Chapter 1

"Good morning Beacon Hills," the local news said on the alarm clock and Ev Deaton quickly reached her hand over to shut it off.

Groaning, she sat up and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.

"Ev are you up sweetheart?" her father called out from downstairs and she groaned again, falling back into her pillows.

"Yeah!" she called back," I'll be down in a minute."

With great effort she forced herself to get out of bed. Slowly, she made her way downstairs and into the kitchen where the heavenly scent of coffee greeted her senses.

"Good morning," her father said and poured her a cup which she gratefully took and kissed him on the side of his bald head," How did you sleep?"

"Great," she replied and sighed as she took her first sip," It's good to be home."

"I'm glad to have you home," he said and ruffled her hair as he moved into the living room to read the morning paper. She took a seat at the kitchen table.

Ev Deaton had lived in Beacon Hills all of her life, even after her mother died.

Her father, the local veterinarian, opened up an office here. Ever since she was little she'd loved animals and had gladly followed in his footsteps. Now, after graduating from college in New York a year ago and traveling the world she'd come back to Beacon Hills to work with her father.

"I promise I'll get an apartment soon," she said loud enough so he could hear in the next room.

"Nonsense," he replied, coming back into the kitchen and standing in the doorway," This is your home."

"I'm twenty two years old, Dad," she said, finishing the last of her coffee and setting the mug in the dishwasher," I can't live at home. That just looks bad."

"You're a single young woman who would be living alone," he countered," that's dangerous."

"Dad you made sure I was a black belt in four different types of martial arts, I can shoot a gun, a crossbow,and use a knife," she replied sarcastically," No way in hell I can't defend myself. "

"I'd feel better if you stayed here," he said pleadingly," At least for a few months."

"Fine," she replied an gave him a quick kiss on the cheek," You worry too much, Daddy."

"Because you constantly attract danger," he replied and she laughed as she headed back up the stairs.

Ev went back into her room and shed herself of her pajamas as she went to take a shower. Briefly, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and she marveled at how much of her mother she had in her. Her caramel colored skin, green eyes, and wavy black hair distinguished her from her father very widely.

She moaned as the hot water hit her skin and submerged herself under the spray. Her cell phone began to ring in her bedroom and she sped up her shower.

When she got out she checked the caller ID to see it was Mary Ann. Her best friend who was back in New York. She redialed the number as she towel dried her hair.

"Hey doll face," her perky voice said.

"Hey what's up?" She asked, pulling her back into a ponytail as he kept the phone between her shoulder and ear.

"Just calling to make sure you got in okay," she said and Ev frowned.

"I got here two days ago," Ev said.

"You said you were getting there on Friday," Mary Ann said incredulously.

"It's Saturday," she replied, shaking her head with a grin.

"I must have had way too much to drink last night," she said and Ev laughed," Although I went home with a super hottie and he gave me his number. I might just call it, but I don't do the whole relationship thing. On the other hand he was really good in the sack."

"I see you found your new booty call," Ev said, swiping on mascara and eyeliner.

"Ooh good call, babe," she replied,"
Now what about you. Is Beacon Hills a beacon for hotties?"

"I haven't done much mingling since I got here,"she replied and went over to closet. She pulled out a pair of dark wash skinny jeans and an oversized maroon sweater.

"Well do some mingling," Mary Ann scolded," Get your fine ass a man friend and get laid."

"Sure,"she replied sarcastically," I'll jump right on it."

"No you need to jump right on some guys di-"

"Don't you have work to get too!" Ev said, stopping her form finishing her sentence.

"Oh shit!" Mary yelled," I'll talk to you later babe."

The line went dead and Ev rolled her eyes. Smiling, she tossed her phone into her purse and got dressed.

She pulled on a pair of brown riding boots, grabbed her purse and hurried downstairs.

Pulling her car keys from her purse she called back,"Dad I'm heading to the office. "

"I have some house calls to make so I'll be there in a few hours."

She closed he door behind her and unlocked her SUV. In no time she was heading down the road, humming along to the song on the radio and tapping aimlessly to the beat.

She stopped at a red light and something caught her eye in the bushes at the side of the road. She squinted and examined it to be a foot. She parked her car and got out. She ran over closer.

"Excuse me," she called out," Are you alright?"

The guy who was behind her got out of his car as well," Is someone out there?"

She began to push back the foliage so she could see the rest of the person and she let out a horrified scream as she looked at half of a body.

The guy came barreling over and saw what she was looking at,"Oh my God. I'm gonna call the cops."

He was kind enough to lead her away from the scene.

"Are you alright?" he asked her as she leaned against her car.

"Just really freaked out," she said as the guy dialed the number.

She knew no way was she ever going to forget about this.

"I'm Chris Argent," he said and began to dial the number.

"Ev Deaton," she said with a slight nod.

"Dr. Deaton's little girl?" He asked and she nodded.

"You know my dad?"

"An old friend," he replied just as the operator answered," yes I'd like to report a body."

He said it in such a calm voice that it made her want to pull herself together.

The cops were examining the scene as she talked to a one of them. The sheriff car pulled up and she sighed in relief at the familiar face of Sheriff Stilinski. She used to babysit his overly hyperactive yet undeniably charming son, Stiles and his best friend, Scott.

"I'll take it from here deputy," the sheriff said an they embraced in a hug,"I'm so sorry this had to happen just as you got back in town Ev."

"I'm fine Mr. Stilinski," she said with a small smile," it's just it's not every day you see half of a body."

"No, it's not," he said, running a hand over his face, "Ev, did you see anything? Anyone suspicious?"

"No,"she said, shaking her head," I was driving and I saw the foot. I thought someone might need help so I went over there and, well, you know the rest."

"You want me to call your father?" He asked.

"No," she said quickly," he's already worried about me twenty four seven."

"Alright, but if he ask I won't lie,"he said sternly.

"Wouldn't ask it of you," she replied and gave him a small smile," Speaking of fatherhood. How's Stiles?"

"Uh, well, he's still driving me crazy if that's what you mean," he said and ran a hand over his neck," that kids going to run me into an early grave."

"Tell him I miss him and to stop by the vets office of he wants to see me. "

"You know that kid had the biggest crush on you."

"I was not aware," she said with a laugh," but that would explain most of his behavior. What about Scott?"

"Still partners in crime."

"Good," she said," now stop worrying about me and go do your job mr sheriff."

"We'll you're free to go," he said with a smile,"along with that other guy. You know his name?"

"Chris Argent," she said over shoulder and got into her car. She took a shaky breath and turned on the engine. Carefully she drove past the road block and made sure to look straight ahead all the way to the office. No way she as taking the risk of finding the other half of that body.

Ev walked across the parking lot and pulled out her masters key. She unlocked the door and flipped the closed sign to open.

A few various animal noises greeted her as she laid out food for all of them in the back room and did various chores.

The door chimed a few hours later and she went to see who it was. Her face broke out in a grin when she saw Stiles and Scott.

"Oh my God!"she squealed and ran to embrace both of them.

"Look at you too you're all grown up," she said, her sentimental side taking over," you're like sixteen now, right?"

"Yup and you. You look great,"Stiles said awkwardly and she laughed.

"Thanks," she said and turned to Scott," I heard you work here now."

"Yeah you're Dad's the best," he said," as soon as you left he gave me a job."

"Let me guess. Cleaning out various animal crap," she said with a smile.

"Exactly," he replied.

"Hate to break it to you but you still get the grunt work kid," she replied and handed him the broom shed been holding.

He happily took it and went to work.

"So how long you plan on being in town?" Stiles asked.

"A few years," she said,"I don't want to be in Beacon Hills all my life but I'd figure it'd be good stay here for at least a bit. "

"Cool," he said," I don't still need a babysitter but-"

"Oh I disagree on that one," she said," you may be taller than me now but I know you're still that goofy kid who got his head stuck in the bucket. "

"That's because he did that a few weeks ago too," Scott called from out back and she laughed.

"Thanks dude," Stiles called back," Anyways I'm glad your back. I missed you. "

"I missed you too," she said," I gotta get bak to work but come by anytime."

"Oh I'll be back," he said, backing out but her ran into the door and she held back a fit of laughter.

She made her way back to the examination room where she was waiting for a sick labradoodles pain meds to kick in so she could put him back in his cage.

"So when do you guys get off winter break?" she called out to Scott in the back room.

"Tomorrow," he said.

"Are you ready?"

"Yeah,"he said, coming back out with a full trash bag," I'm gonna make first line in the lacrosse team."

"I remember my lacrosse team," she said," they were a bunch of jack asses. "

"Good to know things don't change with time " he said with a smile," but I'm not like the rest of them."

"I know," she said," you and Stiles are sweet kids."

"Well you helped us turn out like that," he said and she smiled tenderly.

"Enough emotional crap. Go take out the trash before you stink up this whole building," she said and carefully picked up the dog off the table. He laughs and did as he was told.

She put the dog back in his cage and the door chimed again.

"Ev, it's me," her father called out and she shed her white lab coat and hung it on it's hook.

"Alright," she calls back and grabbed her personal belongings.

She walked out into the main room to greet her father," I'm gonna head home and run. Scott's here and he's taking out the trash. I'll see you back at home."

"Be careful," he said as she left.

Ev looked at the outskirts of the woods behind her house and took off running. She didn't think as her feet pounded on the terrain.

It wasn't until she was God knew how far from her house that she realized that a body had been found in these very woods. She was stupid. Really stupid. She went running alone in the woods. That's asking to be the next victim.

She had pepper spray on her but of that wouldn't do much good against an axe welding maniac.

Regardless she kept running and checked her counter. She run five miles and she had no clue where she was.

"What the hell is wrong with me?" She asked aloud and held up her phone for signal. Of course there was none.

Great, now she was lost in the woods, with no phone, and no dignity. She kept running ,searching for a signal and she stopped when she saw a house.

Slowly, she walked towards it and she frowned. She knew this place. A kid she'd gone to middle school with whole family had died in a fire here. She couldn't remember his name.

It certainly looked like there had been a fire. The poor house, once probably beautiful looked sad now.

Against her better judgement she began to walk towards it. She made her way up the porch steps and stopped at the door. Slowly, she pushed it open and stopped inside. The floor boards creaked and groaned under her weight as she explored. She stepped into what was most likely a living room at one time but was now nothing more but an empty room with some burnt furnishings.

"What the hell are you doing here?" a disembodied voice said and she turned quickly to see a man standing in the threshold.

"Why the hell are you sneaking up on me?" she yelled, terrified as she looked him over. He was tall with fair skin. He had green eyes and jet black hair with a five o clock shadow on his chiseled jaw. Even though he was wearing a loose leather jacket she could tell he was buff and also very attractive. If she was going to be killed at least her attacker was cute.

"You're on private property," he replied coldly.

"I know," she said, crossing her arms and mimicking his stance," I'm lost and I don't have cell phone signal."

"Don't you know there was a murderer in these woods?" He asked, looking at her as if she were stupid.

"I'm the one who found half the body," she said," so yes I'm well aware. I'm not an idiot. "

"Yet you came running out here alone, got lost, came into an abandoned house, and willingly admitted to me ,a guy who could very well be the killer ,that you have no means of communication," he said simply.

She raised her eyebrows," Are you the killer?"

"No."

"Then stop bitching," she said and walked past him," I'll get off your property."

She walked out the door and she heard him following after her.

"You're lost," he called after her.

"Thanks for the update," she called over her shoulder.

"You don't have any way to get home."

"I'll go back the same way I came. "

"Would you just stop?" he asked, obviously frustrated and she did and turned to him.

"What?"she asked with a shrug.

"There's someone dangerous out there and you're wandering the woods lost. Please just let me take you home," he said.

"How do I know you're not dangerous?" she asked, crossing her arms.

"I'm not a danger to you," he replied simply.

She stood staring him down and weighing her options.

"Do you always offer rides to lost woman who come into your house?"

"Do you always get lost and come into abandoned houses?"

"Fair enough," she replied and thought about the pepper spray in her pocket," Alright fine."

"My car's out back," he said and walked off, expecting her to follow which she did.

As promised a sleek black sports car sat parked out back. This guy just kept getting better or worse depending how you looked at it.

He opened the passenger door for her and she got in. She looked around the car and before he could get in she quickly checked the glove compartment for weapons. Finding none she relaxed just a bit and buckled up.

He got into the driver seat and the car roared to life when he started the engine.

He surged off," Where do you want to be dropped off?"

"You know where the local vets office is?"

He nodded.

"There's fine," she said quietly.

"I could just take you to your house but my guess is you don't want me to know where you live," he said and she smirked.

"Someone's street smart."

"And someone's a smart ass," he retorted.

She scoffed,"If I had a dollar for every time someone told me that."

"In the short time I've gotten to know you my guess would be that you would be very wealthy."

"Guess I'm not the only smart ass around here."

He smiled a lighting quick smile and she made her mind up that she liked that smile.

"Derek Hale," he said," my name's Derek Hale. "

That was the name she was trying to remember earlier! She couldn't believe she didn't put two and two together. It was his family that burned down in that house.

"Ev," she replied," we went to middle school together."

"Evangeline Deaton," he said and she rolled her eyes ," I remember. Your Dad's the local vet."

"No one calls me Evangeline," she said simply.

"Okay," he said," Ev. "

He liked the sound of her name in his voice.

"Okay," she mimicked," Derek. "

Judging by another one of his flash smiles, he liked the way she said his name.

"Are you always this amusing?" He asked, his eyes in the road.

"I'd like to think so," she said," Are you always this abrasive?"

"I'd like to think so," he said and she smiled.

"Why Ev?" he asked suddenly," Why not Eva?"

"Because every Evangeline wants to be called Eva," she lied the same lie she'd said a thousand times before," Ev is different and it sounds bad ass."

"That's not the only reason," he challenged her.

She felt compelled to tell him the truth," My dead mother used to call me Eva."

"I'm sorry," he said sadly.

"Everyone is," she said," whenever I tell someone they're always sorry like it would mean anything to me. "

"I get that," he said, his jaw tight,"People were really sorry when my family died. "

"But not the people you wanted to be sorry," she said, reading his mind.

He didn't answer and she knew he was right.

"Why did you get in this car?"

"I figured I had four options," she said," I go back into the woods, get even more lost and die of dehydration or the murderer finds me and offs me or I go with you and you kill me or I go with you and you actually take me home."

"What made you decide that I would be the most appealing death?"

She decided to take a risk,"You're attractive."

This time his smile lasted more than a second.

They pulled into the parking lot of the vet's office and she felt a pang of disappointment.

She unbuckled her seat belt and began to get out but she turned back to him.

"Thanks," she said and he nodded," See you around?"

He seemed to be thinking it over," I wouldn't mind if you got lost on my property again."

She smiled and got out of the car. She didn't need to turn around to know he was watching her because there were two things she knew. He was hooked on her as much as she was on him.