"I found a way to control it!" He all but screamed from outside the Hale household. He didn't get an answer so he let himself in. "Talia?" He called. "Derek?" He creeped through the house, tiptoeing around the eerily quiet home.
He spun around when he heard a shuffle behind him, but he wasn't quick enough to save himself from the blow to the face. She came from nowhere, she was strong and fast. At least to Stiles she was. By the time he recovered from the punch she had him pinned to the wall, her forearm against his throat cutting off his oxygen supply.
The only things he could make out were her snarling fangs and her light brown eyes. She wore the same expression that Derek often had.
"What are you doing here?" She asked in a toothy growl.
"I'm looking for the people who live here." He strained out painfully.
"Why?"
"Because I need to talk to them. Who are you?" He asked.
"Who are you?" She pressed harder.
"Stiles.. my name is Stiles." He choked out. Her eyes softened and she released her grip on him.
"Sorry, I heard about you." She stated. "My mother says she's been training you."
"Your mother? You're Cora Hale." He pieced it together. "I thought you were in South America."
"I was, now I'm back."
"Why?" He asked and recieved a look of bewilderment. "I didn't mean it like that, I mean did something happen?"
"To who?" She asked and his mind began to bend backward.
"What?" He asked in utter confusion.
"No, nothing happened." She walked away.
"Then where is everyone?" He followed her to the den.
"They're out running errands."
"Oh." He sighed and looked around awkwardly. "Do you know how long they'll be?"
"Don't you have a phone?"
"Do you, I didn't know you guys used phones."
"Stiles, we're werewolves not cave people."
"Sorry sorry, I'm just excited. Things are finally looking up." He couldn't help the grin that found his face.
"Yeah, I heard you when you got here. 'I found a way to control it'." She mocked him. Her smile grew when his fell.
He turned away from her, his cheeks flushed red. She wanted to burst with laughter but did a good job with concealing it. "Show me."
"Show you what?" His cheeks grew darker.
"You said you can control it, come on; show me. I haven't had a workout in a while." She stood up and pulled her shirt over her head revealing her black sports bra. "Come on." She gestured.
Stiles followed her out through the back door. Cora pulled her hair into a ponytail to keep the wind from blinding her with it. Leaves bristled against the thick wooden fence that surrounded the backyard.
"I can't exactly control it, per se."
"Try." She said it simple.
"Listen. I'm relatively new to all of this..."
"Stiles, stop being such a pussy." She cut him off.
"Okay fine." He cracked his neck. "Let's go."
Stiles took a fighting stance as did Cora. They stared eachother down like they were foes. Everything became still: the wind, the animals and even the two werewolves. It was a deafening silence that engulfed them, you couldn't even hear them breath. The world was frozen around them. A crow perched itself on a tree branch above them watching the two intently.
The sound of it's caw served as a gunshot to them as they charged at each other.
Allison shrugged her jacket on as she tiptoed for the door. She stopped mid-stride when she heard a distinct 'ehem', slipping her phone into her pocket as she turned to face her father.
"Where ya off to?" He asked.
"Oh, uhm, Lydia and I were gonna catch a movie." She lied convincingly. He gave her a knowing look. "Dad, I'll be safe. The movie theater's only a few miles away plus I'll be with Lydia the entire time. And..."
"And.. you'll be home by nine." He added in.
"Dad." She said.
"I'm serious, especially after that whole mountain lion fiasco in the forest." He gave his scolding tone.
"About that... You never actually told me what you were doing out there that day." She stated.
"We were hunting." He became uneasy.
"Hunting what? You guys had assault rifles and shotguns, no one hunts like that. And why do you keep saying mountain lion when we both clearly know it was a wolf." She became uneasy as well.
"Allison..."
"Why do you keep lying to me. I can understand you keeping something from me, but when you go completely out of your way to lie to me, that's when you begin to lose my trust." Her voice was thick with emotion.
"We've talked about this, you're..."
"What? Just not ready. You have been using that exact same excuse ever since mom died." Tears fell from them both. "You left with Kate and Gerard and I was alone. I had just lost my mother and you could care less."
"I cared!... more than you could ever know. I know now that I was wrong, I shouldn't have left..."
"No, you shouldn't have, but you did and there's no making up for that." She sniffled and wiped at her nose with her sleeve.
"You just have to understand..."
"I can't do this now, I have to go." She turned for the door.
"Allison." Chris called after her as she brushed past Melissa who was just getting home.
Allison climbed into her car but she didn't start it. Instead she just gripped at the steering wheel and tried her best to breath and keep from screaming. She pulled in deep breath after deep breath, her eyes shut tight.
Once her heart finally calmed she reached into her pocket for her phone. There was a text on the screen that she was writing before her father had stopped her.
To Stiles: Hey, where are you I have to talk to you.
She looked it over but never hit send. Instead she erased it and began a different text.
To Lydia: Hey are you busy?
From Lydia: Always, what's up?
To Lydia: Bad times, I need a drink.
From Lydia: My schedule just cleared up.
Stiles hit the ground hard, the bones in his back already trying to heal. He jumped back to his feet ready for more. He couldn't help it but he was having fun going mono e mono with Cora.
It had been hours, the sky was a pinkish-orange, the clouds resembling cotton candy.
Stiles attacked again swinging and blocking.
Cora was quicker and stronger even more so with Stiles holding back afraid that he might lose control.
She ducked his punch and delivered an uppercut sending him into another painful fall. The same fourty or so bones cracked again.
This time he stayed down, resting and catching his breath. Cora stood over him and single hand held out toward him. "Holding back wont help you learn control. It only makes it harder." She said. Stiles accepted the hand up.
"That doesn't really make sense." He said brushing the dirt off of himself.
"It doesn't have to. Just try it next time, it'll work."
"Next time?" He asked.
"Derek's too stubborn to train with me. I used to train with my sister but, I can't do that anymore. And you're not a terrible sparring partner."
"Wait, what do you mean your sister? What happened to your sister?"
Cora looked confused now. "She died." She said as if it was obvious.
"She..." Stiles looked at her in pure surprise. "She died.. she," He was whispering now. ", she was your sister." His brain flashed to the body, the woman he buried. That's why Talia's scent was so familiar, and that's why Talia felt sympathy for him.
"It's true." Talia appeared almost like wind. "The woman found murdered, she was my daughter."
"That's why you came back isn't it?" Stiles looked to Cora.
"My sister was a good person, she didn't have any enemies, she was always nice to people. So whoever killed her wanted to get to us." Cora spoke with hidden anger in her voice.
"Whoever did it wants us to think it was another pack, someone wants to start a war. We mustn't give in to their barbaric plans." Talia touched Cora's arms.
"I know mom. But when we find out who exactly it was, I'm gonna kill them."
"Stiles!" Derek yelled from inside.
"What?" Stiles asked as they all made their way inside.
"Your friend's here." He said as Scott pushed past him.
"Hey, what's up?" Stiles asked him immediately.
"'What's up?' You weren't answering your phone, I came to check up on you." Scott scolded him.
"I'm fine, I think my phone just died." He answered.
"Oh. Alright so what's going on?"
"Uhm, dinner?" Stiles shurgged. "I think Talia was just about to cook."
"Oh great, I'm starving." Scott placed a hand on his stomach as he started for the kitchen. A vibration in his pocket startled him until he checked his phone. "It's a text from Allison." He looked to Stiles. "Actually.." He read through the message. "it's from Lydia, she says Allison's in some type of trouble." His eyes grew wide.
"Text back and find out where they are!" Stiles says, already halfway outside.
His jeep screeched to a halt in front of Lydia's house. The place was alive with music, there was some kind of party going on.
Scott and Stiles made their way inside. It was definantly a party. Almost everyone from BHH was there.
"Hey, why weren't we invited?" Scott asked.
"Scott, focus. We need to find Allison or Lydia."
"Found 'em." He pointed toward the kitchen.
Lydia stood leaning against the counter with a look of pure irritation on her face. Allison on the other hand wasn't Allison. She wasn't looking strong and confident like normal. She was standing with a group of players from the lacrosse team with a red solo cup in her hand which was spilling all over the place. She had a care free look on her face.
"She's drunk." Stiles states.
"Wow, I didn't think she even knew how to have fun." Scott laughed.
Stiles was next to her in a second. "What the hell, Lydia?" He scolded her immediately.
Allison gasped when he took her cup away from her. "Hey." She complained. Another gasp came when she realized it was Stiles. "Stiles, heeeeyyyy. Scott look, Stiles is here." Her eyes were low. Another gasp. "Scott's here too? What are you guys doing here?"
"We came to take you home, Allison."
"Really, awww. Stiles you're the best. Isn't Stiles the best." She asked Lydia rhetorically. "Stiles is an animal."
Lydia gave a raised brow and a sly grin now as Scott and Stiles looked surprised.
"Oh, shhhhhhhh, that's a secret." Allison whispered now.
"How much has she had to drink?" Scott asked.
"I don't know? If you haven't noticed things are pretty out of hand here." Lydia answered him.
"That usually comes with the territory of throwing a party." Stiles spat.
"I didn't throw a party." Her words were sharp. "Allison said she needed a drink, Jackson found out and brought some of his buddies and they invited people and so on."
"Where is Jackson?" Scott looked around.
"He's upstairs, drunk and waiting for sex." She sighed.
"Yeah, well have fun with that." Stiles waved her off.
"Wait!" She stopped them from leaving. "You guys have to help me out, I need to get these people out before my mom and dad come home."
"Sounds like your problem."
"Stiles." Allison's palm ran smoothly down his face. "We have to help errr." She began to slur her words.
Stiles sighed in defeat. "Did you try turning off the music and telling them all to get out?"
"Yes, but they're all either too drunk or too high to function." Lydia answered.
"They're drunk and high, so they probably wont remember this tomorrow." Scott suggested to Stiles. "Maybe if they saw something unexplainable they would run."
"Scott, are you suggesting what I think you are?" Stiles whispered.
"Just a few people and they'll all run." Scott whispered back.
"I can't control it."
"You can, you've got everything you need to stay in control right here." He gestured toward Allison who was becoming drowsey.
"Are you two gonna stop whispering and do something already?" Lydia interupted them.
"Okay, fine. I got it. Just... keep her from falling over. And get her some water." He walked into the den.
Stiles waded through the crowd until he came upon about four guys all of whom were under the influence. Stiles kept his head low, his hearing concentrating on Allison's heartbeat. The rythm of it soothing his unease. He took a deep breathe before he proceeded. He moved quickly bumping into the four of them. One guy's drink spilled down his shirt.
"Hey! What the hell, bro, watch it." One of them yelled.
Stiles took one more breath before lifting his head. His eyes burned bright yellow and his teeth snarled, when he let out a low roar.
"Oh shit! He's a monster!" They yelled and ran.
They pushed roughly, bumping and yelling. Others screamed as they were trampled. Eventually everyone was running for the exits, one guy even dove through the window when the front door became too cluttered. Stiles felt an ounce of pride in the control he had just exerted.
"Problem solved, now you're gonna do something for us." He said to Lydia as he returned.
"Yeah, and what's that?" She asked in her usual sassy dimeanor.
"If anyone asks, Allison stayed over with you tonight. Capiche?" It sounded funny but he was actually serious.
"Sure thing, Don Corleone." She waved them off now. "You can show yourselves out." And with that she was gone.
Scott snuck inside as quiet as possible only to find his mother and step father awaiting him.
"Where's Allison?" Are Chris' first words.
"She stayed at Lydia's tonight, didn't she tell you?" Scott played it off so well.
"You wouldn't be lying to us would you?" Melissa asked.
"No, she said she needed a night away, whatever that means." He shrugged.
Chris turned and walked away still visibly angry. "I know exactly what it means." He spoke under his breath.
"And where were you?" Melissa asked him.
"Sorry mom but I'm really tired and I just wanna get to bed. Can we finish this in the morning?" He feigned his drowsiness.
"Sure, sweety. Get some sleep." She placed a hand on Scott's cheek.
Scott made his way upstairs pulling out his phone to compose a text as soon as his door was locked.
To Stiles: I think they bought it
From Stiles: Good. Chris would kill Allison if he saw her like this
To Stiles: He'd probably kill you too
From Stiles: I know. Hopefully Lydia holds up her end
To Stiles: How is she
From Stiles: She's asleep now. She'll probably be puking again soon
To Stiles: I'm glad I'm not you right now
From Stiles: It's not so bad once you get past the smell
To Stiles: You're a werewolf isn't the smell worst for you
From Stiles: Defiantly
To Stiles: ?
From Stiles: Sorry, autocorrect. I meant definantly
To Stiles: Lol
From Stiles: Damn. She's up I gotta go
"Aim for the trash can." Stiles called as she lunged forward with a mouthful of puke.
He reached for the glass of water he had gotten her earlier and held her hair back with his empty hand. He gave her the water as she leaned away from the trash can. "Here, drink." He said.
She took a sip from it but he urged her to keep drinking. She swallowed down a gulp of water before passing the glass back to him. She fell back on the bed they sat on.
He sat the glass down and began to take off her shoes.
"What'r you doing?" She asked allowing him to see how drunk she still was.
"I'm taking off your shoes." He spoke low and soft.
"Why, you wanna see ma feets?" She snickered.
"No, so you can sleep comfortably." He sighed.
"You're the best Stilesss.. and I'm not saying that just because you.. are.. a werewolf." She whispered the last word. "You are my bestest friend, no, Scott is my bestest friend, and you..." Stiles couldn't help how his heart sped up as he waited to hear what she was about to say. "You errr my friend friend, like not really my friend but more than my friend."
He didn't quite understand but he knew the longer she talked the more confusing it would be.
"Shh. Just get some sleep." He whispered to her.
She closed her eyes and let out a low and peaceful sigh. Stiles leaned his head against the wall and shut his eyes.
"Stiles?" She called to him.
"Hmm?" He answered with a blissfull tone to match hers.
"Can you sing to me?"
"What!"
A/N: Can't you just picture Stiles' expression on that last line. I'm cracking up about it. Hope you are too. Thanks for reading and sticking by my story. I can't make any promises about the future of it but I can say that I'll try to keep it up. Sorry for the lengthy wait.
Until next time this is Alpha Silent_Overkill signing out. GOOD NIGHT.