" It is the third and final day my love and it will all be over. I am not you Mica but I am your other half, with this, a part of you stood with me infront of all those alphas and we said our piece. I wasn't alone." I say, speaking to his framed picture as my finger touches the glass.

A shaky breath slips out as I bring the picture to my lips. My eyes close and I take a moment, being in need of a bit of calmness, in order to get out of the room.

It's in the morning and I am yet to join everyone for breakfast.

Thankfully today is the final day and everything is coming to a conclusion, I am more than ready to sleep in mine and Mica's bed again and to spend time in my baby's room, but what I am hesitant about, is all that awaits me. The decision making.

I am yet to go and finally see the bodies of my mate and baby, the body remains. I need to start preparations for their send off and the after, which still, may take a toll on me.

I can't even admit that I am tired because it will feel like I am abandoning, my responsibility towards my family.

Hurting is honestly exhausting, this I can't even lie about.

My family comes first and I will do everything possible, to give them the best send off. A respective and honour worthy kind.

" I love you." I say against the picture before putting it aside.

Meaning to finally get on my feet and leave the room, the sound of my cellphone ringing interrupts me.

" Greetings nana."

" Catherine, did you sleep well."

" Hmm." That's all the response I'm able to give.

" You need rest my dear." She says, making it no secret that she is displeased by this.

" Sleep won't give me anything but a moment to escape from reality."

She remains silent after this.

I let out a sigh. " I have breakfast to get to nana."

" At least you are eating." She comments.

" You have something to tell me nana, what is it?" I say, ignoring what she said.

" The doctor came by earlier."

" She has my results."

" Yes and she wishes to tell you everything directly. She's waiting for you to come back."

" I might return later then expected nana."

" But you are coming back."

" Hmm. I was thinking of seeing papa first."

" You know that it won't be long until he finds out about what happened, between you and your brother."

" It won't change anything."

" Try telling him that, once he does."

" I can't let papa hurt him, you know I can't."

" I don't want you to get hurt."

" I've surpassed being hurt nana, it's all fragile pieces waiting to be broken further." I say.

" Don't speak like that my flower please." She pleads on a whisper.

I close my eyes for a moment, swallowing the lump in my throat.

" I must go nana." I say.

I hear her sigh again.

" Another thing, your mate's sister."

" What about her?"

" She was here, well standing and watching your home for some time. I went out to invite her in but she turned and walked away." She takes a minute before continuing. " She's been greatly affected by what happened to her big brother."

" I know and that's why, I think it's best that I tell her mate to return early. She needs someone with her."

" Her grandmother is with her." She says.

" Yes she is but it makes all the difference to have your mate close."

She doesn't respond to that and so I take it as the time, to remind her that I need to get going. " I should go nana."

" Alright, I'll be expecting you for dinner, don't be late young lady."

" Yes nana." I say before hanging up.

I can hear it from her tone that she is worried, but in specifics to what, I can't exactly tell.

I reach for my bag and place my phone in it, before rising to my feet and head out. I bump into Elder Grayson on the way. He's in the company of two men dressed in all black.

He nods my way as I walk past him and I do the same, only to stop in my tracks when I sense something about him.

I turn around to face him.

" You wish to tell me something." I speak up.

At first he doesn't say anything but gestures for the two men, to excuse us. They walk away and he turns to me.

" Why do you say that?"

" Do I even need to answer that?" I respond with my own question.

A small smile threatens to come out but it's quick to drop.

" And if I were to say anything to you, would you listen?"

" Depends on what it is?"

He takes a step towards me but I take a step back, making it clear that I want space between us. He notices my move and stops.

" I am sorry about what happened to your family."

I don't say anything but just look at him.

" There is unimaginable pain one goes through at a loss of a mate, but you didn't just lose him, you also lost -" I turn around and walk away from him.

" Catherine wait...." I tense up when I feel his hand on my arm, stop me.

I am quick to jerk my arm back, not wanting him to touch me any longer.

" My apologies." He mumbles, avoiding my eyes.

" Where is your sister elder Grayson, did she not accompany you?" I swear that his body tenses at the mention of sister.

" My sister doesn't go everywhere I go."

" Hmm." I nod.

" Why are you interested to know about her?"

" You mentioned my family and I think it's only fair that I mention yours, there's no interest. In regards to your sister's actions however, I'd say she was more then interested in parts of my life."

" I thought everything has been left in the past."

I shrug my shoulders, turning away from him.

" You've opened up a door that can't ever be closed again." He says, pulling me to a stop.

I turn around to face him again.

" You'll have to be more specific elder, what are you saying exactly?"

" You know what I'm talking about." He says, walking towards me.

I know what he is referring to, the whole goal of claiming a seat at the high table.

" All I see is you trying to lengthen this conversation elder and nothing else. "

" That's a desire of mine yes."

" A selfish desire." I say strongly, stopping him from coming any closer.

He opens and closes his mouth yet words never come out. He looks away when I burn him with my gaze.

" It is selfish." He admits.

" You just can't help yourself can you elder?" Ronan's voice comes from behind me.

Elder Grayson's expression goes blank as he glances to Ronan.

" Yet again I find you in my sister's presence, should I make an awareness to the council that your eye lingers just a tad bit longer, my sister's way?"

I turn to Ronan, wanting to prevent him from saying anymore. I know Ronan, once he gets started, he might let slip what he can't take back.

" Ronan -" he walks past me and I watch him stand infront of elder Grayson.

" The Luna and I were just having a harmless conversation, you need not worry alpha."

" The one who stands before you is the Luna's brother. I thought I'd made it clear before that one should respect territories, but I see now, that the message wasn't clear enough."

" It is a matter of whether the message was received or not alpha Ronan."

" Either way, stay away from my sister. Respect her wishes and don't think there's some window of opportunity for you to -"

" You've got everything wrong, you've taken a wrong direction of subject. "

" Don't take me for a fool, the sight you've displayed isn't too blurry for my eyes to conclude what this is. I won't let you take an advantage of what is happening, I won't allow it, do you hear me?!" His voice rises a level, showing how upset he is.

" Let's go." He spins around and takes a hold of my arm, leading me away from there, with a gaze following my every move.

Out of view I am quick to pull away from Ronan, making him stop.

" This is the last time you ever grab my arm like that infront of anyone, do you understand me?"

He lets out a sigh, seeing how deadly serious I am.

" I acted out of -"

" You're upset, I understand. But this, better be the last time Ronan, I mean it."

A soft expression takes over his face as he pulls me into his arms, kissing the top of my head. I sigh against him, accepting his embrace.

" I don't like how they think you're vulnerable, just because..." He doesn't finish his sentence, due to my body tensing up.

" It's in your nature to be protective, I understand that. "

" But I need to give you room to stand alone." He finishes.

" Hmm." I pull back to look at him.

" I wish I did more then this years ago, that way our bond would have grown much stronger."

" You're insulting our sibling relationship." I scold him.

" There is too much I could have learnt from you." He explains.

" There is but you've never applied anything to yourself."

He frowns a little, seemingly confused.

" In anything unclear brother, just, just think of me." The words release from me in a whisper and almost a plea.

This time his frown deepens.

" What's going on?"

I shake my head, offering a small smile.

" Store what I've said to you deeply within brother."

" Sometimes you can be a puzzle, do you know that?"

" A puzzle that is craving some chocolate cake." I say, continuing my way and he follows suit.

" Are you pregnant?"

" Now you want me to sing a lullaby at your funeral." I say, making him chuckle.

                          *******

I raise my brows at the chocolate cake that is placed infront of me.

" Something sweet so early in the morning, hmm, reminds me of my mate." Alpha Dane comments, glancing from the cake to me.

" She wasn't pregnant at the time." I say, giving Ronan a cheeky look which makes him to roll his eyes at me.

" Not at all. I found it weird but very cute at the same time."

" I'm pretty sure that your little one, might follow in her footsteps."

" Then I'll have two demanding babies in the room."

" Be glad that she isn't here to be given a reason to strangle you." Ronan says.

" Has yours made such threats already?"

" Oh that's nothing, I think I've pushed her to the brink of acting upon those threats." Ronan says, making Alpha Dane to smile in amusement.

I feel a touch of pain at the sound of mate talk and the sharing of their moments. It makes me to miss Mica all the more."

By the silence that takes over our table, I look up to see both alphas watching me.

" We've reminded you of the alpha haven't we?" Alpha Dane says. " The wound is still fresh."

" We got carried away." Ronan adds.

" There is no fault in all you've shared. Don't mind me." I say, digging into the cake.

' Don't eat.' She invades through my mind.

My body tenses when I see spots of green in the cake.

I put the spoon back down, pushing the plate away from me.

" What's wrong?" Ronan asks.

Instead of saying anything, I dig out a pen from my bag before writing down on the tissue. I pass it on to Ronan.

His head snaps to me. " Poison." He mouths.

I nod.

I am quick to touch his arm, preventing him from acting out and making a scene.

I shake my head no.

" Catherine -"

" Follow me." I say, taking my bag and the piece of tissue on my way out.

I feel them follow me to the elevator and I stop it halfway from moving, turning to face them.

" Need I remind that we are under surveillance leaders, so be calm." I say.

" You should have let me question them." Ronan says, leaning against the wall.

" In better term, violence, right?" Alpha Dane says.

" Time matters gentlemen, the longer we are here, those watching will have enough to draw out a very appealing tale."

" None can be trusted."

" That should have been a given the moment you became alpha."

" Our moments differ alpha Dane, remember that."

" Should I also get you both a cup of tea, to go along with your chat?"

" Very funny." Ronan grumbles.

" It could be anyone there." Alpha Dane says, getting back to the matter at hand.

" No, a specific person." Ronan says.

" Not obvious." I say, silencing his direction of thought.

I know that he may suspect the likes of alpha Gage, who have been vocal of how they feel about me.

" It's pretty clear Catherine, remember what was said." Ronan argues.

" The walls have ears too Ronan." I remind him.

" Fine, you have a point there."

I ring the emergency button.

" And that is for?" Ronan asks.

" To add more juice to the tale." I shrug.

" It's a person who operates in the shadows, someone who is a silent killer." Alpha Dane says.

" That's a given."

" This person or people, are rather intimidated by you and wish to silence you before you become more of a threat. This person...." Alpha Dane hesitates at the last moment.

I nod, telling him to go ahead.

" This hasn't been voiced out, but I'll say it anyway. This person, might just be the same person who was responsible for what happened to your family."