It's almost Monday.

"Well, I'm sorry that the visit to the Seer was a disappointment," Thane said as we got into bed. "Can't say I'm surprised, she's been a little... ah, unwell even since my parents were in power."

I hadn't told him about what Seer said. I couldn't bring myself to tell him about the prophecy, the way her white eyes lit up as she told me about the three deaths.

It would have been even more dangerous to mention that she had brought up Greyson's name. Tomorrow, I would go see him, try to get some information out of him, if he even knew what she was talking about.
But she had known.

She had known about the banana bread, about the tea. She saw my darkness. Despite Thane and Leo's warning, I had not a single doubt that the Seer was in her right mind, and whatever cryptic things she said would come to fruition. It wasn't a matter of if, but when.

"There's something I want to talk to you about," Thane says, grabbing my hands in his, and my blood freezes. Did he know I was lying? I had been lying so much about Finn, and now about the Seer, it was hard to keep track.

"Oh?" I say, trying to sound casual.

"The Mating Gathering is in three days," He tells me. "Sorry, I forgot to bring it up sooner. It slipped my mind between the Challenge and your..." His voice trailed off. My kidnapping.

"What's a Mating Gathering?" I ask, confused. I never heard the phrase before.

Thane frowns. "Oh right, my apologies. I forgot that you haven't grown up in a pack and don't know about some of the traditions. Every year, unmated wolves of 18 years and older from every pack meet on a different territory each year. It's supposed to help mates find each other faster, in case if they belong to other packs."

"Do rogues go?" I asked nervously.

"No," Thane sneers. "Packs only."

I can't help my face from falling, though I'm glad I will not be seeing Finn. "That's sad. What about the wolves mated to rogues?"

Thane is quiet. "If you hadn't stumbled on me in the woods, we may never have met," I pointed out. "Maybe sometime they'll let rogues go."

Thane obviously disagrees, but doesn't argue with me, knowing that rogue rights are a sensitive subject between us.

"There's something else about the Mating Gathering," He says slowly. Tentatively. Nervously. "We will need to be mated by then."

I still, my blood pressure rising. "Um, like, fully mated?" I choke out.

"Not if you don't want to," He says, but frowns as he says so. "Wolves will question why you aren't at least marked by me."

I squirm anxiously. "Three days," I slowly say. "That's not much time."

Thane sighs, somewhat annoyed. "It's been months since I've found you, Onyx. Most Alphas and Lunas complete their mating within the day."

My tone hardens. "Maybe if I didn't have prepare for a month to beat someone half to death, our relationship could have progressed a little better."

Thane freezes. "Say what you really want to say, Onyx," He purrs, his voice cold and cruel.

"I'm saying," I snap, equally frosty. "That it's your fault I'm not ready. I'm not going to get Marked by you just because you have some kind of deadline. That's not very romantic, now is it?"

"I won't force you," Thane says coldly, his words clipped. "But you will be Marked, come the Mating Gathering."

"Then get ready for the fight of your life," I say, my voice deadly calm.

I drain the life from the plant on the side table, throwing a black ball of energy at the ceiling light, shattering the bulb and leaving us in complete darkness.

"Goodnight, mate," I whisper harshly, and drift into a restful slumber.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"I don't know, Onyx. She sounds crazy," Greyson dismisses my story about the Seer.

"She's not crazy," I frown. "Did you miss the part about the banana bread and mint tea?"

Grey's eyes soften, and I can barely see them in the dim prison lighting. "She reminds you of Grams. You're letting that cloud your judgement."

"She knew your first and last name," I point out. "How would she know that?"

Greyson sighs, tapping his fingers on the bars that separate us. "I'm not doubting that she has the Sight. I'm doubting her random blatherings. What does that even mean? The beginning of what?"

I rub my eyes. "I was hoping you could tell me," I mutter in disappointment.

"I hate to break it to you, Nyx," He laughs without humor. "But I'm not the beginning of anything. I'm going to die in this cell, there isn't anything I can begin."

Frowning, I reach for his hand. It's cold, far too cold, and my stomach turns as it reminds me of a corpse. "Don't say that," I plead.

He raises an eyebrow. "Why not? What has Thane said about it?"

I avert my gaze as I recall the outburst Thane had when I suggested it. "He's thinking about it," I wince as I lie.

"You're a terrible liar," Grey laughs. "It's fine, Onyx. I've already made my peace with it. I just wish they would kill me already so I can join my mate and pup in the afterlife."

My hand trembles in his much larger one. "You don't mean that," I whisper, tears threatening to overspill.

Greyson shakes his head, looking at me in... pity? Sympathy? "This is no life to live, Onyx. Wolves are not meant to be kept in silver chains and a cage. Thane will never let me out, and I have no desire to continue to stay in here for another 60 or so years."

"He'll let you out eventually," I say, my voice small. Unsure.

"Blood Lake will never forget," He says softly, closing his eyes. "They will declare war if they find out I've been released, no matter how many years go by. Thane is aware of this, and so am I. Make your peace with it, Nyx. I already have."

His face is hollowed, he doesn't look like the same man I had known over the years. He was broken. Completely, utterly shattered.

"I won't let you die in here," I whisper. "I'm going to get you out. Tomorrow."

His eyes snap open. "You can't. Thane won't let me out. Even if somehow you managed to let me go, it doesn't change anything. I have nowhere to go. Just let me die, Onyx," He pleads, his eyes begging me to end his suffering.

My voice lowers. "There's a group of rogues I met. You'll follow the North Star, they will take you in. They're a peaceful group of rogues, they harbor other rogues and offer them a safe space. You'll be happy there," I insist, and I know it to be true. Grey would find purpose in helping wolves just like him. Like us.

His eyes narrow suspiciously. "And how do you plan on getting me out?"

I look around, making sure there are no guards around, which there aren't, as Leo was standing outside. "I'll use my magic to break through, I know I can do it. I'll make sure you leave the territory safely, I can use my magic to temporarily subdue anyone we may cross."

For the first time since he's been imprisoned, I see a flash of hope cross his face. "Are you coming too?"

I shake my head ruefully. "I-I can't. I have a mate, a life here. I can't leave it behind. But you," I squeeze his hand in reassurance. "Have the chance for a new life, a new start."

He shakes his head in disbelief. "How will I know when I'm there?"

"You'll reach an empty clearing. There's a man there. Finn. Call out his name. Tell him I sent you, he'll take you in," I say, confident that Finn would not turn away any rogue, much less one so important to me.

I hear the heavy doors swing open, and Leo walks in. "Times up, Onyx. We should get going, dinner is in an hour."

I nod at him, squeezing Grey's hand once more.

"Goodbye, Grey. I'll see you tomorrow," I tell him, the double meaning clear.

This would work. It had to.

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