Sadness, loss, I can feel him reaching for me, calling to me.

<Doe Eyes, please come home!>

<Need you, mate.>

<I will not hurt you, never hurt you.>

Colors continue to flit behind my eyelids. I'm in a semi-conscious state, the connection to the bond is stronger. I'm partially asleep and not in complete control of my mind. I know that I'm lying in bed next to Erin, her soft breathing, gentle and soothing, familiar. Shifting onto my side, but before I can strengthen my shields, I'm pulled back under.

******************************************

Cold, so cold, I'm in a dark room, bars run along the outer wall, are we in a cage?

Muffled screams, blood everywhere, on the bed, and a woman is crying, panting on the floor.

"Don't be afraid, my prince. She's coming."

Who's coming? What's happening, I don't understand. Help me.

******************************************

"Ava, babe, wake up. You're crying hun. It's going to be okay. I'm here. You're safe now."

Oh, God! What was that, that dream? It felt so real, like a memory of another time. It wasn't mine. Who was that woman, who is the Prince?

"Ava, babe, talk to me. Are you okay?"

Wiping my eyes with the back of my hand, I see a blurry Erin, my vision impaired as I slowly remove the tears from them. Stretching, I move my body into a sitting position taking the thick woolen duvet with me, leaving Erin bare in only her nightgown. "Yeah, I'm okay. I just had a bizarre dream."

"Wanna talk about it?"

Do I want to talk about it? I don't even know what it is! "No, I'm good. I don't even remember most of it." I lie, swallowing to hold onto the images or trying to at least latch onto one, so I can make better sense of what I witnessed.

"So, you aren't dying then? The world isn't crumbling down?" Erin grumbles, yawning and rolling onto her side, her voice heavy and laden with sleep.

"Not dying." I chuckle at her evident annoyance.

"Seriously, Ava, do you need to steal the blanket then? It's freezing, bitch!" Erin groans, grabbing the blanket from me and snuggling her body back down into the plush mattress, "Also, it's like 5:00 am, so if you aren't dying, I'm going back to sleep."

Grinning, my bladder full, I get out of bed, my bare feet landing on the plush rug below. Moving to Erin's side of the bed, I pull the blanket firming over her sleeping form, tucking her in and kissing her head before tiptoeing to the adjoining bathroom. Erin is soooo not a morning person.

I can't fault her for her prickly attitude. We spent several hours last night after we returned to our room going over what had happened between Griffin and I.

I began with him saving my life, the mating, the red jacket, and what we learned from the cult's women. We talked until our throats were hoarse, and I was dehydrated from the number of tears shed, my heart and my head at war with each other.

Relieving myself, I decided to use this time to take a long shower. I'm wide awake and need to process everything that has happened in the past 72 hours, and also that dream, it felt so real.

Turning on the water, I wait for it to warm before removing my nightdress and entering, the pressure and the heat soothing my joints.

I hold my head under the spray and begin to catalog the events of what I've learned.

Fact 1: My parents and, by default, myself, are part of a werewolf supernatural cult that's part of a larger community.

Fact 2: Only the men get hairy, thank God! That women are like their other half, tethering them to the human side, literally.

Fact 3: Initially, I was paired with Liam, then later, it had changed to be Griffin. Why?

Fact 4: My parents brought me to The Ranch after turning 18 to meet my intended, Liam. I vaguely remember both Liam and Griffin being there, but before anything happened, my Dad had a fight with a man, I think Liam's dad, before storming off and making us all leave.

Fact 5: The accident happened on the way down from the Ranch. Our car crashed and flipped when we hit a fallen tree.

Picking up a bottle of lavender and vanilla-scented shampoo, I lather it into my hair, digging my fingers into my scalp, making sure I reach all areas.

Fact 6: I was flung from the car because I wasn't wearing a seatbelt, which inevitably saved my life, and Griffin found me. How?

Fact 7: Griffin bit me to save me? Is that when he... Was that his MATE bite?

Fact 8: I have had no interaction or connection to The Ranch or its residents until recently, ten years later.

I rinse, then repeat.

Fact 9: Liam lied to me. He had known me, knew what I was.

Fact 10: I have supposedly completed the mating bond with Griffin by biting him, marking him.

Bloody Hell, so many facts. My mind spins going over the many unanswered questions I still have.

Question 1: Why was I to be mated to Griffin and not Liam? What changed, who changed it?

Grabbing the bottle of conditioner, I squeeze a generous amount into my palm before I massage it into my ends, avoiding my scalp, letting it sit for several minutes.

Question 2: How did Griffin find me after the accident? How did he even know?

Question 3: If I was Griffin's intended and he claimed me when I was 18, why did Liam pursue me?

Question 4: Actually, why didn't Griffin come for me when I was 18? If he had mated me, at least on his side, why did he let me go?

Question 5: Whose memory was that in my dream? Who was the woman, who was the Prince?

Question 6: How do you break a mate bond?

Question 7: What is the deal with that girl downstairs? Okay, that's none of my business. It's just me being a sticky beak.

Rinsing out the conditioner and washing my torso, I turn off the water and step out, towel drying my hair and wrapping another around my body. Thankfully, I can use Erin's toiletries bag to spray on her deodorant before applying some light moisturizer to my face.

Moving back into the bedroom, I can see that Erin is still fast asleep, her shoulder rising and falling as she breathes, her presence filling the ample space. Smiling at my friend, I move to the dresser, locating fresh underwear, leggings, thick woolen socks, and a dove grey sweater, thankfully all my own. Erin must have packed some things for me before she came to the Ranch. Silently thanking my friend, I quickly get dressed.

Pulling the sweater over my head, which is still wrapped in the towel, I know I'm too wired to go back to sleep.

Removing said towel and placing them back in the bathroom, I finger the tangled ends, draining any excess water before making my way to the bedroom door, opening the thick wood and exiting, closing it behind me with a gentle click.

Before I can take no more than two steps into the hallway, I stumble across a large form, back perched against the passage wall, dark eyes wide, watching. Liam.

"Ava," he whispers, shaking his head and standing up, a look of guilt covering his handsome features.

Dressed in loose-fitting flannel pants and wearing a white top that leaves nothing to the imagination when it comes to his solid abs, he moves to stand in front of me but keeps a safe distance. In case I attack him again.

"Liam," I reply, smiling at the thought and then chastising myself for my actions, "look, I'm sorry." As angry as I'm with him, my aggression last night was wrong, and I shouldn't have taken it out on him.

"No, I'm the one that should be telling you that I'm sorry." He says at the same time, giving me a sheepish smile. We both chuckle, our bodies becoming relaxed as Liam tilts his head towards the landing, "Can I tempt you with a coffee, love? It's still quiet, and I think it's a good time before the house wakes up for us to have a chat."

Nodding, I wait for him to start walking and am surprised when he attempts to reach for my hand. His fingers barely touch my flesh before I pull away, "Griffin," he sighs knowingly before moving towards the staircase.

Trailing behind him, I'm not sure if the hurt from his lies, or my feelings for Griffin have made me reluctant to have any physical contact with him. Either way, coffee and answers are just what I need right now.

Taking the stairs slower this time, I can take in the stunning architecture of the ground floor. To the right of the wooden structure is an enormous open-plan kitchen with a marble island bench that would seat a dozen or so people, and directly in front of it is a massive dining table that would easily seat another 40 people. And at the end of the long table is a rustic white stone fireplace, currently lit, but only at a dull roar.

Marvelling at the flames, I briefly turn my head to the left, which I know is where the Living room from last night is. However, this time, I notice that multiple doors lead off the far wall directly behind us for both rooms.

Moving into the magnificent kitchen, Liam points to the chair closest to the fireplace and smiles, his dimples on full display, even if slightly covered by his newly grown beard, "Take a seat, love, and I'll make our drinks." Always the gentleman, always the bartender.

I seat myself on the wooden high back chair, the subtle heat from the fire licking at my pores, and watch Liam as he moves around the large ash and marble kitchen.

Liam's muscles flex each time he bends down or reaches for something. I'm initially mesmerized by his actions but am hit by a pang of guilt. That small part of my mind, currently locked behind a solid door, is gently scratching to be let out, pleading to be reunited with its mate.

Lost in thought, I don't see Liam take the seat in front of me until he deposits the rich aromatic brew on the table before me, accompanied by freshly baked double choc chip biscuits, making my tummy to rumble. When was the last time I ate?

Lifting one of the sugary delicacies and taking a bite, I moan when the buttery chocolate hits my taste buds. Amazing.

"I see you like them?" Liam asks, his eyes dark with unknown emotion, his focus on my mouth as I lick away the chocolate crumbs from my lips.

"Very much like," I speak, through a mouth full of cookie before taking another one. When I've finished my third, I look back to Liam to see him still staring at my lips, licking his own, and breathing heavily.

Heat then guilt floods me. Dammit!

Swallowing, I clear my throat, shaking Liam out of his trance, a soft smile planting itself on his face. "You said you wanted to talk?"

"Aye," he replies, placing his arms on the table, chin resting in his large hand as he plays with his beard.

"Well, what do you want to talk about?" I ask, watching for a reaction as I wait for a response.

"I thought that we should clear the air. I know that what's happened to you and what you've learned may have come as a shock to you," Liam replies, his eyes focussed, "and I want to know what you're thinking," then in a lower tone, almost tentatively, he adds, "what you're feeling, Ava."

Clearing my throat and sitting up straight, it's my turn to offer a smile; however, I know it doesn't quite reach my eyes. "Good, I'm glad you asked. So, Liam, please tell me, why the fuck you lied to me?"