I felt cold. I felt cold and empty.

At first, I was crushed; totally and completely. It was like their unacceptance was too much for me to bear on top of everything else that I had already been through. The weight of them not wanting me in their pack had smushed what little spirit and will I had left. I had been beaten down for so long in my life that I had no fight left to give.

I wasn't asking for much; a chance was all I wanted. But who was I to argue with them? They already knew that I wasn't Luna material. I wasn't enough... I never would be.

Who was I kidding? Even entertaining the idea of being Kale's mate was laughable. Kale was right... I was just fucking crazy. The Moon Goddess talking to me? I was actually just mentally unstable, it seemed. Maybe the abuse that I had endured my whole life finally caught up to me and I created illusions in my head. I was a crazy person; not a Luna.

"Lucy," Kale knocked on the door softly trying to get me to come out.

It had been like that for a week. I couldn't come out though. I'd have to face people if I came out. In my room, I was safe. Safe from ridicule, safe from the stares, safe from the hurt. In my room, I could just be numb. Out there I was forced to confront and feel their unacceptance. I didn't want to feel anything anymore.

Kale opened the door after several more knocks. I hid under the covers. It had been like that for the past week too. The day after the pack dinner when I hadn't come out for breakfast or training, he forced his way into my room. I always hid from him like the coward that I am.

I couldn't face him. How was I supposed to when I knew how big of a fraud I was? I had told him that I was his mate, but all I continuously felt like was a not good enough slave girl. I wasn't worthy of him or his pack. I didn't deserve them. Practically anybody except me would be better and more suited for them... Anyone but me.

"Luce, come on..." His voice was strained, and I felt awful for letting it get this far. He cared about me even though I didn't even deserve it. I didn't deserve him or them. "Luce, please... Please come out. I-I..." He sighed and sat on my bed.

I burrowed further into my blankets.

Usually, he'd just say a few words once he got into my room and then left, so I was confused by his actions. I could hear the sheer rawness in his voice. He was practically begging me to come out. Alphas don't beg... ever.

I wanted to come out. I wanted to see him. But I knew that If I saw him then I'd feel something; I didn't want to feel anything. If I felt the happiness of seeing him, I'd eventually have to feel the sadness of him leaving me because of who I am. I didn't want the sadness.

He let out a long sigh. I could feel his whole body sag in exhaustion. I felt awful for causing him all of this. I wasn't worth this feeling in him.

"Lucy... I-I'm so lost without you. I hate this." His voice broke and tears immediately fell out of my eyes involuntarily.

I couldn't handle this. My wolf-side just wanted to go to him and bask in his attention and let him make me feel better, but I knew the pain that it would cause as soon as he figured out what the rest of his pack already knew... After he rejected me. I didn't want to hurt anymore.

"I told myself to not get attached to you... I couldn't help it though. Everything about you feels like it was made for me, Lucy. I don't know if you are for real my mate, Luce, but I fucking need you. And that scares the hell out of me." I felt him shift on my bed and turn towards my form. "I can feel some of your hurt through the bond, Luce. It's tearing me apart. I can only imagine how you are feeling if I'm feeling this much just from the bleed through. I don't know how you are coping even a little bit."

I couldn't stop the sob that ripped through my throat. He immediately put his arms around me, even though I was wrapped up in the blankets, and pulled me to his chest.

I cried; I couldn't stop it. I couldn't mute my feelings. I couldn't push them away anymore. No matter how much I truly wanted to, and trust me, I wanted to; I just couldn't.

With Kale there, begging me to come out and comforting me, I couldn't stop my emotional wave. He had validated my feelings and held me as the grief and pain washed over me. The pain of not being enough, the hurt of the unacceptance from everyone (including him), the grief of the family that I never got to be a part of, the torture that I had endured... He simply held me as the pain of my life swallowed me. He never once let go.

After a life full of complete and utter rejection, it was the most accepted that I had ever felt. Even though his pack didn't like me, even though he was unsure of me, and even though I had no idea who I was... He still cared about me. He still never let me go.

"You are enough. Don't be afraid. Don't let the past ruin your future. You are my Oracle," her beautiful angelic voice whispered through my mind. I knew exactly whose voice it was- The Moon Goddess'. It was too real. There was no way that I was creative enough to make it all up. I was an Oracle, her Oracle. I had to get up and be strong. I had to fix this world...

After way too long, I finally exhausted all my tears. I slowly and shakily lifted the blanket from my head. I had to see his face. I knew that he'd think of me as just a whiny little baby after that display, but it didn't matter anymore. He held me together as I was breaking apart. I couldn't ask for anything more than that.

I looked up at him through my tear-stained lashes and whimpered at the unadulterated care that was in his tearful gaze. He cared for me.

"I know, Luce. I know it hurts, but it will get better. I will make sure of it," he said softly.

His lips touched my forehead, and I sucked in a deep breath. I had never felt the type of spark that passed through my whole body at that moment. All my doubts had disappeared at that moment... He was my mate. Even if he couldn't see or believe it. I'd believe it enough for both of us. He was the answer to my purpose, and we had to fulfill our destiny together. The fate of the world rested on us.

I had to be strong, and I had to continue despite the pain. Their unacceptance hurt, but the thought of me giving up when I could help everyone hurt more. Everything was relying on me and my choices. The Moon Goddess chose me. No... She chose us. I couldn't let myself get in the way of my own fate with Kale and his pack.

"I need to get strong," I stated in a raspy voice due to not speaking for so long.

"Okay... We can pick your training back up whenever you are ready," he answered.

"Not only my body; I need my mind and spirit to be strong too. I can't be like this..." I gestured to myself in general.

"U-um... Okay?" He looked at me with his head tilted as he looked like he was trying to figure me out. "I can talk to Hannah... You remember her, right? The therapist from the Hospital... She wanted to start sessions with you anyways."

I nodded once before the swirling of my mind took over. In the vision, I seen an elderly lady holding my hand in the forest while she touched my heart with her other hand. The forest that we were in was obviously in pack territory, I could just feel it. I couldn't make out much else, but the lady felt powerful and loving. I was very confused.

I couldn't form a coherent thought in my mind, so I just began to speak. "An older lady... I'm assuming a pack elder. Powerful, but accepting and loving. The forest... Earthy."

Kale looked at me as if I was crazy for a moment, but realization flashed through his face quickly. "Grandmama! She's amazing. She lives in a hut further into the forest. She refuses to move any closer... Says the trees talk to her. Most think of her as the pack crazy lady, but she is so smart and wise. I've always loved visiting her; I always come back feeling cleaned and insightful." He paused and looked at me with a look of bewilderment. "A spiritual healer..."

"A spiritual healer," I confirmed with a nod. "I need her help as well. She can help me harness and control my powers. She can help me understand them. She will help me get stronger."

"You are strong." He spoke with conviction and pride as he stared down at me. "But I will certainly take you to her. It has been many moons since I've seen her last."

----

We strolled leisurely on a well-worn path to Grandmama's hut. Kale had wanted to shift and run to get to the hut quicker, but I had convinced him that I was too weak for that. He argued that I was not weak, but he gave into me easily. He had said that he wanted to spend more time with me anyway since it had been a whole week since we'd gotten to be around each other properly. I was going to have to tell him soon that I couldn't shift... I was unsure of how he'd react. Most wolfless Omegas were cast out into the human world... I couldn't bear that.

'You have a wolf,' The Moon Goddess reminded me gently in a soft whisper through my head. Yes, I was not wolfless nor mateless. I had both. I belonged there... with Kale.

The bond that I shared with him was scary. It almost physically hurt me to be away from him. That was terrifying for me because I had been on my own for my whole life. After being with him, being alone sounded awful. I had to believe that he'd realize our connection was real soon enough and that the pack would accept me as well. I couldn't live in such a lonely state again, never again.

"Hey, no more bad thoughts," Kale said gently and grasped my hand. "I don't want to lose you for another week."

I forced a smile and nodded. "Sorry..."

"You have no reason to apologize. The way that the pack reacted was uncalled for. I just need you to understand that they don't really hate you. It's just that they have been burned too many times before... Just like me. It's not just me that's mateless, Luce, my whole pack has no Luna as well. We all feel that void that my Luna is supposed to fill."

I nodded as I listened to him. "Would you tell me about it? The times you all have been burned?" I found myself asking.

"As you know, you are not the first she-wolf to come here and claim to be my mate."

I let out an involuntary growl. "Sorry..." I said when I caught myself and cut it out. "Continue..."

"They've done it before..." he started in a dark voice. "The North, I mean. They've sent females to me and my pack before. I didn't realize it was their doing at first. At first, I was naive and desperate. I wanted so badly to have a mate that I was willing to have almost anyone come in and try to fill that spot. I had thought that I was the broken one in the beginning. I had thought that I was some type of unfeeling monster... They'd come and they'd claim to feel the bond, masquerading like a lovesick bitch around me and my pack. I wanted a mate and Luna so badly so..."

"So, you let them stay," I finished for him in a sad whispery voice.

"And they all turned out to be fakes," he said with disgust. "Every single one of them. And every single time, it wasn't just me who was hurt. My pack took the blows hard too. They needed a Luna just as much as I had..."

"That's terrible," I said softly, feeling hurt at my mate's and his pack's heartbreak.

"And... It wasn't even just my own pack that was damaged..." he said in a very dark tone. "Each time they'd send me another fake mate to be distracted by, another Southern territory fell. Another ally lost their land and their people due to my own selfish desires of a mate.

"So... It's not just me who gets hurt in this process. It's not just me who I have to think about," he told me. "It's everyone. I have the weight of everyone on my shoulders, and I cannot fail them again."

My heart hurt for him. I hated that he had been so hurt by the others before that he had closed his heart off. I really hated the fact that he felt so alone in his burdens and wouldn't share the load.

"So, that's why I've been so slow and cautious with you about this situation. I'm sorry that I can't just scream that you're my mate from the rooftops and claim you instantly. Yeah, maybe I feel something this time. Maybe I can even see myself loving you, which is terrifying... However, I cannot hurt my pack like that again. I can't do it until I know with one hundred percent certainty that this is real and true.

"I want nothing more than for you to be my mate, Lucine... to be our Luna. But I am so scared that this could be another Goddamn manipulation tactic from The North. I can't lose any more people, Lucy. I can't hurt us like that again..."

"I understand now..." I said finally. "You want to protect yourself, your pack, and your allies. I get it," I said with a nod and bit my lip. "That's okay with me," I told him. "I can wait as long as you want. I'll earn your trust and make you believe. I wouldn't even blame you if you never trusted me. I'd even understand if you rejected me," I said, though the words hurt my heart to say. "I'm not here to hurt you, Kale. I want to help you. I want to share your burdens and help your pack.

"I'm also not only here for you, Kale. You are not the only one with everyone and everything on your shoulders. The fate of the world rests upon me figuring out my powers, self, and strategies. I didn't ask for this. I never wanted this. I just wanted a home, I guess. A family. Somewhere to belong... I never thought that I'd ever have any of that, so this is all new and uncharted for me too. But above all, Kale, I just want to help. I want to restore peace and love through the lands and bring back harmony. It's all I've ever wanted."

"God dammit," Kale said and quit walking abruptly even though I could see the hut just a little ways in front of us.

"What? Are you okay? Is someone hurt?" I asked frantically, thinking something was wrong.

"Just when I think that I can start distancing myself and remind myself of all the others who've burned me, you go and say... that!"

I tilted my head at him in confusion. I was totally lost.

"I don't believe that you're doing this out of malice, nor do I believe that you're lying about the bond you feel. I feel it too... I just- I can't trust these feelings. I can't trust you. I-I can't!" He groaned and then rubbed his face frustratedly. "Luce, I need you to understand that you are a part of my pack. You have a home here. I want to help you too. Regardless of if you're my mate or not... you are my Oracle. I just want there to be peace too."

I felt tears prick my eyes and nodded. He accepted me as his Oracle. No, it wasn't as his mate but at least it was a start. I belonged here, and it felt so nice to finally belong somewhere.

----

"Well, well... if it isn't the Alpha?" I heard her gravelly voice say in a teasing tone. "I thought you had gotten too good for the likes of me."

Kale forced a smile out, making me frown. He was too wound up for his own good.

"Ooooo boy, you need a run," she said loudly, making Kale sigh deeply. "Go on, sweet boy, I'll take care of your mate. She and I have our own business to discuss. She'll meet you for training."

I laughed at her directness and correctness and waited for Kale to correct her on her word choice for me. He did not, making me feel giddy. "And here I thought that I was the Oracle," I said teasingly. I didn't even feel like I needed an introduction to this amazing force of a woman. She felt like a kindred spirit to me, and I loved the feeling of relating to someone.

"Ah, my sweet, that you are. I am just good with reading people and taking observed guesses. You, my sweet girl, ooze divine energy. You are a very powerful being."

"I don't feel it..." I said softly. I didn't feel powerful at all... not in the least. I felt weak and used.

"That is because that power has been beaten and stolen from you. It is time to reclaim it and be more powerful than anyone could ever imagine." She grabbed my arm and started taking me inside the small hut. Kale went to follow us, but she stopped him abruptly with a sly smile. "Alpha, that run awaits you..."

I almost laughed at his expression. If it had been anyone else, he would have surely lashed out, but since it was Grandmama, he bowed and turned to me. "Be careful on your way back. I will meet you in the training gym at three o'clock... Is that reasonable?"

I smiled and nodded at his consideration. "Have fun on your run Kale." I stood on my tippy toes and kissed his cheek unsurely. "Be safe and relax."

Grandmama led me into her hut and sat me at a small table. "He is just stubborn; he will come to his senses soon," she said while making us both tea.

"I hope so," I said softly and stared at the table I was sitting at.

"So, an Oracle that is not blind. That's interesting..." Grandmama said after setting some tea in front of me with a soft smile.

I looked away from her for a few moments. It is a well-known fact that most Oracles throughout history have been blind. They give up their true sight to be gifted with divine sight. I obviously was not blind. I'm sure that's something of what made Kale so skeptical of me in the first place.

"What is it that you are without if you can see, my girl?"

I sighed and looked down in shame and embarrassment. "My wolf... I cannot shift," I answered in a small voice.

"Nonsense, I can smell you; you most certainly have a wolf," Grandmama spoke quickly. "But I understand... the Moon Goddess took away the ability to shift into your beautiful wolf. It may seem cruel but if she deemed it necessary then we must trust her judgment. For she has seen all the realities, this must be the best choice. I am assuming that the Alpha doesn't know though?"

I said nothing.

"Ah, as I thought." She smiled gently at me. I could see that she was not judging me for keeping this a secret.

"I-I just..." I sighed. "You know what they do to wolfless Omegas, don't you? I don't want to be treated like that again... never again." I could feel the tears brimming my eyes. "Or be cast away into the human world..."

Grandmama put a gentle and warm hand on top of mine. "Oh, sweet girl, you are the Luna of this pack, and you do have a wolf. You will not be cast away nor would Alpha Kale ever let anyone hurt you."

"Kale doesn't even believe me to be his real mate, Grandmama. How can you be so sure that he wouldn't just throw me out? It'd be so much easier on him if he did."

"Because I know Kale. I have known him since he was a small child. Besides, he can't do that to his mate and Oracle. As I've said, he's just a stubborn and untrusting man. He'll see the truth soon. Besides, he wants the war over just as much as you do. He wouldn't do anything to jeopardize that."

We both finished our teas in silence as I thought over the things the old woman had said. She already seemed to be making my heart feel lighter and my soul feel stronger. "Now, my love, I will teach you to center. It is vital to your powers to be able to ground yourself."

I nodded and followed her out the door of her hut and into a small garden area. She sat down and gestured for me to do the same. I sat on the cool grass and smiled warmly. I was hardly allowed in nature growing up in Fleming's pack. The more I sat in the sun and enjoyed the fresh air, the further away from my old life I felt. I wanted to be far far away from there.

"Now... I want you to do nothing but feel the earth. Feel yourself become a part of it. Feel yourself growing roots and planting them firmly and deeply into the ground. Think of only that, only the connection with the loving earth, no other thoughts or memories. Connect and center yourself. Let the world fill you up with loving and divine energy."

I unconsciously laid back and let my arms fall to my sides. The ground was fully supporting me and cradling me. I could feel it, the loving energy of the grass and dirt. I let myself relish in it. I let myself feel it. I caught myself a few times, wandering away from the loving energy. I continuously brought myself back though, back to the love from the earth. I was letting myself fill with that love. I was that love. That love was me.

----

"Come on, love." I heard Grandmama's voice say gently.

I wasn't sure how long it had been. It could have been minutes or hours or days, even. I was unaware of the time during that exercise. I could feel that my soul was so full of love. I needed it.

"You did well, I could see you stray every so often, but you'd get yourself right back to the love. Very well done. The Moon Goddess knew what she was doing in choosing you."

I felt myself smile at her genuineness and felt proud that at least she could see my potential. I had someone on my side. I had someone who believed in me.

"I believe it is time for you to go now, little one. I'd hate to face the Alpha's wrath for keeping his mate for too long." she smiled and clasped my hand. "You are doing well, Lucine. Follow your heart and intuition, for it will never lead you astray. I know you want to do good and make positive changes. Start here, with us. This pack needs you. Kale needs you. You can do much good if you believe and trust in yourself. So, believe and trust. And above all... love."

I kissed Grandmama's hand affectionately and said my goodbyes. I decided to let my wolf-side choose the path and let it be as free as I could in my limited shifting abilities. That side of me needed to be let out some too. Otherwise, I get too restless.

I ran a few miles before I emerged from the trees and slowed to a more leisurely pace. The grass felt nice under my bare feet and the sun felt nice on my skin. I was instantly reminded of the pure love that I had experienced during my meditative session. Love... beautiful and tangible love.

The only noise that I heard was the soft breeze and my short breaths. That is why when I heard the small whimpering and shuffling it immediately caught my attention. It was a pained whimper and it sounded like a child. I could hear it plain as day and it hurt my heart.

I instantly stopped and looked around to try and find where it was coming from.

"Hello?" I asked aloud and looked around. "Is anyone there?"

No one answered but I heard another whimper and a shuffling of the bushes from several feet ahead of me. I walked towards it calmly. I wasn't sure who it was that was making the noise, but I did know that it sounded pained. I felt the need to help whoever it was.

I followed the scent to a very large tree surrounded by bushes. It was most certainly someone from the pack, I could smell them. I cautiously and slowly rounded the tree, not to scare the person with brisk movements. What I saw hurt my heart...

There was a small girl. She was very young, no older than six or seven. She was shaking and panting as she cried while looking at me with wide eyes.

"Little one, what is the matter? What are you doing so far away from the pack house?" I asked her worriedly. A young she-wolf that hasn't even shifted yet shouldn't be roaming the woods alone. There was no telling if rogues or malicious intent creatures were lurking in the outskirts of the territory.

She cried even harder and stood quickly. "I am sorry! I'm moving! I'm moving!" She practically yelled and ran a few steps before falling again.

"Woah, woah, woah child... It is okay," I said softly and kneeled down next to her. "Where are you going? What are you doing?" I asked as I looked her over for injuries.

She had a few cuts and bruises, nothing major. The poor girl was exhausted though. I couldn't figure out what was going on and why she was so upset.

"What are you doing out here all by yourself?"

"T-Training. I'm so bad. I'm the weakest link! I'm going to bring the whole pack down!" She answered frantically while trying to get up again.

I put my hand on her small shoulder and held her in place gently but firmly. "Training? You haven't even shifted yet, have you? How can they be training you so hard when you haven't even started your shift?"

"What?" She asked shakily. "We all start training on our fifth birthdays. They want us all to be ready for our first shift on the full moon after our seventh birthdays to run with the whole pack. Mine is in two weeks." She paused and inhaled sharply. "Oh man! Mine is in two weeks! I'm never going to keep up with everyone!" She shook my hand off and began running again, only to get twenty or so feet and then fall again.

"Come on sweet girl, let me help you." I began to try to pick her up, but she shied away.

"Master Dillon said that we shall get no help, just as no one will help us if we stray behind on the full moon. The pack is only as strong as our weakest link. I'm the weakest link." A few tears shed from her eyes.

"No, sweetie, you aren't," I said and gestured for her to get on my back so that I could give her a piggyback ride. "A pack is a pack; we shall help everyone that is in it." She finally gave in and climbed onto my back. "It sounds as if this warrior Dillon is the weakest link if he's thinking like that."

She stayed silent for several minutes as she caught her breath. I could feel her perking up as time went on, the poor girl ran way too far for her small size and young age. "All of them think like that, Alpha too. It's how we are taught. You are very kind..." She nuzzled into my neck affectionately making me smile.

"Lucy," I told her nicely.

"I am Alexis, but you can just call me Lexi just like my friends do."

I smiled at her sweetness. "You are very mature for your age. You just turned seven, yes?"

She sighed and I could feel her deflate. "My parents tell me that I need to be more mature. Everyone is so serious all the time. It is no fun here. We don't get to play or do anything! It's train, train, train, school, train. It's boring and exhausting!"

I was baffled, even at Fleming's pack they let the pups have fun and run around. It was unnerving that Kale didn't let the children play or anything. There were, after all, just kids. They needed fun!

We soon neared the training area, and I could feel her stiffen.

"You should let me down, Lucy. Both of us don't need to get in trouble, just me," The little girl said as she tried to wiggle away.

"Oh no, little one. I want to meet this 'Dillon' character to talk to him. It'll be fine."

I opened one of the many doors and walked in quietly. Natalie immediately saw me and hugged me despite the little one that was attached to me. "LUCY! I was so worried about you!" She exclaimed with a smile. "Kale will be here soon; he had a pack issue to deal with. I see you picked up a hitchhiker."

"Yeah, this is Lexi. I found her while running around near the forest," I answered.

"Which one is Dillon, Lex?" I asked quickly.

She whimpered and pointed over to a group of pups who were working on fighting stances across the room. There was a very large warrior teaching them. "They've already begun to work on other things. I must be very late," she whimpered.

I turned my head slightly to look at Lexi as best as I could. "Lex, how long were you out there running before I found you?"

"Since six in the morning."

"What? That's before breakfast is even served. Did you at least get fed first?" I was very angry at the lack of regard that they were showing these children.

She shook her head no. "We were told that we could eat when we got back from the run. We weren't supposed to take all day like me." Her voice waned a bit and I felt my wolf come to the surface.

My wolf pushed the angry feeling out even more. These pups were mine to protect, as far as I was concerned, and I wouldn't let anyone harm them the way that they were any longer. This pack needed a serious reformation!

I knew my eyes were golden even before Nat looked at me with confusion. "Wh-what?" She questioned unknowingly.

Alpha Rodriguez and Sam had just walked up to us at that moment. They both shared a look and Cory tucked Natalie away under an arm.

"Kale will be here in just a few minutes," Sam said trying to placate me. He obviously had no idea what was going on or what had made me angry.

At that moment, neither I nor Kale mattered. I was just so upset for the kids that were way over worked and not happy. Looking at all of them learning fighting stances and moves, none of them smiled, none of them were joking around... They all looked tired and dull. That is not how little kids should feel. Pups were usually full of energy and brought many joys and happiness to a pack. They were not supposed to be bred to be warriors at such a young age. Taught how to control their wolves and instincts, yes. Not worked to the bone and practically starved.

"Lucy?" Sam questioned cautiously.

I looked at him with my golden gaze and then back to 'Dillon'. "Excuse me, Beta..." I said respectively and walked over to the pups gracefully but purposefully.

The closer I got to the pups, the tighter Lexi held onto me. By the time I made it all the way, her grip was hurting me, and she was all the way frigid. She was terrified of her trainer; that was another problem. Trainers and/or warriors should be respected not feared.

"Can I help you?" Dillon demanded before he spotted the little one on my back. "Oh you," he stated in a dead voice. "I know you did not need help back, did you? You didn't let her carry you back, did you?" Lexi clung closer to me and buried her face in my long hair.

"And if I did?" I asked with my hands on my hips challenging him.

He let out a warning growl, gaining a few people's attention that were standing near us. "Then you'd be interfering with training, and she'd be cheating and needs to go redo the run."

Lex whimpered at that, making me growl back at him. "I don't know if you've noticed, but she is a child," I said in a strong voice. "Plus, you didn't even feed the pups before sending them out into the woods by themselves! You're lucky they didn't run into any problems along the way."

"If she is to be a part of this pack she will train as I say and she will do what I say! Not some low ranking she-wolf! Alexis needs to learn her place and needs to be able to keep up the night of her shift. That is what I am teaching the pups. All these other kids are keeping up, but not this weak one."

Lexi began crying at his words and I sucked in a deep breath. I could see the warrior becoming more and more agitated, but I was not done speaking. I pulled Lex around and hugged her tightly for a moment, then put her down with the rest of her classmates. An agitated warrior is no place for a little one to be immediately around. If he was agitated right then, he had no idea what else was in store because I wasn't backing down from this fight.

"She is not weak." I spoke slowly while staring at him directly in his eyes. It was a power move showing him that I wasn't scared. I wasn't... I had to keep telling myself that. I couldn't be, those kids needed me. It was time to be powerful, not scared. "She is not weak and if a first-time shifted pup happens to fall behind on a full moon run then you should help them to keep up!" This time, I yelled. I was letting myself get too worked up. "Honestly, how can you teach these children but then call one of them weak? The saying goes the student is only as good as the teacher, right? So, what does that say about you?" I knew that it would piss him off. As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew that it was about to get ugly.

I seen him puff up with anger and the claws came out. As soon as I seen that in real life, a vision spun into my mind. The vision stopped my breathing and drew my attention away from the warrior. Alexis, my new little friend, was going to run out in front of me to protect me. She knew how angered Dillon could get and she was going to stop him from hurting me... by sacrificing herself.

I quickly came out of the vision and saw him wind up to strike me. He gave me plenty of time to move or block, but it was not me that I was worried about. I didn't have enough time to save both myself and Alexis. I turned my attention to Lexi and caught her before she could run all the way out in front of me. I used my momentum to spin us both around while I cradled her to my chest.

I felt his claws dig into my back and slice my flesh like butter. I sucked in a deep breath and clenched my jaws to hold in a scream; I didn't want to upset Lucy or the other kids. I cradled her delicately and breathed through the pain. It wasn't that bad; I have had way worse through out my life. I was just happy that Lexi was safe and unharmed.

Within an instant after the attack, I heard a loud roar, and my wolf was suddenly on high alert. I'd recognize that ferocious roar anywhere... Kale was there, and he was pissed. He just had impeccable timing. This would not be good... not good at all.