"It was some sort of... biochemical technology. It attached to certain sectors of the brain that gave neurological control to what I assume was a Control Remote programmed in to Aadil's head. The fact that you... did what you did... to his head is what gave back control to all those given the serum." Beta Allison said quietly. It was two weeks after the raid at the bunker and Beta Allison had just discovered what was in the tranquilizers. She may have her Masters in biology but she was not at the level my mother has been at, so it had taken her a good bit of time to break the coding.

I nodded, glad to finally know everything that happened, but saddened that things happened the way they did.

A few days after the attack, we buried Brett in the Pack cemetery. I still remembered William's plaintive wails as we told him what happened. He staggered to his knees as tears streamed down his face while we pulled Brett's body from the bunker.

As we placed his body in the ground, I remember feeling anchored to the earth only by my contact with Alex. I knew he was hurting, but for my, as well as the pack's benefit, he posted the face that depicted true Alpha strength. The entire funeral, I had kept a death grip Alex's side as he tucked me into his warmth. As if life depended on it, I clung to him, feeling that if I let go, i had fall into the grave with Brett. I needed him like no one else and I had a feeling that William had been sharing my feelings. No amount of time would remove the image of William holding Sienna close as tears slipped from his eyes.

The worst part was that Alex had only been with us for a few days after the funeral when he received a message from the neighboring Pack, who needed him for an Alpha meeting.

"If I don't go, I risk insulting them and destroying ties between our Packs" he had told me. I knew he had to go, but that didn't mean I had to let him go easily.

He had been gone for almost a week now. As everyone around me healed and became happier, I felt my happiness drop with each day Alex didn't return. I felt lonely, even though I was surrounded my people. Sienna was with William, comforting him, Jason had turned eighteen and found... of course... Sophie to be his mate, and Nate and Natasha spent most of their time in his small log home. My grandparents came to visit me, but they quickly realized that my spirits were not easily raised.

When the Pack needed me, a plastered in a fake smile and solved their issues, however I felt only part way adept at dealing with all the problems.

Now, I sat laying in Alex's... I guess technically OUR bed, and stared at the ceiling. A knock at the door made me release a massive sigh. People meant putting up my 'happy' walls.

"Terri?" It was Nate's voice. I actually felt my heart lift a little. In front of Nate, I could be any kind of train wreck I wanted. I opened the door and he came in slowly.

"I've never been in here before. No one has. He never let's anyone in here" Nate said with a smile.

Oops...

"Oh well, I say you can come in."

"Well I'm only going to be here for a second. I was wondering if you could do something for me?" he asked.

I have him my 'are you serious' face.

"Please?" he begged, using a face I couldn't deny.

"Fine" I sighed.

"Natasha likes this flower. But it only grows near waterfalls. I know there is one around here but I don't know where. I remember you mentioned going to a waterfall once. Do you think you could go get it for me?"

"Yeah, sure. I'll go first thing tomorrow" I said and laid back on the bed.

"Actually, I need it tonight" he continued, rubbing the back of his head.

"Nate, it's eight o' clock!" I cried in exasperation.

"Please??" he whined.

"Agh! Fine!" I yelled and pulled a jacket on over my dumpy shirt. I opened the window and turned to Nate.

"Get out you pain" I said with a small smile. I jumped out the window and took off running toward Alex's little thinking spot.

"Can't believe that... that... that BEAR talked me in to coming ALL the way out here to get some dumb-flower" I ended my rant in a whisper as I stepped into the clearing at the edge of the waterfall.

"I knew your relationship with that Bear would come in use for me one day" Alex said with a smile. He stood, in all his glory, under the light of the moon streaming through the trees.

"I thought... I thought your trip was two weeks long?" I whispered quietly.

"I made them finish the meeting quickly. I don't know if you know, but I'm a little too stubborn for my own good" he said with a sideways smile. He pulled a small but beautiful bouquet of flowers from behind his back. Amongst all of the small flowers and little sprigs, four beautiful blooms were designed to be the main focus. Two were bright red that faded to white starting from the tip and traveling inward. The other two were the same colors but exactly opposite in pattern.

"That's... Amaryllis Belladonna" I said, walking to him and looking at the red and white bouquet. "How did you know that's my... My favorite flower?" I whispered.

"I asked your grandparents" he said, laughing. I smiled too, and gently took the bouquet. But when I did, I noticed a cold, metallic feeling in my hand. With a furrowed brow, I lifted up the gathering of flowers to examine the spot where they were bound together. Snuggly fit around the stems of the flowers was a beautiful silver ring with glittering diamonds.

"Ummm Alex?" I said, gently removing the ring.

"It was my mother's" he said, smiling down at me.

"Alex?" my voice rose a pitch higher in panic... and happiness.

"You've spent most of your life as a human, so I thought you deserved this part too" he bent on one knee. "Will you marry me?"

I stared at him in happy shock for a split second before I quickly leaned down and kissed him in answer.

Words had never worked for us anyway.

Thank you for reading my first story here on Wattpad! I appreciate all your likes and comments and enjoyed reading your reactions! If you enjoyed Mutation, please, check out my new story Deliverance, the fast paced, new age book about post-apocalyptic America, battles, and the unique story of Katherine Buchanan's many survivals.