I do not own Blood and Chocolate. I do own my characters though.

Sorry for the delay. I'm from Southern California and my city was burning down. Actually, it still is. But you are my priority, my friends. So before I have to evacuate and lose everything on my computer, here's the chapter I've been working on.

Layla:

There was a bear in the middle of the road! No, not a bear, a dog, wolf... whatever it was it was standing there in the middle of the street eyes wide and headlights glaring at it. I felt my brows knit in concern. He looked like Michael, but the eyes were familiar. They were innocent and warming.

Jonas?

It glanced at me through the windshield. Taut muscles sank in relief. All I could do was stare. It was like a foreign animal in the zoo, so exotic that you couldn't help but be intrigued. Dr. Gideon rested his hand on my shoulder shaking me from my stupor and looked at the beast.

Jonas crouched down and roared, shaking every fiber of the car. I flinched unwillingly.

"No harm needs to come to her," he said. I raised my brows. I was a hostage for Jonas? I started to open my mouth, but it was too dry to form words. Rain was falling in heavy sheets, soaking Jonas's fur. I was now too frightened to stay in the car, too frightened to get out.

On either side of the car Michael (now he looked like a human again), Bridget, and Anthony walked into the street. Anthony went around to unlock the van. I was waiting to hear Jonas's voice. He only bared his teeth and growled.

"Oh, come now. All we want is to get you in the car and take you to a place where your talents will be more useful," Dr. Gideon said. He stepped out from the smaller car we were in and stood outside the door. Jonas cocked his head to the side, not quite understanding. "We don't want to repress your gift, Jonas. Layla is an excellent tool..." Jonas interrupted baring his fangs again and letting out a low growl. "She releases a stronger side of your. You could be an unstoppable force."

Jonas:

I stared at her. I felt naked in front of Layla in the form of a wolf (I supposed technically I was). She could run away screaming. She could cry out that there were monsters trying to kidnap her. She had every right in the world to want out of this supernatural nightmare. I couldn't blame her for hating me for what I was. I could barely forgive myself for being the monster I am. My heart was rhythmically fluttering in my chest. My head wouldn't stop flip-flopping from one thought to another.

What would she think of me now? How do I save her? Why did they want me? How was I an unstoppable force? Where were they taking us? Could they be persuaded to take me and leave her if I cooperated?

Michael looked smug as ever, that stupid smile I had vowed to swipe off his face hours long before today's encounter.

My glare narrowed on him and he didn't move. My muscles tensed.

Whatever was going to happen, it was not going to end well.

Layla:

Werewolves. Real live werewolves. Past conversations suddenly started to make sense.

"Layla will be fine. Just get into the back of the van," Dr. Gideon said. Jonas roared and started to charge. In a flash Michael was by my side.

"All I would need is one second to snap her neck. Are you willing to put her in that kind of danger?" Michael said smoothly. Jonas skid to a stop. I looked up at Michael. He glanced at me and gave an apologetic shrug. I felt my eyes narrow. Rage built suddenly.

"What the hell is going on?"

"Quiet, Layla," Michael warned me with a low animalistic growl.

"No!" I glared at him. Once again, Michael expressed his intimidation I'd always felt from him. Only this time I knew why he was so scary. He was a werewolf. Anthony, Bridget, and Dr. Gideon must have been too. I suddenly understood the isolation Jonas put himself through. He was being loyal to his family. He did like me, but having me around was too dangerous for both of us. I was Aiden to his Vivian, to put it in "Blood and Chocolate" terms. I swallowed the fear at that thought.

I was not going to freak out. I was going to take this in strides like Aiden never could. I was the one who'd wanted to be the star of my own novel.

"Jonas, don't listen to them," I said unwilling to be a damsel in distress. Time to play my bluff. "Michael wouldn't..."

"Wouldn't I?" Michael said cocking an eyebrow. With that he yanked me out of the car, pulling me through my seatbelt onto the asphalt floor. There was a painful thud as the back of my skull hit the small rocks. In seconds Michael was over me, still as a human, but there was insatiable rage in his eyes that made me gasp audibly.

Jonas roared from where he stood.

"Get in the van, Jonas. We'll be taking her with us. You'll get much more quality time where we're going," Dr. Gideon said. For a moment no one moved. It almost seemed as though the rain had frozen around us, waiting for him to make a decision. Try to rescue me and risk killing me? Obey the captors? Decide neither was worthy and just attack everyone?

Jonas slowly moved around the car. The van Bridget was driving was parked behind us. Reluctantly, he stepped inside, but not before sparing me a glance from my spot on the ground. My breaths were choppy and panicked.

I looked up to see Michael lips still curled over his teeth over. His growl stopped suddenly. He smiled satisfied.

"Scared?" he asked.

"No," I lied.

"You should be," he threatened. Come on, say something heroic, I urged myself. It took a lot of will, and my shaking limbs may have given my cowardice away, but I tilted my head up at him and grinned.

"D-Don't be so melodramatic," I said shakily. He gave a gruff laugh making me groan in frustration. I guess it was hard to come off as brave with a monster hovering over you.

"Michael! Get off her! We need you in the back to watch him," Dr. Gideon barked. Michael responded immediately, pulling me up with him, then shoving me back in the car. Dr. Gideon was back in the driver's seat, Michael hit the backseat. I felt a pang of worry with him beside me and Dr. Gideon to my left. Left with only one option I watched our familiar city of Danwell behind us disappear.

This is a novel. You need to be caught up in the story, Logic told me. I looked forward out the windshield again.

"Could..." I hesitated, but had already said something. It was too late to stop now without showing fear. "Could someone tell me what's going on?"

"I suppose we could," Dr. Gideon said. There was no explanation. My frustration piqued.

"Please?" I asked. Dr. Gideon sighed and began to tell my own story from a werewolf's point of view.

Don't worry. We're not really being evacuated... at least not yet. I just needed an excuse for not posting sooner.