Thank you everyone for you wonderful reviews! I apologize for the wait. I wanted to get this out quicker but unfortunately it's been crazy here lately! I am already working on the next chapter and will have it up soon, can't wait!

Running to Derek I helped him up. "Are you alright?"

Grunting, he removed the dart from his arm. "I'm fine, let's get going."

Personally, I was confused at how he was still able to stand, but I supposed it must take a lot more to bring down a werewolf.

I honestly couldn't tell you how long we were running for in the forest, but we needed to get into hiding fast. I glanced worriedly over to Derek. He was slowing more and more down, the tranquilizer finally taking its toll. Soon, however, his movements grew sluggish until he stopped.

"There's an abandoned woods shelter a few miles south of here. It's locked, but the key's above the main doorframe," he said breathlessly.

Tori gave him a skeptical look. "And how, exactly would you know that?"

"Tori!" I hissed.

She threw up her hands. "What, like that isn't suspicious? And it's not like I ever got a thank you either for saving his hide, either." She pointed another glare towards Derek.

Derek's eyes hardened. "I know where the location is because I'm a tracker. Don't exactly get to sleep in hotels being under eighteen and all. Besides, these woods used to be my home. I know them better than anyone."

Tori crossed her arms defiantly. "Fine then, but that was not a thank you, dog breath."

I could see Derek's strength waning as he supported himself against a tree. "Thank you," he mumbled quietly. His gaze turned towards me. "You guy go without me to the hideout, I'll meet you there. I'm just going to slow us down at this point."

"No!" Everyone looked at me, surprised evident on their faces. Ok, maybe that was a little sudden, but I was adamant that he wouldn't be left behind. "We wouldn't have made it this far without you, and I'm not leaving you alone. We need to stick together; it's not safe."

Derek scowled. "Don't be stupid, Chloe. You need to make sure the shelter is clear too. I can follow your scents if you choose to go somewhere else."

"But-"

"Oh for Christ's sake, do I have to figure out everything?" Tori pointed at me. "You, stay here with lover boy. Liz is coming with me and we'll check out the hiding place. Meet us there when he's good to walk."

Before I could say anything, Tori grabbed a notepad and kept heading south.

Derek frowned. "I'm really beginning to hate the pet names she keeps coming up for me."

I laughed before leaning back against a tree beside him. I popped open a water bottle and offered it to him, which he took gratefully. "I guess it takes a lot more to knock you out then it does the rest of us, huh?"

"Yeah, this isn't the first time they've hit me with one. It'll wear off in an hour or two. It takes about three to take me down."

I suddenly got the feeling that we weren't alone and I stiffened. Hearing noises behind me I whirled around.

Derek was immediately on guard. "Chloe, what's wrong."

I looked at him, confused. "You can't hear it?" He took a moment to listen with his sensitive hearing, before shaking his head. Had I officially lost it? Was I really so paranoid that I was beginning to imagine things?

Suddenly a woman came running at us. A man was following her and I watched, horrified, as he threw her to the ground and began strangling her. Jumping up, I grabbed my knife and began rushing to help when Derek grabbed my arm.

I fought against him. "Derek, what the hell? How could you just stand there and do nothing! We need to help her!"

He was quiet, and suddenly, I realized what I was seeing wasn't actually there. Derek looked at me, concern evident in his features as he pulled the knife from my grasp. I looked back to the scene, flinching as the woman continued to struggle before becoming absolutely still. She was a ghost and I was witnessing how she had died. The woman and man suddenly disappeared and Derek and I were alone in the forest.

I stepped away from him, turning away as I tried to fight the tears that were streaming down my cheeks. This never got any easier. I don't think I would ever get used to it. Being a necromancer was something I was born with, but it was still hard to differentiate the difference between the living and the dead. To understand what was real, and what was not.

I was surprised to find Derek pulling me to him. He didn't say anything; just wrapped his arms around me and held me close. I gripped his shirt tightly before sobbing quietly. At this point I was shaking, not being able to get the images out of my head. He rubbed my back soothingly, whispering in my ear that it was ok to be afraid. Derek didn't make it a big deal, and didn't ask me to talk about it. I guess he figured I'd tell him when I was ready.

A few minutes later I had calmed down and was still in his arms. A blushed slightly as I leaned into him. I was positive it was the tranquilizer making him act this way, but I didn't mind being held in his arms. There was just something about Derek that made me feel safe; that nothing in the world could hurt me as long as he was there.

Seeing that I was ok, he cleared his throat and stepped back. I looked at him curiously before hiding my smile. I was almost positive I could see a light flush staining his cheeks.

It wasn't long before Derek stated he could feel his strength returning. I had heard nothing from Liz, so I figured she and Tori had made it to the shelter and were fine. Walking in a comfortable silence, I realized Derek still hadn't asked what I'd seen earlier. He had just been there for me. It had meant more to me then he'd ever realize.

"There was a woman," I said quietly. "She was running through the forest, a man following close behind. He"- I felt my throat tighten and I took a moment to compose myself. "He chased her down and strangled her to death."

Derek's jaw tightened; and it was awhile before he said anything. "I'm sorry Chloe. I've never known any necromancer's, but I can't imagine it's an easy lifestyle."

I shook my head. "As you probably already figured out, I still have trouble differentiating between the living and the dead."

"How could you not?" I looked up at him, surprised at his words. "I assume they look and talk the same. I couldn't tell earlier what you were seeing, but the look on your face let me know you believed in that moment that a woman was truly being hurt."

I had never really tried to explain to anyone about being a necromancer, but even my aunt had never been so understanding about it. Maybe it was because Derek and I were so alike. Both of us fighting to understand our powers while doing our best to not let them control our lives.

Derek stopped walking, and I looked up to see we had made it to the shelter. It looked like an abandoned log cabin. Stepping inside, I looked to find Tori sleeping on a futon. The cabin had a wide living area with a small kitchen and single bedroom.

Liz smiled at us. "Hey, I see you guys finally made it.

I smiled. "Did you guys find it ok?"

She nodded excitedly. "Yeah, it was pretty easy. And Tori was in mission mode, seeing as she was determined to find a place with a shower."

"I'm honestly surprised to find that this cabin doesn't belong to anyone. I wonder how it got here..."

Derek dropped our packs onto the floor. "That's because I built it." Seeing my surprised look he shrugged. "I prefer the forest so when I'm out tracking I like to stay here." He motioned to the back door. "Make yourselves at home; I'll be in the shower."

I followed his retreating form, a warm smile on my lips, before I noticed Liz was giving me a knowing look. "So, I take it something happened between you guys back there?"

I blushed. "No, nothing like that." When she didn't let up I relented and told her about what had happened. We talked a little about it before I made my way to a couch. I needed all the rest I could get for tomorrow.

The next morning Derek had taken us into town to stock up on more supplies and to get money. It had taken nearly the entire day to get there and we were all exhausted. Well, everyone except Liz anyway.

Tori and I were currently gathering money from the ATM. I offered her some of mine and she scoffed. "I'm not a charity case."

I gave her a pointed look. "Look, just take it. You can pay me back later."

Tori grumbled but snatched the cash out of my hands before walking into the gas station to find Derek. "Wolf boy, when are we meeting up with your brother?"

He scowled. "Will you quit calling me that?" He finished paying for the supplies and led us outside. "I sent Simon a text to meet us at Mountain's Peak Park. It's about a three day's journey from here."

I frowned, not having heard of it. But then again I was new to moving around here. "We used to camp there all the time with our dad, so he's familiar with the area," Derek finished.

I looked up, surprised. Derek had never offered any information before on his personal life. I wanted to ask him about it, but remembering how he'd reacted when I'd mentioned Simon I thought better of it.

It was later, though, that I realized I had definitely made the right decision on not asking him about his dad. We had left the gas station as soon as we got conformation from Simon that he would meet us at Mountain's Peak. But it was as if a switch had gone off in Derek. He was irritable, snapping at everyone. He had led us through the town at a ruthless pace, snapping at anyone who wanted to take a break. It was so unlike him, but I could see the fever brimming in his emerald green eyes.

"Are you going to change?" I asked. Frankly, I was getting sick of his attitude, but I wanted to make sure he was ok.

He whirled around and glared at me. "Mind your own damn business."

Tori held up her hand, her fingers sparking. "Watch it, wolf boy. Whatever your problem is, blame the person who stuck that stick up your ass, not us."

I pulled Tori's hand down. "Just leave it be, it's not worth fighting over." Images of the last time he transformed flitted through my mind. I could understand being scared of that, but he'd have to learn to find another venting point that wasn't directed at us.

Nightfall came and we all set out to make camp. Tori and I had tried making conversation, but with Derek's brooding attitude, it killed the mood. Even Liz wasn't able to cheer us up and finally told us that she'd be out scouting.

"Great, your werewolf is so moody he even scares ghosts away," Tori mumbled. Derek whirled around to glower at her and I smothered a laugh.

Shaking my head, I headed off to use the bathroom when Derek was suddenly behind me.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?"

I stiffened. That was it, I had finally had it. "Since when do I need to run everything by you? I'm a big girl, go worry about someone else."

He growled. "Well I wouldn't have to if you could take care of yourself. I always have to save you. You can't even handle ghosts on your own!"

I stared at him, mouth agape. I clenches my fists. "I trusted you with that, because I thought you understood. No one understands, I thought you were the first one to accept me."

Regret filled his eyes and he reached out for me. "Chloe I'm so-"

"Save it," I snapped, before I walked away without another word.