WINTER

The kids stood upon the edge of the forest, waiting for her to come out.

They giggled among themselves, laughing at the anticipation of the wait.

"She goes in there every freaking day."

"Dude, she's obsessed."

"I heard she went off her meds."

A fit of laughter rose again as they circled closer, whispering becoming more frantic.

So engrossed were they in their teasing, that none noticed the angry shadow descending down.

"What was that I heard?"

"Shit," one of the males quickly turned around, eyes wide in fear as he took in the low growl rising from Warren.

He took a menacing step closer, making the group shrink back.

"Get the fuck away."

Without another word, they were running. Within a safe distance, the teasing could be heard again, others laughing at the craziness of the aging wolf and his protectiveness of such a similarly crazy person.

"Fucking brats," he spat in their directions, eyes shinning gold in heated anger.

He quickly turned at the sound of approaching footsteps.

"Oh," Sansa looked around, clear relief on her face, "they're gone today."

Warren crossed his arms, glaring at her.

"Why didn't you tell me they hang out here?"

Sansa only shrugged, "It doesn't bother me."

"It should."

She looked up at him in confusion, "why?"

He shook his head, walking away in the direction of their home.

Warren looked back at her, evaluating her mood carefully.

"He didn't come?"

Sansa looked up and smiled, shaking her head.

Warren felt his fist clench, wondering why she was even smiling in the first place.

"No...there's always tomorrow though...and then the winter solstice is coming...he'll be there..."

Warren didn't have the heart to voice out the obvious question.

What if he isn't?

It was clear to see that the girl was putting all her hope on that day. That she saw the previous meet up as a fluke. Something that had gone wrong but would be corrected with time.

That he would come and explain it away and put all her worries at ease.

Warren sighed. He wanted to scream and shake sense into her. Even if the man she spoke of was real, and even if it had been just a one time mistake, he couldn't think of what it would be like if it happened again.

He couldn't imagine Sansa living this sort of life. Always on the edge. Waiting. Wondering.

Warren wanted to laugh and turn to her. To say he knew what it was like and what a cruel twisted road it was. How it played tricks on your mind and turned you into such a bitter, bitter person.

But looking at Sansa now...

If she spoke the truth...then she had already been waiting for him for a while. She already knew what it was like, yet she still had the ability to smile. To be hopeful.

Warren sighed again.

He couldn't help but marvel at the match up.

Even if he had never met this supposed mate of hers, fate seemed to be cruel in an unusually kind way to bless them with each other knowing they were the best ones to withstand such torture and pain.

*   *   *

Sansa felt her head fall with the moon.

He wasn't here.

He wasn't here.

Her breathing became shallower. Much faster. The world around her was spinning rapidly out of control as she tried to process what this meant.

She felt light-headed.

She knew what was happening. After all, she studied medicine, had seen many other pack members have panic attacks of their own.

She tried to reason out in her mind that she should hold her breath, count to ten- she had some herbs in her case that would calm her down.

But logic seemed to fail her. It was only a crushing sense of that single thought.

He's not here.

Where is he?

Sansa felt tears come to her eyes. Upon their arrival, she felt her emotions snap back into place.

She screamed out loud, a sound full of heartbreak and frustration. She didn't care who heard it. If the pack was able to connect the sound to her and now were laughing or backing away in fear from the agonizing way the voice broke halfway.

She didn't care.

Only that she was tired of crying. Tired of waiting for him.

She stood and looked at the sky she had named him after.

"Where are you!"

There was no response.

"You left me then?"

Only silence came to her.

She knew in her heart though, that that was not true.

He wouldn't leave her. No. Though a deep part of her doubted her own resolve, the greater part of her knew that he wouldn't. Couldn't.

They were tied together.

He himself had admitted that she made him weak. That he couldn't stop himself from seeing her.

And then it hit her.

He chose to see her. He would do anything to see her.

He risked something- a danger or something he wasn't supposed to do- to see her.

It was why he could never stay.

And something had happened now to prevent him from coming.

Something was stopping him.

Sansa looked up at the Moon, seeking answers from her. She felt a peace settle over her as she stared above. This was the winter solstice. The longest night of the year. This was the time for him. The time that she would be with him the longest- to stare up at the reminder of him for more than was allowed.

She nodded, coming to her decision.

She felt fear.

She felt it blinding her.

But then she took a deep breath and turned around, stealing herself of the decision she had come to, and thinking of how well those silver eyes matched the moon.

*   *   *

"You're what?"

"I'm leaving."

Doctor Nox stared at her dumbfounded.

"But you said-"

"I changed my mind."

"Even though your mate isn't here I still thought-,"

"I'm leaving. And that's that."

Doctor Nox blinked twice at Sansa, his mind still coming to grips with her sudden decision that she had announced as she walked through the doors.

"But it's...it's winter...don't you want to go when it's warmer-,"

"I have made my decision and I stand by it."

Doctor Nox's jaw seemed to be connected to loosely to his face. It hung their now, unable to shut properly.

Sansa stepped forward, smiling down at him as she gently took his hand.

"Thank you for teaching me these past years. I have loved learning from you. You are an amazing teacher."

"You-you are an amazing student."

She looked around the clinic, breathing deeply with closed eyes before opening them and nodding.

"When are you leaving?"

"Today."

"To-" Doctor Nox seemed to choke on the word.

"Sansa this isn't like you to be rash about a decision-,"

"I'm not being rash. I have thought this out very carefully."

Doctor Nox stared at her, taking in the strange look that was in her eyes.

It was something he had never seen before.

Determination yes, but also...a fierceness. Something oddly intense that caused him to look away. He felt the back of his neck grow hot from the strangeness of it. It was a look that he knew would make many males turn their heads if they ever stared closely at it.

"I wish you luck in your journey then Sansa. You have all your medical supplies and herbs?"

"Yes, I have them packed with me in my travel case."

Doctor Nox nodded, "I have a more convenient case that you can tie to your wolf if you would like to use that?"

Sansa smiled, "thank you."

He watched her walk away after that, wondering what had happened to change her mind.

Maybe she really had feared leaving and suddenly realized that there was nothing for her here. Maybe she was tired of the abuse from the pack. Doctor Nox was honestly surprised she had even stayed for this long. Or maybe...he stared after her now, shaking his head and smiling at the question that would never be answered in his mind.

*   *   *

Sansa looked at the edge of the border, taking in the vastness of it.

She had never gone outside the pack.

At least- could not remember the times that she did.

She turned around to face Warren.

He stood carefully to the side, looking as if none of this affected him.

Sansa couldn't help but smile at his detached way of thinking.

It wasn't until recently that he has started to open up and treat her differently.

She walked towards him, and without warning, embraced his frame.

"Oof, easy Kid."

"Thank you for looking after me all these years Warren. I know it's not what you wanted to do with your life."

Warren guiltily looked away. He never realized Sansa had guessed his true feelings on how he felt about her. In the beginning, he had been detached and bitter with his assignment of watching over her. He felt rejected by his Alpha and pack. Forced to leave them and take care of something he didn't want to.

He had only done it because her father...Warren shoved away the thought and focused back on Sansa.

"You grew on me Kid."

Sansa looked up and smiled.

He still felt guilty for his treatment of her those first few years. He should have treated her better. He should have.

But it was too late to regret the past.

He cleared his throat roughly, trying to dislodge the sudden lump that had grown there.

"Be safe, and avoid those packs I told you to- Okay?"

"I'll try."

Warren rolled his eyes, "Don't try. Actually avoid them okay? I still haven't told your father that you're leaving. If you end up in his pack he'll skin me alive."

Sansa frowned and nodded, "I promise. Thank you, Warren. For everything."

Warren nodded and jerked his head forward, "alright get going. It's bad enough that you're choosing to go in the winter."

Sansa only grinned at him and pulled back, turning to face the forest that was ahead.

"I hope you find what you're looking for Sansa."

She stepped forward and began her journey. Without looking back she called over her shoulder to him.

"I will."