When I was seven, I remember my dad would always take me to this creek to play. I loved finding geckos and frogs nestled in the corners, covered by ferns and hanging sweet grass. When you're young, shoving your hand into a dark, muddy hollow in the riverbank isn't scary. But it only takes one bite before you start jumping back when you start kicking over stones.

Maya felt foggy as she opened her eyes in the too bright room. She heard muffled voices and calls for doctors over intercoms. The faint ringing of phones could be heard in the distance. Maya groaned and swung her injured arm up. It felt incredibly heavy.

"Hey, woah." Becks said standing next to Maya now and grabbing her hand to tug it back down. "Maya chill, we're here."

"Where is here?" Maya mumbled, still volleying between awake and sleep.

"The hospital. You hurt your arm pretty bad. Needed 22 stitches." Becks replied softly.

"Fuck," she slurred. "Should call Paul," Maya sighed.

"He's meeting us at Sam's." Collin said quietly. He was sitting in a chair off to the side. "They should be discharging you soon."

"Mmm." Maya said, falling back asleep.

When Maya woke up next, she was in the back of Jeremy's jeep. Becks was sitting with her and Keye was in the front seat. Collin drove, but Jeremy was nowhere to be found.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" Becks said. Maya was laying down in the back seat, her legs draped over Becks' lap.

"I feel okay, I think. Are we almost home?" Maya said sleepily. Her neck felt tender, so she tried not to move her head too much.

"Almost." Collin said, looking in the rearview mirror at her.

Once they pulled up to Sam and Emily's bungalow, Maya was overwhelmed by a wave of nausea.

"Oh god," she groaned. She popped open the passenger door behind her head and she pulled herself over the side hurling onto the damp earth below.

"Oh fuck My," Becks said. Keye jumped out of the front seat and hurried toward her, holding Maya's hair out of her face and standing to the side as Maya emptied her stomach.

"Fucking rough," Keye said quietly. "Let's get her inside." Sam and Emily were hurrying down the porch toward them and Collin hefted Maya from the back seat in his arms to take her inside.

"I need to sit up, I'm spinning," she mumbled as Collin tried to set her down on the couch. Instead, he took her over to the kitchen and set her in a sitting position on the counter. Emily was there filling a glass of water and handing it to her while taking a damp cloth and running it around her face.

"Are you okay?" Emily reached for Maya's arm and took it in hers gently. Maya nodded as she gulped down some water. Sam was standing to the side, arms crossed and looking at her seriously. "Paul should be here soon but let's get you cleaned up, yeah? Becks?" Emily called over her shoulder. They helped Maya down off the counter and walked her slowly toward the bathroom.

As Emily filled up the bathtub, Becks sat Maya on the toilet seat and lifted the halter top over her head. Maya winced as her neck moved and Becks leaned down to look at the clear red prints that were morphing into deep purple bruises.

"What happened?" Maya said just above a whisper.

"You were attacked." Becks said simply, shooting a look at Emily. "Here, stand up." She pulled Maya up under her arms and helped her out of her skirt and underwear. Once she was completely naked, Emily and Becks helped lower her into the bath.

They washed her hair, face, and body, careful to keep her bandaged arm outside of the tub and mind her neck. Maya tried to get the events of last night straight in her head but it was all still a big blur. She remembered the inhuman hiss of the man who held her against the brick wall and the flash of red eyes. But that was all.

They dressed Maya in sweats that must have been Emily's and a baggy t-shirt. Becks combed out Maya's long hair quickly and gently patted her face dry.

"Is Keye okay?" Maya asked suddenly. Becks nodded and smiled.

"She's fine. Come on." Becks took her hand and led her out into the living room. Jeremy was sitting on the couch with his head in his hands and when he heard them come in, he sprang up from the couch immediately and walked toward Maya.

"Maya! I'm so so so sorry!" He pulled her into a tight hug and she winced when her arm got trapped against his chest.

"Why are you sorry? Are you okay?" Maya pulled back and let out a soft 'ouch' as she unbent her arm next to her.

"Oh god, your arm. Does it hurt?" Jeremy said, touching it gently. "My, I'm so sorry. I should have been there sooner!" His face was pulled in pain and Becks was next to him now, tugging at his arm as if to pull him aside or calm him down. Anything to get him away from Maya for now.

"What do you mean—?" Maya started but she heard a sharp crunch of dirt outside as if someone skidded to a stop and the slam of a car door.

"MAYA?!" Paul rushed through the door. His eyes locked with hers across the room and his terror faded to relief. "My!" he breathed as he moved quickly across the room, crashing into her and pulling her into his arms tightly. Maya wrapped her arms around him, letting the familiar relief rush through her. He stroked her hair as he breathed into her ear: "Are you okay? Fuck, I'm so sorry I wasn't here—"

He pulled back and cupped her face in his hands, the joy of seeing her again clear. His eyes flicked down to her bandaged arm now and suddenly, his relief flipped into full rage.

"What the FUCK happened?!" Both of his hands were on her bandaged arm now. His voice boomed across the space.

"Paul," Maya tried to bring him down, her hand cupping his jaw now but he started to shake. He circled an arm around her waist to pull her closer, his breath pulling in and out of him quickly as he tried to calm himself. "I'm okay, look." Maya tried to pull his face up to look in her eyes but they were trained to the bandaged arm.

"It was an accident, Paul." Jeremy said as he stood by the door.

Paul tensed at the sound and turned, letting go of her slowly, but slipping his hand into hers to have contact. "There are no accidents when it comes to imprints. What the FUCK HAPPENED?!"

"Maya, come here." Collin said softly behind her. He gently grasped her waist and pulled her from Paul's grip, placing her behind him. Maya was speechless as she watched Paul start to shake violently again, his eyes trained on Jeremy now. Keye was next to her, placing her hand in hers, with a strange look on her face that Maya couldn't quite understand.

"Paul." Sam said as a warning from the kitchen. But Paul ignored it as he walked toward Jeremy.

"It was an accident. I had to phase on the fly and she was too close to him." Jeremy tried to explain. What did that mean? Phase on the fly?

"Wait, you were there? I don't remember…" Maya trailed off softly. Keye squeezed her hand.

Maya suddenly had a flash of the night before: the man, his icy hand holding her neck so tightly she thought it was going to snap, a flash of fur, the snarling and crushing sound of bone, and then a pool of blood around her. She could have sworn she saw a...

"Paul don't." Collin said from his place in front of Maya. The tone of his words implied some underlying meaning, something that Maya didn't understand right away. Sam placed his hand on Paul's shoulder to steady him.

"Take her home," he said calmly. "That's the best thing you can do for her right now."

Paul gave Sam a sad look and his heaving breaths slowed as he regained some composure. Maya watched him, stunned, from behind Collin and when his eyes met hers, the anger melted away. He reached his hand out to her and Maya automatically stepped out from behind Collin to take it.

"My," Keye said worriedly trying to keep her hand, but Collin stopped her and gave her a short shake of his head—a warning. Maya looked over her shoulder at Keye, her hand tightly clasped in Paul's now as he started to pull her toward the door. Keye glanced from Collin to Maya hurriedly before she said in a rushed voice, "Be careful."

Maya was confused. She was with Paul, what could be safer?

Maya woke hours later in a darkened room, with warm arms circled around her. Pain pulsed through her injured arm now and she groaned gently in recognition. The arms circling her pulled her closer and her back pressed tighter against a bare chest. Soft breath blew on her hair and Maya nestled in against the curve of Paul's body. After a few minutes, she turned in his arms to face him. His hands rested on her lower back.

"What time is it?" Maya whispered, her voice felt hoarse. The curtains were closed and she couldn't tell if it was day or night.

"Mmm, late I think." his hand traced small circles under her shirt. "How's your arm?" He opened his eyes now and Maya felt breathless all of the sudden.

"It's fine, I think. Just a little achy now that the pain meds are wearing off."

"Okay," Paul groaned as he untangled himself from her and pushed upright on the bed.

"Wait, where are you going?" Her voice was definitely hoarse and moving her neck sent a shot of pain down her spine making her wince with a sharp 'Ah!'.

"Getting you some pain meds and water. Wait here." He got up and walked into the bathroom. Maya sat up in the bed, resting her back against the wooden frame and tentatively brought a hand up to touch her neck and winced. Paul was back with water and pills and sat on the edge of the bed next to her. He held out each and she took them gratefully. He opened the curtains and the late afternoon sun drifted in and out of the low hanging clouds.

"It's the afternoon," he said as he turned to face her. Then his eyes went wide in shock. "Fuck!" he said as he came back over to her kneeling on the bed and gently placing his hands on either side of her face to extend her neck up. "Your neck is fucking purple!" The anger was back and Maya could feel a tremor shake the bed. She winced in pain and sucked in a sharp breath as her hands shot up to hold onto his wrists.

"Ow, Paul take it easy," she gasped. He immediately dropped his hands and looked at her in horror. "Before I fell, that dude choked me half to death." Maya rasped. The pain in Paul's eyes was apparent now and Maya sighed. "I'm fine. Wrong place, wrong time."

Paul shook his head and stood up suddenly. "This shouldn't have happened at all. I should have been there!" he nearly shouted.

"Okay, woah, bring it down." Maya pleaded. Paul was clearly spiraling. "You can't be everywhere at once. Give yourself a break." Paul looked at her angrily now, but she knew he was just mad at himself. He turned and stomped down the stairs and Maya couldn't even raise her voice to call after him.

Instead, she decided to let him cool off and used the bathroom and brushed her teeth. As she was combing out her hair that had dried in disheveled waves, she heard him shouting. He must have been on the phone. Maya changed into something lighter and opted for some short sleep shorts that she rolled up a little higher and a fitted t-shirt. Cuddling with Paul was sweltering sometimes.

She padded down the stairs carefully and when she rounded the corner into the kitchen she saw Paul leaning over the sink, his shoulders shaking.

"Paul, you have got to calm down," she pleaded as she walked over to him and placed a hand on his back. When she leaned to look at him in the face, she saw clear tears in his eyes. "Hey" she said, ducking under his arm and circling her arms around his back, pressing her face into his chest. "It's okay."

He gripped her tightly and kissed the top of her head before saying, "I could have lost you My."

"Don't be ridiculous. I'm right here. I'm fine."

"Stop saying your fine!" he said frustrated and pulled back to look at her. "Maya, you're throat is fucking black and blue and your arm was slashed from your wrist to your elbow. He barely missed your fucking artery. You could of bled out in that alley and I was in Seattle doing fuck all! Stop saying you're fine."

"But I am fine!" Maya retorted, her eyes filled with tears now. She didn't know how to tell him that she was just so relieved to be with him. The fear she had felt last night as the strange man with red eyes held her in his grasp was always waiting for her now in her nightmares, but being with Paul set her at ease.

"If anything happened to you, I don't know—" Paul choked a little and tried to pull himself together. "My whole fucking job is to protect you. And you got hurt, on my time. I can't—."

"I'm—"

"My!" he warned, his eyes flashed. Maya gave him a small reassuring smile.

"I'm doing well," she revised. He let out a chuckle and put a hand to her cheek. Maya burned at the look he gave her now. "Can we…..eat something? I'm starving." She rasped. "And maybe some tea?" She held a hand gently to her throat. He smiled and Maya was just glad that the shaking was gone.

"Yeah, go sit down."

"I want to stay in here with you." Maya said quickly before she had time to steady herself. Paul raised an eyebrow at her and then said, "Alright" easily and without hesitation, he lifted her by the waist to set her on the counter next to the stove. Paul brought her tea and she sipped it slowly while she watched him work in the kitchen. Each time he needed to move past her, he made sure to touch a part of her—her leg, her uninjured arm, her cheek, her waist. Each touch sent a thrill through Maya.

After they ate, Maya sighed.

"Good?" he said.

"Really good. I feel so much better," she breathed. Maya looked over her shoulder and spotted her bag by the door. She thought she should text her mom and let her know where she was and maybe call to check on Keye. When she pushed back from the table, Paul's eyes followed her before he got up to gather their dishes and clean them at the sink. Maya dug in her purse and pulled out her phone only to let out a gasp. It was mangled. The screen was shattered beyond belief and the back of it was ripped apart, plastic parts of it nearly shredded.

"Fuck!" she groaned.

"What?" Paul called from around the corner. Maya brought her phone and held it out to him.

"My phone is fucking destroyed."

"Must have fell in the alley when you got hurt." He took it from her hand and turned it over in his. "I'll get you a new one." he threw the mangled mess on the counter and Maya huffed.

"Paul no." she said dismissively as she put a hand to her head. She was suddenly tired again and just wanted to lay down.

"Stop." He said firmly. Her eyes snapped to his. "Just let me do this for you. Please." All of the air left Maya as she felt a wave of exhaustion move over her.

"Fine. Can we go back to bed?" He looked at her with surprise.

"Sure." He didn't move from his spot though.

"Okay. Can you….come with me?" her eyes pulled down with want and Paul's mouth fell slightly ajar.

"Yeah...yeah of course. Come on," he said, walking toward her and placing a hand on her waist.

"Can you text my mom and let her know I'm here though? I don't want her to worry," she said as she climbed the stairs with Paul behind her.

"Yeah."

Over the next few hours, Maya drifted in and out of sleep and always woke in a new position, tangled up in Paul—she woke nestled into his side with his arm wrapped tightly around her waist; then with her body laid across his chest and his hand in her hair; then between his legs, her arms wrapped around his midsection and her cheek pressed into his stomach as he sat up against the headboard with his laptop to one side and typing.

At one point, she woke up in an empty bed, completely dazed and unsure of the time. She heard the shower running as light streamed under the bathroom door. Maya listened to the sound of splattering water on the other side and imagined Paul's large naked frame doused in steaming water. Her heart fluttered and she placed a hand between her legs to quell the feeling that rose there. Being this close to him for so long made it easy for her body to volley between complete calm and then intense want.

She heard the shower shut off and let her fingers idle between her thighs a moment longer before the door opened, washing the room in warm light. His bottom half was wrapped in a soft white towel and his upper body was glistening with warm water.

Whether he didn't see her or didn't care, Paul strode over to his dresser and let the towel drop, with his back to her. Maya marveled at his naked backside and her heart hammered in her chest. He slipped on some sweats and stooped to pick up the towel before turning to see her leaning up in bed.

"Hey." She said softly.

"Hey." he returned, coming to sit next to her. "Feeling okay? Need more pain meds?" He ran a hand over her forehead and through her hair. Maya shook her head and tucked some hair behind her ear. "I called your mom last night, told her you were staying with me. She seemed okay."

"I should get home soon," she croaked. "What time is it?"

"It's still early, you've been in and out all night. But, I want to take you to the doctor this morning before so he can look at your throat." He said touching it gingerly.

"Okay," Maya conceded. She understood that the easiest course of action was to go along with Paul's need to protect her so that he could let go of some of the guilt Maya saw clearly painted in his eyes.

"Michael ordered you a new phone, it should be here tonight." He continued as he got up and pulled a shirt out of the drawer now. Maya was somewhat disappointed that he covered up his chest and she tried to hide the look of want from her face.

"Thank you," she said. He gave her a small smile. "I feel much better after getting some sleep. Thank you for staying with me."

"I'm not going to leave your side for the foreseeable future," he murmured. Maya laughed and flung her legs over the side of the bed pulling herself up. Paul reached for her and she let him wrap an arm around her and pull her into him.

"I figured." Maya breathed. He touched the tip of her chin with his thumb and index finger. Maya didn't realize how close to death she had been before in that alley, but wrapped in Paul's arms now, she felt entirely and wildly alive.