Sophie sat staring out the window, watching a few pack members go about their business. It was strange not seeing the children playing in and around the small park which the pack had built for them a number of years ago. It had always been a gathering point for the females to meet and chat while their young played.

Even though Sophie had little to no interaction with the pack in the years she lived with them, she had always loved to watch the children run about, so innocent and free from worries. She had envied them so much.

But now they were gone. Taken away by the council until Zack and the pack could prove their "innocence".

A gentle tap on the door made her jump and she looked up to see Zack step into the room and close the door quietly behind him.

Zack stood at the door looking slightly uncomfortable, and not moving any further into the room. Finally he cleared his throat and asked gruffly "How are you feeling now Sophie? Are you all settled in?"

"I'm fine, I didn't bring much with me so I didn't take much settling." She said, a grim smile on her pale face.

"That's good. Great." He stammered. "So listen, the council members have gone into town for the night and I thought it might be a good time to call a pack meeting. Just to reintroduce you to the pack and the few new members you don't know who joined after you left. Is that OK?"

"Would it really matter if it wasn't Zack? I don't really have much of a choice."

"Of course you have a choice Sophie. If you are not ready we can leave it tonight. But I thought, with it just being us, we could all get together and discuss how we are going to proceed."

"You mean discuss how we are going to deceive the wolf council and convince them that your parents and pack are not guilty of interfering in a mating and the abuse and neglect of a pup under their care?"

"Please don't be like that. I'm trying here. I'm just trying to do my best by everyone. You said you would help me get the young back and this is how we have to do it." He ran his fingers through his hair, agitation making the action jerky and uncoordinated.

Sophie looked at Zack and overwhelming sadness washed through her as she truly looked at him. Lines of stress and fatigue marred his handsome face. He looked as though he hadn't had a proper nights sleep in months. The situation had quite obviously taken a toll on him. This strong male, who should have been her mate, was struggling with the weight of what he had to do to protect his pack. And as much as she wanted to turn her back on him she couldn't.

She may hate this pack for what it had allowed to happen to her, but she could not sit back and see him fail, because she knew it would destroy something in him. He may never be her mate in truth but she still cared enough about him through the mate bond to not want to see that happen.

"Call your meeting Zack. I will be there." She said quietly. "I will do my best to help restore the pack."

"Thank you Sophie. I know this is not going to be easy for you, but I will be there beside you the whole time. I promise I will make this right for you and for the pack. Whatever happens tonight whatever is said, just please trust me to do the right thing." Sophie frowned, and wondered for a moment what he meant by that, but pushed the errant thought aside to deal with later.

"Don't make promises you can't keep Zack, let's just concentrate on getting the pups home to their parents."

Zack frowned at his mate, wanting to reassure her again, but could tell by the closed expression on her face that anything else he said would fall on deaf ears. So instead said quietly. "I will come and get you in about an hour, it shouldn't take me longer than that to get everyone gathered. We will meet in the community hall, it's the only place big enough with the privacy we need. Try to rest till then."

With that he turned, opened the door and left as quietly as he had entered.

An hour later saw Sophie sitting on the edge of the bed, nervously twisting her hands, as she waited for Zack to come for her.

Annoyed with her self for feeling so apprehensive, she stood up and mentally gave herself a shake. She was not the person she used to be, she told herself. She was much stronger now. She could do this.

A firm knock at the door made her turn. Expecting to see Zack standing there she was surprised to see the one person she actually had looked forward to seeing again. They had grown quite close over the last two years with frequent phone calls and even a few visits.

"Rose!" Sophie exclaimed happily. She rushed forward, her arms opening to hug the healer who had helped her so much. "I'm so happy to see you!" She said, crushing the other female in a tight embrace.

"Hello Sophie." Rose said tearfully. "I'm happy to see you too. Let me look at you." The kind healer held Sophie's face between her hands and looked deep into her eyes, seemingly seeing right to her soul. "You look good, not as bad to be back as you thought it would be eh?" She said wryly, a small grim smile on her face.

Sophie laughed softly. "Well I wouldn't quite say that, but since I've only been here a few hours let's wait and see shall we."

Rose studied the younger female intently, and seemingly happy with what she saw, nodded her head and said. "We will have plenty of time to catch up later, it's time for the pack meeting. I told your mate I would bring you to him."

"Please don't call him that Rose. We both know he will never be my mate. I'm only here long enough to help get the young back then I will be leaving."

Rose looked at Sophie intently and opened her mouth to say something. But whatever it was, she decided against saying, instead she moved to Sophie's side and took her arm in hers and they walked out of the bedroom and down the stairs. Side by side they made their way out of the pack house and over the short distance to the community hall, chatting happily together and generally catching up.

The doors to the hall were open and together they entered the cavernous room, which was filled with hundreds of wolves. All of whom fell absolutely silent as they entered.

For a split second Sophie wanted nothing more than to turn and run. The scrutiny was so intense it was oppressive. She felt her hand being squeezed reassuringly and gave Rose a small smile in gratitude. As she looked around the large space she saw Zack standing imposingly at the front of the hall on a large dais.

He held his hand out and beckoned her to him. She squared her shoulders, lifted her chin, and began to make her way towards him. Every eye followed her progress towards their Alpha, the silence so profound you could have heard the proverbial pin drop. And as she finally stood in front of him he took her hand in his and helped her step up beside him.

Zack lifted her hand to his mouth and gently laid his lips on her inner wrist, kissing her tenderly, looking at her with heavy eyes.

As he straightened, he turned her gently towards the still silent pack and lifted their joined hands.

"I present to you all, your Alpha female! My mate Sophie Danes." He called out proudly.

Sophie's gasp of shock was echoed around the hall and she snatched her hand from Zack's.

"What the hell do you think you are doing Zack?" She hissed angrily. "This was not what I agreed to!"

"Please Sophie just trust me." He whispered close to her ear. "The pack would never believe you want to help if they did not think we were truly mated. Just please trust me to do this right and I promise it will all work out."

Sophie frowned fiercely, enraged by his deception but unable to do anything because she knew he was right. She had given her word to help, and as angry as she was that he had not told her of his planned announcement her hands were tied.

She looked out over the sea of faces all with varying looks of surprise and some of disgust, she once again raised her head and proudly meet as many sets of eyes as she could.

Beside her Zack nodded his head in approval and once again addressed his wolves. "Sophie has agreed to return to us. We have much to atone for. But she had graciously agreed to do what ever she can do to ensure the safe return of our young."

The assembled pack began to talk at once calling out question after question, all vying for their Alpha's attention until one voice rose above the others. "What about the alpha and his mate? Will she help them?" A male wolf asked, the sneer in his question clear for all to hear.

Sophie felt Zack tense beside her. "I am your Alpha!" He growled menacingly.

"You know what I mean!" The unknown male wolf stated loftily. "Will she help ensure the safe return of your parents?"

As Sophie looked at the disrespectful wolf it suddenly dawned on her who he was. He had been Alpha Ronan's second, his beta, James something. And he had been with his alpha on almost every visit he had made to her torturer's home while she was there. Another male who had know what was happening to her, yet did nothing.

As Zack open his mouth to address the male once more, Sophie gripped his arm and stepped forward. "I have told......Zack that I will do what I can, to help all of you who have had your young taken from you. And I will. I can not make any promises other than that. The young ones of this pack are innocent. The same can not be said for the adults. You all know what I endured, let's not pretend otherwise." She looked out over the sea of faces and saw anger in some and even shame in a few. "The ones responsible for what happened to me should be held accountable. Unfortunately the main perpetrator is dead! By my own hand! But there are many more who have never taken responsibility for their inaction. I can not and will not actively help them. If you can not live with that and accept it, then I will leave here tonight and never return. The decision is yours."

With that Sophie stepped regally down from the dais, and not once looking back, walked through the pack members who parted to let her through.

The minute she stepped outside she sucked in a lungful of fresh air and dropped her shoulders, the tension easing from her spine. As she walked toward the pack house she wondered if she should repack her bag. She didn't know what the pack would decide.

And even though she told herself she didn't care one way or another, a small part of her deep inside, hoped that they would accept her help. And it was the first time she admitted to herself, that small part of her that went unacknowledged most of the time, wanted them to accept her too.