People walked down the streets and laughed. The afternoon sun made moving about the streets enjoyable. Laughter was all anyone could hear and it drifted into the tavern. Hearing the noise, he put his drink down and growled. A stool to his right was pulled back and he watched Doran take a seat next to him.

The man ordered a strong drink and looked at him. They hadn't spoke to each other since Aine was taken. He didn't want to speak to the man. His family kept getting Aine hurt and he was running out of patience. Doran slid his hand into his coat's pocket and pulled out a piece of paper.

He slid it across to Aedan and took a drink of his beer. Silently his eyes looked down at the scribblings and he put his drink down. Doran smirked and looked over at him.

"Contact is trustworthy."

His eyes narrowed and he took another drink. Doran sighed and shook his head.

"You want her? Go get her. She isn't coming back."

Aedan finished his drink and got to his feet. Dropping the bill's amount on the bar, he slid his jacket on and left the tavern. Crossing the streets, he ducked into his old home and climbed the stairs to his room. Standing in the empty room, he walked over to a desk and pulled open the top right drawer. Picking up the envelope, he took a deep breath and sighed.

Flipping the envelope open, he glanced at his progress reports. After killing John, he had been taken by Doran's father into custody and was given treatment and time behind bars. Reading a specialist's words, he frowned and tossed the papers into an old duffel bag. Zipping the bag shut, he pulled it over his shoulder and left the room. Walking downstairs, he heard the door open in the kitchen and stopped.

"Aedan, it's just me."

Hearing Doran's voice, he sighed and stepped into the kitchen. The man sat at his table and he dropped the bag into the nearest chair. Doran eyed the bag and looked up at him.

"Going after her?"

"No."

The man stared at him and sighed, "You haven't lost yet. Why are you giving up?"

He turned to the man and said, "It wouldn't matter if I did get her back. Aine is gone."

Grabbing the bag, he pulled it over his shoulder and left the house. Doran followed him outside and he locked the house up. He tossed the keys to Doran and walked down the streets. He had a ride to catch out of this area and away from the nightmare he was stuck in.

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The sun rested behind the mountains and the fire crackled quietly. The flames lit the library and he stood by the window. The door opened quietly behind him and he waited. It shut and his visitor crossed to the middle of the room. Looking over his shoulder, he met the gaze and watched them take a seat.

"I'm surprised you came back."

A warning haze filled his eyes and he watched her go pale. She took a deep breath and looked up at him once more.

"I want you to forgive my brother."

"Where is he?"

She looked up at him and said, "I can't tell you that. Please, please just forget his error."

She rose to her feet and crossed the room. Her hand caught his right arm and she looked up into his gaze. The sorrow and fear for Bain just agitated him and he closed his eyes.

"Coyle?"

"He knows the law."

She let go and stepped back. He could feel the sorrow overwhelming her and looked out the window. She shook her head and caught both of his arms. Burying her face into his shirt, she shook and begged.

"Please, Coyle. He's all I have left. You don't have to do this."

He let out a hiss and looked away. Watching the shadows by the forest, he saw the two wolves acting more themselves and understood. Silently he looked to the door and caught Artis's hands. He could hear the heartbeat through the door and waited. Weeks passed before she had recovered and he wanted to check on the wounds.

With the last encounter, he didn't want to be near her when she wasn't well. He needed her guard to be up or else holding control over the beast within was effortless.

"Coyle? Please tell me you will forgive him. Please."

He looked down at Artis and met her gaze. She was determined to save Bain. Growling, he knocked her hands away and watched her look away. She crossed the room and stopped by the door. His eyes narrowed and he watched her look back at him.

"I had hoped that you would understand what last of our family means."

A low growl filled his throat and a flash of gold filled his eyes. She opened the door and walked down the hall. Shoving a hand through his hair, he looked at the doorway and then back at the window. He saw her shadow on the ground watching the wolves and closed his eyes. The sun would be rising and he felt the hunger growing.

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Engines roared through the sky and he opened his eyes slowly. Looking out his little window, he watched the ground change time after time and smirked. Soon the plane would land and he would be in a new country with a new life. Leaning his head back into his chair, he closed his eyes and heard his friend wake. Doran looked past him and looked out the window.

"Almost there I take it."

He opened one eye and caught the man's gaze. Nodding, he rested his eyes once more and slid his hand into his jacket. Feeling the cool band in his hand, he let his mind plunge into the same dream.

He felt her hands on him and her body in his touch. Her soft moans filled his head and he met the red gaze. The vampire appeared and stopped her blow. The stake landed on the ground and his fangs ripped into her shoulder. She went limp in his hold and he looked up. He watched the vampire pick her up in his arms and run his tongue over the wound. She looked back at him and a silver ring fell to the ground.

Opening his eyes, Aedan felt the plane roll to a stop and he looked out his window. Seeing the terminal beside the plane, he sat up straight and Doran met his gaze. They moved into the aisle and he caught his bag from up above. Leaving the plane, they step into the terminal and he caught sight of the man who hooked them up with the tickets. Doran followed without a word and they joined the man at the exit.

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"You feel up to the outdoors?"

She looked up at the haunting voice and met his gaze. He seemed different and she rested her arms on her knees. Belenus ran over to her and dropped a stick in her hand. She looked at it and rose to her feet. Throwing it to the edge of the forest, she brushed her hands on her pants and met his gaze once more.

"I prefer the outdoors."

His eyes darkened and she felt the hunger surrounding her. She could tell he hadn't fed since she had collapsed and frowned.

"You should go eat."

A hint of red caught her attention and she crossed her arms across her chest. He was driving her crazy. Everything from his built to his mouth and hands kept running through her dreams and leaving her aching for him. Knowing he was just doing what he promised Breck, she turned to Belenus and took the stick from him. The young wolf jumped around and she threw it once more. Belenus took off in a blur and she felt the cold brush her skin.

"Go hunt before you get yourself killed."

The authority in her tone drew some control back into his system and he smirked. She knew she was in danger around him but wasn't afraid to prove she could hold her own. He stepped back into the shadows and she let out a sigh. Knowing he would return before sunrise, she felt Belenus at her knee and rubbed his ear. He licked her hand and she headed inside the manor.

Climbing the stairs to the south wing, she reached her room and closed the door behind her. Kicking off her boots, she changed into sweatpants and a soft t-shirt. Sitting in a chair, she draped her legs over the edge and picked up a book. Looking at the cover, she traced the title and flipped to the page she left off on. Feeling her body needing rest, she marked her page and closed the book.

Setting it aside, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Her hand rubbed the bridge of her nose and she let out a sigh. She was growing uneasy everyday and she didn't want to dwell on it. The door opened as her mind hovered between reality and her subconscious and she felt a cool sensation calm her body. Opening her eyes, she looked up slowly and met golden eyes.

His presence left her alert and she sat up slowly. He moved to the fireplace and she watched his face dance in the fire. Slowly she slid to her feet and ran a hand through her hair. She approached him quietly and he looked over his shoulder. His eyes faded into a cold black and she ran her hand along his mouth.

She could feel the path blood had trailed down his face and she looked up at him. His hand caught her wrist and he met her gaze. She took a deep breath and brushed her fingers through his soft hair. He ran his knuckles along her throat and found her pulse.

"You should be resting."

She caught his hand and said, "I wonder why you worry about me when you should be worrying about how to kill me."

His hand slid to the nape of her neck and he growled, "I do."

A slow smile crossed her face and she felt his lips brush hers. She slid her arms around his neck and the kiss deepened. He crushed her hair in his hand and she let out a soft moan. He drew her up in his arms and she felt the bed beneath her back. She slid her fingers through his hair and he pulled the shirt up her stomach.

His hands stilled and his gaze met hers. She sat up slowly and pulled her shirt off. His eyes landed on the faint wound and she drew her hair back. Tilting her head slightly, she caught his head and lowered it to the wound. His teeth sank deep and she cradled his head to her as the sensations drove the stark hunger onward.