Hair still damp, I sat on a makeshift bed with Sylar's Wolf,  who lay curled in the corner.  I picked at a sandwich had kindly prepared for me.

I'd promised on Pearl's return to shower, eat and maybe rest in my own bed for a short time.  But my brother, Orion, had bounced into the room not thirty seconds following Pearl's departure, insisting I shower before he threw me over his shoulder and dumped me in a vat of ice-cold water.

From the seriousness of his face—he wasn't teasing

Therefore, reluctantly, I'd left my brother with Sylar... alone.

Showering in record time, I dressed but felt too fidgety to sleep. Attempting to sneak out of the pack house, Eve accosted me, handing me a sandwich and a selection of cheeses and berries. Thankfully, I escaped without a lecture on looking after myself—and I could thank  guilt  for that.

She'd hugged me and muttered her apologies.  Her eyes filled with remorse, having somewhat felt responsible for Sylar being taken.

I, in no way held her to account for what happened. The blame lay squarely at my sisters' feet.  Ember... who had paid for her crimes by death at the hands of my brother.

Cassius.  I was desperately trying not to worry about my brother.

One worry at a time, Willa.

On my return to the holding house, a sense of ease filled me as I found neither harmed by the other and, to my surprise, Sylar's wolf had settled, sleeping. Orion was even a little smug that he convinced his wolf to eat a little.

Sitting on the bed, I gave up trying to eat, my appetite left little to be desired.  A low grumble from Sylar had my eyes snapping to attention.  Breath caught, I watched his chest expand and fall. His eyelids flickered. He may have been asleep, but he was still restless.

Slowly, I breathed out.  "Come back to me, Sylar," I whispered.

Sighing, my mind drifted to our last shared kiss in the water, at my parents' cabin.  Running my finger across my lips, my cheeks heated as I replayed the look in his eyes, the desire for me matched by my desire for him.

Tightness spread across my chest. If I could go back, I wouldn't have thrown a childish tantrum as his refusal to mark me. And in hindsight, I shouldn't have been so angry at his reluctance, understanding he wanted to do the right thing by me and my family, uphold our traditions.

My heart squeezed. It took almost losing him to realise how much he cared for me. And over the past two days, whenever Pearl had stopped by, which was every few hours, she had talked endlessly about him and his life in London and how he looked out for her and his family.  It was clear that Sylar always put everyone else's needs before his own. 

When he came back to me, I was going to tell him every single day just how much he meant to me.

I sat my half uneaten sandwich beside me as his Sylar's wolf stirred, a part whimper, part howl tore from his lips and then he was silent again.

It was difficult and testing being this close to him and yet still miles apart.  Nevertheless, I was sure he would come back to me when able. Whatever had transpired during his time with my sister, this was his way of processing it. But no matter what had occurred. I was determined to help him heal—and his wolf, too.  I only wished I could shift to be the mate his wolf deserved, knowing the loss he would feel at losing Ember would stay with him, always.

Pulling my eyes from Sylar, I glimpsed up through the small window. The waxing crescent moon peeked through a break in the clouds. Pushing back on the bed, I raised my legs and lay down on my side. Yawning, my eyes drifted closed.

Jumping out of my sleep, my heart pounded, unsure how much time passed.  Sylar growled, his head lifting to sniff the air. Hackles rising, his top lip curled as a low rumbling growl vibrated through his chest.

Someone was here.

"It's okay.  I won't let anyone hurt you." I tried to reassure him, pushing up into an upright position, throwing my legs from the bed.

Was he troubled?

A moment later, I let out a relieved breath as Pearl appeared in the doorway with two women and one child following. The small child's head peeped around the taller of the women, but all eyes fell on me.

Sylar rose, growling but not as threatening as a moment ago. It was more of a warning.

The little girl smiled at me before pushing her way past Pearl. "Hannah!" said one of the two women standing behind Pearl as she reached for the little girl's shoulder. "Remember what we talked about on the way here?"

The little girl turned, angling her head up, huffing. "It's Prancer, Mommy"

Prancer—Did she call Sylar's wolf Prancer?  I bit back a giggle.  I'd heard no one name their wolf.

She continued. "He would never hurt me. He's afraid and I want to make him feel better." She shucked off her mummy's hand and walked toward Prancer without fear.

I spied Pearl as she smiled and looked happier than I'd seen in days. "Hey, Willa.  This is Sage and Misha and that is Hannah." She pointed toward the little girl.

I rose from the bed, smoothing down my hair, pushing it behind my ear, wishing I'd brushed it or made more of an effort. "I'm so happy to meet you all." Sage came toward me, and I could see the family resemblance, sharing the same stunning blue eyes as her brother.

Without a word, Sage pulled me into a hug, squeezing the breath from my lungs, but I wrapped my arms around her. 

"I've been looking forward to meeting you. Pearl has told me so much about you."

Pearl chipped in. "Only the good stuff."

Sage let me go, standing beside me as Misha turned her attention briefly from her daughter and Sylar. "Hello, it's lovely to meet you, Willa." She smiled warmly. "We can talk later, and you can tell me all about yourself."  She turned back to Sylar. "How long has he been like this?"

"We think four days, but it could be five, maybe even six.  We don't know what my sister did to him."

"He's in pain." Her voice tightened, setting her mouth in a thin line as if she was trying to confine her emotions. 

Hannah knelt before his wolf, who had strangely stopped growling.  "It's me Prancer, let me in, so I can speak to Sylar."  The wolf shocked me as he whimpered, allowing Hannah to wrap her arms around this thick throat, burying her head in his fur. "I've missed you, Prancer."

Pearl stiffened, casting a glance towards Sage, but there was no need for worry as Sylar relaxed under her the little girl's care touch.

Misha walked toward him and ran her fingers through the fur on his head. "We've all missed you," she uttered quietly, and the wolf seemed to understand, his eyes softening.

Pearl came to stand alongside me, keeping her voice low.  "Sylar was raised by Misha and her husband, Gavin.  Hannah's gifts allow her to speak to his wolf and Sylar, if anyone can reach him, it's her." Reaching for my hand, she gave it a little squeeze.  "It's gonna be okay."

I wasn't sure how long we all stood in silence as Hannah silently communicated with Sylar and his wolf.  Finally, she leaned forward and kissed Prancer's nose as she turned to me.  "He wants you to know how sorry he is."

"Sorry for what?" I asked.  This wasn't his fault.  None of it.

"He can hear you now, if you want to speak to him."

Pearl nudged me, nodding for me to go closer.  His wolf watched me approach as I knelt. "You have nothing to be sorry for, just please come back to me... to us."

The wolf looked at Hannah before tilting its head up toward Misha.  "It's fear for you that stops him from shifting. His wolf is protecting him."

Fear for me...or fear of me?  "I don't understand."

I held out my hand as his wolf leaned toward it, sniffing, before nudging his nose into my palm. "Come back, please."

"Prancer is looking after Sylar, but he is sad," said Hannah.

"Prancer or Sylar, who is sad Hannah?"

"Prancer, he's sad because his mate is dead."

Ember... "Hannah is his wolf... Prancer, angry or upset with me?"

She shook her head.  "No."  Her face furrowed, her eyes darkening.  "Prancer's mate hurt Sylar."

Misha cut in. "Sylar, thinks he doesn't deserve you... He's not worthy of your love or your forgiveness," she said.

My heart raced as every pound slammed against mr rib cage. How could he say or think such a thing? He was my mate.  He was mine, and I loved him.  Shuffling closer, I placed my hands on either side of his head, looking him square in the eyes.

"Sometimes love isn't what we want, but what we need, just like forgiveness.  Let me love you Sylar. Please. Nothing you tell me would make me think any less of you. I love you Sylar Dufrene. And if that means I have to find enough love for the both of us—then that's what I'll do."

The silence in the room became the only noise between us, and I hoped he could hear and feel the honesty of my words.

"He's ready."  Hannah rose, stepping back, placing her hands over her eyes. "Sylar wouldn't want me to see his naked butt." She giggled.

"That's not all he wouldn't want you to see!" Pearl snickered as Sage rolled her eyes.

I rose, stepping back.  Excitement coursed through me as his wolf howled, and the shift began.

I turned to seek any clothing, but I hadn't thought that far ahead.  I grabbed the blanket from the bed, as Pearl took it from me, smiling. "What you said to Sylar was beautiful, Willa."  My cheeks heated.  "Thank you."

There was no need to thank me, as I refocused on the wolf. His howls would have been heard far and wide. It was easy to see how painful this was for both.

Finally, what seemed an age, the man now crouched before us.  Heaving a relieved sigh, I silently thanked the goddess. My mate was back.

Hair damp, his muscles flexed.  Pearl wrapped the blanket around him. "Good to see you cousin but try and keep it PG, yes?" she squeezed his shoulder.

Sylar lifted his head.  I didn't know what I expected to see, but the pain etched in his eyes punched the air from my lungs.

He rose without speaking.

"May I open my eyes yet?" asked Hannah.

"Yes, he's decent enough," said Pearl.

His family wasted no time in crowding him, each wrapping their arms around him and themselves, whispering. A stab of envy pierced me, hesitant to join in what seemed a private moment.

Watching from the side, his eyes searched out mine.

Finally, one by one, they let him go, giving him breathing space.

"Thank you, Hannah."  He crouched, and she wrapped her arms around his neck as he seemed to relax slightly. 

"Anytime, Sylar, I've missed you and Prancer."

As he stood, Misha cupped his face, nodding.  "We're gonna give you and Willa some space, but we're here when you need us."  She dropped her hands to hold one out for Hannah.  "C'mon let's leave Sylar, you can catch up later."

As they shuffled from the room, it left just us two.

We stood in silence, each feeling for the other, reaching out but neither taking the step forward. Intense fatigue radiated from him, yet when he smiled at me, I could have died from the sheer look of relief on his face.  But still, one of us had to break this silence.

"I was so worried."  It wasn't what I wanted to say, but it was a start.

"I'm sorry Willa," he licked his dry lips. "For worrying you."  He looked away briefly, gripping onto his blanket.

"Don't be sorry, worrying is what I do best."

He shook his head. His gaze focused on me.  "No, for some crazy reason, loving me is what you do best."

He wasn't wrong, although I wished the situation had been better when I'd told him how I truly felt about him."

"It was your words that brought me back. My wolf only yielded control when he heard you say that you loved me."

"I meant it." I added, quickly.

He nodded.

My eyes dropped to his neck, clear as glass was her mark... my sister had marked him, taken him as her mate.

I couldn't help but stare, the pulse pounding in my neck.  "Don't hate me, Willa. Please not you," he whispered.

"Hate, I could never hate you."

He hesitated.  "I need to tell you something, and there is a huge possibility you might." He lowered his head. "But I wont lie to you, not you, ever."

I inhaled a deep breath.  "You need to feed and clean up first.  Then we can talk."

Raising his head, he opened his mouth and then closed it as he followed me out of the room.

I stopped and turned to face him. "There is something I need to know."

"You can ask me anything."

"Why does Hannah call your wolf, Prancer?"  A smile teased my lips, and he returned mine with one of his own.

"I'm not sure you would believe me."

He stuck his hand out from his blanket, holding it toward me. I didn't hesitate to slide mine into his. No matter what he needed to share with me, it would never change the way I felt about him.

I was his and he was mine.