"What's going on here?" I asked as I came across Justin getting hassled by Kate who was lounging across his car. She quickly shoved something purple in her pocket and stood up as I came to my wheezing boyfriend's side. Suddenly, I knew why she was here.
"Aideen, sweetie! I was looking for you. Your dog is missing you. He keeps whining and howling. You should probably see him soon. Thanks for the chat, Justin. I will be seeing you soon." With that, Kate left before I could catch her and break her ever-loving neck. I was seething anger as I supported Justin while he recovered from the reaction.
"Justin, are you ok? I'm so sorry! Its all my fault. Maybe we shouldn't spend so much time together..." he shook his head as he breathed normally now.
"Baby, I don't want to spend my time any differently. Its going to be ok. We'll get through this. Since when did you get a dog?" My organs twisted in me, but I knew that I couldn't put Justin or Derek in worse situations. Kate had been talking about Derek anyway. My thoughts were always on his safety today, and her coming in like that didn't help.
"Uh, he's pretty new." Before he could ask me if I cared to elaborate, Lydia and Allison pulled up to get me to go shopping for a dress. I smiled as best I could. "I got to go. We can talk more at the dance tonight about... important things. Love you, hun." I lept into the back other car before he could say anything else.
"Aideen, good to have you with us," Lydia said in her constant, I'm-better-than-you-and-know-it tone. Allison was preoccupied with her phone and didn't bother to say anything. I knew she was still upset about the other night. I was too.
We made the drive to the nearest Macy's to see about half the store covered in formal dresses. Lydia's eyes lit up like a kid in a candy store. After spending a few minuets on the first floor and striking out, we tried our luck on the next one. I kept looking around on the way up the escalator, but Lydia and Allison were talking.
"Smile, Allison. You never know who could be watching. Besides, as to make up for what happened, I'm buying you a dress."
"Lydia, that's more of an apology than I ever though I was ever going to get. And it's still not going to cut it." I almost snorted on the hilarity of the perfect timing.
"But-" Lydia tried to worm her way out, but Allison wasn't having it.
"You're going to cancel on whatever dumb jock you did say you would go with and you'll go with someone else." Allison was looking pointedly at the counter and I looked for what she was seeing. I almost cracked up when I figured out her plan.
"Who, then?" Allison nodded to Stiles, who was smelling different perfumes when he spied up. He smiled and waved in an awkward way. Lydia looked like she was going to throw up her salad.
"Oh, smile, Lydia. You never know who'll be watching!" With that, Lydia pulled herself together and went to ask him. I could see the pure surprise and joy on his face and I felt happy for him. With Lydia's date helping her, that left Allison and myself alone.
We both looked at each other, not coldness in her eyes, but something distant. I gave a sad smile. "Allison, I'm so sorry. I would have told you if I could, but your dad, my boss told both Kate and myself to not tell you. He was going to when he thought you were ready."
"That's what I thought. I'm not mad, Aideen. I was just surprised. I just find it odd because you're supposed to kill them, but you acted like you don't want the one beta I saw to die. Why?"
"Well, he hasn't done anything wrong. That would be like shooting first and asking questions later. You can't punish someone if they haven't committed a crime. He doesn't deserve what they did to him..."
"What did they do?" She asked, her eyes wide and innocent.
I linked arms with her. "Let's not talk about it right now. We need to find something that will make us look like Woah!" She giggled and nodded. We separated to check out different racks. After a while, I lost track of her and began to get worried. I made my way to a few racks in the back to see her standing next to someone rather tall. I recognized him from the night he tried to kill me.
"Allison, I found something that's to DIE for! You gotta see it!" Just as I start to pull Allison away from the crazy werewolf, he stops us.
"Oh, is this one of your friends? Friends are a nice thing to have. We wouldn't want anything to happen to them, would we?" With that, we walked away to see the "dress".
"Aideen, that guy was creepy! Do you know him or something?" I couldn't lie to her anymore and I knew it, but I couldn't tell her he's the alpha.
"He's a creep. Let's just leave him a lone. Actually, we need to pay now and go home to get ready! Call Lydia and let her know we're going while I pay." She nodded and pulled her phone out while I payed for our dresses. The lady pointed at mine and smiled. "This one is really pretty." I thanked her and swiped my card before grabbing the loot when Allison met up with me.
Running right behind her was Lydia, a Macy's bag in her manicured fingers. I looped arms with both ladies as we made our way to the car. The drive home was more pleasant. After we dropped Lydia off, we made a beeline for the Argent home. We had two hours to get ready, and I still had a crap-load to do.
We both went to my room to get ready so we could help each other. I went against my usual style and decided to curl my hair for the night, slight waves traveling down my back. Allison painted my nails for me a very pale pink that gave a glow to my fingers and toes. I kept texting Justin after they dried about when we were going to meet up at the dance, seeing as I didn't want him to come here anymore.
I applied my make up, and pulled the dress that I bought today on. It fit me very well, the smooth fabric curving to my body. I came out of the bathroom to show Allison the finished product. Her jaw dropped open while she grinned.
"Aideen, you're so frigging pretty!" She said, eyes full of light. I smiled. I loved the dress, too. It went over one shoulder, leaving the other bare. The chest had layers and layers of emerald green going to the belt where it collected at a jewel on my hip. From there, light, silky green fabric went to my ankles covering one of my legs so that I may strap a knife there. The other leg, however, was fully exposed by a slit that reached just above my left knee. This all topped off with jeweled glass-like heels made me feel like a B.A. princess for the night.
I smiled at the thought and shook my head a little to watch the curls bounce and the sparkling dangle earrings sway. I was ready.
"I'm going to finish up my hair. You go and wait for me downstairs," Allison said in an excited squee. I rolled my eyes, secretly feeling excited as well. I went down the stairs to see Chris there, waiting. He smiled at me, white teeth all over.
"Wow, you look great. Dee, I just want to let you know that you and Allison will be the most amazing looking ladies there. And if any boy breaks your heart, I'll break his neck. I can do it, too." I laughed at the irony of things, but I knew that he was trying to be nice.
"Thanks, Chris. I really appreciate everything you've done for me."
"Don't mention it. You're like a daughter to me, Dee, and I love you. You're more important than you know." I was warmed by his words and appreciated having a father figure in my life. I just wish he knew more about his sister...
"There's my other girl!" He said as Allison came down stairs. She was grinning as she came down and kissed his cheek. A new light in his eyes took over when he saw his daughter so happy, so normal. He didn't even suspect the things she knew. He didn't suspect I failed him...
"Thanks, daddy. We have to go now or we'll be late! Bye!" She said, grabbing me and pulling me out the door. We drove the car to the local Walmart so we could leave the car there and ride to the school with our dates. Allison drove away with Jackson after giving me a quick hug.
The first time Justin came and got me from the car, I thought his eyes were going to come out of his skull. The eyes I had matched the dress with in the first place. My pink glossed lips twitched into an amused smile. He pulled me from the car and walked me to his. "Oops, forgot something," I said, reaching back into Allison's car to grab a little bundle of clothes. I always tried to be ready for anything, and fighting werewolves in dresses isn't an easy thing to do.
We both got in the car, but before we went anywhere, I felt the sudden need to be closer to him. My lips crashed into his, and my hands roamed all over his torso with little thought to them belonging to a "lady". I wanted every part of him, now. Our mouths fought for dominance, my tongue parting his teeth to explore places it's never been. I felt him run his hands gently over my face in a caressing motion, but I felt the sharp nails of his wolf paw. I forced myself to gain control and pulled away.
He growled, not in an angry way, but in a sexy, lustful way. They way his eyes glowed with a forest green, I could tell that I could get his pulse to rise enough to make the change. I ran my hand through his red hair to sooth him, his pale skin just under my fingers. I wanted to press my flesh against his, our body heat combining, but I didn't. We had to get to the dance eventually. We had business to take care of tonight.
Justin drove us to the high school and we saw Allison, Jackson, Stiles and Lydia waiting in the front for us. "Where were you guys? We've been waiting forever," Stiles complains before thinking. Lydia elbows him in the ribs, noticing my lipgloss is a bit smudged. She winked at me before pelvis thrusting when the others weren't looking. I shook my head and laughed before locking arms with my date.
We walked into the school, ready for the coming of the night's events. My job was to watch out for my friends and make sure that Peter's threat doesn't come true, so it's a good thing that they're all together. Even Scott had snuck in to keep and eye on Allison, who didn't look particularly happy with Jackson. Stiles had just convinced Lydia to somehow dance with him, and he seemed to be drinking in every second. Lydia needed someone nice like Stiles, whether she sees it or not.
Soon, Justin takes my hand and leads me to the floor to dance. I blush slightly, loving the feeling of his hand on my slim waist, trailing up and down my body. I shivered in pleasure as not very pure thoughts ran through my mind of me ripping off his shirt. We swayed to the music, our bodies pressing against each other.
"Justin, this isn't really what we're here to do," I said quietly, thinking of the alpha's red eyes cutting into me like his claws.
"You're not super girl. Everyone needs a break, and you of most people do. Now hush and dance with me for this song." I smiled and leaned my head against his shoulder for the ten seconds I wasn't interrupted for any supernatural reason. Suddenly, it got really quiet in the room and I noticed everyone was looking at one place. I followed their gaze to see Danny and Scott slow dancing. I let a small giggle escape me and Justin was shaking with silent laughter.
When everything went back to normal, we watched him go to dance with Allison. I couldn't hear what they said from over here, but Justin could. "What are they saying?" I asked him, who kept his eyes locked on his pack mate.
"They spoke about Derek for a moment, but Allison kinda acted like she didn't want to talk about him." I inwardly cringed and didn't blame her, either.
"Now, he just kissed her and she asked why he did that. Oh my gosh, so cheesy, Scott!"
"What? What did he say?" I wanted to know if I had to kill him for making inappropriate comments to my best friend.
"He just said he loved her, and she's smiling. I guess that means they're back together."
"Finally! I saw it coming," I groaned out. Justin shook me a little to grab my attention and he pointed to the other couple. They were both grinning like idiots and were running off somewhere. I also saw Lydia and Stiles running off at the exact same time. "I'll take Stiles and Lydia, you keep and eye on Scott and Allison. If something happens to her, I'm going to be pissed." He nodded and we broke apart so that we could track our friends.
I gave one last glance back at Justin before trailing after Stiles and his date. I soon found out that they were looking for Jackson, who was no where to be seen. It was hard following two people, but I had been trained to do it. Suddenly, Lydia disappeared. I continued to follow Stiles and hope she is alright. He made his way to the lacrosse field, where I can see Lydia and a dark shape standing, and Stiles figures it out before me. "Lydia, run!" he screams while trying to get to her, but it was too late. Peter clamped his jaws onto her, breaking the skin.
Lydia was now in between a rock and a hard place. Become a werewolf, or die. Those are the choices she has now. I wanted to intervene, but just as I got ready to run out to help Stiles, an arm stopped me. "Hold on, Aideen. Peter needs Stiles. He's not going to hurt him," Justin coo'ed to me.
"What? How do you know that? How would Stiles know where he is? Where's Scott and Allison?" So many questions and so little time. Justin answered each as quickly as possible.
"Derek took Scott's cell phone, so he wants Stiles to track him with that. I can hear them from here. Allison is with her dad and Scott's in trouble. Right now, we need to go find him so we can get ready. If the alpha finds Derek before us, we're screwed."
I looked up into Justin's eyes, and finally let forth the guilt I was feeling. "He won't find him first, because I know where he is." Justin looked shocked, but somewhat relieved. I knew that Justin had been worried about his wolf brother, whether he was going to admit it or not. Derek was almost a brother to him.
"Well, that's a good start. Now let's go find Scott so we'll mostly be all together. I just heard Peter tell Stiles he can tell Jackson where Lydia is, so they'll be ok at the time." I nodded and we both made a mad dash to Justin's car. I could see that Scott was nowhere around. Hopping into the back so that I could change, I asked Justin where he was.
"The hunters forced him to change in front of Allison, so he ran off. He's gone to the vet's. We're going to go get him, and then get Derek."
"What?" I asked, pulling my shirt over my head, after buttoning my jeans, "Allison knows Scott's a wolf? Well, at least she won't come after us. She won't be able to hurt him." Justin didn't say anything, and I pulled my boots on. My knives were strapped to me and ready to be used, guns strapped there as well.
We pulled into the animal clinic to see Scott outside and waiting for us. He looked like his who world was falling apart. "You look like crap," I told him as he got in the car.
"Thanks a lot, Aideen. Now, we need back up. Where's Derek?" They both looked to me, and I looked down, ashamed.
"He's at his house. Just drive there and I'll show you."They both looked at me odd, like they knew something was wrong.
"Aideen," Justin said, when we got in eye shot of the house, "what are we gonna find here?"
"You'll see." I whispered, thinking of all the pain Kate inflicted on her new pet. I had wanted nothing more than to set him free, but Derek didn't let me. I now felt like a horrible person. No one will be hurt because of me, again. My sister died, Derek was tortured, and now they're after Justin. I can't do anything right...
We got out of the car, and they both headed to the door until I stopped them. "That's not where he is. Follow me, guys." I took heavy steps to a hidden iron bar door that lead to a dark tunnel. I ducked down inside, knowing my way. The two boys followed me, their eyes wide and senses alert to danger.
"What is this place?" Scott asked. When I heard a voice on the other side of the door, I shh'ed him so that the hunter wouldn't be alerted to us. I put a finger to my lips to tell them to be quiet while I took care of this. "To be honest, my knuckles are starting to hurt a bit. So, I brought a little friend." I heard all this through the door before I opened it wide enough to get inside but not so he could see my friends.
The hunter didn't seem to hear me come in. He was too focused on his prey dangling in front of him. In his meaty hands was a wooden baseball bat, held up to swing. "I don't have to warn you, I played in college." Just as he was about to swing, and Derek's eyes shut to brace for the pain, I stepped in front of him to take the blow with my arm. Surprise hit his face, and he pulled back.
"O'Conner, I didn't expect to see you here! What can I do for you?" He asked, knowing I ranked higher than him, despite my age. I glared at him, wanting nothing more than to crack the bat over his skull for hurting my friend.
"They're going after the alpha and they need more men. You need to join them. Now." I kept my voice like ice, deathly cold.
"I would, miss, but Kate told me to stay here until I made him talk," he said, showing fear on his face. I pulled out my knife and pointed it at him, making him flinch visibly. I smiled in a cruel way that puts Kate's grin to shame.
"Would you rather deal with her, who isn't here, or me, who is very capable of dealing with traitors? You pick, hmm?" I saw him shiver, and I continued my act, turning my back to him to run the blade lightly down Derek's bare chest until he growled with discomfort.
"Think I can make him talk. Wanna try to disagree?" He shook his head no eagerly. I grinned darkly. "I didn't think so. Leave and don't come back unless told otherwise. I swear, if you hurt him again without orders, I will inflict what you do ten fold! And you can't heal so quickly, can you? Leave." With that, he turned, pale faced to leave. Scott and Justin had saw the whole thing and hid in the hall to avoid violence.
When his footsteps went away, I put my knife in the holter and went to unlock Derek. I uncuffed him and tore the patch off his side. Burn marks plagued his body, among other wounds. When he fell down from weakness, I caught him in my arms, pulling him to me, and finally crying.
"Derek, I'm so sorry! I can't believe this! I'll do anything to make it better." I let tears pour as I held him up, burying my face in his neck. I could feel contusions on his body where my fingers supported him. Justin and Scott came in, and I didn't want to see what they thought of me.
Derek just let me hold him for a minuet before supporting himself. His eyes looked right into mine, and a faint smiled ghosted on his pale, cracked lips. "I'll be fine, Aideen. I told you to leave me. You only did as I asked. Besides," he said, putting my hand where the patch had been to feel the now smooth skin there, "I heal fast." I smiled back at him, still feeling all the guilt. Nothing was ever going to get rid of the pain I felt for him.
Justin came into the room quietly, grabbing something from the table. He brought it over to us and handed it to Derek. It was his shirt, which Derek pulled on automatically. Justin's eyes never left his werewolf brother's face. I could tell he was slightly horrified for him. Derek just ignored the stare and patted Justin on the back without looking at him to reassure his friend. I smiled at the tender moment.
"Now we need to go protect Allison! The alpha is coming to get you, and then her," Scott said to Derek. Derek snorted.
"Why should I help your little girlfriend? You think she loves you? She doesn't. You don't even know the real her! She was here, Scott. She knows about everything. You think she's gonna love you? You're a child! You don't know what love is." It came off harsh, and I saw it stung Scott, but I could understand how Derek feels about this. His girlfriend, and Argent no less, betrayed him. Maybe Allison is next in line to follow, in his eyes.
"Maybe, but I do know something you don't know. You're sister's death was no accident. You know who had this," Scott asked, holding up a picture of a deer with our vendetta in it. "Peter's nurse. He had her lure Laura to the woods to kill her and become the alpha."
It was obvious that Derek was pissed, but in that moment, I had never seen the rage in Justin's eyes than I did then. I knew from that look that he planned to avenge Laura, and I also knew that I was going to help. He loved her, and she was taken from him. I was going to stand by him until the end, no matter what it meant for me.
We agreed to help Scott and started to make our way out of the wolf dungeon. Derek was still weak, so Justin and I helped him walk out. When we got outside, we were all tired. "Stop," Derek wheezed. We both let go of him so he could catch his breath.
"What?" Scott asked, his eyes wide. Derek just shook his head.
"It's weird, all this just seemed too..." Scott interrupted him.
"Don't say it! None of this has been easy! You think finding you was easy? Getting away from the hunters? No." Justin nodded, agreeing that tonight had been rough. We just didn't know how rough it was going to get. That is, until and arrow came out of no where and took out Derek's leg. He fell to the ground, but was hit in the shoulder as well. Another one hit Justin in the torso, but it didn't stick in. I fell to the ground as a flash bulb hit next to Scott.
I first made it to Justin who was already healing. Then, I moved to Derek, pulling out the arrows. He grunted in pain, but got up to drag Scott away, who was now temporarily blinded. I pulled Justin up and we made run for it. Derek finally fell in front of his charred home, tossing Scott a few extra feet. Justin and I tried to keep going, but the hunters were too quick. Allison got up in Scott's face, showing no mercy. Even when he tried to explain, she said she didn't believe him.
"Finally! Now, shoot him," Kate said with a malicious tone. Allison's face drew a blank. It was obvious that she hadn't planned on killing anyone. Kate sighed. "I know that 's the, 'I'm going to have to do it myself' look." With that, she pulled a gun on me, and I saw my life flash.
"No! Don't hurt her! She's a hunter!" Allison screamed for me. Kate just shook her blond curls.
"I've wanted to do his a LONG time! And now, you deserve it. Traitors receive death, Allison, and she is a traitor now." Justin growled in a low tone,his eye glowing green. Kate just smiled.
"Ah ah, get too close wolfboy and I'll kill her." Justin took a step back to stand next to a blue eyed Derek, who also looked worried for me. "Isn't this precious! Two little guard dog! Maybe you're more like me than I thought, Aideen."
" Shut up! I'm nothing like you! You have no part of my life."
"Oh, actually, I do. See, I have my own secrets. Well, one in your case. See, the night that your little boy friend's here father died, it wasn't your mother who killed him. She had came to stop me. She had a soft spot for the beast, too. But, some other wolf saw the wrong girl kill him, thus putting your family on his kill list. It's not your fault your stupid wolf-loving sister died, it's mine."
My jaw dropped. I had no words. All I could do is stand there and stare into Justin's eyes. Something in them was troubled. It was as if he was guilty for something. Suddenly, Kate got a good idea.
"I see you let Derek here go. How sweet. So, I have two people you care about with me. Hmm, how fun." She pulled another gun and this time, she pointed each one at my two favorite wolves. I felt what was left of my tattered heart clinch.
"Kate! Please no! You've taken everything from me! Please Kate, let them live!" She raised an eyebrow at my plea.
"Well, I should defiantly kill them now, but I'll make a deal with you. Trade me something for their lives." I nodded tears now falling.
"I want you to die. I always have. I give you and Allison my word they will go free when I kill you. I've always hated you and your filthy mother, Aideen. You were born to be traitor too your kind." By the look in my eyes, she knew my answer. I told Justin I would do anything for him. Now, I was going to keep my word.
I said nothing as she walked over over me. In a swift motion, she pulled out one of my own knives. I couldn't look away from Derek and Justin's faces of horror as she pressed it to my neck. The last thing I heard before her muscles tensed to pull the final stroke that would end my life was Justin saying he loved me...