Rushing towards the glass backdoor of the house, I saw Brenda and Alesha standing in the kitchen staring at me, confusion clear on their faces. Not bothering to stop and explain, I merely cast them a sideways glance and threw open the door.

Running to the treeline ahead, Nikita awakened.

'Where are we going exactly?' she asked me, sounding more curious than aggravated.

'We need to run. Haven't done that in a while, have we?' I smirked, slowing down once I passed the first tree. Winding through the brush, I stopped behind a thick Oak tree and stripped off my clothes, balling them up and setting them on the ground as I got on my hands and knees. As the chilly October air nipped at my bare skin, I changed into my wolf. Feeling my fur ruffling in the breeze, I bend my head to pick up the ball of clothes with my jaws, and shot deeper into the woods.

'Mmm! Goddess, this feels good, doesn't it Nikita?' I suggested, referring to the sensation of our paws striking the soft ground below us, kicking up earthy soil and damp leaves in our wake as we darted around trees.

'Oooh!' she moaned and laughed gleefully back at me, relishing in the sounds and sights around us; tree leaves ratting against each other high in the branches, birds and squirrels tittering amongst themselves, and our own steady, calm pants coming out in puffs of steam from our nostrils.

'This is AMAZING Ellie! I can't believe you waited this long to come out here!' she teased lightheartedly. Knowing she was euphoric from the new found freedom, I remained silent, only chuckling at her silliness.

Finding us to be nearing a shallow, wide creek, I slowed from our run and set my clothes on the bank, then stepped into the icy waters. Lapping at the sluggish stream, a flash of silver caught my eye, then a dark red.

Turning to my right to peer into the water, lowering my head to see what the colors were coming from, I was suddenly splashed on the muzzle by a minnow. Startled, I jumped backwards only to step on a slick rock with my front paw, slipping into the shallow pool that I was standing in moments before.

Wolf laughter echoed from the trees around me and I hurriedly heaved myself up, water draining down my coat. Regaining my balance, I swung my head and body around to see where the laughter was coming from, and from who. I stood still and let the sounds of nature surround me, turning my ears and quieting my breathing. I knew we were still in the Alpha Territory because of the smells around us, the familiar Deer Leather calming my nerves slightly.

Suddenly a twig snapped to my right, and I swiveled my head to inspect the seemingly calm trees infront of me. Not moving, I waited for another sign.

A blot of black and tan came into my view from behind a thick tree, forming a medium sized wolf, obviously male. The Wolf was only 15 or so feet away, eying me curiously. Staring him down and erecting the hairs on my neck to appear tougher than I actually am, I called out to him through barks.

"Who are you, and what are you doing on Alpha Territory?" I called out sternly, not bothering to sound friendly.

"Eric ma'am, who are you? I come here everyday and have never seen you once," he replied easily, his eyes holding nothing but kindness. This made me let my guard down slightly, but not enough to tell him everything about me.

"Elenore Burns, Luna of the Wolf Territories," I responded proudly, raising my snout slightly. "Tell me, why do you come here everyday?" I cocked my head. Watching where he stepped, he leaped over the deepest part of the creek and stopped a few yards infront of me. Bowing his head to the water, he muttered an apology for the informal introduction.

"Well, because this is where my family and I came years ago, before-" he stopped abruptly, looking deep in thought. "Before they were murdered by a Rouge," he choked through his whimper. My eyes widened, and I immediately felt sorry for acting so stony towards him.

"Eric, I'm- I'm so sorry!" I gasped, trudging through the clay and pebble-bottomed water towards him, rubbing my forehead against his shoulder sympathetically. He turned his head and rubbed it against my cheek, letting me know he appreciated my action. For some reason, I felt oddly comfortable with him, not hesitant about comforting him.

"What pack do you belong to?" I ask quietly as I turned my head.

"Norton," he replied surprisingly strong compared to the fragile Wolf he showed seconds before.

The Norton Pack was the territory directly to our South, it's Alpha a very burly and experienced man, but kind all the same.

I nodded my head, mindlessly examining the colorful pebbles beneath our paws.

"So what's the Luna of the Wolf Territories doing out here in a creek miles away from the Mansion, with no guards or the Alpha protecting her?" he changed the subject, turning in the direction I was facing so that we were both slowly ambling upstream.

"The Alpha was being a pain in the ass, and I just needed some alone time, so I ran," I responded simply, as if it meant nothing. Eric stopped and stared at me in astonishment.

"You.. you just RAN?" he asked in disbelief, his jaws hanging open slightly. I nodded my head, glancing at him and giggling. "What?" I asked, smiling-which looked more like an awkward snarl on a Wolf. Shaking his head back and forth, he started walking with me again.

"It's nothing, just..Alpha Connall doesn't seem like the kinda person to just let his mate get away! I wouldn't be surprised if guards jumped out of those bushes right now and took you away," he proclaimed teasingly. I laughed, "Not if they couldn't catch me, they wouldn't!"

Chuckling at our jokes, he turned the spotlight on why I ran in the first place. Explaining that Tiberius didn't tell me something important, leaving out the part of him having a brother, I grew ashamed as I recalled my reactions.

"Why do you think you acted that way?" he asked, referring to my description of me yelling and storming out of the house. Sighing, I tried to think of the actual answer, finding I could only come up with one. "I guess it's just everything that's happened over the last couple of weeks, plus not seeing my family and my feelings for Tiberius growing. I've never felt this way before, Eric. I mean, I didn't even know how to kiss someone before a few days ago!" I barked anxiously, not enjoying the feelings of confusion and longing running through my heart.

Eric stopped infront of me and locked his gaze with mine. "Elenore, I know all of these feelings are new to you, but you can't just run from them! Tiberius loves you, and I'm sure he's worried sick about you right now. Embrace the feelings, Ellie, and show how much you love him back, because you never know how long you'll be able to before the ones you love are gone," he ended sadly. Tears threatened to fall, but I held them back.

I rubbed up against Eric's chest. "Thank you Eric, you're an amazing friend to have," I whispered as he lowered his chin to rest on my back. Chuckling, he whispered back, "Thank you too, Ellie. I haven't had anyone to talk to like this in years." Backing away from him, he shook his head. "Now go to your mate, baby girl, and fix what's messed up. I'll see you again soon, okay?" he promised, locking his gaze with mine. Nodding my head, I turned around and started to sprint back downstream from where I came, back to my home, back to my mate.

~Blade~

As I watched her slim Wolf proceed to sprint down the creek from my hiding spot in the foliage along the bank of the creek, my inner Wolf Damion whimpered and growled.

'I want her!' he snarled, threatening to force his way through and hunt her down, making her his.

'Calm the fuck down Damion!' I snapped, not wanting to fight with him right now. Just her scent drove me crazy, that Vanilla and Green Apple smell that wafted through the air wherever she went. Wow.

'We'll get her soon enough. Just wait, okay? Imagine what she'll look like in our hands, that toned little body laying under ours,' I trailed off, picturing her smile and sparkling white teeth, her amazingly deep blue eyes and creases when she laughs. That beautiful laugh. Damion just wants to mate her, and yes, I want that too, but also more.

I want to get to know her, become her best friend and most trusted person in the world. I want to wake up to her laying beside me, and cook her pancakes when she sleeps in. I want to protect her from anyone and everything, especially Tiberius. No one should be able to touch her, or even look at her the wrong way.

Most people think I'm ruthless and a menace to the Werewolf society, when the truth is that I believe in justice, power, and Elenore, and no one can take that away from me.