With the overabundance of company I had been having, I had bought two coffee makers and kept the fridge well stocked. These shifters could eat. After seeing Matt practically run from me, I needed to stay busy and with the help from Mason, we had coffee, put out cold beverages, some cold cuts and fruit on the table.

Everything out and the meeting was about to start, I stood by Mason off in the corner out of everybody's way. I could always feel Dmitri and Nickoli's gaze on me and most of the time I was able to ignore it, but this time was intense. Looking over to see them sitting at the table with an empty chair between them. I wasn't that slow, I could take a hint; they were waiting for me.

"Go," Mason whispered in my ear, "We'll talk later."

Giving him a peck in the cheek before I made my way around the table to the awaiting seat.

No sooner did I take my seat Jack started, always getting right to the point, with no mixing of words. "What happened?"

Dmitri then explained what had happened leaving out the more personal things. Even admitted that he did not hear the men coming until I felt like they, "were being watched." Dmitri stopped at the last thing he remembered which was getting us to the car.

Reliving seeing Dmitri's limp body slumped against the door brought on a shiver. Dmitri squeezed my knee then started to rub my leg while Nickoli drew circles on my back. Their touch was comforting and kept back most of the nerve-racking night at bay.

"Sam?" Jack said, pulling my attention away from the horror replay of the night.

Sitting up straight, I then finished what Dmitri had missed while unconscious. After I was done, Jack looked over at Nate.

"We drove around 15 kilometres past where Dmitri and Sam were and didn't find a trace on which way they had gone. Going back to the beach, we did find a trace of sweat from a human male. That was it. Who every these guys were they are professionals and know what they are dealing with. Even the dart that hit Dmitri was nowhere. So we picked up the torches and basket Dmitri left behind and came right back here," Nate concluded.

"And the blanket," I added reflexively. I didn't know why I had blurted that out, but that blanket meant something to me now and I wanted it back. It held memories of our time there at the beach on the perfect night with the perfect view with the perfect guy. Yes, I wanted the blanket and would just have to ask Dmitri if he would consider giving it to me.

"There was no blanket, Sam," Nate said. All eyes were on her and Dmitri.

"Yes there was. It was red and black, soft and really thick," I got snippy. It was just a blanket, but it held memories no matter how brief. The room went eerie quiet and I could feel the tension rising. "Um, what's wrong?" I asked knowing I would not like the answer.

Dmitri and Nickoli where breathing hard. Mason stood across from me rubbing his eyes. Nate seemed ready to blow a gasket and Jack and Lawrence had yet again held no expression on their face at all.

"They have your scent," Lawrence broke the silence. He saw the confused look on my face. "With your scent they can track you. Not the human's, but people like us. They can find you," he explained.

Ok that was a bit unnerving but I was not completely convinced they were after me to begin with. As Dr. Bosje said they knew what they were doing and wanted him knocked out for a while, they did not want him dead. "So what then, you are going to have a bunch of guys around Dmitri all the time?" I knew it was a stupid question, but it had to be asked. "He's in danger we just can't have you walking around by yourself," I faced Dmitri. There was no way I was going to lose this man.

"Sam. They were not after Dmitri. They are after you," Jack said, "Ok, men we need at least one wolf and one lion with Sam at all times, but I think if she has to leave the house it would be better with two and two." Jack ignored my jaw dropping after his first statement and began to make plans.

I sat there speechless and stunned. Why would anyone want me and for what purpose? The men started to make a schedule and everyone was letting Jack and Lawrence know which days off they had. What brought me out of my stupor was when someone said they would rearrange something in their personal life and change their work schedule.

"No. No. No. Absolutely not," My voice raised a notch with every no. "No one is rearranging their schedule. No one is spending the night at my house and no one is to use their personal time spending it with me because you think I'm in danger. Which by the way I'm not totally convinced of that." I was now standing, staring down Jack.

"Sam," Jack was talking down to me and shaking his head as if I was a child, which really pissed me off.

"Which part of no don't you seem to understand?" My teeth clenched, hands curled into tight fist. I noticed a single vein throb at the side of Jack's neck, which with a normal person could have been a tale sign of anger, but looking into Jack's eye's he gave nothing away.

"You will do as..." Jack stopped at that.

I respected Jack and really liked him a lot, but he just went too far. I was not one of his and he had no right to treat me that way and I was about to make that perfectly clear to him and everyone else in this room. I just hoped it would not backfire, "Listen, old man. I am not one of yours that you can boss around." Narrowing my eyes and talking through clenched teeth. "I will not be under lock down again and I will not have anyone follow me like a lost puppy!"

That might have been a little too much I thought. Walking around the table towards Jack, never leaving eye contact no matter how badly he gaze intimidated me at that moment. One thing I had noticed was that no one stared down Jack. If they did it was a clear challenge. What would come with a challenge was a fight for dominance and I would clearly get my ass whooped. "Do you understand me?" I asked, now standing two feet from Jack.

"You are mine to protect Sam," his voice was cold. He was pissed, "As long as you are here I consider you as one of mine," he growled. "If it was Sydney wouldn't you do the same?"

That was a low blow. Sydney was Jack's human 16-year-old human granddaughter that I bonded with right away. She was not a replacement for my children, but she did remind me of them. "You're an asshole," I said half-heartedly.

Jack smiled. He won and knew it. Besides getting under his skin for all of three seconds, he was back to the cool in control Jack. "A piece of advice Sam. Don't stare down a wolf or lion it's a sign of challenge."

This time it was my turn to give him a sly smile. "Oh...I know," then I winked and turned my back to see Dmitri and Nickoli's eye bugging out. They were a nervous wreck watching that little showdown.

"Dammit Sam. You are going to be the death of me," Jacked laughed, the tension lifted, Lawrence stood against the wall shaking his head as he tried to cover up his laughter. And the rest of the men didn't quite know what to do, laugh, breath or just forget what they just witnessed.

As they started off where they left off and I remembered about my secret rooms that I could hold down in at night. "Jack?" The room immediately fell still. "I need you to trust me on this one and not ask any questions. I'm safe here. I don't need anyone to stay at night." I was not going to lose this battle. I needed my independence and freedom. "I promise I will not leave the house without an escort and I will even give a little on having someone here during the day until I go to bed, but this is my house and this is my sanity we're talking about."

Jack stood and stared at me for a few minutes thinking it over. He should not know about the secret rooms, but what looked like understanding flashed behind his eyes. "With two conditions. First you do not step a foot out that door without at least two of our males, not even to check your mail and the second, this is more for peace of mind. Someone stays with you tonight." He must have seen that I was going to argue the latter. "As a personal favour to me," he added.

"Fine," I huffed, now the big problem. Who would stay? I could not ask Dmitri or Nickoli for a couple reasons. First, things were getting tense between them and for the second, the sexual tension between me and them was at a breaking point. That is one-step I was not emotionally ready to take yet, even if my body screamed for it. Mason would be the best choice, but I could feel our relationship was toeing a line that also could not be crossed. I loved him, he was one of my best friends, but things started to change for me. No matter how much I wanted to deny it, the feelings were becoming less as a brother and more on the romantic side.

I could feel the eyes of my love ones, waiting for a decision that I could not make. Thankfully, Jack saw the dilemma. "Quinn," Jack called out, "Can you stay here with Sam tonight?" Jack never normally asked one of pack members, he normally just told them what to do. That made me feel a bit better. He was not making anyone stay with me if they did not want to.

Quinn was a safe choice. Beside the casual small talk, there was no feeling between us. The men in my life gave nothing away; they just stood where they were and nodded as if to say they agreed with the choice even if they were disappointed with it.

With all that said and done, Quinn agreed to stay and the house slowly started to empty. Jack informed us that he would be here first thing in the morning for another training session, he too was off. Saying good night to Mason, Dmitri, and Nickoli the house was quiet and locked down tight.

After Quinn checked all the doors and windows for the third time, I showed him to his room for the night. Quinn whistled, "This is nice." This was the only masculine room I had. When I first seen the room it looked nothing like this, but when I moved in, the former owners, Mr. and Mrs. Weatherspoon had done some redecorating and added furniture in all the bedrooms except for mine. This one had taupe walls a king size high gloss Japanese platform bed with black satin bedding and red accent pillows. The armour and dresser that stood on either side of the room were large with the same high gloss black finish. A lazy boy sat by the balcony doors with a small square table with a brush nickel finished reading lamp. Excess to the fireplace was in the bedroom as well as in the on suite bathroom. The room screamed sexuality.

"There are some clothes in the dresser that will fit you," I said, "Goodnight Quinn." I left to get ready for bed. I kept extra clothes in all the bedrooms, not knowing why I bought them but knew I needed too. I was glad I did now, just one of those things that my subconscious told me to do. I had the extra money so I did.

Quinn touched my arm as I was leaving. "Sam, are you alright?" his concern was touching.

I was not sure if it was the fact Quinn would be in the room beside mine or exhausting kicking in over the night's events, or that I was actually worried that someone was after me. I was scared, and did not like the feeling at all and needed time by myself. Patting his hand and digging deep to pull a smile on my face, I said, "I'm just tired. Night," I left his room.

Tossing and turning for the better half of two hours, I gave up on trying to sleep and got up to clean, hoping that would burn off some of the pent up energy. Seeing those headlights that continued to close in on the jeep as I raced down the road, every time I closed my eyes was not helping at all. Dmitri's body slumped over in the passenger seat was as real in my mind as it was a few hours ago.

Scrubbing the already immaculate bathroom took a whole 15 minutes then I moved to dusting the nonexistent dust bunnies in my bedroom. Practising the breathing technique Jack and Lawrence taught me doing our lesson to keep my emotions to myself and not share with the others. Mind blank, completely in my Zen, I did not notice Quinn standing at the bedroom door.

"Can't sleep?" he asked. I let out an embarrassing squeal as I dropped the dust rag and spun in his direction. "Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you," he said still leaning up against the door jam.

Catching my breath, "Shit, I forgot you were here," I confessed, "My body wants to sleep and is begging for it, but the old brain has different plans," I confessed.

Quinn walked into the room, gently pulled me into a hug, "With us, a simple touch can do a world of good," he said while rubbing my back.

He was right. My body started to relax and my mind slowed down. Hesitantly I wound my arms around his back and let myself sink further into relaxation. I barely noticed his naked chest against my covered one, even though it was an amazing well-cut tanned chest. I closed my eyes and concentrated on the beat of his heart, sinking further into abyss.

"Sam, you have had one hell of a day so let's get you back into bed. If you want I will stay with you till you fall asleep," his voice was soft and friendly as he picked me up into his arms and carried me to the bed.

Exhaustion kicked my ass, I said, "Thank you. Do you all have a thing with carrying women?" I was on the edge of sleep and all I felt more than heard his chuckle. I was out cold before my head hit the pillow.