Claire kept her pace with Isaac and Scott, feet pounding the ground as they ran as fast as they could. Trying to outrun alphas was a feat in itself. Trying to do it while making sure dumb and dumber didn't trip? That was a different story. Scott and Isaac were at school when the alpha twins decided they were going to play hide and seek. Claire only managed to not to hit Scott when he ran in front of Derek's Camaro. And now, they were running - the hunted.

"We split up!"

Claire didn't bother to wait for the two of them to protest as she sped up, running straight, jumping over fallen logs in the process. She faintly heard Scott and Isaac go right and left. She kept running, her chest heaving and she flicked off her shoes. Better running meant you had to lose your shoes. It was better than being dead.

She skidded to a halt and nearly ran into one of the double mint twins. Her mind screamed SHIT! and she quickly side stepped the flea infested mutt.

"You're mine now."

It had been good to see her enemy again. Positively heartwarming. Hallmark really needed to start up a line of revenge cards. She was sure she'd be sending and receieving a lot of them.

"Aren't you the gay one?" She raised an eyebrow, defiant.

She saw his eyes flash anger. But that still didn't stop her.

"One of these days your mouth is going to write a check that your cute little ass can't cash."

"Oh, don't worry fur ball, I plan to be writing that check out in your name." Claire retorted, kicking Thing One right in the chest.

She took off not a moment later, gaining some speed. She thought she had lost him. But that wasn't the case this time. She felt the claws dig into her side, ripping and tearing the skin. Her legs gave out and she fell face first into the grass. Using her arms to push herself over, Claire looked into the faces of Dumb and Dumber. Either that or she was just seeing double.

"I think I declare this as a victory." Thing Two spoke first.

"I don't think so!" She looked up to see Scott and Isaac, their leaping forms landing right in front of her, blocking her from the twins. Claire fought to get to her feet, stumbling as she held on to her side.

"You haven't won." Claire spoke with defiance. "Tell Deucalion that I have a score to settle with him and if I have to go through his pack, that's just what I'll do." She grabbed the gun that was hidden underneath her shirt and fired the whole clip into both of them.

"RUN!"

"Can you ru-"

"I said run." Claire pushed them both into a run.

The mountain ash laced bullets wouldn't hold them for long, but it would be long enough to get them back to Derek's. She hoped. Right now, hope was all she had.

When they did manage to get back to Derek's, Isaac was nearly carrying Claire with the way he had been supporting her. Derek's eyes met hers as soon as the door open. If it wasn't for Scott and Isaac, she would've fallen to her knees.

"What happened?"

"Alpha twins - they chased us into the woods." Derek took Claire's limp body and laid her on the table.

"Claire, can you hear me?" Derek lifted her shirt to reveal four deep gashes in her side.

"You can see her ribs." Scott looked horrified.

"She'll heal."

"She'll heal? Derek have you lost your mind?!"

"She's an Alpha!" Derek growled. "She's a werewolf by birth - just like me."

Scott looked at him, still horrified. So that's what Claire meant by still being shot with mountain ash and wolfsbane laced bullets. How had he not figured it out already?

She was one of them.

Derek's hands clamped down on her side that was torn open, with all his strength, he broke each rib on that side. There was a sickening CRACK! with each bone and both Scott and Isaac winced.

Claire brought them all out of their thoughts by sucking in a breath.

"Derek.."

"I'll yell at you later." Derek lifted her off the table, wincing slightly at the cry of pain that left her lips. He gently set her down on the couch and pulled the coffee table closer so that he could sit on it.

"Where were you two?!"

"Don't - don't blame them." Claire rested her hand against his arm. "I -I told them we should..." She squeezed her eyes shut before opening them again. "...split up."

"They would have torn her to shreds if we hadn't gotten there when we did." Isaac threw in.

Derek didn't seem to notice, he kept his gaze on Claire, her hand going limp from his arm.

"She gonna be okay?" Scott asked.

"She needs a few days to heal."

Sometimes IVs and pills weren't always the best course of treatment for the injured. Sometimes all you needed was the touch of the one you loved and the sound of their voice and the knowledge that you were home, and that was enough to drag you back from the brink.

And that's exactly what Derek's voice had done for her as her mind, body, and soul ushered her into a much needed resting.

When she finally awoke, it was darker than an apocalypse. She remembered fighting Thing One and Two, but what happened after that, her brain refused to let her remember. She carefully sat up and groaned.

"Easy. You're still healing."

Derek.

"You're really crazy, you know that?"

Claire chuckled despite her injuries, wincing none-the-less. "Crazy is such a misunderstood term. I like to think that I march to the beat of my own drummer."

Derek took up residence on the coffee table again. Women, they were tricky business. A man had to step carefully lest he find himself in a pit of despair, longing after the one he wants and getting nothing but scorn in return. What was it about her that drove him crazy? He'd never had such a wild and instantaneous reaction to a woman before.

Then again, she wasn't an ordinary woman.

Derek had reached over and pulled the blanket that he had covered her with away. It was healing - that much was true - but still it would take awhile.

"What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking it would be better if they hurt me, rather than your pack."

Derek shook his head. "They can take care of themselves."

Life is a gamble, It's harsh and painful most of the time, and it's not for the timid. Spoils go to the victor, not to the one who doesn't even show up for the battle. Claire didn't care for her life if it meant she'd help someone else. It was one of her many faults that were going to lead to her downfall sooner or later. Her mother always said that our scars are there to remind us of out pasts, of where we've been and what we've gone through. But that pain doesn't have to drive or determine our future. We can rise about it if we let ourselves. It's not easy, but nothing in life ever is. This is what she must have meant.

"I'm going with Scott and Isaac to try and get Boyd and Cora under control. I'll lock the door, but I need you to stay here."

"Cora? Your sister, Cora?" Claire sat up straighter, wincing more. "I thought she was dead."

"See, I would have explained it to you had you not run off and got yourself torn up. Rest. I'm not kidding, Claire, I'll tie you to the couch if I have to." He stood, bending down to kiss her forehead.

"Promise?" She teased.

Derek rolled his eyes at her and left as Claire snuggled back under the covers. Let the big bad alpha go into battle. Maybe it'll teach him a lesson, her mind told her.

And that's what she was going to do.

Author's Note: Another chapter and I'm getting excited again. Reviews are much appreciated, as you all know already. (: