We stay with Isla well past sunset, the air outside causing tiny frost crystals to form on the windows directly in front of us. But we remain huddled together, the warmth of the fire keeping the chills at bay as we watch the men slowly trickle in from God knows where. As they pass, we overhear a small cluster of them discussing ways to 'solve' their problem with Griffin. Their comments, even if vague, cause Isla to flinch, a look of pain crossing her features. I feel sorry for her and the way they speak about her brother. Even if they are referring to his Wolf, it's still a part of him. It shocks me that for someone who's supposed to be a member of their clan and originally their leader, the level of tension that the men seem to project towards his wolf is frightening and makes me feel sick, both mentally and physically.

After the brief adrenaline rush, my body has reverted to the nauseous fatigue I was feeling earlier. The smells of the food about to be served to the clan make my tummy roil and churn.

Our time together, however, with just the three of us, has been amazing and informative. Erin was correct in assuming that there's more going on inside Isla's head than what the other women, including Siobhan, know. In this short period, we have communicated with her via our hands, the answers a simple yes or no, or more like squeeze for 'yes' and no squeeze for 'no'. A technique learned from my therapist, and we've been able to glean that Isla is unhappy and wants to leave. I haven't attempted to approach the subject of her brother, or Liam but from what Siobhan mentioned upstairs, Isla hasn't always been like this, and I want to know more.

After determining what Isla would like for dinner, I ask the question that's been burning in the back of my mind for hours now, "Isla, Siobhan mentioned that you weren't always like this?" I start and wait for her squeeze of acknowledgment. Her hands gently moving around mine, I continue. "Does that mean you used to be able to talk freely?"

Squeeze

"And walk?"

Squeeze

I take a deep breath and bite the inside of my cheek, thinking how best to word my next question. Seeing that her eyes are clearer and she is focussed solely on me, I swallow, my throat dry. "How long ago did this change happen, Isla," doing the math in my brain of when I was promised to Griffin, I continue, "was it over ten years ago?"

Nothing – no.

Okay. That means whatever happened to Isla to make her this way happened after the clan agreed to match her with Liam, "Isla, was it over five years ago?"

Nothing – no.

Okay, it was more recent. Taking a stab in the dark, I ask, "Was it recent, Isla, like in the past six months?"

Squeeze

Shit, "Isla, did what happened to you, occur before I came to town?" Please, God, don't make this something I did or caused.

Squeeze

Double Shit! Okay, so not in the last 5 to 6 weeks, "Did what happen to you occur less than three months ago?" Squeeze, "2 months ago?" Squeeze.

"Fuck Ava," Erin whispers, looking towards Isla, gently moving her fingers to brush away a strand of hair from Isla's face that has come loose from her braid. "Whatever happened is recent, like just before you came to town, recent." Turning to my friend, I nod, precisely what I was thinking.

Before I can get out any more questions, Erin coughs twice, causing me to look up and see Olivia coming towards our group, a tentative smile on her lips. Clearing her throat, she motions for us to join the clan for dinner, unintentionally ignoring Isla in the process.

Scowling, Erin murmurs something about how screwed up this clan is before kissing Isla on the head and promising to return with her soup. Standing with my friend, I give Isla's hands one final squeeze and follow. Isla's hand falls to her side, where a little red book rests between the chair and her hip, her fingers grazing the cover as she moves her eyes to focus back out the window.

I crack my neck and turn, moving towards the dining area, the table already laden with food and everyone in their seats except for Liam and Shay, who are standing back waiting. Walking towards them and taking our respective chairs, we greet the others and watch everyone start helping themselves to the feast before us.

Liam, now taking his seat, moves closer to me as he begins piling his plate. Erin, seeing the action, rolls her eyes, her lips pursed. The heat coming from his body and the scent of grass and wood makes me feel suffocated, not to mention guilty, the emotion eating away at me since learning that he was intended for Isla. Jerk. Clearing my throat, I look to Siobhan, tiling my head and moving to stand. "I'm still not feeling great, I think I might just grab something light, and then I'll go feed Isla."

"Ava," Liam cuts in, grabbing my arm and holding me in place, "after we eat, we, the men and I, need to have a discussion with you about today's events," his tone slightly impatient and definitely frustrated, so unlike the man I had grown to care about. I can't help but wonder if Siobhan shared with him our little conversation from earlier today.

Before I can respond, Erin pushes her body out of her seat, looking pointedly at Liam. "Well, I don't know about you all, but I've also suddenly lost my appetite," she drawls, flicking her long hair to the side and glaring daggers in Liam's direction.

"There's someone alone in the other room who needs to eat, or have you all forgotten?" she adds, her eyes roaming the women positioned around the table. Most of them avert their eyes except for Roisin, who has a nasty little smirk on her face as Erin glances in their direction.

I love my friend, no matter who the audience is. She's never intimidated.

Growling next to me, I turn back to Liam, his eyes glowing a faint yellow.

"Liam," Patrick, his father intercedes, "leave it, if Ava and Erin want to eat with Isla, let the girls go," then turning his gaze back to me, he nods, "but Ava, after dinner, Liam is right, we do want to see you in the den, to discuss the events from today. Siobhan will show you the way."

Returning the gesture and silently thanking him, I dip my chin in agreement. Quickly I move from my seat and join Erin, who has already started filling three bowls with a creamy soup and loading them onto a tray with freshly baked bread rolls and a stick of butter.

"Can you get some water?" she asks before making her way into the living room.

From the corner of my eye, I can see Liam watching her go, a frown on his face before Shay says something to him, causing him to growl and continue eating his meal.

Balancing the three glasses of water, I leave the kitchen, the usual jovial chatter taking on a more subdued tone as I move past the table, avoiding making eye contact with anyone, and walk towards Erin and Isla. Tummy rumbling, I focus on the food before me rather than continue the conversation from before, which can wait until later.

Erin is already seated before Isla and alternating between feeding Isla and herself, sharing the same spoon. Okay, that's weird. Erin doesn't share, PERIOD!

Catching me staring at her, my mouth dropping open, she raises a single eyebrow, spoon in mouth, and grunts. "What?"

Using the same spoon to scoop more of the mixture into Isla's mouth, I point to her actions. "Ah, spoon, share, mouth?"

Realizing what she was doing, Erin shrugs. "What? We share all the time."

"Yeah, we, meaning just you, just me, not anyone else. Hell, you don't even let guys stay overnight and share your bed, and now you're pretty much sharing your mouth juices!"

Taking another mouthful, she shrugs again, "Isla is my girl, like you, and I share with you, don't I?"

"Sure?" I reply, making it sound more like a question and taking the seat next to her. Reaching for my bowl, I scoop a generous amount of the potato and leek mixture and spoon it in my mouth, the creamy soup sliding down my throat and settling nicely in my stomach. I didn't realize how hungry I was until now, and as I take another spoonful, my nausea begins to subside.

"I can't explain it," Erin frowns, spoon poised in the air, "it's like I know her. I have this overwhelming need to protect her. It's quite scary." Turning her focus on me, she adds, "The only other person I have ever been this attached to, is you and even that took a few weeks to get to this point."

Laughing at my typically in-control friend, I shove a large piece of the buttery bread in my mouth, "Should I be jealous?" I joke, mouth full and very unladylike.

"Nah, you're still my number 1 bitch." I throw another chunk of bread at Erin, it hits her square in the face, bounces off, and lands directly in the soup. Before she has a chance to respond, I hear a light tinkling giggle coming from the girl before me. Exchanging a quick look with Erin and realizing that the sound didn't come from either of us, we both turn to face Isla, who has a slight smile on her face. Her chest is vibrating. "Shit, there you are." Erin continues before digging the bread out of the soup and plopping it into her mouth.

We continue like this throughout the meal, Erin and I bantering and Isla giggling now and then before Siobhan interrupts us, followed by Eileen and Reagan, Isla immediately reverting into her mute persona. "You girls finished?" Seeing our empty dishes, she continues, looking directly at Isla, "Love. It's time for your bath. Eileen and Reagan will help you tonight, as we're needed elsewhere." She finishes, looking towards Erin and me.

Knowing that it's time to meet with Patrick and Liam, Erin and I both stand, kiss Isla goodnight, and promise to see her at breakfast before watching the women take her away. Seeing our look of concern, Siobhan holds a hand on Erin's shoulder, "No need to worry, lass, those two care for the poor girl. They'll take good care of her in our absence. Now, if you two would follow me, the men await." She adds, inclining her head towards the men moving out of the kitchen.

Nodding, we turn and follow Siobhan down the hall and towards the room from earlier today.

Before we can enter, Erin's phone rings, the sounds jarring. Taking it out of her pocket and looking at the screen, she curses before looking at me, "Ava, I'm so sorry. I gotta take this babe, will you be okay without me?"

Knowing that it must be vital for her to bail, I nod, Erin, offering me a sad smile before turning on her heel and heading upstairs and disappearing down the hall towards our room.

I turn back to Siobhan, who has opened the door and moved into the office already filled with men.

Surveying the room, I notice that Patrick is sitting behind the massive desk and standing slightly behind him is Sean, Shay's father. Standing at a similar height with light hair greying at the temples, Sean has a kind face, with a similar bone structure to Patrick, and I know from talking to Eileen that this is her husband and Liam's uncle.

Standing opposite to Sean is Caitlín's husband, his name I can't remember. He also is tall, well-built but has dark, almost black hair and seems to have a constant sneer on his face. Like husband, like wife!

To the left side of the room, leaning against the wall, is Seamus, the man that found me on the road, and another male, Aiden, I think, who is a younger, more minor asshole version of his father, the dark-haired sneering man.

Finally, my eyes land on Liam. Sitting in one of the chairs in front of the desk, he motions for me to take the one next to him.

Taking my spot and sinking into the soft leather, I watch Siobhan close the door behind us and then move to take another seat positioned against the wall on the right.

Once settled, the older Brady, the patriarch of the family and alpha of the clan, focuses his attention directly on me.

He clears his throat, "Ava, lass, you know why you're here. It's time we talk about what we're going to do about Griffin."