Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Why the fuck do you live there? I mean I get why but you can't live in a burned down house. I won't let you." They spoke loudly, driving down the highway with their phone on speaker.

Derek sighed and he could practically hear the regret and irritation in the exhale alone. "I could get a house-"

"Then get one! You can't live there, half of it doesn't even have a roof."

He was quiet and for a second the vampire swore he'd refuse out of principle, but he surprised him with a soft huff of amusement. "You want me to get the one right next to yours?" He teased, flatly.

His lips sprung up, "Just move into my place. It's got a spare room anyway and it's not like we hadn't talked about it since you were a kid."

"Since we were kids." He corrected you with a smile clear in his voice.

"Same difference." They brushed off with an eye roll. "I need to enroll into school anyway and they'll feel better if I've got an 'adult' living with me."

"You're just gonna pretend to be sixteen again? What if someone recognizes you?"

He scoffs, "Oh, yeah. 'Cause people here will remember a kid who visited one time, a million years ago."

"It was three years ago, being a vampire doesn't automatically make you a million years old."

"Whatever. No one’s going to recognize me anyway and if they do, I've got the eye thing down, remember?" Derek hummed, a deep rumble that had them smiling sadly. "Soon enough you'll be an old man and I'll still be your seventeen-year-old best friend, I wanna have as much time with you as I can. You and me again.”

"Yeah." His voice was soft, shifting easily into a teasing one. "You'll be the one back in high school."

"I don't know, maybe it'll be fun? I kinda lost those last few years to vamp hunting."

"You hated high school." He spoke matter-of-factly.

"Still do, but now I'm a hot vampire who can talk my way to better grades." And it's not like it matters if I flunk.

He groaned, "Great. You'll be more insufferable than ever."

"You'll love it."

It only seemed right to take care of him now that you were going back. Laura would've wanted her little brother as safe, or as safe as he could get in Beacon Hills.

Chapter Text

Sleep was part of the many human things I was grateful for keeping. Sweet bliss, however, had been interrupted by school for years now. Though Virginia had accustomed me, that didn’t mean I had to be happy in the mornings.

I sat on some benches where the school administrator had told us to wait. They had sent someone to show the new kids around, which was nice. I was texting Derek some nonsense to amuse myself, already thinking up ways to waste time until the school day was over. I had the sudden need to look up, glancing at the pretty brunette who sat beside me. She had an innocent yet determined look on her face that reminded me of another brown-haired girl. Except… she was a bit different.

“What was your name again?” I sat up to ask her the question, eyebrows furrowed.

“Allison.” She smiled politely. “You’re… Merrick, right?”

“Yeah. You said you came from San Francisco?” I initiated small talk and she looked relieved.

“Yeah.“ She smiled and opened her mouth to say something else when her phone rang. “Oh, sorry.” She whispered, making me shake my head to say ‘no problem’.

“Mom, three calls in my first day is a little overdoing it.” She answers, now rummaging through her bag. I look back to my phone, attention dwindling. “Everything except a pen. Oh, my God, I didn’t actually forget a pen.” She gives up trying to look when the principal walks up to them. “Okay, okay. I gotta go. Love you.” She hangs up.

“Sorry to keep you two waiting.” We stand up and follow him as he leads us into the school. “So you were saying San Francisco isn’t where you grew up?” He directs a question to Allison.

I catch her eye and we share a smile at the continuation of our conversation. “No, but we lived there for more than a year, which is unusual in my family.” Military family. I add up in my head.

“Well, hopefully Beacon Hills will be your last stop for a while. For both of you.” He gives me a nod.

He opens one of the classroom doors and we walk in behind him. “Class these are our new students, Allison Argent and Merrick Moreno. Please do your best to make them feel welcome.” As far as school introductions go, that wasn’t too bad.

We walk to the back of the class where there are two empty seats. She takes the first one, behind a fluffy haired kid who’s staring at her like she’s heaven on earth. I catch his distinctive scent and keep walking. I direct my eyes towards the other empty seat at the very back, behind a kid with a short buzz cut. He smiles as I walked by him.

I wasn’t going to give him a second thought before his scent wafted into my nose. Something sweet and bitter like dark chocolate, and the usual pheromones that all teenagers carried. My gums ached and my mouth watered, I clenched my jaw as I held my fangs back. I had full control over my hunger, but I always had a difficulty curbing my cravings, even as a human, and I definitely wanted a taste of this one. This seat was going to be the death of me. I stared at the back of his head as I sat down. He turned his head to glance at me once more, eyes locking. My mouth was still watering and I glared at him in annoyance. He looked surprised but I pointedly steered my eyes towards the tan kid in front of Allison.

He was looking at her and offering a pen, my eyebrows furrowed. He was eavesdropping.

Allison smiled prettily, “Thanks.”

He stared at her in awe until he slowly turned back around. Allison looked at the pen with confusion.

I stared at the board, realizing too late that Derek was entirely too correct. I hate high school.

After an hour of doodling and daydreaming the bell rang and I walked to my locker. A quick look around tells me it’s about twenty feet away from Allison’s, opposite from the fluffy haired kid’s. I pull the thing open, wondering what kind of school still had lockers.

I switched one notebook for another and walked to the next class. I walked in and asked the teacher where I’d sit. She pointed me to the only empty seat left at the back, a seat beside a blonde sitting at the corner. He looked up from where his head rest on his arm.

A mass of light brown curls on his head paired with deep set eyes.

I gave him a small smile and he looked away, his lips barely quirking up. Busted lip. My eyebrows knit together and I frown. Who picks fights on the first day back from winter break? 

It was one thing to attend -or more realistically not attend- school in Mystic Falls. I hadn’t cared about the classes, and I certainly didn’t care about missing them. Going to school here was different. California was home and it almost felt like making up for lost time. I was excited for the high school experience, only the best parts anyway.

The teacher shuffled papers on her desk well after the bell rung, the students chattering loudly as they waited. When she finally spoke up, she reviewed the recipe we’d be making. After about 30 minutes of notes she told us to, “Plan it out with your partners.”

I shifted in my seat, turning to the brunette sitting beside me.

The teacher, walking to her desk in the back, smiled at me. “You’re quite lucky, Isaac is my best student. I’m sure he can help if you’re having any trouble.” She patted my shoulder and walked off.

I looked at him expectantly and he anxiously turned in his seat, giving me a halfhearted smile.

“What was your name?” He shifted in his seat, tapping the desk with his knuckles.

“Merrick.” He hummed, letting an awkward silence settle between us. I tilted my head, trying to catch his gaze, lips quirking up into a smile. “So you’re quite the cook then?”

He fails to smother a smile and winced through a laugh. “Yeah, kinda. I have an A in the class.”

“Oh, well hopefully I don’t drag you down.”

“I think I’m good enough for the both of us.” He quips, making me raise my eyebrows.

I laugh, smiling for a moment too long. I press my lips together in thought, maybe school didn't have to be a total drag. "Is there any chance I can sit with you during lunch?”

He sits up, surprised. “Y-Yeah.”

“Thanks.” I sent him a relieved smile.

He shifts in his seat, “I- uh, I sit alone.”

I watch his blue eyes as they glance at me, waiting for the judgement. My heart warms at the soft-spoken boy and I smile at him kindly. “Not anymore.”

He smiles back, wincing at the sudden pull at his broken lip. My eyes glance at his lip, the smell of his blood making my gums throb. I can sense the air of anxiety as he notices where I'm looking. Clearly not a topic he’s open to discussing.

“Can I see your schedule?” He asks to distract me.

I hand him the piece of paper the office had given me, watching as he looks it over.

I was relieved to hear that I had half my classes with Isaac. He had showed me the way to the next two classes together, even giving me instructions on how to get to the last two. We made casual conversation during lunch and spoke quick goodbyes when we had to get to fifth period. He was nice. I didn’t know whether it was a good idea to have invited myself into his life, but I had a frankly pathetic want to have a normal high school experience.

I was lucky I had the wolf and his friend fifth period. Not so lucky that you had just his friend for the last period. Still, starting and finishing the school days with those two was better than I had hoped. It'd be easy to keep an eye on them.

I rushed out when the last bell rang, walking to dump my stuff in my locker. I glanced over at Alison, following her gaze to the fluffy haired kid who was making eyes at her. 

She, of course, had caught the attention of a gorgeous strawberry blonde who was now complimenting her jacket. Lydia. I recognized her from chemistry class, Isaac had said she was the queen bee.

“My mom was a buyer for a boutique back in San Francisco.” Allison explained.

A smile spread on the girl’s face. “And you are my new best friend.”

An attractive boy walked up behind her, slipping his arms around her waist. The girl giggled, “Hey, Jackson.” Boyfriend, Jackson Whitmore. Isaac had mentioned him too, he was captain of the lacrosse team.

“So, this weekend, there’s a party.”

“A party?” Allison said, her heartbeat picking up a bit.

“Yeah. Friday night. You should come.” The boy invited.

“Oh, I can’t. It’s family night this friday.” Allison said sweetly, lying. “Thanks for asking.”

“Yeah, everyone’s going after the scrimmage.” He tried to convince her.

“You mean like football?” Allison asked unknowingly. I smiled at her lack of knowledge, the typical new girl.

“Football’s a joke in Beacon. The sport here is lacrosse. We’ve won state championship for the past three years.” He bragged.

Lydia leaned towards him and ruffled his hair. “Because of a certain team captain.”

“Well, we have practice in a few minutes. That is, if you guys don’t have anywhere else to-“

“Well, I was going to-“Allison tries.

Lidia cuts her off, “Perfect. You’re coming.” She told her, pulling her along.

I was leaning back against the bleachers when practice finally started, waving at Isaac when he looked around. He gave me a surprised and awkward wave back. I chuckled at the way his shoulders straightened when he turned back around.

I watched the new werewolf half in amusement and half in anxiety. The boy had taken a ball straight to the face. I grimaced as the team laughed at him. How embarrassing . This sport was clearly a recipe for a werewolf attack. He got up and straightened himself out, the next ball that came barreling towards him was caught like it was nothing. That became a pattern for the next couple balls. I smirked, what a cheat.

The next ball was expertly shot by Jackson, only to be caught easily. Lydia shot up and cheered loudly. I clapped along with the crowd who was cheering loudly.

It seemed the bite took to him well.

The minute I'm out of the car I'm yelling, “Derek?!” He’s there when I turn around. “You called?” I stick my hands in my pockets. The sky was beginning to darken, 

“The hunters are here.” My eyebrows shoot up. “They have to be the ones who killed Laura.” His voice is sharp as he talks through clenched teeth.

“You wanna take ‘em out?”

He looked down solemnly then shook his head as he made up his mind. “I'll need your help.”

I nod, “Of course. Anything you need.”

A murmur of voices echoed through the trees not far from us and Derek snapped his head in their direction. We glance at each other before walking towards them. I keep my pace slow, stopping a few feet behind Derek.

“Maybe he moved the body.”

“If he did I hope he left my inhaler, those things are like 80 bucks.” His floppy haired friend replied. My lips twitched at his complaining, quickly dropping as the other one noticed us. He smacked his friend, and he stood up, finally looking at us.

Derek stalked towards them. “What are you doing here? Huh? This is private property.” His tone is confrontational.

“Uh, sorry, man, we didn’t know.” Buzz cut’s eyes lingered on me, his heart rate still rising as he took the both of us in.

“Yeah, we were just looking for something, but— Uh, forget it.” The young wolf added in.

Derek threw something at him, the kid catching it effortlessly. He looked down at the inhaler as Derek walked away. I follow Derek once he walks past me, acting as his lackey, speeding back to the burnt-up house once we’re out of their sight.

I sigh, leaning against my car. "He's already showing off at school."

He raises his hand and I throw him the keys. "The Alpha will show himself eventually, he'll want his Beta."

"You gonna tell him before the full moon?" I slide into the passenger seat as he starts the car.

"I'll have to. He'll probably kill someone if he doesn't learn to control his anger." 

I don't say anything for a moment. "And the hunters?"

"I'll worry about them for now. You just keep an eye on Scott." 

"You'll be more careful, right? They know about you." I remind.

He glances at you, eyebrows raised and a teasing smile on his face. "You worried about me?"

I roll my eyes and scoff, "Shut up." I hesitate to bring her up, but I needed him to say it. "If they got Laura..."

I watch his jaw clench and his hands tighten on the steering wheel. "They don't know about you yet and I want to keep it that way. I'll be careful."

I nod. It's only a matter of time before they realize that I am, or half of it at least. All I can do is hope the Alpha and his newly turned Beta don't cause too much trouble before Derek decides how to deal with the hunters. 

Chapter Text

“Gravedigger?” I tease, “You’re like the ultimate emo.”

Isaac laughs, “My family owns the graveyard.”

“It’s cool though. I couldn’t have picked a better hang out spot.” I smile over at him, amusement filling you at the irony of a vampire at a graveyard. He smiles too, glancing over at me before he turns back to handling the machine. “Is this all you do after school?”

His brows knit together, “Yeah, why?”

“You’re always all beat up. I was worried you were in a fight club.” I tease, looking over to see the smile completely wiped off his face. His shoulders were tense and I could hear his jaw clenching, teeth grinding together. I soften my voice, “I don’t see you getting into fights during school…”

He doesn’t say anything as he pulls another lever, metal clanking to dump dirt into the hole in the ground. He scoffs out a flat laugh, “Nah, I’m not in a fight club, I get hurt during lacrosse sometimes.”

Lie. His heartbeat had spiked and I could practically taste his panic in the air.

“Oh.” I was quiet for a moment, not knowing what to say. "So, are you ready to do all the work next week? I'm a bit behind on the whole cooking thing.”

He gladly took the change in topic, “You'll catch up quick. And if you don't, I'll tutor you."

He wore a teasing smile, but I was suddenly aware of how much I had been relying on Isaac. He had told me everything about Beacon Hills. I was hanging out with him at school, hanging around him at his job, and now tutoring? I was meant to keep to myself and keep an eye on the new werewolf, not involve other teenagers. If he got too close, he would start asking questions.

"It's alright." I glance away.

“If you want to, I can do it after lacrosse practice or during the weekend or something.”

He shrugged like it was nothing. There was an earnestness in his voice and an easy smile on his face that I didn't want to think about it too much. I couldn't help but feel guilty at how much time he was giving me when I could be gone in a few weeks.

"I thought you were good enough for the both of us.” I decided on completely ignoring my discomfort.

He chuckles, "Oh, I am, but I won't let you use me for an easy A. You have to work for it."

My phone vibrates, Derek’s name appearing with a message. I sigh as I read it. “I need to go.” I shove my phone into my pocket and send Isaac an apologetic smile as I hop off the excavator. He looks confused at the sudden rush but doesn't prod, saying goodbye. “I’ll text you!” I turn to yell out as I start jogging away.

I was mentally cursing Derek when he finally got there, hanging Alison’s jacket on a tree branch when I decided to voice my opinions. “I’m stronger than you, you know?”

“I can’t go around explaining everything, it wastes time.”

“I said I would help so let me. I’ve got more experience in these things than you do.”

“Not with the full moon, not personally.”

I don't argue with him there, I've never experienced the power that the moon has over them, but I don't think the way he's teaching Scott is a good way. "He's not like you though, he wasn't born into it. He's new to all of it. He's probably confused and you screaming at him won't help."

He sent me a look, raising his eyebrow incredulously. I purse my lips and nod. It was obvious I was projecting.

That was when the young wolf ran close. Derek watched as he stared at Allison's jacket, taking a few steps toward him. Scott tilted his head, looking around to find the source of the rustling.

“Where is she?” He spoke into the night.

“She’s safe. From you.” Derek said dramatically, catching Scott off guard with a tackle. They rolled on the ground as each one shoved the other over. Derek soon got the upper hand and grabbed him, pinning him to a tree. There was a rustling nearby and I moved closer to them, Derek hearing it too.

“What did you do with her?” Scott growls, making me cringe at the noise.

“Shh! Quiet.” He looked around as he focused his senses on them. I could hear them coming in our direction. “Too late. They're already here. Run.” We both took off in opposite directions, realizing too late that Scott hadn’t listened.

They shot a flare into the tree next to him, disorienting him, then an arrow into his arm. He roared in pain, making Derek stop in his tracks. “Take him.” The main hunter ordered.

“Hold them off.” Derek ordered right after, already moving to help Scott.

I glared at him but listened anyway. I slowed my pace to keep them thinking it was werewolves, throwing one lackey into the air and another one into a tree, both going unconscious when they hit their respective surfaces. Once my job was done, I caught up to Derek and Scott. “Who were they?”

“Hunters. The kind that have been hunting us for centuries.”

“Us? You mean you ! You did this to me!” Scott yelled.

I wondered if new vampires were this annoying, then quickly hoped I would never find out. “Is it really so bad, Scott? That you can see better, hear more clearly, move faster than any human could ever hope? You've been given something that most people would kill for. The bite is a gift.” I was very aware of how bad a job Derek was doing at "helping" him through turning, making a mental reminder to voice this thought later.

“I don't want it.”

“You will. And you're gonna need me if you want to learn how to control it.” He puts his hand on Scott’s shoulder, a threatening tone in his voice. “So, you and me, Scott, we're brothers now.” My lip twitched in amusement, Derek clearly had no idea what he was doing.

Scott looked about ready to cry and the hunters had fallen back. I swatted Derek’s arm, “Let’s go.” He looked up at me then back at Scott, who was looking even more confused when Derek listened. I waited for him to start leaving then looked down at Scott. “See you at school, Scotty.”

I heard his rapidly beating heart before I smelled him. The same mouthwatering scent that had me craving chocolate. Hunger gnawed at me and I slammed the locker door closed, making him jump.

“What do you want, buzzcut?”

Surprise and confusion littered his features before it morphed into determination. “My name’s Stiles.”

Odd name . “Okay, Stiles. What do you want?”

He swallowed nervously then jutted out his chin. “Scott told me about you.”

I raised my eyebrows, unimpressed. “And what? You want to blackmail me or something?” He looked caught red handed so I scoffed. “You were going to try and blackmail a supernatural creature who could rip your throat out without batting an eye?” I took a few steps toward him until his back hit the lockers, his face paled and his breathing picked up. “Does that sound like a good idea?” I asked mockingly.

“N-” He opened his mouth only to for his voice to come out a squeak, cleared his throat then tried again. “No.”

I smiled, “Glad we’re on the same page.”

He looked baffled as I walked away from him. I almost had a skip to my step as I walked out the school doors, one that immediately got stomped to bits. Scott was waving at none other than the lead hunter from last night. My confusion only lasted a couple seconds before the man moved to show a smiling Allison sitting in his passenger seat.

Oh, shit.

I was quick to call Derek to update him on the situation. A werewolf's first love being a part of a hunter family is a recipe for disaster. I was pacing in the living room as I waited for Derek to come home. When the door finally opened that night, I was quick to berate him for answers.

“So, what happened?”

“Scott freaked out.” He took his jacket off and threw it on an armchair, letting himself go on the couch.

I stood over him. “And? What’d you do?” 

He put his legs up on the armrest and crossed his ankles and put his hands behind his head as he closed his eyes. “Told him it’s all our asses if someone finds out, that I’d kill him myself if they did.” 

I nodded my head at the first bit, eyes widening at the second half. “What?! Are you crazy? He’s never going to trust us if you keep acting like a creep!”

He shrugged, “If he doesn’t trust me, it’ll make him trust you more.” He smirked at you. "And it seems like you want to handle the kid."

“I-” He looks amused and I sigh, "Yeah, fine. You were doing a crappy job anyway.”

Chapter Text

“What the fuck!" Stiles jumps as I slam my hands on the lunch table. “You think you can just go around accusing people of murder?!”

“B-But he did it! The dead body was in his yard!”

“Oh yeah? You mean his sister’s dead body?” His eyes widened as I speak through gritted teeth. “The one he found dead in the woods and buried on his property next to their childhood home? You guys are idiots!” I walk away and don’t bother to listen to his sputtering.

It had been a week and a half into the spring semester and I had to find out Derek was in jail when he used his phone call first thing in the morning. I had been seething the entire morning. Stiles had tried to ask questions during our shared classes, but I sent him a vicious glare each time. It was one thing not to like the way Derek tried to teach Scott, it was another to get him arrested. I wasn't going to help a stupid kid when he refused to see the gravity of the situation.

When the game finally came around a few days later, I couldn't have cared less about what kind of freak out he would have. I went for Derek's sake. Of course, it turned out I hadn't even needed to be there seeing as the wolf had found his anchor. Leaning on the wall outside of the locker rooms, I heard everything. The boy's rapid heartbeat had slowed the minute he heard Allison's voice.

It was at that moment that my phone buzzed from my pocket. Derek.

"They let you out already? I thought it was 25 to life." I answered, watching as Stiles jogged towards the locker rooms.

I gave him a glare when we locked eyes, it was clear he knew who I was talking to. "How was babysitting?" Derek shot back.

"They're idiots." I spoke loud enough for Stiles to hear as he walked through the locker room doors. "But the kid's fine for now. His girlfriend actually stopped him from turning so teaching him will be easier." I pushed off from the wall and started the walk home.

Derek scoffed, "The hunter's daughter is his anchor?"

"Go figure." I shrug. "I walked around the woods each night but no sign of the Alpha."

"He'll show eventually. He turned Scott for a reason."

There was an attack the next night. Inside a bus that was just outside the school. The scent of blood had lingered in the air.

“Hey, Merrick?” I turn to see Scott with the most pathetic look on his face. I was impressed, it almost made me feel bad for him.

“Yes, Scott?”

“Can you help me?” I raised my eyebrow. “You have full control. I saw you on the full moon.”

I had witnessed his anxiety when they pulled the bus driver out of the bloodied up bus and the relief when he saw the man was conscious. I cross my arms. "And if I say no?"

He grimaced, “Then, can you tell me where I can find Derek?”

My eyebrows shot up and he grimaces even harder. "After you tried to get him locked up for murder and basically ratted him out to the hunters, you want to talk to him? Give me one good reason why I should let you?”

“Because he was right?” He looked down at me hopefully. “I need help and I don’t want to hurt someone. I’ll do whatever you want.”

I sighed, “You’re lucky you have something to offer him, or I wouldn’t even consider it.” I held my hand out expectantly and he looked at me with those lost puppy dog eyes. “Give me your phone.” He scrambled for his phone and when he finally handed it to me, I snatched it from his hand. “I can basically help you with the basic stuff but not this. You'll need to ask Derek."

He looks confused so I elaborate. "You think you attacked the bus driver, right?"

His eyes brighten. "You don't think I did it?"

"You might've." I shrug and he deflates, I continue inputting my number, unfazed by his distress. 
"Derek usually hangs out at his old house. You better come to his doorstep on your knees, I’ll be asking him for the play by play. And uh, just a little bit of advice, don’t think I’m any more approachable than Derek just because I go to school with you. I’m much more dangerous than he is.” I push his phone into his chest, forcing a grunt out of him. "But feel free to call whenever." I smile, taking in his bewilderment.

The next day Derek comes home, smelling of sweat and blood. I sip at the soda can in my hand as I lean on the sofa's armrest. "What happened?"

“He pushed me through a wall.” He replied nonchalantly.

“What?”

“He came in accusing me of murdering Laura and the bus driver. I had to knock him around a little to get him to calm down.” He sounded amused at that.

“Well, I warned him not to be an asshole so he’s getting knocked around a little more for being stupid. Still, I'm glad you didn’t get your ass beat by a newly turned pup, that would’ve been embarrassing for both of us.” I bring the soda can to my lips and begin to take a sip.

“The hunters gave me a friendly hello. Might try it with you too when they find out I live with you.”

I choke, the carbonation giving my airways a burning sensation. "Asshole." I cough, sending him a glare as he smirks.

Chapter Text

A line of honking cars were stopped in the school parking lot, catching my attention as I walked out the school doors. My eyes widened in alarm as I saw Derek on the floor with Scott and Stiles standing over him. The moment Scott lifted him I started running. I wasn’t going to speed into the car for the whole school to see so I just waited for Stiles to get to a more secluded area, which was pretty quickly.

I thought about just jumping in but decided the old-fashioned way would work. I stopped in front of the Jeep, making Stiles’ eyes bug out as he slammed on the brakes. I flashed toward the backseat and tapped my knuckles on the glass as soon as the car stopped, “Open the door, Stiles.” He jumped and scrambled to click the button. I pulled the door open and slipped in, closing the door behind me. “Keep driving.” I ordered him offhandedly, focus already on Derek. “Let me see it.”

“You werewolves are always acting like you’re the boss of everyone.” He snapped, still not starting the car.

“We only do that to the people we’re stronger than, so you can expect it out of all of ‘em.” I snapped back at him, looking over the gross hole that leaked poisoned blood down Derek’s arm.

“Oh, my god. What is that? Ugh, is that contagious? You know what, you should probably just get out.”

“Start the car. Now.”

“I don't think you should be barking orders with the way you look, okay? In fact, I think if I wanted to, I could probably drag your little werewolf ass out into the middle of the road and leave you for dead!”

“Then it’s a good thing I’m alive and well because I can and will make sure your death is painful and dragged out for as long as I live.”

“And trust me when I say that’s a long time.” Derek added in snidely. I smacked his arm and he groaned painfully. Great. He's got no filter. Most wolfsbane didn't work that fast.

“Take us to my place,” I recited my address and stared expectantly. He sighed under our stares and started the car. “Why didn’t you come to me?” I scolded, looking at his wound worriedly.

“I was but I didn’t know what she shot me with, might not work.” He exclaimed breathily.

“I think we both know that’s wolfsbane. You can actually die, it’ll just be for a couple minutes for me.”

“Minutes?”

“Mhm, I got a cure. Do it.” I held my arm out, Derek using his good arm to lightly grip my hand.

“Wha-What’re you doing?” We ignored him, Derek pulling my arm closer to his mouth and bringing his fangs out. “No! No, no, no, no.” Stiles tried, squeaking out the last word as Derek’s fangs sank into my wrist and I grunted in pain.

I watched as he drank a few gulps of my blood then let go, my skin knitting back together in front of their eyes. I saw Stiles watch in awe but I was focused on Derek's bullet wound. The bulging veins lessened and the bullet wound pulsed, the irritation calming down.

“Oh my god! That was disgusting.” His eyes were wide and I could hear the excitement in his voice.

I groaned, holding into the headrest when a wave of dizziness coursed through me. “Thanks, Stiles. You’re a real peach.”

Derek sat up straight, noticing the effects immediately. He grabbed my arm, watching the veins grow darker as the patch of skin reacted to the werewolf bite. “Get him home.”

“It’s fine, Derek. Although I would like a ride, no rush, Stiles.” I sigh, feeling the sweat bead out of every pore. I could heal given a good few days but it’s always easier not to hallucinate. If I’d learned anything from my years with the big bad hybrid, it’s to never show all your cards. I breathed out slowly as the venom circulated throughout my body.

Derek was visibly worried, turning to Stiles. “Yes, rush."

“You’re so dramatic, Derek.” I laugh lightly as I feel the venom start to drain my energy.

Stiles glanced at the rearview mirror, curious eyes focused on me for a few seconds before he looked back at the road.

We had gotten there with little yelling from Derek and a lot of anxiousness from Stiles. Derek all but launched out of the car and threw the front door open. The blood had healed him a bit, just enough to give him back some of his strength.

I let myself fall onto my sofa and Stiles looked around the living room with interest.

“Where is it?” Derek asked immediately.

"Look, we don't know how long Scott's gonna take. I'm not gonna waste any so I'm gonna wait it out with you. You'll probably need my blood to buy you more time."

Derek huffed in irritation but nodded.

Hours passed and the sky was now a deep blue. My arm was littered with dark red bites and the fever had made my skin glisten with sweat. My hunger for blood got worse with every bite and every now and then the veins under my eyes would swell, my fangs pushing out from my gums. Derek didn't look much better, but he wasn't pale, and his breathing was only slightly shallow. Scott had already texted that he had gotten the bullet but he hadn't arrived yet.

Another wave of dizziness passed through me and my stomach cramped up. I groaned, curling in on myself.

“Where is it?” Derek demanded.

I sighed, agreeing that it was time to stop prolonging my pain. “In my mini fridge, glass bottle on the door.” A few moments later he came out with the whole bottle. “You didn’t get me a glass?” I complained lightheartedly, my eyes rolling back when I felt another wave of nausea.

Derek rolled his eyes, popping the cork off, and forcing the glass to my lips. I swallowed a few times then pushed him away. I hated the consistency of cold blood, but I could already feel it doing its job. My skin knitted together and the plum shade faded to reveal a perfectly healthy arm. The fuzziness in my head was gone and so was the fever, I sighed in relief, slumping into the sofa.

Derek chuckled weakly, “Are you gonna do this every time I get into trouble?”

“What? Get you out of it? Hell yeah.” I sat up in my seat, feeling a million times better. Stiles was still staring from the armchair. I turn to Derek. “You’re not allowed to hang out at your place for a while.”

“Do I get a say in this?”

“No. I’m stronger, remember?” I teased, mocking his admission.

“You’re a vampire.” I hear Stiles state, awe and disbelief clear in his voice.

“Duh.” I chuckle, glancing at Derek. "Humans are so gullible.”

His lips twitch upward, “Tell me about it.”

"I'm right here." Stiles mutters under his breath.

The door burst open and I winced at the sound of it slamming into the wall. Scott paused at the threshold, looking over the three of us sitting in my living room.

"Did you get it?"

Scott dug into his front pocket and pulled out the bullet. Derek took it from him as I opened a box of matches. He poured the contents out onto the coffee table and I threw the lit match onto the pile. The wolfsbane sparked violently and Derek made quick work of gathering it, pressing it into the bullet hole.

He groaned as it made contact then yelled as it started to heal. He collapsed onto the floor, writhing in pain and screaming bloody murder. We watched as the bulging blue veins disappeared and the hole healed in seconds to show off spotless skin.

"That was awesome! Yes!" Stiles cheered, pumping his fist into the air.

I moved to help Derek as he strained to get up. "Are you okay?" Scott asked unhelpfully.

"Except for the agonizing pain?" He shot an annoyed look at Scott.

"I'm guessing the ability to use sarcasm is a good sign of health." He shot the same look to Stiles.

"Okay, we saved your life. Which means you're gonna leave us alone. You got that? And if you don't, I'm gonna go back to Allison's dad, I'm gonna tell them everything-"

"You're gonna trust them? You think they can help you?"

"Well, why not? They're al lot freaking nicer than you are!"

"I can show you exactly how nice they are."

Scott squints, "What do you mean?"

Stiles starts asking questions the minute they leave and I kick him out immediately. When Derek gets back, I'm still waiting. He shuts the door and there's a few seconds before I break the silence.

“Don’t think I forgot about her, Derek. I told you I was gonna kill her if I ever saw that bitch.”

“Merrick.” He chastised.

“You were just a kid. She burned down your house. I’ve killed more for less.” My lip curls up in disgust at the thought of Kate Argent.

“And that’s exactly why you can’t do it. If anyone’s gonna kill her it’s gonna be me.”

“That I’m okay with.”

Chapter Text

I had known Derek long enough to recognize his scent a mile away. I had walked out of my class without a glance back and sprinted to the boy's locker room where I found him, hidden in the steam. I grabbed him by the collar and ran out before the terrified Jackson realized who the glowing eyes belonged to.

"What do you think you're doing?"

He looked irritated. "Getting information." He moved toward the locker room and I pulled him back.

"You realize I'm a vampire, right? Compulsion is like the best way to get information and your solution is to scare him while he's changing?" He rolls his eyes and I chuckle. "You know he didn't see anything. He wouldn't be so scared if he knew what he saw."

He looks away and I sigh. "I know you're frustrated but don't take it out on that asshole. Come on, we're going home." He looks back at me. "Yeah. You're supposed to be at home so you don't get shot again but since you clearly can't follow simple directions, I'm gonna have to babysit you." He opens his mouth to protest but I cut him off. "Stiles says he's gonna go check on Lydia after school so he'll figure out if she saw anything. We're going home."

I didn't think there'd be any news with Lydia. I was focused on making sure Derek wasn't trying to get himself caught or killed when Stiles had sent the video. His head had snapped toward me when he heard my gasp. I hadn't known what to expect with the Alpha, Derek had said this one was more animal than man, but it wasn't until now that I knew what that meant. It stood tall on its hind legs, body morphed into something more monstrous than any other werewolf I'd seen. Derek didn't seem surprised when he saw it, his lips forming a tight line. He looked more determined than ever.

"So, how can you eat?" Stiles asked through a mouthful of crimped fries. “Cause you’re like dead, is it like in twilight when you can chew and swallow but you’ll have to barf it all up later?”

Following the events of Monday night, Stiles had informed me that he wasn't speaking to Scott. Apparently, his dad getting tapped by a car was also my fault because he decided he'd have lunch with me.

I shoot him a glare, looking around to check if anyone had heard him. After confirming no one was eavesdropping, I turned back to him with a disappointed frown. “Why would you base your vampire facts on a YA novel? Especially one in which they have more in common with Baobhan Sith, who are blood fae.” I blink, midbite, realizing I had said too much.

His face lights up, “I know! They shouldn’t even be called vampires!” Then his eyes widened, “Wait, do fae exist?”

I opened my mouth, ready to backtrack, before Isaac slides his tray beside me. I breathe out a sigh of relief as Isaac and Stiles give each other a nod in greeting. Still, he couldn't save me from the rest of the day where I had to witness Stiles cross his arms and Scott recite apologies. I just hoped his anger wouldn't last.

“Hey, Merrick?” I could hear the wince in Scott's meek voice. Derek had been whining about Scott's weaknesses all night, I didn't care to listen to Scott's version of events.

“What?” My tone is cold and clipped.

“Um, Derek said I had to stay away from Alison.” He shifted his stance, “I was wondering if I had to? I mean, it’s not like Derek’s completely alone. He’s got you.”

I stand up a bit straighter and I find a small smile on my lips. “Yeah, he does.” He stares at me expectantly and I sigh, “No, you don’t have to be alone. If anything, as a werewolf, it’s better to have a pack, family. Although, right now, since you’re trying to learn control, all you need is an anchor and from that you learn how to control yourself.”

“You’re a way better teacher than Derek.” He smiles, “Stiles says he's got some ideas. He wants to teach me by the end of the day.” Apparently it only took a day for Scott to be back in Stiles' good graces.

"Cool?"

I don't know why I hadn't seen this coming. Of course I'd be dragged into this after giving a singular piece of advice.

"Isn't this one of the heart rate monitors for the track team?"

"Yeah, I borrowed it." Stiles replies, not missing a beat.

"Stole it?"

"Temporarily missaproprated." He corrects. "Coach uses it to monitor his heart rate with his phone while he jogs, and you're gonna wear it for the rest of the day."

"Isn't that Coach's phone?" Scott raises an eyebrow at him.

"That, I stole."

"Why?"

"Alright, well, your heart rate goes up when you go wolf, right? When you're playing lacrosse, when you're with Allison, whenever you get angry. Maybe learning to control it is tied to learning to control your heart rate."

Scott blinks in realization and smiles, "Like the Incredible Hulk."

"Kind of like the Incredible Hulk, yeah." He shrugs.

"No, I'm like the Incredible Hulk." He repeats with a widening smile.

I chuckle and Stiles glares at him. "Would you shut up and put the strap on?"

He wraps the strap around his waist, glancing at you. "Is he right?"

I frown at him. "How am I supposed to know?"

"Well, how did you learn to control it?" Scott inquires innocently.

I look towards Stiles, who isn't meeting my gaze, realizing that he hadn't told Scott anything about that night. I turn my attention back to Scott, "Well, your heart rate definitely speeds up every time you shift... could just be the adrenaline but it sounds right." I shrug, nodding.

Scott nods back and Stiles leads us to the middle of the field. "This isn't exactly how I wanted to spend my free period." He complains as Stiles duct tapes his hands behind his back.

Stiles takes his gym bag and lacrosse stick, putting some distance between them. "All right. You ready?"

"No." Scott replies immediately.

"Remember, don't get angry." He warns, leaning down to activate the monitor.

"I'm starting to think this is a really bad idea." Scott murmurs and I give him a huge smile and two thumbs up.

Stiles scoops up one of the many white balls that he poured out of his bag. This is gonna be a disaster. Stiles shoots the first ball at him and to my surprise, it hits. The next one hits Scott right in the face and Stiles is quick to remind him to stay calm. I find myself chuckling just a few feet behind Stiles as Scott is pummeled with lacrosse balls.

"You know what? I think my aim is actually improving." Stiles notices gleefully.

"I wonder why." The beeps of Scott's heartbeat quicken from Coach's phone.

"Ah, buh, buh. Don't get angry."

"I'm not getting angry."

I can hear the strain in his voice and after more well aimed shots Stiles turns, "You want a go?"

I stare at him, he doesn't seem to be kidding. My lips split into a wide smile and he holds the stick out to me. "Don't need it." I shake my head, bending out to pick up a ball before locking eyes with a worried looking Scott.

Stiles comes up behind me, his hand resting on my shoulder as he leans in close. "As hard as you can."

I pause, turning to him with a furrowed brow. Why would he want to... "You want to see how strong I am." I realize. He opens his mouth, stuttering for a moment before I huff out a laugh. "Step back." I rotate my body with my right shoulder behind me, ready to take a step.

"Wait!" Scott pleas, but it was already in motion.

The ball is nothing but a blur as it whistles through the air and Scott is immediately thrown onto the ground as his ribs snap with a loud cracking sound.

Stiles lets out an excited cackle as Scott groans in pain, his smile dimming when he glances at the heartrate monitor. The digits rise steadily as the beeping gets faster. "Scott?" He rips through the duct tape and steadies himself on the grass. He takes heaving breaths as his fingers dig into the gound, the beeping echoing his heart. Just as quickly as it accelerated, his heartbeat slows. His breathing starts to even out and Stiles leans down to check on him. "Scott, you started to change."

"From anger." He confirms. "But it was more than that. It was like, the angrier I got, the stronger I felt."

"So it is anger, then. Derek's right."

"I can't be around Allison." His face scrunches up like the thought of being without her pains him.

"Just because she makes you happy?"

"No, because she makes me weak."

I scoff, rolling my eyes. They both turn to look at me as I send Scott an unamused glare. I squat down beside him, "That night at the game when you were freaking out? You shifted in the locker room then Allison walks in and suddenly you're fine. What did you think that was? Coincidence?"

A frown pulls at his lips and I pat his shoulder, moving to stand. "You'll figure it out."

It was the end of the school day when the boys ran up to me excitedly. “Mer! You were right!” Scott exclaimed with a wide smile on his face. It turned out even Stiles was a better teacher than Derek.

I raised an eyebrow, amused. “Oh, yeah?”

“I got these guys to jump him and he kept his heart rate down just by thinking of Allison!” Stiles piled on.

I couldn't help the laugh that bubbled out of me. Stiles blinks in surprise and I give Scott a proud smile. “Nice job. Now all you got to do is take it to the next level. Focus on what you feel when you have that control and hone in on it. Learn to control it by yourself so she can’t be used to make you lose control.” I explain to Scott, who listens and nods diligently. I sigh in defeat, “I’ll tag along next time Derek wants to talk to you. Make sure he doesn’t give you more stupid advice.”

I step into the back room, unsure, while Derek is all too eager to prove himself right.

"Scott, you're late again. I hope this isn't getting to be a habit." The vet's smile faded when he saw us. "Can I help you?"

"I hope so. I want to know about the animal you found with the spiral on its side."

"Excuse me? What animal?"

"Three months ago. The deer. You remember this?" Derek held up the printed image.

"Ah, yes. It's just a deer. And I didn't find it. They called me because they wanted to know if I'd ever seen anything like it."

"And what'd you tell them?"

"I told them no." His voice was even but his heart stuttered in his chest.

I sighed as Derek took a step closer. "Did you hear that?

The vet took a step back. "Hear what?"

"The sound of your heartbeat rising." He didn't back down, coming closer to him.

"Excuse me?"

"It's the sound of you lying." He didn't waste any time pulling him across the metal exam table and against the wall. He gave him an extra shove to keep him there and took a step back.

I walk up to the terrified man. His eyes catch on mine and I command him. “Tell the truth.” His pupils don't contract and he stutters in confusion. My eyes widen and I glance at Derek who looks livid.

“It’s him.” He speaks through clenched teeth.

I shake my head. “It doesn’t mean it’s him, he could just know.”

My words don't faze him and he takes a swing before I can stop him. The man's cheek splits and Derek grabs him by the collar, lifting him almost a foot off the ground. "Who are you?! Who are you protecting?!"

"Derek!" I try, grabbing his shoulder to stop him.

"What are you doing?" Scott appears through the doorway.

"Scott, get out of here!" The vet yells desperately.

Derek is quick to knock him out as Scott scrambles to stop him. "Look, when he's conscious he can keep himself from healing, but unconscious he can't."

"Are you out of your mind?! What are you talking about?!"

"You wanna know what the spiral means, Scott? It's our sign or a vendetta. For revenge. It means he won't stop killing until he's satisfied."

Scott's getting angrier by the second. 
"You think he's the Alpha?"

"We're about to find out." Derek moves to take a swing and I grab into his wrist to stop him only for Scott to do the same. He looks up at me in surprise and his claws retreat back into his fingertips, eyes still glowing.

"I don't think it's him." I admit and Scott looks relieved. Derek scoffs and I shoot him a glare. I swipe a finger across the blood dripping from his cheek, knowing the two werewolves can hear the soft sizzle. "He's got vervain in his system."

"That doesn't mean he's not the Alpha." 

"It also doesn't mean that he is." I snap at him.

Scott moves to grab some medical supplies and starts to treat the wound on the vet's face while Derek begins pacing. "Do you have a plan?"

"Just- Give me an hour."

"Then what?"

"Meet me at the school, in the parking lot."

I'm not happy about the man tied up in the back seat but Derek wouldn't budge.

"Where's my boss?" Scott questions as soon as we step out of the car.

"He's in the back."

They peer in through the window and Stiles makes a face. "Oh, he looks comfortable." He comments sarcastically, shaking his head in disapproval. Scott nudges him and starts to walk toward the school.

"Wait. Hey. What are you doing?"

He pauses, "You said I was linked with the Alpha. I'm going to see if you're right."

I lean against the car beside Derek and wait to for their brilliant plan to take effect. After a few minutes a shrill yowl hits my ears, trailing off pathetically. I can see Derek close his eyes in embarrassment. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

I burst into laughter. “Oh my god.” I stifle my giggles when Derek sends me a glare.

“This is ridiculous.” He scoffs.

I smile in amusement. “I can’t believe we need him to find the Alpha.”

A primal howl vibrates through the night and I feel the hairs on the back of my neck rise up. Derek looks around and I tense up involuntarily, shifting my shoulders to get rid of the feeling. “Okay, that was… better."

Derek shoots me an even harsher glare. “That was stupid!” The boys strut out of the school, clearly proud of themselves. "I'm gonna kill both of you! What the hell was that?! What are you trying to do, attract the entire state to the school?"

"Sorry, I didn't know it'd be that loud." He apologizes without a hint of remorse.

"Yeah, it was loud. And it was awesome." Stiles sings.

I feel an uneasy feeling ripple up my spine and I glance around. Nothing.

"Shut up." Derek orders, telling me he feels it too.

"Don't be such a sour wolf." Stiles jokes.

"What did you do with him?" Scott asks, pointing to Derek's car.

"What?" We look to the empty backseat. "I didn't do anything."

I hear a growl from behind us and I turn just in time to watch Derek get impaled on the Alpha's claws, getting hauled several feet into the air. He chokes on his own blood as it spurts and pours from his mouth. I gape at the horrifying sight and someone grabs my arm, yanking me towards the school. The boys shut the doors behind them as I fall limply to the floor.

“This can’t be happening.” I whisper, bile rising up my throat.

Chapter Text

My ears ring as I sit on the linoleum floor. He's fine. I tell myself.

I jump at the slam of the metal doors, Stiles and Scott peering through the small windows. "Where is it? Where'd it go?" They take a hesitant step back, flashlight shining on the wrench they slotted through the door handles. "That won't hold, will it?"

"Probably not."

They turn to take a look around the school, their gazes meeting mine. The Alpha howls and a shiver runs through me. I stumble to get to my feet, still managing to run alongside Scott and Stiles as they rush into a classroom.

"The desk." Stiles calls and Scott moves to the other side, already pushing. The desk makes a screeching noise against the floor. "Shh! Stop, stop. The door's not gonna keep it out."

"I know."

"It's your boss." Stiles states.

"What?"

"Deaton, the Alpha? Your boss."

"No."

"Yes, murdering psycho werewolf."

"That can't be."

"Oh, come on. He disappears, and that thing shows up ten seconds later to toss Derek twenty feet through the air. That's not convenient timing?"

"It's not him!" Scott defended.

"He killed Derek."

"He's not dead!" I shout, meeting their surprised looks dead on.

Scott nodded, "Derek's not dead. H-He can't be dead." I could hear desperation in his voice.

"Blood spurted from his mouth, okay? That doesn't exactly qualify as a minor injury. He's dead, and we're next." His voice is steady, and I have to admit there's some logic to his words. If I couldn't hear his thundering heartbeat, I'd think he was assessing the situation soundly.

“He's fine.” I grit my teeth. I remind myself that werewolf bodies are far tougher than a normal human's, accelerated healing can patch up a hole in his chest in no time. “He’ll be fine. We need to worry about ourselves. We’re the ones stuck in here.”

"What do we do?" Scott asks.

"We get to my Jeep. We get out of here. You seriously think about quitting your job, good?" He nods along with his own plan, picking up a torch. They move toward the windows and Scott prods at the sill. "No, they don't open. The school's climate controlled."

"Then we break it."

"Which will make a lot of noise."

"Then- Then we run really fast." He looks out to the parking lot to where the Jeep is. "Really fast."

I pause, realizing the edge my abilities allowed me. I’m a vampire . I remind myself. I can run faster than any werewolf. That’s an advantage, something I’ll have to use considering the human and baby werewolf rambling their anxieties at each other.

The window breaks above them and I flinch. The battery slides across the floor and they stare at it from their place under the windows. Stiles shines his torch at the mess of metal and wire. "That's my battery." He whimpers, moving to rise before Scott yanks him back down.

"Don't move."

"We have to move."

"He could be right outside." Scott whispers.

"He is right outside."

Frustration builds within me. I could leave. I could outrun the thing if i really wanted to. It didn’t want me, it wanted Scott, and if the Alpha really needed a Beta, it could always bite someone else. I looked to the two terrified boys and remembered the pull at my arm when I had froze at the sight of an impaled Derek. They may have saved my life . I took a deep breath. Whether Derek was still bleeding out on the ground or making his way to safety, I still needed to help him kill the Alpha. And on the slim chance he was dead, I was going to kill the damn thing myself.

I ignored the gnawing doubt, the fear that the claws had gone straight through his heart and there was no healing from that. I clenched my jaw and forced any thoughts of Derek away. I focused on the two frantic heartbeats beside me and the fact that I was not going to die in a high school.

"We should move." I nod, moving into the hallway. I pause, looking around.

Scott takes a right, "This way."

"No. No, no, no." Stiles stops him.

"What?"

"Somewhere without windows." Stiles instructs and I'm almost more than impressed than I am annoyed I didn't think twice about it.

"Every single room in this building has windows!"

"Yeah, somewhere with less windows."

Scott was panting, looking to both sides of the hall as he thought. "The locker rooms."

"Yeah." Stiles agreed quickly.

"Okay." Scott breathed.

We rush through the halls, Stiles matching my pace. "So, what do you think?" He asks, eyes darting down each end of the hallway.

"About what?" I question as Scott takes the lead, turning the corner.

"Are we getting out of this alive?" He winces, bracing for an unpleasant answer.

I shrug, "Probably."

"Probably?" He questions, his eyes alight.

I tilt my head as I calculate our chances. "Well, vampires are way faster than werewolves and, while I've got you two slowing me down, I'm pretty confident we can make it out. Especially with your grace under pressure."

Scott shoves the locker room door open and we follow him in.

"Call your dad." He instructs Stiles.

"And tell him what?"

"I don't know, anything. There's a gas leak, a fire, whatever. If that thing sees the parking lot full with cop cars it'll take off."

I hum doubtfully as Stiles voices his concerns. "What if it doesn't? What if it goes completely terminator and kills every cop in sight? Including my dad."

"They have guns!"

"And Derek had to be shot with a wolfsbane laced bullet to even slow him down, remember that?"

"Then we- We have to find a way out and just run for it."

"There's nothing near the school for at least a mile."

"What about Derek's car?"

"That could work! Go outside, we get the keys off this body," He gags. "And then we take his car." I shoot him a glare.

"And him." Scott adds.

"Fine. Whatever." Stiles moves to walk deeper into the locker room and we follow. He leans forward to open a door and Scott stops him. "What?"

"I think I heard something." I strain my ears and past their pounding heartbeats is the sound of footsteps.

"Like what?" Stiles panics

Scott shushed him, "Be quiet."

"Calm down, it's just a human." I scoff.

The door opens and the janitor jumps, letting out a yelp. "Son of a bitch!" Stiles shushes him and the man shoves him away. "Quiet, my ass! What the hell are you trying to do kill me? The three of you, get out."

"Just listen for half a second, okay?"

I freeze, feeling the hairs at the back of my neck stand up just as they did before the Alpha got the drop on us.

"Not okay, get the hell out of here right now!" He shoves us out of the locker room and my eyes dart around the hallway frantically.

"Just one second to explain." Stiles pleads.

"Just shut up and go." He waves us away only to be pulled backward with a terrified yell. His body is shoved against the door's window, hands smearing blood across the glass.

Scott moves for the doorknob, jiggling the handle as the man is mauled right before us. Stiles takes him by the shoulders and pries him away from the door, pushing him forward. We run through the hallways, hearing the door break off its hinges and slam against the floor. We move toward the back of the school, barreling toward exit. We slam against the cold steel and I push against the doors, hearing a metallic scraping as they barely move an inch.

"Fuck!" I kick the doors, turning to search for our next escape route.

"What the hell?"

Scott peeks out, "It's a dumpster."

"He pushed it in front of the door-"

"To block us in." Scott finishes.

Stiles moves to start shoving so I grip onto his sweater and pull him along as Scott and I start down the hallways once more. "I'm not dying here. I'm not dying at school." Stiles started to panic.

"We're not going to die!"

"God, what is it doing? What does it want?!" Stiles yells, his flailing causing the torch's light to dart around the hall.

"Me! Derek says it's stronger with a pack."

"Oh, great! A psychotic werewolf who's into teamwork, that's- that's beautiful."

I allow myself an amused chuckle before Scott stops us in front of a wall of windows. A dark figure stands on the rooftop, staring straight at us. A feeling of dread fills me as it drops to all fours, barreling toward us. We run back from where we came just in time for it to crash through the glass, slamming against the wall. I hear the scrape of its claws against the floor as it picks itself up and take hold of each of their arms, easily pulling them along I rush through double doors and down two flights of stairs.

We were deep into the school now, hiding behind old, rusted lockers as it growls from somewhere behind us. When it sounded far enough away, I start in the opposite direction it went. Pipes hiss at us as we come into the next room.

"Alright, we have to do something."

"Like what?"

"I don't know. Kill it, hurt it, inflict mental anguish on it. Something." It's growls echo through the building and the boys jump at a shadow.

There's a distinct creak just up ahead and Stiles rummages for his keys, shushing Scott when he begins to question him. He holds onto his keys with two fingers, allowing them to jingle. Scott and I cringe at the sound that elicits a soft growl from the Alpha. Stiles waits for just a moment before throwing the keys into a room with a durable looking door and quickly hides in the shadows. The beast bolts into the room and Stiles slams the door shut behind it with a full body shove.

"The desk! Come on! The desk." The three of us made easy work of shoving the desk between the door and the wall just as the thing roars, giving the door a hard shove. It barely shifts and we let out relieved sighs.

It bangs against the door, scaring Stiles before he orders Scott to jump over the desk to get to us. He peeks through the tiny window and after confirming the Alpha isn't close, he leaps over the desk. He looks around to check possible exits as Stiles slowly inches his way toward the window. I stare at him, he's insane. Scott gives him a shove, "What are you doing?!"

"I just want to get a look at it."

"Are you crazy?"

"You didn't get a good look when it was chasing us?" I ask incredulously.

"Look, it's trapped. Okay? It's not gonna get out." He climbs onto the desk and shines his light through the diamond shaped wire of the window. "Yeah, that's right we got you-"

"Shut up!"

"No, I'm not scared of this thing." It banges against the door and he scrambles off the desk. We watch it run its claws over the thick metal wiring and I'm almost impressed at the way Stiles straightens up. "I'm not scared of you! All right, cause you're in there and we're out here. You're not going anywhe-"

We hear the thing break through the ceiling and we look up as Stiles' light follows the warping ceiling tiles. One tile swings open and we take hurried steps backward, turning to bolt through the doorway. We stop inside a room full of steam, the leaking pipes hissing out a visible mist. I hear a soft chiming noise in the distance.

"Wait! Do you hear that?" Scott stopped us abruptly.

I nodded, "A phone."

He paused to listen carefully. "I know that ring. It's Allison's phone."

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me!" I groaned. A quick-thinking human and a werewolf were one thing but a clueless girlfriend was another, no matter what kind of freaky family she had.

"Give me your phone!" Scott smacks Stiles, hurriedly. He finds her contact and it only takes one ring for her to pick up.

"Stiles?"

"No, it's me. Where are you?"

"I'm in the school looking for you. Why weren't you at my place?"

"Where are you right now?"

"On the first floor."

"Where? Where are you exactly?" His voice sounds clearly worried and I can't help but think about how we'd explain this.

"The swimming pools?"

"Get to the lobby. Go now!" He orders.

"Okay, I'm coming."

Scott clearly had a new priority, rushing to get to the lobby. We push the doors open to be met with Allison.

"Why did you come? What are you doing here?" He interrogates her immediately.

Her face scrunches up in confusion, looking off to the side as if it was obvious. "Because you asked me to."

"I asked you to?"

She pulled up her phone for him to see and I hear Scott's heartrate spike. "Why do I get the feeling you didn't send this message?"

"Because I didn't."

"Alright, did you drive here?" Stiles interrupts.

"Jackson did." I scoff at our luck and the boys echo my emotions. "And Lydia." I laugh in disbelief. "What's going on? Who sent this text?" Allison's phone rings and she answers it. "Where are you?"

The pair of double doors are pushed open, revealing Lydia and Jackson. Lydia sighs with relief, "Finally, can we go now?"

The ceiling above our heads shifts and creaks and I take a breath, ready to start running. "Run." Scott orders, the group of six quick to dart up the steps to our right.

I hear the growling of the Alpha just behind us, suddenly feeling thankful that they could all keep up. We got past the doors to the gym and Scott uses the built-in bolts to lock the door behind us. I take a few steps backward and away from the door, bumping into Stiles where he stands staring at the wall of windows. Shit.

"Help me get this in front of the door."

"Scott, wait. Not here." He tries.

"What was that? Scott, what was that?" Allison questions in a panic.

"What came through the ceiling?" Lydia cries.

"Just help me." Scott demands, Jackson already carrying his side of a large metal container. "Chairs. Stack the chairs."

"Guys?" They scramble to shove the stacked chairs in front of the door as Stiles pleads for them to listen. "If we just wait a second. You guys, listen to me. Can we wait a second? Guys?"

"Hey, assholes!" I yell over their commotion, they whip their heads around, wide eyed and frantic.

"Yeah, nice work. Really beautiful job, everyone. Now, what should we do about the twenty-foot wall of windows?" They practically slump in defeat as they inspect the expanse of fragile glass.

"Can somebody please explain to me what's going on because I'm freaking out here and I would really like to know why." Allison pleads between breaths, staring at Scott. "Scott?"

He pulls away from her, leaning against some chairs as he pinches the bridge of his nose. They all switch their focus to Stiles and with one look at Scott he takes over. "Somebody killed the janitor." They all look their various versions of shocked. "Yeah, the janitor's dead."

"What is he talking about is this a joke?" Allison laughs in disbelief.

"Wha- Who killed him?"

"No, no, no, no, no. This was supposed to be over. The mountain lion killed-"

Jackson cuts Lydia off, "Don't you get it? There wasn't a mountain lion."

"Who was it? What does he want? What's happening?" Allison scrambles. "Scott?!"

He stutters, "I don't know! I just- If we go out there, he's gonna kill us."

"Us? He's gonna kill us?" Lydia asks incredulously.

“Who? Who is it?” Allison pressed.

Scott hesitates and I know what's coming. “Don’t you think we would’ve told you if we knew who it was?!” I yell, “We weren't exactly going to stop for introductions, we just ran!" I give them a vicious glare which cut's their interrogation short.

They looked scared, still wanting to plead for answers. Humans. I roll my eyes, turning to examine Stiles who was somehow the only one making plans and thinking critically.

"Call the cops." Jackson orders.

"No."

"What do you mean, no?" He retorts.

"I mean no. You wanna hear it in Spanish? No!" He holds his ground. "Look, he killed three people, okay? We don't know what he's armed with."

"Your dad is armed with an entire sheriff's department. Call him."

"I'm calling." Lydia steps away.

"No, Lydia would you just hold on a sec-" Stiles tries to follow her only to get pushed away by Jackson. Scott moves to stand beside Stiles protectively.

"Yes, we're at Beacon Hills high school. We're trapped and we need you to- But-" Lydia checks her screen. "She hung up on me."

"The police hung up on you?"

"She said they got a tip warning them that there were gonna be prank calls about a break in at the high school. She said that if I call again, they were gonna trace it and have me arrested."

"Then call again!"

"No, they won't trace the cell. They'll send a car to your house before they send anyone here."

"What the- What- What is this? Why does this guy want to kill us?" Allison looked to Scott for answers and Lydia and Jackson followed suit.

"Why is everyone looking at me?"

"Did he send her that text?" Lydia questioned.

"No!" He responded easily, backtracking immediately. "I- I mean, I don't know."

"Is he the one that called the police?"

"I don't know!" He yells.

Allison looks hurt and Stiles moves to break the tension. "Alright, why don't we ease back on the throttle here, yeah?" He pulls me along as he leads Scott to the side.

Scott groans, "God! I totally just bit her head off."

"And she'll totally get over it. Bigger issues at hand here, like how do we get out of here alive?"

"But we are alive! It could've killed us already. It's like it's cornering us or something."

"So, what? He wants to eat us all at the same time?"

"No! Derek said it wants revenge."

"Against who?"

"Allison's family?" He offers and I shake my head in confusion.

"Maybe that's what the text was about." Stiles offers, but we shoot him doubtful looks. "Well, someone had to send it!"

"Okay, asshats. New plan. Stiles calls his useless dad and tells him to send someone with a gun and decent aim. Are we good with that?" He looks around and the group looks to Stiles.

He hesitates and I nod. "I think you should call him." He sends me a look of betrayal and I lean forward to whisper. "If it was just the three of us, I could've carried you two away from here as soon as we got out, but I don't have enough arms to carry five people!"

He lowers his voice as he stares into my eyes. "I don't want to watch my dad get eaten alive." I flinch involuntarily and his brows furrow as he examines me with a look of confusion.

"Alright give me the phone." Jackon grabs his shoulder and Stiles turns to sucker punch him. My jaw drops and when Allison shoots me a glare from her place beside Jackson, I realize I'm smiling.

Stiles relents, digging his phone out of his pocket. "Dad, hey, it's me. And it's your voice mail." His voice shakes with anxiety. "Look, I need you to call me back now. Like, right now." The reinforced doors rattle loudly and we take a collective step back to watch the doors shake. "We're at the school. Dad, we're at the school."

He hangs up and we huddle together as the screws fall off the hinges. "Oh, god! Oh my god!" Lydia cries from behind Jackson.

"The kitchen. The door out of the kitchen, we see the stairwell." I turn to Stiles in amazement. How the hell could he think with that thing only a few seconds from blasting through the doors.

"Which only goes up!"

"Up is better than here."

It only takes us a few seconds to decide, rushing out the back door. Scott opens another door at the end of the hall and we run up the steps behind him. We exit out into the main hallway and begin desperately trying at classroom handles. Lydia opens the door to the science lab and we pour into the classroom. Scott takes a look around and shoves a chair under the handle, barricading the door. We pause to listen for footsteps and our panting breaths fills the silence. A moment later we hear heavy footsteps just outside the door, and its low growling rumbles through me. Lydia claps her hand over her mouth and we collectively hold our breath as the thing walks by.

"Jackson, how many people can fit in your car?" Scott asks.

He looks around with a nod, "Six if someone squeezes in on someone's lap."

"Six?! I barely fit in the back!" Allison whisper yells.

"It doesn't matter, there's no getting out without drawing attention."

"Well, what about this?" Scott leads us to a heavy looking door at the back of the classroom. "This leads to the roof. We can go down the fire escape to the parking lot in like seconds."

Stiles points to the lock on the door. "That's a deadbolt."

Scott sighs, wracking his brain for ideas. "The janitor has a key."

"You mean his body has it."

"I can get it. I can find him by scent, by blood." He whispers.

"Well, gee. That sounds like an incredibly terrible idea. What else you got?"

"No, he's right. Though, I should be the one to do it." Stiles stares at me in disbelief and I shrug. "I'm the fastest."

I move toward the door and Scott stops me, "I'm coming with you."

Allison gapes at him. "Are you serious?"

"Well, it's the best plan. Someone has to get the key if we want to get out of here." Scott explains.

"You can't go out there unarmed."

I unclip the switchblade from my pocket and flick it open. The sound makes then turn to me and I raise an eyebrow. "Well?"

"And Scott?" Allison presses.

"We're in the chem lab." Lydia suggests, motioning to the cabinet of chemicals.

"What are we gonna do, throw acid on it?"

"No. Like a firebomb. In there is all you need to make a self-igniting Molotov cocktail."

Stiles stared at her, "Self-igniting..."

"Molotov cocktai l." There was a beat of silence and she buckled. "What? I read it somewhere."

Stiles huffed, "We don't have a key for that either."

I looked at him in disappointment and Jackson seemingly had the same idea, breaking the glass. I lean against the blackboard as Lydia and Jackson begin working on concocting the Molotov cocktail.

Stiles leans beside me, "So, you think you can beat him?"

I take a deep breath in and sigh. "I won't die." 

He taps his knuckle on the wall behind us and bounces his knee. "You don't do this often, do you?"

"Excuse me?"

"I mean, back there. You were shaking." His eyes pace between yours. "You fell as soon as I let you go."

I examine the look of concern on his face and decide to be honest. "I hadn't seen anything like it. Derek tried to tell me but... I don't know. I didn't think something that big could sneak up on us."

"You really think Derek's alive?"

"I may have forgot for a second there, but Derek's not human. He'll heal." I shrug, pushing off the wall as Lydia puts a cork on the flask and hands it to Scott. We make a move to the door.

"No!" Allison shakes her head, "No, this is insane. You can't do this, you cannot go out there."

"We can't just sit here waiting for Stiles to have to check his messages. And I'm not going alone."

"You can die, don't you get that? Both of you! He's killed three people."

"And we're next. Somebody has to do something."

"Scott, just stop!" She begged, coming around the desk to look into his eyes. "Do you remember... when you told me you knew whether or not I was lying, that I had a tell. So do you. You're a horrible liar and you've been lying all night. Just- Just please don't go. Please don't leave us. Please."

I glanced between them, "Scott?"

"Lock up behind me." Allison caught him as he tried to move away, pulling him into a kiss. As they pulled away from each other, he lingered beside her before moving to unbarricade the door. It was clear how hard it was for him to walk away.

The door closed behind us and I heard the soft scrape of the chair going back under the handle. "I can do this alone, you know?"

He shook his head, "No. I have to do this, it's my fault they're in danger."

He takes the lead down the stairs, following the scent of the janitor's blood. I trail behind him, moving quietly and carefully through the doors and hallways. We walk into the gym, the pungent smell of blood making my gums ache and my mouth water. There was a soft dripping from the bleachers and while Scott searched all around him, I looked up.

It was hanging from the steel bars, mangled and bloody. I nudged Scott and motioned to the corpse above his head. He looked up, flinching as a drop of blood dripped onto his cheek. He frowned, his lips forming a tight line as he handed you the Molotov cocktail. "I'll climb up to get them."

I nodded and watched as he took hold of one of the steel beams and made his way up. He got most of the way there before he began to stretch forward, the keys just a few inches away. Just as his fingertips grazed the keyring a loud mechanical sound echoed through the gym as the bleachers started to fold in on themselves.

"Hurry!"

He stretched as far as he could, hand firmly grasping the keys before he let go of the beam and dropped down to the floor. I didn't waste any time grabbing hold of his arm and speeding through the bleachers, through the slowly shrinking opening. A displeased growl reverberated through the gym and we turn to see a pair of glowing red eyes and the silhouette of the beast from across the room. My eyes widened as it started to crawl closer and I turn to run.

"Come get me."

I stopped dead in my tracks, turning to watch the Alpha run toward him. Scott threw the beaker straight at him and it shattered on impact. Though, instead of bursting into flames, the liquid simply splattered onto the floor.

"Damn it." Scott cursed, turning to run before the werewolf swiped his legs out from under him.

I frown in confusion as the beast shoves him across the room and merely holds him down, growling a few inches away from his face. It picks up its head and lets out a roar that vibrates through the earth and shakes the windows. The next thing I know the beast is gone and Scott's heart is beating faster and faster.

"Scott?"

He lets out a scream, body twisting as he writhes in pain. I run to him, dropping down to my knees as he's forced to shift. His face morphs into that of a predator and his eyes cloud with bloodlust.

"Scott." His head turns in my direction as he takes a swipe at me. "Scott!" I take a step back too late, the front of my shirt clawed open to reveal three gashes across my chest.

He's on his feet now, growling at me. I shoot him a glare, bending my knees before tackling him to the ground. I dodge the wild swipes of his claws and grab onto his wrists, pinning them to the floor. "Scott, think about Allison! You need to control yourself or he's gonna make you to hurt someone!"

He takes a bite of the air in attempt to sink his teeth into me.

I let go of his right hand to press my palm to his forehead and slam his head onto the floor. He takes the opportunity to claw into my side, all five digits slicing through me and across my ribs. "Get a hold of yourself!" A wave of glowing blue travels down my wrist and pulses through Scott's head. I gape at him as the blue disappears and the amber of his eyes dim. "Scott?"

He throws me off of him and I land a few feet away with a grunt. His eyes are shut tight as he takes heaving breaths, hands balling up into fists. He takes a deliberate and slow breath, in and out. His whole body is tense as he turns to brace himself on his hands and knees. I watch him carefully as his claws scrape into the waxed floor of the gym, receding back into his fingertips.

"You good?" I try.

"I'm okay." He nods, "I'm okay."

I allow myself to catch my breath as I flop onto the floor beside him. I examine my palm for a second, finding nothing unusual and letting it fall to my side. "Jesus Christ, Scott." My laughter echoes through the gym and Scott turns to me, disturbed. "Next time don't try to take the Alpha on by yourself."

"Are you okay?" He looks me over and I sit up, pulling my shirt up for him to see. "But I thought I-"

"Oh, you did." I show off the rips in my shirt, black material soaked in blood. "Just be glad it wasn't one of them."

He looks guilty as he brings his hand up, eyes focused on his fingertips. We hear police sirens toward the front of the school, moving to stand. We're making our way up the stairs when Stiles makes his way down. 

"There you guys are!" He comes to a stop in front of us and grimaces at my tattered shirt. "What happened?" 

I smirk, "Ask Scott." His brow furrows in embarrassment and he looks away. I give Stiles a once over. "Give me your jacket."

"What? Why?"

I pull my shirt over my head and flip it around, putting it on backwards. "So the cops don't ask why my shirt is in pieces."

Stiles huffs, pulling his jacket off. "I better get this back."

"Yeah, yeah." I take it from him and throw it on. "I just want to get home as soon as possible. I need to make sure Derek's not dying." I make my way up the steps, "I'll see you losers later." 

Chapter Text

I woke up to my phone nearly vibrating off my bedside table. I shot my arm out, catching it just as it fell past the edge. "Hello?"

"Merrick, hey!" I cringed as Stiles' voice blared through the phone's speakers. "We were just talking about you!"

My eyebrows cinched together as a smile pulled on my lips. "Are you drunk?"

"Wasted." A new voice spoke.

"Hey, Scott. How you holding up?" I let my phone rest on my face and tucked my arm back into the warmth of the covers.

He sighed heavily, "Does being a werewolf mean I can't get drunk?"

I chuckled, "Uh, no. It makes your tolerance go up, but you can definitely still get drunk."

"See, it's not all bad. Drink up." Stiles cheered him on. "Merrick, can you please tell Scott how many other girls are out there?"

"Cause I would know?"

"Well, yeah. You're like... old." He laughed airily and I stopped myself from correcting him, instead humming objectively. "You've probably met so many girls."

I let a moment of silence pass before I spoke up again. "I'm sure she'll get over it, Scott. And if she doesn't then maybe it wasn't meant to be. Either way, you don't have time to be brokenhearted. You lost your anchor and that's gonna make the pull of the full moon feel stronger. Don't loose yourself in your emotions."

"Easy for you to say." He huffed, a hint of venom in his tone. “You sure you even have a heart?”

I glared at the air in front of me, "Actually, a vampire's emotions are heightened. Everything we feel, we feel a hundred times more than we did as humans."

"Really?" Stiles' asked, his interest peaked.

I ignored him, "So trust me when I say I know it feels like the end of the world but it's not. You asked for my help and I'm helping, I'm reminding you that Allison isn't more important than you not killing someone."

There was a small pause before he sighed. “Sorry, Merrick. I’m just- I miss her.” 

“I know, Scott, but you lied to her and she doesn’t know why. She can’t know why. You have to give her some space, even if it hurts. Get shitfaced. Forget your troubles at least for tonight because tomorrow is going to suck." Scott groans at the mention of the full moon. "Oh, and Stiles?"

"Yeah?"

 "I didn't give you my number to get drunken late-night calls. Next time you want to call past midnight you better be dead or dying."

"I thought vampires were nocturnal?" He asked, clearly too intoxicated to process my threating tone. 

I hung up, pulling the covers over my head.

When Monday rolled around, I was on edge. Scott hadn't been taking the breakup well, having panic attacks and breaking school property in fits of anger. I had been ready to interfere if anything happened during lacrosse practice and although no real incidents occurred, I could tell there was something off about him. It was only cemented by the fact that Stiles had asked me to bring Derek. 

But to fight an anchorless werewolf I needed more blood than I had for breakfast. 

I laid on my couch, warm blood bag in my hands as I bit off the plastic stopper. I sighed as I swallowed, feeling a bit more alive. There was a knock at my door and I frowned. I focused on the sounds behind it, huffing when I recognized the soft muttering.

I opened my door, leveling Stiles with a flat gaze. He smiled, glancing over me before his eyes landed on what I was holding.

He squinted, “Is that a blood bag?”

I placed the tube between my lips and sucked, taking a deliberately loud gulp. “Where did you think I got it from?”

He shifted uncomfortably, “I don’t know? I never really thought about it.”

“Would you rather I take it straight from the source?” I smirked.

“No.” He frowned as the bag flattened like an empty Capri sun.

“Why are you here?” I threw the bag behind me, hearing it go into the trash.

His jaw dropped and he stuttered to answer. “Uh, I- I’m picking you up.”

“I could’ve walked.”

“Well, I’m here already so...” He trailed off suspiciously, but I don’t care enough to ask.

“Alright, let’s go.” I push past him and turn to lock the door behind me.

"Where's Derek?"

"He's doing his nightly patrol but he'll be around." I walk down the path and make my way to his Jeep. 

I hop into the passenger seat as he makes his way around to the driver’s. He puts the key into the ignition and the car rumbles to life. I stared out the window and watched as we passed each street, trying to ignore the glances. I was fully prepared to sit in silence when he took a breath in and opened his mouth only to close it.

“What?”

“Do you get them from the hospital? Cause the school has an annual blood drive and–”

“No. I don't. Certain people tend to notice when a parentless teenager comes into town and blood bags start going missing from the local hospital.”

“Oh.” He nods as the car slows to a stop. “That makes sense.”

I roll my eyes at his sigh of relief and get out of the car. I’m right behind him as he walks up the steps and I pause when he does, waiting for him to knock on the door. Instead he pushes a key into the front door and pushes it open. 

"Scott?" He had barely gotten a foot into the house when a woman in scrubs made her way to the door.

"Stiles." He corrects with a smile.

He pushed a key into the front door and I wondered if everyone gave their best friend keys to their house.

"Scott?" He had barely gotten a foot into the house when a woman in scrubs made her way to the door. I would’ve recognized her as Scott’s mother even if I hadn’t met her in her own house.

"Stiles." He corrected with a smile.

Her eyes darted down. "Key!"

"Yeah, I had one made." Ah. I made a mental note to keep a tight hold on my keys.

"That doesn't surprise me. It scares me, but it doesn't surprise me." She looked at me as I stood just outside the threshold. "And who's this?"

"Merrick." Stiles cut me off just before I introduced myself, letting his duffle bag drop to the floor with a heavy thud.

Her eyebrows furrowed, "What is that?"

"Uh, school project we're working on."

She glanced at me once more, still behind the door. "Come on in, sweetheart. It’s cold out." I stepped in, easily picking up the duffle bag and looking over my shoulder to shoot Stiles a glare. She lowered her voice, taking a small step towards Stiles. "Stiles, he's okay, right?"

"Who Scott? Yeah, totally!" His voice when up an octave.

“He just doesn’t talk to me that much anymore, not like he used to.” She confessed sadly.

“Well, he’s had a bit of a rough week.”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it. Yeah.” She trailed off, me and Stiles sharing a guilty look. “Okay! Be careful tonight.” She pulls her keys out of her purse.

“You too.”

Full moon.” She warned.

“What?” He did a double take and was staring at her with wide eyes.

“There’s a full moon tonight.” She chuckled, “You boys should see how the ER gets. Brings out all the nut jobs.”

Stiles sighed with relief, “Oh, right.”

“You know, it’s actually where they came up with the word lunatic.” She told him as she walked out the door.

She shut it behind her and he stood there a second too long. “Stiles!”

“Right, yeah.” He takes the lead up the steps. “So…” I glance at him questioningly. “You have to get invited in, like Dracula?”

“I knew you picked me up for a reason!” I shoved him with the bulk of the duffle bag and he stumbled. “Did you watch all the vampire movies the night you found out or are you just that big of a nerd?”

“Dracula is a classic!” He defended. “Now Twilight , that was new.” We walked up the last step. “So who got it right? Lost Boys? Underworld? Anne Rice ?”

I sighed to hide my amusement. “I’m not having this conversation right now.”

He turned to look at me as opened the door to Scott’s room. “Later?”

I made eye contact with Scott where he sat in the dark, pausing to watch an oblivious Stiles. He switched the lights on and jumped in surprise.

“Oh my god! Dude. You scared the hell out of me. Your mom said you weren’t home yet.”

I set the duffle bag down and made a bee line to Scott’s bed, letting myself fall on it with a bounce.

“I came in through the window.”

“Okay.” He bent down to search his duffle bag. “Uh, well, let’s get this set up. I want you to see what I bought.”

“I’m fine.” Scott spoke eerily. “I’m just gonna lock the door and go to bed early tonight.”

“You sure about that because you got this kinda serial killer look going on in your eyes and I’m hoping it’s the full moon taking effect because it’s really starting to freak me out.”

“I’m fine. You should go now.” He aimed his intense stare at me. “Both of you.”

He hesitated, “Alright, I’ll leave.” He rose to one knee. “Well, look, would you just at least look in the bag and see what I bought? You know, maybe you use it maybe you don’t. Sound good?”

I could hear the clink of the handcuffs that Stiles now held behind his back. I casually leaned backward, making sure my reactions didn’t clue Scott in.

He rose unnaturally and bent down to look into the bag. He lifted the thick metal chain, his voice holding a light growl. “You think I’m gonna let you put these on and chain me up like a dog?”

“Actually, no.” In one quick motion he grabbed hold of Scott’s wrist, snapped the handcuff on it, pushed him toward the radiator, and attached Scott to it.

He scrambled away from Scott as he snapped. “What the hell are you doing?!”

“Protecting you from yourself. And giving you some payback…” His nostrils flared in anger. “For making out with Lydia.”

I blinked in surprise, realizing why Stiles had explicitly asked for Derek. He was being petty. He walked out of the room, leaving me with a seething werewolf.

He glowered at me as I stared at him curiously. I wondered if he could just find a new anchor. Though, I doubt he could do it before we needed to call Derek. I tilted my head as I examined Scott. His heartbeat was quick and loud and I could see the bloodlust in his eyes. I realized that I’d never actually seen a werewolf that wasn’t in control of themselves. Unfortunately, Scott had been nothing but nice to me before he had lost his anchor and looking at him now… I genuinely wanted to help him.

“I brought you some water.” Stiles held up a bottle only my pour it into a dog bowl with Scott’s name written on it.

He placed at a foot away from Scott and I raised my eyebrows at both Scott’s lack of response and Stiles’ treatment of his best friend. He turned around and Scott knocked the bowl over. “I’m gonna kill you!”

“You kissed her, Scott, okay? You kissed Lydia . That’s my- Like the one girl that I ever- And, you know, the past few hours I’ve been thinking, it’s probably just the full moon. You know? He doesn’t even know what he’s doing and tomorrow he’ll be totally back to normal. He probably won’t even remember what a complete dumbass he’s been. A son of a bitch, a freaking unbelievable piece of crap friend.”

“She kissed me.”

“What?” Stiles’ voice wavered.

“I didn’t kiss her. She kissed me.” Stiles rushed out the door. “She would’ve done a lot more too. You should’ve seen the way she had her hands all over me. She would’ve done anything I wanted. Anything!”

I had watched them argue impassively. I had gotten more than enough experience witnessing high school drama in Virginia. Werewolves are assholes and all teenagers were emotionally turbulent. Although vampires weren’t much different.

I sighed, keeping my eye on Scott as I got up to check on Stiles. He was sat on the floor, leaning against the wall and wringing his hands together. I sat beside him, crossing my legs. “You alright?” I didn’t look at him when he glanced at me.

He pressed his palms to his eyes, “It’s the full moon, right?”

“Has he acted like this any other time?”

“No.” He sighs loudly, “But it’d be a lot easier to hate him if he did.”

“Well, we’re just gonna have to teach him to control his dickish tendencies by next month.“

He leaned his forehead into his hand to look at you. His lips had quirked up slightly but he looked exhausted.

“Please, Stiles, let me out. It’s starting to hurt.” His voice was convincing I’ll give him that, vulnerable and heartbroken, but his heart was still beating unsteadily in his chest. I shook my head at Stiles, who looked like he was going to be sick. “It’s not like the first time. It’s the full moon. It’s Allison… breaking up with me. I know that it’s not just taking a break. She broke up with me… and it’s killing me. I feel completely hopeless. Just please, let me out.”

“I can’t.”

It wasn’t fun waiting out the full moon. I could practically taste the anxiety in the air around Stiles as he focused his eyes to the floor.

It was quiet for a few moments before Scott’s heart quickened. “No, no, no!” He shuffled violently, making the cuffs hit against the radiator. He was almost hyperventilating, grunting and huffing as he fought against the handcuffs. Stiles pressed his hands to his ears when Scott started to scream in pain, knocking his head into the wall behind him. I knew what was happening, I could hear his teeth growing in. It wasn’t until the yelling turned into growling and that turned into silence that I movedpanicked. I rushed into the room, finding it empty. Stiles was right behind me, examining the blood left on the broken cuffs. 

“Fuck.” I pulled my phone out and texted Derek. He broke out.

My phone buzzed immediately after it sent. On it.

I turned to tell Stiles but he was gone. I rushed down the stairs, catching him just before he got into his Jeep. “Derek said he’s got him. Don’t worry about it.”

His heartbeat was quick and spastic. “My dad’s out there.”

I paused, ready to be the voice of reason before I had a proper look at him. He looked exhausted and his chest heaved with panicked breaths. I moved to get into his Jeep. “You should just tell him. It’s not like you can protect him anymore than the gun in his holster.”

I wanted to crack a joke or try to console him but whenever I glanced at him I knew nothing would work.

He tapped his thumb on the steering wheel as he drove, fidgeting nervously. His heartbeat spiked when we saw the red and blue of the ambulance lights. “No, no, no.” He pulled the car to a stop and jumped out. I leaned forward, watching as he called for his father the second his feet hit the concrete. He ran to a cop then the body under the sheet, pausing as he reached for it. He was stopped by another cop and when Stiles immediately threw his arms around him, I leaned back in my seat. I felt a pull in my chest as I watched his father return the hug. 

"That's Stiles? And... Merrick?"

I froze.

"Some other of Allison's friends."

It took everything I had not to glance over at them. I forced myself to act casual, pretending I was focused on Stiles as I eavesdropped.

“You gonna tell me about that talk you had with her?”

“You tell me something first. That night you came across those two Betas, one of them was smaller, right?” He hummed in agreement. “Well was he just smaller or could he have been younger too?”

Chapter Text

After the night trapped at the school, I didn’t think I’d be running towards the Alpha. And to save Mr. Harris no less. 

Derek turned into an open classroom just in time for us to watch a chair get thrown against the chalkboard. “Get down!” He jumped into action, pulling Mr. Harris to the ground as another chair flew over our heads. 

We heard it break behind us, the Alpha already making his escape. We darted into the hallways, Mr. Harris already forgotten. We followed the noise of each door it opened until it was out. We stood in the parking lot for a second, listening intently until we heard the rustling from the woods. It was harder to pinpoint its direction as it made its way through the shadows, even more so when the police sirens wailed somewhere nearby. Each step in the wrong direction was more distance between us and the Alpha. 

We paused when the dirt turned into asphalt, looking around the industrial buildings around us. A flash of light lit through the large windows, a body silhouetted as it ran through the fabrication shops. We didn’t have time to worry about whose light it was as we moved to chase it. It weaved through and around the different buildings inhumanly fast as we struggled to shorten the distance. We heard it exit the building in front of us and Derek took a sharp turn. 

He moved to cut the Alpha off when sparks exploded off the metal in front of him. He recoiled as the lights blinded him. My head snapped to the man aiming a crossbow at him and I grabbed Derek by the collar of his jacket to pull him back just as another shot exploded where he once stood. 

We crouched as the hunter reloaded and a car skidded to stop beside us. Derek’s car. 

“Get in!” Stiles yelled as he pushed the door open, moving to the backseat.

I dove through the open door as bullets hit the car. I settled beside Stiles as Scott stepped on the accelerator, the door slamming closed behind Derek. 

He banged his fists on the dashboard. “Damn it! We had him!”

Stiles leaned forward, “Who the Alpha?”

“Yes! He was right in front of me before the hunters showed up!”

I had slumped into the backseat, coming off the adrenaline rush. I looked at Scott curiously as I noticed his hands perfectly placed on ten and two. “Why do you have Derek’s car?”

Scott glanced at Derek nervously, who was now glaring at him. “We went to your place, but the hunters were already waiting for you. Then there was a call for a break in at the school so-” 

Stiles cut him off with an annoyed groan, looking between Derek and me. “How did you find him?”

I looked to Derek, silently asking if he’d want to disclose that. He scoffed and shook his head, turning to look out the window. 

“Can you try to trust us for at least half a second?” Scott huffed.

“Yeah, both of us.” Derek shot Stiles a glare, “Or just him, I’ll be back here.” He retreated back to his seat. 

“Look, the last time I talked to my sister she was close to figuring something out. She found two things, the first was a guy named Harris-“

Stiles shot up. “Our chemistry teacher?”

“Why him?”

“I don’t know yet!” Derek 

“What’s the second?”

“Some kind of symbol.” He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket, unfolding it to show them. 

Scott groaned and Derek snapped his head toward him. “What? Do you know what this is?”

“I’ve seen it… on a necklace.” He hesitated, “ Allison’s necklace.” 

“Get it from her.”

He grimaced, “It’s not that easy.”

“We can always steal it from her.” I chime in from the back. Scott shoots me a glare through the rearview mirror. 

Derek huffs, stuffing the piece of paper back into his pocket. “Pull over.” Scott eases the car into a stop and Derek gets out, moving toward the driver's seat. Scott takes the hint and scrambles to get out. When Derek takes his seat he looks to Stiles in the backseat. “Get out.”

Stiles’ jaw drops and I sigh. “Derek don't be a child, at least drop them off.”

He frowns and Scott takes the passenger's seat with a sheepish smile. “We left Stiles’ Jeep at your house.” 

Derek lets out an irritated growl but starts the car up nonetheless.

I had given Scott until lunch before I berated him. I found his fluffy head of hair easily and took the seat in front of him. My mouth had barely opened before Stiles slid into the seat beside Scott, “Did you get her to give you the necklace?”

Scott glanced between our attentive stares. “Not exactly.”

Stiles sighed in frustration. “What happened?”

“She told me not the talk to her... at all.”

Stiles took a huge bite of his chicken, “So, she's not giving you the-”

“She's not giving me the necklace!”

“Okay. Well, did you find anything else out?”

“Just that I know nothing about girls and that they're totally psychotic.” 

“Okay, I came up with a plan B just in case anything like this happened.”

“What's plan B?”

“Just steal the stupid thing.”

I scoffed, “I don’t know why we didn’t do that in the first place.”

Scott looked apprehensive. “Couldn’t we try at least getting to Harris?” 

“My dad put him under 24 hour protective detail, okay? The necklace is all we got. Steal it. Thank you.”

Scott slumped in his seat, immediately sitting up once more. “Stiles, he's watching us." Their eyes focused on someone behind me. "Act normal.”

I tried to focus my hearing just in time for Scott to wince at a crisp bite. “Scott, can you hear me? You can, can’t you?” Jackson’s voice was clear in my ears. He sounded cocky that he had figured it out, as if Scott didn’t have the worst poker face in the world. 

 Stiles cued in on Scott's panic. “What’s wrong?”

“Jacksons talking to me, he knows I can hear him. Look at me. Just talk to me. Act normal. Pretend like nothing's happening.” 

“Are you trying to pretend not to hear me?” 

“Say something! Talk to me.”

Stiles’ arms waved wildly as he failed to come up with something. “I can't think of anything! My mind’s a complete blank.” 

“ Your mind's blank? You can't think of something to say?” Scott asked incredulously.

"Not under this kind of pressure." He huffed, taking a chance and glancing where the boy was sitting. "FYI, he's not even sitting with them anymore." Scott scanned the room frantically. 

"Looking for me, McCall? I'm right here.” I rolled my eyes, impatiently tapping my nails on the table. This wasn’t getting us any closer to the necklace.

"So, what else can you do, huh? Can you see better? Are you stronger, more powerful? Now, I knew there was no way you suddenly got that good at lacrosse. Which means you're actually a cheater. Aren't you? I mean, can you even play lacrosse?"

"Yes," Scott muttered angrily.

"Don't rise to the bait, Scott." I spoke softly.

"I bet my new co-captain is gonna score a bunch of shots tonight, aren't you? And while you're pretending you're not a lying cheat, I'm going to ruin your life if you don't give me what I want. And you know what I'm going to start with? Her. I'm going to destroy any chance you have left with her. And when I'm done with that I'm gonna get her all alone then I'm gonna get my hands all over that tight little body." 

My lip curled in disgust at his words and Stiles leaned toward his friend. “Scott, come on, you can’t let him do this. You can’t let him have this kind of power over you. Okay?” 

Scott’s lunch platter rattled against the table as he held himself back. Every word from Jackson's mouth made it shake more and more as he tightened his hold on it. 

“I’m gonna do everything you never got the chance to do. And Scott? She’s gonna beg for more. I’ll bet she likes to get loud. Maybe she’s even a screamer. How are you gonna feel, Scott, when she’s screaming my name?” 

My eye twitched in anger and my hand was on Scott’s before Jackson could finish the sentence, eyes locking onto his when they darted up furiously. “Stay calm.” I order, trying my best to will some sort of compulsion over him.

I watch as his eyes glaze over and his body sags. He blinks slowly, mind clearly blank as he stares at me. I balk at the sudden change, moving my hand off his. Stiles looks confused but I am not in the mood to handle this right now. 

I jump out of my seat, stalking towards Jackson. I grip onto his jacket to pull him into the hallway, smirking when he lets out an angry grunt. I let go and he makes a show of dusting his jacket off. “Alright, let me get this straight. You suspect that we can hear better, see better, are stronger, and more powerful than you. And your plan is… blackmail? Did I get that right?” I asked sarcastically, with the confidence only a supernatural being can have. I grip his collar, shove him against the wall, and lift him off the floor with zero effort. “You trying to threaten us, Jackson?” 

He was clenching his jaw, trying his best to look unfazed as his heart raced inside his ribcage. “Think things through next time, tough guy.” I think about setting him down gently but in the end I simply let go and watch his knees buckle when his feet hit the floor. He struggles to hold himself up, pressing his back against the wall for leverage. 

I walk back into the cafeteria and pause beside Scott and Stiles to grab my lunch tray. “Find a way to get that necklace.”

I knock on the door, a drink in my hand. I had no idea what Derek was going to do but I didn’t trust him not to kill Stiles if left alone with him for more than a few minutes. When the door opens Stiles’ dad looks surprised. I smile politely, offering my hand. “You must be Sheriff Stilinski. My name’s Merrick, I’m here for the study group.” 

His eyebrows raise and he shakes my hand with a nod. “ You’re Merrick? You were with my son the other night.”

“Yep. May I come in?” 

He opens the door further and takes a step aside. “Sure, the boys are just upstairs.”

I walk inside, pausing at the base of the steps. “Oh, is this okay to take up?” I do my best to act like an awkward teenager just trying to be respectful. 

It seems to work because his lips press together into an amused smile and he nods. “Completely fine.”

I give him one last polite smile before I make my way to Stiles’ room. 

“Sorry I’m late.” I say disingenuously, sipping at my coke Slushee. A flash of bare skin catches me off guard and I pause to glance to my left. I snort as an angry looking Derek meets my eye. He glares at me and smiles in mock amusement. 

I look between the two huddled boys with a teasing smile. “What’s going on?”

“Studying.” Danny presses, looking at Stiles.

I take a seat on Stiles’ bed and watch Derek tug a shirt on. “Hey, that one looks pretty good, huh? What do you think, Danny?” Stiles smacks his arm to get his attention.

“Huh?” Danny refuses to look at Derek.

“The shirt.” Stiles 

He looks over to Derek and sighs. “It’s… It’s not really his color.”

Derek takes the shirt off as I bite my lip to stifle my laughter. “You swing for a different team, but you still play ball don't you, Danny Boy?” 

“You're a horrible person.”

“I know it keeps me awake at night.” Stiles lies easily. "Anyway, about that text."

“Stiles! None of these fit!” 

Danny stares at Derek for a few seconds before his resolve breaks and he jumps into action. “I'll need the ISP, the phone number and the exact time of the text.” 

Stiles silently cheers as I stare at Derek with a wide smile. “Shut up.” He mutters under his breath.

“I didn’t say anything.” I snicker. Derek knew exactly what he was doing, poor Danny didn’t stand a chance. 

Melissa McCall didn’t send that message. We made our way to the hospital to prove that. 

“Did you get the picture?” Scott’s voice rang out of Stiles’ phone.

“Yeah, I did, and it looks just like the drawing.”

Derek pulled Stiles’ arm toward him, making Stiles wince in pain. “Hey, is there something on the back of it? There’s gotta be something. An inscription, an opening, something.”

“No, no, the things flat. And, no, it doesn’t open. There’s nothing in it, on it, around it, nothing. And where are you? You’re supposed to be here. You’re first line .” Scott accentuates. 

“Where the hell is Bilinski? Huh?” A man asks angrily. 

“Man, you’re not going to play if you’re not here to start.” 

“I know! Look, if you see my dad just tell him— Tell him I’ll be there I’ll just be a little late, okay?” Scott agrees and Stiles sighs. “Alright, thanks.” 

Derek looks over at him in what I swear is concern. “You’re not gonna make it.” 

“I know.” Stiles huffs in frustration. 

“And you didn’t tell him about his mom, either.”

“Not until we found out the truth.” We look to the hospital with anticipation. 

“By the way, one more thing.” 

“Yeah?” Stiles cluelessly gives his attention to Derek. With a quick move he slams Stiles’ face into the steering wheel. “Oh, God! What the hell was-”

“You know what that was for.” He points at him threateningly. “Let's go.” Stiles stays still, still wincing in pain. “Let's go.”

They get out of the car and we start making our way to the hospital. “Wait.” I grab onto Stiles’ shoulders and stare into his eyes, feeling sorry already. “You’re going to go to your game and forget about this for now, just enjoy your time on first line.” 

He furrows his brows and I freeze. I look him over, looking for the vervain. His hand comes to his side to rest against his pants pocket. My stomach twists in horror. “Fuck it.” I’m quick to speed him over to the high school. A couple seconds later he’s in the locker rooms. “You won’t be fast enough to catch up with us on foot. Just focus on enjoying the game.”

You speed back to the hospital where an unimpressed looking Derek is leaning against the Jeep. “Shut up!" I groan, rubbing my hand over my face. "Let’s just get this over with.” We walk to the entrance of the hospital and the doors open to reveal a silent lobby. “It looks empty.” 

“Try to find Jennifer, she’s the nurse who looks after my uncle.” Derek speaks, pointing to the right as he moves down the left hall. 

I find no sign of anyone as I make my way down the halls. I peek into the room where Peter is usually held and find nothing. I feel the dread growing in the pit of my stomach. “Derek!”

“Yeah?” 

“It’s Peter.” I feel the hair on the back of my neck stand, turning around to where Peter stands.

 “So, you’re Merrick.” He smiles, the burn scars halting some of the motion in his face. “I suppose I should thank you for keeping my nephew company.”

Chapter Text

I’m thrown onto the ground, knocking the wind out of me when I land. I hear a body land beside me, turning to see a blonde woman dressed in a nurse uniform, she’s out cold. I groan as I begin to get up, “Dude, your uncle sucks.” 

“That’s not nice.” Peter scolds, “She’s my nurse.”

“She’s a psychotic bitch helping you kill people.” Derek retorts, grabbing hold of my arm to pull me beside him. 

“You think I killed Laura on purpose? One of my own family?” He asks, walking towards him threateningly. 

Derek roars, eyes glowing blue as he uses the wall to kick off. Peter easily catches him, using the momentum to force Derek against the wall. He grabs Derek by his jacket and throws him against the opposite wall, the handrail breaking off the wall along with chunks of drywall. 

I get to my feet speeding to land a sucker punch to his jaw. His entire body twists from the force and he turns back around to catch me by my throat. He regards me with little interest as my fingernails begin to dig into his wrist. “Stay out of this.” With that he launches me across the hallway and I land unceremoniously onto the chairs in the waiting area. 

“My mind, my personality, were literally burned out of me. I was being driven by pure instinct.” I hear Peter continue his monologuing as he lifts Derek by his throat. He drops him in favor of picking up his nurse’s keys.

“You want forgiveness?” Derek spits out as he gets to his feet, landing a punch on him. He reels back to go for a kick. I watch the interaction intently, a frown on my lips. 

Peter takes hold of Derek’s jacket collar and headbutts him, fixing him with an annoyed look. “I want understanding.” 

He kicks Derek square in the chest and sends him toppling over himself onto the floor below me. There’s no real force behind their attacks. I blink, only now regretting trying to come between their brawl. Peter’s forceful blows held little violence compared to Derek’s desperate furious strikes. Every shove or kick was assertive, only working to try to mollify Derek. Werewolf abilities seem to exaggerate the visual of their fight . I slump into the chair I landed on and watch their performative attack with only slight disappointment. 

“Do you have any idea what it was like for me during those years? Slowly healing, cell by cell. Even more slowly coming back to consciousness. Yes, becoming an Alpha, taking that from Laura pushed me over a plateau in the healing process. I can't help that.” I winced and just as I expected, Derek swung at him one, two, three, times before Peter caught his fist instead of dodging it. There was an audible snapping as Peter squeezed, Derek fell to his knees as he grunted in pain. “I tried to tell you what was happening. I tried to warn you.”

Peter threw Derek through the glass at the receptionist desk, and I squeezed my eyes shut. I could hear Derek army crawling through the glass and the crunching of it beneath Peter’s shoes. I stand up, having an understanding of the situation. I walk slow steps to reach them, halfheartedly kicking at the glass on the floor as I listen to Peter’s plea. All that work just to end in a dramatic flurry of family angst. I only take a single step into the room they ended up in in order to get my confirmation. 

Derek looks up at me, exhausted and apologetic. His eyebrows are knitted with worry and I nod my head with a fleeting smile. “I get it. He’s family.” 

The worry was gone in a second, replaced with sympathy as he realized the implication my words held. He nodded, “Thank you.” 

“I only came for you.” I smiled, shrugging. 

“That’s very touching.” Peter spoke snidely. I glared at him, holding back a threat to his life.

The walk to the school was silent on mine and Derek's part, Peter had no problem yapping about his plans. He was insane, there was no doubt about it. His plans were ruthless and the pit in my stomach grew as he gloated. Still, I stood by Derek as we entered the locker rooms. 

Peter played his games, turning the lights off by destroying the breaker box. He let a lacrosse ball roll over to Scott to lead him to where we were standing in the dark. Scott gasped when he turned the corner and his eyes landed on us.

“Thank God! Where the hell have you been? Do you have any idea what’s been going on?” Scott's sigh of relief does nothing to conceal his outrage. 

Peter comes out of the shadows with a lacrosse stick in hand. “I really don’t get lacrosse."

“It was you.” Scott whispered, putting it all together quickly. 

“When I was in high school, we played basketball. Now there’s a real sport. Still, I read somewhere that lacrosse comes from Native American tribes and that they played it to resolve conflict. Do I have that right?” He hummed, placing the stick down. “I have a little conflict of my own to resolve Scott. But I need your help to do it.”

“I’m not helping you kill people.”

“Well, I don’t want to kill all of them. Just the response ones. And that doesn’t have to include…” He trails off in confusion, looking to Derek. 

“Allison.” He fills in. 

Scott turns to him in hurt, then anger takes over. “You’re on his side? Are you forgetting the part where he killed your sister?!”

“It was a mistake.” 

Scott stares at him in disbelief. “What?”

“It happens.” Derek states somewhat numbly. 

“Scott, I think you’re getting the ring impression of us. We really just want to help you reach your full potential.” 

"By killing my friends”

“Sometimes the people closest to you can be the ones holding you back the most." 

“If they’re holding me back from becoming a psychotic nut job like you, I’m okay with that.” My lips quick up before Peter steps towards Scott. My amusement is gone in a second as Scott looks back at us, asking for help. “Maybe you could try and see things from my perspective.” Peter holds his hand up and his nails extend grotesquely and with one swift move his claws are stabbed into Scott's neck. He gasps, groaning in pain. Peter withdraws his claws and Scott drops to the ground. He's gasping and convulsing on the floor, a golden glow flickering in his irises. 

As I follow Derek out, I can't help but look back at him.

I walked back to the hospital after Derek had left with Peter. I wasn’t going to judge Derek for wanting to stay with his family but I wasn’t going to tag along either. I had thought about just going home but I didn’t want to think about Derek off doing who knows what with his psycho uncle. I settled on returning Stiles’ Jeep.

I had parked the Jeep in the driveway just as a pair of headlights came down the street. I went around the back and jumped up to Stiles’ bedroom window, slipping through and shutting it closed behind me. I could hear him and his father as they made their way inside. I didn’t eavesdrop on their conversation, I was focused on Stiles’ quickened heartbeat. He was nervous. He ran his way up the steps, walking through the door of his room with his phone in hand. He was typing away, oblivious to me. He turned to shut his door, throwing his phone onto his bed. 

I stayed in place, leaning against the windowsill as my phone vibrated. Stiles jumped, turning around to stare at me with wide eyes. “Merrick! Are you okay? What happened? Did you find out who it was?” He rattled his questions off as I stared at him. 

“Where did you get it?”

“What?” 

“The vervain. How did you even know it would work?” I squinted at him in suspicion, taking a step toward him. 

His heartbeat was picking up and he stood up a bit straighter. “I did my research.”

“There's a ton of fake information on vampires, how did you know to use this one ?” I catch myself, my tone turning accusatory. I shake my head, sighing. “It doesn’t matter.” I take a step to the right and land on his mattress with a body jostling bounce. “It was Peter Hale.”

“What?” 

I groan, swiping my hands over my face. “It’s Derek’s fucking uncle.”

“Wha- What happened?” He floundered, running around his bed to accost me.

“Derek got his ass beat. Peter won him over.” I shrugged, staring at his ceiling. “I guess you can’t stay mad at family.”

“What?”

I sighed, looking over at him. “How was the game?”

He opened and closed his mouth a couple times before he swallowed. “Uh… We won.”

“That’s good. At least one of us had a good night.” 

“So, what are we going to do about Derek and Peter?” He huffed, his full attention on me. 

I turned to him, confused. “ We? ”

“Well, yeah! Peter and Derek are teaming up now so…” He trailed off, gesturing wildly to express his impatience. 

I scoffed, “Derek is a grown man. He made his decision and I’m not exactly going to kill his uncle.” I suck at my teeth and give the ceiling a thoughtful frown. “Huh, I guess I don’t have anything to do now.” I turn to Stiles who’s staring at me with wide disbelieving eyes. “Seems like all of this just stopped being my problem.”