It happened fast. Too fast. He should have been able to sense him, he should have picked up on his scent. Eli knew it perfectly by now, but he'd gotten use to not having it linger around him constantly over the past few months. He was okay again, he was understanding himself, he wasn't on edge because he didn't know what all had happened to him. Eli was okay again, he was doing good. Then, with two simple words, his heart seemed to try to jump from within the walls of his chest.

"Hey, Eli."

He was gone, leaving. The door flew open, they gave him the space to go. Malia attacked Theo after his words, after he hurried away in a state of fear and panic. Liam followed Eli quickly. "Hey, Eli. Wait."

"You brought him back?" the Foxx boy turned in disbelief as he stared at him. "Liam, seriously?"

"I needed his help. I have to trust him." Liam stated, staring at him.

"Well, i'm glad you do." he spoke bitterly in return. It was weird for them to fight, they never really did unless it was over video games. Eli stared at him, hurt in his eyes. "Do you have any idea-"

"I already briefed him. If he hurts you, he's going back." Liam tried to reason, nodding his head. "You don't have to trust Theo. You just have to trust me."

"I do trust you." he repeated, staring his way. His eyes were sad, Liam could hear his loud heartbeat from right across from him. "But, did you even take into consideration what this would do to me?"

"Of course I did. But-" Liam looked for an explanation.

"But what? But you just didn't care? But you thought it was more important to bring him back?" he listed on, taking a deep breath. "Whatever you have planned, I hope it goes over decently. But, I can't be apart if this. Not with him. Not after what he did to me."

"Eli." Liam frowned as he walked off. "Eli, i'm sorry. Come back. We can talk about this."

Buy, he didn't want to talk, he wanted to leave. Go far away from here. Far away from Theo Reaken and all the trauma he brought with him.

"Mom?" Eli walked into his house that night, gapping at the strawberry blonde hair at the kitchen table. "Mama?"

She turned around to look at him. There was a full bottle of vodka in one hand, a box in the other. Eli nodded. "Having a drink?"

"No." she stated, the bottle still full. "It's a wedding ring."

Eli blinked. "What?"

She opened the small box, the shiny diamond glistening. "It's not mine, but it was on my finger when I woke up."

Eli blinked, walking closer to her. He then saw the bags backed near the doorway. "Where's Dad?"

"He's leaving." she stated, turning back to the table. "Eli..."

"Mom." he kneeled down on her level so she could look at him. "Whatever you're thinking, i'm betting i've heard a lot worse."

"I think..." she trialed off. "I think I loved someone...now i've forgotten them."

Eli clasped his hand around her hand. Her eyes met his. "I think I was engaged."

He nodded his head. "I have to explain something to you. Something that I don't even fully understand, but it might answer your questions."

When she nodded, Eli took a breath. "There was a boy. Stiles. I know he was my brother, but he was taken and my memory was wipped."

Adeline let it sink in, waiting for him to go on. His mom stared at him. "He was the son of Sheriff Stilinski."

"He has third degree burns over 90% of his body." Melissa spoke to the couple after Malia insisted Eli came along with her to the hospital. "I should be telling you to say your goodbyes."

"Fine by me." Eli hummed.

Malia elbowed him. "It's Peter. I don't need to say goodbyes. I need you to fix him so we can find out what he knows about The Wild Hunt."

"And so I can have a good argument about what a horrible dad he is." Eli nodded his head. "Not as fun if he doesn't argue back."

"Remember who we're dealing with." Melissa warned the pair. "Your father is a ruthless con man who has a devious plan to hurt everyone around him."

Eli and Malia shared a look. "Sounds like our Peter."

"What happens when he gets up out of that bed?" Melissa gave a look of disbelief. "You got a plan of your own?"

"Psh, of course." Eli waved her off.

"We have a plan." Malia confirmed. "I don't know if it's devious, but i've got him."

"At least it's a plan." Melissa nodded, looking to Eli. "And you've got him."

"And she's got me." he confirmed with a nod.

The trio walked back to the room Peter was in, shielded off by a plastic wrap. Melissa looked toward the pair. "I can't promise this will work."

Malia shrugged. "You said he was dying anyway. What's he have to loose?"

"I can pluck his eyes out." Eli flicked his claws.

"Maybe not." Melissa pulled his hand down.

"I can hear you." Peter mocked from inside the wrap.

"I was hoping so." Eli nodded his head.

"Didn't miss that." Peter exhaled in disbelief. The trio walked through the plastic. "I think they put that there to protect me."

"Gonna need more then a thin sheet of plastic to protect you, Peter." Eli hummed, patting his skinless arm as he gave a loud yelp of pain.

"Your daughter asked me to treat you." Melissa stared down at him with her hands on her hips.

Peter flicked his eyes toward Malia. "In exchange for what?"

Melissa looked back. "Told you you needed a plan."

"In exchange for no eyeballs on the claws?" Eli offered, flicking his claws once again as Melissa pulled his hand down.

"She helps you, you help me." Malia stared at her dad.

"That's a bit over-ended." he hummed. "What if I don't agree to your conditions? Your boyfriend will pluck my eyes out?"

"Happily." Eli nodded with a smile.

"And then I leave you for dead." Melissa agreed.

"We're quite the deadly team." Eli nodded his head. "Wanted in fifty countries."

"So, what exactly do you know about our kind of medicine?" Peter mocked her.

Melissa held up a large needle with a dumb founded look. "I know about the nine herbs."

With a raise of her hand, she stabbed Peter with the needle as he started to seize, foaming green from the mouth. Malia nodded. "Think it's working?"

"Hope not." Eli shrugged.

"Should be." Melissa pointed out. "Looks painful enough."

"You know, I was in pretty bad shape when you found me. I don't really have a clear picture where I was." Peter called from the car after Malia drove them to the woods, the couple getting out of the car.

"I marked the territory." Malia called in return, Peter gave a gross look. "Visually. I marked it visually."

"Even though it still smells like a barbecued werewolf." Eli exclaimed, stepping over the chain as he held his hand out to Malia. "Ma'Lady?"

"It's a supernatural rift, Malia, it's not the golden bridge." Peter mocked as he followed them.

"Peter?" Eli held his hand out to help him over. As he grabbed it to step over, Eli pulled his hand free as Peter hit the ground. "Oops. Butterfingers."

"I doubt we could even see it, let alone get through." Peter went on as he stood up, following the two deeper into the woods. "This is a horrible waste of time."

"You promised me." she mocked in return. "On your death bed."

"I just saw a kid get burned alive trying to escape the Hunt." he pointed out as Malia reached back to take Eli's hand in hers. "You try and save Stiles, he's gonna die the same way. Humans can't get through."

"Shut up, Peter." Eli mocked him.

"We'll find another way to get him out." Malia rolled her eyes. "But, first we have to get in."

"You have no self preservation instincts." Peter mocked her from a few feet behind. "How are you my daughter?"

"Ask myself the same thing every single second." Eli shook his head, tightening his hand on her hold. "Go with her, I stay to make sure no Ghost Riders come after us."

"Be carful." Malia kissed his cheek.

Peter smiled at him. "Want one from me too?"

Eli punched him in the face.

•

kylie speaks

good news. ILL BE BACK
ON UPDATING THIS BOOK
EVERYDAY! i was on a weird
schedule because of my other
books but i finished one of them
so i can focus on my baby again!