The only thing I could register was a warm metallic taste filling my mouth. It was so thick and slightly salty but somehow familiar. Before I knew it I was choking, my lungs constricting desperate for air. A burning sensation began in my chest slowly creeping into my throat.

It wasn't until firm hands grasped my back and shoulder rolling me onto my side that I could finally gasp for breath. The coughs that wracked my body, trying to expel the thick substance, caused an aching in my already tender muscles.

I attempted to open my heavy eyelids but to no avail. Gradually, my senses seemed to be returning as the scents of Asher, Griffin, and Doc Havers wafted into my nose. The rough texture of the carpet told me I must still be lying on the floor of my office where I had collapsed.

Once the coughing subsided, I tried again to open my eyes. It wasn't long before a dim yellow light filled my vision. It was blinding at first but eventually gave way to blurry shapes. Blinking a few times in hopes of improving my eyesight the, objects before me appeared clearer more defined. I could see Doc Havers kneeling over me with a puzzled look on his face, his eyebrows were knit together and lips pursed. Asher was sitting on the worn leather couch behind me. His blonde hair was disheveled as if he had been running his hand repeatedly through it.

After taking in my surroundings, I noticed Griffin's presence was missing. He must have left moments before I regained consciousness because his scent was still quite strong. I opened my mouth in an effort to ask where he might be, but all that came out was a weak groan.

"Alpha, please try to rest, you're in no condition to be moving around," Havers tried to explain.

"What the hell happened to me?" I croaked out as I wiped away the wet liquid that had almost suffocated me earlier. Looking at the red smeared across the back of my hand, I realized why it had tasted so familiar. It was blood, but unlike most other times I had tasted it, this time, it was my own.

"Here," Asher's hand was extended out towards me with a tissue in his grasp. Sitting up, with much effort on my part, I reached out for the tissue with a shaky hand.

"Thanks," I replied my voice still coming out rough.

"We aren't sure. When Griffin and I got here, you were already writhing on the floor, your body halfway shifted." The glazed over look in Asher's eyes made me think he was seeing the images play out all over again in his head. "You were like that for nearly three hours, before you went back to your human form." What he described didn't seem right after a wolf's first shift it always happens instantaneously aside from the occasional change in eye color or the appearance of claws. But those weren't shifting so much as our wolf getting riled up.

I have felt my wolf try to take control before, but never to the point where he was able to force my body to start shifting. The only way it happened was if I allowed it and gave into the beast.

"Where is Griffin?"

"I not sure he stormed out of here a few minutes ago. He said he had something important that needed taking care of, but when I tried to ask him about it, he said not to worry about it. He'll be back in no time." Asher answered.

I looked down at myself noticing my unsettling appearance. The clothes I wore were completely soaked in sweat and littered with rips. My shirt had blood covering the left shoulder undoubtedly from my coughing fit. Large purplish bruises had taken form all over my arms and more than likely other places.I was a mess to say the least.

I sluggishly pushed myself off the ground and staggered over to the couch, dropping my tired body down next to Asher. I rested my head against the back of the cold leather couch. I needed to get my mind in order and figure out why my wolf would feel the need to take over like that. The only thing I could come up with was maybe he was furious with me for kissing Izzy and was attempting to stop me from going after her.

Izzy. Where was she? I couldn't help but feel awful for the way I treated her. She probably thought that I hated kissing her, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. I just hated myself for how much I enjoyed it.

My head began spinning with all the conflicting thoughts and emotions. The only thing I knew was that I needed to apologize to Izzy and then get back to dealing with the rogues.

"Alpha, I think you should lay down and rest for a bit. I can't imagine how much it took out of you to fight a shift. I have only heard of a few cases where wolves would take over like that, but never have I heard of someone being able to stop it mid-shift." Doc Havers said.

"I'm all right. I just need to sit down for a bit." And maybe go and get cleaned up. I did feel a bit better. Havers nodded and left Asher and me.

"So are you going to tell me what happened between you and Izzy that would cause your wolf to react like that?" Asher asked after a few minutes. "I saw her running out of here like the place was on fire." He had a slight smirk on his face.

"Nothing. Nothing happened. We just talked that's all."

"Well, that must have been one hell of a talk. You know she isn't as bad as Griffin thinks. I think she is just putting up a front to keep people from getting too close." Asher was probably right. He usually was. His ability to be so perceptive was one of the reasons I chose him to be my third in command. Unlike Griffin and I, Asher tended to take time, to look at things from all angles before coming to a conclusion. It's why he was able to point out what was going on with the rogues.

'Logan, I need to speak with you. It's important.' Griffin's voice invaded my mind. He sounded angry and out of breath.

'What is it, and where the hell are you?'

'I am on my way back to the pack. I will explain when I get there.' And just like that, he cut off the link, leaving me wondering what the hell was going on.

~~~~~~~Author's Note~~~~~~~

Oh, my I just really want to thank everyone for helping Fractured reach 2K readers in only five weeks. That is so awesome, and I can not even begin to express how grateful I am. THANK YOU!!

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