I'm so soo soooo sorry I know it's definitely been A LONG TIME

I have been having such terrible awful writer's block with all my books, particularly this one.

Now that you all know Dalton's secret it's hard to find some new drama to bring in, but trust me it'll be there >:)

I watched Natalie pace back and forth, muttering a string of words I couldn't quite put together.

"So . . ." I murmured. Her eyes snapped to mine, reflecting my image in her tears. I wanted to console her, or at least try, but hell, I wasn't sure how to.

"How can you be so calm? You could die in an instant! I can't believe any of this. I'm not even you and I'm freaking out," She said, hugging herself. I got up from the bed and went to her side, reaching for her arms. I grabbed them and let her stare at the ground.

"Nat, look at me." She didn't.

"Natalie Hathaway."

She did, lifting her solemn eyes to meet mine. The look in her eyes made my heart clench and I could feel just how upset she was.

"I know this is scary for you. You're my best friend and if I found out this was happening to you, I'd have lost my shit long ago. I know it's hard to understand but . ."

"But what?" She asked. I frowned.

"It's hard to explain. It's just," I sighed and took a deep breath, "I've had to come to terms that I might die a handful of times in this past year. I was kidnapped, and..." I trailed off and closed my eyes. I could almost feel the electric volts swimming up and down my body, piercing every bone; every vein and cell.

"I guess what I'm saying is, I feel fearless, but I'm scared at the same time. I don't understand how I can feel that way; it's quite contradicting. It's like I'm finally living but I'm also dying. It's so strange, I sound like a nutcase," I muttered.

Natalie sighed and wiped her eyes with her free hand.

"I hate that you're predestined to die and I can't do anything about it," She said, tears beginning to pool in the corners of her brown eyes. Damn, she was making me want to cry but I had to stay strong. I had to.

"You don't know that. This time could be different. I'm not sure how, but there's new technology and packs that might have an idea about this stuff and . . I have to stay positive dammit!" I said with a forced laugh. Nat cracked a small smile and suddenly pushed me into her. She wrapped her gangly arms around me and squeezed.

"Can't! Breathe!"

She let go and together we began to laugh.

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Perhaps okay will be our-"

I threw a pillow at her, making her laugh.

I now had Natalie on my side, though I was sure she'd never left it.

-

Vince's POV***

"You know we could've kept him. You know I don't like to throw away my toys," She said with an eye roll. I ignored her and stared at the bloody body in front of me.

"Not all toys were meant to be played with, yet it's a shame really," I said, taking a puff of my cigarette. I heard her laugh next to me. She peered through the glass where Dr. Han sat in a chair with his hands tied and his eyes bloodied. His chest just barely moved up and down but within hours I knew it'd rest stagnant against his nattered bones. I shoved my hand in my pocket and wrapped my fingers around the vile.

"How so?" She asked.

"Dr. Han was at one point useful. Too bad he couldn't pick a direct side."

"Oh? I recall the situation a tad differently," She teased with a grin. I scoffed.

"And that's the beauty of it all, darling," I said. She rolled her eyes again and held out her hand. I stared at it with nonchalance. "Give me a puff, would you darling?" She taunted. I coped her gesture and rolled my eyes as well she could and handed her the stick. She grabbed it with her black nails and lifted it to her purple lips.

"You're getting ballsy Allora," I told her with a raised brow. She inhaled, the bud of the stick glowering with a bright orange. As she released, the orange did as well.

"I'm allowed to be. Afterall, if it weren't for me then you never would have found Dalton, and Dalton never would have found Carter. I'm the reason everything is working," She boasted, yet she had every right.

"Don't act like you're so superior. We both know you're under contract from your coven, Princess Allora Moraine."

The whites of her eyes became black as the pupil enlarged. A trick of her kind. She studied the cigarette as she pinched it between her two fingers.

"You know just as well as I do, Vincent," She paused, and brought the stick closer to her eyes. I watched her, staying cautious. "That my coven specializes in . . . pain if you will. Mental. Physical. Sensual. And for special exceptions, like yours truly, specialize in all of the above. I may be in a contract..." She opened her mouth wide and set the burnt part of the cig on her tongue where it sizzled and steamed wisped into the air before dispersing. I stayed silent.

She didn't flinch, or cry, but simply removed it with ease.

"But we both know that when the time comes, I will be free of your hunter freaks, and my coven will find you. They won't kill you. But you'll want them to."

"And until then, you do as I say, Wifey."

She glared at me and narrowed her eyes. I felt a small throb in my head, like a headache coming on. It barely bothered me, but I knew I was getting on her nerves, like she was mine. Since she'd made the deal to become my wife, I promised I wouldn't expose her coven to the world. Too bad; she was one of the originals.

"Careful now," She tsked, her eyes returning to normal. I growled at her.

"Get things going faster on Carter. We're going to take a different path this time."

"You know, all your plans have failed."

I pulled the vile from my pocket and studied it. I glanced at Allora before putting it back in my pocket.

"If you think that, then they must, and in the end my plan in still moving in complete success. Now move along witch. We have much to do."

-

Carter's POV***

I watched Gavin picked up yet another dress that seemed more like a wash cloth.

"Seriously?"

He furrowed his brows in confusion as he held up the dress. "What's wrong with it? I thought it looked good." I couldn't say I was surprised. I could remember when I first got on that damn plane and the way his eyes spun when he saw that exotic flight attendant, I that he didn't have the slightest idea what decency was nor that it might even be a word.

"It's a no from me," I said with a fake British accent and a shrug. He sighed and put the dress back on the rack.

"Okay Simon Cowel, but you're hard to shop for. Anyways, where's Natalie? She must know your style better than I do."

I picked up another lighter blue dress. Not my color, so needless to say it went back on the rack.

"Well she said she wanted to hit the bathroom and then the food court so I'm sure she'll be back soon," I said with a shrug. He nodded and we continued to search. I couldn't find a whole bunch here. Everything just wasn't right. Either too short, too casual, or in Gavin's case, too . . . everything I didn't want and more.

"What does one even wear to this thing? When I hear Ball I think of Cinderella wearing a puffy blue dress."

Gavin sighed and picked up yet another skimpy dress. I gave him a look and he put it down with a whimper.

"It's really just formal. Don't overdress, but don't be afraid to underdress," He raised his eyebrows and smirked. I rolled my eyes and slapped his head.

"Don't be a pig. I really need your help. I'd have asked Kaz but she said she doesn't do dresses. Plus you have ties to your Alpha so that means you've gone before. I can only pray you'll be helpful towards this cause."

He groaned and shoved his hands in his pockets, following me around the store.

"Maybe it's because you're shopping in this kind of store . . . you know we could go to like Chanel or something," He offered. I ignored him. My family wasn't poor nor were we the wealthiest. Our pack was small yet it did have its perk that I had been in the family with Luna blood running in it.

"I do dresses, but not those kinds of dresses."

"You poor people and your humble nonsense."

"I ain't poor, you snotty rich boy. Now shut your gob and help me find a decent, presentable dress."

-

Natalie finally returned after what seemed like hours and told us she met a cute boy at the food court. Gavin, the rude one he is, reminded her that she had a mate she had to stay loyal to. I however finally found a dress and felt giddy about wearing it. However I didn't have the energy to think too much about it.

I heard Nat let out a distressed groan.

"Shut it Gavin, you're working her up," I hissed as we arrived back at the house. Natalie had her fists bunched up at her sides while she stomped inside the house.

"It's true. It's basically cheating."

"It is not!" Natalie howled, turning around. Her face was red and tears gathered in her eyes. Nat was sensitive and hurt easily, but that never stopped me from getting upset at her attackers.

"Get off her back man," I retorted as we walked to the kitchen.

"Why should I? What's the point in getting involved if you're not going to be with him forever?" He countered, waltzing to the fridge. I frowned at him; he had a point, yet he didn't have to shove the idea in her face.

I suddenly found myself thinking of Addison and remembered all Dalton had told me. He killed her and apart of me felt bad for Vince. Having a soul mate stripped away? Especially after he knew her, which made it worse. Or maybe he's happy he got to know her for a small amount of time. I could be wrong either way considering I didn't know much about Vince other than the fact he was pure evil.

Was Dalton much better?

I felt my heart sink like the Titanic. I can't believe that's how I died. I closed my eyes and imagined what it must have been like, but I'm glad I can't remember. I wonder what else happened in my previous lives? Did I fall mad in love with Dalton each time? Was he madly in love with me too? Did a part of him resent me for not being able to remember, or die?

I wonder was it was like. Having someone you love die over and over again and you can't do anything about it. It was crazy to even think something like that. The thought makes my heart break a million times over and I found myself feeling sad.

"You okay? Why are you crying?" Gavin asked. I blinked a few times and true to his word something wet fell down my cheek.

I absentmindedly reached up and felt the wetness on my fingertip. I didn't even realize I had started to cry. What I wimp.