Dusk

Chapter 9

Bleary green eyes fluttered open slowly. The chains holding the wolf's arms up were loosened and the wolf was slowly lowered to the floor. Lauren breathed deeply and recognised the wheezing sound coming from between her lips.

Soft hands gently cradled her face before she was pulled into someone's lap. Even though the body she was leaning against was cold to her touch, warmth radiated within her body. Her hair was moved away from her eyes and face as her body was once again moved and she found herself cradled in the person's arms like she was a newborn baby.

A soft voice met the wolf's ears before she felt herself being lifted away from the breeze ghosting across the barren floor. The rocking motion from the movement was lulling the wolf into a calm state; delaying any possible panic that could occur. Soft blankets brushed against her skin as she attempted to open her eyes once more and the wolf let out an audible groan as she curled herself up into a ball.

"My fucking head," She whimpered as she brought her hands up to clutch onto her hair. The cold body was back but the wolf made no move to get away from them. "It will wear off soon," The woman said softly before once again pulling the wolf into her lap. Lauren nuzzled into the person's neck and breathed a sigh of relief when the persons knees came up towards her chest; trapping Lauren securely in a tight cocoon.

The youngster soon felt her emotions bubbling over as her chest started to heave and she felt her tears break past her closed eyelids. Lauren curled up tightly and let herself be rocked gently back and forth. She could feel the hands that had be supporting her body move so they were stroking her back and arms. The wolf took the comfort gratefully and tried her best to stop her tears from flowing. "Shh, Lauren. It is ok to cry, just let it out," The voice cooed gently as blunt nails scratched the wolf's scalp. The youngster made sure her eyes were tightly closed as she tried to calm don her breathing. She was safe, it was ok.

~~~~~~~

Camila sent out a message for Demi to come and visit her at her pack house. Since the other pack had no Alpha, Demi was the closest thing left to calm for them. All the wolves were currently still whining. They were stuck in half shifts and their claws were not retracting anymore. Camila could already feel the strain of supporting her packs emotional wellbeing's; she wasn't strong enough to support the other pack too.

The door slammed against the wall as Demi appeared in the room. The alpha-less pack all shifted completely and surrounded the woman as she fell to her knees to console them. "What happened? Where is Lauren?" Dinah whined at the mention of the older wolf and Demi gasped as she felt the pain hit her. "Cabello! Where the fuck is Lauren?" The woman asked again as her arms wrapped around the wolves pawing at her chest.

"She went to Gal..." The alpha whispered before nuzzling her head against Normani who was struggling to stay calm with her soul mate in such pain. The older woman's head snapped up towards the alpha. "She wouldn't do that! Why did she do that?" All the wolves whined which led to the brown eyed woman taking a deep breath and willing herself to calm down. "I'll get her... Take everyone to the pack house, they have a comfort room there. Don't let anyone in or out, regardless of who it is."

Demi quickly sent each of the wolves a brief message before running out of the house and towards enemy lines. The vampires crowded immediately and hissed as the woman stood directly behind the line. "Bring her to me. Now," The vampires shrunk back at the hiss before some of the lower ranked and younger vampires were sent on there way.

"She came to us. We never forced her and neither did our leader... We respect that treaty, Lovato," One of the women said as she moved forward. Her hair was black. It was shaved, and her curls were starting to come back through her hair as it got longer. The older woman dragged her eyes over the woman before realizing who it was. "Almost didn't recognise you without the blue hair. Going for a new look, Fraction?"

The younger woman offered a small smile in recognition. "Actually, I'm more of a three fourths kinda woman now..." When the older woman raised an eyebrow, the woman stepped forwards completely and smiled wide. Her new fangs gleamed as the light hit them and the older woman chuckled. "Your fangs grew in? Well then, looks like the little hybrid is nearly all grown up,"

Demi offered the woman a warm smile in congratulations. "But Ashley... Lauren needs help, she can't do this to herself or to her pack. You're half wolf, you should know this," Brown eyes dulled slightly before she nodded her head. "I'll go ask Mama about how she' doing. I'll try to talk some sense into her Lovato," The woman said before turning away and running off into the trees.