From Prey To Predator (A Teen Wolf Saga)

Chapter Five: Oni

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More is not necessary better, well at least in Derek Hale's opinion. His loft was pretty barren. There were a few pieces of furniture to fill up the drafty space but nothing more. The home lacked art work, family mementos, basically any small homey touches. Any color, other than the primaries, was definitely not part of the broody werewolf's décor. It was as if he kept his home empty in case he had to suddenly run. If he had to bolt there would be nothing significant left behind.

Ivy did not get the opportunity to search Derek's residence the first few hours she arrived. She had not asked for a tour nor did he offer one. The again, her undivided attention had been directed on the roofied teenager laid out on the plush blue couch as opposed to where the studly wolf showers. Not to say the images had not rolled around her head. The over growing starvation conjured what she wanted most, but she would constrain her urges until her latest charge was curled up in her own bed.

"You don't plan on leaving her side until she wakes up." Derek descended down the spiral staircase which led to his bedroom. "Do you?"

Ivy supervised the teenager from the opposite end of the couch. She refused to take her bird's eye view off the young girl for almost three hours. Her head lifted off her curled fist, propped up on the couch arm. "No, I don't," she replied tiredly, watching Derek come closer. The vigilante's voice sounded as weary as her physical appearance looked.

"Are you okay?" He positioned himself on the couch arm causing Ivy to jerk her arm and gaze down to her lap. "You're looking a little pale."

"As if you're so tan James," she growled. "I'm just hungry is all."

For a split second Derek had almost forgotten about his fake identity. "I'm actually a decent cook Chloe. I can make you something to eat." He gestured toward the small kitchen, which looked like it had never actually been used.

Ivy cracked a smile, tickled by his offer. "Human sustenance is far from what I need." She closed her eyes and flopped her head on the couch cushions.

"Then what do you need?"

"Red wine." Her eyes opened slowly as her gaze rolled to Derek. "I need red wine to curb the hunger pains."

Derek cocked his head. "What creature uses wine to curb their appetite?"

"One in great need of wine." She flashed a playful smile provoking a grin to spread across Derek's face.

"I don't drink," he stated. "But I think I have a bottle of red in my trunk upstairs."

She eyed him suspiciously. "Why would you keep wine in a trunk and not in the kitchen?"

"They're mementos," he answered simply. "I started collecting wine bottles from the few weddings I attended. The first one I saved was from a cousin's wedding. My uncle Peter and I were just teens who wanted to get drunk but half way through the second bottle we realized we couldn't get drunk. Most shape shifters can't get drunk, specifically my kind."

Her ears perked. "You're a shape shifter? What kind?"

Derek extended his hand. "I'll show you mine if you show me yours."

Ivy rolled her eyes and forced herself to stand on her feet. "Where is the wine James?" Her body wobbled as the dizziness began to cloak her mind.

"Come on," he spoke sweetly, grabbing her hand. His perfect smile said everything. "Let's find something to fix you."

Normally Ivy would have refused any help, especially from a stranger but her own idiocy brought her to this point. Postponing feeds had never been a smart move. There were times right before a new hunt she would experiment her strength by putting off feeding. The maximum had been ten days. Today was day six without refueling her body, a dumb choice. But she had also been unaware how Beacon Hills intensified her appetite.