Matthias and I lay in the dark forest together and kissed and talked for a long time. I teased Matthias a bit about his restraint, not that I minded.

"You didn't have to see your father's reaction today when I got the ring from him," he defended.

"What exactly did my father say?" I asked him.

Matthias paused. "It wasn't so much what he said, but what he did not say."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.

"I can't really explain. He's happy, but not so much."

"Yeah, I thought he sounded conflicted," I agreed. "He's probably concerned that I'm not myself."

"Well, you're still under the magic."

I shrugged. "But I'm still myself underneath, Matt. The curse never completely took that away from me, I see that now. It's like how the rocks are still there even when they're covered in snow for the winter."

"I know, Elise. I can see it."

"And when you're with me I feel pretty much normal," I told him.

He pulled me closer and I could feel his lips on the side of my ear and trailing down my neck. I sighed at the pleasurable sensations he sparked inside me. Pleasurable yet nagging, pushing me on.

We started kissing again and finally Matthias let me go. "I just need a minute," he said, pulling back. I smiled at him through the near darkness, even though the curse rushed back in through the gap between us.

I understood where he was coming from though, so I did not complain.

I moment later he pulled me back towards him. "This is harder than I thought it would be," he confessed.

"I thought you'd be used to keeping your hands to yourself by now, Matt," I said.

"Yeah, because I had to."

I looked at him mischievously. I instinctively knew how to rile him up further, but I would rather have him near me to ward off the cold. If the curse broke, I would tease Matthias until he could not stand it. I smiled as the curse bit my neck with its constant vigilance against my enjoyment.

"So, how long are we going to wait?" I asked him. The curse rushed over me again in protest.

He looked directly into my eyes. "I've been waiting for years. I'd marry you tomorrow if you wanted."

"Okay," I agreed.

"Okay?" His clear surprise made me laugh.

"I mean, I guess we'll need to set a date with Pastor Jensen? If we want it to be legal."

"Nick would run me off the territory if it wasn't."

I laughed again. "Well, why don't you just figure out a time and I'll be there?"

"Seriously?"

"Seriously."

"You don't want, I don't know, girly crap?"

I shook my head. "Maybe Moramay would be willing to help with it. It might have been different before, but the only thing I really want is to r-remove the c-c-curse."

"The only thing?" he asked. I heard his uncertainty and I realized how my words must have sounded.

"Matt, I didn't just agree because of it."

He nodded, but I could see he was not entirely convinced.

"I do want you. You're my best friend, but you're more than that. I just looked away because I didn't think it could be, okay? I love you and I want you. Can't you tell?"

He was watching me as if trying to read my mind through my eyes.

"Seriously, Matt. You're my zombie apocalypse plan."

He laughed at that and did not need more encouragement as he claimed my lips again.

After hours of time alone with Matthias, I walked back to the house with my hand intertwined in his.

We kissed at the door and I slipped inside. The curse shrieked and I desperately hoped that I had not disturbed Serge. I carefully shut the door to my room and put on my pyjamas.

I crawled into bed and fell asleep quickly.

The next morning I woke with my typical terror. I peeked out of the covers and stretched myself. I wanted nothing but to keep hiding, but I forced myself to leave the room to get breakfast using my mantra that Karen and Serge would want me to eat.

Serge was in the kitchen when I came out, his mug in his usual spot next to a pile of papers and a bowl. "What do you want?" he asked me.

I did not want to decide, as always. "Cereal?" I suggested, since he already had a bowl.

I would have preferred to attempt to get it myself, but he was already in motion. I obediently sat in my usual spot and picked up the spoon and began to eat.

Before I was half done, Serge was up and cleaning up after himself. "Let me know if you need anything, Elise," he offered.

"Y-yes, S-Serge," I agreed.

He nodded and left.

Once I finished my breakfast I went out for my run in the furrowed track around Serge's home. I usually simply tore through the forest while I was on my own, but today I stopped at the spot where Matthias and I had hung out the previous night. I could still smell traces of our scents where the blanket had been.

I grinned wolfishly. Remembering him made me feel good even as the curse crashed up against the feeling and tried to overwhelm me. How I would feel the moment when we made our vows, or the moment when we finally moved beyond simply?

Although it was only in theory, I was already quite sure that I was going to enjoy what was coming next.

I continued my run and made my way back to the house. What was Serge feeling? Probably rejected, just as I was feeling guilty for refusing him. No doubt he shared my awkwardness.

One thing was for sure, I did not want things to go back to the way they were before when we were both trapped in his house. Maybe I should make an overture. Would that make things worse for him or better?

It would be better if I could easily talk about my feelings and ask him about his, but I doubted the curse would let me. Even through the exhilaration of my run insulated by my wolf fur, I could feel the curse trying to steal my heat.

I pumped my legs harder, the pads of my paws and blunt tips of my claws finding purchase in the mossy ground beneath my feet.

The rhythm was soothing, but eventually I grew tired.

I dressed, returned to the house and prepared for my day.

Sitting in the living room, I went through my usual activities, looking at pictures, journaling, texting out in the living room, hoping Serge would appear so we could make some sort of accord between us.

He did not emerge until lunch time. I forced myself to look over at him as he entered. He met my eyes and looked at bit surprised, probably because I was not hiding in my room. He greeted me and then made his way to the kitchen.

The curse prickled my spine, but I made myself get up. Was this not the reason I had eschewed the comfort of hiding in my room all morning? I tiptoed over to the island counter and sat down at it.

He did not notice right away, but when he did a quick glance showed me he was surprised again. I forced a half smile. "How's work going?" I asked him.

"It's going well," he responded slowly.

I nodded. "Are we going to go to the office tomorrow?" I asked.

He paused. "Are you still willing?"

"Of course," I responded. "I would have asked you if you wanted to run with me this morning, but you were already gone."

"Sorry," he said quickly. Ice ran along my nerves at his words.

I shook my head as if to negate his apology. "No, I think maybe I understand," I said.

He smiled half heartedly.

"Maybe we could be friends?" I managed to push through my constricted throat. The curse protested even more as it pushed its frost through my blood ruthlessly.

"It makes sense to try, since we're stuck together, doesn't it?" he agreed.

"I think so," I said. Forget the curse's desires, I wanted life to be as easy on him and on me as possible.

A short time later, Serge retreated back to his office after we both ate sandwiches and I spent the afternoon hiding in my room. I came out again at supper time and Serge and I ate soup together. Our conversation was awkward and stilted, but we tried.

After supper I followed Serge on a short run around his territory before I went back into my room to hide some more.

My cowering was interrupted by a knock on the door that made my heart pound frantically in my chest.

"Elise?"

"Yes?" I hurried to the door.

"There's another attack," Serge said as I pulled open the door. His tone was grave and my heart pounded in fear. "Grab anything you need, I'll get you to the shelter." His mind was already on the fight ahead.

I nodded. I grabbed my thickest sweatshirt and my phone unthinkingly and rushed as best I could with Serge to the door by reminding myself that my pack needed me to hurry. We hopped into his truck and quickly careened down the road.

Serge whipped his truck into the shelter parking lot. "Sorry, Elise," he said. The curse howled. He wasted no more time as he dashed off into the forest.

A human male started leading me into the shelter, and I felt the exact moment when Serge got too far away. My legs buckled and I hit the ground hard.

My helper picked me up and carried me the rest of the way into the shelter, and I felt the uneven movements as we descended down the stairs. Finally, I was set in my now habitual spot in the corner.

Still, there was one small improvement. I was becoming familiar with the shelter in Serge's territory. Its plain walls and occupants did not make me nearly as uneasy as the first time I had come here. It was a small, cold comfort, but it was a comfort nonetheless.

Besides being the master of my curse, Serge was also something like my friend and I supposed they were my pack now.

Fear flashed through me. I hoped the fight would go well for our forces, that they would all come home safely. Whether they were Serge's, my father's, or Austin's, they were all my people and I wanted to see them safe and free, just as I wanted the same for myself.

I huddled in my chair and tried to control my uneven breathing. I could not help but wonder who was in danger. The fact I could feel the ice of the curse running through me was testament to the fact Serge was still alive, but I did not know about the others. The leaders did not always join into the defense for the other territories unless they were helping cover the schedule, but it was completely possible that either Matthias or Sean or the other members were even now rushing towards danger, or worse, already engaged in battle.

After a long time huddled in my corner, I gradually recalled that I had grabbed my satellite phone as we left. I reached carefully into the pocket of my hoodie and pulled it out, the skin on my trembling hand screaming at the contact.

I held it tightly, glad for the protective casing or I would not have dared to even try in the state I was in. I brought the screen to life and it told me it was about quarter after nine. I punched in my passcode and went into my messages and found my dad's number.

Me: Do you know what's happening?

I grasped the phone tightly in my hand while I waited, feeling the burn of the smooth casing against my palm.

It felt like it took a long time for him to respond.

Dad: Reinforcements are on their way.

Me: Who's coming?

Dad: Sean was off tonight, but he volunteered to lead the second wave. Derrick is leading the first

Would I be happier not knowing?  Still, I pressed him for more information.

Me: Who's in the first, dad? I want to know and I'm only imagining the worst

My mind whirled as I read the names my dad sent. Many caused me real organic fear.

Todd was a year younger than Matthias and I, but our school was so small he had been in our class most years while we were growing up. He could be quite silly when the mood struck him, but he had always been a loyal friend. He had the same training as the rest of the warriors, but I still worried about him because he had always seemed a bit too soft to defend himself in battle. I swallowed.

Then there were Dave and Terrence. I playfully mocked my brother's best friends, but I cared about them almost like brothers. I worried for Sean if something happened to either one of them.

And Ernie, Matthias's ridiculous cousin and my irritating flirty friend. He was our age so he had always been in our class. He was not my favourite, but I still cared.

And so many others.

I was afraid. A second wave of reinforcements, something I could not remember any territory ever sending before, besides when the attack was on their own land.

Me: What about Matt?

There was no immediate response and my heart caught in my throat.

I tried another query.

Me: Is Austin also sending a second wave?

Before I got an answer to either question, I was surprised by a familiar voice whispering my name softly, as if I would break if he spoke louder.

"Matt?" I said, glancing at him.

"Hey, Elise."

"I'm surprised you're not fighting," I whispered.

He shrugged. "I could have joined the second wave, but I came here to help the secondary defense instead."

Matthias would have liked to be out attacking the enemy, but he had come here to me instead. It was selfish, but I felt so much relief at his presence I could not argue. I still worried for the others, but at least I knew he was safe.

"You're shaking," he commented.

"It's always like this when he's away," I told him, my voice a quivering mess.

A dark expression cross his handsome features, but then he shook his head.

Before I knew what he was doing, he lifted from my chair and sat down, moving me onto his lap. I nestled into his heat, and it was at least better than it usually was when Serge was far away.

Somehow, I escaped into an uneasy shallow slumber.