Author's Note: Hi guys! I'm alive. I'm sorry, life got in the way once again. T_T

Anyway, I suggest going back and catching up if you don't remember where we are. Hopefully I'll be able to post again very soon since this chapter is very short. This chapter doesn't go through a lot but it's more a chapter just to get me back into the story, so hopefully you'll be understanding.

Well, I hope you enjoy :)

Avery

Jake stares back at me, pure terror in his eyes. His lip trembles, he's scared to see me. "Avery," he looks me up and down, tears brimming at his eyes, "Avery I'm- I'm so-"

"Go." I force the word out of my fighting lips. My teeth are locked together in a vice grip. If I open them even the slightest, they'll find their way around Jake's neck, I know it. My hand reaches up and grips the doorframe. My nails dig into the wood.

A tear brims over Jake's eyes and rolls down his cheek, I nearly let out a growl watching it. "Please, please go." My face is shifting; I look down at the floor in an attempt at hiding my face.

"Avery," I watch as his hand approaches my cheek, trying to raise my face to look at him. My canines ache to bury themselves into his skin.

"Run," I say, lifting my twisted face to look at him, "or I'm going to kill you." He steps backwards abruptly. He falls back down the steps and lands on the ground looking up at me, horror in his eyes.

I smile and step out of the doorway. My bare feet touch the cool brick of the steps. Jake scrambles backwards and finally manages to stand up. He blinks a few times, hoping to change what he sees. I laugh darkly.

Jake takes off running towards the tree line.

I laugh harder.

The forest was dark and calm, not a cricket dared chirp and not a leaf dared rustle. A heavy fog had fallen to the floor of the woods, just thick enough to be eerie.

All was silent, until the perimeter of the forest was breached. A stumbling figure came sprinting into the fog, running for its life.

The male figure was fast, his eyes glowing gold and his legs carrying him over the exposed tree roots which would've tripped any regular prey up easily. His pursuer was much faster, catching up to him easily, but keeping her distance, toying with her prey.

The fog swirled around their forms and rose up into the air. The moon shone down through the tree tops, casting shadows down onto the hunt.

"You feel it don't you?" she asked, a smile on her lips. "That panic? That fear of death?"

Her voice nipped at his ears, reminding him of how close she was. She weaved through the trees behind him, coming to his left, but then dropping back and approaching from the right. He let out a frustrated growl. His legs couldn't carry him any faster, even with his bestial powers. On the other hand, she barely seemed to be trying.

Her hearing was locked in on his heartbeat, the sound of it made her fangs ache to silence it. She longed for the metallic taste in her mouth, for the snap of bones and the tear of skin.

"I hope you do." She caught his leg and tripped him up. Instead of tearing into him, she kept running. She circled him in the shadows, whipping up the fog all around them.

All he could see were her light red eyes as they watched him.

He rose from his spot on the ground and took a defensive stance. "I HAD TO RUN, I HAD NO CHOICE!" He screamed back at her.

"Coward," she growled as she charged through the fog. Her claws tore at him, but his arm blocked the slash from connecting with his neck. The force of it drove him back and he let out a pained growl. She brought her blood soaked claw to her face, letting her crimson fingers slide down her cheek to her mouth.

She licked at the blood and her body relaxed, "I'm going to kill you, Jake. You know that, don't you?" Jake shook with fear, his vision lost the red tint, and the forest became too dark for him to see. His vision blurred, his throat tightened, grief tore at his heart.

He dropped to his knees. "I'm so sorry," he stared at the light glowing red eyes, "I tried."

"Fuck that," Avery's words came out in a darkened laugh, the tail end of them was a snarl, and her shape once again charged through the fog towards him.

Jake sat on the forest floor, his cowardice once again showing itself to her, which only drove her madness further. As she approached and her features became clearer, Jake felt a rumble rip through the forest.

His eyes widened as a black shadow swallowed Avery's form up and threw her against a tree trunk. The breath was knocked from her and Jake could hear her gasping for air.

The shadow which threw her stood just feet from him. As the shape turned towards him, Jake saw the deep blood red of his eyes, a true alpha for sure, but not the one that he knew.

Avery slowly stood up, "Stay out of this." Her eyes were normal, she was Avery again.

"You're not thinking straight." The voice was deep and careful.

"You're damn right I'm not!" she took a few steps towards the shadow. "I haven't since he-" Avery's finger shot out, pointing towards Jake. Her words broke off, like she'd lost her train of thought. She gripped her head, "No, no, no, I had it," her voice was frustrated.

"Avery, he was chasing us, I couldn't do anything!" Jake cried out. The blood red eyes turned on Jake, widened and angry. They seemed to say Keep quiet, you idiot.

Avery's eyes became the faint red once more and she let out a roar as she came running towards Jake once again. The shadow met her in the middle and braced for her attack. She reached her claws above her head and the shadow caught them.

"Derek," she growled. "Let me kill him. Let me kill him like he killed me."

His grip seemed to loosen. He was thinking. Jake let out a near whimper at the sight. Derek was considering it. His eyes turned once again to Jake.

"I'm sorry." Derek said, his eyes locked onto Jake. Jake's heart dropped. Avery smiled wickedly. Derek turned back to Avery, loosening his grip on her arms.

Just as she was free from his grip, a mysterious shockwave broke through the air from Derek's head toward Avery's.

Her body went completely limp, and as she fell back towards the ground, Derek caught her effortlessly and threw her over his shoulder. His actions were smooth and gentle, his care evident.

Jake thought to make a break for it as Derek turned to leave towards the heart of the forest. "If you don't want to die tonight," he said to Jake, "you'll follow me." He began walking, clearly expecting Jake to follow. "Don't, and I'll wake her up and let her tear you apart."

One Hour Later

Derek

I fasten Avery's restraints tightly against the chair arms. Her face is limply resting against her shoulder. The musty air of the basement is thick and heavy, and made no lighter by Jake's presence.

The boy stands awkwardly at the basement steps, ready at any second to run up the steps and out of the house.

"Who turned you?" I ask, turning towards the boy, who watches Avery with a look of sadness. I don't appreciate him looking at her at all.

Jake hesitates. "I don't know. He never shows his face, never told me his name." I resist the urge to snarl slightly.

"You're part of his pack and he's never shown himself to you?" I ask.

"Look, I don't know what he wants from me; he just bit me and told me what I am. I haven't heard from him in a while." I listen to his heartbeat for a lie, but he's being honest.

I ignore his response for now, "When did he bite you?"

Jake takes in a deep breath, "The night of the accident."

I step forward towards him, purposefully making him uncomfortable. "You're going to tell me exactly what happened that night."

Jake looks back with a nervous fear in his eyes, I sense no maliciousness in him, but I dislike him all the same.

Author's Note: I know, I know, I really have to get on with it now. But I think you'll like the next chapter. An old familiar face will be coming back into play soon, and that should be fun. :)

And what's with Avery's red eyes, you ask? Guess you'll just have to wait to have that cleared up :)