Insight

Eve sat on her bed that night, thinking over the situation she found herself in. She leaned her back on the wall behind the head of the bed. She stroked her now round stomach, feeling the baby move around within her.

I think the tea is effecting our temperament. Eve thought plainly.

It was just a rabbit... Even the she-wolf sounded unconvinced.

How we felt, what we were thinking, the anger... This is about more than just a few rabbits. She replied firmly.

We know. The animal sighed internally.

We still need the tea for now, even if it’s doing things. And that’s a big if. It could just be because we’re overly protective right now. It could be anything at this point. Eve sounded uncertain, even in her own mind.

There is no way out, only forward. The she-beast was frustrated.

Eve didn’t get a chance to reply to her innermost thoughts. A knock fell on the door. She stood and opened it to reveal Onyx, carrying in a cup of tea. Eve returned to the bed and Onyx joined her, sitting at the foot.

“Here. Bas just made it.” The teenager handed her the mug.

“Thanks.” Eve blew across the steaming liquid.

“He’s in his room again. I think he wants to go back over everything.” She sighed.

Eve shook her head. In the time since she’d bee there, Bastian had begun trying to clear his parents’ names. At least, to Eve’s satisfaction. However, he always left her with more questions than when they began.

“Can’t you just tell him you believe him?” Onyx probed.

Eve looked the girl over as she thought about the question. Onyx’s long, curly hair was dyed with chunks and streaks of purple and blue. Her hazel eyes were sharp and clever. The Luna had come to think of the teenager as her only ally in this place. Onyx would never betray Bastian, but she wouldn’t let anything happen to Eve either.

“I tried that before. He didn’t believe me. Now, lying to him about something like his parents’ deaths...” Eve’s sentence trailed away pensively.

“Seems wrong. I know.” Onyx breathed.

There was a short knock on the door, a second before it swung open. Bastian stood in the hall with a cardboard box full of papers in his hands. Eve looked him over as he sat in the rocking chair by the window.

His dirty blonde hair was shaggy as it hung on his forehead. It was clear he hadn’t combed it since being back in his human form. His legs were long, even in his acid washed jeans. His eyes dark eyes had flecks of red in them. In times when he was excited, Eve thought she could see mania in them. As if it was hiding under the surface.

He looked up and caught her gaze. Eve snapped out of her thoughts and averted her eyes, sipping her tea. Bastian smirked and leaned forward, giving her his full attention.

“Hello, Evie.” He greeted her.

Onyx’s eyes moved from Eve to Bastian and back again. She pulled her lips together awkwardly.

“More evidence?” The Luna gestured to the box between his feet.

“I brought all of it this time. I know I can answer your questions.” He grinned, nodding happily.

Onyx sighed and laid across the end of the bed. Bastian opened the box and searched through it. He finally pulled out a notebook.

“There were eleven rogues involved in the ambush. You’ve seen their names. Here.” He laid the open book on the bed.

“I remember. Justin was the one that-” Eve grimaced, glancing at Onyx. “Broke Selena’s mark.”

She had to reword her comment. Onyx was young and Bastian had sheltered her for most of her life. Eve respected that. She didn’t want to traumatize the young woman. So, Eve hadn’t mentioned Bastian’s brutality or his killings. Though, she thought Onyx was too clever to be as ignorant to her brother’s actions as Bastian liked to believe.

“Yes.” He nodded.

He pulled a map out of the box, unfolding it. He laid it on the bed. Eve and Ivy looked over the places circled in marker.

“According to Selena’s own statement.... Here.” He handed Eve a piece of paper.

Eve folded the page and laid it down. She’d seen it before, reading it was painful. She couldn’t imagine how Selena felt as she wrote it. It was no wonder Eve couldn’t find anything about the attack in pack records last year. Bastian had barely managed to get ahold of the files before Elijah had them destroyed.

“My parents and Selena used to help the rogues in the valley. They dropped off food and medical supplies for them at the rogue foundation in Calgary. That morning was different. They wanted to meet in the forest, near pack territory.” Bastian continued.

“I know. Selena didn’t want to agree, but there was someone in need of emergent help. I think it was asthma...” Eve recalled.

“It was. They met up here.” He pointed to a circle on the map. “That’s where the ambush happened.”

“Okay...” Onyx nodded.

“Selena and my parents were beaten and taken here.” He pointed to an area just outside the StarLight border.

“Any proof your parents were beaten alongside Selena?” Eve probed.

“Yes.” Bastian began digging through the box again. He handed the Luna a file with pictures of the area. There were five small flags in the photos.

“Explain.” She probed.

“Number one and two were Selena’s blood type. Number three was my mother’s. Four and five are my father’s. Look at the scuff marks too.” He answered.

“They could have been beaten to sell the ruse to Selena...” Eve thought aloud.

“I’ll prove you wrong about that.” Bastian sighed and shook his head.

"Alright, punchy. Prove it." She smiled ironically.

He met her gaze. Bastian hated when she called him that. Still, seeing the jovial look in her eyes caused him to smirk.

"Here, Sunshine." He tossed a blue folder onto the bed.

"I told you not to call me that." Eve opened the file.

"It's the name my wolf picked for yours. You're stuck with it, Evie." Bastian chuckled.

"Ugh." The Luna huffed.

She looked at the photos in front of her. There were bloody marks on the ground in various places. This suggested a large fight with many dead bodies. The bodies had been moved, but their places in the dead leaves remained.

"What should I be looking for?" Eve asked.

"Number one was where Selena was found." He pointed.

She looked at the numbered flag. It was in front of a small building that seemed to be used for supplies. However, this structure was torn down immediately after the incident. Eve tried not to imagine being trapped in that space. She tried not to envision the horrors Selena had faced in that place at all.

She shivered, shaking off the haunting feeling. Bastian watched her for a moment. It seemed as if he knew what she was thinking, and what she was afraid of. He touched her wrist, drawing her attention with the static he produced under her skin.

"Look to number four and five." Bastian released her once he met her eyes.

Eve saw these flags in the next picture. There were ropes laying on the ground in bloody pieces. The scuffle that had taken place was clearly violent. There were pits in the ground, with crimson scattered on the surrounding leaves and dirt.

"My parents were bound. Elijah ripped their binds when he killed them." He stated firmly.

"How do you know these weren't discarded by someone else? Or that they weren't there before everything began?" The Luna asked curiously.

Bastian sent his sister a pointed look. She sighed and stood off the bed.

"Kicking me out already?" She scoffed.

"Just for the nastier stuff." Bastian stood and ruffled her colorful hair.

Onyx snorted and left, rearranging her bangs. As the door shut behind her, Bastian retook his seat. He reached into the box and retrieved a red folder.

"Brace yourself, Evie." He handed her the file.

She opened it and her breath caught in her throat. She now understood why Bastian had sent Onyx away. And why Eve had never seen this folder before. These images weren't for the faint of heart.

"Oh my goddess..." Eve breathed in a barely audible voice.

"She wasn't there, Evie." Bastian replied in a deep, quiet voice. "Not on that day."