"It's so beautiful," I said aloud, looking over the cliff I was sitting on. I could see the whole city of Beacon Hills from where I was. It was a small town, but the illuminating lights from the industrial side made it look like a mini New York. I loved it up here, only a spot Isaac could take me.
"It's easy to think, up here." Speaking of, I turned to Isaac, staring hard at the moonlight creating a shadow on his strong jawline and facial features. He was truly like a Greek statue. It amazed me.
I didn't think I would be able to stomach him after my mom, but who did I really have? I was always with my dad and Allison was always with her damn grandpa. It had only been about a week since the attack and she had snuggled into his side like a lost puppy and he absolutely loved it. Overhearing what I heard from his convo with Scott was too much for me to keep a secret but I was too busy trying to comfort my grieving father to even approach Scott about it. I would soon. But now? It was just Isaac and I, looking at the best view I'd probably ever get in this part of Cali.
"What are you thinking about?" I asked him curiously.
"Erica and Boyd, they're leaving. Trying to run away from all of this." I don't know why my heart dropped at his answer, but it did.
"What about you?" My question was quiet and meek, unlike Jocelyn. I wonder if he could hear the fear in it.
"I don't know. It'd be cool to get away. Be a normal teen, right?" He paused and finally locked those ice blue eyes on mine. "I never got to experience that. I've been feeling lost lately."
"I'd want that for you. You deserve it. Especially now that you dropped the tough werewolf act." It was true, he was back to being soft, shoulders tucked in, sad eye Isaac. It was comforting.
He let out this deep chuckle that I felt in my damn coochie. He was beautiful. "Can I tell you something?"
"Why not?"
"That full moon, when I found you crying. I was only free from my chains because Derek told us to find an anchor- something that would make us feel human. I thought of my mom, my brother, even my dad- before he was the way he was. And it helped, really. But they're not the only things that made me feel grounded." He stopped. For a long time. I hate when people leave me hanging like this for fucks sake. I was actually leaning forward so I could hear him finish. We broke eye contact, and he slid his tongue over his lips, sighing before he continued, "I also thought of you. How right you were. This wolf thing isn't for me, but I chose it. And I didn't want to be the type that you'd be hunting. I wanted to be the type you'd be able to accept."
His words were kind of heartwarming. I missed being able to be this close to him and feel more than all that crazy sexual tension. Outside of my ususal group, Isaac was the only person I had any interest in in this town… I won't pretend that changed.
I smiled and reached my hand out, he took it and we both squeezed. "I don't blame you. I just hated your attitude. Don't think you have to be like that, to get to me. I'm here now- if I wasn't I'd probably be going crazy right now- you're helping me escape. Remember? I tried to do that for you? I still can, whatever you're feeling right now. I still can."
Before I could even react, Isaac came even closer, putting a hand into my hair and pulling me so our foreheads touched. I flashed back to the time he tried to seduce me so his pack could ambush us- but It was much softer, a different kind of tension engulfed us now. "I'll stay," he whispered, never breaking his piercing eye contact as his cool breath fanned over my mouth. "I'll stay for you. If you could turn into us."
My heart was pounding so damn bad, I wish that shit would shut the fuck up! It was embarrasing knowing he could hear it.. I wonder if his was the same. To find an answer, I reached up and pressed my palm firmly against his toned chest. The hard pounding of his heart greeted me. I smirked. He felt so right, all the time.
"If you stay, I'll be right here."
Not even a couple days later I sat in my car outside of the vet's office with Isaac in the passenger. We needed to talk to Scott and Isaac wanted to get caught with me, I guess.
We weren't dating- I think- but who knows where this little thing could go. If we ever got the time to focus on just us… For now? Jackson. Top priority. Don't think I forgot about Derek, but Isaac didn't need to know that.
The bell above the door chimed, announcing our presence, and Scott came to the front lobby to meet us. He immediately drew his eyebrows in, squinting in confusion. I could not suppress my eye roll at all. Ugh. This will be so annoying. "I'm here to make amends. We all have information that will benefit the other party.."
Scotts thin eyes widened at my words then. No one was able to speak before the vet came into the room. He was so chipper when he said, "Why dont you two come to the back?"
I looked back at Isaac warily, and he nodded in approval, so we moved to the back where a dog lay on the table whining. I instantly went to comfort the dog, petting in all the right stops to stop the sad whimpers. I loved animals, but lacked the responsibility to take care of them.
"So, what are you two doing together?" Scott asked as soon as he could. Little nosey bastard.
"I could say the same for you and my grandfather." I raised a knowing brow, looking him straight in the eyes. Scott had this way of immediately dropping eye contact that made him look super guilty.
He began to stutter, "I'm just…trying to manage..like everything!" I could almost feel bad, with how exasperated he sounded.
"Relax! I want this over as much as you do. Seeing my sister be manipulated by him is gross. All the death and destruction- my mother. I need a lot of answers from you, and then I'll try to give you what I can. But you go first."
Scott looked between the vet, Isaac, and I before nodding his head. He said, "I wanted to tell Allison, but I don't know how. Your mom tried to kill me, I didn't know Derek would bite her, but I couldn't even breathe or think! She was literally forcing me to have an asthma attack." He paused as I took in what he was saying. There was rage and pity swirling all in my stomach. I didn't know how to feel. He ended with, "I'm sorry."
I felt a long arm snake around my waist. Isaac. He was trying to comfort me, and it felt really nice. I relaxed my tense body- that I didn't even know was tensed up -and leaned into him. Derek still dies, but I did mumble out an, "ok."
Scott let out this big breath of air and slowly nodded his head. "What else?"
"Gerard. What's going on? Why are you working with him?"
"At first, just to get to Allison. But now? He threatened to kill my mom. Me. I have no idea what I'm doing. Maybe. Well, I would have something if you were helping. He's controlling Jackson."
It felt like a lightbulb went off in my head when he said that. Damn. I hate being the one not knowing all the good juicy details. Jackson had started acting normal, going to school and practice- at least that's what Isaac told me. It makes so much sense, but literally no sense at all.
"You do know Jackson has been going to practice, right? Like he's playing in the big game tomorrow…" Isaac trailed off, looking inquisitively at Scott.
Scott's eyes got wide once again, "No! I wasn't even going to go to the game. It's Gerard, he has to be planning something."
"What could he want? Besides to avenge Kate, I don't understand. I thought he was just here to kill Derek." I asked Scott. It was crazy I was asking Scott about my own damn grandfather but he obviously knew more about the creep than I did.
"I think…he wants more than that from Derek. That's why I have these." Scott turned around and dug into one of the drawers of the exam table and pulled out a container. He explained, "I took his pills, and replaced them with mountain ash. Can you put them back for me?"
"Moountain ash?"
"Just trust me! I might not know what I'm doing now but if it works out, then I just need you to trust me now." For some reason my first instinct was to look up at Isaac, who looked back down to me immediately. He nodded a short nod yes, and it was enough for me to tak the container from Scott and slip it into my pocket. Okay. Trusting Scott.
We stood in silence for a second, before the dog on the exam table started to whine again. Isaac crinkled up his nose and said, "Why does he smell like death."
The vet smiled grimly, looking between Scott and Isaac, "Scott said almost the exact same thing to me a few months ago. One day he could somehow tell which animals were getting better and which were not."
I looked back down at the cute little shitzhu as Isaac asked, "He's not getting better is he?"
Scott shook his head no, petting the dog but it didn't stop its crying. "He has cancer," Scott said. He glanced at me quickly but then back to Isaac, "It's a very distinct scent."
"Come here," The vet said to Isaac, extending his hand which Isaac hesitantly took. I watched in awe as he placed his Isaacs hand onto the dog's white fur, pressing it down and then lifting his hand away. He said, "I think you're pretty aware of what your new abilities can do for you. But have you ever wondered what they can do for others?"
Isaac begins to pet the dog on his own, and almost immediately, the animal stops whining. Its breathing slows, body calming as Isaac strokes the back of its head. What the hell? Did they just do some dog to dog communication? Then, Isaac's eyes go wide, and he raises his hand, his viens looking big and considerably dark. Almost black. Teeth clenched in pain, Isaac squeezes his hand into a fist and watches it return to normal. What. The. Fuck.
"What was that?" he asks, looking between the smirks on the vets and Scott's face.
"You took some of his pain," Scott answers. "It's just something we can do."
I damn near started to cry. I can't even look at wolves the same, I wonder what else cute shit they could do.. That was honestly amazing. Isaac sniffled a little and I reached up to grip his broad shoulder. His smile warmed my heart and I just decided to fucking hug the big baby.
"You two? Is the biggest plot twist of the century," Scott said with a scoff. I let go of Isaac to shoot him a bitchy look. At least we could keep an actual secret.
"We're not the thing driving all this drama, so I wonder why." I said matter of factly, rolling my eyes. "What are we going to do about Jackson?"
"Well I guess I'm going to have to play tomorrow. I have to handle this."
Isaac cleared his throat, standing up straight. "Me too."
Scott was lucky Isaac made me trust him enough to do this shit for him. I had to do some sneaky sneaky, super spy shit and replace the container for my grandads pills. I couldn't wait to see what would come of that. Maybe the man would just die…as long as he would stop brainwashing my idiot sister. I'm sure one day she'll think for herself.
Speaking of, on my venture to the guest room, I heard Allison speaking from the garage, where she always was nowadays. I can't even believe I am trusting her crooked jaw boyfriend over her right now. Whatever. I'm going to be nosey.
I ventured down the stairs where I found Allison and my father leaning over a large paper spread over the table. "What the fuck is this?" I said aloud.
Allison smiled this cocky little smile. "We're just narrowing down where he is. We're going to find Derek. We saw them in the woods two nights ago- I think it was Boyd and Erica."
It took everything not to say what I knew about their plans to run away. The stone cold, emotionless face and voice coming from my twin just made me weird and uncomfortable. I felt that I should be in her place now. Maybe if I didn't know what I did. I took a closer look at the map of the city. Looks so small on paper to someone who'd seen it from the top of the cliff. I sent a glare towards my dad, "You've been doing this without me?"
"It was my idea," Allison said for him. So. Annoying.
"Was I talking to you?"
"Doesn't matter; I answered." I chuckled at her snarkiness. I was like a minute away from punching her.
"Girls, please," My father said sternly. At least he stopped it before it happened, because that would've been a sad night holding frozen veggies to her face. "Jocelyn, you're still in charge, but your sister is going to continue to do her own thing. I have to supervise. You could come; we're going tomorrow night."
Actually, it might be good to keep them busy tomorrow while I was scheming with Scott. "I have to go to the game, and I can't be in two places at once. They're a pack..and I don't want Erica and Boyd getting involved in this. They won't give up Derek."
"I'll make them." With that, Allison stomped away up stairs. I just watched her. She was going crazy and dealing with both of these situations would definitely make me next. Sigh.
I felt so odd being at a lacrosse game, but I needed to keep my eyes on Gerard while the boys kept their eyes on Jackson. Literally at school with a gun, and a katana in my car. I felt badass, not gonna lie. Sitting in the bleachers with Lydia made me feel somewhat normal…. But knowing that Isaac was currently pummeling his own teammates so the coach had no choice but to play Scott was very, very sobering. At least I get to see my man act a fool, right?
Did I just call him my man? It was in my head but still. Uh uh. Chill out Joc. Lydia came back from the bathroom and stood next to me again. She smiled, "I'm glad you're here."
I smiled right back. She hasn't even been a part of our worlds lately. "Me too. I need to start functioning again. Sorry I haven't been here."
"Girl, it's fine. I-"
A whistle cuts Lydia off, and I turn all my attention to the field. I can't do this with her now, I need to be paying all my attention to this damn game plan. One new person lay on the floor, I squinted my eyes to find Isaac who has literally been putting in that work. Wait. Is that him on the floor? "Hold on."
I sprinted down the bleachers, Scott right behind me. I'd never felt so damn panicked before. What the hell did I just miss in that split second?
I grab Isaac by the helmet when we reach his body. He locked eyes with me, and he's breathing, but there is still fear all through his eyes. He whispers to Scott and I, "I'm okay. But I can't move it. I think Jackson nicked me. I can feel it spreading." He was grunting and gasping for air but he was fucking alive.
Scott looks away, and I move in closer to Isaac. "It's okay, you'll be fine."
He nods just an inch and keeps his eyes trained on mine. "Just remember that and don't lose focus."
I nod back and stand as a stretcher is brought in. Do they just have these on standby for lacrosse players? Scott grabbed me by my arm, and pulled me to him. "Just be ready."
I sprint to my car, trusting Scott while I 'got ready.' My sword lay in the back seat. The sound of it unsheathing filled my ears and I got a warm tingly feeling. I do love this bitch, can't lie.
Then I heard this ear piercing scraping sound and spun on my heel. I saw a group of three heading towards the school locker room. Why would they even go there. And those men? I knew them. The scraping sound had stopped but not before I saw what it was. A long sword.
Isaac.
As soon as I even thought of him, I sprang into motion, taking the long way around the field…but I just knew I had to get there before them. I was young and fit and not carrying a heavy ass sword. At least mine would make good for combat.
I rushed through the halls of the school until I got to the locker room. Please dont be late, Jocelyn! I have to stop running and creep around the entrance. My heart dropped at the site, Isaac was crawling away while my own damn grandfather was holding his longsword behind him. Was he going to… cut him in half? What the absolute fuck?!
I guess I had to go all pyscotic like my fucking family members if I wanted to save him. In one fluid motion-thank you martial arts movies-I flipped my sword and gripped the handle, using all my force to scream and bring it down on the back of one the henchmans head. He falls and I stomp on his baby man parts, making him scream and cringe in pain.
The other hunter turns, he's unarmed and before he can react I am kicking him in his stomach, followed by a clean spin and elbow to his nose. Once he grabs his face in pain I face Gerard who has the most disgusting, geriatric, and evil smirk on his face.
"Jocelyn, what are you doing?"
I glance at Isaac, who has taken the opportunity to stand and lean against a sink. Back to Gerard, I shoot him a sneer and make a quick efffort to swing my sword at him. Instinctively, he tries to lift the heavy longsword to help him, but I'm using much more strength, and they connect with a loud clang.
While he struggled against my Katana, I kicked him in his chest, earning an exasperated cough. He drops his weapon and I slam a shoulder into him. His knees buckle and he easily falls to the floor, banging his head onto the bench there. The other hunters were starting to get themselves together, so I rushed to Isaac's side and helped him stand.
Suddenly, Scott bursts into the room, grabbing onto one of the henchmen that were advancing on Isaac and I.
"Go!" He shouts, picking the man up and easily slamming hom on a set of lockers.
I carry Isaac as best as I can out of the locker room and try to get him back to the field where he can't just get fucking murdered!
As we stumble along he completly lifts himself up, no longer paralyzed. I stop moving and pant, completely out of breath. He was so damn heavy but that was such a rush.
"Jocelyn, you just saved my fucking life!" He said, gripping the sides of my face and forcing me to look him directly in the eye. "It was so hot."
You know a bitch started cheesing. I did. I'm just that bitch! "I would do it again and again, trust me! As long as you're okay."
We were silent, panting and staring into eachothers colored eyes. It felt like it was just us two there. My body began to move on its own, extending my height on my tip toes just enough for our noses to touch.
His warm breath fanned all over my face. We had been here so many times but now? Felt too right.
Isaac began to lean down, his lips just on the verge of touching mine when he just stopped. We both turned our heads to the side.
Screaming. A whole crowd of it.
