After Wyatt dropped me off, I walk into my dark apartment, the first thing I noticed was that Blaine wasn't in my apartment. He was supposed to be here, watching Mom for me.

I haven't heard from him in over 24 hours.

It was late, and I had work tomorrow morning, but I called Blaine for the hundredth time, and he still didn't answer.

Penelope didn't either.

Calm down, I thought to myself. It might be nothing.

Walking straight to Mom's room, she was asleep like always, and it looked like the food next to her bed wasn't old. So Blaine must have been here recently. Once I knew Mom was safe, I closed her door slightly and paused at where he could be.

Was he at the pack house?

Might as well go there.

Shifting into my wolf, I make my way into the pack house, my wolf gaining speed as I drew near.

Silas was in the main lobby with Toby, and other wolves. Too many wolves.

As soon as I entered the pack house, the entire pack house was quiet.

Silas wasn't too happy to see me. "What are you doing here?" Silas asked. Trying to be intimidating. But with the rough day I had, nothing could make me fear for my life.

"Where's Blaine?"

Silas laughed. He was the only one who did. Something inside me twisted at that. I knew he did something. He had to have done something to Blaine while I was away.

Silas snarled, "You don't get to come here and demand for anything."

Of course he wasn't going to tell me, but I needed to know he didn't do anything to Blaine. I know Silas knows. He knows wherever Blaine goes.

Taking a step forward, Silas tensed up at the disrespect I'm showing in front of the other wolves. He was going to do something about it eventually, but I didn't care. I just needed to make sure Blaine was safe.

My tone is even more demanding, the Alpha within me not liking that these wolves that are in my pack- my father's pack thinking Silas is their Alpha.

"Where's. Blaine."

"Toby, could you escort this little pup out of the pack house, I'll deal with her accordingly."

Toby smirking at me evilly takes a step towards me, and I evenly meet the gaze at the horrible wolf in front of me. The one who has caused me and the ones I love in so much pain. I've thought about it a hundred different ways. A hundred different ways I'd say it to Silas. A hundred different ways this would happen. Why not bring it to life?

Silas has no right to be there and stand as an Alpha.

Seeing my mate's body in so much pain gave me this courage I needed to do this. Because West did that for me. West was strong enough.

Perhaps I could be too.

"I, Edith Silva, the daughter of the late Derek Silva challenge you, Silas Jackson, on my namesake day the title of Alpha. Those surrounding me as my witness."

Silas stepped back, Toby's smirk faded away.

The only thing he could do with all the unwillingness in his words gave me all the affirmation I needed it was the right decision at this moment. My blood was thrumming. My wolf was ready to face him right here and now.

"I accept your challenge." Silas didn't look happy at all. This would give me immunity. He couldn't do anything to Blaine, Rosie, my aunt or my mom. They were all safe from him. It was a twisted tradition, but for now it gave my family protection from this monster. Someone from the pack, a trusted wolf, would have Silas under inspection to make sure there was no foul play before The Challenge.

I hope I could do my father proud.

Sitting in my car for a good five minutes before I made up my mind. I already stuffed some clothes and toiletries in my book bag. Maybe I already made up my mind.

The car clock says 4:47 AM.

I closed my eyes thinking about how Penelope's pack is at least a 5 hour drive. I have work in 3 hours.

I gripped the steering wheel.

Screw it.

Opening my text messages, I sent a family emergency text to my boss saying I couldn't go. Having someone to cover my shift was his problem now. At this point, I didn't care about keeping my job because I had bigger things to worry about. Like Blaine being okay. Like just challenging Silas to become Alpha in a couple of months. Like West.

Turning on the engine, I make my way to nearest Starbucks to get a lot caffeine so I wouldn't fall asleep and die. Right now, I was only running on adrenaline.

5 hours and 50 minutes later, I arrive at Penelope's pack.

Her pack wolves tell me to park my car away from the pack house, and near Penelope's house which I graciously do.

I knock at Penelope's door, knowing no one but her is there. Or should be there.

The person who opens the door is Penelope who's eyes widen when she sees me.

"Edith what are you-"

I hug her tightly, all the heaviness that was in my chest lifting away because Penelope was the best hugger, and even though I probably looked like I was an extra on The Walking Dead, she would always welcome me with open arms.

"Why didn't you pick up your phone!?" I asked her hoarsely, my voice dead and sleepy. A headache creeped its way. I stepped inside her cozy house. "I was worried about-"

That's when I saw him sleeping on the couch.

Blaine.

I turned around to Penelope who shook her head at me.

Hearing the commotion however, Blaine rustled under the sheets, getting up, and he blinked slowly. "Edith?"

"Blaine!" I reprimanded, half angry that he hasn't been picking up and making me worried and half relieved he's in one piece.

Before he could do anything, I saw it.

He tried to quickly cover it up, but I saw the werewolf scratch on his collarbone.

Walking towards him, I flicked his hand away. "He did this?"

"Nice to see you again," Blaine grumbled.

"When did it happen?" I asked, looking at Penelope for help who was already at the kitchen trying to make me some more coffee. She came out with a water bottle and handed it to me which I drank like I was dying.

"Just yesterday morning. Silas was shifted and he attacked Blaine while Blaine was still in his human form. No one in the pack really did anything about it, but you know Blaine. He's quick and he came straight here."

Blaine looked down, clenching the blanket so hard his knuckles turned white.

I rubbed my temples, the headache coming in full force.

"Maybe you should go to sleep," Penelope urged. "Sleep for as long as you need, take a shower."

"Okay," I agreed on that part. "But I just want to say I'm so glad I challenged Silas."

"You did what?!" Penelope and Blaine exclaimed, both jumping up.

"Look, I'll fill you in after I sleep," I yawned, feeling the energy drain. Knowing Blaine was safe, I could finally get a good night sleep. "But yeah."

Penelope let me sleep on her bed, and as soon as I hit the mattress, I knocked out until the next day.

When I did wake, feeling refreshed and slightly disoriented, I stared at Penelope's ceiling for a full ten minutes before I walked downstairs.

"Look at you finally up," Penelope said, making something in the kitchen.

"What time is it?" I asked.

Blaine looked at his phone on the dining table, "It is exactly 12:05 in the afternoon."

I groaned, hating myself for sleeping too much. "I have so much to do-"

"Hold your horses! You just came back from a trip with West."

West.

I didn't forget.

"Judging by the look on your face, it doesn't look good."

"And the challenge?" Blaine asked, "you challenged Silas?"

I sat down across from him, pulling up a chair and Penelope set down a mug and poured coffee for me.

"I was tired of running away," I shrugged at them, sipping the bitter addicting bean.

"But that's only...a few months from now."

"I know," I said. I stretched my legs out. "It's like something heavy has been lifted off of me. I can finally be free." Blaine met my eyes. "He will never hurt you again."

"He'll never surrender," Blaine whispered. "It'll be to the death."

I didn't want to think about that. If I did, I'd drive myself crazy. We were quiet for a while. Thinking about the implications of what I just did and what it could mean.

"What happened with the wolfsbane thing?" Penelope broke the silence, setting down scrambled eggs in front of me.

I dug in, starving, as I explained to the two people who meant everything to me in the world. Leaving out the detail where I kissed him. "So West is at the dorm right now with Wyatt."

"When are you going to see him?" Penelope asked me.

"As soon as possible," I breathed, a rush of emotions coming back to me. By this time, West was probably conscious.

"Your mate needs you!" Penelope gushed.

"You're the only one who can make him feel better, heal faster," Blaine said, smiling at me.

"And now with Silas gone- what are you going to do about it? There is no one stopping you from going after your hot mate!" Penelope added.

She's right. They're right.

I get on my feet feeling inspired, about to go, but Penelope makes me wait and pack some cute clothes because she thinks I'll be there for a while.

Even though it's been two days since I've seen West, it feels like years. I hoped they were still in West's dorm, and I even took some salve from Penelope's pack doctor to bring to West- and to put on my wrists.

Standing in front of the door made me feel out of my element. But my wolf and I needed to see if our mate was okay. I needed to make sure he was breathing.

The image of his scarred neck is etched into my brain forever.

A smiling Wyatt opens the door, allowing me to enter.

"Hi," I told them, my emotions coming in full force when I see West is conscious now, unlike where I left him. He's breathing properly. Maybe I can even hear his voice.

I missed his voice.

"I'll leave you two alone to talk," Wyatt told a half naked West who was starting to sit up, and he shoots his brother an eye roll, as if reading something. "I know. Edith told me." Wyatt looked at his twin pointedly. "Trust me, I would've guessed it the moment you guys are in a room together. Or by the way you can't stop looking at Edith."

"Shut up," West muttered. I took a deep breath in, wondering why his voice made me feel crazy things or why it thrilled me to hear it again.

Wyatt gives West a pat on the top of his head, and smiles at me. "I'll leave you guys alone. Need to get out of this room because I really can't deal with the tension."

Giving me a comforting gesture by gently squeezing my shoulder, he makes his way out of the room. Once I hear the door close, I move closer to West, who's now sitting up, his feet on the ground. His eyes trained on the floor.

"How are you doing?" I asked softly, wishing I could've came earlier to see him. Seeing him made me forget about the challenge with Silas. Seeing him made me remember why I did it though.

West clenched his jaw, "Not good at all. Everything is wrong."

"What's wrong?" Stupid question. I know.

"What's wrong?" West laughed without humor. His face was filled with regret, and I could tell his thoughts of not being good enough was there. Like a constant cloud always above his head. Why did this idiot mate of mine think like this? "I couldn't protect my mate is what's wrong, Edith. I couldn't protect you!"

He was the one that was on death's bed and yet he was worrying about me and how he didn't protect me.

"You were hurt and I couldn't do one single thing about that! It killed me, that's whats wrong. I'm weak, that's what's wrong. If I was strong enough, I would have never let those rogues even lay a finger on you! But instead, you got harmed along the way." West cursed. "You were chained to silver! That's what's wrong!"

His guilt echoed my own.

But I stopped him. "West, you're wrong." West's eyes pierce mine. The flecks of amber in his eyes looked like they were swirling in anger. "Stop trying to pretend it wasn't my fault. It was. Don't make me feel better about it because I dragged you into this-"

"You didn't drag me anywhere I didn't want to be. Which is with you."

"How could you say that?" I sat down on the bean bag next to his bed. Impulsively, I took his hand, which was calloused, and bigger than my own. The touch sent so many warm emotions through me, the mate bond was like a heartbeat between us. I could feel his emotions of pain, anger, relief and something else I couldn't depict. Pain was the most prevalent. "You're like this because of me."

West gripped my hand, dragging it to his chest where his heart was and placed it there. "I would never let anything happen to you, but I wasn't strong enough to protect you. What kind of mate am I?"

"The mate that would have done anything," I replied calmly. Because that's what he was when it came down to it.

West Stryder was the mate who would do anything for me.

West exhaled slowly.

It terrified me- these strong emotions one could have with their mate, but at the same breath it was a sense of something I haven't felt in a long time. A sense of protection. Security.

I continued, "If you shifted into Salvatore or used magic, you would have beaten them. But things happened, so you couldn't. Stop blaming yourself- why can't you blame me? If you can't blame me, then I can't blame you. So what does that make us, West?"

"Pretty messed up," West replied softly.

"Can you shift?" I asked. It would help him heal faster if he was shifted into his wolf.

"I can now," West replied.

I nodded, "Good. Shift then."

"Where will you be?" West asked, hesitant.

"Right here. For as long as it'll take."

Satisfied with the answer, West takes no time to shift into his massive wolf, almost making the room seem a million times smaller. I take the beanbag chair into the middle of the room, where Salvatore would fit, and sit against it. The white wolf places his large head on my lap, looking up at me, nuzzling me close to him.

"I'm so sorry," I told him, wishing I could do something to help him. Anything to help the pain. My throat clogged. I realized how much I cared for West. I didn't want him to ever stop being him. Just stupid, kind, goofy, volatile West.

It broke my heart into a million pieces.

A knocking wakes me up.

I didn't even know I dozed off, but Salvatore was still knocked out.

Then the door opens.

"Whoa-Uh..." Theo trailed off, looking at the large white wolf- clearly West- snuggled up against me. He blinked back a surprise. If Salvatore wasn't in so much pain and battered, he would have been the one to be awake and growling.

"I'll tell him to shift," I said, for some reason not feeling awkward about this situation. Maybe I was too tired.

Theo quickly steps out of the door closing it behind him, and Salvatore's head lifts up, "Theo's here, you need to shift," I tell him, getting up and ready to leave the room so West can shift in private.

I walk out the room too, and Theo's arms are crossed, waiting for me.

"Uh hi," I said to him.

"Hello...." Theo regards me coolly. "So you're not just friends," Theo has a challenging eyebrow raised at me.

At the same time, a shirtless West opens the door, only putting on some black sweatpants. I didn't meet his gaze or his very impressive physique.

Theo looked between us, pointing between us. "Well?"

West was looking at me. "She'll tell you."

Might as well start this trend. I've tried to fight it and keeping this a secret doesn't just affect me, it affect West too and his ability to be able to tell anyone he cares about. Now that Silas has no control over me, it doesn't matter if anyone knew. Telling the truth wouldn't hurt.

"We're mates."

Both Theo and West's eyebrows shot up. Clearly, West wasn't expecting that answer at all. Theo's mouth hung open, and he looked deeply offended.

"If West wasn't already so beaten up, I'd beat him up." He pointed at me. "And you- how could I not notice? It's been there the whole time. This whole time!"

"It's my fault," I looked at Theo. "I told him not to tell anyone."

"But that's..." Theo frowned.

"I know," I said, looking at the dormitory floor, where the fluorescent lights flickered. It was creepy because everyone was still on their vacation, and it was only us. "Blame me."

"Am I the first to know?" Theo asked hopefully.

"Nope," West watched me.

"Okay, now I'm actually mad about it."

I needed to change the subject to West. "So how are you feeling now?"

After we spent like the whole night together and Salvatore was super warm and cozy?

"Best night I've ever had," West answered, his gaze penetrating.

"You know, I think I liked it better when I didn't know anything about West's non-existent love life."