Kyrrian's foot tapped violently as she sat in the waiting area of the hospital. Kaddian had dropped her and Scottlin here, assured that the Alpha was in the clear, then left the hospital. Kyrrian had chosen to stay, and now regretted it as the suspense and boredom was killing her. She stood up and walked in circles, glancing between the tv, where a senseless soap opera was on, and the nurse who had been eyeing her since she insisted on staying here. She was about to sit back down when Alpha Scottlin's doctor came out the double doors.

"Doctor?" she asked impatiently.

"He's fine, not as much damage as we originally thought. You should be able to come back and see him in recovery" the Doctor said.

"I appreciate the offer but Nurse Nag over there apparently only knows the word 'no'. I'm not family so I can't go back during non-visiting hours" Kyrrian gave the stern nurse a glare before returning her attention to the Doctor.

He chuckled and turned toward the doors, "Nurse Jackie takes her job very seriously. Come with me" and he led her down a long hall. After a left, he led her into a room with one bed. In it was Alpha Scottlin, hooked up to wires and tubes, but alive none the less.

"Thank you" she whispered. The Doctor nodded and shut the door as he left.

Kyrrian walked over to the sofa couch in the corner of the room and folded herself into the surprisingly plush surface. She rested her face on her hand and stared at the Alpha.

It was interesting seeing him without a smile on his face. He was always so happy, so full of life. It was nice, it was-

What was wrong with her? Kyrrian shook her head violently and snuggled back into the chair, closing her eyes and forcing herself into some semblance of sleep.

__________________________________________________________________

Kyrrian woke up... Not in the chair. In fact, she was no where near the chair. Kyrrian rolled to her right and practically fell off the hospital bed. Straightening up, Kyrrian rubbed her arms for warmth. Her front was cold, but her back was amazingly warm. Kyrrian went to turn around but for some reason felt conflicted. There was apprehension in her stomach as she considered looking at Alpha Scottlin.

"This is ridiculous" Kyrrian whispered before shaking her hands and exhaling loudly. She jumped slightly and popped her neck before turning.

Scottlin Reik was asleep, and yet he looked so much better.

So much better...

Kyrrian took a hesitant step forward to get a better look at him. He had one stray hair in his face, and Kyrrian could not fight the urge to move it from its resting place. Kyrrian reached out and pushed the hair away.

She jumped back when a small shot of electricity sparked up her finger.

"Ow, what the-" Kyrrian sucked on her finger, but there was no burn there, nothing to soothe.

Kyrrian leaned in slowly, trying to examine his face for the source of the shock, but only noticed the intoxicating smell rolling off of his skin.

"Hello" Scottlin Reik's voice was rough and quiet, but still managed to shock her.

Kyrrian jumped back in shock.

"Hi-Hello. You're awake, how do you feel?"

"Fine, Kyrrian Grayson, to be quite honest. Although I would rather not do it again" Alpha Reik's signature smile and jovial mood was back, and it made her spirits rise ever the slightest.

She did not like this.

"When did you get here?" Scottlin asked, looking around the room as if he just noticed his surroundings.

"I-never left" Kyrrian immediately felt awkward admitting the truth.

"Oh-" was the Alpha's only response.

"So..." Kyrrian looked around and slapped her thighs gently before blurting, "I'm going to go see Sheriff Hale". Kyrrian walked out of the room quickly and shut the door.

"Nurse, he's awake" Kyrrian told the closest nurse before scurrying to Lauren Hale's room.

Sheriff Hale was sitting in the same bed in the same room she had been for the last four days and you could tell she felt every second of it.

"Kyrrian, oh thank goodness, I'm dying of boredom, you've got to get me out of here" Lauren Hale looked desperate as she put the file she was holding down.

"I'm assuming you're feeling better?" Kyrrian asked with a slight chuckle.

"Well if you mean am I healing emotionally, yes, I am so ready to be out of this bed and close this case. But physically, my cuts still bleed, they're itchy, and I fall asleep at random points because sitting up is exhausting" Lauren seemed beyond frustrated.

"I'm sorry about your wounds, but you could probably use the rest, Lauren, you're only human" Kyrrian couldn't help but chuckle at the last part. Lauren Hale apparently thought it was funny too, because she chuckled and looked down at her legs.

"How is Scottlin Reik?"

"Oh he's awake and he seems fine and whatnot" Kyrrian rambled.

Lauren stared at Kyrrian for a second before asking, "are you ok?"

"Of course, I'm always ok" Kyrrian said, cracking her back.

"That was the most awkward, un-suave thing I have ever seen you do. You look like me. That's not good" Lauren said with a laugh.

"Thanks" Kyrrian said blandly and sat down, throwing her face into her hands. "I don't know what's going on!" Kyrrian groaned, pulling some of her hair.

"Well why don't you explain it to me?" Lauren said patiently.

"Well it's a little hard to explain. Being a bear makes things difficult" Kyrrian said honestly.

"Well, your brother explained things sort of, I believe, if you're talking about what I think you're talking about" Lauren said quietly.

Kyrrian raised her brow and leaned back in her chair, "ah, Kaddian talked to you about... mates?" Kyrrian was trying to tread carefully.

"Yeah, he mentioned the whole process about how your genes I guess... know... the perfect opposite person? And you feel drawn to them. And they make you stronger and happier and- yeah, he explained how he has an Alpha Female out there somewhere and I'm assuming you have a mate too" Kyrrian listened to Lauren speak and could tell she was completely naive about Kaddian. Which, knowing her brother, meant that he had made it seem as if he had no mate and if he did, it was some she-bear. Although it was strange that Kaddian had a human mate, and it made things difficult, it was the truth regardless. "Hello? Kyrrian?"

"Yes, sorry, I'm here. That's right... that's an accurate description of how it works" Kyrrian said, snapping out of her reverie.

After a few moments of silence, Lauren added, "sooooooo...?"

"Sooooo" Kyrrian mimicked her tone, but then leaned back in the chair and sighed. "So... so I think that... Scottlin is my mate. Oh that was terrible to say" Kyrrian mumbled the last part to her self.

"Why do you seem... conflicted. Shouldn't you be excited for this? Having a mate would make my life so much easier, no awkward dating, no terrible rejection. Except I was wondering what happens if your mate isn't a good person? Or what if you don't get along or... but I don't think you have that problem with Scottlin, he's nice and funny, and successful, I think, not that know what makes Alpha's... good. I'm rambling, please, help" Lauren pleaded with a soft smile.

"No, you're right" Kyrrian laughed, "Scottlin is a very... Bright... Person. But to answer your questions, that happens often. Lizbet, Porter, Rory, and now Sarai all live mateless and they have to go through that tough life of never having their genetic intended by their side. I don't think it's as debilitating to them any more, but it's still sad" Kyrrian explained, thinking about how all of her friends lived slightly less complete lives.

"But... you don't have that problem... if he is your mate, right?" A hesitant note touched Lauren's voice.

"But I do... I'm not acceptable to him and I think he knows it" Kyrrian felt so weak.

"Kyrrian" Lauren instinctively tried to sit up and reach for Kyrrian, but the action instantly pained her. With a sigh, she continued, "Kyrrian, you are a strong, intelligent, passionate young woman. There is nothing wrong with you."

"There is everything wrong with me!" Kyrrian cried out suddenly, "I-I have been too scared to be romantic with anyone since Brian. I don't trust anyone anymore. Recent events prove why I shouldn't trust anyone anymore."

Lauren Hale was not entirely sure why Kyrrian was being overly emotional and excessively sharing with her but she was not going to complain.

"You can't go through life scared... trust me. I remember that night clearly. I was scared out of my mind, first night on the job, not to mention the whole situation with you two" Kyrrian laughed slightly at her response until something dawned on her. After a long pause, Kyrrian whispered, "why didn't he say anything?"

"What?"

"He's known, this whole time, and yet he never told me that he was... we were..." at loss for words, Kyrrian continued, "he even encouraged me to date one of his sleuth mates. He knew... and he didn't want me."

"You honestly can't know that unless you ask him" Lauren Hale gave Kyrrian the most mothering gaze imaginable.

Kyrrian stared at the blue eyed female and found a comforting solace there that she only felt with her brother. She was not sure if it was because she now knew what she knew about Lauren Hale's significance to the sleuth or because she finally had a real moment with her. Either way, Lauren Hale was now a part of Kyrrian's life, whether she liked it or not.

Kyrrian stood up and made to walk out the door, but then thought of something.

"Lauren, what are you afraid of?"

Sheriff Hale sat in silence, staring at Kyrrian as if she was debating giving her an answer or truly thinking of the right one.

"Everything" she answered honestly before smiling softly.

Kyrrian felt the need to stay, but as she thought about it, she realized this was a conversation Lauren Hale needed to have with someone else. Someone more important.

Kyrrian nodded and returned her smile before leaving.