Work Text:
You hadn’t been a werewolf for long, much the same as your new friends. When Derek had been changing teens, you’d noticed that something was up. You didn’t know Erica well but you’d say you were comfortable acquaintances, so when you’d asked about it she’d just introduced you to Derek. He’d been honest that he already had someone in mind to change and you’d understood, confessing that you’d been little more than curious. You’d stayed for a little while longer, learning everything that Derek would let you about werewolves.
Before you left his place that night, he’d given you the bite.
Boyd didn’t talk much but he was incredibly funny when he did, you grew close to him quickly. Derek was much the same way, quiet and stoic, but you’d quickly made it your personal mission to make him laugh whenever you could, and secretly he appreciated it. You grew only closer to Erica, sharing a special bond now that you’d never had before, she often joked about the joys of having another girl around. Isaac was quiet but a hothead, he got involved quickly and was the first to resort to violence, but you found it admirable and it was endearing how easy it was for Derek to calm him. You found the McCall kid incredibly annoying about the whole thing - you were positive that nothing you did was any of his business and your werewolf companions agreed enthusiastically, though that did little to keep him from bothering you.
As time passed, you grew only closer to your ‘pack’. Full moons were hell and there was a time when you were sure that you’d never gain control of your shift. Isaac? Well he was fast, it was almost automatic for him and you couldn’t help but be jealous. You’d asked him about it but he’d been quick to shut down the topic, not wanting to talk about what he used as his anchor. You remained closest to Erica, though now that she was so confident she could be more annoying, but this also meant you could tease her without worrying about her reaction so that compensated for it.
When Boyd and Erica died, you were beyond devastated. You were sure that there was no word that could explain the hole you felt inside you and the only person who could truly understand that was Isaac. You’d not been the closest to him, in fact you’d argue that you had the most distance with him, but loss can do strange things. You became inseparable almost instantly, a package deal, and Derek could deal with that. He wasn’t your alpha now but you still answered to him over McCall. He appreciated it, Scott did not. Isaac was more ready to accept Scott’s leadership and you tried to be as easy to work with as possible, despite your general resistance. Isaac helped. You spent almost every minute together, the ones you didn’t were the moments you were forced to separate.
You deliberately pleaded to the school about altering your schedules to have classes together to help with the loss you were experiencing and the principal was understanding and accommodated you. You ate lunch together every day, even if that meant interacting with people you’d rather not, when you’d rather not. You went to all of Isaac’s lacrosse practices and games, accepting the extra credit the coach gave you for effectively being his slave during practice with minimal complaints. Isaac went to as many of your rehearsals as the drama teacher would allow, helping you learn your lines in any free time you wanted to dedicate to it. Scott had offered to let Isaac live with him, but after some pleading with your parents you were able to offer for yourself, so you used the money he’d gotten after his father’s death to buy a second single bed to put in your bedroom.
When he’d first moved in, he often refused to sleep until his body forced him to, worried about nightmares. You tried your hardest to convince him that it would be okay if he had them, that you’d be there for him and you didn’t mind if he woke you up but he was nothing if not stubborn. Eventually, one day while he was in the shower, you pushed the two of your beds together so that it was a makeshift double. He’d been confused at first but you offered the idea that you’d had - physical contact comforted him and would even soothe his wolf, so it may help with his nightmares. He’d been nervous at first and you were sure that he was going to refuse and push his bed back, but he didn’t. He got into bed and held you through the night.
Neither of you woke up once.
“Come on!” You yelled up the stairs, laughing as Isaac emerged with his shirt halfway over his head, tugging his clothes on as fast as he could manage without making a fool of himself.
“This is your fault for keeping me up late.” He grumbled, though he was smiling and you handed him some toast.
“It’s your fault for not going to bed when you knew you wouldn’t be able to wake up.” You retorted, shaking your head with a laugh. Quickly, you both rushed around the living room, collecting everything you needed for the day and then you headed out and jumped into your car. Usually you’d complain about the mess he was making with his toast, but today you were in a good mood, so you let it slide. You switched on the radio and absently flicked through the stations until a song came on that you liked. Isaac sighed, looking out of the window with an exaggerated frown as you sang along, deliberately badly. He joined in after a few minutes, unable to pretend that he wasn’t enjoying himself any longer.
When lunch rolled around, you dramatically collapsed down at the table you’d come to sit at every lunch period, surrounded by those you’d reluctantly come to call friends.
“History?” Lydia asked with a small amused smile and you only nodded, dropping your chin onto your hand. Isaac rubbed your shoulder sympathetically as he sat beside you, moving it to rest on your knee without so much as a thought, turning to talk with Stiles about something. You got deep into a conversation with Lydia about which show you thought your teacher would pick next and Allison joined in when she sat down. They weren’t Erica and they never would be, but you knew she’d want you to make new connections.
“Is Isaac’s hand on your knee?” Allison asked after a brief beat of silence and you considered it for a moment before nodding, you’d not even noticed it.
“Does he always do that?” Lydia asked, tilting her head curiously.
“I’ve never noticed it really, we just like to be close I guess.” You shrugged and continued with your food, not sure why they were so interested in it. Maybe it was weird for them, but it hadn’t been weird with you and Isaac, not in a long while.
“Scott is pretty tactile too, I guess it’s a werewolf thing.” Allison said then, having taken some time to consider it.
“No, Scott is your boyfriend, that's why he wants to touch you.” You pointed out, at which point Scott’s head perked up.
“Are you talking about me?” He asked, looking between the three of you, prompting you all to laugh.
“About you, not to you.” Lydia remarked and he rolled his eyes, only making you laugh harder. You still didn’t like Scott as much as Derek, but he still made for good company sometimes.
The remainder of the day was uneventful, which you were grateful for, you needed the respite. When Isaac jogged away with the boys to change for lacrosse, you headed to the coach’s office to check if he needed any help with setup. He handed you some cones to lay out and you just nodded and took them. It wasn’t often cold in Beacon Hills, but when it was you always resented your lack of warm clothes. Buying warm clothes felt like a waste since it was cold so infrequently, but you always regretted it when it did become cold. You tried your best to stay warm as you set up for the boys, then retreated to the bleachers, rubbing your hands together to stay warm.
When they all jogged out, you cheered jokingly, making stupid comments about their attractiveness and they laughed along. You’d come to get along well with the lacrosse team, a product of how much you saw them. They got to practising quickly when the coach emerged, already barking orders and you shuffled down toward him to strike up some conversation. You talked minimally to the coach, knowing that if you spoke too much he’d try to convince you to do more work because he’d be more aware of your being there, but it didn’t hurt to talk to him at least a little. You could’ve cried when he asked you to go to his car to grab a file he’d left in there, but you took his keys with a small nod anyway. The parking lot was colder than the field somehow, so you made sure to be quick and when you returned the coach made a comment about how cold your hands were.
Isaac heard it, because of course he did, and he jogged over quickly. The coach looked at him disapprovingly but thankfully they’d lined up to practise taking shots at the goal and Isaac had been near the back, so he wasn’t immediately needed.
“You cold?” He asked, though he already knew the answer.
“Little bit, nothing I can’t survive though.” You replied, rolling your eyes with a fond smile.
“Hold on.” He stepped back then and tugged off his sweatshirt and he handed it to you.
“I can’t take this, you’ll be cold.” You replied, shoving it back against his chest.
“I run warm, besides, I’ll be running around so I’ll heat up.” He returned, pushing the sweater back toward you and while you were trying to think of an argument, he ran back to where he’d been to continue with practice. Reluctantly, and with a scowl firmly on your face, you pulled it over your head.
It smelled like Isaac, of course it did, but not just of the detergent that your mother used to wash both of your clothes - it smelled distinctly of him. You returned to the bleachers, sitting just on the first row of benches and wrapped your arms around yourself, enjoying the new warmth you’d gained from accepting the sweater that had been given to you. When practice was over, Stiles took to teasing you about the sweater but when you flashed your wolf eyes at him he surrendered and caught up with the boys to shower and change.
You were waiting outside the locker room when Isaac emerged with Scott and Stiles.
“Glad you took it now?” He asked with a brow raised and you just sighed and shook your head, falling into step beside him.
“You’re the worst.”
“I think you said best wrong, maybe try again.”
“Still the worst.” You tipped your head back just slightly to look up at him, then gently tapped your head against his shoulder (a more wolf-like gesture of affection that you’d picked up from the Hales at some point during the time you’d spent practically living with Derek). Stiles slipped to stand on your other side and wiggled his brows suggestively, earning him a firm elbow in his ribs.
You and Isaac were nothing, at least nothing that you needed to put a name to. He was your everything really, your comfort, your safety, your anchor. You didn’t need to be the same to him, though you suspected that you were, because he was everything that you needed him to be without never needing to ask for any of it. Isaac was yours, you knew that on a level that you couldn’t explain and that was all you needed.
Isaac was yours and you were his.