I yelped as I tripped over tree roots that were all over the forest floor. Lifting my face up with my face twisted in pain, I got up slowly and as I placed my foot on the ground I gritted my teeth and cursed as I realized that I must've accidentally sprained my ankle. Even so, I had to keep moving forward to warn Carter.

If I don't...

I shook my head as unnecessary thoughts started to whisper itself in to my brain and decided to just continue my journey with my ankle probably turning blue by the second. Leaning against tree to tree that were close to my path, my surroundings were still foreign to me.

Finally after hours of walking, I found a clearing with a small lake. My throat burned at the thought of drinking but I had to be wary because that psycho could be hot on my trail for all I know. Going past the trees, my shoulders were tense as I slowly made my way to the edge of the lake. Getting on my knees, I cupped my hands to get a drink of water. My hands were just above the water when a hand sprung out from underneath the lake and grabbed hold of my wrists. Opening my mouth to scream, a hand from behind muffled it and I struggled against the grip that were keeping my wrists in place. I had been so busy struggling, that I didn't noticed the sparks that were now exploding around my waist.

"Jesse?" a voice whispered in disbelief. I froze as I said with his hand still covering my mouth, "Carter?" I jumped when the hand from underneath the lake revealed a person all cladded up in a diving suit with a snorkel in his mouth and mask for his eyes. They took off the mask and snorkel and I looked at him with his hair dripping wet, "Ryder?"

He let loose of his grip and let out a smile before getting out of the water and leaving me with Carter. Turning me around to face him, Carter asked, "How are you here? What are you doing here Jess? Do you have and idea how much I panicked when I realized you were gone? What was worse when I picked up that rogue's scent again! Thank the mood goddess, you're okay." I couldn't even reply a word in edgewise before I was enveloped with his embrace once more. I pulled away and started to babble, "Carter, you have to go. He will be coming. Please! He's coming to hunt you down!" His brows furrowed in confusion as he softly asked while cupping my cheek, "Who is?" I breathed out before my body shut down and my eyes rolled back, "The rogue."

Through the midst of the darkness, I could hear voices and the sound of people moving about. However, no matter how hard I tried, I could not pry my eyes open and move around. All I could right then was just lie still and let time pass me by. Throughout the time I assumed I was alone, there was always the same presence that I stumbled upon that day at the lake and I felt so useless because I should be helping him and not stuck here like some weakling.

"Is she going to be okay?" he asked with his voice worried. A calm voice replied, "She's just experienced what no one should ever experience and also it appears she has been eating and drinking just enough to get her by but what we're mostly concerned about is the bruises around her wrist and the palms of her hands. Also her ankle is healing nicely and she's able to breathe without the help of a machine." His voice asked with impatience, "Yes, but is she going to be okay?" The same calm voice replied, "It appears she will be okay Alpha." Then he asked with sorrow as sparks started to flow from my arm, "Then why isn't she awake yet?" Silence was followed by this question and the doctor simply replied with his voice heavy, "Give her time Alpha. We'll inform you the moment she shows sign of waking."

I fell into a deep sleep after that.

My eyes were heavy and they slowly fluttered open and I blinked a few times to get rid of the blurriness from sleeping. Looking around, it was currently night time and I had an IV pole with tubes and wires attached to my body. Struggling to sit upright, I scratched the back of my head and let out a sigh. Taking out the tubes and wires out from my arm, I opened a few drawers near me and found clothes located in one of them before taking them out and changing in to a pair of sweatpants and a black t-shirt. After that, I looked at my door and started approaching when I scowled when I saw someone stand outside. Looking at the window, I quickly locked the door as quiet as I could before heading towards the window and sliding in open. Shivering at the cold breeze wafting in to the room, I quickly got on the window ledge before jumping towards the tree branch that was nearby. Climbing down the tree, I got a good look at what hospital I was in and realized that it was just near my home. Without wasting a moment, I decided to head back home but then froze.

Shaking my head, I decided to just head back to granddad's cabin to have some time alone to think. My emotions were all over the place, I had absolutely no idea what to feel after what happened to me or how I would react around Carter. Finally reaching the woods, I attempted to shift and relished in the feeling of my bones breaking and forming my paws, tails and finally I was in my full wolf form. Without wasting another moment to spare, I ran as best as I could to head towards granddad's cabin.