Avina’s heart was breaking. She had never felt this kind of pain since Keil had first left her to become a werewolf. Had she really allowed someone to touch her heart in a way she had sworn she would never allow again? Even worse, she had thought that he had returned the feelings. But, maybe Keil was right, maybe Devin did not feel that way. There was look of triumph in Keil’s eyes as Avina pushed him away, he had won he had pushed Avina away from Devin.

Before he could hit the ground, he disappeared. Every alarm sounded in Avina’s body as her head snapped up only to see Devin grab Keil and throw him against another tree. The sound of Keil hitting the tree reached her ears only after he hit the second tree. She had never seen anyone move so fast. She could not even see Devin as he moved through the clearing, and that terrified her more than she cared to admit. Truly Avina barley kept up with what was happening until Devin came to a stop, holding Keil by the throat. Keil had both of his hands wrapped around Devin’s arm trying to pull himself up to relive the pressure on his throat as well as trying to pull away. His eyes glowed a sick yellow and his jaw was starting to pop out of place. A small smile twitched at the corners of her mouth when Devin called her his wolf. Maybe there was hope, even just a little.

[color=aquamarine]“Stop, Keil”[/color] Avina ordered, her voice deeper than normal, as she wiped a tear from her cheek. Keith growled at her as he continued to shift. Avina gently put her hand on Devin’s upper arm, making sure to look him in the eye the whole time she was getting close to touch him. As soon as her hand came to rest, her other shot out and grabbed the back of Keil’s neck, her fully extended claws dug into his skin.

[color=aquamarine]“Keil.”[/color] She whispered. Yellow eyes darted to hers in fright. [color=aquamarine]“Stop changing, stop fighting. Give up.”[/color] She told him in the same whisper. Keil stared at her for a long moment before he just went limp and his eyes dull. Avina looked down at the ground as she removed her hand from both Devin and Keil. She did not demand that Devin let Keil go, she knew better than to ask him to do such a thing that at the moment.

[color=aquamarine]“Devin…”[/color] She started as she ran her hand over her face. She refused to allow any more tears to fall from her eyes. She had no idea where to start, so she turned her back and started to walk away slowly. A few feet away she turned back towards him even though she refused to look him in the eyes. There was so much to say, and so many feelings were stirring in her heart. From the pain of him walking away and the accusations that Keil had thrown around to the hope sparking deep down at the sound of jealousy in his words.

[color=aquamarine]“His name is Keil… but you know that by now.”[/color] She groaned and ran her hands through her hair as she leaned back against a tree so that she was only half facing Devin. [color=aquamarine]“He was my fiancé when I was human. He left me to become a werewolf.”[/color]

[color=teal]“I was hoping you would follow me, Avina!”[/color] Keil cut her off.

Avina’s head snapped to the side as she glared at Keil. [color=aquamarine]“So that is the reason you left me a note to just forget about you? And when I walked for days through ice and snow for you, you told me to leave that you did not want me! That is why when you bit me, you expected me to die because women do not survive the change! And when all was said and done, you stood by as the pack rapped me! Hell, you even joined in sometimes! I am so positive that you loved me.”[/color] Avina yelled at him and by the time she was done, she was standing inches away from him. [color=aquamarine]“Give me one reason. Just one reason I should not kill you.”[/color]

Keil kept a steady eye contact with his alpha, clearly trying to be brave despite his whole body shaking. [color=teal]“Be-be-because… You still need a pack, and you know you can control me. You left your pack, and even an Alpha needs a pack and the more members in your pack the stronger you are.”[/color] Keil’s voice got stronger as he talked and he ended with a smirk because he knew he was right.

Another tear slid down her cheek but she angrily wiped away the drop of water that portrayed her feelings. Finally she turned to Devin and truly looked him in the eyes. [color=aquamarine]“We have not been together since I was a human.”[/color] She said in a soft voice. She was trying to hide her heart breaking as took a deep breath and a step back. Every inch of her wanted to reach up and touch his cold skin, to feel the heat escape her skin as she ran her hand over the skin of his cheek. But she didn’t. It was clear by now that he had overheard what Keil had told her, or at least most of it, and he had clearly seen Keil’s attempt to kiss her.

[color=aquamarine]“What we are doing here, Devin, is up to you. I left my pack. I gave up most of my power as an alpha. I came to you because I could not stand the idea of never being able see you again. I have felt this intense connection with you that scares the hell out of me, and what scares me more is that you might not feel the same way! So many times now, you have walked away from me and I do not even understand why.”[/color] Avina’s voice was defeated and her words came out hardly above a whisper. She wiped another tear away.

[color=aquamarine]“So tell me, Devin. What are we doing here?”[/color]