Stiles knew he had to get some space from her, fast but how could he when he thought about her every waking moment? Glancing at his phone just to see if she texted or called him or looking to his window to see if she sat there staring at him.
It was damning and the worst part was she didn't show up the next morning, or later in the night. He began to worry or wonder if she had feelings for him too and they were freaking her out just as much he was. He looked to his calendar that night, three more days till the start of school. He made his way to his bed before falling back on to the mattress. His body bounced once before relaxing against the comforter. His haunted stare focused on the ceiling above him.
Maybe it's just a summer phase? I'll get over it eventually once school starts, a girl like her won't be with a guy like me for long, she will make friends and she will be popular and I'll—fade in to black.
Stiles expression twisted into one of disdain.
Did I just quote Metallica? Great... what is it about poetry and feelings—I should have introduced her to Metallica.
He cursed himself for looping back to her again. Heaving a heavy sigh he closed his eyes.
The white noise in his head was back. It was hard to find one train of thoughts when every nudge, memory and moment surrounded her. He started thinking about their time on her tree. How she would climb it when she was experiencing the same thing he was. Stiles began to wonder if she was climbing the tree in the morning. It could explain why she didn't show up—he also wondered if he was lingering in her thoughts too.
The sudden ringing of his phone bolted him out of his thoughts. Stiles immediately sat up and looked to his blaring phone on top of his desk. He raced to it and checked the caller ID. His heart raced at the sight of her name and instantly answered.
"Hey I didn't see you all day, is everything alright?"
"Yeah everything is fine, sorry I lost track of time and I wasn't going to bother you today—"
"It's not a bother—what is that noise?" It was hard to hear her through the annoying hazy noise from her end of the line.
"Rain," She answered plainly. Stiles looked to his window and his eyes widened, it was pelting water heavily outside.
"Oh..." He murmured feeling idiotic for not noticing it before.
"I need your help." She made him worry. He pressed the phone harder against his ear.
"What is it what's wrong?"
Stiles drove through the rain as fast as possible. The rain bombarded his windscreen and his wipers worked rapidly to clear his vision of the road. He eventually arrived in front of her apartment and looked around for her. By then the strength of the rain had dimmed and it was now weak droplets.
He stepped out of his car and left his engine running. Stiles carelessly stepped into a puddle but his damp clothes were the last thing on his mind when all he could think about was how much trouble she was in. Ariel didn't exactly specify but she asked him to meet her behind her apartment. He made his way around the building and came face to face with a dark alley.
Fear set in and he quickly whipped out his phone and began to call her. He waited for the phone to ring a few times when a sudden cluttering sound startled him. There was a murky man with too much hair obstructing his face and drab wet clothes swaying in his direction, waving his arm violently. He was yelling gibberish and Stiles panicked and backed up into a wall.
For a moment stiles feared for his life when a figure stepped between him and the homeless man. He recognized the person instantly to be Ariel.
"Really Bobby, do you want me to kick your ass again?" she threatened. The man reeled back before glaring defiantly.
"It's Baa-h-arry not Bohbby." Stiles heard him grumble, Ariel snarled.
"Get lost old man." The man clambered away muttering obscenities under his breath. Her tense shoulders relaxed and she turned to face him, her hard expression immediately softening. She wore a long grey sweater over a pair of blue jeans. The material was wet and showed a clear outline of a vest underneath it. Her flowing red hair was spiral in sodden waves. He noticed the way her lips were a pale pink colour but her cheeks still had a warm colour to them.
"Hurry Stiles before he gets away." She urged not waiting for him and walking in the direction the drunken man went, he stared highly confused.
"Uh what, didn't you just scare away the drunken that tried to kill me, now you want to find him again?" He demanded catching up to her in haste. She made a sharp left turn in the direction of two large garbage boxes.
"No not him, come." She grasped him by the wrist and tugged him behind her. Stiles followed without hesitation. She released his grip on him and bent down in front of the gap between the two metal bins. Stiles peered over her shoulder and there was a small cardboard box and what was inside the box shocked him.
It was a dog, a few months old and way too big for the box. Stiles classified its type to be a Beagle with floppy ears, a thin coat, long snout and large beady eyes staring up at him in desperation and pain. There was a blood stains the inside of the box and he could see a clear gaping wound across the animal's thigh and he was whimpering up at Ariel.
"That idiot threw a glass bottle at him, it shattered and well the rest is pretty self explanatory." She explained keep a restrain on her anger. She looked to Stiles "I don't really know what to do next and I didn't know anyone else here so do you know what to do?"
He nodded frantically and pressed down on speed dial 2 before pressing the phone to his ear.
"Hey Stiles."
"Scott hey I need your help can you come to the animal clinic?" He spoke hysterically.
"What the hell Stiles it's in the middle of the night." His best friend grumbled, irritated by the late night summoning.
"Yeah I know but we are having little animal situation."
"We?" He echoed Stiles glanced at Ariel who was occupying herself with the dog, petting and soothing it lovingly.
They arrived at the vet's, Stiles slammed the door shut and ran to the other side of the jeep and opening the door for her. Ariel jumped out with the dog in her arms the entire time. Stiles didn't see the conflicted way she was staring at the animal clinic, like she was itching to ditch the dog and run away.
Stiles raced through the doors and Ariel followed begrudgingly. Scott was waiting for them at the reception area and stared in wonder when they walked in.
"Ariel, Scott. Scott, Ariel." Stiles quickly introduced while panting for breath. She held her cool demeanor and nodded in acknowledgement in Scott's direction. Stiles noticed the way the two stared at each. She looked tensed and Scott was blinking rapidly with his dark brows furrowed in alarm.
"Hello." She greeted.
"H-Hey." He stumbled to say. Stiles heard the doubt in his best friend's voice and Scott glanced at him in that same distrusting way he was looking at Ariel.
"So where shall I put him?" She asked gesturing to the weight of the dog in her arms.
"The operating table, I'll get the sedatives." Scott directed hesitantly before walking away and Stiles showed her to the operating room. She carefully placed the animal on top of the metal table. He was breathing softly but unconscious from the lack of blood on his system. Stiles stared at the bright red blotches all over her shirt but her attention was more focused on the door, waiting for something to emerge.
"You have blood all over you." He pointed out. She was analyzing the room around her, her stare mainly focused on the rectangular louvers on the top of the wall opposite them.
"It's fine." She assured sternly averting her blue stare to him.
"If you want to wash up there is sink behind you." He said but his words seemed to have flown over her head because she was staring at him with such a torn look in her eyes. She slowly stepped to him and he was immediately concerned by the worry in her stare. Maybe the entire night had impacted her more than he had seen and now knowing that the dog was going to be safe she could crumble.
"You should know Stiles. I very much enjoyed our time together."
"What?" He reeled surprised by the words that left her lips which had nothing to do with the injured mutt. She lowered her gaze for a moment as if gathering her nerves before peering into his eyes again.
"You are not what I am used to and exactly what I needed and I am…I am sorry I didn't tell you before but you had a condition and I didn't want to scare you."
"I told you it's not really a condi—what the heck are you talking about?"
The question left his mind completely when she suddenly pressed her lips against his in a heated kiss. Stiles almost fell back from the shock. His hands flew up to settle on her back steadying them both. His eyes were wide open staring at her closed eyes lids in complete bewilderment but then somehow. The warmth of her kiss seeped into him and he was responding.
His holds on her tightened, crushing her to his chest. Her fingers were tangled in his thick chocolate brown hair as if afraid to let go. His heart was pounding against his chest and the thrill, pleasure and intensity of the kiss was sending his mind in a spiral.
They pulled away craving air. He stared into her smoldering blue eyes dazedly and mystified, her lips were swollen from the kiss and he felt smug knowing he caused that. She whispered something to him and he couldn't hear it from the blood pumping between his ears.
His lips moved to ask her to repeat the question when a sudden pressure on his neck right before his vision caved into darkness.
Stiles woke up to the feeling of someone shaking his body and yelling his name at the same time, groaning and blinking away the blurred vision. Stiles found himself staring up into a pair of russet eyes. It was Scott with his uneven jawline and puppy dog stare that was currently swirling in concern. Deaton was there with him and the ceiling seemed higher than normal. It dawned on to him that he was on the floor in a lying down position.
"What the hell happened?" Stiles moaned and they helped him up into a ninety degree angle. Deaton was checking him for any bruises or wounds and Scott was glaring up at the wall to their right. Stiles followed his gaze to the window that was shattered with bits of glass scattered over the floor underneath the shutter.
"Stiles we need you to tell us everything?"
"Everything about what—what happened and where is Ariel?" He demanded frantically looking about the room. Deaton and Scott exchanged concerned stares before looking back at Stiles.
"You really didn't know?"
"Didn't know what?" He repeated irritated by the tension.
"Stiles she is a werewolf." Scott stated blunt and abruptly. Stiles eyes grew in to saucers.
"I sensed it the moment you walked in here with her so I went to go get Deaton, I didn't want to make any brash movements because she seemed pretty stable, but when I got back you were on the floor unconscious and she was standing over you."
"What are you sure I mean there could have been a completely rational explanation, did you see her eyes change? Were there obvious fangs?" Stiles was having a hard time processing the information. If she was a werewolf wouldn't he had some sort of clue? They spent a full moon night together too. There wasn't anything different about her, every accusation that left his best friend's mouth sounded insane.
"No but she jumped out that window and ran out without a scratch on her." Deaton stated gesturing to the broken window. Stiles followed the motion of the vet's arm to the crushed glass on the floor
"And she wasn't like any other werewolf, she was fast and she had planned ahead probably the moment she stepped into the clinic." Scott added "The place is lined with mojo anyway. She wouldn't be able to use her powers if she wanted to."
"Maybe that's why she didn't attack you" The veteran pondered rubbing his chin in thought.
"Then how did you end up on the floor?" Scott demanded looking to Stiles whose head was reeling from the shock of it all. Despite the information all he could think about was the kiss.
"I—I don't know" He stumbled clutching his head in desperation.
Dear God, I hope I didn't faint.
Ariel lazily twisted the golden handle of the white door and stepped in to the penthouse. Her wet sneakers left muddy foot prints across the tilted floor. Her entrance grabbed the stares of the five other members within the living room.
She walked into the living area and stood for a moment allowing Aiden, Ethan, Kali and Ennis to take in her form. Kali was reclining on the couch her body tucked under Ennis's muscular arm and her long legs stretched across the leather seat. The twins were standing and in the middle of a conversation with Ennis when Ariel made her entrance.
The tall female alpha grinned cynically. Pleased by the miserable looking sight that was the younger alpha she-wolf. Ariel regarded Kali with her piercing eyes and smiled just bright enough to piss her off.
"Well, look who is back a little early today." Aiden commented smugly taking steps to approach her. Deucalion was sitting on a single settee with his cane resting in front of the arm rest and his finger tips touching in a kingly pose.
"Go a little easy on her. My niece never gives into procrastination," He commended the faint glow of the ceiling lights reflecting in his dark shades.
"you two should take her as the shining example in how to take your assignments seriously and gather the required research before the deadline." He mused gesturing to the twins. Aiden smirked and his twin stared passively.
"School hasn't started yet Deucalion, save the speeches for when I am dry and not hungry." Ariel grumbled while running her pale slender fingers through the tangles of her tresses. The access water dripped down and splashed on to the tiles. Kali scowled and looked to Deucalion who was unfazed by her tone towards him, she hated that.
"Do they suspect you for being part of the pack?" Aiden asked towering over her. She glanced up at him flatly.
"I am touched by your faith in me Aiden." He grinned.
"Oh come on babe, I was only teasing." She made no move to retort and brushed past him in the direction of the bedrooms.
"You don't even have the energy to give me a hard time about the babe comment? You must be tired." He teased striding after her, she paused mid step.
"Why don't you go pack your bags and polish your shoes like a good little werewolf, we will be starting school soon." She snapped back and casually made her way to her room. Aiden stared after her, his eyes gleaming in delight.
Ethan watched the exchanged silently and surprised his twin brother when he went after Ariel.
"Are you alright?" He asked arriving at the threshold of her room. Ariel was drying her hair with a towel when he spoke out, she smirked in his direction.
"Peachy, why do you ask?" She replied, trying to seem indifferent and distracting herself with the task of rubbing the water out of her locks.
"You look a little worn out." He pointed out in concern, leaning against the frame of the door. She placed the towel neatly on the head of her desk chair before turning to him with that same passive expression.
"I ran into Deucalion's bane on my way here, had to run for my life." She answered with a casual shrug of her shoulders, her wet shirt crinkled from the action.
"That's not what I meant," He whispered softly and all knowingly. She glanced at him ready to deduce his true emotions by just one look, but Ethan had already turned away and left leaving her to her thoughts.