I must have fallen into a very deep sleep. I wake up to the soft sounds of rushing water. I open my eyes to see a small waterfall that gently empties into a small lake. I am laying on a smooth grey rock. Gentle sunshine kisses the sleeves of my jacket, warming me in the cold autumn woods.

"Miss me?" A velvety voice rings from behind me, causing all of the color to drain out of my face. I whip my head around to come face to face with the same vampire who haunts my every nightmare.

His lips morph into a sadistic smirk at my fear of him. His dark hair gently sways in the chilly wind. He towers over me with both pale hands shoved into the pockets of his long black slacks. He takes a small step towards me before bending down to meet my level.

My heart begins to race as he finally says, "You didn't think you could escape me forever did you, little wolf?"

"You know, the little nicknames you give me are really starting to get on my nerves." I turn away from him to stand to my feet. He is in front of me in a flash.

"Oh don't be so happy to see me, Love." He teases. "Surely you're at least a bit pleased I decided to drop by." He steps closer to me causing my heart to beat faster.

"I'm overjoyed." I sarcastically comment, mentally rolling my eyes too. I look around for my friends to find that they are not here.

I don't even remember how I got here.

"Where is Addison?" My tone hardens.

"So demanding. Why don't we relax." He says oh so smoothly before he rushes at me, grabbing my wrist. I close my eyes in anticipation only to open them and see that we were now in a bar.

We sit at a small table together, sitting across from each other. The walls are lined in fine alcoholic beverages from many years ago. Liam and I are the only ones in the small bar with the exception of a woman and a waiter. It looks so modern here as soft relaxing jazz music plays on the small wooden stage to our right. The music is almost calming, making me wonder what it must've been like back then. My mind slowly breaks from the trance as I realize a key part of information.

"We're not actually here!" I almost yell from the table in realization. Liam silently nods as our waiter brought fancy orange drinks. Who knows what will happen if I try one. I remembered the last time I had tasted an alcoholic beverage, I had caused quite a scene with cocktails and shrimp. Liam nodded at the waiter before turning back to me.

"I always knew you were smart, little wolf." He praises coolly as he takes a sip of his orange drink. He nods his head towards my untouched drink and I shake my head in response.

"If I'm not here," I begin puzzled, "Then where am I?" I question, stirring in my seat. I need to wake up. My eyes curiously watch Liam.

"That, my dear, is what I am trying to figure out." He smirks as my eyes widen. He only visited me so he could manipulate me into telling him where we were. "Now if you would just give me your location, you will be on your way to consciousness and then I will pick you up and return you to where you belong." He states plainly, taking another sip of his drink. "Maybe I'll even forget that you ran away in the first place.". My heart rate increases as I ponder what I am going to say.

"We were by the mountains, near a lake." I lie as I look down at my orange drink, desperately hoping he can't hear my heart rate jumpstart.

Liam gently sets his drink onto the table and licks his lips. He folds both of his hands together on top of the table and then looks directly into my eyes. "I don't like being lied to, Darling." He grits through his teeth as if I am already trying his patience.

I need to wake up. My eyes dart around the room for an object to aid me. I silently spot a silver knife on the table. If I stab myself, I will wake up. It will only hurt for a second. I wrap my fingers around the knife and slam it down towards the top of my hand.

Before the blade can make contact, Liam roughly yanks me out of my chair and shoves me into a hard brick wall. "Not so fast, Love." He hisses.

"I need to know your location before you go springing back into wakefulness" His tone is low as he presses me closer against the cold wall.

"Now why would I tell you that?" I grit back, my eyes looking at anything else but him.

My heart pounds in my chest as the sweet smell of his cologne fills my nostrils. His body is colder than mine as it presses against me.

"Very well, let's play a little game, shall we?" He tilts his head to the side. A devilish smirk crosses his lips.

"Yeah I know a game," I bravely spit back, "It's called: let me go you freak."

That comment was a bad move as Liam's smile quickly fades.

"That's a bold thing to say to somebody who could rip your tongue out at any given moment." He hisses.

My confidence fades quickly under his cold stare.

"Now." He begins, leaning close to my ear, "I am going to ask you three questions. If you lie to me, then I bite you." He smirks as he brings hand up to gently move long brown curls away to reveal my bare neck.

I can feel my heart beating in my throat as my breath hitches. Vampire bites cause excruciating pain to the victim, rendering them weak and helpless under their grasp.

"I really wish I would've taken that drink." I attempt to joke but my mouth runs dry.

I can't let Liam know where I am. That would mean Addison would get taken. I just got her back. If Liam finds out where I am then surely he will lock me away this time. I need to choose my answers very carefully.

"Question one. How did you escape my mansion?"

Think Alexandra. I don't want to give away too much information.

"I left through a window." I state blankly. Liam immediately frowns into a scowl. I feel the corner of my lip quirk up at his annoyance.

"That is quite broad, darling." He uses his pointer finger to trace a small circle on the soft skin of my neck. Shivers run down my body at his deadly touch. "Who helped you escape?"

Russell. The man who had originally tried to kidnap me. Then saved me at the ball.

"A friend of mine." I finally reply as calmly as I can. Liam glares deeply at me before pressing me harder against the wall. His deep blue gaze is unnerving, but I can't seem to tear my eyes away from it.

"That was question two, by the way." I choke out.

"You're cheating, little wolf." He says as he finally takes a step away from me. Sweet cold air finally goes back into my lungs as the tension breaks. "In which case, I now gain another question." He smirks as he takes a sip of his drink.

"That's not fair." I frown. I stay close to the wall, a good five feet away from him. Not that it would matter with his vampire speed.

"You forget that I make the rules, sweetheart." He retorts, setting his glass back onto the table. He shoves both hands into his pants pockets before taking a slow step back in my direction.

"Who helped you escape? Be specific dear, I am growing rather hungry." He says with the flash of an evil fanged smile.

The thought of his fangs in my neck causes my brain to run dry of ideas. I am out of options. If I give him another answer short of what he wants to hear, he will bite me.

I bite the back of my tongue.

"His name was Russell." I gulp, looking anywhere but at him. I feel like I am betraying my friend by giving out his name. Condemning him to Liam's wrath.

"I should've known that Russell would take my hybrid." Liam barks in annoyance.

"How do you know Russell?" my eyebrows furrow together.

Liam smiles, "Tsk tsk tsk, I ask the questions, my darling, not you." He places a cool finger over my lips as he speaks. "Final question," His eyes harden and his gaze pins me down once again.

"Where are you and Russell?"

I pause. How do I answer this without letting him know where we are? Anxiety pricks at my fingertips as my heart thumps in my chest.

"Last I checked, I've been stuck in dreamland with a blood-sucking douche, so how am I supposed to know?" I bravely counter his question.

"Wrong answer, little wolf." He hisses, "I will find you." His fangs are visible again, causing a wave of fear to run over me. He leans closer to my face until his lips brush past the hair that covers my ear, "And when I do find you, you will be punished." He whispers.

My heart skips a beat as he pulls away with a wicked fanged smile. He rears his head up, opening his jaw widely before sinking his fangs into my neck. I let out a gasp as excruciating pain waves through my body causing my knees to go weak.

I abruptly sit up gasping for air. Frozen air fills my lungs as my eyes dart around the dark forest. A beading sweat covers my forehead as my neck continues to throb from the painful bite. I brush my fingers over the tender spot only to pull them back and see deep red blood.

"Al?" I hear a panicked voice call my name. I am currently sitting on a bed of cold dirt next to a small handmade fire. I take a shaky breath as I turn to see Addison rushing over to me.

She pulls me into a hard embrace, "You're awake. We were so worried!" She squeezes me tighter.

I look to the other side of the fire to see Russell waking up from his rest.

"What happened to your neck?" His eyebrows knit together as he props himself up.

"Liam happened." I grunt, feeling the bloody wound again and wincing at the pain. Addison gives me a puzzled look. "Liam, he visited me, trapping me in a- a sort of dream state." I grumble. "He questioned me. He was trying to find us."

Russell tenses.

"Did you tell him anything?" Addison looks behind her as if something is already lurking in the deep woods.

"I tried to give as little information as I could." I frown, turning to Russell, "But he knows that you are involved."

Addison's expression softens as she fixes her gaze back on my neck. She reaches a gentle hand towards the bloody mark.

"Is that why he hurt you?" She almost whispers. Tears pick at my eyes as I slowly nod.

"We can't let him find you." Russell says finally as he stands to his feet. "We have to keep moving." He dusts his hands off before he begins to kick dirt into the fire. The chilly air immediately bites my arms in the absence of the flames.

"What are we going to do about Tyler?" I say as I drag myself to my feet.

"We're not." Russell growls as he pushes me to start moving. I walk along the dark path, biting my tongue. It is now dawn and the sky is dimly lit by the coming sun. The forest has an eerie glow to it in this lighting, but it is better vision for the long walk.

"Why? Why won't you help him?" I finally blurt out to break the silence. Russell stops in his tracks and takes a deep annoyed breath.

"You can't just waltz in there and expect to grab him and go. These people are trained to hunt and kill wolves if we so much as look at their boundaries." He says coldly as if I'm a child that does not comprehend a simple matter.

He shakes his head and starts to walk ahead of me.

"You don't know what you're up against, Alex." He mumbles under his breath.

"Can't we at least try?" I yell out.

"And get us all captured and killed?" He turns back to me, "We are safer if we just leave him and keep moving."

"Keep moving? Is that what you would want if the roles were reversed?"

"Yes, Alex, Yes! If it would mean that nobody has to risk their lives for me." He finally screams, his neck vein slightly bulging out in anger. My eyes flash an electric blue as he continues to test my temper.

"He is likely already dead. Hunters don't typically hold onto the wolves for very long."

Those words sting my heart. He can't be dead. I refuse to believe it. I would have felt it.

I take a step towards Russell but Addison wraps her fingers around my bicep. "Alex, stop." her eyes shoot a warning.

"He is my mate, Addi," My eyes water, "I can't just leave him to die." My bottom lip quivers as her eyes soften.

I quickly straighten my posture and clear my throat. "I am going to save him, with or without you." I shoot Russell a glare before turning away from them. Russell steps into my path in an instant, his eyes flickering gold as his wolf moves to just beneath the surface.

"No you're not." he growls.

"Get out of my way Russell." I feel an anger bubble inside me. He has been a pain in my side all day. I have had enough.

"Bite me." He narrows his eyes, standing his ground. Russell is a great deal bigger than me. He stands a good six feet tall and has a muscular build. Nevertheless, I am more stubborn.

"Move." I grunt as I attempt to move him out of the way with a hard shove. He barely inches to the left. I groan in annoyance as I bring up a fist to punch him in the stomach. Again, only a small grunt is his reaction. He arches an amused brow.

"Fine, I will go around." I scowl as I make a move to walk around his figure. He snakes an arm around my body and throws me over his shoulder.

I scream in protest, kicking my feet and pounding on his back but he and Addison continue to walk through the forest.

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"Where are we even going?" I groan in annoyance from the bumpy ride. It has been a long day of him carrying me after our argument. It is now evening and the sun still glitters through the trees.

Russell does not answer but instead he continues crunching through the leaves.

We finally walk through a clearing and Russell sets me down on a flat grey rock. I look around to see a small waterfall spilling into a lake. This all looks very familiar.

I scramble to my feet, "Guys, we can't stay here. This is the location from my dream." my heart begins to pound as I search the treeline.

"If this is where you were in the dream then that means Liam has already been here." Russell says plainly as he seats himself down on a rock. "So he likely wont be back."

I hear Addison let out a sigh of relief as she comes to stand beside me.

"Now, I will go collect firewood if you ladies can find us something to eat before dark." He says sweetly, standing from his rock. He then walks back into the forest, disappearing behind a bush.

Bipolar mother fucker.

I turn towards Addison and give her a smile. "Did I ever tell you how much I missed you?" I pull her in for a hug. Addison is a sister to me. Her embrace is so refreshing and we relish in it for a moment.

Finally we break contact and begin our march for dinner. The air had been growing colder lately, signaling that winter snow would soon be on its way.

We are on the hunt for meat. Berries will also do, but we could all use the protein. From previous jump scares, I know there are rabbits in these woods.

I stray away from her in my search for food. Her footsteps slowly crunch into the other direction reminding me that I need to take softer steps. I will not catch anything if they can hear me coming from half a mile away.

My stomach aches from the lack of food over the past few days. Last thing I remember eating is the strawberry cheesecake at Liam's mansion. The thought of that delicious sweet cheesecake makes my stomach growl in lustfulness. I shake my head, reminding myself of my mission: find food. I walk some more until I come to a clearing in the trees, a nice place with large mossy-green rocks. I stare at the hidden beauty in the forest before spotting a grey figure move across the rocks.

A rabbit, my wolf growls hungrily in excitement.

I smirk as I prowl closer to the rock. I take a quiet breath as I approach the furry dinner. I finally pounce, grabbing the rabbit with my hands and snapping it's poor little neck.

Sorry thumper, but I'm hungry.

Hopefully Addison was able to find some berries. This rabbit will not be filling for the three of us alone. I jump off of the rocks onto a nice patch of leaves on the ground, but immediately fall through into an empty hole.

I hit the ground at an awkward angle, hip then head. I groan as I roll over onto my back. I sit myself up and feel my forehead for the damage. A light fear covers my face as I bring my hand down to see that blood is oozing from my head. I pull myself to my feet and try to climb out of the hole. This hole was deep.

After many unsuccessful attempts to climb out, I finally flop to the ground in defeat.

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A good hour has passed and it is now quite dark outside of my deep dark hole of shame. I ate the rabbit and used part of my shirt to stop the bleeding from my head would. My voice was raw from calling for help and my throat begged for water.

Finally there is a rustling of leaves at the top of the pit. I instantly perk up and look into the sky.

"Russell, Addison!" I call out, scratching at the dirt walls. "I'm in here!"

The rustling grows closer. Hope fills my heart as the noise gets closer. Until intrusive thoughts take over. It could be Liam. What if he takes me away again and I never see Tyler. My heart pounds.

"Well well well, what do we have here?" An unfamiliar voice booms, breaking me of my trance. I jerk my head up to stare into the eyes of a stranger. "I knew these traps would work." he chuckled before grabbing a rope.

I watch the rope fall all the way down into the hole. It surrounds me like a lasso. Before I could make a move to get away, the man yanks the rope again, securing my arms to my sides. My eyes widen as I realize what is happening.

"No, wait." I protest as he brutally drags me to the surface. He pulls me up and next thing I know, I am face to face with him. He gives me a sloppy grin as I look around to see a small group of torch-lit faces.

"I told you there were still wolves in these woods." he shows his friends, stroking my hair.

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Updated chapter*

This one was so long! What do y'all think so far?