Consciousness started to rise when I felt myself being lifted and situated. Still I was warm, but as I felt my thoughts returning, I realized that my arm was reminding me it was hurt.

"Elise?" Nate.

I moaned a noise into the rumbling voice at my cheek.

"Elise? Come on Beautiful. Wake up." Arms rubbed my back.

I reached up and hugged into the rumbling this time, a smile on my face. "No." But then I grimaced when I remembered how much my arm really did hurt. Ouch.

He laughed and patted down my hair. "Well, I did promise that you could milk your goats this morning, but if you just want to stay here, that's fine with me."

I gradually took a deep breath and opened my eyes. I was across Nate's chest against the luna headboard. "Hi," I said tiredly. "You're okay."

"Yep," he grinned and tucked hair behind my ears. "They just let me out. Heard you had a rough night. Did you want to sleep still?"

I pulled myself up, still feeling a bit confused. "No. I want to get up." I looked around for Adam, he was still on my couch.

He nodded. "Morning."

"Morning," I said shyly. "Did I fall asleep on you?"

"Yes," Nate answered for him with a laugh.

"Sorry," I blushed. "I was out of it."

"I know," Adam frowned.

Nate cut my embarrassment. "Do you feel like going to the kitchens for breakfast? Or I can get them to bring us something?"

"Bring it. I'll get ready and then we can get back to the farm faster."

"Okay."

I grabbed some clothes from the dresser heading for the bathroom.

Nate grinned, "don't come out here in only a towel please."

I tossed my jeans at him playfully. "What do you mean, I thought you liked it."

I went back and grabbed my pants from his lap, and he grabbed my hand. "Not when I was pretty much paralyzed. But you probably wouldn't like it if I'm not paralyzed." He winked suggestively then gave me a quick kiss on the lips.

My throat closed off in embarrassment. "Nate!" I laughed and whacked his arm.

"Go change Sweetheart."

I walked away without another word.

Closing the door and tossing my clothes to the counter, my hands came to my face. Maybe I really should not have provoked a sleeping wolf when I was fresh from a shower. I giggled and turned on the water. Maybe I'd provoke an awake humanized wolf next.

No.

No, I really wouldn't.

But my fantasies played out while I finished in the shower. The pain I would cause him for embarrassing me with his little paralyzed comment.

I put on a plum colored shirt and my regular jeans, just combing through my damp hair and let it hang free today.

I came out of the bathroom to Adam gone and Nate playing his phone lounging on the bed. He looked pretty handsome in his dark jeans and plain black t shirt. "Hey."

He sat up. "You're looking beautiful."

"Thanks," I smiled. "You're not too shabby either."

He winked, then motioned to the platter at my nightstand. "They brought us food."

"Nice," I sat down beside him and examined the fruit and pastries. It was completely filled, but I looked at Nate with mock anger and pointed to the dish. "You stole my favorite!"

He sat back, eyes widening over the pastries. "I did not! I didn't eat anything!"

I grinned slyly and took a bear claw. "Yeah. I figured you waited."

He leaned forward and nuzzled into my neck. "You little tease."

"Maybe," I giggled and pulled away at the tickle of his breath down my shirt.

He sat up and grabbed a frosted donut. "So after the goats, what do you want to do today?"

"I don't know," I bit into the sweet pastry. "I guess meet some people around here?" I asked delicately. "That is if you want me to see anybody." Milo tried hiding me while I was at his place. Maybe Nate didn't want people to know either.

His sunny smile lit up. "I'd love for you to meet my pack. I just didn't think you'd be ready for it yet."

I shrugged. "Poor Danielle had to be on call all yesterday because she's the only one I knew. Maybe I could meet some others."

"I'd love that," he said appreciatively, grabbing for a croissant.

I took a pear. "This room is lovely." I twisted to see the wolf pic. "And I love that."

He almost blushed, taking a bite of his pastry. "I thought you'd like it. Now I can watch over you at night too."

I giggled. "Oh, you have some sort of spy camera through the wolf eyes?"

He laughed. "No. You know what I mean."

"I do," I smiled and turned back to my fruit.

"Let's see. I think you'd like Debra in the kitchens," he said going back. "She's our head cook. Jeff's mom. Super sweet lady. She's like Marjorie. Loves everyone and doesn't have a bad thing to say ever."

"She sounds great."

"Maybe you could show her your secret recipe cake," he playfully bumped my shoulder.

I acted shocked. "No! Why I couldn't give my super secret recipe away!"

He smiled and finished off another donut. "Adam's waiting for us at your truck now. You ready?"

"Sure," I tossed the pear core into the garbage.

He grabbed a banana. "Leave this, Danielle can clean up."

I followed to the door. "Is she like a maid?"

"I guess. I think her title is third tier servant, or something?"

"Something. You don't even know." I followed out the door and remembered how lovely the white woodworking was in this hallway. The coloring so delightful against the burgundy of the carpet. I hadn't even truly noticed last night.

"She's in charge of third floor."

We started down the stairs. "But she helped us with popcorn in the hospital room."

He shrugged. "I live on the third floor usually." He smirked. "You do too now."

"Oh, do I?" I laughed. "I don't know what my farm will think about that. Does Buttons get to live on the third floor too?"

He chuckled. "I guess the goat could live in the Beta Female's Quarters. Adam could use the company. Though it might be hard to even fit a goat in there. He's got it packed with storage right now."

I started to laugh but stopped myself. Adam didn't have a mate either. So sad that both of them had lived so long without their mates.

We made it to ground floor and started walking the hallways. "I'm never going to remember all these hallways. It's a maze."

He smiled and grabbed my hand. "It won't take long. You'll get it, but I don't mind making sure you won't get lost for a while."

I bit my lip with a shy smile. "Good."

He walked a bit more until I recognized the hospital hallway with all the photos Adam had described. The wolf photo replaced with a lovely lake. We walked outside and I took a breath of life. The morning was gorgeous, and the place was alive. Birds twittering in the trees and squirrels running around the lot carrying their breakfasts. I smiled and stopped to watch, but Nate tugged me along laughing. "Come on Sweetheart. It's just a squirrel. Only us dogs should get sidetracked by squirrels, not the pretty girl beside him."

Adam had the truck running already, and I hopped up and scooted to the middle. Nate followed after he threw his banana peel to the bushes.

Adam's hair was slightly damp from a fresh shower and wearing a dark blue button up shirt that fit well. He handed me a pale green fold of fabric.

I recognized it as my grandfather's shirt. "Oh, thanks." I put it on my lap with a smile remembering Adam wearing it yesterday morning. I couldn't remember if he was wearing it last night when I was sick.

He pulled the truck away and I twisted to gaze out excitedly at the forest over Nate.

"It's so beautiful," I commented openly.

Nate grinned and grabbed my hand. "I think so."

He started telling me about what families lived in which houses as we passed. I only remembered Debra's name as the house with the painted metal flowers out front.

We went through the gate and Nate nodded to the guards. "James and Aaron. They make sure that only approved vehicles or people get through this gate." He gave me a sly look. "So don't think a taxi is making its way up to the packhouse."

I giggled. "So you're saying I need to escape clear to the gate during my next kidnapping."

Adam huffed a laugh. "I don't think you'd make it that far with werewolves everywhere."

I turned to him and smiled. "Maybe. I'm very very sneaky."

"Not from us."

"Okay," I pointed out to the tops of the greenery. "Maybe I'll stay in the trees. Jump back and forth like a monkey. I'd like to see a werewolf climb a tree."

Nate laughed heartily and shook his head. "You are not flying around in the treetops if I have anything to say about it."

Adam's face came down then. "Yeah, you might not want to be climbing around in any of these trees." He quickly glanced to my thigh.

The apple tree scar? "Oh come on, that was years ago!" I laughed.

He muttered low. "Barely three."

Nate laughed. "Don't worry Bro. There's no apples in any of these trees."

I looked back to Nate, "Aww, you don't have any fruit trees? What am I supposed to do for fun?"

"We've got chickens at least."

I lit up. "You do?"

"Yeah, we need it with how fast we go through eggs. There's a big flock but it's further down the mountain by the gardens."

I beamed imagining it. "Can I go help with eggs tomorrow?"

Nate grinned. "Looks like you have your first assignment."

I leaned against his shoulder liking the idea of helping out.

We were quiet through town and my eyes followed the diner as we drove by. I knew the day shift would be on right now but wondered how Marjorie did last night without me. Probably fine with her niece's help. Her niece was a great waitress, but I still worried about them.

When we were on the highway getting closer to my house suddenly Adam slammed the breaks, stopping dead in the center of the road. His arm shot against me holding me from flying forward. I frantically searched for a deer, having had to break quick for many around there, but Nate's voice yelled through the cab. "I smell it too. I can't reach Sid."

Adam nodded and Nate swiftly slipped out of the truck.

"Sweetheart, stay with Adam!" He slammed the door and was almost immediately fading into the trees flipping off his shirt.

I looked to Adam with apprehension. "What was that? What's going on?"

His jaw clenched. "I don't like it."

"Don't like what?"

He was quiet and then eyes dashed to the rearview mirror when another car was coming up behind us. He pressed the gas and we started moving as if we weren't just stopped in the middle of the road.

"Don't like what, Adam?" I pressed.

"We can't link Sid. He was supposed to be watching your house. There's smoke on the air."

I took a deep inhale and could faintly smell the smoke, my nerves picking up. "What do you think happened."

His eyes widened and he spoke to himself. "Oh no."

"Oh no? Oh no what?!"

He just kept driving.

"Adam! Oh no what?!" I wrapped my hand against his arm.

He looked down to me with piteous eyes. "Sid is dead."

My hands flew to my mouth. "Oh no!"

I had met Sid that first night at the diner. He came in with Jeff. One of the dark-haired brothers.

He stared straight ahead and turned to my road. He stopped the truck once we hit the gravel. "Elise, I'm sorry." He took me into his arms in a hug.

My head frightened with his use of my first name. "What has happened? Adam?"

He released me and pointed above the tree line. There was a soft break of smoke coming from it. From right where my house would be if we drove fifty more feet.

"Adam?" My voice trembled.

"It's gone. Everything's gone."

"No. No it's not!" My eyes were orbs of disbelief. I shot out of the truck, Adam on my heels. The smell of smoke monstrous out of the cab.

When I rounded the corner, I stepped back in disbelieving shock.

Everything was in ruin. Blackened and dead.

Nothing was left.

"No."

"No!" I screamed and twisted back. Adam ready for me and pulling me into an embrace. Tears and cries broke through me as I clutched into him.

My farm was completely gone.

My home was a pile of smoldering coals.

My garden blackened twigs.

No chicken coop.

No goat pen.

No beehive or cow barn in the distance.

Burnt road leading to the pond.

Everything gone.

"No no no no no!" I sobbed into his shoulder.

He lifted me against him when my knees gave out and carried me out of view of the wreckage. He sat down on a large boulder and held me against him.

I wept.

"No Adam! This isn't real!"

Everything was gone.

Milo really had taken everything of mine now.

Land.

Family.

Home.

The world had stopped.

Adam didn't say it would be okay. He wasn't going to lie.

He just held me, allowing me to cry and rubbing softly through my hair.

The pains of the stings forgotten.

The pain of the nail cuts gone.

The feel of the world vanished.

This loss the only agony and one that would take me into the ground.

It was like I was nothing.

Everything was gone.

When I realized I was sniffling I just stood from Adam's lap and trooped to my truck and climbed in the cab mechanically. I reached into the glovebox and brought out a tissue box, slipping one to my nose then laying down in anguish across the seat.

My home was gone.

My animals were gone.

My family was gone.

The tears kept falling, but my voice tightened, and no more noise came. I was now just a shell.

My body was just a shell of pain and I wished I could vanish.

Adam came back into the truck and pulled me up against him.

I felt like a ragdoll being drug to the squeezing chest of her child.

But maybe I was the child.

I reached up and embraced him, again laying across his lap.

As his hands soothed back into my hair again, I took my first breath of calm.

He spoke tenderly, "Nate has gone after them. But I could call him back."

I shook my head a no.

Nothing mattered.

His arms tightened me to him. "They won't get away with this. Nate will make sure of it."

A slow shrug.

Nothing mattered.

Just let me die.

"No. You will be okay."

Nothing.

"Elise. You hear me?" He was demanding now. "You will be okay."

My sad eyes traveled to finally meet his. His were teary too.

I sat up straighter in his arms, never thinking I'd see his feelings.

"They'll pay."

I shook my head.

"I won't let them hurt you again."

His hand came to my face. It stroked with warm and calm movements. I closed my eyes and breathed in trying to feel any inch of peace. My hand covered his and pressed me to him, craving his warmth. Then I fell back into his chest another round of quiet tears ripping free.

Minutes past. Maybe it was longer. He just held me tightly, the feeling pure and curing, though I still never wished to speak again.

I didn't wish to move or do anything though.

I was the shell.

Everything I ever knew was on that farm.

All was lost.

But wait...

It wasn't.

I leaned off Adam and searched the cab.

There it was.

My grandfather's shirt.

I reached for it and clutched it to my heart.

Adam had saved a piece of my grandfather.

This fold of green fabric was all I had left of my family.

I sat back into Adam, his eyes following me intently.

"Thank you," I whispered to his chest.

A single nod into my hair and his arms came back around me, dancing soothing touches up and down my arms and back.

More time past and I had cried all I could for now.

"Do you want me to call him back now?"

Nate.

No.

I shook my head and looked up to his heartbreaking eyes. They were so blue yesterday, so dull now. He wiped more tears from my cheeks.

I just felt dead.

No home. Did that mean I had to live with Marjorie again?

"Adam?"

"Hm?"

"Can I stay in the Luna room until you get a real Luna?"

His hand curved my cheek. "You can stay always. You could even be the Luna."

"No, I can't take her spot always." I closed my eyes to his touch.

"Then you take the Beta Female room, or we make you your own house. You never have to leave."

I met his eyes with a sad sigh. "Thanks. I'd like that."

He blinked his tears back, trying to be strong for me. I took a deep breath trying to remove my sorrow embedded in his own. I looked up piteously and moved a hand from tight around my grandfather's shirt to the growing stubble of his cheek. I traced his jaw line letting my fingertips move through the faint hair growth. It was a new sensation to concentrate on instead of the overwhelming grief.

"Can I take you somewhere?" He asked voice heavy. "It's where I go to clear my head."

I nodded and he brought one hand away to the key, starting the ignition.

I took a breath and sat up, staying in the center seat, not wanting to move anymore.

We drove all the way to the packhouse in silence. Both our thoughts our own.

What did I even do now? Call the authorities? Against werewolves? Nothing happened when our land was taken away, what would it matter now that it was burned to the ground. Now Milo took the last bit of acreage too. I couldn't fight it.

Adam veered the opposite way around the packhouse when we came upon the roundabout in front. Hopefully where he was taking me was out of the way of people. I did not want to meet anyone today after all.

But he drove clear past the packhouse and my head turned with it.

"I'm taking you to the river," he spoke softly.

I breathed a deep breath and nodded, then leaned my head on his shoulder. It felt good, but more intimate than when he held me while I was crying, even though I was clear in his lap then. This was Nate's friend. I sat back straight and watched out the window instead.

But another twenty minutes of drive and an unattended gate went by. I had thought he meant the one by the packhouse. The road got so bad and rocky at one point that I grabbed Adam's arm to still myself.

"Just a little further. Your truck can make it."

I nodded and pulled my hand down.

A few more jolts of the road later he pulled off over some tall grasses and shut off the engine.

He jumped down and held his hand out. "Will you come with me?"

I nodded and placed my hand in his, scooting around the shift and wheel. When I slid down beside him, he released my hand and placed it at my back guiding me forward. I walked the steps through the greenery and eventually could hear the music of a river coming closer.

A few steps more and the trees opened up to show a gently rushing river. It was a gorgeous green blue color, a small waterfall flowing down the stones. The water was perfectly bright and reflective in the rays of sun. The trees stood as sentinels guarding it from the eyes of the world. The smells of the evergreen trees powerful even to my dulled senses.

It was magnificent.

Why didn't this place have a picture in the hospital wing?

My eyes were on the shimmering water as he guided us to the edge and sat at the soft grass.