KATE'S POV

I took a deep breath and went to the bathroom to wash my face, so that I didn't look like all of the things that were wrong with me. After applying a bit of makeup to at least brighten up my face, I decided it was best to go see Luna Lara while I still had the courage.


As I made my way to Luna Lara's wing, I went over in my mind again and again how I was going to go about it, but even when I got to the door, I still didn't have the right words. So I was simply going to have to just spit it right out.

I made the sign against evil, and knocked on her door, before stopping to wait for her response. She took her precious time before responding, and just when I was sure I wasn't getting a response, perhaps because she wasn't actually there, the door was opened and I came face to face with Luna Lara, a mud mask over her face.

"Good morning, ma'am," I said quietly, and she looked surprised to see me,


"Kate? What brings you to this end? I was under the impression that you've been keeping your distance." she said, and I had a sudden feeling that this was going to be harder than I would have liked.

"no, it's not that... I've just been a bit... Preoccupied." I said, and she raised a brow at me,


"I see. Come on in then, since you've come to visit," she said and I followed her in, she pointed at a white fluffy chair and I sat comfortably, still unsure how to go about my situation,

"Cookies?" she asked, pointing to a bowl on her vanity table and I shook my head, "No, thank you. I wasn't sure I was going to be able to stomach anything right then. "Alright then, how may I help you?"

"Paris wants me to leave the pack land ." I blurted out, and blew out a breath, glad that I was able to spit it all out, and Lara looked at me with question in her eyes,

"Why?" she finally asked and I heaved out a breath and proceeded to tell her everything she needed to know,

"my cousin called me suddenly out of the blue about following Paris, and Paris heading off to Ember's workplace. I didn't even know it was him until after Paris had gotten injured. I do accept the blame because he had asked me if I wanted him to set up Ember and I had conceded. But somehow, someway, Paris must have taken the fall for Ember, and gotten injured instead.

I really don't know how he realized that it was my cousin who was responsible for the entire thing, but he had figured it out and now is terribly angry with me for the role I played in trying to hurt Ember. Now I don't really know what to do."

"So you came to me, hoping I would do what, exactly?" Luna Lara asked sounding a bit disinterested and I sighed,

"hoping you would have a say in whether or not I leave. I don't really want to leave, but Paris won't hear me out. Please speak to him, so that he hears me out. I beg of you."

Luna Lara heaved out a sigh, " to tell you the truth, Kate, I'm not really fazed by the news, because I'm genuinely tired of you myself." she said and I bit my lower lip, not surprised by the admission, "you've been somewhat useless to me since my daughter left, even now that she must do time in that cell, you still are of no use." she said placidly and I looked at her grimly,

"I'm sorry," I said, completely lost for words, but she held up her hand to make me stop,

"However, I suppose it's safe to say that I prefer you to that little brat called Ember, and I would much rather have you here," she said and I felt just a little bit hopeful.

"and so, it brings me a little warmth that even if you haven't really been doing much of anything in this place, you are at least trying to get rid of a little pesky problem." she said and I stretched, "so I'll speak to Paris for you if that's what you're needing. Not that the boy pays me any mind these days," she said and shook his head,

"But you'll try?" I asked in a small voice and she nodded grimly,

"I'll do just that, don't you fret," she replied, and I leaped up in gratitude,

"Thank you. Thank you so much!"

But she shook her head, "Don't thank me just yet. We still need to hear what he has to say."

Later that day, in the evening, when Paris returned home, he found me in the living room, going through books that had storied on the ancient pack and he leveled me with one of his scary gazes,

"Should you not be somewhere packing your things?" he asked, and I pressed my lips together,

"about that, Paris…" I said, setting the book aside, and he held up his hand, a gesture that so resembled his mothers and I bit my lower lip,

"That's not even what I want to go into just yet, I need you to give me the necessary information I need on your cousin," he said, catching me off guard and I looked at him surprised,

"But, what do you need that information for?" I asked and he raised a brow,

"what? Are you trying to hide his identity now?" he asked and I quickly shook my head,

"no, it's nothing like that. It's just that the question caught me off guard and I wanted to know what inspired it."

"I need to find him and put him in his place. It isn't much bigger than that really," he said and I thought for a moment,

"If I do tell you though, will you reconsider me leaving? Will you change your mind about making me leave if I tell you what you need to know?" I asked, and he raised a brow,

"what made you think you could make bargains?" He asked and I shrugged,

"It's what a try, is it not?" I asked and he shook his head,

"he'll get what he deserves whether you tell me or not, but banishment is your punishment, it's only fair that everyone gets what they deserve, do you not think?" he asked,

"You are being a bit unfair if you ask me, though, seeing as that Ember wrench has simply been begging for someone to lose their temper on her." It was Luna Lara who spoke, popping out of nowhere. I know I had asked for her help with talking with Paris, but I wasn't sure that the things she said just now were going to make things better. But then again, I reasoned that two people trying to convince Paris to let go and let God was much better than just me.

I mean, he might not be on good terms with his mother right now, but hopefully this was a situation where they could meet eye to eye. I just hoped and prayed Luna Lara spoke with honey on her tongue right then. Because my very stay in this house depended on it.

Paris sighed and turned to look at her,

“Mother , how may I help you?” Paris asked, sounding tired already and his mother took a seat on one the couches and smiled,

“Just here to have a say or two on the matter.”

"No one asked for your opinion, mother. And you should know that your opinion is a bit out of focus." Paris said coldly and she shrugged,

"maybe. But at least consider the fact that whatever decision Kate made, she made from fear of losing you. She wouldn't have done any of that if you would just love and respect her."

“Who are you to talk about love and the things done in the name of love?” I asked, annoyed that my mother decided to butt in at this time. She could butt in when it came to her daughter, Christina. But I would have much rather preferred if she left this one alone.

“A lot more than you give me credit for, my dear son. And I know that all of Kate’s actions, however misguided, have been done because she loves you.”

"So now you are her spokesperson?" Paris asked angrily and his mother merely heaved out a breath,

"just giving my two cents," she said,

"Well, did I ask for it?" I asked and she raised her hand in surrender so that Paris turned back to me,

"Will you give me his name or not?"

"what difference will it make if I do? You still won't let me stay." I said sadly, and he nodded,

"then I'll take it that you are still his accomplice. Very well then," he said and began turning away, and I closed my eyes shut, fighting tears,

"peter. " I blurted out, and opened my eyes to stare at him through eyes blurred with tears and watched as he turned around,

"What did you say?"

"I said Peter, hoping that you might end up reconsidering. My cousin's name is Peter."