Hey guys I'm so sorry I know it's been forever

I shut my mouth, panic seizing my body. Daniel hovered over me with one arm over my back, much to my dismay, as we cowered behind the bar. 

After the screams subsided and no one was in the diner, I heard hard heavy steps, with something plastic dragging on the ground.

"I think you're going to want to come out soon," The voice called out. I looked up at Daniel, who was staring across from us. Confused, I followed his gaze. There was a little girl hiding under a table booth, tears streaming sideways down her face. Her blonde hair was in clear disarray as she struggled to stay quiet. 

My heart went out to the little girl who was alone and hiding from a possible murderer. 

"Hm, alright then," And with those words, a loud gunshot bounced off the walls, the thunderous noise rocking my ears. The girl let out a wild, terrified scream and started to sob and cover her ears.

"I wonder if the Caine's are so cruel that even the life of a little human girl is of no value," The man called out, his boots appearing in front of the table. He bent down, and reached for the girl. She screamed and cried, struggling to get away from him. I pushed Daniel off me, reaching for the girl, but he held me back. I tried to punch him, even elbow him in the ribs, but my efforts were wasted. 

"No!" he whispered in my ear. I glared at him and prepared to launch myself out again.

[We cannot help her. If we reveal ourselves, then everything is lost and it will have all been for nothing!] I recognized the voice as my wolf. I froze, feeling guilt pool in my stomach. I leaned my face against the ground, and looked out from beneath the bar. The man was grasping the little girls hair as she cried and cried. I cringed and felt myself wanting to help the little girl. It wasn't fair. None of it was.

"Either come out and save the girl, or I'll put a bullet right through her pretty little head."

I faltered, and glanced at Daniel. He glared at me, as if telling me no. But it wasn't right. That little girl could not die. "I'm not going to let her die for us," I whispered. Daniel growled in his throat. I began to get up, but Daniel pushed me against the ground. I was about to fight him off, but instead, he stood up, now in plain sight of the man.

"Ah, so it's true. Daniel Caine, you're a fool," The man spat. 

"Let the girl go," he replied. I stared up at him, staying hidden. "Why should I? You call yourself a legend, but we all know you've run your course." 

Again, I crouched my face on the ground to see what was happening. The girl was still crying in his arms as he held a huge gun to his side. I held my breath. Was this maybe someone from the NWC?

"That child is of no use to you or value, Marcus."

Whoa, did Daniel know this man? Who was he? Were they friends? Enemies?

"Oh I know that," Marcus I replied. "Do you?" Daniel retorted. I heard a loud growl.

"You know what is going to happen Daniel. We all know what will happen, so move and let's make this easier for the both of us," Marcus said. These two must have had some sort of history, I could hear it in their voices. 

"Since I know what could happen, I can avoid it!" Daniel shouted, sounding frustrated. "No you can't!" Marcus argued.  What was it? What was going to happen? There was more Daniel wasn't telling me? Still?!

"Just because it happened to you, doesn't mean it will happen to me!" Daniel shouted, and then there was a loud growl. Daniel was grabbed over the counter, and then there was a loud slam. I couldn't help it anymore. I had to help them! I stood up, against my wolf and my father's wishes. 

The man was wearing a black suit with fancy shoes, and the little girl was cowering in the corner. Daniel was on the floor, struggling to get up.

Marcus turned to face me, his hair was black and his eyes were dark brown, almost black. He was, to say in the least, very intimidating.

"Well, I'll be damned," Marcus said with a scoff, swinging his gun over his shoulder. I froze, realizing the situation I was in. I barely knew anything about fighting, and in  my mind I was still a human in most terms!

Daniel got to his feet even faster, and came by my side. "You're not going to touch her Marcus," He growled. I stared at him, then at Marcus and the little girl. 

"I don't have a choice," He replied, his eyes showing an emotion of guilt. I studied him. "You don't want to hurt me. You have to. You're from the NWC, aren't you?" I questioned. His eyes widened. 

"Smart as well as powerful I see," He narrowed us eyes at me. 

"You don't have to do this Marcus," Daniel tried. But in an instant, Marcus's guilt ridden eyes became emotionless and black. Marcus grasped the gun from his side and aimed it for me. He pulled the trigger, but I made a dash to the side just in time. He shot again, and missed because Daniel pounced on his back, making them drop the ground. I quickly ran to the little girl.

"Sweety, I need you to listen to me okay?" I rushed. She stared wide and teary eyed at me.

"Run in that back room, find a phone-"

I was cut off by Daniel being thrown at the wall above me, and landing in a heap. I returned my attention to Marcus, who was now skulking towards me. I stood up, standing in front of the little girl.

"Either you come with me, or-"

"Or what? You'll shoot?" I tried. He glared at me, and raised the gun. I stared the at the barrel. 

"I will."

I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing. My body seemed to be floating on a cloud, and as I looked down, I saw my finger nails begin to elongate. "What the hell?" Marcus asked, staring at me.

But the door was smashed open, and in came Ryder and some others. I let out a breath of relief, and the feeling of my nails growing stopped. Marcus turned in a hurry, but was tackled to the ground by Theo, who still wore an eye patch. Emily, Mitch, Demetri, Justin and Cade ran in immediately. Em ran to my side. "Shit are you alright? Who's this?" she asked, staring behind me. 

"I-" but I focused my attention on the squirming man on the ground. Ryder walked over to him and began to silently question him. 

-

We all went back to the pack house, bringing the kid with us. She hadn't spoken a word, and I could tell she was traumatized.  I stayed silent as well, though there was so much I wanted to ask Daniel. Em and Theo kept asking me if I was alright on the ride back, but I just said I was fine, which I wasn't really sure if I was.

Ryder, Daniel, Marcus and Demtri were in another car, following us home. Mitch kept silent, which I was thankful for. 

We soon got to the house, and as we went in, I held the girl's hand, for she wouldn't let go of it since the diner. 

"Hey, I hate to ask you this, but are you alright?" Mitch said, coming to my side as we all walked in. I shrugged. "I'll tell you when I know for sure," I said. He smiled apologetically and followed us to the living room.

"Alpha Bryan went to clean up the mess at the diner and get it covered for," Em revealed as I sat down. The girl sat next to me, staying silent.  She to have been at least 6 or 7.

No one said anything. We waited for Ryder to return with Marcus so we could get some answers.

"Hey," Theo said to the little girl, who cowered behind me. "Who's this cutie?" He asked with a gentle smile.

"I don't know. She was at the diner when . . . everything happened," I muttered. The little girl remained silent, as I had predicted she would.

"Hm, well I'm sorry, maybe we can find your parents soon?" Theo tried again. She shook her head. "What?" But he got no answer. Instead, she clutched my hand tighter.

The door soon opened and revealed Ryder, my father and the others that rode with them. Where was Marcus?

Ryder immediately raced to my side and I would have too if there wasn't a child holding on to me like I was her main source of life.  He glanced at the kid, then at me and kissed me good and hard before pulling away.

"Are you okay?" He asked. I frowned. "Just peachy," I replied. 

"Zara, we need to talk to you and your dad soon," Ryder said, rubbing my forearms. He glanced at the girl. "Um..." 

"Don't bother," Em cut in with her eyes locked on Demetri. I frowned and so did Ryder. 

-

Theo and Leo took the girl as soon as Daniel arrived. She seemed a little easy going around Theo but his brother would have to be patient.

Ryder dragged me and Daniel to another room, and closed the door.

"What the hell happened?" Ryder demanded. I shrunk back. I didn't need his fury thrust upon me, for I was too busy trying to swallow the fact that there was a gun looking me straight in the eyes.

"He just came in with a gun and wanted Zara. The NWC sent him to try and retrieve Zara or if she refused to go with him, to kill her," Daniel explained.

"They wouldn't miss the opportunity to have her on their side against us," Ryder added. I frowned. What did this even mean, that they thought I'd join with them? The dark side had no lure to me. 

"Marcus was hesitant. You two knew each other, didn't you?" I questioned Daniel, who stared at me with a locked jaw. Ryder crossed his arms and leaned against his desk. 

"Yes, he helped me  long ago. He was my best friend. But time and circumstances made things harder and in that time persuasion held its power of him. The NWC killed his daughter because she was going to elope with the Versici family's 3rd son. I'm not sure how they got Marcus to join them, but he did." 

So that explained their connection. That had to have been rough, knowing they were once close and now he was trying to kill me, his daughter. I couldn't help but feel for Marcus.

"Where is he now?" I asked.

"Just kept in solitude. He's shaken up and refuses to answer us right now, so we're giving things a break," Ryder answered. I took a deep breath, trying to process.

"It almost happened. I could almost feel it happen . . ." I muttered. 

"What?" Daniel asked. He moved closer to me. I ignored it. "I almost thought I would shift into a wolf. I didn't but, I think I maybe even got close." 

Ryder and Daniel's eyes opened wide in shock. "Are you sure?" My mate asked. I nodded. "Oh yeah, I'm sure," I replied.

"Well, that's a step closer to our goal. Though I've never met the head of the council before, I'm sure you'll give him a run for his money," Daniel said with a grin.

"About that . . . what even happens if I beat him? Hypothetically of course," I asked. Ryder stared at Daniel.

"That would make you the head, and you would make the decisions. You could literally change the world of the werewolf race, even others possibly. And if you decide you don't want to be head, then you can hand it to someone else."

It soon hit me. 

"Is that why your here?" I whispered. Daniel stepped back, seeming hurt. "No, it's not, but if that is the choice you decide you want to  make when the time comes then I won't stop you," He said, trying to reason with me. I wasn't convinced. 

"She doesn't have to even think about that yet," Ryder added. I snapped my head towards him. Did he not believe in me? I began to feel disheartened. But how could I expect him to believe in me, if I couldn't even do the same for myself?

I could barely train without struggling, and I can't even shift into a wolf. Sure I came close, but what would have happened if I didn't shift, and Ryder never came busting through to help us? Where would I be right now?

"As for now?" I asked.

"For now, we take extra precautions since the NWC are starting to take action. We continue to train, and continue to get your wolf out," Ryder said. I nodded, needing a break from everything.

I stared at Daniel, who was doing the same to me. My mind flashed back to the diner and when I was going to go out and help that little girl, but instead he did. Was that him trying to prove he was a father? I shook my head. I didn't have time to think about these things. Instead, I had to focus on not getting killed by evil spies from an evil organization that shouldn't even exist. 

-

"Are you alright?" Ryder asked, sitting  on the edge of my teal bed. "I wish everyone would stop asking me that," I replied with a sour scowl. I leaned against the pillows, finally feeling relaxed.

"What kind of a soulmate would I be if I didn't ask you that after you were just held at gunpoint in a diner?" He asked with a smirk. I felt my eyes become blurry.

"Are mood swings a werewolf thing?" I asked. He seemed shocked by my question. "Other than the fact your a girl and have PMS, yep. Our emotions are just a little harder to keep inside, which I'm sure you may have noticed," He said with a sympathetic smile. 

That was it. I was tired of holding it in. I could use this stupid werewolf crap as an excuse. I lolled my head back and started to let the tears fall from my eyes. Ryder, confused, quickly rushed over and hugged me to his side. I leaned on his shoulder and started to cry even harder. I deserved a good cry, given everything I had been going through.

My non biological mother was dead, along with the biological one, I'm not a human, fairy tale creatures are a real thing, my dad is alive and here, I'm supposed to fight someone to the death- against my wishes so I could save the werewolf race from being terrorized from a group of awful werewolves, so I mean, how does one say no to that? 

The weight of the world felt like it was resting on my shoulders, and it was time I let out the much needed water works. Ryder didn't feel bothered or anything, which I was grateful for. Right now, I just needed him to sit, let me cry, and say soothing things, which he gladly did.

I updated finally omg I'm so sorry it took sooo so long, I just needed to get back on my feet. 

Isn't it crazy I started this book as a freshman in highschool and now I'm going to be a junior woah thats insane

So much has changed, and I've changed so much. I'm so proud of this book for reaching 99k reads. I remember it being at 1k and being certain nothing would come of it, but here we are!

I missed you guys, and I understand if you are angry and resentful for me taking so long to write another chapter. I'm so grateful for your patience <33333 I love you guys

vote and comment your thoughts below :D