Growl - Chapter 16

~A Teen Wolf fan-fiction collaboration between Miss E Charlotte and Sage Londyn~

After getting back home from the animal clinic with Derek, Avery sat on the window seat in front of her large bedroom window overlooking the front yard, she had her knees pulled up to her chest as she watched cars drive down her road.

She wanted so badly to call her best friend and explain what happened so she'd have someone to talk to.

But the only people she could talk to about any the werewolf related problems was Derek, Scott and Stiles.

She knew Derek had enough on his mind and she didn't exactly feel comfortable enough to talk about her feelings with Scott or Stiles.

Avery was shaken from her thoughts when she heard the water from the shower in her bathroom stop.

It was a little while later when Derek came out of her bathroom and watched her as she sat by the window.

"Feel better?" She asked her voice quiet as she looked at his reflection in the glass of the window.

He nodded as he continued to watch her.

She turned around and looked at him, he was wearing his boxers and the dark gray t-shirt she'd given back to him.

"Tomorrow I can go by your house and grab some of your things." She said.

"What?" he asked.

"You need some changes of clothes…" she reasoned.

"No, you can't go to my house." He said.

"What are you talking about?" She asked, getting the feeling he was hiding something from her again.

"You're joking right? Hunters could be watching the house; you could walk right into some kind of trap." He said, with raised eyebrows.

"But I'm human, they wouldn't hurt me… right? The code and all?" She asked, confused.

"Not all of them live by the code, it's too dangerous. It could be bad enough if they even see you with me." He said as he walked over to where she was standing.

Her eyes searched his face as he spoke.

"Are you trying to tell me that I'm in some kind of danger because we're together?" She asked.

"That's exactly what I'm saying." He said, nodding as his eyes met hers.

She shrugged as she spoke, "I don't care."

He sighed when he heard her heart beat stay steady; she really didn't care if it put her in danger.

"Avery, I can't be worried about you all the time. I need to stay focused." He said.

"Then you stay focused and let me handle myself, I will be fine, Derek." She said as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"There was a time I thought I was invincible too; then I lost my family." He said quietly.

She looked down to the floor for a few seconds before looking back at him, as she said "Believe me Derek, I know exactly how fragile life is; how quickly it can be taken away."

"I know." He said after a pause.

"I'm exhausted, can we just go to bed and worry about all of this tomorrow? For tonight we're safe, no one knows you're here." She said as she kissed him.

~(Days later)~

A couple of days later it was the weekend and Jackson was over at Teagan's house as the two sat in the living room alone watching a movie or at least they were until Teagan straddled his lap and the two started kissing. While in a heated kiss, Jackson unbuttoned the plaid shirt she was wearing and pushed it off of her shoulders, exposing the tank top she had on underneath.

He leaned forward to press his lips on her bare shoulder as he slipped his hands under the tank top, resting them flat on her back. She closed her eyes and groaned at feeling his hands and lips caress her skin. As much as she was enjoying things, she knew she had to stop it now before things went too far. Between her ever present nerves and her worry for Avery, now was not the right time.

"What's wrong?" Jackson asked when she pulled away, "You said your dad won't be home for hours."

"I know. That's not why I stopped." Teagan said.

"Then why did you?" Jackson asked confused.

"Cause of Avery." Teagan answered.

"Seriously? You're thinking of Avery right now? Cause believe me she is the last thing on my mind now." Jackson said, as he leaned forward to gently nibbled on her lips.

She kissed him a few times then leaned back, "I'm just worried about her. This Derek thing hit her hard and she's barely left her house. She shows up for a few classes and then goes home for the rest of the day. She's ignoring my calls and acting very un-Avery like."

"She's better off without that asshole." Jackson said angrily, as he remembered their last encounter with Derek.

Teagan's bruises might have faded and his cut might be slowly healing, but he hasn't forgotten that day; the jerk just better hope they never crossed paths again.

"I agree completely with that, I just hate seeing her hurt." Teagan said sadly.

"She'll be ok." Jackson said, as he leaned forward to kiss on her neck, trying to get her in the mood.

Teagan bit her lip as he continued to nip at her skin until an idea hit her and she pushed his head back to say, "I got an idea."

"Does it involve us being naked? Cause if so I had the same idea." Jackson joked as he wrapped his arms around her waist and brought her closer to him.

Teagan chuckled then said, "No not that."

"Then what?" Jackson asked.

"We should have a movie night." Teagan suggested happily. She had not had a movie night since her mom died and even though it wouldn't be the same, maybe it would be enough to cheer up Avery.

Jackson glanced behind her to look at her big screen TV that was still playing the movie they started earlier then he looked up at her and said, "We're already watching a movie."

"I know, but I just mean we can go rent a bunch of stupid, pointless movies, grab some junk food, drag Avery out of her house and we can all hang out. Maybe being around her friends will cheer her up." Teagan explained.

"I don't know. She probably just wants to be left alone." Jackson said.

"She has been left alone for days, we need to help her, babe. Please?" Teagan asked, as she puffed her bottom lip out.

"Hey, that's not fair T. You know I can't say 'no' to that." Jackson groaned, as he turned his head, trying not to look at her.

Teagan chuckled as she rested her hands on either side of his face, forcing him to look at her as she began to pout again. Jackson laughed at the face she was making then said, "Ok, ok fine. We'll do a movie night."

Teagan clapped her hands then threw them in the air as she cheered. She could always wear Jackson down with a pout and was happy to see that had not changed.

"But afterwards, you are all mine." Jackson pointed out, as he placed a hand on the back of her neck to pull her toward him for a heated kiss.

After the kiss, Teagan jumped up from the couch and said, "Ok, I'll go grab Avery and some movies. You go grab some yummy food then we'll meet back here, ok?"

Jackson nodded his head in agreement as he stood up. He gave her a quick kiss, promising to see her soon, before the two went their separate ways.

~()~

Ever since the night at the animal clinic when Derek had almost died as a result of a gunshot wound with a wolfs bane laced bullet, Avery only left the house for part of the school day and then hurried straight home to spend time with Derek who had been staying with her.

Avery's dad was back to ignoring her and keeping himself buried in his job, she'd secretly been hoping that he'd offer another cellphone free family dinner.

She had blown off a chance to spend time with her friends again that day so she could rush home and see him; the more she was around him, the more he was becoming all she could think about.

It reminded her of right after Jackson and Teagan had first gotten together two years before Teagan's family had moved away.

Jackson was the only thing Teagan could talk about for months, she'd tell Avery about every kiss, every sweet thing he did for her and at the time Avery couldn't understand how Teagan could stand to be around the same person all the time and not get sick of them.

But it was starting to make sense to her now, no matter how much time she spent with Derek, it still didn't seem like enough.

She wanted to tell her best friend all about the strong feelings she was quickly developing for him, but she couldn't tell Teagan anything about Derek anymore.

There would be far too much explaining to do and without trying to convince Teagan that werewolves were real it wouldn't make any sense.

After the night at the animal clinic and learning that Kate Argent was back in town, Derek had decided he needed to distance himself some from Avery.

He already felt responsible for the deaths of his family and Avery's mom, if it took staying away from Avery to make sure she was going to be safe that's what he planned to do.

After all he had been telling Scott to stay away from Allison, that she was becoming too much of a distraction for him.

But Derek was finding it impossible to stay away from Avery, he craved being around her.

~()~

Derek smiled to himself at the sound of Avery's heart racing in response to the feeling of his lips on the side of her neck.

She let out a soft moan when his teeth lightly grazed over the sensitive skin before he reclaimed her mouth with his own.

She ran her fingers through his dark hair and arched her body up from the mattress towards his wanting to feel as close as possible to him.

Raising up he pulled his shirt off and dropped it on the floor beside her bed, as he leaned back over her.

She ran her hands up the firm, muscled flesh of his strong arms as he lay over her in the bed, their lips locked in a passionate kiss.

His breath was ragged as he broke their kiss and looked at her, still in disbelief that he'd actually found someone who made him feel the way she did.

She smiled at him before grabbing his face and pulling him back to hers.

He ran one hand down the side of her body, until he reached the end of his t-shirt she was wearing.

Her body lightly quivered from his touch as he started to run his hand up her bare outer thigh pulling the shirt up also. Her skin felt like silk under his hands every time he touched her.

He tugged the shirt up farther to reveal the pair of dark blue underwear she was wearing along with her bare stomach.

Her body was almost shaking from her labored breathing as she raised her head and watched as he left a trail of searing hot kisses across the cool skin on her stomach.

Even the lightest touch from him sent chills over her entire body, nothing could compare to the way his flesh felt against hers.

She ran her fingers through his hair as her body arched up from the mattress when he kissed back across her stomach, causing a breathless moan to escape from her parted lips.

Avery laid her head back on the soft pillows when she felt his warm hands on her sides as he grabbed the waist band of her underwear, but before he could even start to slide them down he stopped.

Moving back up and above her he said, "Someone's coming."

"My dad? He never comes upstairs." Avery said confused.

"It's doesn't sound like your dad's footsteps." He said.

"Who is it?" she asked her breath was as sweet as candy when it touched his face, and all he wanted was to continue what they had started.

"I don't know." He said as he quickly moved off the bed and looked around.

Jumping up Avery picked Derek's shirt up off the floor and handed it to him as she pushed him towards the closet.

"Are you kidding me?" He asked as he stood in her large closet and looked at her.

"I'm sorry." She said as she kissed him and then slammed the doors shut just as her bedroom door started to open.

She sprinted across her room and jumped onto her bed.

"Hey A." Teagan said as she walked into the room and looked at her best friend.

"T, what are you doing here?" She asked.

"Oh my god… you're still crying about him?" Teagan asked with a concerned look.

"What?" Avery asked confused.

"Your face is all red." Teagan pointed out.

Lowering her head and harshly rubbing her eyes in hopes to turn them red she said, "I… didn't want anyone to know."

Teagan sat down on the bed across from her friend as she opened her mouth to say something but stopped when she realized Avery was wearing one of Derek's shirts.

"I thought you said you were going to throw that shirt away." Teagan said.

"I… couldn't bring myself to do it." She lied.

She hated lying to her best friend, but she couldn't tell anyone about Derek. No one would understand and if people knew he was staying at her house it could be dangerous for them all.

"I don't think I ever told you this, but I kept one of Jackson's shirts when I moved away and I used it as a pillow case for a while. I just missed him so bad, and I could fall asleep with the scent of his cologne and I just felt close to him again." Teagan admitted to her.

"No… you never told me that." Avery said with a slightly pained expression as she tried to imagine having to move away from Derek.

"But it also makes sense and you guys dated for 2 years." Avery reasoned.

"It doesn't matter how long you're with somebody, love is love." Teagan said softly.

Avery's light brown eyes widened.

"Excuse me?" She gasped as she glanced over to her closet and wished she'd just told him to go out the window.

"It's okay to admit it that you were starting to really fall for him, he was making you feel things you'd never experienced before and the guy broke your heart. It's his loss." Teagan continued.

"I think we shouldn't talk about this right now." Avery said staring at her.

"Right, no sense on dwelling in the past; he was a complete ass to you anyways." Teagan said through gritted teeth, outraged that the first guy Avery had really had feelings for had used her just like all the others.

"Can we talk about something else?" She asked as Derek was still hiding in her closet.

"Jackson and I are going to cheer you up. We're going to rent some movies, and he went to get food for all of us." Teagan exclaimed as she started for the closet.

"What are you doing?" Avery asked wide eyed as she rushed to her friends side.

"Finding you something to wear other than some jerk's t-shirt." Teagan explained.

"No!" Avery snapped as Teagan started to open the closet door.

Teagan looked over at her wide eyed.

"I'm sorry, I didn't meant to snap at you. But if you're going to make me tag along and be a 3rd wheel then I'm at least wearing what I want to." Avery said.

"Can you at least put some pants on?" Teagan joked.

"I'm wearing underwear, the shirts long enough right?" Avery joked back.

"A." Teagan said as she shook her head back and forth.

"Anyways, Jackson and I think we may be able to help you with the 3rd wheel thing. He knows a few guys on the team who aren't womanizers. He's going to talk to a few of them, we could double date." Teagan offered with a hopeful smile.

"I don't think so, I don't want to date anyone." Avery said, hoping Derek was keeping his anger in check.

"Avery, I know it's hard to get out there again and I'm not trying to push you into anything. But you are an amazing person and you deserve more than just being a piece of ass for stupid Derek Hale." Teagan said still mad that he had broken her friends heart.

"Teagan can you please grab a pair of shoes?" Avery asked as she pointed to the corner of her room with a pile of shoes.

Teagan nodded and Avery breathed a sigh of relief when she stopped talking and moved away from the closet.

"Jackson's already talked to a few of the guys on the team… there's this one guy, Damien who I think you'd really like and Jackson said he's been into you for years." Teagan said as she surveyed the mis-matched shoe pile.

A low growl sounded from Avery's closet.

"What the hell was that?" Teagan asked as she stood up and looked around.

"What?" Avery asked, trying to act like she hadn't heard Derek growling.

"I just heard a growl." Teagan said as she continued to look around the room, she could have sworn it sounded like there was a growl in the room with them.

"Oh that, it's not a big deal I think one of my neighbors got a new dog or something. I'm just going to grab a pair of jeans and we'll get going." Avery said as she walked over to her closet.

Teagan tried to shrug it off, she knew Avery didn't have a dog so maybe it was a neighbors pet.

Once Teagan turned her head Avery opened the closet door enough to stick her arm inside and Derek pulled a pair of her jeans off the hanger and put them in her hand.

She pulled her arm out and quickly shut the door as she pulled her pants on.

"Here we go." Teagan said as she pulled up a pair of Avery's old black converse sneakers.

"I'm sorry." Avery said quietly as she looked back at her closet door.

As Teagan grabbed pair of socks out of her friends dresser for her she said, "If you promise me that you'll at least sit with Damien at lunch this week and try to get to know him, I'll leave you alone."

Teagan knew if Avery got back out there and started meeting more people she'd start to come out of the Derek-induced depression she'd been stuck in.

"I promise I'll sit with Damien this week and I'll consider the double date if you never bring this up again." Avery said just trying to get Teagan to be quiet.

Again Derek growled from her closet.

Teagan jumped and looked around confused.

"So, I get to pick the movies right?" Avery asked excitedly as she sat down on the side of her bed and pulled her socks and shoes on trying to hurry and get out of there.

Happy at seeing Avery smile, Teagan forgot about the strange growling noise and said, "Yeah! Let's go."

As she followed her best friend out of the room, Avery shot a look of longing back to her closet before pulling the door to her room shut behind her.

A/N- Thank you all for reading, hope you guys all enjoyed the chapter.

What are you thinking of season 3 so far? ^_^

On Miss E Charlotte's profile are links to her polyvore and tumblr accounts where she's going to start posting sneak peaks for up coming chapter. While you're there don't forget to check out her other stories too! ^_^

Also, up on my profile is the link to my polyvore account and I have another Teen Wolf story too.

I'd really appreciate it if you could take a few moments to leave a review and let me know if you're still reading and liking the story. We're still having a blast writing this and your kind words and support mean so much.