Amnesiac

by BrooklynFazenbaker

When a teenage girl is found in the middle of the road by with no memory and a vague idea of her name, Sheriff Noah Stilinski takes her in. 'River' starts high school with Stiles and Scott and befriends both the loners and the popular kids. How will this affect the future of Beacon Hills with River as the glue that helps hold the pack together and will her past catch up to her?

12. Chapter 11

I do not own Teen Wolf

Chapter Eleven

"What?" River asked.

"Be in my pack," Derek repeated.

"I heard you," River told him, crossing her arms. "I'm just trying to figure out what the hell that was."

"I want you in my pack. You have magic and you're powerful. Plus, we're family."

"I like the other speech I got a lot more," River rolled her eyes. "This one is just painful."

"I can protect you," Derek insisted. "I can also legally take custody of you."

"You can try," River stated. "It won't work out for you though."

"I have the legal grounds," Derek responded.

"I don't care. I'm not leaving Stiles. I'm not leaving dad."

"He knew," Derek breathed.

"Who knew what?" River asked, noticing Stiles tense beside her.

"The sheriff. He knew that Peter was your father."

"My father that you killed?" River asked, ignoring the feelings trying to rise in her chest towards the possibility of Noah and, based on the very tense teen beside her, Stiles having known. "My alpha that you killed? The person I was bonded to and felt die? That father?"

"Stop being so dramatic. Let's go," Derek tried bossing her around.

"I'm not going anywhere with you."

"You came to me yesterday. You were drawn to me."

"I wasn't drawn to you. I went to the place I always go to in order to clear my head. Why do you think Stiles was able to find me?"

"You can come with me or I can drag you with me," Derek growled, his eyes glowing red.

The red that he had stolen from Peter.

"You can try," River smirked in challenge.

Derek went to step forward and Scott growled.

"Down boy," River whispered to him. "I've got this."

Derek tried to walk forwards but couldn't get closer to River. He looked down, seeing the line of mountain ash. He followed the line with his eyes and realized that it circled the entire house. He looked up and glared at River.

"How did you do that?" he asked.

"Like you said, I have magic and I'm powerful. It's just like a man to not understand the meaning of no, so let me make it clear for you," River began to channel the inner mean girl that would make Lydia and Jackson proud as she walked down the stairs and stood at the line. "I will never, ever join your pack, you desperate fuck. If you try to kidnap me, you won't have a legal leg to stand on because my dad, the sheriff, will throw your ass in jail faster than your wolfy ass can think. Take your stolen red eyes and this newfound dickheadedness and fuck off. Stay away from my friends, stay away from my family, and stay the hell away from me."

Derek let out a vicious growl as River turned on her heel, her blonde hair swinging as she walked away from him. Stiles and Scott just stared at her in shock as she shooed them into the house. When River shut the front door, she looked out the peephole and watched as Derek walked away before taking off in a run in the direction of the depot.

"Where did that come from?" Scott asked.

"I just channeled my inner Lydia," River shrugged with a smirk. "I think she would be proud."

"Well, I guess we can't just ask him now," Stiles shrugged.

"He'll probably go after Boyd soon," River nodded.

"So, I repeat, what do we do?" Scott asked again.

"Aren't you the werewolf? Why don't you figure out a plan?"

"I think we all know that I'm the brains in this relationship," Stiles spoke up.

"So, do we leave now?" River asked.

"Let's go," Scott sighed.

"I'll go to Boyd's house. You two go to the ice rink," Stiles said as he opened the front door.

River concentrated on the mountain ash, breaking the line and letting it disappear back into the jar on the side of the house.

"Do you really think that you should go by yourself?" Scott asked. "River should go with you."

"Do you think I can't defend myself?" Stiles asked Scott. "I'm offended."

"You shouldn't be, he's right," River said.

"You two just go, please?" Stiles asked as he climbed into the Jeep. "Scott doesn't have a car anyways."

"I can drive River's car," Scott shrugged.

"No, you can't," River shook her head.

"Exactly. You two go and I'll call you if I find him," Stiles stated, sending the two away.

River and Scott went to her car and climbed in, heading towards the ice rink. They found Boyd working, smoothing out the ice. Derek and Isaac were already there. River watched as Scott argued with Derek and jumped when Erica snuck up on her.

"I've never been able to sneak up on you," Erica smirked, heading out on the ice to stand by Isaac.

A few moments later, Scott was fighting Erica and Isaac. He slid both of them to Derek and River stepped onto the ice, a bad feeling settling in her chest. Derek shifted and ran forward. River rushed forward, pushing Scott out of the way as Derek went to swipe at him. Derek's claws dug into River's back, blood dripping onto the ice as she let out a gasp of pain.

"River!" Scott yelled catching her as she fell. "What did you do?"

"Ow," River whimpered, leaning into Scott.

"She should have stayed out of the way," Derek growled.

"Fuck you," River spat as Scott lifted her into his arms.

Scott growled as Derek tried reaching for her. Derek growled back, but both stopped when River whimpered again, drawing their attention back to her.

"You don't want to be like him, Boyd," Scott said, holding River close.

"You're right," Boyd nodded, lifting his shirt and showing the bite already on his side. "I want to be like you."

Scott carried River out of the rink and to her car. Once she was buckled into the passenger seat, Scott ran to the driver's side and started dialing Stiles' number as he drove towards their house. Stiles answered on the fourth try.

"Hello?" he asked, groaning a bit.

"Dude, where are you?" Scott asked frantically. "River got hurt. Derek scratched her back and she's bleeding."

"Erica knocked me out and threw me into a dumpster," Stiles explained. "I think she did something to the Jeep. Is River okay?"

"That bitch," River breathed out.

"That does not sound okay," Stiles breathed. "I need to call a tow-truck. The first aid kit is under my bed. Get the bleeding to stop and I'll be there as soon as I can."

River let out a shaky breath, wanting Stiles with them.

"Next time someone says to split up, I'm punching them in the face," River stated.

"Deal," Scott and Stiles agreed.

"Share your location, please," River requested as they pulled up to the empty house. "I'm putting the mountain ash back around the house once we're inside. The wolves can't get pass it, which means Scott will be locked inside, too. You can break the line if you need to though."

"Okay," Stiles agreed. "Love you."

"Love you," River and Scott said together before hanging up the phone.

Scott carried River into the house as she waved her hand, closing the mountain ash circle. Scott carried her upstairs to Stiles' room and pulled out the first aid kit. He helped River out of her shirt, making sure to not look anywhere other than her back as he worked to stop the bleeding. River ended up lying down on Stiles' bed as Scott worked on her. He kept pulling pain from her to the point that she ended up falling asleep as he continued. She woke when Stiles ran into the room.

Scott had covered River with a quilt from her closet once he had finished patching her up. She heard Stiles ask Scott if it was going to scar. She didn't hear Scott respond, but she heard Stiles curse, which was all the answer she needed. Scott left the room to grab more blankets and pillows as Stiles climbed into the bed beside River. She turned her head so she could see Stiles' face.

He gave her a tight smile, worry taking over his features. She gave him a weak smile back before closing her eyes again. Next time she woke up, she was laying across Stiles' chest and could feel Scott's warmth near her back. She sighed and slowly stood from the bed, wincing at the pain in her back as she moved. Once she was out of the bed she went to her own room and found a sweatshirt that she could zip up rather than a shirt she would need to pull over her head. She went back to Stiles' room to find him looking around for her. She climbed back in next to him, this time facing Scott as Stiles wrapped his arm around her waist and she took Scott's hands in hers. Scott woke up long enough to move closer to her so that all three of them were cuddling before they all fell asleep again.

Sunlight was pouring into the room as Noah knocked on the door and let himself in. Scott sat up immediately, taking in his surroundings as if he didn't remember falling asleep in the first place. Stiles groaned in annoyance and snuggled further into River's back.

"Kids?" Noah asked, causing River to open her eyes.

She turned slightly, taking a deep breath and stretching. She hissed in pain, causing Stiles to wake up and look at her with concern. She waved him off and Stiles turned to his dad.

"Hey daddio," Stiles smirked, sitting up.

"I'm heading back in," he explained. "Everything okay? You don't typically all sleep together unless something's wrong."

"How long did you know?" River spoke up.

"Know what?" Noah asked, trying to get a look at River.

Stiles tensed beside her and Scott looked confused. River took note of both of their reactions, realizing that Stiles knew, but Scott didn't. She sat up slowly keeping her head down as she moved so that Noah wouldn't see the pain on her face as her back stretched. Once she had the pain under control, she tilted her head back, staring into Noah's eyes.

"How long have you known that Peter was my father?" she clarified.

"Did Stiles tell you?" Noah asked, eyeing his son wearily.

"No, but thank you for confirming that he also knew," River said, scooting closer to Scott.

"I didn't know that Peter was your dad," Stiles defended. "I just knew that dad knew."

"How long?" River repeated for the third time, directing the question at both Stilinski's.

"A week," Stiles answered.

"A few months," Noah said with a resigned sigh.

"A few months?" River asked, staring at Noah in disbelief. "You knew months ago and didn't tell me? How long is a few months?"

"Since Laura Hale was identified."

River bit her lip, nodding as she looked at her lap. She took a few deep breaths before standing from the bed, ignoring Stiles' hand as he reached to help her. She walked pass Noah and went to her room, gently closing and locking her door behind her. She ignored the whispering happening next door and went to her laptop, the thought of Noah keeping her biological family from her and the only biological family she had left being kind of terrible and looked up emancipation.

She knew that Noah would fight to keep her but Derek had a point when he said that he could legally take custody. She didn't really want either of them at this moment. How could she know if Noah had hidden something else like this from her? She didn't want to stay with Derek, either, thinking about how he'd acted the day before and how he was just biting random teenagers. Except they weren't random. They were her friends. Was it her fault?

"No," she whispered to herself, shaking her hand and grabbing her phone.

"Definitely not," she said as she hit the call button.

"No way in hell," she whispered and the line finally picked up. "Cousin!"

"Brook," Derek responded.

"River, actually. Cute. My back is fine by the way. Only hurts when I move or breath. Why are you turning all of my friends into werewolves exactly?" The smile on her face felt a bit insane, but with no one around, she figured that was fine.

"What?" he asked, sounding annoyed and tired.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Did I wake you?" River laughed slightly. "You poor thing. I know you need your beauty sleep, so I'll make this quick. Why are you turning all of my friends?"

"River? Are you alright? You don't sound okay," Isaac's voice took over the phone.

"Maybe it's the infection from your alpha clawing into my back the night before. Answer the question Derek. I have things to do."

"I'm turning people who need help," Derek answered after a small tussle over the phone.

"And you're staying at the train depot with them?" River questioned. "Do you all have beds? Food? A fridge? Running water?"

"There are mattresses," Derek sighed. "Are you okay? All three of them are staring at me."

"They're teenagers. They're curious creatures, no pun intended on the creature part."

"Are you okay?" Derek repeated. "You really do sound weird."

"Maybe it's the delirium," River sighed, pursing her lips. "Gotta go."

River hung up and got dressed, pulling a tank top on slowly so she didn't hurt herself more. She pulled her sweater back on and slid her phone into her pocket and walked out of the house, grabbing hey keys on the way out and ignoring Stiles calling out to her. She climbed into her car and started driving, pulling her phone out halfway to her destination. Jackson answered on the second ring.

"What?" he asked, sounding like he was eating something.

"Are we still friends?" she asked bluntly.

"Why wouldn't we be?" he asked, confused.

"Well, Lydia dumped me, so I just wanted to be sure," River shrugged. "I'm on my way to your house."

"She dumped you, too?" Jackson asked and River could hear him moving around, probably getting dressed.

"Too?" River asked.

"Yeah, in a text."

"When?"

"I'll tell you when you get here," he sighed. "What are we doing anyway?"

"We're going to see the house Peter left me. I need someone to complain to and you and Scott are the only people I'm not mad at right now."

"What about your boyfriend/brother?" Jackson questioned.

"Please stop referring to Stiles like that," River begged. "It's weird."

"See you in a minute."

River pulled up in front of Jackson's house, refusing to look across the street as she waited. She didn't wait long as Jackson jogged out of his house. Once he was in her car, she looked up at his house.

"What?" Jackson asked, looking back at the house to see what she was staring at.

"Do you think your dad would help me get emancipated?" River asked.

"What?" Jackson asked bewildered.

"Yeah," River nodded, turning the car around and following her GPS. "So, Noah knew that Peter was my father for months and didn't tell me, Stiles knew that he knew for a few days, and Derek has threatened to legally try and take me from Noah's custody. If I get emancipated, he can't do that."

"Plus, it'll hurt the sheriff," Jackson offered.

"I don't want to hurt him that much. He'll think I hate him."

"Do you hate him?" Jackson asked.

"No. I love him. Which makes it hurt more that he hid the truth from me for so long."

"Well, the people closest to you can do the most damage," Jackson sighed, leaning back in the seat.

"What happened with Lydia?" River asked, taking Jackson's hand and giving it a light squeeze.

"She texted me two nights ago and told me that I wasn't good enough for her anymore and that we were done. She ignores me and won't answer me anymore."

"I'm sorry. She told me that she had been using me our entire friendship."

"Using you?" Jackson asked.

"Yeah. For her image and then for magic. She said that now that she has magic, she doesn't need me anymore. Then she wrote backwards on the board in front of the class. Stiles took a picture of it and turned the picture around and it turns out that she was begging for my help. I haven't been able to get ahold of her with dealing with the Derek crap though."

"What Derek crap?"

"Derek has turned Isaac, Erica, and Boyd now. He's trying to get guardianship of Isaac."

"So, Isaac will listen to some random dude but not you when you have the sheriff backing you?"

"Exactly," River said, pulling into a driveway. "We're here."

River and Jackson got out of the car and stared up at the large house that sat on six acres of land with woods behind it. The white house had two stories and a covered front porch with a swing and everything. Blue shutters were on the windows, blue steps leading up to the porch. It was a nice house, very suburban.

"It looks…" River started.

"Normal," Jackson finished her thought.

"I really thought it would be a lot more wolfish," River sighed, staring at the house.

"Is this your first time seeing it?" Jackson asked curiously.

"Yeah," River nodded.

"And you brought me?"

"Yeah."

"You sure that was a good idea?"

"Yeah."

"Can you say something else?"

"Yeah."

River and Jackson both let out small laughs before moving forward. River unlocked the door and pushed the door open, staring into the house before hearing Jackson let out a small laugh. River looked back and followed Jackson's gaze to her feet and smirked at the welcome mat.

'Wipe Your Paws'

"That's more like it," River smirked before stepping inside.

To the left was the living room, bookcases on either side of the electric fireplace filled to the brim with books. Above the fireplace was a flat screen tv. There was a black, leather couch facing the tv with a brown coffee table in front of it, a loveseat that matched the couch on one side and a tall-backed chair on the other. There was a fake plant beside one bookshelf and a standing lamp beside the other, blue drapes covering the large, bay window. The walls were a sage green color.

River turned to the right, spotting a dining room with blue drapes as well and a long, brown table with ten chairs around it, a fake flower arrangement in the middle of the table and a chandelier above it. The paint matched the living room and River noticed that the smell of paint was still in the air.

River walked straight through the dining room and found the kitchen. It was large with plenty of cabinets and counter space, an island in the center with dark, wooden countertops. The walls were mostly the same green, but the wall behind the stove was more of a sea green and tile.

"I think the color scheme was blue and green," Jackson joked.

"It's fresh paint," River stated. "You can still smell it."

"Should we open the windows and doors?" Jackson asked.

"Yeah," River nodded.

"I'll get the windows, you keep exploring," Jackson told her. "I'm here if you need me."

"Okay," River nodded, exiting the kitchen through another archway that led to a back hallway.

The hallway led to a bathroom and washroom in one direction and towards opened doors the other way. River looked into the first open door, which was an office. She moved on to the next two rooms, both of which were bedrooms, white walls, plain white sheets, white curtains and empty shelves. They looked more like empty shells than rooms. River noted the back door but decided to head upstairs instead, passing Jackson as she went.

Once up the stairs, she found more open doors, all showing plain bedrooms and basic bathrooms. She went left to the end of the hall and found two rooms with closed doors. She opened the one on the front side of the house first. This room was painted a dark green on the walls and ceiling with a dark, wooden floor. The curtains were a thin black with ivy hanging down the sides, their pots sitting on shelves above the bed, holding books up. The bed in front of the window had sheets that matched the paint with black pillows and end tables on each side of the bed. River stepped into the room, walking closer to the tables.

On one of the side tables was a half full glass of water and a picture of Peter holding a baby. River held in a sob when she saw the baby's blue eyes and realized that she was the baby. She looked to the other table and saw a picture of Peter in a suit standing next to a woman in white. River crawled over the bed and grabbed that photo, too, staring down at it.

The woman had long, straight blonde hair and deep blue eyes like hers. River just stared down at the woman as she smiled brightly at the camera. River tore her eyes from the woman to look at Peter. He wasn't looking at the camera. He was looking down at the woman with so much love it made River let out a quiet sob. She looked back to the picture of Peter holding her as a baby and noticed almost the same look on his face in that picture. She turned when she heard a knock on the door.

"What's that?" Jackson asked, slowly walking into the room.

"This was Peter's room," River said, holding out the picture of baby her.

Jackson sat beside her looking down at the picture.

"Is that you?" he asked.

"I think so," River nodded. "I think this is my mom."

Jackson took the picture staring down at it.

"What's her name?" Jackson asked.

"I don't know," River shook her head. "I just found the pictures."

"He must have been staying here," Jackson said, noticing the glass of water.

"Yeah," River nodded.

"Come on," Jackson said, taking River's hand. "I think you're going to want to see the other room."

River followed Jackson to the room across the hall keeping a hold of his hand the entire time. He pushed the door further open and stepped aside, releasing her hand so that she could see inside. River gasped as she entered the room. It was painted in a light tan color, but she could barely see the walls with all of the shelves that were in the room. There were stones and crystals and books everywhere. Twinkling lights were on every surface along with hanging plants. She felt one of the leaves and realized it was a real plant and smiled to herself. The bed against the window had sheets and pillows that matched the barely seen wall and there was a desk with a laptop on it in the corner.

She walked towards the two open doors in the room and looked inside to get a glimpse. One was a bathroom and she noted the shampoo, conditioner, and body wash that she liked on the counter, as if someone hadn't gotten to putting it away yet. The next door showed a walk-in closet with a built-in dresser and a full-length mirror. There were a few items of clothing, a leather jacket, a couple of t-shirts, and two pairs of jeans in her size. She walked out of the closet and over the bed where a scrap book was waiting for her. She opened the cover and saw pictures of the woman and Peter again and realized what it was.

Gasping and holding back a sob, she sat on the bed, pulling the scrap book closer. As she went through the book, she found more pictures of her family. Each picture had a first name and a date attached to it, showing her more of her family. She smirked at the picture of Derek hanging upside down in a tree from a year before the fire. She learned her mother's first name, Sarah.

"Sarah," River whispered to Jackson as he looked through the pictures with her. "My mom's name is Sarah."

"We can try looking for her?" Jackson offered.

"What if she died in the fire?" River asked.

"Would you rather not know?"

"I wanna know," River insisted as her phone rang.

'Dad' showed up on the screen and River rolled her eyes, sending him to voicemail.

"How is the electric still on?" Jackson asked, trying to distract River.

"I looked over the will. Electric and house payments are made until I'm thirty-five," River sighed, standing up.

"Do you think there's food?" Jackson asked, following her down the stairs. "Also, why are there so many rooms?"

"I'm not sure," River answered both questions as they went into the kitchen.

River opened the fridge, seeing it fully stocked. The freezer and cabinets were full as well, light green plates and bronze silverware.

"No silver?" Jackson joked.

River let out a small laugh and wiped at the dry tears on her face. She pulled a few things from the fridge and got to work, frying eggs and cooking bacon. Jackson found bread and a toaster and made toast for them as well. He even set the table while River cooked.

"Would you be okay living in this big house by yourself?" Jackson asked as they sat and ate.

"I think I'd have to have music playing or the tv on at all times," River admitted.

"I texted my dad and told him a friend was asking about emancipation. He said he would have to talk to you directly in order to do anything. He doesn't know it's you," Jackson told her as he took her empty plate to the sink.

"Thanks," River sighed as she dried the dishes he washed. "Is he home?"

"Yeah. Wanna go talk to him now?"

"Yeah."

"Are we back to one worded answers?"

"Yeah," River smirked as she put the plates away.

"Let's go," Jackson smirked.

After locking up the house, River and Jackson headed to his, only a ten-minute drive away. Once in the house, River followed Jackson to his dad's office and took a deep breath before they walked in. Mr. Whittemore smiled at Jackson before his smile dropped slightly seeing River.

"River," Mr. Whittemore greeted. "Have a seat. What can I do for you?"

"I was wondering what I need in order to get emancipated," she told him as she sat, Jackson taking the seat beside her.

"Has the sheriff done anything that I should be aware of?" Mr. Whittemore asked, his body tense.

"Nothing illegal," River smiled. "He found out who my birth parents were a few months ago and kept it from me. I met my cousin and he isn't very polite. I'd rather make sure that he can't take custody of me."

"Alright. To be emancipated you have to have a home and a monthly income. There is paperwork and you'll have to go in front of a judge as well," Mr. Whittemore told her. "Have you spoken to Sheriff Stilinski about this?"

"No," River sighed. "I'm not exactly speaking to him at the moment."

"I understand. Do you have an income?"

"My father set it up so that I would receive an allowance of $5,000 a month and he gifted me a house. The bills on the house are paid until I'm in my thirties."

"Well, that should be sufficient," Mr. Whittemore nodded. "I would still like for you to speak to the sheriff before you go through with this. I printed out all of the paperwork for you to start just in case."

"Thank you," River said, taking the folder from him.

"I'll be your lawyer for this if you wish. I see how Jackson has been improving since the two of you have started spending time together."

"Dad," Jackson groaned.

"I'm just saying that I think Miss River is good to have around," Mr. Whittemore smiled before turning back to River. "Would you like my help?"

"Yes, please," River said.

"Would you like an inditement for any information that the sheriff may have on your biological family?"

"No," River shook her head. "I'll just ask if he has the information. With me knowing now, I think he'll feel bad enough to just tell me anything I ask for."

"If you change your mind, call Jackson and he'll let me know. I have a judge who is a family friend that I will ask to look out for your case."

"Thank you," River nodded, standing. "I should go talk to Noah. He's been calling almost all day."

"It was good to see you, Miss Stilinski," Mr. Whittemore smiled. "Maybe next time we see each other you won't need legal help."

"Miss Hale, actually," River smiled.

"Hale?" Mr. Whittemore asked, shocked.

"Apparently," River sighed. "It was nice to see you."

"I'll walk you out," Jackson smiled, following her out the door.

"So, I'm a good influence?" River smirked.

"Shut up," Jackson groaned, bumping River gently as they stepped onto the front porch where they both froze.

Outside of Isaac's house was the sheriff's cruiser, Mr. Lahey being led into the back of it in cuffs by a deputy. Isaac stood just inside the door with Noah, staring over at River. River rushed forward Jackson staying behind her in case she needed help. Noah saw where Isaac was looking and his eyes widened for a moment before a deep sadness settled in.

"What happened?" River asked rushing forward and grabbing Isaac, checking him over for injuries. "Are you alright?"

"River," Jackson tried, but she was too busy checking Isaac over to think about it.

"I'm fine," Isaac said, taking her hands in his own and staring into her eyes. "I'm fine. I just finally listened to the little voice in my head that said to call the sheriff when things got bad. Voice actually kind of sounded like you."

"He didn't hurt you?" River asked, her voice small.

"He didn't get the chance," Isaac promised.

"River," Noah's voice cut through the panic and anxiety riddling her brain. "He's alright. Do you have somewhere to stay tonight, Isaac?"

"Yeah," Isaac nodded before looking down to River.

"I'll give you a ride," she told him. "Go pack a bag. Everything you'll need."

Isaac nodded, heading towards his room to get his things.

"River," Noah tried to get her attention.

"Thanks for today, Jackson," River said, turning to him. "I'll let you know when I make it home."

"Okay," Jackson nodded. "Call me if you need me before then, alright?"

"I will," she promised.

River turned to Noah, opening her mouth to speak to him when Isaac came out of his room.

"Ready to go?" Isaac asked.

"Yeah," River nodded. "Go ahead. I'll meet you at the car. It's across the street."

Once Isaac was gone, River turned back to Noah.

"I should go," she said, her voice soft. "I'll see you at home."

"Okay. I get off in a couple of hours."

"I'll grab some diner food on the way home. Sneak you a few sweet potato fries so that if you get caught with them Stiles won't get too upset."

"Okay," Noah said, a small smile on his face. "What's in the folder?"

"Something I need to talk to you about later," River sighed.

"How much trouble am I in?" he asked.

"A bit," River said honestly. "Most of the anger has worn off now I think."

"You think?" he asked.

"I was going a little nuts this morning. Jumping all over the walls with anxiety. Jackson calmed me down though."

"Good. I'm happy he was able to help."

"Yeah," River nodded with a shaky breath. "I'll see you at home."

"See you then. Take some time with Isaac if you want. I know how much you care about him."

"Okay," River smiled, walking away.

"That seemed tense," Isaac commented as they began driving away.

"It was," River sighed. "To the depot?"

"Yes, please," Isaac said.

"Tell me about the conditions of this place?" River asked. "Appease my curiosity."

"It's an abandoned building," Isaac sighed. "Electricity goes in and out, mattresses are on the floor, no running water."

"That's not okay," River sighed. "Are you sure you want to stay there?"

"Derek's my alpha. If it's good enough for him, it's good enough for me," Isaac shrugged.

"Not good enough for me," River said, turning the car around.

"Where are we going?" Isaac asked.

"This is a kidnapping," River joked. "Congratulations. Pretty face like that? I can sell you for a pretty penny!"

"Ha-ha," Isaac fake laughed. "Where are we really going?"

"My place," River shrugged.

"I don't want to stay at the sheriff's house," Isaac rolled his eyes.

"Did I say we were going to the sheriff's house? No. I said we're going to my house."

"You have a house?" Isaac asked.

"Peter left it to me," River shrugged. "Along with money and a bunch of other stuff. So, you are getting the room next to mine."

"You don't need to do that," Isaac shook his head.

"I'm aware," River nodded. "Doing it anyways. Don't argue with me."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Isaac smiled.

"Good," River smiled back as they pulled into the driveway. "Let's get you settled and then you can call Derek and let him know that you aren't coming home tonight. Don't wait up. Yada, yada, yada."

"A pretty girl kidnapped me and forced me into a bedroom?" Isaac offered.

"And plans on feeding you breakfast," River smirked. "Don't leave that out. It's important."

"It sounds like you plan on having your way with me," Isaac smirked as River unlocked the front door.

River let out a small laugh as she led Isaac up the stairs. She pushed open the door next to hers before walking over and closing the door to Peter's room.

"It smells like Jackson and someone else in here," Isaac frowned.

"I totally forgot you're a werewolf," River slapped her forehead. "I was freaking out over you being hurt but you would have healed already."

"How did you forget?" Isaac asked with a chuckle.

"I don't know! I have a lot going on!"

"How's your back?" Isaac asked curiously.

"Hurts every time I move, but it's fine," River sighed.

"I'm sorry," Isaac said, his voice small as he pulled his sleeves over his hands.

"Don't be," River shook her head. "You didn't do it. You were just doing what Derek told you. I get that."

"He hurt you," Isaac said.

"Not the only scars I have," River shrugged. "Get settled. Are you hungry?"

"Can I open the window?"

"Does it smell like paint?"

"Yeah."

"Go ahead," River smiled. "That why some of the downstairs windows are open. I had Jackson open the ones downstairs. Do you wanna get emancipated? I can make copies of the paperwork."

"Copies?" Isaac asked.

"Yeah," River sighed. "I don't want Derek to try to get custody of me so I'm going to try to get emancipated."

"Why don't you want Derek to get custody?"

"Well, I'm not his biggest fan right now," River explained. "He killed my father and all that. Insert Princess Bride quote here. Then he was a dick towards me right after I saved him from hunters."

"Yeah, he's not a nice guy," Isaac agreed.

"Are you hungry?" River asked.

"A little," Isaac admitted, pulling his phone out to text Derek.

"Get settled and then we'll go by the depot to get your stuff, go get a key made, and grab some food," River told him.

"Are you this bossy in bed?" Isaac asked curiously.

"Where did this confidence come from?" River asked, leaning against his doorframe.

"I went through a bit of a transformation," Isaac joked.

"Confidence looks good on you," River smiled. "I'm next door if you need me."

"Thanks," Isaac smiled.

River smiled back, going to her room next door. She picked up the scrapbook and set it on the table beside her bed.

"How long have you been here?" Isaac asked, causing her to jump. "Did I sneak up on you?"

"You and Erica have both managed it," River sighed, rubbing her face.

"That's a miracle," Isaac joked, walking in. "You didn't answer my other question."

"I came here for the first time this morning," River said, facing him fully with her arms crossed.

"That explains why your scent isn't that strong," Isaac said.

"My scent?" River asked. "What's my scent? Is it bad?"

"No," Isaac shook his head, standing in front of her. "It's good actually. It's comforting."

"Really?" River asked.

"It reminds me of when you would hum to me after…"

"I don't think that's a good thing to be reminded of," River whispered.

"Not why you had to hum to me," Isaac agreed, his voice in a whisper as well. "But the humming itself? It always helped."

"That's all I ever wanted to do," she admitted.

"I know, I know. I wasn't ready for help though. I am now. And I miss you."

"Do you? Because you have a really bad way of showing it."

"How about I try showing it now?" Isaac asked, his voice husky as he moved closer, his face leaning down close to hers.

"Again, with the confidence," River smiled, staring into his eyes.

"You did say it looks good on me," Isaac smirked, leaning even closer.

His lips just barely brushed hers when his phone rang.

"You should get that," River whispered.

"It can go to voicemail," Isaac said, holding River's face in his hands.

"What if it's important?"

"Then they'll leave a message."

River's phone went off next. She let out a slow breath.

"Or they'll call me."

River smiled as she pulled her phone from her pocket. She saw Derek's name flashing across the screen and groaned in frustration. She handed the phone to Isaac, letting him answer.

"When I said a pretty girl kidnapped me, I didn't mean try to rescue me," Isaac joked, putting the phone on speaker. "I also didn't say who it was."

"I took a lucky guess," Derek's gruff voice spoke out.

"Can you hold?" River asked, grabbing her phone and clicking the hold button.

River set the phone down and grabbed Isaac, pulling him close. Isaac immediately responded, dipping his head down and holding River's face in his hands again. The gentle brush of their lips made butterflies flutter in River's stomach. The kiss was just as gentle as she expected at first before turning needy, desperate. River clung to Isaac, holding him as close as she could get him. Isaac walked forwards, causing her to walk backwards until her knees hit the bed and they both fell onto it. Isaac caught himself so his weight didn't land on her and she pulled him further up the bed so that her head was on the pillows.

Isaac pressed into her and let out a soft growl. River shivered at the sound, reaching her hands under Isaac's shirt and feeling his muscles under her hands. She lightly scratched down his stomach, feeling his growl rumble under her hands and against her chest. She let out a soft moan before Isaac jumped away from her, throwing himself across the room.

"Is?" she asked, sitting up and staring at him. "What's wrong? Did I hurt you?"

"No," Isaac said, his face buried in his arms.

"What happened?" she asked, standing up and walking towards him.

"Don't!" Isaac yelled, shrinking away from her.

River grabbed her phone and took Derek off hold.

"I'm back," she announced, eyes locked on Isaac.

"Don't do that again," Derek growled.

"When's the full moon?" River asked. "I've been a little too out of it to keep track."

"It's tonight," Derek answered. "That's why I've been calling Isaac. He needs to get here."

"It was the full moon," River closed her eyes. "Of course, it was."

"What happened? Did he hurt you?"

"No, he would never," River smiled. "He just freaked out a little and got scared. I'm going to get some food in him and then we'll be on our way. Do you need anything to eat? Do Erica and Boyd?"

"We're fine," Derek grumbled.

"Okay," River sighed. "We'll be there within the hour."

River hung up without waiting for a response. She slowly walked forward and kneeled in front of Isaac. She started humming lightly, trying to calm him like she used to. She slowly reached a hand out and rested it on his arm. Isaac looked up with golden eyes and fangs out. River continued humming, trusting her instincts and reaching forward, hand going to the back of Isaac's neck. Isaac's fangs retracted and his eyes went back to normal automatically.

"How'd you do that?" Isaac asked.

"I've been calming you down for four years now. I think I have it figured out," River smiled. "Come on. Let's go get some food. Then I'm taking you to the depot for the night so that Derek can help you with the moon. After that, you can come back here and rest."

Isaac simply nodded, letting River help him stand. She took his hand and led him back outside and into the car. She drove to the diner, ordering eight burgers with a side of fries each, plus four large drinks to-go. Once the food was done, she put the food and drinks in the back seat and drove towards the depot, Isaac remaining silent the entire time.

When they reached the depot, Isaac helped River carry the food and drinks down the stairs. Derek rolled his eyes until River passed him a bag with two burgers and two fries in it, setting a cup next to where he sat. She moved pass him, following Isaac into a train cart where Erica and Boyd were sitting.

"Food?" Erica asked, a happy look on her face.

"Food," River smiled. "I got everyone a couple of burgers, a couple orders of fries, and a drink. How are you feeling?"

"Easily irritated," Erica answered honestly.

"In that case, I will get out of your hair," River smiled, handing Erica her favorite pop. "See y'all later."

"Bye, Riv," Boyd smiled.

"Bye, V," River smirked.

"Don't call me V," Boyd growled, eyes flashing.

"Don't growl at me," River smirked, leaving the train cart.

"Don't rile them up," Derek groaned hearing a yell from inside the train.

"Have fun dog sitting!" River called rushing up the stairs, smirking as she heard Erica laugh loudly.

River went back to the diner, picking up food for three, making sure to get sweet potato fries on each order. Once she got to the house, River grabbed the folder from David Whittemore, along with the food. She smirked when she saw Noah and Stiles at the kitchen table, both just staring at her as she set the food and folder down.

"Stiles, take this bag and go upstairs please," River requested.

"What?" Stiles asked. "But I wanna talk to you."

"I'll talk to you when I'm done talking to Noah," she promised.

"He's Noah again?" Stiles asked, voice cracking a bit.

"Go, Stiles," Noah told his son.

"Don't stand at the top of the stairs to ease drop either," River told him. "I will talk to you after this. Let us talk in peace."

"Okay," Stiles sighed, grabbing his food and rushing up the stairs.

River waited until she heard his door slam and then a few more moments before popping her head out of the kitchen, looking up the stairs to make sure Stiles wasn't sitting at the top step. When she was sure that the coast was clear, she sat down at the table and passed Noah one of the bags of food.

"So, what's going on?" Noah asked.

"Derek threatened to take custody of me," River said.

"Threatened?" Noah asked.

"It sounded like a threat," River rolled her eyes. "When I told him no, he kind of threw a fit."

"Did he hurt you?" Noah asked.

"No," River shook her head. "I just don't want him to be able to take me."

"Well, I would do anything I could to make sure that doesn't happen, but as your next of kin, he'll have more legal rights than I will. The courts would take into account that you've been here for years and that you still don't remember anything from before you came here."

"Would that be enough?"

"I don't think so," Noah shook his head.

"What if I got emancipated?" she asked.

"He wouldn't be able to get custody, but I also wouldn't be able to support you as much anymore," Noah answered. "You would legally have to have a regular income and somewhere to live."

Noah looked at River in realization.

"You already have both of those because of Peter."

"This is the paperwork for emancipation," River told him. "I didn't want to do it until after I talked to you. I didn't want you to think that I was doing this out of anger towards you. You're still my dad. No DNA test or paperwork is going to tell me otherwise. You took me in all those years ago and have taken care of me ever since. I may be mad at you, but that will never change."

River wiped at the tears rolling down her cheeks and Noah moved forward, pulling River into a tight hug, ignoring his own tears that had formed. He held her until she let go, pulling back to collect herself.

"I understand," Noah told her. "I'll help you fill out the papers."

"Okay," River nodded, leaning into Noah again. "Okay."

Stiles came down from his room an hour later, tired of being left out of the loop and out of things to distract himself with. He found River and his dad filling out paperwork and eating cold sweet potato fries. He looked over River's shoulder, ignoring River's sigh of irritation at Stiles reading over her shoulder.

"Emancipation?" Stiles asked. "What?"

"It's to protect me from Derek," River sighed. "Grab a pen."

Stiles sighed and took a seat, grabbing a pen to help out. It took thirty more minutes for them to finish everything. Once done, River let out a sigh and leaned back in her chair. Noah stacked all the papers together and put them back in the folder for her.

"I need to go back to the house Peter left me for tonight," River sighed. "I found pictures and stuff that I want to go through."

"You don't want to wait until tomorrow?" Stiles asked.

"No," she shook her head. "I want to get started."

"I have to get to work," Noah sighed.

"Have fun," River sighed.

"I'd rather not," Noah laughed. "I'll see you kids later."

Noah kissed River's head on the way out. River gave a small smile before turning to Stiles.

"Are you heading out?" she asked.

"I don't have to go," Stiles told her. "I can go to the house with you, help you go through pictures and stuff."

"Come by tomorrow," River smiled. "You can help me then."

"Okay," Stiles nodded. "Be careful tonight. Full moon."

"You, too," River smiled. "Is Scott good?"

"We'll see," Stiles shrugged. "See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow," River smiled, standing and leaving the house, Stiles locking up behind himself.

Once back at her house, River closed all the downstairs windows and made sure everything was locked. She looked into Isaac's room, leaving his window open so the paint smell would continue to air out, but shut the door behind herself. Then she went to her room, opening the window a crack so she could feel the light breeze coming in before climbing under her blankets.

With the moon still high in the sky, River felt weight shifting in her bed. She rolled slightly, noticing that her window was wide open now before her eyes landed on Isaac curled in on himself. She smiled at him and waited for him to come closer to her, acting more like a scared animal than a teenage boy. She held her arms open and Isaac moved forward, resting his head on her chest. She wrapped the blankets around him before holding him close and falling back to sleep, too tired to even notice that he had been in full shift up until his head rested against her chest.

When River woke again it was to her phone ringing, Derek's ringtone playing loudly. She blindly grabbed for her phone, still holding Isaac with one hand. The sun had just started to come up so she assumed he was looking for the beta in her arms.

"What?" she asked, finally getting her phone and answering it.

"Is Isaac with you?" Derek asked, panic clear in his voice.

"Yeah," River answered. "Climbed through my window a few hours ago."

"He didn't hurt you?"

"I already told you he wouldn't," River sighed. "Why?"

"Well, I was a little distracted with Boyd and Erica last night and he got away. I only just now got to my phone."

"Are you okay?" she asked as Isaac started waking up.

"I'm good," he sighed. "They're asleep right now. Been out for a few hours, but I was healing and running around looking for Isaac. Was he alright when he got to you?"

"No clue," River shrugged as Isaac opened his bleary eyes and looked up at her. "It was dark and I was tired. Couldn't tell."

"I was shifted," Isaac admitted. "Calmed down when you started humming though."

"I was humming?" Isaac nodded and River shrugged. "Didn't even notice."

"I think I need a stronger place to keep them during full moons," Derek sighed. "On the bright side, I'm pretty sure Isaac found his anchor."

"What's an anchor?" River asked curiously.

"Something or someone that helps you keep control, helps you stay human," Derek explained.

"What's your anchor?" she asked curiously.

"I don't think we're close enough to share that," Derek said, his voice dropping.

"If you tell me I'll give you my address and you can bring the pups over for breakfast?" River offered. "There's some stuff here that I think you'll want to see anyways."

"What stuff?" he asked.

"What's your anchor?" she shot back.

"Anger."

"That checks out," River snorted and ignored the light growl from the other end of the phone. "There's family pictures and books here. Peter set most of the house up before…"

River trailed off and she could hear Derek holding his breath.

"Before he went psycho and tried to kill everyone," she finished.

Derek let out a small breath.

"I keep forgetting that part," she admitted. "Warning; it smells like fresh paint in here still."

"Send me the address," Derek said and she could practically hear him nodding nervously.

"Will do. See you soon," River hung up and sent the address.

She sighed when she set her phone down and met Isaac's eyes.

"Can we talk about it?" he asked, his voice small and reminding her of when he was in the freezer.

"Yeah," River nodded.

"I'm sorry for kissing you," Isaac said.

"It was the moon," River shrugged. "I don't have an excuse."

"Are witches not affected by the moon?" Isaac asked and River raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Derek was mad about some spell that you did that could have killed you and Lydia."

"Ah," River nodded. "I'm not sure. I should look it up. It would explain my emotions being all over the place yesterday."

"I'm sorry," Isaac said again.

"Don't be," she shook her head. "We should get up and start on some breakfast. Stiles will be here at some point, too. He promised to help me go through the books."

"Nerds," Isaac smirked.

"Someone has to do the research to help you dumb wolves," River joked, standing from the bed and stretching.

She hissed in pain and stopped stretching, reaching for her back. Isaac jumped up, holding his hands out but not knowing how to help.

"I'm okay," she promised. "I keep forgetting."

"I'm going to go change," Isaac sighed, going to his room.

River walked into her closet, staring at the clothes that Peter must have chosen for her. She changed into a pair of jeans and a forest green, long-sleeved shirt before tossing her dirty clothes into the hamper that sat in the corner. She went to the bathroom and brushed her teeth with the toothbrush that she yanked out of its box and then brushed her hair with the brush that was there as well. Once she was done, she threw her hair up in a messy bun and stepped out of her room.

"Hey, Is?" she called and the boy came out of his room. "What does this room smell like?"

Isaac went to Peter's door and pushed it open. He stared into the room for a moment in confusion before taking a deep breath.

"It smells like trees and rain, but there's something else to. I can't quite place it," he told her.

"Thank you," she smiled.

"Who's room is that?" he asked. "It's definitely slept in."

"It was Peter's," River sighed, walking into the room and grabbing the cup of water.

She stood on top of the bed and poured some of the water into each pot before leaving the room, pulling the door closed behind herself. Isaac followed her down the stairs and into the kitchen. She set the cup in the sink before walking around and opening windows. Isaac went to the living room to open the windows there as she unlocked the front door.

"I didn't get you a key made yet," she admitted. "I got busy after dropping you off."

"It's okay," Isaac shrugged.

"I'll get to it today, I promise. I'll probably need to get a few of them made honestly."

"I already know you'll give one to Boyd and Erica, plus Stiles would be offended if he didn't get one."

"Jackson, too," River nodded.

"Did they finally tell you?" Isaac asked with a smile.

"Tell me what?" she asked confused.

"Nothing," Isaac's eyes grew wide as he shook his head.

"Isaac," River warned. "I'm tired of people hiding stuff from me. What's going on?"

"Derek gave Jackson the bite," Isaac admitted slowly.

River closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She pushed down the anger she felt in her chest, not wanting Isaac to smell it on her. After a few moments she opened her eyes again and headed to the kitchen to start breakfast. Isaac followed her, sitting on one of the counters out of the way as he watched her moving around the kitchen. He remained quiet, knowing River was probably waiting for Derek to get there to get truly mad. He also knew that with him so close by she would control her anger so as to not scare him.

River made pancakes, bacon and scrambled eggs. The only sounds coming out of the house were the pans that she used and the plates and silverware touching the table as she set it. Once the food was done, she placed serving plates on the table, moving the centerpiece and setting it on the kitchen island. Just as she sent Isaac to the table to start eating, she heard car doors closing. She went to the front door, opening it wide so that Erica, Boyd, Stiles, and Scott could all come inside, Scott and Stiles having pulled up in the Jeep at the same time as Derek with the pups. When Derek walked up the porch, she stepped outside, shutting the door behind herself.

"What's wrong?" Derek asked.

"We need to have a little talk," River told him. "I thought you were waiting to bite Jackson?"

"He told you," Derek sighed. "I told him not to."

"And because you're his alpha he had to listen to you," River nodded.

"No," Derek sighed. "He rejected the bite."

"Is he?" River's voice was small.

"He's fine," Derek shook his head. "I didn't think he would be at first, but then he was walking around with nothing happening. He's immune."

"Like Lydia and I?" River asked.

"No," Derek shook his head. "He was bleeding black, like rejecting the bite. Then it just stopped. I have no clue why."

"Back to the other problem," River said, crossing her arms over her chest and raising a brow.

"I can bite whoever I want," Derek said, matching her stance.

"And I can throw your ass across the room without touching you but you don't see me doing that," River said. "I thought you needed three betas. Why did you need another?"

"He's not with me," Derek explained. "He's an omega."

"So, you bit him knowing he wouldn't be a part of your pack and knowing the dangers in this town right now? How is that being a responsible alpha? How is that being a responsible human being? You want custody of two teenagers but you throw away another one without a second thought?"

"It wasn't like that," Derek tried to defend himself.

"I'm not done!" River took in a breath to control her anger and her voice as she thought of Isaac on the other side of the door. "I told you that he wouldn't want to be pack. I told you he needed to work on social skills in order to be in a pack dynamic. I warned you. You took a child, an orphan, and you gave him the bite. As an orphan, you know what it feels like to want to prove yourself, to do and be better. Instead of waiting until he was able to find himself rather than being lost in his own head, you bit him and gave him power with no direction, knowing that he wouldn't go to you when he needed that direction.

"Not only that, but you kept it from me and made him keep it from me as well. The one person that he would rely on and you made him hide it from me. Do you understand the damage that you have done? Do you realize what could have happened had the bite taken? Or were you hoping it would kill him so that you wouldn't have to deal with him anymore? Who cares if you killed one of my best friends, any of my best friends actually considering those are the people you bit. Any one of them could be dead right now, or worse, all of them. But hey if I'm broken it makes it easier for you to try to get to me, right?"

"River that wasn't my intention," Derek said, his voice low as he tried to control his own anger but froze completely when he saw the tears begin to roll down River's cheeks. "River, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you more. I would never intentionally harm you."

"Just say that I shouldn't have gotten in the way, right?" River asked, thinking about the pain in her back.

"River," Derek's voice was soft, comforting, almost reminding her of something.

"Wait," River held up her hand, trying to hold on to the thought. "Say Brook like that."

"What?" Derek asked.

"Just do it," River whispered.

"Brook," Derek said, his voice soft as he moved closer to her, a strange look on his face. "You're okay. You did nothing wrong. It's okay. This is normal."

River could just barely feel something itching at the back of her brain, a memory trying to surface. Derek continued speaking to here softly, as if repeating some sort of mantra from his past. River just closed her eyes, listening as he did so.

"Brook," Derek breathed softly and she gasped when his hands touched her shoulders, rubbing gently.

"You used to calm me down," River whispered. "When my magic started showing."

"You remember?" Derek asked.

"I remember standing in the middle of the library and the books were flying around like in Matilda," River spoke out. "I couldn't get them to stop flying around though. My magic was out of control."

"I came in, had to dodge an encyclopedia to get to you and everything," Derek smiled.

River gave a soft smile, the foggy memory at the front of her mind.

"I don't remember the whole thing, but I do remember it always being you that calmed me down," River nodded.

"You didn't like anyone else," Derek shrugged. "I was your favorite cousin."

"I have a strong feeling that you're lying to me," River smirked.

"Okay, fine. Cora was your favorite, but I was second," Derek smiled.

"Cora?" River asked.

"My little sister," Derek nodded. "You were almost the same age."

"When is my birthday?" River asked. "We always just celebrated it on the day that dad took me in."

"You're birthday is May 30th, 1997," Derek smiled.

"I'm a Gemini?" River smirked. "Weird."

"What did you think you were?" Derek rolled his eyes.

"Aries," River nodded. "I became an honorary Stilinski towards the beginning of April."

"Firey, impulsive, competitive, protective?" Derek nodded. "Makes sense."

River rolled her eyes as the front door open. River smiled as Isaac came out of the house.

"Hey," he gave River a shy smile before turning to Derek. "Sorry I ran off."

"You didn't hurt anyone, so it's okay," Derek told him. "We just need to figure something out for next month."

"Come inside," River nodded as her phone rang. "Everyone wants my attention today. Hey, dad. What's up?"

"Do you know where Isaac stayed last night?" Noah asked with a sigh.

"Yeah. Why?"

Isaac and Derek had stopped on the steps and watched River, listening to the conversation on the phone.

"Something happened and I need to talk to him," Noah explained. "Can you get him to the station?"

"Yeah. Let me finish feeding him and then we'll be there," River promised.

"Wait, he's with you?" Noah asked.

"Yes, sir. What's going on dad?"

"It's his dad," Noah explained. "Someone killed him in his cell last night. We need to talk to Isaac to make sure it wasn't him."

"He was with me last night," River stated. "He was going to stay with someone else, but it fell through. We're at my house."

"Are you sure he was there all night?" Noah asked.

"Yeah," River lied without a second thought, eyes on Isaac as he stared at her in shock. "I had an eye on him the entire time."

"Something I should know?" Noah asked, the protective dad voice in play.

"We'll be there in a bit to give our statements," River said. "Love you."

"Love you, too," Noah hung up.

"What happened before you got here?" River asked Isaac.

"Nothing," Isaac shook his head immediately. "I ran by the sheriff's house and then I ran here. That was it, I swear."

"I believe you," River nodded, putting her hand on his arm. "It's okay."

"He's gone?" Isaac asked.

"Yeah," River nodded.

River saw the moment where he began to break. She moved forward and pulled him close, hugging him around his waist. He rested his head on her shoulder, tears making her shirt darker in one spot. River hummed to him, rubbing up and down his back until his breathing started to slow down again. Derek watched in amazement as River was able to calm him so quickly. He wondered briefly if he had been wrong before when he had seen River and Stiles together before looking over and seeing Stiles standing at the doorway, eyes on River as if she was the only one he could see.

Once Isaac was calm again, River led him inside. She made him sit at the table as she moved around the kitchen, finding hot chocolate mix in one of the pantry cabinets and getting to work to make enough for everyone. She set out multiple cups, adding different spices to a few of them before pouring in milk and stirring the powder in and adding marshmallows, marshmallow fluff, or whipped cream onto the tops. She carried the cups over a few at a time, putting certain cups in front of certain people, knowing exactly what each person needed. Derek stood in the archway, just watching as she did so. She set a cup of coffee in front of Stiles last, a cup of tea in her own grasp as she ran her hand along the back of Scott's neck, scent marking him.

"Do you know what you're doing?" Derek asked her.

"What?" River asked, looking to him.

"You're acting as pack mom," Derek smiled. "Making sure everyone has what they need to stay calm and scent marking them as you pass."

"Scent marking?" River asked.

"Running your hand on their necks. I noticed that Isaac smelt more like you yesterday, but I didn't realize it was because of that," Derek's eyebrows rose when Isaac and River both blushed. "Was it that?"

"Yeah," River nodded. "Isaac was upset so I calmed him down by holding him. I didn't realize that there was a term for it."

Derek could smell the embarrassment coming from Isaac and assumed River was telling the truth, though he did note to keep an eye on both of them.

"Does anyone want to see their rooms?" River smiled.

"What?" Erica asked, smiling brightly.

"This house is huge. Please don't make me stay here by myself all the time," River begged. "I already gave Isaac his room and my room was set up already. Finish eating and then we'll go upstairs so you can choose rooms. Derek you can come with me before we eat if you want. I need to show you something."

Once Derek nodded, River set her mug down next to Stiles' and led Derek upstairs. He followed her as she led him down the hall and opened the first door on the left.

"This one is yours if you want it. I don't remember how packs work, but I figured you'd want the room closet to the stairs in case of an emergency," she told him as they stared into the plain room. "You can decorate it however you want, make it your own personal space."

"I thought you didn't want me to take custody of you," Derek stated simply.

"I don't," River shrugged. "Doesn't mean I don't want the only biological family I have left nearby. I'm filing for emancipation."

"Do you need help with bills?" Derek asked.

"The house and bills are paid for and I get a monthly allowance from Peter," River shook her head.

"You're making this the pack house," Derek said, looking at River in amazement.

"Pack house?" River asked.

"Every pack has a home where they can all go and stay in at any time. Typically, the pack all lives together but some wolves like to branch out. Hale house was pack house."

"Am I stepping on your toes by doing this?" she asked.

"No," Derek shook his head. "It's better than a train cart."

"I bet it is," River smiled. "This room has its own bathroom, which I figured you would appreciate. There's an office downstairs that I'm thinking that Stiles will take over the moment he gets the chance, set up a base of operations. All the books that are in the house were already here and I'm willing to bet that they're all family books. Follow me, please."

Derek followed River to the end of the hall, stopping when he smelt Peter's scent getting stronger.

"Peter was staying here," River explained without looking at Derek. "That was his room. He set this one up for me."

River opened her door, showing Derek the inside of her room. He noted the books covering the walls, along with anything River would ever need for a spell. Crystals, stones, herbs and plants of all kinds covered the shelves with small lights dancing around the room. Her window was open and the paint smell was almost completely gone at this point, hers and Isaac's scents covering the room from having slept there that morning.

"Peter's room was across the hall?" Derek asked, pointing to the closed door.

"You can look in if you want," she gave him a gentle smile. "I'm trying not to touch anything though. I want to take the time to go through it. I'll grab the photo album while you look in."

Derek turned and opened Peter's door while River went into her room. When she turned back around, Derek was standing in the middle of the room standing completely still. River approached him slowly, gently laying her hand on his shoulder to get his attention. He looked down at her as she handed him the album.

"I should show the others their rooms and then take Isaac to the station."

"What are you going to tell them?" Derek asked.

"Not the truth," she smirked. "Isaac and I will figure it out on the way."

Derek nodded and looked down at the album in his hands as River walked away. She gave him his privacy and descended the steps, finding the pack cleaning up the kitchen, two plates being wrapped up and set aside for River and Derek to eat later.

"I kind of have an idea of who is getting which room, but if you don't want the room that I offer then you can all decide among yourselves where you want to be," River told them as they all followed her back up the stairs. "This one is Derek's room, so stay out of it unless he tells you otherwise. Boyd, I was thinking you could be across from him and Erica could be next to you. Scott, you're in the middle here and Stiles you can have the second-to-last room on this side. I'm on the end, Isaac beside me, and the room across from mine is off limits. There is one more room on this side and three more rooms the other direction down the hall. There's an office downstairs and two more bedrooms. I have not looked at the backyard yet."

"You have a mansion," Erica whispered. "How rich are the Hales?"

"Very," Derek said, coming out of the last room and closing the door behind himself.

"How come he can go in the last room?" Scott pouted.

"Hales only," River smirked.

"I thought you were a Stilinski," Stiles frowned.

"I can be both," River shrugged before looking to Scott. "If Allison ever joins the pack she can have the room across from yours. I figured Jackson and Lydia would want rooms down the hall. They're both really private and if Lydia doesn't have some sort of silence when she's trying to study, you'll all be fur coats while all of our heads are mounted on the wall for decor. The other rooms are basic like these ones, just a bit further away due to the window looking out to the backyard."

"You said you haven't seen the backyard yet?" Derek asked.

"I glimpsed out my window and saw the woods. The back of the house faces the forest but that's all I got."

"The Hale's own that property, too," Derek told her. "I own it, actually. The few acres this house sits on were Peter's."

"Well, they're mine now," River shrugged before looking to Isaac. "Are you ready?"

"Yeah," Isaac nodded. "Let me get my shoes on."

"Okay," River nodded, stepping out of the middle of the hall so he could get by.

Once Isaac was in his room, Stiles moved forward, wrapping River in a tight hug. She let out the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding in and leaned into his embrace. After a few moments, Stiles released her, looking down into her eyes to make sure she was okay. He kissed her head as Isaac came out of his room and they stepped apart. River took Isaac's hand and led him out of the house and to her car.

"What are we going to tell them?" Isaac asked as they drove towards the station.

"Well, I told them you were with me all night," River sighed. "Dad's going to ask how I know you didn't sneak off randomly while asleep."

"We watched a few movies on the laptop?" Isaac offered.

"Dad won't fully believe that. He knows I fall asleep while watching movies all the time," River sighed.

"Should we tell him we made out?" Isaac joked.

"Actually," River got an idea. "We could say we did more than that."

"What?" Isaac asked.

"Think about it," River stated. "Dad kind of thought something was going on when we were on the phone anyway. He'll only believe the movies so much. If we say that during one of the movies we kissed and one thing led to another, it's more believable."

"What movies did we watch?" Isaac asked.

"Who cares. We were doing it," River snorted.

"Why didn't you tell me we were having sex?" Isaac joked. "I wouldn't have even suggested this crappy movie if you had."

River let out a small giggle.

"Was I any good?" Isaac asked.

"You were very gentle," River nodded. "Took very good care of me. Made sure my first time didn't hurt too much and everything."

"We were each other's first," Isaac said dreamily.

"You're such a girl," River joked.

"Says the one having sex with me," Isaac shot back as they pulled into the station.

"Alright, we were watching Harry Potter. Does that work?"

"Marathon night because I was upset about my dad. We can work with that," Isaac nodded. "What movie did we get to?"

"Third one," River smirked. "The one with the werewolf."

"You're hilarious," Isaac rolled his eyes as they got out of the car, River laughing as they walked to the entrance.

Once inside, they were immediately buzzed in and sent to Noah's office.

"Hey dad," River smiled as she stepped inside.

"Hey kids," Noah smiled at both of them. "Ricco is going to take you, River. Jonathon is taking Isaac."

"Okay," River nodded as Ricco walked towards them

"Jonathon's on his way back in," Ricco explained as he led the teens away. "I'll go ahead and get you both in your rooms and get started."

River and Isaac both just nodded, Isaac uncomfortable with being separated from River. She reached up and ran her fingers across the back of his neck before he went into an interrogation room alone. He smiled at the gesture before focusing and listening to River's interview.

"So, where were you between 10 PM last night and 3 AM this morning?" Ricco asked River.

"I was at the house Peter Hale left for me on Connecticut," she explained.

"What were you doing there?"

"I was having a movie night with Isaac. He was upset so I figured it would be nice to have something to distract him."

"What movies did you watch?"

"We were watching the Harry Potter movies."

"Did you finish them?"

"No."

"Did you fall asleep?"

"At some point."

"Could Isaac have snuck out while you were asleep?"

"Not between those times," she stated. "We were up most of the night."

"Did you do anything other than watch movies?"

"Yeah, but it's personal," River tried.

"I need to know River. I know it may be personal, but we need to be sure it wasn't him."

"We slept together," River spoke up.

"Slept together as in sleeping?"

"No," River shook her head as her face heated up. "We had sex."

"Oh," Ricco stuttered for a moment. "Well, how long did that last for?"

"Well, we watched a few hours' worth of movies and kissed. One thing led to another and we were up until I'd say around two in the morning. Maybe two-thirty."

"Alright," Ricco nodded, refusing to look at River now. "I think that's all we needed from you today."

The door to the interrogation room opened and Isaac jumped. The man that Isaac was assuming was Jonathon sat in front of him.

"My name is Officer Parker," he told Isaac. "I'll be getting your statement today. Can I get you a glass of water?"

"No, thank you," Isaac shook his head.

"Where were you between midnight and 2 AM?" Officer Parker asked.

"I was with River," Isaac stated.

"Where you sleeping?"

"Not really," Isaac shook his head.

"What were you doing?"

Isaac refrained from answering the question with 'each other' and instead took a moment.

"We were having sex."

"Were you?" Parker questioned.

"Yeah," Isaac nodded, looking down.

"Interesting," Parker stated.

"Is it?" Isaac asked, still refusing to look up.

"Well, I'm happy it's me doing the interview and not the sheriff," Parker smirked. "Don't worry kid. I'm sure he won't shoot you. Much."

Isaac let out a low breath before looking up again as the door opened. Ricco passed his notes to Parker and Parker read over them before nodding.

"Well, your alibi is set. I think the sheriff wants you to ID your dad. Do you think you can handle that?" Parker asked.

Isaac took a deep breath and nodded.

"Can River stay with me when I do?" he asked.

"Of course," Ricco nodded. "She was insisting on it actually. Very good friend you have there."

Isaac flinched at the word friend and Parker held in a laugh.

"Come on kid," Ricco smirked. "Let's get you to your girl."

Isaac stood and followed Ricco towards Noah's office where River stood waiting for him. Once she saw him coming, she moved towards him, wrapping her arms around her waist. Isaac leaned into her, burying his nose in her hair and breathing deeply.

"Young love," Ricco joked as he moved to Noah's office.

Noah came out and took the statements in his hand. Ricco gave him a look and Noah set the papers down, not really wanting to know what his charge had been getting up to anymore. He drove to the hospital, River and Isaac following in her car. He noted them holding hands but knew River was a very tactile person, always reaching out and touching her friends in any way she could.

Once in the morgue, Isaac IDed his father, throwing up into a metal trach can when he saw the state of the body.

"What could have done that?" River asked Noah as Isaac leaned against a wall.

"We aren't sure," Noah shook his head. "No animal could have broken into the station."

"But a person could have?" River asked in concern. "Weren't you pulling a double last night? There's no way someone just got pass you."

"We don't know what happened. The cameras all went out."

"So, it needs to be someone who's good with cameras," River sighed. "Brilliant."

"I'll figure it out, River. Don't worry. Have you turned in the papers yet?"

"I'm doing it later today. I need to get a few house keys made, too."

"How many keys are you making?" Noah asked curiously.

"I need one for you and Stiles each, which means Scott will want one, too. I told Isaac he could take one of the rooms if he ever needed to, so he's getting one."

"I'm not sure how I feel about him having a key to your house," Noah said honestly. "Ricco gave me a look like I didn't want to know something."

"The house is big enough that Isaac has his own room. I have a room picked out for you, too, if you ever need to crash for the night."

"Are these rooms furnished?"

"Yeah," River nodded. "Very basic sheets and stuff. Each room has a bed and a desk. There's an actual office, too. I already know Stiles is going to try to claim it."

"Boy does like the idea of having an office," Noah smiled before frowning. "Is there something going on with you? Something you aren't telling me?"

"How do you mean?" River asked with a head tilt.

"I don't know," Noah sighed. "You just seem different. More confident, grownup."

"That happens when you get older," River shrugged. "Oh! I know my actual birthday now."

"What is it?" Noah smiled.

"May 30th, 1997," River smiled. "I still want to celebrate in April though if that's okay?"

"Anything you want sweetheart," Noah smiled, pulling her in to a tight hug.

River sighed and melted into Noah's arms until she heard Isaac start to move around. They separated and Isaac gave River a grimace that she was sure was meant to be a smile. She told Noah goodbye and headed back towards her house, Isaac remaining silent the entire drive. They walked into the house to find everyone spread out between the living and dining room.

"How'd it go?" Stiles asked from the dining room table, fresh coffee in front of him. "What did you tell dad?"

"Oh, nothing big," River shrugged.

"We said we were watching movies," Isaac smirked as he realized that River was waiting for something.

Stiles nodded and brought his coffee to his lips, taking a gulp.

"And that we had sex," River piped up.

Stiles began coughing, his coffee getting stuck in his throat as Erica cackled from the living room. Scott patted Stiles' back until he was able to breathe again.

"What the hell?" Stiles asked.

"It was a good excuse," River shrugged.

"So, what happens when he asks me how long the two of you have been dating?" Stiles asked.

"You'll think of something," River shrugged before turning to Derek. "Do you think Peter would put a safe room in the house?"

"Probably," Derek nodded, an amused smile on his face. "Somewhere that wolves could learn control and be locked in during full moon."

"We should see if we can find it," River nodded before looking to Isaac. "Do you want to go get some sleep?"

"God, yes," Isaac groaned. "You kept me up all night, little minx."

River let out a loud laugh as Stiles looked like he was going to be sick. Once Isaac was up the stairs, they began their search. Stiles took a spot by River's side as they looked.

"Did it really have to be that?" Stiles asked her.

"It was the best excuse we could come up with in a short time. If we said we were watching movies, dad would point out that I always fall asleep during movies," River explained.

"Fine," Stiles rolled his eyes. "I'm going to tell him I didn't even know that Isaac was with you that night. Have fun with that."

"It'll be fine," River smiled before noticing the look on Stiles face. "Are you okay?"

"Did the two of you actually have sex?" Stiles asked in a whisper, hoping the wolves around them weren't paying attention.

"No," River shook her head. "Why are you so worried about it?"

"No reason," Stiles shrugged. "I just feel like he said some really hurtful things to you and needs to grovel for a while."

"He's been through a lot. I think he needed someone to lash out at and I'm fine with it having been me."

"Okay, well, I'm not," Stiles said, stopping River with a hand on her arm. "What if the next time he lashes out is with claws instead of words?"

"I can protect myself," River smiled, taking Stiles' hand.

"You say that and then I get a call from Scott saying you jumped between him and an alpha wolf and are bleeding on my bed," Stiles shot back, concern in his eyes.

"I'm learning how to protect myself better," River smiled. "Also, Derek said that Isaac found his anchor. Apparently that helps."

"Scott's is Allison," Stiles groaned. "What's Isaac's?"

"I don't know," River shrugged. "Derek's is anger though."

"Sounds about right," Stiles sighed as they walked into the pantry together. "What's this button do?"

Stiles clicked the button without thinking, which would have caused River to glare at him if she hadn't automatically reached a hand out and pulled him away from the wall that suddenly opened to reveal a staircase.

"Derek!" River called out. "I think we found it!"

"We?" Stiles asked.

"I was present," River smirked as Derek came into the pantry.

"Stay behind me," Derek instructed, his eyes flashing red so he could see better.

River rolled her eyes and held up her hand. A ball of light appeared and she held it in front of herself as she walked down the steps, following Derek with Stiles behind her. She could hear the rest of the pack following as they descended into the basement.

"Creepy basement, check," River sighed. "Knew this house looked way too suburban."

"The shutters outside did give me pause," Stiles sighed.

A switch was flipped above them and River looked up the stairs, seeing Isaac at the top.

"There is a light switch next to the button," Isaac smiled as he came down the stairs.

River closed her hand, causing the light to diminish. Stiles smiled, staring at her hand.

"I'd offer to teach you that one but then I'm reminded of all the times you forgot flashlights for Scotty and me," River smirked at him.

"Yeah, yeah," Stiles rolled his eyes before they looked around the room.

River froze, immediately reminded of the basement that she had saved Derek from, the memory of that night causing her breathing to hitch a bit. She rubbed her face and brushed the memory aside before looking again. There were metal doors with thick glass windows so you could see inside, chains hanging from the ceiling and attached to the walls. River could see what she could only describe as torture collars lying around as well.

"I did not like that," Erica said, pointing at one of them.

"What?" River asked as she stared at it.

"Derek put it around my head last night," Erica admitted. "Hurts like hell."

"Yeah, we're not doing that again," River said.

"If we have to do it, we'll do it," Derek stated firmly.

"We can lock her in one of the torture cells instead," River stated just as firmly, matching his tone to a T. "I'm not watching you put that on her or listening to her scream as you do it."

"You don't have to be here," Derek shrugged.

"Who's house are you in?" River asked curiously, causing Derek to roll his eyes. "I'm getting rid of it."

River reached over and grabbed the headband, walking up the stairs and ignoring Derek as he called out to her. She could feel herself getting angry but pushed it down again. She dropped the torture device in the trash can and gave a ragged sigh as she heard heavy steps following her up. She held onto the kitchen island, using it to support herself as her back was screaming at her.

She felt Derek's presence behind her and ignored him, biting her bottom lip so that she wouldn't groan from the pain of having moved around so much. The trip up the stairs had been the hardest part though and had really sent her over the edge.

"River?" Derek's voice was concerned as he laid his hand on the back of her neck.

She could tell he was draining her pain based off of the instant relief that she got. She let out a quick breath, leaning forward more to give her back a break.

"Can I see it?" Derek asked.

"Not here," River whispered. "I don't want everyone to see."

"Let's go to your room," Derek said, holding her arm to lead her.

"I don't think I can handle anymore stairs today," River said honestly. "I also have a bunch to do today."

"There's a bathroom down here," Derek stated, placing his hand on River's back and leading her towards it.

Once in the bathroom, Derek lifted the back of her shirt. River saw him close his eyes and take a deep breath. River could feel the anger he felt towards himself as he stared at her back.

"How bad is it?" River asked.

"Well, it's bleeding a little. We need a first aid kit," Derek said, his voice indifferent as if he was trying to disassociate from the situation.

"Stiles has one in the Jeep," River offered. "Did anyone hear that?"

"Erica's on it," Derek nodded.

Less than a minute later, there was a soft knock at the door. Derek lowered River's shirt before opening the door and taking the kit from Erica before shutting the door again. River pulled her shirt over her head, leaving it on her arms so she could use it to cover her front. Derek used a cotton pad to rub hydrogen peroxide over the claw marks, causing River to hiss slightly at the feeling. Derek drained her pain with his free hand as he continued. After cleaning the area, he put gauze pad over the scratches, making sure they were secure before helping River pull her shirt back over her head.

"I have ibuprofen in my bag upstairs," River sighed as they came out of the bathroom.

"Scott's on it," Derek told her.

"Okay," River sighed, pulling out her phone and calling Jackson. "Are you home?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Can you come over? We're having a little pack meeting really quickly and I want to talk to you about something," she explained.

"On my way," Jackson promised before hanging up.

"Are you going to yell at anyone?" Isaac asked curiously. "I'll make popcorn if you are."

"So funny," River rolled her eyes as Scott came back into the room and passed her two different bottles. "Thanks."

"What's that one?" Derek asked.

"Anxiety medicine," Stiles answered. "I was going to ask if you'd taken any today or not."

"Not yet," she said, throwing two of each pill in her mouth before leaning over the sink and drinking water from the faucet.

"Are witches affected by the full moon?" Isaac asked Derek.

"They can be if they've used more magic than they're supposed to around the time of the full moon. Why?"

"I was just curious," Isaac shrugged, hiding his face so no one would see him blush.

"How are they affected?" River asked.

"Well, Aunt Sarah, you're mom, and Peter would stay in their room for a couple of days at time. Hated having werewolf hearing when I was a kid," Derek shuddered at the memory.

"So, the moon can make River horny?" Erica asked, smirking when Derek and Scott made faces at her. "Interesting. So, was it a lie?"

"Was what a lie?" River asked her.

"The sex part," Erica smiled. "Did River and Isaac deflower each other?"

"No," River rolled her eyes. "Stop trying to embarrass Isaac."

"I was trying to embarrass you," Erica stated.

"Gotta try a little harder than that," River smirked.

"Do I?" Erica smiled, making her way over to River, her hips swaying with each step. "If you need a wolf to roll around with in bed during a full moon, I can volunteer."

"Promise?" River winked.

"Oh, definitely," Erica purred.

"Oh, please stop," Stiles groaned, slamming his head against the table.

"I think we're giving him too much ammunition for happy time at home," River told Erica.

"Not the first time," Erica shrugged.

"True," River nodded.

"I hate you," Stiles stated, lifting his head high enough to glare at the two girls.

"Liar," River laughed as she opened the fridge in search of something to drink.

Jackson knocked on the door and River yelled for him to come in.

"Why are you knocking?" River asked as he walked into the kitchen, freezing when he saw everyone in the house.

"It's not my house," Jackson stated.

"I'm literally making you a key later," River rolled her eyes. "Go pick a room."

"Can I have one in the less crowded hall?" he asked.

"Go for it," River smiled, happy that she was right. "Did everyone else claim their space?"

"We all liked the rooms you picked for us," Scott smiled.

"I'm surprised Peter didn't pick the room that you gave to Derek," Stiles stated.

"Derek told us it was his room," Erica provided at River's confused expression.

"He wanted River in the safest room, which is the furthest from the street, but still wanted to be as close as possible to her while keeping a view of the street," Derek stated.

"Aw! It almost sounds like he cared," River joked, rolling her eyes before walking towards the living room. "I think I need to get a DVD player and a game system for the living room."

"Mario Kart nights?" Stiles asked hopefully.

"Mario Kart nights," River nodded as he followed her to the living room.

"He follows her around like a lost puppy," Erica sighed. "It's sweet."

"It's always been like that," Scott shrugged, watching the two as they discussed where the systems could be plugged in at and placed so that the shelf under the tv wouldn't look crowded.

"Always?" Derek asked, sitting beside Scott and watching the pair.

"Yeah. Stiles used to talk about Lydia all the time, but the day he met River it was all about her. He still claims he has a crush on Lydia whenever someone asks, but I think it's to hide the fact that he's in love with her," Scott shrugged.

"Does she feel the same way?" Derek asked.

"You can never tell with River," Scott shrugged. "She treats everyone differently. Like with Isaac, she's really soft, like he's made of glass. With Lydia and Jackson, she can be a little mean and blunt, but Lydia and Jackson always get a little soft around her. She's like a safe place. You can always go to her. Plus, she's always touching us. She'll lay across us or cuddle into someone's side."

"It sounds like you're the one who's in love," Erica smirked.

"I had a crush on her at one point," Scott admitted. "I think a lot of people have though. She's special. It's one of the reasons that Allison doesn't like her."

"Allison doesn't like her?" Derek asked. "River protected her from Peter though."

"I know," Scott nodded. "River tends to be all over everyone though. It makes Allison a little territorial."

"It's probably because she was raised by wolves and Stilinski's," Erica joked to Boyd in a whisper.

"Well, I think River has more of a right to not like Allison, but she leaves her alone unless Allison starts in on her first," Jackson stated as he came back down the stairs.

"Is that what happened?" Scott asked.

"Yeah. Allison was being rude and River went mean girl on her. I was very proud," Jackson smiled.

"You're always proud when people are mean," Scott rolled his eyes.

"I'm proud when River is mean," Jackson corrected him. "She's always too nice. Seeing her go in on someone is refreshing."

"Seeing who do what?" River asked as she and Stiles came back into the dining room.

"Nothing," Jackson shook his head. "What's the meeting about?"

"Well, firstly, why didn't you tell me about the bite?" River asked.

"Fuck."