I wasn't alone. My eyes opened quickly, adjusting to the faint light that filtered through from the outside. I spied a familiar shadow looking out the window. My heart picked up its pace as the steady flow of pins and needles started pumping through my body with every beat. He had finally come to me. Sensing me stirring he turned to look, his blue eyes finding mine and that familiar smile appeared on his handsome face. I sat up, looking at him sleepily. 

"Am I dreaming?" I asked, yawning. A small chuckle escaped him as he came up beside the bed. The pull between us was overwhelming and instinctively I knelt up to greet him. The second our bodies touched I was gone, melting against him I threw off his jacket as I raised my arms, the tank top I had on being pulled off revealing my body to him as he quickly did the same. I ran my hands over his muscular chest, enjoying the sparks that seemed to burn from my fingertips as I traced over every inch of his skin.

He was on top of me with a gentle ease, my legs wrapping around his waist pulling him closer with need, my hands running through the softness of his hair. A primitive growl was heard as his lips slipped along my jaw, down my neck as he moved lower to my chest where my body begged for more. As his lips lingered above my belly button his hands found the edge of my pajama pants slipping them down. Contact was broken for but a second as he did the same, as finally our naked bodies had access to all of each other. His lips met mine with a possessiveness I had been craving, as our movements were in sync everywhere.

"What took you so long?" I whispered into his ear, a gasp following as his hands teased all the right areas, every inch of me broke out in goosebumps as the pleasure only intensified........

Sitting up I was wide-awake, looking around the darkness I was alone. Every fiber of my body was alert as my breaths were shallow and fast and the disappointment at realizing it was a dream broke me. It had been a dream. Wiping the sweat from my forehead I got up and headed to the kitchen. It was nearly two in the morning and I doubted if I would be able to get back to sleep after that. 

Erics soft snores greeted me as I went into his room. He laid in the middle of the king size bed like a starfish, the blankets around his waist.

"Eric. Eeeeeric" I whispered. Nothing. I stalked closer to the bed, not sure if it would be my smartest idea to date, I grabbed a pillow from beside the bed and held it over my head.

"Don't. Even. Think. About" he muttered, rolling over slightly he tapped the bed beside him. I quickly climbed in and curled up beside him enjoying listening to the steady sounds of his breathing. "What?" he groaned, rubbing his face roughly he looked down at where I was laying in the crook of his arm.

"I can't take it anymore. Why hasn't he come for me?" It hurt he hadn't come and found me. Surely he knew where I was. He'd just have to ask Eric or Parker and probably Finn and the others knew too.  It had nearly been a week, where was he?

"He's been keeping busy, the take over gave us a bit to organize and there is the issue of working out what the wi..." he stopped then. I felt his body tense beside me and I leant up on my elbow looking down at him.

"What the what Eric?" I questioned. He quickly turned his back on me, adjusting the pillow to block us.

"Nothing. Goodnight. If you're going to keep talking I'll kick you out back to your own bed" he threatened stubbornly. My interest had been peaked and so decided to try and crack him the old fashioned way and stormed out of his room back to mine. For ten minutes I laid their waiting and nothing. 'Dam him' I thought angrily, I knew there was so much more going on that I had no idea about and I knew it might be better if I didn't. Groaning I threw the covers over my bed and buried myself in my bed, finally going to back to sleep.

I had my nose to the ground, picking up the familiar scent of William I started to run. The black wolf was soon located as he kept to the shadows in the forest, looking curiously towards the village. Sensing me he turned, a slight nod given in greeting. Coming beside him I sat down, looking towards the town that had my brother captivated.

 'Be careful brother, I do not trust them' I warned. He looked at me briefly, but as the sounds of laughing filtered into the night he turned back.

'She is my mate. There is nothing not to trust. She feels it too, I told her about our kind last night' he said curtly, not in the mood to hearing about my worries.

 'I have spent time with them, I have befriended her. She is not what she seems' I warned again, why wouldn't he listen to me, believe me? He growled, turning to face me completely now. Our wolves were equal in size and power yet thanks to our father and the fact he was the first born the fool had Alpha abilities too. Shame that didn't include being immune to a witches spell.

'Stand down brother, I will not have you imply these things of her' the anger that was growing within the beast started to seep out in words. My own hair bristled along my spine, not liking his tone.

'And what? Let them kill you? You know the old witch had her issues with our kind, what makes you think she has not passed this on?' I snapped back. In seconds his wolf had pinned me and despite everything, I submitted.

'She will be your Alpha too. You are not to be part of this pack if you cannot accept that' his word was final and my fate was sealed.

'Then I will go out on my own' I got up, briskly shaking my coat. With a final glare I turned, passing Marcus and Finn on the way. I didn't bother saying anything as we passed, screw them all. I had only gone a few hundred meters when Finn caught up to me.

'I feel you are right to worry. Do not worry Parker, if the time comes and a decision has to be made, my loyalty lies to you' Finn had always shown wisdom beyond his years. I trusted my cousins, while Marcus could be rash and impulsive, Finns level headed ways never proved wrong before but it was only two of us against the pack. The odds were not in our favor and I had to do something before the little witch did something we all would regret. We may have all the time in the world but we could never get it back.

'Thank you Finley. I'll keep in touch' He nodded and turned heading back to where Marcus and William remained and I left in search for a solution.

Waking up a tray was sitting on the bedside table with a pot of tea and pancakes sitting on it. The smell was delicious and on queue my stomach rumbled.

"Hungry?" Eric appeared in the doorway, carrying another tray, which he positioned on his lap as he got comfy on the bed beside me. 

"If this is your apology for not telling me what's going on, I don't accept" The pancakes were heavenly and Eric shrugged, not seeming to care I was still annoyed with him.

"What do you know of Parker?" I asked after we finished, carrying the trays back downstairs.

"Only what Marcus has told us and what I've learnt in my time with them. None of it is good." He didn't sound like was going to elaborate and I decided Finn would be the best approach. Finn had been on Parkers side. But what side was that exactly?

 --

'We're going to party like its nineteen ninety nine..... or no, it doesn't sound the same. How stupid is 2012?" Jocelyn stopped her dancing around my room as she frowned over the lack of songs about the upcoming year. "The world is going to end you know, this better be an awesome New Years. It'll be our last one" Andrea laughed at her, passing the bottle of vodka to me as she finished her makeup. New Years Eve. Finally I could say goodbye to 2011, bring on the New Year. Things could only get better right?

"So where is my costume you oh so talented ones got me?" I asked curiously, spying the bags by the dressing room. Jocelyn had failed to tell me the club had a fairtytale fancy dress code for the night. So many things in my mind screamed ironic and I was expecting a Snow White costume to go with my dark hair and fair skin. Jocelyn smirked at me, her surprise outfit selection had to wait until it was time to leave so if I hated it, I couldn't back down and would have to wear it. Dylan was going as Peter Pan and Andrea was Tinkerbelle which was kind of cute in that sickly sweet couple way. I gave up on getting a sneak peak into the bag and helped her with her blonde pixie cut wig. I couldn't wait to see Dylan as Peter Pan, men in tights were always hilarious. Jocelyn pulled her hair into a bun, adding her own black wig that went with her outfit. She was running around in her underwear when Eric walked in.

"Woah! Sorry!" he quickly covered his eyes and I couldn't help but laugh as he snuck a peak. Andrea had found a Mad Hatter outfit for him and I couldn't help but wonder if maybe there was an Alice costume in the bag for me. He had even let Jocelyn put a little eyeliner on him earlier and he would give Johnny Depp and run for his money looking how he did. Jocelyn shot him a look and ran into the wardrobe. Not that it mattered; her Princess Jasmine outfit was revealing enough. A few minutes later she had on her harem pants and glorified bra, the large gold opal costume necklace around her neck with her Egyptian style makeup and fake tan, she looked amazing. Andrea giggled too and disappeared to put on the tight sequined green mini dress that fitted her like a second skin and even had a pair of what looked like glass slippers with a large pom pom on the top. She really was a Tinkerbelle in real life. With my makeup finished and hair left in thick curly waves I was getting anxious to see my costume. Everyone else looked amazing and Dylan's arrival proved even some men could work tights.

"Go get dressed, you have like ten minutes and we're leaving" Jocelyn instructed. Finally I was passed a bag and disappeared to change. Pulling out the small red corseted dress I started at it blankly. It was more beer wennch that anything with a black corset around the middle and a white blouse at the top that would barely cover my chest. I get it was meant to be sexy but this wasn't me. Looking into the bag to see what else as in there I froze. It had to be a joke. I headed back out and four frowned seeing me still in the robe.

"This is a joke right?" I demanded, holding the dress and cape in either hand.

"What? No, we thought it would be cute since you've just learnt about the wolf thing. I was going to get the wolf costume for Eric but who doesn't love a Mad Hatter? Now hurry up! We already told you no changing your mind. I knew you'd hate what ever we got you" Jocelyn ordered spinning me around back into the wardrobe. None of them but Eric knew about my hesitations of the red cape and it wasn't something I wanted to share. She handed me a shot and I greedily took it. This was a joke, it had to be. The closed door reopened and Eric came in.

"You'll look hot in that" he picked up the dress from where I dumped it on the floor looking at it admiringly.

"I'm not wearing it" I slumped against the cupboard and rested my head on my knees He must have forgot what I told him as realization dawned over his face.

"Oh shit" he sat down beside me passing me over the bottle of beer he had in his hand. I downed it in seconds and getting up he started rummaging through my closet. Finding a red lace mini he threw it at me and a pair of red glittered heels that reminded me of Dorothy's ruby slippers.

"Now you're a devil in red," He said proudly. "Jo wont let you go without your costume so give the cape a different meanin?" It sounded like a plan and I quickly dressed. Eric whistled as I walked out, and Andrea and Jocelyn looked annoyed I wasn't wearing what they got. But it was as good as it was going to get and after another round of shots we headed out.