Chapter 145. Beaten and Ra*ed

Leander

A sudden northeastern gust of wind rustled through the trees, causing several russet-colored leaves to lose their already tenuous hold on the branches above us and flutter to the ground. Autumn had settled in since Hycinth had left me. Three long months. More than half of her pregnancy. The thought was staggering.

Ever's head came up, his astute gaze automatically scanning the horizon.

"But I don't think so," Luca murmured quietly.

"What do you mean?"

"After Oracle Memoree visited us and we finally knew the truth, in all of its ugly glory," he flinched, green eyes losing focus for a moment before continuing, "the plan was to contact you...figure a way to reach out as soon as I returned from our old pack. Hycinth wasn't in great shape...she didn't think you or the pack would want her back...but she wanted to try."

"The pack?" I raised an eyebrow. "Why would Hycinth think the pack wouldn't want her back?"

Luca's shoulders pulled back,