The room spins, so I keep my eyes closed tight. My sleep has been on and off. Fitful. Full of nightmares. I try to push through. I'm just so tired. So drained, so empty and void of emotion or thought or feeling. I am just... me. A wolf. A vessel. A creature awaiting death.

And then, it happens.

A sharp, clanging bang rings out and makes me lift my head slightly. The small movement is enough to dizzy me. I start shaking and give up. My head flops back down to the cold metal that touches every inch of my side.

"There she is."

The voice is quiet, hushed, but oh so familiar that I still where I lay, straining my ears to hear more. A dim light flickers on somewhere. I whine, shrinking back from it like it's burned me.

"Oh no." A tortured, faceless murmur says.

"The door is locked."

"Not for long it isn't."

The sound of metal snapping echoes, making my head twinge.

This is all so different. So new, too new in fact. My heart thuds frantically in my chest. I'm tied down, I can't get away, I can't do anything but lay here as unknown intruders make their way to me. I'm defenseless.

I crack my eyes open to see a dark figure standing nearby. I squint at this human, this stranger that has my fate in there hands, even as they touch my flanks with long, strong fingers. The touch isn't what I was expecting.

Usually when humans touch me I cringe, I want to bite their hand off when they dare to make any contact. Instead, something pleasant happens. Tingles erupt under my fur.

Keifer.

The name pops in my head, even as no face matches the word I know should mean something. I dig through the black abyss of my mind. I search high and low for why I know this man.

I start whimpering, fighting weakly to get free as confusion takes control.

"I'm here, darling. I'm here."

I whine again, squirming against the bands that have me tied down too tightly. He pets my side gently. He wants to reassure. He wants me to stop. His touch calms me, but only slightly.

Clarity starts to form in my mind as the foggy clouds of confusion dissipate.

Little images flicker. Memories. Dreams. Longings. He's there for them all.

My mate. My Keifer.

Tears start to form in my eyes. It's the most human thing to happen to me in weeks.

Human. I am slightly human, I think. It is still a mystery to me. Everything is hazy and it hurts to try to dig too deep.

"What did they do to her?" The other man is furious, but his voice is also somehow warm and inviting to me. I know him too.

Dad.

"Humans are the real animals." An unfamiliar voice joins the throng. I startle at the presence of those I don't know.

My blood pressure begins to speed up, and I buck against the thick, tight restraints. There's too many voices, too many hands on me, too many new things. Something tears, and the bands that tied me down have loosened and fallen away somehow as if my little effort paid off after all. I breathe a sigh of relief, looking up too see the menacing face of the male I love.

Keifer's silhouette is hulking, a massive set of heaving shoulders and a jaw set so firm it could cut through my restraints. I'm guessing he was the one to free me.

"Hey, you're safe now, Opal. Stay still." Despite his fury, his voice is sweet.

Keifer's blue eyes make me pause as the word Opal sparks something inside of me.

Opal. Thats me. My name. I'm Opal.

All the pieces fall into place as a newfound strength fills me, leaking from my brain to my limbs. I know who I am. I'm no measly wolf. I'm a werewolf. I'm Opal. I'm daughter to Ace, mate to Keifer. Member of the Slate Penumbra pack.

I cry out in relief, the sound comes out a broken howl.

"Shhh, shhhh, shhhhh shhh." Solid, warm arms slide underneath me, bringing me to the ground gently. I squirm, trying to see his face. I need to see his face now that I know who I am.

His blue eyes, his dirty blonde hair that's disheveled and filled with melting snowflakes that drip onto his forehead like little tears.

"Can you shift back, darling?" I cock my head as I ask myself the same question.

I haven't tried to shift in over a week, but then again I was nothing more than a mindless animal rhen. I had completely forgotten I had a human form until this very moment. Keifer has made my mind fog disappear, wiped it clean like clearing a mirror after a hot shower.

A shower. I would kill for one of those. But first, I need to change back.

I twist my weak body, trying to concentrate on how I look as me. The real me. Short dark hair. Pale skin. Skinny limbs. Knobby knees and bulky knuckles.

"Try. I'm right here." Kiefer pets my head, so tender and careful with each and every touch. He warms me from the inside out.

I do try, and I succeed.

My bones snap and reform, my fur and claws evaporating as they retract for the first time in forever. My snout shrinks into a nose. My ears fold outward, curling back to the little skin folds they should be.

Cringing, I try to sit up and almost fall over. My mate catches me.

"Ace, find her something."

I squint at my dad, wondering what Keifer is talking about. I suddenly realize that my mate is leaning over me, shielding me from the view of the others. And for good reason.

Oh.

I try to cover my chest, but Keifer is already pulling off his jacket, shoving my arms through the sleeves and tucking it tightly around my sides. It's still warm, and it's absolutely drenched in his maddening scent. I take a deep whiff of it, savoring the way it makes me light headed with dizzy pleasure.

I've dreamed of this smell for years, long, lonely years. I didn't picture the moment I smelled it again to be quite so bleak.

"Keifer." I say, somehow breathless despite doing absolutely nothing at all.

"I'm here, darling, shhh." He pushes my greasy hair from my face, tracing my cheek with his fingertip lightly. His sweet breath fans my face.

I've never felt so safe in my life. Despite being so far from home, despite not remembering how I got here or where I even am, despite being tied to a table mere moments ago. I am safe. I feel it to my very core, I know it in my bones. Keifer will keep me safe.

This is what I've been missing this whole time. I lean into his touch. It's so much better than I thought it would be.

My dad returns in a blink, a blanket in his arms as he tosses it to my mate. He wraps it tightly around me, lifting me in the air and cradling me in his arms. I put a steadying hand to his chest, realizing I am very high up off the ground.

"When did you get so tall?" My voice sounds far away, and I put a hand to my forehead as sleepiness takes over.

Keifer doesn't answer, but my Dad walks up to me, tears in his eyes.

"Don't you ever do that to me again, Opal. You could've died. No one knew where you were! Do you know how irresponsible that is? Do you know how worried I was? You can't just leave like that." He insists, his tone harsh and grating on my already fried nerves.

I left? Oh yeah. I did, didn't I? After months of debating, I must have come after Keifer myself.

More parts of the puzzle shift as things start making sense once again.

I clear my throat, my sinuses heavy with tears of guilt. Seeing my Dad's face, hearing his sorrow, I can't brush off the fact that I caused this. I'm in this mess because of myself, and he had to pay the price.

"I'm so sorry, Dad." I say, my voice rough from disuse. I look up at Keifer. "I had to find him."

We're all quiet for a moment, and I tuck myself further into the safety of my mate as repercussions loom.

Dad nods once, looking away for a brief moment. Then, he steps towards me, leaning down and pressing a kiss to my forehead. He holds my cheek in his hand, his eyes squishing up uncomfortably like it's hard to look at me.

"Dad?" My voice cracks, my fingers tangling in Keifers shirt. "I'm sorry." I emphasized, hoping that it helps and knowing it won't erase anything.

He sighs, shaking his head, his mouth turning into a flat line of disapproval and fatherly fear.

"What's wrong?" I beg, tears flooding my eyes at the look on his face.

"You look like a damn ghost, Opal, that's what's wrong!" He shouts, and I flinch back.

I don't know much right now, don't remember many things, but I know that my Dad never yells.

Dad turns to the wire fencing that kept me trapped for so long. He punches it, it rumbles, the wall it's connected to cracking against the hinges.

"Shit!"

I wince, and a rough growl erupts in Keifer's chest.

"Don't take this out on her, Ace. This is my fault-"

"You're damn right it's your fault!" He yells, stomping towards us and sticking a finger at Keifer, poking him in the chest. "If it weren't for you, none of this bullshit would've even happened! She wouldn't be a skeleton! She wouldn't have been lost in the woods for weeks! This is all your fault Keifer, because none of this would've happened if you had just marked her and let her be your mate like you were supposed to!"

I feel flecks of spit hit my face from my Dad's fury.

"You're right." Keifer says, voice calm, but I detect the sullenness underneath.

"No!" I retaliate, wanting to defend my mate. "He didnt- Keifer wouldn" But my words are cut short by a coughing fit. My throat is not accustomed to being used, and my whole body hurts from shifting after so long.

"Hey, hey, you're okay. Just breathe." Keifer murmurs, trying to coax me out of it. I keep coughing, tears rolling down my face now. I wipe at them furiously. I take deep lungfuls of air.

"Just-" I try.

My mate shakes his head before I can finish.

"Don't. Just stay quiet." He says, but I won't.

"Just stop fighting. Please."

I look to my Dad. He gives me a sad nod before looking at my mate.

"We need to get her to the car, get her warm, and find her some pants." He says, and Keifer nods once.

Great. Two grumpy male lycans and I'm stuck in the middle of them.

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Sorry this took awhile! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. More to come soon❤️❤️