Eric was busy with the other Wolves discussing their attack on the grain elevators to get Donna and Mikayla back. Kayla had tried to sit in on the meeting, but Eric grimly refused to let her. She was left wandering the hospital floors, full of anxiety and stress. She couldn't even go outside for a breath of fresh air. There was a chance that the vampires might come back for her, and Eric wanted her surrounded by Wolves that could protect her at all times.

But when she happened across the items that had been confiscated from the vampires, including a cellphone, she stopped dead. The thought that maybe she could do something to get Mikayla and Donna back burned in her mind, and she couldn’t not act. She grabbed the phone and swiftly returned to the room she had been given for her time here.

Once there, she didn't let herself think. There was a chance that this would end badly for herself, but that didn't matter. She had to do whatever she could to get Mikayla and Donna back – and hopefully avoid more violence.

There was only one name on the contact list. Kayla's heart pounded as the phone dialed. Her hands shook and her mouth was dry. After far too many rings, there was an answer.

"I wondered when you Wolves would—" a cruel, amused male voice started.

"I'm not a Wolf. You have my daughter and my best friend, and I want you to let them go."

There was a moment of silence, then a low chuckle. "Ah, so it seems I have the Alpha's mate instead of the Alpha himself. I can't tell you how disappointed I was when my people brought home the wrong woman. I nearly killed her on the spot."

"Don't hurt her," Kayla gasped. "Please. You wanted me and Mikayla. Taking Eric's daughter was a huge mistake. He will kill you all if you don't give her back. But…" She closed her eyes. "If you let Donna and Mikayla go, then I will be your prisoner."

"Hmm… Interesting proposition. I'll tell you what. I will take up your offer. If you come to the parking lot of that old abandoned laundromat on Ninth Street tonight after dusk, I will let your daughter and friend go. But if I see a single Wolf, I will kill dear Donna."

He hung up before Kayla could say another word. She dropped the cell phone, heart hammering. But her mind was made up. She was going to get her daughter back to safety.

I'm sorry, Eric. If only she could say goodbye… but that would tip him off that something was wrong. No. She had to face this alone.

***

The parking lot was dark and deserted, with only a single flickering street lamp illuminating it. As if this place had to be any creepier than it already was, the laundromat was all but falling apart. It looked like the perfect place for serial killers to have a convention.

With a shiver, Kayla turned off the car. It was only by luck that she managed to get here at all. As Eric was still busy, Quin had been left to watch out for her. Fortunately, due to his injury, he had fallen asleep, and she had slipped away. How long she had before they realized she was gone was another thing, though.

Kayla hadn't been in the parking lot for long before a large black van pulled up beside her little car. A man in a dark suit stepped out from the driver's side. His paleness gleamed in the dim light, a sneer on his face and a glittering triumph in his eyes. Kayla's heart pounded as she stepped out of her car.

"Hello, Kayla." The vampire mocked a bow. "I am the coven leader that you spoke with earlier."

"Where are Mikayla and Donna?"

The vampire gestured to the van. "I must say, you're not what I expected for an Alpha's mate. I thought you'd be… thinner."

Kayla clenched her hands. "I don't care what you think. Let my friend and daughter go!"

The vampire grinned again, but even as he turned towards the van, a howl split the air. Kayla jumped, spinning around. A Wolf bounded out from behind the laundromat. Quin. Kayla opened her mouth to tell him to go, but her voice was drowned out by another howl. He leaped at the vampire, but with a grin, the vampire sidestepped him. The black doors of the van screeched open and a dozen more vampires leaped on Quin at once.

Kayla stumbled away from the fight. "I didn't know he followed me! Please, don't hurt Donna! Please!"

Quin snarled and snapped at the vampires surrounding him, but there were too many of them. Soon, he was pinned down by their bodies. Each one had a death grip on him. The head vampire walked over to Kayla, smiling blissfully. He reached to touch her and she shied away.

"You say that you didn't know he was coming?"

"I didn't."

The coven leader turned to the others. "You see? Wolves are not to be trusted. They even lie to their own mates."

Kayla didn't bother correcting him. "Please don't kill Donna."

Quin Shifted, the vampires' grips tightening on his human-form body. He panted, not resisting their holds. "I'm the Alpha's brother. Let Donna go. You can have me!"

"I would rather keep my new daughter than you." The coven leader grinned. He gestured once more, and one of the vampires left Quin and returned to the van. A high, keening wail came from inside it.

The vampire dragged Donna out. Shackles bound her wrists and ankles. Kayla cried out, starting to go forward, but stopped when Donna shook her head. Her eyes were wide, her skin pale… too pale. Her normally bushy hair was sleek. When she opened her mouth, Kayla saw two fangs flash. Horror filled her.

"Run!" Donna shouted. "Kayla, run! I can't control—"

Kayla was frozen as Donna stiffened. Her eyes darkened and her face went blank. Her head swung from side to side, and when their gazes locked again, Kayla couldn't recognize her friend. Quin shouted. Donna snarled. The shackles were unlocked, and the newly-formed vampire raced towards Kayla. She was frozen in shock and horror, unable to move—

A smoky-grey Wolf jumped over the van. Mouth wide open, teeth glittering in the dim light. He pounced on Donna, knocking her to the ground. The sleek fur rippled with muscles as he grabbed her by the arm and threw her back. She arched gracefully over the van. Then the Wolf was on the coven leader.

"Eric!" Kayla gasped.

Eric didn't take the time to acknowledge her. The coven leader was screaming under him. Kayla backed away from the fight, not knowing what to do now. Several of the vampires left Quin and rushed Eric; the beta shook off the rest of them and knocked over several with one brush of his paw. Eric's teeth tore at the coven leader as the rest of the vampires bit and clawed at him.

A screech. Donna rounded the van, claws sprouting from her fingertips. She made a beeline for Kayla. Quin howled in pain and leaped in her path. Donna slashed at him

Kayla turned on her heel. She raced back to her car and climbed in, locking the doors behind her. Could vampires break car windows? She fumbled with her keys. What could she do? Why hadn't she learned more about the vampires so that she could actually help in this situation?

Eric released the coven leader, turning to bite the vampires surrounding her. Quin had Donna clamped between his teeth; she was struggling wildly, clawing at his nose and face. Blood poured from the scratches she opened up, but he didn't release her.

The coven leader jumped to his feet. His gaze narrowed in on Kayla and he dashed for her. Kayla threw the car into gear and stomped on the gas. The vampire snarled, jumping at the last second. He landed lightly on the hood of the car–the others weren't so lucky. As Eric jumped out of her way, Kayla plowed through the vampires, sending them sprawling every which way.

The coven leader punched a fist through the windshield. And then Eric had him in his jaws, tearing him away. Snarls and screams filled the air. A piercing shout made her shudder.

And then all was silent.

The vampires drew away. They formed a group, knees bent and hands up, baring their long fangs and hissing. Eric growled as he faced them. He spat something out of his mouth–Kayla had a suspicion that it was a head–and threw his head back. He howled, deep and long. The vampires cowered back from him.

With Quin still struggling to hold Donna, Eric shifted. Kayla's heart was in her throat. Her knuckles were white as she clutched at the steering wheel. What if the vampires attacked while Eric was in his Human form? Blood ran in rivulets down his body, but he stood tall as he faced the vampires. They backed away from him, clumping together in a tighter group.

"I did not want it to come to this," he said. "I want peace, not to kill each other. But if you don't find a way to let that happen, I will kill every last one of you to protect my mate and child. You have lived anonymously here for years. You are not a danger to the human population. You don't have to be a danger to me or my pack. We can find a way to live in peace."

The vampires glanced at one another, but Kayla's gaze was drawn to where Quin and Donna still struggled. Quin shifted, his arms tightening around her. Donna's face was twisted in pain, her whimpers mixing with screams as she reached towards Kayla. Her fangs flashed in the dim light.

How could there be peace when the vampires had turned Donna into something like that against her will?

"Donna!" Quin twisted her around to look at him. "Donna, look at me. I love you. Donna, I love you!"

The newly-formed vampire's struggles wilted. She sagged against Quin, burying her face into his chest. Her shoulders shook for a moment before she turned towards Eric.

"He wanted a war. The coven leader. He told me. That's why he changed me. He wanted to provoke you. He had no interest in peace. He's been lying to all the vampires, saying that you killed that vampire he sent to duel you… Except he said he sent him to negotiate."

"Take her back to the pack," Eric said quietly to Quin. "We'll find a way to help you through this, Donna."

Quin scooped her into his arms and strode away. The rest of the vampires left glanced at one another. One of them stepped forward, shoulders thrown back. "We do not want to die."

"Good. Because I do not want to kill you. So, you will give me my daughter, and my mate will take her home. But I will stay and we will talk about how to proceed from here."

Kayla's throat was dry as the vampire nodded slowly. Her hands shook. Would this really be the end? Could they really have the peace they so desperately wanted now?