Chapter 5: Between Two Branches Lies My Woes

Song: Wisteria by Hands Like Houses

A.N. Also all the songs I use, I advise you listen to while you're reading. And I probably didn't use your suggestions seeing as I wrote this last year and like half of them are OCs.

AYDN

Quinn was happy she and Santana had been heading back in the direction of Lima. This was rather convenient considering it wouldn't take too long for her pack to arrive.

Quinn changed back to human form as she observed her surroundings better. Santana was still screaming for an explanation at her.

"San. Shut up." Quinn growled just loud enough for her to hear. Santana did as told albeit begrudgingly.

The human could tell something was severely wrong. She realized Quinn was concentrating extremely hard when the leaf under Santana's heel crunched and Quinn winced slightly. The alpha's senses were on high alert, she just wish she knew why.

Quinn took a deep breath and opened her eyes. She could tell her pack was only about 5 minutes away, all in their wolf forms and running as fast as they could. That knowledge calmed her slightly.

Quinn turned around to look at her mate. Where could she put her? Hopefully, Zion's or Sam's mates were with them. They were turned but not combat trained so she figured Santana should be safe for the most part.

The first pack member to arrive was Sam. He was supposed to stay behind his sister, but sometimes his speed got away from him. Brittany didn't seem to mind though as she trotted up not far behind.

The rest of the pack soon arrived, Quinn happy to see Blaine and Jasmine, Sam and Zion's mates, had joined them.

Santana stood shyly behind Quinn. She was never good at meeting new people. Actually, she just never met new people. Shit, she almost pepper sprayed Quinn to death when they met. She still apologizes for that sometimes.

The pack had turned back into humans by now. Santana couldn't help but stare each and everyone down. Those Fabray genes were fucking great.

Quinn pulled her mate into her side. The others raised their eye brows in surprise. They hadn't spoken directly to their alpha in a while, they hadn't known Quinn had met anybody on her trip of "self discovery".

"Uh, guys this is Santana. My mate. Well we haven't mated yet. But you get it." Quinn introduced. She kissed Santana on the forehead to get her to relax. It worked. Greer gasped dramatically. Quinn rolled her eyes at him.

"Hello, Santana. I'm Brittany. I'm sorry we had to meet under these circumstances. Even though I'm not sure what's going on." She looked pointedly at Quinn before she introduced the rest of the pack, "This is my little brother Sam. That's his mate Blaine. That's Zion and her mate Jasmine. This is Charlie, Quinn's younger brother. And lastly, Greer. We think he's adopted." The group chuckled while Greer pouted. He glared at the rest of the group playfully.

"That doesn't even make sense seeing as Zion and I are literally twins."

"Actually we still aren't completely sure about that. Mom and dad could be lying to us to protect your feelings." Zion smirked and crossed her arms until Jasmine smacked her on the back of the head and made her apologize. Zion mumbled something about bossy mates.

Santana smiled and waved as she tried to remember names and faces. They had an interesting dynamic. Playful but serious in protecting each other when the time came. Quinn gestured for her pack to come forward so she could explain the situation at hand.

"Okay. I don't know if you can hear it but there's like twenty leeches approaching us right now. I may or not have killed their friends like last week." Brittany glared at the alpha, Quinn smiled back charmingly, "It's not like I staked their hearts for fun. Don't give me that look, damn. Anyway, I needed your help because I'm only one person and I haven't turned San yet." The group nodded. Not like they had a choice anyway. There seemed to be little room for argument.

Santana frowned. What the hell did Quinn mean 'turn her'? She opened her mouth to ask but was cut off by Charlie.

"So what's the plan?" Quinn glared.

"I was getting to that, Charles. I need Blaine and Jas to watch and protect my mate. I don't care how you do it, just pretty please keep her safe." The two nodded, Blaine adding a playful salute, "Oh my god. Go you goofball."

Jasmine motioned for Santana to get on her back. She did after Quinn gave her a look. The three quickly set off in the opposite direction.

After two minutes of really fast running, Blaine stopped the group when he came across a natural canopy. A fallen tree had created a little bit of a covered tent between two of its branches.

They decided this would be a good place to wait it out. Santana dropped off of Jasmine's back and climbed into the leaf tent.

She had become used to sitting on the dirt ground. This tent was considered luxury to her.

Blaine had turned into his wolf to patrol the outside. Jasmine had relaxed inside, rubbing leaves and dirt off her dark skin.

"Um Jasmine, can I ask you a question?" Santana quickly had found a nice calm with Blaine and Jasmine. Maybe it was because they were wolf's mates too. They had this oddly comfortable feeling surrounding her.

"Sure. Go right ahead." Jasmine had turned around and fully faced Santana.

"When Quinn said 'turn her', what did she mean?" Santana bit her lip. She wasn't stupid, she had a pretty clear and vivid idea of what it meant. She needed to hear it to fully accept it though.

"If a werewolf's mate isn't a werewolf they have to be turned into one. I'm not sure of the science behind it, but I think it's for protection and so many have been wiped out lately they're trying to build back up the population." Jasmine shrugged, she hopefully answered the girl's question.

"Were you turned?"

"Yeah. Blaine and I were both humans. Then we mated and got turned. Pretty much the same overall abilities as a born wolf, although we're slightly less strong." Santana nodded. She bit her lip again, she didn't know exactly how she felt about being a werewolf but she loved Quinn and if that's what she wanted then maybe she'd deal.

"How old is everyone?"

"I assume you know how old Quinn is. Brittany is the oldest. She's 23, Sam and Blaine are 18. Zion, Greer, and I are 19. Charlie is the youngest. He's 15. He is technically still a pup, but he's so good at combat, that his mother let him join the combat part of the pack instead of staying in school. Quinn hates it because he's her baby brother and doesn't want him to get hurt. How old are you?" Jasmine asks excitedly.

"I'm 18, too." Jasmine smiles widely, "Sam and Blaine are going to love you. They hate being stuck in the middle like that."

Soon after Santana asks another question and received her answer, Blaine trotted back into the tent. He nuzzled Jasmine into attention getting his point across quickly.

"Stay here, San." Jasmine formed into her wolf and followed Blaine.

Santana, being the curious one she is, stuck her head out of the tent. She never prided herself on being particularly intelligent.

Her eyes widen. Their hide out had been overwhelmed by vampires. Blaine and Jasmine were doing the best they could to hold them off but it wasn't enough.

She winced when wolf Blaine was thrown against a tree like a rag doll. When he didn't move Santana panicked and ran out to help him.

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Quinn had bit off another leech's head. There hadn't been nearly as many as she had originally thought. They had made quick work of the vampire flock...herd...gaggle? Whatever, they beat up all the bad guys.

Quinn had been fighting to keep Ramsey from taking over. He had done nothing but try and force her to stay with her mate. She should've listened sooner.

Before Quinn could even process it, she was forced out of control and forced in the direction of the mates.

Ramsey was running quickly, Quinn could hear Zion and Sam furiously chasing after them.

Quinn whimpered arriving at the scene. She heard Sam let out a heart breaking howl as he ripped into the remaining vamps. It seemed like the amount Quinn had been expecting arrived here.

Ramsey frantically searched for their mate. He found her curled into a comma-like shape on her side, her body limp.

Quinn's heart rate picked up as she took back over control. She stood over her mate in her human form. Dropping to her knees, Quinn wiped her tears away. Stifling sobs as she held her mate's head on her lap.

The color was quickly draining from Santana's skin. Quinn checked for a pulse and found nothing. The wolf cried harder when she turned her mate's head slightly to the left. As she had expected two fang marks had been placed on her neck.

Quinn choked back a sob, "Tana. I'm so sorry, I'm supposed to protect you and I failed, I'm so so sorry. Please don't leave me, I need you so much. You haven't met my mom yet. I love you so much I can't even begin to fathom it you've got to stay with me. Please."

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