I jolted awake, sitting bolt upright. Boy did I regret it.

I moaned, my hand flying to my side. I could feel the presence of others in the room but at that point I didn't even know who I was.

'Elena?' Oh that must be me!

I looked up slowly, my head spinning. It was Clay. He was kneeling next to the bed, my hand in his.

I blinked a few times. 'Wow.'

Clay wrapped his arms around me gently.

Jeremy stood behind him, his arms crossed and his face as emotionless as…well nothing looked quite that emotionless.

'How are you feeling?' He asked in his quiet voice.

I shrugged. 'Pretty crap. But I suppose that's to be expected.'

There! I saw it again…that look on Jeremy's face. I didn't know what the emotion was or what for but it wasn't good.

And then there was Clay. Maybe I wasn't imagining it last night. Maybe he really was on the verge of crying. But why? What was going on and why was I never told this stuff!

'Alright. What's going on?'

I felt Clay flinch but they both stayed silent.

'Tell me.'

'There's nothing going on Elena,' Jeremy said in the most unconvincing voice I had ever heard.

I pushed Clay back, looking him in the eyes. 'Tell me.'

Clay looked away his bright blue eyes down cast.

Suddenly a thought struck me and I found I couldn't breathe. 'Kathryn…Logan…'

Clay began to shake, his head bowed.

I tried to breathe, tried to scream, tried to believe that it wasn't true. I flung the blankets off my bed and jumped out, running for the door. Jeremy put his arm out to stop me. I just stopped and turned to look at him.

'Let go.' I said in a calm, quiet voice. He didn't.

There was a loud crack as he slammed into the wall and the bricks smashed. He slid to the ground, unconscious with blood seeping from his hairline and from the sides of his mouth.

I barely paused long enough to hear Clay's exclamation. They said that at certain times mothers could have almost superhuman powers. Like that one mother…No I won't bore you all with the story of the woman who picked up a car to free her trapped baby and when tried to later couldn't; because I'm sure you've all heard it. The point is, I normally wouldn't have the strength to pick up a full-grown man and throw him across the room hard enough to crack bricks on the opposite wall. Admittedly I was much stronger than any human man you'll find and many mutts. But not that strong.

I bolted down the narrow hall-way and crashed the door to my children's room open…They weren't there. A desperate sob erupted from my throat. I punched the door frame in my anguish, causing it to splinter and fly around.

'ELENA!' Why oh why was Clay's voice so disarming? I couldn't help but pause and turn to watch him storming down the hallway, tears cascading down my cheeks.

He stopped in front of me. We stared at each other, lost. I broke the silence, whispering, 'Where are they?'

'A mutt by the name of Maunder…Here.' He passed me a note. It read simply. If you want the pups you'll send the bitch ALONE. 11 Collyer street.

I looked up, hope filling my heart. When I saw Clay's face I exploded. I just couldn't stop myself.

He didn't try to defend himself as I screamed and hit him. I don't think I would have stopped but for the gentle hand on my arm, steering me away. I threw my arms around Jeremy, my tears soaking his shirt. I felt his arms around me, protecting me.

'I have to go.' I whispered. 'Let me go, Jeremy please.'

'It's out of the question, Elena. No sense in losing you as well.'

'WE'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE THEM, JEREMY…' I pushed him away but stopped at his expression. 'Oh god no.' I opened my mouth and let out an anguished cry that became a wolf's howl.

I ran, my head low and my tail between my legs. I leapt over the railing and off the landing, falling to the ground. My legs barely hit the ground before I was off, whipping out the door and into the forest. I barely even noticed Antonio as he drove up the driveway, nearly hitting me.

I wasn't sure how long I ran but I knew it was weeks. I couldn't remember anything for that matter. The wolf instincts had completely taken over. And so when the smell of a familiar wolf wafted my way I went to investigate, no longer feeling grief or stress.

He was big with golden fur. I didn't need to know who he was to know he was my mate. He trotted over to me. I let him bury his face in the fur around my neck, drawing in his sent. I could smell fear and grief. But what for? I pulled away, licking his muzzle comfortingly.

He lowered his head, his eyes filled with pain. I followed suit, pressing my forehead to his. I got the shock of my life when he began to change shape. I bolted into the shrubbery, my tail between my legs – keeping in mind I had forgotten the part about being human.

When he finished I emerged tentatively. He smelt the same and his breathing had the same pattern. He had to be the same wolf/person thing…

I slammed back to reality. I dropped to the ground, the sorrow too much to breath. The Change came fast and painful. But I loved the pain. I wanted more.

I looked at him, now in human form.

'I'm not dreaming, am I?'

Clay shook his head sadly.

'They're dead then?'

He shook his head again and my heart leapt into my throat. Ok, don't get your hopes up too much, I told myself.

'Logan's alright, or from what we can gather.'

I scrunched my eyes closed. 'Kathryn?' I whispered.

'She's alive…'

My eyes snapped open. 'There's a but isn't there?'

Clay took me in his arms, resting his chin on my head. 'She's very sick. It seems she's got too much of her mother's fighting spirit. Whoever these mutts are, they didn't take too kindly to it. They keep her drugged and…' He choked. 'It's just a matter of time Elena. I don't know what to do.'

I took a deep breath. 'I do.'

'You're not going and that's final.'

'Clay…It's me or it's them…please don't let it be them. I don't care about life if I were to lose my family.'

He bent his head, kissing me desperately. 'I can't lose you, Elena. I wouldn't be able to survive.'

'You won't lose me. Chances are I'll kick the stupid dickhead's arse.'

'But if you don't…'

'You still won't have lost me.'

He gathered me in his arms tighter, protectively. I knew this would probably be my last time spent with him. The thought made my throat block up.

'Clay?'

'Yeah?'

'Tell them how much I loved them; Kathryn and Logan.'

'No, I won't have to, you'll do that yourself.'

I just buried my face in his chest. ''kay.'