Author Notes: In answer to your questions… He said his name was Peter after Rebecca introduced herself, and, as you will find out later in the book, he's a woodcutter for a certain reason and has money for a certain reason. I won't say anymore than that. wink. Also, thank you for your reviews they are absolutely wonderful. I love hearing what people think about my writing. Also, about the whole "why hasn't Philip really noticed his father is dead?" thing, he hasn't because the first worry in his mind is the Wolf. They've had trouble with that little bugger before. wink again

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Rebecca let out a little gasp and then put her hand on the table to steady herself. The Wolf? He was here. She began to feel a bit dizzy and her arm began to throb painfully. She looked down and remembered the wound the Wolf had given her. It had stopped bleeding, the cloak fabric acting as a sort of bandage, but it hurt more than anything Rebecca had ever felt before.

There was another knock at the door, making Rebecca jump. Philip looked over at her and noticed the wound she was staring at. With a concerned look in his eyes he turned to the boy who had come in.

"Edward, get her a wet rag and help her tend to her wound. But first go and get your brothers and tell them to come here, and hurry." Edward did as he was asked and returned a moment later with his two brothers. As Edward helped Rebecca with her wound Philip took the other two aside.

"Listen to me, Jacob and Daniel. Father is dead. I know, I know. We will have time to mourn for him later, but right now we have to get rid of that Wolf." Jacob and Daniel exchanged glances, both with frustrated looks on their faces.

"Father is dead?" Jacob said, his blue eyes prickling with tears. Philip knit his brows together and heaved a large sigh.

"Father would have wanted you to be strong." His voice, velvety and gentle, coaxed the two from feeling utter sadness. "We have to be brave." The older boy looked at the two and could feel his heart ripping in half. Everything he had worked for, everything him and his father had worked for, was coming to a crashing halt. "And whatever you do, do not let yourself be seen by villagers if you need to run."

Rebecca listened closely, hearing snippets of the boy's conversation. Why did they not want to be seen by villagers? And why was Philip being so secretive? A bang on the door brought Rebecca back to reality and she looked down at Edward. He had finished tending to her wound and smiled up at her. She smiled back then turned her attention on Philip.

"Rebecca." That was all he said. Her name. He had her standing with that one word, though. She walked briskly over to him, her skirt catching on a loose nail that jutted out of the floorboard. She pulled her skirt away from the nail, ripping the fabric slightly, but doing no large amount of harm to the dress.

"What can I do?" She asked him, keeping a keen eye on the window in case the Wolf came crashing through it at any moment.

"What do you think you can do?" He asked her, raising an eyebrow. "If you are not capable of helping, then don't offer. But-"

"Do not underestimate my capability. I can help." She said boldly, her eyes fiery and fierce, something she had never really had to use before. Philip seemed taken aback by this statement. At first glance, Rebecca looked like a little, innocent girl who could not take care of herself. But now, there was something else.

"Fine. Here," Philip grabbed an axe from off the wall where it was kept and handed it to her. Rebecca took it without reluctance and stood beside him. "Now we wait."

"For?"

Bang. Bang. Bang. BANG. BANG!

"For that." He whispered. There was one more bang at the door and Philip backed up, pulling Rebecca along with him. Bang. The two sighed and exchanged glances. Bang. Rebecca built up her anger so she would have no problem hitting the Wolf with all her strength. Bang. Philip glanced at Rebecca. What was it that drew him to her? Bang. The wolf, on the other side of the door, howled in frustration.

Bang.

The door flew open and the body of the wolf came through, landing on the wood floor. His snarling, growling face turned and faced the two. Those stunning, blue eyes, resting only on Rebecca. With a fierce growl he leapt. Rebecca froze, though. She couldn't do it. She couldn't do it. But… She had to! She had to!

She raised the axe, ready to swing it at the wolf, but she was caught by surprise as something pushed her forward. The axe fell to the ground, skidding across the floor. Philip yelled something that Rebecca couldn't make out and she turned over, trying desperately to make sense of what was going on. She realized, now, that there were two wolves. One, she saw, had been behind her. It was now creeping towards her, black eyes boring into her. The other Wolf, the one, was now pawing at Philip, who was warding him off with the sharp end of the weapon. Edward, Daniel and Jacob were shouting things from the other end of the cottage, but they were too afraid to do anything.

Rebecca let out a tiny cry then reached for the axe, tears streaming down her face all the while. Behind her, though, the other wolf came after her, ripping at the bottom of her dress and pawing at her legs. She could tell she had been hurt because blood was dripping down her calf and the warmth of it made her shiver. Help! Her mind was crying out. Help me! Please!

Her fingers wrapped around the axe handle. She pulled it towards her, the weight seeming ten times what it actually was. With all her effort she lifted it and turned to face the cold, black eyes of the wolf. She sat there, like a child, her eyes closed and the axe raised. If she swung it, she would no longer be innocent. But, if she didn't, there was a chance that she could keep that innocence… But die.

There was a bang, a yelp and a sob.

And one wolf lay dead.