As I brought the food in to Natasha, I heard her talking to herself.

"I don't want to hurt anyone. That's why I left"

Pause

"If I find him, they'll kill him to get me back"

Pause

"I know he's strong, but he's not ready for this. It's all new to him"

Pause

"They're nice people, I'm not dragging them into this" Natasha whispered with finality. I concluded she was talking to her wolf, but I didn't know who she was talking about.

I walked into the room pretending I hadn't heard anything.

"Here, I brought some food. It's my special recipe" I said as I handed her the bowl and water.

"Oh, thank you" she replied, accepting the food.

"You're welcome.... Natasha where are you from?"

She looked at me hesitantly, but finally answered with "I was born in Russia but soon after that I moved to America. I've lived everywhere you can imagine".

"Who are your... guardians?" I asked.

"My... parents died in Russia and I lived with my aunt until recently..." she said between bites.

"Oh, alright. Well do-" I began but my phone rang. I looked on the screen and saw it was Nate.

"Hey Nate, what's going on?"

"The group was worried about you and Alex so they... got school let out for the day. We're on the way to your house. We have your bag and Alex's bag and motorcycle."

"How are you bringing his motorcycle without his keys?" I asked.

"I put it in Williams new truck"

"You put it??" I asked, shocked.

"Yes but shhh! If Alex finds out it was me, he'll get pissed" he whispered.

"Alright, well I'm home"

"Ok we'll be pulling into the driveway in a minute".

"Ok" I said and hung up.

"Who was that?" Natasha asked with a slightly worried tone.

"Oh, a good friend of mine. He's bringing me some stuff" I answered.

"Oh, okay... ummmm where is your bathroom?"

"There's a bathroom up the stairs, down the hall, first door on the left" I explained.

Ok, thank you" she said heading off to the bathroom.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door.

I went and opened the door and Sophie came striding in with my backpack talking a mile a minute.

"- can't believe you set him on fire. I know you don't get along but that's a little violent. People shouldn't set other people on fire. Not even Pyromaniacs! I mean it should be impossible for him to be hurt by you, because of how things are. It should hurt you to do so. And more over-"

Sophie walked into the kitchen and her speech became little more than quiet squirrel speak mumbling in the background.

"Hey Terri" Jason said with a sigh.

"Hey Jason"

"How's he doing?" he asked as he let Alex's backpack slide off his shoulder.

"Crispy... but good" I said with a chuckle.

"Nice. So it's safe to assume that it was an accident?" He asked with a laugh.

"A huge one" I sighed, "has she been like that the whole time?" I queried, inclining my head in Sophie's direction.

"Yep" he replied in an exasperated breath. Sophie came back through the hallway, still chastising, and headed back outside, but not before she shot me an accusatory look.

"... but it's because of his past with his father and the fact that he.." she rambled until I could not hear her any longer.

The twins came in next with Sienna close behind.

"Hey Terri" Brett said with a smile and Sienna and William waved with the hands not linked to each other.

"Hey guys... oh! There's food in the kitchen" I said and all four of them took off an instant later.

"Well that was an efficient way of getting rid of people" I mumbled.

"What?! What was an efficient way of getting rid of people? Hopefully you don't mean you set the group on fire! I still can't-" but I had halted her speech by placing my hand over her mouth.

"Sophie... It was an ACCIDENT. One I feel very bad about. But I bandaged him up and made him food so I think I deserve forgiveness" I said. I removed my hand from her mouth.

She began to open her mouth to say something but then, as if an idea came to her, she shut it and developed the most horrific Cheshire Cat smile.

"Wha-what is that awful look for?" I said and quickly began to walk into the kitchen away from Devil-Sophie.

"So you fixed him up?" she asked, following me while maintaining the face.

"Y-yes" I said hesitantly, and, even though I didn't think it was possible, her grin got bigger.

"So you played Doctor?" she pushed.

"Well-"

"Were you his dirty little nurse?" she had me backed into a corner... a corner filled with four very nosey on-lookers.

"Ew no... that's.... we didn't" I spluttered.

"Did you kiss him?"

"Sophie! No... I... we-"

"Hey guys what's going on?" Nate's deep voice came from the threshold of the kitchen.

"Oh thank goodness!" I said and ran past Sophie to Nate's side. I dawned the most pathetic, young child face and grabbed Nate's long arm gruffly.

"Nate, the scary lady won't leave me alone" I pouted, pointing at Sophie.
Everyone bust out laughing except for Sophie.

"I'll find out soon enough" she said maliciously.

"Sooooooo, Terri why does it smell so good in your house?" Nate asked.

"I made lunch! Baked Tortellini" I said with a smile.

"No... I mean that smells good but it smells like... lavender and.... lemon" he said, smelling the air.

"Oh, uhhh I don't know why it smells like that to you. I don't smell it" I said.

"How can you not? It's everywhere..." he said looking down at me.

"Dude, we don't smell it either" Jason said and the group agreed enigmatically.

"But...." but Nate trailed off then roughly grabbed my arm.

"What's-" I started but he cut me off.

"Who was in the house?" he asked bending down and grabbing both of my upper arms violently.

"Alex!... and this girl Natasha who-"

"Where is she!?" he snarled at me.

"The bathroom!" I yelled, ripping myself out of his grip in anger. Not that he noticed, as he was running up stairs to my bathroom. "What is wrong with you?!" I yelled as I chased after him.

He cleared the stairs in three large steps and was at the bathroom door in seconds. I tried the handle, but it was locked.

"Here, I have a-" But before I could say I had a key, he threw his massive shoulder into the door, busting it open.

As he barreled into the bathroom, I stood at the doorway with a disbelieving face. "Really Nate? Really?"

"Where is she?! You said she was in here!" he turned to me in an angry, accusatory tone.

I turned and looked at the bathroom window, which was open, and said "She went out the window".

"Why?" he asked in confusion, and I noticed he was calming down.

"How am I supposed to know?" I asked him sarcastically. "Why?"

"She's my mate" he whispered, running his fingers over the bathroom cabinet.

"What?!" yelled in unison with a mystery voice. I turned around to find Alex standing behind me. Where my face had an expression of shock, his had a look of unimaginable joy.

I turned slowly around Nate with my mouth open.

"This is interesting...."