A/N: You guys! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't kill me!I've decided to rewrite this story. I think it could be better, so I'm going to make it better! *hot dance..awkward smile* For those who've read this before, the plot is relatively the same, although there is a new character. =)

I swear on my left foot big toe that this one is going to be better (at least I hope so.). The whole thing needed something to me. And I wanted to expand on Ashley and Taylor's relationship; it seemed rushed to me.

Curtains!

LO

He slammed my head down on the pavement. A loud cry sounded from the porch, and I glimpsed someone approaching, but they stopped when he placed his foot on my neck.

"Don't take another step. I'll crush her."

Growls sounded throughout the yard. When had people shifted? I blinked back tears; I couldn't believe this was happening.

"Ashley..."

I looked up. To my surprise, it was Taylor standing a few feet from us. He looked torn between listening to the command or coming to get me. I'm okay. Don't do anything stupid, or he'll hurt me.

His eyes narrowed, but he nodded.

The foot shifted on my neck. He must have noticed our exchange. "If you would simply do as I asked and tell me where the knife is, she wouldn't be in this predicament. Now, where is it?"

Taylor faulted, and looked back at his father and the rest of his pack who were still on the porch. Their eyes were grave, but worried. They were in conflict with the same things Taylor was. Those who had shifted pawed nervously at the ground, anxious about what was going to happen.

"Looks like you all need a little more incentive."

He removed his foot, and I rolled over on my back, getting a good look at his face. He pulled something out of is pants pocket. The glint of silver made me gasp. I made to scoot away but he was faster. The blade dug through my arm and out the other side. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out; short, panicked gasps were the signs of pain.

"Dad, stop!"

Dad motioned for someone to grab Paul before he ran over. The knife was removed from my arm and plunged into my thigh. I fell back, screams sounding from me this time. The remaining members of the pack, the one's I've come to known as friends, and who I let down in the past weeks, left the porch and raced over to join Taylor. Even Ally looked upset, and she hated me the most.

I looked at Taylor. His form was rigid, his eyes glowing like the day Phil attacked me. Was he really going to fight for me, even after what happened?

Dad straightened up. He was livid now. "Is anyone going to cooperate, or is seeing me hurt my own daughter entertainment for you monsters?"

Amazingly, it was his comment that made me sob. If anyone was the monster here, it was him. And I certainly wasn't his daughter, not after today. Fathers didn't hurt their children like this.

Taylor, never having been able to stand me cry, roared and shifted, attacking my father. The rest of the wolves took that as a sign to proceed, and they began fighting with the men Dad had brought with him. Paul was released and he ran over to me. "I can't remove the blade," he said, cradling me to his chest. You'll lose more blood."

I buried my face in my brother's shirt, wishing to block out the sounds of the fighting. I'd never felt so betrayed in my life. Now my father and his people were fighting my ex-best friend and his family, and it was my fault.

How did things get out of hand?

Three months earlier - LO

The first time I saw him was in an AM/PM.

I made my brother take me to get some snacks, seeing as the hotel we were staying at lacked anything sugary and unhealthy. Paul didn't object, enjoying the chance for fresh air and a walk.

I noticed the guy immediately when we entered the store, but I didn't get a good look until we just so happened to go through the same line. His dark hair was cut into a low fade and his strong face was intense with high cheek bones and dark brown eyes. His skin, a light tan color, seemed to glow. On the side of his face, a long jagged scar ran from his temple to his chin.

He must have felt my eyes boring into him. He turned and stared as well before smiling."Hey."

One little word, but it was enough to make me grin like an idiot. "Hey."

He nodded and turned away, grabbing his bags and heading towards the entrance. The automatic doors opens and allowed a breeze to flow in, and I caught a whiff of something familiar. My nose wrinkled up in disgust. Paul stiffened and bumped me in the shoulder.

"Stop making eyes and come on. Dad's going to freak if we aren't back soon."

We moved through the line and were exiting the store in no time. Outisde, the same stench was in the air. Paul gagged. "It smells like wolf."

I coughed and lifted my hand to cover my nose. "I thought packs don't normally live in huge cities."

"Keyword is normal. Some packs reside in cities to avoid hunters. It's harder to kill when there are so many witnesses around. Besides, this might be a lone one. Let's go." Paul switched gears and went into protective mode. He pushed me in front of him, guiding me down the street. He was on high alert,not noticing his pace was causing me to stumble.

"I wonder if it was that boy from the store."

"Oh come on Paul."

He continued. "You saw the way he was coming on to you back there. It might have been to throw us off.

"You're just jealous he wasn't-"

Paul popped the back of my head. "Shut up! Someone might hear you." His face was flushed. "And I told you before that I wasn't sure about this."

I rolled my eyes. "You need to figure it out. What are you going to do when someone else notices?"

He shrugged. "Enough. We need to hurry. I only have one knife right now."

I glared at him. "You brought a weapon? I thought we talked about this."

Paul finally looked at me. "It's dark, and I'm out with you. I have to be ready in case something happens."

I groaned. "If something was going to attack, it would have already. And I can take care of myself, you know."

Paul smiled and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "Yeah, yeah. Your fighting skills are pretty good in training, but because Dad doesn't let you fight much, we don't know how well you'd do by yourself." He hummed a bit. "And besides, as your older brother and the best fighter in the west coast sanctions, its my duty to make sure you're safe."

"How thoughtful of you."

We finished the walk in silence, Paul watchful as ever, even when the smell faded away.

When we arrived back at the hotel, we were let up with no questions. Dad must have had someone watching out for us.

It didn't take long to reach our room. Paul swiped the card and pushed opened the door. Dad was in the main room with another man. Whatever conversation they were having stopped and Dad stood to greet us.

"Princess, Paul, what took so long?" He pulled me into a hug and ruffled Paul's hair, laughing a bit when Paul smacked at his hand. Then he sniffed the air, and then my hair. "You two smell like vermin. Did something happen?"

I stopped him before he got worked up. "We're fine Dad. Nothing to worry about."

He snorted and looked at Paul. Paul shrugged. "A rouge wolf passed through the area. He was gone by the time Ashley and I were on our way back."

"You were carrying your weapon right?"

Paul nodded. "I never go anywhere without it."

"That's my boy."

He turned and steered the both of us to the man he'd been talking to. "Marcus, Ashley and Paul. Children, Marcus. He's going to be working with me for the next couple of months."

Ah. He was doing business.

I looked down at the table. There were papers strewn about. One picture in particular caught my eye.

"Ashley?"

I looked up. Marcus was holding his hand out to me. I smiled and took it. "Nice to meet you."

I glanced down at the table again, but Dad came around and shuffled the papers around. He picked up a blue envelope and held it out to me. He was frowing. "This came for you today."

I took the letter happily, ignoring Dad's grim look, and raced to my room. Paul whistled after me. We all knew who the letter was from.

Its been a long time since I've received any letters from my Uncle Kris. We had a steady stream going when Dad moved his headquarters, and us, to the outskirts of Kalamazoo, Michigan. The letters stopped a couple of months ago.

I ripped open the envelope and unfolded the soft paper. It was covered with my uncle's sloppy handwriting.

Dear Princess,

I'm sorry I havent written you all this time. It's not all my fault- you'll have to ask your dad about it.

Since it's been months, how about you come visit for a while? I know how busy it gets with school and everything, so now would be a good time. Clarissa misses you as well.

Call as soon as possible and let me know. My number is on the other piece of paper in the envelope. Hopefully you didn't tear it up.

Hope to hear from you soon,

Uncle Kris

Giddy couldn't even describe how I was feeling right now. The last time I'd seen him was years ago. He and Dad got into a fight right before we packed up and moved out of town. I haven't been able to see him since.

I was going, and that was final. I wasn't taking no for an answer.

LO

"Dad, I demand that you let me go."

He looked up from the TV to me. "What are you talking about, Princess?"

I sat down on the couch next to him, and produced the letter from behind my back.. He took it, but I could already see an argument in his eyes. "Uncle Kris asked if I could come visit. Just until school starts."

"That's the rest of the summer."

I grinned.

He sighed and opened the letter for himself. "Ashley, you know I don't get along with Kris."

"I know Dad. But I do, and because of whatever petty stuff is going on between you two, I haven't been able to see him in forever. You can't keep me from my own family because you can't resolve your problems."

He looked at me, and then back at the letter. Eventually his shoulders dropped and he threw it on the table. I guess he didn't have the energy to fight with me tonight. "Why not? I was going on a business trip soon anyway. I'd rather leave you with someone I know anyway."

I jumped up. "Yes!"

"Hold it!" I stopped yelling and sat down. "There are conditions."

I groaned. "No."

"First, Kris isn't to know about anything we're doing at headquarters or about your training."

I faintly remembered my uncle having a problem with my father training me. I nodded.

"Second, Paul is going with you."

My smiled dropped. "What?!"

Paul stormed in from the kitchen. He wiped crumbs from his face, trying to look serious. "Dad, I don't want to go! I'll miss the hunt back home if I go."

I went over to Paul, engulfing him in a hug. "Please Paul, please? You're the only way I can go. I'll make it up to you. I promise."

We stared at each other for a minute, and then he gave in. "Fine. But you have to do whatever I want when we get back."

I yelped, crushed him to me, and then ran back to my room. I had to hurry and pack before Dad changed his mind.

LO

Kris's POV

"Paul and I aren't going to have to share rooms, are we?"

"No, we have enough rooms."

"Make sure you meet us at the airport."

"I am kid. So-"

"I have to finish packing. Bye Kris."

"Bye sweetheart. And don't forget to-"

Click.

I put the phone down and wiped my eyes. Where the girl got her energy, I'll never know. Clarissa ran a hand through my hair. "Kris, are you sure this is a good idea? She thinks she's only coming to see her. How are you going to tell her?"

I leaned into her touch. "I haven't gotten that far yet. Hopefully an opportunity presents itself while she's here."

"You know this is dangerous, getting her involved like this."

"I'm well aware. But it needs to be done. You heard what Kevin said. A war is coming soon, and Ashley doesn't even know that she's going to be on the wrong side. She and Paul don't know what their father is up to. They're going to go along with what he says; the two probably don't even know what their father is doing. And Paul coming with her is going to make things harder. He thinks like Charles."

"And you think this is the best way?"

I moved away and looked up at her. There was genuine concern in her eyes.

"No, not the best way. The only way. Charles isn't going to tell her anything until the days get closer and closer. But if we can do something about it now, then I know we'll be able to have some type of advantage."

"Like what?"

"I'm not sure yet. But I do know that Ashley can help us. The Resistance is going to need her."

LO

A/N: Well, first chapter of the re-write. Do you guys like Paul? I thought she should have a brother. And he plays an important roll in this story, just as important as his sister. =)

I think I'm going to like this! Reviews are love you guys!