The weeks passed. Each day seemed to get easier yet so much harder to deal with her loss. Alex let her dissociation take hold, zoning out any time she could. And Balthazar was beginning to notice. It became harder to snap her out of it, and finally, he called for help.

Dr. Milligan appeared at the house two days later. "Alex."

Alex was sitting in the backyard, leaning against the house, eyes distant. She barely noticed when Balthazar and Dr. Milligan approached.

The doctor sighed when he saw her. "Not again."

"You said it was dissociation?"

"Yes. She's had this problem before." Both Dr. Milligan and Balthazar knelt down beside her. Alex paid them no attention. Dr. Milligan continued. "However, we were able to get rid of it. It -"

"How?" Balthazar demanded. He was silenced by a sharp glare.

"Sex ended up working. But it won't work this time. Not with you. It only worked with Dean. Dean was her cure." The doctor turned back to Alex. "Last time, dissociation occurred because of her traumatic past. Her family was killed, and the alphas took her and sold her. This time, I believe it's because of losing her mate and children."

Balthazar let out a grunt of 'undoubtably.' "How can we fix it? It's getting harder to snap her out of it."

Dr. Milligan sighed. "I don't know. You're going to have to find something that keeps her from dissociating, and use that. Last time it was Dean. He was the only one who could pull her out of it, and whenever she was near him, she was more focused. This time, I don't know what to use."

Balthazar sighed as well. "Well, there has to be something we can do. Come on, Alex." He helped her to her feet. "Let's get you inside, okay?" He gently helped her into the house, and down the hall, finally sitting her down on the couch in the living room. He pressed a kiss on the top of her head, and Alex stirred long enough to shift away. Balthazar sighed. "I don't know what to do. I - should I get Dean?"

That caught Alex's attention. "Dean?" Even his name was enough to bring her back.

"No." Balthazar firmly shook his head. He turned back to Dr. Milligan, who had taken a seat on the chair across from them. "She's my mate now. We can't bring him back."

Alex narrowed her eyes pitifully, lowering her gaze. Her heart ached at the thought of her mate, and a quiet whimper escaped her lips.

Balthazar heard, and let out a warning growl.

Dr. Milligan tipped his head. "What was that for?"

"She does that whenever Dean is mentioned." Balthazar sighed, almost sounding defeated. "It's like she won't even give me a chance." He added quietly, "She just can't seem to get over him."

"You can't blame her. Dean is her mate. Her only mate. Betas -"

" - mate for life. I know, I know." Balthazar shook his head discouragingly. "But they have to move on at some point." He took Alex's hand, threading his fingers through hers.

"They move on when their mate is dead." Dr. Milligan leaned over to Alex, pulling the hem of her shirt away from her shoulder, revealing a still visible mark. "This mark bonds her to Dean. She is still his mate. If you want her to move on, you'll have to re-mark her."

"You mean sex."

"Damn right I mean sex. And she's not going to like it. She'll fight. And she'll fight as hard as she can."

Balthazar looked over at Alex. She was still studying her free hand, mind drifting away. He pulled her shirt to her side, tracing the mark with light fingers. "Is that the only way? I mean, won't it fade after a while?"

"We're not sure how bonding works among betas. But it's been over a month, and that mark hasn't faded. For all we know, it won't fade as long as Dean is alive. Either he dies, or you have to re-mark her." Dr. Milligan closed his eyes briefly, then opened them back up again. "I hope that helps."

"Not at all." Balthazar ran a hand over Alex's head, playing gently with her long hair. She did nothing. "Perhaps you're right. I'll have to claim her." He sighed. "I don't want to force her into anything, though."

"Well, perhaps it will fade with time. Like we said, we know very little about beta bonding." Dr. Milligan stood up. "I'm afraid I have to go. If you have any other questions, call either me or Crowley." Then he left. The door slammed behind him.

Alex pulled herself out of the dissociation, grunting as the headache began. "Please don't," she whispered when the door was closed.

Balthazar turned, confused. "Excuse me?"

"Please don't re-mark me." Alex ran light fingers over the slight indent. "I, th-this is the only thing of them I have left."

Balthazar sat down beside them and suddenly pulled her into a hug. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "But you keep zoning out."

"I can't help it," Alex whispered.

"I know, sweetheart. But I want to help. And if claiming you is what is going to help you, then this is something I will have to do."

Alex shook her head and struggled out of his grasp. Then she ran. She hurried into the greenhouse that was sitting off to the right of the house, and sat down among the plants. She was safe there, among the thick leaves of the flowers. She pulled out her phone, and stared at it, trying to remember. Then, as if by a miracle, numbers flashed through her head. She dialed quickly them.

"Uh, hello?"

"Gabriel!" Alex almost melted with relief. "Oh my God."

"Alex?" Confusion filled the alpha's voice.

"Yes." Alex's throat tightened, and her voice shook. "I . . ."

"Are you okay?" Gabriel grew concerned. "No one's hurting you, right?"

"I, I can't do this, Gabe," Alex whimpered. "I need them. I can't live without them! I-"

"Calm down." The alpha's voice remained comfortingly steady. "Deep breaths, sweetheart. Everyone's okay. Ashlyn's got a good family, the twins are safe here, and Dean is with his brother."

"Dean." Alex leaned forward desperately, brushing a flower out of her face. "Please. Where is he?"

"Uh, Lawrence, Kansas. Like where he's always lived."

Alex's mind raced. Lawrence. That wasn't too far. Was it?

"Alex?" Balthazar was calling her name.

Alex immediately hung up, stuffing her phone in her pocket, a slight tinge of guilt running through her. "Here." She took a deep breath, crawling out of the plants. "I'm here."

Balthazar found her, letting a relieved smile. "There you are." He motioned her forward. "You gave me a bit of a scare."

"Sorry." Alex pulled herself to her feet. "I, uh, I just panicked, I guess."

"I can't blame you, darling." Balthazar stepped forward, cutting the distance between them in half. "How are you feeling?"

"Better." Alex self-consciously straightened her shirt under his gaze. "I, uh, yeah." She trailed off, lowering her gaze.

Balthazar pretended not to notice."There's a few groceries we need. You feeling up to taking on a task?"

Alex nodded. "Yes. I - I can manage." She shifted her feet slightly. "What do you . . . need?" Words seemed to evade her at the moment, and she tipped her head. "Sorry. What do you need?"

In response, Balthazar handed her a list and a few bills of cash. "Be back within the hour okay? And be careful."

"Okay. Thank you." Alex dipped her head, slipping past him and out of the house.