Going, going, gone.
After the death of her family to arson, Jane Holt moved to Seattle. Trapped with the truth of her family's death linked with werewolves, Jane is threatened to keep the secret of the death of her family. After three years of preparing for the inevitable twenty-year-old Jane returns to Beacon Hills California, to claim inheritance and burry her past.
But nothing could prepare her for what she discovers in her hometown. Her thirst for revenge against the hunters that spilled innocent blood for a greater good Jane would never understand now is a constant reminder. With Gerard Arden as the principle at Jane's former high school, his son and family back in town and Derek Hale as the new alpha, Jane will have a hard time dealing with her past while she runs from her future.
The faint noise of christmas music, mingling with the clanking of plates was the soundtrack to a local diner, as an elderly man sat alone in a booth lined along the wall of windows. He sipped on his steaming coffee and kept his eyes fixed on observing the diner. The hum of chatter kept him busy, silently listening in on nearby conversations. Families and friends prattled on about their own lives, living completely in the moment. The elderly man smiled wistfully, his eyes crinkling but the smile never touching them.
The jingle chimed alerting the diner of a new customer. The man looked up from his coffee and made eye contact with the stranger who had just walked in. The tall young man walked briskly over to where he was seated. He slid into the booth gracefully. The elderly man chuckled, "ah to be young and strapping." His booth-mate simple narrowed his eyes at him. "Cut the crap Gerard. Let's get to the point." Gerard leaned forward, "All in good fun." Again the young man glowered at him, but then let out a snort, muttering something under his breath. He leaned back and sighed flopping a leather bound envelope on the table. Gerard gave him an impassive look before reaching out to slide the envelope off the table. He shuffled out of the booth and reached into his wallet and tossed down a few bills.
"Your job was incomplete." Gerard muttered. "There is an infestation and I plan to take on the rest of what you and yours couldn't do" His voice became thick, more menacing. "This", he nodded to the envelope in his hands, "was a generous peace offering Liam,but don't hold your breath." The young man still in the booth was up faster than a blink. He towered over the elderly Gerard, but he didn't seemed fazed. "You better keep your word old man." He bit out at him before turning on his heel and storming out of the diner to an audience. The people who had taken notice to the scene turned their curious eyes to Gerard. Who smiled innocently at them, "the youth these days!" He chuckled to a chorus of returned nervous laughter as he exited the diner.
Liam had already left the scene and was driving down the highway. He held his phone up to his ear as it rang in pursuit of the other line. "Hello" a distant female voice crackled through the phone. "Jane" He responded, his voice deep still angered from his earlier encounter. "Liam" she returned meekly. "Where are you?" He growled. There was a pause as he waited for her to reply. "Just outside of San Francisco". "Good will you be staying near there?" Another pause. "No I just wanted to drive on through."
This time it was Jane's turn to wait for a reply, she could sense his anger through the phone. "Fine, call when you get there." The anxiety slowly retracted to the outskirts of her mind as she breathed a sigh of relief. "Alright then." She paused, waiting for him to end the conversation. A moment later he replied with a brief "bye" and the call ended. She tossed her phone aside and turned the volume up in her car.
"Breathe in" The crackle of the tape through the car speaker's and the sound of the woman's breathing soothed her as she drove down the highway. It was ten at night on highway 101 through northern California. "Breath out" Jane exhaled her held breath. The closer she got to Beacon Hills the more anxious she became. Three years too long she had avoided selling her family home and dealing with all of her family heirlooms and belongings.
Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly. For too long she had avoided her responsibilities in her home town and now she didn't know what to expect when she got there. The people, the memories, the pain, the guilt, the unknown all swirled around in Jane's subconscious making her heart flutter, stomach tighten, and palms sweat. Was this all too much?
"Think of a calm forest, the trees are lush and green, we walk through the forest together. It is safe." Jane breathes out again. Her mind wonders, skimming through past lived memories. She lets out a sigh, re-focusing on the task at hand. She couldn't continue to live in the past. She had to move forward. With that empowering thought she noticed the population sign and welcome to Beacon Hills. As she drove past it her mind seemed to freeze. The anxiety was now overflowing, giving her a sacey feeling. She felt disconnected; as if she were no longer connected to her body.
By some kind of miracle she managed her way through the quiet town and onto her childhood street. Mechanicaly she drove up her old driveway and parked her car. She sat for a long time just starring at the steering wheel. The sharp lights headlights of a car illuminated the compartment. Blinding Jane as she checked the rearview mirror. A moment latter a sharp knock on her window nearly had her jumping out of her skin. Peering in through her window was a face she was hoping to avoid as long as possible.
Derek Hale.