《Protector of the Night (Teen Wolf Fanfic)》


 1. WOLF MOON

    "I still don''t get why we had to move to the middle of nowhere!".


    I carefully placed my Harry Potter book collection on the shelf.


    "It''s not the middle of nowhere - we''re still in California.", my brother Kai replied casually, settling onto the bed.


    "Kai, you''re not helping.", I groaned, moving to the window.


    Through the glass, I could see the forest stretching into our backyard. It wasn''t the Golden Gate Bridge, but I hoped the change of scenery might bring some peace.


    "Hey, you didn''t have to come with me," Kai said softly.


    I sighed, slumping into a chair. He was right. I could''ve stayed in San Francisco, but I couldn''t bear the thought of losing him too.


    "Do you think she''ll be okay? Without us? Without you?".


    "Lor... She has Aunt Amelia. She''ll be fine.".


    Our family had never been normal. Dad disappeared when Kai was ten and I was five. Mom blamed me for it - for everything, really. She hated me from the start, or so it seemed.


    "We''ve got an early start tomorrow.", Kai said, snapping me back to the present.


    "You''ve got an appointment at the hospital right after school. I''ll pick you up at 3 p.m. sharp. And don''t forget your pills.", he placed a small orange bottle on my nightstand.


    "Yeah, yeah.".


    "Lor, I''m serious. Remember last time?".


    I rolled my eyes, "I get it, jeez."


    When I was three, I started having intense nightmares. The doctors called them night terrors. Sometimes I''d sleepwalk - once, I ended up in the neighbour''s yard, another time, at the library. Dad was always the one who calmed me down. Mom, though... patience wasn''t her thing.


    The night terrors didn''t stop as I got older. In fact, they morphed into vivid, waking hallucinations. The diagnosis: a mild case of schizophrenia. The treatment: stronger meds, worse side effects, and mounting anxiety.


    Kai was my only lifeline. School was a nightmare too, thanks to my nickname - Loony Lorelai. I pretended not to care; Luna Lovegood was my favourite character, after all.


    When Kai''s boss relocated him to Beacon Hills, I saw my chance to escape. Mom didn''t want him to leave, but when he said I''d be going with him, she didn''t even argue.


    "Get some sleep, okay?", Kai said, his tone gentle.


    I nodded as he handed me a glass of water and left, closing the door quietly behind him. I changed into my pyjamas and stared at the bottle of blue pills on my nightstand. One skipped dose wouldn''t hurt, right? After two years of religiously taking them, I deserved a break. I tucked the bottle away, convinced tomorrow would be fine without them.


    ¡Þ¡Þ¡Þ


    "You have to help them!".


    "They need you!".


    "He''s here!".


    "RUN!".


    Gasping for air, I jolted awake, heart pounding as the voices dissolved into the night. It had been a while since my last intense episode. Sitting up, I shivered as a cold breeze carried the scent of wet grass.


    Blinking, I realized I wasn''t in my bed. Instead, I found myself surrounded by the towering trees of the Beacon Hills Preserve. I must have sleepwalked here. Barefoot and freezing, I stumbled upright, feeling a mix of dizziness and dread.


    No shoes. No phone. No way to get home before dawn. Panic clawed at me as I scanned the shadowy forest for a road or landmark. The wind picked up, urging me forward. I started to jog, the looming shadows taking monstrous shapes in my mind. My pulse quickened until I broke into a run.


    Distracted, I didn''t see the protruding root until it was too late. I tripped, crashing hard into a ditch. Pain shot through my hands and knees, but worse was the chill that ran down my spine when I realized I wasn''t alone.


    A girl lay motionless, her glossy eyes wide open, her mouth frozen in a silent scream.


    "What the f-".


    My breath caught in my throat. Whether it was real or another hallucination, I couldn''t tell. I scrambled back, pushing myself off the soil and bolting away. My heart raced as I fled blindly through the forest, not even noticing the figure I slammed into.


    "Oh my god! I think you broke my chest bone!", a male voice wheezed.


    Staggering backward, I felt another hand grip my arm. I shoved it away with a burst of adrenaline.


    "Hey, it''s okay! We''re not going to hurt you!", said another male voice, calm and reassuring.


    Finally, I looked up. Two boys stood before me, both around my age. One had shaggy brown hair and a crooked jaw. The other was pale, with a buzz cut and a wary expression.


    "Hello?", the pale one said, waving a hand in front of my face.


    "What are you doing in the woods? At this hour? Did you see anything? Anyone?".


    "Stiles!" the other boy snapped.


    Their behavior screamed suspicion, but I was too shaken to care. I just wanted to go home - away from the dead girl and whatever else lurked in the shadows.


    "I''m sorry about him. I''m Scott.", the shaggy-haired boy said, offering his hand.


    Reluctantly, I took it, "Lorelai. I, uh, went for a late-night walk and got lost.".


    "Without shoes? In Batman pajamas?", Stiles asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "Last-minute decision.", I muttered, brushing dirt off my legs.


    Before Stiles could press further, barking dogs and flashlight beams lit up the forest. Without a word, Stiles bolted.


    "Wait up! Stiles!", Scott called, motioning for me to follow.


    We ran after him, but Stiles soon got cornered by a large dog. Scott pulled me behind a tree, signaling me to stay quiet.


    "This little delinquent belongs to me!", a man''s voice boomed.


    Scott and I stayed hidden until the conversation faded. When it was safe, he emerged and helped me up.


    "Come on, I''ll help you get home.", he said.


    Though every warning about stranger danger echoed in my mind, something about Scott''s demeanor felt trustworthy.


    "So, you''re new around here?", he asked as we trekked through the woods.


    "Yeah, my brother''s work required us to move.".


    "What does he do?"


    "Not entirely sure. Security, maybe? Could be lying.", I said with a shrug.


    Scott chuckled but didn''t press further. Despite the night''s chaos, I felt a sliver of comfort having made my first connection in Beacon Hills. But a nagging voice in my head wondered how long it would last.


    We walked in comfortable silence until Scott paused, pulling out an inhaler. He stared into the dark ahead, his body tense.


    "What is it?" I asked, my voice, barely a whisper.


    "Not sure... Something''s out there.".


    The trees swayed, and suddenly, a herd of deer stampeded toward us, their eyes wild with fear.


    "Run!", Scott shouted, grabbing my arm.


    We tried to dodge the rushing animals but fell hard. My head slammed against a rock, and warmth trickled down my temple. Dazed, I pushed myself into a sitting position, blood dripping onto my pajama top.


    "Lorelai, are you okay?", Scott asked, crawling toward me.


    "I think so... You?".


    He nodded but looked alarmed as he examined my injury, "You need a hospital.".


    Before I could respond, a low growl made us both freeze. An enormous animal - too large for a fox, too muscular for a coyote - emerged from the shadows, its red eyes glowing.


    "Scott...", I whispered, my throat tightening.


    He turned slowly, his face pale. The beast snarled, its fangs bared. Without warning, it lunged. I shoved Scott aside as the creature''s eyes locked onto mine. For a moment, it hesitated, sniffing the air. Then, hearing Scott''s shout from behind, it whipped around and charged after him.


    Heart hammering, I prayed Scott could outrun it. If he didn''t, at least he''d be able to tell someone where to find me. Then my mind circled back to the dead girl. Who would find her?


    I tried to stand, but dizziness overwhelmed me. My vision blurred, and my body felt heavy. Just before I lost consciousness, I heard a voice - soft, panicked, and vaguely familiar.


    "Oh god... You''re not supposed to be here...".


    And then, darkness.


    ¡Þ¡Þ¡Þ


    "Ow..."


    I woke up the next morning with a throbbing headache and an aching body. I was back in my bed, my fingers tightly gripping the small pouch Aunt Amelia had given me before we left San Francisco. It contained lavender, chamomile, and sage leaves, and she had specifically instructed me to place it beneath my pillow to help me sleep.


    Swinging my feet to the floor, I blinked through the fog clouding my brain, trying to piece together the events of last night. That''s when my gaze landed on my torn, blood-stained clothing, still clinging to me like a second skin.


    The memories came crashing down, and my stomach churned violently. I barely made it to the bathroom before I was heaving, emptying the contents of the past two days.


    After splashing cold water on my face, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror. My pale olive skin looked almost ghostly, and the angry, bloody bruise on the right side of my temple stood out like a sore thumb.


    My stomach twisted again, and I leaned over the toilet, retching once more. The sound of hurried footsteps followed by banging on the bathroom door pulled me from my haze.


    "Lor... Are you alright?", Kai''s concerned voice came through the wood.


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    "Yeah...", I croaked, wiping my mouth.


    I jumped into the shower, scrubbing my skin raw as I tried to make sense of the fragments in my head. How had I gotten home? Who brought me back? And Scott - was he okay?


    The questions gnawed at me as I pulled on a plain dark blue T-shirt, black jeans, and a black cardigan, finishing with white sneakers. I wasn''t one for flashy outfits - comfort was key. Carefully, I let my hair fall over the bruised side of my face before slipping on a baseball cap, hoping to hide the evidence of last night.


    "That''s an interesting choice of clothing...", Kai quipped before raising his cup of coffee to his mouth.


    "Bite me.", I rolled my eyes, instantly regretting my choice of words.


    Grabbing my lunch box off the table, I stuffed it into my bag. Kai gulped down the last of his drink and placed the cup in the sink. His sandy blonde hair, deep blue eyes, and sharp jawline were mirror images of Mom. I, on the other hand, took after Dad - dark brown hair, green eyes, and a perpetual geek vibe.


    He held out a slice of toast, but I shook my head.


    "I don''t think I''ll be able to keep anything down right now...".


    He gave me an understanding look, then motioned for us to head out. We drove to school in silence, my thoughts a whirlwind, but judging by Kai''s clenched jaw, I wasn''t the only one nervous about our first day.


    When he pulled into the parking lot, he turned to me, "3 p.m. hospital appointment - don''t be late.".


    I grunted as I stepped out of the car.


    "Wait, Lory. Look at me.".


    I froze under his scrutinizing gaze as he frowned, clearly noticing my pale complexion. I quickly looked down, but it was too late.


    "Hey, what happened to your head?".


    "I slipped in the shower...".


    "Lorelai... Don''t lie.".


    "Kai...", I sighed, exasperated.


    He let out a frustrated breath, clearly catching on that I''d skipped my dose but choosing not to press the issue.


    "I had them send over your class schedule and locker information.".


    He handed me a folder, "I''ll see you later.".


    Offering him a weak smile, I watched as he drove off. My legs felt like lead as I walked toward the school entrance. Just as I prepared to brace for hell, I spotted two familiar faces. Relief washed over me - Scott was alive.


    "Hey, Lydia! You look¡ªlike you''re gonna ignore me... You''re the cause of this, you know. Dragging me down to your nerd depths. I''m a nerd by association. I''ve been Scarlet-nerded by you!", Stiles grumbled, watching a red-haired girl saunter past.


    "That was sad to watch," I said, approaching them.


    "Lorelai, good to see you in something other than pyjamas. What the hell happened to your face?", Stiles blurted, pointing.


    "Nothing. I must''ve hit my head on a tree or something last night...".


    "Hey, uh, we need to talk.", Scott''s voice was serious, his eyes lingering on my bruise.


    Stiles, meanwhile, had grabbed the folder from my hands and was mumbling about our shared classes as Scott and I walked down the hall.


    "I know this is going to sound crazy, but I think it was a wolf... It bit me.", Scott said softly, his expression uncertain.


    "What?!?".


    "For the hundredth time, Scott, it can''t be a wolf - there are no wolves in California! It''s so unfair that you both saw the body and I didn''t!", Stiles cut in before I could respond.


    They led me to the back of the classroom. Scott sat in front of me, leaving a space between us, while Stiles settled beside me.


    "As you all know, there was a body found in the woods last night...", Mr. Curtis began, writing "Kafka''sMetamorphosis" on the board.


    I shivered as the image of the dead girl resurfaced.


    "And I''m sure your eager little minds are coming up with macabre scenarios as to what happened. But the police have a suspect in custody,", Mr. Curtis continued, "which means you can focus on the syllabus on your desks.".


    I twirled my pen absently, glancing at Scott, who couldn''t seem to sit still. Just as I started to wonder if he had ADHD, the vice principal entered, followed by a raven-haired girl.


    "Class, this is our new student, Allison Argent...", his gaze briefly flicked to me.


    "And I see our other new student, Lorelai Carlyle, has settled in. Please make them feel welcome.".


    Allison smiled nervously before taking the seat in front of me. As Mr. Curtis droned on, my concentration slipped. There was something familiar about Allison, but I couldn''t place it.


    Then, a piercing ringing erupted in my ears. It grew louder and louder until I couldn''t take it anymore.


    "Miss Carlyle, is there a problem?".


    "Uh... woman thing.", I stammered, trembling.


    Mr. Curtis flushed and waved me off. Grabbing my stuff, I bolted to the nearest girls'' bathroom.


    The air felt thick, the ringing unbearable. I splashed cold water on my face, but a soft whisper cut through the noise.


    "You have to help them...".


    I whipped around, searching for the source, but when I looked back at the mirror, my reflection was gone. Instead, I saw the dead girl''s face. I stumbled back, heart pounding, until I tripped and fell into a stall, narrowly missing the toilet.


    Breathing hard, I scrambled to my feet and fled the bathroom.It''s just a side effect from skipping my meds,I told myself.It''s happened before... Nothing new.


    I got to my locker, haplessly battling with the latch and I groaned in frustration.


    "Here...".


    It was Allison, smiling kindly as she wiggled the lock before it finally opened, "You have to be gentle with it. Mine''s the same. Lorelai, right?".


    "Y-yeah...", I said breathlessly, still riled up from the bathroom incident.


    "Your brother worked with my dad before. He mentioned that you were also relocating here... Are you okay?", she pointed out my trembling hands.


    "Oh uh, new girl nerves- they make you go a little crazy.".


    "I totally get it! I forgot a pen! A freaking pen! Who forgets something like that on their first day of school?!?", she laughed.


    I started to relax a little when we were joined by the same redhaired girl who ignored Stiles earlier that morning.


    "That jacket is absolutely killer. Where''d you get it?", she asked Allison before eying me up and down and letting out a pitiful short hum.


    "My mom was a buyer for a boutique back in San Francisco.", Allison answered her with uncertainty.


    "And you are my new best friend.".


    Allison looked to me for help, but I was shoved out of the way by a guy who resembled a real-life Ken doll. I gave Allison an apologetic smile and scurried off as fast as I could, keeping my head down the whole way.


    I needed a safe space, to breathe and calm down ¨C the library. My hands trembled as I fished the pill bottle out of my backpack. More than anything, I just wanted the noise in my head to stop.


    ¡Þ¡Þ¡Þ


    Scott and Stiles walked me to the car. Since I couldn''t join them on their hunt for Scott''s lost inhaler, we agreed to catch up in the evening.


    "I see you''ve made some friends already," Kai observed as I climbed into the car.


    "Uh, yeah... Speaking of which, why didn''t you tell me your boss''s daughter was moving here too? We''re locker buddies.".


    "I must''ve forgotten. Don''t forget to tell the nurse you skipped your pills last night.".


    "When are you gonna let that go? It only happened twice!".


    "Lorelai, please, what if I''m not around this time to save you? I can''t risk it!".


    "Jesus, Kai. You''re overreacting.".


    "Overreacting?!? You could''ve died! I can''t believe you''re being so selfish!".


    His words hit me like a punch to the gut. He''d never understand - nobody could unless they''d been through it. Kai pulled into the hospital parking lot, switching off the engine. He was about to get out, but I stopped him, grabbing my bag.


    "Lor, I-".


    "No. It''s fine. I''ll find my own way home.".


    I brushed away the tears and slammed the door behind me, heading quickly toward the entrance. It wasn''t my fault I was like this. I didn''t choose it. But maybe he was right - what if the animal had decided I was gonna be its meal, or the person who brought me home hadn''t been there?


    Swallowing the lump in my throat, I greeted the friendly receptionist, who told me a nurse would be with me shortly. I took a seat, nervously bouncing my leg.


    "Lorelai Carlyle?".


    The nurse''s warm brown eyes and kind smile instantly put me at ease. She gestured for me to follow her and motioned for me to sit on the hospital bed.


    "You''re on a 5mm dose of antipsychotics, along with a benzodiazepine and fluoxetine, correct? What time did you take your last dose?", she asked, pulling the curtain closed and scanning my file.


    "This morning, around 10 a.m., I think.".


    My eyes drifted to her name badge.


    "Melissa McCall. You''re Scott''s mom?", I asked, my voice trembling slightly.


    She looked up, noticing my unease along with something else.


    "Hon, don''t worry. Patient confidentiality... And judging by the way your body has not stopped shivering, you missed a dose. And what happened here?".


    She gently removed my cap and brushed my hair away from my face.


    "I slipped and hit my head.", I lied.


    "It''s a little inflamed, but nothing to worry about," she said, pressing lightly around the area.


    "No one hit me, if that''s what you''re wondering.", I looked away, ashamed.


    Melissa sighed, jotting down some notes before closing the file.


    "Lorelai, I know it''s hard, but you have to stay consistent. You don''t want to end up at Eichen House. Trust me. Now be a good kid and take your meds.", she gave my shoulder a comforting squeeze.


    I mumbled a quick thanks and hurried out. Standing outside, I realized I had no idea how to get home. I pulled out my phone, debating whether to call Kai, when a text message caught my attention.


    Hi,


    Before you ask, I can''t tell you how I got your number, but it''s important. Call me as soon as you can!


    ¨C Stiles


    Grateful for his persistence, I dialled his number. He picked up on the second ring.


    "Lorelai! Thank god-".


    "Stiles, I need your help," I interrupted.


    It didn''t take him long to reach the hospital.


    "Everything okay?" he asked as I hopped into his jeep.


    "Uh, yeah. Monthly check-up.".


    "Huh... I''ll be honest with you - I know all about your... psychosis. But we don''t have to talk about it if you don''t want to. And before you ask how I know, I looked you up in my dad''s office database, which I know is an invasion of privacy, but it was the only way to get your number.".


    I stared at him, amazed at how he managed to say all that in one breath.


    "Okay, I''m gonna totally ignore the whole background check stuff, what was so important?".


    "We found Scott''s inhaler!".


    "And?".


    "Oh, right. Have you been experiencing any weird symptoms since last night?".


    "What?".


    "Heightened hearing and sense of smell, faster reflexes, that-that sort of thing...", he frowned.


    "And now that I''ve said it out loud, sounds crazy right?".


    "I''m probably the last person you should be talking to about this.", I held up my meds packet.


    "Hmm."


    I told him the name of my street, and he knew exactly where it was.


    "It''s that brick house over there."


    "Only two streets away from me," he commented.


    As I jumped out, he called after me, "Did you see anything last night? In the woods?".


    I hesitated. I could only remember the dead body and the animal''s glowing red eyes, but I decided to keep that to myself.


    "Nothing you don''t already know. Thanks for the ride, Stiles.".


    I waved goodbye, watching his egg-blue jeep drive off. As odd as he was, I couldn''t shake the feeling that there was more to him than he let on.


    ¡Þ¡Þ¡Þ


    The next day passed uneventfully - well, almost. I took my meds, which left me feeling awful, but at least the voices and ghosts stayed at bay. I spent most of my time avoiding everyone, and it worked - until a very frantic Stiles showed up at my doorstep around eight o''clock that night.


    "Werewolves!", he blurted out as he stepped inside.


    "Come again?".


    "The animal that attacked you in the woods? It was a freaken wolf!", he yelled.


    Thankfully Kai was working the night shift, otherwise he would''ve probably gotten us both committed into Eichen House.


    "You weren''t bitten by it, which is why you didn''t get the same symptoms as Scott! Oh, man, you should''ve seen him today, at lacrosse!".


    He started to mutter to himself underneath his breath.


    "Stiles!".


    "Sorry! I''ve had a lot of Adderall today. I didn''t know who else to tell. Well, I did tell Scott, but he didn''t believe me, obviously, I mean who would? And now with full moon, he''s taking Allison to Lydia''s party, and he just might... He might...".


    Stiles started to pace around the living room frantically, and I stood up, grabbing him by the shoulders, getting him to stop.


    "Hey! Calm down, it''s going to be fine!".


    He looked at me, his light brown eyes filled with fear, and helplessness. I wasn''t quite buying his werewolf story, but the least I could do was help him.


    "I... I believe you.", I whispered.


    "So, let''s go and find Scott, and Allison, and make sure they''re okay.".


    Stiles nodded, pulling me along with him towards the door, not giving me a chance to change out of my leggings and oversized beige sweatshirt.


    By the time we reached Lydia''s house, the party was in full swing. Cars lined the streets, and the music thumped loud enough to rattle the jeep''s windows. Somehow, Stiles managed to wedge his rusty old jeep into a spot, and we hurried toward the house.


    "You look out for Scott, I''ll get Allison.".


    I pushed past a few drunk classmates, spotting Allison from across the room. Before I could reach her, a wave of dizziness hit me. I stumbled backward, my vision swimming, and nearly hit the floor - until someone caught me.


    "You''re very underdressed for a party.", a deep voice remarked.


    It wasn''t the comment or the chiselled face that caught my attention, but the hazel eyes staring into mine with an unsettling intensity. He released his hands from my waist, his eyebrows furrowed, studying my face.


    "Lorelai! We gotta go! I just saw him leave!".


    My head whipped towards Stiles'' direction and when I looked back, the stranger was gone. I ran after Stiles who was already inside his jeep with the engine running.


    "Damn it! Stiles! Are you trying to kill me?", I snapped as he tore out of the driveway before I could even buckle my seatbelt.


    He shot me a look, still driving like a maniac. I was about to yell at him again when the high-pitched ring exploded in my ears.


    "No... Not again! Stop the car!!!", I yelled as I hit his arm in urgency.


    Wide eyed and annoyed at my violence, Stiles slammed the breaks, stopping in the middle of the road.


    "What the hell!?!".


    "I can''t explain it, but... I think... I think Scott might be in the woods. Check his house in case I''m wrong!".


    I jumped out before he could argue, running into the preserve as if drawn by an invisible force. The ringing grew louder with every step, guiding me deeper into the forest.


    In the distance, I heard shouting and a cry of pain. My instincts screamed at me to run toward it, but before I could, someone grabbed me from behind, a hand clamping over my mouth.


    I reacted instinctively, elbowing them hard in the ribs and spinning around to strike again. They caught my fist mid-swing.


    "Shut up or they''ll kill us both. And Scott!".


    It was the man from the party. He released my hand but kept a firm grip on my arm as the sounds of chaos echoed through the trees.


    "There are three ruthless hunters out there ready to shoot on sight. Just stay here.", he warned before racing off.


    The full moon hung overhead, bathing the forest in an eerie glow. The ringing in my head intensified until I dropped to my knees, clutching my ears.


    "You have to help them!!!", the dead girl''s voice pierced through the noise.


    I shut my eyes, trying to block out everything, but it was no use.


    "Lorelai! Are you okay?".


    Scott''s hand on my shoulder snapped me back to reality. I gasped, looking up to see his glowing golden eyes staring back at me.


    The ringing stopped abruptly, leaving behind an eerie silence. Without thinking, I threw my arms around him, holding on tightly. He returned the hug, relief evident in his trembling embrace.


    "Who were they?", Scott asked the stranger as we broke away from our embrace.


    "Hunters. The kind that have been hunting us for centuries.", he answered apathetically.


    Scott shouted out in frustration, "Us? You mean you! You did this to me!".


    "Is it really so bad, Scott? That you can see better? Hear more clearly? Move faster than any human could ever hope? You''ve been given something that most people would kill for. The Bite is a gift.".


    "I don''t want it.".


    "You will. And you''re gonna need me if you want to learn how to control it. So, you and me, Scott? We''re brothers now...".


    Still trying to come to terms with the whole ''werewolves are real'', the stranger turned his attention towards me, anger and resentment palpable on his face.


    "You can''t be friends with her anymore, Scott. Her brother was one of the hunters who tried to kill us.".

 2. SECOND CHANCE AT FIRST LINE

    ¡°So, Allison¡¯s dad, and my brother are hunters¡­ Of werewolves.¡±, I said out loud, with a hint of disbelief.


    My mind still reeling with the events of that night. The stranger, whose name is Derek, told me that my brother would eventually try to kill Scott, so I had to stay away from him.


    ¡°How could Kai hide this from me? We tell each other everything!¡±.


    I didn¡¯t see my brother that morning either, instead a note greeted me at the kitchen counter, ¡®Had an early shift, will be back with dinner. Love you!¡¯.


    ¡°Maybe you should ask him about it.¡±, Stiles suggested as we approached the lacrosse field.


    ¡°If he lied about his job for the past three years, what¡¯s another day?¡±, I shot back.


    Stiles held up his hands in defense, ¡°Sorry, just trying to help. By the way, are we gonna talk about what happened when you yelled it me to stop in the middle of the road?¡±.


    ¡°I-I haven¡¯t figured that out yet.¡±, I sighed.


    A part of me wishes that I was back home, oblivious to this new reality.


    ¡°Hey! Unless you¡¯re playing, get off my field!¡±, Coach Finstock shouted, making me jump.


    ¡°I¡¯ll catch you later¡­¡±, I said before heading to the bleachers.


    From my seat, I watched Scott, noticing his game was off. Unfortunately, Jackson, the Ken doll lookalike used it to his advantage.


    ¡°McCall''s gonna do it again! McCall''s gonna do it again!¡±, Coach Finstock bellowed.


    Scott panted heavily, then sprinted toward Jackson, colliding with his shoulder. Jackson hit the ground hard, and the players swarmed around him to check if he was okay.


    Meanwhile, Scott dropped to his knees a few feet away, his breathing ragged, and his body on the verge of transforming. Stiles ran to him first, and I wasn¡¯t too far behind.


    ¡°We have to get Scott out of here!¡±, Stiles whispered urgently.


    I nodded, and we each threw one of Scott¡¯s arms over our shoulders, dragging him off the field as fast as we could. Once inside the locker room, Scott collapsed against a sink, gripping it so hard I thought it might break.


    ¡°Scott, you okay?¡±, Stiles asked, crouching beside him.


    ¡°GET AWAY FROM ME!!!¡±, Scott roared, turning to face us, his eyes glowing yellow.


    Stiles stumbled back, fear etched across his face. I helped him up and shoved him behind me, instinctively placing myself between him and Scott. Scott, now fully transformed, studied us like a predator eyeing its prey.


    ¡°When I say run, you run. Do you understand?¡±, I muttered to Stiles, who nodded quickly.


    Capitalizing on my adrenalin rush, my eyes darted around the room and landed on a lacrosse stick nearby. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was better than nothing.


    ¡°Now!¡±.


    Scott pounced, leaping from locker to locker with inhuman speed, his glowing eyes locked on us. Just as Stiles made it out, Scott lunged toward me, claws outstretched.


    I ducked under his attack, sliding through the gap between his legs, and swung the lacrosse stick at his back. The hit caught him off guard but did little to slow him down. Before I could react, Scott pinned me against a locker, his claws tightening around my throat.


    ¡°Hey! Over here buddy!¡±, Stiles shouted with a fire extinguisher in his hand.


    Scott let go of me, and I gasped for air, stumbling to the ground. Without hesitation, Stiles pulled the lever, and a cloud of white foam blasted out, hitting Scott in the face.


    Scott staggered back, clawing at his face, completely disoriented. Finally, he collapsed to the ground, groaning as his body began to revert to normal.


    Still shaken, I carefully approached Scott, who had clambered onto a nearby bench, looking utterly devastated. I hesitated for a moment before sitting beside him and draping an arm around his shoulders. He flinched but eventually leaned into me, his breathing unsteady.


    ¡°Stiles?¡±, Scott called out.


    Peeking around the doorway, Stiles dropped the fire extinguisher when he saw that Scott was back to normal.


    ¡°What happened?¡±.


    Scott had an idea of what transpired but I think he hoped that we¡¯d give him a different answer.


    ¡°You tried to kill us¡­¡±, I said softly.


    Stiles, still jittery, began theorizing what might have triggered Scott¡¯s transformation - his heart rate spiking due to anger or adrenaline.


    Scott didn¡¯t say much, but it was clear he wasn¡¯t thrilled when we both agreed that sitting out the first lacrosse game was probably the best idea.


    ¡Þ¡Þ¡Þ¡Þ


    ¡°You¡¯ve been frowning for the past ten minutes¡­ What¡¯s up?¡±, Allison observed as she sat down.


    I was sitting at one of the empty lunch tables, struggling to focus on my Chemistry notes. Now that we¡¯d figured out Scott¡¯s situation, I still had my own to deal with. How was this my brand-new reality? And despite taking my meds, the voice of the dead girl hadn¡¯t stopped haunting me.


    ¡°Something on your mind?¡±.


    ¡°It¡¯s this balancing oxidation-reduction equations.¡±, I answered quickly.


    I wondered if she had any idea that her father hunted werewolves, if she did, she was excellent at hiding it.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t we only learning about those after spring break?¡±, she asked, raising an eyebrow.


    ¡°I like to get a head start¡­ And Mr. Harris loves his surprise pop quizzes.¡±.


    She laughed, biting into a granola bar.


    ¡°Hey, I didn¡¯t see you at the party¡­¡±.


    ¡°I was there for a few minutes. I think I¡¯m allergic to socializing with people my own age.¡±.


    She snorted at my response.


    ¡°Oh, wanna hang out with Lydia and I later? We¡¯re going shopping and getting some frozen yogurt afterwards.¡±, she offered.


    ¡°Hmm, sounds tempting, but I¡¯d rather listen to nails dragged against a chalkboard while being attacked by starving rabid cats.¡±.


    ¡°That was¡­ descriptive.¡±, she laughed.


    ¡°Wait, how did you end up getting home?¡±, I asked, taking a sip of water.


    ¡°Um, a friend of Scott¡¯s. Hey, you might know him - Derek Hale?¡±.


    I choked, breaking into a coughing fit.


    ¡°Wrong pipe¡­¡±.


    She gave me a funny look but didn¡¯t press further. I spent the rest of the day trying not to dwell on what had happened in the locker room while trying to keep my sanity.


    Scott and Stiles had their own plans that afternoon, and since I¡¯d finished all my homework, I decided to snoop around the house. Since moving here, I hadn¡¯t had the chance to really explore. I was hoping Kai had left his room unlocked, but no such luck.


    Eventually, I made my way to the basement, cautiously pushing the creaky door open as a cloud of dust greeted me. It looked like no one had been down here in years.


    Feeling around for a light switch, I was underwhelmed by what I saw: boxes filled with old clothes, encyclopaedias, and empty jars. But a small wooden box tucked away in the corner caught my eye.


    I approached it carefully, noting its intricate carvings of strange symbols. One symbol in the center - a circle surrounded by a series of knots - stood out. Just as I was about to open it, a loud thud came from the kitchen.


    My heart raced as I crept up the stairs, placing the box on the ground. Could someone be breaking in? We didn¡¯t own anything of real value, so they were in for a disappointing haul.


    I spotted a barstool near the counter and grabbed it for self-defense. Not ideal, but better than nothing. Bracing myself, I dashed into the kitchen, yelling at the top of my lungs to scare off the intruder. I immediately felt ridiculous as a black bird flapped around the room, cawing and frantically searching for an exit.


    ¡°Really?¡±, I muttered, opening the back door.


    The bird swooped toward me, nearly hitting my face before flying outside with one last screech. I slammed the door shut, my heart pounding as I checked the window to make sure it was closed.


    ¡°What the heck just happened?¡±, I mumbled, trying to steady my breathing.


    Adding the bird attack to my growing list of ¡°weird and crazy,¡± I retrieved the box from where I left it and headed to my room. Collapsing onto my bed, I finally opened it.


    Inside was a beautiful silver necklace with a round obsidian pendant, and an unopened envelope stamped with Returned to Sender in bold red letters.


    Laoise Carlyle.


    I frowned, recognizing my grandmother¡¯s name. It was Irish, pronounced ¡®Leesha¡¯. My dad used to complain about how tricky Irish names were. That¡¯s when it hit me. This house had once belonged to my grandmother, and my dad was originally from Beacon Hills.


    I set the necklace aside, hesitating before picking up the envelope. Curiosity got the better of me, and I opened it. A black-and-white photograph fell out¡ªthree kids standing beside a tree.


    I immediately recognized two of them¡ªmy dad, probably around ten years old, and Aunt Amelia, around five years old. The other girl, maybe fifteen, bore a strong resemblance to them. The letter itself made my head spin. Written in bold letters, it read:


    SHE KNOWS.


    ¡Þ¡Þ¡Þ¡Þ


    ¡°Lorelai are you even listening to me?!?¡±, Stiles asked, snapping his fingers in front of my face.


    ¡°Huh?¡±.


    I¡¯d barely slept last night. Between the letter, the necklace, and the endless questions rattling in my head, my brain felt like a fried circuit board.


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    ¡°Jackson¡¯s got a separated shoulder and Derek broke into Scott¡¯s room last night, threatening him not to play. Our wolf friend needs your help to convince Coach Finstock to let him sit out on this one out.¡±, Stiles said, shifting into his signature fast-talking problem-solving mode.


    ¡°Why me?¡±, I asked, confused.


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t hate you!¡±, he argued.


    ¡°Dude, he doesn¡¯t even know me!¡±.


    ¡°Exactly!¡±, Stiles beamed.


    Before I could say another word, Stiles steered me toward Coach Finstock¡¯s office, practically shoving me inside mid-protest.


    ¡°What do you mean you can¡¯t play the game tomorrow night?¡±, Coach Finstock¡¯s voice boomed as I stumbled in, catching the middle of his heated conversation with Scott.


    ¡°I mean... I can''t play the game tomorrow night...¡±, Scott repeated, his voice strained.


    ¡°You can''t wait to play the game tomorrow night!¡±.


    Coach was clearly not processing the words coming out of Scott¡¯s mouth. Between Jackson¡¯s injury and now Scott¡¯s refusal to play, the man looked ready to explode.


    ¡°No, Coach- I can''t play the game tomorrow night.¡±.


    ¡°I''m not following¡­¡±, he paused, noticing my presence.


    ¡°When did you get here? Uh¡­ Uh¡­ What¡¯s your name again?¡±, he squinted.


    ¡°Lorelai, Coach.¡±, I muttered.


    ¡°Huh, weird name.¡±.


    I opened my mouth to spin some excuse, but Scott beat me to it


    ¡°I''m having some... personal issues.¡±.


    ¡°Is it a girl? Is it her? Did you knock her up?¡±, Coach asked, his eyes widening as he pointed at me.


    ¡°What?!? No!!!¡±, I gasped, my cheeks turning red.


    ¡°Okay. Is it a guy?¡±.


    Scott groaned in frustration, and I couldn¡¯t help but snort at his misery. When he turned to me for backup, I just shrugged, trying not to laugh.


    ¡°You know, our goalie, Danny, is gay...¡±, Coach mused, his voice dropping into what he must¡¯ve thought was a progressive tone.


    What followed was an absurd five-minute tangent about Danny¡¯s good looks before Scott managed to steer the conversation back.


    ¡°Coach, I like girls, okay? But I still can¡¯t play tomorrow night!¡±


    ¡°Coach Finstock, sir,¡± I cut in, trying to sound reasonable, ¡°Scott¡¯s not feeling well. He just needs some time to¡ªuh¡ªyou know¡­ get his health in check?¡±.


    ¡°Can it, Loralee! What, is it drugs? Are you doing meth? Because I had a brother that was addicted to meth. You should have seen what it did to his teeth! They were all cracked and rotted. It was- it was disgusting.¡±.


    While Scott, genuinely concerned, asked if his brother was okay, I decided this was my cue to leave. I slipped out of the office, shaking my head.


    ¡°Did it work?¡±, Stiles asked, pacing impatiently outside.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. He brought up Danny¡¯s sexuality and his meth addict brother¡­¡±.


    Stiles groaned as we headed to Biology class.


    ¡°He¡¯s gonna play the game, isn¡¯t he?¡±, Stiles sighed.


    ¡°Yup.¡±.


    ¡°And we¡¯re probably screwed, aren¡¯t we?¡±.


    ¡°Looks like it¡­¡±, I answered, sighing as I slumped into my desk.


    While Mrs. Fraser droned on about photosynthesis, Stiles nudged my shoulder.


    ¡°Did you manage to talk to your brother yet?¡±, he asked softly.


    ¡°Not really. I saw him last night, but only for like two seconds. He dropped off dinner and disappeared.¡±.


    ¡°Do you think they¡¯re planning something? The hunters I mean.¡±.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Stiles.¡±.


    Mrs. Fraser shushed us, and I hoped Stiles would finally drop it, but he started tapping my shoulder relentlessly.


    ¡°What?!?¡±, I hissed.


    ¡°Hear me out.¡±, he whispered, his tone dead serious, ¡°What if you were bitten by a radioactive spider, like Peter Parker?¡±


    I stared at him, ¡°Are you high?¡±.


    ¡°That stunt you pulled the night Scott turned? There¡¯s no way you would¡¯ve found him if you were just¡­ normal.¡±.


    His face turned apologetic when he realized his choice of words.


    ¡°What I meant to say was maybe you have Spidey-senses!¡±.


    Before I could respond, Mrs. Fraser slammed her hand on our desk, making us jump.


    ¡°That¡¯s it you two! Out!¡±, she pointed at the door.


    We shuffled out of the classroom, the other students snickering as we went.


    ¡°You got us kicked out of class because of a Spiderman theory?¡±.


    ¡°Okay, maybe it¡¯s a bit far-fetched.¡±.


    ¡°Stiles, Scott was bitten in the woods, so it was obvious he¡¯d go back.¡±.


    As we walked down the hall, his expression turned more serious.


    ¡°I still feel like you¡¯re not telling me something. You can trust me, Lorelai. I promise.¡±.


    For a moment, I almost caved. But the bell rang, and I used it as an excuse to dodge the conversation.


    ¡°Thanks, Stiles,¡± I said quickly, before disappearing into the crowd.


    ¡Þ¡Þ¡Þ¡Þ


    ¡°Hey, you wanna come down for dinner?¡±, Kai¡¯s voice was softer than usual, but it still startled me out of my thoughts.


    ¡°Am I gonna be eating alone?¡±, I asked, not turning away from the black pendant I¡¯d been absently staring at.


    Kai ran a hand through his hair, letting out a tired sigh. I finally looked at him and noticed the dark bags under his eyes. This was the first time I¡¯d really seen him since the hospital.


    ¡°I asked for the evening off,¡± he said, holding up the bag, ¡°It¡¯s Chinese¡­¡±.


    It was only after the scent of food hit me when I realized how hungry I was. I groaned, shoving the necklace under the pillow, before following him downstairs and taking a seat at the table.


    ¡°So how¡¯s school?¡±, he asked before tucking into an eggroll.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. How¡¯s work?¡±, I replied, mimicking his tone.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±, he said, keeping his gaze firmly on his plate.


    ¡°You know, you still haven¡¯t told me what exactly you do.¡±.


    Kai froze for a moment, then placed his fork down carefully.


    ¡°Oh, uh, well¡­ I¡¯m a hunter.¡±.


    My heart skipped a beat, ¡°A¡ªa what?¡±.


    ¡°A hunter¡­ Well, more like animal control. I work with Allison¡¯s dad to keep the wild animals at bay. He handles the weapons, I provide the muscle. Basic stuff.¡±, his tone tensing.


    ¡°Oh.¡±, I murmured.


    It was evident that this conversation wasn¡¯t going to go any further.


    ¡°So, listen, about the other day at the hospital¡­¡±, Kai started, his voice tentative.


    ¡°Kai, it¡¯s fine. We¡¯re good,¡± I cut him off quickly.


    ¡°I, uh, I¡¯ve got a lot of homework to do. I¡¯ll see you in the morning, yeah?¡±.


    He nodded, shooting me a forced smile. I stood, giving him a quick hug before heading upstairs. I never expected to get caught up in the middle of a werewolf/hunter fight, hell, it felt like I was in a dream.


    After finishing my chemistry homework, I took my pills and settled in for the night. I hadn¡¯t heard from Scott or Stiles, so I assumed Scott was finally accepting his diagnosis. I was just starting to drift off when the nightmare began.


    The acrid smell of smoke burned my nose as I ran, surrounded by swirling orange clouds. I wasn¡¯t sure what was chasing me, but it was getting closer. The sound of screaming echoed all around me.


    ¡°You have to help them!¡±, the dead girl¡¯s voice shouted desperately.


    Suddenly a howl cut through the chaos making the hair on my arms and neck stand on end. I couldn¡¯t tell if it was a warning or a cry for help.


    ¡°You have to help them! He¡¯s here! RUN!!!¡±.


    I spun around and froze. Glowing red eyes locked onto me, the same eyes I¡¯d seen the night Scott and I were attacked. My back hit a tree, and I realized there was no escape.


    The animal prowled closer, its fiery gaze burning into mine. I couldn¡¯t breathe; the smoke was suffocating. The creature let out another chilling howl, its jaws inches from my face.


    Suddenly, I gasped, choking on air as I bolted upright. But something was wrong.


    ¡°What¡­?¡±, I muttered, my voice trembling.


    I wasn¡¯t in my room anymore. For the second time, I had somehow ended up outside, this time standing in front of a charred, crumbling house. My heart raced as I tried to make sense of it. Before I could process anything, I heard voices from the other side of the house.


    ¡°What the hell is that?!?¡±.


    Scott and Stiles - they were staring at something in the ground, Scott with a spade in his hand. I jogged up to them, tapping Stiles on his shoulder.


    ¡°Jesus, Lorelai! What are you doing here?!? Again, in your pajamas, what are those - puppies?¡±.


    ¡°I could ask you the same thing¡­¡±, I folded my arms.


    Then I saw it. A wolf¡¯s head lay partially buried in the soil. My stomach turned.


    ¡°Is that a, um¡­¡±, I swallowed hard, unable to finish my sentence.


    They nodded.


    ¡°We think Derek killed that girl and buried her here.¡±, Stiles stated grimly.


    ¡°The guy that turned you into a werewolf?¡±.


    ¡°Yeah. This is his house.¡±.


    ¡°But that¡¯s a wolf¡¯s head¡­¡±.


    ¡°That¡¯s what we¡¯re trying to figure out!¡±, Stiles exclaimed.


    While they argued, I dropped to my knees, staring at the gruesome sight. The dead girl¡¯s face flashed in my mind, and I stumbled back, Scott catching me before I hit the ground.


    ¡°You okay?¡±, he asked, concern etched across his face.


    I nodded, my gaze shifting to a small purple flower growing a few feet away. Stiles noticed it too and immediately launched into a lecture about a movie called The Wolf Man before picking the flower, calling it Wolfsbane.


    It was attached to something¡ªa long piece of rope. As Stiles unraveled it, we all watched in horror as the wolf head began to shift and transform, revealing the pale, lifeless face of the dead girl.


    ¡Þ¡Þ¡Þ¡Þ


    ¡°What are you doing with those M&M¡¯s?¡±, Kai asked, sliding into the seat next to me.


    ¡°Trying to sweeten up a math problem¡­¡±, I replied sombrely, sorting the candies by color.


    Yellow for Scott, red for the killer wolf¡ªwho Stiles was convinced was Derek¡ªand blue for the dead girl. Stiles¡¯ dad had arrested Derek earlier for the murder after they found the body. My gut told me he was innocent, but the boys didn¡¯t want to hear it.


    ¡°The game is in a few hours, you going?¡±, he snatched a few M&M¡¯s and popped them in his mouth.


    I shrugged, ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ It¡¯s kinda of drag if I¡¯m being honest.¡±.


    Kai snorted as he stood up.


    ¡°Boss got me working through the night. I¡¯ll see you later, okay?¡±, he squeezed my shoulder before heading out.


    I waved goodbye, my eyes drifting back to the candies. Why would Derek kill someone and bury them in his own yard? From a killer¡¯s perspective, that was a dumb move¡ªunless there was some kind of connection between him and the girl. I picked up my phone to call one of the guys, but Stiles beat me to it.


    ¡°What can I do for you, Stiles?¡±.


    ¡°I¡¯ve done something really stupid which caused Scott to wolf out and leap out of a moving vehicle and now I lost him!¡±, he rambled in a panic.


    ¡°You kept the wolfsbane, didn¡¯t you?¡±.


    ¡°For scientific purposes! I called the station asking about any doglike individuals roaming the streets, but they hung up on me!¡±, he retorted.


    Sometimes I really wonder how he made it all the way to sophomore year.


    ¡°He¡¯s probably fine? Maybe he¡¯s with Allison¡­ Or getting ready for the game¡­¡±.


    ¡°Okay, okay, okay. I¡¯ll check at school, you check with Allison! I¡¯ll text you her address!¡±.


    ¡°Stiles, wait-¡±.


    But he already hung up. I changed into something more public worthy- black jeans, a black wooly jersey, and converse sneakers. Allison¡¯s place was just an eight-minute walk from my house. I used it as an opportunity to get some fresh air.


    Hoping it would distract me, my brain decided to fire a hundred thoughts per minute starting with why my meds weren¡¯t working. Did it have something to do with the move to Beacon Hills? Was there something in the air?


    Or maybe my psychosis was getting worse, and I needed stronger pills. I was so wrapped up inside my head I didn¡¯t realize I had already reached Allison¡¯s house. She was standing outside next to the car.


    ¡°Oh my gosh, Lorelai! What are you doing here?¡±, she exclaimed, pulling me into a hug.


    Before I could respond, her dad stepped out, his expression unreadable.


    ¡°I was looking for Scott¡­ Hi, Mr. Argent¡­¡±, I said, my voice tinged with unease.


    ¡°You must be Lorelai, Kai¡¯s sister.¡±, he said, sizing me up with his piercing green eyes.


    I nodded, resisting the urge to squirm.


    ¡°Oh, about Scott,¡± Allison said, cutting in, ¡°He was just here. My dad accidentally hit him with his car¡­ but he¡¯s fine! We¡¯re on our way to the lacrosse game. Wanna join us?¡±.


    ¡°I¡­ uh¡­¡±, I stammered, searching for an excuse.


    ¡°Come on, Lorelai! I know Scott and Stiles would really appreciate the support.¡±, she encouraged, flashing a bright smile.


    With no way out, I reluctantly climbed into the backseat. The drive to school was awkward. Allison chattered on about how good Scott was at lacrosse, while I mumbled half-hearted agreements. Mr. Argent kept glancing at me in the rearview mirror, his gaze sharp and calculating.


    ¡°So, how are you and Kai liking Beacon Hills, Lorelai?¡±, he asked, eyebrows raised.


    ¡°It¡¯s um, different¡­ Quiet compared to San Fransisco.¡±, I answered softly.


    ¡°Nothing beats that city buzz I believe. Did your brother tell you what we¡¯re tracking?¡±, his stare unrelenting.


    I didn¡¯t know whether he was testing Kai¡¯s loyalty or trying to figure out how much I knew, but I dug my fingernails into the palms of my hands to hide my trembling, shaking my head.


    ¡°Dad! I¡¯m sure Lorelai doesn¡¯t want to talk about your work!¡±, Allison diverted the conversation.


    She started talking about lacrosse again to which I zoned out, staring out the window. If Mr. Argent thought I knew something, would he come after me? Then I thought about Scott, would he kill him for being a werewolf? Would Kai?


    ¡°You guys go ahead, I um¡­ have to go to the bathroom.¡±, I needed to get as far away as possible.


    ¡°We¡¯ll save you a seat.¡±, Allison smiled and gently pushed her dad in the direction of the lacrosse field.


    The moment they were out of sight, I called Stiles, but it went straight to voicemail. Scott¡¯s phone did the same. Frustrated, I sprinted toward the game.


    When I reached the stands, I spotted Lydia glaring at Scott, her expression a mix of fury and expectation. I weaved my way toward the benches, ending up near Coach Finstock, who was in the middle of a pep talk with Jackson.


    ¡°Listen, just go out there. Just give it your best. If you feel any pain, just¡­¡±.


    ¡°Just... keep playing?¡±, the team captain asked, confused.


    Coach Finstock nodded with a grin, ¡°That¡¯s my boy!¡±.


    I waited for Jackson to leave before making my presence known to Coach Finstock.


    ¡°Loralee! You¡¯ve shown up on my field more times than half my players! What are you doing here?!?¡±.


    ¡°Nothing! I was just looking for someone¡­¡±, I muttered, scanning the crowd for Scott or Stiles, too agitated to correct him.


    The referee¡¯s whistle signalled the start of the game. I spotted Stiles on another bench and ran over, avoiding the chaos of the players.


    ¡°Stiles¡­¡±.


    He ignored me, his focus locked on Scott and Jackson¡¯s interaction. My phone buzzed in my pocket. The message made my pulse quicken:


    We need to talk. Alone.


    I glanced around and spotted a familiar silhouette near the edge of the field. Slipping away unnoticed, I approached Derek, who was just out of sight but clearly observing everything.


    ¡°Why did you call me here?¡±, I asked, trying to sound braver than I felt.


    Derek stepped closer, stopping so close I had to tilt my head to look at him. His anger only made him more striking, but I shoved that thought aside.


    ¡°Tell your idiot friends to stay away from things they don¡¯t understand.¡±. he growled, gripping my arm tightly, ¡°They¡¯re drawing attention to themselves¡ªand to you.¡±.


    ¡°What-what are you talking about?¡±, my voice trembled, shaking his hand off.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you find it strange how you ended up finding Scott that night after he turned?¡±.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean.¡±.


    ¡°No, Lorelai, I think you do. You¡¯re just afraid to look deeper into who you are¡­ And what you are.¡±.


    Before I could respond, he glanced over my shoulder. Following his gaze, I saw Scott running toward the locker room. Derek disappeared before I could stop him.


    Frustrated, I sprinted after Scott, dodging players as I reached the locker room entrance. I nearly collided with Allison, who had a dreamy smile on her face.


    ¡°We kissed.¡±, she said, walking away.


    Inside, Scott was sitting on a bench, looking just as dazed. Stiles stood next to him.


    ¡°The girl¡­ She¡¯s Derek¡¯s sister¡­¡±, Stiles blurted out.


    Scott¡¯s smile disappeared.


    ¡°Medical examiner determines killer of girl to be animal, not human. Derek''s human, not animal. Derek? Not killer. Derek? Let out of jail¡­ My dad ID¡¯d the dead girl. Both halves. Her name was Laura Hale.¡±.