I turned in time to see him fall. My heart seemed to leap up into my throat and I had to fight to hold down the vomit. I barely even felt the blade that pierced my side. Clay looked up at me with his bottomless blue eyes and he…smiled. That's when I realised he wasn't as badly hurt as he would let his attacker believe.

That's when the pain slammed into me like a semi-trailer. A scream escaped my lips as I turned, to see my attacker. He was bringing up the knife to slash my throat.

My legs wanted to give out. I let them, dropping to the ground like a stone. The mutt's attacked caught the very top of my head, giving me a dodgy hair cut.

I rolled away, the edge of his boot slamming into my hip.

I hissed, jumping to my feet but yelping and stumbling forward as I felt the stab in my side tear further apart.

I brought my arm up to block the blow, his arm colliding with my wrist. I twisted my arm up and around his, snapping his elbow up the wrong way. He screamed and tried to pull back but I had his arm in an elbow lock – not pleasant when your elbow is bent the wrong way. He shouted again, his eyes watering in pain. I let him go and he stumbled backwards, his arm hanging awkwardly at his side.

I leapt at him, kicking out twice. One to the throat and another to his broken arm. I had him now. Amazingly he hadn't dropped the knife until I kicked him. But it now it clattered to the ground and I made a dive for it at the same time as he. I got there first.

He landed on top of me, forcing the air from my lungs. I looked up, the knife clutched in my fist.

But he had me pinned so tightly I thought my own arm would break. An excruciating agony zapped through my body and a blood curdling scream could be heard, echoing around the alley. My scream.

The mutt had dug his thumb deep into the wound in my side and had torn at the edges. The pain was blinding. I looked up through the haze to see Clay spin away from the mutt he fought, panic snapping through his expression. But he couldn't get away from his mutt, it's attack relentless. Who had taught these mutts! This was not right. I'd never fought such well trained

I grit my teeth, knowing there was no help from Clay. I had to get out of this one myself. Pictures of Logan and Katherine past through my minds eye. I would get out of this.

With that I let myself go slack. The mutt, caught off guard unknowingly let his grip relax. At that point I rolled suddenly, bitting down on his arm near my face with sharp teeth that came with my muzzle.

The rest of the Change came agonizingly quick but it was a blessing. The difference in my shape made it difficult for the mutt to hold me down. Especially with my fangs and claws tearing at his flesh.

I managed to roll onto my back and push him away with my forepaws. I followed him, leaping up and ripping out his throat in mid air.

I landed next to him, my tongue hanging out of my mouth in pain and exhaustion.

So sleepy. I took one regretful look in the direction of Clay, dodging a punch. The mutt looked pretty badly hurt. Clay wouldn't be long. I lay down. Maybe I would just rest until he was finished.

Everything went black.

'Elena? Elena!'

I groaned, my eyes slowly opening. Clay was kneeling next to me. He took off his jumper and draped it over my naked body to keep me warm. My clothes must have ripped when I Changed. He sat down, pulling me into his lap and brushing the hair from my forehead.

'Are…Are you hurt…badly?' I asked, my voice cracking.

'Shhh. The pack'll be here soon,' his southern drawl was thicker than usual as if he were about to cry. But this was Clay! Clay didn't cry!

'Clay…? What's wrong…?'

He shook his head.

True to his word Jeremy came, along with Nick and Antonio.

I didn't open my eyes but I heard Nick's sharp intake of breath. I wasn't that badly hurt. What was going on here?

I opened my mouth to talk but before I could utter a sound there was a chorus of shushes.

'I don't appreciate being treated like a child!' I growled weakly. There was a chuckle from Clay, the only one who heard me.

I felt gentle hands touching my wound. I didn't have to look to know it was Jeremy. I looked anyway.

'Will I survive, doc?' I asked, louder.

Jeremy looked at me, his face impassive as always. But I had known him long enough to be able to see the gleam of warmth behind the coolness.

'I'm sure of it. Let's get you home and bandaged up.'

I didn't remember what happened next. I could have sworn Clay pressed the pressure points on the back of my neck. I didn't really want to ask, knowing that it would end in a fight…Or perhaps start in one. It'd most likely end in sex.

Anyway, the point is I blacked out.