Sandy sips on her cup of tea and Naomi settles on a couch in front of her. Raurlin recovered quickly from the shift and Mikain attributed it to him being Maddoxes son. Him, Raurlin and Jackson went to watch the young wolves running and playing in the forest. The girls set up camp with Sandy in the lounge. She had been experiencing pain and Dezra and Sarah were attending to her when Naomi went in to sit with them.

"You all should get some rest now. The pack will tire themselves out soon enough and we usually have a big breakfast after the awakening. The young wolves will be exhausted and famished."

"You will be on bed rest" Dezra directs and Sandy chuckles. She swings her feet onto the carpet and Dezra helps her to her feet.

"Please excuse me ladies, little one would very much like to get to bed."

Naomi and Sarah sit in silence until Dezra and Sandy are out of the room.

"What a night," Sarah states.

"I know right. Did you see Raur's eyes? They glowed the same as Mikains, if not brighter."

"Well he is the alpha by birth rite. And so is Mikain. Well we'll be home soon anyway. Hey, can I ask you something?"

"Of course, Sarah, what's up?"

"Why do you keep staring at Sandy's stomach?"

Naomi kicks her shoes off and she lays down on the couch.

"I don't know...I've just been thinking. I would like to become a vampire but I have no real guarantee of having children once I've become one. And I do want kids."

Sarah nods slowly and she pulls her phone out of her pocket. She sets an alarm that will allow for five hours of sleep if they fall asleep within the next two minutes. Sarah sighs and she puts her phone under the pillow on the couch she's lying on.

"I hear you. It's a tricky situation. Let's figure it out in the morning?"

"Yeah, I need to sleep."

Jackson and Raurlin walk back into the house. Jackson pulls his coat off and covers Raurlin with it. Raurlin is pale and his lips are a dark blue from the winter weather. Raurlin blows warm air into his hands and he turns the kettle on. He peeps into the lounge and finds girls asleep on the couches. He grins and walks into the room and Jackson follows suit. Jackson covers Sarah with a blanket and Raurlin kisses Naomi's forehead. Naomi smiles in her sleep then turns over.

"She was so worried about you" Jackson tells Raurlin as they walk back into the kitchen.

Raurlin chuckles as he pulls two mugs out the cupboard. "I didn't think I'd be able to control the shift but when she came and found me that's what pulled me back. It was scary, Jax. I don't want to lie to you. You know being vampires we focus so much on control but the wolf side is all about completely letting go and in a sense losing control."

"Yeah I get it. We'll need to talk about your eyes soon. Try and keep it in check until we're home okay?"

"Yes boss."

Raurlin turns and hands Jackson a cup of coffee and Jackson chuckles. Jackson feels exhausted all at once and he settles into a chair at the kitchen table. Raurlin sits down beside him. Raurlin holds his coffee mug up and Jackson clinks it against his best friend's mug.

"I couldn't have done this without you, Jax. Thank you."

"No need to thank me. Let's get some rest with the girls."

Jackson finishes the rest of the contents in his mug and he places his and Raurlins mug in the sink. They walk into the lounge and the fire just dies down but the room is warm and toasty. Jackson settles onto the couch behind Sarah and he tucks Sarah into his arms. Raurlin smiles as Jackson leans his head against Sarah's neck. Raurlin pulls Naomi into his arms and he wraps a blanket over both of them.

                                                                                               ❄

Sarah's alarm beeps and she jerks awake and promptly falls off the couch. She lands with a heavy thud and Naomi lifts her head and cracks an eye open. Raurlin doesn't stir and he continues to snore softly into Naomi's neck. Jackson rolls over and groans.

"What the hell, Sarah. An alarm."

"Breakfast" Sarah mutters and she falls back to sleep. Naomi forces herself out of Raurlin's arms and she stands up and stretches. She helps Sarah to her feet despite Jackson's protests. They wander upstairs and make quick work with getting freshened up for breakfast. Once they're back in the kitchen Dezra is already there.

They all offer sleepy good mornings before getting to work with frying eggs, bacon and making stacks of toast. The smell alone wakes Jackson and Raurlin. Raurlin's stomach grumbles and he throws a pillow at Jackson who just groans. Mikain walks inside from outside, still shirtless from last night. He looks tired and there are leaves in his hair.

"Oh you all are making breakfast? Sandy usually does after the ceremony. Thank you so much for helping out. The young wolves will be awake soon and ravenous. The shift always leaves us wolves feeling hungry. I suppose the energy used..."

Mikain settles into the head of the table and he rests back into the chair. He shuts his eyes and dozes off. Naomi and Sarah look at him and they giggle. The sadness that they'll be leaving soon hits both of them all at once. Jackson and Raurlin stumble into the kitchen and they sit at the table with amused glances at Mikain.

Naomi starts plating the food and setting it down on the table. Naomi can feel a quick change in the atmosphere. She turns over her shoulder and looks to the front door and just as she does a woman bursts into the front door dragging in a large man beside her. Naomi rushes to the woman as soon as she sees her.

Her face is beaten and bruised and her top is torn down the middle exposing her bra. She has blood covering her hands and her hair is messy. She looks as if she's holding back sobs but as soon as she's seen Naomi she begins sobbing loudly and painfully. Naomi pulls her Jacket off and covers her with it and as soon as she does Jackson and Raurlin are lifting and carrying the large man upstairs. Naomi calls for Sarah to get Mikain as she helps the woman upstairs. Once they're in the room the woman throws her arms onto Naomi and she cries.

Naomi holds on to her until she calms down reassuring her that she's safe. Naomi ushers her into the bathroom and she turns the shower on. She helps the woman undress and the woman steps into the shower, crying softly. Naomi digs through the cupboards for disinfectant and cotton wool. She tells the woman that she's going to get a towel for her.

Sarah and Dezra walk into the room stocked up with herbs and medical supplies. They set up on the table and Naomi pulls a robe out the cupboard and she walks back into the bathroom. She helps the woman out the shower and covers her with the robe then ushers her into the room. Once Naomi is certain the woman is okay with Sarah and Dezra she rushes next door.

The large man is propped up on the bed and his breathing is raspy and desperate. His shirt is tattered and torn and his eyes are a bright red. His fangs are sticking out and they are large. His hands are covered in blood and he is covered in bites and bruises. Jackson is standing beside him and Raurlin is pacing at the end of the bed. Naomi slowly eases into the room and the large man turns to face her.

"How can I help?" Naomi asks in a shaky voice.

"We need blood," Jackson states "Mikain is downstairs getting some."

Like clockwork Mikain walks into the room with a panicked look on his face. "We're out of blood" Mikain exclaims.

Raurlin curses under his breath then he turns to Naomi wide eyed. Naomi nods and she walks to where Jackson is standing. Naomi places a hand on Jackson's arm and Jackson frowns down at her.

"Can you take Raurlin out? Please?"

Jackson remains frowning but he ushers a very tense Raurlin out the room and Mikain follows suit. Once they have left Naomi settles on the bed beside the large man. Naomi pulls the sleeve of her top up and she holds her wrist out. The large man takes hold of her wrist. He bites into it and at first it's painful but then there's no pain. Almost as immediately as he bites into her wrist he lets go and Naomi frowns.

"Look I'm guessing you're the king and I really don't mean any disrespect but I know you need more than that."

The man chuckles then takes hold of Naomi's wrist again. Naomi watches on intently and the colour slowly returns to the man's face. He releases her wrist again then takes a deep breath. He smiles at Naomi and Naomi flushes.

"Thank you for doing that, Naomi. You know your aeternum is probably going wild out there."

"He'll get over it. I guess you are the king then. Should I be calling you your majesty?"

"You may call me Stellan, Naomi. The lady I arrived with?"

"She's fine. She's next door with my best friend getting patched up."

"Stellan, is there something I can get you?"

"Yes. Get Raurlin to heal you up there. You're bleeding out. I just need some rest. Send Jackson in. Jackson only."

Naomi nods and she walks out the door cradling her wrist. Mikain points to a door down the hall and Raurlin scoops Naomi into his arms and carries her into the room. Raurlin sits Naomi onto the bed and he kneels in front of her.

"I'm so pissed that you did that...but I'm so grateful. Are you okay?"

"Stellan says I'm bleeding out."

Raurlin cuts his thumb and he hesitates as he brings his thumb to Naomi's lips. Naomi smiles and she lifts a hand to Raurlin's mouth. She brushes a finger against Raurlin's lip and his eyes turn red. He slips his thumb into her mouth. Naomi's wrists heal instantly and Raurlin licks his lip. He shuts his eyes for a moment and when he opens them they're filled with tears. Naomi smiles sympathetically at Raurlin.

"Thank you for doing that doll. You saved our king's life. I can never repay you for that."

"Our king says I can call him Stellan."