Greyson laid Indianna down on his bed, and she whimpered, reaching out for him.
"Don't let go," she moaned. "You numb the pain."
Greyson sat down next to Indianna and pulled her against his chest. He rested his chin on her head and ran his fingers through her hair.
"I'm so sorry."
"You've already said that," Indianna grumbled and closed her eyes.
"I mean it."
"I know," she murmured.
"I'm sorry for all the pain I've caused you," Greyson said seriously. "Even at the beginning, with your head—"
"That was a dick move," Indianna whispered. She was struggling to stay awake.
"I'm sorry. I was... It was unforgivable. I should never have caused you pain, sugar. It was selfish. I didn't take your feelings into consideration," Greyson said, sounding pained. "I'm so sorry. I'll never hurt you ever again. Ever."
"You're a controlling ass," Indianna said. "You still are."
"I'm trying," Greyson sighed. "I really am."
"Apology accepted," Indianna said softly.
Greyson sighed in relief and kissed Indianna's forehead.
"Sleep. You'll feel better when you wake."
Indianna shifted on the bed, and Greyson lifted the covers over her. He lay down beside her, making sure they were touching.
"Night," she mumbled.
"Goodnight, sugar."
Indianna woke in a groggy haze. She had a huge headache, and the pain in her side was intense.
"Shit," she winced and looked down at the bandage just below her hip. It was stained red.
Indianna jumped when the bathroom door opened and Greyson walked out with a towel hanging low around his waist.
"Morning," she said.
Greyson ran his fingers through his damp, dark hair.
"How are you feeling?" Greyson wondered.
"Like shit," Indianna groaned.
"You look like shit," he said and dropped his towel to the floor.
"Your concern for me is overwhelming," Indianna said sarcastically.
Greyson smirked.
"I'll get dressed and then get you some painkillers," he said.
He walked over to his wardrobe and changed into a pair of sweatpants and a white vest before walking over to Indianna.
"Let me see it," he said and knelt beside her.
He gently took the corner of the bandage and unravelled it, revealing the nasty, bright-red scar.
Indianna looked away from it and cringed.
"That's horrible."
"Leave the bandage off," Greyson instructed. "And take a shower. You smell."
Indianna gave Greyson the finger.
"Since when did you know how to deal with burns?"
"Since twice as many people branded me," Greyson said dismissively and cupped Indianna's cheek. "You're a werewolf. You'll heal quicker anyway, but leave it uncovered."
"What about getting it wet?"
"That's fine," Greyson shrugged. "Now shower. I'll be back with food and painkillers."
Greyson walked out of the room, and Indianna sighed, forcing herself to look at the new scar on her body.
She gulped and tore her eyes away, forcing herself to stand and make her way to the bathroom. Her stomach turned, and she quickly rushed to the toilet, emptying the contents of her stomach.
"Jesus," she gasped and clutched her stomach as she was sick again.
She groaned loudly. When she was sure her stomach had settled, she slowly stood up and walked over to the shower.
Indianna stripped out of the dirty dress she had worn the previous day and stood beneath the warm water. She sighed and looked up, closing her eyes as the water ran down her body.
The heat on her side intensified, and Indianna yelled out in pain, shielding the burn from the water.
"Stupid!" she muttered and turned the temperature down. "Ow," she hissed, flinching as she tentatively touched the burn.
"Yeah, that'll help. Poke it," Greyson said sarcastically.
Indianna gasped and turned around to look at Greyson, whom she hadn't heard enter. His eyes scanned over the toilet, and he frowned.
"You were sick?"
"Just a little," Indianna said and turned her back to Greyson as she washed herself, carefully avoiding the burn.
"Are you okay?" Greyson asked.
"I'm as well as I can be," Indianna sighed. "Have you heard anything about Martha?"
Greyson's silence was all Indianna needed to know.
"What about Kimberly?" Indianna gasped and stopped the shower.
She turned around, and Greyson passed her a towel.
"What happened?"
"Don't know, don't care," Greyson shrugged. "My parents brought her here. They can deal with her."
"Greyson," Indianna frowned and wrapped herself in the towel.
"Not my problem," he said.
Indianna rolled her eyes.
"How's Ellie? How's Brooke?"
"You should be worrying about yourself," Greyson said.
"How are they?"
"Ellie is fine. They both are physically."
Indianna raised an eyebrow.
"Physically?"
"Brooklyn is struggling," Greyson admitted. "It brought back bad memories for her. It's affected her mentally."
"Rogue," Indianna sighed. "I saw another scar on her hip. Did he do that?"
Greyson nodded. "We had to brand over it. It was tough for her."
"She'll be okay," Indianna said optimistically as she walked out of the bathroom and into the bedroom.
"When we take him down, she will be," Greyson said coldly.
Indianna swallowed and walked over to Greyson's wardrobe.
"Yeah," she mumbled. "Sure."
"Sugar?" Greyson questioned.
Indianna grabbed one of Greyson's shirts and walked back into the bathroom.
"Don't ignore me, Indie!" Greyson called.
Indianna dropped her towel and pulled the shirt on. It nearly reached her knees, so she pushed up the sleeves and fastened the buttons.
"I'm not," she said and grabbed the spare toothbrush she kept in Greyson's bathroom.
"You don't want to do it," Greyson said as he walked into the bathroom.
Indianna glanced at him in the reflection of the mirror and started brushing her teeth. Greyson sighed and shook his head, running his fingers through his hair.
"Jesus, Indie," he muttered. "He's a monster."
I can't, Indianna said. I can't do it.
"He killed your father! He killed your friend! He kidnapped and raped—"
"I know!" Indianna yelled and spat the toothpaste into the sink. "God, I know that!"
"Then what's your problem?" Greyson demanded.
"He's my brother!" Indianna exclaimed. "I need answers, Greyson!"
"Iris told you everything!"
"I need to know why!" Indianna sighed and ran a hand down her face. "I want an explanation for why he did all those things."
Greyson pursed his lips.
"If it comes down to it and I can take him out, then I will," he said. "I won't let him live just because you want to 'talk' to him."
"We can capture him," Indianna said. "We don't have to kill him."
"I'm not risking it," Greyson snapped. "He dies. I'm not risking him harming anyone else."
"Please?" Indianna whispered.
Greyson shook his head.
"This is one thing I'm not changing, sugar," he said sternly. "Be annoyed at me. Be angry. I don't care. You'll be safe. That's all I'm concerned about."
Indianna groaned and walked out of the bathroom, brushing past Greyson as she did so.
"I just want answers," she murmured.
She sat on the bed and pulled on some clean underwear she had left in Greyson's room.
"We don't always get them," Greyson said and followed Indianna, sitting down next to her. "Do you understand why I'm going to do this?"
Indianna sighed.
"Yes. I just wish there was another way. I don't want anyone else to get hurt either, but I wish I could just talk to him."
"Sorry," Greyson said.
Indianna looked up at him.
"You're saying that an awful lot recently," she commented. "It's weird hearing that word coming from your lips."
Greyson raised an eyebrow and leaned over, grabbing two white tablets from the bedside table along with a glass of water.
"Swallow," he ordered.
"It's not weird for you to be bossy," she grumbled as she took the tablets and washed them down with water.
"My mum is cooking breakfast," Greyson said. "Are you ready to face everyone?"
"I need to see Brooke, then Ellie," Indianna said.
"Breakfast won't be ready for a while. You can see them now."
Indianna nodded and stood.
"Is Ellie still at the house?"
"Yes. She's moving in with Jane and Franklin this week," Greyson said, naming the two pack members who had taken Ellie in.
"I'm glad she's found a home," Indianna smiled and linked her arm through Greyson's as they walked out of his room. "She deserves to be happy."
"So do most people," Greyson shrugged. "I've got to speak with Ace and discuss the plan. I'll meet you at breakfast."
"Are we going to find out what the plan is?" Indianna wondered.
"When it's finalised," Greyson nodded and kissed Indianna softly on the lips.
"And when will that be?"
"Soon," Greyson murmured.
He kissed Indianna again before pulling away and walking down the hallway.
Indianna sighed and continued to Ellie's room. She knocked before entering and saw two people sitting on Ellie's bed, talking to the thirteen-year-old.
"Jane, Franklin," Indianna said, remembering their names. "How are you?"
"I think we should be asking you that question, Luna," Jane said and stood.
"Indianna, please," Indianna said.
"You did extremely well last night," Franklin said. "Indianna."
"Thank you," Indianna murmured. "I came to see how Ellie is doing."
"It's nearly healed," Ellie said.
Indianna walked over to her.
"That's good," she nodded and looked at Ellie's hip. The scar was slightly pink, and the outline of a W was clearly visible. "You were so brave. How are you feeling?"
"Fine," Ellie nodded. "How are you?"
"Don't worry about me," Indianna said and squeezed Ellie's arm. "You must be excited about going to live with Jane and Franklin."
Ellie nodded, and Jane and Franklin chuckled.
"I think we're more excited," Franklin admitted.
"We've always wanted a child," Jane said softly. "Ellie, you might not be related to us by blood, but you'll be treated as if you were our own."
Ellie grinned shyly at them.
"You deserve it," Indianna said. She glanced at Jane and Franklin. "Hurt her and I won't be happy," she warned, though her tone was light-hearted.
"Wouldn't dream of it," Franklin said.
"The first thing we're going to do is go shopping," Jane smiled. "You can get anything you want."
"Anything?" Ellie gasped, her eyes lighting up.
"Anything within a reasonable price range," Franklin added quickly.
Indianna laughed.
"I've got to go," she said and walked towards the door. "Don't leave without saying goodbye, Ellie."
"I won't," Ellie said.
Indianna smiled at Jane and Franklin before leaving the room.
The hallway was busy when Indianna walked out. She tried her best to smile and act like the confident person she wasn't, but it was difficult.
She wasn't a natural leader, but she was now a Luna. Greyson was trying to be less controlling and more equal, so Indianna had to try to be more confident.
It was only fair.
Indianna frowned when her head started to buzz. She rubbed it, feeling as though there were a thousand flies swarming inside her mind.
Food, food, food.
Kal? Indianna questioned, not mistaking his voice inside her head.
Jesus, Indie! Kal gasped. Don't just scare me like that!
How... How am I in your head? Indianna wondered.
You're the Luna now, Kal explained. You're connected to the whole pack.
Can they hear my thoughts too?
We can indeed, Kal said. Please learn how to block us out. I don't need to hear about how good Greyson is in bed.
I don't think about that! Indianna gasped.
Don't lie, sugar, Greyson said, joining the conversation Indianna hadn't realised was possible.
How do I block everyone out? Indianna panicked.
Just do what you do with me. Imagine the pack and build a wall around them, Greyson said.
Indianna imagined building the wall higher and higher.
Suddenly, the buzzing was gone, along with Kal's thoughts about food.
Well done, Greyson said.
Why are you still here? Indianna asked.
Greyson laughed inside her mind.
Annoyingly for you, your mate is a lot harder to block out, he said. Especially when you're starting off. You've got to focus a lot more. Pack members hardly take any effort to block out.
Wonderful, Indianna said. I've just got to Harry's room. See you soon.
Greyson disappeared from Indianna's mind, and she knocked on Harry's door.
"Who is it?" Harry yelled.
Indianna poked her head inside.
"Indie!" Brooke grinned. "Come in! Harry, get out."
Harry turned and raised his eyebrows at Brooke.
"Babe, this is my room."
"Babe," Brooke said, "I don't care."
"I can come back," Indianna said.
"No, I'm getting sick of Harry's company," Brooke smiled. "I need a new face. Come in, please."
Harry took Brooke's hand, and they both went silent for a few minutes. Indianna assumed they were mind linking.
Harry eventually stood up and walked out of the room, ignoring Indianna completely.
"Does he... hate me?" Indianna wondered as she joined Brooke on the bed.
"No," Brooke laughed. "You'd know if he did."
"Oh, okay, good," Indianna nodded. "How are you, Brooke?"
"Fin—"
"Don't say fine," Indianna said softly.
"I've never felt better," Brooke said and shook her head. "I'm struggling, but I'm dealing with it. I chose to go through with last night, so I can handle the after-effects."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Indianna asked.
"No," Brooke said. "That's the last thing I want to do. You shouldn't be worrying about me. What I had to go through was nothing compared to what you had to endure!"
"It was so painful," Indianna admitted. "It was... horrible."
"How is it?" Brooke asked, looking at Indianna's side.
"Sore," Indianna said. "It's going to take a while to heal, I reckon. What about yours?"
"I'm human, so it will take a long time to heal," Brooke sighed. "It doesn't hurt as badly as it did last night, though."
"Good," Indianna smiled.
"Can you hear everyone?" Brooke wondered. "It's like my head is full, and I can hear everyone's thoughts! It's so strange."
"I hear it," Indianna said. "It's another thing I'm going to have to get used to."
"The werewolf world is strange," Brooke said.
Indianna chuckled. "Tell me about it."
"We've got each other, though," Brooke smiled and took Indianna's hand. "Don't we?"
Indianna nodded. "We do."
"And because I'm such a great friend, have you opened the present I got you yet?" Brooke wondered with a smirk.
"No," Indianna frowned. "After everything that happened, I haven't had the time."
"Damn," Brooke pouted. "I know we're meant to be serious, with everything that's going on, but everyone needs to relax and forget about the world once in a while. Open it tonight."
"Maybe," Indianna nodded. "Greyson liked it."
"He peeked!" Brooke gasped and rolled her eyes. "Boys. So impatient."
That we are, Greyson said. Breakfast is ready.
"Are you coming to breakfast?" Indianna asked.
Brooke nodded.
"Who can deny Laura's wonderful cooking?" she smiled and stood up. "Let's go."