"It wasn't completely like that Cage. I didn't know if I could trust you." Clara tried to stay calm and not have a panic attack.

"And now, I'm not so sure I can trust you. What else are you hiding?" Cage balled his hands into fists.

"Nothing else." She whispered and shook her head.

Orion watched the two in front of him. He was surprised to see Cage so upset with Clara. He had been upset at times when it was appropriate, but now, he was clearly scaring the small girl in front of him.

Orion placed a hand on Cage's shoulder. "Relax man. It can be dangerous for a girl to give out her real name. Especially in the middle of nowhere. . .You can't just expect her to put herself in danger. She didn't know you."

Cage threw Orion's hand off of him. "Don't touch me." He growled again.

"And after you hit me, I knew I couldn't trust you at that time, so I kept up the act Cage! I'm sorry, okay?" Clara was full on sobbing again.

Orion paused and glanced from fuming Cage, to distraught Clara. "He hit you?"

"It was a misunderstanding. I thought she-" Cage began but Orion caught him off guard.

Orion gripped Cage by the collar of his vest and pulled him close. His eyes were a solid red now, and his fangs showed as he opened his mouth to speak.

"You won't ever raise your voice at her, or lay a hand on her again. Stay away from her." Orion threatened.

"You should let go of me before one of us gets hurt," Cage stayed still. "And it isn't going to be me."

Orion let Cage go, and sent him a warning glance. He groaned when he turned and realized Clara was gone. She had ran back to the village.

~~~

The next morning, Clara awoke in a small tent. She rolled over and groaned when she realized that Cage was sleeping beside her. His chest arose and fell with every exhale and inhale. He was sleeping so peacefully.

Clara glanced down to what she was wearing. She was still in her boots and cloak. She must have fallen asleep last night right after Divin told her the tent on the end of the row was empty, and was only set up to shelter supplies.

"You're up." Cage almost smiled and Clara realized he had a bottle in his hand that was mostly empty. He was drunk.

"And you're drunk." Clara rolled over and turned away from Cage.

"You and Kai wanted to see it, so why not! Happy now?!" Cage laughed and sat up a bit.

"I thought Orion told you to stay away from me?"

"He did."

Clara could feel Cage move closer to her and place a hand on her hip rather gently.

Before Clara could react, Cage had turned her body and pulled her rather fragile frame on top of him. Her legs on either side of his body. She was straddling him.

"What are you doing?" Clara looked frustrated.

Cage held Clara's body in place with his hands. His sleeves had ridden up on his toned arms, and his shirt was unbuttoned in a few places. He looked like a mess. . . A mess that was somehow put together. It was confusing.

Cage leaned in, his breath fanning Clara's ear. "It's him or me darling. You can't have both." He whispered.

Clara leaned away from Cage and laughed. "Wow. You're different when your drunk. I don't like it." She tried to move, but he wasn't letting her get away that easily.

"I'm serious." His serious expression was surprising.

"I don't want you to be. So, just let me go and then you can finish the rest of the bottle." Clara looked into Cage's green eye.

"Choose." Was all Cage said in response.

"No." Clara was starting to get peeved.

"Choose one."

"I told you, no."

"Choose, or I will choose for you." That earned a raised eyebrow and a look of confusion from Clara.

"What does that mean?" She asked.

"It means that if you don't tell me right now who you want, I'm going to choose for you. It will be me Clara. I'm too selfish to let you go." He said lowly.

Clara gulped. "You don't even know me, and last nights' argument proved it. One minute you hate me, the next you're pulling a stunt like this." She motioned with her hands to the hold he had on her waist.

"I love you." Cage was as serious as ever, but Clara wasn't buying it. She shook her head and held her face in her hands momentarily.

"You don't love me. I don't even think you know what love is." Clara moved her hands down and moved Cage's hands off of her. She stood up and walked out of the tent. Cage just glanced at her in shock and hurt.

The fresh air was good. It was what Clara needed after dealing with Cage.
She stepped out and glanced up. Almost everyone in the makeshift village was pretty much already awake, and the sun had just risen.

Clara spotted Angelica smiling and laughing in a small group of people. As Clara approached her, she turned and suddenly hugged her tightly.

"You're up!!" Angelica smiled, her morning voice was a higher pitch than usual.

"Yes! I am." Clara didn't know how to react. It was too early in the morning for her to even think straight. The grogginess was real.

"I want you to meet someone." Angelica pulled Clara over to a man standing a few feet away. His brown hair and attire made him look like a younger version of Divant.

"This is Steven, Divant's brother." Clara held out her hand and shook Steven's, he smiled.

"It's nice to meet you." Steven nodded kindly.

"Likewise." Clara nodded and turned back to Angelica.

"He's been showing me around. Turns out, it really is fun here." Angelica said to Clara.

After a moment, Daniel swooped in and pulled Clara aside. She apologized to Steven for suddenly walking away.

"Hey. Do you think it's possible to talk to you for a second?" Daniel asked and Callum was suddenly beside the both of them. Giddy Angelica was there too.

"Yeah. What's up?"

"You mean besides the sky? A lot." Callum with his sarcasm.

"No, but like, this is serious." Clara walked beside Angelica, Daniel and Callum.

"What is it?" Clara was starting to worry.

"I stayed up all night talking with a few people here," Callum was suddenly cut off by Daniel.

"And we found out some really interesting things." Daniel chimed.

"There is so much more to learn about werewolves and vampires. . . And well, everything." Angelica smiled.

"That's great and all, but what does this have to do with anything?" Clara took off her cloak and slung it over her shoulder.

"We want to stay here." Angelica's response was unexpected.

"What?" Clara glanced at everyone.

"Maybe it would be best if we stay behind. You know Callum will just slow you down, and Daniel isn't the strongest werewolf. As for me, you already know I do more harm than good." Angelica reasoned.

"We made it this far, just for you to back out? How do you even know you can trust these people?"

"Everything we were always told about these people back home, was a lie. They aren't monsters that hate werewolves. They don't hunt us Dani. They are kind, and have spent their lives hiding from us." Angelica took Clara's hands in hers.

"My name is Clara. I lied about that before. Please don't be mad at me." Clara closed her eyes and prepared for any harsh comments. Blurting the truth out might not have been the best thing.

"You look like a Clara. I kinda had a feeling that Dani wasn't your real name anyway!" Angelica wasn't upset.

"Yeah, I like your real name better." Daniel and Callum agreed.

"Why did you lie about it?" Callum asked.

"It's a long story."

"Anyways, back to us." Angelica made Clara look her in the eyes.

"I know it doesn't seem logical. But I've- we've spent our entire lives underground, being fed stories that were all lies. I couldn't live with myself if I didn't try to find out more. They aren't leaving this area for quite a while, so when you get back from Tallahi territory, we will be right here waiting for you." Clara found herself not being able to challenge Angelica. Who could say no to those pleading blue eyes?

"I don't know if I'll make it back Angelica."

"Why do you say that? You're strong and capable!" Angelica looked worried.

"There have been some new developments. Turns out, Divin and Divant think I'm an important asset to the vampires, and a descendant of the man who wrote a Tallahi history book. I healed when Divant cut me, you remember. It's crazy." Clara couldn't believe it herself.

"See? While you're gone, we can do more research on it. I'll read that entire history book by the time you get back! I promise." Angelica let go of Clara.

"It's over four thousand pages." Clara chuckled.

"Then, we'll all take turns reading certain parts." Angelica suggested and Callum shook his head.

"No way in hell." Callum waved his hands.

"Yeah, that's not happening." Daniel smiled apologetically.

"If this is what you all want, then I can't stop you from staying. I don't want to put anyone in harms way, and now I know that I can't rely on Cage or anyone. I have to find my mom and sister on my own." Clara looked determined.

"You'll have Cage to help you. I know you will find them." Callum nodded.

"Cage is off his rocker at the moment." Clara laughed sadly.

"He's always been off his rocker."

"I've never heard a statement so true." Daniel agreed.

"He's going to be distraught after you tell him you're staying here. It seems like he has a negative history with these people." Clara assumed.

"He does. And I have a sinking feeling that it has something to do with his parents." Angelica whispered.

"I don't even want to know." Callum shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Let's go break the news to him now. You had better get on the road soon." Angelica lead the group out of the woods.

Clara sighed. She didn't want to face him, and as she approached the tent with Angelica, Daniel and Callum by her side, Kai's head popped out of the tent. He glanced at Clara almost knowingly.

"Now isn't the best time to talk to him." Kai stopped the group.

"Why? What's wrong?" Angelica asked.

"He's drunk, and he's pretty angry." Kai  said quietly.

"Why don't you guys tell him? I don't think he wants to see me right now." Clara suggested.

Just then, Orion stepped into Clara's peripheral. He stood, a serious expression on his rugged face. "What's going on?" He asked.