Dreamcatchers:
"Oh, I should've got a haircut." John complained in concern as he scrutinised his short brown hair in the handheld mirror I had brought along to the sheriff's station that evening.
"Well, you know someone your age should be happy you still have hair to cut." Stiles quipped casually with a shrug as he studied his father critically and I shot him a scathing glare that should have burnt him where he stood. When he noticed my look, he gulped nervously and took an innocuous step back so that he wasn't in my direct line of sight.
"I think you look great." Scott told the older man sincerely with a grin lighting up his face and I beamed proudly at his etiquette as I stood next to him with my arm looped through his.
"Well, thank you, son I should have had." John said pointedly with a hint of sincerity as his lips twitched into a smile and Scott's grin widened at the acknowledgement from our pseudo father-figure while Stiles gaped open-mouthed like an offended fish but didn't comment.
There was a moment of silence in the office as John continued to scrutinise his appearance in the small mirror and I frowned slightly when his face crumbled in despair as he started tugging uselessly on the burgundy tie around his neck, "Oh, what the hell am I doing? This is a terrible idea."
"What, John..." I admonished him sternly as I stepped forward to stop him and I placed my hands over his as I tightened the knot in his tie with a slight smile. "John, it's one date, okay?"
"Sophie's right, Dad. The town of Beacon Hills won't implode while you're out with one woman." Stiles said supportively as he clapped his father on the back and his face contorted in thought as he added nonchalantly, "Or man."
"It's a woman, Stiles." John told him in exasperation with a tired sigh as he held still so that I could straighten his collar and Stiles nodded indifferently with an unreadable expression.
"Okay."
"A very beautiful woman."
"What beautiful woman, by the way?"
"None of your business. Any of you." he added when both Scott and I opened our mouths to ask him exactly who his date was with but we quickly snapped them closed under his sharp gaze.
"I want to know." Stiles murmured childishly as he narrowed his eyes at his father but John simply rolled his eyes in return and walked passed him to open his office door. I linked my arm back through my brother's as we made to follow out of the room and Stiles trailed after us with a huff when he realised we weren't going to entertain his curiosity.
"Stilinski!" an enraged male voice called out loudly from somewhere in the station and we all turned to the front of the sheriff's station where Jordan and Deputy Clarke were dragging in a teenage boy who looked furious. "Stilinski! I'm going to kill you."
"Donovan, if you think that shocks me, remember it was well-documented in your Anger Expression Inventory. Deputies, escort the prisoner out." John ordered sternly but without any real malice and I was almost overwhelmed by the utter hatred coming off of the Donovan when I caught the chemo signals he exuded.
"I'm not angry like I'm gonna throw a brick through your window. I'm angry, like I'm going to find you, I'm going to get a knife and I'm going to stab you with it until you're dead. And when you look at me and you ask me why, remember right now. Because this is why." He declared with a sneer as he narrowed his eyes at the older man and I discreetly stepped closer to the sheriff in case he needed protecting but made sure it wasn't obvious so that it didn't discredit his abilities as sheriff.
There was a tension filled silence that followed Donovan's threat and Stiles took upon himself to start a sarcastic slow clap that no else participated in as he stepped forward. Everyone's attention was drawn to the overly hyper boy as he dropped his arms to his sides and tilted his head with mock awe as he drawled, "Wow, that was awesome. That was awesome. That was great. We do one more? Give us another one, maybe like Christopher Walken this time, you know. Okay, you know what? It's fine. You'll have plenty of time to work on it when you're in your tiny, little cell, you know. Just stuck there, forever."
Donovan's face twisted into a dangerous scowl as he tried to lunge forward and I quickly pushed Stiles back into Scott's chest as I maneuvered myself in front of him. I ignored his indignant squawk as I held a hand to his chest to stop him from advancing and I made eye contact with Jordan, who was holding Donovan back, from across the room. "Get him out of here!"
Jordan propelled the struggling Donovan out of the station with more force then strictly necessary and Deputy Clarke followed him out as backup. I watched them retreat but when they were out of sight, I turned around to face Stiles and slapped him hard on the arm in reprimand, "What the hell were you thinking?"
He jumped back from me with a wounded expression as he clutched his injured arm and he pouted at me pathetically as he struggled to form a response, "Wha - ? Ow!"
"What. The. Hell. Stiles? You threatened a violent criminal? Look at you! He will snap you in half."
"He's going to jail! What's he going to do?"
I stared at him dumbfounded as he honestly waited for an answer and I shook my head at him in disbelief as I struggled to contain my urge to slap him over the back of the head until he could see reason. "You're an idiot."
"What's the hell's an Anger Expression Inventory?" Scott asked in confusion as he leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed and a small frown played on his lips as his eyebrows drew together.
"It's a test you take when you're applying to become a deputy." Stiles answered nonchalantly as he waved a hand dismissively and I rolled my eyes at his ability to be move past any situation without worry.
"That guy wanted to be a cop?" I asked incredulously with a scoff as I started walking through the station and the boys followed after me obediently without me having to tell them we were leaving.
"At least now he's getting the full law enforcement experience." The human said casually with a shrug as we exited the building and we headed towards the light blue jeep parked at the front of the station. I climbed into the backseat as the boys took their assigned seats in the front and Stiles turned the key in the ignition repeatedly in an attempt to get it to turn on but it kept turning over.
There was an overwhelming fragrance of anxiety wafting through the jeep and a frown played on my lips as I tried to bury my concern for him. I forced my gaze out the window as I bit the inside of my cheek and repeated the phrase 'not my business, not my business' in my mind. I could feel my own anxiety increase as I rapidly tapped my perfectly manicured fingernails against the window, creating a rhythmic tap tap tap that echoed throughout the jeep.
"It's anxiety." Stiles told us pointedly as he stopped turning the key with a sigh and I turned my head to meet his gaze in the rear-view mirror.
"What is?" I asked him with a forced air of nonchalance as I plastered a bored look on my face and he narrowed his eyes at me, obviously not falling for my innocent act.
"The chemo signals? Oh, I'm well aware of how you all monitor my emotional state. Yeah." He snapped harshly as he gritted his teeth in annoyance and I swallowed guiltily because it was true that I had become accustom to checking everyone in the pack's emotional status.
Stiles released a huff as he roughly attempted to turn the key in the ignition but the jeep still wouldn't start and he pounded angrily on the steering wheel with his fist. I jumped in surprise at the sudden sound as my frown deepened in concern and I watched him close his eyes as he rested his head against the steering wheel.
"You okay?" Scott asked him softly from the passenger seat, his voice drenched in concern for his best friend and his dark brown eyes were wide with compassion.
There was a moment of silence before the human slowly lifted his head with a desolate expression and he sighed heavily as he reached into his pocket for his cell phone. "All right. I got this from Braeden a few hours ago. That's the first real bit of information we've gotten on the Desert Wolf in months."
I leaned forward in between the two front seats so that I could see the phone screen and I almost gasped in horror at the photograph of a two men torn to shedders, blood and flesh scattered around the mangled corpses. I swallowed the bile that had risen in my throat as I tore my gaze away from the image and my words came out hoarse as I asked quietly in a strained voice, "The Desert Wolf did this?"
"Yeah. And I'm the one who's been pulling on this thread."
"Maybe you should stop."
"No, it's not up to me."
An understanding silence settled between the three of us at the concealed mention of Malia. I knew that she wanted to find her birth mother, it was why I had asked Braeden to help, but I couldn't help wondering if it was worth it. Was it worth letting a woman this vicious enter our life? Because I had no doubt that whatever hell she was going to bring, it would affect us all in the long run.
The jeep finally turned on as the engine grumbled loudly and Stiles reversed out of the parking spot without a word. I brought my knee up to my chest as I leaned my elbow on the windowsill and I mentally quizzed myself on the reading material for AP Biology that I had memorised for school the next day.
The sound of my cell phone ringing knocked me out of my thoughtful reprieve and I blinked in shock as I reached into my bra for my phone. The boys turned around to face me as I held the device up to my ear and Stiles practically climbed into the backseat so that he could hear everything but I pushed his face back so that we couldn't crash.
"Sophie, you there?" The Sheriff asked through the phone line in a confused tone and I gave Stiles a warning look until he turned back to the face the front of the jeep.
"I'm here. What's up?" I asked him in concern because he was meant to be out on his date right at that moment and if he was calling me, it meant that something was wrong.
"How far are you away from Becker Street?"
"Like two minutes. Why?"
"The transport van carrying Donovan was attacked." He answered with a sigh as I tried to comprehend what he said and I could picture him rubbing the bridge of his nose wearily, "One dead, two mauled, and one missing. You'll never guess who called it in! Lydia. She, Kira and Malia are here with me and Parrish. Come and remove them from my crime scene?"
"Stiles, head towards Becker St." I ordered sternly as I leaned forward to tap his shoulder and he shot me a confused look but followed my directions without argument. I kept my hand on his shoulder as we drove forward and I turned my attention back to the conversation with the sheriff as I told him, "We'll be there soon."
"Alright, thanks." He murmured before hanging up the phone and I tucked the device into my shirt as I tried to keep a level head in the face of the unknown.
"Want to tell us what's going on?" Stiles asked pointedly with a hint of irritation and I ran a hand through my hair as I tried to formulate a response.
"Lydia found another body. The transport van carrying Donovan was attacked." Scott answered for me as he gave me a compassionate look before turning back around and Stiles pressed down on the accelerator without asking any more questions.
The scenery outside the window flew past us in a blur as I stared up at the moon in the sky and a few minutes later, we were surrounded by flashing red and blue lights that illuminated our surroundings. Stiles threw the jeep into park, causing me to jerk forward with a groan of pain and I gritted my teeth to stop spitting insults at him as he scrambled out of the front seat. I followed his lead without saying anything as I roughly brushed my hair out of my face and stepped out into the cool night air. Police officers were milling around as we hurried towards the crime scene and a few of them glanced at us suspiciously but most of them recognised us so they let us past without incident. I ducked under the police tape that read 'do not cross' as the sheriff waved us over and we hurried over to where he was standing with Parrish, Lydia, Malia and Kira slightly away from the other officers so they weren't overheard talking about the supernatural.
"Sophie, Scott, you saw this kid, Donovan. He... He wasn't like you, right?" John asked us warily as he urged us closer to the group but my focus was on the banshee standing to his left. Lydia's skin was pale as her unfocused green eyes stared blankly ahead and her normally perfectly styled strawberry blonde hair was in a state of disarray.
"I don't think so. Unless he knows how to hide his scent." Scott answered for the both of us in a soft voice as he watched me embrace my best friend without saying a word. Lydia immediately wrapped her arms around me in return as her whole body relaxed, sinking into me like she needed me to support her out of exhaustion. We stayed locked together, our limbs intertwined for a moment longer and then we simultaneously pulled back with small smiles on our lips.
"Well, human or otherwise, this kid might have just murdered his lawyer and mortally wounded two officers. We've got an APB out on him, but you think you can find him faster?"
"We can try. Scott, can you go track Donovan? And I'll check out the scene." I said firmly as I turned my head to look at him with a determined expression, my hand intertwined with the girl beside me and my brother nodded in agreement as he offered me a small smile.
"All right. Keep it on channel two." He instructed us with a paternal sternness as he handed over a handheld police radio and Scott took it with a nod before disappearing into the darkness of the night.
"Dad, what if it wasn't Donovan?" Stiles asked abruptly as he grabbed onto his father's arm and I looked at him in confusion, my eyebrows furrowed together as I paid attention to their conversation.
"I'm guessing you've already got a theory?" I asked him with a small hint of scepticism in my voice as I gave Lydia's hand a squeeze before letting go and walked over to join the father and son duo.
Stiles turned around to look at me with a serious expression and my lips curved down in a small frown as he admitted firmly, "Yeah, I think I do."
There was a dark look in his eyes that prompted me not to ask any more questions because I had seen that exact same look when he spoke about Theo and I didn't want to have another lecture on how he was evil personified. I held my hand up in surrender as I slowly backed away from him and he rolled his eyes at my dramatics as he huffed indignantly. I made my way over to the abandoned prisoner transport vehicle, careful not to touch anything that could be contaminated. Luckily, the survivors had been taken to the hospital and the corpse of the criminal defence attorney that was killed had been removed. Blood stained the interior of the van and after taking a deep breath, I was able to determine the scent of pain, horror and betrayal. A confused frown played on my lips when I recognised the last pheromone but I couldn't do anything with the information as I backed away from the vehicle.
"Scott, is that you?" I heard Parrish say into the radio strapped to his shoulder and I strolled back over to where the group was standing in a loose circle.
"Yeah, I found Donovan. He's completely freaked out. He keeps saying some name." Scott announced through the channel, his voice coming out scratchy through the radio speaker.
"What name?" I asked curiously as I reached up to press the button on Jordan's radio where it was still attached to his shoulder and he scowled at me playfully as he batted me away from him.
"Theo." Stiles whispered under his breath with a determination that was almost overwhelming and I gave him a pointed look as I slapped his arm lightly in reprimand from trying to make this situation match his expectations.
"Tracy. He keeps saying Tracy." My brother explained in a dumbfounded tone of voice and my head immediately snapped up in alert as I instantly locked gazes with Jordan. I could read the concern and knowing in his green eyes, the same thoughts were running through my own mind as I tried not to panic in front of everyone.
"Tracy who?" the Sheriff asked in confusion with a frown on his lips as he spoke into his radio and I tore my eyes away from the deputy to look over at my best friend as she was glancing over at me.
"Stewart. Tracy Stewart." Lydia and I declared in unison as we shared a knowing look and I tried to display my remorse for doubting her in my expression as she smiled slightly in acceptance.
"Tell me you miss me so much you've decided to move back home!" was the first thing I said in greeting when I answered my ringing cell phone as I strolled across the school parking lot early in the morning.
"Sorry. I miss you, Soph, but I'm more than happy to be starting fresh in New Orleans." Isaac replied from the other side of the country with a small chuckle and I pouted dramatically even though he couldn't see me. "Living here is like the perfect balance between America and France."
Hearing Isaac's voice was soothing in the same way morphine was soothing, it left me with a numb sense of calm that throughout my entire body and left my mind deliriously happy. He had a way of making me laugh without even trying, of keeping me calm whenever I was frazzled and I missed being near him like crazy but he was only a phone call away whenever I needed him.
"Please, did you even do anything French over there?" I asked him sardonically with a playful scoff as an uncontrollable smile played on my lips while I spoke to my male best friend. "Did you wear a beret? Did you eat a snail? Did you visit the louvre? Did you speak the language?"
"Pour mémoire, je l'ai fait parler la langue. Alors là, perdant!" he gloated smugly in broken French as I rolled my eyes at him but I couldn't help the light bout of laughter that escaped me.
"Whatever. You'll come crawling back eventually." I told him in a knowing tone of voice even though I doubted that he would ever want to come back to the place he lost so many people. A sharp pain shot through my chest at the thought of never seeing him again but I internally chastised myself for thinking such a thing because we would always find a way to be there for each other.
I caught sight of the pack gathered near the school buses, the familiar light blue jeep parked next to them and Lydia waved me over to them impatiently when she saw me approaching them. I waved back at her as I hurried my pace across the asphalted pavement and I sent the group an apologetic smile as I took my spot in between Stiles and Lydia while still speaking into the phone, "Isaac, I'll have to call you back later. I'm about to go into a pack meeting."
"Oh, I see how it is. You like them more than me." he responded teasingly as I rolled my eyes at him because I could practically picture the arrogant smirk that would be plastered on his lips in that moment.
"Shut up. You know I love you, but there's…one," I counted slowly as I pointed at my brother and then moved my finger over to Kira, "two," I continued before directing my finger towards Stiles, "three, four," I continued as I turned slightly to point at the strawberry blonde next to me and then towards Malia, "five, six," I added as I sent a wink in Liam's direction and then I twisted slightly to face the next person in the loose circle but my finger dropped to my side while my face contorted in confusion when I noticed the familiar sophomore grinning at me manically, "Mason, what the hell are you doing here?"
"What? Who's Mason? Come on, Soph! I can't see anything." Isaac complained in annoyance as I looked over at Liam for an answer but he just rolled his eyes exaggeratedly with a shrug.
"I'll call you later, Lahey. Love you." I mumbled absently as I hung up the cell phone and then slipped it into my satchel as I looked over at Scott for answers. "What's going on? Is this about Tracy?"
"Tracy wasn't just having trouble sleeping. It was a real disorder. It was night terrors." Lydia continued her explanation from before I interrupted their session and I nodded in agreement I crossed my arms over my chest.
"Well, now she's the night terror." Stiles quipped drily as he shifted on his feet anxiously with a frown on his lips and I tilted my head in acknowledgement as I hummed in amusement of his observation.
"Especially since no one can find her." Malia mentioned bluntly with an impassive expression as she crossed her arms over her chest and I noticed that her eyes shifted restlessly but nothing landed on anyone specifically.
"Okay, I know we're all tired and miserable..." Scott started in a voice ringing with authority before trailing off unsurely as he looked over at ecstatic looking Mason. "Except for you."
"Oh. I'm sorry. This is all just mind-blowing." Mason exclaimed excitedly with wide eyes as he glanced at all of us in the circle and then he turned abruptly to face Kira, causing her eyes to widen nervously as he stared at her in awe, "You're a kitsune. I don't even know what that is."
"I'm still learning." She admitted sheepishly with a timid smile as she subtly eased away from him and I pressed my lips into a line to stop from giggling at the frightened expression on her face.
"Liam, we said you could tell him. Not invite him to the inner circle." Stiles scolded the Beta with a scowl as he crossed his arms over his chest, his eyebrows drawing together in admonishment like a father chastising a child.
Mason visibly perked up in excitement as his eyes widened and he bounced on his toes as a bright grin spread across his lips, "Uh, I'm in the inner circle?"
"No." Liam and Stiles both denied in unison as they shot him matching deadpan glares and Mason deflated under their thunderous expressions like a puppy who had been scolded by its owner.
"Don't be so mean!" I admonished them playfully as I moved to stand beside the wounded human and I wrapped an arm around his shoulders as he straightened his stance proudly with a wide smile. I couldn't help but return the gesture as I playfully pinched his cheek and instead of pulling away with a grimace like Liam usually did, his eyes brightened considerably as they widened in astonishment. "I want to keep him."
"Guys, look, back to Tracy. She's just one lone wolf. We can find her." Scott interrupted from next to me when Liam opened his mouth to respond with a sarcastic comment. The Alpha shot both of us a reprimanding look that warned us not to continue bickering and I cringed under his gaze as I dropped my arm from around Mason.
"One lone serial-killing wolf." Malia remarked drily with a raised eyebrow as she glanced around the group and Lydia snapped her head around to glare at her, taking offence on behalf of Tracy since she was the one who was first introduced to the problem at hand.
"Uh, she only killed one person, you know. The other two were mauled." Stiles corrected her almost instantly as he placed a calming hand on the small of the strawberry blonde's back to keep her from launching herself across the circle and clawing the werecoyote's throat out with her perfectly manicured nails.
I noticed Malia's eyes narrow in on the movement as Lydia relaxed under his touch and my eyes widened when the faint scent of jealousy hit me. I clapped my hands together to draw everyone's attention towards me and I plastered a small smile on my lips as I asked my brother, "All right, what do we do when we catch her?"
"I say we put her down." Malia voiced her opinion seriously with an earnest expression and everyone immediately fell silent at the mention of taking someone's life.
Kira looked absolutely horrified at the prospect of killing someone while Stiles and Lydia appeared reluctant to consider the possibility and Liam turned his attention towards Scott with a questioning expression, probably wondering if it really was something we condoned.
I bit the inside of my cheek as I looked down at the ground uneasily but I couldn't protest the suggestion because I knew that if it came down to Tracy or saving someone innocent, I would be compelled to choose and Tracy wouldn't come out on top in that instance. I was going to do everything in my power to save everyone but the people I cared about and the safety of innocent victims were my priority. Just like it had been the day I pulled the trigger and killed Simon in order to save Stiles' life.
"Intense." Mason murmured into the tension filled atmosphere as he looked around with wide eyes and I released the breath I didn't realised I'd been holding as I clasped my hands in front of me.
"Guys, let's concentrate on catching her first. We'll figure out the rest later." Scott told the group in a firm tone of voice as he placed a hand on my arm and I returned his reassuring look with a small smile. I could read the uncertainty in his dark brown eyes but I couldn't give him a pep talk in front of everyone else so I settled on giving his hand a gentle squeeze.
"First things first…" I started carefully as I took out my phone and looked down at the time on the screen before cringing slightly with a raised eyebrow as I finished, "…class. Because we're nearly running late."
"Sophie's right. We'll meet up at our house after school and continue coming up with a plan to find Tracy."
"Aye, aye, Alpha!" I cheered playfully with a smile as I pressed a kiss to his cheek and he grinned back at me as he wrapped an arm around his girlfriend's waist. I tugged my satchel higher on my shoulder as I waved goodbye to my friends and I mentally filtered through my to-do list for what was next.
I clapped my hands in front of me as I turned around to face the two sophomores who were trying to subtly edge away from the group without being noticed. "Hey, you two! We need to have a conversation."
Liam groaned loudly as he skidded to a stop halfway across the parking lot, knowing that I wouldn't stop bothering him until I got what I wanted from him and Mason paused next to him with a confused expression as he glanced over his shoulder to see what had caused his friend to react so negatively. I hurried to catch up to them with a smile and I linked my arm through each of theirs without stopping, pulling them along them me as I headed towards the school.
"So, Liam, something you neglected to tell me? Something along the lines of, 'I finally told Mason the truth about the supernatural after letting him freak out thinking he was going insane for until entire summer'." I mocked him playfully in a deep voice that was meant to imitate him and he scowled at me as I broke out in a bright grin, unable to keep up the act for very long.
"I – I – whoa!" Mason murmured under his breath as he stared at me with wide eyes and I turned my head to offer him a sincere smile as his heart accelerate until I was getting concerned for his health.
"So, Mason, how are you handling finding out the truth? In need of therapy yet?"
"I – um…It's intense."
"Why don't you ever ask if I need therapy?" Liam asked me in a disgruntled voice as he looked over at me and I tightened my hold on his arm, sensing the slight hint of jealous he was secreting unconsciously.
"Because you're in therapy. It's part of your training sessions." I explained to him with a tinge of amusement in my voice as I pulled them both to a stop at the edge of the parking lot. He tilted his head in consideration as I detangled my arms from both of theirs and stepped in front of them with a serious expression. Mason appeared slightly nervous as he shifted uneasily on his feet under my stern stare but Liam, who had actually been on the receiving end of my anger, didn't seem fazed in the least.
"I don't know exactly what Liam's told you, and we will be going over the fine points soon, but the most important rule: don't tell anyone." I lectured the human seriously as I placed my hands on my hips to emphasise my point and Mason gulped anxiously as he nodded his head in understanding. "Maintaining the secret of the supernatural is of the utmost importance. It's not just for Liam's safety, or mine, or anyone else in the pack. It's not even for the safety of every supernatural creature in Beacon Hills. There are people out there who don't even know they're apart of the supernatural. Innocent people who will be affected greatly if the wrong person ever found out about our secret. You've been given a responsibility, one that Liam has faith that you handle, and I hope that it's true, but it's not a responsibility you have to handle alone. I don't know how much you know about wolves but we function as a pack, a family. It doesn't matter if you're human, or a werewolf, or any other creature: pack is pack."
"Sophie…" Liam murmured softly in a mystified voice as he stared at me in shock, obviously not expecting me to be so forthcoming towards his best friend. I offered him a soft smile as I reached out to squeeze his bicep affectionately and I turned back towards the human standing next to him.
"I told Liam this when he turned and I'll tell you the same thing: if you decide you don't want to have anything to do with the supernatural, that's okay. We will still take care of you. Protect you. Keep you safe."
There was a brief silence that followed my declaration and Mason bit down on his lower lip as his eyebrow furrowed in deep thought before he looked up suddenly with a steely determination in his eyes, "I want to help."
"It'll be dangerous. Life-threateningly dangerous. We've lost people to our cause." I warned him solemnly with a saddened expression as I remembered all of the people we had lost in the fight for what's right. Liam's gaze flittered down to my wrist where Aiden's name was imprinted on my skin and I blinked when I realised that I had been absently rubbing the tattoo while I was thinking about him.
"' Nous protégeons ceux qui ne peuvent pas se protéger eux mêmes'." Liam recited in broken French with a determined expression as he held his head up high and I couldn't help the proud smile that spread across my lips because I couldn't believe he's memorised the French version of the saying.
"That's right. 'We protect those who cannot protect themselves'." I repeated in English with a mixture of grief and pride in my voice as I straightened my shoulders, a warmth spreading through my chest. "That's our dictum. That's the code we live by."
"I like it." Mason breathed out in admiration with a large grin that almost split his face and his eyes were alight with excitement as he practically bounced on his toes in anticipation. Liam rolled his blue eyes at his best friend's exuberance but I could see the affection in his expression and I chuckled at them both fondly, glad that it had all worked out without any problems.
"Okay, kiddies, get to class before you're late." I instructed them with playful sternness as I tried to appear serious and I clapped my hands in front of me in realisation as I narrowed my eyes in the human's direction. "Oh, Mason, just so you know, now that you're officially on the list of people I have to give a crap about, I'm going to be keep an eye on your grades. If you ever need any help, I'm available for tutoring."
"Sophie's basically a genius. She's the reason I'm getting an A in biology." Liam boasted with a smirk on his lips as he started walking towards the front of the school and I couldn't help chuckling as I intertwined my arm back through his as I walked along with him.
"I knew you couldn't have gone from a D to an A without any help!" Mason exclaimed knowingly with a bright smile as he jogged to stroll on his friends other side and Liam sent him a mock glare as we entered the school together.
"Have fun in History. Don't forget, I have Mr Yukimura in my back pocket!" I warned them jokingly as I hurried down the hallway in front of them, waving over my shoulder as Liam grumbled under his breath.
The hallway was nearly empty as I hurried towards my AP Bio class before I was late and I tightened my hold on the strap of my satchel so that it didn't swing wildly while I was running. My heeled boots echoed on the ground as I tried not to break the supernatural barrier with my speed and I nearly skidded to a stop when I saw my classroom door just about to close. I knew that once Mrs Finch closed the door no one was allowed to get into the room and I quickly slipped through the crack just before it closed behind me with a loud click.
"Nice of you to join us, Sophie." Mrs Finch greeted me drily as I hurried to my assigned seat next to Lydia in the centre of the room and I flashed her an innocent grin as I collapsed onto my chair. "Now, that Miss McCall has joined us, I'll be returning your latest quiz."
"Why were you late? You left when we did." Lydia whispered in confusion as she leaned towards me with a small frown and I looked around to make sure none of the other students were listening but met my friend halfway anyway.
"I gave the kids a lecture on the importance of keeping everything a secret and welcomed Mason to the family." I explained quietly, making sure to word it carefully so that no one would understand if they overheard and she nodded in understanding with an amused smirk on her lips.
A sheet of paper was placed in front of me out of nowhere and I grinned happily when I caught sight of the 98 written in red marker on the corner of the page. I held up my marked exam for Lydia to see as she winked with a proud smirk and I glanced at the matching 98 on her own exam as I beamed at her. I watched Mrs Finch set Scott's exam down in front of him and I nearly squeaked in excitement when I saw the 86 printed on front of his paper. Kira, Lydia and I smiled at him proudly as his eyes widened in shock and he broke out in a massive grin as he lifted the paper to show us his score.
"Nice to see where your priorities are, Scott. Since you have such a good grasp of the subject, how about you lead us in a review of last night's reading." Mrs Finch instructed firmly as she made her way to the front of the classroom and I pulled out my textbook, flipping to the correct page absently.
"Uh... Sure." Scott answered in shock with wide eyes, not used to being called on and I watched him anxiously search through his textbook as his gaze keep flickering to the classroom door.
"Scott?"
"Sorry, just looking for the page."
"Scott?"
"Yeah, one sec. Sorry." My brother mumbled to himself as his eyebrows furrowed and I looked towards the classroom in confusion, my lips turning down in a frown when I saw Liam through the small window.
"Liam…" I hissed quietly under my breath to get his attention, just loud enough for his werewolf hearing to catch and his head jerked in my direction with wide eyes. I discreetly tapped my ear with my index finger, silently reminding him that we also had supernatural hearing and his cheeks flushed in embarrassment as his mouth formed a perfect 'o'.
"She's here. She's in History class right now. Tracy. She's here." Liam whispered just loud enough for me to hear him through the closed door and I felt my eyes widen marginally before I composed myself. I ignored Lydia's confused gaze burning in the side of my head as I shared a concerned glance with my brother and I mentally counted to ten in my mind as I tried to come up with a solution for our current problem.
"Okay, Scrappy, pull the fire alarm. We need to get out of here. Pull the alarm." I ordered him under my breath as I leaned into Lydia slightly so that she could hear me and her green eyes widened in surprise as watched Liam's silhouette disappear from the window. I vaguely heard Scott's voice start giving a review of the chapter we'd been assigned to read for homework as I tapped my perfectly manicured nails on the tabletop impatiently.
I breathed out in relief when the fire alarm blared loudly throughout the classroom and I immediately jumped up from my seat as I slid my textbook into my open satchel. I didn't bother listening to Mrs Finch try to keep the class calm as I hurried out of the room and Scott caught up to me when I was exiting the room. We raced through the crowd of students heading outside until we reached Mr Yukimura's history classroom and I paused for a moment as some sophomore's exited the room.
The classroom was virtually empty except for Mr Yukimura, Liam and Mason standing at the front of the room, Tracy sitting at one of the desks at the back, her hands tightly gripping the edge of the desk and the brunette who was talking to Liam the day before standing next to her with a concerned expression.
"Tracy. Tracy." Scott said softly as he started to approach her slowly, like someone would approach a skittish animal but she didn't make a sign that she had heard him. "Tracy."
Tracy abruptly stood up from the seat, her long brunette hair shielding her face from view and one of her hands shot out to grab the brunette standing next to hers arm. My eyes widened when I saw that her hands resembled werewolf's claws, the sharp points digging into the girls skin until she started to draw blood.
"Tracy, let go." I urged gently in a slightly panicked tone as I slowly walked down the aisle towards them, pushing my brother out of the way slightly so that we could both intervene if the situation escalated.
"You're hurting me." the brunette protested with a whimper as she stared down at her arm, tears forming in her eyes because of the pain and my heart constricted in sympathy as she tried not to cry out by pressing her lips into a tight line.
"Hey, hey, look at me. Look at me." I ordered the girl in a stern voice as I took another step forward to draw her attention and she slowly lifted her head to meet my gaze as I smiled comfortingly. "What's your name, sunshine?"
"Hayden."
"Okay, Hayden. You're going to be fine, I promise."
"It hurts."
"I know, I know." I breathed out in assurance before I turned my attention to the near comatose senior standing in front of me. I took a deep breath to prepare myself, feeling a power I hadn't felt before swelling in my chest and I narrowed my eyes in determination as I steeled my voice with authority, "Tracy, let her go."
There was a hard edge in my voice, a timbre I had only ever heard a handful of times, but never from my own mouth and it startled me into taking a step back as I blinked in confusion. I could feel Scott and Liam both staring at me in astonishment but I kept my gaze on the locked on the brunette standing in front of me.
Tracy slowly lifted her head to meet my gaze, her eyes glazed over without any sense of recognition and her hair curtaining her face as she spoke in a hushed serious whisper, "They're coming. They're coming for all of us."
The moment the words left her lips, her eyes rolled into the back of her head until all we could see were the whites of her eyes and she collapsed onto the floor in a heap. Hayden stumbled back in shock when she was released, her eyes wide in shock and I immediately hurried to her side to check on the wound. I placed a hand on her back as I gently cradled her arm and she whimpered slightly as I directed her to sit down on a nearby chair. My gaze flickered back over to where Tracy was lying on the ground and I stifled a gasp when I noticed the silver fluid leaking out of her mouth.
Scott meet my gaze from where he was crouched by Tracy's side with Malia next to him and I gave him an understanding nod, signalling to him that I could handle everything here while he took care of Tracy. He smiled slightly in relief as he returned the nod and then spoke softly to the werecoyote before gently lifting the unconscious girl into his arms.
I watched my brother carry Tracy out of the room with Malia by his side and then I turned my attention to the young brunette next to me with a small smile, "Come on, sunshine."
Hayden frowned in confusion as she meet my eyes but she stood up without complaint and allowed me to guide her out of the classroom. I offered Mr Yukimura a knowing smile when we passed him on the way out and he returned it somewhat nervously as he nodded slightly. Hayden froze just outside the door where Liam was waiting for us to exit and bit her lower lip as she looked towards the double doors that led to the parking lot.
"She wasn't even supposed to be in our class. Where are they taking her?" Hayden asked in confusion as she cradled her wounded arm to her chest protectively and I shared a nervous look with Liam as I took out my cell phone out of my satchel.
"Uh... The hospital, I guess. Do you need help getting to the Nurse's Office?" Liam asked her politely as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other and I discreetly texted Lydia our location as they spoke.
"I think I'll make it." The brunette sophomore spat at him sarcastically with a scowl as she narrowed her eyes at him and he looked down at the ground in assent, like he knew what her answer would be. She flashed a small smile in my direction as she stalked off down the hallway and Liam groaned out loud as he turned around to lean his forehead against the metal locker behind where we were standing.
"You wanna tell me what the hell is up with you two?" I asked him in a mixture of amusement and exasperation as I crossed my arms over my chest with a quirked eyebrow. He hummed negatively as he shook his head without lifting his head and I rolled my eyes at the teenage dramatics. I grabbed his bicep tightly as I started dragging him down the empty corridor and he grumbled under his breath but didn't argue as he kept pace with me.
A familiar head of strawberry blonde hair appeared from around the corner with Kira trailing after her and the four of us hurried towards each other until we meet in the middle of the hallway.
"They're taking her to the Animal Clinic?" Lydia asked a little breathlessly as she gripped onto my arm for balance and I smiled at her fondly as I wrapped an arm around her waist.
"Yeah, to see if Deaton can figure out what's wrong with her." Liam answered her with a shrug of his shoulders as he crossed his arms over chest and I heard my cell phone vibrate in my satchel so I dug it out with one hand.
"What's wrong with her is that she killed two people. Her father and, according to Parrish, her psychiatrist." I announced drily as I read the text message displayed on the screen and I turned it slightly so that Lydia could read it over my shoulder.
"Isn't there anyone else we can talk to? Does she still have her mom? Any family?" Kira asked anxiously as she nibbled on her lower lip and Lydia shook her head in answer as I slipped my phone back into my bag with a thoughtful expression.
"An Alpha. If she's a werewolf, she has an Alpha, right?"
"Anyone know if a new one's moved into Beacon Hills?"
"No, but there's an old one. One of the oldest. We know her."
"And her pack." Liam grumbled in irritation as he scowled at the thought of his old lacrosse rival and I patted his back in insincere sympathy as I stifled the urge to roll my eyes.
"Good. Liam, take Mason and go talk to Brett. Remember, he's an ally and a friend. Be nice. Tell him I'll see him next weekend." I told him sternly as I wrapped an arm around his shoulders and he looked less than impressed but nodded in acceptance. I leaned my temple against his with a small smile as I turned my attention to the two girls that were patiently in front of me for their assignments. "Lydia, Kira, check out Tracey's house. I'm going to the vet clinic to see if I can help Deaton."
"Okay, call us if you find anything." Lydia ordered firmly as she pointed a manicured finger at me and I held up my hands in mock surrender as both of my eyebrows arched in amusement. She winked at me with a grin before she linked her arm through Kira's and started sauntering down the corridor towards the exit like a model on the runway.
I shook my head fondly at my best friend as a small smile spread across my lips and I released a sigh as I turned my attention to the Beta standing next to me. "Can you handle talking to Brett?"
"Yeah, yeah, of course." He assured me with an almost frantic nod but I could hear the doubt in his voice and I quirked an eyebrow at him sceptically as I pursed my lips in disbelief.
"This is important, Liam. I know it doesn't seem like it, but you're going to be representing our pack." I reminded him in a serious tone of voice as I placed my hands on his shoulders and met his blue eyes in a levelled stare as I told him softly, "Every pack is either a rival or an ally, an enemy or a friend. Every supernatural creature is suspect until proven reliable. So far, Satomi has proven that she's a friend, and we want to keep it that way. She's very old, and powerful. Brett, as rude and annoying as he may be, is an extension of Satomi, so you need to be at least semi-respectful. Got it?"
"I got it. I promise, I'll be perfectly nice." He told me with a sincere smile on his lips as he circled his hands around my wrists, his blue eyes shining with understanding. I narrowed my eyes at him mockingly before grinning brightly and I reached up to pinch his cheek as he swatted my hand away. I laughed in amusement as I started backing away from him and there was a blush on his cheeks as I waved my fingers at him in goodbye before spinning around on my heel.
I ran out the double doors that led to the parking lot and I tightened my grip on the strap of my satchel as I headed towards where my car was parked. I reached for my keys while skidding to a stop and I quickly jumped in the driver's seat as I jammed the keys in the ignition. Music blared from the speakers as I reversed out of my usual parking spot and I drove over the speed limit down the familiar route to the veterinary clinic. I pulled into the staff parking lot around the back of the building and I parked in the space closest to the door before jumping out of the car.
In my haste I nearly left the keys in the ignition but quickly grabbed them at the last second and dashed in the back door of the clinic. I entered the backroom, my eyes searching for a sign of life and I hurried into the examination room where I saw Malia, Scott, Stiles and Deaton standing around Tracy's seemingly lifeless body on the metal table.
"Hey, where are the others?" Scott asked me in a slightly concerned tone of voice as he glanced over my shoulder as though they would magically appear behind me.
"I sent Liam and Mason to check in with Brett, just in case Satomi turned Tracy without us knowing. And Lydia took Kira to double check Tracy's house for clues." I answered soothingly as I strolled over to stand on one side of the gurney and he nodded with a relieved expression as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders. I could feel how tense he was with the situation, how out of depth he felt, so I wrapped my arm around his waist in an effort to silently reassure him that he wasn't alone in his insecurity.
"Pupils dilate under normal conditions. Heart rate is 250. Evidence of an allogeneic skin graft on the right shoulder." Deaton continued his examination of the unconscious girl with a stoic professionalism and I watched with a curious tilt of my head as he gently rolled her slightly so that a patch of red, irritated skin on her right shoulder was visible.
"An 'allogeneic skin graft' is when skin is transplanted between people who are not genetically identical." I explained calmly when I noticed the confused expressions on my friends faces and they all mouthed the word 'oh' in understanding.
"Now, this silvery substance at her lips is not something I've seen."
"It almost looks like mercury."
Deaton nodded grimly in agreement as I leaned down to get a closer look at the silvery liquid seeping from her mouth and my lip curled in disgust as I gently brushed a strand of brunette hair out of her face.
"Uh... Can't you just give her a shot of something?" Malia asked incredulously as she raised her hand in the air slightly and I glanced at her over my shoulder with a quirked eyebrow before turning back to look at the peaceful expression on Tracy's sleeping face.
"She doesn't look to be in any pain." Deaton told her in consideration as he positioned the unconscious girls arm back on the metal table but the werecoyote shook her head in rejection as she dropped her hand to her side.
"I meant a shot to kill her."
"I generally prescribe to a code of ethics that frowns on such measures."
I shared a practically annoyed glance with my mentor as I gripped the edge of the metal table and I took a deep breath before I turned my head to give the other girl a levelled look as I told her with a forced nonchalance, "Malia, you know we're not going to do that."
"How do you know she's not going to kill us?" Malia countered in a sharp tone as she crossed her arms over her chest defensively, her eyes narrowing in my direction as she pursed her lips angrily.
"She makes a decent point. Either way, eventually I'm going to have to let my dad know she's here." Stiles argued in defence of his girlfriend as he pointed a finger in the direction of Tracy and rocked back on his feet with a nervous expression on his face.
"Agreed. And while I may argue against euthanasia, I'm not opposed to a little... extra security." Deaton told us knowingly with a raised eyebrow and I immediately walked over to the cabinet to the side of the room where we kept all of the supernatural components. I crouched down in front of the open cabinet and grabbed a jar of familiar black power before standing back up. My entire body hummed with the presence of Mountain Ash, making me want to itch underneath my skin but I gritted my teeth in determination.
I quickly handed the container over to Deaton, eager to be as far away from it as possible and I immediately felt relief as I backed into the corner. A wave of nausea encompassed me as I watched the other emissary cast a barrier of Mountain Ash so that no supernatural creature would be able to cross it and Tracy would to secure in the clinic.
My stomach revolted in protest as I leaned against one of the counters and I noticed the unsettled expression on Stiles features as he studied the line of Mountain Ash. I wrapped an arm around my stomach as I offered him a comforting smile and I tilted my head to the side as I explained softly, "Don't worry, Stiles. Tracy won't be able to cross a line of Mountain Ash. She's not going anywhere."
"Yeah, that's kind of what I'm afraid of." The human muttered drily without lifting his gaze from the barrier, his body tense with anxiety and his hands clenched at his side.
"Well, you and I will be able to get out of here no problem. Sophie will be able to with a little effort. You two. Not so much." Deaton informed everyone as he turned his attention towards Scott and Malia at the end of his statement, directing the comment at the remaining supernatural creatures.
Malia hummed in curiosity as she experimentally pressed her palm against the mystical barrier and it glowed a hue of blue before disappearing the moment she removed her hand. "Weird."
"Sophie, would you mind holding her down. I'm going to be trying a few more invasive tests." Deaton said grimly as he picked up a scalpel from the counter and I nodded at him as I moved to stand on the opposite side of the gurney. I placed my hands on Tracy's shoulders, keeping a gentle amount of pressure so that she didn't move. My curiosity peaked as I watched the vet run the scalpel down the unconscious girls forearm but the blade broke with an audible 'snap' and her remained unharmed from the procedure.
"I think you're gonna need a bigger blade." Stiles remarked drily with a hint of fear in his voice and I cast a slightly worried look over my shoulder without removing my hands from the body.
"Now, this is interesting. Sophie, help me turn her over, please." Deaton directed calmly with his eyes narrowed in interest and I carefully rolled Tracy towards me until she was lying on her stomach. I inhaled sharply in shock when I caught sight of the bulge on the side of her neck, my stomach suddenly feeling queasy as the seemingly moved around underneath the skin.
The sound of someone's phone vibrating drew my attention and then I heard my brother scrambling to answer his text message before he sighed loudly as he explained to the examination room, "It's mom. It's about the driver of the prison transport. She's saying he's awake and talking. Driver didn't have stroke or heart attack. Says it was more like his body just locked up... Like he was paralysed."
"I think I know what she is." Stiles murmured under his breath as he narrowed his eyes at the unconscious girl and I gasped out loud in disgust as her spinal cord begin to squirm as though a snake was wriggling underneath her skin.
"Do you care to enlighten the rest of us? Because this doesn't look too good." I said in a strained voice as I jerked my hands away from her like I had been burned, my expression twisting in revulsion as I swallowed the bile rising in my throat.
An anguished cry escaped my lips as I reached up to cover my face when the skin across her back suddenly ripped open and sprayed black ooze all over me, the fluid leaving drops on my face and forearm. I stumbled backwards in shock as Tracy jumped up in a crouch in the middle of the gurney, a reptilian tail whipping around the room wildly. Scales had spread across her face as fangs peeked out from her mouth, a vicious snarl escaping her as the tail slashed Stiles' forearm and then Deaton's cheek. The two men collapsed onto the ground, paralysed from the Kanima venom and I felt my eyes water as a sharp pain rippled through my arm. My gaze jerked down in surprise, my eyes widening when I saw a narrow wound on my wrist and I lips parted as my knees suddenly felt heavy until it spread throughout my entire body. One moment I was standing and the next I was lying face down on the ground, my head turned to the side so that my cheek was pressed against the floor. Logically, I knew that it was meant to be painful to hit the solid ground but I felt nothing, absolutely nothing. I felt panic rise in my chest, the urge to freak out over the loss of control of my own body.
"It wasn't a werewolf. Kanima. Hey, Deaton, how the hell did she get through the Mountain Ash?" Stiles asked spitefully from where he was lying on the ground and my panic was forgotten as his words registered in my mind.
"She left?! It's a barrier no supernatural creature should be able to cross." I interjected in a muffled voice as I attempted to move my head to see the door but my muscles were paralysed from the Kanima toxins.
"Scott did it."
"Once, but it almost killed him. I can do it, but it takes a lot out of me. I always feel nauseous after."
"We should've killed her." Malia stated angrily from where she had collapsed against the counter and I narrowed my eyes at her feet because they were the only part of her that was visible from where I fell.
"Meanwhile, she's probably on her way to killing someone else." Stiles remarked sarcastically from somewhere behind me and I was pleased to find that I could still roll my eyes while under the influence.
"Listen, everyone. We need to concentrate. Sophie, Scott and Malia, you three will probably be able to move long before Stiles and I can. But you need to focus." Deaton instructed firmly in the same tone he used when he was lecturing me during lessons and I immediately paid attention to my mentor out of habit.
"Focus on what?" Scott asked nervously as I closed my eyes, glad that my eyelids were still working and I tried to concentrate on making my claws protrude but I couldn't feel it working.
"Healing." I answered quietly like I was speaking to myself instead of the entire room, my eyes still closed tightly as I attempted to grow my claws so that I could stab my leg and accelerate the healing process.
"I don't know how to tell my body to heal." Malia snapped impatiently in an irritated tone of voice and I took a deep breath as I opened my eyes, telling myself to have patience with the werecoyote. It was unsettling for anyone to be suddenly paralysed and her prominent 'Hale' genetics had gifted her with the risk of being volatile and aggressive without meaning to be.
"Malia, calm down. It's okay..."
"I can't calm down. I can't move."
"It won't last long. We're going to be okay. Think of a body part. Your hands, your feet, even just the tips of your fingers. Imagine them moving. See it in your mind and your body will follow."
Silence settled over the examination room as we all attempted to heal ourselves and I felt a familiar stirring in my chest as my nails transformed into sharp claws. I nearly sighed in relief as I pressed down on my thigh weakly, trying to break the skin but not strong enough to cause more than a tickle. I counted to ten in my mind to calm down before I had a panic attack and then I slammed my hand into my leg as hard as I could. I felt a dull pain as my claws barely scratched my skin and I pressed down deeper as I gritted my teeth against the pain.
'Pain makes you human', I thought to myself solemnly as I continued to move my claws around underneath my skin and I felt a sticky liquid seeping onto my hand as I tried to wiggle my toes. I heard the sound of someone shuffling on the floor so I opened my eyes with a confused frown and saw Malia scrambling upright with the help of the counter behind her, "Malia?"
"I don't think she cut me that deep." The werecoyote explained through gritted teeth as she nearly toppled over but tightened her hold on the edge of the counter until her knuckles turned white under the pressure.
"What's happening? I can't see. What's happening? Malia? Malia, wait for us!" Stiles called out as his girlfriend stumbled towards the door and I brought my leg up to my chest with great effort as I rolled onto my knees.
"There's no time. Look, she's not a werewolf. But she has a scent. I can find her."
"Malia." Scott called out to her desperately as he leaned against the counter, panting slightly with the effort it took to injure himself and Malia paused in the doorway to look over at him in confusion. "Save her."
I watched distractedly as she stumbled out of the examination room without answering and I felt the wound on my thigh tingle as it healed properly. I leant my forehead on the cool hard ground as I caught my breath and then pushed myself back until I was sitting upright with my back against the cabinet behind me. Dried blood was coating my upper thigh and my hand as I shook out my limbs to make sure that the feeling had returned properly.
Hurried footsteps approached the examination room and I froze as fear coursed through my veins in a way it hadn't since I was human. I felt defenceless for the first time since I had turned over a year and a half ago. I had no claws, no weapons, and no way to protect myself or my pack. I squeezed my eyes closed as I mentally berated myself for thinking so negatively and I reminded myself that Scott, Stiles and Deaton were relying on me. I realised in that moment that I wasn't afraid for myself but my family and fear didn't shut you down, it woke you up.
I reached up behind me without looking, my hand searching the top of the cabinet until my fingers enclosed around a metal instrument and I dropped my arm back down to my side as I breathed a sigh of relief that I had grabbed a scalpel.
Theo appeared in the doorway with a distressed expression, his eyebrows furrowed in concern and his lips turned down at the corners as he paused momentarily to survey the scene in front of him. I tightened my hold on the scalpel, still not convinced he wasn't a threat because if there was ever a time to kill us all, it would be while we were conveniently paralysed.
"Oh, god." Theo breathed out as he rushed to my side, slipping an arm around my waist to help me to my feet and I gripped his arm tightly as I leaned against the cabinet until I felt like I could stand on my own.
"How did you find us?" Scott asked in confusion but with a hint of gratitude as the other werewolf helped him stagger to his feet and lean against the metal gurney, careful to avoid the black blood splatters.
"'Cause you work here. I heard about Tracy, I've been looking for you."
"We lost her. And Malia."
"I can help."
"This is Theo?" Deaton asked in a strained voice as he leaned most of his weight on the gurney and I nodded solemnly with a knowing look, trying to tell him with my eyes that I doubted the werewolf's sincerity.
"Let me help. It doesn't have to mean I'm part of the pack. Or like you've accepted me or anything like that. It just means I can help catch this girl." Theo insisted softly as he switched his gaze from me to my brother and I pursed my lips in thought, not used to being conflicted about someone's intentions. It was an uncomfortable feeling to doubt myself and it made me hate him all the more for making me feel that way. He locked eyes with my Alpha as he took a step towards him and his voice was drenched in sincerity as he said almost pleadingly, "Scott. I can help you."
Scott meet my gaze over Theo's shoulder and his dark brown eyes were silently begging me for an answer, for a decision to be made. Indecision coursed through me as I touched my lips with the tips of my fingers and a heavy weight rested on my chest, pressing down until it was a struggle not to sink to my knees. I held my head up high, more out of being stubborn than determination, and focused on what needed to be done in the moment. This wasn't about how I felt, or how Stiles felt, or even about trusting Theo, it was about Tracy. We needed to find her, we needed to protect her, we needed all the help could get.
I turned my head slightly to meet Theo's startling hazel eyes as I straightened my shoulders in determination and I plastered a confident expression on my face as I took a step towards him before ordering almost coldly, "Catching. Not killing."