Aiden had seen Aegis running out the house, looking like she had seen a ghost. Having heard her coughing, he knew her running like that wasn’t a good idea… He sighed, she really didn’t listen to anyone, because no matter how many time Loretta pleaded the girl to get bed-rest Aegis was determined to ‘earn’ her place in the pack, as though she was being chased by demons…

“Aegis, can we…” Aiden had sprinted, halting Aegis from heading out; running to who knows where, but she kept her head down and as though she didn’t see him or hear him and walked right passed him before starting to run again. She was crying… He thought to himself, but didn’t try to stop her again.

This wasn’t the first time, he had tried to talk with her several times, but each time she ignored him completely, he didn’t blame her. When she needed him most, he had ignored her. For a time he wanted to blame her for what happened to their parents and to Tristan… Why she had taken Clara but not Tristan?

He was one of those ‘demons’ chasing her… blaming her, it had ‘killed’ her… She was no longer the fun caring little sister, nor was she the strong fighter that at one stage could even keep up with him, only their dad could still push her around as though she was still only a trainee not worthy to become one of the packs warriors. And as if it wasn’t enough, he had done nothing to stop Valerie from beating her or even tried to reprimand Aaron for allowing it… going so far to even be a part of it – like a spectator enjoying the scene as though it was a ‘sport’.

But who was he kidding? They hadn’t ever really been ‘family’ since Aegis’s eyes changed… since their parents fought… though they tried to be discreet about when they were around, they all knew… they all heard it. Except for Aegis, it was as if she had ‘forgotten’ most of everything from before she turned seven.

Aegis wasn’t their sister… She wasn’t ‘exactly’ adopted either, and it’s because of trying to keep their parents’ ‘honor’ that Valerie didn’t disclose the whole truth.

But this wasn’t what Aiden wanted to talk about with Aegis…

Aiden had tried intervening a few times, the pups were wary of him, and they knew he wouldn’t allow any House-rules to be broken… But it was as though Aegis was blind… she didn’t notice his small ‘actions’ to try and rectify his mistakes… Aaron had lost his ‘position’ to take over as Beta, and it was now on him to take charge. Aaron could very well be blaming Aegis for this, but the fact was, Aiden proved more 'suited' to being a Beta than Aaron. Aaron was a little bit too... immature still... Perhaps he might be ready for the role when Harold takes over, but Aiden was ready now, and was already taking lead, even though he'd only officially receive the title once Harold becomes Alpha. Until then he was working alongside James and Chris, the two top Delta's of the Pack.

He wanted to make amends, but at the same time, how could he if she kept ignoring him and the thought that some part of him still blamed her… How could he then show he was being ‘real’? The Luna was right… He should have stepped up as the older brother that day... after the tragedy… She had warned him that he’d regret it for the rest of his life…

Heading back into the house he had some work to tend to. There was nothing more he could do to except remain patient and hope. Even though he wanted to go after her... hug her and tell her everything was going to be fine... She clearly didn't want him 'close' to her.

Aegis ran, all she wanted was to get as far as she could, she ran until she came to a familiar path, the one that lead to the lake, heaving, unable to breathe, she knew where she wanted to go, she needed to ask the water sprite… Surely she could tell her if it was all true… that her ‘wolf’ was dead…

Reaching a stream, she stopped to take a breather, coughing to ease her sore scratchy throat. Her tears stung her eyes, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t keep it in… Her head throbbed and her chest burned from exhaustion. She closed her eyes momentarily – the sleepless nights was finally catching on.

“Well look who we have here!” Aegis’ eyes snapped open upon hearing Valerie’s voice. Looking up she saw the whole lot; Valerie, Matthew, Declan, Kane and… Aaron…

“Don’t you think it’s about time we got rid of you? You’re cursed, and before you lose control of it again, wouldn’t it better to just die?” Valerie grinned.

“But that wouldn’t be any fun now either… would it?” She leaned down her voice soft and filled with malice.

“So let us give you a lesson on what will happen every time we see your ugly-cursed self ever again!” Valerie snapped her fingers and Kane was the first to act, he kicked Aegis down just as she stood to run, moving fast her kicked her hard in the abdomen twice when she rolled around trying to get to her knees… trying to get away.

Matthew stepped on her hand crushing it beneath his foot… A sickening cracking sounded as her hand bones strained under the pressure and the she felt a foot kick her on her back, flat to the ground.

“Don’t take all the fun!” Declan smirked stepping up to base. Rolling Aegis around, he was hunched over her. Grinning he picked her from the ground her neck small enough to fit in his one hand as he squeezed until she couldn’t breathe…

“What are you waiting for Aaron? She killed our entire Pack with her curse; she destroyed our family even before then… You were the one that insisted on getting justice, now’s your chance!” Valerie hissed, Aegis knew she hated her, but didn’t ever expect that Aaron… Forcing her eyes open she saw guilt flash only briefly across her brother’s face.

“This is stupid… She can’t even fight back, she’s too weak! She’s pathetic; why even bother?” Aaron took the knife from Valerie and tossed it aside.

“She doesn’t even deserve our attention, we should just toss her out and forget about her!” Aaron said while walking away, Aegis’ tears were falling pleading him to turn around, to help her knowing that they weren’t going to just stop… He glanced back to see her, terrified… his eyes widened before it turned to a piercing gaze of disgust.

“He’s right, we’ll toss her, no one’s going to find her and no one’s going to miss her either.” Kane said after Aaron was gone; picking up the knife, taking over what Aaron was 'supposed' to do - Aaron was never a part of their 'click', even though he claimed to 'hate' Aegis as much as Valerie, he always hesitated, he always tried to talk them 'down'... This was his last 'chance'.

“Now don’t dare make a sound!” Declan’s eyes flashed with murder then she felt the knife dig into her flesh and tear at it as it traced something on her back. She tried screaming she tried begging, her world only becoming darker as she was denied to breathe, each squeak escaping her lips and Declan would tighten his hold on her.

“Done…” Aegis heard a voice say, she couldn’t make out whose it was, she suddenly felt ‘free’ before she felt her head shattering against something hard…

“Valerie! What the hell? What did you do?” Was the last words she heard.

“She’s our sister!” Aiden yelled stepping past everyone and kneeling down beside Aegis. She was bleeding… badly… His hand supported her head as he picked her up, it felt warm and… wet…

Carefully he extended his arm, her head rolling is his arm… Blood…

“She deserved it!” Valerie hissed, her voice small, but stern.

“No… She never did… Clara would have been dead too if she tried to get to Tristan… Mom and Dad… Not even they could protect themselves against the rogues… so how could she have survived with Clara if she didn’t do everything she could have in that moment? You might have just killed your sister.” Aiden barked.

“She’s not our sister! She’s not my sister!” Valerie growled, grinning with ecstasy at the sight of Aegis blood staining the ground… Fitting that she’d die around the same time their parents had. In mud like the dirt she was. Aiden didn’t have the time to say more, right now he had to get Aegis to Loretta… to the hospital.

His mind was racing about all the ‘what ifs’ but the worst was that “What if Luna Brea hadn’t came to him… what if she didn’t bring Clara with and what if Clara hadn’t spoken…” She could already say a few words, but it carried enough weight to get her meaning across. How her short ‘useless’ words were able to ‘warn’ him that something was wrong… he’d never understand, but he was at least glad he had ‘made it’… because “what if he never knew… then Aegis would be dying with no one the wiser…”

“I’m sorry Aegis… Please… Please don’t die…” He pleaded the last words he could before she was taken away by Loretta, rolled into surgery.