Ashton grimaced with discomfort as his chest ached, he felt like he was splitting in two.

Bella nodded and almost skipped up to the door, nearly bouncing with excitement.

Careta noticed the grimace but kept her own face neutral.

Fenris grinned and followed behind Bella. He headed out the door and down the stairs to where Ashton and Careta were. "Ready?" he asked.

Ashton cleared his face of the grimace and stood up when Fenris and Bella entered. Yes.

Fenris nodded with a grin at Ashton's answer. He looked at Careta and his grin grew. "Let us return home sister." he told her. Careta returned her brother's grin with a smile of her own, nodding her head.

Bella was bouncing on the balls of her feet in her excitement. Ashton felt a flicker of excitement to be away from all of this modern life and return to the basic life in the caves.

Fenris led the way out of the large house and through the town, heading in the direction of his childhood home.

Bella followed Fenris, grabbing his hand in hers.

Fenris smiled at Bella when she grabbed his hand, a sense of calm enveloping him. He moved quickly, but at a pace they could all keep. It wouldn't be long before they reached the caves.

Bella soon got bored of walking.When will we be there! She complained.

"Not much longer dear." Fenris told her. "It is just past this clearing." he added just as they exited the trees and entered a large clearing, the sound of people talking and wolf barks becoming easy to hear.

Bella's hands were itching to hit someone, and she had a pounding headache that wouldn't go away. That same emptiness still filled her, and she did not know why.

Fenris led the small group into the packs territory. He immediately led Bella up to the pack leader's cave, leaving Careta to great the surprised pack members.

Ashton stayed very close to Careta's side, glancing nervously around at the poeple.

Bella followed Fenris, squinted as her headache got worse.

The entire werewolf pack was very friendly and inviting when they spotted the newcomer at Careta's side, even the actual wolves. A large amount of the pack members came to tell Careta that they were glad to see her again and to greet Ashton.

Fenris quickly pulled Bella into the cave and led her back to the back of the cave where the bedroom was situated. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end and he could almost sense that something was going on with Bella.

Ashton felt uncomfortable in the crowd of people, but plastered a small grin on his face in an effort to be polite.

Bella was growing angrier and angrier, and sadder and sadder. She wanted to cry and scream at the same time.

Goosebumps started to travel up his arms as his instincts started going haywire. Finally he turned to Bella with a worried expression. "What is it Bella?" he asked.

Careta could feel the tension from Ashton and politely excused them from the pack members. She motioned for Ashton to follow her as she headed up to the higher caves.

Bella snapped. She threw a punch at Fenris' face, as hard as she could, then broke down into tears.I don't know she wailed.

Ashton followed her, his breath getting wheezier as they walked. He had done too much walking today.

Fenris' instincts told him to duck, but he let the punch connect with his jaw. He moved quickly and wrapped his arms around Bella, rubbing her back gently. "Easy. Shhh...It's alright." he whispered.

Careta's sensitive ears picked up his labored breathing and stopped on the path to the higher caves. "On second thought there is someone you need to meet." she told him, disappearing into a nearby cave after motioning for him to follow her.

Bella tried to push him off.[b]Im afraid I'll hurt you[b/] she whispered.

Ashton followed her, coughing slightly

Fenris kept his gentle grip on Bella. "It will be fine." he reassured her.

Once they both entered the cave Careta motioned for Ashton to sit down on a large pile of furs along the wall. "I'll be right back." she told him as she disappeared further into the cave.

Bella hit her fist against his chest.No it won't. She sobbed.

Ashton sat down, unsure of what was happening.

Fenris let her hit him, taking one of his large hands and gently stroking her hair. "You will not hurt me and even if you do it is not the end of the world. I recover quickly." he told her, keeping his voice calm.

Careta returned shortly with an older woman following behind her. "This is our pack healer who is also one of our elders. Healer this is Ashton, our queen's brother." she introduced.

Bella looked away, tears now freely flowing down her face.

Ashton stood and bent his head in respect. Pleased to meet you.He said. His breath caught and a fit of coughing forced him to sit again.

It pained Fenris to see Bella so distraught. "Why do you feel like you will hurt me? What is causing it? Are you having those episodes again?" he asked he, trying to get to the root of their problem.

The healer returned the gesture before watching him go into a coughing fit. "Now I see why you brought him." she muttered with a glance at Careta. "Step outside so I can figure out what is going on." she told the girl, making a shooing gesture with her hands. She waited until the white-haired girl had left, although her strong scent told her that she was just outside the cave's entrance, before approaching the man. "Can you tell me what you have been feeling? What are your symptoms?" she asked.

Bella's face flushed with embarrassment. No. I just feel angry, ok?

Ashton was trying to catch his breath after his coughing fit.I... I remember being bitten by a Were. And then I got really, really sick. Ana said something about my blood fizzing. Then Careta turned into an Ancient and bit me, but I don't seem to have healed.