Thank you for all the reviews guys, I didn`t exactly reach my quota of 10 reviews... but that's okay, I'm not going to punish you all for it. You guys just dot have much to say I guess, maybe I'm leaving you speechless...? I dunno? If you can review I would be so happy because it really means a lot to me to get your opinions. Plz enjoy!

-Sapphiregorgeus :3

~Chapter 34: The end of the Road ~

CPOV

I heard the sounds of voices in my head, voices I didn't recognize. They were whispering in my ear words I could not make out, there was laughter and crying, sobs of great sorrow panged in the back of my head like a hammer and all I could see was the pitch black darkness that surrounded me. Then like a ray of hope a small little voice entered my ear.

"You're almost there, Hun." I could feel the warmth of her words like her body was up against mine in an embrace. "It's not far now," she hummed in my ear, I murmured my voice trying to speak back but my mouth would not coordinate properly and I blinked in the darkness trying to find her. I could feel my hands reaching out in the thick black void; they were hitting nothing but air no matter how much I moved forward to try to touch her. "You're here now Hun; it's time for me to go."

"NO, if I'm here then why can't I touch you? No please don't go!" I could feel the coldness start to surround me as her body heat disappeared along with the rest of her presence.

"I'm sorry Hun," she whispered, her form took hold and her face was in front of mine. She smiled greatly and pulled back a lock of my hair to see me eye to eye. Then she faded away as she was about to embrace me once more. "Your mother would have been proud." Then, she was gone for good.

"No, no don't leave me Aunt Lauren!" I felt my hands wrap around something solid and held onto it for dear life. "I need you!"

Suddenly that solid something shuttered and my eyes shot open. I looked up and saw Derek wide eyed and trying to control his breathing from shock. I had him in a death grip around the waist and we were still in the car, no one else was in it and it was stationary.

"M-my god Chloe!" came a voice from outside. Tori was hooting and tapped on the window, Aidan and the frat pack had their mouths wide open.

"Looks like someone is a little..." Simon elbowed Tori and snickered. I jumped from my seat and Derek and I flew out of the car.

"What's with you guys?" I asked, Derek rubbed at the sleep in his eyes and leaned against the truck. I shot him a look of apology and he nodded in acceptance.

"Where are we?" Derek yawned, he was glancing around at the starry sky and then his eyes fell on the strip of motel rooms we were parked alongside.

"This is the resistance base camp." Simon said lining it with a laugh; he then grinned to me and chuckled. "Also known as Big Al's Bargain Inn." Tori came up beside me and stole my bag from my hand.

"We are about 10 miles up the strip from that damn man Doctor Davidoff and the rest of those freaky associates of his. The adults found the address you told them about in your dream and it's legit, the Edison group are just up the road. You will be heading that way in about four hours," she leaned down with her mouth curled into a dastardly grin. "...at the stroke of midnight." I shuddered. Derek came up between us and eyed Tori.

"Stop that, leave her alone Enright." He growled, annoyed.

"What? What? I didn't do anything, not my fault she is such a scared little rabbit. Probably is all your fault, wolf boy!" she said poking his chest.

"Hey, watch it with the wolf boy!" Simon butted in trying to prevent an argument.

"My fault? What did I do?" Derek spat back, looming over her.

"Enough you guys, quit the bickering. It's nobody's fault that I am a little nervous okay?" everyone turned to me and I faced the onslaught of their eyes.

"Chloe," Derek whispered.

"You don't have to go if you don't want to, you know?" Aidan said, his eyes were calm and sincere, Derek's nostrils flared and he turned slightly to Aidan, his eyebrow arching. Aidan stiffened and looked away.

"I know I don't have to, but I can't just sit back idly and do nothing." I shuffled my feet and pulled my jacket closer. "We didn't get this far to just let the grownups do everything for us did we?" The group slumped and their breath released as a cold plume in the chilly night air. They fell silent. "How many of you are going?" they all stared down at their shoes but I felt a hand rest on my shoulder and I looked up to see Derek.

"I'm with you." he said encouragingly. I nodded and gave a smile. Tori split from the crowd and headed for the nearest motel room.

"Well, I don't know about you guys but I am planning on getting out of this freezing ice pit we call winter and into a cheap electrically heated room." She swung my bag over her shoulder and stared sharply in my direction. "You coming?" I stiffened and turned to follow.

The guys piled into the room next door and as we were about to step inside Derek and I exchanged glances then he blushed and looked away.

~x~

I was sitting on the mattress as Tori was in the bathroom blow drying her hair. I had the remote in my hand and was flicking the channels when all of a sudden laughter erupted in the next apartment. My heart was beating fast enough from the anxiety of going on this mission; I really didn't need a shock to the senses right about now!

I looked up to the cream white wall and wondered what they were doing over there. Boys!

Slowly my eyes hovered over the clock, waiting for it to strike twelve, sort of hopping against all possible logic that it wouldn't.

DPOV

I hunkered down at the small kitchen table off to the side of the room. There were way too many werewolves... and guys in general in here, their scents driving my nose off the wall with the stench of testosterone and old spice. They were playing "Which would you rather" and as I tried to zone them out (being still half asleep and not really wanting to join in with them) I was surprised to hear my name being called.

"Yes?" I lifted my head from the table, trying my hardest to keep my eyes open.

"Well, which would you rather?" I blinked; I missed the question and did not feel like asking him to repeat it.

"I... uh," I shrugged my shoulders and guessed. "I don't know... the first one?" They broke out laughing and I had to cover my ears. "What was that for?"

"It- it's just funny to know that you would rather French-kiss Doctor Davidoff than hug Tori!" Simon laughed. I bunched my shoulders and looked away. My eyes were trying to peer through the wall to Chloe, but no matter how hard I tired I could not picture what she was doing, or how she was doing for that matter. I was so worried about her, she was oozing nervousness like it was going out of style back in the parking lot, could she possibly go through with this rescue?

Something inside of me twisted and I felt the sweet feeling of hope that it was too much for her, then I wouldn't have to worry so much about her and focus on rescuing my father.

After a while everyone settled down and started going about their own business; they were so absorbed into what they were doing I thought it was the perfect chance for a big old 6' 3 werewolf to be able to slip out into the backyard unnoticed to collect his thoughts. It was dark and the crickets were chirping from all around, I could picture Chloe commenting on them and then smile up to me in a warm beam of happiness that would make me melt. I looked up into the sky and asked the moon why it was I was so drawn to Chloe? I loved her so much, too much to be possibly a normal teenaged crush, but at the same time I had to restrain myself in order to keep her at arm's length. I didn't want to involve her in all this; I didn't want to involve her with me. I was no good for her, being a werewolf and all; it never works out when my race is involved in a relationship with someone not of our species. I don't want to put her through that. I don't, but at the same time I do.

Then all of a sudden I was cast in light. I turned and saw Chloe standing at the back door of her motel room, she was paying all her attention to her coat as she was jostling the zipper then looked up and I froze.

"Derek?"

"Chloe..."

"What are you doing out here? You're... not wearing a jacket, aren't you cold?" Then she paused and stooped her head. "Are you changing?"

"No," I snapped.

"Then what are you_?"

"No reason, I- I'll get out of your way now_." I turned to go back to the motel when she put out her hand and called my name. "What is it Chloe?"

"Um," she squirmed a little as she tried to find her words. "You... you don't have to go, I mean... I kind of hoped that I would find you out here." I stood where I was, wordless. She came up to me and nudged her elbow against mine. "That's a nice tree," she said, pointing to the only tree in the lawn, a tall shading tree with a thick trunk and long sturdy branches. One of only a few trees I've seen in my life that still looked good without its leaves in winter." And I would like to climb it so..." She tugged on my shirt sleeve"I need a spotter." then led me up to it. She beamed me a smile as we approached the tree and began her journey of climbing its boughs.

"Wow," she called ecstatically. I smiled up at her although I knew she probably couldn't make it out. "Derek, you have to come up and see this!" my heart tugged, but quiet refusly my arms and feet started climbing and before I knew it I was up beside her, starring overtop the vast forest surrounding us.

I flashed a glance and saw her beautiful smile cast brightly in the moonlight as she looked out over the beautiful scenery.

"Isn't it wonderful?"She asked, not taking her eyes off of the woods for a second. I repositioned myself more comfortably and agreed with her, starring at a beautiful spectacle of my own. "Derek," I jumped and tore my eyes away before she could notice me starring.

"Yeah?"

"I'm a little scared of going back to that horrible building, even if it is to rescue someone, the place gives me bad memories and..." she looked up and I saw a tear running down her cheek. "You do not know how bad it was being there." She was shaking her head and I noticed her scrunching herself up to combat the cold.

"I know how bad it is; I lived there for 5 years of my life."

"No," she shook her head again and rubbed the tear away. "I'm not talking about my own experiences; I am talking about my aunt Lauren's." I gathered her in my arms and held her head in my hand as I laid it on my shoulder. She sobbed to herself, telling about how in her dream she saw how much pain and torture they put her through to find out where we were. "She would be alive right now if she told them where we were heading."

"Chloe..."

"She would be alive if it wasn't for me, it's all my fault!" She pulled herself closer and gurgled into my shirt"She died trying to protect me. Why did she do that?" I came up to her ear and whispered.

"Because, she loved you." She loosened and her eyes met mine, hers a watery mess of tears and blurry blue irises. I couldn't stand see her that way. "I promise," I said, focusing on her and never looking away. "I will continue where she left off, and let nothing ever hurt you ever again." She was silent, more tears pouring from her eyes and I felt her coming closer, her face closing in on mine. "I will protect you." I said before I closed my eyes. Our lips met and her scent made my mind go wild. I promise.

CPOV

He held me and I held him, tears were smearing his face as I compressed mine against it. Then he reached up and wiped my face of my liquid sorrows. The cold wind blew and I shivered, we pulled away at that instant, an electric current sparking us as we opened our eyes and faced each other. I smiled, and he smiled back. I looked down to the ground and felt my stomach lurch.

"So uh," I mumbled, he leaned straighter and raised an eyebrow. "How do you think we are going to get down? The last time I was up this high I jumped, and that ended with an Edison Group woman unconciseness at my feet?"

"Let's not try that tonight alright?"

"Okay, I wasn't really feeling all that much like Rambo anyway."

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