Things went blank for only a few seconds. She swayed backward on her heels as if she was pushed. She could have sworn she was about to hit the ground when unexpectedly Alpha Vince grabs her by an arm and tugs her forward. She gasps as she collides with his unmovable frame. His scent rushed to her lungs like cold water being splashed on her face. It jolted her wider than awake. Her palms landed on his pecs absorbing heat but also unintentionally feeling the pounding of his heart. She felt drugged momentarily. She wanted to take a step back and needed to take a step back but didn't. What was happening to her? It has to be his blood coursing through her body. It was making her feel weird.

She hears annoyance with her as he sucked his teeth. "Sorry." She was sure there was an eye roll to go along with it.

He curls his fingers around her upper arms, steadying her. "Breath deep."

"No thanks." She lifts her head to meet his scolding glare. She just felt more and more stupid every time he had to help her. The strongest, most feared Alpha was practically babysitting right now. He had way more important things to be doing and yet here he is, having to save her. What does that say about her?

His brows slowly near each other. "What?"

She blinks. "I mean..." She meant thank you, but no thank you to any more drugs. Lucky for her in that very second his phone vibrates.

He releases her and takes it out of his pocket. "What is it?" He turns his back her way.

She finds her balance and glances at Watson. He was breathing but for how much longer? Alpha Vince would have him killed for sure. It's just a matter of when. She had to find a way to save him. She takes one step in his direction when Alpha Vince stretches his hands back and latches onto her wrist, nearly cutting off the supply of blood in her veins to her fingers.

"Where was he?" He asks the individual on the phone.

She pulls at her hand but his pressure only increases.

"I'm on my way." He puts the device away and turns to her. "Let's go."

"What?" She tugs at her hand. "No... Watson... He needs me."

"No?" He sets his teeth together. "What is it that I did to make you think you have a choice?"

"Why not? You act like we're going to progenate. I just-"

"I don't care!" He makes her flinch. "A level three wolf like him will take a minimum of a couple of weeks to heal. What do you think sitting near him will help?"

"It will help me okay."

The statement seems to infuriate him. He yanks her out of the chambers and takes her to the roadside where a glossy black truck was waiting in idle. "Get in." He swings her in front of the passenger door.

In a circular motion, she rubs on her wrist. "I don't want to."

He takes an intimidating step close to her. "Did I ask?"

She steps back. "I can go back on my own. I-wait..."

He opens the door, forcefully assists her inside, and slams it shut. He comes around to the driver's side and once seated presses a heavy foot on the gas making her jerk forward as he pulls off.

"Don't touch anything." He glances at the hand she just rested on the door.

She looks at her palm and notices how dirty it was and the truck was pristine. The beige leather was practically glistening. She folds her arms to keep from touching."Sorry."

He rolls his eyes and sharply maneuvers the vehicle around a turn.

She actually wished he would go faster. They were passing many Dark members that whipped their heads around when they saw their alpha's vehicle passing by and they all noticed her.

She was going to be known as the needy loser. Not that it mattered.

After just a few minutes he pulls the vehicle in front of the pack hospital and puts it in park. He gets out and comes around to her side opening the door for her. "Get out."

She steps out. "I don't think I need-"

"Just keep up." He shuts the door.

She had to take two steps to his one as he bypassed the front desk and veered left. Beta Bent and another wolf she recognized to be the Delta was standing in front of room 101. Both look at her confusingly.

Alpha Vince stops. "What's the prognosis?"

She couldn't stop her double steps in time. She barged right into his back.

He turns to her with a set jaw. "Seriously?

Her lips part. She was about to say something if she could remember. His eyes were so forceful is the only way she could put it. She couldn't look away.

"Wolfsbane..." Bent interrupts. "I'm having his blood tested now for the concentration level."

She nearly gasps. Wolfsbane was their greatest weakness. Once even a single drop gets in a wolf's system they are doomed.

"What was he doing near Rogue territory?"

"He didn't know they took it over."

Alpha Vince's phone vibrates. He pulls it out of his pocket and looks down at it. "Anderson." He doesn't look up as he types something.

"Yes sir." The Delta responds.

"Take her to my home." He moves aside so Nya could be seen. "Her sister is waiting for her."

"Yes, Alpha." He immediately makes a move to her side but Vince steps in front of him. "Don't." He looked Anderson in the eyes seriously and almost clenched his teeth together when he spoke. "Touch her. Walk near her, or behind her, but do not touch her unless absolutely necessary."

"Yes sir."

He then shifts his glare to Nya. "You, follow direction. Don't make him have to lay a hand on you. Understand?"

She nods.

"And fucking eat something."

Without thinking she rolls her eyes.

He cocks a brow and for a brief moment pauses. His squinting glare seemed to be one of curiosity rather than anger. Her stomach knotted up with every passing second he examined her. She opens her mouth. She needed to say something to break the silence. Anything rather than feel his eyes on her so heavily but again nothing came out.

"Go..."

"But what about Watson?"

"What about Watson?" He growls. "You are a stubborn little thing aren't you?"

"I just-"

"Leave!"

"Let's go." Delta Anderson leads her away.

~~~

Vince calms himself before turning back to his brother.

"What was that?" Bent asks.

He shakes his head. "Nothing."

"Here are the results, Alpha." A lab worker comes from behind.

He opens up the folder and scans through until he finds what he is looking for. It was the worst possible outcome. "It's barely detectable. It could take weeks, probably longer."

"So this is their new plan... infect us with a pin drop worth and let there be a slow agonizing death."

He didn't have words. He takes a deep breath. He ended up engulfing his lungs with Nya's scent from his shirt. It soothes him before realizes. He didn't have time to be upset about that fact. He had to think. He wasn't prepared for this.

"But how? It's lethal to them too."

"They must be getting help."

"Humans?"

"More than likely."

"What's our next move?"

He pinches the bridge of his nose before running his fingers through his hair. "We're gonna have to end James's misery. We can't let him suffer." It made his stomach churn saying it out loud. James is a loyal friend and confidant. "Warn the pack, and update them on the Rogue's new territories."

"Yes sir."

Almost an hour later, he goes home, and even before he entered the door he could hear Malina and Nya talking as they ate in the kitchen. They planned to leave the pack grounds and meet someone named Kyra at a popular werewolf bar called 'Spike'. Supposedly she could help them with a place to stay. He hated that bar. It was full of lowlifes and encouraged breeding with humans. His first instinct was to stop them but he no longer had rights to Malina, and definitely didn't want any to the mutt.

"I don't want to cause any trouble." Nya states. And from what you've told me, that's easy to find there."

Malina releases a breath. It was subtle but he heard it. "I know but we don't have a choice at this point. We have to find somewhere to go and most likely we will have to live amongst humans until we can rebuild."

"What if my eyes...?"

"Then we'll deal with it. I won't let anything happen to you."

"I don't care about anything happening to me, I care about you getting yourself hurt protecting me."

"Who's gonna hurt me? Look, the only way we're going to survive is if we do this. Trust me."

He doesn't hear a response from Nya. He could tell she probably nodded her head.

He enters the house, goes into the kitchen, and gets a bottle of water from the fridge. The conversation stopped and an awkward quietness grew in the room. He leaned back on the island and didn't hide his staring as he watched the two of them eat. Then Malina stands up and pushes her chair in. "Thank you for everything. We were just leaving.".

He glances at the half-eaten food on Nya's plate "Let her finish." He didn't plan on saying that but that's what came out of his mouth.

"Excuse me?" Malina crosses her arms.

"I'm full anyway." Nya stands. "Let's just get out of here." She pushes in her chair and puts their dishes in the dishwasher.

He gulps his water and shifts his attention to his ex. "It's a full moon. You really think it's a good idea to be going out tonight?"

She comes around the table. "We'll take our chances. You shouldn't be concerned about what happens to us anyway. Come on Nya, we're gonna be late." She pulls her sister's hand and marches them both out of view.

He listens as the front door opens and shuts and immediately calls Bent. "Yes sir." He picks up.

"Malina and Nya are going to Spike's."

"You want me to send a few Darks with them?"

"No, We're going."

Bent's response was delayed which was rare for him. "Yes sir."

"Now."

"I'm on it." He hangs up.

~~~~~~

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