My anger dissipates, as does my flaming fur the further I run. The sun begins to rise as I approach the border. Julian's sandy blonde wolf spots me and halts, eyes wide.

'Alpha, you're three hours late. Jocelyn just implemented Protocol Five about ten minutes ago.'

I groan, and my nostrils flare in annoyance. Opening up to the pack link, I sense the unease and am quick to disperse it.

'Disregard Protocol Five. False alarm.'

Hundreds of relieved voices respond in unison 'Yes, alpha.'

Nodding my head at Julian, I head toward the packhouse and stop just shy of the stairs. Fighting the need to collapse from sheer exhaustion, I distract myself by admiring the packhouse's beauty with its white window sills perfectly contrasting the dark red bricks. With everything that's happened in the last twenty-four hours, I'm shocked I haven't had a nervous breakdown.

The door opens and Fallon leans against it as she ties her brown hair into a ponytail. "Well, you look like hell."

I shift back and she gasps as she notices my healing wounds. "You have no idea." I grunt out.

The sound of heavy footsteps thunder down the inside stairwell as Nick comes into view. His stunning brown eyes study me from head to toe, lingering on my wounds. In two large strides, he pulls me into his arms and my tension deflates in a matter of seconds. I ignore the curious looks of a few pack members and hug him back. He tenses for a moment at my reaction. No doubt he expected me to push him away, and under normal circumstances, I would have. But after everything I've been through in the past day a friend is very much needed.

He caresses my hair and plants a sweet kiss on top of my head "I'm so glad you're okay. I went against doctor's orders and raced here the moment Protocol Five was activated."

I nod and pull away to study him. The effects of the silver took a huge toll on his body. "It's alright Nick. I'll deal with her later, right now you need to rest. Any other wolf would have died in an instant with that much silver in their system. You almost did."

He studies me with a curious expression before grabbing my hand and pulling me inside. Fallon smirks and I roll my eyes. He leads me into my bedroom and into the ensuite. He turns on the shower while removing his clothes. Watching the muscles on his back flex, I run my hand down his warm skin and thank the Moon Goddess he's still alive.

Pulling me into the shower with him, I sigh as the warm water eases my aching muscles. Nick pushes my hair away from my face as he gazes into my eyes. He closes the distance at an agonizing pace but when his soft lips meet mine it's worth the wait.

The kiss is slow and passionate. A stark contrast from our usual steamy lustful ones. It's nice.

He pulls away to kiss my nose and I smile.

"I was so worried about you. Please don't ever disappear like that again." He whispers as he runs his hands up and down my back. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I hop up and encase my legs around his waist. His hands slide down to hold me in place.

"Nick you worry too much."

"It's my job." He whispers as grinds his growing erection against me. I suck his lip into my mouth and with a groan he pushes me against the glass.

I smirk as he roughly slaps my ass, leaving behind a pleasant sting. Now that's the Nick I know. With hooded eyes, he bends down to suck on my breast. I snake my hand down between us and pull him into me. My eyes roll back as I open up for his throbbing member.

"Damn." He groans as he bites my earlobe and I grind against him. "You feel so good."

Grabbing a fist full of his soft brown hair, my canines extend at the sight of his blood pumping in his veins. "Fuck me, Nick." His sharp intake of breath before he rams into me causes my arousal to reach new heights. The sudden urge to suck his blood is foreign to me. It's not normal. Will I always want to drink his blood?

Anger swirls in the pit of my stomach at what I've become. I refuse to let it change who I am. Retracting my canines, I bring his lips to mine with renewed hunger and rock my hips to meet each thrust. The warm water from the shower washes over us adding to the heat while he pounds into me like never before.

"Alora." He moans as his claws extend and trail up my back. "You've never felt this good."

My lust amplifies and with vampire speed, I blur us into my room and throw him on the bed. The familiar sting in my eyes tells me that the fire in them is returning but I know I won't burst into flames. It's my burning lust for Nick that makes it impossible to hold back. His eyes widen in disbelief as he stares into my fiery gaze.

"I'll explain later." I growl out and bring my hips down onto his erection. Clenching my walls against his thick shaft, I ride him and his eyes roll to the back of his head.

My fangs extend again as the need to suck him in more ways than one overwhelms me.

Nick's eyes flash open and his eyes blaze with hunger. He notices my fangs but doesn't question it as he flips us over and pounds into me with long deep strokes. His hand wrapped tightly around my throat.

"You drive me crazy, you know that? I want you all the time. You fuck me so good I can't even see straight." He growls as he lifts my leg onto his shoulder. My body shakes as the new angle allows him to go deeper. He slaps me lightly across the face and I moan at the slight sting it leaves behind. He grins and bites my glossed lip while using his other hand to rub circles on my clit as he rotates his hips. This time it's my eyes that roll back. "I don't want anyone else but you." He groans with his claws digging into my hips. His throbbing wet dick begins to twitch and his thrusts become relentless signaling his end is coming.

"Come for me, baby." He grunts softly in my ear. His dominance makes tingles burst through my body as I reach my climax. Uncontrollable moans pour out of my mouth at an embarrassingly loud volume.

"I love it when you moan like that." He groans into my neck. Each thrust deeper than the last until he reaches his peak and releases his seed onto my stomach.

He leans down to kiss me with unsteady breath and my body begins to unwind. Our lips separate and Nick smiles, eyes bright and excited.

His face falls when I sigh and gently push him off of me. He rolls over and stares at the ceiling in disbelief.

"What is it?" I ask as I try not to roll my eyes at his behavior.

He lets out a humorless laugh and simply gets up and walks to the door.

"Nick." I call out and he halts with this hand on the doorknob "You forgot your clothes." His back tenses and he leaves, slamming the door so harshly that the wall slightly cracks.

I groan and throw myself back onto the bed.

I will never understand how his mind works. I think to myself before reaching for the Kynda around my neck only to feel nothing. Sitting up, I feel my mind working in overdrive trying to recall when I'd had it last. I feel like stabbing myself for my carelessness. In less than twenty-four hours I have managed to lose the damn thing three times. I get dressed and speed outside but stop when the training pack members stare at me wide-eyed. A bit of fear and disgust lining their features.

I spot Jocelyn arguing with Terrance at the edge of the clearing and feel my stomach drop. She told them.

"Jocelyn." I state and she turns immediately dropping to her knee and bowing her head.

"Alpha."

"Terrance, would you excuse us please." I order as I reach them. He nods and bows his head in respect before jogging towards the training grounds. The pack continues to stare at me and I do my best to keep my anger in check.

"Get up." I order "What the fuck have you done."

"The pack deserves to know the truth about what you have become. I was being honest." She answers with a ghost of a smirk on her face as she bows her head in mock respect.

"So you took it upon yourself to invoke protocol five for what reason? You don't have the authority to do that. That is reserved only for the Beta to use in the event that I die."

"My apologies alpha." She says as she comes to her feet "But with you gone and Nick poisoned, the situation looked bleak. I only did what was best for the pack."

"By trying to claim yourself as the new alpha?" I spit out and she simply shrugs. My blood boils in rage and I grab her by the throat raising her off the ground. Her eyes widen and she claws at her neck struggling to breathe. I turn to face the group that was already watching with rapt attention. "Let this be known to all." I boom. "I will never fail this pack. I am not the enemy. Though their blood now courses through my veins I am still your alpha. I am still one of you. Those bastards destroyed us and I vowed to return the favor. Make no mistake, my loyalties will always lie with the Ember Pack. And in the rare case of my untimely demise, the only person that I entrust with this pack is Nick Chambers is that understood?"

"Yes, Alpha Lume." They reply in unison.

"As of today, Jocelyn Rossi is stripped of her title as Third in Command and will spend the next two days silver training." I release her and she sags onto the floor gasping dramatically. "I want the entire pack except for border patrol in the auditorium in four hours for an official pack meeting. I have nothing to hide. If you have additional questions I will answer them."

I dismiss them and make my way to the border where I see Ivy and Drake running perimeter checks. They stop once they spot me and shift.

"Are you okay?" Ivy asks, panting slightly as she tries to calm her racing heart.

Drake wipes some sweat from his forehead and nods at me. "We heard what happened. Terrance was broadcasting the whole thing through the link. Jocelyn was a bitch for doing that."

"I, for one, approve that she's been removed. She was never a good fit for that role." Ivy states with a smile.

"So you suck blood now?" Drake asks with a smirk and Ivy elbows him. "Oh come on. You know we will love you no matter what. You're our alpha."

"Our loyalties are to you and Nick." Ivy adds comfortingly.

"Well, I'm glad to hear that. Let's hope that when I get back I can ease the minds of those that aren't so sure about me at the moment." I sigh and rub a hand down my face.

"Back? You're leaving again?" Questions Ivy in confusion.

"I have something I need to do. Keep patrols tight. No one comes in or out of this territory while I'm away, no exceptions."

"Yes alpha." They bow and I speed away.

I push myself as fast as my vampire speed will allow. Praying to the Moon Goddess with all my soul that the Kynda is exactly where I think it is. Next to Reece's barbecued corpse.