Val woke up to a hand gently caressing the thick fur of her neck.

Eyelids fluttering open, she blurrily watched Damian holding himself up with an elbow over her outstretched legs. His other hand was hovering over her, picking out leaves and lumps of mud from her fur. He was careful not to brush his hands over any of her wounds, brows creased in concentration as he tried to pick out a persistent one.

Morning, she mumbled groggily. Damian jolted, plucking the small lump out along with a hair or two. Ow!

"Sorry," he rushed, using his hand to stop himself from falling on her legs. She thought she saw color on his cheeks before he turned away, half laying on his back. He wasn't acting like he usually did. "Zack says we'll be leaving soon. I thought you might want a few more minutes after..." He didn't finish, a sudden silence falling over them. "Anyway, you're up now so—"

Val hooked a leg around his waist and pushed him all the way back down. Thanks for yesterday, she said softly, blowing a breath onto his face. A dark brown curl bounced on his forehead.

"Are you going to make me taking care of your hurt ass a habit, Donovan?" He raised an amused brow.

Only if it comes with you buying me pizzas every time.

He thumped a hand over his heart. "That's all you want me for?"

Maybe a few of those happy blobs of yours, too. She sniffed.

"Aha!" —he pointed an accusatory finger at her— "So you did like them!"

They were acceptable, just barely. She rolled her eyes. Damian huffed out a laugh. It occurred to her then, that they probably looked weird to anyone else — human else — watching them. She spoke through the link, while he answered aloud. Giant-sized wolf thing aside, he probably sounded crazy. That brought a small smile to her face.

Her stomach rumbled, catching their attention. I know I can hold off for a little while longer, she continued, but you're not planning to drink my blood when I'm not looking or anything, right?

His face twisted into mock disgust. "I don't like how fur tastes in my mouth. Moreover, I don't like my meals smelling of dog."

If smell is the condition by which you choose to bother people, maybe I should have made sure to eat a clove of garlic whenever we fought. I bet that would have been a great distraction toward my 'enemy'. She gave a sideways glance.

"You're plenty distracting already," he said, eyes glinting with humor. "But I'm pretty sure I could ignore it if I absolutely had to. Beggars can't be choosers." He shrugged, another smirk pulling at his lips. "Why, were you going to offer?" Red suddenly bled into his irises; fangs dropped down his teeth, tongue flicking around them suggestively.

Val made a puking sound in her throat, which, unsurprisingly, didn't sound exactly like she wanted it to. But Damian threw his head back and laughed anyway, nodding to the backpack behind him. The top of an empty blood bag poked from one of the outer pockets. "They didn't have time to bring back much when they met up with Daphne, but they came somewhat prepared."

She stuck her tongue out, and like a proper adult, he stuck his own right back.

Careful of her wounded leg still over his torso, Damian moved her other leg under his head, effectively using her paw as a pillow. Her paw — with claws long enough to skewer him, which she seriously pondered doing — and he had the audacity to look self-assured while doing it; the prick!

"I'll buy you pizza when we get to New Orleans," he said, eyes softening, and she wanted to grumble something offensive back at him but — to her immense surprise — couldn't.

Why did you come with us? she asked instead, looking away from his eyes and up to a squirrel on a nearby tree's branch. The tiny rodent stared back with its dark, judgy eyes, mouth filled with what she presumed were nuts, and slightly open at the amount it'd managed to fill in there. When it realized the one in its hands wouldn't fit with the rest, it stilled, eyes still on her. Unblinking.

I'll eat you, she said over a link, not really knowing if that worked for creatures outside the supernatural world. Nonetheless, the small animal turned on its tail and scurried away.

"I don't think Marcus would have welcomed me back with open arms after yesterday." He smiled.

'But your father... and everyone else's families, too; aren't you worried he might do something to them? And the others weren't even there, Marcus wouldn't have known they helped if they hadn't come with us.'

"Marcus can't do anything to our families," he said, eyes going darker and boring into her own, daring her to look back at him. She did. "He might be able to make something up about us leaving, but there's not much he could do. I doubt he'd want to explain what was happening at that clearing." A smile pulled at his lips as he added, "Maybe he'll say Zack abducted us, it was clear he had taken a liking to you."

Val snorted. He turned serious all of a sudden, his smile fading away.

"I don't abandon the people I care about, Val. Αnd neither do they." All attempts at a snarky remark died on her lips; or his, she couldn't tell. Her gaze dropped.

Her wolf snorted in her mind. With a sudden move, she licked at the side of his head and jerked up, making him roll onto his stomach.

Damian stilled, then slowly raised his head. The entirety of the left side had pieces of grass stuck onto it.

He dropped his head and chuckled, hands rubbing at the saliva with exaggerated disgust. She gave her best wolfish grin, all the while cursing at her wolf who was still howling in her mind.

"I guess now we're even," he chuckled, and an image of them fighting came to mind; him pecking her nose. She raised a brow, thankful for all the fur covering her face. She didn't want to know how she'd look without it.

We're ready to go, Erik suddenly said over the link, knocking her to her senses.

Damian slung the backpack over his back and they walked back to the camp.

She didn't like the looks her friends gave when they saw them, not bothering to hide their smirks. Val nipped at Sam's calf, glad to see her smiling again, even somewhat sadly. Sam brought a hand to her snout and scratched slightly at her chin.

"Thank you — for yesterday."

Val leaned into her touch, pressing her body on hers.

"We run 'till sundown, then we find a place for the night. Our people will be there to pick us up tomorrow," David called over his shoulder before shredding into his shift. This is rogue territory. Stay alert.

Erik shifted too, throwing her a wolfish smile. We took turns keeping a lookout yesterday.

Val tried to bite him before he ran off, chuckling in her mind. Her wound throbbed, but the pain was manageable.

*****

They stopped at the first spot they found to be large enough for them to camp at. The trees weren't as thickly planted there, so they'd be able to watch out for any rogues, but they were too close to the road. It made her uneasy.

Are they running to us? Val asked David, who shook his head. Her stomach rumbled, and Zack hadn't let her go with them when he left with Erik to go hunting. He wanted her to heal quickly, and surprisingly enough, the ointment Damian had applied seemed to be speeding up the process. Daphne's special recipe, he'd said.

No, they'll be driving here. It'll be easier to go in unnoticed with four wheels instead of legs. He smiled.

Zack's scent hit her, along with the smell of blood. A few minutes after that, Erik was dragging two deer from a rope tied around their legs, Zack walking next to him in a bored manner. His eyes flickered between them and the deer, tongue coming out to lick at his lips. Oh, he was hungry alright.

Erik gave a final tug and brought the deer in front of them. You can thank me later.

"Don't tell me you did all that by yourself," Damian drawled, feigning surprise.

Erik puffed out his chest. I found and brought them here with my amazing scout senses, I believe the credit should be given where it's due.

Zack clicked his tongue. He did the dragging back here. We would have had another one if he hadn't fallen on his ass mid-hunt.

It was a small one, Erik huffed in defense, I took pity on it.

Oh, sure. Zack laughed. I suppose you were enjoying the dirt in your mouth as well when I found you.

Erik grumbled something under his breath while Val eyed the animals hungrily. She doubted they were going to cook them, and a strange, sort of disgusting urge to sink her teeth into their flesh came over her.

Her wolf licked her lips impatiently, a rumble vibrating over her chest.

I think she'll pounce if you take any longer. David nodded to her, a low growl of affirmation making him chuckle, even as they all hungrily closed down on the animals.

With a nod, they dag in. Val didn't even have the time to gasp as her wolf took over, lunging at its belly and gorging herself with its intestines. All sense of disgust drained over her when she realized just how hungry she was.

They ate like animals — no surprise there — growling and rumbling whilst pulling and eating the poor deer's flesh. Their respective vampires — and witch — watched them with a small, amused grimace.

It didn't take them long; clean, white bones the only thing left as they happily lay down with their semi-full bellies. They could have eaten more, unsurprisingly, but it was enough for their wolves to at least calm down. Val realized her appetite had grown after the shift, which would be unfortunate for Daphne's poor bank account.

Mark tilted his head, identical shorts hanging from both his, and David's hips. "Can you shift now?"

Val didn't have to answer as a low growl came from her lips.

"Still not satisfied?" David grumbled as they both stood over her, hands crossed over their chests. A wicked gleam in their eyes had her hunches raising, teeth showing. She hadn't taken complete control yet, but Val doubted she could stop her if she wanted to.

"Maybe we should let her out for a little while longer. She's been closed off for a very long time." Zack sounded alarmed when he threw them a pointed look. It was a tone she wasn't used to hearing from him.

"I think she just needs to get some of that frustration out," Mark mused, grinning from ear to ear.

David nodded from his side. "She'll have plenty of freedom, but Val can't stay like that." He glanced at her. "You need to learn to control it."

Her wolf scoffed in her mind, daring her to try.

Val gulped, just as Zack sighed and pulled Erik up from his arm. Daphne picked up the backpack, walking back along with everyone else.

Seriously? She narrowed her eyes. Erik gave her a thumbs up before going to stand next to Ian, who smiled apologetically at her.

Wolves practically licking their teeth in anticipation, she watched the two males pace, almost jumpy on their feet.

Shift, David said into her mind.

I can't! she growled, exasperated.

Mark lunged.

She barely had enough time to step aside, claws narrowly missing her bandaged leg. She bit back a hiss. Zack wouldn't let her hunt like this, but fighting off two immortal werewolves was okay?

Mark didn't attack again, watching with those green, intelligent eyes of his; light brown fur rippling with every movement. She was surprised to find that they didn't tower over her; in fact, she might have had a couple of extra inches on them.

Imagine your human body in your mind, David said, and make it happen.

I'm trying! she moaned, a pressure building in her mind. But it wasn't a link. She'd grown enough used to it to be able to tell the difference.

Her wolf wanted out.

Mark ran into her with a shoulder, and she pivoted with a snarl, too distracted to see David before he rammed into her other side, throwing her to the ground. She jumped up, head lowered and teeth showing with a silent threat. Her wolf pushed into her mind, taking down every wall she put up to hold her back.

I think she needs more persuading, Damian called from the side, grimacing at the look she threw him. David laughed, grey eyes dancing with challenge. Her wolf growled, and she knew she wouldn't hold back.

He lunged, and she met him halfway, legs outstretched and catching at his sides. She managed to drop on top of him, but he easily pushed her off, getting back up. Mark jumped on her back and brought her down. She rolled, crushing him under her weight and taking some delight at his small yelp.

She brought a leg over him before he could get up and closed her jaws around his leg, shredding the skin, when David shoved her with his body. She hurtled at them again, disappointed to find that they were already waiting.

Shift, Val! David called again, almost yelling in her head. She tried, but her limbs weren't her own anymore.

With a growl, she kicked some dirt into their eyes before lunging for Mark again. He didn't move, just let her pin him down. Her teeth were too close to his throat when he craned his neck, and she stilled. Her wolf tilted her head, snarling.

It was too easy. He was giving up without a fight and that pissed her off.

David and Mark didn't move, breaths coming out erratic.

Shift, David insisted, and she wanted to groan in annoyance.

Mark nodded from under her, green eyes looking up at her confidently. You can do this.

Oh goodie, 'tis the power of faith.

Val stepped back, wolf growling in her mind and forcefully making them jump between the two males.

I'll let you out again later, she thought, as calmly as possible. She only snarled in response.

She wanted to argue, but she knew there was no point. She couldn't win this fight, not yet. So she sent a sense of reassurance through the bond instead, as she ground her teeth and planted her legs stubbornly on the ground.

She tried to push again, forcing her to breathe everyone around her in; the forest. Freedom.

She focused on that, let it overwhelm her senses.

Reluctantly, she felt control rush back to her. She raised her head and David nodded encouragingly.

Human body, she chanted in her mind, over and over again. Cracking an eye open, she saw that nothing had happened. Her wolf groaned in her mind, and she had the distinct sense that she might just get control back for the hell of it. If only to stop her from embarrassing them any longer.

With a deep breath, she tried again. Envisioning the muscles, the bones. She willed herself to go back to what she was before, and a sharp pain caught on her rear leg. She felt it break all over again.

It was faster this time, and the pain wasn't as bad. It was a relief.

Alex came over with an oversized shirt, covering her as she slid it on. With a grateful smile, she got up.

"If that's all it took, why did you have to attack me?" She narrowed her eyes, still a little unstable on her two feet.

They shifted back and put on the same pair of shorts they had on before. Val looked pointedly over their naked torso.

David laughed. "It'd been a very long while since she was last out." He shrugged. "I doubt she would have been as cooperative without blowing off some steam."

"Very cooperative," Val mocked, glancing at the wound on Mark's arm.

"Don't worry about that." He smiled. "I heal fast. And it's shallow." She nodded, guilt knotting her stomach as she looked back. The shirt reached her thighs, and she was startled by how much she'd liked the feeling of the ground under her paws.

Her wolf rumbled appreciatively as she dropped back down, the others filling the place in again.

"I'll take first watch," she muttered after a while, everyone already laid down and bickering as they normally did. It didn't take long for the silence to come. They were plenty exhausted after all that running.

But Val still looked up at the night sky, completely awake.

Losing herself in her senses, she took in as much as she could. And the smell was her favorite. The forest — freedom.

She spent most of the night alternating between watching them groan and roll over, letting herself relax under the dark sky, and glancing around the camp to make sure they were alone.

Waking anyone else up seemed like a waste. She had a feeling she wasn't going to sleep anyway, so she let them sleep a little while longer. They didn't have much time anyway, the sun was already coming out.

She squinted at the wound on her arm, now rid of the gauze. It had healed enough, even after the fight. It still amazed her — how everything worked.

It had taken her days for the wound on her leg to get better before, and that even was a remarkably quick recovery. But this...

Shifting had sped up the healing even more, and add to that Daphne's 'special recipe'...

She glanced at Mark's arm where she bit him. He hadn't been mad over it, and it hadn't been a deep bite, but seeing it in the same state as her own... She was awed.

This world had caused her pain and sorrow and so much confusion.

But looking at everyone now, she realized that it was also beautiful.

Beautiful and magical.

A small smile pulled at her lips, her childish side somersaulting in her head. Magic...

Then a crunch pulled her attention to her left, where an auburn wolf looked at her hungrily through its glazed eyes, chest moving over jutting ribs.

She jolted up, mind finally catching on. A wolf.

A rogue.