Sorry it's taken so long to get this chapter up but life's been busy for me. I really hope you enjoy this chapter because I did enjoy writing it. It took a few rewrites to get the last section correct and to my liking so please let me know what you thought of it as well. Enjoy!

He avoided her all week. Every hallway, every corridor, and every classroom seemed to carry her scent. The primal urge to find her, to touch her, was driving him insane. He wasn't sure how much longer he could stay away from her. The sudden departure of her presence from his life, was a slow torture he had never experienced before.

Most would assume he stayed away because she had showed him up. She had brought his masculinity to a stand still the moment she had stepped out of that mustang. The pure rumble of heavy horsepower irritated the other males. Had he been an ordinary guy, he might have suffered from wounded pride. Her blatant display of sensual power had aroused him like never before. His eyes had held nothing but a burning desire for her. And for that reason, he stayed away.

He had never met a woman that appealed to both him and his wolf. And with the full moon approaching quickly, he was having a hard time controlling his urges around her. A simple flutter of her hair had him wishing he could bury his head within that fresh scent. An innocent lick of lips had him wondering what she would taste like.

He finally lost it a week ago. She had been talking to him about a paper in her English class, he was imagining picking her up, wrapping her legs around his waist and slamming her against the locker she was so innocently searching through. His wolf was having no problem picturing what it would be like to claim her.

He avoided her to keep her safe.

There had been two other women in his life. Kate appealed to his wolf because she had been abrasive and to the point. When that moon rose, she had had no problem with him slamming her against a wall. Unfortunately, the novelty wore off relatively soon. Her constant need to know every detail of his life, angered him to no end. His wolf lost interest.

His wolf had never agreed with his first and only love so far. He found her too innocent and had had a hard time picturing anything past holding hands with her. Derek couldn't blame the animal that was so much a part of him. He lived by simple rules: feed, survive, find a mate, protect his mate. Even though he would've protected her, to admit that Paige was their mate, was a task too difficult for his wolf to grasp.

Derek, on the other hand, couldn't get enough of her. Paige was innocence. Her entire soul exuded love. He had never known until it was too late, but he had never deserved her. His doomed eternity as a beast, could never match that of a songbird. His desperate need to keep something beautiful in his life, had ended hers.

And now there was Alex; an entirely different creature.

She mixed like sand in a bottle. She wasn't too rough and she wasn't entirely angelic. His wolf craved her skin touching his. His human side craved her beautiful soul. He knew deep down that he was bad for her. What if he was doomed to forever repeat his past?

The soft thud of heavy combat boots, alerted him to another presence. He broke free from his thoughts and concentrated on the books he was trying to remove from his locker.

"Derek!"

Laura. She had made this whole ordeal even more difficult. She was close to Alex and even though he was her brother, she still knew how much of an idiot he could be at times. She had made it her personal mission to find out why he had suddenly turned into the jackass of the year.

"Derek! Why are you avoiding Alex?" It was a question he had zero intentions of answering. If his sister only knew of the things that went through his mind when Alex was in the general vicinity.

"Derek!" Her hand slammed violently next to his head; her strength controlled enough to barely dent the metal. The few people still loitering suddenly vacated the hall. Their backward glances held sympathy for him. They knew the wraith of the Hales.

"Yes?" He was slowly losing control over his emotions. He knew she could hear the growl behind those letters. His beast was close to the surface and any mention of Alex could send him over the edge.

"Don't give me the innocent bullshit Derek. I know you heard me." Yeah he did hear her. Her pissed off voice tended to take on a screech of it's own.

"I'm not avoiding her."

"You used to sit next to her every time we studied. You two were constantly messing around with each other by her locker. And now all of a sudden, none of those things are happening. Yeah, seems legit."

He slammed his locker and shoved his way past her. It was infuriating the amount of interferences she ran in his life. There was no way she could understand the battles that raged within himself. He could feel her eyes watching him retreat further down the empty corridor.

"I see how you look at her," His steps faltered; his feet suddenly like lead, "I know what it's like Derek. To suddenly care for someone so deep that your only fear is hurting them."

She had barely whispered those words and yet they echoed loudly within those walls. He wanted so badly to let his heart make all his decisions. Unfortunately, it had been wrong in the past, and how was he supposed to make a logical decision when half the time he didn't want to stay away from her.

Her hand was suddenly on his shoulder; he refused to turn around. He was supposed to be the strong one. The individual his sister could count on to always have her back. And now he was slowly falling apart. Who knew the feelings he held over a girl would be his demise. "Derek, Paige broke your heart…."

"Don't!" He refused to let her innocent soul be swept up within this mess.

"You suffered. And now day by day, you show less and less emotion," Her voice cracked slightly looking at the broken mess of a man he had become. "Alex gives you life."

Her hand disappeared from his shoulder, "Derek, don't let her go because you're afraid."

He wasn't afraid. He was terrified. Terrified that he couldn't stop thinking about her. Terrified at the realization of how much he had depended on her presence. Terrified that he knew if he didn't let her go now, he never would be able to, "And what makes you think that I won't hurt her?"

"Because," a smile broke across her beautiful face, "I see the way you look at her."

What have I done?

With my heart on the floor

I must be out of my mind

To come back begging for more

But if you stay

If you just stay for the night

Swear that I'm yours

And I'll prove that I'm right

She found if she focused on one task at a time, she could forgot everything for a brief moment. With each controlled breath, she could get lost and forget why she felt so alone. She could forget why Derek was suddenly so far away from her. She could forget the pitiful looks Laura sent her way. She could forget the awkward silences whenever Derek's name was brought up. She hadn't realized how much she had depended upon his presence until it was gone.

She let the lyrics flow through her blood; the music lulling her into a state of peace. With every violin cry, her legs carried her flawlessly across the floor. Her muscles contracted and released; their flesh memories remembering every step. Maybe if she kept dancing, time would pass and the pain that she associated with Derek, would simply fade away.

And these flies kept me sleeping

All my fears on their wings

And your grandfather clock is still ticking

But the chime never rings

And how long must I stay?

Will I lay by your side

Just to say that I'm yours

And you'll never be mine

He was like an alcoholic trying to quit; that one taste he wanted was enough to send him over the edge. He was drowning in it. He was drowning in her and he didn't want to resurface. Opening his senses after trying to block her for so long, he was surrounded by her. She was everywhere and he was suddenly realizing that he wasn't strong enough to stay away.

His legs carried him through halls, past her locker and out into the parking lot. His eyes never lost focus on his target; the invisible path her feet had taken towards town. A blazing building on the verge of collapsing wouldn't have strayed him from his path.

She was his medicine; a simple drug with extraordinary after effects. His head was heavy; the need to breathe her in again overriding any logical thoughts. Had he been coherent, he might have questioned his inability to stray from her light. He would worry about his lack of control later. Right now he marveled at the power his body possessed to carry him back to her.

With this love like a hole

Swallow my soul

Draggin me down

And there's blood on the covers

From the curses we uttered

To each other

You played your part in this

He was slightly confused when his feet finally stalled in front of a tiny dance studio towards the outskirts of town. Without much hesitation, he pressed past the receptionist, simply pointing towards a room in the back when she asked where he was going. Her scent was strong; permeating through the walls as he stalked slowly.

There was a slight chance that if he turned back now, he might be able to walk away from her again. Away from the agony that came from needing someone. Away from the inability to breathe whenever she smiled at him. Away from the scent that could calm his tortured limbs. He could walk away right now and save himself the pain. The pain that Laura thought was worth living for. The pain associated with caring for someone more than you cared for yourself.

Why play hide and go seek?

Safe behind your veneer

Does it bury your burden baby?

Makes it all disappear

But those marks on your thighs

Don't they sting when you bleed?

It's the way that you are

And the way I'll forever be

He could save her the pain that Paige had suffered. But he was selfish. He was selfish for a woman that made it seem like his heart was finally beating again. He was selfish when he tried to tell himself that she was different; that she wouldn't end up like Paige. He was selfish when he finally peeked around the doorway. He was selfish when he realized he couldn't take his eyes off the beauty in front of him. He was selfish when he made the silent vow to never let her go again.

He would never have the chance to turn away again. As he watched her dance, oblivious to the world around her, his wolf finally let his soul bond; his entire existence slowly twirling to the crying violins.

With this love like a hole

Swallow my soul

Draggin me down

And there's blood on the covers

From the curses we uttered

To each other

You played your part

With your love like a hole

Swallow my soul

Draggin me down

And I swear I'll stay with you

But I just can't forgive you

And I'll never be whole again

She had needed the soothing temperature of a warm bath. She had pushed herself considerable harder than she was originally planning; her muscles screamed with each step she took home. Her mind had wandered while she was dancing. Every single time Derek's handsome face would pop in her head, she would push her body harder, dancing through one more song. By the time she had reached the third song on her play list, her body had collapsed beneath her. For twenty minutes she concentrated on the feel of oxygen being drawn in and out of her body; her limbs trembling violently with exertion.

She had spared her parents the audience of her lifeless body; taking a sandwich upstairs to consume by herself. She was wanting the energy the carbs would've provided her but once her stomach swallowed the last piece, exhaustion took over. Her sweat riddled body collapsed upon her clean comforter; sleep overtaking her.

From five to ten she barely moved. Her limbs hadn't been stretched like they should have after dancing; they contorted uncomfortably around her pillows. The stiff position of her spine creaked painfully as she attempted to roll off the bed.

Had she not left her window open to the harsh fall wind, she would've continued to dream relentlessly. The hot trail of Derek's fingers against her skin had suddenly turned to ice as her body steadily froze. She had to reluctantly let go of that fantastical reality.

The warm water had swallowed her weary body. Her muscles nearly screaming from pleasure as they slowly unwound. She kept a book by her side; her body too tired to fully trust not to fall asleep within the cavernous heat. She began to lose herself within the pages of Romeo and Juliet.

She was a hopeless romantic at heart; something she'd refuse to admit out loud. There was just something about young love, nights filled with passion, and the ability to die for that one person. She wondered if she loved the idea of love so much because she would probably never experience it. She had people that cared for her and she would sacrifice anything for them but she wanted passion; the inability to picture a day without the other. She wanted desire; to not be able to keep her hands off them for too long. She wanted the ability to experience love at first sight.

Her stomach muscles cramped violently as images of Derek clashed within her mind; his smile, the way his body looked in those jeans and leather jacket, the tiny squabbles he endured between Laura and Jake. Every facial twitch was like a string tied to her heart. He couldn't seem to do anything wrong in her eyes and that scared her. She felt like she was addicted. Her dreams constantly wandered with images of his lips tracing her skin, tracing every curve and scar. She couldn't think without his smile interrupting her thoughts.

Shaking her head, she yanked the plug from the tub and pushed her body out of the tepid water. She hadn't realized her thoughts had taken that much time away from her. She knew she had ruined things with Derek. Most boys had a hard time accepting the fact she knew cars, or that she liked to yell at the TV screen during football season. She had thought that Derek was different; confident in himself that he wouldn't feel threatened by her. She had been wrong and now she was paying for it.

She kept the towel tight around her flushed body; the bed calling her name again. Once she passed through her bedroom door, goosebumps pricked her newly shaven legs. The chilly fall air leaked relentlessly through her open window. The open window she had closed before her bath.

Her steps hitched, her eyes focused on the dark skies beyond her window pane. Her body was exhausted, that she knew, but she vividly remembered closing that before she left to bathe. She had already let the cold wind wake her earlier, it's icy fingers across her moist skin was something she hadn't wanted to experience again.

The shadow seemed to move faster than was humanly possible. A hand clamped down over her mouth before she could emit a scream. She had noticed the dark shape lurking for a brief moment until it shifted; the shadow taking on a human form.

She couldn't scream but she struggled against the strong arm around her waist; her attempts weakened by her drained body. "Shhh, Alex. It's me."

Her body halted in its panicked state. Her muscles visibly relaxing to the sound of his deep voice. He had her back pressed tightly against his body; her curves melding deliciously against his toned angles. She could feel his fingers relax across her mouth before dropping his hand completely.

She whipped around, her fingers clenching the towel even tighter around her body. "Derek, how did you get up here?" She knew he had to have come in through her window but it still wouldn't have been an easy task. The tree branches were still a good ten feet away from her room with no ledge to balance on once you jumped, "Do you parkour or something?"

His lips curled up into a smirk, "or something."

It was hard to not melt when she watched that smirk grace his face, "What are you doing here?"

One question and his face fell. The confident man she was so used to seeing was slowly being replaced by an insecure little boy. His shoulders slumped forward, his head bowed slightly; hiding his face within the dark shadows of her room. "I came to apologize. I've been avoiding you all week and you didn't deserve that."

Now it was her turn to retreat farther into her cotton shield. So….he had been avoiding her all week. She had hoped, maybe even prayed, that deep down he hadn't been gone because of her. That maybe she hadn't screwed things up between the two of them. "Why?"

His face rose to meet her eyes again, "Because I was afraid."

That answer startled Alex for a moment; her mind frozen from confusion. She barely registered her feet moving her farther into the room, her back now pressed firmly against the wall by the open window. She became so engrossed in her thoughts, she never noticed Derek following her.

"Afraid of what?" her breath hitched sharply within her lungs, her eyes watching Derek. He looked down upon her body, her skin prickling from his burning stare. His hands rose slowly, sliding along her clenched fists up her trembling arms. His hands leaving a heat behind that made her shudder more than winter snow ever could.

He passed her shoulders, his hands suddenly fascinated with the towel knotted in front of her chest. He fingered the soft cotton, well aware of the response he was getting from the young female in front of him. She was still trying to steady her breathing but the more he touched her, the more she shook from anticipation.

Abandoning the innocent cloth; he needed to keep his own sanity if he didn't want to scare her away. His hands slide along the column of her neck, the skin soft beneath his calloused fingertips, "Of you."

He was anticipating his cryptic answer to startle her; her face suddenly tilted to look him in the eyes. Her lips parted to ask even more questions but he silenced her with his own. His lips were gentle against hers; melting into the soft petals that he had only dreamed of kissing.

Her shock was short lived before she was responding back. Her hands wound shyly around his waist, her long fingers sprawling lazily across his back; her mind hazy from the languid kiss across her lips.

One step forward and his body was pressed firmly against hers. He left no room for movement; his hands gentle clasped upon the side of her head. He had planned to take it slow, afraid of scaring her, but her eager hands were suddenly trying to pry the jacket from his shoulders; her fingers begging for hot flesh.

He broke their contact for a second as he shred his jacket and tossed it to her bed in the corner. His lips were on her again, his hand curled around the back of her neck tilting her head higher to meet his mouth. They moved past their shy introduction, their lips now feverish against each other; neither wanting to breathe.

Derek abruptly broke away from her. His control had held on longer than he had thought but it was slowly slipping with the feel of her towel loosening beneath his chest. Pressing his forehead against hers, he dragged haggard breaths through his lungs trying to calm the urge to claim her.

"I'll see you tomorrow." One chaste kiss upon her lips and then he was gone. Her hot body was suddenly relinquished to the chilly air; the towel barely protecting her. Had it not been for the leather jacket laying comfortably across her bed, Alex would've believed all of it to be a dream.

A beautifully tortured dream.

Read and Review! Thanks guys!

Song is "Litost" by X Ambassadors