NINETY-THREE | BREAK AND MEND

Paris is suddenly looking between me and the body of our Grandmother, breathing hard as reality hits her. As she takes control over her own body. She shakes her head and turns from me, her shoulder shaking with silent sobs. We both know it had to be done, but that doesn't make it any easier. I can feel her emotions, the roiling tangle almost as intricate as my own mixed one, rushing over her. I run my blood-soaked hands through my hair, not caring about the mess I'm making, as I try to absorb the moment.

*It's over. Done. Grandmother's dead. I killed her.*

By now, Paris' sobs have become audible, and she lets out a wailing cry that shatters something inside me. She's holding herself, like she's about to break apart and her arms are the only things holding her body together. I swallow hard, and go over to her. I hesitate for a second, reach out to her - then engulfing her with my arms. She doesn't hesitate to grab onto me, sobbing into my neck - her cries getting even louder and more anguished.

I don't offer her any words of sympathy. Not a single *shush* or *it's okay*. We both know it's not. There's no point in trying to convince her otherwise. So I just stand there, supporting my closest relative as she mourns the loss of someone we both idolized. Her more than any of us, because Grandmother raised her - filled her with hope and love and brainwashed her into doing so many awful things.

"Sorry," She hiccups, pulling away after another second and wiping at her splotchy face.

"You don't need to apologize." I tell her honestly. "Not to me." She takes a deep breath and nods, before glancing back at the body of our Grandmother.

"This is gonna be a real shit-show." She laughs nervously, turning her attention back to me. I nod back, offering her a wry smile. We're both stained with blood of the Alpha, and by now, I'm sure the Reiniers have noticed the change in leadership.

"How do you want to go about this?" I ask her, the words falling from my mouth before I can stop them - the way they used to when we were kids and I'd done something wrong. I always turned to Paris for help - for guidance.

There's a beat of silence as our minds get reacquainted, the messy jumble of our thoughts smoothing. And it's almost like I never left. The simplicity of our sister-like bond mending as we see the lives we've been leading, fighting through. The good, the bad, the ugly. She's still the same Paris I knew as a child. Older, yes. More experienced, but still with a good heart. A willing mind. An accepting soul.

Not the rigid one like our Grandmother has - *had*. She's open to change, caring only for the health and safety of the Pack. I smile at that. We have that in common. The wish to keep those we love safe and happy.

"It's settled, then." Paris sighs, running her hand through her hair, destroying the perfect braid. In our shared link, I can sense the agreement between us. The only thing left to do.

"It's settled." I echo, still surprised at this compromise. She nods to me tiredly and holds her palm out to me. I hesitate a second, part of me, the suspicious part, thinking this is just too easy. The the other part, the one that knows my family, shuts it up. Paris is many things, but I know, for a fact, she'd never go back on a promise. I take her hand, ignoring the sticky feel of our Grandmother's blood between our skin, and give it a little squeeze.

"Scarlett Wisteria Holland Reinier," She address me, pausing a second, swallowing and taking a deep breath before continuing. "I release you from the Reinier Pack." And it's silent. One-hundred-percent empty in my head - well, at least from the Reinier part. I can hear the hum of Azure in me now, stronger than before. Paris' lip quivers for a second as our bond disintegrates and crumbles away. Then she presses her lips together and her cerulean eyes become harder. I can see her steeling herself as she mentally addresses the Pack, not releasing my hand. Like she's afraid I'll leave her here alone.

"Paris?" I wait until her shoulders relax before speaking. She gives me a little smile, full of so many emotions I can't pin anything down. "Can we talk about a treaty?"

"Yeah, Wisty." She huffs out on a nervous laugh. "But I don't think I can hand over Craven-" She adds only half-joking. I nod to her, just once, and share her small smile.

"I think we can make an exception." I agree with her, thinking about how the hell I'm going to explain all this to Blue- Without realizing it, I find I'm mentally searching for him. Through our bond, through the soft hum of Azure confusion in my mind. He's silent, but I sense him getting closer.

"He's coming, isn't he?" Paris asks me, still holding tight to my hand. I nod once, not bothering to ask who she's talking about. We many not be connected through our thoughts anymore, but I know this much. "Wisty?"

"Hm?" I hum, mentally counting the seconds before Blue arrives.

"I'm glad you're still alive." She admits, looking at our hands nervously. I tilt my head at her, quirking an eyebrow. "You know...you know what she did. To all of us, right?" She asks softly, meeting my eyes once again, pleading for forgiveness. I nod once, thinking about the still swirling information I received from our Grandmother. The years of lies, paranoia, her own crazy...I only really felt it a few minutes and it's like the cobwebs are still being cleared in my head.

"I know." I tell her softly, giving her hand a little squeeze. "I get it." I add honestly, an involuntary shiver crawling through me as I wonder at how any of them are still sane. "The others, are they-"

"I ordered them to retreat." Paris nods, her lips twisting into a grimace. "They didn't see what we did, Wisty. I-I don't know how I'm-" She begins, her shoulders starting to shake.

"It's going to be okay." I try to soothe her, knowing this must be hard. Even though she's been preparing to take over the role of Alpha, she's got to be hesitating under the responsibility of it all. Especially explaining to the whole Pack how our Grandmother died. I don't envy her the upcoming months I know are bound to be a struggle.

Just because she was given the Alpha-ship doesn't mean others in the Pack won't challenge her. With Grandmother alive, she would have been backed and protected by her sponsorship...but now...

"We'll help however we can." I tell her, thinking that I will try, somehow, to help my cousin. I saw the goodness in her, the strength our Grandmother never believed in. Grandmother only wanted a figurehead she could control. She thought that would be Paris. But I know she's wrong. Paris isn't someone you can push over, she has real strength. Love for the Pack and, though her sense of justice is a little warped at the moment, I have every confidence she'll do the right thing.

"Thanks." Paris breathes, letting out a breath I didn't know she was holding and she finally releases my hand. "And, um, can you maybe talk to your father-"

"They won't come after you guys either." I promise firmly, making a mental not to talk to Hale for her. "So long as you guys don't go looking for trouble either-" I add.

"I'll do my best, Wisty, but you know how they are-" She sucks in a deep breath, stopping herself and shaking her head. "I swear. I'll keep them in line." She amends, giving me a wary half-smile that makes her look older. "Things are going to have to change-" She sighs, stopping as the door to the cabin burst open and Blue rushes in. Looking slightly beat-up, still-healing bruises and drying blood on just about every inch of his visible skin. His shirt and pants are a little ripped up and flecked with blood, mud, and bits of thawing flesh. But intact. Not a limb missing, breathing, here. Alive.

"Hey, you're late." I smirk at him, relieved to see he's in one piece. His silvery grey eyes are burning bright as he looks between me and Paris, then to the body of our Grandmother on the floor. Without a word, he moves to stand in front of me, pushing me behind him and growling at Paris. "Uh, Blue-" I push at him, but his bulk doesn't budge. His whole forms shuddering with barely restrained emotion, metal walls up and as tough as ever.

"Down, boy." Paris tells Blue coolly, not a spec of fear in her eyes or scent as she looks at him. Her relaxed demeanor shifts and I see her guard go up, caution in every inch of her body as she stands up straight. Blue doesn't react to her, but when he seems to realize I'm not in any immediate danger, he pushes me further away, taking a few steps back from my cousin.

"Are you hurt?" Blue asks me, but keeps his mistrustful gaze firmly planted on Paris. She rolls her eyes and plants her hands on her hips, waiting for Blue to finish.

"I'm...I've been better." I hesitate before lying to him. He knows I'm not uninjured. If my suspicions are right, he even knows I was dead not too long ago. It'd be pointless to lie to him. "Calm down, we're trying to discuss a treaty." I nudge him, trying to push him out of the way so I can speak more easily with Paris and put her at ease, too. Blue growls a warning, not stopping me as I shuffle around to stand between him and Paris. I glance over my shoulder at Blue, opening my mind to him like an invitation. His mental walls recede and I feel him carefully picking through the last few minutes.

"Is he always like that?" Paris asks, wrinkling her nose as Blue finally seems to relax behind me and his arms wrap around my waist. Anchoring me to him. I feel the barely with-held emotion surging through him. The worry, panic, fear - all of it darkening and clouding his judgement and seizing hold of him like a paralytic. His face nudges against my neck, pressing into my hair like he's trying to reassure himself that I'm here. Alive.

"Uh, not normally-" I blush at Paris' words and clear my throat. But Blue's ignoring Paris now, his hold on me tightening when I try to pull away. "Anyway," I bite out, nudging Blue in the shoulder. He grumbles into my neck, his lips pressing against my skin and warming me. I shiver and, pushing him away, mentally scolding him until he lets out a sigh and loosens his hold. "Like I was saying, *Blue*," I tell him pointedly. "If you'd like to help, we're kind of in the middle of discussing a treaty."

"Blue?" Paris asks, raising an eyebrow as amusement flashes in her cerulean eyes. Blue growls at her.

"*Zane* to you." He tells her icily, tightening his arms around me again, and for a second, I'm afraid he's going to push me behind him again and rip out my cousin's throat.

"Huh," Paris smirks, relaxing a fraction of a bit. "Alpha Zane Azure," She addresses him with a mock bow before straightening and giving us both somber looks. "I expect you to honor whatever terms we set today." She warns him.

"Same to you, Alpha Paris Reinier." Blue grits out to her, using her full title. Despite the tenuous respect in each of their voices, I now if I don't keep them on track they may just try to kill each other. There's too much blood between the two to expect otherwise.

"Great, now, let's get to it." I chirp, clapping my hands to get their attention.