Realizing that my grandfather scratched me made so much sense. Was that why my father took me away? Was that the final nail in the coffin that was my father and grandpa's relationship? And what did this mean for me? Was I suddenly -miraculously- supposed to stop three huge werewolves from ripping each others' heads off by saying 'Here I am, ready to rule you all!'. And was I, even? I'd only turned into a werewolf once in my entire life. I felt angry with my grandpa for scratching me, and angry for my dad about keeping this entire part of my life a secret from me-- and angry somehow at the lake, for beckoning me here in the first place. Was this my destiny or my doom?

I'd have to find out. A baby's cry rang out, toward the lake. Julia jolted up, "Is my baby here?"

I said, "Griffin was trying to leave..."

She shook her head, "Well, he didn't!"

And she ran toward the sound. I too, ran to the lakeside.

No one was playing in the water anymore. Sofia's daughters hid behind her, Asher had Griffin by the shirt and Amber held Izzy to her, who was wailing at this point. Dakota and who looked to be David, were giant wolves, circling each other and snarling. I ordered to Julia and Sofia

"Take the kids to the art studio and lock yourselves in. You'll be safe there. GO!"

Sofia pushed the girls to Embry and said,

"I must stay. I trust you'll keep our girls safe."

Julia had Izzy back in her arms, Embry nodded intensely to Sofia, "I will."

They took off toward the art studio, one of the Noche daughters was holding Luna. I some sort of relief that she and the children would be safe. Sofia gripped onto me

"Embry has a heart condition. He can't fight. It's a death sentence. And, Jace is so impulsive, Summer. He'll try and get himself killed. I know it. I must stay to protect him."

I stood atop the nearest picnic table, watching in horror as the scene unfolded.

Asher threw Griffin to the ground, shouting traitor; as he turned into an dirty-blond wolf, and lunged for Griffin. Griffin rolled onto his chest, and turned into a wolf that looked nearly identical to Asher. Their teeth began gnashing at each other. This was all over his love with a girl from the other pack. Now, David and Dakota were dueling, showing their three inch canine teeth and equally long, black claws. Jace in gangly young wolf form, impulsively ran right into the middle of the teeth and claws, to defend Dakota. Drake, from the other pack, lunged at Jace's throat, pulling him off of David.

Now, everyone besides myself was in wolf-form. Asher was joining the central fight for alpha, and Ivy had followed his lead. Fox and Amber were human. They hadn't gone through the change. They clung together near the trees, knowing that intervening as humans would be certain death. Jasmine defended them with her body, snarling at anyone who got close. Tyler whined fearfully, pushing David and Dakota away from each other, despite being ripped into by both of them. Asher shoved his snout under Tyler's ribs and flung him into the air, pushing him out of the way, and maybe protecting him. Drake's form had overpowered Jace's, and I heard loud yelps of pain, and then silence. Sofia was distraught, nosing at Jace's limp body on the ground. Her howls were of anguish. Embry emerged, in wolf form, a big, bulky silver-brown wolf. His face had gone gray with age. One of his legs limped, but it didn't stop him from running to the body of his son. He looked up at Drake and gnashed his teeth. Drake was soon yelping as he tried fighting off the heartbroken parents, who weren't sure if their son was even alive.

I could not watch this fight ensue any longer. I sought peace between the groups, and felt an increasing certainty within me that I could be the maker of that peace. I willed the change within me, and felt as my arms grew longer, my back arched, and as I lifted my head, I was a wolf, standing atop the picnic table. The red paws were mine once more. I threw my neck up to the sky, which was in brilliant sunset, and commanded order through a howl. The fighting came to a halt instantly. I watched as Dakota's claws came out of Asher's back, and Asher's teeth released David's tail. Nia unpinned Fox, and Amber released her hold on Nia. All eyes were on me. My supernal form descended from the picnic table, circling the group of wolves, who began bowing their heads down and paws extended. I howled again, this time they joined in unison. I couldn't explain how I was so certain, but being Alpha had been my legacy long before I had even been scratched.

I shifted, back into my human form and commanded the group to "alter" as I had heard Dakota say once before. Everyone's bruised, bloody human faces were shocked. It answered the question I had wondered about if injuries sustained while in wolf-form would be visible on human form. I said, in the middle of the group

"Ezekiel scratched me. He chose me as alpha; but more importantly, I choose to be alpha in my own right. I too will keep the peace between the packs."

Jace transformed into a human as he regained consciousness, and groaned, still unaware of what happened. Looking at the injured group before me, I decided, "Go home, everyone. Rest and recover. I will see you all --peacefully-- as we attend Ritual in August."

My eyes met Dakota, and he looked at me with adoration and love in his eyes. No jealousy that I became alpha over him, but a sense of certainty and even relief. Asher looked surprised, and David seemed confused. I hadn't noticed Embry in the crowd until he fell. But he fell hard. He gripped his arm and made frantic, guttural sounds. Sofia cried out, "It's your condition-- you shouldn't have fought."

Embry's eyes were tear-filled, and he said, through gritted teeth,"I saved ... my son."

Jace gripped his father's hand and shouted

"Dad! Dad! No, no no, dad! Dad please! Don't... don't go."

Embry's grip on his left arm loosened. The eyes, which had squinted closed in pain, now relaxed. A small, faint breath escaped his lips... and he did not inhale. Jace pushed frantically on his heart, and Sofia blew into his mouth. Dakota, holding fingers to Embry's neck, said

"No pulse."

Nia pulled her car around and in an instant, David, Asher and Dakota took Embry's body into the car to try and take him to the hospital. Jace stayed back due to his obvious injuries, and Sofia sat next to her husband in the back of the car in a last attempt to save him.

...

The funeral was three days later. After that Jace had gone to a very dark place, and spent most of his time as a wolf, sulking in the shadows. Fox had tried to follow him, but Jace sought only solitude, and soon, he left Morgan, Vermont all together.

Despite the sadness of Embry's death, an overwhelming feeling of peace washed over the packs, and soon, life had become more normal.

Griffin moved in with Julia and Izzy, and could love her openly, and she him.

I sat with Sofia in her home, and had brought her a casserole and a pie Nia had sent me with. Sofia was taking losing Embry better than I had expected. She admitted

"You know, I'm just glad we had Embry as long as we did. Five years ago, doctors said he didn't have much time left. Our littlest was only five months. I'm just glad our girls got to have a relationship with him."

I shook my head in disbelief, "I had no idea."

She sighed, looking out her window at the lake, the familiar dock far, far in the distance. "Embry didn't like people to know, but he was slowing down, despite his best efforts. Jace is really the one taking it the hardest, but he'll be back soon. I know he will. Maybe even tonight."

I almost forgot what tonight was-- Ritual. It would be the first I'd seen. Dakota would be leading it. Typically that was the alpha's task; but I was still learning, and this Ritual was very special to him, as he would be marking Fox.

I smiled at Sofia, and asked "Will you be joining us?"

She wiped a little tear and smiled deeply, "I wouldn't miss it for the world. You should go. I'm sure Dakota needs help setting up, and he has to teach you everything he knows."

I asked, hesitantly"Alright... Are you sure you don't need--"

She cut me off, still smiling

"I'm fine, sweetie. Now go! Go! I'll see you there."