A/N:

Updated and tweaked version. Fund some bits I wasn’t happy with, so I fixed ‘em.

Figured writing something quick and small to give my other current project a breather would be a good idea. Seems it wasn’t venturing too far though, given that the literary genres are extremely similar. Hey, what can I say? I like modern supernatural fiction.

Anyway, I finished Kelley Armstrong’s most recent publication of the ‘Darkest Powers’ series – The Awakening – and it just lit me up inside when I read that our favorite werewolf pack was mentioned. Brief, but wonderful all the same.

The idea of combining this current trilogy with characters of the magnificently suspenseful, funny and frightening ‘Otherworld’ series just got my fingers itching to create such a meeting in fanfic form.

It takes place roughly 2 months after The Awakening ends I guess.

Looking for Answers: Chapter 1

“We’re here. Get up.” Derek said gruffly to Simon and thumped the back of the upright seat in front of him hard enough to make it rock.

The bus had barely rolled to a stop before Derek sprung to his feet.

Without waiting to see if his order and forceful awakening method had actually roused his brother from a travel induced doze, Derek sidestepped into the sticky isle and stomped quickly to the head of the bus, eager to get away from the crowd and breathe in anything but stale, tainted air.

Of course it wasn’t Simon, nor the two female companions sitting behind him; Chloe and Tori, who caused this discomfort inside Derek. It was the overpowering stench of being around this many humans in a close proximity for such a long period of time.

And while he was definitely used to it – having spent the bulk of his sixteen years around humans – their scent, especially the scent of strangers, overwhelmed his werewolf nose.

Even though Derek didn’t mind being around them, the truth was humans made his skin itch with unreasoned frustration. Luckily he didn’t have to worry about getting that feeling when around his three teenage companions and long-term housemates, since, like him, they weren’t human either.

Chloe stuffed a worn paperback on1930’s film into her bag and slipped from her seat to follow Derek, tugging gently on Simon’s shirt sleeve to make sure he really was awake as she passed him by.

While Derek was more hell-bent on getting off than Chloe was, she seemed to be having a much easier time walking down the cramped isle. Which made sense, given the almost comedic oppositeness of their physiques.

Fifteen year-old Chloe was lithe and short – only reaching Derek’s chest, with freshly dyed flaming red hair which wisped over slim shoulders. Her pale face had a spattering of light freckles, which Chloe herself held responsible for adding to the unwanted cute-factor she’d been unable to shake since elementary school.

Derek on the other hand, could never be accused of such a pre-pubertal trait. Standing at just over six foot, Derek adorned messy black hair that usually curtained his acne dotted, expressionless face. The curves and contours of large sculpted muscles could easily be seen through his black t-shirt.

Since his werewolf genes had caused his developmental process to shift into overdrive a couple of short years ago, he’d reached physical manhood much quicker than he would have liked. The boy had shot up and filled out without being permitted to take a breath. And while it looked to be calming these days – greasy hair requiring less shampoo intervals, deodorant cans lowering to one per fortnight, spots clearing very slowly – he still wasn’t close to being out of the woods.

Chloe reached Derek’s broad back at the front of the bus as he waited impatiently for the driver to open the door so they could move. He was a balding and heavyset man, wearing a uniform shirt that probably hadn’t seen a washing machine in quite some time. He was too engrossed in skimming over the cell phone he’d been forced to neglect during the journey. When Derek coughed to get his attention, the man didn’t even look up, just raised a single finger, condescendingly telling him to wait like a good little passenger. The wolf in Derek wanted to challenge the driver, establish dominance, but after two long seconds of internal debate, the human side prevailed, so he bit back a growl and waited.

Chloe placed a dainty hand between Derek’s shoulder blades, hoping the small act would make him feel a little better, then removed it again just as quickly. She didn’t want to risk irritating him more either, since she knew Derek was extremely on edge, not because of the closed bus door, but because of where they were.

Bear Valley.

A small town in the state of New York that they’d all agreed to visit.

Well, Derek decided he wanted to come. Simon, Chloe and Tori volunteered to tag along for the experience when they heard his reasons.

“Come on.” Tori groaned exasperatedly from behind Chloe, who turned to see her friend raking her polished nails through close cropped silky black locks, eyes focused on the driver with disgust. “Let us out, old man.”

This time he did look up, and when he noticed the line that had formed, he begrudgingly pulled a leaver which caused the vehicle’s heavy door to hiss and slide aside.

Derek marched out. Chloe offered an insincere ‘thank you’ out of obligatory politeness.

Tori shot the driver an angry glare. Simon yawned and hopped off naturally to join the others.

When everyone else had shuffled out and scurried away to go about their own business, the four teens were left alone on the sidewalk.

“What are you guys going to do now?” Tori asked as she shrugged off her light jacket. “You guys?” Simon asked amusedly “So you’re not included in this group anymore, is that it?” He shielded his eyes against the harsh sun as he spoke.

“I mean, don’t get me wrong, I couldn’t care less if you want to take off, Tor. Makes no difference.”

Tori grinned. “My plan exactly.”

With that, she spun on her heal and began walking down the quiet street.

Derek rolled his eyes. “Let her go.”

Simon mumbled an agreement, but when Tori rounded the corner of a building, he swore under his breath and ran after her.

“I don’t even know why she wanted to come along.” Derek sighed.

Chloe stared after their two departed comrades then shrugged. “She wanted to go shopping.”

“Doesn’t look like that’s going to be easy.” He replied.

True, Bear Valley didn’t seem to have a lot going on. A few scatterings of people here and there could be seen shuffling along the sidewalks, coming in and out of shops and buildings, but it was an undeniably small and quiet town, especially on a Sunday. For Derek, this was a good thing.

Chloe shifted her bag from one shoulder to the other and turned back to face Derek. He was hunched over, head bent, his nostrils flaring.

“What are you–?” Chloe stopped short and smiled. “Sniffing someone out?”

He grunted and took another few steps forward, inhaling deeply.

“Picking up anything?” Chloe asked. When Derek didn’t answer, she sighed.

“At least fill me in on who you’re looking for. You were pretty vague back at the house.”

Derek straightened and brushed his hair back.

“I want to know more about my kind. A pack resides somewhere close to here.” He paused and looked down at her, frowning.

“You didn’t have to come.”

Chloe raised an eyebrow. “Just me?”

“All of you. I don’t mind or anything. But it might be kind of boring for you here. I’m still hazy on why you all volunteered to join me in the first place.”

Chloe laughed lightly. “It meant we’d have something to do for a change.”

Derek snorted and looked away again, taking in his surroundings.

“You might have better luck if you walk around.” Chloe offered.

“Already got the scent.”

Chloe blinked. “Really?”

“It’s faint. Old. But a werewolf was definitely around here. Maybe early this morning. Could even be yesterday.”

“And what, you thought you’d pop up here, take a stab in the dark and hope you just so happen to run into one of your buddies?”

“Yes.”

“Do you at least know what they look like?”

“No.”

“Do you even know their names?”

“Is this an interrogation?” he asked, smirking.

“Just trying to help.”

“Well, try harder.”

Chloe stretched her arms over her head, working out the kinks brought on by the particularly uncomfortable bus seats.

“At least,” she sighed and let her hands drop. “You can smell when they’re around.”

She paused and added. “But they’re not here now, are they?”

He shook his head, back still facing her.

“Well, couldn’t you just trace the scent back to where they live? You said it was close, right?”

Derek twisted to face her. “Stepping directly onto their property might get me killed on sight. Dad told me before that the American pack alpha was a nice guy. Abides by pack law, but makes exceptions, and doesn’t murder without cause. But he still has to defend the territory from mutts. And that’s what I am.” He shrugged. “Figured this would have been fine though. The town isn’t his property. I’m pretty safe.”

“How safe is pretty safe?”

Another shrug.

Chloe threw up her arms and sighed.

Simon jogged back and slowed to a stop by Chloe’s side.

“Sorted?” she asked.

Simon flashed her a grin and a thumbs-up. “She’s meeting us back here in two hours. Wants to do her own thing until then. I was only too happy to allow it.”

A low grumble sounded from Simon’s stomach. He laughed and patted the front of his shirt.

“Hungry?” Derek asked.

“We can go to a restaurant or something if you like.” Chloe suggested. “I’m sure there’s one somewhere nearby.”

“Are you guys hungry?” Simon asked sheepishly, already knowing the answer.

Chloe and Derek looked at each other, then back to Simon, and shook their heads.

“We ate on the bus.” Derek said.

“I know.” Simon laughed. “The crumpling of candy bar wrappers and potato chip bags lasted almost the whole trip.”

“Whose fault is it that you couldn’t eat?” Chloe asked while poking the boy in the ribs. He batted away her hands playfully and chuckled.

“Hey, in my defence, I did prepare food for myself this morning.” He scratched his neck in mock shame. “Just forgot to pack it is all.”

“Smart. So now we have to cater for you.”

“I’m not a baby.”

“No. You’re diabetic. So we should probably get some food into you before you’re blood sugar drops any lower.”

Simon held up a hand. “No need. I’ll find a store, grab enough to keep me going till we get back tonight, and meet you guys in a few minutes. Cool?”

Chloe smiled and waved briefly as he strolled away again, then turned back to Derek.

This time, a figure beyond him caught her eye, standing about twenty feet away, staring out and the nonexistent traffic.

The man looked to be in his thirties. He was slouching, hands stuffed in the pockets of baggy jeans, plaid shirt only half tucked in. Sandy brown hair had been slicked back with gel and a comb.

At first, Chloe didn’t think too much of it, besides being simply curious as to how she hadn’t noticed him come by.

Then, before she had a chance to look away, the man turned his head lazily, and locked gazes with her. He appeared surprised to say the least.

Chloe coughed nervously and averted her eyes, but out of her peripheral vision, could see that the man was now making his way over.

What could he possibly want? Directions? The time? To confront her for rudely staring?

As he approached, Chloe noticed something very disturbing about this man’s appearance which had been previously been hidden, and automatically took a step back.

Though he flashed a very amused grin, his gray eyes were cold. Or rather, one of his eyes. The other was missing.

The entire left side of his face had been torn away, leaving uneven frays of skin and flesh that had been ripped apart, reaching down to his neck and dipping below the torn collar of his shirt.

Chloe swallowed a lump in her throat and darted her eyes away. Derek noticed her unease and frowned.

“What’s up with you?” he asked.

She opened her mouth to answer, to tell him that it was a ghost, but the man quickly stepped directly in front of her, blocking her view of Derek.

Chloe flinched but this time held her ground. Ghosts can’t do anything to you. They can taunt and appear unpleasant, but are unable to make any physical contact.

Chloe mutters a quick apology and tries to slip by, but the man blocks her way. She pushes through him as if he was a cloud of coloured steam, but he reappeared and steps in front of her again.

With growing frustration, Chloe decided that she may have to forgo politeness this time.

She straightened herself to her full height, looked the man square in the eye, ready to firmly ask him to stay away from her––

“Hey.” The man whispered and leaned into Chloe’s ear. “Want to see a trick?”

He reached up to his face with a mangled finger that bent awkwardly on a crooked wrist, and began slowly peeling back what was left intact if his pale skin, grinning throughout the entire process.

Chloe gasped in disgust and stumbled backward, accidentally hooking one heel on the other.

Derek grabbed her by the shoulders and hauled her upright again, then forced her to face him.

“What’s wrong? Chloe?”

The ghost poked his head right through Derek’s chest and cackled, blood streaked saliva stringing between his teeth. He cocked his head to the side, displaying to Chloe once again which portion of his face ad been damaged during his untimely death.

This time, Chloe caught a glimpse of something underneath, something white – something wriggling. Maggots.

She gritted her teeth and slammed her eyes shut.

“Chlo.” Derek’s normally harsh tome turned much more soothing now. He brushed a strand of hair from her eye. “It can’t hurt you. You know that. Try not to pay attention.”

Chloe wanted to yell at him that ignoring them is easier in theory, and maybe offer to trade jobs with him – since growing a fluffy coat seemed so much better than being able to see, talk to and raise the dead. Not to mention less grotesque.

Suddenly, Derek stiffened. Chloe felt his muscles tighten, his body go rigid.

She peeked through slit eyelids to see Derek – and only Derek – with his head raised to the air again, sniffing vigorously.

“Smell s-somebody?” she stuttered.

Derek started and looked down, almost as if he’s forgotten she was there in his hands at all.

He shook his head slowly, throwing her a reassuring half smile. “Thought I did.”

He loosened his grip a little and lowered his voice to a whisper before continuing. Even though he had no idea where this alleged ghost was at the moment, he didn’t want it listening in on what he was saying. As far as Derek was concerned, if he wasn’t talking to a specific person, dead or alive, they should stay the hell out of his business. Unfortunately from what he’d experienced and heard from Chloe, some less mannerly ghosts will do anything they can to step out of line.

“Hey, just ignore it till Simon gets back, okay? Then we can leave.”

Chloe gives a brief nod and slips from his arms, mumbling a thanks.

The moment she was out of his warm protection, the ghost reappeared behind her, mostly intact.

“You’re not much fun, kid. How about you do pay attention this time?” He taunted.

Chloe rolled her eyes and stomped off to a nearby shop window to gaze inside and pretend like something of extreme interest lay elsewhere besides his body. Of course she was trying so hard to look like she was concentrating on this single act of serious window shopping that she couldn’t even see what was on display.

The man followed her right over.

He threw a few clipped comments her way, each one more rude and less patient as the last.

But when he couldn’t so much as get a rise out of the girl, he moved onto what had shaken a reaction out of her last time.

Chloe’s eyes remained glued to the freshly cleaned glass, unblinking and hard, confident that the ghost would tire of her and move on – that is until he thrust his mangled arm right in front of her nose.

The bones had been crushed, and were protruding from the skin in three different places. The broken forearm swung limply from side to side like a pendulum in front of Chloe’s wide eyes. It was barely still attached.

Chloe’s shoulders jerked as she swallowed back a rise of bile.

The ghost boomed a laugh. Mission accomplished.

Chloe spins and begins to walk somewhere else, but that didn’t bother the ghost whatsoever. He copied her step for step.

“Where do you think you’re go––?” the ghost stopped short when he spotted a fourth party. A woman who’d just turned a corner and seen them.

Chloe’s attention had been caught as well, by the stranger’s barely contained sound of disgust.

It was a quiet gasp, which now attempted to be covered up by a meek cough, but Chloe was fairly sure what she’s heard was not the ritual characteristic of a flu symptom.

Derek too was looking to the left toward this woman. His brows were furrowing in suspicion at her. He assumed her vocal gesture was meant for Chloe, having been looking directly at her not three seconds ago.

The woman was an average height with rich brown, almost dark red hair, which she kept clipped back neatly. She was admittedly in good shape and attractive, but below the subtle make-up, her age could be taken for mid-thirties.

She wore a sleeveless white blouse and a brown skirt which ended mid-thigh.

After taking in the entirely of this stranger, Derek decided that even though she didn’t seem like much of a threat, and even though she’s a decent enough distance away for them to feel perfectly safe, he’d go stand by Chloe just in case. After all, she had been looking strangely at the girl. It was a momentary look, but Derek had caught it.

As he made his way over to his friend, the crippled ghost decides to investigate the newcomer.

Chloe allows her eyes to watch his movements as he drags himself on his one good leg – the left one suffering the same horrid fate as his face and arm – to this supposedly uninterested brunette.

What struck Chloe as odd, was the fact that he was about to start wasting his time tormenting a human who couldn’t see him.

He’s got to get his kicks somehow she guessed. Who knows how long he’s been waiting at that bus stop.

But the man only managed to yell a single string of hurried inappropriate advances before the woman nonchalantly continued on her way, calm and collective.

Chloe allowed all previous suspicion slip away and leaned a shoulder against Derek.

But the ghost appeared to be none too pleased about being so blatantly ignored and so quickly cast aside. He yelled after the woman, just as she swept gracefully by Derek and Chloe.

Derek’s hand went straight to Chloe’s shoulder and gripped it so tight she winced.

“Fine then, lady! I’ll just go back to messing with this little girl here. She’s much more fun to rile up anyway.” The Ghost yelled.

At that, the woman stopped dead in her tracks, then turned her head to eye Chloe with unmasked surprise.

The ghost grinned menacingly and limped back to where the small group of living were

clustered.

Chloe couldn’t help but cringe at the sight and looked away.

That seemed to be all this stranger needed. The woman turned around completely now and stared Chloe in the eyes, then at the ghost, then back to Chloe.

“You…?” Chloe began, then stopped and reconsidered what she was about to do, but after a moment of thought though, decided to follow through with a question that would seem otherwise harmless.

“You can see him?” she finished, hoping her chosen words were broad enough to not cause suspicion if she did come to the wrong conclusion about this woman.

But instead of an expected unwelcome look of confusion, the woman’s face immediately lit up.

“Hey, now that’s a relief. I was still wracking my head for some sort of code we’re supposed to say to each other. Then remembered we don’t have any.”

She paused and her smile twisted into a sly yet equally warm half grin. “You’re awfully young. Twelve, maybe thirteen, am I right?”

Chloe felt heat creep into her cheeks, as was tradition when she was unfortunate enough to hear someone guess her age. Her reaction was either embarrassment or anger – depending on her mood and guessing person in question.

Before she could set the record straight and inform this woman that she was a very mature fifteen years old, the almost forgotten bus stop ghost called out again.

“Excuse me?” he yelled in the trio’s direction rudely. His body was back to its perfectly normal and injury-free state.

“You should probably take a hike.” the woman said evenly, eying him.

Chloe had to stifle a laugh. She was beginning to like this stranger.

“What the hell did you just say to me?” he demanded. His voice was louder, higher, and undeniably more outraged. Obviously he wasn’t used to being disrespected – in his former life at least.

“You should either go about your own business around here quietly, or, if you lack the capacity, you should just leave.” Her voice was perfectly calm. Chloe found herself hanging on the manner in which she was handling this man, knowing she’d definitely need to use it herself in the future.

“You gonna make me, bitch?” he threw back his head and laughed.

The woman grinned. “As a matter of fact, yes. If I need to.”

“And just how do you plan on doing that?” he asked, folding his perfect arms.

“I have my connections. We necromancers find it worth our while to make powerful friends. Especially when child harassing thugs like you need a stern talking to.”

He snorted.

“Don’t believe me? Give me a sec, I’ll organise an introduction right now.” Jamie said with a slight smile and closed her eyes, mouth moving in a flurry of silent words.

“So you’re gonna sick your dog after me?” he spat venomously, cutting off the call.

“Oh no, I’d prefer to think of her as my ass-kicking alter ego of the spirit realm. And I’m sure she’d just love to hear you called her a dog––”

“Fine, fine.” The ghost lazily held up has hands to silence her, trying to make it seem as though he was doing this to shut her up instead of reacting to her threat.

Mumbling unintelligibly under his breath, the ghost faded away into nothing.

Chloe let out a breath. “Impressive.” She complimented.

The woman shrugged a tan shoulder modestly. “Gotta show ‘em whose boss I guess. Although I wish I could take the credit for being the one to actually scare them every time I do that. Anyway, it’s not important.” She straightened and held out her hand slowly. “My name’s Jamie.”

Her manner was friendly, but it almost seemed as if womanly yet firm characteristics were hardwired into her, whether she wanted them there or not.

Chloe wasn’t sure she should give her real name, but before she can even try to offer a fake one, Derek growled deep in his throat. Not at Chloe, but at Jamie.

It was unconscious on his part but Jamie caught the warning and blinked.

“Werewolf?” she asked him quietly.

Derek pulls Chloe further away from her and closer to him.

“What of it?” he asks.

Jamie laughs and admits “To be honest, I’ve just never met a necromancer or a werewolf this young before.”

Chloe blushed again but Derek just raised an eyebrow.

“You must have known what I was, right?” she asked Derek.

“I smelled something before. Wasn’t sure what it was. I wasn’t able to pick up your scent until you were quite close.” He shrugged casually. “Downwind.”

“Ah. Well that nose should improve with time.”

Derek flinched at her words, as if her telling him what to expect of his own werewolf genes was a high insult. “We’re leaving.” He said firmly and grasped Chloe’s hand.

Jamie rushed into their path as quickly as she could in four inch heels.

“Look, let me level with you, kid. You seem like a fairly nice guy. I want you to know that since you’re not part of the pack, wondering around Bear Valley without letting them know you’re here probably wouldn’t be wise.

Derek sidestepped out of her way and kept walking with Chloe in tow as he asked nonchalantly “What if I’m pack?”

“You can’t be. At least I don’t think so. Jeremy would have mentioned you.”

Derek stopped and turned his head.

“Jeremy?”

“Yes. Jeremy Danvers.”

When he didn’t respond, she added “Alpha.”

Derek turned fully now.

“You know him?”

The corner of her lip twitched. Eyes lighting just a little. “You could say that.”

“I want to meet him.” Derek stated.

Jamie’s smile faltered momentarily.

“I just want to talk. Not challenge him. Ask a few questions about…” he sighed and shook his head. “I think he can help me.”

Jamie looked him over, searching for any sings if insincerity, then returned her gaze to an equally serious Chloe.

The smile returns and she pulls a small cell phone from her handbag.

Jamie punched in a few numbers and waited for an answer, keeping one curious eye on the two teenagers. Seconds later, she shifted her weight from one foot to the other and spoke clearly into the phone.

“Clay? Hi. Can you put Jeremy on for me?”

There was a pause and Jamie rolled her eyes, mumbling that the rude commentary wasn’t exactly necessary.

A few more seconds past and she straightened, smile returning full force.

“Jer? Listen, I’ve just met…” she twisted to look at the duo again. “…a couple of rather interesting kids. What would you say to two extra lunchtime guests at Stonehaven?”

A/N:

The ending was supposed to have a few loose ends. I was going to add Tori and Simon’s return, and another three ghosts tormenting Chloe – heck I was going to put Jeremy in there with Jamie, so our older necro and wolf duo could meet the younger necro and wolf duo. But no, I left it. Seemed kind of nice to leave it alone in its semi-climatic not too over-spiced with anything kind of glory. And if those of you who just read that haven’t a clue what just wet on – grab a Kelley Armstrong book. They are incredible.

Anyway, I’m workin’ on the next chapter to this now.

Later!