AAHH! I'm so happy at the amount of comments (5) because I LOVE HEARING YOU GUYS GET INVOLVED

*****Sorry I've been gone, I've been in Hawaiiiiii,

feel free to dm me if you have ideas for further chapters! I always reply (:

not edited

Carter's POV

I stayed silent, still digesting all that had happened after I just let out that scream fest. I laid my head down on the pillow and wiped away my pathetic tears. It felt so good to shout at Dalton and yet it still got me nowhere. I was back to square one. Every time I try to pry and dig for answers, I just end up with more questions.

It's an understatement to say that Dalton and most-likely Gavin and even Kaz were hiding something from me. My chest began to hurt, not physically, but emotionally at the fact that I seemed to be the only one without a clue as to what was going on around here. Two seconds later and my chest began to physically hurt. I squeezed my eyes and groaned, curling my toes. It left just as soon as it came. I took a deep breath, my fingers reaching for the covers, but fear overcame the action and I let it go.

A knock on the door caught my attention, and in walked Gavin. He smiled lightly, which I returned an eye brow raise.

"You know, I'm really digging the wires and tubes look," He said with a smirk. I forced a light smile, although these things gave me the creeps.

"Yeah, well lucky for you, I'll seem to have them jabbed into my skin for a week," I replied, trying to sound comicle, but the fact that death seemed to be flirting with my body dampened my demeanor.

Gavin dropped the playful smile, and leaned against the counter.

"With luck, you won't be attached to them any longer than tomorrow. We've got to find a cure for this. Dr. Han is amazing, so I have a feeling he could help you."

"I've never been one for help," I said.

Gavin rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.

"I'm . . . I'm going to die."

"Don't say that."

"Why? It's a fact. I state the facts and I don't beat around the bush, something everyone here seems to be really good at," I began to feel bitter. Suddenly, I realized my stomach felt it too for I began to feel a nagging feeling in my throat. I leaned up, holding my neck.

"Shit," Gavin muttered, grabbing a bucket from the counter and hastily running to my side. Just in time, thankfully. I leaned over and began to vomit profusely.

I didn't know much about medical things, but I did know that black throw up wasn't exactly a normal thing. The only thing that managed to make me feel somewhat better was the fact that Gavin slipped and I threw up on his sleeve. I wiped my mouth, leaning back and taking a breath.

"Ew," I murmured.

"You and me both," Gavin said with disgust as he evaluated his ink like splattered shirt.

-

Dr. Han came running in minutes after my puke session on both Gavin and the bucket. Dr. Han took a sample of the black vomit, then checked my vitals and BP to see if I was still stable.

"So, black barf. What's that lookin like Doc?" I asked, my eyes brushed past Gavin's shoulder, who'd, by the way, changed his shirt. Suddenly I began to wander if maybe he had the same tattoo on the back of his neck.

"It's your body's way of trying to fight off the syrum. It's reacting as though it's a poison, which in a sense, it is. Throwing up is both a good and bad thing. It gets rid of fluids in your body and will make you weaker and soon you'll start to refuse food."

"Speaking of food-"

"Nope," He smiled and walked over with his arms crossed. "No solid foods I'm afraid. We can't risk you eating a component of food that can worsen your . . . . condition," He said with an apologetic smile. I gaped at him, then Gavin, who shrugged.

"I . . I have a wish. Gavin, get out," I demanded, pointing towards the door. He stared at me with befuddlement. I held in my laughter.

"But-"

"Confidentiality," I winked. Gavin groaned and silently left the room.

Dr. Han frowned and sat down on the cot. "I cannot keep things confidential if it does not include medicine," He said. I smiled.

"Well, that's where I'm going to slightly bend the rules."

"What would you have me do?"

"First off," I started,"you must not tell Dalton or Gavin or anybody. Understood?" I asked. He frowned and mulled it over in his head.

"That isn't wise-"

"Do wise people try to steal the Code from an Alpha?" I retorted. Dr. Han grinned and shook his head.

"I want you to make a phone call."

-

She walked in with her eyes wide open. I stared at her from my cot as her eyes filled with tears and they began to fall down her cheeks.

"My God, Carter Blake you better have a good reason for everything, and explain, like, now," She shouted.

"Nat, keep your voice down!" I whispered. She shook her head of blonde. Dropping her luggage, she walked over to me and sat down on my bed side.

My eyes filled with tears as I realized I finally felt like a little piece of home was with me now. "You're here," My voice cracked.

"I'd hug you, but I want to slap you, but you're apparently hooked up to a ton of tubes," She said with a disgruntled growl. I smiled lightly and wiped my eyes. Her light blue eyes studied the wires attached to my arms. Nat still looked the same. Blonde hair to her breasts, light blue eyes, oddly pale complexion with a shy and timid aura.

"I missed you so much."

"Yeah um, I'd miss me too if I kept me in the dark for as long as you have! I mean, just look at you. Why the hell are you in a cot? What's with the wires? Why do you smell different?" She growled.

"Nat, I called you here for a reason, to talk and catch you up. Bad things are happening around here, and I remember that on the phone a long time ago, you seem to also be hiding things."

Nat frowned, her nose twitching.

"You first," she said. I nodded.

"Well . . ."

20 minutes later, Nat's mouth hung open.

"Same," I said. She rubbed her temples. "Oh my God," she covered her mouth and began to cry.

"Please, don't cry, I'm okay," I told her. She covered her face, tears leaking through the creases in her fingers. Seeing my best friend in so much agony began to hurt, and hopefully, my actual stomach wouldn't feel the same.

"You, you got kidnapped! And tortured! I just didn't think it would happen to anybody, I mean," She sniffled, "I knew it happened to people on the news, werewolf or not, but my best friend . . ." She began to cry again. I reached for her hand and lightly gripped it. She looked up in her teary mess.

"And your mate marked you, and that's why your scent smells so different. It's still you, but, less you, and you, you're dying, oh my God, my best friend is dying!" She wept. I frowned and forced myself not to cry. Not that her telling me I was dying was making me feel any better.

"They're looking for a cure, or something hopefully before my brain turns to mush and you have to feed me and clean me," I joked.

"Don't you dare joke right now!" She shouted, her face scrunching. I frowned, realizing I should not have said that.

"Yes, it's been a lot. Though all these things have happened, I have no answers. I still don't know why they took me, all I know is he is related to Dalton. I still don't even know much about my own damn mate."

"That sucks," she whimpered in between cries. I smiled sympathetically

"Okay, subject change before I start to feel super gloomy. What's going on at home Natalie?" I asked, using her full name. She glanced at me through her hair.

"Your grandma hasn't said anything?"

"No, now what is happening over there?"

She sighed and dropped her head, closing her eyes. "Nat!"

"Our pack is under attack. There's a large group of rogues and they keep bordering our towns."

"Have they hurt anyone? I mean, we've dealt with rogues before so-"

"Carter," her tone softened, making my stomach knot. She paused and let out a deep breath. "There is rumor that they are the ones who killed your parents."

I opened my mouth but no words came out. I felt angry and confused. "Bucket," I commanded, pointing. Nat turned, seeming lost. "Get the damn bucket!" I screamed. Stunned, she reached over and placed the bucket underneath me. Black ink of vomit left my mouth and entered the bucket.

While I held the bucket to my chest, Nat held my hair up and rubbed circles in my back. Apparently my stomach felt just as angry and confused as I did.

I wiped my mouth and leaned back.

"How can you be sure it's them?" I whispered, taking in more oxygen.

"We can't be. That's why I said it was a rumor. Luna Helen, er, your grandma, hasn't said much other than their numbers are increasing into impressive numbers. They've been leaving threats, and left some pervy pictures pinned to the side of the pack house. Someone even said-"

"Wait, wait. Pictures?" I asked. My fear and paranoia spiked.

"Yeah, some of the pack members, no one of importance considering hierarchy of the pack." My stomach began to churn and for a second I leaned into the bucket of black. My thoughts sparked back to when pictures of me had been left in that tree, and the fact someone had camped out in a tree for a bit.

Suddenly, the door slammed open and a very pissed off Dalton walked in. "Oh no," I whispered, and beside me I swear I heard Nat whimper in fear.

His black and narrowed eyes landed on Nat, causing her to turn her neck in immediate submission. I glanced at her, noticing her shoulders quivering. I remembered when I felt like that around Dalton. Sometimes when he's this pissed, I still do feel like shaking.

"Who the hell are you?" Dalton growled. I scowled at him, clutching my barf bucket.

"My best friend, Natalie Hathaway."

"And what makes you think you could bring her to my home?"

"I needed her."

"Oh really?" he asked, his heated gaze switching on and off through me and her. "Who called her? You?" Nat stared at me with wide, scared eyes.

"Nope, can't tell you that," I growled.

"I want her out, now. Kaz will escort her out."

"Do that I'll fly back with her."

"You can't even get out of bed!" Dalton thrust his hands into the air, as if I was being unreasonable. "I need to be around someone who I consider a friend who also doesn't seem to be hiding things from me! Oh and speaking of which, did you know my home was under attack? Did you?"

The tension could cut like a knife. Dalton didn't move and maybe he was even holding his breath. Nobody spoke.

"You knew and didn't tell me!"

"Your Grandmother had specific instructions-"

"Oh! So now you two are all buddy-buddy?" I screamed, but felt a lurch in my stomach. "Oh God," I moaned, before ducking my head into the bucket.

-

The room had calmed down after I had thrown up, for the third time today.

"I-I'm sorry if I caused you, your pack, and everyone, or you, um, any problems," Nat whispered, standing in the corner and holding her forearms.

Dalton, though he tried, managed to lightly sneer at her. "You've only made things harder, if not-"

"Can it dog. She makes things better, you make things worse, get over it," I snapped, my voice coming out hoarse. He shut his mouth and glared at me.

"Did you tell her everything?" Dalton asked, leaning against the doorway.

"Only what I know. I'm sure there'd be more to tell her if you just-"

"Natalie Hathaway, you must promise you will not speak to your Luna about Carter's conditions." He ordered her. Nat looked horrified. "But she's her granddaughter, I have to, I-I can't keep secrets from my Luna- from my pack!"

"Thanks to your best friend, you have to," Dalton pointed at me. I scowled at Dalton for putting her in this situation of having to go behind her leader's back. I snorted. "I . . . I will not be leaving, if it's all the same to you Alpha Dalton." Nat said, crossing her arms and trying to seem unafraid. Surprised, I watched the two.

"It is not the same to me-"

"If she leaves," I cut in," She'll blab everything to my grandma and to Blue River pack, and all your secrets will pour out like blood from a stab wound. She can't leave. She has to stay," I said, very matter-of-factly. Dalton growled and seemed to obviously dislike this idea, though he understood the severity of it all.

"She stays. I'll inform her Luna." He said, looking down at his shoes. Nat smiled at me and boy did I smile right back.

"We have a room in the pack house close to yours that will be available to her. She'll shop tomorrow for clothes and all other necessities. Kaz and Ygritte will escort her and make sure no harm comes to her. "

Although I had no idea who Ygritte was, I nodded, as did my nervous best friend.

"I've contacted Kaz, she'll drive you. She's waiting downstairs," Dalton explained. Nat hesitated, staring at me. I smiled lightly, letting her know she was safe. She nodded and lightly walked out the door.

Dalton stared at me then the bucket.

"You threw up?" he asked. Frowning, I looked down at mumbled, "Yeah." He studied me a second longer, before walking over. Each step closer made my heart pound. He reached for the tin bucket, his fingers closing over mine. A sharp tingle spread down my hand as he grabbed the bucket handle. With the barf bucket in his hands, he walked to the sink and dumped it out, the gooey black liquid pouring down the drain.

He walked back over to me and set it down next to me. I thought he would leave, but he didn't. Instead, he hovered over the cot. I blushed, remembering our fight from hours ago.

"How do you feel?" he asked, his voice rugged. He lifted a brow as he waited for me to speak. I was pretty much flabbergasted. His voice showed concern, which was something I rarely received from this man.

"As good as any dying, sick, teenager who was kidnapped, I guess," I replied. He frowned. "Yeah, dumb question." I forced a chuckle.

For what seemed like hours, we stared at each other. He stared into my eyes and I stared into his. We both held captivation and wonder. My want to learn about his past was like a dehydrated person who'd just made their way to an oasis; desperate for water. I wanted him to let me in, to tell me everything about his past and who he really is. I wanted to drink up his info like a drunk on a Friday night.

"I apologize for not asking for permission when I marked you," he broke the silence, his pale orbs locking on my neck.

"Oh, yeah, I was, meaning to ask about that. So my uh, mom or grandma never explained these things to me so I was just wondering if there are like, any side effects or something?" I asked. Wow, that couldn't have come out any more awkward. Dalton's eyes swirled into black before pale green again.

"Alpha marks are different, pending on the bloodline of the Alpha and how strong the line is. Mine is very . . . pure, so the effects are greater. Dizziness, fatigue; both are common." He explained.

"Oh," I said, biting my lip. The only thing that freaked me out was the fact that I saw that thing in the mirror, yet now everything seemed minor compared to being kidnapped.

"So um," he cleared his throat. I nearly laughed, for he seemed so flustered at having to apologize. Clearly he didn't do it often. "I was pissed, I'll say that much. But, I don't really understand a whole bunch what it means so I can't be that angry . . . I think."

"It means different things to different people. Some believe it's a sign to other wolves that you are taken and not up for finding someone, other's think it's a type of foreplay before sex."

I nearly cringed in embarrassment. But what did that mean for him?

"What does it mean to you?" I voiced my thoughts, my wolf gently stirring. He seemed shocked by my question. "I could lie to you and say it means nothing, that you are simply my property, however I'm still figuring it out for myself."

My heart fluttered, but I refused to feel like a giddy teenage girl. I squashed the warm feeling, feeling down. Would we ever have a normal life? Would there even be a life with both me and him.

"You could have killed me."

"What?" he seemed lost. I crossed my arms. "At your house back at home, when I was going to steal your book. You could have killed me. But you didn't."

"Correct. I did not kill you."

"Why not?" I pushed, knowing I could be pushing our limits on talking. "I couldn't kill for fun. That's not who I am."

"Oh, so I'd be an easy catch?" I asked. A faint smirk appeared on his face, one that if I had been standing, I'd have fallen. "Something of the sort."

I lightly laughed.

"You deserve answers Carter." Dalton said, his voice becoming serious again. I stared at him, mentally agreeing. "But you can't give them to me yet," I replied, my voice coated in disappointment.

"Yes," he said. I squeezed my eyes shut and leaned my head back onto the pillow.

"When is the right time?" I asked, clutching the sheets.

"I don't know, but it isn't now." And with that, he got up and headed for the door.

"Dalton!" I called out. He paused, as if to hear me out. "Thank you. Not just for letting Nat stay, but for getting me out of there," I mumbled. He froze for a moment and I swore there was a ghost of a smile twitching at his lips, but he closed the door, leaving me to myself and my thoughts.

AHHH I'M SO SORRY IT'S TAKEN ME FOREVER TO UPDATE

I was at a huge writers block and I was gone for Hawaii and had a lot of soccer traveling to do. I hope this chapter will do! Comment, vote, love you!