Indianna looked at her mother in shock.
"You..." She swallowed and tried to force the words out. "You... Dad... You kicked your twelve-year-old son out of your pack!"
"He was destined to bring death and destruction," Iris said. "We had no choice!"
"You had every choice! Just because some nutjob psychic has a vision doesn't mean you have to do something so drastic!" Indianna yelled.
Greyson placed his hands on Indianna's waist and pulled her closer.
"That nutjob psychic is a member of our pack, sugar. Watch your words," Greyson said into Indianna's ear.
He didn't let go of her. He could feel her anger rising.
"It's your fault!" Indianna gasped and held a hand over her mouth. "The reason Dad is dead! The reason Rogue is harassing me!"
"Indianna!" Iris said, her eyes wide with shock.
"If you and Dad hadn't kicked him out, Dad might still be alive!" Indianna whimpered. "Oh my God!"
"You can't know that," Iris frowned.
"I think it's a pretty good guess!" Indianna exclaimed. "Oh my God, get out!"
"What?" Iris frowned.
"I can't bear to look at someone who would banish her own son!" Indianna cried. "You had one chance, Mum. One more chance! You've blown it."
"Indianna, no! Jason is evil! You can't take his side!" Iris whimpered.
"Because of you! I'm not taking his side! Yes, he has brought death and destruction, but maybe he wouldn't have if you had kept him in the pack! You were his mother! I never would have abandoned my child! Never!" Indianna snapped. "Get out of my sight!"
"Indianna, please don't do this," Iris said sadly.
"Iris, go," Greyson said sternly as he wrapped his arms around the shaking Indianna. "She's on the verge of losing control."
"Please," Iris pleaded. "I'm sorry—"
"Get out!" Indianna screamed.
Iris quickly jumped up.
"Get out! Get out! Get out!"
"Sugar," Greyson grunted.
In a flash, he was straddling Indianna and holding her arms against her sides.
"I know you're angry, but you need to calm down."
"Calm down?" Indianna yelled and struggled in Greyson's hold. "How can I calm down after what I just found out? My parents made Rogue the way he is! The man I looked up to my whole life deserted his only son—"
Greyson covered Indianna's mouth with his hand.
"Take a moment," he instructed. "Breathe. Calm yourself."
Indianna glared at Greyson and tried to push him away with her free hand, but he easily caught both of her hands in one of his and held them above her head.
"Sugar, you won't think straight if you're clouded by anger," Greyson said softly. "Just calm down."
After a few minutes, Indianna went limp and closed her eyes as tears slipped down her cheeks.
Greyson slowly released her arms.
"I don't know what to think," Indianna said quietly. "My mind is a mess."
"I know," Greyson sighed as he moved back so Indianna could sit up. "I'm sorry, sugar."
"For what?"
"For everything," Greyson muttered and cupped Indianna's cheek. "For the lies, the secrets... everything. I'm so sorry."
Indianna nodded and placed her hand over Greyson's.
"It's okay."
"I'm sorry about tomorrow as well," Greyson sighed.
"Tomorrow?" Indianna frowned. "Why?"
"The Branding Ceremony will happen then."
Indianna groaned.
"I just want a break!"
"I'm sorry. It has to happen—"
"I know, I know," Indianna sighed. "I know it has to."
"Once it's done, we'll work on finding Rogue," Greyson said.
He frowned as Indianna's thoughts filled his mind.
"Indie, you aren't having second thoughts about killing him, are you?"
"No," Indianna said quickly.
She chewed on her lip and furrowed her eyebrows.
"Well... yes. I just can't help thinking that maybe he wouldn't be like this if our parents had kept him in the pack and let him stay—"
"Indianna, shut the hell up," Greyson snapped. "He's a monster. Maybe he didn't deserve to be kicked out, but did Brooke deserve to be kidnapped and assaulted? Did your father deserve to die? Did you deserve to be attacked when you were five years old? Did Cassie deserve to die? Did—"
"Okay," Indianna blurted and covered Greyson's mouth with her hands. "Okay. Please don't say any more."
"I don't care that he didn't deserve to be kicked out of his pack. He's a monster, no matter what his past was," Greyson said sternly and took Indianna's hands in his. "He needs to be stopped."
Indianna nodded slightly and took a deep breath.
"So what's going to happen tomorrow during the Branding Ceremony?"
"It will happen at nightfall," Greyson said. "Ellie will be branded first by me, and then you will be branded."
"I'm scared."
"It's tough, but you can handle it," Greyson said surely. "You're strong."
Indianna sighed.
"Do you have to do it as well?"
Greyson shifted uncomfortably and nodded, looking at Indianna with pain-filled eyes.
"Yes. Last."
Indianna swallowed.
"...Great."
"Laura, you wanted to see me?" Indianna asked as she knocked on Laura's bedroom door.
"Yes, Indie. Come in," Laura said kindly, waving Indianna into the room.
Laura was standing beside her bed, looking at a white dress laid across it.
"I wore this at my Branding Ceremony," Laura said once Indianna was beside her.
"It's lovely," Indianna murmured, looking at the white lace material.
"I want you to wear it," Laura said.
"It looks awfully dressy," Indianna commented.
"The ceremony is a huge event," Laura said seriously. "You're going to complete the pack and make it whole."
Indianna turned to Laura and gulped.
"I'm scared."
Laura smiled sympathetically.
"I was too."
"How bad is it?" Indianna whispered.
Laura sighed and took Indianna's hand.
"I'm sorry, dear. It's awful. The pain is like nothing I've ever endured before."
"How long does it take?" Indianna wondered.
"It lasted half an hour for me," Laura said. "But I wasn't conscious for about half of it."
"Conscious? Why?" Indianna gasped.
"I passed out because of the pain," Laura frowned. "I woke up just as Mark branded me. It was horrible."
"Oh my God..."
"Indianna, you're strong. You're so much stronger than me. You can get through this," Laura said firmly. "I know you can."
Indianna gulped and glanced at the dress.
"I'll wear it. Thank you, Laura."
Laura smiled and hugged Indianna.
"Stay strong, dear."
Indianna nodded.
"I'll try."
"Greyson needs you," Laura said. "He'll crumble without you. You complete him, Indie. I've never seen him care for someone the way he cares for you. He loves you so much."
"I know he does."
"You love him too, don't you?"
Indianna nodded.
"Too much, even after all the lies."
"You're going to get through this," Laura said. "You and Greyson will get through Rogue. He'll be stopped."
"He has to be."
"You look lovely," Brooke called as she stopped at Indianna's door. "The dress is beautiful."
"It was Laura's," Indianna said.
She looked at her reflection in the mirror, ran a hand down the lace and took a deep breath.
"You're wearing white too. Are you being branded as well?"
Brooke swallowed and walked into Indianna's room. She sat on the bed, and Indianna sat beside her.
"If you're doing it, then I am," Brooke said. "I've put it off for so long. Harry and I spoke, and I've decided to do it. I can't let Rogue hold me back any longer."
"What does he have to do with this?" Indianna wondered, her brother's name sending chills down her spine.
"You know he kidnapped me and assaulted me. He had me for a week, and you know how he likes to mark his claims on people."
Brooke looked towards Indianna's wrist.
"He's scarred you multiple times."
"He marked you?" Indianna gasped.
"In the same way it's done during the Branding Ceremony," Brooke mumbled.
"Oh my gosh, Brooke!"
"I'm fine," Brooke said and shook her head. "I put off the Branding Ceremony for a year because I was too scared. It would only remind me of him, but I need to be strong.
"We all need to be strong. The pack needs to be united if we want to take him down. I have to do this."
"Only if you're ready," Indianna said.
"I'll never be ready," Brooke admitted and laughed humourlessly. "Will you?"
Indianna shook her head.
"No, but we have each other."
Brooke reached for Indianna's hand.
"Always," Brooke grinned.
For a moment, the fear on Brooke's face vanished. As usual, she hid her worry and her pain.
"Girls."
Indianna felt as though she were going to be sick when she heard Greyson's voice. The air in the room suddenly seemed thicker, and the mood became darker.
"It's time."
Indianna and Brooke looked towards their mates as they walked into the room. They were both dressed in grey and looked sombre.
Neither of them wanted to see their mate in pain.
Indianna eagerly reached for Greyson's hand when he approached her. She melted into his chest, needing to feel the sparks to calm herself.
Greyson wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly, closing his eyes as he savoured the moment of peace.
"Ready?" he murmured.
Indianna shook her head.
"No," she mumbled.
"We have to go," Greyson said.
He gently pulled Indianna forwards, following Harry and Brooke out of the room.
The pack house was empty as they walked through it and slowly made their way outside into the cold, dark night.
Indianna's heart was pounding in her chest, and she could tell that Brooke wasn't feeling any better than she was.
Rogue had already marked her.
He might not have deserved to be forced into becoming a rogue, but that didn't justify his actions.
He was pure evil.
The two pairs of mates walked silently through the woods to where the Branding Ceremony would take place.
Eventually, they reached a clearing sheltered by a large canopy. Fires surrounded the area, lighting it up and illuminating the gathered pack.
The pack members stood in a circle, all dressed in grey. They created a path for Greyson, Indianna, Harry and Brooke.
In the centre of the circle stood a large sterile table.
Indianna froze and clutched Greyson's hand in fear, but he gently pulled her towards the centre.
"Welcome!" Greyson called.
A hush fell over the pack.
"In difficult times, we need to unite and stay strong. Tonight, we gather to welcome three members into our pack.
"Ellie is a victim of a cruel world, and I'm glad we can offer her a place of safety and hope.
"Our Warrior's mate, Brooklyn Fox, has decided to be branded tonight. It has taken great courage for her to go through with this, as Rogue has scarred her mentally and physically.
"And lastly, my mate and your Luna, Indianna, is going to be branded tonight.
"We are a pack. We are strong and united. We will fight back against Rogue and make him pay for his crimes. When your Luna is branded, we will be complete.
"We will fight Rogue together."
"And we will succeed," Indianna whispered.
Murmurs of agreement spread throughout the pack. Soon, those murmurs turned into cheers.
Some were enthusiastic, while others were angry, but it was clear that everyone stood together against one enemy.
Everyone was prepared to fight.
"Silence," Greyson said calmly.
Indianna doubted he could be heard over the shouting, but the pack immediately fell silent.
"Let's begin."
Greyson scanned the crowd and eventually found Ellie.
She was putting on a brave face, but she was keeping her hands from shaking by clutching her white dress tightly.
"Come forward."
Ellie shakily stepped forward, moving away from the middle-aged pack member who had become like a mother to her.
The woman and her mate couldn't have children, so they had welcomed Ellie with open arms.
She had finally found somewhere she belonged.
"Lie on the table," Greyson instructed.
Indianna walked over to Brooke, and the girls held hands tightly.
Ellie slowly lay down on the table. Greyson walked up to her, lifted her dress to reveal her hip and then turned to Ace, who was standing beside one of the burning fires.
Indianna and Brooke both tensed when they saw the large iron rod Ace was holding over the flames.
At the end of the rod was the pack's brand: a simple W inside a circle, representing the Warrior Pack.
Greyson nodded, and Ace passed the rod to him.
Ellie squeezed her eyes shut when she saw it. Indianna found herself rushing over to her and taking her hand comfortingly, trying to support the thirteen-year-old girl.
"You're going to be fine," Indianna whispered.
Ellie turned her head towards Indianna, looking away from the branding rod.
"Be brave, Ellie."
Ellie gulped and nodded.
"I-I am."
"Just look at me. Pay attention to me, only me," Indianna said softly.
She caught Greyson's eye.
"Ellie," Greyson said gravely. "As your Alpha, I officially welcome you to the pack."
With that, Greyson pressed the heated branding rod into Ellie's skin just below her hip.
"I'm brave," Ellie whimpered.
An ear-piercing scream tore from her lips.