VERY IMPORTANT: Okay, thankfully, my sis brought this to my attention. I didn't make it clear that Cain hasn't transformed yet either. That's why he was sitting with her during the Dark Guardian/Elders meeting. Those who haven't changed yet are novices, who sit to the side. I think it's a sign of respect or something. However, I will make it clearer in the next chapter! I'm sorry for the confusion.

I have also noticed that I have a big thing for the name Alex. Alexis and Alexandra are the current names of my main characters in both my stories. I also noticed that I have a thing for fire and water. Well, truthfully, I have always had a thing for fire and water, but I subconsciously put it in both stories.

Disclaimer: I ain't Rachel Hawthorne, and I don't own the Dark Guardian series.

APOV(Alexandra)

Strange enough, no one seemed to worry about what the Elders and I were discussing. I had planned to tell them everything. Stranger than that, Cain seemed to be unusually happy. Not that he wasn't normally happy, there was just something different in him.

Like this morning, at breakfast, his eyes had something different in them, a livelier orange than normal.

"I don't know." He said. "Normally when I have orange, it means I'm angry," he flipped a spoon and looked at them, "But they are normally darker, then." He stared at them for a few seconds, and then he got this knowing look on his face, which turned to a huge smile.

"What?" I asked with mouthful of berry pancakes.

"Why don't you use syrup?" he asked me. I knew he was trying to change the subject.

"It's good either way," I said. "This way's healthier."

"Alex," he said, "You're a Shifter. You don't have to worry about that."

"I know, it's just you never know." I said. Truthfully, I was a lot like Brittany. I didn't know what to expect from my first transformation. So, secretly, I have been trying to be as fit as possible. I had a feeling I would have to go through my first transformation alone.

"You really shouldn't be worrying about that." He said, reading my mind I assume. "You never know. You might not go through it alone."

"Yeah," I said. "You like this reading mind thing, don't you?"

"It's all right." He said. "It does get annoying."

"How? I would love to be able read minds." I said, looking at my hands. I knew that if I did have his power I would love to read his mind. It would be better than being scared to touch anyone. I don't know how to control this power, and I don't want to risk hurting someone.

"Well, back at the meeting, I could only read your mind," he started. "Here, I can read everyone's mind. Right now, it sounds like fifty people are whispering in my ears at once." I felt sorry for him. He probably doesn't even know his own thoughts are. "Luckily, I can hear yours loud at clear. I don't know how, but you shut the voices up."

That was shocking to say the least. It excited me that I help brought peace to his mind, but it also scared me that he knew exactly what I thought.

I could only smile as a response. It must have been a minute or two before I realized that we were just staring at each other, and that Lucas was standing quieting in front of us.

"Excuse me, Alex," Lucas started. That was embarrassing. It wasn't like Cain and I were doing anything, but I'm a bit of a private person. "But I need to talk to Cain in private."

I smiled and nodded at Lucas. It's not like I own him or anything. I can't stop him from that, and he certainly didn't have to explain himself to me. Cain smiled at me as he walked off with Lucas. Kayla and Lindsey took his place. They had a big, knowing smile on their face.

"May I help the two of you?" I asked.

"Did you hear about the bonfire tonight?" Lindsey asked overly excited for just a little bonfire. I nodded. "Well, are you going?"

"I don't know." I said. I don't think I should be near fire right now. Kayla and Lindsey looked worried. I didn't understand why. It's not like I have to be there.

"You know Cain's going to be there." Brittany said, sitting down at the table. You know, it might be a good idea to get use to fire. Who you trying to fool, Alex? You want to see Cain. I blushed, thinking that Cain would be near to hear my thoughts. The three of them smiled as if they could read my mind like him.

"So, you'll be there?" Kayla asked.

I bit my lip already regretting my decision. "Yeah, I'll go."

They all hugged me at once, and Lindsey grabbed my arm to pull me up carefully, avoiding harming my injuries. "Come on. We have to get you ready."

Before I could even protest, the three of them were gently pulling me to my room. Lindsey and Brittany went to their room to get 'supplies'.

"Why are we getting ready so early? The bonfire's tonight." I asked.

"First off, we aren't getting ready; we are getting you ready. Second, it's three o'clock; the bonfire's at seven." She said. My mouth dropped. I've really lost track of time. Plus, they are going to spend four hours getting me ready! What takes four hours?

Brittany and Lindsey walked in with arms full of clothes, hair products, and make-up. They spread everything out on the beds. After a minute, it started looking more like a department store than a bed.

"Curly or straight?" Lindsey asked.

"Curly," Brittany said.

"Straight," Kayla said.

They started discussing why and why not I should do my hair their way. This is getting ridiculous. What's so important about this bonfire? I love them, but they are so confusing at times.

"Let's do curly." Lindsey said, handing me heat-resistant shampoo, condition, and some kind of fruity body scrub-wash stuff.

"Body scrub?" I asked hypocritically arching my eyebrow.

"Just do it!" they laughed, pushing me into the bathroom. This was all very suspicious to me, but I decided to ignore it, and do what they told me. After a thirty minute shower, (forgive me for having outrageously thick and long hair) I walked in with them arguing over my clothes. I sure hope this doesn't break into a fight.

"I like the plaid shirt." I said. It was simple, white and blue, with three-fourths sleeves.

"I told you." Kayla said with a smile. Brittany walked me over to the hairdryer where she desperately tried to dry all my hair. From there, Kayla straighten every bit of it, leaving the tips close to my butt. As Lindsey was curling my hair, Brittany and Kayla were looking at make-up and clothes matches.

After Lindsey finished curling my hair into loose curls, I felt like my face was on fire. I was burning up with all the heat. Now, I understand the purpose of heat-resistant shampoo. They finally decided on the plaid shirt, dark jean short shorts, and (to my dismay) silver gladiator sandals.

"Seriously?" I asked, holding the sandals by the ankle straps. "You couldn't pick converses or something?

They laughed at me. "I tried to convince them." Brittany said. "There's no budging them."

With that, I reluctantly put them on. I looked at the clock to find that it was 6:30. "Don't you have to get ready?" I asked.

"We'll be ready in no time." Kayla said. "We have to do your make-up and we're through."

The next thing I knew, they were attacking me with brushes from all directions. I didn't mind wearing make-up, I just didn't do it much. Once they were finally through, I actually got a chance to look at myself.

They did an amazing job. It was actually worth being a life size doll for a few hours. The outfit was perfect, aside from the sandals. My hair was beautiful. Somehow they did this awesome, subtle poof (not like the bump-it poof) with my black curls. My make-up looked natural. Somehow, they didn't hide my freckles, but they hid the little scar on my forehead from a childhood accident. They didn't put any color on my lips just gloss to make them shine. My eyes were awesome. They did a smoky look with blue and a dark grey. It made my eyes pop.

"Dang." Brittany said. "We did a good job, if I don't say so myself."

"Yes you did." I said smiling.

"Your eyelashes are so long." Kayla said. "How in the world do you keep your eyes open?"

Everyone laughed. "You're worried about her eyelashes? You straighten her hair. You know how thick that hair is." Lindsey said.

"Well, forgive me." I said. "I'll tell them to stop growing."

They laughed at me. Brittany and Lindsey left to go get ready with the spare fifteen minutes they had.

"Why did you spend so much time on getting me ready?" I asked Kayla, as she quickly got ready.

She bit her lip, as if she were trying her best not to blurt out the truth to me. "We just thought it necessary." That confused me more. Is that some philosophical proverb she got from a fortune cookie? I decided to let it go. If it had to do with something tonight, it will happen, and I'll know then.

She got ready with five minutes to spare, so we met Brittany and Lindsey at their room. From there, we walked to where the bonfire is. Thinking back on what they actually put on my face, why did they put waterproof mascara on me? We're going to a bonfire, not a swimming pool. I'm tired of these girls' confusions.

The fire was already huge by the time we got there. There wasn't a single adult here, which was shocking. Immediately, I smelled alcohol. The adults really didn't mind this, since we aren't driving anywhere. All the people were here for the annual summer solstice. Last year was when Kayla changed, and so this solstice is a little special for her. She's through with high school and is transferring to Lucas's college.

I noticed that Kayla, Lindsey, and Brittany were staying with me. By now, they would have found their men. "You can leave me." I told them. "I can handle myself."

"Are you trying to get rid of us?" Lindsey joked.

"No, but I thought you guys might want to hang out with your men." I laughed.

"She might want to hang out with me." Cain said, walking up with two beers in hand. I noticed his eyes scanning up and down my body with a huge smile. Thank you, girls. I thought without thinking. After saying it, I knew that Cain had heard me.

"If y'all don't mind," he said. His country accent slipped out. I loved it. There's just something about country boys. "I'm going to kidnap her."

They nodded with a smile. He took me away from them, but it wasn't long before they weren't alone, if you know what I mean.

He wrapped his arm over my shoulder gently. "You look amazing." He whispered in my ear. I hear myself release a giggle as I blushed. A giggle?! I just giggled about something he whispered in my ear.

"Thanks." I said as he handed me a bottle of Coors. "At least you have good taste in beer."

He laughed, and we sat down on a log a few yards from the fire. "What type of shoes are those?"

"Gladiator sandals." I said sarcastically. "I begged them. I literally begged them for converses, but you see how that turned out."

"They're look cute-ish." He said. "Definitely not what I thought you would wear."

I laughed. "Cute-ish?" I asked taking a sip of my beer.

He nodded, taking a swig of beer. I looked him up and down. He had a blue and brown plaid button-up shirt on with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, dark jeans halfway tucked into his Justin boots. He looked like a mixture certified redneck and a country boy.

"Damn.." He spit his beer everywhere. "Now, that was a waste of beer." I said.

"You think I look hot." He stated it as if he knew for a fact.

I started stuttering incoherent words until I managed to say. "D-d-did I say th-th-that out loud?"

"Well, you said, 'Damn..'." he said laughing. "Don't worry, you're hotter than me."

"I'm-" I started. "Wait, what?"

"What?"

"What?"

"What?"

"What?"

"I'm just saying."

"You did not just pull a Fired Up quote on me." I said. He fell on his back laughing.

"You've seen that movie?" he asked with a chuckle. I nodded as a response. From there, we talked about our favorite movies, sports, and music. We had similar taste. We both loved comedies and scary movies, nearly every sport except golf and tennis, and strange enough I admitted that I liked country and rock, also.

After my third beer (I have a high tolerance of alcohol), Lucas, Rafe, and Conner came to where we were. "We need to talk to you Cain."

He nodded and walked off with them. Like earlier today, Kayla, Lindsey, and Brittany replaced him.

"What's up with all of you today?" I asked. "You guys have been all secretive."

"You'll learn soon enough." Lindsey said in a cheerful tone.

"There you go again." I said. However, I popped another beer and decided to forget about it. Half way through the beer, I noticed the guys near the fire.

Conner made a loud whistle that silenced everyone. "Thanks, Conner." Cain said. "I have something very important to say."

Everyone was silent, yet anticipating. It seemed like everyone knew what was happening, except me. He turned his stare towards the crowd. "I declare Alexandra Maria Alexandrova my mate." (A/N: Russians last names are made by their fathers' names. They take the last two letters off and add rov or rova depending on sex. Alexandra was named after her father Alexander, thus leading to the name Alexand-rova.)

My mouth dropped. There was a collective gasp from the few people who didn't know. The others clapped and cheered. He turned towards me.

"Hold my beer." I told whichever girl was closest to me. I don't remember who it was because, at that moment, it was just me and him. I couldn't see anyone else. It was as if everyone else disappeared.

I don't remember how I got into his embrace, but the next thing I knew was his lips against mine. I felt electricity, not sparks, electricity, fly between us. The kiss heated my entire body and made me feel complete. Then, I heard loud howls and whistles from around us, reminding me that there were others around us. We separated quickly, and I felt myself blush deeply.

His fingers entwined in mine as Brittany, Lindsey, and Kayla came up with their men.

"Congratulations!" Kayla said, attacking me with a hug. I felt a sharp pain from the jolt, but I ignored it.

"You knew!" I yelled, hugging her back. "All of you!"

"Well, we couldn't tell you!" Lindsey said, giving me a gentler hug. Brittany hugged me next. She really didn't say anything, but I didn't blame her. She fell in love the old fashion way, the more romantic way if you ask me.

The guys gave Cain an awkward man-hug. "Well, time for you to get inked." Rafe said.

"Oh, I gotta see this." I said. I personally find tattoos very hot. I heard Cain laugh. I wish I could control my thoughts sometimes, or at least remember he can read mine.

"Well, let's go then." Cain said.

"Wait a second. Are you going to drive?" I asked.

"I've only had one beer." He said after reading my thoughts. "It's already worn off. I didn't have four like you."

"Ha. Ha." I said sarcastically. "If I were pulled over, you wouldn't have to worry about me."

"That so?" he asked. "Say your abc's backwards."

"Z Y X W V U T S R Q P O N M L K J I H G F E D C B A, Ha!" I said extremely fast. They all gave me a weird look. "I ain't never been pulled over, though."

"You ain't never?" Rafe said. "Looks like Cain's rubbing off on you."

"Naw." He drawled, causing everyone to laugh. We told everyone bye and went to his truck nearby. He cranked it up and started to drive to the local tattoo parlor.

Hope y'all like it!!! The tattoo parlor is the next chapter. I think I'll do it in Cain POV… PLEASE REVIEW!!! I WANT TO KNOW Y'ALL OPINIONS!!!

Guns, Love, and Nuns,

Eve1313