Orion I wasn't surprised to sense someone coming up behind me; what did surprise me was the fact that he told me someone wanted to talk to me, and I am grateful for that person. This Lycan would have kicked my ass before he would have asked any questions. I do recognize the Lycan; I just don't know who he is. But I recognize the females on the front porch, as I know they are a part of Umayza's team, and I see even more unknown males when I step into the cottage. "My name is Orion, and I am here to warn you of danger that is heading this way," I say before anyone can ask me a question. Umayza gets up to introduce me to the males I have seen around the Academy sometimes, but other than that, I didn't know who they were, and my jaw drops as she introduces the twins as her Mates. "If I decide I can trust you, I might explain that one to you, Orion," she says."Fair enough, Umayza. Let me start by saying I am sorry for leading trouble your way. I have a puzzle with missing pieces, and I hope together we can put it together," I say, and Conri asks me what kind of trouble I might have led her way. "Luna Calliope," I say without looking away from him. "Before you kill me, you might want to listen to what I have to say," I respond to his growls, and Captain Armand tells me to explain myself. "Okay, I will give you the very short version of my life. I was found near the border of my Pack by Maggie, an Omega," I tell them how I grew up and about my first assignment. "I have been doing this line of work ever since then, and I know Ma won't be sorry that I finally turned my back on it. Luna Calliope knew just the basics about you when she hired me, and I know she hired me on the day you were taken to the Council. It wasn't until a year ago that I finally found out why she wanted to know so much about you, but I never told her what I knew. You had returned from an assignment, and with the way you were dressed with that high ponytail, I saw the resemblance with Wenonah immediately. Don't ask me why, but I didn't report everything I found out about you. I have been asking myself and Jasper that question over and over, and neither one of us knows the answer. She doesn't know you can kick ass, nor does she know that they are your protection detail. The reason I decided to come here is that a friend of mine lives in Night Shade Pack, and he warned me about what Calliope plans to do to you. Once she gets her hands on you, she wants Malik to forcefully mark you, but don't worry—he won't do that, as you are definitely not his type," I accept the soda Yonatan offers me. Her Mates are fuming while the others have murderous looks in their eyes, and Umayza just stares at me with a questioning look in her eyes. "Orion, can I ask you a personal question?" she asks while she tries to calm her Mates down. I nod my head, and I expect her to ask me if I have a Mate or something. "What color is Jasper?" she asks, and literally everyone stares at her dumbfounded. I am stunned by her question, and for a moment, I don't know how to answer her, but Jasper urges me to tell her as a sign of good will. "Jasper is a silvery color," I answer. Before I can ask her why she asked me that question, she jumps off the couch and into my arms. I look at Conri and Evander in the hope they are able to explain this to me, but it seems they don't have an answer for me, and I think they are hoping for the answer from me. My heart breaks as I hear her sob, and Conri and Evander sit down on either side of me; they try to calm her down by running their hands up and down her back. Theron looks at me for a moment and then muters, "Fuck," as he seems to have found the answer. Alexia is the next one to mutter the same word, and it seems that she is about to explain it when Theron shakes his head. "This is something Umayza has to explain," he says as he looks at me, but it doesn't make me feel as if she is about to give me bad news. It takes Umayza a few minutes to calm down, but she has no intention of getting off my lap, and I look apologetically at Conri and Evander. "Orion, I will tell you why I asked that question, but I need one more answer from you. Did Maggie ever see one of your parents?" I tell her she found me not far from my Mother, but she had died from the injuries she had sustained, and a fresh load of tears start streaming down her cheeks.