Nearly a week later and Teaghan was still trying to get used to her Alpha being up and about the territory. The males who had given her so much trouble now fell in line, doing the duty they owned their pack two years before.

She had avoided her Alpha as much as possible. She was happy but another part of her was furious with him. He may have been present but he had abandoned them.

The males that had ignored her and their duties had gotten off without a warning. It was frustrating and so unfair that her eyes stung with tears of emotion. She had even avoided Reeve and her sister who were both trying to get the Reed pack where it had been before.

She sat on the edge of her rock, staring off into nothingness as she tried to get her emotions under control. It wouldn't hurt for her to scream her frustrations but then someone may hear her.

She was only twenty years old, yet at this moment, she felt like she were sixty. She grimaced at her self-pitying thoughts. She would be happy regardless, and yes, apart of her selfishly wished her Alpha acknowledged all that she had done.

"Goddess, I'm so selfish and stupid," she muttered to herself. She needed to get back and do- well, whatever she wanted now. Breathing deeply, she froze when a foreign scent filled her nostrils.

It took only a moment for Teaghan to realize that slowly, while she had been deep in her own mind she was being surrounded. She stood as casually as she could, trying to relax so it seemed she was still unaware.

What to do? As far as she could tell, the way to the packhouse was still clear. She should make a run for it, alert the others, but what if it was already cut off?

Thoughts of Reeve's filled her mind and her chest ached. She still hadn't told him her feelings, though she was sure she didn't need to. The bond between them had grown, the small touches they shared turned into long ones that seared into her.

Still, she wanted to say the words aloud. She wanted to complete the bond, tie herself to him for now and always. She wanted to see her sister, Cecily, find her own mate.

Determination filled her, she had no choice. She broke into a run and immediately heard the pounding of paws behind her. Knowing that whoever was watching her was shifted, she called upon her own wolf.

The shift was quick, her honey blond wolf able to move further faster with four feet. She sent a quick warning howl into the air which was cut off when she was tackled.

The air left her in a painful whimper. She shot to her feet and turned to her attacker, her hair standing on end, her tail pointing upward. It was natural for her to try to make herself appear larger and she bared her canines as she growled low warnings.

It was then the three other wolves, all appearing to be male and much larger came out to stand beside the one who'd tackled her. Fear shot through her, but she fought to hide it.

She was alone without back up with four males who were larger than her. She wouldn't be able to take them. It was suicidal to believe she could, so instead, she turned and ran.

Her claws dug into the loose soil as she pushed herself faster. Help, help, she panted as she ran. Praying someone would have heard her warning and come looking.

She could literally feel their closeness and it was obvious she was screwed. She could be taken from behind or she could turn and fight. With a deep ache in her chest, she closed her eyes.

I'm sorry Cecily.. I'm sorry Reeve..

With a growl, she dug her paws in and turned, her mouth open and ready as she lunched at whoever was closest. She was satisfied when her jaws closed around one of the wolves shoulders.

She sunk her canines in and jerked repeatedly, however, she was ripped away no more than a second later. She caught herself before she fell and faced whoever her opponent was now.

Seemed these rogues weren't going to fight fair and she didn't expect them to. Two of the wolves moved forward while the third comforted the one she'd bitten.

She ducked her head, her legs braced as she waited.

Her ears twitched as she heard another couple sets of paws coming from behind her. She almost held her breath as she waited when two large wolves crowded in front of her. One a deep brown, almost black that she recognized as her Alpha and the other was black but had a white sock on his back left paw.

Reeve?

They'd heard her! They were here! Teaghan began to relax when she saw the four rogues tucked tail and ran away. The adrenaline left her and she sagged to the piny floor of the forest. She heard a deep, painful whine and opened her eyes; looking to her left she took in the large black wolf as he nosed just below her ear.

She turned into his caress giving his fur a small lick to assure him she was fine. Then she turned to her Alpha, her head lowering in shame as he stared down at her.

It was her fault they'd gotten so close, her fault that she was too weak to handle it.

Her Alpha gave a loud growl, which was met with her submission then her Alpha did the unthinkable. He went down to his belly and bared his neck to her, in his own form of submission.