Okay so I'm really sorry this took so long. I'll try and keep the updates coming faster from now on I just got out of my writing mode for awhile, but I'm back with another chapter.

Disclaimer: I still don't own Darkest Powers. Yada Yada Yada.


(Derek's point of view)

Chloe was acting weird when she came back from her lesson. She seemed distant, as if there was something she couldn't shake from her mind.

"What's wrong?" I asked, wrapping my arms around her waist. She leaned back into me and let out a quiet sigh. "If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine." I told her while I kissed her neck.

She nodded half-heartedly before pulling away gently and standing up. We had been in my bedroom. I was sitting on my bed with her on my lap before she'd gotten up. "I'm going for a walk." She told me looking stressed.

"I don't think that's the best idea." I told her. Just thinking about Chloe alone in the woods sent a pang of frustration and protectiveness through me. She was quickly becoming less fragile, all of her previous softness gone. I felt her hard abs beneath my inspecting hands and her upper arms were hard. She was less helpless now than ever, but she was also my mate, and I didn't want her in danger.

"I'll be fine." She assured me coming over to give me what was supposed to be a quick kiss. There was urgency in the way her lips moved over mine, and if anything this kiss was concerning. "Derek," She whispered against my lips before pulling away. "I'll be back." She promised slipping out from under me and heading for the door. I let her go and didn't watch her leave, I was frozen in place.

I heard the door close and her footsteps retreated down the stairs before I grunted and rolled onto my back, staring at the ceiling. What was with her? Earlier Chloe had been happy, but as soon as she got back I noticed a difference. She was distracted and seemed freaked out. Maybe it was just her lessons getting to her, but that definitely wasn't a good sign. After all, that necromancer in the hidden room had been driven insane be her powers. If that happened to Chloe, I didn't know what I would do.

"Hey bro," I was so distracted by my thoughts that I hadn't noticed Simon come in. "Where's Chloe?"

"Taking a walk," I told him under my breath. I hated the idea of her out there alone as much as I hated the idea of her being hunted by the Edison Group, it was just asking for trouble.

Simon just nodded noticing my mood and grabbed his sketch book and pencils before leaving the room. I had an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach, my instincts kicking in, but I told myself I was just worrying. I stood up from the bed and stormed down the stairs. I just needed to get some fresh air.

I walked by Andrew with had an unspoken question on his lips when I slammed the door behind me.

The cool air sent chills through me, but the feeling of unease was still there. I resorted to pacing, lapping the house at a constant quick pace. I listened to the sounds of the cool night breeze ruffling the trees. I was almost calm and was ready to go back into the house when I heard it.

The sound was far off, distant and barely audible with even my enhanced hearing. There were loud crashes deep in the forest. Chloe? I was about to walk toward the sound to hear better when another sound came to me that any person with normal senses could hear.

"DEREK," I heard Chloe's ear splitting scream and was sprinting through the trees before I knew it. There were sounds of a struggle ahead, and I could tell Chloe was losing. I pushed faster than I thought I could, my instincts taking over. My mate was in trouble.

I was coming close, within a half a mile of Chloe and her attackers when I heard it. "You're no fun anymore cutie." The man whispered and I heard another man chuckle darkly. I knew that voice. "But it was a nice touch, calling to your mate like that, very dramatic."

Liam. It occurred to me, and then I was there. I barely had the time to take in what was happening before I was in the air, flying full force at Liam.

Chloe was under him, her neck was straining as she snarled at him. The expression she wore made her look like a werewolf, she looked fierce. Liam had her pinned and he was grinning. His teeth glinted brightly and his mouth came down toward her throat. Before he made contact I was barreling him over.

"Derek," Chloe squealed just before I felt Ramones weight falling on me and something sharp tear into my shoulder. I howled in pain before flinging him off my back. I felt hot blood pour down my back, but I couldn't focus on myself at the moment. I felt myself lose the advantage of my position as Liam rolled on top of me and his fist contacted my face. His fist was pulled back again but before in made contact with my eye he fell off me.

I lurched to my feet. Chloe was kneeling; her knee pinned into Liam's stomach as she bit into his wrist and dragged her tongue over the wound, letting it absorb her lethal saliva. It was sickening to watch as my Chloe tore into him again and again, until Liam stopped struggling and fell limp.

I spun, remembering Ramon and seeing him knocked out leaning against a tree.

I was shocked and frozen in place. Chloe was still crouched over Liam her shoulders shaking and it took awhile until I realized that she was crying, sobbing really.

I moved over slowly, not wanting to startle her. "Chloe," I murmured placing my hand on her shoulder and kneeling down beside her. Her face was streaked with tears and her eyes were bloodshot. She didn't seem to notice I was there, she was muttering to herself.

"I didn't mean to do it. I don't know why I did it, Derek." She moaned leaning into me. "I didn't have any control over myself and I wanted to stop but I couldn't." She was sobbing and I could barely tell what she was saying. "I wasn't strong enough, so I bit."

"Chloe, it wasn't you. It was the wolf, you had no control." I said pulling her into my chest. I knew what it was like; I'd broken a kid's back before just because he'd pulled a knife on my brother, in situations like this it was easy to let the wolf take over.

"You're bleeding." She said as her had accidentally brushed over my injured shoulder.

"It's nothing." I said pulling her tighter to my chest. "You're not going on walks alone anymore." I muttered as we both calmed our shuddering breaths.

"Deal," She whispered pulling away. "We need to do something about him." She said turning around.

"We'll worry about the body later." I told her standing up.

"That's a good thing, but he's not what I'm worried about." She said giving a pointed glance toward Ramon.

I sighed before walking over and grabbing his arm, dragging him through the forest until I came to a river I'd found on one of my runs. It had a fast current and as I stood over it I could feel the cold radiating from the water.

I pushed him into the river, keeping my hold on his arm as he sputtered into consciousness, his gaze falling on me.

"I'm not going to kill you." I told him hating the feeling that I was even more of a monster than I was an hour before. "You'll get out, just not around here." And with that I let go and watched Ramon flailing in the icy water, trying to find hold on the edge.

I ran back to where Chloe was. Liam's body was covered with dead leaves and she was sitting against a tree with her face buried against her legs.

"Hey, you did what you had to. Don't beat yourself up over it." I said holding out my hand to her.

"Says the world's biggest hypocrite," She mutters grabbing my hand. She didn't let go until after we were inside the safe house with a lot of questions to answer.


Okay so I have to say this was one of my least favorite chapters to write... ever. I think I went way OOC on that one but there was a point so before you go off on me I want to give my explanation… then you're free to tell me I'm crazy :)

I wanted to show how far Chloe and Derek will go to protect their mates and how far their wolves can take them, therefore explaining how OOC they act. I also wanted to put an end to the whole 'We have psycho human-eating werewolves following us' problem. So there it is, please review and as always criticism is welcome.