❝𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐈𝐆𝐀𝐋 𝐃𝐀𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐑!❞
✶· ༘ -͙˚ ༘ ⑅ 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚗 ⑅· ༘ -͙˚ ༘✶ ──────────────────────

RILEY struggled to keep her hands steady as she leaned over Scott, panic making her heart race wildly. His body lay limp on the couch, his skin pale and clammy, and his breathing so faint she could barely tell if he was even conscious. She pressed trembling fingers to his neck, desperately trying to find a pulse. It was there, but weak—too weak.

"Come on, Scott, don't you dare do this to me!" she whispered, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill over. "Stay with me. You have to stay with me."

When his chest remained still and his eyes stayed closed, dread settled in the pit of her stomach like a lead weight. She had to do something. Anything. Without thinking, Riley intertwined her fingers and pressed her palms against his sternum, beginning rapid compressions. She counted under her breath, forcing herself to stay calm, but every second that passed without a response sent her spiraling further into panic.

"Come on, come on!" she chanted frantically, her movements becoming more forceful. "You're a freaking Alpha, Scott! You can't just—"

Her voice broke as she glanced down, noticing the wound on his stomach for the first time. A jagged, ugly gash that looked like it had been made by a blade—deep and ragged, blood soaking through the torn fabric of his shirt. And it wasn't healing.

"Oh God, Scott, what happened to you?" she whispered, her heart aching at the sight.

He wasn't healing. Something was wrong. Something was stopping his body from mending itself. She needed to help him, but how? Her mind raced, searching desperately for a solution, until one crazy, reckless idea formed in her head. It was risky—dangerous, even—but it was the only thing she could think of that might work.

"I'm so sorry for this," she murmured, before closing her eyes and taking a deep, steadying breath.

Riley focused on her own pulse, on the warm rush of blood that thrummed through her veins, and let her fangs extend. With a sharp hiss, she bit down hard on her wrist, slicing through the skin until a crimson flow trickled out. Pain flared through her, but she didn't let it stop her. Not when Scott's life was on the line.

"Please work," she whispered, pressing her bleeding wrist against his mouth. "Come on, Scott. Just drink. Please, just drink."

At first, nothing happened. Scott remained still, unresponsive, and Riley felt a surge of despair. But then—slowly, weakly—his lips parted, and he latched onto her wrist. The sensation of his mouth pulling at her blood sent a shiver through her, pain and relief mingling as she watched the color return to his cheeks, the pallor fading as her blood worked its magic.

"That's it," she whispered, brushing his hair back from his forehead as she held her wrist steady against his mouth. "Just keep going. Come on, Scott, you're okay. You're gonna be okay."

With each second that passed, she felt his strength returning. The wound on his stomach began to close, the torn flesh knitting itself back together as her blood healed him. His breathing evened out, and his body began to warm under her touch. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, his eyes fluttered open—glowing that intense, fiery red that marked him as an Alpha.

Riley let out a shaky breath, pulling her wrist away and watching with a mix of awe and relief as Scott slowly sat up. He was still pale, still a little shaky, but he was alive. He was healing.

"Are you okay?" she asked softly, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Scott blinked, his eyes clearing as he focused on her face. He looked dazed, like he wasn't entirely sure what had just happened, but there was something else in his gaze, something deeper—something raw and powerful.

Instead of answering, he reached up, his thumb brushing gently over her cheek, tracing the curve of her jaw. Riley froze, her heart stuttering in her chest at the unexpected touch.

"Scott?" she breathed, confused.

But he didn't say a word. He just leaned forward, his face inches from hers, his breath warm against her lips. Before Riley could even think to react, Scott closed the distance, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that was as soft as it was sudden.

Shock coursed through her, every nerve in her body lighting up like a live wire as his mouth moved against hers. His touch was gentle, almost hesitant, but there was a heat behind it—a desperate, consuming need that sent her pulse racing. Riley's hands hovered in the air for a split second, unsure, before instinct took over and she tangled her fingers in his hair, pulling him closer.

It was electrifying. The connection between them was so intense, so overwhelming, that it left her breathless. She could feel the steady thrum of his heartbeat under her fingertips, matching the wild rhythm of her own. It was like they were two halves of the same whole, perfectly synchronized in a way that defied explanation.

But just as quickly as it started, Scott pulled back, his forehead resting against hers as they both struggled to catch their breath. Riley stared at him, wide-eyed, her heart still pounding in her chest. His gaze was locked on hers, his eyes no longer glowing red, but dark and soft and filled with an emotion that made her breath hitch.

"Why did you do that?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

Scott's thumb traced her cheek again, his touch feather-light. "Because..." he murmured, his voice low and rough. "Because I'm in love with you."

Riley's world tilted, her mind reeling as she tried to process his words. "What... what did you just say?"

But Scott didn't get a chance to respond. His body swayed, his eyes rolling back as he suddenly went limp, collapsing forward into her arms. Riley barely caught him, panic flooding her system as she cradled his head against her chest.

✩.･*:｡

𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐓𝐓 blinked, squinting against the sunlight filtering through the unfamiliar room. His gaze swept across the walls and the few scattered decorations until his eyes settled on a dresser to his left. A familiar photo sat there, framed in dark wood—Riley and her mother, smiling happily under a blooming cherry blossom tree. That's when it clicked. He wasn't in his bedroom. He was at Riley's house.

Groggily sitting up, Scott's mind began to piece together the chaotic events of the previous night. Flashes of memories hit him all at once—the Nogitsune's twisted grin, the suffocating weight of the pain he'd absorbed from his friends and family, and the poisonous mix Deaton had used to weaken the dark spirit. He remembered being behind the wheel, driving home, feeling the sharp, searing agony from the wound that stubbornly refused to heal. He'd been losing too much blood, his vision blurring dangerously. He hadn't even been sure if he'd make it to Riley's place, let alone if she would be home.

But she had been. He remembered stumbling onto her porch, barely able to keep himself upright, and then... the feeling of warmth and safety as Riley's blood had healed him. The scene of him collapsing into her arms flashed before his eyes, followed by something more vivid—her soft lips pressing against his, the rush of emotion that tore through him, and the overwhelming truth he had blurted out: I'm in love with you.

His heart skipped a beat just thinking about it.

"Hey, you're awake," came a soft, familiar voice that instantly pulled him from his thoughts.

Scott looked up to see Riley standing in the doorway, her expression a mixture of relief and concern. She had changed into a casual outfit—a simple oversized gray sweater and dark leggings—and she was balancing a tray in her hands. A glass of water and a neatly arranged peanut butter and jelly sandwich sat atop it.

"Hey," he croaked, his voice rough from sleep.

Riley walked over, setting the tray down on the small table beside the bed. "Here," she murmured, gently offering him the glass of water. "Drink this."

He took it from her gratefully, lifting it to his lips and gulping down the cool liquid. It soothed the dryness in his throat, and he let out a soft sigh of relief, feeling a bit more awake now.

"Thanks," he said, glancing up at her. The blonde merely smiled, but Scott couldn't help noticing the lingering worry in her eyes.

"I made you a sandwich too," Riley added, motioning to the tray. "My mom's the cook around here, but there's one thing she can never top—my PB and J. It's, like, my specialty."

Scott chuckled softly, reaching for one of the neatly cut sandwich halves. He took a tentative bite, the familiar taste of peanut butter and sweet jelly hitting his taste buds. A pleased hum escaped him.

"This is amazing," he mumbled around the mouthful, savoring the comfort food. "Definitely one of the best PB and J sandwiches I've ever had."

Riley's smile widened, a spark of pride lighting her eyes. "Glad to see you have good taste."

Scott took another bite, chewing slowly as he watched her, noting how tired she looked. Her hair, still slightly damp from what must have been a hurried shower, was loosely tied back, and faint circles of exhaustion lined her eyes.

"So... are you going to tell me what happened last night?" Riley asked softly, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them.

Scott hesitated, lowering the sandwich. He swallowed, staring at the table for a long moment before meeting her gaze. "It's... complicated," he started. "The Nogitsune is—well, it's a dark spirit, a trickster spirit. It feeds on chaos, pain, and strife. Somehow, it's attached itself to Stiles. It's affecting him."

Riley's eyes widened in shock. "Stiles?" she whispered, disbelief etched across her features.

Scott nodded gravely. "Yeah. Deaton tried to weaken it, to give us a chance to help him, but... I'm not sure how much time we have."

Riley bit her lip, her mind spinning as she processed his words. Of all the people, Stiles—the boy who had always been their rock, the voice of reason in the madness of their lives—was harboring the Nogitsune? The revelation was like a punch to the gut, and it sent her mind racing back to the vivid dream she'd had of him, standing in that eerie forest, a bandaged figure at his side. It hadn't been just a nightmare. It had been a warning.

"What are you going to do?" she asked quietly.

Scott took a deep breath, setting the half-eaten sandwich back down. "I need to go back to Deaton's. We need to find a way to separate it from him—before it does something that Stiles can't come back from."

He moved to stand, but Riley quickly stepped forward, pressing a hand against his chest to keep him seated. The warmth of her touch sent a familiar jolt through him, the same jolt he had felt last night when their lips had met.

"Wait," she murmured, looking up into his eyes. "About last night... did you mean it? What you said?"

Scott's heart hammered against his ribs. He opened his mouth to respond, to tell her that yes, he meant every word—that he'd never been more sure of anything in his life—but the sudden vibration of Riley's phone interrupted them. The sound shattered the fragile bubble that had formed around them, pulling them both back to reality.

Riley sighed, glancing down at the screen. "It's Aiden," she muttered, giving Scott an apologetic look as she answered the call. "What do you want, A?"

Scott's brow furrowed slightly. A? When had they become so... casual? He tried not to let his confusion show, but curiosity burned in the back of his mind.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Riley said into the phone. "I'm at home... with Scott."

A brief pause, and then Riley rolled her eyes, clearly irritated. "Why are you together this early in the morning?" Aiden's voice was faint but audible through the receiver.

"That's none of your business," Riley snapped, her patience visibly thinning.

The sound of Jessica's voice filtered through, teasing and accusatory. "Somebody's defensive. Something happened, didn't it? Come on, spill!"

"I'm hanging up now," Riley stated firmly.

"And leave us in such suspense? How dare y—" The line went dead as she ended the call, shaking her head in exasperation.

Scott raised an eyebrow, still piecing together the exchange. "What was that about?"

"Allison wants everyone to meet at her apartment," Riley replied, brushing off the lingering annoyance. She turned back to him, eyes softening. "But I'm going with you, okay? To Deaton's. We need to figure out what's happening with Stiles."

Scott nodded slowly, his gaze locked on hers. "Yeah," he murmured, the weight of the situation pressing down on his shoulders. "We'll fix this. Together."

Riley's fingers squeezed his gently, offering a small, reassuring smile. "We will. But first... eat your sandwich. You need your strength."

Scott couldn't help but smile back, a sense of calm washing over him in her presence, despite the storm raging around them.

✩.･*:｡

         𝐑𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐓𝐓 made their way up the stairs of Allison's apartment building, both silent but determined. They entered the already crowded living room to find Lydia, Jessica, and Allison huddled around a spread-out map on the coffee table. Aiden and Ethan stood close by, both looking slightly out of place but focused. The group turned as the Alpha and the blonde kitsune walked in.

"Finally, you're here," Lydia said, straightening up. "We need to move fast."

Scott exchanged a glance with Riley before stepping closer. "Move fast for what?"

Allison took a deep breath. "We've got a plan," she announced, pointing down at the map. "We're going to intercept an armored car. The same one that has the missing scroll we need to save Stiles."

"A what now?" Scott asked, clearly taken aback.

Riley leaned over the table, eyes narrowing at the detailed route marked in red pen. "Are you serious?"

"It's a solid plan," Lydia insisted, crossing her arms defensively.

"It's a terrible plan," Scott argued, eyebrows furrowed. "Do you hear yourself? We're talking about robbing an armored vehicle!"

"Not robbing," Lydia corrected. "Intercepting."

Riley scoffed, shaking her head. "You're splitting hairs, Lydia. And it's not just a bad plan—it's insane. None of us are trained to do this. We don't even know which route they're taking or when exactly they'll show up."

"We'll figure it out," Allison interjected calmly, pointing to a small red dot marked on the map. "If I can get one of my dad's GPS trackers on the truck before it leaves the station, we'll have eyes on it the whole way."

"And when the truck reaches this point here—" Allison drew an imaginary circle on the map, "—we'll be waiting."

Riley raised a skeptical eyebrow, crossing her arms. "So, let me get this straight. You want to follow an armored car with God knows what kind of security, wait for it to stop, and then... what? Attack them?"

Ethan perked up. "I'm in," he offered with a nonchalant shrug, glancing at his brother, who nodded in agreement.

"No, you're not," Lydia shot back, glaring at him. "We're not attacking anyone."

"We're just going to make it look like there's a problem," Allison explained, leaning over the map. "The twins will stage an 'accident'—a minor collision in the middle of the road. When the driver gets out to investigate..."

"Then we attack him?" Aiden asked, his face lighting up at the prospect.

Allison and Lydia both shot him looks of exasperation. "No," they chorused, clearly annoyed.

"We're distracting him," Lydia clarified through clenched teeth, her patience clearly wearing thin. "Long enough for Scott to break open the back and grab what we need."

Scott frowned. "Grab what, exactly?"

"Katashi's finger," Lydia said, matter-of-factly.

The room fell silent for a moment, everyone staring at her in varying degrees of confusion and horror.

"His actual finger?" Aiden asked, his expression somewhere between disgusted and intrigued.

Jessica rolled her eyes, massaging her temples. "Why are you here again?" she muttered under her breath, looking like she was seriously reconsidering their decision to include the twins.

"It's not a real finger," Lydia groaned. "It's a scroll. Hidden inside a fake finger. Katashi used it to pass on critical information, and it's the only way we'll know how to help Stiles. We have to find it."

Scott glanced down at the map again, his expression shifting from confusion to reluctant acceptance. "Okay, but... what about the driver? What if he doesn't get out?"

"Then we improvise," Riley said softly, meeting his gaze.

"Guys, this is going to work," Allison insisted, looking around at the gathered pack. There was a fire in her eyes that Riley hadn't seen in a while—determination, desperation, and a touch of fear. "We can do this. We have to do this. We're losing Stiles. My dad's in jail for murder..."

"And Derek," Riley added quietly, glancing down at the floor.

Allison's gaze hardened, a spark of resolve lighting her features. "We're out of options. We need to do this."

✩.･*:｡

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐂𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 pack found themselves in the parking lot of the Sheriff Department hiding between two cars.

"You're up." Allison told Kira.

Kira ran towards the armored car and put Allison's GPS on it, but when she was about to run back to the group, someone opened the back door of the Sheriff's Department.

It was Deputy Parrish.

Kira quickly hid behind another car.

"Okay, let's get out of here." Parrish voiced as he opened the passenger's door before immediately pulled his gun out of its case.

Suddenly, a big guy, came out of the trunk, and knocked Parrish out.

"Who the hell is that ?" Scott asked, as surprised as everyone else.

"Kincaid." Allison answered.

The three of them walked up to that guy while he took the silverfinger out of the case.

"We need that finger." Riley said.

Kincaid looked at the three of teens, glaring at Allison whom was pointing her arrow at him.

"Why should I give it to you?" Kincaid asked them.

"There's a briefcase in there with 150 000$ in it." Allison answered.

"The scroll inside this prosthetic finger is worth three million."

"Give me the finger." Scott voiced.

Suddenly , Kira jump on Kincaid's back but he didn't even move. He was too big to be affected by Kira's attack. He just, threw her on the ground and glared at her.

"I guess negotiations are over." Kincaid said before he flashed his electric blue eyes and growled at them.

Allison shot an arrow at him, but Kincaid caught it before it hurt him. Kira tried to attack him but he grabbed her neck and before he threw her against the wall. He duplicated the action against Allison.

Scott jumped in, clawing Kincaid, but nothing made him move. He grabbed Scott's arm and pushed him away, making him fall to the ground. Granting, Kincaid the opportunity to kick Scott in the guts.

Riley's eyes shined as she growled, running over to lodge her elbow into Kincaid's shoulder. The gesture made the werewolf slipped across the ground, a few feet from Scott.

Kincaid glanced at the blonde with surprise. "Hm, you're not like the others. You're stronger, I'll give you that. But you can't beat me alone."

"She's not alone." Ethan's voice sounded out above. He and Aiden stood on the balcony of the Sheriff Department.

Riley smirked before rushing forward while the twins jumped down from the balcony. The three of them fought against Kincaid, covering for Lydia and Jessica was helped the others get up. We ended up at the point where Kincaid couldn't stand on his feet anymore.

"Stop. Ethan, Aiden stop." Lydia told them.

Her voice distracted them and granted Kincaid the opportunity to push them aside. However, Riley wasn't going to give up.

"Riley stop." Scott called out.

Riley wasn't let Kincaid get away with the finger. She just needed the perfect opportunity to take him, something she felt confident that she could do.

The group watched in awe as a white fox aura surrounded Riley's body. Her eyes were shining hot white with a hint of yellow.

Kincaid attempted to slash Riley with his claws, granting her the chance to grab his hand and twist his wrist so hard that he dropped to his knees in pain. The blonde mounted his shoulders from the back, doing a maneuver that pushed Kincaid to the ground on his back with her straddling him.

Riley raised her claws, ready to the finish blow, but the sound of her Alpha's voice stopped her.

"I SAID STOP!"  He roared.

Everyone watched as the fox aura slowly became invisible around Riley's body. She stood up, seeing her friends staring at her with various expressions.

Concern. Shock. Fear.

The one that made Riley's chest twitch with pain was Scott's. He looked at the blonde as if he was scared.

The twins grabbed Kincaid's arms while he was on his knees.

"You want this him to come after us?" Ethan asked Scott. "We've seen guys like this before. Trust us, he's dangerous."

"So are we. And he looks smart enough to remember that." Scott shot back, grasping the Silverfinger from Kincaid's pocket and took the scroll inside of it. "We're here to save a life. Not end one."

Riley couldn't help but feel those words being directed towards her. She never done something like what she did Kincaid before. It was like an instinct kicked in and suddenly she felt herself getting stronger from his pain. Of course, she wasn't prone to kill anyone but it was either him or her. A mindset she couldn't believe was becoming a reality.

✩.･*:｡

      𝐑𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐘 𝐃𝐈𝐃𝐍'𝐓 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍 bother accepting the ride from any of her friends back to the hospital. She opted to walking to avoid the explanation of what happened earlier. She almost regretted taking that ride with Scott to Allison's apartment, but then again being in a position that made her heart nearly jump out of her chest was worth it.

The sound of a dirt bike engine, diverted her attention to look back to see Scott pulling up. She stopped walking and turned to face him as he hopped off the bike, looking at her in concern.

"Riley, why did you leave? I was supposed to give you a ride to the hospital."

Riley hesitated to speak. She wanted to made sure she didn't say anything stupid.

"Are you scared of me?" She asked him.

Scott opened his mouth once with a reply ready but quick shut it. Riley could only analyzed the expression on his face that spoke loudly of trying to figure out response in the least offensive manner. Only confirming what the feeling Riley felt.

"I'm scared." Scott voiced, finally. "I'm scared of what you might do if I'm not there to pull you back. I'm not scared of you."

"Your face said otherwise. The way you looked at me earlier is exactly how you are looking at me right now." Riley replied.

Scott's face softened as he immediately tried to talk, but Riley stopped him.

"You don't need to explain yourself, Scott. There's a power inside of me that I need to learn how to control. My mom was helping, but she's—you can't help me And I shouldn't be around you or anyone else until I get it under control. The last thing I want to do is hurt anyone else." Riley announced, turning around to walk away, but Scott grabbed her hand.

"Wait what ? No wa..." Scott protested but Riley pulled her hand out of his grasp.

"There's nothing you can, Scott. I'm out." Riley stated.

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