chapter ten.

HE HANDS SHOULDN'T BE trembling for a woman like her, with all the things she has done she doesn't deserve his concern or him praying for her safety. Maybe his dad made the right decision by leaving them. His keys jingling as he tries to unlock his front door. He couldn't breath, the thought of her dying by a three fold death wasn't something he desired for anybody.

"Mom? Mom?" Arthur shouts, his palms sweat slamming the first door open, empty. "Where are you?" He continues, his teeth sunk into his bottom lip stopping them from trembling, his hip aching.

"Arthur, stop banging doors." His mother scowls, walking down the stairs a half eaten banana in her hand. "And shouldn't you be in school?"

Relief floods his veins, wrapping the woman in a hug on the bottom of the stairs breathing in her familiar strawberry shampoo. "I've been calling you for ages, why don't ever pick up your phone?"

A small smile graces her lips, petting his head in comfort and replies, "Sorry, I lost it somewhere in the house." He pulls back eyebrows creased meeting her storm grey, he hadn't inherited from her, "I was looking for it then got distracted by Pretty Little Lairs."

It's beats being in the Darach's clutches, Arthur sighs, he doesn't know how long he can keep doing this. He hates her with every bone in his body but she's out there everyday fighting for someone's rights and defending them, but how could she do that if she hasn't seen the full picture, she's failing because he doesn't want to admit the truth. They've been failing, killing more than they've been saving and all at the cost to keep their secret. How many more have to die?

A tear rolled down his cheek, he hadn't noticed until his mother rubbed it away, "Hey, Arthur baby, talk to me." She tugs him over to steps seated one above him. "What's wrong?"

Me, everything they're doing isn't working at all. He can't even fight for his friends without nearly dying, what was he even thinking? He should've ignored it, live a life of ignorance so he wouldn't feel like a burden. He's trying his best but it's never enough.

Fuck, he could feel tear swell in his eyes his nails dug into his palms, remembering his mother is in front of him. "Just a bit stressed."

"Is it school?" She inquiries, a frown etched on her lips, "Do you need a break?"

From life? Yeah, definitely.

"No, don't stress yourself out about it." Arthur replied trying to keep the venom out of his tone. Taking a break won't help anyone, he's apart of this even if he doesn't want too, and his best may not be the greatest but it helping not only himself but for his home from being destroyed from something greater.

She frowns, clutching his arm. "Hey, I like bring in involved even if it makes my hair turn grey."

He broke out of her hold stepping back. Arthur takes a deep breath, he has to tell her he wouldn't forgive himself if someone had happened and she didn't know the truth. "Mom, there's something you need to know."

She grimaced, "You're not doing drugs, are you?"

His eyes widen, "Thats serious the first thing that pops into your head?"

"What? I found pills in your room, and unless you're hurt badly you don't medicine that strong." She explains, giving him a pointed look, her back leaning against the wooden railing. "But if you're, don't do it alone and make sure you're safe."

He's hurt, but not compared to Gerard. He'll be taking out his stitches soon, ones his mother still doesn't know about. "I'm not doing drugs, mom, it's just, Twilight is real, mom, it's all coming to life in Beacon Hills, so are other supernatural creatures, including a dark Druid who is murdering people and you're on their list."

"Are you sure you're not on drugs?" The woman wonders, staring into his ice blue eyes. He wasn't surprised she didn't believe him, he wouldn't believe himself either. "Kidding, you're a bit late with the explanation, I already knew."

His eyebrows furrowed, his head whipping meeting her neutral cloudy grey staring into his. "You knew? What the hell does that mean?"

"It wasn't hard to put the pieces together, Arthur, especially when Jackson confessed everything when your friends got a restraining order from him." She summarizes, her posture relaxed.

He doesn't need to ask why she hadn't told him, the same reason he refused to tell her. To protect him and his sister.

"So you understand you're in danger, mom, this dark Druid is coming after you." Arthur cautions, arms wrapped around himself.

"Don't worry about me, you're always worried about everyone but yourself." She assured lifting her hand and letting it fall on her lap instead of touching him. "How's your hip?"

Arthur wasn't even surprised she knew about his scarred hip, instead of lying he confessed ( part ) of the truth.

* * *

THE MUSIC RECITAL was the last place Arthur thought he'd be today, he knows there's nothing he couldn't done to help but he still felt guilty. Everything had been was fun at first, helping Scott control his werewolf urges, watching him try and reach his full potential, but that all stopped when people started dying around him, Arthur knowing the truth behind the coverups while the families believed the lies they were fed.

Being here is like doing something terrible and watching someone else get in trouble for what you did.

He didn't want to go inside but the Darach is here someone, Scott and Stiles said to meet him here but he didn't want to go inside alone so he decides to wait outside.

"Hey, Arthur."

His lips twitch uncontrollably but he doesn't smile, forest green meeting ocean blue. He nods, "Lydia, hey, what are you doing here?"

"I don't know why I keep finding the bodies," Lydia murmurs, her fingers curled standing besides him. "But maybe if I stopped fighting it I'd find them in time."

"You amaze me more and more each day, Lydia Martin." Arthur complemented, inane to stop himself from beaming. She's owning up to her shit unlike himself and he couldn't help but feel proud for her. Her lips quirk into a small smile looking up at him. "You trust me, right?"

"Without a doubt." She answered without missing a beat. Her eyes lingering on her lips, her chin tilts moving closer. Arthur froze, her breath fans his lips and he feels his eyes closing. This couldn't actually be happening. He huffed feeling her arms wrap around his neck lowering him slightly to her level, was he dreaming? Of course he was, Lydia Martin does not like guys like him.

Pulling back the strawberry blonde shoot him a grin and opens the door but pauses when Arthur stays in his spot hands in his pocket and eyes on the ground. "Aren't you coming in?"

Arthur bits his bottom, glancing at the door then at Lydia, he doesn't want to go inside and own up to his mistake. He shakes his head looking away from the door, fighting the urge to touch his lips the same place Lydia had her eyes on.

The strawberry blonde closes the door, finding her place besides Arthur, she could see the guilt swimming in his ice blue eyes for something he couldn't control. Lydia knows he won't go inside, so she stays outside too. For him.

"There's no more chairs inside." She lied, her lips presses together a dimple on her left cheek. Their knuckles brushing as her hand swings

He could see through her lie, but doesn't say anything his dominating beam speaking loud and clear. Lydia Martin was going to kiss him.

* * *

"LYDIA IS MISSING."

His head throbbed as the words repeated, how could she be missing? They were together, her hand in his waiting out with him, but she's gone like a dust.

Arthur pushes through the front doors, Scott and Stiles by his side searching for any hints she left behind, both calling her name but no one answered.

The smoky eyed sighs, his hand running through his hair texting her would be useless because he hadn't topped up, Scott uses his heightened amber gold irises for heat signatures and Stiles sends her another message. Once again, Arthur stands useless.

"Do you see anything?" The smoky eyed questions, his teeth sunk into his bottom lips glancing around the school.

"Nothing." Scott replies, sighing.

Stiles grunts, his fingers tightening around his phone complaining, "She's not answering texts. What do we do?"

Neither had time to reply, Scott hunches forward groaning in agony and his hands flew to his ears.

"I bet it was your high pitched voice."

"Now is not the time to make fun of Scott's scream!" Scott's fingers tighten around his ears groaning at the inhuman scream, and Arthur points to it making Stiles grumble.

The beta heavies a breath standing back up, and glimpse back at them shifted, "I know where Lydia is."

Arthur throws his hands in the school's direction, cheering, "Lead the way!"

Scott doesn't need to be told twice, sprinting into the school faster than the two humans behind down a familiar hallway. When they caught up, Arthur dashed grunting when his forehead collided with the door knocking him down.

"Thank god, I'm the slow one." Stiles comments, hoisting Arthur back into his feet with a small smile.

Arthur punches his shoulder, "Shut up." glancing behind him his eyes widen spotting a familiars sheriff but no Scott, "You're dad is in there, Stiles."

The freckles boy pushed him to see through the window slot. "Drop it! There was a girl." Sheriff Stilinski pants, a knife lodged in his shoulder leaning back on his knee pointing a gun at the Darach. She look unfazed strolling towards him. "Years ago, we found her in the woods, her face and body slashed apart. That was you, wasn't it?"

"Maybe I should've started with philosophers, with knowledge and strategy." Jennifer comments, standing high she continues to walk, Sheriff Stilinski shots her thigh, she winced stumbling. Arthur's eyes widen as her
skin heals over the bullet wound. She smirks. "Healers..." she twists his knife deeper picking him and slamming him against the stacked up chairs, ignoring his groans of pain. Stiles lodges his shoulder against the door with Arthur's help unable to watch, "Warriors..." she rips his badge off his chest and crunches it effortlessly, "Guardians... Virgins." She kisses him.

Their shoulders burns aching but they ignore it, Scott's down in a pool of his own blood so it's up to them to save him. With one last shove, the desk moves and they continue but they're too late.

The only clue to them being here were shards of glass from the window they flew through.

"Dad?"

"Lydia," Arthur kneels in front of the strawberry blonde, his palm cupping her tear stained cheeks searching for any injuries, his ocean blue spotting a pink line around her throat. A stone lodged in his throat, she's still breathing, she's fine. He rips the duct tape from her wrist letting her fall into his arms tears rolling down her cheeks.

"You're alright," he murmurs softly in her ear, holding her tight he doesn't want to let her go again, his right hand her back lightly, "I've got you."

* * *

"DEREK? DEREK, WHERE are you?"

His nails digs into his palms fighting the rage swimming within his veins hearing their English teacher also the Darach enter the loft searching for Derek, while himself, Scott and Stiles hides in the hallway.

"Right here." Derek answers, walking away from the boys and into her arms.

"Thank God." She breathes out in relief, pulling back, immediately diving into her lie, "Something happened at the recital. At the school. Okay, I need to tell you before you hear it, before you hear any of it from them."

"From who?" Derek questions.

"Scott, Stiles, Arthur." Their names tasting like acid on her tongue, "They're gonna tell you things. Things you can't believe. You have to trust me, okay? You trust me."

"What is it?" Derek inquiries.

"Promise you'll listen to me." She pleads, her hands clutching his tightly.

The alpha nods, "I promise." Silence weighs down on them and it doesn't take a genius to figure out their kissing, but Derek wasn't kissing her back. "They're already here, aren't they?" Scott steps out first followed by the humans, she scowls. "So... they told you it was me? That I'm the one taking people?"

"We told him you're the one killing people." Scott corrects.

"Oh, that's right. Committing human sacrifices?" Jennif- the Darach chuckles sarcastically, "What, cutting their throats? Yeah, I probably do it on my lunch hour. That way, I can get back to teaching high school English the rest of the day. That makes perfect sense."

Stiles blurts, "Where's my dad?" His hazel brown holding in unshed tears, intensifying Arthur's glare on her.

"How should I know?" Her eyes wide with innocent would've convinced Arthur if he hadn't seen it live. She spins back to Derek pleading, "Derek, tell me you don't believe this."

His emerald green flicker between the two sides, and asks, "Do you know what happened to Stiles's father?"

"No."

"How about nearly killing Lydia." Arthur inquires, fists clenched. He wanted to punch her for harming her, make her regret stepping foot into Beacon Hills. He didn't want to leave her but Stiles needs him, he couldn't just abandon him.

"Lydia Martin?" She wonders appalled by his accusation, "I don't know anything about that."

"What do you know?" The Alpha retorts, head tilted.

"I know that these boys, for whatever misguided reason, are filling your head with an absurd story. And one they can't prove, by the way."

A smirk dominated Arthur's lips, as Scott retrieves a petit jar filled with curry colored powder from his back pocket. "What if we can?"

Her lips twists into a scowl, eyes glued to the jar, "What is that?"

"My boss told me it's a poison and a cure..." Scott explains twisting the jar, he steps forward and Derek steps away. "Which means you can use it... and it can be used against you."

"Mistletoe?"

She didn't have time to react, as the powder was thrown in her direction. She screeches trying to shield herself from the dust but it creeps in, and inside the mist a deformed bold head pokes out, Arthur steps back nearly tripling over his feet as they made eye contact. Three crimson color claw marks from her cheekbone to her eyebrow on her right side and her skin a patchy pink. And her mask slips back on.

She glanced at Derek who looks flabbergasted and tries to run but he has his fingers around her neck before she could take a step. She gulps, "Derek, wait, wait! You need me."

"What are you?" Derek demands, like a spells been worn off.

"The only person who can save your sister. Call Peter." She cries out in pain, his claws digging into her neck. "Call him!"

He calls Peter, whole the three eye the two and when he ends the call Arthur knew she was right by the way his fingers tighten around her neck enough for a crack to echo. Arthur wants her dead, but not yet, not while his father figure is still in her hands.

"Derek." Scott calls, the alpha ignored him, his anger getting the best of him. "Derek, what are you doing?"

"Her life..." Her heels aren't able to touch ground when Derek lifts her higher, she wheezes out of breath, "It's in my hands!"

"Stop. Derek, stop!" Stiles pleads.

Jennifer glances at him, using it her advantage, "Stilinski, you'll never find him."

"Derek." Arthur tries, cursing when he doesn't listen only tightening his grip. "Fucking hell, Derek stop!"

It tightens before he releases her, her body pummels to the ground, her fingers rubbing her throat. She looks up at them a smirk on her lips, "That's right. You need me. All of you."

* * *

RAIN RAGES DOWN on them in the dark night, people scurry out of the hospital soaking their clothes, Arthur climbs out of his ocean blue 1949 Chevrolet car, he couldn't help but admire its beauty soaked. He isn't obsessed with cars but when one looks fine, you have to stare.

"What's that?" Scott points at the wooden bat in his best friend's hand, dragging Arthur away from his car.

"Well, you got claws, Arthur has his fists and I got a bat." Stiles answers, shrugging his shoulders lightly and marched into the hospital Jennifer in front with Derek's fingers around her his bicep.

"Scott! Scott! What are you doing here?" Melissa wonders, her eyebrows knitted glancing at the group. "The hospital's evacuating."

"We're here for Cora." Scott replies.

Her eyebrows arch, flicking between the five, "What, all of you? Why does Stiles have my bat?"

"Mom, just trust me on this." The beta says softly, "You need to get out of here. Right now."

She hesitates only realizing how serious the situation is, and nods, "The building is supposed to be clear in 30 minutes. We've got two ambulances that are coming back. One's 10 minutes out, the other's 20. Cora needs to be on one of those. They'll be picking up in the basement garage."

"Got it. Okay."

Arthur was going too hope everything goes according to plan, but with their luck he doubts they'll be lucky if they only get hurt.

"You don't have to keep me on a leash, Derek. I'm going to help." Jennifer bargains, pushed inside an elevator, but he says nothing on her left side his grip only tightening. Her head tilts to her right where Scott stood in the corner a dark glare on his face, Arthur stood staring at the ceiling besides Scott, his ocean blue slit feeling her eyes on him meeting her eyes, and then to Stiles behind Derek who held his bat high warningly, she rolls her eyes.

The elevator dings, and Derek drags her out the three behind her. The lights flicker above them, Arthur glances up continuing down his path freezing besides Stiles noticing the wrecked empty hospital room, eyes falling on the black blood besides the bed.

Arthur gulps noticing the droplet of blavk blood leading to closed double doors, he wasn't sure he wanted to go through them.

"Derek." Scott's calls. Grunts and groaning becoming louder behind the door, seconds later their slammed open with a defeated Peter sliding towards them.

He groans, his back on the floor glimpsing up at his nephew, "We got a problem. Big problem." The ultra twins roar louder than thunder making the lights flicker, and the floor shake with terror.

His hand subconsciously fly to his hip. Derek shifts, growling he runs towards the twins arms around their shoving them into a wall but their arm slams into Derek's back pushing him off. He tries to fight back but looses.

Scott runs after them amber gold irises glowing, jumping from wall to wall he punched them and they stumble but quickly regain themselves fighting back.

"Help me." Stiles demands slapping Arthur's shoulder, his eyes glued to Cora's unconscious body.

The humans dash past the twins who had Scott against the wall, Arthur knowing he could take care of himself with the other two Hale werewolves.

Arthur hooks her arm over his shoulder and Stiles takes the other arm counting to three, they hoist her by her waist shielding her away from danger. But when Arthur glances back, he catches the Druid behind closing elevator doors escaping.

* * *

( A/N ) not the best but probably the longest, i loved
writing this tho it took ageeeess! Arthur and Lydia supporting
each other in this chapter made me smile wayy too wide,
I'm in love with the gif I made! But dAmn, only two or
three more chapters left, I've got BiG plans
for Arthur! I cannot wait!

⏤ TylerPoseForMe