~Chapter Eight~

I spent the afternoon locked in my room. Not out of self-pity, which was my usual excuse. No, mostly because I had a lot of work to catch up on. That... and avoiding Drake. But mostly my workload. Or, at least, that's what I kept telling myself.

And so far I had been successful in both getting my work done and avoiding the one person who inspired such a diligent work ethic. I didn't want to leave the safe haven that is my private quarters unless absolutely necessary for both fear of seeing him, but most of all for fear of seeing her. Don't get me wrong; I want to be happy for Drake. He's, well he's my best and only friend, at least that's how it feels most days. He deserves to be happy, and he's found that one person, he's made his choice. And, I knew that I would have to face, at some point, the fact that his choice was not me. That he had chosen a life with someone else, another shifter, someone who couldn't hold him back the way I inevitably would.

I sighed, throwing a load of whites into the washer as I updated my work calendar. The fact that Lucas was going to return a day early meant that we could bump up some of our tour group dates. So, I had been on the phone since around one in the afternoon calling all clients that had been booked for the day following Lucas' return, and offering them the option of either extending their trip by a day or getting a head start. Most declined but some showed interest.

I checked in with Lucas just before I would head down to dinner, but all I got on the other end was static. I waited a few moments, but no response was ever made. I shrugged it off, telling myself he was probably just busy.

I didn't particularly want to drag myself to the cafeteria, but the fact that Drake would still be on his shift kept me from starving myself. I threw on an oversized hoodie and some jeans before shoving my feet into a pair of flip flops and making my way down the stairs. My knees cracked as I took each step, my whole body seeming to pop and stretch at the sudden change of pace. I had been cooped up in my room all day, spending most of those hours either asleep or hunched over my desk rearranging my calendar.

I continued on to the cafeteria, and once their shuffled myself through the line grabbing a slice of pizza and a handful of carrot sticks before taking up residence at one of the corner tables.

I munched on my food in silence, not feeling particularly social at the moment. A few faces I recognized eventually occupied the seats at the far end of the table, but I never acknowledged them. I wondered briefly if she would be here. Maybe. I lifted my curious gaze to study the various faces. I absentmindedly twirled a piece of gold hair around my fingers, tugging at the fine hairs whenever I would happen upon the face of Drake's potential mate. I knew I was being stupid...masochistic at best, but I guess jealousy did that to people.

I didn't ever remember a time when I had seen Drake spending time with anyone in particular. He was a nice guy, and I knew that he was friendly with most everyone... it could be any of them.

I knew most of the faces that my jealous mindset pointed out as 'available'. All of them were nice, pretty in their own way. Some had blue eyes, like Drake's. Some had darker features, some were blonde. Some were tall, some were short. And every face I passed, every almost shifter I looked upon made the realization that I would never have him more and more prominent.

He loved someone else. Loved. Because that is what his tattoo symbolizes, what all shifter tattoos symbolize. Eternal and undying devotion. I mean, their have been cases where the male shifter has been wrong, but Drake wasn't the fickle kind of guy that would prematurely decide to have his body so permanently marked unless his heart had already undergone such a permanent change.

Connor had been wrong. Connor had chosen Lindsey first, but now he was with Brittany. And, like my parents, their relationship was rare. Brittany was human, and Connor was a shifter. I guess, when I was younger, I looked up to them in a way. And, I still do. I always hoped that I could be as lucky as Brittany. The Elders never told her she was human, they kept it from her. I was always curious as to why they would go on letting her think she was a shifter when she wasn't. And when those thoughts cross my mind I am almost thankful that the elders had told me when I was younger, thankful that they had given me time to learn to accept the fact that I would never change...even if it wasn't something I had come to yet accept.

Brittany has always been very kind to me. They say, that even though she can't shift, she has the 'heart' of a wolf. Sometimes, I wonder if it's possible that I could possess such a heart. A heart equal to that of a wolf. A heart worthy of the title of Dark Guardian. Because, that was my ultimate dream. To be included, to accomplish something in this world of shifters.

One could dream, I suppose.

I sighed, dropping my face to my half eaten dinner. I wasn't so hungry anymore and so, feeling a new brand of hopeless, discarded my unfinished meal and made my exit.

0~0~0~0~0

I stayed in my room for the rest of the night, attempting to check in once more with Lucas, but to no avail. I was met with only static, just as before.

I kicked off my shoes and exchanged my jeans for pajama shorts, crawling into bed. I tucked my face underneath the comforter, thinking...just...thinking. About Brittany and Connor, about their relationship, about my future, about Drake...about Drake's future, about who Drake had chosen to share such a future with. I wanted to cry, but I didn't think it was worth it anymore. I didn't think I deserved him that way, so why should I have ever let myself picture it? A life with him... a future of happiness with my best friend.

And then I wondered if we could continue to be friends anymore. After knowing how I feel about him, could I watch him stand up and declare someone else as his mate? Could I watch him get married and have a family... no. And not just because it would kill me to do so, because he would one day realize that a relationship with me, even a platonic one, was not worth the effort.

All these thoughts had me feeling so ... on edge. I felt so unsettled, like I couldn't sit still. I was worried, about ... everything. Lucas not answering his phone, Drake's mate, my lack of a future here. I shivered, balling my fingers into fists.

I tried calling Lucas again.

Nothing.

I knew protocol. I knew what I was supposed to do if I suspected something was wrong. I was supposed to go to second in command. But, second in command was with Lucas. And if something were wrong with Lucas, Rafe would have had to call it in.

It was worth a shot.

So I grabbed my Walkie Talkie from the nightstand, changing the frequency to Rafe's channel, I spoke. "Logan to Rafe, over." The static on the other end crackled, and I thought I could make out one or two voices, but they were very quiet, very indistinguishable. "Logan to Rafe, over." I repeated in the hopes of procuring a response from him. The line was silent, still. I paused, one moment, two moments. And then my Walkie Talkie buzzed. "Rafe to Lo-" But then it cut off. I called him back once more, but to no avail.

I sighed, even more unsettled than I had been before. There were not many spots within our hiking grounds that the Walkie Talkie's lost service, and I knew for a fact that where they were hiking wouldn't interfere with any sort of signal. Something was wrong.

And at the very least I had to notify one of the Dark Guardians. I contemplated phoning Connor, but knew that he was leading his own group out in the opposite direction. They weren't far from Wolford, for a Wolf that is. And I knew that there were at least two Dark Guardians here at the moment. Seth and... Drake.

I shoved my feet into my hiking boots, not bothering to change out of my pajama shorts as I all but raced out of the room. I hooked my Walkie Talkie to the front pocket of my hooded sweatshirt and had a death grip on my phone.

Shift change was going on, or would be in the next minute or so. I had to catch someone and fast, that someone preferably Seth.

I all but ran down the stairs, tripping just once near the bottom, but righting myself immediately. My reflexes had never been so spot on; I blamed it on the pumping adrenaline.

By the time I had reached the front doors, I had earned myself a few worried glances from the various bodies moving throughout the hallways. One or two asked if I was alright, but I just brushed them off with a quick 'fine', my goal of reaching Seth my only focus at the present moment.

By the time I had pushed myself through the large, wooden doors I could tell that I was early and that thought calmed me the slightest of fractions. I spotted a few prowling wolves near the entrance as they stopped momentarily to stare at me. I knew that they could read my thoughts in this form and so instructed one of them to send me a Dark Guardian. Almost immediately a brown shaggy wolf let out a low howl, trotting off into the distance. The sound echoed through me, sending my heart into a flurry of activity. I wanted to return the call, however strange that might sound, but refrained from such an activity and waited, however patiently I could, for someone to be found.

When a member of the pack is thought to be in supposed danger or a situation of the like, protocol is simply to alert the first in command and await further instruction. When first and second command are thought to be in danger, matters are to be taken to any available Dark Guardian, and if a Dark Guardian is momentarily inaccessible, then the Elders are alerted.

Our pack leader wasn't answering his Walkie Talkie, and neither was second in command. The remaining wolves immediately perked up as the thought passed through my head, baring their teeth slightly. They were on edge now, alert because of what I had disclosed. The wolves both let out similar howls and immediately I heard the soft, rapid padding of paws on soft ground and a rusty brown wolf I recognized to be Seth was standing in front of me, Drake beside him in human form.

"We have a situation." I disclosed immediately, dragging my eyes away from Drake's pale eyes to Seth's brown. "Lucas isn't answering any calls. And neither is Rafe." Seth nodded. "I don't know why, but I feel like something is wrong." Drake gave me a funny look, but nodded. He looked to Seth then, giving him instructions and then Seth was off, running toward the campsite.

Drake turned back to me, but my eyes strayed from his, not wanting to see him. Not needing my already worried mind to become clouded with thoughts of him. Not wanting my mindset to become overwhelmed and consumed with the idea of whom that tattoo on his back could possibly be for. I didn't need that kind of distraction right now; I didn't need that kind of pain.

I felt his warm fingers brush the length of my jaw, and my eyes snapped to his, my skin tingling softly where his flesh met my own.

"Logan?" He wondered, his eyes blazing with curiosity. I gave him a confused look, but before I could respond a piercing howl echoed around us. Drake's eyes snapped toward the woods and in a flash he was on his knees. I thought he was going to transform, so I turned my head away, allowing him the necessary privacy. And when I turned back he was a wolf, dark and glorious, and beautiful and ... I stopped that line of thought shaking my head.

In the following moments more howls were made, and if I listened hard enough, if I closed my eyes I could almost feel, I could almost understand what each one was conveying. Because every howl, faint or distinguishable, had meaning. A wolf may howl at the moon for no purpose, but a shifter never did.

"Someone's hurt." The voice startled me, and when I turned my eyes toward the space where wolf-Drake once occupied, I found human Drake, once more clothed in only a pair of cargo shorts.

"Hurt?" I breathed, Goosebumps running up my arms. Hurt? But if they were hurt ... then they would just transform to heal... our bodies have immense healing capabilities. So if someone was hurt badly enough to need medical attention... than they weren't a shifter.

"One of the campers?" Drake wondered, as if reading my own thoughts. I snapped my head to him, had he read my thoughts? No. Only true mates could read one another's thoughts... I was imagining things.

And once the shock of his question wore off I knew he was wrong. It wasn't a camper that was hurt; they would have called that in immediately. No... it was a novice.

Lily.

"Lily." I breathed, more panicked now than ever. My sister, my twin.

Drake gave me a weary look. And I knew... I knew it was her. Call it intuition...twintuition... whatever. I just knew something was wrong. I wanted to cry, I wanted to scream.

"Lily..." I chocked, the word coming out as a jumbled sob. I wanted to collapse to the ground. Our relationship may have been strained, tainted at best … but she was still my sister. And no amount of jealousy, no amount of animosity I had ever felt toward her could negate that fact. I loved her, and she was in pain. I just knew it.

I felt a pair of strong arms around me then, feeling weak as my knees gave out. I leaned my face into his warm neck, the familiar perfume of his musky skin calming me as I wrapped my arms around his waist.

"Shush." His voice lulled me into a calm that I couldn't have obtained or found on my own. I gripped him tighter, sniffling as his hands rubbed at my cloth covered back.

"How far out are they?" I wondered quietly, enjoying the faint patterns his fingers drew against my back and at the base of my neck. I knew I should pull away, should distance myself from him. But this felt so right, it felt so perfect. He was my friend, and I could be selfish and enjoy the closeness I had with him while I still could. His ministrations seemed to pause momentarily, his fingers moving from my back to my hair as he gently ran his fingers through the crazed strands. I glanced up at him with glassy eyes, willing him to answer my question.

"Sixty miles or so. Seth was on his way the last time I checked." His pale blue eyes looked worriedly down into my own emerald irises.

"She will be okay." His voice willed me to believe the words, as he once more tucked my head into the crook of his neck.

I think, in that moment, I fell even more in love with him than I already had been. I think, in that moment, my heart broke just a tiny bit more, realizing, once again, the fact that I would never have him the way I truly wanted. That his arms around me were nothing more than a one time gesture of comfort, that he had chosen someone else, and that that girl would be able to call these arms home. I was just a temporary resident.

Eventually he sat down, pulling me with him as we leaned against the stone steps of the main building, waiting for their return. Drake had instructed another guard to notify the elders and to alert the infirmary. We didn't know the extent of the injuries, just that they were existent.

We waited there for what seemed like days when, in truth, it was only a few hours. Drake held me the entire time, and his nearness seemed to calm my racing heart, I thought I was going to be sick when we finally caught our first glimpse of them.

Lucas was at the head of the group, Rafe just behind him. Austin was carrying Lily, bridal style and Seth was beside him steadying her legs.

I immediately stood, Drake following close behind. Lucas gave me a look as he made his way past me. "You did good, kid." He whispered, moving past me to hold the door open.

I nodded, stepping closer to Austin. "How is she?" I wondered, looking down at my sister for the first time. She was crying softly, her face buried in the crook of his neck as her torso shook.

"She fell. We think her left femur is broken in two places." Seth answered; Austin gave me a pained look, his own eyes smoothed over with tears. He was so worried for her.

"Lily." I breathed, reaching out to grab her hand in my own. And for the briefest of moments I felt her pain, and it was crippling.

"I'm so sorry." I whispered, tasting the saltiness as my own tears made their way down my cheeks. I felt Drake behind me then, felt as he wrapped a strong arm around my waist and whispered soft reassurances into my ear. He pulled me away from my twin, reminding me that she needed to get her leg put in a cast.

And when Austin disappeared through the door, Seth trailing close behind, I fell apart. I sunk to my knees, feeling Drake behind me as he too fell with me, holding me.

I wrapped my arms around my chest, the guilt of seven years of jealousy and distance puling me under a wave of hysterics.

"This is all my fault." I whispered, sobbing in an uncontrollable fashion. I wanted to go with her, to be there for her, to help her. Because she deserved that from me. I had hated her, been so blinded by jealousy for what she would become that I had wasted seven years with my sister.

"This is all my fault." I repeated, leaning my head back into Drake's chest.

"Shush, Lo. Novices are resilient, their bodies heal faster than a normal human." I nodded, taking comfort in the fact that she would heal faster, quicker even if it were just minutely different from the healing capabilities of a human.

"She needs me." I spoke after a few moments. Drake nodded, helping me to stand. "Do you want me to go with you?" Drake wondered aloud. And I didn't stop to think of the consequences of whatever response I would give.

I just nodded my head, relishing in the feel of his arms around my waist as he led me up the steps and into the building.

0~0~0~0~0

I don't know how long I sat in the little make shift waiting room, but it was long enough to make me go crazy with worry. I don't know how many times I pulled out my cell to check the time, I don't know how many times I stood just to pace for a few moments, before sitting back down. I couldn't begin to fathom how many times I longingly stared at the door, waiting for someone to emerge from beyond its confines to tell me that my sister was all right. That she was okay.

I must have chewed my nails down to indistinguishable nubs because at some point, me teeth met flesh not nail. Drake pulled my hands away from my mouth, wrapping his fingers around my own and resting them in his lap. I gave him my best half-hearted attempt at a grateful smile, but I couldn't muster even the smallest fraction of a positive response because my twin was lying in pain just beyond that stupid, metal and glass door.

Austin was worse off than me though; he was sitting opposite me, a complete and total mess of frustrating growls and teary eyes. I wanted to ask him what happened, but I couldn't find the will to voice such a question, and I didn't want to be cruel by reminding him that the reason for his existence was in pain.

Moments passed, and at one point both Drake and Austin noticeably cringed and a piercing scream sliced through the air. Austin jolted out of his seat, moving toward the door. I gave Drake a scared, questioning look.

"They had to reset the bone." He whispered, aware of Austin's frantic form.

"The doctor's coming." Austin whispered after a moment and soon enough Doctor Shandry emerged carrying a clipboard.

"She's in a cast, and she's going to be alright." He spoke, taking the edge off of all our nerves. "But, she's lost a lot of blood." Austin immediately volunteered his services, holding out his wrist as if it were the key to saving Lily, and it very well could be.

"She's type B positive." Austin looked dejected as he dropped his wrist. "I'm A." He whispered. The doctor looked toward me, but I didn't know what to tell her. I had no idea what blood type I was.

"I don't know what type I am." I responded, but stood, pulling Drake up with me. She nodded. "Would you like to be tested?" I nodded, following her as she led me back into the infirmary.

Austin and Drake followed closely behind me as Dr. Shandry led the way. "Wouldn't they have the same blood type because they are twins?" Drake wondered aloud, taking a seat beside me as the Doctor moved about the room gathering a few necessary supplies.

"If they were identical twins they would have the same blood type, because they would share the same DNA. But they are not identical, and so she has the same chance of sharing the same blood type as Lily as any other siblings would." Drake nodded, squeezing my fingers as the doctor stuck the needle into the inside of my elbow.

She filled a tiny vile with the thick, red liquid before pulling the needle away from my skin and slapping a Sponge Bob Band-Aid over the incision.

"Give me a few moments." She responded, moving around the room.

"You're A." She spoke after a few moments, and I sighed audibly frustrated as I shared a look with Austin.

"What type of blood did you say she was?" Drake spoke after a moment. "B positive." Dr. Shandry concluded.

"Alright," He held out his arm, giving me a slight smile. "Take all the blood she needs." He whispered. And I was shocked as Dr. Shandry smiled and led him back to the room. I followed close behind, my own astonished smile set about my face.

"You would do that...for her?" Austin wondered, as the Doctor pushed through a few doors.

Drake nodded.

"Of course, I know how much she means to you." He answered, his eyes never leaving mine.

0~0~0~0~0

A/N: Alrighty! I know that I am late. But, I did it on purpose! See, I'm going to be out of town from tomorrow (the 25th) through August second, and I won't be able to update while I'm gone. So, I wanted to wait till the last possible minute to update so that you didn't have to wait for so long for the next update. I promise to update this story on August 3rd (a Tuesday) with the next chapter. I'm sorry for the inconvenience.

Thanks to everyone who reviews, I really appreciate the feedback!

~Lauren