Chapter 47

The Gift Of Beast Blood

Karnwyr greeted the two of them outside, wagging his tail and whimpering happily at their return. He was becoming much more obedient. They almost had the old wolf trained to actually follow their commands. She gave him some dried jerky for being so good and patiently waiting for them then she clicked her tongue getting him to follow.

Bishop crossed his arms as they left Dragonsreach and said with dripping sarcasm, "You'll protect them from the dragons? The same dragons that can sense you and who keep looking for you?"

She frowned at him and scoffed, "Well I have to do something! At least if any show up I can draw them away."

He narrowed his eyes at her, "You doing this for the Jarl or for your kid brother?"

She averted her gaze.

"You actually care about him don't you?" He smirked at her, "That long haired brat?"

"He's my mother's son," she said matter-of-factly, "I just want to do what's right."

Bishop sighed, "Always the selfless one, Ladyship."

She smiled at him, "I try," then she looked over at Jorrvaskr, "Let's stop by the Mead Hall. I want to see how Athis and Njada are doing."

Bishop said, "I'm sure Athis is fine, he was practically singing the whole way back. Njada though," he shook his head, "Don't bother her Rona. She's just going to be angry and she'll blame anyone and everyone for it, especially you."

Rona knit her brows at him, "We should at least show her that we're here for her, show her that we care."

He rolled his eyes at her and they went along down to Mead Hall. They found Kodlak sitting with Aela and Skjor at the main table, going over the funeral preparations for the fallen. Karnwyr wandered over to the group looking for head scratches.

Kodlak pet the old wolf, grinning at him, then glanced up at them and said, "Ah, back so soon? I thought the two of you would take a few more days to yourself at least."

"We just wanted to visit and see how everyone's doing," Rona said.

"That's very kind of you," Kodlak replied.

"Athis is doing just fine," Aela said, "in fact he's out back with Vilkas and Farkas. They're practicing their marksmanship."

Skjor chuckled, "Yeah, they all seem to have found a new passion with those old bows."

"And Njada?" Rona asked tentatively.

They all looked away from her except for Kodlak who said, "She won't leave her bed or speak with any of us. I'm afraid that she's giving up."

Rona felt so sad for her and said, "Maybe I could try talking to her?"

Aela scoffed, "You can certainly try, but don't be surprised if she lashes out or just ignores you."

Rona looked to Bishop who shrugged, shaking his head, "Told yah."

"I'm just going to pop in for a minute," Rona said as she headed towards the stairs.

Bishop said, "I'll be out in the yard. I'd like to see for myself just how those three are doing with their bows."

"Watch out for Farkas," Aela laughed, "his aim is all over the place!"

Skjor grunted crossing his arms, "Yeah, nearly lost my other eye this morning."

Bishop laughed and opened the door leading to the yard. A free flying arrow spun by and shunted right into the opened door in front of him, wiping the smirk off his face.

He leaned back, stunned and the three at the table burst into laughter as Bishop carefully plucked the stray arrow from the door and barked, "Farkas! You trying to kill me!? Here... no - NO! Put it down, I'll show you - not like that ice brain! Put that damn thing away before you kill someone!"

He disappeared outside while Rona chuckled to herself and traipsed down the stairs. She walked by Tilma who was busy picking up some shattered glass on the floor. The old woman saw her heading for the Companion's bunk room when she muttered, "I wouldn't bother her now dear. She started throwing things when I offered to bring her some lunch."

Rona knit her brows together and bravely stepped into the room where she found Njada sitting on her bed, leaning against a wall looking miserable and angry.

Rona leaned over, her hands behind her back as she hesitantly inquired, "How are you doing?"

Njada didn't even look at her, she continued to stare at the wall. Rona looked over at the stump where her arm once was. It was bandaged over and the wraps looked like they needed changing as they were soaked in old blood and smelled sour.

Rona gasped and said, "We have to change your bandages! You're going to get an infection!"

She reached out to her and Njada glared at her snapping, "DON'T FUCKING TOUCH ME."

Rona pulled her hands back and breathed sincerely, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry this happened to you... I... It's all my fault. You can blame me, but please, I just want to help you."

Njada turned her face away from her again and rest her head back against the wall ignoring her.

Rona felt the tears building and her face cringed then she broke into a sob, "You'll die if you leave it like this! Please!"

"It doesn't matter," Njada mumbled, "Ria's dead. None of it fucking matters anymore."

Rona was taken aback. She never knew that they were that close of friends... but as she looked over Njada and saw that her eyes were sparkling with tears that clung tightly to her lashes, she realized that Njada had loved Ria. Rona put a hand to her mouth stifling her sobs. She turned away from her and whispered, with her lip trembling, "I'm so sorry Njada. I really am..."

She left her, feeling her heart aching painfully. Of course Njada had given up the will to live. She'd lost the one she loved. Rona would have done the same if she'd lost Bishop that day. She let her few tears fall and wiped them away with the palm of her hands, sniffling and trying to compose herself before heading back upstairs.

As she reentered the Mead Hall she noticed that Kodlak was missing and only Aela and Skjor were sitting at the table, quietly chatting and sipping on their pints of ale and mead.

Aela looked over at her sad face and said, "No luck either, huh?"

Rona pulled up a chair next to them, folding her hands in her lap and staring down at the table, "She's really upset about Ria..."

Aela nodded slowly and took a sip from her mug and confirmed Rona's suspicions, "They were lovers. I saw Njada trying to protect Ria... and then," she shook her head sighing, "one of those dragons caught her by surprise, got her right in its jaws and just," she pressed her lips together, unable to say the words and then said, "Njada lost it. She lost herself in her grief and wasn't thinking at all when the dragon took her arm."

Rona looked over them both, brows knit tightly together and asked, "What about Torvar? What happened to him?"

Skjor scoffed, "He was the first to go after you leapt in. Fucking idiot was drinking all night. Dulled his senses. It was bound to happen sooner or later, wasn't the first time he went into battle drunk off his wits. He'd just been really lucky until then."

Rona turned her gaze back to the hands pressed tightly to her lap. Survivor's guilt was plaguing her thoughts and her emotions.

"Hey," Aela said, "You and Bishop should have dinner here with us tonight. We'll get stupid drunk in old Torvar's memory!"

Rona smirked and said, "I'll have a glass of wine, but after meeting Sanguine I try not to drink that heavily."

Aela gaped at her, "Well that's a story I haven't heard from you yet! Hah! You'll have to tell me all about it - tonight when we feast!"

Rona nodded smiling finally. "I'd like that."

Aela was like her big sister. The woman always knew how to cheer her up and make her feel good about herself. She truly admired her, werewolf or not. Though she often found herself remembering the way Aela had looked on at Claudia with such rage. She'd wanted to ask, but couldn't bring herself to bring it up, not wanting to stain their newfound friendship with whatever awful thing her mother had done to deeply offend her. So she tried to let it go and forget it.

Bishop and Rona both stayed at the Mead Hall that evening, enjoying a hearty feast and listening to the Companions telling tales of their adventures. Kodlak and Skjor talked about the old days and what it was like working with Claudia and Grella and just how much trouble those two got them all into.

Vilkas went on telling a few funny stories about how he always had to keep an eye out for Farkas because he could be a bit slow. Farkas didn't mind in the slightest as he had quite a few stories of his own about how he saved his brother's skin because he was too busy over thinking everything all the time.

Aela decided to tell them all about that fateful evening when Serlas walked through the door to the inn way out in Winterhold some twenty five years ago and how he bought them all drinks, celebrating Aela's official joining of the Companions, before he slipped off drunkenly with little Claudia, who was drawing this towering altmer along off to her bedroom. The whole story made Rona blush furiously the entire time, even Bishop threw in a few details that Serlas had apparently shared with him, that she'd never known and her eyes just got wider and wider and her face redder and redder as they all smiled and laughed loudly at her, poking fun at her.

She enjoyed it though even when Kodlak teased chortling loudly, "I do think our resident dragon might burst into flames at any moment!"

Aela could hardly breathe she was laughing so hard, "AHAHAHAH! I have NEVER - seen anyone - go as red," she breathed, "as you! All the way up to your ears girl!"

Rona pouted and sunk in her seat as Bishop nudged her playfully, "You should be glad for that fateful night Ladyship, otherwise you wouldn't be here!"

She mumbled through pursed lips, "Well I am... I just never wanted to know all that! Eugh!" She gagged slightly at the very thought of her tiny mother sharing an intimate evening with her towering father. As far as she understood it the two of them were never intimate again and only maintained a platonic relationship while living together to try and raise her. She was sure it was because her father dreaded the idea of siring another child with the woman.

Everyone's laughter calmed a bit before Kodlak stood up and said, "Well... it's that time. I'll need some help changing Njada's bandages. Who would like to volunteer tonight?"

Athis grumbled, "Not me again, she bit me last night!"

"We'll go," Vilkas said, indicating himself and his brother.

"You're changing her bandages?" Rona asked.

"We have to force her," Kodlak said sadly, "Hold her down because she fights it, but I'm not about to let any more of the whelps in my charge die on me," he looked to Athis and Bishop and said, "I could use both of your help too, at least with wrapping it. She can be quite feisty about it."

Bishop said, "Sure," shrugging and got up. Athis stood too and grumbled, "If she bites me again you're all on your own!"

The five of them left, heading downstairs, Karnwyr at Bishop's heel.

Rona looked over at Aela and Skjor and asked, "Why not take her to the Temple of Kynareth?"

"She won't go," Aela said, swirling her mug, "I don't know why the old man bothers. If she wants to die, then just let her."

Rona looked at her, horrified that she'd say such a thing.

"Oh don't give me that look girl. You know how it is. She'll end up leaving anyways. She can't very well fight in her condition and if she goes it's up to her whether she heals or not."

Skjor cleared his throat loudly and Aela looked to him, then gave a short not. Skjor addressed Rona saying, "We've been wanting to discuss something with you for some time now, new blood."

Rona smirked at him calling her new blood and said, "What about?"

"We have something special for you. But it's not for everyone to hear," he and Aela both stood up from their seats and he said, "Come with us, we'll meet in the Underforge."

Rona got up, wondering what they had planned for her. She followed them outside, into the yard and around Jorrvaskr. Skjor pushed against a stone wall and it opened up, revealing a hidden room beneath the Skyforge. The three of them stepped inside and she looked around at the small cave structure. There was a path that curved around, leading to another exit that went just outside Whiterun. There was a stone basin raised up on a pedestal in the center of the wide hallway.

"What is this place?" She asked. Skjor closed the stone doorway behind them, which startled her slightly. She was feeling a bit on edge all of a sudden, feeling like she did whenever a dragon was near.

Skjor explained, "Jorrvaskr is the oldest building in Whiterun. The Skyforge was here long before it was. The Underforge taps into ancient magic that is older than men or elves. We bring you here to make you stronger, new blood."

She looked warily between the two of them. Aela just smiled at her and stepped over to the basin, leaning over it as she rest her hands on it. She said, "It's been a long time since we've had a heart like yours in our numbers. That pitiful ceremony behind the hall does not befit warriors like us. You are due more honor than some calls and feasting. I will be your forebear this evening."

Aela grinned at her and then her body shuddered and she let out a pained cry which became a guttural roar as her face elongated and her bones cracked, changing her shape from that of a normal human woman to a hulking beast.

Rona's eyes widened and she tried to hide her trembling as Skjor stepped over to her and said, "We do this in secret because Kodlak is too busy trying to throw away this incredible gift we've been granted. He thinks we've been cursed. But we've been blessed. How could something that gives this type of prowess be a curse? So we take matters into our own hands."

He grasped one of Aela's clawed hands and took a knife, sliding it deeply across her palm. She held it over the stone basin, letting her blood pool into it.

Skjor noticed that Rona had slowly backed away from them, edging for the hidden stone wall, her trembling incredibly apparent as she couldn't stop herself.

He said, "You have no reason to fear us, nor this gift Dragonborn. You saw what happened with the dragons. The whelps and the new bloods, they were severely wounded, even killed. But those of us in the Circle, with our heightened senses, we were able to evade taking any real damage. If Kodlak had allowed it we would have taken on full beast form that day and I know we would have crushed them easily. If you had the beast blood back then, you might have been able to destroy the World Eater, fulfilling your destiny."

She took a breath and thought for a moment. Would it really have helped if she had the power of a werewolf? Kodlak was so sure that it was a curse though and if she accepted she'd be barred from Sovngarde after death, her existence would be as one of Hircine's hunting dogs, chasing prey with him for an eternity. Alduin had spoken of going to Sovngarde, saying he would regain his true power from there. She couldn't risk being blocked from the land of the dead. She shook her head slowly.

Skjor's eyes narrowed at her, "To reach the heights of the Companions, you must join with us in the shared blood of the wolf. There is no other way. This is a valuable gift, Rona. You should not refuse it."

She breathed, "I do refuse. I can't accept it. I can't be blocked from Sovngarde," she tried to explain and Aela growled low at her, her jaws shuddering as she did so.

Then she spoke in a strange way, as though her normal voice was speaking over a deeper monster's voice, "All this talk of Sovngarde... you could have real power, you could wipe the dragon menace from the face of Skyrim. Why would you deny it?"

Rona just shook her head, quivering still. Aela rounded on her, she was so fast Rona almost didn't see her moving. In a second she was face to face with an angry werewolf. Aela's jaws were trembling with each growl and saliva dripped from the crooks in her sharp teeth. Though Rona had refused the beast blood for some very practical reasons, she also didn't want to be like that. A heaving, bloodthirsty beast. Rona backed up against the wall as Aela threw her clawed hands to it on either side of her head.

Rona could feel Aela's breath on her face as she spoke low and guttural again, "Just. Like. Her," she said slowly and then roared, "WHAT!? Are you too good for it!? Like old Claudia was!? Maybe I'll just turn you myself... maybe I'll bury my claws into your chest and tear your heart out, kill you, just like she did to MY MOTHER!"

Rona's feelings overwhelmed her then. She was terrified and she didn't understand. Claudia had killed Grella? But when? Why? Why had no one told her?

(The song is A Dangerous Mind by Within Temptation)

Her fears forced a song to break free from her. She didn't want to hurt Aela but she didn't want to be a werewolf or die either. Skjor actually tried to pull Aela back, but she wouldn't move and then she roared in Rona's face, saliva splashing her and she shouted back, "FUS!" throwing the both of them away from her.

Rona ran as fast as she could, racing to the opposite exit of the Underforge, she leapt down a winding tunnel and ran outside into the fields as her song burst loudly over the plains. Someone would hear, someone would come. If they didn't she would be forced to kill Aela.

She heard her, roaring after her. Rona saw the full moon high in the sky and kept running as fast as her legs would carry her. She didn't dare look back but Aela easily outpaced her and ran around her, blocking her path. She was on all fours raising hackle at her. Rona stopped and caught her breath, staring wide eyed at Aela and pleaded, "Please, Aela. Please. I don't want to hurt you!"

She roared back, "But I want to hurt you! I want to hold your heart in my hands the way Claudia did with Grella when she murdered her! That's all she brought back to me! My mother's heart! What kind of person does that!? They were supposed to be friends! They were like SISTERS! I wanted that with you... but now I know your true colors. You think you're too good for the gift! Just like her. THAT FUCKING BITCH!"

Aela lunged forward and Rona prepared to shout when Karnwyr appeared barking viciously and jumping onto Aela where he buried his canines deep into her shoulder. Aela just swiped sharply at the wolf, sending him flying across the plains.

"KARNWYR!" Rona screamed as the wolf yelped painfully and skid through the grass. He laid on his side, blood covering his side where she'd slashed him. Rona wanted to go to him, but Aela was already running for her again and then Bishop appeared, he grabbed her shoulders, yanking her back and blocked with his arms as he took the full force of Aela's rage. She roared, biting his forearm and digging her claws through his flesh as he grunted, clenching his teeth to endure the pain.

Rona screamed again and four other werewolves rounded on Aela, throwing her from Bishop and pinning her to the ground. A white backed werewolf roared at her, his voice was that of Kodlak's mixed in with a monsters, "STAND DOWN AELA! YOU'RE LOSING YOURSELF!"

She roared to the skies and writhed under them as they held her with the strength of four powerful werewolves. Rona ran to Bishop who'd fallen on his knee, his arms were covered in blood and long gashes and he was bleeding heavily. His whole body was covered in sweat and he looked pale. He was shaking and trying to catch his breath, Rona leaned over him, hands alight with magic but when he looked up at her his eyes changed. His pupils drew into thin slits and he clutched his shoulders and fell over, pressing his hands to the ground, and gasping painfully.

(The song is Dark Ages by Two Steps From Hell)

His body shuddered and she took a step back, a sob catching in her throat as she watched him change. His bones cracked loudly and he groaned agonizingly as his voice morphed into one of a guttural monster's. His fingers and nose elongated and long, sharp claws grew from his nails. His entire body grew, his muscles bulging and thick dark brown hair, sprang forth from his skin. He sat up, arching his back and holding his arms out, releasing a roar to the night sky.

Rona threw her hands to her mouth. She didn't know what to do. This couldn't be happening. And then he turned with his much larger chest heaving. His glowing yellow eyes met hers and he growled low and viciously at her.

She whispered, "Bishop," turning her head slightly, "Bishop... it's me. It's just me..."

He stood up on two legs, towering over her and she could only stare up at him horrified. She could never hurt him, even like this. He took an awkward step forward and she stepped back again. Then he growled just as Aela did, his jaws trembling. He held a bloodthirsty gaze at her and the white backed werewolf lunged at him, throwing him down, pinning him to the ground. Bishop writhed furiously, powerfully, roaring and growling deeply, Kodlak could barely hold him down and he looked back at her and shouted in his monstrous voice, "RUN GIRL!"

Rona sprint off again, running past Aela and the others who were still holding her. She heard some vicious fighting behind her and then a sharp yelp, she couldn't help it. She looked back and saw Kodlak on the ground and Bishop racing after her. She'd never outrun him so she shouted, "WULD NAH KEST!" shunting herself forward, putting some distance between them. She kept up the pace, sprinting as quickly as her short legs would carry her. She was fast, she'd always been able to outrun him before, but this time he had the speed and power of a werewolf.

She could hear him, gaining on her already, so she shouted again, "WULD NAH KEST!" trying to keep the space between them. Would he tire? Surely she would first. It was a full moon and if she knew anything about werewolves they were strongest when the moon was full. Kodlak had also once told her that the first turning was the worst of it. Bishop had no idea what he was doing, he was lost in himself.

He howled to the night, close behind her. She couldn't keep up with the whirlwind sprints, she'd lose her voice. She made to shout again, to use Slow Time but she tripped over a tree stump, covered by the tall grass and she rolled swiftly on the spot to look back and he pounced on her, pinning her to the ground. She knew she should shout, do anything to stop him, but she was so afraid she'd hurt him.

His face was dangerously close to hers and her tears streamed heavily down her cheeks, as she looked at the awful thing he'd become. He growled at her but as she let out a whimpered sob he pulled back slightly. Then leaned in again and started sniffing her like a dog, running his wet nose over her cheek and through her hair. She was shaking like a leaf and closed her eyes, unable to face this monster than her beloved had become.

Nothing happened though. She simply felt his body pressed closely to hers and she heard him whine slightly. She opened her eyes, meeting his gaze. She could see the man inside him, looking at her behind his warm amber eyes.

She cried, "Bishop I love you, please I don't want to hurt you."

He pulled back from her and tried to speak, but couldn't manage it. He looked over himself, not sure to make of what had happened to him. He shook his head and with one last look at her ran off in the opposite direction on all fours.

She watched him go, sitting upright and onto her knees. As he disappeared into the night she fell into fitful sobs, clutching her shoulders and crying deeply, agonizingly. Everything was falling apart again. Everything. Why did this have to happen? She didn't know how much more she could take. So much pain. So much darkness. That is what the old woman had told her. Curse of the wolf. That is what she'd told Bishop. Her predictions had all come true.

Kodlak and the brothers found her, returned to their human forms. They looked on sadly at her. She felt broken and lost and she feared for Bishop in more ways than one now. Kodlak finally managed to get her to calm down enough to go back with them.

They returned to Jorrvaskr and found Karnwyr laying nearby, his wounds covered in potion and Rona ran over to him and pressed her healing hands to the exhausted wolf. He whimpered up at her, licking her hand sweetly. She whispered, "Oh Karnwyr... thank you. You saved me."

Skjor and Aela were also nearby, returned to human form and arguing with one another.

"The hell were you even thinking!?" Skjor was furious. "Trying to kill the Dragonborn!? She's the only one that can stop that damned fucking dragon and you're trying to get some kind of petty vengeance for your mother!?"

Aela matched his anger, "She could be stronger if she had the beast blood! She could easily defeat the World Eater! You know it and I know it!" She saw them all standing there and barked, "KODLAK KNOWS IT TOO! If they'd all had the gift then maybe Torvar and Ria wouldn't have died!"

Kodlak spoke seriously and sharply to her, "You had no right Aela. To take her down to the Underforge, to try and force it on her? I'm stripping you of your position. I want you out of here first thing tomorrow morning."

Aela looked at him with rage, "You can't do that! The Circle has to meet. They decide together! You're not our leader! No one leads the Companions!"

Vilkas scoffed, "You want a damn meeting Aela? Well we're all fucking here and I'm voting with the old man. What you did was reprehensible. There's no honor in turning those who don't want the gift," he shook his head slowly at her, expressing his distaste and disappointment.

Farkas grunted in agreement, "The gift should be a choice. She didn't want it. The ranger didn't want it either."

Aela laughed madly, "Oh right! Forgot about him," her vicious eyes met Rona's tearful ones as she spoke with words meant to hurt, "Did he try to kill you? Hah! He would. His scent on you all the time, then you're standing there and he must think you're his prey considering he's marked himself all over you."

Rona couldn't believe how cruel this woman who she'd treated as her own sister was being to her. She sobbed and said, "Why are you doing this to me Aela? I didn't even know about Claudia and Grella," she took a sharp breath, staring at them all, noting that Kodlak was averting his eyes shamefully. She shouted, "Why didn't anyone tell me!?"

Aela even looked away, her face still full of anger. Skjor said, "Because it had nothing to do with you. You were long gone and living in Cyrodiil with your father then."

"Tell me!" Rona demanded to know.

Kodlak spoke seriously, "From what Claudia told us," he glanced at Aela who scoffed loudly and clarified, "Which was only her side of the story, as none of us were there when it happened... Claudia and Grella went on a contract out to Haafingar about eight years ago. They went up against some necromancers and according to Claudia's account, Grella lost control in her beast form, said she was about to kill the family they'd been sent to rescue, so she killed her... all she brought back was her heart."

Rona didn't know what to think and didn't have much time to take it in when the doors to Jorrvaskr burst open and Bishop stepped in, his wounds fully healed, though he was still covered in blood and a complete mess, sweating and dirty.

He walked right up to Kodlak and punched him square in the jaw, sending him tumbling over and roared at him, "FUCKING WEREWOLVES!?"

Kodlak rubbed his jaw and looked up at him and gave a low groan, pushing himself up. Bishop pointed a finger sharply at him and barked, "Better stay down old man or I'll break your neck this time," then his eyes traveled up to Aela and he snarled, "You."

He stepped forward ready to take his fury out on her next when the brothers ran over and grabbed both his arms holding him back. Aela just smirked at him, shaking her head, "You turned back fast. You really take to the call of the blood don't you?"

"YOU FUCKING CUNT," he roared, "YOU TRIED TO KILL HER! I'll gut you here and now you bitch. I'll slit your fucking throat," he struggled against the two brothers holding his arms.

Njada and Athis came upstairs, looking to see what all the ruckus was about and Athis asked, "The hell is going on up here?"

Bishop shouted at the top of his lungs, "THEY'RE WEREWOLVES! ALL OF THEM!"

Athis looked over the group, speechless and stunned. Then Njada stepped forward, her mouth open, looking at all of them with absolute disgust, "It all makes sense now. How much stronger and faster you all were. How you so easily fought against the dragons while the rest of us struggled," her voice caught in her throat as she gasped painfully, "Oh gods... Ria could be... She could've... You kept this from us!? How could you!?"

"Njada," Kodlak gave her a pained look but she just cringed at him, hatefully and shook her head. She started walking away, towards the doors to Jorrvaskr.

"Ria's dead because of you," she said through an angry sob and then left.

Bishop glared at Kodlak too, shaking his head and laughing bitterly at himself, "I trusted you. I fucking gave you my trust. I told you things I would never tell anyone else," he bit his lip and grit his teeth, "You betrayed me and she almost died because of you Kodlak. Because you put your trust in that bitch, over me or her. Fuck you, old man."

Kodlak said nothing, he only looked away shamefully. Bishop pulled out of the brothers' grasp and walked over, lifting poor Karnwyr up with ease and grasping Rona's hand, pulling her along with him. She didn't protest or argue any of it, she just followed along, feeling absolutely mortified by it all.

He said, "When we get to Solitude, we're staying there. We're not coming back to this fucking place."

She said nothing, she only stared after him.

When they returned to their homestead, Bishop laid Karnwyr down on one of the beds on the bottom floor bedroom and looked over his wounds, stroking his fur and looking on sadly at his beast brother. "It's going to be okay buddy. You're looking a lot better," he glanced at Rona, "You used your healing hands?"

She nodded. He turned back to Karnwyr and said, "Good. I think he'll be ok. I can tell. He just needs some rest."

He stood up and turned back to her, grasping her shoulders and looking over her with concern, then he embraced her, holding her tightly and whispered, "I thought I was going to lose you. I heard your song and then when I," he stopped for a moment then said, "I heard you crying out to me," he pulled back from her, tipping her chin up to him and he said, "I never meant to hurt you Rona. If I ever do that again, shout me off, do whatever you have to. I couldn't live with myself if I ever hurt you."

Her chest shook with another sob as she whispered, "I... I should have told you."

He looked at her confused, "What do you mean?"

She pressed her lips together holding back a cry. She couldn't keep it a secret from him, she couldn't lie, so she told him the truth and said, "I knew Bishop. I saw Farkas change a month ago... in Dustman's Cairn."

His brows knit together and he frowned at her, "No... you would have told me that."

She said, "I promised Kodlak. He made me promise."

He pulled away from her and his look said it all. She had betrayed him too.

He took a shaky breath and looked over her as he said, "Of course. You felt like you couldn't trust me. But you trusted him," he nodded disdainfully, "And look where it got you," then his rage exploded and he said, "And look where it got me! I'm a werewolf Rona! I'm a fucking monster now! All because," he looked like he might cry, "because I was trying to protect you."

He turned away from her and went to the door and she broke down crying and pleaded with him, running forward to grasp him, "Bishop please! Please! I'm sorry - I'm sorry!"

He looked back at her and shook his head, a single tear tracing his cheek as he said, "No. I'm fucking done."

He stepped out the door slamming it behind him. Leaving her to herself and her own pain. Her heart hurt so much and she just wanted to die.