He was in the waiting room less than an hour when Maddison's family came in. He had never felt anything like what he did when he saw their pale, dead eyed, faces.

  At first they didn't say anything. They both sat next to Reece, Chase leaning into his father and crying silently. He waited, head lowered, the picture of submission. He had never felt so much shame.

  "What happened?" Greg asked eventually, his voice tight with emotion. He did not look at Reece.

  "I- I had just fallen asleep. I was out for hours running under the moon with the rest of the pack and I passed out. Didn't even shift back first... suddenly I heard Stephanie scream my name. I ran out as fast as I could and tore the woman that was attacking her away." Reece rambled, the words just spilling out.

  "I tried to bite onto her neck but I got burned. She was wearing silver around her neck. I was about to go for it again anyway but then Maddison begged me to stop. She managed to say that the werewolf that had attacked her was her friend..."

  "Kalie? Kalie attacked Maddison?" asked a dumbfounded Greg. "Kalie is a werewolf?"

  "It wasn't her fault." Reece felt the need to defend Maddison's friend. "Someone had tortured her and then tied a silver collar around her neck. When a wolf is too badly injured its instinct to shift and heal. The silver prevented her from shifting, and kept causing her pain. She had slipped into silver sickness. That girl wouldn't have known friend from foe. When she wakes up I'm sure she will be devastated to learn she had attacked her friend..."

  "You are a werewolf?" Chase asked weakly. He gazed at Reece with big round blue eyes.

  "I am." He was quiet for a moment longer before he couldn't hold back anymore. "I am so, so sorry! I clearly was not doing my best to keep my promise to you Greg..."

  "The way I see it" said Greg finally turning to look at Reece. "You have nothing to apologize for. In fact id like to say thank you. If you hadn't been there Maddison would have died at the hands of her best friend. You saved them both."

  Reece didn't know what to say. He defiantly felt responsible. Maddison was his mate, and therefore it was his job to keep her safe.

  "Where is Kalie?" asked Chase. "Is she okay?"

  "She's here as well. My pack and I managed to remove the silver and she shifted. She has been resting ever since, and was transported here with Maddison. I'm not sure what room she is in though."

  "Reece? Will Maddison be a werewolf now too?" asked Chase fearfully.

  "I don't know. But the chances are good that she will be. The closer to the full moon, and the more sever the bite, the higher the chance of contracting the virus."

  "Mr. Nixon?" a man in a white lab coat with dr. Senju stitched on the breast pocket came up to them holding a clip board.

  "Yes! I'm Gregory Nixon. Is my daughter alright?" asked Greg, jumping to his feet. Reece and Chase got up a little slower.

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  "We have her stabilized and resting. Her life is no longer in danger but she will have to stay here till the blood tests come back. When they do we should know whether or not she has contracted the werewolf virus."

  All three audibly let out there breath. Reece couldn't even describe the level of relief he felt.

  "Also, miss Grace has you listed as her next of kin. I have an update on her as well."

  "Is Kalie going to be okay?" asked Chase.

  "Yes. We are treating her for sever silver poisoning but she should be good to go whenever she feels ready. She is awake now, if you would like to see her."

  "Yes, please." Said Greg following the doctor.

  Chase took Reece's hand and pulled him after Greg. Reece wished to go see Maddison, but knew that she would like to know how her friend was doing. And so Reece followed.

  Kalie's room was crowded. No less than three OWPD officers were there, as well as two nurses. By the time Reece and the others entered there was hardly room to breath.

  "Masters! What the devil are you doing here?" asked one of the officers once Reece was crammed into the room.

  "Witness..." Reece said vaguely.

  "Figures, there is never a dull moment with you."

  "Greg! Chase!" a shrill voice cut through the ruckus. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"

  Reece saw that it was the tiny woman cuffed to the bed that was crying hysterically. She was healed now and a little cleaner but there was no mistaking that pink hair. This was Maddison's friend, Kalie.

  "I didn't mean too!" she wailed, rocking back and forth. "I swear I never would have hurt her on purpose! Nooo, please no..."

  "Enough!" snaped the doctor. "Every body but family out! Now!"

  "Now see here Doc, we need to question the suspe-" one of the OWPD officers grumped.

  "Not tonight you don't. Even if you wanted to you wouldn't get a coherent word out of the girl. She needs sleep. You can come again when the sun comes up. While the moon is out she will still be too excitable."

  Everyone seemed to acknowledge the doctor's stern logic and began filing out of the emergency room. Soon all that remained were the doctor, the Nixon's, Reece and a weeping Kalie.

  "Shhh Kalie." Soothed Greg moving in to comfort the girl.

  "They said I attacked Maddison!" she wailed, clutching her hospital gown. "I don't- its all so confusing... I swear I didn't mean to! Id never hurt her!"

  "Its okay Kalie. Reece already explained about the silver-"

  "Wayne was so mad! He said he was going to hurt Maddie! B-but I h-hurt her!"

  "Doc..." hedged Reece, not enjoying seeing the young she-wolf breaking down.

  "Okay, miss Grace," Doctor Senju withdrew a syringe from a locked cupboard and removed it from the sealed plastic, bringing it up to Kalie's iv drip "I'm giving you a sedative. When you wake up in a few hours the sun will have come up, and then the police will want a word with you."

  "What- what about m-m-Maddie..." she began to slur as the medication started to kick in.

  "Miss Nixon should be awake by then as well. Rest now miss Grace."

  It only took a few seconds for Kalie to fall back onto her pillow. Her face was at rest and Reece could see that she was a pretty, if tiny, thing.

  "Isn't Wayne the name of Kalie's boyfriend?" Chase asked, still holding Reece's hand.

  "I believe so..." answered Greg. He turned to Reece with sad eyes. "Do you think he is a werewolf too then?"

  "I don't know. Chances are good that he is some kind of Other though." Explained Reece. "Weres have a hard time being in a relationship with humans. We are strong and live in a hierarchal structure that can clash with the human way of thinking."

  "What do you mean?"

  "For many weres, werewolves included, there is a pecking order. The strong dominate the weak and the weak have no choice but to obey. Even i have only ever defied my alpha one time..." Though, that most had to do with the fact that he had not had any reason to ignor his alpha before.

  "You did?" piped in Chase still staring at the unconscious Kalie. "When?" he turned to look at Reece.

  "Today. Ryan told me to go get dressed and find your sisters phone. I didn't listen at first." Reece looked out the door, wondering where Maddison was being kept. "I didn't want to leave her alone on my front step. Ryan actually had to get down and explain that he wanted me to call you guys before I could listen."

  "Would you all like to see Maddison now?" asked the doctor, now standing by the door. "She wont be awake for a while but she might be calmer if you are there when she does."

  "Yes, of course, please take us to my daughter."