I'm back in business, baby! :D
Logan glanced around furtively, trying to figure a way for them all to get out. Unfortunately, every plan he formed in his head was always shot down by the fact that Scott, Stiles, Malia, and Derek were trapped in that storeroom. In the end, he decided that the best thing he could do was to do what he came there to do. Taking a deep breath, he took half a step forward, causing his sister and the hunters behind him to stiffen visibly. Before Mr. Ryker could say anything else to Tommy, the young werewolf spoke up.
"Mr. Ryker," Logan was surprised at how sure he sounded, considering he wasn't at all sure about what he was about to do. Mr. Ryker also looked surprised when he turned and looked at the boy he'd watched grow up alongside his son. "Look, we came here because we're sick of running, okay? We're not going to fight. You don't have to blame Tommy, and you don't have to go after the pack. They haven't done anything wrong. Just let them go and you can have us. We just want this to be over. Please, just let them go."
"You know, Logan, I'd love to, but, well, the pack helped hide you," Ryker said with sarcastic regret in his voice. "They helped save you. That makes them guilty in my book."
"It's not like they knew who they were!" Argent protested, starting to fight against the two hunters restraining him.
"It doesn't matter," Ryker shrugged dismissively. "They're werewolves. They're monsters. I'm not in the business of sparing monsters. But since my son is too weak to do it himself, I'd be more than happy to end this for you."
With these words, Ryker pulled out his gun, taking aim at Logan's skull. Before he could stop himself, Tommy found himself speaking up.
"Dad, wait," he said quickly, ready to defend the two wolves he used to call his friends. Ryker, however, wasn't having any of it. In one fluid motion, the older man lowered his weapon, turned, grabbed his son by the arm, wrenched his gun from his hand, and yanked him forward before shoving him in the direction of the two long-time runaways. Tommy stumbled, but maintained his footing, turning to face his father with wide eyes as the man raised his gun an aimed it at him.
"You stupid little brat," Ryker growled. "You were actually going to defend these monsters?"
"How can you do that?" Tommy demanded, his eyes full of disbelief. "They were my friends only four years ago! You treated Logan more like your son than you did me! How can you look at them and just not care?"
"Because the Logan and Kayla I knew and loved are dead," Ryker snapped. "I thought I taught you that! I took it easy on you when you were a kid, and look where you are now. I suppose this is partly my fault, and I'm sorry for that. But if you can't handle this, then how are you going to handle the hard stuff?"
"Dad," Tommy's voice shook even in the one word. "Dad, please..."
"Kyle, what are you doing?" Argent demanded, horror in his eyes. His horror only grew when he realized that none of the hunters Ryker had brought with him seemed to be doing anything to stop what was happening; they didn't even look concerned. Ryker ignored Argent's outrage, keeping his cold gaze on Tommy.
"Sorry, kiddo," Ryker shrugged. "But you just proved that you're a danger to everyone."
Tommy's eyes grew wide, and he took a small step back as his father tightened his finger around the trigger. Logan and Ben looked on, stunned into silence, but not Kayla. Adrenaline flooded the young omega's veins, desperation in her eyes.
"No!" she shouted without thinking, charging forward, bumping her brother's shoulder in the process and jostling him from his state of shock.
"Kayla!" he cried in horror, watching as she darted over to Tommy and skidded to a stop in front of him, shielding him just as Ryker pulled the trigger.
The shot echoed in the nearly-empty refinery, and for several seconds, there was nothing but silence. Kayla just stood there in front of Tommy, a few strands of her hair falling in her eyes. At first, she didn't feel anything. Then, after what felt like an eternity, a faint shooting pain caused her to look down and see a spot of dark red blood blooming in the center of her abdomen. With a shaking hand, she reached up and covered the injury, and this seemed to remind her brain of the wound; she could suddenly feel it in its entirety. The intense pain made her legs give out under her; the only thing that stopped her from collapsing was Tommy, catching her and gently lowering her to the ground.
"Kayla, no!" Logan started over to her, but the two hunters behind him reached out and grabbed his arms, stopping him in his tracks.
"Kayla," Tommy breathed quietly, holding his old crush in his arms and gently sweeping her hair out of her face. "Come on, Kayla, stay with me...God, why would you do that...?"
"I couldn't let you die," Kayla gasped, trying to put pressure on her injury as blood gushed through her fingers. Her blood was turning black, and the wound refused to heal.
"Well," Ryker sighed indifferently. "That wasn't really what I had in mind, but it'll do. Just one more, and we can all go home. I'll take care of you later, Tommy."
With these words, Ryker turned and aimed at Logan as the boy continued to fight to get to his sister's side, desperate tears leaking from his eyes.
"Kyle, don't!" Argent shouted angrily. Again, he was ignored.
Ryker was just about to pull the trigger when they heard the sound of glass cracking overhead. Logan stopped struggling, slowly looking up at the skylight over their heads. Ryker followed his gaze, and was just in time to see the skylight shatter, sending glass raining down on them. Tommy leaned over Kayla, shielding her, as everyone turned and covered their heads and necks. Amid the sound of shattering class—not only from the skylight but also the windows, they realized—they heard the sound of boots hitting the ground. Logan turned back towards Ryker and saw a familiar figure positioned between him and the bloodthirsty hunter across the room. He stood at about six-foot-two, had blonde hair, and was clad in a black leather jacket, jeans, and black work boots. Even from behind, Logan recognized him.
"Riley?" the teenage breathed, shock in his eyes.
"What are you waiting for?" Riley asked over his shoulder as the front doors burst open and Riley's pack walked in. "Run!"
Logan didn't have to be told twice. He shook off the two dumbstruck hunters barely gripping his arms and expertly knocked them out before they could retaliate. In the amount of time it took him to do that, the place had turned into a madhouse, with the blindsided hunters frantically fighting off Riley's pack. Logan didn't hesitate to run over to where Tommy was still holding a barely-conscious Kayla. He bent down to pick her up, but Tommy gently pushed him back.
"I've got her," he said quickly, slipping one arm under her legs and standing up, lifting her off the floor. Logan hesitated, unsure if he could trust the boy he used to call his best friend.
"I've got her," Tommy repeated insistently. "Go help the others; I'll get her out of here. I'll be waiting in my car outside."
Logan was again quiet for a moment or two before nodding slowly, but he reached out and grabbed Tommy's arm before he could leave anyway.
"If you're not there when I get there," he snarled threateningly, his eyes flaring yellow, "if you take her or kill her or let her die, then I swear to God, I will kill you."
Tommy gulped nervously, feeling chills shoot down his spine, and nodded earnestly in understanding. Then Logan turned and joined in the fray and Tommy dashed out the front doors, disappearing from sight.
Logan ran over to Argent, who was fighting against the hunters who had been holding him. The young wolf felt his heart race with adrenaline as he shifted completely, his teeth and nails sharpening, his ears tapering to a point, and hair growing from his jawline. He grabbed the nearest hunter and threw him across the room, forcing him to release his hold on the older hunter. Argent had no trouble dispatching the other one, and then they both turned their attention to the storeroom. Two of Riley's pack were already over there, trying to open the door and fight off the swarm of hunters at the same time.
"Go," Logan ordered. "I've got Kira."
Argent nodded in agreement, running over to the struggling wolves and quickly coming to their aid, disarming one of the hunters and fighting alongside the very things he used to hunt. Meanwhile, Logan grabbed Kira's katana, and then Kira herself, and quickly ran outside in an attempt to get the kitsune to safety.
Back inside, Argent had at last helped the wolves clear enough of the hunters away from the storeroom door that one of them, a young woman of about twenty-one with long, fiery red hair, her real eye color indistinguishable behind the glowing golden irises, was able to release the lock and yank the heavy door open wide. The remaining wolf's bane tumbled out into the main room, and the wolves around them started coughing.
"Alright, let's go," the red-haired woman said urgently once she got ahold of herself. "Come on; everybody out!"
Stiles quickly got to work, helping first Malia out to another werewolf before pulling Scott to his feet. Derek was still unconscious—and barely breathing—on the ground, and Scott tried to pull him up, but he was still very weak, and nearly fell over. The red-haired woman steadied him and started helping him outside.
"No," Scott refused, trying to go back. "Not without Derek..."
"We've got him, Scott," Argent promised, helping Stiles pull Derek's limp form up, wrapping the former alpha's arms around their shoulders. "Go, go, go!"
The werewolves began retreating, returning to their vehicles waiting outside. Logan was waiting beside Tommy's car with Kira, and quickly loaded her inside her car when Stiles opened the door. They put Malia in the passenger seat and Stiles got behind the wheel. Meanwhile, Argent put Derek in the back seat of his car and Scott was gently helped into the passenger seat of Derek's car, with Logan behind the wheel. Then Riley's pack piled into their four SUV's and, with Argent leading the charge, they tore off, leaving the hunters—all of whom had run out after them and were shooting at them as they fled—far behind them.
I'm BACK! Thank you for being patient, guys. I really appreciate it. I still have no word on whether or not I can get ANYTHING from my old hard drive, so keep your fingers crossed for me. Anyway, I've got a new laptop so I'm back in business. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and don't forget to follow, favorite, and/or review (please review; I like hearing from you guys. It makes me feel good). See you next time! ~Alyssa