Chapter 5

Music blared in Ev's ears as her feet hit the ground at a rhythmic pace. She was pushing herself today and the trees in the forest went by faster than usual. She'd worked the morning shift today and that gave her the rest of the day off so instead of relaxing she decided to take a run to clear her head. She'd been running a lot lately.

Her phone rang and she pulled it out of her armband without stopping her stride. She checked to see it was Stiles and he rarely called for good news.

"What's wrong?" she answered.

"Oh nothing much," he said, trying to hide panic," but I'm just about to go into chemistry class with Erica and Isaac who wanna test to see if Lydia is the Kanima and if she is they're going to kill her. "

"Wait I thought Isaac was still a fugitive," she said, thankful she was almost to her car.

"Derek tested Jackson last night with Kanima venom and Isaac made him take back his statement about seeing him and his father arguing," he explained," Ev, if the venom doesn't work on Lydia…he's going to kill her."

"I won't let him, Stiles," she said, determination in her voice," I'll be at the school in less than twenty minutes. Can you figure out something until then?"

"Yeah…I think so," he said and she heard a bell ring in the distance.

"Stiles don't worry," she said, picking up her pace," I promise it'll be okay."

"I gotta go, Ev," he said, slightly less worried.

"I'll be there soon," she said and hung up.

Not long after, she climbed into her car and pulled out a pair of jeans and a teacher as she wiped the sweat from her body. She was hoping to go home, but that was out of the question. She'd spent many times in high school doing a quick bathroom clean after track practice so she was an expert at going from a sweaty mess to semi decent.

As she did that she reluctantly dialed someone.

"I take it you're not calling me to make up," Derek said over the speaker phone.

"No, it's a booty call," she said, determined to keep her feelings for him in check," I want to talk to you. Face to face."

"About?" he questioned.

"Where are you?" she asked without answering.

"The school," he answered," Out on the field."

With a deep breath she said," Can you meet me at my house?"

"Nice try," he said and she could practically hear the smirk in his voice.

"Fine, I'll be there soon," she said and hung up.

If he wanted a fight than he'd get one.

TEEN WOLF

She pulled into the parking lot and she could see Derek standing not too far off with Boyd.

She got out of her car and made her way to the trunk. Looking over her shoulder to make sure no one was around, she popped the back of her trunk and went into the compartment that stored her hunter gear. She pulled out her gloves and her gun and put it on her hip. Thankfully, her leather jacket concealed it.

With a deep breath to calm her nerves she shut her car and began walking towards the field. Derek kept his eyes on her the entire time and when she got close enough Boyd stepped in front of her, his claws extended.

"I said I wanted to talk to you," she said, her words directed at Derek, but her eyes on Boyd," Not your guard dog."

"It's fine, Boyd," Derek said and reluctantly the boy twice her size stepped out of her way.

"I'm gonna make this plain and simple," she said, crossing her arms," If you so much as touch Lydia Martin I will have every single hunter at my disposal on you and your pack."

She heard Boyd growl and he advanced towards her with bared teeth. She pulled out her gun and pointed it at him without even looking, "Boyd, I'm asking you nicely not to because I will defend myself."

"Do you not see how much like the hunters you're becoming?"

"I'm doing what I have to," she said firmly," You're doing what you want to."

"What about that hunter it killed?" he asked, "Bennett. I thought he was your friend."

"Don't you dare go there," she said, stepping up to him but still keeping her gun on Boyd," You don't give a damn about who was killed or will be killed. All you care about is making sure you're the most feared thing is this town. With a Kanima running around that threatens your title."

"I'm doing this so I can protect you," he insisted.

"From what?" she whispered through her clenched teeth, putting her gun back," The only thing that I need protection from is you."

"You don't mean that," he challenged.

"You know I do," she said, searching his eyes.

They squared off in silence until Derek's phone rang. He answered it, not taking his eyes off her. He listened to whatever someone else had to say on the other end at the exact time the school bell rang," Got it."

"Lydia failed the test," he said matter of factly.

"So what you're going to kill a teenage girl?" she asked, "Derek, when I said you'd changed I didn't know it was this bad."

"Yeah well I might as well prove you right," he replied, " And she's not just a teenage girl."

"I don't care," she said firmly as Scott began jogging across the field towards them. Like her, Boyd stopped him.

"I want to talk to Derek," Scott insisted.

"Talk to me," Boyd replied.

"So now you've got them doing your dirty work," she said with a scoff," What's next are you gonna send Isaac to knock on my bedroom window?"

"It depends. Does he look like his brother?" Derek replied and her jaw tightened in rage.

"Fuck you," she growled.

"I'd like you to do that too, but you broke up with me remember," he said with a smirk and she clenched her fist at her sides as Scott pushed past Boyd.

"Leave Lydia alone," he said to Derek, standing beside Ev.

"She failed the test," he said simply.

"Yeah, which doesn't prove anything. Lydia's different," Scott pleaded.

"I know, at night she turns into a homicidal walking snake," he replied sarcastically.

"We won't let you kill her, Derek," Ev said.

"Who said I was gonna do it?" he asked," I don't know why you two think you have to protect everyone now, but even so, Lydia has killed people and she's gonna do it again, and next time, it's gonna be one of us."

"And if you're wrong you would've killed a teenage girl," she added.

"She was bitten by an Alpha. It's her," he argued.

"You saw that thing up close. You know it's not like us," Scott said, trying to reason with him.

"Sometimes the shape you take reflects the person that you are. Even Stiles calls her cold–blooded."

"Well, what if she's immune? What if she's got something inside of her that makes her immune to the bite, which is why she didn't get paralyzed?" Scott asked him.

"No one's immune! I've never seen it or heard of it. It's never happened," he said, losing his argument.

"What about Jackson?" Scott asked.

"You bit someone else?" Ev asked angrily.

"That's why you tested him, isn't it? Because you gave him what he wanted, didn't you?" Scott continued," Peter said the bite either kills you or turns you. You were probably hoping that he would die. But nothing happened, right? And you have no idea why, do you?"

"No," Derek answered truthfully.

"Than Lydia's immune and she must have passed it to Jackson," Ev said," She's not the Kanima."

"It's her," Derek said, still not listening.

"You cannot do this!" Scott yelled.

"Look, I can't let her live! You should have known that!" he yelled back.

"I was hoping we would convince you, but then," he paused and both him and Ev smiled," We weren't counting on it."

"What did you do?" Derek asked, looking between them.

"We were one step ahead of you," she said with a smirk and turned to Scott," Let's go."

They turned to leave but Derek grabbed her by the arm but before he could say anything she turned on her gloves and delivered an electrified punch to his jaw.

"Next time I'll aim lower," she said and walked off with a shocked looking Scott.

"That felt good," she said as they walked away.

"It looked even better," Scott replied and she returned his growing smile.

TEEN WOLF

"I'll wait for you in the parking lot," Ev said, parting ways with Scott in the hallway and turning to go for the exit, she felt a hand on her shoulder.

She turned to see a woman, a little older than her, with a small, friendly smile on her face. She had long black hair and big brown eyes and for some reason Ev felt a sense of familiarity when she looked at her.

"Hi," she said with a smile, removing her hand.

"Hi," Ev replied, looking her over," Do I know you?"

She chuckled," I don't believe so. I'm Ms. Morrell. The school guidance counselor. I hate to ask, but are you authorized to be on campus."

"I'm giving a friend a ride," she said, still trying to place her," I was just going to wait out in the parking lot."

"That's fine then," she said and started to walk away, but turned back and said," It's nice meeting you."

"You too," she mumbled and watched the unknown woman walk off.

She turned to go again, but this time she bumped into a student.

"Son of a-" he started to say and then looked up at her, "Oh hey Ev."

She looked at him for a second before recognizing him, "Oh Matt. Hi. I'm sorry but I have to go. I'm in a hurry."

"Oh alright," he said, disappointed as she ran off and she didn't see him snap a few pictures of her as she rounded a corner.

TEEN WOLF

Ev tapped her fingers on the steering wheel as she glanced at the clock for the fourth time. It was getting later and later and Scott was still in the school. Derek was probably already after Lydia and the sun was setting.

She dialed Scott again and there still wasn't any answer. Suddenly, the door opened and he slid into the passenger seat.

"Derek's at my house right now," he said and she started the car and pulled off.

"Scott I think we need back up," Ev said after a few moments of silence.

"From who?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

"You know who," she said and he shook his head, " Scott, Derek isn't there to just send you guys a message. He's there to kill Lydia. I can only do so much. Chris Argent can help."

"But if he sees Allison…" he trailed off, "You're right, aren't you?"

She sighed, "I'll see if I can stop him, but if I can't we might not have a choice. I'm sorry but-"

"Don't be sorry," he said as she gripped the wheel, "Just do whatever it takes to them safe."

She briefly took her eyes off the road to look at him, "We won't let Derek hurt anyone."

TEEN WOLF

"Stop here," Scott said and hopped out of her car a few blocks from his house, "I'll get in through the back. You go talk to Derek."

She nodded and watched him go off before she mumbled to herself, "If there is any talking."

She pulled up to Scott's house minutes later to see Derek and Boyd standing in the driveway. She turned off her headlights, took a deep breath and got out of the car. Derek stared at her and in a decision she might come to regret she took her gun from its holster and made sure he could see her put it in her car. Reluctantly, she closed the door and walked towards him.

"Was that supposed to be a peace offering?" he asked, his arms crossed as she stood in front of him.

"Yes," she said and took a deep breath, "Please."

"Please what?" he asked and it took all she had not to punch him again, "Listen to you? Do what you say? Don't kill Lydia?"

"No," she said, narrowing her eyes, "Don't make me call the Argents on you."

"You'd do that to me?" he asked, keeping his stare cold.

"If it meant protecting innocent people than yes," she said and softened her expression, "You have no idea how much I don't want to, but if I have to than I'll do it Derek."

"That's your peace offering?" he asked with a scoff, "Calling your crew on me."

"Derek I am begging you," she pleaded, "Call them off."

"Why should I listen to you?" he challenged.

She glanced at Boyd who was staring her down with yellow eyes. She looked back to Derek and in a moment of weakness she gently grabbed his face in her hands and whispered to him, "Because you love me. Please wolf man…please."

She could see the mask he wore fading. The look he gave her before she'd broken his heart came back in his eyes and it broke hers because she wasn't doing this for the right reason.

Suddenly, Scott's front door burst open and she turned to see Scott throwing Erica and Isaac out of his house. She gave a relieved sigh and ran up to the porch by the teenager's side.

"Nice," she said to him as Allison and Stiles came out with relieved looks on their face.

They all turned back to Derek, side by side.

"I think I'm finally getting why you keep refusing me, Scott. You're not an omega, you're already an alpha of your own pack. But you know you can't beat me," he said just as police sirens sounded.

"I can hold you off until the cops get here," Scott replied.

Derek started to say something, but he paused and stared up at something on the roof. They ran out to see what he was looking at and turned to see the Kanima prowling on the roof. It hissed at them and leapt off into the night.

"Crap," Ev mumbled just as Lydia came running out of the house shrieking, "Would someone please tell me what the hell is going on?"

They all looked at her with wide eyes.

"Wait if she's here than who…" Ev began, looking to the teenagers.

"It's Jackson," Scott said in shock.

TEEN WOLF

Stiles and Ev caught up with Scott in a parking lot downtown.

"Where's Jackson?" Ev asked, running out of breath.

"I lost him," he said, looking around and sniffing the air.

"What? You couldn't catch his scent?" Stiles asked.

"I don't think he has one," he answered worriedly.

"Any clue where he's going?"

"To kill someone," Ev said gravely, "That's his only purpose right now."

"That explains the claws, and the fangs, and all that. Good. Makes perfect sense now," he said as Ev and Scott shot him an exasperated look, "What? I'm 147 pounds of pale skin and fragile bone, okay? Sarcasm is my only defense."

"Just help me find it," Scott said.

"Jackson," both Ev and Stiles corrected.

"I know," Scott said sadly.

"All right, but does he know that? Did anybody else see him back at your house?" Stiles asked.

"He passed the test already," Ev answered, "Derek said that it gets confused by its own reflection. Jackson doesn't know what he is. Whatever he's doing…he's not doing it on purpose."

"How did he even pass the test?" he asked.

"I don't know," Scott said.

"Snake's can't be poisoned by their own venom. Their bodies produce the chemical so they're immune to the effects of-"

Scott and Stiles stared at her with blank looks.

"You forget that I am a…vet," she trailed off as she stared at the rooftop of a nearby building to see Jackson prowling in his Kanima form.

The boys turned to see what he was looking at.

"He's inside," Scott said with wide eyes.

"What's he gonna do in there?" Stiles asked.

"Same thing he's been doing," Ev said, "Kill."

"I know who he's after," Scott said.

"What? Hw?"

Ev watched as he tilted his nose to catch a scent, "What are you smelling Scott?"

"Armani," he answered as they stared at him in confusion as he took off for a back door.

Scott tries the door and it doesn't budge being locked.

"Aw, come on. All right, maybe there's a window we could climb through, or some kind of–" Stiles began, looking for an entrance but Scott pried the door open with his strength, "Handle that we could rip off with supernatural strength. How'd I not think of that one?"

Ev slipped on her gloves.

"Woah what are you doing?" Scott asked.

"These won't hurt him," she said, "I'm not Derek. I'm trying to save him, not kill him."

"We know, Ev," Stiles said.

"Than let's go," she replied, going past them and entering in first. They made their way up the stairs and as they got closer, a pulsing beat got louder and louder until finally they were in a hot, sweaty crowd of people. Ev looked around the club in confusion to see all guys.

"Oh fuck," she mumbled.

"Dude, everyone in here's a dude. I think we're in a gay club," Scott said to Stile.

"Man, nothing gets past those keen werewolf senses, huh, Scott?"

Both Scot and Ev turned to see Stiles being fawned over by drag queens. Ev let out a snort of laughter and pulled him away, dragging both of them to the bar, "Come on let's go to the bar so we can see the crowd."

"Two beers," Stiles said to the bartender.

"Actually they'll have two cokes," Ev corrected, smacking him on the arm.

A drink was set in front of Scott, "That one's paid for."

The bartender gestured to a guy across the bar who winked at Scott.

"And one for the lady in the gay club," the bartender said, setting a martini down I front of her.

"Who says I'm a lady?" she replied with a raise of her brow.

"I'm straight so trust me," he said and leaned towards her, "You are definitely not a dude."

She held back an eye roll, "Flattery will get you nowhere."

"Maybe a drink on the house will," he said, gesturing to the martini.

"Maybe," she replied with a sigh and he slid something across the table and walked off.

Stiles picked it up, "We're in a gay club and even you get some action. Now my self esteem is ruined."

"The drag queens seem to like you," she said, taking the number from him and shoving it in her pocket as she looked on the dance floor, "Guys. Look up."

They moved their heads to see Jackson on the rafters in the club above the floor.

"I see Danny," Scott said and Ev spotted glowing red eyes in the crowd, "Jackson's after Danny."

"I see Derek," Ev said and told the boys, "Save your friend. I'll try and stop Derek."

She started to go off but Stiles grabbed her arm, "Ev what if Derek doesn't listen to you? He could hurt you."

She pulled away from him as she looked between them, "He won't hurt me."

With that, she ran off into the crowd, trying to find Derek. She'd seen him only seconds ago. Bodies danced around her and the air was thick. She began to panic as she looked for him to no avail.

"Derek," she called out, "Derek."

She collided with someone and she looked up to see Derek.

"Get out of here!" he ordered her over the music.

"Derek you can't do this," she yelled back, pressed against him as people moved around them, "You can't kill Jackson."

"Why not?" he challenged.

"The bartender was so much easier to deal with," she mumbled but he heard her and his eyes glowed red.

"What did you just say?" he practically growled.

She gulped and realized what she had to do, "I said the bartender who flirted with me was easier to deal with than you."

She could see his jaw clench as she stared at him with wide eyes, her chest heaving.

"Is that your big distraction?" he asked, his voice husky, "Make me jealous."

She ran her hands up his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck, "I've never seen you jealous before."

"It's not gonna work, Ev," his voice low with lust.

She could tell it was. The one thing she could count on was Derek's want for her. No matter what happened that wasn't going to change.

"Let's get out of here," she whispered, "Please."

"You don't mean this," he said, trying to control the part of his wolf that needed her after being apart for so long.

"I do," she answered and nipped at his ear, "I want you."

She heard him growl and his hands moved from her waist down her sides to her ass and she let out a moan. She wished she could say it wasn't real. Even though she was trying to distract him, the pure need that engulfed her was very real. She missed his touch. She missed him.

He pulled her lips to his roughly and she tangled her hands in his hair. Somehow she ended up pressed against a wall. Suddenly, she heard a scream and looked over Derek's shoulder to see a few men dropping to the floor.

Derek turned and started to go off but the Kanima dropped in front of Ev and hissed in her face.

"Derek," she screamed as it pinned her back and he turned back threw Jackson off her and as it lunged at him again he sliced his throat with his claws.

"Jackson," she screamed as he practically slithered away in the commotion and Derek disappeared as well.

TEEN WOLF

Lights flashed as people were being pulled into ambulances. She pulled off her gloves and put them in her coat pocket as she searched the crowd to see Sheriff Stilinski talking to his son and from the looks of it, it wasn't good. She saw Scott in the passenger seat of the Jeep struggling with something and the sheriff walked away from him. He spotted her and she cursed under her breath as he walked up to her.

"Okay what are you doing here?" he asked, sounding exasperated, "because Scott and Stiles are here with Danny, but you…I can't figure out what you're doing in a gay club."

She scrambled her head for an excuse just as the bartender from earlier walked by. She grabbed him by the arm and pulled him close, "I'm here to see my boyfriend."

He looked between them, "This is your boyfriend."

"I'm straight," he said awkwardly, "I just work here."

She gave him an almost pained smile as he put his arm around her in a romantic gesture and kissed her cheek.

The sheriff sighed, "Alright then I guess I'll see you later."

He walked off and she let out a relieved sigh.

"You know I don't like to put labels on relationships until the third date at the least but I guess I can make an exception for you," he said with a smirk.

She shrugged out his grip, "Sorry I…uh…"

"Needed someone to save your ass," he finished with a smirk.

She nodded, "Thank you."

"No problem," he said and then added with a mischievous smile, "It's a nice ass to save."

She rolled her eyes, "Yeah, we're done here."

"Give me a call green eyes," he said with a wink and walked off.

She ran towards the jeep.

"Derek went after Jackson and he…" she paused seeing Jackson curled up naked in the trunk of the Jeep, "Never mind. Get him out of here and find a place to hide him."

"What about you?" Scott asked.

"My cars not too far from here," she said, "Now get out of here before your Dad sees us."

She backed away and he drove off. She started walking towards her car and got to her SUV in no time. She went to open the door, but she was turned around to come face to face with Derek.

"New boyfriend already ,huh?"

She rolled her eyes and shoved him off, "I don't need to be questioned right now by police or you for that matter."

"I can smell him on you," he said in disgust.

She scoffed, "Really? That's what gets you all riled up. I hugged him for less than ten seconds."

"I don't care," he growled and pressed his body against hers so she was against her car and him with no escape as he gently but firmly yanked her head back as he kissed her neck. She sighed and gripped his arms. The simple yet intimate action went all through her body.

"You can tell me you don't want me but I know the truth," he said as his teeth scraped her neck, "I know how much you miss me."

"Who says I…" she trailed off as he pressed his groin to hers, "miss you."

"Do you miss me at night?" he asked, trailing his hand underneath her shirt and up her spine.

"I sleep just fine," she said and gasped when he unclipped her bra.

"Oh really," he whispered, exploring her skin, "Do you miss me in your bed?"

"You take up too much space," she replied breathily.

He chuckled and gently sucked the spot below her ear before whispering, "Do you miss me inside you?"

He cupped her sex and gave it a firm squeeze. She whimpered and said with great difficulty, "No."

"You can lie all you want," he whispered, "but your body tells a different story."

"We're over," she whispered to herself more than him.

"Keep telling yourself that."

"We shouldn't be doing this."

"But we are."

"It doesn't mean anything."

"If you say so."

"Fuck it," she mumbled under her breath and opened her back door, pulling Derek in with her. She pounced on him and they had their clothes off in a record amount of time. It was hot, fast, and by the end of it her car stunk of sex and every window was fogged over from their shared body heat.

Both of them were out of breath as she lay on his naked chest as it rose and fell rapidly.

"We should definitely have you on top more often," he said with a chuckle.

"What is it with you?" she whispered to herself, "We're supposed to be over. Why can't I stay away from you?"

"Because you love me," he said, kissing her forehead, "And I love you."

"This has to stop," she whispered, sitting up and finding her clothes, "This on again, off again, hate each other, fucking each other in the back of my car thing. We cannot do this. We have to be done and stay done."

"Why?" he asked, making her look at him, "Why do we have to be over?"

She looked away, shaking her head as she began pulling on her clothes. Derek did the same. When they were fully dressed she said, "Where do you see yourself at thirty years old?"

"What?" he asked in confusion.

"I want a house and I want to keep working with my dad…I want a family. Do you?" she asked quickly, looking at him with wide eyes.

"Ev, where is all this coming from?"

"You say you need me in your life, but for how long?" she asked, "This…what we have. It's not healthy. We've known each other for such a short time but we're so in love with each other it's scary. We can't be without each other, but with each other we're a mess."

"I want you," he said, holding her hands, "When I'm thirty I want you right by my side and I'll do whatever it takes to keep you there."

"Derek I don't want you to have a life you don't want," she whispered, "I don't want you compromising to stay with me."

She opened the door and fled out, taking deep breaths.

"Ev, just stop this," he pleaded, "Come back to me."

"I can't," she whispered, "I have to stay away from you."

"Why?"

"Because it will never work," she yelled at him, "We can lie to ourselves and cover it up with sex all we want but this, us, you and me…it will end."

"You know what I think?" he asked, crossing his arms, "You're scared."

"Scared," she repeated, mimicking his stance.

"Scared ," he repeated, "Of us. The fact that what we have happened in such a short time and that you need me as much as I need you scares you. This isn't about us being right for each other or being unhealthy. This is about you being afraid of losing me like you lost Isaac's brother, Bennett, your mother. It's about you being a coward and you can't blame this on-"

He didn't have a chance to finish his sentence because she kneed him in the groin and he doubled over, falling to his knees.

"I told you I'd aim lower next time," she growled at him and went to her car.

"You're not mad at me because I said it," he strained out in pain, "You're mad because I'm right."

She refused to turn back to him, got in, slammed the door, and pulled off.

TEEN WOLF

Ev washed her hands in the sink at the vet's office, staring at nothing. Stiles imprisoning Jackson to keep him from killing again, Derek, and Gerard were only a few thoughts swirled through her head and she heard the door chime.

"I've got the door, Dad."

She turned off the water, dried her hands as she walked to the door, "Hi how can I-"

At the entrance was Victoria Argent, "Hello, Ev. I thought we could have an early breakfast together. I'm subbing at the school and my class starts in a few hours."

She gulped and the only words that left her mouth were, "Okay."

"We're going to have so much fun," Victoria said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

TEEN WOLF

"I always admired your father for raising you on his own," Victoria went on as Ev played with a piece of scrambled eggs in the small town diner, "I mean I have Chris but even some days Allison is such a handful. Don't get me wrong she's everything I could have asked for but that thing she had with Scott…I can't wrap my mind around it."

It'd been like this for almost half an hour. Victoria talking about anything and everything while she listened and managed to put what little food she ordered in her mouth.

"What do you think?"

Ev realized she'd asked a question, "About what?"

"About Allison and Scott," Victoria said with narrowed eyes but a smile.

She blinked, "Scott told me they were over. He was beat up about it, but he's staying away from her. He knows better than to cross Chris."

Victoria searched her eyes, "Like you've been staying away from Derek."

She refused to falter her gaze, "A little different but something like that."

"I'm sure it's been hard on you," she said, taking a sip of her coffee.

"Not really," she said, putting food in her mouth, "We weren't serious."

She picked up her coffee and took a sip as Victoria said, "I'm guessing it didn't get serious beyond the bedroom."

She choked on her coffee and coughed as she set the cup down.

Victoria chuckled, "You don't have to lie to me, Ev. I can put two and two together. Derek is an attractive young man. Relationships are a bit difficult when a young woman is as beautiful and determined as you are. God knows the Hale boy probably has no capacity for love after his…tragedy."

Ev gave her a small smile as she looked down at her breakfast and fought back the bile in her throat.

"Of course you could be fooling me," she continued casually, "Maybe it really was something special. Maybe it still is. But if that were so you'd be putting him directly in the line of fire…as well as yourself. I'm sure Gerard would love to use that to his advantage."

Ev watched as Victoria slowly took her knife and cut into her food, "You see Ev, even though woman are the leaders, we're the most subject to scrutiny. Sleeping around with a werewolf despite the physical reward, could get you in serious trouble. Being in love with a werewolf…well, that's a death sentence. I don't give a damn about Derek Hale, but I like you and I would hate to see you fail at this…especially because you couldn't keep your hands to yourself."

"Are you threatening me?" Ev whispered, gripping her knife as she set hers down.

She stood up and put money down on the table to cover their bill. Ev stared at the her as she stood up.

Victoria leaned down and she narrowed her eyes at the woman as she whispered, "I'm not threatening. I'm suggesting you find another man to spend your nights with or Derek might be spending his nights in the ground."

"Derek and I are over," she said simply, not batting a lash.

"Keep it that way," she said sugar sweetly and then her heels clicked as she walked away. It was only when the door closed and she knew she was gone could she breathe again. She dropped her knife and covered her face with her hand as her breath came out in short tufts. Her heartbeat seemed to pound in her ears.

"Miss are you okay?"

She looked up to see a waitress with concerned eyes.

She nodded, "I'm fine."

TEEN WOLF

Ev finally gets home late at night, thoughts still swirling in her head. Jackson had escaped and now Scott and Stiles were being smacked with a restraining order. Not to mention they didn't just have Jackson to worry about but his master. Derek still had a hold on her and he knew it. Victoria had threatened him and now his life was in the balance.

She hadn't slept in a full day and it was starting to hit her. Too bad her thoughts were too loud to get any sleep. She made it to her bedroom and took a long, hot shower. She wrapped herself in her short, silk robe and towel dried her hair as she exited her bathroom. She paused and stared at her empty bed.

Usually, Derek would be sitting right on the edge. He'd stand up, ask how her day was, and then give her a soft kiss on the forehead. Sometimes it led to more. Sometimes they ended up curled into each other under the covers as they talked about anything and everything.

Derek played the part of the bad ass werewolf well and he was when he needed to be. With her, the ice around his heart melted away completely and all that was left was this beautiful, caring, sometimes misguided man who loved her so much it hurt. He'd do anything for. He'd go to the moon and back for her and she'd let him go.

If that wasn't bad enough she had to keep it that way to protect him. Even worse, Derek was right. She was afraid. What they had scared her. He was dangerous. He did dangerous things. Every day she was under the constant threat of losing him and if he died it would crush her. The fact that he had such a huge piece of her heart in such a short time terrified her down to her very core…and she didn't care. She would love him forever if she had the choice, but she didn't.

She didn't realize tears were leaving her eyes until she reached up and touched her wet cheeks. A strangled sob escaped her throat and she cried harder as it all hit her. Her world was crumbling and she had nothing to fix it. Within seconds, she reigned in the tears. Crying wasn't going to do her any good. She wasn't going to cry anymore. She was going to do something to stop the tears.