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"What pack?" I demand, breathless. But I already know the answer.
"Yours," my father says sadly, once again extending the box to me.
No. No. No.
I knew the Rovers would be angry. I knew Tristan would feel betrayed. But I never imagined it would come to this. He was supposed to hate me, to be angry and hurt until time soothed the insult and injury of my choices. I thought when Nico and Mark saw what I am, or at least part of what I am, that it would be enough to make them give up on me.
He was supposed to forget me, not fight for me.
"What is this?" I take the box from my father, examining it.
"A message from the Rovers left at our doorstep. I assume it's for you."
My heart beats so loud I swear the sound could fill up the room. I slide the lid off, and I feel as though that beating in my stops when I see what's inside.
Inside the box rests a small bouquet of yellow tansies.
He sent me flowers.
But all roses have their thorns, and all flowers have their meanings. And these flowers, in particular... they mean war.
Chapter Sixteen
Tristan
I'd heard the stories of creatures that lurked in the dark, feeding on the blood of others. I learned from my time as a lone wolf not to take things for granted.
The truth is always relative, and the impossible is just a matter of perspective.
It did not surprise me when my scouts returned with a report that they'd discovered my mate's scent leading to a mysterious new territory high in the mountains.
It did not shock me when my spies reported that the kingdom was filled with creatures that were only supposed to exist in scary stories.
What did surprise me was the look in my Bata's eyes when he returned.
Nico had seemed positively shaken, distraught beyond consolation. He looked like a wounded puppy, devastated by what happened in the vampire's castle.
But Mark? I'd seen him angry plenty of times, but never like that.
"I don't know why or how, but they made her into one of them."
"Are you sure?" I demanded.
"I watched her feed on the vampire king himself," Mark replied, something between fear and fury burning in his eyes.
"She did that to protect us," Nico protested, and I couldn't be sure who he was trying to convince.
My council sat around the dining room table, our food untouched.
"She wouldn't have had to protect anyone if she had just come with us when we told her to," Mark retorted bitterly.
"Maybe she couldn't. Maybe they were forcing her to say that. Are you sure this Night King wasn't threatening her somehow?" Lucy asked.
"No, she wanted to stay there. She chose to remain with those... monsters. Goddess knows what else they'll do to her," Mark replied, his voice low and raspy.
His mate set her hand softly atop his, something curious flashing over her exotic features.
"Careful," Amara said, a hint of teasing in her tone. "Such fury and concern. You're starting to sound like you might actually care. Tell me, my love, do you have a soft spot for our little flower?"
