Chapter 11

"Diana?"

Diana turned, her hand inside her locker, about to reach for her next classes' books.

Liam stood there hesitantly, with the same kicked puppy look in his eyes when they first met.

She sighed, turning away. She knew if she let him talk to her, she would cave on her insistence for him to leave her alone. It was like he could sense her weakness, on that particular day.

"You don't have to talk to me. You just have to listen."

Diana's eyes skimmed her books, as if choosing one of the texts was of utmost importance.

"I'm really sorry for what I did. And I was a jerk about it, saying that I regretted the kiss. I wasn't thinking. About how you would feel. So, do you think we could be friends again? Just friends?"

Diana picked her textbooks, slamming her locker closed. She turned, facing him. She already knew her answer.

"Okay, you're forgiven," she huffed. "But remember, you made the move on me, not the other way around." That technically wasn't exactly true, but Diana didn't really care.

"Okay," Liam sighed in relief, a cute crooked smile pulling at his lips.

If Liam were a puppy, his tail would have been wagging a mile a minute. Diana smiled inwardly. So, he had been really torn up about it. Good.

"Okay. Well I'll see you later then," she said, walking to her next class. Liam watched after her, hands in his pockets, the same goofy smile on his face.

...

"So you're telling me that Scott is a full-out, honest to god wolf? And he can't change back?" Isaac asked, wincing slightly as he hoisted himself into a sitting position.

"Yep," Stiles answered, rocking on his heels. "His fight with Peter gave him almost fatal wounds. To heal, he had to transform. Fully."

"Did you ever think that instead of not being able to change back, that he doesn't want to change back?"

"Of course we thought of that," Kira snapped. She huffed. "Sorry. It's just been crazy."

"No its okay."

They were holed up at Scott's house. Stiles thought that Melissa was eager to have someone to take care of. Especially Isaac since he had lived with the McCalls for a bit. Anything to keep her mind off the fact that her son was trapped in a wolf's body roaming around the woods at all hours of the night.

"So what was going with you? How did you end up back in Beacon Hills?" Stiles asked.

"You mean by plane?"

"Yes, Isaac, I know you got from France by plane. I mean what brought you here, genius."

"Well, I knew something was up when Argent left. He had left something behind though, but whenever I called, he would tell me not to bring it. And then he texted recently. He said he needed it so I came. But then the Desert Eagles, those hunters, found me at the airport. I've been on the run ever since."

"And Chris never responded for help?" Kira asked.

"No."

"What was it, that you were bringing to Argent? It must be important if these "Desert Eagles" are after you. Who even came up with that name?" Stiles said.

"Oh, it's a scroll of some kind. Not in English. Looks old."

"Who do we know that specializes in reading maybe dead languages?" Kira asked.

"Argent. But he's with the Calaveras, tracking down Kate. Who else is there?"

"Maybe Lydia. Or Dr. Deaton. It seems right up his alley."

Isaac watched the two, his eyebrows growing closer and closer as confusion washed in. "Kate? Calaveras?"

"Not now Isaac. A lot happened when you were gone. No time to catch you up. We got to go to the Animal Clinic. You got the scroll?"

"Yes but-"

"Let's go."

Isaac sighed, following reluctantly after them.

...

Malia stared at the envelope, sitting harmlessly on the edge of her bed. She was curled up in the corner, forearms resting on her knees. She didn't want to open it. Because she knew if she did, there would be no going back. But if she didn't open it, she would never know what was inside. She didn't want to blindsided, like she was when she found out that she was a Hale, not a Tate. Growling to herself, she jumped up, approaching the bed. She picked up the envelope, put it back down. Then picked it back up.

She already knew who it was from. The envelope had no return address. All that was on it was her name and the sigil of a bird in flight in the corner.

Malia should have put it into the shredder. Or tore it into tiny pieces with her claws or her teeth. Something.

Flicking out a claw, she ripped open the envelope.

...

Stiles tapped the wheel idly as they drove down to the Animal Clinic. The radio was playing his favourite song, it was bright and sunny. Everything was great. If Scott and Malia were in the car, it would be perfect.

But of course, he had to damn his cheerful thinking. Of course he thought nothing was going to happen.

And of course something happened.

Five men stepped out in the empty road, all of them wearing tough durable clothing. All armed to the teeth with crossbows, bolts, hunting daggers and of course a gun or two. One raised his crossbow, aiming at the car. If Stiles didn't know any better, he would have thought that it looked like the hunter was aiming for his forehead.

He probably was. Well damn.

Stiles stomped on the brakes, the wheels screeching and smoking as they came to an abrupt halt. Bolts thundered against the Jeep as the hunters fired. There was a giant crack when one hit the windshield, right where Stiles' face was.

"My Jeep! Damn hunters, they better pay for –"

A strong hand yanked him out of the car. He struggled and flailed blindly as Isaac dragged him behind the Jeep, Kira following behind. She withdrew her nunchucks.

"You're always armed now eh?" Stiles commented.

"They're the same hunters," Isaac said, speaking over Stiles. "The Desert Eagles. They have to know I'm here."

"Ya think?"

"There's too many of them for us to fight," Isaac said.

"I've fought the Oni and the assassins trying to kill us. I don't know about you, but I'm going to try," Kira boldly stated. She withdrew two charcoal coloured balls from her pockets.

"What the- Where did you get those? Ninja-R-Us?"

With an exasperated look in Stiles' direction, Kira threw the balls. Thick clouds of smoke immediately enveloped the hunters.

Together, Kira and Isaac dove into the smoke.

From behind the Jeep, Stiles could here the sounds of fighting, the hard impacts of physical hits, the exclamations of bloodlust and pain. The inhuman snarls from Isaac.

When the smoke cleared, Stiles paled. Despite Kira and Isaac being superpowered supernaturals, they weren't enough against expertly trained hunters. Both of them were bleeding from various spots. The remaining hunters looked more or less fine, except with two hunters motionless on the pavement.

Stiles scrambled into Jeep, whipping out his silver baseball bat. Gulping he started towards them.

A sudden howl broke the chaos. A heavy thud sounded behind Stiles. He whirled.

The blonde Alpha girl, Diana's cousin, crouched on the top of his Jeep, eyes glowing bloody red. Cora swaggered to the front of the vehicle, her eyes glowing bright gold. They leapt into action as one.

Stiles wanted to help too, but as he was terribly mortal, he couldn't really intervene. He didn't have any hunter training. He wasn't a supernatural. He was useless.

The remaining hunters were taken care of easily by the combined efforts of the Hales and Kira and Issac. Though, Stiles thought it was mostly Melina and Cora. Kira and Isaac were pretty wounded. Stiles sighed in relief, joining the group.

Isaac dropped like a rock to the pavement, along with the others. From his back stuck out the handle of a dagger. The others clutched their ears, snaking tendrils of red snaking down their necks. A hunter wiped his dripping bloody nose, spitting on the pavement.

"Stupid mutt. Give me the scroll. The Desert Wolf demands it."

Isaac groaned, pulling out the dagger. The bloody blade clattered on the pavement. "No, I won't."

"You think that Chris Argent cares that you live or die carrying that scroll for him? He would kill you himself if he knew what was truly on there," the hunter hissed. He raised his gun.

The man straightened suddenly, eyes widening, mouth opening in shock. He looked down. Blood made his white shirt vivid slick red. He slumped to the ground. Behind him, gun out, was Stiles.

Stiles dropped the gun to the ground, his eyes dark and glittering. Kira tried to suppress a shiver. Stiles had had the same look in his eye when he had been possessed by the Nogitsune.

"Everyone in the Jeep."