"You really are pathetic."

I tensed when Avery spoke from my left. My hands clutched the arms of the chair to keep myself in place. I wanted to rip her into piece but I couldn't allow that to happen. I couldn't shift because then I could possibly lose my babies. I continued to take deep and steady breaths as she walked further into the room. My eyes were glued to her when she walked around the bed on his other side.

My skin tingle as Avery reached out and placed a hand on his chest that was free of bandages. Her hand slowly trailed up until she cupped his cheek. I bit back a growl when she leaned down and pressed a kiss against his forehead.

"My poor, poor baby," she muttered. "Look at what she's done to you."

"I didn't do anything to him," I sneered.

She straightened and glared at me. "Yes you did. It's your fault that he's in this hospital bed."

I swallowed and dropped my eyes to stare at Silas. The doctor had assured me that he would be fine. Unfortunately he would forever bear the scars on his body. Even his shifter genres wouldn't help him heal from this.

"He ran into the building again because of you." My eyes snapped up to Avery. "He ran inside again to rescue Ethan. If it wasn't for you, he wouldn't have suffered like he had. If it wasn't for you, Ethan wouldn't be dead. If it wasn't—"

"Shut up!" I screamed, jumping up form my chair. "I didn't do anything! It's not my fault!"

"It is your fault!" she yelled. "This all started because of you! You should've fucking stayed where ever you came from. Pathetic humans like you don't belong here."

I flashed sharp teeth at her. "I'm no longer human, remember. I kicked your ass and if Silas hadn't stopped me, you would've been dead. I would've killed you for everything you've done to them."

Her lips parted but before she could utter a word, the door opened and a nurse stepped inside. I growled at the woman who quickly left again. My eyes shot over to Avery when she moved. I managed to dodge the clawed hand that flew at my face just in time.

"I hate you!" she screamed as she tried to punch me again. "You ruined everything! They were mine! They belonged to me."

My back hit the wall, making me realize that she had backed me into a corner. Avery's arms were covered in fur and her eyes had turned black. My eyes dropped to her mouth when she flashed sharp teeth at me.

"It was suppose to be you," she snarled. "You were suppose to run into that fire not Silas. You were suppose to die not them."

"Them?" I questioned, confused. "Only Ethan died in that fire, Avery."

The colour drained from her face. She stumbled backwards and glared down at the floor. Just as fast as she lost her composure, she regained it again. She glanced at Silas and then at me as she stumbled towards the door.

"I'll make s-sure he gets punished for what he had done to my brother."

The door slammed shut behind her. I listened to her footsteps as it faded before I stepped away from the wall. Taking deep breaths, I walked over to the bed and stared down at Silas. Was it true? Had he ran into that fire because of me? My frown deepened as his words from before flashed through my mind.

***

"Hey darling, how are you feeling today?"

Luca blinked up at me but made no sound. I stroked a finger down his cheek before I carefully slipped my arms underneath his small body to pick him up. His eyes darted over my face before moving away. Ever since the fire and Luca hadn't made a sound. He would cry—tears would stream down his cheeks—but no sound would leave his mouth.

I grabbed the bottle I had warmed and raised it to his lips. He turned his head away and reached up swat at the bottle. After another try and with no luck, I placed the bottle aside again with a sigh.

"Aren't you hungry?"

Not even a gurgle. Why won't he make any sounds?

"Lara?"

I turned slowly to find Valeria hesitating in the doorway of the room. My eyes darted over her as she hesitantly stepped closer. She was pale and had dark circles under her eyes. Her hair was as messy as mine. Neither one of us had made any effort in our appearances. What was the use?

"How are you holding up?" she asked softly.

I shrugged and turned back around. Shifting Luca in my arms, I cuddled him against my chest as I debated on my answer. What was the use of lying when she would clearly understand what I was feeling?

"I'm sorry," Valeria said softly. "I'm sorry for what I said. I didn't take into consideration what you've been through. All of you were hurting."

I swallowed. "Part of what you said is true." My eyes darted up to hers. "We can't change what happened though. It's too late for that."

Valeria sniffed. "I'm sorry Lara, for the lost of your mate."

"I don't feel it," I whispered. "I feel nothing but worry for Silas and Luca. I don't feel any pain or loss."

When she didn't say anything, I glanced up at him. Valeria was staring at me silently. I couldn't make sense of the emotion I saw flashing through her eyes. After a while she stepped towards me and reached for Luca. I turned so he was out of her reach and growled at her.

"Don't touch him."

Valeria instantly moved back with a frown dipping her brows. Her lips parted but she pursed them again and without another word, she turned and walked out of the room. I stared at the door for a few seconds before I turned away and walked over to the window.

Luca had fallen asleep with his face pressed against the crook of my neck. I rubbed a hand up and down his back as I stared out the window.

Pack members were lingering about probably trying to salvage whatever they could. Despite everybody's best effort, the fire had managed to spread. Most of the trees were destroyed along with the pack house and a few nearby houses. I wasn't sure how many people had died or how many had been injured. Most of the pack was at Ethan's house trying to put out the fire so hopefully not many had died.

My arm around Luca tightened. I had almost lost my will to live. If I had lost all three of them.

But you had lost one of them.

Luca stirred but didn't wake. My eyes darted around the room and then the door. I wanted to go back to Silas but I didn't want to leave Luca alone. Avery's reaction earlier had made me uneasy. Why she was blaming me for what happened. . .I shook my head.

With Luca still in my arms, I walked out of the room and towards Silas's room to the other side of the ward where he was.

I froze in the doorway after opening the door. Silas was sitting up in bed, holding a cup of water with a tray placed across his lap on the tables most hospitals used. His eyes had snapped over to the door when I pushed it open. For a few seconds he stared at me and then at Luca before he glanced away.

"Y-you're a-awake," I muttered, stepping into the room and pushing the door close behind me.

"So it appears," he croaked. "How's Luca?"

"He suffered from third degree burns like you but he has some nerve damage," I explained as I took a seat in the chair and leaned back. "The doctors said that he looks good and that he'll be back to his old self soon."

He nodded and pushed the tray away after placing the cup of water down on it.

"You should eat."

"Have you eaten?" I debated on lying but decided against it. "Not much, but I have."

It fell silent. Silas leaned back against the pillows but he didn't look at me again. His eyes were completely focused on the ceiling. It hurt and somehow Avery's words flashed through my mind. Was he blaming me?

"Silas—"

"Was the fire put out?" he interrupted.

I swallowed. "It spread."

"How far?"

"To the pack house and some surrounding houses," I told him softly.

He nodded. "How many were injured?"

I shifted in the chair. Why was he asking me all these questions when I just wanted to ask him how he was feeling? Swallowing, I sat forward just as there was a knock on the door. It opened a second later and Devon stepped inside. His eyes lingered on me and then darted over to Silas. His lips curled up into a smile but it quickly faded again.

"How are you feeling, son?"

"Fine." Silas shifted and then hissed. "Where's mom?"

"Helping some of the women." Devon looked over at me. "Can I talk to Silas along for a minute? Wrin is waiting outside to escort you to our home so you can have some rest."

"I'm fine here. I'll—"

"Go with Wrin, Lara," Silas interrupted. "Take Luca back to his room and go home."

"But I—" My words died down when Silas's eyes shot to me.

I was taken aback by the anger I saw in them. Was he angry at me? He barely looked at me for more than a few second before he glanced away. Swallowing the sudden lump that filled my throat, I stood and walked over to the still open door. I paused in the doorway and glanced over my shoulder.

Silas's eyes locked with mine. They were completely void of emotion. This side of him scared me. The only other time I've seen him like this was when he talked about his parents. Why was he looking at me like that?