Greyson leaned against the door to Indianna's room and sighed.
"It's been two days," Brooke whispered. "She hasn't moved."
"She's going to make herself ill," Greyson scowled. "She's ignoring everyone."
"I understand that she's in shock, but she needs to do something, not just sit there."
"Alpha, you're needed."
Greyson looked at one of his pack members as they approached him and nodded.
"Brooklyn, tell me if anything changes."
When Greyson returned later that day, Laura was sitting on Indianna's bed, trying to get a response from her.
Sugar? Greyson said. This is getting ridiculous now. Answer me.
"Honey," Laura said softly. "You're worrying everyone. Please say something."
Laura reached forward to take Indianna's hand, but Indianna remained silent, staring blankly ahead.
"Greyson," Laura sighed and looked at her son. "She hasn't eaten in two days. Someone needs to do something, or we'll have to get Doc involved."
"Leave us," Greyson said. "I'll try to get something from her."
Laura nodded and stood from the bed. She squeezed her son's arm as she walked past him and wished him luck.
Greyson walked into Indianna's room and shut the door behind him. He slowly made his way over to the bed and sat beside his mate.
"Sugar," he said, placing his hand on Indianna's knee, which was pulled up to her chest.
He felt her stiffen and knew she could feel the sparks.
"Answer me."
Indianna remained silent.
"Indianna, answer me!" Greyson snapped. "You're freaking me out! Please say something!"
Indianna slowly reached out and linked her fingers with Greyson's, but she remained silent.
Greyson tried to enter Indianna's mind, but it was blocked off.
"Indie, we need to get you changed, cleaned up and feeling fresh," Greyson said as he rose from the bed.
He walked into the bathroom and turned on the bath before returning to Indianna and sitting beside her again.
"After that, we're getting you some food."
Indianna's eyes flickered towards Greyson, and she gulped.
I'm scared.
Greyson nearly cried out in relief when he heard Indianna's voice for the first time in two days.
"I know you are, but I won't let anything happen to you, sugar."
Indianna let Greyson into her mind, and his heart broke when he felt everything she was feeling.
She was shocked, horrified and scared.
Rogue was her brother.
"Come on," Greyson sighed.
He easily picked Indianna up, carried her into the bathroom and set her gently on the floor.
"Help me, Indie," Greyson murmured as he began unbuttoning the shirt she was wearing. It was one of his.
When the shirt was unbuttoned, Greyson tugged it down Indianna's arms, and it dropped to the floor.
Indianna slowly stepped out of her leggings and then entered the warm bath. She sighed softly as she sank into the water and closed her eyes.
"Talk to me, sugar," Greyson said as he crouched beside the bath. "Please."
"What do you want me to say?" Indianna whispered. "That my brother not only killed our father, but attacked me twice—his own sister? That he assaulted Brooke and kidnapped her? That he killed Cassie and sent me pieces of her body?"
"Indie," Greyson said and cupped Indianna's face. "Calm down."
Indianna's eyes flew open, and she swallowed.
"It's just all too much to take in."
"Get washed, get changed and then we'll get you some food. We can talk about the details later," Greyson instructed.
"What about Martha?" Indianna asked quietly.
Greyson sighed and shook his head.
"He still has her."
Indianna's movements were slow as she dried herself and dressed in a pair of jeans and one of Greyson's jumpers.
She desperately wanted to crawl beneath her covers and never surface again.
"No," Greyson said, hearing Indianna's thoughts. "You've done nothing but sit in bed for two days. Now that you're up and moving, I'm not letting you retreat into yourself again."
"I don't want to face anyone," Indianna whispered.
She sat on her bed, grabbed a pillow and hugged it to her chest.
"Everyone knows that he's my brother, and he's kidnapped Martha—"
"It's not your fault," Greyson said sternly. "You're a victim here."
Indianna groaned and buried her face in the pillow.
"I can't believe you didn't tell me," she said, her voice muffled.
"Iris wanted to be the one to tell you," Greyson said. "I was only respecting her wishes."
"I can't believe she didn't tell me."
Greyson sighed.
"She wanted to, but she was scared. She wanted to protect you from him."
"He's my brother," Indianna whispered. "I had the right to know."
"I'm not disagreeing with you," Greyson shrugged. "But you can't be angry at me."
Indianna sighed and crawled beneath the covers, ignoring Greyson's disapproving look.
"Get up, sugar," he said. "We're going downstairs, and you're getting some food."
Indianna shook her head.
"I'm not going down there."
"Indie, come on," Greyson sighed and took Indianna's hand.
"No."
Greyson stood up and pulled Indianna to her feet. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he looked into her dark brown eyes.
"No one blames you, sugar. I promise."
Indianna closed her eyes and rested her head against Greyson's chest.
"I can't face them. Don't make me. Please, Greyson."
Greyson sighed and hugged Indianna tightly.
This was all Rogue's fault.
"Okay," he said finally. "But I'm going to bring you some food, and you're going to eat it. You aren't going to sit in bed and zone out for two days again. Am I clear?"
Indianna nodded and scrambled back into the safety of her soft bed.
"Crystal."
Greyson gave Indianna a warning look before walking out and leaving her alone.
For the past two days, Indianna had had a lot of time to think.
She had managed to create the wall in her mind, and because she wasn't focusing on anything else, she could keep it in place. However, now that Greyson was back in her mind, she couldn't fight hard enough to get him out again.
She still wasn't sure how to react to the news that she had a brother.
That Rogue was her brother.
It made no sense that a son could kill his own father—his own flesh and blood. Or that a brother could torment his sister and kill innocent people.
He was sick, and Indianna wanted nothing to do with him.
Just thinking about him made her heart race.
He was evil.
"And he wants me," Indianna whimpered.
She covered her face with her hands and tried to keep the tears at bay. She took long, shaky breaths, but a few tears still escaped.
Suddenly, arms wrapped around her.
Indianna opened her eyes and saw familiar blonde hair.
"Brooke," she whispered.
"It takes two to hug, Indie. Don't leave me hanging," Brooke said jokingly, wanting to lighten Indianna's mood.
Indianna smiled slightly and hugged Brooke, wrapping her arms around her petite waist.
"Thank you," Indianna mumbled. "For being here the last two days. I'm sorry I wasn't up for much conversation."
"It's fine," Brooke said and squeezed Indianna. "You're talking now, and that's all that matters."
The two girls pulled away, and Brooke sat opposite Indianna.
"Everyone is happy you're talking again. We were all worried. You completely spaced out."
Indianna frowned.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry that Rogue—"
"Stop," Brooke said. "Indie, it's not your fault. Please don't think it is. You didn't know he was your brother."
"But he is," Indianna mumbled. "And he... You... He—"
"Indianna," Brooke said softly. "What happened to me happened. I can't change it, and it had nothing to do with you.
"I would lie and say I'm fine, but I think Harry would kill me if he heard me lying about it again. I'm not fine about what happened, but it isn't your fault."
Brooke grabbed Indianna's hand.
"I promise it isn't. Okay?"
Indianna nodded slightly.
"I'm still sorry."
Brooke groaned.
"Now I know why Greyson is so frustrated."
"He's frustrated?"
Brooke raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly.
"You couldn't tell?"
"He's been tense for the past few days," Indianna said. "It's one problem after another."
"I hear that you know about the Branding Ceremony," Brooke said softly. "That must have been tough."
"I was shocked, to say the least," Indianna said. "Brooke, you're human. Do humans need to take part in the Branding Ceremony?"
Brooke nodded.
"They do."
"Have you?"
Brooke frowned and swallowed nervously.
"No. I haven't."
"Why not?"
"Personal reasons have prevented it from happening," Brooke said quietly. She fidgeted on the bed. "I will one day, when I'm ready."
"Brooke," Indianna frowned, sensing that Brooke was hiding something. "Do you want to talk about it?"
A smile was instantly plastered across Brooke's face, and she shook her head.
"Enough about me," she said. "We're focusing on you."
"Starting with food!" Greyson announced as he strode into the room holding a plate of pasta.
He walked over to the bed and placed it in front of Indianna.
"Eat," he ordered.
Indianna looked at the plate and slowly picked up her fork.
"Oh, and Brooklyn," Greyson said, looking at Brooke. "I think Harry wants you. He's pretty tense, and I think he needs some calming down."
Brooke rolled her eyes but stood up.
"Indie, if you need to talk, I'm here."
Indianna nodded and smiled at Brooke.
"Thank you. I'm here for you, too."
Greyson raised an eyebrow.
"Like Brooklyn is going to confide in anyone about how she feels."
"Hush your mouth," Brooke said as she walked towards the door. "Where's Harry?"
"In his room, I think," Greyson said.
Brooke nodded and walked out of the room.
"Eat," Greyson said again, looking at the fork that still hadn't reached Indianna's mouth.
"I think I might throw up if I eat," Indianna admitted.
"Try," Greyson said. "Please, just try, sugar."
Indianna gulped and slowly lifted the fork to her mouth. She chewed the pasta slowly and eventually swallowed it.
"Thank you," Greyson said.
He walked around the bed and lay down beside Indianna. He sighed loudly and covered his face with his hands.
"I'm so fucking tired," he muttered. "I haven't slept since I found out about Martha."
"What are you going to do?" Indianna asked.
"Use Stacy," Greyson said. "He'll have realised by now that we have her. We have the upper hand. They're mates, and she'll mean everything to him."
Indianna was grateful that Greyson didn't say his name.
"They're probably communicating through their mind link, but we can use that to our advantage. We'll give him a message—a place and time. It will be a trap," Greyson explained. "We'll trap him, get Martha and then I'm going to rip his heart from his chest."
Indianna sucked in a breath.
"When?"
"We have a few things to do before we go through with it," Greyson said and pursed his lips. "I need to talk to you about one of them."
Indianna entered Greyson's mind and tensed when she found the answer to her unspoken question.
"Please tell me you're joking."
Greyson shook his head.
"You want to talk about the Branding Ceremony now?" Indianna said, dropping her fork onto the plate and pushing the food away from her. "Greyson, really?"
"I've spoken with the Elders," Greyson said and turned to face Indianna. "I explained the situation, and they agreed to abolish the private completion of the ceremony for us. It's just the branding that needs to happen."
"Greyson, you can't expect me to do that now—"
"Sugar, please just let me explain," Greyson cut Indianna off as he sat up.
He took Indianna's hands in his and looked into her eyes.
"This is important. Really important. The ceremony needs to happen before we go after Rogue. We don't know how many people he has working for him, so we need the pack to be as strong as it can be.
"There are a few pack members who need to be branded. The more branded members we have, the stronger the pack is. With the Luna branded, the pack will be at its strongest since I took over as Alpha.
"Sugar, the pack needs you."
Indianna closed her eyes and sighed quietly.
"And I need the pack to take down Rogue."
"I'm sorry. I wish there were another way," Greyson muttered. "I know you don't want to do it."
"Does anyone?"
"Surprisingly, no," Greyson said sarcastically. "Ellie will take part in it as well."
Indianna cringed as she thought of the young teenager going through the painful process.
"At least it's only once for her."
Indianna took a deep breath and looked at Greyson.
"When will it be?"
"It will happen before the end of the week."
Indianna swallowed.
"Right."
"There's something else that needs to happen before we take down Rogue," Greyson said.
Indianna frowned.
"What?"
"You need to talk to your mother."
Indianna tensed.
"No, I don't."
"She wants to explain."
"I don't want to see her."
"So you're not curious at all?" Greyson wondered. "Indie, no one would blame you for wanting answers. You have a brother. You must have questions."
"Not for her. Not about him," Indianna whispered.
"Sugar, I think you're going to want to hear what she has to say," Greyson said seriously. "It explains why he took Martha."
Indianna's eyes widened.
"Why he took her? There's a reason?"
"It wasn't a random kidnapping. She was a target. He wanted her."
"Why?" Indianna gasped.
"Talk to your mum."
"Greyson—"
"She can explain it all for you."
Indianna did want answers. Deep down, she wanted to know everything.
"Okay," she said quietly.
Greyson nodded.
"Eat first. Call your mum when you're ready."
"I don't think I'll ever be ready to speak to her," Indianna admitted.
"Eat first," Greyson repeated. "I'll get Iris for you later."