I woke up feeling sore yet blissful.

Both men were resting next to me in their werewolf form, and it provided much needed warmth.

I smiled and snuggled, almost forgetting the events that took place yesterday. I then sighed and sat up, slowly making my way outside where there were trees and sky for miles. I almost gasped.

The sun shined down on them between the passing clouds, almost making the scenery look like and illusion.

I didn't have a view like that back at home.

'Back home...'

I sighed and reminded myself that he wanted me gone.

He literally told the old councilor to do what he wished.

'I guess we really didn't have that special bond,' I thought sadly.

Someone gently placed their hand on my shoulder, and I turned to see Connor looking at me worriedly. I couldn't help but smile and say, "Emotion? On your face? Odd." He rolled his eyes and said, "I do feel, Lyra. Don't ever doubt that."

He kissed my neck, causing me to shiver.

For a moment he went quiet. He then said, "I'm sorry for hitting you yesterday... I just... I was angry at your brother, and I took it out on you. You really do resemble him a lot."

I looked at him in surprise. "Thank you... I guess... But why?"

"Because he didn't try to defend you at all. He turned his back. Xain is my brother, and he's done some really bad things... But I'd never turn on him. To be honest, love, if Mathew wasn't willing to defend you back there, then he doesn't deserve you in general."

I looked down before saying, "Even so... I still love him... And I still feel terrible."

He rubbed my shoulder in sympathy and said, "It'll be alright Lyra. Just know that we'd never turn our backs on you."

He caressed my cheek and I smiled softly, pressing my hand against his. It felt so natural for him to hold me.

"Am I interrupting something?"

I turned to find a tired Xain standing there. He waved and smiled tiredly. I blushed and waved back. He then yawned and said, "So, I was thinking we could grab a little breakfast before we head out." "Not yet," Connor said, "We're still too close to the village for my liking. Let's get a good distance before we decide to kill anything."

My stomach turned.

'I really hope I don't have to eat raw meat...'

Xain caught my look and laughed at me. "Relax," he said, "I like my meat cooked, not raw. Most of the time."

I giggled before looking down at my dirtied dress, sighing softly. "I wish I could've at least picked up some clothes."

Connor said, "Don't worry about that right now. We'll get you in something more comfortable. For now, we need to pack. Xain? We'll have to leave the hide."

Xain groaned and said, "That was my favorite part about the cave!!"

"It has to be done."

"I put work into making that damned rug; we are not leaving it."

"Ah shush, shush!!" I suddenly had an idea; a good one at that. They both looked at me, confused for the most part. I smiled shyly and said, "I know what I can do to get clothes and save the rug. Well, part of it. Do either of you have thread and a needle?"

Connor said, "I do. Why?"

"Because I'm going to make me an outfit with the rug and my dress."

Xain said, "No way, you're not ripping my rug up!"

I smiled softly and said, "Or we could just go on with me complaining about what I'm wearing and burn the whole rug. Your choice."

Xain took only a moment to respond. "Get her the damned thread and needle."

Connor made the slightest of chuckles and walked back into the cave. Xain walked up to me and said, "You better be glad I love you." I blushed furiously at him saying this, and he chuckled, kissing me softly and saying, "And you better get used to me saying that too..."

I inhaled his scent and almost lost it.

I was starting to realize that being around him and Connor would be dangerous, and not because they were werewolves.

Connor came back and handed me his sewing kit, saying, "Don't take long."

I nodded and smiled at both of them, saying, "Don't worry, I won't."

~

"You know, that doesn't look half bad," Xain said, winking at me. I blushed softly and said, "You're flattering me when it's not needed. My mom just taught me well when I was younger."

Xain chuckled and checked out my outfit once more.

I had ripped parts of my dress up, as well as the hide, and sewn them together. I was wearing a long-sleeved shirt and a movable layered skirt that stopped at my knees. The skirt was layered with both a part of my dress and the hide and stopped at my knees, and most of my shirt was made from the same, except most of the sleeves on my arm were just the sleeves from my dress.

My feet were bare at first, but Connor gave me a pair of white flats that he was barely able to sneak out of my house.

The outfit, although a little off, was warm and comfortable, and based on how the boys looked at me, it didn't look too bad on me.

We burned the rest of my dress and hide, and both men shifted before my eyes once more.

It was still amazing to watch them shift like that.

Connor gently rubbed the top of my head before lifting me up.

'You'll be on my back for awhile, human.' I poked his nose and said, "Lyra. And don't forget it."

'We'll see,' he replied, putting me in position to where I could get on his back. I swore I heard Xain laugh. I clung onto Connor as he took off. I glanced to my right and saw that Xain was holding the satchels and duffel bag, keeping up with us.

I closed my eyes and gently rubbed Connor's fur as he ran, trying my best not to fall asleep.

But I eventually passed out, clinging to Connor's soft warmth.

~

"Hey sleepy head, it's time to get up."

I opened my eyes and found Xain and Connor looking down at me.

I blushed and sat up, rubbing my eyes and asking, "Where are we?"

"A ways," Connor replied, "and we know where to go hunt for something. Can we trust you to start a fire for us?" I smiled and said, "Of course." Xain looked at Connor before looking at me and saying, "You might need this as well."

I looked at him in confusion only to find out that he was handing me a knife.

My brother's knife.

I looked at them and asked, "Why are you giving this to me?" "You had it on you yesterday," Connor said, "And seeing that it was the only weapon you had, we couldn't just toss it. Whether you like it or not, you're going to need to learn how to protect yourself."

I shivered and took the knife, looking up at them. Xain grinned and said, "If something tries to pounce on you, aim for its neck. If it's a snake, dodge and throw rocks at it. It should keep moving along if you don't bother it though. We won't be far."

I nodded softly, feeling a bit scared. I didn't know how to fight at all, let alone defend myself.

Connor said, "We won't be long. Just stay quiet and make a fire. All we ask."

I nodded and gripped the knife, watching as they shifted and took off into the woods. I then looked around the area. It was flat, and clear of trees. However, trees surrounded me, so if something came at me, I couldn't know which way it would be coming from.

I shivered and ignored the facts, placing the knife in a little pocket I made in my shirt.

I then proceeded to pick up small twigs and sticks for wood.

I eventually got enough wood piled up, and looked for the right rocks to make a spark.

I sat near the wood for a good minute trying to get a fire started, but I just couldn't make a spark. I finally got irritated enough to pull out my knife and try scraping it against the rock. It made a few sparks and let a few of the twigs on fire. I then lit up a few other twigs around the pile.

It wasn't long until I had a full fire going.

I smiled and sat myself on their duffel bag, waiting for their return. My stomach growled, but it didn't bother me.

For the first hour, at least.

As the second hour passed on, I started to worry. They hadn't returned yet, and the sun was slowly falling. It was past lunch at this point, but I didn't bother. I was too worried about my wolves. 'My wolves...' I blushed at the possessive usage of the words but didn't linger on it.

Finally, I got up and decided to look for them. Where to walk first; I didn't know.

But their absence was making me uncomfortable.

'Not three days in and I already need them this bad... Just yesterday I was angry with them. Connor was right. The imprint really is real.'

I gripped my knife and finally chose to walk west.

I wasn't planning on walking far; at least until the fire was out of view.

Something caused a branch to crack, and I turned, holding my tongue. I didn't see anything, but that didn't mean that nothing was there. I braced myself and gripped my knife tight. At first, I didn't hear anything. However, branches started moving and cracking before me.

I whimpered and did my best to ready myself, but I wasn't prepared for what popped out.

It was a man. A young man.

He had a shotgun in his hand, and I knew that if I tried to fight him, it would be a lose-lose situation.

I quickly dropped my knife and took a step back. He didn't know what to make of me. However, his surprised face turned into a snarl. He demanded, "Are you one of them?"

"One of what?" I asked.

"One of them. A werewolf," He replied, aiming his gun at me. I blinked for a moment before saying, "No, I'm not. If I were, do you really think I would have bothered dropping the knife? I'm just a girl." "Oh," he replied, lowering his gun.

I started getting nervous. 'Why would he ask if I was a werewolf?'

I smiled shyly and asked, "S-So, any reason for asking?"

He looked left and right, his long blonde hair swaying slightly. He then looked at me and smiled wide, saying, "We caught two. My family and I. We saw 'em near a river and knocked them out. We have 'em chained in silver so they don't get away. Wanna come see?"

I felt my pulse go cold. I nodded and said, "Yes, I'd like to."

He smiled before frowning and saying, "Wait, are you by yourself?"

I didn't know how to answer that, but I had to fast.

"I... Well, for now I'm alone. I was supposed to meet up with someone but they're not there yet. Give me just a moment." I turned and quickly went back up to where Xain and Connor's luggage was, and I placed leaves and dirt all over it, putting out the fire in the process.

I looked at it and it seemed convincing. I used water from a nearby puddle to clean off my hands and quickly ran back downhill.

The boy looked at me and said, "You look kinda scared. But don't worry. If they try to lash out an get loose, I'll protect ya."

I smiled softly and said, "I'm not scared." He grinned and said, "My kinda girl. C'mon."

He turned and walked down a trail, and I followed, knife in my pocket.

I was wary of the boy, but he was the only clue I had to finding them was him.

And I had to take chances.

~

Vote, Comment, Share, do whatever you feel like doing. Do none, I don't even care. Just enjoy yourself while reading this. ^ ^

~ Nimo