A/N: Here is another update! I hope that you enjoy it. Eric makes a brief appearance. Reviews are much appreciated.

The Breaking Point

I felt myself give out a sigh. I was not in the mood for a fight. I turned around quickly; ready to face whatever was going to come my way, when I came face to face with a red head. I took a step backward when I saw just how close she was to me and frowned. I didn't know what to say, or who the hell she was, but I could feel the tension in the air. I was opening my mouth to lie about who I was and what I was doing there when Alcide appeared behind the red head.

"She's with me Debbie," he answered for me, making me look at the red head in surprise.

This is Debbie? I couldn't believe that the scraggly looking woman standing before me clad in a leather jacket, bra, and mini jean skirt, was the woman that Alcide had fallen in love with. Just from the looks of her and the way she carried herself she didn't seem like she was worthy of him or any love he had to give. But from the look on Alcide's face I could tell that this woman was not the woman he had fallen in love with. The disgust, shock, and anger from the mere sight of her was written all over Alcide's face.

Debbie was looking stunned as she looked from Alcide to me and back. "What the fuck are you doing here, Alcide? You come here to rescue me? You thought this knight on a white horse shit would work? On me?" she asked incredulously.

Alcide still hadn't managed to wipe the look of disgust from his face. "What have you done to yourself?" he asked looking Debbie up and down.

"I finally got free of you!" Debbie spat in reply throwing her arms in the air. "And I've never been happier in my life!"

Alcide stepped towards Debbie. "I still care about you," he admitted, his face turning sincere and honest. I felt my heart sink in my chest a little. "If you go through with this the pack will never let you back in."

"I don't need your pussy pack!" Debbie shouted in Alcide's face making him frown. I saw the wolves next to me smiling proudly. "And you know what? I was fucking Coot when I was still with you," she gloated.

I felt my fist clench as I saw the flash of hurt go across Alcide's face. How dare she? I couldn't stop myself as I stepped forward, but I felt Sookie's hand on my arm. I looked at her as she shook her head. I restrained myself and crossed my arms, still fuming slightly from Debbie's utter lack of respect for the man who cared for her.

Alcide recovered quickly, anger taking over his face as he looked down at her. "This aint about us," he growled at her.

Debbie huffed. "Like hell! You came here and brought this skank and her friend just to make me jealous!" Debbie sneered turning to Sookie and I.

My fists clenched again as her eyes found mine and she looked me up and down with a huge frown. I resisted every urge in my body to punch her in her nasty mouth. "Skank?" I said through clenched teeth. "Well coming from you that's just funny."

"Chase!" Alcide snapped behind her.

I ignored him as Debbie stepped closer to me and I felt the energy within me surge through my body. My fists clenched even tighter making me feel pain as she and I stared each other down. All I need was on reason to unleash the energy that was burning through me.

She chuckled in my face. "Oh no, you did not just say that to me at my own fucking party," she snapped.

My anger was beginning to get the better of me. "Look, Debbie, Alcide came here despite all the good reasons he has not too because he still believes that the woman he loves is inside of you somewhere. Probably deep deep down, but still in there. He's willing to risk his life for you still, because he wants you to hold onto her, even if he doesn't get to be with you," I said heatedly.

Debbie's face softened and I looked behind her to find Alcide gazing at me with an odd expression. The words may have been true, but they were bitter as they came out of my mouth. Alcide should have been moving on. He should be with someone that deserved and reciprocated his love because he was a great man who was worthy of a good woman. Not Debbie. But she was the woman that he loved and I couldn't stop the way he felt about her, no more than anyone could stop the way I felt about Eric. If he was willing to give Debbie another chance then it was his choice.

Debbie turned back to Alcide as he looked away from me and back down at her. His face softened as he stepped toward her. "It isn't too late," I heard him say softly. "We can get out of here right now."

Debbie's lip trembled as she looked up at Alcide and I could see her contemplating it. I felt my own stomach churning as I waited for her to give a response. She would be stupid not to go with Alcide, but I couldn't lie and say that a large part of me wished that her stupidity continued and she refused him. She got no chance to answer though as a man approached us and put his arm around Debbie. His eyes looked Alcide up and down.

"What the fuck is this?" he asked looking at Debbie and then Alcide again.

I could see Alcide trying to control his anger. "It's just a conversation Coot."

I felt surprise hit me again. The man before me was handsome, but he was nowhere near Alcide's match.

"Well she's done with you," Coot replied as he looked at Debbie for confirmation. She nodded obediently. "She found herself a real wolf."

I huffed loudly in disbelief making Coot turn on me. "Who the fuck is this?" he asked looking me up and down.

"This is Alcide's new bitch," Debbie replied, clearly her stupidity had won her over and the bitch in her was back.

My teeth clenched and the energy in me swelled, almost breaking free of my hold. Alcide rushed forward as he saw me about to explode and stood in front of me protectively. "Leave her alone," he growled down at Coot.

Coot chuckled and removed his arm from Debbie, stepping towards Alcide. "I've been waiting for this moment for a long time. Let's do this shit," he said cracking his knuckles.

Alcide swelled, suddenly looking even larger as he stepped toward Coot, baring his teeth. I was moving to get between them when Debbie beat me. "Leave him alone, Coot!" she said pulling him away. "Let him stay."

Coot shook his head, his eyes still on Alcide. "No fucking way."

"He needs to see this. He aint never gonna let us be baby, until he understands I am with you for good," Debbie continued turning to Coot as she smoothed her hands up his chest.

Coot looked down at her huskily as she gazed up at him. His arm came around her as he bent to capture her lips, both of them hungrily attacking each other's mouths. I almost gagged in disgust as I shared a glance with Sookie. I looked to Alcide next who was watching them with a pained look of disgust. My heart hurt for him. He finally turned his back on the sight, beginning to move towards the exit as Sookie and I started to follow when a loud cheer made us all stop.

We turned to see that Debbie was in the air now, surfing the hands of the crowd as they moved her to the stage in the back of Lou Pines. Sookie turned to me as we watched Debbie climb onto the stage clad in only her bra and panties now. They must have stripped her on the way to the stage.

"Coot," Sookie said looking at Alcide and I. "He is one of the wolves that took Bill."

"Are you sure?" I asked looking at Sookie in surprise.

She nodded. "I saw it in his head. He was feeding on him."

We looked back to the stage to see a man walking up behind Debbie holding up what looked like a real fur blanket. He was unbelievably pale and wearing sunglasses.

"Who is that?" I asked leaning toward Alcide.

Alcide seemed confused as he watched the man place the fur on Debbie's back. "Russell Edgington," he answered. "He's some…antiques dealer here."

The cheering grew louder as Russell forced Debbie to her hands and knees. He raised his hands and the crowd immediately went silent, everyone except Alcide, Sookie, and I kneeling before him. He surveyed the crowd as he began speaking in some foreign language that I didn't recognize. When he finished his short speech the crowd responded in unison and I could feel the anticipation in the room intensify. Russell smiled at the crowd before opening his mouth to reveal his fangs extending making Sookie and I gasp in surprise.

"What is a vampire doing in a werewolf den?" Sookie asked.

"Why are they submitting to this fanger?" Alcide asked aloud.

We watched silently as Russell bit into his wrist making every wolf in the room lick their lips hungrily as they shift anxiously. Two wolves came forward holding trays of empty shot glasses that Russell held his wrist over letting the blood flow into them.

"Oh my god," I said as my eyes widened. "He's the one giving them the V."

Alcide looked on in shock. "Hoooollllllyyyy shit."

The two wolves began passing out the shots to the crowd as Russell turned to Debbie who was looking at him and the blood as if she was going to burst if she didn't get any. He shook his head at her as he looked down at her sadly.

"Oh not tonight pumpkin," he chided as she frowned up at him. He pulled a white handkerchief from the inside pocket of his coat. "Otherwise your brand won't last."

Russell wiped his mouth and held his hands out while the wolves in the crowd each received a shot glass. The anticipation in the room amplified as the wolves looked down at the shot glasses hungrily. Russell smiled at the crowd as his fangs retracted. "Tonight, you continue the grand tradition of expanding our pack," he said addressing the crowd. "My small contribution is but a token of my appreciation for our collaboration throughout the years."

The crowd cheered loudly in response, arms going in the air and wolves jumping up and down. I looked to Alcide confused. I may have not known much about werewolves or their history, but I knew that vampires and werewolves did not get along. And judging from the confused and infuriated look on Alcide's face he didn't understand why werewolves had been working with this vampire 'through the ages'.

Russell held his hand out to the crowd and the wolves raised their shot glasses in unison. Russell's smile grew and he gave the crowd permission to drink. The wolves downed the contents of their glasses quickly, shivering in delight before they all laughed in pleasure. Russell laughed as well looking on the group proudly as Sookie, Alcide, and I continued to watch in stunned silence.

"This is nuts," I whispered shaking my head.

"What the hell is going on?" Sookie mumbled in response. "This ain't right."

Russell cleared his throat and straightened his jacket. "Well I will leave you all to celebrate."

The wolves whooped and hollered as Russell made his exit. I suddenly felt very uneasy as the crowd continued to holler and get antsy. Coot and two wolves climbed on the stage, the two wolves grabbing Debbie as Coot slipped behind stage. He emerged from the backstage with a branding iron; the end was still burning hot. The crowd continued to cheer as he approached Debbie maliciously and she gritted her teeth in anticipation of the pain. Alcide growled beside me and I heard his knuckles pop as his fists tightened. Debbie's scream could have broken the sound barrier as Coot branded her with a sickening smile on his face. I smelt smoke and burning flesh and tore my eyes away from Debbie's pained face.

Alcide sighed beside me, shaking his head. "Stupid bitch," he muttered sadly.

Coot tossed away the branding iron as the crowd continued to cheer and holler. Debbie fell face first to the ground, groaning in pain.

"This is so fucking wrong!" Alcide growled.

Something in the air shifted and I could feel a tension rise again as Coot ripped his shirt off, howling at the ceiling. The crowd howled in response and the sound was deafening. The unease in me grew as I felt whatever had taken over the room grow. It was like there was energy in the air, and I could feel my own energy swell in response. Something told me that whatever was about to happen was not going to be good for my health. I looked back to the stage and felt my face fall as I watched Coot shift in to a large black wolf. His wolf form was nothing like I expected. It wasn't like in the movies. It wasn't some large scary looking weird wolf creature; it was a beautiful animal, like the ones from the wild. I looked at Sookie to find her staring at Coot in wolf form, her shocked expression probably matching the one on my face.

"Chase…" she started slowly as she took my hand and held it tight. "Maybe we should get out of here…"

I couldn't have agreed more as I looked back at the stage to find the black wolf was now atop a speaker and he was howling again. The minute his howl echoed in the room I felt the energy in the room amplify and my skin crackled in response. The wolves in the crowd began howling and ripping off their clothes, shifting into their wolf form as the sound of breaking glass filled the air. I looked around in a panic.

"Oh my god. Are they shifting?" I asked looking to Alcide.

He didn't look at me. He stood beside me stiff as a board, looking pained. He let out a pained moan and I saw his fists clench. "You have to get out of here," I heard him growl.

"Alcide," I started grabbing his arm.

He swatted my hand away as he turned to me. I recoiled from him as I saw his eyes glowing yellow.

"Chase, run."

I still couldn't move. I was frozen in shock and fear as I stared at him.

"Run!" he growled angrily.

I finally heeded his warning and turned on my heels, running for the door as I dragged Sookie behind me. I barely kept myself from tripping over my own feet as I burst through the entrance door of Lou Pine's regretting the decision to come here at all. I heard Sookie's panicked breaths behind me as we ran through the parking lot, reaching Alcide's truck. I sighed in relief when I found the doors unlocked and climbed into the driver's seat. Sookie climbed in the passenger seat and we slammed the doors shut, locking ourselves inside. We both sat there, breathing heavily, our hearts pounding as I stared out the windshield. I wasn't sure what to do, but we didn't have very many options. Alcide had the keys and there was no way we were going back inside. All I could do was hope that we weren't going to get eaten by wolves.

"What the hell was that?" Sookie asked looking at me.

I shook my head, still trying to catch my breath. I really didn't like the idea of running in heels ever again. "I…I don't know…but that was dangerous…really freakin dangerous. We could have been killed Sookie!" I snapped looking at her.

"I know," Sookie sighed pulling the black wig off her head to reveal her pinned up blonde hair. "I'm sorry, Chase."

A knocking on the window startled me, making me turn to find Alcide standing outside the driver's side door. I looked at him in surprise, but unlocked the door, scooting over to allow him to climb in. He didn't say a word as he pulled out his keys quickly and shoved them in the ignition. He started the car and sped out of the parking lot, the tires screeching and the work truck shaking.

"Alcide, what is going on?" I asked. "What happened in there?"

"It's the call. It's hard to refuse," Alcide growled, not bothering to look at me.

"You almost shifted," Sookie commented.

"I couldn't help it. The energy starts rolling and it takes over," he grumbled. "You are lucky we got out of there alive," he finished with a snap as he passed us a glare. "Fuck!" he shouted slamming his hands on the steering wheel.

The truck jumped as we went over a bump in the dirt road that Alcide had pulled on to. He was speeding as if we were running from something and it was making me nervous. Sookie hurriedly put on her seat belt beside me and I did the same, looking at Alcide to see his teeth gritting. He was gripping the steering wheel so tightly so that his knuckles were white. I gripped the edge of the seat as we hit another bump.

"Alcide, you should really slow down."

"Shut up, Chase," he snapped at me, making me frown.

"I know it was terrible for you, but-," Sookie started.

Alcide glared at her, cutting her off. "You don't know anything!"

"Well I know that if you don't slow down you are going to kill us! And I am not going to die because of your shitty girlfriend and a Mississippi pothole!" Sookie shouted back angrily.

Alcide slammed on the breaks, turning the steering wheel as we swerved to the side of the rode. We came to a halt with a loud screech of the tires. Alcide turned off the car and continued to finger the steering wheel. Silence hung in the air as we all tried to recover from the series of events that we had to deal with that evening. I was still confused about some of the night's events, but the one thing that I knew for sure was that what was happening with the wolves was not good. And somehow Bill was in the mix. And once again I had thrown myself right into the middle of the danger for Sookie Stackhouse. I kept telling myself that I was done with the danger and the drama, but I was always putting myself right back in because I felt some sick sense of loyalty and obligation for Sookie. But I was tired of it. I was tired of almost dying and the vampires and now werewolves.

"I'm sorry," Sookie said breaking the silence and looking at Alcide. "What I said…I had to be mean to make you stop."

Alcide was still staring ahead, lost in thought. "She wasn't always shitty…" he said slowly and softly. His fingers played at the steering wheel. It seemed like he was talking to himself more than us. "We were great together…when she wasn't drinking or cheating…She'd play horse shoes with my dad and help my mom plant tomatoes…" he shook his head slightly as he finished as if he couldn't believe what Debbie had become.

"But tonight she was half naked on a stage getting branded," Sookie commented.

"Sookie," I snapped.

Alcide huffed. "No, Chase, it's alright. She was…" he replied still staring off. "She really was…"

"Tell me more about Russell Edgington," Sookie demanded turning in her seat. Abruptly changing the subject.

I rolled my eyes and put my head in my hands. Here we go again...

"He's just some rich vampire. That's all I knew until tonight," Alcide replied absently.

"I have to talk to him," Sookie said.

I felt my face fall as I turned to her in shock. "Sookie have you lost your mind?" I snapped.

She looked at me as if she didn't understand why I was upset. "The brand? The blood? The vampire? He knows where Bill is. Or he knows who took him." Sookie reasoned.

"And I don't give a shit, Sookie," I snapped in response. "I am not going to go and get mixed up with more vampires and werewolves for your shitty vampire boyfriend who dumped you! You may be willing to die for Bill freakin Compton, but I am not, Sookie. I have my own vampire and werewolf problems to deal with and instead of doing that I am here in Jackson almost dying because you! Or have you forgotten that someone or something is trying to kill me?! So please Sookie just let it go! I am getting real tired of this stupid crap. And I will not be dragged in even deeper!"

Sookie fell silent, her mouth hanging open, staring back at me stunned as I finished my rant. I was breathing heavily from the exertion of yelling and the anger that was burning through me. I had meant every word and it was about time that Sookie heard it. I was tired of putting my life on the line for other people. I was not going to do it anymore no matter how much I cared for Sookie. If I continued to allow her to drag me into her problems she would be the death of me I was sure. It was time to put an end to it.

The car ride back to Alcide's place was tense. It was so thick in the air that it could be cut with a knife. Sookie hadn't said a word to me since my outburst and I hadn't said one word to her. A part of me felt bad because I knew that her feelings were hurt and she probably felt betrayed, but the other part of me didn't care. She needed to hear it and I needed to stop throwing myself under the bus for other people.

I retreated to the bathroom the moment we walked through the door, retrieving my duffle and towel first, and turning on the shower. I shed the leather clothing with much relief and climbed into the hot spray, letting it rain down on my head. I scrubbed at my skin with Alcide's harsh soap, trying to peel the night's events from my body, but I still felt shaken even as I rinsed myself off. I was still mad at Sookie and the situation and I still felt tense. I felt the walls were closing in on me. I stood under the spray trying to take a moment to escape from the world that seemed to be crashing down on me when I heard my cell phone ringing.

I frowned and shut the shower off, stepping out to retrieve my phone. I did not recognize the number on my screen, but I also did not have any contacts saved in my phone aside from my parents, Sookie, and Alcide. I hadn't had the time to give my number out to anyone before I left for Jackson.

"Hello?" I answered hesitantly, wrapping my towel around myself.

"Good evening Lover."

My teeth gritted at the sound of the velvety voice and I leaned against the bathroom door with a sigh. My blood began to boil as it pumped through my veins and I considered hanging up. I was not in the mood to deal with Eric. He was the last person that I wanted to be speaking to at the moment.

"Are you alright?" he asked, after my lack of response.

"Why do you care?"

"We have been over this. I have felt some weird emotions coming from you," he answered with a hint of irritation in his voice.

Damn that stupid blood bond. I hated that we were still connected that when I just wanted him out of my life. He was like a disease that had infected me and I just couldn't be rid of him.

"Are you sure they are mine, and you aren't just confusing them with the other girl you conned into drinking your blood?" I snapped back.

"Excuse me?"

"What do you want, Eric?" I asked through clenched teeth.

"To know if you are alright, Chase, as I stated previously in the form of a question."

"Well why don't you just stop acting like you care about how I am doing and leave me alone, Eric."

"My, my, my, you are in a catty mood, Lover."

"Stop calling me your lover!" I shouted, surprising myself. "I am done playing games with you, Eric. I am done being your toy. I want you out of my life. I don't need your help. I don't need your money. I don't need you. So instead of bothering me why don't you just go and continue to pursue Sookie. If you haven't heard she's single now so you can have your first choice. Stay the hell away from me."

I hung up before he could get a word in and slammed my phone down on the counter top. The energy had risen up in me during my speech to Eric and was rolling through me in waves, pulsing with each breath I took. I felt full with it, like if I didn't let some out I would burst. I looked around the bathroom to find that everything that was not bolted down was floating in midair just like before when my mother had told me I was adopted. I tried to take a deep breath to calm myself, but it didn't work. I needed to take a walk. I need fresh air. I needed time to myself.

I snatched my duffel from the air and everything floating around me dropped to the ground. I dressed hurriedly and picked up everything that had fallen, putting it back in its rightful place. I grabbed my duffel and escaped from the bathroom, hesitating for a moment when I saw Sookie sitting cross legged on Alcide's bed wiping the make-up that Janice had applied from her face. I avoided eye contact with her as I placed my duffel in the corner and left the bedroom, shutting the door behind me. I made a beeline straight for the front door and was stopped by Alcide.

"Hey, where you going?" he asked stepping in front of the door and blocking my path.

"Alcide, please move. I need some fresh air," I said as calmly as possible. The energy was still surging through me. I clenched my fists.

"Chase, I can't let you go out there-."

"Alcide," I snapped looking up into his brown eyes. "I am a big girl and I just want to take a walk alone. I don't need or want company. Please. Just. Move."

Alcide frowned down at me, but stepped aside, allowing me to move past. I walked as quickly as I could through Alcide's apartment building, almost running until I reached the fresh southern air. I had hoped that it would calm me down and stop the feeling of claustrophobia that seemed to be setting in, but it didn't. I felt the same, like the walls were closing in and my power was going to explode out of me. I was panting. Was I having a magical panic attack?

I began walking briskly toward the same park that Alcide had taken me to, hoping that it would be empty in the late hour and I could be alone. It had taken Alcide and me twenty minutes to get there and I had made it in ten. I felt no better as I walked the path and took deep breaths, still attempting to calm myself. I found a nice patch of grass and sat down with a heavy sigh, placing my arms around my knees and tucking my head into the space.

"Get it together, Chase," I commanded myself. "Pull yourself together before you level this park and expose yourself, or worse hurt someone."

Giving myself orders helped nothing. I still felt as if I was going to burst. I rose to my feet, intending to walk some more when a bright light erupted behind me making me freeze. I turned slowly, raising my hand to shield my eyes from the light, when I saw a figure emerging. The energy swelled at the possibility of danger and I had to clench my teeth and fists as I strained to keep it at bay. I lowered my hand as the white light dissipated and felt my face fall when I saw Connor standing before me looking concerned.

I couldn't even begin to adequately describe how surprised I felt to see him standing there, but the energy in me immediately died down. I felt happy suddenly and rushed towards him, jumping in his arms as he hugged me tightly. I felt safe in his arms; like I was two years old again in one of those memories that I had seen in his head. Safe and happy and with the only person I knew truly loved and cared for me.

"I am so happy to see you," I breathed feeling tears stinging my eyes.

"Chase, are you alright?" he asked, pulling back to look me in the eye. "I know I said I would stay away until you called me, which you haven't, but I just felt that you were….troubled."

Oh I am troubled alright. "I am…not fine," I admitted looking up at him as some tears escaped my eyes. "I am very far from fine."