“I don’t want to hurt you, and if our roles were reversed, I couldn’t handle watching you with another man.”I gave him a sad smile as I whispered, “You already did.”Kellan’s mouth parted, and a wave of sadness swept over his features. It broke my heart.”

“(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.”

“Don’t panic, I thought. But already my breathing was faster, shallower. “You mean you can feel happy or sad or—”“Desire.” A barely-there smile.”

“She was hurt, Artie. And I don’t think I could tell you how scared I was. It was like watching a flashback of you, dying. I couldn’t protect you. And I couldn’t watch that again.”

“Connor smiled sadly at me. “Go on, that's where you belong.”My fangs were already sharpening when I returned his smile. “Just don't try to pet me.”

“Why do you want to die?'I shivered. For a second I couldn't breathe.'You knew...?'She gave a sad smile.'I'm your mother.”