Nicole's POV
--

Quivering and shaking. That's all he's doing. I think he's weak. He looks exhausted. I'm glad he fell asleep.

His head is pressed against his knees, but his face is tilted enough that I can see his eyes. He's snoring quietly and he shudders again.

Why does he do this to himself? It's not his fault. I wish he could see that.

I get an idea.

Hey Mica? I ask over the mind link. He responds almost instantly.

Nikki! What's up?

Can you come here?

Yeah. Sure. I'm helping train some of the young kids, but I'll be there in an hou-

Now?

What's wrong?

Finally, he detects the seriousness in my voice and realizes that I mean it.

One minute.

I look over at Dallas to see he has shifted his position; his head is now leaning against the wall rather than pressed against his knees, revealing his splotchy, tear-stained skin and puffy, red eyes.

He looks miserable.

I watch the peacefulness of him, admiring how one second he was feeling the worst pain possible to be felt, and then the next he's like this. As if nothing happened. His face is so relaxed, so young.

I smile tugs at my lips and my eyebrows raise slightly when I see him drooling.

A knock sounds at the door. He's here.

"Come in." I say, not taking my eyes off of my Mate.

"Okay. What do you ne-" he cuts himself off when his warm brown eyes land on his best friend. His dark eyebrows furrow in confusion and worry. I have a stunned realization that he has never seen Dallas cry. Not once. And not so extreme like this. "What... What happened...?"

When he glances at me, I shake my head. "Just help me lift him onto his bed."

Mica nods, taking a step towards me to help lift the seventeen-year-old boy. He gently pulls Dallas's legs out from their tucked position and grabs them. I stand by his head, softly grabbing his shoulders and head to lift him.

He grunts, his head turning from one side to another.

We carry him to his bed, carefully laying him down. Mica backs up, wiping his forehead and waiting for me to say something. I pull the covers back and then up-over him.

Opening my mouth, I prepare to ask Mica a question when he answers it before it can leave my lips.

"My father and I will take care of the pack until he becomes well, again. I won't pry and I'll leave you two alone." I turn my head to look at him, smiling in surprise. He glances at Dallas and then exits the room.

"What am I going to do with you?" I ask a sleeping Dallas. He shudders.

--

Unmoving. Still. Silent.

Infuriating.

He has not woken up for two days. Two days.

I am exhausted. And hungry. Why hasn't he woken up? Everything in me aches.

Suddenly, the door opens.

Mica.

"Nikki. Are you okay? You haven't come out for two days." I turn to look at the boy who sands in the middle of the room. He takes a step back, startled at my ragged appearance. "Are you okay?" He recovers his lost steps and moves forward to place his hand on my shoulder.

I nod, turning my gaze back to Dallas. "Just peachy."

He grabs my chair, easily lifting it up with me clutching the bottom so I don't fall off. "What are you doing, Mica?! Put me down!" It bounces with his steps as he walks around the bed to the other side. With a grunt, he sets it down and grabs my arm before I can get up. "Stop it, Mica!" I yell. He hoists me up, lifting me bridal-style and then let's go of me. It's a terrifying few seconds until I land on the squishy surface of the bed. Before I know it, the covers are pulled over me and Mica leaves.

I sit here, pondering what the heck that was about, until he returns, a glass of milk and a plate with a peanut butter sandwich in hand. A tray rests on the lumpy covers of my bed, the plate and glass on it.

"Eat." He says and sits in the chair I once occupied. I stare at the food, eyebrows drawn together in confusion. "I'm not kidding, Nicole. Eat." I look up, meeting his gaze and see his serious brown eyes meet mine. He looks so intimidating.

I return my attention to the food and tentatively lift the sandwich to my mouth, practically inhaling it. The milk goes next, a single droplet sliding down my chin to drop on my shirt.

"Happy?" I grumble, glaring at him. He nods, grinning.

"Almost." I narrow my eyes.

"What do you mean by 'almost?'" I question. He stares at Dallas and then glances at me.

"Go to sleep." My eyes widen.

"What, no! I need to watch him! I'm perfectly fine!"

"Nicole. You are not fine. You hadn't slept and hadn't eaten until I came. You must eat. Do you have any idea what Dallas would do to me if he found you like that? He would rip out my eyeballs and shove them down my throat." My eyes widen. "Go to sleep."

"I can't." I look down at my hands in my lap.

"Why?" He's irritated.

"This isn't my bed." I glance at Dallas. "It's his."

"For crying out loud, you're Mates! All I'm asking is for you to go to sleep!" He throws his hands up in exasperation, making me chuckle lightly.

"Alright." But I don't budge. Mica stares at me with an Are you kidding me? look. "Who's going to watch him? I can't just leave him like this. No, I have to stay awake so I can watch him."

"That's why I'm here, Nikki. I'm going to watch him. And you. Now go to sleep." He commands, grinning smugly. I nod again and scoot downwards, under the covers. When I'm completely under, I turn my back to Dallas and close my eyes. He shifts beside me but doesn't awaken.

--

When I wake up, I feel better than I have in a long time. I haven't slept this well since a year ago. And then I realize why.

While I slept, I subconsciously got closer to my Mate, thus causing him to turn around and wrap himself around me.

His face is pressed into his pillow, drool pooling at the corners of his mouth. Mica sits loyally watching with a smirk plastered to his face.

"Morning, Sleeping Beauty."

"How long ago did this happen?" I grumble sleepily, rubbing my eyes.

"Right after you fell asleep." He replies, making me groan. I pull my hand away to see him wink at me. "Are you ready?"

"For?"

"You're training today. With me, again." My eyes widen and I glance at the slackened face of Dallas. "He'll be fine, Nicki. I'm having our Third watch him."

"Third? Who's that?"

"Oh, yeah. You haven't met Sammy, yet, have you?" I shake my head. "Oh, you'll love him. And his Mate, Noel." I nod.

"Where are they? Why haven't I met them yet? It's been what, three years since I met Dal?" I haven't called him that since a year ago.

"One thing you should know about those two... Uh, ha. They are twenty-two years old. They have been dealing with family business. Last year, Noel had a baby. They've been busy with little, baby Sean." My eyes widen in surprise.

"Oh." Mica laughs. "And we can trust him?" Mica laughs again, nodding.

"Nikki. There is a reason why Sammy is the Third. Amicus, Sammy, and I are all best friends. Been raised that way." He responds reassuringly.

I sit up, gently pushing Dallas a good foot away. "Okay. Let's go." He nods, standing up and starting to walk to the door with me following him. Before I exit the room, I glance over my shoulder at Dallas.

Still sleeping.

I feel a pang in my stomach.

--

"Today, dear Nikki, you are fighting me." My eyes widen as he paces in front of me seeming to be thinking.

"Are you sure? Maybe I should wa-"

"Nikki. There's a reason why Dallas picked me to train you. When I'm done with you, you won't have an ounce of doubt left in you. I'm going to teach you how to adapt in a fight. How to learn off of your opponent." He grins.

"What first, Mr. Fernandez?" I mock, fake saluting him. He smirks and places his hands on his hips.

"Don't mock me, Nikki." His face breaks out into a smile. Suddenly, he spreads his hands. "Come at me." I raise my eyebrow, tilting my head. This is obviously a trick. Learned that a long time ago when he flipped me over his shoulder onto the ground. Not happening, Fern.

The best thing would be to fake him. But that's what he would be expecting. I have to think fast and not show what I'm thinking in my eyes. Because he would be thinking I am going to fake...

I got it.

Mica crosses his arms, watching me skeptically, his playful brown eyes watching for any tells. My eyes flicker to the left just barely and then to the right. He doesn't move as he analyzes me.

And then I do it. With a quick heave, I launch myself at his right side. His eyes widen slightly in surprise and then he lashes out, gripping my forearms. Mica is always one to predict something but expect the other. That's why he is one of the best fighters. After Dallas.

He grins, twisting my arms slightly to cause discomfort, but I swing my head back, nailing him in the nose. When his grip loosens, I twist my leg around behind me, effectively hitting his ankles. He stumbles, allowing me to yank free from his grip and him to fall. Before he can do anything, I stand in front of him with my foot raised as if to kick him somewhere he doesn't want to be kicked. His eyes widen, but because it's Mica, I rest my foot against the ground and reach for his hand to help him up.

He grins sheepishly, gratefully taking my hand and pulling himself up. He wipes his nose, where a little blood is trickling from the head-butt I gave him.

I beat him. I won.

"Congrats, Nikki." He slings an arm around my shoulders.

"Goin easy on me today, Fern?" I ask him teasingly. He laughs and shakes his head.

"Nope. That was all you. If you can take me down, you can take almost everyone."

"Almost?" I question, stopping and staring at him with a glint in my eye. He nods.

"Yeah. If you can beat me, you can beat this whole pack. Except for Dallas." My eyes widen at that. "Eventually, you'll go against him. You need to be able to protect yourself against an Alpha in a fight." I shake my head.

"I can't fight Dallas."

"You won't for awhile. You still need to work on your technique. But that head-butt? It's said that your head is only as hard as your amount of stubbornness." He grins, letting that sink in and I elbow him lightly in the ribs.

"Watch it, Fern. I can take you down." I state confidently and he rolls his eyes, huffing.

"That was one time. And I'd rather not get a kick to the groin, thank you."

"Maybe I should. It might knock some manners into you." I joke and he fake laughs.

"Ha. Ha. Very funny."

Suddenly, a spike of panic and fear overwhelms me, causing me to inhale and clutch my chest. It doesn't stop and I keel over. The feeling is so strong. I have the urge to run around, looking for something. But this isn't my panic. I don't have anything to panic about.

It's Dallas's.

He's awake.

Nicole? Nic? Are you there? He mind links me, his voice sounding weary and fearful. I'm filled with happiness when he calls me by the nickname he gave me. I smile softly to myself.

Yes, Dal. I'm here. I was training with Mica. I tell him. Instantly, the panic flies out of me, replaced with relief. I stand straight, seeing a confused Mica staring at me. I mouth 'Dallas' and he nods.

I know exactly why Dallas is freaking out. He's lost everyone. He's scared.

Okay. He still sounds exhausted.

You okay?

Yeah. Just... Groggy.

I start walking towards the Pack House as fast as I can. Mica follows me.

When I reach the bedroom door, it swings open. Dallas stands tall in front of me, his hair matted and in disarray. Sweat glistens on his cheeks. His chest heaves with heavy breaths and his eyes are wild, showing the anxiety and panic he was feeling.

My eyes widen in surprise when he takes a step towards me, leaning down to kiss me.

I'm so sorry.

It's okay. I love you.

He pulls away, resting his forehead against mine.

"I wasn't myself. I'm so sorry, Nic. I'm so sorry." He hugs me, his face buried in my neck. "Thank you." I hesitantly reach out, placing my hand on his back.

"It's okay, Dal. You were grieving. You had no outlet to let it out and you had an impossible responsibility placed on your shoulders."

He pulls away, grinning at me.

"Mike's been telling me you've been training hard." He nods at Mica with his head. Mica's eyes widen and he looks at me. He's pleading I don't tell Dallas about me beating him. I wink and smirk.

"I beat him today." Dallas grins at a red Mica. His cheeks flush from embarrassment.

"I went easy on you!" He declares.

"Yeah. It was easy when I almost kicked you." He rolls his eyes, huffing.

"I'm afraid to ask, but I'm pretty sure my Mate whooped your butt, Mike." Dallas states and casually raises his eyes to Mica's. "I mean, I'm not surprised... You always have been a kitty." He teases. Mica punches him in the arm.

"Hey!" He's grinning, though.

Dallas shakes his head, bumping shoulders with his best friend.

Though Dallas's cheery mood is back, I know things will never go back to the way they were. Things are different now. Good or bad; I have no idea.

--

While eating dinner with Dallas for the first time in awhile, he keeps staring at me. I go to take a bite of my lasagna and mind link him as I do so.

Why are you staring at me?

Because I want to. He grins, taking a bite of his tamale. Something flashes through his eyes.

I roll my eyes. It's kinda creepy.

I know. He winks at me.

Weirdo.

Your weirdo.

True that.

Mica coughs awkwardly next to us. I just now realize how quiet everything became when Dallas and I had our conversation.

I smile awkwardly and Dallas's fork clanks loudly when he drops it against his plate.

We stare at each other. And then we both start cracking up.

It's a good different.

--

The next day, I wake up with something heavy around my waist.

Dallas.

Turning around, I stare at him. I don't stop. I just stare. I'm not ashamed that I'm being creepy and watching him while he sleeps.

Already, the bags and exhaustion is pretty much faded away from his face.

And then his eyes snap open. Halfway.

He drowsily swipes at his eyes, blinking a few times before focusing on me.

"How long have you -" he cuts himself off with a yawn and rolls his head to look up at the ceiling, " - been watching me sleep?" He asks, a hint of teasing in his voice.

I chuckle and kiss his cheek. "A minute." He closes his eyes again, yawning. "Still tired?"

His eyes snap open. "Hm? No. I'm fine." He hoists himself up, stretching his arms above his head.

"Dallas..." I warn, narrowing my eyes at him.

"I'm fine, Nic. I promise." He smiles reassuringly but I'm not convinced.

"Alright..." I climb out of the bed and head to the door.

"Where are you going?" His voice is panicky.

"To get changed." He exhales quietly.

--

Later, while eating breakfast, Mica comes down cheerily and humming.

He opens a cupboard, pulling out a mug. With another bout of humming, he dances slightly to the coffee maker.

"So Amicus. When's the Luna ceremony?" He asks Dallas. Dallas stops chewing his cereal, milk dribbling down his chin. Mica turns around, confusion on his face. "You have finished the Mating Process, right?"

Dallas just stares at him, something unrecognizable flashing through his eyes. I stare at him as Mica's eyes grow wide. "You didn't, did you?" My eyebrows furrow in confusion. What is he talking about? We finished the Mating Process.

"Yeah, we did, didn't we?" Dallas flinches.

"No, Nicole. We haven't finished the Mating Process, yet."