I wake up the next morning to some commotion and quickly throw one my outfit and head out to see everyone talking about last night.

"Why didn't you wake me?" I ask Derek while throwing my still-curly hair into a ponytail.

He shrugs. "I was going to, but you looked comfortable."

"Well?" Derek turns to Peter. "Did you get rid of it?"

"Every last bit of it. Hurt like hell, though. But it needed to be done before the full moon tomorrow night."

"Kira did most of it, it can't hurt her." Scott says.

"What are you guys talking about?"

"The wolfsbane." he answers.

"You got rid of all of it?!" I ask, astonished.

"Yep." Peter says simply. "The headline reads, 'Tragic Fire Under Perplex Nightclub Takes Life of Club Owner'."

"I still can't believe you murdered someone." I tease Derek.

"Hey, cheers!" Peter says, lifting his coffee mug even though he's the only one.

"It had to be done" Scott says. "Now, Kate has no wolfsbane."

Just then, my phone rings, and I step out to take it.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Danielle."

Their voice sends chills down my spine. "Who's this?"

"Turn around and go back inside."

"Who is this?!"

"Do as I say, Danielle, or this will get very messy."

I turn around and walk back inside.

"Now put me on speaker."

I listen, pressing the speaker option on my screen.

"Guys…" I say.

"Hello."

Peter's eyes widen. "Kate!"

There's a laugh on the other line. "Your father was very generous to give me your phone number, Danielle."

"You're with my father?" I ask, dreading the worst.

"Technically not right this second. I'm sitting at your dining room table and he's getting me a cup of tea."

"You stay away from him-"

"Don't worry, he's fine- for now. Whether or not he stays that way depends on you."

We're all dead silent as she speaks.

"Destroying the wolfsbane was a very bad idea. Did you really think it was my only source? Nevermind that- I'm going to need you to listen very carefully. Are you listening?"

I swallow. "Yes."

"Good." Then I hear nothing from her side of the line. There's a pause, then a clattering of dishes.

Then I hear my father scream.

"Stop!" I yell, panicking.

"I'd say you don't need to worry, but I'd be lying. He's unconscious. Now I'm about to give you a set of directions. Your father's life depends on how well you follow them."

"If you hurt him-"

"You'll do nothing! Now… I'm in your dining room. You have twenty minutes to be here. Come alone, or I'll kill your father. Understand?"

"...yes."

"Good. See you in twenty minutes."

Then the phone goes dead.

I immediately go to grab my jacket. "Someone drive me."

Suddenly, Derek appears in front of me. "You crazy?!"

"Derek, let me by."

"Kate is going to kill you." He pronounces each syllable like I'm a child.

"If I don't go, she'll kill my dad."

Scott stands by Derek. "But we can't risk losing you."

Peter pipes in. "Odds are, she'll kill him anyways, so going is pretty much pointless."

"I refuse to live wondering if I could save his life!" I yell. "Let me go!"
"So you're just willing to die, just like that?" Stiles says from behind me, standing from his chair.

"My Dad may be stubborn, and selfish, and awkward, but he's my Dad! Yes, I would die for him!"

"Is this what you want?" Scott asks, easing up.

"Yes."

Derek looks into my eyes, and for the first time I see vulnerability in his.

"No." He whispers.

"Derek…" I say. "This is my choice. I will not let my father die because of her. You can't stop me."

"Actually, I can."

"No!" I yell. "Time is running out- if you don't let me do this, I will never forgive you!"

Then he freezes. "You'll die."

I shake my head. "You don't know that. Stiles- drive me, please."

Stiles looks to Scott.

I look at Scott too. "Let me do this- let me make my own choice."

"Fine." Scott says. "But we're going with you in case we can help."

"She said I had to come alo-"

"We'll stay outside. Now come on, we're running out of time."

Derek stays, frozen, before walking with us. "I'm going with you."

We go out and run to Stiles' jeep and he speeds through the city, weaving in and out of cars.

Then it hits me. I'm going to die.

I think about everything that's brought me here- my whole life, my choices. Well, technically Kate's choices, but part of me thinks none of this would ever have happened if we hadn't moved. I expect my usual twinge of hatred for my father's choices, but I feel nothing. Just fear. No matter what happens to me, my father will make it out of this. I won't have it any other way.

I watch as we pass by Beacon Hills, and reflect on all of the memories I would've had here, and think of my closest friends I've made- Lydia, Malia, Kira… if this is death, I wish I'd only thought to say goodbye before walking out that door.

Part of me wants to tear up and cry, but my mind will feel nothing. It's as if I'm staring into blank space- nothing. None of it sinks in. I'd might as well already be dead.

"We're here." Someone says.

I look up, seeing my house, realizing I'd fazed out. I don't want to feel the emotions that will hit me like a tidal wave if I thank Scott for everything. But he deserves something.

"Scott- thank you. For everything. For being a friend- a leader."

He turns around and manages a somber smile. "You're welcome."

"Stiles. You are one of the funniest people I know, and you could always make me smile. Thank you for that."

Stiles attempts a smile, but I can tell it's hard to do. "Yep…"

Then I turn to Derek.

"I… don't know what to say."

"Don't say anything." He says. "Just…"

"Just go?"

"No." He turns to me. "Don't go. Just please… don't leave me."

I take a breath to block out the depressing sorrow I feel swelling up inside of me.

"I'm sorry."

Then I force myself to get out of the car and close the door behind me.

When I try to take a breath to calm myself, it stutters and doesn't give me any release. I try to take a step, and my legs wobble under me. But I force myself forward up my driveway. One step… two…. I pace myself, trying to repress everything inside of me.

Then I hear the closing of a car door.

I turn around to see Derek behind me, running from the car.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"If you're going to die," he says, "I have to do this at least once."

Then, before I can say another word, Derek pulls me into him and interlocks his lips with mine.

His hands are urgent, as he holds me as close as possible as his lips breathe into me- give me life. I hold my breath, but even when I feel like I'm about to suffocate, I hold on tight to his tensed torso.

Then he releases me, pressing his forehead against mine.

"When you get in there," he whispers against my lips, "you get your dad out- you run. And you come back to me."

I feel my eyes starting to well up as he presses his lips against my forehead.

"Go." He whispers.

Then, I leave my happiness with Derek as I turn around and walk away heavy-hearted.

My feet are heavy against the wet concrete of our walkway, but I tread, a new feeling building up inside of me.

Hate.

I've never felt it this strong- and oh, I hate her. My feet get lighter, and my body gets stronger, as I tell myself: I'm going to live. I don't know how the hell that's going to happen, but Kate does not get to win this time. First my pack, and now my Dad? I know I don't stand a chance, but I will never let her win.

I fling the door open, fury in my heart.

"KATE!" I scream.

She sits at the dining room table with her hands crossed.

"Oh, look at you- little Miss Determined."

"Here, you have me- let him go." I say.

"So demanding." She smiles. "Drag him to the door and have your pack take him. I know they're here."

"They're not involved in this. I get my Dad out, and you leave them alone. This is between you and me."

"Go ahead."

I walk cautiously to the kitchen where my father lays on a pile of glass. Before she can change her mind, I prop him off of any glass and pull him to the door.

"Scott." I say, knowing he'll be there.

I open the door and watch a pair of arms scoop him up. Then I close it in front of me.

I brace myself before I turn around, expecting her to be standing right behind me. Instead, she waits patiently at the table.

"Come have a seat."

"If you're going to lecture me about my grades, I think I'll pass."

She laughs. "Such sass for someone with such a quick heartbeat."

I sit down awkwardly, wondering why she doesn't just get it over with already. She stares at me for the longest time before speaking.

"He kissed you… what a sweet notion. Does he know you just traded your life for your father's?"

"Yes."

"And he still let himself feel for you in one single moment of passion right before sending you off to die?"

"Yes." I answer bitterly.

"Do you care for him?"

"... yes."

"Aw, how tragic."

She stands up and strolls around the table to me. I jump up out of instinct, and she catches me by my hair, sending a stinging pain over my scalp.

"NO!" I yell, helpless.

"Maybe if you stop moving, it won't hurt you so much." Kate says as if she has empathy for me.

I freeze, panting in fear. I've never been this afraid. I've also never been this furious.

I feel her claws on the back of my neck as she traces my spine. "Now, how to kill you… I'm sorry, but it needs to be long and painful. Nothing personal, it's just that I'm sure your pack is listening intently."

I think about my choices- basically I let her kill me or I fight. This is when my fight or flight is put to the test.

Fight.

I pull away with all I have, and then everything happens fast.

When I pull away, I jump towards the table and reach for whatever I can get a hold of. I hate myself when I realize all I could grab is a vase. But the main sensation I feel is pain as she digs her claws deep into the back of my neck, and warm blood begins oozing down my back. I scream at the top of my lungs, thrashing away, but she squeezes harder, digging them deeper.

I whip around, smashing the vase into her head, knowing it's to no use.

But then a new sound fills the air- Kate's screams.

She rips her claws from my neck and I fall to the ground, weakened by the searing pain in my back. I look up at her to see a smoke-like steam rising from her body as she grips her bleeding face. I'm perplexed, but the now gathering pool of blood below me reminds me that I have more important priorities right now.

I look to the door- it's not far away. I pick my self a few inches from the ground and begin to pull myself to the door, in and out of consciousness at the sudden blood loss. My breathing trembles as I can yell one word.

"Derek!"

Then my eyes drop closed.

I feel nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Ah, I take that back, I can feel my neck now- hurts like hell.

I feel a cool breeze trail in the area, and it smells like… like dogs?

I open my heavy eyes carefully to see a grey room with cages.

"Wha…" I trail off. Then I hear dogs barking in the background and realize I'm at the vet. I scan the room from left to right, spotting something large in front of me, and I feel a gentle pressure on my right hand. My eyes focus.

It's Derek, he's holding my hand in both of his, and resting his lips on them. His eyes are wet, and about to spill over.

"Derek?"

His eyes flash to me with hope and his expression immediately turns to relief.

"Danielle."

"I… I lived?"

"Yeah," he says, not quite smiling, but not quite frowning either. "You did. And even then, you burned her. Like what wolfsbane does to us, you did to her."

"How?!"

"Well, we don't know, we just got you and your father out of there as quickly as possible. We didn't check."

"Is he-"

"He's fine. You need to relax."

"Roses." I say. "It was a vase of roses."

"Roses? That sucks… for her."

I smile as Derek clenches my hand harder and looks at it. A row of black veins begin to stream from his hands. My neck starts to hurt less.

"What are you doing?" I ask, worried.

He grimaces. "Taking.. the pain… away."

I bring my other hands to his. "No, stop." But it's no use. He keeps taking it away until he can tell I'm in no pain.

He breathes deeply for a few seconds, pursing his lips together, then relaxes.

"... thank you." I whisper.

"You're welcome." He bends down and kisses my hand.

We sit there in silence for a few seconds, just listening to the sound of each other's' breathing, before I break the silence.

"What are you thinking about?" I ask.

"How I…. how I almost lost you today."

"But I'm right here."

"But if there weren't roses on that table, you wouldn't be." He says, avoiding eye contact. I don't respond, guilty. Then he stands, leaning over me.

"When I kissed you," he whispers, "I thought it would be the last time I'd ever see you."

"Me too. But when I turned around, I decided I was going to fight… I decided I was going to fight for you."

He looks down at me, an unrecognizable emotion in his eyes. "I wish I could stay with you tonight."

"Why don't you?"

"It's a full moon… I can feel it, I've got to go. But…"

"Derek."

He pauses.

"Kiss me again."

A light smile touches his lips as he slowly bends down to softly press his lips to mine, and I lose control. My heart skips a beat, and I raise my hands to his neck, pulling him closer. When he pulls away, I immediately want him back.

"I gotta go."

I nod.

"This place is lined with mountain ash- you're safe here. I'll be back here tomorrow."

"Okay."

Then he turns and leaves, and I'm alone.

He's right- I need to rest. Usually I sleep on my side, but that's obviously not going to feel good. Maybe I can inch over… I turn a bit, but don't feel anything. In fact, I don't even feel tired anymore.

I hear a howl and it makes me jolt. I expect a rush of pain, but I don't feel anything again.

Then it hits me like a bus- electric pain throughout my entire body.

I cry out in agony, clenching my stomach. I feel hot-to-the-touch, and before I can stop myself, I fling myself from the cot and too my feet, but my legs give out on me and I tumble to the floor. I slip a little bit as I try to regain my balance, but I can only half-stand as I walk to the bathroom, clenching myself as if I let go, my entire body will fall apart.

I keep getting hotter, hotter, and the pain stings more and more, and I can feel it everywhere, from my core to the tips of my fingers. From the soles of my feet to the tips of my teeth. I finally get to the bathroom and blast the cold water, pulling myself up. I gram a handful of water and splash it on my face repeatedly.

Then, all at once, the pain is gone.

I reach back and touch my neck where Kate dug her claws into me, taking deep breaths, and realize that nothing's there.

Then I look up into the mirror, and I don't believe what I see.

I'm a were-jaguar.