Anna shot forward with a gasp, her heart pounding in her throat. Her clammy hands clutched tightly to her bed sheets as she struggled to catch her breath. This wasn't the first time she'd dreamed about Isaac since she left, normally the dreams were memories, or he'd appear in scenarios her mind played out for her.

But this wasn't a memory, and it wasn't a scenario either.

It was a warning, a scene reality was showing her to tell her what was happening to the boy she loved right at that moment. She knew it, from the feeling of being exactly in the moment as if she were awake and living it- as if it were a lucid dream she couldn't interact with. And the man Isaac was with, she knew him. 

It was Derek, Derek Hale. The born werewolf who's family passed in their house fire. She'd heard of him from a... friend, you could say.

Instantly she leapt out of bed, flicking her fingers. Instantly a robe flew toward her and she wrapped it around herself. Specifically, that was the reason she was able to see other places in reality- she was a witch after all.

She sneaked into Cato's room, checking that he was asleep before grabbing his stash of weed he hid under the floorboard to the right of his bed. She ran back into her own room and opened her window, climbing out of it. 

Once she was settled on the roof, she pulled the stash out of her robe, lighting one end with a small, "incendia" under her breath.  

She brought it up to her lips, waiting for the calmness to set in and ease her nerves. Anna closed her eyes, hearing her own heartbeat in her ears, the panic in her chest. She brought out her phone, scrolling through her contacts before she found the one she was looking for. She typed her message with trembling fingers.

"Hey. I know this is really abrupt and out of the blue, but I'm back in town. We all are. Well, me, Tal, and Cato that means. My parents didn't make it. I'm sorry I had to let you know this way, but it isn't the point of my message. I had a dream- that kind of dream. I saw Isaac, the boy I told you about, my best friend? He was with Derek Hale. He told him his dad had died, but he didn't do anything. I don't know anymore context, or what it means, but the way he said it made me feel like something else was to it. And I think something else is up. I think Derek gave it to him. I think Derek gave him the bite."

Anna hit send on the text with only a seconds hesitation. If it were under any other circumstance, she would've sat and wondered if she just made a mistake, but it was for Isaac, and for him she'd do anything.

"Texting the vet, are you now?" She heard a voice behind her. She wasn't startled though, she knew she would be caught anyway. 

Cato sat down next to her, gesturing for her to pass the goods over. She obeyed, blowing the smoke from her lips.

"I had a dream." She whispered. 

Cato looked at her, she stared straight ahead, a numb gleam in her eye. "It was about Isaac, I'm guessing."

Anna nodded. "He was with Derek Hale. But it wasn't against his will, he was looking for him. He told him he thought his dad was dead. I think someone murdered him."

Anna was good at that sort of thing, reading expressions and tones like words on a paper.

"There's something else you're not telling me." 

"His eyes." 

"What?"

"His eyes." Anna said. "They changed color. They're not blue anymore. They're red."

Cato swallowed, looking down. "You're talking about Derek."

"He's an alpha now. And he's turning Isaac into his beta." She spat the word "beta" out like it tasted bland on her tongue.

"You don't know that." Cato tried to reason.

"Yes I do." Anna said. "Why else would Isaac be there? Why would Derek know about his father? Derek probably knows everything he put Isaac through, he probably thought Isaac was the perfect opportunity to start a pack. And Isaac said yes." 

Silence settled around them as her words sunk in. To Cato and herself. 

"Tomorrow's the first day of school." Cato said after a few minutes.

Anna turned to him, a blank but confused look on her face.

"You should probably rest up. I don't wanna drag you out of bed by your ankles."

Anna laughed, leaning into his shoulder. His arm wrapped around her and she felt her eyelids grow heavy. A shiver ran through her body.

"I'm scared." She murmured.

"I know." Her brother replied. "I'll make you a deal. I'll carry you to bed, and I'll tuck you in like mom used to do, but tomorrow you have to get up on your own, and you better not make a fuss about it."

Anna smiled and nodded, rubbing her eyes as Cato swirled his finger and opened the windows through the power of magic.

A ding sounded next to her, and she checked it as she felt arms lift her up. 

New Message: Alan Deaton.

Anna muttered sharp curses under her breath as she fought her way through a sea of students. She tried to seek out the two boys Deaton had told her to look for, Scott and Stiles. Apparently he had told the friends to try and look for her too after filling them in the next morning, but she didn't see anyone looking for her. Just frantic freshman and pushy seniors and all the people who fell in between.

Soon enough she felt a hand grab her shoulder, and she would've hit the kid with a backhanded slap before she recognized him from the photo Deaton had sent her.

"Sorry!" She apologized quickly. "You scared me."

"I don't know where the hell you come from but around here we don't bitch slap people who scare us." Said the boy next to the first kid. He had a buzz cut and jumpy energy that practically radiated in waves from him.

"Yeah, sorry, I've had a rough start since I've been back, but I'll work on that, thank you." Anna replied.

"I'm Scott." The first boy said, sticking his hand out politely. He had a fluff of dark hair on his head and a kind smile, she almost felt bad for nearly whacking his face off.

"Anna." Anna grinned shaking his hand.

"I'm Stiles." The kid with the buzz cut shoved his hand up in the air with a pointed finger as if he were making a life changing statement.

Anna and Scott looked at him with the same confused expression.

"Yeah, sorry, I thought it was just important to make myself, um, present. You know, if we're going to be working as a team, or..."

Anna raised her eyebrows.

"So," He continued. "I heard you're a witch. That's cool. Scott's a werewolf. That's cool too."

"Yeah... that's cool." Anna nodded slowly. "Anyway, you know Deaton- which makes things a whole lot easier for me. He was a friend of my parents, he was kind of a guide for me my first time around here. And you know Derek, and Scott's a wolf you said-"

"A werewolf." Stiles interjected.

"Yes. A werewolf. Are you part of Derek's pack, Scott?"

"No. Definitely not." Scott shook his head. "It wasn't even him who turned me, it was this other guy- his uncle, actually. But he's dead now, so it's kind of off the board."

"Uh-huh." Anna furrowed her eyebrows as the bell rang. "Well, I don't know where you're heading exactly, but I have to get to class. So I'll catch you guys later and tell you everything I know-"

"Lacrosse." Stiles said.

Instantly Anna felt like someone punched her in the gut. She remembered when she used to sit and watch Isaac during his practices, how she used to try and squirt the water from his bottle into his mouth from a distance, and laughing with him as he got drenched in it.

"Are you okay?" Scott asked, noticing her space out.

"Yeah, sorry, um, lacrosse you said?" Anna covered it up.

"Yeah, we're on the team actually." Stiles nodded. "Well, he is. I'm on the bench, but technically it still counts, you know? Like I'd still play in a game if someone had to get off the field-"

"Is there a boy named Isaac that plays with you guys? I know he was on the team last year but just in case he like, moved, or anything..." Anna bit her lip nervously, her heart hammering so loud in her chest she knew Scott could hear it.

"Oh, yeah, he's still here." Scott said. "He's pretty good actually, he plays in basically all of the games."

"He's not that good." Stiles said. "I can definitely see a few things he needs to work on in his form and stuff."

"Oh, okay." Anna quipped, not really listening. Her breath came in short takes as she thought about the fact he was still here.

In this school, going to practice right now. 

If she wanted to, she could skip first period to go see him. But how would that work out? Would he be mad? Shocked? Happy? Scared? All of that?

It was too much for her to handle, the thought alone that she might run into him today made her want to leave. Shocks of joy and excitement plus fear and worry exploded in her stomach. She felt like a stinging scanner was moving up and down her body as she kept herself from shaking.

"I'll catch up with you guys later." She said quickly, and she turned and walked away, leaving the two completely stunned.

Anna could barely focus on her first class, thankful the teacher was being easy on her since it was her first day back. She felt terribly stupid after having a near panic attack near her new piers the second she met them- but she couldn't help it. Every time she thought of it and was reminded why she even felt that way in the first place, her stomach did a flip. 

Eventually, it was too hard to just sit in the classroom while the teacher droned on.

"Excuse me?" Anna asked. "May I use the restroom please?"

The teacher gave a small nod and went back to the lesson as Anna grabbed her bag and left the room. The second she reached the bathroom she flung herself into a stall and sunk onto the toilet. Her breathing was quick and frantic, but her head ached slow and painfully. 

She brought out her water bottle and took a sip, thanking her past self for slipping some of Tal's calming herbs into it. 

She took a deep breath and checked the time, only about fifteen minutes were left in the period, even though it felt like it'd been hours. Maybe, just maybe, leaving to watch the rest of the lacrosse practice would calm her down. She'd be very discreet, making sure no one- specifically Isaac- recognized her until she was ready.

Anna left the bathroom, making her way across the school and outside, but she wasn't met with the lacrosse drills she thought she'd be seeing.

Police cars and cops were huddled in a bunch, the team members watching and talking curiously. Coach was conversing with the Sheriff as he nodded to a boy covered by the officers.

Anna ran over to Scott and Stiles, out of breath by the time she got there.

"What happened? What was that?"

"Some kid got brought off the field by my dad." Stiles muttered watching as the small crowd walked towards the school. 

"His dad's dead. They think he was murdered." Scott said, bewildered.

"Oh shit." Anna muttered.

"Wait- are they saying he's a suspect?" Stiles asked.

"I'm not sure, why?" Scott said.

"Because they can lock him in a holding cell for twenty-four hours."

"Like overnight?" 

"During the full moon."

Anna furrowed her eyebrows. What did full moons have to do with this?

"How good are these holding cells at holding people?" Scott asked nervously.

"People good." Stiles sighed. "Werewolves, probably not that good."

"Stiles, remember when I told you I don't have the urge to maim and kill?" Scott said.

"Yeah?"

"He does."

"It's Isaac." Anna whispered, causing both boys to turn to her. "They took Isaac away." She didn't know why she was so clueless to their conversation five seconds ago, but it was clear now.

"Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you-"

"What happened?" Anna demanded.

"Well, the cops came and pulled him over. Said something about his dad dying and we're pretty sure Isaac is a main suspect." Scott said.

Anna felt all color drain from her face.  If Isaac was a new beta, controlling himself would be out of the question. Who the hell knew what he'd do when he was in the police station with no means of help or support? 

She took a deep breath, slowly letting it out as the color in her face ran with it. "You guys have chemistry next?"

Scott and Stiles nodded.

"Good. Me too."

Anna watched from behind Dumb and Dumber as they muttered things to each other about Isaac and the new overnight full moon situation. Fast as light they spun around, talking to a boy named Danny about some kid named Jackson.

"In the principals office, talking to your dad." Danny replied when Stiles asked about Jackson's whereabouts. 

"What? Why?"

"Maybe because he lives across the street from Isaac." Danny deadpanned.

"Witness." 

"We need to get to the principal's office." Anna whispered.

"How?"

"Everyone, please turn to page 73." Mr. Harris said as he wrote on the board. Almost right after, a paper ball smacked him in the head. "Who in the hell did that?" 

In a triangular formation, Scott, Stiles, and Anna all pointed at each other.

It was her first day, and Anna was already making a terrible impression.

Anna listened as the piece of shit Jackson admitted to knowing the history of Isaac's horrifyingly traumatizing abuse. It took everything in her not to run in there and kick the crap out of him herself. 

"You know, it's funny how the kids getting beaten up are always the ones who least deserve it." Mr. Stilinski remarked.

Anna smirked as Jackson's shocked reaction was trampled when he was flushed out of the office. She thought about what the Sheriff said.

The kids getting beaten up are always the ones who least deserve it.

Anna closed her eyes, it was a miserable thought. She remembered the way he would crawl through her window at night, a fresh cut, and deep bruise, a terrible pain in his eyes. She'd take him in his arms, comforting him as he sobbed into her shoulder. Every shake and every cry coming from him broke her heart even more. She remembered the countless times she had to clean her washcloths because they were soaked to the bone in the blood of her best friend. She'd learned to be gentle and careful with her hands after those months of treating his wounds, so fearful of hurting him even more or making him feel unsafe near her.

Of course that was never the case, but she could never be too sure.

She snapped back to attention when she realized the Sheriff was staring at the three of them. Stiles hid weakly behind a rather questionable magazine while Scott and Anna gave a small smile to his father.

"Hi, Scott." He said, the boy giving a small wave in return.

He turned to Anna, who awkwardly and quickly introduced herself.

"Pleasure." He said before glancing at his son, sighing, and walking away.

Anna barely had time to slap herself for the embarrassing situation before an old man with an evil smile walked out from the previous room.

"Students," He said, his voice gravelly and intimidating. "Come on in."

Anna was out of it for most of the time, anger from what Jackson had said and pain from the mere thought of Isaac battling within her. Scott and Stiles' grades and extracurriculars were went over, but the old guy seemed to forget Anna was even there. Maybe that was a good thing.

"Now listen guys." He said, breaking Anna from her thoughts. "Yes, I am the principal, but I really don't want to you guys to think of me as the enemy."

"Is that so?" Stiles scoffed. Was there some back history here Anna wasn't getting? She'd need to ask them later.

"However, this being my first day I do need to support my teachers. So unfortunately, someone is going to have to take the fall and stay behind for detention." His gaze fell pointedly at Stiles, while Scott and Anna innocently joined in.

Stiles looked up, seeing all eyes on him, and sighed, his eyebrows pointed toward the sky in disappointment. 

Anna ran after Scott, who had a major advantage thanks to his werewolf speed. He reached the front doors of the school much before she did, and she nearly collapsed by the time she got there.

She arrived just fast enough to see the police car pulling away, the broken face of Isaac looking behind at Scott in the backseat.

Anna's heart skipped a beat and her stomach clutched. Her eyes stayed wide as the air was taken from her lungs once again. 

There he was. Again, for the millionth time, so far yet so close. Anna wanted to scream. To rip her hands through her hair and throw up. To sob and fall to her knees while she ruined the soft skin on her knuckles by slamming them into the ground until her fingers broke.

But she couldn't move. Couldn't speak. Couldn't breathe. All she could do was stare, and she hated it.

Isaac sat up in the backseat, his eyes wider than Anna's as he turned back as far as he could to see if his eyes were playing tricks on him. The look on his face broke her heart. Confusion, fear, pain, everything he had felt when he came to her after a night in the freezer.

And this time she was the one to cause it.

The police car drove away, and a choked sob escaped her throat as tears burned at her eyes. Scott turned to her, but before he could say anything, a black Chevy Camaro pulled up. The window rolled down, and if Anna didn't think her day could get any worse, then she was wrong. She stared into the face of one of the only people on Earth at this moment she wanted nothing more than to land her fist in.

Derek Hale.