Hi people,

Gagh! Sorry about the lateness of this chapter. Life is hectic but c'est la vie.

I've recently just found out that in some countries your junior cert /gpse's are not based on everything you learned in the three years, and that in some countries you just get an exam on a single term WE GET THAT ANYWAY! And that my school is the only school in the region that has taster years which means we do fourteen subjects where usually there's only ten! Sickener...

Okay enough ranting, here's chapter four.

And here's where things become a little more interesting, I've rushed it a bit partly due to the fact that if I don't write it and post it quickly, I never will. Well, that and most of it was written at two in the morn which may be when my mind is most imaginative but not the most accurate.

My review replies are at the bottom. Thanks to everyone who reviewed this time. Every time I see Review Alert in my inbox, I have a frickin' mental attack!

So R&R!

*I own no character from the Darkest Powers or Women of the Other World these characters belong to Kelley Armstrong...except in my dreams...where we have tea parties...*

I rolled over expecting Derek but all I found was empty sheets, I sighed, he was probably gone for his jog by now. I sat up, stretching and scanned my room.

The window, a little neon yellow post it from my desk was now stuck on the pane, almost transparent with the Floridian summer sun pouring through the glass, giving a violent contrast with the sharp blank letters making it easy to read even from across the room.

"Good as new. D"

I crossed the few feet and eyed the window suspiciously; I grabbed the handles and pushed it open. Not even the usual squeak. Damn.

I pulled the little sticky tab from the glass, crumpling it in my hand, and tossing it in my waste bin.

Grabbing a change of clothes on my way out, I padded down the hall to the bathroom, running smack bang into Simon on his way out.

"You," I said prodding him in the chest.

"Ouch, hey that hurt!

"Really Simon, Aunt Lauren? You told Aunt Lauren to look for Derek in my room?"

He backed up the hall, eyes widening in mock horror. "Chloe! Asking me to lie? Never."

I rolled my eyes and closed the door behind me.

As I came down the stairs, the kitchen seemed suspiciously quiet, and when I turned the corner, I saw why. Lucas sat at the table, coffee in hand, scanning the morning paper, politely ignoring Simon and Tori's blatant stares from across the table.

I busied myself making my breakfast, but when that was done I had nothing left to do but sit at the table and eat my fruit loops. The squeak of the chair against the tiles as I pulled it out caused me to cringe.

The heavy silence smothered any idea of talk, the sounds of the crunch of my cereal, the soft whoosh as Lucas flipped a page, a slurp as Tori took a swig of coffee and the soft scratch, scratch, scratch of Simon's pencil on paper as he drew, the silence amplifying them, making them unnaturally loud.

After about five minutes of listening to the crunch, the slurp, and the scratch, scratch, scratching sounds, I decided I couldn't take much more of this, where was Kit and Derek?

The slam of the front door answered my question, Derek barrelled into the kitchen grabbing Lucas by the throat and slamming him into fridge. "A Cabal, a god damned Cabal"

"Derek," I shouted, my chair toppling backwards, as I stood.

Derek's lips were pulled back in a snarl, the disgust on his face surprising me, stopping me in my tracks.

"Derek." Kit stormed into the kitchen, red faced with exertion, obviously just having run some distance. "Let go of Lucas, now." His voice was dangerously low, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

I took a step towards Derek, Lucas gripped Derek's wrist in the attempt to lift himself up, alleviating the pressure to his throat, his feet dangling half a foot off the ground.

Derek's growl reverberated through the room. "Derek, let me explain." The edge of panic making Kit's voice catch. As rested my hand on Derek's arm, his eyes met mine.

The pull out couch was back in place, nothing but Lucas's overnight bag indicating anyone had slept here.

I took my place on the couch beside Derek, Lucas flipped out his phone took a quick glance at it and replaced it again.

He paused before he started, running a hand over his face, for the briefest moment lines of exhaustion and exasperation appeared on his face but with a clearing of the throat they where gone, replaced by his ever polite, neutral expression, leaving me wondering if I had simply imagined it.

"What I'm guessing you're referring to," he said taking off his glasses and wiping them on the hem of his shirt. "Is that my father is Benicio Cortez, the CEO of the Cortez Cable, stationed in Miami. I came here when he informed me that you were currently taking up residence at this address. I wished to discuss a few things with Kit about your," he paused examining his glasses lenses for dirt.

"Particular situation involving the Edison Group; a project the Interracial Council is particularly interested in putting a stand still on. Unfortunately due to the fact that the St. Cloud Cable is supporting them, we have been having a difficulty locating a person directly involved with the project. They're meticulously thorough."

The silence in the room that followed seemed deafening. Thousands of questions ran through my mind, but I was too stunned to voice anything. Derek was so stiff beside, he seemed be carved of stone.

A buzzing sound from Lucas's phone broke the silence, seeming to stir everyone from their shock.

He pulled his phone from his pocket, nodding as he read the message. He stood clearing his throat, a tired smile playing on his lips. "Seems we're to have some company, there is some council members who are particularly interested in meeting you."

"You knew about this?" My eyes snapped to Derek, but it wasn't Lucas he was facing but Kit. Kit sighed and ran his hand through his hair.

"Yes, Derek I knew. But at trust me on this."

"Who the hell is coming?" Tori cut in, having regained her voice, her arms crossed tightly across her chest.

Lucas turned to her, and reviewed her pensively, a slight smile playing at the corner of his mouth as he regarded her. "Two werewolves, along with my wife Paige and stepdaughter Savannah. They should be here soon. I'll cook pancakes" And with that he left the room.

Leaving us to uncomfortable silence. What had we just gotten ourselves into?

RayRayluvs2read: Lol...Thanks so much. There's always one review that gives me such a goofy smile, that my friends become genuinely scared and this was one such review.

.Love13: Thanks. Yeah, I know, it's such a pain. Have you read her novellas? They are brilliant, just the thing to keep your spirits up when you're waiting for the next book to come out...lol...I love the things so darn much

Twilight Gleek: Yay! I'm a favourite! Thanks. Ahhhh, Derek and Chloe...sigh...all the fluff and drama. It's addictive.

derekandchloe4ever: They're just that darn good! As I said above NOVELLAS! Those things are just brilliant!...she's doing one at the moment on what Tori ans Simon did when Chloe and Derek left them in The Awakening...lol...they will...eventually...But it's Derek and Chloe would you expect anything less?

suzi1811: I know! Personally I love him! For me he's up there with Clay, I think its Benicio, he gives Lucas just that more pizzazz. I didn't even know Derek was going to jump out the window! Because really, it might be okay for Edward Cullen to hide in a wardrobe but Derek wouldn't do that! Like that would have to be a pretty darn big wardrobe for him to fit in! And can you see him trying to hide under the bed? Really, the window was the only opinion...lol...I'm glad you liked it.

awesomegal: I know I agree with you. But I'm just letting the story flow it's course, it's alls safe a lovey dovey at the moment but as you can see things are just getting interesting. And me writing forte is sorta lovey dovey and I love to write and read it, but I agree with you I need to get a little outside my comfort zone. Hope this chapter is okay.

Oh and I've a lil' survey on my profile with my ideas for my next story, so check that out and vote, vote, vote! If you particularly like two or more PM me, and I'll see what I can do, so all is not lost!

Oh and a special shout out to my new unofficial Beta Jen!...Thanks...awsomsauce?...I like it...I like it alot