Daryl scooted over instinctively to make room for me and gingerly, I sat down beside him on the soft cushion of the pew. Silence ensued between us then, neither of knowing just quite what to say to the other. I picked at the hem of my shirt nervously and was about to speak when Daryl beat me to it.

"I didn't know about ya," he said, his voice hoarse.

Almost like he'd been crying. I looked up and met his eyes. Clearing his throat, he gestured aimlessly with his hands.

"Mandy never...she never said that-" he started nervously.

"-I know..." I said softly, putting my hand over his fidgeting one.

We both glanced down and I removed my hand instantly, blushing out of embarrassment. Another bout of silence began then but sighing, I bit back my anxiety and plunged ahead.

"All my life, she told me you'd left us," I told him honestly, looking him straight in the eyes.

He said nothing, listening intently to my words.

"She...she never told me the truth until she got bit," I admitted, my voice cracking on the last word.

A look of pain flashed across his face but he nodded for me to go on.

"My step-dad was a doctor. Thought he could cure her even though we'd both seen it happen time and time before with next-door neighbors...cousins...," I went on, stopping only to swallow the lump that tried to form in my throat, "He went ahead with his experiments though and..."

I sighed then, tears threatening to spill over my cheeks as my throat nearly closed up to keep the words from coming out.

"And when she turned, he got bit too... And he wanted me to end it. End it for the both of them..." I choked out, running a hand over my mouth.

My dark brown eyes met his once more in the dimness of the church and my next words came out hushed, "So I did... I killed them both... and afterward, I ran... I ran and ran and didn't stop. I couldn't... If I did, I knew I'd just go back and I'd stay there with her...even though mom was already gone..."

A wave of hot tears finally did spill down my cheeks and I let out a shaky breath but it sounded more like a strangled sob. Daryl's warm hand touched my shoulder then and I glanced up at him through tear-filled eyes.

"She wouldn't have wanted you to stay there... Not like that..." he said, his voice thick with emotion.

I nodded and sniffed, brushing the tears away with my hands before wiping them on my jeans.

"I was on my own for a while afterward and then...I found the Wolves. They took me in but I soon found out they weren't all I'd thought. They stole from people, murdered them, plundered everything that didn't even belong to them... I hated all of it... So I ran away but then Owen-" I said before Daryl cut me off briefly.

"-the Alpha Wolf?" he asked and I nodded before continuing.

"He took me with him and the other Wolves and well..." I trailed off, my hand coming to rest on my stomach.

I looked up at him and smiled sadly.

"You know the rest of my story." I told him softly.

He was silent as he looked over at me. His deep blue eyes studied my face, taking in every feature as he watched me in the dim light of the church.

"So what's yours?" I asked.