Allison

It's like they say, two steps forward, one step back. I thought I was in a place where I was okay with not being with Tate and knowing he was with Kimber. However, their unexpected stop to the territory really shook me to my core. It showed me that I wasn't as over him as I thought I had been. As a result, I had retreated back into my shell a bit.

I was extremely lucky that I had friends that understood, both Tim and Missy left me alone on Sunday, giving me time to process everything. I was especially thankful to Tim, not only was he not upset for me not telling him about Tate earlier, but he also confided in me. It really seemed to have connected us more, brought us closer together in our friendship. Moving to the East Coast for school had turned out to be the best decision I had ever made.

Monday morning came and I got up at my usual time and got ready for my early morning shift. I was going to have to speak to my supervisor today, giving them my notice. Before running out of my dorm room this morning, I quickly typed a resignation letter, printed it out using Tim's printer, and signed my name. As soon as I walked into the four-story brick building, I was greeted with the sterile antiseptic smell that most medical facilities had. Janice my supervisor was sitting at the front desk.

"Good Morning Janice." I greeted her walking up to the white laminate counter.

"Allison, what are you doing here?" She asked with genuine curiosity.

I looked here, very confused. "I have a shift this morning. Or did I read the schedule wrong? "

"Oh, dear, after I spoke with Alpha Andrew's I just assumed you wouldn't be returning here, so I took you off schedule." She said and then winked at me.

"I had a feeling something like this was going to happen. I had really intended on giving my notice before leaving. " I knew that Linc and McKenna were going to influence me leaving this job early.

Janice spoke again, "I'm sorry for the confusion. We have loved having you here and there are many residents who are going to miss you. " She said, "I hope you enjoy your new position at the pack clinic."

"Thank you, Janice. I truly appreciate how welcoming you have been here." Janice then quickly walked around the counter and gave me a quick hug. I then handed her my facility ID card and she walked with me to the employee area, where I cleared out my locker, which only happened to contain a couple of pictures and a set of workout clothes.

"We wish you the best of luck in your new job, Allison. It has truly been a pleasure working with you." Janice said as I walked out the door.

With the surprise, well I guess really non-surprise, of not having to work I decided to make my way to the local mixed martial arts club that Tim had once told me about, since I just so happened to have a change of clothes with me. Luck seemed to be on my side today as it had been many weeks since I put a proper work out in and now that I was going to actually have some spare time, there was no reason why I couldn't fill it with the one thing that centered me, the gym.

Walking into the gym gave me a bit of nostalgia, the same smell of worn leather, sweat, and dried blood hung in the air, similar to the club from back home. It brought a smile to my face. An older man was reading a news paper behind the worn welcome desk, "Now what is a pretty lady like yourself doing in a place like this?" He questioned, his voice softer than I had imagined it would be.

"I am actually looking to work out, maybe spar with someone." I said. "I am new to the area and a friend had told me about this place, so I am finally getting a chance to check it out."

"Well honey, I am not sure that a place like this is meant for a girl like you." His tone becoming a bit condescending due to my gender.

"Well Grampa," I said giving his tone right back to him, "See I came from a center much like this, I have a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and I am a pretty good boxer too." I winked at him.

I think he was a bit taken aback by my attitude and was not all too happy with being spoken to like I just had, as was evident by the scowl he was now giving me. As he was staring me down, the bell from the door sounded and an all too familiar voice spoke out, "Nemo? Is that you?"

Instantly I had a smile on my face, "Yeah, Tim it's me. Now that I have some extra time, I figured I would finally check this place out." I responded not even bothering to look back at him as I could feel him walking to where I was standing, "I was just trying to get setup."

"Oh, I am sure that Paul here is going to take great care of you and get a membership all set up. In fact, Paul here," Tim handed over his credit card, "give Allison here a one-year membership on me."

I turned to Tim, "Absolutely not! I can pay for myself."

"Not asking," Tim said. "Think of this as an early Christmas gift." I rolled my eyes, since there was now nothing, I could do about it, Paul had already run the card and was now handing me my membership card.

"You are such an a..." I started but was cut off by Tim.

"Friend? I am such a good friend. I know, thank you." And he took a step forward, "Come on, I will show you around and introduce you to a few people."

Two hours later I left the gym completely exhausted and sore. Having worked muscles that, I had not used in a long both felt wonderful, but painful at the same time. "You are definitely a woman of surprises." Tim said to me as we were leaving the gym together. "I never knew you could fight like that."

"Honestly, not many people do. I never trained with my pack back home, I always trained at the gym with my father. I guess I never really fit in and for whatever reason Alpha Blackwell didn't mind that I wasn't included."

"Well he sure is not the smartest Alpha then, you could probably wallop half of his warriors with those moves. I am quite impressed." He said with a smile. "Have you ever thought about participating in any matches?"

"Umm... no. That really isn't my thing." I shrugged. "It was always more about being close to my father, it was our thing."

"Gotcha." He said, tapping me with his elbow, and nodding his head to the left, "My truck is this way, I will give you a ride." I just nodded my head and followed Tim to his truck.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Around lunch time I decided to give my mother a call, I liked to call and check in with her at least a couple times a week, but more than not it was every other day. Even if I only heard her voice for a few minutes and got to ask her how she was. When I tried calling her phone just rang and rang, she wasn't answering.

After three rings my mothers voice came through the phone, "Hello."

"Hi Mama. How are you?" I asked.

"I am alright baby girl." She said. Although her voice sounded weaker and weaker all the time, she would always tell me she was doing alright.

"Has Mrs. Jones been over to the house yet?"

"Um, yeah. She just left." Her voice trailing off toward the end, so I just barely heard her.

"Did you eat today?"

"Fruit Salad, Gail brought it for me."

"Mama, are you sure you are okay? You don't sound like you are." I was starting to get a bit worried about my mother. I know she was slowly falling further and further into her own abyss, but since I have come to school it seemed to be getting worse.

"Yes, just tired. Gail just left." She was giving me only short answers, but I guess I didn't have a choice but to believe her. There was not much that I was able to do from where I was.

"Okay, Mama. I will let you go. I love you."

"Love you too baby girl." She said, before I heard her phone click down.

I was concerned about my mother, all of our calls seemed to be getting shorter and shorter. She seemed to be getting more and more tired and was sounding even less like herself. Yet, she kept assuring me that she was alright. Gail even called me once a week to let me know how things were going, she never once let on that anything was different with my mother, leaving me to just believe that it was all in my head. With the assurances from both Gail and my mother I pushed away at the gnawing feeling in my gut.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The next couple of weeks flew by. It seemed like all I did for the first couple weeks of December was study for finals and think about Tate, no matter how hard I had tried not to. He just seemed to be the dark cloud that hung over my head that I was not able to shake.

With the heavy workload that I had with school, I was never more thankful that McKenna and Linc had offered me that new job at the clinic and that I had been able to stop working my previous job. This double course load was killing me right now, but I knew if I doubled everything up then I would be able to finish my primary degree in 2 years vs 4 and then would be able to start my two year internship at a pack clinic to gain my doctoral certification. Being a pack doctor was not easy, but it was a much quicker schooling and training process than being a human doctor, because as wolves we did not suffer with many of the same medical issues as humans did.

By the time finals were finished, I was exhausted. I needed the break that was coming up, I would have 2 weeks off of school before the Spring Semester began and I started my new job at the pack clinic. To say I was excited was an understatement. It would be great to get real experience working the clinic and it would just help me that much more with internship too.

I had come back from my last final and immediately plopped myself on my bed, determined to take a nap. It was not too long after that an unfamiliar face jumped into bed with me, "JOLLY!" The voice sounded in my ear.

I jumped up to a sitting position, nearly knocking my head on top bunk, "HOLY HELL, MCKENNA!" I screeched. My heart now racing at an untold rate of speed, I guess you can sneak up on a werewolf. McKenna of course was doubled over laughing hysterically as Tim, Patrick, and Linc all came running into my cramped quarters.

"What's wrong?" They all said at the same time, taking a defensive stance.

"I....I...." McKenna was heaving from laughing so hard, tears streaming down her face.

"It wasn't that funny, Sweet Pea." I said, getting off of my bed. Looking at the guys I explained, "I was asleep and brilliant one here," pointing to McKenna, "thought it would be hilarious to scare the shit out of me."

Linc and the guys shook their heads at McKenna, who was still trying to calm herself down, and chuckled a little. "Not that it isn't good to see ya, but what are you and Kenz doing here?" I asked Linc, it wasn't like them to come to the dorms and with the way McKenna was laughing there is no way she was going to be able to provide an answer.

"McKenna wanted to take everyone out to celebrate the end of the term." He explained.

"Oh, that sounds like fun, where are we going?" I asked. This instantly pulled McKenna from her fit of laughter.

"Out to dinner. Guys out! Girls we are getting dressed. Oh wait, Pat send Missy in, she needs to get ready too!" She shouted as the guys walked to our common room, Patrick sending Missy in.

About an hour later, after McKenna was satisfied that Missy and I had been tortured enough with makeup, hair straightening, and clothing changes said we were ready to go. I walked out of my room in a simple black dress, that hugged my curves in all the right places, without feeling like it was clinging to my skin. There was a crisscross pattern over the chest, showing just enough cleavage, but still leaving some on display and it fell to about midthigh. McKenna of course brought the dress and also a pair of black stilettos with it, the entire outfit was amazing, I felt amazing in it and it would never be anything I would have chosen myself. I am sure that it is why McKenna brought it with her.

I turned to look back at Missy, who had said something, and I heard a wolf whistle, turning to the guys I could see Tim with his eyes on me. I blushed a bit, trying to hide it I quickly turned back to McKenna, who just slyly winked at me. Now it was making sense, she used this celebration dinner as an excuse to doll me up and get me to go out with Tim. I lifted both my eye brows to her and with my fingers let her know I was watching her, that I knew what she was doing and that it was not going to work.

"Allison, you look amazing!" Tim complimented me.

"Thank you." I said a bit shyly.

"Everyone ready to go now?" Ask Linc.

"Sure are." Missy said, grabbing Patrick's hand. As she walked away, pulling him with her his eyes were glued to her ass. I just chuckled at him as he was tripping over himself. I mean who wouldn't be watching the love of their life sashay in front of them in a form fitting red dress? I mean if you have the curves you should flaunt them, and Missy sure knew how to work what her mama gave her.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I should have expected that dinner was not just dinner, that it was going to turn into yet another adventure. We were now headed to a new nightclub in town, Menace. It had opened just a few weeks prior and everyone raved about it.

Although I was not keen on going, I finally relented at McKenna's whining and puppy dog eyes. That woman sure knows how to play the best friend card to get her way. I knew McKenna had been playing an angle all night, trying to get me closer to Tim. She had gone so far to tell me that she thinks we would be perfect together, but the truth was that I was not yet ready to move on. My heart still hurt and although I cared for Tim, it wouldn't be fair to him. Really it would not be fair to anyone, a part of me would always belong to Tate because of the mate bond, and I didn't know if I would ever be able to love someone else like I would him. Afterall, mates were meant to be the person that completed you, your other half.

"Were here." Linc said, pulling up in front of Menace. There were a long line of people waiting to enter the club, two bodyguards stood in front of the doors, sniffing the air I could tell they were pack members. Tim opened the door and helped me out of the SUV we were all traveling in, and the thumping of the bass from the music got louder, my heart beating a bit faster in excitement to get out on the dance floor. I know that it was not typical of me to cut loose, but I liked to go dancing every now and then.

Linc, being Alpha, walked ahead of us, the guards bowed their heads, "Alpha." I heard them whisper in respect, the one on the left removing the rope blocking off the entrance, while the one on the right opened the door letting us in, the people left standing in the line groaning, wishing to be let in.

The club was amazing, the first thing you notice as you come in is the large black granite dance floor which happened to be completely filled with dancing bodies. The music thumping through your ears was exhilarating, pulling your eyes to the DJ that stood up on the stage, a laser light show playing behind him. The bar was also crowded with people, and there were various tables scattered around the edge of the dance floor and some booths that were set back in the corners for the people looking for a respite from dancing.

We however, made our way up the stairs to the VIP area. Apparently, being friends with the Alpha had some massive perks, such as our own private seating area. "Get whatever you want tonight, the tab is on me." Linc said to the group, as a server wearing a short black skirt and white button up shirt came over.

"Well hello gentlemen." She purred, pulling her top down slightly. "What can I get you to drink?" She asked placing her hand on Linc's shoulder while leaning in a bit seductively. McKenna was glaring daggers at her, but Linc was not paying attention as he was reading over the drink list.

"Kenz, what do you want?" He asked her.

Now, McKenna not missing her moment looked at the server, "I want you to take your hands off my man, pull your damn shirt up cause no one here wants to see that, and stop drooling all over the place it is unprofessional. Understand that these gentlemen are taken, and you would be smart to remember that!" Now the server looked like McKenna had slapped her across the face, I kind of felt bad for the girl, she wasn't a wolf so she really didn't know, but none the less I found it humorous and snickered a bit at the scene that had unfolded.

Straightening her shoulders and withdrawing her hand from Linc's shoulder, she readjusted her shirt. "My apologies everyone, I didn't mean to offend anyone." Linc was looking a bit amused at the jealousy that McKenna was displaying.

"No harm, no fowl" I spoke up, "Can I get a Moscow Mule, please. And shot of top shelf tequila with lime." I said. Everyone else followed suit and ordered their drinks. We sat waiting for our drinks, taking in the excitement of the club, and just chatted.

Ten minutes later our server came back with our drinks and the bottles that Linc and Patrick had ordered. I could already tell that this was going to be a fun night. Downing my tequila shot and then quickly sucking down my Moscow Mule I was ready to dance.

Tim looked at me astonished that I had drank my drinks so quickly, "We are gonna be here a while, might want to pace yourself." He suggested.

Shaking my head at him, "Nope, you only pace yourself after you are feeling tipsy." I said with a giggle. "Alright, let's go!" I said standing up quickly, "I wanna dance." McKenna stood up with me and Missy just behind her, holding hands we walked down the stairs to the dance floor.

As we were moving around the dance floor, I could feel eyes on me, looking up to where we were sitting, I could see Tim watching my every move. I waved to him, telling him to come join us. He shook his head no to me, so I just shrugged my shoulders letting him know it was his loss and continued to dance with the girls. After a couple more songs Missy said she was going to order more drinks to be sent up to our sitting area, so McKenna and I gave her our order and continued dancing.

Once Missy made her way back to us, she let us know our drinks were on the way, so we climbed back up the stairs to where the guys were still sitting and our drinks were already waiting for us, "I love these!" I said, "It has been forever since I have had one."

"You know how to drink these, right?" Missy asked. McKenna and I just smiled at her knowingly and she responded with her out mischievous grin.

"Ladies assume the position." McKenna shouted to us, the guys all giving us weird looks. We all got down on the floor so we could drink the shots off the low sitting table.

"What are you guys doing?" Tim asked looking at us like we were nuts.

"Enjoying a blowjob." I said, wrapping my lips around the shot glass and tossing my head back, allowing the liquors to come together and slide down my throat. Tim's eyes had just about bugged out of his head and Patrick spit whatever was in his mouth as I said that and was now choking.