"Wake up, lazy-bones!" Lily shook my shoulders and pushed me around, gently. I flickered my eyes open, yawned and sat up. I stretched and aloud myself to adjust to the light.

"What, now?" I smiled

"Oh, just some news..." She tried to smile and sat beside me. "Okay, so you've never really liked it here, have you? I mean after Mum and Dad...died..."

I nodded. She was right. I had felt alone but after I met Ryder I was forever feeling happy.

"And..." I was unaware of where she was going with this.

"Well, I have friends in Washington and I was thinking if we lived with them then maybe I could get a job there and buy our own house!"

"But... But, Washington is so far away and..." My voice hitched "I like it here in Grayling..." I tried not to selfishly ruin Lily's plans but it wasn't very selfish at all. Ryder, without Ace, really would be alone if I wasn't there.

"Okay," I muttered, my smile never betraying me. I tried not to cry or say something stupid.

I went to Ryder's after that; to take my mind off of things. He was thinking of ways to find Ace.

"Maybe, he'll come home," Ryder smiled as he put his book down. He was reading 'White Fang' again.

"What?" I asked, almost staring at him, now.

"You know, like White Fang," Ryder nodded, thoughtfully "We looked after him when he was hurt so maybe he'll come back if he's scared or injured. White Fang went back home to Scott,"

I nodded my head. I willed myself to believe his words. Maybe if Ace could come back home, then so could I...