Hey guys sorry this chapter took so long. I've been suffering from writers block but I have forced myself to finish this chapter and I hope you guys like it. Enjoy!

Chapter 4

Lucy slowly woke to something wrapped around her shoulder and waist and it was very warm. Please don't be a snake. She blinked a couple of times to clear the sleep from her eyes and looked at what was wrapped around her. It was two arms; two very muscular arms. She turned her head to the side and discovered it was Natsu. As usual he snuck into her bed but this time it was in her bedroll…he never held her before though. He was snoring deeply when "Natsu! What are you doing? Let go of me!" was shouted into his ear. He slowly woke up and looked at her in a sleepy daze. "Mmm…wha…Lucy…is it already time to get up? Just five more minutes" he said groggily and tightened his hold on her and stuck his face in the crook of her neck. She stiffened and whimpered in frustration and embarrassment. Then she was saved when Natsu was yanked out of her bedroll so fast by Laxus he lost his grip and Natsu went sailing into the woods. Lucy heard him, she guessed; hit a tree or rock and then, "Oi! What was that for?" Laxus just growled in Natsu's direction and walked towards the fire pit and started getting to work on breakfast. Lucy just sat there watching Laxus. He had a very angry look on his face. "Laxus?" she timidly asked. He turned to look at her "Hmm?"

"I'm sorry if I woke you." Laxus continued to stare at her and she was starting to feel uncomfortable. She shyly looked at him, smiled and was about to turn away when he surprised her and suddenly stood up and walked toward where she stood. He stopped right in front of her and reached his hand up to caress her cheek and seductively said "I would have preferred it if I had woken up with you in my arms instead of the idiot."

"Hey! Who are you calling an idiot?" shouted Natsu as he walked back into camp. He had leaves in his hair and on his clothes and Lucy couldn't help but giggle when she saw him in such a state. Laxus sighed and put his hand down when he heard the so called idiot. "You, you Numb-nuts."

"Oh yea?" Lucy was happy for the distraction, she didn't know what to do or say to something like what Laxus said. She also didn't want him to see the blush on her face. When he touched her cheek and said those words to her she felt a warm fluttering in her stomach and her heart skipped a beat. She prayed to God that he couldn't hear how he affected her. She felt a little dizzy as well, and she had felt happy, but she knew deep down she's not good enough for him. As Laxus and Natsu argued Lucy released a deep sigh, got up, grabbed her clothes from her bag and walked toward the waterfall to freshen up. She was still amazed at the beauty of it all. Once she stopped admiring the view she bent close to the water, cupped her hands, and splashed some in her face. She wiped her face and started to dress. She wore dark blue skinny jeans, with calf-high brown boots, an orange T-shirt with a brown motorcycle jacket over it. She went back to the edge of the water to look at herself in the reflection, and she liked the way she looked. She was putting her hair up in a messy bun when she felt like she was being watched. She looked around and saw no sign of anyone. Lucy got the creeps and grabbed her stuff and ran back to camp. She still felt like she was being watched as she ran back. Natsu and Laxus saw her run back and Natsu ran to her, grabbed her shoulders, while looking behind her as he asked "Lucy what's wrong?"

Lucy looked freaked out and clung to his chest and said "It's just…when I was changing by the waterfall I felt like someone was watching me." Both males became alert upon hearing this. Laxus came up to them and quietly told them, not to alert the intruder, he'll go check it out. Lucy sighed in relief and went to go sit on the log by the fire. Natsu sat next to her and engulfed her tiny hands in his big ones. Lucy quizzically looked at him and she saw concern in his eyes. "Natsu…It's alright. I'm fine. Just creeped me out is all."

"I know but next time tell me your going to go change that way I can go with you," He smirked. Lucy turned red with anger. "You pervert! No way am I going to let you come with me!" Lucy quickly pulled her hand away and stood up to leave. Natsu quickly grabbed her wrist while laughing and said, "Lucy, please don't get mad. I didn't mean for me to watch you change. I've already seen you naked anyways." Lucy turned a deeper shade of red and was about to smack him but he caught her other wrist and held her still. "I just meant I want to be close enough to you to protect you." He said this in such a soft, caring, sincere voice Lucy couldn't stay mad at him. She smiled at him and said, "Ok…but if I find out your peeking at me I'll beat you senseless." She shook her fist at him before he pulled her into a hug. Laxus decided to come back at that same moment. Lucy pulled out of Natsu's embrace and looked at Laxus. She almost didn't catch the pained look on his face. Just as she saw it; it was gone the next second. He turned toward his stuff to collect it. Lucy got up and asked "Did you see anyone?" Natsu wasn't happy that she left his embrace but he was just as curious and turned as well toward the other male and waited for his reply. Laxus glanced back at them and curtly said "No" then started gathering his belongings and walked off into the woods. Lucy quickly grabbed her stuff and ran after him shouting "Wait!" as she went. "What about breakfast?!" shouted Natsu.

"Eat it! Catch up to us when you're done!" Lucy shouted back. Natsu just sat there staring with a look of disbelief on his face at the spot they disappeared. I can't believe she just left me. We were having a moment and the minute Laxus comes around she ignores me. What the hell! He sat there thinking and came to a conclusion. I need to somehow get Laxus out of the picture and Lucy alone with me. As he thought of a plan he vigorously dug into his breakfast.

"The female will make an excellent addition to our family don't you agree Jai?"

"Oh yes, she would make a perfect candidate for our next alpha male's mate. We must take her." Two cloaked figures crouched in the underbrush, watching said female. The one named Jai slipped into the shadows but stopped before he called back to the other. "Not now Darin, we must wait for the perfect opportunity." Darin looked back at his partner, nodded, then disappeared in the underbrush after his companion.

Lucy was having trouble keeping up with Laxus' stride. Why is he mad? Why won't he talk to me? I tried everything but all I get is one word answers or grunts. What was that pained look? Lucy let out a deep sigh and tripped on a rock. She landed hard on her hands and knees. "Ow!" She sat up and looked at the damage. Her hands were cut up and bleeding and her pants on both knees were also bleeding. "Great…" she mumbled. Laxus stopped and turned around to see her on the ground all banged up. He could smell that she was bleeding a lot. He sighed and walked back to her. He squatted in front of her and stuck out his hand and, "Give me your hand" he said quietly. "Huh?" Lucy had a confused look on her face. "Why?" she asked.

"Just give it to me!" he growled as he grabbed one of her wrists. "Ah!" she winced. He looked more closely at the wound, took his shirt off and ripped it into strips. As he was ripping his shirt Lucy marveled at his muscles. The way they flexed with every movement. She blushed and looked away when he caught her staring. He smirked at that. He'll tease her later about that but right now her wounds needed tending. He looked in his bag for a bottle of water, anti-septic pads and bandages. He grabbed her hands gently this time and held them both in front of him and used the water to rinse the dirt and blood away. He then set the water aside and grabbed the anti-septic pads. He tore it open and took her right hand and said "This is going to sting a little." She nodded and he started cleaning her hand. Each swipe of the pad she winced from the pain. "Ok now for the bandages" he set the used pad to the side and grabbed the bandages.

As he was cleaning her hand she got up the courage to ask him, "So you're not mad at me anymore?" He paused then continued wrapping. "I'm not mad" he said after a long moment. "Then why wouldn't you talk to me?" He chose not to answer her. Lucy got frustrated and started to get irritated at him. Why does he have to be so stubborn? Laxus finished with her hands and moved to her knees. "I think it's safe to say your pants are ruined."

"Y…yes" she stuttered. She watched him as he grabbed a fist full of fabric on either side of her knee caps and ripped the fabric further open. "Laxus!" she shouted. "What? I had to get to your wound." He did the same with the other leg. He cleaned and bandaged both knees and stood up. He reached his hand out to help her up and she smiled and put her tiny hand into his big, burly one. Lucy stood up and dusted off her pants and saw Laxus offering his arm to her. "Oh! Thank you" she said as she held onto his arm for support and they continued on their journey.

Natsu finished his breakfast and cleaned up camp. He headed off in the direction Lucy and Laxus went and followed their scent. He was walking along and his mind started to drift toward a certain blonde beauty. He loved the way she drove him crazy with the short, tight, skimpy clothes she wears. He loved being near her; smelling her scent and the smell of her shampoo all mixed together creating a heavenly aroma. Mmmm. Thinking about that he started running to catch up to her. Then he stopped short. "I smell Lucy's blood." His eyes narrowed and he growled, and ran even faster, following Lucy's scent.

Laxus and Lucy were walking along with Lucy still holding onto Laxus' arm. She was thinking about the mission and wondering why they haven't found any of the werewolves yet. "Laxus you're following the werewolves scent right?"

"Yes"

"How come we haven't seen any yet?" she asked.

"The scent is everywhere. I'm following the strongest scent and hopefully we'll find their hideout. Just trust me."

"Ok. I do trust you" she said as she smiled at him. He was startled at first then looked at her warmly which in turn startled her and she blushed and looked down at her feet. He smiled at her shyness and placed his hand over hers. She blushed even further at his boldness. They fell into a comfortable silence, enjoying each other's company. Lucy looked at his hand covering hers. His hand was so much bigger than hers and so warm. She couldn't help but feel so delicate and fragile underneath his strong, masculine, callused hands. "Lucy?" said Laxus. She started and looked up at him and said "Yes?"

"Lucy…I…I want to-" but just as he was about to finish he heard and smelled something coming. He immediately stood in front of Lucy to shield her. A pack of werewolves came charging at them.