𝑻 𝑯 𝑰 𝑹 𝑻 𝑬 𝑬 𝑵

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Tobias sat by Esmeray's bedside with his elbows on his knees and his clasped hands in front of his mouth. He tapped his foot rapidly, his unfocused eyes staring straight ahead as Esmeray slept in the bed. Nadia was dead, as was all of the Blackfang pack with the exception of Connor and Esmeray, and Gabriel was a silent shell of himself.

"She's gonna be fine, don't you worry," Connor spoke up although worry was evident in his tone. "It's only been fifteen minutes."

Tobias closed his eyes for a moment before straightening up and glancing at Connor. "I know. I just don't wanna lose her too."

"You ain't gonna," a soft voice spoke up.

"Esmeray?" Connor raised his brow and leaned over the bed to peer at his sister.

"Esmeray!" Tobias smiled, gripping Esmeray's hand with a small laugh of joy.

Esmeray stretched with a small wince, rubbing her face as she yawned softly. She blinked a few times before raising her eyebrows at Connor. "Would you get outta my face?"

"Oh uhh of course," Connor answered with a slightly peeved look. "Was just checking on you."

Tobias snorted as he leaned and kissed Esmeray's cheek. "And you told me not to worry."

The three shared a laugh before a seriousness gripped Esmeray and she sat up, gripping her shoulder. She turned to Connor with a look he recognized. "What's our pack status?"

"We don't even have a pack anymore," Connor replied quietly, grief for the loss of his pack swimming in his eyes in the form of a sudden formation of unshed tears. "They're all. . .dead."

Esmeray bowed her head. She felt like crying but tears wouldn't come. She took a deep breath and lifted her head. Was the Clach-fala really worth the lives of her pack? "What are we gonna do now?"

Connor sighed and rubbed his face. He'd been thinking of that since he identified the bodies while Tobias watched over Esmeray, and he still didn't have an answer. "I don't fucking know."

"You could always join the Nyght," Tobias offered, his head tilting as he looked from Esmeray to Connor. "After all, Connor, your sister is my Luna. She is technically already a Nyght."

Connor nodded and crossed his arms, his brows furrowing in thought. Maybe he was being prideful, but he had to drop his alpha title to join another pack. But how could he even be an alpha when the only one left of the Blackfang pack was him since his sister was a Nyght? He sighed. "I don't see where I have a choice. Are you willing to take on the responsibilities that come with the Clach-fala? You know the bloodshed that comes with it."

"I am and I do," Tobias responded, titling his chin back with a confident determination. He knew the destruction that would reign if Killian got his hands on the Clach-fala, and any bloodshed that came to his back was more welcomed that a future full of death for all of the werewolf world.

Connor shot Tobias a sad smile. He only hoped the Nyght would be able to withstand the evil of the Bloodborne better than his pack had. "Alright, we have wolves to bury before we can leave here."

"What about Nadia?" Esmeray questioned gently, her eyes wide with sorrow and surging with mixed emotions.

Connor raised his eyebrows. "Speaking of Nadia, where the hell is Gabriel?"

"Probably with Nadia." Tobias drew his tongue over his upper canines. He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "As for what we're gonna do with her, I'm bringing her home so we can bury her in the presence of the pack."

Connor have a curt nod. "Alright, then let's gather the bodies and get started."

The trio made their way to the cabin that held the slaughter. They found Gabriel inside wrapping Nadia's body in blankets and didn't disturb him. Instead they moved the body's of the Bloodborne out if the way and carried the fallen Blackfang out one by one. A few hours later, they had all the dead buried and were walking back to check on Gabriel.

Esmeray wiped the sweat from her brow, smearing dirt as she did. She gripped her shoulder and rotated it. She could feel the soreness but it was mostly gone, as was the pain in her side. She fleetingly wondered why her accelerated healing time was slowed before shoving the thought away. She looked to Tobias as they reached the door to the cabin. "I'm sorry about Nadia."

"It's okay, not your fault," Tobias said softly, grabbing the handle and turning it. He stepped in to see Gabriel waiting on them. He tilted his head at his beta. "You good?"

Gabriel nodded in silent reply, his face stoic and his jaw set sharply. He clasped his hands together and took a breath. "What do we do now, alpha?"

"We leave this place and bring Nadia home," Tobias answered, gazing right into Gabriel's eyes as he accepted the pouch from him. "Ah, the Moonsglow. I think it'd be wise if we each ate a flower. We've been exposed to Moonsbane."

Connor pursed his lips and his eyes rose. He was inwardly impressed by the wisdom of Tobias. "I agree."

Tobias opened the flap and they each grabbed one of the bruised and wilted flowers before popping them into their mouths.

"Tastes helluva lot better than the dried ones," Connor commented with a chuckle. "The dried ones tasted like shit."

"So you've said." Esmeray laughed a little, shaking her head. "As if you know what shit tastes like."

This brought a tiny smile to Gabriel's lips. He raised his brows. "I wouldn't but it past him."

Tobias laughed and shouldered Connor's side. "Same."

Connor glared at the three of them before he sighed with a slight laugh. "Whatever. So, what's the plan?"

"Same as it was the first time you asked," Tobias teased before getting serious. "We carry Nadia's body and the Clach-fala home."

"How will we transport?" Gabriel asked in a low tone.

Esmeray looked over at Tobias after glancing at her brother. "We have a wagon."

Tobias rubbed his chin for a moment before crossing his arms. "Okay. Anything to pull it?"

"Umm. . .maybe? A few months back the Bloodborne set loose our warhorses but I think I might have something," Connor replied as he turned to leave and check. He glanced at Esmeray. "Go get the Clach-fala while I do this?"

Esmeray nodded. Her heart kept at the prospect. She'd never before touched it although she knew where its hiding place was. "Sure."

"Gabriel, go with her," Tobias commanded before following after Connor.

Gabriel nodded and turned to Esmeray. "Lead the way, Luna."

While Esmeray and Gabriel made their way toward the hiding place of the Clach-fala, Tobias stood in front of a fenced in, shed-like lean-to. He crossed his arms and teased his canines with his tongue as he wondered what Connor could possibly be up to as banging and curses came through the boards of the lean-to. "You okay in there?"

"Yeah, just this stubborn bonehead won't come out," Connor yelled out with a grunt.

Loud braying erupted from the lean-to as Connor dragged out a kicking animal. He pulled and cursed until he finally got it out and wiped his face.

Tobias smirked as he watched the gray donkey's ears flop in annoyance. "Always knew you had a thing for asses."

Connor glared and flipped Tobias off. As Tobias laughed, Connor got a mischievous smirk and gave Tobias a look. "And you have a thing for killing rogues."

"Damn it Connor hush! It was her fault," Tobias countered, his cheeks slighting tinging with pink.

"Have a scar on your dick from it?" Connor teased as he pulled the donkey further, leading it and Tobias toward the wagon.

Tobias growled and rolled his eyes even though his face was flushed. "That's none of your business."

"That threesome ruined ya on rogues, didn't it?" Conner teased, handing the rope to Tobias before unchaining the wagon from the post of a cabin.

"Connor shut it," Tobias warned as his ears thumped with heat. Connor knew it was a topic that both embarrassed and mortified him yet he was insisting on poking at it.

"Alpha," Gabriel called, running up and stopping in front of Tobias. "We have a problem."

Tobias raised his eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

Gabriel gazed straight into Tobias's eyes. He took a deep breath. "It's. . . Esmeray."

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