n

n

nAugust let out a small yelp of surprise and jumped back, looking up to see a familiar face. It took her a moment to place his wavy brown hair and arrogant smile. 'Lucas,' she thought to herself.

n

"You're alive,

" he smirked down at her and took a bite of his apple. Lycans eat apples? Somehow it seemed strange, especially when it was this menacing lycan.

n

"I am alive,

" she confirmed, instinctually backing away from him.

nHis eyes narrowed seeing this movement, and he slowly stalked forward, closing the distance between them.

n

"Where are you going? Thinking of running away?

" He smirked again before taking another bite of the blushing red fruit in his hand.

nMarius's thoughts flashed in her mind… of her running through the trees, being chased like prey. She swallowed hard and shook her head.

"No.

"

n

"Darn,

" he replied, his smile widening. He stood there chewing, watching her like he was waiting for any sudden movements.

n

"Who's this?

" A deep voice asked behind her. She turned to see a man ascending the steps. He was larger than Lucas and had long blonde hair that was pulled up into a bun.

n

"Graeme's bitch,

" Lucas answered dismissively.

n

"The human who took a bite out of Marius?

" man-bun gaped, laughing suddenly. Lucas nodded.

n

"Holy **,

" he said, approaching her. August backed up against a pillar at the top of the staircase. Where in the world was Greta?

n

"You don't look so tough,

" he was getting uncomfortably close now.

"What did Marius have to do to bring the fighter out of you?

" his eyes scanned her as he smiled to himself.

"I'd love to see what you can do to me,

" he rumbled close to ear now.

n

"Gunnar,

" Lucas called him,

"you want Hallowell after you?

"

n

"Pfff.

" The man-bun named Gunnar scoffed, turning to Lucas.

"Besides… No mark, no mate,

" his breath was hot on her neck as he leaned over her, pushing her jacket collar back.

nAugust glared up into his light eyes. 'Why is everyone so obsessed with this mark thing?' she wondered. It was highly intrusive.

n

"Ooooh,

" he chuckled.

"There she is.

" He reached up and pinched her chin, tilting her head up and to the side, looking her over.

nAugust began trembling involuntarily as his thoughts flooded her, but after a moment she was able to regain her composure and push the thoughts back. He was harmless, she realized, and she stifled the laugh that threatened to escape.

nSuddenly someone burst out of the front doors. Before the one named Gunnar could react, his body was shoved away from August and flew a good twelve feet in the air before landing hard on the ground in front of the pack house.

nGreta appeared in front of August.

"Are you okay?

" she asked worriedly, grasping both of the human's arms. August was too stunned to respond.

n

"What the **, Greta?

" Gunnar growled, straightening himself.

nGreta turned toward him and descended the steps lightly like she hadn't just thrown a huge man-wolf through the air. He stumbled backward watching her approach.

n

"You're lucky it was me and not my brother, Gunnar. If you ever touch her again, I'll make sure you don't heal for weeks,

" she said threateningly before turning on her heel, peach curls bouncing, and retrieving August from her perch at the top of the steps.

nOnce they were approaching the Jeep, Greta turned to August,

"I'm so sorry. While you were in the bathroom, one of the Bennet girls approached me. Their eleven-year-old sister ran away a few weeks ago and hasn't returned. They are all devastated about it. I have a hard time turning people away,

" she confessed.

n

"That's awful,

" August said quietly.

"I understand. I just had no idea you were such a badass.

" She was still shocked by the demonstration of Greta's strength. Greta was so small and sweet. It was a surprise, for sure.

n

"Oh,

" Greta laughed, waving it off as she got into the driver's seat.

"Well, lycan,

" she said, pointing to herself,

"and I also have Alpha blood, so thankfully I don't have a problem putting little **s in their place,

" she winked at August as she was looking behind her to reverse.

"If you saw Gunnar's thoughts, I'm sure you realized that that is precisely what he is.

"

n

"He was just worried about a woman seeing him. And apparently he thinks it's important to impress Lucas,

" August said quietly.

n

"Probably his mate,

" Greta said.

"So I was right—you can still… see?

"

n

"I guess so,

" August nodded slowly, anxious about what that would mean for her in the future. It was not a welcome thought, particularly if it was something the council would find threatening.

n

"Greta, can I ask you a question?

"

nGreta looked at her and smiled warmly,

"Of course you can.

"

n

"Why didn't Graeme take on the Alpha role?

" August asked. It was something she had been wondering since he told her about it the previous night, but he didn't offer the information immediately, so she thought better of asking at the time.

nGreta let out a deep sigh.

"That's complicated. He really needs to explain it to you himself, but I can tell you that part of it was that our parents were killed when we were only twelve. Graeme wasn't old enough to take the role yet. He hadn't even shifted into his wolf yet at that time. So the elders took over.

" Greta paused.

n

"They did a lot that he didn't agree with. That our parents wouldn't have agreed with, but they were our guardians, and they wouldn't listen to him. He was too young,

" She shook her head, remembering.

"By the time he was old enough, so much had been done that was irreversible…

"

nAugust was quiet, digesting this information.

"Could you have become Alpha?

"

n

"I suppose I could have, but I wouldn't have for the same reasons, and I wasn't the one being groomed,

" Greta replied.

"I wouldn't have done that to Graeme, anyway. It was his choice to have the pack continue to run this way. And I like being a healer,

" she said.

nAugust hummed in response.

"What is your Sam like?

" She asked, deciding to change the subject.

nGreta grinned,

"You'll meet him soon. He's kind of a big teddy bear.

"

nWhen they got back to the tree house, Graeme was still not back.

"I have a feeling I know where he went,

" Greta muttered.

n

"Is he going to be okay?

" August asked.

nGreta smiled, but her expression was laced with sadness.

"He's okay,

" she replied.

"I know this is all crazy and shocking for you, but try to… try to be patient with him if you can. I know that's a lot to ask given the circumstances,

" she said, meeting August's eyes again.

"You can take those stupid contacts out now if you want,

" she added, allowing a small laugh to pass her lips.

n

"Okay,

" August replied, not knowing what else to say. Internally she was arguing with Greta. How could she go easy on him when he had lost it on her like that? It had felt like he was threatening her with a mark that she could only guess would be painful and traumatizing. Hadn't he just said the day before that he wouldn't do that unless she wanted him to?

n

"Will you be okay if I leave you? You're safe here, and I can't imagine he'll be too much longer,

" Greta asked, changing the subject.

"I wouldn't leave, but I promised Lucia Bennet I would stop by her family's house. Her mother has been having panic attacks, and this morning I guess she had one that was particularly frightening. I really need to see what more I can do for her,

" she shook her head, and August could see the worry cloud her usual calm features.

nAugust nodded,

"Sure.

" It would actually be a relief to be alone after everything that happened that morning.. Time to think without eyes constantly on her.

n