CHAPTER 10 NIKLAUS

She is starting to remember. I begin to panic at the thought of what she will do when she finds out the truth. I swallow hard. I am not sure how to respond to her after seeing the image. She drew a perfect likeness of Anna. If she learns who Anna is....was it will break her again. I must protect her for her own good.

      Conner's rage is palpable, radiating off him in waves. As soon as Ren gives her explanation his face immediately softens.

      "I'm sorry Ren. Lets do something to take your mind off of it. Would you like to join me in the library or for a horseback ride?"

      "I would love to, Conner. Thank you. All of you again for all you have done for me." A small smile begins to creep at the corners of her mouth. She excuses herself and follows Conner from the room. Picking up a bell, I ring for the servants to come clean away the meal, and what is left of Alec's.

      "Alpha, she will remember. We cannot stop the memories from coming. All we can do is help ease her into them. Please, Alpha, I can lie to her no longer."

      "Bite your tongue Alec. You will say nothing and you will do nothing. I must speak with Amira about reinforcing the spell. She must stay in the dark, for all of the packs' sake."

      "But Alpha!"

      My slap sends him flying through the air as he lands in a heap on the floor. He quickly rights himself as his eyes begin to glow as his wolf awakens. I can smell his blood from an apparent split lip. Alec, not wanting to challenge his alpha, gains control and backs down.

      "I do not agree with you alpha, but I will obey your commands." He silently slips from the room closing the door behind him, leaving me with my thoughts. A chill began to run down my spine. I turned knowing exactly why by who was lurking in the shadows.

      "Took them long enough to leave. I hear you have the girl." A dark shadow fell over the room as his deep voice echoed through the room.

      "Welcome, Gypsut. It has been long since you have graced me with your presence."

      "Come now, Niklaus. We both know that is a lie. You are terrified of my power and so are terrified of me, and rightly so. That doesn't answer my question. Do you have the girl?"

      "She is here and under my protection."

      "Your protection! That poor girl is under the protection of the man who gave her to me? The man who shaped her into a monster? Who broke her and made her something new?" Niklaus looked down ashamed.

      "Just as I thought. Tell me old friend, how is that spell of yours working out? That tiny band aid you put on a seeping wound must be growing thin by now." At the sight of Niklaus's flinch he continues. "Ah, so it is breaking. Well, I guess its time to remove it all together and return her to where she belongs. With me as my creation, my weapon." Just as I open my mouth to argue, Gypsut disappears.

      "Damn it!" A dining room chair is flung through the air and shatters against the wall because of the force behind it.

      "What am I going to do now?" The silence that fills the room is my only answer.