Tala's barks has me sprinting through the woods, finally sliding to a stop in the clearing. Konnor's bear towering over the black wolf on the forest floor.

"What do ya think yer doing,' I growl. "What?"

"Pete," Naomi calls from her place atop a boulder. "Look at the Ursus."

Turning I find Tala laying on her stomach, her tail thumping against the ground as she stares up at me.

"They were playing. You know… having fun. You should try it sometime. Do you even know how to have fun, Dunne?"

"I train. I learn better ways to fight."

Tala hops to her feet, brushing against my side as she circles me sitting in front of me.

"Teach," her voice whispers.

"You can't actually hear her in your mind, you loon," I think. "What can I do for you, Urs… Tala," I correct when she bares her teeth.

Standing, she yips as she spins in a circle. "Teach."

"I don't understand."

Huffing, she stands onto her hind legs, the fur melting as she shifts back into human. "Teach me to fight."

"Like that," I ask raising my eyes.

"No."

Suddenly there is yipping. Glancing down, I find the black wolf, tail wagging.

"Not me," I nod towards Konnor. "Show me yer skills, wolf."

She turns towards the large bear, nervousness rolling off of her in waves.

"We're not allowed to hurt ya. Yer safe. Just go."

She lurches herself at the bear. Sliding beneath the large paw aiming for her side, she skids to a stop on Konnor's other side.

"You can evade but do you know how to attack," Naomi asks.

Tala shakes her head.

"Yer fast. Use that against a larger opponent who will rely on their power. Take out their weakest points and get away. Wrist, ankles, and throat," I instruct pointing. "Try again. Evade and attack."

She stares at the me and then the bear.

"No hurt."

"Konnor's tough. Ya won't hurt him…too much. Go on."

She lunges avoiding the swipe from the bear before latching onto his wrist swinging around to land on his back, teeth sinking into his neck.

"I said throat, not neck," I state as she is shaken off. "And I told ya to attack and get away."

"Again."

"Again," I echo.

We continue for another hour until Konnor manages to pin her to the ground. Panic shoots through her.

"Tala…"

Images of multiple men flashes behind my eyes, each more vile than the last. Suddenly a flush face floats into view and it's like my throat slams shut in fear. "What will it be this week? The wrists? Shoulders? Maybe tighten up those hips again." Pain overwhelms all my senses.

The snarls and a roar pull me from those images to find Tala latched onto Konnor's throat, barely missing the bear's trachea.

"Break apart," I order. "Naomi, with Tala. Konnor?"

"I'm fine," he huffs, shifting. "Missed the important stuff. Is she…"

"She's fine," Naomi calls. "She just… Tala, wait."

The woman rushes by straightening her clothes.

"Tala…" Konnor starts.

Shame hits me in the chest taking my breath away momentarily.

"Let 'er go."

"But…"

"Naomi said she's fine. I think she just had a flashback. Give 'er space. I know pain that haunts your soul like 'er's."

I jerk awake, blinking against the early morning light streaming through the window. "I've had worse dreams." "But you can't dream about her," I grumble mentally. "It's just because of last night."

Tala had excused herself early last night, disappearing into her bedroom. I find her sitting in the center of her bed, staring out the window during my hourly check.

"Tala?"

"Yeah, Pete?"

"I thought ya were asleep."

"Nope," she sighs. "Tried. Sleep didn't come though. Sometimes… I have trouble. If Braun were here maybe I could," she shrugs. "I always sleep better with him."

Her face raises to the moonlight, eyes closed.

"I grew up in the human world. There are stories about humans that turn into wolves. The call of the moon turning you. Humans think yer monsters."

She smiles, eyes cracking.

"Are you wondering if the moon affects me?"

"Does it?"

"No," she chuckles softly. "I can change no matter what time of the month it is. The moon has no part in it. I just like the moonlight. Almost as much as I like sunshine. The silver thing is wrong too. We actually prefer silver to other metals," she sniffs.

"Are ya okay?"

"Just lonely."

I open my mouth and she interrupts me.

"I understand why he's gone. I've just spent too much of my life alone. Being away from home and alone just makes it worse."

Gathering the blankets around herself she pulls herself from the bed and moves towards the closet.

"Where…"

"I'll try to sleep in my nest. I'll be fine."

I watch her disappear into the small dark room before turning to leave. Sniffling stops me in my tracks. Moving slowly, I sink beside the door to her nest.

"I said I'll be fine."

I sit silently.

She huffs from the darkness.

"Yer not alone, Tala," I whisper.

Shuffling from inside draws my attention to the darkness, her hand slowly snakes out to rest on mine.

"Thank you."

"I'll stay here til yer asleep," I sigh, relaxing against the wall.

X

"Pete," Konnor calls.

"Wut," I grunt from beneath the weights.

"We have a situation."

"I'm listenin'."

"Bray is poking around and Tala wants someone to meet one of her wolves coming in."

"Poking around?"

"We've picked up his scent heavily around Show's compound. No one can pinpoint his entrance or exit points. His scent just appears and disappears in various points near the walls. He's been sighted multiple times in the woods around the compound. Never doing anything threatening, just lurking. I personally think…I don't know what he wants, or I should say what the Ursinus wants, but I don't trust him, either of them. Especially that close to Tala. You shouldn't either."

I sit up on the bench. "What is going on?"

"I don't know but I don't trust most of the Kings Guard that close to Tala, especially not Bray.

"Or Kevin," I grunt.

He nods, studying me. "Since you rarely sleep, I thought you would want to help."

"I'll wake Naomi. She can stay with you and Tala while Trent and I are meeting her wolf."

"Clean up first. Don't want to the wolves thinking we are all sweaty beasts," he smiles.

X

"You should be sleeping, Pete. Maybe you should speak with Chad…"

"I don't need to speak with anyone. I'm fine."

"You can't survive on a few hours of sleep for long periods of time."

"I'll survive as long as I need to. It's what I do."

"Pete…"

"Tala's wolf," I nod as a strange car pulls in a vacant spot across from us. "Name?"

"Bayley," Trent sighs as I take off across the street.

"Bayley?"

Her dark eyes snap up from the boot of the car.

"Yes."

"The Ursus sent us, Madam," Trent smiles gently.

"The what now?"

"Tala, Miss."

"So Ursus means…"

"Princess, Madam."

"Am I required to address her as such while here?"

"Do ya normally address 'er as princess?"

"Does anyone address her as princess?"

"Ursavus…Uh, Prince Braun, mainly. As a pet name. 'er guards until we were told othawise."

"We? Tala sent her guards? Should I be worried?"

"Tala worries. Some bears still hold ill feelings towards the wolves. She did not want you to be harassed."

Her eyes sweep the square, concern settling over her face as they settle back on us. There is no change in color like Tala's seem to do sometimes when she's distressed but I can feel the spike of fear wash through the wolf. I shiver as the bear inside stirs with excitement. I shove the animal back.

"No one seems interested in me," she states.

"Three bears on my left drew knives when you exited your vehicle, Miss Bayley," Trent grins although his hand drifts to his own dagger on his hip. "Four on my right."

"I counted twelve more with visible weapons throughout tha square. Plus Kevin is skulkin' along the steps of tha Royal Housing ova there." My eyes swings across the street and back. "Tala isn' his favorite person."

"And I should trust you two because," she asks, her hand wrapping around something in the boot, presumably a weapon. We both take a step backwards. "How do I know Tala actually sent you?"

I glance at Trent, who shrugs slightly. I test the air over my shoulder Tala leaned on, the news of an unfriendly bear, Konnor thinking that keeping the bear's name from her to prevent any attack on her part, skulking around seeming to weigh on her. Her scent fills my nose and I brace for a fight with my inner animal that never comes before stepping forward, hands out in a show of innocence as her eyes flash gold. Her arm flexes slightly as her hand tightens around her weapon. "Wolves' sense of smell is not as acute as ours," I state softly, keeping my eyes down. The action always seeming to keep Tala calm. "Tala leaned against my right side."

"Why would she do that? You're not her mate."

"Braun…He spends most of his free time at home hunting recently," Trent states. "She seeks support from us when she needs it."

"Please," I whisper.

"Can I at least get your names?"

"Trent, Madam."

"Peter…Pete."

"Well Pete, you definitely have Tala's scent on you," she smiles after a quick lean towards me, my nose picking up her own sweet scent. "So, did she really send you or did she want to come but wasn't allowed."

"No one can tell Tala what she is or isn' allowed to do. We tend to just try to keep up and occasionally talk some sense to 'er."

"Sounds about right."

"Shall we Madam?"

Her eyes flicker between the two of us before releasing the weapon.

"Ok," she sighs, pulling a bag from the boot. "This is the address Braun sent me. I'm assuming this is where I will be conducting my classes."

"No madam. This is an apartment complex. Mainly used by Ursus Hannah's, Braun's sister, guards. You will have solitary and quiet mostly."

"Oh," she squeaks.

"Is there a problem, Miss?"

"Wolves are not solitary creatures." Pulling out a second bag, she turns bumping into my chest, her scent surrounds me. "Excuse me."

"Pardon me," I whisper, my hand comes out on its own accord. "Allow me," I state, gaining control of my limb wrapping a hand around her second bag.

"I'm fine. Thank you."

Releasing the bag, I nod. "Trent go ahead. I'll take the rear."

"Madam?"

Bayley takes his offered arm, her bags in her opposite hand.

I shake off the spike of rage, glancing around at the bears still milling around before following the two. I fight against my baser instincts to leer at the woman's backside, loosing the battle a time or two. The scent of Kevin as we enter the building clears my head and has me on high alert. Glancing at Trent, he meets my eyes over his shoulder, nodding slightly while continuing to chat with the wolf.

I slow at the landing turning to lean on the railing, Kevin slowly coming into view smirking up at me.

"You're going to protect all the wolves or just the ones you want to fuck?"

"All of Tala's wolves are off limits to ya and tha King's Guard."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah," I growl.

"We'll see about that," he chuckles.

"Leave."

"I'll see your wolves around. You can't be everywhere at once."

The wordless growl echoes through the empty building as I turn to make my way to the second floor.

"Peter?"

"E'eryt'ing is fine," I grunt. "Would ya like an escort to Tala, Miss?"

"Do you suggest I travel with an escort?"

"It is a safer option, Madam," Trent smiles softly.

"When does Braun expect his first class?"

"The Ursavus is due back tomorrow morning."

"Does he leave his mate often," she questions.

"Husband not mate," Tala's voice comments. "Thank you for coming, Bayley."

"How often are you alone?"

"Never," she chuckles, wrapping her friend in a hug.

"I'm serious. Does your husband not know how bad isolating you is?"

"He has a job to do," she smiles tightly. "His people need him."

"Why aren't you with him and his people?"

"It's not safe. Plus do you know how difficult it would be to travel with this pa…group?" The wolf motions vaguely around.

"Your mate…"

"My husband is a ruler. My guards are with me at all times. I'm not isolated here. Just occasionally lonely which I'm sure you will cure while here." Tala's eyes drift back to mine, a question there.

"Pete."

I turn to Konnor.

"I can stay with Tala for a few more hours if you need more rest."

"I'm fi…"

"Go rest, Pete," Tala orders. "Bayley will probably be with me in my house tonight. I have a feeling you're going to have a long night with the two of us."

"Yes, Ursus."

"Hey. Don't change just because she is here," Tala smirks.

"Two hours, Tala."

"That's more like it, Grumpy. Naomi, you go too."

"I was hoping your wolf would be willing to teach a class tonight."

"Certainly."

"After they sleep. Their shift ended at two this morning and Pete has bags beneath his eyes big enough to qualify as luggage."

"Anyone who wants to join is more than welcome in say two and a half hours?"

"Go on Pete," Tala sighs. "You look exhausted."

"Kevin…"

"I have Konnor and Trent, he isn't going to bother me."

"He doesn't have the balls after you ripped into him," Konnor smirks. "We have her."

"You're no good to me tired, Grump."

"Two hours."

"Starting when you take your ass home," Tala smiles though her eyes still scan me questioningly.

X

I slip into the room Braun set aside for the wolf avoiding even glancing at the woman at the front of the room. Her scent fills the room so thoroughly it makes my head swim.

"Hello Pete."

I grunt in response unable to do much else as the inner beast fights against my control.

"Konnor," Bayley guesses.

"Ma'am," the larger bear nods.

"Where is Tala," I question.

Konnor glances behind him and a black large wolf saunters into the room followed by Trent. Amber eyes stare at me.

"I'm fine. You can relax."

"Stop thinking you can hear her you loon."

"I need her here. It's kinda hard to teach and demonstrate at the same time. Plus, I'm assuming since all her guards are here that she needed to be here also."

"Thank you," Naomi smiles. "Tala doesn't think she needs us but Braun would disagree."

Tala snorts plopping down on a table, a square of sunlight across her fur.

"Is this everyone?"

"This is all her guards," Konnor nods. "I don't think there will be any other bears in the territory that will be interested in this. At least at the moment. Tala is still winning over hearts and erasing fear."

My eyes jump to Tala. She lays quietly but her body is tense. Sadness radiates out from the black wolf. Her head comes up to meet mine momentarily before flopping on her side, eyes closing again.

"How much do any of you know about wolves?"

"Mostly our knowledge is centered around killing your kind," Konnor sighs. "Unfortunately. Naomi has found a book buried in the royal library but not much is discovered there."

"Have you learned nothing from your time with Tala?"

"She has spent most of her time trying to assimilate into the bear society. She doesn't spend much time speaking of her own kind."

"Tala?"

The wolf pointedly ignores the woman.

"Tala!"

The wolf raises her head before dropping it back to the tabletop.

"Tala, come," Bayley sighs.

Tala grumbles but doesn't move.

"Please. I need you to demonstrate. Just come here please."

The black wolf slides off the table slinking to her friend.

"Thank you. We'll talk later," she mutters. "Everyone take a seat and we're go over the basics since Tala has not."

I attempt to concentrate on the words coming out of the woman at the front of the rooms mouth and not the thoughts and smells the woman induces.

X

"Don't start," Tala grumbles as I enter the house.

I make my way to the wolves in the kitchen.

"They don't know how to treat you," Bayley argues.

"I am more than a wolf here. I am a bear princess."

"But they don't look at you as a leader so why not be your true self."

"And what is my true self? The whore of the West Pack? John Layfield's daughter? Marrok's favorite?"

"Whoever you want," Bayley huffs.

"I'm trying to be a bear princess."

"You can't hide the fact that you're a wolf. You should be teaching them, all of us how to live together. Wolf and bear, together. Not trying to change yourself."

"She's trying," I interrupt.

"Is there an issue, Pete," Tala asks, her tension ratcheting up.

"Jus' checking in."

"For the third time in an hour," she mutters.

"She's walkin' a line that no one 'as before," I state instead. "It'snot goin' ta be perfect."

"He is very protective of you," Bayley states.

"It's a good trait for a guard," Tala smirks. "Call Naomi, I made too much dinner and you know how I hate leftovers."

"Yes, Tala."

"Is it really just that? You're being a good guard," Bayley asks as I cross the living room.

"If ya haven't noticed I have some knowledge of being in a strange place, some kinship wit 'er. I know what it's like ta wanna forget yer past. She 'as shown not'ing but kindness. She deserves the same in return by lettin' 'er find 'er own way."

"Does she have a chance to run?"

"E'ery night. Safely of course."

"What is that suppose to mean, Dunne," Tala calls.

"Ni, come get your supper from Tala," I call, ignoring the question.

X

"Can I ask a question?"

"When have I told you no, Naomi," Tala smiles as the women sit eating. Tala pushed a plate towards me as I stood at the counter. I force myself to pick at the food despite my stomach rumbling.

"Do all Omegas smell sweet?"

Tala coughs as she chokes.

"What?"

"You both smell sweet. I just thought that was an Omega thing."

Tala glances at the other wolf before lowering her eyes to her plate. "The week before the hormones start to build."

"No ya always smell tat way Tala."

"Yes," Bayley grins. "We all smell sweet to varying degrees. It does get stronger with hormonal changes. It is a sore subject for Tala, you'll have to excuse her."

"Tala, I…"

The wolf holds up her hand to cut Naomi off. The hand trembles slightly and images of the flush face floats across my brain and my throat shuts in fear again. "My sweet little Omega," a rough voice whispers.

"You're safe, Tala," Bayley mumbles, gripping the other woman's forearm. "You're safe now."

Naomi reaches out to comb her fingers through Tala's hair.

Moving to the table, I take her hand still suspended in the air. "Don't hold yer breath, Tala. Breathe through ta fear. Breathe."

The wolf takes a few ragged breathes before lifting her head. "You didn't know," she whispers. "Thank you. All of you."

"It's what we're here for," Naomi smiles. "Let's finish eating. No more questions."

"Sorry," Tala sighs squeezing my hand before releasing it. "Don't stop because of me."

"Tala said somethin' about the human's myths about yer kind being untrue," I state, changing the subject. "Would ya min' tellin' more 'bout tat?"