Disclaimer: All characters in this story are not mine. They all belong to Annette Curtis Klause. Except for the few that I will list later on. Thank you for reading this first.

Please be aware that I'm not the best speller, writer, and definitely someone who isn't nearly as good at grammar as some of you other fellow writers. But please respect my love for writing and not to ridicule it. Please, and thank you.

Chapter two

When I woke up at nine o'clock, everything was totally dark out. I got off the bed and went to the joining bathroom to check out my appearance. My hair was matted up in a huge rat nest and my eyes looked swollen from all the crying I did that put me to sleep. I let out a frustrated sigh and stopped myself from crying yet again. Sadly, it didn't work; a single tear fell down my cheek. I stood there getting a grip on myself; I'm not going to cry because Gabriel got angry with me from listening in on a conversation that would involve me too. For moons sake, I'm the goddamn queen of this pack and I have a right to know what he's doing. And he should know about that. I stormed out of the bathroom in a terrible frenzy and went downstairs. I reached the bottom stair when Gregory walked out of the house in anger; he slammed the door shut behind him. Finn came around the corner also in anger and followed Gregory's path, right out the door. I watched them walk past me with out a word. They usually would say hello or tease me still about being queen. But nothing, there was something going on and I needed to know, now. I walked towards the kitchen that was just around the corner where they came from. Sure enough, in the kitchen there was a few of the males from the pack, plus Esme was sitting at the kitchen table drinking her coffee. I made my way toward her and took the one spot at the table, beside her.

I looked around the kitchen and saw William in the corner. He grew up into such a fine male. He was tall, handsome, broad shoulder, great smile, and he was still the sweetheart that I grew up with, my best friend I guess. He was listening to the conversation closely. I was watching him, admiring him, reminding myself that if it wasn't for him I'd still be miserable. I told him everything that was wrong and what I felt like how so many tiny things just bugged the hell out of me. I was starring at him when he looked toward me; I startled myself when I realized I was starring at him. He smiled at me, then the conversation got his attention again.

They were saying that Gabriel left some time in the afternoon when no would notice and most of them were ticked off because he didn't tell a soul why he just packed up and took off. Then some how the conversation got turned on to me.

"Shouldn't you know where your mate is?" A tall dark male that joined the pack when we first arrived here asked me. I looked up at the gang of males that towered over me.

"He probably has a reason why he didn't tell anyone where he was going other wise he would of asked someone to join him. So no I don't know where he went." I snapped at the tall dark male. He glared at me and took a deep breath so his chest puffed out to show me that he was much stronger and bigger than I was.

"Maybe you should pay more attention to the pack than wedding plans." Esme said. I sat up straight and lifted up my chin at her. How could she turn on me like this, I was her only child. Or was she so pissed off at me that I wanted a wedding. Yeah, that must be the reason, or was it because dad and her knew exactly where the there was at all times and that Gabriel and I didn't have that bond yet because he was so busy. She was getting her revenge by embarrassing in front of most of the males.

"So does anyone have an idea where Gabriel went. Anyone at all." No one said a word in the few moments that went by. A few of them coughed, some moved around uncomfortably and others looked at me as if I should know where Gabriel went. I took a deep breath. A few minutes went by and still nothing happened. Esme got up to fill up her up of coffee, she took her sweet time, and then she spoke.

"Well, if no one knows where our Pack leader is, then everyone can go home. Will see if anybody knows where Gabriel is by morning." She was looking straight at me with disgust in her eyes. A few of the males agreed and went home, others waited a few more moments before they started to leave and follow the rest. When they were gone, I noticed that William was in the corner with his folded across his chest looking at a particular spot on his hiking boots. Esme noticed too that he stayed behind and made a voice in her throat that got him to look up at her. He wasn't smiling at her but gave a look that showed he wasn't leaving just yet. Esme turned to me then, and glared at me as she shook her head. "You know where he is don't, DON"T YOU." She yelled.

"No I don't know." I replied to her giving the same look that she was giving me.

"He tells you everything. So you must know where he went."

"I told you. I don't know. I was asleep all day, how should know if I was up in my room."

"You answered a very important phone call for Gabriel. Who was on the other line?" she scorned. I glared at her and when a few moments went by I answered.

"It was Uncle Rudy who phoned for Gabriel." I told her. I got up abruptly and started to make my way to the living room. Esme hung her head and announced.

"I'm going to the bar." She left instantly. I fell on the couch, picked up the remote and started to channel surf when William entered the living room. He changed in six years. His baggy blue jeans and t-shirts replaced, no more dark black clothes but they still gave him the appearance of a bully. He sat down on the chair that was opposite of the couch. He sat there watching me while I channel surf, I felt as if he was surveying me, trying to see if I'd slip up. Finally I just sat up and looked right back at him, immediately he smiled and burst out laughing. I gave him a quizzical look so he knew that I had absolute no idea what he was doing.

"Sorry Viv, it's just that your face, I mean that, aww never mind." He tried to explain to me. I slowly shook my head as he stopped laughing and went back to being serious. "Viv, do you or do you not know where Gabriel went."

"I told everyone who was in that kitchen a few minutes ago that I had no idea where he might of went. I was a sleep all day." I simple told him as I pointed towards the entrance to the kitchen. William sat up straight and rested his elbows on his knees and hung his head in the palms of his hands. William added.

"Do have an idea where he could have went then. Any kind of an idea."

"Why is everyone so sorry that Gabriel took off? It's not like he took off for good, he leaves for a few days then he comes back. Usually he goes for two to three days and most of the time he just goes to the packs that's around here. So he really isn't to…." I battered on until William lifted his head up and interrupted.

"Do you or do you not have an idea where he went Vivi." William repeated. I was quite; thinking of where he might of went. I searched the living room for some kind of hint that would trigger my mind. I looked at the hallway where the front door and a small wooden love seat were. I saw the phone and remembered the call from Rudy. I stiffened up and looked at William, who was waiting very patient for an answer. As if he knew where Gabriel went but needed a push to remember it. Just what I needed to remember.

"Rudy phoned this morning and I answered it. He wanted to talk to Gabriel. So I went upstairs and I accidentally over heard a bit of the conversation. Rudy seemed to have something really important to tell Gabriel because he was saying much." I told William. William took the information in and sat there for a few minutes, then got up and came towards me and kissed my forehead, smiled and started toward the front door. I jumped up and quickly asked.

"Why did Gregory and Finn storm out of the house?" William stopped but he didn't answer right away or turn around.

"They got mad, that's all. Nothing to worry about."

"Why did they get mad William." I asked him. He took a deep breath and turned around to face me now. I was standing up and I was only a few feet away from him. He looked me directly in my eyes.

"Vivian, ever since Gabriel was out pack leader, the four of us never got a chance to show him how loyal we are to the pack. And when he needs something done, he always asks Bucky or someone old-timer. There not going to live forever, and still… it's like he doesn't trust us… like he thinks were still pups. And when something serious does happen, like now for example, he takes off and one of us could of went with him. It's not fair to us. Do you know what I'm getting at Vivian." He responded. I didn't answer, I never ever realized what Gabriel did to the pack members. I turned my face away from him so he wouldn't guess what I thought. But this was William, he knew more than anyone now, including Gabriel, which was pathetic. William murmured under his breath.

"I thought so. Good night Vivian." He turned around and walked out the door quietly. I stood there taking in what just happened since I woke up. There was a meeting and Esme turned against me because I wanted a wedding, Gabriel took off without telling a soul where he went to or how long he'd be gone for, and William and I just had a fight because I didn't know him as well as he knew me. I went back upstairs to my bed room, trying to hold my anger in. I shut the door, counted to three before I screamed in frustration. My nails grew and I clawed the door, slashing chunks out, until I got exhausted and quit. I was panting and realized how stupid and immature it was to act like this. I took a deep breath in and out and made my way downstairs for a cool glass of water. I put two ice cubes in and took a few sips, and then I guzzled it all down. I filled up my cup again, and did the same. I stood there munching on a ice cube when the phone rang. I looked up at it and was trying to decide if I should answer it or not. It rang again, I thought it could be Esme who would just want to bitch at me now that William was gone. Or it could be Gabriel phoning or maybe William who wanted to say sorry for what he said to me a few minutes ago. The phone rang again, I jogged toward the phone and picked it up. I answered.

"Hello"