The Benefactor:
I raised my fist to the steel door but then quickly dropped it back to my side and I shook my head to myself as I mentally scolded myself for being so afraid. I took a deep breath to steady my nerves as I straightened my shoulders and I focused myself to knock firmly on the metal door as I bounced slightly on the balls of my feet.
"This is stupid." I whispered to myself with a roll of my eyes as I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and I couldn't remember ever being this nervous, not when I started high school or when I took my driver's test. It was as though a swarm of butterflies had taken up residence in my stomach and I hoped that all of their wings would fall off because I hated feeling so out of control.
I was contemplating leaving when I heard the door slide open and I snapped my head around to see Derek standing there with a confused frown on his lips. "Sophie? You knocked? You never knock."
"I wasn't sure if you'd want to see me." I admitted sheepishly as I tried not to look directly in his eyes and he raised his eyebrows in amusement as he pushed the door open further. He stepped back so that I could walk pass him into the loft and closed the door behind me before turning his attention back to me.
"What are you doing here, Soph?" he asked in slight confusion as he stood at the top of the steps by the door with his arms crossed over his chest and I turned around to face him with a small frown as I tried to formulate the right words.
"My dad left when I was like seven. My mom works her ass off to provide for us. And before sophomore year, Scott was basically a stranger who shared my house. The only people I had to lean on were Jackson and Lydia. With Jackson we mostly talked about him, since he's a self-absorbed ass. So, I only really had Lydia." I explained to him in a slightly confused tone, like I wasn't sure why I was telling him all of this but I knew why. I wanted him to understand why I was the way I was, I needed him to know who I was on the inside.
"What's going on? Are you okay?" Derek asked in concern as his eyebrows furrowed in confusion and I waved a hand dismissively in the air as I shook my head slightly with my eyes closed.
"Just shut up for a second, okay?"
"Alright."
"My entire life I've plastered a carefree smile on my face and let the world see nothing but the girl who couldn't care less. But inside? I was slowly dying. Then everything changed when Scott got the bite. And I know mostly everything is still horrible. Absolutely terrible, if we're being honest. But I feel alive for the first time in my life." I admitted with a small smile on my lips as I shrugged my shoulders slightly and his lips turned up at the corners as he slowly walked down the steps to stand at the behind. "I'm finally letting people in. There are so many people that I care about. And I love them all so much. And I wouldn't change anything. But at the same time, I'm absolutely terrified all the time now."
"Why?" he whispered as he stepped closer to where I was standing and I blinked away the tears in my eyes as I looked away from his light green eyes.
"Because, why I might act like I'm okay, losing Aiden and Allison nearly destroyed me. I still have nightmares. I still wake up in the middle of the night crying. If I let anyone get that close again, and I lose them?" I asked rhetorically as I wrapped an arm around my stomach and he reached out to touch my arm but I stepped back with tears brimming my eyes.
"I get it. If anyone can understand the pain of losing someone, it's me." Derek reminded me with a raised eyebrow as he reached out to place a hand on my upper arm and this time I let him pull me towards him slightly as I placed my hands on his biceps to keep me steady. I could feel the heat radiating off of his body as I looked away from him and I exhaled slowly as I prepared myself to say what I was about it say.
"I'm going to be completely honest with you. Are you ready?"
"I think I can handle it."
"I really like you." I whispered softly as I slid my hands up to cup the sides of his neck with a small smile and he grinned at me happily as he slipped his arms around my waist to rest his hand on the small of my back. "And I know that we've been doing this stupid half-hearted whatever for a long time. But –"
"But you're not ready to jump into anything." He finished for me in a knowing voice as he nodded along with his words and I tilted my head questioningly with a small confused frown on my lips. "I know that you're Sophie, and you know absolutely everything, but I know you."
"Oh, really?" I asked mocking as I tightened my arms around his neck with a smirk and he nodded in fake seriousness as he pulled me closer so that I was pressed up against his body. "You think you know me?"
"I really do."
"Okay, what am I thinking right now?"
Derek hummed thoughtfully with a contemplative expression as I raised an eyebrow and he abruptly leaned forward to press a surprise to my lips as I gasped slightly. I moved my lips in sync with his for a moment as my eyes fluttered closed and a moment later he pulled back to look at me with a smug smirk on his lips. "You're thinking…You want to order dinner."
"Oh, you're good." I relented in amusement as I nodded in acknowledgement and he shrugged modestly as I took a step back out of his arms. "I'm thinking Thai food. Sound good?"
"That wasn't actually a question, was it?" he asked knowingly with an amused smirk as he wandered over to the couch where his cell phone was lying on the coffee table.
"Yeah, if you're going date me, you should get used to those." I told him coyly as I stripped off my cardigan in order to get comfortable and Derek chuckled as he picked up his phone while I strolled over to the couch. I collapsed onto the couch as he sat down next to me with his phone in hand and he sent me a smile as he went to dial the number for the Thai takeaway shop but it started ringing loudly. "Oh, my god. They knew."
"It's the Sheriff." He informed me in an amused tone as he held the phone so that I could see the caller ID and I mouthed the word 'oh' as he shook his head while answering the phone. "Hello?"
"Derek. It's Sheriff Stilinski. I know, uh, that we've never really spoken, but Scott suggested I call you. I'm in need to some supernatural assistance." John said through the phone in a quiet voice like he was afraid of being overheard and I leaned my chin on Derek's shoulder with a confused frown on my lips.
"Sure. What can I help you with, Sheriff?"
"There was a murder on the roof of the hospital tonight. I could use a hand."
"I'll be right there." the werewolf told him before hanging up the phone and I stood up from the couch as I ran a hand through my hair with a sigh escaping my lips. Derek looked up at me with an eyebrow raised questioningly as he stood up next to me and I quirked an eyebrow back at him with a smirk. "Where do you think you're going?"
"To check out the murder at the hospital. Earlier tonight, Lydia and I discovered a secret corpse storage locker in the Walcott's house. That's the family who were massacred last night. I have a feeling that this has something to do with that. I think they were wendigoes." I informed him casually with a dismissive wave of my hand as I headed towards the door and he quickly followed after me as I slid open the loft door.
"You didn't mention this before?"
"I was a little busy. You know, admitting my feelings and whatnot. Would you like me to take it back? No? Then shut up!" I scolded him playfully as we headed to the stairwell and I laughed when he latched his hands onto my hips as he pressed up against my back while we walked.
It was only once we were outside that I remembered that I left my cardigan back upstairs and I shivered slightly as Derek guided me towards his SUV at the front of the carpark. He opened the passenger side door for me like a gentleman and I sent him a grateful smile before he climbed into the driver's seat because no guy had ever been so thoughtful towards me. It felt kind of nice to be cared about, even with the little things like someone opening my car door and it left a warm sensation in my warm that I didn't entirely hate.
"One of your jackets is in the backseat if you're cold." Derek informed me quietly as he started the car without looking at me and I looked at him in surprise before turning around to see one of my favourite leather jackets on the floor of the backseat. A soft smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I reached over to grab the jacket and I twisted back around face the front without saying anything because I knew that anything I said would just make the situation go from sweet to awkward.
The ride to the hospital was silent but it was a comfortable quiet. The kind of silence that can only be achieved when you know the other person well enough to communicate without words. I knew Derek was grateful I didn't mention the fact that he kept my jacket by the relaxation of his shoulders and I expressed my appreciation over the fact that he had kept my jacket by resting my hand on his thigh as he drove.
There were police cars parked out the front of the hospital with their lights flashing, leaving an ominous blue and red glow on the concrete. We pulled to a stop as far away from the commotion as possible and I climbed out of car as I slipped my arms into my leather jacket. Derek gestured with his head for me to follow him around the police so that we could slip into the hospital unnoticed and I stuffed my hands into the pockets of my jacket as we entered the entrance of the hospital.
"Sophie?" I heard my mom ask in bewilderment from behind me and I cringed to myself as Derek had to physically turn me around to face my mother. I offered her a reassuring smile but she just raised her eyebrows in suspicion as she placed her hands on her hips. "Derek, Sophie. You know, I've already had to see Scott and Stiles in here tonight. I'm getting really tired of seeing my children wandering around the hospital."
"Why were Scott and Stiles here? Checking on Sean?" I asked in confusion as I tilted my head to the side with a slight frown and her lips turned down further as her gaze flickered between me and Derek.
"No. They brought Liam in. How do you know about Sean?"
"I figured out he was supernatural. What happened to Liam?"
"Scott broke his leg. Why are you here now?"
"The Sheriff called Derek and I was with him so I tagged along. Scott broke Liam's leg?"
"Lacrosse accident. You're crashing a crime scene?"
"Like it's the first time. Is Liam okay?"
"You should speak to your brother. What have I told you about breaking the law?"
"Do it? Mom, I broke into a crime scene earlier today. It's totally – "
"Okay!" Derek interrupted me loudly as he grabbed my arm and slapped his hand over my mouth to stop me from speaking when my mother's mouth opened in shock. "You're not helping yourself."
"I'm going to ignore that last sentence and walk away. Derek, nice to see you. Sophie, don't get arrested." My mom said sternly as she pointed a finger in my direction with a raised eyebrow and I nodded as much as I could with Derek's arm wrapped around my head. She smiled smugly at me before turning her attention to the man behind me and she nodded at him with a gratefully smile as she started walking back the way she came.
Derek loosened his hold on my face as we waited for her retreating back to disappear down the corridor and then he grabbed my hand as he lead me towards the elevator. Luckily, there weren't any other people inside as I pushed the button for the top floor and we waited in silence for the elevator to reach its destination. To avoid the battalion of police officers on the roof, I lead Derek towards one of the balcony that held one of the hospitals fire escapes and he pulled down the metal ladder since I couldn't reach it. I sent him a grateful smile as I started climbing the ladder in front of him and I carefully placed my foot on each rung since I was wearing high heels.
I glanced down over my shoulder at Derek and quirked an eyebrow when I saw him watching my ass but he quickly looked around when he realised I caught him. "Are you looking at my ass?"
"No." he lied immediately as he pointedly meet my eyes with a blank expression and I raised both of my eyebrows with a mock offended expression.
"Well, why not?"
"You want me to look at your ass?"
"You don't think I have a nice ass?"
"I'm not doing this with you." He told me firmly with a shake of his head but a small smile was evident on his lips and I laughed as I continued to climb the rest of the way up the ladder. I could hear the muffled voices of police officers on the other side of the wall as I waited for Derek to meet up with me.
"Hey, let's get everyone off the roof. And see if you can stall the ME for five minutes. I've got an expert of my own coming to take a look." I heard the Sheriff tell someone sternly as Derek jumped onto the roof and I leaned around the corner of the wall to sneak a peek at the crime scene.
"You have an expert on teenage cannibals?" Jordan asked incredulously as he approached his boss with a frown and I saw a bunch of over cops cataloguing evidence around the crime scene where a teenage boy's dead body was lying.
"Five minutes, Parrish." John ordered in a tired voice as he evaded answering the question and Jordan stared at him for a second with an irritated expression before herding all the other officers off of the roof.
I waited a second longer to make sure everyone was gone before grabbing Derek's hand and walking out into the open behind the Sheriff. The sound of my heels on the cement most have alerted him to our arrival because he turned around to meet us and he narrowed his eyes at me with a disapproving sigh as I smiled innocently.
"Uh, I guess you've been there long enough to hear we need to be quick about this." The Sheriff told us as he rolled his eyes at me without making a comment and Derek let go of my hand as he walked over to crouch over the teenager's deceased body. "Scott said he called himself a wendigo."
"Cannibalistic shape-shifters." I explained easily as I followed Derek at a distance because I didn't want to get to close to a dead body and John glanced over at me with a questioning expression but I just shrugged my shoulders.
"But I haven't heard of them in Beacon Hills for a long time. Must have been well-hidden." Derek confirmed with a nod as he stood back up from his crouch and he circled around the body with a small frown on his face. The scent of a young male's blood was carried through a gust of wind as it blew and I frowned in confusion because the scent didn't match Sean or Scott. I looked over at Derek with a raised eyebrow as he glanced back at me and he turned to the Sheriff as he walked over to stand next to me. "How many people did Scott say were up here?"
"Just Sean and the axe-murderer who apparently has no mouth. You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?" John asked hopefully as he held his arms out to his sides in invitation and I scrunched my face up in confusion as I shook my head in answer.
"There was someone else. Someone young. And male."
"You can smell his fear?"
"And his blood."
"Hang on a second. This wendigo was killed by an axe wielding man with no mouth. And the only witness was a werewolf. And some unknown random guy." I reiterated with a quirked eyebrow as I waved a hand towards the corpse and they both nodded silently with innocent expressions so I nodded along with them. "Okay then. That's normal."
"Alright, you both need to go before ME gets here." John told us with a sigh as he rubbed his forehead in exhaustion and I patted his arm sympathetically with a small smile on my lips.
"That's fine. Derek owes me dinner anyway." I said with a shrug of my shoulders as I grabbed on hold of Derek's hand and tugged on his arm until he allowed me to drag him back the way we came. "Let's go, Hale."
I blindly twisted my hair into a messy bun as I hurried into the school and I mentally scolded myself for oversleeping but I knew that it was my own fault for staying out with Derek the night before. I had to admit I felt weirdly underdressed in denim shorts and a tank top paired with a cardigan, not to mention wearing flat shoes but I barely had time to put on makeup before getting in the car. Most of the students had already vacated the hallways were the lockers were but I could hear muffled voices around the corner and being the nosy teenage girl that I am, I decided to eavesdrop with my supernatural hearing.
"What are you talking about? We just met and you bit me." A vaguely familiar male voice stated angrily as I quirked an eyebrow in intrigue and smirked slightly because that commented sounded slightly dirty.
"The bite... The bite is a gift." Scott's voice replied almost sheepishly as my eyes widened and I paused for a second before realisation hit me. Scott, an Alpha, had bitten someone, probably Liam, the freshmen who he injured yesterday. It now made sense why my mom was vague in her answers and why there was another person's blood on the roof of the hospital last night.
"Scott, stop. Please stop. You, you, we're trying to help you, you little runt." Stiles' voice added to the conversation in an irritated tone and I nearly groaned out loud because he would make this situation worse.
"By kidnapping me?" Liam asked incredulously as I fastened my pace down the hallway and I gritted my teeth as I mentally praised myself for wearing flats to school.
"Just to clarify, Scott kidnapped you. Okay? I aided and abetted."
"Liam, I've gone through this before. Something's happening to you. Something big." Scott told him in a gentle voice as I rounded the corner with an annoyed expression and I saw my brother and Stiles facing me while another shorter light brown haired male had his back towards me.
"Nothing's happening to me. Nothing." Liam insisted harshly as he ripped a bloodied bandage off of his forearm and I saw that there was nothing but skin there as I quickly walked towards them. My footsteps must have alerted them to my presence because they all looked over at me and I stopped near them with my hands on my hips as I tilted my head to the side. Scott and Stiles both cringed in anticipation of what they knew was coming and Liam stared at me with wide blue eyes as his lips parted slightly before whispering, "Whoa."
"You, Liam, leave." I ordered firmly as I jerked my thumb down the hallway and he blinked in shock for a moment as I quirked an eyebrow at him expectantly. He ducked his head with a blush spreading across his cheeks as he hurried down the hallway and I had to smile at how adorable he was before turning my glare onto my brothers. "You two, stay. Speak."
"Scott did something bad." Stiles blurted out as he pointed a finger at the werewolf next to him and Scott looked at him accusingly as he held his arms out in the universal 'what the hell' gesture. Stiles just shrugged his shoulders sheepishly as he gripped the straps of his backpack tightly and a blush spread up his neck as he grimaced apologetically.
"Let me see if I can put the pieces together. And then you can fill in the blanks. Okay?"
"We would be very impressed if you did." Stiles told me with an uneasy chuckle as he shifted on his feet nervously and Scott grimaced as though he were in pain as I offered them a tight smile.
"One: Scott broke Liam's leg."
"Whoa. That was scarily accurate."
"Two: Sean, the wendigo, went crazy at the hospital. Three: Somehow Sean, Scott and Liam ended up on the roof. Four: Some random killer with no mouth murdered Sean. Five: Scott bit Liam. I'm assuming there was a reason. Six: Scott freaked out and kidnapped Liam. Then called Stiles and the plan went to crap because, let's be honest, all your plans go to crap. Seven: Scott tried to be Derek. Which didn't work because he so cannot pull off that brooding, mysterious bad boy attitude. Plus, he doesn't look good in leather jackets. Is that everything?"
"Who are you?" Stiles asked in a creeped out tone of voice as he cringed away from me with a frightened expression and Scott stared at me with wide eyes as his lips parted in shock. I smirked smugly as I took his horror to mean I was correct in nearly all of my assumptions but my smile faded into a concerned frown and I looked down the hallway in the direction Liam had disappeared in.
"This isn't going to be easy. We need to discuss this as a pack. Call the girls. Scott, you have Kira. Stiles, Malia. And I'm going to text Lydia. We'll meet in between the buses. Now. The full night is tonight." I ordered them firmly with an undercurrent of worry in my voice as the boys were knocked out of their stupor and they both nodded obediently as they pulled their phones out of their pockets. I exhaled slowly as I grabbed my own phone with anxiety ate away at my stomach and my thumbs moved expertly over the screen of my phone as I texted Lydia.
Sophie: 911! Now!
Lydia: Twilight 911? Or Mean Girls 911?
Sophie: Twilight.
Sophie: Meet by buses.
Lydia: Got it.
I sighed loudly as I shook my head with my eyes closed and I tried to tune out the sound of the boys voices as they spoke to their significant others. I had started the day with a lightness in my chest and now it was slowly getting weighed back down with every passing moment. I squeezed the bridge of my nose tightly in between my fingers as I blew out a breath and then I straightened my shoulders with determination as I opened my eyes.
"You guys ready?" I asked the boys with a curious expression as I offered them a small smile and they both nodded silently as they put their phones away. I nodded once in acknowledgement as I started walking in the direction of the exit and they hurried to keep up with me as I pushed open the double doors that lead to the back of the school where the buses were parked during the day. We three of us rushed towards the yellow buses and slipped in between them where Lydia, Malia and Kira were already waiting for us impatiently.
"Kira and Malia already filled me in on what's happening." Lydia said in greeting when we approached them and we all formed a loose circle so that we could see each other as we spoke. "What are we going to do?"
"I'm not sharing my basement." Malia protested instantly in a blunt tone of voice as she crossed her arms over her chest and Lydia narrowed her light eyes at her as she pointed a finger at the werecoyote.
"Actually, it's my basement. And my mom noticed how you tore it up last time."
"All right, she's still learning." Stiles defended his girlfriend when she looked down at the ground in shame as he rested a hand on her shoulder and I jerked my head up when a thought occurred to me.
"Who's been working with her? Just Scott?" I asked the group curiously as I tilted my head to the side with a small frown and they all nodded in answer so I scoffed arrogantly. "Scott sucks. He can barely control himself."
"Hey!" My brother exclaimed in offence as he scowled at me from his spot next to Kira and I rolled my eyes at him but gave him an apologetic smile.
"Sorry. But it's true." I insisted softly as I reached over to pat his arm sympathetically and he playfully growled at me as I turned to look at Malia with a raised eyebrow. "Tonight you work with me. I've successfully trained three Beta's and myself. I'm sure I can handle a werecoyote."
"What about Liam? I'm probably going to need help with him." Scott stated unsurely as he shifted nervously on his feet and I noticed how vulnerable he looked at the thought of having a Beta.
"Tonight isn't going to be about learning control for Liam. It's going to be about containment. If we're going to Lorraine's lake house we can use the boathouse for Liam. It's got support beams. We can chain him to one of them."
"But how do we get him out to the lake house if he doesn't trust us?" Kira asked the group curiously as she tilted her head to the side with wide eyes and I wrapped an arm around me waist as I shifted on my feet restlessly.
"I say if it keeps him from murdering someone we chloroform the little bastard and throw him in the lake." Stiles suggested almost eagerly as he smashed his closed fist against his palm in demonstration and I rolled my eyes at him in amusement with a smirk on my lips as I nodded sarcastically.
"I'm in." Malia agreed as she raised her hand up to her shoulder with an innocent expression and Stiles gestured towards her as though that was all the confirmation we needed.
"We're not killing or kidnapping him." Scott commanded sternly as he levelled his best friend with a condemning look and the human rolled his eyes as he threw his head back slightly but didn't argue.
"Then let's be smarter. We tell him there's a party and invite him." Lydia recommended in a superior voice as she waved a hand in the air with an eyebrow quirked and I hummed in approval as I linked an arm through hers with a proud smile.
"You're going to ask out a freshman?" Stiles asked her in a mixture of amusement and incredulity but I could sense the slight jealousy in his pheromones as he looked at the strawberry blonde.
"No, I'm done with teenage boys."
"Why doesn't Sophie do it? She doesn't have a boyfriend, right?" Malia asked innocently as she looked around the group and I opened my mouth to say something but my best friend stepped on my foot to get me to stop.
"She does have a boyfriend!" Lydia and Kira retorted in unison as they shared a glance that I couldn't decipher and I raised both of my eyebrows at them in amusement as I smirk touched my lips.
"You have a boyfriend?" Scott and Stiles asked simultaneously in outrage that they hadn't been informed in the new develop of my love life and I groaned out loud to get their attention as I stomped my foot on the ground like a child.
"I don't have a boyfriend. I have a Derek." I explained casually with a dismissive wave of my hand and Lydia rolled her eyes at me but there was a small smile on her lips as Kira grinned happily.
"What does that mean?" Stiles asked in confusion as his face scrunched up slightly and I frowned at him like he was being an idiot as Lydia scoffed in disbelief at his lack of understanding.
"It's girl talk. We have a completely different vocabulary. It's like when she says 'fine'. She doesn't mean 'fine', she means 'not fine'. Or when she says 'don't worry about it', you should definitely worry about it."
"Whoa. It's reading the other side's playbook. Can you write all this down for me?"
"Oh, there are too many to write down." I rebuffed quickly as I shook my head with a derisive laugh and his expression dropped considerably into a pout as I offered him an apologetic shrug of my shoulders. I tried not to laugh at his downtrodden frown as I shared a look with Lydia and I cleared my throat gently as I turned my attention back to the problem at hand. "Anyway, if we're playing a trick on someone, we'll have to use the trickster."
Everyone instantly turned their heads to look at Kira with expectant expressions and it took her a moment to realise what they were thinking but then her eyes went wide in shock. "Who? Me? No way. Not me."
"Yes, you. You know what they call a female fox? A vixen." Lydia told her with a smirk on her lips as she pointed a manicured finger at the kitsune and I nodded in agreement with a reassuring smile.
"Me?"
"You can do it, Kira. Be a vixen." I added supportively with a wink in her direction and she smiled unsurely as she glanced around all of us nervously but didn't argue anymore.
"Scott! Stop tapping your leg!" I scolded my brother in annoyance as I glared over at him in the passenger seat of my car and he instantly stopped his leg from moving as he cringed apologetically. I could smell the anxiety pheromones coming from his pores and I softened my expression because I knew that he wasn't prepared to have a Beta under his lead. "It's going to be okay, Scott. We can handle this."
"How is it going to be okay? I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing!" Scott exclaimed in an almost angry tone but I knew that he was just worried so I didn't take offence and instead swallowed back a scathing retort.
"No one has any idea what they're doing. We try and we fail and we try again until we get it right. It's only failure if you don't give it your all. But you're Scott McCall, and you always give everything you attempt everything you got." I said pacifyingly with honesty dripping from my voice as I stared out the windshield while I drove and I could feel my brother's eyes on the side of my face but I didn't look at him.
"Thanks." He whispered gratefully with a small smile in his voice and I tightened my hand on the steering wheel uncomfortably as I cleared my throat gently.
"Whatever."
We continued to drive the rest of the way Lydia's family lake house in a comfortable silence and I relaxed back into my seat as I drove the familiar road with ease. The entire summer before freshman year Lydia and I spent out time out here at the lake house to get away from her parents because their fighting was driving her insane. It was where we spent all day swimming and having water fights, where we had night time bonfires and campouts. The place where Lydia cried entire night when her parents announced their divorce and I promised her she would nothing be alone in the world. It was where we both had our first kiss.
I pulled to a stop out the front of the lake house and frowned to myself when I saw Lydia, Malia and Stiles waiting for us with concerned expressions etched on their faces. I shared a looked with my brother as we both climbed out of my car and made our way towards them with dread spreading through my stomach.
"I just talked to Kira. She's on her way. She said it's all going fine." Scott assured them as he held his hands up like he could ward off their concern but I tell that what he said didn't reassure them of anything when their expressions didn't change.
"It's not that. I have to tell you something. I asked around about Liam. I know why he got kicked out of his last school." Stiles informed us both sadly as he slipped his hand into his hoodie pocket and I quirked an eyebrow at him in question as I strolled over to stand next to Lydia. Scott looked around the group with a tired sigh as he ran a hand through his hair before he focused his attention back on his best friend.
"This is going to be bad, isn't it?"
"He kind of got into it with one of his teachers. And... The kid's got some serious anger issues."
"How serious?"
"Well, these is his teacher's car. After he took a crowbar to it." Stiles told us as he held up his phone so that we could see the screen and the image showed a smashed car with the windows busted out as the words 'THIS IS YOUR FAULT' were scratched across the passenger side doors.
"Well, that could anything." I defended the freshman in an unsure voice as I waved a hand towards the phone and everyone raised their eyebrows at me in disbelief as I shrugged innocently. "We don't know what happened."
"Sophie, sweetie, I know you like to see the best in people, and it's adorable, really, but this kid smashed a car with a crowbar. He's crazy." Lydia said to me in a soothing voice as she rubbed my arm with a mocking frown on her lips and I gave her an unamused look but didn't argue anymore on the subject.
"We should get inside before they get here." Scott instructed us as he started leading the way to the front door and I linked my arm through my best friend's as we followed him into the house. Lydia switched on the light as we walked into the parlour and I went to sit on the arm of couch as the others formed a loose line facing the front door.
"I hear something. They're coming." I announced when I heard the sound of tires on the gravel road approaching the house and everyone immediately stiffened as the stench of anxiety throughout the room skyrocketed. I ran a hand through my loose hair as I shifted on the arm of the couch and glanced at Scott as he took a step forward so that he was slightly in front of everyone else.
"They are. They're late. And we're early. So we better hurry. Yay! Party." Kira rambled nervously just outside the door as two pairs of footsteps rapidly approached the door and I plastered a smirk on my lips as the door opened with a loud squeak. Liam stumbled inside the room when the kitsune pushed him forward and the expression on his face immediately twisted angrily when his gaze landed on Scott and Stiles.
"Sorry." Kira mumbled apologetically when he turned to leave the house and she stepped in front of the door to block him as she twisted the lock into place.
"What the hell is this?" Liam asked in a demand as he folded his arms over his chest with a scowl and I bit the inside of my cheek unsurely because I had no idea how to answer that without freaking him out.
"Think of it like an intervention. You have a problem, Liam." Stiles told him firmly with a small trace of humour in his voice as he took a step forward and I shared an amused look with Lydia as I stood up from the arm of the couch.
"And we're the only ones that can help." Scott added solemnly with a sympathetic undertone as he offered the younger werewolf knowing look and Liam raised an eyebrow sceptically as he scoffed in disbelief.
"What's my problem? How can you help?" Liam asked sarcastically with a hint of amusement in his tone as he looked between all of us and I watched carefully for any sign that he was on the verge of losing control because of the full moon.
"I don't know how to say this. Liam... What happened to you, what I did to you, which I had to do in order to save you, it's going to change you. But we…," my brother said as he motioned around the room to all of us standing behind him and I waved my fingers sarcastically as Liam followed his movement with his eyes, "…we all understand. We've all been through this."
"Been through what?"
"The change. The transition. From human to…something supernatural."
"Su-supernatural?" the freshman sputtered out incredulously as his blue eyes widened in shock and I could see that he still didn't believe a word Scott was saying. There was a touch of amusement on his face as he closed his eyes for a moment because opening them and shrugging his shoulders. "What are you then?"
"Well, I'm a werewolf. Malia…," Scott said as he pointed towards the caramel haired girl standing next to Stiles across the room, "…is a werecoyote. Lydia…," he continued as he gestured to the strawberry standing next to me, "…is a banshee. And Kira…," he mentioned as he nodded to the girl standing in front of the door behind the freshman, "…is a kitsune. It's kind of a fox."
"So, werewolf?" Liam repeated in a mocking voice as he nodded towards my brother and he waited for Scott to nod before turning his attention to Malia. "Werecoyote." He recited sceptically as he pointed at her with a frown and she nodded in approval before he looked over at the strawberry blonde. "Banshee." He recapped with both eyebrows raised in question and she pointed at him in approval with her lips pursed. Liam twisted his body around to look at the raven haired girl behind him and frowned at her in confusion. "Fox?"
"Kitsune. But fox works." Kira supplied with a nervous smile as she moved to stand to the side so she was closer to the rest of the pack and I stepped forward to rest a reassuring hand on her back as Liam turned his attention to Stiles.
"What are you?"
"Uh, for a little while, I was possessed by an evil spirit. It was very evil." Stiles informed him hesitantly as he glanced around the group for an appropriate response and I shrugged my shoulders in answer because I really didn't know how to explain what happened either.
"What are you now?"
"Better. Um..." Stiles trailed off uncertainly as he flapped his arms slightly in exasperation and his face twisted into a grimace as he remembered what happened to him.
"And what about you? What are you?" Liam asked me pointedly with a deep frown as I stepped back to sit on the arm of the couch and I offered him a small smile as I tilted my head to the side.
"I'm a werewolf slash druid. I'm one of a kind." I admitted in a joking tone of voice as I tried to look as reassuring as possible because I knew that learning about the supernatural wasn't something that came easily.
Liam's heartrate accelerated as his gaze landed on the metal chains and torn up leather restraints lying on the coffee table. He swallowed roughly as he stared at them nervously for a moment before looking up and meeting all of our gazes steadily. "Are those for me?"
"No, they're for me." Malia admitted firmly as she flashed her electric blue glowing eyes before changing back to their normal brown and Liam sucked in a sharp breath with eyes widened in shock as he stumbled back a step.
"How did you do that?"
"You'll learn." Scott assured him patiently with a compassion expression on his face and I subtly nodded along with him in agreement without even noticing I was doing it. "But first, you need to get through the full moon."
"The moon's already out." Liam pointed out in frustration as he gritted his teeth to stop himself from lashing out and I levelled him with a knowing look as Scott took a step towards him.
"And you're starting to feel something, aren't you?"
"I feel like I'm surrounded by a bunch of psychotic nutjobs. You guys are out of your freaking minds. I don't know how you did that eye thing and I don't care. I'm walking out the door right now! If any of you try to stop me, I swear to God, I'm gonna..."
"Liam?" I asked in concern when he trailed off with a pained expression and he groaned out loud as he covered his ears with his hands in an attempt to block out the noise. The effect of the full moon was starting to overwhelm him but I could tell that he was resisting and that was making it hurt even more than necessary. I felt my stomach churn sympathetically as the freshman collapsed onto his knees and I quickly moved to his side as I put a calming hand on his back because I knew exactly what he was going through. "Liam, talk to me."
"You don't hear that?" he asked in a whimper as he subconsciously leaned into me and I frowned in confusion for a second before tuning in to my supernatural hearing. The sound of numerous car tires on the gravel road approaching the house echoed through my head and I turned off my hearing as I exchanged a horrified look with my brother.
"Did you tell someone about this?" Lydia asked him quickly with a panicked tone in her voice as she glanced nervously towards the window and I turned my attention back down to the freshman in my arms as he tried to lift his head through the pain.
"My friend Mason." He admitted through gritted teeth as he panted for breath and sweat dripped down his forehead as he looked over at Kira with wide eyes. "You said it was a party."
"Who did Mason invite?" Stiles asked curiously as he tried to see out the window from where he was standing and I wiped the sweat from Liam's forehead with a soft smile as he looked at me with clouded over eyes.
"Everyone." Kira muttered hopelessly as she peeked out the curtain and I felt Liam's muscles start to convulse under my touch as he groaned out loud in pain. He squeezed his eyes closed as he nails began to transform into sharp claws and they scratched along the hardwood floors underneath him.
"The floors! Get him off the floors!" Lydia shrieked as she hurried forward in an attempt to stop him and I immediately pulled his wrist up from the floor in concern because I knew the Martin's were trying to sell the lake house. Liam rose up from his crouch with his fangs bared threateningly and he growled loudly at the banshee as she retreated back a few steps in fright. I stood up next to him as I positioned myself in front of Lydia and Stiles protectively because they were the only two who couldn't heal quickly.
"We need to get him to the boathouse. Now!" Scott ordered in a rush as he stepped forward to grab Liam's arm tightly and the newly turned Beta thrashed to get loose as Scott and Kira herded him out the side door. I watched them go in concern as I listened to Liam's growls get further and further away from the house.
"Sophie, Stiles..." Malia said in a low tone of voice as I ran a hand through my hair and I immediately remembered that the werecoyote was still struggling with the full moon. I spun around to face her in concern as she bent over at the waist and her eyes uncontrollably flashed electric blue as her nails grew into claws.
"Yeah. Hey... Okay, basement. Now. Now." I ordered firmly as I rushed over to her side and I wrapped an arm around her waist to keep her upright as she panted heavily. I knew that she was trying her hardest not to shift upstairs where she could accidently hurt someone and I started guiding her towards the basement stairs as Stiles quickly caught up to us with a concerned frown.
"What am I supposed to do with the hordes gathering outside the door?" Lydia asked incredulously as she looked over at us with wide light green eyes and I paused near the opening to the basement stairs as I opened my mouth but no sound came out.
"Lydia, who throws the best parties in Beacon Hills?" Stiles asked in exasperation as his arm flailed in her direction and she stared at him in offence for a moment as her arms spread out to her sides.
"What? Me, obviously."
"Okay, then throw a party."
"Thanks, Lyds!" I called over my shoulder as I lead Malia down the stairs in the dark and the jangle of metal accompanied Stiles' heavy footsteps as he followed us down. I guided Malia towards one of the support beams near the back of the basement and she groaned in pain as I blindly held my hand out behind for the restraints. The faint sound of music playing above us trickled down to us as I chained the restraints to the beam and Malia held her wrist out to me obediently as I offered her a small reassuring smile. "Too tight?"
"Tighter." Malia breathed out through gritted teeth as she flexed her hand and I nodded in understanding as I tightened the bracelet around her wrist. She sighed heavily as I moved onto the next wrist and she looked over my shoulder at Stiles with a little frown on her lips. "You can leave if you want."
"I'm not going anywhere. And to be honest, I'm probably safer down here than in a party with fifty freshmen and a very pissed off Lydia." Stiles stated in a joking tone of voice but there was a truth to his words and I glanced over my shoulder at him with a smirk of agreement as I taunted the shackle.
"Stiles, please go."
"It's okay. I hate parties. It's a social anxiety thing. You ever had a panic attack?"
"I'm having one now." She growled out in a low voice as she tugged roughly on the chains and I stepped back with a small frown as I held an arm out to the side in an effort to shield Stiles from her view.
"Just breathe, okay." I soothed her calmly as I met her eyes with a compassionate look and I demonstrated a breathing technique as she copied my movements. "That's good. Just kept going like that. Just focus on breathing."
"Sophie, do you know what you're doing?" Stiles asked me in a shaky voice as he let closer to where we were and I immediately turned around to face him as I blocked him from coming any closer.
"Stiles, if you're going to stay down here, you do what I tell you. Don't come any closer, okay? Stay near the staircase so that you can run if you have to, got it? It's either that or you leave now."
"Sophie – "
"Got it!?"
"Ye-yeah, yes. Got it." He spluttered as he glanced over my shoulder at his girlfriend and I patted his chest reassuringly as I turned back to face Malia. I heard his footsteps retreating back to the stairs as I stepped closer to the werecoyote and she lifted her head to reveal her glowing bright blue eyes as she growled at me.
"Listen to my voice, Malia. I know you feel dangerous, but I'm not going to leave you." I assured her as I stepped close enough her place my hands on either side of her face and her eyes changed back to their normal brown for a moment before flashing back.
"What if I hurt you?" she asked in a pain filled voice as she lowered her head in exhaustion and I shook my head in disagreement with a small smile on my lips.
"You're not going to."
"But I want to. Uh! I look at your face and I want to slash at it. I want to tear at it. I want to feel your bones crack between my hands."
"I'm not leaving you. And I'm not going to let you hurt anyone."
"Ah! You're not going to have a choice." She warned me in a harsh voice as she tugged roughly on the restraint around her wrist and a tearing sound sounded throughout the basement as I glanced down at one of the leather wristlet that had ripped at the seams. Malia jerked forward with a loud growl escaping her lips as she swung her free claws at my face and I blocked her attack with a grunt as I stepped back just out of her reach.
"Okay, Malia, I know you can hear me. Just listen to my voice." I told her loudly over her attempts to claw my eyes out and I could hear Stiles pacing on the other side of the basement but I ignored him as I focused on the girl in front of me.
"Listen to mine. Run!"
"I'm not going to run. Because I don't think you're going to hurt me. And I think maybe you're so afraid of hurting me because of what you did to your family. I know what that's like. You don't think I don't feel everything you're feeling? That the full moon doesn't affect me? I know what it feels like to crush bones with my bare hands. I know how sticky blood is in between my fingers. I remember everything I've done. And the worst part is I remember liking it. Because I felt powerful. I felt fearless. And most of all, in control. But when I really thought about it, I learned something else... Control is overrated."
I took a small step forward as I leant around Malia's thrashing body and unlocked the remaining restraint from around her wrist. The werecoyote immediately lunged towards me as I readied myself to block her attack but she just as quickly stumbled backwards and I noticed that she had shifted back to completely human.
Malia's eyes were wide with shock as she looked down at her fingers in awe and I brushed a sweat drenched strand of hair out of her eyes as she looked up at me with tears in her eyes. She threw herself into my arms as a sob escaped her and I stumbled back a little under her weight as I wrapped my arms around her body in return.
Stiles slowly approached us with an apprehensive expression on his face and I nodded at him in reassuring over Malia's shoulder as he looked at me in approval. A relieved smile spread across his lips as he strolled closer and I carefully extracted myself from Malia's tight embrace as I spun her around so that he could be my substitute. A small smile spread across my lips as I watched my brother closed his eyes in relief and stroke Malia's hair soothingly as she sobbed happily into his chest.