So I took a couple of days. Sue me, it's been hectic. Not to mention I've gotten hardly any reviews on that last chapter. But maybe everyone else has been busy, too. Regardless, here's the next chapter, a little short, but I want to get working on the next chapter.

Adelaide E: Did it shock you that much? =) I'm glad I explained that for you.

Emmanuelle: I didn't like having Thierry refer to her as a half-breed, either, but I was starting to get tired and didn't want to think of another way of saying it.



*Chapter 9*



Tala stood at the edge of the Indian reservation. Staring out over the everglades, admiring the full moon, she did something very cliche.

She howled.

She didn't howl to make noise. She did it to let out her emotions. This was a wolf's way of crying. She cried out her pain, blending her beautiful voice with every other noise of nature, composing a song that nobody would hear twice.

All she could do was remember. Here whole life she had never belonged. She had been treated poorly for being a wolf. Even in school, she had hurried her study so that she didn't have to be looked down on. Most of all, she hadn't wanted to be stereotyped with every other werewolf as dumb and lazy.

She felt she had belonged in Daybreak, but now Monroe had proven her wrong.

She started when she heard a noise beside her. Turning, she met kind brown eyes behind a muzzle of grey-brown fur.

*Now, now,* Lupe's wolf voice said. *Is it all really that bad?*

Tala turned her head. *You wouldn't understand.*

The other wolf leaned against her. *Thierry only kept it a secret because he didn't want it to seem personal for you. And you know he'd only send the best for the job.*

*It doesn't matter, Lupe. My feelings toward the Circle will always be warm, and I know that I can get over this . . .*

*But what about Monroe?* Lupe laid on the grass, stretching out her paws.

*He hates me. My own soulmate can't see who I am on the inside. Maybe I am typical.*

*Don't ever think that! Maybe the universe can be cruel sometimes, but everything always turns out for the best. And so what if he can't see how great you are? So many other people do.*

Tala began to pace. *Of all places to feel right, I'd think it would be with the other half of my soul.*

*So ignore him. Play his game. And if his feelings don't change, then you'll find a way to move on. Right now, you need to focus on the girl. You were assigned to protect her, and you have never given up a charge before.*

Tala straightened her shoulders. *I don't know. I guess I can try . . .*

Lupe jumped up on all fours. *There you go. Come on. Let's go have some fun before you have to go back on your mission.*

Chasing after her, Tala let all of the things on her mind drift away with the wind. It was time for work.



Monroe heard the door open from his bed, but wasn't worried. He had felt Tala's mind from the car. He stood, walking slowly out of the room. Now if only he could remember what he had practiced.

He came across her in the foyer. "Listen, Tala-"

She cut him off with a wave of a hand. Nothing was coming from her mind. "Monroe, what was said was said. We have personal issues that we will deal with later. For the time being, we need to finish this mission. No matter what you think of me, we do have to get along. I don't know if I can trust you as a partner, but I know I can trust you with the care of Vesta." She walked toward the kitchen, continuing to talk whether he followed or not. Of course, he followed. "Did you find anything when you searched her mind?"

He was still slowly gathering her speech in his mind. "Um, no. I can't see anything. I'm going to have to do more research. But, Tala, I really want to-"

She was pulling things out of the cupboard, but stopped to look him in the eyes."Don't say you're sorry, because you don't mean in. Just because you feel guilty does not mean you're sorry."

He was speechless. Staring at her, all he could see was a white strand of hair, waving in front of her eyes.

*Stop that,* he thought, looking away quickly. *She's a wolf for crying out loud.*

"And if you expect us to be able to work together, you need to keep your indignant thoughts to yourself. I don't want to hear things like you just thought anymore." She began stirring something. "I'm keeping all of my hateful thoughts quiet, if you haven't noticed, and I would prefer that you do the same. It will make working conditions much easier. Now, with the mission, I think I've formed a game-plan."

"So you're staying?"

He knew it was a dumb question when she turned to look at him. "Have I just been talking to myself for the last ten minutes? Yes, I'm staying on the mission. Here," she handed him a mug of coffee, "even though you're a vampire, you're going to need it. We need to break this case down detail by detail."

He just stood, watching her move around the kitchen efficiently. She was like a well oiled machine, and she was going to take care of this case.

Now if only he could do his part.