Chapter 39: Dynamics

Lydia Martin held her copy of the Argent bestiary in her hands, carefully reading through its contents.

"I don't know what to tell you, Scott." She peered down at her phone, the true Alpha on speaker. "I've read through this entire book three times, and I can't find anything that could explain Derek or Stiles' sister randomly having their powers amplified."

Scott exhaled on his end of the line. "Are you sure there's nothing that could explain it? Or… even hint at it?"

"Not unless Daria suddenly became a werewolf, and Derek somehow became an Alpha again, and pack dynamics came into play." The banshee pursed her lips. "I know that you wanted to figure this out before we all left for college, but this might not be your mystery to solve."

"I know," Scott grunted in frustration. "I know they're not technically part of our pack, but I can't feel like I could do something to help."

"That's what makes you such a good Alpha, Scott," Lydia smiled softly, "but it's time to stop worrying about others and focus on ourselves. Stiles is already gone, and we're leaving in a few days."

He said nothing for several seconds, and Lydia knew she'd have to offer some added encouragement.

"Deaton and Deucalion will take care of them, Scott. It could be nothing… and even if it's not, you know they're in good hands."

"I hope you're right."

The call ended, and Lydia drummed her nails along the back of her phone, deep in thought. Derek Hale was no Alpha, but his uncle had proven that psychic connections with wolves were possible with others, even in death. But until they had more information, all they could do was speculate. Filing away her thoughts, she returned to packing. Beacon Hills would be behind them soon.

–

Cora groaned at the voice in her head. "Do you ever shut up? You're as bad as Stiles."

"I take that as a compliment," Daria harrumphed.

To keep her brother out of danger, Cora grudgingly agreed to keep in frequent contact with Daria via her weird, witchy mind link. Derek would visit and give updates when he could, and she'd be able to relay the messages.

But Cora hated being the middle-man. "Look, I haven't heard from Derek since the last time you popped into my head. Try again in a few days."

"Do you think I should come back?"

"And put a target on Derek after you supposedly died? Don't be stupid."

Daria growled. "I just wish we had more information."

"You think I don't feel that way too? I basically have to rot here in this tree, wondering and waiting if the hunters are still out there. Wondering if my brother, my only living sibling left, is alive somehow, or if the hunters got him. Maybe you're waiting for nothing." Cora clenched a fist. "Maybe he's already dead."

"He's not dead," the empath murmured. "I would know."

"Oh yeah? How?"

"I JUST WOULD, okay?" Daria's voice trembled slightly. "I can't explain the connection I have to your brother. But I would know if it was gone. I would know… if he was gone."

"Okay." Cora lifted a hand she knew Daria could not see. "Two days?"

"Two days. Thank you."

"Yeah yeah," Cora exhaled, and she felt Daria's voice recede from her mind.

She hated being the middle-man, but at least her brother was safe for the time being.

–

Daria was keeping in contact with Rafael and Cora as she traveled her way up the coast. She'd just made it into Southern California early that morning.

Scott's father had a place for her in San Francisco to continue training and discuss her amplified abilities, but she planned to stop in Beacon Hills first to make sure her family and friends were doing well.

Stiles had already left, but he was able to pursue a career where he could excel. Well, hopefully. He'd either become an amazing agent or accidentally burn a wing of the training facility to the ground. Either way, it would be an adventure, and if there was anything her brother craved, it was adventure.

The sun was beginning to set, and she was nearly to Los Angeles, where Rafael had already set up a motel to stay in. By borrowing Cora's abilities, Daria would be back in Beacon Hills in two days' time. The days felt emptier without Derek, but they'd be together again in time.

–

Two days passed, and Derek raced to the Nemeton.

Gerard. He'd been behind everything. And he was luring Derek out of hiding to find the most potent yellow wolfsbane in existence. He had to warn Daria, and then he had to find the wolfsbane and destroy it.

"It's about time you show up." Cora paced impatiently, but he could feel the relief in her chemosignals.

"Good to see you too."

"Well?" She crossed her arms.

Derek gave her a wistful smile. "The remaining packs are safe. For now."

"Then why don't you look happy about it."

He stared at the ground. "Gerard."

Cora's face contorted with grief and rage. "Argent? They did this?"

"Just Gerard. He's trying to get me to come back to Beacon Hills."

"But why?" she spat. "Why would he do all this for one person?"

Derek had basically tortured Gerard's men to find out the truth. "He's after something in one of the Hale vaults. Yellow wolfsbane."

"What?" It came out in almost a whisper.

"He'll never get his hands on it. I'm going to the vault, and I'm going to destroy it. Then we'll go somewhere else. Somewhere far away from Beacon Hills."

She laughed mirthlessly. "Well that's going to be a problem, because I'm pretty sure Daria's almost there."

Panic lanced through Derek. "Well, talk to her. Tell her to turn around."

"It's not like I can just give her a call, Derek." Cora threw out her hands. "You know that! She does her little witchy mind trick, and then she's stuck in my head."

He growled in frustration. "If Gerard is back in Beacon Hills - if he sees her there…"

"Then I guess you better hurry your ass to Beacon Hills, Derek."

He paused in indecision. "When is Daria going to contact you again?"

"Supposedly tonight, but I haven't…" Cora stopped talking and grabbed her head.

"Cora? What is it?" Derek grabbed his sister's arms. "What's happening?"

"She's–" Cora's mouth fell open. "–screaming. She won't stop."

"Talk to her."

"Daria, are you okay? What's going on?" Seconds ticked by, and Cora just shook her head. "She's not responding to me. I don't even know if she can hear me."

Derek closed his eyes and inhaled carefully. "Tell her to connect with me."

"Daria. Try connecting with Derek. See if that helps. Talk to Derek. He's – he's right here next to me."

Almost a minute passed when Derek felt it. Fear so incapacitating that it brought him to his knees. And screaming. Endless screaming.

"Derek." Cora ran to his side. "Derek, what's wrong?"

But Derek couldn't move. All he could feel was fear.

–

Daria grinned as she crossed into the Beacon Hills city limits. Soon she'd be home. She'd be able to see her father, check on Parrish and the others, and hopefully Derek would join her soon. She was about to check in with Cora when she felt it.

Fear.

It inundated the landscape. It crawled over her skin. It filled the air she breathed. And she couldn't move.

No sound left her lips, but a storm erupted in her mind, and fell in the grass between the trees. She couldn't silence the screaming in her head. There was too much fear.

"Daria, are you okay? What's going on?"

Daria couldn't reply. All she could do was scream internally as she writhed on the ground.

"Daria. Try connecting with Derek. See if that helps. Talk to Derek. He's – he's right here next to me."

The empath strained with everything inside her to reach out to Derek. He made her strong. Maybe he could help. Her eyes glowed blue, but the pain stayed. There was no relief. Only debilitating terror that totally and completely paralyzed her.

–

Scott was using his hand to cover Liam's eyes, glowing with rage after getting up-ended on the field.

It was their last night of drills before the new school year. Liam was team captain, and Scott, acting as Assistant Coach for the summer, was going to be on his way to UC Davis to study to become a Veterinarian.

But all of that was forgotten when a wolf, bloody and limping, entered the lacrosse pitch.

The glow in his beta's eyes dimmed.

"Everyone, back," Scott warned, and the entire team backed away cautiously.

The wolf bared its fangs, and Scott's eyes flashed red in warning. Then the wolf, whimpering, retreated into the woods, and Scott followed with Liam not far behind.

"Coach–" one of Liam's teammates said in the distance.

"McCall's a veterinarian or something." The Coach said. "I'm sure he knows what he's doing. Now, quit standing there like a bunch of pansies and show me that you can actually play lacrosse!"

Their voices faded from Scott's ears as he followed the injured wolf further into the thick of the woods.

Liam plodded nervously behind him. "You think it's a wolf-wolf, or…"

"I think it's just a wolf."

They paused at the entrance of a clearing. The wolf they had been following had collapsed on the ground, and as the boys leaned closer, spiders began to pour out of its eyes.

"Scott," Liam murmured, and Scott lifted his eyes. Dozens of dead wolves lay scattered on the ground ahead of them. "What happened?"

The True Alpha shook his head. "I have no idea."

"We should call someone," Liam stared ahead in horror. "Malia, she's a werecoyote. Maybe she could figure out what happened."

"Maybe," Scott shrugged, then he froze. "Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"I think… somebody's screaming," Scott's voice trailed off, trying to focus on the sound. It was farther away, deeper into the forest, and it was barely audible. "Someone's in trouble."

He raced in the direction of the sound. Short contorted screams of a woman rang out louder as they neared the sound.

"Scott?" Liam called out from behind. "Scott, I think I know who it is."

"You do?" Scott peered behind him as he ran.

"I know who it is!" Liam's urgency increased as he caught up to his Alpha. "It's Daria!"

"What?!"

They reached the sound of the screaming, and Liam sprang beside the writhing girl, her silhouette barely visible in the darkness. "I knew I'd heard that scream before." He sadly clutched her hand.

"We have to get her to a hospital."

"What about the wolves?" Liam hesitated. "Do you think it's related?"

"I don't think so." Scott wasn't actually sure, but Daria was an empath, so it wasn't out of the realm of possibility. "Just in case, I'll call Deaton. He'll know what to do."

Liam nodded, choking back tears. "Daria's… one of the nicest people I've ever met, Scott. She has to be okay."

"She will be." Scott pulled his phone from his pocket and hurriedly texted his boss. "Call Malia. I'll take Daria to the clinic. Then meet me at my house."

The beta nodded, racing back toward the school to gather his belongings, and Scott lifted Daria into his arms. Scott wasn't sure what was happening, but somehow he knew a hospital wouldn't know how to fix it.

–

Hey, readers! Summer has flown by, but I did brainstorm while I was gone. The ending for this story has changed at least five times, whether to go past season 6, whether to include Alec, whether to defeat Monroe or let her be on the loose. It's been a ride! But I'm hoping it all pays off. Even if I end up with 50k in scraps. XD

Thanks for the favorites and follows that have been trickling in the past couple months. Health problems are much more manageable, and my overall health and physical strength keep getting better and better. I hope you are all hanging in there too. As always, thanks for reading! Reviews and positive criticism are always welcome. -V