[Allison can smell it, feel it, that shock and that gut check. It's more than just chemosignals, the air is sour with Lydia's pain and that strength she feels as part of the pack, it's like that's soured, too, by what she's feeling.

She doesn't know for sure what brought the sudden swell of agony, but she knows she's responsible for it.

Moving over, Allison stands behind Lydia and wraps her arms around her shoulders, hugging her from behind. She presses her face against the back of Lydia's head, breathing in her scent, and a pained, canine whine escapes her throat without her permission as she tries to will that sweetness back into her scent, to will away the horror she feels with every intake of breath.]

I'm sorry...I'm sorry, sweetie, I didn't mean...I'm sorry. I'm here, I'm alive, and I'm going to fix this. I'm going to make sure you don't lose me, okay? I'm going to stay alive, I promise.