He turned to face her, "Weres aren't cold by nature. In fact, my body temperature is over 110 degrees naturally. The heat is caused by our pulse... our hearts... otherwise we wouldn't be able to survive." He explained as he slipped the tank on over his head. He paused for a minute before turning and looking at her. "And we are going to find my pack..." he said before shaking his head. "You don't have to stay here... You can come with me." He turned to her, "I'll protect you."

I was surprised by his answer, then I smiled.
"No wonder I think I cuddled you so much through the night. It was cold and you're very warm." I smiled sweetly to him. He turned and looked at me and I looked into his eyes.
"Your pack... you'll protect me? I.. thought you didn't like humans all that much." I said, folding my hands together and grabbing my coat from the hook on the wall. We'll be coming back here, right? I thought to myself, looking at my room.

"I don't like what humans turn into after they learn about the truth." He said almost in a growl. "But as I stated before, I will protect you... from everything and teach you how to protect yourself if I can't be there. If you want that... Take what you and I can carry." He said.

I lowered my gaze, almost feeling sorry for him. Being a drifter must suck....
"But why do you want to protect me and teach me things? I'd only be a burden on your goal to becoming alpha. I'm.. just a nobody that helped a stray dog..." I said looking down at the floor. "Why would you want to burden yourself with a helpless human like myself? I'll... only hold you back..." I said, fighting back the tears. Holding people back is all I do.. like my parents...
I sighed. Could I really leave here and live with werewolves?

He looked at her for a second before shrugging. "You're probably right." He said standing over her, before extending a hand out to her. "You probably will, but I wouldn't have offered you to come with me if I wasn't sure. And I wouldn't have stayed the night unless I thought... " He paused for a moment before he started talking again, "I'm not forcing you to come with me. You can stay here... You can choose to live with these people and hope to find a job that might help you pay half of the rent to that... woman. Or you can take a risk, and face danger, and do something you've probably never done before..."

I looked up at him as he spoke, watching his lips, my eyes on the brink of flooding. Unless he thought.... what? I wondered then he went on.
"An...adventure?" I thought for a moment then nodded.
"I have nothing to lose, literally." I said. I rolled my blanket into my pillowcase and gripped it. I went to my closet and pulling out my pink Jansport back pack and unzipped it. I went to my dresser and grabbed some underwear and socks and a small change purse hidden in the back. I also found my small photo album and my sketch book and shoved it all into my back pack. I grabbed a few extra outfits too. I zipped it shut and looked to him.
"Lead the way. I'm behind you 100%" I said smiling at him, a bit worried what the road ahead will bring.

The door opened with Nate standing there in pajama bottoms, bare feet and chest and a towel laying over his head and shoulders. He stared at me.
"Though I heard voices..." he looked to Kale and furrowed a brow. "Glad you brought her back safe." He looked to me and my pack bag and pillow. "Where you off to?"

Kale watched her pack, a small smile forming on his lips before they disappeared with Nate coming through the door. Automatically Kale stepped in front of Sophie, glaring down at Nate. "I said I would... and she's leaving with me." He said, a smug smile returning to his lips.

Nate stared at him. "Youre leaving with this guy, Sophie? You just met him, what did he say to get you to go with him? You don't even know him!" He exclaimed, his towel falling to his shoulders. "I cant let you do this. You don't know what you're doing."

I furrowed my brow at him stepping past Kale. "Theres nothing to worry about. You guys will find another roommate and wont have to worry about paying the land lord late or anything. It'll- " I got cut off by Nate taking a hold of me in his arms.
"Why... are you leaving me..." he said, softly, his voice shaking a bit. "Why... didn't you ever let me in..." he said, holding me tightly. I blinked.... and blushed then sighed, wrapping my arms around his waist.
"Im sorry." Is all I could say. "I... need a new life." Nate just nodded and let go of her.
"Please.... visit me, ok? Or at least call?" I nodded and wondered if I should have ever befriended him... he always only seemed to want one thing but thinking back, he did always share his food and invite me into his room to play games and just talk, and I usually declined his invitations.

Kale just stood there, jerking forward as Nate grabbed a hold of her. He tensed his back ready to kill if Nate were to hurt her. When the man finally let her go, Kale stared at him, before pushing past and waited at the door. "Let's go Sophie." He said, his voice low and dark. "Daylight is the safest time to move and I hardly doubt there is much of it left."

"Just... be safe, and take care of her." He said softly as he pushed past.
I waved to Nate as I followed Kale down the hallway. Nate stood in my rooms doorway and just waved, a sad look on his face. I wondered if Id ever see him again... Downstairs I slipped into my boots and opened the door, leaving my house key on the table beside the door.
"Lead the way, Ill do my best to keep up." I said, switching my overstuffed pillow case from my right to my left hand. The snow was still falling and i tightened my scarf and slipped on my gloves. I could see my breath.

He walked beside her, offering to carry some of her things for her. He didn't look back at Nate, or pretend to acknowledge his request. To Kale, he had already won.
When they got outside he looked down at her. Her nose was already red from the frigid air. "Stay close." He said. Steam rolled off his shoulders with his hot body, as he made his way down the road. They were headed back to where Belle and Pixie had been the night before. Their fresh trail would lead them to Emily and the others.

However, almost an hour after Kale and Sophie left there was a knock on Nate's door.

I looked up at his bare shoulders and wondered if anyone would even think this was suspicious. I still carried my pack and pillowcase and walked on beside him. I wonder where we're going? Hopefully someplace warm. I sneezed, walking on.

Nate paused his video game and sighed, standing up and opening the door.

It took a while, but they made it back to the run down building that they had taken up shelter in the night after running from the hunters. He knelt down, smelling the air. Much like he thought, Pixie and Belle had left long before they arrived and most likely back to Emily to report everything they had found. He stood back up, turning to her. "They went that way... we'll stop soon... I promise." He said looking at her nose and red cheeks. He noted that she was shivering a bit too. The last thing he wanted was for her to get sick. He pressed forward.

Ebony stood at the door, her raven black hair straight and slick. She showed a lot of skin for the temperature outside. The skirt slit almost reaching her hip. Her red eyes looked up to Nate's and a wicked grin curved around her lips. "Well, you're quite a sight. I'm looking for a nice young woman by the name of Sophie, and a beast named Kale. Seen them around?" she paused, "Sorry, Kale might've have looked like a wolf when you spotted him." That grin widened even more so as she looked into his eyes.

I breathed heavily, but kept my pace with him and nodded. "I'm fine. I wish I ate before we left though." I said with a smile, sniffing. I kept in step beside him as the city was cold, growing darker and snow continued to fall.

Nate looked her up and down. "Quite.... the sight indeed." He said, his lips parting.
He furrowed his brow.
"A beast named Kale? A wolf?" He gasped. "They just left, but didnt say where they were going. Whats going on?"

He stopped looking at her, "Why don't we get you some food then, I smell a place down the street. Seems like a nice place to get some food, and information seeing as though it's owned by a were. What say you?" He said before motioning to her. "You look like you could use some warmth any ways... Come on.." He said as he got closer to her. The warmth coming off his body like a heater.

"I see... so it wasn't a lie..." She said watching his reaction, her grin slowly fading out. "He was here... Sophie is one of my co-workers." she said, weaving a lie with every word. "The Cage was visited by a pack of werewolves the other night," she shook her head, "I know it sounds absurd, but that's the only thing to call those monsters.... They killed everyone I knew. I heard that she made it out alive, but was being stalked by one of those beasts... They are very manipulative creatures... They tell you sweet nothings as they lure you away before..." She fell silent before shaking her head, "If they don't kill you while feeding on your bones you turn into one of them... I wouldn't believe it myself if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes... Please... Do you know which way they went?"

"A Place down the street? But I gave all my money for the rent." I laughed. "For the month I wont even be living there. How ironic.." I said. "Ill go in to warm up, but I'll be ok otherwise. I dont want to steal any food, either." I looked to him pressing his side to mine as we walked. "Feeling cold yet?" I said, wrapping my arm around his lower back.

"Sophie... shes with a werewolf now then!! I only heard of the stories people told about werewolves but I always just laughed it off... what a mess!!" He exclaimed. "I don't know which way they went but I'm coming with you. I cant see her get hurt or turned into a monster..." He rummaged through his dresser drawers and got dressed into heavy jeans and a tank top and threw a white t shirt over top before sliding into his winter coat and putting a blue hat on. He filled his boots with his heavy sock covered feet.
"Lets go. I dont want her hurt, or turning into a beast."

He smirked, "Hardly... you?" He jested. As she moved closer and hugged him around the lower back his face softened as he looked down at her. He couldn't rationalize it. He hadn't known her for very long, yet he'd do anything to protect her from anything. Why would he feel so strongly about that? What made you feel that way? He looked back up as they continued to walk towards the small diner.
When he finally entered with her at his side, he whispered for her to find a table and sit down while he went to talk to the owner.

She watched him get dressed, thinking about how good he must've tasted if he looked that cute. Oh she'd enjoy him after she got what she was looking for out of the deal. Kale and Sophie would lead her straight to where she wanted to be. "If you are coming with me, then we should arm you with something more than just your bare fists. Come with me." She walked outside and slid a finger along her Black Ferrari 458 Italia. A keypad lit up on the window of the car, responding to her touch as she put in the passcode. The engine hummed to life as the car unlocked itself. "Get in." She said before her door closed.

"Me? Yes I'm cold" I laughed a bit. We entered the diner.
I looked around inside the dimly lit diner. It smelled so good in here. Maybe the owner would let me do some work for some food? I smiled to myself finding a booth seat in the corner of the diner next to a window. I took off my gloves and started huffing into my hands and rubbing them together. We had to be walking for 2 hours. My toes were cold. It was dark out and the snow continued to fall. There were only a small handful of patrons, all of them sat at the bar watching TV.

He followed her out like a cat chasing a laser pointer. He gawked at the Ferrari, not the perfect car for the snow but whatever. It was a sweet ride indeed. He smiled and jumped in looking around.
"How ride you got here, miss." He said smiling. "So what kind of arms do you have in mind?" He grinned, thinking about revenge on the mutt who stole his woman.

He went up to the bar, his elbow on the fake wooden surface before he rested his chin in his hand. As the owner came up she gave him a soft knowing grin. "Well, what do we have here? A stray?"
"A stray looking for his pack. I'm Kale Donavon, and I'm looking for my way back to Emily."
"Oh my... Were you out on a scouting mission?"
"No...I found my way here thanks to the Cage. Managed to escape unlike many of the others." He said with a frown.
"Well, Emily is in the city a few miles out. It's a bit of a journey on foot... and with a human..."
"... We'll be okay. Just point us in the direction."
"I'll do you one better. Have a warm meal to fill your bellies and a warm bed to rest your head for tonight... Right now it's too cold to have her travel..."
"Thank you..."
"No problem. My name is Hillary by the way. Hillary Swan."
He smirked. "You smelt a bit feathery..." He said before going back over to Sophie. "She is offering us a room and a warm meal tonight, so you don't have to travel anymore this evening."

"The kind that hurt..." Ebony said with a smirk. She drove off without so much as a second thought to the snow or ice.

I looked up at him from my head resting on my folded and hands and my eyes lit up. "REALLY?" I said clapping, smiling wide. "I havn't eaten out in a very long time. What do we owe the owner? Surely it isn't free." I said, removing my coat and stuffing my scarf into my coats pocket. I shoved my back pack and pillow in the seat beside me as I looked up at him. My heart was fluttering; I havn't been this excited since... probably my 10th birthday.

He tched and sniffed, unzipping his coat.
"So where we off to, Miss Ebony? Are you out to save Sohpie too??" He said, looking over at her whizzing though the streets, not minding the light patterns. Not many cars were in this part of the city anyhow.

"It'll cost me a favor I am sure." He said without looking at her, "But it's worth it." He said as he glanced at her. She seemed so excited so... energized, so alive. He could hear her heart thumping insider her chest and couldn't help but smirk. "You're really pumped about this..." He said with a smirk.
Hillary came to their table and set down a menu on their table. "Just pick whatever you want, I'll be back in a couple of minutes with drinks." She said giving them a smile.

She glanced over at him before turning back to the road. "Sure." She said shortly, before twisting the wheel and stopping at a pawn shop. She waited for him to get out of the car, before she started in.
It looked like any other Pawn shop. Wares, both new and used littered about the place, with a rather hefty looking woman behind the counter. "Jenni..." She growled before passing the woman. Without so much as saying a word the woman; Jenni glared down at Nate before letting him follow Ebony into the back.

"A favor?" I pouted. "Surely, I'll be there to help since I'm eating too." I said smiling at him. My eyebrows raised at him and I nodded, blushing bit. "Yeah.. I havn't eaten out in a nice place like this since I was about ten." I said, a bit ashamed. I must look like to a child to him... a fool. I sighed, trying to settle myself down and looked at the menu then back up to the owner. I smiled at her.
"Thank you so much." I pointed to a pancake stack and a hot chocolate, to warm me up.

Nate stepped out of the car and zipped his coat back up. He followed her in and remained close. The warmth from the pawn shop eased his cheeks but not his nerves. Stares looked him over every which way and he wanted to just leave. The intimidation was at his heels as he followed her into the back silently. He released his held breath and looked around.

A small smile crossed his face, looking up at Sophie. "I'd imagine with a lifestyle as taxing as yours, you haven't had time to." He said. "I must say, I prefer your smile to the serious look you usually have. It's... cute." It was obvious he had never used such an adjective before, and he had to try it out on his tongue before actually committing to it.
He turned to look at Hillary as she stepped up to their table. He waited for Sophie to order before he did, "Slab of meat... A little cooked."
"But still with some 'Moo'?" Hillary asked with a chuckle.
"Yup... and a coke." He said. He turned back to Sophie, "Before we find my pack, you will need to know some things..."

Behind the Pawn shop it opened up to an apartment building. Several human men lurking in the hallways laughing and chatting before falling silent at the sight of her. "Where is Joe?" She said, not facing anyone. However everyone simply pointed up the staircase. She looked up the staircase, before moving up it with a otherworldly grace. "William. Arm the boy... he's going to be joining us..."
A blonde man, one that looked as if he had seen several battles and lost a few, stood up from a crate he was sitting on. "Yes, Miss Ebony." He said standing there until she was gone. Then his hazel eyes fell onto the young man. "You're a bit scrawny to be a Hunter. Are you planning on being fodder?" He said with a chuckle.

"Time? Eh well when I'm not working or sleeping, I'm usually just in my room reading or drawing." I said. "I just... never had money for it, I suppose. Don't want to go alone. Nate asked me out a few times but I declined." I said sighing. I looked up at him surprised at what he said and I turned beet red and looked out the window. "C-cute? Youre seeing things.." I said, my heart racing.
I pointed to what I wanted and smiled at her. "Thank you, so much."
I looked to him and he looked very serious. "Ok, tell me what I need to know?"

Nate followed then stopped. He wanted to follow Ebony after she walked off but he was left standing alone. He looked up at the massive guy who has to be at least 250 lbs and he gulped. "Fodder? Heck no, I want to fight for my girl back! Give me a knife; I'm good with those" he said, grinning. "So how do we know where thy went?" He asked, looking around, hoping Ebony heard and would reappear.

"I am not one to imagine things..." He said watching her turn different shades before shaking his head. "My pack welcomes humans with open arms, especially those who are willing to fight for their cause... but that doesn't mean that you are necessarily safe. There are strays in our pack, and you are nothing more than a slab of meat to them. I know because I was like them. They follow Emily's rules but find yourself in an alley or a room alone, they won't be afraid to find you. Also, don't trust the hunters that lurk there... You got a taste of what they are capable of last night in that one building... I haven't come across one good Hunter, even though Emily swears up and down that Dameon is different. All I see is him having her on a hidden leash..." He said with a bit of disgust. "The last thing you need to know, is they don't much care for me because of my 'rebellious' attitude and opinions... But whatever you see, remain silent... Emily is going to be a bit in a tiff when I come home and we weres have very... short fuses. I don't want her whirling on you by accident. She's pretty good at keeping away from humans when she's angry, but... all it takes is once." He said quietly.

"Back? Why'd you let her out of your sight in the first place?" He asked raising a brow. He went into the back room, opening a locker with several different blades hanging and set down on different shelves. "Ebony has her ways, being a vampire and all... She's got eyes and ears all up and down this city." He said as if it were supposed to be common knowledge.