Chloe's POV

Derek and I get downstairs and we start scanning the rooms for Tori. I don't find her anywhere in the house, so I assume she's outside. I meet Derek by the front door and I'm about to open it when Derek freezes and looks over the top of my head. I follow his gaze and see Cole sitting on one of the couches with Ruth's daughter, Amy, reading some novel. I look back at Derek and brushes his fingers with mine. He hesitates for a moment but when he looks back down at me, his expression softens and he smiles.

"It's fine," I whisper to him.

He nods. I turn my attention back to the task at hand. I just open the door when a voice has me stopping and turning around. I find Cole standing a few feet away from us, smirking at me. I suddenly feel very uncomfortable. Derek must be picking up on this because he steps in front of me.

"Where are you two lovers headed?" Cole asks looking at me.

"W-We -"

"It's none of your business," Derek snaps.

Cole doesn't flinch and his smirk doesn't fade. Instead he maintains his ground and continues to look as arrogant as ever. I still haven't forgiven him for nearly scaring me to death in the woods tonight.

"If you're looking for that little witch who ran out a few minutes ago, she's out there." He points towards the front yard.

"Her name is Tori," I say, grateful my stutter decided to shove off now. "And we know, that's why we were going out. We're going to look for her."

"Maybe I can help," Cole offers.

"Thanks," Derek snaps again, "but we've got it."

"Yeah?" Cole steps towards Derek and I can tell he's trying to instigate him. I know how protective and short-tempered Derek can be, so I hope he can manage to hold on to his self-control.

"Yeah."

"How many times have you transformed into a wolf, Derek?" Cole asks. When Derek doesn't answer, Cole has his. "Just as I thought. You're not developed enough for tracking."

"He can do just fine," I snap this time. I can be short-tempered too and I'm glad it was on this jerk. "He's a good tracker, Cole."

His eyes turn on me and his eyebrows shoot up. "Maybe so, but I'm sure I can be more help."

"I think you've done enough helping for one night, Cole." I'm certain that Derek is referring to our earlier encounter in the woods when Cole decided to use his wolf side to find me. He claims it's his "survival instinct" but I think he just wanted an excuse to scare me. Maybe even piss Derek off.

Cole raises his hands in a defensive gesture. "I mean no harm, dude."

Without another word, Derek turns around for the door and shoos me out, following closely behind. We split up amongst the front yard to look for Tori, but Derek doesn't wonder too far away from me. As bright as the porch light is, the yard is pretty dark, making it nearly impossible to see out here. Derek's obviously more equipped for this type of thing with his night vision and super senses.

"Tori?" I call.

"Tori!" I hear Derek in the distance.

We continue to call for Tori until I no longer hear Derek beside me. He's gone and I'm all alone out here. I look out into the trees and around the house but I don't see her anywhere. I call her name a few more times but I still get no answer.

"Tori!" Cole's voice sings loudly from beside me, scaring me once again.

I whirl around to face him. "Would you stop doing that?"

"Doing what?" he asks innocently.

"Scaring me!" I turn back to what I was doing but Cole never leaves my side.

"You know your boyfriend's an idiot," he says but I say nothing. Now it's my turn to be baited, but I'm not having it. He goes on. "He's an idiot for leaving you alone out here in the dark by yourself, Chloe."

I continue to watch the darkness around me, trying to keep a safe distance from Cole but he keeps following me. I'll admit that I feel useless and frustrated that Derek would take off without me, but if it's the only way to find Tori then fine. Whatever.

"If you were my girlfriend, you would never be alone."

If I was his girl? That makes me want to laugh in his face because everyone knows as well as I do that there is no one on this planet who is better for me than Derek. Sure, he can be a control freak and he can be a little possessive, but he knows his boundaries and he knows when I want to be left alone. He's a good person and he is certainly no idiot.

"And if you were my girl -"

I whirl around on him once again. "Would you please stop it, Cole?" I say loudly. "I am not your girlfriend, nor will I ever be." Well, he got a rise out of me and I feel stupid for giving it to him.

He smirks once again. "Are you sure about that?"

"One hundred percent. I'm happier with Derek than I have ever been with anyone before, so I suggest you quit while you're ahead."

Cole was about to say something else when the sound of branches breaking behind me cut him off. I turn towards the sound just as Derek walks out from between two trees with Tori tailing him. Her arms are folded and her face is angry. I run over to her and throw my arms around her.

"Umm..." she murmurs.

I pull back and feel my cheeks heat up a little. Tori has never been one for physical contact, so it's no surprise that didn't return the hug.

"Sorry," I say. "I'm just glad you're okay."

She lets out a sarcastic snort. "It's not like I was dying or anything."

"Remind me why I came out here looking for you?" Derek snaps at Tori. Tori just rolls her eyes and heads back inside without another word.

Derek looks from me and turns to see Cole standing behind me. "What the hell are you doing out here?"

"I was helping Chloe."

"Define help."

"I was trying to help her realize -"

"How hard it is to find someone in the dark by myself," I say, jumping in between them. "I don't have superhuman senses like you, so Cole came to help."

Derek puts a protective arm around me and guides me back to the house. I'm glad because I really wasn't in the mood for another fight. It was late and I was tired, so I told Derek I was going to bed. He walked me to my room and kissed me goodnight before I went inside. After everything that's happened tonight, I fell straight to sleep.