Author's note :

Firstly thank you for taking the time to read my story, it makes me happy! Give it a chance, you will not be disappointed.

I'd love to have your opinion about this chapter, so feel free to leave a review! As always, sorry for the english mistakes, I'm doing my best!

P.S :I made a soundtrack for the story and I also made a Tumblr, so if you want to know the characters a little more, the links are in my profile!

*I corrected a few sentences*

Isabel Ashford

There are many things that I regret in my life.

The first was to have not been the perfect daughter for my parents. I was not a hateful child, far from it, but I was a bit tough. Hard with myself and sometimes with them. My father was often absent due to his work and I remember very well that the last thing I said to him was whether he would deign us with his presence on my birthday or I would have to learn to spend my next birthdays without him. Seven hours later, I found my dad dead on the stairs of the house. Even now I still can see the pain in his eyes when I had shouted that horrible sentence. Even today, I was haunted by the look of my father.

Strangely, it was this idea who accompanied me on my return to the McCall's house. When I was finally inside, I hurried to remove my wet pants for putting on a pair of gray shorts. Once the warm clothes on me, I started looking through my big black leather bag. Things would changed for the McCall family, it was official.

It took me a moment to gather all the tools that I needed and when I finally got them in hand, I headed to the living room before sitting down on the wood floor, my bare legs folded under me while I placed several long threads in front of me. I hadn't stopped to think about what had happened in the forest. Armed men were walking freely in the wood and there was now a curfew... Is Beacon Hill was stucked with a serial killer or a terrorist threat? That was freaking insane...

Sighing, I firmly took the handle of the small knife to my right before bringing it near my hand. I screwed up in many aspects of my life. In fact, my life was just a big fat mess, but there was one thing I wasn't going to screw and it was Scott and Melissa security. I was desperate to give to that boy the life he deserved. Taking a deep breath, I plunged the blade in my hand while a little moan escaped me.

Blood was something exciting for me. It was life and death together. It could save us as exterminate us. Power and destruction in a simple drop. Closing my eyes, I let the red liquid flow outside the wound, before placing my hand above the strings. ''Vitae'' I whispered before returning my palm and letting my blood pour on the cotton strings. Seeing that there was now enough, I gently licked the wound and turned my attention to the task at hand. White, red, brown and gold. Everything will be fine. I thought, before I started braiding the threads together.

It almost took me two hours to braid the threads in the pattern that I wanted, and honestly, I was pretty proud of myself. For a true first time, it was successful. A little smile stretched my lips when I imagined the reaction of Matthew. It was that kind of thing that made him proud of me. The colors tangled perfectly into each other and the pattern somewhat resembling a huge wave was perfect. It was going to work, I was sure of it.

While I was looking at the bracelet on the table, I felt my heart sinking. He never took the time to make one of those. He was so confident, so sure that they would never get to us and look where this had lead us. They were now both dead. Sighing, I quickly passed my left hand through my hair, trying to clear my head. It is absolutely pointless to dwell on the past, I knew that very well and yet I couldn't help myself... I was so angry against him. They had lied to me, both of them, leaving me alone with my problems, telling me that I had nothing to fear, that they would protect me from the monsters... Protect me my ass. I thought angrily. I wouldn't make the same mistake as them. I wasn't going to let Scott in ignorance like they did with me. When I would be certain that he would be prepared to accept the truth, I will tell him everything. Everything. I'd never be like my father, I'd never be a coward.

I was so lost in my thoughts and my anger that it took me a while to hear a noise that strongly resembled like someone was coming down the stairs.

''Morning big guy.'' I said, when I saw Scott who seemed still a little sleepy. The poor little guy, he looked like he had spent the night on a concrete bed. Holding my laugh, I quickly took the small bracelet on the table and went to join him. ''I have something for you!''

My smile gets bigger when he raised an eyebrow in my direction. Seeing that he was waiting, I made him hold out his hand in front of me before placing my work of art on it.

''It's something that I learn to do in Montana.'' I replied by pointing the small patterns braid on the bracelet. ''It's a thing that Amerindians do when they wish happiness and protection to people they hold dear.'' The lie rolled so quickly on my tongue that I was almost sick. Tell the truth... Truth my ass! Cried a little voice in my head that I tried to silence. It just was not the right time.

''You did this?'' He asked, looking at me while I was falsely offended by his reaction.

''Of course I did it!''

''Well... Thanks Isa. That's nice.''

''Will you wear it?'' Please? I added silently in my head.

''Sure!'' He exclaimed, before asking me to tied it around his right wrist. Thanks God, it's long enough. I thought while I finished tying the knot.

While I gave him my best smile, something changed in his eyes as he looked at my thigh. Oh right... That.. Seeing that he didn't seem to believe what he just saw, I couldn't help but laugh at him.

''You got a tattoo?'' He asked more than surprised. ''I was surprised about the nose ring, but a tattoo, you?''

''People change.'' I answered simply, looking at the tree of life that I had on the thigh. If only it was just a tattoo... My first mark...

''Yeah, they do...'' At the sound of his voice, I threw him a worried look as he pulled the sleeve of his shirt to show me something I never imagined.

''Did Melissa know?'' I asked somewhat worried, while I was looking at the black triskele on his bicep. Looks like Celtic symbols were a '' trend '' in our family. At this simple idea, a bitter taste invades my mouth and I had to make an effort not to grimace.

''She thinks it's a fake. You know, because I want to be sure that it's a good idea to got one...''

''You lied to your mom?'' And look who's talking. Muttered the little voice as I tried to ignore it.

''Hey! Don't look at me like that. I'm sure you lied to her too.''

I could feel my heart stop beating. He was right. After all, two years of my life had been all about lies and secrecy. As I was about to add something when the front door opened, making us jump.

''Morning!'' I quickly turned around to look at Stiles who had just entered the house, a big goofy smile on his face. He had way too much energy for a Sunday morning. Like, fucking too much energy.''Did I interrupt something?''

''No.'' I replied before starting to walk to the kitchen. ''I'm hungry. Want to eat?'' And before I have time to say anything, the two boys ran to me as if they had not eaten for fifteen years.

•••

''Can you stop looking at me like I'm some kind of a freak?'' I asked to Stiles who didn't stop staring at me since we sat at the table for the breakfast. I was starting to feel like an alien and it was starting to drive me crazy...

''S...Sorry.'' He said before taking a huge bite of his toast, which made me sigh. ''It's just... How long are you gonna stay?'' He mumbled with his mouth full. Gross...

So that was the problem ... They thought I was going to stay for a couples of day and I was going back to Montana. For a moment, I felt guilty. It was stupid, I didn't leave them alone during a war, but it was the same feeling of guilt.

''I'm not leaving again.'' I said, looking at them. ''I'm here for good. Really.'' Quickly, I grabbed each of their hand and squeezed them gently. I had to make a superhuman effort not to explode of laughter in front of their expression. It looked like they had just discovered that Santa Claus was really real.

They continue to act like a goldfish for a few seconds until a huge smile appear on Scott's face.

''That's great!'' He exclaimed, before looking at Stiles who was smiling. ''It's more than great!''

I continued to watch them for a moment until the events of last night reappear in my head. Maybe I should wait a little... I thought before taking a sip of my coffee while I glanced at the pictures on the refrigerator ... Or maybe not...

''Guys.'' I began slowly. ''Can I ask you something?''

''You just did.'' Said Stiles, which made me rolled my eyes.

''Smart ass. '' I said, throwing him a strawberry that he caught with his mouth. ''But seriously, why Beacon Hill has now a curfew?''

Stiles choked with his strawberry while Scott became completely tense, as if he had been electrocuted. '' How... How do you know t-that..?'' Stiles asked, still trying to regain his breath.

''I wasn't able to sleep last night so I went for a midnight run and for some unknown reason, I found myself in the forest... I met some men who told me about the curfew. That's it.''

''Oh my God... She was in the forest...'' Stiles mumbled. It seemed like I had done the dumbest thing in the world and I restrain myself not to roll my eyes. Since when was it a crime to wander in the wood?

''Do they touched you?'' Scott growled so loudly that a shiver ran down my spine. He had a look so dark on his face that for a split second I thought that I had a dangerous man in front of me... No, not a man... A predator.

''N..No! Of course not! I surprised them and they point some guns in my face but no harm done...''

''They did WHAT!?''

At the sound of his voice I jumped out of my chair and stepped up to be cornered against the wall. The fuck was that? Yelled a voice in my head while I try to calm my breathing. A note in his voice gave me the impression of being face to face with a wild animal. Something in the expression of Stiles caught my attention and for an instant I thought of having seen a spark of sadness in his eyes, but before I could say a word, it was gone.

''What the fuck is wrong with you?'' I screamed, putting a hand against my mouth while my breathing was refusing to calm down. I felt like my heart would explode if the beats didn't slow down.

''Wrong... What's wrong with me? They put a gun in your face!''The table creaked under his fingers. ''I need to call Derek.''

''Calm down and breath buddy.'' Say Stiles with an hand on Scott's chest. ''She's right here with you and she's safe. No harm done like she said...''

''But they could have hurt her! Or worse!'' Scott growled, clutching the arm of Stiles who grimaced.

''Isabel?'' Stiles asked as he tried to free himself from the grip of his friend. ''Maybe you should go out for a moment...''

I pursed my lips before grabbing the first jacket that I saw and walked to the front door to put on my shoes. I needed to breathe and clear my head. Fuck! I needed to understand what had just happen. Without a glance behind me, I closed the door on the two boys and began to walk with the vicious look on Scott's face in my head.

•••

Without knowing how, I found myself sitting on a picnic table at one of the many parks that the city possessed. For a Sunday, the place was completely deserted. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes. What had just happened?

Scott was a pacifist and quiet person. Damn, back in the past that boy preferred to help me grow my tomatoes than going to the martial art classes that his father forced him to take. How is possible that he's now full of anger? Passing a hand on my face, a groan escaped my lips when I thought about the kitchen table. If Stiles hadn't been there, he would have broken it in two, a table made of fucking wood! I had the impression of being in a television show for teenage so much the situation was out of control.

I let myself fall against the table, keeping my eyes fixed on the clear sky while I thought about all the things that Scott had told me over the last two years. He hadn't necessarily the best grades, but he wasn't stupid. Stiles and him still had this kind of weird bromance. Nobody intimidated him at school and he wasn't in a bad relationship with a mean girl. He even found a part-time job at a veterinary clinic! There was nothing in what he had written or said via Skype, that could explain why he was so angry now. I remember his happy face the last time we were talking via webcam, it was nothing compared to the one I saw this morning ...

It was however stupid of me to believe that he hadn't changed. I mean, he was muscular! Scott the asthmatic had now muscles! The memory of Scott's lifting my bags without problems made me uncomfortable. He was now sweating confidence and dominance. He was no longer the little boy who was embarrassed to talk to a girl. Fuck no, he was now a strong and maybe to much confident boy.

''Isabel?'' I jumped at the sound of the male voice that had called me. When I got up to look whom it was, I gasped.

''Oh my fucking God...'' I whispered, looking at the boy... No. The man who was standing a few meters from me. ''Samuel?''

It was stupid of me because at the minute his name crossed my lips, I knew it was him and the hug he gave me only confirmed the thing. Despite the warmth of his body, I shivered.

''What are you doing here?'' He asked me, before letting me go. ''Melissa told me you were spending some time in Montana.''

''Yeah... Came back not so long ago. But you, you weren't supposed to go to Europe for your studies?'' I asked, before looking at him from head to foot. The first thing that I saw was his hair. He, who loved so much to have his hair in a low ponytail, had now short hair. The second thing that I noticed was his size The boy who, three years ago, was skinny like an asparagus was now built like a football player. It took me a few seconds to stop drooling over his body, before looking into his eyes. When my eyes met his, my heart skipped a beat. He was still so beautiful. Something passed in his look as he scratched his jaw. Please don't.. I had forgotten how much I loved when he did that.

''I had to cancel.'' He replied after a long moment.

I was shocked. In my memories, Samuel Adams had only one desire: leave Beacon Hills. I remember perfectly the nights that we spent talking on the roof of the house. Each night he was speaking to me about his desire to leave this town and his family and yet he was still here. A part of me was sad for him.

''I... I'm surprised... I mean, I'm sorry.'' I said after a pause. ''Honestly you're the last person I thought of seeing here.''

''Trust me I know.'' A chuckle escaped his lips and I smiled to him. ''You didn't changed at all... You're looking... Great.''

I raised an eyebrow at him before seeing a smile stretching his lips. The same smile that had capsized my heart three years ago. He must have seen something on my face because he started laughing, a real laugh. Stupid laugh ...

''Don't laugh...'' I mumbled before pushing him a bit. ''I hadn't planned to leave the house, explaining that outfit ...'' At least my hair was clean, I thought, biting my lip.

''Yeah about that, what are you doing here?''

''I can ask you the same. Aren't you too old to play here?''

''I was going to meet a friend.'' He replied, still chuckling a little. ''And I think I'm late.''

I gave him a small smile before looking at the deserted park that surrounded us. Honestly, I was still happy to see him again. Despite everything that had happened between us, he was for me a memory of good times. After a long moment, he raised his forearm to see the time on his black watch and I froze on the spot, as if a huge bucket of ice water had been poured over me.

''What's that?'' I asked, looking to where his watch was resting on his wrist.

''Oh that?'' He asked, pointing to the place I stared. ''It was done last year. Cool right?''

I forced myself to swallow my saliva when he moved a little the bracelet of his watch to show me the black symbol tattooed on his skin.

''A... A triskele...'' I whispered before blinking repeatedly. ''Since when you're into celtic symbolism..?''

''I found the symbol quite nice.''

I felt as he could feel my discomfort when he stared lookingat me strangely. Taking a breath, I gave him a forced smile. ''It's... It's nice. Really original...''

He looked again at the time on his watch before letting out a low growl.

''I really need to go, but it was good seeing you again Zel.'' He began slowly while shaking my hand. Something in his eyes made me shiver. ''I hope to see you again soon.'' And before I have time to say anything, he turned back and started walking to the park exit.

I don't know how long I remained there, without moving, fixing the place where he had left, but one thing was certain: the entire time, he didn't leave my mind. Samuel was the kind of man that every girl wanted. He was tall, charming, intelligent, mysterious and good looking. Very good looking. If only it was just that... He was my first friend. The first to tell me that I was beautiful. The first to see me as anything but a broken little girl. The first to understand me. The first to kiss me. The first to love me, and for these reasons, I know that a part of my heart will always belong to Samuel Adams. Always. The nostalgia which invaded my heart was short-lived when I thought again about the tattoo on his wrist. Two boys who didn't know each other had the same tattoo? I liked believing that the life was full of mysteries and bad surprises, but that was way too much. It was not a coincidence, I was certain of it. Something was wrong with Scott and this tattoo could possibly be the cause.

I will protect him and I would discover what he was hiding. Even if I had to move heaven and earth.

It's a promise.

Author's note :

The story slowly starts to fall into place, I hope you like it! I am about to write the third chapter, it should be online in three weeks!

Please review? I would really appreciate your opinions and comments on the story!

See you next chapter.

A.