"Hey Sweetheart, wake up, we're home."

I slowly peal my eyes open, revealing a grey sky that is readying itself to release some flakes of white. I see the thick pine trees and the familiar aroma of heavy forest air.
Home.

I'm home. The realisation that I am home, the place where I am being stalked, the place where I am being guarded because someone out there wants to hurt me. A heavy weight is set upon me. I feel my chest tightening with pressure.

"Hey." I smile at a soothing, deep and husky voice. My mate.

I turn my head and meet his eyes. Just the sight of him comforts me. Knowing he is with me lifts the weight a little more and makes me stand a little more straighter.

His face brightens as the sides of his kissable mouth widens into a beaming smile. I know he's trying to be positive, trying to be assuring.
"Everything will be okay. We're in this together, so don't stress out."

He leans in and kisses my forehead. I wish I could freeze time at this very moment. This moment where nothing is disturbing us. There is no stalker. There is no danger. There are no risks. There are no threats. It's just him and me. The feel of his lips against my skin, showing me that I have security, stability, comfort, safety, protection and love with this man. Knowing that lips to the skin is a sign of loyalty. 

I wish this moment never ended. Never let reality set in. But unfortunately we can't live in our fantasy. As much as I like to, I need to resolve this problem so than I can make sure that fantasy, that dream, becomes my reality someday.

"I trust you." I whisper.

He nods confidently. With a deep breath, we climb out of the car. Our gaze is met with our Pack Village. All the cottages and facilities. My vision is set upon our house, the pack house.

Worry is eating at me as the thoughts of my missing brother is a constant presence in my mind. He is the only real family I have, besides my father.

I haven't thought much about my father in a while. He isn't really like a father anymore. Ever since my mother died, he's been a shell of the man he once was. He ignored me as if I didn't exist. But he still trained me to be strong. I never finished my training though. I can defend myself from a male wolf, but ultimately, he can still beat me in a fight.
At least my father taught me something.

I ended up calling him Alpha because I didn't consider him a father. He didn't take his role as a dad when I needed him most. That's when my older brother Eddie stepped in. He recognised that I didn't have anyone anymore, and I guess in a way he didn't really have anyone either. So we started to hang out and we ended up having a lot in common. He became my best friend. But Vince and Caroline would always find ways to make my life just a little bit more miserable than it already was, if that's even possible.
So the thought of my father, no, my previous alpha being here, makes me feel a little queesy.

Me and my mate make our way towards the pack house hand in hand. Every step I take closer to the door, knowing whats on the other side, I take a deeper breath. We walk up the stairs to the door. I gulp as Xander opens it. It takes seconds to open a door, but for some reason it felt as if everything was going slow motion. I'm just waiting to see my father's dull eyes, going right through me as if I'm not here. I'm preparing to guard myself around him. To protect myself from being hurt by my own dad.

When the door is fully open, I suck in a breath when my eyes hit the back of the man that was never there for me. He turns around and faces us. He looks older than what I remember him as. The wrinkles around his eyes have deepened. His eyes look like ghosts. No life. It's as if he's the walking dead. 

When his eyes look at me, I feel like I just got shot. I harden my heart to protect myself from his stares. He has no expression. No, Oh baby I'm so sorry! or, Oh Lizzy I'm so happy your safe. None of that. Instead, he looks past me and at my mate. I'm still nothing to him.

He walks to Xander and snarls at him to my shock. SNARLS! right at his face!

I frown at my father's behaviour, " Dad!" I exclaim in shock.

Xander's eyes go black. He doesn't like disrespect. "If you weren't my mate's father, I'd kill you on the spot." He growls.

"Well, good thing I am then."

Xander shoves past him, making my dad stumble. My mate comes to stand next to me and wraps his left arm around my waist.

"Now...What do you want?"

"I want my daughter back. You have manipulated her. You made her think you're her mate. But you're not!"

"And how would you know that?" I speak up.

My father's eyes turn to me, "Because I'm your father, I know these things!"

I scoff, "You haven't been my father ever since my MOTHER DIED!"

He flinches at the mention of his lost mate. "You don't even know me and frankly, I don't even know you. So whats the real reason you're here Nikolai? Why? What do you want honestly?"

He looks me dead in the eye as if he was taking off a mask and says, "I want more land."

His words hit me hard. I knew it. I knew that he wasn't concerned about my safety, but I had a little bit of hope inside that maybe...just maybe...he really wanted to see me, be a father again. But he picked up that last little bit of hope and threw it in the trash.

I felt my eyes sting slightly, but I'm not going to show him how much he really effects me. 

At the corner of my eye I see Xander roll his eyes, "I've had countless Alphas ask me this and I'll say to you what I said to them...No."

Nikolai smirks like a child that knows something that we don't.
"I think you will."

My mate scoffs, "Why do you think that?"

"I heard my little daughter got herself a little stalker?"

How did he know that? I look at Xander as he looks at me with a frown.

"I'm listening." He says.

"I know some information about his whereabouts and some little bits and pieces of other things."

Xander let's go of me and steps away toward my father, causing me to miss his close presence, "What are you proposing Alpha Nikolai?"

"I want more land...and you'll get some information that will help protect your mate."

I roll my eyes. He's faking it, I know it. My father isn't the type of person that finds out information. He's oblivious to everything. "How do you know about my predicament in the first place?" I ask.

His cold eyes strike my own, "You could say that I overheard it."

I tilt my head to the aid slightly, "From who?"

"That information is classified. Now, Xander?"

"Alpha Xander to you." He growls.

Nikolai smiles, "What say you?"

I turn to my mate and touch his arm.
"Don't believe him. He's faking it, I know it! He-"

"Not now, Izzy" Xander commands.

My hand slips from his arms. My felt my chest tighten a bit from his sudden cold words. My brows tied together in confusion. Why was he acting like this?

I turn to my father and see something in his eyes that leaves me unsettled. There's something he isn't telling us.

"Come to my office Alpha Nikolai."
I follow the two men into the office. Before I even walked into the room, Xander turns around. He doesn't even look at me and says, "Why don't you go hang out with Avery?"

I kind of just stand there for a minute, processing Xander's behaviour.
"Ummm, are you sure? I mean, this does kind of concern me doesn't it?"

"Not really." He says bluntly.

I lay my hand on Xander's forehead, "Are you okay Xander?"

He looks at me with an intense stare.
He does this for a while, as if he is trying to figure out how to respond. He releases a big sigh,
"I'm fine. Just go find Avery."

Before I could say anything he shuts the door. IN MY FACE!

What is with him? Why is he acting so...intensely?

I try to brush it off. I think he's just in his alpha mode right?

I go to the kitchen to make myself a peppermint tea. I need something to sooth my nerves a bit. "Hey Lizzy." I turn and face my soon to be sister in law. Zapora. But, she looks different somehow? She's not her crazy bubbly self. Her eyes don't have their spark, they're dull. There are large bags under her eyes. Her skin is pale as if she hasn't been in the sun for a while. Her whole face seem so sunken in like she hasn't eaten at all. 

I climb off of the stool and make my way towards her. I pull her in a hug and whisper in her ear, "What's wrong? You seem down."

Even though she is looking towards the ground, I can still see that her eyes have pooled in tears. Her bottom lip starts to quiver. I hold her shoulders gently. "Zapora?"

She raises her face towards mine. Her whole being looks like it's falling into despair. "I found my mate."

I give her a bright smile, "Really?! Thats wonderful! Congratulations! Who's the lucky guy?"

She is silent for a minute. I see her take a deep breath like she's drawing in strength. "Eddie."

My heart drops. No...no, no, no...please moon goddess no. It can't be! Why does the moon goddess curse good people like this! Poor Zapora. Just when she finds the one she is supposed to spend the rest of her life with...disappears.

"We really connected you know. He followed me to my favorite place and there he...really made me feel...special. I felt so whole, like there was no down side to me anymore. But, he got called into patrols and...didn't come back," she sobs that last three words. She collapses into my arms. I hold her tightly against my chest and stroke her hair as a mother would. I say loving words to her.

 "It's going to be okay. He's tougher than you think he is. Wherever he is right now, he's probably cracking a joke or spitting in the eyes of the devil himself. And now that he has a mate as wonderful as you, he will be working ten times more harder to get back to you. Have faith Zapora." I see Zapora crack a grin. I cup her faces and smile down at her, "There you are." I whisper. 

"Thank you Lizzy." 

"No problem at all. why don't you go meet with Avery, I'm just going to really quickly finish my drink."

"Okay, I'll see you then."

I see Zapora leave out the door. I really do feel for her. I don't even want to think how it would feel if something happened to Xander. That kind of pain is just...unthinkable at this point. 

I walk towards the window and look at ll of nature. The snow is about to set. Soon, it will become so cold that no one will be outside for months. Where are you Eddie? I can't lose you too. I feel my eyes sting slightly. I want, no, need my brother back. He's the only real family I have left.

With a sigh, I take my cup to the sink and rinse it. After I dry it I lift it up into the cabinet. But then I heard a scream. I turn towards the open door. I wait for a bit, until I heard another scream. Avery. 

I drop the cup, letting it smash as I sprint out the door. I run towards the screams and cries. What I see makes my blood boil of fury. 

Lana is in her large wolf-form, pinning both Zapora and Avery on the ground. But, she is digging her claws into Avery, making her shriek in pain. 

I felt my inner Luna wolf growling in my chest. How dare she touch them. My pack. My family. I sprint towards her, I shift into my wolf, which by the way, is bigger than Lana's because I inherited the Luna authority. 

I felt my nostrils flare and my teeth bare into a snarl. I leap into the air and tackle the whore onto the ground. She shoves me off. I quickly turn to the two girls, making sure they're alright. Zapora was helping Avery's bloody form up, but she was very weak. 

I turn to Lana, making sure that I was standing in front of the girls. She's not going to touch them. I felt her penetrating my mind wall.

You think you're strong? You think you're worthy to be his mate? Be the Luna? YOU'RE NOT!

I know I am because if I wasn't, I wouldn't be here right now.

The moon goddess should've chosen me! I deserve to be with him! I am more worthy!

I leap towards her as she does to me. I extend my claws and pin Lana to the ground. Her wolf whimpers under me. I move my face closer to hers as I snarl and growl with fury. I see her trying to move away, but fails as I am pushing her hard into the ground. 

You listen Lana and you listen good. I am the Luna whether you like it or not. And as Luna, I have the power to kick your pathetic excuse of an ass OUT of MY pack. And as for Xander...he doesn't want you because honey, I'm the only one he wants. You were a pathetic little side dish...I'm his main course. And if you go near him or even look at him, I promise I will not hesitate to end you. Now leave this territory before I do just that.

He won't be having you for much longer...Luna

I frown at what she said. What does she mean? I loosened my grip on her slightly, which she take advantage on. She pushes me off of her and takes off into the darkness of the woods 

What does she mean?

Wait a minute. I remember that guy from the mall...he said something about Avery could get hurt. Was Lana a part of the Rogues?

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

(A/N: I was going to stop it here, but I decided to make up for my lost time and give you a little bit of more:) Love you guys and please comment!)

After I see Lana disappear, I turn to the girls. Zapora is holding up Avery. I rush towards them and pull them into a hug. "Are you okay?" I whisper. Both of them nod their heads. "Thank you Lizzy." 

"Please don't. It's kind of my job." I chuckle. 

I help the girls into the infirmary. The nurses got Avery a bed and started to check her for scratches. I waited with her for hours, making sure she was okay. 

After the pack doctor told me that she would be fine, my body sagged in exhaustion. Each step I took to the house felt so heavy, as if there were weights on my ankles. Wow, all of this happened on the first day back. 

When I'm in Xander and I's bedroom, I head straight to the shower. I look at myself in the mirror. My eyes sting from tears. My bottom lip quivers slightly. I close my eyes. I imagine my mother's voice of comfort. If she was alive, I would be crying with my head in her lap and she'd be stroking my hair. Then she would kiss my forehead and whisper, "Everything will be okay Lizzy." 

I open my eyes. It's all in my head. Some people's lives are worse than mine. I need to suck it up. Harden up and move on. I'm a Luna. I need to start acting like one.

I take all of my clothes off slowly. My eye catch's Xander's aftershave. I lift it and take a wiff of it. The smell makes me instantly nauseous. I put my hand over my mouth and turn to the toilet. I vomit out all of the contents of my stomach. I take deep breathes. I feel my whole body going numb, yet I felt this piercing coldness seep into my head and body. I drag myself to the basin and with all my strength I lift myself up into a standing position. I look at myself in the mirror. I am white as a sheet. my lips blend into my pale face. What's wrong with me?

I turn to the hot shower. I just need to get clean an then go to bed. 

I climb into the shower. As soon as the hot water hits my back, I feel all of my muscles relax. Nope, this made it worse. I don't have the strength to keep myself up. I crouch down and hold my knees to my chest and rest my forehead on my knees, letting the hot water trickle all over my body. I don't even wash my hair, I just let the water cleanse me of this horrible day. 

I'm going to be okay. As long as I have Xander and my pack...I'll be okay. I keep talking to myself. Motivating myself to keep going. I lean my back on the shower wall and hold my obsidian necklace. I remember the little boy that gave it to me. My Xander. I remember every word he said and every detail of that moment. He put all of his happiness in this little necklace. I should do the same for him. 

I turn my head and see my jeans on the floor. I crawl to it and grab the pendant in the back pocket. I go back to sitting in the hot shower. I look down at my hands and see it. I hold it over my heart and imagine the thing that makes me happy. I try to think really hard, but there seems to only one thing that made me happy...Xander. 

I think of every happy moment that I had with him. The time he told me he loved me, when he taught me how to dance, when he took me on that holiday in the cabin, when he showed me the glowing forest where me made love, oh yes how could I forget. The first time we made love. I smile hints on my lips as I relive every memory.

 All of these memories, these good good memories they give me something. They give me strength. A strength to move on and keep going. I am determined to have millions of more memories with my Mate in the future. Like when we get married, when we get to hold our first child, when we see our family grow, and when I see Xander slowly have grey hair and wrinkled eyes. Yes...I need to be strong, not only for me, but for Xander and our future. 

I climb out of the shower, but I'm still so weak and pale. I just put my hair up in a messy, wet bun and quickly dry my body. I don't think I even have the strength to put on any clothes. With heavy feet, I drag myself out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. The bed looks so good right now. I am so excited to feel the silk sheets against my skin. I make my way to it and pull the thick, warn comforter and climb in. I snuggle into the pillow and wrap myself in the blanket. I smile at how comfortable I feel right now. The only thing that would have made this even better was if Xander was here to hold me. 

XANDER'S POV:

It's 2:30 AM and I've been sitting at my desk  since Alpha Nikolai and I had our discussion. Izzy's father had left a while ago and I haven't seen my mate for a couple of hours. I know she must be wondering why I acted to cold towards her, but it was for her safety. 

I had the suspicion that her father could be working with the rogues, I knew that he knew that I loved his daughter greatly. He could use that against me. So I acted more of an Alpha towards Izzy than a mate so than Alpha Nikolai may suspect that I'm not all that loving towards her after all. A cover up. 

The hurt I saw in her eyes hit me hard in the chest. At that moment I wanted to explain my thoughts to her, but Had no time. 

Her father's offer was very tempting, but not tempting enough that I would give a part of my land to him. I told him I would consider, but I actually wasn't. I just wanted him to leave my territory without any trouble. 

All I want to do now is go to bed and hold Izzy close to me. I stand up from my chair and stretch. I walk out of my office and lock it. I turn and make my was down the hallway. When I pass the living room, I stop. There's someone here. I growl. They better not touch Izzy. 

I enter the living room and scan the area. The fire place is still blazing, but the window is wide open with the curtains flying around everywhere. I shut them slowly. When I here the windows click shut, I see a shadow standing in front of the fire. I turn around ready to lunge at the intruder, but stop myself when I see who's there...Lana. 

She gives me an attempt of a seductive smile, "Hello Xander." She says.

I growl at her as if she's my enemy, "It's ALPHA XANDER to you." 

She just laughs, "Come on Xander, I think we're more than familiar with each other to drop the formality."

"We're not familiar."

"Really? What about all those late nights we spent together huh? How I screamed your name."

I'm disgusted at myself for even touching someone like her. I can't believe I did that to Izzy. She waited for me. But I didn't and I hate myself for it. But, I feel nothing for her. She is nothing to me, she could get tortured for all I care.

"Do you know what we were doing in all those late nights Lana? We were fucking. That's all. You were nothing but something to scratch an itch. Besides, because you weren't my mate you never really...satisfied me. With Izzy, it's different. It's better. Because I love her and she's my mate when we make love...it's like an explosion. She gives me EVERYTHING. She is my EVERYTHING. There's nothing that you'll do that'll change that."

I see her eyes glaze over as if she was holding back tears. But I don't care.

I make sure to keep the couch between us. Not because to restrain myself from her, but for her own safety. I want to rip her to pieces right now. I feel my wolf wanting to come out and charger her. But I pull him back. 

"What do you want?" I asked.

"You."

I laugh without humor, "Yeah right. I'm a happy mated man. Why would I trade the one person I love most in this world...for someone like you?"

I see a flash of hurt in her eyes before she masks it. "I have something you want." She starts to slowly walk around the couch.

"And what's that?"

"I might as well tell you now what happened. I got into a little, tussle, with your mate this afternoon."

"What do you mean?" I snarl. This woman makes me so angry. She touched my mate in a harmful way. I want to grab her and tear her a part. I breath heavily to try defuse my anger. 

"I am working with the Rogues that are trying to get your mate."

I see red. I charge at her, but she quickly escapes me, "Before you kill me I need to tell you something. Something that may help Elizabeth." 

"What's. That?" I growl. 

I see her flinch in fear. She knows she's not safe from me anymore. 

"I know when they are going to try and take her. And it's soon. You won't survive their attack. He's been planning this for years! He has planned every single detail of this for revenge. But, I am willing to trade you something for this information." 

"And what's that?"

She gives me a smile that makes me feel uneasy. Then she slowly walks towards me seductively. I frown. What is she up to. She comes close to me. Her hands touch my stomach and slowly make their way up my chest. I am shaking right now in anger. I want to rip her hand off me. She smiles up at me, but there's an evil glint in her eye. 

She moves her face closer to me and whispers, "I want you to kiss me."

I snarl with my wolf fangs out, "Like hell I will."

"Fine then...you'll just be risking the safety of your mate."

If I don't do this...Izzy will be in more danger. I need to protect...no matter the cost.

"Fine." The fact that I am agreeing to kiss this woman that is NOT my mate, makes me feel sick. I lean forward towards her lips, but she puts her finger over my mouth, "I want you to kiss me like you mean it. I want you to kiss me like I'm your mate."

"You're asking for too much."

She shrugs, "No information then."

I sigh angrily. I hate her so much, "Fine...but just so you know...after this, I am going to kill you."

"I wouldn't expect nothing less from The Great Blood Moon Alpha." She whispers.