"S-s-shut up."

I couldn't believe I actually shouted that. My hands started trembling as I saw everyone's eyes on me. "He's n-n-not a….Simon tell him!" I looked at Simon waiting for him to back me. Simon looked at me than looked at Doug his eyes narrowing.

"Mr. Flynn…" Simon started but something stopped him. His gaze lowered. I looked over at Derek who was looking at me, his eyes where telling me to stop talking but I couldn't. Everyone was still looking at me, and Doug looked like he was about to start shouting at Derek again. Why wasn't Simon standing up for Derek?

"Im s-s…no…." I was about to say 'I'm sorry', but I stopped. I didn't need to be sorry. I hadn't done a damn thing wrong. He needed to know that he was wrong. I felt my face flare up, but I wasn't blushing this time, I was angry. "H-How Dare you!" I shouted at Doug. He looked back at me like I had slapped him. "Aren't we all freaks here? We should be helping each other, everyone. Why does it have to be, surrounded by freaks, that there's still all this prejudice?" I felt tears welling up in my eyes. "D-d-derek isn't a monster, he's not. He's s-s-smart and…." I was trembling all over now.

"Little girl…" Doug said looking away from me and at the ground his face contorted with anger. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"FINE!" I screamed. His head snapped up. "If Derek's a Monster, than I'm a Monster too!" I turned and made a break for it, towards the woods. I couldn't stand it anymore; I didn't want to see Doug's face, he was making me angry, and I didn't want to get angry. I just wanted to get as far away from that man…..I… I just wanted to cry.

Derek's POV

I wasn't the only one whose mouth fell open at Chloe's outburst. I watched as her beautiful blue eyes filled up with tears and as her arms started shaking. I could see the anger in her face growing stronger every second.

Than Doug started talking; I chanced a look over at him. I could see the pain etched in the aging man's wrinkles and even more in his fading eyes. The guy made me angry too…but Chloe didn't know…She didn't know how wrong she was.…

"FINE! If Derek's a Monster, than I'm a Monster too!"

I turned just in time to see her turn and run for the woods. Chloe. She didn't have to stand up for me, that idiot….

"Simon, go after her." Andrew muttered. I saw Simon's foot twitched towards the trees but he stopped.

"Umm, personally Andrew, I don't think she wants' to talk to me right now." Simon said hesitantly. He scratched his head uncertain. Then he looked over at me, he looked ashamed as he jerked his head slightly.

I glared at him. He knew I wasn't the kind of person who was good with this kind of stuff. Sure I wanted to help Chloe but…I wasn't very good at feelings and talking….Simon raised his eyebrows and hissed, "Derek?"

"What?" I growled. All of sudden out of know where someone slapped me on the back.

I tensed and jerked my head to see who it was. It was that idiot Jason, how did he sneak up on me? "That was your cue Wolf Boy." I glared down on him, he just smiled and imitated Simon jerked head. "Run boy run!"

I looked at Simon but he was already walking back to the house. Andrew was trying to calm down Doug who was just getting as far away from me as possible. Andrew looked over at me his eyes narrowed but he nodded and then returned his attention back on Doug.

I sighed and took off after Chloe's trail. At first I wasn't worried she couldn't have gone to …and then I realized how long and how far her trail was taking me into the woods. I started to panic. Damn it! That idiot!! I started to speed up. Her scent took me off the worn out trails and deeper into the dark trees. Damn it! Damn it! I was screaming inside. She was going too far away from the house if I didn't find her soo---.

I nearly ran pass her; I had to skid to a stop. She was sitting on a fallen tree, her arms around her knees and face buried.

Chloe's POV

I looked up when I felt someone sit next to me. I was about to tell Simon to go the hell away when I looked up and saw Derek sitting there.

"Hey" He muttered. He looked relieved for some reason. "You ran pretty far."

"Did I?" I said resting my chin on my knees. I really hadn't been paying attention to where I was going. The only reason I had stopped here was because I tripped over this fallen tree. I was simply shocked that I hadn't fallen till then. We sat there for about a minute in silence. I was starting to feel uncomfortable and was about to say something, but Derek beat me to it.

"Are you okay?"

"Hmm." I hummed.

"You shouldn't have done that, you know."

"Shouldn't I? He was being a jerk, you're not---." I started but he cut me off.

"He has good reason to be such a jerk Chloe. Andrew was an Idiot not to tell us beforehand that he was coming. I would have warned you…." He sighed, leaning back on the fallen tree.

"Warned me?" I lifted my head up, curious.

Derek took a deep breath. "Doug Flynn….his entire family was killed by pack of werewolves."

I stared back at him wide eyed.

"It wasn't an accident. There were three wolves, and they were blood thirsty killers. The Flynn family's summer house was located in an area that was on the edge of the new pack's territory. But it was close enough that when they…..well….Doug was the only survivor. He lost everything, his wife, his three kids…his whole world…Right in front of him, and he couldn't do a damn thing about it." Derek finished looking at the ground his hands balled into fists.

"Derek…I…" I felt lost for words.

"Didn't know, yea…Doug knows that." Derek sighed. "That doesn't mean I like the guy, but I know his hatred is justified….you were wrong…Chloe, I…I am a monster."

"No you're not." I whined.

"Chloe I---."

"You're NOT!" I looked away. Silence followed and my tears started to flow down my face again. I jumped when I felt the back of Derek's hand brush across my cheek.

"Please, don't cry…." He whispered.

"Why?" I said through my teeth.

"Why what?"

"Why am I not a monster?...I'm…I take souls and jam them back into their rotting corpses, imagine finally being at peace and then---being put back into what is left of your body---what kind of a monst--I'm the worst there is…For once I want to be called for what I am…."

"You're not." I looked up at him.

"Yes, yes I am."

Derek sighed, "Fine." He must have realized that he wasn't going to change my mind. "We can be monsters together." He gave me a faint smile.

Slowly I smiled at him, "I'd like that."

He nodded. "Good." He sighed, "Well we better get back." As he stood up and as he did he rubbed the top of my head like I was a little kid. "Come on, lil' monster." He started to walk back towards the house.

"Wait!" I stood up not sure what I was doing. Derek turned his hands in his pockets.

"What?"

"I-I-I-I umm wanted-d-d to …. Umm." What was I trying to say? Hey Derek I think your eyes are beautiful and I love it when you smile. No that sounded stupid. You're a wonderful person and I love spending time with you….. "Uh…Uh…Derek I---."

"I know." Derek muttered. I stared at him with wide eyes.

"K-K-Know what?" I stuttered.

His eyes meet mine and he slowly he walked back over to me. "It's hard to find the words." He said looking away from mine, instead to look above my head.

"W-What words?" I whispered, trying to catch his eyes again. What was I doing? I just wanted to see his face again…his eyes.

"That's the thing isn't it?"

"What is?"

He finally looked back down at me, his eyes searching mine. "I can't say but---I understand what you're trying to say…I---." He looked down for a second and then he reached up and grabbed the back of my head. A hundred different thoughts ran through my head and my face blushed redder than it ever had done before. I looked down for a moment trying to calm my thoughts. Then I felt Derek pull me close and kiss my forehead.

"It won't work Chloe….I'm sorry." He whispered as I looked up at him.

"B-b-but….Why?" I said, worried.

"I don't want to hurt you," Derek sighed. "Go back Chloe." He commanded and then he stepped passed me and ran further into the woods.…

He ran away….from me….That idiot ran away!

"DEREK SOUZA, YOU GET YOUR WOLF-BUTT BACK HERE!!"

DO NOT OWN DARKEST POWERS!! KELLY ARMSTRONG DOES!!!

Hey there! I hope everyone likes how this story is going.

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