Chapter 11

**ELIZABETH'S POV **

I get to the door of my home and I start rummaging in my bag to get the keys, cursing myself for not putting them in their compartment and that is when I feel someone behind me. My heart starts beating fast and I turn around quickly, closing the distance in a blur that a human can't possibly follow but instead of a human, I see Marcus standing there, hands in his pockets. He is looking down at me and I suddenly feel so small. What would I be able to do if he wanted to attack me?

"You're just returning?" He asks. There is something strained about him. His eyes are dark and cold and his hair is a bit rough. His shirt is not immaculately ironed as well and there is an edge to him, something dangerous that makes me want to run away yet makes me want to…

I shake the thoughts from my head.

"Are you tired?" Marcus asks.

"Yeah, I just came from work. Of course I should be tired."

"Mm. Come with me. Let's stroll. There is a lake down there in the woods." I look at the direction his eyes are at then at him. He has a small smile and something tells me that he may need this walk.

"Alright. Let us walk, Marcus," I say to him. He nods.

We stride through the woods, my steps synchronized with the rhythmic crunch of fallen leaves underfoot. The air is cool and crisp, carrying the earthy fragrance of damp soil and the distant whisper of the evening breeze through the canopy above. Marcus walks beside me, his towering frame casting elongated shadows that dance on the forest floor, his brooding presence a stark contrast to the tranquil surroundings.

"Look at the way the light filters through the leaves," I murmur, my gaze fixed on the intricate patterns of dappled sunlight that play across the moss-covered ground. "It's as if nature itself is painting a masterpiece."

Marcus grunts in response, his usually stoic expression softening as he gazes up at the intertwining branches overhead. "Nature has a way of reminding us of our insignificance, doesn't it? How easily we are swallowed by the vastness of it all."

I nod, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "But isn't it also a reminder of the cyclical nature of life? The way everything here is interconnected, thriving and decaying in an endless dance of rebirth and renewal?"

He grunts again, a hint of contemplation in his deep voice. "Life and death, intertwined like the roots of these ancient trees. One sustains the other, in an unending cycle that transcends our mortal understanding."

We continue our walk in silence, the rustle of the leaves and the occasional call of a distant owl the only sounds that punctuate the stillness. As we venture deeper into the heart of the woods, the evening light dims, casting elongated shadows that seem to envelop us in a cloak of dusk.

"Isn't it fascinating," I say softly, breaking the silence, "how even in the face of death, life persists. New saplings sprout from decaying stumps, and vibrant wildflowers bloom amidst the fallen leaves. It's a constant reminder that even in darkness, there is always the promise of light."

Marcus's gaze lingers on me for a moment, a flicker of something indefinable in his dark eyes. "You manage to find hope in the most unlikely places, Elizabeth. A rare gift, indeed."

I offer him a small smile, my hand reaching out to touch the rough bark of an ancient oak tree. "Perhaps it's not about finding hope, but recognizing that it's always there, waiting to be discovered. Just like these woods, filled with secrets and wonders, even in the fading light of evening."

"Sometimes the world is beautiful. Sometimes it is truly beautiful but other times… other times it shows us how cruel it can be. How unfeeling. It forces us to make decisions that causes us to question who we are at our very core."

He stops and sits on a tree trunk. His eyes are narrowed and focused like he is staring at something I cannot see.

"Are you in that kind of situation now?" I ask and he looks at me. He shakes his head and stands with a sigh then he starts walking.

"It is one of those things," he says as we come out to the lake.

†

It is nightfall by the time I come into the gathering of elders, betas and high ranking members of the pack. Elliot is already there, seated with Ann by his side. They all stand as I enter and I start to walk down the length of the table. I can feel the tension and I can feel my brother's eyes on me. I pause at my seat but I don't sit on it.

"There have been quarrels, disputes and misunderstandings between us and the Red moon. A while ago, I settled those matters with the alpha of the red moon pack. An agreement to which my brother bore witness. I gave orders that no hostilities were to continue between us and the Red moon but I was disobeyed.

If this was unprovoked then his life would have been taken for disobeying his Alpha but because he was attacked first, he will pay the price, another way."

I start walking to him and he stands. I can see the fear in Elliot's face but I can also see defiance.

"You will give a part of you for your disobedience."

I can see the light down in his eyes but even before he can react, I unsheathe my claws and grab his arm then, with one forceful pull, yank it off him and throw it across the room.

His scream is terrible as the blood flows. He falls on his knees as I watch him then I step back, sickened by what I have done but hiding it in a facade of calm.

"The arm will heal within the year. Take that as your punishment," I say and walk back to the chair as some of the men carry him outside, his scream subsiding to grunts that tear at my heart.

"Now, for further business…"

†

**ELIZABETH'S POV **

It is raining when Marcus comes to my home. His shirt clings to his body, revealing each perfect, hard muscle underneath but he doesn't seem ti care about that. I also notice blood in his shirt and when I look inside his eyes, I see terrible sadness.

"Twice in one day. You must be getting worried?" He asked.

"Hmm. I don't mind. I could use the company," I say to him and he nods as he steps inside then sits on one of the chairs. He almost covers the entire thing and he throws his head back with a sigh.

"Are you…alright?" I ask. He nods.

"You don't have a fireplace. I'm glad you don't have a fireplace."

"Why?" I ask. Something crosses his eyes that looks almost like fear then it is gone as quickly as it came.

"I had to punish my brother today. I did not enjoy it."

I look at the blood on his shirt then back at his face. He nods, confirming my suspicions.

"Will he be alright?" I ask.

"Yes, he will be but…doing that to him…what kind of person would hurt their own family like that?" He asks quietly, almost like he is asking himself instead of me.

"You have been doing your best to maintain order. You have been doing your best to maintain peace. If you had left him alone, unrest would have surged through your ranks and many lives would be endangered. He is wounded, he is not dead and the peace is preserved. He will understand," I say.

Marcus seems to throw my words around in his mind before he speaks again.

"He won't understand. He will hate me. Elliot has never been one to take time and understand situations. He acts out the first thing on his mind and just goes along with that but he is my brother. I should speak with him."

I sit beside Marcus as he stares at the wall then he reaches out and takes my hand. His hand is big but it is gentle as he holds mine.

I look down at the hand and up at him.

"I'm glad I can talk to you," he whispers. I look at him, at the perfect curve of his nose and the brightness of his eyes. He is perfect in every way. I place a hand on his forearm and feel the bumps. He looks down at it then places his other hand on mine.

"That is why I am afraid of fire," he says as we sit there, letting the silence stretch, growing comfortable on it.