Indianna ignored Greyson as they all made their way back to the cars. She heard Kal ask Greyson what was wrong and assumed Greyson told him through the mind link.
When the car came into view, Indianna headed straight for the passenger seat so she wouldn't have to sit next to Greyson.
However, Kal raced ahead of her and opened the car door, throwing himself onto the seat.
"I call dibs," he grinned.
Indianna narrowed her eyes slightly at him.
Kal smiled innocently and shut the door.
Indianna sighed and slowly turned on her heel. She walked to the back of the car, where Ace and Greyson were already seated.
"Great," she muttered.
She sat in the back seat and moved as close to the door as possible so she wouldn't accidentally touch Greyson.
The car was silent as they drove back to Janson's pack house. Everyone knew Indianna was angry with Greyson, which made the atmosphere tense.
She could see Greyson looking at her from the corner of her eye, but she refused to look at him.
When they finally reached the house, Indianna bolted out of the car and rushed upstairs to their room.
She was unzipping her suitcase when Greyson walked in.
"Indi—"
"I'm going for a shower," Indianna said coldly.
She grabbed a bundle of clothes and briskly walked into the bathroom. She locked the door behind her and stepped beneath the hot water.
She took her time, not wanting to go out and face Greyson.
She hated arguing with him, partly because the bond made her want to forgive him, but also because he was so bossy and stubborn that she doubted she would get her way.
When Indianna was clean, she stepped out of the shower and cursed under her breath when she realised she had brought clean clothes but no towel.
She flushed with embarrassment when she opened the door and poked her head out.
Greyson was lying on the bed, waiting for her.
Indianna spotted clean towels on the side and looked back at Greyson.
"I forgot my towel," she said stiffly.
"Then come out and get one."
Indianna shook her head.
"Can you... um, could you—"
Greyson sighed and stood up in one smooth motion. Indianna gulped when she saw his muscles flex as he pushed himself off the bed.
In a few long strides, he had picked up a towel and walked over to her.
He held it out, and Indianna took it hurriedly. Before she could shut the door in his face, however, a tattooed hand wrapped firmly around her wrist and pulled her against Greyson's bare chest.
Tingles filled Indianna, and her body came alive with sparks at his touch.
"G-Greyson—"
"Once you're dressed, we're going to sit down and discuss this like adults," he said sternly. "You aren't going to yell or hit me. You're going to hear me out, and then I'll listen to you. Is that clear, sugar?"
"You aren't going to tell me what to do while we talk about this," Indianna said and covered herself with the towel.
Greyson said nothing, but released her wrist. Indianna quickly retreated into the bathroom.
"I'm growing rather impatient, sugar!" Greyson called after Indianna had been in the bathroom for ten minutes. "I know you're dressed, so come out and talk to me."
Indianna suddenly felt like a little child because of Greyson's tone. She didn't want to face him, and she didn't want him to get his way.
She refused to back down about not going through with the ceremony. She knew Greyson wouldn't be pleased.
"Indianna!" Greyson called loudly, his tone irritated. "You're delaying the inevitable. I just want to sort this out, so come out and let's do that."
Indianna swallowed, grasped the door handle and pushed the bathroom door open.
Her bare feet felt cold as she walked over to the bed. She sat a good distance away from Greyson and crossed her jean-clad legs.
Greyson had changed into grey sweatpants that hung low on his waist, and his chest was bare.
"Sugar, I want you to tell me exactly what you're angry about," Greyson said slowly. "Once you've done that, you'll give me a chance to explain myself."
"You lied to me," Indianna said sharply. "And the ceremony is inhumane. It's barbaric."
"I never lied," Greyson said. "But I do apologise for not telling you sooner. I kept another secret from you, and I meant well, but I understand why that angers you."
"All you do is keep secrets," Indianna accused.
"I do it to protect you."
"Funny how that backfires on you, huh?" Indianna said. She crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at Greyson.
Greyson pursed his lips and seemed deep in thought for a few minutes.
He finally spoke.
"I have something to admit, Indie. I'm keeping more from you."
Indianna frowned.
"What?"
"I know things you have the right to know, but I'm withholding information."
"Why?"
"Like I said, to protect you," Greyson shrugged.
"Tell me," Indianna demanded.
"After we've finished discussing this," Greyson said dismissively.
"You think the ceremony is inhumane," he continued, quoting her words. "I agree with you."
Indianna's mouth dropped open.
"You do?"
"It's an extremely old tradition. There's a reason many old rituals of the werewolf world have been discontinued. They're outdated, and performing them in today's society would be... unthinkable."
"Then why do you do it?"
"Because it's necessary," Greyson explained. "The branding part, at least. Sugar, how do you think packs communicate through the mind link?"
Indianna shrugged slightly.
"I don't know."
"When a pack member is branded, the metal used on the branding rod causes a reaction when the skin is scarred. That reaction changes the body and creates the mind link.
"I don't know the exact science behind it, but without the scar caused by the branding rod, it's impossible to become a full member of the pack."
"Why is the Luna required to be branded more than once?" Indianna asked. "That's torture."
"I know," Greyson said stiffly. "Alphas have to be branded by more people than Lunas."
"Why?"
"The Alpha and Luna need a stronger brand. They're the leaders, and each person who takes part strengthens the power of the brand," Greyson explained.
"You've had it done?"
"When I became Alpha," Greyson nodded.
"Did it hurt?" Indianna asked. "Don't you dare lie."
"The pain was excruciating," Greyson admitted.
Indianna gulped.
"What about the final part of the ceremony? Why is that necessary?"
"It's an old custom," Greyson said. "It isn't necessary in modern society, but it still happens."
"I'm not doing it," Indianna said sternly. "Greyson, I refuse. You cannot force me to go through with it."
"Sugar, do you think I want it to happen?" Greyson said. "I've been through it, and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, let alone my fucking mate."
"Then don't let it happen!"
"I can't do that," Greyson muttered.
He reached forward to place his hand on Indianna's leg, but she shuffled backwards.
"Hands to yourself, Greyson," she said sternly. "And why can't you? You're the Alpha."
"And you're the Luna!" Greyson said, groaning in exasperation. "Did you listen to a word I just said? You can't be a full member of the pack without completing the Branding Ceremony."
"Then I won't be."
"Indianna!" Greyson said crossly. "You're my mate and a Luna. You have responsibilities, and you can't deny them because you don't want to do something. That's selfish!
"Every Luna and Alpha around the world has to go through this. You can't receive special treatment."
"Greyson, in case you haven't noticed, I already have enough damned scars!" Indianna snapped.
Greyson tensed.
"I don't need another one added to my collection!"
Greyson sighed in frustration and pulled at his hair.
"I don't know how to make you understand," he muttered. "It has to happen. I wish I could abolish the ceremony, but it's vital for the pack. A strong pack needs a strong and fully branded Luna. We aren't complete until the Luna joins the pack."
"You seem to be handling everything fine without me being branded," Indianna said.
"I can't do it forever," Greyson said. "Indie, without you, the pack will fall, and without the pack, I won't have the power to protect you or keep you safe."
"I think I'd be safer away from people who want to burn me with a rod," Indianna whispered.
Greyson cursed loudly and stood up, pacing back and forth.
"Why can't you understand?" he growled. "It has to happen, whether we want it to or not."
"What's the worst that can happen if I refuse?"
"The Elders will be forced to interfere," Greyson said, looking at Indianna with dark eyes. "They'll drag you in front of the whole pack and force you to be branded against your will.
"Sugar, it hurts when you're branded willingly. It will be much more painful if you fight it. Indie, don't put yourself through more pain than necessary."
Indianna looked at her hands and chewed on her lip.
She was angry at Greyson, but she now understood why the Branding Ceremony happened. She still thought it was barbaric and disgusting, but now she knew it was considered vital for packs to survive. She understood why it had continued for thousands of years.
"If you knew there was a way that meant I wouldn't have to do it, would you still make me go through with it?" Indianna wondered.
"Of course I fucking wouldn't!" Greyson groaned. "Sugar, I wish there were another way! I really fucking do, but there isn't!"
"Speaking of the final part," Indianna said. "You said it wasn't necessary."
"It isn't."
"Then I most definitely won't be doing it," Indianna said sternly. "You can tell the Elders, whoever they are, that they can forget about it. There is no way a group of random werewolves will witness the private completion of our bond."
"I wasn't exactly comfortable with the thought of my parents being involved either," Greyson murmured. "If I contact the Elders and arrange for that part not to happen, will you go through with the ceremony willingly?"
Indianna gritted her teeth and ran her fingers through her damp hair.
"It looks like I don't really have a choice," she muttered. "I either do it willingly, or I'm forced to do it."
"Sugar," Greyson said softly. "I really am sorry. I don't want to see you in pain."
Indianna sighed, and fear began to fill her at the thought of Greyson's pack members pressing a scorching-hot metal rod into her flesh.
"Our pack members," Greyson said sharply.
Indianna gave Greyson a look.
"I'm still new to this world. It's going to take me a while to fully accept it," she snapped.
She held up a hand when Greyson took a step towards her.
"Don't come near me, Greyson."
"You're still annoyed at me?"
"What gave it away?" Indianna said sarcastically.
"Why? You were angry about the ceremony, and I explained myself. You know it's out of my control."
"But telling me about it was in your control," Indianna said slowly. "If you had told me and explained it fully, then this argument wouldn't have happened.
"Greyson, I was angry because I thought you were forcing me to go through with this. When you told me I had to do it whether I liked it or not, it angered me, and we both became annoyed with each other.
"That never would have happened if you had told me about it straight away. Instead, I had to hear about it from Olivia."
Greyson pursed his lips and crossed his arms over his chest.
"This seems to happen an awful lot," Indianna observed. "We argue because you keep secrets from me.
"Greyson, you promised to try to be more equal. This secrecy has to stop!"
"It will," Greyson nodded.
"It stops now. Greyson, there's a dark cloud in your mind, and you admitted that you're keeping something else from me. You're going to tell me."
"I can tell you what the secret is, but not what it concerns," Greyson said mysteriously.
"What do you mean?"
"The secret isn't mine to explain," Greyson said. "I guessed what it was."
"Guessed?"
"Your mother confirmed my suspicions," Greyson said darkly.
Indianna frowned.
"What's my mum got to do with this?" she wondered.
She lifted her hand and gripped the locket around her neck.
Greyson closed his eyes and scratched his stubble.
He had sworn that Indianna would never find out, but he had a feeling that if he didn't tell her, the secret would eventually come back and bite him.
Indianna was right.
The secrets had to stop.
Greyson had to be honest.
Even though he knew the information would frighten Indianna, he had to tell her.
She deserved to know.
"Rogue," he said.
The word made the hairs on the back of Indianna's neck stand on end. She looked at Greyson warily.
"What about him?"
"We know who he is."
Indianna's mouth dropped open.
"W-What?"
"I know why he wants you."