Hey guys! You've been amazing for waiting. Enjoy chapter 3!
"It's gonna get dark soon," the pack heard Kira from where she stood at the window, looking at the gradually setting sun.
Stiles took a deep breath, trying to steady his hammering heart. To say he was nervous or scared was the understatement of the century.
Lydia approached him then, a manicured hand stretched out to him. His eyes drifted up to meet her gaze, already extending his own hand.
"Come with me?" she said, and he let her pull him to his feet, following her out of the room, their fingers intertwined.
Scott joined Kira at the window, taking her hand. Kira laced their fingers.
"Are you ready?" Scott asked her softly.
Kira nodded, fearing that her voice would betray her.
"Kira." She turned around just as Cora approached them. "Can you fight?"
"Fight?" Kira echoed.
Cora's eyes flickered to Scott, arching an eyebrow.
Allison was the next to come up, carrying a bag. "Show her, Kira," she urged, holding the bag up. As Kira fished through the bag, Allison faintly warned, "You might wanna stand back."
Scott was the first to do so, and with a suspicious look, so did Cora. Kira found what she was looking for, pulling out the case and letting the bag drop to the floor. Holding it properly in front of her, she unsheathed her katana with one clean swipe, feeling her instincts kick in. She artfully twisted her wrists and began to move, twisting and turning without faltering once, keeping a firm ground, the sword slicing through empty air.
The twins and Isaac started gaping, Scott may or may not be turned on right now, and Allison sporting a proud look; the Hales in the room only showed their surprise by the slightest widening of their eyes and an arch of opposite eyebrows.
"Does that answer your question?" Kira asked when she was done, a goofy grin plastered on her adorable face.
"Hm," Cora gave just a sound of approval.
Kira put her katana back in its holster and picked the bag up off the floor, pleased that she made a good impression.
Cora was now looking at her phone, sporting a wince.
"What's up?" said Allison.
Before Cora could answer, the door to the loft slid open again, and bounded in an agitated looking brunette about their age; just behind her was a nonchalant Peter.
"Malia," said Scott in recognition.
Malia Tate, actually Hale, crossed her arms and met Scott's gaze. The werecoyote was obviously very unhappy.
"What happened?" Derek demanded from his uncle.
"Oh, you know," said Peter with a shrug, "me and your cousin here just had a little heart to heart."
"You told me Stiles would be here, so where is he?" Malia stressed. Stiles was the only one she could trust at the moment, considering what they had went through at the mental facility. He was her first kiss and lover, and her feelings were all jumbled up at the moment. Regardless, she knew she could count on him.
"Malia?"
She turned around to see Stiles himself, along with a petite redhead beside him; she spotted their joined hands, now parting as Stiles stepped forward, and her heart sank a little.
The last time she saw him, he wasn't okay. But now that he was himself again-for the moment anyway-nothing stopped her from crossing the room and throwing herself in his open embrace.
Stiles was glad that Malia was alright. But he never imagined having both her and Lydia in the same room. This had him between a rock and a hard place. What was he going to do? How did Malia feel about him? Did she think they were in a relationship now?
"It's good to see you," said Stiles, finally pulling away to get a good look at her. "What're you doing here?"
"Morrell told me to look for Scott. And I figured that wherever Scott would be..." Malia tilted her head, leaving the rest of her sentence unfinished.
Stiles smiled, and Malia smiled back.
"Well, if you're done canoodling with my daughter," Peter spoke up, hands behind his back as he stepped down. Malia groaned and Stiles looked like he'd just been punched in the gut.
"D-Daughter?"
"Stiles," Lydia sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "That's what I was trying to tell you before you-"
"Right," said Stiles, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "Sorry."
Allison and Kira had been watching Lydia's face during Stiles and Malia's entire warm exchange. Lydia met their gazes and forced a smile.
Cora, bless her, caught Malia's attention, and Malia went to go talk to her and Derek, ignoring Peter entirely.
"So much for getting the Father of the Year award," said Peter.
"Shut up," Derek said, shaking his head.
"What?" said Peter innocently.
"You know what."
"Cut it out, Uncle Peter," Cora added.
"Cut it out, Uncle Peter," Aiden mocked under his breath.
Cora's eyes cut to him. Do you wanna fucking go.
Aiden, unfazed, just smirked at her. Ready when you are.
"Do I have to put you two in time out?" Scott interjected.
.
"You're not gonna embarrass me, are you?" Malia said, hugging her knees.
"No. I'm the cool cousin," said Cora, and Malia couldn't help but smile.
"Stop staring," Allison whispered.
"I'm not staring," Lydia protested, whispering back.
"You and Malia need to talk before things get awkward."
"Things are already awkward!"
"You don't even know her."
"Yeah, give her a chance," Kira urged with a smile. "You actually might become good friends with her."
She and Allison shared a bubbly grin, practically speaking for themselves.
Lydia sighed. "Oh fine."
She got up from where she sat, because there was no way she was crawling around in this dress, and walked over to where the two female Hales sat. Seeing her approach them, Cora told Malia that she was going to get herself a drink.
And just as Cora left, Lydia sat.
Malia visibly tensed.
"Relax, coyote girl," Lydia said.
"What do you want?" said Malia.
"Well, you did spend your entire childhood as a rabid coyote, checked yourself into a mental facility, and then you find out that you have a psycho for a dad. Sorry for being curious."
"You don't care."
"You're right, I don't. That's only because we have yet to know each other."
Malia was quiet. Lydia had a point.
"Look, girly. I think you and I both know what's got us a bit on edge here. Well let me tell you something. Some advice?"
Malia looked up to meet Lydia's serious gaze.
"Never, ever, hate on another girl because of a boy."
Malia chewed on her bottom lip, studying the girl across from her. She was right, the werecoyote shouldn't judge the banshee, and vice versa. She didn't even know her. But a part of her kind of wanted to. She never had any girl friends.
"Now, I believe that we didn't get introduced properly." Lydia held out her hand. "Hi, I'm Lydia."
Malia stiffled a snort, but accepted Lydia's hand. "Malia."
"Have you ever worn heels?"
"No."
"Hm. You should. Green is such your color."
"I prefer blue actually."
"Really? Good choice. Blue goes good with everything."
"Everything," Allison and Kira enunciated.
What did I just get myself into? Malia asked herself.
.
Cora regretted going back inside, seeing a certain someone out of the corner of her eye as she went to go fix herself a glass of water.
"Hey, I'm sorry."
"For what?" Cora asked, eyes on the sink.
"For bonking your head. And putting you into the hospital. And laughing when I heard you were in the hospital-" Aiden's voice trailed off as Cora finally turned to face him, eyebrow arched up high. "Hey, you asked."
"Whatever."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"...Well?"
"Well, what?"
"Isn't it your turn?"
"What do I have to apologize for? You don't deserve an apology."
Cora felt Scott's eyes on the back of her head.
She sighed heavily through her nose, grabbing onto the counter for support. "I'm sorry for attacking you at school, even if it was Derek's idea-"
"No it wasn't," Derek interjected from across the room.
"-and clawing at your chest. And smacking your face."
Aiden smiled. "Now was that so hard, honey?"
"Call me honey again, and you can say goodbye to your balls."
And with that, Cora left the kitchen to go find the girls.
"Aiden..." said Ethan suspiciously, studying his brother's face. "I know that look. What are you thinking?"
"Nothing," said Aiden calmly. Too calmly. "Nothing at all."