WITHERBRANC

chapter 8: The Gathering Storm"

Thea's POV – 9:15 p.m.

Night had fallen over Witherbranch like a blanket of shadows. I had spent the rest of the afternoon in my room, staring at the bracelet on my wrist, trying to make sense of everything that had happened.

Tiffany is a wolf now. I made her that way. And Derek and Ezra are keeping secrets from me.

I knew I couldn't just stay still. I had to do something. If I wanted answers, I had to go looking for them.

I slipped out of my room carefully, trying not to make a sound. The house was silent; my parents were already asleep. I didn't want to wake them. I left the house and called Rebekah to ask if she knew where Tiffany lived, because I didn't.

"Hey, Rebekah. Sorry for calling this late. I need a favor, if it's not too much trouble."

"No, not at all, don't worry. What do you need? And it depends—if it's about killing someone, no," she said, a smile audible through the phone.

"It's not about killing someone... yet," I laughed, but then I added, "Do you know where Tiffany lives? I want to go see her, to check how she's doing after everything."

"Yeah, I do. I went to one of her parties once and she gave me her address. But... don't you think it'd be dangerous if you go alone? I don't want anything to happen to you. You're my friend."

"Nothing's going to happen to me, Rebekah. I promise."

What Rebekah said next surprised me.

"Then let me come with you. Besides, it's late, and there are no buses or taxis at this hour."

"What?! No, of course you're not coming with me. It's dangerous for you."

"Then find the address yourself... or you can take me with you and I'll drive. You have two options, Thea."

"Damn... fine, Rebekah. I'll wait for you outside my house. Don't be late."

Twenty minutes later, I saw Rebekah's car approaching. She rolled down the window and said:

"Get in, girl."

I noticed she was wearing a black jacket and carrying a baseball bat.

"Um... Rebekah, quick question: why are you dressed like that? And why the hell are you carrying a bat?"

"In case something happens, I've got something to defend us with. And about my clothes... well, to look hot and cool," she laughed.

I rolled my eyes.

"Crazy. Sure, a wooden bat is going to protect the two of us," I laughed, but added, "Still, don't get out of the car, okay?"

We arrived at Tiffany's house. The lights were off. No movement inside. But I could feel her presence, like a faint heartbeat in the distance.

She's in there. And she's scared.

I got out of the car and saw Rebekah was about to get out too.

"Where do you think you're going, Rebekah?"

"Duh, I'm coming with you."

"No way. You're staying here, and that's final."

"Nope. I'm coming with you, no matter what."

I sighed.

"Please, stay here, okay? I promise I won't be long. If we both go, she'll feel uncomfortable and won't want to talk to me."

"Fine," Rebekah said, "but you owe me a meal, alright?"

I got out of the car and walked up to her door. I raised my hand to knock, but before my knuckles touched the wood, the door swung open.

Tiffany stood there, her face pale, her eyes still holding a trace of yellow. She was wearing an oversized hoodie, her arms wrapped around herself like she was trying to hold herself together.

"Thea," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I knew you'd come. But I didn't think you'd bring company."

"Oh, about that... she insisted on coming with me," I said, not knowing what else to add.

I had spent so long hating her, and now she was standing in front of me, broken and afraid.

"How are you feeling?" I finally asked.

She let out a hollow laugh.

"How do you think I feel? You want me to say I'm fine and that monsters don't exist? Look at me. I am a monster."

I shook my head.

"No. You're not a monster. You're just... different now. Like me."

She stared at me for a long moment. Then she stepped aside, gesturing for me to come in.

I followed her into the living room. It was dark, the curtains drawn, and I could smell something metallic in the air. Blood.

"Have you been hunting?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

She looked down at her hands.

"I couldn't help it. The hunger... it's like nothing I've ever felt. I tried to control it, but..."

She trailed off, and I didn't need her to finish the sentence.

"Tiffany, listen to me," I said, stepping closer. "I don't know how to fix this. But I'm going to find out. I'll find a way to help you control it."

She looked up at me, her eyes searching mine.

"Why would you help me? After everything I did to you?"

I thought about it for a moment. Then I said:

"Because I know what it's like to feel like a monster. And because no one should have to go through that alone."

---

Ezra's POV – 10:00 p.m.

The old mill was dark and cold, the wooden beams groaning under the weight of the wind. I stood in the shadows, waiting.

I heard footsteps before I saw him.

Derek emerged from the darkness, his hands in his pockets, his face unreadable.

"You came," I said.

"I told you I would."

We stood in silence for a moment, sizing each other up. I had never trusted him, and I knew he felt the same. But we both had the same goal.

"We need to tell her," I said finally. "About the hunters. About the danger she's in."

Derek shook his head.

"She's not ready. She's barely starting to understand what she is. If we tell her everything now, she won't get it, and she won't be able to handle it."

"She's stronger than you think," I said.

"She's a sixteen-year-old girl who just found out she's a hybrid. She's not strong. And she doesn't even know how to control it. What do you think she'll do when she loses control? Just go to sleep like nothing happened?"

I clenched my jaw. He wasn't wrong, but that didn't mean I had to like it.

"Then what do you suggest?"

Derek was silent for a moment. Then he said:

"We protect her. From a distance. Until she's ready to face the truth and understand it on her own."

"And if she never is? What if she never understands?"

Derek met my eyes, and for the first time, I saw something in them that I hadn't expected. Fear.

"Then we make sure she survives anyway."

---

Thea's POV – 11:30 p.m.

I left Tiffany's house feeling heavier than before. She had promised to stay inside, to try to control the hunger. But I could see the struggle in her eyes. It was only a matter of time before she lost control again.

I walked back to Rebekah's car and found her asleep. I thought, The one who wanted to come with me and protect me fell asleep. I laughed quietly and opened the door. She woke up suddenly and grabbed the bat. We both screamed at the same time.

"Ahhhh!"

"Ahhhh!"

She almost hit me.

"Wait, wait, Rebekah, it's me! Oh my God! Are you trying to kill me or what?" I said, catching my breath.

"I-it's because you opened the door so suddenly. I thought it was someone else... or a monster."

I stared at her.

"Rebekah, you can't just assume that everyone here is a werewolf, a vampire, or some kind of monster."

"Sorry. I'm still processing everything."

"It's okay, Rebekah," I yawned. "Let's go. I'm really tired. Can I stay at your place tonight?"

She looked at me, surprised.

"You've never been to my house before. This would be the first time. And of course you can stay. We'll talk allll night long and get no sleep."

"Oh, no, please..." I said, as the car drove off and we kept chatting.

We arrived at her house and parked. As we were getting out, I felt a presence. Someone was watching us. There was no one there, but I knew I wasn't alone. I couldn't say anything; I didn't want to put my friend in danger.

"If you want, go ahead, Rebekah. I want to get some air."

She looked at me doubtfully.

"Okay, but don't be long. I want to talk about a lot of things with you tonight."

She opened her front door and went inside. Once I was sure she was in, I said:

"Show yourself."

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, from the shadows, a figure emerged.

It was the woman. The one from the hill. The one with the hood.

She was tall and thin, her face hidden in the darkness of her cloak.

"Who are you?" I demanded.

She didn't answer. She just looked at me, her head slightly tilted, like she was studying me.

"You have questions," she said finally. Her voice was soft, but it carried an edge of authority.

"Many," I admitted.

"And you want answers?"

I nodded.

She smiled, but there was no warmth in it.

"Then come with me."

"I'm not going anywhere with you," I said. "I don't know if you want to hurt me. And besides, I don't even know you. Do you think I'd just go with you like that?"

"One way or another, you'll come with me," she said.

That's when two other figures appeared behind me. They injected me with something, and I started losing my vision. They took me with them, and I had no idea what they would do to me. I only managed to drop my little brother Ben's necklace in front of the garage.

They turned and began walking into the darkness, one of the strangers carrying me over his shoulder.

Then Rebekah came out.

"Come on in! You've been outside getting air for way too long! Do you want more or what?" she joked.

But I didn't answer.

"Thea? Are you there?"

She came out to look and didn't find me. She looked everywhere and only found the necklace.