Kit and Simon left to go into town for last minute supplies telling us that they would be back in an hour. Derek was walking around the perimeter of the house to keep watch. He had decided not to tell anyone, especially his dad, about the problems I was having adjusting. I think he wanted to prove to me that he two of us could handle it. He kept telling me that communication was good, I need to communicate with him. I wanted to tell Simon though, he wasn't in the loop much and it hurt him.
Tori and I already had our bags packed and we were sitting in the living room. I closed my eyes and tried to picture happy times, times where Derek helped me. Trying to convince myself that I didn't need to get rid of this werewolf curse. Derek would be there to get me through it. I opened my eyes a slit. Tori was watching me out of the corner of her eye.
"Yes?" I asked. Opening my eyes the rest of the way.
"What are you doing?" She asked. "This isn't a time to be sleeping."
I rolled my eyes, "I'm not sleeping. I'm focusing."
She glanced around, trying to hide panic in her voice, "Are you raising more dead?"
I shook my head. "No. Not that kind of focusing." I smiled at the opportunity to tease. "I'm focusing on last night. Spending all that alone time having heart to hearts with Simon."
Tori glared at me and I laughed. She turned around in her seat and directed her attention on a book she quickly swiped from the table. I closed my eyes again and focused on my hearing, trying to locate where Derek was at. I heard a set of footsteps by the front door. He must just be passing by it.
But then I heard something creak in the hallway. I shook my head, telling myself it was the house settling. I wished Liz was here so she could check and make me feel better. Having ghosts as friends helped me seem less scared to the others. They could check around for me and no one would know.
Derek's footsteps passed by the front door and continued on. After a minute, I couldn't hear them anymore. I heard the creak in the hallway again. Like someone adjusting their weight on lose floor boards. I sat up a little straighter. Alert. I wasn't so positive it was just the house. I waved to Tori, trying to get her attention but she wouldn't turn around.
I worried that the Alpha was in the house. Maybe he slipped past Derek when he was on the other side of the house. We had just come downstairs minutes ago so we would never have heard him enter the house while we packed.
The creak came closer. Tori turned around this time.
"Derek don't loom in the doorways," she said. "You know that's creepy."
"Tori-" I hissed but was interrupted by a voice.
"Try again."
My heart sunk as the Alpha rounded the doorway. He leaned against the molding casually. Tori's mouth opened to say something but he held up a hand.
"Hush child. This can go quickly if you stay quiet."
We were frozen. His focus turned to me.
"I hear you were trying to leave without seeing me again." He shook his head, "Tsk tsk. You should know the rules by now. You don't have free will."
"I-I-"
He shushed me and I couldn't speak. I tried to shout but nothing would come out. Tori just sat like a deer in headlights, not knowing what was going on. I tried to mouth 'run' and 'go' to her but she didn't react. Alpha straightened and stepped into the room.
"By Derek's next round, he'll catch my scent. So lets get moving. As fun as fighting is, I'd rather not spill too much blood today. I'm already behind schedule as you're probably aware Chloe."
I found myself standing to my feet against my will. Tori looked at me.
"What are you doing Chloe?!"
I tried to answer her but still nothing would come out.
Alpha smiled, "It's none of your concern child."
He approached Tori who shrunk back into her chair. He ran a hand over the book she was protecting herself with. Why wasn't she using her powers? Was she too scared to remember she had them?
"Good read," He commented.
His hand moved up and touched her hair.
"Don't touch me," Tori shouted.
Alpha grabbed her ponytail and yanked forward. Smashing her face against her knees. Tori fell limp. Alpha turned around to me.
"Let's get going."
I tried to yell that I was not going anywhere with him. Tears streamed down my cheeks. I felt helpless, I couldn't even go see if Tori was okay. Her nose was probably broken.
"Move," he instructed and I walked out into the hallway.
He stopped to listen for Derek but couldn't hear him. He grabbed me by the neck of my shirt and started towards the front door. He opened it and we stepped outside as the back door opened. As Alpha shut the door I could hear Derek yell out to Tori. Feet pounding across the floor. He yelled my name. I yanked myself from his grip and threw myself back at the door. Not trying to open it, just trying to slam into it. Knowing Derek would hear the commotion.
Alpha cursed at me and grabbed me again. His hand latched onto my arm and he started dragging me away as quickly as he could. We made it out into the yard before Derek came crashing through the front door.
"Chloe!" He yelled. Derek came charging after us.
Alpha turned and faced him, he looked over at me and winked.
"Stop," He said to Derek.
Derek froze in place, unable to come any closer.
"What did you do to me?" Derek roared.
He smiled and shook his head slowly.
"Both of you are under my control because you're my blood."
"The hell are you talking about?" Derek grew angrier.
"Now now," Alpha waved his finger at him. "You have a choice here Derek. Let me leave in peace with Chloe or she gets to shift into a wolf."
"She can't shift yet." Derek growled.
Alpha snickered, "Exactly, so it'll be extra painful to try to make it through before you are ready."
"No!" I yelled. I still couldn't move but I was able to speak again. Alpha wanted to hear me plead for my life.
"Let her go!" Derek roared.
"No, I'm letting you go," Alpha said.
Derek's foot inched forward. He could move again. Derek started to charge but Alpha held up a hand.
"If you come any closer, I'm sending her into a shift."
Derek's arms twitched. He didn't know what to do here. He wanted to fight Alpha but he didn't want to endanger me.
"Just do what he says Derek," I said. "It'll be okay."
Derek took another step closer. I swore I saw something flash in his eyes, trying to stop himself from fighting.
Alpha patted me on the head, "Such a positive attitude. I'll be sorry to see it break."
Derek started dashing forwards. He tackled the Alpha and tried to swing at him. The Alpha took a few hits to the chest before swiftly kicking Derek in the stomach. Derek fell back. The Alpha stood up and held a hand to Derek, almost like he paused him.
Alpha looked at him and said, "Don't say I didn't warn you." He looked over at me and said, "Go ahead Chloe. Try to shift into a wolf."
Pain burst throughout my body and I fell into the grass. I couldn't see what was happening between the two anymore but I heard lots of hitting. Or maybe that was blood pounding in my ears. Screams erupted from my body and everything began to move around. My bones started breaking. Insides started moving. My vision faded to red. I could hear a wolf howling but I didn't know if it was in my head or outside. I tasted blood.