Lorelei's POV:

It's dark when I wake up.

My phone reads 4 am.

My throat burns with hunger and I roll over.

Nick is sound asleep٫ snoring softly.

I smile.

We drive each other crazy for sure but there's nothing we wouldn't do for each other.

I get out of bed as quietly as I can so I don't wake him and slip out into the night.

It's cool out and a soft breeze tickles my skin. I listen closely for any sound coming from the woods.

Birds, deer, a creek.

No humans.

I slip out of my clothes and transform.

I need to fall in love with this side of myself again.

I run through the woods down hills and over large rocks. I hadn't really turned much since the attack.

When I had returned I helped them with any new arrivals and James became the new Alpha.

It made sense.

James had seen the old pack's dictatorship and Emma's leadership. He knew the right ways to go about guiding the pack.

Nobody had argued that it had been the right call. This was the plan all along for whenever Emma would die. And if James couldn't lead, Ash would take their place and so on...

There was some tension when I returned. They'd wanted to know why I had left and I had to explain how I'd flown off the handle. I didn't give too much detail and James didn't push.

As much as it kills me to admit, I'm not really a part of the pack. Never really was.

Old or new.

I was cast out of the old one before I could even settle into their ways (thank god for that) and I found my own way in life. Learned everything on my own.

James told me I was always welcome there and I thanked him.

We finished settling everyone in and I came home.

There's a faint orange glow in the sky.

The sun is rising.

I turn and head back to the cabin.

Nik is standing outside with a pile of clothes. I turn back and take them from him and quickly get dressed.

We head into town together.

"How was it?" He asks

"Still not easy. It doesn't feel the way it used to." I say

He just nods and we head into a coffee shop.

I order my drink and we sit outside.

"You said this would get better. When?" I ask

"It will take time love. Focus on the good memories you had with her."