Talia's POV

I can't remember if it was the dog licking my face, or the light that was nearly blinding me,, but I woke up to one.


Two heads peering over my wasted self.

I recognised it to be the guy from earlier, and the woman who cane out to kiss him.

I saw the relief in their faces when I finally opened my eyes. I can't believe I almost burdened them with burying me if I had died.


She lifted me into they're house. I was glad, but I felt a bit ashamed too.

She was so soft and smelt like honey and roses. I could bask in her scent all my life. They both were very gentle with me.


Sitting me on their soft cushion, the out a blanket over my legs. It was thick and fluffy, the type I had back in Silverhaven.

The weather was cold and that was just what I needed.

They said something to each other in hushed voices and she ran immediately to the kitchen.

He drew a side table towards me and sat opposite, just a few feet away from me.

'Why didn't you tell me you were following me? I could've waited! You should've just said." He sounded as worried as he did earlier.

'I didn't want to burden you, and I wasn't so sure. Plus your story didn't add up. If you're as responsible as you said, and as I can see, what explains your late night walking?" I asked him.

His wife re-entered, cutting our exchange shirt.

It was the first time I could afford her a good state. She was a pretty little thing, like me. Just a better and happier version.

I couldn't help but think about what he must've been doing, but that was none of my business, his woman didn't mind.

'Here's some ginger tea. You were purple when we found you." She said with so much pity in her voice. 'I'm Maxine." She offered.

'Thanks, Maxine. I'm Isla." I was really grateful for the tea. It had ginger, some garlic, and honey.

I felt my sore throat coming back to life.

'You look so poorly. When you get strong, I really want to get to know you." She continued. She was a pretty little thing, content looking too.

'I can't wait to amuse you." I replied, smiling the first true smile since I entered Moonstone.

'Maxine, won't you go and check on him now." He said.

Maxine, his wife, git up and went out if their living room, leaving both of us.

'What's your name?" I asked him.

'Karl." He said.

That rang a whole fucking lot of bells. .I out the cup aside and took a very good look at him, and I saw my Kael, my one and only Kael in his eyes.

'Why are you looking at me funny?" He asked, somewhat jittery.

'I don't know. Many reasons. You seem quite older than Maxine." I said.

'Oh, yeah. There's about fifteen years between us." He said.

'That's a lot. " I commented. 'You also look quite familiar." I added.

He adjusted in his seat and moved somewhat closer to me.

'How do you mean?" He asked.

'You look like someone I know." I said. 'So you have a brother?" I asked.

'Dead." He said, looking away, 'Dead to me at least." He added.

I was confused.

Kael was dead, not dead to anyone, dead to all.

'What was his name?" I asked Karl.

'That's a funny question. Too many funny questions if you ask me. What are you even?" He adjusted in his seat, picked up a mug his young wife set on the table for him earlier and sipped away.

'Kael?" I asked.

He spat all the content of his mouth out, the bulk of it landing on me, unfortunately.

'Who the fuck are you?" He moved closer and held my face up.

He did not look sorry, not one bit.

If I saw well, there was a murderous look in his eyes.

'He was my love. And he's dead to me too, dead to everyone." I said, giving him a nasty look.

'You're Talia?" He asked.

'He told you about me?" I replied, question for question.

'We need somewhere more discreet to talk. Come with me." Karl said and stood up immediately, leaving his near empty mug behind.

I got up too, with the new burst of adrenalin. It was almost dawn.

'When did he die?" He asked me.

'Less than an hour after he got back from seeing you. You poisoned him." I said, fresh tears pooling in my eyes.

I'd never forget how that doctor I had come to hate said Kael die of poisoning. It was unbelievable. If not for Ken, I'd have gone mad.

'How would you say stupid shit like that?" He asked.

'Well, that's what it fucking looks like. And now you, an Alpha of his own pack, are here with your small little family. I doubt that girl knows who you are. Poor Maxine." I spat in his face.

His eyes turned red, same as his cheeks and the tip of his nose. He was incensed.

'Landon, you might not know him, was at the palace that day. We've been having our differences for quite a long time. We caught the bastard who he sent to infiltrate the palace, but I never heard from my brother again. We had plans. I thought he had left without me." With each word he said, I discovered a whole new level of hurt and disappointment.

He put his hands on his head and crashed to the floor.

I didn't have the physical strength to help, so I didn't even try.

'Landon is my brother." It felt strange to my tongue to describe him in such a way.

'That cunt is your brother?" He asked, very disgusted, filled with fresh anger for me.

'Yeah. Long story." I said.

'I know." He replied.

We sat in silence looking at each other, taking it all in. Who would have thought? It brought a smile to my face to see someone who reminded me of Kael. He suddenly felt more real to me.

At some point in the past, it was like I was taking my hallucinations too far, like he didn't happen, like I didn't love him.

'Why are you here?" I broke the silence.