Alright, finally another chapter up! Even I'm thankful it's finally here. I know I had said previously that I generally wouldn't update on the weekends, but I had really tried this weekend. However, the weekend just got away from me and it continued to stay insane. For those of you who had thought the previous chapter was a cliffhanger I apologize. It wasn't intentional and I don't hold chapters from yall to create more suspense. As soon as I write 'em I pose 'em :D Thank you everyone for waiting so patiently and for reviewing!


To say I was nervous was an understatement. Sitting in my usual spot beneath the giant oak tree, I couldn't seem to stop fidgeting. Should I tell him? That very thought had been plaguing my mind to the point where I had been unable to sleep. I wanted to tell him, but I couldn't risk telling him too early. What if he told Dr. Davidoff? But if Derek gave me a chance to explain…maybe he wouldn't tell. Maybe he would come with us. I tried to ignore how my heart fluttered at the thought. There was no point in lying. I wanted Derek to come with us. Something had happened between us yesterday; and the way he had looked at me when I had stayed…
Speaking of which, those deep green eyes were currently staring into my own at this very moment. Startled, I jumped back, landing very gracefully on my butt. I looked up to see Derek looking at me strangely, no doubt questioning my sanity.

He offered me a hand up, which I gratefully took. "Should I even ask?"

A blushed stained my cheeks and I shook my head. No point in making an even bigger idiot out of myself. Instead, I chose to hand him his sandwiches, which he gratefully took. "So that's why you're so hungry, because this is technically your breakfast, right?"

He smirked. "Actually, it's just a werewolf thing. I'm always hungry."

"Did your appetite change any when you started to change? I didn't look tasty did I?" I could tell he didn't appreciate my teasing by the withering look he gave me.

Soon, however, his expression changed into one that I couldn't read. "I don't really know how to say this, but it's not a good idea for us to see each other like this anymore." I noted how he avoided my gaze. "I was trying to tell you yesterday, but we were kind of interrupted…"

I started at him, wondering if I was hearing him correctly.

Derek gave out an exasperated sigh before running his hand through his hair. "Oh come on Chloe, don't look at me like that."

I stubbornly crossed my arms. His words hurt, but I'd rather die than let him know that. "Look, if it's what Tori said, you don't have to get scared off. We're just friends. I'm not exactly looking for a relationship at this..."

He shook his head. "No, that's not it. You're getting it all wrong."

I raised a brow. "So you are looking for a relationship?" I was teasing him again, but to see his flustered state, I say the jerk deserved it. After everything I did for him yesterday and he just wants to stop being friends? Forget it!

He growled. "Chloe, you're not listening! Because of our friendship, you are making reckless decisions. You're going to get hurt again, or even worse, killed! Doesn't that even concern you?"

I could feel my anger growing. "I'm a big girl and that's my decision, not yours," I poked him in the chest to get my point across. "You don't influence those decisions, they are my own. I would've made them with or without having known you so what is this really about?"

He stared at me a good long moment; jaw set in a hard line. "You're not exactly making this easy. I'm not good…with words and all that." He stared off the distance and my heart felt for him. Why did he have to do this all alone? Why couldn't he let me in and help him?

"I've always been a loner and yesterday…." He stopped, trying to get the words out. "Yesterday meant a lot. No one's ever been there for me like that. It really showed that we're friends." His expression hardened. "But I'm a guard here and you might not think this is a prison, but it is. We shouldn't and can't be friends. We're better off without each other."

This time I growled, and the look he gave me was priceless, but I ignored it, too mad to even think straight. "Are you really that selfish? It isn't all about you, you know! What gives you the right to decide for me? For the both of us!"

His eyes darkened and he stood up. "I shouldn't have even come. Don't know why I even bothered."

I saw his figure retreating and I clenched my fists. It shouldn't hurt so much to see him willingly walk away from me. But he had admitted that we were friends. Weather he wanted to admit it or not, I was becoming important to him; therefore he was afraid of getting too close to me. Not necessarily in a romantic way, but he did care.

My thoughts getting away from me, I said the very thing that had been on my mind earlier without even thinking. "I want you to come with us."

I had barely whispered the words but I knew he had heard when he stopped, his back rigid. Turning around, he flashed me with a piercing look. "What did you say?"

What the hell was wrong with me? Did I really just tell him that? Well it was too late now…good one girl. "I want you to come with us," I said softly. "Tori and I know where a safe haven is; a place where other supernaturals are that the Edison group doesn't know about."

A dark look passed over his features and he smirked. It was sinister and so unlike him. He chucked darkly. "You're pretty stupid to tell a werewolf, a tracker; the whereabouts of such a location."

I met his gaze unflinchingly. I refused to back down. He was trying to intimidate me, but I knew the real Derek. "I trust you, and I want you to come with us, with…me."

His eyes flickered, and for a moment it seemed as if his eyes softened before hardening again with resolve. "How do you know you can trust me," he stated bitterly. "I'm a werewolf, remember?"

I walked towards him. "Because you're Derek and you've saved me countless times when you didn't have to. You look out for me and became my friend; and because you don't like it anymore here than we do. You're not as bad as you make yourself out to be."

He growled. "Oh? And how would you know that?"

I winced, knowing this would piss him off. "Because of Simon." If he had been in his other form, I swear his fur would be hackling right about now. Seeing him walk away again, I immediately knew that I had done it. I'd officially pissed him off.

"Where one earth are you going," I yelled.

"Where the hell do you think I'm going," he yelled back. "I'm going to Dr. Davidoff to tell him to up the security and to never you out of your room!"

Grabbing him I attempted to jerk him back, but it was like moving a brick wall and I fell. Bracing myself for impact, I was surprised to find strong arms come around me. Derek held me tight against him, worry etched on his features.

We were close, our breath mingling and once again I noticed how our closeness affected me. Trying my best to ignore the feel of his muscles beneath his tight black shirt, I met his eyes. "Derek, I know you're a werewolf. But I also know that you're a good person. You are here because they are threatening to bring your brother here. I know you will do anything to protect him, but Liz, (no point in blowing my aunt's cover if he didn't go for this), found some information for me on a place where the Edison Group can't find."

The look he gave me told me he wasn't buying it and I wondered if I'd begin to regret my little outburst. I didn't want to have to hurt him, but I would find a way to get past him if he didn't come with us. Hopefully it won't come to that. "You and your brother can come with us and we can find help to bring down the Edison Group."

His grip on my shoulders tightened slightly and he steadied me before stepping away. He ran a hand through his black shaggy hair. I noticed, recently, he seemed to do that whenever he was nervous or aggravated about something. "Can you promise me Simon would be safe?"

My eyes widened. Was he really…

His eyes bore into mine. "If you can promise me he will be safe then we'll go. But one lick of danger and me and Simon are gone." I nodded. "The place is protected with a spell. Werewolves can't track it and other witches can't break it. He will be safer there then wherever he is now, since the Edison group knows where he is."

"What's the address?"

I raised an eyebrow. "You're kidding me, right?"

He looked at me curiously, and I was relieved to see the old Derek returning. Whoever that other guy had been, I didn't like it. This place made him that way, and I was determined to get him far away from here. "I may be blond, but I'm no idiot. You will see for yourself when we get there."

He smirked before rolling his eyes. "You're still an idiot for even telling me this." He must have sensed me stiffen because he hurried on, "but your trust in me means more than you know." I relax and waved him back over to our tree. "Come on wolf boy. Let's get you those sandwiches before you try to find a rabbit."

He growled and I ran away laughing as he chased me to the tree.


Tonight's the night. Weeks had gone by with careful planning and we were finally getting away from here. Derek still seemed to be avoiding me slightly, why I wasn't really that certain. Every time we seemed to be growing closer he'd back off. Was he really that afraid to let someone in? He had skipped the first few lunches with me. His excuse was that he was trying to take everything in, but I knew he was trying to push me away again. I'd promptly told him that if he ever started avoiding me again I'd go to his room and wake him up like last time. He hasn't skipped out since.

"Tori, I think you might have over-packed a little." I scanned the three bags full of clothing on her bed.

She rolled her eyes. "Just because I'm a runaway, doesn't mean I'm going to look like one. Besides, I only packed the necessities."

I shook my head. There was no point in arguing with her. I looked back to my measly one pack. I wanted to pack light seeing as we would be walking awhile. Derek had supplied us with hiking packs to fill our things with and had told us he'd carry all the provisions in his. Seeing as he's used to traveling a lot, I supposed he was used to this sort of thing.

"You sure this is a good idea, bringing your puppy along? How do you know he's not gonna tell the group where the place is as soon as we get there."

I gave her a piercing look. This was the very reason Derek wouldn't open up to me. He thought we didn't trust him. "For one thing, he's not my puppy. And second of all, we've gone over this. I trust him and that's all there is to it. If you don't like it, you can stay here."

I stiffened, waiting for the backlash of explosive rage. However, I was surprised when she gave me an amused look before smacking me on the back, saying "Nice backbone there, Chloe Saunders."

Suddenly the door swung open and Tori and I stood there wide-eyed and frozen. Normally no one ever went into the rooms, especially at night, and if they saw us packing…

Seeing Derek, I relaxed.

"What the hell!" Tori screeched. "Have you ever heard of knocking? What if we had been changing? Were you trying to get a peak?"

Growling, Derek pointed to his ears. "I would've heard you changing." I wondered then if he overheard about Tori not trusting him.

The second Derek's gaze met mine warmth spread throughout me. He nodded appreciatively to my one pack before scowling at Tori's. "You're picking one of those to carry. You've got five seconds or we're leaving without you."

Tori raised her hand, and I immediately pulled it down. "What are you trying to do, fry him and piss him off?" I sighed in frustration before pointing to the pack in the middle. "Bring that one; it had a really good selection in there." To be honest, I didn't really know what was in it, but if it avoided a fight I'd go for it. At this rate, we'd kill each other before the Edison Group ever got to us.


We quietly followed Derek to avoid the cameras. Tonight was Derek's night to watch outside, and I had let my aunt know we were leaving tonight so that she'd keep things quiet for us.

We all waited at the basement door for my signal. Derek didn't hear anything, but I still wanted to wait to hear back from Liz, just to be sure. On the other side of the door was the glass wall that was the hospital. If one person saw us, we were dead. I saw a hand float through the door and give me a thumb's up. We were all set.

Derek had informed us that a new system had been set seeing as animals seemed to be getting through the doors and dragging in leaves and dirt. I got a pointed look for that one. I shrugged sheepishly. Hey, if they thought it had just been an animal getting in and out, then I was actually pretty proud of myself. He entered the six digit security code and entered the courtyard.

"Derek," I whispered quietly. He walked beside me, but I could still see him scanning for trouble. I couldn't help but feel safe around him. "How are we going to get past the fence? We can't jump it like you can, and guards are all over the entrance point from the road."

Walking down the fence line, he pulled back a gap that he had cut away for us to walk through. "Oh," I said dumbly. He snorted before motioning us to go through. Tori and I glanced at each other before grinning. We had done it. We were in the forest now and we were getting out of here.

Liz appeared beside me. "I have a bad feeling about this. It all seemed to easy."

I gave her a questioning look before nodding slightly to Derek. I couldn't say anything for fear that he'd hear.

She shook her head. "No, there's nothing to worry about with him. I was following him to make sure and he's been doing nothing but planning our escape. I just feel like something bad has to happen for this to actually work."

I didn't want to admit how relieved I was. I trusted Derek, but a part of me did have to realize that Derek did in fact bring me here, but it was a huge relief to know for certain that he was on our side, and that I wasn't just basing it on trust. But I knew Liz was right. This had all been too easy.

Derek immediately stopped and whirled around, body tense and alert. I internally groaned. We just had to go and jinx our luck. The alarms went off and my heart leapt in my throat. How had they managed to find out? What had gone wrong?

"Run!" Derek yelled and we set off at a brisk pace. I knew he could outrun us, but I was thankful that Derek remained by my side. Guards were running through the forest after us and I pushed myself to go faster. When gunshots were heard Tori shot a glare at Derek. "Are you trying to get us killed!"

Letting out a stream of curses, Derek stopped running. "Go on ahead, I'll distract him. Whatever you do," his eyes landed on me, "don't stop running." Before I could even stop him, he ran and tackled the guard with the gun. A part of me wanted to stay and help, but what could I do?"

"Chloe, we need to go," Tory grabbed my hand and pulled me forward.

"I knew we would have to keep an eye on you, dog." A man held up a gun to Derek and pulled the trigger. My heart fell in my throat and I fought against Tori's grip. I wouldn't leave him! We wouldn't have gotten this far without Derek and he was risking his life to save ours. Panic welled up inside of me as I saw Derek stumble forward, holding his arm. He had been hit with a tranquilizer gun, but it was slowing him down to where the two other guards easily overpowered him.

Tori stepped forward. "I am so sick of this bullshit." Raising her hands, her fingers sparked before the three guards surrounding Derek fell to the ground. She smirked. "Take that, bitches."