A Place to Hide Away- Sterek

Foxbane

After that, everything had settled into a somewhat normal pace again. Genim still went to visit the Hales everyday, and after a talk of how he wasn't a werefox anymore, settled into the life of being a human. Claudia felt calm, knowing that her small pack was safe. Then, of course, her luck ran out, and an article in the newspaper reawakened her fears.

    FAMILY OF FOUR KILLED IN MYSTERIOUS HOME INVASION

    A housekeeper's shocking Monday morning discovery of four bodies – a small-town Beacon Hills bakery owner, Alan Budding, his wife, Jamie, and their teenage daughter and son, Julie and James, all dead in their upper middle-class home – have risen suspicion of authorities to believe there was personal intent behind the murder. Authorities are asking for anyone who knows anything...

    Claudia had known the Buddings; they were one of the other smaller werewolf packs protected under the Hale Pack, but only the father had been a werewolf, which meant that Kate...Kate was killing humans too. The Alpha stood to her feet angrily. After everything she had gone through to keep her son safe... she put down the newspaper, letting the corners that she had wrinkled fall to the table.

    If just being associated with were creatures was enough to cause Kate to kill, then Stiles wasn't safe. He wasn't safe at all. Claudia had to go talk to Talia about this...but not right now, in plain daylight. No, she would have to wait until night fell.  She could no longer be seen with the Hales if she wanted her small pack to be safe. With that, Claudia tore up the newspaper, throwing away the remains in the trashcan.

    After she had put Genim in bed, she shifted into her fox form, slipping out of the house, hidden underneath the shadows cast by the half moon. She cut through the background and climber over the fence into the forest that held the Hale House. Perhaps it was because her thoughts were so full of worry for Genim and the dead family that had lived on their block that distracted Claudia from hearing the soft footsteps that followed her.

    It was only when she was halfway to the Hale House that the sound of a fake bird chirp cut through her thoughts. Before she could make a run for it, the sound of a gun burst through the quiet of the the forest night, quickly followed by a sharp pain in her shoulder. She let out a yip as she scrambled to get away, but her path was blocked by white haired man she remembered seeing with Kate. She bared her teeth, letting out a vicious snarl, before lunging towards him.

    He easily sidestepped, laughing.

    "I would stop doing that if I were you. Fighting makes your heartbeat go up, which makes the foxbane poison spread faster. Oh, wait, nevermind. Let's speed this up." Gerard sneered, looking down his nose at her. She froze at his words, realizing that she was feeling unnaturally pained and tired. "I can't believe that vermin like you still exist." He went to kick her, but she snapped her teeth at him before taking off in the direction of the Hale House, letting out a desperate yowl. Her vocal cords strained at the sound, not used to having to make such wolfy noises, but at this point, she had to do whatever it takes.

    "After her, people." She heard Gerard say behind her and on cue, two sets of footsteps began trailing after her. With every step she took, she could feel the poison beginning to affect her body. Her vision was getting hazy. Then just as she was about to give up hope, she heard a long telling howl.

    "Shit," Gerard swore. "Take the bullet out and let's go. She's going to die anyway. Come on, Chris, Kate."

       A pair of hands grabbed her  and she snarled, snapping her teeth. Then her entire body shook as the sharp pain travelled where the bullet had hit her.

    As the hunters ran away, Claudia collapsed on the ground, her paws shaking as she panted.
   
    "Claudia!"

    She turned her head towards the source of the voice.In front of her was Alpha Hale's wife, Alana, in beta shift, eyes shining with concern. It was at this moment that Claudia let herself fall into the darkness that had been surrounding her until now.