SONG: The threat is real…When his sight goes red again…Seeing red again ~ The Red by Chevelle

Chapter 11

Lydia:

We got to Allison's place in record time. She had moved from the house she lived in when she first moved here with her parents into a penthouse in a high rise with a door man and a lot of security. I can understand why, the fact that her mother died in her old home, it makes sense that they didn't want to stay there when it was just the two of them now. We were met out front by everyone, Mason, and Liam gaping at the building.

We followed Allison in and up to the second to top floor. The top floor use to be occupied by a group of serial-killing alphas but they have all either died or left now so it was empty, as far as I know. We were met at the door by Allison's father, a former, or not former anymore, hunter. He still hunted but mostly those that needed to be, those that harmed others.

"Guys, come on in." He greeted. "Head to the living room. Lydia, I set up the guest room for you. Its right between mine and Allison's." he gave me a soft smile.

"Thank you." I said clinging to Scott. I couldn't let him go. I don't care how awkward it gets between me, him, and Stiles. I felt safer with Scott and that meant more to me right now.

"Here Scott, I'll take her bag to the room."

"Thanks." He said handing it over. "Come on Lydia." He led me to the living room and onto the couch next to him. Everyone else found places around the room. Liam and Mason chose the floor, Stiles just leaned against the wall and Isaac chose a chaise that he stretched out in and pulled Allison onto his lap. Argent came back into the room and his eyes zeroed in on them.

"Isaac, there is more than enough room for you both to sit there, independently. And remember I still have lots of guns… and wolfsbane." He said.

Isaac took the hint and moved his leg placing Allison on the empty part of the chaise and then moved as far from her as possible. Allison snickered quietly at him and even Scott chuckled. I'm sure he was remembering similar threats made to him when he and Allison were dating.

"Wolfsbane?" Liam questioned.

"Uh, there's a lot we still need to cover. But later." Scott said.

Argent turned to Liam.

"You must be the Beta."

"Uh, yeah." Liam said nervously.

"Relax, kid. You're in no danger from me. As long as you follow Scott's lead your safe."

"Thank you?" Liam wasn't sure how to take any of this. He had only been a wolf for less than a week.

"Allison told you?" Scott asked Argent.

"Isaac." He told him. We all looked at Isaac.

"What?" Isaac looked confused.

"Dude, I hope you never have state secrets." Stiles shook his head.

"I didn't know it was a secret. Especially from Argent, I mean Mr. Argent." Isaac corrected himself. Scott shook his head.

"Anyway, back on topic. What's the plan Scott?" Argent asked.

"We found another note, this time in her room." Scott started.

"Wait he was in her room? How did he get in? was the locks tampered with?" Stiles asked.

"I don't think so. We had to use a key to get in and there was no sign of damage or anything."

"The sliding doors are usually locked, but our back yard is fenced in anyway with an iron fence and its usually always locked. We didn't think to check it." I added.

"We can have the police check it. But I'll go by there first and see if I see anything. Where's the note Scott?"

Scott held up a Macy's brown bag.

"Here give it to me. I'll take it over after I check the house." Argent said taking the bag Scott held out.

"What did the note say?" Isaac asked. Scott glanced briefly at Stiles and then me.

"That's not important. I did catch a scent in her room. But I don't think it was anywhere else. So maybe he didn't use a door. Maybe a window."

"All our windows are locked up. I usually keep my windows locked, but it was so hot last night that I opened it just a little to get some air. But I made sure to close and lock it this morning before I left for school." I told them then gasped. "Does that mean he was in there while I was home? While I was getting ready for school?"

I could feel the panic rising, thinking of him in my house, in my room while I was sleeping. While I was taking a shower. while I was naked and getting dressed. Was he there? Was he watching me? Did he touch me while I was asleep? My mind created all kinds of scenarios where he decided at once to do something and not just leave a note. What if he had decided to hurt me, or something worse? Or even kill me. I wasn't safe in my own home. Was I safe anywhere? Was I safe here? What if he got past Argent or Allison? What if he got past the wolves or Stiles? What if he got past Scott? What if he hurt him? I couldn't handle that. I can't handle any of this.

I tried to suck in oxygen. I tried, but my lungs were protesting, seizing up. My heart hammered in protest, slamming against my ribcage. my hands clenched harder around Scott's arm. Blood was rushing in my ears muting all other sounds as my eyes blurred.

"L…y…di…a. can…you…hear…me." A voice said sounding far away and close by at the same time. "L…y…di…a."

"I can't… I can't. He was at my house. In my room, while I was there. Oh God." I began to shake. Air was not making its way in. "I can't breathe. I can't breathe." I panted out. I couldn't see him, but I knew he was there.

"Yes… you can. Fo…cus, Ly…di…a? Come back… to me." The voice demanded calmly.

"I can't. he was... he was."

"Lydia, focus… on me, okay? Just…focus on…me. Breath."

One hand grabbed mine and pressed it to warm fabric, I could feel a heartbeat. Another hand on my face, stroking my jaw.

"That's it, breathe with me. Deep breathes, follow what I am doing." The voice was soothing. I tried, forcing in deep breaths, forcing it past the block that had closed off the passage. Pushing myself to match their breathing pattern. "In…out…"

I closed my eyes and focused, listening to the voice and following along. Concentrating on the rise and fall of the chest under my fingers. Time passed with us doing this, in with the rise and out with the fall. My hand clenched in the shirt and my head fell forward dropping to his shoulder. Scott. Arms wrapped around my shoulders, anchoring me.

"It's okay. You're okay."

"it's too much. It's too much." I cried; I was so sick of crying, but I couldn't help it.

"Yes, it is. But you're safe and we will keep you that way."

I exhaled a shallow breath shuddering. I wanted to believe that. I really did. But I'm terrified.

"Look at me Lydia."

I raised my head and met his eyes; they were flicking back and forth between brown and red, but they were soft when he looked at me. His fingers swept some of my hair away from my face.

"You okay, now?"

I nodded then shook my head. I wasn't, not really and I felt exhausted. Down to my bones tired.

"You need to get some rest. You've been running on fumes since before this. You are drained."

"No, I don't-." I shook my head. I didn't want to rest. I wanted to not be scared. Not to be terrified.

"Please, for me. Get some rest." he pleaded.

"I don't want to be alone, right now. I can't."

"I'll go with you." Allison said from my left. I didn't even notice she was there, her hand rubbing my back. I looked around, Isaac was standing right next to her. Liam and Mason standing awkwardly next to Argent who was watching us. Stiles kneeling beside Scott but focused on me. I nodded and looked at Scott once more.

"Okay." I whispered.

"Go. We'll let you know what is going on once we figure it out." He moved back and let me stand.

"Okay." I agreed. Allison put an arm around me and guided me down the hall to my borrowed room.

"Come on, lets lay down. I could use a nap myself. These last few weeks have been a rollercoaster."

"Yeah, they have." I told her climbing in bed and scooting over to make room for her. She climbed in next to me and we faced each other.

"You, okay?" she asked rubbing my arm.

"No. what is wrong with me Allison? I am not this person. I don't panic, I don't cry or freak out. Not like this."

"It's because you have been put through the ringer these last few weeks. Horrible visions, painful premonitions, dreadful feelings and then this. Some creep that can't handle that you didn't look his way. It's not your fault. We all have our breaking points. This just happens to be one of yours. But you pulled out of it."

"No, Scott pulled me out of it. He always knows what I need. It's like he… anchored me."

"Maybe he did. That's what you do when you love someone." She smiled.

Scott:

I wanted to do something. Destroy something. Kill something or someone. I wanted to find him and break every bone in his body. I wanted to crush his skull and feel his blood coat my hands. I wanted to rip his eyes out of their sockets and feed them to him. I wanted to…

Growling, very loud growling. Was it me? Probably.

"Scott."

Pacing. Pacing. Pacing.

"Scott."

Red tint. Hyper focused.

"Scott."

Primal instincts.

"SCOTT!"

My head snapped right, and I saw Isaac standing before me but Argent right behind him blocking the doorway where Liam, Mason and Stiles were looking on.

"Scott, focus." Argent said. "You need to gain control."

I shook my head trying but couldn't. I needed to find him and watch the life drain from his body. I needed the satisfaction of being the one to end it.

"Isaac, Mason. Get Liam out of here. I don't want to set him off. He's still to new." I rasped. Isaac pushed them both down the hall to a room and shut the door.

"Scott, you need to focus." Stiles said.

"I can't. I'm trying but I can't. I want to rip to rip him apart. I want to rip this town apart to find him. I want to…" I couldn't focus, every fiber of my being was telling me to hunt him down.

"Scott, find your anchor. What is it? You need to anchor yourself." Argent said.

I squeezed my eyes closed shaking my head. Anchor, I need to find my anchor. I'm trying to remember what it is. Was it still me or…

"Lydia." Stiles whispered then rushed in front of me, gripping my shoulders. "Scott, think of Lydia. She's safe right now. She's down the hall with Allison, resting. She's safe. Think of Lydia."

"Lydia." I breathed. Green eyes, fair skin, red hair. Terrified face, no not that. Lydia, in my arms, touching me. Lydia's lips on mine. Blood lust receded. I played it all over in my head on repeat until I started to come back to myself again. My eyes opened and the red tint was gone.

"Okay?" Stiles asked and I nodded. Shrugging out of his hold, I staggered back and sat heavily on the couch, suddenly very tired.

"This can't keep happening." I sighed.

"What?" Argent asked.

"Is it safe to come back now?" Isaac called down the hall.

"Yeah." I answered him then Argent. "This is the third time, second time today, that I lost control like this. I thought I was over spontaneously wolfing out." I explained as Liam, Isaac and Mason came back in.

"Why did it happen the other two times?"

"Same reason, Lydia. All three were because Lydia was in some kind of danger." Stiles answered. I glanced over at him, but his face gave nothing away.

"Hmmm, I wonder." Argent started taking a seat in the chair across from me.

"Wonder what?"

"There are so many legends about werewolves out there. Only a few about True Alphas, but there is one in particular that this might pertain too, but I am not completely sure."

"What is it?" I asked.

"Uh, this is a conversation you need to have with Derek. I don't know all the specifics and I don't want to give you the incorrect information."

I nodded and didn't push it. I had a feeling he knew more than he was saying but was holding back for a reason.

"You need to find a way to stay in control. Wolfing out will not help. I know you want to protect her, but you can't do that if you go around terrorizing the town. You need to stay focused. Because that girl in there needs you and she needs you human. This can't be about vengeance it has to be about her and keeping her safe."

"Yeah, I know." I sighed sitting up. Scrubbing a hand over my face I cleared my mind and tried to focus on what I needed to do.

"I think, I need to see the locker again." I said.

"Why?" Stiles asked.

"Because I caught the scent in Lydia's room. I want to see if the same scent is on her locker, and I want to see if I can get any feelings from it. I can track it. But first I want to see Derek. Maybe he has some ideas."

"that's a good start. You do that and I'll visit the house and take the letter to the station. When are you going to the school?"

"I think tonight. Isaac, Stiles, are you coming?"

"I'll go." Isaac agreed and Stiles nodded.

"Okay, Liam you're coming too."

He nodded.

"Uh, what about me?" Mason spoke up with a wave of his hand like we forgot about him. I kind of did.

"Sorry Mason, I don't want to put you in the mix until we can sit and explain some things. For now, you need to be Liam's support. I need to take him so he can learn some wolf stuff. For now, go home. You have a lot to process, take the time to do that."

"Got it." He nodded.

"He can come with me. I can give him a crash course in supernatural and take him home." Argent offered.

"You good with that?" I asked Mason.

"Yeah, sure."

"What time do you want to meet up at the school?" Stiles asked.

"Yeah, give me a couple of hours. When it starts to get dark, we'll go."

"Okay. I'm going to get a head start to the police station. I'll meet you there." Stiles said to Argent before waving and leaving.

"Here Scott." Isaac tossed me the keys to my bike.

"Give me a second." I told Liam and traveled down the hall, knocking softly on the door before opening it. Lydia was sound asleep while Allison ran a hand through her hair gently.

"She doing okay?" I asked quietly.

"She's fine."

"I'm going to talk to Derek and then go back to the school to check something. Let her know I will check on her later, please."

"Sure. She'll be fine Scott. We'll take care of her."

"Thanks Allison." I looked over Lydia once again before closing the door.

"Scott." Argent stopped me again. "I didn't want to say this in front of everyone. I sense some tension. But when you talk to Derek. Ask him about True Alpha mating."

"Wait, what?"

"Just ask him."

I nodded and waived Liam on.