"I can't believe I'm doing this", Bethany muttered as she drove Derek's car like a maniac, trying to keep ahead of the cop cars "how the hell did you talk me into this in the first place!" she shouted at her brother.
"Don't blame me, Derek is the one who get spotted by the police", Scott shot back.
"The police are only after him because of you, jackass!" Bethany snapped.
"I know that siblings are supposed to fight and all", Stiles spoke up from the back seat "but do you think you can hold off your squabble until later? You know, when we're not being chased by police?"
"Of course we can", Bethany replied, pressing her foot to the accelerator, forcing the car to go faster.
A few minutes later, Stiles glanced out the back window. "They're gone", he reported.
"Nice driving Beth", Scott remarked.
"I wish I could be as happy as you two but I doubt it was my driving that made them give up", Bethany said. Sure enough they heard Sheriff Stilinski's voice over the police radio that Stiles had.
All units, suspect is on foot heading into the Iron Works
Bethany cursed under her breath and drove off toward the Iron Works hoping that she could get there in time. She skidded to a stop by the beta werewolf who was being fired upon by Chris Argent. "Get in!" she shouted, throwing the passenger door open. Derek dove into the car and Bethany sped away.
"You ok?" she asked him, tugging her hood off. She'd kept her hood up to hide her face in case the police managed to get a look at her while she was driving.
"Fine aside from the fact that I almost had the Alpha", Derek replied "He was right in front of me, and the friggin' police showed up". He shot Scott and Stiles an angry look.
"Whoa! Hey, they're just doing their jobs—" Stiles began when Derek sarcastically cut in with
"Yeah, thanks to someone who decided to make me the most wanted fugitive in the entire state!"
"Can we seriously get past that? I made a dumbass mistake. I get it", Scott said, defensively.
"It was way more than a dumbass mistake", Bethany said to her brother "so, how did you find the Alpha?"
"Look, the last time I talked to my sister, she was close to figuring something out. She found two things. The first was a guy named Harris", Derek explained.
"Our chemistry teacher?" Stiles asked, sticking his head between the front seats.
"Why him?" Scott questioned.
"I don't know yet", Derek admitted.
"What's the second thing?" Bethany asked, shoving Stiles' head back.
"Some kind of symbol", Derek replied showing her "What?" he questioned when a look of recognition crossed the blonde's face.
"I've seen that before, on Allison's necklace", Bethany replied.
"We need to get it. Harris told my sister about it for a reason", Derek said "it could lead to the Alpha".
"Ok, we'll get the necklace. Shouldn't be a problem", Stiles said confidently.
"You forgot that she broke up with me", Scott reminded him "she's not going to let me see it".
"I can get a look at it no problem", Bethany assured Derek "Allison is still my friend". From the back seat, Scott pulled a face. "Real mature, Scott", Bethany said, meeting his eyes in the rear view mirror.
It was several minutes later when Bethany was pulling up near to where Stiles hid his jeep. "Aren't you coming?" Scott asked his sister when she didn't get out of the car.
"Uh…I need to talk to Derek for a minute", Bethany replied.
"Why don't you go ahead, Scott", Derek suggested "I'll take her home".
"I don't think that's such a good idea", Scott said, not too keen about leaving his sister with the Werewolf.
"I'll be fine", Bethany said "and I'll see you at home".
"Fine", Scott said, rather reluctant "if anything happens to her…"
"Goodbye Scott", Bethany cut in, closing the car door, signalling that the conversation was over. Scott huffed and walked away. Bethany waited until he was far enough away before she spoke again "Why did you kiss me the other day? Was it to stop me rambling or is there more to it?"
"There's more to it", Derek admitted "I like you Bethany. I mean, I really, really like you".
"Oh…" Bethany breathed. He HAD said she was important to him in a way that was more than just being Scott's sister. She just never thought that he would like her in that kind of way. "I…I don't know what to say"
"You don't have to say anything", Derek said "I get that this is a lot for you".
"Just a little", Bethany confessed "I mean the age gap alone. Plus I'm not exactly special. I'm just a girl…a relatively smart girl who's twin brother is a Werewolf".
Derek touched her face in a similar way that he'd done before "you're not just a girl, Beth. And you're more special than you know", he said.
"I don't see it", Bethany mumbled.
"I do and one day you will see it too", Derek assured her "I have got a question for you".
"What is it?" Bethany asked, getting the feeling she knew exactly what he was about to ask her.
"Can I kiss you?" Derek questioned. Bethany wasn't sure what to say. Did she want him to kiss her again? The first time had been such a shock, she wasn't sure what to make of it. So did she want him to do that again?
"I don't think its such a good idea at the moment", Bethany replied "I need time to think".
Derek nodded "alright", he said. To be honest, he was a little disappointed but he understood. He just hoped that he hadn't messed up the chance to be with his True Mate. They switched seats and he drove her home.
Bethany entered the school the next day with every intention of finding Allison, except she ran into Jackson first. "I have something to tell you", he said "it's about your brother. Now don't freak out…but Scott isn't human".
"Yes he is", Bethany said.
"No, he's not", Jackson insisted. She had to know that could be in serious danger! As soon as he found out, he'd planned to use it to threaten Scott so he could obtain the same power as him. Well, he still was going to do that but he felt that Bethany had the right to know first. "I don't know what he is, but he isn't human anymore".
"If he isn't human anymore then I'm Supergirl", Bethany countered with a laugh "now if you'll excuse me. I have to get to class". She moved past the jock and as soon as she was far enough away, she called her brother.
"Hey Beth", Scott greeted.
"Scott, I don't know how but Jackson knows there's something up with you", Bethany said "he told me about it".
"How much does he know?" Scott asked.
"Not a lot", Bethany answered "definitely doesn't know what you are. Just wanted to give you the heads up as he's likely to want to confront you about it".
"Thanks for the warning", Scott said and hung up.
Bethany sighed as she put her phone away. "Well, this day is already going to be eventful", she muttered to herself. Not only did she have to get her head around Derek's feelings for her AND take a look at Allison's necklace for a clue on the Alpha, she also had to contend with Jackson's new found knowledge. "I am going to have such a headache later", she grumbled.
"Hey, Allison!" Bethany called hurrying after her friend. She stopped, looking at the brunette concerned. There were tear tracks on her face. She'd been crying. "Are you ok?" she asked.
"Fine", Allison replied. Though her tremor in her voice told Bethany otherwise. "Did you need something?" she questioned.
"Yeah, but it's not important", Bethany answered.
"You sure?" Allison queried.
The blonde nodded "I'm very sure", she confirmed. There was no way that she was going to ask Allison for the necklace, not while she was upset over what she could only assume was her brother. She'd try again later. In the meantime, they'd have to do something else to found out about the Alpha.
Turned out that something involved her going over to Stiles' house after school. Bethany was pretty surprised to see Derek there as well as Danny. "Oh, hey Beth", Stiles greeted.
"Stiles", Bethany said "is there a reason you asked me to be here?"
"Yes", Stiles answered "I was hoping that you could take my cousin, Miguel" he looked pointedly at Derek "out for some fresh air while Danny and I do some lab work".
"Uh, sure", Bethany replied "come on, Miguel. Lets go for a walk". She turned and left Stiles' bedroom, Derek following her. "Is there a reason that you're at Stiles' house instead of hiding like we planned?" she asked as they walked outside.
"I needed to find out if you guys had any luck with the necklace", Derek replied.
"And you couldn't have come to my house?" Bethany questioned "you know, since Stiles' dad IS the Sheriff".
"Yeah, I probably should've done", Derek admitted "anyway, did you have luck with the necklace?"
"It's a no go I'm afraid", Bethany answered "sorry".
"That's ok. Stiles said he may have another way", Derek said.
"Another way?" Bethany questioned "how?"
"Scott apparently sent a text to Allison which he didn't do. Stiles is getting his friend to trace it", Derek explained.
"That's a pretty good idea", Bethany agreed "So I um…have been thinking about what you said to me the other day. I still not quite understand what you see in me but I would like to give it a try. And if that offer you gave me yesterday still stands…"
"It does", Derek said "if that's what you want".
Bethany nodded "It is", she confirmed. Derek cupped her face and leant in to kiss her when her phone rang. "Sorry", she said, stepping back and taking her phone out "its Stiles. He's probably traced the text" she answered it "Stiles. Who's the text from?"
"Well, you're not going to like it", Stiles replied.
"Just tell me", Bethany demanded.
"The text was sent from a computer and your mom is the name registered to the account"
Bethany frowned "That's impossible Stiles, my mom would never…" she trailed off "Someone else used it. Derek and I are going to the hospital to find out who. When you get a chance, tell Scott".
"Beth wa-" Stiles was cut off when she hung up.
"You don't think your mom could do it?" Derek asked having heard what Stiles had said.
"Theres no way she did it", Bethany replied "trust me".
"Alright", Derek said. If she was sure her mother didn't do it then he was inclined to believe her.
"Wait here, I shouldn't be long", Bethany said when Derek pulled up outside the hospital.
"Be careful", Derek said.
"Don't worry, I will be", Bethany assured him. The beta Werewolf watched her enter the hospital, wishing that he could go in with her. But thanks to Scott, he was a fugitive so it would be too much of a risk.
The blonde went to the nurses station where her mother usually was but she wasn't there. In fact no one seemed to be. She turned to go look for someone who might know where her mom was when she yelped. Stiles was right behind her! She slugged him on the arm "Stiles! You scared the crap out of me!" she exclaimed.
"Sorry", Stiles said, rubbing his arm "didn't feel right letting you go alone".
"Technically I'm not. Derek is outside", Bethany pointed out.
"Well, you're in this hospital alone", Stiles stated. When Bethany gave him an unimpressed look, he continued "have you found your mom yet?"
"Nope", Bethany answered "I'm gonna try to find someone who may know where she is". She and Stiles walked down the corridor, passing by the partially open door to Peter Hale's room. The blonde quickly backtracked and stared at the empty room "oh no", she breathed and took out her phone.
"You found your mom?" Derek asked when he picked up.
"No", Bethany replied "but I just passed your uncle's room. He's not there".
"What?"
"He's not here. He's gone, Derek", Bethany explained.
In the car, a horrible realisation came over Derek. He knew who the Alpha was…and his True Mate was in there with him! "Beth, get out of there right now!" he shouted "It's him! He's the Alpha! Get out!"
Bethany slowly moved back from the room, phone still to her ear. "You must be Bethany", Peter said from another doorway, smirking at the pair.
"What are you doing here?" a red headed nurse said behind them "Visiting hours are over".
"You... and him... You're-you're the one who- Oh, my- and he's- Oh, my God, we're gonna die", Stiles stammered looking back and forth between the two adults. Suddenly Derek appeared, punching the nurse in the face.
"That's not nice. She's my nurse", Peter said, feigning offense.
"She's a psychotic bitch helping you kill people", Derek shot bluntly "you two, run", he added to Bethany and Stiles. The pair took off.
"This is insane!" Stiles cried as they ran. He stopped when Bethany stopped "Beth, we gotta go!" he said "Beth?" he asked seeing that something changed in his friend. She didn't seem so afraid.
"I'm going to help him", she said "you run".
"Are you crazy!" Stiles exclaimed "there's no way I'm letting you do that. Scott would have my hide for one".
"You can't stop me", Bethany said, her eyes changing colour. Stiles gaped at her, rather shocked by this turn of events. The blonde turned and dashed back down the corridor. She found Peter standing over a rather beaten looking Derek. She grabbed him and tossed him away. "Stay away from my Mate", she growled, moving to stand protectively in front of beta Werewolf.
Peter got up and brushed himself off. He was very surprised to see the blonde with the silver eyes of a Protector. It wasn't possible. She'd smelt of human before and as far as he knew, Protectors couldn't change their scent like that. Then suddenly it was like a switch had flipped in his mind and he knew that the young lady before him wasn't Bethany but Erin Rigel. "Erin", he greeted "its been a while".
"Yeah, sorry about that. Didn't expect my own family to wipe my mind and replace it with fake memories", Erin sassed "wasn't expecting you to be killing innocent people".
"They're hardly innocent", Peter scoffed "they were responsible for the fire that destroyed most of my family", he stepped forward "though I have to ask, why wasn't your family there? You're Kaitsja. It's your job to help protect our family…keep them safe!"
"I know that!" Erin shouted back "if I…" she blinked, starting to sway on the spot "I…" Erin fell backwards, Derek jumping up to catch her. Peter clutched a hand to his head, stumbling back several steps. Derek took this opportunity to pick Bethany up and make a break for it.
He took her to Stiles' jeep where he laid her in the back seat. Derek shot a quick text to the teenaged boy, telling him where to find her. "I'll see you soon", he quietly promised, caressing her face. He then headed back into the hospital to deal with his uncle.