Pic of Danica to the side

Damon's POV*~*

It'd been a whole week and she was starting to get better. Today was the first day that she was going to get up and try to go to downstairs. She had been making progress and now she was eating better too. She wasn't as skinny as she was, her mood enlightened and she was growing more gorgeous.

So many times, I just wanted to take her, but she was so fragile and innocent, I wouldn't put that at stake.

I climbed up the stairs with a plate of toast in my hand. I opened the door to see her standing up and looking out of the window. I walked over and set the plate down on the nighstand and walked over to her side. "How are you-"

"I'm fine." She cut me off. I furrowed my brows. Her voice came out sharp and stressful. I just stared at her.

"Rena . . " I started.

Rena's POV~*~

"Rena . . " He said before trailing off. Annoyance bubbled through me.

I slowly sat down on the ground and forced my knees up against my chest. Damon walked over.

"Rena, what's the matter?" He asked.

"I'm tired of being asked how I'm feeling. I'm seen as the weak wolf around here. Around everywhere. I'm tired of being scared. I don't want to be afraid anymore." I said before tears leaked from the corners of my eyes. I was getting so emotional over this. I knew it was ridiculous.

Damon's arms wrapped around me, making me feel sparks and tingles.

"We ask you that because we care. You're not a weak wolf. You're weak at the moment." He said, trying to comfort me.

"We found you. That river, at the border. Meet there. Don't tell anyone. Or we'll hurt them." I heard. My mind link was on! This whole time! I thought it'd be off! That was Larson . . He used his mind link to contact me. He knew where I was. I stared at Damon. How could I get out of here? But then again . . . he is my mate. This only happens once. Yet I'm doing this protect him. I hope he understands.

"Can I go for a walk? I want to have a bit of time to myself . . . " I said slowly. I hated lying to him. But I was protecting him. And his pack.

"I want to come with you." He said sheepishly. I bit my lip. I didn't want to guilt trip him, but I needed to.

"I need to be alone . . I want to think." I replied.

"Can't you think in here?" Damon asked desperately, his eyes begging me to say yes. Gulping, I released a sigh.

"I'll be back before you know it. I need to be alone for a second." I replied. He pondered a bit, then nodded, helping me up. I felt bad, but I didn't want to be more of a burden than I already am.

I walked out of the room, enjoying getting up and being able to move around. He led me down the little stairs. I tip-toed down each one until I saw wondering eyes. I saw Danica setting in between a man's legs; probably her mate. They all stared until Damon gave them cold eyes, making them get back to what they were doing. I looked down and saw I was in a t-shirt and sweats. I eyed Damon mysteriously.

"Danica hooked you up. Is that alright?" He asked. My eyes traveled to her as she waited with anxst, staring at me.

"She really didn't have to. But thank you." I said, the last part directed to her. She smiled and shrugged before talking with some girl.

I exited the house and Damon grabbed my hand. I glanced at him. "Be careful." He said. I nodded and forced a smiled before shutting the door. This was it. I was on my own again. I sighed and started to walk.

Snow crunched beneath me as I made my way towards the trees. I was now in the clearing of the forest, and decided I could shift. Or maybe I shouldn't. I was weak in both forms. I might as well keep walking. I let the snow slush and crush beneath me.

My wolf was upset. I could feel it. A part of her agreed with me but she wanted to be with her mate. The one she'd always longed for since my first shift. I had to dissapoint her. What we were doing was the right thing . . . or so I hoped.

I slowly walked on until I came to a flowing river. I glanced up at the rock I had jumped off not that long ago.

On top, stood Larson, Tawnya and his second in command, Tyler. They were all humans right now.

"Cross their border." He ordered. The boys were shirtless and Tawnya was just glaring at me, hands on her hips.

I looked at the raging water, then my wrapped up ankle. I gulped and put my foot on a rock and then another. I was in the middle of the freezing lake, and finally . . I was in Sunscorch.

Larson jumped off the rock, as did Tawnya. But instead, she jumped into her wolf in midair and landed with a thud. She growled savagely, but I held my head up.

"So, this is where you go when you're sad?" Tyler harrassed from atop the rock. I tried to ignore their comment. If only they knew I had a mate. And if only they knew WHO it was.

"Yes." I replied bravely. Larson growled deep in his throat.

"How did you survive? Why didn't they kill you?" Larson demanded. Oh gosh, how could I come up with a lie so suddenly?

"I just did." I muttered.

Tawnya scratched her paw against the snow and showed her wolf canines. Larson's face twisted into a disastisfied grin.

"You do realize you broke a pack law?" He said. I nodded. "I had to. You tried to kill me." I replied, scared to talk.

He got close to me and grabbed me by Danica's shirt hem. He picked me up like how a bully would to a nerd. "And you have to be punished." He replied before throwing me into the snow. I cried out silently as I hit with intense force. My foot banged down, making me cringe. How was I going to get out of this?

"Oh I'm sorry, do you have a booboo?" Tyler asked. He meant my foot I had assumed. And yes. I did. Thanks to Larson. Tawnya inched forward and grabbed my shirt with her teeth and threw me over her head. I screamed in midair and hit a tree. My back was aching, along with the other parts of my body. My strength was plummeting faster than I realized.

Getting up, I tried to run back into Shadowdawn's river but Larson was a step ahead of me. He tripped me and then brought his fist back to punch my eye. I cried out in pain and cradled myself on the snow covered ground in pain.

Suddenly, a growl sounded out through the forest. I turned my one good eye towards the forest and saw two glowering blue eyes come out of the thickets. Tawnya back away and immediately ran off into her territory. Like what my brother had done when he couldn't chase me into Shadowdawn's territory. A certain smell reached my nose, and I found myself closing my eyes and wanting more. It was musky and earthy.

Larson stayed, as did Tyler. Tyler shifted first into his grey and mostly white pelt. He jumped off the rock and stayed at Larson's side. I whined as Tyler walked over to me.

I looked at the black wolf across the river and saw it was him. My mate. Damon. My eyes widened. He came back for me. He found me.

He snarled and so did Tyler who turned his back to me. Tyler remembered I was here, then he dug his canines into my shoulder and walked over to Larson. "Larson, I'm your sister! Your blood! Don't do this!" I yelped in desperation. Larson looked at me with cold eyes.

I was too late to remind him of this. He was too deep in Tawnya's evil spell. Damon snarled then suddenly jumped across the river. I gasped. He crossed his own territory! . . . . For me! Did we really have a chance...at being mates..?

Tyler snarled and attacked him. Larson stayed near me and didn't move, letting Tyler do all the dirty work. Damon bit Tyler's neck and he was soon limp. I covered my mouth with my hand and watched as Tyler slumped to the ground in a heep.

Larson snarled before phasing into a white wolf like me. Damon snarled and waited for Larson to pounce, which he soon did. Larson had Damon against a tree, and was snapping at his neck. That was it. I got up and tried to force shift. I couldn't! I didn't have the energy!

'I'm too tired' my wolf said whilst panting. I nodded. I just had to use my own self this time. I ran over to Larson, limping like a tard. I punched Larson in the back before he dropped his hold on Damon and looked at me. I slowly backed away, nervous for what followed.

That was Damon's chance. He grabbed Larson's tail and threw him against a tree and ran over to finish his work. I couldn't let him. He was my brother. And that meant a little bit to me.

"Damon!!" I Screamed from afar. He looked back at me while Larson was pinned under him.

"Don't be like him." I whispered, knowing his sensitive ears could hear me from all the way over here. His wolf was in control as far as I could see. Damon's eyes were darker than his pelt. He seemed to be thinking about what I said.

He looked at Larson before biting his white muzzle and trotting over to me. My legs wobbled and my breath was shaky. My knees buckled and I slumped to the ground on my butt. Damon rushed over in his wolfy form.

I was panting and recapping all that just went down. I stood up to Larson the second time this week. So did my mate.

I looked at Damon's wolf face. He leaned down and nuzzled my cheek. I smiled uncontrollably and got up with my hands pressed on his back for support. He bent down and signaled for me to get on his back. I just stared at him, then reached my injured foot over and hopped up. He was huge, and I was petite, so getting over his back was a small challenge. I grabbed his black and silky scruff as we crossed the river. We went through the forest in an awkward silence.