*****

As the sun began to set, Sarah began to get ready.

She chose her clothes carefully. Every piece of her outfit was of the latest fashion. And she used her clothes and the snobby attitude like a shield. They conveyed to her observers that she was above them and in the array of emotions her actions drew from them, no one bothered to look any deeper. She utilized her wardrobe as a queen might use her crown.

Her clothes were a status symbol that kept everyone at bay. It really was the perfect disguise. Being a wolf, her senses were that much better than a human and she'd heard the whispers, seen the look of disgust. Then again, no one really bothered to hide what they actually thought about her.

Not even Matt.

He had not realized that it was all a facade. Her own mate had taken her actions at face value without bothering to look hard enough to notice the lies. Like always, the thought of him tore at her soul.

She tried to steer her thoughts away from him but like a runaway train, there was no stopping them. The memories came rushing back to her, one after another. Like a river, the memories flowed through her leaving her with a bone deep chill.

Sarah eyed the reflection of her surroundings.

Growing up, this was not what she had imagined. She'd grown up with the assurance that she would find true love. Happily ever after was a certainty. Her prince was out there, all she had to do was find him.

In her future, she saw an adoring husband, two point five kids and a house with a white picket fence. As her fathers' daughter, her station in the pack was secure.

She'd been so naive.

Sarah glared at her own reflection, suddenly mad at herself. There was no point in dream and a lot less in thinking about the past. She couldn't do anything about it all she could hope to change was the future.

He depended on her and his happiness mattered more than hers. His happiness and his life were her first priorities. When he was safe, then she could worry about the ruins that used to be her own life.

Sarah backed away until she could see all of herself in the mirror. Her tanned high heel boots reached her calf's, over her black skinny jeans, and matched her lace honey colored top. She turned left and right, making sure that her tussled curls were in place and so was her make up.

Satisfied, she turned and headed out.

The run was held in the woods, everyone met under the guise of a church group campout but surprisingly enough the excuse had yet to be needed. Sarah was sure it had to do with some type of pack magic that kept humans from discovering them. As they neared their destination, she saw some of the pack waiting around in groups.

The woods weren't far from the house but she chose to get there by car anyway. She didn't have the energy to get there on her own two feet but being driven there by one of her guards drew looks of disgust her way. It was nothing new. It hurt but like always her pride saved her.

She waited for the guard to walk around the car and open her door.

"Remember what the boss told you. Keep your place," her guard threatened, "do not embarrass him."

The last part sounded more like a plea then a threat. Sarah smiled at him as she took the hand he offered her. Of all the guards, he was her favorite, oh he wouldn't go against her father, but he didn't go out of his way to be cruel either.

"I just got back on my feet; I do not plan on being laid back down any time soon."

He patted her hand before releasing it, "that's good to hear."

She threw her head back, and straightened. "Game on," she murmured.

As she stepped out of the car, she noticed the looks that her wardrobe garnished. The high heels and clothes were impractical but she needed them. Without them she would feel naked.

Her father and his Enforcer stood away from the groups gathering in the meadow that bordered the forest, the packs designated meeting place, and she made her way towards them.

"Hello father, Tom."

"Sarah, it's good to see you are feeling better," Tom greeted.

"Glad you could join us Sarah."

"You know I wouldn't miss it, daddy."

She couldn't miss it; her sons' life depended on it.

Her response drew a sharp look from her father. The title was not an endearment but not even by the blink of an eye did she give herself away. Her father wanted the perfect daughter in public and that's what he got.

It was part of deal. He had her son and until she could get him back she was his puppet. Her compliance kept her son alive. There was no doubt in her mind that her father would not hesitate to kill his own grandson if she were to deviate.

Sarah couldn't stop wishing she was more like Nick's mate. If she was stronger-smarter, she would have had her son back by now. If she wasn't such a weakling maybe he would not have been taken from her in the first place.

She would have fought tooth and nail instead of curling up in a ball and crying.

Self-hatred consumed her every waking moment and her sleep was haunted by regret and sorrow. Nightmares were the every night norm for her. Maybe it was guilty conscience that would not allow her to rest.

What she had done-or failed to do- was unforgiveable.

A glance at her father and hatred raged through her like flame born from the fires of hell. It was an all-consuming rage that she just as quickly tamped down. One second her wolf threatened to explode from within her, her fur and claws itched to burst and the next she was pushing all of her emotions back into a tight ball and locking it away.

Goosebumps raced across her flesh, it took everything to control her wolf. She wasn't strong enough to challenge her father and she could not risk it. A failed attempt was punishable by death, a life would be forfeited but it would not be hers. No, her father would not allow her to scape him so easily.

He would make her suffer, but it would be behind closed doors, just as he'd done before.

Her father was insane. Insanity seeped through him like a black miasma of hatred and to her it was a wonder that no one else saw it.

He'd been so all along, but only in the last few years had the mask he hid behind begun to slip. Sarah was pretty sure his grasp on reality had begun with Nick's desertion. He perceived the inability to keep his son within the pack as a weakness and countless attempts to bring him back within the fold had failed.

He'd even tried to use her. At first by forbidding her to leave the pack with her brother and then later, to get Kate close to him. She'd been used as a pawn, unknowingly at the beginning and unwillingly after her son was born.

It was her pregnancy that had driven her father over the edge. Not only was she pregnant and unmated, she carried a child that was not pure blooded. That had been the straw that broke the camel's back.

He would have killed her, she was sure of it, if he hadn't been restrained. Luckily her child had survived the beating. When he didn't succeed in killing her child, he took her away to bare her in secret.

She had a sudden flashback of the cabin and could almost feel the cold seep through her bones.

"It looks like everyone is here and the moon has reached its peak."

Sarah pushed memories of the past away and looked up at the moon. Its brightness illuminated the clearing. Her beauty was hypnotizing and her song called to them all.

"It's time we began," her father said, "lets go."

Sarah fell into step behind her father and followed him towards the edge of the meadow and the entrance to the forest. Everyone else that wasn't there already fell into step behind them and followed. When they reached the edge of the forest her father turned and faced the pack.

This was what he lived for; she could see it in his face, the pride of being the leader of the pack. He loved these meetings, where he could stand above everyone else. Power, strength and status, he had it and he loved it.

"The moon calls and we must answer. Shed your humanity and embrace the beast."

Everyone cheered.

Her father ripped his shirt open and began to change. His pants ripped apart as he shifted and his clothing lay around him in shredded pieces. Sarah almost rolled her eyes but the fact that they were in public kept her looking on with a straight face. None the less, she found his show pathetic.

Minutes later, a wolf stood on all fours before the pack. He sat back on his haunches and nodded regally, it was a queue and everyone began to disrobe and shift. Sarah stepped back until she was hidden by the shadows of the trees and began to turn.

In her wolf form, the world became clearer. Her senses grew stronger and sharper. She felt connected to the world and her surroundings and way that she didn't when she was in her human form.

She could feel everyone's anticipation through the packs bond and she could also feel their thirst for the hunt. The feeling was contagious. Excitement pumped through her veins like a drug, making her feel invincible. Soon she would let go, she could barely restrain herself, she couldn't wait to run and allow her wolf free rein.

None of them could. Tonight was one of the few nights that they were allowed to set their wolf free. They could run and hunt without worries. Here, the outside world was not allowed to intrude. It was their sanctuary.

The moon continued to shine above them, hypnotizing them all.

Her father howled at the moon. It was a song as old as time and everyone joined in. The serenade was born from the need to pay tribute to that that lighted their way when, without it, they could be alone and left in the dark.

Once the howl died down, her father sprinted into the forest, with everyone else close at his heels. They broke up into groups and not much later her group caught the scent of a deer and their focus turned to the deer. They were like shark after blood. They tracked it for miles and the closer they got, the scent of its fear got stronger. Exhilaration pumped through her, she could almost taste their kill.

It wasn't long before they took the deer down. As ordered by her father, she lost her humanity and engorged herself. Everyone in the group partook from the kill. When they had enough, they headed back to the meadow.

Later on someone would go back and collect the venison.

Back in the clearing, most of the pack had returned before them. They were human and dressed once again. Sarah and shifted under the cover of the forest, she gathered her clothing and got dressed. When she reappeared in the clearing, someone had started a bonfire.

It was going to be a long night. After the run, people were high on adrenaline, they wanted to socialize. As pack leader, her father had to stay and that meant that so did she. People gathered in groups, she could hear their pieces of their conversation, and like always she stood back with her father and watched.

She had some friends, one or two really, but she wasn't willing to risk their health therefor it was agreed by them to stay away in public. The outcome was her standing alone, listening to bits of gossip that the wind carried. Once or twice someone came to greet her father but for the most part she was ignored, like always.

Sarah was watching the fires hypnotic dance, its colors mesmerizing her, when a pair of headlights illuminated the clearing. Being wolves, they'd heard the vehicle's approach from far away and so they were on their best behavior. Anyone who showed up would see a church group enjoying the bonfire.

The car came to a stop before them. A hush fell over the crowd. Everyone's gaze was centered on the car but no one made a move.

Her father pasted on a friendly smile and stepped forward. He raised his hand to greet the visitors. His gait unhurried and relaxed and his demeanor welcoming.

He had not taken more than five steps when he came to an abrupt halt and the smile on his face was wiped out.

Sarah's relaxed demeanor evaporated. She caught his scent as soon as the driver side door was opened. A bolt of lightning could not have shocked her more.

His scent wrapped itself around her. It was months since she'd last seeing him and just like that, she felt her heart soar. Elation filled her for a second but dread quickly extinguished the fire of hope that began to burn within her.

There was only one reason for his appearance at a rival Pack's gathering.

And it wasn't for her.

*****

Thanks. Ary