After a few minutes of running, I felt someone phase.

"Ava?"

"Hey Seth."

"What happened?" he asked.

I showed him everything that happened at the house.

"Oh I'm so sorry, Ava," he whined.

"It's okay Seth," I told him. I saw that I was coming close to Jacob's house and I decided to warn Seth that I was going to phase soon.

"Hey Seth, I'm almost at Jacob's I'm gonna phase back now."

"Okay Ava," he said cheerfully. "I hope you feel better."

"Thanks Seth," I said and the phased back to my human form. I poked my head out from the trees to see if anyone was outside. Once I figured the coast was clear, I stepped out of the woods covering myself as much as I could, padding my way towards the backyard where Jacob's bedroom window was.

When I got there I saw that there were no lights on, so he must have been sleep. I walked up to the window and knocked on it softly. I heard Jake grunt and saw him stir in the bed. I knocked o little louder but not too loud so I wouldn't wake up Billy.

Jake opened his eyes and looked at me. I smiled and waved awkwardly. He sat up and slid the window open.

"Ava what are you doing?"

"Oh, just hanging out," I said sarcastically.

"Are you naked?"

"Yeah, I'm starting a new trend; its call the birthday suit."

"Ava…"

I sighed. "I can't stay in that house," I said, all sarcasm gone. "Not tonight."

Jake nodded and got out of his bed, made his way to his dresser and pulled out a shirt and a pair of shorts. He came back to the window and handed me the clothes and I put them on quickly. He stretched his hand out of the window and I grabbed it. He pulled me up as I used my other hand to push up on the window sill.

"Jesus Jake," I said. "You'd think that with supernatural strength, you'd be able to pull a girl half you size through you bedroom window."

"Oh yeah?" he taunted.

"Yeah."

He yanked me through the window causing us to tumble onto the bed and then the floor with a thud. We laid there for a few seconds and then burst out laughing. We stayed like that for a few minutes until Jacob got up and held out his hand to me. I grabbed it and he pulled me up.

"Jacob?" I heard Billy call from outside Jake's bedroom door. He opened it and we saw Billy sitting in his chair, obviously shocked to see me. I waved awkwardly while he smiled.

"Hello Ava," he said. "I assume you'll be staying over tonight."

"Your assumption would be correct sir."

"And I also assume that your parents know where you are?"

"That would be incorrect," I said. "Although they probably have a general idea of where I am."

Billy sighed. "Alright," he said. "You can stay the night but call you parents and let them know you're here."

I sighed. "Okay. And thank you." I went to reach for my phone but I realized that it might still be in the woods.

"My cell phone is in the woods, can I use yours?" I asked.

"Sure," Billy said and backed up his chair so I could walk through. "You know where it is."

"Thanks." I walked to the living room. I was about to pick up the phone but there was a knock on the door. I walked to the door and opened it; it was Seth.

"Hey," I said confused. "What are you doing here?"

"I found your phone in the woods," he said holding it up and I smiled.

"Thank you so much!" I said as I gave him a big hug and squeezed him tight.

"You're welcome," he said. "Well I better get back out there before Sam has my ass."

"Okay," I said. "Bye and thanks again."

He ruffled my hair. "See ya short stuff." Before I could say anything, he was gone.

I sighed and turned my phone on. I saw that I had 13 missed calls and 5 voicemails. I rolled my eyes and dialed my home number. The phone rang once and I immediately heard yelling.

"AVA! WHERE ARE YOU? MOM AND DAD ARE GOING INSANE!"

"Jace-" I started. Jace was my older brother; my very over protective older brother.

"No! I'm coming to get you, tell me where you are."

"Jace, I don't want to be there. I don't want to be with them. I'll you where I am but you're not coming to get me?"

I heard him sigh. "Why not?"

"Did mom and dad not tell you what they did?"

"Wha- what do you mean did they tell me? What are you talking about? Look mom is in hysterics and dad is… you don't even want to know."

I rolled my eyes. They called him over to the house and they couldn't even tell him why I ran off the way I did.

"They didn't tell you? Seriously?" I was becoming angry again, but I calmed myself so I wouldn't phase in Billy's living room.

"Tell me what? Ava what's wrong? Look, tell me come and get you so we can talk, I'll take you to my house and we don't have back here until you're ready. And Mackenzie wants to see you."

"As much as I want to see my jelly bean I can't because I'm too angry and I don't want her to see me like that."

"Okay just tell me what's wrong."

"Mom and dad arranged for me to get married."

He scoffed. "Married? What the hell?"

"Exactly my words!"

"How the hell could they do that to you?" Do you even know this guy?"

"Apparently I do because his family and our family are friends."

"Tell me where you are," he said. "I'm not gonna take you anywhere but I'll just talk to you."

I sighed. "I'm at Jacob's."

"Okay, I'm coming," that was all he said and then he hung up.

I let out an exhausted sigh and ran my fingers through my hair.

"Is everything okay Ava?" I heard. I looked over and saw Jacob walking toward me with Billy beside him.

"Yeah, everything's okay. Jace is coming over so we can talk."

"What about?"

I sighed. "The marriage."

"What marriage?" Billy asked.

"I thought my parents would have told you," I said, surprised.

"No one told me anything."

I rolled my eyes. So I guess I wasn't the only one my parents kept this a secret from.

"Yeah well, long story short, I'm marrying a werewolf who lives in California."

"California?!" Jacob shouted. I nodded in reply, not wanting to say anything further.

"Is there any reason why they want you to marry him?" Billy asked.

"My parents said that it was because Derek was with some chick that they didn't like and who they thought was a 'possible threat' to their family. Our parents both agreed that when we were older that we'd get married."

"Why choose you?" Jake asked.

"I really wish I knew the answer to that question."

I honestly did want to know why my parents chose me. I felt as if this were something that was fortuitous. How could it be that I was chosen to marry this man? Why couldn't he be with someone else? I really needed to get my ducks in a row.

Soon enough I heard a car pull up in front of the house and I knew that it was Jace. I blew out a gust of air before walking toward the door. I could tell by the way he got out of the car and walked up the ramp that we were going to have a long talk.

Save me, God!

Hey all! I'm sorry I've been so late with updates and such. I've had school and all of that crap but this is the last marking period and I am just ready to be done. But um I was wondering if anyone of you guys who is really artsy to do me a really big favor.

I love this story so much that I wanted to have an art cover for it so if anyone who is willing to do this for me is a saint.

Matter of fact I'll hold a small contest. Send me your best work and I'll pick one of the best pictures and you'll be recognized in the author's note and I'll name a character after you. Sound good? I hope so.

My email is amberfaulks7

Til next time

TTDH