As it turned out, that first mile really wasn't part of the miniature mountain we had to take on. I thought she'd been lying about that or maybe it had been hope that she was fibbing to get to me. It hadn't been.

We'd gone past a mile of hilly green plains and hit a small, beautiful opening in the woods. It was an archway of tree branches with white and pink colored flower blossoms scattered and attached to the bark. The design looked intentional, like someone took a Magnolia tree and wrapped the branches into a U-shape large enough for someone to walk through. How they did it without damaging the flowers was beyond me. As we got closer, the fragrance of the flowers tickled my nose and my fingers itched to pluck one of the blossoms.

"I wouldn't do that," Arden said.

I lifted my gaze, slightly startled at the interruption. My arm, in the process of reaching for the tiny piece of perfumed bliss, paused mid-air. "Why not?"

"This opening was put here by the Fae. You take that flower, they'll take you. Most humans have lore about this, but they think it's only when a Fae offers you drink or food. It's not. Possessive evil heathens they are. You take something of theirs they take the one thing that matters most to you."

I couldn't help the snort that escaped as I plunked my hands on my hips and tilted my head. "And what is that?"

Arden turned towards me, just before taking a step through the archway. "Usually, it's your life. They love the taste of human flesh and they'll drink your blood like that Dr. Pepper you seem to love so much."

A burning flush warmed my cheeks. Darn. I hadn't let her in my apartment, mainly because I thought she was assaulting me, but the real reason had been because my place was a pig sty. Maggie hadn't been there long enough to clean properly and I wasn't about to do it.

"You'll have to do something about that if I'm to live with you for the week."

I continued to reach forward and swiftly plucked the blossom when Arden wasn't looking. "Yeah, about that... I don't want you living with me for a week. You're annoying," I said, inhaling the scent of the flower before slipping it behind my ear.

"Look who's talking," Arden said. "Besides, you paid for it. Don't you want to get your money's worth?"

"Wow, your come backs astound me, Oompa. Besides," I said mimicking her, "I didn't pay for it." I wasn't going to admit that the thought of not getting the money's worth was probably the only thing keeping me going, and curiosity... at the schmuck willing to play the Alpha werewolf.

She stamped her foot childishly. "I am not an Oompa loompa. When I go through my transition I'll be taller than you!" she said with a growl turning around to evil eye me. "Now, would you come on? We're going to be la-late." Arden stuttered and her eyes widened as she focused on the flower blossom in my hair. "Oh Annabelle, you didn't!"

I rolled my eyes and pushed past her, walking through the archway. "I appreciate that you're trying to keep this real but really, you can dial it back a little."

"I'm not acting! Didn't James show you that this is real? Didn't he drink blood in front of you? Didn't you see the changes in him afterwards? This is not a joke," Arden said, her voice tinged with panic. "You signed the contract." She added with wiggling shoulders and a whine. Her fingers slipped through her raspberry curls, shoving her hair from her freckled face. "We have to hurry. Simon... he'll barter for you."

"Uh," I paused as goose bumps spread across my arms. It seemed suddenly dark on the path ahead and I wasn't so sure I wanted to go first anymore. "What?"

"For some reason the Fae like Simon. I think it's because he's half Fae, though it's never been confirmed, but he has the tall lengthy form they have. I mean they come to visit him all the time. He'll be able to barter for you successfully," she said, twiddling her fingers in front of her as she nodded, looking anxiously at the ground. She glanced up and scowled, removing her teeth from her bottom lip. "Not that I care much, but we both happened to be bound by that contract that promises your protection for the week."

"Chill. And you're rambling. Snoozeville is fast approaching," I said.

I grimaced as Arden darted forward and clamped her fingers around my wrist. "Is everything a joke with you?"

Raising an eyebrow, contemplating whether or not I should kick her in the shin so she'd release me, I nodded. "Yes actually, it is."

She snarled and jerked me around. I stumbled over my feet as she continued to pull me forward. "Damn it. Just shut up and hike."

I glared at her back and raised my arm, her clamping hand coming with it. As soon as her hand got to my mouth, I bit down. Hard. She let out a yelp of surprise and flipped around, startled.

"Did you just bite me?" She cried in outrage, dropping my hand like a piece of burning coal.

"Oompa, I'll follow you, mainly since I'm curious, but also because you cost a lot of money. I won't have you man handling me though. Understand?"

"That is it! You've insulted me one time too many."

I couldn't help the twitch in the corner of my mouth. I tried to keep the smirk in, but Arden's face was so red it was almost purple. Oompa loompa indeed. "Oh? And what are you gonna do?"

"I'm going to punch you in the face!"

I raised an eyebrow, shifting my stance, and straightening my shoulders. Shit was about to get real, but when she dropped to all fours I found myself at a loss.

... What the hell was she doing?

She looked like a baboon stalking prey. I didn't know if she was going to start making noises like a monkey or bang on her chest. I shook my head, taking a few steps back, lifting my hands up to ward her off. "Okay, maybe I did take things a little too far. I'm not usually so mean. It's just too damn early. See? I should warn you though if you continue to come after me I'll have to take you down."

My dad, the lover of old cars, also happened to believe in his daughter being prepared. I could start fires with a magnifying glass, make smoke signals, gut a fish, garden, and I knew a total of two moves to take down an assailant. I've never had to use any of it, but I was rather hoping it was like riding a bike.

I swallowed as Arden hunched down, her fingers digging into the worn path leading up the mountain, looking ready to pounce. I could probably beat her.

As the thought crossed my mind, I watched her. Calculating the odds of successfully managing to take her out with one of the two moves I knew. The second move would be way more effective on a woman. And I knew I'd have to use that one. It wouldn't do any major damage, just shock her enough for me to talk some sense into her, or run away, which ever came first.

"I won't go easy on you," I warned in a last stitch effort to stop her.

She rolled her head back suddenly, sniffing the air. Her delicate nose wiggling as she deeply inhaled. She shot to her feet, her whole body stiffening as she dropped her gaze to mine. "There's no time for this. We've got to hurry. They're coming."

My shoulders slumped and my pounding heart beat slowed. Oh thank God. "W-who's coming?"

"The Fae. To get you," she said, and jerked her head back in a 'follow me now,' gesture. I was too relieved at getting out of that fight to complain. I wouldn't back down from a fight, but I'd still rather not be in one.

"If they're all powerful and evil, how come they aren't here already?" I asked, pretending to play along. The turn of events was interesting and I finally felt like I might be getting my money's worth as a spike of adrenaline shot through me.

Plus, that potential fight got me rolling. I felt like I was in a haunted house now. Charged with excitement. It still wasn't worth all that money, but if this atmosphere continued throughout the week this Halloween was going to top the others. Easy.

"Even for them it takes time to cross between dimensions. Hurry. Hike!"

Hike was the operative word. More like run. Running up a steep hill wasn't easy, not even for a runner like me. Add me not working out for the past couple of months, plus ten pounds, and I was heaving and red-faced while trying not to lose sight of the red head leaping over logs like it was nothing.

Running was one thing, doing it up a mountain and I was about to die. The change in altitude wasn't helping either. I needed to breathe, but when I stopped and hunched over my knees, sucking in gulps of air, Arden seemed to know immediately.

"Annabelle, I know you think I'm not being serious, but I assure you, this is very real. Now move!"

I didn't even have enough air to respond. Sweat was dripping into my eyes and making track marks down my cheeks. My heart was pumping so hard I could swear it was trying to escape from my chest. Even my hands, which were resting on my knees, holding me up, were damp with sweat. This was not how I planned my morning.