Crescent

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

There are so many unanswered questions in my mind. The unfamiliar terms swirl around in my brain - Anathema, Loners, Alpha, beta, pack - but as Zach and Daniel carry a limp man out of my apartment at one in the morning, I decide that now might not be the best time to ask. Each guy wraps one of Alexander's arms around their shoulders, his feet dragging between them, and make their way down to the car waiting outside. As soon as they're out of the apartment, door still wide open, L rushes to her room and starts packing.

"What are you doing?" I ask as I follow her.

She throws things haphazardly into the largest suitcase she owns. "I'm not staying here. Without Alexander protecting you, Derek's guys will be all over the place. Not to mention those Loners will track his blood back here. I don't want to be here when they do."

"What about classes?" I trail behind as she goes to the bathroom to pack her shower supplies and toothbrush. "We have finals on Thursday. We have projects to turn in."

"I'll figure it out, I guess." She brushes past me dismissively. "You don't have to come. If you want to stay here and risk your life to avoid being with these guys trying to help, by all means dig your grave. Make sure it's six feet or the dogs will dig you up and rip you apart."

I'm speechless. We've had our fights, sure, but she has never spoken to me this way before. We're sitting on the couch in awkward silence when the boys come back in. Zach doesn't say anything, just grabs L's bag and her hand before they exit. I wrap my arms around my midsection, feeling alone and scared.

"You need to come with us," Daniel states as if it is obvious.

I shake my head, eyes unfocused. "I can't," I whisper as I try not to cry. "I can't be a part of your world."

Daniel leans down in front of me, unwrapping my arms and holding my hands. "If you stay here," he says quietly, "you wont be a part of any world." This time my tears escape. I lock eyes with his glimmering gold ones. Without a word, Daniel lifts me and carries me through my room and to the connecting bathroom. He sets me down and turns so that we both face the mirror. "Look. You're one of us, whether that scares the hell out of you or not." I look ahead and see my previously dull brown eyes shimmering - the color swirling like his - and not from the tears. "Trust us. Trust me," he whispers. "You're more important to us than you know."

"My finals-"

"We're getting a hotel on the north side of town while Alexander recovers. It's risky to leave the pack alone without Alexander or me, but he should only need two days and I can run back and forth. Can you finish your finals by then?" I nod. "Get everything you need," he steels. "We wont be coming back."

I'm not sure what all I've packed when Daniel finally grabs my arm. "We'll send people to pack up the rest of your things. It's time to go." I follow as we exit my apartment, trying to make sure I have all of mine and L's notecards and projects for finals. When we reach the car, Daniel sets my bags carefully into the back of a sleek black SUV. Zach and L are cozied up against the side, whispering to each other. They straighten up as we approach and L gives me a small smile.

"I'm sorry for being so rude," she says.

"It's okay," I respond, knowing that she isn't really one to coddle at all.

Zach gestures for L to get in the front seat and I'm confused until he opens the back door to reveal a body laid across the seats. Daniel climbs in, lifting Alexander's legs and shimmying to the middle seat. Zach puts a hand on the small of my back and leads me around to the other side. They team lift Alexander's shoulders so that I can slide in with his head resting in my lap. Zach closes the door and rounds the car again to sit on the other side. Alexander is tall, so his legs are squished in Zach's lap, knees bent.