May was pacing back and forth in Velum’s headquarters. Her medium-length salmon dress flowed with every movement and, from time to time, she sighed loudly, changing the position of her crossed arms.

― Darling, if you carry on like this, you’re going to make a hole in the floor. Stop it, please… ― Brock begged.

― Stop it? My two oldest children are missing and our town is being threatened by a madman… We’re being attacked day after day, and as if all that wasn’t enough, a boy is missing. Moon’s brother… Griffin’s… mate… ― her voice wavered as she let herself be hugged by her husband.

The front door opened slowly, revealing Reese carrying two bags of food, accompanied by Casey.

― Mom, I brought your favorite food! ― he lifted the bags while smiling.― Any news?

― No, honey, not yet…

― Actually… ― said Casey. ― I managed to get in touch with Gray. He’s following Griffin, who was following Gunner who, well, was after his sister.

― Wait… Did Gunner find Moon? How? ― May asked, shocked.

― I always knew where she was. ― Casey said. ― Moon is important to all of us… A friend. And Gray is my best friend. I needed to know.

― So… ― May stepped forward angrily, just two steps away from him. ― Why didn’t you stop her? Why did you let my children suffer like that?

― Honestly, I thought Gray would cope better. But I also think that your children need to grow up and learn some lessons. I’m not implying that you were a bad mother or that you failed at some point because, well, you did a great job with Arthur and Reese. But Gray never took any notice of something that bothered and worried Moon, he didn’t make any effort to understand her. And Griffin… I don’t even know what to say about him…

May gritted her teeth, unable to answer.

― The only way for them to become more mature and kinder, is through their relationships with their mates. Although younger, those two brothers have been through a lot and know what’s right and wrong in terms of… life. ― Casey shrugged. ― You don’t have to worry about them. At least, not in this aspect…

― What do you mean? What’s going to happen to my brothers?

― Look… The point of all this, isn’t what will happen to their relationship… The big problem here is: that they’re going to a ghost place.

― Where? ― Brock, despite having kept quiet all this time, wasn’t okay with any of this and was irritated by Casey’s behavior. ― Casey, don’t think that after all these years, I wouldn’t hand you over to the council to be punished. So, to avoid that, be more specific and quick. Where?

― Mendraria.

― Shit… ― Brock angrily threw a chair against the wall. ― Josiah will finish them….

― See? I knew you knew their leader… Your children are in good hands.

― No, they’re not. Unless Moon has become close to him, Gray and Griffin will be severely punished for invading his territory.

― So be it. ― Dafoe’s cold voice startled everyone as the old man, as always in black clothes, stood in the doorway, holding what looked like a cane. ― Everything that’s happening must happen exactly this way. Don’t worry, ma’am. This is a good thing.

― Jeez, Dafoe. Why are you behaving like a… ghost... I think I’ve just lost five years of my life… ― complained Casey.

― Trust me, Mr. Reed, I didn’t mean it. I can assure you that both Gray and Griffin will be back just fine.

― Moon and Gunner too, right? Ace, Hux, and Sverige… will be back too, right? ― May asked, almost crying. ― Damion is… Oh, please, Dafoe… Tell me they’re coming back…

― You see, ma’am, fate is complicated. There are things I can say because they will happen, no matter what, but… some things will change depending on the choices made. For now, their return… I can’t see it. Everything is in the hands of your children now. ― said the old guardian in a low voice.

― They’re not coming back, then… ― Reese butted in, as he calmly ate his lunch at the table. ― What? Those two are too dumb…

― So what? I should just get on with it, without worrying? I’m a mother, Dafoe, I can’t do that…

― I never said that, ma’am. But if you think your children are safe, then you should focus on who’s by your side. Artur and Reese. We’re surrounded. Caelan Cerdaville is joining an army from the West… vicious mercenaries. But your old friend, Josiah Montgomery, could be a great ally… Ah! Watch out for the Byrd family. ― Dafoe tilts his head slightly, solemn. ― We’re facing an imminent war, Mr. Sutherland. But don’t worry, because I can see that… Yes. She’ll help us.

― Wait… What? ― asked Brock, with a mixture of irritation and confusion. ― Josiah won’t help us… I doubt it…

Just as he was about to say something else, the front door was forced open by Zane.

― Sir, we have a problem.

Moon had an expression of amusement on her face, observing the scene in front of her at Mendraria’s main gate. She was biting her lower lip hard to keep from laughing.

― Your brother’s asleep at home… ― said Ace, suddenly at her side. ― Weren’t you supposed to be with that lady, Evanora?

― Yes.

― So… why are you here?

― Don’t you think it’s funny to see him like this?

― What? ― he asked, confused, looking where she was pointing. They were behind some bushes, with a clear view of the entrance to the town.

At the main gate stood Gray. He looked nothing like the man they had left months ago in Berkshire. He looked thinner, exhausted and depressed.

His hair was long and messy, part of it covering one of his eyes; he also had dark circles under his eyes.

Two guards held him by the arms, keeping him in place while they waited for Josiah to arrive.

Regardless of who Gray said he was, his fate on entering Mendraria was in the hands of his leader.

― Ah, by the Goddess… What is he doing here?

― My intuition was right… ― Moon said and, when she saw the confused expression on her friend’s face, she explained. ― When I was talking to Josiah, I told him that Gray would probably come after me. I never thought it would happen so quickly…

― And you think that’s funny?― Ace asked, rather surprised by her friend. ― They’re treating him like an invader, someone bad…

― Uh-huh. Funny, isn’t it?

― Moon… ― Ace tugged on her arm, trying to draw his friend’s attention away from him. ― I know you’re angry, and scared… But you’re not that mean… You’re not that cold.

― Or maybe you don’t know me.― she replied dryly, freeing herself from his hands. ― I’m leaving… ― she then turned and was about to leave for Evanora’s house when Josiah appeared, accompanied by Will, who looked rather upset.

― In the end, he’s here.

― Should I care? Because I don’t… ― Moon replied as she took a step forward.

The older man took her by the arm, stopping her steps.

― I'll let Nora know you’ll be by another time. Take Gray to your cabin. Settle things with him once and for all. Ace will continue to look after your brother…

― No.

― That’s an order, Moon. Just go. Now.

― Don’t curse us in your mind, little witch. That’s not very nice… ― Will hummed as he giggled at her.

This only worsened his mood.

― You know what, Will? I’ve got something for you that I forgot to give you before… You’ll love it. ― she smiled as she approached him and kicked him hard in the groin. ― Fuck you.

Will curled up like a ball on the ground in pain and raised his trembling hand in an ‘okay’ sign.

― Josiah, with all due respect, I’d rather face any punishment than talk to him now.

― You came here because you were running away from him. Talking to him is your punishment, Moon. Go. Now. ― he said in a firm tone, leaving no room for argument.

Moon huffed, her chest rising and falling as she walked angrily toward the person she had resented all this time.

The guards let him go when they heard Josiah whistling at them.

Gray was confused at first, but the sight of Moon left him paralyzed, tongue-tied. He forgot everything he had planned to do and say when he met her.

His mind went blank as she hurriedly grabbed his wrist and dragged him along narrow paths that eventually led them to a clearing where many huts served as homes for people.

All the way, Gray kept thinking about how he longed for her touch. How much he missed her and her sarcastic comments, her brutal honesty, her courage. And how much, every day, he missed her.

A month after she left, he realized how much he loved her. And how much he hated himself for losing the most important person in his life.

Once inside her house, a small, cozy cottage, without much furniture, just the basics a person needed, Moon was about to vent her frustrations about him being there but stopped midway when she saw him, frozen in the doorway, his eyes red as if he were crying, his mouth opening and closing, not knowing what to say.

The two of them stood there, looking at each other, without saying a word.

After a while, Moon sighed.

Just as she was about to speak, Gray went up to her and hugged her tightly, as if his life depended on it.

― Don’t ask me to leave, please…

Moon closed her eyes.

She felt angry.

Angry at having lost Noira.

― Why did you come here?

― I missed you. So much… ― his voice was just a soft, painful whisper in her ear.

Angry for having lost her powers only to regain them so cruelly after a while.

― That wasn’t my question…

― But it’s my answer. I came because I missed you. I wished every day that you’d come back while I was trying to find out where you were… You never said anything. You just… disappeared… ― he rested his head on the curve of her neck.

Angry for having missed a person she had no feelings for…

But she did.

Regardless of her will.

― Now that you’ve seen me, please go back. You don’t belong here. ― she replied harshly, unable to push him away, but still trapped in the thought that, because of him, she had lost her essence.

If he hadn’t gone to her brother that day, she wouldn’t have had to make a blood covenant with Sori.

Noira would still be here, making sarcastic or inappropriate comments in her mind.

― Why are you running away from me? I’ve already apologized… What did I do? ― He released her slightly, holding her waist while looking her in the eye.

If it weren’t for him, she wouldn’t be feared for her appearance. Her true appearance as a vanik.

She wouldn’t wake up afraid of herself.

She wouldn't have left her brother and uncle behind.

― How are you feeling now? After I brought you back… Pretty well, I guess… You’re back to being a dynami, aren’t you?

Somehow, Moon felt as if there was a voice inside her head repeating the same advice: ‘don't say anything, don't make things worse’. But all the repressed emotions from the time she’d spent away… it was too much for her to bear.

― What? I… Yeah, that happened. Why are you asking? ― he looked confused, feeling the tension and letting go completely, but soon regretted the absence of her skin on his.

Moon regretted the question.

She hadn’t thought he would let her go so easily… A part of her wanted that touch.

― Do you wanna know why I left? ― Moon clenched her jaw, tension taking over. ― Because of you. I hate that, of all the people in this world, I was destined to you. I hate that.

Gray’s posture wavered and he took a step back. Her words wounded him deeply, causing a painful sensation throughout his body.

― You have no idea what I’ve lost, what I’ve sacrificed to save you… Because I didn’t have the choice not to save you… And it’s not fair! To find you, I lost myself! Please go away…

― What do you mean? What happened?

― Did you wish for me to come back? I wish I’d never met you.