PARIS’s POV

"Well, for starters, I need to trace down a murderer in the pack. That alone fills my mind constantly."


"Alright, I get that. But we are mates, Paris. At night you can come to me and let me comfort you."

How was I supposed to tell her that I only wanted Ember's comfort?

"You need to heal first." I said, hoping to make her leave me alone, but I was only deluding myself with my expectations, because Kate was relentless. It was almost as though she was after my very life. And that left me wanting to tug out my hairs from my scalp.


"and I need you to help me heal faster, you are my mate after all."

“I’ve told you, Kate. I’ve been busy, late. How else should I explain this to you?.”


“Even to busy for your mate. Or have you forget that you are mine.”

"I am, aren't I?" I said and got up, stuck my hand in my pocket, and felt for the brooch I had found in the forest. Kate had been given one the first couple of months of our relationship. I was the one who had given it to her, so I knew she was meant to have one.

"yes. But you do not even try to be one to me anymore, you don't even try to touch me." She said and sounded broken.

I ran a hand over my face, suddenly feeling very weary, and sighed, "I already told you that I was ready to end this bond. You're the one who is holding on so tight, I'm not trying to hurt you, Kate."

"and still you do. Every time you choose Ember, you hurt me."

"you don’t have to make it about ember."

"but it is about her. It is. After all, she is the reason why you are so hell-bent on finding whoever the culprit is."

"I'd be fixed on this if it had nothing to do with her, after all, it is all of us that are endangered," I said, but she looked away like she was unconvinced and I didn’t tried to convince her, rather I brought out the brooch and showed it to her,

"and since we are already here, I need to ask you something," I said, and showed her the brooch, and unlike my sister, she seemed to recognize it.

"what is this?" she asked quietly not taking her eyes off the brooch, concern evident on her face.

"it's the brooch that all the women of known standing in this pack possess."

"why are you showing it to me?"

"I need to know if you still have yours."

Ember's POV

I know Axle told me not to worry so much about what Jean was doing with his life at the money. But it was completely hard not to worry. He and I were going somewhere with our relationship After all. How was I supposed to simply ignore the fact that he was possibly hiding something from me?"

So when my work day was over and I spotted him from afar leaning on my car, I was pleased, but kept a straight face, so that when I popped my question, he wouldn't think I was playing around.

"did you have a good day? " was the first question he asked when he straightened, and I shrugged,

"It wasn't a bad one at the very least. " I conceded and he nodded, before, drawing closer and placing his hands on both my sides. I didn't push him away, because, after all, it was me who was chasing after what I thought was hiding. My wolf, however, was more than happy to melt away in his arms. And at his touch, she literally purred,

"so what do you think about spending a night at my pack land, stargazing?" he asked in his sultry French accent that I was sure had charmed countless other women in times past.

"stargazing?" I asked, placing a hand on his chest to keep some space between us. I still needed even a breath of space, so that I could hold on to what was left of my senses,

"oui… I believe it might be the calming effect you need," he said in the most gentle voice.

"the calming effect I need." I repeated with a nod, and smiled, "When the star gazing is over, will you finally choose to tell me what it is you might be hiding from me?"

I saw his smile falter at my question, and shadows come into his eyes, and decided that was the confirmation I needed that he was indeed keeping something from me after all.

"where did you get the idea that I was keeping something from you?" he asked, and I tilted my head,

" 'Catch you later?' Jean that was so unlike you. After that, I simply could not shake off the idea that you probably were keeping something from me. Would you like to tell me what it is?"

I sighed and slowly let myself go, and I knew I wasn't getting an answer, "I'm going to need you to trust me Ember.

"I do trust you. A whole lot more than what is considered normal, but I do. Do you trust me?"

"I do, Ember. But this isn't about if I trust you or not. But I need you to understand that if I'm keeping something from you, it's simply because I have to. Because I'm not trying to hurt you."

"but u still can't know?" I asked, knowing I sounded a bit stubborn,

"no." he said quietly, "I can't say a word at the moment."

"I can understand your need for discretion at such a time as this. But I don't know how it makes me feel that you need to take such a measure where I'm concerned. It's for that reason that I'm not sure if I want to spend the night at your place. I'd rather much be resting at mine."

He nodded slowly, "I guess I can completely understand that." he said and took my hand, led me to the passenger side, and while I got comfortable, and as he got into the car, started the engine, I felt my heart break a little.

KATE'S POV

I looked at the brooch for the longest time, trying to rack my head for where the brooch could actually be, but I didn't remember. The look in Paris's eyes, however, told me that wasn't an answer he had any desire to listen to.

"well?!" he prompted sharply and I jumped,

"I don't know to be honest. I haven't used it in a while."

"Well, that should end now. Find it, wherever you keep it, and from now on, you must have it on until I say you don't need to."

"why is this happening all of a sudden?"

He looked at me sharply, and I might have been asking him something disastrous,

"Because I said so. You're so hell-bent on being in my life, are you not? You're so hell-bent on being Luna? Then you must know that brooch is entirely too important to this clan. Find yours, and have it on at all times." he said with finality, and without a word more, he turned away and left the room.

~~~

"I can't believe him!" I complained, "he's so open about Ember, and it's becoming more and more clear that there isn't anything he wouldn't do for her. Look at the way he has gone all out just to capture the person who sent the men to kidnap her, and meanwhile, I have a fractured ankle and he can't even try to be with me without treating me like I am not his mate!" I cried bitterly to Christina, who listened with a blank expression,

"you didn't come here to give me good news, but instead came here to cry about your situation? What am I supposed to do with this? How is this supposed to be what gets me out of this place?"

"you're not paying attention, are you? I am trying to help you, but how successful am I going to be when the one man I'm supposed to appeal to shuns me, and would much rather be with that tramp, Ember."

Christina rolled her eyes," what is wrong with you? Is Ember his mate? No, you are. Why don't you try to use that body to the best of your advantage and stop whining?"

"Because I think Ember must have done something to him."

"then go ahead and undo it," she said dismissively,

"how do I do that?"

"must I think everything for you, Kate?"

"some help wouldn't hurt."

"I don't know. Seduce him or something."

I scoffed. I had done nothing but try to get Paris in my bed all this time, but he was always too busy, and as though a light had come on, I remembered the incident with the brooch,

"speaking of which, I have a question. What is that brooch that a lot of us pack women have?"

Christina rose a brow, and then her expression cleared, "that rusty old thing? It's an heirloom. Every woman who has some standing in the pack possesses one. Paris had asked me about mine earlier, why?"

"he had asked me about mine as well. I told him I didn't remember where I dropped it."

"as if I've seen that thing in years."

"any idea why he is suddenly interested in it."

Christina shrugged, "beats me. But it's best we get ours soon, cause whatever could be his reason for asking for them, it can't ever be good, if you ask me."