Chapter Text
"ALLISONNNNNN!" A scream broke out echoing against the concrete wall of Oak Creek. Stella couldn't move, she couldn't breathe.
The ear piercing scream rang through her ears and she didn't need to figure out who the scream came from or what it meant, everything was all too clear.
Her eyes were locked on her cousin falling almost in slow motion into the arms of Scott McCall. The Oni that surrounded them disappeared in a cloud of black smoke as if they were never there. Hiding in the shadows, The Nogitsune slowly backed away from the havoc he had created, a smirk plastered on his face.
Anger rushed through her body as she thought of him, The Nogitsune who had already taken someone she cared for away and was now so close to taking another. Allison's lips were moving and Scott's tear filled eyes painfully took in every word. Stella had to turn away, she didn't want to know what Allison was saying because there would be that daunting thought that those would be her cousins last words.
Stella started moving, running towards the wounded Isaac, her eyes finally leaving Allison's wounded body for a moment.. "its my fault...its my fault" whispered like a haunted mantra, Isaac whispered as his body shook aching from the slash wounds but also from the pain that Allison was mortally wounded because of him.
She immediately bent down wrapping her arms around her friend, her mind buzzing with a dozen thoughts. "No, its not Isaac. Allison's fine, okay. Allison's going to be fine." Her voice hushed saying the words to herself more so than to the wounded beta. Allison couldn't possibly die from this after all the countless battles she's endured. She was Allison Argent. "Allisons going to be okay."
And then it happened.
Allison's glove clad hand slid off her wounded stomach and dropped onto the hard blood splattered ground. Motionless. Lifeless.
The noise so soft but seemed so very loud to all who watched Allison's body cease movement.
"NO! No, no, no, no, no!" Stella screamed.
Isaac clutched on to her as she almost dropped to the ground in agony. It was surreal. In an instance, her cousin was dead in the arms of Scott, who hugged her small body tightly.
In an instance, every future moment with Allison was stolen from Stella. There would no longer be anymore late night talks, training side by side or just pure spending time alone in each other's presence. In that very moment, Stella knew her life would never be the same again.
*****
Pacing back and forth, Stella chewed nervously on her thumbnail as she stared out at the city of Los Angeles, beyond the glass doors of the airport. The sign that hung about her head, directing passengers to the nearest ticketing station taunting that she might have been making a huge mistake.
What was she thinking? Leaving the comforts of France for the life of 'running for your life' every other minute of Beacon Hills?
Definitely. Definitely a mistake.
Stella's feet barely got ready to make a dash for the ticketing station when she heard the familiar roar of a motorbike in the distance. Seems like her decision had just been made for her.
Stella gripped the strap of her backpack, the only bag available to stuff a few of her things in her last minutes decision, and stepped out of the airport. Outside, a green dirt bike weaved its way through the cars with no intention on slowly down until it met its destination.
Which happened to be right in front of Stella.
Scott McCall kicked down his kickstand, stepped on to the ground, and took off his helmet. "You got my message." Stella said with a small smile happy to see a familiar face. Scott nodded holding his helmet in his hands.
"I'm happy you decided to come back.
"Because I'd be easier to protect?" Stella smirked a little stepping off the sidewalk.
They stood facing each other almost a parallel to how they were the day of Allison's funeral.
Everyone had gathered at the McCall's house after Allison was laid to rest, to continue celebrating Allison's life the best way they knew how
They shared stories of the young girl and smiled upon photos of her, almost as if she was smiling back at them. Scott, who had taken a breather up in his bedroom was interrupted by Stella's voice, who had appeared in front of his door.
"I'm leaving with Chris and Isaac." She said after a period of silence, tucking a long strand of hair behind her ear.
Scott stood to argue as memories of Allison's last moments flashed in his mind.
"Scott, you need to protect Stella. They're going to kill her!"
"Who, Allison?! Who!" But he never got his answer. All that Scott knew was that he was going to protect Stella from anything no matter what.
"Stella, you can't leave! I told Allison I would protect you and I can't do that if your miles away in France!"
"Yes, I can, Scott. The whole reason I'm here was because of Allison. She was supposed to help me become a better person...I can't really do that now that she's...gone." Stella bit back tears not willing to cry in front of anyone. She was told crying was weakness and even at her weakest point she couldn't bring herself to do it.
"Stella you are a good person. You went from wanting nothing to do with anything to being a part of a team. A pack. You did that yourself."
Stella closed her eyes for a moment. It was true when she came to Beacon Hills, she wasn't one for putting her life on a line for the town that did nothing but cause her heartache but as time went on she found herself fighting alongside her cousin, a kitsune, a banshee, and a true alpha all to save their friend.
"I think I'd be better off miles away from Beacon Hills and you know that. Away from the hunters, werewolves, whatever evil spirit that decides to possess someone next. You don't hear stuff like that happening in other places. Beacon Hills is a powder keg of devastation and we'd all be better off away from it.
Now here she was, a month and a half later willing to head back into Beacon Hills.
"There's that and we missed you..." Scott squinted a little as the California sun rays beamed in his face.
He didn't have to say who was exactly the 'we' he was referring to because she knew very well. Stiles.
He was the only person she hadn't spoken to since she left.
Stella talked to Lydia about twice a week, occasionally stopping by the local french boutique that Lydia recommend and went on that if she even had so much as a scarf from the place she could die happily, peacefully and of course fashionably. Kira once a week as the two girls would ramble on about their day. Scott would call for a check in but also to talk to Isaac and Stiles not a single call.
Stella hadn't expected much since she hadn't told him she was leaving. The last time they talked was the long night when The Nogitsune spirit was long gone. After all the events she could only bring herself to give him a small comforting hug, which raised an eyebrow among everyone in the pack. It was a huge contrast between the longing staring and long embraces Stella and Stiles had shared before.
"I know...but Scott there's a reason why I came back." Her tone got more serious as her eyes darted from traveler to traveler seemingly paranoid.
"Can we go to your house and talk about this?"
In that moment, Scott's protective intuition kicked in. He knew there was something wrong. Stella looked suddenly scared almost paranoid. Then Allison's last words burned itself into his mind. "There going to kill her, Scott."
Scott jaw clenched at the memory, slowly nodding at the request."Of course."
Stella inhaled sharply managing a smile to lighten up the mood. "Is that for me?" She asked pointing at the spare helmet that was strapped down to the back of the motorbike. The small rainbow sticker on the side made it clear that the helmet was usually for Kira. She's never ridden on the back of a bike before or been on one period. Stella strapped on the red large helmet and sat on the back end of the bike. "Okay, I'm ready." The brunette rested her hands on Scott's side for security as the motorbike started to rev up.
Scott looked back at Stella with a smile and over the roaring bike said, "Welcome back to Beacon Hills."