Moving about the kitchen, Erin at my side, clearing the final scraps from the table, I lift my head and gaze around the room, noticing for the first time that the girl from last night, Griffin's sister, hasn't joined us to eat breakfast and is nowhere in sight. Turning to find someone to ask about her, I see Olivia over by the stove, dressed in a simple green blouse and dark slacks, her light hair swept up into a bun, brewing a new pot of tea,

"Morning, Olivia," I called to her, moving in her direction.

"Morning Ava, how are you feeling today, love?" She asks, turning around, a look of concern crossing her face.

"Not too bad given the circumstances," I smile, stopping to stand next to her, "I guess I have a lot to work through and think about, but anyway," I pause, licking my lips, "I wanted to ask you something about the girl by the window last night. Isla, I think her name was. I haven't seen her this morn-" Before I can even finish that sentence, Siobhan moves into my peripheral vision causing me to stop.

From the corner of my eyes, I can see her tilt her head towards Olivia in silent communication, my mother's old friend nodding in return before muttering a quick apology and leaving the room. What the? Since when did she become so timid? And is there a general rule around here that no one can talk to me without Siobhan being present to control the conversation?

Confused and slightly annoyed, I turn to Siobhan, who shakes her head. "Don't mind Olivia, I know you know her on a personal level, and you probably feel more comfortable with her, which by all means, you should. But, if you have any questions about the goings-on in this house, I would prefer that you come to me. That way I know you'll be getting the right answer."

"The right, or the filtered answer?" Erin quips, coming to move beside me, arms crossed and staring down the matron of the clan.

Laughing, Siobhan waves her hands in front of her in a placating gesture, "I can see what Liam's wolf sees in you Erin, all that fire. But no, not filtered, the word that would be more accurate is factual." Her lips turn up in a slight frown, a look of sadness crossing her features.

"Unfortunately, since the passing of our previous clan head, Alpha O'Connell, his family, Griffin and Isla, has had nothing but bad things happen."

She pauses, shaking her head, then adds, in a quieter tone. "Some of the clan think they're curses. Griffin and Isla, I mean, and sometimes facts get mixed up with the superstitions of gossipy women."

"So where is she then, Isla, I mean," I ask, looking towards the window I initially found her sitting in front of last night and not seeing her there.

"Actually, Ava, I was just planning to take young Isla her breakfast," Siobhan replies, pointing to a bowl of sludgy looking oatmeal on the marble bench, "why don't you and Erin take it out to her while us ladies finish up in here. Isla may enjoy the company of someone else," she suggests taking the steaming mixture and handing it to Erin with a spoon. "You'll find Isla out on the porch, and girls, she'll need some assistance with feeding herself but don't worry, she'll eat it. It's her favorite."

"Sure thing," Erin replies, retrieving the bowl from Siobhan's outstretched hands, the older woman smiling knowingly at the both of us.

"I think you two will be a breath of fresh air for the poor lass." She finishes before turning and moving back into the kitchen to where the other women are cleaning.

Raising the bowl to her nose Erin inhales and moans, "Oh my God, that smells... I want to say familiar, but I can't remember the Mitchells cook making something this sweet. Anyway, it smells fucking amazing!" She groans again, "I might have to ask Madam Brady to make me one of my own tomorrow. Here, smell it."

Taking the bowl from her hands, I inhale the sweet syrupy mixture and almost gag. Griffin kept feeding me the same sickly sweet stuff when we were at the cabin together. Griffin. Passing it back, I take in a few deep breaths, attempting to settle my stomach and my pulse before I look back to Erin.

"You k?" She asks, tilting her head, studying my face. "You look kinda pale all of a sudden."

"Yeah, just the smell of that, it brings back memories, you know, and that scent is affecting me. It reminds me of Griffin. That's what he fed me when..."

Opening her mouth to say something, she settles on nodding, closing her lips, and turning in the direction of the front door, our booted feet tapping on the polished wooden floors as we walk.

"So, where do you think she is?" Erin asks as I open massive double doors, and we step out onto the porch at the other side of the house.

Looking to my left and then to my right, I can see Liam in the distance, kneeling before a silent Isla sitting in a wheelchair, her legs covered in a thick grey blanket and a woolen shawl wrapped around her shoulders. Turning towards us, Liam lifts his head and smiles, standing up before placing a gentle kiss on Isla's forehead. Nodding, he bids us goodbye before walking away toward the sheds at the back of the property.

Erin and I both look at each other in question. What was that about? I ask Erin with my eyes. Rolling hers in return, she responds silently with, hell if I know bitch.

Closing the distance between Isla and us, I motion for Erin to take the chair currently beside her wheelchair and move past them, where I see another seat a few feet away. Grabbing hold of its arms, I drag it across the wood and stone ground and set it directly in front of them both. Taking my seat and straightening my back, I can get a good look at Isla.

There is only one word to describe the small girl before me, exquisite. Her face, with its delicate bone structure, is almost doll-like. Her nose is small and pert, her pink lips plump and full, and her eyes, on closer inspection, are entirely grey, not blue like Griffin's, but steel grey, almost black. The shape, almost almond, surprisingly, is very similar to Erin's. Come to think of it. She could almost pass as her younger sister with her long, dark, chestnut hair. However, her skin tone is much lighter, and her mouth is more like her broth... Stop thinking about him. I need time. I need answers!

Even though Isla looks to be only in her late teens, maybe early 20's with her hair pulled up into an intricate braid, it's her eyes that show an age beyond her body, with their vacant stare. "Hi Isla, I'm Ava, and this is Erin," I introduce, clearing my throat and inclining my head to my friend who is smiling. Taking the porridge from Erin's hands, I hold it up to her eyes, "We have your breakfast, I hope you're hungry." Scooping a small amount of the white paste onto the spoon, I raise it to her mouth, her nose flaring, smelling the mixture before opening her lips and accepting the sweet goo.

Slowly chewing then swallowing, Isla opens her mouth in preparation for the next spoonful. Her movements are almost robotic as she repeats the motion after every mouthful. "Do you think she can see us? I mean, she can see, but I mean, do you think she knows that it's us and not one of the Stepford Wives?" Erin asks, brushing away some of the strands of Isla's hair that had come loose from her braid and were flying about her face.

"Not sure, but I do wonder what her story is?"

"Me too." Erin agrees, "I've been curious about her since I first got here, but with you gone, I guess my focus was elsewhere."

Taking one of Isla's free hands in her own, Erin raises it to her face, placing her delicate fingers against her nose.

"What are you doing?" I ask, stunned at my friend's unusual actions. Apart from me, Erin doesn't touch anyone, and I mean ANYONE unless it's for a release.

Moving them from her nose to her lips, Erin gives them a gentle kiss before lowering them back to her chair, their fingers entwined. "I have no fucking clue," she replies with a look of awe on her face, "there's something so familiar about her, even the way she smells. It's like I know her. Weird, hey?"

"Maybe," thinking of Erin's fuzzy past, "could you have known her from, you know, before? I mean, Isla would be five years younger than us, but..."

Still holding her delicate hand in her own, Erin looks at the girl, frowning. "I don't think so, but it's, it's hard to explain. I don't remember much of my time pre-Sacred, but I would remember there being other children, right? But all I can see is just an old lady then nothing." She sighs, shaking her head and shoulders. "Anyway, fuck the people at this cult. I've decided that she's one of us now, one of the different, one of the lost, and I claim her as my own!" She declares, beating her chest with her free hand.

Laughing, I dispose of the now-empty bowl on a small side table and take Isla's other hand in mine, "Sisters!" I declare in a sign of solidarity.

"You think she'd be happy being one of us?" Erin asks, her voice taking on a vulnerable tone, very unlike her.

Looking at Isla, her eyes still unfocused, I notice lips are moving, forming soundless words, the same movement, over and over again. "You think she's trying to say something?" Before I can reply to Erin, I feel a gentle squeeze from her fingers. "Did you feel that?" Erin whispers.

"Yeah, I did," looking directly at Isla's mouth, I ask, "Isla are you trying to say something?"

Squeeze.

"Um, ask her if the squeeze means yes?"

Squeeze.

"Ask her if she wants to be one of us?

"Erin, she can-"

Squeeze.

"Shit, shit, Ava, I think," Erin starts, looking closely at Isla's mouth and following the movements with her own, "I think she's saying, sister."

Squeeze.

"Bam, how fucking good am I!" Erin hoots as I laugh.

"Well, what's all this racket?" asks a woman, I think her name is Caitlín, one of the elder pack wives, short and stout, with midnight black hair pulled tight into a severe bun, as she comes over to us with a broom in hand, eyes narrowing almost accusingly at Isla. Her face would be considered attractive if not for the frown lines, pursed lips, and what could be a stick up her ass.

Following Caitlín's gaze, I see that Isla's lips are closed, and her hands are slack, almost like she's clammed up. Picking up on Isla's lack of movement, Erin covers, "Just saying to our girl Isla over here, that we're her new BFF's and she totally didn't disagree, so it's settled."

"Hmm," Caitlín humphs, looking down her nose at the delicate girl and placing a hand on her wide hip. "Nothing but trouble that one, her and her feral brother, nothing but mongrels if you ask me."

My insides clench at her comment, and the feeling of ripping out her throat seems to come over me before I shake it off. "Hey, now there's no need-"

Before I can complete that sentence, shocked and angry at the woman's harsh words, Erin is up and out of her seat, growling at her, like literally growling! "What the fuck did you just say about my girl?"

"I called her and her brother mongrels. Isla is just lucky that he's been useful to the pack, even if he should have been put down." Watching Erin draw back her hand, her fist clenched, we're thankfully interrupted by Siobhan.

"Caitlín, this part of the porch is fine. There's no need to be out here with the girls," her voice cuts in, stern and showing that there's apparent animosity between the two.

"Yes, Siobhan," she replies, a sneer on her face as she turns and walks away.

"Aye, see what I mean, ladies." Turning, she smiles down at Isla. "Don't be listening to the words of that dried-out prune. She's just jealous because your Ma won the heart of the man she wanted."

Seeing the look of confusion on our faces, she adds, "Old Lorcan only ever had eyes for our sweet Aisling, drove Caitlín crazy as she was originally his intended, but once he took one look at Aisling, it was love at first sight. Caitlín has had it in for Aisling's children ever since."

"Lorcan?"

"Aye, the old Alpha, a mighty man before he passed. Anyway, ladies, I see you have taken good care of young Isla. I think the three of you will be perfect together." Moving to the back of Isla's chair, unclasping the locks and pulling it backward, she continues. "Ladies, it's getting a bit cool out here. I'm going to move Isla inside near the fire where it's warm. Why don't you two find Eileen? She'll have a list of things you two can help with before the men return for lunch."