I had thought that the man was going to knock me out with whatever he had administered but instead it had just made me feel like a brick of stone. Incapable of moving. I couldn't even turn my neck. It was like the man had frozen me in place. The only thing I could move was my eyes. I felt unable to speak and vulnerable to this man.

I lay there in panic, not knowing what to do as the man checks me over. Making sure his poison had worked. He spoke not at all but had a smug grin on his weary face.

Out of the corner of my eye the bedroom door burst open with rage. Derek charged into the room and tackled the man to the ground. They were now out of my view but I could hear Derek growling viciously like a madman. There was lots of yelling and shouting from whatever fighting was going on. I lay frozen in panic as I hear a very loud bash below me. I fear that it was Derek that was hurt. There was a second of silence and then Derek stood up shakily. Relief washed over me that Derek was okay. He rushes over to my side and sat at the side of the bed. Leaning over me, he looks extremely worried. Eyes glowing.

"Chloe? Are you okay? How are you feeling?"

I was unable to respond, but stared down the syringe until Derek looked at it.

"Oh my god! Chloe, I'm so sorry! We'll get this figured out. You'll be alright," Derek reassured me. Seeming to momentarily forget how mad we were at each other.

Kit entered and after discussing the situation with Derek, had the unconscious man taken out of the room. He left with the empty syringe to find out what had been given to me. They suspected it to be some type of temporary paralyzer. By the time everything had settled with Kit, I had regained the ability to speak.

Derek laid in the bed beside me, gently holding my broken hand. He watched me quietly.

"Who was that guy?"

"I don't know, but Dad recognized him. He wouldn't tell me though so I know it's not good. We'll have to leave this safe house soon I guess."

"Why me?"

"I don't know Chloe. I don't know. But I have to keep you safe."

I decided to take a softer escape to Derek instead of shutting him out. Maybe if I acted like normal, that he would let his guard down.

"I know Derek."

"Please don't leave again Chloe. You don't know what it put me through. I was scared beyond anything I have been. I didn't know what was going on or if you were okay. Don't do that again Chloe. Let me help you, don't leave Chloe. I need you here."

"I won't Derek. I promise. I'm sorry." I paused for a moment, "Derek?"

"Yes?"

"Can you teach me something?"

"What do you want me to teach?"

"Teach me how to shift. So I can be back to being human."

Derek nodded, hesitant but seemed glad that I was asking him for the help, "I'll see what I can do Chloe. We'll figure this out."

"I'm glad you can help. How do I do it Derek?"

"It's hard for me to explain. I guess you've got to focus and control your body. You have to take charge of what is going on with it. Somehow you've already managed it with your face. You've returned it to human."

"Yeah, while I was sleeping."

"But we at least know you can manage it."

"Ok, fair enough. So how does control feel like? When do I know I have it?"

"That's not something I know how to explain. I'm sorry."

Then Kit knocked and walked into the room with a tray of food and water. He came and set it down next to me on the bed, between Derek and me.

"Eat up," Kit said, "We've got to build your strength back up."

"Kit?" I ask.

"Yes Chloe?"

"Who was that man that attacked me?"

Kit glanced between me and Derek, "That's not something you need to know just yet. Just know you are safe now."

With that Kit left the room. I looked at Derek who seemed baffled. I was relieved that I wasn't the only one who didn't know the mysterious man's identity.

"Who do you think it is?" I ask him.

"I don't know but it must be someone important if Dad doesn't want us knowing him."

"Someone important? The man tried to kill me!"

"Calm down Chloe. Please."

I took a deep breath, "Okay."

"Dad will eventually tell us. That or I will go get it from that man myself. They have him tied up in the basement here."

"That's comforting that he is still here," I reply sarcastically.

Derek rolls his eyes annoyed and changes the subject.

"Why don't you eat something Chloe, Simon made this for you."

The guilt from earlier events rose at the mention of Simon and I lost any appetite that I had.

"No thanks, I'm not hungry right now."

Derek glared at me and growled. I growled back challenging him but I saw he wasn't going to back down. Derek never does when he knows he is right. I sighed, not wanting a fight. I really needed to decide on a tactic. Sometimes I was distant and sometimes I was very open. I needed to decide a way and stick to it.

I ate slowly as I gained back my ability to move. The poison administered to me was starting to gradually work its way off. Simon's cooking was very good, maybe he had improved on his cooking or maybe it was because I hadn't eaten real food in days. When I finished, I asked Derek.

"Can I talk to Simon? I need to apologize."

"Sure, I'll go get him," Derek stood and placed a kiss on my forehead before leaving the room.

"The mutt is a sweetheart," a voice said and Liam was back, standing at the foot of the bed.

"Get away from me," I growl.

Liam smiled, "You've learned your lesson I see. Now you don't trust me. I would gladly get away if I could."

"I never trusted you before."

"Then why summon me of all werewolves?"

"Because I knew you know what you are talking about."

"Let me go Chloe."

"No," I snap. I imagine his soul going back into his dead rotten body.

"Hey! Stop it!" Liam panics.

"I'll send you all the way back if you don't learn to help me."

I don't hear Liam's response because I hear Derek, Simon, and Tori down the hall.

"Won't she be able to hear us?" Simon said.

"No, she is not trained that well yet." Derek replied.

"I don't get why she wants to see Simon instead of me," Tori injected, "I'm going in with you Simon."

"No you're not, leave them alone," Derek growled.

"Sorry Tori, she doesn't want to talk to you right now I guess."

"I don't care. That girl needs girls around her. Not boys. She needs me to gossip with and stuff. I know what is best for Chloe."

"Shut up Tori! Just go away right now. I don't want to deal with you," Simon snaps.

Angry footsteps walk away and the boys enter the room. I pretend to not have heard their conversation.

"Hi Simon."

"Hey Chloe. How are you feeling?"

"Pretty bad but I'm doing better than earlier at least."

"That's good, I guess."

I noticed Derek entered as well and I gave him a glance, asking him to leave. I wanted to talk to Simon alone. Derek gave me a glare, he didn't like it but he left us alone. Simon sat on the edge of the bed.

"How are you feeling?" I ask.

"I'm…" he searched for the right word, "…doing."

"You're doing?"

"Yeah, just doing. I'm not good. I'm not bad. I'm just here. I guess I really didn't want to end up in another safe house."

"Why are we here?"

"It's the only place we could get your medical attention. We can't really bring a werewolf to a hospital."

"Right. I'm sorry Simon. About everything. I really am."

Simon nodded.

"I mean it Simon."

"I know you do. It's just hard for me to say that I forgive you just yet. What you've done crushed me Chloe. Crushed all of us."

It dawned on me, "Simon, where is Aunt Lauren?"

"Um…" He hesitated, not wanting to answer.

"Simon," I growled, "Where is she?"

"Well, um, you should ask dad, not me…um…"

I get suspicious at all his hesitation. Where was she? She had been with us when I passed out in the alley.

"How long was I unconscious?"

"I'm not sure. Quite a while I guess."

"Okay. The food was great, by the way. First time I really ate in days."

"Oh, no problem," Simon smiled at the compliment.

"Do you know who the man was Simon? The guy who came in here earlier."

"No, why?"

"Your dad wouldn't tell us who he was. Derek wants to figure it out."

"What's wrong with me wanting to know?" Derek made us both jump as he entered back into the room.

"Nothing's wrong with that," I say to Derek, "I was just curious if Simon knew."

"I wish I could help but I'm sorry, I don't know."

"It's fine Simon." I say to Simon.

Derek reenters the room and sits back down next to me on the bed. Being as gentle as he could, putting his arm around me. He tries not to cause pain to my broken misshapen body.

"Derek, can I ask you something?" Out of the corner of my eye I see that Simon knows what I'm going to ask and he gets nervous.

"Of course Chloe," he gave Simon a weird look for his reaction.

"Where is Aunt Lauren?" I ask and Derek froze.

He grunted in response. Becoming distant.

"Derek," I growl, "Tell me what has happened."

Derek looked at Simon before answering me, "She had to leave Chloe."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that she had become too violent and we forced her to leave us."

"Aunt Lauren isn't violent towards me though."