My head felt worlds better and I sighed deeply as I slowly awoke from my deep sleep. It was once again morning, surprising me once more at how much I kept sleeping. A loud commotion from the outside had me sitting up at attention and my confused expression quickly turned to that of recognition as I heard my parents voice.

Rising quickly, I shoved my feet in the first pair of boots I found and hurried to the outside to see what was up. I hadn't the time to question my lack of shirt and was at least grateful for the slacks I had on before I finally made eye contact with Justin.

"Caleb! Finally." Miranda sighed as she rushed over to me.

I let her pull me into her embrace as I knew she needed me, but that still didn't stop my body from stiffening up as I felt uncomfortable by a contact that I hadn't gotten from them since I was 12.

"Hey Miranda." I began softly.

"Are you okay? We heard you were injured." Justin tries not to panic as he pulls us both into his embrace.

"I'm fine, I fell when I was running and hit my head but it's nothing serious." I tried to reassure but with the way they were both checking my body showed just how much they were worrying.

"Have you eaten anything yet? Did they take you to see Hunter? What did they tell you?" Miranda asks as she puts her hands on my shoulder and stares at me.

"What? Guys, I just woke can we do this when I come down to earth?"

This is the most calm I've been in years and I tried not to push away the feeling as I relished in its comfort. This was the old me. The me I found hard to recognize but still welcomed.

"Do you know how long we have been looking for you?" Justin snaps but yet his voice remained calm, alerting me to the fact that he was trying not to freak out over me.

"Sorry. I told you about the slight accident I had and well, I had to take a little while to heal."

"You call a week, slight?" Miranda questioned, finally releasing me and I failed in hiding my surprise.

I was out for an entire week?

"I... a week? Are you sure? It felt like two days at most." I murmed the ending as I rubbed my arms.

Miranda suddenly pulls my neck before she lets out a sigh. "Well I'm happy he finally decided to heal you."

Pulling my face from her grasp, I take a step back before noticing the small crowd of people that gathered. My nose picked up a familiar smell of apples, cinnamon and earth seconds before my eyes collided with his deep hazel eyes.

The sharp intake of breath allowed everyone to shift their gaze from me to him and I could literally feel his anxiety as he stiffened from all the attention. The hatred of everyone was so intense that I was shocked. They were directed to him and without thinking, I growled as everyone became red blobs in my eyes.

I knew my beast had come to the forefront in a subconscious way of protecting him and even if I could, I would never fight him.

The red blobs began to move further from my sight and I could hear the different racing hearts as though they were in sync with each other. The only one out of place was the extremely fast beating of Alexander's heart and I was momentarily calmed as his was the only figure I could see clearly.

I could see his frightened hazel eyes, the rise and fall of his chest and his parted lips as he stared at me, ready to flee. Mostly though, I could smell his fear and although I felt the pang of pain in my chest, I was still violently angry that anyone could turn hatred towards him.

My mouth felt like I had way too much saliva and as I felt my body move in his direction, I was held by someone with a lot of strength.

He was way stronger than Mr. Andrews and I only knew this when I tried to choke him with my strength only for him to pin my arms behind my back and snap for me to calm down.

I couldn't see his face but his voice.

His voice was one that I never heard before but felt like I'd never forget. I felt like I knew him and this pissed me off more because everyone I knew, I hated.

"Get off me." I growled and with my renewed anger, I was able to throw him off me.

Instead of heading for Alexander, I used my nose to locate the red blob that I needed. If I had to rip his head off, that would be enough satisfaction and even my beast agreed.

We were both out for blood.

Lifting my head, it only took me seconds to snuff him out and I barreled into him. He was already expecting me and I was nicely surprised as he was on the ground seconds before getting the upper hand.

This was the most excitement I've gotten in years and I was just itching to see where it goes. He seemed fit enough to not get easily hurt and I released a low growl as my teeth started a slight pain, enough to motivate me.

"Caleb stop!" I heard a voice yell, but I was already head butting the ass that dared to overpower me. We were scuffling on the dirt clearing before another red blob was joining in the fight and that hyped me up so much that I could feel my fingers starting to itch.

My beast was getting so excited that I swore I howled seconds before my head felt like it was splitting open. The pain was just as bad as when I almost attacked my parents and I yelled as it felt even more overbearing.

On top of the pain in my head, my gums and hands were on fire with pain and I folded up on the floor as I felt like I would die.

"Breathe Caleb, just breathe." I heard a voice say after what felt like years of pain.

I slowly opened my eyes as the pain began to subside and my eyes landed on a very worried Alexander.

"Alexander." I murmur and he shyly smiles before looking down at his lap.

I notice I was still on the ground and the voice I heard was Barry's. He was checking my palms and that's when I noticed the blood.

"It happened again." I said, eyes landing on my parents as they stood a little way off.

"Your body is trying to turn before your birthday and you are not prepared for that." He looks up to a buff looking shirtless dude and his deep green eyes stared back at me. "Taylor, you need to take him to Hunter now."

"No." I snapped as I tried to push off from the ground.

Two other guys held me back and I finally noticed Mr. Andrews and another guy near me. The guy was tall and buff and I wondered if everyone was like that. He looked like he was in a fight and I realized he was... with me.

"You need to go see Hunter, Caleb."

"I don't care who you want me to see. I'll only go with Alexander." I say as my eyes once more found him.

"He isn't strong enough to carry you."

"I don't care. I want him and him alone to carry me."

"Why don't you let me carry you and he can hold your hand." The tall guy says and I thought he was being sarcastic.

He wasn't.

I nodded and he and Mr. Andrews pulled me to my feet before I held my hand out for Alexander. He immediately takes it but keeps his eyes on the ground.

This irritated me a lot but I wanted to ask him to stop when we were alone. No one else followed us as I looked back and I was happy about that.

"I'm Zander." The tall guy says and I nod before we all went silent.