Chapter 3

The small group had reached the room again, the party still in full speed. Sabine was grateful that they hadn't been missed. Or had they? She couldn't quite tell by the looks on everyone's faces, because they were all smooth, blank, and free of any emotion; except for the excitement from the party.

Anika had noticed their return and glided over to them from her corner. "Glad to see you've changed your mind and decided to come back." Sabine whipped her head to Connor, who quickly made his way to Adne, to no doubt use her as a shield. Had Anika even sent him to come get her? He probably had made all of that up. Oh, he was surely going to get it now. This meant war. "We were just getting ready to cut the cake. Come along, the guest of honor must do the pleasure." Anika grabbed her hand firmly and pulled her along. Sabine couldn't help but cast more evil glances at Connor, who still had his hands held up in the peace sign.

Adne noticed Sabine staring at Connor and she pushed him into the wall, talking in frantic whispers. Regrettably, Sabine couldn't make out a word that she was saying, though she did enjoy watching Connor cringe into the wall, every time that Adne spoke. Good, serves him right for lying. Maybe, he would learn his lesson after this, but she doubted it. This was Connor they were talking about, after all. No doubt he would come up with another way to piss Sabine off, with that mischievous mind of his.

"Ladies and gentleman," Anika sang, clapping her hands together, trying to gain everyone's attention. "May I have your attention please?" At that instruction, the room fell quiet—all eyes upon Anika and Sabine. She couldn't help but feel slightly nervous with everyone watching, but she kept her face as smooth as possible. Anika cleared her throat and continued talking. "Thank you all so much for coming today and for making this day so very special for Sabine. Now, before our guest of honor tries to run for it, again, let's get her to cut the cake, shall we?" There was applause and cheering coming from everyone, and Sabine's pulse sped up. She was on the verge of passing out from humiliation—she didn't do very well in front of crowds, even though it was a small crowd. "Before you cut the cake, is there anything you'd like to say, Sabine?"

Really? Anika was asking if she wanted to say anything? There were several things that Sabine wanted to say like, why wouldn't they leave her alone and to stop following her around wherever she went. But, she figured that none of these things were what Anika wanted to hear, so she kept those thoughts to herself. Passing out was definitely becoming more of a reality.

Sabine gulped several times, trying to unstick her throat, which was unusually dry. "Thank you Anika," she squeaked. "For those kind words. I'm sorry that I ran out earlier. Now, how 'bout that cake?" She added, unable to think of anything else to say. Giving speeches was a forte of hers.

More cheers erupted, as Anika smiled and handed her a rather large knife. Sabine couldn't help but gulp, as she took the knife from Anika and stared at the thing. For a brief second, Sabine thought about plunging the knife inside her and end everything right then. But she figured that wouldn't score points with anyone and it wouldn't help her to become a wolf again. No, everything she had worked for—and had—would all be wasted. Sabine couldn't do that to herself.

Instead of plunging the knife in her chest, Sabine plunged it into the cake, cutting out a small piece and placed it onto the glass plate, which Anika had given her, trying to ignore the warning bells that were going off in her head, indicating that she may need help after all—considering the fact that she almost tried to kill herself.

She set the cake on the glass plate with shaking hands, Anika eying her curiously. 'Are you alright?' She mouthed.

Sabine nodded, but knew that wasn't true. She was not okay. She took a couple deep gulps of air and stumbled her way towards Ethan. He was right, when he mentioned that she needed his help, and collapsed into his arms. Ethan barely caught her before she started sobbing hysterically into his shirt. "Sabine?" He panicked, setting them down on the ground and rocked her back and forth. "What's wrong, baby? You're scaring me." She felt bad that she was worrying him, but there was nothing she could do about it. She felt safe in his arms and just prayed that he wouldn't let go of her. She was a fool for sure. "Answer me right now," Ethan shrieked, trying to get her to look up at him. "Do not tell me you're fine, because I know for a fact that you are not fine. No more lame excuses."

Wiping her tears with the edge of his shirt, Sabine shook her head; unable to stop hiccupping. It was getting really annoying. "Not here, Ethan please," she sniffed, as Ethan nodded and stood up, helping her to her feet in the process. 'Keep your head low and only look at Ethan.' She recited to herself, as they slowly started making their way out of the room. She might be able to breathe normally again, once they were safely away from everybody. She could feel everyone in the room glaring daggers at her, and that made her rather uncomfortable.

Thankfully, nobody stopped them to question her, the crazy girl, and they were able to make their way to Sabine's room where they were finally able to be alone. Once behind closed doors, Sabine collapsed into Ethan's arms again.

Ethan murmured soft whispers into her ears, saying things like how much he loved her and that everything was going to be okay—only Sabine didn't know that for certain. Ethan pressed his cheek against hers and rubbed his whiskers on her face, tickling her slightly. "Okay," he murmured, breaking the silence. "We're alone. I assume that's what you wanted, right?" Sabine nodded into his arms, at the question. "Okay, then what happened in there?"

How did one go about telling her boyfriend that, just a few short moments ago, she considered taking her life in front of a room full of people, in front of their friends no less? "It's awful," Sabine sobbed, unable to actually say that she was suicidal. No doubt after hearing that, Ethan would tell Anika, who in return, would ship her down to the dungeons or maybe cart her off to a psyche ward. "You'll think I'm crazy." Actually, he probably already does think that.

A shocked hiss came from Ethan's lips. "Don't be stupid, Sabine. You're not crazy."

If she wasn't crazy, then why was she so determined to get her wolf-essence back? That was pretty darn crazy. "You say that now, but you'll change your mind. They always do." Sabine paused for a long time before saying anything else, trying to work up the courage to say what she had to. Okay, here goes, she thought dryly, as she sat up so that she could see Ethan better. "Anyway, before I sliced the cake, I seriously thought about driving that knife through my heart, instead of the cake." She paused to see what Ethan's reaction would be.

At first, his face remained free of any emotion, then, he frowned. See, she knew that he would change his mind about her, that's the way it always happens. "I don't understand something." Oh, great, here it goes. "You love me, right?" Sabine nodded her head, a little unsure of where he was going with all of this. "Well then, why the hell would you throw it all away, just like that? Are you really trying to tell me something and this was the only way to get my attention? Well let me tell you something. You're freaking stuck with me, so you're going to have to deal with it, got it?"

Again, Ethan had cussed at her. That was the second time in one day. Enough was enough. "Hey, I really don't appreciate getting cussed at like that. Please don't ever cuss at me again. I'm a human being, not some kind of animal or toy without any sort of feelings." Sabine took a deep breath. There, it was good to get that off her chest.

"Screw that. I have every right to be angry with you. You're the one who tried to take your life away from me. How am I supposed to cope with something like that?" Ethan let out a long sigh, trying to calm himself, as he began caressing her head. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Sabine. You're my world, my whole life. I love you so very much."

Sabine started sobbing again, as he said that. She really didn't deserve him. He deserved better, someone whole, someone who didn't live in a world of depression. She decided that it was over, for now. Ethan deserved a fair shot and she was going to give it to him. Her master plan was going to have to wait for awhile. At least, until Ethan forgets that she told him this. And she prayed to God that he kept his mouth shut.

"I'm sorry about everything," she apologized, kissing him on his lips, which felt like a soft velvet against her own.

No more was said after that, but Ethan and Sabine were tangled in each other's arm. She couldn't help but stare intently into his eyes. Ethan nodded at her, her eyes asking the question which she's so been longing to ask. She was ready to be with him again, it really had been too long.

Not hesitating a moment longer, Sabine reached down and pulled his shirt over his head. The shirt got stuck at his ears, but she managed to get it off. Ethan then took his turn, effortlessly taking her own shirt off. It went like that, one after the other, until all their clothing was sprawled out all over the floor.