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Quinton had just gotten into his car and down the street from Kaylee’s house, when his phone rang, the text message coming through. He pulled over, and reached for the phone, frowning at the unfamiliar phone number. Opening the message, Quinton heart seemed to stop, his mind going to Abigale, before he realised that she would be safe, at school, in the relative heart of town. At least, she should be.

Had the alpha attacked some of the teens from last night again? The ones in the hospital should be safe enough, but he couldn’t be sure… all at once, he turned the car around, heading back the way he had just come, going faster than the posted speed limit, chucking his phone on the passenger seat, soon pulling to a stop once more, getting out the car, he hurried to the door, reaching for the handle without thinking and pushing the door open.

”Kaylee? Connor?”

Nuzzling her own lightly against Connor’s nose, Kaylee smiled softly, a gentle blush creeping out over her cheeks at the sweet intimate moment that they were sharing- he was so perfect… everything about him was just so-... Her head snapping around at the sound of the door banging against the wall, she tensed up in his arms, her soft pink lips parting ever so slightly from one another as she strained her ears in the direction of the entryway; her body relaxing only when the familiar sound of their Beta’s voice once more filled the air within the house.

“..Quinton..?” Confusion flickering across her features, she reluctantly pulled herself away from Connor’s embrace, making her way across the kitchen and back into the hall to investigate why he was suddenly calling for them the way he was- he had left… what could be so important that he had come back so quickly..?

Connor followed Kaylee, wondering what had happened, Quinton hadn’t been gone that long, had there been something that had made him come back, something that was severe enough? There didn’t seem to be any danger, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t.

”There was another attack, I wanted to make sure you were both okay” Quinton said, relieved to see that nothing seemed out of place, but who had been attacked? Had one of them gone back to the camp site? Would any of them have been so foolish as to do so? Quinton wanted to believe no, but he didn’t know much about these kids. Had cops been investigated the site? Surely not... but once more, Quinton couldn’t reliably say that. Or was it something else entirely? ”I need to check on your friends in the hospital, and I don’t feel safe leaving you here, I want you to come” he said.

“..another attack..?”

A deep and threatening growl slipping out through her lips, Kaylee’s normally dark eyes flashed a bright yellow in color, her body shifting anxiously on the spot as she looked up at him- if there was another attack and he was here; someone was bound to be injured… or worse. And if they were bitten like the others were the night before. The hair sticking up on the back of her neck, she curled her hands up into fists, she didn’t want to even think about it. By god… how could wolves be so… barbaric..?

Connor wrapped his arms around Kaylee from behind hugging her, wanting to keep her safe, but not knowing how, worried for her, and the others that had been attacked, hoping that nothing truly bad had happened, looking to Quinton to see if he would elaborate.

”I don’t know anything beyond that there was an attack in the woods” Quinton said, watching them both, he shifted his stance slightly.

Connor frowned, turning his attention towards Kaylee, keeping her close to him, ”hey” he said softly, trying to think what he could say, shifting only slightly so he could kiss her, ”Kaylee… “

The sound of his voice catching her attention, Kaylee turned her head lightly to the side, her body relaxing slightly as she felt his lips pressing softly against her own, the action causing her bright yellow eyes to flutter to a close; the young woman pulling away after what felt like a lifetime so that she could instead rest her forehead against his, allowing his very presence to consume her… to help keep her anchored…

“..I know… I’m sorry…”

”I’ve got you” Connor said softly, and for a few moments he just held her, before saying ”We should go to the hospital, make sure everyone is okay… and find out more”

Nodding her head lightly, Kaylee opened herself up, allowing him to lead her back and for her anger to slowly slip away into nothing. Anger was not going to help her… not now; and it wasn’t going to help the others who were all so new to this world, “..you’re right… we should go…”

Quinton waited patiently, watching the two, knowing that control would come in time for all of them, and allowing them a few moments to get themselves together. It seemed sorted quickly enough, and Quinton was rather impressed. Even if they’d been werecreatures for a while, they were still teenagers. Kids. And their emotions could easily overwhelm them. So he made sure they were okay, before he turned his attention back to what was happening, heading to the door again, and opening it, waiting for them to follow.

Connor hugged Kaylee tightly a moment, before giving her a soft kiss, and taking her hand, ”It’s going to be okay. We can face anything together” he said softly to her, glancing out the door, although he was sure they were safe… it didn’t hurt them to be careful.

Her eyes shutting, Kaylee leant her head once more in closer to him, gently nuzzling up against his cheek for a few moments before she pulled away, her hand lightly squeezing his to let him know that she was okay… that she was ready to do what they had to do, “..come on… we can’t keep a beta waiting…”

Connor nodded, leading the way outside, and to the car, looking back as Quinton shut the door, and moved to the car as well. Opening the door, Connor waited for Kaylee to get in, before he got in himself. The car was much as it had been the night before, and was clearly a car that often held a child.

Settling back as Quinton started the car, Connor kept his hand in Kaylee’s.

Starting out the driveway once more, Quinton drove a little faster than he should have, although he was far from reckless. Checking on the kids in the hospital was top of his list.

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“You aren’t planning on staying, are you?”

Having been glaring intently at her mother, Sombra’s attention was torn back over to her brother at his words, her soft lips parting ever so slightly from one another as the anger seemed to slowly melt away. What was she supposed to say..? The truth..? It was clear that they already thought she was a liar; so what good was it supposed to do for her to come out and tell them that she was werewolf, and that the only reason she left was because she was scared of losing control… of ripping them apart with her bare hands...

“..my husband left that decision up to me…”

Her voice soft as she spoke, she relaxed her grip, her bloody claws slipping out from the palm of her hand as she continued to watch him, doing what she could to figure out just where his head was at. He was angry… that much was more than clear; but this seemed… different… she’d never seen him like this before; and she’d be lying if she didn’t admit that part of her feared what might happen if she pushed him any further than she already had…

“..we’re only meant to be staying here for a couple of days… then we were going to go back home…” Pausing a moment, Sombra shifted slightly over the spot, for the first time in a long time feeling awkward as she spoke to someone rather than confident as she was so well known for being, “..with my job… I mean; well, I can work from anywhere really, but James-... He said he was fine with whatever I chose for us... for our family... as long as it made me happy…”

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Myra wanted to continue, wanted to continue to demand answers from her daughter, but Alexander’s words stopped her short. Myra had no doubt that Sombra would be skipping town again as soon as she could find a way. Myra wasn’t going to let her go so easily this time, nor did she doubt Alex would, but his tone… the way he said it… it tore Myra’s heart out. The anger was there, but… She turned away from her children, wishing for just a moment that they were young again, that they were just little kids she could pick up, and hug close to her. When had things changed? Would they ever go back to those times? They’d been the only happy thing she had remaining from her rather rebellious, brief though it was, childhood. As from her siblings. But Damien was gone in the wind, and Zoe… Zoe lived a different life to her.

Her children…

Right then she wanted to knock their heads together and force them to talk, to get along and to let her in their lives. It was all she wanted. She looked to them, wishing things were different. And then Sombra replied to Alexander. Anger, and more than a fair amount of hurt stabbed her in the chest. Sombra had gotten married? The mere thought of it, the mere thought that she had missed her little girl’s wedding… It was more than she could handle, and she closed her eyes tightly.

Her little girl had gotten married, and she hadn’t been there to see it.

Myra knew they had had more than their share of problems in their relationship, but she never thought that Sombra would get married without her at least there. That was something Myra would regret every day of her life, that she hadn’t been there for Sombra, on such a day. It didn’t matter if it had just been a wedding at a courthouse… Myra hadn’t been there. She’d pushed Sombra so far away that Sombra hadn’t wanted her in her life, hadn’t wanted her to be apart of that.

She felt like her heart was being ripped from her chest. She’d never get Sombra back. It hadn’t occurred to her that by husband, she meant James. Right then, it didn’t matter to Myra. What mattered was that… she felt like no matter what she did, she’d never get Sombra back in her life. She was gone, no matter if she was there or not. She’d done something that Sombra had taken badly, so badly that she hadn’t wanted her in such an important life event. And she didn’t know what.

Not meeting either of her children’s gazes, not wanting them to see the tears in her eyes, Myra looked aware but their faces. Her gaze landed on Sombra’s bloodied palms, her mind taking a moment to register the claws. Fear and worry was added to the emotional rollercoaster Myra found herself on, and even more anger. Why hadn’t she been told? Because she was damn sure that Zoe knew about this. Her gaze flickered to Alexander, making sure he hadn’t seen anything. Her heart beating fast. It didn’t matter, not then, that she was immensely hurt. She would still do anything she could to protect her children. They were her children, to the day she died, and if she could figure out a way to protect them from the grave, she would.

Her gaze met Sombra’s, but it seemed like Sombra wasn’t over dropping bombs, her last words ringing through Myra’s mind, and her abused heart simply wanted to run away screaming. ...Our Family…. Either Sombra was pregnant, or her and-ugh- James, were planning on having a baby soon.

Myra would be damned if she was cut out from her grand childs life.

“... Please tell me…. ” She asked softly, everything else forgotten right then, wanting to know if she was going to be a grandmother. “... Are you pregnant… ?” She wanted to go over to Sombra, to hug her and tell her everything would be alright, but she had no idea how Sombra would take it. And that hurt too, knowing she couldn’t comfort her daughter in anyway. “You are home, Sombra” She said just as softly, “I love you, and nothing will ever change that” all she wanted right then, was just a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t going to lose her girl again.

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“..A-Alex..!”

A flicker of panic shooting out through her heart, Sombra started after him, only managing to take a couple of steps before he was gone from the room; leaving her instead with only their mother for company. Had she lost him..? Had she really managed to fuck up so badly that she had just lost her brother for good..? They had only meant to stay a couple of days- her mother and brother weren’t even supposed to find out that they had been in town, and now…

Her heart aching slightly, Sombra shut her dark eyes, her gentle features scrunching up slightly as she waited for the feeling to pass with little to no success- why did she care so much..? Yes, it was her brother… but she had worked so hard over the years to try and block out these types of feelings… so why was it that she couldn’t do it now..? Her head dropping slightly, she sighed out in slight defeat; whatever happened… whatever her choice, she was going to have to talk to James about it first…

Myra stayed where she had been standing, not making a move to stop Sombra if she left the room, and not following Alex. She could talk with him later, whereas she didn't know if Sombra would give her the chance to do so again. She held her tongue, not snapping out a comment she'd probably regret. She waited silent for a moment or two, gathering her thoughts and what she wanted to say.

”you didn't answer my question, Sombra” she said, trying to keep her voice neutral, but she was a bit weary. She waited another moment or two, hesitating a moment, but decided not to install a change in topic just yet. ”are you pregnant?”

The sound of her mother’s voice catching her ear, Sombra turned her head slightly, her eyes both opening so that she could catch even the smallest of glimpses of the woman out of the corner of them before eventually, she turned her head away, once more looking in the direction of the door, her mind distracted as she spoke softly.

“..yes…”

A conflict of emotions filled Myra. She wanted to touch Sombra, to hug her, but was still terrified that Sombra would push her away. She didn't think she could stand that rejection. She didn't even know what to say. What could she say?

She watched Sombra still, for a moment feeling like she was further away from her then she and ever been, ”He doesn't hate you, Sombra” she said softly, hesitating a moment before giving in and stepping towards Sombra, and reaching out to hug her, ”Sombra… “

Her body tensing as she felt her mother taking a hold over her, Sombra lifted her head, her soft lips parting ever so slightly from one another as she turned her head, confusion clear enough behind her gaze as she stood frozen, a little unsure of what to do… of how to react…

How long had it been since her mother had tried to hug her..? Even when she’d still been living in Klamath, it wasn’t something that happened between them very often- a rarity of which, more times than none, caught others around them by surprise. Shooting a quick glance at the woman holding her, she hesitated, giving no signs that she was going to be reciprocating the action, but also giving no sign that she would be pulling away from the small amount of comfort either any time soon.

“..madre…”

Myra didn't know how to feel… she hadn't pushed her away, but neither had she gave any indication that it was okay. She sighed softly, "I love you baby girl... I always will... I don't want to lose you, again" the last sentence slipped out, before Myra could even finish the thought in her own mind, and she pulled away, looking away from Sombra.

"I'm sorry."

Sorry..? Her mother, the proud woman that she was, was apologizing to her..? Blinking a couple of times as though taking a moment to figure out if she had heard wrong or not, Sombra let her dark (and slightly surprised) gaze linger on the woman in question.

“..don’t… I’m the one who left…” Her voice soft, she spoke to her mother, her eyes closing as a soft sigh passed out through her lips- this was honestly the very last thing she had wanted when they had arrived in town… Gods, she just hoped James was ready for whatever was going to come his way when he finally reunited with her family…

Myra opened her mouth to speak, before closing it again. There was no point going down the blame game path right then. Instead she turned back to Sombra, and chose her words carefully. “Was that before, or after you became a werewolf?”

“..what..?”

Her normally rather stoic features flickering with surprise and slight panic, Sombra instead did all that she could to look confused, her dark eyes tearing away from her mother as she shook her head lightly from side to side, brushing off her rather sudden question- where the hell had that come from, “..I don't know what you're talking about…”

”I'm a detective, Sombra, and I know about the… supernatural world” it wasn't often Mrya caught Sombra off guard, she nodded to Sombra’s hands, ”Claws. And your palms are bloody, but there are no wounds” she said, watching her daughter, and waiting to see what she'd do or say.

Her hands balling up at her sides, Sombra shifted slightly on the spot, clear at unease at being called out on one thing she had been keeping from her mother for years, “..does Alex know..?”

Myra gave a small shrug ”about the supernatural? Not that I know off. I doubt he saw anything, either. Or he'd be a bit freaked out. Is that why you ran away, Sombra?”

“..we were young; out of control… aunt Zoé did manage to teach us how to control ourselves to a point, but…”

Letting her sentence trail off into nothing, Sombra let her gaze fall to the ground between them, her hands once more relaxing, “..we were scared that we were going to do something we would regret- that we'd lose it and kill someone we cared about… w-what if I killed you..? What if I killed Alex..? I-I couldn't live with myself…”

Silent for sometime, several things to say going through her mind, Myra wanted to say so much… “I don't want you to leave again, Sombra… “ she said softly, knowing she wouldn't have any say in the matter, but still saying it ”I don't want to lose you again… “

“..I don't want to hurt you- we left to protect you from this…”

”That may be, but I know how to protect myself. I've done a pretty damn good job of it my whole life, and done a good job of staying alive since finding out about this world” Myra said, ”I… “ she sighed and trailed off.

”I want to be in your life… “

Hesitant as she thought on her mother’s words, the possible responses countless and ranging everywhere from a sweet mother and daughter moment, to possible bloodshed should things go wrong, Sombra shifted once more over the spot, her arms coming up to fold over her chest between them, though her expression gave it away…

For the first time in a long time… she was vulnerable…

“..I didn’t even buy a dress…” Her voice soft as she spoke, she lifted her head back up, her soft lips parting ever so slightly as she looked back over at her mum, “..I didn’t wear white… it wasn’t anything big; just us… a judge… and two witnesses- people we worked with… it was a wedding; but no matter how much I wanted to have the wedding of my dreams, I couldn’t bring myself to do it… not without the family… not without you and Alex…”

Myra watched Sombra, listening as she spoke, hesitating a moment, wondering if Sombra was saying what Myra thought she was. ”would… would you have one… here?” she asked quietly, not daring to hope that maybe she'd be apart of her life, even marginally.

“..I-... I would have to talk to James, but…” Shrugging her shoulders lightly, Sombra allowed her open ended sentence to hang in the air, a single bloody hand breaking from where she had them so that she could run her fingers back through her long dark locks, forcing them back and off of her face, “..I wouldn’t do a big white wedding without you guys… I just can’t...”

Myra tried not to make a face at the mention of James, ”I still don't like him… but if he makes you happy, then that's okay” Myra said, falling silent, not sure what to say, or do now, waiting for Sombra.

“..no… no, it’s more than that, madre…” Shaking her head lightly, Sombra frowned, allowing her mind to think over how she could explain it without sounding like a lunatic with her head stuck in the clouds, “..do you remember when I was little..? And you used to read me all those stories, and watch all those movies with me about those Princesses who found true love with their Price..? Like Mulan and Snow White and all that..?”

Pausing a moment, knowing she wasn’t explaining it as best as she could, she let out a sigh, her head turning away slightly as she allowed her mind to wander towards the man she had run away with all those years ago, “..it’s kinda like that… the true love thing; but… it’s much stronger than that… Madre; there’s no one else out there for me… I know you don’t like him, but he’s my one true mate no matter how much you don’t approve… the night that aunt Zoé turned us; we imprinted on one another… there’s no breaking that bond apart; we couldn’t, even if we wanted to…”

Myra knew there would be several things she wouldn't understand, but that didn't mean she had to like it. Although as Sombra continued, revealing that Zoé had changed her, she found herself angry once more ”your Aunt changed you… ?” she was surprised she managed to say it calmly.

“..madre… don’t be mad at her- she had no choice…”

”Why? Why shouldn't I be angry?” Myra demanded, thinking that at every turn, it seemed like there was someone still hiding things from her, and she was getting increasingly weary of it.

“..because if she didn’t turn us that night; you would've had to bury me in the ground before our high-school graduation…”

The words slipping from her lips long before she could stop them, she paused, holding her mother’s gaze for a few moments before she sighed, “..I snuck out to meet with James; wasn’t the first time… we’d been dating for months… we met up on the outskirts of town; you know that old abandoned mill..? We were- well, you don’t really need to know… but something happened; we were attacked by this… giant wolf, and left for dead… madre… aunt Zoé saved our lives…”

Myra knew that Zoé wouldn’t bite, wouldn’t change anyone unless she didn’t have a choice, and while she could be grateful for Sombra’s life, that wasn’t the point. ”And then let me think you were in trouble, or dead for five years”

“..she had a number; that was all…” Her head tilting lightly to the side, Sombra frowned, ready to keep defending her alpha and her past actions, “..when we left; we stayed apart of the pack, but we also cut off all communication with her as well… she knew just as much as you did- for all she knows, the message she sent to us about the attack might not have even reached us… she sends us texts, but we never respond to her…”

Myra shook her head, and sighed, ”She still knew more, had more than I had” She said, now unable to keep her voice calm, to keep the emotion from her voice, although less angry now, more resigned.

“..madre…”

Hesitating a moment, Sombra reached out towards her mother, the tips of her fingers brushing lightly over her forearm before she thought better of her actions, her arm coming back into her body, her head turning away and her mouth closing once more as she shifted, unsure of what she was supposed to say.

Myra sighed heavily, knowing she was being unreasonable… but there really was no reason when it came to your children. She- at Sombra’s light, fleeting touch, Myra turned her gaze to her daughter once more.

”I’m sorry” she said once more. She wanted to reach out, to hug her once more, but she was hesitant… ”I… I just… I missed you, Sombra” she said, sighing once more, ”And I want you to stay” she wanted to reach out, but didn’t, once more worried that Sombra would pull away.

”But I know… it’s your choice” She turned away slightly, averting her gaze, ”You should go talk with Alex. Wash the blood off your hands first” She added.

Watching as her mother turned away from her, Sombra once more found herself hesitating where she stood- why was this so hard..? By the Gods, feelings were just so… argh...

Remaining where she stood a moment longer, she eventually nodded her head lightly up and down in response, her body turning before she wandered into the adjoining bathroom, her soft lips parting ever so slightly as she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror. How had things gotten so… messy..? Tearing her gaze from the woman staring back at her, Sombra reached out, turning on the tap so that she could let the water run for a moment; the gentle flow of it serene… calming…

Quickly washing her hands, the water ran red a few moments before she shut off the tap, drying them with the washcloth hanging beside the sink before she was once more on the move, her dark gaze turning to linger upon her mother for a spell as she passed through the room, soft thuds filling the air as she hurried down the stairs, following her brother’s scent out into the front before she stopped, her gaze landing on his figure.

Talking to her mother had been hard enough… now she had to speak with her brother…

Debating on whether or not she should go through with this, Sombra took a deep breath, holding it for a moment before finally, she let it out, her feet carrying her almost silently over to the bench he was sat at, her attention flicking to the small pup in his presence as she moved around it, taking the spot beside him, her voice soft as she spoke.

“..lo siento… Alex...”

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She didn’t know what had happened… one moment the boys were ready to leave, and the next, they were huddled about in the entryway.

Her smile fading to instead be replaced by a slight frown at the question of whether or not her son was alright, Zoé leant forward, moving out of her brother’s embrace for a few moments as she slid her now label-less beer bottle onto the coffee table, making sure that it wasn’t going to fall before she stood herself up, her head tilting lightly to the side as she took a few steps forward and towards the hallway.

“..Aron..?” The soft vibration, and the ever enticing beat of Enrique Iglesias’ ‘Bailando’ filled the air, the music, and the familiar sound of the beautiful Spanish language calling out for her attention, though she chose to ignore it, her focus instead upon the two boys hanging about by the front door, “..Aron..? Cody- what’s goin-... oh, mierda; hang on…”

The ringtone growing louder by the moment, she took pause, stopping halfway between the boys and her brother (still sitting upon the couch), Zoé’s gaze wandered out and across the room, her hand slipping down into the back pocket of her jeans so she could retrieve her phone before she lifted it up, a slight flicker of confusion filtering out over her soft features as she caught sight of the name on the screen. Leo..? Crap; had she forgotten some plans they had again..? No… no; for the life of her, she couldn’t remember coming up with anything between them, at least not until their usual catch up- but then that was next week…

Stomach twisting slightly, and mind racing through all the possibilities of why the warlock would be calling her at this time of day, she turned away from both the boys and her brother, giving each of them her profile instead as she swiped her thumb over the screen, answering the call with her brows furrowed, and a slight hesitation and questioning to her tone.

“..hola..?”

Leo inhaled sharply at the sound of Zoé’s voice drifting from his phone. A split second of relief washed over him, but it lasted for but a moment before the waves of anguish and anxiety purged it from his system.

“Zoé! It's Leo.” The Warlock spouted quickly as he walked towards Magnus’ car, his brow furrowed in worry. “The werewolf from last night attacked again. Callie and a young warlock named Alexis were both nearly killed. Callie managed to escape, but Alexis is still in the woods. She’s severely injured, but I put a stasis spell on her, but I can’t sustain it forever. I need your help to protect the pack and save Alexis!”

“..what..?”

Shooting a quick glance around her at the other three, Zoé turned her back to them once more her brows furrowing together in worry as she spoke again, an urgency and seriousness to her tone, “..Leo… Leo, calm down, and start again. What happened exactly..? And where are you..?”

Leo disregarded Zoé’s instructions to calm himself, but he did decide that exploding out large amounts of information wasn’t the method the situation called for; The Warlock needed to be collected and concise.

“I’m at the West Ridge vet’s office,” Leo said, controlling his voice to a clear, understandable manner of speaking. “Callie and a Warlock named Alexis were in the woods when the wolf from last night attacked them. Callie escaped, but left Alexis for dead. I placed the girl under a time stasis spell, but I can’t maintain it forever. She’s severely injured, and we need to reach her before the spell runs out. Callie’s being looked over by an angel named Seraphina Astarte, but I can’t stay with her. Magnus is with me; I need you to come and help me retrieve Alexis, and fend off the wolf. He’s powerful enough to take down Callie and another magic user, though the Warlock knows next to nothing about magic. We have to hurry.”

Once again, he was going too fast; though the message was clear as day: there had been another attack.

Eyes flashing over a brilliant shade of red, a deep and rather threatening growl ripped out through her lips at the mere thought that the rogue alpha was once more terrorising her territory. This was going to stop… even if it meant she had to rip his throat out personally, and with her bare hands, “Again..?!”

Her free hand balling up into a fist at her side, Zoé all but ignored the pain of her claws cutting into her palms. She was done. This alpha was wreaking havoc- threatening their very way of life, and it was clear that if she left it too long without doing something, then it was going to be too late, “Head to the area, I’ll meet you there- I’ll track your scent, I think I still have your jacket here from the last time you came over. Oh, and do not leave your car until I get there; do you understand me, Leo..? There’s been enough loss without your leader losing another of her valued coven members.”

Not bothering to give him a chance to respond, she lowered the phone, her thumb hitting the ‘end call’ button before her attention was turned over to the two boys, her features no longer carrying any semblance of the smile she had been wearing moments beforehand as she curled her fingers around her mobile tightly, “You two aren’t to leave this house until further notice, do I make myself clear..? Lock the doors, and don’t let anyone in. Not until we get back.”

Her head turning on a swivel, Zoé met her gaze with her brother’s, holding it as she threw her phone over in his direction, not even bothering to see if he caught it or not before she crossed over her body, her fingers curling so that she could take hold of the bottom of her top, lifting it up and off her body before she dropped it to the ground at her side, seeming to not even care about the fact that she had an audience as she moved to undo the button and zip on her jeans, her words now directed at her brother.

“..I need your help, Damien… there’s been another attack…”

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Cody was trying to get information from Aron, but it seemed that Aron wasn’t going to share, at least right then. A little hurt- or more than a little hurt, actually- Cody let the subject drop, although he kept a close eye on Aron, trying to figure out what was wrong, if anything. His thoughts were plagued however with wondering if maybe it was something Aron just didn’t want to share with him… and that maybe Aron was growing bored with him… Maybe Cody was being too… clingy? Lowering his head, although still looking at Aron using the corners of his eyes, trying to figure it out, a thought he never thought to think rushed through his mind.

Maybe they just weren’t meant to be.

It shocked him. He loved Aron, didn’t he? He tried to analyse that a moment, and knew that yes, he did. So where had that thought come from? He do anything for Aron… but maybe Aron wouldn’t do anything for him. Banishing those thoughts, realising that he might just be overwhelmed, tired and perhaps more than a little upset after the events of the night before, Cody lifted his head, looking to Aron, and managing a smile. For a brief moment, he wondered how he’d gotten lucky to have Aron, even if he was a little worried about things between them, wondering why Aron didn’t want to share what was up.

He could give Aron that space. And he smiled brightly, until another thought fell through his mind. Maybe… he wasn’t who he wanted to be… . He didn’t want to be worrying about his relationship… he knew that they were perfectly normal human worries, and he always worried about his friends… but he didn’t want his relationship controlling his life. His smile faded slightly, and he processed that a moment or two, before shaking his head, looking up as Zoé spoke, over his shoulder at her.

“..Aron..? Cody- what’s goin-... oh, mierda; hang on…”

He glanced a little worried towards Aron, seeing his own worry reflected there, and for a brief moment, he felt like everything would be right, despite the situation. He looked back to Zoé, as she talked on the phone, her profile to them, only able to hear her side of the conversation, but even that was enough to tell Cody that something was seriously wrong. Wondering what else could have gone wrong, and terrified for his friends safety, Cody checked his phone, sure that if something had gone wrong with either Syleste or Sebastian, someone would let them know. He hadn’t missed any texts, or calls, and he relaxed slightly, looking back to Zoé. Something was wrong, but he didn’t know what, and he flinched at the anger and venom in her voice in that one single “Again..?”

As the conversation continued, Zoé’s side just seemed to make things worse, he’d gone from thinking that his friends were okay, to being scared about who else had been attacked- because it was becoming clear that there had been something like the night before happen. As she turned towards them, Cody reached out, and took Aron’s hand, reassured when Aron returned Cody’s gentle squeeze.

“You two aren’t to leave this house until further notice, do I make myself clear..? Lock the doors, and don’t let anyone in. Not until we get back.”

Nodding at Zoé’s words, and not intending to leave the house at all- unless of course they had no other choice, Cody was happy to agree, although he wanted to know what was going on, but didn’t want to ask. He didn’t want to delay Zoé in what was something important.

He didn’t get to say anything as Zoé began to strip, for a few seconds too shocked to do anything but stare, before the thought A sight utterly wasted on us tore him out his stupor, and he averted his gaze, not because he was worried that Zoé would think he was staring at her, but because it made him feel awkward- both the fact that she was a woman, and because she was, his boyfriend’s new mother. After a few seconds, he managed to find his voice, ”Yes, Ma’am” his voice soft, and a little shaky- whether because of Zoé’s sudden strip, or because of the phone call and what was happening, Cody wasn’t too sure.

Her next words confirmed what Cody suspected, and he shifted closer to Aron, not aware that he was seeking comfort as he slid an arm around Aron, shifting himself closer to his partner in the process. Another attack, and the way Zoé was acting, Cody couldn’t help but think it was something worse the their attack- she’d said something losing someone else- had someone died? For the first time, he wondered what the hell they were going to do- would this rogue Alpha rule their lives forever? He was about to argue with Zoé, to try to get her to let them come, before the words died on his tongue as he realised that she didn’t need to be worrying about them, being in danger out there, when they didn’t even know what the hell they could do, let alone how to do it.

Yet he couldn’t help but saying ”Stay safe” although he didn’t look at her as he did- what if she was still undressing? Or walking about naked? Was she doing that, so she could shift? Did they lose their clothes when they did that? Suddenly the thought that he could shift in school and back again, ending up naked popped into his head. A rather unpleasant thought.

Maybe he could change to being home schooled. Although the thought of losing control with his parents was enough to zip that thought out his mind quick smart. Even as he hated lying to them, he didn’t want them to know what he now was. His parents were open minded, but perhaps not that open-minded.

And he was getting side tracked.

He risked a glance up, and looked away quickly once more, shifting awkwardly from his left foot to his right foot for a minute, ”We’ll stay inside, I promise.” He said, as he gently tugged Aron towards him, waiting to lock the door after Zoé and Damien left.

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“Dad..? What is it..?”

His attention lifting from the beautiful young wolf that he’d been holding in his arms, Hunter let them fall back to his sides, his body pressing harder against the wall beside the broken vending machine as he lifted his hands, sliding them deep into the pockets of his jeans as he allowed the father daughter duo to speak with one another.

This situation was out of his league… Parentals- he’d never really had a problem with them back home; but then again, this wasn’t Australia, this was a whole new ballgame, and from what Cassandra had just (very briefly) mentioned about her father in the conversation they had just shared with one another… this guy was going to be a tough nut to crack. He was going to have to lay on that good ol’ Aussie charm, and he was going to have to lay it on thick if he wanted to even have a chance at getting her father’s approval. It was one thing to actually date the girl… a completely different thing to be liked and accepted by her family…

“Something has come up and I have to go take care of it. So while I’m gone, I need you to take Sebastian’s pape-...”

Well… that solved that problem… at least for now anyway.

The doctor's words fading in and out as Hunter’s attention continued to flick between the pair and his own thoughts, he dropped his head down, his dark gaze lingering upon the floor in front of him… From one looks of him; aside from the fact that he was (at first glance) rather large and imposing, it was more than clear the good doctor would be back once he’d finished running whatever errands it was that he had to do- he didn’t seem like the type to shirk his responsibilities onto a teenage girl, especially if the girl in question was actually his daughter. Besides… they seemed close…

Frowning slightly at the thought that it might make things more difficult in the long run, he shifted slightly against the wall. Honestly; that was the last thing he needed… having to deal with a meddling father… Shaking his head lightly from side to side as though to dispel those thoughts from his mind, Hunter furrowed his brows- he didn’t even know the guy yet; he couldn’t go around making assumptions like that out of the blue. Besides; for all he knew, this guy could be the most laid back and understanding guy out there… he just wouldn’t know until he tried.

But today was not that day…

“So… that was my dad…”

Pulled back to the present by the sound of her voice, Hunter lifted his head, a small smile playing over his lips once more in return to her own as he reached out, taking a gentle hold of her side so that he could draw her back in against his body, holding her to him as he nodded his head lightly, letting her know that he was indeed listening to what it was that she was saying to him.

“I guess I have to go check on my friends… will you stay?”

She wanted him to stay; it was adorable. All intentions on responding with a rather smart alec remark, Hunter caught himself before the words slipped through his lips, his hands instead pulling her just that little bit closer against his body as he let his thumbs brush lightly over her sides; his smile soft as he gave her a wink, “..course I’ll stay… as long as you want me to… I’m not goin’ anywher-...”

“Uh, Cassie? Your dad discharged me, and I just overheard that he asked you to tell my dad. I was just gonna see if…”

His words coming to a rather an abrupt stop at the sound of another person interrupting, Hunter let out a soft sigh, his head dropping and his dark eyes closing for a moment at the thought that they might never have a moment alone before eventually, he lifted his head, his attention turning to the guy who stood (quite unflatteringly) in a hospital gown in front of them- well… could he expect anything less..? They were in a hospital after all…

Knowing that it was Cassie that the guy wanted, he let his hands slip, relaxing the gentle hold he had over her sides as he lowered them, slipping them back down into the depths of his pockets as he watched the guy, his brow quirking slightly, and a small and rather amused smile playing over his lips- he was flustered… and staring at him…

..huh… normally only get that reaction from sheila’s…

“Well, fuck...”

Unable to help the soft chuckle that fell through his lips at the guy’s reaction, Hunter shook his head lightly from side to side, seeming happily to take it in his stride, giving the guy a quick wink to let him know that he was playing, “Hahah; don’ normally get that kinda offer, but maybe later, yeah..?”

Pushing himself away from the wall, Hunter stepped forward, flashing the guy a bright smile as he moved to stand beside Cassie, a single hand reaching out in offer to him as his free hand lifted up, pressing lightly over the small of Cassie’s back in order to let her know that he was there and trying to move out from his little hiding spot, “G’day mate; ya must be one of the friends Cassie here was tellin’ me about. The names Hunter… Hunter Evans- it’s nice ta meet ya.”

For a few moments, Cassandra was more than a little distracted by Hunter- she thought that even if… whatever this was hadn’t happened, she’d probably be distracted by him still- Cassandra briefly forgot what she was suppose to be doing. Nestled against him, happily, she took a moment or two to gather her courage for the next few hours, which would no doubt be tough, as she tried to make sure she wasn’t going to mess up her father’s job. Looking up as he pulled her a little closer, she smiled, pleased at his words, before he was interrupted.

At Sebastian’s words, she looked over to her friend, giving him a kind smile, pleased to see that he was up and about, and that he could go home. Now they just had to get Syleste out of the hospital, and she reminded herself to see if it would be possible to do, before night came and made that impossible. As Sebastian’s words seemed to falter, Cassandra followed his gaze to Hunter, and couldn’t help but grin. She couldn’t blame him for being taken by Hunter. He did have a striking figure.

At the risk of getting completely distracted again, Cassandra looked back towards Sebastian, who seemed utterly taken by Hunter. Not that she blamed him, although she was a little disappointed that once more they’d be interrupted, and he’d removed his hands from her, it wasn’t Sebastian’s fault. It was just what was. His words reminded her that she had to get that paperwork sorted, and call Sebastian’s father, glancing about for Gage, who she hoped had been looking after Syleste… If he hadn’t been, she was going to kick his ass. She’d only gone home, asides to make sure her father would at least get a bit of sleep, because she thought she could trust Gage with Syleste. If he’d messed up, he was going to regret it.

Drawn once more to what was going on by Sebastian, she couldn’t help but giggle, even as she sympathised. Hunter really was exquisite, there was no denying that, and if she could, she would have stayed there forever, but at least right at that moment, it wasn’t possible. Shifting at Hunter’s touch, Cassandra made to slip away, muttering a quick ”I’ll be right back”, and heading off down the corridor.

It was always easy moving about the hospital, no one ever stopped her, not anymore. They probably thought that she was doing something for her father, and not actually doing his job. She reached the nearest nurses station, just down the end of the ward, she returned a few moments later with a set of clothes for Sebastian, sure that no one had thought to get him any, given that he was still in a hospital gown.

”They aren’t much, but better than a gown” she said to Sebastian, giving him another smile.

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Leo’s gently touch, and comforting smile… It did a bit to ease Callie’s panic, but not enough. The thought of Alexis, laying there, dead constantly sent her into hysterics. She had thought they’d have been safe… had something interfered with her spells? She tried to shake her head when he placed the amulet around her neck, feeling like she didn’t deserve the lack of pain, and she began to cry softly, small sobs racking her body. She only clutched at Leo tighter as he made to go, not wanting him to leave her, afraid of what might happen.

“Listen, love, I have to go save Alexis. I’m gonna leave you with Doctor Astarte. She’s gonna help you. But I gotta go. I love you, and you’re gonna be okay” His words, she knew, where meant to be comforting, but she turned away from his touch, her tears only becoming worse. She knew that Alexis was gone, no matter what. She turned away from him, curling into herself as he walked away from her.

Maybe she deserved this, being alone, her best friend leaving her… she swallowed around a painful lump in her throat, looking to the vet, to the woman she was intruding upon, making her life harder.

Gods, she was a bad person. How many lives was Callie going to ruin? ”I’m sorry… “

“..h-hush now…”

Hesitating a moment as she let her gaze linger upon the woman lain over the metal table before her, Seraphina shifted slightly, her emotions running high causing her to almost miss the gentle nagging sensation coming from somewhere in the back of her mind. Someone was calling out to her… trying to connect with her; though with the situation at hand, she couldn’t tell who it was…

Feeling as though it wouldn’t necessarily make anything worse, she opened her mind to the other presence, knowing that it was a risk, but right now… her first and only priority was making sure that the woman in front of her didn’t die. Reluctance in her actions, Seraphina closed the gap between the both of them, quickly pulling a fresh pair of blue gloves from the box hanging on the wall, she pulled them on, panic behind her eyes as she began to look her over, mumbling softly to herself as though it was going to help her in some way.

“..blood in your hair… and on your face… d-do you feel dizzy- fuzzy vision..?” Leaning over her slightly, Seraphina reached out, her touch soft as she brushed the woman’s dark hair off to the side, lightly examining the wound on her head, “..you-... y-you might have a concussion…”

Had she hit her head? Callie couldn’t remember… she remembered falling to the ground, throwing her arm up, but had she hit her head? She supposed she must have, and she tried to focus enough to respond, ”I.. I don’t think so, but… I’ve been crying” She tried to throw her mind back, through the blur of the attack until now. ”Maybe a little fuzzy… “

Jumping ever so slightly as the woman spoke to her, Seraphina turned her attention down to her, blinking a few times as she seemed to remember that for once, her patient was a human rather than that of an animal- this woman had a voice; she was still conscious… which meant, in a way, she could answer the questions she usually left hanging in the air for only herself to hear.

“..s-sorry… my-... my patients usually... can’t talk…”

Biting down softly upon her lower lip, Seraphina awkwardly let her gaze flick about the room before she turned her attention back down, her hand retreating from the woman’s head so that she could instead look over her other wounds, “..definitely a concussion… your-... your answer helps to prove that… u-uh… I-I’ll need to clean the b-bite that’s on your forearm… and, uh… and the other cuts you have… before any of them get infected…”

Callie tried to focus, but whether it was because of the amulet Leo had forced on her, or simply because her head just didn’t want to work, she didn’t know, and she ended up just staring at Seraphina, looking down to her arm at the mention of it, where she could still feel the wolf clamping down on it, seeming to hesitate a few moments, before finally looking back up, remembering where she was. ”Okay… did… did you need me to do anything?”

Shaking her head from side to side, Seraphina relaxed slightly, her head tilting lightly to the side as she looked down at the witch in front of her- this one couldn’t hurt her… at least, not while in her current state… when she began to gain her strength again, then and only then would she worry about what it was the woman might do to her.

“..just-... just relax…” Turning her back to the table, she began to rummage through the drawers, pulling out a large bag of cotton balls before she went searching for the bottle of disinfectant she had in the cabinet. This was unpleasant enough as it was when it was an animal; but a human- no… a witch..? This wasn’t something she was looking forward to. Making her way back over to the table, she opened up the bottle, and picking up one of the cotton buds, she poured some of the disinfectant onto it before she placed it down, hesitating, the now dampened cotton bud hovering just above the wound.

“..t-this is going to sting…”

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Selena stood in the doorway a moment or two longer, before she sighed softly and stepped further into the office. She knew that this wouldn’t be easy, but what else was she meant to do? There was so much that she needed to… figure out, and she might just be able to learn a bit about what was going on in this town. Without waiting for an invitation, Selena sat down in the chair across from the woman, her thoughts troubled. She really didn’t like to think about what had happened, and how she had come across her blue eyes. It was something she severely regretted, and just another reason why she didn’t like werewolves.

She could still feel her claws going into the girls neck, ripping it open, unable to stop herself, her momentum too fast. She hated having to relieve that, just to satisfy the needs of this… woman. She didn’t have to like this woman, to work with her. Most Hunters wouldn’t work with her, despite her own hunter status. She shook her head slightly, shaking her hair out of her face, and looking to the woman. ”My father told me your name was Karena.” she said, ”And that you might be able to help. I assume you know of the wolf attack, last night?” Her voice was soft, and filled with more than a little bit of emotion. The violence of that attack was still with her, and Selena was silent a moment before she continued.

”I came across the camp before the attack. Followed a few scents towards it, Supernatural, although I’m still unsure what one of them were. Two were definitely Sirens. Although i only know that with a bit of research. The were creature, I’m still not sure about. I was in a tree, and then the wolf attacked” She said, looking at the top of the desk, ”And it was bad. Then, I assume, this town’s alpha jumped into the fray. There were two more wolves, and the were girl.” she said, telling what she had seen, ”I can’t just leave town not knowing if I’m letting a pack of pups loose. Is the Alpha a good person”?. She asked, tentatively. It was clear that Karena knew of the Alpha- being a hunter in town, she had to know. Perhaps they had some sort of agreement, and Selena was willing to let that be.

She just needed to know how the Alpha was in this town… she needed to be able to figure out just what the hell was going on with her, and make sure she hadn’t imprinted on a damn mutt.

Karena shifted, watching Selina, leaning forward against her desk, the gun strapped under the desk in easy reach, just in case things went a little heavy. ”She’s a good person, and she’ll do right by those pups. She has a good pack behind her. You don’t need to worry about that”. This seemed to trouble Selina, and Karena was curious as to why. She watched her with the keen eyes of a hunter, analysing her every movement. ”That troubles you. Why?”

Selina grimaced, and looked away. She contemplated her words, not sure what she was going to say. The hunter had sharp eyes, and Selina knew she had to say something. “There was a girl at the campsite… and now I'm screwed”

Despite herself. Karena laughed, the sounds bursting from her throat and filling the room with her mirth, “the cat has fallen for the wolf, oh, that's too good. I love it” she said in between laughs, her joy palpable, and after the last few hours, Karena felt better. She sobered slightly at Selina’s distraught expression, although she still chortled.

“Oh, my dear, I cannot help you with that. Imprinting is not something that you can break. It simply is. It’s there to make packs stronger, and you cannot deny it, nor can you avoid it. You’ll be drawn to the girl- who is probably fine, by the way- and no matter how much you run, eventually you won’t be able to run anymore” Karena rose, going over and laying a hand on Selena’s shoulder, “You’re scared of what the Alpha is going to say, aren’t you?”

Selena growled, her eyes flashing blue for an intense second, before they returned to their usual green. ”No”

“Liar” Karena said cheerfully, sitting back down and rocking back in her seat, “So, what do you want me to do?” She said, thinking that this was the best thing that she had heard all day, which probably wasn’t that much of a stretch. ”If you’ve imprinted on this girl, and she has on you, there isn’t much anyone can do about it, if that was your fear. I doubt the Alpha will keep you apart from her, unless… Ah. You don’t want anything to do with the girl. Well, I’m sorry, but you have no choice in that. You should stop fighting it, and just let it be.”

Selena did not like that one bit, and she sighed heavily, her eyes flashing blue a moment, before returning to their usual colour, flexing her fingers slightly as if she wanted to let her claws out, but she didn’t. Karena nodded in approval- the girl had some fine control, that was for sure. She certainly might be useful to the town, if she was on their side. ”Forgive me for not wanting to be forever partnered with a werewolf! They killed my parents! Vicious creatures!”

Karena was silent for a moment, absorbing those words, and tilting her head slightly, leaning forwards towards the young woman, a vaguely disturbed expression on her face. ”How old are you girl?” she asked quietly, watching the shocked expression flicker over Selena’s face, disappearing as quickly as it appeared, and the girl composed herself. The few moments of silence stretched until it seemed like a life time, before Selena responded ”Twenty”

Karena paused a moment, thinking on that before nodding in satisfaction, ”Look, there are bad humans, and there are good humans. Just like there are bad werewolves. Bad werecats and good werecats. You might be a different species, but at your essence, you are all still human. You have the same emotions, the same thoughts, the same actions. You just have a little extra. You can’t lump all werewolves in the same sack as the ones that killed your family. The pack here is a good one” She assured Selena, but resolved to keep an eye on the werecat, just in case.

God knows, that Zoe had enough on her plate without a rouge werecat, imprinted on one of her wolves.

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“..Aron..? ..Aron..? Cody- what’s goin-... oh, mierda; hang on…”

Damien shifted uncomfortably on the couch. There was a static sort of stillness that came through the air that simply tickled the Druid the wrong way. He stood from the couch slowly as he listened to his sister's end of the conversation. Whatever was going on, definitely wasn't good.

Standing tall, he shotgunned the rest of his beer before setting the empty bottle on the table next to Zoé's, waiting for the phone call to end. His eyes shifted over towards the two boys his sister had adopted, though he could have swore his premonition of them being queer was still true. He hadn't exactly received the best explanation of their adoption, or why - it would simply have to be another conversation for later, it seemed.

His fingertips twitched, his attention recalled back to his sister as the urgency in her voice continued to escalate. Walking slowly to her, though keeping some amount of distance, Damien placed a strong hand on her shoulder, giving her a sense of support with whatever was going on. It seemed he had decided to come back from the dead at a good time. Zoé needed him.

She suddenly turned, forcing his hand from her shoulder and a phone was thrown at him. With reflexes that had no sense belonging to a mere human, the Druid caught it with ease, and kept his hand in the air where it was, his eyes narrowing.

“..I need your help, Damien… there’s been another attack…”

It didn't even seem to register with Damien that his sister was stripping down nude in front of him. His eyes were on hers, and he gave her a solemn nod, a flickering, smirky-sort-of-smile crossing his lips. Whatever attack had happened in the past, he knew nothing about. Or the significance of this particular attack. Old military habits died hard. When called to duty, a soldier couldn't help but to feel some semblance of excitement, either good or bad.

"Yeah you do."

It seemed that he would be meeting up with Myra a little bit later than he had thought.

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Miranda had simply opted to ignore Gage as he tried to reconcile at least some of his character when he came over to Syleste to kiss her hand. It was disgusting, actually.

Her thoughts suddenly detoured. When had she suddenly started getting so angry about everything? Gage and she usually got alone pretty great, but every little thing he did just seemed to set her on fire. It was only then that she had realized that her nostrils had flared and her nails were digging harshly into her palms, piercing the skin just enough for a single droplet of blood to lay unshed on her palm. She stared down the crimson, daring it to spill, though it remained mostly intact. Had her nails grown longer? They looked a little longer than they had yesterday, though... She shook her head. A manicure was one of the last things she needed to think about right now. Maybe she was due for her period.

Her eyes lifted when Xerxes abruptly left the room, instructing Gage to take Sebastian home. Home? He was able to leave? She nodded quietly to the doctor, letting him know that she would stay with Syleste, though her heart went out to Sebastian. He'd be stuck with mister grumpy ass for a while.

"I don't really know what you feel with him." Miranda couldn't help but to tell Syleste as the small group left, forgoing the word "see" for "feel" for obvious reasons. "I'm sorry, I'm being a bit of a diva today. He's just... really getting on my nerves lately and I don't even think I know why." Miranda sighed and shifted on Syleste's hospital bed, laying down next to the pink-haired girl and rested her head on Syleste's shoulder.

"Everything... everything is going to change, isn't it?" Miranda then asked exceptionally quietly, as though she were afraid of what the answer would be if anyone actually answered. She had talked to Cassie briefly before coming to the hospital, and she had thought it had been enough, but... perhaps she was wrong.

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He wasn’t sure what the hell he was doing, but something deep within him told him it was the right thing to do. Because the right thing to do was never easy, and this was leagues beyond a walk in the park. Steeling his nerve, James waited an ample amount of time after his wife left to speak with her brother before he came out from his hiding spot and entered the Inn once again. He could practically smell the tension in the air left behind between mother and daughter, though the pheromones he was picking up from the mother in question didn’t at all seem too bad. Maybe… just maybe, they had reconciled, at least a little bit. That would make this indefinitely easier.

Slowly coming into the room, James’ bright eyes landed on his mother-in-law, though he gave her a wide breadth as to not impose on any personal space. And she couldn’t hit him from over there.

”I know you don’t like me,” James started. He had rehearsed this speech over a thousand times, though each time it seemed to lean towards the introduction of her distaste towards him. ”but I love your daughter very much. I always have. It was not our intention to hurt you, or your family. I don’t know what she’s said to you, or what the two of you talked about, but for my own peace of mind I hope she was coming from an apologetic place just as I am. But if not, just know that her heart is coming from a good place.”

Myra watched her daughter walk out the room, before turning away from the door, to the window. She looked out, even though she knew she probably wouldn’t be able to see her children, even as she strained to see. How long had it been, since she saw them together? The soft sound of footsteps caused her to look over her shoulder, her heart leaping- had Sombra returned? Her expression hardened as she saw who it was, and she turned to face him, crossing her arms.

Would everything have happened, if Sombra hadn’t been entwined with James? She knew it was purely… unreasonable to place all the blame on James- no doubt Sombra would have found someone else to take to the abandoned mill- but she was a mother. She could be unreasonable. Maybe it was.. .but she didn’t let her thoughts go there, steeling her mind, and keeping her gaze on James, silent.

Finally, she broke her silence. ”Oh, yes. I had heard that you’ve been quite busy, Burke. With my daughter. After running away. For five years” her tone strained, Myra thought about just walking out, preferably after doing damage to him. But she wasn’t going to give Sombra any more reasons to leave again. Although hitting him was still an option she’d gladly consider.

”what about your own family? Did you not only come back because of your sister, and yet, here you are”.

James rolled his shoulders a bit uncomfortably. He had forgotten just how chilling Sombra's mother could be with even just the tone of her voice. But the permanent disappointed look on her face didn't exactly help, either.

"We have our reasons for coming back." he told her softly, as to not appear that he was arguing with her. He had no idea just what Myra knew yet and he wasn't about to be the one to spoil it. "I do plan on going to see Miranda. I do. I've missed her like you wouldn't belie- Well... I suppose you would. There are just a few things we have to do first. And I'm glad you found us, found her. I don't think she would have come to you on her own."

More than pleased that she could put him at ill ease, Myra didn’t let it show, instead she watched him in silence as he spoke. ”Just like you had your reasons for leaving. With no contact at all.”. She said in a mild tone, ”You are lucky I know Sombra can handle herself- or I would have had a manhunt after you”. Although, Myra had been tempted to do so anyway. And probably would have, if she didn’t know Sombra could have foiled even that attempt to find her.

Despite herself, despite what Sombra had told her, what she knew, Myra said
”I suppose I’m just waiting for you to do something wrong to her, to start the manhunt. The “I love her so much” Isn’t an excuse for everything”

”I would die for her.” James took a step forward towards Myra, his jaw clenching as a fierce determination came over his features. ”Look, I screw up all the time, okay? I’m not perfect, and she knows it. Sometimes I leave the toilet lid up and sometimes I complain when she asks me to take out the trash. I leave my beard trimmings in the bathroom sink and sometimes I hang out with my friends a little too late. So go ahead and send your manhunt. Aside from the petty things, all they will find is our absolute devotion to one another when it really comes down to it.”

Ah. Anger, something Myra could understand. And it was always good to know how to push someone’s buttons. ”Words mean nothing” Although if actions meant anything, she’d never get anywhere with Sombra. ”And your actions have been quite poor”

James shook his head. Clearly she knew nothing of the supernatural world, or the real reason as to why they had come back home. She was trying his patience, but he refused to give in. What good would it do? He wanted nothing more than a good, healthy relationship with his in-law family, especially with the baby on the way. He would try until his last breath. But a relationship went both ways.

”They may have been, and that’s on us. I’m willing to take full responsibility for that.” Even if it had been Sombra’s idea to run away. He supported her decision. He was just as guilty. ”Our being here is an action. My attempt to reconcile with you in an action. And our business here is possibly the most important action. But you don’t see any of that for what it is - only what you want to see.”

”All of which means absolutely nothing when you both ultimately leave again” Myra shook her head, and would have liked to do more than simply stand there- if only to see how he reacted. Perhaps she’d let her restraint lapse. ”What would be the excuse this time- given that you can’t really use “To protect everyone else” and “it was for the best”, what, with the attack last night and all”

James hesitated. Okay, so she knew about an attack. It didn’t mean that it had anything to do with his little sister’s attack. He still didn’t have the full details on that.

”I’m not leaving until I know that Miranda is okay. And even then, I’m not even sure when I’ll have the peace of mind to leave her again. You would do the same for your siblings.”

Myra was silent for a moment, thinking. Did he not know, or was it another ploy. She suspected he’d been listening in on her and Sombra, but maybe not. Perhaps the benefit of the doubt was necessary here. And maybe not. ”Oh, I’m sure she’s fine now, Zoè is looking after them, and there were no deaths” She said.

His eyes narrowed. Okay, she definitely knew more than she was letting on. He took another step closer to her, his nostrils once more flaring though only just slightly.

”Them?” Who else had been attacked? As far as he knew, Zoé was the only wolf in Klamath Falls when they had left aside from the one that had attacked himself and Sombra. Maybe… it was the same wolf. God… were there two packs now? One belonging to his aunt-in-law, and the other to… He didn’t want to think about it.

”Where is my sister, Myra? I need to see her.” His expression softened, his eyes glistening with near-tears as the reality of why he was back in Klamath Falls in the first place really began to set in. ”Please...”
Myra sighed softly, ”I don’t know where she is right now, but most of the teens were cleared to go home. You might try and call her. I’m sure Sombra could find the number if you don’t have it” She said, turning away from him, looking out the window once more.

”I know she could. She could even GPS it and take me directly to her.” James told her, maintaining his voice at a calm level. ”I was just hoping a mother would be willing to want to help her daughter’s husband.” So what if Myra hadn’t picked up on the fact that he and Sombra had been married? They were both wearing their rings, and Myra was a cop. But he didn’t care if she had missed the obvious. He was done. It was more than clear that Myra just didn’t like him, and it was going to stay that way, no matter what he did.

He shook his head and turned away from her. He wasn’t even going to say goodbye. He did more than enough on his part. He was done trying for today.

Myra turned away from the window, using the momentum from the move to yank him back towards her, her free fist snaking out to slam into him, not caring where she got him, ”Thank you for reminding me just how much I’ve missed in my daughter's life” she said, her expression deadly, ”What would you have had me done, put traces on them all? They kinda frown on putting illegal traces on minors. Call Zoè? She has enough to deal with without me bugging her. Your sister went home. I could take a guess as to where she is, If she’s a better person then you, she’s probably checking on her friends who are still at the hospital, could still be at home, or maybe she decided to brave school”

The pull backwards to turn his body surprised him somewhat, but not as much as the severe pain and flooding warmth he felt as Myra’s fist came into contact with his nose. He staggered back, blood running down from his left nostril. At least half of his nose was broken, but James made no indication that he was bothered by the action.

He raised his arm to wipe some of the blood from his face and onto his forearm, keeping his eyes on Myra. He had known for years that Miranda had a few run-ins with the law before, meaning that Myra would have access to her records - her phone, specifically. But again, there was no point.

”Tbhank you for your tbime in hearibng me out, Mbyra.”

The blood from his nose kept him from speaking clearly, perhaps another reason why he simply just didn’t want to argue with her anymore. He watched her for a moment, making sure she wouldn’t try and hit him again before he once more turned his back to her and left the room. It seemed he would have to do this the usual way.

”Nothing is ever good enough, is it?” Myra muttered to herself, turning away, back to the window. She wasn’t sure why she even gave a damn, except perhaps that he’d tell Sombra she’d been “unreasonable”. What did they expect her to do? Do something that would take her twice, if not three times or longer to do? She pressed her forehead against the window, thinking that it seemed that no matter what she did, she wasn’t going to get any bit of Sombra back.

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Sebastian blushed at the realization that he was still in his hospital gown. He wasn't sure if he had washed up between the attack and then, it had all been such a rush. In any case, his hair was greasy and unstyled, his clothing was nothing short of horrific, and between the stitches, bruises, and clear signs of exhaustion, he probably looked about as attractive and as rotten banana.

Sebastian accepted the clothing from Cassie with a soft smile, attempting not to meet Hunter's eyes. A moment of awkward silence stretched between the pair before the Siren cleared his throat and met Cassie's gaze.

"Thanks for the clothes, Cass," Sebastian shifted, holding the clothes in front of him, "I didn't really wanna leave the room in... this.

Trailing off, Sebastian took in Hunter again. He didn't want to talk about anything too sensitive around a stranger, but there was something... distinct. After listening intently for a moment, Sebastian was able to detect the powerful heartbeat in the man's chest, pumping thick blood much harder than an ordinary heart. He was sure Cassie knew his identity, but that didn't make him feel any more comfortable around him. Hunter was a Were, that much was clear, but the Siren couldn't be sure exactly what species.

"But I had to catch you," He continued without skipping a beat, passing off a nonchalant vibe. "About my dad, it's really no worry. I'll just take the forms home for him to sign and tell him about everything. I don't think he's even heard about what happened, but I'm really not too banged up. I'll take care of him. You seem to have enough stress on your shoulders as it is."

Sebastian gently reached out and gave her hand a quick squeeze, smiling reassuringly. "Whatever your dad's doing, I'm sure everything fine. Everyone's still in room 207 if you need anything."

With that, Sebastian stepped back, pivoting slowly to try to avoid turning his back on the pair. The hospital gown was quite modest, but he still felt awkward in it.

Once he was in his room, he stepped into the bathroom and changed into the regular clothes quickly, happy to be out of the damn sheet they called clothing. Once he had pulled on his pants, he grabbed his phone and shot Cassie a text.

To: Cassandra Arvantis

Who is he? Be careful, Cass, he's a Were. Please be safe.

After locking his phone and slipping it into his back pocket, he snagged his shirt off of the counter and reached up, letting out a small gasp as his stitches pulled his arm to a stop and flared in pain. The long gashes along his right side ribs had been expertly repaired, but stretching them was still an issue. The Siren took a moment to lean against the wall, gasping sharply with a hand on his ribs, closing his eyes and gritting his teeth. Even though the pain killers were still in his body, the gash was deep and hurt like hell. If he went home in this condition, there would be no way he could hide it from his father. Hugging was something the pair did every time they saw each other, and his father's arms around him would cause enough pain to make him scream.

With a soft groan, he used his left arm to pull his shirt over his right limb and head, letting the fabric slide across his torso. He didn't have much of a choice but to convince Gage to take him to the lake. The water would heal him faster than anything the hospital could provide him with. Even though the woods were dangerous, a second Alpha attack seemed near impossible. Zoë struck Sebastian as an incredibly capable woman; she had probably removed the threat already.

Exiting the bathroom, Sebastian picked up his shoes from his bed and grabbed a sprite, smiling at Syleste and Miranda. "Alright, I gotta run home for a bit, but I'll text you guys."

Turning to Miranda, he used his good arm to give her a soft hug. "Thank you so much for the help, Miri. You really helped us."

Swapping his focus to the other Siren, Sebastian gently took Syleste's hand and rubbed her knuckles with his thumb. The action may have been inappropriate for any other guy, especially right in front of her boyfriend, but the team Sebastian played for exempted him from the negative backlash of his actions. "I'll swing by your house tonight to check on you tonight, Syleste, assuming that's okay with you. I wanna talk to you about some things. I'll bring ice cream."

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Cassandra grinned, in total understanding, ”I don’t blame you. They aren’t the best. But I wouldn’t have let you go wearing that, anyway” she said, glad to have been able to do something for her friend, even if it was something as small as giving him some clothes. It was easy to pretend nothing else was going on, as she smiled brightly, feeling if not happy, then certainly steadier than she had been in hours. She gave a nod at Sebastian’s words, thinking a moment. What would she have done, if she’d been in the same position? The mere fact that she wouldn’t have to lie to her father… that her father was a part of the supernatural world as well.. It was reassuring to her.

She couldn’t imagine how painful it had been for him to keep what he was from her, for so long… it had always just been the two of them, for as long as Cassie could remember… she wouldn’t have been able to do it. She never wanted to keep anything from him. She understood however that not everyone had as close a relationship with their parents as her father and herself. She might still be a little angry at her father for not telling her, for keeping her in the dark for so long, but… she was incredibly grateful to have him. But if he didn’t know, if he wasn’t apart of the supernatural, would she want him to know? She wouldn’t want him to be in danger… but she’d probably eventually tell him ”I understand, mostly. It's your choice, Seb. Give the forms to Gage, so he can bring it back quickly- I don't want to get my dad in trouble, it’s going to be hard enough convincing people he's about, and that I am not doing his job" She said, managing a smile, before nodding, and squeezing his hand in return.

"I'll come around later, make sure you're okay" she said, "Don't hesitate to call, okay?" She watched him go, before sighing softly. Now she just had to make sure that she didn’t screw up and get her father in trouble. She knew that she had good grades, and she did well, but… she was nervous, and worried. She bit her lip, uncertainty filling her. Dropping her hand into her pocket when her phone vibrated, she read the text from Sebastian, and couldn’t help but smile.

She responded quickly,

To: Sebastian
I know he’s a were. He’s okay. I will be. Tell Miri I have my phone, I gotta do something for my dad

Sebastian’s concern, she knew, was well placed, but she didn’t feel in anyway uncomfortable. Running a hand through her hair, she put her phone away, Mr. Jenson. Glass removed from eye. Standard check up. She thought to herself, making sure she remembered, as she started off.

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Driving to the hospital in silence, Quinton was already thinking of what he was going to do- he’d be babysitting the pups for awhile, at least, and his thoughts went to Abigale. He reached for his phone, to text Callie, see if she could pick her up if he couldn’t, when he pulled his hand back.
He’d make the time to pick her up, even if he had to pile the teens into his car to do so, he’d find a way to pick up his daughter from school. He would not fail on the father duties, he’d be the best damn dad that he could be. He needed to be twice the parent he otherwise would be, mother and father… though he might pawn off some of the more female orientated stuff on Zoè. Or Callie.

There were some things even he felt awkward discussing. It was always something he thought Sara would do. He’d have to figure out a way to be able to talk to her like that. His mind occupied by such thoughts and by what was potentially happening, Quinton pulled into the parking lot, troubled by everything. He couldn’t help but shake the feeling that there was something else going on here. The attack last night… It felt deliberate. Would the rogue alpha have killed the teens, if they hadn’t intervened? It was a high possibility, and it would cause problems for the town…

Troubled, Quinton stopped the car, getting out, he waited for the other two to get out, locking the car behind them, and starting towards the doors, entering he moved his way quickly through the hospital, towards the room the Sirens were in, where the pack had met last night. Even if he didn’t know where to go, it would have been easy to follow the other scents, of the others that had already made their way to the hospital.

Satisfied that there were no rogue scents, at least from this entrance, Quinton relaxed slightly, although he knew that it would be foolish to do so completely. He doubted a hospital full of people would really stop the Rogue Alpha… that was important to remember. He turned down the hallway, and started into the room. He couldn’t let the teens leave the hospital, not without him, not right now, and if that meant keeping them all in the same room, then so be it.

His gaze flicked about for the Angel, frowning as he took in the scents around the room, and in the hall. Worry and fear? Had Zoè called in Xerses as reinforcement? That nearly made Quinton growl- if Zoè needed someone, he should be there with her, he was her beta. Yet he recognised that he had a duty to make sure the pups were cared for, that they were protected. He had to step up, and look after the pups, and he’d be damned if someone was going to get through him to them.

He took in the scene that welcomed him .Syleste was still in bed, it seemed, with Miranda and Gage by her. Quinton’s gaze lingered on the angry young man, recognising the signs of a near rage. He’d have to speak with the boy, try to guide him, but… It was clear to Quinton that this boy would have trouble with his control. Normally, the training in control would take months. Right now… Quinton knew that they needed all the pups to learn enough control that they wouldn’t be crazy, at least, on the full moon. Could they afford an out of control, hormonal pup right now? He’d have to speak with Zoè, later. Perhaps there was a safe place the boy could go, for a time. He recognised that Zoè herself would have difficulty sending the boy away, but if it was for his own safety, Quinton was sure it was something that she’d agree to, at least until things settled down. They could send Magnus away with him, to guide and watch over him… that would get rid of two problems in one go.

”I need you guys to stay here a bit, okay? No leaving, at least for the moment. I’ll explain in a minute.Just stay in the hospital okay?” He said, watching as Gage seemed to storm out the room, but as long as the boy stayed in the hospital, Quinton would be happy. Especially given that if Gage lost control, the Sirens would no longer be at risk of unexplainable injuries.

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As soon as the phone call ended, Leo took off, snagging Magnus' keys from him before climbing into his car. As he started up the engine, he cut off Magnus' before he could make any quips about it. "Magnus, stay with Callie and the doctor. Keep them safe, I need your car. Good luck."

Leo slammed the car door shut and floored the gas pedal, taking off at an incredible speed towards the woods. Every second that passed marked the growing feeling of panic in his chest as the spell slowly waned, losing power bit by bit. He could feel his energy slowly being drained away, ebbing at his very life force. If too long passed, the spell would become unstable. Not only would it likely age Alexis to far beyond any age a Warlock could live at, but it would most likely consume all of Leo's power as well, ending the both of them. That was the problem with time magic: it was a very, very sharp double edged sword.

Trees blurred into green streaks outside Leo's window as Magnus' car reached well over 100 MPH, taking the Warlock from one side of the town to the other is minutes. The forest roads were almost always empty, allowing quick passage through the area to Alexis' location. The thought of the wolf attacking Leo's car did cross his mind, but frankly, the Were would be hard pressed to catch up with Magnus' car.

As soon as Leo arrived at the scene, he dialed Zoë's phone, pumping his leg up and down as the call tone sounded in his here. A click echoed into his ear, bringing a glimmer of hope to his eyes. "Zoë-!"

"The number you have called is currently un-"

Growling in frustration and worry, Leo threw the phone into the passenger seat and grasped the steering wheel, squeezing it so hard that his knuckles turned so white it would make a ghost envious. "Fucking shit, Zoë, come on!"

Leo looked outside the car window, searching the nearby woods to determine if there was anything lurking nearby. If the Alpha was there, it was somehow hidden from his clairvoyance. He simply didn't have time to wait. The spell had minutes left, and if Leo stayed in the car, it was as good as killing the child himself.

"Oh, damn it to hell." Leo pulled the door handle and slid out of the car, shutting the door and unsheathing his wand in one fluid motion. If the Alpha did attack him, it would be one hell of a fight, that much Leo could assure.

With one last glance back down the road leading to the woods, Leo turned to the forest and took off, moving at a quick pace. Alexis' amulet had stopped transmitting the instant Leo had frozen it in time, but he could still sense where his target was. He just had to make it in time.

Step after step led him deeper into the trees, eventually opening up into a small clearing. The overhead branches shielded the area from the sun, causing a gentle golden light to filter down onto the forest floor, softly gracing the golden skin of a small form. Alexis' face was contorted into a look of horror and agony, blood speckling every inch of her face. A large gash existed on her collarbone, and bite marks punctured her arm, but nothing compared to the awful angle her leg was twisted at; her left leg was clearly broken at the knee, bending the wrong direction and off to the side.

Sickness filled Leo's stomach, but he wasn't sure if it was from the spell taxing him, or the awful sight before him. Without another thought, Leo moved forward, prepared to cast an entire host of healing charms on her as soon as the stasis was dropped. As he pulled an amulet from his belt, he stepped forward-

A sharp crack rang through the woods as his foot snapped a branch underneath him, causing him to freeze. While the Alpha would have already known of his presence before he snapped the branch, he still felt the need to freeze. It was almost like the entire forest held its breath, waiting to see if the Warlock would perish.

Wait... No, the entire forest was holding its breath. Not one bird chirped, not one squirrel cracked a nut on a sharp stone, not one fox scurried across the forest floor. Every single creature was silent, which only happened if the animals were hiding from a predator...

Leo's clairvoyance suddenly presented him with an image: A man in a leather jacket, frozen, suspending himself over a small girl's form, bathing them both in golden light. His back was to Leo, but the bracelet and wand in his hand were unmistakable. The man was Leo, and he was having a vision from someone else's eyes.

"I'm sorry, Alexis."

Without another thought, Leo spun around, shouting a powerful spell as ice exploded from the tip of his wand, decimating the forest behind him as the battle began.

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The wind whipping through her snow white fur, Zoé couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt tugging at the back of her mind. She must have scared them… Cody and Aron… it wasn’t as though she had given them much warning as to what she was going to do, but still… having charged down the hall, stripping away the remainder of her clothes, she’d pounced; turning right before their eyes, and long before she had even passed through the front door.

Forcing her mind back to the present at the roar of an engine sounding from somewhere behind her, she pushed her legs faster, not even seeming to care about whether or not she was seen as she went streaking down the road, her large paws pounding against the bitchumen as she charged, following the all too familiar scent of her friend as it grew stronger with each passing moment.

They were getting closer.

Turning her head slightly, she shot a glance back over her shoulder, a low and threatening growl falling from her lips as she kept an eye on her brother, watching the motorbike he was riding move skillfully along behind her as they continued; her attention drawing back to the front as the scent turned away from the main road, leading her instead to a dirt road leading the dense forests.

Taking to the trees lining the edge of the road, Zoé pushed herself even harder… faster than before- letting her speed take over almost completely as she moved further into the trees, the dense brush scraping and hitting against her lithe figure as she ran, only coming to a pause after a few moments of what she realized was silence; the very lack of sound causing her to hesitate, her head turning, and her gaze flicking about as she searched for her brother’s figure. Shit… she’d lost him; but then… she couldn’t exactly afford to just stop.

Knowing in her heart that he’d be able to find her- that he’d be able to catch up, Zoé once more began to move, a gentle sound from not too far up ahead catching her ear causing her speed to slow.

Leo..?

Her eyes widening, and her paws scrambling underneath her slightly at the sight of sharp shards of ice shooting towards her. No… A pained howl filling the air as she was forced back, the ice cutting quickly and easily through her body leaving her whimpering over the ground; her own blood seeping out to stain the ground crimson.