I have no excuse really as to why I haven't updated in so long. I apologize sincerely. I hope y'all can forgive me. Just for the record, I mentioned last time I was bumping the rating up and I did. That does not mean that I will jump into M rated stuff.

Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Wolf. Enjoy. :)

It took us a little while to find a hotel that wasn't crappy. And by the time we found one we were all dead on our feet. Figuratively speaking anyway. :) We paid for a room for one night and piled in. There was only one bed but it was big enough for all of us to sleep comfortably. Phoenix crashed automatically and Derek just sat down warily. "I'm gonna jump through the shower," I said grabbing my bag that I always keep in my car. He didn't say anything, but I knew he'd heard me. I walked into the bathroom and turned the shower on as hot as I could stand it. Stripping, I quickly got in and let the water soothe my aching muscles. I hadn't done very much in the last couple of days, but the stress has me all worked up. I stood there my brain going ninety miles an hour. I was warring with myself on how to break the news about Laura to Phoenix. After standing under the spray of the shower for a while deliberating, I decided she should be able to sleep easy for now. It could wait until we were all rested. Shaking out of my stupor, I scrubbed down quickly and got out. I grabbed a towel from the rack and wrapped it around me. I started drying off when I heard a knock at the door. Pausing to see if Derek was awake to get it, but I didn't hear him get up. Sighing softly, I wrapped the towel more securely around my body and went to the door.

Cracking it open slightly and sticking only my head into view, I asked, "Yes?" "Pardon the disturbance ma'am, we were wondering if this kid belonged to you," the officer asked gesturing behind him. He stepped to the side revealing an unruly looking teenager. "No sir. You might try a few doors down. I heard from the front teller that the couple had a son who had run off without telling them," I said remembering the couple talking on the phone very loudly about their ungrateful kid. He tipped his hat at me, "Thank you, ma'am." "No problem officer," I said shutting the door. Shaking my head, I walked back to the bathroom. Caught up in my thoughts, I didn't notice Derek coming out of the bathroom and we collided, knocking ourselves to the ground with Derek falling on top of me. Stunned, we just stared at each other for a few seconds. A sharp pain went up my back from my landing and I shifted causing Derek to growl and his eyes to darken. Realizing the compromising position we were in I stilled and stared up at him. My eyes locked onto his darkened ones and my breathing sped up. I tried to stay still, but being on the hard floor with no cushion was very uncomfortable and I shifted again. This time he growled loudly and I gasped.

*Knock! Knock! Knock!*

Derek growled irritated as he jumped up and stormed out of the bathroom to the door. I laid there thoughts racing through my head. Though I could distinctly hear Derek arguing with whoever was at the door, I couldn't seem to find it in myself to get off of the floor. I lay there my mind whirring. 'What the hell was that? And why did I like it so much?' Derek slamming the door startled me out of my thoughts. Jumping up I quickly dressed and left the bathroom. "Who was that, and why were you arguing?" I asked as he slumped onto the bed. "Stupid pizza delivery boy got the wrong room and wanted to argue with me saying I was wrong," he said whilst growling. I didn't reply instead opting to crawl up the bed settling between the two of them. "What are we gonna tell her?" I asked softly after a moment of silence. He said nothing for a long time, and I thought he'd fallen asleep when he answered, "The truth? She deserves it after all she's been through. I'm hesitant with everything you've told me about her being fragile." I nodded, "Well... we don't know what all happened while she was with the elders. Maybe they toughened her up?" He shrugged and we lapsed back into silence.

I don't know how long we stayed like that but the next thing I know I'm waking up squished between Derek and Phoenix. Let me tell you, three shifters/werewolves in the same bed is a bad combination. Way too much body heat. I untangled myself from the mess of limbs in order to go to the bathroom. Yawning, I search for my phone to see what time it is. 'Ugh. Where the hell.. oh must've left it in my pants pocket.' I grab the jeans I wore yesterday and found my phone. *5:57* I groaned. 'It is too damn early.' I grabbed my bag and re-entered the bathroom to get ready.

*Ten minutes later*

"Wake the hell up!" I screamed loudly after trying to wake the two still slumbering wolves gently. Derek jumped and fell off the bed while Nix just sat up. It's not often you see the mighty Derek Hale in a situation such as this and I couldn't help but laugh my ass off. Apparently, Nix thought so too because she was laughing so hard she was crying. Unfortunately, Derek didn't think it was so funny and chased me around the room. "Derek!" I squealed as he managed to catch me and throw me on the bed next to Nix. He stood at the end of the bed scowling which did absolutely nothing to stifle our giggling.

"Ok. Ok. We'll stop. But seriously, though, we have to talk," I said calming down. Derek sat down in the chair beside the bed as Nix and I got comfortable on the bed. I looked at Derek unsure where to start. "Ok, um, how about you tell us what happened with the elders?" I asked figuring that would be an easy place to start. Phoenix sighed, "When Pops shipped me off, I was so pissed off at him. At all of you really. I didn't understand why you were sending me away or why you were picking Erica over me. ( I went to interrupt.) No. Let me finish. I was so angry in the beginning, that when I arrived, the elders demanded me to bring my wolf to the surface. I refused so they started attacking me, leaving me no choice. After it was all said and done I was bloody and bruised all over, but I felt like the world had been lifted off my shoulders.

I think it was then I started to realize that repressing my wolf was making my life miserable. The elders let me rest and heal before they started in on me. They taught me that to repress my wolf was to reject myself. That being born a wolf was an honor and privilege and I was being foolish. They also told me that I was slowly driving myself mad. When I asked what they meant by that... apparently all the lessons you and Pops tried drilling into my head didn't stick. They sent me to the highest elder. He sat me down and explained a lot of things to me. Things that you and Bray already know. Probably Der, too. He showed me how to be one with my wolf. How to accept myself. He told me that I was slowly going mad because I was rejecting a part of myself that I literally cannot live without. It's ingrained in my DNA. I had to relearn everything. He made me start at the beginning. First, find your center. Second, recognize your wolf. Third, become the wolf. And so on.

Everything that I should have already been able to do on a whim. Before we started, I found I couldn't. My wolf had accepted my rejection and was slowly dying. I was devastated, but he helped me through. He even trained me. I'm not the fragile and weak brat that I was before. And I'm happy to be a wolf." We didn't say anything at first. I mean, what do you say after a declaration like that? I had to get something off my chest though. "Phoenix, I wasn't picking Erica over you. I wouldn't do that. I see you as a sister just like I do her. And when it really came down to it... You were so independent that you seemed like you didn't need me. Hell you even acted like you didn't need me. She did need me. She needed someone to be there for her. And I'm not gonna lie. The things you did before summer, they really pissed me off. I wanted to give you the worst beating you'd ever experience. I didn't though. No idea why, but I didn't. You and Erica mean so much to me. I couldn't pick one over the other. It's just that my instincts lean more to her than they do you," I explained. "I know that now," she said softly.

"Ok. well I don't know about you guys, but I'm starving. So let's go get something to eat!" I exclaimed dramatically. Derek chuckled but looked at me knowingly. I was stalling and he knew it. He spoke up when Nix went to the car, "We have to tell her Ash." "We will. After we eat, we'll tell her. Derek... she's not the same girl I knew, but she looked up to Laura in a way that she never could with me. Laura was her family. Just like you are. That's... I don't want this to backpedal her progress," I said sighing. He grabbed my shoulders and looked me dead in the eye, " She's a Hale. She'll bounce back." I nodded and we left to head to the nearest fast food place.

Well I hope this chapter is satisfactory. Once again I apologize for the updating delay. Let me know what you guys think.:)