Megan POV

“Elves?” I feel stunned. “I thought –”

“You thought we didn’t exist?” Balin asks quietly.

I feel uneasy, “I don’t – Honestly, I don’t know much about other species. I was far too young when I was kicked out of my pack with my family. As a result, I never learned the history of the Others.”

“Your parents never educated you?”

I open my mouth and then snap it shut before finally, “My parents were killed. I only had Ben, my brother.”

The wave of grief is fresh when I mention him.

“Is he–”

“He was killed along with my mate.”

“I see.”

There is no sympathy or...