There was a question nagging at Liam that he wanted to ask but didn't feel like it was his place to. There must have been a questioning look present on his face as he looked at Mae because she practically yelled at him, "Spit it out already! You're freaking me out!"

Liam was startled slightly but replied, "Don't take this the wrong way but…how old are you? I mean Paige died when Derek was in high school right? That really wasn't too long ago, but you're what? Sixteen? That doesn't make any sense."

Stiles heard what Liam said and chimed in too, "He has a point there…"

Even Lydia was trying to make sense of it. Then it was like Scott, Derek, Stiles, Liam and Lydia all simultaneously looked at her like they were adding things up in their head or something. This was really creeping Mae out.

"Oh my god stop looking at me like that!" Mae got up from her seat and went over to the window. She couldn't stand looking at them right now if they were going to look at her like that. While looking out the window she said, "There's got to be some reason for it. I mean, I died…I mean Paige died at that Nemeton thing right? Between that and the fact that Paige was reborn? Yeah does any of this really make any sense?" Mae sounded like she was trying to reassure herself of that fact and not just them. She looked at her reflection in the window as her mind tried to make sense of it herself.

Derek could see how this was affecting Mae and whether or not the timeline made sense, he didn't care. Mae was Paige's reincarnate or whatever and that was all that mattered to him. "That doesn't matter right now." He finally said, "Damon and his pack are the problem at hand."

Scott nodded in agreement, "Derek's right. We can figure out Mae's situation later. We have to prepare for some sort of retaliation from Damon's pack. Stiles, can you call Malia and have her meet us at my house? I'll pick up Kira then head over. We need to get everyone up to speed."

Lydia got up from her seat and said, "I'll fill Parrish in as well, just in case he could be of help. I'll also check the bestiary to see if there's anything in there that might help explain, well, her." Lydia gestured to Mae who completely ignored her.

Scott replied, "Good idea." the more help on their side the better. At least that was his thought at the moment.

Stiles got off the phone with Malia and said, "I managed to get Malia on board, I'm going to go pick her up now."

Scott nodded, "Okay, Liam you can sit this out if you want to." he knew how...uneasy Liam was to the whole pack situations so he didn't want to force Liam into anything that he didn't want to do.

Liam shook his head, "Not this time. I want to help." he looked over at Mae after replying to Scott.

Scott looked proud to hear him say that then looked at Derek, but didn't have to say anything because Derek said, "Mae's staying here. I'll keep an eye on her." Scott accepted that and everyone but Derek and Mae left the loft.

Once they were all gone, Derek went over to Mae who was still standing by the window. He didn't say anything and just wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

"Liam's right. How old I am doesn't make any sense. If I was born right after she died then wouldn't I be only, eight or something? I don't get it." Mae looked up at Derek who looked at her with a comforting look on his face.

"We'll figure it out. No matter what the reason is, it's not going to change anything. You're still Mae." Derek answered, trying to make her feel better.

Mae sighed softly, "And Paige." She added in.

Derek pulled her close and kissed the top of her head when Mae wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. "No matter what, nothing will change how I feel about you."

Mae felt so comforted to hear those words but she couldn't help but wonder if he meant her, herself or her because of Paige. It didn't matter to her she realized because there seemed to be more of Paige in her than she thought because in that moment, Mae realized that she was feeling as strongly for Derek as Paige had. The additional weirdness was already starting but Mae kinda like this part.

—–

Back at Damon's house, Damon was tearing the place apart in anger. Mae was an key figure that he needed in order to achieve his goal. Mae's parents, Vanessa and Theo, entered the latest room that Damon was tearing apart.

Vanessa was the first to speak, "Damon, all is not lost. She will return to us."

Damon growled at Mae's mother which made her looked down in submissiveness. "Oh I know she will return. Even if I have to drag that girl back here myself!" He yelled then punched the wall, sending his fist straight through to the other side.

"If I may, Damon." Theo began, "I have an idea that might get Mae back without causing any problems for us."

This caught Damon's attention, "Explain."

Theo did as he was ordered, "An iron fist, while a working tactic for you in the past has made Mae run. What if we tried a softer touch? Finesse Mae's return to us."

Damon did not understand where Theo was going with this, "And how do you suggest we do that?"

Theo continued, "Ty. Explain the situation to Ty, how important it is for this pack for Mae to return. He is more connected to her than we are, he will be able to get Mae to come back."

Damon thought about Theo's suggestion, "Before the blood moon rises?"

Theo nodded, "I believe Ty is up for the task, yes. He has already shown that his loyalties lie to you before all others, even Mae."

Damon crossed his arms as a smug look moved over his face, "TY!" He bellowed out for Ty to join them, "I always knew there was a reason why I kept you around." he said to Theo with a smirk.

Theo bowed his head in thanks and when Ty entered Vanessa and Theo left the room. "Damon?" Ty asked, not sure why he was ordered in the room but had a feeling he was about to be punished for something. Surprise moved over his face when he heard Damon say, "Pick up a chair and take a seat. I have a job for you."

—

Meanwhile at Scott's house:

After Scott filled Malia and Kira in on everything he knew involving Mae, Malia looked unimpressed, "So we're risking our necks for someone who's been already dead? Isn't that kinda mute?"

Stiles corrected her grammar, "Moot, not mute. And that doesn't matter. Mae's a part of Scott's pack now which makes her our friend and what do we do for friends?"

Malia rolled her eyes, "Help them, I know." Even though she knew it, she really didn't see the point of helping her.

Kira looked at Scott as she spoke, "My mom might know about the whole reincarnation thing. She's pretty in tune with all things Nemeton."

Scott thought Kira had a point, "That's a good idea. We should definitely check with her, and Deaton too. Derek said Deaton was the one that gave a brief explanation about what Mae was."

Liam looked like he was staring off into space, but he was just thinking. "Her age still doesn't make any sense." He muttered, it was something that he couldn't shake. It wasn't right and he felt like it was something that should be focused on.

"It's another piece of the puzzle that has to be solved." Scott said to Liam.

Malia added in, "It's a red piece for sure." Meaning that they had no clue what the answer to that was yet. The others looked at her, confused, but Stiles knew what she meant.

"Has Lydia called with anything yet?" Stiles asked in general.

Scott shook his head. "Not yet, but she's still researching."

Kira then asked, "If Damon's pack does retaliate then what's the plan? From what we've heard, he doesn't sound like the kind of guy that'll go down any other way than being put down." A look of surprise to hear her say that was simultaneously in the room, "What?" Kira said in reply, "I'm just saying."

Scott said once again, "No killing. There's another way, we just have to find it. Which is why Kira and I should go talk to her mom. Stiles? Can you and Malia go talk to Deaton?"

Stiles nodded in reply, "Sure." he looked at Malia to ensure she would come too and with an eye roll she followed Stiles.

Liam looked at Scott and asked, "What do you want me to do?"

Scott thought for a moment and said, "Go back to Derek's loft and help him keep an eye on Mae. If Damon manages to track her there then Derek's going to need some backup."

Liam was a bit too eager to accept that job, mainly because he wanted to see Mae again, "I'm on it."

Stiles noted the enthusiasm, "We'll drop him off."

The group seemed to have a plan all set, even if it was just the start of one at that. Scott looked at everyone and said, "Alright, let's get going. If you guys find anything call." That was the agreement before they all headed out.

—

Mae kept pacing around the loft while humming a tune that was stuck in her head. She wished she could play her cello right then but that was nowhere near possible so the humming and pacing would have to do.

Derek was sitting on the couch, watching her while listening to the familiar tune she was humming.

"What are you staring at?" Mae asked a bit sharply. She didn't particularly like being stared at.

Derek replied, "I'm not staring, I'm listening. Why? Am I distracting you?" This conversation brought back a memory for Derek that made him smile.

Mae continued to pace and hum between sentences when she said, "Nope, I have laser like focus." She then stopped pacing and looked at Derek, "Does this feel like dejavu to you too?"

Derek wouldn't quite call it that, "In a way. Paige and I had a similar conversation before."

Mae had an 'ah, that explains it' look on her face before she returned to humming. A flash of that memory came to her mind and she stopped pacing again. "You kissed her after that focus comment right? Or something?" Mae rubbed her ear as the memory became more vivid because she felt like a phantom touch from the memory.

Derek watched Mae as she seemed to remember more of Paige's life. "That's right, I did do…something." He smiled a little when Mae rubbed her ear. It was a little sad at the same time, something Mae caught a whiff of.

"Sorry, I shouldn't talk about her." she said last thing Mae wanted to do was drum up painful memories for Derek. Even though she realized that was probably unavoidable since she looked just like her.

Derek got up from the couch and went over to Mae, "You don't have to apologize for that. Paige is a part of you, there's no changing that, so don't hide that part of yourself. Especially from me."

Mae's eyes looked into Derek's and she felt her heart beat quicken. Derek knew he shouldn't be doing what he was but that wasn't stopping him. He started to lean down closer to Mae and just when their lips were about to meet the loft door opened. The sound caused Derek and Mae to back away from each other quickly. Since the two were so enthralled in each other neither of them sensed someone coming.

Liam opened the loft door and was carrying some Chinese take out bags. "Anyone hungry?" He asked, completely unaware of that fact that Derek wanted to rip his head off for interrupting them.

Mae cleared her throat and found herself smiling at the sight of Liam, "Starving." She looked at Derek for a moment then went over to Liam to help with the food.

—-

Awkwardness hung in the air as Liam, Mae, and Derek ate their take out. Hardly a word was spoken since Liam's arrival. Liam was awkward because he was crushing on Mae and didn't want to make a fool of himself or something. Mae and Derek were awkward because of their almost kiss that Liam almost walked in on.

Finally Mae got tired of the silence and broke it, "So you drew the short straw to have to help baby sit?" She asked directed to Liam.

Liam's brow furrowed in confusion, "Uh no. Scott asked me to come so I did."

Derek chimed in, "Why?" He asked.

Mae looked at Derek in question as to why he'd ask that question.

Liam faced Derek, "If Damon shows up you're going to need some backup." he answered. Even though that was definitely not the only reason why Liam wanted to be there.

Derek scoffed at this, "I can protect Mae just fine." he replied.

Mae crossed her arms and glared at both Derek and Liam, "Does anyone care to know that I can protect myself just fine? Yes? Good, now if you guys can stop talking like I'm not in the room, we can move on."

Derek tried to say something and Mae snapped her hand to cut him off and did the same when Liam also tried to speak. "Unless either of you have something productive to say, keep it to yourself. And no grumbling about it, I'm so not in the mood to deal with grumbling werewolves today." Mae then looked between Derek and Liam, "Got it?" Derek and Liam didn't really respond and just went about eating their food. "Good." Mae said in a tone that ceased that topic and continued to eat.

A couple minutes later Liam did say something on the productive side. He looked at Derek and said, "On the way here, Stiles mentioned that you should check in with your girlfriend and see if there's anything she can do to help."

Mae looked at Derek with wide eyes at the mention of a girlfriend, "You have a girlfriend?"

Derek wanted to strangle Liam in that moment but he refrained from doing so and said, "Braden is not my girlfriend."

Liam replied, "You sure about that? She sure seemed like your girlfriend to me." He wasn't trying to start anything, not really, he was just...talking.

Mae raised her brow and looked at Derek with a 'you have some explaining to do mister' look on her face.

Derek saw the look and said, "Well she's not. She's just a friend and I doubt that she'll be much help since she's out on an assignment. I couldn't get in touch with her even if I wanted to." The last thing Derek wanted to do was bring Braden into this mix. He didn't technically lie about Braden not being his girlfriend because he didn't consider her as one. It was...complicated.

Mae cracked open a fortune cookie as she asked, "What does Braden do?" It was an innocent enough question with a not so innocent reason behind it.

Derek didn't want to talk any more about Braeden, but replied, "She's a bounty hunter."

Mae asked another question, "And how…" she was cut off by Derek who said, "Did we meet? That's a long story."

Mae didn't seem too pleased with that answer but tried to hide it by focusing on her lame fortune in hand. Liam noticed the exchange between Mae and Derek and felt like he had brought up something he probably shouldn't have. Then again maybe it was a good thing because if Mae was peeved at Derek for something then it might give him a little leeway to get to know her better. The thought brought a little grin to his face but quickly wiped it away when Derek suddenly started to glare at him.

The awkwardness was starting to fill the air again, which Mae noticed right off and didn't like it. So she said, "So, how about them Yankees? They're Quidditch right?" Her lame joke got a chuckle from both Derek and Liam which made Mae smile in pride. Now that the awkwardness had subsided, Mae's mind went back to worrying as to whether or not Damon and his pack would burst through the door at any moment.

—–

Meanwhile at the Animal Clinic:

Malia and Stiles were in the back with Deaton asking their questions about Mae and the Nemeton. Deaton told them the same things that he told Derek before. "Yeah, we got all that from Derek." Stiles interjected, "But we really need to know whatever it is that you're not telling us."

Deaton was going through a file in his hand as he spoke, "Now what makes you think I'm holding something back?"

Malia replied, "Uh, because you're one shady dude." Stiles looked at her in a scolding manner and Malia said to Stiles, "Oh don't give me that look. I don't like that look. Besides has this guy ever been completely straightforward with you guys about anything?"

Stiles thought for a moment which made Deaton shake his head with a chuckle, "I understand that you are confused about what's going on, but Paige's reincarnate is just a child. She can't cause any harm."

Stiles and Malia both looked at Deaton strangely, then Stiles said, "Uhh…Mae isn't a child. She's like sixteen."

Deaton's expression changed completely. "Excuse me?" He asked.

Malia spoke this time, "Yeah she's definitely not a little kid."

Deaton closed the folder and set it on the table behind him. "I wasn't aware of this before…now this…this changes everything."

Stiles and Malia looked at each other in an 'oh this isn't good' sort of way…

—–

Meanwhile at Kira's house:

"Mom, you seriously don't know anything about Nemeton reincarnates?" Kira asked as her mother poured some tea for her and Scott.

"All I have ever heard were legends that not even my ancestors believed to be true. I am sorry but I do not believe I am able to help you with this. Are you certain she is a reincarnation of this Paige girl?"

Scott nodded and took a sip of the tea, even though he didn't like it. He was being polite. "Absolutely," He replied, "Derek confirmed it and Mae even gets flashes and dreams about Paige's life."

Kira's mom took in this information, "She is a wolf, you said?" Scott and Kira both nodded in reply. "But she was human when she died? From a rejected werewolf bite?" She asked, to which Scott and Kira nodded their heads in confirmation again. Kira's mom had a 'hmm' look on her face as she sipped at her tea. "That is quite interesting. I might have to revisit some of the old legends. If this girl is, as you called it, a Nemeton reincarnate then there could be more to her than just being a replica of that young girl."

Scott and Kira looked at each other in slight worry. They were getting more pieces to this puzzle only to find that the puzzle was getting bigger each time.

—-

Meanwhile at Damon's House:

Damon had told Ty the plan on how to get Mae back to the pack. "I get that I have to get Mae back here, but how exactly do you intend I do that? If I lie to her then she'll know." Ty asked in uncertainty.

Damon replied, "Do whatever you have to do. Make your lies true if you have to. Mae must return to the pack before the Blood Moon rises or everything I have worked so hard to build will be ruined."

Ty was starting to get the hint that there was more to Damon wanting Mae back in the pack than just the added boost for having her as a beta. "What is so special about the blood moon?" Ty questioned, wanting to...needing to know everything.

Ty's question angered Damon and made him back hand Ty across the face, "Do not question me! Now do as I say!"

Ty lowered his head submissively, "Yes sir." Ty got up from his seat and went up to Mae's room to get her cello case and music. Her cello was her most prized possession, if he was going to get close to her again to put Damon's plan in motion, that instrument was going to be his way in.

(End Chapter 7)