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Lacy here, kids! Alright, the end of season three. And another member of the pack loses their life. Not only that, but Effie loses something else at the end of the chapter. You all know what I mean. And you know how much that'll suck. Read on!

Disclaimer: I own only Effie.

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~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Effie watched, numb, as Derek finished burning the last of the wolfsbane out of Ethan, as he'd done with Aidan shortly before.

"Should be fine in a couple of hours." Derek said, stepping back. "Unless whoever shot you manages to find you again."

Aidan headed for the exit. "Lydia's with Scott. We need to go."

"You're gonna try to convince her to go with you?" Derek asked, knowing the answer already.

Aidan stopped and faced him. "I'm gonna try and convince her to run and hide. Like any sane person would do."

"And Danny?" Derek aimed the question at Ethan.

"Allison's dead." the other twin answered. "Stiles is dying. What do you think?"

"I think Danny won't believe you." Derek answered honestly. "And Lydia would never run and hide."

"Because of Stiles?" Aidan scoffed.

"Because of Scott." Derek shot back. "You've been trying to find a way into his pack. Trying to earn his trust, trying to fight for him. You've had it wrong the whole time. You don't fight for a leader. You fight for a leader's cause."

"What cause?" Aidan asked.

"Scott's always been about one thing." Derek informed. "Saving his friends. He will do anything and everything to save the people he cares about. When there's no chance of winning, he keeps fighting. When all hope is lost, he finds another way. And when he's beaten down, he stands up again. You wanna earn a place in his pack? You want redemption? Find another way to stand and fight."

Derek's words snapped Effie back and she moved towards the three.

"This son of a bitch already took Allison from us," she said, her voice catching. She shook her head at Derek's approaching touch. Any comfort and she'd shatter. "there isn't the smallest chance in hell Scott's gonna let the Nogitsune take Stiles as well. And I sure as hell won't, either." she looked at the men, her eyes lilac. "It's our move. The Nogitsune's put us on the offensive so let's show him just who it is he's screwing with."

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Effie stared at the triskele box in her lap as Derek drove fast through the streets towards the high school. She was trying to keep her mind distracted, away from thoughts of Allison and Stiles but it wasn't working. Just like when the darach took her father, she couldn't not think about what was happening to those she cared about.

Her panic started building in her chest and her breathing started getting short. She heard the faint sounds of Derek calling her name but it was muffled by the blood pounding in her ears. Her chest grew tight and heavy as her fingers dug into the outside of the box.

Time seemed to stand still as she fought to regain her senses. A steady thumping, outside her own body, caught her attention and she realized she was being held against someone. And that someone's voice was getting through to her.

"Focus on my heart beat, Effie." Ethan's voice filled her ears and her sight slowly slipped back into place. First thing she saw was Derek's panicked eyes in the rearview mirror as he continued to drive.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

Effie finally managed to take a slow, deep breath. "It all just-"

"I know," Derek stopped her. "I felt it. We stopped long enough for Aidan to swap places with you so Ethan could help." He didn't need to say why he didn't help her. Effie knew. The twins were still regaining their strength and needed complete focus on that, so driving wouldn't be an option.

She looked at Ethan. "Thank you, but you should have let me ride it out."

"Not likely." Aidan was the one who answered. "Derek wasn't the only one who felt it, Effie. Your panic was palpable. No way we weren't helping."

"Can you feel the others again?" Ethan asked. He was guessing her links to the rest of the pack took a backseat when panic set in.

Effie nodded, sitting up away from Ethan's hold. "Stiles is growing weaker by the second but Kira, Lydia and Scott are with him. Isaac's with Chris. Something's happening to Melissa and Dad but I can't tell what."

"Should we go to them?" Derek asked, knowing Effie would worry for her father.

Effie shook her head. "No, whatever's going on, it's tied to the Nogitsune. We stop him, we save the pack. All of them."

Derek pressed down on the gas. "Then let's make this fast."

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Effie walked side by side with Derek as they walked towards the Nogitsune. They already knew Scott was there with the others, not just from Effie's telling them but Stiles's jeep was there as well. Derek had the triskele box in hand, and a deadly swagger in his step.

The Nogitsune was sitting on the steps of the school, two Oni standing behind him.

"Did you bring us a present?" he asked in a mock cheery tone.

Derek set the box down as Ethan and Aidan stepped out behind them. "I brought two."

"I've heard of an Alpha Pack, Derek." the Nogitsune said. "but not a pack of former Alphas. It's a little sad, isn't it? And really, you brought the baby druidfox?"

"They may not be alphas any more," Derek said as they strode forward. "but but they can still fight like one." his eyes shifted red. "And don't ever doubt my mate."

The four roared as the Oni twirled their swords and they charged. Let the fight begin.

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Effie grunted as she hit the ground, spinning around just in time to see the Oni she was fighting raise its sword to strike her down. She panted for breath, never taking her eyes off it. And right before her eyes, she watched an arrow impale the Oni in the chest.

Gasping, she watched as the Oni pulled the arrow out and explode into nothing.

"What was that?" she heard Aidan asked.

"Silver."

Effie turned her head and saw Chris with a crossbow as Isaac flipped over the rail and landed by the box.

"The box!" Derek shouted. "Isaac! Get the triskele box to Scott!"

Once Isaac vanished with the box, Effie, Derek and the twins worked together to position the Oni so Chris could shoot them. He fired his final arrow but the Oni split the shaft in half.

"Get the arrow." he called out. "It's the last one."

Aidan saw his chance and went for it. Diving, he grabbed the arrow and jammed it into the Oni's chest. Just as the Oni stabbed his blade into Aidan's stomach.

"Aidan!" Ethan called out to his brother.

"No." Effie breathed. She moved with Chris and Derek as Ethan cradled his brother, helping him stay sitting up. Aidan was crying, knowing what was happening.

"Does it hurt you as much as it hurts me?" Aidan asked.

"Yeah," Ethan managed.

Effie leaned against Derek as the twins sobbed.

"It's okay," Aidan managed to say. "Lydia never believed I was one of the good guys anyways."

"She'll believe me." Derek said.

No one spoke again as Ethan gently shushed Aidan, comforting his brother, his twin, in his final moments. When they heard his last breath expelled, Ethan laid Aidan down and sobbed into his chest.

Derek stood slowly, bringing Effie with him as she cried against his shoulder. He knew her tears were for the pain Ethan was feeling, the pain they all felt in losing Allison and her own relief knowing Stiles was going to be alright.

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Effie took the handful of pushpins Stiles handed her and let them fall into the jar at her side. Moving back to the papers at her feet, she balled them up, not bothering to ask if Stiles wanted to keep any of them. She knew what he was doing, why he was clearing the walls of his room.

"Hey," the two turned and saw their father. "Whatcha doing?"

"Uh," Stiles looked back at the wall, taking another picture down. "just, uh, clearing my head."

Effie saw John glance at her and she just shrugged her shoulders. This is what Stiles needed. John gave a smile and nodded before walking away, leaving the two alone.

"Hey," Effie reached up and took Stiles's hand. "it's gonna be okay, again. We'll find our way."

Stiles sighed. "How can you be so sure?"

Effie stood up, pulling Stiles to face her. "Because we still have each other and no matter how bumpy the road gets," she held up their joined hands. "we're in this together. No one is going to take you from me again. I won't survive round two."

Stiles rested his forehead against his sister's. "I doubt either of us will so I'm really hoping there's never a round two. Thanks kid,"

Effie hugged Stiles. "For my brother, anything."

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Feeling sharp stab in her chest, Effie nearly screamed in pain, causing Stiles to slam on the breaks in the middle of the road.

"Ef?" Stiles threw the jeep in park and turned to his sister. "Ef, talk to me."

"Derek." Effie all but cried her mate's name. "He's gone."

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

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I suck. I know. Does anyone else hate that we come back to season four sans Isaac? I mean, I know Allison dying was hard for him, but I miss his face. Danny, as well. Bring back our goalie, Jeff! And Coach! Come on, we need his weird brand of humor! *sighs* The usual in between story will be up on Saturday and then season four, Relief, Relive, Rebirth will be up a week from today. You know how it goes by now. So let me know what you think, flame policy stands and thanks for reading!

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