Condition Terminal Part Two:
Hospitals were quickly skyrocketing to number one on the list of my most hated places. I had seen too many of my friends lying on those scratchy hospital bedsheets, not to mention the lighting was most unflattering. My werewolf senses were always sent into hyper drive when I entered the building, the fluorescent lights gave me a headache, the scent of antiseptic made my eyes water, the rustic scent of blood triggered some primal part of me that desired to inflict pain.
My footsteps made little noise as I snuck down the corridor of the hospital, carefully keeping an eye out of any staff members that would kick me out and not let me see my best friend because I wasn't legally considered family. My mom had gotten me Lydia's room number earlier that morning when she arrived for work and I had immediately snuck in through one of the fire escapes.
I turned the corner to Lydia's room as I hefted the duffel bag on my shoulder higher and I froze for a moment when I saw a familiar someone approaching from the opposite direction. "Jordan? What are you doing here?"
The deputy snapped his head in my direction as a smile spread across his lips, his green eyes lighting up when they landed on me and I stomach churned with guilt like it usually did when he looked at me like that. I couldn't help but marvel at how attractive he looked in his beige police uniform and bit down on my lower lip as I watched the material stretch over his muscle arms while he walked towards me.
"Sophie. Sheriff Stilinski sent me down. Everyone knows something happened at the station last night, so I'm here to collect witness statements. At least, redacted versions of what could be classed as witness statements." He explained drily with an amused smirk on his lips as he came to stop out of the front of Lydia's room and I chuckled with a nod as he reached forward to take the duffle bag out of my hands, "Here, I got that. You're looking very – "
"Exhausted? Pissed off at the world?"
"I was going to say beautiful."
"Oh. Aren't you a gentleman? Lying through your teeth." I said modestly with an earnest expression as I patted his bicep, trying not to get distracted by the feel of his muscle underneath my hand. I glanced down at the unflattering t-shirt I had haphazardly thrown on and the pair of stretchy tights that were at the top of my clean clothing pile. Sleep hadn't come easily to me the night before, my dreams were haunted with images of Lydia bleeding to death in front of me, of Tracy suddenly transforming into a werewolf/Kanima hybrid and the words 'the rules have changed' echoed around in my mind. That morning I hadn't bothered with my usual routine of makeup even though I had obvious dark circles under my eyes or worried about styling my hair and roughly threw it up in a messy bun.
"Not a lie. This is a good look for you." Jordan insisted honestly with a soft smile on his lips and my breath caught in my throat as I held his gaze for a moment longer than necessary. His lips grew into a teasing grin before I could respond to his comment and he carefully opened Lydia's hospital room door in case she was asleep before holding it open for me to pass through.
I narrowed my eyes at him slightly as I walked into the room and my gaze instantly went to the sleeping girl on the bed, her strawberry blonde hair sprawled on the pillow beneath her head. A smile spread across my lips when I noticed how peaceful she looked despite the reason she was stuck in the hospital in the first place.
Jordan passed by me as he set the duffle bag on the table to the side of the room and I sent him a grateful smile as I made my way over to sit down on one of the empty chairs by the window. There was a brief silence as he wandered over to take the other empty chair beside me and I avoided meeting his gaze as I brought one of my knees up to my chest, wrapping an arm around my leg in the process.
Warm sunlight soaked my arm as I turned my head slightly to look at my best friend's prone figure and I shuddering breath escaped me as I rubbed my fingers together before whispering absently,
"I've never liked hospitals."
"I don't think anyone likes hospitals." He countered in amusement as he leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees with his hands clasped in front of him and I hummed in acknowledgement with a vague smile on my lips. "I think that's the whole point. That way you want to heal quicker and get home before you die out of boredom instead of what brought you in to the hospital in the first place."
"That is a very good point." I relented with a genuine laugh as I leaned my cheek on my knee and his own smile widened in response as I bit my lower lip to stop from returning the gesture. I turned my head away from his probing gaze as I pressed down on my lip until I felt a dull pain to remind myself of the pain I would be causing him if I let us continue down that road.
"Why do you do that?" Jordan asked me softly as he reached over to turn my chin towards him so I was forced to meet his gaze and my eyes widened in shock when I realised how close our faces were. My skin tingled under his touch, causing me to unconsciously lean into him slightly and I internally scolded myself for reacting but I couldn't make myself to back away from him. My breath caught in my throat as he hesitated momentarily before gently easing my lip from its confines with his thumb and he glanced down at my now swollen lip as his pupils dilated with lust. I could feel the callous' on his palm as he cupped my cheek, running his thumb over my lower lip and I heard his heartbeat accelerate within the confines of his chest.
"Stop." I whispered sadly as I reached up to cover his hand with mine for a moment before pulling it away and I stood up abruptly from my seat but not before I witnessed the hurt flash across his features. "I'm so sorry."
I didn't bother to wait for him to respond as I hurried out of the room. The pain I saw reflected in his eyes was too much for me to handle at moment because he was such a good guy, the kind of guy every girl dreamed of being with, the kind of guy I wasn't good enough for. I felt tears stinging my eyes as I walked fast down the empty hallway but I refused to let them fall as I wrapped an arm around my stomach protectively.
"Sophie! Wait a second!" I heard him call out to me from down to the corridor but I ignored him and quickened my pace until he teasingly shouted, "You're technically running from a police officer!"
I closed my eyes tightly as I came to a stop in the middle of the hallway, tilting my head back slightly with my hand on my forehead and I heard his heavy footsteps approaching me from behind. I pursed my lips as I shook my head to myself, feeling tears sting the back of my eyes but I refused to let them fall because I didn't deserve to be in pain when I was the one causing Jordan hurt.
I instinctively stiffened when he laid a firm hand on my shoulder, slowly turning me around to face him without much effort and I could feel his gaze scolding my skin as he studied my face intently. I felt him grip just above my elbow with a sigh before he started leading me back down the hall and my eyes flew open in surprise as I stumbled alongside his quick pace.
Confusion warred inside of me as he opened a door to an empty hospital room and he guided me inside before closing the door behind us so that it would appear we were the only two people in the world.
I crossed my arms over my chest tightly, forming a protective barrier between us and I held my head up high in an attempt to appear nonchalant but probably came across more defiant than anything else.
"What the hell is going on with you?" Jordan asked in a demand as he crossed his arms over his chest, his feet shoulder width apart and an expressionless mask plastered on his face. In that moment, even I was slightly intimidated by the deputy as I shifted uncomfortably and I felt empathy for anyone on the opposite side of the interrogation table.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You literally just ran out of Lydia's hospital room to get away from me."
"Maybe I was running late of something."
"Sophie, you're deflecting. Answer the question, honestly, and you can leave." He said calmly with a raised eyebrow, not the least bothered by my innate defence mechanism and I sighed heavily in defeat as I looked away from him.
A jumble of words floated through my mind, a mixture of random thoughts all running together until they connected like a spider web and I couldn't settle on what thread to pull because I didn't want the delicate structure to unravel.
"I know you like me." I blurted out before I could stop myself but then bit down on my tongue in reprimand and I watched with bated breath as his green eyes widened slightly in shock, a touch of red flooding his cheeks. I waited for him to start protesting, for him to stutter over his words in denial, but once he regained his composure he didn't say anything for a long minute.
"So?" he asked nonchalantly with a shrug of his shoulders as his expression remained blank and I was the one who couldn't form words for a moment as I stared at him in shock.
"So, I – I…" I trailed off unsure of what to say now that we were talking about it, unsure of how to word what I was feeling because I had no idea how I was feeling. I clasped my hands in front of my mouth as I turned away from him while shaking my head to myself, confusion and anger at myself fighting a battle inside of me as I moved to stand in the sunlight shining through the window.
"Sophie, I know you don't feel the same way." Jordan said softly in an understanding tone as he walked towards me a few feet and I closed my eyes at the sound of his voice, a fresh sense of pain shooting through me. "It's not exactly news to me."
"I feel like I'm leading you on." I admitted sheepishly as I stared at the sky outside the window, glancing at the reflection in the glass and I couldn't help noting how attractive a couple we made.
Warmth from the sunlight hit my skin as I rubbed my arms absently, doubts running through my mind at rapid speed and I couldn't bring myself to meet his gaze out of guilt of my actions toward him. Every flirty comment or lingering gaze did nothing but fuel the hope growing inside of him and I wasn't sure if I would ever be able to give him what he wanted, what he deserved. Guilt gnawed at my stomach as I nibbled on my lower lip subconsciously and I cleared my throat as I told him with sincerity drenched through every syllable, "I'm sorry. This is my fault."
A light chuckle escaped him as he stepped up beside me, turning his body towards me with an amused smile on his lips and I narrowed my eyes in confusion as he shook his head at me, "I've gone into our friendship with my eyes wide open. You were with Aiden when we met. You were with Derek when I realised how I felt about you. And I kept coming back. None of that is your fault, Sophie. It was my decision."
I turned my head to look at him as my lips twitched slightly but I didn't make any other move to acknowledge his words and he levelled me with a heated look as he offered me a grin, "And it's not anything you did, Sophie. When you're attracted to someone, it's because of the details. Their kindness. Their eyes. Their smile. The fact that they can get you to laugh when you need it most."
"See! Saying stuff like that doesn't help my resolve!" I complained through a laugh as I covered my face with my hands and Jordan chuckled along with me as he reached out to gently remove my hands. I pouted a little at him as he circled his fingers around my wrists and tugged me closer to his body as he held my hands up to his chest with a smirk on his lips.
"I know your past, Soph. I know you're still in love with Derek. I was there to see your relationship with him. And I would never pressure you into anything. In fact, you were the one who brought it up. So, I'm going to just go about my business like normal."
"You're just going to ignore this conversation ever happened?"
"That's exactly what I'm going to do." He informed me calmly with a half-smile as he released his hold on my wrists and took a step back as his green eyes sparkled in a mixture of affection and amusement. I couldn't help but giggle slightly as he started walking towards the closed door to the hospital room and I bit down on my lower lip to stop myself from grinning while he stopped in the middle of the open doorway as he turned around to face me with a smouldering smirk, "And, hey, if I keep loving you, maybe one day you'll crack and love me too."
My whole body froze in shock as his word registered in my mind and I stared at the doorway he had disappeared through only moments before. 'Keep loving you', he said so casually like it was one of the most obvious things in the world, meaning he was already in love with me and we weren't even dating. A wave of heat rushed through me at the prospect, my muscles tightening and then relaxing in anticipation of nothing in particular. No one had so readily admitted their love for me, Aiden had screamed it at me in the middle of a fight and Derek had let it build and build inside of him until the moment he knew I needed it most. But Jordan, he let the words flow from his lips like it was the easiest thing in the world to admit and I couldn't even reciprocate.
"Oh, my god." I muttered to myself as I shook my head to clear it of any unwanted thoughts and I took a deep breath to steady myself as I walked out of the room, closing the door behind me.
The door to Lydia's hospital room was slightly open, an invitation for me to enter even though it was my best friend inside. I entered quietly in case she was still asleep, closing the door behind me so that none of the staff would see me and kick me out of the hospital since I wasn't technically family.
Jordan had retaken his seat beside the bed, his face angled away from me as he watched the old-fashioned television that was connected to the ceiling and I quirked an eyebrow at him in amusement as I leaned back against the closed door. "I see you've made yourself comfortable."
"Hey." He greeted me with a smile as he looked over at the sound of my voice and I smirked at him as I walked over to sit down on the empty chair next to him. I shifted to get comfortable, hesitating a moment unsurely before throwing my legs over his knees and he snapped his head over in surprise at the move but I kept my gaze locked on the television screen. I stifled a smile as I settled in to watch the kung-fu movie that was playing and I felt him a rest a hand on my shin as he shifted to get comfortable on his chair.
A few minutes later I heard a shuffling coming from the hospital bed and I leaned forward to look around Jordan's body with a small smile growing on my lips when I saw Lydia's bright green eyes peering at us. "Morning, Sleeping Beauty."
"Sophie." She murmured hoarsely in greeting with a dazed smile on her lips as she pushed herself up on her elbows and she ran a hand through her tangled strawberry blonde hair. "Parrish, what are you doing here?"
"Officially, I'm here to gather eyewitness testimony. Unofficially, I'm trying to find something to watch. But the only thing that comes in is this kung-fu movie. You like kung-fu movies?" he asked her politely with a half-smile as he raised the remote, silently offering to change the channel for her with that's what she wanted.
"No, no. No, no, I'm watching this." I protested with a small frown as I tried to take the remote off of him and he chuckle in amusement as he stretched his arm out in the opposite direction so that I couldn't reach it. I gasped out loud in mock outrage as I attempted to grab the device but only managed to grasp air until he took pity on me and placed it in my hand with smug grin on his lips.
"Do you know how to do that?" Lydia interrupted our banter in a serious voice as she tilted her head curiously and I glanced over at her with a frown, taking in the determined crease in between her eyebrows.
"I know a little jiu-jitsu. In the army they taught us CQC, close quarters combat." Jordan answered her honestly with a shrug as he looked over at her, a slight frown of confusion on his lips.
"Can you teach me?"
"You want to learn jiu-jitsu? Hand-to-hand?" I asked her in shock as I dropped my legs from Jordan's lap and turned my body to face her fully, a little hurt that she hadn't asked me to help teach her when she knew I practiced.
"I want to learn how to fight. I know you can fight, Soph, but you're a werewolf. Your strength might make it a little hard for a novice like me." she told me a little sheepishly as she shrugged her shoulders daintily and I smirked confidently at the praise as she focused her attention on the man next to me. "Can you teach me?"
"Yeah. I can teach you. But it might help to learn against Sophie. Since, I'm assuming, you want to fight against other supernatural creatures. Most of which have super-strength." Jordan pointed out in a serious voice as he leaned forward in his seat, resting his elbows on his knees with he raised an eyebrow.
"That's a good point. I'll lend a hand once you've got the basics down." I said happily as I stood up from the hospital chair with a wink in my best friend's direction and she beamed at me drowsily as she reclined back against her pillow.
I made my way to the other side of the room, grabbing the strap of the duffle bag and spun around with it in my hand so Lydia could see what I was holding. Her eyes lit up as they locked on the bag, her lips stretching into a sly smile and she pushed herself back into sitting position as I set it on the end of the bed.
"I know you hate the hospital, I learnt that the last time you were in here. So, I brought you some presents." I told her brightly with a soft smile as I unzipped the bag and she muffled an excited squeal as she clapped her hands together. "First of all, we have the basics: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, tooth paste, toothbrush, and hairbrush."
"Oh, thank god." She breathed out in relief as she eagerly reached for the products and I handed them over so she could examine the brands to make sure they met her standards.
"I also got you some of your own pyjamas, so you're more comfortable. And a change of clothes for when you're allowed to leave." I informed her as I held up the material slightly for her to see before placing it back in the bag and she winced in pain as she leaned forward in to grab the strap of the bag so she could pull it closer. I rolled my eyes at her stubborn streak as I lifted the bag and placed it down on her lap as she smiled guiltily, knowing I wasn't thrilled she risked pulling her stitches.
"Thank you. I appreciate it." Lydia said with a cheeky grin as she fluttered her eyelashes at me and I suppressed a snort as I watched her place the beauty products back into the bag.
"I'll bring you some proper food after school, and our assignment for AP Bio. Your laptop is in the bag, so you can work on your online courses or watch Netflix. Now, what do you want for dinner?"
"Anything?"
"Anything."
"Carrot cupcakes with cream cheese frosting." She told me as though it should've been obvious, her tone dripping with mock condescension and I chuckled at my own naivety as I nodded in acknowledgement.
"I got it." I muttered quietly as I leaned down to press a kiss to her cheek and I soothed down her wily strawberry blonde hair fondly as she peered up at me with a soft expression. Tears burned the back of my eyes as I looked into her familiar green irises, overjoyed that I had the chance to see them again. For a brief moment the night before, I thought I would never get the chance and that just wasn't acceptable to me.
Lydia and I had been best friends for as long as I could remember, she had always been the one by my side. A fierce strawberry blonde with porcelain skin and a stunning brunette with an attitude to match, an unlikely pair at first glance but underneath we'd dealt with the same hidden insecurities and social anxieties.
Together we'd faced the great unknown, otherwise known as life, and helped each other make sense of anything thrown in front of us. She was there for me when my dad left, I was there for her when hers left. She held me as I cried myself to sleep thinking about the fire without knowing why I was so upset, I wrapped her in my arms while she sobbed when her grandmother passed away.
Lydia was my crutch to sanity, my anchor to reality, and I didn't even want to think about the repercussion if I ever lost that because I had the feeling it would catastrophic.
"You're the peanut to my butter." I whispered in her ear as I leaned my forehead against her temple, one of my hands cupping her face tenderly and she broke in startled giggles at the use of our old saying.
"You're the sprinkles on my sundae." She retorted back quietly as she reached up to cup the side of my neck with a smile and I scrunched up my nose delicately in response as I supressed a grin.
I pressed another chaste kiss to her forehead before pulling back with a smile and she beamed back at me in return as her hand dropped from my neck. I sighed to myself as I stepped back from the hospital bed and I glanced over to the other of the room, slightly startled that I had forgotten Jordan's presence. I could tell he was trying to give us privacy by watching the kung-fu movie playing on the television but I appreciated the gesture even though I knew it was a hopeless endeavour.
"Okay, I'm heading to school." I announced to them both with a slight smile as I clapped my hands in front of me and Jordan looked up at me with a half-smile as he placed the remote of the other chair.
"I'll walk out with you. I should be getting back to the station with my 'witness statements'." He said mockingly with a roll of his eyes as he walked to stand at the end of the bed and I chuckled in amusement as he placed a hand on Lydia's foot over the blanket. "Lydia, it's good to see you awake. Feel better."
"Thanks." She said sincerely with a small smile other lips as she paused in her search through her duffle bag and he nodded in return as he exited the room to give us a moment of privacy.
After he disappeared through the door, I turned back to face my best friend with a smile and she quirked an eyebrow in silent inquiry with a suggestive smirk on her lips. I scoffed at her insinuation as I gingerly sat on the edge of her bed so that I didn't hurt her and she levelled me with a deadpan glare, silently demanding I give her what she wanted.
"Shut up, okay?" I said with a roll of my eyes as a small smirk played on my lips and she gave me a disbelieving look as she tilted her head to the side. "I don't want to talk about it."
"But I'm stuck here. All alone. And bored." She whined with a dramatic pout on her lips as she fluttered her eyelashes at me and I pursed my lips in mock annoyance as I glared at her without any real malice.
"I don't even know what's going on at the moment. I'm all over the place. I still love Derek, but he's gone, and he said I should be 'experiencing life', whatever the hell that means. And then there's Jordan, who is so incredible and kind and handsome and intelligent, and who loves me. And I could really see myself falling for him, but doesn't that just defeat the purpose of breaking up with Derek?"
Lydia stared at me for a moment in shock with her lips parted slightly before she blinked rapidly and shook her head a little as she came back to herself. Her eyebrows drew together in confusion as she pursed her lips thoughtfully and she pointed a finger in my direction before asking, "Did you just say he's in love with you?"
"Mm-hm. He told me earlier. We almost kissed and I freaked out, he confronted me and I told him I was confused about my feelings. On the way out the door he was all, 'And, hey, if I keep loving you, maybe one day you'll crack and love me too.' Who says that?" I asked incredulously but I couldn't help the small smile that touched my lips and one of her perfectly sculpted eyebrows rose as her lips twitched in amusement. "It was kinda sweet. Okay, really sweet."
"We will talk about this later this afternoon. At length." Lydia warned me pointedly with a stern expression and I nodded in understanding as I held my hands up in surrender. "But for now, go to school."
"Yes, mother dearest." I mocked her in amusement as I stood up from the edge of the bed and she smirked victoriously as I pressed a kiss to her forehead before waving on my way to the door.
The corridor was empty as I stepped out of the hospital room and I glanced around to make sure that no staff member saw me before making my way towards the elevator. Jordan was leaning against the wall besides the lift with his arms over his chest and I granted him a smile when he looked up in my direction. He returned the gesture warmly as he pressed the down button for us and we waited in comfortable silence for the doors to slide open.
I bit my lower lip to stifle a smile as he held his arm out to allow me to go in first and I patted his chest with a small smile when I passed by him while I practically cooed, "Such a gentleman."
"One of the nicer things I've been called." Jordan commented idly with a half-smile as the door closed behind us and I laughed out loud as I leaned back against the wall. I noticed his green eyes brighten at the sound but tried not to read too much into the warmth in my chest when he looked at me.
"You're late, Miss McCall." Mrs Finch snapped impatiently from the front of the classroom as I slipped in the door and I grimaced apologetically as I hurried over to my assigned seat. I pang shot through my chest when I glanced at Lydia's empty seat next to me but I quickly composed my features as I took out my textbook.
I could feel Kira and Scott looking at me in concern but I ignored them as I focused my attention on our teacher and I folded my hands on the tabletop as I studied the hand drawn colourful representations of DNA Fragments on the chalk board to illustrate the routh for DNA into cells.
"If 99.9% of our DNA sequence is the same as other humans, what could account for the missing 0.1% difference? Theo?" Mrs Finch addressed the class before singling out the new student and I turned my head around to look at the attractive werewolf sitting to the side of the room.
"Um, nucleotides." He answered after a brief moment, one of his eyebrows raising almost smugly and I rolled my eyes in amusement as he met my eyes across the room with a smirk playing on his lips. We held eye contact for a second longer before I turned back around to face the front, a part of me not liking having my back turned to him when I didn't completely trust him.
"That's right. Yes, Kira?"
"Can there be more than one species in the same DNA?" the kitsune asked timidly as lowered her raised hand and I raised an eyebrow at her in intrigue as I leaned my elbow on the table before resting my chin in my hand.
"No, but there can be multiple sets of DNA in the same individual. We call that a chimera. Anyone know where that term comes from?" Mrs Finch asked in a slightly eager tone although she tried to mask it with a stern expression and she studied the class before her eyes narrowed in on an unsuspecting student. "Sydney?"
The girl look momentarily startled as she snapped her head up in surprise but she quickly recovered as she sat up straighter and stated confidently, "Greek mythology. It's a lion with a goat coming out of its back and a tail that ends in the head of a snake."
"That's right, Sydney. Do you want to read us the full Wikipedia entry off your phone?" the teacher asked sarcastically as she cocked her head to the side in disapproval and Sydney flushed in embarrassment while ducking her head as some of the other students laughed at her misfortune. "But that does get us into the next topic of mutation. As you know from the reading, DNA is a fragile molecule. Isn't it, Scott? Or did you miss last night's assigned reading?"
"Kind of." Scott admitted sheepishly as he avoided looking her in the eye and I offered him a sympathetic smile when he glanced my way because I knew that he had tried to do the reading the night before but couldn't concentrate with Lydia in the hospital.
"Kind of or yes?"
"Mostly yes."
"Well, then thank you for another helpful transition in topic. Drop forms. All those now acutely aware that they do not belong in this class, you should fill one out. The rest will be on my desk."
"Ms Finch? Maybe you hadn't heard, but Lydia was attacked last night? Scott, Kira, Theo and I were at the hospital until the early hours of the morning." I interrupted abruptly in a sharp tone of voice as I raised my hand in air with a frown marring my lips and her eyes flashed to the empty seat next to me with as her expression morphed to one of regret and empathy.
"Right. Of course." She murmured regretfully with a shake of her head and she offered us all a sympathetic smile as she turned around to place the stack of drop forms on her desk.
The bell signalling the end of class rang through the speakers and I slipped my textbooks into my satchel as I stood up from my seat. I sighed to myself when I saw my brother take one of the forms from the desk and I shared a disappointed look with Mrs Finch as I left the classroom behind Scott and Kira.
"That's a stupid idea, Scott. Don't drop out." I ordered him firmly as I linked my arm through his with a raised eyebrow and Kira nodded in agreement on his other side. "You got a great score on our last test."
"Sophie…" he trailed off with a small smile on his lips like he was placating a small child and I shot him a levelled glare in reprimand before rolling my eyes.
"We'll just work out a study schedule. I'm tutoring Liam in French and Malia in everything, why can't I do the same for my little brother?" I cooed mockingly as I pinched his cheek playfully and he scowled at me as his tried to jerk his head away until I let go with a laugh. "You know I'm right. Plus, this is the only class I have at the moment. So, between investigating random supernatural activity, my online course and tutoring you guys, I'm bored! I've reorganised my room five times! Do you know how much exercise I've done since school started? Why do you think our house always smells like muffins?"
"So, it's not that you want to help me reach my potential and get into a college that would help me become a veterinarian, but just because you have nothing else to do."
"We all have priorities."
"I'll think about it, okay?" he told me in amusement as I pouted at him pleadingly and I squealed under my breath as I clapped my hands excitedly with a victorious grin. Kira chuckled in amusement as she pushed open the library doors and Scott paused in the doorway as he turned to face me with a serious expression, "Just next time you feel the need to bake, make it chocolate brownies."
I pursed my lips as I pretended to think about it before I patted him on the chest and I strolled pass him with a bright smile as I told him honestly, "Done."
Most of the other students were still in class so the library was nearly empty as the three of us made our way to the back of the library where we were meeting up with Stiles and Malia. I tried to keep my expression either impassive or amused so that no one would see how shaken I truly was by the events of last night. My mind kept flashing back to the moment I ran into the sheriff's station, the moment I saw my best friend lying in a puddle of her own blood. I shoved that thought deep into the depth of my mind, prioritising the mission above my own discomfort so that everyone could focus on themselves and not worry about my state of mind.
"Hey." Scott greeted our friends with a grin when he saw them waiting at our usual study table and Stiles offered him a weak smile in return as Malia nodded in our direction but quickly turned back to her boyfriend with a frown. "Did you get in to see Lydia?"
"No. I tried using my free period but she's still in the ICU and no one outside family is allowed in." Stiles explained desolately with a frown as he slumped in his seat and the werecoyote placed a hand on his arm with a confused expression like she wasn't sure she was comforting him correctly.
"I saw her this morning. She's fine, Stiles. Promise." I told him honestly as I took a seat at the table with a consoling smile on my lips and his eyes brightened considerably as he straightened up like he had been electrocuted.
"You did? How? Is she okay?"
"I did. I'm awesome. She's fine."
"Did you bring her something to eat? Because she hates hospital food."
"I'm pretty sure everyone hates hospital food."
"Well, yeah, but you know how stubborn Lydia is when it comes to her food, or her clothes, or her beauty products. And if doesn't eat she'll get extra 'Lydia-ish', which would be bad news for the nurses looking after her." He reminded me frantically as he leaned towards me, using his hands to illustrate his point and I grinned in amusement as I tilted my head to the side.
"Mom is taking her homemade pumpkin lasagne for lunch, and I'm picking up cupcakes for her when we're done here." I informed him gently as I reached forward to place a hand on his forearm and he immediately stilled at my touch as he gnawed on his lower lip.
"Get her carrot with – "
"– cream cheese frosting." I finished in unison with him as I raised an eyebrow at him and he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly as he sunk down in his chair with a blush rising on his cheeks. "I am her best friend, Stiles."
"Right. Sorry." He muttered quietly as he avoided my eyes in embarrassment and I chuckled under my breath as I shook my head at him, more amused by the situation than insulted.
"I do have one thing." I announced to the group in a slightly raised voice to get their attention and everyone looked over at me as I searched through my satchel before I exclaimed in satisfaction. A victorious smirk spread over my lips as I pulled out the handwritten, hard cover bound bestiary that I had comprised of both the Argent and Hale editions. "The McCall Bestiary. Every article has been translated into English and divided into categories and subcategories."
"Anything in here about half-werewolves, half-Kanimas?" Kira asked hopefully as she started flipping through the book with an intrigued expression and I shook my head sadly as I paused my lips in annoyance over not finding anything useful.
"The Chimera." Scott corrected absently as he narrowed his eyes at the bestiary and I rolled my eyes at the name but couldn't help agreeing with the terminology given what we knew about the new creatures.
"Um, what?" Stiles asked incredulously as his face scrunched up in confusion and Malia's eyebrows scrunched together as she looked between all of us for an explanation but there was also relief in her eyes, glad that she wasn't the only one out of the know.
"Chimera. It's a creature made of incongruous parts." I explained to them calmly as I folded my arms on top of the table and I leaned forward to rest my chin on my forearms as I thought through all of the available information. "And if Liam said he found two burial sites, it means Tracy's not the only one. Who's the second Chimera?"
"And why would they bury them?" Kira added with a befuddled frown on her lips as she ran her finger over the edge of the bestiary and I turned my head to look at her without lifting my head as I pondered her question.
"Deaton thinks it's part of their process. Like an intubation period. Like a human caterpillar in a cocoon until it turns into a horrifying supernatural creature no one's ever heard of." I remarked drily as I gazed off into the distance with my eyes narrowed thoughtfully and Stiles snorted in amusement as Malia appeared to be considering, Scott shook his head fondly while Kira looked slightly horrified.
"The people in masks." The werecoyote stated seriously with a nod of her head, firm belief in her eyes as she spoke and I had no doubt that she believed her words, causing me to consider the possibility.
After all, someone had to have experimented on Tracy and the other Chimera, why not the people in masks?
'This is a bad idea', I thought to myself as I drove down the familiar street, tapping my thumbs on the steering wheel. I couldn't believe that I had let her talk me into going out clubbing with Liam and Mason when she was lying in a hospital bed and I shook my head to myself in exasperation as I recalled Lydia's words from earlier that afternoon: 'There's nothing you can do here, Soph. Go out. Have fun for the both of us. You can't stay here all night, just staring at me like some kind of creeper. Now leave, before I call security to forcibly remove you from my presence.'
I parked my car out the front of the Dunbar's home before turning off the ignition and climbing out of the driver's seat, careful not to trip over the gutter in my heels. The familiar pathway up the porch was lit with lanterns in the garden and I could tell that a great deal of work went into maintaining its perfection. I took a deep breath in preparation before I knocked twice on the front door and I clasped my hands behind my back as I waited patiently for someone to answer.
"Sophie!" Liam's mother greeted me enthusiastically as she opened the door with a bright grin and I smiled back at her as she grabbed my arm, pulling me into the warm house. "Don't you look darling?"
"Oh, thank you." I muttered in flattered surprise as I glanced down at my floral dress and tried not to stumble as she practically dragged me into the kitchen.
"So, Liam told me you were going to a party tonight, but I could tell he was lying. Where are you really going?" she asked excitedly like a teenager herself as she sat down on one of the high stools at the breakfast bar and I chuckled slightly as I sat down next to her, deliberating on how much to tell her about our plans for the night. I nibbled on my lower lip in consideration as I glanced around uneasily but then I sighed in defeat and finally met her eyes with a nervous smile on my lips.
"Full disclosure, we sneaking into a nightclub my friend's father owns."
"Oh, good!"
"I'm sorry, 'good'?"
Mrs Geyer pursed her lips thoughtfully as she looked away for a moment and then she leaned towards me with an eyebrow raised as she whispered conspiratorially, "Liam's always been a little…high-strung. Even as a child he wasn't as carefree as the other kids. When he entered middle school, his anger issues hit an all-time high."
"The incident with Hayden Romero." I stated knowingly with a nod of my head, remembering the story he told me and her eyes widened in surprise as she jerked back slightly like she had been electrified.
"He told you about that?" she asked in shock as she leaned back in with almost pleading eyes and I nodded my head in answer with a sad smile on my lips as she breathed out in disbelief. "I can't believe it. He wouldn't even talk about it with us or the therapist we made him go to. But he talked about with you."
"We've grown close over the last year. He's like the little brother I never had." I admitted honestly with a soft smile on my lips and she grinned happily to the admission as she reached her to grab my hand where it rested on the counter. I could sense the gratitude emitting off of her as she squeezed my fingers, the tears in her eyes that flooded her eyes didn't fall and I accepted her silent thanks with a nod of my head as I offered her a sincere smile.
The sound of heavy footsteps rushing down the stairs alerted the both of us to the incoming of the boys and Mrs Geyer hastily brushed a stray tear off of her cheek as she straightened, plastering a fake smile on her lips. The boys bickering voices echoed into the kitchen as they stepped into the room and I couldn't help smiling fondly when they weren't paying attention.
"Boys. You're both pretty, no use arguing." I quipped drily in amusement as I rested my elbow on the counter and they both spun around in surprise as I quirked an eyebrow at them. "Hi."
"When'd you get here?" Liam asked bluntly as he tugged at the collar of his shirt with a grimace and his mother shot him a disapproving glare as Mason slapped his stomach with the back of his hand.
"That's no way to talk to your ride. Maybe I'll take Mason with me, and leave you here." I said nonchalantly as I waved my hand dismissively with a smug smile and he shrugged his shoulders like he didn't care in the least if we left without him.
"Doesn't bother me. I don't want to go anyway."
"You're going!" Mason and Mrs Geyer snapped in unison as they glowered at him and he groaned in frustration as he threw his head back to glare at the ceiling.
I laughed in amusement at his predicament as I stood up from the stool and I strolled over to wrap both of my arms around him from the side as I told him, "Come on, Liam. If I have to go, so do you."
"Get off me." the Beta complained without any real malice as he pushed me away from him and I chuckle at his mutinous expression as I walked back over to the counter to grab my purse.
"Okay, boys. There are some rules." Mrs Geyer informed them sternly as she turned to face them with her arms crossed over her chest and I stood beside her in solidarity, mainly to annoy Liam, as she levelled them with a pointed look, "Do not leave the 'party' alone. Always tell someone where you're going. Don't get in any cars with strangers. No drugs. No alcohol. And Sophie's in charge."
"What!? You don't even know her, but you're trusting her over your own son?" Liam asked in outrage with his face twisted into a scowl as he dramatically gestured to his chest and she nodded immediately as her eyes widened marginally.
"Yes. Absolutely. No question."
"Mom!"
"Liam, calm down. If you're good, I'll let you drive to the party." I bribed him teasingly in a singsong tone of voice as I dangled my keys in front of him and he immediately fell silent as his wide eyes watched the metal swing like he was being hypnotised. "Do we have a deal?"
"Hell, yes!" he exclaimed happily as he snatched my car keys out of my hand with an excited grin and I smirked smugly in accomplishment as I turned my attention back to his mother.
"I'll have to remember that trick for the future." She murmured to me quietly in shock as she watched her son speak to his best friend on the other side of the room, a small smile on her lips as she tilted her head to the side. "He does know how to drive, yes?"
"Oh, yeah, I've been giving him lessons. He's getting pretty good." I told her truthfully in the same undertone so that the boys wouldn't hear, except for Liam who had werewolf sensitive hearing.
"I know I said 'no alcohol', but I'm not that stupid. I know teenagers are going to mess around and have the occasional drink, but only two each for the boys, none for you, and keep an eye on them, okay?"
"You're a cool mom. Of course I'll keep an eye on them." I assured her sincerely with a soft smile as I squeezed her arm gently and she returned the gesture brightly as she nodded gratefully. I picked up my purse from the countertop as she gave me a wink and I grinned at her as I started towards where the boys were having a whispered argument. "Hey. We ready to go, or what?"
They both nodded silently as they headed towards the front door and I rolled my eyes at them both as I followed them, waving goodbye to Mrs Geyer over my shoulder. When I got outside I saw that Mason had already climbed in the backseat and Liam was in the driver's seat, bouncing slightly in anticipation even though he had driven my car numerous times.
Liam turned on the ignition the moment I was in the car, music coming from the speakers quietly and I quickly strap myself in as he speeds forward onto the road. I shot him a small glare as he settled into a more controlled speed with a grimace and I exhaled slowly as I shifted in my seat before I reminded him, "Careful. If we crash, Mason won't heal, remember?"
The car immediately decelerated slightly as he shot a panicked look back at his best friend but then relaxed when he saw Mason sitting unharmed in the backseat, mouthing the lyrics to the song on the radio without a care in the world. I had to smile at the innocent happiness radiating off of the sophomore, glad that someone could relax with everything going on around the pack.
I lent my elbow on the window frame as I watched the bright lights on Beacon Hills passing by, memorised by the multi-coloured streaks that disappeared just as fast as they appeared. I noticed a familiar street sign fly past us and I turned my head to look at Liam in the driver's seat as I told him, "Take the next left, hon."
I saw him nod absently from the corner of my eyes as he slowed down so that he didn't miss the turn and I had to smile at how attentive he was when driving when he was usually impulsive. We entered the warehouse district with a couple more turns and I directed him into a nearly empty carpark down the across the street from the club. The moment we parked, Mason was hitting the back of my seat in excitement and I laughed at him in amusement as I climbed out of the car after collecting my purse.
I linked my arm through Mason's with an excited squeal as we started strolling through the parking lot and Liam trailed after us slowing with a slightly subdued expression. Once we crossed the street, I discreetly guided Mason down an alley that lead to the back entrance of the club.
"Can you put your phone away for five minutes?" I asked Liam in an annoyed tone of voice as I glanced over my shoulder at him in frustration and he grimaced apologetically as he slipped his phone into his pocket, hurrying to catch up to us.
"Scott can howl if he needs you." Mason quipped with a mixture of seriousness and teasing in his voice as he paused in the middle of the alleyway with an exasperated expression and I pointed at him in agreement with a nod of my head.
"I just feel like I should be doing something." the Beta admitted sheepishly with a sigh as he stopped next to us and I placed a sympathetic hand on his shoulder because I knew exactly what he was feeling.
"You are. You're my wingman tonight. And considering the state of my dating life, I need a wingman, co-pilot and a really hot flight attendant."
"I'm definitely not your hot flight attendant."
"Okay, yeah, I know I have a limited field of knowledge, but even I know that Sophie is a better choice for hot flight attendant than you are."
I gasped in happy surprise as a grin spread across my lips before it melted into a soft smile and I leaned my head on his shoulder as I wrapped my arms around his waist, "Aw, Mason. I'll gladly be your hot flight attendant. Anytime."
Mason beamed brightly as he wrapped his arms around me in return while I snuggled into his embrace and Liam rolled his blue eyes at us dramatically as he huffed out an irritated breath without commenting. I could practically taste the tension rolling off of the young werewolf but I was excited for a night out, a night of forgetting everything that was happening and I wasn't about to let him ruin the evening with his attitude.
"Liam. Please, this is my first time out since school started. I'm stressed about the Chimera's, I'm worried about Lydia, but I want to relax and dance and have fun." I told him with a pout on my lips as I fluttered my eyelashes at him pleadingly and he studied my features with an empathetic expression before he sighed in defeat, hanging his head down to glare at the ground.
"At least here, you can get drunk." Mason chirped brightly in an attempt to cheer up his best friend as he started walking towards the back door of the club and Liam opened his mouth to disagree but then snapped it shut with a shake of his head.
"Come on, sweetie. Try and have a good time, okay?" I said soothingly as I linked my arm through his, rubbing his forearm with my other hand and he groaned slightly but didn't argue as we followed after our friend. Mason bounced on his toes as he knocked on the door twice then paused before knocking once and I chuckled slightly at the secret code as we waited for someone to answer.
After a moment, the door swung open to reveal an annoyed Hayden Romero standing on the other side and her gaze swept over the three of us before settling her glare on Mason, "I said I'd let you in. Not him."
I tilted my head in confusion because I didn't know that Mason had organised a way to gain entrance to the club through her but I was willing to see how it would play out and I wanted to see her reaction to Liam's presence now that I knew he like her romantically.
"You said I could have a plus one." Mason argued as his eyebrows furrowed together in confusion with a frown marring his lips, never stopping his insistent bouncing like he couldn't help himself and I was getting worried that he was having a seizure.
"I didn't say plus Liam." She countered pointedly with a quirked eyebrow as she pursed her lips in annoyance and I discreetly pulled my cell phone out of my purse, texting my connection without looking at the screen.
"I'm his flight attendant." Liam blurted out nervously as he shifted on his feet, a blush spreading across his cheeks and Hayden's expression morphed into one of confusion as he corrected him with a shake of his head, "Wingman. Forget it. I don't have to go in."
"No, you're coming." I protested sternly as I grabbed his arm when he started to walk away, giving him a deadly look that told him to cooperate or there would be consequences. He returned my look with a pleading one, silently begging for me to let him leave but I just quirked an eyebrow at him and he sighed in defeat as I patted his arm in condescension.
"Sophie! You're here!" a familiar voice called out from inside the club and I squealed excitedly as an attractive man a few years older than me sauntered up to the door with a grin.
"Lachlan!" I cried happily as I launched myself into his waiting arms, wrapping myself around him like a monkey and he lifted my feet off the ground with a laugh as I giggled uncontrollably. He set me back on the ground with a grin as I kept my hands on his shoulders and he pressed a quick kiss to my forehead as I internally groaned over the fact that he was playing for the other team.
"I'm glad you're here. I haven't see you in forever."
"Well, I'm here now, so life fulfilled. By the way, I brought some friends with me."
"Not a problem, lovely. Come on in. Welcome to Sinema!" Lachlan announced cheerfully with a grin as he pushed the door open wider so we could gain entrance and I sauntered inside like I owned the world while the boys hesitated before walking pass an irate Hayden. She disappeared into the main part of the club as I linked arms with my friend and the boys trailed after us while speaking in low voices.
"Thanks for the hook up. This is the boys first club." I told him as I cast an affection look over my shoulder at the topic of our conversation and he followed my gaze with a smile before turning back. "Look, I don't want to keep you from work, but I love you and thank you."
"Have fun. Let me know if you need anything." He said seriously as he placed a hand on my arm to stop me just before the entrance to the main floor and I nodded in acknowledgement as he pressed another kiss to my forehead before disappearing in the direction of the offices.
A happy sigh escaped me as I stepped into the main room of the dance club, waiting for them to catch up to me and I caught myself swaying to the suddenly loud beat of the music that I feel pulsating through me. Electro House music pumped out of the speakers as scantily clad dancers gyrated on lighted platforms and I grinned wickedly to myself as I looked at the dancefloor longingly. Mason nearly tripped over his own feet as he stumbled over to stand by my side and Liam appeared on my other side with an apprehensive expression on his face.
"We don't look old enough to be here." Liam commented drily as he looked around the club warily with wide eyes and I shrugged my shoulders indifferently without looking away from the dancers.
"Neither does he." Mason told him nonchalantly as he nodded his head to someone across the crowded club and I followed his gaze to where Brett was dancing with a barely dressed young woman.
"So is this club mixed?" the Beta asked having thought that we were at a gay nightclub for Mason's benefit and I felt a smirk cross my lips when Brett turned around to begin grinding with a shirtless guy.
"Ish." I said in a singsong tone of voice as I pointed a perfectly manicured finger across the room and they both gaped for a second before shaking themselves out of their shocked state. "I'm going to go get us some drinks. Find somewhere to stand or sit or something, alright?"
I raised my arms in air as I weaved my way through the crowd, skirting around the dancing couples as I made my way towards the bar in the middle of the room. I maneuvered my way to the front of the line and ended up near the section of the bar where Hayden was having a tray of test tube shots refilled by the bartender. I watched curiously as the bartender stole one of the shots, shooting it back without flinching while she counted out her cash on the countertop.
"You remember I have to pay for these out of my own pocket, right?" Hayden admonished him bitterly with a glare so searing it might have actually set him on fire and I quirked an eyebrow at the interaction as I watched discreetly from the corner of my eye. "Yeah, that's great, Phil. You just stay back there getting drunk as usual."
"Steady as a rock." The bartender told her dismissively as he held out his hand in demonstration with a smirk before he grab another test tube shot and hit it back as she scowled at him heatedly.
"Hey." I called out flirtatiously to draw their attention as I sauntered over to stand next to Hayden and I leaned my folded arms on the counter so that the top curve of my breast peeked out of my dress. "Can I get three beers?"
"Right away, gorgeous." Phil, the bartender, said with a wink as he reached over to grab three bottles and I flashed him a bright smile as I tilted my head to the side, displaying the side of my neck enticingly. He placed the three bottle on the counter in front of me with a smirk on his lips and I went to grab my purse in order to pay but he placed a hand on my arm to stop me. "It's on the house!"
"Really? Thank you so much." I cooed loudly over the music as I ran my fingers over his wrist with a smirk of my own and he winked once more before walking away to serve other customers.
"I have never seen him give anything away for free." Hayden muttered in disbelief as she stared at me with furrowed eyebrows and I rolled my eyes in disgust at the entire male population as I turned to look at her.
"Some men are asking to be slapped, that dude happens to be one of them." I told her pointedly with a quirked eyebrow, talking slowly like I was departing words of wisdom passed down from generation to generation. "Anyone willing to take advantage of someone, deserve to be taken advantage of, and I'm more than happy to help the universe offer a karmic bitch slap."
Hayden offered me a sceptical raise of her eyebrow but there was an amused smirk on her lips and she silently turned her attention back to counting her cash in tips without any more acknowledgement of my presence. I shrugged my shoulders indifferently, a little put out that I wouldn't be able to get to know the girl Liam was interested in, but she seemed more concerned with the amount of money in her hand as she mumbled under her breath, "I'm never going to make enough."
A surge of sympathy shot through me when I saw her nearly devastated expression so I grabbed a twenty dollar bill out of my purse and I slid it over the counter in her direction as she looked at me with a scowl on her lips. I could see that she didn't appreciate what she considered pity and she opened her mouth to protest but I grabbed my beers from the counter before turning away from the bar as I called to her over my shoulder, "That guys an ass!"
I glanced around the club for the boys, catching sight of them standing at a table to the side of the room with Brett and I weaved my way through the crowd in their direction as I dodged the dancing couples. A few people tried to grab me but I easily maneuvered out of their reach and I plastered a smile on my lips as I approached the table, "Hey, guys. I found booze. And it was free!"
"Soph." Brett greeted me with a smirk as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders and I placed the beer bottles on the tabletop as I pressed a kiss to his cheek in 'hello'. Mason took his beer with a grateful smile, causing me to mock salute in his direction with my own bottle but Liam stared expectantly at Brett until the older werewolf sighed dramatically with a roll of his eyes, "No, I didn't catch anything."
"No one else in here's like us?" Liam asked warily with a deep frown as he shifted on his feet nervously and I took a sip of my beer as he looked around the club with a suspicious expression.
"I don't know, dude. Maybe. It's Beacon Hills. What's the difference?"
"It felt different."
"What do you mean, sweetie?" I asked him in concern as I rubbed his arm soothingly while trying to sense anything supernatural in the vicinity and Brett glanced around with a frown as he did the same.
"It felt off. It felt wrong." Liam tried to explain in a shaky voice but I could see the absolute sincerity in his eyes and I nodded in understanding with a soft expression, letting him know that I believed him. I silently slid his beer towards him, trying to get him to calm down a little and he nodded gratefully as he took a generous sip of the alcohol even though it wouldn't affect him like it would a human.
"Hey, uh, do you see that guy? He keeps looking over here. Do you know him?" Mason asked abruptly with a dazed expression as he leaned forward on the table to speak to Brett and I grinned excitedly at the mundane topic of conversation as I snuck a peek over my shoulder in the direction he had gestured.
Standing on the other side of the club there was an attractive guy around our age, leaning against the wall as he cast lingering glances in our direction and I didn't bother hiding it as I ran my gaze over his body in appreciation. A smirk played on my lips when I noticed that Mason was the object of his attention and I couldn't help feeling oddly protective of the human who had wormed his way into my life.
"Yeah. That's Lucas." Brett announced in a knowing voice as he turned back around and I bounced on my toes in enthusiasm as I placed my beer bottle down on the tabletop.
"He's so cute!" I squealed excitedly as I gripped Mason's arm tightly with a grin and he smiled back manically as he stole a look over my shoulder at the guy before quickly looking away. "Go over there!"
"Nuh-uh. I can't do that." he denied quickly with a shake of his head, a petrified expression on his face and I quirked an eyebrow as I levelled him with a knowing look. "If I go over there, I'll have to talk to him, and if talk to him, I'll embarrass myself, and once I embarrass myself, the pretty picture I have in my mind will crumble to dust."
"If you don't go over there, you can't talk to him, and if don't talk to him, you can't get to know him, and if you don't get to know him, you'll never get the pretty picture you have in your mind." I countered instantly with a smirk as I leaned my folded arms on the table, loving the fact that I was able to give advice on something other than supernatural disasters.
Mason pursed his lips thoughtfully for a moment, his eyebrows furrowed in deep concentration and then he nodded decisively as he drummed on the tabletop before starting in Lucas' direction. I cheered loudly as I clapped my hands victoriously with a grin, following his progress with my eyes until I could no longer see his retreating back.
I twisted back around to face the other occupants of the table with a bright smile and I quickly down the entirety of my beer before placing the empty bottle on the table. "Okay, I'm going to dance. There's no way I'm spending an hour getting ready and not destroying my effort with sweat and groping hands. Come on, Brett, this might be the only time I let you grab my ass."
The other werewolf grinned provocatively in response as I grabbed his hand in my own and I shot a questioning glance in Liam's direction, silently asking if he was okay on his own. He nodded slightly as he took a sip of his beer but his blue eyes flickered around anxiously and I frowned momentarily before deciding to ignore it for the time being as I dragged Brett onto the dancefloor.
The rhythm of the music pulsed through my veins as I raised my arms above my head, swaying in time to the beat and my eyes closed in pleasure as I lost myself in the movement. My senses were overloaded with the pheromones of those around me, the emotional chemo-signals and the familiar salty taste of sweat. I felt Brett's hands on my hips as he moved in time with me, but everything around me felt like it was miles away in that moment and I was disconnected from my body as I lost myself in the bliss.
It had been so long since I felt carefree, where everything faded from my mind and I felt unburdened by the supernatural drama that had become the centre of my existence. Out on the dancefloor nothing else matter except for the music, there was no life threatening crisis, no pain, no heartache, no uncertainty. And I felt true freedom without the restraint of responsibility, or obligation.
A smile broke across my lips as my fingers threaded through my brunette hair and I was dancing to the beat until I heard the sound of glass smashing somewhere in the club. I froze at the interruption, glancing over to see what had caused the commotion and I sighed in disappointment when I saw Liam helping Hayden collect broken shards of glass from the floor. I patted Brett's shoulder to let him know I was leaving, causing him to nod in understanding before moving over to dance with someone else.
I started weaving in the direction of the sophomore's as I tried to avoid people's grabby hands and I could see the scowl on Hayden's lips as I overheard her snap at him angrily, "Are you kidding me? Those were $10 each. The bartender isn't just going to refill them for me."
"Uh, okay, um, I've got money. I've got, um... Uh... $12 and uh..." Liam muttered nervously as he fumbled through his pockets for cash, standing up from his crouch rapidly and she rolled her eyes at him as she followed his lead by standing.
"Now we owe you just $100." I announced my presence as I grabbed the cash I had hidden in my purse for emergencies and I handed it to Hayden as they both turned to blink at me in surprise by the sudden interruption.
"Whatever." Hayden mumbled with a scoff as she stalked away from us without backwards glance and I hummed in annoyance at her behaviour but didn't comment because I noticed Liam's lingering stare.
"You just cost me $100. You, Liam Dunbar, are now my slave." I told him jokingly with a smirk as I wrapped an arm around his shoulders, breaking him out of his mindless staring and he shot me an apologetic look as I tightened my arm to let him know it was fine.
The dejected expression on his face sent a pang of sympathy through me and I started to guide him towards the abandoned table we had left behind. The whole point of going out together was so that we could relax for the night but Liam was still so tense and on edge, like he was waiting for something to go wrong.
Suddenly a wave of 'something' washed over me, causing me to freeze in the middle of the club and my blood ran cold as my eyes widened in shock at the unfamiliar sensation. There was an invisible magnetic force lightly tugging me in one direction, urging me to follow the unseeable thread. It was almost like being in a fugue state as I started walking across the nightclub towards the backrooms, ignoring the strange looks I was getting from other club goers. Liam's voice as he called my name sounded like it was coming from a great distance and I vaguely heard Brett joining in as they followed me across the room.
The music disappeared as I entered the backroom and I blinked in surprise to find myself suddenly in another part of the nightclub. Liam and Brett hurried through the curtained off area with panicked expressions but my attention was solely on the two boys locked in a heated embrace across the room.
It wasn't the image of Mason and Lucas kissing that made me gape in shock but the thorn-like spikes beginning to form along the latter's arm and I felt something spark inside of me, a protective instinct that was almost overwhelming. But I couldn't decipher which one of them had inspired the impulse.
Brett growled lowly in the back of his throat as he pushed past me, rushing towards the couple and his eyes turned bright amber as he knocked Lucas away from the other boy. Mason appeared shocked by the sudden turn of events as he gaped at the werewolf in front of him and Brett's fangs descended into sharp points as he growled out, "Run."
I sprinted to the human's side to make sure he was unharmed as Brett launched himself off of the stage-like area and immediately began sparring with the creature below. I wrapped an arm around Mason's waist as I used my Druid magic to check him for an injuries and once I was sure he was fine, I cast a worried glance towards the unknown supernatural creature currently fighting against us.
Lucas' eyes were completely black as he crouched threateningly in front of Brett, growling angrily as he bared his teeth and he threw his arm as the thorns on his arm sliced across the werewolf's abdomen. Brett cried out in pain as he fell backwards onto the ground and Lucas raised his arm for a final blow but Liam suddenly tackled him from the side.
"Stay here!" I ordered Mason sternly as I pushed him gently towards one of the concrete support beams and he nodded jerkily without looking at me as he hid behind the thick slab of cement. I rushed towards the fight, sliding to a stop next to Brett's prone form as he groaned in pain and I grabbed him under the arms as I dragged him towards the hidden alcove where Mason was crouched down.
"You're a little late!" Liam shouted at someone over the sound of fighting and I snapped my head around in surprise as I watched Lucas easily throw Scott across the room then kick Liam in the stomach. I shake my head a little as I turned my attention back to the situation in front of me and Mason helped me prop Brett up against the support beam as he tore open the werewolf's already destroyed shirt.
I couldn't help casting another look over my shoulder, keeping an eye on the battle taking place behind me and feeling slightly guilt for not being in the middle of the action. But I was the only one with any medical experience and I wasn't exactly sure which supernatural creature's DNA had been spliced with werewolf DNA, so I wasn't sure what the consequences were if cut or if there were any venom in the spikes.
Kira swung her katana expertly as she fought against the Chimera and I bit my lower lip in worry as I shifted uncomfortably at the unfamiliar protectiveness I felt towards Lucas. All three of my pack mates were circling around him, waiting for the perfect moment to attack and it was hard for me to keep track of the fast movements as the fight commenced. My bit the inside of my cheek to stop from crying out and I reminded myself that he was our enemy at the moment but every fibre of my being urged me to protect Lucas. There was something deep inside of me that want to keep him safe and I slowly stood up from my knelt position but Liam caught him off guard as he slammed him to the ground, hold his forearm against his throat.
"LUCAS!" I shouted at the top of my lungs as I took a step forward with panic in my eyes, drawing everyone's attention to me as they stared at me in surprise but my gaze was locked on the boy lying on the floor under Liam.
"Wha -?" Lucas mumbled incoherently as his eyes flickered between brown and black for a moment before settling on the former, coming back to himself as he looked around in confusion. A rush of relief flooded my veins as my lips twitched into a small smile and I took a step forward as his eyes meet mine across the expanse of the room. It was like something snapped inside of me, like it was finally settling into place after being missing for years and I could see in his eyes that he felt the same way as his features relaxed in contentment.
A bright orange light resembling flames stepped into my peripheral vison and I noticed that Kira's kitsune spirit had emerged in the form of a flaming aura that surrounded her body. The katana in her hand spun in a wide arch as she charged forward and she shouted rapidly in Japanese, "Watashi wa shi no shisha da!"
"No!" I cried out in horror as she approached Lucas with the sole purpose of killing him and I threw my hands out towards her without thinking, using my Druid powers to cut off her air supply. I could feel the magic in me flowing freely through my veins and Kira started choking on nothing as her aura faded until it had disappeared entirely. I gritted my teeth angrily with the need to protect Lucas from harm as she helplessly grasped at her throat and I suddenly realised what I was doing as I released the magic from my hold, allowing her to breathe regularly.
I looked down at my hands in shock as I panted breathlessly and I glanced around, expecting to see everyone staring at me accusingly but no one was paying me any attention. I quickly composed my features as I glanced towards Lucas to make sure he was alright and he met my gaze across the room with a reassuring glint in his eyes, causing me to breathe a sigh of relief.
"Is everyone okay?" Scott asked loudly as he glanced around at all of us for conformation and I nodded vacantly as I copied his gesture, making sure everyone was accounted for and unharmed. Brett groaned in pain behind me as Mason checked out the wound on his abdomen and I hurried over to them as I crouched down next to the werewolf with a concerned expression.
"I got you. I got you." I murmured to him gently in assurance as I inspected the wound on his side and I frowned when I noticed it wasn't healing as fast as it was meant to be. "It's healing, but slowly."
I placed my hands over the wound gently, ignoring his painful wince and I closed my eyes as I focused on drawing my healing magic towards the affected area. Brett groaned in agony as I tried to speed along the healing process and Mason hovered next to him uncertainly, looking like he wanted to do something to help but didn't know how.
"Mason, stay with him. Talk to him, distract him." I ordered the human gently as I removed my hands, knowing he needed to feel useful and he nodded frantically as he crawled over to kneel next to the werewolf. I pressed a kiss to Brett's cheek as I squeezed his shoulder comfortingly and he nodded in gratitude as I stood up from my position next to him.
I spun around to face the others, intending to make my way over as my gaze locked on the Chimera standing in between my brother and Liam. I could see that they had intentionally positioned themselves between Lucas and Kira after she had nearly sliced his head off with her katana.
I started walking in their direction but froze in horror as Lucas suddenly launched forward, a red stain spread across his chest and he collapsed onto his knees with a choked cry escaping his lips. His eyes glazed off as his head hit the pavement and I covered my mouth with my hand as I listened to his heart stop beating.
My knees felt weak as I carefully lowered myself to the ground so that I wouldn't fall over and I watched everyone else look around in confusion, searching for whoever shot the dart-like arrow which had killed Lucas.
My gaze lifted to the rafters above as I followed the wire which was attached to the end of the arrow and my lips parted in terror when I caught sight of three men covered in metal, three men in masks. We all stayed silent as the men on the lighting rig stated to reel in the string with one of the contraptions in their hands and I bit the inside of my cheek as my back of my eyes stung with tears.
"Why did you do that?" Scott asked in a loud voice, his voice wavering slightly with the emotions he was feeling but he didn't let any of them play on his features and he took a step closer so that he was in front of his pack.
"His condition was terminal." The leader of the men in masks stated in a distorted mechanical voice and the sound sent a chill up my spine as I instinctively cringed away from them.
"What does that mean?" he asked in confusion as he squinted at them angrily and I waited eagerly for an answer, wanting to know why Tracy and Lucas had to die, but the men in masks turned around without another word. "What does that mean?"
There was a tense moment of silence as the leader of the men in masks paused while the other two continued to exit and I felt my muscles stiffen as he turned his head slightly before stating, "Failure."