It started snowing later that evening. Many of the lycans were hurt from their encounter with the bear. They huddled by fires, warming their sore bodies where they had been thrown against trees and rocks.

One of the wild females had broken her neck. Her two cubs lay by her body, morning her death with quiet, whining cries.

I passed through our temporary camp. Wetpaws, Sting, Soulflight, the half blind Clouded Eye, I knew most of the wild lycans by name and greeted them in turn. Seeing them hurt awakened old wounds that stung at my heart.

This was Howens’s fault. That town, the innermost of the border villages, had been completely decimated. Every person killed, every building destroyed. The worst part was thinking about their stories, the lives they lived, each forging their own tale abruptly ended in terror. I wondered how the last of them felt. Had they fought? Had they given up hope? Had they welcomed death as an end to their suffering and sorrow?

"Desire!" Shirah's voice called me over as I passed. I paused, looking her way. She sat between Scorchedpelt and Shadowfoot. The female lycan had limped back to camp a short while ago, struggling to make it on broken foreleg. The bone was set, but she was in no condition to travel.

"You know, I'm sorry, right?" she said, staring down into the embers of the fire between us. "I didn't mean to cause so much trouble."

I forced on a soft smile. "It's not your fault. That woman Balazza was trying to start problems." I stepped forward, sitting down on protruding rock. "But Cerberus doesn't think like a human."

She hung her head. "Yeah, well, I just hate seeing you two fight because of me."

I laughed. The sound seemed almost alien in this somber environment. "It's alright, really. We have disagreements all the time. He can be stubborn. Pretty soon we'll disagree about something else and he'll pin me down, demanding I submit again, just like he always does."

Her eyes fixed on a point over my shoulder. I followed her gaze to where the subject of our conversation sat with Cyrus and Crimson Claw. He was speaking to them, but his haunting red stare wondered to us. I looked away before he caught my eyes.

"I can't imagine…” she started. “I know he's a lycan, but he just seems... defensive."

I nodded, well aware of said lycan's red stare burning into my back. "Albino cubs are usually born weak, small, often die. He was pushed to the outskirts of the pack. To survive, he had to be aggressive and fight his way to Alpha. Being anything less was never a choice." My fingers locked together. He wasn't looking anymore, but I could still feel his attention focused on me. I wouldn't doubt he could hear every word I said. "He taught himself how to hunt, that's why he's different."

"What do you mean?"

"Have you ever seen a lycan kill before?"

"Fortunately not."

Memories of the many times I witnessed the lycan's aggression flashed through my mind. "They normally bite and tear, clawing their prey until it bleeds out or they hit something vital."

"But he doesn't?"

I shook my head. "I've never seen him hunt with a pack. Whatever he catches alone he grabs by the throat and shakes."

"That's why he told you to go for the throat..." She swallowed, hand tracing around her own neck. "While we're on the subject, why do the others call him Blood Eye?"

"It's his name." I removed my gloves to better warm my hands by the fire. "He once told me I had what he most desired, and so that would be my name. I agreed, but I chose a name for him as well. In the old world there was a legend of a three headed dog, a terrifying guardian of the underworld they called Cerberus."

"It's beautiful." I furrowed my brows. Shirah shook her head, smiling. "Your names for each other. I realize how much faith you must have in him to bare your neck the way you did. I would do anything for that kind of trust."

"Don't worry, you'll earn it." She nodded, but didn't seem convinced. "Hey," I said. She looked up. "Maybe you can teach me a thing or two? You probably saw I'm not a skilled warrior."

She laughed at that,. "Definitely. It's a deal then, since that's twice you saved my life." Her eyes wandered around us, landing on the small group gathered two fires over. "You know how Nightmoon's doing?"

I squinted in their direction. From our distance, I could just make out the lycan's ears flick forward then back. Jared was bent over her while conversing. "I think she's awake."

We both stood up. Scorchedpelt growled. I gave him a scolding glare.

"She's not a prisoner."

He gave me a long stare, then lowered his eyes. "Yes, Alpha."

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

I frowned as we turned away. "Don't call me that, you know that's not my title." I couldn't stop my eyes from wandering to Cerberus. "He's just... being stubborn."

We left the pair, whom I recently learned were littermates, to make our way over to the other's fire.

"Dessy!" Alice greeted, "Look look!" She bounced around on Sunshine's lap, pointing to the lycan resting her head on Jared's lap. He covered her ears, hushing the toddler.

"She's still groggy," he explained, "and has a headache, but it's getting better."

I nodded, kneeling beside Nightmoon. Her ears flicked my way. She gave a slight nod of acknowledgment, then closed her vibrant eyes.

"Can I see the dart?" Shirah asked.

Jared handed me the orange feathered needle which had stuck in the lycan's shoulder. I briefly examined it before passing it on. The woman held the tip to her nose, sniffing it.

"Smells like demonsleep." She held the dart out for me to smell. A bitter earthy scent met my nose. "It's made from a fungus imported from Detris, Askance is too cold for it to grow. I've used it several times, even a few drops is deadly to humans."

"You think they were trying to kill the bear?" I doubted it. The woman specifically stated she expected it to wake up.

"It's also used as a sedative for large animals." I craned my head back to look at Cyrus, who stood behind me. "They used it on the lycans in Preene until they found a safer substitute."

Shirah nodded her agreement, stating she had seen it used on horses as well. I tried not to think about the lycans they must have experimented on to find a substitute.

Large hands curled around my shoulders. "Desire, can I speak to you a minute? Alone?"

"Yeah, sure." I stood, glancing back as I began to follow him. Shirah offered a conspiratorial wink, shooing me off with her hands. Somehow her actions encouraged me, quelling a bit of the nervousness that accompanied the request.

Sooner than I thought I was alone with Cyrus. My stomach did a little flip. I wanted to be alone with him, as much as I tried to tell myself I didn't. I waited for him to speak as my mind ran itself in circles.

"What were you thinking?" he finally demanded after a full minute of pacing. He turned in his heels to face me. "He could have killed you."

I frowned. "You never seemed all that worried before."

Cyrus strode forward, reaching out to tug on the crudely patched sleeves of my coat. "You never seemed to be edging him on. Really, it was like you were trying to get a reaction. You happy now?"

I swatted his hands away, "Of course not. I was trying to save Shirah."

He pursed his lips in an almost feminine expression of discontent. "Yes, that was very noble of you, but did you ever consider your own neck while you were putting it on the line?"

"A calculated risk," I huffed. "What do you care?"

Cyrus rested his hands on my shoulders. I tried to ignore the fluttering of my heart. I liked Cyrus, I shouldn't want him to touch me. I shouldn't be hoping he would embrace me. I was poisonous in every way.

He closed his eyes, letting out a sigh. "Listen, I've been trying to say it, but apparently in too many words. Really, I've been hoping you'd figure it out yourself..."

"Well, what is it then?" I just wanted him to spit it out so this could be over and I could run back to the safety of the others.

Storming blue eyes locked mine in their turbulent depths. "Desire, I am completely in love with you."

I yanked away as if he had attacked me. It felt like he had. My mind reeled in defensive instincts.

"No, you can't!" I cried, throwing my hands up to keep him away.

"Why not?" It was hard to stomach the obvious hurt in his eyes.

My body was a mess of emotions. I felt trapped. Claustrophobia reared its terrifying head, gnawing at my core. "How dare you?" I screamed it. "How dare you? How dare you?!"

"Desire calm down!" I struggled against his hands on my arms as he steered me backwards, bracing us against a tree. Now I really was trapped. I lashed out, trying to free myself. It was no use, Cyrus was much stronger. "Why are you so upset?"

"Because I don't deserve you!" I wailed, halfheartedly pushing against his chest. "I don't deserve all this... goodness."

"Goodness?" Cyrus raised an eyebrow, a small smirk gracing his features. "I didn't know you enjoyed your night with me that much."

I punched him, laughing despite myself. I felt so stupid, giggling through my tears. "You know what I meant. I'm terrible, I can't have friendship and... love." I whispered the last word. "I can't have a happy ending. I've tried and failed and every time I do I lose everything I want to keep."

He sighed again. He looked like he wanted to protest, but didn't. Instead he moved his hands to my cheeks, holding my face in soft sheepskin. "Listen, when is the ending really? When we stop fighting? When we ride into the sunset? When we die? If you're looking for a time we quit having problems, that's what you'll be waiting for. So why not take our happy now, and leave the ending for later?"

I let him wipe the tears from my eyes. "But my happiness is poisonous." Looking at his face it seemed a weak excuse.

"It doesn't have to be."

"How?"

"I'll show you." He reached into the neck of his coat, pulling his black mask from around his neck and hooking it over his nose. I stiffened, but didn't resist as he leaned down.

His warmth spread through the fabric as he pressed it between us. It eased the tension in my limbs. I surrendered to him, allowing him to kiss me through the protective mask.

It wasn't as pleasant as skin contact, but it was something. I could have something, and something was a whole lot better than cold, bitter nothing.

His grin was visible through his mask. "See? I told you there's a way you can have some of this goodness."

I slapped his arm, giggling. After a moment's consideration I jumped up, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him back. His strong hands gripped at my sides, holding me up.

"Now you're making me jealous of your victims. Why wasn't I fortunate enough to be captured by the Lady of the Lycan Mountains?" He leaned to whisper in my ear, "If this is terrible, I want more."

I flicked him on the nose. He dropped me, rubbing the offended facial feature.

"Not that kind of terrible. That's just plain mean."

I snickered and stuck out my tongue. He rolled his eyes, but couldn't hide his grin.

"Well I suppose we better make a showing back at camp before the hellhound gets too jealous. I wouldn't want to worry him while he's in such a murderous mood." He turned me around, steering me back the way we had come. I lay my head on his shoulder as we walked side by side. His smugness was evident in his voice. "And just think, after we get the cure all this goodness can be yours."

"Shut up," I laughed.

"Hey, normally this goodness isn't cheap."

It was my turn to raise my eyebrows. "You normally charge?”

"No, but I could. Free for the queen of course."

"Do you ever shut up?"

"Nope. All this goodness can't be contained."