Her long brown hair threatened to be dyed red by the bloodied water in JoAnns tub. Draining and refilling it proved little use against the constant bleeding from Nancy's injuries.

I can't believe she won't let me take her to the hospital. The one here in town sucks, but they would no doubt have a better idea of what to do than me. Doesn't she get that this level of blood loss is not good for anyone? I'm burying my parents soon, I couldn't handle doing the same for her.

While the most severe was the large gash on the side of her neck that nearly severed clavicular and sternal head she had bite and claw marks on most of her body, including another large gash just below her armpit that also bleeding like crazy. It really is amazing what fur can hide.

"It'll heal." Nancy said with clenched teeth. Her voice was harsh and broken, sounding nothing at all like her. I didn't care, her being able to talk at all is a miracle.

"Oh bullshit!" It came out harsher than intended. Further proof of the state i was in. My nerves were shot and she had to get it through that skull of hers that even she has limits and she's already at the threshold of it.

"I was stupid. She should've never gotten the jump on-"

"Don't talk. Save your strength and let your neck recover before working it."

Nancy rolled her eyes as she did what she was told. She wasn't someone use to listening to others. Even Jake, I imagine, had limited victories.

I ended up calling Linnea which proved to be a mistake. She seemed more concerned with her mate, Greg, than Nancy. She did confirm that if Nancy was still alive she should recover in time. Easy for her to say. It would be faster if she was in wolf form but that wasn't advisable with the ace bandage I had wrapped her neck up in."

"What about the applicants? Did Nancy decide on anyone because I can't be watching the place everyday as I need to be with Greg. The full moon is also coming up shortly and I'll need that night off. Oh yeah, Jason has been coming around asking about you two. What do I tell him?"

Is she two? She should be grateful. Getting a decent job that paid far more than fifty cents an hour or whatever illegals usually get paid at some places. I get that she's having to deal with more than normal right now, but it can't be helped. She needs to get her shit together, stop crying, and act like a damn adult!

"Well then pick someone yourself instead of telling me about it, Linnea! I thought I made it really clear what kind of shape she's in, did you not understand that? As for Jason, what are you doing letting him around anyway? Maybe your English isn't as good as I thought, you do know what getting fired means, right? Here's a clue, it doesn't mean we want to spend extra time with him. Tell him to fuck off! I'm assuming he got his last paycheck, there's nothing else to discuss."

I ended the call before hearing her reply. It was something in Swedish that I couldn't understand but the tone suggested that it was probably best that I didn't. Whatever! I had more important things to worry about than Linnea being pissed off at me.

The only relief I got over the next couple days was that JoAnn turned down her attitude and actually seemed genuinely concerned about her. She even helped change her bandages and reclean the wounds. She also willingly gave up some of her antibiotics and painkillers she had that Nancy must of confused with candy judging by the way she had been taking them.

Come Thursday ended up going to look at the house that JoAnn had wanted to show Nancy before Ashley tried killing her. Rage filled me just thinking of her betrayal.

I took several deep breaths and finally calmed myself down enough to focus on looking at this house. Not that I wanted to go and leave Nancy but I wasn't given much of a choice.

Since Nancy had bitten me I knew what she was thinking far better than before. This was a double edged sword. While handy at times, it could be annoying as all hell when she'd dwell on something nonstop. After two days of it I had enough and made JoAnn to take me out there.

The drive up to Wardner was pleasant but the road was far worse than the out to my place. It was a steep narrow dirt road that would of killed my car before we even started. Nancy's however, handled it without problems. If she did get this place, I'd need to think of something.

It was a nice white, 1,832 square foot two bedroom, one and a half bath house. The view was incredible and you could just make out Langhurst in the distance. All new appliances and was listed at a hundred and fifty thousand, which according to JoAnn, was a steal.

"The main problem with the place is it's normally inaccessible during the winter months In fact, they close the road completely till around March or so. However, I'm sure that wouldn't be a problem for Nancy and might be something she'd actually like."

"So what do you think? Or think she'll think?" She asked taking a drink of her iced coffee.

I let out a long sigh frustrated by it all. This was really something Nancy should be doing, not me. What the hell do I know about this? Granted I was sure JoAnn wouldn't steer me wrong, but still...

Speaking of that, I couldn't help get the feeling that JoAnn didn't want Nancy buying it. While she hadn't specifically said anything negative about the place she wasn't going out of her way to "sell it" and it went further than showing me the place in her pink sweats and Pretty Little Liars Shirt, no bra, and flip-flops. Yeah I know she isn't on the clock technically, and she doesn't need to impress me but still... try a little.

I went out back and sat down on the porch step. I really didn't need to look at the place as I knew already Nancy already was planning on getting it. I think she just wanted me to come "look" at it to get me out of the house. I lit up a smoke as JoAnn came up behind me I was doing so well quitting again but now isn't the time for that.

"What are you not telling me? The place has termites and will be sawdust in a year?"

She let out a laugh as she rubbed my back.

"No. It is a good deal, but I was thinking, if she'd buy our parents place when it goes up, I could buy it back later. This is probably closer to what she'd want but...

"I'll ask her."

She nodded with a smile. "Don't worry, I plan on giving you half. I wouldn't just leave you out of it. I always wanted you and them to work things out... I guess it just wasn't meant to be. "

"I don't know. Maybe we did a little."

She gave me a warm smile. We sat in silence for a few minutes before she tugged at the collar of my shirt where Nancy's mark was as visible as a tattoo.

"Did it hurt?"

She asked rubbing the mark. I smiled at the memory but found it odd JoAnn would bring it up now of all times.

She sat down beside me on the step pulling back my shirt to get a better look at it.

"God Crystal, I can't believe you'd do something like that."

I didn't think she was trying to start something with me but I still didn't appreciate it very much.

"Well you don't have a mate, so you can't possibly understand. It's a level of intimacy that's beyond anything else. I can't tell you what it's like to feel another's emotions but it's something I'm still getting use to."

"You can do that? I mean seriously?"

JoAnns eyes grew wide in disbelief. She's been so against Nancy and werewolves this was a little weird but I guess I couldn't blame her for being interested.

"Only sometimes, but yeah. The more time we spend together the stronger it gets. Trust me, our first meeting wasn't love at first sight and we still have a ways to go but I'm confident it'll work out. It has to because I absolutely refuse for it not too."

She nodded thinking it over and I couldn't help but wonder if this was about the Council's visit. I remember how shaken up I was when they showed up at my doorstep and yet, we hadn't really talked about it.

"Is this about you being claimed? Look it doesn't matter if it was Ashley or Jake as you won't have to deal with either of them again. I'm sorry I ever introduced you to Ashley. I was totally wrong about her but I've learned my lesson, sis, don't you worry."

Once again the thought of what Ashley did made my blood want to boil even among the pine trees and beautiful scenery.

"Wow, Crystal, Hypocritical much? Your mate beats the hell out of Kevin, it's no big deal, right? Ashley is just supposed to do nothing and forget about it I guess is what you think, huh? Well guess what, little sister, that's not how things work."

She said irritated as she as she stood up as if to leave.

Did I miss something? Where the hell was this all coming from? My brain was having difficulties processing how JoAnn could possibly defend what Ashley did.

"Is this your idea of some kind of joke? I really don't think it's funny at all especially after wondering if Nancy was even going to live. Even now she can only just barely talk and will probably have severe scarring. I'm glad to see you're not as werephobic as I assumed you were but don't you dare fuckin' defend what Ashley did!"

By the time I had finished speaking I was seeing red and needed another cigarette to try and calm myself down. JoAnn as usual, didn't take the hint.

"I'm not! But I find it really Interesting that you have already forgotten about what Nancy did to Shawn and Kevin? Shawn had to miss work because he can barely walk. His mate is pregnant so he they can't afford it but that's okay. And Kevin, she was just going to kill.

"He tried to hurt us and she wasn't-"

"NO HE WASN'T! AND YES SHE DID! She screamed in my face. I tried and failed to remember the last time things were so heated between us. This was getting out of hand fast and I didn't understand why. Why was she defending Ashley all of a sudden and so adamantly?

"He was just making sure I was alright because Ashley told them too. I really don't appreciate the babysitting but they didn't deserve to have Nancy do that to them! What the fuck was your grand salution to all this? Asking for my gun."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Was she in contact with Ashley after what she did to Nancy?

"You've been talking with her? Why? She the one who claimed you? That why you're taking her side?

"I'm not taking anyone side! I'm just sick of you acting like Nancy is some innocent victim in all this when she's not. Ashley came by on my break yesterday and we talked. She didn't look very good either for your information. Maybe not as bad as Nancy, but she didn't walk away unscathed. I'm sorry your mate got her ass kicked but one of them had to lose. Ashley isn't planning anything else against Nancy as long as Nancy doesn't cause any trouble. We're having the funeral in a few days, I'd really like everything to go peaceful and we can put the past behind us."

I felt completely betrayed as I watched her disappear into the house. I needed to cool off but I wasn't ready to let this go. There was more than she was telling me and her sudden interest in my mark left a sickening feeling in my stomach.

"You never answered my question. Is she the one who claimed you?"

"I want to get out of here. It's getting late anyways, and that road will be even worse at night so we better hurry." She said ignoring my question as she grabbed her purse off the stairs in the living room.

"JoAnn!"

"What?" She snapped turning to me with such force I thought she might hit me. "I don't see how that's any of your business but if you must know, then yes, it was Ashley. You happy now? Can we go yet? Next time you want to see a place, you can make an appointment during regular office hours."

"Why? What could she possibly gain by this?"

"We're mates."