The steady beep echoed around in my mind and all I wanted was for it to stop. Where was it coming from anyway? My eyes fluttered opened, thankful for the dim lighting that greeted me. Looking around I was in hospital. 'How did I get here?' I wondered, trying to sit up a little when a sharp pinch from my hand stopped me. A drip was to my right and the heart monitor beeped steadily beside me explaining the noise. My mouth was dry, and surprisingly I had no aches or pains.  The white walls were bare except for a large floral print in front of me, the curtains drawn on the outside world and few sounds were heard from outside the room. A digital clock was on the cabinet on the left of the bed and it was three am. Vases of flowers sat around it and to busy staring at them I didn't hear the gentle steps of the nurse.

"Miss Lowell?" she gently called, her accent was clearly Scottish.

"I'm Dora Miss Lowell, you're in the hospital. You had a bit of a trip down the stairs dear and hit your head quite hard. The doctor will be here shortly to check on you now you're awake" she smiled warmly at me and I returned the gesture as she shone a light in my eyes and checked a few things on the monitor. Seconds later the older man entered the room; looking tired he was reading something on his clipboard. After a few more checks they were glad no damage seemed to have been done and they'd be keeping me in for another day to monitor, as I'd been unconscious for six days.

"The brain is a funny thing Miss Lowell but you seem to be healing nicely. If you get any dizziness or nausea please let Nurse Dora know immediately. Otherwise we will see about discharging you tomorrow night." He gave a nod to Dora and left.

"You're one popular lass, the amount of men you've had fighting over visiting you is unlike anything I have ever seen" Dora laughed to herself and the comment caught my attention.

"Sorry what?" I asked, my voice breaking and I had to a cough a few times to clear it.

"Well there is that awfully handsome fellow, Will and his friend Marcus. Finn is a bit of a character isn't he; he had all of us in tears yesterday with his stories. Eric and his brother aren't big talkers but they come every visiting hour with Will. That man is stubborn; every time we have to get visitors to leave he puts up such an argument. And Andrea and Derrick are the cutest little lovebirds I ever did see..." I tuned out her cheery voice as she talked about the people in my life. When she started talking about the little boy who came with Andrea I realized she hadn't mentioned my Mum. 

"What about my Mum?" I interrupted. She looked at me surprised for a second and then busied herself with the flowers.

"Oh Will said she has been busy with work but he has been letting her know how you are" she gave me a quick smile and left. Mum hadn't even come to see me in the hospital? What if William had done something to her? The urge to go to the toilet hit me and after calling Dora back in she assisted me to the bathroom. I even convinced her I needed a shower and once she had me back in bed it was nearly five thirty.

"Breakfast comes at seven but if you need anything just buzz" she disappeared pulling the curtain closed behind her. I felt tired, exhausted even but no other aches or pains. I had just settled back into the bed when the curtains opened and closed quickly. My eyes snapped open and seeing Eric I could almost cry. He looked a wreck. He hadn't shaved and his blonde hair was a mess. Bags hung from under his eyes and he looked like he hadn't slept for months.

"Eric!" I exclaimed sitting back up. He looked over me hesitantly, spying the machines beside me before coming over. I put my arms out to hug him and he gladly returned the gesture.

"You had us so worried when you wouldn't wake up. Don't. Do. That. Again" he scolded. I looked at him amused.

 "Well someone had to save your Alpha" he frowned at that, sitting beside me on the bed.

"Your Mum is ok by the way. When you guys were.... ah.... Interrupted.... We all came as soon as we could. His anger was intense we all felt it and got there as fast as we could. When you passed out we all thought you were dead but you still had a pulse so since you're human we took you straight here. Most of the staff here are like us so if anything bad happened and William lost control again we wouldn't have to explain it to them. She has kept out of our way and sadly we are always here so she hasn't come. Andrea has been keeping her informed though" I nodded as he finished, embarrassed they all knew what had been going on that night.

"If he had marked you, you would have been our Alpha female. I knew my wolf was right. Being human we'll need to have to keep a closer eye on you. Our world can be dangerous. You're not a witch like Marcus said though are you? " He asked hesitantly. I shook my head, I wasn't.... was I? 

"Eric, I need to tell you something and I haven't told anyone yet" He froze at my words, his face betraying his shock.

"You are a witch!?" he nearly yelled at me.

"No, well I don't know. I get dreams and visions but only since I came here. That's not what I wanted to tell you" He took a deep breath, and looked back at me as my sign to go on. 

"I am a werewolf too" and proceeded to tell him about what I had learnt about the magic blocking it from being obvious to others, about how I was already aware of her, and finally what happened after I took the hit that was intended for William. As I finished he grabbed me into another hug.

"But I don't feel like I did before. I can't find her. She was always in the back of my mind arguing with my conscious but I feel empty inside. What if that has hurt her? What if she is gone?" I sobbed into his shirt and he gently rubbed my back to try and sooth me. 

"I said before my wolf sensed something about you. I thought it had to have just been the Alpha thing," he wondered out loud. The tinkering of the breakfast trolley soon interrupted enough. 6:45am.

"Go hide in the bathroom" I ordered, the trolley stopping outside. The lady that came in didn't look much older than me. She said nothing as she dropped the plate and juice on the tray at the end of my bed and walked out. I glared at her as she left. The aroma of bacon and toast hit me hard and my stomach rumbled begging for food. I happily obliged, leaning over I pulled the table over lap and dug in forgetting about Eric in the bathroom. Well until his hand appeared taking a piece of the bacon. In an instant I had grabbed his hand tightly, a growl escaping me. A quickly as it happened I snapped out of it shocked.

"I don't think we have to worry about you having lost her, you may not feel her right now but she is still in there! Here I was thinking you were a weak human!" he laughed, shaking his hand slightly before rubbing it. Feeling guilty I pushed the plate over to him and he sat beside me as we shared breakfast.

"So no one knows but Finn and now me?" he quizzed for the thousands time. I shook my head, thankful to have told someone I trusted completely. He grinned proudly then.

"So you must like me huh?" he teased. I punched his arm lightly, which only made him smile more. We'd just stopped laughing when he tensed. I instantly frowned as his face went serious and he listened for something.

"What is it?" I asked. Before he could move from beside me on the bed Mum, James and Andrea walked in.

"Eli!!!!!" James squealed and run over to me. I lifted him on the bed, as Eric looked guilty and moved to the corner of the room. It was eight thirty and visiting times started at nine. James straddled me and pulled me into a tight bear hug and I returned it.

 "Hey Jay" I greeted, hugging him just that little bit tighter. 

"Are you ok?" He asked seriously and I nodded reassuring him. I was, physically. Andrea put another bunch of yellow roses down, adding to my growing collection.

"You had us so worried," she scolded, and I really missed her. I gave her a hug to and finally all eyes went to Mum. From the corner I noticed Eric shifting uncomfortably and as Mum went to hug me after Andrea he was back beside the bed, a growl coming from his chest as his eyes darkened. I knew what that meant. Ignoring the hurt on Mums face I turned to him, touching his arm lightly.

"It's ok Eric. Could you please take James and Andrea to the kiosk. I need a toothbrush and paste" It was lame but I needed him out. Andrea picked up on it instantly and ushered the trio out of the room leaving Mum and I alone.

"Oh my baby girl" she cried, throwing herself at me. I awkwardly hugged her, to confused on how I felt at the moment.

"Please know I am so so sorry. I just panicked and he was a wolf and I wanted to keep you from them so you could be safe" she begged, tears forming in her green eyes. I nodded. I understood she was sorry, but I wasn't sure how I could just forgive her.

 "I know Mum" touching her then led me to a vision. The night after the ball when I caught her talking to Margaret. She had said she didn't know what Dad was. I already realized that but the visions must come for a reason. Her lies were building up and I was suspicious of what else I had yet to find out. I felt a faint niggle of disgust and I knew my wolf was in me somewhere. If I was getting these faint signs she was must be really really annoyed but I was glad she was able to break through the barrier between us.

"I think you should go incase anyone else comes to visit" I said coolly, really I wanted to scream at her to get out but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Surprised she stepped back. 

"You are MY daughter. I have stayed away from you long enough," she scolded. If I was five I may have been worried at her tone but nothing in me cared right now.

"I don't think you have. I am also my FATHERS daughter and you need to accept that" I snapped back challenging her. A mixture of emotions came over her then and oddly I felt it. The confusion, the anger, the hurt but the fear. 

"What do you know?" she asked nervously. I shook my head, she has her secrets and I have mine. I wasn't in the mood to share. 

"Enough. Doctor said I would be discharged tomorrow. I will see you at home" Defeated she nodded and turned to leave as the trio returned with a toothbrush and three different kinds of paste. I gave James a final hug and promised to see him at home tomorrow. As soon as they had all gone I collapsed back on the bed, exhausted.

"I'll let you sleep" Eric mumbled sensing how tired I was. I didn't want him to go.

"Stay?" Of course he nodded, unable to bring himself to say no to me. I shifted over in the bed and he lay beside me He seemed uncomfortable at the close contact at first, my arm draped over his chest as I rested against him but he soon got over it and fell asleep too. My last thought was of William and why he hadn't come to visit yet now I was awake when Eric had.