Stiles very vaguely remembered driving. He recalled parking the vehicle and then getting out of it, but it felt like his body found opportunity in the haze his mind was in, and transported him to the place he needed to be. Somewhere recluse but familiar. The cemetery his mother was buried.

Stiles knew it wasn't completely a subconscious act, he was hoping she would be here.

The place where they first met.

His hopeful gaze wandered over the tombstones of different sizes and shapes, but none of them hide the person he searched for.

Defeated he made his way to his mother's grave. He stared down at the site, weary and tortured.

"Hey mom." He began to speak "Sorry I hadn't come to visit as often as I do—things have been a little hectic at my end."

"Not in the bad way of course just..." His gave into the fatigue of his body and sat on the ground. He crossed his ankles together before burying his face into the palms of his hand.

He knew he had to confess it to someone, it was always easier telling someone who was always willing to listen. Even in death.

Heaving a heavy sigh, Stiles slide his hands down his face before focusing his gaze on her tombstone.

"I am in love mom. I think that pretty much sums it up."

A fraction of the weight on his shoulders seemed to elevate the moment the words left his lips, but the conflicted state of his mind still remained. Stiles averted his stare to his hands and began to pick at his nail, a nervous act.

"You've met her, sort of. Ariel is—amazing." His hands stilled, a smile curved at his lips. "I wish you could have met her, there is no one like her she is just—"

It was hard to describe her in words, drawing a picture felt easier.

"She is different. She doesn't think the way normal girls do, she is so new." He looked to the skies as a distraction, but the twinkling stars only deepened his thoughts about her "Everything about her just drives me crazy at times."

The way she spoke, the way she smelled, her laugh, her eyes. Stiles felt that weight return, he hated it but at the same time he didn't want it to go away. His smile twisted into a bitter frown, he began picking at his nails again.

"Things were going great until a few days ago..."

Scott laughed, humored by the joke Stiles had uttered. It felt good to laugh, it had been a while since he had a chance to share a joke with his best friend and Stiles was happy. It wasn't just happiness, the keen werewolf noticed there was something different about the sheriff's son, but he couldn't quite figure out what it was.

They were standing in front of their lockers, just after a lackluster math session. Scott wasn't looking forward to spending his free period catching up on chemistry, but it was a cross he had to bear. Stiles's joke had eased his stress for a moment and Scott felt complied to ask his best friend what is plans were for the weekend.

Until he heard Stiles's heart abruptly increase in pace and his attention immediately diverted elsewhere. Confused, Scott followed Stiles's unwavering stare in the direction of the school entrance.

It was Ariel, Scott wasn't even surprised. He wondered if Stiles was this attentive of Lydia back when he was infatuated with her. All that seemed way in the past now.

Scott noticed how Ariel was just as aware of Stiles. Their gazes met and the electricity was so intense that the True Alpha felt waves of it too. He stood awkwardly, watching the genuine smile that curved at her lips that only intensified the pounding in his best friend's heart.

The man was a goner. Scott grinned in amusement, glancing between the two.

"Hey." Ariel greeted casually, after having approached. She wore the usual black jeans that hugged her long legs and a comfortable pale blue tee. Scott couldn't help but recognize the t-shirt, having seen it on Stiles a few times.

They were wearing each other's clothes now?

"H-hey." Stiles stuttered out hastily, as if trying to cover up a secret.

Wait a minute...

The subtle glances, the crackling heat that they both tried desperately to hide. Scott was overwhelmed by the discovery. He finally realized what was different about Stiles. Scott stared between the two, wide eyed and in disbelief.

They were completely oblivious to the shock Scott was experiencing. Too caught up in their silent staring. Scott cleared his throat to gain their attention and dispel his own discomfort.

"So I am going to head off to class, I'll see you two at lunch?" He uttered looking to them. They both blinked rapidly, snapping out of an enchantment.

"Yeah see you later Scott." Ariel replied, her cheeks a charming shade of pink.

"See you man." Stiles retorted slapping his hand on Scott's back. McCall pressed his lips to suppress his grin full of hilarity. Stiles noticed this and narrowed his gaze at his friend, his mouth opening to question him. But Scott departed in a haste leaving Stiles staring after him.

"Free period?"

Ariel's question snapped Stiles out of his thoughts. He looked to her and the confusion in his mind eased at the sight of her beautiful blue eyes.

"Yup. "

She grinned, wide and wolfish.

"Good." Stiles knew what the mischievously hungry gleam in her eyes promised.

'''''''''

Stiles knew he should be more conscious about being discovered in the janitor's closet with his girlfriend in an inappropriate position, but that was a worry deeply masked by the pleasure he was experiencing. Her hands, the way they caressed and felt his skin, she really knew what she was doing.

Stiles felt inadequate, but then the way she whispered his name insinuated otherwise. They kissed heatedly, Ariel sat on the edge of the lone table within the small closet space, with Stiles situated between her thighs.

He loved the way her finger nails would lightly claw up his sides, in a ways that warmed his insides and made him shudder.

Ariel wanted—no, needed his touch. It was electrifying and his hands, she loved his hands. So warm and gentle yet large and demanding. Like she was clay in his hands and he was the sculpture. He knew exactly where to touch her and with the right amount of pressure, her hunger climbed and she wanted more, she wanted him closer.

Stiles was surprised when she abruptly yanked at the front of his T-shirt, pulling him until their chests met. The movement sent a jolt of desire through him. Stiles knew if this continued he wouldn't be able to hide how much he truly wanted her in that moment. In fact, Stiles knew the moment he felt her full lips curved into a smile against his, she was aware.

"Do you want to stop?" she murmured, her lips brushed against his when she spoke.

"Yes and no." Stiles said breathlessly, his hands burying themselves in her thick hair and kissing her again before pulling away. She laughed quietly at his words and her hands traveled under his t-shirt. He tensed at the delicious way she dragged her nails up his bare skin.

Stiles pinched his eyes shut. Trying to remind himself desperately, that they were on public property and anyone could walk in at any given time. But then she pressed an open mouthed kiss to his neck and all will power crumbled.

"Oh screw it." And kissed her with hot intent.

'''''''''''''''''''''''''

Ariel leaned back against the edge of the table, watching Stiles throw on his T-shirt slowly, finding the act incredibly adorable. Her gaze lingered on the noticeably darkening mark against the skin under his defined jaw.

"What?" His voice snapped her out of her thoughts. His glittering honey brown eyes were watching self-consciously while tugging at the hem of his top.

Should I tell him? Ariel bit her lip to suppress her smile that showed despite her vague attempt to stop it "You are cute."

He shot her a flat look "Thanks, because you know after that." He spoke referring to the cause of their undress "Cute is definitely what I want to hear." He grumbled, rubbing a hand through his crop of hair.

Ariel's smile widened, dimples deepening. Unable to resist the pull he had on her, she reached out and hooked a slender finger into a loop in his pants. Stiles stared, his long legs moving in a clumsy dance towards her. She held his gaze under the intensity of her electric blue eyes. He braced his wide hands on the edge of the table, on her either side of her thighs.

"Well this feels familiar." He murmured in lighthearted warning as she played with the buckle of his disengaged belt.

"Don't worry; I won't make you late for class. That would be just reckless of me." She replied teasingly while slowly threading the end of the belt through the golden square buckle. Stiles resisted the urge to shudder in delight; she was just so damn smooth in her ways.

"I think we are way past reckless." His hand moved to the nape of her neck. The padded base of his thumb brushing against her cheek bone admiringly "This is better than highlighting a text book anyway."

Ariel's eyes fluttered shut when he pressed his mouth to hers in a kiss that was meant to be quick, but it took a turn for the heated. The insistent ringing of the bell outside was what brought them out of the drugging kiss. Stiles opened his eyes to stare at her dazed expression. He felt his heart melt at the sight of her pinked cheeks and plump lips.

"You should go out first." He said, cutting into the intimate silence.

"Why?" Her expression morphed into one of incredulity

"Because you being alone in a closet is suspicious." Stiles stated casually, she cocked her eyebrow both amused and confounded by his statement.

"And you being caught in here isn't?"

"No, I am so beyond normalcy here that the teachers actually choose to ignore me." Ariel wasn't even surprised by that sentence. Rolling her large eyes at him, she hopped off the desk. Stiles weaved his fingers through the gap between her fingers, and she pulled him with her in the direction of the door.

Just when Ariel was about to make an exit, Stiles stopped her.

"Wait, do you have practice after school?"

"No, why?"

"Oh great, can I come over?"

Ariel shot him a stern look. "Do you even have to ask?"

"Well yeah, what if you were not there. There needs to be some sort of coordination between us right?"

"Right." She smiled and leaned in and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips "See you at chemistry."

"Pfft, yeah like we don't have plenty already." Stiles listened to her chiming laughter as she exited the room and out into the corridors.

''''''''

Stiles made his way into the Econ classroom, feeling a tingling mischievousness from his time with Ariel earlier. His gaze immediately fell to Scott who sat in his usual table with an empty one beside him. Smiling, Stiles approached and casually took a seat at his desk and dropped his school bag to his side.

"Stiles." Scott called, grabbing his attention.

"Yeah?" Stiles whispered back when his best friend leaned over.

"Free period with Ariel?" He asked a smirk stretched at his lips. Stiles narrowed his gaze on his friend, confused to how he knows.

"How did you know that?"

"Well you smell like her, plus um—your neck." Scott patted at the skin under his jaw line. Perplexed Stiles pulled out his phone and used the reflective screen to see what his friend was mentioning to. He stared in disbelief at the large, splotch of a hickey on his neck. He sank into his seat, embarrassed and desperately trying to hide the mark.

"I really wish I was wearing my plaid shirt right now." He grumbled just as the Coach walked into the classroom. Scott laughed at his friend's dilemma.

"Nah it's fine, good actually. I was about to ask you how things are between you two but that." The true alpha grinned wide glancing at the mark again "Is a simpler answer."

"Whoa Stilinski, well it's about time eh?" Coach Finstock's voice boomed, Stiles stared in dread when all eyes fell on him. The coach grinned proudly and Stiles bit the inside of his lip to suppress his urge to glare at the teacher.

"Thanks coach." He retorted, determined to fight the blush that was slowly rising up his neck.

"Who is the lucky guy?" He asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively down at the sheriff's son.

Scott's muffled laughter distracted Stiles from his urge to dig a hole and bury himself.

"Put your hand down Greenberg, I wasn't asking you!"

"Getting a little slow there, Ariel." Aiden taunted before aiming another punch to her face. Ariel dodged with ease and took three steps back to gain a little distance.

"After five rounds of kicking your behind, I am a starting to get a little tired." She retorted, earning a disapproving frown from the twin.

"I see Stilinski's smart mouth rubbed off on you." He grumbled "Along with other parts of him."

"Yeah, you are wearing him like a perfume." Ethan added as the spectator of Ariel and Aiden's sparing session. They were all dressed in their work out clothes. The twins in their skin tight vests and jogging pants, Ariel in her purple sports bra and pants. They had pushed the furniture in the living room to the walls to allow space for them to practice.

"He smells nice doesn't he?" She said with a smile while keeping a narrowed gaze on Aiden, waiting for an attack.

"I prefer Armani." Ethan murmured dazedly. Ariel grinned in his direction. His brother however was less tolerant.

"One more round, then you two can scamper off and do each other's nails." Aiden teased hotly. Ariel rolled her eyes at him and they began their sparring match again.

Ethan's attention was grabbed by the sudden knock at the door, in quick strides he approached the door and opened it. Stiles stood on the other side, expecting Ariel to greet him. He was slightly confused by Ethan's appearance.

"Stilinski, we were just talking about you." He said smiling at Stiles. He concluded this was the nicer twin, Ethan.

"That explains the sneeze-a-thon." He replied wittily. Ethan's smile widened and he stepped aside, allowing Stiles to walk in. He made his way to the living room, only to freeze in disbelief.

Ariel braced her hands on her hips. A movement that always annoyed Aiden, because it silently stated that she saw him as no threat. He growled low and pressed down on the soles of his bare feet, ready to pounce. Ariel would have readied herself for the act, if the sudden familiar scent of fresh linen and mint, didn't distract her.

She glanced over her shoulder to find Stiles staring at her. He looked so cute and confused. For a moment she lost sight of her purpose in standing in the middle of the living room, until Stiles expression twisted into one of panic.

She suddenly remembered Aiden.

The wolf had taken the opportunity in her distracted state to attack. He was inches away from tackling her to the ground but Ariel was faster. In the last few seconds she pushed off her right leg, brought her arms to her chest for balance and spun around. Delivering a round house kick right to his chest.

Aiden was pushed back and fell gracelessly on to the tiled floor. A grunt left his lips from the impact just as Ariel brought her leg back to the floor. She smiled, highly amused by her speedy reactions and the result. Aiden was a glowering, sweaty mess on the floor.

The first thought that ran through Stiles's head when he saw Ariel in her sports bra and pants was how utterly ravishing she looked. Then he started to notice the way the fine sheen of sweat on her skin made her glow. She looked like she was in her element with her hands braced on her hips, her back straight and proud and her hair up in a high pony tail. There was something about sporty girls that just made Stiles's heart race.

But when Ariel kicked Aiden's condescending ass, Stiles's entire repertoire of Cat woman fantasies rushed through him like a high-speed train.

Ariel smirked rather smugly down at Aiden; lifting her chin up haughtily she turned to address her boyfriend. Only to freeze when Stiles was right in front of her, and in the next moment he had grabbed her head and kissed her with so much intensity that she was robbed of the air in her lungs.

Aiden and Ethan stared wide eyed and perplexed.

Stiles pulled away, staring into her startled expression with eyes heavy lidded in desire. Ariel was immediately caught under the heat in his honey brown gaze. She had never seen such a look from him before, her heart was beating like a drum.

The haunted lust in his eyes silently called out to her. His hands moved down to grip hers. Ariel stumbled behind him as Stiles pulled her in the direction of her bedroom. She echoed the twin's confounded expressions that stared after her, until the door was shut.

"Stiles I really should go take a shower." Ariel grumbled attempting to move out from under the covers. But Stiles quickly wrapped his strapping arms around her slim body, trapping her against his chest.

"No wait not yet." He murmured into the crown of her head, trying not to be dazed by the floral scent of her hair "This is revenge."

"For what?" She retorted surrendering to his embrace and leaning back into his warm chest. She twisted around to face him, the sheets tangled tightly around them.

"For this." He exclaimed, releasing her to gesture at the deep purple mark on his neck. Ariel grinned wolfishly.

"I am sorry, but I am not sorry." She murmured highly amused by his disheveled state. Stiles rolled his eyes, feigning annoyance.

"Maybe I should leave one on you." He growled playfully, Ariel's smiled widened and her cobalt eyes glittered up at him.

"You can try, but it will heal." She said reaching up and tracing the mark she left on his neck. The day seemed to have darkened the blotch further, she found pleasure in having marked him. Stiles could see the satisfaction in her startling eyes.

"Damn you and your werewolfness." He uttered with feigned annoyance and a slight pout at his lips. Ariel smiled and leaned over to kiss the pout away, Stiles eagerly complied. His hand reached up to cup the side of her face as she pressed her weight on to him.

Ariel pulled away before the kiss lead to more feverish acts. Stiles watched dazedly as Ariel turned her back to him. She was gathering up her damp auburn curls and he watched the movements of her graceful hands. The smooth curves of her arms down to her toned back, she curled up her hair into a tight bun on top of her head. Stiles stared, unable to look away from the elegant arch of her white neck.

But then a slight scar on her alabaster skin caught his eye, he moved toward her. Ariel had dropped her arms to her side just as his finger tips grazed her skin.

"I guess not all scars you get heal huh?" He murmured tracing the thin dents on her skin, along her spine.

"What do you mean?" She asked confused by his words.

"I mean the ones on your neck." Stiles stated, carefully feeling the blemish "They look like nail marks."

Ariel tensed.

Stiles didn't like how quiet she suddenly was, not just vocally but physically. As if he had suddenly lost her to her thoughts.

"Ariel?" He called delicately, moving closer and pressing his lips to the smooth bend of her right shoulder. His warm lips on her skin snapped her out of her thoughts. She straightened her posture and craned her neck back to look at him.

"Sorry, I just remembered something." She murmured apologetically. Stiles's eyebrows furrowed in concern.

"Are you sure?" He asked. Ariel was hurriedly shrugging on a baggy shirt she found on the corner of the bed.

"Yes, it's nothing." She said after successfully putting on the shirt, she then shifted around to face Stiles. Staring at him while resting on her knees "I have to go take a shower. You are not in a hurry to leave are you?"

He smiled unable to resist the urge to touch her, he tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear "No, I can hang around."

"Good." She stated, genuinely pleased by his words. Ariel tilted forward and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips before pulling away "I'll see you in a bit."

Stiles nodded and Ariel got off the bed and Stiles watched her head in the direction of her bathroom. His hungry gaze eyeing her long legs until they disappeared behind the door.

Without her to distract him, Stiles was suddenly aware of his naked stated under her covers. He quickly moved to grab his clothes, leisurely shrugging them on though his mind was echoing Ariel's strange tense state a few moments ago.

"Thinking about it now, I really should have paid better attention mom." Stiles closed his left hand into a fist and pounded himself in the forehead repeatedly "I was there the moment she began to slip away and I ignored it."

Stiles sighed, his shoulders slumping in exasperation "Well not completely, I did get a little curious when I saw her with Deucalion."