"Love of mine, someday you will die," Erica sung to herself as she stirred the batter in the bowl in front of her. "And I'll be close behind, I'll follow you into the dark," "Hopefully we don't have to worry about that for a really, really long time" Allison said as she hopped down the stairs and stepped behind Erica. Wrapping her arms around the wolf's waist, she laid her head on the girl's shoulder, "Cake for breakfast?" she asked eagerly. Erica lifted the spatula from the bowl and touched Allison's nose, leaving a small drop of chocolate cake mix on the girl's face. "I was really craving something sweet," she said as she stepped away from Allison and grabbed a cake pan. "You could have just woken me up?" Allison said, winking at the blond as she leaned in and gave the girl a small kiss on the lips. Erica laughed and took the cake to the oven, opening the door to slide it in. "So, what are we doing today?" Erica asked, grinning widely as she turned back around to face Allison. Erica dropped the oven mitt, eyes wide, terrified of the view she had met with. Allison was standing opposite the wolf, bow drawn, aiming for her stomach. "What are you-" Erica didn't get to finish, she was cut off as the arrow was released and pierced her abdomen.
Erica let out a hard gasp for air as she shot up from her sleep in the back seat of Cora's car. "What the hell?!" the girl shouted, swerving and eventually coming to a stop on the side of the road. Erica sat up, trying to process what had just happened. "Are you okay? What was that about?" Cora questioned as she turned to face her passenger. Erica didn't know at first, then the memory of her dream flooded her mind. "I, uh, I just had a bad dream." A really bad dream.. "You good now?" Cora asked as she started the car again and pulled back onto the road. "Yeah, I'll be fine," Erica slid between the seats and sat down in the front, buckling up. "How long was I out?" she asked, rubbing her eyes and checking her phone. "Just about 30 minutes," Cora said, going back to humming some new Kesha song that was on the radio. Erica rolled her eyes, "I'm starving. When are we getting there?" Erica's stomach growled. "So am I. I'm glad you said that," Cora immediately took the next exit and pulled into the parking lot of a pizza place. "Oh, and.." she pulled out her phone and checked the GPS, "we still have another 30 minute drive." The girls entered the restaurant and were seated almost immediately by a young male host, a little too keen on the girls coming in.
"What can I do for you two beautiful ladies tonight? He said, closely looking over each girl, not bothering to hide it. "For starters, you can go away and stop being disgusting." A girl just a few years older than the boy approached the table, glaring at him until he left. "I apologize, it seems they let anyone work here." She shook her head and sighed. "I'm Crystal," she sat down two menus and a bowl of bread, "I'll be your server this evening. Do you need a few minutes or-" "No, we know what we want," Cora cut in, not noticing—or not caring—how rude she was being.
After giving the waitress a list of food long enough to feed a family of four, Erica settled for just an appetizer and Crystal left. "So where are we going?" she asked as Cora started picking at the bread that had been left. "Well," she said in between bites, "Derek has something he wants us to help him with." Erica raised an eyebrow, "Derek needs out help?" "I know," Cora said, shaking her head in disbelief. "I don't know what with though, he won't tell me until we all get there." Cora shoved the last bit of the bread into her mouth just as Crystal returned with the drinks. "Would you like some bread?" She asked, smiling at both girls. "Yeah-" "No, no thank you." Erica cut her off, causing Cora to glare. "Well okay, your food should be done soon." The waitress turned to leave, "What was that for?" Cora demanded. "You eat enough to feed a small army, I think you'll live without a few pieces of bread." Cora rolled her eyes and sipped at her drink. "So, what do you mean by 'we all'?" "You and I, and Isaac and Boyd." What could he possibly need all of us for? "Here ya go," Crystal approached the table with another boy, both of them had their arms full. Cora immediately dug in, demolishing the mountain of food she had ordered. "Why do we have to go out here for whatever it is he needs? I mean the place he's bringing us to," Erica looked at her phone, "It's in the middle of nowhere." Erica started eating, slowly at first, then just as fast as Cora, making her cheese sticks disappear one by one until none were left.
"I honestly don't know anything about what's going on, I just know he wanted us to come out and that it was important." Cora finished the second plate of food she had ordered, moving on to the third. The rest of the meal was eaten in silence, followed by Erica paying for both of them and the girls heading back to the car and on to the road.
Derek walked down the wooden stairs and looked around the dirty basement room. Broken glass and rusted tools were strewn about the various tables surrounding a large, oak tree root. Derek dusted off a stool and sat down, thinking about the earlier events that lead him to be waiting in this dingy room.
"Jackson?" Derek looked at the boy standing in front of him. Jackson Whittemore entered the burned ruins of the Hale home, not speaking, he quietly sat on the staircase next to Derek. "What are you doing here?" asked Derek. The two sat in silence until the boy turned to face the wolf, "I have a proposition for you," Jackson finally spoke. "I want it. I want the bite." Derek laughed, "Seriously, why are you here?" Jackson clenched his jaw as if he were trying to remain calm and keep from saying anything he would regret. "I want the bite," he slowly repeated, enunciating each word as clearly as he could. "You can't be serious?" Derek asked as he stood and walked a few steps away. Jackson shot up from the steps, "I'm willing to be part of your stupid little group, Derek. I'll do whatever it is that you want, but I want this. I need this," he said, clenching his jaw and widening his eyes.
This kid is insane. "Why should I do this for you? What good are you gonna be for me?" Derek questioned. Crossing his arms, he scrutinized every word Jackson said, "I'm sick of being the weak one, I want power. And I know you want power too." Derek raised an eyebrow, before he could protest, "I also know you're terrified of Professor Duke's pack." Derek closed his mouth and scratched the back of his head. "That's none of your concern, Jackson." Derek walked past Jackson and up the stairs. "You need me, Derek. You couldn't take on that girl alone and you know it!" Jackson shouted. "You're weak. Alpha or not, you are weak." Jackson's words were cold as he mocked the wolf, seemingly unafraid he would do anything in retaliation to his comments. "Weak?" Derek scoffed. "Yeah, weak." Derek's jaw tightened, as he clenched his fists. Before he had time to react, Derek leaped from the top of the staircase to the bottom, inches away from Jackson, fully shifted. Derek let out a low, threatening growl and Jackson stepped away, feeling scared of the alpha for the first time since he'd known him.
Derek's bright red alpha eyes seemed to be burning a hole in Jackson. "Look I'm sorry, okay, I'm sorry," Jackson held his hands up trying to calm the wolf. "I just, I'm sick of not being able to do anything. Please, Derek." Derek relaxed his face enough that Jackson felt confident he wasn't still considering killing him. That was close. "Jackson," Derek shifted back to normal. "Please?" Jackson looked at Derek with pleading eyes. "I can't make any promises..but I'll think about it. But if, and I do mean if I do this, there's going to be a lot of rules and things you'll need to learn, and you have to give me your word you'll do your best at attempting to follow and learn them, just like everyone else." Jackson rolled his eyes, "I mean it, Whittemore. Most of them deal with keeping you alive, if you can't do that then I see no point in turning you." Jackson sighed heavily, "Fine, whatever. When will I know?" "When I know. Now get lost." Derek turned and disappeared into the darkness of the Hale ruins.
