Aeriela was like a puppy who hates water. She tried getting around me from the creek from her bath but I held her back and pushed her head under the water for a quick second. When her head came up she spike water in my face and I breathed out heavily, “Look I know you don't always bathe but you need this! You stink. I'm sorry if that hurts your feelings but you need a bath.” I said, making her bare her teeth at me and growled. “You can't be running with us if you smell like you dived into a garbage can. Now sit.” I said, making her sit in the river with her back facing me and I srubbed her head with shampoo again and might need to do it one more time with how much dirt was in it.

Selah—a female wolf no more than a year older than me and the third cousin of Alpha Alaric—came over and sat down next to me with a packet of gum, “Here you go.”

“Thank you.” I said, taking it and took a piece out. I held it out to Aeriela and she rudely pushed my hand away. “Hey! It's minty, you'll like it.” I said, bring it to her mouth again and she smacked at my hand. I groaned and grabbed her chin, forcing her mouth open and she fought but I was stronger and forced it in her mouth. She chewed on it a few moment before her eyes widen and she kept chewing on it until she swallowed it. “No, no you don't swallow it—oh well. Here have another but you don't swallow it, you just chew it. Okay?” I asked as I gave her the pack of mint gum.

That kept her busy as she put gum in her mouth to chew on as I washed her hair. She had such long beautiful viberant red hair that went down to her waist and the more I washed it the more I wished I had her beautiful red hair.

“I never really thanked you for saving me.” Selah said, making me look at her as I srubbed Aeriela hair with shampoo. Selah had beautiful light ebony color skin like coffee with lots of cream in it. She had spiral curly hair that went past her shoulders and beautiful round brown eyes. “I saw my cousin look angry but not because he was losing family but a pack member. He wasn't coming.”

“None of them were.” I said as I grabbed a plastic cup and put water in it as I poured it over Aeriela head to rinse her hair and I added conditioner in it. Aeriel kept putting more gum in her mouth and even though it was getting hard for her to chew she continued enjoying the taste. “I was getting sick of being in there and I was gonna do anything to get out.”

“You're really brave, I wish I could be as brave as you.” she said.

I picked up a brush and started brushing at the end of Aeriela hair while the conditioner was still in her hair to make it easier to brush. I'm sure she hardly had her hair brushed and she had allot of tangles but she sat through them as I brushed higher on her head. “Well you can be.” I said.

She shook her head, “No, I can't be. I don't have the guts like you do. Girls aren't suppose to be strong.”

“See that's where you're going wrong.” I said as I looked at her and I roughly pull the brush down. Aeriela yelp and turned her head to glare at me. I looked at the brush where a good chunk of her knot I was working on was. Aeriela turned back around and I turned back to Selah, “You just gotta risk things if you feel like it's for the greater good. I never planned this is how my life was gonna turn to. Most of my life I just planned to graduate, leaving that group home Wing's Hope, and live on my own. I wanted to be a loner my whole life and here I am—Alpha of pack who all their lives in my hand and I have no idea what I'm gonna do next.”

“Just gotta take it one day at a time.” she said.

“And you need to realize how imporant you life is. You gotta fight to protect yourself, not needing others to. Every pack I seen the wolves look after their Alphas back but not their own. I want you guys not to protect me but your back. I don't want any of you risking your lives for me because your lives are just as imporant. It's why I knew you could get yourself out that underground room.” I said. “You know how to fight, right?”

“Not as good as you.” she said. “I tried fighting at the party but a large man knocked me out cold.”

“Well then learn. Have someone help you help you learn how to fight—Gavin knows how.” I said, pointing at Gavin who was wreslting around with a male wolf name Corbin. “You're gonna have to get a few bumps and bruises but think of the results. One badass chicks.” I said, playfully pushing her and she chuckled. I finished her hair and began risen it with water. “Who doesn't need anyone to protect her because she can protect herself.”

Selah got up and went over to Gavin. She asked him how to fight and he didn't agree since she was girl. Selah looked at me and I held my hands up since she needed to do it herself. Gavin had his back to her and she made him look at her, demanding he help her and he told her no that he doesn't hit girls. She punched him across the face and he stumbled back a few, giving her a surprised look. She told him not to think about what sex she is and just help as a pack member who needs help. Gavin agreed and they started wreslting around.

“Are you done yet?” Aeriela boredly asked with a mouth full of gum.

“Oh relax. Yes.” I said as I got up and picked up the clothes next to me. She stood up and faced me, “Now put on these clothes.” Aeriela picked the black bra and arched her eyebrow, “This is a bra, it's for your boobs.”

“Why?” she asked, arching her eyebrow.

“Because it's keeps them in control.” I said I put the clothes under my arm and took the bra from her. I turned her around and helped her put it on.

“Control? What's gonna happen to them? Just fly around?” she asked.

“Err, sorta. And it keeps them from becoming sagging. Look civilized girls wear them—well, most of them but you will because you'll thank me when you hit middle age.” I said as I handed her her clothes to put on. She put on the clothes and I could tell it was weird for her to wear jeans.

Killian came over, “Do you know who shot me with that arrow?” he asked her.

She shook her head, “No. Ramses would never lets touch what was on it let alone go near it. Can I go eat?” she whined since the others were cooking up some food.

“Yes, go eat.” I said and she quickly ran over towards the camp fire with the others to eat.

Killian turned to me and brought me into his arms. I gladly rested my head on his chest, feeling comfort from being in them now and I hugged his waist. “I'm so tired.” I told him, wrapping my arms around him tightly. “I so wish I could have one day to myself.”

“I know, Mat.” he said, kissing the top of my head.

“I'm so happy you're here.” I told him. “Ramses made me believe you were dead and it was so hard to thinking of living without you.”

He placed one hand behind my head and kissed my forehead, “I'm right here though with you alive. We're together.”

“Will you stay though?” I asked, lifting my head to look up at him. “You're risking so much and I'm scared you'll leave.”

“I'm never leaving your side.” he said. “Parents are probably pissed and angry with me but I'll never leave your side. Gonna be a new adjustment but I'll handle them for you. Rather risk everything than risk losing you again.” He put his hand under my chin and kissed me, “I'm lucky to have you.”

“Some luck.” I sarcastically said, making him chuckle.

We went to go join the pack, I looked over at Devin and he was staring down at the ground. I went over next to him and stared at him for a moment, “You should go back home—I don't want you here.”

He lifted his head and looked at me, “Who's the oldest? You may now be an Alpha but I am your big brother. Even Sofia told us we should stick together.”

“Zoe and Shiloh need you though.” I said. “I'm sure they're missing you like crazy and you need to go back to them. Alpha Lincoln will let you come back in since you aren't a rogue.”

“Zoe and I haven't married yet so he can't do anything to her. He can't make her leave or anything. I'm staying for the mean time.” he coldly said. “I'm not leaving you, Mat. Even if you order me.”

“Devin, I can see the sadness in your eyes.” I said. “Please, don't make me the reason why Zoe will leave you. You two need to be together to raise Shiloh so he won't grow up without a father. Get married, be happy. I'm not gonna be angry.”

“Mat I already I'm not leaving—”

“Devin, don't make me order you.” I warned him. “Go home, please. It's not that I don't want you here, I really do but your family needs you first then I do. I can take care of myself and the pack. I have older wolves who can help me.”

“Mat, please just let—”

My eyes turned amber and sapphire as my teeth bared, “Devin, don't make me tell you again.”

He stared at me for a moment before sighing and looked back at the fire, “I'll leave in the morning. We'll both go seperate ways.”

*

It took a moment to get to Soona Desert in Texas since it was in the lower part of Texas but we made it there. We had to walk through the town as humans and Aeriela was so amazed to go into the cities were passed. She was the reason why we were a little slow but it was a like whole new world to her.

I went over to Nate who stared up at the sun while sitting on a boulder, “I know you'll be able to win.” I said, making him to turn to look at me.

“He's late.” he said, scoffing. He looked at me seriously, “Mat, if I start to seem like I'm losing I don't want you to get involved and help me."

“He'll kill you though—”

“My fight, not yours.” he said. “Mat, you are only here as a witness. Don't jump in. Promise me you won't.”

Though I knew I would want to jump in if it seems that Nate was gonna lose I saw how serious he was about me not jumping into the fight. It was their fight, not mine and Nate didn't want my help. If Talaus was gonna kill him—I have to stand by to watch. “A-alright, I promise not to get involved.”

Soon four big black Hummers drove up and Alpha Talaus stepped out from the second Hummer car. The highest people in his pack came as witnesses and I stepped away from Nate. He got off the boulder and walked over to him but stopped twelve feet away from him, “Thought you weren't gonna come.”

Talaus grinned, “I thought the same about you.”

With my pack and Talaus we circled around them as they stood a dozen feet away each other. Nate stripped down to only his black jeans and Talaus did the same. The hot sun beamed down on them and I could see Nate was a little nervous but he made his face turn hard as they got in position.

Killian entwined our fingers as we watched them circle each other like wolves and Nate attached him first. Talaus grabbed his arms and threw him onto the ground. Nate quickly got up and launged him. He jumped ontop of Talaus and made him fall to the ground. They both fought in their human skins for awhile. In five minutes both of them were bloody from the fight and breathed heavily.

Talaus looked frusterated now and he growned heavily before shifting into a wolf. Nate was laying on his back breathing heavily until he realized Talaus was coming after him. He grabbed Talaus by his neck before Talaus could bit into Nate shoulder and I quickly covered my eyes in nervousness. My anxiety made my heart beat quickly and my eyes quickly shifted to amber and sapphire as I opened my eyes and watched. I so badly wanted to help my cousin but I promised him I wouldn't.

Nate cried out as he lifted Talaus up and threw him aside by his neck. Talaus quickly got up though and lunged at him again. Nate dodged him in time but he fell on his side and he quickly crawl away but Talaus bit down on his ankle. Hearing Nate scream like bloody murder made me take in a sharp breath and I took a step forward but Killian hand tighten in mine. Talaus dragged Nate around and I breathed heavily out my nose

Nate grabbed a rock and quickly sat up, hitting Talaus in the face with it. Talaus let go and Nate quickly shifted into a wolf. They kept biting at each other and I so badly wanted to get involved. Talaus stepped away from Nate, breathing heavily and Nate took some steps back.

He shifted into his human skin, “I'm sure the others didn't make it this long.” he said as he stepped back.

Talaus shifted back into his humans skin, “You're been waiting for this for a long time, huh? You know how to fight.”

“I refuse to go down so easily.” he said. “You killed my parents and I will take revenge for them.” Nate crouched down and shifted into a wolf before they started again. After a few moments Talaus finally got Nate down since Nate was getting exhausted and bit into his neck, holding Nate down. I took in a deep breath as I watched Nate turn shift into human skin. Talaus bit down hard into Nate skin and pierced his flesh. Nate eyes squeezed shut as he cried in pain before he breathed heavily and opened his eyes as his eyes moved around quickly as if he was trying to find something to help him but nothing.

“No.” I breathed out.

Talaus let go of Nate shoulder and bit down into Nate neck. I took a big step forward but Killian held me back, “No, you can't.” he said, holding me back even though I fought to get around.

I cried in frusteration and I moved my head to look behind his arm. Nate yellow eyes stared right into my amber and sapphire ones. Quickly his own eyes turned into a mixture of amber and sapphire. Most of his iris bleed with a sapphire color and around pupil turned amber. His finger nails sharpen and he reached up to Talaus wolf neck and pierced him with his finger. He held on tightly because he tried pulling Talaus off, he'll risk making Talaus rip out his throat.

He held onto until Talaus opened his mouth and yelp in pain. Nate took in a sharp in take of breath, the wound around his neck quickly healing up. My eyes widen as I watched Nate attack Talaus in his human skin even though Talaus was in wolf skin. He jumped into Talaus back and forced him down onto the ground.

“Oh God.” Killian breathed out Nate slammed Talaus head into ground before he twisted and snapped Talaus neck.

Nate breathed heavily as he stared down at Talaus dead body before he tossed his head back and howled. After a moment of silence from all of us Nate got up from Talaus dead wolf body and stepped back a few steps and stared at Talaus pack members who stared at him for a moment who didn't know how to react to Nate showing his wild side. They all looked at each other before following by rules they got down on one knee and pledge their allegiance to him.

Nate growned as he closed his eyes and bend over, bringing his hands up to his eyes. Killian finally let go of me and I ran over to Nate. I put my hands on his hot shoulders and he looked at me with his normal brown eyes.

He forced a chuckle, “So anxiety is what makes us go wild.”

I chuckled as I put my hands behind his neck, “You're the Alpha. You're the Alpha of Texas now.” I moved my hands and held my hand out to him, “Alpha Nate.”

He chuckled, slapping his hand in mine and shook my hand, “Thank you, Alpha Matilda.”