Lila sat on the couch in the McCall house, her knees pulled to her chest as the faint hum in her head persisted. It was quieter now, like a distant whisper, but it was still there—a constant reminder that Stiles was out there, waiting for her. The pack moved around her, voices rising and falling as they discussed their next move, but it all felt like background noise.

"Lila," Lydia's voice broke through her haze, soft but firm. Her twin sat beside her, concern etched into her features. "Are you okay?"

"No," Lila admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "He was so close, Lydia. I saw him. I almost had him."

Lydia placed a hand on her arm, grounding her. "We'll get him back. I promise."

The front door opened, and Scott walked in, his expression a mix of determination and exhaustion. "Deaton's looking into other ways to strengthen the connection. He thinks there might be a ritual we can try, but it's risky."

Lila straightened, her heart racing. "What kind of ritual?"

Scott hesitated, glancing at Lydia before answering. "It involves amplifying the Nemeton's energy. We'd need to channel power from multiple sources—your banshee abilities, Lydia's, and my alpha power. But it could drain us."

"I don't care," Lila said quickly. "If it gets him back, I'll do it."

Lydia nodded, her jaw tightening. "We'll all do it."

Later That Night

The pack gathered at the McCall house to prepare for the ritual. Derek had returned from a scouting mission, his presence adding a sense of stability to the group. He stood near the table, arms crossed as he watched Lila with a concerned gaze.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" he asked, his voice low.

"I don't have a choice," Lila said, meeting his eyes. "If we don't do this now, I might lose him forever."

Derek nodded, his expression softening slightly. "You're stronger than you think, Lila. You can do this."

"Thanks," she said, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her. "But I'm not doing it alone."

She glanced around the room at the pack—Scott, Lydia, Malia, Liam, Derek, and even Stiles' dad, Sheriff Stilinski, who had come to support them despite not fully understanding what was happening. They were all here for her, for Stiles, and that gave her the strength to keep going.

The Ritual

The pack returned to the Nemeton under a starless sky. The air was thick with tension as they arranged themselves around the ancient tree, their faces lit by the faint glow of lanterns.

"Remember," Scott said, his voice calm but commanding. "This is going to take everything we've got. Stay focused, and don't let go."

Lila and Lydia placed their hands on the Nemeton, the hum in Lila's head spiking instantly. She closed her eyes, focusing on the vibration, letting it guide her.

"Ready?" Scott asked, his alpha eyes glowing as he placed his hands on the tree.

"Ready," Lydia said, her voice steady.

"Let's do this," Lila whispered.

The Nemeton began to glow, its energy pulsing in waves that sent chills down Lila's spine. The hum in her head grew louder, almost deafening, as the connection to Stiles began to take shape.

Stiles' Perspective

In the train station, Stiles sat on the cold, metal bench, staring at the endless tracks stretching into the void. He'd lost track of how long he'd been there, his hope fading with each passing moment.

But then, something changed. A faint warmth spread through the air, and the shadows around him flickered.

"Lila?" he whispered, standing abruptly. The warmth grew stronger, and he felt a pull, like an invisible thread connecting him to something—or someone.

"Hold on," he murmured to himself, his heart racing. "I'm not letting go."

The Breakthrough

At the Nemeton, Lila felt the connection solidify, and for a moment, she saw him. Stiles stood in the middle of the train station, his face pale but determined.

"Stiles!" she screamed, her voice breaking. "I'm here!"

He turned, his eyes widening as he saw her. "Lila! Don't let go!"

The energy around the Nemeton surged, and Lila reached out, her fingers brushing against the vision of Stiles. For a brief moment, it felt like he was right there, solid and real.

But then the glow around the Nemeton flickered, and the connection began to waver.

"No!" Lila cried, her hands gripping the tree tighter. "I'm not letting go!"

Scott growled, his alpha roar shaking the air as he poured more energy into the connection. "We're not losing him!"

The Nemeton flared brightly, and suddenly, Stiles' voice echoed through the clearing.

"Lila!" he shouted, his voice raw with desperation.

And then, just as quickly as it began, the glow faded, leaving the clearing in silence.

Aftermath

Lila collapsed to the ground, her breathing ragged as tears streamed down her face. "He was there," she whispered. "I touched him."

Scott knelt beside her, his hand on her shoulder. "We're getting closer. We'll try again."

Lydia helped Lila to her feet, her expression fierce. "We're not giving up. We're bringing him back."

Lila nodded, her resolve hardening despite her exhaustion. The hum in her head was quieter now, but it was still there—a reminder that Stiles was waiting.

And she wasn't going to stop until he was home.

The night air outside the McCall house was cool and quiet, a stark contrast to the storm of emotions swirling inside Lila. She sat on the porch steps, staring at the faint glow of the streetlamp down the road. Her hands fidgeted with the charm bracelet Stiles had given her, the small heart charm dangling between her fingers like a lifeline. The hum in her head was still there, a faint, persistent reminder that Stiles was out there—somewhere.

The sound of the screen door creaking open pulled her from her thoughts. She turned to see Derek stepping outside, his dark eyes soft as they met hers.

"Hey," he said, his voice low but steady. "Mind if I join you?"

She shook her head, scooting over slightly to make room. "Go ahead."

Derek sat down beside her, his broad shoulders tense as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. They sat in silence for a moment, the faint rustling of leaves filling the quiet space between them.

"You've been through a lot," Derek said finally, his tone careful. "More than anyone should have to handle."

Lila let out a bitter laugh, her fingers tightening around the bracelet. "I don't even know what 'a lot' means anymore. Stiles is out there, Derek. I know he is. I saw him. I touched him. But every time I get close, it's like… like he's slipping away."

Derek nodded, his jaw tightening. "I know what it feels like to lose someone. To feel like you're not doing enough to bring them back."

She looked at him, her eyes filling with tears. "What if I can't do it? What if I can't bring him back?"

"You can," Derek said firmly, turning to face her. "You're stronger than you think, Lila. You've already done more than anyone else could. You're holding onto him when everyone else has let go. That says something."

Lila wiped at her eyes, her voice trembling. "I just… I can't lose him, Derek. I can't. He means everything to me."

Derek's expression softened, and he reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You're not going to lose him. You're not alone in this, Lila. We're all here for you. And when the time comes, we'll bring him back together."

She nodded, her tears falling freely now. "Thanks, Derek. For being here."

He gave her a small, rare smile. "Always."

They sat together in silence for a while, the weight of the world momentarily eased by the quiet comfort of each other's presence. For the first time in days, Lila allowed herself to breathe, the steady strength of Derek's support grounding her in a way she hadn't realized she needed.

Stiles was still out there, waiting for her. And with Derek's reassurance, Lila knew she wouldn't stop fighting until she brought him home.