Playlist:

Echo ~ Jason Walker

Headstrong ~ Trapt

Don't Wake Me ~ Robots Don't Sleep

I collapsed on the couch when I got home. I was still weak from overusing my magic, the adrenaline from facing off with a creature that could paralyze and then tear me to shreds was wearing off. So much was happening in such a short time. Being dragged back into this world. Anna being dragged into it. My protective instincts going into overdrive lately. Derek making me his Emissary. Derek not listening to his Emissary. Laura and Peter's deaths. Mom's death. Josh and the other Hales' deaths. I looked up at my favorite picture I kept on the mantle. It was taken by Mom at a Fourth of July event. Anna, Laura, Derek, Paige, Josh, and I were huddled together. Paige was Derek's girlfriend at the time. Josh, Derek, and Paige were all fifteen. Laura and I were seventeen and Anna was nine. It was the last photo of Derek before his personality changed. I got up and took the picture down. Derek had a genuine smile and Paige had her hand on his cheek, a grin on her face. Anna was laughing and Laura was hugging her from behind, smiling at the camera. Josh was smiling and I was laughing. He'd actually said "Chuck E. Cheese" before Mom took the picture. I sat back on the couch. Most of the people in the photo were dead now. Paige. Josh. Laura. Everything from the past several years just pushed its way to the surface. I pulled my legs up, holding the photo to my chest. I had thought I was healing but my inner strength was waning at this moment. I had to be the strong one. For Anna. Mom had told me I needed to be her strength when she was gone. I needed to be the leader of the family. Be the mentor. Not that I had exactly been the perfect role model over the years.

"Trish?"

I looked over towards Anna. She was wearing the tank top and leggings she wore as pajamas. "Anna, what are you doing up? I thought you were in bed."

"Are you okay?" Anna had a worried look on her face. "Why are you crying?"

I hadn't even realized I was. I quickly wiped away my tears. "I'm fine."

Anna sat next to me on the couch. "No, you're not." She reached up and pulled the frame I had against my chest down so she could see it. "You miss Josh, don't you?"

I nodded. "And Laura. And Peter. And Mom." Despite the fire turning him into a vicious and vengeful killer, I missed Uncle Peter. "Especially Mom right now."

"I miss Mom and Peter, too." She wrapped her arms around me. "I wish Mom was here to tell us what we should do. I miss talking to Peter."

I saw the tear fall as she spoke of Peter and I wiped it away. I knew it had devastated her when I had to break the news to her that her beloved Peter had been killed by Derek. She adored him and I knew that she'd fallen for him with the way she interacted with him at Macy's when he helped her pick out a dress for the Winter Formal. She hadn't spoken about it, but I knew she was still hurting. Just like I was with Josh. Anna looked up at me.

"Why did he have to kill Peter?" she asked. "Was it for the power?"

I shook my head. "I don't know. I really don't know. Just like I don't know why Josh and the rest of the Hales had to die that night. Why Mom..."

I couldn't finish my sentence because I broke down, pulling Anna close. I never got to properly mourn Mom, focusing on Anna's well-being. But Gerard being back and declaring war and Bennett being killed by the Kanima brought back all the painful memories and I couldn't be strong anymore. Not even for Anna.

ANNA

I hadn't seen Trish cry like that since the fire. And I hadn't seen her cry period since Mom died. I cried almost every night since Peter had died. I was still upset at Derek for killing him. And I was upset at him now for piling the responsibility of pack adviser on Trish and then not listening to her advice. Trish and I talked for a while about Peter and Josh. And she also told me about what happened at the pools. That they'd figured out that the lizard thing Allison, Scott, and I had seen at Isaac's house was called a Kanima, but we still didn't know what exactly it was. Trish dropped me off at school that Monday before she headed to work. I headed to my first class, avoiding most of my friends. Lydia was at the Guidance Office, talking to Ms. Morrell like she did twice a week since the naked hike. I hadn't seen Stiles or Allison, but nearly ran into Scott.

"Sorry, Scott."

"It's okay. You alright?"

"I'm fine. Why?"

"You just seem to be down."

"Stop using your abilities on me."

"I couldn't help it. Is Trish okay? Stiles told me what she did the other night."

"Mostly. She told me about what you guys discovered."

"Yeah, we've been trying to research it but we're having a problem with the bestiary."

"You found it? Wait, what do you mean problem?"

"It's in archaic Latin."

"Oh," We walked into class and we both just stopped and stared. Isaac was sitting at his desk. "Uh..."

Scott took his seat, not taking his eyes off the other werewolf. I sat two desks behind Isaac, saving the seat behind Scott and across from me for Stiles. I was staring as well. If the Argents knew he was here...

Stiles came bounding into the room and sat behind Scott. "Dude, I just talked to my dad who just talked to Jackson and I've got really terrible, horrible, very, very bad news."

"Stiles..," I started to say.

Scott turned in his seat to Stiles, trying to hush him before motioning towards Isaac. "I think I already know."

Stiles looked over at Isaac. I could feel the smugness coming off him.

"Settle down, class," the teacher said as the bell rang. "Get out your books and turn to page 342. And Mr. Lahey, I'm expecting you to make up the work and tests you missed during your absence."

~~~

I walked out of class with Scott and Stiles.

"Alright, I only found one thing online called the Kanima," Stiles said. "It's a werejaguar from South America that goes after murderers."

"That thing was not a jaguar," Scott commented.

"Not unless jaguars have scales," I quipped.

"Yeah, and I'm not exactly a murderer. Neither is Trish."

"It went after Trish?" I asked.

"It started to before she did that water thing."

"But you did see it kill somebody, which is why it tried to kill you," Scott said.

"That doesn't explain why it had Trish in its sights."

"Was she trying to protect you and Derek?" I asked.

"I think so..."

"There ya go."

"You know it's probably still trying to kill you," Scott mused. "And it probably won't stop until you're dead."

Stiles and I stopped and just looked at Scott as he kept walking.

"Seriously?" I looked at Stiles, who was giving Scott a dirty look before following him.

"You know, sometimes I really begin to question this 'friendship'." Stiles threw up the finger quotes and I couldn't help but laugh.

I jogged after them. "Hey, wait. What water thing did Trish do?"

~~~

I was sitting behind Stiles in our next class when Jackson came in and sat behind Scott. Which he never did. What the hell did he want?

"Hey, testicle left and right."

I looked up from my book at Stiles and Scott. They both looked up and I could see the annoyance on Scott's face.

"What the hell is a Kanima?"

They looked at each other before turning to Jackson, surprised looks on their faces. I'm sure I had the same look. Who the hell told him about the Kanima? Coach slammed his book on his desk and our attention went back to the front.

"Alright, listen up," he said.  "A quick warning before we begin our review. Some of you, like McCall."

Scott looked up at Coach and I bite my lip to keep from laughing.

"Might want to start their own study groups because tomorrow's midterm is so profoundly difficult... I'm not even sure I could pass it. Okay, I need a volunteer at the board to answer the first question. Who's got it, huh?" Several hands raised. "Come on. Let's go, buddy."

"How did you know?" I whispered as Coach picked someone from the other side of the room.

"Derek. Isaac and Erica held me down and Derek dripped something off a mirror into my mouth. Isaac and Erica were saying something about Lydia in the hall just now. I was paralyzed from the neck down. Do you have any idea what that feels like?"

"I'm familiar with the sensation," Stiles said. Jackson gave him a dirty look.

"Wait," Scott whispered. "Why would Derek test you? Why would he think it's you?"

"How should I know?"

"Wait, do they think it's Lydia?" Stiles asked.

"Why would they think it's Lydia?" I asked.

"I don't know. All I heard was her name and something about chemistry."

"Jackson!" Coach yelled, making all four of us jump. "Do you have something you want to share with the rest of the class?"

"Um...," Jackson looked around and I gave him a look when his eyes fell on me. "Just an undying admiration for my... my coach."

I had to put my fist over my mouth to keep Coach from seeing the smile and it was taking everything not to actually laugh at Jackson's brown-nosing.

"That's really kind of you," Coach said. Jackson smiled. "Now shut up! Shut it!"

I lowered my head behind Stiles to hide the fact I was silently laughing.

"Anybody else?"

Coach walked off and Scott grabbed Stiles' shirt and pulled him towards him.

"How do we know it's not her?" he whispered.

"Because I looked into the eyes of that thing, okay? And what I saw was pure evil. And when I look into Lydia's eyes, I only see 50% evil."

"Are you kidding me?" I asked.

"Alright, maybe 60. You know, no more than 40 on a good day."

My head hit my arms. "Not helping."

"Anna's right, Stiles," Scott agreed. "That's not a very good argument."

Stiles sighed and my attention went to Lydia at the board.

"I'm aware of that but I swear it's not her."

Lydia was writing all over the board.

"It can't be alright. Lydia's fine."

"You might want to rethink that statement, Stiles," I said.

"Huh?" Stiles turned to me and I pointed at the board.

Lydia had literally written something all over the board. She looked like she was having a mental breakdown. I couldn't tell what she had written all over the board. Coach was calling her name. Lydia suddenly gasped, tears streaking her mascara, and looked around. I exchanged looks with Scott, Stiles, and Jackson. It was as if she'd come out of a trance.

"Okay, then. Anybody else want to try answering?" Coach turned to the class. "This time in English?"

Everyone but the four of us laughed and Lydia spun around. Stiles took out his phone.

"What is that?" Scott asked. "Greek?"

"No, actually, I think it is English." He held up his phone where we could see the photo he'd just taken of the board. He flipped the photo around and I saw that Lydia had written "Someone help me" mirrored all over the board. Why would she write that?

~~~

"Derek is not gonna kill her without proof," Scott said as we walked into the chemistry room.

"Alright, so he tests her like he did with Jackson, right? But when and where?"

Erica and Isaac walked into the room and set their sights on Lydia.

"Here and now," I said.

Derek's pack hesitated a moment before starting towards Lydia. Scott and Stiles darted to her, sitting on either side of her. I rolled my eyes and went and sat next to Allison, who gave Scott a questioning look. I pulled her close and whispered into her ear what was going on. She looked back at Erica, who gave her a smug look. Isaac was staring daggers at Scott. And to think, I thought he was a nice guy. Turn him into a werewolf and he turns into a jackass. Mr. Harris started class.

"Einstein once said 'Two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe'." Great, another day of being treated like we had Forrest Gump IQs. "I myself have encountered infinite stupidity."

I rolled my eyes as he patted Stiles on the shoulder.

"So to combat the plague of ignorance in my class, you're going to combine efforts through a round of group experiments. Let's see if two heads are indeed better than one. Or in Mr. Stilinski's case, less than one."

Stiles looked like he was ready to punch Harris in the face. I was ready to punch Harris in the face.

"Erica, you take the first station. You'll start with...," he scanned the room. Every male student's hand, with the exception of Scott, Stiles, and Isaac, shot into the air. Erica looked pleased and Isaac looked amused. "I didn't ask for volunteers. Put your hormonal little hands down. Start with Mr. McCall. Alright, next two."

Erica gave him a sultry smile, then she gave Allison a look. Allison looked away. I looked between the two, realizing what Erica was doing. Everyone was paired off and Allison started off with Lydia and I started off with Isaac.

"You've changed too much," I said.

"What do you mean?"

I measured the chemical. "I thought you were a nice guy when we met at the dance. Now you get a bite and you're as much of an asshole as Derek."

"Do you know what it's like to be powerless?" Then he chuckled. "Of course you do. You're human."

"I know why you accepted. But it didn't give you the right to become an asshole."

"Join a pack and you can be a bitch."

"Like Erica?"

Isaac chuckled. "Maybe then, you'll catch someone's eye. I know you can look beautiful."

I glared at him and snorted and he grinned.

A bell rang. "Switch."

I paired with Allison next. "I don't like this," I said when we sat.

"I know."

"Maybe I should bring Trish into this."

"Why?"

I really didn't want to tell them that it was because she was Derek's Emissary. I didn't even know if they knew what an Emissary was. "She can talk to Derek. Talk him out of whatever he's planning."

"It's Derek. He does what he wants. Especially now that he's an Alpha."

"Trish is one of the few people he'll halfway listen to. Okay, maybe the only person now he'll halfway listen to."

The bell rang again. "Switch."

I saw Isaac paired with Lydia. "Ah, crap," I muttered.

Stiles started to get up and Harris slammed his pointer down on the desk.

"If you're trying to test my patience, Mr. Stilinski, I guarantee it'll be a failing grade."

My partner and I worked on the final leg of the experiment and I kept looking over at Isaac and Lydia.

"You like him, don't you?" my partner asked.

"What?"

"It's that bad boy vibe, isn't it," She looked over at Isaac. "Not to mention he seems to have gotten hotter."

"Uh..."

"You know I actually thought you two were together when I saw you at the dance."

"No..."

"So you don't mind if I ask him out?"

"Why would I care?"

"So you don't have a crush on him?"

"No."

"Ah."

The bell dinged. "Time. If you've catalyzed the reaction correctly, you should now be looking at a crystal."

I reached into the beaker with the tongs and pulled out the crystal.

"Cool," my partner said.

Stiles held up his beaker and I saw foam and Scott with an "oh, crap" look on his face. Isaac pulled out the crystal.

"Now, for the last part of the experiment I'm sure you'll all enjoy, you can eat it."

I offered the crystal to my partner and she broke it in half, offering me the other half. We both took a bite of it.

"Lydia!" Scott jumped up and we all looked at him.

"What?" she asked, looking at him annoyed. I had no idea why Scott suddenly reacted like that.

He looked around. "Nothing." He quickly sat down and Lydia bit into the crystal. And then I noticed the familiar black Camaro outside.

"Ah, crap," I muttered, realizing that Isaac had put the Kanima venom on the crystal. Lydia didn't react at all. Scott and I exchanged looks.

Operation Protect Lydia is a go.

~~~

Scott, Stiles, Allison, and I slipped into Coach's office.

"Derek's outside waiting for Lydia," Scott said.

"Waiting to kill her?" Allison asked.

"Lydia didn't react to the Kanima venom. He has to think it's her," I said.

"Yes," Scott agreed. "Especially after what happened at the pool."

"It's not her!" Stiles insisted.

"Stiles, she didn't pass the test, man. Nothing happened."

"No, it can't be her."

"It doesn't matter if Derek thinks it's her," Allison looked at me. "Do you really think Trish can convince him he's wrong?"

"I hope so." I dug through my bag for my phone. "Do we have a Plan B if she can't?"

"Figure out a way to protect her."

"Great plan. Very detailed."

"I really don't think he'll do anything here. Not at school," Scott said.

"What about after school?" Allison countered.

"Great point."

I pulled my phone out and dialed Trish, stepping away as they continued to discuss how to protect Lydia.

Anna, I know you can't be on your phone during school.

"Kinda an emergency, Trish."

What's wrong?

"Derek tested Lydia and now he thinks she's the Kanima and he's going to kill her if we can't convince him that she's not the Kanima."

Trish dropped the f-bomb. That's not a good sign. Well, with my track record lately, I don't know if I can convince him otherwise. Scott's going to also have to convince him and the rest of you are going to have to keep her in your sights, especially once school lets out.

"We're working on that."

"Oh, you mean the 900-page book written in archaic Latin that none of us can read!? Good luck with that," Stiles said.

"You don't happen to be able to read archaic Latin, can you?" I asked Trish.

I can't even read classic Latin. Look, I'll talk to Derek, but you know how he is once he has his mindset. Is he at the school?

"Yeah, I think he's waiting until after school to do it."

Then I have an hour to convince him before I have to go back to work. Anna, just get her someplace safe.

"We will." I hung up.

"Actually, I think I might know someone who might be able to translate it," Allison said.

"I can talk to Derek," Scott said. "Maybe convince him to give us a chance to prove that it's not her."

"Trish is going to talk to him, too," I added. "Maybe between the two of you, he'll back down a hair and give us a chance."

"If anything happens, you guys let me handle it, okay?"

"What does that mean?" Allison looked offended.

"It means you can't heal like I do."

Allison gave him a look.

"I just don't want you getting hurt."

Allison pulled out a handheld crossbow out of her bag and held it up.

"How the hell were you able to bring that into school?" I asked.

"I can protect myself."

I chuckled and Scott had this odd look on his face.

"What?" She set the crossbow down. "Did something else happen?"

"I just don't want you getting hurt. Seriously, if anything goes wrong, you call me, okay? I don't care if your dad finds out. Call, text, scream, yell, whatever. I'll hear you and I'll find you as fast as I can."

Allison nodded and Stiles picked up Allison's crossbow.

"We have until 3."

Allison nodded again and Scott turned away and headed towards the door. Stiles pressed the trigger on the crossbow and the bolt flew towards Scott's head. Scott spun around and caught the bolt with his lightning-fast reflexes. I was gaping and Allison sighed and looked at Stiles, holding her hand out. He handed her the crossbow.

"Sorry. Sorry."

"Jeez, Stiles! Are you trying to kill him?" I asked.

"It's a sensitive trigger on that."

Allison put the crossbow back into her bag.

TRISH

"What have I told you about growling at me?"

Derek had, once again, growled when he answered the phone.

"I don't care if you're an Alpha now, don't growl at me!"

What do you want, Trish?

"Why is it I have to keep finding out about your shenanigans from my sister?"

What did she tell you this time?

"That you've targeted an innocent teenaged girl because she didn't pass your Kanima test. I told you to give us time!"

I'm eliminating a threat.

"Yes, because Lydia is such a huge threat. Give us time to truly determine if she's the Kanima."

So she can kill again? No.

"Then let me determine what she knows. Wolves aren't the only ones that can access memories."

You can do Memory Transference?

"So to speak. Let me do it to Lydia."

No.

"What do you mean, no?"

Do I need to spell it out for you?

"Derek!"

She's the Kanima. End of story.

"Because you can't explain why she's not a wolf so that automatically makes her the enemy. And why the hell did you ask me to be your Emissary when you won't listen to my advice!?"

Derek didn't answer.

"Hello?" I looked at my phone and saw that he'd hung up. Luckily, I was at the school. I pulled up behind his Camaro and I saw him roll his eyes. I slammed the door shut. "You hung up on me because you know I'm right."

Derek didn't say a word, only turned and walked towards the lacrosse field. We reached it as Scott got off of Derek's third Beta, whose name I still didn't know.

"She failed the test," Derek said, making Scott jump. He looked at me, giving me a questioning look.

"Yeah, which doesn't prove anything. Lydia's different," Scott countered.

"I know, at night she turns into a homicidal walking snake."

"We don't know that for sure," I countered.

"I'm not going to let you kill her."

Derek looked at his Beta, who smiled. "Who said I was going to do it?"

Scott then realized that he was sending Erica and Isaac to kill Lydia.

"Derek! Ella es inocente! Usted sabrá una vez que sus Betas vuelven con los ojos azules!" Yes, I'm fluent in Spanish. Just like Derek. And there were things that the two Betas with us didn't need to know right now.

"Ella no es inocente, Trish. Ella nos atacó y habría matado a todos si no ha utilizado agua en su contra."

Scott started to take off and the Beta slammed him to the ground.

"¿Confías en mí para ser su emisario o no?" I switched back to English as Scott coughed from the breath being knocked out of him. "Let me prove it, Derek! Call them off!"

"I don't know why you think you have to protect everyone now, Scott. Trish can't seem to help it, but you?" He shrugged. I gave him a look. "But even so, Lydia has killed people and she's gonna do it again and next time it's gonna be one of us."

"Why are you so convinced that it's Lydia?" I asked.

"She was bitten by an Alpha. It's her."

"You saw that thing up close. You know it's not like us," Scott argued.

"But it is!" Derek motioned to himself, the Beta, and Scott. "We're all shape-shifters. You don't know what you're dealing with!"

"Do you?" I asked. "You act like you know all the answers. Or is that part of your power trip, Derek? Keeping what you know to yourself?"

Derek glared at me. "It happens rarely and it happens for a reason."

"What reason?" Scott asked.

"The shape you take reflects the person that you are," Derek and I said at the same time. It was something that was always explained to the younger Hale Betas. Right along with "We're predators, but we don't have to be killers".

Derek looked at me before stepping forward and helping Scott, who'd been on the ground the entire conversation, to his feet. "Even Stiles calls her cold-blooded."

"I could say that about your other two Betas," I said.

The Beta's lips quirked like he was trying not to smile at that.

"What if she's immune?" Scott asked. I'd never actually considered that. Derek looked at him puzzled. He obviously hadn't considered that either. "What if she's got something inside of her that makes her immune to the Bite, which is why she didn't get paralyzed?"

"No one's immune! I've never seen it or heard of it."

"Doesn't mean it isn't possible," I countered.

"It's... it's never happened."

"She could be the first."

"What about Jackson?" Scott asked.

"What?" I looked at Derek. The scowl came across his face and I knew that Scott was telling the truth. "You bit Jackson!? What the hell is wrong with you!?"

"That's why you tested him, isn't it?"

Derek looked over at me like I was going to help.

"Don't look at me, dumbass."

The Beta blinked at me, no doubt surprised at me daring to call his Alpha a dumbass.

"You're the one who bit the arrogant jackass."

"Because you gave him what he wanted, didn't you?"

"Scott...," Derek said.

"Peter said the Bite either kills you or turns you. You were probably hoping that he would die."

The Beta looked at Derek.

"But nothing happened, right? And you have no idea why, do you?"

"Scott," I warned. It was one thing for me to push his buttons, I'd been doing it for years and knew what would set him off, but it was a whole other story for Scott to be doing it.

Derek snorted and I knew that Scott had pushed too far. "No," he growled.

"Well, I have a theory. Lydia's immune and somehow she passed it on to Jackson."

"You can't pass on an immunity that way, Scott. Do you pay attention in science class at all?"

"You both know I'm right."

"No!"

"You cannot do this!"

My phone vibrated and I saw a message from Anna.

We're taking Lydia to Scott's. Hoping we'll be fairly safe there. I gave a small smile.

Good. Keep an eye on her

"Look, I can't let her live! You should have known that!" He looked at me. "Both of you!"

"I was hoping we would convince you, but then... we weren't counting on it."

Derek looked between the two of us, a puzzled look on his face. And that, folks, is how an Eamonn protects an innocent life and a Druid maintains the balance.

ANNA

We had a plan, thanks to Trish. She called back and talked to Scott, helping us hatch a plan to protect Lydia, despite the fact she would be going against the wishes of her Alpha. She called it maintaining the balance. Allison in turn recruited Jackson's help. Which was why Stiles, Jackson, Allison, and I were escorting Lydia out of the library.

"If we're doing a study group," Lydia asked. "Why didn't we just stay in the library?"

"Because we're meeting up with somebody else," Stiles explained.

"Well, why doing they just meet us in the library?"

"Oh, that would've been a great idea! Too late."

"Okay, hold on...," Lydia stopped and Jackson grabbed her arm.

"Lydia, shut up and walk."

Allison, Stiles, and I glanced at each other as Jackson marched her out the door.

"Aggressive much?" I said, looking behind me for Erica, Isaac, Boyd, or even Derek. I really wouldn't put it past him to be in the school despite the fact that he wasn't a teenager. We piled into Stiles' Jeep and I sent Trish a quick message.

We're taking Lydia to Scott's. Hoping we'll be fairly safe there.

Good. Keep an eye on her

Stiles sped off and I was really hoping that Scott and Trish succeeded in either convincing Derek of Lydia's innocence or distracting him long enough for us to get to Scott's before him.

~~~

We made it to Scott's and none of us saw any sign of Derek or his pack. Or Scott for that matter. I knew we were going to be on our own. Trish was going to have to go back to work. She couldn't afford to lose her job just because she was an Emissary.

"If we're studying at Scott's house, then where's Scott?" Lydia asked.

"Meeting us here, I think. I hope," Stiles said.

"Very confident there, chief," I said.

Once inside, Stiles locked every lock on the door and then checked outside. I was pretty sure that was not going to keep Derek out if he really wanted to get in. Lydia was looking at him like he'd lost his mind. Jackson rolled his eyes.

"Uh... There's been a few break-ins around the neighborhood."

Lydia nodded with a tight-lipped smile. Stiles then grabbed a chair and braced the door with it.

"Holy hell," I muttered. Lydia motioned at the chair.

"And a murder."

And I wanted to either hit him in the head with the baseball bat or myself. Okay, Stiles. Definitely Stiles. Allison scratched her head and tried to hide the smile. Jackson snorted.

"Yeah, it was bad."

Allison looked at Jackson and then nodded her head up the stairs.

"Lydia, follow me," Jackson said. "I need to talk to you for a minute."

"Seriously?" Lydia asked as she followed Jackson upstairs. "What is going on with everyone?"

"Murder? Really?" I asked when they disappeared upstairs.

"What? Has Trish sent anything back?"

I looked at my phone and saw I had a couple of texts. "Derek's pissed at her for working with Scott. She says they're going to look for us and to try to hold them off until either Scott gets here or she gets off work."

"Derek's like a brother to her. Would she use that magic of hers against him?"

"I'm not sure." I looked out the window. "Shit."

Allison looked over my shoulder. Derek and his entire pack were standing across the street.

"Stiles, give me your phone," she said. Stiles handed Allison the phone and she dialed. "It's me. You need to get here now. Right now."

I kept my eye on them while Allison talked to Scott. It was getting dark.

"When does Trish get off work?"

I looked at my watch. "She's scheduled to leave in about thirty minutes and it'll take her about another thirty to get here from the hospital."

"Oh, jeez," Stiles mumbled. He looked over at us. "What are you doing?"

"Hmm?" I looked behind me at Allison, who had her phone in her hand.

"I think... I think I have to call my dad."

"I think we should wait on Scott and Trish," I said.

"No, but if he finds you here, you and Scott..."

"I know," She looked between me and Stiles. "What are we supposed to do? They're not here to scare us, okay? They're here to kill Lydia." Allison looked like she was torn between calling her dad and trying to handle four werewolves on her own.

My phone vibrated.

On my way

"Trish is on her way," I reported.

"Well, she better hurry," Stiles said.

Please hurry

Stiles kept looking at Allison.

"I got an idea," he suddenly said.

"It better be freaking brilliant," I said.

"Just shoot one of them."

"That's your brilliant idea? To shoot one of them?"

"Are you serious?" Allison asked.

"We told Scott we could protect ourselves, so let's do it. Or at least give it a shot, right?"

"Okay."

I moved out of Allison's way and went over to Stiles' window.

"Look, they don't think we're gonna fight, so if one of them gets hit, I'll guarantee they'll take off," Stiles said.

"Or it'll piss off the one we hit so bad that they'll wolf out and tear us to pieces," I countered.

"Just shoot one of them."

"Which one?" Allison asked.

"Uh... Derek."

"And you're an idiot," I said.

"Yeah, shoot him. Preferably in the head."

"If Scott was able to catch an arrow," Allison said. "Derek definitely can."

"Okay, just shoot one of the other three."

"Preferably Isaac," I muttered, still mad about what he said to me in chemistry.

"You mean two," Allison corrected.

"No, I mean three," Stiles said. We both looked out the window. Derek, Erica, and Boyd were watching the house. But Isaac was missing. "Where in the hell is Isaac?"

Allison took a step back and held up the crossbow. I glanced over at her when I saw movement out of the corner of my eye, moving fast.

"Allison!"

Allison spun around and Isaac pushed her aside like she was nothing. He then pushed me to the floor and threw Stiles into the living room. I saw that his eyes were glowing bright yellow. He snarled and went for Stiles. A blur went past me and Isaac went flying across the room and into the room across from the living room. Allison ran upstairs. I crawled backward as glass broke. Allison ran back downstairs and grabbed me.

"Come on!" We ran back into Scott's room and Allison shut the door and slid the chain into place.

"Where's Lydia and Jackson?" I asked.

She pointed her crossbow at the open window and I saw the clear slime dripping. "Stiles! It's here!" She went to the window and coated one of her arrows with the slime. Erica kicked open the door and I gave a scream. Allison aimed the crossbow at her. A red dot appeared on Erica's chest and she laughed.

"Hmm." She crossed her arms. "This might make me sound like kind of a bitch, but I've always wondered what it felt like to steal someone's boyfriend. I bet it's a pretty sick rush of power. I think I might try it with Scott." She laughed again. "You know what? I don't think it's gonna be that hard. Because why would he be waiting around to steal 10 minutes with you when he can have me any time he wants."

Allison pulled the trigger and Erica caught the arrow with her left hand.

She started laughing. "You didn't really think that would work, did you?"

I smiled.

"Actually," Allison said. "I did."

Erica looked down at the arrow and took it out of her hand, looking at it before looking at us.

"Ah!" Erica collapsed and Allison walked towards her.

She leaned down and pushed Erica's hair out of her face. "I thought you were psychic," She gave a laugh. "Bitch."

We left her lying there and went back downstairs. Isaac was now out cold. Scott's eyes were glowing.

"Erica's upstairs," I said. He went upstairs and returned a minute later with the she-wolf.

"Open the door."

Stiles did so and Scott threw Isaac and Erica out of the house and at Derek's feet. Trish ran up at that moment and Derek didn't look too pleased.

"I see that plan went flawlessly," she said in true Trish style.

Derek looked up from his Betas to see the four of us on the porch.

"I think I'm finally getting why you keep refusing me, Scott," Derek said. "You're not an Omega. You're already an Alpha of your own pack."

I saw the look Trish gave Derek when he said that. It was almost like she knew something. Or was figuring something out. Then she looked at Scott.

"But you know you can't beat me."

"I can hold you off until the cops get here."

Derek looked to his left.

"And I'm not bailing you out this time," Trish said, crossing her arms.

Derek's attention then went to the roof. Trish looked up as well. She uncrossed her arms and took a step back. I looked up, hearing something walking on the roof. We ran off the porch and looked on the roof as Trish went into an offensive stance and I saw her eyes change from their normal blue/green to purple. On the roof was the Kanima. It saw us and roared.

"Holy shit!" I breathed.

Derek growled. Then the Kanima disappeared. Derek looked down at his Betas. "Get them out of here," he said to Boyd.

A moment later, Lydia ran out of the house. "Would someone please tell me what the hell is going on?"

"It's Jackson," Scott whispered.

Translations:

She's innocent! You'll know once your Betas return with blue eyes!

She's not innocent, Trish. She attacked us and would have killed all of us if you didn't use water against her.

Do you trust me to be your Emissary or not?