Panic rises in me as I'm running through the dark forest. Someone's chasing me. I can feel his presence but I don't know who it is, just a desperate urge propels me further. Jagged branches scratch my skin as I fight and claw my way through the dense underbrush. The only sound I hear is the hammering of my heart.

I dodge and weave with each step, but I feel him closing in. A familiar, sinister energy seeps into me, sending cold shivers down my spine and making my skin crawl.

"Did you think this was over?" A haunting, familiar face sneers, coming into view.

The man that has caused me so much pain and suffering sends my panic into over drive as my eyes lock wide. He looks the same as he did when I first met him at Conference - blonde hair, blue eyes, rugged Alpha build that would be handsome if he wasn't such an abomination.

"You're d-dead," I stammer, gasping as I trip over a root and fall to the ground. Rocks dig into my palms as I scoot backwards, desperate for space. Dimitri glares down at me with a bone chilling grin that makes my heart hammer harder against my chest, threatening to break free.

"Do I look dead?" He leers but the sparkle in his blue eyes shows he's delighting in my panic.

"This is a dream!" I scream, freezing and covering my ears with my hands. A heavy weight squeezes my throat, making me gasp to breathe. My heart stops as my thumbs brush against a thick, smooth leather strap that's wrapped around my neck. Whimpering, I claw at the collar around my neck as I struggle to breathe.

"Is it?" Dimitri asks, crouching down mere inches from me. "Or... did you only kill me in your dreams?" The cold look in his icy blue eyes rocks me to my core. At this moment I have no idea what's real or not. I can smell him, feel his breath, the weight of the collar squeezing tighter around my neck.

"JESSICA WAKE UP!"

I jump awake, startled as my heart beats a mile a minute, fingernails digging into two wrists that wrap around my shoulders. Blinking, the forest fades into the abyss and a pair of familiar, worried blue eyes hold all my attention.

"J-Jude?" I whimper, feeling my bottom lip tremble.

"Thank God," he gasps, pulling me close and wrapping me up in his warm embrace. In this moment I break, melting as sobs wrack my body.

It wasn't real.

He's dead.

You're safe.

I repeat my mantra trying to calm my racing heart and reel in my explosive emotions. Slowly, my senses come back to me and I take in my surroundings. I'm on my bed in Crutis' house, Jude has pulled me onto his lap as he waits for me to calm back down. Oma and Jude's mate Chloe are in the doorway. By how I can feel others, I've woken the whole house.

"She's okay," Jude calls over his shoulder. Slowly, feet shuffle and the door closes, giving us some privacy.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, feeling embarrassment burn my cheeks. I haven't had a bad nightmare like this in so long.

"Shhh, Jess, no one can control their dreams. You have nothing to apologize for," he says, pulling back and locking his blue eyes on mine. My eyes go wide at the thin line of fresh blood on his cheek. The marks are scratches from me... with more on his neck and chest. Tears prick the corners of my eyes as Ember races frantically around in my mind.

"Jude-"

"None of that!" He says firmly, stopping my melt down. "I'm just glad it wasn't one of those locked in dreams and that you scratched instead of punched." His lips pull up into a small smile as my cheeks burn even brighter.

I untangle myself from him, suddenly very aware of how little I'm wearing. I grab one of Chris's hoodies, slipping it on and savouring his scent. Instantly, I feel a weight lifts and Ember settles down in the back of my mind.

"Better?" Jude asks, watching me from the edge of bed. I sigh and nod, wiping my eyes. "This dream... Is it something to worry about?"

"No," I whisper, shaking my head. "I was running from Dimitri, that fucking collar wrapped around my neck. He told me that he wasn't dead, that I only killed him in my dream and that this was real." A cold shiver runs down my spine as the vivid dream resurfaces.

"This right here is reality Jess," Jude promises, coming to stand in front of me. "Dimitri is dead. I saw you kill him and Jace burned the body, along with the rest. No one is coming back."

"I know," I whisper, hanging my head in defeat.

Fear twists the mind though, logic goes out the window and fight or flight takes over...

"You should get some more sleep," Jude says with a frown.

"I'm good honest," I mumble, brushing my hair and pulling it up. The time is maybe seven am and Chris left at five after a tender goodbye...

He wasn't gone two hours and nightmares found me.

I've worked so hard to put them behind me and move on but life keeps throwing more fuel at the darkest recesses of my mind.

"Don't push it, eh?" He cautions before leaving so I can finish getting ready.

I let out a sigh when I finally hear the door click closed and head to the bathroom. Faint scratches are also present on my neck where I no doubt tried to claw the collar off. Slowly my heart beat returns to normal and I gather myself back together with slow, deep breaths.

Chris wasn't sure how long he would be gone, but promised to keep in touch. He tried to put on an optimistic façade but deep down I know he's fighting against the inevitable. I know he doesn't want to go to the palace anymore then I do, but he set things in motion when he had Ethan activate his bond.

I keep reminding myself that all of this is for Ethan, so that he can have a childhood, or whatever is left of that part of his life. In no time, he's already become great friends with Link and the two are practically inseparable. After everything we've been through, seeing him laughing and playing with another kid his own age gives me hope that he will turn out fine despite his start in life.

Oma looks at me with concern as I step into the kitchen but only says good morning. I know she heard me and she's worried, but there are some things I don't want to put on her. My human farm friends know that werewolves exist, hid our pack when we were attacked, and they know there was a war, but they don't know the specifics.

They don't know I was a captive, or that I was tortured, abused, and ultimately nearly died at their sadistic Alpha Dimitri's hands. Nor do they know the state in which Chris got me back in or the weeks it took to get me to look half normal again.

I know they suspect something awful happened to me but they respect my privacy enough not to pry. Part of me is grateful for that because I don't think I'm strong enough yet to go over everything, but part of me feels guilty for hiding things.

Oma nods to the stove and I take the flipper from her, happy to have the busy work of cooking distract me. Batch after batch, I toss pans full of scrambled eggs onto the counter platters and they disappear before the next is ready.

"Your friends have a healthy appetite," she says, breaking the ice.

"Understatement of the century," I laugh. "Don't worry, I'm gonna head home for-"

"Nonsense!" She chides, cutting me off mid sentence. "There's plenty of room here and you know I like to cook."

"I know Oma," I sigh, struggling to find a way to say it without upsetting her. The truth is I'm afraid I'll lash out if I have another nightmare and I miss the peace and quiet of home. "I miss my farm though... I could be heading out again in no time, so I'd like to spend some time at home first."

She purses her lips and sighs, considering my words. I feel the weight of her gaze and conflicting energy. She doesn't fully believe me but she understands my logic, even if she doesn't like it. "But you'll be back for Christmas right?" she finally concedes.

"I'll be back before I leave Oma," I groan, reassuring her. "It's not like I'm going to be alone, I can't get rid of the guys if I try."

Oma huffs, but I see a satisfied smile slip on her lips as she turns back to making the last of breakfast. After helping her clean up, I go back to my room and pack my bag before making my way out to the driveway where I know Jude and Chloe are waiting. My spirits fall when I see Ryker leaning against Jude's truck with a crooked grimace and narrowed gaze. I'm beginning to think the man has only one expression, permanent annoyance.

"Why are you here?" I growl, stomping over to the bed of the truck and tossing my bag in the back.

"Waiting on you, of course," Ryker replies, rolling his eyes dramatically.

'We can punch him right?!' Ember growls, he irritates her more than me I think, but not by much.

'It's probably considered poor form to punch a palace guard,' I try and reason, no matter how tempting her suggestion.

'But it's kind of our thing... like a reset button,' she snickers. 'Look at the track record, first Sara, then Derek-'

'Don't tempt me,' I snap extra irritably.

'You know you'll feel better,' she laughs before dropping back to the depths of my mind.

The bitch is right, his mere presence irritates the fuck out of me and my morning has already been rough.

"I thought you went with Chris," I clarify, sparing him a cold glare.

"That was the plan," he drawls. "But then, you're here and he's there, so here I am."

"You shouldn't have...really. We were fine without you-"

"So where are we going?" He cuts in, only annoying me further.

'Still lots of time to break his nose...' Ember pipes up.

Inwardly I groan, struggling to keep Ember and my temper at bay. "WE -" I gesture to Jude and Chloe, "- are going home, YOU, I don't give a shit."

"Until you're safe and sound in the palace, you're stuck with me," Ryker replies, clearly unbothered by the casualness in his voice.

"No room at the inn," I snap back. "Jude and Chloe have the one room and Derek and Mack the living room." I don't miss how his eyes flicker darker when I mention the Guardians.

Clearly I struck a nerve.

"Won't be the first time I've stayed outside," he grumbles. "Where are the fearless Guardians?"

"Already there, sweeping," I groan, slipping into the backseat of the truck.

Clearly he doesn't give a shit and is coming along no matter what.

I mouth a silent 'thank you' to Chloe as she slips in beside me, leaving the front seat for Ryker.

Jude frowns as he gets behind the wheel and glares at Ryker as he joins us uninvited. "God, I hope Chris doesn't drag his ass," he mutters under his breath as he pulls out and hits the open road.

The trip home feels endless with the stifling silence that smothers us. Ryker's energy is a mess but primarily I feel irritation and apprehension. I can't help but think that there's more to the asshole then meets the eye, which just irritates me more. Trust is so difficult for me so to know he's hiding something big doesn't help at all.

'You know Jude's about two snide comments away from breaking his jaw right?' Chloe links with a ghost of a smirk.

'Not that I doubt his abilities but my money is on Derek if they are going to be under the same roof,' I scoff.

'Good point. Either way I'll be there cheering... What's his problem anyways?' She muses.

'Pretty sure me,' I groan.

'But you're like the queen now aren't you? I thought you know, that people have to bow down to the crown or whatever?'

Her words just make me frown more. I hadn't really thought about what everything means now, I mean I understood that Chris was King and that makes me Queen, but it doesn't feel real. I still feel like me, but tired.

Jude turns off the road, pulling into my driveway and my spirit instantly lifts. My farm may not be grand, but it's home. The modest house sits back far from the road with a large rear deck and spacious yard dotted with towering elm and oak trees. Late fall means everything is leafless and the garden's all brown and dead-looking but still there's a lightness to my spirit just by coming home.

No sooner does Jude put the truck in park, my seat belt's off and I throw my door open, rushing to get out. I breathe deep, taking in the familiar scents as they wash around me, further grounding me. A smile takes over my lips and I turn to Jude, seeing his own grin. We've spent many happy hours here, eating on the deck, practicing defense on the lawn, and harvesting the gardens for market days.

It was certainly a simpler time.

"This is it?" Ryker asks with a hint of disgust.

Goddess give me strength...