I forgot what was so important I needed to tell Lance the next morning. I'm like 78% sure I hallucinated the vampire. They did exist, but they wouldn't be here? Werewolves hated vampires and vice versa.

I was standing in front of the large mirror in my room, psyching myself up.

My heart sped up thinking about tell Lance who I am. I needed to tell him. It was the test to see if Lance would accept me or not, and I am willing to take that test. Whatever happens, happens.

I looked in my mirror and muttered, "I need to tell you something about who I am."

I just needed to get to the words out. And the rest will follow. Hopefully if I explain myself, he'll believe me. I was scared before that no one was going to believe me, but my own mate had to.

Right?

I get out of my room, summing up all my nerves up the stairs to go to Lance's office.

"Luna," Cole came behind from me, and I swallowed a little, now knowing what he was capable of doing. He just broke someone's arm yesterday because they were about to come at me. I don't even want to think about what else he could do.

"Hiya. Do you know where the Alpha is?" I ask, even though I was already going up the stairs to where he lived on the third floor. Cole's face flickers of something briefly. "What is it?"

"There's....another Alpha that had a surprise visit," Cole answers.

I go to a complete stop. Cole notices and looks at me strangely. "W-which Alpha?" I stutter. Dread filled me, and I felt like I couldn't breath.

"Luna? Are you-"

My pounding headache came to me. Something shattering, and I feel like I couldn't move and my vision blurred

I fell into darkness.

***

Voices.

"She just fell down- maybe she was hungry?" a familiar voice says. Bo.

I don't even want to open my eyes because then I'll have to deal with real life. Maybe I can just fake coma for years and can run away from my problems this way? It has to work.

"Meredith?" Bo whispers. "If you can hear me twitch your fingers."

I couldn't hide the smile and they'd know I'm lying about sleeping so I open my eyes and fake a deep breath as if I just woke up.

The first person I see if Bo staring at me with his big brown eyes, and when he sees my eyes open he smiles, showing his two big dimples.

"YOU'RE ALIVE!" he shouts.

"I'm alive," I cough, needing some water. Bo quickly grabs a glass from the table stand next to me and hands it to me. I take it, taking a huge chug.

"What happened? How are you feeling? Hope needs her baby mama, you know."

I smile thinking about our little cute pup. "I'm good, I don't know, I just..." I trail off. The surprise Alpha. My heart constricts. Is it Trent or Steven? They said they'd visit, didn't they?

"Oh Luna!" I notice Raquel, from when I met her at the mall when I was with Cole, walk in the room with a white coat. She's the pack doctor. "I'm so glad you're up. It's been two days."

I open my mouth. "WHAT."

"Lance tried staying with you the entire time, but since Alpha Heidi came for something important, he's at the meeting right now with her," Bo says slowly.

"Alpha Heidi?" I ask. I never heard of this Alpha.

"She's fairly new. She's the first female Alpha here," Raquel answered, smiling her perfect white teeth at me. "She also would have loved to met Lance's mate, but she's leaving today."

"Oh my gosh," I rub my head, then leaned on the pillow. "Just get me out of here."

"I ran some blood tests, and the only thing I had for you is that you're anemic," Raquel took out a clipboard and scribbled something down. "So please take some iron pills and eat tons of leafy greens, namely spinach."

I made a noise that was like a grunt, "I hate spinach."

Raquel shook her head, smiling, "Luna it's for your own good. I'm thinking maybe this is the cause of your tiredness?"

"I also told Cook to make you something," Bo says, still standing there looking at me worriedly. "You haven't eaten for two days, Meredith. That's a lot."

"This has never happened before," I tell them. I've never fainted like that. I had headaches that were bad, yeah, but never like this. "Sorry for scaring you guys."

Bo snorts, "The main one that almost had a heart attack isn't here."

"Is she awake?" Meg enters the room with a tray of what looks like...lasagna! Oh my gosh. Garfield had nothing on me when it came to loving lasagna. It almost was on my top three foods.

"That smells so good," I take in a deep whiff of the delicious smell. My mouth watered looking at the melted cheese. Meg hands me the tray, and I take the fork and dig in. The beef together with the pasta and the cheese Cook used wasn't just mozzarella. He probably used another cheese too. It tasted divine. Then I notice another plate of green stuff next to my drink. Spinach.

I look up at Raquel who raises an eyebrow at me. I crinkle my nose. "Meredith get over yourself and eat it," Meg rolls her eyes.

I look at it in disgust and stab a fork at some spinach. "You couldn't have drenched it with some dressing?"

"Nope. Eat."

I bring the spinach into my mouth and try to make it seem like it wasn't too bad. It was. It was so bad. "Why do people eat this!"

"To be healthy," Raquel winks at me. "You can be discharged whenever you want today. Get a little rest though and make sure you're hydrated." She nods at all of us in the room, "I'll see you guys soon." Raquel walks out, and shuts the door slightly.

"I love her so much even though she's making me eat spinach," I sigh. Bo sits at the edge of my bed and Meg takes a chair to my side. "So tell me about this Alpha Heidi. That's so cool she's a female Alpha."

Meg nods in agreement, "She's really cool, and coming to Lance for help is smart too."

"Miss Steal Yo Mate," Bo jokes. I shoot him a curious look, but he raises his hands up. "Kidding! She maybe had a crush on Lance or whatever but it's gone. Lance never reciprocated!"

"Bo why did you even have to bring that up!" Meg exclaims, looking at me apologetically. I feel her pity because seriously, literally who was I to compete with a female Alpha? This Heidi is doing so much more than I ever wish I could do. And Alpha's compliment each other. Maybe they should have been mates.

"Meredith, he wouldn't want anyone other than you," Bo reassures me, or tries to. Now, I really want to see Heidi. I bet she's so beautiful too. First Grace like Lance, now Heidi? Do I have to try to block an entire army of people that like Lance?

"I'm going back to sleep," I grumble. Bo looks at me like he wants to say something, but Meg glares at him.

"Meredith-" Bo starts.

"Can you guys please leave? I just want to sleep," I ask quietly, shutting my eyes. I hear shuffle, and the door close shut.

I didn't know how much it affected me hearing that, but it made me into an insecure little emotional bumpkin. I need to get over myself. I need to stop being insecure. Lance is my mate. I'm the one that ran away from him. I'm the one keeping secrets from him.

Who am I kidding? He probably doesn't even like me. He should be with Alpha Heidi.

***

I open my eyes again, but I look at the time, and I slept for only an hour. Raquel said I could discharge myself, so I got up, looked at myself at the small mirror on the wall, and went straight to the bathroom.

The first thing I needed to do was brush my teeth.

The second thing I needed to do is wash my face with soap.

After I get done with those two things, I walk out of the room, and hope to see someone so I could ask where the heck I can go.

I turn around and see Lance walking towards me with someone else next to him, and a taller girl and guy behind the female next to Lance. I realize that female must be Alpha Heidi.

I should make a bolt for it, but I think otherwise because I would look so bad in front of Lance. Running from your mate? Who does that? Oh yeah. Me. I did that.

"Meredith I heard you were awake," Lance greets me as he gets a foot away from me, his eyes assess over me, probably seeing if I was injured anywhere.

"Oh girl, this guy wanted our meeting to be over with as soon as he heard," Heidi smiles at me, and her beautiful green eyes are filled with warmth. She was wearing a form fitting black dress that came up to her knees with these killer red pumps. Basically, she looks flawless and perfect.

"Meredith, this is Alpha Heidi from Midnight Star pack. Heidi, this is my mate, Meredith," Lance introduces us. Heidi juts out her hand. I almost cringe at my fake name. All these werewolves I'm meeting are going to think I'm a Meredith. Lies. I need to tell Lance. My name is actually Ava. Surprise. Sunrise.

"Such a pleasure to meet the mate of Lance," Heidi says. I take her hand and she smiles at me. "Your hands are so soft! Like a baby's."

"Uh thanks," I say awkwardly. I don't even try with my hands. "I don't really do anything to them." Her beautiful glowy skin made me wonder how she got her skin to look so clear and healthy. I need a skincare routine. Since I don't know how to take compliments well, I giver her a compliment, "Your skin is flawless though."

"Coconut oil," she tells me. "It changes lives, trust me." The female werewolf behind Heidi who is tall, and bleach blonde and muscular, reminding me of that one woman who's always in workout videos Julia and I try to do sometimes. She's with another werewolf that looks exactly like her, and he is talking to Meg. Heidi notices me looking and says, "That's Ashley my Beta with her twin brother Asher."

I shake my head, "I wish I can be as put together as you." Heidi barks out in laughter.

"You're a Luna with a mate that probably thinks you're the best thing that ever happened to him," Heidi tells me. I flush. Why does everyone think that?

"Well, I did ask him for a pool and he didn't do anything," I shrug, being a little shallow. Heidi laughs again.

"Being an Alpha of the pack is hard with all these sexist pigs I have in my pack. But it's okay because I whip them all into shape."

"That's literal goals," I sigh. "I wouldn't be a good Luna though." Heidi eyes me curiously.

"Why do you say that?" she asks.

"It's just...so much. I don't know. Like I don't fit with what a Luna is."

"Um, girlfriend? I don't fit what an Alpha is, but here I am. Don't doubt yourself," Heidi says, and we both look to where there was Grace laughing with Lance. Come on, Lance isn't even that funny! "Who is this homewrecker?"

"Her name is Grace," I grumble.

"Okay, and why is Grace all up on your man like that? Heck no." Heidi considers something. "If it makes you feel any better, Lance has been looking at us the entire time."

I smile a little, "Maybe a little."

"If it makes you feel a lot better, I did come here on very short notice and suddenly the Luna is in the infirmary room and Lance just couldn't speak with me because he had to see you and stay with you for the entire two days. I understood of course. Meredith, don't let people like Grace get to you. I don't know what her problem is, but you need to step up if you don't want her to be up all on Lance." She leans in whispering, "Don't worry, Luna Meredith, I did admire Lance. Still do, mind you, but I don't really go for males if you catch my drift." My eyes widen.

"Oh," I say, nodding. "Totally cool. Hopefully you'll get a great mate someday." Heidi laughs.

"We will see," she nods. Her Beta, Ashley gives me an easy smile as she comes up to me.

"Luna Meredith," Ashley says, nodding. "Pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise," I say.

Lance abruptly breaks away from Grace and strides to us. "Alpha Heidi, I suspect we'll see more of you in the future?" He places his hand on his chest in a respectful manner. Heidi knows this too, and she smiles warmly.

"I'm glad I came to you, my father spoke highly of you," Heidi says sincerely.

"Your father may have exaggerated," Lance was modest. "Declan was a good Alpha, as I'm sure you will be."

"Thank you," Heidi gives a sad smile, probably thinking of her deceased father. "I hope you're feeling better, Meredith. I hope to see you soon."

We all walk them out the door, and a black SUV pulls up. Heidi waves at us again before they all enter the car, and drive off.

"Finally," Bo breathes.

"Rude," Megs snickers. "They're not bad. We've had worse."

"Yeah you and Asher get along just fine alright," Bo smirks at her. Meg shoots him a glare.

I purse my lips, "What did she come here for?"

"Well," Bo sighs, "alliances are hard when you're a new Alpha. You have to make sure you still have the same allies or make new ones. In this case, Heidi was trying to make sure Lance has her pack's back if something happens. I'm guessing that something is happening, so that's why she came on such short notice. Good thing Lance is a patient guy."

I feel his piercing blue eyes on me. "Meredith, are you feeling better?"

"Y-yeah," I reply. I won't be once I tell you everything.

***

Hope is crying for the millionth time around 9 pm. I don't get why people have babies or people my age want to. They really take all of your time. If you don't respect stay at home moms, you don't know what they do. Because this baby is taking Bo, Meg, sometimes Cole and myself a lot of work.

When I get in the room, the lamp at the corner of the room was on so I could see. The plan was to lull her back to sleep, so turning on the lights would defeat the purpose of everything.

I pick her up, and gently go up and down hoping to calm her down. I look at the directions for the baby formula and pour the powder and water and shake it up. I sit at the comfiest rocking chair Bo picked out at Babys R' Us. Seriously this felt like I was floating on a cloud. I positioned Hope so she was laying on my arm extremely carefully, and got the bottle to go in her mouth.

She was hungry. Luckily, her eyes were dropping but she was still sucking on the bottle. I smiled widely. They were so innocent and cute.

Someone opened the door.

Lance.

I places two fingers on my lips and he nodded. I slowly got up, trying to not move her head or anything and tip toed to her crib. With all the control to not move her, I placed her on the mattress of the crib and slid my hands from underneath her like some stealthy robber.

We both quietly go out her door, Lance shutting it and careful to not make any noise.

"You're really good with her," Lance says. I turn around and shrug as we make our way to my favorite place: the kitchen. I eye the cookie jar which Cook filled up for me.

"It just comes easily, I guess. I had to tell Bo the other day how wrong he was holding her," I chuckle, opening the cookie jar and taking a chocolate chip cookie from there. "What are we going to do? Did you guys get any leads?" I bit into it, and it was still so soft. I need to get the recipe from Cook ASAP.

Lance runs a hand through his charcoal black hair, which wasn't too short or too long, but enough of a huge urge for me to want to make my hand want to run through it. My eyes widen as I nearly choke on the cookie I was chewing on, and suddenly a fire from the microwave burst.

"Oh my gosh!" I shriek. "Fire!" Like I'm any help. I wish I still updated my Snapchat because this would have been such a great snap.

Lance is all action though. He takes a fire extinguisher that's in one of the drawers and sprays the microwave with it, causing the fire to cease.

"W-what was that? Some gas leak?" I ask stupidly.

Lance frowns slightly, "I don't know." He turns to me, "Are you alright?"

This was it. This is the time I can spill out my heart.

"STOP DROP AND ROLL!" Bo barges into the kitchen with a bucket of water and splashes it on both Lance and I.

"BO!" I shriek.

"Shhhh you'll wake up Hope," Bo grins, and I realize he probably did it on purpose. I take a look at Lance who was dripping wet. His black shirt clung to him like second skin and I immediately avert my gaze but not before seeing the lines of his eight pack. "Sorry guys, I couldn't risk the kitchen getting burned." Bo looks a little sheepish.

"Bring a towel for Meredith," Lance says calmly. Like he didn't just get wet and needed one too.

"Aye aye, Cap!" Bo rushes out. Not even a minute later, he brings out a white towel and hands it to me. I take it and wrap it around myself, shivering a little. "Sorry guys, really."

I give him a glare. "I wouldn't be too mad if I didn't need to take a shower already."

"You do smell," Bo grins playfully as I stick my tongue out. "Why is Lance up so late?"

"I received a call from Derek's Beta tonight that they're visiting here soon."

"Can you just tell them no?" Bo grumbles. I bite back my laughter. This is probably why Bo is the Beta.

"We can," Lance says offhandedly, "but they would not take it well."

"So did you give Alpha Heidi your allegiance or whatever?" I ask.

Lance nods, "Her father was a good ally of mine. She has some troubles with the pack members accepting her even though she is the only child of the deceased Alpha. Which is only fitting for her to be the next Alpha. A pack member may challenge her however."

"Challenge her?" I open my mouth wide. "You mean like..."

"Kill her to be the next Alpha," Bo finishes, looking serious for a second. "Some Alphas do kill others don't. Typically they kill." I know that Alpha Steven took over his pack, Blood Tribe, by challenging its Alpha.

"You think someone will do it?"

"She thinks so," Lance says. "There has to be another Alpha that the challengers choose there so there is fair play."

"You'll be that Alpha for Heidi," I state. Lance confirms this with a nod. "Interesting."

"It's stupid," Bo snorts. "Majority of some pack traditions are. Lance is trying to get some stuff banned like whipping."

"Whipping?" I'm taken aback. We lived in the twenty first century.

"They do it with a silver so it hurts the wolf badly," Bo answers.

"Which pack does that?" I ask, flabbergasted, thinking if my pack ever did it.

"A lot," Bo's face turns sour.

"My pack did it before I became Alpha," Lance says. This tidbit information on Lance has be a little calmer. I need to tell him who I am. I just want to tell him, but not with Bo here. Thinking about having Bo disappointed in me was the worst. I wanted him to be the last person I'd tell.

"Lance is trying to get it banned, but there has to come to an agreement from the Alphas. Right now, the only way that it can't happen is if an Alpha himself chooses not to," Bo explains.

"Some Alphas don't agree and are not keen on change," Lance comments.

I take a deep breath. "This is all so barbaric."

"You're telling us," Bo laughs without humor. "This is the ugly side of the werewolves that no one likes to talk about, but we have to."

We all are silent until we hear crying. I look at Bo. "Your turn, baby daddy."

Bo groans.