Okay, I hope y'all like the last chapter and this one! PLEASE TELL EVERYONE ABOUT THIS FANFICTION!! I REALLY WANT EVERYONE'S OPINION.. REVIEWS PLEASE!!

The ride wasn't too rough. My truck has all-terrain tires and a six-inch lift kit on it, so driving through the woods to get to the highway wasn't that hard. My mind kept wondering back to the bonfire while I drove, though. I don't really know what's with me. When I'm around Alex it's like I have this confidence I normally don't have. Plus, she looked so damn good.. Bad thoughts! Bad thoughts! It was hard to keep my hands to myself. Then, she didn't reject me when I declared her my mate.

Out of all the declarations I've heard over the years, this one was the most unorthodox. First off, just about everyone knew what was happening. It's normally a private battle with yourself, and you're silent until you come to the conclusion that that person is your mate. Second, the Elders got in the middle of it. The Elders never get in the middle of things of this sort, with Brittany and myself as an exception. Third, Alex is going with me to get the tattoo. I know that Kayla wasn't around when Lucas got his tattoo, Rafe got his in private, and Conner changed his as a surprise.

I hope I don't act like a wimp and start freaking out over the needle. Not like needles scare me or anything, it's just I ain't never got a tattoo before, so I don't know what to expect.

I felt Alex wrap her small hand in mine, bringing me out of my thoughts. "You know this tattoo is going to be very unique." I told her. She stared at me with a confused look. "Since your clan's is from Russian we added a little of your culture to it."

She smiled at me as her eyes started to fill with tears. I'll admit it, I panicked. I don't know how to deal with tears! I could try to comfort her, but I ain't the best at that either.

"I can't believe he's doing that for me. He's so sweet!" I heard her think. That immediately relieved me. I really need to learn how to deal with tears.

The rest of the way there we held hands as she hummed "Country Man" by Luke Bryan with a big smirk on her face.

"Hey, Cain!" Will, the tattoo shop owner, said as soon as we walked in. He was also a fellow Shifter that's why we are able to get our tattoos at this age. "I got you sketched out over here."

He took us from the front to the back. It was like any ordinary tattoo parlor. There were the artists best tattoos placed on the wall. There was a mixture of smells that ranged from alcohol to smoke to blood. It wasn't a dark dungeon theme that most people think of when they think of tattoo shops. It was sort of like the rest of this town, a combination of old and new styles. It was very close to the halls of Wolford.

We walked to a large table with papers and pencils everywhere. He quickly shuffled through them and found my tattoo.

She gasped when she saw it. "That's sick." She said before quickly correcting herself. "I mean sick in the good way!"

"I took the two-headed eagle and Celtic symbol you gave me and made it into this." He started. It was perfect. The Celtic symbol was her name, which was printed on the eagle's stomach. "You said your left shoulder, right?"

I nodded. There still were stitches in my right shoulder from that tiger. He led us to one of the tattoo artist's stations, and then he left us.

"Hey, I'm Davis." He said smiling. This guy was new. I didn't know if he was a Shifter, but by his thoughts I knew I didn't like him. "I would sure like to tattoo that girl right there." I had to use all my strength not to beat the shit out of him. "Am I tattooing her?"

Did he really just try that? He can't be that stupid. He knows good and damn well who he's inking. I told myself before answering. "Nope. That's my tat."

He straightened up, set his jaw, and patted the seat. I quickly unbutton my shirt, and as I was doing that I heard Alex's thoughts. "Daaaaaamn... Look at that and that and THAT… I wonder if he'll freak out it I touch him? What are you saying Alex!? He looks so damn good though… Oh shit! I hope I'm not drooling!"

I couldn't help but laugh at her a little as the guy placed the stencil on my right shoulder. "Go check it out." He said in a forced voiced. I went over to the mirror, trying my best not to burst out laughing. Alex's thoughts were very flattering, but the way she thought them was just funny.

As soon as I got back to the chair he was at work. It really didn't hurt at all. It especially didn't hurt when I had Alex there to talk to.

"You know I have a secret to tell you." She started. I cocked my eyebrow up at her. "I've always secretly wanted a tattoo, even when I was younger."

"You can set an appointment up at the front desk. If you like what I did to him, then you can ask for me personally." Davis butted in. If he keeps on, after this tattoo, I'm going to hurt him.

She didn't even act like he commented. It was like she was 100% focused on me, and I loved that. "Well, we might have to get you one then." I said. She wasn't the only one who found tattoos attractive. They were probably more appealing to me than her, sexy even.

"Alright, but I ain't getting a tramp stamp." She said. I howled a laugh. I ain't heard that since I was a back in Texas.

"You know if you were to come with me to Texas, you would fit right in." I told her. She laughed at that.

"I don't think so." She started. "Though, I would love to go anytime."

While the artist was finishing, we were quiet. I was thinking about the possibility of taking her to Texas. She would get to meet my family. However, I don't really know if that will be good or bad. They didn't come for the solstices; they just let me go. She would probably like it, mud bogging and bonfires all the time.

The artist started cleaning it and telling me the details. He basically said that I need to up lotion on it because it'll scab. Normally, the Shifters would just change and heal quickly, but I haven't had my transformation yet. There's no way in hell I'm using lotion, though.

Alex and I went to the front to pay. "I know I won't be able to transform with you, but I could still be there with you during your transformation."

She had a sad smile on her face. I really wish I didn't bring up her transformation now. "I would love that." She said, grabbing my hand.

"You'll be oka-" I started before someone burst through the front door.

"We need to talk!" Brittany gasped in front of us. She looked like she was about to pass out. She grabbed Alex's and mine arm and pulled us to my truck. She pushed us in the truck and quickly jumped in. "Drive." She demanded. I knew it had to be really important, so I obeyed. "There was an ambush at Wolford. It was the Panthera. We are meeting the Elders in a secret location."

"Wait, they can smell for ten miles. They'll smell where we are going." Alex said. She was very serious and calm on the outside, but, by her thoughts, she was using every ounce of energy not to fall apart.

"We're backtracking. Don't worry we got that covered." She said. That may have settled that worry, but she started worrying about everyone else.

"Was anyone hurt?" she asked.

"There's a few injuries, but nothing major." Brittany said, as if she knew every question Alex was going to ask ahead of time. "Let's just focus on getting to the Elders right now."

This was a little more of a cliffhanger! [I hope] I'm sorry that this chapter was sort of short. I would have continued it, but I really wanted to add a cliffhanger. Well, I'm not quite sure when I'm going to update. I have Easter to celebrate and school work to make up over this four-day weekend. Sorry y'all, but I will try my best to update soon. PLEASE REVIEW!! Reviews make me happy!:) They also make me write faster!:):)