While the whole 'soak in a bathtub to sober up' thing actually worked, it didn't do anything to alleviate the excruciating hangover I woke up with in the morning. It also didn't mitigate the crushing guilt and humiliation I was experiencing either, so f:ck you, Ardor and your fancy magic drinks.

I felt like death or whatever was worse than that. When I managed to pull myself out of bed, on my way to the bathroom I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror and I thought it was someone breaking into the room. It wasn't a pretty picture.

Knowing what awaited me downstairs, I took my sweet time as I got ready for the day but it wasn't like I really had a choice in the matter. My body physically would not allow me to move quickly without feeling that ominous feeling right before you are about to yack.

I didn't want to chance it so I went at my own pace, it also offered me a convenient excuse to prolong seeing Matteo for as long as possible.

Once I was finished procrastinating I crept out of the room with my bag in tow, only peeking my head out at first just in case. Immediately when I opened the door completely, light streamed in through the room causing me to wince at the sharp pain the rays created. I looked away from the light and to my side I saw that Amias was just emerging from his room as well and was in a similar position as I was, trying desperately to escape the painful lights.

Fran stepped around the both of us with a roll of her eyes as she flicked her long, dark hair over her shoulder. "Lightweights." She taunted in a singsong voice that was just a little too loud for comfort.

Amias flipped her the bird but his motions were sluggish too so Fran didn't even have a chance to see it. "It's official," He announced as he reached my side and we began to walk down the stairs together, "Last night was the pits."

I quirked my eyebrow over at him, "The pits?"

He nodded and grasped my forearm for balance as he teetered on one of the stairs, "Like an armpit, it sucked."

I couldn't agree with him more. I wanted to spill my guts to Amias and have someone listen to the turmoil that was taking place in my head but I held my tongue. I knew if I told him, I would never hear the end of it so I'd rather just suffer in silence.

As we reached the bottom of the staircase, I saw Matteo conversing with Fran by the front door with their bags set on the floor right beside them. Amias and I meandered through the remarkably quiet foyer of the mansion over to them, Matteo wouldn't look at me.

Fran stared between Matteo and I automatically sensing the tension between us, she tilted her head towards me slightly but I shook my head. I knew it wasn't much but that small questioning gesture warmed my heart, Fran actually bothered to check in on me.

The four of us just stood in silence around the entrance, Amias started letting out an exceptionally large huffs of air to purposely accentuate the awkwardness of the situation. I was about to finally break under the painful quiet and strike up some boring small talk when a door from behind us creaked open.

Alpha Isabel entered the room first. She looked different from last night, stronger and more confident. I don't know what changed overnight but she certainly embodied the traditional regal alpha look now. A half second later, a large guy followed through the doorway right behind her with his hand wrapped protectively around hers.

This must be the mate she mentioned last night.

I couldn't help myself as I looked over at Matteo and he was looking right back at me, not at Isabel but at me. He frowned as I quickly dropped my gaze away from him.

Matteo stepped through us and walked towards Isabel and her mate but a low growl from her counterpart halted Matteo. At first he appeared in shock that someone would speak to him that way but then there was a clear understanding between them that happened silently and almost instantaneously. He nodded once, rubbing his jaw as if he had just been punched. "Congratulations on your bonding." Matteo finally breathed out and unlike last night, his words actually came out genuine.

She smiled softly over at Matteo, "Last night is forgotten." Isabel looked over to her side at her mate who was still snarling quietly, "We just turned Gideon so he's new to all of this. You'll have to forgive him." Her voice was almost as syrupy sweet as those pink drinks from the night before.

I was immediately taken aback by her casual explanation and by the looks at everyone else in our little group, I wasn't the only one confused. Did she make a habit of turning people into werewolves? I looked over to Matteo and he seemed to be wondering the same thing.

"I sure wish you could stay a little while longer. What do you say, Olive? Do you think that you could spare another night with us?" She continued, "I'm sure we could have lots of fun together."

Alright, so I'm going to die here now. This was beyond creepy.

I was left completely speechless, Isabel's offer on the surface seemed innocent enough but why would she single me out alone? Matteo saw me freezing up and came to my side, he twined his hand with mine. Instinctually I started to tear my hand from his grasp but Matteo tightened his hold and gave me a pointed look.

He offered a tight smile over to her and Gideon, "She'd love to but she can't. We are on a time crunch so we'll be heading out now actually."

His words didn't bother Isabel, her smile didn't crack once and she didn't spare him a single glance. She was locked onto me and me alone. "I can help you, Olive." Isabel slipped her hand out of Gideon's clutch and floated across the room towards me. "I can feel your desires, you want to be a werewolf more than anything else in the world. I understand that."

I frowned and took a half step away from her, Matteo's body shifting in front of mine ever so slightly. She narrowed her eyes, "I can help you, just like I helped Gideon and just like I helped Matt."

If I wasn't officially freaked out before, I certainly was now. Matteo turned towards Fran and Amias and signaled for them to start gathering our things as Isabel pressed closer towards us. "Olive, dear," She reached out to caress my face but Matteo was quick to stop her advance with a cautionary growl. "Olive, I can give you what you most desire. I can turn you and give you a wolf, I can teach you."

This lady was clearly insane. I didn't need her help or anyone's for the matter, I was a werewolf...a late bloomer, but still a wolf. Isabel didn't know what she was talking about.

Matteo tugged me backwards and I stumbled towards the door. She laughed out shrilly, "Come on, Matt, not so fast! Let me guide her just as I was there for you, don't take such a beautiful challenge away from me."

He practically shoved me out the door, I fell into Amias and Fran's arms as they pulled me further from the doorway. Matteo blocked Isabel from further approaching me, "We're leaving, Isabel." She opened her mouth and tried to see me from around his hulking form, "You are going to drop this, Olive is already a werewolf, she is my mate and we do not need your help. We are going to exit your territory and you are not going to follow us." Matteo's voice was even as he stood as the only barrier between me and the deranged leader of the Ardor Pack.

I could see her lip trembling in anger even from my distance, Gideon was close behind her and by the looks of it, he was barely hanging on. She glared at me now, "I can feel it, there's anger, sadness and death." Isabel pointed a shaking finger at me, "If you leave now, you will still turn. You will still find yourself, Olive but will it be exactly what you have been yearning for all these years? Will it be at the cost of your mortality?"

I paled as shivers ran down my spine, it sounded like Isabel was making up some kind of weird, cryptic prophecy about my future. Despite the strained situation, Matteo rolled his eyes and slammed the door shut on their faces; obviously not believing a word she said. He quickly returned to my side, his hand automatically finding mine right before he took off into a full on sprint.

The four of us bolted away from the Ardor mansion in a dead run just as the door was flung open again. Isabel barked some orders from behind us and within seconds, she was shifted and there were wolves chasing us. There was no way we could outrun the wolves on foot. Let me rephrase that, there was no way I could outrun the wolves. The others could easily shift and sprint off into the distance but I didn't have that privilege.

One of Isabel's wolves was moving dangerously close and snapped at my legs as I ran, I didn't have time to scream all I could do was focus on running and not tripping which would no doubt, lead to my certain doom.

My heart was racing in my chest, I struggled to keep up with Matteo as he tugged me along behind him. I was holding them all back, I was putting their lives in unnecessary danger because of my little plan all over again.

Suddenly another much larger wolf was right behind me, I looked over my shoulder as I sprinted and it was was easy to discern that this rosy eyed wolf was Isabel. She pounded behind me only milliseconds away from successfully latching onto the back of my shirt when suddenly, it was as if an invisible wall blocked her advance. Isabel skidded to a stop, as did her other wolves. She snarled and paced back and forth, why wasn't she doing anything?

Amias and Fran both had their hands held above their head and were laughing as they caught their breath, even pointing at Isabel and her cronies mockingly. Isabel fumed just inches away from us, but never made a move forwards. Finally, she turned away with her wolves following in suit, disappearing into the woods we just tore through.

Matteo abruptly dropped my hand, the threat was gone now it made sense, "Welcome to Freeman's Land, Olive."