Chapter 13

Ben's POV:

I couldn't believe I sent that text. I loved Tory more than anything in this godforsaken world! Plus I finally won her! Why the hell did I break up with her?! Because you didn't want to hurt her, even if it meant hurting you, I thought to myself.

It was true. When I saw Jason slip Tory away from me, who was heading towards the gardens, I knew Jason planned something inevitable. So yes, I followed them. I had my sunglasses on so people wouldn't see my golden eyes, and I listened to their conversation; however I was about a half mile away from them so no one would suspect anything.

When Tory backed me up when Jason asked what I had and what he didn't, I felt a surge of affection towards Tory because I felt the same way about her. Though once I heard Jason smacking his filthy mouth on my Tory, I instantly started walking quicker. I would have ran, but I didn't want to attract attention. Once I rounded a vast tree blocking my path of vision of Tory that is when my feet started pounding the grass quickly. I ended up beating Jason to a little rag doll, but he deserved every ounce of pain for touching Tory. I had so much anger towards Jason from over the years for trying to steal Tory away from me, for I just poured out all of the energy into roundhouse kicks and damaging punches. I probably gave that boy a concussion, about two broken ribs, and a sore body drenched in bruises. Jason should thank me, for I gave him a couple months of not seeing Tory. So now he can reflect on ways to say sorry towards her!

Then Tory's dad got involved and decided that I was too dangerous for Tory by taking one good look at Jason. I do admit I can be very angry at times and throw punches here and there, but I would never lay a hand on Tory! She is the love of my life! How could I ever live knowing I hurt her?

Though, I decided to take a break from the relationship. Maybe it's best for Tory because I know how I can get just at the mention of Jason. She would be safer, I thought. It was hurting me to even write the text, for my heart was shattering like glass inside. However I knew what was best for Tory, even if it meant sleepless nights, crying, and heart aches for me.

I sent the text and instantly felt regret. I threw the phone at the wall, for it broke into pieces. I was screaming cuss words a mile long at the top of my lungs! I was on my bed hysterically crying into my flattened pillows. The tears came out of my eyes like the rain from a storm cloud. The sorrow just fell from my eyes. I was trying so hard not to focus on Tory, but the sharp stinging pain in my heart was a constant reminder. I may act like a cold stone to others, but when it comes to Tory, I'm a soft damageable marshmallow.

The door flung open to reveal a frightened Hi and a worried Shelton.

I was laying belly down on my bed, for I didn't even dare to look at either of my best friends.

"Hey man, what's going on? I can hear you all the way from my complex screaming every cuss word you know at the top of your lungs. Is it about Tory?" Hi asked, concerned.

I lifted head which felt heavier than normal, and looked at them with my tear blotched eyes. They didn't know about Tory because I never told them, so how did they find out? I thought to myself.

Shelton could see my confused expression and said, "Hi and I were out on a walk, and we saw you and Tory. Both of you were on the beach a couple days ago by the bunker. We saw you cuddling and kissing, and it was actually kind of cute to see you guys finally together! Come on, tell us what happened. We know it must be related to Tory since you're a mess. No offense, bro." Damn it! Tory won the bet! Though, I'm not surprised because she is always right.

When Shelton said together, my heart drooped farther down into my chest. No, we are no longer together now because it was my stupid idea to send that text. Tory will never forgive me. A couple more tears trickled smoothly down my cheek to my chin, and then hanged there for a while until they fell.

"Jason kissed Tory, then I had beaten Jason to a puny pulp, Kit thinks I'm a threat to Tory right now, and then I broke up with Tory to keep her safe from me," I finally spoke up. I was choking on my words for the last part, for it was still a fresh wound. I promised myself that I would try to talk to Kit and explain to him that I was only protecting Tory! He needed to hear the whole story! Well except the part about me flaring...

Both Hi and Shelton looked at me with a surprised expression. I heard Hi whisper, "That explains Tory running down to the bunker crying with her flare burning," to Shelton. I guess I wasn't supposed to hear that but I did. I felt the guilt pile on higher after that sentence. Not only am I hurting myself, but also Tory. Shelton nodded his head slightly to what Hi just gathered.

I shifted my slump body upright in my bed. Shelton and Hi sat down next to me, for they were not sure what to do. They just both laid a hand on my shoulders.

"Wanna play video games at my house?" Typical Shelton.

"I can't. My mom is taking me to the temple. I better go now before she drags me by the ear, which is not fun," Hiram explained.

"Sure, why not. Anything to keep my mind off of Tor-," I couldn't manage her name out of my throat, so I said softly, "her."

I got two nods. Hi slapped my back reassuringly. Shelton just got up and waited for me at the door. I slowly got up and cringed at my stiff muscles. I got dressed in a black T-shirt that showed off my muscles along with stained white shorts. I slipped on my Nike tennis shoes, and left off to Shelton's house.

Tory's POV:

I was lying down on our couch in the bunker with Cooper next to me, for my flare had already snuffed out. I was softly and slowly petting Cooper's fur. His head was on my chest nuzzling me, for he was trying to say it was ok from the hours of crying. I was missing Ben so much! I couldn't breathe without him! Now I don't know what to be without Ben around. And we know it's never simple, never easy, never a clean break, and there's no one here to save me. There is no one I can talk to about this! It's a girl problem, and I don't really want to talk to Whitney about this. She would probably try to persuade me to go out with that face sucking Jason, which was not an option!

I peeked outside the window and it was about five in the afternoon. Ugh, dinner will be ready in an hour. I didn't want to go back home where questions are thrown at me constantly every day.

"What am I going to do Coop?" I cried into his fur. I didn't want to go home and I didn't want to stay here where Ben could come in. I didn't have a single place to go.

I finally decided to get a towel and lay in the sun on the warm sand. The feeling of the blazing hot sun penetrating into my pores felt like the sun was giving me a warm assuring hug. Cooper followed me and resumed the same position as on the couch. I remembered how Ben and I cuddled on here, and where I had my first kiss. The pain was too much to bear in my heart remembering him, so my heart's pain leaked out of my eyes. Quit it, you're being a baby! I told myself. I needed to pick my head up and be strong. I got up from this retched place where the sweet memories of Ben were made.

I was aimlessly walking around to find myself at the old bunker. It was our very first bunker we found, for it was found by looking for a lost frisbee we threw. However the bunker was later destroyed by Hollis Claybourne's, Chance's father, assassination team. But because of Dr. Marcus E. Karsten, who developed the virus, we barely made it out alive; however, he didn't. I slowly squeezed and stepped inside surveying the scene, for we haven't been inside since the fight. The tables were toppled over, the wooden chairs were broken into pieces, and the wood was torn up with little spikes of wood poking out from the ground. Some of the wooden walls had many holes from the deathly bullets. The air was dank, thick, and not very promising. I had to get out of this place before I hurled my stomach out.

I turned sharply around to get out of the bunker. The warm sand was slowly cooling from the setting sun. I checked my watch and saw that it was already 6:30pm! I was going to be at least two hours late home by the time I get there! I still had to get my phone from our current bunker too! Man, could this day get any worse?!

That question was quickly answered with a yes when I saw Chance coming out of the trees in a comfortable walking pace. I needed to act normal; however it was hard to do that with a shaky body and sweaty palms. Chance had stopped right in front of me, for he was blocking my path.

"I'm not in the mood to play games, so let's cut to the chase. I know about your powers Tory. I have been examining you for a while now. I know how your eyes turn a golden yellow when your overly stressed with an emotion, I know how you have inhuman abilities with it, and I know that you look like your little wolf-pup when you are in that form." Chance told.

I was beyond freaking out. He knew?! I was trying so hard to suppress a flare, but Chance already knew so why not?

_SNAP_

I let my wolf side take over me. The fire in my veins felt strong and powerful. It coursed through my whole body and left a tingling sensation that I liked. I slowly pried my eyes open to reveal a frightened Chance. I slowly stepped closer to him to intimidate him. I was the alpha of my pack, and no one just steps over me like a baby. No. One.

"Thank you for informing me things I already know Chance. Shall I demonstrate one of my powers on you?" I asked with a sweet devil voice, hopefully scaring him.

I wanted to scare him out of his wits so he wouldn't dare speak of us and our powers. I would have tried to get the other Virals to flare, but this is strictly between Chance and I. Plus, I wasn't able to confront Ben right now. Then I would have to deal with Hi's jokes and an endless flow of questions from Shelton.

"You don't scare me Tory," Chance said. I took a good whiff of him and smelt nervousness creeping into my nose. Though, determination also crept in there too.

"Oh, really?" I used my wolf speed and strength to put my hands on his broad, muscular chest and knock him over about 20 feet away. I trudged over to him in the dense tropical forest. He was having trouble getting up, for I could tell his heart was beating a whole lot faster than it was a couple minutes ago. Yeah, he was definitely scared. I would be too if I was hurt on the ground, and all I saw were these bright yellows eyes coming towards me in the darkness.

"Are you scared now Chancey?" I spoke sweetly.

Once I was next to Chance, I heard him yell, "Not in a million years. GET HER BOYS!" That's when I finally saw a circle of men surround us with cocked guns at the ready.

CRACK! CRACK!

Bullets were flying over my head! Oh no, not again! How do I always get into these messes?! I thought. One of the bullets lightly grazed my arm, for the flesh ripped off, and a streak of warm red blood oozed out. I was flying by trees, for my feet barely touched the ground. The wind was whipping through my fiery red hair. My chest was heaving since it was trying to keep enough oxygen in me. My muscles in my legs were screaming for a break from running and then stopping abruptly to run in the other direction away from the gunman. It was like there was no way out! It was already too late to contact any of the Virals.

I was completely lost. I have been running blindly in circles, for I was much disorientated. I stopped for a brief second to check my surroundings when all of a sudden a bullet ripped into my flesh, through my blood, into my muscle, grazed a shoulder bone, and came out through the front of me.

My shocked body collapsed to the damp dark ground. The last thing I remember was Chance smirking evilly over me and three pairs of yellow eyes in the distance staring back at me before the darkness took over my mind causing me to black out.

Ben's POV:

I had walked over to Shelton's house to play video games. I REALLY needed together my mind off of Tor-her. God, I still can't say her name. What has she done to me?! I wonder how she is doing, I thought.

I then brought my attention to Shelton who had apparently been saying my name over and over again while snapping, clapping, and waving in front of my face trying to get my attention towards him. I looked at him clueless as to what he wanted.

"Which player do you want to play?" Shelton asked.

"Uh, player two," I responded slowly.

Shelton's parents weren't home, so we had the speakers on full blast to add the effects. We have been playing Black Ops and Halo for a while, so I checked the clock on my iPhone and saw that it was already 6:30pm! Man does time fly when you're having fun! I got up and stretched for a little bit from sitting down for such a long time. I had schooled Shelton in both games! I was chuckling to myself because Shelton had an angry/annoyed expression on his face. He looked like a little boy pouting when he would be sent to the corner!

My joy was stripped away from me when I heard the sound of several guns being cocked to fire another deathly bullet. I instantly shot out of the door, and out of the complex. I knew it had to be Tory because Hi was at the temple and Shelton was right next to me. I didn't care if Tory was still mad at me; I will save her no matter what. It's what pack mates do for one another.

_SNAP_

My heart pounded to the beat of my feet racing over the hard ground. Sweat beaded my forehead, causing my hair to cling to it as my throat ached for air, more air. The delicious rush of wind past my face thrilled me. My muscles stretched, pushed harder. Far back behind me I heard the pitter-patter of feet hitting the damp, swampy, forest ground. It was Shelton sprinting out of his door. In my peripheral vision I saw Hi sneak out of his house with golden eyes as well. Thank god Hi was here, for we could use any extra help to save Tory. My feet were stumbling upon rocks here and there, but I recovered quickly. I needed to save Tory! I used my wolf vision to see my Tory on the ground with blood pooling out of her shoulder. I recognized Chance standing over Tory; I wanted to rip his worthless meathead off! He was probably the one who set this entire scene up! He was just like his pathetic father! My blood was as hot as Haties! I stopped shortly behind some thick, green bushes, for I could spot at least 14 gunmen. I'm thankful that Tory only had a shoulder wound and was still alive. However, I have no clue how bad the wound is. It took all of my might to not jump out of the bushes and swoop Tory into my safe arms where she belongs, for I probably looked like a nuclear bomb at its last waiting seconds before explosion. Two hands were put on each of my broad shoulders with immense pressure to hold me down.

All three of us stared hopelessly as our friend, our alpha, our leader, and our Tory as she was lifted unconscious off the ground by Chance. The gunmen followed behind suitably, and they made sure that there was no trace of evidence of the fight left behind. I swore to myself and to God that I would do anything to save Tory, even if it meant taking my own life to save hers.

A/N: CLIFFHANGER! Thank you to everyone who has reviewed to my story! It boosts my self esteem to write more! Thanks for all of your support! If you have any ideas, please let me know! REVIEW! Love you guys! 33