As far as I was aware, Kit didn't know about our little fiasco. I stayed out in the fields the rest of the day with Liz and Kyle. I never came in for dinner. I expected Derek to get mad and explode. But it hit me hard that he called me stupid and didn't believe me. Kit was worried that Derek would charge out the door guns blazing for the Alpha. All I was worried about was would Derek ever talk to me again...

It was starting to get dark outside, I figured I should head inside soon. But I waited. I waited until it was probably eleven. The moon was bright overhead and the air was chilly. I shivered but still didn't let myself go in for a while. I waited out as long as I could, not wanting to go in and face an angry Derek or Kit.

I finally approached the house when I couldn't feel my fingers or toes anymore. The clock said it was almost midnight. I took my shoes off and walked upstairs through the dark house. Everyone was asleep or at least in their rooms. My bedroom door was ajar, I pushed it open. Tori was fast asleep on her bed and Derek still sat at the foot of mine. In the same exact spot. I walked up, picked up the smaller of the two pillows and one of the blankets that were on the floor. Then walked out. Derek never moved.

I went back down to the living room and laid down on the couch. Given the events of the day, I should've not been able to sleep. But my hours of walking around took all the energy out of me. I fell asleep quickly.

Movement woke me, but not all the way. I was just awake enough to know something was going on. A southern accent whispered as I was lifted from the couch.

"Oh sweetheart, you must of had a rough night to choose the couch."

The owner of the southern accent laid me down in something very soft. She pulled warm blanket up over me and kissed me gently on the forehead.

"Thanks Mom." Escaped my lips and I drifted back off to sleep.

I woke to a phone vibrating on the nightstand next to me. I yawned and sat up. Looking around and rubbing my eyes. This must be Tess's room. I was in a double bed with the worlds softest blankets and pillows. The room had light blue colored walls and the furniture was all mix matched. Tess had clothes strewn about but it was very cozy in here still. It was probably once a master bedroom because Tess had her own bathroom connected. I didn't think she would mind me using it since I was already in here. I got up and cleaned myself up as best I could. I borrowed her hair brush and some mouthwash. I'd brush my teeth after breakfast but I didn't want to go out there with morning breath.

I shut the bedroom door behind me and went to the kitchen.

"Good morning," Tess said cheerfully, "How'd you sleep?"

"Not to sound weird," I said. "But that is the worlds most comfortable bed."

Tess smiled proud, "I tried."

She handed me a plate already prepared, hash browns, sausages, eggs, the whole nine yards.

"Thanks," I said surprised.

"Least I can do when one of mine is down in the dumps."

"One of what?" I asked.

Tess winked at me, "Don't go thinking that I don't know."

I smiled nervously.

"They're eating out on the porch again," Tess said, shooing me towards the back door.

I walked out to the porch. Tori and Simon sat eating.

"No Derek?" I asked. Sitting down.

"He's still where you left him," Tori answers. "Off in la la land on your bed."

"Dads worried about him," Simon said.

I was about to comment that I should go talk to him when he came out the door. No plate.

"Hey," I said to him. Derek didn't respond. He walked past me and sat next to Simon.

I didn't try to start any conversation after that. Derek was not in the mood for me and I wasn't going to push it. I ate quickly so I could leave them alone. Stood from my chair and picked up my plate as I sneezed. I pulled my arm away from my face and saw blood again.

"Tori can I use your napkin?" I asked.

She saw the blood and tossed it to me. I dabbed my nose trying to clean it up before I stepped back inside. This was starting to happen a little too often for comfort.

"You sure you're okay?" Simon asked.

"Yeah," I coughed out.

I inhaled sharply as the familiar needles in my spine pain returned. I dropped back into my seat and started coughing into the napkin. Blood bubbling out of my mouth.

"Chloe?!" Simon exclaimed.

Derek must not have budged still because I saw Simon shove him out of the corner of my eye. I coughed blood and gasped for breath.

Simon snapped at Derek, "Do something! She needs you!"

Derek mumbled, "Let it pass. It always does."

The pain spread from my spine and into my back. My vision cut in and out. I wheezed trying to get air.

Tori snapped at Derek something about being wrong and got in front of me. I swear her hand was glowing as she placed it on my chest. A warmth passed through my lungs and into my back. The pain dissipated and breathing became easier.

"What is going on?" Tori asked me, taking her seat again.

I looked at Derek, "He can tell it or I can."

Derek didn't say anything. His head just sunk lower.

"Privacy bubble?" I asked Tori.

She nodded, "Already done. Why do you think no one came rushing out here?"

"When we were getting attacked by the Alpha, he gave Derek a choice. Long story short, that ended up with me getting forced into changing. But I'm not physically ready for that, so this is happening."

"You could be dying Chloe," Simon said worriedly. "We need to tell Dad."

I shook my head, "Derek's said before, once its started, there's no stopping it. Even if it is killing me, that'll just be how I go."

Simon shot Derek a look, "How could you say that?"

I couldn't see Derek's face, his head hung low.

"Because some of us tell the truth at the beginning," Derek answered.

"There's always a way to fix things. We're magic humans for gods sake."

Derek lifted his head a little, "You think I haven't tried to find a way? Or that I'm not worried about it?"

"You don't seem to care," I added sadly before Simon could answer him.

I stood, a little shaky and walked back inside. I set my dishes down with the others and walked back to Tess's room. Knocking gently on the door.

"Yes?" Tess opened the door. She stepped aside, "Come in."

I stepped in and she shut the door.

"What can I do for you?"

I sighed, "How did you know?"

Tess laughed, "As a female werewolf, its my job to know."

"Did you tell anyone?"

Tess shook her head, "Of course not. That's not my business, its yours."

"Thanks," I gave a small smile.

Before I knew what I was doing, I hugged Tess.

"There's something else, isn't there?" She asked.

"I'm scared," I said into her shirt. "It's going to hurt. Maybe even kill me."

Tess grabbed my shoulders and got down on her knees in front of me.

"Now you listen to me Chloe," Tess said. "When you reach that point, it is scary, believe me I know. But you're not going to die."

"You don't know that for sure with my situation," I said. On the verge of tears. "Derek thinks it will."

"Haven't you ever heard that boys are stupid?" Tess asks me, smiling a little. "He has no idea what he's talking about. He doesn't know how strong you really are. How you can handle anything." Tess straightened up and grabbed her purse. "Now, I'm going to take today to show you everything you'll need to know. Okay?"