The werewolves loosened up a little bit after a stern talk from Eli and Jackson while I was dancing with Levi. After Levi came Xavier, then Lewis, Anthony and Jerome before Jackson returned from talking to the pack. I knew that it would take some time before the pack would be comfortable around me and I was trying not to let it bother me as I hoped that it wouldn't take too much time.

I just wanted them to see and understand that not all vampires were evil and they can't hate an entire race. They don't hate all werewolves just because of rogues, and would condemn anyone that did, but they couldn't understand that the same principles applied to vampires. There were vampires that did horrible things, just as there were werewolves that did the same. I just wished that the pack could understand that and not need it explained to them like children.

I sighed in aggravation, pulling my thoughts back to the present as I made my way to the bathroom to get ready for bed. The party had ended very late. I'd tried to stay downstairs and help clean up since they wouldn't let me help set up, but I was immediately shoved upstairs by multiple pairs of hands.

Jackson had been sent upstairs as well and he was using the bathroom in the next room to get ready for bed as well. He had already decided that he was staying in my room and I wasn't about to object. I had always loved being around him, but since we had marked each other, I hated it when he wasn't with me.

I went through my routine of showering, washing my face and putting on pajamas quickly so that I could get back to him. He was already under the covers when I left the bathroom in a pair of sweat pants and a tank top and I grinned as I made my way to him. He smiled and held out his arms as I crawled into the bed and curled up with him.

"Did you enjoy your party?" he asked, kissing the top of my head sweetly.

I nodded against his chest, closing my eyes as I soaked in his warmth and the safety of his arms. "It was a lot of fun. Too bad I didn't get to dance on the bar this time, though," I teased.

I felt the growl in his chest before I heard it and his arms tightened around me. "You are never dancing on a bar again," he grumbled. "I thought we went over this?"

I couldn't help the laugh that escaped and patted his chest. "Don't worry," I told him, lifting up to look at him. "I don't want to dance on a bar again anymore than you want me to."

He made another rumbling sound and relaxed his grip again. I smiled softly and kissed him gently before returning my head to his chest and sighing happily. "What did you and Eli say to the pack tonight?" I asked, wanting and not wanting to know at the same time.

"It was a short conversation," Jackson replied. "I told them that they couldn't judge you now just because you were a vampire. I also pointed out that they all loved you before you turned and that it wouldn't be right for them to feel any differently about you just because you became a vampire, especially when you saved their Beta's life in doing so.

I lifted back up, supporting myself on his chest as I kissed him again. "Thank you," I whispered when I pulled back. "I hate it that the pack hates vampires so much. Don't they realize how much this coven has done for me, and through me, them?" I asked, my voice rising as I became heated. "For god's sake, the coven helped you guys fight off Bane's pack!"

"I know, sweetheart, calm down," Jackson soothed, his hand running comfortingly up and down my back. "They'll come around, they just need some time. They weren't expecting to come here and find out that their beta female was alive, and a vampire to boot. They're all a little bit in shock and need some time to process the news.

I sighed again and wrapped my arm tightly around his waist. "I know that you're right," I admitted. "And I am really glad that Eli, Alice and Mason didn't really treat me any differently. I wasn't sure what to expect from Alice, to be honest."

"Why not?" Jackson asked, tilting his head down to look at me in confusion. "I thought you and Alice were friends."

"We are," I assured him with a small smile," but I also know how much Alice dislikes vampires. During the battle, Alice was so upset when the vampires showed up and I told her I set it up that she scolded me and then went up to her room."

Jackson shrugged underneath me. "Werewolves have always disliked vampires, and I'm sure her reaction was caused by worry for Eli and the pack," Jackson replied.

I easily agreed with him. "I'm sure that's all it was, too. I still wasn't sure how she was going to react to me, though. I think, all in all, it went better than I was expecting."

Jackson chuckled. "I would hope so. You thought they were all going to hate you."

I laughed too. "I wasn't that far off! They may not hate me, but they certainly aren't as friendly as they used to be."

I could hear and feel Jackson's sigh, my head sinking a little lower with his chest. "I'm sorry that they upset you tonight, Cecilia," he said quietly. "I was really hoping that they would all accept it, knowing you died to save me. How they could ever think there was a hurtful bone in your body, I have no idea."

I smiled sadly as I responded. "I think we were both hoping, but I knew that they wouldn't. It's going to take time and I get that. I'm going to do everything I can to make them realize that they're wrong though. By the time I finished with them, the pack and coven will not only be used to each other, but they'll be allies."

Jackson grinned down at me and tightened his arms in a hug. "I think that's a great idea."

Me too, I thought. Now to figure out how to pull it off.

Unfortunately, my plan had to wait a little while. Jackson and I spent the next week at Fangs while the vampires slowly got me accustomed to everything vampire.

At night, we partied. Just because I was turned didn't stop the club from functioning and it was a good way to let loose and meet other vampires outside of my coven. I did, however, stay away from the alcohol. I stuck to blood only and I mingled. Fangs was one of the only vampire clubs in the state, which made it the best place to learn about the workings of other covens and inter-coven relationships with the protection of my mate and coven at my back.

I enjoyed talking to vampires from all over and most of them were friendly. The vampires that weren't friendly-or sometimes were too friendly-well, let's just say I had a lot of protectors who, unfortunately, always finished what I started. I never got to do more than scold annoying vampires because the second I raised my voice or my hand, Jackson or a member of my coven stepped in and punched their lights out. As childish as it was, I really wanted to slap at least one of them myself, but I was never given the chance.

After sleeping, the days started and I always spent the beginning of the day away from the club. Levi, Xavier and Jackson took me to the mall, grocery stores, public parks, anywhere there was bound to be a lot of people. I was quickly learning to temper my urges. The first few days the scent of a human would throw me straight into a throat burning, desire-filled haze to drain them dry. Scary, I know.

By the end of the week, I was walking casually through groups of humans, bumping shoulders, exchanging polite greetings and ignoring the burn in my throat that was getting easier and easier to deal with. The burning was probably always going to be there, but Xavier assured me that it would get easier and easier to ignore as time went on.

After a few hours we went back to the club for training with the coven. This was where I learned to control my new senses, speed and strength. The training area was deep underground. The club is in the basement. The training area is the basement of the basement. But, they taught me the control my strength and speed, how to fight and use both to my advantage and how to best utilize my senses in a fight and when to shut them down.

This was, strangely enough, one of my favorite times of the day. I loved using my strength and speed and learning how to include the self-defense my father and instructors had taught me along with the new moves the coven was showing me. Jackson helped, too. He knew just about everything there was to know about fighting wolves and he and the coven taught me all the ways to fight and defend myself from both vampires and werewolves.

We all joked around and teased each other mercilessly as we trained. Jackson was becoming pretty good friends with multiple people in the coven and Mason dropped by occasionally to spar with us. He loved training with us, too and it was great to see him.

Eli and Alice dropped by in the middle of the week to see when we were coming back to the pack house. It was a comfortable visit and it helped a lot with loosening Eli and Alice up with the coven. It gave me hope that I could eventually bring the rest of the pack around as well.

It was now Friday, and Jackson and I were going back to the pack house. Xavier had declared that I would be fine living with them, but that if I didn't show at the club at least twice a week, they would have no choice but to come kidnap me. I had laughed, but promised to visit often and be there for training Tuesdays and Fridays.

I threw my laptop into my new suitcase and looked around the room that Jackson and I had been staying in for the past week. Jackson looked up from his own suitcase and smiled softly at me. "You don't have to look so sad, sweetheart," he told me. "They're keeping this as your room and we'll be back often."

"I know," I replied, a small smile on my lips. "I was just thinking about everything that's happened in the past couple weeks. It's been a wild ride."

"You got that right!" he laughed, walking around the bed and pulling me into his arms. "But it was all worth it to have you right here, safe and sound, in my arms where you belong," he whispered into my hair, making me sigh happily.

I leaned into the embrace, my head on his chest and enjoyed being safe and in his arms, as he had said. He pulled back all to soon and rubbed his hands down my arms. "If you're all packed, we should head downstairs and say goodbye to everyone."

I nodded and leaned over to close my suitcase. "We should," I agreed. "It's time we got back to the pack."

Carrying our suitcases, we walked downstairs, hand in hand. Everyone was gathered at the bar and made their way to us as we left the stairwell and closed the door behind us. I dropped my suitcase as Xavier swept me into a bone crushing hug and then passed me off to the next person. Everyone hugged me and wished me luck at the pack house, adding that I would always be welcome here if the "nasty mutts can't get over the fact that you're a vampire now". Ashton.

Jackson got his own fair share of hugs and hand shakes as well. The vampires had quickly come to like him during our week stay and I was glad. I had high hopes for getting the pack and the coven together. I already had Jackson, Mason, Eli and Alice accustomed to vampires and vice versa. It was going to be a challenge, but I was determined to succeed. The first plan was already in motion, though only Jackson, Jerome and myself knew about it at the moment.

I waved to everyone at the top of the spiral staircase and shouted, "I'll see you on Tuesday!"

Cheers rose as the coven waved back and yelled their farewells.

Jackson smiled, draping his arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer as we walked through the door of Fangs. I smiled up at him and he leaned down to kiss me sweetly. "Let's get home," he told me, opening the car door and helping me in. It was time to get the pack used to the fact that their beta female was a vampire. And to tell Eli and Alice that the pack was having a barbecue in a week and the coven was coming, whether they liked it or not.

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