• Nathan sighed deeply, his nose in the air. Melani rested in his arms.

    "Melani," He felt guilty looking down at her, "After tonight your life starts again." He whispered into her ear. She made eye contact with him briefly before he tilted her head. His breath tickled her neck. She flinched and then tried to move but his grip became tighter.

    "Nathan!" She yelled, "Let go! Let go Nathan!" She called out but his grip remained the same. Melani began to panic. Fear flooded her mind and overflowed through squirming and screaming that was all in vain. Her movements became frantic until suddenly she couldn't move at all. A sharp pain entered her body through her neck. Melani's vision became boxed and blurry before going dark.

    The tree's rustled around the clearing. Nathan looked up at the treetops: No wind. Quickly he moved away from Melani and near an oak tree across the way. The grey wolf pushed his wet nose against her arm. On her neck, clearly visible, were puncture marks. The wolf looked over to Nathan. The rest of the wolves circled around Melani.

    "I thought you would have killed my right away, Ezekiel." Nathan shook his head from side to side.

    "It was a miscalculation. We did not expect Lady Melani to go so willingly." Ezekiel stepped into the glow of the moon. His hair was black with a few silver strands here and there. He was muscular but not overly built. His skin was tanned but not dark.

    "A miscalculation? Are you sure?" Nathan stared over to the wolves around Melani. The grey wolf had disappeared.

    " Aiden, you may show yourself." Aiden, the grey wolf, rushed over to Ezekiel's side. He glared at Nathan. His skin was a shade darker than Ezekiel's but Aiden's hair was sandy blonde. His body was more defined than Ezekiel's as well. He smelled of the ocean; a sailor or a docks man.

    "You have a lot of explaining to do." Aiden said in a low growl. Nathan, unwaveringly, stared at him.

    "Why should I explain myself to a mut." He shot back at. Aiden took a step towards Nathan.

    "You have broken the pact! You have committed a crime! You cannot touch a bride and you most certainly not touch Mel!" Aiden shouted over the tree's for the world to hear. Nathan rolled his eyes.

    "But she tastes so good." He wiped his mouth with a smirk. This comment sent Aiden off. His anger overshadowed his judgment and before Ezekiel could stop him he was gone. Nathan was pinned to the oak tree by the throat.

    "Are you scared?" Aiden whispered to him, tightening his grip on Nathan's neck.

    "Of losing," He coughed, "Melani." Aiden's eyes widened. He had completely forgotten of Melani. If she stayed dead any longer than seven minutes she couldn't be saved. He let his grip loosen until he had completely let go of Nathan. Ezekiel moved to Melani's side.

    "Dead, alive, or beast, you will forever be Melani Farrier." From his pocket he pulled a gold necklace the shape of the sun. Nathan walked up behind him and put a hand on his shoulder. Ezekiel placed the necklace around her neck and then stood up, staring down at Nathan.

    "You are given amnesty for your crimes against the pact. A life for a life, I am no longer in debt." He stopped and looked at the moon again. Aiden marched over to Ezekiel.

    "You owe Belladonna your life, not him." He pushed past Ezekiel and into the shadow's. The other wolves followed. Ezekiel nodded to Nathan before departing.

    Nathan was thoughtless. He fell to the ground and propped Melani's head in his lap. She was silent. Her heartbeat was still, her life eloped with him.

    "Please forgive me." He prayed silently.

    Nathan put his wrist to his mouth. A quick twist and his cold blood was flowing freely. He sucked his blood into his mouth and then bent over Melani. He stared into her angelic face. Slowly, he pressed his lips to hers. Lost in ecstacy, Nathan could feel every sensation, hear every sound and see every color. She opened her eyes and the snow, once again, began to fall. The woods went silent.

    "Melani." Nathan wiped roses from her lips, "You are safe now." She stared up at him with the same curious stare she always had.

    "Nathan?" She began, "May I ask you a question?" He nodded solemnly to her. Focused on her words Nathan failed to realize the subtle changes that had occurred. Her hair had curled up. Her skin was paler and free from freckles. A soft blush had formed on her cheekbones. Her eyes her fiery and menacing, the color of a dying fire, ember. The expression on her face had not changed. She still sought answers from him.

    "What is it you ask of me?" She took his hand in hers and led it to her chest, carefully placing his palm over her heart. Nathan swallowed tears of guilt.

    "Why doesn't it beat?" She pleaded, "Why doesn't my heart beat?"