Author's notes: Whoa, damn. Two chapters in a day. I'm on a roll. Lol See what happens when I don't have to go to school? Lol I hope you guys are still enjoying the story! Comments are always appreciated! As per usual I apologize for any mistakes! Thanks again for reading!

When Aurora woke up she had no idea where she was. Bolting up right her eyes darted back and forth trying to make sense of her surroundings. It was dark, but as Aurora moved her hands to her sides she realized she was in a large bed. Leaning to her right she fumbled around feeling for the lamp she was almost sure would be there. Lucky for her, it was. Turning the switch Aurora breathed a deep sigh of relief. She was in Derek's room. She was safe.

Unable to help it, Aurora burst into tears. The shock of everything that had happened in the last couple of months flooded into her mind. None of it matter though. She had Derek. And they were safe. She wiped the tears from her cheeks incredibly thankful she was alive. That Derek was alive.

Once she had calmed down she threw back the covers making a move to get up. However, she immediately regretted her decision.

"Son of a bitch." She whispered pressing her hands against both her temples. Her head was throbbing and every inch of her body hurt. Taking a deep, calming breath she tried once more to get up. This time she was successful. Getting out of the bed she walked gingerly to the door. It was only then that she noticed the freshly wrapped bandage around her left leg.

"Welp, I might need pants." She said to herself discovering she was in only a t-shirt (Derek's shirt no less) and panties. Looking around the room she saw no sign of her sweat pants. She grimaced remembering the blood stains that covered the grey pants she had once been wearing. Derek had probably thrown them way. She didn't blame him. "Looks like I'm borrowing a full outfit." Aurora sighed walking over to Derek's dresser and opening the top drawer. She quickly grabbed a pair of blue sweat pants and carefully put them on tying the string as tight as possible so they wouldn't fall off. When she was finally dressed Aurora headed toward Derek's bedroom door. She could hear the sound of rain pounding against the roof of the house as she reached for the doorknob. Just as she turned it a rumble of thunder in the distance caused her to jump. Backing away from the door she could feel her heart pounding frantically. It would have scared her under any circumstances, because let's face it, she was jumpy, but after the evening she had just had her nerves were on edge even more than usual. Trying to relax, she walked over to the foot of Derek's bed and sat down. Closing her eyes, Aurora took a deep breath trying to calm herself.

"Aurora?"

Her eyes snapped open to see Derek standing in the doorway looking at her tentatively. He had been so quiet she hadn't even heard him come in.

"Der…" She said but it came out as barely a whisper.

He closed the door behind him before moving forward slowly almost as though he was unsure of what she might do.

"I wanted to let you sleep…" Derek said stopping in his tracks before reaching Aurora. "You passed out and I thought it would be best if I brought you here…" He babbled looking down at his feet.

Getting up from the bed, Aurora all but threw herself into Derek's arms burying her face in the crook of his neck. She had no idea why, but he hesitated at first slowly wrapping his arms around her. Finally, he embraced her fully lifting her off the ground as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Aurora kissed Derek's neck as he walked her over to the bed and laid her down gently before crawling in next to her. Once they were settled, Derek leaned over, looking down at Aurora so they were face to face.

"You scared the hell out of me." He chastised and Aurora could tell he was only half joking.

"Trust me, it was not my plan to be tricked and assaulted by a crazy power hungry werewolf." Aurora said trying to lighten the mood.

Turns out it was a terrible idea on her part.

"It makes me sick to know that he put his hands on you." Derek snarled his eyes flashing red. "Did he…" He began but rage prevented him from continuing.

After a moment, Derek took a deep breath and tried again.

"Did he hurt you? I mean…more than what is visible?" He asked his voice noticeably cracking.

Aurora looked up at him, her head cocking to the side in confusion. She could only stare at him trying to comprehend what he was asking her. His eyes were full of concern and she could see that he was holding his breath.

Just then the reality of what he was asking hit Aurora like a ton of bricks.

"Oh, Derek. No. No, baby. He didn't touch me. I'm okay." She said pulling him into a hug.

His body was shaking as he took a deep breath burying his face in Aurora's neck.

"When you passed out..." Derek said his voice muffled against Aurora's skin, "I carried you to Laura's car and…I could smell his scent on you…on your neck…your mouth…"

Before he could continue Aurora gently cupped Derek's chin in her hand making him look up at her.

"I'm okay, Derek. I promise. He didn't hurt me in any way that won't heal with time and some Neosporin." She said receiving a small chuckle from Derek for her effort.

"When I smelt his scent on your lips…" Derek said his eyes glowing red once more.

"He kissed me." Aurora blurred out sending Derek into a fit of rage. She didn't know why she said it but she wanted him to know. It wasn't that she thought she had done anything wrong and she definitely had NOT kissed Alex back but she wanted Derek to know all the same. "He didn't do anything else, Derek. Please calm down. It's over. I'm okay." She pleaded.

"I can't calm down, Aurora." Derek nearly yelled getting up from the bed.

"Derek…" Aurora whispered sitting up to look at him.

"I'm sorry." Derek said turning his back to her staring blankly out the window of his bedroom.

"You don't have to be sorry, Der. It's okay, everything is fine now." Aurora promised him her tone almost desperate.

"You don't deserve this." He said quietly.

"What?" She asked getting out of the bed.

"You don't deserve this bullshit!" He shouted turning to face her. Aurora jumped at the level of his voice but didn't back down.

"You didn't deserve to be treated like that. To be forced against your will to do something you didn't want to do. To have a psychopath abuse you and threaten you." He continued beginning to pace. "I put you in danger and then I couldn't protect you…"

"You did protect me, Derek!" Aurora said raising her voice as well. "That is the only reason I'm standing here. And yeah, Alex was a psychopath but he's gone now. And I'm safe. I'm safe because of you. You didn't put me in danger, Derek. I chose to be with you! After everything I found out. I chose you."

Aurora was frantic by this point trying desperately to make Derek understand.

"You shouldn't have." He said turning away from her once more.

"…What?" She barely managed to ask.

"I'm a werewolf, Aurora. I'll always have enemies. What if you are put in the middle of another one of my conflicts and I can't save you?" He inquired bitterly.

"Derek. Don't do this. Don't push me away." Aurora begged tears filling her eyes.

Why was he doing this?

"You're sixteen, Aurora. You should be out having fun with your friends and stressing about homework and picking which college you're going to go to. Not covered in bruises lying in bed with a werewolf thankful you are still alive." Derek told her almost robotically.

"What are you saying Derek? That I should just forget the fact that I love you and go back to being a normal teenage? How Derek? How am I supposed to act like you aren't the most important thing that has ever happened to me? I love you." She said tears streaming down her face.

"Go home, Aurora. Please." Was all Derek could manage to say refusing to look at her.

"Do you not love me anymore?" She asked in a tone that nearly ripped Derek's heart in two.

There was a long pause while Derek gathered the strength to speak. He was determined not to shed a tear but this was even harder than he'd imagined. Finally he said, "I love you more than I've ever love anyone in my entire life. Which is why you need to go. I'd rather you be alive and safe away from me than ending up hurt or worse because I was too selfish to let you go."

The sadness Aurora was feeling almost immediately turned to rage upon hearing what Derek had to say.

"And what about me? What about what I want? It's my choice, Derek! Because it's my life! Have you even bothered to think about how I would feel without you?"

Derek didn't answer.

"You know what? Fine!" Aurora yelled before storming out of Derek's room.

When she reached the bottom of the stairs she practically ran for the front door.

"Aurora? Are you alright? What happened?" Laura asked getting up from the couch were she and Tyler had been watching TV.

Aurora didn't have the strength to offer up pleasantries to Tyler who looked worried as he followed Laura over to her.

"Is my car here?" Aurora managed to ask in a broken sob.

"Yeah, here are your keys." Laura said pulling them out of her pocket.

"Thank you, Laura. For everything." Aurora chocked out trying desperately not to cry any harder than she already was.

"Of course darling. Aurora, what is it? Can I do anything to help?" Laura asked in concern pulling Aurora into a hug.

Aurora hugged her back tightly trying to collect herself.

Somewhere behind her Aurora heard footsteps and she prayed to God it wasn't Derek.

"Everything alright?" Came Isaac's voice.

Aurora let Laura go and turned around finding Isaac, Lydia and Jackson looking at her curiously.

"Aw, Aurora honey. What's wrong?" Lydia asked worry washing over her face.

"I…I have to go. Thank you all. I am truly blessed to have met you." Aurora said sincerely before taking her keys from Laura and hastily walking out the door.

The drive home was long. Partly because the rain was so thick but mostly because Aurora could barely see the rode through her tears.

How could Derek just toss her aside like that while claiming he loved her. How could he disregard her feelings entirely?

Aurora didn't think it was possible, but when she got home her heart sank even lower in her chest. Two police cars were parked in front of her house and she knew Nathaniel must be worried sick. She parked quickly scrambling out of the car before dashing up her front porch steps and into the house.

"Oh my God, Aurora!" Nathaniel screamed jumping off the couch were he had been sitting to hug his big sister with all his might.

"I'm okay buddy. It's okay." She said holding him tight.

"Aurora, where have you been?!"

Aurora looked up to see Elizabeth coming out of the kitchen Mr. Walker hot on her heels.

"I'm sorry…I…" Aurora began letting go of her little brother.

She looked at Elizabeth whose face instantly went from enraged to concerned.

"Aurora? What happened?" She asked hugging her best friend.

The comfort of her best friend's arms was enough to make Aurora lose it entirely. She began sobbing her body shaking from head to toe.

"I'm here, Aurora. You're safe." Elizabeth soothed. "You're safe."

"Lizzie I'm sorry." Aurora sobbed into the other girl's shoulder.

"For what babe?" Elizabeth asked in confusion. "Here, let's sit." She said letting go of Aurora to lead her to the couch.

Once they were seated, Mr. Walker, who was looking at Aurora half like an angry/concerned parent and half like a cop, started questioning her.

"First of all, are you hurt?" Mr. Walker asked as Elizabeth wrapped her arm around Aurora who laid her head on Elizabeth's shoulder.

"No sir."

The sheriff let out a sigh of relief before continuing.

"Nathaniel tells me you said you were stopping by our house before going to get the two of you some ice cream. What exactly happened to that game plan, kiddo?"

Aurora looked up at Elizabeth's dad completely at a loss for words. What the hell was she supposed to tell him? 'Sorry sheriff. I was actually trying to save your daughter who wasn't ever in any danger when I got attacked by a psycho and watched my boyfriend snap his neck just to get dumped a couple hours later?' No. That wasn't going to cut it.

"I'm sorry, sir. I got a flat tire and my phone died." Aurora lied saying the first thing that came to her mind.

"How did you get home?" the sheriff asked clearly not buying her story.

"I walked to the closest gas station and called for help. I was really upset because it was pouring and I just wanted my car fixed so I totally forget to call Nathaniel to let him know I was okay. I'm sorry for being so irresponsible." She explained to the sheriff but she was looking at her little brother.

"You scared the crap out of me Aurora." Nathaniel said trying and failing to be angry.

"I know Nate. I'm so sorry."

"How are you clothes so dry?" The sheriff asked eyeing Aurora's ill-fitting outfit.

At that Nathaniel's eyes went wide, "Hey, you weren't wearing that when you…" He said before abruptly slapping a hand over his mouth.

"Nathaniel what were you going to say?" Mr. Walker asked his agitation visibly rising.

"Dad if Aurora says she had a flat tire that's what happened." Elizabeth said firmly. "She's obviously had a hard night so can we pick this up in the morning?"

The sheriff looked like he was going to argue but instead he just sighed in frustration.

"You two are staying at our house tonight." Mr. Walker said, Nathaniel and Aurora nodding in recognition.

Quickly they both packed their overnight bags meeting Elizabeth and the sheriff on the porch. Aurora made sure the house was locked before she and Nathaniel followed Elizabeth and her dad back to their house.

"Aurora. What the hell happened?" Nathaniel said from the passenger's seat of her car.

"This is far too short of a drive for me to explain everything little brother and to be honest? I'm exhausted." She said hoping Nathaniel wouldn't press the issue.

"You are going to tell me though?" He asked hopefully.

"Yeah, I will." She said offering him a weak smile as she parked in front of Elizabeth's house.

He nodded grabbing an umbrella before getting out of the car. Aurora took a deep breath, thankful that she would have enough time to make up something to tell her brother. Grabbing the other umbrella and her bag from the backseat Aurora gathered as much courage as she could muster and followed Nathaniel's lead.