Authors Notes: Winnie reminds me of a perfect grandmother, I haven't got one, she's old, fiesty, fun and caring. I couldn't think of a name for Lucas' pack so I just put in what we all know about their pack.

Not Without A Fight

Rhydian

If someone asked me now, are you nervous? I'd say to them, no. I'm terrified. Before, when me and Mads were just teenagers, it wasn't an issue, the only thing we really had to worry about was other people – other than Tom and Shan – finding out about our secret. Now, this is more than just running away from Kyle and his hunting, Dr Whitewood and her experiments, Shannon and her camera or even Alric and his determination to kill me or punish me. This is war. Some people will die, and some might survive. But the main thing thats worrying me, is Maddy. For all those five years that she was in the wild all I could do was draw pictures of her or use eolas to see her, and for just six months, all we ever did was fight, over what? Living together, and not once did I stop to just ask her, why? I want to talk to her, but she said she was going to call Shannon and Tom – seperatly – so I can't interupt.

I wait outside her door though, just listening in, I hear her sniffle a couple of times, maybe she's smelt me, maybe not, maybe she is crying. But then I hear her voice, I think she is talking to Shan, it sounds like it, "...I just want you to know, whatever happened between us in the past... you've always been me best mate, but just because we might not see each other anymore doesn't mean your not me best mate, it'll just mean we won't have as much fun together like we used to. I'm so sorry Shan. But hey, you got your fiancé, so go get married. I'll never forget you Shannon Kelly." She tells the other girl down the phone, I hear her end the call and begin to cry.

It pulls on my heart strings and I can't stand out here anymore and just listen to her tell her friends all these things that may or may not happen, I hear her type in Toms number, or something, but I'm too busy bursting through the door to care. She looks up at me with bloodshot eyes and a tear stained face. I crouch down and pull her to my chest, gently stroking her hair, "Everythings going to be fine, alright Mads. I'm not going to let anything happen to you. Okay? I promise, you'll see them both again. As long as I'm alive you'll be safe." I promise her.

And I mean every word I say, I won't let anything happen to her, not whilst I'm still breathing. She clings onto me, burying her face deeper into my chest and I envelope her in my arms, I smell someone else in our presence, but Maddy's the important thing right now.

I feel her look over my shoulder slightly, and then quickly wipe her eyes, "Thank you, Rhydian Morris." She whispers in my ear, I pull away to look at her, she holds my hands against her cheeks and I pull her into a kiss, I don't care right now who the other wolfblood who is in our presence is, I just kiss her, softly, trying to show her I mean it. Then I let go of her face and snake my arms around her waist as she snakes her arms around my neck.

After a moment of love and passion we part and I look over my shoulder to see my mum. I'm slightly embarrassed that she had to witness that, but my embarrassment fades as I see her smile.

She accepts who I love. I just wish it didn't have to be now that she accepted it.

Now before we go into a bloody battle between ultra wild tame-and-human-hating pack versus normal wild pack. But I'm glad its not like Romeo and Juliet, where both me and Maddy had to die for my mum to accept us... thats a relief.

"Maddy?" my mum asks, I'm confused slightly, not only because my mum just called Maddy, by her name and not reffered to her as tame, but becasuse mum asked for Maddy, not me. Maddy unwraps herself from my arms and goes to talk to my mum, I want to know what they're talking about... thank goodness I have wolf hearing, I hear my mum first, "You love him, don't you?" she asks, Maddy doesn't respond... I'm hurt inside, but then my mum continues in a more eager and happy voice, "Then why aren't you living with him? And don't lie to me I know your not." Ok so maybe Maddy did say she loved me, but why does my mum care whether or not she lives with me.

"Not you as well." Maddy groans, I almost laugh... almost.

"Look, I understand your family have lived in this house for three hundred years... or more, but change won't hurt..." then their voices trail off. I'm glad my mum see's my side of the argument, but the fear of this battle is getting the better of me.

I've got butterflies in my stomach, and my mind keeps on replaying this one scene, with Maddy being dragged away from me – quite roughly – by a very angry Fred. And there I am, lying on the floor, bleeding and struggling to breath. Even thinking about it now gets my heartbeat going again.

Authors Notes: OMG its not the fight yet! I'm trying to get myself ready for the fight actually, I can't write good fight scenes. I will try my best, don't you lot threat. But still, either I am going too fast with the chapters or nobody is reviewing? Guys please! Also I know one of you is going away before next Friday, don't worry the story will – fingers crossed – be ready by then.