Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize. Lyrics belong to Florence and the Machine.

A/N: Here. I did this. It's for you. Please enjoy.

I pink-promise the next chapter will be full of Derek-ness.

Big Empty Houses

By: Ginny

If you could only see

The beast you made of me

I held it in but now it seems you set it running

Screaming in the dark

I howl when we're apart

Drag my teeth across your chest to taste your beating heart

Previously:

"Erica Reyes," she slid her hand into Paige's but didn't grip it very tightly. Her golden blonde hair was pulled back in the kind of ponytail Paige had always been famous for and her ill-fitting clothes hung off her body.

As the girl walked out of the class, Paige watched her go. She couldn't help but think that once upon a time that had been her, in a sense.

The rest of the day wasn't quite as bad as that first period. But lunch was still a demon in and of itself. First, there would be plenty of people of all different ages there. Second, there would just be a lot of people in general and therefore more judgment. Third, Scott and Stiles might not be too keen on letting her sit with them, considering she was hanging out with the wolf that was trying to kill Allison.

So, she would be sitting all alone in a new wardrobe that made her feel like a poser.

Not a good feeling.

When she dragged her butt into the lunchroom and the boys didn't immediately wave her over, she hesitated – before, "Paige?"

Oh, sweet, sweet Stiles.

"I'm sorry," she said instantly as she sat down. "He said we were just watching her."

Scott tightened his jaw, but eventually relaxed. "I know. It's okay."

"I'm not strong enough to fight him off completely," she admitted. "But if I can keep him from killing her, I will."

"Thank you," he muttered.

And then the Stilinski was speaking. "Guess who's taking Lydia to the formal tomorrow?"

"Jackson's ex-girlfriend? No clue."

"Me!" His smile was infectious.

"Now, now," she began trying to approach the conversation the same way she would with her little brother. Stiles and Wyatt were two so distinctly different people, but they were still the same age and since Paige was the elder, it was her job to indulge and nag and pester. Especially considering Paige knew what Lydia Martin could be like. That lady would rip Stiles apart. "Is this a status thing or do you honestly like this girl?"

"He's in love with her," Scott threw in.

Paige nodded, but before anyone could say anything else, a loud crash echoed on the other side of the lunchroom. Scott and Paige immediately shared a look and were across the room before anyone could miss them. But the noise wasn't the threat they expected it to be – it was a girl on the floor, covered in the food that had fallen from her lunch tray as she had fallen.

She was convulsing – having a seizure. And then Paige recognized the golden hair swinging back and forth on the ground as her body gave short spazzes.

"Erica," she breathed. Oh Lord, the poor, sweet girl. What was happening? Was this normal?

"Oh my God!" someone shouted.

"Someone get this on video!" someone else shouted.

Paige glanced around trying to pinpoint who had said that. A small crowd had already formed and it was only growing. Somewhere, she found her voice. It was probably because of the jacket, she decided.

"Back up!" she shouted over the noise everyone was making. "Back up! Give her some room!" No one was listening. And someone had pulled out his phone just as an acrid smell hit Paige's nose full-force. Even Scott was grimacing as he tried to force people back. When she glanced back, she realized that Erica had peed herself.

"Ha! She just pissed her pants!" some had discovered. It was the boy with the phone.

Red shot across Paige's vision and she wondered why it had ever been difficult for her to pinpoint a person she hated. Maybe that was part of being a werewolf – you get pissed at everyone because you're so much more aware of how terrible people are.

Her claws came out briefly as she yanked the phone from the boy's hand and crushed it into little pieces with her grip alone. Then, she jumped on the table and yelled with a voice she didn't know was deep down in her gut, "There is nothing to see here! Back off and give the girl some room! She's having a seizure and you are doing nothing to help!" There was even a bit of growl to her voice as she added, "Now, scram!"

And suddenly, she didn't feel like a poser at all.

Everyone instantly backed up, nearly knocking each other over to get away from the girl. In the meantime, they had at least made a path so that the school nurse could get at the girl.

Paige watched Erica be carried out on a stretcher and frowned. Her heart hurt for the girl, especially because she had been so nice to her just earlier today. Suddenly Paige realized why Erica was the way she was. A random person in the crowd had eventually mentioned that this was not the first time this had happened. The girl was epileptic and last year when she had had a seizure, someone had videotaped it and posted it to the internet. Since then, the already quiet girl had been even more silent and skittish.

But once the stretcher was out of sight, Paige tried to push the girl to back of her brain. There was nothing she could do for the girl and she had bigger and scarier things to worry about. Like the dance tomorrow. Like Peter. Like Derek. Like the Argents. Like… everything.

Tomorrow would arrive way too quickly.

"Find Stiles," Peter commanded.

They were situated in the forest just past the lacrosse field. And despite the booming music she could hear even over this distance, Paige was not in a dress. Instead, she had dolled herself up in a pair of combat boots, black leggings, a tunic tank that covered everything it needed to, and her leather jacket. And while she looked damn good, she was not dressed for the winter formal.

"I will stick out like a sore thumb," she protested.

Grasping her shoulder, her pushed her right out of the line of trees. "You'll only stick out, if you allow yourself to be seen," he informed her.

With a frown, she remembered it was pointless to argue with a crazy person and she stalked towards the school. Maybe a window into a classroom would be unlocked and Stiles would be… somewhere close by?

Paige clung to the shadows and tried not to breathe. 'Cause… breathing would totally give her away as she shifted her position on the top rafter overlooking the gym. She had found Scott – with Allison of all people. She had found her brother with some chick she'd have to quiz him about later. She had even found Jackson, asshole that he was. Stiles, however, was no where to be seen. There were balloons in her way, but even after half an hour she figured he would have had to move… somewhere. Was he even here? He had been too excited to bring Lydia – of course he would do anything to be here.

Well, time to admit defeat. Sneaking back to the lacrosse field, Paige tried to ponder what was going to happen. What did Peter have up his sleeve?

The scent of blood gave away his intentions.

Sprinting, Paige came upon a scene she had only ever visualized in her nightmares. Peter was crouching over a bloody figure and Stiles was kneeling and there was blood on Peter's mouth and in the air and oh my god, it was Lydia. For a moment, Paige had thought it was Allison and that she'd failed Scott. Now she saw that it was Lydia and she had failed Stiles instead.

"Just tell me how to find Derek," Peter was speaking so calmly as blood ran down his chin.

"This was not necessary!" Paige screamed, suddenly shaking with anger.

Peter didn't even spare her a glance.

Enraged, threw herself at the alpha – any coherent thought thrown from her brain as her body coiled and sprang. Peter glanced at her briefly, probably just so that he'd be able to grab her throat properly as he tossed her clear over his shoulder. The force of the throw ensured she was sent halfway across the field, bouncing off the ground once and then rolling a bit. Paige couldn't breathe for a moment. Instead, she tried to focus.

Lydia's heart was still beating. She was alive. But she'd been bitten. She would be a she-wolf like Paige.

"Tell me!" came Peter's roar from down the field. Paige picked herself up, but didn't approach as she listened. Her left arm throbbed, and she tried to cradle it while it healed.

"Okay, okay, okay!" Stiles was shaking. "I think he knew."

"Knew what?"

"Derek, I think he… I think he knew he was going to be caught."

"By the Argents?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"When they were shot, he and Scotty, I think he took Scott's phone."

Paige tuned out the rest of the conversation. On five different occasions she had lost her cell phone and had to locate it. On five different occasions she had used the GPS in the phone to retrieve it. Had it really been that simple all along? Had Derek truly taken Scott's phone and been waiting for them to come find him? It had been so long! It had been two days he'd been locked up and she could have found him already!

Peter stood and paused to wipe the blood from his mouth. Stiles remained kneeling beside the girl he loved.

Suddenly, she found herself right next to them – Lydia's blood overpowering her sense of smell. "How long?" she asked.

Stiles pulled his gaze away from the injured girl. "How long what?" His voice was hoarse.

"Have you suspected that he had Scott's phone?"

When he hesitated, she knew she wouldn't like the answer. Finally, he muttered, "Yesterday, midmorning."

Anger disrupted her thoughts and she had to turn herself away from the boy. A day and a half. He had had the answer for a day and a half and had never once told her. She could feel Peter's gaze on her. He was proud, she knew. Proud that his little beta was getting angry and getting stronger and proving him right. And even though she wanted nothing more than to strangle the stupid little boy who would have allowed Derek to remain in the hands of the violent, cruel Argents, she didn't want to prove Peter right. She was a predator, not a killer.

"We're taking the jeep?" she asked, her voice hallow. She already knew his plans. These two days, he had become so transparent to her.

"Yes," Peter's voice had a smile hidden somewhere in it.

"I'll wait in the car."

She didn't even pay attention to the conversation as she lurked off. What had that day and a half cost them? What had it cost Derek?

When the two of them finally showed up, Paige hopped in the back without looking at Stiles. But, she could smell him. She wanted to rip him open – just sink her claws into his flesh and tear out his organs. When her claws sunk into the palms of her hands, she didn't flinch. But she did close her eyes and focus on her beating heart. Killing Stiles wasn't an option. Ever. And she needed to get a grip.

The whole ride, that's all she did – focus on her heartbeat. It still wasn't as fascinating as Derek's, but it did the trick.

They pulled into a parking garage and Paige followed Peter over to a car, continuing to ignore Stiles. It was black and for a second she thought it might be Derek's but then she called to the front of her mind an image of Derek's car and remembered that his looked a lot nicer. Boys and their toys, she had thought when she'd first seen him in it.

"Who's car is this?" Stiles asked, ever curious.

"It belonged to my nurse," Peter explained. And from the scent coming from the trunk, Paige could tell how the vehicle had switched possession from the nurse to the alpha. Stiles yelped when the body was exposed. Peter pulled a bag out from under the corpses arm and shoved it at the boy. When all the boy did was gape, Peter joked, "I got better."

Paige rolled her eyes and walked off. No one bothered to wonder where she was going. Probably because Stiles didn't care and Peter knew she wouldn't go too far. She ended up on the other side of the garage, pacing. She didn't want to listen to Stiles protest everything Peter did and she didn't want to smell that stupid body. All she wanted right now was to know where Derek was. He was the only one in this whole cluster-fuck that she felt like she could trust.

In the distance, she heard Peter slam Stiles' head into the trunk of the car.

At this point, he deserved it.

When Stiles finally pulled up the information, she was on her way towards the two of them again and suddenly…

A howl sounded. To anyone else, it would have simply sounded like a wolf in the distance. But instinct told her exactly who it was: Scott. Why would he have any reason to howl like that? The last she left him, he was dancing the night away with the love of his life.

And then there was another howl.

Paige was gone in an instant.

She knew that howl, she knew it in her bones and now she didn't need Peter anymore and she didn't have to deal with the dead bodies and the dying bodies and the liars and the alpha.

Feet that had sprung claws right through her boots carried her out of the garage and into the open air. She didn't know if Peter would follow on foot – if he'd follow her and if he'd outrun her. But she didn't care who got there first – all she cared about was reaching Derek.

As she sprinted into the woods, she realized that this looked familiar… a bit too familiar. It was the forest that surrounded the remains of the Hale house. If she hadn't heard Derek's howl with her own ears she would of thought that Stiles had been wrong about the man taking Scott's phone. She would have thought it had just fallen from Scott's pocket during the struggle.

Paige had only just broken free from a thickly wooded area, into a semi-clearing when she thought to stop.

It would do Derek no good if she ran right into a trap.

That howl could have alerted anything with ears in the town of Beacon Hills and if the hunters already had him… they had to be close by. One breath later, she sharpened her senses and focused off in the distance. She didn't know what exactly she was looking for – guards, traps, Scott, Derek, Peter – she hadn't thought that far ahead.

But a great burst of light and Derek's voice shouting, "Scott! Your eyes!" was not what she expected to find.

Half a second later she was off again. That was a flashbomb like the one that had disoriented Scott in the house two days before. They must have escaped and the hunters were after them. They'd be recaptured over Paige's dead body.

As she neared, she tried to soften her steps without slowing down.

"Scott! Go!" she heard Derek's voice.

And there they were.

Slamming herself up against a nearby tree, she peeked around. Scott was closer the house and Paige couldn't smell his blood so she figured he was uninjured. Derek on the other hand was lying on the ground, groaning in the back of his throat and leaking blood onto the underbrush. And then she noticed exactly who the hunters were: some lady and… Allison.

The younger girl was approaching Scott, but the other lady was hanging back and watching. She was less than twenty feet from Paige and apparently she didn't know the she-wolf was there, hiding. Paige could be on her before she knew what was happening.

Whatever conversation Allison and Scott were having was abruptly ended as Kate spoke up.

It was now or never.

Paige couldn't help the growl that burst from her lips as she charged. The woman didn't even have time to pull her weapon as Paige slammed into her and tossed her up against a nearby tree. She groaned, but the second Paige had taken her hands off of her, she yanked her gun free of its holster and took aim.

But the wolf was already gone.

Sliding up behind a tree, Paige took a moment to focus. The woman was cautiously following the wolf, recognizing her to be the threat she actually was at this point.

"Kate, what was that?" Allison asked, and Paige heard her cocking her bow in preparation.

"Another beta…" the woman replied with a snarl.

Kate? Where had she heard that name before? Oh… she was Allison's aunt – Kate Argent. The one who had seduced the chemistry teacher and burned down the Hale house. That was what Paige was dealing with at this point: another crazy person who could very probably kill her in a heartbeat. Could she ever catch a break? No. She knew now that answer was no.

"Well, well, well," she murmured as she gracefully shifted towards the tree she knew Paige was hiding behind. "I didn't know there was another one… What a surprise. And a girl, too. Well, sweetheart, welcome to the boy's club, sorry your time with them will be so limited."

A small idea formed in Paige's head but she didn't like it. She knew she couldn't just spring free from the tree – Kate would shoot her immediately. So, she needed to distract her first. Yanking her leather jacket off, she mumbled a quick mental apology to the piece of clothing, and then she took a deep breath. Time to get to work. She threw her jacket to the left and after a quarter of a second she threw herself to the right.

Shots rang out, but Paige was too busy running. Maybe Kate had taken the bait. Maybe not. Either way she eventually realized she had been tricked and switched her focus on the she-wolf.

Paige knew this because a bullet pierced her arm.

As the pain exploded up her appendage – a kind of pain she hadn't felt since the alpha had bit her – she tripped and stumbled into a pile on the ground.

"See, I've always had a theory," Kate was saying to Allison. Her voice was fading and Paige hoped she had turned her attention from both the girl and Derek, considering at this point they were both injured and Scott was still perfectly fine. "Women make better hunters than they do wolves. It's just a fact."

"You… you said we were just going to catch them," Allison mumbled.

Gingerly, Paige shifted her position on the ground and lifted her head. Kate was in fact approaching the two teens. And there was Derek, still on the ground, his fresh blood concerning her more than the bullet in her own forearm.

"We did," Kate agreed. "And now we're going to kill them." Paige's breath caught in her throat as, in the moonlight, Kate's gun glittered. She pointed it at Derek without a passing thought and pulled the trigger. The recoil of the gunshot shook the girl and a strangled shriek broke free of her throat.

Kate Argent had just… killed Derek.

Abruptly, her whole world turned in on itself.

Who was Paige Flanagan? Where had she gone? Was she ever actually there? Or was the she-wolf the one who had always been in control? Did Paige care that she had claws and fangs and a snarl that seemed to shake her heart loose in her chest?

There had been a girl once. She had had mousy brown hair and eyes that no one really paid attention to. She had liked the comfort of sweatpants and t-shirts and dirty sneakers and she had hated going anywhere barefooted. She had lived in a big empty house that had sometimes swallowed her up in loneliness. She had liked to read and she enjoyed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

That girl had died, Paige realized.

That girl had been ripped apart by a giant wolf and had gone running into a forest and had died there. The body they found hadn't been hers. It was someone else. A she-wolf in disguise that enjoyed sneaking out of her house and running around warehouses and sometimes reading. She still had the mousy brown hair and nondescript eyes, but sometimes her eyes turned yellow and glowed with the moon. She wore a leather jacket and combat boots and didn't feel like a poser. And sometimes her house was still big and empty, but usually there was a sarcastic and stoic fellow wolf to distract her and guide her.

And now that wolf was dead.

Paige hadn't admitted to herself some particular things. Like that she wasn't Paige Flanagan anymore and that she wasn't able to ever be Paige Flanagan again and that she had a new life.

And part of her new life was crumpled in the dirt, dead.

It was time for Paige to admit some things to herself: she was a she-wolf. And she would protect and avenge her own.

The she-wolf roared so loudly that house shook.

Preview:

The alpha came shooting out of the house, blending in with the darkness. Sharpening her eyesight, Paige tried to follow his movements. It was impossible. The only way she could keep track of him was by the people he knocked over. One by one they fell, until only Kate was left standing.

"Come on!" she screamed.

He appeared from nowhere, grabbing her gun hand and breaking her arm. Then he dragged her into the house. Allison seemed to be the only one capable of standing and she foolishly followed the predator and his prey inside.

Until I wrap my self inside your arms I cannot rest

The saints can't help me now

The ropes have been unbound

I hunt for you with bloodied feet across the hallow'd ground, and howl