Peter and Mainlee walked off to the parking lot, his arm around her waist. Mainlee was feeling jumpy after Marcus left, she was devising ways to 'dump' him. She didn't know what to do.

"What are you thinking about?" Peter asked, making Mainlee jump.

"Oh, um, just the game."

"Pretty intense, right?" Peter said, not picking up on her jumpiness. "I'm glad we won." They pulled up to Mainlee's car, but Peter insisted on driving. Men, Mainlee thought, laughing quietly to herself.

Peter opened her door for her, and then closing it, he circled the car, getting into the driver's seat. He started the car and Mainlee could tell he was really enjoying driving it. Mainlee watched his face turn from happy to concern.

"What did that guy mean about you being his 'Good Luck Charm.'?" Peter asked, keeping his eyes on the road.

Mainlee groaned, leaning back into the seat. "I don't really want to talk about it."

"Please, Mainlee." Peter begged, and Mainlee suddenly felt compelled to answer.

"He just likes me is all." Mainlee said, closing her eyes. She could feel Peters gaze on her for a minute, before he must have turned his attention back to the road.

"Well I don't think I like him very much." Peter grunted all testosterone like.

"That makes two of us then." Mainlee said.

Peter chuckled. "Good." Mainlee felt his hand cover hers, "I just want to be able to talk to you about these things. We need to be a proper couple."

Mainlee cracked open her eyes halfway, "Yeah, we need to talk about some stuff then." She could almost feel the nervousness coming off Peter.

"Like what?" He swallowed, as if Mainlee was about to point a gun at his head.

Mainlee sat up, looking out the window. There was a shape crumpled at the edge of the road. She lightly tapped Peters arm, "Pull over." He quickly complied, and Mainlee jumped out of the car. The crumpled person suddenly looked very familiar. "Ellsie!" Mainlee gasped, crouching down by her friend.

She turned Ellsie over, so that her head was in Mainlee's lap. Ellsie was bleeding heavily; her clothes were soaked in warm blood. There was a giant scar across Elsie's stomach, obviously the cause of the loss of blood. Ellsie gripped her head, her eyes shut and her teeth clenched.

"Ellsie! Ellsie, what happened?" Mainlee said, gently shaking her best friend. Peter had gotten out of the car too and was crouching next to Mainlee.

Ellsie groaned, "Os…"

"Come on, tell me!" Mainlee felt tears running down her cheeks, the saltiness clinging to her lips.

"…Car." Ellsie finished, wheezing. Ellsie shook heavily in Mainlee arms, making her tears come faster.

"Oscar? Is that is?" Mainlee asked, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Did he do this to you?"

Instead of answering, Ellsie shook her head slightly. "Oh Ellsie!" Mainlee cried. She turned to Peter, help me get her in the car, she needs to be taken to the hospital. She watched Peter carry her gently into the car, laying her in the backseat.

Mainlee sat there for a moment more, before standing up. "Go without me Peter, I need to take care of some business." Peter looked t her doubtfully, but before he could open his mouth, Mainlee put a finger to his lips. "Don't talk, just go, Ellsie needs your help. You're just going to have to trust me."

Peter watched her for a minute, before nodding. "I trust you." He leaned in and kissed her gently, before hopping in her car and driving off.

Mainlee stood there, her eyes watching the car speed off in the distance. "Why must it be like this?" Mainlee asked herself, her stomach churning restlessly.

"Because that's how I want it to be." A deep, husky, voice sounded behind her and Mainlee spun around to be face to face with none other than Oscar himself.

"Who do you think you are?" Mainlee yelled, anger at a boiling point inside her. She pushed Oscar away, who stumbled, but caught himself. He straightened himself up.

"I am your leader and you are never going to push me again." He grabbed her wrists and Mainlee struggled to free herself, but he was to strong. "Stop fussing Mainlee." He growled.

Mainlee peered up at his tall frame. His eyes were full of anger and something else Mainlee couldn't pick out. That's what freaked her out the most. "What do you want Oscar?"

"For you to be obedient." Oscar dragged her into the woods, Mainlee barely able to stay on her feet. She didn't realize how strong Oscar was until now. He didn't even look tired, as if he dragged fighting girls into the woods every day.

Mainlee struggled until she couldn't anymore. She sighed, not knowing what to do. Oscars strong arms picked her up and carried her, somewhere Mainlee didn't want to know.

Despite her struggle to keep her eyes open, Mainlee fell asleep in his arms.

Mainlee awoke in Oscar's bed for the second time. At least this time I'm not raped. She looked down at herself and let out a sigh of relief. She was still in the clothes she was yesterday. Mainlee sat up, wondering what happened. Is Ellsie okay? Is Peter worried about me? Where's Oscar?

Suddenly, the door to Oscar's bedroom whipped open and Oscar appeared, shirtless and sweaty. "Come on," He grunted, searching for a shirt, "Let's go."

Mainlee crossed her arms. "Where?"

He looked at her, "That's for me to know and you to find out."

"How cliché." Mainlee grumbled, not moving.

Oscar jumped into the bathroom a came out quickly, looking at Mainlee. "Let's go. Now." He said more firmly.

"No," Mainlee said, scooting back against the bed frame. "I don't want to go anywhere with you."

Oscar's eyes flared and he took a step closer, "I don't want to make this difficult Mainlee, get. Up."

"No," Mainlee said louder. "I'm tired of this and I'm tired of you." Suddenly, Ellsie flashed back into her mind. "Why did you hurt my best friend?"

Oscar's eyes went big in surprise, "That weak girl?" Mainlee narrowed her eyes. "Well," Oscar started, "If you had been a good mate then she wouldn't be hurt. I went looking for you last night, and I ran into her. When I asked her where you were she refused to say anything."

"So you beat her up?" Mainlee voice grew colder at the thought.

Oscar nodded, "She refused to answer me." As if that makes it okay. "So I had to take it to the next level."

"Humph." Mainlee's mind raced. What have I done? The people I love are getting hurt. "Oscar." Mainlee stated, even though she meant it as a question.

Oscar grunted, entering the bathroom again.

Mainlee watched him with curiosity. "Why do you treat me so badly?" Oscar entered the room again, his eyebrows raised.

"I didn't think I treated you badly." Mainlee grunted, turning away. "Okay." Oscar sighed, "I do treat you badly. It's because I care for you."

Mainlee snorted.

"Mainlee," He said, his voice strained. "I have to treat you like this; you don't know what's best for you."

"I think I can make my own decisions without you, thank you very much. I was doing fine without you."

Oscar entered the bathroom again, and Mainlee wondered what he was doing in there. "No you weren't. And now, I'm going to fix everything."

"Oh yeah?" Mainlee asked, creeping towards the end of the bed, trying to see into the bathroom. As if he sensed her spying on him, he reentered the room.

"We're going to get married." Mainlee started choking on nothing but air, but Oscar pulled two ties out of his dresser. He held them up, "Which do you like better?"

Mainlee stared at him, wide eyed, like a deer in the headlights. "Wh…What did you say?"

Oscar picked the red tie he was holding and entered the bathroom again. "I think we should make this official, you know. In the human world."

"What's the difference between the wolf and human world?" Was the only thing Mainlee could sputter out.

"Well, wolves automatically know when your mates. Humans don't." He paused, doing whatever it was in the bathroom. "Didn't you ever dream of your wedding?"

Mainlee paused, thinking about it. She never really did fantasize about her wedding day. The only thing that came close was when she and Peter had gotten 'married' in the fourth grade. They had done it at recess, with their entire class watching. Peter gave her a ring he had won at Skate World. She still had it, she thought in her old jewelry box. Mainlee smiled at the thought right as Oscar came in, and he took it as an acceptance.

"Well, I guess I should find you a dress." Mainlee shook her head, clearing her head of memories.

"I don't think so!" Mainlee said, standing up. Oscar whipped around to her, staring her down.

"I think so." He said, buttoning up the white shirt he was wearing. On closer surveillance, Mainlee noticed a tux slung over the chair in the corner.

Mainlee backed up, suddenly out of breath again. She bumped into the bed and she sat down. "Your…your serious?" Her hands starting to shake.

"Deadly." Oscar said, watching her like a hawk. Mainlee shuddered. She rested her head on the bed, closing her eyes, trying to block out the cruel reality.

"You can't make me marry you Oscar."

"I think I can." He strode over to her in what seemed like two giant steps and grabbed her arms. She gasped as his grip seemed to squeeze the life out of her wrists. "You will marry me." He rasped, his face but two inches from hers. "Or else."

Mainlee shivered, the coldness in his voice shrouding her in a dark, depressing cloak. Oscar pecked her on the forehead, like she had some disease he didn't want to catch. He strode to the chair, grabbing his suit jacket, and walked out the door.

Mainlee's knees buckled under her and she fell to the ground, the room spinning faster and faster until Mainlee couldn't take it anymore. She closed her eyes and let all the tiredness take over her as she tumbled into another hole of deep darkness.

Mainlee woke up to the sounds of…birds chirping? Her eyes shot open, revealing grass. She was in the woods. She felt it instantly, she was a wolf. And alone.

Mainlee jumped up, wolf senses kicking in. She could smell a rabbit about twenty feet away in the bush, not paying attention to the giant wolf. She could hear the soft voices of wolves, not too far off. Mainlee followed them, trying to be as sneaky as possible. Memories of earlier flooded into her mind and she shivered.

Mainlee took a deep smell, taking in the familiar scent of Oscar and someone she didn't know. Mainlee decided she wasn't going to stick around and find out.

Mainlee creped out in the other direction, careful to keep all scents alert. She slunk down, her wolf shoulders sagging close to the ground. She was not going to let herself be seen.

A twig snapped behind her and Mainlee froze, realization shot through her, she had no idea where she was. When no one came bursting through the woods, Mainlee crept on finally emerging from the woods to some neighborhood. The houses were big and fancy, a place Mainlee and her family once lived, and then her dad decided for a smaller house.

Mainlee quickly changed; a random wolf walking through the neighborhood was probably not a good idea. She started walking down the perfectly white sidewalk. She tried to act normal, so no would suspect she just walked through the woods.

Mainlee ran her fingers through her hair, trying to brush it. Her hair easily flowed around her shoulders. She looked down at her clothes, the same as yesterday.

"Ew," she said to herself, "I look disgusting." She nodded to the old man, who was staring oddly at her from his front yard. She smelled bad too. Mainlee looked around and noticed a young man walking across the street, walking towards her. She sniffed the air taking in his scent, the one good perk about being a wolf. It was Rowan, the wolf she had met a couple days ago.

Panic spread through Mainlee and she frantically looked for a place to hide. She glanced back into the old man's yard, who had thankfully returned to his house. She sprinted across the yard and took shelter behind a bush. When she finally looked out at the street again, she let out a sigh of relief, he was gone. Mainlee stood up, brushing the dirt of her legs.

"Who are we hiding from?" Rowans voice sounded behind Mainlee and she screamed, causing him to fall over. He had been crouching right behind her, and she hadn't even noticed.

"Gosh dang it!" Mainlee said, taking slow, deep breaths. "You'd think after all the NCIS I watch; I'd be able to hide myself properly."

Rowan laughed, pulling himself up. "NCIS?"

"My favorite show." Mainlee glanced around; none of the old man's neighbors had come out.

"So who were we hiding from?" He asked, taking Mainlee by surprise. "And by the way, whoever it was totally would have spotted us from the way you screamed." His eyes were teasing her, which was why she had been taken by surprise. He didn't seem like the joking type.

"Um, no one." Mainlee said, standing up. Rowan defiantly did not believe her.

"Really Mainlee."

"Fine, I was hiding from you." Mainlee watched as surprise ran across Rowans face. Mainlee smiled, "Nothing against you. I'm just not in the mood to talk."

Rowan nodded, "I totally understand." He looked Mainlee up and down. He must have sniffed the air, because his nose crinkled. "Do you want to come back to my place?" Mainlee sighed and nodded. "This way." He said, walking through the old man's backyard, hopping over the fence. He turned around and gave Mainlee a hand in hopping over the fence.

"You always hopping people's fences?" Mainlee asked, following him through another yard. "I think that's against the law or something."

Rowan laughed, "Yeah, okay."

Mainlee shook her head, as she hopped over another fence. They entered a giant backyard, one that seemed out of place in the neighborhood. Well, out of the two backyards Mainlee had seen.

"Here we go," Rowan said, walking up the porch and sliding open the door. Mainlee walked into a kitchen, the biggest she'd ever seen. Glossy wooden floors, shiny silver appliances, and white walls. Rowan walked right through the equally giant dining room and behind that were stairs. He climbed them, not even checking if Mainlee was following. She walked behind him through an empty room, except the walls.

The walls were covered in different paintings. Rowan immediately walked through the next door, but Mainlee strayed, looking at the paintings. The first one she came across was a black and white picture of a mother and child. It made Mainlee's stomach churn. Jealous of the child in the picture. She shook her head and moved to the next, an abstract painting of reds, oranges, and yellows. Mainlee loved it, it reminded her of something Ellsie would have.

The next one she stumbled on made her freeze in her tracks. It was a painting of her. Mainlee peered closer, the woman in the picture had blue eyes instead of her green. Her blue eyes were beautiful, but intense and somewhat scary. Mainlee took a step back, gazing at the picture. She had the same shape as Mainlee, the same fiery red hair. In the background, wolves covered the hill behind her. Mainlee eyes quickly slipped back to the woman, who seemed to have hypnotized Mainlee. It was too hard to look away. Mainlee's head started to pound and her vision dizzied. A jolt of electricity shot through her body, sending her mind spinning.

She was on the hill but no wolves were there .She overlooked the village that lay below. Mainlee could see humans bustling around, picking up vegetables, setting up market tables.

Mainlee sniffed the air, she drew in a scent she'd never smelled before, but to her body it was familiar. Mainlee peered at her hand, only a half moon shone. Who am I? Mainlee asked herself.

She shuddered, looking up at the sun shining down on the people below. Nothing seemed amiss. A man stepped into the village square. Mainlee's senses immediately were directed to the man. He was tall, scruffy, brown haired, and someone knew she would never have chosen.

Mainlee's body shook, wanting to go closer to the man, wanting to be near him…

"That's my favorite picture." Rowans soft voice carried behind her, snapping Mainlee back to the painting. "That woman was our old leader, Maykin."

"Pretty name." Maykin, Maykin, Maykin. Was I supposed to be her?

Rowan stood next to Mainlee, his shoulder lightly brushing hers. "Yes, it was. She was amazing. Though, in my opinion she was much more captivating in real life. Couldn't take your eyes off her."

Mainlee could understand, the woman in the picture was beautiful, imagining what she would of looked like in real life. Maykin, Maykin, Maykin.

"Anyways, she died." Mainlee swear she could sense Rowan shaking. "I was too young to know what was going on. The adults refuse to talk about what happened to her." Mainlee wondered if it had to do something with the man.

Mainlee stared at her, this mysterious woman. Maykin, Maykin, Maykin.

Rowan put his hand on her shoulder and Mainlee was able to take her eyes off Maykin. "I drew a bath for you." Mainlee nodded, letting Rowan lead her out of the room. Mainlee was afraid to look at the picture of Maykin in fear she tumble back to the hill.

Rowan entered what must have been the master bath. A shower stood at the back, but a large Jacuzzi tub sat in the middle, water bubbling, and assortments of bottles lining the sides.

"Um, if you need anything, I'll be downstairs." He said briskly, before leaving Mainlee alone.

Mainlee quickly stripped off her clothes, stepping into the warm water. She slid down to the bottom, resting her head on the cushion that lay on one side of the tub. She glanced at the bottles, finally finding a bubble bath and poured the liquid into the water.

Quickly, bubbles filled the bath, reminding Mainlee of her childhood. Afternoons where her mother would draw her baths, putting this ridiculous pink Barbie bubble bath. Mainlee would sit in the tub while her mother would shampoo her hair, complaining about how long it was. That was something that always confused Mainlee. Her mother refused to let Mainlee cut her hair, but she never seemed to like it. Mainlee's mother had the same red, thick hair that Mainlee had.

People always told them that they looked alike, but Mainlee never liked it. She didn't want to be like her mother. A mother who ruins her marriage and children's lives. When she was younger, Mainlee liked to imagine a different mother, one who braided her hair or made cookies for her and her friends. She always felt guilty later, knowing it was a terrible thing to do.

"I may not be like other mothers," Mainlee mother told her once, "But that doesn't mean I'm a bad person. I am your mother and you will listen to me. Someday, you'll be just like me." Mainlee shivered, even in the warm water.

Mainlee spent endless hours thinking about her mom, wondering what her life would have like if she wasn't crazy. Would she have turned out like she was today? Would she be a wolf now? Would I be as hateful as my mother?

"You should be glad she's gone, Mainlee." Her father said the day they took her away. "She'll never hurt this family again." Mainlee laughed, despite the situation.

"I guess so," She had mumbled back, not knowing what else to say. Now, years later, her mother was hurting her worse than ever. Memories rambled through Mainlee's head as she climbed out of the tub, pulling on a white robe that hung against the wall. She slipped her phone into her robe pocket, wondering if Peter would call.

Mainlee descended down the stairs in search for a Coke. She entered the kitchen again, looking into the fridge, but it was empty. She sat as the island that stood in the middle, and peering out the window, she noticed Rowans head. Mainlee walked out to the porch to see Rowan sitting at the picnic table, reading a book.

Mainlee took a seat across from him, hugging her legs on the bench. The wind kicked up, and Mainlee pulled the robe around her tighter. She looked at Rowan, who was now watching at her. He looked much more mature with his reading glasses dangling at the end of his nose. "Thanks," Mainlee mumbled.

"No problem," Rowan said, watching her with curiosity. Mainlee shifted her position, setting her legs on the ground.

"Um, so what are you reading?" Mainlee asked, nodding towards the book in his hands. Rowan picked it up, showing Mainlee the cover. Mainlee raised her eyebrows, "Harry Potter?"

"A personal favorite of mine," Rowan said, looking at the cover of the last book in the series. "What can I say? Everyone loves magic." HE looked at her again, his eyes burning into hers. The way he said it made Mainlee squirm, uncomfortable from his gaze. Does he ever blink? Mainlee asked, turning her attention back to his book.

"I, uh, read them all too." Which was true, Mainlee had sat down the summer the last book came out and read all of them. Even Ellsie secretly liked them, even though she would never tell anyone at school that.

They sat in silence, both of them looking into the backyard. Finally Rowan said, "Why were your really hiding from me?"

Mainlee stared at him, wondering how these wolves always knew when she was lying to them. "I..I just…My life sucks!" She finally blurted out. She blushed, knowing what a ridiculous answer that was. "I'm just having a hard time adjusting."

"To wolf life?" Mainlee glanced at him, he seemed totally serious.

Mainlee shrugged, "Yeah, I guess you could say that." She thought about Oscar, and the fact that he wanted to marry her. "Over my dead body," she growled to herself.

"Excuse me?" Rowan asked, with a confused expression on his face. "I didn't hear you."

"It's nothing you want to hear anyways." Mainlee jumped when her cell phone started to ring. She snapped it out, but the caller ID said Oscar, not Peter. Mainlee stared at it, letting it ring.

"You going to answer that?" Rowan asked, reaching across the table and grabbing it. "Hello?"

"Who is this?" Oscar's voice growled. Mainlee was glad Oscar had such a loud voice now.

"No one whose a threat to you." Rowan said, and Mainlee's eyes bugged. "Why are you calling Mainlee?"

"I think it's me who should be asking questions right now." Oscar's angry voice came from the phone. Mainlee wished he would just, go away.

"Well," Rowan said, his voice sounding totally confident, "Since I'm here with Mainlee and your calling her, I get to ask the questions."

"Let me speak to Mainlee, this had nothing to do with you." Oscar paused, "Mainlee? You there?" He didn't sound angry anymore, but Mainlee knew better.

"I'm here Oscar." Mainlee said, hoping her voice sounded as confident as Rowans. "What do you want Oscar? I'm really not in the mood right now."

"I was wondering where you ran off too, the ceremony is tonight." Oscar's voice carried coolly out of the phone, but Mainlee could here bits of anxiety. "I'm sorry for leaving you there. I was just about to come get you."

"Oh yeah?" Mainlee said, snatching the phone from Rowan. "You seem to be lying an awful lot lately and I'm sick of it. I'm sick of you." Mainlee punched the end button on her Blackberry, and stood up. "I think I should go now."

She raced into the bathroom, hoping Rowan wouldn't follow her. She pulled on her clothes, vowing to go straight home and change. Mainlee quickly ran down the stairs again and out the front door.

When she hit the road, she stopped, suddenly remembering she didn't know how to get home. "Need a ride?" Rowans voice sounded behind her and she turned around to see him dangling keys by his truck.

Mainlee sighed, "I guess." She stalked up the driveway, fuming about her lack of knowing her location. She climbed up into the red truck. "You have an ugly car. Just like Oscar."

"Thanks," Rowan said bitterly, pulling out of the drive. Mainlee realized how rude she must sound. After all, he had been nice to her.

"Look Rowan, I'm sorry, Oscar just always ruins the mood." Mainlee stared at the road ahead, memorizing the directions if she ever needed them again. "I'm just tired of him, and all this." She said, waving her arms.

Rowan sat in the silence for a moment. "Do you hate being a wolf?"

Mainlee was shocked by his question, she wondered if she had insulted him. "Maybe. I don't know. If I was in a different situation, but not mine. Mine sucks."

"You can always join my pack. Don't forget our offer."

"I don't think it's that simple." Rowan passed the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, and Mainlee peered into the parking lot, spotting her car. "Drop me off here Rowan! I need to be here now!"

"The hospital?" Rowan asked, but he pulled into the parking lot. Mainlee jumped out of the car, not even letting him stop. She rushed inside and ran to the secretary.

"Is Ellsie Bruner here?" Mainlee asked, jumping up and down. The lady turned to her computer and nodded.

"Yes, Room 203."

"Thank you!" Mainlee yelled, racing to the elevator. She pressed the bottom, opening the doors. She quickly pressed the second floor button. "Come on, come on come on!" She muttered, as it slowly went up. The doors burst open and Mainlee sprinted down the hall, quickly finding room 203.

"Ellsie?" She asked, coming into the room. Peter sat in the corner reading, but Ellsie was nowhere in sight. "Where is she?"

"She's in surgery, Mainlee." He said, heading towards Mainlee and pulling her into his arms. "She lost a lot of blood." Mainlee squeaked. "It's okay," Peter said softly, leading hr towards the bed. He held her in his arms, giving Mainlee a sense of comfort and safe.

"Peter?" Mainlee murmured, and he turned her heads towards him.

"Yes?" His eyes were so beautiful there, in the dim hospital light. They shone brightly, full of compassion and love, something Mainlee needed desperately.

"I love you." Mainlee whispered, resting her head in Peter's arms.

"I love you too Mainlee," He said, caressing her cheek. "Don't worry now, your safe."