Jake watched Selena, ready herself into some kind of stance. He realised she was getting ready for a fight and he stood up. Her eyes flicked to him before she refocused.

Bayard let out a small laugh 'You are entertaining, pretty dog. I could take you down easily with magic or just dart you again'

Selena smirked 'You can't dart me again for at least a week or the chance I will die will go up. I wouldn't be much use to you then, would I?'

Bayard's grin slipped just a little and Jake realised Selena had called some kind of bluff. He couldn't harm her, he needed her. The situation was different for him though. Selena knowing this had touched some sort of nerve in Bayard.

'Just for the entertainment of this, Skellard, go in there and teach her some manners' Bayard ordered

'Gladly' the bounty hunter, Skellard cracked his knuckles.

Jake panicked, Selena was small and thin, even though she was relatively strong he wasn't sure she could take a direct beating and he wasn't in the best condition to protect her himself. He was too weak from having the Sphinx net on him for so long, only having been removed a day ago to transform and not having enough strength and energy to fight hand to hand himself. Rose had given him a few good pointers and showed him a few moves but it was useless at the moment.

XxXxX

I didn't claim to be a martial arts expert but winning a fight wasn't the point. Andam had told me that the tag could detect if I went into high-stress or got physical injuries. There was a point to getting beat up and it was to make them hurry along. I took a breath as I weighed up the man in front of me. He had more defined and worked on arms, telling me he relied on upper-body strength. His weakness would be his legs.

He simply stormed in and attempted to attack right away. I dodged easily and kicked him as he went. He spun almost immediately, clearly taken by surprise. I supposed he was expecting to just lamp me a good one in the face and that be it. He hung back now and I circled slightly, arranging my face carefully into a cruel kind of smirk.

Then it suddenly twigged, Skellard. That wasn't a common name and I'd met someone with that surname during my time in the Sanctuary. This brief realization distracted me long enough that he'd advanced suddenly and grabbed my arm, twisting it so it was twisted up behind my back and he forced me to my knees.

'Skellard! I know your mother' I blurted, my voice contorted with the pain of his grip.

He let go of me suddenly making me spill forward, looking at me in shock 'What?'

'She was in the Lycanthropy Sanctuary. That's why you're doing this isn't it? Is this twisted revenge against whoever infected her or is it an effort to get her out?'

Skellard looked at me in shock before pure hate changed his features. Oops, perhaps that was the wrong move. I went to get up but he kicked me in the gut. Harder than I thought he would. I spun, landing solidly on my back.

'Selena!' Jake shouted

I blinked and heard another thud and looked around to see Jake also lying on his back. Skellard wasn't interested in fighting Jake though, his attention was on me.

'Your kind infected her! She didn't stand a chance; you should've seen the wounds! I know werewolves are compelled to bite but it was an attack!' He shouted

I was trying to ignore the vicious pain in my stomach and get up but he leaned down and yanked my arm. Spinning me and shoving me face first into the wall. I suddenly felt like a rag doll as I was thrown about like this. He pressed a hand to the side of my face and shoved my head against the wall. My chin and mouth cracked against the concrete harshly and I heard the noise of a knife being drawn.

'That's enough Skellard! Like she said, she's no use dead..yet'

He grabbed onto my hair and pulled me away, pushing me back down on the ground. As he passed, I stuck my leg out and tripped him. He didn't take the bait though. The cell door was slammed shut and I sighed. Jake was with me instantly.

'What the hell was that about?' He asked

I laughed 'It went well I think. There's enough damage to get their attention'

He frowned 'What?'

'Oh, I forgot to tell you. This tag got programmed with relaying if I got distressed or suffered physical injuries' I told him

Jake winced 'Well you have those alright, come here you're bleeding'

'Where?' I asked stupidly

Jake rolled his eyes 'Lip, chin'

I licked my lip, tasting the blood immediately and then pulling a face.

'No don-gross Selena, just...gross' He mumbled

I went to sit up but he stopped me 'Not yet, I want to check your ribs. That was huge kick and I don't care how tough you Lycanthropics are, that would break at least one or two of a regular human's ribs'

I nodded and he helped me slide up my top to just underneath my bra. I couldn't even focus on the normal nerves I would feel with this, my head was spinning and a headache was developing. I could feel blood still pumping from my lip and my chin. I was just about to tell him this when he gently pressed a hand to my side. I jumped slightly and he made a small soothing noise.

He pressed a bit harder but everything felt normal. I sighed impatiently as he examined all down my right side, poking here, prodding there before sitting back.

'Done?' I asked

'No, I need to do the left' He told me patiently

I stuck out my tongue at him and he chuckled lowly. He started at the top of my ribs and once he got to the very bottom one I winced and jerked away from him. He frowned deeply.

'I don't know how bad that could be' He told me

'I'll be fine, speed healing remember' I reminded him

He settled properly next to me and used his sleeve to wipe off the blood on my face. I laid still, just letting him. He kept on making tutting noises which I just rolled my eyes at.

'How is everyone?' Jake asked

I looked at him and was surprised to see the sudden sheer amount of emotion in his eyes. My first instinct was to embrace him like he had me in moments of high emotion but he put his hand on my shoulder as I went to sit up.

'No, stay down for a bit. At least until the pain goes'

I nodded, trying to find the right words. I was torn between telling the complete truth but I knew right now it would only make things worse.

'They're...I won't lie, they're not good. Beyond worried but they're thinking straight and everyone agreed to this. They all know what's happening. It's so close to the full moon though-wait, how long was I out for?' I asked

'Only the night but I'd say you were under for longer. Do you know when they got you?' Jake asked

'I'm such a fool! I completely lost track of time these past few days. It's the full moon tonight Jake!' I told him frantically

'What does that mean?' Jake asked

'It means they'll be busting us out very soon or we're stuck here for another night' I replied

'We are in no condition to fight. You haven't eaten anything the entire time you've been here which is easily twenty four hours and I'm not doing so hot either' Jake replied

I could finally feel the pain ebbing and I sat up. Jake helped me stand and I went to the bars, rattling them harshly.

'Selena! What are you doing?' Jake asked

'Making good of my word. I'm going to make them come for us today, before the moon if I have to' I hissed

'Stop, you'll get yourself killed!' Jake shouted, coming over and yanking my hands away.

Skellard came down after fifteen minutes and moved me into the cell next to Jake. I could hear him yelling in protest but Skellard ignored him. Despite the pain in my side I fought as hard as I could, getting shoved to the ground face first was my only reward. He paced around me as I rolled over, his eyes were full of hate.

'It's wrong to condemn me for what another of my kind did. I can't argue for them all but most hate what they've become and do everything they can to prevent it from happening to someone else' I said

'Listen to her' Jake urged from his cell

'Shut it reptile!' He snarled

Jake's mouth opened in shock before a look of pure anger took over. I kicked at Skellard's shin in retaliation, feeling my own anger taking over.

'The nerve! You can talk, you treat us like monsters but you're doing monstrous things yourself!' I shouted

Skellard looked down at me, for a second I wondered if I'd crossed the line again and that he'd attack me. With Jake locked in a separate cell and Bayard not here to intervene I knew he could do some severe damage. He reached down and yanked me up by my arm, pulling me close to his face.

'The more you rile me, dog, the worse things will be for you once you aren't any use to Bayard' He hissed

He shoved me back, I stumbled backwards but managed not to fall. I flicked my hair out of my face and let out a feral yell, diving at him and transforming as I went. I slammed into him, front paws first not flinching when I heard his head crack against the ground. I moved off him and when he didn't move I recognised I could feel a pull to transform back. I realised it was because I still had Wolfsbane sitting in my bloodstream, I obeyed it and went to search his belt, finding keys for the cells. I pulled them off his belt and ran out of my cell, running around to Jake's and unlocking the door.

'We need to get out of here and now!' I urged

Jake got up and left the cell with me. I locked the door on the cell Skellard was in before leaving, taking the keys with me. We ran to the end of the corridor and up a flight of stairs before throwing the door open ot the top and cominf face to face with the wolf.

He was taken by surprise for a second before snarling loudly. I transformed, feeling the pull of transforming back because of the Wolfsbane still sitting in my system. It startled me but I didn't let it bother me as I stood in front of Jake, watching the wolf pacing in front of me. It was analysing me, searching it's best way to attack me. I decided to reach out.

How can you work with a man who hates us?

He snarled and snapped his jaws I have no other purpose in life

Yes you do! There are others, my brother is like you. He can help you make good of your life. Don't waste it on this!

Who are you to talk of wasted lives? You've sat in a chushy environment your entire life while the rest of us have had to fight!

It was because I didn't know! But I do know now, and I will fight for Lycanthropics and any hybrid to find equality and understanding we deserve!

He stopped snarling at me and stood up straight. Then I felt his presence in my mind, the vastness of his consciousness filled my head and for a second it was overwhelming. Then I realised he was searching memories when they began to flash before my eyes. He was pulling up things I had forgotten but were still stored.

My mother frantically bundled us into a car, strapping me into a child's seat before turning to buckle Emily in.

'I still don't see why we need to leave' Emily pouted

'We just have to darling. I can't explain it now but you'll understand when you're older, you both will. I just hope it's not too late'

Mum sticking a plaster over a grazed knee before pressing a kiss to my forehead.

'There, all better now. Maybe you'll think twice before running around with a skipping rope'

I sniffed 'I was trying to run and skip so I can keep up with everyone else'

My first transformation flashed up. I remembered the pain of it, my limbs and bones twisting and changing in an unnatural way. Mum trying to pin me down to stop my convulses from injuring me. Emily standing scared in the doorway, eyes red from crying.

'What's wrong with her!' She cried

'I don't know darling just...just go to your room!'

Me letting out a pained yell, crying uncontrollably. My thirteen year old body changing from human to wolf, my cries turning from human yells to dog like howls before finally I stopped, laid on my side and panting from the effects.

'Why is this happening to me? As if I needed anymore problems than everyone else my age! Why could boys and zits be my only problem?' I screamed at my mother

She was crying herself as she gripped my shoulders 'Because you're special'

'No, I'm a freak!'

'Stop shouting at Mum! It's not her fault!' Emily shouted

'She made me!'

'It's cancer darling. The doctors said it's already terminal' Mum told me, her eyes shining with tears.

My lip wobbled but I said nothing. Choosing instead to bow my head and hide my tears so I didn't upset her anymore than she already was.

Me sitting in a funeral hall, gripping Emily's hand until my knuckles were white. Her own face screwed up from the effort of not crying. A coffin sat before us on a plinth, a wreath of white lilies laid over the top of it. Once the service was over, I got up and placed a letter, folded underneath the lilies and laying my hand over the coffin.

'I was a terrible daughter and you were a wonderful mother. How could someone like you, love me?' I asked under my breath

My meeting with Bryce only six months later, telling me about Lycanthropics but I realised something vital. He really did never once mention what it meant for me or anyone else with the disease.

Finally, the book Jake had given me flicked open and the writing inside. The way Lycanthropics had been painted as terrible monsters who only lived to spread their infection.

Finally the wolf withdrew from my mind and I transformed back into my human form, stumbling backwards into Jake's arms. Tears ran rapidly down my face and I put my hands over my eyes, suppressing a sob at the emotions this process had brought up.

'You are telling the truth' The wolf said out loud

I looked up, trembling from shock 'I've been many things in my life but a liar has not been one of them'

The wolf looked at me for a long time as I struggled to compose myself. Jake was gripping my hand tightly. The wolf walked right up to me and Jake took a step back, dragging me with him, wrapping an arm around my waist to support me.

'I will not harm you, in fact I am going to help you escape' He told us

I looked up at Jake and he looked down at me. A silent look of agreement from him was enough for me.

'Then help us, please and I will do everything I can to make sure you get what you deserve' I told him

He gave one nod 'Follow me'

XxXxX

I hope this was alright. I think this was the best way to show more intimate memories of Selena's life and the insecurities she carries. Also I wanted to show that Selena's mother influenced a lot of aspects of both Emily and Selena's personality and the importance she had in both their lives.

As usual review please. I understand this was a very deep and emotional chapter and I hope it wasn't too much!