The sun hadn't set completely yet as the start of the scrimmage neared. Hints of pale blue toward the horizon darkened with the rest of the sky as each minute passed. People had started to pack the bleachers, a few painted signs here and there but nothing too extravagant.

I didn't really want to be here, in fact, I'd rather be anywhere else. With a possible assassin on the team though, I couldn't leave the others unguarded. 

I spotted Liam and Mason talking near the benches and I couldn't pull my eyes away from him. He was smiling with Mason, his shoulders shaking as his friend joked around with him. He was so at peace with Mason and I could feel deep down that he would never feel that with me.

None of them would.

No matter how much they lied and said they trusted me there would always be a part of everyone in the pack that still thought of me the same. Maybe not Malia, but that's because her coyote self she was forced to grow up in didn't see a problem with killing. That wasn't her fault, it wasn't something she could control. 

I could have run from Kate all those years ago, not trusted Gerard when I saw what he was turning me into, never taken part in the killing of so many innocent people, but I didn't do anything.

"You looked like an abandoned puppy."

Brett obstructed my view of Liam as he came to stand next to me. He had his gear in one hand, and his jersey and undershirt in the other, his bare chest on full display. I forced myself not to glance down, fiercely returning Brett's eye contact which made it a little too obvious that I wouldn't have minded looking.

"Did I not make it clear earlier that I don't like you?" I ignored his previous comment and put up my guard. He couldn't have come to me at a worse time, my mood leaving no room for banter.

Brett shrugged smugly. "Maybe I like a challenge."

I couldn't help but laugh at the prospect of Brett trying to flirt with me. He probably assumed it would bother Liam, but he had the wrong idea for that. Liam wouldn't blink twice at it.

Brett's smirk grew to a smile after my laughter, one that was admittedly nice. He looked like a douchebag when he smirked but when he smiled the dimples on his cheeks allowed his face to be more appealing and less punchable.

"If you hurt Liam," I took a step to the side of Brett, not wanting to be a part of whatever game he was playing anymore. "I'll come for you."

The threat wasn't specific, but it was there. Whether or not Brett would take it seriously was up to him, but for his sake, I hoped he did.

Brett leaned down, his lips hovering next to my ear. "Good to know."

A grin reluctantly overtook my face as I watched Brett saunter away, finding his suggestive actions more amusing than anything. He winked when he got to his team and put his things down on the grass when he noticed I was still looking his way, only making me shake my head.

A familiar chill ran down my spine, my instinct kicking in to look around as I felt someone's eyes on me. My gaze connected with Liam's instantly. 

He was still with Mason, but he was completely ignoring whatever his best friend was saying as he stared at me from across the field. 

I averted my eyes for a second and expected him to be looking elsewhere but he was still watching me. His expression was blank and it was unnerving that it didn't reveal anything to me of how he felt. Was he looking at me with pity? Repulsion?

He only took his eyes off me when Mason patted his arm and pointed to Brett. I followed his gesture and saw Brett getting dressed, smirking at Liam as he did so. Liam's shoulders tensed and his face shifted into a glower.

Now that his attention was off me, I took the opportunity to move, going closer to the bleachers and the player benches.

Kira saw me coming over and ran up to me, her lacrosse stick in hand and her pads making a clunking noise with each step. She had a wide smile on her face and her dark brown eyes were full of nervous excitement.

"Hey, you look ready for tonight." I laughed gingerly. 

I didn't know if Scott told her what happened earlier and I didn't feel like having a conversation with Kira if it was full of sympathy. I hated small talk, but for now, it would be best to stick with that to avoid any more awkward interactions.

"So I don't look like I'm freaking out?" She bit her lip. Kira didn't seem like she knew so I opened myself up a bit more, enjoying her presence because it wasn't filled with judgment.

"I didn't say that." I gave a guilty tilt of my head and she winced.

"Well considering the fact that this is my first game and there's an assassin on the field, I think being a little nervous is justified, right?"

I reached out and put both hands on her padded shoulders, a grip that was firm and comforting but not overbearing. "Kira Yukimura, you're gonna go out there and you're gonna show those boys how it's done, understand?"

Kira's face looked pleased with my words and she relaxed with a deep exhale of breath before nodding. Behind her, I could see Coach lining up some of the team and figured Kira should join them, so I spun her around in that direction, my hands coming back to her shoulders.

"You're a rockstar."

"I'm a rockstar!" Kira repeats, her usually gentle features turning determined as she sets her sights on the field ahead, bouncing on the soles of her feet.

"You're gonna show 'em how it's done." I slap her shoulders a few times, getting more pumped as Kira's spirits lift and she gets more into it too.

"I'm gonna show 'em how it's done!" She tosses her lacrosse stick back and forth in her hands.

"You're gonna go out there and kick ass!" I say with a gruff voice wanting to get her more energetic but also not be a pushover out there. Kira could handle herself but I didn't want her to hold back for the sake of good sportsmanship because I doubted the Devenford boys would do the same.

"I'm gonna go out there and kick butt!" The change of the minor curse word made me amused but I didn't laugh, not wanting to distill her confidence. I bit the inside of my cheek to hold it in, settling for a subtle grin.

When Kira didn't move and actually "get out there" I leaned forward to look at her face. It was blank but her eyes were set wide, still hesitant despite my encouragement.

I lean close and speak softly to be discreet. "You need a push?"

"I need a push!" She squeaks out with a few rapid nods as she starts to bounce on her feet once more, getting that same energy back.

"Okay, she needs a push," I whisper to myself as I place my hands on her back, pushing gently to get her in motion and it helps her to run in the direction of the team, hopefully, prepared to take on her first game.

Stiles and Scott were talking in the line but looked in Kira's direction as they saw her jog up, patting her on the back when they saw how pumped she was. Stiles followed the path she had just come from and found me, his smile faltering and guilt overtook his features. I could see him move to come my way but I shook my head, willing myself to do at least that much in the form of contact with him, and thankfully, he listened and stayed in his place.

"Jac, up here!" I followed the voice that called to me and saw Mason waving to me from near the top of the bleachers, he and Violet seated at the end of one of the aisles. I felt my heart jump when I saw him next to her, Mason unaware of the threat she possibly possessed.

I forced a smile and headed up towards them. "Hey, don't mind if I join you guys?"

"The more the merrier." Violet responded with a smile, but her tone felt anything but friendly.

I pursed my lips as I looked at the gap between them, not nearly as much distance as there should have been. I felt protective of Mason because of his lack of being able to know what was really going on, and the fact that he was Liam's best friend.

"Just gonna scooch in here," I announce as I step over Mason's legs and come between him and Violet, using my butt to force them to separate and make space. 

Violet gave me a slight glare that I could see in my peripheral vision but when I turned to face her, she slapped a smile onto her face that I mirrored.

"Cyclones!" I clapped and cheered as the players started to flood the field, playing the dutiful and supportive friend but really I was waiting for Violet to make any wrong moves to use that as an excuse to whack her over the head.

Scott hadn't gotten onto the field yet and was having what looked like a slightly heated conversation with Coach. He was probably trying to still get Liam to sit out of the game, but Liam playing was solidified when Brett slung a ball at him from the field, and he caught it effortlessly with his bare hands.

Liam placed his helmet on and marched onto the field. I could see puffs of his breath from where we were sitting, the cold air reacting to his warm rage.

Scott, Kira, and Stiles jogged onto the field afterward with the rest of the team, taking their places for the opening play. Normally I would be paying attention to the game itself and the opposing team, trying to eye any weaknesses that could be used against them in order for our team to score easy points, but this wasn't a normal night. My eyes stayed on the werewolves and kitsune, making sure I could spot them in the crowd, especially if something drastic were to happen.

The Devenford Prep students crowded around Liam more than they needed to, which was troubling under usual circumstances but honestly benefited our current situation. A sea of green jerseys around him ensured no possible assassin on our team hurting him. 

Devenford ended up scoring a point and it clearly sunk into the team's spirits.

After everyone regrouped for the next play and the whistle blew, Liam tried to run for the ball when Brett stole it away from Scott, but ended up getting pummeled by two other players and fell backward to the ground harshly. People in the crowd all groaned and shot back, empathizing with the pain he must be going through, and the pain of having Devenford score another point.

When Liam got up he tried to attack the guys that tackled him roughly but thankfully Scott and Stiles made it in time to hold him back before anything could happen. Brett playfully waved at Liam, taunting him and trying to goad him into attacking him which would lead to either a fight or Liam being forced out of the game.

The teams line up again and this time the tension from the field passed to the crowd. Stiles was at the center with the opposing Devenford player and when the whistle blew he was able to scoop the ball up and toss it, which ended up going directly into Kira's net.

I shot up in my seat with Mason doing the same, a few other people in the crowd also getting into it at the prospect of us getting a score.

"Go Kira, go!" We chanted and after realizing she had the ball, Kira ran for the goal. Coach was yelling for her to pass it but Kira had a clear enough shot that she swung for it herself and nailed it, getting the team its first point of the night.

Guys on the team ran up to her in congratulations and Kira jumped up and down in excitement like how she had done earlier. Coach called out to her to come to him and she did, leaving the team to greet Coach with an expectant smile that soon faded.

I couldn't hear what Coach said but his pointing towards the benches and Kira's disappointed expression clued me in fairly quickly. Kira walked gloomily to the benches after sharing a look with Scott. I caught her eye as she scanned the crowd of people giving her sympathetic thumbs-up, which she returned with a half-smile just to reassure me she wasn't too heartbroken over being benched.

The game continued but the energy wasn't the same out there anymore. Neither team was scoring, everyone was just trying to intimidate or tackle each other rather than actually play the scrimmage. Brett was able to slip through and get another point eventually, and he definitely made sure to brag.

He lifted his jersey and undershirt after he took his helmet off, using the fabric to wipe sweat from his face as if he couldn't have just grabbed a rag from the benches.

"I know he's an asshole, but he's a straight ten." I mutter to Mason who gives an agreeable hum as we both openly stare at Brett. "Well, hopefully for my sake he's a bi ten."

We both laughed at Mason's turn of my words, and as if he could hear us talking about him, Brett smirked in our direction.

The whistle blew again and a Devenford student picked up the ball and ran towards the goal, but before they could shoot it one of our players slapped their net so the ball shot across the field into an open area. There was a shared pause between the players as they realized the ball was unguarded and it was wide open to whoever could get there first. Liam charged in its direction, Brett doing the same from the other side of the field.

They were about to knock into each other instead of actually picking up the ball, but at the last second Garrett slid into their collision which made the impact much harsher and sent Liam flying over Brett and landing on his arm in a way that would be incredibly unlucky if he weren't a werewolf.

"Oh my god." Mason gasped along with the rest of the crowd as we all stared in shock as Brett's pained screams filled the air. 

We both stood on our toes to get a better view of the situation. Violet gasped too but remained seated despite the fact her boyfriend was included in the pile-up, making her reaction oddly performative.

Medics and players rushed onto the field to surround Liam and Brett. Garrett was already standing and falling in line with the rest of the team, looking far too suspicious for his part in the collision to be a coincidence. 

Liam was pulled up by Scott and Stiles who dragged him to the side, hiding him from view. My guess was he broke his arm from having to use it to stop his fall, and they were about to set it back into place.

The medics weren't bothered with Liam since he was up on his feet, their attention on Brett as he laid unmoving on the grass where he had landed. He was still groaning, and I admittedly felt sympathy for his cries. They lifted him up and dragged him towards the school building, his leg dragging behind him as he was carried.

The referee came onto the field to announce an elongated timeout period because of the injury. Stiles and Liam left the field to go towards the player benches and talk to Coach, and Kira left her spot to stand by Scott near the edge of the field.

"I should go check on Garrett." Violet announced, getting up to walk past us, and I lingered on her retreating form.

The players gathered back in their respective sides of the field and she ventured to the benches to pull Garrett aside and talk to him. I couldn't read their lips from my position but the smirk on Garretts face warranted a chill going down my spine.

"Hey, I'll be back," I said kindly to Mason, not wanting him to be put off by both Violet and I leaving him. He gave me a nod in return, but his focus was still aimed towards the field like everyone else with patient concern on their faces.

I came down the steps of the bleachers and ventured closer to the benches. Violet saw me approaching and pulled Garrett with her to get farther away from me as they talked, her eyes following me over his shoulder like a lion in the tall grass watching its prey. If only she knew this prey would punch her jugular if she tried anything.

Scott and Kira watched me walk up to them, their expressions cautious when they saw Violet staring at us too.

"It's really them, isn't it?" I stop in front of the duo, ignoring Violet and her dead stare for the time being.

Scott nods, his face trying to remain neutral because our moves were being observed, but his eyes were full of worry. Not only were Garrett and Violet under our noses this entire time but they had fit in so neatly it was haunting.

"Garrett almost got Liam but thankfully he missed, so he's talking to Coach to stay out of the rest of the game. Kira's benched so she can stay with him." Scott said and the short girl beside him agreed, taking her job to watch out for Liam seriously.

Liam came up beside us, his expression tense as he kept looking over his shoulder towards Garrett and Violet who had moved on from watching us. They were now just casually talking to other players as if they hadn't tried to murder someone a minute ago.

"I talked to Coach, I'm out for the rest of the game," Liam announced to the three of us. When Scott gave him satisfactory approval, he shot me a glance that he thought was discreet, but Liam was about as subtle as a grenade launcher. I just ignored his stare and looked at Kira and Scott as they talked.

"What are you gonna do?" Kira asked anxiously.

Scott shook his head as there wasn't any semblance of a plan forming in his mind. "I don't know. Something's still not right, we're missing something."

"Why him and why now?" I tilt my head to the left in Liam's direction, voicing Scott's thoughts. 

Garrett and Violet go to Liam's house often to have movie nights with him and Mason, so why not do it there? Why a public scrimmage where anyone could see? Also, why not aim for Scott who was, as far as we knew, the biggest number on the Dead Pool.

He was a True Alpha, I doubt anyone was going to top him.

"Guys," Stiles stumbled into the center of our circle, his phone in hand. "Lydia did it, she broke another third of the list."

"Am I on it?" Liam looked over Stiles' shoulder to his screen, trying to read the image of the list to spot his name.

"No." Stiles' voice wavered as he looked at us, swallowing thickly before speaking again. "But someone else is."

He held up the phone for us to be able to read it better, our eyes scanning the list. Kira's mother and Kate were the top two names, and I saw Kira shrink into herself when she read it. Scott placed a hand on her shoulder to console her.

I kept reading the names, hoping to see any I recognized as it would be easier to warn people we knew of the dangers they faced, but my heart sank when I got midway through the list.

Of course, it had to be Brett freaking Talbot. What was he, a were-jackass?

~

||| A/N |||

Honestly, Brett was one of my favs even when he was introduced as a bully-type character. His attitude reminded me of Jackson and a pre-Scott Isaac lol. I'm tryna channel that energy for him here and that's why Jac actually isn't totally pushing him away cause she doesn't view him as a real threat.

Hope you're liking the story, I know I am! The next part is gonna have a really nice moment between Jac and Stiles and I hope whoever reads it will like it! LMK what yall think so far?

As always, MUCH LOVE! <3