Even while Isaac, Erica, Boyd and I had been recovering from the full moon, Derek, Scott, Stiles, Jackson, the kanima master--Matt, of all people--and the Argents had all been at the police station. There had been a fight with everyone, and Matt had died.

Derek gave us two choices because the Argents were after us all, including Allison because her mom had turned into a werewolf and killed herself because of the Argent code. Either run or stay with him and fight.

But we didn't have any clue on what to do.

Boyd and Erica were together, but Isaac and I were at the vets--to get advice from the vet who seemed to know what to do and Scott, who always wanted to do the right thing.

We hesitated at the door, sighing as we looked at each other.

"Promise me one thing," I said.

"Anything," Isaac replied instantly.

"Whatever we do--leave or stay . . . . we stick together."

Isaac didn't answer for a long moment, not until I looked at him again. "Always."

I nodded, then pushed the door in front of us open, causing the bell to ring, Isaac following and standing next to me as we heard Scott's boss say, "Would you mind seeing who that is?" Before Scott could, the dogs started to bark at our presence, and both came to see us. "It's okay, Natalie, Isaac." He opened the gate for us to come in. "We're open."

Isaac and I had both followed Scott and his boss to the back, a sick dog on the table, but it smelt . . . weird.

"Why does it smell like that?" I asked, and both Scott and his boss shared knowing looks. "What?"

"Scott said almost the same thing to me a few months ago," his boss answered. "One day he could somehow tell the difference between which animals were getting better and which were not."

"He's not getting better, is he?" I asked. He shook his head barely. "Like cancer?"

"Osteosarcoma," he answered. "It had a very distinct scent, doesn't it?" Both Isaac and I nodded, barely. "I know you're well aware of what your new abilities can do for you. Improved strength, speed and healing. You ever wonder what it could do for others? Give me you hand." I didn't move, but he took Isaac's. "Go on."

He gently placed Isaac's hand on the small, curly-haired dog's body, and after a second, dark veins appeared, trailing up his arm as if it was magiv, and I watched, amazed and confused.

Isaac took his hand off with a similar reaction to mine. "What did I do?"

"You took some of his pain away," Scott answered.

"Only a little bit," his boss explained further. "But sometimes a little can make quite a difference."

Isaac's wrist was at his nose as he wiped a tear away, and Scott said, "It's okay. First time he showed me, I cried too."

My brother looked at the sick, dying dog before bursting into a smile.

Scott's boss looked my way with a gentle look. "Would you like to try?"

I slowly shook my head, my mouth open slightly, not really knowing what to say. "Uh, no, I'm fine. It's--"

"Natalie," Isaac whispered, placing his hand on top of mine so I would look at him. "It's okay."

I barely nodded, letting him lift my hand, placing it on the dog's body, then slowly drew his hand back.

The same thing happened. I felt whatever it was inside of me pulling his pain out of him, into me, the black veins trailing from my fingers, through my hand to my wrist and the rest of the way up.

But it didn't hurt. I felt amazing.

In awe, I let our a quiet laugh, reaching up to my eye and wiping the single tear away and smiling like Isaac had, Scott, Isaac and Scott's boss smiling too.

Scott's boss had taken the small, dying dog away, leaving Isaac, Scott and me alone as Scott continued on with his work.

"They're leaving tonight, during the game," I told Scott, talking about Boyd and Erica.

"So, why are you tell me?" Scott asked.

"I'm not telling you. I'm asking you. We're asking for your advice."

"From me. WHy?"

"Because we trust you," Isaac answered.

"Why?" he repeated.

"Because you always seem to want to do the right thing."

"I usually have no idea what I'm doing," Scott said, then blinked. "Actually, I always have no idea what I'm doing."

"Hmm," I hummed. "Do you want to let us know what you're doing right now?"

"I'm not going anywhere if that's whay you mean. I have too many people here who need me."

"Well, I guess that makes us lucky 'cause, uh--'cause we don't have anyone," Isaac told him.

I looked over to him. "Besides each other."

He nodded, slightly, and Scott asked, "Are you gonna go with them?"

I nodded once. "Yeah. Yeah, I think we will." Isaac nodded in agreeance. "Good luck with the game, though."

"Well, thanks, but I'm not--I'm not going either. Can't even think about playing some meaningless game right now."

Isaac turned back to look at him. "You weren't at practice last week, were you?"

"No, I skipped it. Why?"

"Then you didn't hear?"

"Hear what?"

"Jackson was there."

Scott looked at him very seriously. "What do you mean, 'there'? Like, he was--"

"As if nothing happened," Isaac answered.

"Really? That means--the game tonight?"

"Yeah. He's playing."

In the woods, I looked to Isaac. "We're not leaving with Boyd and Erica, are we?"

"I honestly don't know," Isaac answered. "I mean, I wanna help Scott, but I don't wanna abandon them."

I looked down, nodding. "Okay, how about this--you go to the game, help Scott, and I'll find Erica and Boyd, okay?" Isaac tilted his head like he was thinking. "Maybe I can convince them to stay too."

Slowly, Isaac nodded. "Okay. I like that."

I smiled, hugging him before backing away. "See you soon."

Then I turned around to go find Erica and Boyd.

I had tracked them in the middle of the woods, but I hated the sound of Boyd groaning and Erica sobbing, "Stop!"

I saw Allison, repeatedly, shooting Boyd and Erica, and then aimed one at Erica's face.

Without warning, I was there, catching the arrow before it killed her, glaring up at Allison with golden eyes.

Unflinchingly, she was shooting me with arrows. One on my left leg, one in my right. One in my shoulder and stomach.

"Stop!" Boyd yelled.

"Please, Allison, stop!" Erica screamed.

Allison shot one more arrow before her dad shot his gun at Allison's bow, breaking it completely as I started to fall, Boyd and Erica catching me next to them.

And we were locked away, taken to the Argents' basement.

Without Isaac.