I stepped to the side quickly, just fast enough to avoid being smashed into by a dozen kids chasing a dog. "Sorry!" They yelled over their shoulders, laughing and screaming.

I chuckled, turning back to the group of people I'd been talking to. They were mainly around Levi's age, all doing various things with their lives, but things that they hoped would benefit the pack. How amazing to be so focused and involved in such a community.

Louise, who was studying to be a vet, hoped to find a way to hasten the healing process for when anyone in the pack was injured while changed. A guy called Jordan had a black belt in four different specialties, and spent his time teaching the children right up to the fighters. Everyone seemed to have such an amazing story, and they were all so eager to tell me, that so far I hadn't really been put under the spotlight at all. Which I was super happy about.

I'd lost Levi somewhere along the line. After kissing me - eeeek - he'd disappeared to get cleaned up. Since then, I'd only seen him watching me across the room while an older lady talked to him. I'd made eye contact and gone a spectacular shade of red, which made him grin.

As nice as it was to meet all these people, I kind of wanted them all to leave so I could kiss him again.

And again.

A few hours in, Estelle got up on the stage - yes they had a stage put in - and stood in front of a microphone. Everyone went quiet, looking up at her fondly.

"Welcome, everyone. We are so happy to have you here, it's always lovely to be together," she smiled and everyone murmured in agreement. She really was the picture of perfect. "Now tonight isn't just any night, as I'm sure you're aware. We have someone special with us."

No. No! Estelle, oh man. I was so going to kill her. The people around me turned to me, smiling and cheering.

"Danielle, you have no idea how much it means to us to have you with us. We know how crazy this must be to you, but just know that everyone here is your family now." The crowd cheered out, clapping and agreeing. I shook my head at Estelle, but couldn't help but get swept up in the moment. It was incredibly sweet.

"Dinner is served! Please help yourselves."

Everyone began milling towards a table, those around me squeezing my arm or smiling widely at me. I'd met so many people that literally no names had stuck, but everyone seemed so kind that I'm sure that didn't matter.

"How uncomfortable are you out of 10?" A low voice whispered by my ear, and I closed my eyes for a moment, relaxing finally.

"Four," I whispered back, turning around to look at Levi.

He raised his eyebrows. "I can deal with four."

"I could probably get down to a three with some food." The most amazing smells were basically attacking my nose.

He laughed. "C'mon, they're saving us a seat."

We went over to a table where Estelle, Georgia, Thomas and the guys that Levi had arrived with were sitting at. They all moved up, making space for us. Plates of food filled the table, and everyone was digging in.

"I fucking love potatoes," Thomas moaned, shovelling three different styles onto his plate.

"Swear jar!" Georgia yelled, smirking. God that family were so good at smirking.

Thomas pulled a face at her, continuing to decimate the potatoes.

I cleared my throat, tossing my hair over my shoulder. "I'll have you know I peeled those potatoes," I fake gloated.

Thomas raised his hands to the sky. "God has truly blessed us with a gifted luna."

I snorted, and Levi threw a dinner roll at him.

"I'm nothing if not a fantastic potato peeler," I shrugged, grinning at Levi.

"This is why women are best in the kitchen," Thomas said between mouthfuls, smirking. I knew he was kidding, but it was my turn to throw a roll at him.

After dinner, everyone mingled and chatted, until someone set up a fire further down in the garden, by the edge of the forest. These people sure liked their bonfires.

Levi led me to the clearing, laying down his jacket for me to sit on. There was a calm mood in the air, everyone was content and relaxed. Someone had found a guitar, and a few other people were singing quietly. I was happy leaning against Levi, looking up into the stars.

I began getting cold, and Levi noticed of course. "I'll go get you a blanket." He said, gently pushing me off him.

"No no, I'm fine." I was actually really cold, but I didn't want him to go. He smiled at me, and kissed my forehead.

"I'll be three minutes."

Sighing and adjusting to the lack of warmth he provided, I looked around me. Despite there being so many people, the fire was huge and we were all quite spread out. I closed my eyes, enjoying the fresh air and the sound of the guitar.

But then the melody changed. All my senses suddenly became diluted, cut off and muffled. Instead, I could only focus on one thing - the hypnotic pulling of an all too familiar whispering melody. My body went cold all over, but I barely was able to recognise that. All I could focus on was the pulling force that wrapped around my body.

Slowly and silently, I stood up, my feet carrying me towards the whispers. I had no control over anything, but I was too caught up in the hypnotic haze that I didn't really care. All I wanted in that moment was to give in to whatever was pulling me toward the forest.

With each step, the whispers got louder and more melodic. They twirled around each other, dancing and caressing. They also got more urgent, the pull got stronger. It was as if it was desperate. Rushed. It had wrapped around my by this point, startling at my legs and gripping my whole body. There was no going back.

I past the first tree line, only vaguely aware of what I was seeing. Of what I was leaving behind. The deeper I got, the hazier things became. I was tired. So, so tired. The whispers were almost screaming at me now, and it was too much. I shut my eyes, letting the pull take over, letting everything go.

When I opened my eyes again, it was no longer an invisible, hypnotic pull wrapped around me.

In its place were chains. Cold, metal chains.