An: Hello all my lovely reviewers here is the next installment of Fall For You. Thank you so much to everyone that has followed, faved, and reviewed this story! Ya'll give me inspiration to keep working towards it. Drop a review and let me know what ya think! Ohhh also we have a ship name now! Thank you CarleighAlpha for the idea of COREK! I love it! Happy reading lovelies.
Every time we have to say goodbye
I'm counting down until we say hello
Every touch is like the strongest drug
I don't know how much longer I can go
I never had something that I can't walk away from
But, girl, my self-control's so paralyzed
When it comes to you, no, I ain't got no patience
There's something 'bout you girl I just can't fight
You're like that cigarette
That shot of 100 proof
No matter how much I get
I'm always craving
That feeling when we kiss
The way your body moves
No matter how much I get
I'm always craving you
Craving you
-Craving You by Thomas Rhett
By Sunday morning Derek was completely healed so I decided it was a good idea to go and finally see Scott. My anger at the boy had diminished to irritation. I stopped at the phone store on the way to pick up his new cell phone.
As I got to the house I noticed Mellissa's car in the driveway. I found my sister at the kitchen island drinking coffee and reading a newspaper. She looked up as I entered.
"Figured you would have stopped over sooner." She states taking a sip of the coffee. I shrugged.
"I knew he was physically okay. Had some stuff I had to deal with." I told her taking a seat across from her.
"Like the fact that your boyfriend tried to kill my son." She quipped. I rolled my eyes.
"Yeah I'm not buying that story." She quirked an eyebrow.
"Scott said that's who it was."
"Yeah, but he wasn't a hundred percent sure. Derek could've been there for a completely different reason. I've known him my whole life Mel. Until there's hard evidence that it was him I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt. Innocent until proven guilty and all that Jazz." She glared at me.
"Scott is your nephew for God's sake!"
"Yeah and he's also a teenager that was scared out of his fucking mind. Fear makes you think stupid shit." She scowled at me.
"Do you know where he is?"
"No if I did, I'd report him. I'm not saying I'd harbor his fugitive ass. I'm just saying I don't think it was him." I told her angrily. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"You have shitty taste in men." She told me. I smirked.
"Bad boys are better in bed." She scoffed.
"Why are you like this?"
"It's all part of my charm big sis." She rolled her eyes and waved her hand towards the door.
"Scott's in his room. He's barely come out since Friday night." I nodded and took off to find him.
His bedroom door was shut when I approached and I paused to knock on the door. I waited a moment and after receiving no answer I went in anyway. Scott was laying on the middle of his bed just staring blankly at the ceiling. He didn't even glance at me as I entered. I climbed onto the bed and laid down next to him and looked up to the ceiling.
"What's so interesting up there?" I asked curiously.
"Nothing." He mumbled out in response.
"What's got you down, Scottie boy?" I asked looking towards him. He turned to look at me and my heart clenched at the depressed look on his face.
"Allison broke up with me." He said softly. I refrained from smiling at that.
"I'm sorry kid. You wanna talk about it?"
"Not really." He stated and I could see the tears welling up in his eyes. Now I felt bad. I cuddled up into his side.
"I'm sure everything will work out little wolf. It was probably just all the emotions from that night and she didn't know how to handle it." Scott didn't respond. Just turned so his arms were around me and hugged me tightly like I was a lifeline. His body began to shake with sobs and I began to run my hands through his hair. I stayed with him for a few hours until he ended up falling asleep.
Monday morning, I got a call from my Uncle Bobby as I was making some coffee. Derek was in the library reading.
"Hello?" I answered.
"What the hell did your idjit mate do?" Uncle Bobby's gruff voice filtered through the phone.
"He didn't do anything. Scott had the brilliant idea to lure the Alpha to the school. He attacked and almost killed Derek. Then chased the kids through the school and killed the janitor. Scott panicked and blamed it on Derek when they started asking questions about who it was." I told him.
"If you don't get this sorted out soon I'm coming out." He told me.
"Alright. But we don't even know who it is yet. Derek thinks his human scent is different than his wolfs. So, it's been making tracking him harder."
"Dean told me Kate Argent's in town. Don't do anything stupid." I scoffed.
"Why does everyone keep telling me that?" I asked in annoyance.
"Because as smart as you are you don't always use that head of yours. You've had it out for Kate since the fire." I rolled my eyes.
"I'm not gonna just go and put a fucking bullet in her head in broad daylight. I'm not dumb. But I'm also not gonna ignore a chance if it presents itself."
"Cora-"
"No Uncle Bobby. That bitch deserves everything that she's got coming to her." I told him angrily. He just sighed.
"Let me know if you need anything." I nodded finally pouring some coffee into my cup.
"Will do Uncle B. I love ya."
"I love ya to ya goddamn idjit." I smiled before hanging up the phone. I poured a cup of coffee for Derek as well before adding some cream and sugar to mine. I headed into the study and handed him his cup as I passed. I went over to my desk and propped my feet up on top of it.
"I think I'm going to quit coaching Lacrosse." I told him taking a sip of my coffee. He quirked an eyebrow but didn't look up from his book.
"Why's that?"
"There's just too much shit going on right now."
"Don't give up your life for the Alpha, C." I shook my head.
"It's not just the Alpha. I feel like I need to focus on the bar a little more. We're doing fine, but we used to do better. I used to get DJs and have different shit going on and between the Alpha and Lacrosse it's just too much. You know I haven't gone on a hunt since three months before you came back."
"You're technically on a hunt now." He pointed out. I rolled my eyes.
"That's different. I'm literally craving a fucking open and shut salt and burn case right now."
"If you want to quit then do it. I just don't want you not doing the stuff you like just because of the shit show that's going on right now." I sighed.
"I know."
I walked into Coach's office a little earlier than normal so I could talk to him.
"Hey Finstock." I said sitting down across from him.
"You're fired." He blurted out nervously. I quirked an eyebrow. "School's cutting our budget. We can't afford an assistant coach." I shrugged.
"Works for me. I was going to quit anyway."
"You can stay for practice today if you want."
"Mmm only if I get to come to the games and yell at the players from the bench for no pay." He chuckled.
"Deal. I'm pretty sure you love yelling at them as much as I do." I laughed.
"Duh, it's the only reason I signed up for this gig." We headed out into the locker room after that and I went to stand next to Scott and Stiles. Stiles sent me a wave in greeting while Scott just nodded and irritated look on his face.
"All right, geniuses, listen up. Due to the recent pink eye epidemic - Thank you, Greenberg - the following people have made first line on a probationary basis, emphasis on the word "probationary." Rodriguez. Welcome to first line. Taylor, and, uh - Oh, for the love of crap. I can't even read my own writing. What is that, an "s"?" Stile's head perked up at that, before his face fell slightly. "No, no, that's not an "s." That's a - that's a - That's a "b." It's definitely a "b." Uh, Rodriguez, Taylor, and, uh - Bilinski." Stiles jumped up in excitement and cheered. I smiled at the joy on the boy's face.
"Bilinski!" Finstock yelled causing me to let out a laugh.
"Yes?"
"Shut up!"
"Yes, sir."
"Stiles." Scott started to say something to his best friend, but was cut off by said hyperactive boy.
"It's Biles. Call me Biles, or I swear to God I'll kill you." I snorted.
"Another thing. From here on out, immediately, we're switching to co - captains. Congratulations, McCall." Finstock called out.
"What?" Jackson asked angrily as his head snapped up looking between coach and I.
"What do you mean, what? Jackson, this takes nothing away from you. They made me fire, Cora. So, this is about combining separate strengths into one unit. This is about taking your unit, McCall's unit, we're making one big unit. McCall, it's you and Jackson now. Everybody else - Asses on the field! Asses on the field!"
"Dude, can you believe this? You're a captain. I'm first line. I'm first freaking line! Sorry you got fired, Cora!" Stiles rushed out excitedly. Scott was ignoring his best friend though and seemed to be focused on Jackson's conversation. I patted Stiles' shoulder.
"Congrats, Spaz." I told him with a laugh.
"Are you not freaking out? I'm freaking out." Stiles asked as we started out of the locker room.
"What's the point? It's just a stupid title. And I could practically smell the jealousy in there." Scott ground out.
"Wait, you smell jealousy?" Stiles questioned, a figurative light bulb going off over his head.
"Yeah all werewolves can. Emotion's all have their own different scents and whatnot because of the chemical changes in your body." I told the two.
"Yeah, it's like the full moon's turned everything up to ten, though." Scott responded.
"Can you pick up on stuff like, I don't know, desire?" I rolled my eyes at Stile's question.
"What do you mean desire?" Scott asked not catching on.
"Like sexual desire?" Stiles elaborated.
"Sexual desire?" Scott asked, a confused lilt to his voice and I sighed. As entertaining as this conversation was I was tired of the echo that seemed to appear.
"Yeah, sexual desire. Lust, passion, arousal." Stiles responded rolling the "r" as he spoke the last word.
"From Lydia?" I asked with a smirk. Stiles gave me a fake offended look.
"What? No, in a general, broad sense, can you determine sexual desire?"
"From Lydia to you?" Scott asked still trying to figure out just what Stiles was asking exactly. I was going to be keeping a close eye on Scott today. The full moon was making him even slower than normal. Also, he just seemed slightly, excessively angry.
"Fine, yes, from Lydia to me. Look, I need to know if I have a chance with this girl, okay? I've been obsessing over her since the third freakin' grade."
"Why don't you just ask her?" Scott asked like it was a simple thing. Nothing was simple with Stiles.
"Well, to save myself utterly crushing humiliation. Thank you, Scott. Okay? So, please, can you just go up and ask her if she likes me? See if her heartbeat rises, pheromones come out."
"Fine." Stiles beamed widely at his best friend causing me to smile as well
"We - I love you. I love you. You're my best friend in the whole world." Stiles called out after Scott as he headed towards the strawberry blonde. I laughed out and threw my arm around Stile's shoulder and pulled him out towards the field.
"Alright, c'mon Bilinski, let's get you hot and sweaty."
"Hey. What happened?" Stiles asked as Scott walked up to us on the field.
"What?" Scott asked causing me to quirk an eyebrow.
"What do you mean, what?" I asked as Stiles started blasting him with questions.
"Did you ask her? Did she say anything? Did she say she liked me? Did she imply she liked me?"
"Yeah. Yeah, she likes you. In fact, she's totally into you." Scott responded an odd tone in his voice. I pulled out my phone to text Derek as Finstock got everyone out onto the field for a drill.
Pretty sure this full moon is turning Scott into a psychopath. I'm going to his house with Stiles after school to make sure Scott doesn't end up killing Stiles.
"Let's go, next! Perfect." Finstock yelled, causing me to look up just in time to see two players stepping away from Scott who was laid out on the ground. I groaned knowing this wasn't going to be good. Stiles rushed over to Scott and said something.
"Let's go! Guess some people don't appreciate your new status there, McCall. Who's next? Let's go. You have a problem with that, Bilinski?" Coach yelled out.
"What? Yeah, no." Stiles replied shaking his head furiously.
"All right, you're up, big boy. Let's go! That's it, McCall! That's the spirit! You earn it! Earn it, McCall!" Coach said as Scott got up and got ready to run the drill again. I could see his shoulder's heaving and prepared to intervene if he tried to fucking murder someone. However, he just decided to maim Danny. The nicest person on the fucking team.
"Dude, what the hell are you doin'?" Stiles asked as he and I rushed towards Scott, everyone else heading to Danny.
"He's twice the size of me." Scott tried to defend himself.
"Yeah, but everybody likes Danny. Now everybody's gonna hate you, you dick!" I told him angrily. Danny hadn't even been one of the guys that went after him.
"I don't care." Scott replied snottily. I glared at him before noticing Lydia approach Jackson a few feet away from us. Stiles seemed to notice as well.
"Is he okay?" Lydia asked her boyfriend.
"It looks like he just has a bloody nose –" Jackson's voice trailed off and I quirked an eyebrow curiously.
"What?"
"Your lipstick." Jackson responded. I glared as I watched Lydia pull out a mirror and begin fixing her lipstick that was smeared around her lips. Fucking Scott. I looked to Stiles and saw a look of realization mixed with anger on the poor kids face.
"Oh. Oh, wonder how that happened."
"Yeah. I wonder." Jackson responded suspiciously.
I pulled up to Mellissa and Scott's just a minute behind Stiles. As I headed into the house I caught part of Mellissa and Stiles' conversation.
"Key!" Mellissa pointed towards the house key Stiles held in his hand.
"Yeah. I had one made, so-"
"That doesn't surprise me. It scares me, but it doesn't surprise me. What is that?" Mellissa told him causing me to snicker.
"Uh, school project. Cora's going to help us." Stiles lied motioning towards me. My sister looked skeptically between the two of us. I tried to send her an innocent smile, but she just rolled her eyes.
"Mmm. Stiles, he's okay, right?"
"Who? Scott? Yeah. Totally." Stiles lied again.
"He just doesn't talk to me that much anymore, not like he used to." Mellissa said sadly. I smiled softly and walked towards her throwing an arm over her shoulder.
"He's had a rough week sis. He'll be fine. Promise." I said trying to comfort her.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. Yeah, um - Okay, uh - Be careful tonight." Mellissa said starting to head towards the doors.
"You, too." Stiles and I responded.
"Full moon." Mel mused. I watched a look of panic come over Stiles face and sighed.
"What?" He asked the worry lacing his voice.
"There's a full moon tonight. You should see how the E.R. Gets. Brings out all the nut jobs." My sister elaborated causing Stiles to calm and nod.
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"Right."
"You know, it's, um, actually where they came up with the word "lunatic."" Mellissa explained as she headed out the door. I looked to Stiles.
"You know if you panic every time a regular person mentions the full moon, they're going to start asking questions, and you're kind of a shitty liar." I told him as he headed towards Scott's room.
"Shut up." He grumbled as we approached the door. Stiles opened it and flipped the light on. He jumped when he saw Scott sitting in the chair by the window.
"Oh, my God! Dude. You scared the hell out of me. Your mom said you weren't home yet." Stiles told him once calming down.
"I came in through the window." Scott responded an evil lilt to his voice making me tense. The full moon was really messing with him.
"Okay. Uh, well, let's get this set up. I want you to see what I bought."
"I'm fine. I'm just gonna lock the door and go to bed early tonight." I snorted.
"Not gonna happen, you little psycho." I told him coming to stand next to Stiles. Scott glared at me before looking back towards Stiles as the boy began talking.
"You sure about that? 'Cause you've got this kind of serial killer look going on in your eyes, and I'm hoping it's the full moon taking effect, 'cause it's really starting to freak me out."
"I'm fine. You should go now." Scott told us.
"All right, we'll leave. Well, look, would you just at least look in the bag and see what I bought? You know, maybe you use it, maybe you don't. Sound good?" Stiles asked. Scott obliged and got up from the chair. I squatted down next to Stiles and felt him slip me the pair of handcuffs he had grabbed earlier. I shifted so I was in a better position to move quickly.
"You think I'm gonna let you put these on and chain me up like a dog?" Scott ground out angrily.
"Actually, no." Stiles responded. I moved quickly, launching myself at Scott. I got one end of the cuffs around his wrist as I pulled his arm back towards the radiator locking the other cuff around that. Scott started angrily pulling on the cuff as I back away.
"What the hell are you doing?" He yelled out angrily at me I just smirked.
"Protecting you from yourself." I told him sweetly.
"And giving you some payback - For making out with Lydia." Stiles told him before we exited the room together, Scott yelling angrily behind us.
About an hour or so later, the sun had gone down and Stiles and I were in the kitchen. I ever since the sun had went down and the moon began to rise there was an anxiety that continued to creep up on me. I hadn't been able to sit still for the last 20 minutes. The urge to go find Derek was overwhelming.
"What is your deal?" Stiles asked as he pulled a dog bowl out from his bag. I quirked an eyebrow, but continued to pace next to the fridge.
"I think it's the mating bond. It's Derek and I's first full moon. The bond is supposed to mature tonight. I'm getting this increasingly overwhelming feeling like I need to go find him." I told the boy. I watched as he pulled a sharpie out from his bag and began to write on the bowl.
"So, go find him." He responded.
"I don't want to leave you alone with our current resident psychopath though." I told him stopping and staring him down. Stiles shrugged his shoulders and spun the bowl around to show me he had written Scott's name across it. I barked out a laugh.
"I'll be fine. If he gets out I think he's going to be more interested in going to find Allison than he will be with killing me."
"You know there's a good chance he's going to get out. Those cuffs aren't going to hold him once he actually shifts."
"Which is why you should go to Derek so you guys can be ready to go after him. I'll let you know when it happens."
"Stil-" He shook his head cutting me off.
"No, Cora. You're not gonna be anymore use here with you being this distracted. It's probably going to get worse the longer you're away from Derek. Go. Let your bond do its thing." I contemplated the boy for a moment before nodding. I walked over to him and gave him a hug.
"Give him hell, kid." I told him tapping on the bowl with my finger, a smirk plastered on my lips.
I knew Derek had been planning on going out and looking for the Alpha tonight, so I headed towards the preserve letting the bond pull me in the direction of my mate. I grabbed my gun out of the back and headed out into the woods. It was a surprisingly calm night, as I walked aimlessly, following my gut towards Derek. There was a peacefulness that I hadn't felt in a while in the woods. The Alpha must not be out here tonight. I pulled a cigarette out and lit it up beginning to sing, thinking that hearing my voice might draw Derek closer to me.
"Little mama sexy as she want to be She want a pop that pussy for a G Some big ol' titties and that ass fat Girl go on bounce it like a bad check Reached in my pants and pulled my thang out Girl go on and show me what that brain 'bout When I go in she scream my name out She say she love me cuz always fuck her brains out I always fuck Fuck her brains out She say she love me cuz always fuck her brains out I always fuck Fuck her brains out She say she love me cuz always fuck her brains out." As I finished the first verse of the song by Montana 300 I stilled. I could feel him. He was near.
"You have the oddest taste in music." Derek's voice called out into the darkness. I turned and saw him behind me. The bond was urging me closer. I could hardly resist. I saw Derek's eyes flash blue as he took in the sight of me.
"I haven't the slightest clue what you're talking about, love." I told him as I removed my jacket. He let out a low growl. I set my gun down on top of the jacket and smirked as he stepped closer.
"You were just dancing around the kitchen to Disney music this morning." He told me as I took a step back. I smirked as his eyes flashed again.
"You do know what's going to happen as soon as were in arms reach of each other, right?" I asked as I began unbuttoning my shirt. Derek smirked eyes turning blue, but staying that way this time. I shivered in anticipation. He closed the gap between us before I could blink slamming me against the tree behind me.
His hands went to my hair and roughly pulled my face close to his slamming our lips together, kissing me harder than he ever had before.
Explicit
I reached up and shoved his jacket off of him before grabbing blindly for the bottom of his shirt. I gasped out of pleasure as he began to kiss and nip at my neck. He ripped open my flannel the rest of the way. He made quick work of my front clasp bra, and as my breasts sprung free his hands were there to support them quickly. I moaned out as he began to rub my nipples between his fingers pinching as he played. He licked at the mark on my neck, sending a rush of warmth to my center.
Derek's shirt finally came off and I ran my hands down his chest to his abdomen. He let out a growl as I reached his belt buckle. His hands went to my jeans as well and we quickly made work of each other pants and underwear.
I grabbed Derek's member giving it a few pumps as he growled in pleasure, the noise sending another rush of heat threw me. Derek's hands traveled from my breasts too my hips and he pulled his head up to look at me. I sucked in a breath at the sight of him completely wolfed out, and I could feel his claws lightly drifting against the skin of my hips. He lifted me off the ground and my legs instinctively wrapped around his torso.
Derek entered me swiftly causing us both to moan out.
"Mine." The word was clear, strong and so obviously Derek's voice, however Derek's mouth never moved. I smiled.
"Yours." I thought back, Derek sent me a wolfish grin canines exposed, eyes electric blue and began to thrust hard and fast into me. I moaned, bark digging into my back, as he continued his fast pace bringing both of us closer and closer to the edge. My finger nails dug into his back causing Derek to groan out and pick up his pace.
All it took was a few more thrusts before Derek was letting out one of the loudest roars I had ever heard. He bit down on my shoulder as the moon crested and my orgasm crashed over me causing me to scream out. I felt him pull out of me and set me to the ground fangs still embedded in my shoulder.
End
When Derek pulled away from my shoulder to look at me he was shifted back to normal. We were both breathing heavily. I smiled at him and he leaned forward placing a soft kiss on my lips.
"Are you okay?" He asked brushing hair out of my face. I nodded.
"I'm fucking great. I heard you, D." I told him. He smiled and leaned forward kissing me again.
"I know. I heard you too."
"I love you." I told him softly. He ran a thumb over my mating mark.
"I love you too."
Once we were dressed we headed off to find Scott who, according to the message from Stiles had escaped. It was an odd feeling, now that the bond had matured. I was even more aware of Derek next to me in the truck. I could also feel his emotions, they weren't overwhelming me like I had thought they might. They were more just a soft brush against the edge of my consciousness. I was sure if I chose to focus on them they would become stronger, but now wasn't the time. I was curious as to why I couldn't hear his thoughts, but maybe that part took longer to develop.
Derek was sitting in the passenger seat with the windows down trying to track Scott. I eventually realized we were headed towards the sporting goods store and assumed that's likely where he was. I parked the truck and Derek took off quickly towards the back of the lot, me following as closely behind as I could.
I watched as my mate jumped on top of a truck before launching himself at Scott who was on top of an SUV. If I looked closely I could see Jackson and Allison in the front seat looking confused. I stayed out of their line of sight and headed after the two boys.
I watched Scott rush at Derek, the older wolf grabbed his arm quickly and twisted it behind his back.
"Stop! Scott, stop!" Derek told the struggling boy. He pushed away from Derek before turning and rushing at him again. Derek side stepped and kicked at Scott sending him rolling away. Another attempt at rushing Derek had my mate picking Scott up over his head in some wrestling like move and slamming him down on the ground. Once on top of Scott, Derek let out a roar in the boys face. Scott back away quickly finally starting to come back to himself. I headed to Derek who laced his fingers through mine as he shifted back to his normal appearance.
"What's happening to me?" Scott asked still transformed and fear clouding his words.
"Exactly what he wants to happen." Was Derek's response.
Scott was able to shift back after a few minutes and I approached him with Derek. We helped my nephew to my truck and took him home. When we got to the house Derek and I helped him inside and sat him down on his bed.
"Thanks. Wait. I can't do this. I can't be this and be with Allison. I need you to tell me the truth. Is there a cure?" Scott said as we turned to the door to leave. Derek and I exchanged a look.
"For someone who was bitten? I've heard of one. I don't know if it's true." Derek responded.
"It doesn't make sense for it to be true." I told the two boys.
"Well, what is it?" Scott asked in anticipation.
"You have to kill the one that bit you." Derek and I responded together.
"Kill the Alpha?" Scott asked nervousness lacing his voice.
"Scott. If you help me find him, I'll help you kill him." Derek told the boy, causing me to tense up.
Later, back at the apartment, I was getting ready for bed. The conversation with Scott still on my mind. As I walked out of the bathroom I saw Derek sitting on the bed. He was shirtless, in a pair of basketball shorts and shutting with his back resting against the headboard reading a book. I took a moment to appreciate his physique before heading over to him. I climbed into bed and through a leg across his lap, so that I was straddling his waist facing him. Derek put the book to the side to focus on me.
"I need you to promise me something D." I told him. He quirked an eyebrow. "We don't know if Scott killing the Alpha will actually cure him or if it will just make him an alpha. I honestly don't care either way. I want you to promise me that you or I will be the one to kill it."
"Even if there's a chance it could cure him?"
"I don't care. I'd rather him have to live the rest of his life as a werewolf than have him tainted by the fact that he killed someone. He's too pure. It would tear him apart." Derek nodded in understanding.
"Promise me D." I told him. Needing to hear him say the words. "Promise me you won't let Scott kill the Alpha." Derek eyed me for a moment. He reached forward placing a thumb against the mating bite and pulling me close to plant a loving kiss on my lips.
"I promise." The words rang out clear as a bell in my mind as our lips were connected and I could feel the sincerity behind them.
Review replies:
CarleighAlpha: Thank you so much for your amazing review! That was seriously the best review I have ever gotten! I am so glad you love the story and the characters! In regards to the children thing we will have to see ;) I plan on taking this story AU starting after season 1. It won't go completely AU until sometime after season two however, but I do hope you like what I end up doing with it. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart for your review! I hope you enjoy this new update!
ShatteredSoul37: Thank you so much! I'm glad you're liking it, and I hope you like this new update just as much! :)
Twister60: Glad you liked the flashback! I was a little worried about that one, I'm not the best at writing children haha. Hope you like this next update and I'll be sure to try and add more flashbacks into the upcoming chapters!