A/N: Hi guys. Sorry for the very long wait. This year has been an emotional roller-coaster for me. A big thanks for sticking with me this far. It really means a lot.

This chapter is more of a reminder of everything that has happened thus far. And it gives you a little bit of an insight on how the other members of the pack see things.

On another note. I'm having a hard time deciding what colour Alx's eyes should be. So, feel free to comment. And whatever colour shows up the most will be his eye colour.

Alx's P.O.V.

 I got her in my arms. I finally have her.

Moving my right hand from her hair to her waist, I lean in closer. Resting my head on her shoulder. Taking deep breaths. Just trying to enjoy this moment. I don't want it to end.

Shayla snuggles into me a little more, going a bit limb. Relying on me to hold her up. And her breathing has become deeper. She's asleep.

How long have we been standing here?

Couldn't have been that long.

Standing straighter, I bring my left hand to her face. To support her head I rest my hand on her neck. Leaning back to get a better look, I stroke her cheek with my thumb.

Yeah, she's asleep. She looks so peaceful.

"Shayla?" I ask trying to wake her, not really wanting to. 

She doesn't respond. 

I should take her to bed. I gently pick her up bridal style and start to walk to her room. Shayla wraps her arms around my neck. Holding herself closer to me. Making me smile.

Carefully placing her on the bed, I feel her wack up.

"Did I fall asleep?" she asks still mostly asleep.

"Yeah, you did." sitting next to her.

"I'm sorry." struggling to keep her eyes open, turning on her side to face me.

"No, don't be. I quite liked carrying you." smiling as I stroke her face.

Nodding her head, she lets her eyes close again. Fulling to sleep. Smiling again, I pull her blanket over her. Letting myself study her for a moment.

I should probably go.

Slowly getting up, I feel a hand on mine. Shayla's hand to be more specific 

Does she want me to stay? 

I lay down next to her on my side. Being very still so not to wake her. Waiting for her to confirm her request. Studying her every move. Shayla moves closer to me, snuggling into me. Bringing a smile to my face again.

"You're warm." Her sleepy voice chimes in my ear.

I huff a laugh at that. "Yeah, I am." pulling the blanket over the both of us. "You're warm too." wrapping my arms around her. Happily allowing sleep to come.

-

Waking to the beep of my phone. Telling me that I need to get up. I blink a few times, clearing my vision. 

Shayla's still asleep, wrapped in my arms. Still curled up next to me. A few strands of hair hide her face from me.  Moving the hair from her face, I find myself smiling. It's nice seeing her like this.

But I still feel like she's hiding something from me. 

'It doesn't matter. We have her now.'

'You're right, it doesn't matter.' giving her a tighter hug before I get up to leave. Regrettably, this wakes her up.

"Morning." rubbing her eyes. "Did I get you to stay?"

I nod standing up.

"Sorry." wrapping the blanket around herself closing her eyes again. 

"Don't be." smiling again

"Have you done that before?"

She remembers. She was asleep. But she remembers.

"Yes. Does that bother you?" a little worried.

"No. It should. But it doesn't. Had to ask. Thought that I was going a bit insane." slowly drifting back to sleep.

She thought that she was going insane. Why?

"Did you think you imagined, Shayla?" eagerly awaiting her answer.

She nods "A bit."

"Why?" smirking 

Moving her pillow into a better spot. "Because." going back to sleep.

I feel a grin taking place on my face as I study her again. She thought she imagined it.

'Told you she would feel the bond.'

'Yeah, yeah.' putting another blanket over her before I leave.

-

Assisting everyone out of the cells went rather smoothly. And we've just started on general clean up. Noting what needs to be repaired. And what improvements can be made. this full moon has been rather calm. So, there's not that much to fix. The walls have some claw marks and some shallow craters. But that's standard.

"Alpha?" One of the guards, Smith, asks.

"Yes?" still examining the wall, not bothering to face them

"What's the story with the Beta and his sister?" Smith.

"Yeah, what's going on there?" the other guard, Will.

"Please be a bit more specific." going on with my work.

"How does the Beta have a human sister?" Will.

"Chris was born human. I turned him."

"Why? If you don't mind me asking Alpha?" Smith.

"He trespassed no to pack territory. It was either kill him or turn him. He showed potential. So, I turned him."

"So, the Beta was born human." Will

"Yes. But if I see you or anyone else looking down at him because of that, I'll be very pissed off. He has had to work harder than any of you to get where he is. He has my respect that she say enough for him." moving to the next cell.

"Understood Alpha." both Will and Smith

"And the sister? How does she know?" Smith.

'You are to call her Luna'

'Not now.' blocking Eric out.

"Chris knew that if he Just disappeared his family would come looking for him. So, her went to visit them. he told them that he got a job and that's why he wouldn't be around. But he wasn't able to control shifting all that well back then. So, at night he would shift; in hopes that it would stop him from doing so while he was with them. Shayla didn't buy his story from the get-go. One night she followed him. And saw everything." giving them the simplified story.

"Was she scared of him?" Will

"Did she turn on him?" Smith

"She would never turn on him." making eye contact with Smith. insuring that he would never imply something like that again.

Swallowing the log in his throat, Smith holds his head down.

"Then what happened? Was she scared did she try to run away?" Will

"No. Quite the opposite." smiling slightly.

They both tilt their heads asking me to clarify

"From what I've been told. She was more upset that he lied to her than the fact that he was no longer human. Apparently, she was so angry at him that she punched him while he was still in wolf form." I answer huffing a laugh.

"She wasn't scared of him at all?" Will, deeply shocked.

"No, she wasn't." 

"Did he attack her?" Smith.

"No."

"How did she know that he wouldn't?" Smith.

"She knew that he would never harm her."

"How could she be so certain of that?" Smith.

"I don't know. but what I know is that she had a lot of courage for a twelve-year-old." 

"She was twelve!?" Will

"I don't think that's courage. I think it's stupidity." Smith

I glare at him again, "That is one thing that she is not."

For some reason, he fights me on this. "I disagree. Yesterday when your wolf had taken control. She just stood there. She made no attempt to leave or get herself to safety. She just stood there." Smith.

"What made you think you could talk to me like that?" staring him down. Allowing my eyes to change colour.

"I-I, uh. I." Smith stutters unable to speak.

"My apologies Alpha. I'm sure he didn't mean it." Will pleading for his comrade. Placing himself between Smith and I.

'Is he worth it?' Shayla's words ring in my ears.

No. He isn't.

Calming myself down I let my eyes return to their original colour. "Just because she didn't look it. Doesn't mean that she wasn't ready."  

"How was she ready?" Smith.

"Dude stop pushing your luck." Will pushing him back.

"Her stance stiffened. She had an escape root. And she was probably piecing together an action plane based on  my next move." Secretly bragging about my mate.

"What makes you think that?" Smith.

Fuck he's getting on my nerves. "The Beta was gifted in combat when he got here. I believe her to be as well." If not more so.

"Does that not concern you?" Smith.

"No." I answer honestly, shaking my head.

"Why would it?" Will.

"It doesn't bother you either?" Smith.

"No. An Alpha complementing her combat skills. It just makes me think she's really cool." Will.

I only just manage to hold back my growl. 

"Think about it, Smith. She's been here for a while now. Don't you think that if she had any ill intentions, the Alpha would know by now?" Will trying to reason with Smith. "And even still actions speak louder than words, yes?" seeing that Smith still wasn't satisfied.

"Yes." Smith, nodding.

"Well if that's the case. Then since she's been here. She's been nothing but nice to literally everyone. After she was hospitalised by border patrol. Despite being housebound for her own safety. She saved Nicky from her bullies, patched her up and played with her until she was returned to her parents. With one sentence she managed to stop the Beta from beating the shit out of a cashier. After they threatened her.  And she stood up for Jo. After he tried to poison her! And on top of all that. She's been dealing with the loss of her parents. On her own. I'd be fucked if I lost my parents." Will, now having to catch his breath.

"She did all that?" Smith not believing him.

"What rock have you been living under!?" Will.

News travels fast. 

Yes, she's done all that and they still suspect her of ill intentions.

"Nicky is your niece, isn't she?"

 "Yeah, she is." Will, rather shocked that I know that.

"How is she?"

"She's good. But gosh is it hard to compete with shadow." He answers with a smile.

"Is she still calling her that?"

"Yeah." Will laughs. And I join him.

"What happened to the girl's parents?" Smith.

Sighing I shake my head. "She hasn't said yet."

Smith nods his head looking at the ground in thought.

What did happen to them? Will she tell me?

"How is the Beta? He seemed a little too fine yesterday." Will.

"He shouldn't allow his personal life to get in the way of his duties. In that department, he is doing well." Smith.

"Who put a stick up your ass, hu?" Will asks giving Smith a look of disgust.

"He seems to be doing quite well. But you need not concern yourself on the matter." writing down the last notes, I hand them the piece of paper. "Take that to maintenance."

They both nod as they leave.

"And dial down the gossip. You're warriors not high schoolers."

"Yes, Alpha."