Summer had passed so quickly that it felt like everything had blended together. Stiles and I went on many couple outings; mini golf, watching the METS games, dinners out and the amount of intimacy that we gave each other was immaculate, I almost wanted to blush. I also spent time with Lydia with makeovers and movie nights, and she finally got me to add a streak of red into my black locks, it rested on the right side, bright and visible. My 17th birthday was everything I had wanted. Now here I was with my boyfriend and friend at a tattoo shop the night before the first day back at school.
" Boy, it's a good thing you drew me a picture." Terry, Scott's tattoo artist said as he looked at the paper. Scott, in the chair, was smiling hard. I was getting a tattoo myself. Every Hale got the same tattoo, but I'm putting a spin on mine.
" Hey, Scott! You sure you don't want something like this? Raven, how about you?" Stiles asked as he showed us a lizard man. I chuckled at his suggestion, but Scott gave him a shake of the head. I was wearing a black and red tube top with some black shorts accompanied by my black boots.
"...Too soon? Yeah…" He said before coming over and giving me a small kiss. His hair got longer over the summer as I had mine grow out enough to reach my butt. I can't help but run my fingers through his hair from time to time.
" I don't know, man. Are you sure about this? I mean, these things are pretty permanent, you know?" Stiles said as I smirked.
" I'm not changing my mind." Scott said as I saw Charlotte, my tattoo artist, setting up at her booth for me. I had already given my permission paper from my brother, due to me being 17, and the four hundred to have mine done. I just have to wait.
" Tradition with mine." I said as he smirked. He likes the addition I'm adding to my family mark.
" Okay, but why two bands?" Stiles asked him.
" I just like it." Scott said as he smiled.
" But don't you think your first tattoo should have some sort of meaning? You know, or something?" Stiles said as he looked at him.
" Getting a tattoo means something." Scott replied as Charlotte waved me over.
" My artist is ready." I said as Stiles gave me a quick kiss before I came over.
" Alright hun, lay down, and if you can put your hair up that will be awesome." She said with a kind smile. I put my hair up and lay down. I felt the cool gel being placed on my back before the stencil. After she took the paper with the stencil off, I heard a loud thud. Stiles passed out.
" Oh man." I said before relaxing.
" Ready?" She asked as I nodded.
" Hope you don't mind the pain." She said as I shrugged. She began to tattoo, I just let my mind go numb as the heat of being tattooed ran down my upper back and shoulders. Scott and Stiles waited a little bit before she finished. I looked at the finished piece. My family's mark, the triskele laid between my shoulder blades, and my addition was a small pair of raven wings on my shoulder blades. She covered my new ink and I left with Scott and Stiles. I got in the back of the jeep and felt my body get hot. I knew what was coming.
" You okay?" Stiles asked as he had an ice pack on his temple. I kissed his hand and leeched his pain. He smiled at me.
" Kinda burns." Scott said, looking at it. I took off the covering of my new tattoo.
" Yes, you just had your skin tabbed about one hundred thousand times with a needle. Both of you." Stiles said, looking at me as I gripped the seat as my body began to heal the tattoos I just got.
" Yeah, but I don't think it's supposed to feel like this." Scott said as he grunted.
" No, it's definitely not supposed to feel like this! Oh, I gotta take this thing off!" Scott said, panicking as he quickly got the cover off.
" No, no, no, no, Scott! Oh, Scott, please stop! Whoa! Whoa!" Stiles said as I groaned with slight discomfort.
"Oh, no! What? No, no, come on!" Scott said as I watched his new ink heal up. My upper back and shoulders are cooling.
" It healed." Scott said as Stiles looked at me.
" Mine healed as well." I said annoyed. Stiles started up the Jeep and we were off.
" How's the loft?" Stiles asked as I smirked. Derek had purchased the loft a week before my birthday in July. I finally had my own room with a view of Beacon Hills.
" It's perfect, but I do miss being a room away from Stiles." I said with a grin.
" I'm glad you are wearing my gift." Stiles said as he saw the wrapped rainbow moonstone crystal point pendant necklace on my neck.
" I never take it off." I said with a grin. Stiles smiled as he drove.
" I'm glad you guys are doing well." Scott said as I smiled.
" Haven't seen much of my brother, but we spar." I said as we pretty much talked. We had gotten back on the topic of Allison.
" Nah, we agreed to give each other the summer- no texts, no calls." Scott said as I nodded. It was a sensitive topic, but it was ok. We came to a stop.
" So, then how do you know she won't be back at school, then?" Stiles said before looking over, I looked over and saw Lydia and Allison, oh boy!
" After everything that happened, I'm not sure she's coming back at all…" Scott said before I had bit my upper lip.
" I think she is. I'd say it's pretty definite, you know... Like, one-hundred-percent…" Stiles said before nodding his head at the side. Scott looked over and I saw him make eye contact with his ex. Then the spiraling happened.
" Oh, my God! Oh-Can we just drive, please? Stiles?" Scott begged my boyfriend.
" Scott, it's a red light!" Stiles exclaimed as I was cringing in the backseat.
" I think we should talk to her. I just think we should say something." Stiles suggested, he was trying to help, but I just cringed.
" No! No, no, Stiles! Come on! Oh, my God, dude, no!" Scott said as I came up.
" Not a good idea." I said as Stiles made the window go down.
" Hey!" Stiles called out before Lydia peeled away.
"...You know, they probably didn't see us." Stiles said slightly slumped.
" Not cool, Sti!" I exclaimed before pouting. Stiles kissed my hand and I perked up. The light turned green and Stiles began to drive.
" What are you doing?" Scott asked pleadingly.
" I'm driving...?" Stiles said as Scott was squirming in his seat.
" We're right behind them." Scott said as he was trying to explain his situation.
" Okay, well, do you see any turns?" Stiles asked him.
" I don't want it to look like we're following them..." Scott said worried.
" Well, what do you want Stiles to do?" I asked as Scott looked at me pleadingly.
" I don't know- anything?" Scott exclaimed. Stiles then slammed the brakes to stop. Soon they had stopped. The next thing I knew, I saw a deer run into their car.
" Let's go!" I exclaimed as I got out after Scott got out. We ran and I checked Lydia over.
" It came out of nowhere!" She exclaimed to me. I gave her a reassuring hug. We parted as she was scared.
" It ran right into us!" She exclaimed further. I walked to the deer and placed my hand there. My eyes glowed as their voices grew faded before I felt a hand on my shoulder. My eyes faded back as it was Stiles.
" It was terrified as if something spooked it." I said as I saw Lydia calling a tow truck.
" Scott, it was terrified." I said to him, we waited for the girls to get a ride before leaving.
" Might have to look into it later." I said after we dropped off Scott.
" You ok?" Stiles asked as I was looking at my hands.
" Yeah, I'm fine." I said as he drove me home.
" Any more of the voice?" He asked me. I shook my head. The voice disappeared after the Kanima was defeated.
" Not since the Kanima, I just need to stay on my toes." I said as he pulled up to the loft. I kissed him goodnight before seeing him leave. I went to the elevator and went up. My phone beeped and I saw a text.
Missing you already. You still got my shirt? SS.
I smiled before replying.
Yes, going to sleep in it as usual. Goodnight, I love you. RH.
I smiled as it got to my floor. I got another reply as I got to my door.
Love you more :) SS.
I smiled before going inside. Derek was eating a burger when I came inside.
" How did it go?" He asked as I put my keys on the key holder.
" Burned like a bitch, but I'm alive." I said as he finished his food and washed his hands. He came over and looked at my back.
" Triskele with bird wings?" He asked as I chuckled.
" Raven wings. It's my way of keeping our family alive." I said as I went to the hall leading to my room. I went inside and shut the door. It was weird at first living with my brother again, but it was easier after two weeks. I got under my black comforter after removing my clothes. I had Stiles' shirt covering me as I let sleep consume me.
The laughter of the chaotic kind echoed deep in the woods as blood began to run through a nearby creek.
" Oh fucking hell!" I screamed as I felt the wind passing me as if from behind. Like I was being tossed. I felt the force of it all hitting me at once.
I woke up in a light daze. I got up and headed into my private bathroom. I showered and dried off. I got dressed in a black tube top and blue jeans. I put my hair into a bun and did my makeup. As I finished my eyeliner, I heard a knock on my door.
" Come in." I said as it opened to reveal my brother.
" Got your coffee and bagel." He said placing it on my black dresser.
" I need you to be careful." He said as I nodded. He pulled me into a hug.
" You are growing up." He said as I chuckled. I pulled away.
" I'll take care of the tattoo after school." Derek says as I take a bite of my bacon, egg, and cheese bagel.
" You taking the camaro?" Derek asked as I smiled.
" Of course!" I said as I held up my coffee.
" I love driving the Beast." I said as he smiled. Derek had given me the Camaro as he was thinking about buying a Hummer. I nicknamed that car Beast when he first bought it.
" Hey, I needed a new vehicle and you needed an actual car." He said as I chuckled.
" Best birthday present ever!" I said before leaving. I grabbed my black messenger school bag. After getting my black boots on, I got my keys and went down to the garage. It had my brother's Hummer, my Camaro and my bike. I got in my car and got it going. The feel of it made my heart soar. I got to school and after parking. I put my signature black lipstick on. I got out of the car and met up with Stiles.
" Are you enjoying the Beast?" Stiles said as I clicked for it to lock.
" Absolutely." I said as I sipped my coffee. After, Stiles gave me a deep kiss before pulling away as Scott came up. We walked inside as Scott was looking at his tattoo.
" I need to ask Derek for help." Scott told us. I smirked.
" You wanna ask Derek for help? Why? Why?" Stiles exclaimed to him.
" He's got the triskele tattooed on his back, so, there has to be a way to do it without healing, right?" Scott asked me as I nodded.
" Oh yeah, but it's a bitch to do. But after that, it'll be completely healed and visible." I say after I drink the rest of my coffee.
" Okay, yeah, but still- doesn't he have his hands a little full right now?" Stiles asked as we saw missing posters for both Boyd and Erica. I felt my smile fall before Stiles' side hugged me. I gave a small smile. We overhear the principal talking.
" Look, these are the applications for the career adviser. I need them sorted. And, whatever happened to the library while I was gone? I want it cleared up!" He yells before I see Gerard's long broadsword come up.
" And what the hell is this?" He yelled. I felt Stiles take my hand.
" Go, go, go…" Stiles exclaimed before I was laughing. We went to English Class. I saw it in front of Stiles. I see Allison come in and sit in front of Scott after he said it was ok for her to sit there. Awe cute! My phone buzzing brought me out of my gaze. It was from an unknown number. I looked up my schedule earlier and saw this was Miss. Blake's class.
" "The offing was barred by a black bank of clouds and the tranquil waterway, leading to the uttermost ends of the earth, flowed somber under an overcast sky, seemed to lead into the heart of an immense darkness." " Miss. Blake said as she smiled. She was holding up her phone.
" This is the last line to the first book we are going to read. It is also the last text you will receive in this class. Phones off, everyone." She said as I turned my phone off and began to pull my notebook out and began reading.
" Mr. McCall?" Miss Blake called out. Scott left and didn't come back. Maybe he was needed outside of school. I looked back to see Lydia had a bandaid on her ankle.
" Lydia you ok? The bandage? The accident." I asked her as she shook her head.
" No... Prada bit me." She said as I was kind of curious about this.
" Your dog?" Stiles asked her, she looked at him.
" No, my designer handbag." She said with sarcasm.
" Yes, my dog." She said as Stiles shrugged.
" But he's a good dog, why would he bite you?" I asked her pointedly. She shrugged.
" Okay, what if it's, like, the same thing as the deer? You know, like, how animals start acting weird right before an earthquake or something?" Lydia asked us as I shrugged back.
" Meaning what? There's gonna be an earthquake?" She asked the both of us.
" Something bad could be coming. I don't know what, but something's coming." I said as I felt my intuition hitting me.
" It was a deer and a dog. What's that thing you say about threes? Once... twice…" Lydia says as her voice drifts before a blackbird hits the window, leaving blood on the glass. Miss. Blake walks over and more birds hit the window. The birds breakthrough!
" Get down, everyone! Get down! Down! Get down!" She screamed. I grabbed Lydia as I felt Stiles grab me. The birds are loud and my eyes change, but I feel Stiles hold my hand to calm me down. The bird's soon quiet. My eyes faded back as I felt Stiles help me up as I helped Lydia up. The crows are on the ground dead as if a force had caused them to commit genocide.
" This is fucked and it's the start of junior year? Great!" I whispered under my breath. Lydia stuck by me as Stiles helped check everyone, especially the teacher as he pulled a feather out of her hair. He came back and comforted me. The sheriff shows up and gets statements.
" This fucking blows." I said as Stiles rubs my shoulder.
" Thank god you are ok." He said before kissing my temple.
" Fuck birds though." I said low. Lydia smiled at me. My red lock of hair out of the bun.
" Thanks for covering me." She said as I smirked.
" I'm calling Scott." Stiles said as I nodded. I went into the hall with him.
" Please fucking do." I said as I sat on the floor.
" I love you." Stiles says with a smile.
" I love you more." I replied as Stiles called Scott.
" We've got a serious problem at school. Miss Blake's class." Stiles said as I waited.
" Well, no, pretty sure this qualifies for immediate discussion." Stiles said into the phone as I checked my messages.
" Derek's house? What the hell are you doing ?" Stiles continued before he was hung up on. I got up and was confused.
" The fuck is he doing at my old place?" I asked as Stiles shrugged.
" I'm not sure at all." Stiles said as his dad came up.
" I'm getting you out of school, bud." Noah said as Stiles nodded.
' Can I have Miss. Hale to the office.' The intercom called. I kissed Stiles goodbye before heading down.
" Miss Raven, you have been called out by your guardian. We have your assignments right here. Enjoy your day." The secretary says as I take the pamphlet. I go out to my car and Stiles finds me.
" Did Derek call you out?" Stiles asked me. I nodded and I got into my car.
" I'll follow you." Stiles said as I nodded. I start up Beast and drive off. I go the path through the preserve to my old house. I get out and Stiles pulls up. The eeriness of my house hit me.
" You ok?" He asked me. I nodded and we headed inside. I see an unconscious Isaac on a table. I run and check him over. He seemed ok and I walked back to Stiles. We see Derek and Scott and walk over.
" I heard about it. You ok?" Derek asked as I nodded.
" Fucking hate crows." I said pouting.
" About my tattoo?" Scott asked as he put his arm out. Derek flashes his eyes.
" Yeah, I see it. It's two bands, right? What does it mean?" He asked as he looked at Scott's arm.
" I don't know... It's just something I trace with my fingers." Scott said as he traced it in the dirt.
" Why is this so important to you?" Derek asked as I saw Scott daydreaming.
" Do you know what the word "tattoo" means?" Scott asked my brother.
" To mark something." Stiles said as Scott nodded.
" Well, that's in Tahitian. In Samoan, it means "open wound." I knew I wanted to get a tattoo when I turned eighteen. I always wanted one. I just decided to get it now, it makes it kind of a reward." Scott says as I sat down on a stool after cleaning it.
" For what?" My brother asked my friend.
" For not calling or texting Allison all summer. Even when I really wanted to, even when it was so hard not to sometimes... I was trying to give her the space she wants. Going on four months later... It still hurts. It still feels like a, uh…" Scott said, stumbling on the last few words.
" Like an open wound." Stiles said as Scott nodded.
" The pain's gonna be worse than anything you've ever felt." Derek said as he got a torch going. I got up.
" Ah, that's great." Stiles said as I held Scott by his shoulder.
" Do it." Scott said as I saw Stiles look squirmish.
" Oh, wow. That's a-That's a lot for me. So, I'm gonna take that as my cue, I'm just gonna wait outside the hall." Stiles says as I nodded.
" I'll help you with yours." Stiles said as I smiled. I nodded as Derek plants the flame on his arm. Scott screams as I hold him. My eyes glow ruby red as he screams half changed. He passes out after Derek finishes.
" Now it's your turn." Derek said as I situated Scott to be comfortable. Stiles came in as I sat on the stool. I move my red lock.
" Kind of glad I wore a tube top." I said as Stiles held my arms.
" Ready?" Derek asked as I chuckled.
" I've been shot, stabbed and poisoned. Bring it the fuck on." I told my brother.
" Smart ass." Derek replied before I felt the flame on my back. I growled low as Stiles held me steady. I breathed hard as he passed the areas. It fucking hurt.
" Mother fucker!" I growled low as Derek hit my right shoulder. He continues for about another minute.
" Almost done." He said as he passed the flame on my left shoulder. It soon stopped as I fell against Stiles.
" Thank god." I said as I calmed down. I got up and checked in a slightly broken mirror.
" Badass." I said to myself as I saw Scott shoot awake.
"...It worked!" He said breathlessly.
" Well, it looks pretty damn permanent now." Stiles said as he admired my new ink along with Scott's.
" New ink, what can I say." I said with ease.
" Yeah... I kind of needed something permanent. Everything that's happening to us... everything just changes so fast. Everything's so, uh... ephemeral." Scott said as I queried my brow.
" Studying for the PSATs?" Stiles asked as he held my hand.
" Yep." Scott replied.
" Nice!" Stiles replied as Scott opened the door that was painted.
" You painted the door...Why'd you paint the door?" Scott asked my brother.
" Go home, Scott." Derek ordered him, but Scott didn't move.
" And why only one side?" Scott asked before he began to claw the front door's paint despite the order.
" Scott…" My brother demanded, but the sign of the rivals appeared to us.
" The birds at the school, and the deer last night... Just like the night I got trampled by the deer when I got bit by the Alpha." Scott said as I felt fear enter my blood. I was kept out of this to my brother's protective nature.
"...How many are there?" Scott asked him. My brother shook his head.
" A pack of 'em. An Alpha Pack." Derek replied to the beta's curiosity.
" All of them? How does that even work?" Stiles asked him.
" It has to be diplomatic." I said as I laid my head on Stiles' shoulder.
" I hear there's some kind of a leader... He's called Deucalion. We know they have Boyd and Erica. Peter, Isaac, and I have been looking for them for the last four months." Derek said as I took a step forward.
" And you kept me out of it." I told him as he pointed a look at me.
" Cause keeping you out of trouble is my priority." Derek replied before I felt Stiles pull me to him.
" Let's say you find them- how do you deal with an Alpha Pack?" Scott asked him.
" With all the help I can get." Derek said, looking at Scott and me.
" Where is she? Where's the girl?" Isaac's voice broke the tension. I walked over.
" What girl?" Derek asked his beta.
" Welcome back to the land of the conscious. Now explain what the fuck happened?" I said as he nodded. For the next hour, he explained what he could remember. Derek took him back to the loft and I sat on the trunk of my car.
" It's happening again isn't it?" I asked Stiles, who held me.
" Maybe, but know that I'm by your side." Stiles said as I smiled. I kissed him with no hesitation as he held my cheeks. I didn't know that the chaos that would soon plague Beacon Hills was already in motion.