Chapter 45

Finally! The chapter is here :D

It is dedicated to @ItsMyBlueBallpen for being awesome in twitter :D:D

^^^^ Cover above by @dholie :D

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"...We die, we turn, we are reborn as we deserve to be reborn, based on our doings in this world."

—Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Prince

DARYA P.O.V

Sitting in one corner of the classroom, I was noting down the important points regarding plant pathology that the guest lecturer was discussing. That was when I felt someone's eyes on me. My wolf tensed warily and began sniffing the air around me.

All my classmates were humans and I knew all of them, so I wasn't suspicious. I didn't know the guest lecture but he was human and there was nothing fishy about him either.

Thinking it to be some sort of mistake, I shook my head and continued taking down the points. However, I stopped writing and the pencil slipped from my fingers while my wolf bristled aggressively. Something was seriously wrong and she could feel it.

I looked around the room and then turned my head to look outside the window. The only thing I could see was the library building and through the windows, I could see some students sitting and talking in hushed voices. Yet, my wolf kept growling repeatedly.

"Darya" my neighbor poked me in the arms and I jumped in my seat. Only then I saw the lecturer frowning at me.

"Sorry" I said to him and lowered my head. However, my wolf was pacing inside me, wondering what was wrong. At times like this, I seriously wished that I had Quillon's gifts.

Another ten minutes passed before she finally settled down. I was so relieved that I actually huffed. That once again attracted my lecturer's attention and this time he asked me a question regarding the rise of diseases in plants. Thankfully, I knew the answer to it.

__

Half-an-hour later, the last bell rang and collecting all my things, I walked out of the classroom. I was confused by my wolf's strange behavior. She felt something was wrong and I knew I had to trust her instinct because she was right ninety nine point nine percent of the time when it came to things like this.

Konrad was dead, but that didn't mean I didn't have any threats. There was still Sanity and that girl is a psycho. She might be young at age but I still won't spare her life if she comes to attack me. She has killed too many people without even blinking. She was ruthless and now that Konrad, is dead I knew she would target me or my family.

Quillon had suspected it too. He had had some people looking for her after Leah's warnings. It had been a good whole week since I got accepted as the Luna of the pack and almost a month since Konrad died, yet Sanity hadn't made any move to attack me.

Besides Sanity, Quillon even hired an agent to shadow Maxwell. He hadn't got any proof against Maxwell, but once he gets, I knew Quillon would either kill Maxwell or forever imprison him.

As I walking through the long corridors, my wolf wagged her tail in excitement and I turned my head to look at Quillon's Lamborghini in the parking lot. My heart fluttered in my chest and a smile curved on my lips.

It's our new routine. Every morning, he drops me till the Emperor border and from there; Mikhail picks me and drops me till college. But every evening, Quillon himself comes to pick me up. Students passing by couldn't help but stare at that luxurious car. And once the girls look at Quillon, they would keep looking.

As I recalled that, I scowled and then raced downstairs. While I reached the entrance, my eyes met Quillon's who was sitting in the driver's seat. Smiling, I descended the stairs—

THUD!

Gasping, I trembled and took a step back as I stared in horror at the unconscious body, a few steps ahead of my feet.

Everyone froze and turned to look at the dead body of the girl who jumped from the roof of the college building.

My bag dropped from my hands as I watched the blood oozing from the corner of her head. Another girl, who was just behind me, puked out when she saw the blood. Maybe it wasn't just the blood. Maybe it was the shock of seeing someone committing suicide.

"Darya" Quillon wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer to his body while I just stared at the dead girl. I had seen her before... she was a junior. "Darya... look at me" Quillon cupped my cheeks and forced me to look at him.

I did, yet I couldn't stop my eyes drifting towards the girl.

"Step back. Step back" the guards ordered as a crowd circled around the dead body. One of the guards, crouched down and checked her pulse. "She is dead" he said to the other guard.

"Did you call an ambulance?" a lecturer asked.

"Already did" one of the students said.

"Someone please take Emily and Darya to the ladies room" the principal who arrived there announced. Emily, who had puked after seeing the girl jump, had fainted soon after. "I will send a doctor soon" he said and then urged the students to step back.

"Darya" Quillon said and I swallowed audibly.

"I am fine... I..." I couldn't continue. Instead, I stared at the dead girl. Was this why my wolf behaved so anxiously?

My wolf was also perplexed because she was pacing inside me.

"What's her name?" the principal asked staring at the dead body of the girl.

"Katherine Robertson" someone answered. "First year student!"

"Darya... come on" Quillon began and urged me inside the building but I shook my head.

"Was someone in the roof with her?" the principal then asked the guards.

"No sir"

"I... I want to go home" I told Quillon and he nodded.

"Let the doctor check you up Darya" Dr. Chapman, one of my professors, said. Probably, everyone realized that I was in shock.

"I will take care of that sir" Quillon assured him and then walked me towards his car.

__

We drove in complete silence until Quillon stopped the car in a vacant road. "You have water in your bottle?" he asked me and I nodded. "Drink it" he said and I did the same.

"You knew her?" he enquired after I gulped the water down my throat. I had stopped shaking but I still couldn't get the image of Katherine dropping dead in front of me, out of my head.

"No. I had seen her in passing... I... I don't know why would she commit suicide?"

"Maybe she had some problems" Quillon said quietly. Maybe... but I still couldn't calm my rapidly beating heart. I had been scared when I saw her drop like that from the roof of the university building. She was a human, so there was minute chance of her surviving a fall from such height.

"It was unfortunate that you had to see that" he said and I closed my eyes.

"You didn't see her in the roof?" I asked him massaging my temples with the heel of my hand.

"No... I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings" he replied, rubbing his thumb on my wrist. His touch was comforting to me and slowly, I felt myself relaxing.

"My wolf was behaving weirdly in the last period..."

"Why?" Quillon questioned seriously.

"I don't know... I suppose she saw this coming" I sighed and then rested my head against his arm. "I didn't know Katherine but I still feel sad" I told him.

"It happens" he said and kissed my temples. "She might have had some problems in her personal life which made her take such a drastic step. You will find out soon. Just don't stress yourself over it" he said and I nodded.

"Do you still want to go to Grier Pack?" he asked after sometime and I shook my head. We were supposed to go to Grier today so that Kasey can figure out exactly what she had seen in Quillon's past but now, I just wanted to sleep and forget what had happened.

"My head is aching. It's better if we return to our house" I muttered closing my eyes.

__

College was closed the next day. Enquiries were done by the police and no one found anything wrong in Katherine's personal life. Academically too she was a bright student and so, her suicide was shocking to everyone. She had no health issues either. No boyfriend problems... nothing! No one knew what made her take such a drastic step.

To me Suicide is a painful because one has to beg, plead for death to come. The body refuses to give up and struggles to survive but the soul has already given up. When a person believes there is no hope they commit suicide. I dislike suicide because I consider it a sign of negativity... then again; I shouldn't speak about it because I don't know what the mental state of the person who committed the suicide was.

Shaking my head, I gave my full attention the new dish that I was learning to prepare.

It was Saturday today and since I had no college, I went to my cooking classes after lunch and when I returned from there, Quillon was in the farm, waiting for me. As I strode towards him, I could see the creepy grin all my coworkers, especially females, had.

"Where were you?" he demanded.

Shoot! I didn't tell him I am learning cooking and honestly, if he gets to know he might laugh at my face!

"Just here and there..." I mumbled scratching my head and ignored Quillon's questioning look. "When did you come?"

"About half an hour ago. I asked everyone, no one knew where you were" he mumbled while I entered the storeroom. Once, I was in there, I noticed that Wesley hadn't arrived yet. I had called his father and he told me he will bring him to farm.

Nancy, who was also there, winked at me the moment she saw Quillon with me.

"I went to KFC for lunch" I lied smoothly. Yes, KFC is the best excuse I get. "You were supposed to come here at four" I pointed out.

"An idiot forgot to get his pen drive so the meeting got over soon" he said dropping his blazer above my bag.

"Here Mr. Sanders... some fresh pomegranates of the farm" Bridget, one of my coworkers, brought a bowl full of pomegranate seeds for him. Quillon smirked at her and I swear, Bridget turned into a pool of her own drool.

"There was no need to remove the peel" I told her with a frown.

'Meow' Quillon said through the link and I kicked his shins. Bridget and Nancy stared at me with wide eyes, while Quillon chuckled. He then dug his spoon and ate a mouthful while I glared at him.

That's when I remembered, "Did you have your lunch?" I asked him.

"No"

Oh! "Thanks Bridget" I told her with a sincere smile. "You eat inside the tree house" I told him as I picked his blazer and my bag.

"You have a tree house?"

"Well, not exactly a tree house but there is space in the hollow trunk of the Baobab tree which is like my private room here"

"That fat old tree?"

"Hey" I rebuked. "It's been in the same place for two thousand years and is still the strongest tree here" I said as I walked towards the centre of the farm, where the tree was. One of my conditions before handing over the farm to government was that no one would chop the tree and that room in the trunk wouldn't be used as warehouse.

"Wow" Quillon mumbled as he entered the hollow trunk. He dwarfed the trunk space as he filled it with his presence. My heart started thudding rapidly in my chest because my wolf was bringing wicked thoughts to my mind.

"It's great isn't it?" I said with a smile. "The lady whom this land belonged to before wasn't ready to sell this land because she too loved this place" I muttered as he stared at the small cupboard, couch, table and chairs in my private dwelling.

"Sit here and eat. You want anything?" He shook his head as a reply. Nodding, I turned to leave but stopped when Quillon called my name.

"Where are those plants?"

"What plants?" I asked confused.

"Of those seeds"

"Oh! Those... I planted them in front of our house garden where I can see it everyday" I said happily and then turned beet red as I caught his intent gaze fixed on me. Those seeds were very precious to me because it was his gift and I didn't want to plant them in the farm. Every morning, I personally go and inspect them. From the start, I had decided not to use my gifts on them and hence, I could not wait to see them as a fully grown plant.

Quillon's lips curved upwards to form a smile and I swallowed audibly while my wolf purred in excitement. Since he was standing near the door, he closed it with a lean hand. As he took a step forward, I took one back, until my hips touched the edge of the wooden table.

My lips parted in anticipation when he lowered his head. I closed my eyes waiting for his lips to meet mine but the kiss never happened. When I opened my eyes, I found Quillon eating those red seeds, with an amused look on his face.

Compressing my lips, I shoved him in the chest. Chuckling, he pulled me towards him and after wiping my lip gloss, he slanted his lips over mine, making my heart sing with joy. He meshed his fingers into my hair and then kissed me hungrily. I moaned and gripped his shirt with my fingers. My toes curled and I pressed my body against his as he trailed kisses on my neck.

I groaned as I felt his hardness against my stomach. Quillon quickly picked me up and helped me sit on the table.

"This is unethical" I told him breathlessly as he helped me get rid of the white top.

"I don't care. I am not made of stone" was Quillon's reply while he pushed my skirt upwards.

Laughing, I helped him undo his belt.

It was hot, wild, passionate and very, very exciting because this was the first time I was doing something that was completely out of character for me. The thrill of it made everything even more intense.

__

An hour later, I stepped out of the room only when I was sure, I looked presentable. Since none of my colleagues were near the tree, I didn't have to make an attempt to hide my flaming face. Quillon, who was beside me, walked with a straight face, but only I was able to see the glee in his eyes.

I entered the warehouse where Nancy and Wesley were sitting together and arranging the flowers. "When did Wesley come?"

"An hour ago. Where did you go?" Nancy questioned.

"We went out for lunch"

"Didn't you already have your lunch?"

"She had a desert" Quillon supplied with a straight face while walking in and I flushed profoundly as I grasped the hidden meaning behind his words.

Shaking my head, I gave my full attention to Wesley, "Good afternoon Wesley" I said and wondered why he didn't say the same first like he always does.

"G-G-Good afternoon D-Darya" I blinked when I heard Wesley struggling to say something.

"So, this is your cherished employee?" Quillon demanded cocking one perfect brow and I turned Wesley's seat so that he could face Quillon.

"Wesley, say hello to Quillon, my boyfriend" I told him with a grin and furrowed my brows when I saw that Wesley was staring at his trembling hands, which were resting on his lap.

"Is he unwell?" I asked Nancy, whose intent eyes were fixed on him.

"No. He was fine until now" Nancy replied with a shrug.

My gaze unwarily drifted towards Quillon and rounded in disbelief when I saw that his eyes had turned dark black. He was watching Wesley through narrowed eyes... it was like he was trying to figure out Wesley.

'Quillon' I snapped through the link and he looked at me. Only then his irises turned to their usual dark brown shade.

"So this is Wesley. How long has he been working here?" Quillon asked all of a sudden.

"A year now" I replied.

"A year" Quillon repeated and then watched Wesley again, who was staring at his lap. 'Why isn't he talking?'

'I had told you... he is an autistic'

'He is a what?'

'An autistic'

'Really?' I frowned after hearing the way Quillon said really. He was mocking Wesley's condition and I didn't appreciate it one bit. Quillon rolled his eyes when he saw me, 'I can sense drugs in his system Darya.'

'What? No!' I gasped and then looked at Wesley, who was barely moving in his seat. 'He doesn't... he isn't... how can he take drugs? Maybe it's some medicine?'

Quillon didn't reply. Instead, he continued staring at Wesley with an impassive look.

Sighing, I turned Wesley's chair so that he could continue his work. "Here... let's keep doing this okay?" I said and passed the lilies to him. He took it slowly and then started arranging the flowers again. I stared at Wesley in concern. Drugs? He is an autistic... he cannot take drugs on his own. Who will give him.... His dad! Bar.... Young hooker—

I stood straight and looked for Quillon, only to find him standing next to Nancy, who was telling him something in a low voice. Both turned their heads at the same time and looked at Wesley, who was totally unaware of their suspicious gazes.

I knew Nancy had already shared with Quillon all the information about Wesley's dad.

Quillon, still staring at Wesley, nodded after sometime and then let his gaze move to me. 'Let's go' he said when I shot him a questioning look.

__

"So you are certain she is coming?"

"She said she will"

"But you are not sure?"

"I am"

"And she doesn't know I am coming?"

"No"

"What if she gets angry?"

"She won't" I huffed and banged the back of my head against the seat. Quillon, who was driving the car, smirked when he saw that but Quinn seemed oblivious to my irritation. He had been asking stupid questions like that ever since he joined us in going to Grier Pack. All he wanted was to meet Sabine.

Last week, I had a nice talk with Sabine. I tried my best to convince her Quinn is not a womanizer but I don't know if she believed it because she still had that sad look on her face. When I had asked her if she trusted Quinn, she replied that her wolf did but she was still skeptical about it. She liked him, it was obvious, but she was quite upset over the fact that she wouldn't be his first, like he would be hers.

I felt bad for her. But I was also happy that Quinn is her mate because I knew for sure, he would always be there for her and protect her. Once Sabine tries to accept Quinn for what he is, I am sure they will be a good match. He will be uxorious to her. Even though they are opposites, with Quinn being brash and Sabine being timid, they would still work because it's only Quinn, who with his forceful personality has the capability of breaking her shells and making her a confident girl again.

Kasey came home from her school the same time we reached Tyler's house in Grier Pack. While she went to change, we waited in the living room of Tyler's house.

"I want to say Thank-you for accepting Leah to your pack" I told Tyler quietly.

"The new she-wolf? She is one of my fighters mate" My eyes widened in surprise after hearing that.

"Leah met her mate?" Quillon asked in surprise.

"Yes. She is mated to Caleb" Vanessa, who kept a plate of snacks in the coffee table, told us.

I knew Caleb. While Tyler used to train me, Caleb was one among the fighters who were assisting him. He was a pretty chilled out guy and I liked him because he always motivated me.

"Caleb? Wow" I said with a smile.

'You know him?'

'Yes. He is a good guy' I replied. I could understand why Quillon was worried about Leah. She had no one to care about her and now, I was happy she had someone.

I knew where Caleb's apartment was about to go there when Kasey re-entered the house with her mom. Anyone could see she was nervous because she was not looking at us in the eye.

"You can do this?" Quillon asked her abruptly.

Startled, Kasey looked into his eyes and gulping audibly, she nodded.

'Go easy on her' I told Quillon through the link and raised an eyebrow. 'Smile a little' I added and he scowled making me roll my eyes.

"Sit here" Tyler told his sister, keeping a chair in front of a couch, so that she could face Quillon. Kasey sat there, closed her eyes, inhaled and exhaled a few times before opening her eyes to look at Quillon.

"Relax Kasey" I told her and she shot me a grateful smile.

"Why are you so scared?" Quillon asked her abruptly and I glared at him. However, his attention was fixed on the fourteen year old girl, who was staring at him in apparent fear.

"Kasey" Tyler called her gently. "If you don't want to—"

Quillon raised his hand to stop Tyler. "I want to know why" he repeated, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his thighs.

"Quillon" I frowned.

"Because you... your past has death in it" she said shakily and I furrowed my brows. She had said the same thing the last time. "You are dead. You were dead" she said shaking her own head in confusion and I stared at her in equal bewilderment.

What is she saying?

"Dead?" Quinn asked interestedly. He was out in the driveway waiting for Sabine and I didn't sense him returning in.

"Dead. At least his body was" she whispered in a low voice.

"What?" I demanded loudly. "What are you saying Kasey?"

"Darya, let her do her work" Tyler admonished.

Nodding, I leaned back in my seat, still confused and watched as Kasey held her hand out. When Quillon placed his hand on her small, delicate ones, she closed her eyes and inhaling sharply she turned rigid all of a sudden. Gulping, I sat straight in my own seat.

I watched through panicked eyes as Kasey's face scrunched up in fear at first as she closed her eyes shut tightly. Her lips quivered as her body shook violently.

"Stop her" Vanessa said to Tyler in a pained tone.

"Don't" Quinn was the one who said that.

A minute passed before Kasey's petite figure started relaxing. Her shoulders straightened when she stopped shivering. The crinkles on her face eased and her pleated brows straightened making her features soft and delicate.

Then all of a sudden, she let go of Quillon's hands and when she opened her eyes, her brown irises had turned a bright gold shade.

"You were chosen to be Darya's mate" was the first thing Kasey said and I raised a brow. I looked at Quillon, who was staring at Kasey with a questioning look. Kasey sighed and said, "Have you ever wondered why you can control senses like that?"

"A lot of times" Quinn answered for Quillon.

"You had withdrawn all your senses from the world and kept it within you for years and years."

"I have done no such thing" Quillon interrupted with a frown.

"Not in this life" Kasey stated and that silenced all of us. "In your previous life" she continued and I gulped. "You were born to the same family you now belong. You were an Alpha... a very young Alpha" she said and I blinked in fascination as I heard it.

Re-birth?

I have heard stories regarding it but it never involved around a person I knew.

I glanced at Quillon and noticed that he was listening to whatever Kasey was telling with a slightly confused and slightly offended look.

"It happened almost fifty years ago. Your pack got into war with Emperor Pack." I gasped as I heard that. Even then our packs used to get into fights? That's terrible. "The then Emperor Pack Alpha challenged you for a fight and you accepted. You lost but you earned his respect. You earned respect of even the then Regal and Supreme Pack Alphas'" Kasey shared and then immediately perked up and looked at Tyler. "Sel's grandpa was the Alpha of Regal Pack at that time" she told him.

"Grandpa?" Tyler whispered and then had a faraway look on his face. Then suddenly it flashed to him and his face lit up as he said, "I remember. Her grandpa would always boast about that war. He used to say they had killed many Serene Pack wolves."

Quillon and Quinn growled when they heard that.

"We all misunderstood what Sel's grandpa was saying. He wasn't boasting about killing. He was boasting about the war that changed his point of view about life. He was proud of whatever happened in that war."

"What happened in that war?" Quillon asked.

"You lost but you kept fighting with every fiber in your body. No matter how many times you fell, you stood up. They were all proud of you. You were just a young pup yet you fought against such an experienced Alpha for hours. He won but he accepted defeat to your valor and then, Herbert Rhoades, Alpha of Emperor Pack, bowed to you" Kasey informed with a sincere smile and my eyes widened as my mouth parted in surprise.

Everyone in the room seemed to be shocked to hear this.

He bowed? He was an Alpha, yet he bowed? Even after winning the battle, he bowed because he respected his opponent's courage? That was like the highest form of respect an Alpha could give to anyone. And the fact that my grandfather did that made my eyes cloudy. I always thought wrong about him. Duncan thought wrong about his grandpa... but he... Oh dear God!

"Not just him, everyone present there bowed to you. The three Alphas' and all their pack members bowed in front of you. That is when the nature Goddess chose you" Kasey said and I blinked in daze.

"Chose to be my mate?" I almost whispered and Kasey nodded. Gulping, I digested this piece of information. I looked at Quillon, who seemed lost in his own thoughts.

"She asked you to leave everything and come to her and you agreed. You left your pack" Kasey said in amazement and my lips parted in a gasp when I realized who Quillon was.

"Grandpa's brother Stephan left the pack" Quinn whispered staring at Quillon, who had turned an ashen shade under his tanned skin.

"You are his rebirth Alpha" Kasey told Quillon.

I was at a loss of words. Everyone in the room was at loss of words.

I don't know for how long we were silent, but the silence was broken by Quinn's question, "So .. uh... he was reborn after that?"

"No. He was reborn thirty years later. For those thirty years, he shunned himself from the world and offered complete devotion to the Goddess. Day or night didn't matter, nor did hunger or any sort of temptation. You felt nothing, you sought after nothing" she said with a smile and I gulped. What kind of a life was that?

"Thirty years" Vanessa said in wonderment.

"How is that possible?" Quinn asked, confused.

"It's a kind of spiritual practice that only one with complete devotion can do. Our ancestors used to do that if they wished for something that was almost unattainable. The practice stopped as time passed or so I thought" Tyler trailed the last part.

"It's not only unique but also a very powerful spiritual practice. Not all of us can do that, but Stephan could and hence, the nature Goddess chose him. He was hardworking, honest, loyal and pure at heart. He was also the only one capable of being an Apex Predator" Kasey declared.

Quillon sucked in a breath as all eyes on the room fell on him.

"For those thirty years, he had closed all his sense organs, closed all his emotions from his surroundings. As he blocked everything, the energy there got stored inside him and it kept growing each passing day, thus attaining some incredible powers. Hence—"

"His gifts" I incised while I finally understood how Quillon is so powerful. "His gifts that let him control others sense organs."

"Any person is incomplete without them. Controlling sense organs is just... " Tyler trailed off unable to find a suitable word. For thirty years, Stephen worked on honing in his senses and that is why Quillon's gifts are so exceptionally great.

"That is not the only gift. Your life as Quillon Sanders is a gift from Goddess for you. You surrendered everything including your own life, when the Goddess asked you to, without any hesitation and pleased; the Goddess returned everything ten times more. You gave up your family, your pack and you got them back. You gave up your wealth and today you are earning a million every day. You gave up education and now you have a gold medal in MBA" Kasey said happily.

'I excel in every field I step into' Quillon had once said. He certainly wasn't gloating. He excelled everywhere because he had once given up all that.

"Your life as Quillon Sanders is Goddess's reward to you as well as her only hope" Kasey sighed.

"Only hope?" Quinn picked on that word, very fast.

"I don't know for what. But Quillon is her only hope. I could see it in his past. The way the Goddess was guiding him. Stephen Sanders was a pure diamond but she wanted him to be polished and perfected before he could be born as Quillon Sanders" she replied and I blinked in confusion.

Only hope!

Why would Quillon be Goddess's only hope?

I was so busy frowning at the floor that I didn't pay attention to the silence in the room until Kasey broke it. ""You are remembering it... aren't you?" she asked, looking at Quillon, who sat frozen in his seat.

"Quillon?" I held his arm when he didn't reply her. My wolf stood up apprehensively because I was so into hearing everything that I completely forgot that this was news to Quillon too. He wasn't aware of his past life until now and now that he knows, it would be ground-shattering to him!

"Q?" Quinn too called him.

"I will be out" with that said, Quillon walked out of the room.

I started following him, but Tyler held my wrist, "Let him be alone for a few minutes" he said. My wolf protested but I pulled her back.

It was a lot for Quillon to take in and so, I will give him some time to be alone and think about everything. This was all about him. His life and I knew almost nothing about it. Now that thought made me frown because Quillon knew everything about me. He made it his business to know while I... I barely even asked him about his past. I didn't know how it was for him when he received his gift. I didn't know why he dislikes his gift. Didn't know why he gets those nightmares too... I am such a horrible mate!

Groaning, I covered my face with my hands.

At that very moment, I heard Sabine's familiar voice, "I just saw Alpha Q running into the woods. Is something—"

I dropped my hands from my face the moment I heard Sabine's loud gasp. When I opened my eyes, I found her staring at Quinn with wide, shocked eyes.

"Hey" Quinn said with a smile and Sabine lowered her head. She looked at me through the corner of her eyes and while I smiled, she scowled at me.

Okay! Not good!

"Quinn met us on the way and I asked him to come with us" I said to her with a bright smile but Sabine didn't buy that because she narrowed her eyes at me. "Isn't that so Quinn?" I asked knowing he would agree with me.

"No" Quinn contradicted and the fake smile got wiped from my face. "Actually, I came to meet Sabine" he stated, his eyes fixed on his mate. Startled, Sabine looked up and when her eyes met Quinn's, her skin started glowing!

"Me?" Sabine asked, pointing a finger to her chest.

"Who else?" Quinn shrugged and I narrowed my eyes. He was behaving.... "You are my mate and I wanted to see you and also talk to you" he smirked. Sabine turned scarlet to the roots of her hair as she swallowed audibly. Her skin was shining brighter than I had ever seen them.

"You can use the game-room. No one is there" Vanessa chirped and Sabine's eyes widened in horror.

"Cool" Quinn said and Sabine shook her head. "You don't want to go there?" he asked, raising a brow.

"I-I-I..." Sabine stuttered and shot me a pleading look.

'Don't you dare help her' Quinn actually snarled through the link and I blinked in surprise. Nobody looking at his smirking face and calm look could guess that he was seething inside.

'Okay' I told him and tuned my head away from Sabine's helpless look.

"You?" Quinn probed and I looked at him through the corner of my eyes. I have to give it to him. He was trapping Sabine... forcing her to come with him and talk to him. And Sabine will do just that because she has no option. She has to talk to him, get to know him.

They were mates and I wanted them to be with each other because they were perfect for each other. Oh Dear! I am turning into a fan girl!

Sabine shook her head and Quinn smirked in satisfaction.

"Good. Then let us go"

I watched Sabine following Quinn meekly. My lips curved into a smile when she once again turned back to look at me, with sad eyes. Poor girl! I wanted to help her but restrained myself because it wasn't right. Besides, she didn't need me helping her from Quinn.

He wouldn't ever hurt her!

"They look so cute together" Vanessa cooed when the game room door shut and I giggled.

__

After waiting for fifteen minutes for Quillon, I decided to go looking for him. His scent was very faint and I had to ask the trackers of his location.

He had shifted into his wolf and was sitting sphinx like in a meadow, staring sightlessly. His dark blue fur was a complete contrast to the dull green color of the grass.

Sighing, I removed my clothes, placed it next to his and shifted into my black wolf. Quillon turned his head when I walked towards him. I lowered my head and nestled my muzzle against his strong shoulder.

'I remember' he told me and I tensed. 'I remember every single thing' he added and I sat next to him, to pacify him. 'Well not everything. I only remember until I decided to leave. I don't remember anything after that' he chuckled humorlessly.

I don't think Quillon will ever remember anything after that. I think the Goddess purposely erased that part of his memory because that kind of spiritual practice is penetralia of nature, best unknown to the rest of the world.

'How do you feel?'

'Shocked. Confused. Angry. Happy and sad too' Quillon said and I smiled in my mind because even though his face and voice had no emotion, he felt several things at once.

'Why angry?'

'I feel angry at myself for hating my gifts. They were given to me for a reason and I always disliked them but now, I know why I was given them and I feel honored that the Goddess chose me as the Apex Predator' Quillon said proudly and I grinned in my mind.

'If being an Apex Predator also means being your mate, then I am glad that I am one' Quillon said and my wolf couldn't stop but wag her tail in gratulation. If I was in my human form, I would have turned pink all over.

'That night when the Goddess took you away, I heard her voice and I felt like I had heard it before. Now, I know' he sighed.

__

When we returned to Tyler's house, Quinn was sitting quietly in the backseat of our car, waiting for us. Sabine's car and her guards were nowhere in sight and I knew she had left. Quillon climbed inside his car, while I went inside the house.

"Something happened between Quinn and Sabine. She left crying" Vanessa said the moment I entered her house. I stiffened when I heard that. "I was about to scold Quinn but he looked sad too' she continued unhappily.

It dawned to me that even though Sabine left with tears, it was Quinn who was hurting more. Running a hand through my hair, I groaned. I actually didn't know what to do to help them.

After bidding goodbye to Tyler, Vanessa and Kasey, we drove back to our house. My eyes kept flickering to Quinn who was sulking in the backseat.

"Did she talk to you?" I asked Quinn without turning back.

"Yes. She called me a man-whore" he said flatly and Quillon and I burst out laughing. Sabine said that? She never uses a bad word!

'I never thought she had the courage to say that to his face' Quillon chuckled through the link.

'You talked to him?' I asked him.

'Yes. He was sad at first, then angry that she called him a man-whore!' Quillon shook his head.

'He is a confused soul' I mumbled.

"That's it?" I probed loudly, wanting to know more from Quinn.

"Oh! She shoved me away when she said that" he said with a fake smile and I sighed.

However, Quillon smiled, "She shoved you away?" he asked and Quinn glared at him. "She actually shoved you away?"

"Do you want to post it in tomorrow's paper?" Quinn asked sarcastically.

"I am just surprised she touched you" Quillon said rolling his eyes.

At this, Quinn stiffened and slowly a Cheshire cat grin crept on his face. "She did; didn't she?" he asked showing off his pearly whites. "That is why my wolf is so happy even after hearing what she said" he mumbled leaning back in his seat.

"Progress" Quillon nodded.

"Don't be mad at Sabine Quinn" I said to him. "Also—"

"Don't change yourself!" Quillon broke in and I furrowed my brows. "Don't pretend to be something else just to impress her. Things could go worse if she finds out the truth about you later. Although, in your case I must say, it has already happened."

"Quillon" I snapped and Quinn growled at his brother. Quillon was giving advice to his younger brother but at the same time he couldn't help but be an ass!

"You are what you are. She will learn to accept you the same way everyone did after they came to know you are a half-wit" Quillon said smoothly.

"Hey" Quinn rebuked this time and shaking my head, I looked out of the window. I didn't even want to get in between these two crazy brothers! They have a kind of understanding between them that no one else can understand.

But I had to agree, Quillon was right. Quinn is what he is and faking anything just to impress Sabine wouldn't be a good thing. It's a good thing she knows everything about him now because at later date, it would have messed their relationship.

__

Sitting in my class the next day, I was paying attention to an important lecture about vertical gardening. I had already experimented that in the farm and it had been successful but I still wanted to know different tricks in helping the plant stay in its place.

Unexpectedly, my wolf raised her hackles and growled. I sat straight in my seat and took in a deep breath, wondering what was wrong. I didn't catch any strange scent yet my wolf couldn't stop growling. Through the corner of my eyes, I looked around the room and noticed that all my classmates were paying attention to the class. Still I felt something was wrong.

Unlike last time, I didn't choose to ignore this. Hence, I picked my bag and made a lame excuse to get out of the class.

The first thing I did was race towards the stairs that leads to the roof. The door was closed with an iron lock that no one could break. I smiled in satisfaction when I saw that.

Even after watching that, my wolf didn't feel relieved. She kept growling and I frowned because I couldn't understand what was bothering her.

As I walked through the long, empty corridors, I felt it. I actually felt someone's gaze burning holes on the back of my head. My wolf bared her fangs aggressively as I turned. There was no one behind and when my wolf realized that she stopped growling.

Hitching my brows, I continued walking when once again I felt the same thing. A whimper escaped from my mouth before I could stop myself. My wolf growled but even she was confused now. I turned my head to look and realized I was alone in the corridor, until...

"Darya" Gasping, I came face to face with my college principal. His eyes widened in alarm when he saw me. "Are you alright?" he asked me, taking a step closer.

"I..." I couldn't say anything.

"You are sweating. Is something wrong?" he asked gently and I shook my head. "I know what you had seen two days ago was a major shock to you—" the principal began, referring to Katherine's suicide. "—If you are having trouble sleeping—"

"I am fine sir" I cut him off. "I am fine. I just need to go the washroom. Sorry" I said and then scurried towards the ladies room.

Once there, I dropped my bag on a table and held its edge in a tight grip. Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm my rapidly beating heart. I don't know what was happening to me. My wolf couldn't understand it either but whatever it was... it was flustering me.

My chest was heaving up and down as I tried to calm myself. Nervously, I ran my tongue over my dry lips. I then decided to apply lip gloss as it was still very dry.

The moment I undid my bag zip, my wolf bared her fangs. My fingers curled tightly around the leather material of my handbag when I felt the same thing I did few minutes earlier. My heart hammered in my chest as beads of sweat coated my upper lip.

I was being watched. I just knew it and whoever was watching me, was standing so close that the hair on the back of my neck prickled. Through the corner of my eyes, I looked and couldn't see anyone or anything suspicious. Nevertheless, my wolf was jumping and snarling inside me like an untamed beast that was bound by chains.

But I could still feel it... an unknown presence hovering close by, watching me! Goosebumps appeared on my skin wherever I felt the hateful gaze crawling. It was surely hateful if it had my wolf going feral. It wasn't Quillon either because my wolf wouldn't have behaved this aggressively if it's her mate.

With a loud growl, I spun around and was greeted with an empty room. No one was here and that puzzled my wolf. My heart was hammering so loudly that I could hear my own heart beat in my ears. My breathing was harsh and I was feeling uneasy.

Shaking my head and wiping my upper lip, I walked towards the wash basin. The water coming out from the tap was the only sound in the room. Collecting a handful of water with trembling hands, I splashed it on my face. The cool water chilled my skin even more. Opening my eyes, I looked up and screamed in fright when I saw him standing behind me.

The blood drained from my face as I saw him through fretful eyes.

Konrad!

I could see his reflection in the mirror.

Shocked, I turned and once again the room was empty. My eyes flickered to every nook and corner of the room but to no avail. However, I was sure I had seen him because my wolf had trembled inside me too. She was shaken to the core to see him again.

I was breathing through my mouth and staring at the empty room, wondering what I had seen. My wolf too was trying to breathe normally but at the same time she couldn't help but stay alert.

Something was terribly wrong.

Slowly, I turned to look at the mirror and frowned because now, I could see only my reflection. My shocked and pale face!

Why did I see him then? How could I see him? He is dead. I had killed him!

Then why did I see him? Why was I feeling like it was he who was watching me? I had turned but I couldn't...

My eyes widened when I realized why I couldn't see Konrad! Like me, he has many gifts and one of them was...

I had many questions at the moment but the most important one at the moment was to find out if he was actually present in this room with me!

I could still hear the water flowing from the tap and so in a quick movement, I growled murderously and using all my energy, yanked the tap from its connection to the sink. The water shot out through the pipe and sprinkled in all directions. I scanned the room then to see if his frame was visible somewhere when he got soaked in the water, but it wasn't.

Gritting my teeth, I used my gifts and increased the flow of the water. It violently burst out and flooded the room, yet I couldn't see Konrad.

The ladies room door was pushed open and three girls walked in.

They squealed and jumped back when they water squirted on them. "OMG! What happened here?" one of them asked wiping her face.

"The pipe broke" I muttered and picking up my bag, I strode past the girls and out of the room.

My wolf had stopped growling but she was pacing inside me. Something was wrong! Something was terribly wrong. My instinct was telling me and I completely trusted my instinct.

As I walking through the corridor, I got curious looks from others. I was completely soaked and was dripping water. Ignoring them, I walked with my head held high.

However, I stopped in my tracks when something caught my attention. Straightening my spine, I lowered my eyes and saw the trail of wet footprint on the floor. It was definitely a man's and it came from the ladies room.

Craning her neck, my wolf howled loudly as her worst suspicions came true. My heart just about cracked a little in my chest as fear engulfed me.

My cell-phone vibrating in my bag was a welcome distraction at that moment and I answered it.

"Darya" one of my colleagues from the work called in a breathless and painful voice. "Nancy... she killed herself!"

__

Thrusting my car door open, I ran into the farm but stopped when I saw a small crowd gathered. They stepped back to make way for me. Through tear stained face, I walked ahead and watched Nancy's charred body which was placed on the stretcher.

I closed my eyes because I couldn't watch it anymore. Covering my mouth with my hands, I dropped on my knees and sobbed loudly.

I couldn't watch my friend's dead body. It was too painful for me to bear. As I closed my eyes, I recalled every moment I spent with Nancy.

__

"Officer, I know you are doing your duty but Darya is grieving and she—" Sel began softly as she held my shaking hands, tightly with her own.

"I understand Ma'am" the police officer cut her off. "But she was one of Nancy's closest friends and we want to know if she suspected anything amiss." The police was already here and they were asking routine questions to all of us.

Nancy had burned herself to death in the farm. She had poured kerosene and set herself on fire. My colleagues said that screaming, she had run around the farm. They stopped the fire but it was too late. Her body suffered hundred percent burns and she had succumbed to her injuries.

"No" I whimpered, shaking my head. "She was always so cheerful" I said and let out a sob.

My wolf whimpered softly and I knew I wanted Quillon but since I was out of the pack territory, the mind link was weak and I couldn't communicate with him.

"Was something wrong between her and her boyfriend? Did she share anything about it with you?"

"Drake?" I paled as I said his name. I don't even know if he was informed.

"Yes. Mr. Miller is here. Did—"

"Where?" I asked looking at the officer and he showed me. Drake was sitting on a chair in one corner of the room, refusing to answer the police officer. With his head bent, I could hear him sniffing and crying.

"I want to talk to him" I told Sel and she nodded gently. Getting up with shaky legs, I walked towards him.

"Drake" I called him and he looked at me through tear stained eyes. "Officer, can you please excuse us for a moment?" I asked and hesitantly, the officer agreed. I sat in the now empty chair as Drake lowered his head.

"I am—"

"Darya. I know" he said and sniffed again. "Nancy used to talk about you a lot."

"I am sorry" I whispered.

"Someone killed her" was the first thing that Drake said. "Nancy wouldn't have taken this step. Someone killed her" he said harshly and sniffed again.

"Why would anyone—?"

"I don't know. But Nancy wouldn't have committed suicide. She was happy in her life. She loved me. She was happy with me. I was about to—" Stopping mid-sentence, Drake lowered his head and covered his face with his hands.

Drops of tears leaked from my eyes as I grasped what he wanted to say.

"I was about to propose her during Christmas. Our family knew about it and we were making plans to surprise her" Drake gulped and then shook his head. "Someone killed her and when I find out who did it, I am going to tear that person apart" he breathed harshly and picking up his jacket, he walked away.

A hand was placed on my shoulder and my wolf whimpered when she felt her mate's touch. Standing up, I turned and hugged Quillon.

He pulled me towards his body and whispered soothing things to me as I cried against his shoulder.

"I am so scared" I told tightening my hold on the soft fabric of his shirt. "I don't know what is happening around us."

"I do" Quillon replied grimly and only then I grasped that he was as tense as a steel girder. Opening my eyes, I pulled away and stared at his ashen face.

"What's wrong?" I asked in a whisper, ignoring my cell-phone which was vibrating in my pocket.

"Answer that" Quillon directed. Without taking my eyes off his, I answered and placed the phone near my ears.

"Darya" Cortez called apprehensively.

"Yes" I breathed out.

"Konrad is alive!" Cortez growled and I closed my eyes and compressed my lips. I knew that!

"How do you know?" I asked him as my wolf howled in anguish.

"Ruben" Cortez answered. "He told us that Konrad cannot be killed!"

****

YES! Those who guessed this... yay! You were right!

But the how and the why will be explained in next chapter which will be posted on 13th.

The updates will have long gaps... mostly once in fortnight because weekend is the only time that I am free :( Sorry lovelies!

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I love you all :-*