This surrounding darkness is distinguishable from the last one. I feel like I'm not solitary in it, nor pain rushes through my veins and muscles. I spin around, and there they are - two green eyes marked with gray flecks. I step towards them.

A wolf - a big wolf - sits in front of me, staring at me peacefully. There is no sign of danger emanating from her. Thick light brown fur covers her body. She has some gray spots on her back, and one of her eyes is circled with almost shining silver hair. I step closer and lift my hand so that it approaches her muzzle. I allow some space between us, so she doesn't judge I'm a threat to her.

Her eyes are focused on mine, and we just stand motionless for what seems like hours. And then, suddenly, she stands on her four paws.

She is absolutely glorious, one of the most stunning wolves I've ever witnessed in my life - and I've seen a lot in my pack. She nears me and softly presses her nose against my palm.

I'm subjugated by memories as soon as our bodies come into contact.

First, memories that are definitely not mine.

A beautiful little pup runs in the meadow that appears in my dreams, again and again. A human shape is cuddling the cub. Then an enormous wolf appears. I can't clearly see the wolf: I just notice how big the form is beside the tiny dark brown wolf cub. I can't see more before the whole scene spins. After a few seconds, as time seems to get back to its standard speed, what's happening in front of me is simply amazing.

I eye a medium size milk chocolate wolf. She plays with a gigantic black wolf. They seem to train to fight, but he lovingly licks her muzzle as the dark wolf wins over the medium one. Another sizeable gray wolf glances at them, a few feet away, alongside a radiant white human form.

The beautiful picture spins again, and then I understand. In front of me stand a now large light brown wolf and a large full black wolf with dark green eyes. Ares. Their heads are nested in each other's necks.

The romantic image fades away, and I'm back facing the large brown and gray wolf.

Without thinking, I move my hand and place it on her forehead.

New memories materialize in front of us.

My tiny baby face sleeps peacefully against Elijah in our bassinet. We must not be more than a few days old - my mother and father look lovingly at us.

Then, I'm here, running in the woods with Elijah. That's our first run. Two five years old toddlers who escaped their parents' monitoring. As I see the scene, I remember the rush of adrenaline I felt as my father and Alan chased after us. It lasted for almost an hour before we stopped, and they joined us. We all sat near one of the ponds around the packhouse - my father laughed so much that day. Before we went home, he made Eli and I promise to tell our mother he scolded us - that we did.

Finally, I have to face the most painful memory of mine. The day the doctors exposed us that I had no wolf. I remember that I stayed proud in Anna's office - she is our chief doctor. Like an Alpha, I swallowed my pride and kept on smiling. But once we were back home, I locked myself in my room. That's the scene in front of me. In a fetal position, an absolutely broken Olivia, crying more tears than one can imagine. Eli holds me, incapable of easing my pain.

I'm sorry, Olivia. I didn't mean to hurt you. It was not the time.

The beautiful wolf by my side puts her head under my arm as the memory fades away. We are now under the weeping willow in the tranquil meadow.

That's okay. You're here, now. Just don't leave me ever again. I answer, slowly cuddling her head.

She flats on the ground, and I instinctively hide in her fur, my head resting on her chest. Her beating heart sings the most relaxing melody to my ears.

We have to be cautious, Liv. I need more time to entirely awaken. Things do not go as they were supposed to. It will take more time than we planned now that she is here.

My wolf speaks secretly like she is afraid to be heard.

Who's here?

I question her, not moving from my comforting wolf.

You'll find out later. Now, we just have to be careful. I'll be here if you need me, but the most we keep quiet, the better it is for both our sake.

She moves her head, so it is close to mine. My hair moves as her warm breath caresses my head.

You have to go back, Liv. But I'm right here if you need me.

After my wolf's words, I sit, my legs crossed, and nod.

I have two more questions before I go.

My words are amicable but authoritative at the same time. She sits and looks at me before she nods, a smile on her face.

First, what's your name? Yeah, I know. That's the first thing that came to my mind. That may seem futile, but it means a lot to me. She giggles at my question.

Selene.

She must notice that my eyes widen as she quickly adds.

Yes, like your middle name, young lady.

I twist a strand of hair around my forefinger, nervousness growing in me. Finally, I take a deep breath and speak.

Does Alec know about Ares knowing you since we were pups?

No, he doesn't. You can't tell him: it's between Ares and him. You have things to figure out, but I swear everything will fall into place, eventually.

I discern in her voice that she would like to tell me more, but something stops her. I hug her firmly, knowing that our time together has come to an end.

No matter what, I've got your back.

One thing is sure: reality is literally hard.

I can feel the basement's concrete on my skin, and it's awfully hurting and cold - the exact opposite to Selene's fluffy, warm, and silky coat. Adjusting to my uncomfortable body takes a few moments: I'm totally sore, every muscle and bone reminding me of my recent transformation. Although some part of me wants to move to permit my stiff being to slacken, I just stay curled up on the ground as many people are surrounding me, kneeling by my side to check on me. I don't want to answer questions when my wolf just told me to be careful. How am I supposed to be prudent with people asking things all around?

"What happened to her?" I can hear Kate's voice. She sobs, and her voice shivers as she speaks.

"She shifted. In front of Alec and me". I can hear Julie's voice. At the sound, I can't stop myself from opening my eyes. Here she is, surrounded by nurses. She seems better, covered in a warm blanket and bandages on her head.

"Hey, you! Welcome back, Liv." Julie says slowly, smiling at me. Kate's eyes widen, and I notice that she is eased to see I'm awake.

I hear heavy steps that walk through the crowd.

"What do you mean she shifted?" Eli, little brother. Right now, he looks furious, and as he comes closer, anger grows in me. He covers me with a warm blanket.

"I'm here, Liv. I'm gonna take care of you. You're gonna be fine." His fingers are playing with my curls, probably full of blood.

"Anna! You take care of Liv! Now, please?" Jonas' Alpha voice comes out from Eli's body.

"I'm coming, Alpha. Relax, please. You're not helping anyone right now." The frail woman says as she comes closer to me. Anna is in her fifties, not more than 5" tall and so thin: she has nothing to do with most wolves, but she is still. I take Eli's hands and put my head against his torso.

"Hey, Olivia. Can I see your eyes, please?" She takes my chin in her hands and turns my face - a flashlight strikes my retinas, and I have to close my eyes.

"Okay, perfect. Do you feel bad at any point?"

"I just feel sore and hungry. I'm definitely starving." I answer with a smile.

"Okay. Can someone go to the kitchen and bring Olivia some food?" Anna asks the nurses who put some needles in my arms to give me some infusion. I look curiously as they connect some plastic bags full of transparent liquid.

"Just vitamins and something to re-hydrate you. Nothing serious." She timidly smiles at me. "

"How is that possible? You told us she had no wolf? What if she had died because of your incompetence?" Eli is more than pissed, although he tries to control himself.

"They will find out, Elijah. Just relax for the Moon's sake. You're the Alpha."My father moves Elijah and sits by my side.

"Moreover, she seems fine."

I sit on the ground, and before I notice my mother's arrival, she already kisses my cheek.

"You're fine. I was so scared. Don't ever do that again." I have to push away from her a little bit to breathe well.

"Doc, can I talk to you for a moment, please?" Jackson's voice resonates in the corridor. The doc smiles at me before she joins him. They walk away from everyone and start to whisper that I'm sure no one can hear them. The doctor nods several times, and I can see how they look at me as they talk. Finally, after minutes of talking, they both come back by my side.

"Olivia, we're going to take you to your room to do some more tests and let you rest. You must be exhausted." Anna smiles at me before she gives me her hand. I take it to stand up on my feet.

I'm about to fall when two strong arms catch me before I hit the ground.

I look around to see if I can catch Alec, but he is nowhere to be found. So I guess he is still up there, checking if everything is alright or if some enemies can be captured.

"Wait, Princess. You have to take it easy. You didn't play gentle for your first shift: you could have been killed. So just let us take care of you now." He really looks like some guardian angel, although he is dirty. He probably fought hard during the battle. I smile back and lay my head against his chest. He takes me bridal style and starts to walk when Eli stops him.

"Where do you think you're going with my sister?" He growls at Jackson, who tenses and holds me more firmly.

"You relax, Alpha. Your sister is our Princess, and I'm not letting her out of my sight until Alexander comes back home. His orders. Come if you want. Go crazy if it makes you feel better but don't stand in my way. I respect you, but I fear Alexander more if anything happens to your sister." For the first time since I met him, Jackson does not act nicely - he looks like some kind of hyper-vigilant bodyguard.

Eli turns and walks out furiously, followed by Julie.

"Is she going to be fine?" my mother asks, her eyes full of tears.

"She did great. She heals fast. Your daughter is a wonder in her way. I guess she will be perfect in some time". Jackson puts a kiss on my head.

"Alexander just wants the doctor to check some more things, to be sure, and maybe it will help us to understand what's going on. We'll send the results to our doctors too - together, we'll find out, I promise." He's back to his usual kind tone.

My parents' auras soften, and Kate comes closer. She takes one of my hands and kisses it, then she looks at Jackson.

"Be careful with her." That's all Kate adds. And I can feel her protective she-wolf eyes on me that sends a clear message - If you don't, I'll kill you. Jackson may be scared of Alec, but he should watch his back with Kate right now.

Jackson nods, then takes me upstairs, in Alec's room. The doctor follows us with a nurse. He walks carefully as if he is fearful I could fall or break at any moment. I sense eyes are on him. On us.

When we face Alec's room door, the nurse quickly opens it, and Jackson puts me down on the bed.

"I'll take it from here, Jenifer. You can go," Anna says with a smile. She comes closer to the bed with a medical box and takes out a needle, several analysis test tubes tourniquet.

"I need to take some blood samples, Olivia. Is that okay for you?" she asks me. I nod, and she puts the tourniquet around my left arm, then looks for a good vein to insert the needle. Her gesture is so confident that it only takes a second - in a blink of an eye, she already starts to fill the first tube.

Someone knocks at the door, and Jackson goes to open the door. He takes a tray of food from someone's hands and thank them before he closes the door again.

"Your food is served, princess." He puts the tray on the bed next to me and goes to sit on the chair beside the desk.

Anna keeps on taking some blood tubes, and after the seventh one, she finally stops. She takes out the needles and puts a pad where the needle was. Then, after a second, she takes it out.

"Yes, you definitely do not need that anymore. A lot is going to change, Olivia. If you have any questions or need anything, just come to me, Okay?" She packs everything and hugs me.

"Just rest for today. You need it."

"Thanks, Anna. I'll stay calm, I promise." I'm really grateful she takes care of me this way. As she moves to the door, Jackson gets up and follows her.

"I'll see you later, Liv." He blinks at me.

As soon as the doctor opens the door, a half-naked Alec faces her. He looks at her insistently.

"She's fine. You'll have the results in a few hours. She just has to rest for now." Anna answers Alec quickly then starts to move out, followed by Jackson.

Alec enters the room and closes the door behind him. he rushes to the bed, kneels on the ground, and puts his head on my thighs.

"Damn, you scared, Liv. I felt you when you passed out - I thought I was losing you." He honestly sounds tired. I take his head and lift it up so he can look at my face.

"I'm good, Alec. Really. And I was not alone. I met Selene." I smile as I say that with a joyful smile. He gets up and sits beside me on the bed.

"She's genuinely nice and beautiful. I'm sure you and Ares will love her." I have to act like Ares does not know her. I have to hide things from my mate, but I don't want to lie to him. Focus, Liv - give him enough, so he does not question you.

"She said she was there and won't leave me again. I'm so grateful I have her."

"Great, Liv. You'll see, having a wolf is something. I just hope she is not as talkative as Ares because, trust me, it can't be a living hell to have a chatty wolf." He laughs then kisses me lovingly.

"Do you want to eat, or do you prefer to get rid of the blood first?" He caresses my face.

"Get rid of the blood, definitely." I get up but feel dizzy as soon as I'm up on my two feet.

"Slow down, warrior. Let me help you." He turns and squats so I can climb on his back. I grab him as he gets up and takes me to the bathroom. He turns the shower, puts me under the hot water, and takes the blanket away.

My body relaxes as drops of water run down my body. Alec takes the soap and starts to wash my body, moving slowly. As he cleans my bloody naked skin, I shampoo my hair - the lather turns pink as I get rid of the blood. Once I'm done, I turn and take Alec's shorts off him.

"Your turn, Prince."

I clean his muscular body, and sparks of happiness and sensuality make both our bodies shiver. Arousal grows inside both our bodies that turn hotter and hotter.

"Okay, let's just get out, Princess. Doc said you needed to rest." He rushes out of the shower to take a towel. Before he can wrap it around his terribly sexy body, I hug him from behind.

"Is that really what you want, Alec?". I don't even recognize the arousing voice escaping my lips. When he turns to me, I see his eyes and the emotion in them.

Desire.