Over the days that followed, Stiles and Scott found themselves growing closer to Rowan. Stiles came over every day and Scott every other, when he wasn't seeing Alison or working. Quite often they would end up staying the night. Sometimes they went out in a pair, trio or with Alison. Both boys liked spending time with her and despite Derek's warnings about what would happen, they wanted to continue. Derek on the other hand seemed to be trying to spend as little time with her as possible. During the day he distanced himself in the house, when the boys showed up he would leave and not return until Rowan had gone to sleep or was at least pretending to sleep. She never mentioned it and went about her routine. She started taking long walks with Stiles in the woods, talking together with a level of comfort that she didn't have with anyone else.

During one of these walks, they were deep in the woods, having left Scott at the house with Derek, when Stiles asked the questions that had been bothering him.

"So your family... why were they hunting you?"

"I saw something i wasn't supposed to and i got scared"

"Can i ask what?"

"A boy, about fourteen. They were torturing him" she said "because he was a werewolf" She went to say something else but there was a quiet snap in the bushes. Her head shot up, eyes fixed on something nearby. Her hand grasped Stiles and she dragged him against a tree. She kissed him hard, then trailed her lips across his cheek.

"Stiles," she whispered "When i tell you to, i want you to run as fast as you can" Her eyes met his for a moment, then glanced over his shoulder at the bushes "Ready? RUN!" She broke away and darted back towards the house. Stiles took off after her. He wasn't sure why they were running but a second later something whizzed past his head.

"What was that?" he shouted.

"We're being shot at!" she yelled back "Come on!" Stiles noticed a strange excitement in her voice. He frowned, his pace faltering slightly. "Stiles! Look out!" she screeched. There was no warning. Just a sudden burst of pain in his leg. He cried out and fell. Rowan paused mid-stride, then returned to him. She pulled him to his feet, trying not to hurt him more. His legs could barely hold him up. Rowan bit her lip, placed him back on the ground and turned to face her invisible attacker. Her eyes seemed to glow in the half light. She opened her mouth and let out a feral snarl. Silence fell. Rowan seemed to be watching something only she could see. Slowly she turned back to Stiles and crouched beside him.

"I'm going to get help" she promised. She slipped her hands into his pocket and pulled out his phone. She speed-dialled Scott and told him what had happened. Then she hung up and took off her shirt, using it to stem the bleeding in his leg.

"You're going to be okay" she told him "Good thing there are no vampires around, huh?" Stiles laughed weakly at the joke, then winced.

Derek and Scott arrived. Scott went straight to his injured friend while Derek hung back, assessing the situation.

"Rowan, what happened?" he asked, eyes raking over her semiclad form. Rowan didn't answer, too concerned about Stiles. Derek growled, gaining her attention. She came over to him.

"We were walking. My brother surprised us" Derek snarled and pulled Rowan away from the boys.

"You are to go back to the house and stay there with Scott! You are not to leave his sight, understand?" she nodded. Derek touched her cheek gently, half formed words on his lips, then he pulled away and darted into the trees. Rowan went over to Scott and helped to hold Stiles up as they headed back

Derek ran through the trees, following the scent left by Rowan's brother. Eventually the trees thinned to reveal a large house. There was a lean, fair haired young man sitting on the porch steps, cleaning a shot gun. As Derek approached, he snapped the gun barrel closed and rested it on his knee.

"What do you want wolf boy?" he asked, fixing his cold green eyes on Derek.

"Just here to talk so why don't you put the gun down before you shoot someone else?"

"No. I don't think so. You're in my territory"

"Fine. Why do you keep shooting at Rowan? She says it wasn't bullets that night but we both know that's not true. So why are you shooting her? She's your family" He rose to his feet, gun in hand.

"Yes. And it's because she's family that it's my duty to stop her from being tainted" Derek sensed a double meaning in his words.

"Tainted? You think i'd try and turn her?"

"No. By taint, i mean infected with your spawn" Realisation hit him.

"You know what she is...don't you?"

"Of course. It's hard not to work it out when every werewolf in the area starts trying to shag her"

"Including you" Derek stated "You're a werewolf. I didn't realise at first but now i see... this isn't about me with her. This is about someone who's not you being with her," The other boy growled and Derek knew he was right. He laughed.

"I've endured it for the past ten years since she was brought into our house! I've earned this!" Derek snarled at his words.

"She is a girl! Not a prize to be won!" the other wolf laughed.

"Tell me you haven't thought about it! Thought about fucking her up against the wall! Tell me she hasn't had you jacking off in the shower!" Derek said nothing. It was all true. The other boy smirked.

"It doesn't matter. She doesn't want to come back. Leave her alone" he replied finally.

"No. I want her back. If you don't return her willingly, my next bullet will be aimed at your head" They glared at each other for several minutes before Derek stepped back. Silently, he walked away, the mocking laughter of the other ringing in his ears.