"Sugar."
Indianna looked up when she heard Greyson's voice. He stepped to the side, revealing her mother behind him.
Iris looked worn down and exhausted. She had dark bags under her eyes, and her skin was sickly pale.
Indianna swallowed and watched her mother with cold eyes as she walked into the room.
Greyson followed her and placed a chair beside the bed for Iris. He then sat next to Indianna and drew circles on the back of her hand.
"Indie, I'm sorry," Iris said after an awkward silence. "I'm so sorry I didn't tell you—"
"I don't want apologies," Indianna said. "I want answers, Mum. I have a brother. How is that possible?"
Iris stiffened and sighed.
"It's a long story."
"I have time."
"I guess I'd better start at the beginning, then," Iris gulped.
"That would be beneficial," Greyson snapped. "No more lies, Iris. You tell Indie the truth, or I will, despite your wishes."
Iris nodded and looked at her daughter.
"Before you were born, Indie, your father and I had a son. Your brother. He was a lovely child. We both loved Jason to pieces. He was the apple of our eye."
"What happened?"
"Jason started to act out. It wasn't anything major at first, but some of the things he did weren't normal for a child. He enjoyed suffering. He used to catch rabbits and squirrels and take pleasure in killing them.
"He was ten when you were born, and for two years we lived happily. He was strange at times, but having you made him better. He wasn't as..." Iris cringed before saying the next word. "Mental when you were around.
"He cared for you like an older brother should have. He loved you."
"He has a funny way of showing that now," Greyson growled.
"One day, we were given some bad news," Iris whispered. "That news changed everything."
"Indianna!"
Peter Hughs gasped as he picked up his grinning two-year-old daughter.
Indianna squealed in delight as she was spun around in the air. She clapped her hands, wanting her father to do it again.
"I think I'm getting old," Peter chuckled as Iris Hughs walked into his office with Jason, their twelve-year-old son, beside her. "That was a lot easier when you were younger, son."
"Perhaps I should take her, old man," Jason teased. "I could take her to the woods and show her the rabbits I killed. I skinned them too! It was so gruesome. It was awesome!"
"Jason," Iris frowned and placed her hand on her son's shoulder. "What did I say about those animals?"
Jason pouted and crossed his arms over his chest, looking angrily at the floor.
"To not harm them."
"You will do well to remember that, young man," Iris said sternly.
"Listen to your mother, son," Peter nodded. "Take your sister, Jason. We have visitors arriving soon."
Jason looked up and grinned as Peter passed Indianna to him.
"Who?" Jason wondered as he easily held up his squirming sister.
"Alpha Mark and Luna Laura," Peter told his son. "They're from a pack in America but are close friends. They, along with a few pack members, are here on a social visit."
Jason nodded and laughed when Indianna reached up and poked his face.
"I'm going to take Indie up to my room," he said.
"Be on your best behaviour when they arrive, Jason," Iris said.
"Sure, Mum," Jason shrugged.
He walked out of his father's office and made his way through the pack house. He went upstairs, walked into his room and set Indianna on his bed.
Jason lay down beside her and picked up his Nintendo, starting a shooting game. Indianna was amused by one of his toy guns on the bed. She laughed happily as she picked it up and waved it around.
A few hours passed. Jason entertained himself by playing games, annoying Indianna by firing soft foam bullets at her and kicking a football against the wall.
Occasionally, he placed Indianna on the floor so she could try to push the ball back towards him.
Jason rolled his eyes when Indianna fell onto her bottom after pushing the ball and losing her balance. She looked shocked, but her sparkling brown eyes soon looked up at her brother, and she grinned brightly before erupting into a fit of giggles.
"Jason!" she exclaimed and held out her arms, demanding to be picked up. "Jason!"
Jason smiled at his little sister and scooped her off the floor, resting her on his hip.
"Indie!" he mimicked and tickled her stomach. "Indie! Indie!"
"No!" she squealed and writhed around. "Nooo!"
"You know she hates being tickled, Jason," Iris said from the doorway.
She smiled at the sight of her two children, and Jason grinned.
"It's funny," he shrugged and tickled Indianna again, chuckling when she squirmed and squealed. "Little Indie is defeated by being tickled!"
"Come downstairs. There are people you need to meet," Iris said.
Jason stopped tickling his sister and ruffled her brown hair.
Iris placed a hand on Jason's back as they walked through the pack house and returned to Peter's office, where he was joined by three people.
"Mark, Laura, Martha, meet our children," Iris said and gently nudged Jason forwards. "Our son, Jason, and our daughter, Indianna."
"My, aren't you both adorable?" Laura said brightly as she walked up to Jason. "It's lovely to meet you, Jason."
"You too," Jason nodded.
"Son, this is Alpha Mark and Luna Laura of the Warrior Pack," Peter said. "And this is Martha, an old friend of ours. She used to live in England until she found her mate in the Warrior Pack and moved to America."
"Do you still have visions, Martha?" Iris wondered.
Jason shook Laura's hand before walking over to Mark. Indianna was greeted by Laura, who gently took her hand and squeezed it. Mark ruffled Indianna's hair and smiled.
"They still come to me, yes," Martha replied.
Jason walked up to her and politely held out his hand. Martha shook it with a warm smile, but she stiffened when they made contact.
"Martha has a special ability," Peter told Jason as he retreated to stand beside Iris.
"A gift," Martha corrected. "I can't control it."
"What is it?" Jason asked.
"She can predict the future," Iris smiled. "It's very rare."
"Sometimes I receive visions," Martha explained. "They're rare, but they always come true."
"Every single one?" Jason gasped.
"Yes," Martha nodded.
"Cool!" Jason grinned. "Could you predict my future?"
Martha chuckled nervously and shook her head.
"It doesn't work that way, I'm afraid. I don't choose when my visions come to me."
"Girls, shall we leave the men to talk?" Iris suggested.
"I think we have a lot of catching up to do," Laura smiled.
"I need to discuss something first," Martha said, looking at Peter and Iris. "Privately," she added, casting a glance towards Jason.
"Jason, why don't you go and make Indianna the drink she likes?" Iris said. "You can even have a chocolate bar."
Jason grinned and nodded.
He walked out of the room with Indianna. Once he reached the kitchen, he placed her on the counter and took a premade smoothie from the fridge.
He poured it into a plastic cup with a straw before handing it to Indianna. He then grabbed a chocolate bar, placed it in his pocket and picked Indianna up again.
He left the kitchen and returned towards the office.
He could hear hushed voices as he neared the room. He stopped outside the door and listened to the secret conversation.
"Martha," Iris gasped. "You must be mistaken!"
"I'm so sorry," Martha whispered. "But I've seen it. It's true."
"What is the validity of your visions?" Peter asked. He sounded worried.
"Her visions have never failed to come true," Mark said. "I'm sorry, Peter."
"What are we going to do?" Iris panicked. "He's our baby!"
"Iris, he's always been troubled," Peter murmured. "Maybe there's some truth behind Martha's visions."
"He seemed like such a sweet boy," Laura commented.
"He's having a good day today," Peter explained.
Jason frowned.
They were talking about him.
"What was the vision exactly?" Iris demanded.
"It was a mixture of things," Martha said. "But one thing was clear. Jason is going to bring death and destruction. He will represent evil. He will ruin your life—yours and your daughter's."
A choked sob escaped Iris's lips, and Jason swallowed nervously.
His parents couldn't believe that, could they?
He would never hurt them.
Never hurt his sister.
"Peter," Iris cried. "Our child is a monster!"
No, I'm not! Jason wanted to scream, but he kept quiet.
"What are we going to do?" Iris whimpered.
"Death and destruction," Peter whispered. "I can't believe I'm going to say this, but there's only one option."
"No," Iris gasped. "Oh my gosh, what did we do to deserve this?"
"I'm sorry, honey," Peter sighed. "But if the vision is true... we have to."
"What are you thinking?" Mark wondered.
There was silence in the room.
"Jason goes," Peter said finally. "He goes today and never comes back."
It was at that moment that Jason dropped the cup in his hands. The smoothie splattered across the floor.
"Indie!" Jason hissed.
He gasped in shock when the office door opened, revealing his parents.
Iris had tear-stained cheeks, but Peter was hiding his pain. He stared at his son with cold eyes.
"Jason," he said gravely. "Give your sister to your mother."
Jason stared at his parents in shock. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
They were going to get rid of him.
"J-Jason," Iris stuttered. "Give me Indianna."
Jason was in shock, so he didn't fight when Iris stepped forward cautiously and pried Indianna out of his arms.
"Jason!" Indianna whined and squirmed in Iris's hold, reaching out for her brother. "Jason!"
"Indie," Jason whispered and stepped forward.
Peter stopped him.
"Iris, take Indianna into the office," Peter said, trying to hold back his tears.
"Jason, I'm so sorry. I love you," Iris wept.
Laura came up to Iris, wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her back into the office.
"Son," Peter said and shut the office door behind him. "I'm sorry."
"Dad, I don't understand," Jason frowned. "What's going on?"
"It's time for you to leave, Jason."
"B-But I can't! You can't make me! I need a pack! This is my pack! Dad, you can't make me go! I'm not evil! I'm not!"
"You're leaving today, Jason. I'm sorry."
"B-But I'll be alone!" Jason cried. "Without a pack!"
Peter swallowed and looked at his panicking son.
"A rogue."