If I thought Cain was overbearing and controlling before my pre-death experience, it was nothing compared to how he was post-death.

I wasn't allowed to leave the Pack House for the last week. Cain was constantly with me, and when he had to leave the Pack House, he had five guards watching me closely. For my "safety"- or whatever.

And I was going absolutely insane.

"Good morning, pup," Cain says as he pulls me in closer, light streaming into the room from the window.

I scowl. "Are you letting me outside today?"

"No but-" He starts to say, but I cut him off.

"Then it's not a good morning," I hiss, untangling myself from Cain's arms.

I pace around the room, and he watches me closely, no doubt wondering if I'm going to try to make a break for it.

Which I have.

Twenty-two times and counting.

"Seriously, Cain, you can't keep me locked in here forever. I'm losing my mind!" By the time I'm done speaking, I'm shouting.

"It's for-" He begins.

"It's for my safety," I mock in a high-pitched voice, and Cain rolls his eyes. "Give it a rest, Cain. Notice the common thread in every assassination attempt?"

Cain sighs, and doesn't answer. "None of them are successful! So stop being a warden and let me out of this goddamn house or I swear I will kill every wolf you send to guard," I threaten him, my eyes blazing.

Cain looks just as infuriated as me as he gets out of bed and stalks towards me, his eyes dark. His hands roughly hold the sides of my face and he forces me to look up at him. "I watched you die, Ares. My own mate, and there was nothing I could do as I felt my heart ripped out of our chest once the bond broke. Do you understand that, Ares? Do you understand that you were fucking dead?"

I roll my eyes. Obviously.

"You clearly don't fucking understand that once you're dead, you're fucking dead. What about the next time someone tries to kill you, maybe tearing out your heart? Stabbing you in the heart? You can't fucking come back from that, Ares," He hisses, and his hands are slightly burning my face, signs of his Gift poking through. "Do you care so little for yourself that it doesn't matter to you if you die or not? Do you care that little for me?"

I sigh. "Cain, I'm not trying to die. Believe it or not, I actually tried to stop most of them from killing me," I say sarcastically, and his nostrils flare in anger as his jaw clenches.

"You're staying in here until all of the threats have been neutralized. That's not optional. If you have an issue, take it up with your Alpha," He laughs coldly. "Oh wait: That's me. So get your ass back in bed before I force you to submit."

My eyes glow wickedly. "I don't know Cain, that sounds like it could be fun for me," I purr, placing my hand gently on his naked chest, and stroke it gently.

His calloused hand roughly grabs my wrist. "What the hell are you doing, Ares?" He demands, but his eyes darken even more, now completely black.

I smile innocently. "Didn't you want me back in bed?"

He growls harshly, but kisses me none too gently before roughly throwing me back on to the bed.

This would be easier than I thought.

**

Cain pulls on his jeans, and I stretch out in the bed, watching him in amusement. "Still mad, Alpha?"

He glares at me. "Are you going to try to escape today?"

Time for the real manipulation to kick off.

I sigh in faux-regret. "I'm sorry, Cain. I know you're just trying to keep me safe. I promise I won't escape," I lie, but make it convincing as I pout at him. "Could we at least go for a run when you get back? Maybe go to the lake?"

He relaxes considerably at my words as he walks to the edge of the bed, and kisses my forehead. "Of course. I'm sorry, I forgot that your wolf needs to be let out. Of course we can go. Just promise me again you won't try leaving before I come back."

"I promise," I lie again. "But since you're agreeing to let me out, I have no reason to be guarded so heavily. Can you at least just keep it to two guards? Maybe just Axel and Zach?"

His dark eyes narrow in suspicion. "Why only two?"

It's go-time.

I make my eyes swell with tears, and he looks at me in panic. "Ares, what's wrong?" He demands and clutches my face.

"It's just... I don't feel comfortable around men right now," I choke out, laughing internally. "I've been almost killed by so many of them that I really only want wolves I trust here right now while I heal."

Cain looks at me sympathetically as he pulls me into his arms. "Of course, I didn't even think about that. You're right, it must have made you uncomfortable having so many men in the house after all that's happened. I'll send the rest of the wolves besides Axel and Zach home, I'm so sorry, little mate," He apologizes.

I sniffle. "Thank you, Cain."

"I only am so protective because I love you and can't stand the thought of losing you," He says gently, pecking my lips softly before he leaves. "I'll be home in a few hours. Let me know if you need anything while I'm gone."

I grin victoriously as he leaves the room. God, men are just too easy to manipulate, especially my mate.

A couple of hours go by, and I spend them with Axel and Zach. Axel seems mad at me, not really acknowledging me, and when I try to talk to him, he gives short, curt responses.

Zach, on the other hand, talks my ears of with stories about how amazing Cassia is. They completed their bond a few days ago, and the smile on Zach hadn't left his face since.

"She wants to know when she can hangout with you and Gwen again," He asks hopefully.

I shrug. "I'm not much fun on house arrest," I say sourly.

Axel angrily gets up and leaves the room.

"What the hell is his issue?" I whisper to Zach.

His smile falters. "He's mad you're giving Cain a hard time about being on lockdown."

I roll my eyes. "You Blood Lake men are the worst."

He pouts. "Cassia doesn't think so."

I roll my eyes again. "I'm sure she doesn't," I say sarcastically, and suddenly, I feel tired.
Might as well rest up before my escape. "Hey, Zach, I'm going to go take a nap. Tell Axel to stop being such a brat, would you?"

He sighs. "Don't escape though, okay? I'm going to be right outside your door so I'll know if you leave."

"Of course you will be," I mutter, but since I plan on waiting awhile before leaving anyways, I don't argue.

And once I'm back in my bed, sleep almost instantly overtakes me.

**

Landon has to remind himself not to let his jaw hit the floor when Lucille opens the door. She looks absolutely stunning in the gown, and even more stunning with her long white hair swept up into an intricate updo.

"What is the matter, Landon?" Lucille asks in concern. "Oh Gods, I knew this dress looked awful on me!"

Landon shakes his head slightly. "No, you look perfect, Lucille, as always. But hurry up and go downstairs, would you? We're almost late."

Lucille nods slightly, and follows him downstairs, where her mate is waiting at the table, looking at his watch. "You're late," Henry frowns. "Stunning, but late."

Lucy shrugs as she sits next to him. "Sorry, Alpha, I had a wardrobe malfunction," She apologizes with a grin, and Landon's cheeks burn as he remembered how her soft skin felt against his.

"Is something wrong with the dress?" Henry says, looking slightly crestfallen.

Lucy's eyes widen as she takes his hand in hers. "Oh, no, Henry! I adore the dresses. And you," She says and Henry blushes when she kisses his cheek. She was so bold for a she-wolf, and Henry loved it.

"Leave us," Henry commands, and Landon nods respectfully as he leaves, but before he does, he allows himself to sneak one more look at the Luna, for he wants the image of her in that dress burnt into his memory for as long as he should live, Gods willing.

I blink my eyes open in confusion. A week had gone by without any dreams, and these ones were the most perplexing. I had never seen those people in my life, but it seemed like I understood them, knew them. The she-wolf, Lucille, especially looked familiar, but I couldn't quite place where I knew her from.

But no time to think about that.

I have an escape to make.

I pull on one of my fur cloaks and my boots, and leave the room. True to his word, Zach is sitting outside of my room when I leave. "Oh Goddess, you're going to try leaving, aren't you?" He asks in exasperation when he sees my attire.

"Not trying," I correct. "I am leaving. And you're going to let me."

His eyes narrow. "Why would I do that?"

I smile. "Because you owe me a favor."

His eyes widen in realization. "Fucking hell, Ares. Cain will kill me!"

I shake my head. "He won't, because he can't be mad that I knocked you out before leaving."

His eyes widen even more. "Ares don't-"

I summon a hammer and hit him in the head, not hard enough to cause severe damage, but hard enough to make sure he stays unconscious for a while. What? He owes me one.

"Tell Cassia I said hi," I whisper to his sleeping body.

I tiptoe downstairs, where Axel is pacing in the living room. I hide the hammer behind my back.

"Hey, Axe, can you come here for a minute?" I ask innocently.

His head snaps up as he looks at me in confusion, but does as I say, and he's standing a foot away from me when I knock him out.

"Sorry," I whisper to the unconscious Beta. I had a feeling that wouldn't make him less mad at me, but what was I supposed to do? I had to get out of this house and kill something.

I run out of the Pack House, and luckily for the other pack members, I don't run into anyone as I head to the lake, taking the long way through the uncharted land.

I'm almost to the lake when I run into a wolf.

"I'm going to kill you," I tell him.

He nods.

What the fuck?

"What's up with all you suicidal rogues?" I ask him as I summon Thane's knife, inexplicably drawn to it. "I mean seriously, half the fun of killing you is in the hunt."

"You will soon see, Ares Alstott. I am the last," He says ominously, and drops to his knees, and says a prayer in a language I don't recognize.

I shrug, and decapitate him swiftly with the knife. Whatever the hell he meant, I didn't understand. I could, and would, certainly kill another rogue after him.

As I walk to the lake, figuring that Cain will know where I am soon enough, I whip the blood off, and examine the blade. Again, there is a letter H engraved in the dagger, though I can only see it when I hold it in the sunlight.

I reach the edge of the lake and look at the water briefly, but when I look back at the knife, it's glowing. Golden light soon floods my eyes, and I'm blinded.

When I'm able to see again. I blink my eyes twice.

A man with long, blonde hair, wearing a white toga of sorts stands in front of me. There's a gold crown atop his head, and his entire figure is radiating more gold light.

Whoever he is, he isn't human, nor wolf.

"Who the fuck are you?" I demand, holding the knife in front of me.

He grins, and it almost blinds me once more. It was almost hard to look at him. I could sense his power, and it would have made any lesser wolf fall to their knees.

His next words almost made me drop to my knees.

"I am Helios, God of the Sun. And I believe that's
my knife you're threatening me with, little wolf."

——————END OF PART TWO—————

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