I opened the front door, Scott, Stiles and Allison pouring into my apartment. I looked at Stiles, pointing at Allison. "What is she doing here?"
"Thanks," Allison scoffed.
I looked at her. "No, just-" I looked back at Stiles. "I said only Scott."
Scott stepped forward. "Stiles said that you had information about the tiger and the Kanima. And whether you like it or not, Allison's apart of this too."
"Yes, I get it, but-" I looked to Allison, "-no offense to you-" I looked back to Scott. "-but the Argents can't know. Okay? Chris can't find out, and if Gerard-" I sighed. "Just…no, okay. I can't risk it?"
"Why?" Scott asked, genuinely curious. "You can trust Allison just as much as you can trust me." I sighed, glancing at Stiles. He smiled sheepishly, knowing this was partly his fault.
"I know who the Kanima is," I blurted. "And, I'm the tiger."
"What?! How is that possible?"
"Show 'em," Stiles said. So I did. I changed into the tiger for only a few seconds and then changed back. They had some of the same questions that Stiles did. But I told them everything. I went straight from that into talking about the Kanima. Of course their heads were still reeling from the other information.
"So, the Kanima," I glanced around the make sure everyone was still with me. "The Kanima is Jackson."
"Whoa, what?"
"How?" Scott asked.
"Derek," I replied. "How else?"
"Does he know that he's killing people?" Allison asked.
"No. He still doesn't know what he is, if anything at all. He came to me at the game the other night, but I didn't tell him anything. I wanted to know a little more first."
"Well…since you're a…?" Allison began.
"Kirin," I added.
"…can't you stop him somehow?"
"I don't know too much about Kanimas. I haven't ever had to train one. Fighting one was a first, too. But I won't be of much help until we find his master."
"Master?" Stiles asked.
"Yeah. The Kanima is controlled by a master, someone it befriends. They share a weird bond. The Kanima does whatever it wants."
"Including kill," Scott added. I nodded.
"I'm going to talk to Jackson after school," I said. "But, not a word to anyone. Especially the part about me. No one can know."
They all nodded and Scott said, "I know. Don't worry. You can trust us. All of us." I looked him in the eyes and nodded. I hope he knows what he's doing. Mainly since I'm starting to wonder if even I know what I'm doing. Keeping track of who all knows what secrets is exhausting. I guess that's why we're taught has kids to never lie.
I'd just dropped lunch off at the station for Ben, when my phone rang. I dug it out of my pocket. It was Scott. I answered the call as I got in my car. "We have a problem," he said.
"Oh, really? My favorite words," I sighed.
"Can you just take this seriously, please," Stiles said, "for, like, five minutes?"
"What's wrong?"
Scott started talking. "Jackson told us that Erica took him to Derek and they tested him to see if he was the Kanima."
"And?"
"And, he failed. The Kanima's venom paralyzed him."
"Then, what's the problem?"
I heard a scuffle. "They think it's Lydia!" Stiles said.
"Come on," I scoffed. "Derek can't be that stupid."
"He's outside, right now, waiting for her," Scott said. I sighed. "Derek tested her, too. This time, the Kanima's venom didn't paralyze her. Are you sure it's not her?"
"Positive. I was there when Lydia was bitten. Trust me, Scott, she's not a Kanima."
"Then, what is she?" Allison asked. I had no idea she was in the room. Good thing I didn't say anything stupid.
"That…we can discuss later. Right now, let's deal with Derek. Let me talk to him. In the mean time, watch her."
"I'll talk to Derek with you," Scott said.
"That's sweet, Scott. But I'm fine."
"No. We're stronger in numbers. If he sees us sticking together on this, maybe he'll back down."
"What if that doesn't work?" Allison asked. "What about after school?"
"I'll get Derek to drop it," I said. "I promise, okay? He won't touch her."
"How are you going to stop him?" Stiles asked rhetorically.
I sighed. "If he won't believe it's Jackson, then I'll make him think it's me."
"How?" Scott asked.
Stiles voice chimed in again. "You can turn into a Kanima?! That's great, now…why didn't you do that when he was kicking your butt in the pool?"
"Stiles, you're forgetting…no one can know what I am." I heard him grumbling something in the background. "Besides, that's a very last resort. I'll talk with Derek, by myself. Then I'll find Jackson and talk to him. Once I get things calmed down, I'll talk with Lydia."
"So, what do we do?" Stiles asked.
"Keep an eye on her while she's at school. By the time class is out, I should be able to give you a definite answer as to what to do next." I hung up and then started the car. I drove to the school. Scott said that Derek was there waiting for Lydia. I drove through the back of the parking lot, finding his car.
He was leaned against the side of his car, Isaac and Erica standing in front of him. I parked in the spot across from him, our cars facing each other. I got out as he pushed off his car and took a step forward. "What are you doing here?"
"I was about to ask you the same thing," I said. I looked to his Betas. "Part of keeping your identity as a werewolf hidden means attending school. And since the hunters are after the Kanima, I suggest you remain as normal as possible." Erica looked like she wanted to rip my head off. Isaac seemed confused as to why I was even talking to them. Derek smirked, seeming amused.
He looked at them and then nodded toward the school. "Go." They looked at him questioningly. Then they did as he said. Erica scowled at me as she walked passed, and Isaac kept his eyes down. Derek looked at me questioningly, wanting me to go first. He seemed to be looking forward to what I had to say. Probably just so he could argue with me about it.
So, I decided to get right down to business. "Lydia's not the Kanima," I said. He sighed, but seemed like he expected me to say that. "Leave her alone-"
"How are you so sure it's not her?"
"I was there when Peter bit her," I looked him in the eyes, "unlike with Jackson."
"Well…none of them are your concern. Not even Scott. You said you'd let him go once Peter was dealt with."
"I was a little busy, in case you hadn't noticed. I was human for a while and couldn't do anything."
"You're not human anymore."
I scoffed and looked away. "I'm not going to play your games." I looked back at him. "Leave Lydia alone."
"Or what? First Scott, now Lydia. Sounds to me like you're building a pack of your own."
"No, I'm not. I don't want a pack. I'm supposed to help them, Derek," I spit out his name. He hates it when I say his name spitefully, which makes me want to say it that way all the more. I stepped forward. "Just like I'm supposed to help Jackson and Isaac and Eric, Boyd, all of them! But I can't do that if I don't know about them!"
"They don't need your help because they already have an Alpha," his voice was filled with annoyance, his face hard with anger.
"Really? Do they really, Derek?" I crossed my arms. "We all know they only reason why you chose them was for power, the most idiotic thing that everyone wants! All you want is to add to your strength and God help whoever gets in your way."
I felt heat radiating off my face as my insides boiled with anger. The same anger I felt was reflected in his face. We stood with eyes locked for a good minute, neither one of us saying anything. I broke the stare with a sigh and feel back onto my car, sitting on the hood.
I put my hands on my knees, staring at the ground. I was so stressed and mad that I felt on the verge of tears. I was internally cursing myself for feeling that way. "How'd it come to this?" I whispered, knowing darn well what the answer was. And I think Derek did, too. He didn't say a word and I didn't look at him.
I finally looked at him. He hadn't moved, though his features had slightly softened. "I thought you loved me." It came out sounding more pathetic and weak than I wanted it too. But at the same time, my voice reflected exactly how I felt. Broken. Tired. Pathetic for feeling like this. Yet, still hoping he'd change his mind. Typical girl.
He sighed through his nose, looking out over the parking lot. I shook my head, realizing how stupid this is. This is not what I came to talk to him about. I stood. "Leave Lydia alone. I'll deal with the Kanima." I walked around the car to the driver's door. I opened the door half way has Derek put his hand on it.
I looked up at him, questioningly. He looked down at me with slightly sympathetic eyes. "Who is it?" he spoke softly. It wasn't what I thought he'd say, what I was hoping he'd say.
"You're other mistake." I jerked the door from his hand and then got in the car. I started it and backed out. I purposely fought the urge to look at him as I left. I pulled out my phone and called Scott. He didn't answer so I just left him a message. "Hey, Scott. It's done. Lydia's safe." My vision blurred as tears welled up in my eyes. I tried to steady my voice, not wanting Scott to hear it. "Call me when you get this."
I quickly hung up, probably cutting off the ending of the last word I'd said. I tossed the phone in the seat next to me, hot tears running down my cheeks.
