Hi babies! Sorry, this is late - I have zero excuses!! 

I hope everyone is happy and healthy and making the best of this time in quarantine - for any of you still working I'm sending love and support to you in these difficult times! 

This chapter is dedicated to @sleepingcrowns who has made some moodboards on Pinterest for the book and they are absolutely amazing! She is a looooooong standing supporter of these books and I love her more and more each day!!! She made the original cover for my old version of this book and is super supportive and talented! Sending so much love to you Taylor xx  https://pint.it/57gamQk the link for you guys to check it out!!! 

If any of you have anything similar let me know!! I love seeing what you guys do with this story xx 

hope you love this chapter!!! 

Seeing Cole was difficult. 

Seeing the bandages covering most of his body, the scarred tissue peeking out from underneath and the pained expression on his face made what happened hit home. 

Someone had tried to kill us.

I shakily stand beside his bed and take his uninjured hand, feeling how hot it is underneath my skin gives me some comfort - at least it wasn't ice cold. 

The pack doctor that was in checking his vitals glances at me with an unsure smile and I softly give her one back, trying to not look so scared. This was Scarlette's mother after all. 

"Hi, I'm Elle," I say to her, startling her a little as she wipes her hands on her sides and rushes over to me, "You're Deli, right?" 

"Uh... y-yes Lu- I mean Elle, I'm Deli."

I'm a little shocked at how nervous she seems to be, but as I take her hand and shake it lightly her nerves seem to settle and she relaxes. 

"Thank you, for looking after Cole and checking up on me the last couple of days..." I trail off, "I apologise for not talking to you when you were, I was just a little shaken up." 

She gasps and shakes her head, squeezing my hand before letting go of it, "There is no need to apologise, you were in shock and you didn't need to speak to me, you had other things going on."

The way she bows slightly as she says all of this makes me a little uncomfortable but I smile nonetheless, looking over at Cole. 

"How is he?" 

As soon as the conversation switches to medicine she loses any sign of uncertainty and changes into a woman of confidence, her hands hovering over his body gently, checking charts and readjusting tubes.

"He's healing and he's making good recovery... however there's only so much that our regenerative cells can do and I'm worried that his mind is going to be the place of issue... his head was pretty badly damaged in the blast and it's not sending all the right signals to the rest of his body." 

My heart breaks as I sit down and look at his chest rising up and down slowly, the worry flooding me, pulling the pit in my stomach deeper. 

"Is there anything else we can do? Any witches or -"

"No," she interrupts sternly but quickly catches herself, her eyes widening in panic, "I apologise, I didn't mean to -" I wave off her words and motion for her to continue, "Witches... All of their magic isn't always correct, it can have a lot of side effects or things can go wrong that we can't prevent... werewolf bodies aren't predictable."

Suddenly, the small pouch on my lap feels like it weighs a tonne and my heart beats a little faster. 

"The wolves don't like us interfering... but we know best."

I clear my throat and give Deli a smile that I hope hides the tension I'm feeling through my body. 

"Would you give me a couple of minutes alone with him," I ask, ready to make up an excuse, "I just want to-"

"Of course," she bows her head again and I'm dumbfounded, "I'll make sure no one disturbs you."

Without another word she turns and walks straight out the door, the clicking of her heeled shoes echoing through the house as she leaves me alone with Cole and I hear her telling people in the hallway to leave us in peace too. 

"Well that was weird," I say to Cole's unconscious body, confusion running through me, "I guess I don't look guilty at all." 

I sigh and take his hand again, my fingers running across his skin as I look up at his face, the pain on it hurting my heart. 

"I don't know if I should do this," I tell him, pulling out the small vial from the bag, "I don't know much about werewolves and witches but magic saved your life, so there has to be a reason that they gave me this vial... and I think I can trust them." 

I turn the object over in my hands, the dark violet colour of the liquid looks as though it's sparkling in the light and for a moment I wonder if it could do him more harm than good. 

What if they weren't actually friends of Maggies. What if they were the ones that tried to kill us.

The thought flashes through my mind so quickly that I almost don't catch it but it sends a chill to my spine. This world was unknown to me, I didn't know how deep betrayals ran or if long-standing hatred was ripe... but I had seen the way that there were glares thrown between the two species and maybe that was enough to tell me. 

"What if this is the one thing that's going to help you," I whisper to Cole, "What if I don't do this and then you never wake up... or you do wake up but you're different. What if I could have done something... I'm the reason that you're here already... I don't know if I can be the reason that you don't recover."

I groan and lean forward onto my knees.

"How do I know that I can trust them?"

The pouch falls off my leg and on to the floor but the photo within it slides out as it does.

I pick it up and turn it over in my hands, looking at the smiling faces of my family, the love between us prominent that it could be written across our faces. 

"I wish you were here so I could ask you," I mumble to Mrs Grenway.

Slowly, I turn the photo over and reread the message written on the back of it in her cursive writing. 

'From one family to another'

She was here, and she was telling me exactly what I needed to know. 

"Cole, I'm trusting Mrs Grenway and I'm going to give you what the witches gave me... I'm sorry if it's the wrong decision but she trusted them... so I trust them."

I quickly get up and go to the drawers that Deli had been in earlier before I lose my nerve, finding a syringe immediately like it was waiting there for me. 

"Okay a good sign," I mumble, shrugging my shoulders as I try to settle the twisting in my gut, "I can do this."

Glancing at the door I let out a breath before I open the vial carefully, making sure not to spill it anywhere - damn werewolves and their sense of smell. 

"Cole, I don't know what this is but it smells really florally and strong and like nothing I've ever smelled before so if there was anything at this moment that you wanted to tell me then now would be the time." 

Again, silence from him. 

"Okay, then we're doing it I guess."

With my hands shaking I fill the syringe, replacing the cap on the vial which is still over half full. 

"They did not say how much to give you," I mumble, panic filling me, "I guess I'll give you one and see what happens... if this kills you I'll never forgive myself." 

I mumble a plead under my breath as I close my eyes and look at him one more time, waiting for him to stop me.

"I'm really going to do it this time," I whisper, putting it into the tub connected into his arm, "Like right now Cole, so if you wake up I won't." 

Silence.

"Should I be telling Trent about this?" I ask myself out loud and then shake my head, "No, I'm doing this, okay."

Without waiting for my head to change its mind again I quickly push down the syringe and watch as the clear tube going into his hand changes to a purple colour. 

I wait for a second and watch as the colour flows under his skin and into veins like they're illuminating them as it travels through his body. 

I shove my belongings into my bag and place them on the chair before I hover over him, waiting for something to happen. The colour glows for a moment and travels up his arm and into his neck before disappearing.

I expect it to appear again.

But it doesn't.

I don't know how long I've been standing above him, watching for even the smallest sign of something happening but eventually, all the air leaves my body and I fall into the chair again. 

"Well then, at least it didn't kill you-"

Before I can finish speaking, his finger moves the tiniest amount and I freeze. 

Did I just see that?

"Cole?" I whisper, leaning over him, watching for more signs of movement, "Cole, can you hear me?" 

Behind his eyelids his eyes seem to be going crazy, moving from right to left so rapidly that he looks like he's vibrating.

Oh wait, he is vibrating.

His body has begun to spasm, his back arching off the bed as his legs flail and I jump back out of the way, my heart hammering in my chest as I watch his neck thrash around, his muscles beginning to bulge and strain. 

Oh my god was he dying?

"Help!" I yell, running over to the bed, "Someone help!" 

Oh, why did she tell everyone to leave!

He was going to do more harm to himself if he kept doing this - I can already see the bandages coming off of his body and the skin underneath stretching. 

I reach over and hold the uninjured side of Cole down and then try to reach across and grab the other but as my fingers touch him his eyes flash open and his mouth snaps, his teeth barely missing me.

But I don't miss the ferocious way his mouth snarls and the look his eyes have in them.

"Trent!" I scream, glancing at the door, begging someone to come through.

Cole's body begins to morph, his limbs stretching and his mouth elongating as a low growl leaves his chest, his back bending over in such a way that I know it's not human... he's not human.

Fuck.

I scramble back from him, my body hitting the floor as I trip over the chair behind me and the noise echoes around us - bringing his attention straight to me.

Oh my god.

The wolf in front of me lifts its head, it's eyes watching me as if it would launch at me if I dared to make a move. The colour of it was so familiar to the colour of Cole's hair that I almost wanted to laugh but the terror at seeing a wolf this up close prevented me from finding the humour in it. 

"C-Cole?" I ask cautiously, trying to move back as slowly as I can, my bum sliding along the floor but the movement causes a snarl to leave his snout and I stop trying to move at all, instead, I freeze myself like a statue. 

Oh, why was I not wearing my necklace? Oh right, because Kristie said it didn't go with the outfit.

"C-Cole, it's me," I whisper, but it's like he doesn't even hear my words as he moves towards me, his large body coming to the edge of the bed where he stands above me, his hot breath fanning my face.

The rumble from his within his body makes my breath catch and sweat begin to run down my back - he sounds like he is getting ready to pounce.

"Cole?"  I try one more time, "It's Elle."

For a second I think that I've gotten through to him, that my shaking voice has made something register in his animalistic brain but the moment passes in a blink and his growl begins again, his body shifting, ready to leap.

Oh my god oh my god oh my god I should not have given him that vial.

"Please," I beg as his lips roll up and show his teeth.

I was going to die. 

As his nose gets so close that I can almost feel it on my own I close my eyes, praying that maybe he won't see me as a threat anymore.

Because I know so much about wolves obviously, like that's going to -

"Cole!" 

The shout comes from my right, the anger and strength in it making me jump as well as the wolf in front of me who looks to the door immediately.

Oh, thank god.

"Elle," Trent says calmly and I watch him walk through the door slowly, his eyes never leaving Cole, "I need you to stay still and not move, okay?"

I nod my head in response but the action causes Cole to look at me again and a whimper leaves my lips.

"Cole!" Trent warns, "Look at me, not at her."

The growls still emit from him in a low hum.

"Hey! Eyes on me. I'm your Alpha and I'm telling you to back away from your Luna, now."

Trent's face is stone cold and his eyes are glowing in a way that I've never seen before, the glare of them almost blinding as body swells up seeming to double in size. Or maybe that was just my imagination or the fact that I'm sitting on the floor.

The animal cowers back slightly at the power radiating from Trent and I feel his presence only a step away from me as he towers over us, his hand reaching to me and pushing me away from Cole a little.

"Submit," He orders, stepping in between us and blocking Cole's view of me and relief floods through me at the protection that he provides, "Change."

There's silence for a moment and then I see the wolf slump away from the bed and over to the other side of it, disappearing.

In a flash, Trent is bent down in front of me and checking me, his eyes flashing with worry.

"Are you okay?" He asks softly, pulling me into his arm and lifting me off the ground. I bury my head into his chest and breathe deeply, my lungs now functioning correctly.

"I'm fine," I assure him, pulling away and smiling shakily, "That was pretty terrifying though."

I don't miss the look of relief that passes over him and the way his body relaxes as he leans forward and kisses my forehead before placing his own to it.

"I'm so sorry that he did that, I don't know what got into him."

Guilt begins to rise in my stomach as I glance over at my bag containing the vial that I had injected Cole with.

"Um, Trent?" I clear my throat as he looks down at me, "I might know..."

He frowns at me, clearly confused by my confession but before he can ask anything else there's movement behind him and I watch Cole's head appear, his eyes darting around the room as though he's lost.

"What am I doing on the floor?" He asks as he stands up and I could cry with happiness when I hear his voice - it had been days.

He looks at us, his eyes zoning in on Trent's chest and his mouth pulls up into a smirk as he scoffs.

"And why are you wearing such an ugly tie?"

I laugh at his words but it quickly dies in my throat as Cole steps forward to us and out from behind the bed, his full body coming into view.

Oh wow.

"I'd rather wear the ugly tie than be naked, Cole." Trent retorts. It takes a second for Cole to catch on but when he does he quickly covers himself with a pillow from the bed and gives an awkward laugh, nodding at me with a wink.

"Just thought I'd give Elle a treat," he teases and I flush red, trying to stifle my laugh as Trent looks at me from the corner of his eye before making a step towards Cole - the animalistic growl now coming from him.

"He's kidding!" I intervene, pushing in front of him as I walk up to Cole and hug him, trying to ignore the fact that I'm touching his bare chest, "I'm so happy you're alright."

He wraps the arm not protecting his dignity around me and kisses my temple, his body sighing.

"And I'm glad you're alright," he mumbles, squeezing me tight, "The last thing I remember is trying to get you out of the way."

"While I'm glad you tried to protect her, I'm also glad that you didn't push her too far away from you," Trent states as I move out the way to let him come in for a hug, "If you'd pushed her anything further then who knows the damage you would have had."

There's a commotion outside the door and Trent quickly excuses himself to go and deal with the pack before they all burst in, leaving Cole and I alone.

"I'm going to put clothes on," Cole says, pointing at the drawers to the side of him and I nod, quickly turning around so I can't see him, "What did Trent mean?"

I stare up at the blank wall in front of me, listening to him rifle through clothes. I have to admit that I was a little nervous turning my back on him after what had just happened but I focus on the cracks running through the roof to keep me occupied.

"Mrs Grenway had a protection spell around me, that's how half your body was unharmed in the blast - you were close enough to me that it protected you as well."

"I'll have to thank her then, for saving my life."

His words feel like they punch me in the gut, the thought of her causing my lips to tremble.

"You can't," I state softly, "She used too much power doing it and she... she..."

I trail off, not able to finish the sentence so soon after I've watched her body burn before me.

There's silence behind me and then I feel Cole's hand on my shoulder and it causes me to jump a little but I quickly shoot him a smile and turn to face him now that he's fully clothed. 

"I'm so sorry, Elle," he murmurs, "I know she was like family to you."

"She was family," I correct him, "She was the only family I had left."

He smiles gently and wraps an arm around me as we head for the door.

"Well, now you've got a new family," he states, "And we look after our own."

"Yeah," I scoff, rolling my eyes, "When you're not trying to attack me."

 My words make him stop walking and he looks at me in shock, anger growing in them.

"Someone tried to attack you?" He growls, "Who? Has Trent already done something about it?" 

Confusion must be clear on my face because he stops rambling and stares at me, waiting for me to speak. 

Did he really not know?

"You... You don't remember?" I ask, "You had a seizure and changed into your wolf... if Trent hadn't come in and ordered you to stop then... I mean..." 

The air around us hangs heavy as Cole processes my words, his eyes widening with horror as he realises what happened and what could have happened. Did he blackout?

"Elle, I'm so sorry. I would never harm you, ever. What happened to me?" His words are littered with panic as we open the door into the hallway, "Why did I do that?" 

"That's what I would like to know."

Deli appears with Trent on the other side of the door, her eyes narrowing at Cole, hesitation clear on her face as she approaches him. 

"Not that I'm not incredibly happy that you've woken up but you really shouldn't have been able to - I had you in a medically induced coma."

The fear on Cole's face grows as she touches his skin and prods it with something, her eyes scanning his body as if she's running tests. 

"What I just woke up?" he asks incredulously, "And tried to attack our Luna? That doesn't sound right at all. I would never."

Luna?

That was the second time someone had used that name today and I definitely had never heard it before. 

"We know you wouldn't, Cole," Trent reassures, throwing me a quick glance, "I'd trust you with her life any day."

"Just maybe not today," Cole mumbles, disappointment clear on his features and he looks so sad that I want to reach out and hug him but I think if I tried he would move away. 

I look to Trent for some help but he's just watching Cole with a concerned look, following all of Deli's movements as she takes out something and slices it across Cole's wrist, blood beginning to drip from it immediately. 

"Ow!" He complains but she shushes him, dipping something into the blood quickly before the wound heals up, "You at least could have warned me," he grumbles, a moody pout following as he yanks his arm away from her. 

"What is it?" Trent asks, standing beside them. Deli raises the material above her head and into the sunlight before she brings it to her nose and inhales, her eyes closing as she focuses.

Yuck.

I can't help it when my mouth curves up in disgust and Cole chuckles at my expression, rolling his eyes. 

"You giving me a drug test, Deli?" Cole teases, wiping away the dried blood from his skin, "Promise I've not been smoking while I'm in a coma."

"As much as I appreciate your sarcasm, Mr Edwards," Deli replies, her eyes narrowing at the fabric in her hands, "I don't think you've got drugs in your system." Cole pretends to be relieved but I do the opposite as her eyes narrow on me causing my whole body to tense. 

"I would, however, like to know how wolfsbane got in your bloodstream."

 How much shit do we think Elle is in???  

I love her and I love Cole xxx Next chapter is gonna be a little more info for everyone and some revelations!!! The story of mates and such will be being discussed as well as some clues to some mysteries in the book!!! I love you all so much - please make sure to vote and comment!! I love reading them all xxx

Love always xx