Sam wasn't having any luck. No one seemed to have seen Andreas all day. It was likely that he was using a back door to leave without having to converse with pack members as he did, or else he was leaving through the dungeon.

Graeme was descending the main staircase just as Sam returned to it.

"Alpha!

" a familiar male voice called from the front door.

"Finn, finally,

" Sam grunted, turning to face the young male who was approaching.

"Did you return with her?

"

"I did,

" Finn's back went straight with the pride of having completed a mission given him.

"Where is she then?

" Graeme's eyebrows pinched together.

"The medical wing. There's something you should know,

" Finn's expression tensed.

"Goddess, you didn't get her pregnant did you?

" Graeme groaned.

Finn's jaw dropped as his face turned bright red.

"Alpha, n-no. W-we didn't do that, I swear. We were just talking… I'm sorry about that. It was a mistake and…

"

Graeme raised a hand, cutting him off from going on and on with his explanation.

"What is it then?

"

"Something happened to her when she was passing through another pack's territory…

"

"Why would she do something stupid like pass through another territory?

" Graeme growled. It was Violet, so his guess was that she was trying to get hurt or maybe even worse in an effort to gain his sympathy.

"What happened?

"

"She was attacked by one of the guards. Just to run her off, it seems, but the strange thing is…Well, I think you should see for yourself,

" Finn swallowed nervously.

"We are in the middle of something at the moment,

" Sam objected, but there was a haunted quality to Finn's expression that gave Greame pause.

"Sam, keep looking. I will check it out,

" he growled and gestured for Finn to lead the way.

They had already passed through medical on the way to Zoe's wing, but Graeme hadn't been in any of the rooms here since he had been back on pack land. It was an older area compared to the modern furnishings and design of the conference room and offices where Zoe resided.

"Did she give you any trouble on the way back?

" he asked the young lycan.

He couldn't imagine Violet coming back easily unless there was an incentive. A request for help in providing her truth about the elders' conduct and whether she had been used as a distraction for Finn was hardly compelling enough to lure her back. It would only be an embarrassment for her. So the fact that Finn had such an effortless time surprised him. He didn't expect for Finn to succeed, at least not prior to the festival.

"No, she came with me without resistance,

" Finn said softly. Again, it was as if there was something unspoken and mysterious in the tone of Finn's voice. What had happened?

Finn led him to one of the treatment doors and stood by, allowing Graeme to open it himself. Graeme gave him one last curious glance before knocking twice and then entering.

Violet's back was to him. She sat on the bed with rounded shoulders, looking out the small windows on the wall. She didn't even seem to react to him entering the room, apart from a small amount of tension that entered her back.

"Violet,

" he called in his deep authoritative voice with the implied command that she turn and face him.

But she did not. Instead, her head bowed, shoulders sagging further along with it. Was she crying? He sighed in frustration. He didn't have time to be manipulated in this way by her. How long would it take for her to realize that the world did not revolve around her?

"Violet, what happened?

" he tried again.

"I made a mistake. I scented the other wolves, I just…

" she finally spoke, shaking her head in regret, but she remained facing the opposite direction.

"I'm sorry. I was hating myself for everything that has happened. For listening to that disgusting elder who asked for my help and dredged up all those feelings that I had made myself move past. I thought I had moved past them. But then he said that your mate wasn't true. That she was a witch and was manipulating you. That she didn't deserve you and would hurt you and the pack. I listened to him, because I wanted it to be true. I wanted to think that I could help you.

"

She sighed. She wasn't crying. She just sounded… defeated and grief-stricken. And exhausted.

"I deserve this, I want you to know that. I went into their territory on purpose because I didn't care what happened to me anymore. I know I deserve it.

"

Graeme found himself walking forward, confused by what she was trying to say. She deserved what? Why wasn't she turning around when she always made it a point to meet his eyes at every opportunity with her silent yearning?

When he got to the edge of the bed, she stiffened and turned her head the other way as if afraid to be seen by him.

"Tell me what happened to you,

" he said, firmer now.

If Violet was playing games with him, she would pay for it. He had no problem putting her in a cell for postponing this hunt for Andreas. In fact, this could easily be another ploy to distract him while some other plan of the elders' was underway.

She didn't respond and didn't move. Graeme grabbed her shoulder, forcefully pulling her around to face him. She shrunk back, whimpering at the contact that he made and scrambling back away from him on the bed.

Graeme's eyes grew wide at the series of red, angry slash marks across her face that didn't appear to be healing.

"When did this happen?

" he asked.

"Right before Finn found me,

" she gulped and diverted her eyes from his.

"It should have healed by now,

" he shook his head, not believing her. But Finn would be able to substantiate it. Unless he had done it.

"Did Finn do this?

"

"No!

" she shook her head.

"That doesn't make any sense. Are there other injuries?

"

She was shrinking into herself, attempting to make herself smaller instead of answering him—like she wanted to disappear.

"Violet, tell me.

"

She nodded without looking at him.

"Show me,

" he said more gently.

She shook her head adamantly again, pulling her knees up into her chest.. He scented her fear. Since when was she ever afraid of him?