The silent afternoon under the shade of the canopy of dense trees was such a contrast to the morning quarrel in our room.

I couldn't just sit there on the bed sulking in my own sorrows. A low moment like such only gave me the motivation to remember who I was and what I was supposed to do.

I was Misty. A human before anything to Karam or his motherland. And I had to visit Chelsea near the lake to report the conclusions from my journey to the temple.

But squeezing Keev in all this chaos was a too sensitive topic for me to ignore. So packing his needy things for a day out, I left the room, walked throughout the way with him in my arms, ignoring the curious and judgemental stares of Karam's loved ones, and reached the usual spot at the thin waterfall near the lake.

Just like I had expected Chelsea was doing her laundry, a show for the passersby. But I knew that she was dying to see me.

I too couldn't wait to be with her. Legs were already sore from the trekking and ached more because of walking all the way to here. But meeting her would be worth every step was taken in pain.

Most importantly, it was the best distraction for me to stop thinking about what happened between Karam and me in the morning. I just had to hide from him and this was the only safe place I felt, was possible for my mental peace.

But all that expected tranquility stayed miles away when I saw Chelsea's smile fading after hugging the life out of me. Her straight gaze didn't move off Keev until she was done thinking her thoughts. And God, I was curious about it. Afterward, she smiled at me. But those blank expressions while gazing at Keev stayed in my mind.

Time passed with us going to our usual spot near the falls to have privacy because of the great noise. Keev enjoyed the timely sprinkles of water shower as we were sitting near the falls safely on a stable flat rock with mine and Chelsea's feet dipped under the water.

While he played with a doll that I made up of a tiny handkerchief by rolling it, seated on my lap, Chelsea and I discussed the important things.

And it began with the talks about Lucine only.

"She cannot be sweet and kind to you just like that, " guessed Chelsea while shaking her head in disbelief. "The females are afraid of her. The Alpha is afraid of her. She worships Severa, the ghost of the Lycan Princess. She is the chieftain, Misty. She is not being plain sweet to you for no reason."

My lips parted at her words.

"She has a blood relation with Karam. She loves him and thus, me too. She treated me like any loving relative would. I guess, she just knew that I would be bawling over taking Keev back to Karam. She knows my nature, " I said while thinking of all the conclusions. "She was just being the chieftain and sister-in-law. She did no harm and no extra buttering to me. It's cool."

Her brown eyes were full of wonders she could think of when Chelsea looked at me. I could swear that she was a quick thinker.

"She underestimates you. Or maybe, she is enjoying that the way to the heir of this pack is from you and not Amelia or others brides." Chelsea whispered while looking ahead at the sparkling lake water. "Did she tell more about Severa's life?"

I shook my head.

"Her brothers died outside here in the jungles while waiting for their mates. While she stayed at the temple. So, I can only conclude that her bones are back there hidden in that temple, " I said while giving her a serious look.

Her eyebrows narrowed as she soaked in my words in her mind. There was a new scar on her forehead, more like a fresh wound apart from the two already deep scars on her cheek from earlier.

I could only guess that Gorudo had been a jerk to her again on this full moon night. No matter how courageous I was to handle that night at the temple, but it was taking all of my might to ask her about how she got the new scar. I was afraid if it would deepen my sorrow from the morning fight with Karam.

"The females are actually enjoying there, you said."

I nodded to confirm it.

She sighed heavily. "If the temple is not at all dangerous, but a big therapy school for the girls. Then, why is there so much dark aura and bad reputation about it."

"Because of the magic, " I said while remembering Severa's giant statue. As if she was right in front of me, I could recall her stone form so well. "Because of Severa's powers. I experienced the paranormal, Chelsea. It is no joke. A ghost chased me in the tower. The girls screamed in the longing for their mate and the next day, they were all happy and playful. There are stories drawn on the pillars. There were ghosts of old Severans that I saw during the night. I freaked out. It was all real. I am not even making it up."

"I know, " said Chelsea while smiling at me. "Your heart says the truth. But it's like a dead-end, Misty. You couldn't find the ashes. We didn't find where Severa died. All we know is that her ghost exists and her powers are true. But where will this lead us? Beyond the border? I don't think so."

A scoff escaped her immediately while she stared back at the water. Her braids were done lose today, making her look sadder.

"Instead, you brought this pup here. I didn't even know that he existed until the rumors flew around the town." She said, looking anywhere but at my face.

My calm heart had now started to drop into an endless hole. My eyes narrowed slightly. "What do you mean? I did a mistake by bringing him here?"

She nodded slowly with a blank face, not looking at me. "You just showed it your mate that you are already whipped for him. That you are kind and beautiful at heart, Misty. The bad being done around is your weakness, you showed them. How easy it will be for these people to hurt you now. You cut your time and now, they are waiting for your side of the deal."

I hated the fact that she was right in her own way.

My eyes started burning from the confusion I felt at the moment. This day was getting better. Wasn't it?

"And if you mate, you won't be able to go to that temple again. If Severa died after passing through that magical path through the crack in the mountain, then her ashes are hidden on that mountain tip only. We need to find her bones and throw them beyond the border. The pup will make you weak to even cross the border." She said truthfully with no fear on her face while my face fell.

The eyes turned glossy while my jaws started aching from being clenched. I breathed out slowly with open mouth while Keev played in my lap.

My arms around his tiny form tightened as I looked around the scenery. My throat tightened slowly.

"You have a mate. You fought with him and you are now avoiding him. I don't blame you for already falling for him, Misty. You are made for him and he is made for you. There is no denial. But what of your zeal to leave for your Gran, for your human world? You are staggering away from the goal of going back to the real world outside this border, " she continued while my heart started aching.

Keev climbed up on my chest, playing with my hair flick falling my face. My hand held him while Chelsea moved her legs a little.

"I couldn't leave him there at the temple, you know that," I said truthfully, my voice shaking hard.

"I know, " she whispered while bringing her hand on my back to rub it slowly. She stared at me as I wiped the tears off my cheeks. "You have a heart of gold. But to cross the border, you have to have a heart of steel, Misty."

I gulped hard.

"Karam wanted it badly, today. I was so scared to get manipulated or dominated by him, " I spoke out while sniffing softly. "And I don't blame him. Because I know that he has been waiting. He is a Lycan. For how long would I be able to keep him at pause? God knows, back in the city, no boy would give me that much attention and life. But Karam wants me. It excites me in a way, Chelsea. There are moments of weakness. But that doesn't mean I want him so badly. Neither I am ready to take any risks, nor do I crave him as he wants me."

She shrugged her shoulders sadly. "I thought that you gave yourself to him in return for the journey to the temple. I am shocked that you are still a virgin, Misty. Which means only you can buy yourself more time. No matter you want him or he loses his patience. You just have to do what your heart says. If you have really been sincere in visiting the temple, Severa will help you too. It's either being used to here by heart or for your mean motive of crossing the border and saving the future brides."

I blinked while looking back at the lake.

"Don't avoid him, Misty. Play him. Use your mind to use his heart. Because being fair in this journey would only keep you trapped here forever. Believe me, you don't want it."

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After doing the important discussion, we got off the big flat rock to walk away from the waterfall. Walking on the banks of the lake, around it to reach the place where Chelsea had washed our clothes, I spread her mate to lay down and dry us off.

I had changed Keev's clothes already and now, he was deep in sleep after drinking the milk that I had brought along.

"I didn't expect the girls to speak in my favor, " I said while laying on my stomach beside Keev, and making patterns on the sand with a twig. "I am thankful to them. I wonder how cool all other women are too. I mean, Savina is pregnant at the moment. Otherwise, she and Natasha could hang out with us too."

"They have accepted this life, Misty. Don't bring them here, " said Chelsea while spreading the washed clothes on the wooden stick she had placed on top of the two V stands she had made to hang the clothes in the faint sunlight. "Ever. Even if you do, then it should be Alvena."

I looked up at her, watching her do the work.

"You said that you knew the Mystic Luna and Alvena is her daughter. Having a mate like a man who made you piss in fear, Misty, I am sure she wants to join the group and count her sorrows here with us."

My eyes lowered with a sad smile. "I can't even ask her to do that. Anton is a dickhead. I don't want her to do anything that would make him scold her because of me. I don't think he even loves her. She always looks helpless and yet in love with him. But he is douche, " I said, while not being able to control the clenching of my jaws.

"Just like me." Chelsea joked sadly while wiping her wet hands with her skirt and walking towards me. She opened a steel tiffin full of cheese curry for me, making me sit up in happiness. "I tore the milk and made this only to reward you. The least I could do to keep you going, Misty."

My face turned warm and my heart got heavy as I gave her a side hug. "Thanks, girl. I love you for this."

She chuckled when I pulled out two apples from my satchel for her.

"Tell me how you got that Mark, " I said, all of a sudden, using the moment to just spit it out.

Chelsea's chewing movements slowed down while she met my gaze. Her face turned blank and brown eyes just showed barrels full of tears ready to be blown off. But she didn't cry.

"Gorudo rejected me this full moon night, " she said while checking the apple and taking a full happy bite, trying hard not to behave as sad as the topic was.

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"I thought that I would make things better by mating him, " she said while glancing at a sleepy Keev. "He chained me to a big tree in the jungle that my weak wolf form could never break off. Seating right ten steps away from me with those evil smirks on his face, he watched me begging and suffering for him. He let me bleed, " she said in a robotic tone. "I had hit my head against the tree in pain."

My eyes squirmed at the strong exterior she was holding to mask her pain. My soul felt shaken at imagining the scenario. I trusted her. But it was true that I couldn't understand the level of her pain. How hard could it be to resist your own mate?

But then, Pete's loud growls from the third night growled in my mind. Leo's sad eyes full of longing for Eva squeezed my heart. Keira's sobbing face flashed in my sight.

The very imagination of Gilbert killing my father to get his mate back had dominated the whole thought process.

Yet I couldn't help but only cherish the fact that he had tried to stop the wolves from throwing me away to this pack of Lycans.

My heart ached in a way I couldn't even describe in words.

"For how long will he resist me, " she said, chuckling crazily. "At last, I am his play toy. A day is not far when he would be angry enough to mate me the way he always does. Torture no female would love. No loving gaze. No ecstasy. It's always a war of his glares and my tears. I don't even know why I am sulking about it. It's good that I am out of such a burden and could do more tasks if required."

It reminded me of a promise Karam had made a night ago. "He said that he would take me to the north side of the pack, " I told her, making her eyes stunned.

"What?" She was not expecting this.

I nodded while she blinked. "But I don't think that will happen if things go like this the way they are going today."

"Northside means, closer to the borders of Eastern and Mystic's packs. Closer you can ever be, " she whispered carefully while I nodded.

Chelsea wiped her mouth and looked around sneakily. She looked back at me and mouthed, "Make sure, you know when he is planning to take you there. It shouldn't be his surprise. Because we would be needing planning before you go there."

I gulped while nodding obediently.

She cupped my hand and looked around again. This time, she whispered, "The Dancers will come tonight. The males will be busy. The females will be jealous and angry. It will be chaos and party."

Why did it sound like another task was coming? And this one sounded dangerous than the earlier one.

My legs started shaking in anxiety while goosebumps rise on my arms. Chelsea's big brown eyes were full of determination when she leaned closer and whispered, "Pass the message that we didn't find bones. We need to find a new way before the upcoming blood moon."

My mouth stayed open while she suddenly stiffened. I wanted to ask her if those dancers would even be trustworthy.

"Blood Moon? What about it?" I asked curiously.

She gave me a blank look. "It's the hunters' moon, Misty. The predatory blood gets vicious and aggression is just out of this world. We cannot defeat the predators at the time when the Moon itself would be encouraging them."

My stomach churned at the logic. But her determination made me respect the words and meaning hidden in them.

At a point where so many supernatural experiences were already witnessed, it wasn't hard for me to believe in these facts.

"How would I contact them? I can't do that in front of the whole family?" I whispered while already imagining the scenario.

Chelsea nodded while looking up at the trees, her brown eyes squinting slightly.

"Follow any of the bachelors. They will surely be having fun tonight. The silent one gets most drunk, Gorudo had once mentioned." She told me hurriedly.

"Oskar?" I confirmed while she nodded immediately.

"Don't mention the male wolves stuck here, " she whispered roughly while raising herself on her knees.

"Why not?" I asked in disbelief. "That's the first thing I would tell them in hurry."

She shook her head with wide eyes.

"If the packs get to know, they will try to break rules or attempt things bluntly to get these males back. If the Lycans get to know this, then they'll kill them."

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Returning back to the room had taken so much time, the evening had arrived already.

Keev was asleep half of the way and because of which, I had carried him with his head rested against my shoulder. I wasn't much stressed by his weight which was nothing compared to the weight I felt on my mind by this new given task.

Though, my thighs and legs were all tired and throbbing for rest.

Thankfully, Alma entered the room right after I laid Keev down on the bed for him to continue sleeping if he wanted to.

I felt too suffocated in that room again that breathing normally had turned stressful for me. Even after being tired, I couldn't sit and take a break.

Alma noticed this and offered to watch over Keev. "You can go out and feel some evening air, Misty. Don't worry about him, " she said, while I observed her genuine expressions.

I wanted to be there for Keev all the time despite having trust in the Severans who stood up for him in front of everyone when it was needed.

"It's just the environment, maybe," I said quietly while wiping off the sweat from over my neck with a little piece of cloth. "I mean, this room is cool enough. But the walls are coming on to me. . ."

Alma smiled in pity. She had brought along with her cloth strips that she was braiding to make a small-sized mat.

"Stella or Emily must be making tea. You must go and grab your cup, " she said, making me sigh heavily.

I gave Keev a long glance before finally walking out of the room while scratching my neck. The idea of tea didn't sound interesting when I felt so itchy and hot inside my stomach already.

I was sure, Chelsea's curry wasn't even that spicy.

Rubbing my stomach, I got out of the room, only to see the brothers preparing wood sticks for the bonfire party tonight.

Oskar and Adam stayed silent and kept minding their business while Salome gave me a respectful nod.

I blinked in recognition while Anton only huffed at the scene. He tilted his head and looked at me up and down, smirking like a hyena.

My jaws clenched barely and I just continued walking ahead to reach Amelia's house, no matter if I had to face her or Kingston who was no better than all these brothers. The misogynist words he said in the morning had changed my thoughts about him. I was disappointed yet I needed something to calm my anxious soul from Emily.

"Misty, " a deep voice called me out from the same boy group. I stopped and turned my head only to squint my eyes at Lysar who was walking towards me with a little white flower in his hand.

My heart started pounding at the sudden vibe and attention. All the brothers had turned their heads to watch us and Karam was nowhere in sight.

Lysar's cat eyes looked so humorous yet genuine when he reached me. Standing a step away, he made me wait for his words. His eyes lowered with a tight smile as he confessed, "My brother forgot to bring the nuts for me. But you reminded him. This is a little exchange from my side to show you that it pleased me."

I sucked in my cheeks absentmindedly while the brothers started chuckling like douches except for the Salome, the mature one. Anton blew out a wolf whistle, making me look at Lysar in blankness.

"I didn't think much about it. I saw the pebbles on the way and I remembered your words. So, it's not a big deal. Don't feel special, " I said, giving Lysar the stink eye. "Especially when you keep calling your own big brother, a wimp for just respecting his mate's choices."

The brothers all turned silent while Lysar raised his eyebrows. All that softness was gone from his face and a glass nervous smile curved his bow-shaped lips.

"I never mean to hurt him when I say it. Brothers joke around, " he reasoned while Anton and Robin exchanged a high five with a laugh for something they just talked about.

"Whatever, " I said tiredly while turning around and walking towards Amelia's house.

But Lysar started walking along on my right side. "Take the flower, I plucked it for you."

"I don't need it."

"Hey!" He whined loudly. "Oh, don't be so cruel. Karam wouldn't mind it since his style is to bring fruits for you."

"Yeah, " I said tastelessly while clenching my jaws. "Such a kind mate!"

Lysar didn't get my sarcasm or maybe, he was still thinking of my 'wimp' comeback. "You are upset with him and still fight for him, that is some love."

My head turned towards him like a jerk, making him flinch back dramatically.

"I hate your brother, " I seethed while taking the flower from him and ripping it away angrily.

"Woah!" He acted dramatically and threw his hands in the air. "Everyone says the truth then. You really are in. . ."

"Misty?" Nina called out from her house while smiling at me.

The genuine facade had returned and now the creepy Nysa was all gone. I observed her standing at her porch while waving at me. I had passed her to go to Amelia's house ahead. But Stella was standing beside with a soft smile on her face.

"Come inside, I have made this sweet syrup," Nysa said while glancing at Lysar who rolled his eyes and started walking away with a shake of the head.

"Are you sure it's not poisoned?" I asked while giving her a fake smile.

Nysa chuckled while walking towards me, cupping my cheeks. "Besides everything that happened yesterday, you know that we all love you. In the end, we have to keep you happy and healthy for the heir to make space there."

I let out a huge tired groan while she held my shoulders and guided me to her house.

"Come, Aunt Misty. I swear, we are all clean." Stella chuckled while walking towards the kitchen. "It is my mother who loses mind sometimes in the crowd."

Nysa guided me to a chair and started fanning my face with her shawl in her hand. "The less spicy food at the temple has softened your stomach," she guessed and shrugged her shoulders. "Do not worry, you will be fine. Just don't take a blanket for tonight."

"Blanket?" I scoffed in annoyance. Even though, I was thankful that Nysa pulled me inside before I could face Amelia. I was upset with what Nysa but at the moment, my helpless self just wanted to be pampered and she was doing just that by pressing her fingers on my feet and ankles by keeping them on her lap.

"Sore feet often gives heat. Sometimes, it is just a worry, Misty. Rest your mind."

"How? Isn't it going to be a bonfire tonight? A huge one?" I asked immediately, making her smile. "The dancers will be there and wine."

"You won't drink wine if you want to stay sane," she suggested while I rested my head against the head of the chair and let out a huge breath.

A glass of Lycan wine was nothing compared to Karam's gaze full of longing and hurt.

"I was sane before crossing the border, Nysa. Before crossing the border."

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"What do you think?"

Please vote and comment.

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Hey guys. How are you all?

I hope, you liked the chapter. Though, I don't know what I did up there. Just wanted to add more before Pete's plan comes in the execution. So, I guess with the next chapter we will be reading the thrilling moments. I am so excited to share them with you in the future.

About being late at updating, I am really sorry. Life happened and I got into an internship lately. I barely got time to spend a weekend freely. It had been busy weeks. But I tried writing every day. The little time made me less happy about the versions of the chapter. So, I kept on changing new versions until I wrote this one.

I even got a little hypertension moment in the last week. Avoided caffeine and social media for some time. So, now catching up after receiving so many wonderful messages from you wonderful people. It got me alright. I am already working on the next update and will try to share it as soon as it gets completed.

I apologize for the long wait. I myself miss the early quarantine time when I used to give an update a day. But guess, it's the grilling time of the year for me. I'll catch up with you all on insta tomorrow. For now, enjoy the update and let me know your thoughts.

I missed you all too and thanks for being so loyal and loving. Please ask any questions if you have.