"Give me a few weeks to sort things out, Lara. I don't know what's going to happen so I can't make you any promises, but I need you to know that I love you. You're mine and I'm yours. Only yours."

"I don't want you to go. I don't want you to go back to her."

He cupped my cheeks and tilted my head back so I could look at him. "I don't want to leave you."

I blinked back the tears but they still spilled over. He was leaving and maybe this time I wouldn't be so lucky to see him again. Maybe this time we'll lose him forever. I reached up and pressed my hand against his holding my cheeks.

"We have tonight, Lara. Let's make the best of it. Make me remember only you."

"I love you, Ethan."

"I love you, Lara. My heart, my soul and my body belongs only to you."

***

"Lara?"

My body jerked when a firm hand gripped my shoulder. I instantly shook it off and then turned to face him. Silas looked grim as he stared down at me. I relaxed and turned back to stare unseeingly at the trees. It's only been twenty-four hours since Ethan had left. He had called to tell us that he had made it back safely.

"They're making breakfast. Do you want some?"

I shook my head and wrapped my arms tighter around my waist. A gasp fell from my lips when Silas suddenly picked me up. He gave me a small smile when my eyes shot up to his in surprise. Sinking down on the chair I had been sitting on, he placed me down on his lap and leaned back. I relaxed against him with a small sigh.

"Do you ever think that maybe we're cursed?"

"Cursed?" His lips brushed my forehead. "The thought had crossed my mind a few times, sweetness."

"Maybe we weren't meant to be," I whispered.

His arms around me tightened. "I like to believe that things happen for a reason. Maybe this is some kind of test."

"I hate it."

"Me too."

We both fell silent as we got lost in our own thoughts. Silas's back had healed and he was pretty much back to normal. The only difference was the fact that he was no longer the same man. Something had changed. I licked my lips and tilted my head back.

"Silas?"

"Mmm?" His eyes darted down to mine.

"When can we go home?"

He swallowed loudly and then reached up to move a few strands of hair from my face. His eyes flashed with pain and something else. What was he thinking? Why was he staring at me like that?

"We can't go home, not back to London."

I clutched at his shirt as I waited for him to continue. I knew what he was going to tell me and I hated it. If we had to go back there then things would only become worse. It would be hell.

"Ethan and I talked before he left." His hand slid down my cheek to grip my neck. "We need to go back to the pack, Lara. After what happened, it would be too risky to live amongst humans. Maybe when we manage to control our animal sides a little more, we could go back."

"What happened to the men who kidnapped us?"

His eyes darted away from mine. Silas guided my face to the crook of his neck. "They were killed. Everyone at the. . .facility was killed. There were no sign of the men who had kidnapped us."

"So they're still out there?"

"Probably."

I closed my eyes and breathed in his scent. We were going back to the place that nearly destroyed us. To the place where I'd have to see Ethan and Avery together every day. We wouldn't be living in the same house again, would we? I wouldn't be able to handle that.

"What if we go back and they follow us?"

"Let me worry about this, sweetness."

"I can't help but worry," I muttered.

"I know."

As I opened my eyes, they fell on my hand with my bare ring finger. They had taken my ring when they kidnapped us at the airport.

"Silas?"

"Yes?"

My mouth suddenly felt as dry as the Sahara desert. I sat up and turned so I could face him a little more. His eyes darted over my face before locking with mine. I had idea how to tell him what I wanted too. I glanced down at my hand.

"Can we. . .I want to. . ." I blew out a breath and then looked up at him. "They took my ring."

His lips twitched. "I've noticed."

"You never said anything."

"I didn't want to bring up bad memories," he said softly.

"Oh."

Silas took hold of my hand and raised it to his lips. He pressed a kiss to my palm and then turned my hand to press one against the finger that he had slipped his ring onto. I frowned at him when he shifted in the seat and reached into his pocket. My heartbeat increased when he pulled out a small black box.

He flipped it open and reached inside to take the ring out. My hand started to shake when he gripped it again and slowly slid the ring onto my finger.

"Will you make me the happiest man alive by agreeing to marry me?"

I smiled and nodded. "Yes. You know I will."

"Will you marry me tomorrow before we leave?"

"T-tomorrow?" I gasped.

He nodded. "I talked to Devrim. If you agree then he'll arrange everything for us."

"What about your family? And the people you want to invite to the wedding?"

His eyes dropped for a few seconds before he looked at me again. "They aren't important."

"Not even your family?"

"Not even them."

He was lying. I could see how much this affected him. He wanted them there, but they wouldn't be. They didn't care enough to want to be part of something as important as his marriage ceremony.

"Okay."

"Okay?"

I nodded. "Let's get married tomorrow."

***

"This is so exciting!" Olivia exclaimed, clutching her hands under her chin. "It's like a fairy tale."

If only it was. . .I shook the depressing thoughts away and focused on what I was doing. Gripping the mascara, I leaned closer to the mirror but my hand shook too much to put it on. I sighed and placed the cap on it before lowering it back to the table. No use wearing make-up.

"Do you need any help?"

My body jerked in fright when a new voice spoke from behind me. Straightening, I watched as Vanya hesitantly entered the room. I managed to give her a small smile that I hoped reached my eyes. I was on the verge of bursting into tears. Things were just so damn confusing!

"I'm good, thank you," I managed to mutter.

Vanya smiled and then glanced over to Olivia who was suddenly intensely focused on her phone. Turning away from them, I turned towards the mirror and allowed my eyes to trail over my slim figure. I had had lost some weight which made me look lean. I soothed my hands down my dress when my stomach twisted again.

Was I doing the right thing? It sure didn't feel like the right thing—especially with Ethan not being here. Tears filled my eyes, but I quickly blinked them away. Today was my wedding day. I shouldn't be crying. I should be happy. I was marrying the man of my dreams.

There was a soft knock on the door, making my eyes snap up. Silas's eyes caught mine in the mirror. He gave me a small smile and then glanced between the two women in the room with me.

"May I have a moment alone with Lara, please?"

"You—"

"Let's go Olivia." Vanya grabbed her arm and nearly dragged her out of the room.

Silas stepped aside for them to exit before he entered the room and closed the door firmly behind him. I watched as his eyes darted over my body. They lingered on my neck and ass before darting back up to my face. His face was expressionless which made a little fear fill me. Had he changed his mind?

"You look very fucking beautiful, Lara," he said softly.

Silas moved forward until his chest pressed into my back. He wrapped his arms around my waist and rested his hand on my stomach. His head dropped and his lips brushed the skin of my neck. My eyes fluttered closed but immediately opened again when he pulled back. I swallowed when our eyes locked and I saw the emotion flashing through his.

"Silas—"

"Already having second thoughts?" he questioned. "I knew you would."

"I'm. . .I'm so confused. How—"

"Lara, there's nothing wrong with you loving both of us—especially in our world. It's completely normal. Just look at my parents." His hold tightened. "They're happy."

"I just. . ." I licked my lips.

"What's worrying you?"

"What if the three of us are together and then things start to change?" I turned in his arms and tilted my head back to stare up at him. "What if I spent more time with you than I do Ethan and he gets jealous or the other way around? What if I make you start hating each other again? What if nothing works out between us and—"

His lips brushed mine, instantly silencing me. Pulling back, he cupped my cheek and gave me a small smile. "Nothing, and I mean nothing will ever make either of us feel like that. You were raised with morals. You were human before and I'm trying to understand how all this is making you feel. If I were in your shoes, I'd feel exactly the same."

"It's all just a l-little confusing."

"Do you want to know one thing that I had learned while living with the pack?"

I nodded. "Tell m-me."

"I learned that unlike humans, Lycan's always follow their instincts." He stroked a finger over my cheek. "What's your instinct telling you?"

I swallowed and licked my lips. What was my instinct telling me? My eyes darted over his face before locking with his. Silas was waiting silently for my answer. There was no hesitation in what I wanted.

"It's telling me that you and Ethan belong to me."

Silas smiled and then chuckled. He leaned down and kissed me, and just when my knees started to weaken, he ended the kiss and pulled away. I frowned when he took a step back and reached into his pocket.

"Ethan asked me to give this to you," he said softly.

He held out a long black rectangular box. When I made no move to reach for it, he opened it and reached inside. I watched as he pulled the necklace out and then held it out towards me. The chain was small and silver with a locket hanging in the middle. Silas held it out towards me to get a better look.

The outside was decorated in swirls and then inside held a photo of both Ethan and Silas. It felt like my heart was about to explode. Tears filled my eyes.

"It's his wedding gift."

"H-he's k-knows?"

Silas nodded. "He knows."

I turned and watched him in the mirror. Silas unclasped the clip of the necklace and then reached out to fasten it around my neck. It was cool against my skin but it fitted perfectly. His hands slid over my shoulders and then down my arms. Silas's eyes locked with mine.

"Ethan loves you very much, sweetness. Just as much as I love you and although he can't be here and Avery might forever be between us, nothing will ever change that." He gave me a sad smile. "We might be doomed, but at least we have each other."

"Forever and ever."

He chuckled. "Forever and ever."