11 comments/ 17196 views/ 34 favorites Visions Unveiled Ch. 00 By: IrishBelle *Author's Note: This is my first attempt at this type of story, as well as my first posting in quite a long time.* Prologue Shane Kellen was completely frustrated. He had been at the desk in his study for hours trying to reconcile a business ledger that just wouldn't balance. As Alpha of his pack it was his responsibility to ensure his extended family was always protected and provided for and a large part of that was ensuring the businesses he ran remained profitable. Dropping his pencil he consulted the clock on the desk and realized that hours had passed since he entered the study earlier in the day. With a sigh he rose from his chair and stretched his large frame. He took a deep breath and turned to the window noticing for the first time that snow had began to fall. The winter storm called to the beast inside, tempting him to lift the window. Shane wanted nothing more than let his wolf free, to leap and bound through the snowy banks. This weather both calmed and grounded him, reminding of nature, it made him feel whole. At full height he was just over six feet tall, and while there were taller Weres out there, even within his own pack, none within miles came close to matching his strength and speed. He was a warrior born to a pack of Irish descent, and had been breathing on this Earth for nearly three hundred years. He had the fair complexion of his people, along with hair that was the deepest, richest brown possible. His eyes also were a deep brown, except when in Were form that they became a molten gold. He was not only large and powerful, but fiercely intelligent. He was the first born male to the Alpha couple before him, as by birthright he ruled his pack, but his keen intelligence and sense of fairness ensured that he was also deeply respected as well. It was the desperate knock on his front door which broke his revelry. Part of him wanted to ignore the insistent banging, but he somehow sensed that whatever was outside his home could not be left to wait. With a sigh Shane left the warmth of his study heading towards the front door. In the hall he encountered Logan, his most trusted Beta who was already moving to answer the door. Holding up a hand he gestured to his closest friend that he would see to whoever was knocking so urgently. Nodding his head in a slight bow towards his Alpha, Logan returned to his own responsibilities, which were also many. The biting cold wind was the first thing Shane noticed when he opened the door. His eyes closed reflexively against the wind and when he blinked them open again he finally saw who was so desperate to see him. "Gregor?" he said as he wrenched the door fully open and extended his hand to assist the man who was also supporting his heavily pregnant wife. "Why in the world are you both out in this storm? Is there trouble at the cottage?" he snapped off, concern for the humans at his door laced in his voice. Gregor and his wife, Ilsa, lived in a small cottage just on the other side of the forest from Shane's territory. Gregor was an expert in languages and had assisted Shane multiple times throughout the years in dealings both relating to business and more personal pack matters. As the years passed they developed an accord that now leaned towards friendship. Yes, they were humans, many of which did not know of the Were existence at all, but Gregor and his wife were special humans, and Shane counted the couple among those under his fierce protection. It was the petite Ilsa who spoke first, "Alpha! Please you must listen." Shane had already escorted the couple into his foyer and secured the door. When he turned back to them he noticed Ilsa was barely able to stand, despite the support of her strong husband. Shane knew the storm had them both drained and he shook his head as he placed his hand behind Ilsa's back and glared at Gregor. "Why did you not call for me? I could have been to the cottage within minutes. How long were you out there?" he asked, noting the couple was near freezing. "Ilsa insisted we come to you," Gregor answered, "She said there was no other way." Instantly, Shane was on full alert. "A premonition?" he asked reluctantly while looking towards Gregor. A large part of what made the couple so special was the visions Ilsa had. Shane was not certain he believed in prophets, but he had seen with his own eyes in the past years as the slight female before him predicted a viscous flood, a war among her own people and the recovery of fortune believed to be lost by a family in the nearest town. Ilsa's visions were not always bleak, and Shane wondered what was so important today. He frowned realizing he had not seen Ilsa in many months, even though he saw Gregor on a regular basis regarding the translation of a certain text in his library. Before another word could be spoken Ilsa stumbled again. Uttering a muffled curse, Shane easily lifted her into his arms and carried her into his study, settling her down on the couch in front of the fire which was blazing there. Before he pulled away fully from her, Shane caught her scent and froze in disbelief. His Were senses allowed him to detect things which humans could not, and his deep brown eyes briefly flashed gold as he inhaled deeply once more. The cloying scent of sickness was undeniable and he knew without needing any type of healer to tell him that the cancer was beyond advanced. Shane lifted his concerned eyes to Gregor who simply nodded at him, confirming that it was true. This, Shane realized, was why she had been homebound, deathly ill whilst carrying her first child. Shane shook his head in disgust at how cruel the human God could be. His focus changed yet again as Ilsa grabbed his forearm tightly, "Alpha, beware." Shane nodded silently and kneeled before her as Gregor took his place beside her on the couch. All of Ilsa's premonitions began this way. Once he regained his voice Shane placed his hand over hers, "Of course, Ilsa. What have you come to share?" Quickly he blinked his eyes, hoping this would not be the last vision she ever shared with him. Shane watched as her remarkable silver eyes glazed over for a moment, knowing Ilsa was seeing what only she could. When her eyes cleared again she smiled gently at him. "She will come to you on a night that is neither dark nor light." He barely dared to whisper, not wanting to break her concentration. "Who will?" Instead of answering his question she simply smiled once more. "You must help her. Try not to be angry for all the time lost. There is reason and there is life. Remember to be patient. And forgive those that kept her from you, for there was no other way." Shane desperately searched her eyes, trying to keep up with the vague picture she was painting. Feeling at a loss he could only ask again "Who again? How will I know?" He glanced at Gregor hoping for help, but he knew this was the first Gregor was hearing of it as well. Helplessly Gregor shrugged, more concerned for his wife's health than what she was saying at all. "Promise me!" Ilsa went on, he tone now demanding. "Promise me you will. That you will help her." Without even thinking Shane nodded his ascent. He could no more deny the pull of the moon than the enchanting human before him. Listening to her pleading he realized he would grant her anything she wished. "I swear it," he vowed. At his declaration Ilsa threw her arms around his neck and sobbed. As gently as he could, he embraced her, unable to escape the scent of death which lurked just under her skin. As he breathed her in he suddenly became aware of a new scent which rocked him to his core. Unlike the scent of disease, this scent was fresh and vibrant. It reminded him of the smell of the air during a pleasant rainfall. For one brief moment his heart stuttered and leapt with a joy he could not explain. As quickly as it came upon him, the feeling and scent were wrenched away, only to be replaced by the black scent of impending death. In the next moments, Ilsa was rising to her feet, expressing her wish to return home. Shane shook his head, "Absolutely not, you will both rest the night here. When the storm ends and the path to the cottage is clear I will escort you both back then." Quickly he arranged for a guest room to be prepared for his friends. Once the suite was ready he watched as Gregor assisted Ilsa up the stairs to rest for the night. As he watched them go, Shane replayed her words over and over in his mind while recalling the mysterious scent of rainfall. Never had a premonition of hers affected him so deeply. As he heard the door to the guest suite close he sighed heavily, sending a prayer to what he believed was his more forgiving Goddess that Ilsa would have a peaceful rest. Sadly, he had no way of knowing that before the night was over the precious human would be dead. Visions Unveiled Ch. 01 1. Thirty-two years later. He was awake, but he didn't want to move. Hell, he didn't even want to open his eyes ... or even breathe for that matter. Without the need of a clock or window Shane knew the sun hadn't even started to rise, but awake he was. In a pathetic display that would have shocked many who saw it, he buried his head under his pillow and tried to shun reality for another few moments. Every day began this way: with grief. For the last thirty-plus years, each time he awoke he was instantly reminded that part of his soul was missing. What hurt more was that the thing he needed most had been ripped from him so suddenly, he didn't even have time to realize what it was he lost before it was gone. Part of him, a very dark part, wished for an end to that pain. That he could cease to exist as well. But as he roused further, that part of him succumbed to the other realities of his life. It was swallowed whole by the dominant side of his psyche that saw reason, and knew he must go on. He still lived, whether he felt it was a whole existence or not was not the point. There was still a pack to run, and he poured every ounce of his remaining soul into its success. It was only in this brief moment at the start of each day that he allowed the darkness to engulf him. He even welcomed it most days, for he and his wolf both agreed he deserved the punishment. So at the beginning of every single day he mourned the loss he couldn't escape. Then he shook it off and attacked the day with such determination, that no one could possibly ever guess he was tortured so. Well almost no one that was. He was already casting off the bedcovers when the soft knock sounded at his door. While he instantly knew who was there he scented deeply anyway, his wolf giving an annoyed chuff in his mind. The man agreed. He crossed the room and pulled open the door. "Go away, Erin," he said automatically. His greeting held no heat though, and he contradicted himself by opening his arms so she could step into them. She too was still in her nightclothes, having left the warmth of her bed to offer her comfort as he exited his. "You're hurting," were the only words his sister spoke as she held onto him with all her strength. Shane sighed, hating that she suffered with him. Erin, his youngest sibling, was empathic. Whenever a loved one experienced a strong emotion, she felt it as if it were her very own. She tolerated most well, except that the deeper the emotion, the more violently it pulled at her defenses. Shane despised that because of him, Erin was forced to begin all of her days in nearly as much pain as his own. "No more than any other day," he admitted to her -- if only because to deny it would be pointless. She shook her head as she backed away from him, the tears spilling down her pretty face. While Erin was a formidable wolf with much strength bestowed from her Alpha lineage, she was still the most sensitive Kellen, and unlike him, she could not fend off the tears he was able to overcome each day. "Today it feels worse, like I can hardly breathe. Why?" Without speaking Shane turned and went to the nearest window, pulling back the dark curtains to reveal the span of the large backyard and the beginning of his forest beyond. The sky had begun to turn grey by now, and he felt his sister approach as he surveyed his land. There were no leaves on the trees, save the pines. The grass was the palest of greens, and appeared matted to the faded earth. Dismal did not begin to describe the landscape before them. Taking a shaky breath, Shane finally spoke. "Today starts February." Erin nodded in understanding. While the shortest month, it remained the darkest, the coldest by far. In every way. Or at least it had for the last 32 years. It was just two days away; the anniversary of the worst thing ever. The entire pack reeled each winter as their Alpha relived a tragedy that nearly broke him over a quarter of century before. This year would be especially worse, for this year the month would pass without a full moon. Meaning that there would be no celebratory run under the brightest moon of the calendar, and therefore no relief from the turmoil. At least not until March. Erin suddenly felt a release inside her heart like a rubber band had just been snapped. That's how it was, the moment when his wolf lurched forward and had enough of the sentimental bereavement. It had gone on far too long this morning for the wolf's liking and he was done with it. Erin was relieved, she already felt the pain lessen, and the pull towards matters at hand. "Orders?" she asked, a businesslike tone entering voice which was not there a minute earlier. The Alpha nodded quickly. "You know what is needed of you. Make certain the kitchen is running well and supplies are at hand for the next two weeks. Be sure the pantry and medical center are both fully stocked." His eyes turned to the sky and he nodded again, silently agreeing to what the wolf was telling him. "A storm approaches, I don't want anyone leaving for anything once it hits. The roads will not be passable for a time afterwards." Erin regarded her brother as he gave his forecast. He was no seer, but centuries of life had taught him the rhythms of the winters, and she didn't doubt his warning for a moment. "A blizzard?" Shaking his head, Shane turned from the window and headed towards his en-suite to shower. "No. It will be ice. First rain, then sleet. After that the freezing will begin." He paused for a moment and turned back to regard her rumpled bedclothes and the dark circles below her eyes. She had hardly slept, it was clear to see. Stepping back to her, he studied her further while tucking a strand of dark red hair behind her ear. She was a brave wolf there was no doubt, but he could see her fatigue, and cursed himself again as the month was only just beginning. He quickly reorganized his priorities for her. "Before all else check in with Logan, see if he needs anything as well. But don't take all morning about it, I don't feel like hunting either of you down for a second time this week." Erin smiled at his light teasing as she made her way from his rooms, clearly knowing she was dismissed. It always lightened her heart once Shane's despair fully dissipated. She hurried down the stairs to the second story hall and entered her room, sliding under the covers and instantly back into the waiting embrace of her mate. In a way she felt guilty by returning to bed after the day had already began. Even so, she smiled to herself as sleep now came easily, knowing she was merely following her Alpha's orders. * * * Later that day found Shane dressed in a suit behind the desk of his downtown office. While he preferred to be outdoors, certain obligations forced him from time to time to make an appearance in the proper business world. Today was one of those days as he was scheduled to sit in on a board meeting. He was making final preparations before heading out when his secretary hesitantly knocked on his open door. He was busy signing a check so he didn't bother to look up. Instead he greeted her the same as always, polite but firm. "You may enter, Marie." Regardless of the many times Shane told her she had freedom to interrupt him, she always awaited his invitation to enter. Marie served as the Alpha's secretary to his father before him, a post she took very seriously. "Apologies, Sir. This visitor has no appointment, and would not allow me the courtesy of announcing his arrival." The disdain in her voice had Shane looking up immediately. Marie was always professional and more than efficient at her job. Yet her tone signaled to him her intense dislike for the individual who was quickly headed into his office behind her. Shane resisted rolling his eyes as Justin saw himself into the Alpha's office. "Shall I close the door?" Marie asked before heading back to her front reception area. Shane shook his head. "No, Marie that will not be necessary, thank you." With a curt nod she was gone, and Shane hardened his eyes as he turned them onto Justin. "Your timing is not good. You should have made an appointment if you wanted to meet with me today." "And since when does a wolf need to schedule time to visit with family? Have you forgotten me completely, cousin?" The arrogance in Justin's voice was already setting Shane on edge. He stifled down a growl because he didn't want Justin to think he had ruffled his coat, so to speak. "I could hardly forget, seeing as your remind me weekly. What brings you today? Something new or perhaps the same old tired subject? Cousin." At the final word, Shane allowed a bit of venom to enter his voice. Despite Justin's words, there was no love lost between the two wolves. Justin spread his palms in a gesture that should have implied innocent intent, but Shane was not fooled. "I merely am concerned for the future of our great pack, surely you can understand that." "I see," Shane replied, not bothering to mask the sarcasm this time. "Which is why you continually insist that I resign? Simply because you are concerned for the pack, nothing more?" Justin nodded, "Some would argue you are no longer fit." Shane couldn't resist the smirk from crossing his lips. "And I imagine some would also argue that just speaking such words would give me grounds to remove your throat for you. Historically, other Alphas have executed some of their pack for far lesser offenses." Justin shook his head, "You would never. This is just one of the reasons why you need to stand down. I am not alone in this." Shane raked his eyes over his mostly empty office, making his next point obvious before he even spoke. "Yet you present this case to me on your own. Where are they? The others who agree that I am unfit? Your fellow traitors." "They will show themselves, when the time is more ... suitable." Shane leaned back in his chair; the calm exterior he presented was only a front. Justin would have to be completely stupid if he believed that the Alpha was anything but a breath away from launching himself over his desk. Still, Shane spoke in a measured tone, giving none of his rage away. "You know the law as well as I. Should you, or any of your ... followers crave the title of Alpha, simply challenge me and be done with it. I will gladly accept, and then we can be done with this foolish game." Justin shrugged, "So you would best any challenger. Just because you are the most lethal, does not make you fit to provide in all other ways." At this, the growl did erupt from the Alpha's throat, but for now it was just a quiet warning. In a show of complete disrespect and idiocy, Justin ignored it as he continued, "Strength alone does not an Alpha make." Shane leaned forward, his sharp eyes piercing into Justin's, "Tread lightly, for if I hear what I think you are about to say, I will be most unpleased." Justin laughed bitterly. "There are those of us who care not what you want to hear. The truth of the matter remains. You have not provided. The pack has grown stagnant, and our numbers have not increased in years. The blame for this is yours, I demand you acknowledge that." Justin took a step towards the desk as he finished his small speech and it was a mistake. Shane's wolf was howling inside of him to get out, to throttle any who dared doubt his place as Alpha male. He interpreted the smaller wolf's step towards him as one of aggression and responded in kind. He swiftly rose to his feet and leaned over his desk, placing his palms flat on the surface. This brought him to eye level with Justin and the growl he issued was nothing short of terrifying. When he finally spoke again he did so in a voice that was so low, Justin struggled to hear the exact words. "I will only acknowledge that you are a disgrace to this pack. If you even think of repeating what you just said to me again, I vow it will be the last time you speak at all." Despite Justin's show of bravado, the weaker wolf inside of him cowered at the Alpha's displeasure and rage. He knew he should submit, that this was a death wish, but the human part of him wouldn't back down. He managed another evil smile, "That reminds me, of your promises. Your vows. Is that what keeps you here? Waiting day-in and day-out for the damsel in distress to appear? So that you can rescue her, and fill your promise made to a sniveling human, thirty years now in her grave?" Jealousy and hate emboldened Justin enough to continue on, "You realize that there never was any prophecy, don't you? You have been waiting year after year for someone who will never appear. The human was already at death's door when she had that so-called premonition. It was probably nothing more than a hallucination brought on by disease and fever. The sooner you accept that and remove yourself from power, the sooner this pack can begin to thrive again!" Shane finally snapped. His suit had been slowly tightening on his body as he trembled, keeping the wolf at bay. Now, seams split as he barely managed to keep from shifting. He reached out and violently grabbed Justin by the shirt, hauling his body halfway over his desk, leaving his legs dangling off balance. Shane's chest heaved as his eyes flashed gold. His claws lengthened own their own accord, causing spots of Justin's blood to begin seeping through his shirt. Instead of taking Justin's head, Shane pressed his arms forward with great speed and released him, sending Justin flying into the wall opposite his desk with such force that part of the wall crushed in and a painting nearby fell to the carpet. He then stalked towards Justin's fallen body and leaned over his prone position on the floor. When he spoke, it was again, the eerily calm tone he used just minutes before. "You are still alive right now, only because you are my aunt's son, and it would break her heart that I put you down. Because I protect what is mine, I will not cause her that pain. But that is where my obligation ends. You are no longer welcome on my lands. By nightfall I want you clear of all that is mine." Justin could barely believe what he was hearing. He was in pain but still managed to drag himself upright, knowing somehow, the larger wolf had only thrown him with a fraction of force he was capable of. "You cannot cast me out!" Shane had already turned his back, forcing his wolf to resist the urge to kill the male behind him. "It is done. Now get out." Taking another deep breath to regain his composure, he managed to fully turn away and exit his office and cross through the lobby where a small sitting area and Marie's desk were located. Shane placed one hand on the wall and leaned against it while he continued to take deep, calming breathes. He was vaguely aware of the sounds of Justin's departure behind him, and some minutes later her sensed Marie's approach. "Is he right?" Shane asked her suddenly, "Have I failed them?" Marie carried a garment bag containing a fresh pressed spare suit for Shane to change into. She carefully draped the bag over the back of the sofa closest to him. "Failed who?" she asked. "The pack. All of you." After a time he added, "My father." Shame began to creep into his voice and Marie knew she was one of the few people he would ever allow see him so vulnerable. It tore at her heart, but right now he didn't need comfort, he needed to see reason. "Shane Kellen, you bite your Irish tongue this instant. Alpha or not, I'll smack sense into you if it's my last, I swear it." Shane couldn't resist a brief smile in response to her slight scolding. Marie was well over a two hundred years his senior, and she often didn't let him forget it. "Still," he said, frowning once more, "It is true what he said. Maybe it is time for me to let Erin and Logan take over." He still hadn't made eye contact with her and Marie was concerned despite her earlier jibe. She touched his shoulder until he raised his eyes to her. "Should you ever fall, the grace of Luna will guide Erin and Logan to rise and continue the legacy your father has left to you, but not one moment before it is their time. This is still your time, Shane, and I believe it will be so for many, many more years to come." Shane still had his doubts. He hated to admit it, but Justin was right in one respect. He sighed as he looked at Marie, who was so much more than a clerical assistant. She offered him the soundest council whenever he needed it, and today he did. "But the numbers, Marie." Marie squeezed his shoulder, "The numbers be damned, lad." She softened her tone further as she went on, "Your mate died in your arms. Her first breath was also to be her last. What an unkind fate Luna has given to you, and yet here you still stand. Healthy, sane and strong. I know not another wolf, let alone Alpha who could have survived such a devastating loss. I must believe there is a reason for that miracle alone. You amaze me each and every day, Alpha Shane Kellen. When your time to lead is over, it will end. Until then, don't you dare dream of walking away from your pack. Because that, lad, is the only way you could ever fail us. Understand?" Shane took a deep breath and nodded, relief flooding him as Marie's words registered true in his mind. He shook it off, knowing it was the curse that was February making him behave so out of character. For a brief moment he almost regretted being so harsh with Justin, but his wolf was certain that he'd done the right thing, and Shane trusted his wolf without hesitation. "Thank you, I know you are right," he said to Marie as he picked up the clothes she had brought out for him, and returned to his office to change. When he was out of earshot Marie raised her eyes to the ceiling and said in barely a whisper, "For your sake, I hope that I am." * * * "Mercy child! Are you trying to drive yourself blind, reading for hours on end with next to no light?" Faline briefly raised her eyes as Sophie entered the front of the shop from the back room. Sophie spoke with a slight French accent, except when she was very upset or excited, then the French lilt completely took over her dialect. Now proved to be one of those times. "I can see just fine without running up the electricity," Faline said from the high, backless chair she perched on near the register. From here, she clearly heard the sound of disparagement Sophie made as she bustled by, flipping on the banker's lamp as she passed. Sophie opened the front door of the shop and looked up and down the sidewalk, confirming there were no customers about this late in the day. Once she was satisfied the lane was deserted she stepped back in and locked the door, then flipped the sign to indicate the shop was no longer open for business. "Temperature's falling fast," Sophie commented as she turned back to regard Faline, who had already returned her eyes to the text before her. "Now," Sophie said as she placed her hand gently on Faline's cheek, drawing her attention from the book once more, "Utilities are for me to worry about, my little bichette, not for you." Hearing the French knick-name Sophie had given her as a child instantly warmed her heart and Faline couldn't help but smile at the endearment. My little doe. Still, she shook her head at the woman who had been so kind to take her in so many years before. "You have enough to worry about as it is, without me adding to it." Closing the book before her, Faline looked back at Sophie, "Would you like to me to count the till?" Sophie nodded before moving to the front windows to draw the blinds. "Yes, thank you. Shouldn't take you long, with what little sales there were for the day." Finished with the windows, Sophie started for the back of the shop where there was a staircase that led to the apartment they called home. "When you're done, don't dawdle with your books, I have a stew on, and it will be ready shortly." Visions Unveiled Ch. 01 The moment Sophie was clear of the lower level, Faline reached out and switched the lamp off again. She then made fast work of balancing the cash drawer. She carefully wrote out the deposit ticket for tomorrow's banking and locked the envelope in the small safe below the counter. Sophie's store sold books, but not just any books. There were no best sellers or trendy self-help titles on these shelves. The selections ran more towards the occult and mysterious. The regular customers could be classified as Goth-like teenaged girls and middle-aged spinster women, both groups very serious about their interests. Sophie's shop also sold, in addition to her special books -- many of which were one-of-a-kind prints, a selection of unique crystals, rare scented healing oils and herbal teas. A kettle for the latter was almost always brewing, which Sophie was happy to offer a cup to any and all that brightened her door. Once she was finished with her closing tasks, Faline took a few moments to straighten the bookshelves. She smiled to herself as she heard Sophie calling from above that their dinner was ready. With a sigh, Faline headed back to the sales counter to retrieve the book she was reading earlier. It wasn't just any book; this small, worn volume was also her prized possession. It had been with her for as long as she could remember. Back when it was just her, bouncing around from orphanage to orphanage, when she had nothing else in the world, this book had always been with her. She'd read the mysterious pages probably a hundred times over throughout her life, and while she did not understand everything written within, one thing she knew for certain was that it would give her the answers to the missing pieces of her life, which she so desperately wished to discover. Visions Unveiled Ch. 02 2. Reading between the lines. After their dinner had been finished and cleaned up, Faline curled up in the window-seat overlooking the lane while Sophie worked on her knitting. Because there was nothing that needed to be said, both enjoyed the silence. While the wood in the fireplace crackled, Faline turned her beloved book over in her hands several times before opening it to a random page and began to read. Faline was constantly trying to decipher the hidden meanings of the words written in the precious book. More than once she had been told she was obsessed but she couldn't help it. This book was the only connection she had to the beginning of her life. It was a journal of some sort, heavy parchment pages bound between a worn leather cover. How many times had she wondered who owned this book before she did? Whose elegant handwriting graced the pages? Why had it been wrapped up with her in an old blanket the day someone left her as an infant in the candle vestibule of a church? Some pages contained paragraph upon paragraph of descriptive landscapes and towns. Some pages had barely a sentence written. These were usually brief bits about the weather or the tide. Other entries read as baffling riddles. Some pages in between others were mysteriously blank. For the most part the journal had been penned in English, however the writings would randomly change languages. And how the languages varied. So far she had determined the author to be fluent in not only English, but also Latin, Spanish, Greek, French, Russian, Italian, German and Dutch. Here and there would be a smattering of Portuguese or Egyptian; Mandarin then Thai. Not enough for her to believe the author used those dialects fully, but that she or he had a great deal of understanding for them. So many languages. Even the English sections were never consistent. They would switch between modern English spoken today, and then an Old World variation. And then there were the bits written in the languages that fascinated her most. Parts of the journal were written entirely in traditional Gaelic and Icelandic. Faline was certain the excerpts written in those languages were the most important not only in the journal, but also to her life. She had no evidence to prove this, she just knew that she simply felt it to be so whenever she translated the cryptic verses. And translate them she did. Faline absorbed foreign languages as easily as she breathed air. She partly knew the reason for this was because Sophie began speaking to her in French when she was just seven years old. The other reason was specifically the book she held in her hands. As a little girl in the orphanage, Faline began devouring the book as soon as she learned her ABC's. Her eyes and mind always skimmed over the foreign excepts until she met Sophie and not realized she could learn to speak other languages, but read them as well. She knew her appetite for foreign languages was fueled by her desire to translate the journal in full, but that didn't detract from her innate love for all languages. After high school she soared through the Linguistics program at a college that she paid for with scholarships, by working in the campus bookstore, and of course with the help of Sophie. While they always lived a humble life, Sophie insisted the Faline's education came first, and did everything she could to ensure she was successful in achieving her educational goals. When Faline graduated college, Sophie was certain she would want to continue to pursue a Masters or even Doctorate degree but Faline had other ideas. While she loved learning about languages, she desired to immerse herself in them fully. She'd wanted to travel. So, with Sophie's blessing, Faline spent most of the ten years following her graduation traveling Europe. She began in Saint-Etienne, France, where Sophie accompanied her for a short time while she found a job in a local café and also a room to rent. This was Sophie's home-town, and while Sophie worried for her Faline as she traveled, she knew this would be place she was comfortable with setting her free to explore the world. Faline would usually stay in a city for a few months where she would find work and study as much of the people and history of the place as she could. Then, when she had saved up train fare and enough money to secure a room in a new place, off she would go. For this reason, she always traveled light and never accumulated possessions. She thought back on her childhood and figured all she started this life with was a blanket and the book and she felt that was all she would ever need. Otherwise, she would find a way to survive. Once a year, no matter where she was, Sophie would mail her an airplane ticket to return home for the holidays. When she was younger, she would only stay for Christmas and New Years, and could never wait to return overseas. As she aged, however, her visits home stretched longer and longer. Sophie was aging and while Faline itched to roam other countries, she was also equally as content to spend as much time with Sophie in the only home she had ever truly had, with the only family she had ever known. This was why even at her age, she never yearned for an apartment of her own the way other young girls might. Faline had spent enough of her early life feeling as alone in her heart as she could possibly be. Until the day that Sophie changed all of that. No, Faline knew better than most that home was a matter of who you loved, and not what you owned. She now worried for Sophie's health, how she was still running the bookstore alone after all these years. A deep sense of commitment haunted Faline that for the first time in almost a decade, she considered not returning overseas at all this year. Seeing as it already was February, Faline had no intentions of going anywhere until it was at least springtime. In her book she glanced over a passage written in Russian, depicting a snowstorm. She frowned as she began to feel the onset of a headache, and it caused her to put down the journal to briefly cover her eyes. From her chair by the fire, Sophie noticed and dropped her needles in her lap. "In pain, are you?" Lowering her hands, Faline returned her gaze to the street below her with a slight nod. "It'll pass." Sophie sighed, not understanding why Faline always dismissed her own pain, as if it meant nothing. She rose from her chair and came to sit beside Faline on the bench seat below the large window. "You know what this means. How long has it been now? Since the last time?" Without looking away from the window, Faline answered, "Almost two years. The last time was in London." Sophie patted her hand knowingly, "I'll make you a nice hot cup of tea." At this, Faline turned her eyes to Sophie, "It won't help. Or stop it." Sophie nodded, as she was already rising to set the kettle to boil. "I know. But it will make us both feel better until then." Once Sophie was in the kitchen, Faline drew her legs up to her and wrapped her arms around them, burying her head for a moment against her knees. She dreaded what she couldn't avoid. Every now and again, Faline got these ... feelings. Her mind would become awash with sights and sounds which were a portend to some future event. The worst part was that she couldn't always discern what was coming, she just knew it would be bad. It always began with this tell-tale headache, and without doubt, within days something horrible would happen. Like she told Sophie, it was two summers before that she last experienced this. That time ended with her getting mugged on her walk home from the café where she was working at the time. Luckily the thief had only taken her tips, leaving her bruised and nothing more. Over the last few years, it seemed that whenever she got this feeling, that someone was after her. She didn't know why it happened, and hated the feeling of helplessness it evoked. She just hoped that this time she would be as fortunate as she always inexplicably was, and come through it unscathed once more. * * * Shane knew he was dreaming. What made it so intolerable was the fact that his mind knew this was a dream, and still he was unable to stop the images from invading his thoughts while he slept. He found himself paralyzed, rendered powerless to stop the recurring dream from flooding his senses. He was not in control, and that alone was enough to drive him mad with frustration. Over the last three decades, Shane had only had one of two dreams each time his body went to sleep. If he went to sleep in his bed, in human form his dream would be a memory of the night his mate was born. He would literally relive each moment as if it were happening again before his very eyes. He would hear each of Ilsa's pained cries, he would see Gregor's grief-stricken face, and scent Ilsa's lost blood. All as if it was happening yet again, in painful, vivid detail. If he happened to sleep in the forest, in wolf form, then his dream would be different. Instead of reliving the memory of his mate's brief life, he would instead dream of a reality that would never be. As a wolf, his dream was of his mate as she would have been, had she lived to become the mature she wolf that was his intended mate. When the wolf dreamed, he envisioned himself padding across the forest floor until he spied her sitting, waiting for him at the crest of a lush, green hill. As a wolf she was gloriously beautiful, while she was small of stature, she looked undeniably healthy. She was covered in the most luxurious looking silver and white fur. He knew this was his mate because as he approached her on the hill, her scent called to him. A scent of fresh, clean rainfall, which could belong to only one: his mate. Her scent soothed him, and while he itched to touch her, speak to her, know her, even in a dream it was not to be. Before he could ever reach her, she vanished, leaving him alone on the hillside. Still, it was a wonderful dream nonetheless. A dream in which his mate lived. It did not matter that she was always a step out of reach. Shane cherished his brief time with her, until he awoke bereft. That dream was always welcome, but this night, Shane was asleep in his bedroom, in his human form. The dream that came to him now was the one he dreaded. This dream always began the same; with him waking as he did the night Gregor and Ilsa came to him so many years ago. The house had been silent, until a shrill scream rent the air. Shane awoke instantly, flying out of his bed and into the hallway, his ears pricked in alarm at the sounds. Immediately the rest of the house came alive as well. Already, Shane was rushing down the stairs to the second level of his home, where Gregor and Ilsa should have been sleeping. Just as he came to their door he saw Kevin, one of his Betas, who was also Logan's twin, emerge from his own room on the same floor. Fully trained in classic and modern medicine many times over, Kevin was the best healer the pack knew and Shane was glad to see him. Holding up a hand to keep Kevin at bay for the moment, Shane knocked on the door to the guest suite and immediately heard Gregor call from the inside for help. After the slightest of hesitations, in which Shane recalled not only Ilsa's pregnant state, but also the scent of her sickness which had earlier shaken him, Shane opened the door to the room. Immediately he saw Ilsa's face, twisted in pain, while her body was covered in sweat. Beside her, Gregor had his hand on her back, whispering what Shane imagined were words of comfort to his wife. Entering the room fully, Shane took in the situation before indicating to Kevin his approval to enter. In the hall, Logan had also appeared. With a nod Shane ordered him to not allow anyone else to enter the room before closing the door. He then turned his attention to the couple in the room, "Gregor, Ilsa," Shane began, "Kevin is here. What help is needed?" Gregor raised wild, panicked eyes before shaking his head. "Alpha, she is in pain." Stepping to the bed Kevin inhaled deeply, catching the scent Shane earlier had and his eyes widened. Looking back at Shane he swallowed hard, before continuing on to the bed. "Ilsa," Kevin said, "What is hurting?" She could barely breathe, let alone speak, but Ilsa managed just one word. "Baby." Shane's eyes widened in shock. While he knew Ilsa was with child, he didn't think by human standards it was time yet for the delivery. Instantly he went to the window and looked outside, his heart falling at the sight of the many feet of snow which now covered his territory. They would never be able to get her to a hospital in this weather, nor could an ambulance make it to them. Turning to Kevin, Shane leveled him with a stare. "Can this be done? Here?" Kevin was already assessing Ilsa's condition with a frown. Reluctantly he raised his eyes to his Alpha. "Normally, I would say yes. I have delivered human infants before. But never under these ... circumstances." Everyone in the room knew he was speaking of Ilsa's sickness. Kevin had placed a hand upon Ilsa's abdomen, feeling for her contractions, trying to gauge their strength when she suddenly covered his hand with hers. Despite him being the healer, and she the patient, it was Ilsa who gave him words of comfort. "I am not afraid, nor should you be. This is the way it was meant to happen." At her words, Shane narrowed his eyes yet again. Ilsa often spoke this way when referring to her visions. Did she foresee this already? Was she prepared for this birth? She turned her eyes to her husband then, giving him the same gentle touch. "Be at peace, my love," she told him, "We are all in good care and this will end well." The next hours were filled with a flurry of activity as supplies came into the room, in which Shane would only allow Logan or Erin to enter. As the night wore on, Ilsa's labor grew more and more difficult. Her pain and screaming became nonstop, and yet the baby had not yet arrived. Weakened to the point of exhaustion, held up only by the strength of her husband, Ilsa suddenly went deathly pale. It took scant seconds for the Weres in the room to detect the scent of fresh blood on the air. Ilsa was hemorrhaging and Kevin was unable to control her bleeding. She was slowly losing consciousness. It was then that Shane pulled Kevin to the side. "What is the problem?" Kevin lowered his voice, "I fear it is the cancer, my Alpha. Her reproductive organs are overrun with tumors. I believe that has caused the premature labor, and at the same time complicated the delivery. She is very weak. Too weak to proceed it may seem." Shane's mind was racing to accept all of this news. He hated what he was hearing, but he trusted Kevin with all matters medical. "What are the options?" Kevin sighed as he considered Ilsa's health. "I could attempt a caesarian operation. It would allow me to deliver the baby at least ..." Kevin paused as he thought through the possible problems. Shane nodded, "That is normal among humans, correct?" Kevin paused briefly. "Yes, a healthy human female should endure it well. But Ilsa ... she's already losing blood. And with her body riddled with the cancer, I am afraid the measures to extract the baby would be devastating to her system." Shane sighed. "Fine. What is the other choice?" Kevin frowned even further. "The other option is controlling her blood loss and making her comfortable until she either delivers naturally, or we can safely transport her to a medical facility." "What are the risks with that method? Speak, out with it." Kevin looked over his shoulder where Gregor was cradling his writhing wife. Unlike his twin, Kevin was not yet mated, yet he couldn't imagine being in the situation Gregor now was. He turned his eyes back to Shane, "Alpha, if we wait much longer, I fear the child will not survive. I am afraid we would then lose them both." Shane gave an immediate sharp shake of his head. "Not an option --" He was interrupted by Gregor's shaky voice: "Perform the surgery." Both Shane and Kevin turned towards the bed. "Gregor, old friend, you are exhausted. We have to think about this," Shane said. Gregor leaned down and kissed Ilsa's forehead before looking back at Shane. He tenderly stroked her cheek. In her delirious state, she did not respond. "I have been thinking about this for hours. I know my wife is not well. She would want us to try to save our child. She would demand it." Kevin stepped reluctantly back towards the bed, eying the growing bloodstains there. "Gregor, you have to know, we could lose them both." Gregor nodded. "And if we don't take any action?" Shane could not believe how calm the man sounded. He had to respect it, even if it was bewildering. Kevin finally answered, "They both may still die." In Gregor's arms, Ilsa began to pale further. While soothing her, Gregor leveled Kevin with a hard stare. "That won't happen. Proceed. Now!" Kevin didn't even take time to think that he was following an order not given by his Alpha. Yet he did his best to carefully, yet quickly open Ilsa's midsection, assisting her to deliver what would be her first and only child. As he operated it was obvious to Kevin he might already be too late. Once he made the incisions necessary to bring the child into view, he could see the baby was already practically smothered by the tumors which had run rampant in Ilsa's uterus. That coupled with Ilsa's petite frame disallowed her from ever being able to naturally deliver the child. As carefully as he could, Kevin reached in with his gloved hands and gently extracted the infant from the mother's womb, all the while Gregor attempted to calm and sooth his ailing wife. The moment Kevin severed the umbilical cord Ilsa slipped into cardiac arrest, and Gregor's bravery finally gave way to panic as he refused to release his wife. Without an option, Kevin raised his eyes to the only other soul in the room, "Alpha please!" Kevin said as he transferred the baby into Shane's arms so that he could attempt to tend to Ilsa. Without thinking, Shane turned and grabbed up a blanket that Erin had earlier brought to the room. Quickly he bundled the child up vaguely noting the infant was a female, he was thinking only of warming the child, and wondering if the deep purple-blue tone of skin was normal. That was all until her scent hit him and he was felled under an avalanche of thoughts and emotions. All at once the mysterious scent of rainfall washed over him, ten times stronger than he had detected the evening before when Ilsa embraced him. Now it made sense, why the scent was so illusive. It didn't belong to Ilsa at all, but to the precious child she carried. The scent of his mate! And it was fading already. It took effort, but Shane was finally able to tear his eyes from the baby to notice Kevin rushing to slow the blood loss from the surgery, and feel for Ilsa's pulse at the same time. Suddenly it was too real, what Kevin had said about losing both mother and child. Inside him, Shane's wolf was howling in his mind. Unacceptable! Shane's eyes swung to Ilsa and he sadly knew it was already too late for her. But his mate was not breathing, and he was suddenly beyond desperate. "Kevin!" he called, as he pulled the bundled baby close to his chest, hoping to warm her with his own body heat. "Kevin she isn't breathing." Kevin was nodding, "Yes, Alpha. Her heart and the blood loss ..." Shane was himself frightened by his rage as he roared, "Not Ilsa! The baby, Kevin! How can I help her?!" Kevin lowered his eyes as he realized who Shane was referring to. Kevin raised a hand to touch the baby's foot, hoping to detect a pulse, only to have the Alpha pull the child from his reach. Kevin was perplexed at the Alpha's possessiveness of the child. And how could he help her if he couldn't touch her? Visions Unveiled Ch. 02 In a moment though, Shane looked back to the baby as she suddenly moved. Her arms, her legs, they all flailed as her tiny chest rose as she took a tiny rasping breath. Shane was completely overwhelmed as he witnessed the slightest movements, she was so tiny and frail, his mate. His own breath caught in his throat as her eyes suddenly opened for the first time and she looked straight at him with eyes of the clearest silver he had ever seen. They were her mother's eyes. He was hypnotized by them. But then, his wolf was howling yet again in his mind as he realized, she'd yet to release her first breath or take another. She'd gone deathly still once more, and her eyes which were just a moment before, so perfect and clear, went blank as all the life left her. * * * In his sleep, Shane tossed violently as the dream continued. As the memories assaulted him anew yet again. * * * What happened next was partly blurred in the dream, as it had been when it was occurring. His mate had stopped breathing, he felt certain he could revive her. Kevin could talk him through it. He would allow no one else to touch her. In the back of his mind he felt the agony already of Ilsa's passing, and the death of her daughter would be beyond devastating. He raised his eyes to Kevin only to feel the child ripped from his arms by Gregor, who was now doubled over, sobbing into the blanket surrounding his daughter's body. Shane's wolf was prepared for battle. How dare anyone take her from him. He reached for her yet again, only to be stopped by Kevin's hand on his arm. Shane's mind finally cleared, as he witnessed the agony of a broken man, sobbing over both his dead wife and child. His heart broke as he watched Gregor lose everything. Still, his own desperation to save his mate was hard to ignore. He put out a hand towards the weeping father, "Gregor, please, there is still hope." He stepped closer to Gregor only to freeze in his tracks at the sound of warning coming his way. Did the human just growl at him? Shane was stunned. His mate's life was at risk and he was as helpless as he'd ever been. Finally his mind cleared, and he realized Gregor was merely sobbing over his lost family. And while Shane was himself torn apart, he knew his own hurt could not compare to Gregor's. The next hours saw Kevin confirming both mother and daughter had indeed passed. Dawn came, and it was a somber one. Finally the snow stopped and the street was cleared enough for the ambulance from the hospital to arrive. The medical team took Kevin's statement as he described attempting to deliver the premature child of the sick woman. Forms were signed and Ilsa's body was placed on a stretcher and taken to the ambulance. All the while, Gregor refused to release his daughter, not even to let the EMT to confirm her passing. During this, Shane had to get away. He'd shifted into his wolf to endure the shock and pain of the whole entire ordeal. Yet he couldn't retreat fully. Not yet. So from just inside the tree line, a large brown wolf with black trim watched as the human female he was so fond of was taken from his home under a white sheet and loaded onto the back of the ambulance. Following that, her husband stepped in behind her, his head lowered, cradling his precious daughter in his arms, who he had yet to release his hold of. The wolf watched as the ambulance pulled away from his home, flashing red lights on, but sirens silent. He watched until the ambulance disappeared from his perfect sight, and then he turned and sprinted into the woods. He ran to forget, he ran to hide, he ran from his pack and his home. A home he would not return to for weeks to come. * * * Suddenly, in his bed, Shane awoke with a start. His breathing was as labored as the wolf running for his life, and he waited the customary few minutes for his heart rate to return to normal. His sleep was broken as it always was with the dream. Yet for the one day of the year he realized he was dreaming on the exact anniversary of the event itself. A glance at his window showed the light of dawn creeping beneath the drapes. Exactly 33 years ago at this moment he was that wolf, running through he forest, daring to escape the loss of a good friend, and her daughter, who as cruel fate would have it, was also his mate. With a sigh he fell back to his pillow and covered his eyes with his arm. He took deep calming breaths as he braced himself for the moment his sister would yet again knock on his door. * * * For the life of her, Faline just could not sleep, because she still had that screaming headache. The light of day was breaking and she had already been tossing and turning in bed for hours and finally decided to just give up on sleep. She felt like fresh air would help clear her mind and relieve the stifling pain she was in. She got up and changed into jeans and a sweater. Then she packed her canvass bag with a few essential items including her journal. She figured the sun would be full up soon, and once it did, she would feel better. Thinking to get a head start on the day, she would take a walk to the bakery and bring back fresh croissants. A favorite for both Sophie and herself. It would be a lovely breakfast to share with Sophie, and a nice start to her birthday she figured. She jotted a quick note to Sophie asking her not to worry. Pulling on boots, a scarf and her warmest flannel coat, Faline picked up her bag and headed down the steps and through the stop. Careful not to trip the bell on her way out the door, she silently slipped out, locking the door behind her. The sky was clear, but the air was bitter cold. Faline rubbed her hands together as she made her way to the bakery, already imagining the large fluffy pastries she knew she would find there. She turned the corner, already feeling slightly better, even if her pounding headache kept on and on. She was still a half a block away from the bakery, and not another soul was on the street that she could see. She smiled to herself as he saw the bakery up ahead and the warm lights from inside glowing brightly. She wasn't feeling her best, which was why she was distracted to a fault. As she passed a small alleyway on her left she was stunned as a hand struck out suddenly, grabbing her by the arm and dragged her deep into the dark recesses of the alley. Visions Unveiled Ch. 03 3. Crossing paths. Justin was beyond angry. Not only had he failed in convincing Shane to step down as Alpha, he also managed to get himself exiled from the pack. To add salt to that wound, his shoulder was still in pain from when Shane threw him into the wall. The injury was already healing for the most part, but the soreness remained. He hadn't bothered returning to his home to collect any belongings. He knew that the instant he was cast out by the Alpha, every Beta would have known, and if he showed up on pack lands, he'd only have ended up more damaged than he already was. So instead he began walking, hoping to gather his thoughts, and figure out how to ease himself back into Shane's good graces. He figured the Alpha couldn't stay angry forever. He had spent the rest of the day and night walking, wondering what his next move should be. So far, he hadn't come up with any solutions to his predicament and that had turned his weariness into a quickly escalating anger. Justin had managed to cross through several towns since the day before, and now as dawn approached he found himself in the downtown area of what seemed a very small, quaint village. Only one or two windows of the shops nearby had lights in the windows. His rage was building inside of him. He had been humiliated by his cousin, tossed around like not so much as a rag doll, and then kicked out on his own. The need to hurt something was boiling over inside of him, and just when he was contemplating breaking into the nearest home to attack whoever he could find, fate presented him with an alternative. He sensed the female approaching from just a few hundred feet away. All he could tell was that she was bundled up against the cold, and seemed to be heading towards the town's bake shop. He slipped into the shadows of an alley and held his breath, not making a sound. Then when the girl crossed his path, he shot out his hand, grabbed her arm and flung her body into the wall beside him. * * * An hour later, the house was still silent, and Shane found himself alone in the sunroom at the back of his home. He stood barefoot, wearing only jeans and a shirt he hastily tossed on after sending Erin back to bed for the second day in a row. He sighed heavily as he peered out the window. While he stared into the yard his thoughts were tumbling around in his mind. His musings were mainly centered on the pain of losing his mate, though his mind also kept circling back to the day before and the confrontation he had with his cousin. It had consumed his thoughts during the board of directors meeting he attended, and despite Marie's sensible words to him, he still felt doubts regarding the future of his pack. Now he was home, and while he needed to deal with what had been revealed, another matter was more pressing. Despite all his worries over those who might betray him, Shane had only one thing on his mind: running. He was just starting to unbutton his shirt when he sensed Erin walk up behind him. "Please don't run." Her words were pleading and while her sympathy was palpable, Shane would not budge. "You should be asleep, you need your rest," Shane said, choosing to not answer her request. He heard her sigh wearily, "I couldn't sleep. I tried. Please, Shane. Don't run. Not alone, not today." "Sister, I must, you know that." Shane said, even as he continued with removing his shirt. Tears were yet again rimming his sister's eyes. "Every year, you've done this. Every single year and what good has it done? Year after year, you're more distant than the last. Are we losing you?" Shane took a deep breath and let it out slowly before he finally turned from the window to look her in the eyes. "I am sorry you are hurting. But the further away I am right now, the less you will feel of it. You know this to be true." Erin reached out a hand to touch his arm, "But you said yourself, there will be a horrible storm." Shane shrugged as he finished removing his shirt, "I will only be gone a day or two at the most. Or is it you think your brother can't survive in the forest with a little bit of rain?" Every year, on the anniversary of the night in which Ilsa tragically delivered his mate, Shane took to the forest, giving himself over to his wolf for the duration. He was stronger that way, and it was how he coped. He would spend the next few days alone, running as far and fast as he could. He'd done so the very next February after that fateful night, in the hopes that being in wolf form would help him to forget. It never did, but that didn't stop him from hoping some day it might lessen the pain. He figured that maybe another 33 years might be helpful in that regard. Erin's jaw dropped. "This will not be just rain and you know it!" Shane smiled in a cocky, confident way that made her want to punch him. "Of course I know that. I believe I was the one who clued you in on the upcoming weather headlines, if I remember correctly." He sighed when he saw she was not amused. "Fine, it will be cold, and wet. But this is me, Erin. I will be home, please don't worry. Until I return, I trust you and Logan will keep things in order." As if the sound of his name could cause him to materialize, Logan stepped into the room and immediately gathered his mate in his arms. Tall and heavily muscled, there was no doubt among any who saw him, that Logan was one of the most powerful warriors the pack had ever known. Still, his touch was tender as he soothed his visibly shaken mate. He placed a kiss on the top of Erin's head before looking straight into Shane's eyes, "The family will be watched over, friend. I wish you a safe, peaceful run." Shane nodded, never for once doubting that in his absence, Logan would lie down his life to protect not only his sister, but any other pack member in need. Content that Erin would find comfort in Logan, and that the pack was in good hands, Shane finished undressing and with one last nod to Logan he stepped out the back door and began to cross the yard. Erin raised her wet eyes just in time to see her brother shift into a large brown and black wolf. She watched as he shook out his shiny coat before he locked eyes with her through the window. He called out a deep bark which she knew was full of love for her. He then turned and before she could blink, he vanished into the stricken trees. * * * As soon as she was grabbed, Faline realized her error. She held her breath as she felt herself being pulled deeper into the alleyway, knowing this was the event she had been dreading since the evening before. Pain flashed behind her eyes. Her attacker threw her into brick wall and easily held her there by pressing her back into the cold, hard building. The dim light of dawn did not allow for her to see the man who held her, but she could tell that while he wasn't an overly large man, he was strong, and angry. Finally she allowed herself to take a deep breath and braced herself for the perfect moment to defend herself. * * * Once he took to the trees, Shane's first order of business was to run the perimeter of his territory. He ran the edge of his border making sure everything was secure, and nothing seemed amiss. When he was done, he did it again. After that, he decided to hunt. He needed a meal, and if he waited much longer he was afraid he'd go hungry for the day. As the storm approached, smaller animals would borrow themselves away, making them more difficult to catch, and Shane also needed his strength to survive the storm. Had he been hunting for his pack, he would have taken down the largest deer he could find. In this case however, he was only feeding himself and so he easily caught a rabbit and ate it quickly. After Shane finished he headed towards the far end of the forest, to the cottage that was once owned by Gregor and Ilsa. Because the home was considered abandoned and it resided on Shane's property, he was easily able secure the legal papers to transfer it into his name. When he arrived at the cottage, he quickly circled the small home checking that there were no damages. Once he was satisfied with the condition of the outer walls he shifted into his human form and ascended the steps of the small front porch. Hanging next to the front door was a lantern-style lighting fixture. Shane opened the small glass door of the lantern and reached in, pulling out a single key which he used to unlock the door. Shane stepped inside and closed the door behind him. He stood still for a few moments, silently paying his respects to the couple who were no longer there. He then set about checking the inside of the cottage, just as he had the outside. The building was in perfect condition, having been maintained personally by Shane for the last three decades. Every few months he would make his way to the cottage and assess the state of the home, fixing whatever needed repairing. He checked the property both before and after serious weather. Over the years he had mended shutters, replaced flooring and had completely redone the roof, all with his own hands. He cleaned windows and floors, washed and re-hanged curtains, tended to the flowers Ilsa had once planted and kept dry firewood on hand. Shane also kept the pantry stocked with canned items and other nonperishable goods. Every few months he would take an inventory, and he would deliver items to a homeless shelter before they expired. If any of his pack suspected he did all of this, they never mentioned it to him. It wouldn't have mattered, as he managed his land the way he saw fit. Still, even he thought at times this behavior was insane. He couldn't justify these actions, he only knew that looking after the cottage was in some small way the only connection he would ever have with his mate. Shane was fairly certain he wouldn't find anything in need of tending at the cottage, having visited just the week before. Still, he couldn't resist a brief glance around to put his mind at ease. Once he was content that the cottage was in order he stepped back onto the porch and locked the door before carefully returning the key to the lantern. Because he visited the cottage several times a year, he was able to get through this part of the day without his emotions overcoming him. Still, he was more than ready to let the human side of himself go once again, so he wasted no time in shifting back into his wolf, and with one final check of the area, he bolted into the forest once more. * * * The beast inside of Justin wanted to kill. It wanted to draw blood, tear flesh and hear the female in his grip scream for her life. Aside from taking a deep, shaky breath, she hadn't screamed or made any other sounds. That seemed odd to him, as he'd attacked innocents before, and normally, they were more than eager to scream their damn heads off. He had no fear of being caught at this crime. A witness would only be another life for him to happily end. This female though, not only was she quiet as a mouse, she didn't even fight back. He'd pinned her to the wall and she didn't even struggle with him. Was she daft? Did she have a death wish? Maybe, walking around in the still dark streets, that could be the case. Why didn't she fight back, he wondered? At least she had the decency to be afraid he thought as he scented her fear on the air. The scent excited him and he wrapped a hand around her throat as he leaned in closer to her to inhale once more. Suddenly, he froze. Something about her scent was ... off. A wave of familiarity hit him suddenly as he took in her delicate scent. There was something nostalgic about this female, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was. She was obviously afraid, but she was also calm. And her scent, it was driving him mad. He wanted to tear her throat out, make her awash in blood. But then again, he was suddenly overcome with the need to protect her, as if she were one of his pack. It was a staggering impulse! Imagine, wanting to shield a mere human female. No, surely not. He wanted to kill her, he was certain of it. She sent his senses into a spin, and he was losing control quickly. Whatever it was about her scent was driving him insane, and as she finally began to tremble in his grasp, he loosed the monster inside. He felt his ears lengthen into points and his face change into a muzzle, followed by the sprouting of coarse hair along his body as he shifted into his hybrid form. The female let out a whine as he squeezed her neck and where moments before he was at war with himself over whether to kill or treasure her, he'd finally decided what he most certainly wanted was her death. Justin's mouth began to water as he imagined how the female's blood would taste as he ripped into her throat. He opened his jaws and leaned into her, preparing to make the deadly bite when he realized she was now muttering words. He figured she might be praying, until he realized whatever she was saying, it was not in English. She seemed to be repeating the same words over and over again. With her eyes squeezed shut, the girl was chanting to herself "Leyna, vernda ... leyna, vernda." She kept repeating it over and over. Then, Justin felt his patience snap, he growled and lunged forward to tear at her flesh. At that moment he felt the strangest sensation in the air around them, it made the skin prick on the back of his neck. Then suddenly, without explanation, the girl vanished into thin air. * * * As the day wore on Shane found himself at peace with his wolf. Dusk would soon be approaching. Despite the raging emotions his human half felt, the wolf was better tempered for enduring the memories of this day. Shane knew better than to think he could escape it fully anymore, or that he'd ever truly forget. But when he gave himself over to the wolf the pain was easier to endure. He was content to let the wolf rule for the days he spent each February in the forest. With the wolf in command, the human emotions were able to take a rest. A rest Shane sorely needed. The wolf was taking a leisurely run through the trees when it came across a worn trail that caught the attention of the man inside. He turned north and followed the trail with purpose, letting memory guide him until he came to the spot he recognized. Pain swelled in even the wolf's chest as it recalled the moment he came across a body in this very spot. Instantly, the memory surged to the front of Shane's mind. In the days following the death of both Ilsa and her daughter, Shane, tortured with grief spent nearly three weeks alone in the forest, running blind. On about the 10th day he had been traveling through the still snow covered hills when he came across this trail. He wandered along for several hundred feet recognizing this path was one that lead out of the forest. The scent of cold death hit his nostrils mere moments before his paws came in contact with a body that was partially covered by drifting snow. The wolf was briefly alarmed and looked about for a source of danger before deciding that whatever happened to his human had been natural. When he scented deeper he realized it was the scent of a person he recognized, and he pawed the snow away until he realized the body he'd uncovered was Gregor's. The shock reeled him so, that he lost control of the wolf completely and found himself shifting back to his human form as he leaned over Gregor's frozen body. Despite the cold, Shane's body temperature ran higher than a human's, and he barely noticed the discomfort of the snow against his naked skin as he gently turned Gregor. Shane had looked around, wondering why Gregor would have been so far along the trail. Shane figured that Gregor had been on his way to his house, maybe to collect his and Ilsa's belongings that had been left that night. Gregor must have become disoriented for direction with the landscape covered in white and Shane figured the human had frozen to death, lost in the woods. Shane thought it odd for Gregor to get lost when he'd been to Shane's home many, many times. Shane shook his head as he debated returning to contact the authorities, but he was concerned that being involved with the deaths of three people within days would call suspicious attention from the humans to his pack which he didn't want. He racked his brain to recall of any family he should contact to see to Gregor's remains, and could only recall the countless times Gregor told him that he and Ilsa had been on their own for many years. Tears wet Shane's eyes, almost freezing in the harsh February air as the reality that his mate's father was now also dead. This new grief consumed him once more, and he gasped for air as the wolf took over yet again, to take this burden away from his suffering human half. With the wolf in charge, there were no debates over the human police or his mate's distant relatives. The wolf saw to reason, that a dead body could not be left to attract scavengers, and even the wolf did not wish that fate for his mate's father. So the wolf gently took hold of Gregor's shirt with is his teeth and dragged him off of the trail and under the branches of a large, currently leafless oak. It took the wolf hours to finally dig deep enough into the frozen earth a grave large enough and deep enough for Gregor's tall, broad frame. When he was satisfied the trench was deep enough, the wolf dragged the body to the grave as gently as it could and then set about covering him with the soil. He did so with efficient reverence, and when he finished, it was long since dark. The wolf looked to the sky and he let out a pained howl, long and loud enough to alert his pack that while he was alive and still nearby, his heart was all the more broken. And so none of the pack were surprised when he did not return to them for well over a week later. But that was all memory, the wolf decided, standing on the trail. Thirty-three years back, and he still remembered it like it happened just hours before. He shook out his coat and looked to the sky where he noticed the first of the thick, grey clouds quickly approaching. The storm was arriving, which meant it was time to find shelter until it passed. * * * Justin had never been so stunned in all of his long life. He blinked his eyes several times, trying to discern if his mind was simply playing tricks on him. But no, the space before him was empty. The girl had simply ... vanished. He spun around, searching for her, as this information flooded his brain. People didn't just disappear. Not humans anyway. Witches or fairies, perhaps, but certainly not small, human females. There was just no way. Relying on his senses he closed his eyes and scented deeply until he caught her unique scent. His eyes flashed open as he looked down the long alley towards the back of the buildings, he realized that she wasn't gone, she was simply invisible. How was it possible, he wondered? He'd heard long-ago tales of certain ... creatures of his kind who might be capable of such a thing, but even to a Were today, such tales were thought of as myths. He was now on the hunt, as he caught a flash of movement at the back of the alley. She was on the move, running. He caught a glimpse of her coat as she ran, and realized whatever powers she had to make herself disappear, they wouldn't last. So he took off at full speed chasing behind her. As Justin emerged from the alley he noticed that while day had broken the sky was bleak. Still it afforded him a clear view as he noticed the backs of the shops opened up to the forest, which was where the girl had decided to flee. He grinned, thinking it would be an easy hunt, as surely he would have the upper hand on this terrain. He trailed her by scent alone as she was mostly still invisible to his eyes. Every now and again he would catch a flash of a hand, or her dark hair as she slowly became visible again. He found himself shocked at how incredibly fast she was. He was chasing after her at top speed and still she was out of reach, and to make matters worse, the sky opened up and rain began to fall. Visions Unveiled Ch. 03 He chased her for the entire day. Every time he thought he should be easily able to grab her, she veered out of reach. He lost her trail at one point for over an hour because she kept disappearing to him. He found her against a tree where she was catching her breath. Justin was relieved when he noticed he could now see the girl up ahead of him clearly. Whatever spell she'd cast over herself had worn off, and either she didn't realize it, or didn't have the power to make it happen again. He smiled, thinking his chase was over, only to have her dart ahead of him once more. He picked up his speed to close in on her when he realized she had just run through a small creek and as he came up to it he forced himself to a sudden stop at the water's edge. His eyes narrowed on her in hatred for what she had just done, and his breathing was ragged, though his human features slowly took over once more. This creek marked a northern boundary of pack lands, and so the girl had just unwittingly crossed onto Kellen territory. If Justin took one step more onto his cousin's land, he would find himself the hunted one, as he knew Logan wouldn't hear of his return without Shane's expressed permission. He was livid and he wanted to maim the girl badly, but not enough to die over. At least not at this moment in time, so instead he watched her run into the trees, unfeeling of the cold rain pelting him from above. * * * The wolf veered off of the trail and deeper into the forest, he was heading for a rock alcove he knew well, where he hoped to stay the night until the storm passed. He marveled briefly at the coloring of the sky. While the sun had long since set on this winter's night, the storm clouds seemed to reflect back onto the forest floor, causing an inexplicable incandescent glow. The wind and slanting rain of the storm caused the light to ebb in and out, and he was in awe of nature's magnificence. He used the fleeting light to his advantage, helping to ease his journey towards his favorite rock ledge. The freezing rain had now been falling, as he rightly predicted, for over an hour, and he was ready to take cover for the rest of the night. He was crossing through a small valley, adjacent to the rocky hills where he planned to retire for the night when a sound caught his attention, stopping him immediately. The sound was a rapid heartbeat, paired with rasping breath. It wasn't right, and the wolf focused on locating who or what it was. He had been a hunter for centuries, and knew the tell-tale sounds of a creature being pursued. Nothing about this situation added up though, because of the hour, of the weather ... it just didn't sit right with the man or the wolf. It took him mere moments to zero in on the source and he turned a corner just in time to see a human female running through the trees. A thousand questions sprouted in the man's mind, as the wolf simply eyed her, knowing she wasn't a threat, but cautious that whatever was hunting her might be. Quickly he cataloged her slight stature and that her clothes were sodden with rain water. She also seemed to be struggling with carrying some sort of satchel crosswise over her body as she ran. Suddenly though, she spotted the wolf, and further panic flashed through her eyes as she froze. The strange lighting of the storm allowed him to see her clearly, and he could tell she was exhausted, and at the sight of him, terror flashed through her eyes. The wolf didn't like that one bit, something about this female caused a surge of emotion to rush through him. A protective impulse kicked in at the sight of her and so he eased slowly towards her, unwittingly causing her to retreat backwards. He saw her begin to slip on the slick rocks she was standing on and knew he had to make an immediate decision. If he didn't act now he was certain she would fall and crack her head into one of the sharp rocks surrounding her, and the wolf instantly decided he would not -- could not -- allow that to happen. He could see the panic triple in her amazing eyes, though he couldn't tell in the unusual light if they were blue, or green or another color entirely. He saw the realization in her face that she knew she was falling, and her fear was palpable to him even in the saturated air. But the wolf had been alive for many years. He was a Were, an Alpha, and a powerful at that. He had his own brand of magic that he didn't readily rely on, but in certain situations, he could call upon it, and at this moment he instantly decided this female was worth the risk. As a wolf he was very fast, but even if he could make it to her in time, his wolf's body was limited in assisting her. In fact, the wolf might just make things worse. As he watched her falling dangerously closer to the rock, Shane finally made his decision and lurched forward. He shifted into his human form as he called forth a burst of magic that sent him flying through the air to land behind her on the rocks almost instantaneously. He fell to his knees and extended his arm just in time to prevent the back of her head from colliding with a sharp rock. His knuckles took the brunt of the damage, but he knew it was worth the small pain. As he cradled her head in his hand, he leaned over her and saw her eyes had closed. She'd gone unconscious as she fell, but at least she was in one piece. She was pale, drenched with rain, and had obviously been through hell. He shook his head, wondering what had happened to her. It was clear he couldn't leave her, she'd never survive the elements. Shane raised his face to the sky, feeling the freezing rain sting his eyes. The temperature was descending yet again, and he knew the worst of the storm had yet to arrive. His human skin finally registered the bitter cold and even he began to shiver. He looked back to the fallen female and thought it amazing she had survived in this harsh rain as long as she obviously had. He noted her pallor, her obvious distress and he knew if she were to live, he had to get her indoors and quickly. With no other choice, Shane gathered her in his arms and as he did, a bewildering feeling of déjà vu came over him. Quickly it was gone, and he sighed as he rose to his feet, he also gathered up her satchel, as it seemed important to her. He soon found the trail and made his way as steadily as he could. Shane tightened his arms, drawing her closer to him as her body began to shiver with cold. He shook his head again, noting how drenched with rain water she was. Her entire scent was cloaked with it, telling him she must have been in this storm for hours on end. He thought again of what creature dared to threaten this small female and the wolf sent a growl from his throat. Shane nodded in agreement, that if they came upon whatever cretin that had been hunting her, he would gladly tear it apart, limb from limb. Visions Unveiled Ch. 04 4. Out of darkness. Shane had been carrying the unconscious girl for nearly a mile when he came to a crossroads in the trail. His original intention had been to take her to the shelter of his home but now he realized that even at his quickest pace, it would take over an hour to arrive there traveling in his human form. If he turned left instead and headed east he could make it to Gregor's cottage in less than ten minutes. He momentarily felt conflicted. On one hand he treated the cottage as if it were a shrine, and was reluctant to desecrate the place by exposing it to a stranger. On the other hand, he knew the human in his arms was dangerously close to experiencing hypothermia and he wasn't certain she would survive if he didn't get her indoors and quickly. It was the sensibility of his wolf deep inside which swayed the decision. His more feral half was irritated with him for doubting this female was worthy of entering the cottage. Shane sighed as he realized the wolf was right and he felt ashamed of his human emotions. A life was a life, and a cottage was just a building, nothing more. He glanced down at the girl and noted her chattering teeth and her sickly skin tone. He didn't have time for this delay, so he turned east and quickly made his way to the cottage. Once he was standing at the door he shifted the weight of the girl so that he could retrieve the key for a second time that day. He was briefly aware of the fact that she was light enough to allow him to easily support her weight with just one arm while he unlocked and opened the door with his other hand. Though it was dark, Shane had long since memorized the layout of the rooms within the cottage. That knowledge coupled with his enhanced vision in low lighting allowed him to easily navigate the way until he was able to switch on a lamp. He hesitated to place her on the furniture because her clothes were soaked through, so instead he took the afghan which was draped over the sofa and wrapped it around her. Again, the feeling that he had been in this moment before assaulted his senses. He shook it off and then gently placed the girl down, laying her on the floor. His priority was to first get her dry and warm, and then he could worry about how to fully handle the situation he found himself in. She had yet to awaken and he figured that might be a good thing, because if she did to find herself alone with a naked man he was fairly certain she would be terrified. First things first, the air inside the cottage was just as frigid as the temperature outside. Quickly he built a fire and when it was blazing he turned his attention back to the girl. Her shivering had lessened since entering the cottage, but he still had to get her out of the wet clothing she wore. Rising from the floor he proceeded to the back of the cottage and entered the larger of the two bedrooms located there. Before he could talk himself out of it, he went to the chest of drawers which held Gregor's clothing and started pulling out multiple pairs of socks, t-shirts, a pair of jeans and other flannel wear. While the clothing was old, it had been preserved well because of the care Shane gave to the cottage and all things within, so it was clean and dry. It was exactly what he needed. Next, he went into the hall and opened the linen closet, withdrawing several towels and another blanket. He stopped in the bathroom where he took the first of the towels and quickly rubbed his skin dry. He dressed himself in a pair of Gregor's jeans and a white t-shirt. The size of the clothing wasn't much different from what he wore, and while the shirt was slightly snug across is his broad chest, the jeans fit almost perfectly. It was the first time he ever realized how similar Gregor's build was to his own. Musing over the thought, he took the same towel and ran it through his hair briefly. That done, he collected the remaining linens and clothing and returned to the front room where the girl still rested, wrapped in the afghan. The fire had already warmed the air in the room and Shane was glad for it. Dropping the pile of clothing and towels beside the girl, Shane kneeled beside her and slipped an arm beneath her back, raising her slightly off the floor. He opened the blanket and then removed her coat. Gently, Shane positioned her arms to allow him to pull her sweater off as well. Next was the tricky part, he thought, as he eyed the white cotton top she wore. He had hoped her inner layer of clothing would have remained dry so he didn't need to completely undress her, but it wasn't to be. The thin white top was also drenched with ice cold rainwater. With a sigh, Shane quickly pulled the soaked shirt over her head and immediately started to dry her skin with a towel. He averted his eyes so as to not see too much of her skin. He knew humans were modest, and though this one was unconscious, he still treated her respectfully. When her skin was dry he took the second t-shirt of Gregor's and pulled it over the girl's head and arms as quickly as possible. With each item of clothing he removed, the scent of rainwater grew stronger in the room. It caused Shane's heartbeat to quicken unwittingly. When it registered to him that the scent was affecting him, he shook his head sadly, thinking the weather had been most unkind to him today. With a sigh, he pushed dour thoughts of his lost mate away, as he resumed his task of caring for this girl who needed him in the here-and-now. He turned his attention now to her boots, which he unlaced and pulled off, followed quickly by the saturated socks she wore. He unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans, thinking only of removing the heavy, cold material from her still chilled body. The denim proved to be the most challenging article of clothing, and he resisted the urge to shred the obstinate material off of her legs. With patience, she was finally free of those as well, and he picked up the towel once again to methodically rub her skin dry. Shane did all of these things without once registering the feminine curviness of her body, or the soft creaminess of her skin. He had long ago lost any sense of attraction to females. Those impulses died the day he lost his mate. And so, as lovely as this female may or may not have been, Shane never noticed. His every movement was detached and clinical. Finally, he dressed her in Gregor's sweat pants, which were naturally way too large for her. But they would keep her warm and that was all that mattered. Also, onto her feet he slid not one, but two pairs of socks to keep her warm. When he was done dressing her, he took the last of the towels he had brought into the room and dried her hair, sopping up as much of the wetness as he could. Then he gently picked her up off of the cold floor and placed her onto the sofa. He positioned a throw pillow beneath her head and covered her with another dry blanket. Satisfied that she was as warm as he could possibly make her at the moment, and also that she was nowhere near waking just yet, he turned and gathered up all of the wet items from floor and left the room. * * * "Wearing a hole through the floor will not bring him home any sooner, my love." Abruptly, Erin turned to face her mate where he stood in the doorway assessing her. She had been pacing in front of the large bay window in the great room on the first floor for over an hour and she had no intentions of stopping any time soon. She waved a hand at him in dismissal before turning her eyes back to the darkened window, where rain was sheeting nonstop. "I can't help it, I am worried. This storm, it won't let up." Logan nodded in agreement, that this was not the most comforting weather for their Alpha to be out in alone. Still, he believed in Shane, and had faith he would return to them unscathed. With an air of calmness that clearly irritated his mate, Logan casually took a seat in a comfortable armchair and held out his hand towards her. "Here, come sit with me." Though Erin rolled her eyes, she still went to him as if a moth to a flame. She settled herself instantly into his lap and rested her head against his shoulder. "I hate this," was all she said. Logan rubbed her back soothingly. "I know," he answered, "But your brother, our Alpha, is strong. He knows the forest. He is a survivor." Erin knew all of this to be true. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, allowing the scent of her mate to calm her before saying, "He is concerned for someone. Someone in distress." Logan tensed briefly, knowing his empathic mate was always in touch with Shane's emotions, though distance at times could lessen the intensity of the feelings she picked up on. Digesting this information, he asked, "You perhaps?" Erin shook her head slightly before raising her face to look into Logan's eyes. "No, I'm not certain who it is. It may be an old friend? This soul he feels for ... seems familiar. But I can't place them." Logan studied the far off look in Erin's eyes before reaching up a hand to run his fingers through her auburn hair. "He is alone, isn't he?" Concern filled the Beta's voice. Erin knew he was contemplating the need to lead out a team to assist the Alpha, should he be in need. Though Erin wasn't certain, she felt the need to reassure her mate. "Yes, I believe so. If he does have company, I cannot sense them." She placed her arms around her mate's neck and gave him a gentle squeeze. How quickly roles reversed, she thought with a brief smile, as she now comforted him. "I sense his worry for this person. But otherwise, he is well." Logan released his breath, trusting that if Shane needed any sort of back-up, he would be the first to know. He gave his mate a gentle kiss. "It's late." Erin nodded and rose to her feet, giving Logan room to stand. She was just about to turn off the light so they could go to bed when a figure appeared in the doorway. Erin looked over to see her aunt wringing her hands, looking worried. It was Logan who spoke first, taking charge. "Tabitha, what is it?" Erin felt the woman's tears before she could see them. "Aunt Tabby? Please tell us what's wrong." Tabitha started to shake slightly, and twisted her fingers together tighter. "My dear niece ... Logan, I must speak with you both. I apologize for the hour, but it cannot wait." Logan nodded, the Beta in him coming instantly alive. "The hour does not matter, just talk to us." More tears sprang from the woman's eyes and she grabbed onto Erin's hand. "I'm so sorry. But you must know. My son ..." Logan's jaw clenched immediately, his wolf rushing to the ready. He found it difficult to speak, so he was relieved when he heard his mate say, "Everything will be fine Aunt Tabby, go on." Tabitha hung her head in shame before speaking again. "Justin," she said, "Justin has done something terrible." * * * Shane took the wet towels, blankets as well as the girl's clothing into the kitchen where the laundry area was also located. He opened the valves which he normally kept closed in case there were problems with the pipes while he was not at the cottage. He then added laundry soap to the basin of the washer, turned the settings to start the machine and tossed in the wet things. After that he returned to the main fireplace where he added more wood to keep the fire burning strong. He continued to roam the cottage, busying himself with small tasks all the while trying to ignore the pain that came with being in such close confines of the cottage. He frequently checked on the girl, only to find her unconscious still. When the washer stopped spinning, he transferred the contents to the dryer. From there, he picked up an old clothe and set about the menial task of dusting items around the cottage. Apart from the times Shane moved things to either clean or fix them, everything in the cottage remained where it was originally placed by Gregor and Ilsa. The couple had never owned many valuable possessions, but Shane treated each item he touched as if it were a rare, expensive gem. A shelf in the main room held several of Gregor's books, as well as a ceramic flower vase, a set of silver candlesticks and a framed photograph of Ilsa. After removing the miniscule amount of dust from each, Shane gingerly returned each item to its spot. He then turned his attention to the desk below the shelf, which is where he imagined Gregor had done most of his work at home. The desk held the usual things like Gregor's notebooks, pencils and pens, as well as a large blotter calendar which still boasted the month of February, 1981. Shane could not resist glancing over the page, reading the appointments and notes Gregor had long ago written there. He could have recalled the details from memory, as this was most definitely not the first time he'd viewed these dates. The month began on a Sunday, and on the 10th was written the words "Dr. Weiss, 11:00am." Since the first time Shane saw the calendar, he had learned that Dr. Weiss was the Oncologist Ilsa saw, but she would not allow the treatment of her tumors, for fear of endangering her pregnancy. The name "Natalie" appeared written on the 12th, a date Shane believed to have been a birthday. He didn't know who Natalie was, but there was a sealed envelope addressed to her on the desk which had obviously never been mailed. His own initials, "S.K." appeared on the 17th, signifying the standing appointment he and Gregor kept which was always the third Tuesday in each month. This was when they discussed articles and letters, written in foreign languages. Shane owned two ancient books. One held the history of his paternal pack over which he still reined. The book had been written in Gaelic and Shane had no trouble with it at all, being completely fluent. However, the other text was from his mother's original pack, and she was of Spanish descent. Her pack lore contained several ancient Spanish and Latin dialects which Shane admitted to having difficulty with over a century before. It had taken him years to find a soul who he could trust to help unravel the secrets the book held. That person had been Gregor, and since Gregor's death, the translation of the text had also ceased. All of the notations on the calendar were scratched in pencil, in what Shane recognized to be Gregor's distinct, slightly slanted handwriting. Gregor had been left-handed, and the manner in which he scrawled his words was unlike Shane had ever seen before or since. The only item on the calendar which appeared to be written by Ilsa wasn't even a word at all. On the 14th, there was a heart drawn with a red pen. The plump, curvy shape of the heart was clearly the work of a female, and it was also the only use of color on the page. Shane imagined it was a playful addition made by Ilsa, to remind Gregor that even while he worked, she loved him, and thought of him. Shane fondly ran his fingertip over the Valentine's heart before taking a deep breath to steel himself for what he was about to see next. Feeling resolved, he lifted up the edge of the calendar and raised the page high enough to look at the following month. The month of March 1981 was written on just once: the date of Monday, March 23rd had been circled. There were no other words or numbers written there except for a question mark. From the moment Shane had first viewed the calendar it hadn't taken him long to realize that March 23rd was the date Ilsa and Gregor expected their baby to be born. Shane remembered asking Gregor about when he and Ilsa believed their child was to arrive, and Gregor told him it should be early spring. He was also told by Kevin who, after the fact, said that he believed the baby he delivered had been six to eight weeks premature. It all added up that way to Shane as well, looking back. In the early hours of February 3rd was the when she was actually born and died, but Shane also mourned for his mate on March 23rd as well. A date that would have blessed his life in the most amazing way had things been different. Lowering himself into the chair before the desk, Shane rested his head in his hands as he pondered her, his mate. He typically did not allow himself to wallow in the world of might-have-been, but when he was at the cottage, it was especially difficult to fend off. He closed his eyes and let himself briefly imagine the life she might have had. He conjured up the image of a perfectly healthy child born to Gregor and Ilsa. He wondered if, as she grew, would she have dark hair like her mother? Or the fair features of her father? Would she be shy and quiet? Or a fiery, daring child? He thought of how he would have known, from the moment he first saw and scented her, that she was his mate. He knew it would be difficult for Gregor to accept, but in time, the intelligent man would come to understand. And time they would have. Years, really. For it would take that long for her to mature, and until she did, Shane would make sure the family wanted for nothing. Through the pack, he would provide the highest protection there could be. If his mate grew to favor the piano, he would have the finest Steinway commissioned. Had she taken a liking to skiing or mountain climbing, he would invest in the best protective equipment money could buy. Maybe she would have an interest in sewing, like her mother. If that were so, he would import top quality silk and cotton by the yardful. In these rare times, when Shane envisioned his mate's life, he also always treated himself to the thought of Ilsa surviving as well. For the family to be complete, happy and healthy. Gregor and Ilsa had long been his dear friends, and in this fantasy world, they continued to be so. And he would be the best friend and provider possible to his mate, until she grew older. Until she aged into maturity, and only then would she begin to feel the pull towards him, as he did towards her. He would patiently wait until she did, until she came to see him as not only a protector, but as a man. Then she would be ready to fully accept him, and he would claim her, allowing her to take her rightful place beside him in his pack ... A flash of lighting, instantly followed by thunder strong enough to quake the cottage shook him out of his thoughts. Shane rubbed his hands down his face, surprised to find his eyes wet with tears. He took a shuddering breath and suddenly went tense, as the scent of rain yet again assaulted him. He looked to the window beside him wondering if there was a leak. He would be aggravated if so, as he made it a point to regularly check the seals around all of the windows and doors. He was glad to see there was no such moisture around the windows, but that didn't answer the question of where the scent was coming from. To his left, he heard the girl stir in her sleep and he snapped his head around towards her. His eyes narrowed as he approached her slowly, but she did not wake or move further. He took a step back, suddenly feeling rattled and not knowing why. With a shake of his head he backed away fully. Suddenly remembering the laundry, and relieved at having a task yet again, Shane walked away from the girl once again. * * * Hours later in their room, it was now Logan who would not stop pacing. Erin sat on their bed, watching her mate warily. Suddenly Logan stopped short and spun towards her with a flash in his eyes. "I must alert him right away." Erin knew Logan was speaking about Shane. That he felt the need to immediately relay every detail her Aunt Tabitha had just dropped on them. But Erin was steadfastly against this idea. "This is not the time. He will come undone if we tell him this now." Logan shook his head, "We cannot lie to him." Erin frowned, "I would suggest no such thing. We will tell him when he returns. But we will not interrupt him with this dreadful news. His emotions are already too volatile." Visions Unveiled Ch. 04 Logan did not like where this was heading. He and Erin did not often disagree. But when they did, it quickly escalated into a horrible altercation. While he was a Beta, she was born of Alphas. When in harmony there was nothing they could not accomplish. But when they disagreed, others quickly learned to not be near the pair. Logan gave his mate a heavy stare while grinding his jaw to control an outburst. He did not want to argue with her, but he had to make her see that the longer they waited to tell Shane what they knew, the more likely something horrible would happen to the pack. "Erin, I have to alert him. How can you not see that?" Before she could answer he began pacing wildly once more, and so Erin got up from the bed and went to him. She stepped straight in front of him forcing him to stop his mad pacing and look at her. The pain he saw in her eyes nearly stopped his heart. Finally she spoke. "There are some Februarys, where I fear my brother will run himself straight off a cliff as it already is. It has been years, but his pain runs as deep as ever. If we approach him with this now, I fear he will snap. Then he will be lost to me forever. Please don't ask me to tempt that fate." Logan could not bear the tears in his mate's eyes. The most difficult part about being mated to the Alpha's sister, were the times he felt his loyalty divided. He knew alerting Shane of just how deep the fracture in their pack was should be his priority. As a Beta and as a friend. But when Erin expressed her fear of losing Shane to his own insanity, he melted. There was no way he could live with himself if he made a decision that allowed his mate to be hurt so permanently. Logan found himself at an impasse. While he was currently in charge of the pack, his impulse was to go into full warrior mode. First locate the Alpha, and then share the intelligence he'd gathered. Together they would form a plan to annihilate the enemy, even if said enemy was within the pack. But to care for his mate ... to spare her the pain of possibly losing her brother, he yielded. He pulled her into his arms hoping to stop her tears. "I will wait one day. If he does not return by dusk tomorrow, then I will have no other choice but to seek him out." Erin nodded against his chest, happy with this compromise. And so Logan hugged her tighter to him and worriedly whispered, "Though when he discovers the truth, Luna help us all." * * * Shane had a headache. One he recognized as the result of ignoring his wolf. Apparently he had been subconsciously blocking his wolf from communicating with him, and the price for that was the bone splitting ache he now felt in his temple. The wolf wanted out to tell him something, and would be heard no matter what. He was afraid the animal wanted to be free, to run the forest and sleep near his favorite rock wall. But Shane knew that was no longer an option this night. Still, the wolf wanted to speak to him, so Shane closed his eyes and gave in. He took a deep breath and centered his mind, allowing the wolf to come to the front for a moment, while keeping his human form. The wolf snarled and chuffed at him immediately, angry at being repressed for so many hours. To make amends, Shane took another metaphysical step back, deeper into his mind and allowed the wolf to take the current lead. Instantly, Shane felt his eyes snap open, and immediately knew he was seeing through the golden eyes of his wolf. All of his senses heightened as the wolf started to take control. As if he were sleepwalking, Shane felt the wolf lead him into the main room of the cottage and straight to the sofa and to the girl. The wolf focused intently on the girl's face for many minutes, and it took that long for Shane to realize that the wolf was imploring him to look at her closer, to really see her. Next, the wolf called upon the power of scent, and Shane felt the aroma of crisp rain hit him like a rush he had never known. This time though, the wolf would not allow him to look away. Deep inside himself, a shadow to the wolf for the moment, Shane recoiled in disbelief. There was something about this female, about her features which he now noticed called to him. And there could be no denying, the scent of rain which he earlier could not escape was indeed coming from her. Feeling bolder, the wolf pressed forward further, forcing Shane to drop to his knees beside the girl. With hands that were unsteady, Shane pulled the blanket slightly down from her shoulders and leaned in towards her, taking in her scent with relish. Inside though, Shane was in disbelief. The scent assaulting him was unmistakably that of his mate. How could it be, he wondered? His body began to stir beyond his control. His heart hammered and his hands trembled, as a sweat began to form on his skin. This was the scent of his mate, which meant the female that carried the scent, was one he could not resist. But Shane had not desired anyone in decades. Not in any way. Could this female truly be his mate? Inside, Shane screamed and protested. No, his mate was dead! But her scent, the wolf countered, was clearly that of his mate. Shane was taken aback even further. Could it be possible? That this was his mate? Would Luna send him another mate? And if she did, would the new mate carry the identical scent of his previous mate? He didn't think that were possible. The chances were too slim. But if that weren't so, then the only other possibility was ... His eyes snapped suddenly back to the shelf where Gregor kept the photograph of Ilsa in a crystal frame. He didn't need to move from where he was kneeling to focus intently on the photograph. He saw Ilsa, sitting on the front steps of the cottage, wearing a summer dress. Her eyes were alight as she smiled, and her dark hair was falling over her shoulders. Ilsa's fair skin was lovely as well. The color of cream, the same as ... Shane's eyes turned again to the female before him. His heartbeat now tripled as he finally saw what the wolf wanted him to see. The same dark hair, a deep, rich shade of mahogany. The shape of her eyes, the curve of her jaw. How could he have not seen before? He was rocked yet again as the wolf surged on, allowing scent to rule his musings. Shane was powerless to stop himself as the wolf urged, demanded, that he lean even closer to the girl and scent her. With his hand he brushed her soft hair aside, allowing him to lean close enough to scent her throat. Beneath her wonderful natural scent, was another and the wolf growled low in his throat. He could scent another male there, and his agile mind quickly knew that it was a Were, and also one of his pack. Shane was astounded at how he could have missed it before. He pulled away enough to look over her flesh closely where he could see her skin was marred. He gently pulled the shirt away enough to see the bruises which had formed both on her throat and also on her shoulder, disappearing towards her back. Before he could fully process the bruises, his attention was drawn to another scent. The wolf demanded Shane lower his face to the bottom of her throat and inhaled deeply until he identified the scent. Sickness. It suddenly occurred to him as his ears pricked and he became aware of not only her labored breathing, but the wheezing sounds she was emitting. The girl hadn't been simply sleeping like he allowed himself to believe. She was ill. From the weather, and probably the exhaustion of being hunted as she was. He inhaled again and listened with keen ears to the rumbling sounds in her lungs as they struggled to process the air she took in. Shane was stunned as suddenly the wolf retreated, having shown him everything he felt he needed. Withdrawing suddenly, the wolf gave up control causing Shane to fall backwards. He threw his hand behind him to stop his fall, and rested a moment as his human senses once again aligned themselves. Once they had he hung his head, fighting off the shock that threatened to consume him. Within scant moments he was forced to acknowledge that the mate he'd thought dead for over thirty years was alive and before him. She was alive! But she was also injured. And sick. Though he was still reeling, Shane forced his body to raise it self once again to kneel beside her. His fingers still were shaking as he gingerly brushed her hair back once again to take a look at her with his human eyes this time. Even unconscious, he was certain she was the most beautiful creature his eyes had ever seen. But Shane was also angry with himself. Because she may be beautiful, but she was also injured, and sick. All because of him. And knowing this, Shane hung his head in grief. A moment later and Shane's head shot up again, to the bookshelf. To the photograph of Ilsa. His mouth went dry as her words sprang into his mind. Words he'd repeated to himself every single day, since she had first spoken them to him. "She will come to you on a night that is neither dark nor light ..." Shane's eyes went to the window where the storm raged beyond. Freezing rain was sheeting down, almost instantaneously turning to ice wherever it landed. Accompanying this was the most out of season lightning he could ever recall. He remembered the way the light reflected off of the clouds and hills earlier in the evening. The strange light that allowed him to clearly see this female despite the darkness that surrounded her. "You must help her ..." Shane's eyes returned to the girl before him. Alone. Cold. Sick. Obviously abandoned. When he first saw her she was terrified, running for her life. He could still hear Ilsa's every word, clear as a bell. "Promise me! Promise me you will. That you will help her." Shane swallowed again, as his wide eyes traveled yet again from the photograph, to the girl, and somehow still through his memories of Ilsa. He finally found his resolve as he gazed at this girl, who he now realized was not only his mate, but the one Ilsa assured him, would one day come to need him. "Promise me!" Ilsa was saying to him, over and over in his mind. And finally deep inside him, Shane came alive once more. The part of him which had died years ago was suddenly reborn of the knowledge that he had reason to live once more after all of these years. "Promise me!" he heard. And Shane nodded, as he gently took the hand of the girl he kneeled before and brought it to his lips. "I will," he whispered to her. And then he once again, 33 years later, answered her mother's desperate plea. "I swear it." Visions Unveiled Ch. 05 5. Into The Light As she came awake, Faline slowly realized two things. The first was that she was freezing cold, and the second was the tight, aching pain throughout her entire body. She sat up slowly and tried to take in her strange surroundings. The last thing she remembered was fleeing through the forest, but now she found herself inside of some sort of cabin. Where was she? And more importantly, how did she get here? She was surprised to realize that her teeth were chattering despite her body being tangled up in several thick blankets. She pushed them down off of her and began to swing her feet towards the floor. "Please don't move too quickly, you are not well." Startled, Faline raised her eyes, searching for the man who had spoken to her. Though the voice seemed filled with gentle concern, there was also an undercurrent of authority in his tone. She located him standing across the room from her, where he was framed in a doorway that led to the room beyond. Though at first glance he appeared to be casually leaning with his arms crossed, she could tell he was tense. It was clear that he was purposefully keeping his distance. Her eyes widened as she quickly noted the breadth of his shoulders, and how even in his relaxed posture his folded arms were thick with muscle. He was tall, undoubtedly strong, and appeared to be wound tight like a spring. If she was reading his body language correctly, he was on edge, possibly set to pounce at any moment. She dared to take her eyes off of him for a moment to scan the room. She was searching for an exit, a way to escape. When her eyes landed on the front door, she quickly looked back to the man to see how far from her he was standing. She had to risk it. Without taking her eyes off of him she brought her hands together and started to whisper to herself. "Hverfa ... fel." She saw his eyes narrow as he focused on her words, but to her relief he did not move. She quickly realized she could not continue to speak, as her breath was suddenly gone, only to be replaced by a horrible cough. She covered her mouth with her hand as the cough worsened. Faline couldn't stop herself from doubling over. She began to feel lightheaded as the cough progressed, and she suddenly recognized the achy pain in her body as one she was all too familiar with. Once she regained control of her breathing, Faline opened her eyes and was relieved to see the man still hadn't come any closer to her. He observed her with worried eyes, as if her condition somehow caused him discomfort as well. He unfolded his arms, and as he did so he took his first steps into the room. "Please don't be alarmed. You are not in danger here." Faline couldn't have disagreed more. She extended her palm toward him as if it would fend off his approach. When that didn't work she looked at him with brave eyes and stated simply, "You are a wolf." She knew that when he suddenly froze in his steps it was because she had shocked him. She wasn't certain if he would deny it or not. He tilted his head slightly to the side as he considered her, and then after staring at her for several long moments he finally nodded. "Yes. I am the Alpha of this territory. My name is-" Without thinking, Faline sucked in her breath. "You're an Alpha?!," she blurted, as she assessed him once again. Noticing once more how large and powerful he looked simply standing still. She couldn't stop herself from rambling on. "Of course you are," she muttered, "They must really want me dead to have finally sent an Alpha ..." The growl he issued at the mention of her death shook the air in the room. Faline misinterpreted his anger and looked again to the door. "Leyna," she whispered, hoping that she had enough strength to vanish long enough to at least make it outside. Faline kept her eyes glued to him, hoping that she had enough time to flee should he suddenly attack her. Including the time in London and the run in with the one she encountered on the way to the bakery, Faline had been attacked by werewolves regularly since she was a small child. Always, she managed to escape with little to no harm. This was the first time she had been in such close confines with one however, as it usually happened out in the open. This was also the first Alpha she had encountered to her knowledge, and that gave her all the more cause to panic. When he spoke again his voice had taken on a rough, gravely tone which she knew meant he was a step further from man, and closer to becoming the wild creature that was capable of tearing her to shreds. "Tell me the name of whoever has threatened you, and they shall rue the day they dared to bring you harm." Faline found she couldn't concentrate on his words as she was once again suffering another coughing spell. She shook her head and as he began to approach her once again. He stopped when he saw her eyes go to the door and he followed her gaze. "You are not a prisoner by any means, but we are in the middle of an ice storm. Leaving is out of the question. It is not safe." Faline managed a small breath before shaking her head at him, "No, not safe," she rasped. She saw him frown as he digested her words. He then reached to a table beside her and picked up a glass of water which had been placed there. "Here," he said, "Drink, you are dehydrated." Again, there was that tone which suggested he fully expected her to comply. She hesitated before accepting the glass, knowing he could quickly kill her in a dozen ways without having to waste his time or energy with poison. When she took a tentative sip, he nodded his approval. Almost instantly she began coughing yet again, and so he extended his hand to take the shaking glass back from her. Faline sighed in defeat, knowing she was too sick to truly consider any type of escape at the moment. He spoke the truth, she realized, as she could hear the frozen rain beating against the roof of the cottage, and a glance towards the windows told her it was dark outside. She felt exhaustion closing in on her, and while she still feared for her life, she knew this man in her presence was the largest Were she had yet to come in contact with, and he hadn't killed her yet. Either he was waiting for some reason, or possibly there was a chance his words were true, and he would not harm her. She hoped for the latter, but was too weary to ponder it much further. When she could fight it no longer, her heavy eyes closed as she slipped to sleep once more. * * * Shane held his breath as he watched his mate drift into a restless slumber. His first encounter with her left him staggering. He was amazed that she identified his true nature, and he wondered how it was possible for her to know such a thing. What he found more worrisome however, were her cryptic words. Clearly, she had interactions with the Were community before, and from what he could tell, none had been pleasant. The mere notion she thought he could be capable of ending her life nearly crippled him. She obviously was knowledgeable about Weres, to be able to identify one on sight. It relieved him of having to explain to her what he was. It did pose a problem however, that she was clearly afraid of his kind, and seemingly for good reason. Desperately, Shane ached to know where she had been all these years. She must have been miraculously revived at the hospital. He wondered if after Gregor's death if a distant family member had come forth to raise her. He readjusted the blanket covering her, before stepping back to gaze upon her once more. So many questions, he thought to himself as he shook his head and backed out of the room. A short time later, Shane was standing at the window in the kitchen of the cottage. This room faced east, and from here he watched the slowly brightening sky. The branches of the trees were encased in a coating of ice, causing them to gleam in the early light of day. Thick clouds still hovered in the sky, though the rage of the storm had ended. The forest was silent, as it was too early for most of the creatures to emerge. He had now been awake for over 24 hours, and while he was fatigued, he was more worried over what this day would hold. His mate was ill, and from the sounds of her distressed breathing while asleep, she would be no better upon awakening. She needed medical care. He sighed as his eyes scanned over the ice encrusted world beyond the window. There were no actual roads leading to the cottage, which meant they would have to travel by foot. He considered reaching out to Logan, to send a vehicle to the nearest point where the forest met a nearby back road, but then he quickly dismissed the idea. The ice which covered the trees would be doubly thick on the pavement of the road. The back road was subject to several curves and a number of hills, as pack lands were decidedly set far beyond main highways. While the roads may have been pretreated for the winter weather, he was doubtful they would be drivable at this hour. He did not have faith in traveling on such roads after such treacherous weather. It wasn't worth risking the safety of any of his pack or his mate to drive in these conditions. It was an hour drive to the nearest city which held the best medical center. His hope was that she was well enough to make it to his home and by then the roads would be in better shape for traveling. His decision made, Shane turned on his heel and crossed the kitchen to slide open the pantry door. He paused as his eyes scanned the shelves, thinking of the many times he had restocked the items here. His habit was to donate the food to a shelter before it expired, and then shop for replacements. There were boxes of rice and pasta, jars of fruits and vegetables, bags of flour and sugar. Typical finds in any kitchen, he imagined. Like the rest of the cottage, Shane maintained the organization of the pantry identically as it was kept by the kitchen's original owner. Ilsa had kept her cottage immaculate, and the pantry reflected her tidy housekeeping. The items on the shelves were aligned in perfectly straight, neat columns. The arrangement of the foodstuffs made sense. There were dry goods on one shelf, canned items on another; vegetables together on one side, fruits on the opposite end, and so on. Suddenly his gaze landed on a number of boxes and cans, grouped together on the shelf at his eye level. Several specific items were set apart from the rest, and tilted ever so slightly to cause them to stand apart. While shaking his head in disbelief at the dozens of times he had purchased the groceries and rearranged them just so, Shane reached up and took them down off of the shelf. He gathered them together and walked to the counter by the stove where he set down the chicken broth, tea and sugar cubes. He paused for a moment and then returned to the pantry and retrieved the final item which resided with these things, a box of graham crackers. Ilsa, was there anything that you didn't know? Shane thought, as he reached into a drawer and withdrew a can opener. He then made quick work of heating the broth and brewing the tea. He placed a steaming hot cup of broth and another cup of tea on a tray, along with a saucer that held several of the crackers and some of the sugar cubes. He carried the tray into the living room and set it down on the coffee table before he went to the fireplace to stoke the steady flames and embers there. A sound at his back caught his attention and he turned to see his mate had awakened. She had raised herself into a sitting position and was watching him with distrustful eyes. She followed his every move until he realized her focus was on the sharp iron poker he held in his hand. Slowly, he lowered his arm and returned the poker to the stand which housed the fireplace tools. He then stepped to the tray and lifted the heavy mug containing the broth and held it out to her. He saw her eyebrow arch as she studied the contents of the tray, and she gave him a confused look as she accepted the broth. "Thank you," she croaked, and he nodded silently. The rumble of her congestion concerned him greatly, and he studied her intently as he took a seat on the edge of a chair close enough to observe her, but far enough away as to not crowd her. She blew gently on the broth to cool it before taking a small sip. After several long moments had passed, she wrapped her hands fully around the warmth of the mug and fixed him with a curious stare. "I don't get you," she said. "Ask anything you like, and I will answer honestly," was his reply. He rested his arms on his knees, and then leaned forward slightly. He was hoping the smaller he appeared in size, the less threatened she might feel. Her very next words quickly dispelled that illusion from his mind. "Are you going to kill me?" she asked bluntly, before taking another sip from her cup. Shane inhaled a sharp breath, forcing himself to not overreact. He shook his head and knew she was watching his every move. "I could never hurt you, nor will I allow you to come to any harm. Not so long as I am able to prevent it." "Then I am free to leave?" Shane felt his wolf object, demanding he never lose her again. He paused to gain control of the feral part of him and then shook his head. "You are quite ill. You need to see doctor." Shane couldn't wait to get back to the civilization of his home, so he could call the one human physician he trusted enough to tend to his mate's sickness. Without missing a beat, she nodded back at him, "I will. I have a doctor. So I can go?" Shane was grateful for his patience. It allowed him to calmly rebuff her once more, even though his wolf was yet again snarling inside of him. "You are not well enough to travel on your own. And it is still dreadfully cold out in the forest. When you feel strong enough, we will journey to my house a few miles from here, and then I will take you to the medical center in the city." He saw her blink in confusion as she looked around the room and then back at him. She leaned forward and set her cup back onto the tray. "This isn't your place?" she asked. Sorrow filled his heart as he looked into her eyes, her beautiful silver eyes. "Technically yes, I own this cottage. However it once belonged to my very dear friends." "Not anymore?" she asked innocently, as she looked over the room once again. Shane rubbed his hands together briefly before answering her, "No, they are deceased." Saying those words out loud had never hurt him so much as it did today. His heart twisted further in his chest as a look of pure sympathy crossed his mate's face. She took a small breath before nodding in understanding. "I'm sorry about your friends," she told him. The genuine honesty in her voice touched him deeply. He nodded sadly, "So am I." Shane then watched as she leaned forward once more to inspect the tray, the look of disbelief once again dancing over her pretty features. She reached for the cup of tea and dropped in a single sugar cube. He watched intently as she picked up the delicate teaspoon and dipped it into the teacup. She stirred with her left hand, he noted. As each moment passed, he was more and more certain that she was not only his mate, but the long-believed dead child of Ilsa and Gregor. There were so many things he was yearning to ask of her, yet he didn't know quite where to begin. "Aren't you going to have anything?" she asked suddenly, in the way people did when trying to change a sad subject. He shook his head silently, and watched as she took a sip of the spiced tea. His breath hitched in his throat as she smiled appreciatively. It was the first time he saw her smile, and it was the loveliest sight he could remember seeing in a long, long while. "I love this tea," she said, "It reminds of me of India." "You've been?" Shane asked, eager to know as much about her as possible. "Twice," she said with obvious pride. "That's where I was the first time I had this tea. I have it at home, but I've never met anyone else to have it on hand. At least I don't often see it." Shane found himself nodding in understanding. While chai tea had recently become popular in trendy coffee houses, it wasn't always the case. He had no doubt Ilsa foresaw her daughter's taste for the exotic tea and that's why it was in the pantry. Shane himself panicked a few years prior when he could not find it in any local market. Desperate to maintain the contents of the cottage to perfection, he tracked down a supplier across the country to have it shipped to him. When he saw his mate's obvious pleasure at the taste of the tea, he instantly knew he would be ordering many more boxes for a very long time. He wanted to ask her a thousand questions, starting with what had happened to her and why was she out in the wilderness during such horrid weather. The beast inside him snapped angrily at that thought, and while his human side saw the importance in such a thing, he knew he had to keep things level for the moment. So far, she seemed trusting of him. Of course she was intent on getting away from him, which he steadfastly objected to. However, he knew he had to take things slowly for now. If he overwhelmed her or demanded she answer too many things at once, he knew he could lose her yet again. He kept this in mind as he watched her break off a corner of a graham cracker and nibble at the edge. "I like these too," she announced with another one of those small smiles. And Shane nodded dumbly once again. Of course she did. * * * For Erin and Logan, breakfast was a tense affair. Today they sat alone at the table in the kitchen. Normally, they dined with Shane and discussed the matters at hand for the day. This morning though, was another day Shane was not home, and it stressed Erin greatly. The only other person who technically resided under the Alpha's roof was Kevin, though he was a very early riser, and had long since had his meal and began his day. It was pack tradition for the immediate family of the Alpha to share living quarters. It had been so for hundreds of years in Ireland, and when Aiden Kellen immigrated with his pack to the United States in the early 20th century, he insisted the tradition remain. Clearly the largest building on pack lands, the house belonging to the Alpha boasted plenty of bedrooms, seemingly more than they might ever fill. Upon arriving in the United States with his pack the former Alpha, Aiden Kellen, secured land in a remote location. He then set about constructing the houses with the help of the pack's strongest males. In the end there were close to three dozen houses built in the complex. Aiden and his family resided in largest of them all. His personal quarters were located in a suite on the third floor which he shared with his mate, Lareina. The pair was blessed with five cubs, though only two would accompany their arrival to the States. Their first born was an anomaly in that he was born to a litter of his own. Practically from birth, the cub possessed his father's willpower and strength and was also the only cub that would inherit the dark coloring of his mother. He was given the name Shane Rian Kellen, and when he was born the pack celebrated the birth of the young Alpha. He was the only cub belonging to the couple for ten years, when his mother delivered a litter of twin males, named Torrin and Tavis. 45 years after delivering her first born, Lareina delivered her final litter which consisted of a male named Egan and the only female born to the pair, who instantly captured all their hearts, Erin. In the present day Shane moved, albeit begrudgingly, into the third floor suite when he ascended as Alpha after Aiden's death. Erin resided in a suite on the second floor with her mate. Of the other siblings, Tavis had perished in a battle among the packs years before the transition overseas. His twin Torrin chose to remain in Ireland where he was an acting Beta in his mate's pack. The final sibling, Egan, had also perished at a young age. Erin often admitted to still being able to feel him, though he was gone now for centuries. With so many empty suites in the home, Logan's twin brother, Kevin, had taken a room on the second floor also, as he and Logan were the only remaining wolves in their line. Visions Unveiled Ch. 05 After watching his mate push her food around her plate for several minutes, Logan finally dropped his fork. "Is there something you want to talk about?" he asked her. Erin shook her head distractedly for a moment and then sighed. "I'm just on edge, I'm sorry." Logan narrowed his eyes at her, he knew her too well. "Are you certain it's you who feels that way? Or is it someone else?" She glared at him, none too happy with his tone. "I am 287 years old. I think I can tell when a feeling is mine by now." Logan held up his hand, "I'm sorry, but you have to admit, sometimes your emotions become clouded. What has you on edge?" She shrugged at him, and when she didn't answer he asked, "Is it Shane?" Erin shook her head as she picked up her fork to begin moving her food about once again. "No. Actually, this morning he is ... focused, very determined. His mind has probably cleared from his run. He is likely thinking about returning home and to work soon." This news was a relief to Logan. Though he still maintained that if Shane didn't return today, he would attempt to drag him out of the forest himself if he had to. Still, there was the matter of his mate's distress. He reached across the table and took her hand, waiting until she raised her eyes to his. "You'll feel better when your brother is home," he told her. Erin gave him a distracted nod yet again. She knew that ought to be true, but for some reason, someone's emotions were interfering with hers, and they were most definitely not at ease. * * * Shane washed and rinsed the dishes while his mate dressed in her clothes which he had cleaned and dried for her. Now that she was awake, she insisted on leaving. He worried over her health, but he also knew they couldn't stay here forever. Perhaps it was best to get going now, while there was still plenty of light in the day. He knew her motives were fueled mostly by her distrust of him, and that she wanted to get back to her own life as soon as possible. Shane admired her determination. All he knew was he wanted her illness to be gone. Then he would tackle the myriad of other problems he had to contend with. When he was finished with the dishes, he stepped into the living room where he saw his mate was now dressed and folding the blanket which had covered her while she slept. She looked over at him, "We are still going right?" she asked, and he could tell she was afraid he'd changed his mind. "Yes," he answered, knowing it was she wanted to hear. He pulled on socks and boots he was borrowing from Gregor, as well as a warm coat. He watched as she too pulled on her outerwear, and he frowned when the buttoning of her coat was interrupted by yet another coughing spell. Once she was bundled up she picked up her satchel and pulled it over her body crosswise. "What is your name?," he said on impulse, wondering why he hadn't thought to ask her it before now. She blinked at him for a moment in which he could tell she was debating whether she should or should not tell him. Upon making her decision she shrugged slightly and said, "Faline." "Faline," he repeated slowly, as if testing the sound and feel of the word. "Faline," he said again, "It's-" "Unusual?" she interrupted. "I was going to say lovely," he countered, "Are you named for someone?" Her eyebrows drew together slightly and then she shook her head. "I've often wondered that myself. But I honestly am not sure. I hope to find out someday. Until then, I am the only Faline Olivia Grey that I know of." Shane silently mulled over her name as he watched her lean down to adjust the lacing of her boots. She didn't press the conversation further, as she now seemed all the more anxious to leave. He still had a small doubt this was the best course of action, but he felt the sooner they started this journey, the sooner it would be over. He opened the front door and held it for his mate to walk through, and then stepped out onto the porch beside her. He locked the door and placed the key back into the lantern. When he turned around he saw that she was already making her way down the very slippery porch steps. He resisted the urge to assist her as she gingerly took each step. Once was on solid land, he breathed a sigh of relief, and made his way down as well. He frowned as he saw his breath puff out before him, not pleased with how cold the temperature still was. Though this time she was bundled up and dry, he knew this weather was not good for his mate. He caught her looking around anxiously and knew she was in fear of some sort of attack. Hoping to dispel fears, he started towards the trees. "Here," he said taking the lead, "The path is this way." * * * So far, so good, Faline was thinking to herself as she obediently followed along the path. She just had to convince this werewolf that she was going along with his plan to get her to a hospital for now. She was waiting for the perfect moment to break away from him. It had to be just right, a moment where she had enough time to say the incantation that would make her disappear to his eyes. She just had to wait for him to be distracted first. It didn't help matters that he was vigilant about seeing to her safety. If a branch extended itself too far into the path, he would hold it back until she passed. He was constantly guiding her away from slick patches of ice, or insisting she take her time when it came to navigating around ditches and descending land. All in all, it was annoying. She couldn't figure out for the life of her why he even cared if she ended up with a scratch or a bruise from this hike. For as much as she could tell, his offerings of protection were just a ruse. She believed it was his way to get her to go along with him, until he got her where he wanted her. She couldn't allow that to happen. She had to get free of him somehow. She just wished she wasn't so sick. All of her life, Faline had been plagued with weak lungs. It hardly took any exposure to damp cold or germs and she would come down with pneumonia or bronchitis every time. It was a miracle she didn't have asthma on top of that, but luckily she dodged that bullet. The run-in with the smaller werewolf who had attacked her the morning prior did its damage. She was exhausted from the run, and the cold weather and the rain took their toll on her health. She worried that she might not be well enough to keep herself vanished for as long as she would need to escape this Alpha, but she had to try. She knew she had to make her move soon. She feared the longer she waited, the closer they would be to wherever he was leading her. Which meant she would find herself surrounded by what would probably be many more wolves. She knew if he managed to get her to his lair, so to speak, then she was as good as dead. For as far back as her memories went, werewolves tried to kill her. Why then, did she suddenly feel doubts about fleeing from this one? She was annoyed with herself. Try as she might, she kept recalling the concern in his dark eyes each time he looked at her. Though their earlier conversation was quite brief, she had to admit he seemed sincere when he expressed his concern for her. She thought of the way her clothes had been cleaned and folded precisely with care. The space he'd given her so far, and the way he seemed to understand what she needed, whether it was a sip of water from the bottle he'd brought along, or to walk slower at times, without her ever uttering a word. It was all unnerving. Could she possibly trust him? What reason would he have for keeping her safe anyway? Possibly his actions were designed to preserve her for whoever would be taking her life, if it wasn't to be him. And where was her headache? She relied on the telltale migraine to alert her when an attack was imminent. And so far today, there was none. Maybe she was just too sick? It was making her delirious. She shook off her doubts and focused on escaping once again. * * * Logan spent the morning seeing to pack matters. Besides himself there were four other Betas in the Kellen pack. There was his twin Kevin and the other three were named James, Brendan, and Sam. Each had their own unique strengths which added to the success of the pack. Logan directed them to check in with each household on the complex, to account that everyone had weathered the storm without incident. They were instructed to check the buildings for damage, and assist any family in need of anything. He arranged for walkways of common areas and steps to be treated with salt. Even though they were werewolves who were immune to a great many sicknesses, and healed quickly, many of the pack were considered elders, and Logan didn't need to tempt the fate of anyone falling when it could be so easily prevented. Lastly, he instructed them to send scouts into the forest, searching for traces of Justin. He knew Shane had banished him, but Justin was never the kind to heed an order. Logan knew that once Shane returned he would likely call for Justin to be brought in anyway, so it made sense to at least check the property for signs of him. When he was through meeting with the Betas, Logan returned to the office on the first floor of the Alpha residence. He walked in just as Erin was finalizing a conversation which she ended by slamming down the phone. He frowned as he watched her cover her face with her hands and release a sound of frustration. "Erin?" he asked, knowing he didn't need to say more. She dropped her hands and gave him a look. "It's not Aunt Tabitha. At first I thought it was her because that would make the most sense. Then I tried Rebecca and Katie. It's not them. I even called Marie in the city. I just hung up with her. She's also fine." Logan tried to keep up with his mate's ramblings, but finally gave up. "I don't understand. You are upset because there isn't anything wrong with most of the people you care about?" She thumped her palm on the desk, "It's someone! I just don't know who!" Logan sighed, remembering her mood this morning at breakfast. Earlier in the day the emotions she was picking up had been a cause for distraction, but by now they were fully agitating her. He went over to her and leaned on the desk before taking her hand. He couldn't remember the last time he saw her in such a state. "Don't worry. We'll figure it out. Tell me what you are feeling. What you know." Erin leaned into his touch, glad for his support. "It's a female." Logan nodded, "Ok. So she must be close to you, for you to be so flustered." She shrugged, "Yes and no. It seems that way because her feelings are so amplified in my head. But I don't know who she is." "And what is she feeling?" Logan asked. Erin thought for a moment before answering. "Confused. Apprehensive. Anxious. And strangely enough, secure." She ran a hand through her auburn hair, "Oh I wish she would just figure it out already!" Logan frowned, he hated when his mate's empathic abilities caused her distress. "Maybe you should go lie down. You haven't been sleeping well this last week." Erin shook her head, "It's no use. I won't feel better until she does ... whoever she is." * * * Shane used his foot to nudge a large rock off of the path before addressing his mate over his shoulder, "It's not much further. There is maybe a quarter of a mile more." He got nervous when he saw her eyes skitter around. "Would you like to stop and rest for a few minutes?" he asked. Shane was not thrilled with how long the trip had taken so far. He had no doubt that if she was healthy and the conditions were better, his mate would have easily kept up with his stride. She had done well for the most part, despite a number of coughing fits which caused him more alarm than they did her. She seemed accepting of her sickness, as if it was something she was used to dealing with. Several times they needed to stop when she was overcome with a bout of coughing, but she seemed to know how to regulate her breathing, and was resolved to keep up with him. It took everything in him to not simply reach out and pick her up, carrying her the rest of the way. It's what he would have done with a sick or injured member of his pack. He knew it would have decreased their travel time immensely and his wolf was upset with him for not making that a priority. But he was forcing himself to be cautious of her personal space. She seemed more comfortable with a distance between them. Except for the brief moment he held her hand before she awakened, he had not touched her again. Part of him was concerned that if he did so now, knowing fully who she was, he would never let her go. They had traveled thus far mostly in silence, so he wasn't too concerned when she didn't answer him. However when he turned back again he noticed that she had stopped several yards behind him. Her hands were clenched into fists and she appeared to be speaking to herself. "Faline?" he asked as he began to walk back towards her. She quickly thrust her hands out towards him and his ears picked up her voice, speaking again in similar words she'd used earlier. "Leyna, Hverfa. Fel. Leyna, vernda. "Faline, what are you saying? And what language is that?" he asked, more than a little frustrated. Much about his mate perplexed him, but the way she seemed to chant in tongues when she appeared in distress was at the very top of the list. He had covered half the distance between them when she brought her hands closer to her and shook them in disbelief. Clearly unhappy with whatever she was seeing -- or was not seeing as the case may be -- she turned abruptly and bolted away from him darting off of the path. "Luna, no," Shane prayed as he watched her flee from him. He took off after her, and in no time he spotted her where she was making her way down an embankment. He watched in horror as she slipped on the icy slope and landed in a patch of thick, wooded briars. Within moments she was on her feet and running again. He quickly followed her down the slope and his senses screamed in protest at the scent of her spilled blood. His wolf was howling angrily inside of his head, mauling to be set free to quickly retrieve their mate. Shane fought the wolf back with every ounce of control he possessed. He knew the sight of his wolf would only traumatize her more. It took just a minute or so, but finally he caught up to her and reached out, seizing her by the arm. "No!" she screamed and she tried to pull her arm free of his grip. He exerted enough pressure to keep her in his grasp without causing her pain. "Faline, please, stop this," he was practically begging her. The sight of her terror was wrong in every way. He spun her around to face him and she still fought with everything she had. The fight in her was impressive, he had to admit, but in the end she was no match for his strength. He released her arm to wrap both of his hands around her upper arms. "Why are you running? I have sworn you will come to no harm." She continued to struggle and he noticed that her hands were bloodied by the thorns. She also had a scratch below her right eye, which extended back towards her ear. He was beyond angry at himself, how could he have let his happen? She was muttering the strange words yet again, repeating them quickly, over and over. Shane searched her eyes and saw nothing except for the sheer terror she was feeling as she looked frantically around, as if she expected an attack from any sudden angle. "What has happened to you? What horrible things have you faced? And fear again now?" She shook her head at him and tried yet again to push him away from her. "Why wont it work on you?" she asked desperately, and Shane sensed she was speaking to herself more than to him. "Why doesn't what work? Please talk to me," he desperately needed to know what she meant. He was quickly learning that he couldn't protect her without understanding her, and he had a lifetime of understanding to make up for. Shane was surprised when she actually answered him. "I should be able to get by you, the spell should help me get away. Whenever I am in danger it always works. Why doesn't it work with you?" the despair of her words trailed off into a sob. Shane fought to control his anger at learning she had lived a life filled with such terrors, it warranted the necessity of a spell to escape her attackers. Unable to stop himself, Shane gathered her trembling body close to his in a tight embrace. "Rest your fears, m'chroi. Let it go. Your shields will not work on me because you are in no danger. I will protect you. That burden is no longer yours." He hoped his words were soothing, and that she would finally believe him. Inevitably her trembling tears gave way to a rasping cough. This time, she seemed unable to control it. He released her enough to allow her the air she needed but when he noticed her reddened face darken to purple he felt fear grip his heart. He placed his palms along her face and his eyes widened immediately. "You're burning up," he blurted, as her fevered skin practically seared his hands which had been chilled by the winter air. Thankfully, there was a break in her cough which gave her enough time to inhale a deep breath. When she did he acted without thought. He pulled her to him again and gently ran his fingertips along her forehead, whispering a brief spell of his own. Instantly, she fell into a deep sleep, and as her body relaxed he caught her in his arms. Effortlessly, he carried her back to the path and rushed to exit the forest as fast as he possibly could. * * * By now, Erin was curled up on the sofa, with her head buried in a pillow. She kept moaning as if in pain, and though Logan calmly rubbed her back, he felt ready to tear down the walls. Because they were fully mated, they shared a bond which joined their souls. Emotions good and bad could be transferred though this connection. Though Logan was in no way empathic as she was, her discomfort echoed inside of him as well. Suddenly, Erin straightened and clutched the pillow to her chest. Tears flowed freely down her face as she suffered the most intense, inexplicable fear imaginable. Thankfully, the fear reached it's height after just a few moments. Then, as quickly as the crippling fear overcame her, it ebbed to heart-wrenching anguish. Next, as if a switch had been flipped, the torrent of emotions swirling through her went silent. Logan breathed a sigh of relief as he felt the hurricane die down though their bond. He brushed her hair back from her face and kissed her forehead lovingly. "It's over?" Erin smiled in relief, "Yes. And quite suddenly at that." Logan had only just taken her into his arms when she abruptly spun away from him and faced the window. He watched worriedly as she brought her hand to her temple. "Oh no, this is not good," she said distractedly. It was beginning to feel like a roller coaster, Logan was thinking. "Her feelings are back again?" he asked. Erin shook her head in awe of the next wave of emotions to slam through her. They hit her all at once: concern, rage, compassion, determination and urgency. "No," she said again refusing to take her eyes off of the tree line, "This would be Shane. The Alpha has returned." Visions Unveiled Ch. 06 6. A breakthrough. Logan watched as his Alpha emerged from the forest, carrying what looked to be an injured girl in his arms. Stunned for a moment, he quickly tried to calculate all the possible explanations. Swiftly, he turned and headed for the back door while calling for his brother at the top of his voice. "Stay here," he said to Erin before opening the door and walking onto the back porch just as Shane took the first step. Without stopping his forward movement, Shane gave him a sharp nod. "I need a car. Make it the Jeep." Before Logan could respond, Shane entered the house, where he passed a bewildered Erin. He didn't pause as he made his way down the hall. "Erin, call Dr. Weiss. Tell him I am on my way and need to see him. Tell him it is an emergency." Logan and Erin shared a brief glance before following Shane down the hall and into his study. They watched as he crossed the room and gently placed the girl on a chaise. He straightened and removed the coat he wore and tossed it without thought onto a nearby chair, his eyes never leaving the girl. Once he was free of the coat he sat on the edge of the lounge beside her and placed his wrist against her forehead, as if checking her temperature. "Shane," Logan began, "What is happening? Who is this? There is much we need to discuss with you." When Shane lifted his eyes and spoke, Logan was momentarily shocked at the intensity coming from the Alpha. "Did I not make myself clear? Erin, Dr. Weiss. Logan, my Jeep. Now, Logan!" Logan heard his mate suck in her breath beside him. He too could not recall the last time Shane had spoken so sharply to anyone, and it did not bode well. She recovered quickly and brushed Logan's arm as she moved around him. "Heed him, please," she whispered to her mate as she walked to Shane's desk, picked up the phone and began to dial. "Dr. Weiss has retired, Shane, I may not get an answer at his practice," it was the tone one might use to explain something exceedingly simple to a young child. "He will see me," Shane replied tersely. Logan held perfectly still as he watched his mate take a deep breath before she said, "And I am to tell him it's an emergency. You are bringing someone in for him to examine, correct?" Shane nodded absently, still never looking away from the girl's face, "Yes. My mate." A sharp crack resounded off of the desk as Erin dropped the phone and spun towards her brother. "Your mate?!" When Shane looked up and saw Logan still in the room, his agitation increased. "Logan, I swear if you -" he suddenly broke off at the appearance of Kevin in the room, who was there to answer his brother's earlier summons. "You," Shane addressed Kevin, his tone pure ice, "Don't you dare take a step closer." Kevin was completely innocent of all that had happened in the short minutes since Shane's return. All he saw was what looked to him to be an injured person, and his drive to heal kicked in. He obeyed his Alpha's command by stopping where he was, though he couldn't resist his nature. "Is she hurt?" he asked, "I am sure I can help." Logan said a silent prayer when he heard the deep growl coming from Shane's throat. It was a sound he had heard countless times standing beside the Alpha while in battle, though it was always directed at the enemy. Logan wanted to speak on his brother's behalf, but when Shane shifted his stance, he knew it was best to keep perfectly still. He watched with wide eyes as their Alpha lowered his body and placed his arms on either side of the girl below him. Shane rested his weight on his hands and squared his upper body over hers, never once taking his eyes off of Kevin. It was an aggressive stance, a possessive claim of protection. The growling continued as Shane braced himself over the female. Logan had little doubt that should the ceiling suddenly cave in, the girl would have been completely shielded by Shane's powerful body. When Shane spoke to Kevin again, Logan recognized the deathly tone the Alpha reserved for his enemies. "You will never, ever touch her again." Kevin frowned as he pondered Shane's words, "Again, Alpha? Is this someone I should know?" Shane's growls were becoming louder, more threatening. The deep brown of Shane's eyes began to bleed towards gold. Logan suddenly held his arm out towards his brother. "Kevin, don't move. Don't even speak." "Was it you, Kevin?" Shane asked, as he smoothly navigated his way over the girl and stepped slowly towards where Kevin remained standing. "Are you one of those who Ilsa warned would keep her from me?" Shane's steps were slow, dangerous and threatening. Kevin lowered his eyes in submission, though he had never been the object of Shane's wrath before, he knew full well the signs. "I would never hide anything – or anyone - from you." Logan's heart was beginning to race, as he watched Shane advance on his brother. He knew he was powerless to stop this, should it take a turn. "Kevin, I told you to keep silent!" Kevin snapped his eyes towards Logan, "You would have me disregard a direct question from our Alpha?" Logan watched as Shane slowly narrowed his eyes and turned them back towards him. The smile Shane gave him was chilling. "Your twin fears I am unstable, Kevin." Shane's eyes slowly turned back towards his target as he advanced again, "Does he have good cause? Is it true, that you have betrayed this pack? Did you plot to keep my mate from me?" Kevin swallowed and his eyes skipped towards the chaise and rested on the unconscious girl lying there. His voice became barely a whisper, "Alpha, your mate?" Logan felt Erin, who had remained silent through all of this, slowly approaching him from behind. He reached back his hand towards her and she took his and squeezed it gently. Finally she spoke up, "With respect, Shane, Kevin is your friend. He has always been. He would never betray you." It was disturbing how even the sound of Erin's voice couldn't get through to Shane. Logan held his breath as Shane tilted his head as he considered Kevin, the small smile remained and Logan was suddenly worried for Shane's sanity. Had Erin been right the night before? Were these the signs of an Alpha coming undone? Logan's concern deepened when he heard the Alpha issue a short, bitter laugh before saying, "With respect, sister, I disagree." With that, Shane's arm shot forward, grabbing Kevin by the throat and pinning him to the wall. Though Kevin's nature was by far gentler than his, Logan knew his brother was not, nor had he ever been a weak wolf. He knew that while Kevin could not win in a battle against the Alpha, he was strong enough to withstand until hopefully Shane saw reason. Kevin reached his hand up and gripped Shane's forearm tightly, forcing Shane to relax his grasp. It allowed Kevin to catch a brief breath. This comforted Logan slightly, but he did not have high hopes when he saw the color of Shane's eyes change completely to the deep gold of the wolf. "Shane!" Erin quickly went to her brother's side, "Stop this. If you hurt him, you will regret it." Shane's fury had him trembling with rage. The air in the room even seemed unstable as magic rippled around him. He was visibly resisting the change from man to wolf, rendering his power tangible in the room. Lights which were not on flickered and books on shelves rattled. "You let me believe her dead!" Shane growled, as he tightened his hold on Kevin. "Alpha, no," Kevin answered, knowing now that Shane was referring to the night his mate was born. "She stopped breathing. She was gone." "She lives!" Shane insisted, "Thirty-three years she has lived in terror. By making an example out of you, I will send a message to the others." Shane's bright eyes sharpened as they focused intently on Kevin's. "You pronounced her dead. You robbed me of my mate and caused her a life of fear. You failed her. And in failing her, you have failed me." Shane's claws began to lengthen, digging dangerously into the flesh of Kevin's throat. Logan knew he was running out of time. He steeled himself as he placed his hand on Shane's arm. "Alpha please, listen to yourself." Shane's free arm violently struck out towards Logan, knocking him to the floor. Righting himself, Logan looked towards his mate and fear instantly took him. She had sunk down onto the floor and was rocking slightly, as tears flowed down her face. He opened his connection to her and gasped as he felt as the many emotions which were paralyzing her flow towards him. She was fighting off the intensity of Shane's blind rage, Kevin's confusion and his own fear for his brother's life at the same time. The emotions of the day had been relentless for Erin, from the feelings of the stranger which assaulted her all day and had now escalated into this altercation. It was crippling for Erin, and her sobs were quickly turning to tortured cries. Logan gently gathered her into his arms. "Erin, I will take you from here, and then I will come back for Kevin," he whispered. She shook her head violently, "No! There isn't time, Shane is not in control." Logan nodded sadly as he looked up to where Kevin was still fighting for his life. He briefly made eye contact with his brother, hoping this wasn't an eternal farewell, and that is when he witnessed the bravest thing he had ever seen in his life. After Kevin's eyes met his own, they went to Erin in sympathy. Suddenly, Kevin dropped his arms and ceased his struggle against Shane. "Alpha," Kevin rasped, "Please, have mercy. Not for me, but on my brother, and on his mate." The sudden lack of struggle seemed to interest the beast in charge of Shane at the moment, and he relented slightly, allowing Kevin a much needed breath. Kevin went on, "If you deem my life forfeit, I will go with you, willingly into the forest, and my life is yours to end. But please, don't force my brother and Erin to see it. They are the only family I have, and I cannot leave this world knowing I caused them such suffering." Slowly, the gold began to recede from Shane's eyes, giving way to deep brown, and his claws retracted as well. He suddenly released Kevin's throat and spun around when he realized the shrill sound he was hearing in the room was Erin's tormented sobbing. When Shane reached for Erin, Logan instantly released her and watched as Shane held her, attempting to ease her hysterical cries. Logan breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Shane had regained himself, and he was grateful when he saw Shane brush Erin's temple with his fingertips, "Sleep, sister mine," Shane whispered to her, and clung to her as her body obeyed instantly. Tears of shame flowed from Shane's eyes as he lifted his sister, his eyes intent on her face. After a long moment, he extended her towards Logan, who accepted her into his arms. "Please," Shane said to him, "Take care of her." Logan nodded silently, unable to form words. He looked uncertainly towards Kevin, where he was breathing heavily against the wall, not having moved since Shane had released him. When Kevin nodded at him, Logan felt the danger had fully passed, and carried Erin out of the room. * * * Once he made his way to the city, Justin boarded a bus that took him directly downtown. He hadn't slept, and his once soaked clothes now clung to his body in wrinkled disarray. The disheveled appearance allowed him to blend in with the other less fortunate occupants on the bus, and he lost himself in his own thoughts. The cold didn't bother him, but he was tired and uncomfortable, and his foul mood worsened when he realized the bus had arrived at his destination. With a sigh he rose from his seat and exited through the rear double doors. Justin paused on the sidewalk where he looked up at the towering high-rise before him. Unable to put it off any longer, he took a breath and entered the building, proceeding through the lobby towards the elevators. In his rumpled clothing he did not fit in with the well-dressed occupants of the elegant building, and he returned more than a few distasteful looks with withering sneers of his own. Arriving at the elevator, he pushed the call button and watched as the lights above signaled that the lift car was indeed descending. The bell chimed, announcing the car's arrival and when the doors slid open Justin stepped inside, grateful that the car was empty save for the uniformed lift operator. "Which floor, sir?" the operator prompted. Justin sighed and then answered without so much as meeting the man's eyes, "The penthouse." * * * Shane watched Logan carry his sister out of the room with a heavy heart. He felt completely unhinged. Never in all his years had he ever come apart in such a disgraceful manner. And to think he had caused pain to his own family was beyond the pale. He hung his head for a long moment and then taking a deep breath, he raised his eyes to meet Kevin's. He expected to be met with a stare of hatred and disgust. Yet Kevin's blue gaze held none of those things. The Beta's eyes were the same as they ever were, full of concern for those around him. Shane did not feel he deserved such concern. "Can you ever forgive me?" Shane asked. Although Kevin's injury had begun to heal, traces of blood were still present on his neck, and had stained the top of his shirt. He took a breath before shaking his head. "There is nothing to forgive." When Shane made a sound of disbelief, Kevin went on. "Alpha, you have been living a long time, tormented with grief over the loss of your mate. You endure year after year, in your own silent pain, and have never allowed the pack to comfort you. You have never healed. Instead, you have kept your loss and your anger bottled inside for so many years. It was only a matter of time before you lashed out." Shane began to move, unconsciously back towards the chaise, where the girl had slept through the commotion. Shane was thankful she was unaware of the shameful thing he had just done. "I could have killed you," he admitted in a sorrowful voice. Kevin sighed, the hint of relief present in his voice, "Yet you did not." By now, Shane had made his way to his mate's side, where he placed his hand against her highly fevered head. "Alpha Kellen," Kevin said in a calm, very respectful tone, "Would you have me go?" Shane looked up, his face clouded with worries. "Please, stay if you will." Kevin nodded, "Of course. What is it you need? The Jeep if I heard correctly?" Shane shook his head, "No, that wont be necessary." He took another deep breath before raising his eyes and spoke again. "Kevin, this is my mate and her name is Faline," Shane gently brushed her hair back from her head, "She is very ill. Will you please help her?" Nodding, Kevin began to step forward before realizing just how damp and bloody his shirt actually was. He paused before getting too close and lowered his head, "I must change beforehand, my Alpha." Shane raised his eyes, noticing Kevin's shed blood for the first time, and he felt his face turn pale. He nodded, glad for his Beta's wisdom. "Of course," Shane said, "I wish to move her upstairs. Please, find us there." Shane looked up to see Kevin bow his head slightly before backing out of the room. When Kevin was gone Shane lifted the small girl into his arms once again and carried her up the stairs. * * * The elevator opened to the private lobby of the penthouse, and Justin stepped straight to the ornate wooden door where he knocked with a confidence he didn't entirely feel. Moments later, the door swung open to reveal a hulking form. The Beta who greeted Justin was easily twice his size, and immediately mocked him with a false smile. "Why if it isn't the Irish whelp. You look like hell, kid. Did Kellen finally hang you out to dry?" Justin clenched his teeth to resist saying something that would get his neck snapped. "I am here to see your Alpha, not have a social call with you, Jeff. Is he here?" He prepared to hold his ground as the Beta advanced slightly towards him. "Alpha Danvers was expecting you days ago, where have you been?" Jeff asked while eying Justin's dirty clothes and unwashed hair. "I was delayed," Justin answered. When Jeff regarded him with only a cold stare, Justin decided this wasn't the best time for this meeting. He would come back later or tomorrow, after finding a way to clean up first. He turned back towards the door, "Since I take it your Alpha isn't in, I will see myself out." As he reached for the door handle, Jeff grabbed his shoulder and slammed his back into the wall, easily holding him in place. "I never said he wasn't here, kid." Justin struggled to gain his freedom, and when it didn't work he lifted his heel and stomped down as hard as he could manage onto Jeff's foot. Justin knew it was a childish and desperate defense, but it worked if only momentarily. Jeff hissed in pain and retreated slightly before backhanding Justin, effectively splitting open his cheek. Jeff had just balled his hand into a fist when a deep voice interrupted, causing his arm to freeze in midair. "Must you always manhandle my visitors, Jeffrey?" Though he smiled, Jeff's green eyes remained hardened as he grinned down at Justin and stepped away from him. When he was released Justin looked over to see that Jeff's Alpha had fully entered the room. Dressed in an immaculately tailored suit and with his dark hair precisely combed, Grant Danvers looked every bit the mogul he was. He was equally as powerful in the business world as he appeared to be, not to mention he possessed a bloodlust unlike Justin had ever known before. Standing over six feet, three inches and solidly built, Justin knew this Alpha had an inclination to be a cold-blooded killer. When his gaze met Justin's he too smiled, though like that of his Beta, the smile never reached his eyes. "Apologies, Alpha Danvers," Jeff said, "I must have lost my temper." Justin watched warily as the Alpha nodded, as if he were a proud father, "It's understandable. This pup brings that out in the best of us. You may leave us, Jeffrey." Justin winced slightly at the obvious insult, though he knew to hold his tongue. Though Jeff nodded, he didn't make an effort to leave. "If you don't mind, Alpha, I would like to remain. I don't trust this one." Grant chuckled as he made his way to the table where a breakfast service was set out and proceeded to pour a cup of coffee for himself. "That's interesting to hear Jeffrey, might I inquire as to why?" Jeff shrugged slightly as he fixed Justin with a glare. "He willingly sold his own Alpha down the river. If he is capable of such betrayal to his Alpha, his cousin no less, what's to say he wouldn't double cross you?" Grant sipped his coffee thoughtfully for a moment before he smiled again at his Beta. "You make a valid point Jeffrey, but I will have this meeting in private nonetheless. You are dismissed." Though he wasn't happy with his orders Jeff bowed to his Alpha before exiting the room through a hallway that led towards the back of the penthouse. Despite his dislike for Jeff, Justin realized upon his departure he was now alone with one of the most sinister werewolves in existence, and he was right to be slightly uneasy. * * * Kevin rushed through the fastest shower of his life, and by the time he turned off the spray of water, his throat had completely healed itself. He hastily pulled on a clean pair of jeans and t-shirt. His hair was still wet and his skin was damp underneath his clothes, but he was in a hurry. The Alpha claimed the girl he'd brought with him was his mate and she was sick. Kevin would have felt the urge to help her regardless of who she was, but if she was indeed the Alpha's mate, then she deserved nothing short of the best care he could provide. Kevin would not sully her by wearing ruined clothing in her presence. For one it was unsanitary, and that would counteract any treatment he gave to her. He also had too much respect for his Alpha to give less than his best effort, and that meant in no way examining his chosen mate while wearing contaminated clothing. Visions Unveiled Ch. 06 As he left his room he grabbed the backpack which held the medical gear he took with him when he traveled. He made his way down the hall towards the stairs that led to Shane's suite, but he stopped short as he passed a doorway which he seldom saw open. He had initially assumed that Shane intended to bring his mate to his private suite, but now he saw that the Alpha had brought the girl to a room on the second floor instead. He paused in the open doorway and looked inside to where the girl was lying in the bed. Shane was standing close by, anxiously watching over her. The irony was not lost on Kevin that Shane had chosen to place her in the suite which was last occupied by Ilsa and Gregor, on the fateful night that he would never forget. After Ilsa's death, the suite had been meticulously cleaned and the bed replaced, though it was never used again. Until now. From the open doorway, Kevin cleared his throat politely. When Shane looked up and nodded, Kevin slowly stepped into the room and walked around the other side of the bed. He took a short moment to deeply scent the air. There was no denying the scent of this girl identically matched that of the baby he'd delivered with his own hands in this same room years before. He raised his eyes to Shane's and realized the Alpha was watching him intently, fully aware of Kevin's assessment. They shared a silent nod. The Alpha had claimed this girl to be his mate, and Kevin fully endorsed the notion. Kevin opened his backpack and pulled out several items. Before going forward, he paused again. Understandably, Shane was fiercely possessive of his mate, and Kevin had no wish to repeat what had happened earlier in the study. Slowly, Kevin extended his hand and asked, "With your permission?" When Shane nodded again, Kevin gently placed his hand upon her forehead while he studied the scratches on her face. "You found her in the wildness?" Kevin asked, as he slipped a protective cover over a modern thermometer. He carefully brushed back the hair from the girl's ear before inserting the thermometer and pressing the button. Realizing Shane hadn't answered him, or spoken a word since he entered the room, Kevin raised his eyes once more. "Sir?" he prompted. Shane cleared his throat, as if he found it an effort to form words. "Something was chasing her. She passed out, almost hitting her head," he paused when the thermometer sounded its tone, "How high is it?" Kevin pulled the device back and frowned upon reading the display. "Too high, near 103 degrees." When Shane answered that with a quiet growl, Kevin nodded his understanding. "It's bordering on dangerous, but I have seen worse. Medicine and cooling her down should counter the fever. Has she been aware at all? Are there other symptoms?" "A terrible cough," Shane said, "And much difficulty breathing." Kevin pulled on his stethoscope and pressed the metal diaphragm to several areas over the girl's chest. Though he nodded to himself, the frown he wore made it clear he did not like what he heard. "Too muffled," he said as he eyed the heavy coat she still wore. Without a word, Shane began pulling the sleeves off of her arms, and raised her into a sitting position to extricate her fully from the coat and satchel, which he tossed to the side. "Please hold her there," Kevin said before Shane had a chance to lower her back down. The Alpha did as he was asked, and Kevin resumed listening to her lungs once more. He moved the stethoscope around to her back and spent a full minute listening to one spot in particular. When he moved the diaphragm again, he placed it against her chest, square over her heart and listened intently once more. Removing his stethoscope, Kevin nodded at Shane who lowered her head to the pillow. The moment she was lying back Kevin pressed his fingers firmly against the inside of her wrist, and his frown deepened. "What is it?" Shane asked. Kevin shook his head unhappily, "Her pulse is accelerated. Her heart is working much too hard. And I'm afraid there is fluid in her lungs." Withdrawing slightly Shane began to pace to the wall and back. Finally he looked straight at Kevin, "Why is her heart distressed?" he asked. This was the Alpha that Kevin was accustomed to. Driven, inquisitive, seeking results. Deep inside, Kevin was relived to see him, for he knew how to respond to this version of Shane. Kevin had taken out a lighted instrument and was currently looking into the girl's right ear. Straightening he said, "Most likely the fever. Her systems are working to fight the pneumonia." Shane cursed. Kevin watched as his Alpha began to pace once again. Kevin's eyes dropped to the girl before him and he breathed a sigh. "Alpha, I must ask you, is this slumber natural?" Shane suddenly spun back and approached the bed. He eyed his mate critically and then met the gaze of his Beta with a sheepish expression. "No, it is not." Kevin nodded, "How deep did you put her under?" He watched as his Alpha closed his eyes to him briefly. When Shane's eyes opened again there was a deep sadness about them. "She was suffering. I only wanted to give her peace," he extended his hand, his fingertips just shy of his mate's temple, "Shall I awaken her?" Kevin noticed a slight tremor visible in Shane's hand. Kevin's eyes sharpened and he shook his head. "No, I think it best for her to continue to sleep until I get some medicine into her system." Kevin watched as Shane looked upon his mate with a forlorn expression. Suddenly his attention shifted from diagnosing the girl to now appraising his leader. Kevin thought back on the last hour or so. His Alpha was not one to attack without provocation. His Alpha was never uncertain. His Alpha did not tremble. Silently, and most certainly without permission, Kevin began to assess his Alpha's health and state of mind. Though naturally fair of complexion the pallor Shane currently displayed was sickly. Kevin noted the thin flesh beneath Shane's eyes seemed darkened, as if bruised. His lips appeared pale and slightly cracked. Then there was the now telltale tremor. "Shane, when was the last time you slept, or had water?" Kevin ventured gently, hoping to seize the Alpha's attention. Shane's eyes only continued to darken, as he looked upon his ill mate. Kevin repeated Shane's name several times and when he still did not get a response he reached out and firmly took hold of Shane's wrist, "Alpha Kellen, I asked if you have rested?" When Shane looked up, Kevin thought his eyes had cleared slightly. Pulling his arm free, Shane took small steps backwards until he leaned against the wall, his eyes dropping to his mate once again. "I gave her broth, and tea," Shane paused to emit the laugh of the slightly insane. Kevin was afraid that Shane was going to come apart, and he found himself wishing Logan was in the room with him, though he knew Erin needed his brother more at the moment. Rounding the bed slowly, Kevin approached Shane warily. "Alpha, I would recommend you take to your bed. You are delirious." "Crackers," Shane said to no one. Kevin paused slightly, "I can bring you something to eat." Shane shook his head, unseeing, "I hunger not." Kevin might have been confused if he hadn't seen this condition in others before. He knew the best way to break through was to get the person to focus on what mattered most to them. Kevin looked over his shoulder briefly at the girl and then back towards his Alpha. "She will need you when she awakens. Your wellness is important." As always, it worked like a charm. The haze immediately cleared from Shane's eyes and he took a very deep breath. His attention immediately returned to his mate. "I cannot leave her, I will not." Kevin had anticipated this reaction. "I understand, but you must take care of yourself too. She needs you to be healthy and alert, as does the rest of your pack. You have already entrusted her to me. I will not fail you." His last words held as much meaning for Shane as he intended, and after looking him in the eye for several long moments, Shane finally nodded, accepting Kevin's advice. He stepped to the bed where he leaned down and gently kissed his mate's brow. When Shane straightened again he fixed Kevin with a purposeful stare. "I want her fever cured." It was an order, and Kevin knew it, was even glad for it. He inclined his head, "Of course, Alpha. It is my priority." Shane nodded sharply. "Good. I will be back in under an hour." Kevin watched Shane's back until he was gone from the room. Only then did he return his attention to his charge, fully intent on the thing he did best. Healing. * * * "You've reneged on our deal. You assured me he would have stepped down by now, that you could convince him. Now, because he is so stubborn and you are so inept, this will have to be done the old fashioned way." Though Grant Danvers spoke in a conversational tone, Justin could hear the implied threat in his voice. "I just need a bit more time," Justin said, hoping Danvers would agree to his request. Things really would be best for everyone if Shane willing walked away from the pack. Grant eyed Justin intently for a few moments. "Tell me, why are you so determined to have your pack rid of your cousin? Is it to lead on your own?" Justin shook his head, "I just want my pack to stay strong." Grant smirked, "Is that all? Doesn't it irk you even a bit that you have nothing of your own. You don't believe you deserve title of Alpha? You are family, are you not?" Justin nodded slightly, "Yes, cousins by way of my mother and his," after a silent pause he added, "I am not a Kellen." Grant laughed outright, "Well of course you aren't. Every Kellen I have ever gone against has been a strong, brave, honorable wolf. You boy, are clearly none of those things." When Justin hung his head, Grant laughed once more. "Don't fret, those are the very same reasons why I find you so useful." "If I could have just a few more weeks, I think I can talk him into resigning. I have already worn him down," Justin offered, hoping it didn't sound too lame. Grant shook his head, "There isn't any more time. Now we go about this my way, with force. I want his land. I want his pack. I will have both." Justin sat forward suddenly, "But he will fight back, I don't want any of my pack to be hurt. I was willing to help you so that my pack could be stronger, not lose any more members. Please don't wage a war against him. Please allow me to talk with him again." Grant shook his head sharply, "Time has run out. I have already given you too much." Justin frowned, "Why has time run out?" Rising from his chair, Grant walked to the large floor to ceiling windows and looked out over the skyline. "If I don't move now there will be obstacles. My advisors tell me that by the next full moon, Kellen will come into a great deal of power, much more than he has ever had before." Justin stood from his chair and followed Grant to the window. "And you want to take over before that happens?" Grant gave Justin a charming smile, "That should make you happy. It will be easier. Unless you would rather it was a bloody war?" Justin shook his head, thinking of his mother, his sisters all still unmated. He loved his pack. He really didn't want any of them to die. If replacing Shane was the answer to keeping the pack strong, so it could begin to grow once again, he would make that choice. "So," Grant said while giving Justin a once over, "You never did answer my Beta. Why have you been delayed these last days?" Justin wanted to roll his eyes, but refrained. "I was angry with my cousin. And when I tried to find an outlet for that anger, I ended up in the forest, caught in a storm." Grant smirked, "Well there is nothing like a good hunt to burn off steam. Recharge your batteries by feeding your baser urges to maim. Tell me, was it a brutal end for your poor victim?" Though he considered lying, Justin found no point in misleading the Alpha before him. So he shook his head, feeling his earlier anger return, "No, she got away." Grant turned fully to face Justin, a full smile on his face, "You really are a failure in every way, aren't you boy?" Justin shook his head, "I have had many successful kills. This one was different." Grant must have seen something in Justin's eyes which interested him greatly, for he sobered as he watched Justin speak. "And what made her different?" Justin shook his head, unbelieving he was about to say this out loud. "For one, she was very fast. And she disappeared on me. I mean that literally. She vanished." Grant raised a brow, "A witch?" Justin frowned in frustration, "No, she's not a witch. But whatever she is, she's very gifted." "Tell me," Grant asked very seriously, "This creature that can make herself vanish. Where did you encounter her? Where was she last seen?" Sighing at the memory, Justin could only shrug. "She was in the forest near the creek at the Kellen border." Grant swore under his breath before calling for his Betas, and Justin couldn't figure out what upset him so. When the three large Betas arrived, Jeff included, Grant started snapping orders to have the forest surrounding the Kellen land searched. "You," Grant said, pointing towards Justin, "Sit back down and describe her, to the last detail. Leave nothing out." * * * Much like his Beta had done, Shane rushed through the motions of a shower. In less than five minutes his body was clean and he was dressed, glad to be wearing his own clothes again. When he descended the stairs he resisted the urge to stop on the second floor to check on his mate. The pull towards her was the most magnetic thing he'd felt in all of his years, but he managed to steer himself away from her for the time being. Downstairs in the kitchen he forced himself to drink several glasses of water, and though he didn't feel hungry he ate an apple without tasting it. That done he proceeded to his study where at his desk he pulled out a file he hadn't looked at in years. It was his notes from the sessions he'd spent with Gregor, and he intended to scour them for any hint of words he heard Faline chanting. He'd only been reading for a few minutes when his vision blurred, causing him to blink several times. Frustrated, he rubbed his eyes, fighting off a weariness he didn't want to admit feeling. His mind and body were at odds, one needing rest, the other determined to find answers. At a loss, he called upon the part of him he could always rely on. Taking a breath and closing his eyes, he summoned the wolf and listened to what his more primal half had to say. The wolf conveyed images of his mate, who was currently in the trusted care of Kevin. She was safe. She was near. He did not need to worry about her right now. His body had been watered and nourished. Everything else, the wolf wholeheartedly believed, would happen when it was meant to happen. Part of Shane wished his eyes to reopen, but the wolf nudged forward slightly further. The decision taken out of his hands, Shane's head slowly lowered to rest against his arm. At the urging of the wolf, both his mind and body succumbed to exhaustion. * * * It took over an hour for Justin to finish telling Danvers and his Betas everything he remembered about the girl who had evaded his attack. He could barely get out two sentences without being interrupted with a barrage of questions. Exactly what shade was her hair? Dark brown. How dark? The darkest. And how tall was she? Not very. Did she say anything? Yes, but damned if he could repeat it. Did she wear any jewelry or charms? No. On and on it went, and Justin was tired of it. "Where was she coming from when you grabbed her?" It was Danvers asking this time, and Justin slumped slightly in his chair. When he didn't answer fast enough for Jeff's liking, the Beta reached out and slugged his arm. "My Alpha asked you a question, kid." Justin rubbed his arm as he thought back. "I don't know. She was just walking down the street." "Did she get out of a car?" One of the other Betas tagged on. Justin shook his head, "No, there weren't any cars at all at that hour. She was walking from somewhere." Danvers nodded, "Are you able to recall her scent?" Justin's eyes clouded for a brief moment as he did just that. Jeff raised his arm to punch him again but halted when his Alpha signaled for him to stop. The Alpha was watching Justin intently. Finally Justin nodded, "Yes. I remember thinking her scent was familiar for some reason. But I couldn't figure out why." "You'll go back there," Danvers was now on his feet, "With a team of my trackers. You'll follow that scent until you find her. Understood?" Rising himself Justin felt his anger returning, "I'm not a bloodhound. Find her yourself." All it took was a glance from Danvers and suddenly both of Justin's arms were twisted painfully behind his back. He cried out in agony as Jeff tightened the grip further. "You will lead my trackers to her," Danvers said. "If you know what is good for you, you will not disappoint me again." The pain was increasing, so Justin tried to say still, hoping Jeff would ease his grip. "I don't understand," he panted, "Why is this so important? She was just a girl." Justin withered slightly at the chilling glance he received from Danvers, "Just a girl, you say? I disagree. If she is anywhere as gifted as you've led me to believe, then I assure you son, she is much more than just an ordinary girl. In fact she sounds rather extraordinary." Justin paused, thinking all of these things over. He recalled her memorable scent once again. At the time, Justin had wanted to harm the girl himself. But suddenly, the thought of her in the clutches of Grant Danvers seemed a punishment far beyond any crime she had committed. "And when you find her, will you harm her?" Once again, Danvers laughed at him. "That, foolish boy, is not for you to worry about. All you need to know is that I want that girl. And I always get what I want." * * * Shane was slowly awakening. At first it felt like he was emerging from a dense fog, but eventually the haze cleared. His eyes opened gradually, adjusting to the rays of afternoon light that extended across his desk, where he found his head resting on the cool, smooth wooden surface. Suddenly everything came back to him and he bolted to his feet, glancing at the clock. He was stunned to see that he had only been asleep for half an hour. While his body could probably use another few hours to recharge, his mind was fully alert once more. He glanced down at the file spread before him and frowned. Though Shane knew there was a wealth of information buried in those pages, he now felt that the answers he sought wouldn't present themselves so easily. He stepped from behind his desk, but before he got too far he opened the top drawer and withdrew his cell phone from the spot he'd left it days before. He pressed the button to power it on and listened to the chimes indicating the many missed texts and phone calls he'd received. He tucked the phone into his pocket with the intent to return his calls at a later time. Less than a minute later he was up the stairs and knocking gently on a door. When he heard the invitation to enter he turned the handle and stepped into his sister's suite. He imagined Erin would be in bed, but instead he found her on the sofa in her sitting room, with a blanket over her lap. He frowned at the realization that she was alone. "Where is your mate? I told him to watch over you," he asked, as he crossed to her and lowered himself into the chair nearest her. Erin smiled as she reached her hand out and covered Shane's. "He had some calls to make, so he went downstairs. I am fine now, stop this worrying." Visions Unveiled Ch. 06 Shane turned his hand over so that her palm fell into his, "You didn't sleep much did you?" Again she smiled, "Your spells don't last very long on me anymore. I'm older now, I can bring myself out of them." Shane lowered his eyes slightly, "Erin, I am so very sorry that you were hurt. If I could go back and begin this day once more, I would change it all." Erin squeezed his hand. "Having everyone in my skull was no picnic today. But that is over now. I have been worried about you. Logan and I both are. This girl, you truly believe she is your mate?" Shane nodded. Thoughts of Faline had been dancing around in the back of his mind ever since he awoke from what he now realized had been a blissfully dreamless sleep. Now, the mention of his mate brought thoughts of her to the front of his mind instantly. He found himself actually smiling. "She is my mate. I am certain of it," he released her hand as this brought him to his feet, "I must also check on her. She is ill and Kevin is with her." Erin watched her brother intently as he started to move away from her. "Shane, wait. Logan and I, there are things we need to tell you, things which came to light while you were away. And this girl ... if she is your mate, there are so many questions." Shane leaned down and kissed the top of Erin's head, "She is. There is no question about that. Now get some more rest." Before she could answer, he was already leaving the room, questions of his own swirling though his mind. * * * It felt like someone was shaking her, and she wished they would stop. She was freezing again, and felt like she was swimming in a sea of darkness. As if from a great distance she heard a fragmented voice. It soothed her. Longing to hear it again, she struggled to emerge from the blackness surrounding her. Finally, she was able to open her eyes, and Faline blinked slowly as she tried to focus on the deep voice that she recognized from earlier. It was him, the Alpha wolf. The one she was terribly frightened of in the beginning. While she still felt wary of him, the crippling terror no longer tormented her, and she had to admit to feeling relieved about that. He was perched on the edge of the bed next to her. She was lying face down, and while she could feel his hand resting on her back gently, the shaking she felt was not caused by him. He spoke again and this time she could make out his words, "Your fever is breaking, the chills are normal." Unable to speak yet, she could only nod. At that he reached over and pulled what felt like a heavy blanket up to her shoulders. The chills lessened. Closing her eyes again, Faline took stock of her illness. The fever was a problem, but he was correct in that it was ending. She could feel that much. She still ached, but the soreness in her chest was not as horrible as it had been earlier when they were outside in the cold. These were good signs that she was recovering. While she was easily susceptible to sickness, Faline was grateful that most of the time she recovered as quickly as she fell ill. Between the episodes of shaking chills, she also felt flushed and overheated, and wondered just how bad the fever had been. Raising a shaky hand towards her face, Faline was surprised when she found her skin completely damp. Next to her the wolf nodded, "If I could make this part easier for you, I would. I wish I had that capability." She watched as he reached towards the table beside the bed and pulled a small towel from a bowl. He squeezed a bit of the liquid from the clothe before placing it against the skin at the nape of her neck, where her hair had already been moved to the side. She was expecting the water to be chilled, but it was only slightly cool, and it felt wonderful against her fevered skin. She breathed a sigh of relief and closed her eyes, noticing a faint herbal scent. The water must have been treated with something to soothe. She was grateful for his gentle touch as he dabbed the towel along her skin for a few moments. When he pulled it away, she instantly felt much cooler. Her mouth and throat were so dry, but she didn't want the cooling sensation to go away. Licking her lips, she felt them cracked, but managed to croak out a few words. "Please. Again." He immediately rinsed the towel in the water and applied it to her neck once more. "This helps?" he asked in that wonderfully calming voice. Faline nodded without opening her eyes. He repeatedly applied the cool towel to her skin again and again. She felt herself drifting off, lulled by the soothing sensation of the way he gently moved the towel over her neck, and from time to time over her forehead and face. She dozed in and out of a light sleep, conscious only of the fact that the wolf never left her side. When she finally did open her eyes again, she felt much better. When she began to push herself upright, he backed away slightly to give her room, but he made no effort to move away from her. Once sitting up, Faline noticed that she now only wore her jeans and her white tank top. Her sweater and socks had been removed, she assumed to assist in lowering her temperature. She looked around the room, wondering where she was this time. The light through the window was a deep golden color, telling her the sun setting. A lamp in the corner illuminated the room in a soft light. She returned her eyes to this wolf who was apparently determined to be her savior. "There was someone else here," she rasped, "Someone like you." The wolf nodded, "Yes, he is a trusted friend. He said you gave him hell when he tried to give you medicine earlier." Faline remembered waking to find a stranger holding her upright, while forcing her drink a liquid. In the end, he was stronger and more determined and he won the battle. She remembered short bouts of delirium when the same stranger repeatedly checked on her, though his touch was always gentle and professional. Whatever care they'd given her had obviously worked well, for she felt much better now. She cleared her throat to answer, but couldn't quite talk. Noticing, he handed her a glass of apple juice, and she drained half of it in one gulp. He was still staring at her intently as he took the glass and set it on the table within her arm's reach. "You're feeling better, I hope?" he said gently. Faline looked down at herself and frowned. Her hair and clothes both felt damp. "I feel disgusting, honestly. But I feel much healthier now. Thank you for helping me." He nodded, "When I am sure you are strong enough, you can take a shower. That will help." Still thirsty, she picked up the glass and finished the juice. When she had set it down again, she realized he was still staring intently at her. Then suddenly he asked, "Faline, who is Sophie?" Faline felt her own eyes widen and she moved suddenly to get out of the bed. "Sophie! I have to call her." Instantly, the wolf placed his hand against her shoulder. "Shhh. You can call anyone you like. Please, take it easy." Faline felt her defenses coming back up. "How did you know about Sophie?" she snapped. In her upset, she felt her breathing hitch, and found she was coughing for a moment. When she recovered, she repeated her question. He held her shoulder for several moments, until he seemed convinced she wouldn't try to flee from the bed again. "You called for her, several times in your sleep. Who is she?" "Sophie is my m-" Faline began with her usual answer when people asked her about Sophie, which was to introduce her as her mother. As it was true, the woman had adopted her when she was a child, and it just was always easier to refer to her that way. Something though, stopped her from saying those exact words to this werewolf. Almost as if she suspected he would not accept them. Instead she curtailed her answer in this case, "She is my family. I know she must be worried. I have to get home." He seemed to understand this, though he frowned once she started talking about leaving. So she pressed on further. "I am thankful for how you took care of me when I was sick in the forest, and again now, but please, let me go home." Before he could respond, a ringing noise cut through the air. He sighed with great patience before standing from the bed and fishing a cell phone out of his pocket. "Excuse me," he said, "I have to finally answer this." She nodded, understanding that he must have ignored several calls while sitting with her. His eyes were apologetic as he quickly answered whoever was on the other end with brief replies. Faline tried to be polite and ignore his conversation, but when she detected his voice hardening slightly, she couldn't help but pick up the thread of his words. "Ask if they wouldn't mind rescheduling. I have had important matters to tend to, which I could not ignore." Faline bristled slightly, feeling like he was speaking of her. When he spoke again, there was a slight chuckle in his tone. "Of course they will want to drain me dry. For their inconvenience, feel free to make a reservation at the Plaza then. That should mollify them. No earlier than next week." There was a brief pause as he listened to his caller and then he nodded. "Yes, Marie. Same table as always, book it under Kellen." She felt her jaw dropping as she watched him thank the person named Marie and then end the call. By time he disconnected the call and turned back to her, Faline had risen from the bed and was standing on shaky legs. She wasn't completely well yet, and her movements were unsteady. She felt a shock spread through her, starting at the top of her head, quickly descending towards her feet. He pocketed his cell phone as he turned back to fully face her again, "I'm apologize for that, I had to-" when he realized she was out of the bed, he broke off, "You shouldn't be up, it's too soon." He took a step towards her and Faline stammered, "Kellen? You are Kellen?" He froze then, staring at her like he was trying to figure something out. After a moment he seemed to collect his thoughts. "I'm sorry, I suppose I never did get back around to introducing myself to you. Again, I apologize. My name is Shane." "Kellen?" she repeated again, knowing she sounded like an idiot. He smiled at her though, his brown eyes ever as gentle each time he looked at her. "Yes. Shane Kellen." The words were no sooner out of his mouth when she sprung forward, throwing her arms around his neck, and she began to sob with heart wrenching tears. She felt his posture stiffen in surprise, though he caught her, his arms tenderly circling around her back. He was murmuring softly to her, but she didn't hear a word. Instantly, at those few words, she knew she was now safe. For the first time in her life, she felt completely secure. All this, just from learning his name. And she knew, without question or fail that everything was finally going to be all right. Visions Unveiled Ch. 07 *Author's Note: First, I would like to thank everyone who has read my work, posted comments, and offered feedback. It's meant so much to me, and I appreciate it all. Next I want to say that writing this chapter has been particularly demanding for me. Several of these scenes have been locked in my imagination ever since the early workings of this story when it was still only a fragmented concept in my mind. These bits are intrinsic developments, helping me to shape who my characters are and what is motivating them. That being said, I wanted these scenes to be as perfect as I could possibly make them. Lastly, I feel the need to say that the ending of this chapter has been written and rewritten at least five times. This final version which you will see here is emphatically not the original ending for the chapter which I had planned, and more importantly, it's not even the ending I wanted. But any writer will tell you, their characters have minds of their own and one of my mine has not behaved herself as I hoped she would. In the end I have given in to her, and the chapter concludes as Faline insists it must. I have conceded as this is her story and not really mine at all. Thank you again, and I hope you will continue to send your comments and feedback. ~ib* ***** Later, when he recalled this moment, Shane would only be able to remember that it had happened so fast. One minute he was finalizing a telephone call from Marie, and then an instant later, Faline was in his arms. Her hands were twined around his neck and he could feel her warm breath and tears dampening his shirt where her face was pressed against his chest. Again she was crying, and Shane found himself consoling her, telling her that she would be all right. That he would make it so. In truth, he wasn't certain what had upset her. He was also disheartened to realize, that as of yet, each time he held his mate in his arms it was because she was either unconscious or in abject misery. The fact that he was surrounded by her intoxicating scent was what hit him next and Shane felt his wolf begin to respond to her as well. All of a sudden, he was acutely aware of not only her arms around him, but his mind now registered the feel of her soft curves pressing against his body. Her hair spilled down her back in silken waves and the ends caressed his arms as he held her. It had been decades since he had felt the press of a female body so intimately against his own, and Shane gasped when he realized the visceral effect she was having on him. He felt the now unfamiliar rush of his body hardening in response to hers, and knew he had to put space between them before he horrified her. Moving his hands to rest on her shoulders he began to take a step back from her, and felt his wolf begin to protest inside of him. The wolf wanted to pull her closer and was annoyed with the distance Shane was trying to create. The wolf ached to rub his firm length against his mate, to let her know how much he desired her. The wolf wanted to throw her back on the bed and pin her down as he ravished her body long and hard. He felt the need to mark her now with both his scent and his bite. The desire to claim her, to make her his, was all the animal could focus on. Shane fought to block the vivid images the wolf was broadcasting to him, and concentrated instead on pulling his body slightly back from Faline's. It took a few moments to clear the lustful thoughts from his mind. He took a shuddering breath and was finally able to focus on the fact that Faline was now speaking through her tears. "It's you," she was saying, "You're finally here." Once he managed to step back from her, Shane raised his hands to her face and lightly brushed her tears away with his thumbs. Being mindful to avoid the scratches she'd suffered when she'd earlier fallen, he gently dried her eyes. "Yes, m'chroi, I am here. Why are you crying?" Though the abrupt change in her behavior told him much, Shane desperately needed to hear that she accepted him, that she no was longer afraid of him. Shane almost ceased breathing as he watched his mate smile through her tears. Her silver eyes were clear and bright, and her loveliness was enough to stop his heart. "Because I have waited so long that I almost didn't think you were real anymore. But now I know you are. Finally, I know." Her explanation was vague and he fought the confusion her words caused. "I don't understand," he asked her slowly, "You have been waiting for me?" He placed his hand against her forehead, wondering if perhaps her fever had returned, making her delirious yet again. He breathed a sigh of relief when he felt her skin was cool and dry. She was smiling yet again, "Yes, all my life." A flood of irony and emotion surged through Shane at once. He knew that feeling well. He'd waited centuries, wondering if there was a mate in this world for him. Once that question was answered, his next decades were spent in mourning and hoping his soul would rejoin hers in their afterlife. And now he learned that she wasn't lost to him after all. They had been given another chance. Yet he was still puzzled by the way she was speaking. He suddenly thought of Ilsa, and for the first time found himself wondering if his mate shared her mother's gifts. Did Faline also see visions of the world as it was yet to be? Knowing he couldn't ask her so blatantly, he decided on a less direct approach. "Faline, how did you know you were waiting for me?" Suddenly Faline stepped back from him and began to look around her. She started speaking quickly, and words tumbled from her mouth in an excited stream. She spotted her satchel where it ended up on a chair and opening it quickly, she pulled out a book and began flipping through pages. Absently, she lowered herself to sit on the chair as she found the page she was looking for. "I know it's you, because, see, it says so right here. Look, it's here. Right here. Exactly. Here. Right here! See, it says, 'Cold you have been and fear you have felt within. When you find Kellen the fear and cold shall end.' See! I know because it says it right here! I used to think for so long that 'Kellen' was a place, like a town or building I might come across somewhere. It never occurred to me before that it could be someone's name. But now I know, see? Right here!" She was practically shaking, unable to contain the energy she felt at this discovery. Faline was holding the journal open to him, displaying the page she'd just read. Shane was rooted to the spot, and had been since the moment he watched her pull Gregor's journal out of her bag and turn the pages with a familiarity that made his mind numb. Though she appeared to read to him from the page, she more so recited the words from memory. It was clear she had read the quoted excerpt many times in the past. As he stared down at the page where her fingers rested, Shane saw the lines were written by Gregor's hand, but he knew the words themselves must have been Ilsa's. There was a mysterious rhythm to the words which bespoke of Ilsa's visions. After several long moments, Shane finally forced his feet to move so that he could take a seat in the chair beside his mate. He looked down at the journal in awe as he read the lines silently to himself again. Gregor's journal, an item Shane never saw the man without, was never found on his body or located in the cottage, and now Shane finally knew why. When he looked up from the book he realized Faline was still watching him with bright, expectant eyes and Shane forced himself to take a steadying breath. "Faline," he began, "This book, where did you get it?" Shane watched his mate blink several times as her thoughts crossed her face. Her elation was now slightly clouded by a small frown. Then she shrugged her shoulders gracefully, "I didn't get it anywhere. It's mine." Shane chose his next words carefully because his mate trusted him finally. She had opened up to him enough to share what was obviously a very treasured personal item. He had no wish to break her trust or cause her to doubt her newfound safety with him. "Was it given to you, by a relative perhaps?" Letting the journal close, Faline pulled it protectively against her chest. "It was with me when they found me. So yes, I imagine it belonged to a relative. They told me it was left with me." Inside of him, Shane's wolf began to prowl. It didn't like where this conversation was heading. Shane felt his frown deepening. "Who is 'they,' Faline? Who found you? Where?" His mate didn't even pause, it was such an ingrained part of her history, that she had no reason to think anyone might find it alarming. "The nuns. In the church." "Nuns?" Shane blurted, "What nuns? What church?" This time she was a bit slower to answer. "The nuns at the church when I was a baby. The nuns who sent me to the orphanage." Shane and the wolf were now both outraged. He jumped from the chair and turned to roar, "Orphanage!?" Faline leveled him with a stare. "Are you planning to repeat everything I say?" For her benefit, Shane suppressed a growl. "I'm sorry. I just had no idea about any of this." Her look of confusion gave him pause and he softened his tone. "Please, tell me again. About the ... nuns." When Shane began to pace the length of the room, Faline sighed and decided to tell him more. "I was left in a church as a newborn baby, and this book was with me. The nuns found me when they went in for their evening prayers. Of course I couldn't stay at the convent or rectory. I was abandoned, so I was sent to an orphanage." Faline paused when she heard Shane mumble something. "I'm sorry," she said, "I didn't catch that." Shane turned on his heel and fixed her with a purposeful stare, "I said that you weren't abandoned." The look on Faline's face told him she disagreed. "Yes, I was. The orphanage records said that the night I was born there was this horrible blizzard that shut down every town in the area. I'm not sure how old you are exactly, or if you were even in the area then, so you probably wouldn't remember the blizzard. But it was freezing cold, the coldest day of the year and there I was, left on the stone floor of a church in only a blanket. I was born premature, and whoever had me, obviously they didn't want me." Shaking his head, Shane returned to the seat beside his mate and placed his hand against the side of her face. "You're wrong," he said. Faline shook her head slightly, though she didn't pull away from his touch, "About what?" Shane took a breath to collect his thoughts, and then looked deeply into his mate's eyes. "About much. First, you are wrong about the blizzard. Though it was years ago I remember it well. It was a storm that I will never forget," he paused to take another deep breath, and when he released it, he went on. "Second, you must never again think that you were abandoned. I promise you, with everything that is in me, that you were always wanted." * * * It was nearly an hour later when Shane finished speaking. Aside from the fact that she was his mate, most every other detail had come out. Occasionally she would stop to ask him a question, or to clarify something he had said earlier, but for the most part, she listened quietly. The sun had now fully set, and dark shadows cast themselves across the room. Some minutes ago, Faline had crawled into the bed and pressed her face into a pillow. Shane couldn't see her tears, but he could scent them, and he wanted nothing more than to give her comfort. He resumed his place sitting beside her, and switched the bedside lamp on before placing his hand on her shoulder. "Faline," he spoke quietly, "I am so sorry for everything you have lost." She pulled away from him and sat up, clutching the pillow to the front of her body. "I don't understand," she said, "So much of this doesn't make sense." He nodded solemnly, "I know. Finding you in the forest has been a shock to me as well." He watched as thoughts crossed Faline's face, unable to discern what she might be thinking or feeling until she spoke. "The large wolf, it was you." It wasn't a question, but Shane found himself nodding anyway. "Yes, I apologize for startling you." She waved off the fact that he was also a wolf almost instantly. It was obvious that werewolves didn't faze her. Shane filed that information away for later as he listened to her ask her next questions, "You really knew my parents?" Shane nodded again, "Yes." Faline closed her eyes briefly, and then opened them again, allowing new tears to spill down her face. "And I was really born here? In this room?" He took a deep breath as he looked around the suite. He remembered that night in an instant, but this time there was less pain. Returning his eyes to his mate he said, "Yes, my chroi. You were." "Yesterday was my birthday," she whispered. "I know," was his quiet reply. More tears fell, and the sight of each one pierced his heart. Faline appeared to be shivering again, and so Shane pulled the blanket up to her lap. Her next question was one he had been asking himself over and over since his wolf forced him to acknowledge the truth at the cottage. "How can you be sure that I am that same child?" He considered his answer carefully before speaking. "At first I didn't know that you were. But I can now recognize your scent. And you share several similarities with your parents. You are left-handed, as was your father. You have your mother's eyes and complexion, you are very obviously her daughter. And this journal," he reached out to where Faline had placed the journal beside her on the bed and tapped the cover, "It belonged to your father." Faline stared at the journal in awe. "What were their names?" Shane hesitated for a brief moment as he didn't want to overwhelm her. In the end though, he realized he could deny her nothing. "Ilsa and Gregor. Nielson was their last name." He watched as Faline digested this information, knowing she was absorbing every detail he mentioned. After a few moments she gave a small smile, "And you think I look like she did?" Shane nodded instantly, and found himself smiling back at her as he answered the question. "Yes. You are every bit as beautiful as she was. If not more." At this, Faline was speechless. She was quiet for several long moments and Shane thought he saw something which resembled guilt cross her face. "I need to talk to Sophie," she said suddenly. The trace of a smile had vanished from her face. In a moment's time it was gone, replaced by what Shane recognized as a distraught weariness. "Right, Sophie," Shane said as he released a breath, "Your family." "My mother," Faline answered firmly, "Sophie is my mother." Shane nodded sadly. It hurt to think of anyone other than Ilsa and Gregor raising her, but he had to accept the people who were now in her life. While he had shared the beginning of her life with her over the last several minutes, she had yet to tell him of her last 33 years. He knew that when she did finally open up to him, he must be as calm and accepting as he could be. She deserved no less. "All right," he said now, "Sophie is your ... mother. She adopted you?" Faline nodded, "I want to talk to her." Shane indicated a table located in the sitting area of the suite. "There is a telephone, please feel free to call anyone you wish. I'll get some clean clothes for you so you can take a shower if you want." He gestured towards a closed door in the corner of the room, "The washroom is through that door, and you should find everything you need. I will also bring you something to eat, you must be hungry." When he moved to stand she reached out and touched his arm with her hand, "This is why you have been so kind to me? Because you knew my parents?" Shane froze when he felt her hand on his skin, and a small shiver went through is body. He found himself nodding despite himself. "That is part of the reason. There are still things I need to tell you, but now is not the time. I will give you a while to get cleaned up, and you need more rest." Shane rose to his feet, but she still gripped at his arm. "And my parents?" she asked suddenly. "Yes?" he prompted. "The cottage?" Faline asked. Shane nodded, "The cottage was their home." Faline lowered her eyes, "And now they are dead?" He closed his eyes and quickly reopened them, "Yes, they are." "You're certain?" Faline asked, "I mean, you said you believed that I died after I was born ..." she let her sentence trail off and Shane felt his heart ache. He couldn't allow her to have this hope. It could only hurt her more. "They have died, Faline. I wish it wasn't so, but they are gone." He leaned down when he scented fresh tears but she turned to hide her face from him against the pillow. He contented himself by comforting her with a gentle touch to her shoulder. "I will return soon," he said. He saw her give the slightest of a nod, and so he straightened again, and reluctantly left her crying into her pillow. * * * A short time later, Shane was in the kitchen where he had put together a plate of things he hoped his mate would like to eat. He knew she was still not feeling well, but she needed nourishment to recover fully. Thinking she might also benefit from a hot cup of tea, he filled the kettle with water. He'd just turned on the stove when a feeling of unease went through him. He sighed as his wolf came to attention, recognizing that someone in his pack was feeling distressed. While he was in no way telepathic, he was connected to each member of his pack and as their Alpha he could sense when he was needed. He thought back to earlier in the day when Erin had expressed her concerns. She and Logan had both said they'd needed to speak with him and he had put it off at the time. He turned off the stove and closed his eyes allowing himself to focus on the pack. He connected with his wolf and reached out to the others, searching for the one who was more than likely subconsciously beckoning him. Shane picked up on who it was almost instantly. Kevin. With a frown, Shane opened his eyes and slowly stepped from the kitchen. He scanned the house for sounds of life and realized for the first time, his family was no longer in the house. Letting his senses guide him, he slowly wove his way through the downstairs rooms until he came to the sunroom. Though it was dark out he saw some sort of movement on the other side of the French doors which lead to the large yard and opened up to the forest. Stepping up to the doors, Shane glanced out and saw a small gathering of his pack standing in the back yard. While most were in human form, a few were currently wolves. His Betas. There seemed to be a heated discussion between them, and Shane sighed heavily as he opened the door and stepped out to join them. The moment he appeared all eyes turned to him and a silence befell the group. He met each of their eyes as he approached them, and when his gaze settled on Kevin the distress he'd felt earlier quickly eased to relief. Giving him a slight nod, Shane directed his attention to the others. "Logan," he began, "What is this about?" Waving his hand to indicate those surrounding him, Logan began. "Alpha, we have been searching the territory for signs of your cousin." Shane shook his head instantly, "You will not find him in our forest. I directed him to clear Kellen lands." Logan shrugged in response, "Yes, but there was cause to be concerned. Tabitha tells us that she overheard him speaking on the phone, telling someone known entry points to our complex." This brought a frown to Shane's face. "Does she know with whom he was speaking?" Visions Unveiled Ch. 07 Logan shook his head, "No, but it must have been a nearby pack." Shane turned his eyes to the two in the group who were currently wolves. "James. Brendan. Please shift." In a few short moments it was done. Where there had been one blonde and one black wolf, suddenly there were two large men with the same coloring. They both bowed heads slightly towards Shane, and though they were nude, neither seemed affected by the cold. "I take it you two were out running the borders most recently?" Shane asked them. It was James who answered. Second to Logan, James was the most serious of the Betas. "Yes, Alpha. Since nightfall there has been hardly any activity in the forest. This weather seems to have even kept the night creatures at bay." Shane had the same feeling himself when he was in the forest during the storm. "I don't think there is cause to have too much concern when the forest is this quiet." He paused as he let his eyes roam the nearest trees and thought of his wayward cousin. While he didn't regret his actions, he still felt concern for the younger wolf. Justin had a lot to learn, and Shane hoped that taking a hard stance would get through to the boy. Looking towards James and Brendan he went on, "Taper back to the regularly scheduled security checks for the time being. Everyone else should get some rest." Shane waited until the two shifted back into wolves and headed into the forest in opposite directions. Sam, who had been so far silent, gave Logan a pointed look before excusing himself and returning home. When he was gone, it left the Alpha standing with only the twins and Shane cut right to the chase. He crossed his arms as his eyes landed on Logan, "Where is my sister?" "She went to visit Tabitha and her cousins. She needed to reassure herself that everyone was okay," Logan took a brief pause and then went on. "It's been a very emotional day for her. She has felt interference with someone she can't quite identify, and so she wanted to check in with her closest female relatives." Shane narrowed his eyes as he sensed a tension coming through his Beta's words and turned next to Kevin, "What is concerning you?" Kevin sighed as he looked from Shane, to his twin, and then back again. "Before you joined us, we had a slight disagreement." When Kevin went silent, Shane took a deep breath to calm himself. "About?" he prompted. It was Logan who answered, his voice slightly edgy. "This girl, the human." "My mate," Shane corrected him, forcing his voice to stay calm. Instantly he felt it, Kevin's anxiety returning. And a look towards Logan soon told him why. "Alpha," Logan began through gritted teeth, "Please be rational. There is no way this girl can be your mate. Your mate perished long ago." Lowering his arms, Shane felt his wolf start to come forth to confront this challenge. It was an uneasy feeling, the need to defend himself, his mate, against his closest friend, and again Shane forced himself to find some sense of calm. "You think me irrational? Because I've learned my mate is alive?" Logan started to shake his head, "You have been grieving a long time, and I can understand that you want to believe this girl could be your lost mate. But I would be amiss if I didn't urge you to be cautious." "While I appreciate your concerns, I can assure you, my mind is clear," Shane replied. "Clearer than it has been in many, many years." Logan though seemed unconvinced. "Alpha, how can it be possible, when we have believed for so long that the baby died? If she didn't then that will mean-" his eyes swung towards Kevin as his words broke off. With a somber nod, Kevin spoke up. "It would mean that I was wrong." Logan immediately shook his head, very much in defense of his brother, "Impossible. You are an incredibly thorough doctor. You would never make such an error." Kevin gave a small shrug, "And yet I have. I mispronounced her dead," suddenly his voice hardened, "A mistake I have already bled for once today. How many more times would you like to reopen this wound, brother?" "Enough," Shane's voice commanded, and both fell silent. "Kevin," he went on in a lighter tone, "Earlier today I admitted my regret for how I responded. It was then that I was not acting rationally, out of concern for my mate. Your brother deserves to know how wrong I was, and I have been humbled by your successful efforts to make her well this night." He paused for a moment to look them both in the eyes before continuing. "My mate was not only ill because of catching cold in the wilderness, but because she was attacked. By a werewolf." Shane watched as the twins shared a look, and turned to Logan when he sensed him about to speak. "Is he dead, Alpha? Will a neighboring pack be retaliating?" Shane shook his head, "It happened before I found her. She managed to outrun him, which only made her sicker." Kevin swallowed before speaking, "The bruises I noticed?" Shane gave a slight nod, "Yes. That was him." After a long pause Kevin asked the question that Shane was certain he already had the answer to. Yet, the Beta asked it anyway. "Alpha, is this a werewolf we know?" Immediately, Shane nodded. "It was Justin." Logan's jaw dropped. "How are you sure?" Shane rubbed his eyes briefly, "Because I could scent him, of course." Logan took another step back, his eyes widening. "Alpha ... Shane, I am sorry, but I have to ask this. Please tell me, you can see how fantastically coincidental this is? Justin betrays you and hours later you come across a girl you believe could be your mate, and she is carrying Justin's scent." "He attacked her," Shane snapped. "Or she could be working with him," Logan retorted. "As a spy, she could be the one he was describing our property to. Or, if his scent was present, she may be his lover." Kevin took a step backwards, as if he anticipated an explosion. Noticing, Shane turned to him and spoke in a very quiet voice. "Kevin, if you wouldn't mind, my mate should be checked on. She still has traces of a cough. I was going to bring her some things to wear from Erin's closet and a cup of tea as well." Recognizing his dismissal, Kevin immediately bowed his head. "Yes, Alpha. I should also want to give her another dose of medicine to be sure the fever stays down, if you are agreeable." This time, it was Shane who inclined his head towards the Beta. An acknowledgement which was not missed by either Logan or Kevin. "I defer here to you, Kevin. Whatever treatment you think is best. And I thank you." After a long moment in which he locked eyes with his brother, Kevin took his leave. When Kevin was gone, Shane's eyes began to brighten into gold as he stared hard at his oldest friend. "Justin will be found, and when he is I will deal with him personally," his words trailed off into a deep growl which prompted Logan to brace himself, though he stood his ground. Once his voice returned, Shane went on, "Hear me now, and listen well, Logan Andrew McCall. My mate is no spy, and most certainly not involved with my cousin in any way. Is this clear?" When Logan didn't immediately answer, Shane unfolded his arms and took a step towards him. "What exactly is it that you have against her?" Logan held out his hand slightly, "I just find it skeptical is all. And perhaps your judgment isn't-" His words broke off instantly when Shane rumbled, "Judgment?! You dare to question my judgment in this matter?" There was a long pause in which neither spoke for several moments. Finally it was Shane who broke the silence. "Remind me friend, of what happened in the year 1726?" Logan swallowed visibly before shaking his head slightly, "Shane, please. That was so long ago." With a sharp nod, Shane pressed on. "Indulge me anyway. Spring-time. 1726. What major event took place that changed our lives?" Logan took a deep breath and looked towards the darkened sky for several moments. When his eyes returned to Shane he said in an even voice, "Erin was born." Shane nodded, "That she was. And we weren't even there. Across an ocean we were, fighting a bloody war that my father's allies had gotten us dragged into." Logan frowned as he too remembered. "Yes, the war that claimed Tavis." Shane took a deep breath, remembering his fallen brother. How he didn't make it to him in time to save him. He recalled the pain of losing a sibling, one he was meant to protect. With resolve, he pushed the feelings down to focus on the current matter at hand. "Yes, that very one. And when we finally returned to Donegal, Erin and Egan were already two moons of age. We barely made it onto the homestead when you started acting strangely. And when we were close enough for you to scent her ..." Shane let his words trail off intentionally, giving his friend time to recall that day. It had been a stressful one. The promise of such a mating was a joyous thing, but Shane's father had been extremely protective of his only female cub. "The Alpha wanted to send me away," Logan finally said. Shane nodded, "Yes, to Russia. To join our allied pack who needed warriors after all of their losses in Iceland. My father thought it best for you not be near Erin during her younger years. But I knew it would tear you apart, not being able to protect the pack she lived among. I could only imagine how difficult it would be for you, being separated by thousands of kilometers. So I went to the Alpha and spoke of your honor, swearing to him that you were a trustworthy wolf, and as my nearest friend I knew you would keep your distance until appropriate." Logan ran a hand though his hair at the memory. "Yes, I remember. And Aiden agreed." Shane almost smiled. Almost. "Twenty summers is what the Alpha declared. He said that you could stay with the pack and continue to train with his Betas. You could be Erin's friend and watch her grow. But you were to wait twenty summers before he would allow you to court her." Logan closed his eyes and nodded, but said nothing. And so Shane continued on. "And so imagine our shock and surprise, when my mother caught her in your arms at the tender age of only 18." Logan held up his hand, "I tried, you know I tried. I swore then and now on Luna how I tried. But Erin-" "I know," Shane interrupted him, this time with a genuine smile. "You don't have to explain it to me. I know how relentless that girl can be when she wants something. And she wanted you. From the time of her first shifting at thirteen, you were all her eyes could see. But you disobeyed the Alpha." Logan shook his head slightly, "She was ready. Why, at the time there were even young human girls marrying at fourteen and bearing healthy young. Erin was years more mature than they." Shane sighed, "That was different. In those years, humans lived dreadfully shorter lives than they even have now. There were not the advances there are in medicine and life expectancy. If a woman was likely to perish by the age 30, of course she would have her children as soon as she was able." Shane paused suddenly, as a stray thought entered his mind. Not unlike the females Logan just described, his mate was also human. She too was at such an age which would have been proper for the very thing he just described to his friend. Had Faline married by now? She was well within the typical age that a human female would have settled down. Did she have children? In a flash his mind reeled at the possibility. Of course she hadn't mentioned any such family other than Sophie, however Faline was also severely distrusting up until very recently. He thought of his own kind and how protective a mother wolf could be of her young. A she-wolf was more apt to initially defend her cubs by hiding them. After all, if a predator didn't know the cubs existed, they couldn't very well search for and attack them. The thought of another male claiming her was enough to make Shane see red. Was there such a man out there looking for her at this very moment? Were there children who had been awake the last few nights, unable to sleep as they cried for their mother? Was Faline longing to return to these people as he imagined they would so desperately want her back? His musings cut short when he finally heard Logan calling to him. His Beta was looking around sharply, "Alpha, is there a threat?" Shane realized he was trembling and was a hairsbreadth away from shifting. He managed to get himself under control and held up a hand towards his Beta, "Forgive me, everything is fine," he said, realizing he would have to ask his mate if she were spoken for. If it was true, and she had taken a husband, he wasn't certain how he would react, or go about removing said man from her life. Pushing those thoughts aside for now, he returned his attention to Logan, "I was saying that we are different. My father knew that there was no keeping you and Erin apart. But he also knew you would have centuries together once you were mated. All he wanted was for his girl to have twenty independent years before she changed her life forever." Logan lowered his eyes to the ground, recalling where this tale headed next. He sighed heavily before saying, "I understand why he was so angry." Shane took a breath, "His anger was at himself. For allowing me to convince him to let you stay with the pack. And when you disobeyed his orders, he could have slashed you apart. And so there I was, in front of him again, this time on my knees pleading for him to spare you. Reminding him that to end you, would also hurt Erin so deeply. That as you were my nearest friend you were likely to become a Beta, and so even if it were selfish of me, that I needed you too." In barely a whisper Logan said, "You saved me." Shane shook his head in the negative, "Erin's love for you saved you. I only helped him to see it. You were then, and remain to this day, a worthy wolf. You are a good match for her. No one could ever deny that. You were young, she even younger. You made a hasty mistake is all. Even my father saw that. Logan," Shane said, and waited until his friend met his eyes, "I believed in you then. Not just once, but twice. When you found your mate in my sister I was at peace, content that the best wolf I knew would always be there for her. I defended your need to be with her. I faced the ire of my father, who we all know was at times an intense Alpha. He would snap first, and ask questions after. But always to the end of providing for us all." Logan nodded, "He was fiercely protective, and a strong leader. I saw him in you today." Shane lowered his head slightly, accepting the statement as a compliment. "What I am saying, is that I confronted him on your behalf twice. And I would again a hundred times over, had it meant that you lived to join with Erin. Maybe your actions did not always show the best judgment, but she was your destined mate and I knew you both needed to be together. From the moment you admitted to me that she was to be yours, I trusted you. And I always respected your need to be with your mate at all costs. Would it be too much to now ask you to return that favor?" For several long moments Logan hung his head in silence. When he finally met his Alpha's eyes he did so while crossing his right arm over his chest, his fingertips touching his left shoulder. It was an ancient display of respect and loyalty amid their pack, which was traditionally only used in the most formal of times. When he spoke, his voice seemed slightly strained with emotion. "I will keep an open mind about the girl. But until your cousin is found, and his betrayal has been fully dealt with, I must remain watchful." Shane reached out and squeezed Logan's shoulder. "I can understand and appreciate that, thank you. Now, you should probably go collect your mate from my aunt's house, lest she and the girls stay awake all night like they so often did as cubs." Logan gave a small smile at the thought. "You're probably right," he said, and then after bidding Shane goodnight he set off towards Tabitha's home. * * * Shane reentered his house and started towards the stairs which is where he saw Kevin who was on his way down. "Alpha, I'm glad you're here. Your mate needs you." Worry swept through Shane as he brushed passed Kevin, hurrying up the stairs. "Is it the fever? Can she breathe?" he asked, thinking of the things which most recently ailed his mate. Kevin was right behind him as Shane let himself into the suite, his eyes scanning the room for the sight of her. When he located her, he saw she was on the floor holding the phone, and she was again in tears. "It doesn't seem physical," Kevin was saying, "I brought the things you asked for, along with the tea and plate from the kitchen. I found her this way. I couldn't get her to respond, but she asked for you." Shane repressed a concerned growl as he surveyed his mate, noticing that her hair was wet, and she was wearing only a white towel which was tightly tucked around her. Scenting the air told him she'd taken a shower. Dropping to a knee beside her, he scanned her for traces of injury, wondering if she had fallen. When he determined she was free of any visible harm he let out a breath of relief. He glanced to Kevin and then quickly unbuttoned and removed his shirt, draping it over her shoulders and pulling the front closed before her. "Faline, what's the matter?" She was clutching the phone and shaking her head. "Sophie," she whispered. "Did you get to speak to her?" Shane asked. He watched as she raised worried eyes to Kevin and then shook her head. Shane nodded, knowing she still suffered a lack of trust. Looking over his shoulder he addressed his Beta, "Kevin, if you wouldn't mind?" Kevin nodded instantly as he stepped away, "Please let me know if I can help." Once Kevin had exited and closed the door, Shane asked again about Sophie. Faline simply shook her head, "Something's wrong." "How can you know, if you didn't get to talk to her?" Shane asked, trying to remain calm and logical. He noticed that Faline's eyes were full of worry as she spoke. "There was no answer, and so I tried the number for the shop. But she didn't answer that phone either. The answering machine didn't even pick up. Which is very wrong." Shane covered her hand with his, hoping to calm her fears as he spoke. "She might have been asleep. Perhaps she went to visit a friend? Or she is out with your ... father?" With a shake of her head, Faline finally met his eyes and seemed to reconnect with him. "I don't have a father," she said. "I mean, not by Sophie. She has raised me alone. But no, she wouldn't be out at this hour." Faline looked down, and noticed for the first time her state of undress. "Oh," she said, as she clutched Shane's white dress shirt against her. "I'm so sorry." "You have nothing to apologize for, m'chroi," Shane replied. "I was tardy in returning to you as I promised." With a nod, Faline looked around the room, "I need to go home," she said as she began to stand up. "Will you please take me now?" Shane knew she wasn't going to like his next words, but he said them anyway. "Faline, it is late and cold and dark out. First thing in the morning, I will take you. But now, I think you should get some more sleep." Silver eyes flashed at him, as she reached down for the phone. "Fine. I'll call a taxi. What is the address here?" "Faline." "No," her voice was ice, "She needs me, I know she needs me." Shane kept his distance as he said, "How so?" With a shake of her head Faline answered, "You wouldn't understand." "Try me," Shane insisted. Looking down at herself, Faline backed away until she was in the washroom and closed the door. Shane was resisting the urge to ask her to come back out, when she opened the door again. When she reappeared, the towel was gone and all of the buttons of Shane's shirt were fastened save for the topmost button. Her petite frame was practically swimming in his shirt, and Shane felt himself stir at the sight of her in his clothes. She looked around the room nervously for a moment and then went to the bed where she took a seat on the edge of the mattress. "I saw something," she admitted in a small voice. Visions Unveiled Ch. 07 "I'm sorry, what was that?" Shane asked, focusing on her words instead of the way her body moved beneath his shirt. "You asked how I knew something wasn't right with Sophie. And it sounds crazy, and I don't know exactly what it means, but I saw something. I know it's going to happen, if it didn't already." Unfolding his arms, Shane approached her and fought to keep his heart from hammering out of his chest. Was she admitting to him what he suspected earlier? "Can you tell me what you saw? I will help you, I promise." It was then that he saw it for the first time. Her eyes became distant as she recalled what she was speaking of, and he instantly thought of Ilsa's eyes during her visions. He watched closely as Faline's eyes glazed over, and then they did something he never saw with Ilsa. Just before Faline's eyes cleared, they glowed, bright silver for a fraction of a moment. If he'd have blinked, he would have missed it. It was startling and at the same time dazzling, and he found himself lowering to his knees before her without thought. When he was settled in front of her, Faline reached out a hand and placed it on his forearm, a touch identical to the one her mother had given him in the past. Finally she spoke, "Three things in a row. Blue metal, white smoke and a yellow card. All where Sophie should be." "This is what you see?" Shane asked her. Nodding, Faline went on, "In that order." Shane held perfectly still, waiting for her to say something else, but there was nothing. After a full minute of silence Faline shook her head as if to clear it, and he could tell the moment had passed. Just like Ilsa's trances, Faline's came upon her without much warning and left just as quickly. "You've had premonitions like this before?" Shane asked her finally. Faline nodded at him, "Usually it's when danger is coming. Sometimes it happens within a few hours, sometimes it takes days. I wish I knew which it would be this time." "Okay," Shane said, "Give me a little bit of time, so that if there is a threat we aren't walking into it alone. I'll get some backup, and then we will go see Sophie." Faline blinked at him for several moments. "Wait, are you saying that you believe me? About what I saw?" Shane's eyebrows drew together in puzzlement at her question. "Of course I believe you, why wouldn't I?" "It's just, people usually tell me I'm crazy the first few times, until the things start happening," Faline paused for a moment, looking at him seriously. "And in truth, I haven't told anyone new about this since I was a child." A lock of damp hair had fallen over her eyes and Shane reached out a hand to tuck it behind her ear. "You believe without question that I am werewolf? Despite how many people would also call that crazy, right?" Faline chewed her lip for a moment and then nodded, "Yes. I know what you are." Shane smiled at her, "And I also know what you are. I don't think you are crazy. You saw a vision and I'm glad you trusted me enough to let me in. This way I can help you." She frowned slightly at him, "How can you say that you know what I am?" she asked. Shane lifted his hand to her face again, this time just a gently. "Because, as I told you already. You are your mother's daughter. In every way, so it would seem." Faline pulled back from him, as if in shock. "Are you saying that my mother was also like this? That she could ... see things?" "Yes," Shane answered her simply. "And the things she saw, they came to light?" Faline asked. Shane's heart raced as he stared into her eyes, realizing how quickly he had fallen for her. His eyes remained fixed on hers as he remembered Ilsa's last vision. The one in which she pleaded for him to wait for and protect her daughter. Finally he found his voice, "Yes, and in the most amazing of ways." And then, again just as quickly as she had done earlier that day, Faline threw her arms around his neck and embraced him tight. * * * Faline couldn't help herself or her emotions. Ever since she had made the decision to go to the bakery on the morning of her birthday it seemed her life had jumped off the rails, and she had no choice but tumble along from one turn to the next. While she was deeply concerned for Sophie, she still could not stop the elation coursing through her body. Earlier it amazed her to learn that Shane was the one her journal foretold of, and how true it was that since the moment he'd found her, she did feel safe. He had answers to who she was and where she'd come from, answers she desperately needed. And most importantly, he listened to her and he believed in her. Without thinking at all, she had once again thrown herself against him, though this time it felt completely different. For one, she was not crying this time. Relief and happiness is what she felt, and she couldn't help the laughter that now escaped her. Second, she now suddenly realized that when he'd placed his shirt on her, it had left him bare-chested, something she had overlooked when her thoughts were clouded with nothing but worry for Sophie. Now, she felt his bare skin beneath her hands as she held him, and she swore she could feel his muscles pulsing under his smooth skin. Instantly, she felt heat in her face as she realized he must think her foolish, and so she began to pull back from him. She needed to apologize for once again acting like an emotional dolt. But when she began to pull away, Shane reacted by tightening his arms which had already gone behind her back. He was pulling her closer against him and she heard a muffled sound coming from his throat. Faline raised her face and began to speak her apology, but when she met his eyes she was at once powerless to look away. Shane's eyes, which she'd known to be a deep shade of brown, seemed to have darkened to near black. It took her breath away, and she couldn't speak. Then she felt him pull her even closer as one of his hands slipped up her back and came to rest against the nape of her neck underneath her hair. His hand was warm, his touch sure. It was captivating, and she had no desire to move away. His eyes held her locked in place for a moment and then suddenly he was kissing her. His lips were soft and dry against hers, and while she had been kissed before, she'd never felt a kiss so tender in all her life. Faline felt his lips move slightly against hers and she leaned into him, wanting more. He took his time as he brushed his mouth against hers, and when she pulled back slightly to take a shuddering breath Shane leaned into her, deepening the kiss. Pleasure shot through her as she felt the warmth of his mouth against hers, and when he slowly pressed his tongue to hers she thrilled at the sensation. It was indescribable, the feeling of being held so tightly against him. He was a masterful kisser, but that paled in comparison to the complete feeling of rightness which she found while being held in his arms. It was as if she had been waiting for this moment her entire life, without even realizing it. The kiss went on and on, and Faline felt herself dizzying from both intimate bliss and what must certainly have been a lack of air. She pulled her arms from his shoulders and leaned away from him slightly as she broke the kiss. Instantly, she felt his mouth lowering as he began to place small kisses down her jaw and against the delicate skin of her throat. She gasped as his teeth grazed a particularly sensitive spot, and in response she raked her nails against his chest, thrilling at the crisp feel of his dark hair beneath her fingers. She felt his tongue, warm and moist, swirling against the skin of her throat, and Faline shuddered, unbelieving such a seemingly simple touch could cause such intense pleasure. Her entire body felt electrified, and as he tightened his hold on her once more, Faline felt for a fleeting moment as if she might be forgetting something important. But then Shane returned his mouth to hers, and suddenly she was lost again in his breathtaking kiss. * * * Madness, Shane was thinking. That's what this was. Pure madness. In the back of his mind he knew he should put a stop to this. Not only had Faline very recently been ill, but if her visions were to be believed, and Shane had no reason to think otherwise, then the woman his mate called mother was likely in danger. But when Faline embraced him unexpectedly, he was caught up in a wave of instant desire. Her warm hands squeezed the back of his neck, and when she pressed herself against him he felt the firm tips of her nipples grazing his chest, realizing nothing separated his body from hers besides the thin cotton of the shirt. And then there was her scent. She smelled fresh and clean, and her natural fragrance of rain-scented air was exhilarating. It all happened in a brief moment, and his wolf rumbled deep pleasure inside of him, his desire awakening at the feel of his mate pressing herself so closely against him. The animal was more than ready to claim her, but Shane fought against the primal impulses of the beast. Man and wolf warred for dominance, and the human part of him seemed to have the upper hand, until he felt her breathy laughter against his throat, and the enticing feel of her body against his. Shane felt his mate begin to pull away from him, and that is when the wolf asserted some of his control. He flexed his arms around her, disallowing her to create too much space between them, and when she raised her face to his, Shane gave in to his desires by kissing her. At first he thought a small taste of her would appease the wolf. But he immediately learned that it would be impossible to quell his need for her with but a fleeting touch of his lips against hers. Holding her, kissing her, was nothing short of exquisite. Everything about her was luscious, intoxicating and delectable. She matched his kiss with a passion that had him reeling and before he could stop himself, his mouth had lowered to sample the pale skin of her neck. She arched into him, raking her fingers against his chest, and that is when he practically snapped. Seizing her mouth with another kiss, Shane moved suddenly, growling deeply as he raised his body against hers. He lowered his hands to her hips and tightened his hold on her as he slid her back onto the bed, and pressed her down into the mattress. When he positioned his body above hers, both he and the wolf growled in mutual satisfaction at finally having their mate's body beneath them. Without breaking his demanding kiss, Shane rotated his hips slowly, pushing the firm length of his cock boldly against her thigh. He made no effort to conceal his arousal from her. She shivered in response and when he moved to close the space between them, her thighs parted naturally, allowing him to press into her even more intimately. Breathing deeply, Shane drank in the scent of her arousal. He ran his hand up her bare thigh and when his fingers touched her hip, he found himself trembling with the need to take her. She was irresistible and in a trice of delirious lust he realized that all he needed was to unfasten his trousers and he could be inside of her within a moment's time. Fighting to control his own need, Shane knew he had to be certain she was ready for him. He broke their kiss to trail his mouth against her throat, searching again for the spots that gave his mate the most pleasure. Sliding his hand from Faline's hip, Shane slowly caressed the skin of her flat abdomen until his fingers came in contact with the soft fur which covered her mound. Gently, he pressed his fingers against her folds, delighting to discover that she was already wet for him. Slowly, he circled the sensitive flesh around her clit and growled his approval when she arched against his hand. Returning his mouth to hers, he kissed her deeply while lowering his hand to press a finger against her wet opening. Vaguely, he was aware that she tensed slightly, and when he eased his finger slightly deeper inside of her, he was astonished at how incredibly tight she was. Suddenly, Faline arched her throat back and cried out as if in distress, while at the same moment his fingertip came in contact with her frail barrier. Realization dawned on him instantly, and he withdrew from her as if he had been burned. Opening his eyes, Shane was acutely aware of her discomfort and it was as if a bucket of ice had been thrown upon him. In a flash, any wayward thoughts that she might have already delivered children were flung from his mind, as he'd just witnessed the very proof of her innocence. Instantly, he pulled his body from hers to settle beside her on the bed. "Faline," he whispered in a broken voice, "Forgive me, did I hurt you?" Shane watched as she flushed deeply while meeting his eyes. Shaking her head, she backed away from him slightly while smoothing her hands down the shirt to cover herself once again. "I'm sorry, I was just surprised. This just happened so quickly, and I'm not, I mean, I've never ..." Faline's words trailed off as a darker blush stained her cheeks. Sitting up beside her, Shane couldn't help but to blink at her bewilderedly. She was confessing her inexperience to him, and yet as a man he found it nearly impossible to believe. She was well above the age most females had their first sexual encounters, be they married or not. Not to mention, she was stunningly beautiful in face and body, as well as an intelligent, kind person. How could she have gone this long in life without some male pursuing her, courting her, seducing her? In contrast, the wolf was greatly pleased. The wolf cared not how old she was or what went on in human society during the current day-and-age. The knowledge that his mate was pure filled him with an undeniably male pride. When he claimed her, he would be her first, her last and her only. The wolf wanted to howl his satisfaction over this discovery to the sky. Shane closed his eyes and willed the beast to be still. Now was not the time. After taking several deep breaths, Shane opened his eyes again, gazing at his mate with open respect and adoration. "Please, let me be the one to apologize m'chroi. I forgot myself and lost control, which is unforgivable." Faline turned towards him and brushed his arm with her fingertips. "I am also to blame. This went so far, so quickly. And I am not like that. But when I'm near you, something comes over me, and I keep forgetting myself." Shane took in a deep swallow of air, breathing through the moment. He knew exactly how she felt. "The same thing comes over me it seems. But I will make an effort to keep a rein on myself so this doesn't happen again. I don't wish you to be uncomfortable. Are you certain that you are all right?" She gave him a shy smile, "I am fine. Thank you for understanding." With a nod of his head, Shane rose to his feet, needing to put distance between them before he gave in to the wolf's urge to gather her back into his arms. Redirecting his thoughts, he quickly thought through his plan for the next few hours. He looked to where Kevin had set a small pile of Erin's clothing, noticing an array of nightclothes, jeans, some tops and sweaters. "These are my sister's," he told her, "She is taller than you, but I think you should find something fitting. When my Betas are in place we will go get Sophie." Faline twisted her hands together, the worry quickly had returned. "Thank you so much, for believing me, and helping us." Shane gave her a reassuring smile, "I wouldn't have it any other way." He began to step away from her, but turned back as a thought hit him. He gestured towards the plate and teacup Kevin had also set on the table earlier. "Please eat something, and see to your hair while I am gone." When he saw her puzzled look he ran his fingers through her damp locks and added, "Because there is no way I am taking you outside until it's fully dry. Understand?" He noticed her eyes flash defensive for a moment, but then she nodded. It pleased him, how she was beginning to accept him and allow him to protect her. He vowed to keep distance between them, but he reasoned that the moment had since cooled, and so he allowed himself to lean down and brush his lips against hers in a brief kiss. Employing every bit of willpower he had allowed him to back away from her and this time he was finally able to leave the room. * * * Faline stared at the door for long moments after it had closed, willing her heart to stop pounding so fast. She knew she should be focused on getting home to Sophie, but when she was near to Shane all rational thoughts ceased to exist. She had experienced attraction towards men in life before, but never anything like she felt when she was with Shane. It was mysterious and thrilling. She took deep breaths until she was able to concentrate on Sophie once again. She hoped that when she got home, she wouldn't be too late. Remembering her vision sobered her thoughts fully, and with a sigh, Faline began sorting through the pile of borrowed clothing for something warm to wear. The jeans were long, as Shane told her they would be, but she cuffed them up. The sweater was soft cashmere in the color of cream, and Faline thought that once she had on her winter coat and scarf, she would be plenty warm. In the washroom she ran a fresh towel against her hair until it was practically dry. She then finished dressing by pulling on a pair of thick socks followed by her boots. Finally she repacked her satchel, picked up her coat, and ventured out of the suite for the first time. She found herself standing in the middle of a long hallway and looked down the length of it in both directions. The décor was clean and classic. The walls were a crisp off-white color, and the floors a shining, dark hardwood. At one end of the hall the area seemed to open up into a sitting area, and at the other she could see a banister which must have lead to the stairs. She turned towards the banister and walked slowly to the end of the hall. Once she reached the banister, she realized there were not one, but two sets of stairs. One set lead down to the floor below, and the other lead up. Her initial impulse was to take the stairs up for some reason, and Faline found herself gazing upwards, wondering what waited at the top of the staircase. But in the end, she knew her goal was to leave this place to find Sophie, so that meant she had to head downstairs instead. The sound of distant voices drifting up towards her cemented her decision that she was going the in the right direction, and so Faline took a breath, and started her descent. She followed the voices until she came to a large, open room which held several comfortable looking couches and chairs. The walls of the room were made almost entirely of glass, and Faline thought that on a bright day, the room would be a wonderful place to sit and read. In the center of the largest wall were a set of French doors which were currently ajar, and Faline could tell that the voices she'd been following were coming from outside. She stepped cautiously towards the doors, but as she got closer she recognized Shane's voice was among those speaking, and so she relaxed slightly. When she was in the doorway, Faline realized that Shane had acquired a t-shirt and was joined by several others. She intended to announce herself, so that they were aware of her arrival, but when she heard one of them growl, fear rendered her silent. Standing with Shane out on the lawn was the one other she recognized, the wolf she met when she was so sick. He must have been some sort of doctor or healer. Kevin, she remembered Shane calling him. He was polite and kind, and treated her nicely each time she saw him. Standing across from Shane was another who looked almost identical to the healer. Twins, she recognized. Faline thought the twin seemed stressed, and spoke heatedly towards Shane. Standing between that twin and Shane was a pretty redhead. The redhead held the arm of Kevin's twin, and spoke to him in a calming voice. Visions Unveiled Ch. 07 Finally, their actual words reached her, and Faline realized they were speaking of her need to return home. "Shane," she heard the twin say, "It is not safe for us to go into this in the middle of the night. Especially when you have not had a full night's sleep in days. We should wait until daylight." "I wasn't asking your permission, Logan," Shane replied in a stern voice. Logan, Faline realized was the twin's name. "This is something that must be done. And while I remain grateful for your ever vigilant concern, I am beginning to tire of your doubting me." It was the redhead who spoke next, "Logan doesn't doubt you Shane, he is just trying to help." "I don't need you to speak for me," Logan said to her in a tight voice. Faline saw anger cross Shane's face and it was immediately mirrored in the redhead's features. "I beg to differ, mate," she snapped back instantly, "Because you can't feel his upset right now but I can, and my brother is within moments of tossing you into a tree for how you are acting. Now calm down, speak respectfully, or remove yourself before he does so. And which one of us is afraid and why?" she asked suddenly of the company surrounding her. Logan took a breath and shook his head after a long moment. He extended his hand to place it on the redhead's back before speaking. "Peace, Erin," he began. Erin, Faline now thought to herself. Logan and Erin. And they were mated she realized, affixing names to the new faces she was seeing. She watched as Logan began speaking again, "I am sorry, calm down. No one is afraid. But if Kevin and I both go with Shane to the village, and James and Brendan are still in the forest, that leaves only Sam here in case something happens," his eyes swung to Shane, "Those are not good odds, Alpha." Shane shook his head, "There are plenty of able bodied males here to defend the weaker, they will assist Sam in the unlikely event there is a threat. I've already told you, I don't believe Justin will be returning on his own accord." Something in Shane's tone caused Faline to shiver slightly. "There it is again," Erin said as she eyed the three males standing with her, "Fear. Why?" Finally, Kevin had something to add and he turned towards his brother. "If Shane is right, then we could be walking into a situation with injuries. And I am the best one to be present for that. But next to the Alpha, you are the strongest fighter. We both need to go, brother." Logan shook his head as he looked at Erin and then Shane, "I don't feel right leaving Erin and the rest of the pack with only Sam. But seeing as Justin has already attacked outside of the complex, I suppose it's the only choice." Faline watched as Shane ran a hand through his short hair. She could tell he was carefully considering all of the information coming towards him. Then she saw Erin stare at Shane a moment in confusion. "Our cousin has attacked someone? Who?" "The girl," Logan said. Simultaneously Kevin added, "Faline." "Who is Faline?" Erin asked. Faline began to tremble, unable to speak or move. She thought that Shane was about to say something, but it was Kevin who spoke next instead. "Faline is her name. The Alpha's mate." Suddenly, a brisk wind licked through the trees. It rustled Faline's hair and clothes, and an instant later, the four werewolves tensed and each spun towards her. She took an inadvertent step backwards, knowing the change in the air must have alerted them of her scent. Holding out a hand before her, Faline stammered, "No." "It's you," Erin suddenly blurted, her voice touched with awe. "The fear, and the feelings around me all day. It's been you." And then she spoke as the dawning hit her, "Of course, now it's clear." "Faline," Shane said as he took a step towards her, "I'm right here, you are safe." "No," Faline said again. "No, it can't be. Tell me it's not true. The one who attacked me, he's your cousin? And you knew?" She watched with wide eyes as Shane took another step towards her, and she faltered a step, "You knew, and you didn't tell me?" Betrayal shot through her, sharp and deep, and instantly she wanted to flee. Making her way down the steps, Faline cautiously backed clear away from the where the wolves were standing. Despite the others, her eyes never left Shane, as he was the Alpha, and thereby the largest threat. She felt such a fool for allowing him to get under her skin. He began to walk towards her as he spoke, "Faline, I didn't want to frighten you any more than you already were. My cousin will pay for what he has done to you. I will not allow anyone to hurt you again." Faline narrowed her eyes at him, unbelieving how effortlessly the lies seemed to come. She thought of her flight through the woods with the wolf chasing her, she thought of her vision about Sophie. She realized that a horrible killer was still out there somewhere. Then she felt the rare twisting of something dark inside of her. "Shane," Faline heard Erin say in a serious tone. "Brother beware, she is angry. Angry and erratic." Faline backed away further, but Shane still stepped towards her, placing the others behind him. "Faline, please listen to me. I am going to take you to Sophie as I promised." This would have been a trap she now realized, with her leading him right to Sophie. "No!" Faline snapped, while raising her hands in defense of him. "No more, you will stay away," she uttered through clenched teeth. Faline took a deep breath, feeling the air shift around her. Then she thrust her hands forward. "Hindrun," she called out, and suddenly the air crackled, and a wall of energy began to glow in the space immediately in front of Shane. Focusing her eyes, Faline spread her arms apart, and as she did so the wall continued to widen outwards. She paused after a moment to look beyond the pulsing air where she could see the shock and concern on Shane's face. She watched as he slowly raised his hand and tentatively pressed it against the flat of the wall, and she was satisfied when she saw that there was no give against his hand. It gave her the confidence she needed to know he couldn't pass the field she'd created. Faline met his eyes with a look of determination, and then she proceeded to back away, forcing the distance between them to grow with each and every step. Visions Unveiled Ch. 08 *Author's Note: After what has been one of the worst years of my life, I have picked up and started again. We have moved more than once, started again from scratch, and are slowly getting back on our feet. Sadly, I was unable to focus on my writing during this time, and I missed it greatly. Once I was able to devote time to my creative endeavors, then came issues with technology, etc. All in all, this is just a wordy way of apologizing for this chapter having taken forever. I have not forgotten this tale, and I have no intention of leaving it undone. These characters are engrained much too deeply in my heart, and there is so much more to this story which I am also anxious to share. I hope you can please excuse the long overdue chapter, and also have patience with me for the next. Thank you also for words of encouragement, e-mails and feedback through this very long year. An additional comment on my writing style for this chapter: I have a favorite author who uses time beautifully in his books. He has a technique of telling parts of a story both backwards and forwards at the same time, and eventually the two cross somewhere in the middle. It's quite magical and I have admired this technique for years. It has inspired me to try to humbly emulate his genius. I hope this is not confusing to follow. I have used italics within the body of this chapter to help illustrate what I've done. Feedback and thoughts as always are treasured. Ever, ~ib* ***** 8. An unveiling Shane gripped the steering wheel firmly as he eased the Jeep down the darkened main road of the village where Faline lived with Sophie. The pavement was still slick with residual ice, and so he was all the more cautious as he slowed the vehicle before carefully turning once he reached the corner. Here, the pavement was mostly clear, and so Shane chanced as quick glance sideways towards the passenger seat. Her hands were laced together in her lap, her fingers twisting furiously as she sat staring straight ahead through the windshield. When she felt his eyes upon her, she looked over to meet his gaze, but said nothing. From the corner of his eye he noticed her fingers clenched tightly together, signaling her growing anxiety. Thinking back over the last few hours, Shane could only nod in understanding. As his eyes returned to the road, he dropped one hand from the wheel and reached for hers. He thought again of all they had just been through, and all he had just seen. Shane could think of only one thing to say, but the words didn't seem to be enough. Sadly though, it was all he had, and so as his fingers connected with hers he said them anyway. "We'll find her." Though she nodded slightly, Faline still did not speak. Once again, his mind tripped back to earlier in the evening. As his large hand settled to cover both of hers, he vividly recalled the moment when she had raised those very hands against him. * * * Shane could feel the wildness of the wolf taking hold of him. He had tried to be patient with his mate. So far he had made every possible effort to reassure her that she was safe while with him. Since the moment he first saw her, he had put her needs before his own. She had come first. Before his sister, his nearest friend, and even his entire pack as a whole. That she could lash out so was staggering. To a point he could understand her distrust, but he had done nothing to deserve this reaction. He was also amazed by the fact that she had created a barrier between them. The air seemed to buzz and crackle, similar to the way the sky behaved moments before a lightning storm. It was clear that his mate could wield very powerful magic. But the fact that she had used this gift to block him was an affront which set the wolf into a defensive frenzy. A dozen images flooded his mind as the wolf rushed forward. His wolf worried a threat could befall his mate, and with the wall between them, how could he protect her? What if the danger she feared was truly after Sophie came for her now and he could not defend her because of this barrier she'd raised out of thin air? What if Justin appeared now from the forest as Logan worried he might? Perhaps even a random wild creature could mistake her unnatural powers as threatening and respond by attacking. Shane clenched his teeth as the wolf's imagination ran rampant and a loud growl rumbled from his chest. This was not happening, the wolf insisted. Not after thirty-three years of anguish. Thirty-three years of emptiness. Decades of torment. Endless days of grieving. Countless dark nights of agony. All that he had endured would not end like this, not with his mate edging away from him as if he were the enemy. All of the years of thinking his mate had perished in his arms, and the tears he'd shed. The sadness of burying her father, another kindred soul lost to him. All of the suffering only to then learn that she'd lived after all. And yet, she could so easily walk away from him, without so much as letting him explain his actions. He'd managed to hold on to the thin thread of his humanity for this long, but the wolf was tired of the man's methods. All that achieved so far was the reality that his mate was choosing to flee while calling upon magic to help her evade him. Another growl tore through him and his eyes began to burn molten hot as he watched his mate stepping further and further away. She was his and she had been denied to him for far too long. He would let nothing come between them ever again. No man. No wolf. Not her. And most certainly not some protection enchantment. He was the Alpha. This female belonged to him. And nothing was going to keep her from him. Ever. Again. And with that, the wolf threw his head back and howled. It was a sharp cry which split the night air, signaling to all creatures within miles that the Alpha would no longer be denied ... * * * Faline found the soft leather seat of the Jeep comforting. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. The warmth of Shane's hand upon her own helped to calm her, and she noticed the tremors subsiding slightly. She wanted to cry, to be sick, and to hide away from this nightmare forever. But Sophie was missing, the shop destroyed. The guilt she felt was overwhelming, but deep inside she knew that dwelling on negative feelings was counterproductive. Wallowing in her own misery would not bring Sophie back any sooner. Taking another breath, she drew from a well of strength deep inside and shored up her mental walls. Over the last hours Shane had more than proven his claim that she was safe while with him and that he cared for her deeply. It was humbling, especially now that he was once again soothing her with the reassuring touch of his hand against hers. She was not certain she deserved such open comforting, but she was grateful for his calming gesture nonetheless. She looked towards Shane and could tell by his clenched jaw that he too was struggling with something. His eyes were focused on his driving, but she could tell from studying his profile that he was uneasy, despite his confident words to her. When she felt his fingertips begin to gently caress her knuckles, she looked down and studied his hand. It was hard to believe that a hand capable of such tenderness could cause the damage she'd earlier witnessed. Shane's sharp claws now came to mind, appendages which were more animal than human, tearing into an enemy. The blood he'd effortlessly spilled as he ripped into the flesh of the other wolf, all to protect her. She thought back over the last days, remembering how compassionate and gentle he had been with her. But now she realized just how lethal a predator he could be. There was no denying he was every bit the Alpha he claimed to be. Without a doubt he was the most powerful, fierce and deadly werewolf she'd ever come across. And yet for the first time in her life, a Were had used his enhanced strength to defend and protect her, rather than to threaten and harm. By now she had seen him shift twice, though only into his hybrid form both times. The second time was just recently in Sophie's shop where he fought against the members of the other pack which they assumed had taken Sophie. But earlier in the evening, the first time he'd shifted, was when they were in the clearing as she tried to escape him. When she'd attempted to block him with a spell. * * * Faline's eyes widened in shock as Shane changed almost instantly before her eyes. One moment he was there, just beyond the transparent barrier she'd raised, looking like a concerned and perplexed man. She kept her gaze locked upon his face and she could practically see each thought and emotion he was having. What appeared to be a worried expression soon gave way to irritation, which changed almost immediately into a look of fierce desperation. She froze in place when his eyes suddenly turned bright gold and a piercing howl tore from this throat. She had never been so close to that sound, and it was both startling and compelling at the same time. His arms flung outwards and his head aimed skyward as the shrill howl reached its crescendo. Before it was done, his body began to heave. His limbs lengthened. Muscles of his neck, arms and legs thickened. The seams of his clothing split, giving way to his larger form. Sharp teeth and claws began to show themselves as his face contorted. She realized almost immediately that his shift would not complete itself, but Faline knew full well how dangerous a Were in hybrid form could be. Wolf or not, she felt confident that the spell she'd chanted would continue to protect her. After a brief halting of her steps, she flexed her fingers outwards slightly to reinforce the wall, and began backing away from him once again. Her retreat proved to be a mistake. The moment she began to move Shane's head snapped toward her, his sharp, golden eyes piercing into her own. Despite his appearance being that of a hulking beast, his eyes betrayed a keen intelligence. She was aware that he was cataloguing her every move, down to the very breaths she was taking. Faline watched as his pack mates slowly took position behind him. The twins flanked him, one to each side. Though they retained their human form they appeared at the ready. It was Erin who approached Shane. His sister stood close by his side, and Faline could see the redhead whispering words that Shane shook off. Beyond them, other werewolves began to appear at the fringes of the clearing. Faline recognized none of their faces, but she was certain that they must have arrived to answer their Alpha's baying call. She knew she could not afford to show any fear. Signs of terror would only excite a predator. Faline had confidence in the protection spell she'd conjured and so she began stepping backwards again, more swiftly this time. Her only intent was escaping the werewolf whose gaze was locked upon her ... * * * "You killed him, that wolf." Shane was surprised to hear the sound of her voice, as Faline had been silent since before he took her away from the shop. He wasn't certain where she was leading with her observation and so he decided to keep his response simple, "I did. My only regret is that you had to witness it." "He was one of your kind," Faline said, her voice small. Shane gave a slight shrug as he was driving. "He threatened you." She was quiet for a few moments more before he heard her take a shaking breath. "And so you killed him? Just like that?" "He intended you harm. I would end a thousand lives without remorse, if they dared to hurt you. I protect mine at all costs." At this, he could feel the weight of her stare upon him. He slowed and down-shifted the Jeep as they approached a red light and once the vehicle stopped, he turned to look into her eyes. "I don't take death lightly Faline, so please don't think that is the case. But I will always defend my pack without question. That wolf deserved to die for the words he spoke to you, and the move he made to seize you. His death will send the message to his alpha that I will not abide the taking of any of my family by his pack. Even if it means a war, I am prepared to fight it. My pack may have decreased in size since my father's death, but that does not mean another pack can just take from me at whim. I will not allow it. If it takes the slaying of a dishonorable wolf to convey that message, I will accept whatever consequences may follow." Faline shook her head slowly. "I don't understand. Sophie is my mother. She is of no relation to you. How is that taking from your pack?" The light changed from red to green and so Shane shifted his attention to the street once more, his jaw clenched. He slowly eased the Jeep forward before giving a pointed nod. "Her abduction is an affront to me, and that is taking from my pack. You are under my protection, which makes you part of my pack. By default, that now includes Sophie, and anyone else you cherish." Faline paused for a moment, absorbing the weight of his words. Finally she spoke again. "You call me part of your pack but I am not a werewolf, nor is Sophie. Is this because of your friendship with my parents?" "Yes," Shane answered immediately. "I vowed to Ilsa that I would protect you. Your parents were good people, and I was proud to count them as part of my pack while they lived within my territory. That connection now extends to you and your loved ones. I made a promise to Ilsa that once you came into my life, I would help you without question. I never go back on my promises. I protect my pack, always. And none of you can just be taken from me. If Danvers thinks so, he is dead wrong." "Danvers?" Faline asked. Shane nodded again, "Grant Danvers. Reigning alpha of the pack which I am certain took Sophie. Those were his cretins we fought. And Luna help him, if Sophie is in anything but perfect health once we find her." "Is that where we are going now?" Faline asked hopefully. Shane shook his head quickly. "No, not just yet. I need to form a solid plan. Logan needs stitches, though I am sure Kevin will have him patched up by the time we make it back. I have to arrange for scouts to find Justin. And then we all need rest. I know you are worried for Sophie, but Danvers won't hurt her. He must have taken her for a reason, and so he will keep her safe until he thinks he can trade her for whatever it is he's after. He's a dangerous bastard, but he's not stupid. That will buy us some time for me to formulate a plan, get you to safety, and allow us some rest." * * * In a brief moment, Faline realized that she needed to alter her entire outlook of what she knew about werewolves to be true. If she thought she'd seen a large one before, she hadn't. If she thought she'd previously outrun fast wolves before, she didn't. If she thought she had encountered power before now, she was mistaken. After issuing his howl, Shane's golden eyes bore straight into her, through the barrier. His eyes were bright and they had her halting her steps. As his intense gaze locked onto her she slowly understood that he was sending an important message. His eyes implored her to let her guard down and to cease her retreat, as the man he was moments prior had asked of her. If she was wise, she would have heeded those eyes. Instead, she gave in to her lifetime of fear by keeping the barrier in place, and resuming her steps backward. It was a mistake, for the moment she began moving, the wolf leapt into action. 'Fast' was nowhere near close to the word needed to describe his fluid movements. The wolf rushed forward against the barrier with what she could only think of as a liquid grace. A moment before he would have hit the wall, the wolf swung his clawed hand forward, slashing his razor sharp talons into the thickened air. Behind him, his betas braced themselves, preparing for whatever was to come next. Faline held her breath as she watched the hybrid wolf Shane had become attack the wall which separated them. At first, his claws met resistance, but then she noticed his eyes close for a brief moment, and when he reopened them, they were glowing brighter than they had before. No werewolf she had ever encountered had eyes that glowed so brilliantly. He began his assault on the obstacle in his way once again, this time however, the glow extended further than his eyes. Ethereal rays of light appeared to flow around him in slow waves. They circled his body and seeped into the icy ground he was standing on, and into the very air around him. As she watched, the mysterious glow brightened, and it was then that she realized, the light was actually coming from Shane's body. Magic. He had magic of his own. How could she have missed it before now? As the light gathering around him brightened, she noticed his pack withdrawing slightly. Shane seemed to pause as if he were inhaling deeply. When he moved again, all of the light which had gathered around him concentrated, rushing at once towards his palms. Faline was captivated, and held motionless in awe as she watched his calculated movements. He brought his clawed hands together in a flash and thrust them into her barrier wall. Light seemed to explode as his magic collided with hers. Faline flexed her fingertips and chanted, causing her wall to glow. The perimeter flashed from bright green, to pale blue before her eyes. She increased her efforts, but Faline was quickly becoming drained. She had never felt a force like this. It did not hurt her, it did not harm, it merely wanted in. Faline was giving all she had to keep the wolf outside of the sanctuary she'd created, but she was now tiring and quickly. She glanced beyond the flashing colors of the wall towards the wolf and was alarmed to see he hardly appeared to be making any effort at all. The swirling golden light danced around him now, and while his pack retreated slightly, none appeared alarmed in any way. She instantly knew that what she was witnessing was likely a fraction of the power that this wolf possessed. Exhaustion was quickly closing in. Faline now looked to the wolf's eyes and saw they were still focused on her. Looking closer now, she saw there was no hatred there, not a trace of malice. Not unlike the man, the wolf's eyes also held a thousand promises of safety, security and belonging. They did not wish her harm. And suddenly, in her heart, she wished to no longer keep the owner of those eyes from her. Though she was now weary, her stubborn mind still maintained her spell, unable to be the one to relent. She stared into the wolf's eyes, and Faline knew that he could read her so much easier that she seemed to read him. They were at an impasse. But with the exchange between her eyes and his, they finally came to a mutual understanding. The wolf gave a slight nod, and a moment later he leaned further into the blazing wall. Light and heat burst around him as he entered her space. The wall shimmered and crackled before it suddenly gave, splitting apart and evaporating into a prism of multi-colored mist, yielding to the force that was Shane ... * * * Shane could not believe that at a time like this, they were shopping. Before taking the exit that would lead to his secluded community, his mate insisted on stopping for what she claimed were necessities. Shane kept pace with her as Faline moved rapidly through the aisles, filling the cart he pushed with various sundries. They were in a 24-hour store, which sold everything from clothing to groceries to automobile tires. In the pharmacy section, Shane sighed as he watched her quickly select a brand of toothpaste and a basic toothbrush before dropping them into the cart. Visions Unveiled Ch. 08 "Faline," he said with patience, "I told you, everything you need, I have." She shook her head stubbornly and continued down the aisle, pausing before rows of barred soap. "No, I want things of my own. You wouldn't let me take anything from my apartment. And while I am grateful for your sister's generosity, I cannot keep wearing her clothes." "Your home is not safe, I couldn't allow you to stay there any longer." She didn't immediately answer, and so Shane watched as she compared prices of a single bar of soap versus a five-pack of the same brand. She chose the single bar and placed it in the cart, stepping away to the next aisle. Rolling his eyes, Shane returned the soap to the shelf, exchanging it for the larger package. She didn't seem to realize it yet, but she would be with him for far longer than the time it would take her to use a single bar of soap. While the timing was inconvenient, he admitted that he did want his mate to have the items that made her comfortable. He noted that all of the soaps, shampoo and lotion she chose were fragrance-free. This mollified his wolf, as he was reluctant for anything to cover up her natural scent, which was most pleasing to him. He quickly learned she was not one to dawdle. In mere moments she selected two pairs of jeans, hastily checking the size, and tossed them into the cart without a second thought. She next chose tops in the same manner. Socks, bras, underwear and a pair of pajamas were also selected in haste. Finally she paused briefly to admire a long, grey cardigan style sweater. Shane approved of the dark grey material, and thought it would compliment her eyes nicely. However, when Faline checked she price tag she immediately shook her head and returned it to the rack, stepping ahead of him once more. As he passed the rack, Shane reached out and grabbed the sweater, adding it to the cart. In a bargain store such as this, the price couldn't be that high, and he knew she would need warm clothing. Clearly she liked the garment, and so she would have it. It wasn't until they were with the cashier checking out, that Faline seemed to notice the varied items Shane had added or switched on her behalf. The purchases were totaled, and when the cashier stated the final cost Faline frowned, reaching into her satchel for her lone credit card. Before she could get her hands on it, Shane had flipped open his wallet, already passing a hundred-dollar bill to the cashier. "No," Faline addressed the cashier, "I'm paying, here please take my card." The cashier proceeded as if she hadn't heard. She'd entered the cash into the register, and had already begun counting out Shane's change. Shane could tell his mate was annoyed with him. He could feel the icy weight of her stare as he accepted his change from the cashier and gathered up the bags of his mate's new belongings. "I can carry those," Faline stated coldly, but Shane merely shook his head. "I already have them," he told her calmly, though his patience was beginning to wear thin. He wanted to leave this place, feeling the need to get his mate once again to the safety of his pack. Near the exit of the store she veered away from him, towards the ATM. "Fine, I'll just take out the cash and repay you now." "No," was all he said, taking her by the elbow and steering her out the doors. Though she continued to walk with him, her posture was stiff, and his ears picked up on her sharp intake of breath. His mate was growing more aggravated with him. Once at the Jeep, he tossed the purchases into the back and walked her to the passenger's side. He kept hold of her arm as he attempted to assist her up the step into the vehicle. "I don't need your help," she snapped, tugging her arm from his grasp. "Faline, I am only trying to-" his words were cut off, as she settled herself into the seat and pulled the Jeep door shut. He was more shocked than angry, as being rebuffed like this was not something he was accustomed to. Shane went around the Jeep and entered the driver's side. He fastened his seat belt, checked that she had done the same, before starting the Jeep and pulling out of the parking space. "I'm not entirely certain why you are so upset," he said, "So if you feel like enlightening me, I would appreciate it." "I don't need your charity," she snapped. "Charity? Faline, I just want to-" "Help me?" she finished his sentence coldly. "Because of some debt you feel you owe to my birth parents. I know. But that doesn't mean you have to shadow me everywhere I walk. You can give me some space. And I don't need you to buy anything for me. I have money, I can afford to pay for the things I need. Sophie and I may not live like you, but we aren't penniless, believe it or not." Her bitter words took him completely by surprise. "Penniless?" Shane repeated, "I don't think you are penniless! Where is this coming from?" "I've seen your home, remember? This car, your sister's designer labels," Faline said, while fingering the collar of Erin's sweater which she was still wearing. "It's very obvious that we are worlds apart." Again, Shane couldn't believe this was happening and his male pride was beginning to surface. "So my sister tends to like finer clothing. And yes, this Jeep was expensive, but there are times like today, when having an all terrain vehicle is necessary in my life. And as for my home, it is maintained. As I believe all homes should be. My family, my pack, has become comfortable through the years, after much hard work. But don't you think for one moment that I have never known difficult times." She made a slight sound of disbelief, and Shane couldn't stop his words from coming if he tried. "Not convinced? Fine. Two. That is the number of brothers I've watched die. One, a toddler, too young and weak to fight a fever that swept the countryside that year. The other, I had the misfortune of watching as his throat was ripped out before my very eyes, and I was powerless to save him. I have fought in and avoided more wars in my lifetime than some countries have had in their entire history on this earth. And then there are the famines I've endured. Years worth. You must be familiar with that feeling. Tell me Faline, was there always plenty to feed everyone in the orphanage? Was hunger never an issue? Or were there days, perhaps weeks, when you weren't sure if your next meal would ever come?" He heard a small sniffle beside him and realized to his horror that he had gone too far. He glanced over and saw that she was staring straight ahead, and her eyes were wet with tears. Guilt flooded him. "Faline, please forgive me. I should not have said those things." She shook her head though, and took a shuddering breath before speaking. "No, don't be sorry. It's true. There were many times just like that. There was one winter at Saint Elizabeth's, when all we had for a month were cheese sandwiches once a day. Some of the older girls would steal from the plates of those who were smaller or afraid. And so my friend Megan and I made a pact, and we would always try to hide half of ours. Then later, when it was safe, we would give our saved sandwiches to those girls who were stolen from, so that the little ones could have enough." Shane couldn't believe his ears. "Little ones? How old were you when this happened?" "Six, maybe seven." Under his breath, Shane cursed a world where starving children protected one another because no adult would. "Faline, at six you and your friend were the little ones. Luna, how did you make it out of there?" "Sophie," Faline said softly. "That was the year Sophie found me." The roads had finally brought them to his property, and Shane was never so glad to park his vehicle. The moment the Jeep stopped, he was out of his seat and around the side, pulling the door open and tugging his mate into his arms. To his surprise, Faline allowed it, and he felt her tears against the skin of his neck. "I'm so sorry that your brothers died like that," she whispered. His heart clenched at the realization that she wasn't only crying for her past, but also for his losses which he had confessed. "Those things happened long ago, m'chroi. I have seen many horrors. Your life also has not been an easy one. You have had to be very strong to get this far. I know you have been independent, taking care of yourself until now but you are not alone any longer. I must not forget that it will take you time to grow accustomed to accepting help." Faline nodded silently and turned away to gather her satchel from the front seat of the Jeep. Shane observed her, noting once again how exhausted she appeared. His mate needed rest and soon. When he realized that she did not intend to answer he opened the back of the Jeep to retrieve the items purchased from the store. His eyes returned to her instantly, as she closed the door of the Jeep and began to walk towards him. Though she appeared slight and helpless, he knew that her inner strength was far greater than any other he'd ever known. * * * The instant Shane penetrated that wall which Faline's spell had created he was aware of two things. The first was that he'd destroyed the thing and it had disintegrated into the mist. The second was that his mate was falling, and that was unacceptable. She was just steps away, and he caught her in his arms before she collapsed. "I've got you," he murmured as he lowered her towards the ground slowly. Even to his own ears, his voice sounded rough, as a wolf's was known to be. "Are you hurt?" he asked. Now that he'd accomplished his goal of rejoining his mate, his wolf retreated. In moments the wolf eased away, and he returned to his human form as he cradled his mate against him. Faline shook her head slightly, "No. That just takes a lot out of me." Shane stared at her, marveling at her abilities. "Where did you learn to conjure spells like that?" "The spells are in the journal. When I was younger, Sophie taught me to perfect them," Faline began to raise herself against Shane's hold, "I need to get to Sophie." Shane nodded, "Once I am certain you are well." Faline rubbed her hands together before looking straight into his eyes. "It's really true what you say. That you will not hurt me." Shane moved his hand to the side of her face, "I will tell you as many times as you need me to. You are safe here. Always." Shane scented Kevin's approach and looked up as his beta slowly came to stand beside them before dropping to one knee. Shane nodded his approval, knowing Kevin was concerned for his mate's health. "Are you in pain, my lady? Can I help you in any way?" Faline frowned at the title, but shook her head as she began to stand up with Shane's assistance. "I am fine, I just want to go home." Kevin nodded before turning to Shane, "Alpha, the pack is concerned. You have not called forth light in ages." Shane sighed as he placed his hand behind Faline's back, "For ages I have not needed to. But to get through that wall, I would have called all the elements at once if that was the only way." He paused, directing his next words towards his mate, "Your magic is powerful, m'chroi. I thought you said your spells did not work against me." Faline was carefully brushing dirt from the clothes she was wearing. "The spells I tried in the forest and at the cottage were intended for werewolves, and they don't work against you. The spell I just did is different. It's meant to block out all creatures. I've never used it before tonight. I guess that one doesn't work either." Shane shook his head, "It did work for a time. It will probably protect you from many threats. But I will always find my way to you, no matter what attempts to keep us apart." Slowly, they began walking and Shane steered his mate towards Erin. He noted that Logan was speaking with Sam and several other pack members who all seemed to be eying his mate with both curiosity and caution. As they approached, Shane gave them a confident nod, while keeping his arm securely around Faline. He did this not only to comfort his mate, but to send the message to his pack that this female was both openly accepted by him, and under his protection. The moment they were near, Erin gave an easy smile. "I told you she would soon let you in, brother," Erin said to Shane, before turning her eyes to Faline. "He does act impulsively at times, because he usually cannot help himself. My name is Erin, and I am so happy to finally meet the person behind all those many feelings." "Erin," Shane began, only to be cut off as his sister rambled on. "Don't worry, I won't go on too long," Erin answered, before returning her eyes to Faline. "I know you are wary, and that you are not certain about meeting new wolves, but you are very welcome and safe here." "My sister is empathic," Shane explained, when he noticed Faline's puzzled expression. Faline gave an uncertain smile, "I am sorry about all this," she gestured to the clearing behind her, "But I really am anxious to get home." Her eyes returned to Shane, "Can we please go now?" Shane nodded, "Yes, of course. I just need to change first." He indicated his jeans and shirt, which had become torn and misshapen during his shift. "There are fresh clothes in your study," Erin said. Shane nodded and pulled Faline tightly to his side for a brief moment. "I will be back in a minute, m'chroi. And then I promise, we will go," he then swung his eyes to Kevin, "We will leave in five minutes." Kevin adjusted his backpack full of supplies, "Logan and I are ready." With that Shane reluctantly released his mate, and hurried into the house to change, returning in mere moments. When he did, he hugged his sister goodbye and secured his mate into the passenger side of his Jeep before taking his seat behind the wheel. He started the ignition and shifted the vehicle into drive. He steered towards the main road and then glanced in the rearview mirror to make sure that Logan and Kevin, who would be following in Logan's truck were also on their way ... * * * There was blood on the front porch stairs, and drops could be trailed through the door, down the first floor hallway and into a room adjacent to the kitchen. The blood was Logan's, and he was currently resting on the exam table in the white room which Kevin used to treat minor ailments. Under Logan's right arm, his mate rested against him, though her eyes were closed, it was clear that Erin was not asleep. In her hand, Erin held a smooth, dark red stone, which she rested against Logan's chest, near to his heart. Faline was standing just outside the open door, while Shane had gone immediately inside. Though she had been invited, Faline felt more comfortable waiting where she was, as to not be in the way or intrude. She watched Kevin carefully remove a thick bandage which had been affixed to Logan's shoulder. Logan sat perfectly still on the table as Shane leaned closer, examining the injury his friend had suffered. Though Kevin had already cleansed and closed the wound, Faline could easily see the angry red gash and the bruising of the flesh which surrounded the trauma. "How many?" Shane asked Kevin, though he did not look away from the laceration. "Twenty-five stitches, Alpha," Kevin replied, "And he complained about each one." Logan groaned, "An excessive amount, even for someone as overly cautious as you, brother." Shane shook his head as he studied the stitches, and then raised his eyes to Logan, "They are all necessary and you know it." From where she was standing, Faline silently agreed. The laceration began high on Logan's left shoulder and trailed nearly five inches towards the center of his chest. As far as she was concerned the injury was dreadfully close to Logan's throat, and had bled profusely. She watched on as Shane now took notice of the IV line attached to the back of Logan's hand, which appeared to be filled with nothing other than clear liquid. "Any blood?" Shane asked. Kevin shook his head, "Right now I have him on a saline drip for fluids, with an added antibiotic. If he is still weak in an hour, I can give him blood then. But I believe he is already beginning to heal." Shane nodded, and then turned from Logan, giving his full attention to Kevin. "Good. Now tell me about you." Faline also shifted her gaze to Kevin, who did not escape this evening free of harm either. Bruises were clearly visible on one forearm, and a particularly sizeable amount of swelling was noticeable on his face. "I have no major injuries Alpha. I just need a bit more ice, and will be fine by morning." "Very well," Shane said, "If Logan does not require blood, I want all of you to bed in an hour. You need recovery. That includes you, Erin." Finally, Shane's sister opened her eyes, and Faline could see they were bloodshot. She thought back to what Shane had said earlier about his sister's empathic abilities. A night like this one must have been hell for the redhead, and Faline felt guilt begin to flood her. Because of her, both Kevin and Logan had been hurt, and could have possibly died. "You did not cause this," Faline heard Erin say in a tear filled voice. It took Faline a moment for her to realize that Shane's sister was speaking to her. Shane then turned towards the doorway, "Faline?" he asked. "She feels guilt and sorrow for what has happened," Erin supplied. Faline couldn't help but to nod. "We were all there because of me. For Sophie." Shane was already stepping towards her, "You are not responsible for any of this tonight. The one accountable is Grant Danvers." "Danvers," Logan began to growl, and Faline noticed his eyes flashing yellow. "Next time I see him, I will tear his face off." Faline widened her eyes, as Shane looked over his shoulder towards Logan, "You will leave him to me, and you will calm down. This is not a battle for tonight." Erin began to caress her mate's arm, though the redhead looked shaky herself. Empathic, Faline remembered again, feeling all the more miserable. "You need rest as well," Shane now said to Faline, coming to stand directly in front of her. "There are no others in this house besides us. Are you comfortable staying here?" Faline felt herself nodding, though was grateful for his consideration. The more time she spent with this family, she was becoming to realize she did feel the safety she had been promised. Shane placed a hand softly on her arm, "Would you like me to walk you upstairs and help you get settled?" Faline could tell from his eyes, that he wished to accompany her. She knew his offer was sincere, as by now she knew her comfort mattered to him. But she also knew that he had other more important things to tend to with both Logan and Kevin being injured, and Erin's distraught state. With a small shake of her head, she declined, "No, thank you. I can find my way." Taking a small step into the room, she addressed the twins. "Thank you both, for trying to help me get to Sophie tonight. I am sorry that you are both hurt." Almost in perfect unison, both brothers bowed their heads slightly to her. It was Logan who answered first, "I apologize if my doubts kept us from getting there sooner." Faline thought of how badly she had earlier misjudged this pack. "I don't blame you for your apprehension at all," Faline told him, as distrust was a feeling she was all too familiar with. Logan nodded while reaching over to cover Erin's hand, the one that still held the red stone. "Thank you again," he said. Visions Unveiled Ch. 08 It was then that Kevin took a step towards her, "Are you certain that you are well? You also had quite an ordeal earlier." Faline shook her head once more. Because of these brave wolves, she was completely unscathed, "I am fine. Thank you for all you've done." Kevin bowed his head again, "Of course, my lady. Good night." Heading from the room with Shane at her side, Faline noticed again the drops of blood on the hardwood floor. "I can help clean the floors before I go up. It will be a while before I can sleep anyway." Shane shook his head as he ushered her down the hall, careful to avoid the blood. "Once they all have retired for the night, I will tend to this." They reached the stairs and Faline paused to look up at him, "Are you sure?" Shane nodded, "They are mine to look after," he even gave a small grin, "And sadly, it's not anything I haven't done before." Faline had to admit, his smile was endearing. Though he too, seemed as exhausted as everyone else. Yet somehow she knew that Shane was determined to see everyone settled down before he himself would rest. Faline took a moment to gather her bags and satchel from a bench against the wall, near the stairs. Once she had, Shane said, "Make yourself comfortable. And if you need anything else at all ..." He left his sentence trail and Faline nodded, understanding he meant so much more than just toothbrushes or pajamas. "I am fine." Shane took a small step closer to her, and her breath caught in her throat when he caressed her jaw. "Sleep well then," he whispered. She felt her eyes closing as he kissed her softly. In a brief moment he was already backing away, and so she began her way up the stairs. Below, Shane waited until she was halfway up the flight before he returned to the exam room. At the second floor landing Faline started towards the suite where she had previously slept, when her attention was once again drawn to the staircase leading up to the third floor. As it had done earlier in the day, the staircase beckoned her towards it. She knew it was impolite to venture into a part of the house where she was uninvited, yet still, she could not resist the feeling that drew her towards those stairs. Faline made up her mind to climb the first few steps, with the hope that the feeling which drew her to them would subside. But with each step she took, the pull became stronger. Once her foot hit the third stair, she instantly froze in her steps. Her eyes fixed straight ahead as a flood of images rushed at her. A room with soft light, calming colors, and the most secure feeling of home she'd ever felt while being away from Sophie. This vision was a rarity. Most often her visions were those of warning, cautioning her against things which meant her harm, but not this vision. This vision made her feel safe, welcome, at home. She was stunned by it. Once her senses cleared, she knew without a doubt, that the vision meant she was heading in the correct direction. She knew that wonderful feeling of belonging would find her once she reached the top of the stairs. She didn't know exactly what she would find, but nonetheless, she was powerless to head in any other direction than up. * * * Because parking was not permitted on the main road of the village, business owners, residents and visitors were forced to park their vehicles in a lot behind the buildings. Shane had parked in a spot below a streetlamp. Once Logan and Kevin arrived, Shane turned off the ignition and twisted in his seat to face her. "Are you ready?" he asked seriously. Faline was already opening her door, "Yes." Shane came to stand beside her as Logan and Kevin approached. Once they were all standing together Shane spoke. "Faline, no matter what happens keep close to us. If anything were to happen to me, Logan will keep you safe. Understand?" Absently, Faline nodded. Her attention was focused on the second story windows of one of the buildings, and Shane followed her gaze. "What is it? Is there something wrong?" he asked. "I'm not sure," Faline answered, "But all of the lights are off." She raised her arm and pointed, "Those five windows from the left corner in, those are ours." Faline looked away from the building when Shane took her hand. "Can we access your home from here?" he asked as he looked towards the building again. "No," Faline said, "Only through the inside of the shop. The entrance is around that corner." She pointed towards a side street and Shane nodded. Logan and Kevin were on alert, she could tell by the way their eyes never stayed still. Both were on the constant watch for any sort of threat. "Before we go further," Shane said, "Have you had any other visions?" Faline closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, focusing on what she recalled from earlier in the evening. After a moment she reopened her eyes and shook her head. "Nothing new, but the vision is still strong." With that, they began walking, taking the side road towards the lane. Shane led the way while keeping hold of Faline's hand, as if he were trying to keep her from rushing ahead. Behind them, Logan and Kevin were following at a measured distance. The village was mostly deserted on account of the weather. As each of her footfalls landed on the walk, Faline couldn't help to notice the quiet echoes as they sounded. She kept glancing up towards the windows hoping to see a light or Sophie's shadow in any of them, but so far they all remained darkened. The moment they rounded the corner near the entrance of the shop Faline instantly knew something was very wrong. The first thing she noticed was shattered glass along the walkway, and a few steps further would reveal what had done all of that damage. The postal mailbox, which had been bolted to the corner for as long as Faline could remember, had been ripped from its brackets and launched into the picture window of Sophie's shop. The mailbox was bent and mangled, and the display in the window had been crushed by it. Sharp shards of glass seemed to be everywhere. Faline eyed the mailbox in despondent dismay. Here was the first proof of her vision. The mailbox ... Blue metal. It had already begun. Faline was now desperate to get to the shop, but she was jerked to a sudden stop when Shane halted his steps and tightened his hold of her hand. Behind them, Logan and Kevin also came to a standstill. When she heard a growl from her side, Faline looked up at Shane's face and saw that his eyes were flashing, and he was inhaling deeply. "Logan," he snapped, his voice becoming gruff. Instantly, Logan was now level with her on her right side. "I scent him also, Alpha. Should I go ahead in first?" "No," Shane said shaking his head, "His scent has faded, and there are others which remain. If he is still inside, he is not alone." Faline was practically ready to come out of her skin. "What are you talking about? Who is inside?" Shane looked down at her and his eyes softened slightly. "My cousin Justin has been here very recently. He may still be inside. We scent other wolves, but they are not of my pack." "Sophie," Faline said, as she started to move towards the shop. Shane's strong grasp kept her from taking even one step. "No Faline," he began, "As I feared, this is not safe. You cannot go inside." Before she had a chance to protest, a voice called out from within the shop. "Kellen? That is you out there isn't it? Why don't you join us? And by all means, bring your lady friend." Instead of answering the voice, Shane looked over his shoulder. "Kevin, take Faline back-" he stopped speaking instantly when three large men appeared from the corner behind them, coming from the same direction of the parking lot. By sight alone Faline knew they were werewolves, and like most she had ever known, they were not the friendly sort. Her spells flashed through her mind in an instant, though she prayed she would not need them. Shane growled again when he recognized the men and Faline felt him come to stand very close to her. He rested his hands on her shoulders and leaned down to speak directly into her ear. "We are surrounded. For now stay between Logan and Kevin. And if you need to at any time, try to shield yourself from them the way you did earlier tonight. I will get you out of here as soon as I can." "And Sophie," Faline added, "Not without Sophie." Shane nodded slowly though in his eyes she could see his doubts about Sophie. He went on, "For now, stay close to Kevin, and at the sign of any danger, use your barriers if you can." Faline watched as he quickly locked eyes with each of his betas, before he straightened his spine and headed into the shop. Logan fell in step behind Shane and slightly to his right. A moment later Faline felt a touch on her arm and jumped before realizing it was Kevin. He spoke to her in a low voice while propelling her forward. "I will guard you from the ones behind, my lady. As we enter, keep behind Logan and the Alpha, and you will be protected." As she followed Logan, Faline recalled the vision she had had earlier. Blue metal. White smoke. A yellow card. Now, she wondered how it would continue to present itself. As she approached the door of the shop, she realized she would not have to wonder for too long. Stepping through the shattered threshold she was instantly greeted with an acrid smell and feared that something was already beginning to burn. The only light within the shop was coming from a lamp which had been left on in the back. Faline found it difficult to see in the darkened space. Despite the low light, one thing was clear. The room was crowded with werewolves. Besides the three which accompanied her, several appeared to be casually standing amid the ruined shop. As if the broken glass and overturned furnishings hardly affected them at all. Directly to the left of the entry was the sales counter, and there was a particularly smug looking werewolf sitting atop the wooden surface. He grinned as they entered and spread his arms wide. "Hello, and welcome," he said, "We've done some redecorating. It was way too tidy in here before. Seems more lived in this way, don't you think?" "Jeff," Shane began in a serious tone, "Give it a rest. Where is the proprietor?" With a chuckle, the wolf that Shane called Jeff hopped down from the counter and shrugged. "Haven't the foggiest. Who can keep track of women these days anyhow? Though it appears that you tend to travel with yours. I can see how that would be convenient." He paused to give Faline a leering glance, which made her feel nothing short of dirty. Luckily, Shane did not seem in the mood for tolerating Jeff's antics. With a growl, Shane stepped directly in front of Jeff, towering over him. A low whistle came from one of the smaller wolves in the shop, and Faline realized the wolf was also glaring in her direction. "Come on Jeff, she must be worth it. Kellen seems awful protective of the tart." Faline hadn't the time to blush before Shane responded. He took a slow breath before turning his full attention to the wolf who had spoken. He answered in a deep, low voice which clearly belied the rage he truly felt. "Dare to even look towards her again, and Luna help me, I'll rip your eyes from your head. Understand, Burke?" The one called Burke did lower his glance, but only briefly. The gesture appeased Shane if for the moment. His attention swung back to Jeff. "I scent my cousin here. Where is he now?" In what would have seemed to be an effort to prevent an escalation, Logan advanced a step towards Jeff. Faline could easily see the hatred Logan had for this wolf and she couldn't help but feel the same after just a few short moments in his presence. "My alpha asked you a question, Jeff. If I were you, I wouldn't keep him waiting." Jeff shrugged, "I guess he left. Hey, maybe he's with that lady you're looking for." His grin was back, and it was not helping matters. The tension in the room was becoming thick, and Faline was itching to cast a spell and disappear. Behind her, Kevin spoke for the first time since entering the shop. "And why is his blood on that counter? And that wall ..." Kevin paused for a moment and Faline glanced over her shoulder at him, noticing that he had paused to inhale a deep breath, his eyes fixed on Jeff. After a moment, he stated, "And on your hands?" Kevin nodded towards Shane, "I don't believe your cousin was here by choice, Alpha." Shane nodded, stepping towards Jeff once more. "Answers. I want them, and I want them now. Where is the shop keeper? Where is my cousin? And more curious yet, why are the lot of you even here in the first place?" Jeff's self-satisfied expression just wouldn't go away. "Interestingly enough, the answers to those questions are all related. See our alpha is rather well acquainted with that treacherous cousin of yours. Seems Justin was telling our alpha about a particular enchantress he'd come across. How did he describe her?" Jeff paused to look around the room for a moment before proceeding. "Yes, I remember. She was petite, dark hair, bright eyes, she can make herself vanish. Oh, and then there was one last, ever so important detail. She carries the scent of fresh falling rain." Jeff paused to take a pointed breath, while settling his gaze directly on Faline. "Now tell me gentlemen," he said without releasing Faline's eyes, "You wouldn't by chance happen to know any females who fit that description?" Though Shane's growl was thunderous, he didn't move or speak beyond it. Clearly, there was information he still wanted, and Jeff seemed more than willing to give it. "So anyway," Jeff went on, "My alpha sent us out to locate her, as he'd fancy a meeting with her, demon though she may be. But when we arrived, she wasn't anywhere in sight. And so we may have sent a small consolation prize to our alpha instead, as a place-holder if you will. And as for Justin ... I haven't seen him since I broke half his ribs and smashed in part of his face before he crawled away hours ago. But I didn't think you'd have a problem with that bit, seeing as he is a turncoat after all." There was a silence following Jeff's words, and it was Logan who finally broke it. "You're a screaming bastard, you know that? Who in Luna's name are you to decide that?" "He's a traitor," Jeff replied, "Who cares?" "I care," Shane snapped, "Traitor or not, he is of Kellen blood. And his penance is to be doled out by me. If my cousin loses his life, you will pay with yours." Faline could not believe how brazen this wolf was. He continued on with his arrogant behavior, as if he was enjoying this taunt. "Your threats mean little, Kellen, with a pack as small as yours. Up until now you've continued to exist because our pack has taken pity. And it hasn't been worth the effort to eliminate your kind," there was a pause as he glanced again towards Faline. "That may be changing very soon, however." "Is that why you are here?" Shane asked, "To make threats by proxy on behalf of your alpha?" Jeff shook his head, "Not necessarily. What I'm really here for happens to be standing between your betas at the moment. And seeing how our numbers clearly outweigh yours, I think it best that she just come with us. We all know how this will end if things here turn sour after all ... so how about you tell your pet doctor back there to just hand her over." Shane's eyes were now beginning to glow golden, which Faline had learned meant the wolf was very close to surfacing. "Over my dead body," he uttered each word in a sharp staccato tone. The surrounding wolves were beginning to get antsy. Faline noticed several eying Logan and Kevin, assessing their size and possible strength. Her vision kept flashing through her mind, and she knew there was no way for this to end well. She heard a faint hissing sound to her right and noticed it was coming from the hotplate which Sophie often used to boil her tea kettle while in the shop. It was still on, though the kettle had been knocked to the floor with all of the other damage to the shop. The hotplate hung off the counter by the taut cord, which was frayed now and was the source of the burning she smelled earlier. Her eyes followed the cord to the outlet which was also visibly damaged. Faline saw vapors now rising from both the cord and the outlet. White smoke. Her vision sprang to mind again. This was all happening faster than she imagined it would, and she felt the need to warn Shane. She began to move forward, with the hopes of gaining Shane's attention. Once she moved however, she drew the eyes of every wolf in the shop. Particularly Burke. "Can't we just get this over with, Jeff?" Burke said. "Obviously the Irish aren't going to just hand her over. So let's just finish this, and deliver her to the alpha," he paused to eye Faline once more. "I hope the alpha didn't mention anything about delivering her intact, because I know quite a few who would pay a pretty penny for just an hour between those legs." Taking a bold step forward, Burke extended his arm towards Faline, as if he intended to pull her against him. If Faline had felt violated earlier, this trumped it twentyfold. Her disgust would quickly be forgotten however, in the very next moment. Upon hearing Burke's comment, Shane released a growl so loud that Faline could feel the deep vibration course through her. In a flash Shane lunged towards Burke while simultaneously Logan backed closer towards Faline, which placed her in a safer position between the brothers. By the time Shane reached Burke, his rage already had him shifting into his hybrid form. Standing closer than she had before, Faline could see clearly his razor sharp claws and teeth as they erupted. For the first time however, she was not afraid in the presence of a shifting wolf. "I warned you, and you didn't listen," Shane rumbled as his clawed hands seized Burke's neck and shoulders. "Faline, look away!" Kevin blurted from behind as he attempted to turn her from the oncoming violence. But like they had been earlier in the clearing, Shane's movements were almost too rapid for her to track with her eyes. Before even one of member of the offending pack could react, Shane's sharp claws sliced through the flesh of Burke's face, effectively blinding him as promised. By the time Kevin was able shield her vision, Burke's neck was already broken, and the majority of his blood was now on the outside of his body rather than in. Shane had damaged Burke so badly, his face was no longer recognizable. The shock of the moment finally snapped, as Burke's pack mates suddenly realized what had happened. At once they rushed into action, in defense of their now-dead friend. Faline was suddenly being crowded by Kevin who was determined to shield her from the battle. Three wolves launched an assault on Shane, while Jeff, who was finally no longer smiling, advanced on Logan. It was the last thing she saw as Kevin finally managed to back her into a corner, entirely blocking her from all activity ... * * * Faline paused when she reached the landing at the top of the stairs. There were a few square feet of open space leading to a set of dark wood double doors which were adorned with brushed silver handles. She paused one last time to reconsider the decision to climb the stairs, but she could not escape the feeling of rightness which coursed through her as she approached the doors. Her mind made up, she reached out and tried the door handle, fully expecting it to be locked. When it easily opened for her, Faline slowly stepped into the room and instantly realized that she had entered Shane's personal quarters. Visions Unveiled Ch. 08 Leaving the door open, Faline stepped further into the entry which she realized served as a foyer to a suite of rooms. The dark hardwood floors continued here. She switched on a light and saw that to her left a small hallway extended with several doors leading to unknown rooms. Straight ahead there was an open seating area, decorated with an area rug, several comfortable looking chairs and a fireplace along one wall. Beyond that there appeared to be a small kitchenette with a sink, coffee maker and refrigerator. It was the door to the right which drew her into the suite further. Faline stepped to the door and opened it slowly, her breath catching in her throat as the bedroom was revealed. The large room extended in a crescent shape, and Faline realized the bedchamber wrapped around the other rooms of the suite. On her left was a fireplace, which she knew was connected through the wall to the one in the sitting room she had just viewed. There were two sets of large windows with dark drapes and window seats below them. They reminded her of her favorite spot in her living room with Sophie, and suddenly this place instantly felt like home for that reason. Between the windows rested a large sleigh bed. The queen-sized bed was a comfortable looking, yet humble piece of furniture. The strong frame appeared to be crafted out of a solid ebony wood which was a shade darker than the floors. The mattress rested high upon the frame, making it one of the highest beds Faline had ever seen. What captivated her most though, was that the bedcovers were colored in varied shades of grey. The sheets and pillow cases were a dark charcoal shade and smaller pillows were soft heather tones. The fluffy down comforter however, appeared to be a shade of shimmering silver which was startlingly close to matching the color of her own eyes. Ebony dressers and nightstands made striking additions to the bedroom. Walking further into the room, Faline found other doors which she figured were likely closets. At the far end of the room she found the door to the bathroom open and reached out to turn on the light. The en suite was sparkling clean, and every surface gleamed. Against the wall on the right was a dark granite vanity with double sinks, and dozens of square mirrors placed together to make one large reflecting wall. Brushed silver fixtures also adored this room. To the left was a large, deep garden tub which was pristine, as if it had never been used. Opening two other doors in the bathroom revealed the water closet and a small linen closet. The entire back wall of the bathroom housed the shower, which was of the door-less variety. Instead of glass doors or a curtain, there was a wall which extended three-quarters the length of the shower. In the place of tiles, every possible surface of the shower was covered with small rocks. The stones seemed to be meticulously placed, and Faline could easily tell the shower was custom built, each stone having been set by hand. At the end of the shower furthest from the opening there were three large rain showerheads. Frosted skylights above allowed starlight to filter into the room. Exiting the bathroom Faline noticed a door directly in front of her. She reached out and opened it, revealing a stackable washer and dryer. Faline was glad to find these, as she needed to be able to wear her new clothes, but could not bear the thought of wearing them prior to cleaning them. She emptied out the new clothing from the store and returned to the bathroom where she found a pair of scissors in a drawer. She quickly removed the tags and tossed all of the items into the washer together, added soap, and adjusted the settings for a quick wash. She would feel so much better once she had her own things to wear again. She hoped that Shane wouldn't mind that she was using his personal laundry for her clothes, but from his earlier comments she did not think he would be bothered. Gazing towards the shower, Faline desperately wished to be able to cleanse her body as well, but thought that would be crossing the line. She remembered that Shane would be downstairs for a while, and so she would just wait out the washer and dryer cycle, before returning her own room on the second floor. Opening her satchel she took out her journal and read through several of her favorite passages while she waited for the washer to stop spinning. Once it had, she transferred the clothes to the dryer. She thought again about what Shane had told her about her birth parents. Knowing who had written these words brought so much new meaning to them. Slowly, Faline was beginning to realize how significant it was that Shane had come into her life. Suppressing a yawn, Faline turned the pages of her journal until she found a passage which had been written in Italian. The words on the page described the cable cars which climbed the mountains of Murano. Faline smiled as she recalled how powerful the words of this journal could be. This passage alone had filled her with the desire visit Italy years ago. It was one of the first times she traveled so far on her own. Sophie had been so worried for her, but despite her fears, Sophie always supported Faline's urges to wander. Thinking of Sophie brought tears to her eyes, and Faline prayed that what Shane said was true. That the wolf named Danvers would not harm Sophie, and she would soon be found safe from harm. * * * Kevin barely had enough time to push Faline behind him before Shane fully eviscerated the wolf. With a sickening thud, Burke's lifeless body fell to the floor, and Kevin suspected hell would break free at any moment. He really shouldn't have been surprised that Shane had snapped so violently. It was a stressful situation already being outnumbered by a pack which consisted of more than one bloodthirsty werewolf. The Danvers pack was notorious for being violent. Their alpha never showed mercy, and was even rumored to have slaughtered those of his own pack for reasons which could only be described as petty at best. Add to this mix a human female, whose importance was paramount. Not only did she need protection because she was innocent, but she was also the alpha's mate. If anything happened to Faline now, the Kellen pack would without doubt crumble. Not that Shane was known to ruthlessly massacre as he had just done. But he had warned the offending wolf to not address Faline in any way. What Burke had suggested was beyond the pale, and with tensions being as high as they were, Shane simply snapped. Burke was now dead, Danvers would more than likely retaliate, but that wouldn't matter if they didn't survive the next minutes. Taking a defensive stance in front of Faline, Kevin braced himself to fend off any attackers. Luckily, none had approached. Shane was tearing through his opponents with fierce agility, while Logan fought off Jeff. While the Danvers pack may have been made up of ruthless maniacs that did not mean they were equipped to battle an enraged alpha whose mate had been threatened. Logan had the upper hand against Jeff, but other wolves were closing in him. Kevin desperately felt the need to assist his brother, but he was tasked with protecting Faline. He had to have faith that Logan was the stronger fighter. Each wolf Shane took on fell to an injury, or retreated before suffering as Burke had. To Kevin's horror, the wolves who were avoiding Shane began to turn on Logan. "Can't you help him?" Faline gasped from behind him. "I cannot leave you unattended." "I'm fine, go, help him or he'll die." Kevin spun towards Faline just in time to witness her eyes glowing as none he'd ever seen. She must have been experiencing a vision, and it chilled him to the core. "Kevin, go. He needs you!" She said again. Kevin shook his head stubbornly, "If one of them got to you, I can't risk it." Their conversation finally had drawn the attention of one of the Danvers's pack, and he approached with a sneer. "What's the matter, Kev? You too good to fight like your brother? Or are you just a babysitter tonight, is that it? I'll watch her for you, doc. It will be my pleasure." Kevin spread his arms wide, increasing his shield over Faline. He knew he could take this wolf in a fight, but that would be for nothing if another got to her in the process. Suddenly a shout was heard and Kevin glanced up to see blood flowing form Logan's neck. Somehow Jeff had managed a deathly blow upon his brother, and Kevin felt fear take hold of him. "Go to Logan! I will be fine!" Faline screamed again as the approaching wolf began to crowd them, but the wolf suddenly halted. "What the?!" The wolf said, as he spun in a circle. Kevin looked over his shoulder once more as Faline had spoken, and he too was also stunned. He could hear her voice, but the air around them shuddered and a moment later, Faline flat disappeared. It only took a moment for Kevin to realize what had happened, she must have shielded herself. So long as Faline couldn't be seen, he knew she would be safe. Without thought, Kevin launched himself forward, easily downing the wolf before him, and then he rushed on to defend his brother against Jeff. Against Jeff, Kevin gave as good as he got. He took several hits to the face and blocked a kick that nearly broke his arm at one point. Jeff had been severely weakened by Logan however and Kevin continued to rain blows upon him. His strategy had Jeff backing away with each hit until he finally managed to corral him into Shane's line of vision. Once he had, Shane quickly grabbed Jeff by the throat. Shane roared once he had Jeff in his grasp and every other wolf that was still able to stand froze in their tracks. "Must I bleed each and every one of you dry? Is that what you want?" Shane spat at them. "Shall I end your alpha's beta? I can. I should!" He added with a deep growl. "But I won't," Shane pushed Jeff into the path of one of the enemies that hadn't yet fallen. "Collect your injured, and those less lucky. Leave this place, where you were never welcome. And tell your alpha, that if he does not return Sophie to my pack, then I will maul him until Luna herself be unable to recognize his corpse!" The rage in Shane's eyes must have conveyed his message well. A moment later, the defeated wolves began to flee, carrying Burke's body with them. Kevin figured they should be grateful for the inclement weather, which kept many human eyes off of the streets, and would serve to shield this event as much as possible. The instant his path was clear, Kevin sprinted to his brother's side. He pressed his hand as hard as possible against Logan's neck to stem the blood loss. He leaned down and sighed with relief when he heard both Logan's breath and heartbeat, though both were weak. "Just hold on, brother," he told him. Kevin was confident that if he could keep Logan's remaining blood in his veins, he would be in the clear. Kevin knew Logan still needed stitches and other medical attention, but the next few moments would be the most critical. It wasn't until the last of Danvers's wolves had gone that Shane's body fully returned to his human form. The moment it had, he spun towards the twins. "Kevin! Where is-" Before his sentence was through, Faline slowly began to materialize beside the counter. "Here, Shane. I am here," she said, though her eyes were fixed on Logan. Absently, Kevin was aware that she wandered towards an overturned table near the window. Her eyes appeared far off, as if she was in shock, and Kevin knew she would also likely need care before the night was over. Kevin overheard Shane asking Faline if she was hurt. He glanced towards the couple when he heard Shane ask her what she was looking for. "The hotplate was on and smoking, which meant the kettle was on before all this happened. Sophie was making tea. She always makes tea when she is working at this table..." Faline's words trailed off as she sifted through items scattered all over the floor. "What does that mean?" Shane asked, "What is special about this table." "It's an apothecary, but instead of medicines, Sophie has it filled with crystals." Faline said, "Some are relics. Some have calming properties. Some can heal. And I just remembered ..." Crystals of varied shape and size were scattered now on the floor. Faline fell to her knees and began to sort through them wildly. Some of crystals were lose, but many were attached to squares of thick colored paper which contained writing. Beside Kevin, Logan's breath was beginning to come in gasps. Finally, Faline found what she was looking for and rushed to kneel beside Kevin. In her hand she had a medium sized stone which was deep crimson in color. This was one which had been attached to the descriptive paper, and Faline tore it off without glancing at it. Instead she passed the piece of paper to Kevin, "Please hold this," she said while reaching for Logan's hand with the other. She pulled Logan's hand open and placed the gemstone in his palm, closing his fingers around the rock. Once he had a hold on it, she brought his hand to his chest, placing the stone directly over his wound. "Keep hold of this Logan, it will help." The blood loss hadn't slowed, but Kevin was amazed that Logan's breath was instantly stronger. Behind them, Kevin heard Shane's footsteps. "What sort of rock is that?" Shane asked. Faline was focused on Logan and so Kevin took a moment to glance at the item Faline had handed him. The square had handwritten calligraphy which he assumed was Sophie's and Kevin now read it aloud: "Carnelian. Healing properties include strengthening the circulatory system, aiding in repair of injured or diseased organs, increases blood production and regulates blood pressure." "May I see that?" Shane said in a flat voice. Kevin nodded, feeling dumbfounded, as Logan's heart rate seemed to strengthen. Without another thought, Kevin held out the square towards his alpha, who accepted it with a look of awe upon his face. Sophie's words of healing were written upon a square yellow card. Which of course, was the final piece of Faline's vision.