Hey look! I'm alive! 

Yeah.... I suck. I'll just go ahead and say that now. Anyways, I do hope you enjoy this--it took me long enough.

{Alex}

IT WASN'T LIKE it was all bad. I loved the huge pack house, the kids I watched and played with, and of course, Jack's food. In fact, Jack was one of the main draws of staying here--getting to see him every day for hours on end, meeting his friends and family. In fact, that was really the only reason I was still here, a week after my first time seeing the long, tree-lined driveway.

It sure as hell wasn't because I fit in, or felt so at home.

The first day, at least half of the Pack had approached me, smiling and friendly, looking to help me settle. The second day, maybe two or three people spoke to me, and by the third, I couldn't walk through the halls or into the dining room without an unnatural hush falling instantly, beckoned on by agitated looks and nervous whispers.

"Who, her?"

"Yeah, I hear she's--"

"From some place far away--"

"Grace said she was mauled, that's why she acts so weird--"

"As if she was human before she was Turned--"

"--evil, I hear--"

Yeah, the sooner I got out of here, the better.

Still, it was getting harder to convince myself to leave by the hour. Here, I had food, and water, and safety, and a little girl named Angela who liked to follow me around like a second shadow. Here, I had Jack, and he was happy. He was so, so happy that I was meeting his Pack, getting to know more about his life... I couldn't help but feel absolutely terrible about the inevitably approaching end. Because despite how cute some of the pups were, I still had no intention of staying.

"So, how has your stay been?" asked a sonorous voice from behind me.

I sucked in a breath, whipping around, only to see Howard standing there, smiling pleasantly.

"Oh," I said, feeling a little sheepish. "Uh, good, I guess."

"I believe you mean well."

"What?"

"In English--which I believe is your native tongue--good can be used as an adjective, but not as an adverb to describe how one is doing. Thus, you must use well."

I sat there, blinking up at him. "But... I mean, day before yesterday, you said you were doing good!"

"Oh, dear, did I make such a mistake?" he said, clucking his tongue and frowning, "'Tis truly shameful."

What the hell is going on here? Did someone hit him on the head?

"You seem... different, today. Are you feeling alright?" I asked, hoping the concern in my tone would cover for my selfish worries. While I felt grateful to the older Turned Were, I was more concerned about how a change of personality might affect my promise of sanctuary.

"Of course! I feel positively splendid!"

"Well, that's... good. Or is it well?"

"No," he said, laughing and sitting beside me. "'Good' would be correct there."

We sat in silence for a moment before I dared to ask another question. "Is there... something else worrying you? I don't get the feeling you came out here to discuss grammar with me."

"You are quite perceptive. As a matter of fact, I must beg your forgiveness in this case--I admit I am using you to get out of some, er, uncomfortable conversations. The Weres of my pack seem to avoid you rather fervidly--I hoped to use this to get a moment of peace and quiet."

"You noticed that too, huh?" I said quietly, resting my chin on my hand.

"Well, they do a poor job of keeping it subtle." I snorted--that was an understatement. "So, my dear, how are you and Jack?"

"What do you mean?" I responded, trying to push down my sudden queasiness.

"Well, is your relationship progressing? Have you been spending time together? Do you still have an intention to leave?"

"I... Yes. To all three, I guess."

He didn't answer, just gave a soft 'hm' of acknowledgement.

"Why?" I asked, curiosity burning through me. "What do you care?"

"Alexandra," he began. I flinched--it'd been a long time since I heard my full name used like that, like a word that carried such weight. "It's an Alpha's duty to protect his pack, from any threat. Do you know what that means?"

"That... you lead them in battle. You defend them."

"Indeed, many people believe that." His gaze was directed outwards, his eyes catching and reflecting the blue glow of the sky. "It's true--but only part of the truth. An Alpha must lead his--or her--Pack, regardless of the state or season. In war or in peace. There is no rest, no sickness to let you catch your breath, no concern for yourself. You must devote every inch of your own strength to making your own people more powerful."

"That sounds... exhausting. Why would you do that?"

"Because there is no experience more rewarding that giving everything you have to someone else." He glanced at me, giving me that same kind smile, like he was talking to a small child rather than someone only half his age. "Ask any parent. They can tell you."

I decided he reminded me of Dumbledore. "Were you a parent? Is that why you make such a good Alpha?"

He laughed, and he whole body shook. "You compliment me. I don't think there's ever been a 'good' Alpha--the fact that I'm here with you rather than listening to the complaints of my Pack is evidence of that. And no, I've never been a parent, thankfully. I'm not entirely sure I'm prepared to deal with such things as dirty diapers. And yet, being here... Well, I feel I've come as close as I'm going to, in this life."

This time, I was the one who didn't respond. It didn't feel like there were many adequate responses to that statement. Instead, I starting counting the dragonflies buzzing lazily over the grass in the early summer heat. It was only spring, but I could already feel my skin growing warm under the unrelenting sun.

"Hey, Alex--Oh! Hello, Alpha," Jack said, bowing respectfully. He looked between us nervously, and I choked back a laugh. "Mind if I steal Alex for a minute?"

"Steal her for a lifetime, my boy. I've got an ocean of paperwork awaiting me upstairs, and provides far too good conversation." He stood, yawning dramatically, and I smiled at his antics. He glanced down at me, grinning cheerfully. "Remember what we discussed, my dear."

Then he was gone, walking away, and Jack and I were standing on the porch, listening to the buzz of dragonfly wings. They had quite an infestation.

"So, what were you two discussing?" he asked.

"Our elopement," I said casually, working hard to keep my face straight.

He let out a noise somewhere between a cough and a choke. "What?"

I burst out laughing. "Relax. We were just talking about his Alpha stuff."

"Oh," he said, clearing his throat uncomfortably. A dazed part of my mind noted how I loved the way his cheeks looked when he was blushing. "Right."

"So, what'd you come here to talk about?"

"Oh, yeah! The kitchen staff have been bugging me all week, so I finally gave in and said I'd introduce you. I hope you don't mind?"

It was so much fun seeing him nervous.

"Sure," I said, smiling. "I'd love to."

We started walking over, fingers loosed intertwined. With each jostling step, I could feel the push and pull of our sweaty hands connecting us, and a little of the anxiety that had been hanging over me like a cloud faded away.

When we finally got to the kitchen, I forgot completely, but for a much different reason.

We walked into the kitchen, and everything was completely silent. There were gleaming surfaces all around us, but no one in sight.

Or at least, not at first. Suddenly, there was a flurry of movement as at least five people leapt out from behind the counter, yelling "surprise!". Only, as they were jumping out, one of the guys' sleeves caught on the edge of the stove, and suddenly there were a bunch of people screaming as fire flared up. Jack's jaw dropped. And me?

I was laughing hysterically--doubled over, in tears, the whole thing.

After a few awkward moments of rushing for an extinguisher (I noticed with bemusement that there were three in this room alone and wondered how often things like this went wrong) and hurried apologies, the people--upon closer inspection, I realized there were seven--actually came over to greet me. There were three girls (Poppy, Clara, and Hailey) as well as four guys (Jean and Clarke, mates with an affinity for food, as well as David and Zane). All of them seemed eager to meet me, rushing through introductions in order to ask me questions about myself and how Jack acted when he wasn't at the Pack house ("Is he, like, secretly a bowling master or something? Why would you put up with him voluntarily?").

Jack seemed highly embarrassed, but I loved it. For the first time, I felt... well, like part of the Pack. I felt accepted--wanted, even. These people didn't care that I was Turned, just that I was dating their friend.

I supposed that was the benefit of being around the lower-ranking Pack members--they didn't put the social hierarchy on as much of a pedestal, considering it didn't exactly value them.

I was halfway through convincing Poppy to pull out the baking chocolate and let me have some when we were rudely interrupted but a shrill, deafening ringing. I jumped out of my skin, and looking around at the others, all pale and frozen stiff, I had a sinking feeling about whatever it meant.

The others started rushing away, and Jack was on the other side of the room, arguing with David, so I grabbed Hailey's arm as she began to make her way towards the door.

"What's that sound?" I asked practically screaming so she could hear me over it.

"It's the alarm," she said. Her skin was pale, her features tight with concern as she replied. "It means we're under attack."  

So, I hope you guys enjoyed that, cliffhanger aside. I spent a couple hours on it today--longer than I should've, but that's what I get for not flexing my writing muscles in a few weeks. Things have hectic with exams coming up, though, so I don't feel as bad as I should. 

All other things aside, how are you guys? Do you like Howard as much as I do?

I gotta admit, he's quickly becoming one of my favorite characters. Even I don't know what he's gonna do sometimes. He kinda reminds me of a cross between Dumbledore and Phil Coulson--weird, but then, so am I      ;)

Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed! 

--Earthstone

PS - This chapter is dedicated to my friend @poptart102 who is really the main reason this book even still exists. I love Alex and Jack, but I lost my inspiration until she and I were talking about our books and she mentioned how much she likes it. So thanks for that <3 :)