Several hours later, Sylvie emerged from the apartment alone. She looked emotionally worn and sad...and the smell of human radiated off her. The twins slunk deep into the shadows, watching her closely as she left. Something had happened; they trailed her back to Matteo's house, eager to report what they had seen. Ophelia would positively salivate when she heard about this.

The next evening, Vivian was surprised to see Sylvie at her house. The other female looked the worst she'd ever seen her. Her elegant face was pale and drawn, as if she had not slept, and she looked utterly spent. That being said, there was also an air of resilience about her, instead of her usual apathy.

"What's going on?" Vivian asked, a little more than concerned about her friend's appearance.

"I'm leaving for a while," Sylvie said as she and Vivian moved to the sofa to sit down.

"Why?"

Sylvie frowned. "I need to clear my head for a bit. I have to change things, starting with myself."

Vivian saw the resolve her eyes and understood the change in her demeanor. Still...

"Does Matteo know?"

The light in Sylvie's eyes flickered and she shook her head. "He doesn't know that I've ended things with Josh either."

"Was he…?"

"Yes."

Vivian's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You did? When?"

"Last night."

"Wow," Vivian said under her breath. Sylvie mustered a small smile.

"I know. But it had to be done. Time to exorcise my demons. Come to terms with myself."

"But you're coming back, right?"

Sylvie nodded. "In time. When I'm ready." She sighed. "To be completely honest, I'm not sure how long this will take. I don't even know what I have to do; I just know that I have to do it."

Vivian nodded, understanding. "Trust me; this is something you definitely have to figure out for yourself." Her lips quirked a little at a memory that she now had enough distance between to laugh at. "At least you won't have to spend two and a half weeks stuck between forms to realize who you really belong with."

Sylvie smiled wryly in agreement. "Not that I don't deserve that. I've straddled the fence for so long I'm surprised I haven't become been running around like a Bigfoot impersonator."

"For that to happen, you'd have to actually change into your wolf form. I don't think you do that enough," Vivian joked. Sylvie nodded, the truth of the other girl's words smarting slightly.

She sighed and faced Vivian directly. Her emerald eyes were oddly bright as she spoke.

"I didn't come just to tell you I was leaving. I came to say goodbye," she paused and smiled. "But I also wanted to thank you for being so understanding."

Vivian returned the smile. "Would it be trite of me to say 'been there, done that'? We all deal with it differently; I'm just glad I could help."

When Sylvie got to her feet, she hugged the other female.

"Be safe," Vivian told her.

Sylvie returned home, tired but optimistic. She had a plan. She was going to make herself get better. Everything was going to be okay.

The large house seemed empty. The rest of the pack was probably out running, taking advantage of the cloudless night and full moon. A part of her gazed wistfully at the completely round face in the sky. Part of her longed to be out running with the others, in full wolf regalia; but the another part, her more dominant part, wrestled her conflicting desire into submission, satisfied to remain human. "In time," she promised herself.

She continued up the stairs to her room. When she opened the door, a breeze from her open window carried a scent across the room to her nose. Her blood ran cold, as if a bucket of ice water was poured down her spine. The metallic tang of dried blood accosted her senses. Alarmed, she swept her gaze across the room, searching for the source. Her bed, usually neatly made because she rarely slept at home, was rumpled and oddly shaped.

Heart pounding against her ribs, she slowly approached the bed. With trembling fingers, she grasped the edge of the sheet and drew it back, bracing herself for what she might see.

But she didn't expect what was there...