I slam the papers down onto the desk and run my hands through my hair in exasperation. It was too much. The last week had drained me of all my energy. It was nearly midnight. I figured I had been over enough reports today and could continue the rest later.

I had worked tirelessly over the last year. Day after day, week after week, month after month, but no matter how much time I put in, it just never seemed enough. I don't know how Zyon even managed to take care of all of this.

I turned the lights off in Zyon's private office and opened the door to the main area. As always, Zyon's higher regiment officers and their respective teams were working overtime. If I'm honest, they looked more drained than me. But this is how we had all looked since that day- scrambling to get things in order again, regain our footing, our status. It had been exhausting, but our hard work had payed off.

Now the only thing left to do was make sure we never made the mistakes that Zyon had made again.

My bond with the pack had only gotten stronger. My wolf and I had unified completely. It's like our history didn't matter anymore. I was the strongest wolf in the pack. I had gained the respect and love of pack members through sheer hard work, dedication and commitment.

As I walk out, I see most of our workers are exhausted.

I command.

I see relief break out onto most faces, but the higher regiment wolves seem persistent to continue working. They bow their heads and follow my command despite that.

I walk out, get in my car and begin to make my way to the building I've been going to every night for the past year. It's the part of my day that my wolf looks most forward to.

I pop open the hospital doors, and take the elevator up to the top most floor. The entire wing is reserved with the best doctors and nurses attending to the patient on the top.

I pass the guards, nurses and the doctor who is waiting up to give me a report.

I say.

Doctor Ross says.

I state and wait for him to continue.

I sigh but nod my head, silently dismissing the staff as well. I swing open the doors to the room.

The heart monitor in the room beeps steadily. I grab the chair in the corner of the room, and drag it towards the bed. I place my bag and scarf on it. I take off my shoes and make myself comfortable on the corner of the bed.

I look at him for a couple minutes, his chest rising steadily. As is my routine or has been for the past year, I start to tell him about the intricacies of my day. The reports I had to go over, things I had to review, decisions I had to make.

I place my hands on top of his. In this entire year, I have not once lamented how tired I am. I've only wanted him to heal, for his body to heal, for him to get better.

I say.

No response. He doesn't wake up.

I tell him how much I hate it. How much pressure it is. How tired and exhausted I am. I usually don't cry, but I let a few tears run down my cheeks. I can't talk to anyone else in the pack about this. I'm supposed to be their leader. I can't possibly tell them how much of a burden I think it is to run this pack. I need to be strong for them.

Still no response.

I know our relationship was complicated. I know he was an asshole, and a complete jack ass, but I didn't want this. I didn't want him to slip into a coma, I didn't want him to die. And there were moments in this year that I felt he'd never open his eyes again. It scared me. Despite everything, I wanted him to open his eyes again. I wanted him to change. I wanted to experience life with him. It was in those moments that I realized how much I'd loved him. I'd loved him my entire life.

His behavior had made it impossible for me to express that love and yes, I was not the easiest person to deal with either. But when I felt like he wouldn't wake up, I felt like I couldn't breathe. All I wanted in those moments was for him to open his eyes.

Half an hour later, my throat is dry from all the complaining, lamenting and begging I've done. Goddess, he would have enjoyed hearing me beg, if he was awake.

I hop off the bed. I know it's time for me to return back to the packhouse. I need to get some sleep so I can be at my best for tomorrow. With one last look at him and a silent plea for him to wake up, I walk out the room.

The next day is pretty much the same, except for one key detail. Xavier is visiting. I never thought I'd say this, but he had been there for me in ways I never thought him capable of. I had to take the first step in attempt to repair our relationship though. I was struggling and had to call him to help me understand some documents to avoid looking like an idiot in front of the pack. Since then, he'd been around every time I needed him, once he realized how much I had taken on and how much I was struggling.

I was grateful for his help, since he seemed to have a lot going on with his new-found or should I say old-found mate? It was a confusing situation, and I didn't really want to know too much about it, unless he wanted to share. He began to confide a lot in me, since he couldn't with Zyon anymore.

With me taking on the duties of the Alpha, Violet and Zarah took on the duties of the Luna. Everyone had tried really hard to make my life as easy as it could. I think it was hard for me to understand things about how Zyon run the pack, because I hadn't spent much time with him. I didn't know anything much about his duties, until I had to take them on.

Trying to regain his territory was another story altogether. All in all, this year had been tough. I was glad Xander was coming.

He arrived that evening. As always, I was there to welcome him.

I exclaimed, as soon as I saw him.

He says, embracing me.

I say.

He nods his head. Xander was a man of few words. He didn't really communicate in words, if he could help it.

We had dinner alone, without the pack whenever he visited. It was really the only way we could talk freely, without prying ears.

He asks.

I nod my head no, swishing the wine around in the glass. He glances at me.

He says.

I say

He cuts me off,

I zip my mouth shut again. He sighs.

I shrug my shoulders.

He continues on, "

I scoff.

He says.

I laugh. That was a mass exaggeration. I'm grinning massively though.

Xander grins.

I say.

He eyes me.

I say.

He states.

I highlight, with an emphasis on the 'if'.

Xander groans.

I say.

He doesn't reply. Over the past year, Xander and I had become very close. Once, after four months, when I felt like I was spiraling because of exhaustion and mental strain, we got to talking and Xander had asked a few questions about Zyon and my relationship. Our story, just spilled right out of me. I told him everything. Each and every thing, about how long I'd known, the toll it had taken on me, Daniel, the pills, Zyon's behavior, my behavior, Aly and how truly fucked up this entire situation was.

He didn't have much to say about it, but just stared at me in shock. At least I think it was shock, Xander is hard to read. He had been a lot more sympathetic since then.

Loud, persistent knocking on the door of the Alpha's Wing brings us out of our thoughts. I rise from my seat and open the door.

Lita and Rita stand at the door.

Xander and I are running out of the packhouse before they've completed their sentences. We transition into our wolves, running on all fours as fast as possible to reach the hospital. Nurses are standing outside with spare clothes for us. We pull on t-shirts on the excruciatingly long elevator ride up to his room.

The doctor and three nurses stand around him, with pale, worried looks on their faces. His heart beat is declining.

Xander roars.

The doctor stutters.

I stand there, pale and shaking. I know that everything relies on Zyon, how much the pack relies on him, how much they need him. Zyon didn't have an heir, if something happened to him, there wouldn't be a line of succession after him.

My heart is beating rapidly. He couldn't leave me. I barely knew him. I need him. He cant leave me. I walk over to him rapidly, placing my hand in his.

An excruciating pain breaks out on my shoulder. I let out a scream and fall to my knees, clawing at my shoulder. The doctor turns to me alarmed. I pull the t-shirt off my shoulder. My mark, it's sizzling. There's smoke coming out of my shoulder, as if someone has literally lit my skin on fire.

The doctor comes close to me as I continue to scream in pain. I grasp the edge of the bed, pulling myself up. I grab onto Zyon again.

I scream, with tears rolling down my cheeks. Tears of pain, anger, and pure fear. Fear that he'd actually be gone.

His heart rate is still declining.

So much regret seeps into me. I've loved him my whole life. The way he treated me. The way I'd behaved. This couldn't be the end. This couldn't be.

I never even called him by his name.

My shoulder is still burning. I feel like my skin is falling of.

The heart monitor flatlines. There's pure silence in the room for a second.

I scream in, pure agony.

His golden eyes fly open.

I pass out.

A/N

Also, i know ya'll dont like Zyon very much. I know Katherine can be annoying, but i didnt want to write a cliche story. I didnt want it to be easy. I wanted to created flawed characters. You are free to form your own interpretations of course, but for me, I know Zyon's behavior isnt ideal but neither is Katherine's. She isn't easy to deal with either.

I wanted to write the chapter in this way so readers really get insight into how difficult it is to be Alpha to a pack. It could be why Zyon went ballistic in the years he didnt have a mate. There is meant to be balance in the werewolf world, which he didnt have.

I'm not making excuses for his behavior. It's just how I see it.

Let me know what you guys think, I love reading other people's opinions.

This chapter however, is the starting of a turning point in their story. I'm also starting Xander's story next week.

Happy reading. xxxx