After a restless sleep dreaming of my girls, my mom, and dad, I finally dragged myself out of bed around ten in the morning. The phone wouldn't stop ringing and I was not in the mood for it, I unplugged the bedroom phone and headed for the shower. From lack of sleep, missing my family, and the memories that continued to flood back. As the hot water beat down on my shoulders it didn't help push the memories back or ease the knots in my stomach. No sooner did the first tear fall the sobs started. I was unable to keep my body upright, sliding down the tiles, hugging my knees until there were no more tears to fall.

Water was ice cold by the time my tears dried up, I climbed out of the shower, body shivered and wrinkled due to spending the last hour and half in the steady stream of water. In no hurry to do anything I took my time before getting dressed then headed downstairs to force some food in my turning belly. Phone stopped ringing as my foot left the bottom step, then the beep of the answering machine went off letting me know someone was about to leave a message. I had already told everybody I had some personal stuff to do today and would not be talking to anyone until tomorrow most likely, so I ignored the phone to head for the kitchen.

Mady's frantic voice had me stop to listen. "Sam? Sam, pick up your damn phone!" Mady screamed, "If I don't hear from you in the next five minutes I am coming over."

Rushing to the phone I caught Mady before she hung up. "What's wrong?" I cleared my throat, voice raspy and cracking from the crying fest.

"Thank god," Those two words spoke volumes of the relief, "You need to get here right now. Nate's getting your ATV ready and hurry. It's a matter of life and death!" Mady rushed out the words.

My worry turned into rage. How could she use that phrase, "matter of life and death." today of all days. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what has your panties in a bunch."

"Get your ass over here. Jump on your ATV and follow the red ribbons I will leave for you and meet us at the clearing. NOW!" The last word screamed before she hung up.

Staring at the phone, pissed, worried, and concerned, I grabbed my purse then ran to the car and took off to Mady's.

Just as Mady said, the ATV was waiting and in the distance on a tree on the edge of the grass, a red ribbon nailed to it. "Isn't today just going to be fantastic," I said to myself with a huff. Out of all the places and of all days they wanted to meet at the very spot Mason and I found Cassie's body. Worry outweighed my annoyance, anger, and now a sick feeling of heading back to the clearing. I jumped on the machine and followed the red ribbons nailed to the trees leading the way.

A past conversation flooded back, the clearing was mainly used for meetings between the Wolves, and Lions. That had me push the ATV faster than I had ever ridden. Just as the last and only time I was out here, the sun from the open space ahead became brighter. Flashbacks of Cassie's crippled body flooded back. Blood stained clothes, limbs bent awkwardly, and the horror filled lifeless stare of Cassie's eyes. Immediately following that was the memory of hugging my daughters on their 10th birthday, their last birthday. Kissing them on the cheek then waving goodbye as they drove off for their yearly birthday dinner with my parents. That was the last time I seen their smiling faces besides in my memories.

Tears back, vision blurred, I had to slow down to a crawl before I hit something. Breaking through the tree line I spotted two groups of man facing each other. Tension hit me so hard it almost knocked me off the ATV. I had to scrub away the tears before I was able to make out faces. Dmitri and Nickoli stood in front staring at each other with pure hatred.

I concentrated on the two men before catching a glimpse of Mady running towards me. I picked up my pace to a jog to meet her halfway.

Face stained with tears, fear in her eyes. "You have to stop them," Mady said in pure panic.
I grabbed Mady's shoulders. "Who, what, and why?" I asked confused.

"They're going to fight and someone is going to get hurt or worse," she rushed out.

"What?" I screeched, anger back in full force. "You pulled me here, of all places, today of all days because two idiots are going to fight!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. All the men turned to look in our direction except for Dmitri and Nickoli.

I stomped past Mady to face the two barbaric men I cared for, ready to rip them a new one. "This is fucking childish. They call themselves men, they are acting like children," I rambled on, more to myself than anyone.

Mady caught up to me, "Uh, Sam? There's more to it than that," Mady pulled me to a stop twenty feet short from my destination. "They're fighting to be your mate. It's what we do sometimes. It doesn't happen often. Well that is unless the woman wants that and then she can and usual picks the winner," Now Mady was rambling sheepishly.

I was motionless. "B...b...but..." I finally stuttered.

Mady looking truly sorry for what was happening, "We fight for dominance, and we fight for mates. It's what we do," she repeated.

I stood there with my mouth-hanging open, stared at my friend waiting for the punchline. When it didn't happen, I closed my mouth with an audible pop. I looked at the two men I cared for deeply and may even be falling in love with. All that came into my mind and out of my mouth was, "Oh shit."