chapter ten.

VERONICA WANTED TO KEEP her hood up but Uncle Chris forced her to keep down because he knew she'd walk out of this warehouse with blood on her hands. That besides today's point, hunters had gone after Satomi's pack last night ━ but, it was the perfect time to strike; open field at night, unsuspected and dived, her family would have slaughtered them expect they didn't.

"I think my parents are punishing me." Veronica confessed, eyes trained on the corners. Getting inside was easy it staying in, monsters kept coming out of nowhere.  "They hunted Satomi's pack without me last night. Any insights why, Uncle Chris?"

"I'm gonna go on a limp and guess it's because you're friends with their.. enemy."  Uncle Chris answered, his assault rifle pointed at the ground a clear sign he hadn't done here with the intention to kill only to do harm.  "I think the search for Kate has been stressing them out so went to find.. another source. Which they shouldn't have."

She bites the inside of her cheek.  "You're right, they shouldn't have." There are times when Veronica just feels like making her parents anger at her because she just doesn't care and wants to see how they'd react to it, could she actually do what she's tempted to do? 

"Stop making that face." Uncle Chris said, sparing her glance. His eyebrow twitched. A growl erupted behind her and Chris jammed his assault rifle where her head was knocking the beast out.   "You've got this evil glint in your eyes."

She scoffed.  "I always have that glint."

"Yeah you do." He agreed. Uncle Chris' defense stance dropped stopping in between the aisles of growing plants but one stood out, a beam on light shone near the end of the warehouse on a golden yellow wolfbane blossomed flower ready to be plucked.

"She's a beauty."  Veronica complemented, leaning her hands on her thighs to admire it closer. Uncle Chris grinned in agreement, she doubts Kate will be able to walk after one shoot of this.

* * *

AT THE ARGENT WAREHOUSE Uncle Chris explained to her here is where they found Violet dead and Kate hiding out here because she couldn't control herself, they still don't know what's (... or who. ) she looking for. Her legs swung below a table as she waited for him to hide his plant in a cabinet. There was nowhere she needed to be at the moment, her siblings were off doing whatever rugrats do when left alone and her parents were partaking in some normalcy (... sounds boring. ) she already has school and that's all she needs because being normal is such a drag.

Her eyebrows furrowed when Uncle Chris stood up, assault rifle in his hands prepared to shoot the intruder dumb enough to leave wet footprints on a concrete ground. She pulls her dual kindjal from her back slow not to alarm them, she walks on her toes careful not to make noise a shadow appears behind a sheet wall and something sliced through knocking the rifle from his hands. Veronica made the mistake of following the sound and when she looked back; beaming gold eyes and fangs threatened her, Uncle Chris shoved a gun up his throat before he could attack her.

She could hear her heart thumping faster, breath in and breath out. Breath in and breath out.  Despite his animalistic features she could recognize him.

"Hello, Brett. Still as bitchy as before?" She taunted, stepping closer to him and tilted her head fear buried beneath her threatening to break free when he growled, Uncle Chris raised his second gun higher against his throat. His eyes dimmed for a split second but returned having no memory of her, just her voice.

"Wait! Wait! Brett!" Scott shouted moments too late, ambling through the sheet holding his hand out in caution, Kira right behind him. Is it always them two alone and no one else? "This is his place. It's his." Like an obedient dog, he backs down returning back to the other dogs.

"Scott... if you bring in guests, you could have called." Uncle Chris warned, shoving his gun down his waistband eyes lingering on the people huddled together on the ground. 

Are they innocent or running because they have something to hide?

"Yeah, dude, you have a phone." Veronica comments, crossing her arms when he meet her eyes and tried not to shiver when her cold weapon touched her thigh.  "Use it."

"I don't have your number, how could I call you." Scott argued, gesturing a hand at. "We should have each other's phone numbers, you know, just encase." The corner of her lips lips twitched watching him flustered, he shuts his eyes and shakes his head remembering that there are things more important then sharing phone numbers. "We'll take about that later. I didn't have anywhere else to take them."

"I know this man." A new feminine voice comments, pushing through the sheet a woman radiating bad bitch vibes a large red bloodied gash stained her cheek, eyes locked on Uncle Chris. "He may not remember, but we've met before."

"You can trust him." Scott assured, his doe eyes sincere trying to maintain the growing discomfort. "I trust him."

"How do we know they're not like the others?" Satomi argued, raising her chin at him eyeing him.

"What others?" Veronica asked pretending to clueless, if her parents had hunted them down then wouldn't she be held captive instead of walking free? This is weird, very weird.

"Last night, there was a whole team after them. And they used crossbows." Kira explained, handing him a nock that was clearly made by an amateur. Not her family, if they hadn't hunted them down then where were they?

"They're hunters, aren't they?" Scott asked, noticing the distant looks on their faces.

"Not if they're killing for profit." Chris insisted, clenching the piece in his fingers. She could see the rage in his eyes; he doesn't know what they've been doing, he's the last person on earth she'd want to tell but that was before she knew the truth about what this is doing. Still, she'd rather leave the country then tell him the truth. "Not anymore."

Brett comes back asking if the assassins can find them and Veronica tells him they probably already know they're here and are waiting for dark to strike. Kira realizes that they aren't safe, but Satomi says that they aren't safe anywhere and have been running for days. Everywhere they turn, there is someone new trying to kill them. Is she talking about Veronica?

"They're coming Scott, and they're coming for you, too. You're still number one on the dead pool," Chris says quietly to Scott. He's an Alpha, he should be the worst of all then why is he here putting everyone before his own safety? That doesn't make sense.

"What's up with your face?" Veronica asked, taking a seat besides her.

"I'm frowning." Kira replied, her hands on her cheeks making her appear cuter then usual.

"I know the basic concept of emotions." Veronica rolled her eyes. "I mean why?"

"No reason." The Kitsune dismissed, sitting straighter. "We're know they're coming and we are ready, nothing could go wrong."

"I can list... ten things and.. still counting that could go wrong." The hunter argued bursting her bubble. "But like, I guess I could be wrong? I mean, they're werewolves how bad could be against amateur assassins?"

"Right." Kira agreed, grinning at her. "We can do this and win." She gave her two thumbs up instead opening her mouth again.

"... They've got claws and fangs. But they're not fighters." Both girls hear Derek, him being the one to burst the optimistic bubble this time. The two join him and Scott and Braeden, whom is loading her gun.

"That's why I called you." Scott retorted, nudging his head at him like his point would make their odds even.

"Well, try to remember I don't have claws and fangs anymore either." He reminds, head tilted in what she realized to be amusement.

"That's why he called me." Braeden voiced, clicking the safety of her gun. She tried not too keep her eyes locked on the claw marks on her neck, it's a miracle she survived them.

"Am I the only one still hoping this is all just a false alarm?" Kira smiles awkwardly when eyes fall on her. It wiped off immediately as she continued, "I mean, it's possible we could wait here all night and nothing happens. Right?"

Laughter bubbles out of Veronica's throat clutching her stomach but nobody else laughs making her stop. "Oh. I thought that was a joke." She spies Scott cracking a smile.

Braeden ignores them both completely, her hair flips over her shoulder. "Scott, you heard anything from Stiles or Lydia yet?"

"Lydia's still talking to Meredith." He answered, nodding his head. "Stiles and Malia are headed to the lake house. They're trying to stop it." Either she could have been with his grasping straws as to what could help them stop or she could try her best to protect them from assassins.

"What if there is no stopping it?" Brett inquired. Once again asking the serious question, it was irritating because they're clearly doing their best and understanding because he probably just doesn't believe. Scott turns around to him, "What if it doesn't end until we're all dead?"

With each second that passes she could feel a rope tightening around her neck.

"Then let's send a message." Derek interrupts. "Let's make something perfectly clear to anyone with a copy of that list. It doesn't matter if they're professional assassins, hunters, or an amateur who just picked up a gun. Anyone who thinks they can hunt and kill us for money, is gonna be put on another list. Our list. They get to be a name on our dead pool." Braeden's gun clicked echoing in the warehouse, so this is the lion den ━ this is bad, if something were go wrong they should be here, Percy and Yoselin.

"I remember meeting you, but you weren't a Buddhist back then." Veronica overhears Chris' comment hidden behind a wall.

"And you weren't protecting werewolves. You were hunting them." Satomi countered. Damn, the years really do change people.

"Three things cannot long be hidden... The sun. The moon. The truth." Chris said having memorized the words. "What exactly does that mean?"

"The truth cannot stay hidden." Veronica found herself sinking to the ground, huddling her knees to her chest. Breath in and breath out. Breath in and breath out.

"I know what the saying means." Chris replies thoughtful. "What does it mean for you?"

"The truth for me is that we," The Alpha hesitated almost regretful. "My kind, are violent creatures, who eventually will not be able to control their violent impulses. The mantra helps us subdue our nature."

"But you're still violent creatures."

Satomi smirked knowingly at him. "Aren't we all?"

Her words bounced off the corners of her head hitting her. Violent creatures. Aren't we all? Violent creatures. Aren't we all? Violent creatures. Aren't we all? Aren't we all? Aren't we all? Aren't we all? Violent creatures. Breath in. Breath out. And breath in. Violent creatures. And breath out. Aren't we all?

Her knee burned as his hand touched it, she flinched. She's killed and killed like any hunter would but she vowed never to murder the innocent, yet here she couldn't tell the difference. How many innocence has she murdered in cold? How many people has ripped from families all because of her fear. The stupid fear build brick by brick since she could talk. Has she really been the villain this entire time?

Breath in and breath out. This is not the time. Control yourself. Breath in and breath out. "What's up, Scott? Do you need to hold my hand again?" Thats it, you're doing well.

"Actually, I came here to ask you that." Scott answered, hands resting on his thighs in front of her. Her confusion broke free before she could control it making him smile drifting his eyes to the ground. "I'm here, if you want to hold my hand." She could see him battling himself and just take her hand in his, smiling to himself like he won something money couldn't buy. "I'm here."

Veronica couldn't do. She couldn't look him in the eyes after she has been plotting his murder the entire time. "Scott, I've done something really bad."

"It's okay." He reassured, squeezing her hand softly. "We all do bad things sometimes."

"No, you don't get it." She bit her lip before it could tremble, her thumb caressing his cheek. After she tells him the truth will she ever find someone who'll treat her the way he does? Like she's worth more then she believes? "I know you... have a crush on me. But you deserve some good, Scott. And I'm not."

A kicked puppy dog look took over his expression, almost leaning into her touch then her words take effects on him. He takes her face in his hands and bring her close, "You'll be good enough for me, Veronica. Don't you ever doubt."

She stared at his eyes, his twinkling eyes shining so bright as he spoken, they looked so beautiful and she loved it. No one has ever looked at her the way he does, and he probably won't either if he finds out what she did. She wouldn't forgive herself either, she just wants to savory it for a few more seconds.

"Can I, can I kiss you?" His voice was quiet, afraid to pop the bubble they've placed themselves inside. She giggled; Veronica Morillo giggled. Leaning in close, she could feel his breath graze her lips smelling like banana chapstick and his eyes flutter close trusting her, she could feel herself melting in his touch their lips brushing and like a spark of electricity they broke apart, an alarming blaring through the room. His spell on her broken, disappointment weighed her heart down like an anchor.

"Stay safe for me, okay?" He pleaded, savoring the feeling of her skin on his for a few more seconds and pressed a brief kiss to her nose before disappearing. Maybe, just maybe nobody will find out. The truth doesn't always come out sooner maybe more later. Yeah, she likes the sound of that. But then what happens? Her family hunt people like him and after the deadpool they'll be nothing stopping them.

A foggy mist invaded the warehouse followed by red lasers. Where the fuck did they gather all these equipment? She crawled over to a table and smacked it on the ground using it as a shield, bullets swarming in with no intention to stop. She swallows down her fear, she has been trained for situations like this; she's made it out alive before and can do it again.

As she was about to go up another body dived in besides her. Her hair lose out of its tie making her huff. "Apologizes for our tardiness."

"Better late then never." She mumbled, tying her hair together with her wooden sticks, giving one last glare. "And I swear on Dio if you either of you get shoot I'm taking that bullet out and shoving it right in again, Percy."

"Can I keep the bullet though?" Perseus shouted before she disappeared inside the fog, the last thing he seen was her middle finger; he smiled to himself, it meant kept safe to them before they went out on battle.

She sprints kicking the back of one's leg making him stumble and wrapped her arms around his throat and spun his arm stabbing him with a kindjal. His sound of pain nothing but white noise. Finding other, his weapon pointed at someone on her right; she high kicked his side he tripped and another grabbed him flipping him over his back. Scott's eyes meet her, his features more wolffish. He could look worse.

Taking out her dual kindjas forming an X before slicing knocking the guns out of both the assassins on her side and punches his helmet with the back of her handle making it crack and stomped it on, turning around the other one had already been taken care of.

She frowned. "I had him."

"I know you did." Scott insists, flashing her a grin. "I'm going to find Kira. Go find the others!"

She nods and takes out, fighting and slicing anybody that gets in her way. Gunshots were all she could hear, the lights flickered on and off, on and off repeatedly over her head. It was hard to find anybody through the mist. Her back hits a wall, her chest rising up and down trying to catch a breath and takes a peek, an assassin tries to load their gun quickly aimed at someone quite familiar.

"Brett, duck!" She shouts. Having been busy with taking out one, he smacks turns left smacking them straight through two thin walls and her kindjal cuts the air lodging in his hand making him drop the assault riffle, and clutch his hand. Brett rips it out and begins punching him. "That's twice, Brett. I don't want people to start thinking I care about you."

Out of breath, he pants glimpsing up at her wearing an arrogant smirk. "No, we wouldn't want that." Picking his dropped gun, Veronica loads it. "You know how to use that."

"And so much more." Gums weren't her thing, it always leave a pit in her staunch not big enough to fill with food but here it looks like she has no choice, every time one gets knocked down five more come back to life. She shoots feeling a push with every bullet fired. "Go, help the others!" He nods taking off like everyone else. She still hadn't seen Yoselin, that bitch better still be breathing.

Time slowed down, one by one billets stopped ringing in her ears and the assassins began sprinting back to where they came from phones vibrating with each person that leaves. Veronica couldn't understand, her heart was hammering, why are they leaving? Is it a trap to something bigger? Breath in and breath out. Her phone beeps.

It read; THE BENEFACTOR: ALL CONTRACTS COMPLETED. The pain biting her cheek raw was nothing compared to when her eyes met Scott's.