The Caymen Porsche purred more deeply as Jeremiah's boot inched the acceleration pedal farther towards the floor. The sleek car blended with the night scene; it was a glossy black color, and it was fairly quiet. Driving it made Jeremiah happy. It was a gift he'd given himself while visiting the Czech Republic not too long ago. He'd justified the huge purchase by saying he'd earned it, after being alive on this planet for two hundred some years with so many pathetic humans who don't even live past 90 most of the time. He'd dealt with their naive idiocy long enough to buy himself a sexy car.

Jeremiah vaguely knew where he was going, only that soon he would arrive there. It was a three story house, owned by a woman whose name he did not know. He only knew that they were of the same species, and she had requested his help. Flattered by the request, he'd decided to swing by and see what he could do. After all, what was the harm in helping someone who genuinely needed your assistance?

The car quieted as he pulled into the long driveway. He knew the woman would hear, but didn't like to cause too much of a ruckus anyway. In fact, he rather hated when people were excessively loud. He quickly parked the car and didn't bother to walk at a human pace to the door. In a second flat, he had arrived at the front door and knocked twice. It was then that he could smell blood, but it didn't phase him. He'd been told to expect this. With his hands folded in front of his body, he waited for the mother of the Clarke family to open the door.

-•-

Vanessa let loose a friendly laugh, tilting slightly to the side in her queen sized bed. She was sitting cross-legged on her bed, with a laptop in front of her. The webcam was on, and she was Skyping with a guy she had just met a few days ago. She knew her mother could hear every word she said no matter where she was in the house, but she was used to it for the most part. A while ago, she had to just stop caring. It wasn't like she could read her mind, so at least that part of her life was private.

"You and me..." she had a wide smile on her face, she couldn't help it. She really liked this guy. As a friend, of course... "We have got to hang out tomorrow. Promise me?" She kept up her happy charade, hoping he would find it cute. It was the same act she put up at school, when she was facing tons of people who wouldn't talk to her. Vanessa pretended to look happy. Because if she did, nobody would bother shooting insults at her or giving her dirty looks. She'd been given a bad reputation lately. She became good at ignoring it; it wouldn't be the first time. She was the always-alone emo back in Freshman year. The following year, this year, she's finally coming around to seeing that looks shouldn't define who you are, but show the world the person underneath.

Suddenly she heard two knocks on the door, and tilted her head, wondering who it must be. Oh. Right. The bodyguard. Lovely. She sighed, suddenly irritated. "I'm sorry, I've got to go. Someone's at the door. Text or call me tomorrow," she gave one last cute smile before logging off of Skype and closing down the laptop. Vanessa made her way down to the staircase that connection the first and second floor, and sat on the top step, deciding to watch the greeting from above.

-•-

Cayden brought his hands up to rest on his face, and exhaled a long breath of air. He rubbed his eyes, tired from a long day. Things had gone much like any other day, being one of two Alphas in the same pack. It was hard, and it was stressful. There wasn't a day that went by when he and his brothers were wolves that he didn't want to suddenly turn on his brother and snap his jaws around his neck. He hated that it was so instinctive! He didn't hate his brother at all. What he hated was this wedge that was being built between them and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

He pulled the covers up over his shoulders and turned to lay on his side. Not to mention the girl. The girl he never stopped thinking about. The girl he loved more than anyone in the world, more than anyone in his pack could ever mean to him. The girl who was five years his junior.

"The way you look at her is weird, man. You know she's complete jailbait, right?" A friend of his had caught Cayden watching her from afar. It instantly infuriated him. It sent him off the edge. It sent shivers down his spine and his fists shaking. "How do you think I look at her, Shane?" His voice instantly raised. "You don't know anything. And she's a child! If you dare suggest again that I could EVER want to..." That was when Cayden had to leave the store. It was a regular grocery store, and he'd gone bolting out of it. He very narrowly avoided breaking the bones in Shane's body.

He pulled the blankets over his head, wishing sleep would come. The nights he lost control. They kept him up at night and wracked him with guilt. It wasn't Shane's fault. He doesn't know the love that comes with imprinting. He doesn't know love at all. He's not even a wolf, he could never understand. And yet Cayden had lost control. He closed his eyes, glad that none of his pack brothers ever saw this side of him. The side where he was wracked with guilt over things he should have never said or done. Only his true brother saw this, and Cayden still kept his door locked to keep him out.

-•-

The ground was damp underneath Parker's paws. It hadn't rained today, but the raindrops fell from the leaves that had captured water the day before and fell to the ground of the forest. He didn't mind. He wasn't human right now; the feeling of wet grass and leaves didn't bother him a bit.

He'd let his sisters get to him again. Nikkole had cussed at him, Melissa lectured him, treated him like he was five years old again. It was nothing new. But somehow it always ended the same, with Parker slamming the back screen door behind him and barely hitting the forest line before he changed into the heavily dark brown oversized wolf that he is now.

It wasn't until a few minutes of pure running the border passed when he reached out his mind to connect with any of his brothers who may be phased as well. He'd been too focused on the feeling of the air rushing through his coat to notice anything but the path in front of him and where he was in the forest. He didn't feel a presence in his mind, but he was still new to this stuff. Parker had only been a wolf for six months, he still couldn't tap into the mind-link as instinctively. What he could think was a regular thought could actually be someone with a similar voice to him. But he got the hang of it when people outright spoke to him. Parker wondered if any of the others had problems understanding other thoughts, or if it was just him. He panted, tired from the run already. He slowed to a walk as he began to round the corner of the border and decided that he was calm enough to take nice, slow walk back to his house, wondering if anyone had noticed his temper tantrum.

'You can do this. It's okay. This guy is going to know what he's doing. You're not going to kill your daughter.' Elizabeth continued to repeat "encouraging" words to herself as she starred into the large, oval mirror in her bathroom. It lasted for a good thirty minutes before she finally retreated down the oak staircase into the kitchen. She didn't know why she always ran there, it wasn't like she could eat or anything, but she liked to pretend when she could. The tips of her long fingers ran along the smooth counter top before she brought them to eye level. Not a speck of dust. She spent the time Vanessa was at school to clean the entire house; That only kept her occupied for twenty-five minutes.

Liz paused in mid-step as she moved towards the living room, her daughter's laugh reaching her ears. The sound was loud, yet she was completely in the other part of the house. She grimaced, listening to her speak to a boy on the internet. The idea annoyed her to no end. Why couldn't Vanessa go out and meet the guy? 'She's only sixteen though,' she thought, quickly brushing away the mere idea of her daughter leaving to do something like that. Elizabeth knew her protective nature bugged Nessa, but she just could not help it! There was so much to shield her from, including herself.

The rumbling purr of a car pulling up outside brought her attention from the wisp of worry that gnawed at her from the inside out. She ran her hands down across her purple blouse, tucked a loose, wavy lock behind her ear, then headed for the huge front door. She always moved at a human pace when Vanessa was home, for her sake. She wanted her to have a normal life, yet hiring a bodyguard was not really a way to help her with that "normal life." 'It's for her own safety,' Liz thought quickly, setting her sharp jaw in place. She gazed towards the top of the stairs, spotting Vanessa as she made it to the door, placing a light hand on the brass handle delicately in the same motion.

Giving her daughter a reassuring smile her golden coloured eyes found the door as she swiftly pulled it out of her way to reveal the man she hired. For a moment Elizabeth just looked at him, not knowing what to say. What would you in this situation? She had been called naive by one of her Coven members. They told her she acted like a foolish child, the way she thought that is. Of course, Zeke told her that and in her opinion he was a cocky asshole. Liz finally let a hefty amount of unneeded air pass her pale pink lips in a breath, holding out a slim hand. "You must be-" She trailed off, realizing she never really got a specific name, having only been told he could help and so on. A sheepish smile danced across her face, "I'm Elizabeth, I am glad you could make it on such short notice.." she began once more, trying not to make a fool of herself in front of Vanessa, failing terribly..


~~~


Aaron lounged across the plush, red couch which sat in the living room of his two-story home. His gaze was resting on the window which faced east, taking up the whole wall. In his right hand he held a glass and in that glass was a crimson red liquid. He swirled the liquid along the crystal, staining it the rich colour. Today had been seemingly uneventful. He hadn't heard from Zeke, Bentley, nor Elizabeth so that meant he was stuck driving around aimlessly. He could have found some mundane thing to do, but most of those things held no interest for him. Taking a sip of the luke-warm blood he sat it on the stained brown coffee table.

His black eyes, slowly dimming to a deep red, traveled across the room to spot a medium sized canvas sitting upon an isle. Aaron had started to paint a creamy orange coloured flower, but got bored with it and stopped. "Nothing to do, nothing to do," he spoke aloud to himself, standing up in a fluid movement. His lips pursed as he thought, scratching the back of his head as if he was debating something. With a shrug he glanced around, once at the couch, the next at the front door. Grasping his leather jacket in one hand Aaron twisted and opened the door with the other. He stepped outside into the crisp night air, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Now who to go bug?" he wondered, heaving an airy sigh, briskly walking towards his dark blue sports car.

Once inside his brows furrowed, "Zeke? No, Bentley! Nah, perhaps Marie? Elizabeth?" Aaron continued to ramble on as he started the engine of his car, revved it a little, then sped down his driveway.


~~~


Hunter had laid in his room for awhile, sprawled across his twin-sized bed that made him look like an utter giant. His bed was actually against the wall which was the only thing blocking his room from his brother's. He listened to him toss and turn, shaking his head as a rough sound passed his lips, coming across as a strangled growl. Ever since the whole Alpha ordeal came about they seemed to talk less and less. They still talked, but to him Cayden seemed a lot more.. Distant. It bothered him, but he understood. There were many instances in the wolf state of mind where things got pretty intense. Hunter shuttered at the thought of those times, sitting up in bed. The wool blanket that covered his bare chest fell down around his waist as he swung his legs over, feet meeting the cold, wooden floorboards. Plus Cayden was having some "chick problems," so, all in all..Understandable.

Hunt grunted, standing up and moving towards the small window at the opposite side of his room. He pushed it open without second thought and hopped outside, chin jerking upward as his feet sunk into the mud that formed from yesterday's rain. With a glance over his shoulder he peered into his dark room before moving forward, into the woods. One run, that's all he needed. Once covered by the thick line of trees he shifted into his wolf state of being, immediately opening his mind to his other brothers that might be shifted. He sensed Parker's thoughts, pausing a brief second, ears pricking forward. "Parker?" he questioned, loping forward at an easy pace.

He wasn't really expecting anyone else in the pack to be out, but it was just Parker, so he didn't mind too bad; Parker was easy enough to talk to, being new and all. "Everything okay at home?" Hunter then asked, thoughts a little skeptical as her pursued forward, head low as he scanned the forest.


~~~


Ronni's blue eyes peered over a humongous piece of drift wood, watching the tide come halfway up the beach. This was the best time to find unique shells and other little things the ocean decided to share with her. Therefore, the young teen took advantage of it and ran from her house like a theif. Her dad and grandpal were heavy sleepers, something she thanked God for. Jumping clumsily over the driftwood Veronica made her way towards the ice cold water, her bare feet making deep prints in the sand.

She couldn't help but scan the beach, even at this late of hour.. Hoping he was there. Kyle Goldwyn; A boy she met only four days ago. Sixteen, blonde hair, brown eyes, and not to mention.. Her could drive. It made her grin every time she thought about it. However, Ron pressed her lips in a thin line as she bent down, running her hands beneath the icy surface, knuckles meeting the rough, grainy sand. Pulling a pointy object from the water she held it up, trying to catch a glimpse of it in the moonlight..
Nothing. With a sigh she shoved the little thing into her messenger bag which hung loosely at her side. 'Discovering what I found at home makes it all the more exciting,' she told herself, nodding once at the thought.

She ran her hand back through the water, searching the beach again with eager eyes. No Kyle. She had met him when Dante, her german shepherd, got loose and took off running like a deranged chicken. She chased after him for what seemed like hours, but he didn't stop until Kyle reigned him in with his own cheeseburger. Ronni had felt bad for making him give up his food and vowed to buy him another burger someday. He told her he was looking forward to it.

A laugh escaped Veronica's slightly parted lips, remembering the whole situation making her feel foolish. Brushing away the red at her cheeks she tossed a few ordinary shells into the bag, going down the beach further.

Jeremiah's crimson eyes focused as the door began to swing open. He could hear at least two presences in the house; one on a second floor and one just beyond the door. He appraised the woman who stood before him. She was quite beautiful. Blonde hair, golden eyes, also told to be expected. This woman had a unique situation, he'd been told. She'd been changed with an infant in her home, her own daughter. How reckless, he decided. But in the same second he remembered that humans didn't always have a choice in receiving immortality. Perhaps he would learn her story as they worked together.

"Pleasure to meet you, Elizabeth." He kept his back straight and his chin high, his usual poster. He unfolded his hands and requested entry into the house. When there was no sign of rejection, he stepped inside. The metallic smell of blood hit him in a wave. Already he found an admiration growing for this woman. To be so young, and to be able to tolerate this strong odor every day without losing control. His eyes flickered to the human girl sitting at the top of the stairs. Had her mother lost control before? He saw no scars, so he assumed not.

"My name's Jeremiah. Not Jeremy. Not Jerry," he looked away from the human girl and back to Elizabeth with a forced smile. He knew how young people would tag one another with names. He wanted no part in it. "I have a suitcase packed in my car for an overnight residence here, just in case. I was unsure whether or not you would be feeding tonight." Jeremiah made no effort to sugar coat anything. Though against their racial laws, the human knew. She wasn't ignorant. He didn't pretend to play that she was. "Over the phone we hadn't yet decided whether I would be temporarily living here for a time. Have you made a decision? If I were allowed to state my opinion, my dear, I would inform you that once you've become accustomed to human blood, it's much easier to lose control in the presence of one. Even one you hold close to your heart," he said, referring to her daughter. "Should I be around you while you're at home and isolated, it may be safer for your daughter. What is her name?" He asked, not bothering to turn to ask her himself.

-•-

Vanessa laughed softly to herself. The man who had walked into her home was a douchebag. He was going to be like some of her teachers at school, treating her like she's nothing more than a girl, instead of a growing woman. She already didn't like him. So she spoke up about it, truly not caring whether or not it would affect her mother.

"My name," she called, sounding rather loud even through human ears before quieting her voice again, "is Vanessa. It's great to meet you too, thanks." She glared with no mercy from the staircase, completely against this little pact her mother had created with this stranger. This jerk. Vanessa didn't need a babysitter, and she sure as hell wasn't afraid of her mother. As she began to descend the stairs she averted her eyes to everywhere but her mother and Jeremiah.

Vanessa heard no response from him, feeling rather smug. As if she had put him in his place. This was her home, not his. She hoped he wouldn't be living in with them. She'd be fine if she never saw the man again. She walked into the spacious kitchen, noticing that it was spotless as always. Not a speck on the counters, not a stain to be seen. The floor had even been sweeped; her socks picked up no gritty pieces of dirt as she walked. She grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. She didn't like the tap water here. It tasted gross.

Snagging a wrapped cracker snack and her water bottle, she sat at the oak island counter in the kitchen. The countertops were dark; nearly black with a blue tint to it in the right light. The plastic wrapper crinkled as she tore it open. Before she took a bite, she spoke up in a normal voice again. She didn't hear the two talking in the other room, but she would have talked over them anyway. "By the way, I'm going to hang out with Hunter and Cayden and the boys tomorrow," she informed her, not bothering to ask permission. It was a weekend. There should be no problem. Right?

-•-

Go away! All of it! Just leave!
That's all that ran through Cayden's mind. But he couldn't do this anymore. This wasn't fixing things. This wasn't making his mind settle. He had to do something. That's what he did. The real Cayden didn't lay in bed under the covers and wish his problems away. He did something about it. But what could he do? He just wanted to be with her. He'd heard her name before, a treasure he'd gotten from his extraordinary hearing. Ronni.

Tomorrow, he would find her. He would be friendly to her; that's all. Just a friend. Just so that she would know who he was. And maybe in a few years, when she could appreciate how he treated her all these years, her feelings could change. He would let his feelings change. It would no longer be a family love for her, but a romantic love. He knew he couldn't have it now. But he had to have something.

He had to get out. He'd heard his brother leave through the window a few minutes ago, and knew it would seem like he was following him. But he couldn't sit here in his room anymore. Maybe he could run the border; at least that'd give him something to do. He stood, already stripping out of his shirt and jeans. He would carry them to a tree outside and come back for them once he was ready to come home. Cayden didn't bother with the window; he left through the back sliding glass door. His parents, who sat on the couch in front of the TV, didn't say a word. This was normal.

The second he phased, he knew his brother had to. The darker hair along his spine immediately raised in an aggressive stance, and his ears flattened. He had to cut off a growl that had built up in his throat, a menacing sound should you be alone with him in the dark. HIS pack. HIS brothers. HIS forest. He would tear out the throat of the wolf that tried to claim his position!
No. No, he wouldn't. He choked on a cough and his ears returned to the relaxed position. This was always how it went. He wanted to claim Alpha place. Whenever he phased, it took him a moment to realize that middle ground could be found. It was just better when the two weren't nearby before it could be found... He could feel Hunter and Parker were out tonight. He didn't intentionally think anything towards them. If they heard anything, it was stressful ramblings from his near breakdown in his bed. He ran towards the direction of the ocean, where the La Push beach was.

-•-

Parker still took long walking strides. He was in no hurry to get home. When Hunter's thoughts entered his mind, he found himself thinking that maybe he would stay out longer than he'd expected. He enjoyed Hunter's company. Pair that with the soothing familiar feeling of grass and leaves under his paws and he felt pretty at home.

Parker had a lot of respect for Hunter. From what he had been told, their pack was a little different. There was never supposed to be two alphas, and yet he and his brother managed. Speaking of, Parker could feel Cayden join them, but he kept quiet so Parker didn't say anything to him. His sharp ears picked up on Hunter's footsteps somewhere in the forest, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly where. "That's me. And... yeah. I guess. I'm just, I guess, having trouble getting used to everything. It doesn't help that nobody knows who I really am. It's like I have no one I can talk to who understands what I go through, you know?"

He immediately regretted letting loose that little piece of info. Parker didn't want Hunter to think he couldn't trust him. He was actually his favorite of the wolves... though he'd never actually tell him that. He wasn't sure if Hunter was like him, though. Parker didn't want to let himself fall for a guy who may not be into guys too... OH SHIT, embarrassment washed over him in what felt like a physical blow. The mindreading! He'd let his thoughts trail off! Shitshitshit, he hated that he sometimes forgot to keep his thoughts under control. He hated being so new to this! He could feel Cayden grow extremely uncomfortable, though he still hadn't said anything outloud yet. Would Hunter understand that he couldn't help his thoughts, the same as Cayden couldn't change his thoughts about how he felt seeing a girl? Well, before he imprinted. With his thoughts on shutdown, Parker hoped to God that Hunter wouldn't be awkwarded out and mentally push him away. Parker now kept his head low to the ground as he walked. This night just kept getting worse.