The great thing about intimate concert venues, was that no matter where you stood, you felt like you could reach out and touch whatever band was performing on a given night.

Chloe and Beca had found themselves on the ground floor, halfway between the stage and the exit, the perfect view to enjoy what Beca was fast learning was a band that was probably in the top 3 of Chloe's favourite bands.

Beca had to admit, The 1975 put on a decent show. She wasn't exactly a major fan of the band herself, but she enjoyed getting to watch the various expressions of excitement that would wash over Chloe's face as she sang her way through every song.

The redhead was in her element, bobbing along and nodding her head to every song. She still couldn't believe Beca had arranged this for their first date. Chloe had been on many awkward dates to bowling alleys, fun fairs, fancy restaurants, every generic first date you could think of Chloe had been on.

Guys, and some girls, taking her places they thought a first date should be in and filling the void with awkward conversation trying to impress her somehow. But this date, this date already planted itself at the top of her list of best first dates.

Beca had gone out of her way to find something she knew Chloe would like. She had observed her, retained information from their conversations the last few months and stored it away to come up with a date that would actually interest Chloe.

She had been thoughtful, opening doors for the redhead and making sure she was okay throughout the night, asking if she needed a drink or if the view where they were standing was good. Beca made it a point to always make sure Chloe was comfortable and Chloe hasn't failed to take notice.

For her part, Chloe had always made sure to show how grateful she was for Beca's chivalry, letting her know that it was appreciated, and when brunette had guided them to the floor of the venue, Chloe made it a point to stand on Beca's right so that she didn't get jostled or bumped into on her injured side.

So far it was the perfect date, or as perfect as it could be considering they only really had time to talk in between songs, and that was usually spent with Beca asking Chloe if she was having a good time and the redhead taking countless selfies to remember the night.

Once the concert was over, they stayed rooted to the spot, allowing the majority of the crowd to disperse before Beca took Chloe's hand and guided her out of the venue and into the night air. Once outside, Beca began to steer them down the street towards a little gelato shop Chloe had never actually been to.

"How have I never heard of this place?" Chloe wondered, genuine astonishment etched across her face. Beca grinned at her as they continued walking down the street.

"If I had to wager a guess it's probably because most people tend to stick to the old tried and tested Dairy Queen," Beca replied and Chloe grimaced, because she was guilty of being one of those predictable consumers. Beca chuckled at the expression on the redheads face.

"Hey, I'm not judging," she said, holding her hands up to placate the ginger, "humans are creatures of habit, even the adventurous types have their routines, even if they're not as obvious. It's sort of why I like stepping outside of the social norms so much. Makes things more interesting."

That part Chloe could fully understand because she often found she liked doing little things that were different to her peers. Whether it was going to watch little indie movies at the local movie theatre that most people weren't familiar with or listening to obscure artists that weren't exactly known among the masses, even those little things were enough to make her feel like she had this little corner of the world to herself.

It wasn't about being pretentious or seeming like she was above people her own age, too sophisticated to engage in mass entertainment, she just liked knowing that in a world of mass consumption, there were still little gems out there to be discovered.

It was probably what had drawn her to Beca to begin with. The brunette was old school in a lot of ways. She didn't engage in the social media culture that had infected society and preferred to experience an event like a concert through her own two eyes as opposed to seeing it though the screen of a phone.

Beca preferred to entertain herself through activities like reading and sketching rather than YouTube videos and memes.

Beca's idea of documenting memories was to write it in a journal for her own eyes, rather than in a Facebook post or blog for her peers to like and comment on.

When Chloe talked about her love of photography, Beca had brought up Polaroid cameras and the idea of snapping a picture in the moment and not having a memory stick or card to fall back on and of her love of old film cameras, something Chloe shared and hoped to engage in more when she could afford it.

It always amazed Chloe that this girl she had so much in common with, who she seemed to connect with on a deeper level, had been right under her nose all this time, and she never really noticed until now.

Beca steered them down a little side street that was lined by a number of little boutique shops and stores either side of it. She came to a stop in front of this little Italian style gelato store and stepped inside, holding the door for Chloe who thanked her as she entered.

As Chloe surveyed the options in front of her, Beca pointed out some flavours that she had enjoyed before placing her order for one scoop of chocolate and one scoop of peanut butter. Chloe went with a scoop of pistachio and a scoop of cookie dough.

Just as Beca had promised, Chloe fell in love instantly. The gelato was like velvet, so smooth and creamy, and unlike in a lot of ice cream parlours, where sugar seemed to be the overpowering ingredient, she could actually taste the flavours of the pistachio coming through.

"Oh my God," Chloe moaned as she scooped another spoonful into her mouth, "this...is...amazing."

Beca chuckled around the spoon in her mouth as she savoured the taste of her own personal choice of flavours, licking her lips of the creamy residue that coated them.

"I told you. You can have all the mass-produced ice cream you want, but it will never beat the real thing."

Chloe giggled, finishing off the last of her gelato before they both dumped their now empty containers in a nearby bin. Sheepishly, Beca reached out and took hold of Chloe's hand, the redhead smiling at her to indicate that it was okay and she didn't need to be nervous.

"I've had a really great time tonight," Chloe said making Beca blush. The brunette gazed down at their interlinked hands, a smile grazing her lips as she gazed back up find cerulean blues beaming back at her.

"I'm glad. Does this mean I've scored a second date?" Beca asked, that cheeky grin taking hold and Chloe chuckled.

"I dunno, you set a pretty high standard with this date. Have you got the stamina to persevere through more than one with lil ole me?" Chloe replied dramatically, her hand coming up to rest against her chest for effect.

Beca stopped in the street, turning towards Chloe, their faces mere inches apart as midnight blues took in every little piece of the beautiful face staring back at her.

"I think you're worth it," Beca replied quietly her tone so earnest as she spoke, and it was all Chloe could do not to throw herself at the brunette and kiss the living daylights out of her. She had dates try to woo her with slick lines but the way Beca was looking at her, they way she said it, Chloe had never been made to feel so special before with so few words.

Gazing down at Beca's lips, Chloe took the chance and leaned in, the softness of Beca's mouth and the creamy taste of ice cream that remained overwhelming her senses. It was slow yet purposeful, Chloe wanting her feelings to resonate with Beca, and by the way the other girl stared back at her once they separated, she was confident she had succeeded.

"I thought I wasn't supposed to get a kiss until the end of the night. Isn't that how all those romcoms play it out?," Beca asked, her voice low as she wrapped an arm around Chloe's waist to prolong the close proximity they'd found themselves in. Chloe grinned as she reached up her arms and wrapped them around the shorter girls neck.

"Well when you say things to make a girl swoon like that what else is she supposed to do?" She replied and Beca smiled back at her before leaning in for another kiss, her other arm coming around to join the one wrapped around Chloe, cocooning her in a tight embrace.

It was odd, but Chloe felt this sense of familiarity the longer she stood there. She felt safe, and secure, like she was with someone she had known intimately for most if not all of her life.

She wasn't one to get this close to someone on a first date no matter how well she knew them beforehand. She liked to keep a certain distance until she could work out whether or not they were worth allowing to get to know that side of her.

But there was something in Beca's eyes that seemed to resonate with Chloe on a deeper level. She felt like she could trust the other girl, that Beca would never betray that trust or do anything to expose any intimate moments they shared.

It was common knowledge that the boys around school liked to brag about their "conquests" and even joked around about "special moments" they had shared and it made Chloe's skin crawl. She never wanted to be anyone's conquest.

She believed that certain parts of intimacy should be between the two people engaging in any sort of intimate act and those two people alone. It wasn't something to be shared around for everyone to comment on make to make up salacious innuendo about.

When feelings were involved intimacy was something Chloe kept tightly guarded and only ever shared with people she felt she could trust. She could talk to her friends about throw away kisses or dates or anything that was done purely to fill a need, but when the physical and emotional combined, that was a no fly zone.

With other people, Chloe had always been somewhat guarded about deeply personal affairs, never wanting to give away anything that she felt others might use as fodder to brag about to their friends or had the potential to be thrown back at her to hurt her if things ever went wrong.

But with Beca, she felt this sense of being in a safe environment. Maybe it was the fact that Beca didn't engage in typical High School gossip, maybe it was the fact she kept herself and her personal business to herself as opposed to sharing it with the world that made Chloe feel like there was a good chance her personal thoughts and feelings would be kept safe.

Or maybe it was the sense of familiarity she felt with Beca. She couldn't put her finger on it but there was something about the brunette that made her easy to talk to, as if she and Chloe had been communicating their deepest thoughts for years.

It both intrigued Chloe and terrified her all at the same time because she wasn't the type to get this involved or have such deep feelings for someone this early on. Sure she'd had a small crush on Beca for a while, but the feelings she was currently feeling were more than just a crush and she wasn't quite sure how to navigate the waters she found herself threading.

But as she gazed into Beca's eyes, and felt warm arms wrapped around her waist, something told her that with Beca, everything would be okay, no matter where things went from that moment on. That Beca wasn't the type to get her nose bent out of joint and react spitefully over a hurt ego.

There was a genuine feeling of sincerity when Beca spoke and that was what Chloe latched onto. Much like she was physically latching onto Beca at that moment, she found she couldn't and didn't necessarily want to let go.

When they finally pulled apart, Chloe just smiled warmly at the brunette, sliding a hand down to link with Beca's as they continued on down the street, finally reaching Beca's jeep.

Just as she had done when she picked Chloe up, Beca opened the door for her and waited for her to climb in safely before closing the door and running around to the drivers side, climbing in and starting the car, heading in the direction of the Beale ranch.

Once they arrived, Beca parked up and turned off the ignition. Chloe took her seatbelt off and turned to the brunette, chewing her bottom lip in though about what she was going to ask, deciding to go for it when she noticed Beca waiting patiently.

"Do you wanna go for a hike tomorrow? We could go to the lake out beyond Jefferson's farm and have a picnic, relax, talk," She asked, watching Beca's face for any sign that she wasn't interested, but the brunette simply nodded her head.

"I'd like that. How about noon? It'll be a little warmer out by then, perfect for a picnic," Beca grinned and Chloe bit down on her lip to stop the smile that was threatening to split her face.

"Noon sounds perfect," Chloe replied and then she moved to climb out of the car. Beca quickly climbed out and moved around her jeep, walking Chloe to the door.

Once they reached the top of the steps, they stood gazing at one another for a moment, illuminated by the porch light when all of a sudden the door swung open and there stood Jack Beale, his arm raised to look at his watch.

"Well look at that, 11:45, a whole 15 mins before curfew," Jack said, his voice dripping with humour. Beca tipped her head at him and then leaned it towards Chloe.

"Yep, even brought her home in one piece and without an unplanned pregnancy or shotgun wedding in her future. Do I score brownie points yet or...?" Beca jokes back. Chloe stood gazing back and forth between Beca and her father. It was deathly silent and she was afraid maybe her Dad hadn't taken the joke too kindly.

Then, a grin emerged on Jacks face and he stuck his hand out to Beca who slipped hers into his grip and shook it.

"Well played Mitchell. It might've scored you brownie points but there's still a ways to go to get my trust and respect," Jack said, and Beca shrugged and smiled at him.

"That's okay, I'm not afraid of hard work and I think she's worth the effort. Goodnight Chloe. Goodnight Sir."

With that Beca turned and made her way down the porch steps and back to her jeep, Chloe and Jack watching as she pulled away down the drive. Jack stepped up to his daughter and slung his arm over her shoulder. Chloe glanced up at him with a knowing look on her face and Jack shook his head.

"Don't say it," he said and Chloe nudged his side with her elbow.

"Admit it, you like her, you already like her more than anyone else I've ever dated," Chloe teased and Jack dipped his head in defeat.

"That may be so, but I still don't think there's anyone out there whose ever gonna be good enough for my little girl."

Chloe just rolled her eyes as she wrapped both arms around her dad and side hugged him as tight as she could.

"Maybe not, but you have to admit, Beca makes a big effort, and I know how much effort and hard work mean to you. That at least has to count for something," Chloe replied gazing up at her dad. Jack heaved out a sigh.

"You're serious about this girl aren't you?" He asks, seeing something in Chloe's eyes he's never seen before with anyone else. Chloe pulls her bottom lip between her teeth and nods shyly. Jack pulls her tight to his side and kisses the top of her head.

"As long as she treats you well then that's all I care about. Beca's a good kid, I can't take that away from her and I won't. But if she hurts you...," Jack tries to finish but is cut off by Chloe who presses a kiss to his cheek and beams up at him.

"I know Daddy. But I really think you have nothing to worry about."

With that they turned and made their way inside. Chloe made her way to the kitchen where Claire Beale has been busy making them all cups of tea so that she could get the details of her date while her daughter was still in the mood to divulge information.

Claire had to admit, just based on what Chloe had told her, she was like Beca Mitchell a lot. She was a smart young woman, polite, mannerly, acted respectfully towards Chloe. Sure she could be a little sarcastic, but in a playful way, her comments were more humours than malicious.

If anything, Claire thought her daughter may have finally met her match. She was definitely interested to see where it would go. At least Chloe had managed o bring home someone Jack Beale didn't feel the need to polish his shotgun for, that was a plus in itself.

"I'm gonna go to bed, Beca and I are going on a hike tomorrow, love you," Chloe said as she kissed both her parents goodnight and retreated to her room.

The redhead was busy brushing out her hair when she heard a scratching in her bedroom window. Standing up from her vanity mirror, she crossed the room and pulled back the curtain to find Bella standing at her window, the wolf's two front paws resting on the window sill.

Chloe beamed at the sight of the wolf and lifted the window to open it. Reaching out her hands and cupping the wolf's head, softly rubbing at the fur there.

"Hey girl," she cooed and giggled when Bella emitted a low but happy bark. Chloe stood back, thinking the wolf was going to jump through the window like last time. Instead a distant howl sounded out and Bella's ears perked up.

"I guess this was one of those short and sweet trips," Chloe chuckled. Bella turned her head back to Chloe, ears flattening as she reached up and licked at Chloe's cheek before stepping back down onto all four paws.

"Goodnight Bella," Chloe whispered, and the wolf replied with a bark of her own before darting off into the night.

Goodnight Chlo...

Just as Chloe was shutting the window she thought she heard something, a voice in the back of her mind. She frowned, ceasing all her movements to listen carefully, thinking maybe it was her mother passing by the hallway. When she didn't hear anything else, she shrugged it off, retreated to her bed and set the alarm on her phone before drifting off into a peaceful sleep.

When morning came round, Chloe was up early, her mind focused on making up the perfect picnic for her hike with Beca. There were fruit bowls, salad bowls, an assortment of sandwiches with and without meat, as well as some sweet treats, like the homemade cookies Chloe had bragged about.

Her mother handed her a flask of homemade chicken soup as well as a container with some mac and cheese, something Beca had been raving about since that first night meeting the Beales.

Chloe packed it all into a camping backpack, knowing the extra straps she could strap across her torso would support any extra weight she had to carry. After packing a couple of water bottles into the bag, and being reminded by her mother that she would be home alone that night as her parents were going to a friends anniversary party, she set off for Jefferson's farm.

A lengthy phone call with Stacie which mainly involved her friend making kissing noises down the phone, had been enough to see the redhead through the drive to the old farm. When she arrived, she found Beca perched upon the old gate, her jeep nowhere to be found.

Parking up, Chloe climbed out of her car and smiled at the other girl before reaching into the car and pulling out the bag with her carefully packed picnic inside, hauling it onto her back and strapping it on. Locking the car, she approached the gate.

"So did you like teleport here or do you take hiking super seriously?" Chloe asked. Beca rolled her eyes and hopped down off the gate, picking up the backpack that was now by her feet.

"You're funny," she replied sarcastically before pointing to an area beyond the forestry to her left. I live about 10 minutes that way up in the hills."

Chloe glanced where Beca was pointing. Having a general idea of the location she knew it was surrounded by forestry and quite secluded, must have been peaceful, she thought. Then she remembered something.

"Wait, the huge house up in the woods that overlooks Oak Creek?" Chloe asked and Beca shyly nodded her head. The area had a stream that ran through it with a miniature waterfall and plenty of vegetation. It got its name from the many tall oak trees that surrounded it creating a peaceful secluded area for wildlife. Chloe smiled.

"I've been there. I take my camera out there to shoot pictures. It's beautiful up there," she said. Beca grinned back looping her thumbs through the straps of her backpack.

"You should come by someday. I can show you the best spots to get pictures," Beca suggested and Chloe smiled back, tipping her head in a yes motion.

"I'd like that," Chloe replied and the two fell silent, just taking in the moment. Eventually Beca gestured toward the gate and they climbed over it, making their way across the old farmland to the hiking trail.

When they were about half way up, Beca had suggested swapping bags so that Chloe didn't have to carry the weight of her heavier bag all the way. Also, Beca had noticed the redhead was itching to take a few pictures, having spotted some wildlife around.

They quickly traded bags, Beca strapping herself into the camping bag while Chloe loosened up her shoulders and pulled on Beca's lighter backpack, taking her phone from her pocket and opening the camera app.

She snapped multiple pictures, even managing to get Beca in a few to the brunettes dismay, and after about a half hour they arrived at the ledge overlooking the lake, the place where it had all began for them.

Beca reached into the bag on Chloe's back and pulled out a blanket, laying it out on the ground and then unstrapped herself from the redheads bag and placed it next to it. Chloe kneeled down and removed the bag from her back and then began to remove various picnic items she had packed.

Beca sat down, taking each item Chloe passed her way and placing it carefully on the blanket. The supply of food seemed endless and at one point she couldn't hold back the chuckle that escaped her.

"Damn Chloe how long were you planning on us being here?" Beca joked, placing yet another container down on the blanket. Chloe just shrugged her shoulders and threw her hands up, letting them slap back down by her sides before resting them on her hips.

"Well, I didn't know what you'd like so I just brought a bit of everything," Chloe explained and then pointed a finger at Beca, "and if you keep making jokes you won't get any of the homemade cookies I made."

Beca locked her lips, crossed her heart and then held her hands up in surrender, making Chloe roll her eyes as she placed the container of cookies down on the blanket and then finally made herself comfortable next to Beca, where they spent the next few hours talking about random things that popped in their heads, continuing their getting to know you conversation from the night before.

"No way! THE Beca Mitchell is a closet Disney fan," Chloe sneered, her face shining in mock shock. Beca rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Not all Disney movies Beale, just a few. All the Princess movies can go jump off a cliff, Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty? I'm not about that life," Beca replied, taking another bite of the Mac & Cheese she was hopelessly in love with. Chloe gazed at her with a scrutinising look.

"Okay, then what Disney movies do you like?" She asked, and Beca sat there chewing the last bite in her mouth before swallowing.

"Mulan," Beca finally answered and Chloe regarded her in silent contemplation as she waited for the inevitable explanation, and Beca didn't disappoint.

"She refused to conform to societal traditions or values. She wanted to protect, not be the protected. She believed that power came from inner strength and integrity, not from brute force or a persons physicality. She believed in herself when nobody else did. She changed the narrative of the pretty girl who needs to be saved by her Prince Charming to one of self-reliance and an understanding that being a woman makes you powerful not powerless."

There it was, the speech that Chloe knew would ultimately knock her socks off and make her feel things she's never felt before. It brought a smile to her face, getting to know the inner workings of the great mind that was Beca Mitchell.

The brunette then turned to pick up the remainder of her Mac & Cheese and finished it off as Chloe sat there staring at her moony eyed. Eventually the redhead copped onto her own weird staring and turned her attention towards the container with her homemade cookies.

"Mine is Beauty & The Beast. I just think the whole story is ridiculously romantic. The young woman who comes across this beast that would send most people running away out of fear, but, not her, she stays. And because she stays she gets to know the Beasts true heart, eventually falling in love and revealing the beasts true human form. It's like a metaphor you know. About how we should always look for what's beneath the surface. I just think it's something we could all learn from."

Beca sat there, silently mulling over Chloe's words, the sentiment holding so much meaning, so much weight. She watched as the redhead tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her movements so gentle that it made the hair on the back of Beca's neck stand on end and her heart beat rapidly. Those gentle movements all too familiar the brunette.

You're beautiful... Beca thought as she continued to stare at the gorgeous woman sitting across from her. Chloe blushed and stared down at the ground a smile on her face.

"Thank you," She said, making Beca frown at the response.

"I didn't say anything but you're welcome?" Beca replied, confusion etched across her face. Chloe glanced up suddenly her mouth bobbing up and down as if trying to find words to explain, but she didn't have any, because she couldn't explain it.

She was so sure she had heard Beca call her beautiful. It was as clear as day, like she had said the words out loud. Or maybe Chloe had just imagined it, hoped it because of the intense way Beca had been gazing at her. Not knowing what else to do or say, Chloe quickly held up the container in her hand.

"Cookie?" She asked, hoping Beca would take the bait and just move on. Thankfully she did and Chloe opened the lid and offered up the container, Beca picking one up and taking a bite.

"Oh my God," Beca moaned, as the chocolatey goodness of the chocolate chips practically melted in her mouth. The cookies were sweet, but not overwhelmingly sweet and they had just the right texture, not too firm or too crumbly. They were perfection.

"Dude these are amazing!" Beca said swallowing the bite she had taken and gazing at the remainder of the cookie still held in her hand.

"Seriously how have you kept these a secret for so long?" Beca asked taking another bite. Chloe chuckled at the look of pure heaven that had illuminated Beca's face as she picked up a cookie of her own.

"I can't play all my best cards right off the bat. I need something to keep you coming back for more," she replied with a wink. Beca just continued to stare at the cookie in her hand, not even fully aware of what she was saying, too consumed with the new love of her life.

"You don't need to give me things to make me want to come back. Although now that I've had your cookies it sure does help," Beca remarked, ensuring that the joking tone of her voice was on full display.

Chloe grinned at her, taking a bite of her own cookie as they continued to banter back and forth for the rest of the afternoon. It was all so easy and carefree, like the evenings she spent sitting on her porch with Bella.

Which reminded her, she really needed to make sure she made it home to get in some bonding time with her favourite wolf. She'd been rather consumed with Beca lately, it made her feel bad that her time had been monopolised.

It also reminded her of what it would be like when she went away for college. Not being able to see Bella whenever she wanted. Would the wolf even bother to show up anymore or simply move on from Chloe? It caused an ache in the redheads chest the more she thought about it.

Beca must have sensed the slight shift in Chloe's mood as the redhead got lost in her thoughts. In response to Beca's query as to whether or not she was okay, Chloe simply nodded her head and put a smile on her face. Beca didn't seem convinced, but she let it go, no wanting to ruin their date.

"You know, we've been out here for a while, the sun will be setting soon. We can stay and watch if you want?" Beca suggested, and Chloe nodded her head because it sounded like the perfect end to a perfect day.

"I'd like that," she sighed.

Sure enough about a half an hour later, the sun began to set, casting an orange glow over everything it touched. Chloe huddled up next to Beca, looping her arm through the one resting around Beca's knees.

The brunette just turned and gazed into blue eyes that were staring back just as intently. Leaning in, Beca searched for any sign of hesitation, before closing the distance and pressing a featherlight kiss to Chloe's lips.

Feeling herself getting caught up in the moment, Chloe reached up and placed a hand on the side of Beca's face, deepening the kiss. Beca turned slightly so her body was angled towards Chloe and carefully placed a hand on the redheads waist, testing the waters, before sliding it up and resting it over the hand that was cradling her face.

Then, as things were getting heated, Beca felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end and bristle, a voice in the back of her mind alerting her that something wasn't right. Pulling away from Chloe, Beca turned her head back towards the hiking trail, scanning the area with eyes that seemed to darken in alert.

Chloe sat there confused, turning to glance in the same direction before turning back to the girl sitting next to her.

"Beca, what's wrong?" She asked, only to be shushed as the brunette continued to listen carefully to something only she could seem to hear. Suddenly, Beca was hauling herself up from the ground and scrambling to pack everything away.

"We need to get out of here now!" She said, her voice low but steady as Beca made quick work of packing up all the empty containers into Chloe's camping bag and sealing it up.

Chloe stood up, her face marred with confusion as she watched on, trying to make sense of Beca's frantic movements.

"Wh-," Chloe tried to speak but a hand came up to cover her mouth, Beca's pleading eyes gazing deep into her own.

"I don't have time to explain just please, trust me," Beca pleaded. Chloe glanced back and forth between Beca and the trail and after a moment of hesitation, nodded her head and helped Beca fold the picnic blanket and stuff it into the smaller backpack.

Gathering up their things, Beca took Chloe by the hand and began to lead her off the overlook and back towards the hiking trail that would lead them back to Jefferson's farm. The brisk pace panicked Chloe, however the soft hand laced with her own offered comfort and Beca carefully guided them through the roughage. They were almost home free when...

"Well, well, well, what've we got here?".

Chloe glanced up to see two men standing before them, shotguns resting comfortably in their hold as they stared them down. Beca gazed back at them, a hardened expression masking her face, an expression Chloe had never seen before, and expression that sent a chill down her spine because Beca didn't seem fazed by the situation they were in.

"I've been trailing you a long time girlie. We about to have us some fun," came the voice of the first man. He was tall, his head shaved bald however it was possible to make out the silvery regrowth of greying hair creeping up around the sides, a full beard on his face indicating a man who didn't much have time for grooming. His thick southern drawl impossible to miss.

Beca gazed back and forth between him and the younger man standing next to him. A guy who carried that unkempt hipster look, wearing a six o'clock shadow not as a sign of masculinity, but because it was trendy. His hair styled in the ever so common side fade with a stylish cut on top. This guy was clearly a newbie to the game. His look would change with experience and time.

"I'm the one you want, let her go," Beca said, her voice low and terse as she spoke. Chloe's breathing was laboured as she stood next to Beca, her face giving away her clear and utter confusion.

"Beca," She said, her voice nothing more than a whisper, shaking her head as she tried to understand the situation they were in. The elder man cocked his rifle and sent them a menacing smile.

"Seems we got ourselves a pawn Bobby," the man sneered, aiming his comment at the younger man behind him who was also grinning.

Beca tried to control her breathing, she could feel her bones urging her to shift, to change, to take control. But she couldn't, she needed to suppress that urge, that need to protect. Chloe didn't know and she couldn't find out this way.

Beca took a step back and to the side, effectively forcing Chloe behind her, their hands still clasped. Her eyes remained trained on the two men in front of her, afraid that if she looked away for a second that it would be game over.

Chloe stood behind Beca, fear oozing out of every pore. She couldn't help but feel Beca's movements were familiar somehow and before she had time to really think too much about it she felt this overwhelming sense of calm wash over her. Then suddenly...

"Aghhh," Chloe screamed as she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist and yank her away from Beca. The brunette turned suddenly eyes landing on the scene of Chloe trapped under the hold of non-other than Brooke Walp.

"No," Beca growled, her eyes flashing in anger. Brooke simply grinned at her, a low evil chuckle escaping him.

"Looks like we've got ourselves a party," he said, tears pouring down Chloe's cheeks as she stared pleadingly at Beca. The brunette felt her heart rate spike and she could feel the shift beneath her skin. She didn't want to do this but she had no choice.

Just as the ability to withhold the urge was beginning to break Beca heard it, the words that she needed to hear to finally let go.

We've got you covered...

Chloe couldn't believe what transpired in the next five seconds. The small brunette girl who had been standing across from her, suddenly and without explanation, leaped through the air and landed on four paws right by Brooke.

The transformation and the sudden movement startled Brooke who relinquished his hold on Chloe who fell to the ground. The redhead stayed there unmoving, unable to comprehend what she was seeing.

The wolf latched onto Brooke's arm and dragged him to the ground, knocking the rifle from his grip. The other two men made moves to get to him when suddenly five more wolves came leaping out of the surrounding area, cornering them.

Before they could reach to aim their guns, the two bigger wolves of the group, one a dark brown the other a dark golden colour, pulled a move similar to Beca and wrestled them to the ground, forcing the weapons out of their hold.

One of the other wolves, with a coat just slightly darker than Beca's made her way over to where Brooke was still being pinned to the ground.

Go, I've got him...

Beca gazed up and watched as the other wolf latched onto Brooke, a paw resting against his chest, pinning him to the ground. Without another word, Beca slowly made her way over to Chloe, stopping a short distance from her and sitting down.

Chloe sat there, mouth agape as she tried to process everything. The wolf was sitting watching her, almost as if waiting for permission. The redhead sat up but kept her distance, her eyes scrutinising every inch of the wolf when suddenly...

"Bella..." she whispered as it finally registered in her mind and the wolf emitted a low bark as if to answer her question. Suddenly it all began to make sense. The connection she felt with Beca, the reason why she felt so familiar. Beca was Bella.

Chloe glanced down and sure enough, peeking out from the brown fur was the necklace Chloe had given the wolf when she was 12 years old. Reaching out a hand, she slowly began to sit up before climbing to her feet, staying low on her haunches as she reached out her hand closer and closer.

Beca stayed rooted to the spot until she sensed Chloe's defences beginning to drop. Slowly, as the hand got nearer, she reached up her snout and licked at the palm of Chloe's hand.

The redhead released a breath, that feeling of calm beginning to wash over her again, which she couldn't explain considering the circumstances they were in. Just as she was starting to gather her bearings, the wolves all bristled, taking on an alert stance.

The light gold wolf that had been stood in the middle of the area watching over everyone suddenly growled and it was enough to get Beca up on her paws. Before Chloe could question what was happening, Beca was pressing her head into Chloe's stomach and nudging her.

"Bella... Beca... wha..." it was all too confusing. Chloe didn't know what name to use and the nudging was too incessant for her to get a word out. Finally, when Chloe was up on her feet, Beca pressed her paws into the redheads thighs and barked at her.

Run, go back to the ranch, go...

Chloe's mouth dropped open as a voice as clear as day, Beca's voice, resounded in her head. If she wasn't so terrified of what was coming she would've had a million questions, but gazing into the blue eyes of the wolf she had so loved since she was 12 years old, she could see the pleading look begging her to go.

"Wh-what about you?" She asked, her bottom lip quivering. Beca stood strong, her posture set as she looked up at Chloe releasing a bark.

Chloe go, please...

With one last look at the wolf, Chloe turned and ran as fast as her legs would carry her. Leaping over fallen branches and almost tripping numerous times in her haste to put distance between her and whatever she had left behind.

Once she reached the gate at Jefferson's Farm, she climbed over it and jumped down, dashing to her car. Her hands were shaking so badly she dropped the remote before finally unlocking the car. Tossing the bag in the back, she climbed into the drivers seat, sticking the key in the ignition.

Just as the car came to life, the adrenaline left Chloe's body and she gripped her steering, pressing her forehead against her hands and releasing the tears she had been holding in.

She had so many questions, about Beca, about Bella, about the last 6 years, and in that moment, she wasn't sure if she would ever get the chance. Putting the car into drive she took off for the ranch, hoping to see Beca and Bella again.