After my parents house I hide out deep in the woods, I listen for every sound but finally after another hour I fall asleep against a tree. I wake up to a the most murderous pain imaginable. I lay flat on my back against the wet ground. Leaves stick to my flaming hot skin and I try to keep in my screams. I see the moon right above me. As it glows against the starless night it's almost as if they are extending out to illuminate me and only me. It feels like I'm shifting for the first time all over again. I can't help but let out a cry as I feel my bones shifting and breaking. I crave relief from the pain but with every second it seems endless. Lolly never mentioned this. This is not what I was expecting when my birthday came. My body shakes against the ground and the heat continues to grow.

I feel my shift coming and soon I shift completely into my wolf form. Although their is slight relief my body feels weak and I can hardly stand on my paws. I feel different though. I look over myself, my raven black fur silky and simmering against the moons white light. But something different does catch my eye. I turn my head as far as I can to see silver fur, the same color as my human hair. It's grown on my back in the shape of a crescent moon. That must be so alphas know what I am...

I feel my body weaken...the shift taking all of my strength. My body collapses and I shrink back into the form of my weak human self. My head pounds and my eyes flutter open and closed.

I hear twigs breaking and hard footsteps closing in on my but I have no energy to move. I feel a blanket cover my naked body and strong arms wrap me in it. I'm lifted into the air and then darkness.

*

Sunlight streams into a near window and I quickly sit up and look around. Memories of last night flood my brain and a tear slips past my cheek...knowing it wasn't the nightmare I thought it to be. I'm in Scars room which makes my heart pound.

"Oh you're awake." I turn my head to see Oden coming in with a plate of waffles and OJ. I'm surprised to be here and I'm guessing he can read that on my face "my mother told me to go out and look for you...the wolves came to her house and suspected her to know where you are and she knew you'd be out with no where to go."

"Oh" I say quietly and look around...the room haunting me

"Happy birthday" he says trying to lighten the mood

I look over at him fighting tears "sadly my birthday present this year is being given a life of pregnancy and no mate. A life of running away from alphas who only want me to have their pups..can't say it's that happy" he doesn't say anything but hands me the plate of waffles

"You haven't had the easiest past few months" he says and he looks at me with guilt

"I don't blame you for Scars out burst...I'm sorry for you." I tell him and he nods

"And I'm sorry for her...it's like loosing her mother all over again. If she's not here...I have no one." Tears slowly appear in his eyes

"She could come back" I tell him for his sake but at the thought I pray she never does

He shakes his head "if she does she'll be killed...I just wish she never left. You don't deserve what she's done" he takes my hand

A moment of silence passes "how many alphas do you think know by now?" I whisper

He looks away "with the amount of time she's been gone and what I've heard about the warriors tracing and chasing her for hundreds of miles..." he doesn't have to finish for me to know it's a lot

"Do you think they will come for me? Your mother seems to think they will treat me like royalty but I fear they will only use me for one thing" my heart drops "I have to leave here...and run for the rest of my life" I whisper to myself

Tears cloud my vision "none of this was supposed to happen" I cry "Lucian and May should be here, there son being born any day now! They would know what to do. They are the only ones I would trust" I cry for the loss of my true family. They would have protected me. The other part of me tells me I would have never met Maddox if it weren't for what happened...but I don't know if I want that. Now all I feel is heartbreak for the man I love but can't have and for the family I miss but will never see again...for the best friend I had but will hate me forever. All of this happened because of what I am.

Oden looks at me softly " I do not know if this will offer you more pain or closure" he looks away wary of he should continue

"What is it?" I ask wiping my cheeks

A long pause passes before he looks at me again " I must admit something...the wolves that crossed our territory the few days before our alpha and Luna died" I remember Scar telling me at school that wolves got through but no one noticed anything different "I saw them coming out of your uncle and aunts house" he starts and my eyes widen, Fay told us they were poisoned-but by who "I was visiting Scarlett's mothers grave and saw them...I only saw them in human form for a moment before they changed but one had alpha fur...he was tall with light hair and a scar across his eyebrow, the other looked like just a beta" the second I hear this description it feels like someone just punched a hole in my chest and squeezes my heart until it exploded.

I know that wolf. The night I met Maddox's brother flashes across my eyes...the distinct scar across his face and his alphas status giving him alpha fur. My world turns upside down at this revelation. Maddox's brother killed my aunt and uncle, my alpha and Luna, my family. I stand up quickly but quickly plummet back down. It doesn't faze me as I stand up again. The tears return as my breathing comes so hard my lungs can't keep up.

"I'm sorry Eve, please sit down and breath" he tells me but I can't, I don't know what to do

"He couldn't have known, he would have told me" I collapse on my knees and feel the tears rush down like a waterfall

Everything is coming out, the truth to everything is being told...and I can't handle it. I stand and head for the door "where are you going?" He asks

"I have to know if he knew about his brother" I say not looking back

"What? Eve sit down. You can't go, you don't know if he'll be able to control himself, my mother might have protected your scent but if you're in his presence it won't be enough" he tells me but I don't listen.

My hand lays still on the door handle. Just one turn and I'll be out in the open. Only two houses down from the man who I love but I could also hate within seconds. What if he knew about me the whole time? He was drawn to me because of my scent? He helped plot kill my aunt and uncle so he could be the first one to have me? My heart says no that of course that's not true...but the annoying voice in my head questions it.

Maybe he even thinks he loved me...but it was all just a perfect illusion.

My heart pounds as I open the door. The pink glow of sunrise cascades across the pack. I take hushed steps over to the house where my aunt and uncle were murdered and my lover lays.

The grass is wet against my bare feet and small pebbles dig into my heels and toes. Do I really want to do this? As if a wall is in front of me I can't seem to move. I look over to my old home, fire damage from the explosion only visible in one corner of the roof. It's completely cleared out...the home I lived in, was lied to in, and imprisoned in. I hear a door creak open and I see it's Peters and Lena's home. I quickly run into the empty house before they see me. My heart pounds as I peak out a window to see both Peter and Lena heading over to Maddox house. They both look exhausted, bags under both there eyes and tears stain Lena's cheeks.

I look away and begin to climb the stairs to my bedroom...I'll have to best view of Maddox there. The door creaks open and I'm met with an empty room. The only thing left is the nightstand I bought and my bed frame. I sigh and move over to the window praying his curtains are open. I hide behind the wall and peak across the way, Maddox's room in sight. I almost have hope that when I look at him it'll all be a lie. My entire body will fill with love, happiness and warmth as described as the feeling you feel when you find you mate...maybe just maybe.

I almost fall on my knees when I see in. He's paceing his room. Hands moving back and forth through his hair. Eyes red with tears, jaw clenched in anger, clothes dirty and tattered. He picks up a lamp and throws it across the room. Even from here I hear him yell. My heart break for him but different reasons of why he's like this goes through my mind. Is it because he's worried about me? Or is it the pull that makes him mad knowing I'm gone...not in love but lust?

As for me- nothing. No change from what I was feeling minutes ago...she was right...he's not my mate. I feel the heartbreak all over again. Everything from the beginning has been a lie. Every 'I love you' and kiss was stolen by me...those are not rightfully mine. The amount of pain I have experienced in the last 24 hours can not compare to the pain I feel of knowing this man is not my mate and not know if he has betrayed me this whole time.

I see Peter walk in and I listen with my heightened hearing...hoping to find my answer.

"Maddox?" He says softly and Maddox turns to him

"What? Have they found her? Did they pick up her scent anywhere?" The hopefulness in his voice makes my heart clench

Peter looks away "no...not yet but they are looking" he tells them and Maddox screams again, bearing his teeth and wolf showing through

"I should be out there!" He screams

"You've been out all day and night. You fainted last night from no food or drink. You need to take it easy" Peter says calmly

"How can I?! Everly is out there. Why wouldn't she come home?!"

I can't take it anymore. I fall down the wall. I can't listen to this. I know what the best thing is. I have to leave. Forever.

A/N

:)))) more drama to come soon!

-Madi