(Song of the chapter: 'Diana' - One Direction)

RHYS

I couldn't help noticing her. It was like I had this radar in my head that radioed in whenever she was in range. So I immediately noticed when she walked into the class that afternoon, face pinched and brows drawn. She looked extremely worried about something.

My eyes narrowed. Was that guy bothering her again? I had this inexplicable overwhelming urge to find him and land a punch in his face.

Bloody hell. Why the fuck did I care?

I didn't even know her name or who she was, and she for some reason had a bone to pick with me and the guys. She shot us venomous looks whenever she saw us in the hallway, and whenever my eyes locked with hers she immediately turned away.

Basically, all the signs I was reading from her were telling me loud and clear to STAY AWAY. Since I wasn't in the habit of befriending prickly creatures, it really shouldn't have been hard for me to obey them.

Yet my gaze followed her as she walked over to her seat and stayed on her long after the teacher started talking. It was fascinating to watch the expressions play across her face. She looked to be pondering something really important, and I badly wanted to know what it was.

The test started and I forced myself to turn away. Halfway through it I heard her push back her seat and go to hand in her paper.

Of course she's some kind of fucking genius. I decided it was best to actually concentrate on my own test.

I was just finishing up the question I was working on when I felt her gaze on me.

I looked up. Her eyes met mine and... held them. For once, her stare was absent of animosity. Her glasses were covering her eyes and she was too far away for me to really tell, but it was almost like she was trying to tell me something. But what?

Confused, I just stared back. She seemed to sigh, then she turned away and moments later I heard the sound of her feet pounding on tiled floor as she scurried away.

I just blinked. Girls are fucking confusing.

I was about to turn back to my test when my gaze narrowed on two guys in front of me wearing football jerseys, staring intently at the doorway she'd just exited.

They both looked at each other and had a few moments of silent conversation, then one of them pushed his seat back and turned in his test, leaving the class. Moments later, his companion followed.

I got the sinking feeling something bad was about to happen to the girl.

I finished my test as quickly as I could, and as I strode out of the class I fired a text to Jasper.

Hey, something's going down. Can you get out of class early?

Seconds later, he replied with a thumbs up emoji. Grinning a bit, I sent the same text to Brandon and got a similar response.

Soon enough, I had my friends at my side and we were on our way to find her. I just hoped we wouldn't get there too late.

AVALON

This time I'm ready to run

Hell yeah! I paused to take off my glasses and put them in their protective case in my bag before I continued running, briskly heading towards the school doors.

In case anyone was chasing me, I took a path with many twists and turns before I finally rounded the corner, the transparent doors finally in sight.

There I encountered my first problem.

I quickly ducked behind the wall in front of me, leaning out only a little bit to study what was in front of me. Joseph Younger, the stoner kid and notorious future drop-out, paced back and forth in front of the doors lazily. I had to blink twice. My gaze caught and narrowed on a package in his back pocket.

Wonderful. He'd been tasked to hold the gates, and had already been paid for his services. He'd stick to me like glue, and I had no desire to be chased around by someone under the influence of what I didn't know.

I must've really pissed off Jacques.

I quickly formulated another strategy. I knew the vent system well enough now since I'd often ducked into them to hide from bullies. I'd hunker down there till school was over, sometimes spending an extra hour to make sure the coast was clear before I dared venture down. Whenever that happened, Archer would come by and pick me up to take me home or to the Pack's headquarters.

Seemed like that was to be the arrangement for this afternoon as well.

Having made up my mind, I turned to head towards the opening of the ventilation system but quickly screeched to a halt at the sight of Damon and Austin from Economics – who I referred to as Tweedledum and Tweedledee in my head and out loud – speeding towards me.

Crap. The idiots must have handed in their tests early so they could get a head start on chasing me.

The thought that I could provoke students into failure was not as satisfying at that moment as it could have been.

I did the only thing I could do: I turned and ran in the opposite direction.

"STOP THERE, BITCH!" I heard their footsteps close behind me but I sped up and their footsteps started to fade farther away. I turned the first corner I saw and it was several beats before I heard footsteps again.

However, it sounded like just one pair of legs this time. My heart did a hard thump in my ribs. Where was the other guy?

He was probably going to circle around and try and catch me off-guard from the front. Now that I was expecting it of him, I started thinking of ways to maneuver my way out of that trap. Visions of the two males crashing into each other while I darted away, laughing maniacally, flashed through my mind. An evil grin crossed my face.

I took another turn, glancing around my surroundings quickly. I was now in the gym area, where all the locker rooms and indoor courts were located. Also the swimming pool.

My stomach turned then. If Jacques was planning a repeat of last week's performance, I'd just kill myself now.

I snapped out of my thoughts when I saw the doorway leading towards the school field. It covered a lot of ground, and with some luck I could run circles around my pursuers, tiring them out, then somehow manage to escape before the reinforcements arrived.

Picking up speed, I made a beeline for it.

A door suddenly swung open right in my path. I braked– hard. Here my supernatural reflexes failed me.

In werewolf mode, I'm extremely agile. Even normally my average speed was still faster than most. Yet for all my natural quickness, I somehow manage to trip over my own feet when I was purely human.

I went down like a sack of potatoes. I managed to twist so as not to fall badly, but I still felt most of the air rush out of me. I was dazed for a second, and when I regained my focus I saw Tweedledee standing over me, laughing his nasty ass off.

I bared my teeth at him and tried to crawl away, but then Tweedledum caught up and graciously connected his cheap sneakers with the side of my head.

I saw stars and yellow canaries circling around my temple. When I came to I was being dragged across the floor by my feet like a dirty mop.

Unsurprisingly, I wasn't too eager to find out exactly what my destination was to be.

As they started to turn I reached out and grabbed the edge of the wall, clinging for dear life. Tweedledee's hands were full from holding my ankles, so it was Tweedledum walking beside us who generously helped his friend out by lifting his accursed foot and kicking me again, this time in the stomach.

The impact didn't hurt so much as surprise me, and I immediately let go to wrap my arms around the harmed area. Tweedledee resumed dragging me, and Tweedledum reached down and grabbed my arms.

Now I was being fully carted about by the two most smelly henchmen in the known universe. I snarled and writhed in their grip, but they didn't let go. They just laughed at my pitiful attempts.

"You always make shit so much harder for yourself," Tweedledee told me, his voice dripping with condescension.

"You've really made him mad this time," Tweedledum whistled. He gave me a look almost close to pity. "Man, sucks to be you right now."

Never mind that it was he who was carting me off to the slaughter, when he could very easily LET ME GO. I gave him a look fierce enough to burn his socks off.

"Unhand me, you fiend!" I said, still struggling. As a rule, I never went easily and I was sticking to that doctrine.

Tweedledum let go of one hand, and that side of my body tilted downwards. I jerked in shock.

They cackled like hyenas, doubling over in their hysterics and almost squishing me since I was still between them. The inconsiderate imbeciles.

"Her face," Tweedledee gasped, trying to catch his breath.

"Priceless," Tweedledum choked out, using his free hand to clutch at his stomach. I managed to right myself all on my own, a move that made my neck strain uncomfortably, and glared at them. They just grinned.

Tweedledum reached behind him and twisted the handle of a door I hadn't noticed yet. Uh-oh.

I started to struggle more fiercely than before, and they grinned even more maliciously at me.

"I think she wants us to put her down," Tweedledum noted. I was quickly noting that he was the more malevolent of the two.

Tweedledee nodded. "Let's put the bitch down then."

That didn't sound good. "NO!" I yelled out, but once again, I was ignored.

They swung me side to side, as if they were rocking a cradle, then threw me into the room.

Tweedledum had pushed the door only partly open, so I banged into it then slammed into the wooden floor seconds later, graceful as a gazelle.

I lay there for a few seconds, cataloging my injuries. My head was most likely bleeding, my rib hurt, I'd bitten through my lip, and once more I'd hurt my stomach.

Oh, how I loved life.

I'd just mustered up the will to get back on my feet after being tossed like a football when a familiar pair of Air Jordan's descended on my hand.

I whimpered, the memory of similar pain as well as the current pain both being intense. I was crouched in an almost kneeling position, and Jacques had to stoop down to look in my face.

The sight of those cold, blue eyes had me immediately cringing away in fear, but his hand shot out and grasped my chin forcefully, holding me in place.

He tilted my head to one side, inspecting my head wound.

"What happened here?" he mused, lightly stroking a finger against that area of my head. Every single cell of my body rebelled at his touch, wanting to shrink away. I pursed my lips tightly to hide my grimace, trying to suppress how affected I was by him.

He lifted his eyes to his henchmen once he realized no answer was forthcoming from me.

"She refused to come willingly," one of the Twee-diots tattled. He stared at them for a moment, his expression slightly disapproving. What was he pressed about? That he didn't get to draw first blood?

My hand throbbed and I wished the pain was from driving my fist into his face. Jacques Frost was a maniac.

He sighed then and stood, slowly moving his foot off my hand. The Twee-diots grabbed me before I could even jerk. I raised my head to see Jacques leading the way.

"Try to be less messy next time," he admonished them. "Bring her."

As they obediently manhandled me forward, I stared around at my surroundings. We were currently in the basketball court, and Jacques was walking towards the bleachers with us following behind.

I looked around for exits and spotted them, but I couldn't reach them. I was also in a part of the school I didn't know very well, clearly. If I did I wouldn't run towards it like a fucking moron.

We reached the bleachers and I was bound to one of the handrails by zip-ties. They would be difficult to get out of with people watching nearby. Ugh.

I ground my teeth in annoyance. Jacques hovered above my seated form and peered down at me, leaning an elbow on the railing with his chin propped on his fist. He looked relaxed. I swallowed, my heart skittering up into my throat.

"You should've just done what I asked," he told me. He reached down and stroked the hair away from my forehead, exposing the wound on my scalp. I flinched away from his touch, wanting to crawl out of my skin while he just regarded me calmly.

I hated this – being in the eye of the storm. I knew he would hurt me eventually, he always did – there was no use trying to appeal to his better nature. But he'd start off like he was actually sane and I was the one at fault for what I was suffering.

Just hit me and be done with it, man.

He ignored my venomous stare. "You also shouldn't have run. Things would be so much simpler for you if you just behave, you know. Just do what I ask, when I ask, and you wouldn't get hurt so much."

But then I would be broken. And then innocent people would die. Not a chance.

I saucily raised an eyebrow. "Is Alisson that boring to you Jacques? Is that why you continuously seek me out after school hours to amuse yourself by beating me up?"

I watched his jaw tighten. Watching Jacques get mad was the stuff of nightmares.

"You shouldn't say things like that to me," he growled, pushing off the railing to step closer to me. "You really don't want to make me angry."

I couldn't let myself stop. I couldn't. "But you've been mad all week, haven't you?" I forced my words to sound measured, not breathy with fear. I was so goddamn tired of being afraid.

"Because they saw right through you, didn't they? Faster than you expected, they saw right through that charming façade you've fooled everybody else with, right to that piece of coal in your chest that got misplaced from your stocking. They realised exactly what you are and want nothing to do with you. Pisses you off, does it?"

The retribution was going to be extreme, but I. Didn't. Care.

"So you can't sit with them, Griffin, because where people like you should be sitting is in padded cells with at least thirteen straitjackets on."

The Twee-diots were gaping at me, their jaws hung open like fish. In front of me, Jacques' eyes turned black with rage. I'd done it now.

"SHUT UP!" He roared at me, kicking me in the stomach. I almost blacked out right there and then, but luckily held on for two more kicks.

"Shut up! SHUT UP! "

Third time's the charm, as they say.

Fire spread through my wounded abdomen, up into my throat, then out through my mouth as a grand finale. I doubled over in a near fetal position, coughing.

As I was bent gasping back in breath, I noticed that I'd somehow aimed for his expensive shoes. Once pristine, they were now speckled with blood. I raised my head to meet his irate glare, and the sight made me chuckle. Even beaten to within an inch of my life I was still able to spite Jacques.

My laughter angered him further. He got all up in my face, snarling at me.

"Why you little –" His hand reached out, promising further pain and all my glee evaporated. The little shit was always punishing me for things that weren't my fault.

A growl tore out of me, a purely primal sound reminiscent of the days where humans cowered in caves. A sound no human should've be able to make.

He froze. I could feel my eyes glowing a little, which meant I had to get a grip. Much as I'd love to beat up the jackass, I needed to not blow my cover a lot more. I started reining it in while Jacques was still rooted to the spot.

Before I'd finished and before he could react again, the entrance door at the far end of the court burst open and three of the Four Horsemen walked in.

Oh shit.

There was pure and complete silence for a few seconds while they surveyed the scene. The blond stared blankly, the redhead seemed completely shocked, and Rhyland....

My heart did several flip-flops in my chest as his blue gaze sought me out first, then lifted to take in Jacques.

His right eye twitched and he looked away to take in the Twee-diots, and for a second he seemed to commit their faces to memory. There was a distinct promise of violence in his gaze when he looked back at Jacques.

It captivated me and made me want to piss myself at the same time. I was hella happy I wasn't on the receiving end of that stare.

As for Jacques...

He stared at their forms with a sort of detached gaze for a few seconds, like he was trying to grasp what the fuck was going on. That growl must have scrambled his brains a little.

Once he'd regained sense of the world, he shot a withering look at the Twee-diots, which was very clearly evil villain to stupid henchmen speak for 'WEREN'T YOU SUPPOSED TO BE WATCHING THE DOOR YOU FOOLS?'

The Horsemen, meanwhile, had been approaching while Jacques was glaring at the Twee-diots. The Twee-diots were now literally in the line of fire. I did not envy them at all.

I wished for some popcorn right then.

Jacques saw them and started to descend the bleachers, heading to meet them. Nobody was focused on me right now so I was literally on the sidelines, watching the show about to unfold.

I really wanted some popcorn, or any food at all. I was getting hungry.

They met halfway on the court as if they'd planned it. The Twee-diots surreptitiously edged away and I pouted. Boo.

Jacques spoke up before anyone else could.

"Hey, man. I think it's time we were all properly introduced."

Rhys, who he was currently directly facing, raised his eyebrows. "Oh?" he said in a seemingly placid manner.

I knew better. That was the same tone Gavin used before he ripped someone a new one. I hid my cringe in my shoulder, using the opportunity to also wipe the blood off my mouth.

"So I'm Jack, and I'm also the most popular guy in school. If we all got to know each other, I could introduce you guys to all the top jocks and the hottest cheerleaders." He was dripping with charisma but Rhys and the others still looked stony.

"I see," Rhys said, still in that same tone. I bit down on my shoulder, almost afraid for Jacques, who wasn't even looking worried. He'd never been very good at taking a hint.

"Yeah," Jacques said, nodding like he believed he shared some kind of understanding with Rhys. He was so deluded he almost had me tripping and wondering if I was even reading the conversation right.

His tone got harsher. "That will have to be later though, man, because I'm currently in the middle of a private conversation with that..." he swiveled around and pointed at me, "...thing we have been trying to discipline for years."

I went from being freaked out at everyone suddenly staring at me to furious at Jacques. Did he just call me a thing?

I rolled my eyes, peeved. Way to hurt my feelings with that completely uncreative insult.

Rhys's blue eyes lingered on me for a few seconds longer than everybody else, which made my heart clench, before turning back to Jacques.

"Really?" he asked, still in that threatening tone of voice, which Jacques took as a prompt to continue their mostly one-sided conversation.

"Yeah man, so it's gonna have to be like, later. So, if you'll please exc–"

I almost didn't catch it. Rhys' fist swung out just then and connected with Jacques' temple so hard I heard something crunch. He dropped to the ground like a stone.

My jaw dropped open. I'd been expecting some sort of violence, but I couldn't have prepared myself for that.

The redhead saw my shock and grinned up at me. "He really hates being called 'man'," he stage-whispered. I stared.

Rhys, on the other hand, was busy glowering at the Twee-diots who were torn between avenging their fallen lord and running for their lives.

"If you actually fucking dare, I will smash both of your bloody heads in," Rhys snarled. "Or I might just do it anyways if you fucking assholes don't get the fuck out of here right now!"

Tweedledum and Tweedledee exchanged a glance and came to an easy decision. They turned to run but were halted by the blond.

"Wait, wait." He nudged the side of Jacques' crumpled form with his shoe. "Take this clown with you. His head is starting to bruise."

They backtracked and propped Jacques up between them like a banner, then made their way out of the court with him. I wish I could've taken a picture.

The redhead turned to look at Rhys, riveted. "We've been here what, a week now? And you've already punched the most popular guy in school in the face." His words were tinged with mockery.

"That's got to be a record somewhere," he speculated, stroking his chin.

"You know Rhys doesn't understand the definition of authority or, you know, respect." Amused, the blond flashed his pearly-white teeth.

"And what a punch that was, man. Bravo."

They both started to clap, snickering as they did so. Rhys rolled his eyes but I saw his lip twitch.

"Shut up, you assholes," he told them.

Whilst they were otherwise occupied, I carefully curled my tongue inside my mouth then edged the short blade which had been tucked beneath it towards my pursed lips. I bent towards my bound hands as I pushed it through my lips, depositing the razor blade in my palm. Wielding it, I started sawing through my bonds.

I was halfway through when I noticed the silence.

Very slowly, I looked up at the three males.

They were the most gorgeous guys I'd ever seen, tall with chiseled features and noteworthy eyes. However, none of them had the same vibe. Their hair, eyes, and general facades were also very different.

Rhys stood taller than the rest, and a silver stud adorned one of his ears. The redhead had small hoops dangling from his ears and a small chain around his neck which disappeared into his shirt, and the blond, who was the most muscular of the three, had a gold lip ring at the side of his mouth.

What a diverse group of friends, I found myself thinking.

Which is why it was so noteworthy that at that moment they were all looking at me with similar expressions of shock on their faces.

I slowly rose my eyebrow at them. Was I supposed to let them finish up their conversation before trying to escape?

The blond recovered first. "What is that?" he asked, looking at the blade in my hand.

I glanced at it and back at him, lip twitched. It was such a blonde question I couldn't help it.

"It's a metaphor," I told him. My hoodie already had the pipe art as well as 'Ceci N'est Pas Une Pipe' written below it, so I figured why not?

His eyebrows crumpled as if I had just spoken another language.

"A what?"

The redhead nudged him. "Fault in Our Stars, remember?" He turned to me, shaking his head in amusement.

"So you just walk around with a razor blade in your mouth?"

I had the perfect response. "You don't?"

He looked further amused.

"Why were they beating you up like that?" Rhys spoke this time. The sight of those blue eyes threw me for a bit. Naturally, I lashed out.

"Because, that pendejo is on his motherfucking period every day of the fucking year," I snapped at him. "That's why. If you're not here to pick up where they left off, then kindly fuck off. I'm trying to concentrate."

I turned back to cutting my bonds then, so I didn't see his reaction. There was a momentary bout of silence, shortly interrupted by two people cracking up.

"I literally never thought I would see the day," one of them wheezed. I tried tuning them out but next thing I knew, the redhead was bounding up the bleachers, making his way to me. I shrunk back.

He stopped. "Um, I come in peace?" he said unsurely, slowly raising his hands. I gave him a look.

"I just wanted to see if you wanted help," he said, gesturing at my bonds.

"I don't," I told him bluntly, turning back to my work.

"I've almost got it."

True to my word, the next moment the plastic separated and I was free. I stowed my razor blade away and tried to stand up but didn't make it very far. My side was burning like it had been splashed with acid.

Ginger was still hovering nearby. "Want me to help?" he asked me. I ignored him and tried again.

I made it up this time and almost doubled over. Pressing a hand to my stomach, I leaned back against the handrail and tried not to yelp. Dios, that hurt.

A cough forced its way through my clenched airways, and I caught my free hand. It came away speckled with blood.

"Well, that's attractive," I said wryly, wiping it on my black jeans.

Now my backpack. I looked down at the item which I'd had to shrug off to be able to stand, then up at Carrottop. There was no way I could get it by myself.

"Can you get that for me?" I forced myself to ask. He was looking a bit pale now, probably at the sight of my blood. I waited, feeling unsympathetic.

"Where are you going?" Rhys piped up, looking curious. I inwardly groaned. Why was he still here? My body's reaction to him was really starting to irritate me.

"Home, duh," I responded, like it should be obvious. "In case you haven't noticed, school's over."

Rhys raised his brows at me. "You're just gonna drive yourself home in your condition?"

"No, I'm going to walk myself home in my condition," I clarified. Dismissing him, I turned back to the redhead.

"My bag, please," I asked, more politely this time. He walked over and started to pick it up, but Rhys interrupted again before he could hand it over.

"Walk home?" He sounded like I'd just said something very stupid.

"Can you even stand?" he asked, eyeing my slanted form. I looked down. I was still holding myself across the stomach, and most of my weight was supported by the railing.

I willed myself to straighten and lower my hand. Nothing happened.

I frowned. "Give me a moment," I mumbled. Strengthening my will, I slowly dropped my arm and righted myself.

Carrottop was staring at me in fascination. Brandon was looking confused out of his mind, but Rhys...  He was looking... thoughtful. Almost as if he was planning something. A bad feeling started to bloom in my gut.

Turns out I was right to be worried. He suddenly jerked his head at Redhead. "Grab her," he commanded.

My eyes widened. "What?" Carrottop approached but I made myself move up a step to avoid him.

"Woah, woah, woah." I stabbed a finger in his face, trying to look threatening.

"BACK UP, ARCHIE!"

He stopped, stared at me, then started to laugh. "Did you just call me Archie?" he asked me, looking highly amused.

"Like, Andrews?" Brandon added, also looking entertained.

"Whoever it is you are, stay away from me," I demanded, still trying to freeze him in place with my glare. It didn't work.

"Sorry," he said, dropping my bag. He came over to my side and easily lifted me up into his arms, making me gasp at his audacity.

He smiled. "The name's Jasper, Sunshine. What's your name?"

"PUT ME DOWN!"

I flailed my feet, trying to get him to release me. He easily held on.

"Oh, wow," he chuckled, starting to descend the steps with me. "Brandy, could you get her bag please?"

The blond bounded up the stairs just as we were coming down then caught up to us easily, my backpack slung over his shoulder. Rhys lead the way out of the gym doors, and the guys followed behind him as he turned towards the school's exit, carting me along.

I voiced my objections the entire way there. "I'll have you three know that you are in violation of a lot of my basic rights right now." I was being lugged around like a sack of potatoes for the second time that day and was not very happy about it.

"Such as my right to freedom of movement, freedom of liberty, freedom of association..." I listed.

I heard Rhys snort as we stepped out into the sun. "Wish we could cross 'freedom of speech' off the list too," he quipped.

My blood boiled. "You lawless heathen," I seethed. I squirmed in Jasper's arms but he held on to me.

"Lemme at him!"

Jasper's firm, flat chest started shaking against me, and he gripped me a bit tighter.

"I'm trying not to drop you here, woman," he choked out in between chuckles. "But you are really cracking me up."

Brandon just laughed freely, throwing his gorgeous blonde hair back. "R.I.P Rhys!" he hollered.

Rhys, a.k.a the dead man, turned to face us since we'd stopped moving. "Are you clowns coming?" he asked, raising his brows. He looked faintly amused.

His eyes roamed over me for a second, lip twitching at the glower I sent him, before he turned away and continued making his way across the parking lot.

Towards the shiny blue Porsche sitting alone in a desolate spot.

Motherfucker. "Let me go!" I flailed but to no avail. "I don't want to get into your stupid flashy car!"

More laughs. "So many firsts," Jasper murmured. Brandon opened the door for him then walked over to the other side and slid into the backseat.

"Watch your head," Jasper warned. He waited until I'd tucked my head protectively into the crook of his arm before he carefully got into the car with me. Rhys slammed the door shut and went over to the drivers' seat.

"You can't just take people and put them into your car against their will," I continued to berate them. "That's criminal. You're committing crimes."

Jasper and Brandon just stared down at me with amused expressions on their faces. I was getting really annoyed now. Were they even listening to me?

"Are you even listening to me?" I snapped.

"We are," Brandon spoke, looking more sober. "But you're hurt. You can't just go home like that."

"We just wanna help," Jasper put in. He gave me a cheeky grin. "We can't have you dying on our watch. It'll make us feel bad."

I rolled my eyes. Who the fuck did this guy think he was, Gandhi? Were all helpful people this annoying? I was suddenly very grateful that I hadn't met many in life.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked brusquely. The driver's side door slammed behind Rhys. He placed his key in the ignition then reached up and adjusted his mirror, looking right at me.

"You need medical attention," he pointed out. "Shouldn't be too hard to figure out."

This just kept getting worse. "You cannot take me to the hospital!"

He ignored me and started the car, the engine roaring to life all around us.

"I swear to God, I will call the cops right now and then they'll show up and think you did it," I threatened.

Rhys didn't even seem fazed. "Okay," he shrugged, shifting gears. "They can come arrest us at the hospital."

He put the car in reverse. I freaked. "Wait, wait, wait!" I pleaded, holding up a hand. "Seriously, don't. It's a bad idea."

He finally turned to look at me, annoyed. "And why is that?"

The words spilled out of me. "They work there, okay? My parents," I clarified, seeing his look of confusion.

"They're gonna be there right now and if you take me in they'll get called out of the I.C.U or the O.R or wherever it is they're working, and it's gonna be so awkward and then there'll be so many questions afterwards. You'll ruin everything."

Silence. I could feel Jasper and Brandon staring at me, but I only cared about getting through to Rhys. From the look in his eyes, I think I was making some headway.

"Look," I slowly lowered my hand. "I have like, thirteen first aid kits littered around my house, alright? I can take care of myself. I'll be fine."

My side flared up just then, contradicting me. I coughed, luckily not bringing up any blood this time, and pressed my palm against it.

Rhys's eyes darkened as he looked at the spot that was hurting me.

"That needs to be checked," he murmured. He spun around to face the rear-view camera and began to reverse.

"Don't take me to the hospital, I'm fucking serious," I growled out.

"Fine," He muttered, followed by what I think was an "I should have punched him harder."

I exhaled slowly, trying to release tension from my body. Part of my head was on Brandon's lap while the rest of my body was splayed across Jasper's. I'd just met these people, for crying out loud.

I looked up and saw Brandon looking down at my head. He gave me what I supposed was a reassuring look.

"You're going to be okay," he told me. I looked at him, then away.

"What's 'okay'?" I whispered, too low for him to hear. No one talked for the rest of the ride.

When we stopped I was blinking black spots away from my vision. That probably wasn't good.

Rhys got out, came over to our side and opened the door. He gestured for Jasper to hand me over to him, which he carefully did as he rose from his seat. My breathing became faster as my pain gradually became worse and as I tried – and failed – not to inhale his scent. He smelled like... like pine and Spring.

No. Do NOT go there.

Brandon got out after him, and Rhys jerked towards the building he'd parked beside.

"Go tell him we have someone and to open the side door," he instructed in his deep voice.

Hearing him talk while feeling the vibrations produced against his defined chest gave me the strangest reaction... like I'd just been infused with morphine. My pain lessened, and I felt suddenly, inexplicably safe, just being in his arms.

I had to get away from this sorcerer, pronto. I also needed to look into gaining some weight if future convicts and YouTube celebrities could just pick me up like I was no heavier than a feather.

I opened my eyes and saw Brandon and Jasper heading inside the building. I focused on the sign that read 'The Cool Café' in painted letters.

Hold on, I knew this establishment.

Cursing inwardly, I fervently wished for the hospital.

Rhys leaned against the car and looked down at my face.

"What, finally run out of juice?" he taunted. I scowled at him, ignoring my body's reaction to those beautiful ocean eyes.

"Shut up," I snapped. I scrutinized the café with a sour look on my face. "What is this den of iniquity?"

A snort. "Someone's whole ass source of income. Alex runs the place," he disclosed. "He can help you."

Great. Just... just great.

A door by the side of the building sprung open and Jasper's copper hair popped out of it. He beckoned us over.

Rhys straightened and headed towards it. This was going to be so embarrassing.

"Put me down, already!" I complained. "I can walk, you know." I'd hobble at the very least, but I needed to make this situation somewhat better.

"As you so admirably demonstrated earlier?" Rhys deadpanned. I glared up at him and he just smirked.

As he walked in I saw we were in a sectioned-off part of the café. From this angle, I we could see the customers from an opening in the wall, but nobody could see us.

"Where is he?" Rhys asked the guys.

"On his way," Jasper affirmed. Seconds later, a door in front of us opened and Alex Morgan stepped out of it.

Alex Morgan, fellow member of the Pack and Gavin's current fourth-in-command. Or the Delta, whichever I felt rolled off the tongue easier that day.

His role in the Pack was to be a presence in the human community and to serve as liaison between humans and the Pack on matters which he felt we needed to be involved, without announcing our existence of course. He was one of the very first werewolves I met, whom I've known since I was a kid.

He stopped short at the sight of me. For the first time, I considered how I must've looked. I had a head wound, a torn lip, and maybe some dried blood across my cheek.

If they can't handle my worst, they shouldn't get me at my best, I consoled myself.

The look of shock on his face at seeing me was quickly erased and replaced by curiosity, since we weren't supposed to know each other. I could spot a hint of blossoming amusement though, and scowled.

"Is this how Gen Zers are getting girls now?" he asked wryly as he advanced, eyeing me.

"Literally sweeping them off their feet?"

The guys chuckled. I reached out an arm towards him feebly. "Help me," I whisper-croaked, trying to look as pitiful as possible. I let my arm flop then coughed theatrically.

"I've been abducted," I continued in the same rasp. "Call the police."

Alex's brows rose. "Ignore her," Rhys deadpanned, unimpressed by my display. Beside me, Jasper and Brandon struggled to contain their chuckles.

"She's been badly hurt. Can you help her?" Rhys asked him.

"Sure I can. Right this way." He swept an arm towards the door he'd just come through, looking like he was trying to keep a straight face. Traitor.

Rhys took the lead and the guys followed while Alex brought up the rear. The path descended into stairs which Rhys took carefully, trying not to jostle me, before levelling out into a cooler atmosphere.

It was a room stocked full of medical equipment, with all-white sheets and sterile surfaces. Rhys carefully placed me on the bed as the others filled in. Alex made for the bedside table and pulled out a drawer, retrieving some latex gloves.

"So, young lady," he said conversationally, "Tell me how you're feeling."

I rolled my eyes inwardly. The guy was like 30 – he wasn't decades older than us.

"Well doc," I knotted my fingers atop my chest, getting comfortable. "I'm feeling like there's a lot of pent-up rage inside me right now. Did I mention I was abducted? I tell ya, it happened just this afternoon."

Rhys rolled his eyes from his place against the wall. Alex's lip twitched.

"I'm not that type of doctor, kid."

"Well, are you actually a doctor? If you've brought me to some sort of organ harvester, believe me when I say I will rise from the grave and haunt each and every single one of you," I threatened, pointing a finger at each of them in turn. Rhys just smirked, looking very un-worried.

"I am actually a doctor," Alex told me, pulling out a chair beside me. "Got my license a few years ago, but working in a hospital was way too depressing for me. Now I practice privately, and occasionally."

I already knew all this of course, but I wasn't losing this opportunity to get some payback.

"You're telling me you went to medical school, and now you run a café?" I raised an eyebrow. "How do your parents feel about that?"

Jasper choked. Alex pursed his lips, looking amused. "Feisty little kitten," he remarked, eyes glinting.

I gasped in outrage. How could he?

"I am not a cat!"

"Really?" He raised his brows, lip still twitching. "What's your name, Spitfire?"

I huffed and looked away. "A girl has no name."

He lowered some lamp hovering above the bed towards me and adjusted its brightness. "Guess I'll just call you Lady Stark then," he joked.

An evil grin stretched across my face. "You're sort of giving me Lord Baelish vibes, you know. I really liked that part where she kills him at the end of the episode."

(That's Alex!)

Rhys was confused. "What are they talking about?"

"Game of Thrones," Jasper replied.

When Rhys said nothing he sighed in exasperation. "Dude, how can you not watch that show?"

I was wondering the same thing. Alex started pulling tools out of the drawer.

"You probably don't like me if you're already thinking about killing me." He pouted. "Can we be friends?"

"No," I responded flatly. He opened another drawer and took out a red lollipop, handing it to me. I stared at it quizzically.

"A lollipop olive branch?" With a derisive snort, I reached out and grabbed it. "What do you think I am, five years old?" I chided, unwrapping it and sticking the candy in my mouth. I raised my brows at him, daring him to concur.

He looked at the stick end protruding from my mouth, then at me. "Not at all," he quipped, shaking his head. Brandon snorted.

Alex put on a face mask and gently reached out to grab my chin, turning my face this way and that.

"Quite a shiner you got there," he remarked. He picked up a tool from a tray he'd placed it on and brought it to my head, starting to pick at the injury. I swirled my lollipop around my tongue while he did his thing.

After a while he dropped the particles he'd picked up into a ceramic dish, then picked up another tool. This one held cotton wool at the tip.

"This might sting a bit," he warned, then lightly dabbed at my head. My wound started to tingle.

"How exactly did this happen, if I may ask?"

I nudged the lollipop to one side of my cheek and grinned cheekily. "I walked into a door."

"With your face?" He deadpanned.

"Wow, how'd ya know?" I faked sounding impressed. "Do you have superpowers?" I asked, wiggling my eyebrows.

He chuffed. "It's like you all went out and found the second biggest smartass in the whole of Connecticut, then brought her here," he announced, clearly not addressing me. The guys chuckled.

"Didn't know it was a competition," I said, amused. "Who's the first?"

"Rhys of course," Alex said matter-of-factly. Jasper and Brandon laughed louder.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Rhys said dryly.

Alex looked done with all of us. He took out a drawer and showed me the contents, which consisted several multicolored Band-Aids.

He held up one decorated with strawberries. I shook my head. He showed me a plain-yellow one. I shook my head. Grinning, he took out one with little green apples dotted all over. My head bobbed.

He put the drawer back and gently placed it on my forehead. His gloved fingers trailed down to my lips lightly tugged down my bottom lip.

"You've bit right through your lip," he murmured, surveying the wound. His lip twitched. "My, my, what big teeth you have."

I bared my teeth at him then crunched on my lollipop noisily. He turned and grabbed a Q-tip from the tray of tools and dipped one end in a solution. Turning back, he parted my lips and slathered the Q-tip all over my bottom lip. I tentatively licked it with my tongue, then grimaced.

"Ew," I gagged, seeking out my lollipop but I'd just finished it. "Another lollipop, please?"

He turned to retrieve it for me, and my eyes caught on the sight of my shoes on the bed.

"Can you those off, please?" I asked, raising a foot. "It's triggering me."

I was obviously addressing Alex, but Rhys chose to walk over to the bed, perch, slide off my sneakers, place them on the floor, then walk back to where he'd been standing, all so casually that I could only gape at him.

He smoothly raised his eyebrows at me when he caught me staring. If I'd been attached to a heart-monitor right at that moment, things would've gotten pretty embarrassing.

Alex noticed though, that my pulse was practically skipping and that I was hyperventilating just a tad bit. I could feel him smirking underneath that stupid mask. I scowled. Stupid werewolf perceptiveness.

"Difficulties breathing?" he questioned lightly, feigning innocence.

"Yeah," I gasped out. The pain was actually coming back now, or so I told myself. He slightly elevated the bed so my back wasn't lying flat anymore, then grabbed a bottle and came over to my other side. There was an IV pole beside the bed, as well a desk with a computer. He switched it on then pulled out the chair.

"Can I nudge this up?" he asked, pointing to my hoodie. I nodded, used to trusting Alex. I'd almost forgotten the guys were still here.

He slid it up to a little bit above my lower ribs, then stared. "Oh wow."

I looked down. A large part of my stomach looked way darker looking than usual. One of the guys sucked in a breath. It did not look good.

"So, scrape means you fell," he said, lightly brushing a few scuffs on my side. "But this?" He traced around the bruised area, looking incredulous.

"It's like you were bludgeoned, or hit by a cannonball or something."

I snorted despite myself. Bludgeon. What an interesting word. I thoughtfully chewed on the end of my stick, saying nothing.

He gave me the stare, the same one that Gavin used, which directly translated to 'tell me or else'. I could've kept it from him since I outranked him in the Pack, but I'd feel really bad about it.

"Size 11 shoe," I muttered. "Air Jordans. Mens."

He was silent for a beat. "How many times did he kick you?"

"More than once." I refused to say anymore. He went back to studying my stomach.

"There's a little inflammation." He squirted some of the stuff from the bottle onto my stomach, then grabbed a cabled device sitting beside the monitor and used it to spread the stuff all over my bruises. He hummed, studying the blobs on the screen. I looked over but couldn't make sense of whatever he saw.

"No sign of internal bleeding," he explained. "There must have been some at some point, but it seems to have stopped so that's good."

He ran the probe over the side of my rib. I flinched.

"A bit of pain there?" He asked. When I nodded, he lightly placed the probe on the spot and studied the image on the screen.

"There's no fracture there, so it might just be a little bit bruised. How does that feel?" He asked, poking it.

Flaming hot pain spread across the area. "It feels like you are liquefying my intestines," I gritted out, glaring at him.

"You're not going to be able to harvest my organs if you keep doing that."

He snorted and grabbed a wipe from the tray, wiping my stomach.

"Snoopy's just over here chilling," he joked, pointing at the opposite end of my torso where I'd gotten a side profile of the cute dog tattooed. He'd luckily escaped the onslaught unscathed.

The pain was almost unbearable now. "Wrist please." Alex had his palm outstretched, waiting for mine. I handed it to him - hehe, handed.  

He gripped my wrist tightly and dabbed at it with a piece of cotton before injecting it with a needle attached to the IV bag. "What's that for?" I asked, watching him secure the needle with another Band-Aid.

"Pain relief. Should be kicking in soon." Several moments passed.

"How do you feel now?"

"Still feel like shit, Doc."

His lip twisted. "Then this might feel just a little bit... terrible."

I stared at him. I was going to have to go through even more pain? Human medicine sucked.

"Want me to tell them to leave?" He asked, referring to the Horsemen. I shrugged, avoiding Rhys' gaze. They quietly filed out, and Alex passed me a small wooden stick. I bit it.

_

So, I may or may not have cried. Alex smeared something on my stomach that felt like induced period pain. He put an ice pack on it soon afterwards, but everything hurt like hell for long moments before the drug finally kicked in.

He gently patted my hand while I sniffled.

"That's horrible," I whined into the pillow. "Humans have to heal this way?"

"Afraid so," He murmured sympathetically. I wiped under my eyes with my thumb and peered at him.

"You won't tell anyone I cried?" He mimed zipping his lips. "No way. Scout's honor." He grinned conspiratorially, making me giggle.

"Can I go home now?"

He snorted and stood up, tugging down his face mask. "I'll go tell them that you'll be asleep for a bit."

I frowned. "But I'm not... tired..." Without warning, my lids suddenly felt heavy, and holding them apart suddenly became an effort.

"You sedated me?" The words came out in a lisp, like I couldn't move my jaw properly.

"Of course I did," his voice sounded faraway. "I still follow the code even though I don't work in a hospital. I can't let you just walk out of here and hurt yourself."

I wanted to cuss him out but didn't have the energy. I was so sleepy. He tenderly stroked a strand of hair from my face. "You're in good hands with those kids, you know. They're good people."

I wanted to ask him about that, about how he knew them, but in the next second I was asleep.

***************************************************************************************

Happy New Year guys!

Love, Lulu.