I hate taking pills.

I don't know how people can be addicted to taking pills because it takes all of my will power to swallow one down. It's just the weirdest feeling ever.

I'm sitting on a stool staring at the iron pill I need to take while Cook is cooking.

I don't want to take it. Maybe I can just-

"You know I have orders from the doc and Alpha to make sure you eat your spinach and iron pill," Cook gives me a look when he sees I have the solid iron pill on a napkin in front of me.

"Oh," I make a face, "right. That."

"How have your headaches been?" Cook asks, taking out a tray from the oven, and I think those are breadsticks. I lick my lips and Cook hands me one, it's still really hot, but I don't care and take a big bite of the buttery, garlicy goodness.

"Mmmmm," I moan. Cook gives a gruff laugh, starting on his chocolate chip cookies he makes me for the cookie jar.

"I have a proposition for you," I say after I finish up the delicious breadstick.

"What is it, girly?" Cook asks, turning towards me with his apron that says "World's Best Cook" and his neon pink oven mitts. He looks hilarious.

"I need to eat healthier," I say. "The cookie jar is the best invention ever, but can you cut it?"

Cook frowns at me. "So how about I make oatmeal raisin?"

"I'd rather die than eat that."

Cook sighs dramatically. "You're such a picky eater. You don't like spinach, oatmeal raisin..."

"Um, no one likes oatmeal raisin cookies. People buy it probably because they thought it was chocolate chip."

"Fine, but I can make healthy desserts," Cook suggests. "You can have a cheat day." I nod, liking this idea. "Meredith, you're not even fat. I keep telling Grace she doesn't need to starve herself, and I hate when people do. We humans need to eat. Eat so you can have the proper nutrition and energy. Plus, we're werewolves so we need more energy than the average human."

"I guess you're right," I say, patting my stomach. "I need to lose a little though." That four pack ain't going to make itself.

"Well I'm sure your mate thinks otherwise," Cook gives me a knowing smile.

I narrow my eyes, "So if I was the size of an elephant, I'd still be as desirable?" Not that there would be anything wrong. I mean fat people were still people.

"I think even if you never showed your face, you would be to your mate," Cook says.

"Hmph, doubtful but I'll take your word for it." I almost leave, but Cook clears his throat really loudly.

"Your pill."

"Do I have to?" I sound like a whiny pup. Cook places a large glass of water.

"Yes, you have to," Cook answers.

I take the glass of water in one hand, and take the small pill in the other. I close my eyes and quickly place the chalky like substance in my mouth, taking a huge swish of water, swallowing the pill as I drink in the water.

"Luna you are so dramatic," Cook laughs heartily.

"That was the worst."

"Maybe if you eat the proper amount of spinach, you wouldn't have to."

"I'm sure there are other food that have iron in them other than spinach," I say.

"I've made sure to have made you a lot of seafood and beans included in your lunches and dinner," Cook nods. "Now that you've done wasted time, you still can go train with the rest of the pack."

"How long can they train? I'm not fit for this life," I say.

"Hurry along now, I have a feast to prepare," Cook ushers me out of the kitchen, and I walk out in the back where the training grounds are.

This was what I was avoiding. Earlier this morning, Lance asked me if I took the iron pill and when I said no, he told me to go back in the house and do it.

I think I spent like 40 minutes in there, chatting with Cook. Wasting time.

"Ah, there she is!" Bo hollers, all sweaty as he's in front of a dummy punching bag looking thing. "I thought you were just going to ditch."

"I wish," I say. Then, I frown. "I should have."

"You told me you wanted to learn how to defend yourself. Tell me you haven't improved," Bo says.

"Okay, I did improve, Sensei-Bo, but not as much as kicking someone's butt for good," I say.

"Yeah, right now you can't do anyone damage," Bo chuckles and I shoot him a glare. "Sorry Luna, just saying the truth." We hear laughter, and I turn in the direction of it. Grace, Lance and Cole are all there. Grace is the one who laughed. I mean come on, I know Lance and Cole are not funny in the least. They don't even smile.

Then again, with Cole? Why would he smile. His life sucked, but here he is working with Lance and doing his best.

"Are you even going to start doing something?" Bo's voice teases. I smack him in the arm and start stretching.

***

After an intense amount of training, and lots of sweating, I took a hour long shower, and went to feed Hope.

She is such a cute baby. Sure, she cries a lot, but her cuteness kind of makes up for it. Her favorite thing to do is pull Bo's hair. Her least favorite thing to do is to eat anything with vegetables. She likes to suck on like bananas though.

Raquel has helped out with Hope a lot with the whole seeing how Hope is doing health wise.

Hope always loves to see me, and loves to hit Bo. That's my girl.

I'm watching her as she crawls around and plays with this saxophone thing that makes some decent noise.

"Who even picks out her toys?" I ask Bo in complete disapproval. I see Cole look a little uncomfortable. "I know I told you to take me baby shopping!"

"I just got whatever the lady told me to get," Cole confesses.

"They all make noise," Bo notes. "But Hope likes it, don't you, Hope?"

Hope hits Bo with her saxophone stick giggling as she does so and Bo fakes his pain which makes her giggle even more. I try to hide a laugh and it comes out as a snort.

Then suddenly, Bo and Cole stiffen.

"What is it?" I ask, picking up Hope to her crib.

Bo's voice is really serious, "Alpha Derek and his mate Melissa are outside right now and they bought....like an army."

"What?!" I exclaim.

"I told Raquel to come here-" Bo gets cut off when Raquel enters the room, and nods at Bo.

Cole is going out the door, and Bo is in front of him.

I kiss Hope on the cheek, and quickly follow the two guys out the room. "That's an act of war," Cole states. There goes the word again. War. It seems like everyone wants to go to war with Lance, and it makes my stomach go uneasy.

Lance is at the bottom of the staircase, looking serious as ever. Once we reach him, he goes outside and we follow him.

"What do you think this is?" Bo asks.

"We knew they were coming, but I thought they would have called..." Lance trails off, and we go deeper into the woods near the training grounds.

In a clearing, that's when I see them. There are two people in front of a large number of wolves- who are all shifted. The Alpha and the Luna. The Alpha takes a step forward.

"Alpha Derek, Luna Melissa," Lance greets, not looking the slightest bit disturbed. Seriously what made him tick? There seemed to be nothing. Not Rogues threatening his land and coming nor a freaking army. "What brings you to Noctis Luna."

"I'm going to just cut right to it, Lance," Alpha Derek growls, "I'm here because you kidnapped my daughter and I'm going to kill you."