Anger and adrenaline filled my ears with the sound of rushing blood, drowning out all the other sounds as I rushed to the car and sped off. They were there, on the sidewalk, watching, even Johanna, but I could barely see them. I could barely see anything with all this anger and fear and confusion swirling around in my head.

I didn't even know where I was headed. Just away. Away from here, away from everything I thought I could trust. I tried to keep my vision clear, though the tears kept coming. All this stress, confusion, secrets... all the lies and betrayal, from everyone around me... I can't trust anyone anymore. What am I supposed to do now?

The tightness in my chest increased, pushing down on my lungs, and that familiar electric energy tingled through me like pins and needles. The car was suddenly too small, even with the windows open, and I swerved into the ditch, cut the engine, and burst out of the car, breathing heavily on the ground. Deep breath after deep breath, like I'd been under water too long, until I felt eyes on me and turned to find the white wolf standing before the treeline.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, because the stories never told of him being sighted in daylight. We stared at each other for a moment, and then we heard a whooshing sound, like something was coming at us through the trees. It was coming from the way I'd just driven. It could be Connelly, I thought, or it could be something else. Rudi, or that beast that may or may not be following me for God knows what reason. I stood and looked at the wolf. "It's after me."

He growled at the thing approaching, glanced at me, and ran into the trees. I followed quickly after him.

We went through a system of trails for I wasn't sure how long, but I ran until I couldn't anymore, and that's when he stopped. "Where are you taking me?" I asked through gasps of air.

He only glanced over his shoulder before disappearing behind thick bush and condensed trees, barely disturbing a single leaf. I blinked, then followed after him, making my way through the sharp leaves, until I entered a clearing.

The trail continued beside a rocky stream, the grass rippling like waves on the banks, all leading to a pond in the middle, with vegitation, lillypads, and a shade tree. This is where the wolf stood, waiting for me, and when I reached him, I asked, "What do I do now? Why did you bring me here?" Though I felt the answer. This place was so calm, he meant me to stay here for a while.

I went to the water, seeing fish and frogs swimming without fear, and let the calmness of the clearing seep in. The tingling energy faded from my limbs, and the tightness in my chest released. I like this place. I sat near the pond, breathing in slowly, and after a while, the wolf laid near me. I need to remember this place, I thought before drifting off.

~*~

"I'm sorry it had to be this way," Connelly said as he tightened the cord around my hands and secured it on a post. We were in the middle of the forest right outside of Maxville, but far out enough that no one would hear me scream.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked, tears streaming down my cheeks.

"It's the only way we can survive." Sad resolve filled his tone.

"You said I was part of the family," I said, gritting my teeth.

"Mathias said it, because Amelia wanted it, but I knew it wouldn't last. No one could replace the brother I lost, and you heard Alister. No one who gets close to us ever survives. Not even you, Kota."

"No, wait. Let's talk about this," I said, reaching for him because he was backing away, into the trees.

"Rudi is coming. It won't be me this time, in beast form," he said, backing away and looking into the sparkling night sky. "Just know I loved you while I could. You should've been more careful what you wished for." Shadow consumed his face, and as soon as he disappeared, the sound of large wings beating the air closed in until his monstrous, gargoyle-like form, Rudi touched down in front of me.

A growl escaped his large maw, curved into a smile showing needle-like teeth. "Kota," he said, almost pleased to see me tied up like an offering to a god. "I told you not to trust them. Didn't I?"

"Don't do this," I tried reasoning. "Why kill me? I'm not a threat to you now, and I never was. If you just let me go, I promise I won't tell anyone I know about the war. No one has to know that I know anything."

"There is still so much you don't understand," he said, stepping closer, the noxious gas spilling out of his mouth wafting over me, overcoming me with my favorite scents of the forest, campfires, and peppermint.

"Please," I pleaded, but he was too fast and lunged teeth first. I felt the ripping, the tearing and breaking of my body, while in the shadows the Peters watched.

I closed my eyes, death consuming me, and woke to a cold sensation, a nose, on my cheek. Golden wolf eyes staring down at me. I relaxed my tense muscles, and calmed my breathing. "Thank you," I said to him. "You're always there to save me." He just exhaled on my cheek, making me smile, before moving away to the pond to drink.

I checked my purse and found fifty missed calls and almost a hundred messages from my parents, my friends, and Connelly. I let out a deep breath, then called him.

"Kota, thank God you're okay."

"Yeah," I said.

"Listen, I need to talk to you. Where are you?"

"Somewhere you can't find me," I said, unsure whether I was bluffing, but seeing as that creature couldn't find me earlier, I assumed this place was something magical.

"Well, you can't come to the house, so we need to talk somewhere."

"We're talking now," I said, my voice flat.

"This is more of a face-to-face conversation."

I sighed, rubbing my eyes. "Fine." I told him to meet me at my car, what road I was on, and then hung up without another word. "Hey," I said to the wolf, who glanced over, "I gotta go."

He stood and led the way to the exit with me following slowly behind. "Please bring me back here one day," I said, but didn't wait for an answer as I followed him through the brush and back to the car.

"See you next time?" I asked with a smile, then waved when he disappeared into the trees. I rested on the hood until Connelly showed up and then we stood there for a few minutes in tense silence. Sun was setting in the distance, so I couldn't see his face clearly, but I could tell he was tense.

I was worried about you," he said. "It wasn't very smart to just run off like that."

"I couldn't stay where I was."

"Kota, you don't understand," he said.

"Then explain it to me," I said, and he hesitated.

"There are rules that you have to follow, and then there are rules that we have to follow. There are people out there, that make the rules for everyone, and enforce them. If I told you absolutely everything we were doing — the point is, I'm forbidden from saying anything more than I've already told you. I've probably told you too much already."

"I understand," I said, but he looked doubtful. "No, I really do. I know you have to keep your secrets, because I'm just a human and a liability, but if there's something happening to me, I need you to tell me. Now."

"I can't tell you, because we really don't know. I'd be guessing if I told you, and I'm not going to do that. We do know someone put a spell on you to get shocked when you're around other magical beings, so you'd stay away from them. We think it's to keep you safe. That's all I know, I swear."

"Rudi said there's something following me, is there?"

"... yes."

I had to catch myself to keep from yelling, then said, "What is it?"

"It's called a Krusnik, and it's not going to hurt you."

"How the hell do you know that for sure?" I asked, fear and anger shaking my voice.

"Because — Kota I can't tell you."

"YOU BETTER FREAKING TELL ME WHAT THE HELL IS FOLLOWING ME."

He sighed in frustration. "Do you remember when you and I had to go hide after you found out the truth? And I sealed the windows and doors? Well that's because it's illegal for humans to know the truth, and we've been under investigation since we met you, because of everything that's been happening around here. The Krusnik is like a watchdog, and he's making sure you don't get hurt... by us, or anything else..."

"A little too late for that," I snapped. My hand slid up to my neck as I remembered they were still on display.

Connelly didn't avert his eyes, which both pissed me off and made me blush in embarrassment. "They don't take anything away from your beauty."

"Thanks," I said dismissively, looking away to fight tears.

"We're thinking about leaving, sooner than we'd planned." He took a step toward the car, and when I didn't object, he climbed on the hood with me.

"When?"

"After prom. Aubrey begged our parents to stay until then... She's never had — well none of us have had a normal upbringing, so they thought it would be best this way. Amelia is trying to break the contract with the school for emergency reasons, so we could be leaving soon."

"Prom is only a week away, not even really." I looked down, my anger fading, and sighed. "I'm sorry I ran away. I shouldn't have let what he said get to me."

"It's not your fault," he took my hand. "It's what he's good at. Manipulation, planting seeds of distrust, and then he strikes. He wasn't always like that, which is what he tried to show us today, but it was a trick, like always."

"I'm sorry I got involved in your war," I said, "I just wanted to help, but I'm just messing everything up."

He took both my hands, making me look into his face. "If there was any way you could help, I would tell you, I promise. Because honestly, we need all the help we can get right now. We are constantly at the end of our rope, constantly on the verge of losing all the progress we've gained. We remain half a step ahead of our enemies, no matter how fast we run. We are but a family of flies trying to kill a swarm of wasps, and I cannot — I will not — ask you to fall with us, try as you might to do so anyway." He ended the sentence with a smile and I smiled slightly back. "I love you, and I can't watch you die."

"Connelly," I gasped, but he kissed me before I could say anything else.

"You don't have to say anything."

"But I—"

"You can't," he said, "Please." I sat there with my mouth open.

"I can't say anything back? Are you afraid I don't?"

"Well, yes, after everything I've done and put you through. I have to say it now, before anything else happens. But if you — if you love me, it will condemn you." He wasn't looking at me, but at our hands, rubbing mine with his thumbs.

I sighed, but didn't say it. Instead, I leaned over and put my mouth on his.