When I opened the door to our apartment, Bethi was in her chair with her fork in her mouth and all the pie missing from her plate.  The scent of her melancholy had filled the room.

“So you want to be alone, huh?” I said, stepping in.  “A bit rude, don’t you think?”

“No more rude than you running off in a drama queen fit so ‘Little One’ follows you,” she said.

I moved to stand before her.  She tilted her face up to glare at me.  I couldn’t help but feel amusement.

“You’re jealous.”

“No kidding.  Look, either want me or don’t, but stop playing the middle ground.  I’m tired of waiting for you.”

That killed my humor.  “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I had to suffer through a dream where I was drowned as a baby.  If you would have let me Claim you, I'd have more control over the dreams.  If you would have stayed by me, I wouldn’t have dreamed that at all.”

“Bethi, I’m sorry about leaving you.  The Elders had questions and wouldn’t be ignored.”

“I won’t be ignored, Luke.  Decide.”

She continued to glare at me, her anger and frustration boiling in her scent and her gaze.

“There is no decision.  We are meant to be together.”  She had to know that by now.  “We just need to be patient for a little while longer.  When you turn eighteen—”

“Just stop,” she yelled.  “Do you hear yourself?  Do you even know what you’re saying?”  She changed her voice in a poor imitation of me.  “‘Bethi, I want to be with you, but first I need you to suffer for three more months.  Being killed another ninety times—minimum—isn’t asking too much so I can feel virtuous when I allow you to Claim me.”

I crouched before her and took the plate from her hands.  “Bethi, I swear.  I will not leave you again.  I won’t allow you to suffer another death.”  Brushing the loose hair back from her face, I tried to comfort her.  Her dreams were too much for someone her age, and I hated that she suffered them.

“I already suffered one too many,” she said, knocking my hand aside to stand.  “If you add up all the years I’ve lived across all my lives, I celebrated my one thousandth birthday a couple of decades ago.  You’re not cradle robbing, you’re grave robbing.  Think on that.”

I couldn’t understand why she was so determined to rush into Claiming me when sleeping beside me solved the problem.  Sighing, I stood.  Her angry gaze held mine.  She was everything and more to me.  The heart to my existence.  Waiting wasn’t easy.  It wasn’t fun or entertaining.  But, it was what she deserved.

I stepped close and brushed my finger over her skin, tracing her right eyebrow and then running my fingers into her hair.  Her eyes softened and the hue changed ever so slightly.

“You have the most amazing eyes,” I said.

“I’ve heard that before.”  The anger was absent from her voice.  I wanted her so badly.  Leaning forward, I inhaled her sweet scent and listened to her pulse pick up speed.  Her lips begged for my attention, and I ached with the need to give in.  How could she not understand?

“I will do anything for you,” I said.  “Even wait.”  I gently kissed her cheek.

“Get out,” she said as she pulled back sharply, her face flushed.  “Before I hurt myself trying to hit you.”

“Bethi—”

“No.  No more.  Go.”  She turned her head away.

Her body shook with her anger.  I straightened and left the room, giving her some time to cool down.

In the hallway I listened as she moved around in the room.  When she left the living room, I hoped she might sleep some more.  Before enough time had passed for me to try to join her, I heard her reenter the living area, her determined steps approaching the door.

Moving down the hall, I closed myself into an unoccupied room and waited.  She left her room and started down the hall toward the commons.  I followed.

There were more males gathered in the commons when we arrived.  Most of them were Mated and helping their wives and cubs prepare for the Charlene’s dinner feast.  I found a quiet seat in the corner by the door and watched Bethi.  She didn’t notice me as she prowled the room.

When Mary and Gregory’s cubs entered, Bethi quickly approached them.

“I need help,” she said softly.  “Would either of you be willing to let me Claim you?  Just for a little while?”

My gut clenched.  What was she thinking?  Claiming wasn’t just for a little while.  It was permanent unless severed by death.  She was asking the cubs to die for her because I wouldn’t give her up.  Ever.

Henry was quick to excuse himself.  Paul wasn’t as smart.  Bethi took his hand and led him to a set of chairs.  The hair on my arms stood up.  The cub should know better than to listen to her nonsense.  Or touch her.  When she sat with her back to me, I grinned.  The cub would be facing me.

Paul glanced around the room nervously and caught my eye.  I slowly shook my head.  He swallowed hard and focused on Bethi.

“He’ll kill me just to have you back.”

“It won’t come to that,” Bethi said.

Yes.  It would.  And I’d hate myself for killing a cub, but I’d do it to keep her.

“Yes, it will,” Paul said echoing my thoughts.  “You don’t know our ways.  He’ll challenge me to the death.  I really want to help you, but I won’t have a chance.”

“Please,” Bethi begged.

“If there wasn’t anyone else interested in you, I would agree.  But if he doesn’t kill me, my mom will.”

One of the other males in the room laughed softly.  His Mate elbowed him.

“Yeah, yeah,” Bethi said in response to Paul.  “If he were really interested, why am I still unClaimed?”

“I’m really sorry, Bethi.”

“Whatever,” she said, standing.  When she turned, her gaze locked with mine.  Her eyes narrowed.  I looked at Paul and winked at the cub.  He’d made the right choice.

Bethi staggered suddenly, and I quickly moved to her side and held her arm to steady her.

“Are you all right?” I asked.  She should have stayed in our room and tried to sleep.

“Peachy,” she said, tugging her arm from my grasp.  She looked up at me, her expression tense.  “I just need something to drink.”

“I’ll get it for you.”

I quickly went to the kitchen and took a clean glass from the shelves.

“Did she like the dessert?” Charlene asked from the other side of the room.

Turning off the tap, I faced her.  “She did.  Thank you.”

“Let me know if she’s hungry.  The rest can wait for the meal, but I don’t think she should.  Running has taken too much out of her already.”

I nodded.

“Keep an eye on her, Luke.  She’ll need extra care.”

That she knew my name shouldn’t have surprised me.  Whether pack bound or Forlorn, Charlene didn’t discriminate.  She treated everyone like one of her cubs.  That was probably why she was worried about Bethi, too.

Leaving the kitchen, I looked around the commons.  Bethi was gone.  Damn it.  I left the commons, following her scent down the hall.  After two turns, I found her on the floor twitching, her mouth open wide in a silent, pain-filled scream.

I fell to my knees behind her.

“Bethi, wake up!”

She bolted upright, her arm swinging wide.  Her palm connected with my face in a stinging slap.  I quickly captured her hand and studied her eyes.  The pupils slowly constricted and tears leaked from the corners of her eyes.  She’d had another dream.  She’d only been gone from me for three minutes.

“Get away from me,” she said, her voice shaking.

“Bethi, I’m sorry—”

“I’m sorry.  I’m sorry.  Try being something else for a change.  Like on time,” she said, getting to her feet.

Hurt and guilt stabbed through me.

“Here’s the drink you asked for.”  I held out the glass of water she’d sent me for so she could run again.

She took the glass, and I turned away.  I didn’t know what to do to help her anymore.  Lost in my thoughts I wandered the halls.  When I realized I’d walked the same hall several times already, I headed for the front doors.

Gabby and Clay caught up to me just as I stepped outside.  She gave him a shy smile as he held the door for her.

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“Not far.  Just needed a minute.”

She glanced at Clay, waiting for him to step out beside her.  I envied the way they stayed so close together.  How did he keep her in such a good mood?  As desperate as I was for any hint on how to deal with Bethi, I’d choke before I asked the hairy ape for female advice.

“Now isn’t the time for you to be wandering off,” Gabby said.  “Joshua is here, meeting with the other Elders.”

She kept her voice light, but the scent of her concern and fear drifted around us.  Clay set his hand on the small of her back, and she leaned into him.  Clay didn’t understand her reaction, yet, but I did.  I wanted Joshua’s throat in my hands.

“You’re right.  I should go see if he—”

Luke, can you meet me in your apartment, Winifred sent me.

“Luke?” Gabby said, worried.

“Winifred wants me to go to the apartment.”

“Should we come?”

“No.”  I looked at Clay and lowered my voice.  “Don’t trust anyone.  Keep her inside and close.”

He nodded slowly, and I went inside.

When I reached the room, it was empty.  I waited and heard Bethi’s dragging steps in the hallway a few minutes later.  I had the door open before they reached it.

Bethi glanced at me, several emotions flitting over her features before she scowled.

“’Bout time you’re where you should be,” she said.

Guilt laced her scent as she passed me.  I reached out to tuck back a loose strand of her hair and wondered what she had to feel guilty about.  Paul?  I’d forgiven her attempt to Claim another Mate as soon as she’d started.

“Now,” Nana said, sitting on the couch.  “What is the problem here?”

Problem?  I watched Bethi as she sat in a chair.  Her guilt was suddenly worrying me.  What was she up to now?  I closed the door and moved to stand beside her.

“Before we start is it possible for you not to share this with the rest of the Elders?  I know you have a special connection with them and everything”—she glanced at me quickly—“but I really don’t want anyone else knowing this.  I mean, you can tell if someone is close enough to hear, too, right?”

“Of course.  For the moment, we have privacy.  And I won’t share the details of private conversations unless I ask first.”

“Do you swear?”

“I do.”

“Fine.  Nothing is shared from this point forward unless you ask me.”  Bethi leaned forward slightly.  “I lied.  Oh, Luke really is annoying me with his whole Puritan attitude.”  She arched a brow at me.  “I lied about something else.  Rather, I didn’t tell you everything.  But for a very good reason.  Now, I need you to trust me.”  Her mouth twisted in a bitter smile.  “Funny asking for trust after admitting to a lie.”  She shrugged, took a deep breath, and reached for Winifred’s hand.  “Joshua is not one of you.  He’s an Urbat.”  Winifred’s brow shot up.  “I couldn’t say anything before because I hadn’t figured out what to do about it, but I have a plan now.”

“What’s an Urbat?”

“The Urbat are a cousin to the werewolf.  Not quite the same, but very close.  There’s more, but we don’t have the time or the privacy to get into it.”

Winfired sat quietly for a moment.

“What do you plan to do?” she asked finally.

Bethi released her hand and sat back with a slight smile.  “That’s where I need your trust.  I can’t tell you yet because it depends on Joshua believing me and you.  I’m a great liar to your kind.  I know the tricks.  Scent.  Heart rate.  All that stuff.  If you can’t lie, I need you to stay here.  If you can lie, I need you to back me up.”

“I don’t understand,” Winifred said slowly.

“We need to go back in that sound-proofed room, tell them Luke won’t let me Claim him, which is the truth by the way, and I’ll explain to the room why I need to Claim someone.  If...when Joshua offers a solution, I want us to go along with it.”

“What do you think he’ll offer?” she asked.

“Something that will lead me away from here and to my other potential Mate.”

My heart gave a heavy, sickening beat as my stomach soured.  Another potential Mate?  I growled.

“No one asked you,” she said, not looking at me.  “I won’t go, of course,” she said to Winifred.

“Will whatever you plan put you or the pack in danger?”

Bethi gave a dry laugh.  “I’ve been in danger since I started having those dreams.”

Winifred didn’t look confused by the mention of dreams.  Somehow Bethi had already discussed them with her.  Yet, it didn’t sound like she’d shared everything.

“What I plan shouldn’t make it worse.  As far as the pack goes, that’s what I’m trying to protect.”  Bethi stood, cringing.  “I swear I have the perfect plan, Nana.  All I need is your support and trust.”

“I would feel more comfortable if you shared your plan first.”

“Me too,” I said.  She was so obsessed with Claiming right now.  I didn’t trust her or her plan, especially when she started talking about other Mates.

Bethi shook her head.  “Sorry.  If I do that, you’ll both try talking me out of it because you don’t understand everything.  And I don’t have time to explain it all.  We need to start this quickly.  Joshua is a huge threat that can’t be dealt with through reasoning or a drawn-out fight.”

Winifred nodded and stood.  “I’ll give you my support.”

I moved to follow them, but Bethi lifted her hand.  “No, Luke.”

I glanced at Winifred, who studied Bethi for a moment before returning my gaze

“I will keep her safe,” Winifred said.

The situation didn’t feel right.  And, Bethi’s guilt only made it worse.

“What are you planning?” I asked, stepping close to her and tangling my fingers in her hair. I leaned in, nuzzling her hair aside so my lips rested near her ear.  She shivered as I inhaled.

“You smell like sweet pears and cinnamon.  The last time you smelled like this you left me at the laundromat waiting for a burger.”

She stiffened then her arms started to move.  I opened my mouth and tasted the shell of her ear.  She stilled and sighed, a clear sign of her attraction to me.

“Are you running again, Bethi?” I asked.

My heart ached as I waited for her answer.

“I will come back here when I’m done.”  The breathlessness of her voice and the steady beat of her heart reassured me.  For now.

I stepped back, releasing her.

“Watch her closely, Winifred.  She’s up to something.”

“Of course I am,” Bethi said indignantly.  “I already said that.”

I grinned at her exasperation.  It was the real Bethi, the one I loved.  She shook her head at me then left the apartment, with Winifred following her.

It was because I loved Bethi that I waited two minutes then made my way to the sound-proofed room.  Winifred and Bethi stepped inside just as I reached it.  Worry ate at me.  Winfired had promised to protect her.  Could I trust her?

Several long minutes later, the door opened and Bethi strode out.  Watching her feet, she didn’t see me and almost ran into me.  I caught her arms so she wouldn’t bump into me and pull her stitches.  Startled, her gaze flew to mine.

“I thought you were waiting in the room,” she said.

“I didn’t actually think you’d come back.”  I didn’t add that I didn’t trust her with the Elders.

“I told you I would.”

She had.  And she’d apparently been telling the truth.  I threaded my fingers through hers and started back toward the apartment.  My relief didn’t last long.  The light scent of guilt that had teased my nose before she’d left grew stronger with each step.

Without a doubt, Bethi was up to something.  Something she didn’t like.  But what?

When we reached the apartment, I opened the door for her.  She shuffled into the room and went straight to the couch.  The circles were back under her eyes.  She was so tired and needed rest.  As soon as she sat, she closed her eyes.  I sat next to her and put an arm around her shoulders to hold her to my side.

“You look tired,” I said.

“I’m always tired.”

I was trying to figure out how I could suggest moving to the bedroom without causing another fight about Claiming when someone knocked on the door.

Bethi didn’t move when I went to answer it.  Sam stood in the hall.

“Luke, we would like to speak with you.”

I didn’t like the tone of his voice.  I glanced at Bethi, suspicious.

“I’ll be fine.”  The scent of her guilt flooded the room.

But would I be fine, I wondered.  I left with Sam.