I finished my meal and placed the tray on the bedside table. Let's try walking again, shall we?

I swung my legs on to the side of the bed, and suddenly felt really dizzy. Without the support of the bed-head on my back, it suddenly seemed impossible to sit straight, let alone stand. Even after my werewolf healing abilities, my entire body was sore, and the mere action of trying to move myself caused an immense head ache, starting from my hurt ear.

I told myself my journey wasn't going to be too far this time. Not all the way to my backpack, anyway.

I just needed to make a lot fewer steps.

I held the bedside table and forced myself to stand. It was painful on my back, and I'm sure I'm supposed to be resting to facilitate the healing process, but sedation my ass I'm sure he was here.

I slowly made my way towards the window between my bed and the next and did a penguin-like run-walk to the window pane.

I held on to it hard to keep myself from falling. But the touch brought nothing to calm my senses, as I thought it would.

No remnant scent either.

But I was so sure. I could sense him near me last night.

I sighed. I made the trip for nothing.

Well, at least I can still walk.

Even if I look like I can't.

I walked up slowly to my bed again, feeling suddenly tired.

I lay down, and before I knew it, I was asleep again.

...

"Wake up!" I heard a familiar voice.

I opened my eyes to find Jasper looking at me worriedly.

"Hey. What's wrong?" I asked him.

"Just come with me," he said and left the room without looking back.

I pushed the sheets aside and got out of bed quickly, making my way towards the door.

I paused before I could get out.

I looked at my arms and legs. I was standing perfectly straight, there was no pain, and nothing was sore.

What?

What did Jasper give me to have healed this fast?

I had no idea what it was but it had somehow facilitated my already fast healing powers.

I followed him outside and saw that he was waiting at the landing of the staircase to go down.

"Hurry up Rayne," he said and I jog-walked to reach him.

"What's going on?" I asked him.

"Sven is in trouble," he said.

Sven is in trouble? Why does that not make sense?

He is the source of all troubles.

But why does Jasper look so worried?

I hope Sven's okay.

...

I followed Jasper to the edge of the arena. The scene in front of me was similar to last night's; the entire band was present, but they were facing away from us.

As soon as we stepped in, everybody, as if in sync, turned around to face us.

Every face was solemn, and I couldn't understand the gravity of the situation.

That was until they made way for us to enter their small circle, and I saw Sven's neck between two wooden boards, held as if for guillotine. His face was bruised and gave away no emotion either, although his body looked like he was in pain.

Two men stood on either side of him. One was a very tall, hefty man that I had not seen before, he held an axe that started at his torso, and reached his feet. His face was covered with a black mask.

The second man was Jedrek. He looked at me, smirking, the only face with a different facial expression here.

"Ah looks like you finally woke up, I was afraid I'd have to start off without you," he said.

"What's going on here," I asked him.

"We're all here to witness the repercussion of a treachery Rayne. A betrayal against one's own," he said.

My mind immediately started racing.

Do they know I'm the one the Palace is looking for? Do they know Sven is protecting me?

I didn't know what to say. I decided to pretend I had no idea what was going on.

"What has he done?" I asked.

"You don't know Rayne? You don't know what he has done? You were the only person who knew about it. Afterall, he did it for you."

His voice was laced with malice at the end.

"Do you know Rayne, the punishment for a crime such as this in the Liet?" he asked me.

He bent down and held Sven's head by his hair, pulled him up harshly and whispered quietly, but I'm sure everyone there heard him.

"Death."

...

It was eerily quiet in the arena, except for Sven's ragged breathing.

Think Rayne. What can you do?

"Jedrek, I don't know what you're talking about. But I'm sure we can find a solution if we just-"

"We don't have a solution for theft," he said.

Wait. What?

I looked at Sven, and saw him looking right at me. Even through his torn lip and puffy eyes, I could make out the slightest smirk.

Now I'm really lost.

"Maybe this ought to jog your memory," he said and pointed at someone in the crowd.

My first opponent from last night came forward and handed him something shiny.

He held it up for everyone to see. The gold pendant necklace.

My hand immediately went to my neck, and I came up empty.

He stole it?

Wait. They're going to kill him for it?

"Jedrek listen, I didn't know it was stolen, if I did I'd bring it back. He'd bring it back," I said.

"That doesn't mean he didn't commit a crime. Today it's a pendant, tomorrow, it could be someone else," he said.

The fact that he said someone and not something, didn't go unnoticed.

"Why'd he do it?" he asked me.

"What?" I said in return.

I heard him perfectly well, I just needed to buy some time to figure out a strategy.

"He's never done something like this. Then why did he do it for you? What are you to him?" he asked, now coming towards me.

I was quiet. I didn't know the answer to that yet. He wouldn't tell me.

"Are you his mate?" he asked emphasizing the last word, now even closer.

"No," I said.

Surprise flashed on his face, and disappeared as fast as it came. He probably didn't expect such a quick answer.

"Then why else would he do it?" he asked. The surprise now replaced with anger.

I looked at Sven. His face looked beaten up pretty bad, but his demeanor showed he had not a care in this world.

I know Sven cares about me, or at least he thinks he's supposed to. But his purpose was to protect me. Not to steal stuff for me. I don't understand this at all.

"I don't understand this at all," I said.

Could I take Jedrek on? It would be pretty tough, and I know no one else would dare to help me, if anything they'll just join in to kill me if I raise one hand against him.

How else can I save Sven?

"It doesn't matter if you do or if you don't. The law is the law. You break it, we break you," he said and motioned towards the executioner guy with a nod of his head.

If the situation wasn't so tense I'd probably laugh at his choice of words. Not that I didn't find it funny.

The executioner turned to face Sven.

"Wait!" I said.

Jedrek looked at me with a hint of a smirk.

"What now?" he asked. As if amused to see what I could do to stop him.

"What if we make a deal?" I asked him.

I could hear soft murmurs coming from the crowd. He looked at me, amused.

"What do you, poor little Rayne, have to offer to me? That too, in exchange for this rat's life?" he said.

He moved towards Sven and slapped him hard causing his already bleeding lip to burst.

The sight caused an uneasy feeling in my chest. I needed to do something fast.

"I will give you any one thing, just let him go," I said.

I saw Jedrek's face turn devilishly bright, and Sven's face fell. It was now his turn to be angry.

"Rayne what the heck do you think you are doing?" he pushed himself to say. His voice was coarse and barely audible.

Jedrek was already moving towards me and I could feel the crowd's collective unease.

"You and your entire band, can decide what you need from me, and regardless of what it is, I'll give it to you," I said.

Jedrek is no Alpha. He doesn't get to decide on his own.

The band members were now talking openly, probably discussing what they could get out of me, but I was sure as hell it wouldn't be close to what Jedrek wanted.

"No deal!" Jedrek said quickly, and once again faced the executioner. "Do it," he said.

"Stop," I heard a voice from the people.

I turned around and saw Jasper. He had come forward now, Bryony, Uriah, Alessio, and everyone else behind him.

"We know what we want from her. Let Sven go," he said.

I could see Jedrek was absolutely fuming at this point.

The executioner stepped back. I saw Bryony run to Sven to open the lock which bound him.

That was the last thing I saw before I blacked out and fell.