The next morning...

Sophia never thought she would be witnessing the sight in front of her. Standing in front of the 'Welcome to Wolf Lake' sign and overlooking the town, she felt herself torn into two pieces. She felt one part of herself pull her towards the town, almost as if she was being sucked into its pull. The other part of her wanted to turn around and run anywhere but where she was standing. Once again she thought about what would happen if she left, and the fact the danger would still be leering over Wolf Lake would still be her responsibility. She couldn't run away from everything even if she did run away from Wolf Lake and everyone her, because sooner or later you have to come back to the place or thing that caused you to run away.

Overlooking the town, Sophia couldn't believe how quiet and calm it seemed in the early morning. The sun was just about ready to rise and fog was still hanging heavy in various spots. Her breath misted in the still night air, and if it weren't for her wolven form, she would have had chill bumps upon her skin. Her hearing widened searching for anyone to be awake. She found that only a few were rising, probably for work. The best bet would be to stay on the outskirts of the forest, but Sherman's house was towards the middle of Wolf Lake. She was going to have to enter and hurry to Sherman's as fast as she could. She regretted now not taking that rest Ruby had advised her on. She was going to have to sprint to Sherman's and with the throbbing in her leg, yet to cease, it was going to take some will power not to stop. She quickly checked the links she shared with Ruby and her father to find them both asleep.

She took one last deep breath before she set off into the deep confines of the forest, forgetting how much she felt at ease in this forest. She wanted to slow down and savor every aspect of the wonders before her, but luckily her mind charged in quickly reminding her of the threat of being seen or even captured in these woods because she looked almost like Ruby, the only difference was present in the eyes. While Ruby's were an icy blue, Sophia's were a warm honey brown. She quickly jumped over a log, almost landing on her bad leg, before she returned to her normal pace. Her heart was beating wildly hoping that the shadows around her would stay shadows. She prayed that time would be on her side today, that no surprises would cross her path.

**********************

Luke felt a continuous drop of water fall on his snout. He immediately moved, but the water seemed to follow him. Thinking it was a sick game of his mothers, Luke woke up to yell at her and then fall back asleep. However when he woke up, he remembered where he had fallen asleep last night. He found himself staring at Sophia's tombstone behind her grave. Immediately seeing that made him want to fall back asleep, but he couldn't as he noticed that it was lightly raining this morning. Luke stretched out on the ground, feeling the muscles cramp in revolt of his movement before they flexed and then calmed down as he let out a yawn. Taking a moment before standing on all four legs, he walked around a little bit trying to loosen all the knots that had formed in his muscles by sleeping on the hard ground last night.

Looking around, Luke saw that it was still early morning, wondering why he had been able to wake up so early especially since he had given up going to school over a week ago. He took a deep breath, enjoying the sight of his warm breath hitting the cold. Fog was heavy in the woods today and Luke felt more at ease knowing that no one else was within vicinity of him right now. Otherwise he probably would have bit their heads off.

Thinking back on what Ruby had said to him last night, Luke wondered what he should do now. He knew something was being hidden from him. However what it was and why they weren't telling him was another question racking its way through his brain. Was it to protect him or was it to make sure that Luke stayed with his position within the confines of the Pack. So much had happened lately, Luke knew it was just going to get bigger and bigger. Change, of course, is inevitable, but nobody said you had to like it.

In the past week or so, Sophia had tried to flip and ended up dying in the process. He had gone from cloud nine to shit-faced in a matter of seconds. He knew his mom had something up her ass because she was definitely on his for getting over Sophia and taking the innovative to look out for his future of being Alpha. That also meant being with Presley, who he vowed to have nothing to do with her again. Then everyone just about shit a brick last night when goody-goody Sheriff Matt Donner came back to the Pack after almost two decades. That man was always willing to keep him on his toes no matter what.

Yes change was evident, but just how much more change would come to the surface before it would all simmer? That was a question no one could answer, not even Sherman. Luke began walking back towards his house to take a shower and then crash in his room for the next twenty years of his life, when something stopped him in his tracks just like last night. Although it wasn't as clear as the howl that came from Matt last night, he knew nonetheless how powerful it was. If he hadn't have been in wolven form, he knew he probably would have been on the ground. The feeling came deep within his gut, screaming at him to turn around. How could you not listen to the deep aching in your stomach that was temporarily overpowering your whole body for the moment?

There was an unknown force pulling him towards something. He had no idea what was going on, but the only thing that constantly was going through his mind was the powerful words his sister used last night. Just like you I trust my gut instincts. It's the way to really survive. Ruby's words pounded inside his head, getting louder as he continued to walk and then run towards something deeper in the forest.

******************

Matt had just woken up and was making his morning coffee when the front doorbell rang. He had decided to take the morning off, needing some more vacation before returning to work later this afternoon. He quickly walked towards the door and opened it before even looking who was on the other side. A simple task he regretted doing. He stood face to face with the one person he really didn't want to see standing in front of him.

"Vivian." Matt said his way of a greeting.

"Matt, can I come in?" Vivian asked. Matt could tell she was feeling rather awkward about something. If only he knew.

"You're asking for my permission?" Matt fired back, evident that he was still mad from the night before. "I thought I had to have permission from you, not the other way around."

"Matt, I wanted to apologize for last night." Vivian said knowing she deserved that remark from Matt.

"And just what exactly would you be apologizing for?" Matt asked loving the fact that Vivian felt so nervous and out of character at the moment.

"Everything. You were right to yell at me. I was just surprised by your recent turn of events, that's all. I didn't think after all these years that you'd actually listen to me. I mean, before you always listened to what you thought was right, not me."

"Well you were the only motivator." Matt confessed remembering the harsh yet true words that had come out of Ruby's mouth.

"Matt I also wanted to apologize for how I behaved. I guess well, I felt threatened." Vivian confessed while she looked at her feet.

"Shocker there." Matt said catching Vivian by surprise with his new smart- ass attitude.

"Are you implying something Matt?" Vivian asked not able to hide the smile spreading on her face.

"Why don't you come in and we'll talk about it?" Matt offered before Vivian entered his house. Matt closed the door behind him, knowing that today was definitely going to be different now that he had come back to the Pack.

******************

Sophia was about halfway to Sherman's when she couldn't stand it anymore and stopped at a nearby creek to get a drink. She was exhausted, hungry, in pain, and scared because of the fact that she had no idea what would happen now that she had returned to Wolf Lake. She had never done something so drastic in her life. It was going to cause utter chaos among the residents of Wolf Lake, especially the humans in town because they were the ones who thought she died of an unknown heart condition. Now what was she going to tell them? She couldn't say she faked her death, half the town would want her committed.

She couldn't go there right now. She had to focus on the most important problem at hand right now. She had to get to Sherman's and fast if she was going to keep her secret until she was more powerful to take on the whole Pack. It, however, did not hurt having Ruby, John, and her father on her side plus Sherman who usually had a way with changing people's minds and making them see the better hand of situations.

She was just about to bend down and take another drink of water when she sensed someone very close to her. A few seconds later, she discovered that it was a Skinwalker in full wolf form. In fact it was a male Skinwalker. Not about to stay and find out who it was, Sophia pulled herself away from her fear, and started to climb out of the small valley the creek was located in. However, she didn't get far. The trap, which was still clamped on her leg, got stuck on a root sticking out. She tried to pull it loose, but that just caused more pain to come flooding to her leg.

Whoever it was, they were getting closer by the second. Sophia only had about ten seconds to get free and run like the wind to not be seen. She pulled once more on the trap, this time from a different direction, finally able to free herself. The pain increasing in her leg was enough for her to pass out, but her heart was beating so rapid, there was no stopping her from taking off. She immediately began running as fast as she could, not sticking around to find out who was hunting her down. She opened her mind to see if Ruby was awake yet to find her in a deep sleep. Doing a little rewiring, she noticed that John was awake and she could send him a message by going through Ruby's mind.

John, wake Ruby up. Now!

Sophia's fear was evident in the distress call to John, but considering the circumstances, it only added to the effect that she needed Ruby to wake up.

****************

Luke came upon a small creek which looked like it had just been inhabited by another wolf by the claw marks on the other side. He looked on the other side of the forest to see the rustling of branches. His prey was within in sights. He had found his target although he had no idea who it was he at least knew it was a Skinwalker. As he detected the wolf scent, he noticed it was mixed with a few other things. Mud and forest scent were among them, but the one that was the most present was the strong presence of blood. His prey was wounded and by the smell of it, it was a pretty bad wound.

Even more curious than before, Luke continued to chase his victim subject to his chase. It exhilarated him to know that his prey was being hunted and was scared that he would find it soon. As he charged after the wolf, he could smell her fear hanging high in the air. Wait, her? Somehow Luke could also now detect that his prey was in fact female, and a powerful one at that. Nonetheless, he loved the thrill of a chase, and pressed on picking up his speed.

****************

"Ruby, c'mon, time to wake up." John begged with her while also trying to shake her awake. She responded by giving him the cold shoulder, and rolling away from his touch. He came to rest his mouth by her ear and whispered very soft, "Sophia's in trouble."

That got her up. She immediately sat up alert, almost hitting John in the process. She instantly tapped into Sophia's mind to find out just how bad the situation was. She was in Wolf Lake and making her way here while also being chased in the process. She was tired and in pain, but the worst thing was her fear and anger were getting the best of her. She had no idea who was chasing her, only that she hoped it wasn't Tyler thinking it was Ruby.

"Sophia, I'm here." Ruby said feeling like she was now part of the chase. "Where are you?"

"I'm about two miles away from Sherman's. Ruby you have to help me. I'm being chased. I think it might be-" Sophia said with a great amount of fear in her voice, more than Ruby had expected.

"It's not him trust me I would know. Listen, I know you don't want to do this but find out who is chasing you. It might be your dad." Ruby said knowing how sometimes fear can get the best of you.

"It's not trust me, but I'll look and see who it is." Sophia said as she slowed her pace a little bit and turned around in a circle to get a glimpse of her hunter. Of in the distance of about a hundred and fifty feet she saw a familiar gray wolf bolting towards her. She was so stunned that she stood there frozen until Ruby chimed in making her start running again.

"Sophia? Sophia, who is it?" Ruby asked getting caught up in all of the drama although she was safely in the confines of Sherman's house.

"It's worse than I thought." Sophia added quickly picking up her pace, knowing now that she needed to get farther away from him than she thought.

"Well, who is it?" Ruby asked noticing the increase of initiative in Sophia as she began to run faster towards the house.

"Luke." Sophia said before she cut off with Ruby and concentrated on her attempts to increase her speed, despite the pain coursing through her whole body now.

****************

Luke now had the wolf within his sights. He saw her slow down and circle around. From behind she had looked like she was a brown wolf, but her face looked lighter. Could her brown fur have just been mud on her real fur? He was too far away and she was moving too fast for him to find out right now. Once her eyes locked with his, he saw the fear expressed in her smaller frame before she turned back around and took off running faster than before. Her will to beat him flattered and at the same time angered him. Still, he pressed on and pushed harder to catch up to her knowing that she was wounded and therefore weaker than he was.

Luke felt for the first time in days alive. It was like something or someone just took complete control over him and he once again felt like he was floating on cloud nine. Usually it took quite a few hard drinks to get this dream bound, but there was no liquor in his body. Not one speck. He was just one with his wolven self, chasing down his prey. Closing in to her range. He could smell the victory in his hunt. He looked off in the distance to see a house in the clearing just ahead. The house was familiar, but Luke couldn't remember whose it was, the wolf was completely in control now.

****************

Oh thank God, Sophia thought as she saw Sherman's house coming in to view. She began to get scared there for a moment since she realized that Luke had just picked up his pace once again and hers was starting to slow, her body sensing it couldn't go through too much more physical activity. She pinpointed Ruby's exact location within the house and ran towards the window of a bedroom seeing that no doors nor windows were open. Her stomach was forming into knots and she was scared she wouldn't have the strength to, but she put everything she had left-her strength, mind, body, and soul- into one job towards the window, seeking her only option.

As she jumped, she bent her head down, shielding her eyes from the glass that was about to break. She lengthen her already lean body and jumped with perfect precision through the small window, listening to the sound on glass shattering on the floor. Her paws landed on the floor with a rather loud thud. She was balanced even with the landing of all four legs onto the hardwood floor. Her eyes glowed brightly gold for seconds until returning to their natural honey brown color. She looked to her right to see John and Ruby still on the bed, shocked from Sophia's actions.

Ruby and John both noticed her stance there before them, looking superior and defiant. Her power and dominance as a wolf was well shown even though the mud on her coat could have fouled anyone that she was brown instead of white. But Ruby along with John knew the truth about her destiny and her position within the Pack. She would be a great, if not the greatest addition to the Pack ever. Her anger and ignorance along with her kindness to lesser beings made her already wise in her young age. It was a pleasant mix of her mother and father.

Sophia went to take a step towards John and Ruby, but her legs finally gave in, resulting in her fall to the floor. Seeing her power draining, John and Ruby quickly came to her aid. John went towards the window to look for Luke as Ruby went to help Sophia as she sat down with her on the floor. John saw Luke about fifty feet away, legs pumping under him, his adrenaline at full blast, accelerating him to complete his task and prepare himself for the jump into the window. John ducked back into the confines of the room seeing Sophia out of breath and almost out of life.

"He's coming, quick." John said pulling himself away from the window knowing that there was no way there were going to be able to run from Luke especially with Sophia's state of health.

"Sophia, you have to flip. You hear me?" Ruby said pleading with her, knowing that she would freak if Luke saw that she was a white wolf let alone that she was alive. "Do you want Luke to see you as a white wolf?"

When Ruby said those last few words she knew she had gotten to Sophia for she even looked up at Ruby worry present in her eyes. She knew she had more strength when she was in wolven form, but when she felt this exhausted now, what was going to happen to her when she changed back. She had no choice though. Letting Luke see her alive was one thing, but another was for him to see her in wolven form.

******************

Matt was sitting at the table with Vivian across from him when Sophia's scream came crashing into his mind. He almost choked on his coffee. Trying to hide the pain he felt for his daughter, he looked up at Vivian, realizing just how much it had affected him. Vivian looked at him as if he had just had a seizure. He coughed and tried to act normal, but nothing was going to take away her curiousness.

"Matt, are you okay?" She asked worry obvious in her voice.

"Yeah, I just forgot I have to do something." Matt said standing up and setting his still half-full coffee mug into the sink. "I'm sorry Vivian. Can we cut this short?"

"Yeah, I have things to do as well." She said handing her mug to Matt. "I don't want to keep you from other engagements." Vivian said as Matt walked her towards the door.

"Thanks for stopping by Vivian. It was good to talk." Matt said while opening the door.

"Yeah, we should do this again next time, but hopefully I won't have to start a fight with you just so I can talk to you again." Vivian said stepping out on the stoop. "Bye Matt."

"Bye." Matt said waiting till she walked at least ten feet away from the house till closing the door, not wanting to sound rushed. He didn't even wait for her car to start before he walked towards the back of the house, losing his clothes in the process. He opened the screen door and took a quick glance before shedding his skin for fur and took off running to Sherman's house.

******************

Luke was only a few feet away now as he prepared himself for the jump knowing he could make it if his prey could as well. He flew through the window just as perfectly as Sophia had. Instead, Luke changed back into human form after he had cleared the window. As Luke was flying through the window and changing he noticed a scream ripping through the air. Eyes glowing brightly knowing he had won, Luke landed on the floor in a crouch ready to face his prey head on, immediately allowing his eyes to go back to normal in shock. Only he hadn't expected who his prey had been. He thought that scream had sounded familiar, but it didn't register even though it had only been a week since he had last heard that scream which caused his heart to cease beating for a second.

Sophia sat on the ground covered with mud and full of exhaustion as Ruby held her close, letting her know that she was safe. Ruby mentally promised Sophia that she would make sure Luke stayed his distance and kept her secret, but a part of Sophia from somewhere deep inside made her want to tell Ruby that it was okay and that Luke could stay, but she knew that she wasn't about to get attached to anyone while she was here. She had no intention of staying. She repeated that last phrase over and over in her mind, but pictures and the sight of Luke in front of her came rushing back to greet her, making her emotions swirl.

"Sophia." Luke said her name loving the feel of it on his tongue, yet Sophia didn't know how she felt about him saying her name. The only action was closing her eyes, not wanting to know if they would turn gold or not.

As he spoke her name he remembered that his prey was wounded, and he began to look down Sophia's body until he saw her leg. The sight was unbearable for Luke wanting to look away at the sight of her leg being trapped in the confines of steel. Taking a closer look he saw how the trap went all the way down to the bone. She was in immense amounts of pain and yet she had been able to outrun him even with his added adrenaline rush and unknown force pushing him towards her.

"Sophia" Luke repeated this time taking a step closer, seeking her touch. He lightly brought his hand to her cheek and wiped away a single tear tracking its way down her face.

She whimpered lightly and moved closer to Ruby. Luke's gaze fell to his sister's seeing that she wasn't shocked nor surprised at Sophia being alive. He knew Sophia was scared, but he didn't know why Sophia was scared of him. Yes he was stalking her like a cat does a mouse, but he didn't know that it was her. He tried to talk to her on their link, but she had shut him out, not wanting to feel any part of him let alone talk to him.

"Sophia it's okay. I'm not going to hurt you." Luke said letting his hand rest on her cheek. Sophia was confused by his touch. She didn't know whether she should bat his hand away or hold it. Her emotions made her go crazy. Knowing she couldn't make a decision she looked to Ruby for help.

Ruby felt her uneasiness and felt the confusion beating at Sophia. Ruby looked at John for help knowing that somehow he always knew what to do. John didn't even need to talk to her on their pathway or out loud to know what she wanted from him. He quickly walked around Luke and lowered himself onto the other side of Sophia. He effortlessly dropped himself to her level and picked her up in his arms. As he stood, he quickly glanced at Luke who was giving him the look of death for touching Sophia, but the kid wasn't scaring him in the least bit. John just simply turned around and walked out of the room in search for Sherman who could help Sophia. Luke went to follow desperately wanting to be with Sophia to make sure she was okay and to get some questions answered when his sister stopped him.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" Ruby asked furious with her brother. "Sophia has been through so much already, she does not need to be chased by anyone, especially you."

"I didn't know it was Sophia until I landed in this room." Luke said angry his sister was telling him what to do just like everyone else. "I don't even know why I started chasing her in the first place. I just had a gut instinct."

"I'm sure you did. Just steer clear of her for awhile, she's had enough trauma the past few days." Ruby said walking towards the door to leave.

"She's had trauma, I've had trauma. I haven't been able to sleep for a week because I knew she was alive and I couldn't go out there and find her myself. I was caged to the confines of Wolf Lake. I spent almost all my time in the forest, pacing the boundaries of the town hoping for some direction to head in. Meanwhile everyone else has been on my ass to get over her when I can't even get her out of my dreams when I actually sleep let alone my mind every second of the day." Luke said letting his sister know really how much he cared for Sophia. He wasn't just going to come out and tell her he was in love with her because he didn't want Sophia to hear everything they were saying, but it was too late. She had heard every word.

Stop it. Please. Sophia said to both of them. She didn't need them fighting, not now of all times especially since she couldn't clearly pick a side.

Luke let Sophia's message distract Ruby as he ran past her and searched out Sophia's scent in the house. He walked into a bedroom across the hallway to see Sophia on the bed and Sherman preparing to take off the trap on her leg. John was standing by the door arms crossed over his chest. Ruby came up behind him to take her place next to John. Luke however walked closer to Sophia. He sat down in a chair next to the bed and kept his eyes locked on hers knowing that she had countless emotions surfacing through her body, but the strongest one was pain.

"All right Sophia, this part is going to be the most painful." Sherman said looking her in the eyes. "Are you ready?"

Sophia took a deep breath, trying to calm down, but nothing seemed to calm her heart. The only thing she could think of to let her relax was to hold someone's hand. Looking over at Ruby and John holding onto one another, she decided against relying on Ruby for everything. However, there was another person in the room. Sophia couldn't even believe she was even considering this as a possibility. Luke was only a foot away from her touch, she could just ask him to hold her hand, knowing that he would gladly accept. It was about time Luke felt some of her pain anyway.

"Will you hold my hand?" Sophia asked looking at Luke. He at first felt shocked that she was looking at him let alone talking to him. One look into his pale green eyes was enough to let Sophia's heart slow down a few beats.

With a simple nod, Luke outstretched his arm and gently took her hand in his. Sophia thought he would just hold her hand, but he did more than she bargained for. Figures. Luke held her small, delicate hand with both of his while also coming within a closer vicinity of her body. Caressing the soft skin on the back of her hand both comforted Sophia and relaxed her at the same time.

"Sophia, are you ready?" Sherman asked her once again.

"Yeah." Sophia said knowing that she wasn't, but she had to get it over with.

"All right here we go." Sherman said before he began to try to free Sophia from the old, rusty confines of the trap.

Sophia thought that stepping on the trap was the worst pain she had ever felt in her life, but boy was she mistaken. It hurt at least twice as much trying to get it off, mainly from the constant changing of skins, from wolf to human and back. Another factor that contributed to her pain was the task of getting the rusty device off her. It was old and didn't want to move. Sherman tried to be delicate, but was going to take brute force to eventually get the trap off her leg.

Luke had never felt his heart twist so much in his life. It was bad enough to see Sophia's face, the way she tried to hide the excruciating pain she was overcome with. Her nails were digging into his skin, but that was nothing compared to his own heart breaking in his chest. To see her other hand clutching the sheets on the bed, knuckles gone white, Luke wanted to look away. He didn't want her to go through this. In fact, if he could, he would gladly switch places with her so long as her pain was minimal or none at all. Sophia muffled a scream against a pillow, and then looked up into the eyes of the man caring so much for her he was willing to trade places with her. She saw that in his eyes, bewildered by the change in him. He really was a completely different person.

When the trap finally came off her leg, she finally felt so relieved in days. And yet she had been able to calm herself so she wouldn't flip by the help of the exact person who she didn't want to become attached to. Regardless, he had grieved for her, missed her, and even believed that she was alive. He was ready to risk everything, especially his position in the Pack, just to see if she was alive. It was amazing how much people can change when something drastic happens. Breathing deeply on the bed, Sophia felt the sweat beginning to appear on her forehead. Knowing for a fact that she didn't have the words to thank Luke, she simply pulled herself to him in a hug. Seeking his stability, his strength, and his courage, Sophia curled up next to Luke, hands still tightly together. Luke put his other arm around her waist and pulled her towards him in desperation. Finally with her in his arms was he able to actually breathe in days. It just seemed like she was his one and only stress-reliever, taking all off his problems away like the wind.

Sophia knew what she was doing was wrong, but she couldn't stop what her mind and heart were saying. She had feelings for Luke even if she wasn't ready to admit them to him nor herself, but regardless he hadn't forgotten about her this whole time she had been gone. And that meant a lot. It showed that he didn't just think that she was the half-breed, the Sheriff's daughter, or a fresh piece of meat. It meant that she was actually a person and he respected her for who she was. And that rarely happens to anyone who ever meets Lucas Cates.