Zoe notices Lazer walking toward the box. When she looks toward it, she sees a tail laying outside the box.

"Did she have them?" Zoe asks in a whisper, looking down at Lazer.

*I'm not sure. She has her mind blocked off.* Lazer says in a cautious voice. Both of them walk toward the box. When they get there, Zoe bends down and smiles as Mato's head shoots up. She stands up, and growls while stepping over her puppies protectively, showing off her teeth. When Lazer walks up to her, he rubs the side of his head against hers until Mato suddenly jumps at Zoe. Zoe's complete shocked by Mato's outburst.

"Get off me, Mato!" Zoe shouts, pushing against Mato's neck.

*YOU WILL NOT HARM MY PUPPIES!* Mato shouts directly into Zoe's head.

"I wasn't going to, so will you get off me?" Zoe says, taking care to make her voice soft.

*Vampire! Ha! You expect me to trust you? You ki-* Mato begins to shout, but is taken by surprise as Lazer suddenly pushes Mato off Zoe with such force that it knocks the wind out of her. Before she can stand up, he's on top of her, growling.

*What is your problem?* Lazer demands, glaring down at her. She turns her head back toward Zoe, and growls again, not stopping until she hears Lazer click his teeth. *MATO!* Lazer shouts. When she continues to ignore him, he clicks his teeth again, this time getting her full attention.

*Get off!* Mato shouts, glaring up at him.

*No! Not until you tell me what the hell set you off!* Lazer says, glaring down at her.

*They will not touch my children! There is no FUCKING WAY I am going to let one of THEM anywhere near my children!* Mato shouts, shaking her head with a look of complete insanity in her eyes.

*One of them? You mean vampire?* Lazer asks, looking down at her in surprise.

*They kill Lycan! They murder our young in cold blood, and you ask why my temper set off!* Mato demands, glaring at Lazer with piercing eyes. Lazer winces as the words hit him and the venom embedded into them.

*She will not harm them!* Lazer says in a sure voice. Mato's eyes narrow dangerously as she sees Zoe sit up and walk toward the box.

*Get off! She will NOT go near them!* Mato shouts, wiggling in an attempt to get away from Lazer. She manages to get out from under him, and runs to the entrance of the box, bracing herself in front of it. *GET AWAY! YOU WILL NOT TOUCH THEM!* Mato shouts, glaring with insane eyes at Zoe, who stops immediately, and nods to Mato.

"I will leave you alone with your puppies." Zoe says, nodding in surrender before turning her attention to Lazer. As she turns, she feels Mato's eyes on her, watching her every move. "Will you accompany me to the hallway for a moment?" Zoe asks, completely ignoring Mato. Lazer nods, and follows Zoe out the door.

Meanwhile, Mato watches as Zoe turns to Lazer, and asks him to accompany her. She watches as the two of them exit the room. As soon as they do, she turns toward the box, and walks into it, making sure to be careful. She lays down, and waits for her puppies to crawl over to her. As soon as they do, she curls her tail around them, and lays her head next to the butt of the pitch black puppy.

*Sleep well, little ones.* Mato mumbles in a soothing voice.

Meanwhile, Lazer walks out into the hallway with Zoe. After she shuts the door, he looks at it.

*Sorry about the way she acted.* Lazer says in a distant voice.

"Don't me." Zoe says, shaking her head.