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Silver Wolf -Chapter 2

The Five Stages of Lycanthropy

Part 1

Disclaimer: Teen Wolf is the property of Paramount Pictures and MTV.

Rating: PG-13

Pairings: Scott/Allison, maybe some Stiles/Lydia later on.

Note: Ok, this isn't actually the full chapter, but it's taking much longer to write a full 'episode' than I thought. First chapter was short because, well--most of the things that happened were identical to the actual episode so I didn't feel the need to rehash it. Now we're in mostly brand new territory, so it's going to be much longer. So I'm going to post it in segments so you don't have to wait as long.

Allison’s eyes opened at the first rays of dawn peeked through the blinds. Waking up in a new place wasn’t exactly unfamiliar to her. She’d grown up knowing not to settle too much, as her parents could pack up at a moment’s notice, and bring her somewhere new.

The apartment hadn’t even been her home a year yet. No more than the house on the other side of town had been. Yet, somehow, it felt as though she had just moved in.

Why did it feel so new? As if she was looking at these walls for the first time, noticing things she hadn’t before.

Maybe—maybe it wasn’t the apartment that was ‘off’?

Maybe it was her.

*****

Relief flooded through her as the hot water from the shower flowed over her skin, washing the way the last remains of the stale feeling from the hospital, not to mention the dried blood from her wound.

The wound that was now only half the size it had been.

No sooner had her arrow pierced the oni that it started to distintigrate right in front of her eyes. Allison breathed in a mix of relief and awe. She’d been right! The could win this.

She had let her guard down for only an instant, but that was enough. Enough for one of the other Oni to close the distance between them, and plunge its katanna through her chest. It happened so fast…

She pressed her hands against the shower wall, trying to drown out the memory.

‘I can’t take your pain…’ Scott said in a panic.

‘That’s because it doesn’t hurt,’ she reassured him, her body becoming numb, and colder by the second.

She shook her head, wondering if any of that had even happened. It could have been a dream. Another illusion sent by the Nogistune to confuse her and cause her anguish for it to feed upon.

Her hand went to her shoulder…

‘What if it doesn’t work? She could die…’ she heard Scott whisper, sounding far away.

‘Damn it, Scott—she’s dying NOW!’ her father exclaimed. ‘This is the only chance Allison has!’

She could feel Scott’s arms tighten around her, his fingers brushing her hair away from her face.

‘Allison, I need you to look at me—’ he begged her. ‘I need you to be ok with this…’

Then came a roar, and white hot pain shot through her. It felt like her blood was on fire—the cold and numbness was suddenly burned away and replaced by irresistible agony.

Her fingers traced the mark on her shoulder, that looked more like a large purple bruise than a bite now. Scott’s mark.

‘Get ahold of yourself, Allison!’ she thought. ‘Scott has a girlfriend. You’ve got Isaac. That was your decision, remember?’

And yet…

‘I don’t know if I made a mistake breaking up with Scott…’

‘…the person I’ll always love…’

‘Why did you do this to me?’

‘Because I love you…’

She shook her head. What a mess…

She turned off the shower, grabbing a towel to dry herself off. However, as she walked by the fogged up mirror, she caught something out of corner of her eye. A snarling, bloody-fanged face gazing back at her with untamed ferocity and rage.

Allison gasped, turning back to the mirror and wiping the mirror clean—looking at her reflection. Her normal, human-looking reflection.

Quickly, she pulled back her lips to inspect her teeth in the mirror—normal.

She pulled her hair back away from her ears—round.

Then her hands—her nails were in need of a good manicure, but otherwise no different from anyone else’s.

She was fine. She was going to be fine.

*****

“Morning!” Allison greeted her father cheerfully as she entered the kitchen. “Hope some of that’s for me, because I am famished.”

Chris looked at her, surprised. He placed a plate of pancakes and breakfast sausages down in front of her, with a side of orange juice.

“Hospital food, right?” she added, wrinkling her nose. “So glad to be out of there.”

“You’re—awfully chipper this morning,” Chris noted.

“Why shouldn’t I be?” Allison shrugged. “Stiles is back to normal, the Nogistune is locked up, and we all made it out alive.”

“Not all of us.”

Allison nodded.

“Is Lydia ok?” she asked. “I know her and Aiden had their problems, but…I’ll talk to her when I get to school.”

“I think—that you should be more concerned about yourself at present,” he pointed out, his voice trembling slightly despite his attempts to remain stoic. “Are you sure you’re ready for school?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Allison half-laughed.

“Because the full moon is in five days, Allison!” Chris reminded her.

“And?”

Chris stared at her in disbelief.

“There’s such thing as overconfidence, you know?”

“That’s what you’re worried about?” she scoffed. “It’s not even an issue, dad. I’m fine. I’m not going to change.”

“Allison…” he sighed.

“With the exception of Aiden, everyone who was injured by the Oni magically recovered,” she rationalized. “Not even a trace that they’d even been cut or stabbed in the first place. The moment the last Oni was destroyed, it was like it never even happened.”

She took a bite of one of the sausages.

“Which I gotta say, is a huge relief,” she continued. “Because I’ve got way too much on my plate as it is without adding…”

“May I see your shoulder?” Chris asked, cutting her off.

“Dad, I said I’m fine!”

“Please!”

Allison sighed in frustration, walking over to him and gently pulling back the shoulder of her nightshirt.

He touched the purplish bruise gently. Chris shook his head, as if part of him had hoped Allison had been right. But there was the damning evidence right in front of him. What they’d done to his little girl.

What he’d done…

“It doesn’t even hurt,” Allison laughed, nervously. “There’s nothing to worry about. Like I said, the Oni…”

“This mark wasn’t made by the Oni, Allison,” he pointed out, becoming serious. “It was made by an alpha werewolf.”

“But I feel fine,” Allison insisted, still in denial. “In fact, I’ve never felt bet—”

“Better in your life?” Chris asked, cutting her off.

Allison nodded.

“What you’re feeling right now is because of a transitional period,” he explained, trying to remain detached. “I’ve seen it before. Your body is readjusting itself to its newfound strength and stamina. Even the simplest tasks are going to seem effortless soon enough.”

Allison shook her head.

“There’s gotta be something we can do,” she argued, trying to hold back tears. “Scott’s the one that bit me, right? He’s not a normal alpha. Maybe—maybe he can reverse it, or…”

“Allison—” Chris tried to warn her.

“Deaton!” she suggested. “Maybe he knows something? I’ll head over to the clinic after class, and…”

“Allison, there’s nothing to be done,” he sighed.

“We don’t know that!” she insisted, getting angry. “You thought there was no way to kill an Oni. Maybe we just haven’t found it yet? Some way to reverse the transformation? A cure! SOMETHING!”

“If there was, don’t you think I would have used it by now?!?” Chris yelled, angrily. “Don’t you think we would have weaponized it? As an alternative to killing someone who might not be completely responsible for their actions. Don’t you think I would have given it to Scott the second I found out about him? There is no way back! There is no antidote! There is no CURE! If an alpha bites you, you either become one of them or you DIE!”

At this point, Allison was on the verge of tears. Both because she hadn’t seen her father this angry at her since that day on lookout point, and the fact that she knew what he was saying was 100% true.

However, upon seeing the pale look on Allison’s face, Chris Argent’s anger completely deflated.

‘She doesn’t want this,’ he thought. ‘She scared out of her mind, and you’re only making it worse.’

Chris pulled her into his arms.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “Allison, I am so sorry.”

“Wh-what’s going to happen to me?” she sniffled.

“That—is up to you, isn’t it?”

“I didn’t want to die,” she confessed. “I still don’t. But--what about the code?”

“You changed the code, didn’t you?” he reminded her. “Change that part, too.”

Allison thought for a moment, trying to remain detached—she needed to make this not only about her, but about what was best for the spirit of her revised code. Protecting instead of killing.

“I, uh, I guess…” she began. “When a hunter is bitten, it becomes their responsibility to protect people—from themselves. If they can do that—if they can control the power—then they’ve earned the right to use it as a weapon.”

Despite himself, Chris managed a small smile.

“That seems—reasonable,” he agreed.

There was still one thing she needed to know, though. One thing that felt more important than everything else.

“Does this—change things?” she asked. “Between us? I mean, you seem to get along better with Scott and Isaac, and even Derek, more than you used to. As allies if not friends, but—are we still…”

Chris looked down on her, becoming serious.

“You’re my daughter, and I love you,” he confessed, placing his hand on her shoulder. “This—does not change that.”

Allison nodded.

“But what if I can’t control it?” she asked. “What if I become a threat? Another Peter or Ducalion, or…”

“The fact you’re afraid of that possibility is a very good sign that you won’t be,” Chris tried to reassure her. “You also have several advantages that others in your circumstances don’t.”

He put on his best forced smile, trying to make it as light as he knew how.

“You’re already aware of werewolves, and what being one entails,” he pointed out. “Their strengths, weaknesses, and—risks involved.”

“Right, right…”

“You have close friends who’ve been through the same thing,” he continued. “That you can ask for advice, and can have your back if things get too hard. Most importantly, you have an alpha who really, really cares about the preservation of human life.”

‘Scott,’ she thought. ‘He’s—my alpha.’

“Listen to Scott,” Chris told her. “Follow his lead, and—you should be fine.”

“Listen to Scott,” Allison laughed. “Those are words I never thought I’d hear you say.”

“Now eat up,” he told her. “I’ll drive you to school.”

*****

A loud, blaring noise echoed through Scott’s bedroom, causing him to lash out and fling the offending object towards the window.

“RROWL!”

It shattered on impact.

“Oh, great!” Scott groaned.

A protective case would have paid for itself by now. He was pretty sure ‘accidental damage protection’ didn’t cover ‘irritable werewolf attack’.

He pulled on a shirt, and headed downstairs.

“I—broke another phone,” he apologized, sheepishly.

“Again?” Melissa asked in disbelief. “Scott, a case would have paid for itself by now.”

“I know,” he sighed. “I’m tempted to check out an antique store and pick up an actual alarm clock, but—pretty sure I’ll break that, too.”

“Seriously, Scott,” Isaac laughed, sounding somewhat chipper. “You’ve been a wolf longer than I have—why don’t you have the hang of this yet?”

Isaac finished setting the table.

“You seem in a good mood, all things considered,” Scott commented.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

Scott was tempted to list the reasons:

Stiles still being traumatized from his possession.

Finstock still recovering from his arrow injury.

Ethan’s brother dying.

Lydia not-quite-boyfriend dying.

A girl who’d been a coyote for the past six years starting school today.

And oh yeah—Allison was a werewolf now. Because of him.

“Have you—spoke to Allison?” he asked.

Isaac hesitated a moment, almost as if he was upset by the question.

“Uh, no,” he replied. “I stopped by the hospital, but Argent had already checked her out. I guess he didn’t want to risk any, you know—accidents?”

Scott nodded.

“She’ll be fine,” Isaac reassured him. “I gotta say, it’s going to be great having a pack again. A real pack. I mean, don’t get me wrong—Stilinski and Lydia are cool, but it’s not the same.”

“I’m not so sure Allison’s gonna see it that way,” Scott admitted.

Isaac scoffed.

“Look, Scott,” he said. “I know the whole hunter thing makes it complicated, but I know Allison—she’s not going to off herself. She’s too strong for that.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about,” Scott explained. “You remember what the first days were like? How you were acting?”

“Dude, that was because of Derek,” he countered.

“Maybe,” Scott sighed. “But you didn’t see her at the hospital. She didn’t want this.”

“So she freaked out a bit?” he admitted. “Give her time—she’ll come around. She’s still going be Allison, just—you know—better!”

Scott looked down at his plate, considering Isaac’s words.

‘Better?’ he thought. ‘Is that what we are? Somehow, I don’t think so.’

*****

Beacon Hills High School

Scott pulled his bike into its usual spot, noting for the first time that Ethan’s own motorcycle was there by itself.

‘I still remember that prank we pulled,’ he recalled. ‘The look on Aiden’s face…’

He shook his head.

‘We did make a pretty good team, didn’t we?’ Scott thought. ‘Maybe Isaac’s right? That having the two of us will make it easier for Allison? But I can’t forget what she said…’

Allison had said she still loved him. But who knew if she still felt that way, after what Scott had done to her. Whether she did or not, the fact remained that he was pretty sure Isaac heard her say it. What did that mean for their newly-formed ‘pack’? What did it mean for him and…

“Morning!” an excited voice greeted Scott, hugging him from behind.

“Kira?!?” Scott exclaimed, surprised. “I, uh—hey.”

“So, I called you,” Kira said, letting him go. “About three times.”

“Yeah, I—kinda broke my phone,” he explained.

It wasn’t a complete lie. He was just neglecting to mention that it happened after she had tried to call him.

“My parents want to know when you’re stopping by,” she asked. “They’re eager to prepare a feast for the great Wolf Hero.”

“It was Stiles plan, not mine,” Scott tried to rationalize. “I was just, you know—the blunt instrument.”

“Well—I think you’re a hero,” she reassured him. “Take the compliment.”

Scott managed to smile back at her, despite himself.

“So what do you usually do between crisis’?” Kira asked. “If you don’t mind me asking?”

“Mostly just try to get my grades back up,” he replied. “Maybe focus on Lacrosse, but no idea if they’re going to replace Finstock, or put the game on hold until he recovers. Then there’s Malia…”

“Malia?” Kyra asked.

“This girl we tracked down for Stiles’ dad,” Scott explained. “Peter’s biological daughter, who was put up for adoption. She was in a car crash six years ago, and it triggered her first transformation. She was stuck like that until I used the alpha roar to change her back.”

“So, she’s just been running around the woods as a feral wolf girl for the past six years?” Kyra asked, surprised.

“Coyote, but yeah,” Scott explained. “Also, she was kind of a—full coyote. Four legs, a tail, and all that.”

“You can do that?” she asked, smirking.

“Well, I can’t!” Scott defended himself. “Although, Derek’s mom could. And his sister. And Peter kinda did back when he was an alpha. Maybe it’s a Hale family trait or something, I don’t know…”

“Or—maybe you’re just not trying hard enough,” Kira giggled.

Her words brought back a memory unbidden…

“I don’t have a tail!”

“Maybe you just haven’t grown it yet?”

“I am never growing a tail! Ever!”

“Scott?”

Scott snapped out of his daze.

“Sorry, it’s just…” he admitted. “Allison kinda said the same thing when she first found out about me.”

“How is she?” Kira asked.

“I, uh—I haven’t seen her in a few days,” he admitted. “I tried to visit at the hospital, but—she was pretty upset.”

“Don’t take it personal--she almost died, Scott,” Kira reminded him. “And then she dragged herself out of her hospital bed, and killed the thing that stabbed her. That’s like legendary bravery right there.”

Suddenly, Stiles Jeep pulled up in front of school.

“It’s Stiles—I’ve gotta check on him,” Scott told her.

Kira kissed him on the cheek.

“See you at lunch,” she said, before running off.

Scott mentally cursed himself. He was a coward, a blatant coward. He could have told Kira the truth, but he chose to keep it a secret.

But which truth? The fact that he bit Allison, and that’s why she was alive? The fact that Allison was still in love with him, or at least had been BEFORE he bit her? Or the fact that he wasn’t completely sure how he felt about her at present?

This was the exact same mistake he had made with Allison. Keeping secrets, hiding behind half-truths. Only, with Allison, he at least had self-preservation as a rationalization behind it, and later with Gerard it was about keeping her safe. Kira knew he was a werewolf, and had powers of her own, so why was he still playing it close to the chest?

“Stiles, wait up!”

Stiles continued walking, lugging his backpack as if it weighed a ton.

“Hey, man…” Scott said, running up to him. “Is everything all…right?”

Stiles had huge dark circles under his eyes, his face was slightly thin, and his skin looked like it hadn’t seen the sun in a few days.

“Hey, Scotty,” he greeted him. “Sorry, I didn’t hear you. My mind must have been somewhere else.”

“You look, uh…” Scott tried to find the right words.

“Like hell?” Stiles finished for him. “Don’t worry—Deaton gave me a clean bill of health. Body’s fine, I’m not dying—it’s apparently all psychological.”

“Well, you look like you could use a sub,” Scott told him.

“Only if you’re buying,” Stiles scoffed. “Seriously though, I’m fine. Just going through some stuff. Dad’s got me going for sessions at Eichen House, but at the very least I don’t have a 1000-year old fox demon whispering homicidal suggestions in my brain anymore.”

“If there’s anything you need, just say the word,” Scott told him. “The worst is over.”

“Dude, do not say that!” Still groaned. “That’s like tempting fate. Next thing you know, the ground opens up and a dozen honey badgers the size of St. Bernards surround the school.”

“Honey badgers?”

“It was an example!” Stiles pointed out.

“Now I’m gonna have nightmares about that for weeks, Stiles!” Scott laughed. “Hey, have you heard from Derek?”

“Derek?” Stiles asked. “No, why—is something going on?”

“I just wanted some—advice,” Scott said, once again avoiding the subject.

“Let me guess—new werewolf at school?” Stiles asked. “Full moon in five days, you’re worried she might lose it and start literally snacking on the student body?”

Scott’s eyes went wide.

“Come on, Scott!” Stiles chuckled. “I was possessed, not asleep. Your newest pack member didn’t exactly fly under my radar, you know?”

“I’m sorry, I just wasn’t sure how to…” Scott stammered. “How’d you find out?”

“We’ve ran into each other at therapy,” Stiles explained. “Her dad sent her there. Mr. Tate, not Peter.”

Scott blinked.

“Malia,” he realized. “Right. How’s she doing?”

“She’s like a kid trapped in a teenager’s body,” Stiles explained. “The times she acts like a human, she wants to talk video games and cartoons. Which, believe it or not, is actually a refreshing change from the murder and carnage I’ve been dealing with.”

Scott sighed.

“Stiles, what the Nogistune did—it’s not your…”

Stiles put up a hand in protest.

“Don’t, Scott!” he warned him. “Because you can say it’s not my fault dozens of times, and I’ll still keep knowing it was.”

“He was controlling you,” Scott insisted. “Like Peter was controlling me, remember?”

“Yet you were able to fight him off,” Stiles reminded him. “So my failing isn’t that I’m secretly a homicidal whackjob, but that I was too weak to stop this thing from making me hurt my friends.”

He shook his head.

“Stiles…” Scott tried to argue.

“Allison almost died, Scott!” he cut him off. “How am I ever supposed to face her after that?”

“You’re not the one she blames,” Scott said, bitterly.

He didn’t elaborate on who Scott felt she did blame.

“Maybe I should pop by the hospital and ask her myself?” Stiles suggested, relaxing somewhat.

“Isaac said her dad already took her home,” Scott informed him.

“Already?” he asked. “I swear, if this is some kind of macho hunter ‘working through pain’ crap, I’m going to suggest Argent go for some Eichen House sessions himself.”

Stiles sighed.

“Ok, how about this—after class, we grab Lydia and head over to the apartment for a good old fashioned movie night,” he suggested. “Bunch of cheezy romcoms girls like, no blood or guts to be seen.”

“That—might not be the best idea,” Scott told him. “We kind of had a fight.”

Stiles rolled his eyes.

“About what?”

Scott knew he needed to tell the truth this time, but which truth?

The one Stiles could probably handle, of course.

“After the Oni stabbed her, Allison told me she was still in love with me.”

Stiles stared at him. Opened his mouth to say something, then closed it. Rubbed his fingers against his temples, then doubled over at started laughing.

“Stiles,” Scott sighed.

“Sorry, I’m sorry, Scott,” he laughed. “But—only you could get into this situation. What did I say?”

Stiles pointed a finger at him, still laughing.

“Hot girl!”

“Well, how do I STOP being the hot girl?” Scott asked.

“You either got it or you don’t…”

“I thought I was over Allison,” Scott admitted. “I met Kira, I like her, I was getting on with my life. Then Allison almost dies, and she tells me, and it’s like…”

“Like the last year never happened,” Stiles said longingly. “And you fall in love all over again, but it’s different. Because it’s like having those feelings after everything is some unpardonable crime. It doesn’t matter if everyone else forgives you for them, because you won’t forgive yourself.”

“Yeah, that’s sort of what…” Scott started to say, before realizing that Stiles wasn’t looking at him.

He was looking past him.

Scott turned around to see Lydia standing alone at her locker, slowly putting things away. Scott had never seen her this down before.

“Talk to her,” he told Stiles. “Ok, she’s hurting right now. She could use a friend.”

“Scott, if you knew the things I said to her…” Stiles protested.

“That the Nogistune said to her,” Scott argued.

“That he got from my head, Scott!” Stiles countered.

“Then apologize,” Scott said flatly. “Walk right over there, go up to Lydia, and tell her your sorry for the things you said while the Nogistune was controlling you. And when Lydia forgives you—which she will—you’ll both feel better about it. I promise.”

Despite the sternness of Scott’s words, something about them seemed to click, as Stiles looked a little less heavy.

“So—a fight, huh?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Scott sighed.

“Have you talked to Kira about it?”

“Not—really,” Scott admitted.

“And Isaac?”

“Pretty sure he heard her say it,” Scott confessed. “But—he hasn’t brought it up yet.”

“Well, then it’s pretty obvious why Allison’s angry with you,” Stiles pointed out.

“It is?” Scott questioned.

“It’s because you’re not being decisive, man,” Stiles said, putting his arm over Scott’s shoulder. “She nearly died, she’s emotionally vulnerable, she lays everything out like that—and she wants you to drop everything, fight off all potential suiters, and reassure her that she’s the only girl you have ever or will ever love.”

“You think I should do that?” Scott asked, confused.

“Hell no!” Stiles scoffed. “Allison dumped you. Maybe she had some fairly good reasons, but as the dumper it is her responsibility to fight for you. Being upfront with her feelings is a good first step, so now she just has to take the field openly, tearing apart all that may get in her way.”

A scared look appeared on Scott’s face.

“Tear apart?” he asked.

“Shredded to ribbons,” Stiles confirmed. “I’ve seen that girl mad before, and I gotta say—I don’t envy poor Kira right now.”

Scott shook his head.

“I can’t let that happen,” he said, on the verge of panic. “And Isaac—what am I supposed to do about him.”

“Ok, yeah, poor Isaac,” Stiles said sarcastically. “I feel for the guy, but he did hook up with your ex at the first opportunity. He has only himself to blame.”

“But I’m supposed to be their alpha!”

Stiles blinked.

“Their?” he asked. “Is there something about Isaac you’re not telling me?”

“What?” Scott said, blinking. “No, I’m supposed to be his alpha…”

“Yet you said ‘they’,” Stiles pointed out.

“Yeah, they,” Scott babbled, trying to cover. “I did say that. Because, you know, Malia’s kinda in the pack, right? Since I used the alpha roar on her.”

“How did Malia get involved in this?” Stiles asked, wrinkling his nose. “Wait—is Malia into you too?”

“No,” Scott replied. “I mean, at least I don’t think so. I hope not! But—what am I gonna do about Kira? I feel like a cheater.”

“Did you kiss Allison?” Stiles asked.

“No,” Scott lied. “Well, not on the lips.”

“Not a cheater then,” Stiles told him. “You wanna stay that way, you need to talk to Kira, let her know what happened, and that you need time to sort out your feelings.”

“And Isaac?” Scott asked. “I don’t want him to get hurt.”

“Well, that’s up to him,” Stiles pointed out. “You’re the alpha, remember? He can either step aside or challenge your authority. You’re just lucky Allison’s human—otherwise it’d probably get really messy.”

“Yeah,” Scott said, nervously. “Really lucky.”

*****

‘Really lucky,’ one voice commented. ‘I mean, if I were stabbed by a carjacker, I’d be out of school for at least a week.’

Allison walked through the hallway, clutching her books to her chest. Everyone was starring at her, of course. It has hard not to.

She wasn’t wearing any makeup, and the baggy clothes she had on were far from her usual style. She thought it would hide the bandages—or lack thereof—but all they did was draw attention to herself. Her hair was a mess, and the dark circles around her eyes from lack of sleep probably made her stand out even more.

She looked horrible, she felt horrible, and the fact that she was suddenly able to hear every bit of gossip was not helping matters.

‘You have to tell me what dress you picked out. I am not going to have us wear the same thing’

‘If I don’t get at least a C, I’m going to have to going to have to repeat this course next year.’

‘Summer school? This bites!’

‘Is that Argent? I thought she was dead or something?’

‘Not dead, just stabbed.’

‘Was she mugged?’

‘Probably stabbed herself. Didn’t her mom off herself last year the same way?’

‘Shhh—she’ll hear you!’

‘She’s on the other side of the hall!’

‘Her dad makes guns. She’s probably packing’

‘I saw her bring a bow to school once, swear to god.’

‘In her hair?’

‘No, the kind you shoot things with. She thinks she’s Katniss or something.’

‘Playoffs are this weekend. We’re not going win without Jackson this year.’

‘Nah, McCall will wipe the floor with them’

‘Unless he vanishes again. Where does he go anyway?’

‘Probably to make out with his girlfriends.’

‘Wait, girlfriends? Plural?’

‘Seriously, he keeps pulling them into empty classrooms to ‘talk’. No way they’re studying.’

‘Can somebody tell me how that geek has that much game? He’s got, like, four hot chicks following him around like lost puppies.’

‘I want to know how we’re supposed to find out our marks for Harris and Blake’s classes. They just up and vanished last semester, and the school never replaced them.’

‘I heard they ran away together’.

‘Eww—gross!’

‘Hey, she was hot!’

‘I meant ‘ew’ about Harris!’

‘Oh yeah—good point. He was like the anti-McCall.’

‘I wonder if McCall is holding auditions for girl # 5?”

‘Oh god, why?!?”

‘I wanna see what all the fuss is about. I bet he’s got a really nice…’

‘Have you seen Stilinski? Guy looks like a @#$% zombie!’

‘You think he’s on something?’

‘Must have raided his dad’s evidence locker.’

‘Did you hear about Aiden? I swear, Martin’s cursed. First Jackson leaves, then that guy dies…’

‘You think she turned Stilinski into a zombie? Some kinda creepy voodoo?’

‘She’ll hear you!’

‘She can voodoo me anytime, know what I’m saying?’

‘She’ll HEAR you!’

‘Yep, look at that glare. She heard you all right!’

‘Great—now you’re her next victim!’

‘That’s it—I’m joining the lacrosse team next year.’

‘You think they’re all going stag to the junior prom?’

‘Nah, they’re all going with McCall.’

‘Is that even legal?’

‘Isn’t Argent and Lahey a thing?’

‘Bet he’s also going with McCall.’

‘Oh, come on!’

‘Nah, psycho girl probably has both of them wrapped around her little finger.’

‘I heard one of the chicks call him an ‘alpha’—must be a jock thing.’

‘For freaking lacrosse?!?’

Allison shook her head, trying to drown out the unending stream of gossip assaulting her ears.

‘I’m not listening’, she thought. ‘I am not listening—lalalalala.’

Despite the uneasiness, Allison had a large smile plastered on her face. They were in the last few weeks of school, so she had a chance to do something normal—the perfect distraction from the last few days. Heck, from the last few months. No alpha pack, no demon foxes, no wild coyotes…just boring everyday things like passing exams, prom, avoiding gossip…

That’s when she noticed a familiar figure struggling with her locker.

“Need a hand with that?” she asked, surprised by how tired she sounded.

Lydia turned around, her face lighting up.

“Allison!” she exclaimed, pulling her into a hug.

Allison savored the contact, and for a moment she felt normal again. Just her and her best friend, in the school hallways, just like any day.

“I didn’t think I’d see you at school,” Lydia told her, after breaking off the hug. “I thought you’d be in the hospital at least a week.”

“You know—finals are coming up,” she pointed out.

“You’re a mess,” Lydia sighed. “You look as bad as I feel. As soon as those bandages come off, I’m bringing you for a spa day. No arguments.”

“Ok,” Allison managed to laugh, before becoming serious. “My dad told me about Aiden. I’m sorry.”

Lydia closed her eyes, nodding.

“At least we got to avenge him,” she pointed out. “I hear you dragged yourself out of your hospital bed and killed the last one while we were fighting the Nogistune. So—thank you.”

“I just wish I could have been there,” she said.

Lydia just stared at her.

“Is something wrong?” Allison asked.

“I screamed for you,” Lydia whispered, tears in her eyes. “I screamed your name when I was in the tunnels, Allison. When I do that, people die. I was so scared you were—I’m just really glad you’re ok is all.”

Allison looked down.

“Maybe I did?” she suggested, much to Lydia’s confusion. “Maybe I did die, and Scott just—brought me back? Maybe I’m on my second life now?”

“Or maybe I just wanted you to live so bad that—that I made death take someone else instead?” Lydia offered. “Maybe Aiden’s dead because I’d rather lose him than lose you?”

Allison shook her head.

“Don’t think like that, you’ll drive yourself crazy,” she said. “Just give yourself some time.”

“You too,” Lydia told her. “You need to rest. Let yourself heal. School will still be here next week.”

Lydia started walking towards class, with Allison watching her go.

‘Next week—next week I won’t be human,’ she thought. ‘Unless I can find some way to cheat fate.’.

She put her books in her locker, as Isaac started walking towards her.

“Hey?” he greeted her. “Wasn’t expecting to see you at school yet.”

“Well, I’m still flunking bio,” Allison shrugged.

“Never thought I’d miss Finstock,” Isaac chuckles. “So, I was thinking after school we could go for a run or something. Somewhere we can cut loose—I can show you some things, maybe?”

“What kind of things?” Allison asked, feigning disinterest.

“You know?” he whispered, smirking. “Werewolf things?”

Allison tensed.

“Find out how fast you are now,” he continued. “How strong? I mean, you could kick my ass before, I can’t imagine how tough you’re going to be now.”

“Can I take a rain check?” Allison muttered. “I need to talk to Scott—about things.”

Isaac bit his lip, hesitant about how to respond.

“Scott can come with us,” he suggested. “It’d probably do him good to get his mind off things too. Guy thinks you’re mad at him, so—great opportunity to show him he’s wrong, right?”

Allison shook her head.

“I—can’t,” she admitted.

Isaac gave her a sympathetic look.

“You’re really not happy about this, are you?” he asked.

“No,” she sighed. “I’m sorry, I just—I need time. I’ve got five days left to be a normal girl. I promise, I’ll do whatever training you and Scott want to put me through after that.”

“Yeah, sure,” Isaac replied. “Just, y’know—come see me when you’re ready.”

But as he left, a worried expression wouldn’t leave Isaac’s face. Because he couldn’t help but wonder if she would have said ‘yes’ had Scott been with him.

*****

Later, in class…

Scott and Stiles are already in their seats when Issac walks in. Kira arrives a moment later, sitting at the opposite side.

Scott’s eyes go back and forth between them.

“Who needs to watch the CW when I’ve got you?” Stiles whispered. “Will Scott confront his current girlfriend or his rival suitor first?”

“Just give me a minute…” Scott said, before going to sit next to Isaac.

“Well, you were right,” Isaac sighed. “She’s really not feeling the whole pack thing. I’d even go as far as say she’s in serious denial.”

“About Allison—” Scott started to say. “We’ve gotta talk. About what happened at Oak Creek.”

“What’s there to discuss?” Isaac asked. “She saved me from the Oni, almost died herself, you bit her, now she’s a werewolf and she’s pissed about it.”

“I meant before I bit her,” Scott reminded him. “Come on man, I know you heard what she said to me.”

Isaac sighed.

“Do we gotta talk about this now?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Scott said. “I think we do.”

“Yeah, I heard her,” Isaac said, bitterly. “I really wish I didn’t.”

Scott nodded, lowering his eyes.

“Do you hate me?” Scott asked.

“No,” Isaac replied.

“Do you want to hit me?” Scott asked, smirking slightly.

“No!” Isaac laughed, recalling a similar conversation. “Scott, look—you didn’t do anything wrong. Ok, whatever was said—it was Allison who said it. It’s on her.”

“I’d rather you blame me,” Scott countered.

Isaac rolled his eyes.

“And I—may have said something to her,” Scott added. “At the hospital. About feeling the same way.”

Isaac slowly turned to face Scott, fighting back a glare.

“Just great,” he sighed.

“Doesn’t matter, because I’m pretty sure she hates me now,” Scott whispered.

“Dude, she doesn’t hate you!” Isaac groused. “In fact, I think it’s clear she feels the opposite of hate towards you.”

“That was before I bit her,” Scott countered.

“When you saved her life.”

“When I ruined her life…”

“Or for…” Issac groaned. “Ok—now I kinda want to hit you.”

At that moment, Allison walked inside the classroom.

“She’s at school?!?” Scott exclaimed.

“Yep”

“She’s going to flip out,” Scott warned.

“She’s not gonna flip out,” Isaac argued. “Ok, so she’s a little depressed. And moody. She’ll be fine.”

Allison turned to see the two of them sitting at the back.

Isaac and Scott waved awkwardly.

‘They’re sitting together,’ she realized. ‘They never sit together. Is this an initiation thing? Is that the werewolf table? Am I supposed to sit there now?’

No, she had to sit somewhere else. She did not want to have her first discussion with Scott to be with Isaac sitting right next to them. Desperately, she scanned the room looking for an empty seat.

Right next to Stiles—who, quite frankly, looked horrible.

Quickly, Allison made her way and sat down next to him.

“And now she’s sitting at your desk,” Isaac added. “Here comes the alpha influence.”

“So how’d it goooo--?” Stiles started to say, before he realized it wasn’t Scott next to him. “Allison?”

“Hey,” she greeted him. “You look—good?”

“Yeah, so do you,” Stiles lied. “Should you really be at school right now?”

“Finals coming up,” Allison reminded him.

“Right, right, that’s why I’m here,” he agreed. “Though if anyone ever had a reason for playing hooky, it’s us, right?”

Allison nodded. Something felt wrong to her, though she couldn’t place it. There was this sour smell coming off of stiles—something she couldn’t identify.

“Allison—I’m so sorry,” he apologized. “What I did to you back at the camp…”

“That wasn’t you,” Allison said, defensively.

“That’s what everyone keeps telling me,” he said, bitterly. “But it feels like it was me, and I just—if anything would have happened to you, I’d never forgive myself. I’m just really glad you’re ok is all.”

Despite everything, Allison felt this pang of sympathy. No matter what she was going through right now, Stiles had been through worse.

“I’m glad you’re ok, too,” she whispered, giving his shoulder a squeeze. “I’m glad you’re you again.”

He smiled.

“So, Scott told me about what happened between you two,” Stiles blurted out.

Allison’s eyes went wide.

“He did?”

“Ohhhh yeah,” Stiles confirmed. “What happened at Oak Creek, the argument at the hospital, everything…”

“I wish I could say I was surprised,” Allison cursed. “Stiles, I am freaking out right now. And Isaac’s just making it worse. And now they’re sitting together.”

“He only went there to try to find out where he stands,” Stiles explained.

“I know where he stands, and frankly it’s pissing me off,” Allison grumbled. “I wish he’d just leave me alone until it’s done with.”

Stiles cringed.

“Harsh,” he said. “Hate to say it though, but that parts kinda your fault.”

“Excuse me?” Allison asked.

“Hey, phasers on stun, I’m on your side here,” Stiles said defensively. “Don’t get me wrong, Kira’s great and all, but I know Scott and if he had to choose who to be with…”

Allison looked confused for a moment, before putting the pieces together.

“Oh—” she said, sheepishly. “Scott told you about—what I said to him—at Oak Creek.”

“Yeah,” Stiles replied. “What’d you think I was talking about?”

Before she can answer, Malia runs into the classroom. She puts an apple on the teacher’s desk, and then looks around for an empty seat.

“Isn’t that--?” Allison asks.

“Yep,” Stiles said. “Now we have four werewolves in class. Well—one of them’s technically a coyote.”

‘Make that five,’ Allison thought, looking down at her hands.

“I’m going to sit next to her,” Stiles said, before getting up from his seat. “She knows me, and she hasn’t been in school in six years.”

Scott watches him leave, and wonders for a moment if he should take this opportunity to head over to Allison. He looks towards Kira, who waves him over.

Did he want to sit next to Allison to help her, or just to sit next to her.

After a hesitation, Scott made his decision. He got up and walked over—

--only to be cut off by Lydia, who plopped down into Stiles seat.

“Thanks for saving me a seat,” she tells Allison, who just then notices Scott standing nearby. “Oh, hi Scott—what’s up?”

Allison turned around, not realizing he was there.

“Uh—nothing…” he said, grabbing his bag from beneath the desk. “Just grabbing my stuff.”

Taking his bag, he went to sit next to Kira.

“Ok, what was that about?” Kira asked him.

“Nothing,” he lied. “Just making sure everyone’s ok.”

Across the class, Allison looked at the two of them—glaring at Kira.

“Ok, what is going on with you?” Lydia asked her.

“Nothing,” Allison lied.

“Who’s that girl Stiles is chatting up?” Lydia asked.

“Malia, the werecoyote,” Allison explained. “I guess they’re friends now or something.”

“He always sits with Scott,” Lydia said. “It’s like an—unspoken rule.”

It’s at that moment that the teacher enters the classroom.

“Good morning, class,” the instructor greeted them. “Please, open your textbooks to page 375. Today we’re going to review the mythology of one of the most misunderstood cultures in history—the Aztecs.”

She dimmed the lights, as the projector started showing old photographs and drawings on the screen.

“The Aztec empire existed between the 14th and 16th century, in the region of Mesoamerica,” she began. “That’s Mexico and Central America for those of you not ‘in the know’.”

Some of the other students laughed, others groaned at the teacher’s attempt to sound ‘cool’. Allison herself just tried to focus on the slides.

She remembered a souvenir Aunt Kate had brought her once, when she was twelve. She claimed it was real gold, which Allison easily laughed off. Though, knowing what she knew now, Allison wouldn’t be surprised if it had been true.

“By the early fifteen hundreds, the Aztec empire controlled most of southern Mexico,” the teacher continued. “They were highly civilized for the time, developing complex methods of agriculture, politics, military. The Aztecs, however, also possessed a dark side in the form of their religious practices—the belief that they needed to provide their gods with human sacrifices in order to prolong their very existance…”

‘Guess the Aztec gods must really love Beacon Hills,’ one of the other students snickered.

‘That’s not funny’

Allison flinched. She shook her head, trying to ignore them.

‘Come on, the sheer volume of people who’ve died the past year…’

‘Did they ever catch the guy who did it?’

‘You know who I think it was? Harris? The feds must have caught him or something…’

‘No way—Finstock was hit after Harris disappeared. The killer’s still out there…’

Allison started trembling. Something that didn’t go unnoticed by Scott. He looked over at Issac, trying to get his attention. Failing at that, he got up out of his desk.

“Scott?” Kira whispered.

“Just—give me a minute,” he apologized.

Keeping low, Scott sat next to Isaac again.

“I think her hearing’s kicking in,” he warned him. “Everyone’s talking about the Darach murders.”

“Yeah, I noticed,” Isaac acknowledged. “We get one more psycho going on a killing spree in this town, we might have to go public or something.”

Scott looked over to Allison, who was still shaking.

“She’s gonna flip out,” he warned.

“Would you relax?” Isaac sighed. “She’s fine.”

“Ms. Argent?” the teacher asked.

Allison looked up, broken out of her daze.

“Huh?” she asked.

“Answer the question, please,” the teacher instructed her.

“Question?”

Several of the other students laughed.

‘Airhead’ someone whispered, causing Allison to tense.

“Who was the explorer chiefly responsible for the fall of the Aztec empire?” the teacher sighed.

“Cortez,” Allison recalled. “Hernan Cortez.”

“Please try to keep up,” she said, before continuing. “Yes, Cortez sought to conquer them for several reasons—wealth primarily—but upon learning of their murderous practices the Spanish felt they had morality on their side.”

“Hey, you ok?” Lydia asked her, concerned.

“I’d be better if everyone would just be quiet,” Allison replied, clearly frustred.

“I don’t hear anything,” Lydia countered. “Just—try to relax, ok?”

The teacher switched to another slide.

“Tezcatlipoca was one of their many gods,” the teacher explained. “The god of the night sky, hurricanes, and conflict. Like many of the other gods, Tezcatlipoca demanded human sacrifice to win his favor. Among the Aztec culture, he was known as both a creator—and a destroyer.”

“What’s with the pet cheetah?” Malia asked.

Another laugh. Once again, Allison flinched—almost as if the sound of their laughter was causing her physical pain.

“A jaguar, actually,” the teacher corrected her. “Among all selse, Tezcatlipoca was a shapeshifter—able to transform himself into a massive jaguar. There are even some legends that say his most devoted priests could do the same…”

For Allison, the rest of her lecture faded into the background, and the whispering around her seemed to get louder and louder. Literal catcalls, discussing weekend plans. She could hear people out in the hallway, shoes hitting the floor as one person raced for class. Tires squealing as someone drove away.

“She’s flipping out…” Scott muttered to Isaac.

“She’s not gonna flip out.”

“She’s so flipping out.”

“She is not flipping out, Scott”

Allison snapped her eyes shut, trying to drown them out…

‘…conspiracy theorist…’

‘…primarily gold…’

‘…summer vacation…’

‘…Greenberg did what…’

“Shut up…” Allison whispered to herself. “Just stop talking so I can hear myself think.”

Behind her, Isaac blinked.

“Ok, she’s flipping out,” he muttered to Scott.

“See?”

“She is so flipping out right now…”

Suddenly, Allison spun towards the back of the class.

“I am NOT flipping out!!!!!!”

Scott and Isaac froze, staring at her. As did Lydia.

Followed by every single person in the classroom, including Stiles, Kira, and the irritated teacher.

“Ms. Argent?” she asked. “Is there something you’d like to share with the class?”

She shook her head.

“I—I was just…”

‘Psycho…’ someone whispered.

Without another word, Allison got up from her desk and ran for the door.

“Allison?” the teacher called after her, anger giving way to concern.

But she was already gone.

“I—ok, we’ll just pick up with the next slide…”

Suddenly, Scott jumped up from his seat.

“Gotta use the men’s room, dontwaitforme!” he said while bolting for the door.

“Mister McCall?!?” she yelled after him, to no avail.

Lydia gave Kira a questioning look. A confused Kira looked over at Stiles, who simply shrugged.

All three of them looked at Isaac, who simply tried to sink down lower into his chair.

*****

Allison ran down the hallway, trying desperately to escape the sounds. However, the faster she ran, the louder it became. She could hear every voice in every classroom, and some outside the building. Not just voices, either.

Pencils on paper, markers on whiteboards, keyboards typing, fans blowing, lockers slaming, bags rustling…

She ran into the girl’s restroom, gripping the sink as she looked at her reflection. She looked horrible—but she still looked like her. No fangs, no ears, no glowing eyes—so why was this happening?

She still had five days. Why was this already happening?

Allison slid to the floor under the sink, her hands clamped over her ears and the noise continued to assail her.

“Drip slam clang loser party game pick you up at eight totalled wierdo munch blah dead lights zap drunk slurp get out problem failed dance car girl’s bathroom blood books exam movie psycho…”

“Shut up…” Allison whispered at first, then yelled. “Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!!!! LEAVE ME ALONE!!!”

“Thump-thump wheeze crash problem mccall mother piece of @#$% kick your not gonna Allison sizzle slam slam SLAM ring you have ten new messages squeel hahaha gonna pay for Allison over can’t do this cheating crack punch homework breakup hate moan ALLISON!!!”

Suddenly, someone grabbed her by the shoulders, breaking through the haze of ear-shattering noise.

“Allison, it’s just me!” Scott told Allison, kneeling in front of her. “You have to calm down.”

“How do you turn it off?” she cried desperately. “How do you turn it off?!?”

“The hearing?” Scott realized, shaking his head. “It doesn’t turn off.”

A look of panic filled her eyes.

“Are you JOKING?!?” she shrieked.

“It’s like—background noise,” he tried to explain. “Like when you’re somewhere eating, and everyone’s talking at the same time. You just have to tune everything out.”

“I can’t,” she told him, trembling. “There’s too much—too much, I can’t. I can’t!”

“Close your eyes,” Scott instructed. “Focus on one sound. Just one.”

Allison closed her eyes, attempting to make sense of everything she was hearing. Narrowing it down a single noise.

“I can’t…”

“Yes you can,” Scott encouraged her. “Find one sound, separate it from everything else.”

Allison took a deep breath, trying to tune everything else, until…

Ding ding ding

“What do you hear?” Scott asked.

“Bells,” she said, starting to calm down. “No, it’s—more like chimes. It sounds like a—an ice cream truck?”

“Five blocks east of here,” Scott remarked.

“It sounds so close,” Allison remarked. “Like I could touch it…”

“Now listen closely,” Scott continued. “Listen for something near the truck.”

“A bird—singing,” she breathed. “A gust of wind.”

“It just flew away,” Scott remarked. “That sound is the air being pushed as it flaps its wings.”

“This is—incredible”

“What direction is it flying?” Scott asked her, a smile creeping on his face.

“I can hear it,” Allison pointed out. “I can’t see it.”

“Is the wind blowing towards you or away?” Scott questioned her. “Or to the left or right?”

Allison paused, listening closely.

“Towards,” she answered.

“It’s flying east,” Scott explained. “What about all the other noises?”

Allison opened her eyes.

“I can still hear them, but—they’re not as loud,” she admitted.

Scott sighed in relief.

“Wow, I’m better at this teaching thing than I thought I’d be,” he chuckled. “Maybe I should write a book?”

Allison just stared at him, coming to a realization.

“You’ve been dealing with this the entire time I’ve known you?” she asked.

Scott nodded.

“How do you not go crazy?”

“Yeah, it was—kinda overwhelming at first,” Scott admitted. “Eventually, filtering the stuff you want to hear from the stuff you don’t want to hear just becomes routine, like brushing your teeth or washing your hands. You get used to it.”

“I don’t want to get used to it!” Allison snapped. “I want it to go away! I want to be the way I was!”

“I know,” Scott sighed. “Believe me, Allison—I know.”

At that, her face fell.

“Listen to me…” she laughed, bitterly. “You’ve been living with all this for two years, and I can’t last two minutes without falling apart? Some warrior I turned out to be.”

Scott’s heart sank upon seeing her hopeless expression. He wanted more than anything to comfort her, but how could he when he himself was the cause of her pain?

“Allison, I am so sor—”

“Don’t, Scott!” she said, cutting him off.

Scott nodded. Of course, how stupid of him. As it any apology he could make would be enough.

But then, Allison spoke again:

“Don’t apologize for saving my life.”

Scott looked into her eyes, and he didn’t see any of the anger or resentment he had expected.

“If anyone should be apologizing, it’s me,” she continued. “You saved my life, and I acted like you forced yourself on me or something.”

“Didn’t I?” Scott muttered, self-loathing threatening to overtake him again.

Allison shook her head.

“I didn’t want to die,” she reassured him. “I’m—grateful to be alive, Scott. I just—I just wish there’d been another way.”

“There wasn’t,” Scott swore.

“I know,” Allison acknowledged. “And now—now I have to live with it.”

Despite his guilt, Scott felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

She didn’t hate him.

*****

A few moments later, the two of them exited the bathroom…

“Scott, can I…?” Allison said, trying to find the words. “How do you feel about all this?”

“What do you mean?” Scott asked.

“Well, my dad can barely look at me,” she laughed nervously. “And Isaac’s acting like I’ve just won the supernatural lottery. I’m just curious what side of the spectrum you fall on? About me being a—like you?”

‘She can’t even say it,’ Scott realized.

He sighed.

“When I became an alpha,” Scott started to explain. “I promised myself I’d never do this to another person. I mean, I told Stiles I would when we thought he was sick, but—I don’t know. And the fact that it’s you—I’m terrified I might do to you the same thing Peter did to me.”

“Oh, right,” Allison scoffed. “Because you are absolutely planning to recruit me for some obsessive revenge mission against your generational rivals.”

“Ok, ok—maybe not the exact same thing,” Scott admitted. “Issac says the three of us are a real pack now. I’m not sure what that entails, but—when you were in surgery, it was like I could feel you. Like we’re connected. And I’d be lying if I said a part of me wasn’t enjoying the idea.”

“Scott,” Allison said, a blush coming to her cheeks. “We should talk about what happened at Oak Creek.”

“I thought we were,” Scott asked, confused.

“I mean before you—bit me,” she said, speaking the last two words under her breath. “Scott, I thought I was going to die. I shouldn’t have said those things.”

Scott nodded, understanding.

“You were just saying what you thought I wanted to hear,” he acknowledged.

“I meant every word!”

Scott desperately tried to stop himself from smiling.

“I needed you to know how I felt, before…” Allison admitted. “But if I knew I was going to survive, I wouldn’t have said it. I mean, you and Kira are…”

“Yeah…” Scott breathed. “And Issac’s sort of…”

“Yeah,” Allison nodded. “And what you said at the hospital, when I asked…”

“Yeah”

Scott ran his hands through his hair, groaning.

“This is a mess,” he acknowledged. “I tried to talk to Isaac during class, but the conversation went nowhere.”

“That’s what you were talking about?” Allison asked. “I thought it was the—other thing.”

“Allison, you have to remember something,” Scott told her. “It’s different for Isaac. He chose this, we didn’t.”

“Why would anyone ever choose this?” Allison whispered.

Scott could sense her despair. It was hard to describe—not a chemo-signal, but almost like he could feel it himself.

“Hey, it’s not all bad,” he admitted. “I mean, don’t get me wrong. Things can get—scary sometimes, but after a few months you’re going to start to feel like yourself again. Only—you know? Different. So don’t worry about it. You’ll be fine. Trust me.”

“It’s not like I’ve got much of a choice, is there?” she sighed. “You’re my alpha, right? I—belong to you now.”

The defeated expression on Allison’s told Scott everything he needed to know. Allison was one of the strongest-willed people he’d ever met, and the very notion that she had to be subservant to anyone, even him, was clearly tearing her apart.

No, he didn’t accept that. He wouldn’t be Peter.

“No,” he insisted. “You don’t belong to me, I belong to you.”

Allison looked at him, confused.

“Like you said, I’m YOUR alpha,” he clarified. “That means it’s my job to look after you. To make sure you’re safe and happy. So any ideas you’re having that you need to do what I want you to do—forget it.”

“I—don’t think it works that way,” Allison argued.

“Hey, since when have I ever done this werewolf thing the way it’s supposed to be done?” he asked with a smirk.

“Ok, fair point…”

“I had figure out this mostly by myself,” he recalled. “I don’t want you to go through that. So if you’re ever feeling confused or lost, or it just gets overwhelming, just let me know and I’ll try to help. Anything, any time.”

“Anything?” she asked, in a small voice.

“Yeah,” Scott confirmed. “Anything.”

“Well…” Allison said, her voice trembling slightly. “I could really use a hug right now.”

“Yeah, of course,” he said, before pulling Allison into his arms.

Allison closed her eyes and felt herself relax. For the first time since the hospital, the stress and anxiety just washed away. She couldn’t explain the feeling, but it was like this calming presence was all around her.

Could this be the ‘connection’ Scott had spoken of? She had remembered during her training that dad had described bond between members of a werewolf pack. They viewed each other like family, only it went deeper than that. Almost on a spiritual level.

She took a deep breath, and caught a whiff of something from Scott. A combination of scents—like pine needles mixed with cinnamon and embers of a fireplace. The mixture relaxed her, almost like aromatherapy. She just wanted to wrap herself in it and let it comfort her.

“Uh, Allison?” Scott asked, nervously.

“Mmmm, yeah?”

“People are staring.”

Allison’s eyes snapped open, as she realized that—yeah, most high school students tended not to nuzzle each other in the middle of the hallway. Especially not their exes.

“Sorry, sorry—” she apologized, clearly embarrassed. “I just—got caught up in your aftershave. Those commercials really don’t exaggerate.”

Scott raised an eyebrow.

“I’m not wearing aftershave,” he told her.

“Then what am I smelling?” she asked, wrinkling her nose.

“Me,” he laughed. “That smell isn’t aftershave, it’s me. You just picked up my scent.”

Allison blinked.

“Enhanced sense of smell, right…” she realized. “Do I smell different now?”

Scott’s nostrils flared.

“A little,” he admitted. “Mostly it’s just stronger. It’ll make you easier for me to find.”

They started walking again. The word ‘desperate’ reached Allison’s ears from one of the cheerleaders.

“Just ignore them,” Scott muttered, feeling her tense.

The same girl followed it up by calling Allison a slur implying inappropriate behavior with the opposite gender.

“Grrrrr…” Scott growled under his breath.

“Easy, killer!” Allison laughed. “I guess it does still bother you.”

“I don’t like people trash-talking my—beta,” he admitted, though it wasn’t the word he was going to use.

“So, other than the hearing and sense of smell, is there anything else I should prepare myself for?” she asked, changing the subject.

“I think you’re probably one of the most informed people in the world in regards to werewolf anatomy,” Scott said, before panicking. “Abilities. I mean abilities. There’s not really much I can tell you that your dad didn’t…”

Allison sighed in frustration.

“Scott, you know that thing you do?” she asked. “Where you purposely omit information because you don’t think I can handle it in a misguided attempt to protect me from it?”

Scott bit his lip.

“I think that, in this particular situation—” she told him. “The more I know, the safer I’ll be. So go ahead—lay it on me.”

“Right, uh—let’s see,” he began. “You know about the fast healing, and the enhanced senses—your vision is gonna get better too, by the way.”

“Right”

“You’re going to get stronger and faster,” he continued. “Increased stamina and reflexes. You’ll age slower…”

“Wait, hold up!” Allison asked. “How much slower?”

“Well, Derek said he knew someone who lived over three hundred years,” Scott recalled.

“Ok, that is—wow!” she stammered. “So triple the expected human lifespan?”

“Then there’s the weird stuff, like absorbing pain,” Scott added. “Sharing memories, canine empathy, chemo signals…”

“What’s that?” Allison questioned.

“Well, it’s kinda scientific,” he explained. “When people feel a certain why, their bodies have different chemical reactions, and my sense of smell can pick up the changes.”

She remembered back in class, how Stiles had smelled somewhat sour.

“Is Stiles giving off something like that today?” she asked. “When I sat next to him, it was like—I thought maybe he was sick.”

“Guilt,” Scott acknowledged. “He blames himself for you getting hurt”

“He wasn’t in control of his actions,” Allison insisted.

“I know that, I’ve told him as much, but—” Scott said, shaking his head. “That’s why I couldn’t tell him how you survived. Can you imagine how bad it would be if…”

He took a deep breath, trying to get back on topic.

“Your emotions,” he said, trying to keep his voice level. “They’re going to be a lot more intense now. You’re probably already feeling it. Anger, sadness, depression…they’re a hundred times worse than anything a normal person feels.”

“Yeah,” Allison whispered. “I guess that explains a lot. At least I’m not just going crazy.”

“But it’s not just the negative,” Scott reassured her. “When you feel good, you feel really good. Passion, excitement, empathy, joy…those are all stronger, too. And when the full moon hits, everything is dialed up to eleven.”

This was the part she was dreading.

“And the—scary stuff?” she asked.

The two of them ducked into a corner, where Scott lifted up his hand to show her. Slowly, his claws extended.

“Does it—hurt?” she asked, nervously.

“The first time, it’s like tearing your skin off,” Scott said, shuddering at the memory. “The more you change, the easier it becomes. The real scary part, though—is what it does to your head. The first few weeks, I felt like the wolf was trying to take me over. Turn me into something I’m not. I was worried that I would wake up one day, and I wouldn’t be me anymore.”

Allison held her breath, trying not to panic. She’d asked him for the truth, and wasn’t about to back out now.

“Eventually, I started to realize my wolf side wasn’t some foreign thing trying to take me over,” he continued. “It was just a different side of me, one that runs on pure emotions and instinct. My wolf wanted the same things I wanted, it just had a less civilized way of getting them. It’s just a matter of getting it to listen to you, and making it understand the human way is sometimes better. Knowing when to hold it back, and when to turn it loose.”

“Why would you ever want to do that?” Allison questioned him.

“In a fight,” Scott suggested. “Or when I’m out on the field. And yeah—sometimes just for fun.”

Scott’s claws vanished again

“It’s all about balance.”

“Balance,” Allison repeated. “I couldn’t balance being a being a high school student with being a hunter. How am I supposed to do it now when I can’t even trust my own emotions? When I could seriously hurt someone just because I’m having a bad day?”

“That’s not going to happen,” Scott reassured her.

“It already has,” she reminded him. “Just ask Derek and Isaac. And I didn’t have claws to worry about back then.”

Allison headed down the hall, leaving Scott to ponder whether he was doing more harm than good.

‘You need to stay away from me, Scott!’

He needed help. He needed to talk to Derek as soon as possible.

So where the heck was he?

*****

Notes: I should point out that I am a HUGE fan of the original Michael J. Fox Teen Wolf movie, to the point where the main reason I started watching the show in the first place was because of it. So yeah--expect a few references to be sprinkled in here and there.

The episode title, of course, is a reference to the five stages of grief, and I'm going to put poor Allison through all of them before this chapter is over--not necessarily in the correct order.

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