Howls erupted from the woods all around us. The ground shook from the werewolves heading our way. The wolf in front of me fell onto the ground. I quickly grabbed a tree branch and hoisted myself up into the tree. I climbed as high as I could get. My shoulder was searing with pain with every branch I climbed but I knew I had to hide from whatever was happening.

Werewolves of human and wolf form rushed to the wolf laying on the ground and picked him up. They hurried away with him. I clung to my hiding spot wondering how they knew about that wolf getting hurt and why they cared so much.

Werewolves off in the opposite direction screamed and cheered. Had their fight ended with the fleeing of all these werewolves? I was so confused.

I took a moment to examine myself and make sure that I was okay. I was bleeding pretty badly from my shoulder and my arms but I would live. My leg and ribs hurt like hell but nothing felt broken.

Footsteps pounded this way again and I froze. A group of the cheering werewolves approached and inspected the scene. My heart pounded. I held my breath. I didn't know what side these werewolves were on and did not want to get caught.

"That's a lot of blood," one said.

"Who did this?" Another asked.

"Elijah I bet."

"Nah he would've beat him some more before going for the kill shot."

"I don't recognize the scent. Maybe one of their own turned on them."

More footsteps approached.

"Gather the wounded and set up patrols," I recognized that voice. Elijah was here. "They may not be done yet. We must be prepared."

Relief washed over me and I dared to peer down. Elijah stood there with Jeremy as the werewolves dispersed to do as he said.

"I swear she was here," Jeremy said to Elijah. "She must be nearby. We hid up in the trees before."

Elijah was about to respond but instead he reached for his forehead.

"What's that?" Jeremy asked.

Something dark was on Elijah's fingers. He frowned at it. "Blood."

Blood had been dripping down my arm without me noticing. Jeremy smirked as he looked up into the tree. "Get down here monkey."

I climbed down onto the ground and looked Jeremy over. "Are you okay?"

His shirt was torn and soaked with blood. "I'll be fine."

I looked at Elijah who was staring at me. He was covered in blood dirt and several nasty wounds.

"This is real?" He asked.

I nodded. He grabbed me and wrapped me in a hug. "Oh my god."

He held onto me for several minutes before he let go and looked me over. "Oh he got you good. We need to stop that bleeding."

"You knew that wolf?" I asked.

Elijah waved my question off, "Later. Put pressure on your shoulder to stop the bleeding." He looked to Jeremy. "Get her back now but don't let anyone talk to you two. I'll be back as soon as I can."

He pointed in the direction that we needed to go and disappeared in the opposite direction. Probably joining in on the patrols he mentioned. We started walking.

"What happened back there?" Jeremy asked me.

"I don't know," I said honestly. "I was just trying to protect you from that wolf. I thought I had a better chance at fighting than you I guess since I spent the last year fighting demons."

"You're absolutely right. Thank you, I owe you big time."

We made it back and found a bench to sit down on. We didn't really talk, we just watched the chaos around us. Humans and wolves were appearing from the trees all around. Some rejoiced, some were sobbing, almost all of them headed for medical attention that Ashe was setting up. I noticed off along the tree line that some werewolves were bringing back the bodies of the werewolves they'd lost. I tried not to look in that direction again. Jeremy and I sat there for a long time before Elijah reappeared through the crowds of people with supplies. The crowd gathered around Elijah and Ashe as he walked up to her. Ashe threw her arms around Elijah and said something I couldn't hear over all the noise. They talked for a second before Elijah made his way over to us.

"You didn't talk to anyone right?" He asked as he knelt down in front of us.

"We didn't," Jeremy shook his head. "Why's that so important?"

Elijah pulled at my shirt collar to look over my shoulder, "Hold still this is going to need stitches."

I wanted to argue with him that I was fine but I knew it would be a waste of time. I gripped the bench as he got to work.

"Because of what she did," Elijah answered his question as he worked. "No one can know about that."

"What happened?" Jeremy was lost.

"All those werewolves taking off," Elijah lowered his voice. "Werewolves know when their alpha has died. I don't know how it works but we just know. We can feel it. They grabbed him and retreated because of Chloe killing him. Someone's bound to figure out it was her and we don't need that much attention on you two."

Did he just say the wolf was dead? Panic set in. I hadn't actually killed him. Right? That couldn't be true. I didn't kill that wolf.

"Whoa whoa," Jeremy grabbed me, keeping me upright as I passed out. Everything went fuzzy. The only thing I could hear was the echo of Elijah's words, the alpha has died.

Something cold and wet touched my face and I blinked. Elijah was crouched down in front of me with a bloody wash cloth in his hands. I looked around, my whole body seared with pain.

"Chloe?" Elijah said. "You with us?"

I nodded.

"You passed out on us," Jeremy said. He was all stitched up too now. How long was I out?

"I'm okay," I took a deep breath.

"You didn't mean for that to happen to that wolf, did you?" Elijah asked. He knew me too well.

Before I had the chance to respond, Ashe came up to Elijah and hugged him again. She looked just as beat up as the rest of us. Elijah hugged her back, still relieved she was okay.

"I don't know what happened out there," she said. "Rumor has it that someone got their alpha."

"Ashe I love you but you have to stay focused right now. No rumors. They could double back still. Get people patched up and joining the patrols as quick as possible."

Ashe nodded and walked away. Elijah turned his attention back to us with a sigh.

"So what on earth are you two doing here?" He finally asked.

"Tess," I said as I rubbed my face. The stitches made my shoulder feel like it was on fire. "She's been worried about you disappearing on her and Oliver's been sick."

Elijah scratched his chin nervously. He likely had been battling in the woods since he'd gotten here. He looked like he hadn't eaten, slept, or shaved in weeks.

"My phone got shattered when this war first broke out. I haven't been able to call her with everything going on."

This guy had been fighting for the lives of his people so bravely and now at the mention of Tess, all that confidence had disappeared. He was scared of her being angry with him.

"Here," I pulled out my phone and handed it to him.

There was the slightest shaking in his hands as he clicked on Tess's number.

"Hello," she answered.

"Hey."

"Elijah? What're you doing with Chloe's phone?"

"She came to find me," his voice was shaky. He took a deep breath before continuing. "I'm so sorry Tess. I never meant to disappear like that. It's been a literal fight for our lives here."

He braced himself to be yelled at.

"Are you okay?" Tess asked.

I couldn't help but smile at the look on his face. Derek used to have that same confused expression when he received kindness when he expected anger.

"I'll live," he said. "Ashe is okay too."

"Good."

"Chloe said Oliver's sick."

"Yeah, he's finally doing better though, we were finally able to get to the doctor for some medicine."

Elijah sighed relieved.

"Are you coming home soon?" Tess asked.

"I'll try but I'm not sure when. It's a mess here."

"Please be safe. And tell Chloe to be safe too. Matt's going to kill her, he specifically told her not to go looking for you."

Elijah chuckled, "Well he can take it up with me if he's got a problem with it because she saved my butt by showing up."

Tess laughed too, making Elijah relax more. Elijah asked Tess to buy him a new phone if she had the time in the next few days and he gave her Ashe's number so she could keep him updated on Oliver.

When he handed me my phone back he said, "Matt or Simon can come get you from the parking garage anytime but I'd prefer if you two stuck around for a bit to make sure you're okay."

I looked to Jeremy, he was the one with work obligations. Jeremy nodded though.

Derek's POV

That train ran mostly through the wide open countryside which wouldn't work for me. I had to wait until the train went back to the city so I could find a hotel room to hide in.

I worried about what Avril must be thinking of me right now. I should've been home from the 'doctor' yesterday but instead I disappeared. What was I going to use as an excuse? Would she ever forgive me? I felt like I was betraying her by hiding this part of my life but I couldn't tell her. She would never believe me even if she saw it happen.

I sighed and pressed a cold wet washcloth against the back of my neck and stared at myself in the mirror. I was gross, all covered in sweat. My chest felt tight as I stared at Chloe's necklace around my neck. The chain was getting a bit worn from me wearing it every day. Was I really happy in this fake life I'd built myself? Avril was the sweetest woman but did I really want to run and hide like this forever? Constantly lying to her about why I don't answer the phone or where I run off to or why this necklace was so important to me.

A wave of nausea hit me and I threw up into my trash can. Why was this happening to me after a year of nothing? I reached into my bag that Avril packed, hoping to find some Tylenol. I pulled out what I thought might be a Tylenol bottle but instead I pulled out my phone. Why did Avril pack my phone? She knew it belonged in that desk drawer.

I growled angrily and shoved it back in the bag. She was never supposed to touch that. The sudden movement made me sick again. I threw up but I still didn't feel the change coming on just yet, it was like the first time all over again. Feeling like I had the flu before anything really happened.

I looked at the bag holding the phone. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to call Kit. He might know what's going on with me.

I don't know how long I sat there thinking about it but eventually I grabbed the phone and dialed Kit's number before I could talk myself out of it.

"Derek," Kit said surprised. "It's been a while."

"Hey Kit."

"You alright?" Kit asked.

"No," I said honestly. My voice cracked. "Somethings wrong."

"What is it?" Kit said concerned.

"It's like the first time all over again. It's coming on slow and I'm really sick. This shouldn't be happening anymore."

There was silence while Kit thought.

"I don't know Derek. That's odd. Try to ride it out while I figure it out. Ok? You'll be fine."

"Thanks."

"I'll call you back as soon as I have something. Answer my call ok?"

"Yes sir," I nodded.

I hung up. Kit had contacts while raising me, he had to know who to ask about this.