~~~~

My blood pumps violently through my veins as I sprint towards Greyson. He does the same until our bodies reach one another, colliding roughly. Bones crashing, clapping until I get the upper hand swinging my fist.

Crossing it across his face my knuckles scream as I hit his cheek bone.

I can hear my heart beating frantically in my chest, adrenaline already making everything go on hyperdrive.

It doesn't take long for him to run back at me. So when he's only a couple short feet away, I jump as high as my legs would take me.

As I do so I stick my feet out.

One after another they land on Grey's stomach, then shoulder as I push off of him with all the power in my legs.

My body goes on autopilot as I surprisingly do a backflip off of his chest. He staggers back from my force as I crouch on the ground absorbing my landing through my legs. Feeling the energy tingle up my tendons.

He raises his eyebrow at me, smirking. I mimic his satanic expression as I run at him again.

I go for his face once again swinging my arm, though he quickly catches it with ease. I feel my breath hitch as I see his fist coming quickly until it's jabbed right into my middle. This knocks all the air remaining from me.

Stumbling back I double over, but as I do so his leg comes into my vision.

I have no time to react as his shin makes contact with my cheek knocking me to the ground.

Groaning as my head smacks the ground. My ears ringing with foreign squeals as I blink slowly.

Raising my head from the mud that cakes most of my body looking up to Greyson.

As he comes over to pin me to the ground I hurriedly roll out of his reach.

Scrambling to my feet I have to press a palm to my forehead, and then recover from a stumbled step before I go after Grey again. I fake a left punch before swinging again with my other fist. It ends up undercutting him perfectly as he staggers backwards giving me enough time to regain my full ability.

I watch him as he shakes off the punch looking over to me once he recovers.

A satanic grin starts inching onto his lips.

Instinctively I take a step back feeling intimidated, scared almost.

When he comes running at me I know that my immediate reaction of being scared was correct.

He grabs me lifting me off the ground unexpectedly, I shriek in shock scrambling to get him to let go.

But then he throws me and this isn't just a little throw either.

I gasp feeling the air engulf me, as I struggle to figure out which way is up and down.

That's until a figure zooms next to me in unimaginable speeds. Greyson using his speed to catch up to me still airborne.

He places his hand on my chest once he's level with me, pushing me down to the ground, hard.

My back slams into the mud below me. I cough as my spine and my skull take a hard impact once again.

I feel drool make its way out of the corner of my lips, so my initial instinct is to wipe it off with the back of my hand. But as I pull my hand away I notice it's not drool, its blood.

Warm, thick, red, blood.

I stare at it for a second before looking up to Greyson whose hovering above me. His eyes look at my hand, and then they travel to my own eyes.

He looks concerned, or remorseful letting his eyes soften at the sight of blood.

I can just feel him begging me inside of his head to submit. To let this be over with.

My gaze hardens on his.

I can't just quit. I have to give this my all. I have to show everyone what I'm made of.

I swing my legs up and then out, kicking him right in his chest with both of my legs. He gets knocked back giving me enough time to stand, taking my stance once again.

I run at him as I see his soft gaze harden. Swinging my leg out I go for his stomach, though my eyes widen as Greyson catches it.

His hands wrap around my shin as I hop on one leg trying to stay balanced. Meanwhile I try pulling and thrashing my leg trying to get him to let go of it. Though he doesn't budge.

Instead of letting go, he grips harder. The next thing I know, I'm not hopping around on the ground anymore. I'm not on the ground period.

Grey throws me in the air, once again looking to do the same thing as he did last time.

Shift! Shift now! Amara screams. I don't even pay attention to her until I see Greyson running at me again while I'm suspended in the air.

So, I do as she says before Greyson can reach me. I shift.

In the middle of the air I urge my body to transform into its wolf form. I feel my body crack, and change until I land onto the ground upon all fours.

A nasty growl escapes my lips as I look to Greyson.

I back away from him slowly. Watching what his next move will be.

He clenches his jaw, and almost hesitantly leaps into the air, shifting into his own wolf.

Together we stand staring into the other's eyes. Black and white, are out coats appearing almost like Yin and Yang. Though we're not working together at this moment, we're against each other.

Greyson leaps forward, stopping only a few feet away from me.

Still, I stand as Greyson circles me like a vulture looking down onto its prey. But little does he know the "prey" is also assessing him.

But what's different about this fight then the one between Seb and I, is that I can't focus on his weaknesses.

I can only focus on his strengths. My eyes immediately being drawn to those.

How his black coat correlates perfectly with his deep blue eyes. With each step his large muscles bulge. How his pearly white teeth has become ragged and deadly, though still sparkle.

Where's his weak points? He has none.

Greyson pounces forward too quickly for me to react. He slams his body into mine making me roll upon the filthy ground, contaminating my purely colored fur.

I stand quickly. What can I do? What can I do?

But what can I do? Amara speaks.

Other than the first day I've turned I've never given Amara full control. I was scared of Amara. I was scared of what she could do, what kind of person she would portray me as.

But now I know, Amara is just an extension me. She's the wolf version of me. She's seen how I've grown up, how I felt after everything. She understands me better then most would.

My eyes blink heavily as I call Amara forth. She yips with happiness, as I sit back and help her make her decisions.

I'm surprised when she releases a loud growl matched with just as threatening snarl.

Greyson's wolfy smirk rises onto his lips, before he lets out a growl of himself.

Before I know it, Amara is taking off towards him.

Suddenly she leaps in the air right over Greyson's head, landing directly onto his back.

I feel her claws digging straight into the flesh upon his shoulders. He cringes, bucking and rotating like a bull machine to knock her off. Her nails are like anchors embedded in his skin.

She growls latching her teeth into the back of his neck. I feel bone grit beneath our teeth as Greyson howls in pain.

Before I, or Amara can process I feel our balance start to shift. We become unsteady as we start to tip back wards as Greyson starts tipping off his front legs.

She tries to get off before we hit the ground, but it's too late.

I feel my gut compress as all air is knocked out once Greyson's weight is crashes onto our much smaller body.

I get knocked back into control from the shock of the hit. Taking a deep breath coming back into it, I cringe as pain erupts up my torso.

My chest cramps with each filling of my lungs. Greyson rolls off of me, and I instantly-but weakly-stagger to my feet.

I'm not giving up, I can't give up.

Coughing out a painful breath I look up to Greyson.

He lowers his head looking pointedly as me. Almost like he's silently telling me to stop.

Growling I take off towards him, my feet tangling for a second before I compose my steps once again.

He leaps out of the way just before I reach him, making me skid across the ground turning directions to go after him once again.

I jump trying to go to his back once again yet a force plows into my side knocking me to the ground. I yip loudly as searing pain erupts from my ribs.

I'm not done yet, I can't give up.

Shakily I stand back up facing Greyson he shakes his head, but I'm not having any of it. I growl lifting my paw and scratch him right across his muzzle. I can't even tell if I've pierced his skin since his fur is so dark. But telling by his reaction of a low growl I'm sure I did.

His eyes darken making me stagger my steps back. I'm too late as he pounces on me, taking me back to the ground.

I whine once he gets in my face growling threatening, telling me to not get up. He wants me to stay down.

Uneasy and broken breaths exhale from my lips as I'm exhausted, and it's just painful.

I can't go on anymore. The more I try the more I hurt.

I tried, I gave it the best shot I could.

So with one last painful exhalation of breath I do as Sebastian told me to do once I can't continue.

I look away from Greyson's blue eyes turning my head, bearing my neck in submission to my Alpha.

It doesn't take long for a howl to erupt from Greyson before he sinks his teeth into my neck, signifying I'm officially apart of the pack.

Cheers echo from all around us. People in the stands clapping, standing up almost like they're welcoming me.

Grey licks his bite mark as he lets me go. He nuzzles my head as I look up to him. "Your ribs I-I heard them shatter-"

"I'm okay Grey." I tell him but he just shakes his head not believing my words.

A few seconds later Sebastian and Koda run over to us since they were already in the circle with us monitoring the fight.

Greyson still stands above me, making sure I don't move to injure my ribs any further. "Willa do you think you can walk?" Koda asks me.

I nod my head slowly moving to stand, but I freeze when Grey growls at me threatening. "She needs to stay in place," he tells us becoming over protective. "Shattered ribs are more severe than a cracked one."

"Greyson I'm sure she can just walk to the infirmary-" Seb tries but is just cut off by another growl.

"Greyson I swear the pain is already getting better," that's a lie. "Listen I don't want to stay on the ground in front of everybody, let me just walk." I try to convince him.

He looks down to me, cocking his head examining me.

Sighing he shakes his head.

He watches me as I nuzzle under his chin trying to coax him. When I hear him sigh once again I know I got him. "Fine. Once we get in the infirmary I'll help you heal faster."

If he didn't give in and let me walk by myself I don't know what I would've done.

Just lay like a dead fish in front of the whole pack?

No thank you.

Slowly I stand to my feet, Greyson close to me for support.

Koda tells the pack a thank you for coming before welcoming them to mingle back at the pack house.

Greyson makes sure that I take my time, if I walk too fast for his liking, he growls.

I'm not going to lie and say the pain is gone because it's not. Far from it actually.

Every time I breathe I have to put on a stone exterior so Greyson doesn't know I'm still hurting.

I don't get it. Why aren't my ribs quickly healing like everything else?

Walking into the infirmary Greyson closes the door after Seb gave him clothes for us to change into.

He tells me to shift so it would be better for Dr. Fleming to asses me. So I grab a T-shirt from him before shifting back.

He starts shifting before I. I turn my head taking a staggered breath.

I blink hard as the shift is painful, something it hasn't been since I first shifted. I wheeze standing up, my lungs feeling like they're on fire.

Hurriedly I pull the T-shirt over my head.

I go to clear my throat, only I start going into a coughing fit.

Between each cough I try to breathe but I just wheeze in a weak breath causing black dots to dance around.

Crouching to the ground I can't handle being stood anymore.

"Willa," Greyson rushes over to me gripping my shoulder softly. "You told me you were better."

With a finale cough I look up to him my eyes watery.

He sighs lifting me on the bed.

A guide to Greyson: When he's stressed, he sighs. A lot.

I watch him carefully as he runs a hand through his hair stressfully. I grab his hand quickly to calm him down, which he then grips it harder leaning in.

"Let me help you heal faster," He whispers.

I bite my lip watching as his lips form a natural frown.

Does he feel guilty for doing this to me?

Nodding slowly I turn my head slightly so he has better access to my mark.

He sighs coming closer to me. I feel his breath on my neck making my eyes clench. "Wait," I tell him quietly.

Instantly his breath disappears from my skin as I see his face suddenly appear in my vision.

I just have to talk to him about this, it's just crawling at the back of my head. "You know I'm not mad, right?"

He huffs out a breath looking to the small window in the room. "Why aren't you?" His voice so quiet I have to strain my ear to hear.

"What do you mean? It's not your fault I-"

"I shattered your bones Willa," he scrunches his eyebrows looking back to me. "I hurt you. If anything I'm just like your garbage ex." He talks to me like it's obvious that I should be mad at him.

My mouth drops as I instantly sit up in the bed, I cringe quickly after. Which then results in Greyson trying to push me down. "That's ridiculous Greyson," I grind out resisting his light pushes. "You are not Jack. You take care of me, you protect me, you care about me. You're the opposite of him Greyson."

I grab onto his head trying to emphasize my words. Shaking it slightly trying to knock him back into place.

He looks downs sighing.

It only takes me a second to realize he's trying to hide the smile creeping onto his lips. He's trying to resist it.

Greyson grabs onto my wrist lightly, where he moves my hand so my palm presses against his lips. Softly he kisses the middle of my hand looking up to me.

He watches my reaction intently as I just roll my eyes sarcastically. "So you're not mad?" He asks smiling against my skin.

I laugh softly shaking my head.

He can be such a softy sometimes.

Slowly he pushes me back down on the bed, coming close to my neck.

This time I tilt my head preparing for his bite.

He grabs my hand and in a second I feel him pierce my mark.

Clenching my eyes closed my toes curl in a combination of pain and euphoria. The pain and pressure of my lungs becoming lighter as seconds pass.

Biting my lip I look up to the ceiling trying to control myself. I have to have control over this bond. I can't let it have control over me.

Let me tell you, it's so hard.

He takes his teeth out wiping it off with a towel that he found in the bathroom. "How do you feel?" He asks after wiping his mouth off.

"Better," I smile squeezing his hand.

In just a few moments Dr. Fleming comes into the room running over the basics.

No over working myself, try and stay stress free, if there's any pain ask Greyson to help me out.

She smiled widely when she told me about Greyson. "Mates are a natural pain killer," she smiled pushing up her large round glasses before leaving us be.

We watch her leave the room before Grey and I both start laughing.

But just as our laughter stops my attention is pulled back to the door as a few knocks are heard.

Seb walks in quickly after with clothes in his hands. "I thought you'd like to change into more decent clothes," he says looking at the articles in his hands. He doesn't bother looking up. "I mean meeting the parents is a big deal," he smiles down to the clothes.

My eyes widen, "What?" I ask panicked.

Seb's head snaps up, where he looks quickly between Grey and I.

"Wait he hasn't-oh."

"No Sebastian," Greyson grinds out. "I haven't had the chance to tell her yet."

Slowly Seb sets the clothes on the bedside table walking towards the door. "I'll leave you two then." He rushes, running out the door.

Once it clicks I turn my head to my mate who's back is still to me. "What Greyson?" I ask my mouth open slightly in panic.

He turns around quickly with a wide smile on his face. "Surprise! My parents are here, and they're waiting for you-" he trails.

Oh no.