Disclaimer: Teen wolf does not belong to me in any way, shape or form – sadly. Another quick chapter guys, I'm so sorry but I couldn't resist. I'm back on nightshift and, although I'm tired as hell, I figured I could do a sneaky wee chapter ;) also a big shoutout to guest, read94 and Scottken for the amazing reviews. It truly means the world and I hope you like this next installment :)
Leaving Beacon Hills long term care facility, she couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.
What that something was, she didn't know, but the feeling in her gut was telling her she should be uneasy and unnerved - which she definitely was. The hairs on the back of her neck standing on end.
She followed Derek from the building and down the path, his shoulders tense and his fists in a tight ball, clearly biting back his frustrations.
She stayed quiet, keeping a few steps behind him as she kept throwing confused glances behind her, trying to pinpoint her feelings of unease. She supposed it could be the sudden shock of seeing her Uncle Peter after all this time. Or maybe the fact she was in yet another hospital, which she hated with a passion. Or, potentially, the fact she was missing a massive piece of the puzzle - an Alpha shaped sized piece. A small part of herself feeling like she should know the answer... like it was right in front of her face.
They got to Derek's car but, before she could climb in, she noticed her older cousin had stopped and grabbed something from his windshield.
"You get a ticket?" she asked, knowing that wouldn't help with Derek's annoyance even though he had more than enough money to pay it, frowning down at the bit of paper in his hands.
Derek's entire demeanour shifted, suddenly becoming uptight and paranoid, his suspicious stare pinpointing around the parking lot.
"Derek...?"
He folded the bit of paper up, nodding his head silently for her to get in the car. Surprisingly, she did without argument, climbing into the passengers seat and turning her gaze towards Derek, an eyebrow cocked in wondering.
He simply handed her the piece of paper which she opened, seeing a copy of a police report of a dead deer. A dead deer with a spiral painted on it in its own blood.
"Revenge" she muttered, tracing the spiral with her fingers, "why was this left on your windshield?"
"That's what brought Laura back" Derek said, his lips a thin tight line, "and I think I know who the Alpha is"
"What? Who?" she asked, her eyes zig zagging across the page, "it doesn't say who killed it"
"No. But it does say who found it"
She frowned, gaze skimming across the paper to see the name 'Dr Alan Deaton' in big bold letters, title being 'veterinarian'.
"Wait... this is Scott's boss, right?"
Derek started up the engine, the exhaust spluttering to life as he spun from the parking lot, his fingers gripped tightly around the steering wheel.
"It's him" Derek ground out between his teeth, "or he knows who is"
"Or maybe he just found a dead deer"
"There's too many coincidences" her cousin said, "I've heard Laura mention his name before, I just didn't think anything of it. Then the spiral on the deer. Now the fact he knows Scott. I can't ignore this"
"It doesn't make any sense" she shook her head, "I don't know this dude. And I thought you said my connection or whatever would mean I knew him"
Derek's features were pinched and hard, his green gaze hyper focused on the road as he hit at least twenty above the speed limit, his grip jerking the wheel to side as they flew around corners.
"We'll soon find out" was all he said, clearly not wanting to hear her logic.
She could tell Derek was in a bad mood, the anger rolling off him in waves, the taunt of the police report just adding to his annoyance - like it was a reminder that he had yet to find out who the Alpha was.
"So, what, you're going over there to tie him up and beat a confession out of him?" she snorted, expecting Derek to be a little bit more level headed than that.
He remained silent, his non reply telling her everything she needed to know.
"You're going over there to tie him up and beat a confession out of him, aren't you?"
"Yes"
Blunt and straightforward. A common trait among Hales.
"Scott will be pissed, y'know"
"Yes"
Another common trait with Hales - their inability to care what other people thought.
"Hm. Can I come?"
"No" he grumbled, throwing her a hardened look from the corner of his eye, "I'm taking you home"
"Why?"
"Because you're not getting caught up in the middle of this"
"I already am in 'the middle of all this'" she reminded him, pointing to the cut on her head, "and you can't do this alone. If he really is the Alpha, he could kill you"
"Or maybe I'll kill him first"
"Is that your plan?" she asked, "find the Alpha, kill him and take the Alpha status for yourself?"
Derek didn't reply, his gaze steely on the road.
"Oh my god" she muttered in realisation, "it totally is, isn't it? You want to be an Alpha"
"I didn't say that"
"You implied it" she argued, narrowing her eyes accusingly, "is this your plan?"
"No" he shook his head, "it's not my plan. But I think the only way to stop him is to kill him, and I don't think Scott has it in him. Do you?"
"No, of course not. Scott wouldn't harm a fly"
"My point exactly"
"Anyway-" she shrugged, crossing her arms stubbornly, "-I'm not going home. I refuse"
"Oh, you refuse?"
"I do" she nodded firmly, "we're family. We're in this together. If he kills you, he kills me"
Derek cocked an eyebrow but she saw the ghost of a smirk playing on his lips.
"You're lying"
"Of course I'm lying" she joked, "if he kills you, im outta there. Each man for his own right?"
Derek sighed, but she could tell he was considering her proposal, his stubbornness slowly starting to wear down.
"Fine" he said, "but you're waiting in the car"
"I'm not"
"You are"
"Make me" she challenged, making him raise his eyebrows.
"I will lock you in the car"
"I'll break a window"
He rolled his eyes, exasperated with her childish behaviour.
"You're very annoying, has anyone ever told you that?"
"Pretty much everyone I've ever met" she smirked, seeming proud of that fact, "just give in Derek. I'll always win this argument"
He rolled his eyes but never retorted back, Kayla knowing that she had worn him down enough to let her tag along, imagining herself punching the air in silent victory.
It didn't take much longer for them to get to the veterinarian clinic, Derek's car screeching to a violent stop outside it.
"Just stay behind me, okay?"
She rolled her eyes as she climbed from the car, sending him an exasperated look.
"I can take care of myself y'know"
"I know" Derek mumbled, "but just because you can, doesn't mean you should. Stay behind me"
She mocked his words silently but followed him none the less into the building, opening the front door that had a sign across it saying 'closed', that annoying chime tinkling overhead as they did.
"Scott, you're late again" an amused voice called out as they silently made their way through to the back, "I hope this isn't starting to be a habit"
She kept behind Derek as he rounded the corner, glaring into the room where the man's voice belonged to.
"Oh. Can I help you?"
She, naturally, didn't do as she was told, stepping next to Derek with her own calculating and curious expression on her face, seeing the man gaze across at them in surprise and - dare she say it - a little bit of recognition.
"Hope so" Derek said steely, "I want to know about the animal you found with a spiral on its side"
The veterinarian swallowed nervously, his stare flitting between the two of them in slight panic.
"Excuse me? What animal?"
"The deer. Three months ago" Derek said, pulling the bit of paper from his pocket, opening it up to hold it up for the stranger to see, "you remember this?"
She remained quiet, watching his expression change to forced relaxation, anxiously crossing his arms across his chest.
"Oh yes. It's just a deer. And I didn't find it. They called me because they wanted to know if I had ever seen something like that before"
"Your name's on the police report" she interrupted, trying to catch him out even though, deep in her gut, she didn't feel like it was him. He didn't strike her as evil, or even supernatural.
The veterinarian's stare moved to meet hers, that flare of recognition returning to his eyes.
"Yes. Because I consulted on the case"
"Not what that bit of paper says" she shrugged, "it says you found it"
"What is this all about?" he chuckled nervously, "what interest do you have in a dead deer?"
"I want to know what you think it means" Derek stated, his patience wearing thin, "the spiral"
"I... I don't know" he replied, "graffiti?"
Derek's hand crumpled the bit of paper up, slowly walking into the room much to the veterinarian's panic, taking a small step back as Derek approached.
"Did you hear that?"
"What?" he asked, stepping behind the silver examination table, putting as much distance between him and Derek as he could.
"That's the sound of your heartbeat rising"
"Derek" she hissed, quickly following behind him and grabbing the back of his leather jacket, "shut up"
"Look... I don't know what you're going on about-"
"It's a sign you're lying" Derek growled, grabbing the lapels of the veterinarian's white coat and pulling him over the silver table.
"Oh for the love of god" she muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes as Derek clenched a fist and sent it barrelling towards his face, "is violence your typical go to response to everything?"
He didn't reply, grabbing the disorientated veterinarian and throwing him into the opposite wall, breaking a bunch of cabinets and trays as he fell to the floor.
"Okay, whoa, slow down" she stepped in front of Derek, placing her hands on his chest, "enough. You're gonna kill the guy"
"That's the plan"
"Look" she snapped, stopping him with all her strength before he could step forward and continue his relentless beatings, "I hate being the voice of reason here because, let's face it, when am I ever reasonable, but this is ridiculous. He's not the Alpha"
Derek exhaled a quick puff of air through his nose, his fists still clenched at his sides, his eyes briefly flashing a bright blue.
"He could be"
"How?" she exclaimed, glancing at the poor guy unconscious on the floor, "he's bleeding and unconscious. Plus, he didn't put up much of a fight"
"You know we don't heal the same when we're unconscious" Derek argued, "he could be deliberately not letting himself heal to throw us off"
"Or, humour me-" she rolled her eyes, finally dropping her grip from his chest, "-you were wrong"
He looked at her, bordering on offended, "I'm not wrong. He was lying. I heard his heartbeat"
"Yeah, 'cause he was scared shitless. Derek-"
He cut her off, waving his arm out, "go find some rope. I'm tying him up"
He didn't let her speak, pushing her to the side as he bent down to pick the veterinarian up and place him on a plastic chair, putting him in the middle of the room.
She knew Derek, like all Hales, were stubborn and unrelenting, not willing to trust something so easily so did as he asked, searching through the drawers until she came across some thin white rope and passed it to Derek who quickly secured the guys hands behind the back of the computer chair.
"Great plan" she remarked sarcastically, "now what?"
"We wait for him to wake up"
She noticed the poor guy was completely out of it, his head lulling against his chest, a deep cut scraped along his cheek and blood pooling across the side of his head.
"Why? So you can punch him some more?"
He sent her an unamused glare, "do you ever stop talking?"
"No"
He rolled his eyes, standing in the corner of the room as he glared at the veterinarian with suspicious, steely eyes. On edge and clearly waiting for him to wake up and transform into some ugly, monsterous, big bad werewolf.
"Scott's going to be furious" she smirked, "dude loves his boss"
"Will he still love him if he finds out he turned him against his will and tried to kill all his friends?"
"Depends how much he wants a father figure in his life"
Derek rolled his eyes, pointing to the tied up man, "he's involved somehow, I just know it"
"If you're wrong about this, you'll be thrown in jail again"
"That's a risk I'm willing to take"
"Is that your kink?" she joked, "getting tied up"
He threw her a dirty look through the darkened room, clearly not in the mood to be joking around.
"Top tip - remove that stick from your ass. You're already getting frown marks and I don't know how well werewolves take to Botox"
He still never responded, his jaw clenched and his lips in a thin line.
"Nevermind" she mumbled with an eye roll, "clearly I'm just talking to myself"
They stayed in silence for the next ten minutes, both hovering in a state of anxiousness as they waited to see if Derek was right - if this stranger was, in fact, the Alpha.
Eventually though, Derek sighed. His gaze somewhat softer and curious as he looked up at her.
"You don't get any feelings off him, do you?"
She shook her head, not getting any strange of familiar vibes from the veterinarian - something Derek thought she may do, considering the Alpha had formed a 'connection' with her.
"He could be hiding it" he said, deep in thought.
"Is that possible to do?"
"Yes" he nodded his head, making her worst nightmare come true - that her intuition wasn't reliable. That she could come across the Alpha in human form and be none the wiser. And, for whatever reason, when he confirmed that, her brain went straight to her Uncle Peter.
"About Peter..." she started hesitantly, not really sure what she was trying to say, "when uh... when exactly did he start getting better?"
"It's not him"
"I didn't say it was"
"You implied it"
"I was just asking a question" she huffed, "don't bite my head off"
"If it was him, I'd know" Derek said quietly, "and he's not left that hospital in nearly six years. I check his records"
"Okay" she sighed, too fed up to argue with her cousin just as the veterinarian started to stir, wincing as he began to open his eyes and look around.
Kayla stayed back by the door, folding her arms across her chest as she supervised Derek... y'know, just to stop him from killing the poor guy.
"Oh god... oh god..."
"Are you protecting someone?"
"Look, the key to the drugs cabinet is in my pocket. Take whatever you want"
"I don't want drugs. I want to know why you're lying"
"Derek" she warned, watching him begin to shake with anger, approaching the veterinarian with malicious intent, "cool it"
"I don't know what you're talking about-ah" he exclaimed fearfully as Derek grabbed the arms of the chair and picked him up, his feet dangling off the floor, "what are you doing to me? What do you want?"
"Derek" she chastised yet again, stepping forward and grabbing the chair from behind and pulling it to the floor, "you want to use violence? That's fine by me. But use it on someone that deserves it. I really don't think he's the Alpha"
He was glaring at her from over the top of Dr Deaton's head, his hands still clenched around the arms of the chair as if he was getting ready to throw it, where as she held onto the back of it, using all her strength to stop Derek from tossing him like a rag doll like she knew he wanted to. She simply matched his glare with one of her own, her expression tight with warning.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
Both she and Derek turned their fiery stares to the source of the unexpected voice: Scott McCall.
"My sentiments exactly" she grumbled, still gripping the back of the chair as Scott rushed into the room, "apparently my cousin likes getting himself arrested"
"Scott, get out of here" Derek demanded, sending a punch careening towards Dr Deaton and knocking him unconscious, "and take her with you"
"Her?" she butted in, cocking an unamused brow at Derek, "her?"
"I know what I'm doing" Derek ground out, "trust me"
"Trust you?" Scott scoffed, "look at what you're doing"
"Look, when he's conscious, he can keep himself from healing, but unconscious, it's much more difficult"
Scott threw her a confused look, clearly very way out of the loop.
"What the hell is he talking about?"
"He thinks he's the Alpha" Kayla rolled her eyes, much to Scott's alarm, "I think he's wrong. Wanna join in on the bet?"
Scott's jaw dropped, turning his gaze to Derek.
"It's not him"
"We don't know that for certain" Derek insisted, "you want to know what the spiral means, Scott? It's our sign for a vendetta, for revenge. It means he won't stop killing until he's satisfied. If it's him-" he continued, turning his glare down to the terrified veterinarian, "-he's responsible for a lot of deaths. We need to find out"
Derek raised his fist, clearly very eager to prove his point by beating the veterinarian close to death but before he could, Scott suddenly grabbed his arm in a vice like grip. Both she and Derek looked at Scott in alarm, seeing him fully transformed: his claws sharp and digging into Derek's arm, thick dark hair having suddenly sprouted from his jaw and face, fangs sharp and eyes a brilliant glowing amber.
She smirked, knowing Scott had it in him to control what many others couldn't, using his strength to snarl at Derek before pushing him away from Dr Deaton.
Derek, however, wasn't that trusting. He grabbed her arm, pulling her back and away from Scott, like he thought the teenager was going to completely lose it and go ape shit, tearing apart everyone in sight.
She rolled her eyes at Derek's paranoia, pointing to Scott who was already starting to transform back.
"Relax" she scoffed, "he's in control and I'm not a porcelain doll"
Scott turned his furious stare to Derek, "hit him again, then you'll see me really get angry"
Both males were locked in an intense harsh glare, both as stubborn and unrelenting as the other.
"Do you want me to get a tape measurer?" she smirked with an eye roll, "y'know... for this dick measuring competition, or whatever this is"
Scott sent one last warning glare to Derek before moving towards the drawers and getting some sterile wipes and some tissues, hurrying back to his boss to clear the blood from his face and tend to his wounds.
"Why did you let him do this?" Scott murmured, a little hurt and betrayed as she shot her a quick glance, "he could've killed him"
"I wouldn't let that happen" she said, "but, unfortunately, this was the one lead he had. We had to check it out"
Derek, as inpatient as ever, had started huffing along with his persistent pacing, not liking the time Scott was taking looking after his boss and barged towards them.
"Do you have a plan?"
"... Give me an hour"
"To do what?"
Scott sighed, "to prove its not him. Meet me at the school parking lot"
She could tell Derek was furious, his expression tight and exasperated with the younger werewolf before turning his stare to Kayla.
"I want you to go with Scott. Keep an eye on him" he instructed, talking about the poor guy as if he wasn't even there, "make sure his plan doesn't suck"
"Excuse me" she muttered, "you can't boss me around like that"
"I can, and I just did" Derek replied sharply before turning back to Scott, "but I'm keeping the vet"
"Hop on"
Kayla simply quirked a brow at Scott who was already sitting on his bike, ready and raring to go.
"You want me to sit on your handlebars?" she asked dubiously, "what are we, 10?"
"Uh... sorry. I haven't saved up enough for a motorbike yet"
"I'll just Uber it"
"We don't have time Kayla. Derek agreed to an hour. After that, Deaton could be in real danger"
She knew she didn't have much of a choice, giving in and making her way over to Scott and his bike who, bless him, offered her his one and only helmet.
"I'll be fine" she smiled, climbing onto the bars, "just don't crash. Remember, I don't heal like you do"
"I'll try not to"
He took off, pedalling quickly down the road as he leaned around her to see, expertly dodging parked cars and traffic.
"Where are we going anyway?" she asked through the rush of wind whipping her hair around her face, shaking her head to try and clear her vision but was unable to use her hands, her fingers already gripping the handlebars underneath her for balance.
"Stiles'" Scott shouted back, much to her surprise.
"Why?"
"Because he has tools"
"He is a tool" she grumbled under her breath, knowing Scott could still hear her.
"Plus he has a jeep" Scott added, "if things go badly, we need a getaway car"
"That thing looks unsafe travelling at any speed above 40" she said sarcastically, "if things go tits up, I'm running"
She could feel Scott was wanting to say something, sending him hesitate from behind her as his pedalling became a little less quick and forceful.
"Spit it out Scott" she said, throwing him a look over her shoulder as he sent her a surprised look, trying to look innocent.
"What?"
"I know you want to say something, so say it"
"Uh..."
"Oh, c'mon" she smirked, "unlike the rest of my family, I don't bite"
"It's just... I... I've known Stiles since kindergarten" he began to ramble, "and I've only ever seen him care about Lydia. For years, she was all he spoke about. Lydia this and Lydia that-"
"Scott" she interrupted in frustration, her tone sharp and snippy, "if you have a point, I would suggest getting to it - quickly"
"Right. Uh..." he turned a corner unexpectedly, nearly making her slip but he grabbed her waist, pushing her back upright, "... I guess I'm just trying to say that he's different now. He doesn't speak about Lydia the same anymore. I don't even think he thinks about her all that much. Not since you got here"
"Look, Scott, I appreciate you trying to be his wingman or whatever, but it's not about Stiles. It's about me. I don't do relationships"
"I just think you two would be really good together and-"
"Really?" she chuckled, "you don't think I'd be too much for him?"
"Well..." Scott muttered awkwardly, "maybe. But totally in a good way. He clearly likes very dominant women"
She smirked, shaking her head and focusing back on the road as Scott turned another corner and cycled up Stiles' street, reaching his house and turning into his driveway.
Stiles was already out and waiting by his jeep, his expression suddenly turning to panic when he saw her. Clearly, Scott forgot to mention that little tid bit.
The bike began to slow, Scott pulling the brakes a little too hard so she lost her balance and slipped from the handlebars, face planting the concrete.
"Oh my god" Scott exclaimed, profusely apologising as he dumped his bike, ready to run over and help her up but, to her astonishment, the hands interlinking with hers to help her stand wasn't Scott's, but was in fact Stiles'.
She didn't notice at first, ready to cuss him out for his disasterous riding but, when she looked up, her annoyed expression immediately fizzled out as she realised just how close they were standing, their noses just inches apart.
Her mouth was already half open ready for a few choice words for Scott, her jaw suddenly stuck in place as his deep brown eyes, soft and magnetic, held her stare for what felt like minutes, his concerned gaze locking her in place.
She didn't know why but she felt herself softening, not wanting to pull away her hands from his reassuring grip. Unable to move or even think of something to say, suddenly feeling suspended in time. She didn't realise before, but his brown gaze was more of a melted caramel, flecks of gold swimming in his stare. It was mesmerising - almost captivating to watch.
'No Kayla' she thought to herself, 'don't do this. Not now. Not with him. Don't you let yourself let him in'
But it was like over hearing Stiles admit he liked her was a catalyst to her suddenly feeling a lot more than lust and attraction, something she hadn't felt in a long long time... or ever. Maybe not anything close to this level of spontaneity or intensity in her entire life.
Her gaze moved downwards, tracing the curves of his face until she was focused on his lips, watching the way they quivered a little, the tip of his tongue darting out to quickly wetten them.
She remembered what they tasted like... how they felt... how they were warm and soft and perfectly fitted with her own. In that second, wanting to close the gap and capture them with her own, quelling the neediness that burned through her.
"Uh... guys...?"
Scott's voice sounded muffled and isolated, like he was calling out to them from miles away but it did cause her to blink and softly shake her head, breaking her gaze from him.
Oh no... oh no... oh no...
She swallowed past the sudden tightening of her throat, pulling her hands from Stiles' hold and glancing at Scott, forcing her expression to be calm and neutral.
"Your braking needs some work" she said flatly, ignoring the sudden awkwardness that had erupted between all three of them - hers and Stiles because of the, now, very obvious tension brewing and Scott, feeling like he had just interrupted something personal and private.
"Uh... yeah, sorry" Scott apologised, his wondering stare flitting between her and Stiles, "I uh... I forgot how dodgy they were"
She could feel Stiles hovering next to her, his anxious energy infiltrating her space so she simply side stepped, putting a few feet of distance between them but daren't meet his stare, not sure what she would feel or find if she did.
"So, what's the plan?" she asked, folding her arms, "are you going to tell me now or...?"
"Right. Um..." Scott muttered, turning his stare to Stiles, "did you get the stuff I asked for?"
Stiles remained silent, simply letting out a squeak of agreement which she assumed was a 'yes', resisting a roll of her eyes.
"Good. Uh... we're going to break into the school"
She frowned, not understanding what his possible plan could be, "why?"
"Derek says I'm linked to the Alpha, right? Well, I can prove the Alpha isn't my boss by getting him to come to me. I just need the school's PA system"
At first, she honestly thought it was a joke. An ill mannered, badly timed joke which was definitely her favourite kind. She started laughing, chuckling away to herself as she pointed at Scott.
"Okay, now that's funny. Thanks for the laugh" she smirked, "so what's your real plan?"
Scott's face dropped, his already nervous and anxious look becoming crestfallen.
"Uh... that-that is my real plan"
She waited an extra few seconds for good measure, giving him time to tell her he was simply having her on, twisting her arm, yanking her chain - whatever - because there was no way he could be that stupid, right?
A few seconds came and went, Scott's face getting more and more scared and she finally realised he wasn't kidding. That was his actual plan.
"Well that's fucking stupid" she declared, not beating around the bush, "do you have a death wish?"
"Thank you" Stiles exclaimed breathlessly, the first words she had heard him speak since they got here, "it's a terrible idea"
"It will work"
"Yeah, it probably will" she half heartedly agreed, "if the plan is getting us all killed"
She slapped him upside the head, sending his floppy hair flying, letting him know just how stupid she thought - or rather knew - the plan was.
"Ow"
"You deserved that for you stupid ideas" she said, "seriously Scott, what the hell? You're going to call him out of hiding and - do what? Chit chat over tea and biscuits?"
"If I don't do something then Derek's going to kill my boss" Scott argued, "and we don't have time to think of anything else"
"Well, do you at least have weapons?"
"Uh... I think I have a bat somewhere-"
"Real weapons" she emphasised, interrupting Stiles as she cocked a brow at Scott, "because the Alpha will have real claws and real fangs"
The overwhelming silence was, very clearly, an outstanding 'no'.
"Great. Well-" she exclaimed sarcastically, clapping her hands together, "-have fun dying"
She turned on her heel and started to walk away, completely disinterested in this so called 'plan' but her conscience seemed to get the better of her, really not wanting her new found friends to die. It was hard enough for her to make decent friends, she couldn't really give up the ones she had just found to be tolerable.
She hadn't gotten far, just a few steps forward before she groaned and turned around, sighing loudly.
"If I don't come with y'all you'll definitely die" she muttered, rolling her eyes, "because this plan is ridiculously stupid"
"You've said"
"And I'll say it again" she replied to Scott, "this plan is ridiculously stupid and we're all probably going to die"
"It's a chance I have to take"
"Yeah yeah, superman, I get it" she rolled her eyes as she walked back towards them, pointing to the rusty jeep, "we doing this or what?"
She really didn't like this plan.
She thought there was a thousand better ideas than this if Scott would've just given them longer to think of one, but obviously he wasn't too eager to trust his boss' life in Derek's hands.
She couldn't blame him really... Derek did come across as untrustworthy and murderous, the leather jacket probably not helping that image, but she still couldn't help but think how ridiculous this was. Basically inviting the Alpha to come and tear them apart. Did no one in this town have any self preservation instincts at all?
She stayed mostly silent in the back of the jeep, watching Stiles and Scott bicker back and forth about the plan that - thankfully - at least Stiles thought was stupid too. Glad they could agree one one thing at least.
Several times she could feel his eyes hovering on her through the wing mirror but every time she glanced up he quickly looked away, reverting back to the epitome of awkwardness.
She didn't bother calling him out on his weird behaviour, finding herself being a little awkward too. God - she hated this side of her. Why did she have to have feelings? She didn't want them. She would rather just lock them up in a box and throw away the damn key.
Five minutes later they got to the school, skidding into the parking lot. She clambered over the seats yet again, getting out Scott's side who held the door open for her.
"If this plan gets us killed" Stiles warned, walking around to open the back door of his jeep, "I'm going to be severely pissed"
"Well, have you thought of anything better on the drive here?" Scott asked.
"Well, personally, I'm a fan of ignoring a problem until it eventually goes away"
"Yeah, we're aware" she muttered bitterly, her tone sarcastic and unamused and he simply swallowed back his embarrassment, turning his attention to the boot of his car where he grabbed the tools needed.
Just then, Derek appeared, speeding to park behind them.
"Does the plan suck?" Derek asked, climbing out the car and looking at her.
"The plans sucks" she confirmed, much to Scott's dismay, "and we're probably all going to die"
"Great" Derek muttered, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he walked over.
"Wait... where's my boss?"
Derek rolled his eyes, "he's in the back"
All three of them leaned to the side to see in Derek's back windows, seeing the veterinarian unconscious and tied up, duct tape across his mouth.
"Oh, well, he looks comfortable" Stiles muttered sarcastically.
"Better than his throat ripped out" she chimed in, ignoring the way Stiles' stare lingered on her, "you didn't rip his throat out, did you?"
"Of course I didn't"
"Okay, phew, just checking"
"Wait, where are you going?" Derek called out, watching Scott and Stiles make their way to the school.
"You said I'm linked with the Alpha, right? Well, I'm going to test that"
"Seriously, don't ask" she rolled her eyes as Derek looked at her in wondering, his eyebrow cocked. The idea too stupid to even say out loud.
"Uh... wait, um... K-Kayla...?"
To her surprise, it was Stiles' voice calling out to her, having turned back around to look at her, practically buzzing with nervous energy.
She was too surprised with his ability to even speak to her, especially in front of Derek, that she looked over, meeting his gaze.
"Um... can you, y'know, make sure your cousin doesn't perform any maiming or killing while we're gone?"
His expression was soft and gentle, clearly still nervous as he held her stare, skittishly licking his lips and she didn't know what to say back. Well, she did, but she couldn't find the words, hating the fact she was looking at him through new eyes.
Before, she didn't let herself look at him like anything more than a friend. Happy to flirt and toy with his sexual buttons, knowing exactly what ones to push, but these last few hours things were changing and she didn't know how to handle that.
She stared at him for a little longer than necessary, using everything in her to try and separate the feelings from the logic, nodding her head slightly.
"Sure" she muttered, "I'll kick his ass if need be"
For a second, she was sure she saw a playful smirk play on his lips before it had disappeared, replaced by that usual expression of anxious wondering, prying his eyes away from her and shaking his head, clumsily following Scott up the steps to the school.
She watched them for a few seconds, feeling this slight tug from inside her chest, something close to worry as they left, but shook it away and turned back to Derek who was narrowing his eyes at her, one eyebrow quirked in knowing.
"What?" she asked self consciously, feeling a little hesitant and flustered under his gaze - something she had never felt... ever.
"You know what" he said, "really? Stilinski?"
She could hear the disapproval in his voice, tight with distaste and judgement, his protective instincts ramping up a notch or two - or more like a hundred.
"No" she scoffed, trying to ignore the sudden thundering of her heart, "it's not like that"
"It better not be"
"Jeez, thanks for the disapproval dad" she mocked, "just because I don't have a dad anymore - y'know, 'cause he's dead - that doesn't mean I need another thank you very much"
"I'm just looking out for you"
"Well don't" she snapped, "it's annoying as hell. And FYI - I don't need your approval on who I want to fuck, okay?!"
His forehead creased, his eyebrows rising higher into his hairline.
"So first it's 'it's not like that' and now it's 'I want to fuck him'"
She shot him a glare, "back off"
Derek stayed silent for a few moments, leaning against Stiles' jeep, deep in thought, his thick brows furrowed in contemplation.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there to look out for you" he finally said, scuffing his feet along the tarmac, "during that year. I should've stepped up and been there for you"
Her relationship with Derek had its up and downs, but regardless, they were family and they were loyal to each other. Her fond memories of him far out weighed the bad, but despite that, she didn't realise how much bitterness she had been holding onto until he apologised.
"My mistakes were my own Derek" she said, "I'm a big girl. I'm responsible for myself"
"I know that" he sighed, "but I still should've been there"
"But you weren't" she snapped, "I lost my family - again - and you weren't there. You went back to New York"
"And I regret that"
"So, what? You're now the 'guardian' of my purity?" she ridiculed, "but just in case you didn't get the memo, I'm not all that pure. So chill"
The silence that had followed their tense exchange of words was broken by something caught between a shriek and a squeal screeching it's way over the PA system.
Derek groaned, dropping his head, "you've got to be kidding me"
"He sounded like his balls just dropped" she snorted, rolling her eyes, "you really need to do better at teaching him this werewolf thing"
"I'm trying"
"Then try harder before he gets ripped to shreds"
Their silence resumed, both leaning against the jeep as just a couple minutes later an earth shattering, ear ringing roar exploded from the speakers, loud enough to send a wave of terror down her spine. The sound, dangerous and all consuming, was a signal - a call to the Alpha.
She gulped, stepping away from the jeep and looking around nervously, trying to ignore the tingle of warning from the back of her neck.
"Idiots" Derek exclaimed in fury, "they could've alerted every werewolf in a hundred mile radius"
"Yeah... told you their plan sucked" she grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest to protect her from the chill of the night air, her bare arms and legs starting to tingle from the cold.
But something, something sinister, began creeping it's way inside her... a feeling of murderous rage, just like before in detention. The pit of her stomach screaming at her that something dangerous was coming.
She gulped, reaching out to grab a fistful of Derek's leather jacket, using it as a lifeline to tether herself to reality, a way to remind herself that this rage she was feeling wasn't her own.
"Derek... he's coming" she whispered, "the Alpha..."
Derek's posture immediately changed, stiffening into a defensive stance as he pushed her behind him, his gaze surveying the tree line.
It was too late though. She just knew - somehow - that he was here already, stalking and watching them from a distance.
"He's here..."
Then, just like earlier, that blinding rage suddenly erupted inside her, the pain in her head becoming all intense and all consuming but she couldn't fight it, quickly falling victim to its poison. The rush of vengeance souring through her very soul.
'How dare they all. How dare are they ruin us'
Fury like no other burned bright inside her, the thirst for revenge acting like a venom inside her as all she saw was red, turning to Derek and grabbing him, spinning him around and sending a well aimed punch careening to his jawline.
'Vengeance is ours'
A/N) yay another chapter haha lots of building going on, and the awkwardness between them is so cute and Kayla having the realisation of liking Stiles is something I can't wait to keep building on, especially in my favourite episode of season one - night school. Yay. And SHE WANTED TO KISS HIM AGAIN AHHHH... anyways; Thank you so much for reading and I hope you all liked and please please review and I will see you all soon :)