The words came out almost without me meaning too. I never thought I would say that but as I looked at her, saw how timid she became when I was around, how she shook, how she would glance at me and then her gaze would skitter away. I couldn't go with her. I was clearly not good for her. I wasn't. I had done so much harm to her, I had allowed her brutalization and I was so glad I was getting punished for it. I deserved it.

Forty-two lashes. Double for her. It was only right. She was small and I was bigger. Double seemed to be the best equalizer.

However, I couldn't go with her. A part of me screamed that I needed to and the other part looked at her and knew that she was too kind, too loving, that she would stand there, looking timid and try to fix me. She would try to fix what I caused, she would try to remove that guilt and shame that was of my own doing. I had allowed all of it to happen. I hadn't been strong enough and she didn't deserve to sit there and fix me. She needed to be able to fix herself, to fix what I broke, without me there.

The worst part was I knew I would let her try to fix me if I went with her. I would once again fall towards her, letting her prop me up, help me through that and she didn't deserve that, she didn't deserve any of that. She would be trying to fix something that I caused, she would be trying to fix the guilt, regret, and shame that was caused from me allowing her to be brutalized. I couldn't do that.

Mike and his female told me repeatedly that Duffy said she was doing well, she was getting better with the older female and I could see, in the few sparse moments she spent with me, that was unravelling. I was... I was all wrong for her. Especially with how I was now. I couldn't be the male she deserved, not right now.

All the eyes pressing down on me had me swallowing. "It's not you." I blurted it out and shook my head. "I just... can't right now." I had so much shit to work out and I swallowed hard, looking at the floor as I watched as she flinched slightly under the words. I felt so fucking guilty. It was good she was going to be taken away, this pack was... it was horrible for her and by default that meant I was too, even without the mess I was inside about everything that happened. Vis was a New Way pack. She deserved to be where she could heal from all of the shit that had been piled onto her in Sublatus. She needed a fresh start, even if it meant it was without me.

I hated that, I did. I wanted to be there, to protect her like I hadn't been able to before but I knew that it wasn't possible. I wasn't the person to do that for her right now. I couldn't stand in front of her and protect her from the world. I had lost that right, even if it was just in my own mind. I was the worst sort of male and I couldn't be around her, I couldn't touch her while I felt like this. Like I would taint her with my very presence. I had taken a wonderful thing, a wonderful female, and I allowed her brutalization and I knew I would never deserve forgiveness for that.

"It's too much to put on you after everything." I swallowed hard and glance at the older female. "Duffy should go with you instead of me." The female clearly put Menza first above everything else and that was what she needed, I knew that was what she needed. She needed someone beside her who would put her first and Duffy had proven that she would do that, again and again. "She can take care of you and-" I nearly choked before I worked my jaw back and forth.

"Duffy is good for you. She will make sure you're okay. She will make sure you're taken care of." I knew the female would do it. She had given me the impression she was harshly protective over Menza, that she would fight for her to the bitter end and I wanted that for her. I ran a hand through my hair, tugging on the strands. "I'm not... I'm not good for you." I nearly choked on the words and I wasn't unaware of the surprised looks that crossed nearly everyone's faces.

"Brochan-" It was a small, choked whisper and she looked at me, a mere glance and I shook my head. I couldn't bear that look, the one that said she wanted to fix it, to make me feel better. That was the reason I couldn't go. She needed someone who would put her first, her healing above all else and I knew that if I went she would be so focused on me and the shit I had to work through, that she would forsake herself for me.

"No, Menza. Go with Duffy. She'll take care of you." I glanced at the older female. "Right?" I wanted her to tell me it would be okay, that Menza didn't have to worry about anything.

"It's the only thing I will ever agree with you on." Her lined face twisted and she looked like she was sucking on a lemon but I accept the unsaid criticism. The female had to deal with the aftermath of everything, of the punishment, the attack from Regan, my angry words and harsh actions. She had all rights to be upset with me, to hate me. I hated me.

I just couldn't have Menza with me. I felt sick with the knowledge she would try to fix something that my own behaviour caused, that she would forsake taking care of herself to try to sort out the mess of my emotions. She had done that when she first came to stay with me, she tried so hard to help me heal and that made her the best sort of person but I couldn't allow that. Not now. I had far too much that I had to work out by myself.

At that thought I paused and a spear of understanding moved through me. "I need you to take Maeve." It came out sharp, edged with something that sounded like desperation to my own ears. If Menza was gone, I could send Maeve with her. I could get Maeve safe. "The Alpha, he-" I coughed, that lump in my throat feeling like it wanted to choke me but it didn't come.

Menza's head snapped up and her face nearly seemed to pale, growing even more ashy. "I can't-"

"I need you to take Maeve with you. Where it's safe. There is no one I trust more to take care of her, you love her so much." I looked at the Council. "The rank structure is going to be massively shaky and it won't be a safe place for her and she needs to be with someone who loves and cares for her." I swallowed hard before looking at Menza. "There is no one I would trust more with her care than you. You did so good with her and she misses you." Stenton had taken Maeve from me, yes, but he had also taken Menza away from my Maeve. My little girl loved Menza. I knew that deep into my bones.

"She loves you so much, Menza." My eyes burned and I fought against the lump in my throat. I wanted to pull Menza close, hug her tight. I felt shaky that I was actually able to talk to her, to have my own words come out instead of Stenton's. "You're the only person I would trust with her because you love her more than anyone else." I worked my jaw. "More than even me." That was the truth. Menza loved Maeve more than I ever could. I was a weak male, I couldn't protect Maeve, I couldn't protect Menza. But Menza had been nothing but selfless and loving to Maeve, always putting her first, putting her very life on the line to save her.

I looked away before turning my gaze to the Council. "I want her to go with Menza. She's the closest thing Maeve has to a mum." And I knew that Chrissie would agree. "She loves my little girl and that's the safest place for her." It was and with all the truth that was unleashed, I knew it was best for Maeve to get away from the pack entirely and this was my chance to get her out of Stenton's clutches. Maeve needed to be far away from him and his scheming.

The blond haired Councillor shifted on his feet. "We can arrange that but there would need to be an official custody agreement written up and signed." I watched as the rest of them nodded and I felt a sudden surge of relief. It felt right, to have Maeve in Menza's care felt right.

"You need to be placed into custody." At the words from the shortest of the female Councillors I nodded before glancing at Menza. She was still leaning on Duffy for comfort, still sniffling. She looked so forlorn and upset and it tore me right in two as Officer Bently walked towards me.

"Get her Simon." It burst out of me as the officer grasped my arm. I looked back at the Council. "If she's leaving. Let her be with Simon for it. She needs someone there and Simon loves her more than anyone." He did, no one could ever claim he didn't. Not even me. I looked at Menza as the officer tugged me towards the door. She was looking at me, that small puzzled look on her face. "Get her Simon." I hated the whelp, how impulsive and hard headed he was but out of everyone, she deserved to have her brother with her for this. If I couldn't be there, if I wouldn't be there, she needed Simon.

"I'll get him." The witch said it with a slow drawl and she opened the door. "Is there a Simon?" There was a biting sarcasm to her voice and I walked to the door beside the officer right as Simon nearly vaulted up the stairs.

"Here!" He glanced at me, his eyes narrowed slightly before he looked away. "What's going on? Is everything okay?" He looked a touch frantic and I didn't blame him for that. I hadn't liked him, had hated him really but I knew now that it had mainly been a dislike of reality of common sense. I had wanted to be so angry and he prevented that, demanded I think. I had hated that so I hated him for it.

"Dumbass says you should be with your sissie." The witch's words were drawled out and I walked out the door behind the officer, walking by the younger male. His eyes were on me, as if a touch incredulous and disbelieving that I would mention it at all. I moved down the porch stairs, swallowing hard. She needed her brother, the one person who loved her more than anything.

He looked away and I looked over my shoulder to watch him. "Enza?" I watched as he moved into my house and there was a moment of time before he pulled her into a rather crushing hug. "Fuck, Menza. You need to know I love you. More than anything." He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, holding her tight, holding her close. I watched as her thin and delicate arms wrapped around him before gut wrenching sobs escaped her. I watched as she slumped against him, as if her legs had given out and Simon hauled her up close.

I stopped walking, watching her hands gripped the back of his shirt tightly, holding him close. Elf flipped me off as she close the door, shutting me away from the scene and a heavy hand landed on my shoulder. "Do you need me to cuff you?" Officer Bently's voice was a low warning and I shook my head, letting him tug me around. I followed behind him, ignoring the lump in my throat and the burning in my eyes.

My girls would be safe. Both of them would be safe and okay. It was enough to have relief swamping through me. They would be far away from Stenton and his scheming. Maeve could have Menza and they could be far, far away from Stenton.

Further to that, just the thought of the male had me bristling. "Did he really know?" I ground it out and the officer glanced back at me. "The hunters asked if he was missing two females and he said no. He really did that?"

"Officer Roike had no reason to lie and the Council is not wrong in their judgement. Your Alpha interfered with the reunification of your daughter and Ms Aristotle to their respective families." The words made that anger rise up in me that much worse. It had been a rumour but every rumour had a tiny grain of truth to it but the fact he let it go on for that long, that he did that. He sat there and said Menza had taken those months of Maeve's life away from me but it had been him. Stenton had. I had known it but to have proof of it was He had known all along.

I bared my teeth a heavy snarl rattling my throat and chest as my wolf let his rage be known. "As much as I would agree with you killing him. That would interfere with a Hunter investigation and would need to be punished. Best not to make more paperwork for anyone else." The Officer's voice was half amused and half irritated and I glanced at him.

He wasn't looking at me and instead pointed at the rather dull cinder block building that housed the pack jail. "Time to get you booked and started to be processed for punishment." I swallowed the rage down, trying hard to shake it down where it wasn't consuming me. He opened the main door for me and I stepped inside.

"Come on, you know this is fucking ridiculous. She's just a half-breed!" Getts' voice sent that rage skyrocketing inside me. That bastard had stood there and lied to my face, he had stood with Stenton as they tried to manipulate me, had been part of keeping my Maeve from me. I spotted him near another Hunter and I took two steps before I had a heavy hand clamp down on my shoulder. I wanted to fight it off and I leaned against the hold.

"I hope you get what's fucking coming to you, Getts. I hope I'm the one who gives it to you!" A growl rattled my throat. "You deliberately lied! You helped Stenton cover it up! They were gone for months and you both knew where they were!" They had stolen that time from me, had dragged me along a path that ended up with Menza Brutalized. They punished her for something that had never been her fault. "She nearly died!" I snarled the words. Now that I could talk, now that Menza and Maeve were both safe I was done biting my tongue.

"I was hoping she would with the amount she was bleeding by that river. It took a bit of time to dilute the blood enough to not be noticeable but Jason had to tattle to Stenton about it but thankfully he agreed with me." Getts sneering reply had my entire world freezing. "She should have died. She should have just fucking died like I thought she did! Like we wanted her to!"

The hands holding me were suddenly gone and I launched at Getts. I slammed my fist into his face again and again, snarls and growls rattling my form as I laid into him. Letting that black fury that was washing my vision in red, escape. The fucking bastard. The fucking bastard. My joints snapped as my wolf pushed forward and I was yanked off. I fought hard, struggling to get to Getts so I could continue.

"I'll fucking kill you!" The words were so growled I knew he probably should understand me but I wanted to kill him. I wanted him dead at my feet.

"Shut up. I let you get a few punches in but that's enough." The officer holding me hissed it out low and by my ear and I fought hard.

"I'm gunna kill him!" The fucking bastard! He deserved to die, he didn't deserve to breathe. The Officer grunted and I was grabbed by another one. I snarled as they drug me further into the jail before shoving me into a cell.

"Take this time to cool off." Officer Bently shook his head as he locked the cell door. I snarled, pacing back and forth. I wanted Getts dead, I wanted Stenton dead. I wanted to turn them into piles of ruined flesh. I wanted them broken and bleeding. "Cool it." The officer glanced down the hall as if looking for the other officer before he gestured me towards the bars. I fought against the urge to pace and snarl as I moved closer, my chest heaving as I struggled to pull the rage back.

He looked down the hall once more before he leaned closer. "Keep it fucking down. Keep your head on straight. Don't make it so you are forcibly removed from the pack territory." He glanced at me. "Keep your shit together and when you go after those fuckers again, don't do it to kill, they are ranks and will have a harder time being removed from their positions. Make them fucking hurt but keep it clean. Otherwise you will be tossed into the Void and they won't get the shit kicked out of them." Officer Bently shook his head. "I never said any of this. Now sit the fuck down." He jabbed a finger at the bolted down bench before he walked away.

I worked my jaw back and forth but did as he ordered. I saw down, resting my head in my hands. It was all so fucked. I had no clue what to do or what I was going to do now that I knew Menza and Maeve were going to be safe. They would be okay and it was all I wanted and now that I had it, I felt the guilt and shame rise up higher, mixing with the anger.

Everything was so fucked. Stenton had planned this out, every second of it and I hated the face that I could have woken up and walked in to see Menza dancing with Maeve, or laughing with her, or even her giving me that heart stopping smile of hers. I could have woken up to that, instead I woke up and was hit so hard by the reality of just how far Stenton's cruelty and scheming had gone.

I could only think about the day of that first picnic and then the other days where we went to see Chrissie's grave. I could remember the day I gave Menza that daffodil flower. She had looked so pretty with it tucked behind her ear. I could only remember that day we had spent playing tag where she had been laughing so hard she could barely breathe.

I could have had that. I could have had all of that but Stenton ruined it and I had been too weak to stop it. I had been too week to protect her, to protect Maeve.

I could have woken up to something similar to bliss but instead I had woken up to a continued nightmare that had some how been made even worse.