Rising Moon

by BehindGrayEyes

Scott McCall's twin sister Sophie is along for the ride with her brother and their best friend Stiles as Scott gets bitten by the Alpha and turned into a werewolf. How will Sophie handle the change in her life when she discovers the existance of the supernatural? Or did she already know?

98. Lies of Omission

Lies of Omission:

"You know, when you asked for my help, no one mentioned a two hour long nature walk." I grumbled in annoyance as I stepped over a fallen log in the middle of the preserve and I shot a glare at Stiles when he rolled his eyes at me dramatically. "You could have warned me. I'm not wearing the right shoes for this."

"Neither am I. I'm afraid I'm going to twist an ankle." Lydia complained with a grimace as she clung to my arm for balance when she stepped over the fallen log after me and I grabbed both of her hands to help her over the uneven ground as she smiled gratefully.

Stiles came to a stop in the middle of a clearing, resting his hands on top of his head as he spun around in a circle with a frown and then exhaled out a huff of frustration as he dropped his hands to his hips. "It's almost like this thing doesn't want to be found."

"Maybe it knows we're late for class." I quipped drily as I crossed my arms over my chest with a quirked eyebrow and I caught sight of the white chalk marks on tree trunk to the side of the clearing as I smirk spread across my lips. "Because we've been here twice."

A confused frown marred Stiles' lips as he spun around to follow the direction I pointed in and his expression crumbled in on itself as he sighed in defeat. "Crap."

A fleeting wave of sympathy washed over me as I shared an understanding look with Lydia while he wasn't looking but I couldn't help feeling some relief that we could stop wandering in circles. When Stiles and Lydia broke into my room earlier that morning, demanding that I wake up and get dressed so that I could help them with a research project, I didn't complain because I thought he meant reading through books. Both Lydia and I were suitably unimpressed when we ended up in the middle of Beacon Hills Preserve but Stiles ignored our complaints as he jovially sauntered into the woods without a care.

"Can we talk to Parrish now?" I asked him with my arms crossed over my chest as I cocked my head to the side, my eyebrows raised in silent question and he turned back to glare at me without any real heat as he settled his hands on his hips.

"Hang on." He exclaimed in realisation as his eyes lit up with hope, causing Lydia and I to step backwards in unison when he pointed a finger in the strawberry blonde's direction with an almost manic expression. "If the Nemeton's covered in bodies, shouldn't you be able to find them?"

"Me?" Lydia asked incredulously as she pointed towards herself with an eyebrow raised and he nodded in answer with both eyebrows raised as he looked at her expectantly while waving his arms erratically.

"Yes, you. That's what you do. You're the Banshee, you find the bodies."

"Well, the Banshee's having an off day, so how about we talk to Parrish?"

"We can't."

"Why not?"

"Because one of the bodies... One of them... One of them could be..." he stuttered nervously before cutting himself off abruptly as he avoided looking in our direction and I closed my eyes as I realised that he didn't want anyone else finding Donovan's body before we could make sure there was no evidence.

"Could be what?" Lydia asked in confusion with a frown as she crossed her arms over her chest and Stiles faltered for a moment as his gaze swept over her features with a saddened expression.

"One of them could be a clue." He stated meekly after a long moment of silence, unable to look her directly in the eye as he shifted nervously from one foot to the other and wrung his hands in front of himself anxiously.

"Stiles." She snapped warningly in a sharp tone as she narrowed her green eyes at him, obviously knowing the signs of him lying and he paled considerably as he looked at her pleadingly but her stern expression remained firm. I could see the internal struggle that he was going through as he tried to decide whether or not to tell her his deepest, darkest secret and I could see the inner conflict battling it out inside of him as he looked into her eyes.

Empathy flooded through me as I stood off to the side, knowing I didn't want to be a part of whatever relationship thing was going on with them, but I could understanding exactly what he was going through. The thought process that went into telling someone you ended a life was brutal, especially when the person you were thinking about telling was someone you loved and didn't want them to change how they saw you.

"Lydia…" Stiles trailed off imploringly with tears building in his eyes as he shook his head slightly and her expression softened compassionately as she stepped closer to him with wide green eyes.

"Please, tell me." she whispered pleadingly as she reached out to touch his bicep but instantly retracted her hand with a hurt expression when he subconsciously flinched at the prospect of rejection.

"She knows about Simon." I admitted quietly, just loud enough that they could both hear me over the gentle breeze, and they both snapped their heads around to look at me in surprise, apparently they'd forgotten that I was even there.

I remembered the day last summer when I told my best friend the truth of what happened the day of the PSAT's, I remembered the shock on her face, the pain in her eyes, and the way my heart clenched in my chest when she didn't say anything in response. I ran out of her bedroom in tears, thinking that I had lost my best friend forever and I drove straight to Derek's loft, seeking comfort in his arms. An hour later there was a knock on the door and Lydia stood on the other side with tears streaming down her cheeks, throwing herself into my arms the moment I opened the door as she told me how sorry she was that she didn't react better, how sorry she was that I had to go through it alone, how angry she was that I didn't think I could tell her the truth.

"This is about that?" Lydia asked disbelievingly as she looked between us incredulously with a frown and Stiles blinked away the tears in his eyes as he looked away from us pensively. "Stiles! Please. Just tell me! I can handle it."

"But I can't!" Stiles shouted in retaliation as he took a step towards her, the veins in his neck pulsing slightly and she instantly stepped back in shock as her eyes went wide. "I can't handle it, Lydia. I can't handle telling you, I can't handle you looking at me differently when you find out the truth."

"Stiles! I'm not some weak, shallow little girl anymore. I. Can. Handle. It. Whatever it is." She insisted firmly as she grasped his hand in between both of hers while looking at him pleadingly and his hard glare softened as he looked down at their clasped hands with his eyebrows furrowed. "And as for looking at you differently…Stiles, you're my best friend, – No offence, Soph. I love you. – but nothing can change that, okay?"

There was a tense silence as they stared at each other, their hands clasped together tightly and I felt like a voyeur as I turned away from them in an effort to give them the illusion of privacy. I bit my lower lip in indecision as I looked around the woods before sighing loudly to myself and I spun around to face them with a compassionate expression as I said gently so I didn't disturb the peace, "I'm leaving now, Stiles. I'm going to talk to Parrish and tell him he's the one taking the bodies."

Stiles nodded numbly as he looked at me blankly with unshed tears in his eyes and I gave a pointed look in the banshee's direction as I stated with double meaning, "It's always better when they know."

"Well then, he should know he owes me a Jeep." Stiles told me weakly with a feeble smile on his lips as his eyes shone with understanding and I offered him a smile as I pressed a supportive kiss to his cheek when I walked passed him.

Lydia looked between us in confusion, her looks pursed in frustration with her eyebrows drawn together and as I walked away from them I heard her demand faintly in the distance, "Tell me what's going on. Right now, Stiles Stilinski!"

A faint smile played on my lips at the dynamic between them as I tuned out their conversation and wandered back through the trees the way we came, hoping that I could remember the path we took. Twigs snapped under my footsteps as I stumbled over the uneven ground with a scowl on my lips and I internally swore to myself as I grabbed onto a tree trunk when I nearly twisted an ankle in my heels. I sighed in relief when I broke through the trees and saw my car on the dirt road next to Lydia's, hurrying towards the sanctuary of the vehicle.

I didn't hesitate to turn on the ignition as music pulsed through the speakers and I started driving down the dirt road out of the preserve as I nibbled nervously on my lower lip. Anxiety coursed through my veins as I thought about how I was going to tell Jordan that he was the one taking the bodies, how he was the one who he and the entire police department were meant to be searching for.

Awkward conversations weren't exactly more forte and it certainly didn't help that Jordan was legal allowed to carry a weapon, even though I knew he was too much of a gentleman to use it on the messenger.

The route to the sheriff's station was a blur as I drove there on autopilot and I blinked in surprise when I realised that I was in the parking lot, reversing into a parking spot close to the front door. A loud groan escaped me as I leaned my forehead on the steering wheel, dreading having to go in there and confront the situation.

"Ah! Come on, you're Sophie McCall. Man up!" I lectured myself under my breath as I lifted my head with a determined expression and I climbed out of the driver's side of the car as I steeled my nerves. Walking into the lobby of the sheriff's station felt like I was heading to my own lynching and I exhaled slowly as I strolled into the building like I owned it, a confident smirk on my lips.

Some of the deputies on duty glanced up when I walked past but were so used to me casually showing up at the station that they didn't blink at my appearance and my gaze immediately flickered over to Jordan's desk outside the sheriff's office.

My stomach clenched uncomfortably when I saw Valerie leaning over his desk, discussing something quietly with a smile on her face and I felt an unnecessary wave of jealousy at the sight of them together because I had my suspicions that she was interested in more than a working relationship. My brain reminded me that I held no claim over Jordan, especially not after my recent dalliance with Theo, but it annoyed me and I couldn't control my chemical reaction.

Jealousy was just a lack of self-confidence and I had to internally remind myself that I had self-confidence to spare as I forced a pleasant on my lips. My heels on the floor alerted the two deputies to my presence as I made my way towards them and I felt a wave of relief when Jordan's green eyes lit up with happiness as a small smile played on his lips, causing my own to twitch upwards in a grin.

"Shouldn't you be in class? At the high school? Where you're a student?" Valerie asked firmly with a victorious glint in her eyes as she crossed her arms over her chest, pointedly reminding everyone in the vicinity that I was still in high school.

"Hm. I'm only taking one class this year, AP Biology. And my college lecture isn't being posted online until tonight, so I have some free time. But thanks for the concern, and here I thought the county made truant officers redundant." I remarked in a sickly sweet tone as I tilted my head to the side with a tight smile and she narrowed her eyes at the veiled insult but made no attempt at responding as she walked away.

I watched her retreating back with a smirk on my lips as I leaned my hip on the edge of Jordan's desk and I turned my head in his direction with an eyebrow quirked in question when I heard him chuckle lowly.

A smirk played on his lips as he leaned back in his desk chair with his hands behind his head, his green eyes twinkling mischievously with mirth as he regarded me fondly, "That was mean."

"You know she's into you, right?" I asked in a nonchalant tone of voice as I sat on the edge of the desk and he immediately sat up from his slouched position as his smirk morphed into a grin, his eyes widening slightly. I immediately frowned at his reaction, a sinking feeling in my stomach at the thought of him being so interested in the comment and my confusion only grew when he discreetly slipped his fingers in between mine where it rested on the flat surface of the desk. I glanced down at our conjoined hand as a warmth spread through my chest and I looked up to meet his eyes as he leaned towards me with a loving smile on his lips.

"I did know that. But I'm more interested in your reaction to the news." He stated quietly with a teasing edge to his voice as he held my gaze and I stiffened momentarily at being caught out but then shook my head with a chuckle as I looked away from him. I felt him squeeze my hand gently to get my attention as he shifted closer and I snapped my head around to look at him as I subconscious turned my body towards him without noticing I was doing it. "Valerie's a great deputy, and a great friend, but I'm not interested."

"Okay." I replied softly with a small smile playing on my lips, not doubting the sincerity of his words and I felt something akin to contentment as we stared into each other's eyes without another word on the subject.

It was weird feeling this comfortable with a guy, at least a guy with romantic potential, but the warmth in my chest wouldn't let me overanalyse what it meant. Overthinking could end something before it even got a chance to develop, or create problems that aren't even there and I didn't want to ruin something before it even started. Sometimes you had to stop overthinking so much and just go where your hearts takes you because worrying about all the things that could go wrong won't help things go right.

"Sophie, what are you doing here?" John's voice called from behind me, startling both of us as I snapped my head around to see him standing in the doorway of his office and Jordan sat back on his desk chair to put some distance between us as he removed his fingers from mine.

I plastered a smile on my lips as I tilted my head to the side innocently but that didn't deter the frown on John's face as he approached Jordan's desk and I tried not to fidget nervously under his stern gaze as he came to a stop in front of me. "What? I can't just come to visit you at work?"

"One, you've never done that before in your life. Two, if you're here to see me, why are you sitting on Parrish's desk?"

I glanced down at the desk underneath me, just remembering that I was indeed sitting on top of his desk and I hummed in acknowledgement as I looked back up at him with an innocent shrug of my shoulders. "It's comfortable?"

The unamused expression on his face didn't waver as he gestured for me to get down and I instantly complied with his demand as I slipped off the desk gracefully in one movement. John had a way of making me feel like a misbehaving child even though I was now eighteen years old, it reminded me of accidently smashing a window at his house playing baseball in the front yard with Scott and Stiles when I was eight.

"In all honesty, I'm here to steal your most valuable deputy." I stated genuinely as I winked playfully in Jordan's direction, causing him to chuckle in amusement, before I turned back to face John with a sincere expression. "We discovered something…troubling…with our... – what do I call it in public? – ...group research project? And I need a strapping gentleman with a gun, who knows what's going on, to accompany me, and I was hoping you had one I could borrow for the afternoon."

"Let me guess? You have a 'strapping gentleman with a gun' in mind." John said mockingly as he crossed his arms over his chest with a stern expression and I nodded mutely as I plastered a charming smile on my lips.

"Well, since you're busy…I was hoping to borrow the next best thing."

"Parrish is off duty in half an hour, so take him. Stay out of trouble. I don't want to see you back in here with a set of metal bracelets."

"Aw, it's cute you think some dainty handcuffs could hold me." I murmured in amusement as I fluttered my eyelashes theatrically and he hummed in mocking acknowledgement as I laughed at his unimpressed expression.

"Alright, let's go before you get yourself arrested for disturbing the peace." Jordan interrupted teasingly as he stood up from his chair with a grin and I leaned back against the edge of his desk as he met my eyes with a small smile. "Give me a minute to change out of my uniform and then we'll go."

"Great. Meet me by my car? You're driving. I have some last minute editing to do for my Introduction to Personality and Affective Science essay." I told him nonchalantly as I held up my car keys for him to take and they both raised their eyebrows at me as I shrugged my shoulders innocently. "What? You both know I'm taking college courses online."

"I've got to stop being surprised and impressed by the things you say." Jordan muttered to himself as he shook his head with a smile and I watched his retreating back with a smile as he disappeared in the direction of the locker room. I bit my lower lip as my heart fluttered in my chest, beyond flattered by his comment and I snapped my head around in embarrassment when John cleared his throat pointedly at my distraction.

"So, you wanna tell me what's going on between you two? Do I have to have a conversation with him about his intentions?" John asked me lightly with a serious edge of his voice as he narrowed his eyes at me and I chuckled slightly as I ducked my head, unsure how to answer the question.

"I – I don't know what's going on with us exactly." I told him honestly as I blushed spread across my cheeks and he raised an eyebrow at me as I fought back the urge to giggle like a typical high school girl. "We're – I don't know. We've hung out a few times. I like him. A lot. And he likes me. But I'm not looking for anything serious. Not after Derek, and he knows that."

"Alright, but just so you know…" he started warily before his voice took on a stern tone as he pointed a finger at me and I regarded him curiously as he continued in a threatening tone of voice, "…if he does anything to hurt you, I'm more than happy to shoot him."

An uncontrollable grin spread across my lips as I stepped forward in order to wrap my arms around his torso and he immediately returned the gesture as I whispered appreciatively, "Thank you."

"Not a problem, kid." He murmured as he pressed kiss to the side of my head and offered me a smile as he pulled back from the embrace. I waved at him with a smirk as I started walking out of the sheriff's station, feeling a tad lighter than when I arrived but still dreading the conversation that was about to take place.

I slipped into the passenger side of my Camaro and a flash of déjà vu washed over me as I remembered the numerous times I had ridden in that exactly position during sophomore year. A reminiscent smile spread across my lips as I took a moment to get comfortable in the unfamiliar spot and let out a small chuckle as I reached into the back to grab my satchel from the backseat. I hummed to myself absently as I pulled out my laptop and started reediting my essay, everything else fading away as I focused on the screen.

The sound of the driver's side door open caused me to blink in surprise and I turned my head with a smile as Jordan climbed into the car. There was a comfortable silence as I returned to my work and he started the car, pulling out of the parking lot without saying a word.

"So, where exactly am I going, and what exactly are we doing?" Jordan asked curiously once we were a few blocks away from where we started and I ignored him for a moment as I quickly emailed the finished essay to my course professor.

"You're driving towards the preserve, and we're looking for a giant tree stump. The one from your dream." I told him distractedly as I leaned over into the backseat to deposit my laptop in my satchel and I noticed that we were driving through the preserve aimlessly as I turned back around to look out the windshield.

"So, if this place is so important, how come you didn't want to show it to me before?"

"Well, the problem is it's not easy to find."

"Should we put it in the GPS?"

"Not exactly."

"So, how are we going to find it? Because I don't remember ever being anywhere near a giant tree stump." He commented in a pensive tone as he glanced at me from the corner of his eye and my eyebrows furrowed in confusion as I looked out the passenger side window, my gaze skirting over the familiar trees that lined the road.

"I think you're already starting to remember." I told him quietly as I turned my head to study his profile curiously, the scientist in me wanting to discover what exactly he was and how it affected the fabric of the supernatural world.

"How do you know that?" he asked in confusion as he looked at me with a small frown on his lips and I couldn't help a small smile as I lolled my head to look at him with a quirked eyebrow.

"You just took a right turn." I commented in a superior tone as I pointed out the window at the turn we'd just took moments before and he blinked in shock as he looked over his shoulder with wide eyes. I laughed at his surprised expression as he turned back around to face the front and his hands tightened around the steering wheel slightly as his heartrate accelerated.

The scent of fear invaded me, his chemo-signals wafting through the car and I immediately sobered as I placed a calming hand on his thigh, drawing his attention towards me. He glanced down at my hand in surprise before looking up to meet my eyes and I offered him a small smile as I told him honestly, "Hey, we'll work it out. Every one of us freaked out at first, but we stuck together and everything eventually came to light. I'm not going to give up."

Without a word he slipped his fingers through mine where it rested on his leg, squeezing gently to let me know he appreciated my words and my smile widened slightly when the scent of fear was replaced with a mixture of contentment, happiness and love. I'd forgotten what it felt like to simply hold hands for the sake of hold hands, to feel that innocent connection to another person. Holding someone's hand was like a silent promise to the other person that, for just a moment, the two didn't have to face the world alone.

A small frown pulled at the corners of my lips as Jordan came to a stop on the side of the dirt road and I looked over at him with a questioning expression, opening my mouth to ask him why he'd stopped but he before I could voice it he shook his head as he murmured quietly, "I don't know why."

"Okay." I said simply as I retracted my hand from his hold, opening the door with my free hand and he sent me a bewildered look as I climbed out of the car but shook his head without a word before following my lead.

Jordan hesitated at the tree line of the forest, staring blankly ahead as he clenched his jaw in frustration and I slowly approached him from behind, running a hand over his back soothingly as I came to a stop beside him. I felt his muscles relax underneath my touch as I ran my hand down his arm until I reached his hand and I threaded my fingers through his in silent solidarity. He squeezed back gratefully as he exhaled slowly, his eyes scanning the immense forest in front of us and then started strolling forward as I kept pace with his long strides despite my high heeled shoes.

Our hands stayed locked together as we explored the wilderness, trying to stick to the man-made pathway that had been created over time and I was surprised to find that I recognised the route we were taking, finding it somewhat familiar.

"Anything look familiar?" I asked him hopefully as we entered a clearing in the middle of the forest and we came to a stop as he reluctantly released my hand, spinning around to look at the surrounding trees.

"Nothing. I'm trying, but it all looks like woods to me." he admitted in frustration as he ran a hand through his hair with a scowl on his lips and I pursed my lips thoughtfully as I crossed my arms over my chest while watching him with a critical eye.

Words swirled in my head like they'd been placed in a blender, years of studying the supernatural ran through my mind as I analysed all of the evidence and symptoms Jordan presented. The one component that stood out was the undocumented connection towards the dead, it was that ability that we needed to exploit. It occurred to me that it was a similar affliction to what banshee's suffered from, an unexplainable ability to connect to the dead on a subconscious level a mundane couldn't reach. My mind starting whirring with possibilities, with solutions to the problem, until I realised that maybe the two species were related in more ways than one and we could use the process to access the abilities.

Through my research into banshees when I was helping Lydia understand her new species, I discovered that the piercing scream managed to clear the banshee's head, creating a white-noise so that they could properly hear the whispers of other banshee on a frequency unreachable to anyone else.

"Maybe you're thinking about it too much. Maybe it's something you need to feel." I said out loud in a thoughtful tone as I narrowed my eyes at him and he turned to look at me with a sceptical expression on his handsome face.

"How do I do that?" he asked me pointedly with a raised eyebrow as he held his arms out to his sides and I regarded him silently, not giving away my intentions in the slightest, before suddenly aimed a punch towards his face. Jordan jerked back in surprise so that my fist missed him as his eyes widened in shock and I immediately threw another punch that he blocked with his forearm expertly as he exclaimed, "What was that for?"

"To get you to stop thinking." I remarked with a grin as he grabbed my hand to stop an incoming punch and I attempted to aim a kick to his side as he dropped my wrists, moving backwards out of reach before I made contact.

"Oh, is this supposed to motivate me?"

"No. It's supposed to get you to stop...thinking!"

A laugh bubbled out of my lips as I continued to use my martial arts expertise to spar with him and he easily combated each of my moves with a grin etched on his lips. Our movements were fluid, like a choreographed dance number and I couldn't remember the last time I felt myself actually trying in a physical fight. No one in the pack had my years of training behind them, they only had a raw animal instinct but it was too easy for me to predict their moves before they came and it was hardly any effort for me to defeat them. My mind calculated each move before I made it like a complicated game of chess and I could feel my muscle straining with a pleasurable ache, enjoying the first work out that they had received since Derek left.

My breath was coming out in pants as Jordan grabbed my ankle when I felt to kick him in the side and he spun my around suddenly before pulling my back against his chest. I fought my natural instinct to fight against his hold as his hands firmly planted themselves on my hips and I could hear his heartbeat pounding in his chest, the scent of his sweat on his skin. I leaned my head back against his shoulder, my eyes fluttering closed as I tried to control my accelerated heartrate and I suppressed a shiver when his lips ghosted over the side of my neck, on the sensitive skin just underneath my ear.

Jordan's hands slowly slipped around to the front of my body, grazing the exposed skin of my stomach and I was internally grateful that I had decided to wear a mid-drift blouse. He slipped his hand under the front of the flimsy material hesitantly and I sucked in a breath as I reached up behind me to touch the back of his neck, tangling my fingers in the hair on the nape of his neck.

I felt his warm breath on my cheek as I tilted my head back, fluttering my eyes open so that I could look into his green eyes and his lips nearly brushing mine, one small movement would cause them to touch. One of his hands came up to cup the side of my face as he slowly lowered his head, giving me plenty of time to pull away but I threaded my fingers through the hand that was still resting on my stomach.

The kiss started off gentle, almost experimental as our lips moved together perfect harmony and I turned around in his arms without breaking the kiss as my arms wrapped around his neck. He gently tugged me closer to him so that our bodies pressed against each other so I could feel his hard abdomen and I tilted my head to deepen the kiss, opening my mouth to tangle our tongues at a leisurely pace instead of a fight for dominance.

A warmth spread through me as he tangled his fingers through my hair, the other hand resting on my lower back at the base of my spine and I gripped the collar of his shirt in my fist as the my other hand played with the hair on the nape of his neck. I moaned in the back of my throat as his tongue traced the inside of my mouth, memorising all of the nooks and crannies, slowly as though he was deliberately teasing me, taunting me, daring me to beg for more.

I reluctantly pulled back from the kiss when my lungs started to burn from lack of oxygen and I leaned my forehead against his with my eyes closed as I tried to regulate my breathing. An uncontrollable smile spread across my still tingling lips when I realised that my heartrate was synchronised with Jordan's.

I heard him chuckle under his breath as I lifted my head with a small smirk but my smile slipped from my lips when I noticed his eyes glowing a bright orange and he frowned in confusion at the sudden change in my expression. I reached up to gingerly trace my finger underneath his eye as I bit my lower lip and I met his confused gaze evenly with a frown as I told him softly, "Your eyes. They're orange. What were you thinking about just then?"

"I wasn't thinking. I was just…I don't know. Experiencing."

"Well, my plan kinda worked." I quipped drily as I ran my hands down to his biceps with a smirk on my lips and he ducked his head with a chuckle before suddenly stiffening, all of his muscles going tense. A frown pulled at the corners of my lips as I let go of his arms when he turned his head to the side, the sunlight hitting his glowing orange eyes in a frightening and beautiful manner. "What is it, Jordan? Do you sense something?"

Instead of answering my query, he started walking to the side of the clearing, not even sparing me a look, and I hurried to keep up with his long strides in my high heels and mini shorts. I grumbled to myself as his retreating figure disappeared between the trees, stumbling after him as I cursed my unexplainable ability to only be attracted to supernatural beings.

I stumbled to a stop on the other side of the cluster of trees, my eyes wide in shock as I stared at the large tree stump in the middle of a clearing but my gaze was locked on the several deceased bodies stacked around the base of the stump. Jordan stood a few feet from the Nemeton, staring in horror at the scene in front of him and I slowly approached him cautiously without removing my eyes from the bodies as I tried to ignore the nausea that crept up on me.

Jordan didn't react when I placed a supportive hand on the centre of his back, a silent reminder that he wasn't alone and I saw unshed tears in his green eyes as he took a deep breath to steady himself before whispering, "How did I know where to find this?"

"Because you've been here before." I told him honestly in a quiet voice so I didn't break the atmosphere surrounding us and he closed his eyes in disappointment, like he already knew the answer but was hoping for another.

"I'm the one taking the bodies, aren't I?"

"Yes. Stiles saw you at the morgue."

My hand dropped limply to my side when he suddenly turned away, his hands threaded together on the top of his head and I watched him pace in front of me without a word as his jaw tightened in frustration. His eyes were back to their normal green, and they kept flickering between me, the bodies and the ground as he frantically clenched and unclenched his fists.

I opened my mouth to ask if he was alright but before any words left my mouth, he was stalking past me back the way we came and I frowned to myself as I hurried to catch up to his determine strides. "Um, Jordan, honey, where are we going?"

"I need to call it in. No, I need to turn myself in." he answered me firmly as we passed through what I was going to dub 'our clearing' and I paused for a moment as what he said registered in my mind before hurrying after him while frantically shaking my head.

"I don't think that's such a good idea."

"You just told me I'm the one taking the bodies. I've attacked other law enforcement officers. That's a criminal offense. I shouldn't even be near you."

"I'm not afraid of you." I stated in an offended tone of voice as I scowled at the back of his head and he abruptly turned around to face me with a scowl of his own, a scorching anger in his eyes I hadn't even seen before. My breath caught in my throat at the sudden change in him, my mouth becoming dry as lust flooded through my veins but I tried to suppress it because of the circumstance.

"I'm afraid of me." he bit out in a sharp tone of voice as he took a step closer to me so that he was towering over me and all I wanted was to throw myself into his arms, to see if I could turn that anger into something more.. productive, but I knew now wasn't the time.

I forced my libido down as my expression softened, my scowl dropping into a small smile and I took a step closer so that my body was pressed against his as I cupped his face with my hands. "Jordan, I can take care of myself and even if I couldn't, I'm not afraid of you. I know the kind of man you are. You are the embodiment of a gentleman. You open doors, and carry things, and pull out chairs, not because you think I'm helpless or unable, but because you want me to know I'm valuable and worthy of respect. You're sweet, and kind, and intelligent, and loyal, and sexy, and funny, and you care more about other people than you do yourself. I know you, Jordan. And in no world, or alternate dimension, would you ever even consider hurting someone you care about."

I leaned up to brush my lips gently against his in a ghost of a kiss, lingering slightly to let him know I meant every word and he reached up to cup my jaw with one hand as the other slipped into my brunette hair. He pressed his lips firmly against mine as he tilted my head to the side, running his tongue across the seam of my lips and I opened my mouth eagerly as his tongue tangled with mine in a passionate caress.

Butterflies erupted in my stomach as I wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing my body against his in an effort to feel more of him and he retreated from the kiss, his lips hovering over mine as we both tried to catch our breath. His forehead rested against mine with his green eyes smouldering as he gently ran his thumb over my swollen lower lip and I playfully bit the digit with a smile as he chuckled at the gesture before cupping my jaw with the same hand.

"God, you're beautiful." He murmured under his breath as he pressed a kiss to my forehead and I felt my stomach swoop dramatically as I remembered something Lydia once told me: 'A forehead kiss from a guy means that he feels comfortable around you. We all know how horrible men are at communication, so it's a way to show how much they care without saying a single word. It implies that they respect you, and that they don't just want you to feed their sexual appetite. Although, they do want you. All men want all women.'

A shiver coursed through my veins as I leaned into him with my eyes closed and his warm, calloused hands trailed a path down my shoulders, my arms, all the way to my hands where he laced our fingers together. A smile spread across my lips as I leaned back, rocking backwards on my heels to look at his face and he matched my grin with a twinkle in his green eyes as he helped me balance so that I didn't tumble backwards in my high heels.

Kissing him was like a gentle reminder not to miss out on a good thing because my past was persuading me not to pursue a future and I basked in the happiness that accompanied my realisation, letting it wash over me like a safety blanket.

"Whatever's happening seems to only happen when there's a body. Other than that you're still a pretty nice guy. And you're a pretty good deputy." I told him honestly in a playful tone as I squeezed his hands gently with a smirk and he rolled his green eyes at me but kept a serious expression on his handsome features.

"I'm a very good deputy. And I'd like to stay that way. Flipping over Jeeps and attacking colleagues doesn't exactly fit with 'protect and serve.' I'm covering up the bodies of murdered teenagers."

"You're not covering them up..." I started to protest with a shake of my head before a thought hit me and I froze in place with a pensive expression on my face as I murmured, "Actually, maybe you are."

"What?" Jordan asked in concern as he tugged me closer to him, wrapping his arms around my waist as he linked his fingers at the base of my spine and I instantly wrapped my arms around his neck, absently playing with the hair on the nape of his neck.

"It's the same thing we asked Stilinski to do with Tracy. You're not covering up bodies. You're covering up the supernatural."

"What's the difference?"

"Maybe you're keeping the secret safe. Maybe that's part of what you do."

"I'm a deputy." Jordan insisted firmly as he pursed his lips defiantly, his eyes flashing with uncertainty and I levelled him with a deadpan look as I pulled slightly on his hair in reprimand.

"You're not just a deputy. And you aren't one of the bad guys." I repeated sternly in a nonsense tone of voice as I held his stare purposefully, trying to communicate through nothing but eye contact how serious I was on the matter.

It was important to me that he knew, that he understood how much of a good guy he was, because it was true: he was one of the last remaining gentlemen in the world. There was a vibe surrounding him that I couldn't explain, a serenity and honesty that encompassed his entire being. I hated to admit it but it was slightly intimidating for me to be around him, especially when I knew how he felt about me because I wasn't entirely sure I was worthy of his affection after everything I'd done.

Jordan sighed heavily with a solemn expression as his thumb caressed the exposed skin of my back and I melted into his touch as his sombre eyes studied me reaction for any remote changes. "Sophie, you just showed me that my dream was real. But you haven't heard the rest of it. Every time I carry a body to the Nemeton, I put it down and add to the ones that are already there."

"How many?" I asked softly in a compassionate tone as I rubbed his upper arms soothingly and the haunted look in his eyes concerned me as he stared blankly at something over my shoulder, like he was experiencing the dream all over again in that moment.

"Hundreds, Sophie. Hundreds of them." he murmured in an unnerved voice as he met my worried gaze evenly and I saw unshed tears in his eyes for a moment before he blinked them away defiantly. "And that's why I have to turn myself in. I don't want to hurt anyone."

I opened my mouth to protest as my eyes burned with tears of my own but he clasped a hand over my mouth with a determined expression and my words were muffled against his skin as he ignored my annoyed glare. "And especially don't want to hurt you. Phee, I love you, and I'll be damn if I let anything happen to you when I could've prevented it simply by turning myself in."

My heart shuddered to a stop, not from his declaration of love – because I already knew that – or from his intense statement – because I already knew that too – but from the familiar and simply use of a nickname no one had ever uttered. And it felt so right coming from his lips as I stared at him blankly, unable to think clearly enough to formulate a response.

Jordan pressed a lingering kiss to my forehead, inhaling my vanilla scented perfume and apple shampoo as though he was memorising it and I was positive a dumbfounded expression was etched on my face when he pulled away from me with a small smile.

I stood frozen in the middle of the forest as he started strolling back in the direction of the cars and I snapped my mouth closed as I hurried after him without a word, my mind whirring with random thoughts, none of it coherent in the least. My eyebrows were furrowed together in confusion as to how he could announce such big declarations with such nonchalance when it took me weeks of mental motivational speeches and sometimes liquid courage to admit things to myself let alone someone else.

It was a relief when I broke through the tree line, catching sight of my car parked on the dirt road and Jordan leaning against the passenger side door with his arms crossed over his chest. I huffed indignantly about being left behind as I levelled him with an annoyed glare but he just grinned unaffectedly as he opened the door for me to climb in. I heard him chuckle to himself as he closed the door behind him and I rolled my eyes affectionately as he rounded the car to climb in the driver's side.

The chemo-signals in the car were nearly overwhelming as we started driving back towards town, the scent of fear, hopelessness, resolve, love, all circulating in the suppressive environment and I had to roll down the window slightly before I suffocated.

I balanced my elbow on the window frame as I closed my eyes, enjoying the wind blowing in my face and through my hair as I tried not to let myself thinking about the repercussions of what Jordan was about to do. I knew that he had made up his mind, he thought he was protecting us, something ingrained in his being, and nothing I could say would stop him from doing what he thought would keep everyone safe. Jordan's protective instinct and loyalty were two of the things I liked most about him, but I couldn't help but hate them at the moment because they also made him unreasonable and stubborn when he thought he was doing the right thing.

I blindly reached over towards the driver's seat, smiling to myself when Jordan instantly threaded his fingers through mine as he lifted our conjoined hands to his mouth and pressed a kiss to my knuckles before resting them on his thigh.

"I don't do conjugal visits." I grumbled in irritation as I narrowed my eyes at the building in front of us, scowling as he came to a stop in one of the available spots out the front and he choked out a startled laugh as I turned my head to meet his gaze, his eyes twinkling with undeniable mirth and love.

I made a vague sound of surprise when he suddenly launched across the console, latching his lips to mine in a fierce kiss as he cradled my face in his hands but I instantly reciprocated as I fisted his shirt in my hands. There was something different about this kiss, it wasn't soft or tender and gentle like the first two were. This was hungry, and lustful, and passionate, making my toes curl with its intensity as I clung to him as though he would disappear at any moment.

I moaned in the back of my throat as he forcefully plied my lips apart with his tongue, unnecessarily because I was eager comply with his command as he deepened the kiss and one of his hands crept underneath the hem of my shorts as he grazed the silken skin of my thigh. I was two seconds away from climbing across the console to straddle his lap when he slowly pulled back from the kiss and we both panted for breath as he pressed a series of small kisses over my swollen lips, my cheeks, my nose, and then back to the corner of my lips.

A breathy laugh escaped me as a grin spread across my lips and he pulled back enough to look at my face as he kept one hand on my cheek and the other on my thigh where my shorts had risen to expose my skin.

"Not that I'm complaining, but what brought that on?" I asked him in amusement as I leaned into his touch with a warm smile on my lips and he grinned happily as he rubbed his hand soothing along my leg absently.

"Other than the fact that I finally can do that, or this…" he trailed off teasingly as he leaned back in to press a soft lingering kiss on my lips until I started to return the pressure and then he pulled back with a smile as I pouted playfully in protest. "You made me laugh."

"I always make you laugh." I argued in confusion as I shook my head slightly and he nodded in agreement as his expression became serious, brushing the back of his fingers across my cheek.

"You do. But today was a hard day. One of the most confusing, frustrating, maddening days I've ever experienced, and somehow, you made me laugh when I felt like I never would again. So, thank you."

"You're welcome. I'm glad I was here."

"I'm glad you were here too."

I couldn't help smiling at the sincerity in his eyes as he leaned over to press a chaste kiss to my lips and I cupped his face with my hands as I returned the pressure immediately. My skin tingled where he touched my bare thigh as he pulled back from the kiss and I playfully pressed a number of barely there kisses on his lips with a grin. Laughter escaped me as I turned around to open the passenger side door, leaving him gaping after me as I climbed out of the car and he quickly followed my lead as I strolled towards the sheriff's station.

My exuberant mood faded the minute we entered the nearly empty room, Jordan's expression becoming sombre as well as a few of the other deputies glanced up as we passed but none of them bothered us. I frowned slightly as he came to a stop beside his desk outside the sheriff's empty office and I crossed my arms over my chest, leaning my hip against the edge as I watched him search through one of the drawers.

"So, what exactly is the plan here? Because you can't tell anyone about the supernatural. Not that they'd believe you anyway." I asked him in the calmest tone I could even as my hands clenched into fists at my side, physically stopping myself from doing something untoward and potentially embarrassing.

Instead of answering my perfectly reasonable query, he held up a set of keys triumphantly and then silently turned on his heel as he started towards the back of the station where the holding cells were situated. I swore under my breath as I hurried after him, my heels clicking furiously on the floor and I turned the corner just as he was shutting the metal barred door behind him.

The holding cells were dark and dreary, perpetually cold for some reason I could never decipher no matter how many times I was been in there. The last time was for a small assault charge that never made it past a verbal warning, but John had left me sitting there by myself for a few hours while he finished his shift, trying to teach me a lesson about what could happen if I kept down a dangerous path. I argued furiously that some men just needed a swift punch in the face, an excuse that he later agreed with once he heard the entire story of how the 'victim' had grabbed my ass in line at the movies and refused to take 'no' for an answer.

"Jordan, what the hell are you doing?" I asked him in exasperation with a sigh as I planted my hands on my hips and he ignored me as he bent his arm in an uncomfortable position, using the keys to lock the door. "This is stupid."

"Go home, Sophie. Stilinski isn't going to be telling anyone where he puts anymore bodies, and I'm pretty sure I'm not psychic." Jordan insisted as he shook the door with both hands, making sure it was securely locked before throwing the keys across the room and out of his reach.

I rolled my eyes at him as I walked across the room to grab the abandoned keys from the floor and I turned back around to give him a knowing look as I twirled the keyring around my finger. "But you're drawn to death. Just like Lydia."

"Does that make me a kind of Banshee?" he asked incredulously with a frown as he curled his fingers around the metal bars of the cell and I shrugged my shoulders, unable to answer when I didn't know the answer. "She finds bodies. I find Chimeras."

"Dead Chimeras. So, you're both harbingers of death." I murmured thoughtfully with a pondering expression as I sat down on the ground, my back against the wall and my shoulder against the cool metal bars.

"I should probably add that to my resume." Jordan remarked drily in amusement as he sat down across from me on the other side of the bars and I laughed a little as I leaned my head back against the wall behind me.

"Hmm. All of this is on my college applications." I replied in the same tone of voice with a wry smirk on my lips as I lolled my head around to look at him and he chuckled lowly as he ducked his head with a grin.

A tense silence settled over us until it was broken by the thumping of my shoes hitting the concrete ground as I kicked them off of my feet and I crossed my legs underneath myself in an effort to get comfortable. I winced slightly when the cool floor came in contact with my exposed skin but quickly adjusted to the change and settled into a comfortable position.

Sitting beside a prison cell wasn't exactly on my list of fun ways to spend a night but I didn't feel right leaving Jordan by himself when he was only doing what he thought was best for everyone else. I knew he felt responsible for his actions, regardless of how unconscious they were, and he didn't deserve to be abandoned behind bars for something he had no control over, and if my presence made him feel slightly better, I would do it for as long as it took.

"Does it help knowing? Knowing what you are? Knowing what everyone else is?" Jordan asked me softly just above a whisper as he curled his fingers around the metal bar, drawing my attention and I could hear the vulnerability in his voice as he continued, "I remember you telling me about what Lydia went through before she knew the truth."

I took a moment to think it over, knowing how important the answer would be, as I thought over everything that had happened in the last two years and I found myself answering with a truth I didn't even realise was accurate. "It doesn't scare me as much. I've known about werewolves since I was ten, so it wasn't that big of a surprise, but adjusting to it being the focal point of my life took some time. All of the unknown attributes, like the Kanima, scare me when they happen."

A thought suddenly occurred to me as I snapped my head around to look at him with a frown on my lips and I hesitated momentarily, unsure if I wanted to know the answer, before asking quietly in a whisper, "Does it scare you? Knowing what we all are? What I am?"

"Once." He answered honestly with a slow nod of his head and I subconsciously flinched in response to the brutal honesty, causing his gaze to fly up to meet my hurt eyes. He slipped his hand through the space between the metal bars, tangling his fingers with mine in reassurance and I squeezed gently in acknowledgment as he clarified, "It was the night I found that werewolf, the one with the talons. I thought I was going to die that night."

"How come?"

"Because I saw Lydia. I saw the Banshee. And I saw you. But I guess it was just a dream or a hallucination."

"What were we doing?"

"Trying to keep me alive."

The words were whispered so softly that I almost didn't hear them, even with my supernatural hearing, and my breath caught in my throat at the pure admiration shining in his green eyes. It was the kind of look that would've made my knees give out if I were standing, the kind of look that melted hearts of unsuspecting victims, the kind of look that made me want to fall into his arms and stay there for eternity. It was the kind of look that made me fall a little bit in love with him without me even realising that's what I was doing.

Instead of confronting my budding feelings, I hid behind my sense of humour as a defence mechanism and cleared my throat uncomfortably as I tucked a strand of brunette hair behind my ear with a dry smirk. "Well, sorry, but the Banshee and I were mostly trying to stay out the rain. That was the night of the storm, remember?"

A sudden thought struck me as I completely froze in place, my mind a mess of incoherent sentences and random texts I'd read for either research or enjoyment as I tried to formulate an intelligible theory.

"The Wild Hunt." I whispered in realisation as I blinked back into reality with a frown on my lips and I turned my head to meet Jordan's eyes, his handsome features creased in concern as he peered at me through the bars.

"The what?" he asked in confusion as his eyes traced every inch of my face, checking for any sign of something wrong and I smiled softly in reassurance as I shook my head slightly to myself.

"Oh, it's something I read once. A myth about thunderstorms... Woden's Hunt, also known as the Wild Ride or Wild Hunt. Ghost Riders, phantom hunters would appear in the sky. Riding black horses with blood-red eyes. And wolves and hounds at their side, baying and snarling. Hunting souls. A myth of devilish riders in the sky accompanied by black dogs, spectral beasts whose eyes glowed with fire... A Bearer of Death and Guardian of the Supernatural, the black dog is also known by its more common name, the Hellhound."

"That's what you think I am? A Hellhound? Bearer of Death, Guardian of the Supernatural?" he asked me with his voice devoid of any emotion other than curiosity, his expression a blank mask and I shrugged my shoulders unsurely with an apologetic expression on my face.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know. I've only ever heard rumours, myths. What I've told you is basically all I know." I told him honestly with a frown on my lips as I squeezed his fingers gently in remorse and he offered me a half-smile as he shook his head, dismissing my apology easily. "It's a lead though. I can do some research on the subject. Later, when we're not fighting for our lives from mad scientists or locking ourselves in jail cells."

"Hey, I let you talk me out of turning myself in to the authorities." He pointed out in a light scolding tone as he raised an eyebrow at me, his lips quirking into a small smirk and I rolled my eyes playfully as I scoffed out a sarcastic laugh. "It's true! I'm going to stay in here – "

"The homey little cage?"

"– the secure holding cell." he continued over my interrupted, raising his voice slightly as he glaring at me in mock anger and I smiled back at him innocently, fluttering my eyelashes as he fought the urge to smile before sobering. "It's the best course of action, Phee."

I pursed my lips in irritation, ignoring the skip of my heartbeat at the casual use of the newly established nickname, because I knew that he right, no matter how badly I wanted him to be wrong. I turned my face away from him so he couldn't see the defeat in my eyes, not wanting to admit that his plan had some merit to it and he chuckled lowly from the other side of the bars, obviously aware of my attempt.

"Well then, if you're determined to spending the night locked up, we might need some previsions." I announced primly as I stood up from the ground with my chin held high and he looked up at me in confusion, a small frown on his lips but his green eyes shining with hope.

"'We'?"

"You really think I'm going to leave you sitting in here on your own. It's freezing cold, it's boring as hell, and soon enough, you're going to be starving. I can remedy all of that. I'm bringing you a blanket, I am a delightful conversationalist, and I'm going to go raid the breakroom. Later, maybe if you're good, I'll go buy you actual food, like burgers and fries."

"You don't have to do tha – "

"Blah, blah, blah!" I interrupted him playfully in a singsong tone as I started walking away from him, waving a hand dismissively over my shoulder and smiled when I heard him laughing behind me as I exited the holding area.

A few of the deputies working the late shift glanced at me in confusion when they noticed me but quickly dismissed my presence, having seen me enough to recognise me as the sheriff's surrogate daughter. I quickly made my way to the breakroom, my eyes flittering around the small quipped kitchen and dining area, making sure no one would question my presence. I grabbed two bottles of water out of the fridge before collecting a variety of snacks from the cabinet and then exited the room, knowing that I would be going out to grab proper food later on.

I balanced everything carefully in my arms as I made my way back towards the holding cells and I noticed John standing in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest, a confused frown on his lips. He turned his head towards me as I approached him with a small smile and he scratched the back of his head as his eyebrows drew together in befuddlement.

"Hey. What the hell does he think he's doing?" he asked me sceptically as he pointed a finger in the direction of the holding cell where Jordan was standing, watching us with a grave expression on his features.

"Protecting us." I answered him with an exasperated sigh as I rolled my eyes as though the whole thing was ridiculous and paused next to him a for moment as I shifted on my feet.

"From who?"

"Himself."

John shook his head in disbelief as he marched into the holding area, bending down to pick up the key I abandoned on the ground and I carefully placed the things I was holding on the ground so that I could intervene if it became necessary.

I bit my lower lip nervously as I watched them, knowing it would be better if they handle the confrontation themselves but when John went to place the key in the lock Jordan took a hurried step back as he exclaimed, "No!"

Stilinski stared at him incredulously for a moment but eventually removed them from the keyhole without argument, his stance one of defiance and his posture slightly on the defensive side. He glanced in my direction, silently asking me to explain but I just rolled my eyes with a shrug of my shoulders as I leaned against the wall.

Jordan slowly walked up to the bars with his eyes closed as he breathed out tiredly, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration and he opened his eyes as he looked at his boss with an understanding expression. "I get why you sat me at a desk for six months now."

"Parrish, we can't keep you in here." John stated in a firm tone as he flung his arms in exasperation, looking remarkably like his son in that moment and my lips twitched into a small smile as I ducked my head so they wouldn't see.

"There's another body, right?"

"Two, actually."

"I'm the one taking them. I, I don't know why, and I definitely don't remember doing it. But if it really was me at the morgue, then I'm dangerous. Okay? You can't let me out, Sheriff. You can't." Jordan insisted passionately with a shake of his head as his finger curled around the metal bars until his knuckles were white from the pressure and I hated the desperation in his eyes, the self-inflicted blame in their depths.

I quickly made my way across the room in long strides and came to a stop in front of him, placing my hands on either side of his face through the bars as I forced him to meet my gaze evenly. I could feel John's eyes burning a hole in the back of my head, but I ignored the fact that I was having such an intimate moment with his employee in front of my father figure. It didn't matter in that moment, all which mattered was soothing the self-hatred burning in Jordan's eyes and the utter defeat that was written so clearly across his features.

Our eyes locked almost instantly when I guided his head upwards and my breath caught in my throat at how easily I could read the tremulous emotions running rampant in his green eyes. It was quiet moments like this one that proved that eye contact was way more intimate than words could ever hope to be.

It should've been awkward, such an intimate moment so soon in our 'relationship', but true intimacy was based on shared vulnerability, and nothing deepened intimacy like sharing experiences that made our skin feel as though it had been flayed raw. Willing to stand by someone when they're scared, when the universe stood against you, it said something about the strength of your emotional bond.

My thumbs rubbed soothing circles on his cheekbones as I tried to convey reassurance with my eyes and he leaned into my touch as his eyes fluttered closed in exhaustion, his forehead pressed against the metal bars. The tension seemed to fade from his posture as he relaxed into me and I found my lips turning up at the corners in satisfaction as I leaned my forehead against his own.

Jordan was usually so strong and self-assured, a pillar of strength for those around him, and it was quite flattering that he felt comfortable enough to be vulnerable in my presence, to lean on me when he needed someone.

Someone clearing their throat behind me snapped me back to reality and I immediately pulled back from Jordan as he swore under his breath, obviously having forgotten John's presence as well. I knew my eyes were wide as I tried to suppress a guilty smile, feeling like an actual teenage girl who was trying to sneak her boyfriend out of her bedroom after a late night rendezvous.

I slowly turned around to face him, keeping my eyes downward so to avoid his gaze and I scrambled for something to change the subject, to skip over the awkward conversation that would follow. I bit down nervously on my lower lip as I thought back over the conversation we were having before and my mind seemed to freeze on one specific part that was said as I snapped my head up to meet John's eyes with horror. "Wait, did you say two bodies?"

"Yeah. Yeah, uh, Corey and Hayden." John informed me sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head with a grimace and my blood ran cold as every other word he said was muffled by the blood rushing in my ears. "Hayden's not gone yet, they've taken her to the animal clinic."

"I – uh – I –" I stuttered in shock as I stared straight ahead with wide eyes and I felt Jordan move behind me, his cool hands on the exposed skin on my back but it didn't even seem to register with me. Someone placed a hand on my shoulder, startling me back to reality as I snapped my head up to meet John's concerned gaze and I raked a hand through my hair as I shook my head with a scowl on my lips. "I have to, um – I have to go."

Determination coursed through my veins as I pushed away from them both with a blank expression masking my features and I started out the door without a backwards glance, my mind fixated on getting to Hayden.

"You forgot your shoes!" John called out after me but I didn't care in that moment as I tore through the sheriff's station barefoot, skirting around desks as I avoided curious onlookers. I cringed in pain when I banged my knee against a chair but the pain was nothing after the hell I'd experienced before so I kept running as though it never happening.

Night had fallen some time since we arrived at the station as I ran outside into the gravelled carpark and was instantly drenched from the pouring rain, the material of my shirt sticking to my skin. I climbed into the front seat, thankful that I somehow managed to get the key from Jordan without noticing. I fumbled the keys into the ignition, swearing under my breath as my vision was clouded with tears and I bit down on my lower lip until I could taste blood on the tip of my tongue.

I needed to get my pain out of the way before I arrived at the clinic, I couldn't have them seeing my distress because I knew that they looked to me for guidance and because of that, I didn't get the luxury of breaking down. If I wanted to react emotionally, I had to do it now when I was alone or wait until it was all over and I didn't know how long this current situation would last.

The tension was building inside of me, begging and pleading to be released, and I tightened my hold on the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white under the strain. I clamped my lips shut as I shifted restlessly on my seat with tears in my eyes and I swerved the car over to the side of the road, thankful that there was no other vehicles around.

I needed to take 10 seconds for myself before everyone else was there with me, looking at me with such hope and awe, like was knew the answers to everything when in fact, I knew absolutely nothing.

'1, 2…'

I let go of the steering wheel with a large exhale.

'3, 4…'

I covered my mouth with both hands as I squeezed my eyes closed.

'5, 6, 7…'

Something inside of me snapped as I let out a pained scream, the volume muffled by the hands cupped over my mouth.

'8, 9, 10…'

I released a shuddering sigh as I scrubbed the tears off my cheeks, removing any evidence of my breakdown.

There was a calmness inside of me, a renewed sense of peace that only came from releasing pent up tension and it was comforting like an old pair of sweatpants, a warmth and serenity that came from something familiar. I took a deep breath as I set my hands back on the steering wheel and I cleared my throat as I pulled back onto the road, continuing the drive as though the pit stop never happened.

Rain poured down outside the safety off my car, the muffled sound of drops hitting the asphalt and my ragged breathing were the only noise, and they weren't enough to block out the mangled thought running rampant through my head. I took this time to compile a list in my head of everything that needed to get down and I tried to concentrate on facts and figures instead of anything emotional. Compartmentalising was the only way I could get through any of the crisis's we faced on the daily basis so I pushed everything to the back of my mind and focused my attention on what was right in front of me.

I pulled to a stop outside the front entrance of the animal clinic and I quickly searched for my cell phone in my handbag, biting my lower lip harshly as I brought up Lydia's contact information before starting to compose a text to her.

Sophie: At clinic w/Hayden.

Think figured out what JP is. Can you do some research?

Lydia: On what?

Sophie: Hellhounds. Black Dogs.

Lydia: Got it. Contact you when I know more. Keep me updated.

A sigh of relief left my lips when I knew that I had one less thing to deal with and I was thankful that I had people I trusted enough to delegate such important tasks on to at a moment's notice. Lydia was one of the most thorough researchers, only coming second to Stiles obsessive nature when it came to investigating. She was almost one of the most equipped when it came to intellect, deduction and ability to understand different languages, even those considered 'dead' and 'romance' languages.

A heavy weight settled on my shoulders as I climbed out of the car, immediately getting saturated with rain as I sprinted towards the front door with the gravel scratching the soles of my feet. The bell over the door chimed when I entered the lobby and footstep quickly hurried towards me from the back examination room.

Scott appeared from around the corner, his expression relaxing in relief at the sight of me and in a matter of seconds, I found myself cocooned in the warmth of his arms as he wrapped me in an embrace. "Oh, thank God you're here."

"I'm here." I whispered in returned as I allowed myself the small comfort of my brother's arms and then pulled back with a small smile on my lips as I mentally rebuilt up my emotional wall around my mind.

The sound of three heartbeats in the back room, one much weaker than the others, caught my attention and I focused my hearing until I could pick up the familiar rhythm of Liam and Theo's hearts.

A confused frown pulled at the corner of my lips as my eyebrows drew together because I figured that Stiles would be here, given that his dad was the one who informed me and so I turned my attention to my brother as I voiced my question with curiosity, "Where's Stiles?"

Dread formed in my stomach when my brother looked away from me, avoiding my eyes and I reached out to grip his arm tightly as I repeated myself with more urgency, "Scott, where's Stiles?"

"Stiles…he, um, he isn't coming. Soph, he, um, he was the one who killed Donovan." He revealed in a broken whisper as he leaned closer to me so no one would overhear and I felt my entire body relax in relief, unable to comprehend how I would handle something permanent happening to Stiles.

"Oh, good. He told you."

"Wait, what? You knew?!" he asked me in harshly whisper as he dragged me to the side of the lobby by the arm and I frowned slightly when I noticed the anger coupled with disappointment and sadness in the depths of his dark brown eyes. "You knew about what happened and didn't tell me? Or his dad? Anyone?"

"Stiles asked me not to, and I owed him." I admitted in a whisper as I looked away from him, folding my arms over my chest, unable to handle the disappointment directed at me from the person I loved most in the world. But if Stiles felt safe enough to come clean to Scott, than I certainly could put aside my discomfort and so I squared my shoulders as I forced myself to meet his gaze evenly, "I owed him, because… he didn't tell anyone about what I did."

"What?" Scott asked in a horrified whisper as he dropped his hold on my arm as though my skin had burnt him and the way his eyes narrowed with hurt, the sharpness of his gaze cut me deeper than any form of torture I'd endured.

"Stiles came to me after what happened with Donovan because he knew that I understood how he felt. He knew that I could help him handle it. He knew…that he wasn't the only one with blood on his hands." I told him softly, my voice barely above a whisper as I kept my gaze locked on my feet, unable and unwilling to acknowledge the fact that my brother was standing in front of me.

Tears formed in my eyes at the memory that surfaced but it wasn't my own pain that brought them on, instead it was the absolute look of anguish and torment on Stiles face when he came to me. My hands clenched into fists at my side, my nails digging into my palm until they broke the skin and I took a deep breath to calm myself as I flexed my fingers experimentally.

"You need to leave."

My head snapped up in shock at the announcement, not the words themselves but the cold tone that was used and my eyes widened slightly at the hard expression on my brothers face. There were absolutely no emotions on his features but he was unable to mask the pain, the heartache, the rage, the betrayal in his eyes.

A sharp pain sliced through me, flaying my every nerve with one look and I actually stumbled back a step at the force of his command as my eyes flickered across his features. "What?"

"You need to leave. Now." He repeated himself in an unyielding tone of voice, unable to help the slight quiver on the last word and I blinked in confusion, how could my brother be so unfeeling and callous?

How could he not understand why I had to do it? How could he not understand that I would gladly bear the weight of my decision if it meant everyone else was safe? How could he blame me for doing everything in my power to keep everyone in the pack alive? Did he think I liked it? Did he think I would do it if I had the choice? Did he not know me better than that?

Hurt slammed into my chest like someone was beating at me with a hammer, tears flooding my eyes when it became clear that my twin brother didn't know me at all and the sense of betrayal stung like a thousand needles pricking me over and over repeatedly. It was sad to think that betrayal never came from our enemies but from the people that we held a higher respect for, the people we thought we could count on to stand by you no matter what.

A weak cough sounded from the examination room in the back of the animal clinic and I was abruptly reminded of why I was in such a hurry to get here, of why I was feeling like this, of the mantra I lived by: pack came first.

The thought of Hayden dying without me trying everything I could to help her spurred me into action and I forced myself to disregard my own feelings as I closed my eyes, mentally preparing for what I needed to do.

I refused to look in his direction as I pushed passed him towards the backroom but he stepped in front of me and I jerked my head up in surprise as I was forced to a stop in the middle of the lobby.

Determination coursed through me as I squared my shoulders with a confidence I didn't feel and I plastered a blank expression on my face as I met my brother's hard glare with one of my own. "Scott, you're my brother and I love you, but if you don't move out of my way, something is going to happen between you and me. Absolutely nothing will stop me from being there for Hayden right now, so move or I'll move you."

I didn't wait for him to reply to my threat as I pushed past him, purposely bumping his shoulder roughly on the way past and ran the rest of the way to the back examination room. The first person my gaze landed on was Theo leaning against the far wall with his arms crossed over his chest, his hazel eyes solemn as his gaze flickered from the corner of the room towards where I stood in the doorway. He carefully nodded his head towards the corner and I followed his gaze as I swallowed roughly in nervous anticipation.

Liam was sitting in the corner, tears unapologetically streaming down his cheeks as he cradled Hayden's barely conscious body in his arms and he looked up at me with such heartache in his blue eyes as he whispered in a broken tone, "She's getting worse. I think she's dying."

I hadn't even realised I was moving until I was kneeling next to him, gingerly brushing a strand of brunette hair from Hayden's forehead and my fingertips gently stroked one of her cheeks as I discreetly checked her pulse while studying the silver substance coating her lips. "It's got to be some kind of mercury poisoning."

Hayden let out a soft whimper as she subconsciously leaned into my touch, her eyelids fluttering but she didn't wake up and she appeared to relax slightly, a peaceful expression crossing her features. Liam carefully lifted her body slightly off his lap as I looked at him in confusion but he kept his eyes on Hayden's face as he deposited her onto my lap, settling her so she was cradled securing in my arms. The unconscious girl burrowed her head into the crook of my neck with a soft whimper and I pressed a kiss to her forehead as I tightened my arms around her body, clutching her to my chest like a mother does a sleeping child.

"Scott, remember what you promised me. You said you'd do everything you could to save her. If she's a real werewolf, we can save her. You gotta give her the bite." I heard Liam whisper pleadingly to my brother on the other side of the room and I turned my head towards them with a spark of hope coursing through me at the suggestion, the first sliver of light in the darkness.

I caught Scott's gaze across the length of the room and despite my anger at him, I let all of my hope and love and pleading spread across my features so that he knew how important this was to me, to everyone. I knew that he could smell the chemo-signals drifting from both myself and Liam, the obvious desperation that we felt to keep her alive in any way possible.

Time seemed to stand still as we all waited for my brother, our Alpha's response, and I felt my pulse racing, my breath catching in my throat, the agony of waiting for one word: either 'yes' or …

"No."