head elsewhere but 10 or so had decided to return with them.

The atmosphere was tense as Simeon's thick arm kept rubbing against her with every jolt, her body crushed up against the window.

Jana was still wound tight from the events of the previous day and night and this journey wasn't helping anything. Simeon's words rolling in her mind. She had the urge to just forgive him, to take his words as what they were and give him a second chance but the smarter part of her realised that he still hadn't given her his all.

He had promised to try but he hadn't given her anything but more promises. Was she supposed to hold onto his words and hope that they weren't empty. Could a leopard really change its spots, it was a question Neema had out tonher once. Neema was a firm believer that they could she argued with maturity and with different habits or "circumstances" the leopard would learn to adapt.

Jana knew differently though. The amount of spit a leaopard had may change but their appearance would walkways remain the same. They would not change.

So why did Simeon expect her to believe that he would change and whybwas she even fool enough to consider it.

He hadn't given her anything but pretty words, singing his sweet tune of promises that he would do better, be better and yet he had still held back from her so how could she believe him. It did not escape her attention that he had mentioned his past in an abstract sort of way but had not given her the tinies tinkling of what that entailed. He had been on this earth for along time, so said past had to include more than just the tragic and untimely death of Zosia's mother.

There was clearly a lot more to his story and yet he failed to confide in her. How could he think that would inspire her trust in him. He expected her to open up herself to him, to give this mating a go but so much of him was still shrouded in darkness. It was startlingly scary to realise that she had been with a man she had known for less than half year. He had lain with her but still she knew so little about him.

She had known her late husband Jeremy, for a year before they had slept with each other, the wait only making their friendship deeper. Not Simeon though. He clung to his past like it was all he had to show for himself and she had no doubt that he would continue to put his past first.

She was not stupid, she would not take his words at face value. He was waving a white flag at her all the while noting her coordinates as he prepared his missiles. Perhaps a month or two ago she would have soaked up his words and felt relief by his efforts but she was a different female now.

There was no drastic change to her behaviour but she felt a change within herself. She had been sheltered for most of her life, coddled like a little baby in fear that this world would be too much for her but she was different now. She had reached inexplicable lows to only climb out from the depths of her own despair.
So she could never settle for what little Simeon offered her.

It was not enough and never would be enough but still her desire to have that fairytale, that beautiful mating like that of her 3 sisters made her consider his words. They had mates that stood beside them through everything, mates that would give everything and anything for them.

Yet she had Simeon. How had Khan thought he was the right male for her? Though she supposed she hadn't given him much choice, what with the way she had left so hastily. A grimace fell over her face as she thought back to the way she had acted before her departure.

It had only been a little over two months but Jana was different. She was a little less irrational, yes she still overreacted and sometimes her emotions got the best of her. She couldn't always keep a levelled head and she still had the urge to pound people in the face when they annoyed her but she was learning to speak first and stab later.

--

A sigh of relief filled the tense car as the familiar trees that marked their camp came into view.

The car drove forward as red climbed over the horizon, balls of orange and yellow shooting through the sky as thick clouds of black swayed back and forth. Grey fog so thick it smoked up the window of their vehicle making it impossible to drive.

Her heart thudded in her chest as she screeched for the car to stop, he body flying from the car a she sprinted towards the camp. Her arms pumped vigorously and her heart thudded in her chest, air wheezing though he trips as she charged into the camp.

Wolves flew past her, their forms blurring as she ran as fast as she could, her head whipping about as she took in the carnage of their home.

The camp was covered in soot, small flames of fire ebbing out as thick black ashes ascended across the sky like tiny black snow flakes. Smoke was thick in the air as brown and grey burnt their eyes. Tears burned her eyes at the acrid smell of burning homes and bodies.

The camp was in chaos as people ran about hazardously, attempting to put out the fire within their home but the damage was already done. The world spun around her at the lack of air, body sweating at the sweltering heat or the licking flames.

Her boots crunched into the ground as she began moving forward, her mind on autopilot as she just moved. Heart thudding as she pushed her way through the camp, looking for the familiar blonde hair and green eyes.

Grey smudged face and sooty lashes peered up  at her as globlets of tears dropped down her face, leaving steaks across her face. "Nana" she croaked, her body shaking as she clung to Jana's chest. Gripping Zo in her arms she made her way through the camp, her free arm up to protect their faces from the fierce flicks of amber.

She pushed through rubble and debris, barely acknowledging the people around her as she tried to escape but the flames were relentless.

She rocked back on her feet just as a large beam collapsed in front of them, landing on top of the mountain of debris. Fire kicked at her heel, the flames chasing her as she climbed over it all. Zo gripping tightly to her neck as whimpers escaped her lips. They were trapped, she couldn't climb over the beam and the fire was dancing, streaking across the ground and rising higher.

Pulling Zo away from her chest, she pushed the girl above her forcing her to climb over the piled up debris. Zo hesitated but at Jana's wild ushering, she began scampering up until she disappeared over the top.

The smoke filled her lungs, her body melting as the fire swarmed around her. Burning, sizzling until all she felt was agony as fire danced along her skin.

Then from the dirt she came forward like her namesake, laying waist to the burning embers and bringing light. She pushed and shoved at the beams, her eyes narrowed as orders were growled. Tugging and tugging, faces bobbing in and out of Jana's view.

A cool hand wrapped around her wrist and then she was being pulled from the fiery pits of hell and dunked with cold ice shards, her body shivering as she gasped and wheezed for air.

"You're okay" he mumbled but she didn't feel okay, her skin felt blistered as if her pores had been melted away. As if liquidised silver had been poured all over her, she was burning alive.

Her sight was blurry but she could just about make out faces, they were pulling in and out of her sight until she caught the eyes of her.

Jana's snarl of aggression had people backing up a step but not that female. She merely looked at Jana, her head tilted to this side as she clasped a child in her hand.

It was Zo, she held Zo in her arms and that only angered Jana more. She tried to lunge across at the woman but thick arms wrapped tightly around her, pulling her tightly into his he chest.

"Shh" he whispered into her skin, motioning for them to follow him. The female holding Zo, right beside him as he alternated between soothing his daughter and Jana.

The entrance to the tent flapped around her head and then she was slowly placed onto the bed. Jene running in with his supplies to check on Zo and Jana. when they seemed all clear and he had applied some salve to Jana's skin, he left the room taking all the extra people with him to help out with the camp.

Only a select few were left inside and she was among one of them.

"What is she doing here" snarked jana, chocking on her words before she quickly clasped the cool glass of water to her lips all the while glaring at the woman who stood in the corner of the room. Fur around her shoulders and her hair cropped short around her.

"This is Lian"

"I know that. Why is she here," she spat glaring at the female but Lia was stoic.

Emotion barely flickering in her eyes as she stared at jana. "It's been a long time ladybug" her head tilting in acknowledgement.

Along time was the understatement of the century, it had been about 10 years since she had properly seen Lian and it hadn't ended well.

Caillum had refused to see her when she visited, sending the woman away like she was nothing but her brother had been hurt. At 17 Caillum still hadn't gotten over the loss of her and so Jana hated her on sight! Lian had hurt her brother and she was the only one allowed to do that.

"You have no right calling me that name. It is reserved for family only and you are not that" she spat her hands clenched on her lap before she motioned for Simeon to give her sleepy Zosia. Zo climbed from her tata's lap and lay on Jana, her blonde dirty hair rubbing along Jana's chin. A sweet smile glided across her lips as she closed her green eyes, soft snores leaving her lips as she fell instantly into sleep.

"We once got along Jana" she replied calmly, giving away no emotion as if Jana's words did not affect her.

"Yes we did, until you turned into an evil bitch and broke my brothers heart. It seems that none of your kind is ever capable of giving their mates what they deserve" her comment was directed at Lian but it wasn't just intended for her and it hit it's mark.

Simeon cringed as if she had physically punched him and Blake scowled at her clearly hating her words especially as Niall was in the room, but it was true. These wolves seemed incapable of loving the only person placed on this earth to be there for them. How bizarre was that.

"Jana, Lian has been apart of-" but his words were cut off mid sentence as a sooty and slightly charred Ju-long stormed into the room. He looked furious, the flap clapping against the roof of the tent and threatening the whole structure of one of the few tents that hadn't been burnt to ash.

His feet smashed against the carpet as anger rolled off of him but then he stopped abruptly, his face transforming into one of joy as he screeched in joy.

"Lo lo," he called running into the room and heading straight for Lian, his arms wrapping around her as he smothered her face with kisses.

A smile spread across her face as she squeezed him tightly, her eyes damp as she clutched him so tightly. "Hey JL," she murmured burying her face into his dirty skin, she looked human when she was in his arms. In fact she looked like a little girl who felt safe in the arms of her protector.

She cleared her throat obscenely loud to make sure that they heard her, all heads turning to face her but Ju-long was on a high.

"Jana, this is Lian... my sister" he said hesitantly, finally picking up on the tension in the room. His eyes shot back and forth between Lian and Jana before he finally understood what was going on.

"Do you two need to talk?" He questioned quizzically but neither female responded and so he took control of the situation because the tension was becoming unbearable.

"Do you know what, we need to speak so why don't you two stay here. Simeon, Blake, with me and Niall, why don't you babysit. It may get catty"

Niall looked like he was about to object but Blake's firm kiss shut him up. The male looked like he was ready to do murder but he bit his tongue and rolled his eyes instead.

Blake glared at the grinning Ju-Long as they excited out of the tent, leaving Niall to referee what would only be a viscous fight with words between two stubborn females.

             ———————————————

AN// So guys I have been planning this final book since like forever. Okay that was a slight exaggeration but I have been planning this book, well the whole series since the first draft of Capture nearly 2 years ago 😱. You guys may have guessed who this story is about already but if not then this will definitely give it away.

This story will not be released until the end of the year because I have two other stories lined up as you guys may be aware. Plus I also want to do a little bit of editing and get rid of those spelling mistakes in my other stories because they actually bug me.