EMPOV

"I'm starting not to like this idea." Isaac says, pacing back and forth in front of the window. Derek turns his head away from where it's been buried in my shoulder, to look up at our beta. He tightens his arms around me, keeping me in his lap.

"It sounds kind of dangerous," he continues, "You know what? I definitely don't like this idea and I definitely don't like him."

"You'll be fine," Derek replies. I slap the back of his arm in a scolding way.

"Does it have to be him? Why can't one of you do it?"

"He's the only one who knows how to do it. It would be more dangerous if we tried doing it." Derek lies. Isaac hesitates, and I attempt to stand up. My mate growls. I forget how little tolerance I had for Peter last time he was here. Derek doesn't want him to hurt me again.

"You know, Scott doesn't trust him, right? Personally, I trust Scott."

"Do you trust me?" Derek says, dryly.

"Yeah." Isaac murmurs after a moment, shakily, and then, "I still don't like him!"

"Nobody likes him." The Alpha counters. I ignore his protests this time and stalk around the desk to grasp Isaac by the wrists as lightly as I can.

"Stop. Okay? I'm not going to let anything bad happen to you. He's not going to hurt you, I swear. You trust me?"

"Of course." He answers without missing a beat. He trusts me more than Derek. The metal screeches open as Peter pauses. I snarl, putting myself between Isaac and my future uncle in law.

"FYI: Yes, coming back from the dead has left my abilities somewhat impaired, but the hearing still works. So I hope you're comfortable saying whatever it is you're feeling straight to my face." Peter smirks at me.

"Oh, really? Y-" Isaac's smart enough to clap his hand over my mouth before I can verbally assault Peter, grasping my arm with the other long set of fingers.

"We don't like you." Derek says bluntly, tossing our book to the floor, "Now shut up and help us."

"Fair enough." He shrugs, claws coming out.

I remember the same action from fighting him my first full moon. I kicked his ass, and I could easily do it again. I grip onto Isaac's hand as he sits down, before begrudgingly releasing it and moving to sit on the coffee table, next to Derek. He wraps an arm around my waist, large hand splayed out across my hip. His lips brush my shoulder before he leans into my ear.

"He'll be fine. Peter's not going to do anything to-"

"He won't do anything. Yeah, just ask Laura." I snap.

"—One slip, and you could paralyze someone or kill them." Peter's saying.

"You've had a lot of practice, right?"

"I've never paralyzed anyone."

"Wait, does that mean you've-?" He starts. The man's claws sink in before he can finish the sentence.

"ISAAC!" I scream, before Derek's arm clamps down. He tugs me back into his lap, turning my face into his neck. Isaac struggles, and cries out. I can't take it anymore, I break away from Derek and sprint out of the Loft, down the stairs and into the street.

I cannot watch that. I run for hours through the trees, just letting go of all my anger and hurt from my childhood. I end up kneeling in front of Laura's grave, running my fingers over the words in the tombstone.

"Why didn't you tell him? I heard you, you know." I murmur, swiping tears away, "I fought so hard to get back to him, and he didn't have any idea. I used to be so damn mad at you, Laura. But I can't do that anymore…I wish you were here. I could use another girl in the pack to figure out what's happening to me. I—" A branch snaps and I spring to my feet, taking off and hauling ass.

I don't even realize where I'm going until I'm standing outside Stiles' door. It swings open, and Sherriff Stilinski stands with most of the squad in his livingroom.

"John, what's going on?"

"Stiles is missing." He says, green eyes saddened.

"Let me search with you. Please. I love the kid." I remind him, fear wrapping cold fingers around my heart and squeezing. He nods, ushering me in. Scott's standing, pacing around the room with Allison and Lydia sitting together on the couch.

"We'll find him. It's okay. We'll find him." I murmur, stepping forward and snaking my arms around Scott's torso. He wraps both arms around my shoulders, hiding his face in the top of my head, clinging on like a little kid.

"I…I went outside to talk to Allison and Lydia, and he was just gone."

"I'm going to call Derek. He might be able to help. If we can get Isaac to look too, we can split up and you, Lydia, and Isaac can go one direction and Derek, Allison and I could go the other." I say, turning sideways and keeping one arm around Scott's waist. He's shaking, looking absolutely terrified.

Dialing Derek's number, I step away from the teenagers.

"Are you alright? I've been following your scent all over. Damn, you ran a lot today."

"Stiles is missing. I'm at his house." I hear him turn to Isaac and tell him to turn the car around.

"Baby, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I can't say the same for Scott, but…"

"Did anyone else get hurt?"

"No. He's just gone."

"I'm on my way."

I hear the car pull up before I see it, and cross the room to answer the door. Derek pulls me into his arms when he makes it inside, pressing his lips against the crown of my head before leaning back and cradling my face in his large hands.

"You scared the shit out of us." He growls. Derek steps back and Isaac bends down to hug me tightly as well. I snake my arms around his shoulders and he picks me up.

"You're okay." I whisper. He nods, hiding his face in my shoulder.

"I found them. Peter saw it. I found them." He smiles.

"That's amazing." I reply, kissing his cheek.

I lift Stiles' shirt to my nose, inhaling to catch his scent, and then try to find it. Allison and Derek weren't too pleased to be stuck with eachother, but they've kept their mouths shut. We're outside Heather's house, and I bolt upright when I recognize the scent mixed with his.

"Kali, please! Don't do this, please!" The girl begged. Claws cut through her face and the emissary screamed every time she struck.

"Emily? What? Do you recognize another scent?" Allison asks,

"I…I think so."

"Where from?"

"I don't know where I was. I think Talia took that memory from me." I reply, looking over at Derek. He wraps his arms around my waist and brushes a kiss across the base of my throat. She glares at the action, pursing her lips.

"Enough." I snarl, "OK? This isn't about Victoria. It's about Stiles." She ignores me, and addresses him.

"I can't wait for her to wake up and realize that you're not good enough for her. I bet she already knows it and she just stays with you because of the sex."

"Allison!" I protest. He growls before he responds.

"If she's just staying with me for the sex, then why did she agree to marry me?" He laces our left hands together pointedly and tears well up in her eyes.

"Alli-" I start. She climbs into her car and leaves us standing alone. I sigh, raising my eyebrows dramatically at him, crossing my arms over my chest.

"What?! She was being a little bitch."

"She just lost her mom, Derek. Give her a break for god sakes."

"Let's find Stiles." Is all he says, interlocking our fingers together as I lead him into the reserve. I pause slightly inside, two scents entering my nose going opposite directions. Before I can take a step, that familiar pain shoots between my temples and I drop to my knees. No! No! NO!

"Derek, run." I hiss, "It's happening again."

"Baby—"

"GO!" I shout in my Alpha voice, on all fours as I fight the want to rip into his skin and watch his blood spill over it. He listens, sprinting after Stiles. A boot smashes into my nose and the world goes dark.

"Emily. Emily, wake up." A soft voice coaxes me out of the dark, stroking my hair. Honey brown eyes swim above mine and my heart stops when I recognize them.

"Cora?"

She simply smiles at me.

"Hi, Em."