Dylan's gaze snapped to the ground before briskly clasping her luggage "Understood, Alpha Parker."

"Why did you do that?" Jade turned to him before pushing away from Slate. Her gaze casted itself over her shoulder only to see that her newly formed acquaintance had long since gone, in fact everyone took this opportunity to vacate the whole first floor.

His anger simmered dangerously, his wolf clawing at the walls of his mind, begging to be released "I don't like the way he looks at you"

"The way he looks at me?" Jade voiced unaware of the whole Pack listening in, suddenly all too familiar with their super hearing.

He roughly took her by the arm, pulling her towards the stairs. Surprisingly she ripped her arm away from him "Jade-"

"Stop it" she exclaimed angrily "Don't touch me! By the way you're acting I'd rather be with him than here with you right now."

Slate was beyond enraged.

She was his mate. He should be the only person in her world like she was in his. In a fit of anger he pushed her up against a wall "I can and will."

"Get off of me!" Jade yelled 

Slate's eyes flashed to a glowing red — Soren had taken over "No"

He hated the way other men would look at her and she didn't even realise.

He hated how he adored her with every fibre of his being and she didn't even know.

He hated how every time he would look at her and his heart skipped a beat — she didn't even care.

If we mark her now — She will be ours, no-one would ever question it, not even her Slate smiled at the thoughts Soren was sending him.

"Slate?" Jade struggled against his arms that held her pinned against the wall.

Fear struck her as she saw what looked like fangs appear in his mouth.

Contrary to popular belief she wasn't a complete fool, she knew what marking was, Tanner told her a couple weeks after moving into town.

*

*

*

Jade's POV --

"What is it Tann?''

"You remember what I told you about mates, right?" 

I met his stare with a confused one of my own "Of course. Mates are something that werewolves have, it's like their other half. They can't live without their mate and if they do it's because they haven't met them yet."

"Good," Tanner smiled at me. He didn't smile much but when he did it was when he thought we were alone and no-one was watching "the next step in the process is marking. Its when the male marks his mate by biting her. From that point on the Female is his and in return the male is hers."

I cringed "well, that's sweet. Biting someone - how bloody romantic is that," I said sarcastically causing him to chuckle.

"I'm telling you this because marking doesn't only happen between mates," Tanner replied making me give him another questioning look "sometimes, werewolves who don't find their mates decide to mark anyone they think they want"

My eyes widened "why would they do that? They have a person somewhere and they just decide to mark someone because they want to!"

"Which is exactly why I'm telling you to keep your guard up when you're around werewolves especially the unmated ones"

*

*

*

"Alpha Parker, please don't do this." Jade yelled while fidgeting under his firm hold.

She tried calling out for help — her voice travelled through the Pack house with desperation but to no avail.

His mouth neared her shoulder.

She couldn't help the tears that blurred her vision.

When he was just inches away Slate whispered a very low and possessive "Mine."

If it had been any other girl they would've given up and relaxed in his vice like grip.

If it was any other girl they would've pleaded with him to stop.

If it was any other person they would've cried, cried for Slate's mate who was waiting for him somewhere and cried for the fact she'd lose the very thing she tried so hard to protect.

Her trust.

Jade wasn't any other girl. She was a Leichhardt, Daughter of Lalani and Eric Leichhardt — if she was going down she was going down fighting. She violently thrashed around, successfully pushing his head away from her shoulder and managing to free her arms.

He lunged for her neck once more, this time with more conviction. luckily Jade had fast reflexes, she grabbed his shoulders and pushed him back with all her might just enough for her to move out from his caging arms.

Slate stumbled backwards — Jade took this chance to run down the hall only to be taken down. Slate positioned himself on top of her, straddling her waist and pinning her arms to her side.

He lunged for her, once more, with glowing red eyes.

Before he could reach her neck she released a piercing scream, so desperate, so powerful it felt as if the air around them thickened and for a fraction of a second he managed to gain control from Soren.

But it was too late. 

Her screech shook the house and emitted a spin-chilling shock all Pack members could feel.

The atmosphere dropped to a deathly cold and instantaneously Slate froze in his actions.

Jade stared at him as he seemed to be genuinely frozen.

She quickly took this as an opportunity to move away from him. She backed away into a corner still on her knees while catching her breath "what's happening?" she huffed to no one in particular

Slate remained in the same position completely still. Jade stood up and wiped the tears away from her eyes.

She had no idea what was happening, or what was going on.

Jade shook her head and gathered her wits. Quickly she ran up-stairs and looked in every room trying to find her luggage. She wasn't going to stay here after what Slate had tried to do.

Every room she opened held frozen Pack members. Eventually she finally reached the last room, in a heated rush, she threw the door wide open, and stilled at what she saw.

Before her eyes stood a very familiar werewolf unpacking her clothing casually "Dylan?"

He dropped the clothes in his hand and turned around to face her with wide eyes "L-Luna, I was just unpacking your stuff-"

"How are you still moving?" Jade swallowed the knot in her throat "Actually you don't need to answer that - just let me get some things"

Dylan shook his head and turned to Jade "W-where are you going?"

"Away."

He stared at the ground in submission "Alpha Parker wouldn't approve..."

"...It's fine. He's frozen?" She figured as sad as it was no-one would believe him if he decided to tell anyone. He was an Omega after all — the lowest rank in a Pack.

Dylan stared at her "what are you?"

"I don't know. If my parents were still alive I would've asked" she turned around to meet him

He returned her gaze "your parents passed away?"

"Why do you care?"

"What are you?" He asked again

Jade pushed past him "I'm leaving."

"I'm an Inoculate." Dylan yelled out making her stop and turn to him.

She knew what Inoculate meant, her father had known many, even worked with one. She still remembered what her father said about them;

"When Inoculates pledge their loyalty to someone they will forever be by that person's side, and do whatever it takes to protect them even if they don't want to. Inoculates, in some cases, are immune to magic - it is both a blessing and a curse"

Realisation washed over Jade's features "That's why you're not frozen"

Then again, a wave of confusion consumed her. She had no idea she was able create magic. She'd have one hell of a talk with her brother when she'd see him again. 

Dylan nodded his head vigorously "H-how long is this freeze thing supposed to last?"

Jade shook her head "I'm not sure, but I'm not sticking around to find out"

"Where are you gonna go?" Dylan called out with a tinge of worry

Jade glanced towards him before making her way down the stairs "why would I tell you? You're just gonna tell Slate where I am"

"I wouldn't do that!" He exclaimed, surprising even himself since he barely ever raised his voice

She only scoffed at his outburst as she exited the front door "I suggest you turn around now, Dylan."

"No-one's ever called me by my name." He whispered hollowly "They only call me Omega."

Jade hopped into her car and started the engine "As much as I want to admire how sad your life is, I need-"

"Please, let me come with you!"

She tilted her head in confusion "Did you become an idiot? Or are you just naturally stupid?"

"Luna, the Pack members always say; 'Omega this' and 'Omega that' but then one day I meet you. Someone who knew me for a day and uses my name - My actual name - I have no family, I have nothing holding me back" He said with desperation in his eyes "Please."

Jade could've shut the car door and told him too bad, but one question was eating away at her very core "you have no family?"

"M-My parents died when I was three. They were attacked by Rogues," he looked down, suddenly losing all confidence "my brother died shortly after."

That was something that struck a nerve.

Pain drummed against her chest. Brother. 

Jade had lost her parents too but the only reason why she didn't brake to a million pieces was because she had Tanner by her side. She couldn't imagine what she would do if Tann died.

It was in that single moment she made her decision.

"Get in."

Dylan smiled happily before getting into the front seat next to her "thank you so much!"

"I'm regretting this already," she muttered while pulling out of the driveway and driving down a long road. 

The Pack house started to get smaller and smaller in the distance.

Leaving a new place was never hard for her and Tanner but for some odd reason her heart ached as the Town she had lived in for so long became almost invisible.