-R. Kelly played through out her room. Soft and mellow. Her mind was still on Brandon, and what she was going to do for him. It was hard without too much proof, of what the family was really about. Her forehead hit the book as she tried to take in a deep breath. In and out relaxed and slow. A wolf! He could be a wolf! The thought came suddenly and she shook her head. Ash would kill her if she infected him. Eyes closed, as Lyric thought. There had to be a way. She needed to talk to someone! Dakota. Of course. Grabbing her blackberry she started to push numbers and letters. Sending Dakota an e-mail explaining what was going on.

E-Mail:

Dakota, I need your help. I have a case that is got me stuck. I need you to look up some files on Felicia Clarke and Brandon Clarke of Idaho. Anything you can find on the Clarkes of Idaho would be great. Please and thank you.

She hit the send button and took in a deep breath. Eyes turned to her door before her Mamma came in. A brow quirked, with the look on her Mamma's face. It was something to break Lyric's heart.

"Mamma?"

Mamma held up a hand, before walking further into the room. That robust woman took a seat at the edge of Lyric's bed. The same hand came up to cup Lyric's chin.

"Wat's ah matta wit'cha Lyric? This ain't like ya baby."

Lyric looked away, removing her chin from her Mamma's hold. Mamma dropped her hand. She took in a deep breath.

"Ah dunno wat'cha goin' throu. Ah dunno hard it is fo ya. But Ahs watched ya turn ta someone Ah was more proud of, when ya left Boston. Ya turnin' ta one beautiful woman. Lately, ya slippin' baby. Ah dunno wat's goin' on wit da pack. It ain't mah business ta know no-fin bout it. Ah do know this ain't like ya."

Lyric closed the book, and Mamma stood up. Walking to the drawer she pulled out a bag and a comb. Walked on over to the bed and sat down again. Lyric moved to sit on the floor, letting Mamma braid, the way she used to when Lyric was smaller. This is how they talked.

"Ash is fallin' apart, baby. Ain't ya looked at him?"

Lyric frowned as she sighed.

"Ah see him Mamma."

Was all Lyric said, the braiding started with Mamma talking as she worked in parting Lyric's hair.

"Ya ain't seein' 'im. Cause if ya was, Memphis wouldn't had ta yell at ya. Wouldn't be makin' ya do somethin' ya know is right for 'im."

At times Lyric didn't understand how her Mamma just knew these things. They stopped talking. Mamma started to sing and Lyric relaxed against the pulling and tugging of her hair. Lyric sang softly to the words her Mamma was saying.

"There's a light.... In the darkness... Though the night... Is black as my skin... There's a light... Burning bright... Showing me the way... But I know where I've been... There's a cry... In the distance... It's a voice... That comes from deep within... There's a cry... Asking why... I pray the answer's up ahead.... 'Cause I know where I've been..."

Lyric stopped singing soon after just listening to her Mamma and feeling the warmth of her hands and legs around her. Her mind started to think back when she had first met Ash. He had held her against him healing her with his strength.His beast like a light calling her forth calling to stay with them, that she had a new home. He had been her protector then. Lyric didn't know it when she stopped seeing him like a protector and when she started to love him and soon he was just Daddy. Her Daddy. He loved her like his little girl, shaping her in the woman her Mamma was proud of.

Lyric didn't know when Mamma had stopped singing, or even when she started to get up from the bed, to leave. Lyric moved to help put everything away. A kiss from her Mamma on her forehead, and a sweet goodnight was al that was said. Once again she was alone in her room, the books still scattered, papers and files still needing reading and notes she had taken waiting for her to get back to them. There was one thing Lyric needed to do first. Taking her cell phones she dialed Ash's number, and hung up. Lyric walked to where her window was and looked out.

He needed her now, and she pushed him away. Was slowly turning her back on the man she loved and had protected her for so long. No, Mamma was right, this wasn't like her. The tears finally started to fall. Blurry eyed, she would dial the number again, letting it ring before the voice-mail picked up.

"Daddy..."

She paused.

"Ah'ma sorry..."

Another pause. Lyric muffled a little sniffle.

"Ah'ma so sorry Daddy... Ah miss ya, and Ah wanna be ya little girl again. Ah wanna have time wit'cha."

She stopped speaking for a moment, before finally saying a please to the statement. Then she hung up. The tears fell but she hoped it wasn't too late. She needed to embrace the pack again, and she needed to regain her place with Ash. She loved him too much to let her anger and pride get in the way. He was her Daddy. For Lyric, there was no other man that could come between her and Ash in that way. She was stupid to think that keeping her place with him didn't require work. He was in pain now, and she wasn't powerless to help him. Being there for him, she knew she was helping.