Chapter one

It had been three days. Three days since our freedom. Three days since I had murdered Davidoff. Three days since Derek and I had been together. Three days since we had found Kit and were finally safe.

We had traveled to Vermont to find Kit, hoping that we wouldn't have to run anymore. Once we found him things seemed to slow down. We didn't have to watch our every move to make sure we were safe, we didn't even have to worry about each other as much. Except for Derek. He stayed the same, alert and focused on keeping all of us safe. We didn't get much time alone because my Aunt Lauren didn't approve of him. She thought he was going to hurt me. She thought, after all he had done to free her and protect her, that he was a monster. And Derek believed her. I couldn't believe it. I wanted to be able to talk to him alone but Aunt Lauren was practically my shadow. I couldn't stand it anymore.

"Ugh!" I said as Tori entered the room.

"What's up with you? Wolf boy not free right now?" She laughed. I scowled at her. "Okay, what is it. Tell me." she said as she plopped down onto my bed next to me.

"Aunt Lauren is hovering because she thinks Derek is untrustworthy and she basically acts like he's going to kill all of us." I ranted. "I just can't take it anymore, I can't talk to him or kiss him or even say hello without her giving me suspicious looks. And I also hate having to keep it a secret from Simon because he has a right to know." I hated talking about my Aunt this way but it was true. She was babying me, and wouldn't even let me talk to him.

"She can be a pain in the ass sometimes, but hey, how about we make a plan for her to get to know Derek better and give her a chance to realize he's not some scary monster." Tori smiled.

"That would be great. Thanks Tori." I said. "But I still need to talk to him, like now. He's been really self-conscious ever since she talked to him the other day in the lab. He's been really down and I just want to make sure everything is okay." I sighed, letting myself fall back onto my bed.

"Go talk to him. Sneak into his room tonight. He and Simon aren't sharing a room anymore because there is an extra one. Ill keep watch and make sure she doesn't wake up. As much as I hate you two, you guys really need to talk." She laughed.

"Thanks Tori. I appreciate it." I grinned at her.

"Hey, you owe me big time though." She exclaimed getting up off of my bed.

"You never cease to amaze me. Such a charmer." I laughed as I got up and put my hair in a ponytail. I slid my slippers onto my feet and opened the door quietly. She winked at me as I closed the door behind me. I stepped into the dark hallway and stumbled around for a bit. I still wasn't used to this new house, it was a lot bigger than the other safe house. It took me a few minutes of stumbling in the dark and stubbing my toe at least twice when I found the door I was looking for. I was about to knock when it opened and in front of me stood Derek, shirtless and sweaty.

"You know, you should probably be quieter when you're trying to sneak into your boyfriend's room at night. I swear you probably woke up the whole house." He smiled and reached for my elbow, ushering me into his dark room. I was embarrassed but I laughed it off. He sat down on his bed and patted the spot next to him encouraging me to do the same. When I did he slunk his arm around my shoulder and applied pressure so I would lean on him. I looked up at him and he sensed my worry.

"What's wrong Chloe?" he asked suddenly becoming anxious. I looked at him and then looked away. I didn't know how to say it. Oh you know, my Aunt is practically stalking me and making you feel like a monster. No big deal. I sighed and buried my face into his chest. His muscles tensed and I could feel the warmth soaking into my skin.

"Chloe?" he asked. "You can talk to me, you know that. Just tell me. What is going on?" I looked up at his worry creased face and he frowned. I knew I had to talk to him I just didn't know how.

"Derek." I began slowly and then I just let it all out. "I hate this. I hate how I can't talk to you. I hate how I can't even see you without my Aunt freaking out, pretending like you're some monster." Tears slid down my cheeks and fell onto his muscular chest. "I hate how you believe her and how I can't do anything to make it better. You're not a monster Derek. You're not going to hurt me, but she doesn't see that. You don't see that. I hate how you think you don't matter and how you want all of us to be alright but in doing that you don't want yourself to be alright. You don't think you are important and you think your only job is to protect us. But it's not. Derek! I care about you, I think you matter. And I love you." I started to sob and he just sat there shocked. I cried into his chest and then felt his warm hand on my back, only a thin shirt separating them.

A wet droplet fell onto my head. He lightly touched my chin and pulled up making me look into his eyes. He was crying. He looked so different. He placed his hands on my cheeks and leaned in until our lips were almost touching.

He whispered. "Chloe...Oh god Chloe." Tears streamed down his face and I closed the gap between us. I couldn't stand to see the pain in his eyes so I closed mine, letting his tears mix with mine. He kissed me back gently and then with more force but then he pulled away. He made me meet his gaze but in doing so I just started to cry even harder.

"Chloe.. I-I." he stifled back a sob. "I don't even know what to say. I love you Chloe. I love you so much. But I don't want to hurt yo-"

"You wont hurt me!" I screamed. "I know you Derek. You can control it. You would never hurt me. I know that." I started to cry again. I leaned away from him and stood up. He tried to follow but I pushed him away. I didn't know what I was doing anymore. I couldn't let him think he was a monster. He wasn't. I backed into the corner of his room and sobbed into my hands. Only a few seconds passed until I felt his warmth radiating towards me. He grabbed my hands but I wouldn't look at him, tears still falling from my eyes. I couldn't look at him.

"Chloe. Please, just look at me. I love you. Please Chloe. I will control it, I promise. I can do it. I won't hurt you okay." he paused before going on. "I'm not a monster, I know that. You make me see that. I don't believe what your aunt said. Please Chloe. I love you." He looked down. I wrapped my arms around his waist and hugged him. Immediately his arms went around me and we stood like that. I felt safe In his arms. Who knows how long we stayed like that, but by the time I pulled back both of us had stopped crying. He bent down and kissed me softly.

"I love you." he whispered as he put his hands on my small waist.

"I love you." I whispered back smiling.