Staring at the ceiling, Aedan let out a sigh. He couldn't get the fight out of his head. The scream that ran through his head as that monster hurt her or the look in the man's eyes. The way the two moved and their fighting skills shook him to the core. He knew the wolves left Aine prepared for beasts but to watch her fight such a monster left him unsettled. A knock came from downstairs and he sat up. Running a hand through his hair, he looked out the window and saw the sun rising. Frowning, he got to his feet and walked downstairs. Stepping into the kitchen, he pulled the door open and found Doran standing on the doorstep. The man looked worried but at the same time pissed and that was never a good combination with him. He stepped aside and allowed his friend inside. Closing the door, he turned to Doran and found him sitting at his table. "Make yourself at home." Doran forced a smirk and asked, "Did I scare Aine?" His eyes narrowed and he took a seat across the table. Doran looked up at him and he gave a single nod. The man sighed and slid his hand along the faint wounds on his neck. "You blamed the wolves. She left." Doran looked at him and asked, "Why didn't you stop her?" He leaned back in his chair and sighed, "I did." "Then why isn't she here?" He closed his eyes and said, "I chased her down last night. She had come to me and I had laughed at her words. I went after her and everything else just is a blur." Doran eyed him slowly and said, "There was a fight." He met his friend's gaze and said, "A vampire." Doran laughed and said, "No such thing." He jumped to his feet and rounded the table. Yanking his friend's head back, he stared at the healing wounds and growled. He threw Doran's head back and walked over to the kitchen. "How'd you get those bite marks from your scuffle?" Doran slid his hand over the marks and said, "It had to be a wolf." Aedan shook his head and looked out the window. The sun was higher in the sky and he saw a shadow approaching from the woods. Seeing the slow pace of the person, he yanked his boots on and grabbed a sweatshirt from the closet. He pulled the kitchen door open and heard Doran get to his feet. Quietly he moved down the street and approached her. Her hand rested on her shoulder and he met her gaze. She looked exhausted and on the verge of breaking. He slid her arm over his shoulders and said, "Thank goodness you're okay." She smirked slowly and he helped her into his home. Doran jumped back from the door and he led her over to the table. She sat in his pulled out chair and met Doran's gaze. He looked at the stains on her shirt and saw her hand rested on her shoulder. His eyes closed and he asked, "Did those wolves turn on you?" She let out a low growl and Aedan asked, "What do you need?" Aine turned to him and said, "Alcohol and wrap." He dug out the first-aid kit from the drawers and placed it on the table. Opening a cabinet, he pulled out some alcohol and placed it in front of her. Doran eyed her and she stared back at him. Aedan caught his shoulder and said, "Outside, Doran." The man stared at him and shook his head. Slowly he stepped outside and the door shut. Aedan turned to her and watched her open the alcohol. He rested a hand over the wounds and she looked up at him. Slowly he slid his hand over the wound and found the bandage she had put together. She caught his hand and he held her gaze. "Aine, let me." She closed her eyes and nodded. He took a clean cloth from the first-aid kit and poured alcohol over it. Turning to her, he took a deep breath and slowly placed the cloth on the bite marks. Her hand gripped the table edge and she looked away as the alcohol cleaned the wound. The pain ripped through her and left her body screaming to get away. He caught her before she jumped and he held her to him. He held the cloth on the wounds and fought her jerking body. Slowly she stilled and he put the cloth down. She dropped onto her knees and tried to catch her breath. He slid his arms under hers and pulled her to her feet. Resting her in the chair, he picked up a clean bandage and covered the wound. She leaned her head back and he let out a sigh. "I didn't think it was that bad." She smirked and said, "Every bite is poisonous if not treated soon enough." Aedan met her tired gaze and asked, "Would you like to crash for a few hours?" She shook her head and pulled herself up. He caught her shoulder and helped her catch her balance. She met his gaze and he kissed her forehead. Feeling her safe for the moment left him relieved and he slid his hand along her cheek. "I was so worried about you, Aine." She slid her hand along his and said, "I can take care of myself." He rested his head on hers and said, "That fight, that side of you, everything left me unnerved." She closed her eyes and said, "Aedan, I have to go. I can't leave them alone when the sun starts setting." He looked at her and said, "I'll handle Doran. Please rest here and let yourself recover." She shook her head and whispered, "I can't." He sighed and she stepped out of his reach. He pulled another sweater from the closet and handed it to her. She caught his gaze and slowly slid it over her shoulders. He opened the door and walked her outside. Doran had disappeared while he had tended to her wounds and it left him uneasy. "A wolf!" Her head snapped to the edge of town and she saw Belenus waiting for her. Letting out a curse, she pulled free from Aedan's support and took off. Running with her pulse pounding in her ears, she raced to the edge of town and ran into the wall of men. She searched the men and saw Doran standing at the front with his family. "Aine, don't!" She looked back and saw Aedan running to catch her but she stepped into the crowd. She could feel the tension within the crowd and she pushed to the front. Doran caught her arm and she looked back at him. "That wolf needs to be killed." Her eyes narrowed and she jerked her arm free. Belenus spotted her and saw the man catch at her wounded shoulder. She winced as she jerked away and the pup let out a growl. Her eyes snapped to the approaching pup and she felt the sweat on her neck. Guns rose as Belenus approached and she felt her body burning as she ran. Throwing herself around the wolf, she heard the guns echo in her ears and the pain hit her. She closed her eyes and let out a low cough. Belenus rested under her on the ground and let out a growl. She shook her head and met his gaze. "Please, go home." He held her gaze and she took a deep breath. Pain ripped through her body and she forced herself to her feet. Turning back to the town, she met the men's gaze and saw Doran staring at her. His shock was written all over his face and Aedan stood at his side. She held his gaze and saw his plea. Belenus rose behind her and the men raised the guns once more. She stepped in front of the wolf and held Aedan's gaze. Hot liquid ran down her back and she pushed Belenus back. Aedan closed his eyes and she watched him take the gun from Doran's father. "Aedan, that beast must be killed!" He turned to Doran and said, "Then you'll kill them both. If that happens, we're through." Doran turned back to her and saw the protective fire in her eyes. She let out a shallow breath and he closed his eyes. He hadn't expected her to get in front of the bullet, but she had. Slowly her gaze moved back to Aedan's and he saw his friend slowly nod. Silently Doran watched his friend approach Aine and stand in front of her. He rested his head against hers and said, "Come back tomorrow. I'll have the doctor ready." She met his gaze and said, "If I come back, this will just happen again." He closed his eyes and said, "Aine, I need you to come back." She caught his jaw and said, "I'm sorry, Aedan. My family needs me." Slowly he met her gaze and she allowed a smile to slide across her face. He took a deep breath and she felt his hand slide along her cheek. He pulled her into him and she felt his body sheltering hers even when the blood continued to soak her clothes. He kissed her forehead and let her go slowly. She looked up at him and he whispered, "I'll be waiting for you." Closing her eyes, she kissed him slowly and stepped back. Belenus stood behind her legs and she rested her hand on his head. Aedan nodded once and turned his back on her. She saw him approach the men and slowly turned Belenus to the woods. The wolf ran ahead and disappeared into the safety of his home. She slowly looked back and saw his eyes lingering on her as Doran stood holding his father's gun. Nodding to her friend one last time, she walked into the woods and moved out of sight. Doran let out a sigh and looked at his friend. "Aedan, go after her. I won't let my stupidity take her away." He shook his head with a smirk and said, "I'd be wasting my time." "How?" He walked past Doran and said, "She'll come back once it is safe for them." Doran smirked and joined his friend. They walked back into the town and Aedan left him as he returned home. He walked into the kitchen and looked at the kit on the table. Collapsing into a chair, he closed his eyes and allowed the pain to put him to sleep. ______________________________________________ Belenus ran to the tree and she slowly followed. He ran inside the hole and Cori stepped outside. Feeling her legs wearing thin, she dropped onto the ground and forced her breathing to regulate. Breck stood in her view and she met his gaze. Closing her eyes, she collapsed onto her side and Cori moved to her side. The she-wolf followed the blood to the wound in her back and she cleaned it. Closing her eyes, Aine felt the wound slowly beginning to heal and felt the exhaustion fighting to overtake her. Cori curled up by her and she felt herself slipping into a sleep she didn't want. Breck watched her drift asleep and turned to Belenus. The pup hid at the entrance of the tree and his ears went up. Cori met his gaze and he looked up at the hidden trees. His teeth flashed and his growl received a low chuckle in return. The shadow drifted to the ground and Cori leapt to her feet. Belenus ran behind her and Breck stood in front of them. The man stared at them and caught sight of the woman being protected. Silently he approached Breck and rested his hand on the wolf's head. Feeling the alpha stand down, he approached Cori and held her gaze. She wouldn't allow him near the woman as if she was a pup, but Breck gave a low growl and she stood aside. Belenus lingered at the woman's head and stared at the man. Slowly he knelt next to the woman and the blood filled his senses. Breck's growl made him smirk and he turned to the wolf. Silently they exchanged looks and he turned back to the woman. "I'll tend to the bullet." Cori growled and he picked the woman up. Holding her in his arms, he heard the weak pulse and stared down at her. She was the one that had destroyed some of his men and now she lingered on the edge of death. Protecting these wolves put her in this state and he commended her for it. A mere mortal wouldn't protect beasts but she fought until she had collapsed in their safety. Silently he walked past the wolves and jumped into the trees. Standing on a branch, he looked down at Aine and saw the bandage on her shoulder. She had taken a beating from Bain and now the humans had nearly killed her. This one would be damaged for a long time and unfortunately only his kind could give her the proper healing. Growling, he moved from tree to tree and waited for the sun to set.