Stiles still wasn't sure how to process what he'd learned in the library. He was also still trying to find a way to deny it.

Unfortunately, having ADHD didn't help in that regard. The more he tried to shut a line of thinking out of his brain- the more it usually tried to pop back in.

That was why he needed from distance from Scott.

He talked to Pacey in the lunch line, and his fellow jester graciously agreed to eat lunch with him outside today, so that hopefully Scott couldn't find them.

However, per the usual, Pacey wasn't so unobservant to his mood.

"So Stiles," Pacey said, as they took their seat at one of the picnic tables under a large oak tree. "Why we eating outside today? You seem a little...well I dunno man- not yourself."

"You could say that," Stiles permitted in a downcast voice, but his expression was stoic, which definitely meant he was hiding something.

Pacey cast his gaze around, but it was no good. He wanted to know what was up.

"Want to tell me what's going on?"

Stiles sighed at that.

"Guess I'll have to," he agreed, not sounding thrilled at all. "I'm going to need someone's help, and I think you're probably the only one that I can rely on."

"Well I appreciate that," Pacey accepted the compliment sincerely.

Stiles clucked his tongue and pursed his lips distractedly for a few seconds. He was trying to decide how to proceed.

"Pacey, Scott's a werewolf."

Pacey burst into hysterical laughter at that, and clapped Stiles on the back.

"Good one Stiles man!"

Stiles however, only scowled as though this were the least funny thing he'd ever said. Pacey knew it too. He knew when Stiles was being serious, and his own smile fell.

"What do you mean?" he asked strangely. "Scott's a werewolf..."

"Hear me out," Stiles told him. "You saw that bite last night. Did you notice its gone today?"

Pacey's mouth dropped open a little, but his eyes conveyed just a little worry.

"You were there," Stiles went on. "Between first and second period, when the bell rang. Scott covered his ears like all of a sudden his hearing got real sensitive. That's what I'm telling you Pacey! It did..."

"Holy crap," Pacey muttered, but his fearful expression suggested that he believed Stiles.

"Its still the full moon period of the lunar cycle," Stiles continued, so matter-of-factly that no one would have laughed now. "We have to stay with him."

Pacey didn't reply at all. He seemed to have completely clammed up.

"Pacey..." Stiles called to him.

"Stiles this better not be a joke," Pacey said, trying to keep his voice even. "If this is real of course I'll help, but..."

"That's all I needed to hear," Stiles said clapping his friend on the shoulder.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Later that afternoon found the three of them gathered in Stiles's bedroom.

Pacey looked really nervous about something, while Stiles looked resigned and ready for anything. Scott noticed it...

"You two are being weird," he observed.

"Kinda hot," Stiles said. "Isn't it Pacey?"

"Yeah its this heat!" Pacey agreed.

Scott scowled at them both.

"Well keep your secrets then!" he snapped, and his eyes fell on a pile of chains in the bedroom corner. "Stiles..."

"Hm?" Stiles replied.

"What are those chains doing there?"

Stiles wrinkled his nose and blinked several times.

"Oh well...they're for this fetish I'm curious about..."

"Stiles..." Scott warned impatiently.

"I mean it," Stiles insisted. "You think I don't have kinks or something? I totally know kinks."

"He totally knows kinks," Pacey chimed in agreement, and Scott rolled his eyes.

"Whatever," he sighed.

0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0

The light of the setting sun cast its twilight glow over the waters of Beacon Lake.

Dawson was still looking at the blond with her back turned, leaning over the pier and looking at the view.

It was that Jen girl he'd still only said two words to...

"Hey Jen!" he called, summoning his courage, and walking onto the pier.

The girl turned to him, and her smile brightened.

"Dawson," she acknowledged, a blush coming into her cheeks. "What are you doing here?"

"I was just having a walk is all," he explained. "I figured you could use some company."

"Sure thing," Jen told him, and turned back toward the lake.

They studied the water reflecting the evening sun in silence for several moments.

"Bet you don't see this in Chicago," Dawson commented randomly.

"No not really," Jen agreed quietly.

The awkward silence seemed to fall again, and Jen looked like she had a lot on her mind.

A piercing howl broke the quiet, and send tingles down both their backs.

The creature howled again, and Jen folded her arms as though trying to guard against something that frightened her.

"Sure got cold suddenly," she remarked with a light laugh.

"Yeah," Dawson agreed, pretending to be fooled by the lie. "Bet you don't hear wolves in Chicago either."

Jen chuckled at that.

"Alright Dawson!" she exclaimed lightly. "Enough small talk. Aren't you gonna cut to the chase?"

Dawson looked a little confused.

"Cut to the chase?" he asked skeptically.

"Well you know," she said like he was supposed to know. "Aren't you going to ask me out or something? About seven or eight guys at school did today."

Dawson didn't know what to say to that, and his expression became serious and distant.

"I wasn't planning on it," he denied lightly. "Though if you haven't told anyone yes, there's a dance next week."

Jen opened her mouth to speak, but then she hesitated, but only for a second.

"Actually, some guy named Jackson asked me."

"Jackson Whittemore?" Dawson guessed.

"Beats me," she said honestly. "I told him I'd think about it."

Dawson merely nodded at that, and the two of them went back to watching the lake.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Finally, the wait for Scott's expected change caught up with Pacey and Stiles's attention spans, and they agreed to play Monopoly.

Stiles had Boardwalk and Park Place, but Scott and Pacey had most of the other properties almost evenly between them.

"You owe me six hundred," Scott told Pacey smugly.

Pacey had just landed on one of Scott's properties with hotels.

"Damn it," Pacey said, handing over the bills. "I'm gonna lose if this keeps up."

Stiles picked up the dice to roll, but Scott let out a gasp and dropped the money.

Pacey and Stiles exchanged nervous glances. The night having fallen wasn't lost on them.

Scott began to tremble and breathe heavily.

"Pacey the chains," Stiles said.

Scott lunged at Stiles as soon as the words left his mouth. He was on top of him, as his fingers began to elongate into claws before his eyes.

"Scott its me," Stiles said calmly, maintaining eye contact.

Scott looked conflicted, but he seemed to recognize him. Then his pupils faded to a yellow color.

"He's changing Pacey!" Stiles shouted.

Pacey rushed forward with the chains, just as Scott growled. He pulled Scott back with all the force he could muster, tightening a length of chain around his neck.

Scott sputtered and tried to break free, roaring like a wild animal. Pacey tightened the chain, turning red at the effort. Even half-choking, Scott was terribly strong in this state.

"You're choking him Pacey!" Stiles yelled at him, actually angry.

Pacey's eyes widened in fear, and all he could think was he would die if he let Scott go.

Stiles jumped up and ran to his dresser, while Scott roared under his breath and flailed like a wild animal.

He returned with a syringe full of tranquilizer and shot it into Scott's arm.

Scott's chest rumbled and he fell forward onto Stiles's bed, but even in that state he still jerked and convulsed.

"Tie his hands behind his back," Stiles told Pacey frantically.

Pacey managed to do just that, while Stiles gave Scott another shot of tranquilizer. That was finally enough, and Scott went under with a low growl.

"We have to think of something else Pacey," Stiles said, fear still strong in his eyes. "The tranquilizer won't last the way he is."

Pacey seemed to think, but he was just as lost as Stiles.

Scott's chest rumbled in his unconscious state, and Stiles's pulse quickened, knowing there was little time.

"He's really a werewolf," Stiles admitted aloud with panic in his voice. "Its really true!"

"The heater," Pacey said suddenly.

Stiles looked at him like he'd lost it.

"Huh?"

"The heater in your hall man," Pacey explained like it was obvious. "That antique thing that's like a tower of metal bars. Chain him to that."

Stiles nodded. It just might work...

The two of them hoisted the unconscious Scott between them, and managed to chain his leg to it.

Then they sat some distance away in the hall, and waiting for the were-beast to awaken.

They didn't wait long.

Scott's chest gave a rumble, and his eyes flew open, exposing blown yellow pupils. He let a roar out of his mouth, barring full-fledged fangs in their direction.

He tried to go for them, but only managed to jerk against the heater.

Pacey and Stiles watched on baited breath as the heater trembled under the force, praying to whatever gods may be that the chain wouldn't break.

It didn't...

The chain never broke, no matter how Scott might struggle. Eventually he went on all fours, panting like a tired out dog.

However, he renewed his efforts, and he didn't stop trying to break free for hours on end. It was about 4:45 am before he finally passed out, and he didn't wake again.

Stiles thanked his lucky stars that his dad was pulling double shifts, but he and Pacey would have to think of somewhere else...