''Your sister wasn't murdered.''

The phrase kept repeating itself in her head, confusing her. How could that be? She saw her dead body. She had buried her and mourned and avenged her. Her mother was there, crying for her lost child. Why would her mother lie about this? But Charles was also right: he never lied to her. No matter how twisted and sick their relationship was, he was always telling her the truth. ''He just wants to save himself,'' said Lyra. ''Maybe. But that doesn't mean he is lying,'' she answered.

''Do you have proof?'' she asked loudly.

''I do. I have evidence that your sister was alive at least a year ago.''

''I want it.''

''Firstly, you must remove the sword, it's hurting me, and I don't want it to pierce me at a sudden move.''

She removed the sword but stayed close to him, ready to finish what she started.

''Why would my mother lie to me?''

''I don't know.''

''How do you know she lied?''

''She knew your sister was alive. She made a sleeping spell at your sister and made her look dead. It was all an act, Laurel.''

''Why now? Why tell me that now?''

''I don't want to die. There is so much for us to live.''

''This is the last time I let you go. If you lied to me, I'll make you wish you were in hell!" She growled.

She heard footsteps, people running to them.

''Leave before I change my mind,'' she told him, and he left through the shadows.

''She's okay!'' a bruised Chloe exclaimed. Her friends surrounded her.

''Where is Charles?'' Thomas asked.

''I let him go.''

''What? Why? Are you insane?'' four people asked at the same time.

''How could you leave this monster run away?'' Thomas's heart was filled with anger.

''He said something.'' Her voice was low and the tip of the sword was touching the ground.

''He always tries to mess with your head.''

''No, Lena. I trust my instinct. It tells me to hear him out.''

''What did he say?''

''He said that Lucy is alive. She was never murdered, and my mother made me in purpose to believe she died.''

Her lips trembled and the sword felt heavy in her hand.

''But you saw her body,'' Thomas said, trying to comprehend what he had heard.

''It was an illusion, my mother's magic.''

''Why would she do that?''

''I don't know,'' she said, shrugging her shoulders. She put her sword in its case and started walking, leaving her friends behind.

''Where are you going?''

''We need to clean our mess. We can't leave the others deal with the bodies.''

''Do you understand what the news means?'' Lena asked in concern.

''You think I don't?'' Laurel snapped. ''I did terrible things in the name of revenge! I murdered people, I tortured them, and I burned them. I destroyed villages trying to avenge the killers of my sister, and I used dark magic! It cost me everything! My life, my soul, everything!'' she screamed. ''If my sister is alive, it means it was all in vain. I was created to stop the monsters, but instead, I became the worst. I let myself be broken, used, manipulated to destroy, and if that wasn't enough, I had to reject my mate. My heart bleeds, and my body has a hole, and you want me to think what? That I shouldn't have? I did it to protect him from myself, first of all, when I was never supposed to turn into what I am.''

''Laurel, I think you should stop,'' Chloe tried to say when Laurel ignored Thomas's signals.

''Stop? No, there is no stopping now. I will find the truth even if it is the last thing I do before I die. I haven't felt more disgusted with myself than now. I had one good thing in my life, and I ruined it. One last hope and I threw it away.''

''That's right,'' a voice said behind her. ''You destroyed everything. Maybe that's your greatest power after all.''

She closed her eyes, internally cursing herself. She swallowed nervously, her mouth suddenly dry. She turned around and faced his green eyes.

''How much did you hear?''

''Enough to understand you did me a favor after all. I knew the three werewolves that died tonight, and there are so many more that got hurt. And for what? For you? Not worth it,'' he said without dropping his voice.

''Hey, you can't talk to her like that'' Thomas walked fast and put himself between his friend and James. ''You don't know her.''

''I guess I got lucky. You don't have to help with the cleaning,'' he said, looking to the others.

''Our mess, we clean.'' Zach stopped him. ''After that, we leave. But not before.''

James agreed since he saw no other way around it. He left to talk to some people. Everyone started working: burning the bodies, taking their weapons, cleaning the blood. Some werewolves came to thank Laurel and the others in person, and in the end, the Alpha that had organized the gathering came to talk to them before they left. Before they left, Laurel tried to search James, but he was nowhere to be found. What could she say? There was no easy way to fix it.

A few hours later, moments after the sunrise, they arrived home. Asher was waiting for them since Laurel hadn't let him go with them.

''Everything alright?'' he asked the minute they entered the house.

''I think it's better we all rest first,'' Lena suggested, and no one disagreed.

They cleaned themselves and slept for a few hours, but their minds couldn't rest. They needed answers. Therefore, they all gathered in the living room and started discussing.

''Now what?''

''Charles said that he would inform me about the place and the time we will meet to give me the evidence. But I can't wait. I want to start searching myself.''

''Maybe we can speak with people that were with you and your mother at that time?'' Zach had created an outline of a plan in his mind.

Laurel shook her head negatively.

''No one is alive unless there is another surprise.''

''Could someone have taken your sister?" Asher asked.

''I don't know. Even if someone had abducted her, I would know. They would ask for money or anything else. No, it's not that.''

''What will you do about the other problem?''

''I wish I knew. I want to talk to him, but he won't listen. I thought that I could fix it all, but I was wrong. What worries me is that other people might know about us. There were many people on the battlefield.''

''Yeah, some of Charles' people escaped, and everyone saw your powers.''

''If someone wants to harm me, then let them come. But James cannot be hurt again because of me.''

''How are your palms?''

''Better,'' she answered and showed them her scratched palms. ''I felt the gunshot. I don't know why I didn't bleed, but it was terrible. I have a scar at that place.''

''Does he feel it when you get hurt?''

''I don't know. I thought I knew it all, and now everything is turned upside down.''

Her phone made a noise, and a message from an unknown number showed up on the screen.

''In one hour at the red crossroad.''

''Where is that?'' Asher had never heard that name before.

''It's a place in the forest. I barely have enough time to get there. Thomas, you're coming with me?''

''Always.''

The two friends got ready and started their long run. Charles was already there when they arrived.

''Thomas Kernell, how lovely to see you!'' he greeted them.

''The feelings aren't mutual.''

''I see you haven't lost your humor. I was worried that after Rakel's death, you would lose yourself.''

Thomas was ready to attack Charles if it wasn't for Laurel to hold him.

''Don't mention her name again! You don't deserve to say her name!'' he shouted angrily.

''I'm sorry,'' Charles replied but both Thomas and Laurel knew he didn't mean it.

''You said you have evidence that my sister is alive. Give it now.''

''I do. But first, I want something.''

''Oh, no! You don't get to demand. Give me what you have now.''

''Alright. I'll tell you something. Your sister lives happily and doesn't know about your past. That much, I know.''

''Do you have her?''

''No, I couldn't get to her even if I wanted to. I have some pictures of her, but I'll give them after you give me something back.''

Laurel was running out of patience, but she knew that this might be her only chance to find the truth.

''What do you want?''

''Your father had a golden necklace with a flower designed on it. It belonged to my father, and yours took it from him. Now, I want it back.''

''I don't know that necklace. I don't know where it is.''

''That's your problem. You give me the necklace; I give you the photos. It's simple. Text me at the number I texted you from when you are ready.''

With that, Charles and the two men that were with him left.

''Let's go home.'' Thomas took her hand and nodded toward their house's direction.

They started walking silently, each of them thinking about their worries.

''Thomas, if you want to stop and leave, I'll understand. I know how difficult it is for you to look at him. Say it, and I'll end everything.''

''I can keep my feelings aside for now. Helping you is more important than vengeance. I promised to stay by your side. Always. Remember wolfie?''

''I do.'' A nostalgic smile hit the tips of her lips. ''Thomas?''

''Yes?''

''I lied. I know where the necklace is. My father gave it to me days before he died. Only I know where it's hidden. We must find out why Charles wants it.''

''You didn't believe his story.''

''Maybe it was his father's at some point. But the necklace isn't ordinary. The great witch crafted it. Do you know what that means?''

''It means that Charles is planning something bad. An object like that has tremendous amounts of magic.''

''He is working with a witch. A powerful one. A power like that can easily kill the one who wields it if he isn't worthy enough.''

''You suspect something,'' said Thomas, afraid that his friend was thinking the same awful thing as him.

''How could he know that my mother lied? The necklace is also very rare. We both understand that everything we knew is different. What was real before, now it is only an illusion. If my sister is alive, then what if my mother is also alive?''