Prologue (2005)

Leaning against the lockers I clutched my books to my chest as I watched, Derek Hale. He wore his lacrosse jersey that held the number ten. His signature jeans hugged him perfectly that girls admired as they passed. Then there was the way his hair was tousled perfectly it look like he had just rolled out of bed. I watched as he lifted his hand and tucked some hair behind Kate Argent's ear, while his thumb grazed her cheek. Turning I threw my books into my locker and slammed the door.

"Wow, what did that locker ever do to you?" My best friend and Derek's younger sister, Cora asked as she walked up laughing.

Turning back to face her brother and Kate I sighed, "Do you think that they are really serious?"

She glanced over at her brother and turned back to me, "based on the things you hear through the walls late at night, I would say pretty serious." I looked over at her, "Come on Lee, you have been crushing on him since your teenage girl hormones kicked in. Can't you just let it go?"

Derek swung his arm around Kate's shoulder and looked over at us smiling causing his bright, blue eyes to sparkle and my heart to melt as they walked away. "Cora and Everly you two seem to always be together."

"Since birth," Cora said smiling at Trevor who had just walked up.

"Well then I expect to see the two of you at my party this Friday." He handed us each a small, colorful flyer.

"They won't be attending," Laura, Cora and Derek's older sister said snatching it from Cora. "Move along Weatherly."

I watched as Trevor gave Laura a look before disappearing down the hallway. "What was that for?" Cora screeched at her sister, "do you know what it takes for sophomores to get invited to a senior party?!"

Laura crossed her arms, "do you know what goes on at senior parties?"

"Yes," Cora said throwing her hands up, "legendary things that everyone talks about and thanks to you now we won't be a part of that."

Before Laura could respond I cut in, "it's okay. I already told Sheriff and Mrs. Stilinski that I would babysit this weekend."

Cora scoffed, "so you are telling me that I have to sit home alone on a Friday night while my big brother and sister go to this party and have the time of their lives?"

"You can come babysit with me."

She looked away from Laura to me, "I would rather stay home. Stiles is a handful." Looking back to her sister she says, "please, you know I can take care of myself."

"What are you going to do go all wolf on them?" I say smiling at my best friend who is smiling. Laura however was not as amused, she still was not too found on the idea that Cora had told me their families secret of being werewolves over a year ago.

"Just stay away from the party," she scolded before walking away.

"Do you have any sixes?" Stiles asked as he sat across from me on the other side of the table. His small hazel eyes lifted over the cards staring at me, waiting for an answer. I had been babysitting for the Stilinski's for almost three years. I loved Stiles like he was my own little brother.

"Go fish," I said smiling at him. His brow scrunched as he took another card from the pile. The sound of keys in the door alarmed us both, "quick, go upstairs." Listening he jumped off the chair and ran up the staircase. His parents weren't supposed to be home for another two hours, but his bedtime was half an hour ago.

Gathering up the cards I see Mrs. Stilinski walk in setting her purse down, "I didn't expect you to be home so soon."

"Well, being married to the Sheriff is a job all on its own. There was a fire and it was reported that the family was trapped inside. He had to head over there to check things out."

"Whose house?" I asked setting the cards on the table.

She looked over to me, "Everly."

"Whose house," I asked again. Now my heart was racing.

"It was the Hale house." Without waiting for an explanation I took off out the front door running as fast as my feet could take me. My thoughts spinning in my head, praying that it wasn't what I had thought.

My feet took me to Trevor's house and I stood out front, "please be here." I whispered to myself. Walking up the front walk I opened the door and went inside. Scanning the crowd for the faces I so desperately wanted to see. Soon I found him in the kitchen with his friends, instantly tears blurred my vision. He was safe, but his world was about to crumble down around him.

Walking up he looked shocked to see me, "where is she?"

"Lee what are you doing here?" He was shocked to see me I knew it by the look on his face.

"Where is she," I asked again louder this time.

"Laura? She is in the living room."

I shook my head as tears began to run down my face, "Cora. Please, Derek, please tell me she is here."

His friends looked at me with wondering faces, but I didn't care. He took my arm and lead me into the small hallway, "what are you talking about?"

"Cora was going to sneak out and come tonight. Please tell me she is here."

"No, she isn't here."

I let out a gasp and looked around before backing against the wall and letting out a sob as I slid down the wall. He kneeled down to me, "Everly are you okay?"

"Everly," I looked up through my tears to see Laura walking towards us. "What are you doing here? I told you and Cora to stay away."

I continued to shake my head, "she's can't be gone. She can't be."

Warmth flooded my body as Derek took my face in his hands, "what are you talking about?"

Through my sobs I told them, "there was a fire at your house. Mrs. Stilinski said that they were trapped inside." Derek turned his head up to Laura and he pulled me to my feet and the three of us quickly left the party going to her car. I sat in the back seat sobbing into my hands as they talked quickly as they flew down the road.

Soon we were at the house I knew since my childhood, that now sat in ashes. Laura and Derek sprinted from the car. I watched as Laura collapsed to the ground and Derek tried to run under the yellow tape, but was stopped. Climbing out of the car I stopped when I saw men bringing body bags out of the house. This was not happening. How could this happen?

Prologue (2009)

It was late September and the leaves were beginning to change colors. I looked outside of the small café I began to work at when I moved in to the apartment upstairs, I loved it here. After graduating from High School I moved to New York. Now I couldn't imagine being anywhere else. I didn't know if I would ever return to Beacon Hills. It just wasn't the same after losing Cora. Derek and Laura both left, leaving me as though they had died in the fire with the rest of their family.

I hadn't spoken to them in four years, but they and Cora were never far from my thoughts. The locket that belonged to their grandmother still hung from my neck since the day Derek had given it to me with a picture of Cora and I tucked safely inside.

After wiping down the counter I turned to begin preparing a new batch of coffee. "Oh my gosh," my friend Avery said walking up to me. "Don't look too fast, but a dark and broody hottie just walked in.

Turning to glance over my shoulder I see the one person that haunts my dreams. His tousled, dark hair and his hands stuffed in a leather jacket. Gasping I drop the coffee pot causing it to shatter when it hits the ground, "holy crap, Everly." Avery says bending down to start picking up pieces.

I quickly join her as my hands are shaking. "Did he see me?"

"Why would it matter?" Rising I peer over the counter to see Derek still standing in the doorway. "Oh my god, do you know him? Is he an ex? Please tell me you have seen that naked."

I turn back to her, "would you be quiet I don't want him-"

"Hi, sorry. We'll be with you in just a second. Butter fingers here dropped the pot." I feel my heart begin to race and I look up to see a pair of blue eyes gazing down at me.

"Yeah, she always had a knack at breaking things." I finish picking up the pieces and throw them out. "When do you get off?"

I look over my shoulder to see Derek sitting at the counter, "what are you doing here?"

"I was in the area."

"Complete bull." I walk around the counter, "Avery can you cover for me?"

"Of course." She says, but I am already taking my apron off.

Derek watches me and then follows when I start to head up the small staircase. I stop and turn around to look at him, "what are you really doing here?"

He looks down at his shoes for a moment before meeting my gaze, "I wanted to see you. I just didn't want to be alone today."

I look up at him and my heart breaks for him. How could I have forgotten what today was? "Derek," I whisper, but am interrupted by him leaning down and kissing me. My knees go weak and I reach back gripping my door handle to support myself as his lips move against mine. His arm warps around my waist pulling me closer.

Pulling away he kisses me softly once again before pulling back. "I-"clearing my throat I open my eyes to see him staring down at me, "do you want to come in?"

"I don't want to talk about this," Derek says groaning.

Walking out of my bathroom I tie my hair up, "we're going to have to talk about it eventually." Derek is sitting on the edge of my bed with his head in his hands. It pulls at my heart to see him like this. I walk over running my hands through his hair and he lifts his head to look up at me. Moving his hands he grips my bare legs pulling me to stand between his legs.

He sighs and leans his head against my lower abdomen, "I know."

I slide down onto his lap making him lift his chin so he is looking at me, "the hunters are going to find you. You have said it yourself, that is why you never stay in one place for too long. You've been here for almost six months."

Tracing circles on my bare leg he meets my gaze, "I've never had a reason to stay before."

Not wanting to say another word my hands move up to the back of his neck and I pull him in for a kiss. A part of me knowing this is goodbye. His hands slide up my waist to the small part of my back. Slowly he lowers us down to the bed and we become lost in one another.

Rolling over I find Derek's side of the bed empty. Sitting up I call his name. When there is no response I climb out of bed and walk to check and see if he is in the bathroom. Turning around I walk through the rest of my apartment before I make my way back to the bedroom and see that the clock reads two in the morning.

Heart pounding I race over to the dresser and pull open the drawer which held his clothes to find it empty. Tears swell in my eyes and I cover my mouth as I shake my head. This wasn't happening. Noticing a small scrap of paper I walk over picking it up to unfold it. Reading it over before collapsing to the floor, sobbing.

Lee,

When this is all over I'm coming back for you, I promise.

I love you.

Derek