Eric~

I watched her climb through her window, wincing as the wooden pane creaked softly. She slipped through with ease, landing softly on the ground a few feet below.

Her rosy cheeks were even more flushed in the chilly night air. A gentle wind blew her unruly, dark locks around her face. She lifted a hand and brushed a few strands from her eyes.

She looked good enough to eat.

So that's just what I'll have to do.

Tamara Rose~

I had a very simple plan.

Step One: Sneak out.

(That was actually much easier than I'd thought it would be. For werewolves, everyone in this house sure was a heavy sleeper.)

Step Two: Find Eric and offer him anything he wanted in exchange for the peace of the pack and Cassie.

See? Simple.

I avoided all the fallen leaves blanketing the ground and made my way towards the woods. The night air was biting, and it crept into the pores of my skin like icy water. I hugged my elbows, shivering.

Note to self: Next time, when sneaking out and committing a self-sacrifice that will most likely alienate your mate for life, bring a coat.

The thought of Dylan made my heart break. I knew Eric would ask me to do something horrible...possibly something like never speak to Dylan again.

I couldn't stop speaking to Dylan again.  We'd only just gotten back onto good terms. Besides, he was my mate. Even when I hated him, I loved him.

I had loved him just a few hours ago.

The thought made my cheeks heat up.

A few hours ago, Dylan had slipped into my room to say goodnight. I'd been tossing and turning before then, anxious about what the night would ahold once I found Eric.

So, when Dylan came in, I sat up like a rocket and asked--very nervously, I might add--if he could sit with me for a few minutes.

He'd frozen in the doorway, hand on the doorknob. "You...you want me to stay?"

I smiled nervously. "If you don't want to--"

"No, I was just...surprised," he corrected quickly. Stepping fully into the room, he closed the door behind himself and walked over to my bed. He'd started to sit on the edge until I pulled up the blanket.

"Dylan, we're mates," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "Don't be such a prude."

He snorted. "Um, need I remind you, you're the one who has never gone past second base?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Is that a challenge?"

He smirked. "No, of course not. I wouldn't want to force you into anything--"

I shut him up with a kiss.

It was supposed to be quick and sweet--just a peck to shut him up.

The second our lips touched, passion bloomed within my chest and heat exploded throughout me, spreading a foreign warmth flooding through my body.

We kissed passionately, my fingers curling in his hair and his hands at my waist. His fingers brushed the hem of my shirt, teasing.

I ripped my shirt off, making him growl with hunger. Dylan pushed me onto the bed, pushing my arms up over my head as we kissed heatedly. I wrapped my legs around his hips as he straddled me.

After that, it was all a blur.

Once it was over, Dylan had kissed me softly once more on the lips. I'd smiled against his chest, curled up against him, his arms around me.

When he fell asleep, I snuck out.

Now, as I shouldered my way past leafy trees into a small clearing in the woods, I felt a few tears slip down my cheeks. I had finally gotten to a good place with Dylan, and now I was jeopardizing it all.

But...I didn't have a choice. This was the only way Eric was going to leave Cassie alone. I owed Lizzie this much--I had to keep her daughter safe.

"How noble of you."

I whirled around, eyes wide. "E-Eric."

It was still strange to see him with standing.

But, there he stood. Towering, with an air of intimidation and strength like I had never before seen him possess. His chin was lifted with confidence, his posture straight, his arms tense with muscle.

Gulping, I shifted my gaze nervously to the ground. "Did you read my mind?" How else could he have heard what I'd thought about needing to protect Cassie?

He snorted in disdain. "As powerful as I am, I'm not a witch. You were muttering to yourself, sweetheart."

I winced. "Oh."

Eric appraised me with a cool gaze. His eyes were stormy with emotions, making me fidget with discomfort until he finally spoke.

"Do you really think I'll just give up and do whatever you want, just because you ask me? Do you hold yourself to that high of a value, Tamara Rose?"

I swallowed. "No, of course not. I don't expect you to do what I say simply because. I'm willing to do whatever you want." I had to choke out the last sentence, because a sob was trying to climb its way up past my throat. I smothered it. Showing weakness now would be like digging my own grave.

Eric smirked, taking a few steps forward. His stride was cocky. He sauntered towards me so quickly I actually took a step back.

"Whatever I want?" He stopped a foot away, his expression amused. "What if I told you to never see Dylan again? Or leave your pack and become a rogue?"

My gut twisted and I felt a tears spill over my lashes. "I...I'll do it," I whispered shakily. "As long as you promise to leave Mark and Cassie and Dylan alone."

"Hmm." He appraised me coolly. "You're just as sacrificial as I remember."

I closed my eyes, feeling tears spill over my lashes. "Meaning at least you remember something about me. About us. About your life, before--"

"Oh, I remember," he hissed, cutting me off and stepping forward abruptly. "I remember all right. I remember confessing my love for you and being attacked. I remember being kicked out my pack by my own family."

"Is that how you remember it?" I opened my eyes and roughly wiped away any remaining tears. My voice was cold, hard. "That's sure as hell not how it happened. You didn't confess your love--you forced yourself onto me," I choked out, my teeth grit. "And you were only kicked out because we gave a second chance and you ruined it."

"I RUINED IT?"

I jumped at the force of his yell. He was suddenly right in front of me, and I was thrown back agains a tree.

I landed against the trunk so hard it knocked the breath out of me. Landing on the ground on my hands and knees, I gasped for breath, pain throbbing in my rib cage.

Eric strode briskly over to me, his fists curled in anger. He grabbed me by the collar of my shirt, bunching the cloth up and pulling me to my feet harshly.

His face barely an inch from mine, he growled softly, "I didn't ruin anything. The only mistake I ever made--" his eyes were black with anger-- "was loving you."

And with that, I was thrown back against the tree.