son'

inst us. Perched on the balcony of my workplace, I could see the thick woodland just outsid

come nex

t in what way might I not be? Ava had kept them away from me for five years. Five years later, she came back, undoing what I had

ss we were in. An enemy in the pack? Though it seemed inconceivable, I could no longer overlook the warning indicators. Ava would not h

oming back to me: *The

as behind the attacks was also They were therefore aiming at me. Every idea

ad always carried the delicate smell of lilac and pine, the soft padd

ntinued, "You shouldn't be up here

"I needed space to think." "

ing closer as her voice became quieter now. "

bitterly. Ava, things have not gon

ach, I could sense her presence next to me and it set some

st, "Tell me the truth." "Did you return because y

ed. Her voice in speakin

y and felt frustration. She seemed different, stron

left. "I had no idea what would happen to the twins or to me. I

ces?" I asked, the fury blazi

cutting. "You barely gave it any effort. You

y and turned her aside since I stood for what she embodied. fla

en. Ava exceeded what I had credited her with. She had survived on her own for yea

ved, stronger. She was not the h

lien in my throat,

s though she didn't expect

down now. I should not have driven yo

down at the ground. "You're cor

Years of suppressing my feelings had locked them up so I might concentrate on the pack. on being

arked, shifting the topic. Whichever it is, the

ted as I considered my children at jeopardy. I w

attempting to exude confidence yet th

y clouded Ava's gaze.

have come from him. Of c

you are devoted to your pack. Whoever the traitor is, they have long b

questioned if she was right. Riley had always been right at hand

would cause the pack to fall apart. Right

more, my mind racing, I m

"This is not just about you these days. The twins a

near so she would once more enter. I could not, though. Now I cou

ow." "I will keep them under cover

d me just not really. And I held no guilt for her. Though I had a l

by catching her wrist. Startled, s

'm not the man I was five years ago." "But I'm tryin

e jerked her hand free and the walls b

voice wary. Just avoid promis

cending on me like a storm almost ready to break. I had made mi

s when my kids' lif

knew is falling apart. He must now choose whether to trust people closest to him or act on