I wasn't prepared for the sight of either of them.

Silas had been burned on various parts of his body and along with that he had been beaten severely. The bruises had already faded but the burns were healing slowly which made them believe that they had used a special kind of metal. Lara was in worse shape than Silas. When Obsidian had explained things to me on the way to their island, I wasn't sure whether to belief him or not, but when I first saw her I knew that he hadn't been lying.

Lara had been tortured just like Silas, but worse because she was human. They had whipped her until the skin of her back had started to peel and then tortured her by cutting her up with a knife. What had shocked me to the core was the fact that Silas has bitten her.

Yes, Silas had found his wolf. He had shifted for the first time in thirty-two years and that was to save his mate.

But she might not survive.

He had bitten her with the intent to change her and Lara was slowly changing. It might have been a mistake with how badly she was injured. He acted on what he thought was best, but what if it ended up killing her instead? My brother would never survive it if Lara died, and quite honestly neither would I.

I leaned forward in the chair and reached out to tug a strand of hair from her face. She lay on her stomach with a sheet covering the bandages on her back. Her skin was pale but flashed with fever.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know anyone was in here."

I glanced over my shoulder at the girl who stood frozen in the doorway. Wide hazel eyes stared at me in shock and slight fear. She licked her lips and shifted from foot to foot. After a few seconds her eyes dropped to the floor. I noticed the black bag she gripped tightly in her hand.

"They told me to come right up. I didn't know someone would be in here. I'm sorry. I'll come back later."

"You're Vanya?" She paused and gave me a stiff nod. "Come in. You don't need to go."

"But you're not her mate."

I turned back to face Lara. "I am."

Vanya stayed silent. I could feel her eyes burning into the back of my head. After a few minutes, she entered the room and closed the door firmly behind her. I listened to her footsteps as she walked across the floor and stopped next to me.

"Can you please move?"

I got up and walked over to the window. After a glance outside, I turned and watched her. Vanya placed the bag down on the chair I vacated and zipped it open. She removed a silver bowl with white cloths and a few other things that she placed on the bedside table.

"Do you mind getting me some hot water, please?"

"What's it for?"

"To clean her wounds."

I took the silver bowl she held out towards me and entered the bathroom. Opening the tap, I stared at my reflection in the mirror as I waited for the water to heat. I barely recognized myself. Maybe I should make more of an effort to eat something. I ran a hand over the scruff covering my chin and cheeks. Maybe I should shave.

When I re-entered the bedroom, Vanya had removed the bandages from Lara's back. I stared at her back for a few seconds before glancing at the girl. She had to be a few years younger than Lara. Her face had paled and she swayed on her feet.

Placing the bowl down on the bedside table, I gripped her arm and steered her towards the chair.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded and then shook her head as she squeezed her eyes closed tightly. "I'm sorry," she breathed. "Olivia usually does this. She had to be somewhere and asked for help."

"Tell me what to do and I'll do it."

"You can't! I don't know much about shifters like you but I do know that mates are important. You—"

"Are Silas's brother and Lara's mate," I interrupted her. "Lara belongs to both of us."

"T-two?" She frowned up at me. "That can't be right."

"Two. She was made for the both of us. I'm sure that other shifters have multiple mates as well."

"How does that work?"

I gave her a small smile as I straightened. "I'll let you know once I figure it out myself. Now tell me what I need to do."

She explained everything to me as her friend had explained it to her before she hesitantly left the room. I stared down at the things she had placed onto the bedside table and then glanced at Lara. I had seen a lot of injuries as the Alpha, but nothing could compare to what I was seeing at the moment. Her skin was raw and red and the lashes were deep enough to have split open to reveal muscle. Thankfully no bone was visible but that could be because Silas had given Lara some of his blood when he had bitten her.

After gently cleaning her back like instructed, I picked up the tub of green stuff Vanya had told me to rub on. It was odourless and gooey which made me hesitant. I took a seat on the edge of the bed near Lara's hip and scooped my fingers inside the green stuuf before I started rubbing it into her upper back. She started to stir once I moved lower.

Her hands clenched in the sheets and whimpers fell from her lips.

"It's okay, beauty," I whispered. "It'll be over soon."

Her eyelashes fluttered and hope filled me. I waited for her to open her eyes, but she never did. Swallowing the sudden lump that filled my throat, I finished and gently pulled the sheet back over her body. I headed into the bathroom to wash my hands and then returned to pack everything away before kneeling on the floor next to the bed and close to her face. My hand covered hers and my lips brushed her forehead.

"I'm here."

"S-Silas," she whispered, making my heart clench. "H-help. E-Ethan."

"Silas is save, beauty. I'm here."

"E-Ethan. S-stay."

I swallowed and leaned closer. Reaching out with my other hand, I stroked her hair. "Lara?"

Her eyes fluttered and then to my delight slowly opened. Shock washed through me. Her eyes were completely black. She was changing! My god, a human was actually changing by bite. My happiness faded and was replaced by worry. All was going well but I can't help but wonder what was going to go wrong.

"Hey," I croaked, managing a wobbly smile.

"Y-you're h-here."

"Of course. Where else will I be?"

Her eyes fluttered closed and then opened again. "S-Silas?"

"He's in the room next-door."

"O-okay?"

I nodded. "He's going to be okay, I promise."

Her lips pulled up but the smile quickly faded. "M-missed you."

She fell unconscious again. I stared at her for a little while longer and then pressed another kissed to her forehead. If only she knew how much I had missed her—how much I longed to kiss her and hold her like I had that night. I had some of my trusted men looking into Avery and her family. Maybe, just maybe, I would find a way for the three of us to be together like we should be.

I had made a mistake by letting them go and I realized it now, but this time I wasn't going to allow my duty as Alpha to get in between my happiness and theirs. We belonged together and that was how things were going to be, come what may.

My body tensed when there was a knock on the bedroom door. I made sure that Lara was covered before I walked over to the door and pulled it open. Vanya stood there with a shaking tray in her hands. Her eyes darted up to my face and then past me to the bed.

"I thought you might be hungry," she said.

I forced a smile and took the tray from her. "I'm starving," I lied. "Thank you."

"Ezra told me to tell you that someone named Wrin called. He asked that you call him back as soon as you can."

I nodded, and watched as she walked off and disappeared around the corner. With a glance down at the tray, I turned and kicked the door closed. The food smelled delicious, but I wouldn't be able to stomach it. Placing the tray aside, I pulled the phone Devrim had given me from my pocket and dialled Wrin's number.

He answered on the second ring. "How are they?"

"In bad shape but recovering. Lara's changing."

"Are you sure?" he questioned. "There's only been two of these cases recorded and none of the females made it."

"Lara will make it. She's strong." I walked over to the window. "Why are you looking for me?"

"Avery is starting to stir up some trouble. She's not very happy about you changing the ceremony date again. Your mother managed to calm her by talking her into you guys getting to plan things a little better."

"I don't think there's going to be a ceremony—not between Avery and me."

"Ethan—"

"Is this line secure?"

"Yes."

"Are you hundred percent sure?"

Wrin growled. "I wouldn't be talking to you if it wasn't."

"Good. Give the phone to dad."

He stayed silent for a few minutes before he asked: "Which one?"

"Both Wrin, if possible."

He grumbled under his breath. I heard him shuffling about and then doors opening and closing. Dad's faint voice drifted through the phone. Wrin told them something and then it was silent again.

"Ethan," Dad muttered. "How's Silas?"

I swallowed. "In bad shape but he's recovering."

"And Lara?"

"Are you alone?"

"Yes," he muttered.

I sucked in a breath and slowly blew it out. After I arrived I had called them and let them know what had happened, but I hadn't told them the whole story. I'd tell them when I got back. My eyes darted over to Lara.

"Ethan?"

"Silas shifted and he bit Lara. She's changing."

Silence filled the other side of the phone. I pulled the phone away from my ear and glanced down at it to make sure that the phone hadn't been disconnected.

"He shouldn't have done that," Dad finally breathed. "We considered changing your mother but the doctor advised against it. Humans are too weak to go through the change. She'll die before the change is complete."

"Is there way to help her through this?" I questioned.

"No. I'm sorry, Ethan."

I wasn't going to give up so easily. There had to be a way we could help her through the change. "Have Wrin find me everything he can about the other two transformations, please. I'll call you back in a few days."

"Ethan—"

I hung up the phone and pushed it back into my pocket. My gaze lingered on the darkening clouds slowly drifting across the horizon. We were born to change our history and I was going to do that. I turned and stared down at Lara.

"Not much longer, baby," I promised. "It'll be over soon."