6

By day five I was beyond bored. I was stuck on the couch watching the notebook for what seemed like the fifth time this week.

My parents were on one couch openly whispering in ear others ears like teenagers. It almost made me gag, just because they were whispering didn't stop the old supernatural hearing.

Anna was sitting next me and was fully engrossed in the movie. It was her pick and I nearly screamed when she picked the notebook, again.

I sighed sort of loudly causing Anna to whip her head towards me with a glare. I poked my tongue at her.

My father chuckled at our exchange before going back to attacking my mother with kisses while she giggled up a storm. My parents and grandparents were mates and sometimes it's just so hard to be around them. I heard Tahlia's mate died from hunters. No one really talked about it. Most wolves go insane when they lose a mate, most choose to become omegas. But not her, It's one of the reasons she was so respected. She'd lost her mate and somehow it made her wiser, not crazy. Its practically unheard of but demonstrated her strength and the strength of her pack.

"I'm bored" I muttered.

Anna glared at me again. "Well then find something else to do"

I stared at the ceiling in frustration. "But I don't have anything else to do".

My mum hummed in thought. "I know, your grandmother would love some company in the kitchen".

If I could glare at my mother I would, but it's not smart to glare at someone's mate when they're in the room. Especially if that someone happens to be an Alpha.

I groaned. "But she always says I mess everything up"

Anna snorted. "That's because you burn everything, if you're helping with dinner then I'm not eating it".

Damn she's painful, I just need some air. "I'm going to go for a walk"

I stood ready to leave before my dad got up from the couch and gave me a warning look. "If you do, you stick to our territory. You stay out of any neutral territory and if you smell any unfamiliar scents then you fall back. I mean it Avery. We can't afford a war with all these packs here, we're out numbered."

I nodded at him and half walked, half run out of the house. As soon as I shut the door behind me, I was running. I knew I had to be careful especially today, the day of the actual ceremony. I had been running for a little over an hour before I stopped short. I was nearly at the boundary line. I was maybe ten foot away from hale territory, just five trees away. I should be running in the completely other direction, but I was suddenly hit with this funny feeling.

It was like it was on the tip of my tongue, but I wasn't able to recognise what it was. I just knew it was important, something important was in their territory something that called to all my senses. It didn't make any sense, especially because last week lying on the boundary line and crossing seemed like it'd tear me in half. What changed?

I heard a rustle in the distance, Laura and Peter-the-creeper emerged from a few trees in the distance. I glared at the sky in annoyance, just great.

They stopped just behind the invisible line; I could sense they hadn't crossed but they were close. They were staring at me with identical smirks on their faces. I suddenly got a sick feeling like they knew something that I didn't.

The creeper aimed his smirk at me. "Looks like the puppy strayed too far from her den"

I rose my eyebrow at him. "I could say the same for you. You're closer to my territory then I am to yours".

"We were just keeping an eye out for strays. Good thing too, considering you showed up".

I glared at him. "I wasn't going to break the treaty; how stupid do you think I am!?!"

Laura quickly looked behind her and then faced me with concern? "Avery you should run, someone else is coming".

I tipped my head in confusion and it was only when Peter yelled "Run" that I woke up and ran out of there.

Their territory would be nearly overrun with ally packs. The scent that I did smell was unfamiliar. That meant that it was a Hale ally. Ally pack members not members of either Hale or Wood packs. Yes, they take sides to please the highest-ranking Alphas in the country, but they don't join. So, they can openly attack us without punishment because their names aren't linked to the treaty. And allot of wolves wanted the respect of Tahlia Hale, some might think killing a wood beta would do just that.

Laura and Peter just saved me. Again. I was spared by Hale's again. They should've jumped at the chance to off me and yet they didn't. They know something. I didn't know if it was directly related to me or my pack in general but they're not willing to kill me over it. In fact, they'd rather save and in Laura's case protect me.

My pack basically re-entered the world on Monday once we had been assured by our emissary that the celebrations were over, and the remaining packs had left.

As I entered the school, I was surprised to find The Creeper standing next to Derek whispering in his ear about using anger instead of something called a triskelion? What I was able to hear didn't make any sense and once they saw me, they ceased talking altogether.

I had to walk past them to my locker, so my plan was to just ignore the idiots and walk on by. I was succeeding until I felt someone grab my arm and pull me back. When I turned around, I was slightly alarmed to find Derek Hale holding on to my arm tightly and looking at me kind of dazed and all spaced out.

When he looked into my eyes, he actually smiled at me. This, coming from the boy who's made it his life mission to torment me any chance he has seemed highly suspicious. I wasn't some girl who couldn't see right through it.

His smile reached his forest coloured eyes. He'd... dare I say it matured in the looks department since I last saw him. He seemed more toned and tanned. Guess it had to do with coming of age.

I glanced at his arm while he was still staring at me. "Do you feel it?"

He said it so intensely to the point he was scarring me. I mean he was fighting with me last week like he should be and now he's acting weirdly like the rest of them. What the hell changed? And why the hell was he touching me?!? We were never physical in our fights we were verbal, and I wasn't about to let that change.

I huffed in annoyance. "Yeah I do, and it repulses me. So, get your hand off me because I'd rather not have the putrid scent of Hale on me for the rest of the day"

To be honest I felt satisfied watching his face flinch like I'd just slapped him. In that moment he seemed to come to some sort of realization and regarded me with...what is that face? Sympathy, adoration? I couldn't pinpoint what was going on in that head of his and it was annoying me to no end.

"Stop looking at me like that!". I yelled at him, turned around and stormed off. I have no idea what he's playing at, but I want no part of it. Honestly, I'd be happy if I was never to see a single Hale ever again.

But the world must hate me because The Creeper was suddenly standing in front of me and I could smell Derek's scent right behind me...those morons had me cornered.

And then from behind me I heard a low and threatening growl. I gulped and turned around to stare at the airhead for growling in the middle of a crowded hallway in front of humans. Seriously? Hale use your brain. I then realised it wasn't directed at me but rather, Derek was glaring at The Creeper.

They seemed to be having a silent conversation that I felt entirely left out of. I had no clue what this was about, but I knew it had something to do with how Derek was acting.

"Thalia needs to know you're aware". Peter growled menacingly at Derek. He all but raised an eyebrow in response and growled back "Of course she didn't tell me. Well run along and inform her then".

And now that was something that shook me to my core. Why the hell were they going to report something to their Alpha? I hadn't done anything wrong, and I thought they were over me going on their territory! It happened two weeks ago, why the sudden need for bloodshed?

My heart rate suddenly increased as I started to panic. Why on earth did they need to inform Thalia about me doing what exactly?

As my breathing became more rapid, I felt Derek yet again hold onto my arm and... was he stroking my hand with his thumb?

I whipped my head behind me and glared. "Urgh! Get your filthy hand off of me, I have no idea where its been. God! what's wrong with you today?"

Now he just looked beyond frustrated and good at least that's a normal reaction.

"Forget it Derek she's too young". The Creeper basically yawned it out, like he had suddenly become bored of this conversation. And then a wave of another look of understanding crossed Derek's face.

I was openly glaring at both now. "Too young for what exactly?" I growled out.

"Nothing that you don't immediately need to know about Runt"

See this is why I hate the Creeper, not only is he a Hale but he's always so vague that it makes me want to scream and to be honest I was already fed up with this entire conversation.

That's it. I don't have to put up with this bullshit. "Screw the both of you and do me a favour. If either of you see me again don't bother talking to me. I couldn't care less if you tell Thalia Hale whatever lies you two idiots are coming up with right now because according to the treaty, I haven't done anything wrong so piss off the pair off you!".

I then stormed out of that hallway and to my first class completely forgetting all my books in the process. Damn them both to hell, physics was hard enough as it is, but I find it's actually impossible without a textbook.