When I woke the next time, I didn't realize I had slept all night until I got out of bed and smelt breakfast cooking. From the room I was in, I could smell the bacon, eggs, and sausage. For a moment, I simply sat there taking in the fact that I could smell all of that through my door. Taking a deep breath, I stood and dressed. I felt a whole lot better after sleeping. I wasn't plagued by nightmares as I believed I would be. I mean, I should have nightmares after what I've been through and seen , right? I didn't want to think about it anymore than I needed too. Once I was dressed I left the room, and headed towards the source of my hunger. The closer I got, the more I smelt in turn the more my stomach growled.

I froze when I rounded the corner to the kitchen and seen everyone seated at the table. The only one missing was Zachariah. I furrowed my brows wondering where he was. I wondered if he was in the kitchen? I walked towards Karen, ignoring the looks of concern from Jeremiah and Isaiah and took a seat. "Good morning dear. How do you feel?" Karen asked from beside me.

I nodded. "I feel much better. I-" I paused, not sure if I should even mention the fact that I could smell so much better. I mean they were born wolves so they were used to this. Karen's brow arched, probably wondering why I stopped. I sighed, "I could smell breakfast in my room, through the door..."

Karen smiled and nodded. "That's completely normal. Today you'll shift, so it only makes sense that you would. Your nose, eyes, hearing, strength, agility, healing, all of those things will become better. It may take time for some to come through, but by the time this day is over you'll be a wolf." My eyes widened, becoming nervous. I could feel the nerves as if they decided that my stomach was the best place to settle and the food which had my stomach turning with hunger wasn't so appetizing anymore. "Don't be nervous darling, we'll be here for you."

"Where's Zachariah?" I whispered, I still needed to apologize for my behavior no matter how much I had right to be freaking out or upset, I didn't have a right to take it out on the people who've done nothing, but help me when I needed it, especially not Zachariah.

"He's in the kitchen. Perhaps you should go see him?" Karen suggested softly, even though we both knew that everyone at the table could hear us. I looked at Michael for a moment, and realized that he and I would have to talk. As if sensing my intent he nodded at me. My eyes widened.

"Y-yeah. I'll go to the kitchen." I stood up, and without turning around I walked to the kitchen. I stopped when I seen Zachariah leaning lazily against the island looking out the window. I nearly ran the other way when he turned his head towards me and looked at me calmly. I didn't want him to be calm, I wanted him to be upset as he should be.

"H-hey.. Uh, well..." I moved from foot to foot not sure where to start. "I'm sorry that I yelled at you, I'm sorry I said bad things about your family, and while I had a right to be upset I didn't have a right to take it out on you." I looked back up to Zachariah and seen he was about to talk, and quickly cut him off. "I am so used to being alone, to being dependent only to myself. I'm not used to other's caring, and I'm not used to the wolf stuff. I may technically be a wolf, but I was raised human. Mates- I didn't mean what I said, or at least not fully. I am afraid that something like that will happen to one of us. Ever since I first seen you after you and your brothers rescued me from that tree I've had this strong pull towards you. Every second I spent with you seemed to make it stronger and bigger than before. I was afraid of that too. I was afraid that I would come to love you, and then I would be ripped away from you." I laughed even though it wasn't funny.. "Do you know what it's like to be blamed, beaten and have every ounce of your confidence ripped away from you because of a mistake you made." Even though it sounded like a question, he wasn't meant to answer. "It's horrible. Before you know, I thought that my mother had simply abandoned us, I thought she was alive this whole time. Finding out the way I did, that I was responsible for her death, it's eating me alive. I can't remember a single moment of what happened, and knowing that because of me she died and my father turned into what he did has me feeling- indescribable." I paused to breath, not daring to look at Zachariah fearing I'd start crying, or worse that he wouldn't forgive me.

"On top of my conflicted emotions about your father, and my mother- I'm going to be a wolf. I'm going to changed into a furry animal sometime today. Worse, I get no warning of when I'm about to change. I'm not strong, I'm not brave, and I just don't know how I'm supposed to do this.. I just don't know." I finished pathetically. I hated feeling so confused, conflicted, and unsure of what the hell was going to happen. I could feel the burn in my eyes that warned me that tears were trying to make their way out and blinked. I gasped when I was suddenly surrounded by arms, the warmth immediately seeping through my cloths and into me. I sighed, and laid my head against Zachariah's chest, holding onto his shirt tightly. "I don't know what to do Zachariah."

"You trust me. You trust me and my family to watch out for you, to help you. Because Elehna, I'll do anything in my power to help you. I've told you before I'll be anything you need me to be, if you need to rant you can rant to me anytime you want. I knew you were upset, and at any time I could have turned and walked away, but I couldn't. Seeing you so sad, so torn- it tore me apart because there wasn't anything I could do." His arm's tightened around me, "I am in love with you Elehna. I have from the moment I seen you, and even if I have to wait months, years for you to feel the same, to put your faith and trust into me I will. I'll spend every moment proving to you that you can trust in me, in us." By the time he stopped, I was full on sobbing.

I felt like he was cheated having a mate like me. I was so utterly- me and Zachariah was so cute, caring, considerate, lovable, honest, and loyal that I felt like he was lowering himself because of me. "I'm so broken Zach... You could do so much better...." Even though I couldn't look up I could feel Zachariah shaking his head.

"You are strong, brave, courageous, loyal, and the purest of souls. You may be broken, but all broken things can be fixed with a gentle hand and guidance. I'll always be here for you Elehna. Trust in that if nothing else." He whispered into my ear, making the tears fall harder. I could hear Karen sniffling outside, but didn't think anything of it. I was too wrapped - literally in Zachariah that I didn't care about anything else, but him!