The biggest burden of someone is their own heart. Protect it well, and you may find just how strong you are.

“You failed your mission Easton. “ Easton said nothing as his elder spoke in a cold tone. “You literally let her slip through your fingers when you had the golden opportunity to eliminate her. Now because of your hesitation, we are dealing with your mistake.” Easton resisted the urge to growl when his elder smacked his head. From what he could see, he could see the scuffs on the floor, the scarlet robes, and leather shoes of his elder as he paced around the wolf.

Easton was the eldest in line when it came to his siblings. Blessed with a charming swagger, money, and good genetics, Easton hardly had to work for anything in his life. Well, with the exception of having to charm Raina into his plans to become an Alpha. Easton had it pretty good, and hardly liked it when he was being criticized when he was so used to being praised.

“You are weak.” The ice in his words weren't hard to miss as Easton looked up, seething in fury. It was one thing to be called weak. It was another thing entirely when he was supposed to be the next in line alpha.

“I can finish the job. She still hasn't-“Easton was cut off as the elder's fist connected with his jaw. He felt blood and immediately his fingers touched it. The elder's face couldn't be seen since he wore his hood over, casting shadows except for his mouth which was curled into a sneer. The elder couldn't understand how Easton, the supposed prodigy of their clan could fuck up so badly on this? The girl was in his grasp, all he had to do was make sure she would not live to see another day after he had lured out to the lake. Easton was sloppy, something that made his mouth turned sour. Wolves were not sloppy in their kills, it was full of precision and grace that rivals those of vampires.

“Raina was blessed with her gifts from that star, awaking her true potential. You should of eliminated her when you had the chance, but no…you were soft. Tell me Easton…” The elder's tone turns mocking as he turned his face towards him in a sneer. “Did you actually love her? Did you fall for a pitiful human?”

Easton glares. “I didn’t fall for her. She was so naïve and so attached that I could of drove a stake through her heart. Raina would have probably thought it was love even if my intentions are cruel.” His fists are clenched because he knows deep in his heart that he hesitated in killing her. He saw the innocence in her eyes as they were looking at him in fear. Something that made him freeze…maybe there was a tiny spot of affection he had for her, but he wouldn't never admit it out loud.

"It's my fault. I should of checked for a pulse when she was in the water. She stopped fighting me when my hands were around her throat and I assumed that she had passed."

The elder smirked. “Go ahead, try to kill her again. See if you fail my child. “He released his hold on Easton. “ I do recall you are set to marry your mate after this deed no? Why prolong your marriage especially since it would mean that you would take your place as the alpha in this pack. Isn’t that what you wanted to be? For me to step down so you can lead? Well, the alpha takes care of business and doesn’t hesitate to protect what is sacred. “

"I won't fail you again." He spoke softly, his head still hanging in a mixture of shame and respect for his elder. He knew that he had fucked up, his mistake costing him to be further away from accepting the mantle of responsibility of alpha.

Easton knew from a young age, he was expected to uphold the alpha's responsibility when he was of age. Now that the time was here, he didn't know how to feel. It wasn't like he hadn't killed anyone before, having to protect his family from mortals who tried to hunt them, or when he went on runs with his pack. So why was it such a big deal to kill someone whom he had planned to eliminate from the beginning? What was it about Raina that made him hesitate?

Because of his hesitation, she was still alive, which meant he couldn't be alpha. Which meant he was still not leading the pack, all because he had assumed his kill was dead. When all along, she was still breathing. Until her dying breath was his, Easton would not be what he desired more than anything in the world.

"See that you don't disappoint me in getting rid of her. I expect you, out of all my children to be my successor. You have been preparing for this your whole life. One little kill shouldn't stop you in your quest for power. Especially one of a mere human. Humans are scum. They waste space, are impure, and don't deserve to be on the same level as the fae. "

“Yes Father.”

“Good, you know what must be done. Bring me back her heart so I know of your deed. Her heart will be used in the ritual for your crowning.”

Karen was looking at the vitals on the screen and comparing them to the chart. Raina was hooked up to the machines that monitored her vitals. Charlie had gone away on business, trying to see if there were any mentions of the fact that Raina was the first to receive a star of her own.

They both knew that before training her, she needed to be kept out of sight. Karen had taken the liberty of patching her up. Her old clothes replaced with a clean night gown, all her smudged makeup cleaned from her face which softened Karen's heart more, and healing salve on her wounds. It seemed Raina would heal from all wounds inflected from that awful boy who tried to kill her.

Karen moved Raina's hair from her face, humming softly. She had been asleep for a whole day now, thanks to a combination of meds, her magic, and the fact that her trauma had worn her out. Karen and Charlie had contacted her family, letting them know that Raina had agreed to a sleep study and would be compensated for her time. It would buy them a couple of days until they could let Raina out of their sight.

The star in her heart would need to reside for at least forty-eight hours before becoming one with her soul and wouldn’t be stolen. If stars didn't fuse with your soul, anyone with the right knowledge could steal it and use it for the wrong reason. This was something that they didn't want to happen as Raina was the rightful heir of the star that chose her.

From what they knew of stars, thanks to Charlie's time as the previous leader, and being around others whom were granted one of their own, they were quite unique. A star fusing with a human took element of fae and interpreted them in a new way that seemed almost evolutionary. Majority of mortals received stars, it was unlikely originally born fae could possess stars of their own, but it could happen. It was just a rarity in it happening. Charlie was originally mortal when his star found him in a battle.

Karen was broken out of her thoughts when she heard her husband return. Greeting him with a kiss on his cheek, Charlie rubbed her arm tenderly as he hung up his jacket. “Any word among the fae society?” The witch moved to get him his rum and cola as they sat by the window observing Raina whom still sleep soundly. Karen settled with him, head on his shoulder as he got comfortable.

“There's talk.” Charlie responded. “Still, I don't think anyone knows that it's her exactly. It's rather good that we got to her first before any real harm-“ Karen shot him a look and corrected him before he went any further in his words.

“That boy almost killed her, the fact that she survived his attack is a miracle itself. What would you have done if your first star kissed charge hadn't been strong enough? From what we know of Easton, that boy who is a werewolf , he could of ripped her to shreds!" Karen felt protective of Raina, seeing how she was almost drowned by her ex , and appeared in such a state of trauma. “ Are we even sure that she will be strong enough to handle this daunting task of leading? She is still a child despite your visions of her future.”

Charlie pinched the bridge of his nose as he evened out his breathing. Karen was his equal when it came to matters like this. Perhaps it was the fact that they didn't have children of their own. Or maybe it was the simple fact that they were the past trying to change the future. Still, he needed Karen to support him in keeping the mission alive. Fae and mortals could coexist as long as they remained separate. Mortals were the easiest prey to fae and while not all fae were malicious, they could still manipulate mortals into absurd chaos. Charlie remembered a man that had been enchanted by a fae that convinced him that he was so invincible, that death couldn’t even touch him. Such a fate the man had, when he was discovered dead the next morning.

“Yes Karen, I have faith that she has what it takes in order to be a leader. It's not an overnight process, this will take time. Time that will be used to find her team as she grows and develops into the leader I know she can be. “He took a sip of his drink before confessing. “I have seen her futures, and while yes, she is still a child, the truth still remains the same in every future I see of her. Despite how innocent and non-threatening she may be right now, her strength is something that can't be taken away. A resilience in her that we can hone to be a weapon. When her teammates need her, when others need her, she will be the one to inspire hope. To give light where darkness has tried to snuff them out. Raina may not know how strong she is or how her leadership is a beacon, but in time she will understand . We just have to be patient, and make sure she can succeed."

Karen would have responded, but a movement and sound alerted her. Raina had become waking up as both adults moved to her side. The young woman stirring as the room came into focus. She saw the IV needle in her arm, her vitals on a screen, and how she was in a bed, where the couple she saw from that night looking right at her.

It was time…whether Raina wanted to accept the fact she was someone else now or not.

From underneath her lashes, Raina's hazel eyes peered at them. Her mind still a bit fuzzy as she tried to recalled what got her here. Seeing that she had a needle and iv, Raina leaned back as she spoke softly to them. Her hands going up to toy with her hair to anchor herself in this strange situation she was in. Raina usually played or twisted with her hair when she was unsure of herself.

Her voice cracked softly , a mixture of fear and nervousness evident in her tone.

“ Who are you and why am I here?”