A/N: Here is the third chapter! Freshly finished and edited, just for all my readers. I realized that yes, the whole mating thing was a little sketchy, but hopefully this makes it more understandable. More shall be revealed between this chapter and the ones after. Have fun!

Thank you to those who reviewed! I really do appreciate it. Also, don't forget to (you guessed it) Review!

And on with the story!


Chapter 3-

I tried to throw up a scent masking charm as quickly as possible, though I feared it would be too late. That and the fact that my aura—invisible to wolves—could be felt as distinctly 'were-like weren't going to matter much, charm or not. I kept my head down and grabbed my Caleb's hand as I stood up. I met Samuel's eyes for a quick moment. "I'm going to try to make it out of here. If I get to the car, want me to wait for you, or just run?" I grabbed my bag and towed Caleb behind me quickly.

"Get out of here. Wait at the parking lot of the law firm and wait for me. I'll try and take care of Adam. Mercy may be a totally different issue, though."

Caleb stayed quiet as I took him towards the bathrooms. My wolf mourned the distance between us and our mate, but at the moment, I persevered and focused on my task. Sadly, I was so focused, I didn't hear the other set of heels behind me, nor smell the motor oil and coyote.

I had two things that I was keeping my mind on: getting out, and the conversation between Samuel and Hauptman.

"Hello Samuel. Where's your friend going?" The alpha's voice was tense and razor edged.

Samuel didn't miss a beat. "Ladies' room," he said smoothly. "Why, Adam? And hello Mercy."

A voice somewhat near me at my back answered, "Hey there, Sam." Her footsteps quickened and I was tapped on the shoulder. I turned, careful to swing Caleb behind me. "Hello, I'm Mercy."

I nodded at her curtly. "Hi. Can I help you?" I asked, carefully avoiding giving over my name. She scrutinized me as I evaluated her in kind. It looked as though she'd come out on a date with Hauptman. She was wearing a nice, black knee-length dress, black pumps, and her dark hair was left down. Though, for all her nice appearance, she had "blue-collar" written all over her. It wasn't a bad thing, but it was something I noticed because of my upbringing. Between the rough calluses on her hands, the motor oil or dirt under her finger nails, to the built up arms, I didn't need her to tell me she worked with her hands. Probably a mechanic, I thought.

She smiled reassuringly and replied, "Adam, the big guy over there next to Samuel, and I wanted to see who it was that finally captivated Sam's attention for more than a medical reason."

Ha. Actually, they had interrupted something that was for a medical reason: my diet—or lack thereof. "Well, maybe in a few moments. I'm really just a worker from the Sidman and Mindell Law Firm. We were just settling some issues my employer brought to my attention."

The woman in front of me, Mercy, exchanged a glance with Adam before she slid her gaze to Caleb, who was quiet and trying to be invisible. She mentioned idly, "I didn't know Sal Mindell let his employees babysit on the job." She met my eyes. I kept my face blank. If I lashed out at her boldness and mention of Caleb, it would be a dead giveaway when my eyes changed color. Somehow, I managed to keep my wolf in check enough to plaster a fake smile on.

"He does when it isn't babysitting. He's my son."

Her eyebrows shot up. A bit of irritation seeped into her eyes. "Well, that's nice of him. It doesn't sound like him, though. Generally, Sal Mindell works at an insurance company. Now, his brother, Tony, he's the lawyer. Damn good one, too." Damn. My eyes looked around wildly for an exit. Slowly, I backed up toward the kitchen. I locked my jaw when I was about ten feet away and grabbed Caleb, bursting through the "IN" door. I heard curses behind me as I ran past waiters and cooks. People tried to stop me; I merely dodged their hands. I was almost out, when I saw that the aisle way I was in was a dead end; the two stainless steel counters on either side of me curved and met between me and the door.

I swore knowing that Hauptman and Mercy were running after me and there was only one semi-easy way to the back door: up.

I launched myself up, and stepped once on the counter before jumping down on the other side. I paused for barely a moment before I got the door open and was out into the street. The air made me feel a deal more comfortable. I didn't waste time running around to the side of the building and ducking beside a car. Caleb swallowed and clung to my neck with all the strength he had. I rubbed his back soothingly. Hauptman slowed as he came to the front. When he started checking behind cars, I slid my shoes off and hurried to my car, heels in hand. I silently sat Caleb inside. Then, I opened my door almost had the ignition started when the local Alpha spied me. He rushed and tore me out of the driver's seat. He aimed a hand at my throat and I caught it and fought back, breaking my masking charms. We struggled, but with my wolf so pissed off, our dominance hit Adam full force. He tried to brush it off and continue fighting me.

He growled as we battled for supremacy, "Who are you?"

"Get off me!" I forced my own will against him. It was pretty even due to his pack advantage.

"Tell me! Who are you, and why are you in my city?"

I broke a hand free and slugged him across the mouth. That seemed to daze him for a few seconds. I tried to use those moments to my advantage and get into my car when I felt Samuel—who wasn't really Samuel so much as his pissed off wolf—dash out of the restaurant. He shoved Adam down away from me with a snarl before he stood in front of me.

Adam rolled up to his feet and growled at Sam. Sam glared back at him and curled a lip up. He kept a hand on my wrist. The two stood for a few seconds until, finally, Adam's eyes dropped. Samuel stood up straighter and pulled me to him. Suddenly—and very belated, I might add—, something occurred to me as Samuel brought his mouth down to mine.

I barely knew this man. Mate or no, regardless of how much I knew about him, I did not know him. Sure as hell felt like I did, but this was so confusing! The guilt of how loose I must look hit me full like a freight train. Shame and anger flooded me and I thrust my wolf back into submission while I smacked Samuel hard enough to startle him and jump in the car. The door was shut and locked just quick enough to keep Sam from opening the door. His face looked bewildered and somewhat devastated. The car was utterly silent, but I still could feel the slam of the door, the loud "thunk" of the locks echoing in my mind. A part of me, probably the part more connected to my wolf,—who was the one that helped me get into this mess in the first place—was breaking at the sight of Samuel being so distraught. The other part of me, the witch that was relieved to have something solid between my son, myself, and the 'weres.

The tears that sprung to my eyes did not over flow. I refused to allow that . . . at least, I did until I heard one, brokenhearted question echo across the newly established mate-bond.

"Why?"

I closed my eyes and turned my head, also turning the key in the ignition. I would not—no, could not, allow him to see my tears.

"I am so sorry, Samuel. I can't. I can't," I whispered raggedly. I clamped down on our mate-bond and looked behind me, putting the car in gear. Hauptman was up and coming towards my back hatch. I sniffed and glared with a grim determination. I slammed my foot down on the gas pedal and the tires squealed in reaction. I found a sick sort of pleasure at nearly hitting Adam while he went leaped out of the way.

I could barely see through my tears as I tore out of the parking lot. I didn't understand all this. Why was I so torn up about leaving someone I had just met today? Why was he so devastated? Why did his devastation influence me so much? Was it only my wolf or was I feeling this myself? I could feel the mate bond between us. I couldn't tell his location or his thoughts, but I could feel his emotion still leaking through my defenses. It made me all the more confused, terrified, and upset.

Once the car was parked a few blocks away from our apartment, I turned it off. My head flopped back against the headrest as I struggled not to make any sound while I cried. If I did, Caleb would know and ask me what was wrong. Truth be told, I did not want him to know that I was afraid. That would have been my easy answer for him. However, I wasn't afraid of Hauptman, his mate, or Samuel. I was afraid of myself.

If I could lose control over myself like that, how could I trust myself not to go to Samuel at some point? I put my own son's life in danger because I gave into my hormones and my wolf. One would think that I would have learned by now, not to trust anyone, including myself. Did I learn? No. I obviously just proved that I'm a horrible mother, and all the running, magic and love in the world couldn't change that.

I shook my head and then muttered an incantation to disguise my car, appearance and scent. It was obvious that Samuel would try to track me and that Hauptman would follow close behind. I activated the glamour charm around Caleb's neck, started the car and pulled out slowly. This was tricky business, but I was determined to get my new apartment cleared out. There wasn't much in the small two bedroom space, but that was for this very reason. We ran quickly up through the halls as another piece of potentially handy information came to mind.

Samuel and I had shared a moment today directly after our wolves mated where our entire lives had been presented before one another. It was how I had known about his love of children, occupation, parentage, etc. This also meant he knew everything about me—including the location of my current apartment. I cursed and quickened my pace feeling something relative to a tug on the mate bond, almost like he was trying to force me to open up by having his side open full blast. Well, it wasn't going to work.

Fighting the ache that bubbled up in my chest at leaving the area I had met Samuel, I packed our meager belongings into our bags. It wasn't much, and everything we did have was mostly in suit cases all the time, anyway. The apartment was on the first floor. It didn't have much of a view, but it meant that I had easy in and out access to my car in case of a situation like this. I had learned a couple years ago, when we were in Utah, that places high up and away from the street and my vehicle were not good for trying to escape.

I was almost finished gathering up the last smaller items in our kitchen when the sounds of a group of men reached me. The clerk's conversation about a woman of my description floated to my ears while I continued to pack. Luckily, Caleb was waiting in the car and not with me. With a quick check about me for anything I may have missed, I spotted my cell phone on the counter, grabbed it, and stuffed it in the main pocket of the backpack I had.

I was now only in short cut-off jeans, the undershirt I had had on under my suit, and sneakers. Layers always came in handy when you needed to change as quickly as possible. I left the key on the floor next to the door and stole out of the apartment as quietly as possible. It would have looked like no one had been in that furnished apartment, that it was awaiting a tenant. Well, it would have, if the apartment building attendant had taken more time in talking to the men looking for me.

"Sir don't go into that hallway! It's for tenants only!" The attendant protested at the same time someone came around the corner. I forced myself not to run, to wait and look natural until I heard footsteps. Seeing the staff bathroom, I stepped in casually as the 'were's—and he was a 'were, my nose informed me—footsteps followed my course. I went to the last stall. I listened carefully, waiting. My feet were perched precariously on top of the toilet seat, my hands resting easily on the top edges of the stall.

The quiet "whoosh" of the door being eased open met my sensitive ears. Booted feet continued to pad toward me while stall doors swung open, some squealing. When the boots stopped near my slightly opened door, I switched my weight to my hands and kicked out the door with as much force as I could muster. I heard a grunt and saw an enormous dark-skinned man hit the floor. He seemed to be knocked out; however, I wasn't sticking around to find out. He didn't look like a normal person of African descent. His eyes were too squinty and his hair wasn't frizzy or curled enough. Not letting this stop me from leaving, I leaped over him and had just touched back down on the ground when a strong hand caught my ankle. He yanked and I almost went down. I began to silently throw thank you's left and right at my bitchy parents for training me in so many fighting styles--fighting styles that enforce good stance and balance.

Instead, I let his pull carry me back so I could drop all my weight on him. He hadn't expected that, and felt all of my one-hundred and ninety pounds of pure muscle and bone fall on him. I slammed in elbow back into his already sore face and got blood on my arm. He snaked a hand up, under my arm to the opposite side of my neck and tried to choke me. I slammed my elbow in his face again, grabbed at his hair and smashed his head into the floor. He growled and shoved me off him. I rolled up to my feet and spun to face him. He got up just as I realized that he had thrown me in just the right way to corner me.

The dark-skinned man stood between me and the door. He wiped an arm across his face to get rid of the blood and put up his hands in a fighting guard. We circled one way, and then he'd turn the other way, forcing me to keep my distance and stay away from the door. I cursed inwardly. Suddenly, he rushed me and I moved out of the way, but not quick enough. He caught me about the waist and swung me forcefully into a wall, rattling a mirror from its fixture above the sinks on my left. The mirror shattered on the tiled floor while I struggled to remain on my feet. I threw punches and elbows, some hitting, some not.

My opponent slammed me in the gut, knocking the breath from my lungs. I saw dark spots and had to blink. Shaking my head, I suddenly lost my ability to breathe as two strong hands caught my throat. I raked my eyes up to stare forcefully into the 'were's face. He was dominant but shouldn't stand a chance. Instead, he ignored my gaze and pressed harder. My lungs cried out, yearning for the air I was unable to give them. I forced myself to remain calm and recall my years of training. I snaked my right arm over his left, under his right, locked my fingers together with my other hand and wrenched to my right. I broke his grip and gasped air into my bruised throat.

I simply refused to lose a fight to anyone while I had Caleb to take care of.

And when I took into account my anger and shame at letting myself go anywhere with someone, allowing myself to trust a man, my blood thirst hit a peak. Now I just wanted to kick someone's ass.

I brought up my knee and smashed it as hard as I could into the 'were's groin. His eyes grew to the size of saucers as he grunted and fell to his knees, cupping himself. I shook my head at him.

"Never try to take on a Ravenwood, you stupid son of a bitch. You'll only get your ass handed to you, and lose your ability to breed," I spat at him while I sauntered past and out the door—

—Right into the hands of Adam Hauptman. He grabbed me and pinned my arms to my sides with a grim look on his face. He called over my shoulder while I struggled against his toned arms, "Hey, Darryl, you gonna be okay?" I heard a grunt of something but couldn't pay attention. My focus was directed on one thing: the little boy who was slung over a large man's shoulder. The werewolf with my son on his shoulder looked nice enough, and was wearing a cowboy hat. However, regardless of that, I hated him with a passion for touching my boy.

My eyes opened wide and fearful as a deer's. My son was slumped and not moving. Rage ran through my veins with the pouring adrenaline. I fought even harder against Adam. I rasped out, "Let go of my son! Put him down, or I swear I'll rip all of your hearts out!" Some of the 'were's cowered at my command, shying away from the force or my order, or the volume of my voice, maybe. I didn't care. What I cared about was getting my son far, far away from here. Adam grunted as I cursed them all and pushed and shoved and fought with every ounce of strength I had.

Finally, my wolf, after being silent in mourning for the loss of Samuel, woke up with the sight of our son, limp and unmoving. Once I got a hand free, I cocked it back and slammed it as hard as I could into Adam's face. His head jerked back and hit the door frame behind him. I started to run at the 'were with my son only to be caught my two more wolves, who were snarling in my ears. Apparently, wolves don't take too nicely to their Alpha being punched by a woman. Tears ran down my face. "My son! Give me back my boy, you bastards! What did you do to him? Caleb? Caleb!" I feared the worst for my son, my devastation and rage pouring out in expletives and blows on my captors, but I never got any closer to my boy.

Unexpectedly, I felt something prick me in the arm. Gradually, my vision grew darker, my movements more sluggish. My wolf cried out, fighting against the drug they had administered to me. She tried to take control, to force a Change, but they had given me enough sedative to knock out a horse. I was helpless. I cried and reached out to my son, seeing sympathy on the face of the man who held him. No one reassured me; in fact, most just sneered at me as I finally lost consciousness.

It was official; my worst nightmares were becoming reality.