Chapter 5

A week had passed since Argent was attacked. Scott had called upon the pack to stand guard at his house in case the hunters came for Isaac. None did. The following night Stiles came with a reluctant Liam who was still angry with the older bête. There was still no sign of them. The next night only Stiles came.

"A baseball bat?" Isaac said mockingly.

"You have claws, I have bat." Explained Stiles.

The three boys stayed vigilant for two hours but eventually they started taking turns playing Far-Cry on Scott's PlayStation. They kept playing until their eyes could no longer stay open and one by one they drifted off to sleep. When Mellissa woke for her morning shift she found them all still there in Scott's room stretched out in front of the TV.

By then it was a week and two days since Argent was attacked and there was still so sign of the hunters. To all it seemed that Chris was right in thinking that if Isaac moved out then the hunters would stop hunting them. A prospect, the young wolf thought he would find reassuring. Instead he felt restless, and in a constant state of vigilance.

"I don't get it? Why haven't they come?"

"Because it's over." Said Stiles patronisingly.

"Or they are bidding their time." Corrected Scott. "Waiting till they can get you alone."

The three teenaged boys were spending their mutual free period in the library. It was the first time since that morning that they had all been in the same room.

"So what do we do?" Asked Isaac, even though he feared he already knew the answer, and he did not like it one bit.

"We make sure you are not alone." Answered their leader.

"That could be tricky, considering we all have different classes. And even with your speed and hearing Scott you may not get there in time." Said Stiles.

"You do know that I can also do those?" Said an agitated Isaac.

"And that worked out so well for you." Came the sarcastic voice of Scott's best friend.

The bête's eyes turned yellow, as he let out a slight growl. Shivers ripples through his sarcastic friend as he was Reminded of the damage the young wolf could do if he wished. His alpha immediately grabbed his wrist, whilst giving him a knowing look.

The bête turned his gaze to the floor. When he looked up again his eyes were their usual shade of greyish blue, with a sad dutiful look on his face. He knew it was foolish to threaten Scott's best friend, but he was never much good at controlling his temper, a trait which he feared.

"None of us stand a chance against highly experienced hunters, unless we work together." The authoritative voice of the alpha was little more than a whisper but sent chills down the spines of both pack members. Making them sit up and listen. "You got that?"

They both nodded.

After that, nothing more was said. They all put their heads down and continued their separate homework until the bell went summoning them to their next period.

In truth it was doubtful that the hunters would make a move whilst Isaac was at school, where he would be surrounded by students and teaches all day. Not to mention a couple of werewolves, a were-coyote, a banshee, a fox, and a Stiles, all of whom had been instructed to keep a sharp look out just in case.

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After school Scott went to Kira's house, who was still, having problems controlling her power. Liam was adamant that he was staying over at his girlfriend's. Malia was having a father daughter dinner, which was none negotiable. That left Stiles and Lydia on Isaac protection detail.

As they sat in the dark library, the curly haired teen felt uneasy, as he watched Lydia and Stiles exchange knowing glances across the table. He felt like the third wheel, listening to them finish each other's sentences, and surreptitiously hold hands. It was bad enough that he could not go anywhere without his bodyguards without him having to be surrounded by couples.

"Be back in a second."

They jumped to their feet.

"I am going to the bathroom." He said in a huff. Having a "babysitter" all the time was driving him insane. Even when he had a free period to himself, he felt that he was being watched.

Once he stepped out of the library he let out a big sigh of relief. Finally, for a few minutes at least he was alone.

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The French documents which Stiles had given Isaac to translate, were about a centuries old monster called "The Beast of Gévaudan." Isaac had been reading the story over and over all afternoon seeing if there was a way of discovering who the beast could be.

"How do we approach a complex problem?"

"We take a step back…to...to see the whole picture."

"So what do you see?"

Isaac sat back in his chair, allowing himself to view the whole board. He picked up his bishop, and took out his father's knight.

"Check"

"That's my boy."

An un-welcomed cent took him out of his trance. He drew his claws, listening for his foe. There was a sharp bang behind him. He turned. There was no one there. Another bang, this time from his blind spot. Again nothing.

"Show yourself!"

Something was breathing down his neck.

"As you wish."

Isaac, now fully transformed spun round and thrusting his claws at his attacked. Not fast enough. His advisory caught his arm and pinned him to the wall by his neck. His feet were dangling off the ground. He was now staring in the blue eyes of Peter Hale. The bête struggled under the older wolf's grip, but it was no use. He felt a burning pain as Peter's claws dug into the back of his neck. His head instinctively lent back, banging against the wall. He kicked out his long legs, fighting as hard as he could, to no avail.

Inside the twists and turns of the sulky teenager's mind Peter suffered through the barraged of memories of Isaac's father abusing his son. He rolled his eyes at Camden's parting words to his younger brother before he headed off to war, never to return. He tumbled through Isaac's last car journey with his mother.

"Are we there yet?"

"Not yet Isaac."

"How long will he be home this time?"

"Forever." She was smiling.

"Forever!" Six-year-old Isaac was bouncing up and down on his seat excitedly.

"That is what he told us midget. Remember?"

"Camden! What have I told you."

Fifteen-year-old Camden rolled his eyes.

Peter looked for a way out of the memory. Next thing he knew he was inside an upside down car, with a screaming child.

"Mum. Mum wake up. Wake Up! Dad is waiting for us. Please! Wake Up!"

Finally, Peter found what he was looking for.

"How long will you be gone?"

"As long as it takes. If you don't hear from me, don't come after me. I need you to promise, you won't come after me."

"I... I can't."

"Isaac." Argent placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I promise. Could you at least tell me where you are going?"

"Mexico." Said Derek. "You ready?"

Argent nodded.

"Take care of yourself." Said the hunter moving his hand away.

"D... Argent!"

The hunter turned round and looked at the young werewolf.

"Promise you will come back."

He let a small smile reach his eyes. "I promise to try."

"You have got to be kidding me." Came the mocking voice of Peter.

Another figure emerged from the shadows. "Let him go! Now!"

"Cora?" Said Isaac in surprise.

"Who is in-charge again?"

Isaac could not help but smile as the she-wolf gave her uncle the same death stare that her brother had given him a dozen times.

"Fine." Peter let go and Isaac dropped to the floor. "We have got what we came for."

"What did you come for?" Said Isaac rubbing the back of his neck.

The older wolf tilted his head to the side, with a patronising smile. "The same thing I always want. Information."

"Why do think I have it?"

"Hmm. Let me see. The last time anyone saw my nephew he was with Chris Argent who let's face it is your replacement father, and your Derek's first bête, no... wait, Derek's only bête."

"Derek is no longer my alpha."

"No. But you are still loyal to him." Peter's eyes glared blue as his hand grabbed tightly round Isaac's neck."

"I... don't know where Derek is." Said the curly haired teen, through gritted teeth.

"No but you know how to find him." The older wolf tilted young wolf's head so that he was starring directly into his eyes. "And now so do I."

"Leave him." Growled Cora, her eyes turning yellow.

The psychotic alpha continued to stare at his victim. "Why should I. His group of friends haven't exactly been cooperative."

"You sent, Kate argent after us. Scott...and Derek almost died. You're a murderer."

With a sinister smile, the blue eyed wolf let go, pushing the younger wolf back in the process "What can I say. It is my nature." He stood up and turned his back to the bête.

Isaac eyes turned yellow again, as his claws and wolf teeth came out. He sprang to his feet and charged after his tormenter. Only to find himself back in Peter's grasp.

The omega had the young wolf by his left arm. Slowly he bent it back. Forcing him to the floor.

Isaac's cries carried all the way down the long corridor and to the library where his friends were still studying.

"There it is. The killer. It was obvious the first time I saw your true eyes. To be honest I am a little surprised they are still yellow?"

"I. Am... not a killer."

"Aren't you?"

"I said leave him." Cora was standing behind her uncle. Her claws were at his neck.

In one swoop, Peter let go of Isaac's arm and smashed his nieces head against the wall, knocking her unconscious.

"Now where were we?"

"You…you didn't have...to do that."

"Isaac. Come on. Leave the moral high ground for Scott. You, you're like me..." Peter crouched down in front of the young wolf. "You know inflicting pain it is a necessary evil."

"No it's not. I have learned a better way."

"You can lie to your friends all you want Isaac. You can even lie to yourself. But I have been in your mind I know what you are, what you fear. And it is only a matter of time."

"Your wrong."

"Am I? Then tell me this, when you remember your father what does he look like?"

"My father."

With a menacing smile, the omega struck the young wolf with his claws, cutting into Isaac's face. "Try again."

Isaac let out a gasp of pain. Blood was dripping from his cheek.

"What does he look like!" Roared the former alpha.

Tears were trickling down the teen's face, causing his cut cheek to sting. The young wolf glared at his attacker, with a single word on his mind "murder".

"You see there it is. Why do fear your true form so much?"

"I don't fear it."

"No. Maybe it isn't fear. Maybe it is guilt? All that effort not to kill anyone. It's been holding you back preventing you from...Aww!"

The banshee's scream tore through the wolves' ear lobes. They lay in agony as their heads felt like they were going to explode. The banshee's cry also woke Cora.

" Lydia stop!" Shouted Stiles. "You are killing Isaac."

Lydia stopped.

"At least someone has learned to embrace their true self." Said Peter.

"Let them go, before I scream your head off." Threatened Lydia.

The omega smirked. "Like Stiles said, you can't do that without hurting, Mr… Lahey?"

Isaac shuddered, he had been called Lahey or Mr Lahey dozens of times by coach. But when Peter said it, it wasn't just a name it was a title, it was as if Isaac had been moulded into his father.

Peter stood up and walked over to Cora, pulling her to her feet. "Let the killer out Isaac. You may even be able to save yourself.

Stiles, Lydia, pleasure as always."

"Whatever you want..." Began Lydia.

"Relax, we are leaving. Cora?"

Cora was looking at floor. Crying the same tears, she had when her brother ordered Isaac to leave.

"Cora!"

Without uttering a word, she obediently followed her uncle.

"Coral...you don't...have to go with him." Pleaded Isaac.

"Yes I do." With that uncle and niece disappeared into the shadows of the dark corridors.

"Ok. From now on, you don't leave our sight. Agreed?" Stated Stiles.

"Agreed." Said Lydia.

"Do I get a say in this."

"No!" Stiles and Lydia said in chorus.

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Cora and Peter Hale were in their car following their new lead to find Derek. The older wolf sat in the driving seat, whilst his niece glared at him with a sullen expression.

Seeing the young wolfs expression the uncle gave a smirk thinking how tiresome teenagers get. Especially when it comes to harbouring secret feelings, which are obvious to everyone except the person they concern. What use were they anyway? Such feelings are nothing more than a weakness.

"You didn't need to hurt him. "

"Do you want your brother to die?"

"Isaac would have told us where he is. You said so yourself, he is still loyal to him. "

"Yes, but not to me. You care for him don't you."

"He is pack."

"Was pack. Need I remind you that whilst you lay dying, he left to join another pack."

"To save Scott's mum and the Sheriff. Neither of you were doing anything."

"We saved you."

"Derek saved me."

"And who told him how?"

Cora went quiet. Clearly getting the message.

"By the way, you might be my niece, but if you ever threaten me like that again I won't hesitate in ripping your pretty little throat out."

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After their encounter with the Hales it was decided that Stiles should drive Isaac home. As Stiles drove his jeep he pondered over Peter's words -"Let the Killer out Isaac..." - they reminded him of something Scott said, after he found out about Isaac. "Stiles, do you remember when I said I don't have the urge to kill?... He does."

The Potential murderer was staring out the window. The scratch marks had healed, however, his arm was still misshapen.

"So are we going to talk about what just happened?"

"No."

"Look I know, we are not exactly... friends, but we are still pack so if you want to talk about it then ..."

"That's good to know."

Stiles was growing increasingly frustrated. Ever since they left the school, his companion had sat in silence staring out the window. He knew something had passed between him and the Omega and whatever it was it had to be evil. Stiles had a perceptive eye for evil. "Could you at least tell me what he was after."

"Information."

"Did he say what kind of information?"

"He wanted to know how to find Derek."

Stiles nodded his head knowingly. Then his eye widened as a question formed in his head. "How do you find Derek?"

"I... I don't know. I haven't heard anything from either of them."

"Well he certainly looked like he got what he came for."

Isaac turned his head. You didn't need to be a werewolf to understand his cynical friend's meaning.

"You think I am lying?"

"I think there is something you're not telling me. Something to do with you being a killer."

"If I was my wolf eyes would be blue."

"Only if you killed an innocent."

"Are you asking if I killed someone?"

Stiles gave him a knowing look, but his friend did not take the bait. He simply returned to staring out the window. They sat in silence until they reached the McCall's residence.

"I will stay until Scott gets here."

"Seriously?"

"Dude, there is a load of hunters who want you dead, and you were attacked by our favourite psychopathic wolf just twenty minutes ago. So yes I am serious."

"Ok, so if they come you are going to what? Talk them to death?"

"If I have to."

"Stiles it is ok. I am ok."

"No you not. Isaac I am just going to say it. You look like hell, and considering that werewolves can't get ill that is really saying something."

"I am fine."

"That arm says otherwise."

"Broken limbs take longer."

"That is BS. And you know it. You know what I think?"

"No. But I get the feeling I am about to."

"You're not sleeping, so you do not have the energy to heal yourself. Believe me I know a lot about insomnia."

"More like possession."

Once they were inside, Stiles sat down on the sofa. A few minutes later he was asleep Isaac remained awake. He pasted up and down the hallway. Peter's words playing in his head.

"I know what you are, what you fear. And it is only a matter of time."

"When you remember your father, what does he look like?"

"What does he look like?"

Isaac collapsed into an arm chair, burying his head in his hands. His arm had finally heeled.

"All that effort not to kill anyone. It's been holding you back."

"Let the beast out!"

"Isaac?"

Melissa McCall had just walked through the door. The evidence of a long and hard shift present on her face. "You ok?"

"Yes. Yes, I am fine."

The mother was not convinced, but then would anyone be ok, after losing their entire family before their seventeenth birthday, becoming a werewolf, their girlfriend killed before their eyes, not to mention a band of hunters on their trail? She crouched in front of her- son? - son's friend who happens to live with them- whatever he was to her.

"Your hands are shaking." She said taking them in her own. "It is not what expect from a highly trained werewolf, is it."

They both smiled, as the nurse felt Isaac hands steady in her tender grasp.

"What is Stiles doing here?"

"He is watching over me."

"Oh."

The smiles turned to laughter as the memory of a sleeping Scott and Isaac went to the front of their minds.

There was the sound of broken glass.

Isaac jumped to his feet and headed straight for the front door. The glass pane had been smashed, and there was a gloved hand reaching through and removing the lock on the door. The claws were out, and the young wolf scratched at the hand. The invader withdrew.

"Get back." The teen ordered his mother figure.

By then Stiles had woken up and had grabbed his baseball bat from behind the sofa.

The door was swung open. An arrow came hurtling through the air, heading straight for Melissa's face. The young wolf caught it just before it became imbedded in the soft tissue of her eye. The nurse let out a breath. Her eyes fixed on her hero, who snapped the arrow in half with his hand.

Another arrow was fired. It sped towards Stiles's heart. Again the young wolf managed to catch it in time. But the third hit his shoulder, sending electrical pulse rippling through his body as he sunk to the floor.

"Isaac." Melissa and Stiles rushed to his side to take out the arrow.

Behind them they could hear the sound of a riffle being primed. Nervously they turned their heads.

"Fun is over."

The sound of the old hunter's voice sent shivers down their spines.

"You." Fear and anger penetrated through Melissa's voice.

"Mrs McCall." Came the pitiless voice of Gerard Argent, Chris Argent's father. Behind him, and to the left of his victims stood five other hunters baring the crest of the Calivera. "Stiles. Isaac. I have to admit; I was hoping Scott would be here."

"Sorry to disappoint." Said Stiles sarcastically.

"What do you want?" Came the apprehensive voice of Melissa.

"The other monster you keep here." His eyes were on Isaac. "He comes with us, and no one else needs to get hurt."

The hunters moved in.

"He is not going anywhere." All fear, left as mama McCall stood her ground.

The old hunter scoffed. "So be it."

He fired his weapon.

The bullet landed in the nurse's stomach. Instinctively she put a hand to the wound. It was red.

Time seemed to slow down as Isaac and Stiles watched their mother figure fall to the ground.

Isaac's side-burns came out, and his canines and fingernails grew longer as he let out his roar.

There was another breaking of glass, but it wasn't Scott who had answered. It was Cora.

One of the hunters immediately fired an arrow at the she-wolf. She caught it in her hand. A white light flashed, blinding her as another hunter sent a second arrow her way. But Isaac was faster. He caught the arrow before descending on both hunters, throwing them hard against the walls. One of their heads bounced against the wall, knocking its owner unconscious. The other broke his collar bone.

Cora scratched at another hunter, cutting his arm open. As he screamed, his friend came up behind the wolf and stabbed her in the back. She howled. Isaac answered, by grabbing the hunter by his shoulder and throwing him back into the wall. The hunter with the cut arm pulled out his gun and prepared to fire. But Cora took the knife from her back and thrusted it into his wrist.

All the while Stiles stayed by Melissa, putting pressure on the wound as she continued to bleed out. "Stay with me. Please don't die on me." The impulsive teen, took out his phone and started dialling for an ambulance. Werewolves, or no werewolves he was not going to let the mother of his best friend die.

Gerard fired his gun again this time at Isaac hitting his shoulder. But before he could fire again, claws cut through the riffle barrel. The old hunter was sent flying through the air, hitting a wall before landing with a thud where Melissa was still bleeding out, and growing paler by the second.

Isaac looked up. What he saw took the wind right out of his lungs. It was Peter who had broken Gerard's gun.

"Hunters!" Exclaimed the Omega. He looked over the young bête with a bullet wound in his shoulder. Black smoke was evaporating from it, meaning only one thing. "Cora." The uncle threw a cigarette lighter to his niece. "The bullets have been laced with wolf-bane, see to it."

Cora was with Isaac in a flash. "You are going to have to take off your shirt."

With grunts of pain as wolfs bane burned through his skin, her -friend? - old pack member? -Crush? - did as he was bid. "This will hurt."

Isaac's eyes turned yellow, as the flame killed the poison trapped inside him. But he wasn't the only one trying not to scream.

The hunter who was pinned to the wall by a knife, had Peter's claws in his neck as the omega searched for Where his nephew was being held. Once he had the information he needed, he put the hunter out of his misery by ripping his throat with his claws.

Whilst all eyes, disapprovingly or indifferent, where on the psychopathic wolf, no one had noticed that Gerald had regained consciousness, and was grasping Stiles's baseball bat. Silently he stood and walked towards his victim.

Stiles felt a chill trickle down his spine. A second later, he felt an overwhelming pain to the back of his head. But instead of falling forwards, onto Melissa, a forceful momentum pushed him to the side. The world around him faded into darkness.

With Stiles out the way Gerald palled out a knife and prepared to stab Melissa's heart.

Isaac had just put his shirt back on when he saw Gerard. One moment he was watching a knife accelerating towards his- Scott's- mother's heart. The next he was staring into the eyes of the murderous hunter. The eyes shifted from the wolf to the floor. But when Isaac followed their direction, he saw his hand, with his finders outstretched, and claws dug deep into the hunter's heart. As he looked up again, blood was oozing from grandpa Argent's mouth. Realisation hit the young wolf like a thunderbolt. The old man collapsed forward into his killer's arms, before finally landing on the floor next to his intended victim, who had escaped the knife.

"I... I" The words caught in Isaac's throat as his eyes shifted from the dead body of Alison's grandfather, too his blood stained hands. His hands were shaking again. "Look at the mess you have made!" Came the voice of his dad.

As Isaac stood, shaking and frozen, Cora went to Melissa and placed her hands on the bullet hole, firmly applying pressure.

"I didn't mean to do that." Isaac, finally got the words out.

"Sure you did." Came the placid voice of Peter Hale. "The question now is, what is the good and moral Scott going to do when he finds out? Do you think he has room in his pack for a murder?"

"He...I don't know."

Peter grabbed Isaac by his shoulders swinging him round to face him. "Have you ever wondered why you have trouble focusing your abilities? You spent so much effort fighting who you really are, you don't even have the strength to protect the ones you love. But now." He shook the teen, making him look him in the eye. "Now you will be unstoppable."

"Scott will understand." Came the defiance of Cora. "You saved his mother, he won't..."

"Yes. By giving in to yourself..."

"By doing what's right! He won't hold it against you." Interrupted the she-wolf.

"Your right. He won't." Said Isaac regaining his confidence.

Peter released his grip, allowing the young wolf to take Melissa by the hand and take her pain. She gasped and looked at her honorary son. "Isaac. Listen to me. This was not your fault. No one can blame you for what happened."

"What about Argent? You just killed his father, Alison's grandfather. Do you really think he would want to adopt you after hearing about this?"

"No." Thought the sad wolf.

"Derek is being tortured by the rest of these hunters as we speak. I need you to help me take them on."

"I promised Argent I..."

"You promised you wouldn't come after him. But this is Derek we are talking about. No promise was made about Derek. Trust me I have looked."

The bête let out a growl. He was still angry that the omega had seen his most private, and most precious memories.

"Why should I believe you?"

"Can you really afford not to? Your friend is dying, are you really going to leave him?"

"Isaac. Don't. Stay he..." The mother had gone into shock.

"Melissa. Melissa!" Isaac shook her but there was no reply.

"Times is ticking Isaac. Do you want Derek to die?"

"I can't leave her like this." Tears were streaming from the teenager's eyes.

The young wolf's heart felt like it was going to burst out of his body. His black veins looked like they were about to break through his skin.

"I can't fix this now! I can't fix it, can't fix it!"

"We don't kill people Isaac. There is another way, there is always another way."

"It was a good effort Isaac. It was. This would be so more poetic if was HALF time."

"She is as good as dead."

Isaac's head felt like it was about to explode, as he continued to take Melissa pain.

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"Mum! what happened."

Scott had arrived just in time to see his mother being loaded into an ambulance.

"Gerard." Said Stiles, holding an ice pack to the back of his head. "He is dead."

"How?"

"I don't know. Gerard knocked me out. But I saw Isaac being taken by Peter and Cora Hale."

"Peter was here too?"

"Yes, he killed one of the hunters."

"Gerard?"

"No. Not his style. "

"Murder is his stile Stiles."

"Yes, but he usually goes for the slashed throat, blood spread everywhere." Stiles heaved slightly, even after everything he and his friends had been through, he still hated the sight of blood.

"Gerard wasn't killed like that?"

"No. But it was defiantly a werewolf."

"What so Cora killed him?"

"Or Isaac. You said yourself Scott, he has the urge to kill."

"What about the other hunters?"

"My dad has taken them in for questioning. They will have to stay in the cells overnight."

Scott's felt like his head was spinning. He had a million questions, but could not hear a single answer.

"Hay. If you want to go the hospital, I can take care of things here? I already have Malia and Liam out searching for Isaac. They will let us know as soon they find something."

"I should have been here. It is my job to protect her, to protect both of them

"This was not your fault Scott."