One month later.

I tiptoed around the dark Beta Female room putting my gardening clothes on, trying not to wake Adam. Of course, I was unsuccessful.

"Elise? What are you doing up?" He asked groggily from the open doorway between our rooms.

I stepped over and wrapped my arms around his waist, cuddling into him. "Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you. Just couldn't sleep. I think I'll go plant some more wolfsbane."

He nuzzled down into me. "Elise Honey, you've planted enough. Come back to bed."

"There needs to be enough for the bees to make the cure though," I complained.

"It's getting close to winter. The plants will just die anyway." He started tugging me back into his room.

I let him guide me and fell onto the bed with him, a smile growing across my face. "I keep telling you, it's winter wolfsbane, it'll still bloom for a little bit. And the purple wolfsbane will grow next year, but it needs time to set after the transplant. The roots need to be planted in fall."

He pulled me close to him, holding tight. "You can do it later. Sleep in today. Tonight is Tim's transfer ceremony. We'll need to be up late."

Pouting, I grumbled. "But that's why I can't sleep. I keep thinking about it. What if something happens?"

"What would happen? Milo has been quite civil about it. He's even given the nearby packs all formal invitations to join. Do you think he'll go back on his word?"

"No," I smiled, setting myself up on Adam's chest. "He's been hammering on Tim the last few weeks to finish his Alpha training. He'll step down."

He kissed my head and then relaxed his muscles around me with a sleepy yawn. "And it's all thanks to you."

We sat in quiet peace for a few minutes, and when I knew he was fully back asleep I softly pulled from his embrace, going back to my room for shoes.

Pulling my shoes on and hair into a ponytail, I grabbed a jacket and headed to the cooling fall garden. It was about a mile walk to the gardens from the packhouse, but I always loved going there early morning. My eyes lifted to the sky, the brightening colors flaming the atmosphere.

When I got to the gardens, I waved at the only two other people out. The area would fill in an hour or so with families helping to harvest, but for now it was just cool and quiet.

I kept walking the extra way to the small clearing where the bees were being kept. After arriving at the beekeeping shed, I unlocked it and stepped inside to find my tools. I grinned to the overkill bee suit hanging on a hook. It was as professional of a suit as someone could buy. Adam wanted me in an industrial suit so I wouldn't get stung and risk worse wolfsbane poisoning.

Laughing to the early morning, I remembered the horrified glaring look he gave me when I suggested I actually try to get stung the day we placed the bees in their new tower at Lone Raine. "We need to know if it's my bees," I hinted. That was a no go for sure. So I still didn't know if they were my hive or not.

I placed on the wide apron and gloves and grabbed the flat of wolfsbane plants and hand shovel, then started over to the latest patch.

Glancing across the clearing to the bee boxes, I noticed the life fluttering about it. It made my heart feel so pleased. Even if they weren't my bees, they clearly needed a home and they took so well to that one. Maybe if I planted enough wolfsbane we really could recreate the cure again. I sincerely wished so. I was still so tempted to go stand close and hope that one would sting me though.

Then I laughed to the empty clearing. Who wants to get stung? And Adam lost his mind when I got stung by accident and he didn't want to like me. I couldn't imagine what he'd do if he found out I actively tried to get stung after the forgiveness ceremony.

Turning my phone to some calming piano music, I then let myself get lost in gardening. I missed my farm garden so much. It was so close to harvest it made it all that more heartbreaking to lose everything, but I felt like I had a good place at Lone Raine. The gardeners really knew what they were doing. Today was green bean harvest and then tomorrow they would get it all canned for winter months. Even with all the canning they do, it apparently doesn't last too long with so many wolf mouths to feed, but anything to stretch the budget was helpful. And who wants store bought tin vegetables if you have home grown?

My thoughts turned to Tim's alpha ceremony tonight. I was so happy for him, I even felt jittery. And sure, I was pretty nervous for him too. It was me that pushed Milo to step down, having Tim take over so young and with so little training. I think it was playing on my nerves that it would be on me if Tim failed.

But why should he?

He already had a better head on his shoulders than Milo. You could see his light shining through his eyes, caring for the people. And the few times I'd been over there since Milo agreed to step down, has shown me that the pack cares for him and will follow him too. They respect him even though he is still so young. Maybe most were just getting sick of Milo's paranoia.

I tried to picture what the transfer ceremony would be like. In one of Adam's books I read that most or all the pack needed to be present, and it should be at a high place on pack land, like the top of a hill. They'd say some words and then the alphas trade places. Then all the pack would follow the new alpha on a run. It seemed simple enough, but I was excited to see it.

I planned to make some cakes for the celebration. Then after the new alpha run, they all could come back and have a treat. I just hoped that Tim wouldn't be too sad that they weren't wolf special cakes. But I didn't think he'd mind. Both him and Milo were told that my cakes would no longer be the strong type. But Tim never did care about the cake effects on wolf strength anyway. When he ordered my cakes for every occasion it was more so we could see each other for a little while.

I began to go over what I'd need for my cakes. I knew the recipe by heart, so it wasn't hard to think about, but my mind trailed to Adam's gift, the new bottles of vanilla in the kitchen cupboard. It was still too soon to use them, but I was excited to be able to have them in a few months.

A grin blossomed on my face, with the thoughts of Adam.

The last month with him had been wonderful, truly some Hollywood romance movie. Everything with him was always so comfortable. We could just sit in silence and be happy, but I loved learning anything about him; his childhood, his beta stories, his hopes and dreams, everything down to how rare he liked his steaks cooked and his favorite chocolate no bake cookie--that I've tried to make him every week since. I felt like we were already a happily married couple, but he was still trying to keep up his silly courtship rules.

After putting the whole flat of wolfsbane in the soil, I sat back on my ankles and felt a pinch at my side. I twisted around and caught a branch sticking out of the ground pointed right at me. Rude! That hurt. I grabbed the offending branch and chucked it over to the trees.

Suddenly Adam's name popped up a text.

I sent a text back with a smile.

I giggled.

Like I could ever stab myself with needles Mr. Adam.

I imagined him chuckling.

I put the phone in my pocket and replaced the apron and gloves in the bee shed. Then I used the water pump to wash my face and hands well. It was too cold of a morning to have it be at all comfortable, but I never wanted any wolf to get hurt because I accidentally touched them with wolfsbane hands.

Heading over to the gardens, it was filled with people and baskets, even Jackson, Melanie's boy was leaving beans in a basket following a grey-haired woman around. I grabbed my own basket and started down a row, chatting with Tanya, Olivia's older sister about costume ideas for the next month's holiday party. It was weird how I was feeling. Was I already getting nervous for it? Like what would I wear? Should I ask Adam to do a couple's costume? I'd never worried so much about the holiday and even a month away? Why was I so skittish about it? I held my hands out, fingers held wide, and my hands were even trembling. Strange.

But I didn't have to think about it too much because we started talking about a popular book that just came out instead. Tanya had a book club her and Olivia went to every week and invited me to go. Then she told me about what book was next to read and where I could get one.

As I reached in a bean bush and twisted funny to get at a particularly hidden green bean, Tanya finally asked, "is your side okay?"

"Huh?" I twisted to look around. "Yeah, why?"

She laughed. "It's just like the tenth time you've scratched at it."

"Really?" I questioned and then realized that oh, goodness, it was kind of stinging. Discreetly, I pulled up my shirt to see where the branch had poked me, and I gasped in surprise.

Wolfsbane!

Oh my gosh, there was veining! It had been a bee sting after all, and I hadn't realized.

Ouch.

And it hurt.

But I started laughing and a smile beamed across my face. "I got stung!" I told Tanya.

"Stung?" She looked uneasily across the gardens to the bee clearing in the distance.

My cellphone rang then. I answered Adam's call. I giggled.

He asked anxiously.

He asked cautiously

He shouted.

I rolled my eyes and stood from the soil. Putting the phone to my chest to muffle my words, I turned to Tanya. "Can you take the basket for me? I'm getting in trouble."

She laughed and nodded. "See you later Elise."

"Bye." I started walking over to the shed and held the phone back at my ear. But the line was dead. I looked at my phone and the call had already been ended. "You worry wolf."

I made it to the shed just in time for Adam to be on my heels.

"Adam!" I laughed. "What are you doing here?"

He must have run the whole way there but wasn't even slightly out of breath as he looked me over. "Let me see it."

I sighed and held my shirt up.

His eyes widened at the growing lines up my stomach. The lines were already spreading out a few inches. "Did you take the stinger out?"

"I didn't even know it was a sting."

He was already kneeling with his pocketknife out. "Come here."

I did as he asked and waited for him to press the cool metal against me. His eyes then turned on mine. "We will need to give you an injection."

Letting out a groan, I deflated. "I know." I looked to the clear box full of needles and cringed. I knew I needed it, didn't mean I was excited about the stabbing.

Adam softened as he stood and hugged me. "I can do it for you if you want."

Clenching my teeth, I pulled from the hug and nodded. "Yeah, I think I'll need help."

He leaned over to grab one of the injections and prepared the needle. "Ready?"

I frowned. "No. But go." I held my shirt up and braced myself against the shelving unit.

But there was no stab.

My whole body was clenched in worry. "Adam, hurry. Just do it."

"I will," he spoke gently. "Just relax first."

"I can't."

"Yes, you can Honey. Take a deep breath." He placed his warm hand over the sting area. "Relax."

I attempted to do as he asked and took a long inhale and exhale. The warmth of his hand sank into my tensed muscles.

"Good. I'm going to do it now. Alright?"

I nodded, keeping my eyes closed.

"One, two, three." And then a pinch.

An unhappy noise slipped from my lips.

"Just a second more. You can do it." The medicine was completely injected then, and he pulled the syringe away. His hand instantly replaced over the area. "There, it's done."

I nearly jumped into his arms, strangling him in an embrace seeking comfort.

His hand stayed at the sting site, but the other rounded my back and held me to him. "It's okay. It's over. You're alright." He spoke soothing words again and again until I finally eased into him. When I pulled to arm's length, he palmed my cheek with a side smile. "See? It wasn't that bad."

With a sigh, I nodded. I looked back down to the new sting, the violet streaking showing from under his hand. Then a grin started forming at my face.

He looked seriously at me and placed his hand into mine instead, "what? Why are you smiling?"

"Don't you get it? This is great."

"What is?"

"Those are my bees then, aren't they?" My eyes sparkled. "They're carrying wolfsbane. Either they are mine or the fields are working. Next year we could have more honey!"

"Yes, we know it works." He smiled and tenderly pulled my hand up to kiss it. "Now will you stop trying to get stung?"

I rolled my eyes and pulled my hand away. "I wasn't trying to get stung. I told you I wasn't even close to the tower." Then I lit up. "Hey, we need to tell Nate!"

He chuckled at the new enthusiasm. "We will. But first, how about we get you back to the hospital wing and make sure Doctor Wright thinks your sting is okay. It has more veining than normal. I want him to check."

I deflated. "Adam, I don't need another injection."

"Maybe," he considered. "But it's up to him."

Tilting my head and trying to look adorable, I argued, "I'm fine. I need to get to making the cakes for the ceremony tonight. If I don't get to them soon, I'll be in the way of dinner crew."

He laughed. "Nice try. Come on." He started pulling me from the shed and to the pathway up to the packhouse.

Much to my annoyance Adam escorted me right to the doctor's waiting rooms. He guided me to sit on the medical bed.

"I'm not that sick Adam." I scowled as he sat down next to me, an arm wrapping my back clearly to make sure I didn't run for it, not to show affection.

"We're just making sure."

I chose to suffer in silence until the doctor knocked and wandered in. "Miss Elise, hello. Beta Adam has insisted that I take a look at your sting. He says that wolfsbane has been involved again?"

"Yeah, I was down by the bee clearing and got stung. I think they are carrying the wolfsbane like I'd hoped."

"That is excellent news," he commented and looked me over. "May I see the puncture site?"

"Oh, sure." I lifted my shirt, and he watched the wound straight faced.

He turned to Adam, "and you have given her an injection already?"

Adam gave a single nod.

Doctor Wright's fingers brushed over the area. "I can give you a salve to help with the healing. I apologize that I don't have any of your farm honey left. We will just have to let this sting heal naturally."

"I understand Doctor Wright."

He busied himself with the salve and a bandaide, then excused himself back to his office.

I smirked at Adam, holding my shirt up. "See? A bandaide is all that is needed for a bee sting."

He laughed. "Yeah, I guess you're right. A whole wad of gauze might be a little overkill."

A knock sounded from the door and then Nate pressed in. "Heard the beta female was in here. Hey Adam, hey Elise."

"Nate!" I exclaimed. "We've got it! It's my bees! We can get the cure. We just have to wait until next honey harvest."

He grinned. "I thought that's what I heard. You got stung then? And it's veining?"

"Yeah! Look." I twisted and went to bring up my shirt when Adam's warm fingers were around mine blocking the path.

"Elise, no." He looked deeply worried.

I paused at his reluctance, but then realized the problem and smiled. "Adam," I chastised sweetly. "I can submit to the alpha. He can see my stomach."

"Beta Adam," Nate requested in his proper alpha voice, "may I see your female's injury?"

Adam shook his head out and sat back, releasing my fingers. "Uh, yeah. Sorry about that Nate."

Nate chuckled. "No problem, Man." He looked back to me expectantly.

I lifted my shirt to the side, purple veining on full display under the small bandage. "See? Wolfsbane. Isn't it awesome!"

He kneeled down to get a better look, a large smile across his face. "This is great. You really think we'll have the cure next year?"

"Yes," I nodded delighted. "It's got to work. It just has to."

Nate examined my side, a new concern sounding in his voice, but didn't make any move to touch me. "How are you doing? This looks worse than we've seen you with before."

I shrugged. "It hurts, but I'm okay. I didn't even notice it at first."

"Is it the mantle? Like the silver was worse?"

I looked back down to the veining. "Maybe it's just because I don't have honey to put on it?"

His eyes traveled back to mine, unconvinced.

Adam muttered, "it's worse."

Nate stood, eyes on Adam. "I can see that. Watch her, okay? With how it looks now, she'll need another injection before dinner."

I groaned. "Guys, no. I don't."

Nate grinned, a tease on his lips. "Well Sweetheart, if you want to be purple striped to Alpha Milo's ceremony tonight, you skip that treatment."

"Striped?"

He winked. "Might be pretty cute on you though."

"I don't want to be striped."

He shrugged. "Your choice. Better get the injection if you don't want to look like an alien zebra."

I scowled.

Nate just laughed. "Alright you two. I've got to get back to work, but I'll see you tonight."

"Bye Nate," Adam nodded.

Nate sent a smirk my way as he closed the door.

"Are you really okay?" Adam asked unconvinced.

"I'm alright. It doesn't hurt much." I rubbed over my side.

"Not that. You. You're all stressed and fidgety. Are you still worried about tonight?"

I looked down to my nails, where I had been picking at them for the last half hour. "I don't know. I guess so. Maybe I'm just worried something bad will happen to Tim and it will be my fault."

"Nothing bad will happen." He pulled me to his chest and kissed at my hair. "It's a celebration. Nothing to be worried about. Would you be worried about going to someone's birthday party?"

"No. I guess not."

"This is just like that. It's a party. You don't need to expect something bad will happen."