Book 1. The long dark nights. RE-EDITING

22. Second thoughts. EDITED

There was still five minutes left till it was time for to leave. There was a knock at the door. Artos sniffed the air. It was Maria's scent. He walked over to the door and opened it.

"Hey." She said. She walked in.

"Hi." Artos said, then shut the door.

"So, have you come up with a new plan on how to not kill them yet?"

"Not yet. But if they need to be killed, I'll do what I have to for the good of the Chosen."

"Yep."

Then there was an awkward silence. Maria then spoke up. "So, when should we tell the others that we are dating?"

"I don't know. I don't think now, or while we're still in training, is a wise time to announce it."

"So, after the training is complete then?"

"Yep. I think so." Artos pulled her into a hug. She was a girl of good stature, but Artos was still a good head taller than her. She lay her head on his chest. He laid his head on her head. This just came naturally to Artos. They stood like that for a minute or so. "I know it's really soon, but I think I love you." He whispered to her.

"I think I love you too." She whispered back to him.

Then there was a knock at the door. Artos and Maria broke from their showing each other affection. Artos sniffed the air. The scent was Dasker's. 'Maybe we should tell him that me and Maria are dating.' He thought. Then a voice came back. 'We could.' It sounded like Maria.

'I thought only Talia had mental powers.' He thought.

'You opened your mind link.' It said. So it was Maria.

'So, should we tell him?'

'Up to you.'

Artos opened the door. Dasker was looking at the floor, then when the door opened, he looked up. When he saw them together, he grinned.

"Whats going on here?" He asked.

"Me and Maria.." Artos said, but was cut off by Dasker.

"Are dating. I kinda figured." Dasker said.

Artos looked puzzled. "How?"

"Well, when me and Maria's family got killed, the job of find a mate for Maria was passed down to me. I don't know how to explain it, but I could feel that you two really like each other." He said. "Its something the head of the family was built with."

"Oh." Artos said.

"Ahem. Head of the family?" Maria asked.

"Yeah. I am the oldest living son of Althieus. That means I am the head of the Althieus family." Dasker said.

"Okay okay. Yeah. Isn't it time to go?" Maria asked.

"Yup." Dasker said. We all headed down to the garage. They all shifted but one.

"We're gonna all be shifted before we leave. Security reasons." Dasker said, then shifted. Maria shifted as well. Well, now it was Artos's turn. He concentrated hard on his wolf form. In a matter of seconds, he opened his eyes. He was on all fours. This was absolutely incredible and would never cease to amaze him.

Yuki was still human, so she opened the garage door, waited for everyone to leave the garage, then pressed the close button and ran and jumped through the garage doorway over the laser but under the door, shifted mid air and landed on the outside of the garage before the door came all the way down.

They all headed north. Artos thought about the intruders. If they die, they can see their lost loved ones. But what if they have mates? He couldn't stand the thought of Maria leaving him or him leaving Maria.