I walked with Lana in my arms.. I walked as fast as possible, glancing at Calliope a time or two to make sure she was keeping up. "What do you know about wolfsbane?" I asked, hearing her sigh from the side. "I know it was used a lot during the war. It can take down a whole pack if it's used wisely." "My father used it as his secret weapon. Werewolves weren't aware he knew their weakness.. That's how he won the war." I glanced down at Lana again.. She simply pressed her lips against my neck again.. Frowning and struggling to keep conscious. My heart tore for her. "I heard." I didn't even realize that we reached the end of the woods were walking out the road.. I just felt Lana's grip around my shoulder loosen. Her body going limper. "She passed out." I looked at Calliope like I was searching for some kind of an explanation from her but she seemed pretty calmed. "She's exhausted, Christian. She must've finally relaxed." I listened for Lana's heartbeat. It was steadying down.. Finally. "God, Lana," I heard myself whisper, adjusting her in my arms. The sight of her slightly bloody wrists disturbed me in the most messed up way. "Will she be okay?" "I think the rope just scratched her.." Calliope glanced in front of herself.. Towards the road. Her eyes slightly widen. "But maybe we should ask them though." Headlights lighted us.. Tires against the gravel old road.. Car engines being shut off.. I followed Calliope's gaze. Two cars stopped near mine and six men walked out. Of course.. It was Khan Morpher. He arrived with his two twin sons and his brother, Julian Morpher.. A far too familiar face. It brought all those dark memories from the war.. Only Zaria showing up would complete that history repeating itself.. Instead I had Lana in my arms. I stopped and looked at them. Two younger guys accompanied Julian as well, of course for protection since wolves always travelled in groups. I hated the thought of Lana hating me because I killed two of her wolf friends or let alone some of her relatives. Her family was off limits, I wouldn't like having to fight them because we all knew how it would end.. It seemed like they too were all aware of it. They stopped and so did we. I waited for an accusation, a fight, and it honestly would've been hell of a way to take out my fury on someone. But I promised Lana I would follow the plan.. No matter how much I wanted to break her father's nose for allowing something like that to happen to her. Or those brothers of hers. They were old enough to protect her.. Hell, where were they when she needed them? "Christian," Calliope's voice was quiet but filled with some warning. I realized that I was clenching my teeth way too hardly. None of them said a thing however. I glanced at Calliope. "Don't." She must've thought I would break all the damn vows I made and kill them all because yes, I had the fury I needed to do so.. I started walking towards them. "Christian." I ignored her words. I had Lana unconscious in my arms.. I had her hurt. I was the one that found her..That saved her. I was the one that would give the world for her. And only with me would she be safe. I noticed them stiffen when I started walking towards them.. They must've taken my slow steps as a threat. And I was glad they fuckįng did. I glanced down at Lana. She was had passed out. She was weak. She was damn exhausted. All because they couldn't keep a simple girl locked in that mansion of theirs. None of them moved towards me.. Nor did they take a step back. Khan stood in front of his sons while the others were on the sides. His fists were clenched. I suppose they hoped for a good fight. So did I. So did fuckíng I. And if I didn't love the girl I held tightly in my arms in that moment, I would've broken all of their bones, one by one. They were responsible for the state Lana was in. However, as I reached them, I stopped.. I stopped in front of Khan Morpher and immediately found myself tightening my grip around Lana's legs. I did not trust them. Not with keeping her safe.. Not with allowing them to have such control over her life.. But I knew Lana. She was unconscious but I knew her better than they did. She would never had allowed a fight. She worked way too hard to stop a war that was already on the edge. It was that breaking moment rather or not she succeeded. And I had sworn I would be the last one to ever make her choose between her family and me. Another pair of headlights flashed.. Another car stopped. The rest glanced in that direction, and so did I for a second, but Khan kept his eyes on me. From the car walked out Dimitri.. Right behind him was Amelia. The fact that she was about to meet her father was a completely different story. And also another reason not to start a fight. I would hate for her to meet him after I knock a few of his teeth out. But he did a lousy job keeping her sister safe. I'm sure Amelia would've wanted me to do exactly that. They had Vanessa with them.. But she was not part of Khan's pack, so when they stopped on the side, saying nothing and scanning the situation, Vanessa stayed beside them. I heard a few growls. Julian was an aggressive one. But I had his niece in my arms. He feared I would harm her so he tamed his dogs and stood still. I gulped down the things I had to say as well.. I tried focusing rather on Lana's words, on her promises, rather than on that fury that built inside me.. She said she would come back to me when she convinces her father. And I knew she needed time to sort things out with her family. I swore I would give her that time.. And my respect for her was way too strong for me to break those vows I made.