Chapter 3: You Come into my House

I looked to Scott in a pleading manner, and he nodded at me. Stiles was still shaking his head as Scott walked around the slab and pulled him along.

"Alright just cause you're stronger..." I heard Stiles say as the two of them left the animal clinic. I turned back to give Derek my full attention. Lydia took over in holding his hand and was looking over his face.

"He looks a lot nicer at this age," She said quietly and I smiled.

"Yeah, probably not as vicious either," I agreed. I turned to Deaton, "What are we supposed to do in the meantime?"

Deaton sighed, crossing his arms, "Well we've done all we can. I need to tend to my other patients in the meantime. Maybe a little later we can try and see what is going on with him."

Lydia and I nodded as Deaton went into the back. I sat down in a chair next to Derek and rubbed my hands over my face. Yawning, I looked over to Lydia. She glanced over to me tentatively.

"You okay, Lyds?"

She nodded slightly, "Just worried about Derek. And you."

"Me? What for?"

"Did all of that really happen? What they told you, why they invited you back, is it all true?"

"Unfortunately."

"I'm sorry, invite me back? To New York?"

"That's what I just said, June. It would be purely for academic reasons, however."

"Why? Why should I come back?" I asked my mother, eyes wide.

"Well as you know, we conducted tests on you to investigate the extent of your power."

"That's putting it very lightly, Evelyn," I told her, "It was closer to torture."

"Always so dramatic, June. Anyways, the information we gathered we have been researching intently. Even after you left."

"After I was cast out by the two of you."

"Nuances. Will you let me finish?"

"If you get to the point quicker," I said, grinding my teeth.

"Would you care to let us explain in a more comfortable setting, Moony?" My father asked, and I flinched at the nickname.

"No, you'll tell me right here, right now," I snapped, my voice echoing around the foyer.

My mother folded her hands in front of her in a way I recalled meaning that she was uncomfortable. "Very well," She started, "The research we collected was studied extensively, and many tests ensued to figure out what had happened to you."

"Tests? You experimented on other witches?"

"Oh don't be ridiculous, June, that'd be barbaric."

"Right, barbaric," I said disbelievingly, my anger growing by the second.

"Well you see, after all the research we conducted, we have come across the conclusion that you were only the beginning."

"The beginning of what?" I heard Stiles ask.

My father shifted his weight to his other foot uncomfortably, "Well, Moony, the beginning of the next generation of witches."

"What do you mean?"

"It's a working theory, but we think that you and your magic might be the start in an evolutionary process."

"Evolutionary how? Get to the point."

"We think that witches down the road will develop more than two abilities as well. That it will become the norm in magic, and it all started with you. So, you coming back would be to further prove that theory, and we'd love to continue researching-" My father was cut off by a glass shattering to the side.

A mirror that hung in the foyer shattered, and my parents and Stiles turned to look at it. I kept my stare on my parents, my anger blurring my vision to red.

"So you're saying that you think I was cast out for no reason at all? That this is going to eventually happen to all witches?"

"Yes."

I could feel my hands trembling, and it got harder to breathe, "All that fear, all that anger, the hysteria, the paranoia, everyone I had grown up around save Ginny turning against me, for nothing? You, my parents, cast me out, for NOTHING?"

"Now June-"

"And now you want me to go back?" I bellowed, "You want me to go back and - and be some permanent science experiment? For the furthering of your knowledge? That's the only way I could return to New York is just to be your guinea pig?"

"June, I think you're misunderstanding-"

A picture frame flew off the wall and shattered to the ground. I had never let control of my magic disappear before, not once in my entire life. In that moment, I didn't care. I was too angry to care.

"No Evelyn, Robert, I think you are misunderstanding just how welcome you are in this house."

My mother's face twisted in anger, but before she could open her mouth, the door to the garage opened. Ginny's voice floated down the hallway.

"June, which one of your friends drives the Range Rover again?"

"None of them, Ginny," I answered her, not taking my eyes off of my parents. To my left, I felt Stiles slip his hand into mine.

"Where are you?" Ginny asked from the kitchen and I told her. I heard her footsteps grow louder.

"Well if that car doesn't belong to your friends, why is it in front of - Evelyn? Robert?" Immediately, Ginny was next to me, staring in disbelief at my parents.

"Ginny, always nice to see you."

She let out a breath, "I have half a mind to reach out to my old contacts in New York to let them know you're breaching the coven's rules. You can't be here."

"We're here on order of the High Priestess, Ginny. She knows exactly where we are."

"Why in the hell does that woman need you out here?"

"That's Council business," Robert answered before I could. "It's between us and June, not something you need to concern yourself with."

"They wanted to invite me back to New York, Gin." I said defiantly.

Ginny scoffed, "Like hell. What's the catch?"

"June, you're breaching Council rules by telling Ginny this," Evelyn tried.

I rolled my eyes, "It's not my Council. I don't have a Council, much less a coven."

"Why is June invited back to New York," Ginny said frustratedly.

"Again, Ginny, it's none of your business."

"You made that girl my business the minute you introduced me to her."

"This is a family matter, Ginny, if you could please-"

"I'm more her family than you will ever be, and I have the adoption papers to prove it! Or do you not recall how you threw her out on New York's doorstep to fend for herself without even batting an eyelash?"

"We gave her half of the Astor fortune-"

"Oh sure, give her money. That's what she needed. June needed a family, and you denied her of it. Anything regarding your relationship with June will now and forever go through me, so you better fucking tell me why the hell she's been invited back to New York City."

"They - uh - they think that more witches will end up like June," Stiles said unsure. "They wanted to bring her back to test that theory."

Ginny's nostrils flared and her lips turned white from pressing together so tightly. "You want to continue experimenting, torturing her? No, no absolutely not. Rot in hell."

Evelyn reached her breaking point. I saw her hand flicker over to Ginny and I quickly cast a shield in between the two of them.

"You touch one hair on Ginny's head," I said menacingly, "I will rip out all of yours. And I don't need magic to do it."

"Our flight leaves in two weeks," Robert started, "We hope we can convince you to change your mind."

I lowered the shield slowly when I saw my mother calm down, "I won't. And I don't care where you stay, just get out of our lives."

"Well, we hadn't booked a hotel, and this looks like a charming place to stay," Evelyn stated.

"Like hell," Ginny said.

Evelyn turned to her, "Need I remind you how fortunate you two were in regards to your expulsion from the coven? We kept everything quiet-"

"So you wouldn't ruin your reputation."

"Do not interrupt me June Florence. As I was saying, we kept everything quiet. And that also entails the news from escaping to other covens across the country. We would simply hate for you to have all the covens of Northern California breathing down your neck like ours did. It's possible they might even want you out of their region as well after figuring out what you can do."

I tensed up, "What are you saying?"

"Well mum's the word if we stay here with you two."

I looked over to Ginny, frightened. She looked angry and upset, and I couldn't blame her. I also couldn't risk the chance that she would be in danger of other covens as well. We'd both worked so hard to build a new life here, and I would be damned if I let my parents take that away from me too. Resigned, I nodded.

Ginny turned her steely glance back over to my parents, "There's a bedroom and bathroom in the basement. Carry in your own damn luggage."

My mother plastered on her best socialite smile, "Wonderful. Robert, come help me with the luggage." Together, they walked back out the front door. Ginny pulled on my free hand and walked me into the kitchen.

"June, listen to me, just because they're staying here, doesn't mean that you have to. Is there anywhere else that you can stay for tonight, or for a few days?"

"Me," Stiles said, and I spun around. In all honesty I completely forgot he was there. "She can stay with me."

"Stiles I can't impose on you like that."

"There's no imposition, June. My house is close to Ginny, but far enough away from your parents. We have a spare bedroom, it's no trouble."

"But your dad-"

"My dad loves you, okay? He goes on and on about it."

"Your dad talks about me?"

"Not really the point here, June," Ginny said. I looked back to her and nodded.

"Will you be okay?" I asked her.

"Of course I will be. I can handle snobby socialites, June. I used to live among them."

I gave her a small smile and hugged her. As soon as I let her go, I grabbed Stiles' hand and walked upstairs. When we got to my room, Stiles sat down on my bed and I went into autopilot. Grabbing random things I would need, I took a duffel bag out of my closet. I pulled out clothes to last me for about a week and folded them neatly.

It was too neat, actually. I started becoming obsessive about packing my clothes. I remembered the last time I had become obsessive about packing was when I was leaving New York. I packed everything so meticulously out of anger and spite, and it broke my heart knowing I was doing it again. I marched into my bathroom and gathered up everything I would be needing, and I packed it in as well.

I grabbed another bag and opened it up before throwing some shoes into it. I ignored Stiles and his remarks about how many clothes I have when I went over to my desk. Books upon books on magic were stacked up on next to opened notebooks filled with research and random pens scattered about. All the notebooks and books were promptly slammed shut, and I began carrying them over to my second duffel. Cautiously, I set them inside and zipped up the bag.

I then went back to my desk and opened my backpack, piling in all the schoolwork that was already done. I zipped it up and threw it on my bed next to Stiles. I ignored the worried look on his face and sat down next to him as I began to lace up my converse. I was pretty vigorous with it, and I think Stiles took that as a hint to not talk for a minute.

I finally pulled out my computer charger and phone charger and shoved them in a side pocket of one of the duffels. I threw on a jacket and began hoisting bag after bag over my shoulder.

"Oh, I can help with-" He stopped when he saw my face. I was too numb to really argue with him, but I shook my head adamantly.

"It's fine, I've got it. Lead the way," I spoke quietly. Stiles took that as his cue to walk out of my room. I followed suit, and shut the door to my bedroom. I clambered down the stairs with all of my things, and looked around for my parents. I let out a small breath of relief when I heard their voices going down the stairs into the basement. Looking around the foyer, I sighed when I saw all the broken glass. I made sure to magically repair the mirror and put the picture back up on the wall before walking out the front door.

Stiles was waiting for me on the path leading up to my house and he nodded when he saw me come out. Together, we made our way across the street into the Stilinski household. Stiles guided me upstairs, the entire time muttering about the bed not being made.

I set my stuff down once he showed me into the guest room, only half-listening to him as he explained where the bathroom was, and that he had texted his dad about me staying for a bit. I started unpacking my books and placing them on the desk that was in the room, as well as the notebooks and school books. As I did so, I saw from the corner of my eye Stiles scrambling about to put sheets on the bed and make it for me.

I finished unpacking about the same time Stiles finished making the bed. He was smoothing out the creases and invited me to sit down. I did so, and he sat down next to me. It was quiet for about five minutes, and I stared at the empty bags piled on the floor.

"So - uh - my room's just down the hall, but you already knew that. If you want a minute, I can-"

"I'm sorry," I mumbled, not caring that I interrupted him.

"What?"

"I'm sorry," I said louder. "I'm sorry - I - I didn't mean to lose control like that."

"That was you losing control? Just some broken glass?" He was clearly trying to make me feel better about the whole situation by using a lighter tone, but I wasn't sure it was working. "Out of all of my friends who have ever lost control that is by far the most mild. I mean Scott actively tried to kill me when he lost control, I'd say that's far worse..." Stiles trailed off when he heard me sniffling. He scooted closer to me.

"June?"

"It just - it was all for nothing."

"What was?"

"My parents, my coven, my home, everyone and everything I had ever known turning against me, casting me out, and now I find out it's all for nothing. They just - they threw me to the side like I was volatile and catastrophic and now they're saying that every witch will potentially be like me from now on. What - what-"

I couldn't even finish before I collapsed into sobs. All the anger, all the frustration, all the resentment and sadness that I was feeling over my parents return and the reliving of my expulsion from New York came bubbling to the surface. I loathed it, I loathed that they were here, and that they were telling me I could go back, after nearly a year of being gone.

I felt Stiles grab onto my waist and pulled me closer to him. I turned further into him and started crying into his neck, not caring that the tears were dripping onto his flannel. He put a hand to the back of my head and leaned closer to me, whispering reassurances into my ear.

I wasn't sure when we laid down on the bed, but there we were, me with my arms wrapped around his upper torso, nose to nose with the boy I loved, feeling nothing but safe and calm.

"Thank you," I whispered, before shutting my eyes and falling asleep in Stiles' arms.

"Yikes."

"Yeah," I agreed, nodding.

"Well in all fairness, there is an upside to this."

"What?"

"Staying one room down from your lover boy," Lydia teased as she elongated the 'ove' in lover boy. I rolled my eyes and nudged her.

"No, but in all seriousness, had you not been cast out, you'd have never met the most important person in your life."

"Stiles is not the most important person in my life, Lyds," I said exasperatedly.

"I was talking about me, dumbass." I looked over at her and we burst into fits of laughter.

"That's true," I told her.

"But I mean it, June. You'd've never met any of us if you didn't come out here."

I sighed, looking back to Derek's unconscious form, "I know, and I don't regret being here. But it still hurts. It still hurts a lot."

"How about you two try and get some sleep?" Deaton said, emerging from the back, "If he wakes up, I'll let you know."

Nodding, I leaned my head up against the wall and slouched further into the chair. Shutting my eyes, I distinctly remember feeling Lydia sit down next to me and getting comfortable before I finally fell asleep.

I woke up with the sun shining and my head on top of Lydia's, who had her head resting on my shoulder. I sighed, stretching out my legs and arms while yawning rather loudly. In that moment, Lydia's head rolled off my shoulder, and she was jolted awake. I took that as my opportunity to pop my neck and stand up. Looking over I saw Derek still passed out, and I shook my head in disbelief that he was actually in that state.

Deaton walked over to Derek and I started stretching out my back. I almost groaned in pleasure at the audible and deep pops that rippled up and down my spine. I looked at Deaton again and saw he was checking Derek's pulse while staring at his watch.

"Anything?" I asked him.

"His heart rate is alarmingly high," He stated. Worryingly, I glanced over to Lydia, and we both made our way over to Derek's other side.

Lydia grabbed his arm, "He's a lot warmer now."

"Lydia, June, I'm going to try something. Lydia, I want you to keep holding his hand if that's okay." Lydia nodded, and Deaton grabbed a scalpel from his tray. Deaton gripped Derek's elbow and with the other hand made a clean incision on his forearm. Well it would've been clean, had the incision not immediately healed as Deaton was cutting him open.

Wide-eyed, I stared at the smooth patch of skin. "That healed really fast."

"Unusually fast," Deaton agreed.

"What does it mean?" Lydia asked.

The vet shook his head, "I'm not sure. Let's try something else. Lydia, grab me a five millimeter syringe from that top drawer over there..."

He and Lydia both went to the table behind me. I stayed with Derek, clearing away the blanket that was causing him to sweat. As soon as I saw the two others get behind me, I felt Derek's arm that I was holding move considerably. Looking down, my eyes widened as I saw his claws were bared.

"Guys," I muttered, and they slowly turned around as Derek sat up. Protectively, I moved in front of Lydia and Deaton while Derek looked around.

"Derek?" I tried, as his breathing grew labored.

"Derek?" Lydia repeated.

"Derek, are you alright? Can you hear me?" Deaton asked and Derek looked up at us, eyes glowing blue.

"Derek, you're safe," He flinched as I said his name. Deaton and Lydia both tried his name again, and before any of us could do anything, Derek lunged forward. Shoving Deaton and Lydia back, I felt Derek grab onto my bare arms and throw me across the room. For the second time in my life, I collided with a glass cabinet in the animal clinic.

Hyped up on adrenaline, I looked up at Derek, who was slowly approaching the two humans. I threw up a shield right as Derek lunged again, and he stumbled back. I magically picked him up and threw him towards the door, hoping he would get the hint and leave. He did, and was quickly out the door.

Lydia rushed over to me, and helped sit me up. Her and Deaton helped me up and to the slab. I turned to face them as they sat me down, and my eyes locked with Lydia's.

"Call Scott," I said before assessing the long claw marks that decorated my upper arms, and covered my forearms in blood.