[I know this chapter is shorter than usual! Sorry.] [I made an edit and reuploaded this. I forgot that Isaac isn't supposed to know Derek's name yet, whoops!]

"You know…" Jackson said when their conversation had a lull. He glanced at Danny then, the moonlight complimenting him. "If you need a place to crash for a while, you could stay at my place." When Danny didn't say anything, Jackson quickly added, "At least-until your grandma leaves."

Danny seemed to grimace. Their shadows became shorter under a streetlamp and grew long again as they walked past it. "Are you sure?"

Almost sighing in relief, Jackson said, "Yeah, of course. I'm sure my parents will be fine with it. They'll probably be glad I'm helping you out."

Danny chuckled and bumped into Jackson shoulder. "Thanks."

"Yeah, no problem. It'll be nice. We'll finally be able to hang out, just us guys."

"It's been a while." Danny said. "How's Lydia?"

"She's… cool. Hot. You know, I mean she's Lydia."

"Yeah but, she… I mean…."

"Oh-what? This again?"

"All I'm saying is that sometimes she seems to get under your skin."

"Yeah but, I don't know. I like her. Like really."

Danny smiled then. "Well okay. As long as you're happy." They both went quiet, warm in each other's presence.

"But Danny, I mean… really. I mean-I'm angry too. I don't want to be a… one of those, but you… why do you… I mean you just seem so…."

"I-it's not like I-I mean…"

"I mean you seemed to really hate that guy. Do you know him?"

"Wh-Derek? No. It's just. My family, we've been here for a long time. Like a really long time. We… you know how my family is like really superstitious and we keep giving you weird things? Usually when you hear about weird accidents on the news?"

"Accidents?"

"Yeah you know," Danny said, putting his hands in his pockets, "Like animal attacks or stuff like that."

"Like werewolves?"

"No… well not exactly, but sort of like that."

"Okay?"

"Well, my family is one of the oldest families here. Everyone else moved out a long time ago. There's a story about a tree in the woods that attracted monsters" Danny spat out the word, "like him to this place. It was cut down a long time ago so it's not like it used to be around here. At least, that's what my family says." He sighed then. "Well, it's not like we really hated them. We used to- I didn't used to get so angry about werewolves. I mean, I just thought it was my family being weird and superstitious. I didn't want to tell you because-" Danny's eyes looked over in Jackson's direction but he kept facing forward. "-well, it's kind of weird. I mean, like my family is really weird about this stuff."

"It's whatever." Jackson said, shrugging. "I mean my family's weird too."

Danny's eyebrows knotted together tightly and he went quiet for a bit.

"I mean… well maybe not like your family though." Jackson admitted.

"Yeah."

After some more quiet, Jackson said. "You… seemed pretty angry though."

"Yeah. I just… it's hard to take it all in. It's not like we were hunters or something, but you hear stories about the werewolves and what they do. Then it's like… what if that's us. I mean-they had peace for a while-the Hale pack-"

"The Hale pack?"

"Yeah, like Derek Hale. They guy we just met. The guy whose family burned down in that fire. That wasn't a normal fire either, but I don't know. I mean it's all just gossip on our end." Danny said with a shrug. "And when I realized I beca-when I realized what happened… I didn't ask for this."

"Yeah, me neither." Jackson said.

Danny noticed his hands were clenched and he blinked a few times, trying to relax. "But… you…" He looked up at Jackson. "You didn't seem all that… I don't know. You just…"

Jackson met Danny's confused stare. He shrugged back. "I mean I was mad too, but I was pretty confused about what was happening."

"Yeah, but your- you didn't really transform like I did. Did you… learn to control it or something?"

Jackson's lips pursed as his eyebrows scrunched up. "I… I don't think so. I don't know, it's like, whenever I looked-this is going to sound weird, but whenever I looked at you I just felt better."

Danny didn't say anything for a while.

Jackson nodded and they continued walking into the cool summer night.

Xxx

"Where are we?" The boy asked, looking up at charred walls. He stepped out from under the porch to look at the stars between the trees.

"I think we lost them." Derek said. "But they might expect us to be here. We should move."

"They? Who's they? Why were they chasing us? And who are you?"

"I'm guessing your name is Isaac."

The boy paused. He looked the stranger up and down cautiously. "Yeah?"

Derek started walking away with Isaac quickly following. "You're a werewolf."

Isaac paused, jerking his head away for a moment. Then he nodded and followed, "A werewolf. Right. Of course." He said sarcastically. In the back of his head, he thought about his odd recent incidents.

"Yup. Just ran into your little buddies too."

"My… little buddies?"

"Do you know who's been turning you all?"

"Us all?" Isaac's mind drifted towards- "You mean Scott and Stiles?"

"Like Scott, and…" He suddenly realized he didn't get a chance to ask the werepups their names. "The other kids on your lacrosse team."

"I knew something was up with them!" Isaac said. "Painting my ass." He said with a grin. But then a sort of uneasiness began to rise in him. So he was a werewolf?

"Do you know who bit you?" Derek asked again.

"Wh-no it was some… some thing. It had red eyes-"

"Did they call out to you? Have you met them since you changed?"

"No I don't think so-will you slow down?"

"Not until we get somewhere safe." Derek said, continuing to move between the trees.

"Safe from what?"

"The hunters."

"Hunters?"

"Yeah. The ones hunting us."

Isaac felt unsettled. "We're-"

"Being hunted yes. I hate babysitting." Derek grumbled.

Isaac crossed his arms and continued to follow Derek.

"Well, at least you're showing some promise. The other ones just kept freaking out and whining."

"What do you mean? The other werewolves-from the lacrosse team?"

"Yeah, but you're doing just fine. Maybe you should change back though, just in case we bump into them. Not like they'd believe any excuse we came up with but-"

"Change back?" He looked down as if to see if he needed to change his clothes when he noticed his hands. Oh.

"You seem to be really in control of your emotions."

"Uh… yeah I guess."

"I mean… when people get transformed-if they're not born into it-they tend to get overwhelmed- You're just walking around like a werewolf."

"I don't know… it feels good. It's like… I don't know it's not like being in control. It's more like I'm not holding back. Like I'm being my real self."

Derek chuckled at that.

"What?" Isaac asked.

"I was just thinking you should talk to some of your packmates about accepting themselves."

"What do you mean?"

"You'll get it when you meet them." Suddenly Derek stopped and stared hard at Isaac. "You have to tell me if you meet your alpha."

"My-"

"The leader of your pack."

"You mentioned that before-"

"When you were bit, you weren't the only one-" Isaac nodded, "and the one who bit you-he's in charge."

Isaac squinted in disbelief. "I'm not just going to follow someone around who bit me."

"It's not like that." Derek said. "You'll get it when you meet him but-"

"No, you don't get it. I'm my own person. I'll do whatever I want. And I'm not just going to follow around some stranger in the woods." Isaac said, walking off.

"Wait- Isaac! What the hell, you have some problem with authority?"

Isaac shook his head and scoffed feeling hot.

"Isaac!" Derek said, grabbing his elbow.

"Don't fucking touch me!" Isaac yelled.

"Shut up!" Derek commanded. "What if they find us? Just tell me if you find out who your alpha is."

"Why?"

"Because I'm trying to help you. Whoever is turning everyone into werepups is putting us all in danger."

Isaac didn't say anything as he continued to stomp through the woods. He tried shaking his hands or rubbing off the hair on them. "Why won't this stuff come off?"

"It's the moon. You'll get more in control of it in time. You're already halfway there." As Derek talked him through it, Isaac finally changed back into his human form. Finally they reached the edge of the forest and Derek offered Isaac a ride home. He decided to walk instead.

Xxx

Scott lay on Stiles' bed and stared at the ceiling. "Whose blood do you think was on my hands?"

"It was probably a deer or something."

Scott suddenly remembered the night he was bit and the deer that ran past him. He remembered the beast standing over a dead carcass. Could Scott have really done something like that? He shuddered and rolled over to face Stiles. "I mean, I guess that's better than eating a person."

Stiles chuckled. "Yeah, way better. What you're not a vegetarian are you?" He said, turning to face Scott with a grin.

"No but… raw? That's kinda gross."

Stiles shrugged. "I mean, you're a werewolf now."

"Well you're open minded." Scott said, rolling onto his back again.

Stiles watched his friend for a bit, "I mean, we're talking about you Scott. I'll be by your side no matter what. If turning into a werewolf means you eat deer now then… cool. Just don't eat me." He joked.

"I won't!" Scott said.

"I was just kidding." Stiles said.

After some silence, "I don't want to hurt anyone."

"I know." Stiles said, remembering his friend's dad. He faced the ceiling as well. The bright moonlight draped over them, almost blocking out the view of the stars. "I know."

"Do you think Isaac is like us too?"

"Wh-you mean like you guys? A werewolf?" He asked, shifting his elbows as he put his hands under his head.

"Yeah."

Stiles frowned. "Maybe. I don't know yet though."

"I think we should talk to him. We should get together and figure out why Derek is doing this."

"I don't trust that guy. He gives me the creeps." Stiles said, a shiver running up his body. Scott agreed. "I'm glad you're feeling better."

"Yeah, me too. It was weird. Like I just had some much pressure in me ready to burst. It was… scary. And I just kept thinking about that night when you found me."

"You really don't remember what happened before then? At all?"

"No… I thought… I was asleep." Scott turned to face Stiles. His looked somewhat confused and hinted at a feeling of alarm.

"Well, it's fine."

"I mean, I want to know what happened. What I did. If I hurt anyone. Or anything. Even if it's a deer."

Stiles sighed, and took his hand out from under his head and patted Scott's chest. "We'll figure it out." He let the hand stay there for a moment. He could feel Scott's chest rise and fall.

The werewolf turned on his side to face Stiles. He seemed to look at him with trusting and determined eyes. "You know… it's weird. Since I got bit I feel like… I don't know… like I'm more in tune with you."

"Really? Well, I guess you've got like heightened sense and whatever."

"It's not-I don't know how to explain it but… it's not like I notice everyone else in the same way. I don't know why-maybe because we're best friends but… I just…."

Stiles felt his heart thumping harder.

"See? Like I can hear your heartbeat."

"You can hear my heartbeat? But-I mean you're a werewolf-"

"But that's what I'm trying to tell you. I don't know if I can hear other people the way I hear you. It's like…" he put his hand up to face Stiles who was now also on his side. Stiles reached out and pressed his palm against Scott's. "It's like… I don't know."

Stiles smiled then. "Well that sounds kind of cool."

"Why is your heart beating like that?"

Stiles laughed nervously. "I don't know. You're a werewolf? Maybe it's a you thing."

Scott's eyebrows pressed together with a grin. "If you say so." Stiles rolled onto his back again, but Scott watched him for a bit, noticing the way the moonlight curved over Stiles' face and across his chest. He noticed where his own features cast shadows across the bedsheets and over Stiles who was trying to breath slowly. Scott grinned as he realized this was Stiles' attempt to slow his heart.

Xxx

Isaac stood in front of his front door. What would happen if he went inside? He grimaced and backed up looking for his window. Maybe since he was a werewolf he could just jump up there or something. He tried but didn't really get far. Looking up at the moon, he tried to shift. It gave him some bounce. He liked the feeling. Having gained some extra height, he jumped up to his window and climbed in, wondering if his landing was loud enough to get his dad's attention.

He woke up early that Saturday morning and headed out with his lacrosse gear before coach Lahey woke up. Isaac remembered what Derek had said last night about Scott and Stiles. So they were both werewolves? He grinned at that. Finally, he was in on something. Maybe they could be friends after all. He found himself longing for it and inexplicably, found himself comforted by the idea of being close to Stiles. It was a moment he didn't know how to explain, when he first saw Stiles that night he'd bumped into Scott the painter. It was like there was something about Stiles that made him feel grounded and calm. He shook his head. It was only a moment.

Isaac walked onto the lacrosse field and started putting on his gear. He pulled the lacrosse goal from behind the stands and onto the field. He grinned as he swung rocked the first ball in the lacrosse's pouch. He'd become a starter. Feeling proud, he tossed the ball into the net. He couldn't help but smile. Were his newfound skills also because of this change in him? This… werewolf? Being a werewolf didn't seem all that bad. Things were finally turning around for him. He tried not to worry about the strangers chasing him through the woods. And so what if some weird "alpha" or whatever bit him. He'd never felt better in his life. There was something about changing that made him feel… free. Like he was really himself. Like he didn't have to hold back anymore.

Hold back what?

After some time, he could hear some chatter growing louder behind him. "I just want to learn how to control it."

"Yeah I know. I mean, I think it's a good idea too. Wouldn't want you going wolf on the field." The voice said with a chuckle.

Isaac looked over his shoulder and saw Scott and stiles coming over. Stiles' face grew sour at the sight of him. Isaac frowned and went back to hitting balls into the net with a little more force. He could hear someone jogging over.

"Hey," a soft voice began. It was Scott.

Isaac turned to face him before throwing another ball in the net and dropping his lacrosse stick. "Hey."

"So… you… notice any weird animal attack lately?" Scott asked, seeming to be beating around the bush.

"You been painting lately?" Isaac asked with a bit of frustration biting on the edge of his tongue. Scott looked confused.

Stiles stepped in then, "This is why I don't like him. Look at him, he's just-"

Isaac glared as if beckoning to go on.

"Well… like that." Stiles said, bouncing and taking a step back. "It's annoying."

Isaac looked away and picked up his lacrosse stick again.

"Listen, you've… changed right?" Scott asked.

"Yeah. Into a werewolf. You too right?" He said, punching the pouch of his lacrosse stick. When Scott didn't say anything, he looked up at glanced at the two of them. "So what did happen that night?"

"Oh…" Stiles said when Scott looked to him. "He was there when I found you."

Scott looked to Isaac with hope, "Do you know what happened to me that night?"

"What night? Oh-when you were painting?"

"Why do you keep saying that."

Isaac sent a glare towards Stiles who scoffed and said, "Do you really blame me for that? I mean what else should I have done? It's not like either of us knew what was going on. I just wanted to keep Scott safe."

Isaac pursed his lips and looked down, nodding. "I don't remember much. It was a weird night. Probably one of the first times I transformed. All I know is… it felt like something was calling out to me. Maybe you felt it too." Isaac said to Scott. He then looked curiously at Stiles. He felt uncomfortable by how much he wanted to connect to him. Suddenly, he remembered what Derek has said last night. "Stiles… you…"

"What?" He asked, his arms crossed.

"You… you're not the one who turned us, right?"

Scott stared at Isaac in open surprise.

"No, I'm just a human."

"You are? I thought you were a werewolf. Someone said-"

"Someone said I'm a werewolf?!"

"Yeah. I think."

Scott looked back at Stiles then with a look of entertained disbelief. "Yeah right." Then turning back to Isaac, "I think I'd know if he was a werewolf. If you were there last night and saw the way Derek was treating us, you'd have no doubts that Stiles is human."

"Derek?" Isaac asked.

"He barely even looked at me." Stiles grumbled.

Scott grinned as he glanced back at him.

Then a question occurred to him, "What makes you think that I would be the one who turned you two and not Scott?"

"Well… I don't know how to explain it but… there's something about you that… I guess draws me to you? That made me feel calm when I-" Suddenly he felt embarrassed. "Nevermind."

Scott continued there, "Wait, I think I know what you're talking about. I get like that too. Like you notice him more right? Or you feel more in tune with him?"

Stiles looked between the two with a bit of concern as Isaac nodded. "But why would you two both feel that way about me specifically? It's not like I'm a werewolf or something."

Scott shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe you taste good." Stiles blushed. "Aww, do you hear that?" Scott said looking up at Stiles who was just a bit taller than him. Isaac covered his face as he tried not to smile.

"Stop listening to my heartbeat!"

The two burst out into laughter as the sun started to reach its highpoint in the sky.