He remembered the fire, remembered reading the reports, seeing who'd survived and in his own way, at least doing something. It wasn't much, three, four trips a year, days beside her bed, but it was better than her being alone.

And some part of him had needed it, needed to feel like he was helping. The fire had been a tragedy, something that never should have happened.

And hearing her speak, the details of that night, had him silent.

"Laura..." He'd wanted it to be one of the other alphas, not a Hale, not this. Even if it was justifiable murder, it was still taking lives and that burden was one he'd never wanted her to have to bear.

"I meant....a non Hale Alpha." Not that it would make this any better, but easier? Definitely

Simpler for him.

The fact it was Laura though, that was going to make this difficult.

"They gave me time to look into it before they send reinforcements. If my sister comes here..." Chris didn't finish, didn't need to.

Kate had taken over after he'd left. Taken over leadership, just taken over and Chris had kept his distance, but the idea that it could be Laura?

It had pulled him right back in.

She had drawn him back in.