I woke up curled up in a luxurious canopied bed. Sitting up for a moment, I looked around, disoriented, forgetting where I was. Then it all hit me at once. Vampires. Trade. Henry, Ruby, my best friend, and Regina. I flopped back with a huff, what was I going to do?

Not mope around, I thought to myself. With a sigh, I sat back up and clamored out of bed rather clumsily. I stepped over to the wardrobe and picked out the most casual looking suit I could find, then went to run myself a bath.

I lay in the tub, contemplating my next move, refusing to let my thoughts stray toward a certain lady vampire. I would need to find Henry and speak with him. He needed convincing to return to the pack and I was going to do just that. I wondered if I might find Ruby anywhere too. I wanted some answers and I had a feeling Ruby might know some of them. Now if I could only avoid a certain vampiress or at least control myself around her, I would be happy.

I relaxed as I scrubbed over myself. It was warm in the tub and I was finally able to enjoy a moment to alone. I closed my eyes, I needed this. I felt my muscles loosening. I kept my thoughts as far from Regina as I could, but once again, as a light throbbing wound itself up between my legs, I found I couldn't hold back anymore. I huffed. I would need to relieve that or be tense for the rest of the day.

I hummed as I allowed images of that damned vampiress to settle into my mind. A wolf's memory, once it caught onto an image, could keep it forever. I thought of her, head thrown back in ecstasy as I ran hands over my own soapy breasts and caressed back and forth across my chest. I gasped to my own delight at the thought of the taste of her skin in my mouth as I pinched at my own nipples. I relished in the memory of her slickness as I slid a hand down, down beneath the water and into my own slick folds. I pumped in and out with two fingers, brushing my thumb over my clit as I brought myself to orgasm, the memory of her calling my name an echo in my ears. I bit my lip as I came so as not to call her name out loud in my own pleasure-bringing.

I came out of my haze slowly, shaking my head, a slight feeling of shame in the pit of my stomach. Is was so out of control for this woman. What was I going to do?

I finished my bath and toweled dry. My hair I pulled up into a tail.

I dressed in the suit I had pulled out of the wardrobe and tugged on the blazer. Though I had to admit the clothing I had in this place made me look smooth, I still longed for my old leather jackets, my casual sweaters, and my jeans. Maybe I could see if there was a way I could get some other clothing here?

I opened a box atop a stand next to the wardrobe that I had noticed this morning. It held a fortune in jewelry. My brows shot up on my forehead. I picked out a very nice gold watch with diamonds in place of the numbers. At least these vampires had taste. I put it on and clicked it into place, noting that it was around 5 in the afternoon. The vampires were probably not even awake yet.

The sitting room looked was perfectly rearranged, everything put back into place, all of the broken objects either mended or replaced. I picked my way around the furniture, shaking my head at my own lack of self-control last night.

I stepped out into the passageway and found a human thrall walking past my door. I stopped him.

"Excuse me, do you know where I might find my brother, Henry around this time?" I asked him.

The thrall stared at me for a moment, as though he were processing the question, then he answered hypnotically, "Master Henry is most likely in the grand hall as he usually is this early in the evening."

I nodded. "Thank you."

I let him continue on as I made my way toward the grand hall. As I rounded the passage into the hall, I heard my brother laughing as he spoke to someone else.

I walked out to see him speaking to one of the werewolves from dinner last night. A scruffy looking, brunette man, with a full beard and wavy hair. He seemed to be telling my brother a story as the boy listened intently.

As I reached the bottom step, the two of them turned to look at me. The scruffy wolf ruffled Henry's hair, told him "Later" in an accented voice and walked away with just a slight glance in my direction.

I watched him go.

"Who was that?" I asked Henry as I sat beside him on the stone bench he occupied in the hall.

Henry kicked his feet back and forth as stared at the flagstones below him.

"Graham." He replied singularly.

I frowned. Normally my brother liked to give me more details than was necessary. I reached an arm out and draped it over his shoulders.

"Henry-," I began.

He stopped me short.

"Look, I know why you want to talk to me, Emma, and I'm not going back. I don't want to go back. There's not enough reasons for me to go back, you're here and I'm not about to go back to that. Regina needs me here, okay? And, and I like it here. A lot." Henry shot out frantically as he stared up at me.

I gazed at him, hard, attempting to detect any signs of any lies or manipulation. Not sensing any, I groaned and threw my head into my hands.

"Henry! And what am I supposed to do? The pack made a deal, me for you. And you know perfectly well why I can't leave you here. If these… If the vampire's find out about you, they could use you against us!" I glowered at the boy. I need him to understand. He needed to return home. He needed to go back.

Henry shook his head. "No. They treat me differently. Our sisters, mom, everyone."

His brown and green eyes met my own blue and green ones. I knew he was right. The family had always treated him different, but how was a family of pure wolves supposed to raise a child who could do what he could? Wolves didn't wield magic. Particularly not a brand of magic that could allow someone to bring light or darkness, the full moon at the wrong phase of the month, night in the daytime or vice-versa. What if the vampire's found out and forced him to keep the wolves in eternal Wolf's Time, unable to fully control their transformations?

"Henry, but what if these vampire's find out? What will happen then? You'll be safer with the pack." I implored, I needed him to see the situation we could end up in.

Henry kicked at the flagstones below his feet. "Regina would never do that! She would never make a wolf do something they didn't want to do!"

I stared at him, what was he saying? Was I, was he not a prisoner? Were the other werewolves here not prisoners?

"She cares about us, Em! Yeah, I know she calls us pets, but that's only so that the other vampire's won't see her as weak. We aren't her pets, not really. The pack here, Emma, they're sworn to her. They're like her private guard. Whenever she leaves to go topside we go with her to protect her. She's not safe amongst her own kind, just give her a chance and you'll see that!" At this point, Henry had jumped up from his seat and was staring at me a look of determination in his eyes.

I blinked up at him. Henry never got his fiery unless he really believed in something and if he was this adamant about her, then nothing was going to change his mind. I sighed, I felt a headache building. It seemed my brother would not be going home anytime soon.

I glared at him.

"Looks like I'm stuck here either way." I told him. "I'm not sure if what you're telling me is true, but I guess if I'm going to be stuck here, I'll be finding out soon enough."

"I won't try to convince you again." I conceded.

Henry broke out in a huge grin. He leapt over to me and wrapped me up in a huge hug.

"You'll see what I mean Ems, it's not great here, the vampires are kind of annoying, but I just annoy them right back. The pack is just awesome and the humans are nice and Regina is so good to us, you'll get it eventually!" He declared as he grasped tightly then me let go.

"I have to go, I have lessons with Ser Glass and he is a bit weird, I don't want to be late!" And with that, Henry hurried off, leaving me alone on the bench to think about the situation at hand.

I put my head into my hands with a groan. This situation was so not what it was supposed to be. Then again, when was anything ever what it was supposed to be? I knew I had to stay behind despite the breaking of the deal. Henry needed someone to watch over him and to ensure no one found out the truth, and if anyone did, to make sure he got out of here before they tried to use him against the wolves.

A familiar scent approaching me brought my head up. Ruby stalked toward me, she wore a short, leopard print dress, furs draped over her shoulders. Her customary red streak still decorated her dark brown hair, the same streak that had earned her the nickname "Red" among the wolves.

"Hey Ems." Ruby greeted cheerfully.

I smiled at Ruby. It never mattered how bad of a mood I was in, she always cheered me up. Even with just a smile.

"Hey there beautiful, when is the last time I saw you? Two years ago?" I joked, though not without a bit of an ache inside.

Ruby nodded. "A long time."

"A long time, indeed." I agreed.

"So…." I began, awkwardly.

Ruby turned to grin at me widely.

"So what Ems?" She replied cheekily.

I hesitated, then Ruby laughed.

"Okay, come on, I know you have questions, spill." She insisted slapping me on the shoulder.

I smiled. She knew me all too well.

"Okay well… I guess… Tell me the story, I mean, the whole story, how did you get here? Why are you, I don't know, a pet of a vampiress?" I asked, stumbling over how to word my question.

Ruby seemed to fight it for a moment for my sake but then she ended up bursting out laughing.

"Oh, oh my goodness! Emma! Ems, I'm not a pet. Why would I ever let anyone do that to me? Hahaha. Wolf's Mother, no way, seriously, Ems. What made you think that?" She a batted at my arm playfully as she laughed, then stopped, composing herself as she saw I was not laughing.

I glared at her.

"If we're not pets, why do we wear collars? And why does Regina treat me like she does? And why does she seem to have some kind of hold over you all?" I demanded, my gaze intent, daring Ruby to lie.

Ruby shook her head.

"Oh Emma, she has to put on a show for the vampires of this household. If they see that we're not pets, but her trusted confidants, her private guard, the ones she deems to be her true inner circle, not only are we in danger, but she is too. I mean, have you ever heard of a vampire that keeps werewolves close?" She replied with a sigh.

I contemplated Ruby's words. No, not that I had ever known. Of course, most werewolves stayed away from vampires and the vampires did the same of werewolves. When paths did cross, it was usually in territorial disputes which ended in bloodshed. No. Vampire's and werewolves kept far apart. Particularly after the Blood Moon Wars of the Dark Ages.

I pressed on, "That still doesn't explain her behavior towards me."

Ruby tilted her head at this.

"Would this be related to the noises I overheard last night coming from down the passageway? Or does it have to do with the whole mockery and making you feel off balance thing?" Ruby questioned with a smirk.

I felt my face heating up. Were we that loud?

Ruby laughed long and hard as I huffed, I forgot how this girl could be.

"She's just testing you. As far as the whole sex-thing, I don't know about that, she can be pretty insatiable and she seems to have a particular draw towards you lately…" Ruby trailed off, contemplating something.

I changed the subject. I wasn't ready to get into that.

"Who are these other wolves?" I asked quickly before she could ask me about it.

Ruby narrowed blue eyes at me, but she let it go.

"Their names are Mulan, Will, and Graham." She told me easily.

I nodded. Then I asked, "Will you tell me about them?"

Ruby crossed her legs and adjusted her furs, "I can tell you a little bit, but I think it would do you better for you to hear their stories from them, you know? I'll give you a short bit about each one, so you have some idea of who you're going to be packing with."

"So who first?" She asked me.

I shrugged, then thought of the scruffy bearded man I had seen with Henry earlier that day.

"Uhh, how about Graham. Where's he from, why is he here?" I asked, his accent had suggest someplace in Europe, but I didn't get a good enough sentence out of him to place it.

Ruby smiled widely.

"Oh he's from Scotland, he's handsome. Henry likes him. He's a turned wolf. Anyway, as for why he is here, I will let him tell you that." Ruby replied as she examined her nails. It seemed if I wanted the more personal details of some of my fellow wolves, I would have to ask them myself.

"Mulan?" I wondered.

"West coast Chinese wolf pack. She's a tough one. Strong, can fight really well. Graham's our Alpha, Mulan is our second. She could probably take Alpha, but she doesn't want it for some reason." Ruby went on, she had always been the best to go to for gossip among the packs when we were growing up, seemed that that had not changed even while spending time amongst vampires.

"Will?" I asked next.

"He was a hunter. Turned wolf, like Graham. He hates what he used to do, never liked hunting, did it to find his wife who was taken by a vampire. Found her now though, she's a vampire herself. It's a complicated situation." Ruby replied grimly.

I watched Ruby for a moment before she turned to meet my eyes.

"Anything else?" She queried.

"Yes, you still haven't told me the whole story as to how you ended up here." I told her.

Ruby opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted as a thrall approached us.

"Excuse me, Madame Ruby?" The human, a dark-haired male inquired as he stood before the lanky brunette.

"Yes?" Ruby answered.

"Mistress Regina wanted me to inform you that she will be taking the evening to herself and that is up to you and the pack to decide on how you will dine tonight. She does not wish to be disturbed." He told my friend politely. I felt both strangely disappointed and relieved that I would not be seeing Regina tonight.

Ruby nodded.

The man bowed and walked away.

"They're awfully polite." I remarked to the brunette.

Ruby looked at me surprise.

"Thralls reflect the vampire who controls them. Of course they're polite, they all belong to Regina and those in her specific household, so they had best be polite." Ruby informed me quietly.

"Back to my question." I demanded suddenly. I was not letting her gets away before I had my answer.

"Fine, fine, fine." Ruby huffed.

"Ugh. Okay, but I'm giving you the short version." She informed me as she settled herself comfortably.

"So you know how my pack was attacked right? Hunters slaughtered the group?" I nodded.

"Well, my mother and I we were the last ones alive, and were running for it. The rest of the pack had sacrificed themselves to make sure we got away. And well, my mother, she had just sacrificed herself to save me…" Ruby trailed off, she seemed to be gathering her thoughts. I listened remembering the details of when they had found her pack. Her mother, the Alpha of the pack, Anita's body had been found miles away, riddled with arrows. Paw prints showed that another wolf had been near her, but that wolf seemed to have been taken. By whom and to where, no one had been able to figure out. All anyone had been able to figure out was the wolf's identity: Anita's second, Ruby.

"But then, my mother's sacrifice was about to be for nothing. A group of hunters cornered me and the next I knew, shadows came from the sky and the humans were being held down one by one. It was vampires. Regina's vampires to be exact. She had been on her own hunt it seemed when she had heard humans attacking wolves. She killed them. Had her vamps suck them dry and dispose of the bodies then took me home with her. That's where I met these guys. She offered me a new pack. She gave me time to think about it, but I couldn't refuse, Em. She had saved my life." Ruby said this last part with awe, it seemed that Regina had earned her allegiance that night, her loyalty in the greatest way any creature could earn any wolf's.

She turned and smiled at me, as I watched her quietly. It seemed that the wolves here were indeed, loyal to a vampire.

"Okay." I stated quietly, accepting her answer. Ruby was the sincerest person I knew, but I still had mixed feelings about this situation.

Ruby reached over and squeezed my thigh. "How does a private dinner in my room, just you, me, the wolf pack, and little Hen? We keep the vamps out and you can get to know everyone better? We can even throw back a few drinks and after Henry goes to bed and have some fun, how does that sound?"

I gave Ruby a small smile.

"That sounds just fine." I complied, agreeably.

Ruby jumped up gleefully. "Good, I'll grab a thrall and have them inform the cooks and the res of the pack and we'll meet in my room around midnight, shall we? We can even have a bit of deer meat, I know that's one of your favorites."

I smiled as Ruby skipped off then made my way back to my room. I entered and was met by the sight of Regina leaning against the fireplace.

"Ah, Miss Swan-Chaser, I was wondering when you might return." Regina opened with those spine caressing vocals.

"And how long have I kept you waiting, your vampiressness?" I replied with an edge of sarcasm to my voice. I couldn't help it, I always felt the need to guard myself around this woman.

Regina raised a brow at me. It seemed she noticed.

"Don't worry, Em-ma. I did not come her for sex." The way she said my name was pure sex, so that second sentence threw me off. "I simply came to talk before I take the night to myself. I am sure you could use the break. It has after all been an exhausting time for you, I am sure."

I maintained my distance as I stepped over to the bar to pour myself a shot of whiskey.

"Then talk." I told her uncaring as I downed the shot. The next drink I poured, I made sure to throw a few cubes of ice into. I was going to take this drink nice and slow.

Regina had been watching me with narrowed eyes the entire time. A hunger lay behind them, albeit, one she kept hidden.

I huffed.

"Are you just going to stare or are you going to tell me what it is you wanted to talk about?" I demanded.

Regina smirked then drew hands along the dark red blouse and black skirt she wore. I couldn't help but watch the movement, my eyes drawn not only to the delicateness of her hands, but the cleavage that peaked out from the top of her blouse, where the top buttons were left teasingly undone. I felt an itch to undo the rest of the blouse enter my skull. No, I told myself. Control.

I brought the tumbler to my lips and drank, waiting.

Finally, she spoke, "Well, Emma, as you know, packs have a hierarchy that is maintained through specific rules and roles. My pack is a motley crew of misfits and pickups if you haven't learned yet. Graham has been the Alpha for a while now, mostly due to the fact that he was my first, but also because he is indeed, the strongest. However, I do believe you could change that. Graham has expressed a desire to give the pack over to another Alpha, however, his second does not want the position. If you were to officially join my pack…. And say, challenge Graham and defeat him, he would be able to hand off his position."

I furrowed my brows as she spoke. How did a vampire know of the roles and rules of the pack like that?

"So you want me to take Graham's place as Alpha?" I questioned, incredulous.

She nodded.

"Why?"

Regina bit her lip. For a moment, I was lost in the sensuality of her as I watched her tap a finger against the scar on her lip. I longed to press my lips against hers but knew I needed to hold out for the time being.

"You have the experience. From what Henry has told me, you are the strongest in your pack, you're smart. He has told me that you would do anything to protect him. To protect the ones you care the most about. I think, given time, you could care about this pack as much as your family."

Henry had spoken to her? I wondered. What all has he told her? My eyes widened in fear. I refused to let myself think the next string of thoughts.

Regina merely smirked as she sauntered toward me.

"Will you at least consider it?" She asked, an edge of something underlying her request. A hint of the dangers I was walking, perhaps?

I frowned. Then nodded reluctantly.

"I'll think about it."

Regina grinned widely.

"Well, Miss Swan-Chaser, then that concludes our talk." As she walked by me towards the door, I couldn't help but grab her wrist.

She looked up at me in surprise as I looked down at the hand that had grabbed her with the same emotion. Then I looked into her eyes and drew her into a kiss.

I held her there for several long moments, kissing her long, and deep. Something inside of me roared for her touch. My blood pumped for her bite, I knew it deep down. I suppressed the urge. I just needed this contact for the moment.

Regina pulled back.

"Later, Emma." Regina told me regretfully as she pushed me back with one hand and continued her way out.

I watched her go, something akin to a mixture of relief, confusion and disappointment filling my bones as she left the room.

Around midnight, a human thrall directed me to Ruby's room three glass doors away from mine. I knocked, and Henry opened the door, throwing his arms around me in an excited hug. I forgot how much of a hugger this kid could be.

"Hey Hen, what's for dinner?" I joked as Ruby had told me earlier.

Henry excitedly told me anyway, not noticing my tone, the kid loved food as much as I did. "Wild deer, caught on the pack's last hunt!"

I ruffled his hair as I entered the room. He followed as I sat next to Ruby on the sofa. The bearded-faced Graham sat on the floor, an Asian woman with smooth muscles sat next to him on the other side of the coffee table. Another man, I supposed had to be Will sat in a chair next to the sofa.

"Emma, this is Graham," Ruby pointed at the bearded man who gave me a polite nod, "Mulan" she gestured toward the Asian woman who smiled at me serenely, "and Will." The other man smiled charmingly at me. His dark brown hair was left in crew cut.

"Emma here is of course the newest in the pack. She… Well, she didn't come here in the ways we did so, of course, she might need some convincing." Ruby told the group.

Will nodded, then began to speak, his voice accented, "Aye, well, I would right hard time believing it myself if I hadn't lived it. Werewolves working with a vampire, but we do it and we have each sworn an oath to her."

They all watched me intently. I looked to Ruby. She shrugged then tilted her head at the group, as if to say, give it a shot.

"I guess, I just… it would help if I knew the reasons why?" I threw out to the group.

Everyone looked to Graham. As Alpha, he could decide how this entire conversation ran. Graham shrugged.

"Sure, we can do that, but how about the food first? Stories make people hungry." He pointed out.

Henry and I agreed wholeheartedly with that. Ruby clapped her hands and a thrall entered the room, a large covered platter in his hands.

The thrall placed the platter in the center of the coffee table and pulled off the cover to reveal several cuts of deer meat. Ruby went over to pour drinks.

She placed a whiskey sour before me. It seemed my friend remembered my go-to drinks. With a smile, I lifted my drink in a silent toast and took a sip. I licked my lips and noted the pineapple chunk and orange slice at the bottom. Just how I liked it.

I grabbed a couple of slices of deer meat and ate quickly. The group was quiet as they ate. It seemed these wolves knew the importance of not disturbing other werewolves when eating.

Finally, I sat back, satisfied. Ruby picked up glass to refill it.

"Story time?" Henry inquired.

Graham chucked good-naturedly. "Yes, young pup, story time. How about we start with you?"

Henry grinned. "Okay!"

"Umm… So I guess it starts when I was with my sister, Sylvia. She was supposed to be meeting to make nice with another pack when I don't know, everything went wrong." Henry paused, as if trying to remember some details.

I stared at him. I had heard Sylvia's version. The attack, the sudden fall-through of the negotiations, the wolf packs had begun attacking one another and in the chaos, my brother Henry had gone missing. One moment, things were going as planned, then some vampires attacked, the two packs blamed one another and were at one another's throats within seconds.

"I remember smelling them. The vampires from the other household. I was in the lounge reading, when they attacked. They smelled weird. Like they were crazed, ya know? Anyways I remember hearing the werewolves attacking one another inside of the meeting room and when that happened, I remembered what Sylvia told me. She had told me, if anything went wrong, to run home." Henry wrapped his arms around his legs.

"But then the other pack, some of them chased me and surrounded me. They were going to use me as leverage. I remember them saying. I used-," He broke off, wide eyed before he could finish that sentence.

I realized then what must have happened. Henry must have used his ability. He must have used it against them. His magic.

He continued in awe, "That's when she swooped in. She came out of nowhere in a puff of purple smoke and saved me. She wrapped me up in her arms and I felt so safe… I just knew I was safe."

Henry met my eyes as he said it, "That's why I can't leave her. She makes me feel safe. You make me feel safe, Em, but she, Regina, makes me feel safer."

My heart ached, knowing, just knowing the truth that rung deep down within. If only he knew, I thought to myself.

Graham smiled at the boy and reached over to ruffle his hair.

"He's practically the spirit of the group." He claimed.

Something bothered me though.

"But why trade Henry?" I asked. "Why find his pack if he so clearly would want to stay?"

"I think I can answer that." Graham told me.

"Henry is too young. She can't use him yet. Groom him maybe, but she isn't interested in that. She wanted someone older and wiser and figured a trade for the second to the Alpha might be doable, particularly when she found out Henry was the only male in the pack." Graham pointed knowledgeably.

Will nodded. "That sounds like Regina. She's a master negotiator and the like."

"Okaaay…" I accepted their answers.

Graham looked around.

"I guess I'm next?" He asked the group.

The night continued as such. I learned that Graham had been turned by his wolf pack and taken from his family as a child. He was made a slave to his family and forced to do their bidding until one day when he challenged the Alpha for his freedom. At that point, he would have rather died then continue being a slave. He lost, nearly dying in the process. Regina found him in a pool of his own blood. He had been her first. She healed him and made him an offer he couldn't refuse. He swore himself to her and became her Alpha.

Mulan was the only child to her parents who belonged to a larger pack. She wanted to fight, but the Alpha had decided her best use was for "breeding purposes". Mulan didn't want that life. She had also fallen in love. With a woman. When the Alpha found out, he forced her out. She wandered for a long time. Regina found her in a fight club, using her supernatural strength to her advantage. Regina offered a pack, the ability to make her own choices and to never have to be with anyone she didn't want to be with.

Will had been a hunter. He had belong to a group called the Merry Men. He had joined when his wife Anya had been taken by vampires, in the hopes that they might help him find her. Then he realized they treated hunting as more of a sport. One day, he got bit by a wolf. He hid it, but knew if the Merry Men caught wind of it, they would hunt him and kill him, so he ran. He wasn't so lucky though, a small group had found him in hiding and found out about his affliction. He had no pack, nothing. Regina came in and saved him. He didn't trust her himself at first, but she helped him find his wife, who was now a vampire, and being kept by the very vampire who had turned her.

By the time Will finished his story, we all looked to see that Henry had fallen asleep, leaned against Graham. I smiled at the sight, Henry had always wanted an older brother.

"I'll take him to his room and we can continue this discussion." Graham stated as he picked the boy up with both arms and carried him out of the room.

I stared into the fire Ruby had built during Graham's story. It seemed that each of these wolves had a true a legitimate reason for being loyal to Regina, the vampiress. How did she do it? I wondered to myself.

Graham returned as Ruby handed me another drink, a straight whiskey on the rocks. It was my sixth drink of the night.

"So Emma, do you have anything else you want to know?" Graham asked me in his heavy accent.

I shrugged.

"Honestly, my head is still swirling over this entire thing. But hey, I guess give it a few day, and I'll adjust, right?"

Everyone just smiled or chuckled in return at me.

I looked Graham square in the eye as I tested him. "Regina did visit me earlier today. She mentioned something about me challenging you for the position of Alpha."

Graham straightened as I said this. He seemed to perk up with interest with the possibility of a challenge.

"She did, did she?" he insisted.

I nodded slyly. "I'm not sure if I want to though. I haven't sworn myself to her yet."

Graham visibly deflated.

"Well, you had best be sure if and when you do challenge me, I won't go easy on you." He warned as he eyed me warily.

Ruby spoke up from next to me, she had listened quietly during most of the stories, playing hostess most of the night, pouring drinks, keeping the fire and ensuring everyone was comfortable; "I'm surprised Regina took a night alone, she rarely ever does that."

I leaned back.

"I'm fine with it." I mentioned as I took a long sip of my whiskey.

"Is it just me, or is it always intense around her?" I blurted suddenly. It must have been the whiskey.

Everyone laughed.

"That's just Regina." Will said.

"Ha, wait until you see Regina around the full moon." Mulan commented.

"Ooooooh yes, she becomes something else entirely then." Ruby added, nodding.

"Although, I have noticed she does seem to be quite a bit more intense around you, why is that?" Graham questioned me as the entire group all stopped their musings to look at me intently.

I froze. Crap.

"Come on Em, why does it seem like the great vampire lady has such an effect on you? And the other way?" Ruby asked me with wolf-puppy eyes. I scowled. I never could resist that look.

"Fine. I was bit by Regina five years ago when she turned, you happy? She was dying, I didn't think to check her wounds to see if it might be due to a bite and well, I was in the wrong place, wrong time and she marked me." I confessed.

"So you're the one. The one that started it all." Ruby remarked in awe.

I frowned at my best friend, "What?"

"The Great Werewolf Obsession." Ruby laughed. She threw an arm over her stomach.

Graham, Will, and Mulan all exchanged looks.

"Maybe you'll be able to help her satiate that thirst around Wolf's Time." Mulan decreed with a nod as she stood, stretching.

I frowned.

"What do you mean?" I questioned as the group began to get up and move around.

"You'll find out next Full Moon, so, soon." Will commented as he picked up a black leather jacket he had draped over the back of the chair when Ruby had gotten the fire going.

I stood and stretched. It seemed everyone had decided it was time to turn in for the night.

I walked over to Ruby, who placed glasses over by a sink at the bar.

"Thanks Ruby, and goodnight." I whispered as I hugged her. It did feel good to have my best friend in my arms again.

"Goodnight, Ems." She replied with her wide smile.

I waved as I walked out. I could smell each of the wolves' scents as I passed each glass door. Will's rooms were next to Ruby's, I could scent out Graham's next, then Mulan closest to my room. I realized they must have all heard mine and Regina's activities the night before as I closed the door to my room. I shook my head. That was the problem with being a werewolf, the senses were too sensitive.

A notecard with my name written in pretty, handwritten script stood out on the bar. I picked it up as I passed by it on the way to my room.

I pulled my hair out of the tail as I read over the script:

Emma,

It would please me to no end if you would join me for an evening alone tomorrow night at 7pm. I will send one of my people to come bring you to my quarters at the assigned time. Something you would wear to a fancy dinner would be appropriate for the occasion.

All Regards,

Regina

I flopped back onto the bed with a sigh, my golden blonde hair falling around me, the card still in my hand. I did not know how to feel about this situation anymore. A werewolf, lusting after a vampire.