When Dusk Falls
Chapter 9: Old Wounds
Wednesday morning.
Max woke at the obnoxious sound of the shutters lifting. She lifted her head groggily.
She realized she'd fallen asleep on top of the photo album; on the last two pictures of her and Chloe.
She sighed and turned off her ipod, taking out the headphones and putting them aside.
She looked over the last couple pictures, one of their sleepover; than the other of that following morning's pancake breakfast making, taken hours before William's death.
She closed the book sadly; then got up to get ready for school.
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Chloe slowly shifted awake groggily.
The first thing she noticed was a cave wall and hard stone floor.
She heard a constant rumbling splashing sound, with a loud, fuzzy static noise.
She followed the noise to a pounding thin waterfall, splashing down onto a row of rocks out in front of a hole, or as she now pieced together; the entrance of the narrow cave in the forest.
Sighing, she sat herself up, leaving the muscle shirt and beanie she was apparently laying on, where they were.
Slowly she stood up and staggered a bit to the falls, catching herself against the wall.
Then getting her balance she approached the water and cupped her hands, letting it pool in her palms, and she drank the cold refreshing water and repeated until her thirst and craving for water was satisfied.
Then dipping forward she let the cold water splash on the back of her head and neck, to fully rouse her from sleep. She ran her hands through her blue hair with the magenta top.
Then backed up and shook her hair out a bit, before making her way to where she slept.
"Been awhile since I've crashed outside... Definitely as fun as I remembered... I'm going to need to nap...", she sighed tiredly.
She gathered up the clothes on the floor, pulling the beanie back on, but checking over the white shirt, examining the blood stains; she checked out her torso, verifying the previous wound had sealed up.
"First though, I better go get a change of clothes", she mumbled, before pulling the shirt on regardless and walking back out of the small cave.
Her clothes got soaked as she stepped out from it and under the falls; she pocketed her hands and scoured the area. The clear water pond, canopy of trees surrounding and shading it.
A light wind was currently brushing through the leaves.
"...Max would like this place... It would look great on film...", She muttered absentmindedly.
Then she closed her eyes frowning and making her way back to the shore and starting through the forest.
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Max exited her room, looking down.
She shut the door behind her and now sported a white t-shirt with a doe on it and grey frayed jeans and her usual converse sneakers; and Chloe's black leather jacket.
She began making her way through the hall when she heard Dana and Kate talking in Kate's room; she paused looking to the door.
Then got a little closer.
"You'd better wear my scarf today to hide that bruising around your neck. What exactly happened"? Asked Kate her voice muffled by the door.
"Thanks... Well, I ran into that massive dire wolf again", started Dana with a sigh, also muffled by the door.
Max furrowed her brow.
"I hope Dana is okay... But... that Massive dire wolf... Chloe is the only one I know of...", thought Max worriedly.
"I managed to corner it against a shop", Dana's voice continued.
Max felt a sinking feeling in her gut, raising a hand worriedly to her chest; she clutched it around her camera bag strap, against Chloe's jacket.
"It realized too late that it had no where to run and I put it down", stated Dana calmly.
Max covered a gasp her eyes widened fearfully. She shook her head, tearing up, stepping back.
She felt her heart drop down into her stomach with a stabbing pain.
"Chloe no. She can't... Then that sound last night... Oh god, Chloe", Max mumbled sickly and painfully, in a quiet tone.
The tears slipped down her cheeks like drops of fire. Max closed her eyes tightly, crying as silently as she could; bent over holding her stomach.
She shook her head in disbelief, but attempted to retreat to her room; when she barely heard a sigh.
"At least, thats what I thought, it took a direct blow to the chest with my silver blade; the wound was deep and it was on the ground. But the damn thing got up and grabbed me in it's hybrid form", stated Dana bitterly.
Max's eyes widened, she slowly straightened up. She felt a cooling relief wash through her; her heart still beat a little hard, and tears still slipped free a bit.
"She's alive ? Chloe is alive ! She's okay"! Max thought.
A strong sense of happiness over-coming her. She slowly smiled and wiped away her tears; giving a quiet, quick laugh at the ridiculousness of her believing otherwise.
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"It got back up"? Asked Kate in disbelief, watching Dana pace the room, before returning to scarf hunting. Digging through her closet.
"Yeah, it seems to have adapted somehow. It's built a resistance against silver; it's not affected by it like the other mongrels we're used to. Which means, it's a bigger problem than I originally figured...", stated Dana looking a bit lost in thought briefly.
Her arms crossed.
"Regardless, it didn't kill me and ran off to lick it's wounds, but something was off about it...", Stated Dana firmly. She paused her pacing.
"What do you mean"? Asked Kate curiously. Her eyes lit up and she took out a bunch of scarves, and looked to Dana, before approaching with the pile.
"It really looked like it was going to kill me. I could've sworn my life passed before my eyes and everything; it pulled me to it's jaws, then just stopped... From vicious to... almost , calm in a way...", started Dana in a confused tone.
She looked to Kate's almost impish smile, sweat-dropping at the massive pile of scarves in the girl's arms.
Kate dropped the pile on the couch snatching one red scarf up, with weird looking cats on it; sticking out their tongues. Instantly she wrapped it around Dana's neck.
"Then it seemed to lose interest and dropped me, before taking off", finished Dana calmly. Slowly lifting the end of the scarf and quirking a brow at the weird style and looking at Kate, almost apathetically.
Kate was legitimately studying the scarf's look on Dana, looking serious.
"I guess the wound was worse than it thought. It realized that and ran away", suggested Kate.
Tearing the scarf off, nearly choking Dana, who was dragged forward a bit at the force.
She barely touched her neck in a rub, before another scarf was strangling her; yellow with rubber ducky toy patterns on it.
Dana attempted to speak out, but a hat was abruptly yanked over her head, making her stagger a bit with disorientation.
She looked and saw once more Kate was critiquing the look of it on her.
Dana sighed indifferently. Flicking the hat's feather up out of her face.
"Most likely", continued Dana casually.
Once more the scarf and hat were yanked off and a different combo of items thrust on. A transformers scarf and baseball cap.
"Really"? Asked Dana sarcastically.
"Oh hush up, I'm working on it...", muttered Kate. She took the items off again.
"Could ya maybe not sever my wind pipes in between costume changes"? Asked Dana in a slight groan rubbing at her throat.
"Ooh costumes, that gives me an idea~" Chimed Kate excitedly, attempting to dart to her closet.
Dana was quick to action and ran after her; grabbing Kate and picking her up around the abdomen; carrying her back over to the scarves.
"No ! Bad Kate, down ! No costumes ! Stick to the scarves", stated Dana firmly.
"Aw you're no fun", grumbled Kate, crossing her arms bitterly as she was carried.
"You, are a little too much fun. So you can bite me", replied Dana casually plopping the girl back down by the scarves.
Kate sighed and grumbled something bitterly under her voice and resumed digging through the scarves.
"Anyway, its wounded at least right ? And damage from silver should probably still take time for it to regenerate properly", stated Kate picking through the scarves more critically.
She held up two more cartoony scarves and compared them.
"Yeah, but theres also a chance it's regeneration is a normal speed too... I, don't like those odds though", Stated Dana sweat-dropping at the somehow even weirder looking scarves Kate was examining.
"Um... Kate, are you listening"? Asked Dana.
Kate looked to her, looking like a pouting puppy. "I can't choose, they're all so cute", she commented.
"Cute... Yeah, thats the word I'd use... And I will take that as no...Um you know what, how about I just pick one"? Asked Dana sarcastically.
"Oh okay~", smiled Kate suddenly perky again.
Dana sweat dropped at the mood shift. She sighs and approaches the pile and roots through it, taking out a white thick silk scarf and wrapped it around her neck covering up the bruising and new scarf burns...
"There, I'll use this one okay"? Asked Dana calmly looking to Kate.
Kate looked at her a moment, silently.
"... God you're boring", commented Kate casually.
"And I quote. Bite me. And aren't you supposed to not use thy lord's name in vain or something"? Stated Dana casually shrugging.
Kate was already on her knees in front of a cross frantically praying nervously.
Dana sweat dropped again. After a long moment, she gestured halfheartedly to the door.
"Uh... Right, so class is starting soon, I'm gonna just... Yeah, bye", stated Dana awkwardly waving to her and backing up to the door, slowly.
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Max heard the shift and quickly retreated back to her own room, stealthily, and she quietly shut the door.
She heard Kate's door open through her door, then heard it click shut, accompanied by a very quick retreat down the hall and heard another door shut.
Max sighed and leaned her back to the door. She looked to be still processing everything she had overheard.
"Chloe is okay... She's alive... Thats what matters...", mumbled Max quietly, trying to compose herself.
She took out her phone and tried again to call Chloe; once more, no connection.
"Which is great cause I want to kill her myself", glared Max bitterly.
She clicked off her phone and shoved it into her pocket and left her dorm once more, now that the coast was clear.
Slamming the door and locking it roughly behind herself.
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Chloe was on her knees in human form, her wrists tied behind her back with rough twine; mind hazy.
All she felt was pain, volcanic burning; blood running down her back and front.
Her eyes incapable of focus, tearing up and stinging.
Her body was sweating uncontrollably from shaking in pain, her hair clinging to her face, clothes clinging, getting tighter; she was over-heating.
Her throat dry and and cracking as she screams, but all she can hear is her heart smashing against her ribs repeatedly with barely a second between; and vicious laughter echoing.
She struggled against her bounds to no avail, the immense pain was unreal and she felt herself losing consciousness.
She allows it, everything starts to recede from her. She welcomes the escape, no pain, no sound, no feeling... Her heart slowing...
"CHLOE"! A scream of agony from an equally hurting female voice, yelling for her as hard as they could. It rings loudly in Chloe's ears.
Chloe forces herself to consciousness, all pain and sound dulled as though she was in the process of becoming entirely numb.
Her vision fuzzy, she struggles to focus.
She looks over, blearily, and sees Rachel, bleeding and bound away from her, crying as pain overtakes her, screaming Chloe's name once more, desperate for help.
Yet Rachel sounded distant, small and muffled. Fading to silence in Chloe's barely conscious ears.
Then the sound of blood splatter tore through the silence; followed by a distorted deep screech of agony, echoing.
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Chloe jolted awake, sweating and panting in dire wolf form; laying by a stream bed.
She frantically looked around at her surroundings, chest heaving. She saw it was later in the morning now, and she was in the forest again.
Then she settled, sitting up and glanced to the stream; reflecting her image.
Chloe gazed at it, ears drooping slightly, her eyes sad.
Then her ears perked and rage overtook the sadness in her icy blue eyes and she swiped at the water furiously; rippling and violently erasing the image.
She got up and walked away, head down, watching the dirt and grass beneath her; her back to the stream, uncaring.
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The day progressed slowly once more for Max. She idly watched her phone on her desk, apathetically.
She was dazed and nearly slouched at her table; barely listening to her teachers.
Eventually lunch came and she indifferently gathered her things and went to lunch.
She sat alone, disinterested in her food; her friends joined her, watching her worriedly.
Juliet leaned forward, looking at her; Max didn't seem to care.
"Day two of zombie Max ongoing I see", stated Juliet casually.
She flicked Max's forehead gently.
"Ah, what the-"? Started Max recoiling back, snapping from her daze, lightly touching the spot on her forehead.
"There she is ! Head shots always destroy the undead", Juliet smirked playfully.
Max rolled her eyes a bit with a half grin.
"So, now that you've been revived Max, whats up with you ? Why are you so distant lately ? And don't say that we're seeing the real you or something, cause thats bs", stated Juliet calmly.
Max sighed.
"I haven't been able to get a hold of Chloe, I keep calling and it won't connect; I text and they keep failing to send... I either have a suddenly shitty phone, or something is wrong. Either way, I'm getting worried...", replied Max quietly.
She was leaning more toward the, something wrong, part.
Juliet slacks back in her seat, looking up at the ceiling idly; putting a chocolate Pocky stick in her mouth; twirling it a bit between her lips.
Dana and Kate seemed a bit more relaxed at Max's admission of their last talk with her, not being the source of Max's current melancholy disposition.
"Maybe she blocked your number or something", stated Juliet idly, not really intending on Max hearing that.
There was a slamming sound that jarred the lunch items and dishes.
Juliet alerted, sitting up and biting through her Pocky abruptly; letting it drop to her lap.
Max was standing up straight in her seat, looking pissed. Hands flat on the table in front of her.
"What"?! She asked angrily.
The other three recoiled a bit, arms up for protection.
Max looked at Dana's phone on the table.
"Dana let me borrow your phone for a second please", requested Max.
Dana kept her eyes nervously on Max, and with just the fingertips of one hand; she cautiously slid the phone to the center of the table, then resumed holding up her arms as shields.
Max quickly swiped the phone, sliding the unlock screen off it and dialed, almost violently...
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Chloe was in human form, napping up on a high tree branch, peacefully. Arms resting behind her head.
Birds chirping in the distance; a gentle breeze tussled through the surrounding greenery.
She had changed clothes, into a long red muscle shirt, and black frayed jeans, though still rocked her boots and a black beanie. Metal chains clipped to the sides of her jeans hanging down in wide semi-loops.
An obnoxiously loud Drake song blared out, forcing the peaceful birds to flee the trees, and jolting her awake with a jump and yelp; forcing her to fall off the branch and crash into the dirt below with a loud thud. She was face down.
The song continued and she groaned slowly into the grass.
She reached back and grabbed her phone from her pocket, tenderly bringing it to her ear, instinctively pressing answer.
Sorely she lifted her face from the ground, dirt sprinkling her skin.
"...Hello ? Who-", she started tiredly and painfully.
She instantly jerked away from the receiver with a cringing wince, closing her right eye near it; as Max's pissed off voice rang out.
"Chloe ! If you ever want to see your jacket alive again, unblock my fucking number"! Max snapped. Then hung up with a click.
Chloe laid in silence, nothing but a brief dead tone playing on her phone.
Chloe sweat-dropped.
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Max handed Dana back her phone, closing her eyes and zipping up Chloe's jacket firmly.
She stuffed everything into her bag.
"Thank you Dana", she stated firmly. Then walked away, shoving her hands in her pockets roughly.
Her friends watched her nervously.
"N-no... Problem..."? Replied Dana uneasy.
Kate, reached into her sweater and adjusted her vials of holy water for easier access as she watched Max leave and people scatter in fear of her...
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Chloe put away her phone and sat up.
"Damn, I kinda liked that jacket... Wait my jacke- SHIT ! She still has my jacket ! FUCK ! IDIOT ! Even if you distance yourself from her, she still has your fucking jacket ! The one with your scent on it dumb ass" ! She berated herself angrily, face palming.
"She's still going to be a target"! She groaned regretfully.
Chloe quickly got up and took off running.
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Max sat through her last two classes still a little annoyed.
Though Mr. Jefferson kept her focus at least partially in photography lab; which is more than any other teacher could that day and the previous.
Though he was hard to ignore, as he kept singling her out as the usual.
The school day soon ended though and Max started making her way to the door.
"Max, can I speak with you a moment"? Called Mr. Jefferson.
Max paused and looked back to him. Once more Kate waited for her, but Max nodded her the go ahead, so Kate went on without her and left.
Then Max approached Jefferson as the last of the students piled out.
"Yes, sir"? Asked Max nervously.
"I've noticed you've been distant again today. Would you mind helping me understand"? He asked.
Max shifted a bit under his gaze.
"Just, teenage drama... You know how it is...", she replied sheepishly.
"I see. Well Max, I hope it doesn't continue to trouble you for too much longer. And if you would like to, talk it out, as you kids like to say. You can always come to me", he offered calmly.
"I'd hate for one of Blackwell's most aspiring photographers, to miss out on opportunities to express her gift and experiences, due to, teenage drama", he stated calmly.
"Thank you... But, Its something that I have to work out on my own, sir", replied Max a bit timidly.
"I understand, I'm here if you ever change your mind", he replied calmly.
"Thanks, I do appreciate it", replied Max.
Before heading off again, waving at him as she left, he returned the wave, watching her go, before frowning slightly.
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Chloe made it onto the campus and panted lightly, turning her attention to the dorms.
She started to hurry toward them, when she stopped and looked over sharply at Nathan, leaning against the Male dormitory, around the side of it.
He looked up at her.
"You're late for our chat, Mutt", he sneered.
Chloe looked at him bitterly.
"Shit, I forgot about Princess over there, can't have him see me go to Max...", she thought in annoyance.
She casually and calmly pockets her hands and walks over to him, until they were only a few feet apart. She scoffs.
"Oh sorry Precious, ya never gave me a specific time; else I would've gone to all lengths to be punctual for you..." She mocked.
The campus was fairly empty by this time, with the students having long since taken shelter.
Nathan growled in irritation as she got closer and stopped; looking at him serious and annoyed.
"Whatever mutt. We're not doing this here anyway", he growled.
Then he pushed away from the wall and walked off, looking to her to follow.
Chloe glared at him and looked around at the dorm windows and followed after him.
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Max having escaped Jefferson, made her way to the dorms again.
She had taken off Chloe's jacket due to the warmth of the sun starting to make it hotter, folding it into her arms as she walked.
She paused as she saw Victoria and a good handful of other preppy students and jocks gathered in front of the dorms.
"Ugh, Are you cereal ? No fucking way I'm walking through that... I'll probably get shanked", she muttered quietly.
"Theres gotta be a back way... Or maybe ninja Max can summer-salt through a window...", she thought.
She made her way behind the building at a very wide angle.
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Nathan led Chloe to the empty football field, descending down a flight of stairs by a short wall with a railing, and weaved to the front of the bleachers, and onto the field.
They stopped and Chloe checked the area over for any surprises.
"Now, lets talk bidness. As I know you're aware, a couple of your pedigree puppies trespassed on my turf Sunday, delivering a letter. I hope they gave you my reply, though I doubt it held all of my colorful insults when they barked it at you", stated Chloe angrily.
"Oh the message was received alright. You really think you can tell ME what to do ? I've got news for you bitch ! The Prescotts, own this town, your, turf, IS mine, and I will take it back from you"!He growled.
He advanced on her a step, to intimidate, Chloe didn't budge and glared back into his eyes.
"And like you should talk, Mutt ! I know it was you who tore up the Pan estates construction yard and left trash all over it the other night" ! He snapped angrily and spitefully.
"Just returning the favour to you and your pack for tearing up a diner on my land last month asshole", growled Chloe equaling his spite.
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Max checked the emergency door on the back of the building and as she figured, it only opened from the inside.
She sighed.
"Fuck, how am I going to do this, something tells me Kate's necklace isn't going to repel an armada of jerks...", she sighed quietly.
She heard voices from behind her a ways, in a heated argument. Max looked back to it.
"That sorta sounds like, Chloe", she thought to herself. Then glancing to the dorm, she turned away and followed the voices.
The wind blew against her front as she neared the football field.
The voices got louder and she snuck closer, curiously; looping around the side of a large storage building and approaching a short wall with a railing.
The voices were definitely behind the short wall, she hid behind it and peered over it, seeing Chloe and Nathan disagreeing... A lot; on the other side of the bleachers.
"It was Chloe, she's okay", thought Max relieved at the confirmation.
She laid Chloe's folded jacket down onto the concrete next to her, so her hands were free to help her balance herself against the wall a moment, before she turned away and sat down with her back to it.
She waited in order to confront Chloe. As much as she didn't want to eavesdrop she knew she had to take the opportunity she had, to try and talk to Chloe again.
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"Just stay the hell away from what I've claimed, Prescott. All of it ! And I may just leave your punk ass alone", demanded Chloe angrily.
"How bout you get the fuck off my turf and screw yourself ! You know if you had just joined my pack back then, none of this would matter ! But stupidly, you didn't"! He snapped.
"As if I'd ever fucking join you ! Not after what you did to Rachel and me. You kidnapped us, drugged us; trying to force us into your pack of mongrels", snapped Chloe clenching a fist tightly. Her rage starting to bubble over.
Max looked shocked and horrified.
"Wait What ? Holy shit"! She thought in confusion and alarm. Turning over again facing the wall, to peer through the rail at the arguing duo.
"If you'd have just cooperated and came with us willingly, and didn't try to out us. I wouldn't have had to", he growled with a smug smirk.
"You killed her in front of me you son of a bitch ! I'll see you burn before I ever join your bloodthirsty gang of mangy rats"! Snapped Chloe furiously.
A gust of wind crossed over them; their hair and clothes rippling in the wind.
Max couldn't believe what she was hearing. She felt a sick knot of worry and sympathy for Chloe, balling up in her stomach.
"Now you listen here you worthless half-breed-", started Nathan angrily stepping into Chloe's space.
She stood her ground, furious and ready to brawl.
Then they both froze in alarm, as the wind brushed over them in a new direction.
Nathan sharpened his gaze.
"Damn it ! A human is close by they've probably heard everything" ! He growled.
Scanning the area sniffing desperately.
"Shit"! Growled Chloe, equally alarmed and checking around.
Chloe's eyes widened as she recognized the human scent.
Nathan suddenly took off changing into hybrid form, the split second he tracked the location.
Chloe was instantly after him changing to her own hybrid form as she watched him jump over the rail of the wall, after Max.
"No"! She called out in panic.
Max was up in a shot as the rich boy landed where she was kneeling.
She backed towards the storage house wall as he advanced, tensing his claws.
"You are a Were... Shit", muttered Max as she got the confirmation of everything she had heard.
"Well since the cat is out, guess I really do need to deal with you after all. So heres your choice, I turn you right now, or I can just kill you", he snarled.
For emphasis, he lunged forward, swiping his claws in a downward curve.
Max evaded backwards, but her leg was still mildly cut open.
She cried out and hit the ground in a slight roll, painfully. She gripped at her leg and whimpered quietly from the pain. He approached.
"If you turn, that'll heal right u-", he sneered cockily. Only to be cut off by Chloe tackling him; they hit the ground hard and rolled around fighting.
She turned into dire wolf form and thrust him on his back, pinning him down with her massive paws on his collar bone, her claws centimeters from his jugular.
She was snarling angrily, fangs bared.
"Stay away from her"! She ordered over a vicious growl. Her eyes were sharpened and furious with blood-lust.
"Wrong Price ! Its you who should've stayed away from her ! Cause now, she's got my full attention; thanks to your loner scent being all over her"! He growled.
He forced her off of him; swiping her cheek with his claws; with enough force that she hit the ground.
A yelp choked out of her. She struggled to get up with the new disorientation ringing through her skull.
Nathan turned his gaze from Chloe, back onto Max; once more advancing.
Max pried her concerned focus from Chloe, and back to him and dragged herself back, until the cool brick of the wall, pressed into her back.
Once more, he was interrupted as he was grabbed and thrown back by Chloe's hybrid form.
No sooner did he bash his head on the concrete, was she on him, sinking her fangs into his shoulder. He yelped out at the pain and flailed himself free from the bite, tackling her back off of him.
They rolled around scrapping, in giant balls of fur and fangs with an occasional claw.
He grabbed Chloe by the scruff and threw her into the short wall behind them. She laid there unconscious and still.
He staggered up, panting, shoulders heaving. He wiped the side of his mouth to rid it of a stream of blood, as he looked at her.
Then he turned his attention back to Max and stormed up to her
"Chloe"! Called Max in fearful worry looking to the unconscious wolf.
Though her attention was quickly snapped back to Nathan as he grabbed her and yanked her up; slamming her into a rough pin against the wall.
Max gasped out in pain, and grabbed at his arm. He was nearly blind with rage and ignored the slow burn of her necklace un-caringly, as he left barely any space between them.
He towered her and ripped the shoulder of her shirt off; exposing her neck as well, as her collar and chest partially.
He grinned maliciously.
"Oh I'm going to enjoy this~", he sneered.
Max struggled against him in vain. He laughed and leaned down to her exposed shoulder, baring his fangs; keeping her firmly pinned to the wall.
Max was fearful, her heart pounding hard in her chest as she watched him get closer.
She felt all of her senses prick to high alert and closed her eyes, bracing for the bite.
"You just had to go to Blackwell academy, Didn't you Max ? ~Its the best school in the state for aspiring photographers~ Fuck this shit ! I should've become a guidance councilor" ! She angrily berated herself in her thoughts.
She felt his heated breath on her shoulder, feeling vulnerable and terrified; tears pricked at the corners of her eyes.
Then she lifted her head in one last effort.
"CHLOE"! She yelled out loud and desperately.
Nathan cringed at the vocal proximity of his heightened hearing and was snapped enough from his rage that he noticed the burning sensation from her necklace.
He pulled back momentarily.
"Gah ! Would you shut u-"! He started to snap when he was cut off by dire wolf fangs clamping down on his right arm with a thick cracking sound.
He yelped out loudly in pain and only got a brief glance of Chloe before he found himself hurtling through the air, and smashing down hard onto the cement.
He grabbed his bloody, broken arm, crying out and glaring from his back, at Chloe in dire wolf; standing between him and Max, while Max slipped down the wall, to the ground, grasping at her bloody leg.
Chloe's tail was straight up, she was semi crouched, head low, fangs bared and dripping with Nathan's blood. One paw hovering, almost as if it was ready to slam down into a charge at any minute.
She pressed her paw down, her fur bristled to the point she looked even larger than her already abnormally massive size, and the tips of her fur looked like they could impale stone.
She snarled furiously, eyes sharp and feral. She looked like a wolf on the hunt.
Nathan slowly got up stepping back, noticeably unnerved and shaken.
"Showing your true colours now, aren't ya half-breed ?! I should've put you down first all those years ago, and not concerned myself with your little girlfriend; then you wouldn't be such a pain in my ass now", he growled.
Chloe just snarled viciously and slowly started to advance on him.
His conviction waned as he glared at her, though the look was fading from glaring to unease. He glanced to Max then back at Chloe, closing the gap on him. He started backing away, sneering.
"Don't think this is over half-breed ! I will turn her, or I will kill her, and I won't be the only one trying... My entire pack will hunt her down until the day her blood soaks the grass"! He called angrily.
Max swallowed nervously.
Chloe started to pick up her advancing pace and he backed away quicker.
"Humans don't own this world anymore ! I, do ! So you better keep a close eye on your little pet bitch, Price ! Cause I'll be back for her ! And I won't be alone"! He calls out.
He turned tail and took off running, leaping over the rails and bleachers. Chloe mock chases him, but stops at the rails; watching him leave her sight.
Then Chloe turned her gaze back to Max, her sharp eyes, untamed.
Max slowly got up and limped a little closer to her.
Then hesitated as she registered the look in Chloe's eyes.
"Wait her- She has the same look that she had when she attacked Dana...", She thought uneasily.
She took a step back a bit. Chloe watched her, narrowing her eyes on her and fully turning to face her.
Max felt her wounded leg buckling on her and tried to take another step back from Chloe, only to land on her ass.
"Ch-Chloe", she tried to call nervously.
Chloe approached, tail flicking.
Max pulled herself back a bit cautiously, but knew she was cornered; and with a couple strides, the wolf was over top of her.
Max quickly laid back on the ground nervously.
Chloe stood over her intimidatingly and leaned down, baring her fangs, with a low growl. Max's eyes widened slowly in alert.
~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
Nathan was in the forest tending his injuries angrily.
He heard a rustling sound, and tensed up, his eyes sharp as they looked around himself, until Victoria landed in front of him in a kneel. His tension relaxed a bit as he looked at her.
Slowly she stood up and dusted off her cashmere.
"Nate-... Alpha. Are you alright"? She asked calmly.
Nathan stood up, still partially nursing his broken bloody arm. More rustling sounded.
"I'm fine", he stated firmly. Then looked to others that had gathered, jocks and rich kids, and a few non preppy teens.
They looked at him warily, skeptically. He growled deeply and stood to his full hybrid height, releasing his arm.
"What're you mewling pups looking at ?! You think I'm weak"?! He snapped lashing out and grabbing Logan by the throat, lifting him and all too easily smashing the heavy weight quarterback against a tree, hard as the jock yelped out, choking, and struggling.
Nathan glared sharply over all the others gathered, who stepped back.
"Go ahead ! I fucking dare any one of you to challenge me ! I will end you" ! He snarled angrily. Tensing his other hand's claws, despite the break in the arm.
They backed away, lowering their heads.
"Thats what I thought, pathetic. Now get back in line"! He ordered angrily.
They gathered in formation as he casually dropped Logan from his grip, making the football player land on his knees and grip his throat, coughing.
Logan quickly scrambled into position next to Zachery and Hayden, giving Nathan his full attention. The circle knelt down, making sure their heads were lower than Nathan's.
Victoria briefly narrowed her eyes on Nathan, frowning, but closed them and joined him, standing in the middle of the circle, also addressing the others.
Nathan smirked slightly.
"Now that we're all back on the same page, theres been a change of plans regarding that annoying mutt on my back; so listen up", he stated sharply, but in a casual almost cheerful tone.
~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
Max gazed up at Chloe's towering form as she laid on the cold concrete on her back.
Chloe drew closer to her, mouth agape.
Max felt an icy stab of fear burrow into her chest.
"N-no, no way, she-she's not going to- Oh god she is ! Dana was right"! Max thought fearfully, feeling herself start to panic. She braced herself for the attack.
She noticed movement at the corner of her eye.
"Wait is her tail-"? Asked Max quietly. She felt heat brush her cheeks and looked up in time to get a face full of wolf tongue...
Max laid there silently. Chloe pulled back up, panting, tail wagging, still with that feral look in her eyes.
Max's bangs had been swept into a swirling wave by the sudden exposure to dampness...
"...Well... That was anticlimactic...", Max muttered.
She wasn't sure if she should be relieved or not, that Chloe didn't try to eat her.
Max sighed.
"I've gotta stop bracing myself for things to happen... I'm gonna pull something one of these days...", she muttered, casually wiping the wolf drool from her face; unnaturally calm and indifferent about it.
She looked up at Chloe calmly, crossing her arms.
"Right, not everyday I get licked by my best friend, so that said; got anything you wanna tell me ? Like maybe you're doing this cause you chewed the new slippers, and you're trying to butter me up" ? She asked sarcastically.
"Or is this your way of telling me you're attracted to me"? She shrugged casually and sarcastically.
The dire wolf tilted her head at Max quizzically, before leaning down, and sniffing her, mouth closed, tail still wagging.
Max quirked her brow at it.
The wolf trailed it's snout down Max's body to her bleeding leg. It sniffed at it a bit, before leaning down and starting to lick the wound sealed through the torn pant leg.
Max gasped out at the slight sting, and mild burning sensation.
"Ah, w-what are you-"? She tried sorely reaching down to Chloe, but pausing as she saw her leg closing up the wound, but not completely, before Chloe pulled back, it was a more mild gash now.
"O-oh, I almost forgot, Dana told me that werewolf saliva can heal wounds and injuries; well, not completely for humans...", mumbled Max quietly.
Max looked up at Chloe, looking back at her. "She's still out of it it looks like", Max thought.
Then Chloe's eyes reverted to normal as she snapped out of it and closed her eyes, shaking her head and stepping back a bit, hovering a paw.
"Ugh, fuck, head rush-", Chloe groaned.
She opened her eyes and saw Max under her looking very sarcastic and apathetic.
"Max"? Asked Chloe confused.
"Oh hey ! You're back...", replied Max with a sarcastic tone.
"Shit ! Max did I- Please tell me I didn't hurt you when I was out cold", pleaded Chloe worriedly.
"You tasted me, does that count"? Asked Max casually and jokingly, out of relief that Chloe was back to normal.
"I- What"? Asked Chloe in confusion.
Then she took notice on the coppery taste of blood on her tongue, and it wasn't her own.
Chloe saw the tears in Max's clothing on her shoulder and leg.
"Oh god ! Max I tried to bite you"! She concluded in panic, backing off of Max and reverting to human form; still backing away, looking horrified.
Max saw her expression.
"Oh shit, she's genuinely afraid right now", thought Max snapping out of her sarcastic defense mechanism.
She quickly got up as fast as her injured leg would allow.
"No ! No ! Chloe wait ! Nathan tried to bite me, not you ! You protected me and chased him off before he could. You saved me ! You even kissed it better"! Called Max worriedly.
"Nathan did ? Oh thank g- Wait what was that last part"? Asked Chloe running a hand over her beanie, then pausing to look at Max in confusion.
"Not important. Anyway, I'm seriously glad to see you Chloe; we need to talk", stated Max evasively.
Chloe looked away solemnly.
"Max I can't. Its just... Its not safe for you to be around me. Nathan has it out for me; he'll target everyone who gets close. I'm trying to, keep you safe", tried Chloe closing her eyes sadly.
She heard a clattering, skidding sound, and glanced over to see a silver looking piece of jewelry skid off into the grass.
Before she could react, she felt a sudden pressure on her front and immediately after, she felt another bout of pressure around her lower back.
She jolted up straight, eyes shocked to full awareness. She looks down at Max pressed against her, hugging her tightly, hiding her face against her.
Chloe feels instant heat on her cheeks and another partially familiar sensation. As she was stunned silent and still, except, a slightly more erratic heartbeat.
"...I thought I was never going to see you again...", Max stated, but her voice was muffled against Chloe's red muscle shirt.
Max wasn't the least bit concerned about discarding the necklace that protected her, Chloe was speechless.
She felt the tightness of Max's hold, and the subtle tremble to her arms, as her hands gripped at the back of Chloe's shirt.
Chloe gazed at her, crestfallen, eyes half lidded solemnly.
But she found herself not pulling away, not wanting to.
She remained stationary and let Max hold her, but she didn't return it.
Many minutes seemed to pass before Max pulled back slowly.
"...Sorry...", she mumbled sadly. Tears in her eyes a bit.
Then she looked up at Chloe. Now Max looked more surprised than anything.
"...Uh...", Max tried unsurely, stepping back a bit.
Chloe looked at her quizzically.
"What"? Asked Chloe curiously.
Max pointed to her head.
Chloe narrowed her eyes suspiciously and reached up to her head and instantly met with, thin fur.
"The fuck"? Asked Chloe. She gripped at the fur and felt it took the shape of pointed wolf ears.
Chloe alerted, and quickly checked her hands, aside from claws, they looked human, she quickly felt two small pointed canine fangs, on her bottom lip, from the inside of her mouth at the top.
She quickly looked behind her and saw the long fluffy wolf tail.
"Gah ! What the fuck"!? She alerted and grabbed the tail.
Max looked at the sight of the most literal hybrid, in front of her. Chloe looked human except her pointed wolf ears atop her head, the small fangs from her mouth, the claws and tail.
Chloe quickly looked to Max and shook them all away, reverting to a full human look, blushing in embarrassment.
"Uh... That uh... Doesn't usually happen to me...", She stated nervously.
Max managed a playful grin.
"Do you say that to all the girls"? She teased.
Chloe blushed darker crossing her arms and looking away in a glaring pout.
"Sh-shut up", she muttered shyly.
Max giggled.
"Um...Anyway...", replied Max, she slowly partially limped over to Chloe's folded jacket and picked it up; bringing it back to Chloe.
She offered it to her, looking down sadly again.
Chloe accepted it, but looked over Max's state of dress, slowly, without a word. She put it back on Max, to cover her bare shoulder, zipping up the jacket.
Max was surprised, looking up at Chloe.
Chloe, gazed at her with a softness to her eyes, and she looked at her muscle shirt, slowly reaching down on the long baggy shirt and ripped off a long strip of the fabric at the bottom.
She knelt down and wrapped it around Max's still somewhat bleeding leg; tying it firmly but gently.
Max watches her sadly.
"Thanks...", she responds quietly.
But as Chloe stands up; Max blushes as she's scooped up into Chloe's arms, bridal style.
"Ch-Chloe"? She asked shyly, tucking her arms to her chest in slight embarrassment.
"I'll get you some place safe, but...-", Chloe started quietly, trailing off a bit.
"Chloe, what you said the other day... Do you really want me to distance myself from you... Again..."? Max asked in a solemn tone.
Chloe looked away.
"Max, I was trying to keep you out of Nathan's radar. Theres bad blood between us, as you probably just saw... I thought you'd be safer if you stayed away from me... But I stupidly forgot I lent you my jacket... This wasn't supposed to happen...", Chloe replied quietly and regretfully.
"Well he's definitely got his eye on me now. While you were, AFK in wolf mode, he said he'd come back for me, to kill me or turn me and that his pack would be hunting me down too...", Max explained calmly.
Chloe's eyes narrowed at the threat.
"So... can we... Stay together, now..."? Max finished sadly and a little pleadingly.
Chloe's eyes softened, half lidded.
"...Alright...", She replied quietly.
Max felt relief and happiness fill her chest.
She smiled and gently wrapped her arms around Chloe's neck for balance and leaned her head to Chloe's shoulder, closing her eyes.
Chloe, smiled lightly as well, glancing to the shorter girl in her arms; then she walked on, carrying Max securely.
~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
~A Note from Pure Set~
Well that one was thankfully, not as long a wait. There were only mild changes and additions.
A few may seem out of left field or strange, but I assure you, they were always part of the plan and I just needed an opening to put them in.
One of these additions, was Chloe's partial transformation.
Allow me to explain. I know that I've made Chloe, intimidating, tough and dominant, giving her a harder edging to her personality, than what we are used to from the game.
Though I will have her joking on occasion, she will stick very close to this new found serious attitude. So, I wanted to add a foil to this bad ass routine of hers; to make her a bit more approachable and fun, while still keeping to her seriousness. That is why this partial transformation gag was added into this chapter.
Now, it will by no means be super frequent, but every so often, it may happen. Giving her an extra way to be comic relief, to keep her a bit more rounded; despite some edges~
Now I know I dropped a couple references in there, though I'm not sure many are going to figure them out~
Any way. That was Chapter 9. Hope you enjoyed~
Leave a review if you so choose, they keep me going~ Thank you for your patience~ I will have the next chapter up as soon as I can~
Remember to check back on chapters, since I will sometimes go back and change things, or improve punctuation/spelling/grammar.
Next up~
Chapter 10: Rekindled Bond
Got a lot of fun in store for that one~ Look forward to it~