Okay my lovely readers… I have updated sooner rather than later just as a thanks for reading c:

Chapter Two: Strangers in the Woods?

DPOV:

It was around lunchtime and my stomach was confirming this thought when it growled. So, I made my way to the kitchen in search of something, anything, to eat. I saw that I was the first person ready for lunch and contemplated whether or not I should ask everyone else if they wanted anything… 'Nah,' I thought, 'it wouldn't be like me anyway'. But, it turns out that I didn't have to worry about anything. As I was making my sandwich, one by one, everyone piled into the kitchen in search for food.

"Hey Derek, can you make me a sandwich too?" Simon asked.

"Yeah, sure," I grumbled back. I'm doing this because he's my brother, I thought to myself.

Bringing the five sandwiches to the table, one for Simon and four for me, I can see that Tori was having a salad and Chloe was just sitting there, her apple untouched. I scrunched my eyebrows but didn't really question it. She has been doing this lately.

Handing Simon his sandwich, I ask, "Did you test your-"

"Yes mom, I did" He cut me off.

"Just making sure," I grumble. I was just making sure. Is that so wrong?

Hungry, I devour the four sandwiches in less than five minutes. When I look up, I see everyone staring at me. "What, you haven't seen anyone eat a sandwich before?" I ask.

"Well, if you consider swallowing food whole eating, then no, no I have not," Chloe states, giving me that look. You know that look of amusement and slight disgust.

"I do not swallow my food," I state.

"No offence bro, but you kind of do," Simon says. Always on my side isn't he. Note the sarcasm.

After this statement, I leave to clean my plate. Once that is done, I head toward the backyard to get a run through the woods. You see, there's a trail in the woods in my backyard. It curves here and there, and then it eventually ends up next to this small creek. That creek is my favorite place to relax and think when my mind is cluttered.

So, I make my way there. Feeling the ground pound underneath my feet every time I take a step. Feeling the air whoosh by across my face. Hearing the wind and the crunch of gravel. And eventually feeling the sweat pour down my face. All of these sensations make it worth it. And there is the fact that I'm a werewolf so I have all this energy and nothing to do with it all. So, I run.

I eventually make it to the creek. It's just as I remembered it. Small, clear, and relaxing. There's a boulder near the trail that I like to lay on and feel the sun on myself. This is very relaxing. And that relaxing feeling is something that I do not feel often. The fact that we were on the run for so long makes it hard to relax. The fact that there was no reason to run makes me look over my shoulder every minute… just to make sure. But, as I say, it's always mind over matter. Relax, just relax. I always tell myself. And it works, well most of the time anyways. There's always a time where it just feels like someone is watching us. Maybe I'm just paranoid.

I don't know how long I have been here but the sun is starting to set. Sighing, I make my way to the trail. But when I get up, I see something on the other side of the creek. With my wolf vision, I can make out that it's a person and with the wind blowing my way I can smell the wolf in him. Squinting, I try to make out who this may be. When I can't, I make my way back pretending I didn't see anything. For all I know this could be a trap from some other group that worked with the Edison Group.

Just in case they follow me, I make my way down the other trail that stems down into the nearby park. I make a run for it, just to see if I can lose them. And eventually I do and I just step into the park. I let out a breath of relief.

I eventually make it home for dinner. But with the situation at hand, you know, with the werewolf and everything, I'm even more irritated.

I try to make myself look as casual as possible. The table was set up for dinner, so I just made my way to my usual seat and sat down. It looked like we were having steak for dinner. This is great, since it has been a while since we ate some actual meat. So I dug into my food, happy for a distraction from what happened not even an hour ago.

But I just couldn't shake off what happened. I mean, who could it be?

"You okay there, bro?" Simons asks, shaking me out of my musings.

"Yeah" I grunt.

"Are you sure? I mean I've never seen you not eat like that…" Chloe states. "You know you can talk to us Derek. Are going to change soon?"

I sigh and don't answer. I hope they'll just drop it but it seems like luck is not on my side today because the questions seem to continue.

"I said I'm fine!" I finally snap.

I look up just then and see the shock and hurt on Chloe's face and I instantly feel guilty. But I shake the feeling off and I get up to go up to my room.

I lay in my bed, once I get to my room. I just can't seem to stop wondering what those wolves were doing in the woods. And they were so close to our house.

"What is wrong with you? Chloe was just trying to help you and you snap at her like that? That's not cool man." Simon tells me this while making his way to my bed. "Tell me what's really wrong."

I sigh. I guess I could tell him. "I saw a few wolves on my run today. They were so close to the house and I can't shake off the feeling that something's wrong. I think we should be on alert and I just didn't want to worry the girls."

"You mean wolves, as in werewolves?" he asks.

I nod, confirming his question.

"Okay, so it looks like we're going to have to keep a look out for these guys," he states.

"There is no 'we' in this. I'm keeping look out and the rest of you just relax while you still can." I say this with authority and hope he listens.

"No way dude. You're not doing this alone." Just my luck…