Chapter Five, Ep. 14 – "Stars of Passion, Part One"

Author's Note – Again, I wish to thank all of you who reviewed this story, and to ask that you keep it coming! The more the better!

Sorry, it seemed like it took me a little bit longer to get this one out than the last few. But I didn't have as much time on my hands to work on this chapter over the last week as I have previously. I'll try to do better! If it is any consolation, I decided to do this next chapter in two parts so it would be longer over all. I should have Part Two up in the next few days!

I had originally planned on doing it as just one large chapter , but that would have required me giving you guys a longer wait. There is so much I want to cover in this "episode" because I'm going to be delving deeper into the relationships between J/R and L/S. Which should be noticeable because of the chapter's title. Thus, the reason why I'm breaking this "Ep." into two chapters, so I can cover both couples. These two couples have a lot to deal with before I can continue the series, so I'm going to be focusing on them for the next two chapters.

I'm doing this because this series is about to make a turn towards danger and suspense, as I'll be revealing the threat of the Hunters to the Pack pretty soon (or should I say, Sherman will be doing that)  and they are also going to have other issues to deal with in regards to John, Sophia and a few other characters true destinies being revealed. And the consequences of those paths.

As it is, even though this is the only the first part of half the Ep. , it is a little bit longer than my other full Eps. So that's something!

Also, I wanted to ask if anyone reading this knows what the song is that is playing in the Pilot, when John is traveling to Wolf Lake, and visions of Ruby are haunting him… I've been trying to figure that one out for a while now, and I haven't had any success. If you could let me know, I'd be in your debt! I've already figured out what the song is that is playing in the other scene, when Luke was watching Sophia in the rearview mirror of his car, eyes glowing, with Presley draped over him. (I love that song!) So, if I could find out what this other one is, I'd be a very happy camper!

I hope everyone enjoys! Again, don't forget to review!

Summery – John tries to deal with the revelation of what Ruby is, while Sophia confronts her destiny… And Matt is faced with what is now expected of him within the Pack…

Chapter Five, Ep. 14 – "Stars of Passion"

John couldn't believe it. This couldn't be happening, it couldn't be real. There was no way that Ruby was sitting there on that couch where the white wolf had been, looking up at him, her heart in her eyes, as she waited for him to either embrace her, or condemn her.

John shook his head, trying to gather his thoughts. He didn't seem to notice that Sherman had left the room, he didn't seem to notice much of anything right now, except the woman across from him.

Suddenly, John didn't think his legs were going to support him anymore. He staggered over to the chair that Sherman had been sitting in a moment ago, and collapsed into it. Staring at the woman across from him in a mixture of fear, confusion, disbelief, and sudden clarity. Everything had been true. Every damn thing that Sherman had told him. He couldn't believe it. Didn't want to believe it. But there it was. Ruby was sitting there, still silent, with a damn gunshot wound in her side that had already sealed over. Her shivering was lessening, as the fever started to break. Her features were still pale. Her lush mouth white and drawn. But it was her. All her.

He wanted to turn away. He wanted to run from this truth, but he couldn't. Ruby was there, in the flesh, in front of him. And this time, it wasn't a mirage. No matter how much he might have preferred that she was. Because then, he wouldn't have had to believe in the unbelievable.

Ruby sat there, resting her head wearily as she looked at John. Letting him come to terms with what he had seen. A knot of fear forming in her throat. Her love for him had been the only thing keeping her sane the last eight months. If he turned against her now, she didn't know what she would do.

She had woken up, still groggy, just in time to hear Sherman reveal their secret to him. She hadn't been able to believe that he had done that. The Keepers were sworn to secrecy, and if the Pack found out what he had done… John wouldn't be the only one in need of protecting.

Finally, after a few moments, John spoke up. "So it's true then, what Sherman said about you?"

Ruby nodded her head slowly. Not saying anything.

John watched her carefully. He was so tempted to reach out to her. To touch her. His hands burned with that desire to ascertain that she was really alright. Despite everything, he had missed her. Hungered to touch her face. To run his hands through her hair. Even now, after finding out what she was, that desire was still present.

And he wasn't so sure if he knew what to do about it.

"John, don't be afraid of me, please." Ruby's voice was close to tears, as she quietly voiced her plea. Her voice hoarse and barely above a whisper.

John shook his head. Feeling his own tears burning in his eyes harshly. Sensing her pain, her fear, but incapable of trying to sooth it. "I don't know what I'm feeling, Ruby. I don't know what I'm feeling. Or what to say right now."

Ruby closed her eyes tightly and pressed her face into the couch. Exhaustion and pain, both physical and emotional running deep within her. Reflecting in her silver eyes. She waited quietly for whatever would come next.

******

"I can't believe I did that! I'm not the kind of person who would just toss a person clear across a bathroom and into the wall!" Sophia protested softly as Luke escorted her inside her home. She began to pace around the living room erratically. Not even bothering to turn on any lights. She kept running her hands through her long brown hair in frustration, clenching her teeth. Trying to figure out what just happened back at the Diner. Even in the almost complete darkness, Luke could see every aspect of her features. He sighed as he leaned up against the wall, and shook his head wryly. A rather naughty grin crossing his lips. "Oh really? You did a fairly good job of that on me a couple nights ago." He pointed out. Rather bemused at the subject.

Sophia spun around and stalked over to him, her human insecurities and beliefs back in place. "Exactly! Case in point! I don't do those things!" Sophia thought for a moment, "Granted, you had it coming, but still… I'm not violent person!"

He raised an eyebrow at that.

Sophia started to stalk past him in frustration, but Luke snagged her around her waist and pulled her back up against him. Chuckling at the exasperated expression on her face. He so loved playing with her. He teasingly kissed the side of her neck. Sophia stiffened for a moment before relaxing. A small smile escaping at the contact.

"Tell me," Luke murmured playfully against the flesh on her neck. Every bit the bad boy that the rest of the 'Hill' kids had him named for. He sent chills down her spine and caused goose bumps to pop up on her skin. "Was it really that bad? Defending yourself? Didn't you enjoy the… exhilaration of the fight?" His teeth gently scraped over her pulse and was rewarded when it leapt in response.

"It wasn't exactly defense." Sophia growled back at him stubbornly. Not to sure that she wanted to forget this train of thought, even though it was obvious Luke wanted her to. He really was talented with that mouth of his. It was doing some rather intriguing things at the moment.

"Oh, yes it was." Luke insisted. His arms tightening securely around her waist. "If you hadn't thrown me, there would have been no telling what I would have done to that human boy you had gone out with, which meant you saved the Pack from a few…rather difficult questions." Luke could barely suppress the curl to his lips when he remembered that night.

"I only went out with him in the first place because you had been humping that bitch in the woods!" Sophia shot back. Still not planning on forgiving him anytime soon for that. She acknowledged to herself that she still didn't completely trust him. He had already bruised her heart too many times for her not to still be cautious.

Luke recognized the hurt in her voice, but ignored her statement. Words weren't going to ease the pain her had caused her by that stunt. The only thing that would, would be his actions from here on out, and he didn't plan on screwing up again. He had already done that enough for two lifetimes.

 "And," He continued, "Presley had intended on doing quite a bit of damage to you if you hadn't fought back the way you had. It's the way of the Pack. You have to establish dominance quickly, or they will walk all over a freshly Flipped female like yourself."

"Was that the reason why I responded the way I did? Because of some ridiculous instinct to dominate?"

Luke shook his head, leaning in closer to her ear. "It's not a ridiculous instinct, Sophia. And there will be times that your wolven instincts will be the only thing that will stand between life and death. You've got to quit thinking like a human, and think like what you are. A Skinwalker." Luke paused as rested his chin on the top of her head. "And yes, that is why you responded the way you did to Presley's challenge. Not because it's what you wanted, but because of what your instincts knew had to be done. You had to protect yourself, whether you knew it at the time or not. Your wolven side just…stepped in to do what you weren't capable of doing on your own just yet."

Sophia tried to piece all that together. "So what you're saying is that it really is a completely different nature that is within me?

"Yeesss." Luke drawled out slowly. "Something like that. It's like I told you before. You have two different natures. Distinct and separate. But they can't remain that way. You have to come to terms with that of the Other, and learn to accept it. Allow the two natures' lines to blur and connect. That is when you will be in control of the two…When you make them one."

Sophia sighed as she rested her head back against Luke's chest, trying to understand all of this. She could feel his heart beating beneath her head, and she listened closely to it. Allowing the rhythm to soothe her.

Luke closed his eyes as he inhaled her scent. Breathing her in. They stood that way for a while. In the dark. Just…feeling. Sensing. Luke enjoyed holding her. He didn't know of any other person he knew where he felt completely at ease with.

Luke's eyes opened up a fraction as he picked up the sound of one of their own howling. His wolven abilities ascertained that it was Matt, even though he had never heard the older man in wolf form. Their senses were so advanced that they would recognize the call of one of their own, regardless of what skin they wore.

Sophia heard it too. "Is that my dad?" Her newly awakened Wolven senses picking it up as well. Already processing the information in a way she wasn't used to quite yet. But she knew it was her father. She sensed it. She didn't know how she knew, but she did.

Luke took a moment to acknowledge how quickly Sophia was learning. Whether she wanted to realize it or not, she was already well on her way to merging her two natures firmly together. She kept slipping in and out of her wolven senses and abilities like she had been a Skinwalker for more than just a couple of days.

And despite how inwardly proud of her he was, he knew that the real reason why she was picking things up so fast, and adapting so well, wasn't so much because she was a female Skinwalker, but because of the type of female Skinwalker she was. She had abilities that he could only begin to fathom. There would be no telling what she would be capable of doing as she matured fully into the Wolf growing within. He could already feel how strong she was becoming. Especially back at the Diner. He hadn't been completely honest with a her a few minutes ago. That surge of dominance she had felt back at the Diner was not because she was just a simple recently Flipped Skinwalker female, but because she was a white Skinwalker Female. And the white females in their history were always the leaders of their sex.

Sophia's inner white wolf's instincts had come strongly to the surface back at that Diner, because it had been the first time Sophia had gotten around other members of the Pack. And those members, whether verbally or not, were sizing her up. Challenging her. That was the Pack's way. You either establish yourself within the Pack, or you get kicked around. It was really that simple.

If Sophia hadn't been a white female, she wouldn't probably have laid the line down with Presley the way she had. If she hadn't been a white female, she probably never would have claimed him the way she had! Everything that she had done, had been influenced strongly by the white female wolf's instincts to dominate. Instincts that were stronger and more powerful than the other female's in the Pack. Even his mother. The only one who could meet Sophia at that level of power was Ruby. And currently, Ruby was missing. And things weren't looking too good for her even if they did find her. Luke didn't know what Vivian might try to do in order to protect the Pack.

But he did know that whatever did happen, he didn't plan on telling his mother or anyone else for a while what Sophia exactly was. He didn't know what kind of power struggle they were heading for, but it wasn't over simply because his mother had been chosen as Pack leader. Things were going to get sticky very quickly around here, and he didn't plan on letting anybody in on his little secret as long as he possibly could avoid it.

There would be enough speculation going around as it was after tonight. But the truth of the matter was, none of the other Skinwalkers believed for a second that a half-breed female could be a white wolf. Hundreds of years worth of belief in the otherwise wasn't going to change anytime soon.

And that was to their advantage.

Sophia listened closely to the sound of her father's howl. She felt a smile turn up the corners of her lips. Her father had finally gone back to his wolf pelt, and there he was, announcing it to the rest of the Pack like he had just been away on some far off trip for the last 17 years. But he was back now. And he was strong.

Sophia sighed as she heard the sound fade away. She turned her head slightly towards Luke so she could see some of his facial structure shadowed by the darkness of the room. She was still able to make out the pale green of his eyes as he looked down at her. An odd expression in his eyes. But Sophia was too tired to ask him what he was thinking about.

"You better go," she whispered reluctantly. "He'll be back home soon, and even though the two of you seem to have struck an unlikely truce, I'd rather not test that just yet."

Luke nodded. Briefly pressing his lips to her temple before quietly exiting the house. Making sure the door shut firmly behind him,

Sophia watched him go, and then headed upstairs to her bedroom. She was really tired. Today had been a long one and she wanted to get as much sleep as she could before tomorrow. Tomorrow was Monday which meant school, which meant more Pack members to deal with.

Oh, joy and rapture uncontained.

******

Matt came trotting over to where he had left his clothes, just inside the forest, and quickly, if reluctantly shifted back into his human skin. It was late, and the moon cast dark shadows around him. The forest was humming gently with the sound of insects and the night predators hunting them. He inhaled deeply. Dragging the different scents and smells into his lungs. Savoring every one of them. Oh, how he had missed this! The night had always been his favorite time of the day. He remembered spending hours here, late at night before he had met Marie. Just seeing how far he could run. What new places could he find. How many other Skinwalkers he could find and give chase with. Hunting the very wind.

Matt came back to the present, and looked down at his watch sitting on top of his clothes. His nocturnal vision picking up the time accurately despite the surrounding darkness. It was late, and it was time he headed back home. Sophia was probably back from her… 'date', and he didn't want her to have to wait for him longer than necessary.

He started to lean down and pick up his clothes when he sensed as well as heard the approach of one of the Pack. Matt straightened and became still. His senses on full alert as the muscles in his body tightened. But not from aggression. He knew that smell only too well. Had known it as intimately as his own twenty years ago. He knew who it was that was coming to him.

A light gray female wolf stepped softly out of the tree line. The moonlight silhouetting her form as she stood there for a moment. Her golden eyes studying his nude form standing there is the darkened shadows. Making him out perfectly.

Matt met her gaze calmly, before acknowledging her presence.

"Hello Vivian."

The female wolf paused for a moment before stepping forward and into the shadows with Matt. Matt kept his eyes locked on hers as she shifted back into her human skin.

Vivian smiled at him. No trace of mockery or wry amusement in her expression.

"Welcome back, Matt." Her voice was soft and husky. Matthew didn't respond to her tone. He just watched her quietly. Waiting to see why she had come. Had she come to defend her position, or for him?

Vivian slowly encircled him. Blond hair cascading loosely around her bare shoulders as her eyes couldn't disguise their subtle yellow glow.

"I am to assume that Sophia managed to Flip successfully and is currently safe?"

Matt nodded his head. Somewhat touched at her concern. "She's fine or as well as can be expected given the circumstances."

Vivian came back to stand in front of him. Understanding written on her face. "I know this wasn't the life that you would have chosen for her."

Matt shook his head slightly. "The only thing that matters to me is that she's okay. It wasn't easy for her."

Vivian nodded her head. "Yes I heard. I've also heard some rumors that my son…helped her through it. Is that correct?"

Matt's jaw clenched tightly, at her gently spoken innuendo. "Yes, but not in the way that you are thinking."

Vivian cocked her head to the side at that. Acknowledging Matt's guarded words. Well, looks like Luke had a little bit more interest in the girl than just another female to go slinking under the bushes with. And despite the fact that Vivian knew that if Luke took a half-breed female as a mate, that he would probably have to give up the right to be Alpha like Matthew had done when he had married Marie, but Vivian couldn't say that she was displeased with his choice. There had always been something interesting about Sophia. And she came from a very powerful bloodline. Half human or not.

"You should have let me know that she was in trouble." Vivian was pleased that Luke had helped Sophia get through her Flip with a mental pairing, and that the girl was safe now. But that still didn't change the fact that as the Alpha of the Pack, she should have been alerted immediately about the problem at hand.

"There wasn't time, V. And even if there had been, do you honestly think I would have let you kill her if it had come down to that?" Matt's tone wavered slightly with those words. Looking back at Vivian intensely. There was no doubt in his mind that he would have defended his daughter, even if it had meant harming the woman across from him.

She nodded her head slowly. Understanding Matt's feelings about this subject. What would she have done herself, if the situation had been reversed? She knew how strong the instinct was to protect your young at all cost. Hell… she had taken the enemy to her bed in the hopes that Tyler would leave her son alone when Will died. Only to find that that wasn't going to be the case, and then she had had to step forward and rewrite history by becoming Alpha. A position once before denied to the members of their female species.

No… she knew all too well what one would do to protect their young, and she couldn't condemn Matthew for loving his daughter.

"So, have you decided to come back into the fold of the Pack?"

Matt had been expecting that question. His eyes narrowed slightly at Vivian. Knowing what she was fishing for.

"I am who I am." He admitted gruffly. "Now that Sophia has made her choice, I plan to stay by her side as much as possible through her destiny. So yes, I've come back."

Vivian smiled openly at that admittance. Knowing the guts it had taken for him to admit it. She rather coyly eyed him up and down.

"That's good. Because I was starting to get lonely." Her teasing tone went hand in hand with the rather hungry expression in her eyes. She reached out and ran her fingertips down his chest.

Matt quickly shackled her wrist with his hands. Vivian tried to shrug him off, but he wouldn't let go. Her eyes flickered for a second, then she relaxed. Watching him cautiously. Knowing that he wouldn't hurt her, but still irked that it was so easy for him to restrain her.

Matt struggled within himself to resist the temptation she offered to him, especially with the wolf so close to the surface. Urging him to take another mate. It was becoming increasingly difficult to deny what Vivian wanted from him, when he couldn't help being attracted to her. He had been in love with her once. He probably still was, but it wasn't the same thing that he had had with Marie. Nothing could compare to that merging of the souls.

But he would have mated with Vivian if he hadn't met Marie. Of that, he was certain. So wouldn't it stand that Vivian was the only other woman he would ever want to take to his bed?

He hadn't been with anyone since Marie's death, so now, with Vivian standing right there in front of him the way she was, her perfect body revealed to the night air, offering herself once again, it was only his guilt that was standing in his way.

"I can't, V. I can't." His tone was soft, regretful, as he set her away from him. Taking every ounce of self control not to take her down to the forest floor.

Vivian clicked her tongue at him. Rather angry at him for yet again resisting her. But she could also sense his desire. And she knew that he was going through it just as hard as what she had been going through…waiting for him as long as she had.

"Then when, Matt? Are you going to grieve for your wife for the rest of your life? Do you honestly think that Marie would have wanted that for you?"

Matt flinched at her question. A pang shooting through to his heart. "Careful, V. You're on dangerous ground."

Vivian's eyes glittered in anger and hurt. Her feelings still strong for him. "That may be, but it is no less the truth. I know you miss her. I miss Will. And I also know that the relationship we shared and could still share is not going to be the one that you had with your wife. I know you loved her. I know you still love her. But she is part of your past, Matt. When are you going to let go of that, and come run with me?"

Vivian reached up to touch his cheek. Gently feathering the tips of her fingers over his mouth. She watched his glowing eyes close at the contact, reopening to stare back at her. Pain filling his gaze so much that it was hard for her to look at him. He was still grieving for his wife, he always would. When a wolf's mate died, the other never fully got over the loss. But it was the guilt of him needing another after all these years of mourning that kept him from her now.

Vivian's hand dropped away regretfully. "Did you know how hard it was, when you turned from me, and went to her? Loved her? Placed your seed into her womb? How much that ripped into my heart? You were the one for me. And even though I loved Will, I never at any time stopped feeling these last 20 years what I felt for you. I just want you to know that."

Vivian started to step away. Matt was tempted to reach out and hold her, but knew that if he did, everything that he was holding back on would explode around them.

Vivian smiled sadly at him. "You know I've always waited for you to come to me. And I also know, that that might still happen." She sighed as she looked away. "But I'm not going to wait forever, Matt. I may currently be the Alpha, but you were the one who should be ruling. The Pack is going to expect that now. So you need to make a decision on whether or not you are going to accept your destiny. And whether or not I'm going to be a part of that."

With those words, Vivian quickly shifted back into her wolven pelt. She stood there for a moment in all of her splendor. Waiting to see his response. Seeing the hunger in his gaze, but knowing that his will was stronger. She quietly slipped back into the darkness of the trees. The forest deftly wrapping itself back in on its queen. Sheltering and hiding her from view as if she had never even been there to begin with.

Matt watched her leave. His eyes still glowing brilliantly.

******

John sat there on the chair across from Ruby for what felt like hours. Just trying to process in his mind this new revelation. Ruby occasionally shut her eyes for periods of time, but stayed alert for the most part. Patiently waiting for John to think everything through, and come to some sort of conclusion.

Finally, he began to ask questions.

"Was this why you were taken from me in Seattle?"

Ruby turned her head back towards him, dragging a pillow to support her head on as she looked back at him. Her fingers twisting nervously in the throw that she had pulled off the back of the couch to cover her nakedness with.

"Yes," She stated quietly. Her voice a little bit stronger. The wound in her side was almost healed. The cut on her arm was nothing more than an angry looking scar. Soon, even that, would be gone. "I'm… rather special to the Pack. My color signifies a certain rare rank within the females of my species that makes me important." Ruby rolled her eyes at that statement. "It means I'm too valuable a commodity to allow to just run away." She stopped to clear her throat. "We aren't allowed to leave Wolf Lake. Survival of the pack is too important to allow for that kind of exposure." She smiled rather wryly at him, "Besides, they couldn't risk me becoming too attached to you, and revealing our secret."

"Well, it's a little late for that." John grumbled darkly. Rubbing his forehead hard. Trying to relieve some of the tension.

"Why didn't you come to me earlier?" He asked suddenly. Unable to hide the hurt in his voice as he asked one of the main questions that had burning in his mind. Ruby blinked back her own tears.

"I tried, several times. But… I was either caught or couldn't go through with it. It wouldn't have mattered where we would have gone, John. Where we would have run. They would have found us. And they would have killed you." Ruby's voice wavered slightly. "I couldn't risk that. I knew that if you died, then I wouldn't have the strength to do what I needed to do. And that was to remain here. IN Wolf Lake, and away from you."

John felt each of her words like a stab through his heart. "You should have trusted me, Ruby. You should have told me that these people were after you. I would have taken you out of Seattle. You say they can find you anywhere, but damn it! They don't have the resources that I have! I could have made certain that you stayed hidden!"

"And how was I supposed to do that, John?" Ruby shot back. "Tell you what I was? How do you think that would have gone over eight months ago? Before you came here and entered a whole different reality? How would you have responded to that, John?"

John shot up out of the chair and paced across the room. Raking his fingers through his hair. "I don't know! But anything would have been better than going through the hell I've been in for the last eight months!"

"You don't know what hell is, John!" Ruby pushed herself up on the couch. Turning around to watch him. "Hell is what they'll do to you if they find out you know the truth!"

John groaned as he turned back around to face her. Leaning against the wall. He spread his hands out. "So what now? What am I supposed to do now?"

Ruby closed her eyes for a second as she thought. Believing that he was asking for a way out, and knowing she had to let him go, even if he ripped her heart out of her chest in the process. "You need to leave Wolf Lake, and never come back. Never hint that you so much as saw me or found out anything here tonight. Please, John. It's the only way for you to stay alive." She had to force out every word. Her heart rebelling against the idea of losing him forever.

John shook his head in quick denial. "Let me rephrase that." He paced back over to her. "What are we supposed to do now?"

"We?" Ruby asked warily. Not sure where he was going with this.

"Yeah," John's face was harder than Ruby had ever seen it. He leaned down close towards her. "We. I'll be damned after finally finding you after all these months, that I'm just going to walk out of here like nothing happened. I'm not leaving unless you are with me."

Ruby felt a surge of hope at his words. Even though they were damning him right on the spot. "Even after finding out what I am?"

John rubbed his eyes in frustration. "Yes. Despite this…very weird and…strange development, I'm not going to leave you. Not after everything that has happened."

Ruby studied his decisive tone. Seeking out answers to her unspoken questions. "Why are you willing to make that kind of decision after just finding out what I am? After seeing what I'm capable of becoming?"

John looked at her for a moment. Wondering that himself. "I don't know." He finally admitted. "Maybe it's because I've been living in this strange town for the last few months. Maybe because I've been searching for you for eight, to not care what you really are. I guess I prefer you as this than dead on some highway, or pawn in some satanic cult." He paused for a moment, "Or  maybe because of Lenore, and what she told me about you. Maybe it's because of all the subtle ways Sherman has been feeding this stuff to me. I don't know." John smiled softly for the first time this evening. "Or maybe because I know what a real monster is, Ruby. And you're not it."

Ruby's eyes started to well, and before she could think about her course of action, she quickly grasped John and pulled him to her. Wrapping her arms securely around his neck. Burying her face in his shoulder. She felt a momentary surge of fear as she felt his body stiffen at the contact. But the next thing she knew, he was holding her too. Both of them locked together in desperation. Afraid that if they let go they would never be able to hold the other again. They had made their way through a storm that had nearly shattered them, but they had finally found each other. And it was enough. More than enough.

Ruby allowed herself to cry openly. Small sobs escaping her throat as John pulled her off the couch and into his embrace. Both of them sinking to the floor on their knees as they held each other. John extracted her head from his shoulder so he could see her face. Brushing away her tears with his thumbs. Not knowing what to say.

His lips replaced his fingers as he gently kissed her eyelids. Kissing away the moisture building there. Everything that he had just learned about her forgotten as he slowly brought his lips to hers. Kissing her for the first time in over eight months.

Ruby trembled as she tasted him. Drank of him. Her tongue quickly darting into his mouth to dance with his. She still remembered his taste, like they had only kissed just yesterday, instead of almost a year past. A year spent in hell.

But now, she finally felt like she was home.

The flame of passion started to dance between them as their kiss deepened. Became more insistent. Desperate. Ruby started to run her hand down his chest. Feeling the corded muscles beneath the skin. Feeling the heat of his bare hands against the skin of her back. She wanted to see him. Wanted to feel all of him. John grasped her bare thigh and brought it up around his waist. Positioning her on his lap. Bringing their bodies flush up against one another. Seeking the connection.

The fact that she was already naked crossed John's mind as he suddenly pulled back. "Ruby, either we stop now, or things are going to get out of control here."

Ruby smiled at him. Eyes heating as she grinded herself against him. Seeking relief. "How many times do I have to tell you that I like it when things are out of control?"

John almost gave in, allowing himself the luxury of another kiss, before he pulled away again. "No, Ruby. We need to stop. We've got to figure some things out here first. It isn't safe for the two of us to remain here, and you're still recovering from your injury. I want you, you have no idea how much…" She looked rather pointedly at him, brows raised. John couldn't help grinning back at her, "Well, maybe you do. But not like this. Not here."

Ruby groaned in defeat as her head fell back into the curve of his shoulder. Acknowledging the truth to his words, even if she didn't have to like it.

"Do you know where we can go?" He asked quietly. Trying to pull himself together. It had been too long since he had been with her, and his body felt like it was on fire. Her wriggling around on his lap wasn't helping matters either.

Ruby nodded her head again. This time picking it up out of his shoulder long enough to look at him. "Yeah, I think so. Sherman knows where it is. He can take us there."

******

(The next morning…)

Sophia sighed as she slammed her locker closed. She stood there tapping her fingers against the cold metal surface as she contemplated whether or not she was going to go to Sherman Blackstone's class. To do so was going to make a statement, and whether or not everyone knew that she had Flipped, she had a problem with being under the scrutiny of the entire Pack.

What had happened when she had Flipped, had been a private, personal moment in her life, and she didn't want to be placed on a pedestal and studied. She didn't want everyone making a big deal out of it.

But she also knew that if she didn't show up, it was going to look like she was a coward. And after last night, that was the last thing anyone seemed to be expecting from her.

Every one of the 'Hill' kids covertly eyed her when she walked past. Most moved out of her way. Others openly grinned at her. Either congratulating her on her Flip, or showing up Presley the way she had. Some wondered how long Luke would be interested in her. Others wondered who she had really Flipped with. Others whispered quietly on the different mental paths they thought she couldn't pick up on about various pieces of gossip. She may have become their fodder, but no one made any aggressive moves toward her.

She never saw Presley. Sophia figured that she had stayed home. Licking her wounds in private.

Sophia started to walk slowly, reluctantly to Sherman's class. Trying to keep up a cool façade. Everyone watching her.

Sophia had just gotten about fifteen feet from the door, and was seriously considering about turning the other way and making a break for it, when she felt a familiar warm arm drop securely over her shoulders.

'Just breathe, babe.' Luke's words were spoken over their private mental link, as he securely escorted her into the room. Keeping his arm firmly around her. Giving her support, while all the time, making a statement to the other males in the vicinity.

Sophia smiled wryly at him, and let out the breathe she had been holding. Luke wasn't too sure as to why she was feeling so upset, but he had felt it from clear outside where he had been parking his car. He hadn't known the cause of it at the time, but he had made some rather impressive time getting there. Some teachers hadn't been too happy about him running through the hallways, but what could they do? Most were Skinwalkers and they weren't going to bust the son of the Alpha for a simple thing like breaking the rule of the how fast your pace was through the school. Not that it would have mattered anyway.

Once he had accessed the situation, he had found it rather humorous, but knew that it wasn't so funny for her, so he figured that if she really hated being on public display that much, he would at least stay with her and shield her from the main brunt of it.

She never ceased to be a bundle of contradictions to him.

Sophia felt her cheeks turn pink as she walked into the almost filled classroom. Granted, if she had been here a little bit earlier, she could have skipped this part, but she had been too busy arguing with herself on whether or not to come.

Everyone in the class turned towards her, even Sherman, and began to clap and cat whistle, some calling out her name.

Sophia felt the urge to bury her face in Luke's chest, but suppressed it. But it still didn't stop her from digging her fingernails into Luke's forearm where her hand rested, while she pasted a rather sick smile on her face. Holding his arm firmly onto her shoulders.

'Soph, let up before you draw blood.' Luke's wry tone was humorous, as if he viewed this as a game. Sophia forgot her embarrassment long enough to glare at him. 'Don't you dare leave me alone with those jackals.' She warned. He just grinned back at her, pulling her towards one of the back tables to sit down. Normally everyone sat in some sort of assigned order, but he didn't think that Blackstone was going to object against this pairing. Not that it would have done him any good. Sophia wanted him to stay with her, so he was damn well gonna sit tight and enjoy the opportunity presented. 

A devilish grin spread across his face. Looking forward to exploring this new situation. He wondered how interested she would pretend to be in the class, when he was busy trying to divert her attention…elsewhere.

Besides, it's not like she could blame him for it later. She had asked him to stay with her.

Sophia looked up at him warily. Not liking that expression of his. It was that kind of expression that usually got in into hot water. She wasn't too sure if she was looking forward to the next hour or not.

******

John braced his hands on his hips as he slowly moved the curtain covering on of the cabin's windows about an inch to the side. Doing a quick sweep of the outside area before letting it fall back into place.

He couldn't help but be extremely tense right now. After Blackstone had taken them to this one room cabin off deep in the woods somewhere, he and Ruby had stayed up most of the night, talking. She explained every aspect she could come up with in regards to being a Skinwalker. She told him more of about the history of the town, of the people. She told him about Vivian, Tyler, Matt, Sophia…her father, her mother… all of them. And they all had one thing in common. They were all part of the Pack.

John turned around to look at Ruby. She was curled up in the middle of the bed, sound asleep. Lines of exhaustion barely visible around her mouth.

They had both changed, he acknowledged. The two of them had been through hell and back, and John figured that they were going to be heading back there again on a return visit fairly soon, if the rest of the Pack had their way. The storm was already brewing with their search for Ruby.

John hadn't been able to sleep. He knew that the first rule of a cop was to never go without it. You lose sleep, you get careless. You get careless, you get dead. But he felt like someone had pumped his veins full of caffeine. It felt like something was literally crawling beneath his flesh…keeping him on edge. Completely awake. Funny, considering the distance he had run last night, and how tired he had been.

He wondered if maybe he had always known that Ruby was the white wolf. If maybe his heart and soul had recognized her, but his mind hadn't. Why else would he have felt such a link between him and the wolf? Why else had he felt so compelled to save her?

He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to loosen the knots there, as he paced silently over to a wooden chair in the corner, sitting back down once more. His eyes never leaving Ruby.

She had told him about Tyler. Had told him that she had had no choice in the matter. The entire Pack had pushed for the marriage, and Tyler would have killed him if she had refused. That much had been certain.

John hadn't really been surprised by this turn of events, even if his heart had bled at the statement. He had already figured out the truth when he had found out that Tyler had married a mystery woman with the initial R. He wasn't a fool. He knew that everyone in Wolf Lake, even Matt and Sophia, had kept their mouths shut about Ruby's whereabouts and the marriage, and had tried to load him down with false information to keep him from finding out the truth. They had all been in on this big conspiracy to keep Ruby from him.

Ruby had explained to him that it had always been for the safety of the Pack. They guarded this town and the people within it zealously. Their survival had depended on that for hundreds of years. In a way John could understand it, but he also knew that from here on out, every single one of them was a threat to him and to Ruby.

He had asked questions. Trying to make sense of the last couple months. He had asked her to explain why there were so many teens that were buried in the Graveyards. She had explained to him the Flip. Had told them that around half of the them never made it through. They didn't know why that was. Why some were stronger than others. Some blamed the gene pool… others blamed the Nature's selective process. Some way of God's. That He was making sure their numbers stayed small.

Personally, Ruby didn't know what to think. But that had been the reason why her twin sister had died. For some reason she hadn't been able to make it through the Flip when Ruby had. The reasonings behind it didn't make sense, but that was their life. They had learned to live and suffer through loss a long time ago. But it did explain to him why most of the women in Wolf Lake were having multiple pregnancies.

They were actually having litters. Another example of how completely different a species this was. They had to, to keep up their existence.

He had asked if that was what had happened to Lenore. If she had in some way become stuck between the human and the wolf, and Ruby had told him yes. That particular family had never been very strong. Many of them died during the Change. Others didn't live very long without some sickness or other occurring.

Lenore had been the last of her line. Somehow surviving in that form when others were driven mad by the pain, and granted the mercy of death by their Alpha.

Again, she had explained to him gently, seeing how hard a time he was having sorting this all out. It was their way, and had been such for a very long time.

One of his last questions had been if she had slept with Tyler.

She had told him no, and for some reason, John believed her Believed that she wouldn't lie to him about something like that. It helped knowing she hadn't become a willing participant in that marriage. The marriage she should have had with him. But it still hurt like hell. Even though he knew she had been kept against her will.

John's eyes narrowed as he thought about Tyler. Knowing that man was the most dangerous enemy he had at the moment. Knowing that no matter what he and Ruby tried to do, it was going to come down to the two of them. Knowing that, eventually, Tyler was going to set his sights on taking him out personally. And John wasn't going to let him take Ruby back to that hellhole without a fight. He had just found her. He didn't plan on letting her out of his sights for a while.

John really didn't know what to think. He saw hundreds of years of blood and death stretching out endlessly for these people, in both directions. What kind of existence was that? What kind of parents could bring children into the world, knowing that only a small percentage were going to survive?

John felt his heart constrict as he watched Ruby shift her weight on the bed in her sleep. Her t-shirt riding up slightly so he could see the pale pink scar left from the bullet wound. A wound that probably would have killed a human.

On the other hand, they did have amazing abilities. To be able to heal that fast was one thing. But to be able to change their form… John had to admit that that sounded pretty incredible. Maybe that was just the Indian in him. Maybe he was just taking a flight of fancy here, but he could almost see why having that ability just might be worth all the pain and heartache it tended to dish out.

That to this people, that it just might be an ability worth dying for.

Because, after dealing with everything life had to throw at their species. They still had this one gift that could never be taken away from them. Something that could never be really destroyed. A true freedom from the bindings that held all of us to our destiny here on Earth, A release from all of our restraints placed on us. To be as truly close to freedom as we could possibly become in this lifetime.

Yes, he realized. Whether he liked it or not. He was starting to believe.

****** 

Sophia groaned in relief as she heard the bell ring out it's announcement that the school day was finally over, and she headed for the exit. Managing to beat the rest of the crowd out the doors. Sophia just wanted to go back home. Soak in a tub for a while, and try to forget most of today.

She had been one endless piece of gossip from the moment she had come inside the school doors. As being the half-breed of the town, she had kinda gotten used to it, but not on this kind of scale! They wouldn't shut up about her fight with Presley, or the fact that she had Flipped with Luke.

They probably wouldn't have cared if she had told them the truth of how he had really helped her through it. They probably would have preferred their version anyway. She just wanted to get out of here, and as quickly as possible.

"Hey, do you want me to give you a lift home?"

She looked up to see Luke pull up to the curb in front of the school. She nodded, and was about to open the car door, when she heard Blackstone call out her name right behind her.

She turned back around in confusion. Trying to figure out if she had done something wrong today in class. Granted, she had had her hands full keeping Luke's hands off, but she had thought she had been fairly discrete with that.

She felt a small blush creep up as she thought back on some of the naughty things he had said to her through their private mental link. She would have probably enjoyed herself, if he hadn't decided to do all of that right there in class! He was definitely back to playing the bad boy of Wolf Lake.

Truth be told, she actually liked him that way.

"Is there something wrong?" Sophia asked. Trying to figure what this was all about.

"Everything's fine." Sherman smiled one of his rather goofy ones at her, as he leaned over to look at Luke through the window of his car. "It's okay, Luke. I'll give Sophia that ride home."

Luke looked questioningly at Sophia. "Soph?"

Sophia nodded her consent. Smiling at him assuringly as he began to drive off.

"What's this about?" Sophia asked as Sherman herded her towards his car.

'Oh, nothing bad. I just wanted to have a little chat with you without having to worry about anyone else overhearing."  He looked rather pointedly towards a group of Skinwalkers who were openly studying Sophia as she walked past. That species hearing being what it was, had made it quite apparent that whatever Sherman was going to tell her about her destiny needed to be in private.

"Look, if this is about what was happening in class…" Sophia started state as she slid into Blackstone's car.

Sherman chuckled as he slid into the driver's side and started the engine. Knowing what she was referring to. "No, don't worry. It's not about that."

Sophia blushed again as she realized that he had noticed what had been going on. So much for being discrete.

"So what is this about?" She asked warily. Looking over at him, as they pulled out of the school parking lot.

"I wanted to see how're you doing… after Friday night."

Sophia relaxed. "I'm fine. I'm still trying to get used to everything…but I think I'll be okay." Sophia paused a for a moment. Thinking back on the time that Sherman had helped her at the Diner, when she had had those warning flashes and had almost passed out.

"I guess I wasn't as strong as you thought, huh?" She asked quietly. Remembering the words he had spoken to her that day.

"Hey!" Sherman chastised her, "You are stronger than what even I originally thought you were going to be, so don't go putting yourself down. You went through an extremely difficult process, and managed to survive it, where a good portion of full-blooded Skinwalkers have died. The combination of your mother's DNA with your father's, has not weakened you like the rest of them like to think."

"What do you mean?" Sophia asked quietly. Brushing back a loose strand of hair that had fallen into her face.

"I mean that, you are every bit as strong as they are. You're special, Sophia. You don't even realize just how much yet."

Sherman stared back resolutely at the road in front of him. "But you will. Soon."

Sophia looked at him strangely, but didn't say anything till she noticed they weren't heading towards her place.

"Where are we going?" She asked, rather paranoid at this change of events.

"We're going back to my place. I've got a little history lesson I need to show you." He smiled reassuringly at her.

"Why couldn't we have done this back at the school?"

"Because this is a private matter that you need to hear about. The history of the Pack, and how they came to be here in Wolf Lake."

Sophia's curiosity was peaked now, so she kept silent the rest of the way to his home.

******

As Sophia stepped into Blackstone's house, a frown creased her brow. She was picking up a few scents that didn't quite make sense as to why they were both there together.

"Ruby has been here." She stated quietly. Not even phrasing it like a question. Positive that her sense of smell was correct.

"Yes." Sherman answered her. Acknowledging that she was correct, as he stepped past her. Tossing his keys down on the coffee table.

"With John." Sophia looked at Sherman in revelation. Realizing what he had done.

Sherman gazed back at her innocently. "Really? Wow. I guess I'll have to install a better security alarm system when I'm not here."

Sophia just crossed her arms. Her look stating quite clearly that it was beneath him to take her as a fool.

Sherman just chuckled as he shed his coat. "You plan on telling anyone?"

Sophia shook her head resignedly. Holding up her hands "Hey, it's on your head, not mine. I was never here."

"Alright then. If we're done with the smelling test, sit down over there," he pointed towards the couch. "And I'll bring some texts over that I want to discuss with you." He disappeared into one of the back rooms in the house.

Sophia sat down carefully on the couch. The combined smell of Ruby and John was the strongest here, and she could also pick up the scent of blood. Ruby's as well as a small amount of John's. Even though all traces of it had been removed carefully by Sherman.

Sophia didn't know where they were, but she hoped they were okay.

******

"I still don't understand what your purpose was for this private lesson, Sherman." Sophia gritted out as she leaned back into the couch, Rubbing the back of her neck. He had just taken her through the basic history of Wolf Lake and the Pack. Explaining all about the last remaining survivors of what was once a species of thousands, and their need to leave the Dark Ages behind them, and travel to a New World.

She had learned about the Alpha male and his mate, who had actually been the true Leader of the Pack… and one of the few white wolves down through their history, and the significance of what the white female was. She had to admit, she found it very fascinating, what with Ruby being the last white wolf to be borne since then.

But she still didn't understand why this had to be discussed in private. Why had Sherman wanted her here to discuss the basic history of the Pack, for the last hour?

'The white wolf's significance has always been chalked up to being the strongest of the females, and thus destined to be the mate of the Alpha," Sherman continued. Ignoring Sophia's question. "But in truth, there arrival has always signified that danger was heading for the Pack. Some massive change that would alter their course. The white wolf was prophesized as being the one to led them from that danger, which was the reason why this particular female that I've been telling you about, was actually the leader of the Pack. Her mate knew that only she could save their species, and he was right. She led them to Wolf Lake." Sherman paused long enough to pick another one of his volumes. This one very old, and barely holding together. Stains covered it's cover and binder, and Sophia had a sinking suspicion that those stains were probably from blood spilled a couple hundred years ago.

"I'm still confused as to what this has to do with me being here." Sophia stated quietly. Watching him thumb through the ancient document.

Sherman glanced up at her. "Because the child that she bore, was the start of your lineage, Sophia."

That got her attention. "You mean that this… white female who is responsible for saving our species from extinction is one of my ancestors?"

Sherman's  nod was her answer. He was still looking through that document for something.

Sophia sat back, stunned. "Does Dad know about this?"

"No, I never told him."

"Why not?"

"Because it was never relevant at the time."

"So, then why are you telling me?"

"I'm about to show you." Sherman had obviously located whatever he had been looking for, and he handed the document carefully to her. Sophia gingerly picked it up. Feeling the brittleness of the parchment under her fingertips.

"What do you want me to read?" she asked quietly, scanning the various verses handwritten there in barely recognizable English.

"Right there." Sherman's finger marked the passage, and he waited as she scanned it.

Frowning, Sophia looked back up at him. "I don't understand."

"Read it out loud." He instructed. Waiting as she sighed in exasperation and did as he asked.

"In the age of the Blood Moon, when its light will glow red from the spilled blood of the Ancestors, and the crimson of their Descendants will flow to stain the forest floor… the form of the white wolf will appear once again… But to battle the oncoming Darkness, it's soul will reside… not in the shell of One… but in that of Two…" Sophia trailed off as she looked back at Sherman. "What is this supposed to mean?"

Sherman paused as he contemplated the girl in front of him, before answering. "Tell me, Sophia. Have you bothered to check out what color you are?"

Sophia felt her heart leap as the meaning of his words sunk in, and she felt the room begin to tilt around her.

"You can't be serious." She whispered. Her voice shaky.

Sherman rubbed his forehead tiredly. "I wish I wasn't, but you are the second white wolf spoken of in that prophecy. Which means the Pack is heading straight into hell once more."

"And Ruby and I are supposed to stop it?" Sophia's mouth felt dry as she tried to swallow around the lump forming hard in her throat. Unable to fully comprehend what he was telling her.

"That I don't know, Sophia. I don't know what kind of role you two are going to play over the next couple of weeks."

Sophia picked up on that. "The next couple of weeks? Are you telling me that this Darkness spoken of here in this verse is already that close to the Pack?" She couldn't believe what he was telling her here.

"I'm afraid so," he confirmed seriously. Eyes sad. "The Hunters have resurfaced. The descendants of the original group that had nearly hunted your species into extinction have found out that a Pack still exists . And they won't be satisfied till they have killed every man, woman, and child in Wolf Lake. Regardless of whether or not there are humans amongst them."

"They can't wipe out an entire town!" Sophia protested.

"They can and they will!" Sherman tried to quiet his tone when he saw the young girl across from him flinch slightly at his tone.

"I would have warned the Pack sooner, except I didn't know about it till last night." He continued, "And they've already zoomed in on Wolf Lake… It's now just a matter of time before they come. If they aren't already here."

Sophia sat there in the silence, before speaking up. "You're going to have to let the rest of the Pack know about this." She couldn't live with a secret this big.

"I plan on talking with Vivian in a couple of hours." Sherman confirmed. Standing up from his chair across from Sophia. She stood as well, unsure of what to say.

"The main thing you need to do, is keep quiet for the time being about what you are." Sherman instructed as he put the old document away. "The time will come when you will need to reveal yourself, but for the sake of the Pack, you must remain silent, until I tell you to step forward. Do you understand? You can't even tell your father." If Sherman's hunch was correct, then it was extremely important that she do as he asked. Lives may depend on it. Including her own.

Sophia nodded her head mutely. Then she asked, "Does Luke know?"

"Yes, Luke knows about you being a white female, but he doesn't know the full truth about the prophecy… Only that it is important that he remain quiet about what you are for the time being." Sherman glanced down at his watch. "Now, I'm going to take you home. There is somewhere I need to go before I meet with Vivian."

Sherman hustled Sophia out of his house and into his vehicle. Driving in silence till he dropped her off.

"Remember," he leaned over as Sophia slid out of the car. "Not a word to anyone about what we've discussed, Sophia. I need you to trust in my judgment on this."

Sophia studied his face before answering. "I promise." With that, she walked rather robotically into her house. Locking the door securely behind her.

Sherman put the car in gear, and pulled out of the driveway. Heading towards a destination that no one else was aware existed in Wolf Lake. At least he hoped so.

It was time that he had another talk with John and Ruby.

TBC

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Okay! That's it for this chapter! I'll be concluding soon with Part Two! Don't forget to review! Tell me which part of this chapter you liked best!

(Sapphira)