Scott's P.O.V

It was 9:40 and Oakley still wasn't home yet. I was sitting in the kitchen nervously fiddling with my phone, finally admitting to myself that I was worried about her.

What could possibly be taking her so long? Why wasn't she home yet?

Maybe something had happened to her when she was driving home from work and she couldn’t call someone.

She was angry when she left for work, what if she crashed the car?

Did she even make it to work on time?

She was killing me here.

"Mate, what are you still doing here?" Jason asked wondering into the kitchen grabbing a glass of milk from the fridge.

"Waiting for Oakley, what does it look like I’m doing?" I snapped.

"Why?" He snapped at me.

"I'm the babysitter Jason, I care for everyone around here, not just the little ones." Why didn't anyone understand that I cared for her? Was I really that mean towards her?

"Go home already, she’ll be back any minute now. She isn't a kid anymore Scott; she can take care of herself. She has been forever now." Jason muttered walking off to his room, slamming the door behind him.

As soon I got up from my chair, I heard the front door unlock. Oakley entered the house and her scent filled the air automatically calming me down. My body slowly relaxed when she made her way into the kitchen, not realising I was still there watching her.

"Hey." I said making her jump. She dropped the drink bottle she was holding, and it fell to the floor in slow motion.

With my wolf speed I ran in front of her and caught the bottle seconds before it fell to the ground.

"Far out Scott you scared me to death!" She gasped holding her hand on her chest.

"Sorry." I smiled sheepishly. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.” I said sincerely.

"What are you still doing here Scott? I thought you would have gone home ages ago, everyone's in bed aren't they?” She asked in a whisper afraid to watch the kids up.

"I was waiting for you to come home before I left." I told her truthfully.

"Why would you do that?"

"It’s like you said earlier before you left, I'm the babysitter; I look out for everyone around here." I smiled kindly towards her.

She nodded slowly, still confused at my actions. "Right, well then, is everyone in bed?” She asked me.

"Yep" I said popping the P. “They were all showered and in bed an hour ago.”

"What time where they asleep?” She was shocked.

I thought for a few seconds trying to remember the torturous hour when I chased all the young ones around the house begging them to sleep. I swear at first they were nocturnal or something. “Um, like eight, or around then. Is that alright?” I replied hopeful.

“Wow, good job, they must like you.” She muttered to herself, shaking her head.

“Everyone likes me.” I smiled widely.

She rolled her eyes, “Well, I’m going to head to bed, I’m so tired from work.” She nodded and turned around to go to her room leaving me alone in the kitchen.

As I watched her turn around, I realised this whole act was pointless and a waste of time. There was no way I could continue to ignore her at school, she was just too perfect, she made it impossible for me.

"Oakley wait up." I called after her.

She turned around too fast, not realising how close we were apart, she knocked into my chest, our heads only centimetres apart.

I wrapped my arm around her back and she stiffened slightly.

"You looked really beautiful today at school." I blurted out, not knowing what else to say to her.

Her cheeks turned the cutest shade of red. I didn’t understand why she blushed all the time around me, but I loved it. I must have such a big effect on her.

"I just thought I’d let you know." I smiled genuinely to her.

She blushed even deeper than before.

"Also, I'm um, I’m sorry about what happened today at school.” I muttered dryly thinking about when I brushed her off in the car park. It was horrible of me to leave her like that.

She dropped her head, still speechless.

"It was a dick move and I’m sorry. Have a good night's rest alright?" I brushed the hair that was on her face.

Again, she nodded.

"Goodnight Oakley." I stepped back and went to the kitchen leaving her to find her way to her bedroom. I picked up my keys and my phone from the table and shoved them into my pocket about to leave.

Everyone was in bed, and still Mary wasn't home yet. What time does this women work till? She should be home soon; I guess I should wait here just to make sure everything is all right. I would hate for on of the kids to wake up in the night and wake Oakley up. She needed her sleep. She always looked so tired at school, like she could sleep for another ten hours if she had the chance too.

I sat on the couch and rested my head on one of the soft green pillows. I was getting tired myself, but I couldn’t fall asleep here at Oakley’s house. That would be too weird and uncomfortable for the both of us. Especially if one of the little ones woke up and forgot who I was. That would not go down well. Just as I started to get comfortable, Jacob started crying.

Great.

I slowly got up off the couch and made my way to his room to find out that I was already beaten to it. I stood in the doorframe and chuckled to myself seeing Oakley holding little Jacob in her arms. It was like a proud father watching his wife and newborn baby.

Wait, I didn't mean it like that. She is my mate, but I'm still in high school. Why the hell am I still thinking about kids?

She put him back into the cot and kissed him on the forehead softly. I hid behind the door thinking she was going to leave, but instead she sat down on the chair next to the cot and laid her head onto the wooden plank above it.

She wasn’t going to sleep there was she?

I was so surprised when she started singing quietly to him hoping that he would fall back to sleep. I listened carefully to her beautiful voice wondering why I had never heard it before.

‘Why is everything crumbling to pieces, right in front of my eyes,

wishing there was just a reason, if only I could understand why

My oh my, I just want to know why.

because I need to understand,

Please help me, I’m falling down, down, down

I’m falling down the endless road, I need to be brought back up by you,

I’m falling down, I need to be saved,

I’m falling, yeah, oh I’m falling

now can anybody help me?

Why can’t you tell me, how to act bright outside,

why don’t you remember, how it used to be,

when we were perfect, together forever

running round in circles, all I need is the answer, that their calling,

I’m falling down the endless road, I need to be brought back up by you,

I’m falling down, I need to be saved,

I’m falling, yeah, oh I’m falling

now can anybody help me?’

I had never heard of that song before, but I knew the first word she sung, it was beautiful. I had no idea she could sing like an angel. Why didn’t she show people her talents at school?

She's perfect, and she's all mine.

After she sung, slowly she fell asleep. She was beyond amazing. Whenever I was around her, I was lost for words.

Speechless, if that. I'm Scott Williams and I never ever get nervous. Why is she making me feel this way all of a sudden? My wolf was going crazy right now.

Once I knew she was fast asleep and wasn’t getting up any time soon, I walked into her room and got the blanket off her bed and laid it across her trying to be as careful as possible. She smiled in her sleep and snuggling closer to her knees. She was too cute. I slowly lent in and kissed her on the forehead and then left her to sleep, closing the door behind me.

Running home in my wolf form was an amazing feeling for me. Everything I was feeling for Oakley suddenly disappeared. For once it was amazing not to think about her for more than two minutes without worrying if she is okay.

When I got home I saw a letter lying face down on the doorstep. I changed into my normal human form, quickly putting on the spare change of clothes I had behind the pot plant; and picked it up and walked inside, I stopping to read it in the middle of the hallway.

When I reached the last line of the letter, I was completely frozen. He was near, closer than we all thought. He was after Oakley. My Oakley. My breath was hazy as dad came into the room looking at me oddly.

"Son what's wrong?" He asked me.

I couldn't talk. I shoved the letter towards dad and let him read it aloud.

'How cute, watching over her when she sleeps with the baby. I rather think it's considered stalking. She is a beautiful girl though I have to agree with you Scott. She's your mate I see also. I can't say haven't seen that before. A wolf falls in love with a human. How ironic. Watch out. She might not be single for long. Someone might just come alone and sweep her off her feet.

Be careful Scotty, she is too beautiful to resist.'

Hearing it for the second time made my blood boil even more. It sent chills down my spine listening to it aloud. Whoever this guy is now knows where Oakley lives. This isn't good. This isn't good at all.

Oakley's P.O.V

As my eyes opened, I felt sharp stabs of pain shoot in my back from sleeping on the hard wooden chair. I looked down and saw that in my arms was a restless crying Jacob.

"Jacob honey, stop crying please." I whispered in his ear, rocking him back and forth hoping to stop the crying.

"The monsters are coming." He sobbed into my stomach.

"Shhhh, it’s all okay, no one is going to hurt you" I stroked his hair in hopping that it would comfort him.

Just as he was about to fall back asleep Mary was at the doorway raising her voice once again.

"Where were you last night?" She shouted. Jacob lifted his head and started sobbing again as he heard the screech in Mary’s voice.

I groaned.

"Well?" Mary stomped her foot.

"I was in here with Jacob the whole time; I got home from work and Jacob was crying so I stayed in here to keep him company." I told her truthfully.

"What happened to your arm them?"

I looked down at my arm and saw a line of dry blood. I had completely forgotten about that from yesterday. I didn't take much notice of it at work because I was wearing a long sleeve top.

"I fell at school yesterday, that's all." I muttered.

"How'd you fall on your arm?"

"I don't know, I just tripped."

"Clutts." She muttered walking out of the room leaving me with the crying kid to deal with.

I turned my attention back onto the crying kid in my arms now that Mary had left.

"Come on Jacob, I have to get ready for school." I smiled trying to cheer him up.

He pointed to the clock; I turned around and gasped when I saw the time.

It was already 10 o'clock.

"Shoot, Jacob I have to go now right now, I'm really late for school. You'll be okay today alright?" I asked.

He nodded slowly, still obviously upset that I was leaving.

As quickly as I could I got changed from my work clothes into a pair of black jeans, a white top that was over five sizes too big for me. My red converse stood out, but I needed some colour in my outfit today. I chucked my hair up into a messy bun, but didn't look half bad. I grabbed my bag and ran outside into the car.

Driving to school took longer than I anticipated. The traffic was mayhem today. I couldn’t afford to be any later than I already was. I didn’t need a detention for missing class. I was already behind in all my classes from a few weeks ago. This was just a massive set back.

Pulling in on my usual car park - the corner park at the very back – third period had just started. I got out of my car and looked around to see if anyone had noticed how late I was. As I looked around my eyes got caught on dark eyes glaring back at me. Scott was staring at me so deeply, like he was trying to read my soul or something.

I thought that maybe, just maybe he had forgotten about last night and what he said to me. It was strange and unnecessary coming from him. He’s the most popular guy in the school, and he called me beautiful.

That’s almost impossible for me to comprehend. It was probably just a joke, a stupid pointless joke. They were all picking on me, wanting to humiliate me once again in front of everyone. When he noticed that I was looking back at him, he turned around and walked to a group of his friend all standing bear him.

There was not a chance in the world that he was going to be the nice gentlemen he was last night and come up to me and start a conversation with me. Instead, I walked into school alone, to be quickly bombarded by whom I would call the most hated girl in the school, Brittney Faith.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" She yelled at the top of her lungs wanting all the attention to be drawn to herself.

"What?" I muttered quietly.

"Sneaking around with Scott like that, who the hell do you think you are?" She yelled. At this point there was a massive crowd beginning to form. They were crowding around us in a circle. This was my worst nightmare. I didn’t want to be the centre of attention.

"I haven't been doing anything, I don’t know what you’re talking about." I whispered.

"That's a lie and we both know it." She snapped at me.

"Leave me alone Brittney." I tried to break free of the circle of people, but the boys were blocking me in.

"Well well everyone, little Miss Oakley's blushing once again. What, you think that by wearing baggy clothes that people won't look at you? That you won't attract any attention to yourself? Talking to Scott will attract more attention than you could ever imagine. What are you scared of, people finding out about your family? Huh, embarrassed about the truth? Oakley darling you should never be embarrassed about your family. Unless of course they’re not really your family that you’re living with are they? Where are your parents Oakley? Are they dead?" Before I could answer her, she shoved me away from her. I stepped back surprised.

Someone suddenly charged through the crowd, stomping through, breathing heavily. Of course it was Scott. I didn’t even have to look at him to tell.

"Don't touch her." He said. The tone he was using was really scary.

"Scott, I didn't do anything to her." Brittney was suddenly shirking down in front of Scott.

He growled at her, his body starting to shake in fury.

"Calm down Scott, you can have her. Look at her, no one is fighting for her around here." Brittney smirked looking at me.

"Stay away from her. Alpha will hear about this, and you can answer to him from now on." He whispered. I didn't know what Alpha meant but the minute he mentioned it, she froze, her back stiffening.

"Do you understand me Brittney?" He asked.

She was still frozen on the spot, unable to answer him.

"Do you understand me?" He bellowed.

"Yes." She nodded nervously.

I looked around and noticed everyone had left for class. There was no one around in the hallways but Brittney, Scott and myself, thank god. I think I could die of embarrassment right now. Scott was so protective towards me I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not.

Brittney was too ashamed to hang around; she basically ran towards the girl’s bathrooms and slammed the door behind her. Now that Scott and I were alone, he turned around and faced me. The minute he did, his whole body calmed down. I noticed his shoulders drop and the anger in his eyes faded away.

"Are you okay Oakley?" He asked touching my cheek softly.

"Yeah, it doesn’t matter." I shrugged it off trying not to look Scott in the eye.

"Oakley, people care about you. The sooner you realise that, the sooner you realise

that I’m only here to help. I want to help you and make sure you’re okay. I just need to make sure you’re alright.” He reassured me.

"Scott, it’s alright, I’m okay, no need to worry." I encouraged him realising that he was firing up again.

"How long has she been harassing you for Oakley?" He demanded me.

"This was the first." I swore to him. I didn’t want Scott to find out about how cruel she was to me while he was this mad. If he did, I have know doubt that he would run after Brittney and kill her himself. She has never done anything physically to me like she did today, but there are just small things that annoy me to the end of the earth with her. She doesn’t understand that enough is enough. I fully believe that it was her who stuck then photos on my locker that day. She would have done that purely to get a laugh out of it.

"That will be the last time she ever comes near you.” He growled allowed.

Scott started shaking with rage again, and I started to worry for him. Why had Brittney harassing me irritated him so much?

"Scott you're shaking, what's wrong?" I asked him carefully.

"Nothing." He bumped my shoulder walking past me.

Oh no he doesn't.

"Hey Scott wait up. What’s going on with you?" I grabbed his arm and he stopped, still shaking with rage. His arm felt so hot like it was on fire.

"You just have to calm down okay? I told you I was fine, I’m alright, she didn’t hurt me." I comforted him.

"Oakley get your hand off me right now." He whispered fiercely.

"Scott what the hell is wrong with you?" I snapped.

"Leave me alone!" He yelled. He was so loud I swear he vibrated.

I didn't understand what was going on. Why was he acting like this?

"Scott?" I asked carefully.

Before I could back away from Scott like I should have, he turned around and slapped me across the face. The slap had been so much force that I lost my balance and went sliding back, hitting my head hard on the row of lockers. My vision was blurring, but I refused to black out just yet.

I looked up at him, despite the throbbing in my head and saw that he looked as if he was in more pain than I was.

I couldn't see him for very long though, my eyesight was weakening.

"Oakley?" His faint voice was in my ear.

The throbbing in my head was overpowering. Scott wasn't on the wrestling team, so how the hell was he that damn strong?

My eyesight was fading out at this point, my vision fading quickly. Before I blacked out completely, I heard a faint sob in my ear.

"I'm so sorry Oakley, I didn't mean it I swear.”