A brand new chapter. Have happy holidays.

Chapter 27

Fog settled on the path. Melanie couldn't see that far ahead, but didn't care. The fog swallowed her up the further she went. Here, running, she felt free. Leaves crunched under her feet. Jared Leto of Thirty Second to Mars sang to her through her iPhone and pushed her to run faster. She darted between trees, creating her own obstacle course. Her ponytail whipped behind her like a tail, skimming her back every few steps.

She stopped at the end of the song and caught her breath. She could make out the basic shape of the landscape. She left her glasses back at the house. Taking out her earbuds, she let the silence around her sink in.

"Out for a run?"

Melanie spun around, her fists coming up, tight and ready. Derek leaned against a tree. She dropped her hands to her sides with a sigh, shaking her head.

"Obviously. Out stalking people?" Melanie quipped.

A smirk twitched at the corners of his lips. He looked around, taking a few steps toward her. Something about the way he presented himself was off. Everything looked normal on the surface, but he was calm. He was never calm. There was always a kind of tension, An alertness even, that was obvious. She took a few steps back, keeping her distance from the alpha. He scoffed quietly, smiling.

Shit, she thought.

"I could never fool you," he said quietly, then reached out to grab her.

She dodged to the side and moved to his rear swiftly like a dancer. He spun to face her, crouching. His face had changed, revealing his grizzly wolf. Melanie stayed bent at the knee. The whole idea was to keep moving and she did. There was no way she could fight him. He was much stronger than her. Derek tried to get her again. His claws were extended this time. Her foot pushed against the trunk of a tree nearby to give her height enough to leap over him. She skidded to a stop. Dead leaves flew up between them.

Derek roared irritated, making her laugh.

"You came out here to attack me," she said.

Hands placed on her hips, she stood up straight and shook her head disappointed. He just stared, his aggression being replaced with puzzlement.

"You say I need training, but I think it's you," she taunted.

He crouched back down and growled.

"Now now, don't be such a sour wolf." She tsked him, wagging her finger.

He charged at her once more, bearing his teeth at her. She ducked, but her maneuver was cut short from a tight grip on her throat and she was slammed backward to the ground. The air was ripped from her lungs from how hard she hit the ground. She sucked in a deep breath. Her head throbbed. Derek leaned in some. Their noses nearly touched.

"Don't get cocky with me," he snarled.

He let go of her and stood. She sat up on her elbows and coughed.

"Come by the loft after school and bring Danny," Derek said.

"Why," Melanie inquired as she stood.

She pulled a leaf from her ponytail then picked up her earbuds that had ripped from her iPhone when he pinned her.

"Because."

"Because…" she drew out.

"Can't you do something without asking questions," he asked, growing more and more agitated.

"No, somebody once told me that I should always ask questions. Well actually, he told me to knock them out then ask questions because it establishes the dominant figure," she replied.

Derek's agitation faded, and he chuckled. He transformed back to his regular self.

"Just come by. It's time to whip them into shape," he said. "Maybe we'll live longer that way."

"Oh fun!" she exclaimed. "There'll be actual whips right?"

Derek's eyes widened at her evil smirk. She laughed, holding her sides. The mortified look on his face was a new one.

"Kidding! Sorta," she said, giggling and wiggling her eyebrows.

She pressed play on her iPhone and put earbuds back in her ears. Hedley, perfect, she thought. After stretching real quick, she took off through the woods again, leaving Derek behind for the fog to swallow. School started in forty-five minutes.

She took a shower as soon as she got back to the house, dumping her shoes at the front door. Isaac shouted up after her.

"Hurry up! We have to leave in twenty minutes!"

She was out of the shower in ten minutes and dressed in two. She hopped down the hallway, slipping her flip-flop on. The hand rail of the stairwell rattled as she grabbed it roughly, nearly falling down the stairs. Her wet hair flung in her face, strands sticking to her face.

"You okay?" Isaac called.

"I'm good," she yelled back and thumped all the way down the stairs.

Isaac was looking through a book while spooning cereal into his mouth. Melanie rushed around the house, gathering her things. Her bag perched on her shoulder and an apple in her hand. There was a bite already taken out of it. She looked around the room, searching for anything that might be missing.

"C'mon lazy ass," she sneered, snatching the book from his hands then hitting him in the shoulder with it.

He glared then followed her out to the car. He flung his bookbag into the back before settling in the front seat beside her. Melanie kept her eyes on the road, tapping her thumb at the top where she held the wheel.

"You had a page marked in there," he said. "Something about a Celtic whatever."

"Fivefold knot. It looked similar to our situation, but I'm not sure yet," she replied.

She could feel his lingering stare on her. Her heart pitter-pattered like rabbit feet. The road in front of them remained in her eyesight. She didn't have time to think about him, but he was all she could think about. How he frustrated her because he was so distant, yet he sat right next to her. The last month had been dreadful. She just wanted to get back to being friends. She wasn't even sure what started all of this.

"Have you told anybody about it," he asked.

"No. I want to be sure I'm right before I go off spouting this. I'd sound like Scott and Stiles if I decided to go off of a hunch that I'm not sure about," she replied.

He smirked.

"Wow, that was almost a smile and not one of the tight ones that says you're extremely annoyed," she commented.

"It is a miracle," he said, sighing.

She glanced over at him. His voice dropped to a quiet mumble. He looked out the window, his chin perched in his hand. The rest of the drive was quiet. The parking lot was bare when they parked, and they were five minutes late. They both ran to first period which was shared. Lydia and Allison along with every other student looked at them as they entered.

"Nice of you two to join us."

Isaac stared at the teacher with no good excuse. Melanie made her way to the back. He followed quietly as the teacher got back to the lesson. She put her earbuds in and turned her music on, clicking the volume up a few notches. Isaac watched as she drew on a fresh piece of paper. He could hear her music. The drums were intense and the singer was singing as if she were trying to reach out for any kind of comforting touch that would put her restless mind at ease. Was Melanie needing the same thing?

Melanie's black pen moved in circular motions. She could feel that stare again, but this time she couldn't keep that night from popping into her mind. Her lips parted, picturing it. He'd kissed her. In the heat of the moment, she kissed him back. She looked up at the board, biting her lower lip. She stopped instantly, hearing his voice in her head.

Don't do that.

Her chest felt numb and shaky with every breath. It was unlike anything she'd felt before. A sense of nervousness mixed with fear made her restless lately. It was his fault. She couldn't stop thinking about that night. The good and utterly terrible. Her skin had felt so hot that it pulsated from his feathery touch.

She let out a soft sigh. Looking up at the clock on the wall, she watched the second hand tick slowly. This day was going to drag.

Stiles's head lay on his elbow, in his hand as he stared at the chalkboard and tried not to fall asleep. The bell rang right as his eyes slid shut for the fourth time. He shot out of his seat, making the desk screech sideways a few inches and hurried out of the classroom. He planned on sleeping through lunch, not having gotten a lot of sleep last night. He pulled out a piece of gum and popped it into his mouth. His stomach growled in protest to the lack of food satisfying it.

Scott and Allison stood by his locker, talking and laughing. They hadn't been like that for a while. In the midst of all this hell, it was good to see that none of them had broken spirits. He headed toward them, but stopped, hearing a strange scratching. He turned into a classroom.

Lydia stood at the board, a weathered down piece of chalk in her fingers, powdering them as she wrote continuously. Stiles set his bookbag down as he stared at the board in awe. It was a strange symbol. Lydia didn't notice his presence and went on drawing it. The thick lines interconnected several times, weaving and winding with one another.

"Lydia? Uh, what are you doing," he asked.

She didn't reply. Stiles walked up beside her and took the small piece of chalk away. The small pebble crumbled in his hands. She blinked and looked over at him.

"What?"

She shook her head, wondering why he stood there next to her with that look on his face. It was a strange mixture of curiosity and fright.

"Uhhh." He looked at the board.

"Did I do that," she asked, confusion settling over her beautiful facial features. Her flawless, ivory cheeks held a natural blush.

"Yeah," he replied, looking back at the board.

"What is it?"

"It's a fivefold knot derived from Celtic druid history," Melanie told everyone as Stiles showed them the picture on his phone. She leaned against a nearby column.

She looked at Isaac. He shared the same expression she did. There was no doubt now. This was exactly what they were dealing with.

"My Dad had the same thing in his office except there was something else," Allison chimed in. "There was this list. Virgins, Guardians, Healers, Warriors and Philosophers."

"That must be who the targets are," Lydia said.

"Heather, Emily—virgins. Kyle, he was in ROTC and Mr. Harris had been in the military—warriors," Stiles said.

He counted them off on his fingers.

"The pianist at the memorial concert…" Allison said.

"A philosopher," Stiles cut. "She's a musician, a worker in the arts."

"We have to stop this," Lydia mumbled.

"And, we will. We just have to think about who could be next," Melanie said.

"Right now, we need to get each of you close to Melanie's level. Being as good as her would take a few years and even then, a few of you won't even come close to her skill. Being as good as me is impossible," Derek piped up, cutting their subject off. Melanie rolled her eyes. What a way to pump them up, she thought. It's not like any of them really wanted to be here. Scott, Allison and Stiles all glared at him. "I want you all paired off."

"I must be in time," Peter said. Everyone turned and stared at him. He relaxed on the couch nearby with no intention of moving or joining them. Isaac heard Melanie's heart race in her chest. Her fist tightened into a ball.

Derek ignored his uncle's presence.

"Isaac and Lydia, Stiles and Cora, Danny and Ethan, Scott and Allison and Melanie," he paused, "you're with Aiden."

"No thanks," she said, looking at her nail beds. "I got enough practice this morning when you jumped me."

Isaac stared at Derek sharply, letting out a long, heavy breath. His shoulders tensed. Derek met his eyes, seeing the fury rise in his cheeks. Derek turned back to Melanie.

"Get off your ass. You're out of practice," he snapped.

They all wore a mixture of old clothes and workout clothes. Melanie stood up, her head lolling back, bored.

"Are you dying for round two," she asked, pushing from her spot. She sauntered toward him, glowering. She tightened her ponytail then unzipped her hoodie revealing her wearing a sports bra that matched her black capris leggings.

Isaac scanned her over more than once. He'd had no idea how fit she was, but everything she said she did was true. She wasn't a body builder, but her waist was femininely curvy and rock hard. When she flexed, the muscle tone was obvious.

"Oh damn," Stiles breathed as Derek and Melanie locked eyes. The air thickened. The two began circling. Derek didn't seem threatened by her. The twins didn't either. They tried to stifle laughter. Stiles knew better than to assume big things didn't come in small, bitchy, packages.

Cora smirked at his words, stealing a quick glance at him. He was entranced by the fight about to go down.

"Derek, this is stupid. You're an alpha. You'll put her back in the hospital," Isaac said.

Derek didn't respond. He glared at the beta for thinking he could speak up about this. This wasn't his affair. She wasn't his affair.

"Twenty bucks on Derek," Cora said.

"Ha! No way! Melanie is in top shape. She moves fast. Just look at her. She will kick his ass," Stiles said.

"You're on," she said.

Melanie cut out the murmurs coming from them. Any second Derek would strike. Derek couldn't resist having the first hit. Something about being on top. He swung just like she thought he would. She spun to the right, dodging the hit. The move was elegant, dance-like. She crouched low, staying light on her feet and not making a sound.

Derek growled. She dodged two more times before he'd gotten a firm hold on her. He took an elbow to the face followed by a punch that was like hitting a rock. Her hand throbbed, swelling instantly. He grabbed her by the wrist tightly and twirled her, holding her tightly so she couldn't get free. She grunted unpleasantly and brought her leg up, kicking him in the face. He didn't let go.

Melanie took the split second distraction and dropped to the ground, out of his arms and landed in a split. Derek still held her by the arms though. She pushed away from him, feeling her muscles stretch painfully, and kicked his legs out from under him.

Derek leapt up quickly, letting out the werewolf inside.

"There you are," she said, grinning.

Now things could get interesting, she thought. They traded blows. Melanie's lip busted. She just wiped it and kept going. The way she moved was faster and swifter than any of them had ever seen. Though she was barefoot, she was landing some decent hits. Isaac smirked, watching her closely. She was inhuman.

Melanie grinned at seeing Derek winded. It was a difficult feat to achieve. Knocking the energy out of him was all that needed to be done. Landing a few hits did nothing. It was all about outrunning your opponent.

"Tired, Derek?" she quipped.

He snarled at her and lunged. His attack was cut short as Melanie bent backwards into a back walkover, kicking him in the face. Another walkover, and she landed upright. She swayed a little, her small fists clenched. If she had her steel knuckles, she could get in a good swipe without breaking her hands while leaving a temporary mark that would heal in a matter of minutes.

"Are we done now," she asked, tilting her head to the side adorably.

Derek shook his head.

"You've gotten sloppy," he grunted.

She nodded her head, taking in his disappointment.

"You were never impressed with me, ever," she said, letting out a short breath.

She picked up her hoodie up off the floor and sat back down. Stretching her legs out in front of her, she reached for her toes, touching her nose to her knees effortlessly.

Derek paid no mind to her and looked at the others expectantly.

"I win," Stiles mumbled.

Cora rolled her eyes. Derek watched them. He wanted each of them paired up against a werewolf. He looked over at Melanie. She went about her stretches expressionless. There was a lot on her mind. He could tell easily. There was that distant look. Silence was also a tell.

"That kick hurt," he said, sitting across from her.

"No, it didn't," she said.

He laughed.

"No, but it had force."

"Can you imagine what I can do with a blade or knuckles? You and Laura did put me in fencing and martial arts," she said, smiling some. Mostly, it'd been for his benefit so that he'd feel satisfied that she could defend herself.

"I'm just trying to protect you. I can't do that by coddling you. That means I have to be hard on you."

"I know," she replied, avoiding looking in his eyes. "It's a lonely life."

"Yes, it is," he agreed.

Melanie looked at everyone. They all had the worst posture. She cringed watching them attempt. Danny and Ethan seemed to be the only ones who had an inkling of what to do. They stretched then Ethan showed him his claws and teeth. He's got the idea, Melanie thought. Derek was watching them too. His eyebrows drew together some then his whole face relaxed.

"I know that look," Melanie said. "You're impressed."

"No-well—"Derek stopped abruptly. "It's a good idea to show him what could kill him and—"

"You got that same look when I kicked your butt for the first time. I remember that I had come up behind you and tackled you to the ground. You didn't even hear me," Melanie cut him off.

Derek rolled his eyes. Melanie just smiled. He cringed, watching Stiles and Lydia. Cora and Isaac pinned them both easily.

"They're going to need work," he said.

"Go for it, leader," Melanie laughed.

Derek sighed.

This was a start. They wouldn't be going into a fight blind. Maybe Stiles would leave that stupid baseball bat behind now. Melanie got up then walked over to where Stiles stood with Cora's claws threatening to pierce holes into his throat. She yanked him away and he stumbled.

"Have you figured out why you keep nearly dying," she asked him, her eyebrows pinching together. "You run head first into a fight. She's an animal. They wait for you to attack because they know they have the upper hand. She'll rip out your throat and she won't care, at all. You need to see what she's going to do so you can dodge it. We can't kill them," she shook her head, "They're stronger, faster, and sharp. Use it against them."

She motioned for him to come at her. He chuckled nervously.

"C'mon lacrosse player," she egged him on, curling her hands into fists.

He flew at her and she stepped to the side at the last second, watching him fall to the floor. He rolled over and stared up at the ceiling. Melanie helped him up.

"You'll get it," she said.

"We're all in trouble aren't we," he asked.

"Yeah," she said, her grin falling.

She glanced over at Isaac. He laughed as Lydia sneered at him about his height being an unfair advantage. Melanie tucked loose hair from her bangs behind her ear, wondering when it would be her turn to go a round with him.

She looked at her battle partner and grinned. Aiden's cocky grin had vanished, replaced by a serious thin line. His eye flashed blue, the signal. Melanie pressed her toes into the cold floor and nodded once. This once upon a time alpha was going to get a taste of how volatile she was.

He charged at her. She grinned.

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