Chapter One:

Thank god werewolf genes kept me alert, even when I hadn't slept in three days. I pulled in front of a coffee shop in the little town in Upstate New York and found my wallet stashed in the glove box. I opened the door to my little blue Ford and caught a scent on the breeze that made me stiffen and want to just drive away, but curiosity took over. I guess curiosity didn't just kill the cat.

I followed my nose to a small park, even in the dark I could make out three figures standing in the center, fear and adrenaline spiked from one who stood defensively the other two seemed to be taunting him. My curiosity and ego are going to kill me one day. I thought as I walked forward.

"Their territory is New York state." I heard one say

"You do know what the Pack does to trespassers, don't you, pup? Your daddy must have shown you the pictures."

"Is there a problem here boys?" I asked as I sauntered into the conversation, still downwind so they couldn't smell me.

A whistle from the blonde wolf, who looked like a backwoods hick. "Not at all sweetie, but we'd love it if you joined us."

The big one with black hair looked over at me and I noticed the blonde girl looking terrified standing in front of him.

The wind shifted and I mentally swore. Things are about to get interesting. All three wolves tensed and the shorter two smiled.

"Well look at this Ramon." the blonde one muttered under his breath.

"She's a Sorrentino, Liam." the brown haired wolf, Ramon, said.

"You sure? I guess she could be. Bet her daddy is that pansy ass omega, Nicholas."

"I'm surprised your daddy or granddaddy let you go this far away from home."

Lets keep this going…. might learn some things. "Like you even know where my home is." I said rolling my eyes.

"Everyone knows the Sorrentino's live just outside New York City."

Derek POV:

I watched as she baited the two wolves in front of us. She was probably nineteen or twenty and looked like she was enjoying pulling information from them. She glanced at me and the look in her eyes said to get out of here, she'd handle them. I grabbed Chloe and pulled her behind me and shoved her to move. Sadly, they noticed.

"I've got Liam." She said grabbing the back of his shirt and swinging her fist into his face, pulling him down to the ground. I slammed Ramon into a climbing pole and pulled Chloe with me.

"You fuckers just don't give up do you?" The girl yelled and slammed her knee into Liam's groin and slammed his head into a metal slide with a sickening crunch.

She took off after us, running and catching up with me pretty quickly.

"I'm Serena by the way."

"Chloe, and that's Derek." Chloe panted as she tried to keep up with us.

"I've heard of those two, not good things, and I don't know about you, but I don't plan on sticking around."

Footsteps sounded behind us.

"Those fuckers don't give up do they?" Serena muttered.

She followed us through a puddle and then along a curb.

Liam caught up with us and him and I went down fighting.

A yelp of pain from Liam and Serena pulled me up, taking Chloe's knife out of Liam's thigh and slicing across the back of his knee and I didn't see what else but heard the screams.

Serena POV:

I sliced a few key ligaments in Liam's knee and flipped the knife closed and into my pocket. I tracked the two to the coffee shop I was parked in front of, both of them in the men's room. I headed in after them and saw Chloe wiping gravel from Derek's cheek.

I washed the blood off my arms and cleaned off the switchblade before handing it back to Chloe. Running my fingers through my hair I noticed blood splatter across the front of my sweatshirt and pulled it off.

"I don't know where you guys are going, what you're running from or to, or why you were in a park in the middle of the night with two werewolves and I'm not going to pry, but do you guys need a ride out of town or anything?"

Chloe shook her head. "We've got bus tickets, we'll be okay."

"At least let me buy you guys dinner, or at least coffee, or hot chocolate or something."

Derek watched me but nodded. "Fine."

Chloe was asking him questions as she cleaned off the blood. They make a cute couple.

I headed out into the main store and ordered a large coffee and a dozen donuts and a dozen cookies. Flirting with the barista got me another six cookies thrown in free, as we talked Derek and Chloe walked out and I added their hot chocolate to the order.

I sat the donuts and cookies down on the table between three chairs and handed each of them hot cocoa.

"Help yourselves." I said waving to the donuts and cookies.

I turned on my phone and searched for Nicholas Sorrentino. It'd make sense, considering my mother said she gave me my father's last name. Serena Aldabella Sorrentino- it couldn't be a coincidence that I shared the last name with a Pack werewolf and apparently looked a lot like him. Which was why I'd been bitten in the first place. Turns out the family owns a large company in New York City and when I found a picture of him it was like looking at a masculine version of myself.

I absentmindedly rubbed my arm and understood where I got my looks though my green eyes were all from mom, she was pretty, but I had more of the exotic, italian looks and a curvier build than she did, though the werewolf thing had made me lose most of my extra body fat.

"Our bus gets here in ten minutes. We should probably get going."

"Good luck guys. If you ever need a hand give me a call." I said handing them my cell phone number.

"Thanks." Chloe said as they left.

Closing time approached and I flirted more with the barista, he was cute in a city boy turned hometown kind of way, with shaggy brown hair and the build of a high school track star.

"So…. do you want to get out of here with me? I can close a few minutes early."

"Hmmm, it depends, how far away do you live?"

"Five minute walk."

"Then I guess it sounds like a plan."

I pulled on my shoes and snuck out the front door, running my hands through my wet hair and went back to my car before finding someplace open for breakfast.

The small diner was packed, and then I saw the two werewolves from last night, Liam and Ramon, sitting at the long bar like table. I slid up next to them.

"Surprised to see you walking blondie." I said quietly as the waitress walked away with my order.

"Bitch, you'll pay for that."

"Good luck with that." I racked my brain for the names of any Pack members I'd heard about. "Not sure Clayton and Elena will be too happy with that."

"You're not Pack." Ramon said.

"What makes you say that?"

"Clayton and Elena would be here by now if you were."

"Hmm. How do you know they're not?"

They both gave me a look that said they weren't stupid.

I knew I needed to get out of here carefully, if I didn't I was going to die, but damn, I was starving. Too much fun last night. I thought smiling at my antics last night and then the awesome night of sleep after.

My waffles got to me and I poured the syrup over them and added whipped cream before cutting them. I knew as long as I was in this diner I was safe from the two wolves sitting beside me - the moment I left was when things were going to get interesting. Though I had decided my next stop. Bear Valley, about 100 miles southwest of Syracuse, and from there, Stonehaven, about 40 minutes outside of Bear Valley. I was going to the Pack, I was going to find my father and see if I truly could find a home.

A/N: this will probably be the only chapter involving the Darkest Powers or Darkness Rising Crew in this story.