Claire's Pov
Unedited.

My monster is on edge the moment I step foot in the packhouse. My nerves are shot, and it's strange. I remember the last time I was here, feeling like this place was a highly desirable home—a utopia. This home felt like heaven, shielding and protecting us all from the hell of a world outside these walls. Now, it's different. I feel like I'm walking straight into a lion's den. My monster feels like I'm offering myself up to spend eternity in a dystopian state. She's acting paranoid, constantly making her presence known just in case she needs to save us both. In an attempt to calm her, I decide to walk in the opposite direction instead of taking the route Beta Rendell has shown me. Hopefully, I can find a quicker exit.

The deeper I walk through the hall, the louder the pounding of my barely beating heart becomes. I immediately realize that coming this way is a huge mistake. I know the entire wing is dedicated to Mecca, but this area is more detailed—more private, I suppose. Her pictures are covering every inch of the walls. In some photos, she is with Alpha Maddox, but in most of them, she is alone. She looks carefree and full of life, nothing like the wild and crazy ole Mecca that I've grown used to.

She was so much more. From day one, I had always felt like she was one of the most beautiful women I'd ever seen. But I was wrong. The version of Mecca—the one in the photos—is much more beautiful, prepossessing in every pose. There is no cosmetic for beauty like happiness, and that's the energy she gives off in those pictures; it's her beauty. Now I truly understand why Alpha Maddox did not try to find a second-chance mate. With these photos alone, anyone can tell Mecca was everything to him.

Every item in the area reminds me of her, even the walls are painted the shade she told me was her favorite color, midnight blue. There are vases with roses, which is exactly how she smells like.

In between some of the pictures are oak brown wooden shelves with words carved into them in a language I'm unable to understand or process. They are filled with many different small knickknacks. My eyes scan each item, and one, in particular, grabs my attention. It's an oak brown wolf miniature howling at a bright yellow moon that reminds me of Mecca's eyes when her wolf is present. The miniature itself resembles Mecca's real wolf. Right beside it is a wooden maple brown leaf, of which natural and refreshing look is akin to Mecca's flawless milk chocolate skin tone.

As I walk further down the hallway, the more my monster becomes on edge. To her, Mecca is not our friend, and this pains me. I just don't know how to feel about that. I understand why my monster feels the way she does. Mecca did try to kill me after I'd saved her life multiple times. Her attempt to kill me was a little overboard, but it would be one-sided if I refused to admit that she had the right to.

I do understand the reasons behind her behavior. She had a happy life with a man who holds love for her that is as big as the sky, and this hallway is proof of that. However, vampires took everything from her. Nicklaus took what she had; he ruined her. She risked her happiness once again to come to my rescue, only to find that I have become one of them, or like Nicklaus.

My inner battle goes on and on.

My eyes settle on a photo, stopping me in my tracks and washing away my thoughts. In it is Mecca sitting in the passenger seat of a beat-up red car. Although the vehicle is oddly old, there is some weird sex appeal about it. Seriously, the car is hot.

Sitting in the driver's seat is another woman. She has chestnut-brown hair, coffee-colored eyes, and slightly tan skin. That's when I realize that the car is not the hot one but the woman behind the wheel that makes the car look like cherry gold. She is breathtakingly beautiful. She looks soft and extremely delicate, yet there's something untamed and wild hidden in the depths of her coffee-colored eyes.

Bella.

Behind her is a man whose arms are draped around the driver's seat, holding Bella. He is wearing sunglasses and has a hood pulled over his head, which is strange since the picture was taken on a warm sunny day. Plus, it blocks out most of his face. His smile is as bright as day. It's beautiful, wicked, and somehow gentle. I'll notice that smile anywhere.

Xander . . .

My heart stops, then starts to pound as I suddenly feel light‑headed.

Xander told me that they were all friends, but this picture paints differently. They're like family.

The smell of damp earth and roses unexpectedly overloads my senses, alerting me to a new presence. I turn around, only to be met by Mecca's amber-colored eyes. She seems surprised to see me, but she doesn't say anything. Nothing is heard except the sound of my heart beating softly. Neither one of us utters a word. We just stand there, locked in place and looking at each other. Deadly silence is in the air. The moment is anything other than sober.

No longer able to take the silent chills, I break the ice. She hasn't attacked me yet, so that's a good sign.

"Hey," I begin.

"How did you get in here?" she asks, skipping formalities.

Geez, what a grouch.

"I broke in, silly," I tease her.

She doesn't respond. She just stares at me like I've lost my mind. But maybe I have.

This is awkward. Shall I leave or try a different approach? I'll go with the latter.

"You smell like a wet dog," I tell her, hoping she doesn't take it to heart.

She releases a growl and balls her hands up into tight fists.

My hope is stomped on at once.

Oops. Good job! Idiot Claire. I mentally smack myself again.

"You think because you're a leech queen, you can just appear in my home and offend me?" she snarls, struggling to keep her control.

Offend? Are you fucking serious?

She never took offense at my jokes before. There were never any filters when we were involved.

"I wasn't trying to offend you. Why would I do that? I came all this way to check on you. It was a joke, you know," I say, taking a step forward. "We always joke around."

Mecca knocks her head back like a madman, and laughter explodes out of her lungs.

Usually, I would find that gesture entertaining, considering the fact that she was my creepy ole Mecca. But the blatant disrespect is clear.

"Get the fuck out of my home now, leech queen!" she sneers.

My monster slowly creeps up on me, its lingering presence clutching at my mind like a disease. She doesn't like her tone. Through our eyes, Mecca is beneath her. She is ready to take control.

"Are you deaf, Queen of All Leeches?" Mecca mocks. "I said get the f*ck out of my home."

My vision taints red, and Mecca's eyes are now bright golden.

I need to go now before my monster takes full control. I should have known that nothing will ever be the same. Some things are the way they are for a reason. Predominantly, they are, when Mecca and I are involved. Her hatred runs too deep. In her eyes, we no longer share that type of connection. We are enemies.

Without fear, I continue to stare into her eyes filled with hatred even though the pain of our ruined and lost friendship is breaking me down on the inside. Tears threaten to escape, adding fuel to my inner fire.

Why did I come here? This is a mistake.

"You know what? Screw this. Forget that I even came here," I say, walking away.

If I don't leave now, things will surely get bloody.

"Why did you come here, leech?" she hisses.

By itself, my body snaps back in her direction. My monster or I don't like her throwing the insult I used on the vampires at me.

You are them, says my subconscious. I tell myself to shut the fuck up.

"Do not fucking call me a leech, you dog!" I warn. This time I don't give a flying fuck if she takes offense or not.

Mecca tilts her head to the side, sniffing the air. Her facial expression switches from hate to disgust.

"My apologies, soon-to-be leech queen!" she growls.

The sarcasm in her voice is starting to annoy me. I don't like it; my monster doesn't like it.

"I told you not to call me that again."

"What are you going to do, cry?" she mocks me.

"Fuck you!" I snap back, finally ready to give her a piece of my mind.

She knocks her head back, and laughter escapes her mouth once again. Creepy ole Mecca is starting to become a bitter, crazy bitch in my book.

I am trying to make this world a better place, so I'm not going to stoop to her level.

On that note, I take my departure, telling myself over and over that she is not worth it.

"You are already freshly fucked," she spits.

I ignore her and continue to make my way out of the hall. How the fuck does she even know that by the way? You know what? It doesn't matter.

For once my monster and I are on the same page.

We are unbothered, unfazed. We have no worries.

My sensitive ears pick up on the other wolves coming our way. They know I'm here. At this point, I don't even care if this situation turns bloody. I dare anyone of them to attempt to put their hands on me, and they will die.

My sentimental human side has been altered at this moment. I'm officially bipolar, not to mention Nicklaus's anger is starting to consume my own. He already knows I am here, and he's on his way. One thing is for certain, and two things are for sure: He is beyond pissed.

"That's right. Go back to your leech king!" shouts Mecca.

Don't worry, I'm going, darling. I want to shout back but nope.

I raise my chin, straighten my shoulders, and keep it moving. There's no point arguing with the senseless.

"You're a fool. He is using you."

Her words stop me right in my tracks.

Using me?

I turn back around to face her. "What? You're crazier than I thought!" I hiss.

She'd better tread lightly.

Mecca made it extremely clear that we are no longer friends, and my monster doesn't like her speaking ill of Nicklaus.

"You have been warned. Now, get the fuck out," she says.

"Make me," I challenge her, raising my eyebrow and reawakening her wolf.

My monster's wicked presence becomes stronger. This feeling of darkness taking over my light is starting to become the best comfort.

I stare directly into Mecca's golden eyes, ready for her to pounce. My monster's dark presence is currently tainting my body, mind, and soul.

Amusement flashes in Mecca's eyes. "He is going to break you, just like how his brother broke her. They don't care about you. They only care about the power that you can wield."

Mecca's yellow eyes falter and then fade away, then back to their original amber shade as they focus on the pendant around my neck.

"And I'm the one who so foolishly gave it to you," she spits through clenched teeth.

"Is this what this is about?" I question, taking a hold of the gift. "You were willing to kill me after everything I did for you." Now, I'm the one laughing. "You've got to be kidding me. All of this is because, inside your sick and twisted mind, you really believe that Nicklaus turned me to possess this power."

Mecca doesn't respond, pissing me off further. She studies her gift to me for a while before finally turning her back to me.

That does it.

"Answer me!" I snap, roughly grabbing her shoulder.

Mecca snatches my arm. "You want answers, leech queen?" she taunts. "I'll give you answers. No, this isn't about the power you can wield. I didn't even know you could do it." Her voice turns dark—very dark—and cold as her eyes spit hatred. "But I did know who you were to him. I knew you were his fucking beloved the very moment you opened your mouth."

"Your defiance said it all," she spits.

We are now standing face-to-face. The room seems to spin with every word she utters.

"If you were any other human, you would have been dead. He would have killed you. So it didn't take long to put two and two together. I planned to kill you the moment I was free," she continues. She tilts her head to the side, looking directly into my eyes and once again challenging me. "But then a better thought came to mind," she reveals. "Your leech and his brother have taken everything away from me, so it was only right to return the favor, starting by taking you."

The moment the words leave her mouth, my hands are around her neck within a second. The picture frames smash down onto the floor as I slam her body into the wall. My enhanced senses pick up on her mate and some other wolves rushing down the hall.

How perfect! They'll get here just in time to watch the show I dare them to intervene. They shall die.

She used me. She tried to take that happiness that Nicklaus has found has by using me? How dare she use me? She acted like my friend, but in reality, she's been my foe. People pretend so well.

My monster wants blood. She wants her revenge. Is it selfish that I slightly agree with my monster even after knowing how much Nicklaus truly stole from her? Is it selfish to say that I'm still hurt by her actions? Is it selfish that I want to kill her?

Every sane thought of mine is slipping away. The dark and menacing presence within me desperately wants to break free. Pitch rage is threatening to taint my inner light.

Mecca continues to silently stare. She doesn't struggle. She doesn't fight back. Her glowing golden eyes just watch me, assessing me. Her mate and the other wolves are now behind me. I can feel their fear and sense their dilemma.

I continue to battle with myself while I look in the eyes of the monster that I once believed was my friend. My inner darkness wants to end her. It would be so easy. I can destroy this entire pack just by uttering a single word. I can use the gift that she gave me against her, ending her and everything she truly loves, but I won't because that would make me like her.

Swallowing down my pride and holding back my tears, I throw Mecca into her mate. They collide and then stumble into the wall as I make my way out of her wing, walking slowly down the flights of stairs. Everyone in the entire house has to be present, out of their rooms silently watching me. They are all forcefully bowing as I walk through the house full of wolves. Some humans are present as well, and none of them will look me in the eye.

Predictable enough. I'm a leech to them now, and humans don't look leeches in their eyes. How they feel about me is obvious All of them fear me and hate me. I'm the leech queen that made their kind submit. I'm sure that's what they are all saying about me. I'm certain that they completely overlooked the fact that I made vampires submit as well. Of course, they did. But it really doesn't matter because no one has the balls to confront me. The way that they are watching me says it all. It's hard to believe that these are the same people who were just praising me not even a week ago.

My stomach starts to turn at that thought. It's funny how quickly people change. One day they tell you that you are their hero, then the next they act like you're an evil villain.

I want to yell at them all. Sure, I'll take that! Continue to paint me out to be the bad guy, but I can't.

I stare straight ahead like they are invisible, refusing to show them any sign of weakness. Beta Rendell is standing directly in front of the door as I make it down the last flight of stairs. He looks worried, but I know that it's not genuine. He is just worried about the treaty.

When I reach him, he bows. Unlike the others, his bowing doesn't look forced.

"Your Highness."

I ignore him and open the door. I can feel my beloved's presence becoming stronger by the second. The force of his monster's energy and power radiates off him, beaming in the direction of this house.

"Claire," Beta Rendell says, grabbing my hand right before I step out of the door. "Do you still think everything will work?"

My neck snaps in his direction.

"I meant what I said in the meeting, Beta. If your pack decides to alter, be wise," I tell him, as I finally make it out of the front door.

<🌑>
Early Awake Update As promised. Please don't forget to hit that golden star ⭐️ comment and follow. The next update will be Friday. (EST.)

Q: Do you believe that your best friend can be your worst enemy?