“They said I have to." "Have to what?" "Break you." ... "I don't believe you wanted to hurt me." I said. "And I don't believe you would have, even if Monroe hadn't---" ... "I wouldn't have." Ren whispered.”

“What?" Connor asked, frowning at the alpha."That's my sister," Ren growled.Connor stared at him. "I know. And I love her.""Great," Ren said. "But what are your intentions?""My intentions?" Connor looked from Ren to Ande, frowning. Ren grinned, showing Connor his sharp canines. "When all this is over, you and I have a lot to talk about too.”

“Only Ren wasn't smiling. He was eyeing Connor suspiciously.“What?” Connor asked, frowning at the alpha.“That's my sister,” Ren growled.Connor stared at him. “I know. And I love her.”“Great,” Ren said. “But what are your intentions?”“My intentions?” Connor looked from Ren to Adne, frowning.Ren grinned, showing Connor his sharp canines. “When all this is over, you and I have a lot to talk about, too.”

“He is Monroe's son." I pointed at Ren. "And he's your best hope to win this war." "He's what?" Shay's voice was dead quiet. I'm what?" Ren kept his own voice to a whisper, but the look he'd thrown me was a bit alarmed.”

“I'm simply acting according to my current circumstance." Logan blew a smoke ring, scenting the air with tobacco and cloves. "I thought prisoners were always granted a cigarette before their execution. And since you all keep threatening to kill me, I believe I should always have this small luxury afforded to me as long as my life is a risk. Don't you?”

“Silas?" I glanced from Ren to the mad-haired scholar. "He was your company?" "Still jealous?" Ren winked at me. "I was not jealous," I said. "Really?" Ren said. "So that harpy-ish tone was your normal speaking voice?”

“(Ren's) eyes were sad but resigned. “And where will you go?”I couldn’t keep the fear out of my reply. “I don’t know.”“Please don’t do this,” he whispered. “Come back with me. We’ll talk to Logan; there has to be an explanation. The Keepers need us; we’re the alphas. We’ll figure this out. They won’t hurt you. I won’t let them.”