The Shelby family car shuddered to a stop as Thomas parked the car in front of Maze's house and sighed quietly, leaning his arms on the steering wheel, and wondered how she managed to talk him into taking her to the art museum in town. A mid-October breeze pushed through the car, causing him to wrap his overcoat tighter around him. He promised Maze months ago he would take her somewhere if she didn't go to Cheltenham. Thomas expected a trip to London, not an art museum. He inhaled sharply, his nose flaring slightly at the overpowering stench of humans and waste.

It had been three days since he killed Malacki Byrne and he hadn't heard a noise from anyone concerning the two deaths. The coppers never told him where they tossed the bodies of Malacki Byrne and his associate. Frankly, Thomas didn't care as long as the IRA didn't show their ugly mugs in his city. He contemplated why Maze hadn't asked about that night. Maybe she was waiting on him to talk to her about it. Thomas wanted to confide in her, but didn't wish to see the hurt in her eyes when he pushed her away for her safety.

He knew she was intelligent and would take a secret to the grave if needed, but there were things he couldn't tell her. Thomas could only imagine what his life would be like in the next ten years and how many secrets he would have to keep from her. It was enough to give him a headache.

Flicking the cigarette into a puddle, he stepped out of the car and closed the door. Walking around the car, he walked up the crumbling walkway leading to her house. With a deft knock, he didn't wait before pushing the door open.

The door swung open slightly, revealing his mate. Her eyes shined with mirth as he stepped back onto the small porch to let her out of her house. Maze fixed her wide rimmed black hat before slipping on a pair of black gloves. He waited as she closed the door before locking it.

"You don't look enthused to do this, Thomas," she commented, pushing gently past him.

"I expected something else…." Thomas replied, glancing around the neighborhood before giving Maze his attention.

Maze snorted lightly, walking toward the car. "I suppose it's not thrilling, but it's close by." She paused her step and spun around, forcing him to stop and look at her. Her eyes danced with mirth as she smiled brightly at him. "Where did you want to go?"

Thomas shook his head slightly and wetting his lips. "No, I said you could pick."

Maze pouted, realizing she could have picked anything. Even to the future, where she desperately wanted to take him somewhere that wasn't her apartment. She wondered if she could get away with it. The few times she took Thomas to the future with her, he seemed at ease, but she knew better. "I'll remember that next time…."

He pursed his lips, shaking his head at her, and followed his mate to the car. He opened the door for her; his fingers caressed her gloved ones with affection, eliciting a smile from her before he started the car. His smile didn't reach his eyes.

Maze looked him over critically. Something drastic happened in the past few days that Thomas was unwilling to speak to her about. It concerned her he didn't confide in her. She worried her lower lip, twisting her gloved hands together as she thought. Sneaking a glance at him, she sighed internally. While it would have angered most women, she learned long ago that when he refused to tell her what happened; it meant he did something dangerous or illegal. It didn't make her happy, but it wasn't her choice.

Their impromptu trips to the countryside and the future since the beginning of their relationship were fine with her, but there were times she wanted to walk down the street on his arm, uncaring of what people would say about them. It amazed her their relationship hadn't been exposed by anyone that knew them. Arthur Sr. was still in the city and hadn't breathed a word since he found her and Thomas in the office that afternoon. The shock and fear that radiated from her still gave her the occasional nightmare. Scooting close to him as they drove toward the city, she reveled in his warmth.

Thomas causally looked at her and hid a smile that threatened to bloom on his face as his mate snuggled close to him. This would be one of the few times they ventured into the city. Most of their interactions were private and away from prying eyes. The secrecy was starting to push his limit. When he suggested they keep their relationship a secret because of Campbell, he was sure he was in the right.

Now, looking at her, clearly happy to be out with him, he found himself thinking differently. He shook off the thought and kept to their original agreement. It would do no good if Campbell realized Thomas's relationship with Maze.

He parked the car on Chamberlain Square, listening to the bustle of the city around him as he stepped out of the car and walked around to her side. Thomas didn't always make it a habit to open the door for her, but her smile told him she appreciated it. They walked into the museum, shaking off the cold air that followed them into the extensive building.

Taking the staircase toward the right, Thomas placed a warm hand on her lower back. She flashed him a bright smile as they followed the crowd up the steps and onto the second floor. Patrons were talking in quiet murmurs as they walked further onto the second floor and into the Round Room. They covered the curricular wall with a myriad of paintings.

"Have you been here before?" he asked quietly, scanning the room.

"Not at all," she replied, stepping around a stationary man who was gazing at a painting. She tilted her head. "It makes me wonder what it looks like," she paused, looking around to see if anyone was listening. Seeing people occupied, she leaned close to him. "In 2020."

His eyebrows raised high upon his forehead, "Do you think it would be different?"

She nodded her head at him. "I know it would. I'm sure enough of this is still the same. Parts would have been rebuilt, though."

He looked at her questioningly, but didn't press the issue. Thomas learned early on not to ask questions about the future. She wasn't able to tell him. The little information she gave freely amused him, but learning about future events was off-limits. It perturbed him, but he accepted her conditions. A man like himself could wreak havoc with future knowledge.

They continued their walk quietly, each enjoying the outing. Thomas kept her close to him. He didn't want her to stray from him if he could help it. She was so close to him he could almost smell her perfume. Thomas inhaled slowly, detecting hints of rose, amber, and vanilla. There were tones that his nose didn't recognize but smelled heavenly on her.

Thomas turned his head, scanning an enclosed glass case that housed a large crystal goblet, a pewter water jug and various artifacts, when he looked up and saw the blonde head of Grace Burgess standing in the Round Room. His first and second thought was why she was there on a Friday afternoon. She might be his employee, but he didn't care what she did outside of work.

Curious, he watched her for a moment. She seemed to be looking for someone. When he saw her heading toward the room they were in, Thomas snatched Maze's wrist and pulled her underneath the enormous staircase that led to the second floor. Before she could argue with him, Thomas pressed his mate against the wall.

"Thomas, what the hell?" she hissed, looking around to see what spooked him.

He pressed her back against the wall with a small glare. She raised an eyebrow at him and twisted away from him and looked around the staircase to see Grace standing across the room. Her eyes widened as she looked at Thomas, his face unreadable, before looking back at Grace. She wondered why the barmaid would be at the art museum as well.

Her heart stuttered as she felt faint seeing who was walking toward Grace.

Inspector Campbell.

Instinctively, she grabbed Thomas and spun him around, pressing him against the wall. "What is it?" he asked hoarsely.

"Thomas, don't…" Maze's eyes were wide with trepidation, but he pushed her back gently and turned around to see what she was preventing him from seeing.

A red haze slid over his eyes, seeing Grace speaking with Inspector Campbell. Fury, like nothing else he ever encountered except once, flooded him like a dam bursting. As he watched the two people talk quietly while looking at a painting, his breathing became labored. His hands clenched tightly into fists as he took a small step forward. His suspicion was confirmed. Grace was in league with Inspector Campbell.

Small hands jerked him back roughly, pushing him hard into the wall. He shivered violently as he leaned against the wall. He arched his head back, exposing his neck, his mouth dropping open as he felt fury roll over him in hot waves.

"Thomas…" he barely heard his name being called through the hazy redness.

He wanted nothing more than to tear the two of them apart. Grace had betrayed him. He let her into his organisation, hoping to sniff out her secrets. His head pounded loudly as Grace's secrets were revealed to him. She was the spy Inspector Campbell sent.

His hands curled again as a wave of pain struck him. He was going to shift in the museum. The wolf demanded justice and felt the betrayal burning inside him.

"Thomas!" the voice called again. This time, it was urgent.

Cool hands touched his heated skin as he opened his eyes and looked down. Through the thick fog of anger, he saw the worry in his mate's eyes. His amber eyes reflecting in her brown ones as he tried desperately to control himself. Swallowing heavily, he fought to push the anger aside and let it simmer, but it reared its ugly head as he turned his head again to see Grace talking with the Inspector.

"I can't…." he muttered, gasping leaning against the wall. "I can't…"

Maze wracked her brain, trying to figure out how to calm him in the museum. She watched helplessly as he fought for control of his volcanic anger. Under her fingers, she could feel his strength as he fought against his nature. When his eyes opened, she shivered involuntarily as desire flooded her seeing the amber hue. It wasn't something she could control, but tried. Thomas needed her calm, not roaring with lust.

"Thomas, love," he heard Maze whisper. "I know, darling."

"No," he shook his head violently. "She betrayed me."

"You need to stay calm," she instructed softly, her eyes watching him carefully. "You can't shift in the museum."

Thomas snarled softly at her rebuke. He inhaled sharply as anger coursed through him as the last few minutes replayed in his mind. He trembled against her, willing the wolf to calm and would deal with Grace's betrayal soon enough.

Maze had to think quickly before Thomas lost full control in the museum. She slid a hand up the side of his neck, hoping to pull him close to her, and instead gasped as he grasped the limb and pulled it close to his nose. Maze watched as Thomas brought her wrist close to his nose and inhaled deeply. Arousal rolled in her and she bit down on her lower lip hard to keep herself from moaning from his sudden actions.

Thomas's eyes slipped close, his nose rubbing gently against the warm skin of Maze's wrist. The volcanic anger that coursed through him began to recede, replaced with an inferno of lust at her enticing scent. Thomas swallowed heavily, fighting to keep himself in control. The overwhelming urge to fuck her bombarded him.

He needed to get out of the museum. Gripping her wrist, Thomas pulled Maze from their hiding place as lust roared through him. He ignored her quiet protests as he dragged her through the museum and out the front door, bypassing humans wandering inside and away from the drizzle.

Thomas barely remembered the drive to Maze's house. His head swam thickly with lust and anger boiled deep in his veins at the result of today. He hadn't expected to see Grace consorting with Inspector Campbell. Twice he pulled over to calm himself, declining Maze's offer to drive.

"I can do it," he gasped heavily, gripping the steering wheel like his life depended on it.

As he parked the car in front of her house, Thomas pulled his tightly gripped fingers gently away from the steering wheel. He cast a glance at Maze, his nostrils flaring, inhaling her arousal that hadn't dissipated since the museum. He wanted to drag her to the house, but refrained and inhaled slowly to steady himself and exited the car.

Maze followed him quickly out of the car, nearly chasing him up the crumbling sidewalk to her front door. Her heart hammered in her chest at his sudden change in emotional response. Coming around him, she fished her keys from her bag and stopped in front of the door. Strong hands gripped her hips tightly, pausing her movements.

Thomas dipped his head, burying it in the back of the hat she wore. He grunted impatiently, squeezing her hips tightly as she unlocked the front door. He hissed lightly as her hips swayed against his thickened cock before she pushed the door open. Inside, the door slammed loudly as he pushed her against it and lowered his head for a searing kiss.

He needed her. He needed to fuck her until he was spent. Until the anger subsided in his veins and he could think clearly again. Tearing at her blouse, the buttons scattered along the floor loudly as she removed the layers of coats before finding the buttons of his waistcoat. Her gasp was loud as he pushed her roughly against the downstairs wall next to the foot of the stairs.

"I need…." he grunted, pushing her blouse off her shoulders, letting it fall to the floor before wrapping his hands around her waist to help undo the buttons. "...to fuck you."

Maze barely had time to nod her head when Thomas leaned down, nipping at her throat before pulling her up the wooden stairs. He pressed her back against the wall, towering over her as he tugged her skirt down her body, leaving her in a slip. Maze fumbled with the buttons of his blue pinstripe before pushing the shirt off his shoulders. She grunted gently, her head tipping up to see into his amber hue eyes as he leaned down, capturing her lips in a searing kiss.

Her hands slid down his bare chest, her nails lightly scouring his skin, until she reached the waistline of his opened trousers. Maze gasped for air as Thomas broke the kiss, trailing his lips down the side of her neck. Using one hand, she shoved his trousers down his legs while the other dipped down to grab his length.

Thomas let a low snarl escape him as Maze's hand wrapped delicately around his cock, giving it a slight tug. The wolf growled in his head at her. As his lips caressed the skin of her shoulder, he wanted to fucking bite her. He wanted to hear her fucking scream his name as he pounded in her cunt. Her arousal wrapped around him, smothering him. With quick precision, he grabbed the flimsy slip she wore, tearing it off her before grabbing her arse and wrapping her legs around his waist.

Gripping her hips tightly, Thomas thrust his cock hard inside her wet cunt. Their cries of ecstasy were loud in the silent hallway. Thomas took a deep breath, trying to capture a sliver of control. He felt Maze tremble against him as he pulled his cock slowly from her before thrusting again.

Nails scoured the back of his head, eliciting a growl. Maze's legs tightened around his hips as he reached around to grab her wrists and pinning them above her head. Maze groaned loudly, leaning to capture his lips and plunging her tongue roughly in his mouth.

He didn't want her to touch him. He wanted her to submit to him. "Don't fucking move your hands," he demanded, breaking their heated kiss. Gripping her hip again tightly, Thomas fucked her. His mind rattled with lust and anger.

He could feel the anger rolling deep inside him as lust warred within him. He wanted to fucking hurt Grace, shoot Campbell and fuck Maze until she couldn't walk. Under his fingers, he felt the bones of her hips as he squeezed tighter, holding his mate hostage in his embrace.

He was so lost in his mind; he didn't hear her shocked cry as he squeezed her hips but groaned, feeling her cunt walls clamp around his cock. His name falling from her lips as he continued to fuck her.

Kissing along her shoulder, his teeth ached to bite her. He needed to bite her. Nipping gently at the skin, just to give his teeth some relief, he felt her walls clamp around his cock again as she came for a second time in a matter of minutes.

"Thomas," Maze moaned, arching her neck to the side as her eyes slipped closed again. His hands were tight on her hips as he continued to piston his hips against hers, bringing her close to another orgasm. Sweat bloomed between their frantic bodies.

She knew in the morning her body and hips would be sore, but she didn't want him to stop fucking her. Pulling him to her, she nipped his lower lip, teasing him.

Thomas swore harshly, his orgasm close. Kissing his mate again, his hips thrust erratically. When her walls clamped down on his cock again, he shuddered viciously as he emptied inside her.

Breathing heavily, Thomas rested his head on her damp shoulder, trying to calm himself. Kissing the skin gently, he pulled his cock slowly out of her body and instead of letting her feet touch the ground; he carried them to her room where he laid her on the bed. Kissing down her body, he groaned loudly, smelling his scent on her skin.

Maze caught one last glimpse of pale blue eyes before closing her own and succumbing to his demanding desire.

Grace walked into the art museum alone. She was to meet Campbell here to tell him her suspicion about where the guns were located. As she walked into the second room, her eyes scanned the metalwork of the railings above her. From behind her, she could hear people talking quietly as they ventured around the museum on the chilly Friday afternoon.

She turned her head to see Campbell walking toward her and waited for him. When he caressed the side of her face in apology, Grace frowned at him.

"I didn't know he would involve you in this hideous mess," Campbell started as he removed his hand from her face.

"He trusts me," she whispered. "I told you that and you didn't believe me."

Campbell made a humming noise under his breath. He still wasn't sure if Thomas Shelby actually trusted Grace or was just saying it. When he heard about the situation with Malacki Byrne and Grace's involvement, he cursed himself for putting her in that kind of position, but he knew it was too late to pull her away from her assignment now.

But he needed to know how far his agent had fallen for the criminal.

"In Sgt. Moss's report, he stated that the two of you were embracing?"

Grace scoffed at him, turning away. "Is that all you're concerned about? An embrace?"

"I'm concerned about your welfare…."

"It was me who killed them," she admitted, lying for Thomas. It would her no good to have him arrested for killing a man.

"You've been living with beasts," he muttered, getting close to her.

"The other night, when that happened, something inside me changed," she admitted. "I have no further reason to stay…."

"You want to resign?" he asked, surprised.

Grace said nothing as she walked away from him, completely unaware that blue eyes were watching her. "I think our time has ended." She paused and turned around to look at her employer. "I think I know where the guns are hidden."

He blinked at her. This was the opportunity he was looking for. "You do? Where?" he pressed, coming closer to her and lightly placed a hand on her lower back, much to her discomfort.

Grace needed to bargain with him. For Thomas's sake. It would gut her if she told Campbell the truth and her employer didn't keep his word. "If I tell you and I am right, your business is done with Thomas Shelby, correct?"

He paused and really looked at her. "If you're trying to make a deal with me, you're going to have to be more explicit."

"I want your word that Thomas Shelby will walk away from this unharmed," Grace demanded fiercely.

This attitude worried him. If Grace, his best agent, was trying to negotiate with him to keep a criminal safe, then he needed to be on his guard. Thomas Shelby would have to be taken care of in any way possible. He couldn't use Grace to destroy Thomas Shelby, but he could use someone else.

He wouldn't send Thomas to jail. No, that wouldn't be enough for Campbell. He wanted Shelby to suffer as he did with the loss of a woman that cared for. The man, that evil beast, turned his best agent into a simpering woman.

"Why would you want to save him?" Campbell asked, unsure if he could carry out her request.

Grace closed her mouth and looked away. She couldn't exactly tell her employer that she had fallen for Thomas. That she believed he killed the IRA to protect her from harm. He reached over and clasped his hand with hers.

"You're too kindhearted for this kind of work," he mused, giving her a tiny smile. It was one of the things he liked best about her. Her kindness.

"Perhaps," she replied, looking at him intently. "Will you spare him?"

Campbell didn't say a word when she pressed a letter in his hand before she walked away from him. He watched as his best agent walked out of the room, bypassing people. It deeply worried him that Grace had fallen in love with this criminal if she was trying to protect him. He felt a hole open in his heart at the potential loss of her. He realized Grace would walk into Thomas Shelby's arms and never look back.

He couldn't have that.

As he exited the museum, a sense of determination came over him. He was going to make Thomas Shelby suffer as he did... starting with that woman that was always with him.

That night as Grace sang to the men at the pub, Campbell stalked the cemetery until he found Daniel Owen's grave. Grace's letter was precise detailing where the grave was and her theories about it. Behind him were several men with shovels to dig up the grave of Danny Owens.

In an empty boxing ring, Arthur Shelby waited for his father to show up so they could continue their talk about their dreams of opening the Shelby Casino and Hotel. When the hour struck late, Arthur pulled out his pocket watch and sighed, realizing his father would not show up.

In a quiet house, Thomas laid in bed awake as Maze snored lightly beside him as the days' events crossed through his mind like a movie. He ran his fingers through her soft, messy hair before looking down at her and wondered what fresh hell awaited him when he woke up the next morning. A part of him felt he needed to apologise to Maze for his roughness, but he could think clearer now. She shifted against him, groaning gently from her sore hips from their demanding fucking earlier, her small hand running over his bare chest as she continued to sleep.

As the sun rose on another day, Campbell opened the first box and smiled, seeing guns inside. He'd found what he came looking for.

Grace met the Inspector later that afternoon, as the sun shone brightly over the cemetery and realized she had been right. The guns were buried in Danny Owens's grave. Campbell saw her and immediately walked through the tall grass to come to her.

"All the guns are accounted for but one," he said, smiling brightly at her and embracing her gently.

"Then, sir," she began, closing her eyes for a second. "I resign my commission."

"Good," he said, relieved, and stepped away from her. "Now that you're no longer my subordinate and I'm no longer your superior officer, I can officially do this," he said, and pulled out a small box. Grace's eyes widened at seeing the ring inside.

"My admiration for you has turned to love in these past few months, Grace. Will you marry me?" he asked, hesitantly.

His smile faltered the longer she stared at him. When she placed her trembling hands upon his, he let hope soar inside him until she spoke.

"Mr. Campbell, you deserve better," she murmured.

His face contorted in confusion as his mind tried to figure out why she refused his offer of marriage. As the pieces of the puzzle seemed to click into place, he realized that his suspicion of Grace was true. The woman before him loved Thomas Shelby. The criminal bastard took her away from him. Seduced this woman into thinking that Thomas could love her. Campbell scoffed at the idea that Thomas Shelby knew how to love. This no longer was a military mission to find the guns. Now it has become personal. Campbell would ruin Thomas Shelby and in her anguish, Grace would return to him as he comforted her until she saw reason.

Infuriated, he suppressed his anger for her sake.

But he had to know. Had to know it was Thomas Shelby that took her heart from him.

"Was it him that came between us?" he asked angrily.

He saw her catch her breath. "My resignation will be on your desk in the morning," she said, refusing to answer his question.

As he watched her walk away, he swore vengeance.

Arthur Jr. rushed up the steps to the train station. His father told him the train would leave on Saturday and here he was, rushing after the man before he left. Taking two steps at a time, he pushed past a group of people to spot his father standing near the train.

"Dad?" Arthur said quietly, seeing his dad standing there.

"Hello, son." Arthur Sr. replied, uninterested in talking to his eldest child. He was hoping to get out of Birmingham before everyone realized he left. "May I ask how did you find me?"

"Marsden. He told me you left him a bill last night for your whores."

Arthur Sr. looked at his pocket watch. "At least we got to say goodbye."

"How could you do this to us?" Arthur Jr. asked, a sense of betrayal washing over him.

"Do what, son?"

"All that stuff you said about Shelby Casino…"

Arthur Sr. pursed his lips and shook his head slightly at his eldest child. "Well, truth be known, son, I lied. I lied to you for the money. Money I knew I would not get unless I made up a story about why I needed it."

Arthur Jr. crumbled at the betrayal of his own parent. "You're a fucking liar and a thief. Now, give me back my fucking money!" he snapped angrily.

Arthur Sr. walked slowly to his son and looked him over. "I've starved for a very long time, and I am tired of it. I wanted the money and I know you had it."

"I waited for you last night," Arthur said desperately.

In a fit of anger that only Shelby men were accustomed to, Arthur charged at his father and pushed him backwards, his eyes flashing dangerously at the betrayal he felt. In a swift motion, Arthur Sr. grabbed his son and roughly pressed him against the wall.

"Now listen to me. Never put your fucking hands on me again or I'll cut your throat out and spread you on the tracks. Do you fucking understand me?" Arthur Sr. lashed out, his eyes flashing toward his child.

His father released him, fixing his jacket and boarded the train, leaving Arthur Jr. humiliated and angry.

Polly sat at the kitchen table reading the paper with her handy magnifying glass when the door burst open, revealing a disheveled Arthur. "Where's your father?" she asked, lowering the paper to see him standing there.

She frowned, seeing him dishevelled and torn. Something bad happened when her nephew found his father.

"I'm assuming he's fritting away that five hundred pounds you took from us and put it in his thieving whore hands," she snapped viciously, still looking at the newspaper.

"What were you thinking?" she rounded on him, snapping the newspaper closed. "How dare you do something like that without talking to me or Tommy first?"

Arthur stood there motionless for a moment, listening to her rant. He completely understood now what he did wrong and that his father was a liar and a thief. He should have never believed the man in the first place.

"Does Tommy know?" he asked, wetting his lips.

She turned her head away from him, realizing that Arthur Sr. had told his son to fuck off and ran away with the money. It pained her heart to see him heartbroken, but there were some things that Arthur Jr. needed to learn. He needed to remember that his father was a thieving whore monger.

"No," she said slowly and reopened the paper. "But you're going to tell him."

Thomas rose the next morning and dressed quickly. As he shoved his foot into a boot, he heard a knocking coming from downstairs. Maze's eyes widened, and she tightened her silk robe around her tighter and left the bedroom.

A few minutes later, she pushed the door open. He frowned, seeing the troubled look on her face. "Finn's downstairs. He says something is wrong. A grave?"

Cursing, he finished tying the second boot and rose from the bed. Giving her a small kiss, he hurried out of the house, chasing Finn to the cemetery. He watched with amusement as his brother jumped over gravestones and kicked the tall grass until they reached Danny Owens' grave.

When they reached the grave, Thomas instantly noticed the ground had been tilled, as if someone dug it up. No one but a few people knew the contents of the grave. Then his mind thought about what he witnessed yesterday at the museum. Grace had to have told Campbell something. Something about the grave and the guns.

He just needed to know who told her.

Thomas swore to himself, his mind already planning how to fix this. He needed to contact Jimmy and tell him to keep a closer eye on Maze. He wondered if he needed to call a family meeting. Arthur and Polly knew about the guns and eventually he told John.

Thomas leaned down to look at his youngest brother. "There's going to be trouble now, Finn. You look after yourself, do you hear me? I might be going away for a while."

Thomas wiped his hand across his mouth, rolling his neck from side to side, and looked out over the cemetery as his brother Finn rushed off. He would have to hasten if he was going to survive this.

Thomas marched into the Betting house an hour later and threw himself in his office chair. He twisted the chair back and forth, thinking furiously. Reaching toward the newspaper that sat on his desk, he cursed seeing the date. Tonight was the full moon. And tonight, Campbell was going to come for him.

He was going to arrest him and take him for everything he had. Maze was in danger of being taken and interrogated. His family was in danger because of his mistake at the beginning of the year when he should have tossed the guns in the cut.

But he refused and now Campbell was coming for him.

He avoided everyone during the day, but he couldn't risk his Pack to Campbell's ire. One of his men would kill the man in his stead. Sending out a message to the Pack, he cancelled the run. They would suffer for it, but he couldn't allow Campbell to learn their secret.

That night, he sat on his bed with a half empty bottle of whiskey still on the side table and ran his hand over his face. Thomas would avoid Maze's bed tonight. He couldn't have her watch him being dragged out of her bed by coppers. As he set the glass down, he reached under his bed to grab the box that held the opium pipe and looked down at the closed box.

He hadn't needed it in months, but he hadn't gotten rid of it. Running his hand over the smooth surface, he opened it and sat it on the side table and picked up his box of cigarettes before lighting it. Thomas rose to his feet, pacing the room as he thought about how to fix this problem.

That is, if Campbell came for him that night. He was sure he would. The man was relentless. Agitation rose in him as he continued to think about how to squeeze himself out of this hole he found himself in. Campbell wasn't supposed to find the guns until he handed them over.

A knock on his door interrupted his silence. Looking at the closed door, he inhaled and cursed, sensing Maze on the other side. He swore to himself, knowing that he couldn't turn her away without explaining himself. He set the glass down on the crowded table and walked across the room to open the door.

Her smiling face dropped seeing his troubled one. "Is everything all right?" she asked, coming into his space.

"No, it's not." he answered as truthfully as he could. He turned and saw the light disappearing from outside. He felt the upheaval building inside him the longer his mate stood in his room. The urge to shift would come swiftly, and he didn't need her there. He swore she would never see him shift.

He wanted to run in the woods, but he risked Campbell finding out what he was. A bullet to the head in his wolf form would end him quickly.

Maze scrunched up her face, her fingers playing with the belt looped through her overcoat, and turned to him. "It's a full moon Thomas, why aren't you…"

"Why does it matter to you if I run tonight?" he snapped angrily at her. Seeing her shocked face, he sucked in a breath. "Tonight's not a good night."

"Do you want company?" she asked, stepping back to sit down on the bed.

Thomas was torn. He wanted her here, and he wanted her to leave. He looked out the window, pushing the curtain aside, and saw a half empty street. Not a copper around.

"No, I need you to leave," he said wearily.

"Why?" she asked, walking over to him and touching the sleeve of his shirt. She wanted to be close to him, but didn't realize what was bothering him.

"Because I need you too," he snapped, jerking his arm from her. He turned back to the window to see the moon starting to rise. He could fight the change, but it would make him ill-tempered. Thomas could feel her eyes glaring at the back of his head.

Agitated at his attitude, she frowned at him and spun on her heel to leave, when something caught her eye. Maze paused her step and saw a pipe sitting in its box. Her mind, like a book, flipped through its memory pages until it landed on one.

She sucked in a breath, unaware that Thomas was watching her. "What is that?" she asked softly.

Thomas winced and cursed himself for leaving the opium pipe out for her to see. "Nothing," he said roughly, pushing past her to grab it.

"That's a fucking opium pipe, isn't it?" she demanded, putting herself between him and the pipe.

He stopped and looked down at her. He inhaled noisily and pushed past her to grab it again. When she put her hand on his chest, he let out a growl. His eyes shifted amber as the wolf snarled in his head at her willful nature.

"The fuck, Thomas?" she seethed, her eyes narrowing at him.

"It's none of your business," he replied roughly, pushing past her and snatching the box from the side table, knocking the bottle of whiskey over. He closed the box with a loud snap and tossed it under the bed. How could he have been so fucking stupid to leave it out in her presence?

"Really? You gonna make me leave so you can smoke opium?" she snapped.

His head snapped up at her insinuation. Narrowing his eyes, he took a step closer to her. The wolf snarled in his head as he came into her space. His bones began to ache as the pain behind his eyes intensified. He needed her out of there.

"Do you know how fucking dangerous that shit can be?" she prompted, her accent morphing as she ignored his anger.

"Leave it alone, Maze."

"No, I won't leave it alone," she replied, crossing her arms across her chest.

"Leave it," he snarled, taking another step toward her, forcing her to step backwards until her back pressed against the wall.

Her breath hitched, but she didn't bow down to him. "You can overdose and die on opium! Too long exposure can give you organ failure, Thomas!" she yelled angrily.

Fury boiled in him. He didn't want to talk about it. He didn't want her to be there. Thomas could feel the urge to shift pounding in his head. His eyes closed, and they rolled around in his head at the blinding pain. His fingers curled as the pain bloomed in his abdomen.

"Does it fucking matter?" he raged, placing a hand on the wall close to her head. Every sinew in his body flared at the impending shift he tried to suppress.

She looked shocked at his question. "Of course it matters!" she snapped, her lips thin with anger. "Tell me fucking why?" she demanded, anger and panic prompting her arguing.

His body shook with rage as he forced down the urge to shift. Snarling, he punched the wall, hoping to direct the pain in his head elsewhere. Her argumentative nature incensed him. His nails dug into the palm of his hands, and he scented blood.

Thomas shook his head from side to side as if trying to make everything stop. He didn't want to have this conversation with her. Gasping for air as the pain doubled, he bite the inside of his cheek hard, tasting more blood. "It's for the nightmares!" he shouted at her, his eyes amber, hoping his answer would be enough to make her stop.

"Then why didn't you say anything?" she fumed, pushing herself off the wall and into his space.

Thomas became very aware that she was pressed against him. He looked down, glaring at her. Thomas could feel his control slipping and he grasped onto what little he had left and pushed down an iota of anger. "It doesn't matter," he responded, his voice cold.

"Yes, it…." she opened her mouth to say before he roared, startling her as she stepped back toward the wall. He swore viciously, gasping for air as his body trembled. Thomas turned his head side to side again, her refusal to listen pushing him past the breaking point.

Thomas felt the wolf push him aside. He wrapped his right hand loosely against the side of her neck, his fingers sliding into her loose hair as he tipped her head up to look at him directly in the eye. "Enough, Maze," his voice low, the pitch changing as the wolf took command.

Her breath hitched as her chest rose and fell quickly. She had pushed him too far. Maze could feel his warm hand tremble lightly against her neck. She was aware of his nature, but never in their years together had she pushed him this hard.

"Please leave," he muttered against her ear.

She nodded, her head brushing against his. He sighed and stepped back from as she jerked the door open and closed it quickly. Her heart hammered in her chest painfully. Hearing a roar, she winced, closing her eyes. Sliding her fingers through her hair shakily, she slowly walked down the stairs before collapsing on the last step. Maze couldn't stop the tears that fell as she buried her head in her hands.