Insight

Flint stopped at the manor on his way to the cliff. He needed to eat in preparation for such a long journey. He could feel that his father was trying to reach him, but he ignored it. After the disappointment of the meeting, Flint didn't want to talk to anyone.

He shifted into his human form and opened the door. Flint paused as he stepped inside. There was an envelope the size of a greeting card on the floor, as if it had been slid under the threshold. Flint picked it up and smelled it. There was no scent on it, familiar or otherwise.

The Alpha carried it with him to the kitchen and heated up several microwavable meals. He sat at the island counter and began eating. Flint looked over the envelope. It hadn't come through the mail. There was no address, writing, or postage on it. Seeing this, he opened it immediately. The fork in his hand clattered to the counter.

No! The wolf roared in his mind.

Flint stood from his stool. His heart was pounding anxiously. Fury, one stronger than he'd ever felt, crashed over him. The air around him felt thin, as if he couldn't breathe it. His lungs were suddenly empty. He examined the picture in his hand again, making it clear in his mind exactly what he was seeing.

Eve. She was laying down with her eyes closed. Bastian's lips were pressed to her forehead, as if he were accustomed to sleeping beside her. Flint's stomach churned nauseously. He turned around and leaned over the trashcan. The Alpha was huffing his breath, trying to catch it. Anxiety, fear, exhaustion, and rage. Incredible rage. It wouldn't let up. Flint vomited.

His knees gave out. The Alpha sat on the tile floor as the microwaved beeped loudly. He didn't hear it. Flint couldn't focus. He looked at the image in his hand again. The details of it slowly began to come to his attention. What he saw somehow calmed the feeling taking over his mind, while simultaneously making it worse.

Eve's eyes were closed so tightly that it seemed like, even in her sleep, she was cringing away from Bastian. Her arms were curled tightly in front of her chest. This is an obviously defensive pose. Her face was pale and her lips were pressed into a thin, anxious line. Eve wasn't happy to be there. She looked afraid and miserable. Her loyalty to Flint was comforting to him. Still, the thought of her every moment being so filled with fear was infuriating.

Flint couldn't think any longer. He couldn't eat now. He couldn't sit still. And he certainly couldn't keep staring at the horrifying photo. The Alpha stood and shifted into his wolven form. He burst out of the house on shaky legs. Flint disregarded the fire in his muscles and pressed forward. He needed to get to the cliff, to see the cabin, to be close to her. As close as he could be, anyway.

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Eve liked watching the Shadow pack enjoy themselves. She finished her meal as Leigh and Felix began singing a corny love song from thirty years ago. Onyx was talking with Bastian in the corner, drawing the Luna's gaze.

The teenager was using her hands and being very animated. Bastian watched her for a few moments before ruffling the girl's colorful hair. He said something short, like 'don't worry about it', before he walked back over to the couch.

Eve narrowed her eyes. As if he could feel her gaze, Bastian's eyes snapped up to hers. He was about to sit on the end of the couch but he approached Eve instead. The smirk on his lips annoyed her, though she tried not to display that.

"Hey, Evie. You singing tonight?" Bastian sat on the arm rest of her chair.

"I don't think so. Unlike you guys, I'm not drinking." She shook her head.

"Neither is Onyx. She always does at least one." He shrugged.

"The answer is still no, Bas." Eve replied. "Why don't you get up there?"

"Oh, I plan on it." He sipped his beer. "I've got a song picked out just for you."

"Ugh." She rolled her eyes.

Bastian chuckled at her. Onyx walked over to them and retook her seat on the floor.

"You okay?" Eve nudged the teenager with her foot.

"Yeah." She nodded, shooting her brother a brief glare.

"Alpha, you're up." Felix interjected.

Bastian stood and winked at the women as he walked away. He typed into the karaoke machine.

"Tyler, Darren. Come help me out. I know you both know this song." He waved them over to him.

"What was going on between you and Bas earlier? You seem upset." Eve whispered.

"Just Bas being his usual self. Nothing to worry about." Onyx sighed.

The song that came over the speakers gave Eve cold chills. The trio of rogues began yelling and singing the words. "My Bloody Valentine" by Good Charlotte. A narrative about a man killing his beloved's partner, washing the blood from his hands, and starting a life with her. Bastian's gaze met Eve's, holding it.

Eve felt Flint's heart pounding in her chest beside her own anxiously fluttering pulse. Something was wrong with him. He was angry, scared, and overly frustrated. As the song ended, Bastian stopped singing. He was no longer paying attention to the music.

The others continued on as he approached Eve's chair. The smirk on his lips was sharpened by the delight he found in his own cleverness. The Luna met his dark eyes with hers unflinchingly. She understood the meaning of his song selection, and she had a meaning to convey right back.

"What'd you think?" The rogue Alpha asked happily.

"I changed my mind." Eve stated.

"Oh, yeah?" Bastian raised an eyebrow at her.

"Put me on the list." She replied.

"Evie?" Onyx looked at her curiously.

"I mean it." Eve smiled broadly.

Bastian stood and approached the machine again. Tyler was singing a rock anthem that had everyone stomping their feet. He returned to explain that she was in line after Onyx. The teenager had chosen to sing "New Rules" by Dua Lipa. Callie and Leigh joined her. Eve clapped and whistled for them as the tune went off.

Eve approached the keyboard and began typing. She spotted the song she wanted on the list, making her grin. As the music started she waved at Onyx, who joined her readily. As the lyrics began and they began singing, Eve looked at Bastian again. She held his dark gaze with hers. "I Fell Like I'm Drowning" by Two Feet filled the room. Bastian smirked at her, as if he were amused.

When the song was over, Eve handed Scott the microphone. She didn't have the energy to listen to the Shadow pack any longer. Honestly, Eve didn't have it in her to pretend to be happy for another minute. She went to her room and collapsed on the bed. She had been feeling weak lately, like her muscles were constantly tired and aching.

She curled up in the blanket and tried not to focus on her sore body. Bastian entered the room without knocking. He sat in the rocking chair by the window and propped his feet on the side of the mattress.

"What do you want?" Eve probed in a quiet, tired voice.

"You're mad at me." Bastian acknowledged.

"I'm annoyed." She resisted the urge to explain for the thousandth time that she was a hostage; that would make anyone angry.

"Was it the song? I almost chose 'Iris' by the Goo Goo dolls but his voice isn't deep enough and I thought it was a little on the nose." He replied calmly.

"And you make me feel like I'm drowning. I understood our back and forth just fine." Eve scoffed.

"I care about you, Evie. Would it kill you to let me?" Bastian probed softly.

Probably, yes! Her wolf replied sharply.

The Luna said nothing out loud. Her silence became its own answer.

"How have you been feeling lately? Better?" Bastian eventually sighed.

"Better and worse. I'm so physically tired, and the power is heavy. Always growing." Eve admitted.

"And your wolf?" He asked.

"She's calm now. Sleeps a lot." She mumbled.

"No more tea for a while, then. No worries, Evie." Bastian smiled to himself.

Eve couldn't stay awake any longer. Even with the light on, she slipped into slumber. Bastian watched her for a few minutes, before standing up to flip the light switch. He came to her side and sat beside her. He carefully moved a lock of hair from her face, examining her.

"I'll take care of you, Evie. I promise." Bastian whispered.