It was that beautiful moment between the sweet dreams of Neverland and the harsh reality of life. My hand felt warm and soothing, but a slight pressure and then the wave of coolness brought my mind further forward.

From the new coolness at my fingertips, I felt an aching serpent as he slithered up my arm. Each sting and cut were found and flicked with his venomous tongue as he snaked his way through my body. I breathed through clenched teeth at the new aches, already missing the dead of sleep.

I stood and took a step, ready to start the day anyway and immediately went dizzy and lightheaded. I staggered down to my computer chair. Luckily, it was strangely pulled out right there ready for me and I leaned back waiting for the blackout to pass.

"Everything okay?" Adam's concerned voice sounded from the doorway.

"Yeah, just a dizzy spell. It'll pass in just a sec." I opened my eyes to the ceiling, watching it come back in focus. I sat up slow and took a breath. "See? Just stood up too fast." I then noticed the worn-out air that surrounded him. "Everything okay with you?"

"Yes."

"You want to rest now? Bed's free." I pointed at my sad mess of kicked around sheets.

"No."

I then noticed the pale green button-down shirt her wore and smiled. "Hey, you found my grandpa's closet."

He looked worried as he touched the material at his stomach. "I apologize. I should have asked if it was appropriate. Thought it would make things more comfortable for you."

"No, it's alright." My voice was the sweet teenager's seeing my grandfather last wearing it. "I'm glad it's finally out of that old musty closet."

I hadn't been able to bring myself to clear the room away in the six-ish years I'd been back. Seemed wrong. But seeing the shirt on him felt good, like home-y to me. I studied him in it and my eyes came back to his weary face.

"Are you sure you won't rest?" I asked him in worry. "I can be there for Nate. Even just a few hours? I could wake you up for breakfast?"

A pause while he eyed me. He still stood so steadfast, so stoic.

"Please Adam?" I whispered.

He looked to the bed. "A few hours. Wake me."

A comfortable smile spread my face. "I will."

I stood from the chair, and we exchanged places. I began to close the door for him, but he stopped me. "No. Keep it open. I need to be able to hear if anything is wrong."

I nodded, and kept it half shut.

Tired steps took me to the kitchen where I warmed some water and made a cup of my favorite herbal tea. While it steeped, I grabbed everything from the cupboards for straining the goat's milk and got it ready on the counter.

I then stared at the wax frame of honey. It had blood splotches all over it, and it made my heart break. I wish I would have been more sanitary with it. I would have loved some honey in my tea. I guess it could still be usable for my stings though? I quickly dabbed some on.

Yes Adam. I can reach my ankle, thank you very much. I then scraped off the rest of the cappings and allowed it to sit upside down to drip into a container.

A sigh. At least I should be able to harvest more honey in a few weeks. That frame looked nicely filled. Maybe it was just those last two frames that I need to wait for. I guess my diner cakes would have to be made with store bought honey for a while.

I stirred in regular sugar and sat at the table to drink. The house was quiet and calm. It felt good after the hurried activity of the night. Maybe we'd get to enjoy some peace for a few hours.

When my tea was finished, I washed out my cup in the sink and then checked on Nate once. Still unconscious. So I headed back to the kitchen and grabbed my milk pail and eggs basket. I pulled up my arm to dab the sweat already on my forehead off on my shoulder, the fever beginning to take hold again. But there were no sick days for farmers. Even last year when I had the flu in the dead of snowy January I had to get up and take care of the animals. This wouldn't be half that bad.

Once outside, I wandered to the goat pen and got Buttons up on the station. "Hey girl, how you doing this morning?" I asked in a quiet voice and then let her eat some grain while I milked and chatted about hoping the new honey would be ready soon.

I finished milking the goats and then headed to the chicken pen and let them out to free range. I grinned peeking into the nest boxes. "Lovely work ladies." Grabbing up all the eggs, I headed back inside.

I started the milk straining and set the eggs aside. The stings were burning a mighty fire all compounded on top of each other. Reaching up to the one on my neck, it felt closer to an apricot half with the swelling. Darn. The streaks weren't pretty either. My left arm had veining clear to my elbow, much worse than the single on my palm ever was. Flipping my palm over, I noticed that there was just one more bruised fingertip-sized spot right in the center where it wasn't fully gone. Hopefully the new stings would look like it in a few days.

The heat was drowning me, and I waved my shirt trying to cool myself down. Being in the sun for an hour on top of all the stings and fever was very uncomfortable. Might be best to break up routine and do a shower before breakfast, maybe weeds could wait a few days.

I downed another pain pill and headed to the bathroom ready to wash all the excess fever from me. Peeling off my dirty shirt, I looked down at the gauze at my arm, it was crusted through with red blood and the edges were wet with sweat. Gulping, I started unwrapping the bandage. When I opened it up, it was gross. Inch long slices surrounded my upper arm, edges cut open cleanly like someone just scissored right through me. They were extremely painful to the touch, but what was that compared to everything else. I was covered in painful stings too. Trying to ignore my troubles, I just turned the water on.

Later, as I rinsed my hair it donned on me that Adam was in my bedroom, and I wouldn't be able to grab fresh clothes. Darn. Guess I was putting on the old ones then. I'd just wait until after breakfast to change.

But when I stepped out of the shower and felt so refreshed, putting on sweaty old clothes sounded awful. So I decided to follow Adam's lead and put on something of my grandmothers instead. I put a quick wrap of gauze over Cassandra's marks. Then I went through the bathroom closet and found the largest beach towel I owned, making a lovely dress from armpit to knee, and let my hair fly wet at my back.

A quick peek through the door showed no Adam, and another tug on my knotted towel allowed no trace of movement, so I walked through, semi-confident, to my grandparent's room.

Poor Nate. At least he was resting peacefully now.

I stepped up to the closet and started pressing hangers to the side, trying to find something suitable. My hand wavered over a red blouse when I felt eyes trained on me.

I smirked and pushed the blouse over, looking at the next in line. "I should have known you'd only live for a naked girl in your room."

Twisting over my shoulder, yes, Nate's wolf eyes were open and staring my way.

"Hey," I said sweetly and walked over to his side. "How you feeling?"

The wolf bent only a few inches off the mattress and paws flicked, but no other change.

"Still can't move yet? Well, you got hit with a silver knife covered in wolfsbane. A big one-two poison punch." I sat on the bed and brushed my fingers through his fur. It was coarse, but full, and tickled at my palm. "Adam brought you to my house after you got hit. Looks like you'll be okay though. Just have to let the effects fully wear off."

Wolf eyes met mine with a slow blink. I assumed that was an acknowledgment.

"I'm going to make some breakfast if you can eat anything." I briefly wondered if he could even move his jaw enough to eat. But then a new thought made me smile. With a tease, I asked, "can wolves even eat people food? Can you... well, you know, wolf down some bacon?" I snickered at my joke. "Or! ...do I need to make a trip to the pet store? Maybe they sell some sort of wolf kibble?" Another giggle. "I can get the one with crescent moon marshmallows if you like." I imagined it like a box of cereal, WolfieOs.

His eyes went back to stare at the wall with a low growl. It caused another giggle.

"Guess that's the wolf equivalent of rolling your eyes?"

I stood and went back to the closet. "Can't wear a towel if I need to go buy wolf chow." I pulled out a colorful monstrosity of a pantsuit with a taunt. "How about this?"

The wolf's eyes just closed.

"Alright, alright. I'm sorry. You get some more rest." I put the pantsuit back in the closet and grabbed for a cutsie blue retro housewife number. "I'll just put this on over there."

The wolf's eyes then opened wide and followed my movements until I was out of range behind him. "So, if a girl in a towel wakes you up.... Does a girl without a towel burn the rest of the silver away?" I grabbed at a random pink towel that must have escaped from my handful yesterday and tossed it high onto the bed. It landed across the headboard, right at the wolf's eyes.

Nate let out a sharp bark.

"Oh! Shhh! Shhh!" I laughed. "Adam's still sleeping."

Too late.

Adam immediately appeared in the room, and I held the dress across me like I wasn't still wholly covered by the beach towel.

"What is it?!" He looked at me anxious and then turned to Nate's wolf.

A moment past as his gaze blanked out. He then eyed me up and down and chuckled. "She's not, but she's not entirely decent either."

I laughed. "Oh come on, I'm more covered than I'd be in a bathing suit." I made a seductive little head tilt and waved my free hand over my collarbone, "except you can see my shoulders.... grrrr!"

He playfully shook his head. "He's yelling at you to go put clothes on."

"Alright, alright." I took that time to back out of the room. "I'll just go change. You two link on." I laughed then sprinted to my bedroom.

I put my grandmother's dress down across the bed. I stared at it, still tempted to wear it now that I had it, but my own jeans and v-neck won out. I combed through my still damp hair and then put a quick French braid in it.

Wandering to the kitchen, I noticed no sound coming from the extra bedroom, so I assumed they were continuing to mind link.

I hoped the fight was going okay.

Grinning to myself, I had to make bacon now. I pulled a package out from the back of the fridge and started it on the stove. Then placed some bread in the toaster. "Adam? How do you like your eggs?" I felt like I was talking to invis-Adam again.

"Over-easy," called from the other room.

"Over it is." I cracked some eggs in the pan, making sure to prepare the footballer special. "Is wolfman eating?"

I heard Adam snort and Nate growl.

Adam strode into the kitchen trying to hold back a laugh. "Did you actually ask him if he wanted wolf kibble?"

I raised an eyebrow with a smile. "Was that what I said?"

He sat down at the table and looked at me appreciatively.

I just turned back to butter the toast. "Hey, I offered him the good stuff with marshmallows." Then glanced with a sparkle over my shoulder.

His fist was covering an ear-to-ear grin. I turned fully to watch his delightful smile, not really ever seeing it before.

"Sorry, but he's pretty mad about that."

"No he's not."

"Yup." Still a smile though.

My face fell. "Wait. This is silly mad right? He's not really mad, is he?" I gulped remembering his growl.

He nodded. "Sorry. He's planning punishments."

Punishments.

My insides cooled instantly. Alpha Milo's rage filled words to me after he killed my grandparents screamed in my ear. 'If you ever tell our secret, then your punishment is next!" His punishments meant death. That couldn't be what Nate meant.

Could it?

My heart started pounding, every beat like a punch against my ribcage. Maybe I misread the wolf cues? Maybe I really did anger him. Respect is demanded of werewolves and even more so Alphas. Wolf Kibble?! Seemed so stupid now. Hadn't what I said been the epitome of disrespect? I didn't want to see Nate's wolf like Milos. He was so big!

I started speaking with rushed panic. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to disrespect! I ... I was just thinking I was playing... I didn't mean it. I'm so sorry. He's not going to hurt me, is he? Adam, he wouldn't, right? Please don't let him hurt me!"

Adam stood, face full of shocked worry. "Whoa! No!" He put his palms up. "No, no! I meant he was planning on making you kiss him or something. Not that he was going to hurt you."

After a millennial second, I turned back to the cooking eggs and couldn't breathe properly. My breaths came out in tiny limiting gasps. Heat started at the back of my eyes, and I closed them tight hoping to pull back any frightened tears.

No words came for a moment as I tried to calm. Soon, the pops and sizzle of the bacon slowly started to come in louder as my gulps quieted.

"You're right, you're right. I was just overreacting. Sorry."

"Where did that come from?" Adam asked cautiously, stepping up beside me. After a second, he continued. "This has something to do with your grandparents, doesn't it?"

My shoulders came up in a slow shrug. But it was as good as a yes.

"Oh no, Miss Winters. Come here, I'm sorry." He pulled me from the stove and cocooned his arms around me.

I pressed my hands and face deep into his chest and begged my body to calm back down. Against him was working though. His wolf heat felt so comforting and peaceful. I didn't want to move an inch.

"Do you want to talk about it?" His deep voice resonated through his torso against me.

I shook my head against him and felt my heartbeat finally trying to find its normal timid rhythm.

"He's not angry with you. He couldn't be."

My voice was child soft as I imagined the hardness of Nate's face after I dropped off the cakes. "When I got back from Timothy's he was."

"That was different. He was angry with the situation."

"He still stood there and waited to yell at me when I got back."

"But I feel like you weren't this scared of him then?"

"No," I took a quick breath, still pressed against him. "Guess not."

"And I take it at that point you already knew what we were?"

I nodded into his chest and took a deep breath. Then I could smell Adam's woodsy scent mixed with the dusty smell of my grandfather's old shirt. Smelled good. Both mingling scents bringing calmness toward me. Another inhale.

"So, it doesn't need to change now that you've seen his other side. You don't need to be afraid. He's the same Nate."

I spoke tucking my face deeper into his chest, my fingers now clawing into the green material. "Okay." A quiet pause. "I guess it was just easier to read his body language as a human. He didn't seem as angry. I thought maybe I misread the cues as a wolf."

His hand came up to my head and fingered peacefully down my braid. "He's not angry now either. Well, not angry with you. He's a little angry with me."

My face finally untucked, and I leaned out to see his strong blue eyes. "You? Why?" Then I realized I was clinging into him and freed myself, instantly stepping back from his arms. The heat of embarrassment creeping up my neck. "Bro code! Sorry."

He let out a single hot breath as a laugh, the air starting to return to normal. "No, just how I worded that. I shouldn't have scared you."

"I'm feeling better now." I turned back to the stovetop and flipped the bacon, giving something for my awkward hands to do.

"Well, I am sorry for what I said. I didn't mean it like that."

"I know. I'm not scared anymore." My body was still trying to figure out that my head meant it though.

"Nate wants to apologize too. Do you want to go back in there?"

"I should watch the eggs. They'll overcook." My eyes stuck on the pan. I didn't know if I was prepared to go back right away yet. I wasn't quite scared of his wolf, so I didn't know what I was uneasy about.

Adam's hands snaked around me to turn all the burners off. "I'll still eat them."

But couldn't wolves like sense fear? Shouldn't I wait just a few more minutes to go in?

Adam wouldn't let me hesitate. "I'm not going to force you in, but he really wants to let you know he's not angry."

I placed the spatula I was using down and tried to be brave. I nodded. "Yeah, I can go in." Then with a strong inhale, a hint of a smile came back to me. "But if his idea of saying sorry is slobbering up my face, I'm not into it."

He watched me a second and then smirked approvingly. "There's my girl."

My stomach flashed hot. A few moments of my own past as I tried to bite the smile and blush away, but then I just turned and walked back to Nate. When I hit the doorframe, I heard his whimpering wolf.

A whimpering wolf was not scary.

A whimpering wolf sounded in pain.

"Are you hurting?" My concern for him pushed any lingering fear aside. I turned back to Adam as he followed. "Is his cut bad?"

He shook his head. "No, he's got some pain at his wound, but that's not it. He doesn't want you to be afraid of him."

"I'm not." I stepped around the bed to face him and sat at his belly between his legs. "See? I'm feeling better."

Adam stopped and leaned against the door frame, almost hitting a flowery painting.

The wolf's body was frozen, as if he were trying to be completely still on purpose. But his eyes caught onto mine. How the skin pulled down around the sides, looking distressed and unhappy, did feel like very human body language.

Maybe I was reading him okay last time.

"He says he's very sorry about frightening you." Adam's voice turned to a smirk. "And there's also a whole bunch of colorful language about whatever Milo did to you."

I gave a sad smile and pressed my hand into Nate's fur. "Don't worry about Milo." I petted down Nate's back and sides, avoiding the knife point and any remaining cuts. "You're looking better. Last night you were really torn apart. Werewolves have better healing, right?"

Nate's nose tipped a yes and then caught my eye again. His eyes then went to my left arm. The swelling from the excess stings dreadful and violet wolfbane lines making me look like I lost a fight with a steel spiderweb. I probably should have taken a page from Adam's book and wrapped gauze all the way down my arm. Then I could be part mummy. I smiled at my own thoughts.

"He says you shouldn't have put yourself in trouble for him. He would have healed on his own."

I looked curiously back to Adam. Everything I knew about silver and wolfsbane was that they were very deadly without proper action, and fast action at that. "Is that true?" Watching Adam's stance shift, I grinned. "What? You're not going to call him out on his lies? Just mine?"

He shrugged. "Thought you didn't like 'tattle tales'."

I had to laugh.

Adam asked, "he'd like to sit up. Would he be able to without scaring you?"

"You can," I spoke to Nate and began to scoot off the bed.

"No, stay there," Adam instructed.

I looked back to Adam and sat back to where I was.