I was informed of a comment on the Meg Cabot site about Abby Barnett, and I am very upset about it. What the person posted was very mean and rude. I would not like someone saying that about me. And personally, I don't think Abby Barnett is what that person thought of her. We all want reviews, I mean, come on. And I have seen many authors sometimes beg for reviews. Even when they do have a lot to begin with. So everyone just needs to please chill about the subject. And let everyone do what they came to this site to do. Write about their favorite book series. SO CHILL PEOPLE!

Nice reviews for the last chapter! Awesome! Thank you so much to all! And special thanks to Lyanne for the longer reviews. Lol I just find you so adorable. Thank you so much. And thank you to Madmaddu, UnangeliHalo, Alenor, moovalous3, GIGI( ) !

In answer to your question, GIGI( ), Paul doesn't want to take her to the hospital because the werewolf is nearby, and it knows Suze has been there.

NOW ON WITH THE CHAPTER!

Chapter 17

Paul POV

Hopping into the front seat , I started the engine, waiting for Rico Suave and Suze to get in the car. Looking up, I saw Jesse still carrying Suze. Pulling out of the parking space, I put it in reverse and sped back to where he was walking and waited till he laid Suze down in the back seat and sat, cradling her head in his lap.

Oh, I cant tell you how jealous I was. Even at a time like this. I was still jealous. I would always be jealous. I still couldn't figure it out. I'm alive. He's dead. I have money and can give her anything her heart desires. He cant do anything. She cant even introduce him to her parents. I was the better man. I had to be. I had everything.

And still, she chose him.

But, it wasn't like I could do anything. I couldn't control Suzes life. I wanted to. Oh, man, did I want to. Anything to have her. But, I knew she would hate me. No matter what I did to try and get those two apart. It did nothing but make Suze hate me more. Maybe it was just lust. Maybe…But, I had never felt this before. This…heart ache every time I saw them stare into each others eyes with so much love. I wanted that from Suze. I wanted her to look up at me, with those gorgeous emerald eyes, with so much love I would just cry from the pain of it.

But that would never happen. And even if it did, it would all be too good to be true.

Just my luck.

"It will be alright, Querida." Jesse said, stroking Suze's soft, chestnut mane. "I am here. Everything will be fine."

I caught a glimpse of him, leaning down to kiss Suze's forehead. He moved down to kiss her nose, but I interrupted before I erupted.

"How is she doing back there, cowboy?" I asked, speeding up a bit to get to my house as quick as possible.

I smiled when I saw the look on his face from the cowboy remark.

"She looks like a defenseless babe in its cradle."

Yeah, Suze was a babe. But, not the kind of babe Mr. Old Stuff back there meant. And cradle. Yeah, cradle alright. Cradled in his arms. Holding her. Touching her soft, warm body.

I heard a scream as I blinked back to look at the road. Quickly turning the wheel, I barely missed a pedestrian, who was now cursing my license plate number.

I smiled, took a deep breath and looked ahead of me at the rising sun.

"Yep, a babe."

Jesse looked up with a question in his eyes. "Why are we not taking Susannah to the hospital for treatment?"

"Because," I said, swerving out of the left lane into the right. "the wolf knows Suze has been there. It will think to look there first. Animals run on instinct, Rico. Once an animal chooses its prey, it doesn't rest until it has gotten and killed it." Taking a deep breath I said, "And the wolf has chosen its prey."

"Susannah…" Jesse looked down at Suze as if she were a haggard rag doll.

"Yes." I grumbled, turning onto my street.

"Why do you think this?" He asked dumbfounded.

"I don't think," I said, turning into the driveway, noticing a certain ghost standing on the front steps. "I know."

Suze's POV

Jesse…

I dreamt of him. His handsome face, of which you could find yourself staring at for hours. His rough and yet at the same time soft hands. His gorgeous olive skin you wanted more than anything to touch. Eyes so liquid brown you could get lost in them and never find your way out. Hair so soft and adorable you wanted to run your fingers through it and grasp it to hold him in place…

Whoa, Suze. Keep it PG ok.

My head was spinning and I couldn't open my eyes. Oh god, was I drooling? Oh, God, please don't let me be drooling. I would die!

Voices…They were so muddled, I could hardly make out the words or whose voice. Was I still in the hospital? I couldn't have been. didn't something happen? Something bad. Involving me and a lot of fur.

Visual…

OH GOD!

"What do you mean you cant find him?" I heard a voice shout.

Nothing came out clear. Everything was fuzzy and unclear.

"I already told you." Came another voice. "I have been looking for him for several days now. I cant find him anywhere. Not the woods. Not our house. Not our old hangouts. No where."

"So it wasn't you who called the wolf away?" I asked, groggily sitting up.

All three guys looked over to me.

"What are you talking about?" Casey asked, as Jesse rushed over to me.

"The wolf," I said, my throat so hot and dry. "It attacked us. I fell on the ground and the wolf was about to strike, and then…"

"And then what, Querida?" Jesse asked, his arm snaking its way around my waist for support.

I looked to him, my mouth hanging half open and my eyes drooping tiredly. It was a wonder I could stay awake. The darkness called to me with a soft voice promising rest and renewal. It took all of my energy to resist the lure.

"I heard something." I said, trying to remember everything that had happened. "I heard a voice. Almost a whisper. I could hardly hear it. But when I did…it was such a beautiful voice."

I saw Paul looked to the floor, deep in thought, Casey shuffled his feet for a moment and Jesse just stared past me. Did that have a bigger impact than it was supposed to?

"I swear it wasn't me." Casey said, putting his hands up. "I don't have a beautiful voice." He laughed uneasily.

I joined in his laughter. "I don't think it was you. You're too manly."

He smiled, taking a humorous bow. "Thank you."

"Then who was it?" Paul asked, his finger finding its way to his chin. "If it wasn't Casey, Todd's brother, then who? And where, is Todd staying?" Paul looked to me, searching in my eyes for something to use.

What is it, Paul?

I don't know, Suze. Where do you think Todd could be staying? And who was the one with the voice? These are questions that need answering now.

I don't know. The voice sounded off a little, though.

What do you mean "Off"?

I mean, when I heard it, my mind was jumbled and quaky. But, it seemed different from normal voices. It didn't sound completely human.

"Hmm…" Paul murmured out loud.

"'Hmm…' what?" Casey asked and looked around at all our faces.

"What is it Paul?" I asked, feeling the darkness's hold on me grow even stronger and my fighting almost useless.

"What if someone is hiding Todd?" Paul asked no one in question. It wasn't meant to be answered. But thought over, and then discussed.

That is possible…

Think about it, Suze. If someone called to the wolf and didn't die, they have to be in line with the beast.

But, Paul, the wolf could have just devoured the person. No one has the power to control a werewolf.

Why not, Suze? For a long time we didn't believe in the existence of werewolves. They exist. So why not one who can control them?

"Paul I'm not sure." I said aloud. Both Jesse and Casey looked to me.

"Susannah, Slater may be right." Jesse said, grasping my hand and looking to Casey. "There may be someone, someone human, hiding the wolf."

My hand felt so little in his. Like he could crush me in a second if he wished it so. Thank god he didn't. I noticed his hands. Really noticed them. They were the color olive like the rest of him, with lines and muscle just as a human. Calluses covered his fingers and hair on his knuckles. He was truly beautiful.

In a manly sense. Ha ha…

I sighed. There was no use fighting with him. Plus, he hadn't even heard the silent conversation Paul and I had shared. Pity, it would be funny.

How so, Suze?

I laughed out loud.

If you were to say something smart, Jesse would say something back, not totally understanding what you said. And then, he would get angry and you would laugh and then everything would be weird.

Suze.

Yeah, Paul?

You do realize, none of that made a lick of sense.

It did so…

And then I thought about it. Something's I said never made sense. Maybe it was the way I explained things. So, Paul could be telling the truth. But why would I believe him? That little rascal.

I shrugged.

I guess you're right.

Of course I am.

I had to laugh again. Jesse and Casey were dumbfounded of why. But I didn't explain. I didn't say a word, as the three of them began to discuss what the plan of action would be. Men. All they wanted to do was kick some butt.

Wait.

I like to kick butt. So that makes me…

Stop thinking about stupid things, Suze!

Laying back down, I closed my eyes, thinking about my mom. I hadn't seen her in a while. Actually I hadn't talked to her either. Was she ok? How was Andy? And Doc, sleepy and Dopey? Hmm…I would have to call them when I got the chance.

All of a sudden, I heard a low, drawn out growl. Paul and Jesse immediately went into fighting stance, moving towards the window and door, looking all around. I laughed to myself. They were so wrapped up in all of this they didn't know that it had been the sound of my stomach gurgling, sending a message that I was hungry.

The noise hadn't phased Casey one bit. He stood as calm as ever, with his hands placed casually in his pants pockets. I laughed at this too. He had this bored look on his face. Like he wanted to be doing something else, but found he couldn't tear himself away from the things happening now. I had no doubt that he hadn't been paying attention to Paul and Jesses conversation earlier. And they had included him in it too.

I was still giggling to myself when Jesse walked back into the room.

"Nombre de Dios, Susannah, what on earth is so funny?" He asked, his brow slightly raised, and his face filled with confusion.

He looked like Brad after you told him he had to clean his room. Confused and dumbfounded. Stupid, even.

I laughed again.

"Suze, answer the guys question." Paul grumbled, fingering the blinds too see outside.

"For one thing," I giggled out. "it's daylight. Werewolves don't come out in the daytime. For another, that growl you heard, was my stomach." They looked at me, all of their brows raised in confusion. I felt another fit of laughter build up in my stomach. "I'm hungry." I stated, putting emphasis on the word so they would understand.

Typical.

"Oh." They all whispered in unison.

I burst out laughing.

(PP: So what do you all think? Good? Bad? Ugly? Tell me!)