"Oh lord, oh lord. What do I do? I've fallen for someone who's nothing like you. He's raised on the edge of the Devils backbone"
-The Civil Wars

Alice

"Yes."
"Yes?"
"Yes. Why? Do you want me to change my mind?" Penns stunned face was nothing short of adorable.
"Don't you dare," he hugged me close again and it felt wonderful to have my boyfriend hug me.

Boyfriend. I have a boyfriend. It feels strange. But a really nice type of strange. Like when you wake up at 5 in the morning and realize you still have an hour to sleep.

My face was hidden into his neck, his head rested on top of mine. I pressed a small kiss to his shoulder which made him shiver.

"You're killing me sweetheart," Penn groaned.
"Sorry," I laughed a bit.
He kissed the top of my head and tightened his arms around me, "I didn't say I didn't like it."

~~~

"Our next unit will be on Chi squared procedures. I strongly recommend that you read the chapter in the textbook over the break. He said hopefully, knowing that convincing teenagers to do anything academic over winter break is a futile endeavor." My statistics teacher paused to let out a sigh right as the dismissal bell rang.

Kids scrambled out of their seats and bolted for the door, excited for the start of winter break.

I had just made it out of the classroom and into the mob of giants when a heavy arm was thrown over my shoulders. I craned my neck up to see messy hair and the bright smile of my overly perky best friend. Eli.

"Come on short stack, I'll drive you home," he led us out of the building.
"So what do we want to do today," we made it into the parking lot and what I saw made me freeze, Eli's question completely forgotten.

Penn stood leaning against his car, arms crossed, a lazy smile on his face. He looked incredible, as always.

"Never mind. I see you already have something to do, or someone," I could hear the smirk in Eli's voice. But I was too distracted to scold him for the innuendo.

"Hello sweetheart, ready to go?" Penn smiled I could feel my face heat up. Eli pulled his arm from my shoulder and said a quick goodbye before going to his car.

"Hi Penn."
He pushed off his car and came towards me, stopping just short of running me over.
"Two weeks of dating and you still blush every time I greet you," his calloused fingers proved his point by running over my burning cheeks.
"Sorry," I mumbled.
"Don't you dare be sorry sweetheart. It's one of the things I love most about you." Now I was blushing even harder. Damn him.

Penn chuckled and kissed my cheek. "Let's go to my house," he paused with a mischievous smile on his face, "I've stocked up on tortilla chips."

I glanced up at him with a smirk of my own, "you know, you don't have to bribe me to come to your house."
"I know. But I like having the guarantee that you'll be there. Let's go."

Penn wrapped a muscled arm around my waist and led me to his car, opening the door for me like the gentleman he is. He was at the wheel before I even buckled my seat belt and we drove off, probably a little faster than the speed limit allowed.

He drove with one hand on the wheel. The other found its way to my knee, rubbing slow circles on my thigh. How is that his touch drove me so easily mad.

We pulled up in front of his house, which was more like a mansion, and hopped out of the car.

"I don't quite feel like being indoors today. Would you take a walk with me?" He looked down at me with hopeful eyes. I nodded and a grin broke out on his face, flashing an impressive set of canines at me. I loved his smile.

Our hands intertwined as we strolled lazily through the neighborhood. Being with Penn was easy and freeing. He cared for me, I saw it in his eyes every time he glanced at me. This just felt right. Penn felt right.

We walked past people on the sidewalk. They all gave us a nod of the head, which Penn returned while I just smiled shyly. Out of nowhere a little girl came bouncing up to us. She barely reached my hips.

"Hello Alpha," she gave Penn a shy smile.
"Hello Kenzie." Penn answered with a hint of amusement in his eyes.

Kenzie then turned her vibrant green eyes to me. "Hi Luna," the name confused me, but her now rosy cheeks stopped me from questioning it.
"Hi Kenzie. That's a pretty dress you have." She looked up at me in wonder for a moment before grinning widely, one front tooth missing. All of a sudden she threw herself forward and hugged my hips with her tiny arms while her face pressed into my stomach.

"I knew we would have a pretty Luna," she mumbled into my stomach and held me tighter. I hugged her back as best as I could.
"You're much prettier than I am Kenzie." She pulled away and smiled at me again.
"My mom is calling me. Bye Alpha, bye Luna." She waved her little hand and bounced off down the sidewalk, her wild red hair flying.

I smiled after her. This moment felt perfect. For the first time in years I was happy. Truly happy.

"Hunters! We're under attack!" Sirens wailed throughout the neighborhood. Everything around us broke out into chaos.

I watched stunned as man pushed his wife and kids into their home before sprinting off into the forest. All around me people were either hiding in their homes or running headlong into the tree line.

"Alice. Alice!" In all the chaos I hadn't noticed Penn screaming my name. Shots rang out in the distance. I froze.

"Alice look at me!" Penn shouted again. He grasped my face between his warm, calloused hands. "Sweetheart I need you to listen to me. Eli is going to take you to my house. I want you to go upstairs. Go in my room. Lock all the doors and windows. Don't come out until I come for you. Whatever happens, I need you to stay safe." He had to shout over the screams and gunfire. I was scared, and confused as hell. But I trusted Penn.

A throaty growl erupted from him, gaining my attention. Penns normally coffee brown eyes were nearly black. His lips crashed down on mine.

This wasn't like our other kisses. This was urgent and desperate. As if he feared it were our last.

The world faded away when he kissed me. But all too soon he ripped himself away.

"Elijah, take her to my house. Keep her safe," Penn growled. Eli, who I hadn't noticed was there, grabbed my elbow and began sprinting us to Penns house. He ran much too fast for my clumsy limbs to keep up with.

I craned my neck around, looking for Penn. He was running full speed into the forest. Towards the gun shots. Into the frenzy. Away from me.

Eli yanked me into the house and slammed to door, locking the deadbolt. He didn't stop there.

"Eli what the hell is going on?" We ran up the stairs and into Penns bedroom.

"Where did Penn go?" He shut the door. "Why we're all those people going into the forest?" Eli locked the french doors. "Why is there gunfire?" He pushed a chest of drawers in front of the doors. "What does "hunters" mean? Who are the hunters? What are they after? Why-"

"Alice!" Eli shouted at me. He's never shouted at me. He's never been anything but a goofball. The person in front of me was serious, somber. He was a man. Not the boy I came to call my friend.

Eli sighed. "I'm sorry Alice," his arms wound around me in a comforting hug and I noticed then that I was shaking. "I wanted to tell you. I have for a while. But this isn't my thing to tell. Penn should be the one to tell you everything. All we can do for now is just keep you safe. Because if anything new happens to you Penn will have my head on a silver platter." He released me from the hug. "And that's not an exaggeration," Eli's usual smile quirked onto his mouth.

"Come on. The closet will be the best hiding place."

Eli and I sat in silence for hours. Surrounded by a closet full of custom made suits and shoes that cost more than my house. I was about to speak when a cracking sound thundered through the house.

Heavy footsteps sped up the staircase. The wood of the bedroom doors splintered with a thundering crack. The closet doors were yanked open.

I was pulled into strong arms. He held me impossibly tight, face buried in my neck, breathing heavily, squeezing the air from my lungs. A familiar warmth spread through me.

But then I felt something wet on my arms. On my stomach. On my neck.

"Penn, you're covered in blood."

Authors Note:
Ahh! Hello my little pepperonis!
I want to thank you all for being so patient with me. This vacation has been insane! But in the best way possible. I've been to so many beautiful places and there's still more to see!
Thank you all so much for your support, your patience, and your general awesomeness.
I love you guys,
-A