AN: Firstly I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! Its been a while since I've logged on so what's new? Here's the next chapter, hope you enjoy it. Leave a review and if you have any questions... ask! :)

Sam felt his skin bristle as the leaves all around him were uprooted from the earth, smacking gently at his bare arms. He held Mercedes gently in his arms, resting on his haunches as he glared at the boy who was exiting the portal. The boy wore a dark blue t-shirt that did nothing to hide his pale ivory colored skin, it hugged his broad shoulders and dipped just above his hip line, giving way to a pair of acid washed jeans with holes scattering about the knees. His dark hair caught the last flickers of moonlight as the ebony colored clouds rolled over the sky. Sam accessed the boy a low baritone growl escaping from the confines of his chest as his eyes met with the boys foggy hazel ones.

The boy let out a soft chuckle, mirroring the Alpha males look of hatred and reflecting his own sense of amusement with a twist of his lips.

Sam flashed his teeth at the boy as he began to walk towards them, letting another low threatening growl escape from the depths of his throat. In his arms, Mercedes stirred but didn't open her eyes. Sam used his broad muscular body to shield the unconscious girl as the boy approached, a crooked smile set on his face. He didn't seem the slightest bit afraid and he didn't need to. He knew that Sam wasn't capable of hurting anyone, unless threatened. The boy smiled to himself, he was no threat… not yet anyway.

"How ironic" the boys' deep voice flowed over Sam's neck making him cringe, " I didn't think our little reunion would end up quite like this"

Sam flashed his teeth once more but the boy ignored his attempt of trying to frighten him away. Instead he gazed upon the small girl settled in his arms. She appeared broken, her mouth hanging slightly open, eyelashes brushing across her sunken cheeks, a tiny hand hanging limply at her side. Her skin was smooth, a rich deep brown color that made his mouth water at the sight of it. For a moment the boy could make out the beat of the fallen girls heart, it rang melodically in his head and he licked his lips. Sam hissed slowly inching her away, but the boy knew he was powerless to move her. He didn't want to disturb her sudden slumber, what a softy. Sam slowly tried to rise from the ground but the other boy clicked his tongue disapprovingly, "Oh Sam, you shouldn't have brought me dinner so early at night"

"What are you doing here?" Sam spat, not bothering to hide his distain as he glanced back up at the boy who was now chuckling slightly to himself. The dark headed boy continued smiling, his lips pursing into a thin fragile red line as he assessed the Alpha male crouched before him.

Sam bent lower onto his haunches over Mercedes. He didn't know her very well but he unconsciously accepted her into his pack. It was an instinctive bond that he formed with all werewolves that were apart of his community. Something that was out of his control. He hated it most of the time but he learned to live with it, Sam glanced back up at the other boy who continued to glance at Mercedes. His eyes were unreadable but Sam could detect a blaze of something within them, he flinched. He'd seen that look before.

"I asked you a question," Sam nearly hollered, causing the other boy to cast him a glare. The boy tilted his face quizzically to the side as if he were contemplating the correct answer. The crooked smile that once overtook his face had slowly stretched into a full on grin as he pondered to himself.

"You're so foolish" the dark headed boy sighed rocking onto his heels.

"Go to hell" Sam hissed earning a humorless chuckle from the other boy.

"Oh Sammy boy" Sam caught the other boys menacing hazel eyed gaze, "that's not a nice way to greet your brother"

…

Quinn made it to the portal in complete and utter silence. All around her the forest was eerily quiet, she looked around. She'd never ventured this far from the safety of Lima's walls, out here… all alone, it made her wonder if this was how all the others felt when they snuck out. Where they startled by this vast expanse of freedom like she was? Or did they welcome it? Crave it? Quinn shook her head, placing those thoughts on the back shelf of her mind. They wouldn't matter anyway, the moment she found Mercedes was the moment she hauled her back here. She didn't like the fact that Mercedes was just out there, vulnerable, weak…. With her future mate.

Sam…

Quinn dipped her nose tentatively into the portal, shocked by the lukewarm tide of witch magic that coursed through her veins. Witches, Quinn let a low grumble of distaste escape her muzzle. She always hated them, their smell, their devious smiles, and their willow like frames made her blood boil with jealousy. Ever since she'd witness the death of one of her kind at the hands of a witch, she'd learned not to trust them. Learned to hate them from afar, to watch their every move, to make sure they didn't cause any trouble.

Of course Mercedes (being her total opposite) was fascinated by witchcraft. She'd often sneak out late at night when they were kids to watch the witches perform their healing ceremonies in Lake Square, just south of Lima's town center. More often than not, Quinns Blood Sister would return home, an air of excitement playing on her face, her eyes alight with wonder, blood pumping with adrenaline. Quinn couldn't understand what made Mercedes so excited to see those stupid witches…. Then again, there was a lot that Quinn didn't understand about her Blood Sister. It may take her decades to solve the puzzle that was Mercedes.

Quinn shook her shoulders awkwardly, suddenly uncomfortable with being in her wolf form. She stepped forward, into the portal. The wolf didn't enjoy the compact sensation pulling at her limbs and let a low whimper escape her lips as she was pulled in multiple directions. She knew that if the portal didn't accept her then she'd never get past. The rule in Lima was, no female left without the presence of a male. If the portal spat her back out into the forest, she wouldn't have anyway of getting to Mercedes. And that alone tore her apart.

Clenching her jaw, Quinn tried to speed up the process of the portals magic. Hoping, that she'd get to the other side.

…

Mercedes was lost, in a never-ending darkness. Her eyes felt as if they had been wielded shut and her head throbbed painfully. In the distance she could hear two male voices bickering, deep and hushed…. as if she were straining to hear them against the thickness of night. She scrambled dizzily through the dark, clawing her way towards what she could only hope was light. She always hated the dark. It brought upon so many creepy feelings that she tried to mentally block out whenever possible. Sometimes when she was left alone in her home while her parents worked, she felt like she was in the dark. Where no one could hear her, she her, find her. To her the darkness was nothing but a place of nothing but despair and uncertainty. A barren landscape that was filled with cruel images filled of boogey men and skeletons. That was why she hated it so much.

Maybe that was the reason she'd fallen for Sam so quickly. She had a crush on him since she was old enough to think about it. Since that chance encounter at the lake, when she was hiding among the sticker bushes and Quinn was flirting with him on the dock. Even then Mercedes steered clear of her Blood Sisters future mate, it was as if they made a silent agreement. So it was true, Mercedes never met him up close. But she liked to look at him whenever she could. He was different than the darkness that plagued her nightmares. His eyes were beautiful and kind, reflecting only joy instead of bitter hate. His skin was smooth from what she could tell, tanned yet pale enough that it hardly showed much difference from his fluffy thick blonde hair. In her mind, Sam was a fresh gust of air, a summer breeze, something that chased all her nightmares away… Without even knowing it, Mercedes slowly began to long for him and his company. She could love him from afar, there were no rules against it and besides it wasn't like either he or Quinn knew about her silly crush. Hopefully it would go away soon, even if Mercedes couldn't will it away on her own.

Mercedes shook those thoughts, evading their warmth and welcoming hands.

As quickly as she could, Mercedes pressed forward, trying to escape the creeping suspicion to look over her shoulder, knowing that only horror filled images would be behind her. The voices she heard earlier were getting closer, becoming louder and clearer. She knew she was going the right way.

"Shh! She's waking up you idiot" an unfamiliar voice came in Mercedes ear and she automatically flinched away. Someone chuckled, a pair of arms shook around Mercedes ribcage. "It appears that she hates you as much as I do brother" a different voice filled Mercedes slowly awakening body, it was Sam. Mercedes insides did a cartwheel and she repressed the urge to let her eyes snap open so that she could get a look at him. He sounded different than before. Slightly more strained, exhausted, aggravated.

Mercedes let her eyes open slowly, feeling exhaustion prick at her eyelids. Her gaze came to rest on an unfamiliar face; a set of hazel eyes stared down at her curiously.

She blinked several times, trying to get the handsome boy in front of her to disappear. He offered up a small-amused smile, waving his large pale hand gently in front of her face, "Hi"

Sam let his eyes flicker over towards his brother but he didn't say a word. Mercedes tore her eyes away from the other boy so that she could get a look at Sam. The beautiful off limits Sam who smiled at her gently, "Let's get you off the ground"

Only then did Mercedes realize that her bottom must be caked with dirt, she blushed at the thought, thankful for her darker skin complexion. Both men took one of her arms and gently pushed her up onto her feet. She swayed ever so slightly into the stranger and Sam's arm tightened around her waist, bringing her closer to his side. For a moment she glanced up at him in time to see him bare his teeth at the dark headed boy on her other side. "I've got her" Sam reassured him through clenched teeth, his jaw moving slightly to hide his unease. The other boy took a polite step away from Mercedes' side holding up his hands in mock surrender.

After he moved away, Sam let her out of his grip and she found herself wobbling unsteadily towards the sidewalk that led to Omen City.

"You think you can make it?" Sam's voice floated softly into Mercedes ear and she nodded after a moment. She wouldn't let her little weakness slow her down. She began to move without the help of either men, each step sounding like shattering glass in her eardrums. A frustrated tear slipped past her cheeks but she plowed forward, keeping her gaze straight ahead.

Sam could feel her desperation but didn't speak. He followed close behind however, gnawing at his lip.

"Let's go Blaine" Sam called over his shoulder, not even glancing behind to see if his brother was actually following.

AN: End Of Chapter!

Hate it?

Love it?

Review!

:)

PS: I know I've got readers out there... I've been getting a few hits on these stories but not too many reviews, that's makes me sad...

:( Review please? Pwetty Please with a cherry on top?