This was it.

The last time that I would get to just be myself with the friends I loved. I needed to be diligent in staying calm, and not acting like I was going to fall apart. I forced myself to shower, dress and eat a little something.

This would be a day that I remembered for the rest of my life, and I wanted to look back on it with happiness, not sadness. I reluctantly pulled up a new page on the laptop and typed in Damian's name.

All the links turned up purple, which meant that there was no new information of his whereabouts, and that was both worrisome and relieving. It could mean that he had bunkered down for a while, but it could also mean that he was simply traveling out from under the eye of the public.

He's got to be so proud of himself, I thought bitterly. He had nothing to fear. No cage could contain him, no person could incarcerate him, and no fear ran in his veins.

I shut the laptop harder than necessary and laid it aside. I looked to the clock. In thirty-five minutes almost to the dot, I would meet Cora and the guys by the hospital to chat, laugh and share a pizza. Their words today would remain with me until the day I died, be it to Damian's hand or old age, be it two weeks from now or forty years. Their memory would be forever.

What hurt the most was that it would be the last time I ever saw Theo, and I couldn't even squeeze his hand. All I could do was look upon him, wishing his lips would touch mine, hoping that at any point in the day, he might say my name or look at me.

Right now, I didn't care what he'd done before. I stored it away in my head to be sad and angry over later, but now, today, all that mattered was seeing him once more. Watching him rake his hand through his stubborn locks, seeing him look at me, or maybe give a little smile, no matter how fake, genuine or mindless.

Sharply inhaling, I stood, took my keys from the seat beside me and went out to the car.

I drove to the familiar setting, seeing Cora and Liam already sitting there. I waved and got out, plastering on a smile and greeting them.

"Hey Rach, you look tired, get enough sleep?" Cora asked. "Oh yeah, just have insomnia sometimes." I waved it off like it was nothing.

Just had to keep my heart beating steadily, even amongst the thrashing it had taken in the last week.

We chatted happily until Mason drove up with Corey, to which we waved again and they joined us. The pizza had come with them and smelled wonderful. It had been a long time since I'd eaten pizza.

I worried if Theo was going to show. I knew he wasn't one to be on time, but would he really just not come? I had to not panic. Maybe it would be easier to just not see him. Perhaps it would be a cleaner break.

As I pondered my thoughts, I saw Cora's head come up and I followed her gaze to watch as Theo's truck pulled into view. I stopped from exhaling in relief, and stared as he parked and made his way over.

He didn't look at me once, but I understood. However, I was very surprised when he took his seat beside me instead of across like I had expected. His knee pressed against mine, his thigh warm against my own.

"Hi, Theo." I said finally, feeling my cheeks warm up from how breathless I sounded. "Rachel," He greeted.

I saw his glare go directly to Liam across from us, and I didn't miss Liam's retaliated scowl. I didn't want my last day with them to be like this, with them fighting or arguing. I wanted my last day with them to be better than this.

I reached over and put my hand on Theo's forearm, stealing his attention almost immediately from Liam. "Glad you could make it." I spoke, "Didn't think you would come."

"Now why would I miss the chance to hang out with all of my best friends?" He asked sarcastically, finally giving me a smile. I chuckled, then offered him a soda from the cooler.

After all our merriment at the table, we moved to the grass to stretch out and relax after filling our bellies. I kept calm once more as Theo settled down beside me, leaning back on his left arm and hip, and propping the other on his knee. We told funny stories, and laughed. For once, Liam and Theo didn't cast any glares.

It was almost magical.

For now, there were no thoughts of the wyvern or who it might kill. No thoughts of where I was going to run, and why I had to leave. No thoughts of leaving this town.

Liam, Mason and Corey began to toss a football around, making them seem even younger as they laughed, tackling and wrestling occasionally over possession of the ball.

Cora was to my left, and Theo had managed to scoot even closer without my noticing. The wind blew a nice, cool air.

I heard a door slam in the distance, but thought nothing of it, until I heard a faraway shout. I turned, as did Theo and Cora, and we saw the sheriff standing by his car. By the passenger door stood a very tall man, serious looking with dark hair and eyes. He had his hands on his hips like he meant business. I could see the glint of his badge hanging on his belt.

The sheriff was waving his arm, and we waved back, thinking he was saying hello. He and the other man began to walk toward us, and I lost my smile as I saw the serious look on the sheriff's face.

I felt terror light up in my stomach.

The sheriff said nothing as they got to just several feet from us, and both men's eyes were on me, like they were studying me, and I didn't like that.

I stood and brushed myself off, trying to remain calm. Theo had stood as well, and the boys had stopped their horseplay.

"Sheriff, Sir," I greeted them both, "We were having a picnic, would you care for something?"

"I knew you looked familiar," The sheriff said with awe, like he hadn't heard what I'd just said. I felt my knees turn to jelly.

"Cassia Whittaker," the other man said, and my blood went cold.

He knew who I was. He'd exposed me, right in front of everyone. Now Damian would find me for sure.

I heard Cora gasp, heard Theo growl, and heard Liam say, "What?"

"Cassia?" The other cop said, reaching out to touch my shoulder. That was the movement that broke my state of shock. I didn't allow him to touch me, and I darted around them, running like hell for my car.

"Cassia, wait!" I heard the sheriff call, but I was already in the car and backing out. I didn't see the looks on anyone's face, but I left, barely missing the cop car as I turned.

My arms were weak with adrenaline coursing through my veins, my legs shaky. I felt my whole body trembling. I had fucked up.

I had stayed too long, and now my trail was as clear as daylight. If the FBI knew I was here, Damian would before long too.

I felt tears well up in my eyes. I couldn't go back, I had to leave all my stuff. That left me with the clothes on my back and the roll of money in my glove box. I hadn't gotten to say goodbye the way I had hoped, and now they knew all the lies I had told them.

They would never forgive me, and I didn't blame them.

I made a sharp right, heading straight for the highway. I needed to hit that, and it could take me to my next destination. At last, I felt the tears escape, and as they ran down my cheeks, I thought bitterly of Damian once more. He wasn't even here, but he had stolen from me.

A life I wanted to live, a town I had loved, a man I wished for…gone.

How could my own name be so dangerous? I supposed at some point, I could get it legally changed, but what would it matter? My picture would pop up every time "Cassia" was typed from Damian's criminal profile.

I pressed harder on the gas, now going 60 in a 45 limit. As if I wasn't obvious before. But once I hit that interstate, I could fly 85 and be gone.

Lost in my thoughts, I screamed when a figure darted, stopped and stood in the middle of the road I was driving on. I swerved and stomped on the brakes, going halfway into a ditch, but not even so much as scratching the car.

"Where the hell are you going?!" The figure roared. I didn't get the chance to form a reply before Theo opened my door and snatched me out of the seat by my upper arms. He shoved me hard against the back door, his eyes gold, and claws tearing into the fabric of my shirt.

"Theo, please," I said.

"ENOUGH BULLSHIT!" He snarled, voice echoing off the trees around us, "Who the hell are you?! You're the wyvern, aren't you?!"

"No!" I said, truly scared for my life right now, "I'm just…me. I need to leave, please!" I was almost willing to beg him.

He slammed me back against the car again, careful not to hurt me too bad, but enough that it stung. "If you don't start talking, I'll kill you myself, before anyone can save you."

I didn't blame him for wanting to. I could tell he was hurt, but finally, the adrenaline had bested me. I was exhausted, but above that, I could not hold in the torrent of tears anymore.

I had been holding them in for years, unable to truly get rid of them, and the dam inside me broke. I didn't care if Theo killed me, right now. At least Damian wouldn't be able to.

The sobs began to rack my body, and I didn't resist as Theo held me where he'd had me. "J-just do it," I said, "please…just be quick."

I saw Theo's face changing through the tears pouring from my eyes. I let my head hang, not wanting to watch it coming, and was astonished when he set me down on my feet.

"You're…really not the wyvern?" he asked, sounding guarded. All I could do was shake my head, and hold myself together as I fell to pieces. "Just a shitty person with a shitty past that won't leave me alone," I finally admitted, attempting to take a deep breath to stop the sobs, "I'm sorry I lied to you."

Theo was silent, but the air surrounding us had seemed to settle.

I wasn't positive that he wasn't still angry, but I hoped that at least he was calm enough to accept my apology.

I went to wipe my eyes, but Theo's touch stunned me. His large hands rested on my shoulders, gently stroking the places he'd more than likely bruised, and I winced slightly. They stung, but I'd live.

He ran his hands up over my shoulders, to my neck, then my face. He tilted my face, so that I could see his eyes, and his thumb stroked away a tear that had pooled in the corner of my eye. He wasn't smiling, he wasn't even really making a face, but it was the softest he'd even looked. His eyes probed mine, gently brushing over every feature of my face.

"You're not a shitty person," He said finally and seriously, never taking his hands from my jawline, "I am a shitty person, but I know bad pasts."

I nodded, "I lied to protect you, all of you. I didn't want you hurt by my problems." "We're not going to be hurt, no one will be, including you, and you can best believe that. Here, let me prove it to you."

I was confused for only half a second before he drew my face to his, and pressed his lips to mine.

Fire shot through me, making my veins explode, the toes curl and my fingertips tingle. His lips were so firm and warm. I had dreamed of this, wished for it, and finally, it had been given to me.

Once I got over the initial shock, I felt my eyes close and my hands reach up and gently grasp his shoulders, then trailed them up his neck and to his face as well. He kept a firm hold on my chin, deepening the kiss.

His other arm came around me to hold me close, and his breath was warm as it fanned over my cheek.

If I died today or twenty years from now, I would die a happy woman.

At last, he took his mouth from mine, his breathing just as heavy as mine. I couldn't bring myself to let him go, so I wrapped my arms around his waist and buried my head against his chest, hearing his heart pound as fast as mine was. He wrapped his arms around me also, but his face looked down onto me, and I looked up to meet his eyes again.

"I've been waiting forever to do that." He smirked. "I've been waiting forever for you to do that too." I laughed, and he grinned.

He held me for a few more seconds, then pushed me away slightly, keeping ahold of my shoulders.

"So, you're not the wyvern." He stated, and I shook my head again, "I hope you don't expect me to call you 'Rachel' anymore."

I chuckled but shrugged. I wasn't sure where to go with this.

"I guess you don't have to," "You guess?"

I laughed then. "Alright, but…try to at least help me keep it on the down low."

"That reminds me. Why? What are you running from? Who?"

I shuddered slightly, but his strong hands gently squeezed, reminding me that all was okay for now.

"My parents' murderer," I said, trying to get around stating that this guy was actually my older brother. I'd tell him later when I wasn't so shook up and was sure he could handle it.

"And why is he after you?" "Because I caught him. I was the only one who ever got away. He's currently in Arkansas. He always finds me, Theo, it's why I have to go."

"You're not going anywhere, did you not just understand everything I said before?"

"You didn't say anything," I snickered. "But it was worth a million words," he said forcefully. I gave a light smile and lowered my eyes, but he took my chin once more and gazed into my eyes. I watched them begin to shimmer liquid gold, and let my hands rest against his chest.

"With or without a pack, come rain or shine, come hellfire and brimstone, I will protect you…Cassia."

And for the first time in almost seven years, my name was not a curse anymore.

**It appears Theo has done even more changing of heart! There is still trouble to come, but at least Theo knows some of the truth. Hope you're enjoying and thank you for reading, you guys are what keep me motivated!**