Red wolves and black wolves fought side by side against smaller, sleeker brown ones while behind them lines of soldiers marched across barren, grassy fields. The soldiers wore metal skirts that reminded her of Roman soldiers. The picture changed. Hundreds of wolves in human form danced around open fires, sharing cups and horns of ale while a huge moon shone above them. Some of them had hair so red it looked like it was on fire when they passed in front of the real fires. A large woman with a full head of wild hair oversaw it all. The silver dagger nestled in the crevice between her abundant breasts. The picture changed to another time with another female bearer of the silver dagger, then again and again until finally she came to the time when the black wolves had killed the red wolf. She was still alive, but the black wolves had begun their attack. The red wolf looked up. For a moment, their eyes met and Aiyana could see the fighting wolves reflected in the red wolf's yellow eyes. The red wolf blinked and her eyes dropped to Aiyana's chest. She blinked again and turned her head. Aiyana followed her gaze to the white wolf she'd seen before. The white wolf wasn't attacking, only observing, but she looked smug. There was something around her neck. The instant Aiyana thought about it, her vision focused and she could see it - the wolf's head. Abruptly, she was falling backwards. She landed on her back with a gasp.

"Aiyana?"

She opened her eyes. The light above Nate's head made his hair look like a golden halo. Nate sat back a little with a happy sigh. "You're awake, finally. How do you feel?"

"Mmm." Feel? Confused. She was indoors, in one of the medical beds on the farm. Right, she'd been shot and her head had split in two. Her head didn't hurt anymore - not badly anyway, but her chest ached.

"Morning, sunshine." Cliff gave her a dimpled smile from the other bed in room about six feet away.

"You're awake!" Ow. Breathing hurt.

"Yep. A lightning strike will do that."

"Lightning?"

"During the storm last night, the lightning got really close," Nate explained. "It sounded like it hit the house."

"How are you feeling?" she asked Cliff.

He grimaced. "Like I got beat up by a pack of wolves or a basketball team. Actually, more like an all-wolf football team. How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay, I think." She turned to Nate and realized for the first time that he was holding her hand. "What happened? Did I get shot?"

"Yeah, with a silver bullet, but you know that necklace I gave you? The bullet hit the wolf. It saved you. You still have a big bruise but that's better than what it could have been."

"Was the necklace destroyed?"

"Well, it doesn't look like a wolf anymore, but I'm sure I can find another like it."

She squeezed his hand. "That's all right. I'm just glad you're safe."

He leaned over and pressed his lips against her forehead, then put his forehead and his nose against hers. "I'm glad you're safe too. Don't ever get shot again. I thought I was going to lose you."

She couldn't remember ever feeling so loved. She would have kissed him if she hadn't just woken up with her mouth feeling all gross and sticky. He kissed her cheek then pulled away. "I promised Dr. Patel I'd wake her as soon as you woke up. I'll be right back, okay?"

"I'm not going anywhere."

"I'm glad you're all right too," Cliff said quietly as Nate disappeared into the hallway.

She rolled her head to the side to look at him. "Ditto. Did Doc get all the silver out of your system?"

"He thinks they've got most of it now. He said you saved my life."

She shrugged. "I don't know if I did or not, I'm just glad I didn't harm you."

"Don't be so modest. I'm certain you saved me. You're going to be a great doctor."

His optimism reminded her of what he'd been like when they were kids. "Thanks Cliff."

"Aiyana, dear, how are you?"

She turned to the doorway to see a face that brought tears to her eyes. "Aunt Aimee!"

Her chest protested as she threw her arms around the woman who had raised her, but that didn't stop her. Her Aunt's hug back wasn't as tight as it normally was, but it still felt good.

"That's my girl. I am so glad you're okay." Her aunt released her and sat back so they could see each other. "Are you all right, in any pain? I didn't hurt you did I?"

"No, I'm fine. It's just a big bruise. I didn't actually get shot."

Her aunt's eyes flashed, "Just because the bullet didn't pierce the skin doesn't mean you didn't get shot."

Aiyana didn't bother hiding the grin as she grabbed the finger her aunt was shaking at her. Her aunt might be small, but she was a force to reckon with. "Did you meet Nate?"

"The tall blond guy who insisted he was the one who should stay be your side last night?"

"Did he?"

"Yeah. I drove through the storm last night to get here and then I barely got any time with you. He's cute."

"Yeah."

"And he says he's your mate?"

"That's what he says, but I don't see how."

"But you like him?"

Her aunt pinned her with a sharp gaze. Aiyana's face heated but she didn't look away. "Yeah."

Aimee tossed a dirty look in Cliff's direction. "Good. It's about time you learned not all men are idiots. I can't believe they have the jerk in the room with you."

Cliff turned away under her glare. Aiyana took her aunt's hand. "We're friends now. That's in the past. Besides, he nearly died protecting me."

"Ha, he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, but you!" Her aunt beamed at her. "You actually did save him. I am so proud of you! Dr. Patel told me you helped with Nate too."

"It was just an idea."

"A good one."

"Good morning, Aiyana," Dr. Patel said, pulling the curtain that separated her from Cliff. "Nate, will you step outside please, Aimee, you are welcome to stay here while I look Aiyana over."

She ate and slept and ate again. Her chest still hurt. Her heart was bruised but thanks to her werewolf genes, it was healing rapidly. By tomorrow she would be out of bed but today the pain, while bearable, sapped at her strength. It didn't help that Nate was so wonderful toward her. Every time he gazed at her with that adoring look of his, her heart would thump oddly, she would wince, and he would get all concerned.

"Nate, I'm fine," she said for at least the twentieth time. Seeking to distract him, she asked, "Do either one of you remember seeing that wooden box the wolf's head came in when you cleaned my room?"

"They cleaned your room?" her aunt interrupted, looking up from her laptop. She'd taken off work but was still working.

"After the Scottish tornado hit it."

"Those bozos were in your room!"

"Aunt, it's okay. Nate and Cliff didn't just help me clean, we packed, and they stayed with me in case the Scots came back. Besides, the Scots are no longer a problem."

"I wouldn't say that," Alpha Miguel said from the doorway. "Are you up to talking?"

"Yes."

"As long as you don't upset her," her aunt chimed in. "We're trying to keep her heart calm."

"Understood, and I think everyone here knows Alpha Wayne," he indicated the man behind him.

"Why is he here?" Aiyana blurted, then cringed. She hadn't meant it to sound like she didn't want him there.

"He came with me," her aunt said quickly. "He wanted to check on Cliff."

"In your car?" Alpha Wayne wasn't huge but she couldn't picture him crammed into the front seat between the clothes and fast-food trash that tended to collect in her aunt's car.

"No, in his truck. He offered to help you move since he was coming this way."

"Thank you." She hoped he could sense her sincerity and apology in the words.

Alpha Wayne gave a single nod. Aiyana didn't think she'd ever seen him smile.

Although the room was large, it felt crowded with the two alphas looming over her. Her aunt must have felt the same way because she popped out of her seat and offered it to Alpha Wayne, claiming she needed to stretch her legs. Nate offered up his seat too. They both left the room, but Aiyana was certain there were standing just outside the door.

"Aiyana," Alpha Miguel began, "there are two things we need to discuss. Let's start with the prisoners. Colum, the man who met you in front of the barn, is the son of the Alpha of the Scottish Highland pack. It's one of the oldest packs in existence. The Alpha claims his son came here with his cousin and a couple of their best fighters to retrieve an artifact your father stole."

"He didn't..." Aiyana began.

"Regardless," Alpha Miguel interrupted, "he should have gone through official channels instead of breaking and entering, assaulting your aunt, and taking hostages. Per wolf law, we have the right to persecute him for crimes committed on our soil. His father agrees, however, he requests you return the dagger to him."

She didn't know her dad at all but she refused to believe he was a thief. "I need more information before I agree."

Alpha Miguel nodded. "That's fair. I'll see if he's willing to talk to you. Second, about what you did last night. How long have you been able to do that?"

He must be talking about the coercion since she hadn't told anyone about the memories she'd seen, had she? "Coercion?"

He glanced at Cliff, then back to her, "Yes."

"I don't know. I didn't know I could until I accidentally used it on Cliff a few days ago."

"You used it on Cliff?" Alpha Wayne snorted and looked down at his hands.

"You know what it means, right?" Alpha Miguel asked.

She wasn't sure what he was getting at, so she shook her head.

"You're an alpha, a female alpha. You could, quite rightfully, start you own pack or apprentice yourself to an alpha who will be retiring soon."

She shook her head. "I don't want to run a pack. I want to be a doctor."

"I know. Still, it's something you need to be aware of. Truthfully, I've never seen someone with a gift as strong as yours. I thought Colum's was strong, but he didn't appear to affect you at all."

"He didn't."

"And you exerted your will on someone over a half-mile away."

"I did? You mean you caught the silver slayer?" She hadn't used the term before but it fit.

Alpha Miguel raised an eyebrow at her. "Silver slayer, is that his name? He refuses to give us his real one. He's not from around here."

"Luna Salma thought he might be from the Portland pack," she said.

"She told us her theory. Sophia claims she's never seen him before."

"I can try to make him talk," Aiyana said.

"Take care," Alpha Wayne said abruptly. "Coercion is a powerful gift, but it can quickly corrupt. You must not make it a practice to exert your will over others. It would be easier if you made him talk now but there is no need to rush unless you think there's another person involved."

"There's no evidence of that," Alpha Miguel said, "and I agree with Alpha Wayne. Using it as you did last night is fine, but I think you should reserve it for emergency use only."

It was good advice and if what she suspected were true - that using coercion made her head hurt - she was more than agreeable to following it.

"I want to speak to Colum." Alpha Miguel opened his mouth and she knew he was going to say no, so she quickly added, "He can tell me about the dagger." He looked like he wanted to say no, then he nodded.

"I'll see what I can arrange, but not today. Once your heart is healed, we'll discuss it."