Chapter one – Scarlett's POV

Walking through the woods at night always helped me to de-stress the sound of owls was my favourite calming sound, it's like the trees roots just zapped the troubles of the day away. For most walking through these woods at night could be seen as reckless considering they belonged to the largest werewolf pack in this region who's Alpha was not the type to show any mercy for those who trespassed. If it wasn't for the couple who are highly regarded in the pack hadn't adopted me when I was a baby I'd be dead within two seconds of wandering through the opening – no joke, I loved it here but I always felt like the outsider, I can't shift into wolf form even though I was found at a werewolf adoption centre. My parents try to act like it's not big deal but I've heard them when I was little arguing about it, hence why they sent me a boarding school for slayers. It was a little unconventional considering they taught me everything about how to kill night worlders including werewolves but my parents didn't see any other way for me to learn to protect myself. "So? Little red decided to finally come out of hiding?" an all too familiar voice smirked.

Brushing the loose auburn locks away from my face I glared playfully at the Alpha's son, he wore his dirty blond hair different it was more messier less perfect "shut up, Fray... we all know I could wipe the smirk off your face in two seconds"

Holding his hands up in defence he grinned "I'm glad you are feeling better what my dad said to you was unfair, you are a part of this pack as I am... and hey! We all know your weakness is werewolves!"

Gripping my hands in his he rested his forehead on mine which must've looked weird considering I'm five foot three against his six foot one frame, I instantly felt a little temperature raise from his body heat surge through me which isn't uncommon, I sighed forgetting the little dig he made "it's alright, I overstepped I shouldn't have"

"It's still not right I'll try talk to him in the morning but first of all we need to get you back home, your parents will wonder where you are." he stated.

Dropping my hands I knew what was coming before I could protest, in one fluid motion he put me over his shoulder and was running back to the pack house, it's how we always got around, against my wishes I must say. I'd prefer to walk it takes longer and we'd have more time together. I giggled as I got gently lowered to the ground "you know one day you are going to have to stop doing that!"

"Babe, I'll be old and grey and still manage to get you over my shoulder easily" he smirked kissing me.

Pushing him away I rolled my eyes saying "when you are old and grey I would've thrown you into a retirement home so you wouldn't be able to do it any more"

Feigning shock he gasped "a retirement home? I thought you'd be looking after me until I die. I am hurt!"

Nudging him with my shoulder as I chuckled walking past him, he gripped my arm spinning me round causing the world to be out of focus, I frowned at how serious he looked when it was set right "what's up?"

Fray sighed "just... I love you OK? Remember that always"

The feeling of dread washed over me, my mind raced thinking of all the possible scenarios that could've provoked him to tell me he loves me and to remember it. Fray isn't the type of guy to express any soppy emotions so this was completely out the blue, my mind couldn't focus on just one thing for too long "I know you do, what's going on? You never say that out the blue" I inquired.

Glancing down at his feet he ran a hand through his already styled to perfection hair that the wind somehow manages to perfect every time "I know I just.. I was feeling a little pulled in every direction tonight after the argument with my dad and you that I needed you to hear me tell you that I love you still and even if it came down to it I'd chose you over my dad any day"

I could tell he was lying, he'd never chose me over his father in risks of him losing his Alpha-to-be status, something else had happened but I didn't want to confront him without proof. So instead I slapped on a fake smile saying "aw babe! I love you too. Don't worry I'm sure your dad will just put me on extra babysitting duties... come on it's starting to get chilly"

Making our way into the house everyone was still up talking about the argument hushing when they saw me entering with Fray it was only hushed because of the Alpha's son not me there's plenty of people here who have bad mouthed me in front of me and didn't even blink, the usual flash of ginger bounced over to me hugging me to comfort me, this ginger was my best friend since I was five, Alani who preferred to be called Al rushed saying "how are you? You just shut yourself off in your room for hours and when I finally picked the lock you weren't there where did you go?"

Fray wrapped his arms around my waist nuzzling my neck, for some reason he only does this when Al's around, I batted him off smiling "I'm OK Al. I went for a walk to clear my head... but I am going to bed it's late and I have a meeting with my tutor tomorrow. Goodnight!"

Pulling her in for one more quick hug I was lead away by Fray who was clearly impatient.

Upstairs in my room, I went for a shower hoping he'd join me but he never instead I heard him rearranging the bed. I dried and got out changing into a fresh pair of white lace underwear and matching bra, I was tempted to put the black set on he bought me for my birthday to try and entice him but one look at him when I entered the bedroom indicated I wasn't going to be lucky tonight. Climbing under the covers next to him, he rolled facing away from me, it was like I'd done something wrong but apart from the argument I haven't done anything. I rolled on to my side facing him I touched his scar on his back, he'd acquired it as a child when his dad punished him for refusing Alpha training, running my hand across the top of his back and down his arm until it rested comfortably across him. "Goodnight babe" I whispered.

When I got no reply I kissed his shoulder and rolled to face the other way, it hurt not knowing what was wrong, I like to fix things; relationships that had broken down or family problems so not being in the know was hard for me. We'd been together since I got back from boarding school three years ago, I mean our relationship lasted through my brief time away to attend college out of town so when I decided to drop out and move to the college in this town I thought he'd be ecstatic at the thought of having more time together but it seems to have pushed him away more. It made me make my mind up I had to find out what was going on for the sake of my mental health.