Chapter 10:

A Harmless Walk

It was now Wednesday. The middle of the freaking week, and I was practically dying. For three days, I had been following my father's rules. Well, actually only two, since I technically broke the rules on Monday with my kissing Quil and all. But there was no way in hell that I was regretting that decision. No way.

I got up this morning at three, not able to sleep. I just laid there, wide awake, despite the exhaustion I felt. I kicked off the thin sheet that was on top of me. This hot and sticky weather was unbearable, and whenever I was stuck indoors, it would become even more like a sauna. My solution to this was to go for long walks during the day so that by the time I went to bed, I was too exhausted to care about the stuffiness. However, I couldn't do that anymore, so I was stuck in this uncomfortably warm room, tired, and craving for real air.

I just stayed like that for the next forty-five minutes, sometimes trying to fall asleep again, but as a result, I just kept tossing and turning, groaning in frustration. But once the forty-five minutes were up, I threw my pillow on the floor, got up, and got dressed. Screw rules, I thought. I'm going for a fucking walk.

Twenty minutes later, I snuck out of my window and strategically climbed down the side of my house. Yeah, I might have been on the second floor, but that didn't change anything. It wasn't like this was the first time I snuck out of the house. I swiftly placed my feet into available slots in the vines that completely engulfed this side of my house. The next thing I knew, I was safely on the ground, unscathed. I quickly looked up at the windows of my house and checked to make sure no one was looking. No movement at all.

I then proceeded to head over into the woods, where I would rather walk because if I was walking through town, someone would see me. I quickly put in my headphones, which were connected to my iPod, and started to walk, following my usual worn-down path in the woods. I took in a deep breath, loving the fresh scent of pine, mud, and wood. It was the scent that I smelled on Quil almost every day.

I continued to walk for a bit, my feet sinking in the somewhat wet dirt. Streams were on either side of me, and the water trickled down to wherever gravity would take them. I smiled. This was where I was supposed to be: The woods.

I was heading back home after about an hour and a half of walking, and I was now listening to my favorite song on my walking playlist. I was feeling totally energized and happy. My calf muscles cramped from walking uphill a lot, and sweat practically poured from my skin. I felt so much better. I turned my iPod louder, almost blocking out any sounds that came from the forest.

However, I started to feel a little breeze picking up. It felt very nice, and the trees all around me trembled and shivered. It was nice, but it also made me feel a little uneasy. I stopped my iPod and turned around. It felt like someone was here.

Eventually, though, I let it go, shrugging as I started heading back home again. Then, I felt something- perhaps a hand- on my shoulder, and I whipped myself around.

"Ahhhhh!" I screamed, scared like crazy. I turned around so fast that I tripped over a tree root and fell right on my butt. "Oof," I said, once I felt the impact. That was gonna bruise.

I looked up and right before me was Embry. He quickly leaned over and hissed, "Claire, what the fuck are you doing here?"

I remained on the ground, shocked to see him. Oh, God. He was probably patrolling. Why didn't I think of that? "Are you guys still patrolling here?"

Embry put his hands through his hair and let out a frustrated, "Quil is going to kick your fucking ass. You are so dead."

I gulped and my eyes widened. "You wouldn't tell him about this, right?" I asked faintly.

"Not gonna have to."

"Why?" I asked, my heart skipping a beat. But I already knew why. I was so dead.

"He's on his way, Claire. He's on fucking patrol. Why in the hell are you out here?" He was seriously stressing, and I couldn't help but totally freak out, too. We both knew I was dead meat. I could tell that Embry was disappointed with me, too. But, he wasn't going to punish me because he knew Quil would. He was more worried about how Quil was going to act than how he should act with me. Embry really was the brother that I never had.

"I needed to go for a walk," I said softly, almost whispering, but Embry heard me because of his enhanced werewolf senses.

Embry put his face in his hands and kneeled down next to me. I still hadn't gotten up. "I love you, Claire. I really do. But you're an idiot. A total idiot."

I lay back down on the ground, waiting for my execution to arrive. "I know," I whined.

It only took a couple minutes before everyone was here. Quil saw me on the ground, with Embry sitting, his head in his hands. At first, Quil was worried like crazy, shoving Embry to the side to get to me. "Claire? Are you hurt? Are you all right? Were you the one who was screaming?" He had one hand on either side of my face, checking my face before moving onto searching the rest of my body for cuts or bruises.

I slapped his hand away as I sat up, "I'm fine, I'm fine." As time passed, I was starting to feel more embarrassed and scared. I looked up to find Brady, Embry, Seth, and Quil looking down at me. Oh, God. Here we go.

Once I dismissed his worry, Quil stopped and stared at me. He glanced at my fitness attire and my iPod. "Claire," he growled, "what exactly were you doing here?"

My heartbeat sped up and I felt some vomit coming up my throat. Here we go...

"Well, uh, it's kind of a funny story..." I chuckled nervously. I glanced up at Embry who was shaking his head, while Seth and Brady were glancing at me with sympathetic looks. They knew I was in for it, too.

"Claire." I looked back at Quil who was now right in front of my face, staring - no, glaring- at me, and I tried to squirm back. Quil grabbed my arm and continued to growl. "What were you doing here?"

I opened my mouth and said, "Walking."

Quil closed his eyes, letting hot breath out of his nose. He was not happy. "What?" he hissed.

"Quil-" I tried to explain, but I was cut off when he yanked me up and started dragging me off. I tried to plant my feet, but he was pulling with too much strength.

"Where are you taking me?" I screamed, trying to pull away.

"Your dad."

I stopped resisting. "What?" I hissed. "No! You're not telling him!"

Quil stopped pulling me and turned around to look into my face. He was so angry that his face was red. The grip on my arm tightened painfully. "You really think I'm not? Claire, you deliberately disobeyed both of us! Those were his and my rules that we set up!"

Oh my God. His rules, too? I couldn't hide the betrayal I felt. Now I was equally as angry as he. I tried to pull my arm away, but his grip was too constricting. "Lemme go, Quil! You're hurting me!"

The next thing I knew, Quil let go of me and was looking down at my arm that showed the marks where Quil's fingers were. "I'm so sorry, Claire..." he said, genuinely feeling bad.

I ignored his apology and started to run off farther into the woods. I knew he would outrun me, but I was angry, embarrassed, hurt, and I really didn't want to go back home where I would have to face my dad. I was just going for a walk and nothing happened! The wolves were even there! In a way, I hadn't broken the rules! I was walking and they were nearby! But, it didn't matter because I hadn't told them about it.

As I continued to sprint, I could feel my breathing getting faster, my lungs begging for more oxygen. My calves were screaming for me to stop. And finally, I was stopped. I was running, trying to dodge some branches that were in my path. Unfortunately, while I tried to dodge one, I hit another and it tore at my cheek. Then, I lost my place and tripped - again- on something. I went flying and fell face forward onto the ground. I tried to pick myself back up again and start running, but I quickly felt warm hands around my waist that were picking me up.

"Let me go!" I screamed, writhing, doing just about anything to get out of Quil's arms. "You traitor! I hate you!"

I was hoping that would make him let go of me, but all he did was continue walking, tossing me over his shoulder so I was facing his back. I furiously beat at it since my legs were is his grip, therefore, not letting me kick him.

I looked around and realized that all of the other wolves had left, probably back on patrol. I eventually stopped resisting, knowing it wouldn't do anything since Quil was like stone, and broke out crying. What was even more embarrassing was that I was snotting everywhere, and I didn't have a single damn tissue.

After about ten minutes of walking, when I finally calmed down, Quil stopped. I thought we had made it back to my house since Quil had super fast walking skills, but Quil stopped in front of a tree somewhere in the forest where he gently sat me down, and I propped myself against it. Quil was leaning forward and looking me over. He saw the cut I had on my face and gently moved my head so he could look at it. I sniffed from crying, and then hiccupped. For some reason, sobbing would always lead to terrible hiccups, but I guess at this moment, I wasn't so embarrassed because it was only Quil who was looking.

I guess I was bleeding quite a bit because the next thing I knew, Quil was taking his shirt off and putting it on my "wound." I tore my gaze away from Quil, knowing that if I looked at him, I'd forgive him, and at this moment, I did not want to forgive him. He was the one was who was allowing my father to be so overprotective. He was in on the plan, too. I was so pissed at him.

"Claire." I wouldn't look his way, and he repeated my names several times. He gave a frustrated sigh and then grabbed my chin and moved it so I was looking at him. "Fine, you're pissed at me, but you need to listen to me. You can never disobey me like that. Do you hear me?" I tried to move my face again, but he wouldn't let me. "Never. Again."

And I couldn't believe what I did next. Even looking back on it, I still regretted it the most, but in that moment, I was unbelievably angry. I looked him dead in the eye and spit on him.

Hi, guys!

So, I have fallen back into the groove, and I have now reached 42 reviews on this story! Isn't that sofreakingfantastic? It is for me! You guys are all awesome, and thank you so much for reviewing! So, I know that I posted yesterday, but I decided I couldn't wait. So, I'm posting a new chapter. RIGHT. NOW. Ahhhh!

I hope you guys liked this chapter. Claire really is quite the rebel. I almost feel bad for Quil. He imprinted on one freaking stubborn girl. But, I think that's what makes him love her so much. I personally get so frustrated with stubborn people, but in the end, they end up being my best friends. Screw that passive stuff. BE A MAN! OR WOMAN! I'm not sexist, I swear. *raises hands in surrender*

Haha. All right. I'm done rambling. Please review! I love you guys!

Oh, and guess what? I'm sixteen now! ^.^ YESS!

xoxoxo

Erin