Thank you for waiting so patiently for this chapter and story. I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own the stories, just these characters.

Beta'd by Zuvios Gemini

3:47 am.

With a sigh I sit up in bed. My sleep patterns have been messed up for months, more specifically since my birthday. I just stopped sleeping through the night, always waking up at odd hours, restless and full of energy. It's weird seeing how I used to normally sleep through the night like a baby. Mom said I was growing differently, becoming more nocturnal. Dad said taking naps during the daytime would help me grow accustomed to being awake at night. That was really confusing. Why would they want me to stay up at night? But now that Koda was here all that he's saying.

No. Not thinking about him and all that stuff is part of the reason why I'm awake. All of his mumbo jumbo.

I get up out of bed and walk to my window to look out into the forest behind our house. As I stand there at my open window, it calls to me. The trees, wind, even the dirt, all call to me.

I decide I need a run, so I change into black jogging pants, tank top and grey running sneakers, put my mini flashlight in my pocket, and quietly walk out the back door. Mom and Dad don't know I run at all hours of the night. It seems to really help me, clears my mind and helps me sleep better. I'm pretty sure they won't catch me. They sleep pretty soundly during the night. I'm more worried about Koda waking up and raising the alarm.

I walk out to the familiar trails behind the house and pause to stretch at my tree, which has a bunch of branches I could lean on and even do pull ups. I take a deep breath of pine, ceder, and oak. It calms me and clears all the fog in my head, I can breathe easy now. I start at a brisk walk, then a jog, and then into an easy run. I have the wind in my hair and the grass under my feet and all that energy is just bubbling in me, so I ease into a full run. Racing down the down the hill until the little creek at the bottom. I come to a stop, running in place to check my pulse. As I do so, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and I spin around to see Koda leaning against a tree.

"Oh damn it Wolf Boy don't do that!" I snap. He frowns and looks me up and down. I swear if he makes a comment about 'ladies shouldn't be doing this', I'm going to kick him where it counts.

Instead he says, "What are you doing out here?"

"What are you doing out here?" I hiss.

He frowns deeper.

"Answering a question with another question will get us nowhere. Besides, it was a fairly simple question."

"Well how is it any of your business?" I retort. His face softens and there's a pained look in his eyes.

"Why must you always fight me?"

The change in his attitude surprises me so I just stand there awkwardly, waiting for him to say something else. He pushes off of the tree and walks to the creek with his back to me. It's then that I realize that he's shirtless. With a blush I look away for whatever reason.

"So you run?" He breaks the silence, still not looking at me.

"Uh. Yea, sometimes. I run track." I say. He finally turns back around to look at me.

"Track?"

"Yes, run around in a circle. I've been in track for years. Didn't you see my trophies? Sure Mom or Dad said something about it."

"In passing. Did not think much of it. It is a very un-ladylike sport."

I roll my eyes.

"You're really going to have to get over the fact that I'm 'un-ladylike'." I sneer. "Whatever. It's something I'm good at. I start training next week." I say with a little smile. Running track is amazing and fun. I'm trying out for the state team next week.

"Next week you start training yes, but not for running. You forget about the Pact and our wedding." He says, now walking towards me with his arms crossed over his chest, which I have to say is a real sight but I keep my eyes on his.

"You cannot start anything else right now, we have a deadline. We must meet it."

"Deadline? Training? Training for what?" I ask, my anger starting to boil.

"I must have you ready to wed and lead by the end of the two months." He says, his eyes dead serious. "We must be in Romania by then."

I sigh and look away for a second before looking back to him.

"Well I have track training in a week, the newspaper to run, and oh yeah, graduation. So I'm afraid I can't make it, sorry."

I start to turn but I stop when Koda appears in front of me.

"You do not understand-" He starts, but I interrupt him.

"No you don't! This is my life, and I'm not going to let you come in and start to try and run it for me. Forget it, not doing it." I attempt to walk past him but he grabs my arm.

"Your life right now is just an illusion that's been set up to protect you. Now you are old enough to know the truth and return to your real life." He says, his face inches from mine. I pull my arm way and step back. Koda sighs and tries to reach for me again, but I step back even further.

"I don't know who you think you are, but this is the 21st Century. This my life regardless of who my biological parents are or where I was born. You don't choose for me what my life will be. I chose it for myself. Now, I don't care what you say, but unless I see some real proof, I'm not doing anything with you. Do you understand? Leave me alone."

Next thing I know, I'm running. Fast. Away from him. Back to the house. When I get there I lock myself in my room. I have to get away from him. Just for a little bit, to think. Time. That's all I need.