I was briefly aware of Silas placing a kiss on my forehead and telling me that he was leaving for the office. Hours later I was forced to get up because of my full bladder. I decided to take a shower and get dressed. My breath got caught in my throat when I entered the bedroom again. I glanced around in shock—I never expected thing to look so bad. We tore up the bed and apparently a whole lot of furniture. Colour flooded my cheeks as memories of last night flashed through my mind.

Shaking my head, I exit the bedroom and made sure to close the door firmly behind me. The last thing we needed was trying to explain what had happened to some strangers. There was no sign of Silas's friend, Axel.

He probably already left or he was still passed out. I was surprised to find the fridge and cabinets fully stocked. I stared at the contents of the fridge for a few seconds as I tried to figure out what I wanted for breakfast. On the island we mostly ate salads because it was too hot to really eat anything else.

A sigh fell from my lips. I had no clue what I wanted to have for breakfast, not that I really felt like eating, but I knew Silas would be mad if he found out that I skipped breakfast after neither of us ate a thing last night. Grabbing some eggs and bacon, I placed it on the counter and then grabbed everything else I needed.

I had just finished frying the bacon when I heard someone moving in the spare bedroom. I tilted my head to the side and listened. Not only had my hearing improved, but my endurance and strength too. I loved that Silas wasn't able to sneak up on me anymore.

Turning, I added another plate on the counter next to mine. Axel stepped into the kitchen just as I started the eggs. He froze in the doorway and blinked at me.

"Morning," I greeted brightly.

He blinked a few times and then gave me a small smile. "Morning. You must be the wife I knew nothing about."

I smiled and turned back to the stove. "And you must be the best friend I knew nothing about."

"Ditto."

Silence filled the kitchen. I could feel his eyes burning into me as I finished breakfast. When I was done, I turned and placed his plate in front of him before taking a seat at the island opposite him. Axel continued to stare at the plate as if he had never seen eggs and bacon before.

I cleared my throat and pointed to a cabinet. "There's some cereal if you'd—"

"Oh no. This is great," he quickly interrupted. "I'm just not used to someone making me breakfast, is all."

I nodded. He picked up a strip of bacon and took a bite. The silence continued for a few more minutes.

"Where's Silas?"

I swallowed and glanced up at him. "He left for the office."

"Typical," he muttered. "That man is going to work himself sick someday."

I smiled. Hopefully not. I had no clue what he would be doing at the pack house. What would I be doing there? I pushed the thoughts away and focused on my half eaten plate but I had lost my appetite. I pushed the plate away and stood.

"Where did you guys meet?" Axel suddenly asked.

"Oh, we met on one of his business trips."

"How long have you known each other?"

I licked my lips. "About a year."

"And when did you get married?"

"I don't think it's any of your business, Axel."

His dark eyes narrowed. "You have me at a disadvantage here. You know my name but I don't know yours."

I hesitated. Andrea would've done the same if this happened to her. "My name's Lara."

"Nice to meet you, Lara."

"Somehow I don't think you mean that."

He gave me a small smile and pushed his empty plate away. After muttering something about taking a shower, he disappeared down the hall again. I sighed as I cleared the plates and loaded the dishwater.

What has Andrea been up to? Had they already started their little family? Were they happily married or not? I missed my best friend. I wanted to pick up the phone and tell her about everything that had happened, but I couldn't. The last time I called her she refused to talk to me and I wasn't ready for the rejection again.

My mind trailed off. I paused and frowned when I realized that my mother hadn't showed up yet. It's been a year without her trying to contact me for money. Or maybe she had and I just hadn't been around. After all I haven't been around here long enough for her to possibly trace me. In a few days Silas and I would be leaving and then there would be no way for her to find me, right?

Unease filled me. What if she traced me to the pack and started trouble then? What if she tried to expose them? I shook my head and tried to focus on anything else. I was just about to take a seat on the couch when there was a knock on the door. I hesitated. Silas hadn't said something about anybody coming over and the last time I opened the door it was to his father.

There was another knock but this time a little louder.

"Lara?" My breath got caught in my throat. "Lara? I know you're in there. Lara, I need help. I'm hurt. Please help me, sweetie."

I shook my head and wrapped my arms around my waist. It was probably just my imagination. I had thought of her earlier and now she stood outside the door. It couldn't possibly be real. I squeezed my eyes closed and thought of Silas. After a few minutes I opened my eyes again. Relief flooded me when I heard nothing else but it was short lived.

"Lara? It's your mother. Open up the door, sweetie. Please, I'm bleeding Lara. I need help."

Shaky legs carried me over to the door. She knocked again and again. I've lived through her lies for years before I left. I knew how manipulative she could be. I knew the chances of her lying were bigger than her ever telling the truth, but then there was the part of me that couldn't stop worrying. What if she was really hurt? What if she really needed help and I just ignored her?

I swallowed and unlocked the door with clumsy fingers. Before I could open the door, it was pushed open, making me stumble backwards. My mother entered along with a familiar-looking man.

"Hello, Lara," the man sneered. "Did you miss me?"

My eyes darted over his face and then to my mother who hovered next to him. She was thinner than I remembered—she was just a skeleton with skin hanging off her body now. Her hair hung in dirty ringlets down her back and red-rimmed eyes stared at me unseeingly. She was as high as a kite which shouldn't have surprised me.

"W-what do you want?" I asked as I moved further away from them.

The man glanced around before looking at me. Shivers raced up my spine when his eyes darted over my body. It took all but two seconds for the memories of this man to return. He was my mother's dealer and the reason why I left home.

"Your mother owns me some money," he said. "She can't pay me but she assured me that you can."

My eyes snapped over to her. She had walked off and was studying a painting on one of the walls. I wanted nothing more than to strangle her. Why does she always have to drag me into her mess?

I shook my head as I glanced back at him. "I'm s-sorry. I can't help you."

He stared at me silently. I stumbled backwards when he suddenly moved towards me. When I placed the couch between us he stopped and tilted his head to the side. A cruel smile twisted his lips.

"Are you afraid of me, Lara?" He chuckled. "I remember those days where you would sit on my lap and tell me all about your day, do you remember? You also told me that you'd come to work for me when you're all grown up." His eyes dropped to my chest and then slowly trailed down the rest of my body. "You are all grown up now."

"Get out."

He laughed. "I'm not leaving until I get what I came here for."

"I told you, I don't have any money."

"Really." He threw his hands up in the air and glanced around. "You could easily afford five hundred thousand."

A gasp fell from my lips. Something was definitely wrong here. My mother couldn't possibly owe him that much money, could she? My eyes snapped over to her. When I left she still looked somewhat normal.

"Here's how this is going to work," he said softly. "You're going to give me my money and then you and I are going to go for a little ride."

My lips parted but another voice spoke before I could.

"Or you could go take that ride without her and your money."

I stared at Axel as he stepped out of the hallway with a gun trained right at the man. I had forgotten that he was even here. What was he possible going to do? He had the gun pointed at him but his arm wasn't really steady. Was he still drunk?

"Shame on you Lara!" my mother suddenly exclaimed. "Barely married and you're already cheating on your rich husband."

I sucked in a breath and slowly blew it out. "I'm not you. I never was and I never will be. He's a friend who came over for breakfast."

"Funny," the man muttered. "I don't remember seeing him come up here."

"You've been watching me?" I gasped.

"Of course we have, sweetie," my mother said sweetly. "When his plans to—"

"Shut up!"

I flinched. Axel was suddenly next to me with his gun still trained on them. He gripped my arm and pulled me with him to stand behind the second couch. His actions confused me but I said nothing. After giving my arm a squeeze, he let go and stepped in front of me.

"I called the police," Axel said. "They'll be here within fifteen minutes."

His words didn't have the reaction I expected it to have. He only laughed and turned towards my mother. He gripped her arm and leaned down to mutter something in her ear. Her smile widened and her eyes flicked over to mine briefly before darting away.

I had a very bad feeling.

"How's Andrea doing?" my mother asked sweetly. "I heard she gave birth to a healthy you boy and that she's pregnant again. It would be a shame if something were to happen to those babies, wouldn't it Lara?"

My mouth dried and my heartbeat increased. I bit my lip to keep myself from uttering a word. They wouldn't hurt her. My eyes darted between them and I realized that they were dead serious. They would hurt Andrea to get what they wanted.

"I-I don't have any money with me h-here," I told him. "My husband never leaves money at home."

"So get you cards and let's go to the bank."

"She's not going anywhere with you!" Axel yelled. "Lara stays right here and you are going to jail."

The man's eyes narrowed and his fists clenched at his sides. It happened to fast to stop it. He reached behind him and pulled out a gun. The shot rang through the room, making a scream fall from my lips. Axel went down and the gun he had slid across the floor. I stared at the blood quickly starting to soak his shirt for a few seconds before I glanced towards the gun. If I made a run for it, I'd be able to get to it before him.

With my decision made, I dived for the gun but he had predicted my move. I screamed when his arm wrapped around me and he picked me up. I trashed but his hold only tightened. He spun me around a second before he slammed me down on the couch. His body came down on top of me and his lips smashed down on mine.

Bile rose in my throat. I pushed at his chest and tried to turn my head away but he gripped my chin and held me in place. He pulled away and I sucked in a breath. Rough hands started ripping at my clothes.

"You have no idea how long I've waited to have you," he breathed against my throat. "You've grown little bear. So beautiful."

A hand squeezed my breast before slipping down my side to hook into the band of my pants. I squeezed my eyes closed and fought the urge to slip inside my mind so I wouldn't feel what he was doing to me. But something inside me was urging me to fight. Then a thought hit and it made me smile. I was no longer human. I was stronger than him.

Tingles shot through my fingertips as I allowed my claws to slide out. With his body on top of me, there wasn't much space for me to move, so I dug my claws into the easiest place to reach which just so happens to be his crotch.

He screamed and pushed himself off me. One hand cupped his crotch and the other held a gun pointed at me. His eyes were wide with horror, and I loved that. Something about his look gave me satisfaction. He was scared of me. I smiled but it only made him move further away.

"W-what are y-you?"

I growled and slowly got to my feet.

"S-stay back!"

I flashed sharp teeth at him. He was at my mercy now. That only spurred on the beast inside me. Before I could control it, the beast took over. Bones snapped and skin pulled tight. I dropped to my hands and knees and arched my back. A whine fell from my lips as the pain worsened before it finally started to fade after a few minutes.

A low growl fell from my lips when I raised my head to stare at him. He was frozen in the same position but his mouth hung open and horror flashed through his eyes.

You're going to pay for touching me.

I lunged at him and he screamed but it was cut off when my jaw closed around his neck.