---- become innocent victims?" I sneered. "How convenient." "We know everyone did wrong..." Elder Grace said weakly. "Wrong?" I stood up. "Elder Grace, you think this is just 'wrong'?" I walked to the window, looking out at the city. "For five years, what did I give this pack? I put my career on hold, turned down offers from other packs, and even skimped on buying a necklace for myself to save pack funds." "We all remember..." "Remember?" I turned to face them. "Then where were your memories when Ethan was lying for his mistress?" Neither Elder Grace nor Marcus could say a word. "Now that you need my abilities, my ---- contributions are remembered. When you don't need me, I'm just a pawn to be sacrificed." Just then, there was a commotion downstairs. I went to the balcony and looked down. My heart sank. In the hotel lobby, Ethan was waiting with a group of pack members. They were holding flowers, gifts, and banners with apologies on them. "How long have they been here?" I asked Marcus. "Since seven this morning," Marcus said, embarrassed. "Alpha said he'd wait until you agreed to see them." I looked at the crowd below. Besides Ethan, there were all the core pack members: Beta Marcus, Gamma Johnson, and several senior warriors. Even some of the pack elders were there. ---- They all had the same expression: desperate, hopeful, and with poorly hidden guilt. "Let me guess," I looked at Grace and Marcus, " you're the advance party, here to soften me up, and then they'll all come up for some emotional blackmail?" Both of them blushed. "Sophia, we're really desperate..." Elder Grace pleaded. My phone rang. It was the hotel front desk. "Ms. Sophia, there's a group of people downstairs who say they need to see you. They say they won't leave until they do. Other guests are starting to complain..." I hung up and looked at Grace and Marcus. "Tell me, do they know Ethan never really lost the mate bond?" ---- Elder Grace closed her eyes and nodded. "They all know?" "Most of them... yes." Inodded. "Then there's nothing more to say." "Sophia..."" "Let them come up," I cut Grace off. "Since we're doing the big 'happy reunion' act, let's get it over with." Ten minutes later, my apartment was packed. Ethan stood at the front, holding a bouquet of roses. The others formed a semicircle, all looking at me expectantly. "Sophia," Ethan took a deep breath, ''we've come to ask for your forgiveness, and your help." "We know we messed up," Beta Marcus said. "We should have stopped Alpha from making that