As the night rolled on, Sam lounged comfortably on the shaggy couch that held place of honor in the Boys' cave. A well worn and deeply loved paperback kept her occupied while the Pack
took their time to hunt and have their rowdy "boy time", as she lovingly called it. Her heart swelled at the thought of the Pack, and how they had accepted her so readily into the fold; never
once questioning (out loud, at least) her presence in David's life, or their relationship. That though brought a smile readily to her face as nothing else had in the last 48 hours. She had always
adored her brother, and now, that childhood adoration had blossomed into a love that she knew would never touch her life again. It would always be David for her, and somehow she knew
it would always be her for him. Others would cringe and shout obscenities about it if they knew, but Sam knew that none of it mattered, and as long as that belief held out, she could really
care less what the others MIGHT say.
The Pack came home just as the last silvery rays of moonlight faded from the sky; roaring with laughter induced by the hunt they had so eagerly enjoyed. They calmed instantly when they
came upon the soundly indisposed form of their Princess—their Sire's mate. David smiled fondly at the sleeping girl, and gently took her into his arms before bidding the Pack good rest then
disappearing from sight. Reciprocating his hope for a good rest, the Pack settled themselves in the large sleeping chamber in the very back of their cave; choosing to sleep together this day.
Each had their own thoughts concerning the relationship that had suddenly blossomed between their very aloof Sire and his sister, who had turned out to be the very polar opposite of
David in many regards, only to turn around be his almost exact double. Marko loved the girl's energy, as it so reminded him of his own, and he admired her strength in the face of her
tremendous battle with Cancer. Dwayne and Paul admired that in her as well, though the two of them had slightly stronger feelings about her presence. Being the oldest of David's fledglings,
Dwayne knew how his Sire had never allowed himself to truly be open with another person, at least not enough to let them see him truly, and Dwayne knew that this girl could get him to
open up as none other could, and for that he was truly grateful. His Sire was now someone who laughed much easier, in true mirth, not just cynical amusement. Sam had given him his life
back, and that made her a precious part of their Pack, one whom Dwayne would protect as if she were his own mate, because in a sense—even though he would never bed her—she was.
She belonged to them, as they belonged to her. She was their Princess: the light in their Prince's life, and she was beloved by them all, Dwayne knew, but much more so by him since he was
the closet in age to David.
Paul saw the girl as an exciting new addition to his family, and thought warmly of her as his own sister. She bantered easily with him—never truly taking insult from his at times very vulgar
sense of humor. Despite the fact that she had a terminal illness, she never let that affect her time with the Boys, and Paul admired her for that innate strength that proved she was David's
true equal. She fit with their family as if she had been born to it; taking them for who they were as individuals, and not judging them on the fact that they slept all day and drank blood. Paul
loved her, and would protect her just as he would protect his Pack…she WAS Pack, and she would be cherished as the gift she was: a gift of light unto their dark world; a light in their Sire's
life, and ultimately, theirs.
David swiftly closed his mind off from the rest of the Pack's after witnessing the depth of their feelings for the girl—women—he now slid beneath the covers of their bed. After a long
discussion early that night, the Pack had decided that they couldn't risk Sam's health deteriorating any more than it had thus far. Already she was growing thinner by the day, her appetite
diminishing along with her energy and strength to perform simple tasks. David would turn her the next night, with the Pack supplying him the blood he would need to see her safely through
till Dawn.
With a heavy sigh, and a furtive prayer for the coming night fall, David slid in beside his sister; a whispered kiss against her bare shoulder, and then he was gone as the sun rose higher in
the sky.
A/N: Alrighty, how's it going so far? Few more chapters to go and the end is in sight!! Will Sam live 9as all of you are feverishly praying she will) or will David be too late? Stay tuned!