(EMMA'S POV)

"Kit?" She sat on the couch across the room from me. I had been working up the nerve to finally tell her about what's happened to the Pride, and all she can do is stare at her phone. She glanced up at me, setting the phone down.

"Sorry." But even though the phone had left her hands, her eyes were still on it. I should never have reminded her how to text. "Uh, what were you saying?" Her phone vibrated and she picked it up.

I crossed my arms. "What is it?"

"What?"

"Who are you talking to?"

"Um…" her fingers moved across the keys. "Scott."

"Oh, really?" I sat in the chair across from her. "And what does Scott have to say, today?"

She put the phone in her lap. "The coyote we chased last night showed up at the school."

"What was it doing there?"

"They think it wanted the doll. Stiles took it from the crash. But there's a man hunt for it. Scott wants to try and find it before they do."

"Why?" I scoffed. "It's a dog."

She glared at me. "He thinks it's a girl."

"Oh, yeah," I sighed. "The 'werecoyote'." She told me all about it this morning. I was alarmed to hear that she even did that. I thought she didn't trust them, and now it seems she'd defend them to the death. I uncrossed my arms. "I assume he has a plan…?"

"They're working on it. But Scott doesn't know how to turn her back."

"He's an Alpha," it was a duh statement.

"Yeah, but he can't control it."

"Why not?"

"It's a long story. I was hoping you knew how."

"How to turn a coyote back into a girl? What do I look like, a fairy godmother?" I stood. That was ridiculous. She sighed, looking back at her phone.

"I guess I used to have something called a…bestiary…?" she said. I stopped and looked at her. Now I was listening. "They say it was because I was the Kirin."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"They were thinking it might have something about this in it."

"Well, where is it?"

"They don't know," she looked at me. "They couldn't find it, after I vanished." Of course. It might also have something in it that could help save the Pride. Here I thought I might have a chance of saving everyone. Okay, now what?

"What can I do?" I asked. I was just as surprised by my words as she was.

She stood. "Scott said he's meeting with Ethan and Aiden…? They used to be Alphas. But I guess they were bad guys in the whole thing."

"Great. And what does Scott want with them?"

"He's wants them to help him…learn to be an Alpha, basically. He said Derek's the one he wants to help him, but he won't reply to any of his messages. Still."

"Have you tried?" I asked. "To contact him?"

She shook her head and looked at her phone. "I don't remember him." She looked back at me. "I wouldn't even know what to say."

"He was your boyfriend, right?"

"According to everyone," she nodded.

"What does that mean?"

"If he really cared about me, like they say," she paused. "Wouldn't he have stayed? Or picked up the phone, or come back, or…something?" She has a point. Why did he leave right when she needed him? Maybe he didn't care for her like everyone thought. And, maybe, she's thinking the same thing.

"Well," I sighed. "Tell me where they're meeting and I'll be there."

"You will?"

"Koda taught me a thing or two," I sighed. I can't believe I'm saying this. "I might be able to help."

I followed Scott's directions. They led me to a large building that's supposedly where Derek lives. Why they're meeting here while he's gone, I have no idea. But, the idiot lives on the top floor. I got up there and walked to the loft's door. I slid the door open and walked in.

I stopped at the top of a couple steps, taking in the scene. There were two identical teenage boys standing next to a table with Scott lying on it. He'd clearly had the snout beat out of him, as blood covered his face and he looked on the verge of passing out. Stiles and a girl about his age stood a few feet away from them.

"What…" my voice echoed, getting everyone's attention, "is going on?" The twins looked at me, one of them growling with his eyes glowing blue. "Oh. Really?" I let my eyes glow purple, my claws coming out.

"No!" Stiles ran out in between us, arms flapping like a dying pelican. "No, okay? Just, no." He turned to the boys. "She's with us! So just calm down, okay?" He turned around and looked at me. "And put the claws away." I walked down the steps, eyes still glowing and claws still out. "Emma…?"

I sensed Stiles apprehension about what might happen next. I was half way to him when I retracted my claws, my eyes returning to normal. Stiles sighed with relief. So did the girl. I stopped and looked around. My eyes landed on the twins. "I'm assuming you're Ethan and Aiden."

"And who are you?" the one who growled at me asked.

"What are you?" the other twin added.

"I'm Emma," I said. That was all I wanted to tell them. I don't know these people. "I thought you were supposed to help him."

"We were."

"By beating him half to death?" I asked skeptically. I looked around them at Scott and then back at the boys. "Bravo."

"Emma," Stiles stepped in front of me. "Why are you here?"

"Kit asked me to help Scott with his Alpha performance issues."

"Kit?" one of the twins questioned. They both looked at Stiles.

"She's alive?"

"Wow," I said. "Someone's out of the loop." I looked at them. "Oh, yeah." I walked around Stiles and closer to the boys. "Kit described you two as the bad guys." The boy, who growled at me before, did it again.

"Aiden," the girl spoke with a warning tone. He pulled back. Well, at least now I know who's who. I forgot the girl was even here.

"We're not the bad guys," Ethan said.

"Right," I scoffed.

"Enough," Scott said. Everyone looked at him. He had gotten off the table, but was still leaning on it. He looked at me. "Can you help me or not?"

"To be honest," I said. "I don't know. Wolves were never my thing. We always kept to ourselves." I glanced around as I spoke. "But…I did pick up a few things from Koda. I don't know if it'll work, but it's better than this."

"Who's Koda?" Stiles asked.

"My Pride's leader."

"You're 'Pride'?" Aiden questioned, clearly suffering from a head that's way too far up his butt. I'm no doctor, but his case seems terminal. I looked at him with contempt in my eyes. Believe it or not, both boys backed down, taking a step back.

I'm not an Alpha, but I am a strong willed woman. And, sometimes, that's more intimidating. I looked back at Scott. "Koda was like a…walking encyclopedia." I realized that I had used past tense word. I don't want Kit finding out he's dead from anyone but me. "He always knows more than he says."

"Is he an Alpha?" Scott asked.

"No one's really sure what he is. When he's not teaching or leading, he keeps to himself. He and my mother are friends, which is how I know what I know." No one looked too convinced by my words. "But, he was friends with Talia Hale, so I'm sure they shared a few things." That got their attention.

"So what do I do?"

I sighed, gathering my thoughts. I tried to recall everything Koda had told me, or that I'd overheard him saying. "One day, a werewolf, an Alpha, came to the Pride. His name was Jeff. But he was an Alpha who'd lost his pack."

"What happened to them?" Stiles asked.

"Jeff was young, not very smart. He had self-esteem issues and needed to always prove himself. Which is what led to him killing an Alpha and taking his status. The thing was, Jeff wanted the power but didn't care how he got it. The Alpha he killed had a pack forty strong."

"Then how'd he kill him?" Scott asked.

I shrugged. "Right place, right time? I never knew that part of the story. But Jeff began building his own pack, unaware of the growing danger. That other Alpha's pack was not happy. But Jeff was also a coward. And when that pack came, Jeff ran, leaving his pack and they all died. Koda asked him, 'Why should I let you in? Who's to say you won't be foolish again, or that you deserve my peace?' Jeff started crying, promising everything he could think of. But Koda let him stay. Telling Jeff to leave went against Koda's rules.

"So Jeff stayed. Two years later, that pack whose Alpha Jeff killed, came to our Pride looking for Jeff. Their new Alpha was open to making some kind of deal in exchange for Jeff's life. But when Koda went to get Jeff, he was gone. The last his new wife had seen him was the day before, when rumor spread that that pack was coming. He left behind his wife and new daughter to save his own skin and never returned."

"Okay…?" Stiles said. "But what does that have to do with Scott?"

"I asked Koda why Jeff left. He said, 'A tiger can't change it's stripes, and humans can't change their nature.'"

"Translation?"

I sighed, rolling my eyes at him. "It means, title or no title, you are still the same person. Being an Alpha doesn't change who you are, only what you are." I looked at Scott. "You're trying to change to be the Alpha, but it's the Alpha that needs to change to be you. Stop fighting it. You're not just an Alpha, Scott, you're a True Alpha. You and the title are the same, always have been. The only difference is that, now, you have the power to back the title."

(KIT'S POV)

When Emma got back, we took Charlie to Scott's house, since Melissa said she'd watch him, and then we went to meet the others at the preserve. No one's too confident that what Emma told Scott will work, but the only way to know is to try. And, if anything, we can catch the coyote and then figure out how to turn her back later.

We pulled up next to Scott's bike and Allison's car. Emma and I exited the truck. From what I could tell, we were all here. There was one girl I haven't met, who I'm assuming is Lydia. She fits Stiles' description with crazy accuracy. Emma hasn't met Allison yet, but no one asked for introductions.

"Anyone else think we might be doing more harm than good?" Lydia asked.

"We're trying to keep a father from killing his own daughter," Scott answered.

Then Isaac just confused things. "Actually, we're trying to keep a guy from killing a coyote, who is actually his daughter, who we don't know how to change from a coyote back to his daughter."

Stiles sighed, "And, again, with the not helping."

Scott looked at Allison. "Did you bring it?" She went to the trunk of her car and pulled out a large tranquilizer gun. Then he looked at me. "You don't have to do this."

I glanced at Emma before replying. "I need to see this through." Gunshots rang out somewhere in the distance. Okay, here we go. Emma instantly took off her leather jacket, walking to the driver's door of the pickup. Scott ran to his bike and started it. He tore out of the parking lot and into the woods.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait!" Stiles tried to get him to stop but he wouldn't. Isaac ran after him, and Allison after him. Lydia gasped, looking at something beside me. I turned to find that Emma had transformed into the snow leopard.

I looked at her. "Follow Scott, Em." She looked at me, her eyes glowing purple, and nodded. She then took off at break neck speed. It didn't take her long to pass Isaac. I looked at the others. "Now what?"

(EMMA'S POV)

I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, pushing it harder than I probably should. I caught up with Scott quickly, passing the others, and then stayed side by side with him. He was going fast. Too fast for this terrain. After a while, I found myself starting to slow down, and that he was pulling away from me.

I pushed harder, keeping even with his back tire. And then a pained cry echoed through the trees. Scott lost control of his bike, and it fell to the side as he went tumbling over it. I tried to stop, but there wasn't enough notice. I slowed the best I could and then jumped, over him and his bike.

I came down on the other side still with too much momentum. I toppled over, landing on my back and sliding. But the impact really wasn't that bad. I rolled onto my side and then stood. I walked over to Scott. He hadn't moved. He was lying on his side. I nudged his arm with my muzzle.

He pulled off his helmet, looking at me wide eyed. "I'm okay." I stepped back as he stood. And then like nothing happened, he broke into a run and I chased after him.

(KIT'S POV)

"Scott, it's me, you got to call me back as soon as you can," Stiles said into his phone. He had to leave a message since, I'm assuming, Scott's too busy trying to make sure the coyote doesn't die. Lydia and I followed him through the woods. "It wasn't Malia's doll. It was her sister's. Malia left it at the car for her sister. It's like bringing flowers to a grave. Okay? And we stole the flowers."

As Stiles spoke, a sharp click pinged in my ears. I looked to my side and saw that Lydia had stopped. She was looking down at her foot. It was in the center of a metal animal trap. One of those ones you almost need the jaws of life to get apart once it snaps closed. The same kind that can snap an ankle with ease.

"That's where she's headed. The car wreck," Stiles continued, oblivious to the sudden danger Lydia was in.

"Stiles," Lydia said. I could hear the fear in her voice.

He walked closer, sliding the phone away. "Lydia, don't move." She froze, trying to remain calm. I got down on one knee, examining the trap.

"What?" Stiles asked. "Do you know what to do? How to get out of it?"

"No." My eyes remained on the trap. "It's a bear trap. I don't know of any bears."

"What? There aren't any were…bears?"

I glared up at him, like he was stupid. "A werebear? Did you seriously just say werebear?"

"Yeah, I did."

"Okay!" Lydia said. "Will someone please just figure a way out of this?"

I looked back at the trap. "I have an idea." I looked at Lydia. "But you're not going to like it."

"What is it?" she asked.

I inched closer, until I was nearly on top of it. I put my hands on either side of the trap, spreading my fingers to equal the gap in the metal teeth. "When I say…step off of it."

"What are you going to do?" Stiles asked.

"I'm going to catch the jaws before they reach her leg."

"What?!" Lydia shrieked.

"Have you ever done this before?"

"No," I sighed. I then looked at Lydia. She was looking down at me. "This is where you trust me. Okay? I wouldn't bring it up if I didn't think I could do it." She closed her eyes and nodded. She was scared out of her mind. Her fear was all I smelled. "Ready?" I made sure my hands were in position, lowering them closer to the trap.

My eyes glowed green. "Go!" She moved her foot off the plate, and the jaws instantly came to life. I caught them, pulling them apart with all the strength I had. Once her leg was out of the way, I let my fingers slide off the metal and the jaws snapped shut.

I fell back with a huff. That was harder than I thought. I looked up at the others. Lydia was holding onto Stiles, who was more than welcoming it. I chuckled. I honestly didn't expect that to work.

(EMMA'S POV)

The Coyote was just up ahead, she was in my sights. Scott ran beside me, but I pulled ahead. We came to a grouping of rocks; I saw the upside down car. I veered right, dipping down and going around the pile of rocks and the car. Scott had to show off and jump over them.

But he was fully charged and ready. I sensed it when he shifted about half a mile ago. I can't talk to him, but I was hoping he would be able to keep it in control. And that Koda's advice was at least a little helpful. The Coyote abruptly stopped and turned around, snarling at me.

I came to a halt, leaves flying out from under me. But I never lost my grip on the ground. I rode the slide and came to a rest. I growled at her as Scott landed a few feet away. But the Coyote wasn't backing down. She was mad. I took a step back, debating if this was a fight I wanted to fight.

I glanced at Scott. He looked at her through red eyes. And then he roared. It was an Alpha's roar. I felt it in my bones, though, it was more than that. He was a true Alpha. He didn't steal his power and he wasn't born with it. I looked back at the Coyote, and instead I found a girl. She was a crumpled, naked, mess on the ground. But she was a girl. It was Malia; the girl they swore was alive. And they were right.

I looked at Scott just as he locked eyes with me. He looked surprised that that worked. I wasn't. In fact, I was starting to see things a little more clearly. Now I knew why Kit had stayed, why she never left Beacon Hills or tried to find me and the Pride. Because this pack is special; something worth fighting for.

(KIT'S POV)

We continued our search for the others, being a little more careful about where we put our feet. And then the trees erupted with a roar; an Alpha's roar.

"That's what I'm talking about," Stiles said. But it was having a different effect on me. My eyes glowed green and I became light headed. I stumbled to the side, the earth spinning around me. I heard muffled voice's, saw Stiles and Lydia approach me. I shook my head, tried to clear my vision. But it wasn't working.

I stumbled back, away from them. "Get…back." I took a few more steps and slammed into a tree. I grabbed onto it, using it to hold me up. I didn't know what was happening and I didn't want them getting hurt. My claws came out and dug into the bark.

And then that familiar pain struck my heart. My knees buckled and I slid down the tree, my claws leaving lines in the bark. Another pain in my heart. It's happening again. Just like at the cemetery. What is happening to me? I fell over, hitting the forest floor. Next thing I see, I'm standing in a parking lot.

It's night, the high school's in front of me. How did I know that was the school? Scott and Stiles stood in front of the other me. They both appeared to be younger. Just like last time, I was seeing myself. A black sports car had just pulled up to the curb. I didn't look too happy about it.

"What?" Scott asked me. "I knew you wouldn't have come." I walked closer them, trying to figure out what this was all about. Stiles scoffed when he saw a man getting out of the black car. The man closed his car door and then turned around, glaring right at the other me.

"Hey," Stiles snapped his fingers. "Eyes over here." Stiles was trying to protect me from him. Why?

"Where's my boss?" Scott asked the man.

"He's in the back," he replied. I circled him. Am I supposed to know this man? I must. But how?

Stiles looked in the car's window. "Oh, well, he looks comfortable." Stiles and Scott turned and walked in the direction of the school, bolt cutters in hand. What is happening? This doesn't make sense. My head hurts.

"Hey," the guy called after them. They were leaving me with him. "What are you doing?"

Scott looked back at me and the man. "You both have said I'm linked to the Alpha. I'm going to see if you're right." He turned around and walked up to the school with Stiles. They disappeared inside. What Alpha is he talking about?

"What'd you have to say to him?" the man asked the other me. "To get him to still trust you." My other self didn't want to listen to him. "Now you're quiet."

"What do you want me to say?" I looked at him. "You're not going to believe any of it."

"Any of what?"

"The truth. The real reason why I was there." Was where? What are they talking about?

He blew air out his nose, fists clenched at his sides as he walked around the back of his car. He walked up to the other me and stopped a foot from her. He wasn't that much taller than me. "I'm pretty sure I already have a good idea about that."

"Really?" I scoffed. "You have NO idea. Just…that's it, just no idea." He rolled his eyes and scoffed. "I'm serious, Derek." I froze. Derek? Like…the Derek? Like, my Derek? The other me had practically spit out his name. He looked at me with contempt in his eyes. We're not friends, right now. That's very clear.

I continued talking. "You're a werewolf, yes. Born into it, yes. But that doesn't mean you know everything. So why don't you jump off your little high horse and come back down here with the rest of us?"

His hand was on my arm in a second. I looked down at my own arm. I felt my arm being squeezed, like he was touching me. But he wasn't. "Remember how this worked for you the first time? Hmm? Try it again and I'll do more than just break your wrist."

"You think your threats will make this any better?"

"No. But following through with them might." What is going on? Why are we fighting? A terrible sound filled my ears. They heard it, too. It was the pathetic attempt at a howl. Something told me it was Scott. How do I know that's him?

Trees and dirt and sunlight came back into view. Along with Lydia and Stiles.

I gritted my teeth, my heart ached. My eyes glowed green. I put my hands on my head and dropped to my knees. I looked up to find the school and darkness and me and Derek. The other me was now lying on the pavement. Derek walked up to me, connecting his foot with my rib cage.

And I felt it. I felt the blow to my ribs. I felt the wind on my skin as I flew and then the burn as I crashed back to the ground. I felt everything that happened to the other me.

"How does it feel to be on the receiving end?" Derek asked.

The other me tried to get up. "Do you really think I wanted to do that?" I spit a wad of blood on the ground as I stood. "After everything…why would I willingly do that?!"

"You tell me." He swung as I brought my arm up, meeting his. He looked slightly shocked.

"I don't want to fight you and I didn't want to go there with Kate and do that."

I knew that name. Kate. Scott and Stiles had told me she was a very bad person. She was an Argent. She killed all of Derek's family by setting the Hale house on fire. Why was I with her? Wait. That meant she was still alive. Oh, my goodness, this was before Kate died!

"But you did it anyway," Derek said.

"I have no choice. I can't let the Argents find out who I am or a lot of people are going to be in danger," I countered.

"Who?"

"Everyone I've ever helped. They'll all be at risk of being slaughtered if an Argent finds out what I am." He doesn't know I'm the Kirin. Why did I keep that from them?

Another sound filled my ears, but this time it was a howl; a roar. A real one. It was so loud and deep that you could feel it in your bones. Just like Scott's Alpha roar. He had the potential clear back then. A yellow shock wave emitted from the school. It came out across the front lawn and the parking lot.

It went right through the other me and Derek. But it hit me. The real me. It crashed into me, taking me back with it. But I didn't feel pain, like when the other wave hit me. I was hit with a different set of emotions. Ones I can't describe. I flew back and hit the hard pavement.

And, this time…I didn't wake up.

(AUTHOR'S NOTE: the flashback scene is from Chapter 11: Night School pt1; of Guardian (Teen Wolf FanFic), the first book in the series.)