When Isaac woke up, they were outside of a take-out place with a nervous Clary looking at him. He groaned to signal to her that he was awake, leading her to hug him but not say anything, in case they were overheard. The mundane rolled his eyes at the werewolf, but Isaac didn't care since he was okay and so was Clary – he would definitely leave Simon to die if it meant saving himself and his sister, not that he should be offended by it.

Then, the car stopped. "Where are we? This isn't the police station," Clary muttered, looking around as the two kidnappers (werewolves) opened the car doors and went to get them out.

"Just cooperate and everything will be fine," one of them called, not caring to explain anything as they brought out the three prisoners, "Get out!"

Clary grunted as she continued to look at them, "We didn't do anything wrong."

"Be quiet or you're gonna make this worse for yourself," the same man called again. Isaac was brought up by Alaric, who sent him a sad look, but the Lahey boy ignored it out of anger and pain.

He didn't know why he was surprised by being betrayed. It had happened many times, first it was his birth parents when they made him go to Beacon Hills. Then, it was adoptive parents, who didn't care about him at all. Then it was the pack, it was Allison, who left him after showing him the best thing in life – love. He had been betrayed by so many people, and he had betrayed so many people, he wasn't sure why it still hurt.

The worst part of it all was the fact he would say that he was used to it...that was sad, he didn't know anyone else that could say that about every aspect in their life.

"Hey, you're not a cop!" Clary called to the other man, looking at Alaric who had momentarily let go of Isaac as he picked up his ringing phone, "Alaric, who is this guy?"

"Luke's calling," Alaric informed the other, causing Isaac to tense at the name of his former friend.

"Ignore it. That's an order," alpha. It made sense by the way he took charge of everything. This other guy was the alpha of the pack, so it didn't matter what Alaric or anyone else in the pack wanted, his orders went.

"Are you guys with Luke?" Clary asked urgently, "Did he send you?"

The alpha didn't even glance at her as he said, "None of your business." But Isaac didn't need to ask to know the answer, no, they weren't with Luke. He wouldn't let them do that, he wouldn't. And why would they ignore a call from Luke if he was a part of this plan?

The three of them were brought inside until they were sat down at a random table, the restaurant empty. Isaac had heard from Luke about his pack, how they met up at a small restaurant, but never gave any specifics, seeing as he didn't want Isaac involved.

"Why do I kept getting kidnapped?" Simon asked the two of them, and Isaac would have snorted if this wasn't a more serious situation.

"Cause your weak," the Beacon Hills werewolf commented, giving him a small smile for support for whatever reason.

Clary rolled her eyes before actually giving him an answer, "Not to be self-centered, but I think it's me they're after."

Then, the redheaded girl looked at Alaric and the other werewolf who were sitting across from the three of them, "Okay, what is going on? Alaric, did you arrest for trespassing or something, because, news flash, I was in my own apartment."

"We're just having a little conversation, that's all," the alpha told her calmly, causing Isaac to roll his eyes and scoff, something the others noticed.

"Do you always handcuff people you wanna talk to?" Simon held up his hands before leaning towards Clary, "I bet this guy has one of the scariest online profiles ever."

"This guy's funny," the alpha smiled and pointed to the mundane that Isaac hated so very much, "I like funny."

"Look, I know you're scared of Luke," Alaric leaned closer to them, trying to engage in a conversation with Clary, "He's trying to find you, I can keep you safe. You just need to tell us where the Mortal Cup is."

"Everyone thinks I can find this Cup, but I don't know where it is!" Clary practically screamed in frustration.

"Think, Clary...Isaac. I'm trying to give you a chance," Alaric tried again, trying to rope Isaac into the situation but he didn't look at the other werewolf.

"We can't help you. I'm sorry," Clary said to them before turning to Isaac, "...right?"

The Lahey (Fairchild) boy nodded, "Jocelyn never told me...just said that Clary was the only person that could find it, but she doesn't know where it is either. You're out of luck."

"Right. Now, will you please let us go?" Clary looked at them wide-eyed, just wanting to find her mother and have this all over with.

"Playtime's over," the alpha declared, stabbing a fork into the table, scaring Clary and the mundane, but Isaac didn't even flinch. Why would he? He had seen an alpha pack, these were just mutts trying to play at a bigger game.

"Theo," Alaric said to him, really trying to get the emotionless man to listen, "just let me talk some sense into them."

"No, we did it your way," Theo – the alpha – said unwavering, "Now, we're gonna try it my way."

He motioned for someone else to come over before Simon was grabbed and taken away from them. Simon and Clary tried to protest, her even yelling, "hey, don't touch him!" but nothing worked.

"Don't move," the alpha said seriously, "Tell us where the Cup is or your funny friend dies."

Clary gasped in surprise but Isaac just rolled his eyes, pissing the alpha off more. "Please, please...please, don't hurt Simon, okay?" the redheaded girl pleaded.

She stammered out her next response to the situation, "I promise you, I swear to you, I do not know where this Cup is."

"That's too bad," the alpha said, "Get rid of him."

Isaac scoffed, finally speaking, "Really? This only hurts Clary and the mundane, I'm over here saying, 'Hallelujah!' and I'm a better help than here. So, really, your plan is bad."

"I'll break your arm if you don't tell us where it is," the alpha threatened, but Isaac didn't seem fazed.

"I'll heal," the Lahey (Fairchild) boy shrugged, "Werewolves from where I'm from heal very fast."

Isaac smirked, Theo looked pissed, but he didn't care. Clary, though, was livid at the thought of them also hurting Isaac. She didn't need to lose him along with her mother and Simon.

"Please," Clary moved onto another subject, "tell me if Simon's okay."

"He's alive...for now," the alpha said without emotion, and Isaac wondered if the plague of being without emotion was spreading over Brooklyn, seeing as Alec had caught it as well.

Clary sighed, "Thank God."

"You can thank whoever you want," the alpha smirked, "But if you don't tell us where the Cup is...we're gonna introduce Gretel here to your friend."

There was a growl from the female werewolf who was previously mentioned. "She's one of our fiercest warriors," growl, "She'll rip him to shreds," growl.

Clary gasped, finally figuring out who they were, "You're werewolves...just like Isaac."

"Obviously," Theo rolled his eyes, "And your friend is dog meat if you don't give us the Cup."

There was more growling and Clary shuddered, not liking the thought of her friend being viciously murdered and torn apart by a bunch of werewolves who didn't care about human life unlike Isaac.

"Okay! Okay..." Clary looked at him in slight fear, "You win. I'll tell you where is Cup is, just..."

"Clary, no!" Isaac's eyes widened, playing along with her little scheme, "Don't do it."

"I have to, Isaac," Clary looked at him, and he could see the tears brimming in her eyes, "Just please, let Simon go."

"I'm listening," Theo leaned closer, and it felt like every other werewolf in the place leaned closer as well, caving in on them.

"It's, uh..." Clary stuttered, trying to come up with a place where the Cup could be, "It's in the loft where you found me. There's a loose floorboard in the bedroom. My mom didn't know I knew, but she hid it there."

Theo looked back to another werewolf near the entrance to the building, "Bring me the Cup." Then, he turned back to the Clary and leaned in to whisper in their ears, "If you're lying...I'm not just gonna kill your friend...I'm gonna make you watch as Gretel rips him to shreds."

Time passed and soon it was dark outside, Theo still pacing around them, not letting the two Fairchilds speak to each other. Although, only one of them knew of their relation to each other...

Isaac could tell that Theo was getting impatient, but knew that he couldn't try anything with Simon yet, or else the deal would be off and he might be killed. He knew that Scott would be angry at him if he knew of his thoughts, of his desire to rip out Theo's throat, but Isaac couldn't help it. He had to protect his sister, at any cost.

Theo looked at his watch before glancing at his pack, "What's taking them so long?"

But, before anyone could answer, an alarm rang, causing Isaac to hold his ears as best he could because of his sensitive hearing. Isaac smelt smoke, and it was easy to know what was happening.

"It's a fire. Find it!" Theo yelled over the loud noise, "I'll take care of these two. Go."

Clary grunted from how harsh he was holding her, but said nothing until they were at a compartment you would find at the end of a packing truck. Theo was trying to throw them in there before Clary grunted again, "Would you let us go? Where's Simon?"

Theo didn't answer her questions, instead, he said, "Get in there." He shoved them both in there harshly, causing Clary to fall to the ground and Isaac losing his balance momentarily. "Keep your mouth shut!"

And then, he closed the door and the two were left in the pitch-black dark. Isaac broke away his handcuffs, tearing them away from his skin, watching as it healed because of the way it teared into his skin when he was pulling them apart.

"Why didn't you do that earlier?" Clary questioned, seeing as he so easily broke them apart.

Isaac barely let out a laugh. He knew it wasn't the right time, seeing as they were trapped, but it felt good after everything that had happened recently. "They would've seen. I could've been taken away from you, or killed. It was best not to until I knew it was safe."

Then, Clary used her seraph blade to break away her handcuffs. Isaac went over to the door and punched at it, but the metal was strong and nothing happened, not even a dent was made. The werewolf did it again, but still, he was brought bad with a wounded knuckle, which healed quickly before his eyes, and he did it again. But it was no use, both of them knew it.

Clary walked up to the door, using her blade to draw a symbol onto it, which caught flame, causing her to stumble onto the ground in shock. Isaac too stepped back because he didn't really find being caught on fire the best thing, even then he would eventually heal. Really, he didn't want to turn into the next Peter Hale, seeing as Scott finally decided to tell him the story of Peter's uprising as the alpha when Isaac moved in with him.

The next thing surprised Isaac as well. The doors swung open, revealing Luke, who was slightly panting when he saw them. Clary looked at him in fear, but Isaac remained neutral since he still wanted to believe that Luke was a good guy.

"I finally found you, Clary and Isaac," Luke said without emotion, and Isaac was really questioning if it was an epidemic by now that not only Luke had caught, but Alec and Theo as well. They should really go to the doctor, if they asked Isaac.

"Clary, Clary!" Luke called with his hands up when he saw Clary scramble to get up and show him the seraph blade.

"You stay away from me!" she called, looking at Isaac who just stood there, wanting to run away with Clary but also wanting to embrace his friend.

"Don't be afraid," Luke's hands were still in the air, "I traced Alaric's car to the pier when he didn't return my calls. I'm here to help you."

"Oh, really?" Clary looked at him, not believing any word that came from his mouth. "I heard what you said at the precinct. You told those creeps the last eighteen years of your life were a lie."

"Those were Valentine's people," the older werewolf tried to explain to her, "I lied to them to protect you."

"Don't come any closer," the redhead tried to threaten him, holding up her seraph blade high with the tip of it glowing, but both her and Isaac knew that Luke was more powerful than her, "You want the Mortal Cup, just like everyone else."

"You know you can't cast spells with that thing?" Luke pointed the seraph blade.

"Yeah, but I already stabbed one demon with it," Clary said to him with her voice shaking, "I'm sure it hurts a lot worse on a man."

Luke raced towards her with lightning fast speed, taking the blade out of her hand, causing her to yell, "Hey!"

He ignored her, grabbing her hands, "You need more training. And we gotta go. Now!"

Isaac followed them without complaint, having been listening to Luke's heart the whole time and realizing that everything he had said was true, seeing as it never spiked up throughout the conversation.

"What? Hey!" Clary called, not liking the fact that she was put over his shoulder, "Where are you taking me?"

They walked outside of the place the two were once previously trapped for only a couple of minutes. "Someplace safe," Luke answered her question, "These people aren't messing around. They will kill you."

Just then, Jace and Alec walked in front of them. "Alec!" Jace called as Alec moved quickly to Clary, picking her up before calling, "Got her."

"Put her down!" Jace said before punching Luke, bringing him to the ground in pain.

Isaac looked shocked, going onto his knees, "Luke!"

Clary looked at him wide eyed, not knowing why Isaac would do such a thing for a traitor like Luke. "Isaac! What are you doing? We have to go!"

"One moment!" Isaac called, forcing them to leave so that he could have a moment alone with his friend.

"Isaac," he heard Luke call, and Isaac went forward, "Go to Clary...I'll take care of the wolves."

"What?" Isaac looked at him in shock, "No, you can't. They'll kill you, I can't let them kill you.

"Isaac!" he said his name with more fire this time, "Go. Please. I know what I'm doing. Just...just protect Clary for me, alright?"

The younger werewolf looked apprehensive, still wanting to stay and help his friend who had been protecting him for years and Clary even longer. Finally, Isaac gave him a nod and went to find the rest of the group.

Finally, he saw them in a clearing with Simon and Clary embracing each other, obviously having just gotten back together.

"Are you okay?" Simon asked, but it was long forgotten when Clary said, "I was so worried."

"I hate to break up this little reunion," Isaac rolled his eyes at Jace's words, knowing that the Shadowhunter would do anything to break the pair apart so he could get with Clary, "but we got a bunch of werewolves trying to kill us so maybe we should get going..."

"Wait, wait, the box," Clary called, stopped everyone in their tracks, "My backpack. I think I left it at the loft."

"No, we've got it," Alec assured her, "I didn't screw up everything." He sent a small look of annoyance at Jace, who ignored it.

"Let's get out of here, then," Simon turned to leave before being stopped by Isabelle.

"Wait, Simon!" she whispered to him, along with the rest of the group, "Whatever you do, do not make any fast moves."

The werewolves, who were surrounding them no doubt at this point, growled at them, sending chills down most of the group's spines. Isaac stood there, waiting to be attacked before he knew he could take them, he was a werewolf himself.

"This can't be good," Jace commented, creeping up next to Isabelle as if to protect everyone else.

"We're surrounded," Alec said, and Isaac rolled his eyes, "I could have told you that, Mr. Almighty Lightwood."

Isaac's comment was not appreciated as everyone sent him a glare, but no one spoke about it, which he was glad about. Stiles used to do that whenever he made a sarcastic comment in Beacon Hills...the same Stiles that he left.

"Everyone stay together," Alec told them sternly, but by then everyone had gotten out their weapon of choice and were ready to fight. Isaac, too, brought out his claws, and wouldn't mind getting a little werewolf blood on them again, it had been such a long time since he had shed blood of his own kind.

"Believe me, I'm not going anywhere," Simon said, and Isaac could hear his heart beating out of fear of impending death.

A door opened, revealing yet another werewolf. "Everyone, get back, that's the alpha leader," Jace said frantically, pushing everyone behind him while not taking his eyes off the werewolf.

The alpha raced towards them, but then Isaac's attention went to another werewolf when he heard Clary call, "Jace, behind!"

And then, the werewolf jumped onto the alpha, leading the more powerful werewolf behind a wall of boxes while they fought each other.

"He's challenging the alpha," Alec informed the mundane and Clary, seeing as they had bare knowledge of the situation or the supernatural world as Isaac still called it.

"He's helping us," Clary concluded as she continued to look at the fight, or as much she could see through the wall.

"Or cutting in line to kill us," Simon's voice was shaky and his tone full of fear, Isaac didn't need to sniff him to know what he was feeling.

There was a wolf whimpering and a line of the barricade was gone. Slowly, the group walked over to where the body of a man now laid, and Isaac knew the outcome of the fight once he saw the man.

"The alpha's dead," Isabelle said finally, for the others to know what happened in the fight.

Another wolf, the one who challenged the alpha, appeared, transforming back into human; Luke. "Oh, my God, Luke," Clary breathed, but everyone heard it.

The werewolves howled at the new alpha, pledging their allegiance to Luke before transforming back into human themselves and kneeling.

"What?" Clary breathed again, watching the werewolves, "What is it? What's happening?"

"When a werewolf kills the alpha leader, he becomes the new alpha," Jace explained to the confused Clary, "Your friend Luke's the leader of the pack now."

There was more silence until Luke sighed, catching his breath before uttering one word, "Clary."

Jace saw the look in Clary's face, knowing what she was about to do, he grabbed her, "No."

"It's okay," Clary told the blonde Shadowhunter. She walked closer to Luke, and so did Isaac. Not out of needing to protect his sister, but because he could tell how weak the new alpha was.

"I promised your mother I'd always protect you," he smiled at her, still trying to catch his breath. Clary smiled back, feeling glad that she had him back. But then something happened, Luke fell to the ground, with only Isaac to catch him.

"Luke!" Clary cried in shock, not knowing how to handle the situation since it was happening so fast, "Oh, my God!"

"Hey," Alec grabbed the attention of Jace, wanting to have a private conversation with him but Isaac could hear every word, "we need to get Clary back to the Institute and stay out of Downworlder business."

"Why don't you stay out of it?" Jace spat at Alec, and even Isaac was hurt by his words, "I'm going to help Clary."

"We have to report back to our mother," Alec tried again, and Isaac could smell the desperation coming off him.

"You and Isabelle can do that," Jace said before walking away, leaving a broken Alec. "I'll be find on my own."

Jace went to Clary to have a conversation with her, and Isaac decided to tune that one out. He didn't need to her anything private between the two that would lead to him being scarred forever...for like the millionth time.

Isaac saw everyone piling into the car before Clary stopped and looked at him. "Isaac!" she called, "Aren't you coming with us?"

The werewolf looked at the Lightwood siblings, not wanting to leave them. He wanted to get to know Alec, try and be his friend, and also talk to Isabelle some more. But then again, he had to protect his sister, she was the only family he had right now besides Luke, and it looked like he was about to die.

But he had to choose between family or friends, and he knew that whatever he chose, the other would forgive him because they would understand.

And then the words came flying out of his mouth, and he was rushing to the car because family was important to him, pack was important to him, and he didn't really fancy going back to the Institute where the prejudice Mrs. Lightwood would be.

So, in the car, he sent one last look of Isabelle that he hoped would explain everything, and got a nod in return. And Isaac hated to admit it, but he was really starting to like her, no matter how much he hated it.

•••

this chapter is dedicated to -shadowhunterstoubia for the amazing username!

question of the day,
izzy or alec?

answer of the day,
i like both, but i guess izzy because she's less problematic