.
.
.
Chapter Three: Run
.
.
.
As Megan was led out of the house the next evening by Boyd, his hand gripping the chain of her handcuffs, she considered her options.
Her eyes wandered over the group waiting for them just beyond the porch steps. Derek, Isaac, Erica, all armed, and two teenage boys – one of whom she recognised as the kid from the previous night. The one who'd tried to stop Derek from shooting her. The other was a lanky boy with close-cropped hair. He was busy arguing with the lead hunter.
"Hey, I'm not letting Scott prance around the woods alone with you guys, okay? Deal with it. I mean, you could be…" He made a noise that was somewhere between a snort and a splutter, gesturing Derek with a wide sweep of his hand. "Like… psychos or something."
Derek took a threatening step towards the boy who swallowed and recoiled. "I'm more than happy to test that theory."
"Derek." The first boy – Scott – moved between them. "You said you'd teach me. Stiles wants in too."
Derek sized Stiles up, seeming far from impressed. He shook his head 'no'. "You won't last two seconds out there, kid. And you." He turned to Scott. "I take back what I said. Go home. And take your boyfriend with you."
Stiles denied the claim, affronted, while Scott glared.
"But you said-"
"I've changed my mind." Derek gestured for Boyd to join them. Megan trudged behind, realising that even if she freed herself from Boyd's grip, she'd probably get shot before managing to escape. She was fast, but the treeline was too far away.
Derek's stare was penetrating as though he knew exactly what she was thinking.
"Remember," he said as he came towards her with the key. "I want numbers, names, and a location."
"And if I run?"
"I'll find you." He said it like a promise, slowly unlocking the handcuffs. "Trust me. You'd rather have me as a friend than an enemy." His thumbs grazed the insides of her wrists as he pulled off the cuffs. Megan jerked her hands away as though she'd been burned. She glared at him.
"Friends don't torture each other."
He spared her another of his intense looks before changing the subject. "There's a ring of mountain ash and wolfsbane protecting the house. I've cleared a path." He pointed towards the lane and Megan grudgingly nodded her understanding.
"Wait, wait, wait." It was Stiles, gesturing wildly for a time out. Megan found herself on the receiving end of a curious look. Puppy-like. "You're one of them? A werewolf?"
"A threat to humanity. Or so they say." She smiled wryly, letting her animal side slip through enough to reach her eyes. Stiles swallowed nervously before opening his mouth to speak again, but was interrupted by Erica.
"Are we doing this or what?" She rolled her eyes and shifted her crossbow to rest against her shoulder.
Megan levelled the girl with a glare, then turned to watch Derek. He was busy examining a clip which she noticed contained actual bullets. Not wolfsbane-laced, but still potentially deadly if he hit her in the right place.
"You weren't serious," said Megan, not quite able to keep the concern from her voice. "When you said you'd shoot me."
He met her eyes. With a deft movement, he replaced the clip without looking. "I suggest you run fast."
Fuelled by an abrupt flare of anger she approached him, stopping just shy of brushing his chest with her own. "You're cruel, you know that?"
Derek cocked his head as he looked at her. Suddenly he smiled, baring a set of perfect white teeth. It was chilling. "Nice guys finish last. So what're you waiting for?" He leaned in till his mouth hovered over her ear. "Go."
Megan shuddered as she backed away from him and fled.
.
.
.
Derek stopped short, releasing a frustrated breath through his nose. Isaac was the only hunter to notice. The boy arched his brows in askance. Derek shook his head and gestured for him to carry on, which he did after a pause.
"I know you're there." Derek slowly turned, eyes narrowed as he scanned the forest. "I thought I told you to go home."
Scott emerged from behind a tree, Stiles close behind him, both looking sheepish. The former shrugged.
"You really expected us to leave?"
Derek sighed. "Five animal attacks, three of them fatal, in two weeks." He briefly thought of his sister's mutilated body, but quickly quashed the memory. "You think it's a great idea to be out here, unarmed?"
"Well, if you'd given us weapons-" started Scott stubbornly.
"Shut up," said Derek, pointing an angry finger at the boy. "I said no. If the alpha comes for you again, I'm not saving your ass like last time." He made to turn away but Scott spoke again.
"You do that a lot."
"What?" asked Derek impatiently.
Scott made a face like it was obvious. "Say things you don't mean. I know you won't let it get me. Or that you won't hurt wolf girl."
Derek was simultaneously surprised and furious. His anger won out. He stalked closer to the teen, grabbing a fistful of his coat. "You don't know me. Don't pretend that you do."
"Hey, hey, hey," said Stiles, moving as though to pull him away. "Dude, back off." He yelped as Derek gripped the front of his shirt in his free hand.
"You both have a death wish, huh?" Derek shoved the boys back. "Fine." He pulled a gun from one of the holsters under his jacket, offering it with the grip towards Scott. The boy hesitantly took it, holding the weapon like it might explode in his hand.
"Click off the safety," said Derek. "Point and pull the trigger if you see something with sharp claws and teeth."
"Wait. One for the both of us?" asked Stiles.
Derek spared him a long-suffering look before turning to walk away. "You stick close together. And more importantly, you stick close to me." A howl rang out through the reserve, echoing eerily off the trees. Derek glanced at the boys over his shoulder. "You stray, you die."
.
.
.
Megan skidded to a halt at the howl and pivoted on the spot, trying to gauge a direction, but was saved the trouble when she smelled it. Another were, and close by.
Cautiously, she followed the scent. Her claws were already out when a figure stepped into her path.
It was a teenage girl. She had her hands up with palms facing outward, her pale, pixie-like face etched with concern.
"It's okay," she said. "I'm a friend." Her eyes flashed amber, as good an identification as any. "I know a safe place."
Megan didn't move. "How do I know your alpha won't kill me for trespassing?"
The girl fervently shook her head. "He won't. I promise."
A yell made them both startle. Megan recognised the voice as Erica's and briefly wondered what the huntress thought she was doing making such a godawful racket.
"Come on."
Before Megan could respond the girl had her wrist in a strong grip that belied her slight stature, urging her into a run. She didn't resist.
.
.
.
TBC
