I THOUGHT THE DAY COULDN'T GET ANY WORSE. That was until Lydia texted me in the middle of World History and told me that Jackson had broken up with her.

Over text.

I wish I'd broken his hands this morning instead of kneeing him in the balls because hell did he deserve it.

Scott had informed Stiles and I that Jackson's play was to get to Allison which would explain why he'd cut his ties with Lydia. For as long as Scott didn't get Jackson the bite he was going to continue chasing after Allison, convincing her to chose him over Scott. It was a smart play but so incredibly horrible and it was a reminder of how much I disliked Jackson.

To be honest I think my feelings towards him had surpassed dislike. In fact, the boarded on hate now.

There was no way I could leave Lydia after I found her hanging outside of my class waiting for me to finish. I could see how hard she was trying to keep herself together and my heart ached for her. She was actually crushed and she didn't deserve what Jackson had done to her. He'd led her along on a string for so long, playing with her and treating her like garbage when all she did was care about him. Lydia longed for his attention and it was because he never showed any of the sort to her. Jackson was toxic and he deserved everything he was going to get.

I texted Stiles to let him know I was heading over to Lydia's house with her and that I'd meet him before the game tonight. He didn't mind and I offered to drive home in Lydia's car considering she looked like she was about to break down at any given moment.

We skipped last period and I was surprised that Lydia had held herself together until we reached her bedroom. As soon as I closed her bedroom door behind me she turned to me and I saw her bottom lip trembling. Her eyes were watering, growing bloodshot as the first tear slipped and ran down her cheek. I sighed seeing her and I opened my arms as I walked over to her. She wrapped her arms around me tightly as she cried, her head resting on my shoulder and her shoulders shook.

I rubbed her back comfortingly, "He's not even worth it." I told her softly, "Don't worry about it."

"He-he said that I was dead weight." She cried.

I shook my head, "Lydia, trust me. You're not dead weight, all right? If anyone's dead weight it's him."

She pulled away and furrowed her brows and I saw the black mascara streaks down her cheeks, "Why would he say something like that to me?"

"Because he's an asshole." I told her honestly, "And he's trying to jab at you where it hurts."

I watched as she collapsed down on her bed and laid back, staring up at the ceiling, "I didn't do anything wrong." She croaked as another tear slipped from her eyes, "I—"

She caught herself, inhaling in short and staggering breaths. She didn't know what to say.

It was abundantly clear that Lydia harboured very deep feelings for Jackson but they both had their imperfections. Jackson was an asshole — there was no doubt about it — and he treated people like shit but at the end of the day Lydia kissed Scott. Yes, she mightn't of being receiving any attention from Jackson but she still cheated on him. By no means was I saying that she deserved everything she was getting because she didn't. She didn't deserve to be told she was dead weight because all that does is tear a person down.

I embraced her comfortingly, running my hand up and down her back as she cried into my shoulder. I reminded quiet while she let it all off her chest, giving her exactly what she needed and I remained with her as the sun set on the gloomy and stress-inducing day. I ordered us a takeout and watched trashy movies with her in an attempt to make her feel some better though I knew it wasn't working.

Hours had to have passed when my phone began to vibrate on Lydia's bedside table. She remained silent, staring at her television dully and I rolled over to see it was Stiles who was calling me. I grabbed my phone and got up off Lydia's bed, walking to her door to exit before turning to her, "I won't be long."

She didn't respond to me. She only nodded her head once, her eyes fixated on the television as if she was in a trance. I walked out of Lydia's room, closing it behind me and sitting on the first step of the staircase as I accepted Stiles' call.

"Hey.. I've been texting you." He said to me immediately.

"Yeah." I sighed in exhaustion, resting my hand against my forehead, "Sorry, I've been pre-occupied with Lydia."

"It's all right." Stiles said to me, "Just checking you're safe."

"I'm fine." I told him tiredly, "Excited to get my hands on Jackson's neck though, he's really done a number on her."

"That bad, huh?" He asked me.

"Bad is an understatement." I replied, "I don't think she's going to come to the game so I'll have to walk down.. probably going to have to leave soon actually if I want to make it in time."

"Yeah." Stiles said although he seemed pre-occupied, "I'd offer you a lift but I'm kind of busy at the minute."

"Busy with what?" I asked him curiously, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, don't worry." He told me, "I'll explain later but I can text my dad and ask him if he'll give you a lift."

I exhaled hesitantly, "Stiles—"

"—You know he'll say yes and don't use the excuse that you don't want to trouble him because you're not."

"He does enough for me as it is." I mumbled, "I mean I've been staying in his house, using his water and eating his food for three days. I should probably start paying him board or something."

"He doesn't mind, I swear."

"I just—" I sighed, "I know."

"So that settles it." Stiles said to me, "I'll text my dad, send him your number and get him to message you."

"You're definitely going to make it to the game, right?" I asked him hesitantly.

"Yeah, I'll try. I've got to go but I'll see you later."

I pressed my lips together as he rushed to end the call and nodded even though he couldn't see me, "Bye, Stiles."

He hung up and I was left sitting on Lydia's stairs in confusion. What had made Stiles so preoccupied anyways? He was playing first line tonight, his focus needed to be lacrosse. This was his first and quite possibly his only shot to prove to coach that he should be on the team. I didn't want to see him have to go back to the bench again.

I checked the time on my phone seeing it was just after six o'clock. The game was due to start in an hour and I knew people would be arriving at the school within the next half hour. I used the wooden banister next to me to help pull myself up and headed back into Lydia's room, she was lying in the same position I'd left her in and her eyes were still fixated on the television.

"The game starts in an hour." I said to her, watching her for a reply.

After a moment of silence she replied to me, "I don't think I'm going."

I nodded to myself and sat down on her white swivel chair, resting my legs on her bed, "Do you mind if I go?" I asked her.

She looked to me then and her eyes were slightly bloodshot, her cheeks blotchy still, "Of course not."

"You think you'll be okay?"

"We have to be." She told me, dismissing my question, "The world goes on."

"Lydia." I sighed softly, "If you don't want me to go say the word."

"No." She shook her head before forcing a smile, "I know Stiles is first line, honestly, I'll be fine."

Just then my phone buzzed once and I looked down to see a text message from a number I didn't have in my contact list but from the contents of the text I knew who it was from.

Stiles said you needed a lift to the
game? I can pick you up in 20 minutes
if you want?

I unlocked my phone ready to type out a reply to the Sheriff before pressing send.

If you don't mind, I'm at Lydia's house

I looked up to my friend again as I locked my phone, "Are you sure you don't mind?"

"I'm positive." She nodded, "I do want you to keep me updated though."

I exhaled shortly while pressing my lips together. While she was starting to perk up it wasn't genuine. I knew what she was putting forwards now was the exterior she loved to wear. It was her safety net of stopping people from getting just that tiny bit closer to know exactly how she was feeling. I guess she was pushing me away but she wanted space I had to give it to her. I had to respect what she wanted, I wasn't going to swaddle and smother her. She needed to breathe and she needed time to process this on her own.

So I forced a smile as I met her eyes and I nodded, "Okay."

___________________

I knew I should've been worried about Stiles when he was on the phone. I wished he'd of told me what he was doing and I would've told him to come and pick me up so I could join him but then again I also knew why he didn't do that. He knew if I knew what he was up to that I'd want to — no, demand to — tag along and this was his way of keeping me out of harms way.

I knew it was all sketchy when Danny came over to me and asked my why Stiles had invited him round for lab work and asked him to trace a text instead. What made it even more sketchy was Stiles 'cousin' Miguel who from Danny's description sounded exactly like Derek. Why Derek had enlisted the help of Stiles I didn't know. Perhaps he came looking for me, going to Stiles' house because that's where he thought I'd be.

So Stiles was with Derek earlier, I knew that much.

Then just as I went to join Sheriff Stilinski up in the stands again Scott found me and he looked bewildered.

"Where's Stiles?"

I frowned in confusion, "What do you mean where's Stiles? He told me he'd meet me here."

He shook his head, "He's not here."

"He's still with Derek?" I asked him.

"He must be." Scott sighed, holding his helmet in his hand as he stood in his lacrosse gear. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, "I'm calling him."

"Yeah." I nodded in agreement with his decision and I stood and waited for Stiles to answer, "Wait— did you get the necklace?"

Scott rolled his eyes in annoyance, "Yeah I got it."

"Isn't that a good thing?" I asked hesitantly, "We're one step closer now to figuring out what Laura was on to."

He sighed, moving his phone away from his ear and looking at the screen, "He's not answering." He told me before saying, "Her dad saw me, invited me in for a drink and started grilling me on why I'm hanging out with Derek Hale."

"Oh." I mumbled, my face falling slack, "Uh, that's not good."

"Yeah." Scott nodded in agreement, "And I'm almost sure Allison is following in the same path as her dad with the whole werewolf thing."

"Oh great." I groaned in annoyance, "This gets better and better."

"Yep." He nodded in frustration before his phone started ringing. We both looked down to see Stiles' contact name flashing and Scott answered the call before putting him on speaker, "Stiles, where are you dude?"

"That's not important at the minute." He shrugged off, "Did you get the necklace?"

"Yeah I got the necklace—"

"—Okay, good." Stiles interrupted him, "Is Alex there yet? I need you to tell her I'm—"

"—I'm right here, Stiles." I said then, folding my arms over my chest as I briefly met Scott's eyes.

"Oh." He said then. His tone shifted to a high pitched squeak — under pressure and panicked, "Hey, yeah, I'll be there soon."

I sighed, shaking my head as I looked around. The field was buzzing with life and the stands were almost full now. We only had a fifteen minutes before the game started and I could honestly say Stiles being here for that was slim.

I pressed my lips together, knowing Scott was watching me hesitantly for my reply but I didn't have one. I shrugged once at him, lifting my hands up in frustration before dropping them to my sides again.

Scott took that as his cue to talk and he asked, "Did you get the picture I sent you of the necklace?" He asked.

"Yeah, I did." Stiles said, "It looks just like the drawing."

"Hey, is there something on the back of it? There's gotta be something. An inscription, an opening, something." I heard Derek say then and I sighed loudly, dropping my head back and looking up to the dark sky.

"Of course he's still with Derek." I muttered to myself.

"No, the things flat." Scott said then, referring to the necklace, "And no it doesn't open, there's nothing in it, on it, around it— nothing.. and where are you you're supposed to be here. You're first line."

Just then coach wandered over to us and he hit Scott on the side of his head lightly, "Where the hell is Bilinski? Huh?"

I furrowed my brows in confusion, meeting Scott's eyes fleetingly.

Bilinski?

Coach walked away from us immediately after that, searching around the pitch for Stiles and Scott sighed, "Man, you're not gonna play if you're not here to start."

"I know." He sighed, "Look, if you see my dad can you tell him.. tell him I'll be there. I'll just be a little late, okay?"

I shook my head, my eyes looking over to where the Sheriff was standing, "Stiles, I'm not lying to your dad."

"You don't have to." He told me, "I'll be there."

"Will you just tell me where you are?" I asked him, "Or what you're doing?" I sounded like I was pleading with him. My voice was desperate.

"We're just checking something out." He said to me, "Shouldn't be too long."

I bit the inside of my lip in frustration, confused as to why he was evading the truth, "Stiles.. why did you need Danny to trace a text?"

"I—I have to go, okay?" He said to me for the second time this night, "I'll see you later."

"Bye." Scott muttered begrudgingly and I shook my head, giving him the signal to hang up the call and he did. 

I looked back up to see Sheriff Stilinski talking to another parent, the bright smile on his face. He was beyond happy, ready to watch Stiles play his first game as first line and I didn't know who I was more disappointed for — Stiles or his dad.

I glanced to Scott and patted his shoulder, "Good luck." I grumbled, "Don't kill anyone out there."

"Yeah." He muttered, "I'll try not to."

I nodded once at him before I left him to it, walking over to the bleachers where Sheriff Stilinski had grabbed us a seat and I put on a smile.

"Hey." He said to me once he noticed me, "Have you seen Stiles? I can't find him anywhere."

"No, I haven't." I replied to him, "I can't find him either but I'm sure he'll be here somewhere."

He nodded although he didn't seem convinced by my response and I sat down next to him on the cold bleachers, my breath a small ball of mist as it collided with the cold air. I watched and I waited anxiously, awaiting Stiles' arrival. I hoped that he would make it, praying with every passing second until the referee blew his whistle to signal the start of the game. As the players dispersed out on to the field I sighed in disappointment, my heart sinking slowly down into my stomach.

That was it — Stiles' one chance to stay on first line and he had lost it.

"Oh, Stiles." I heard the Sheriff mumble quietly then, his voice full with disappointment as he sighed, "Where are you?"

__________________

So we had won but I really didn't feel like celebrating. Stiles hadn't shown his face at all and my worry for him had surpassed my disappointment. I was never disappointed in him though, I was disappointed for him but now I just wanted to know where he was. The whole situation really was starting to make me nervous and come the end of the game I was a mess. It had been almost two hours since I'd arrived at the school and he was still yet to make an appearance. What was he doing with Derek that one, was so important and two, took this long?

I had tried calling and calling and calling him and I know Sheriff Stilinski had too but each time either of us tried it went to his voicemail. There wasn't anything either of us could do and it was frustrating. I couldn't tell the Sheriff that his son was with a man he believed to be a mass murderer either because then he'd freak.

So when we won I couldn't even bring myself to be happy about it, nor could I bring myself to cheer. I was too busy looking around with a pitiful hope that Stiles was actually here somewhere. When everyone ran off the bleachers and on to the field my chances of finding him narrowed even further and I'd found myself alone. Even the Sheriff had joined everyone on the field to commemorate the team for their win and progressing to the semi-finals.

I sighed in defeat as the team clambered into the small double doors in the school, disappearing to change and taking all the excitement with them. They could be heard from miles away as they cheered and shouted loudly — buzzing off their win. I was left out on the field, walking down the bleachers and on to the pitch slowly. There was almost no one around and I got my phone out, opening my texts and sending one to the Sheriff, letting him know I'd be waiting for him by his car.

I began my walk, taking my time as my feet scuffed the floor. My hands were tucked deep into the pockets of the black button up coat I'd borrowed from Lydia a month or so ago. I kept my gaze on my feet, only glancing up when I heard Allison call over to me.

I noticed she was with her dad and her aunt Kate and she smiled at me broadly while waving, "Text me later?"

I forced a smile and nodded, trying to act as if I wasn't so deep into my plaguing thoughts, "Yeah, I will."

I glanced fleetingly to Kate as she stood protectively by Allison's side and I pressed my lips together. I didn't particularly like the woman. She gave me a very bad feeling — and it wasn't just because she'd tried to kill Derek either. There was just something extremely off about her.

She met my eyes and I hurried to look away, noticing she too turned away from me and she met her bothers gaze instead. I noticed her head gesture over in my direction and Chris too turned to me, his gaze lingering for a little while before he looked away and back towards Kate.

The three of them got into Chris' car after that but not before Allison gave me a final wave goodbye.

By the time I'd gotten to the Sheriff's car the parking lot was almost empty save for the cars that belonged to the team. The ones that were left were parked sporadically across the lot and I found that I was alone under the bright lights that illuminated the parking lot. I leaned against the hood of the car, nestling my face into my thick coat as I shivered from the cold.

I felt my phone buzz once in my hand as I held it in my pocket and shortly after it buzzed a second time. I got it out, looking to see Stiles calling me and my brows rose in surprise. I was almost tempted to ignore him, annoyed that he'd missed the game but I was too worried about him. There was a part of me — the side that controlled my fear and anxiety that was persisting that something bad had happened to him and I needed to hear his voice to put her to rest.

I accepted the call and held my phone to my ear, my fingers growing numb quickly from the harsh temperature that was only dropping, "Stiles?"

"Alex?" He spilled out quickly. His voice was rushed and he sounded desperate, "Wh—where are you? I can't find you."

"Where am I?" I asked him in disbelief, "Stiles where—"

"—I'm sorry, okay, but we don't have time for this at the minute Alex this is important."

He sounded okay as in he didn't sound like he was hurt in any way but he also sounded like he was on edge right now. He seemed stressed maybe?

"What's important?" I found myself saying, "How you didn't make it to the game?"

"I know who the Alpha is!" He rushed out, "Scott and I—"

Whatever Stiles said after that was unknown to me because I was in that much shock. My eyes were wide and I was staring at my feet dumbstruck. Was that where Stiles and Derek had been all this time, trying to figure out who the Alpha was? Maybe that was why they had Danny over to trace a text, but which text was the question. Obviously they had been on to something for that to have come about.

"Alex?! Alex are you listening to me?" I heard Stiles call to me worriedly over the phone, "Scott and I have to tell you who the Alpha is!"

I furrowed my brows, "I'm by your dads car—Stiles, why can't you just tell me now?"

"Because he's here Alex." Stiles rushed out, "He's somewhere around the school.. but you were right, it is someone we know— or rather you know, Alex, it's—"

I heard the sound of stones crunching under the weight of a boot and I looked up, expecting to see Sheriff Stilinski returning from looking for Stiles but I didn't. I saw two people— two people I never thought I'd see standing together and for a minute my brows furrowed in confusion. I was confused, thinking that maybe my eyes were deceiving me for a moment until it clicked.

My lips parted as my confused expression morphed into one of shock as I stared at the older of the two men, "Oh my god." I mumbled then, consumed by disbelief.

"Alex?" Stiles' voice yelled into my ear desperately, "Alex!"

"Peter." I mumbled, slowly dropping my arm to my side as I stared at the man in front of me.

He looked exactly the same but so different at the same time. The side of his face was no longer scarred, tainted with burns as a constant and harrowing reminder of the fire. He wasn't confined to a wheelchair anymore, nor was he incapable of responding to you. In fact he looked as if he'd healed from all of that as he stood in front of me, dressed smartly.

And it was when I met his eyes did I feel my phone slipping from my hands as I was suddenly thrusted into the past, forced to relive something that had been locked into the deepest parts of my subconscious. I was running up the wooden porch steps to the Hale house where it stood perfectly in all its former glory, the door already opened for me and a younger looking Peter Hale standing there as he waited for me with a smile on his face.

I jumped so darlingly into the air as I reached him and he caught me, lifting me up by my underarms and resting me on his hip.

"Someone's excited to see me."

Then I heard my mother's voice again and this time I saw her face. I saw her perfectly straight brown hair as it laid against her back, her long navy blue trench coat wrapped around her to keep her warm. I saw the pink tinge on her cheeks — the blood that had rushed to the surface to fight against the cold weather — the way her green eyes blended in brilliantly with the leaves on the trees. It had been six long and painful years since I'd seen that face in person and now I was I could hardly believe my eyes.

"Thank you for doing this, Neil's not taking it.."

I knew though that it was too good to be true because her voice distorted to the point where she sounded like she was underwater. Or perhaps it was me who was underwater because when I heard Peter speak again in response I couldn't hear him properly either. Her face distorted then, her beautiful features that would forever be imprinted in my mind blurring into swirls as she disappeared into thin air. The trees went with her, as did the Hale house, as did Peter and as did I.

I was stuck in my reality again feeling numb on the inside as I faced the fact that my mom was still dead. My phone was now on the floor, my conversation with Stiles long forgotten about and my chest heaved to try and match my body's need for air.

I was lost and while I was drowning in an overload of all sorts all I could think of was 'why'?

Why...

Why was Peter Hale doing this?

Why was he trying to kill us, or trying to get Scott to kill us?

Why was he killing people?

Why did I feel such a deep connection to him yet every time I saw him or thought about him my mind drew a blank.

Why was it that he unleashed something locked something deep within the dark crevices of my memory every time I saw him.

And then when I looked to see Derek standing besides him I put all my weight into the Sheriff's car. What the hell was going on? Why — if Peter was the Alpha who was trying to kill us — was Derek trusting him?

"You.." I trailed off as I tried to find my words, "You killed Laura."

"Alex." Derek called my name lightly, "You need to listen to him."

"I—" I couldn't help but stutter and 'I' was the only word I could about comprehend right now.

"We're not going to hurt you." Peter said to me wearily but I didn't believe a word that came from his mouth.

Derek turned to his uncle then with a scowl and he said, "I'd never hurt her anyways so don't speak for me."

Peter rolled his eyes before he looked to me again, "I'm not going to hurt you." Were his corrected words, "Just hear me out."

I shook my head, words spluttering from my mouth but none of them made sense. I looked to Derek and all I felt was betrayal. How had he come to trust Peter after everything he had done? He'd impaled him — tried to kill him — he killed his sister, terrorised me on not one but two occasions.

"Alex." Derek pleaded with me and I watched his usual hard exterior soften, "When you listen to his reasoning you'll understand. I'm not saying I agree with that he's done but it's understandable and I think it's something you need to hear."

My mouth was opening and closing and I could imagine I looked like a fish gasping for air. I wanted to turn around and run — as fast as humanly possible — but I was curious. I wanted to know why Peter had decided to do what he has, what had driven him to such psychotic acts. If all else failed and what he had to say wasn't something I was at all interested in or if I didn't agree with it one tiny bit I'd simply tell my dad who the Alpha was. It was the best idea and it was how I found myself coming to nod in agreement.

"Okay." Peter nodded and he seemed pleased by my answer, "Let's go then, shall we?"

He turned and walked off, heading god knows where and I bent down to pick my phone up off the floor. There was a large crack diagonally across the screen and it was buzzing like crazy, messages from Stiles and Scott coming in from all angles. I let out a shaky breath as Derek walked over to me cautiously.

"You remembered something didn't you?" He asked me tentatively.

I nodded once, my jaw clenched as I unlocked my phone to put Stiles' mind at ease.

"You know I won't let him do anything, right?" Derek spoke again. His question had me looking up from my phone and to him and by his face I just knew he was telling the truth.

"Yeah." I nodded again before typing out my message to Stiles and sending it. I locked my phone and slid it back into the pocket of my coat before walking after Peter with Derek, my mind swirling in a frenzy of questions that were just piling on top of each other quickly.

But one among them all stood out to me the most.

What wasn't my dad taking well and why did my mom take me to Peter Hale because of it?

__________________

A/N; this should've been updated yesterday but tiktok got in the way..