Ethan and I stayed up in the tree house for a while. We would talk, then eat, then make out like crazy teenagers, then talk, then eat, then make out again. It was hard not to give him, and frankly, I wasn't sure it I could keep fighting the bond much longer.

Ethan was a good man.

Never once did he even make a move near my neck; not a kiss or a look that made my wolf want to take his throat like she had wanted to with others. For that my beast and I liked him more, he was a male that knew that forcing me was not the way to win me.

We eventually left though, and when he brought me home he asked me if he could see me again in a nervous boyish manner that made my heart flutter. Andrea and Evan were in the cabin with my vampires when I walked in, and I immediately wanted to die of mortification.

"Well, little sister, where have you been?" Evan teased as he ate a fresh cookie.

My stomach rumbled. The one good thing about being a werewolf was getting to practically eat whatever you wanted because we burned so many damn calories a day. I took a cookie and sat next to Andrea who had an amused smirk on her face. "Ethan took me to your tree house," I said between bites.

Evan almost choked and looked at me with wide eyes. "What?"

I looked between Derek and Elliot who were watching Evan amusingly. I look back at Evan after I took another bite of the peanut butter cookie and cocked my head curiously. "The tree house? The one with the platform above it?"

Evan took a long drink of his beer then leaned back on the counter a little shocked. "He must have it bad, he never goes out there with anyone."

"What? I mean it looks used. I like the lights by the way," I added teasingly.

Evan smiled then picked at the cookie. "No Char, like he barely goes out there with me. I mean he goes, but always by himself. Usually, it's Ryder, Jake, and I out there."

I sat back on the counter while Andrea looked over at me a little intriguingly. "Why? I mean..."

Evan sighed and looked down at the cookie. I hated seeing him like this, seeing him remember a memory that saddened him. It made my wolf ache for him, for our brother. "He and Eli used to go out there all the time. Ethan used to follow Eli around like he was his damn shadow, drove Eli crazy but he really didn't care. They were attached at the hip.

"I guess it just reminds him too much of Eli. He only goes by himself and when he does it's for a few days."

I sucked in a breath and nodded while Andrea gave me a half smile then took a sip of her wine. "Well, do you want to start training tomorrow Char? I told my dad and he said he may pop in if he can? I was thinking that we could run first and then swim sometime in the afternoon?"

I cocked my brow at her, "Swim?"

She chuckled into her drink. "My dad knew Levi's father. He trained a lot with them with when they were all younger, which means he loved to make me pull him in a boat loaded up with beer when I was young."

I bit back a smile that made my heart swell. "I knew I would like your dad." She chuckled while Evan looked at us like we were crazy. "We should bring Evangeline, it would be good for her."

"Agreed," Evan mused a bit. "She needs to grow into herself some more."

"So does he," Andrea whispered into my mind. It was true. Even with Ethan, it was true. It was like their blood was dormant in their veins, especially Evangeline's. My wolf didn't like it. She saw the female as our sister, our sister who should be equal to us. She wanted her to be strong so she could stand by us.

"Well tell her to meet us here then," Andrea added. "If Miranda asks I'll just have my dad step in. She won't argue with Billy, she knows better than that."

I chuckled a little and yawned. We chatted some more before we all decided to turn in that night. I snuggled under my bear rug and touched my lips, my lips where his once were. I couldn't help but feel content as I fell into a deep sleep. A sleep that started out peaceful, until it wasn't.

The itch.

The itch came with the whispers. They called to me. I tossed and turned as my ears picked up the faint sounds, sounds that even in my sleep my wolf was trying desperately hard to decipher.

It was so many voices, so many words, it was hard to make out. The itch scratched as they grew louder. They weren't harsh or demanding, but they wanted something. They desperately wanted something.

It wasn't until I heard it, I heard a screaming that got louder and louder and louder until a firm voice slice through the screams and said, "Charlotte!"

I shot up in my bed with wide eyes and a frantic heart as Derek rushed into my room. He looked around then look me over. I was still panting, I could have sworn someone was here with me.

"Char?" Derek gently said as he approached my bed. "Char what's wrong?"

I let out a heavy breath and wiped the sweat off of my brow. "Whispers, I don't know it was strange. The itch came back as they grew louder, I don't know Derek, it was like there were people here. Then there was this screaming; it was like a tea kettle that got louder as the water got hotter.

"Then I don't know, I could have sworn someone called my name. I would be willing to put money on it."

"Are you ok?" Ethan rushed into my brain. He was trying to be calm but I could detect the slight worry in his voice.

I closed my eyes as the pull seemed to slow my heart rate down. "Ya, I think I just had a bad dream. How did you know?"

Derek was walking around the room, surveying it, while Ethan laughed lightly in my mind. "As the pull or bond get's stronger we'll feel more of each other, like our emotions."

"I guess that's convenient..."

"You're sure you're ok?"

"Yes, really. Derek is here, I'm ok."

He sighed a little. "Ok, I have training today with Billy, but could I see you later?"

I smiled and nodded. "Sure."

With that, I felt his happiness through the bond, which made my heart swell. Derek looked back at me curiously then sighed. "Maybe it was just a bad dream little one?"

I shrugged. "Maybe, I don't know. It felt real. Maybe?"

Derek nodded then kissed my forehead. "Seeing Ethan later?"

I stood up with a stretch then walked to my closet. "Yes, he asked to see me later this evening."

"You should invite him to dinner, I think I am making lasagna tonight. Actually, ask him if his brother and Evangeline want to as well, there will be plenty for all of us."

I blushed slightly. I wasn't sure if I was ready to handle Ethan and our family together, but I nodded to Derek. He smiled as I pulled out my Nike running yoga pants, a loose tank, sports bra, with some perfectly broken in tennis shoes.

"Derek asked if you, Evan, and Evangeline wanted to come to dinner? He's making lasagna."

"Evan already said yes," Ethan chuckled out. "So that's a yes."

I smiled and quickly put my clothes on as Andrea knocked on my door frame. "You ready?"

I nodded. "Ya, where's Evangeline?"

"We need to go scoop her up. She got tied up with Miranda early this morning, but she's over at her place."

"Ok, let's go. Do you know where you want to go run?" I asked as we walked down the hall, waving to Derek and Elliot who were lounging on the couch on our way out.

"Dad's got a few trails he takes the warriors on, I was thinking we could start with one of those. Maybe one of the easier ones. I don't know where Evangeline is at and I want to see where she's at."

"Why do you think she's so... dormant?"

Andrea gave me a knowing look. "I have some theories."

"Care to share?"

Andrea shook her head. "I will when I think they are more than just assumptions."

I nodded. "Fair enough." It was fair. That was one thing about Andrea, she was not quick to judge. She was calculating. She took everything in and let her brain do the work before her wolf reacted.

As we approached his house the pull started to simmer. The whole area smelled like him around his cabin, making my skin shiver. I walked over to the garden of wildflowers, tomato plants, cabbage, carrots, and what looked like some herbs like basil and parsley. Andrea was knocking on the door as Evan opened it. He turned over his shoulder and yelled for Evangeline then started to make some small talk with Andrea.

"Actually, can I use your bathroom real quick?" She asked.

Evan nodded then looked to me as Andrea walked inside. "Need anything?"

I shook my head. "Nope, thanks though Ev."

"Anytime little sister." He smiled slyly at me then rushed back inside.

I felt the hair on my neck start to rise as the pull started to heat up. "Did you miss me that much already?"

I raised my brows amusingly then rolled my eyes at Ethan as he walked over to me. His hair was still damp and he smelled like what I assumed was fresh aftershave. He walked over to me and kissed my temple, catching me off guard and making the pull between us spark like a firecracker.

I shook my head playfully and looked back at the flowers. "Nope. We're here to get Evangeline."

A coy smirk tugged at his lips. He let his fingers trail up my arm. I could feel his beast; he was stalking back and forth, he liked the challenge his female threw at him.

My skin tingled, but my beast and I bit back any sign of liking it; two could play at this game. Ethan didn't stop though, a soft rumble vibrated from his chest as he leaned closer to me and kissed my bare shoulder. "Are you sure?"

I looked over at him as disinterested as I could. My wolf was smiling slyly in my mind with pride. I shrugged as my wolf laid back and pretended to be tired in my mind. "Obviously."

I went back to the flowers as his brows furrowed pensively while another rumble vibrated off his chest, this time, a little louder than the first. He leaned closer to me, and it was hard for me not to turn and kiss him. So damn hard.

His breath was tickling my ear and his wolf was starting to press a bit more forward. He let his nose graze the skin near my ear before he placed a long kiss on my cheek. "I don't believe you sunshine," he said while trailing his fingers along my chin.

I chuckled to myself. I turned to him with a raised brow and stood on my toes so I was only a breath away from his lips. It would have been so easy for me to give in, so damn easy, but my beast and I knew that this male had to work for our neck. We liked Ethan, it was true, but we were not completely set on him slapping his mark on us just yet.

I could feel another rumble vibrate off his chest which went through mine which made me shiver in delight. I tilted my head a hair, teasing his wolf that made the power in his veins hum as he anxiously awaited my lips.

I smiled and flickered my eyes to him wickedly. "Well too damn bad Ethan."

I took a step back as the door opened and walked over to Andrea and Evangeline who were walking down the stairs. "I'll see you at dinner," I called over my shoulder. He crossed his arms as he stood a bit stunned and flushed where I had left him. Point for me.

Andrea looked at me and chuckled while Evangeline looked over at Ethan a little deviously. "Pick your mouth off the floor Ethan, also it's your turn to do the laundry today!"

Ethan growled a little which made us all jog forward before he could reply as laughter broke through our lips. "Come on, let's get going," Andrea said through chuckles.

We made our way to the trail she was talking about and quickly stripped the shoved our clothes in a hole nearby the entrance of the trail. Andrea shifted into her golden beast and waited for us patiently. I was next and trotted next to her as Evangeline shifted quickly to catch up. I turned to look at her and was almost stunned, she was red.

Her beast was about as red as her hair, and she was beautiful. A deep red with green eyes, she looked exotic. Like something from a different world, almost angelic.

"Ok, follow me," Andrea chimed into our link.

We ran after her down the trail that did prove to be challenging, but my wolf loved it. It was a steady incline, which in the mountains was much harder than it sounded. There were tons of twists and turns along with big boulders that we had to climb up on.

Evangeline did well, but she was holding back. I could feel it and so could Andrea. Her wolf could do more, she had blood like mine, the blood of an alpha female. She was capable of more, she just needed to dig deeper.

"You thinking what I'm thinking?" I asked Andrea as I looked back at the red wolf.

She nodded. "Yup, I'll follow your lead."

My beast trotted next to Evangeline's and nipped playfully at her. Her beast rolled her eyes then pushed pack, so we nipped some more. We were running harder now, the trail had leveled out on the side of the tall hill that led up to the mountain. My beast nipped at her again, this time at her legs, and almost caused her to fall.

Her beast snapped at us, but it did nothing to phase my beast. Andrea came up next to her and playfully shoved her. She shoved back, so Andrea shoved harder. Evangeline snapped at Andrea, but Andrea only gave her a low growl and snapped back.

"Cone on Evangeline," I teased.

She growled and pushed me harder, harder enough that surprised me as we ran. I smiled inwardly and flashed Andrea a mischievous smile. I pushed her hard, and this time I tripped her.

She got up and snarled a little, but my beast just snarled back and surfaced some more. "If you want a go at me, all you have to do is ask little sister."

Her eyes widened as I could see the tiny bits of fury start to swirl. She growled low then trotted forward. Andrea looked her then back to me. "Pussy," she called after Evangeline.

It was then that something happened, the red head snapped. She turned quickly and pounced on Andrea while I sat back and watched. She wasn't a bad fighter actually, she just needed to be refined. She needed to unleashe herself.

She got a few good snaps in, but soon Andrea had her on her ass. My beast was proud though, the red wolf had put up a decent fight. We could start to feel her blood, it was simmering and buzzing around her. I smiled inwardly, I knew it was there, we just had to pull it out of her.

"There it is little red," Andrea said as she stepped off of her.

"There's what?" Evangeline asked frustratedly.

"The blood in your veins, it's about time you started to tap into it."

Andrea walked off while Evangeline mused for a bit. I walked up to her and let my wolf lick some of the scrapes on her affectionately before rubbing our cheek against hers. "You're capable of a lot more, you know?"

With that, I turned and left her to her thoughts as she followed Andrea and I. She kept up better as we rounded our way back down the challenging path. Andrea and I both had it in our mind to try a more challenging route next time, we all needed to be pushed harder.

We shifted and threw our clothes back on when we got back, then headed towards the grassy clearing of the valley. Evangeline was still quiet, but I knew it was because she was brewing about something. It was a good thing, her wolf and her needed to brew.

We broke the tree line and immediately my face broke out into a grin as a familiar scent hit my nose. "Lander?!"

Lander snapped his head around and smiled then started to trot towards me with Billy in tow. I quickly met him in the middle and let him pick me up in a big bear hug. "How ya doing girl?!"

I felt my heart swell a little. He smelled like home. "Good, why didn't you tell me you were coming?!"

"Well, this was kind of last minute. Billy wanted to talk about training some of our warriors together again, so I'm out here for next two days trying to figure out logistics of how that would work with him. Would of let David come, but he's tied up with training some of ours. I would have, but I figured the surprise on your face would be worth it."

I smiled and hugged him again as my friends caught up to me. "Lander I am sure you remember Evangeline, and I am sure you know Andrea."

"Course, Andrea how are you?" he hugged her with a warm smile to his side.

"Good, how are your kids?"

He smiled again and chuckled a little as Billy caught up to him. "Good, Lyanna is pissed that I didn't bring her. She misses Charlie here." He looked over at Evangeline and smiled to her. "You probably don't remember me Evangeline, you were so young last time I saw you. It's good to see you thought girly."

She smiled and nodded politely. "I remember you, Lander, you're hard to forget."

He laughed and scratched at his chest. "Heard you're going to be Charlie's new sister-in-law?" He eyed me deviously which made Evangeline laugh. He looked back at me amusingly. "Say, where is that mate of yours? Levi told me to make sure I beat his ass around a little."

"Probably be good for him," Evangeline added.

I groaned and looked to Andrea for help who was smugly watching the conversation. "We were going to go to the rings in the far back, I think the vamps were going to meet us."

Billy's eyes flickered to Evangeline then back to Andrea. "Mind if we come? I think Lander is sick of watching those young dumb males fall on their asses."

Lander snorted. "They need a few ass beatings."

Andrea chuckled and shook her head. "No, I was actually going to ask you to come if you weren't busy."

"I always have time for you my daughter," he said with a warm smile. He slipped an arm over her shoulder and started to walk forward with the rest of us in tow.

"Ready for a beating Char?" Lander teased.

I rolled my eyes and gave him a sly grin. "Sure, I love beating you."

He growled playfully while Evangeline curiously watched. "What about red here? I was always wary of a fiery red head."

Evangeline's cheeks flushed a little while I gave him a knowing look. "I think she could probably beat you around pretty good one day."

"Oh ya?" he looked over at Evangeline who was quiet next to us. "I smell your blood girl, your brothers train you much?"

She shrugged. "As much as they can. I just, I guess I get caught up with my duties around here and it falls kinda down the priority list."

Lander looked to me with a knowing smile. "Well, I think I can work with that."

I nudged him as we walked further into the forest. We walked past the rings in the forest where a small group of warriors was sparring and deeper into the woods. Eventually, we found three older rings that sat back much further away from the other rings. Derek and Elliot were waiting in shorts and loose t-shirts. They saw Lander and smiled.

"Lander, lovely surprise," Derek called out as he zipped over to hug Lander.

Lander chuckled and nodded. "Just visiting Billy. We're working on maybe training our warriors together in some form."

"That would be good," Elliot added as he kicked a limb around.

"Alright, I want Andrea and Derek in the far ring down there," Billy said pointing to the last one on the left. "Char and Elliot, you're in the middle and Lander, I want you to take Evangeline to the last one," he said pointing to the ring on the right.

Evangeline looked a little nervous, but I nudged her playfully. "His barks much worse than his bite, you'll do fine."

She smiled at me and nodded then followed Lander who gave her a kind smile. He was a good teacher, he would be good for her.

We spared for a while, and it felt good to let my beast out. Elliot was a good challenge, he was always a good challenge. He was fast, like most vampires, and good about surprising me; but Elliot always paused to help me and show me new ways to block him or new ways that I could attack. He was a good teacher as well, pushing me just enough to perform.

After Billy was satisfied, I took a small break and drank from a bottle of water while I watched Evangeline. She really wasn't a bad fighter, she just needed to let herself loose. Lander was good with her though, he kept pushing her and pushing her and pushing her until I could feel her blood start to hum.

Elliot looked at me a little deviously before looking back to the ring. "Come on Evangeline, I'm getting bored."

She growled and ducked a punch then socked Lander good in the chest. It caught him a little off-guard. He had been on the offense the whole time up until then. I smiled to myself and looked over at Andrea who was walking towards us with Derek. "Really Evangeline, you smell more like a beta than an alpha," I shouted out.

That did it. Her wolf didn't like being grouped with someone lesser than her. Something snapped. She socked Lander hard in the lip before he stepped out of her next punch. She fought harder now, her blood felt like it was starting to come alive.

Eventually, Lander had her on the ground, but he smiled at the small female then helped her up with an amusing smile. "I think this one will be a real good one Billy when you're done with her."

Billy flickered his knowing eyes to Andrea and nodded. "Agreed." He looked over at me curiously, I could see his wolf assessing mine. My wolf wanted to go again, she wanted to show the male what it was that we were capable of. "Charlie, why don't you and Derek have a go. I want to be able to watch you some more."

I nodded as Derek shot me a wicked smile. We stepped into the ring as Lander and Evangeline stepped out. I cracked my neck as Derek walked to the other side. I had fought with Derek before, and I knew he was a real challenge. He made spend a lot of time in the kitchen, but an old vampire like him did not go down easily.

"No shifting till' I say, Char," Lander called out.

I sighed and nodded. Derek smiled deviously as he started to stalk around the arena. I mimicked his motions and let my wolf come forward. She loved Derek, but she also loved putting him hard on his ass. She loved drawing blood and reminding him that our teeth were not to be taken lightly.

A were's bite won't kill a vamp. To kill them, according to Elliot, you had to rip their heart out or behead them; but a vampire's bite was bad for a wolf, the venom could easily paralyze or kill you.

Derek eyed me some more as my wolf started pacing. She wanted a go, but she knew we had to wait. She had learned to become a patient and calculating hunter.

Derek zipped to me and I quickly ducked his blow. I turned on my heel and socked him hard in his kidney, but he spun quickly and let his fist meet my shoulder.

I growled. I growled low as punched him hard in his chest, throwing him off, then jabbed him hard in his shin. He stumbled a bit, but his elongated nails sliced my thigh right above my knee.

They went for another swipe but I caught his hand, then I pulled him forward and hit him hard in the stomach with my free hand twice. I shoved him back then started to stalk again, play with my prey as my wolf loved.

I could feel the blood running down my thigh but I minded not. It would heal quickly, and I wouldn't let it affect this fight. I would feel eyes on me, not just my friends, but other eyes. I paid it no attention, though, my attention was on Derek as he wiped the blood off of his mouth.

My beast came a little closer as I lunged at him. He blocked my blow, but he didn't block my other fist from slamming into the bone of his hip. He growled out, pain lacing it, and quickly jabbed me in the ribs. I hissed sharply then kneed him in his stomach before letting the back of my elbow meet his face.

But Derek was not fooling me. He whipped around and socked me hard in my check then let his shoe land shortly in the same place, sending me backward in the dirt. My wolf was not happy. She surged forward some more as the blood in our veins felt like someone had turned up the gas to their fire.

"Shift," Lander called out.

With that, I leaped in the air and let her come forward with a growl that seemed to surprise even Billy. Derek moved out of our way, but we were quick. I sat back and let my wolf have her fun, she knew how to play with this vampire as well as I did.

He hissed at us, causing the other onlookers to gasp, but my female only rumbled at him as she circled him. He lunged at us, but my female was quick. She dodged then quickly turned and bit down hard into the soft flesh under his arm.

She let go as he sprang to his feet. We lunged again, but this time, Derek was smart, he stepped out of the way and nailed her hard in her chest. She rolled backward, but now she was really pissed.

She felt something else make the hair on her back raise, but she paid it no attention, she was too focused on her target right now to care. Derek charged but we moved out of the way; my female caught his leg in her mouth as he moved past us and pulled him hard into the ground.

Before he could get up, my beast was on top of him with her muzzle close to his throat, growling and letting him know that it was over. Our blood was humming loudly know; Derek panted as he licked his bloody lip and smiled to me. "Well, well, well, little one. You never cease to surprise me."

My beast was satisfied enough with that. Immediately she went from predator to friend and started to lick at the wounds she had caused. We heard more gasps, then some whispers, but she didn't care. She just rumbled and let the energy in her veins hum louder, shushing whoever it was from bothering her.

"Ok, ok, I'm fine," Derek chuckled out while ruffling my hair. "I'll be fine in like thirty minutes anyways." He kissed my head as he pulled off his shirt and offered it to me. It was then that I was pissed that I ruined my workout clothes, I really liked those running pants.

I quickly shifted then slid into the shirt. Blood was trickling down in a few places but it wasn't that bad, I had much worse before. Billy smiled at me and nodded. "I can certainly work with this too."

I smiled and nodded to him. Evangeline was a little pale while Lander bit back a laugh. Andrea nodded behind me while Elliot amusingly looked to Derek.

I turned around and met the eyes of about thirty wolves, warriors both men and women, that were curiously watching. They all stared at me with wide eyes that kept looking at the vampire than me.

I rolled my eyes and growled low at them, letting my wolf come forward. Eyes widened and feet took steps back. "They're not used to seeing a vampire spar with a wolf," Billy said amusingly.

There were a set of feet that didn't move though and a pair of eyes that I knew had been watching the whole time. Ethan was leaning against the tree watching me intently. His wolf was pacing circles in his mind. I was curious and so was my beast. I let her come forward some more; other wolves subtly shuddered but Ethan stood still, if anything his wolf pushed forward as well and met mine.

A smile tugged at my lips as his blood started to hum to me. "Alright you lazy asses, back to work there's nothing to see here," Billy barked out.

My mate looked me over with eyes full of intense curiosity and desire. I felt my cheeks flush, and I knew his smirk was from the sight of my red cheeks. Point for him, dammit.

He turned to follow the other's when Billy walked forward. "Ethan," he called out. Ethan turned and looked at Billy curiously. "Get back to the rings, you and I have a date with one." Ethan's chest rumbled lowly as he nodded before he trotted off.

Derek walked over to me and kissed my cheek with a coy smile. "Your mate is a curious thing."

"He is isn't he? Curious indeed."