That you guys, for sticking around! Hope you like it!

~~Enjoy~~

Sleeping for me is never restful. I am always pulled into a memory; be it my own or some else's. Granted that being part vampire means that I don't have to sleep, I chose to anyway. Memories are important pieces to who we are, events that have defined us, and feelings that have marked us. Most of the memories I have seen are not mine. Usually they are happy or sad or full of fear, but this one, this was a living nightmare.

I'm seeing bits and pieces of a celebration. A family both human and werewolf alike attended this celebration. It was being held in the basement so the shifting games could go unnoticed to the world. Then the place was set ablaze. I could hear the screams of the people around me, feel my flesh melting away, and I could smell the scorching death around me. I was wiping the flames from my skin only to see it wipe away with them. There was so much pain, so much agony, and so much fear that I could feel myself drowning in it. The last thing I felt was regret, a tinge of hope, and slight relief before the memory faded into what felt like eternal darkness.

My eyelids slid open slowly. I felt heavy as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. That was different. I sat up on the bed and looked beside me. Derek was gone. I sighed lightly. Had I really expected him to be there? Well, to a degree. I shook my head and got up out of bed. I decided to do things the human way for a change. I took a shower, dried my hair, changed clothes, and headed down stairs. I was wearing my black jeans, grey tank, red leather jacket, and my favorite zip up leather boots. Why were they my favorite? Well, they had those fat square heels on them, were super comfy, and were only three inches high, which means I can run in them. I had decided to braid my hair for a change and was tying the end as I rounded the corner to the kitchen.

You ever have one of those days were it starts off bad and just keeps getting worse? You know, the kind of day where you knew you should have stayed in bed today. Well, my day just got worse. I knew that scent, that sweet deceitful scent. I stopped dead in my tracks as I looked up at none other than Kate Argent.

I sighed heavily.

"To what do I owe this displeasure?"

Kate was leaning over the island in my direction.

"Chris was telling me about how you've grown so much since last we saw you. So, I decided to come pay you a visit. See you for myself."

"You've seen me. Now get out."

She frowned as she pretended to be hurt.

"Awe, now sweetie, is that any way to treat an old friend?"

"You're old, I'll give you that."

She smiled.

"You'd know all about being old now wouldn't you?"

I rolled my eyes.

"You can leave now."

She stood up and ran her hand along the island's surface.

"I remember this kitchen like I was in it yesterday. You've kept it the same for all these years, I'm glad."

"Don't try to manipulate me with a trip down memory lane. That shit doesn't work on me anymore."

She bit her lip seductively and leaned against the counter.

"I'm not trying to manipulate you Whitney. I'm just talking."

I didn't like where this was going. You see, I have a dark spot in my past when I may have messed with black magic. I was more vampire than anything back then and hunters wanted me dead. Vampires are very sexual creatures as it turns out; females more so than males. A female vampire will bed both sexes just to be able to feed on the endorphin high. Kate was eighteen when I met her and yes, against everything inside of me, I dated Kate. This is what I had forgotten when the ageing spell backfired. I forgot about a lot of things until the fire occurred. Being trapped in an iron casket will jog a few memories. Why? Well, iron is what I use for memory spells too powerful for me to handle. I'm not proud of my younger self and I don't enjoy remembering the sweet and sour taste of her blood.

It's time for a new barrier spell.

I rolled my eyes.

"What do you want, really?"

Kate smiled and walked towards me. I walked backwards until I was at the bottom of the staircase and she continued to walk to the front door.

"As I said. I was just paying you a visit."

"Don't make a habit of it."

She pulled a small box from her jacket pocket and placed it on the table against the wall by the door.

"I got you a little something. Hope you like it."

Her eyes held mischief in them but her heart said she meant it. Kate opened the door and walked to her car. I casted a new barrier spell on my house before going over and picking up the box. Tears began to fall down my face. I didn't have to open the box to know that the talismans of my coven sat within it. I held the box to my chest and grieved for my brothers and sisters quietly.

"I'm so glad you like your gift!"

My eyes shifted in anger.

"I'll kill you for this Kate!"

"No you won't."

She smiled before shooting me. A silver bullet housing wolfsbane and vervain passed through my heart. Now, if Kate hadn't killed my coven before she shot me, I'd be dead for a very long time, eighty years at the most. My world went dark. I'm pretty sure Kate thought she'd killed me for good this time. I did too, until I heard Derek's voice.

"Whitney!"

I could feel him hover over me.

"What happened to her?"

Was that Scott? What's he doing here?

"She's been shot."

"With what?"

I could Derek move my shirt so he could look at the bullet wound. He tried to find the bullet and I was screaming in pain mentally.

"I can't reach it so I don't know."

"Is she dead?"

Derek sighed and I could hear Scott pick up the box Kate had left me.

"What's this?"

I heard Scott open it and Derek growled deeply.

"What are these?"

"Those are the talismans of her coven."

"Why does she have them?"

Derek patted my cheek.

"Wake up Whit."

I managed to grab the pack connection weakly.

Place…my hand…over…the wound…

Derek took my right hand and laid it on top of the bullet wound. I gathered my strength and used my magic to pull the bullet out. My eyes shot open as I gasped for air. Derek placed a hand behind my head and helped me sit up.

"Are you alright?"

I smiled.

"Well, except for the agonizing pain."

Scott shook his head.

"Really?"

"What?"

Derek hugged me.

"Don't scare me like that ever again."

"Sorry. You're ex-girlfriend wanted to give me a present. She then proceeded to fire a silver bullet packed with wolfsbane and vervain."

"Doesn't that put you in a death like sleep for eighty years?"

"It should have, but my coven passed their powers to me when they were killed. I now possess the power of thirteen witches, making me the strongest of their kind."

Scott thought about before speaking.

"How did you gain their power?"

Derek looked at Scott.

"A coven is a family by blood. When a coven of thirteen has a leader that witch is chosen to gain the power of those who die."

"So what does that mean for her now?"

I looked at Scott.

"It means my entire family is gone…I'm alone…"

Derek patted my back.

"Come on. We're going to track the alpha. You should come."

I nodded and both of them helped me up. My wound had healed so I used my magic to fix the hole in my shirt. The three of us followed the Alpha's scent around until we came up to a movie rental store. The police and the medics were already there. We climbed the roof of the store and watched the events below. I frowned.

"He killed an innocent person again."

Derek took my hand and looked at Scott.

"Starting to get it?"

This was a teaching lesson for Scott. I was just here so I wouldn't be home alone. Great.

Scott was confused.

"Uh, I-I get that he's killing people, but I don't get why. I mean, this isn't standard practice, right? We don't go out in the middle of the night murdering everyone, do we?"

Scott looked at Derek and he inhaled deeply.

"No. We're predators."

I squeezed Derek's hand as Scott looked at me.

"We don't have to be killers, Scott. It's a choice."

"Why is he a killer?"

Is it just me or is Scott starting to sound like a pup?

Derek looked at everyone on the ground.

"That's what we're gonna find out."

He walked away and Scott followed him. I stood there for a moment before turning around. Scott looked back at me to make sure I was coming. I could see the red glowing spiral on the roof of the store. I wonder if Derek saw that. I followed them not shortly after and Derek took my hand in his again. He was trying to comfort me. Scott took a hold of my other hand. Derek didn't like it but he didn't say anything to Scott. I'm sure he felt that I may have needed the comfort of my best friend. I'm not sure when it was that we arrived at Derek's house, but I had mentally taken on my inner wolf from here on out. From here on out, I was more wolf than anything else. I will be the alpha I am for I am tired of being so weak. Scott, Stiles, and Derek are my pack now. I looked at Derek when Scott let go of my hand as we walked inside Derek's house.

"I'm fine Derek. Honest."

He let go of my hand, kissing me as he did so.

"Stay here. I'll be right back."

I smiled and nodded as he headed up the stairs. Scott stood beside me at the bottom of the staircase.

"You know, I-I have a life too."

I rolled my eyes.

"No, you don't."

"Yes, I do!"

Derek turned back to us.

"I don't care what you say about him making me his pet or -"

Derek rocked on his heels.

"Part of his pack."

Scott rolled his eyes.

"Whatever. I have homework to do. I have to go to a parent/teacher conference tomorrow because I'm failing chemistry."

I was confused.

"You're failing chemistry? Since when?"

He looked at me.

"Since now."

"Unbelievable."

Derek gave Scott a look.

"You wanna do homework? Or do you wanna not die? You have less than a week until the full moon. You don't kill with him, he kills you."

Scott was getting fed up.

"Okay, seriously, who made up these rules?"

I smiled.

"It's a rite of passage into his pack."

"You know what else is a rite of passage? Graduating from high school. And you don't have to kill anyone to do it! Why can't you just find him yourself? Why can't you just sniff him out when he's a human?"

He's got a point. High school is important.

"Because his human scent could be entirely different. It has to be you. You have a connection with him, a link that you can't understand. If I can teach you to control your abilities, you can find him."

Scott thought about it a moment.

"So if I help you, you guys can stop him?"

I placed a hand on Scotts shoulder.

"Not alone. We're stronger in numbers. A pack makes the individual more powerful."

Scott shook his head.

"How am I supposed to help if I have no idea what I'm doing?"

I looked at Derek.

"Because he's gonna teach you."

Derek nodded.

"Do you remember what happened that first night you were shot in the arm - Right after you were hit?"

I looked at Scott in shock. He rubbed the back of his head.

"Yeah, I changed back."

Scott didn't tell me he was shot…

"And when you were hit by his car, same thing, right? What's the common denominator?"

I glared at Scott.

"You were hit by a car?"

"Didn't I tell you?"

"No!"

"My bad."

Derek took a hold of Scott's wrist.

He can't be serious.

I looked at Derek.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"He needs to know."

Derek broke Scott's wrist and Scott groaned loudly in pain.

"Derek!

"It'll heal."

"That's not the point!"

"It still hurt!"

"And that's what keeps you human - Pain."

Scott's wrist healed and Derek motioned in a 'see?' manner.

"Maybe you will survive."

Derek headed up the stairs as Scott got up.

"Was that necessary?"

I sighed.

"Derek is a 'learn from experience' kind of person."

"Couldn't you teach me instead?"

I smiled.

"It's better if you learn from another male. I'd go easy on you because you're my friend and I care about you. Derek knows this so he's taken the job."

I took my jacket off and made it disappear.

"I'd rather you do it."

I giggled a little.

"Quit being such a pup Scott. I'll teach you what I can but Derek is better at this than I am."

Scott sighed in defeat.

"I'm gonna head home. Tell your boyfriend I need a break and not literally."

I nodded at him as he walked away.

He really does act like a spoiled pup.

I looked up at the stairs.

That's my fault. I know.

It's not entirely a bad thing.

I rolled my eyes.

I think Stiles would have been a little more submissive.

He'd be dead right now.

I laughed. Derek was right, but it was funny. Derek came back down the stairs.

"Are you sure you're alright? I know I wasn't when I lost my family, but I had Laura to help me through it."

I looked at the ground. I was still broken inside to be honest, but I'll grieve in my own way.

"All I'm saying is that I'm here for you."

He took a hold of my chin, lifting my face up to his so he could kiss me. I hooked my fingers into his belt loops, deepening the kiss as his hand slid down my throat. His hand stopped at the base of my neck, pushing me away slightly. Our eyes were glowing softly as we stared at each other.

"Courting you is killing me."

I smiled.

"Then hurry it up a bit. I'll be in heat before you complete the ritual."

Derek walked me backwards until I was against the wall.

"Don't make me mess this up Whitney."

I pressed my body against his.

"But I like watching you squirm."

He growled at me in warning and I pouted.

"Fine. I'm gonna take a nap. Try not to do anything stupid while I do."

I walked away from him and over to the couch.

"No promises."

I rolled my eyes as I laid down. I woke up that next day to the smell of sweat. I sat up and looked over at Derek. There he was, doing pull ups on the door frame. This is step two huh? Showing me your strength visually…now I'm the one squirming. Derek had covered me in his jacket again so I slipped it on.

"Finally awake I see."

"How long was I asleep?"

"Most of the day."

"Wow."

I got up and walked over to him.

"You've really filled in haven't you?"

He smirked at me as I stared at him. I placed my hand on his abdomen and walked around him. The sweat on his body glistened off of him to my hearts delight. I nipped at his right side as acceptance of his show. I stood in front of him as he got down and started pushups; the one handed kind. I smiled and inhaled deeply. I looked at Derek the second he stopped. We heard footsteps.

"Derek."

"Stay out of sight. I'll handle this."

"But Derek."

"Go."

I turned invisible as Derek ran off. The door was kicked in. Two men and Kate walked in.

"No one home."

Kate smiled.

"Oh, he's here. He's just not feeling particularly hospitable."

"Maybe he's out burying a bone in the backyard."

That was a disappointing remark.

Kate turned to the guy who made the joke.

"Really? A dog joke? We're going in there, and that's the best you got?"

She was just as disappointed as I was.

"If you wanna provoke him, say something like, too bad your sister 'bit it' before she had her first litter. Too bad she howled like a bitch when we cut her in half!"

Derek roared in anger. I could see one of the men go flying towards the wall. I walked up the stairs quietly to look at a crouched Derek. He stood slowly, jumping on the stairs, and onto the wall where he used his claws to stay there. His teeth were the only thing that shifted and he roared at Kate again. I went back towards the front door as the other male hunter walked closer to Derek. Derek jumped on staircase and grabbed the doorframe, kicking the male unconscious to the floor. Derek jumped down and roared at Kate lightly. Kate drew a night stick looking thing from her back side. I heard the current in it as it un-collapsed. It's like a cattle prong.

"Derek!"

I turned visible while calling his name, but I was too late. The second I yelled his name, he attacked Kate, who shocked him with her weapon. Derek was on the ground in pain as Kate looked at me. She smiled and looked down at Derek.

"This one grew up in all the right places, didn't it Whit? I don't know whether to kill it or lick it."

I growled at Kate in warning.

"Get away from him."

"Make me."

My eyes, hands, and teeth shifted as I roared at Kate.

"Let's see what you got."

I disappeared and reappeared behind her, kicking her in the back as I did. She stumbled away from Derek and I stood defensively beside him. Kate turned and laughed.

"You're kidding me. You two? Together? Since when?"

I roared at Kate again just as Derek placed a hand on my leg.

"Calm down. I'm fine."

I shifted back to my human form.

"Touch him again and I'll kill you."

It was the silver dust that caught me off guard, allowing Kate to shock me. I groaned and punched her in the face. I stumbled backwards in pain as she recovered, coming at me again. I tried to catch her wrist but I grabbed her weapon instead. Kate shocked me again, this time, it was longer. I finally fell to ground in pain. She stuck the weapon against my neck, shocking me again. She did this round even longer. I was screaming in pain and when she stopped, I was ready to pass out. I was immortal, not numb. Derek crawled over to the couch and tried to attack Kate, only to get shocked again. He rolled over to the glass door, my vision was super blurry.

"900,000 volts. You never were good with electricity, were you? Or fire."

Kate looked at me.

"You on the other hand, can tolerate it to a degree."

She looked back at Derek.

"Which is why I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. And, well, maybe we can help each other out. Yes, your sister was severed into pieces and used as bait to try to catch you. Unpleasant, and frankly, a little too Texas chainsaw massacre for my taste, but quite true. Now, here's the part that might really kick you in the balls; we didn't kill her.

Derek sat up against the glass door as my vision started to clear.

"You think I'm lying?"

Duh.

"Wouldn't be the first time."

I tried to sit up as Kate walked over and knelt down to his eye level.

"Tsk, sweetie."

I growled lightly and Kate laughed at me.

"Why don't you just listen to my heart and tell me if I am. Okay? We - didn't - kill - your - sister. Do you hear that? There's no blips or upticks. Just the steady beat of the cold, hard truth."

Kate got up and walked over to me.

"We found bite marks on your sister's body, Derek. What do you think did that? A mountain lion?"

She shocked me again and put the weapon away. She took my hair out of the braid it was in and combed her hand through it.

"You look better with your hair down. Isn't that right Derek?"

She walked back over to him and smiled.

"Why aren't we helping each other out? You might as well admit what you've been guessing all along, which is - The Alpha killed your sister. And all you have to do is tell us who he is, and we'll take care of it for you. Problem solved, everybody goes home happy."

Derek looked at the ground so Kate looked at me.

"I know you didn't do it, but you know who did don't you? You can feel his dark energy can't you Whit?"

I looked at Derek and then back at Kate. She smiled.

"Unless - You two don't know who he is either. Wow. Guess who just became totally useless?"

Derek and I bailed out of the house just as Kate started shooting at us. We ran into the woods until we thought it was safe. Derek turned around to look at his house. His green eyes held both disbelief and anger. I put my hand over my neck and pulled a bullet out. The wound was healing as Derek turned back to me.

"I thought I told you I'd handle it."

"Well, you weren't handling it very well were you?"

"I had it under control!"

"You call being electrocuted having it under control?!"

He glared at me and I ran a hand down my face.

"I'm sorry, okay? I'm your mate Derek, I'm going to want to protect you. So I'm sorry if that challenges your masculinity."

I walked off and headed to my house. I wasn't expecting Derek to stop me, but he did. He grabbed my wrist and I stared at the ground.

"Look at me."

"Let me go."

"Look at me, please."

It was the sadness in his tone that made me look at him.

"I'm sorry too. I've never been with someone who was like me. I know you're doing what your instincts are telling you to do, but so am I. I'm just not used to all this."

I sighed.

"I know."

"I'm serious Onyx. I need you."

My heart skipped a beat.

"I heard that."

I rolled my eyes.

"Stop it. I'm trying to be mad at you."

"Never."

Derek pulled me to him and he kissed me. I wrapped my arms around his neck, sliding a hand into his hair, deepening the kiss as I did so. He pressed his body against mine as his hands slid down my back. I pulled my lips from his so I could breathe.

"I'm starting to get needy."

"Is that what you call it?"

"I've always wanted you Derek, now I need you."

"Careful what you say Whitney."

I purred as Derek nipped at my neck. I pressed his head closer as he nipped again. I shivered when he licked the crook of my neck.

"Derek, please."

"Please what?"

My eyes shifted as I leaned my head to the right for him.

"Mark me."

I could feel his teeth shift. I moaned softly as he ran his canines down my neck. I moaned when his teeth sank into my skin and I howled when the skin broke. I whined when his teeth retracted.

"Mine."

Derek half growled, half purred into my ear.

"All yours."

Another long, slow, passionate kiss was shared before we walked into my house.

Oh, wow. Really guys? Hurry it up already! XD Opinions, thoughts, comments, and theories are all welcome. The writer has no idea how the readers like the story if the readers don't tell her.

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