Gwen stays true to her word about rescuing me and as the house goes quiet with everyone in bed, her message comes through. I dress quickly and in many well practiced moves manage to get outside the house. Waiting the mandatory thirty seconds, no lights and no movement come from inside and sneaking down low along the fence line I'm two houses down and in the clear. Gwen's car is waiting on the corner and I slip inside while holding my breath.

"Why are we sneaking out of our houses like sixteen year olds?" She asks, shaking her head at the ridiculousness of it all.

"I know right. Do you think everyone has it this bad or just us?"

She snorts. "Totally just us. I'd love human parents with no super hearing or the nose of a blood hound."

"Well technically you also have the nose of a bloodhound."

"What ever."

We end up at a bar that's safely on the other side of our hometown. Few shifters come here at the best of times and it's always been one of our favourite hideouts. The carpark isn't very full, not that we expected it to be at this time of the night on a Thursday. Luckily Thursday was open band night and closing time would be whenever everyone left.

"Well you two are a sight for sore eyes!" Charlie the old bartender greeted as he wiped down the bar. There was something strange about him but neither of us had ever worked out what and he would just laugh if we asked. "What will it be?"

"It's our first night back in town, how about a couple of shots of your finest tequila to celebrate?" Gwen smiled at the giant figure and his rough features softened as he shook his head.

"You never change." He did as we asked and dismissed us as we went to pay. "First round is on the house."

"Thanks Charlie!" I quickly take my shot and Gwen gags as she has hers.

"Ok, no more for me. I gotta drive later." She declares.

"I'll take another though." We order a couple of drinks and head to the back, where she starts to tell me about what's been going on in her life. I would share about mine, but nothing ever happens.

"Oh shit. Look who just walked in, no don't, he might see us!" Gwen ducks down low and hides behind the empty glasses on our table. Not that it can be counted as hiding since you can still her.

Casually I glance over my shoulder, and really wasn't expecting Anders to be heading over to the bar. Where was his little witch?

Not that I cared.

"Why is he here?"

"I have no idea!" Gwen answers making me realise I had asked out loud.

Charlie seems to know him, which shouldn't be surprising since Charlie knows everyone and I don't think that's even an exaggeration. Yet it does surprise me. This our home town, how did he know our favourite bartender and why did they shake hands and act like long lost friends. Charlie rarely did that with supernaturals. We had seem him scare away vampires, make wolves whimper and the things that gave off a supernatural vibe that we didn't know about steered clear of him, never staying around for long. Mr Anders just got a lot more interesting.

"Don't." Gwen warned.

Did I just say something out loud again?

"What?" I ask innocently, finishing off my drink. "Another drink?"

"No I'm good. Sam, don't."

"I'm just going to order another drink." It sounds sincere enough even I almost belive it.

Going back up to the bar, I pretend to be interested in watching the last band pack up the gear on the stage. For once Charlie doesn't come right over to serve me, too engrossed in whatever he and the witch protector are talking about. If I had the werewolf hearing, I could probably eavesdrop and so I try the next best thing and subtly take a few steps closer as if I intended to sit on the closest bar stool. And I still can't hear them.

"What are you having?" The other bartender asks, and I point to the vodka.

"Just that and juice. Thanks."

I look over to Gwen who is still giving me the glare that tells me she doesn't approve and as my drink is placed in front of me, I pay and get up - turning to head back to the table as Aidan looks my way. We make eye contact so it's not like I can even pretend I hadn't seen him. I could act as if I don't know who is, maybe smile and keep walking, but I've had too much to drink to do that. There is just something about him that I can't say no about, even if a tiny logical part of my brain is screaming at me to just walk away.

"Hey. I know you. Andrew something right?" He frowns, clearly trying to remember if he does in fact know me before glancing at Charlie who in typical Charlie fashion stays silent and shrugs. "I was at the pack, ah family meeting."

"You were?" I see it then. That odd flare of his nostrils, the tilt of his head; that unnerving wolf gaze as the beast takes over and weaker creatures would submit or run away.

Too bad it doesn't work on me.

"Yeah. You were with the red head." I smile at Charlie, leaning in close. "She's a witch you know."

Charlie huffs. "So I've heard."

"What are you doing here, especially when there is a curfew in place?" Anders asks, sounding much to like my father for my liking.

"Keeping Charlie in business. You?"

"Is that the alpha's daughter you're with?" He looks her way and once again she ducks down behind the empties, shooing away the poor girl trying to clean our table.

"Her? No. I just met her outside and she kept buying me drinks."

"Oh Sammy." Charlie leaves us and Anders shakes his head seemingly amused which doesn't seem very in character of him.

"There is a curfew in place you know." Ah there we go, back to that stupidly good looking frown that he seems to have on his face whenever I've seen him so far.

"So you keep saying." I shrug, and start to head back to the table except a very firm hand is now wrapped around my arm. "Hey! Let go!"

I freeze, my first instinct is to attack yet I don't move. There is something powerful in his grip that kind of excited me. If he did let go I'd probably beg him to grab me again, and none of that made sense. Maybe it just had been too long since any guy had got my attention in this way. Maybe it was because it suddenly seemed very hot in this bar.

Maybe I just had too much to drink.

"It's not safe, especially for someone like you to be out so late at night."

"Someone like me?" The way he says it snaps me out of what ever trance he had me in and going to pull my arm free it doesn't budge, not a bit. "Let. Go."

He doesn't let go. Instead he pulls me back slightly and I fall against the bar beside him, my drink spilling over the edges which I really don't appreciate. He moves swiftly, faster than I'm familiar with shifters moving as he now blocks me in. This pisses me off. This really, really pisses me off.

But it kinda turns me on a bit too and that only grows as he leans in even closer to whisper in my ear. Oh gods, he is much to attractive for me to around right now. He smells like leather and something I am going to regret waking up next to in the morning. I can see every mark on his face now; a scar over his right eyebrow, the tiny stubs of hair coming through on his jawline...

Did his nose just touch my cheek?

"I've heard all about you Samara Franklin." He talks softly, yet firmly; like it should be a threat only it really isn't coming across that way.

I probably should be more focused on how he knew my name, but I kind of ignore that as his cheek most definitely just touched mine. His skin is rough, and that smell I know shifters have isn't hitting me at all. Now that's weird. Slowly he moves back so we're face to face once more. I study him as he studies me, my eyes drifting to his lips which are much closer than I realise to mine.

What would he taste like?

Without thinking I lick my lips, our eyes locked and I am fascinated by the what lurks there. His eyes are dark, not quite black but being so close I can tell they're blue, navy; like the night sky when the stars start to disappear. There is something there in his gaze. Something that tells even my dull senses that he isn't human - obviously, but something else and it's so familiar to me because I see it in the mirror all the time.

"You're not a shifter." He whispers now and well if there was ever a mood killer, that was it.

Adrenaline is racing through my body, and never have I ever felt so aware of another person before. I should throw this drink in his face. Slap him perhaps. I doubt anything I could send his way would actually hurt him though, but I think it would fun to try. Never one to waste good alcohol I knock back my drink instead and glare at him.

"And you're a shifter who plays Fido to a witch. Somehow I don't think you have the right to judge me." I snap back, but it was a lame response and he barely seems to acknowledge I've even spoken.

Jerk, one. Sam, none.

Turning around to put my glass back on the bar, I don't be shy and happily rub myself against him as I moved. It was like a brick wall behind me and despite everything, gods I want to see under that shirt. I make sure to curve my back just enough to rub against all of him and there was no denying - wolf hearing or not - he sucked in his breath as I did. Then there was nothing and turning back, I barely saw him walk out the door.

Maybe it was Jerk none after all.

"What the hell was that?" Gwen quickly took his place while I felt like I might actually pass out. Since when did it get so hot in here?

"No idea. Bloody wolves, always having to show off how much stronger you lot are." I muttered, subconsciously running my hand back through my hair. "We should probably go. Nothing good happens after midnight right?"

"That looked intense. I hope you didn't piss him off too much Sam, Dad will kill you if they leave without helping us!" She actually looked worried now.

Well she was right about one thing. It was pretty fucking intense.

"Probably better off without them anyway." I mumble.

We said our goodbye to Charlie and headed home only as I made it back to my room, our home phone rang. After changing into my pajamas I snuck to the top of the stairs to see who was calling. It was nearly two o'clock so it couldn't be good. Were Gwen and I busted or maybe her worries been right and I'd just sent the packs helpers away?

"Go back to bed." Mum ordered from behind, sniffing loudly as she stopped next to me. "You went out?"

"Just for a little catch up with Gwen." I tell her, looking back towards Dad.

"Of course you did." She sighs. "Bed. Now."

"Mum I'm-"

"Now!"

"Fine." I sulk back to my room like the adult I am and check my phone, wondering if something was going on that Gwen would have texted me about. If was involving me and being in trouble, Dad would have come and blasted me already yet I listened as the pair of them went back into their room. Everything was quiet once more and my phone stayed silent too.

Crisis averted?

I doubt I'm that lucky.