"You what?" Seren growled, looking up into the amused alpha's face. 

"I said, I'm going out, too," he replied calmly.

"I don't need a chaperone to play hide and seek with a six year old."

"I'm not going to be on your tail the whole time, I've got things to do - adult things. I don't have time to play such whimsical games. I'll be checking with the scouts and patrols. I might have Derrick or one of the twins check in on you two occasionally to make sure you aren't running off with my niece," he said wryly.

Seren's jaw dropped as her eyes narrowed in disbelief. "I would never do that to Gillie."

"No, you would just leave her if you got the chance." His eyes had turned cold. Seren could see the wall he hid his emotions behind go up and suddenly he was that brooding man again, all stiff and unforgiving. She wanted to smack him for saying that, but it was the truth wasn't it?

"Seren, I'm ready!" Gillie pipped, sailing down the banister on her stomach, feet first and wiggling off the end. Seren was going to warn her that she could get hurt doing that but Gillie pointed down to her pink shirt and tutu. "Do you like my outfit?!"

She couldn't help but smile. The girl was also wearing pink rain boots and a pink boa. She looked like a little pink marshmallow.  "I do! But aren't we going to play outside? You wanted to show me your wolf...and wolves don't wear tutus," she snickered.

"Well, of course," Gillie replied, matter-of-factly, holding out one hand and rolling her eyes. "But we have to walk all the way out to the woods to shift and I am not doing that in my undies."

Liam's frame shook with silent laughter and Seren had to turn away, lest they share a moment of happiness together. Wouldn't want the jerk getting any ideas about their relationship...

"You're totally right," Seren agreed and took her hand to step outside. "Race ya!" she said and started running ahead.

"No way!" Gillie screeched and ran at full speed, Seren slowing down somewhat to let her ahead. She glanced over her shoulder to see Mr. Emotionless Alpha striding quickly behind them, secretly worried they would get out of sight.

As soon as Gillie got to the tree line and shouted that she had won, Seren turned around and leveled her pointer finger at Liam while cocking an eyebrow, warning him to stay back while they shifted. That look also told him she would cut off his manhood if he peeked at her while naked.

YIP. YIP! YIPYIPYIP!

"Oh my! Gillie you are just beautiful! I have never seen such a pretty puppy before!" Seren said as Gillie's little black and white wolf bounced around her. "You are so shiny! But, ugh, I was sure you would be pink!"

ROOOOO!

"Okay, my turn," Seren agreed and hurried behind a tree to strip and shift, leaving her clothes in a neat pile before she popped out and play bowed her tiny friend.

SEREN, you are beautiful!!!!! Gillie screamed in her head.

Oh, you think so?She asked holding a paw out daintily.  I'm not as beautiful as Princess Gillie, that's for sure. You simply must tell me what dirt you roll in that makes your fur so soft!

Gillie's giggle was adorable.

Let's go play.

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Seren took a last look at Gillie's uncle, standing with his arms crossed, which served to tighten his shirt across his chest and shoulders, as emotionless as ever and watching them closely with his cool eyes. Ignoring the rush of sensation she felt nearly every time she saw his muscles ripple, Seren ducked her head and followed the pup into the woods. 

They loped deeper and deeper, though Gillie seemed fairly confident she knew where she was going, and Seren was glad because she was finally able to put some distance between herself and the giant brain fuzzier that corrupted every waking thought and made her body feel like an old piece of machinery that was prone to shorting out and spitting sparks.

Okay! This is a good spot! Now, you count to fifty and I will go hide! Okay?

Seren nodded and laid down, putting her paws over her nose and beginning to count. She heard a yip of excitement and Gillie's paws patter as she took off. Seren prayed she would be good enough at tracking to find her, but the girl smelled so strongly of cupcakes it was unlikely she would leave a faint trail. 

When she finished counting, Seren bolted off after the puppy, finding her scent more easily than she could find cheeseburgers on the grill at a barbeque- and that was saying something. She finally let herself relax, falling into her long rhythmic strides, stretching and pushing her muscles. There was no Liam here to ruin her time with his temper, no bets to be worked up about, nothing to lose. It was just fresh air filled with the rich scent of leaf litter and wetness, sweet and floral, the ground springy beneath her paws.

Gillie's trail led down and to a small cave made by a fallen tree. Seren abruptly poked her nose in and straight into Gillie's coat, prodding her side and scaring her so she yelped loudly. 

Found you!

Nuh uh! You can't catch me!

Gillie exploded out of her hiding spot and took off with Seren hot on her trail. It was all too easy to pounce on her and spar gently for a few minutes before the small wolf gave up and panted hard.

Okay!!! Okayokayokay! It's your turn, but you should know that I am the best tracker in my Wind Runner Pups group!

Are you the only one? Seren smiled.

Nope. I'm one of the only ones that live in the Alpha's pack house, but there are other pack houses through the territory where other wolves stay. 

The pack must be much larger than Seren orinially believed...

Oh, she said. I'll go hide, then. She waited for Gillie to begin counting before trotting off back toward the fallen tree. Gillie wouldn't suspect that and it would hopefully be a challenge for her to practice her skills. She found herself wondering just how big the Wind Runner pack was and how Liam was able to manage all of it.

No wonder he hasn't had time to do the Initiation stuff with me yet. I'm sure he is too busy with sending out orders and checking his security constantly. What a hassle! But I really need to get it over with so I can see McGreggor again. He is probably worried sick about what happened to me. She felt the anxiety coiling in her stomach and slid into Gillie's small hiding spot where it was cool and dark. Had he been alright? Had the shop been running well without her? What if he had gotten even more sick? 

She continued to worry, digging at the dirt with her front paws until she heard the faint snuffling of Gillie and peeked out. Though the hiding place would seem obvious now that she was so close, Gillie was still carefully sniffing along, following her every pawprint. 

Boo! Seren popped out with a bark, startling the puppy so she yelped and fell over with a whine. Seren could almost hear her crying in fear. Oh, no. Shhh, shhh, there, there. It's just me.

You scared me! And you took my hiding place! You are supposed to go somewhere different. She sniffled pathetically.

Haha, I was testing your skills, they are very good. Would you have thought I would go back to your spot?

Gillie shook her head.

See? I'll have to tell your uncle that you need to be challenged more. Obviously, your class is too easy. Maybe you need to practice with grown ups.

Her eyes went big and round. Really?

Yes! But I have to see if you are fast enough to be in a grown up class. I'm gonna get you!

With a squeal, Gillie spun and bolted between the trees with Seren bounding along behind her. It was clear she was going at her fastest, working hard to impress her soon-to-be Luna and aunt. Seren taunted her, telling her she was catching up which gave the girl another burst of speed. 

Gillie tried to stop, skidding through the dirt, but tripped and rolled to a stop at the feet of a large male wolf. Something deep within Seren told her that his scent smelled wrong somehow, not a Wind Runner, and instinctively rushed forward, grabbing Gillie's scruff in her teeth and pulling her away. She positioned her body between the child and the deep brown wolf who stiffened and looked at her with a chilling intensity, as though she was the most interesting thing he had ever seen. His lips pulled back in an almost maniacal grin.

Gillie, run as fast as you can. Get Liam. Go now. Go! She snapped, sending the pup streaking off, running for all her life was worth.

Now, now, why did you do that? You might have just blown my cover, female. Is she yours?

No. Who are you, what are you doing on this territory? She growled deeply, feeling all the fur on her back stand on end. Now that she got a good look at him, she was much more afraid than at first. He was big, not as big as Liam, but probably as large as Derrick, his body wrapped in powerful muscles. But the look in his eye screamed instability. 

This territory. Not "ours" or "mine." What's a rogue such as yourself doing out here? And unmated, his dark brown, nearly black eyes, simply lit with a dark interest. It was as if he had found what he had been searching for his entire life. 

They slowly began to circle, Seren carefully biding time for Gillie. If she escaped, unharmed, Seren didn't care what became of herself- it would be worth the sacrifice. 

You are going to come with me, back to my pack. You are so beautiful, so strong, perfect traits for what we strive for. We seek females like you to carry on our legacy...

Females like me? she snarled, keeping her head low, watching him carefully for any movements that would tell her he was going to strike. To carry on your legacy? I would never do something so vile.

He bristled as he stalked around her, his teeth showing. You would quickly submit like the others. You will see how happy they are with their pups and you will desire your own. I will give them to you.

You will not! I'm not going anywhere with you...Rapist.

He seemed to grin hugely, crazily. He was raving mad. Oh, you will. I will mark and mate you right here. 

The male lunged toward her and Seren's body went numb with adrenaline. She had never fought another wolf before and knew she would lose, but it would give Gillie her best chance to get back to safety and so she would fight him with everything she had. He barreled into her with his broad chest, knocking her on her side, but before he could flip her on her back, she locked her jaws onto the side of his neck, squeezing until she felt her teeth break his skin and whipped her head from side to side. He raked his claws at her shoulders, prying her off enough to put space between them and she immediately went for his flank, a sensitive area she knew would hurt and bit hard there, filling with satisfaction when he snarled in pain.

Seren felt a horrible pain on her back as he sunk his teeth down over her muscles and tore her mouth from his side, tossing her away. She rolled, her back legs momentarily useless as she struggled to stand. She saw blood on his fur from her attack and felt proud, but it was quickly dispelled when he came forward again, this time with lust in his dark eyes. She tried again to stand but he roughly crushed her down.

Move and I'll kill you, bitch, he snarled. His ear twitched as the snarling and howling of several wolves, Wind Runners, came to Seren's aid. He growled in anger.

Then kill me you worthless disgusting mutt. Seren snapped her head forward, snatching his leg in her jaws and shattering the bone there.

His mouth closed down over her face, teeth stabbing into her eyes and skull, before he thrashed her about, tearing her skin as she screamed in pain, but she couldn't get free. She thought she would die right them from the agony, but there was a chest rattling snarl that split the air and the male was ripped away. The sound of a vicious fight ensued with horrible sounds of breaking bone and tearing flesh, but all Seren could hear was a high pitched tone as she struggled to shift back, blinded by blood and pain. It felt as though a cement block was crushing her face, her eyes burning like a hot poker had been stabbed into them and shoved deep into her skull. She was hysterical with agony, unable to cope with the pounding of hammers and knives on every inch of her head. Absolute terror washed through her body and she screamed for the only thing she knew that could help her.

"LIAM! LIAM!" She sobbed, the use of her voice causing her even greater pain.

Liam tore himself away from the body only because he knew Seren needed him more than he needed to tear every inch of flesh from the trespasser's body and make him a bloody puddle. Hearing her call for him, crying his name, the first time she had ever said it, moved him in such a primal way that he was barely in control of his actions as he spun and rushed to her. He had beat everyone to her and they were quickly approaching. He ordered them to fan out and kill any other wolf in the area and to have Gloria ready for him as soon as he got back. Falling to his knees beside his mate, his chest tightened in horror at her appearance. Though she was naked and her body utterly perfect, his attention was focused on her pressing wounds. Her face, from her cheeks up, had been broken and torn open, blood flowing down into her hair. He easily moved her hands, she was rapidly weakening, her cries turning into weak moaning gasps.

"Shh, shh, shh. It's okay now, I'm here. It's me," he said, holding her tightly for a moment, reassuring her. She must have known she was safe on a subconscious level and let go, going completely limp in his arms.

With a panic he had never felt before, he untied his clothes from his leg and pulled on his jeans before he wrapped her in his shirt, cradling her to his chest like she was made of precious china. Then, he took off in a dead sprint for the pack house. He knew only one thing. He could not lose her.

The alpha was breathing hard when he burst throught the tree line with her in his arm, blood covering both of them and still coming. Kate and Cara were there, along with a few other women to carry her inside where Gloria waited to care for her, though they had trouble prying her from his arms. Liam looked on helpless, filled with such grief and fear that they had never seen in him before and that was powerful enough to send everyone into a manic sense of urgency. "Help her," he said. He repeated it over and over, stumbling numbly through the house after the throng of packmates that were working to save his mate, the only thing in the world that mattered. 

Gloria asked for him to give blood to her, as an alpha, it would greatly help her healing and without hesitation, he gave his arm to Gloria to draw as much as she needed. He was but a shadow of himself, unable to process what was happening. It was as if he was watching the fate of his own life unravel in front of him with every beep of the heart monitor.

Hours seemed to pass, everyone moving around him as he sat in a chair in the corner, unresponsive to everyone and everything. Finally, he became aware of a gentle hand shaking his arm. 

"Alpha," Gloria said patiently and he met her tired eyes.

"Yes?" He blinked a few times and snapped out of his trance, coming back to the present. "Is...is she alright? Do you need more blood?... Is she...is-"

"She is going to survive, Alpha," Gloria smiled softly as he visibly sagged in relief. "It is a good thing she shifted back immediately, the transformation helped to reorganize and reset the broken bones of her skull. She was very lucky that her attacker didn't bite down just a little bit harder."

"He is dead."

"I would assume so."

Liam stared at Seren's form, hidden under a pile of blankets, her hair matted and blood and her eyes covered in white gauze and bandages. "Is she blind?"

"We won't know that for a while. I sutured her skin where necessary, but it is too soon to tell if her body's healing capabilities can fix the damage done to her eyes. Her bones will mend, yes, but the eyes are very sensitive and fragile. The best we can do for her is to let her rest. Why don't you go get cleaned up? She isn't going anywhere."

Liam nodded numbly. The last thing he wanted was to let her be out of his sight, but he needed to splash cold water on his face and wake himself up out of his stupor. He needed to speak with his patrols and guard to see if they had found anyone else and if they knew who the attacker had been. He found himself in his bathroom and stared at his reflection. His dark hair was disheveled, his skin paler than usual, but it might also be the dried blood that covered his mouth, chin and covered his chest. He looked like he had torn someone's throat out...and he literally had. Liam forced himself to shower, disgusted that the male's blood touched him, which made him think about what he had done to Seren and his body filled with a rage that could break the sky in half. 

When he found out who the dog had been, he would make sure that any allies he had had would suffer horribly. He wished he had kept the scum alive just to torture him for hours on end for what he had done to his mate. 

Liam vowed then to never let her leave his side again.