36.

The activity to the south was increasing by the day. Tony’s patrol groups he sent out never spotted anyone but the scents were continuously growing stronger. He tried different methods, sending patrols out at night, spreading the patrols, sending just one to stay hidden, and yet they never actually saw anyone from the Red Moon Pack scouting the open land. It only worried Farryn more that they didn’t have any solid evidence other than a scent that they were considering to expand their territory.

Farryn sat on her couch with her head in her hands. A headache was slowly starting to bloom at her temples. No one else in the pack had gone missing since Amelia but it did little to ease everyone else’s worries in the pack.

“Looks like your day has started pretty early.” Farryn peeked through her fingers to see Jason with a gentle smile. She sighed as she rubbed her face before sweeping her hair back from her shoulders.

“I’m pretty sure I haven’t been sleeping since Tony told me about the border.” She admitted quietly. Jason approached her with furrowed brows and extended his hands towards her face. Farryn considered leaning back, away from his touch but remained still as he tilted her face upward.

“Well, I don’t see any bags under your eyes, I mean no worse than what they usually are. So you’re probably fine.” Farryn’s eyes widened at Jason’s teasing smile before she quickly swatted his hands away from her face.

“Shut up! I don’t have bags under my eyes.” She yelped as he laughed. Jason sat down beside Farryn with a respectable amount of distance between the two of them. Namia pushed Farryn to close the distance but Farryn boxed her out quickly before she could act on it.

“Farryn, Alpha, you are carrying a lot on your shoulders. Let me carry some of your burdens. I wish you would talk to me about what’s going on.” Before her very eyes, Jason’s personality seemed to crumple away and revert to a pup. Farryn wanted to reach out and embrace him, to comfort him and let him know she wasn’t intentionally keeping things from him. Her eyes lowered to her fingers as she ran her nail along the corner of the couch.

“I have a theory, but this theory of mine could make me seem like I’m losing my mind. Anyone who doesn’t want me in this role, if they were to find out what’s going on in my head they would turn the whole pack against me.” Jason remained silent while Farryn spoke. He wanted to give her the opportunity to voice her problems and thoughts without judgment.

“I think there’s something wrong with Tristan’s wolf. I’ve seen it with my own eyes, it’s not just him but Tristan only feels him.” She shook her head in frustration before turning her gaze to the ceiling.

“Even if I’m right I still wouldn’t know what to do. The pack wants blood and I can understand that but what if there was something else that is making Tristan do things without him knowing it. Does that still make Tristan guilty by default?” Farryn returned her gaze to Jason who wore a rather stoic expression as he listened to her speak. She watched as he took in her words and considered what had been said. It was rare that Jason didn’t think before he spoke, every word and every movement of his was calculated from years of being in a position of power. Jason finally licked his lips as he came to his own conclusion before scratching at his chin.

“First of all what you are suggesting, are you saying he is sick? Or that his wolf is sick? If that’s the case I think we need to be searching for a healer that can help. Rosemary can only do but so much and I don’t think she’s ever handled a mental illness case before. If you’re right it would be hard but I think we could get the pack to get over their bloodlust. As for whether he’s guilty or not, even if he doesn’t remember doing it he is responsible for his wolf. We share a soul, we are one entity.”

Jason kept his firm gaze on Farryn, he didn’t like how much she was having to think about another male, and for that other male to be Tristan only made matters worse. But he could see the way it was eating her up inside to try and keep the peace between everyone. All she was doing currently was stalling an execution.

“I don’t think he’s sick exactly but… but close enough to it.” She sighed before rising to her feet.

“I should go check on him, he’s been with Ashia for a while and I wanna make sure she hasn’t torn him apart yet.” She forced a smile to her lips but Jason saw the way it failed to reach her eyes. She was still keeping something from him, and he hadn’t helped to ease her load at all.

Farryn made her way out of the house and to the training grounds. She was surprised to find Tristan and Ashia sitting on the ground staring at one another. There was no hostility between the two of them, in fact, they seemed rather comfortable.

“What are you guys up to?” The pair turned to look at the alpha as she approached.

“Ashia wanted to try some sort of meditation thing,” Tristan explained in a clipped tone as he shrugged his shoulders. Ashia’s head tilted slightly as her eyes returned to Tristan.

“You put the wolf to sleep.” Tristan’s shoulders rose slightly at the accusing tone Ashia used.

“I did no such thing!” He snapped before jumping to his feet. Farryn could see the concern in Tristan’s body language but Ashia remained seating on the ground.

“I will speak to Farryn alone now.” She waved her hand in a manner to dismiss Tristan. He blinked in shock, looking to Farryn who shrugged her shoulders.

“Don’t go far please.” Tristan’s jaw clenched even as he lowered his head to leave the two females alone.

“I have misjudged Tristan. He has fear for his wolf.” Ashia patted the ground in front of her as she spoke, silently inviting Farryn to sit.

She looked over her shoulder to where Tristan was standing at a distance far enough to ensure he wasn’t eavesdropping on them.

“He’s afraid of his wolf? Did he tell you that?” Ashia shook her head before propping her cheek on her palm.

“No, I see fear. It is an aura that surrounds him, like a bubble. He put his wolf to sleep, to keep me out. To keep me from seeing what he is afraid of.” Ashia seemed to be pitying the male she herself had been afraid of. Farryn pressed her lips together tightly.

“I want to meet the wolf, he will not allow it so you will order him to show me.” Farryn was taken aback by Ashia’s command but fervently shook her head in protest.

“Ashia it doesn’t work that way. If he isn’t comfortable doing something like that I can’t force him to, and I won’t. I can’t abuse my position like that.” Farryn resisted the urge to draw her knees to her chest as Ashia frowned.

“You fear for what I might see. Mother will help faster if I do this.” Ashia continued to push the subject despite the fact that Farryn was growing increasingly uncomfortable under her gaze.

“You can speak to Tristan about it, if he agrees then fine. I will not force him to do something.” Farryn rose to her feet as Lola paced in her mind. She could command him to shift, leaving him no choice but to be subject to whatever it is that Ashia was trying to do. There was a possibility that the answers they were looking for could be found much quicker this way. Lola surprisingly was not pleased at the idea, much like Farryn, however, Lola wanted to put the pack first. Farryn’s fingers curled into fists as she gazed across the training grounds to the dark-haired male. His amber gaze was piercing even from a distance.

“I’ll think about it Ashia, please give me time to think about it.” She spoke quietly, afraid the wind might betray her and carry her words to Tristan. Ashia rose to her feet and followed her gaze before placing a friendly hand on her shoulder.

“Do not take too long Farryn. We do not know what might happen the longer you take.” Her words were meant to serve as a warning but they felt like a threat instead. Farryn sighed once more before relaxing her hands and following Lola’s coaxing to go to Tristan.

“Thank you, for cooperating and being patient. I-I’m sure it looks like we’re not making any progress but I think we are.” The sudden rush of anger from Lola nearly caused Farryn to wince with pain. The Alpha wolf hated whenever she showed signs of weakness or insecurity. The stutter and fleeting eye contact were not exactly instilling a picture of a strong Alpha.

“I’m only doing this for you Alpha. Had it been anyone else, I probably would have left by now. I’m not exactly seen as a trusted pack mate so there’s no reason for me to try and prove my innocence.” Tristan extended a hand to brush the back of his fingers along Farryn’s cheekbone.

“But you, believe me, you are still fighting to get others to believe me. So I will stay for you.” Tristan’s words sent Farryn’s heart racing, the blood rushed to her face quickly and the twitch of his lips showed he could hear the effect he had on her. Around Tristan, Farryn had begun to find herself relying on Lola to help her through these types of situations. This time however even Lola seemed at a loss. She was slow to recover her composure but Farryn quickly brushed his hand away from her face, the quick contact heated her body but it disappeared just as quickly.

“Trust me, Tristan, if there is anywhere you belong it is here in this pack. After all, it’s beginning to turn into a pack of misfits. I will continue to fight for you until I have seen evidence to tell me otherwise. Please take the rest of the day easy, but you will still be sleeping in the jail.” Farryn nodded her head in farewell and brushed past him, his parting words brought a smile to her lips that even showed in her eyes.

“I’m not sure if I belong here because this is a misfit pack, or if it is because you are Alpha, but for you my Alpha I would sleep in the forest during winter.”