Chapter Text
Why did her head hurt?
It was as though she’d been in a fight recently.
What could have caused such- okay, no. Was it a headache? How did she have a headache?
Blinking her eyes open, she took in her surroundings... or she would have, if she weren’t blinded by the unexpected light. It shouldn’t be this bright. It was late. It should be getting dark. Trying again, she managed to squint until her eyes adjusted. When her vision cleared, a room came into view. Not any room. Scott’s room.
How was she...?
“You’re awake.”
Wait, Scott was here? She didn’t sense anything though. “How did we get here? We were just-”
“That was yesterday, Malia.”
She can’t have heard that right. How could she have missed the past several hours? It wasn’t possible. That couldn’t just happen. Sitting up, she ignored the swaying motion she felt, instead choosing to focus on answers.
“What is going on?”
Scott seemed hesitant to say anything. It was like someone had died. Wait, had someone died?
“Malia...”
“Just tell me, Scott.” Nothing made sense. Somehow, she’d forgotten an entire day and apparently, slept for half of it. She didn’t remember coming to Scott’s, or the fact he was in the same room as her. There had been no sign of his presence. Nothing to signal she wasn’t alone. Headache or not, (which she shouldn’t even have), she should have heard Scott’s heartbeat, but she didn’t. In fact, she still couldn’t hear it.
Do you think she received an answer? No. Instead, all her question earned was an uncertain gaze. If there was one thing she couldn’t stand more than anything else, it was being kept in the dark. No one treats her like a damsel in distress.
“Scott! What is going on?!”
At the tired sigh her outburst elicited, she was ready to snap, until Scott spoke.
“There’s no easy way to say this, but... you’re cursed.”
Silence. Absolute silence. Everything became a blur underneath her anger. She was last point of being mad. No, it was more than that. Right now, she was downright seething. The night before came flooding back, as vivid as if it had just happened. The hunters, the warehouse, Theo... Belladonna. That witch. She was going to kill her. There was no way she was going to stand by and take this. No one curses her and gets away with it.
She knew what the curse, or curses were. Standing up, it was confirmed by Scott towering over her. It was confirmed by her lack of hearing. The rest fell into place on its own.
“Malia...”
Scott stood between her and the door. He stood between her and the bathroom mirror. He stood between her and the final confirmation she needed.
“Move.”
“Malia, please-”
“Get out of my way, Scott.”
Nothing. Her gaze narrowed at the sympathy in his eyes. The pity. She didn’t need it. She didn’t want it.
“I won’t say it again, Scott. Let me through.”
He still wasn’t convinced. She could see it in that open look, those honest eyes. He thought it was better this way. Well, she didn’t agree. She would find out one way or another, so it may as well be now.
“I don’t think you should-”
“I don’t care! Let. Me. Through.” She was seething, and that was not a state you wanted to mess with. It was a mistake to push her on a good day, but now... she wasn’t in the mood.
Sighing yet again, Scott finally stepped aside and within seconds of opening the door, she froze. She’d known. Of course, she’d known. It was obvious. Remembering the previous night told her everything she needed to know, but that didn’t change the fact she could see the reflection.
Not hers, but that of a nine-year-old boy. It went without saying she was human; it was the only explanation. If those were true, that meant the other curses were as well. She was going to kill Belladonna.
“I’m going to rip her head off.” She might be human, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t growl. That witch would regret crossing her.
“You need to calm down, Malia.”
“Calm down?! Look at me, Scott!” It was a ridiculous request. It was beyond unreasonable. Given the situation, her anger was justified.
“If you’ll just listen-”
“I’m not interested in listening, Scott. I don’t want to talk about it. I want to find her and rip her head off.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
True Alpha. We don’t kill. She knew the spiel and usually, she would adhere to that rule, but not this time. This time she was past the point of peace. There was no peace. Not when Belladonna had made such a dire mistake.
“I will make her pay for this.”
“Please, just think about this-”
“There’s nothing to consider, Scott. That witch messed with the wrong person. Where is she?”
“Malia-”
“Where is she?!” She was through waiting. She needed to move, to track her down.
“Even if I knew, I wouldn’t tell you.” Scott could be so matter-of-fact when he wanted to be. He was unshakable in his decisions, when it came to his beliefs. It was one of the reasons she loved him, but right now, it was in her way.
“Give me her number.”
“No.”
“Scott.”
“I am not helping you kill someone.” There was no reasoning with Scott. Not when it came to this.
“I’ll find her with or without you.”
“Right, and how do you plan on beating her?”
“I’ll find a way!” She was through being told what she could or couldn’t do.
How many times was Scott going to sigh?
“You can’t keep attacking everyone, Malia. That’s why you were cursed.”
“This is Theo’s fault.” Was she snarling? Yes. She couldn’t care less.
“No, it’s not.”
“Don’t sound so unimpressed, Scott. We wouldn’t be here, if it weren’t for Theo.” That little shit was going to pay, as well. “He told her to do it. We’ve all seen how close they are. This was his idea.”
“Malia, Theo tried to stop Belladonna. He begged her not to go through with it,but she wouldn’t listen.”
“Do you think I’m stupid, Scott? You’re protecting a monster!”
“That’s enough.” She was momentarily shocked into silence, because Scott never snapped. Of course, he’d been angry and worked up before, but never like this. “I don’t want to hear it. This is not on Theo. It’s on you.”
Just like that, her anger was back. She was furious at the injustice. “How can you take his side?!”
“I took your side. I took your side every time you insulted Theo. I took your side every time you harassed him. I took your side, every single time.”
She would have responded, were it not for the fact, Scott didn’t stop there. Oh, no. He was just getting started.
“Yes, I asked you to stop, but I should have done more. I should have made you stop.” Once again, she couldn’t get a word in, before Scott continued. “Theo didn’t deserve any of what you put him through.”
“He’s a murderer, Scott!”
“So are half the Pack.”
Scott was not comparing the rest of them to Theo? She would not allow it. “They’re different.”
“No, they’re not.” Scott emphasised his refusal to give in. Neither one of them were prepared to back down. “Theo isn’t the first. We accepted everyone else. We gave everyone a second chance. Everyone except Theo.”
“He doesn’t deserve one. Liam never should have freed Theo. He should be rotting in hell, where he belongs.”
“How can you say that?” Scott sounded appalled. She would never understand how anyone could defend Theo. She, for one, would not be dragged into the madness. “Look at what Theo’s done for us. All of us.”
“He’s playing you, Scott! Don’t you see? It’s all an act! That monster wouldn’t know true help, if it bit him. The only thing Theo’s good for is destruction.” This was the most spiteful she’d been in a long time.
“That’s not-”
“Don’t deny it! Theo is going to try to destroy the Pack. It’s only a matter of time.” She wouldn’t let him. “We need to destroy him first.”
“What do you propose we do?” Scott was tired and frustrated, but she didn’t care, right now. This was too important. Too urgent.
“We send him back.” Matter-of-fact. Scott looked at her, eyes wide and mouth open, as if she were being cold and emotionless. You know what? Maybe she was, but Theo deserved it for everything he had done. She did not feel sorry for him. She would never feel sorry for him.
“No!”
“He shouldn’t have been freed in the first place.”
“We are not sending him back to hell!”
“He deserves it! Theo deserves to suffer! He killed his sister! He killed Josh and Tracey! He killed half the Pack, including you! Let him rot down there!”
“Okay, that’s it. I can’t do this anymore.” Scott’s expression hardened, and she had never seen him so closed off.
“Can’t do what?”
“I won’t stand here and listen to you abuse Theo. Not after everything he’s done for the Pack. Belladonna cursed you to teach you a lesson, and it’s one you need to learn on your own.”
“You’re not serious?” Scott couldn’t be. He wouldn’t... No, Scott wouldn’t leave someone like this. He wouldn’t leave her like this. It’s also the reason Theo was able to lie so effectively. Scott was too caring for his own good.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t help you. You can stay here, but that’s all I’ll do.” With that, Scott simply turned around, determined to leave. Just like that, he was prepared to walk out. He was prepared to go back downstairs, without another word or attempt to fix this.
“Scott!”
She waited as Scott stopped at the door, only to turn around and say, “There’s one more thing you should know.”
That was never a good way to start a conversation.
“What?” It was slow, and her eyes narrowed in anticipation.
“Belladonna won’t change you back. Not unless both Theo and Liam agree.”
They have to... oh, you’ve got to be kidding!
“What?!” It could be described as nothing less than a screech. This was ridiculous! She would not be put in this position. She would not be made to rely on anyone, let alone Theo. She would not allow her freedom to depend on that monster or Liam, who for some unknown reason was friends with Theo.
Scott didn’t respond. No, he just walked out, as though that piece of information had never occurred.
She was pissed, and everyone would regret their part in this. Just wait and see. This was going to end bloody.