Oliver drove me home and Miley followed in my dad's fishing truck. My hand was no longer throbbing and the swelling had gone down, but I knew I was going to have to come up with some lame excuse of how I broke my hand in the first place to my dad.

"He's out there." Oliver said softly

"Who's out there?"

Oliver looked out the window and knew Miley saw the same thing he did. "Jackson and some of the pack. He wants to talk."

What on earth did Jackson want to talk about with a bunch of vampires? He hated even being in the same room as vampires and hated being in the same planet as Oliver. I knew if I wasn't in the way Jackson would have already try to kill Oliver and his whole family.

"What does he want to talk about?"

Oliver stopped the car near the woods. "Come on." He got out of the car and opened the door for me. "Ready for some running?"

I was so used to Oliver's running I didn't even shut my eyes anymore, in fact I enjoyed it. "Let's go gazelle."

Oliver smiled and threw me on his back. "Hang on." he took off full speed into the dark woods.

We were there in seconds and he put me down gently. "Where's Miley?"

Miley crept up quietly and gracefully and with her the rest of the Okens. "I thought the rest of the family should be here too."

"Good idea."

"You know just in case we have to pull apart some dogs." Miley laughed at her own joke and I made a face.

Oliver shot her a glare and she shot him one back. "Oo someone is in a mood."

"You think I like being out here and endangering Lily's life?" asked Oliver.

"Danger? The werewolves love her! That's why they always hug her and that's why she stinks right now. No offense Lil."

I shrugged "None taken."

Suddenly Jackson emerged from the trees in his human form fully clothed. Behind him were some of the pack. He stopped about four feet from the Okens and looked directly at me.

"Hello Lily." he smiled at me.

I was still not to happy with him since he kissed me and broke my hand, which could be argued that it was my fault but I digress.

"Jackson, you wanted to speak with us." Oliver chimmed in.

"Why didn't you tell us about Maya?"

How did he find out? Had he seen her? Was she closer than I thought she was? Was my dad safe at home right now? Could Oliver read Jackson's thoughts about the kiss?

"Well it seems we didn't need to."

Jackson growled "There's no time for your sarcasm now bloodsucker! Now tell me is it true?"

Oliver nodded his head. "Yes, its true."

"So your saying that disgusting bloodsucker is back?" growled Jackson.

"Yes." Oliver was calm and perfectly collected.

Me? Well I wasn't as calm or collected. There were six vampires behind me and about ten werewolves in front of me, both sides ready for a fight.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's find her and rip out her throat."

I cringed at the visual in my head, I did want her gone but seeing Jackson rip her apart with his teeth was not a vision to be desired.

"It's not that simple."

"Why?" Jackson grew impatient.

Oliver took a step closer into the imaginary line that separated the two species "She has an army..."

"Vampires"

"...Hungry vampires."

I looked at Oliver who could sense I was afraid and grabbed my hand. I could see Jackson bare his teeth at the image of my hand in Oliver's.

"Hungry?" asked Jackson

"The killings that have been happening in Seattle were all done by Maya. She has been turning most of them into vampires and newborn vampires are thirsty which is why the killings have multiplied. She is breeding an army of hungry, rebellious vampires." Miley answered his question.

Jackson took a step closer into the imaginary barrier. "When will they come?"

Miley gave a remorseful look "The vision isn't clear Jackson, she keeps changing her plans as she changes more and more people. But I do have a guess."

"Better than nothing I suppose."

"A few weeks."

"Weeks?!" Jackson and I exclaimed in unison.

Oliver gripped my hand a little tighter again sensing my anxiousness. "We are going to do whatever it takes to protect Lily."

The words weren't as reassuring as I'd hoped they would be. Picturing Oliver and Maya fighting was painful because that meant there was a possiblity he would not live and I wasn't prepared to lose him or any of my vampire family again.

"So are we." added Jackson.

I snapped my head in Jackson's direction. "Jackson." I said sternly "You can't put yourself in danger or the pack. It's hard enough putting this on the Okens."

"I don't care Lily. This had become our fight too whether you like it or not."

I could feel tears welling up. Now if this went wrong I could lose both of the most important people in my life.

"As if now, we fight with you bloodsuckers." Jackson added.

The corner of Oliver's mouth curled up a little in a grin. "We know if you join us we will have no problem with Maya and her newborns."

"Then its settled."

"Settled." Oliver held out his hand so Jackson could shake it.

Jackson was reluctant but when I gave him a look he took his hand and gave it a friendly shake.

Sneak Preview:

"We can't do this Lily." Oliver sat up and put his shirt back on.

"Why?"

"You know exactly why." Oliver buttoned up his shirt "It's too dangerous."

"So if I was less fragile..." I began

"What?" asked Oliver turning to look at me with his golden eyes.

I sat closer to him and put a hand on his cheek "I want to be with you Oliver, forever." I kissed his eyes "I want you to make me what you are...turn me into a vampire."