Summer seemed to come quicker than I would have expected, and with it, change came too.

I don't know if it was my wolf or if it was me, but I felt like my past was starting to become more manageable. It was there, but it seemed like I had a better grip on it. That's not to say that I didn't struggle, that it didn't have me on my ass at times. There were still plenty of nights that I woke up in sweat and tears with my wolf close to breaking loose.

Those were the nights that reminded me how close my past really was. Those were the nights that reminded me just how vulnerable my past made me. Those were the nights that were as painful as the wounds that left the deep scars on my skin.

Those nights.

Those nights reminded me that no matter how strong I became, that I still had demons that could bring me to tears. I still battled them. The thing that scared me the most was the thought that they would always be with me; never fading, leaving, or disappearing.

Those nights were my own personal mountain with a raging snowstorm and abominable snowman included.

But the days were better.

Liam started to come train with me, and I would be lying if I said that I didn't enjoy his company. He was a good person. He was playful, much like his father, but he had alpha blood running through him that Levi was always very good at bringing out. Pissing Liam off was Levi's new favorite past time. And pissing Levi off became Liam's new favorite pastime. Men.

We spared together daily; sometimes against each other and sometimes we would team up against the vamps while Levi, and sometimes Lander, would watch so they could critique us.

It got better. Controlling her got better. I learned how to not fight her and embrace her. I learned how to start trusting her instincts, after all, they were my instincts now. Our bond became stronger every day, like iron. It was something that we both were fighting for; something I would always fight for.

The bond between Liam and I was still not as manageable as I would have liked it to be. It was a tiny tempting flame that entranced me. I never felt anything like it. It was the one true thing that truly frightened me. I wasn't ready for a male to be that close to me again. I don't know if I ever would be.

But still, it tempted me. Especially when I least expected it to, it caught me off guard.

Like now.

Levi had decided that Liam should start swimming with us. Liam would pull one boat while I pulled another. I was absolutely fine until I saw Liam dip into the water and rise again. Dammit. The water dripping down his abs was so sexy it shouldn't have even been legal.

My wolf knew better than to lick her lips in this moment. She knew how I felt about the whole damn thing. Yet she still purred in satisfaction of the fit male before us. Traitor.

Liam just turned back to me with his classic smirk. "See something ya like?"

I scoffed and trudged into the water. He wouldn't be smirking long, not after he started swimming with all the weight Derek was loading into his boat.

Derek looked back at me and gave me a playful wink as he loaded up an extra cooler in Liam's boat. He was definitely a fan of punishing Liam as much as he could, mostly because Liam's moaning and groaning was entertaining.

The water was cold but it felt good against my warm skin. It was familiar, tranquil, a domain that both of my wolf and I enjoyed.

Levi tossed me the rope which I started to tie around my waist. Liam gave me a curious look but I just chuckled. Silly boy was going to learn soon that his brute strength was only going to last so long with Levi.

Levi put some extra firewood in our boat and shoved it into the water before jumping into it. Liam looked at it then at me, a little-taken aback.

"A little much?"

Levi scoffed and sat back in the boat. He reached into the cooler and popped a beer before looking back to Liam with a devious glint in his eyes. "You mind your own boat and let Charlie girl mind hers."

Liam rolled his eyes which earned a giggle from my lips. He was about to learn a little about Levi law.

I gave the boat a firm tug and started to paddle in the cool water of the wide stream. The resistance was tough but familiar. It wasn't as impossible as it was the first time, but still, it did make my muscles ache after a while.

For a while, Liam kept up with me... until he didn't. He was starting to struggle a bit under the weight. He was obviously not used to it yet and hadn't built up the endurance I had.

I slowed down and started to swim backward so I could see him. He looked pissed off; brows furrowed on his red face wet with water and sweat. Derek raised his sip cup of blood to me and chuckled. I couldn't help but laugh as well, it was nice to give Liam a taste of his own medicine from time to time.

"A little much for ya Liam?"

He glared at me with a low growl and I just laughed harder. Levi turned around and chuckled as well as he opened another beer. He had an oversized straw hat on with khakis and a flowery Hawaiian shirt that he left open.

"What's with the outfit today, Levi?"

He looked up at me and shrugged. "It's summertime girl, and this here is a proper summer outfit." I rolled my eyes as I paddled. He chunked a beer can at me before leaning back in his seat. "Get back to swimming girl. Maybe if you do well today I'll get you a nice shirt like mine."

I chuckled and kept on swimming; drifted into my own domain where it was just me, my wolf, and the water.

We made it to our spot and unloaded the coolers from the boats. Liam complained almost the whole time; the rope had rubbed his skin raw.

Derek had made a summer pasta salad, kale Caesar salad, flatbreads, and cupcakes. Needless to say, it was just enough for three hungry werewolves.

Liam practically made out with his pasta salad, I don't think I had seen anyone eat pasta so enthusiastically before. Although I wasn't one to talk. I was shoveling it down my throat like it was the one thing keeping me alive.

"So uncle," Liam asked through a mouth full of pasta. "When's the bear hunt?"

"Boy, I am only gonna tell you once, we may be wolves, but we have manners, now ask me again after you swallow that shit."

Liam rolled his eyes as he swallowed but Levi just gave him a low warning growl. With a huff, Liam said, "Uncle, when's the bear hunt?"

Levi poked at his salad with his fork as Elliot walked up. He looked windblown; he must have just gone for a run.

"Did I miss anything?" He asked  breathlessly.

"Liam just asked when the bear hunt is," Derek answered quickly.

Elliot plopped down next to me and looked eagerly at Levi. "Did you set a date?"

"Was gonna ask you about that. I had a few weekends in mind, but I figured since you are our resident bear expert, you may have a thought or two."

Elliot rolled his eyes then began to toy with the ends of my wet hair while he thought a bit. Liam shot his eyes over to where Elliot's fingers were twirling a piece of wet hair like daggers. I chuckled to myself. For a bond that was barely anything, he certainly had grown mildly territorial around me. It was both humorous, absurd, and terrifying. I couldn't imagine how a real bond would affect a male wolf, I couldn't imagine that a 'true mate' would take Elliot's harmless gesture lightly.

"Well," Elliot started. "I would say mid to late August. The salmon will be migrating then and the bears will be all up and down the rivers. We've had a lot of rain this year and the rivers will be full. Salmon populations are up in the area too, so hopefully that means more bears up the rivers. I would say maybe early to mid-August. Regular hunting season for humans is only a few weeks later. If we go earlier, we will be able to bag some before any of the humans get there."

"Second weekend sound good?"

Elliot nodded quickly. "I would go for early August, the first weekend. That will be the peak for Silver and Red and the tail end for the King Salmon. Actually, we should go fishing while we're out there. I absolutely love smoked salmon."

"Agreed," Derek added.

Levi nodded and thought to himself a bit. He was quiet, staring at his beer as he swirled it around. I looked over at Liam who mouthed, 'Mind linking,' to me. I figured he was talking to Lander.

Levi looked up at Elliot and gave him a nod. "Lander said that's good with him. He said Claire wants to come to, she wants to meet Charlie girl."

I smiled a bit. I hadn't seen another female since I saw Shirley at that diner. My wolf longed for female friends, and I agreed. We needed girl time that did not include a cranky ass male.

I sighed and bit into the salad. "I've never been hunting before."

"Really?" Derek asked. "You'll love it Char, it's a great trip."

"So what's the general plan?" I asked.

"Well," Levi said before taking a sip of his beer. He swallowed and wiped some loose drops off his scruff before looking back at me. "We've got a few good spots south of here about three hours. They are all right on the river near the ocean, real good fishing down there. We'll drive down there then run in our fur out to the hunting spots. Usually, we do a ten-day trip; three days for travel then three-ish days to hunt."

"How do you get all the meat back? And what about camping supplies?" I couldn't imagine that Levi was going anywhere without his cooler full of beer.

"We've got saddlebags, big ones too, that we use to haul the camping gear up there. We don't take much but some tents, sleeping bags, and cooking supplies. We're in our fur most of the time so you won't need clothes, you're normal body temperature will keep ya warm enough. We carry empty bags up with us as well, we use those to put the meat and skins in so we can carry it back."

I nodded and mused a bit. "So we are in our fur the whole time?"

"Yup," Levi said while popping the 'p.' "We mostly are. It's one of the few times we let our wolves run free in their most natural state."

My wolf purred at the thought. She liked the idea of not only going on a hunt, and spending more than just a few hours in our fur. It would be good for us. I still wasn't sure about bringing down a bear, but my wolf wanted to opportunity to rip out its throat. She wanted us to prove ourselves, but mostly he wanted me to prove to myself that I was capable of such a feat.

"Don't worry Char, we can go shopping for some camping supplies for you. I think Levi has some extra saddle bags in the attic, right?" Derek asked.

Levi nodded. "I may have an extra sleeping bag, but I'll have to check. Actually, Derek, why don't you take her shopping when we get back? Might as well."

"Alright, Liam you wanna come?"

Liam nodded a bit. "Sure."

I felt my heart jump a little; it was both excited and scared. I liked being around Liam, this bond liked being around Liam, but I was scared. I was scared of these feelings he gave me, feelings I had not felt in a long time. Feelings that had misled me into the hands of a man who abused me. Feelings that I knew would only grow as we spent more time together; it was dangerous. It was dangerous to feed a bond like this.

I sighed and tried not to let my inner turmoil show. To my luck, Levi had us finish up our lunch quickly so we could start the swim back. He wanted to get back in time for his 'nap' because he had a really 'rough' morning.

Liam stayed and showered at our house, which while it was convenient, it turned out to be a massive inconvenience as well. The bathroom smelt like him after he left it. I couldn't help but to stand there and relish the smell, feed the bond that I knew I shouldn't feed.

Thank god for hot water. It can wash away almost anything.

The ride to the nearest Wal-Mart was full of subtle glances and suppressed pheromones. I was terrified to think of what would happen if either he or Derek were to get wind of my desire. My wolf understood and tried to rein herself in, but it was hard. The bond, although it was just a flame, made it hard. I couldn't blame her.

I was so relieved when we finally got to Wal-Mart. I don't I had ever been happier to step foot inside that place. The scents of humans, the bakery, the meat market, mixed with the over-arching staleness of the place swirled around in the facility, making it easy for any traitorous pheromone of mine to vanish.

We picked up an extra sleeping bag, as Levi apparently only had one and he was not about to share with 'my skinny ass.' We also tossed in some thick socks, leggings, and Derek suggested that I get some thick sweatshirts. According to him, I wouldn't be wearing them much, but at night I may want the extra warmth.

"Don't you want some socks?" I asked Liam as we passed by the aisle.

He chuckled to himself while Derek looked on his list on his iPhone. He stepped closer to me, close enough to have my wolf on alert. "Why? Besides, if I get cold then I will be finding you at night."

I gave him a low warning growl which only made him laugh harder. My wolf wanted to rip his ear off but I pushed her back. It was not the time or the place for such things.

"Okay, you two go look for tents and I am going to go pick up some steaks. Wait for me there, ya?"

"Sounds good Big D," Liam answered. He pushed the buggy forward then jumped on the bottom railing so he could glide on it over the floor.

I groaned inwardly before following him. He was a damn child at times.

"You ok Char?"

"Just peachy."

"Try not to let the bond get to you, I know it's hard."

I sighed and nodded as Liam and I turned a corner. We found an area with tents, many were on display and sitting in a little area that was made to look like a campsite. Some of the tents were huge, I was convinced you could put a whole army in there, while others were tiny, only made for one person.

"Well, what do you think?" I asked Liam while looking at a few that were smaller, but roomy enough that I wouldn't be cramped.

Liam walked up to one and walked around it. He slid his hands over the material then shook his head. "This material is thin, it won't do you much good if it gets windy out there."

I sighed and nodded. I had never been camping before. The only camping I had done was on the floor of the living room in my childhood home with my parents. My dad would always make a giant blanket fort and my mother would help me roast marshmallows in our fireplace. It was magical, like we were locked away in our own little world.

Liam looked back at me with a cheeky grin as he walked to the next tent up for discretion. "Camp much?"

I shook my head. "My parents were not really the camping type. The most camping we did was with a blanket fort in our living room."

Liam chuckled while testing the structure of the second tent. "Sounds like my mom, she loves a good blanket fort."

"Ya, my mom used to as well. She used to make the best smores. I always loved when we did that, I would always get to stay up late watching movies with them."

"They sound like great people."

"They were."

Liam bit his lip a bit while looking at his shoes. "I'm sorry, I didn't know."

I let out a tense breath and smiled as best I could. "It's alright, it was a long time ago." Liam nodded as I pointed to the tent he was standing in front of. "So, what about this tent?"

Liam shook his head a bit, tossing the idea back and forth in his brain. "Well, the foundation is okay and the material is not bad, but it's too small. You're going to be cramped up in there with a sleeping bag. I think this one," he said while pointing to the third tent, "will work."

I walked over to it and looked inside while Liam did a large circle around it, and surveyed it. I decided to walk in it and see if I would be comfy. I wasn't about to get something that I was going to be miserable in, especially on my first ever camping trip.

It was big enough for only one person, maybe two, but I would definitely have to sleep in my skin in the tent–my wolf would feel cramped in it. I sat on my rear and looked around, I kind of liked how snug it was. It made my wolf and I feel safe, like it was a den of our own.

Liam looked through the entrance and smiled deviously before tossing himself inside, practically knocking the tent over with me. "Really?"

He laughed and leaned against his elbows as he sat back. "I like it in here, it's cozy."

I nodded. "I think so, it's sturdy enough right?"

Liam looked up at the navy blue material that surrounded us and nodded. "Yup and this is good material, should keep out the cold and wind."

"Have you been on the bear hunt before?"

Liam sat up and pushed his golden hair back. I so wanted to run my fingers through it in that moment, but I clenched my fingers into a fist to keep them from doing what I knew I should not. "No I wasn't old enough, but it was all Lucas talked about. He had a running bet going  with my dad on how big his bear would be."

"Lucas?"

Liam sighed and looked over at me with a ghost of sadness painted over his face. "Lucas was Levi's son, my cousin."

"I didn't know his name, I'm sorry."

"Lucas and Lydia, those were his pups."

I let out a hot breath as the names tugged at my wolf's heart. It was a pain that even we felt. The thought of loosing a child made my wolf want to howl out in sadness.

"Have they not gone since? Since the, you know?"

Liam nodded. "Uncle Levi turned into a hermit after that. We all thought he would go rogue or die, but he didn't. I have no idea why. I mean, I have only seen it happen once where a wolf can move on after loosing a mate, usually in that case they find another potential bondmate to mate with and fill that void."

"He told me about it. It's all insane. I can't believe someone would do that to innocent people. That and the fact that he's as sane as he is blows my mind."

"I think you have a lot to do with that."

I snapped my eyes to his as my wolf's ears perked up. Liam smiled, warm with a softness weaved throughout it, and pushed a long dark lock of my hair back. "I think dad and I thought Levi would eventually go insane or die, honestly. But you seem to have given him something to live for. Dad thinks, and well I do too, that his wolf sees you as a surrogate pup. If you hadn't gotten your ass bit by a rogue I don't know what would have happened to him."

"He saved me too," I whispered out. "I have no idea what I would have done."

"What were you doing?"

I sucked in a sharp breath. I hadn't talked about that time in my life much; only here and there with Derek and Levi, but never with anyone else. Liam sighed as my silence uncomfortably blanketed us. "Charlotte I'm sorry, if you don't want–"

"It's fine," I interjected. I wasn't fine, but I wanted it to be. I wanted to tell Liam. I wanted to open up and let this burden off my chest. I bit my lip a bit before looking up at his kind silver eyes. They were like pools of moonlight looking back at me. "I was running. I, well I am technically married."

A growl ripped through the quiet of our tent. Liam clenched his fists and let out a sharp breath. I bit my lip and tried not to get worked up about it. It was the bond. My wolf kept reassuring me that it was the bond.

"He, well you know-I just couldn't take it anymore. Our maid found me one day half dead in a bathroom and helped me to see what was happening. What I had become. I ran. I saved up money and ran. I didn't know where the hell I was going, I just drove."

"And you ended up in close to the middle of nowhere Alaska?"

I let out a breathy laugh and nodded. "I had to go somewhere I thought he would never think to even look for me, and well, it sounded good enough. I was going to keep driving to a small town and rent out a cabin until I could figure out what I was doing."

"But you got bitten?"

I nodded. "Yes." I unconsciously touched my leg with there scar still was; a forever reminded of what had happened. "I stopped at a campsite to sleep for the night and the rogues attacked me. If Levi hadn't shown up with Derek then I would have been dead."

Liam was practically fuming. His knuckles were white and I could tell that he was trying to calm his wolf, but the word 'rogue' seemed to stir something in him that he wished to remain buried.

"Liam," I touched his arm and he visibly calmed. He let out a tense breath and looked back at me. He was a mix of apologetic and empathetic. He saw through me much like Levi did, maybe it was a family trait.

"I'm sorry. I wish I could find that bastard and finish him for you."

I chuckled and gave him a coy smile. "You'd have to get in line because he is public enemy number one on my wolf's list. If I ever see him again, then I am confident that he will not live to see another day."

I felt fingers on my cheek. Cool fingers that left spurts of electricity as they traced my cheekbone. I sighed and leaned into it. I couldn't help it. The feeling was so enticing and the bond seemed to call me like a siren.

"You're very brave you know. You should give yourself more credit."

I nodded as his lips seemed to draw near mine. His breath was hot, like a warm wind against my skin. It was spicy and sweet, his scent mixed with the smell of desire filling up the space.

I felt his lips graze mine, testing the waters to see if they would invite him in. I wanted to invite him in. I knew better. I so knew better. But the moment, I didn't give a rat's ass. The little flames of fire left where his lips touched mine where enough to make me want to drown myself in his kiss.

Then it hit us. The stench.

It smelled rotten, sickly, and stale. Liam snapped his head away from mine and looked out the tent where the scent was flowing in from. His silver eyes were glowing as he pulled me close to his side. He breathed in deeply and let out a low growl that he immediately tried to suppress.

I knew before he even said it. Rogues.

He moved towards the flap and looked around as best he could, cautiously, before looking back to me. The alpha wolf was starting to come out in him now. I could smell it on him. He seemed to visibly puff up as the encroaching scent of the rogue wolves drew closer; his wolf wanted a bite at them, as did mine.

He held his hand out for me, and I quickly took it. He pulled me close to him and help a finger to his lips. My wolf was close; licking her lips and prowling back and forth for a chance at the wolves who dare threaten her. "Stay right next to me and act natural. We are going straight to the car. There are humans here, remember that."

I nodded and before I could answer, he planted a chaste kiss on my lips. I felt like my breath was taken away as my lips tingled from his touch. My heart raced from desire and fear. Liam was a good man; besides the fact that we were not true mates, I wasn't ready for all of this, not yet at least. But still, I would be lying if I said that I didn't enjoy the closeness that he had so far provided.

"Mind link Derek now," he said in a firm whisper, breaking me from my trance.

Liam pulled me quickly out of the tent then pulled me tight against him as we started to walk quickly out of the tent section and towards the large doors where Wal-Mart greeters were the only thing that stood in our way from freedom.

"Derek, we smelled rogues, we are headed to the car now."

"I know, I smelled them too. Meet you there, stay close to Liam."

Liam squeezed my waist closer to him. I could feel how close his wolf was, he was too close to coming out, but my closeness seemed to help tame the beast. That and we didn't need a fight with the damn dogs in the middle of a damn Wal-Mart.

We kept walking quickly towards the doors; they were so close. Opening and closing lazily as customers walking in and out of them.

The scent didn't disappear. If anything, it grew stronger.

I felt the hair on the back of my neck rise as fur started to poke through. Liam was vibrating with suppressed growls; claws were poking into my side, but I bit my lips and walked forward.

I walked forward even though my wolf wanted me to turn around. She wanted me to turn around and eat the livers of the rogues who dare threaten us.

It was a mistake.

I looked over my shoulder and met the reddened eyes of a male who licked his lips at the sight of me like I was his next meal.

Liam cursed under his breath and stopped walking abruptly before turning to face the two haggard men looking back at us. "I suggest you two turn and go back where you came from."

One of the men, tall and gangly with buzz-cut white hair, chuckled darkly. "Not with that pretty thing on your arm, nope. She is a fine smelling little thing."

I snarled while Liam let out a deep growl, one that was enough to visibly shake these men. He was an alpha male after all, and not one to be tested.

"She isn't any of your concern."

"I don't see your mark on her neck son," the shorter man answered. His hair was long and in a low pony tale, he had a tattoo of Bugs Bunny on his forearm, and he had a worn out Harly Davison vest on.

"I said back off," Liam hissed back.

The short man let out a low menacing growl as he eyed me up and down. I hissed as my wolf showed him our teeth, our teeth that she wanted to sink right into his neck.

"Maybe I'll mark her as my own," the tall one said while licking his canines.

"Come over here and I'll have your damn neck," I snarled out.

"I suggest you two leave." The two men turned around to see Derek shooting daggers at both of them.

"Gotta bloodsucker with you? That's new," the short one added. He was dumb, though. Within two seconds Derek was right next to him with his hand around his neck and his fangs were protruding from his gums.

The short man sucked in a sharp breath and looked back to his tall friend, who seemed to be frozen in his place, for help. Liam just smirked at him and cocked his head. "Why don't you two tell us what you're doing here."

"Just passing through! We mean no harm," the tall man pleaded as he threw his hands up in a sign of surrender.

"Bullshit," Derek hissed.

"We've seen too many rogues over the last few months for you to be just 'passing through'," Liam added with fake air quotations.

The short one started to squirm, but Derek only tightened his hold around the man's neck. "Listen, dude, we were just passing through, okay?"

Derek pushed the man towards his friend and hissed at them. "Get the hell out of here. If we see you here again, we'll have your throats."

The men didn't need to be told again. They were gone before either of us could breathe another word about it.

I let out the breath I was holding and rubbed Liam's arm that still had an iron grip around me in hopes that he would loosen up a bit. He was livid, as was I. I could see him battling with his wolf, the beast was angry that we let the two men go–as was mine.

"Liam, let's go," I whispered softly to him.

He nodded stiffly and started to pull me with him towards the doors. Derek sighed and quickly ran in front of us, stopping us in our tracks. He looked pained; the worry on his face made my beast whine in the back of my mind.

"Liam take her to the car and lock yourselves in there, I am going to go check out. Char, did you find a tent you liked?"

I nodded quickly. "The navy blue one on the end."

Derek tossed Liam the keys and looked around quickly, surveying the area for any new sign of danger. "You look after her, I'll be there in a few."

"Come on Char," Liam whispered against my neck. I shivered at the feeling of his husky voice gliding over my throat.

We walked outside and made our way to the car in a heavy silence. Liam said nothing, his silent anger said enough. I leaned back in my seat and toyed with my hair. I remembered Levi and Derek talking about how unusual it was to see so many rogues; the conversation kept playing over and over in my mind, stoking the fire of curiosity in my brain.

"What do you think they were doing here? I mean, isn't it unusual to see so man?"

Liam sighed and looked back at me from the passenger seat. "I don't know. We've never seen this many before. They could legitimately be passing through, or not."

"What if they weren't?"

Liam clenched his jaw as his beast let out a rumble. A growl that was more of a promise to our enemies. "Then I don't see them living much longer."

The ride home was quiet, tense, and full of questions that uncomfortably stirred my beast and I. She wanted to know what the hell those rogues were up to, as did I. She wanted to understand, she wanted to protect the ones she loved.

But the rogues did not scare me as much as the kiss did. Maybe I was a fool to feel that way, but I couldn't help but play the scene over and over and over in my brain.

We were not true mates, but the bond was enticing. It wasn't just the bond, though, I liked being around Liam. He was so easy to get along with. He was kind, considerate, and genuinely a good man. He would make his mate incredibly happy one day.

I felt pained at that, and that pain reminded me of my fear. Because the last time I felt butterflies in my stomach, it was for a man who beat me until I looked like a butterfly that someone had stomped on over and over. I never wanted anyone to have the control that he used to have over me. I was the master of myself, of my wolf.

My wolf agreed to a point. She was so independent and loyal; she wasn't about to submit to anyone, they had to prove their worth to her. Yet she was loyal to this unknown 'mate' of ours. I scoffed at the notion and scolded her; it was a topic that we agreed to disagree on.

I had to be careful with the bond. I had to be careful with Liam because I didn't know if I could handle another heartbreak.

But as his eyes met mine in the rearview mirror, they were filled with so many emotions that it almost took my breath away. However, there was one emotion holding his whole expression together, hope. It was that emotion that scared me the most.

Because at the end of the day, hope in itself can be an incredibly dangerous thing.