Simon's POV

Chloe had been in bed for a few days now, she was really depressed about whatever had happened while she was at that facility. Derek was up and moving now, just cautiously. I found him sitting on the living room couch.

"Derek," I got his attention. "You need to go talk to her."

"About?" He asked.

I hated to be insensitive but I got straight to the point, "You were at a facility like that when you were a kid, you can relate to what she's going through. Go help her."

"She can't bounce back on her own?" Derek replied. "I need to baby her?"

"No," I shook my head. "But shes obviously got some depression or PTSD or something. Please go talk to her."

Derek sighed and got up to head to Chloe's room. His hands off approach to letting her heal on her own was not going to cut it.

Derek's POV

I got up and walked up to Chloe's room. I knocked gently on the door as I opened it. Chloe was laying on her bed with her back to the room. Watching out the window.

"Chloe," I said. "How are you feeling?"

"Like you'd expect," she replied. "My last remaining family member might be dead. We don't know if she got out of there in time."

So that's what was bugging her, not the experimenting. Well, probably that too but this was the bigger issue.

I sat down beside her, Chloe curled up on my lap.

"I hate her but I miss her," she said. "Is that normal?"

"Of course," I nodded. "She did some awful things recently but she was family for years and years."

Chloe looked up at me, she wanted to say something but couldn't bring herself to.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I...I've been thinking a lot about it lately. As much as I struggled with being a werewolf at times-"

"No," I cut her off. "I told you I can't do that to you on purpose."

"Ok," she shut up about it.

I gave her a gentle squeeze, I hated not being able to kiss her.

"Come downstairs," I suggested. "The other patients you know want to see you."

She shook her head, "I don't want anything to do with Jeremy or any of them. They are the reason this happened to me."

I'll admit my curiosity was very peaked but I figured it was not my place to start asking questions about what she meant.

"Ok, don't talk to them then. But please come down? Get some fresh air."

Chloe sighed and nodded. She followed me down. Simon gave me an approving nod and followed us outside. Simon and I sat down in the cushioned chairs at the table and Chloe curled up in my lap again. I was still scared to death of accidentally infecting her, but I couldn't not have contact with her. Yes, she would be safer never touching me. But I couldn't live like that. I needed Chloe.

"Hows your stitches?" Simon asked me.

I shrugged, "They come out in a few days so I guess I'm fine."

Simon replied 'good to hear' but it was drowned out by the roar of an approaching car. My defensive instincts set in immediately but I tried to remain calm on the outside.

The car came to a halt on the other side of the house, we couldn't see who it was. But I could smell right away that it was Nate. Though I didn't pick up on any other scents. The front door shut and someone talked to Nate. The door shut again and Nate came around the corner, he must have just been asking where we were at.

"Where have you been?" I growled.

Chloe pressed against me, fearful. It made my stitches scream with pain but I didn't stop her. She needed to be able to feel safe with me.

"We got separated, obviously," Nate said as he approached. His eyes landed on Chloe. "My dear, how are you doing?"

"F-f-fine."

"You're scared of me though, which means you aren't fine."

Simon spoke up, "What do you want?"

"I'm simply here for Chloe," Nate said. "To teach her the ways of the pack, of the bloodline, of all the werewolf stuff she has yet to learn."

I wrapped an arm around Chloe's waist as if Nate was going to yank her away from me.

"That's useless information."

"Oh its quite the contrary, it can help you thrive Chloe."

Chloe shook her head, "No thank you. I'm not a werewolf."

A deep threatening growl came from Nate, "Those scientists succeeded. Don't you worry, they will pay." He, finally, looked to me. "Why haven't you bitten her yet? She's part of the pack."

"I'm not going to knowingly willingly infect her." I explained for what seemed like the hundredth time. People just did not understand that I didn't want to doom Chloe's life...again...

"Chloe," Nate stepped forward and placed a finger under her chin.

I growled warningly.

Nate ignored me and looked into Chloe's eyes, "Do you want to go back to being a werewolf?"

She shrugged, "I haven't decided."

Nate straightened up, "Well, I'll be sticking around for a few days then. Give you time to decide. If Derek won't do it for you, I will."