After a day of plotting with the Scooby Gang to lure Liam into a conversation, Cadmus was ready to slam his head in a door. For the good guys, Stiles and Malia were way too invested in kidnapping and killing the kid.

Neither of them seemed impressed when Cadmus informed them that Liam dying would actually hurt Scott. The bond between alpha and beta was something not many people would ever understand... and Liam was Scott's first bitten beta. That made it even worse.

It did what he needed it to do, though. Everyone agreed to get Liam into Lydia's lakehouse, but at the same point, no one listened to him that claiming they were going to a party could be an idea that backfired on them.

So here he was, leaning up against a tree as Scott pulled into the driveway of the lakehouse. Stiles kept sneaking him suspicious glances the entire time, which would have been a lot more amusing if Malia hadn't appointed herself as the human's personal attack dog. He could totally take her, even with only a partial shift... but he really wasn't in the mood to tussle with someone who seemed to be incapable of conversation short of threats.

She would probably really enjoy the idea of tearing his throat out.

Still, Cadmus shifted his attention fully to Scott as the alpha wolf took his helmet off and glanced at everyone, trying desperately not to think how hot Scott looked at that moment. Nope, not a good idea, he mentally screamed at himself as he looked anywhere but Scott. This was not the road he wanted to go back down. He had self-respect.

Glancing back at the werewolf, he felt his mouth go dry.

Apparently, he didn't have enough self-respect to be anything less than a lovesick moron.

Scott tried for a smile as he looked at Stiles. "I just talked to Kira. She's on her way. She said it's all going fine."

His best friend shook his head, looking more anxious than normal as he stepped forward. "It's not that... I have to tell you something." He took a bracing breath, tightening his grip a little on a little folder in his hands before moving toward Scott. Cadmus couldn't help but approach, standing so close to Scott that their shoulders were practically touching.

Scott looked at him in alarm but just swallowed heavily as he looked back to Stiles, who was still talking. "I asked around about Liam. I know why he got kicked out of his last school."

Scott's entire body sagged, and their shoulders were definitely touching now, something that Cadmus was desperately trying to ignore. "This is going to be bad, isn't it?"

Stiles nodded hesitantly, chewing on his bottom lip in a way that actually reminded Cadmus of Nova. That was disturbing to him, considering the fact he didn't want to be comparing his cousin to Stiles in any way. "He kind of got into it with one of his teachers. And... the kid's got some serious anger issues."

Sighing, Scott ran a hand through his hair. "How serious?"

Stiles handed over the folder, wincing a little. "Well, that's his teacher's car... After he took a crowbar to it."

Scott flipped the folder open, and Cadmus took a sharp breath in through his nose as he took the image in. The image depicted a smashed and dented car. The windows of the car were totally bashed in, and the most worrying part was probably the fact that the words 'THIS IS YOUR FAULT' were engraved on the side of it.

He'd let his cousin go to this kid's house.

Alone.

Momentary panic spread through him before he shook his head. "Look," he said with a lot more confidence than he felt. "We all have problems, and that doesn't decrease what we're capable of. If you condemn him for something he can't control, you've already lost the fight. Right now, he's a scared kid who's about to go through one of the most traumatic experiences in his life. That's what we have to focus on, okay?"

Stiles huffed under his breath, but Cadmus couldn't have cared less when Scott was looking at him with wide eyes and a large grin.

"Cadmus is right," the werewolf said firmly. "We're here to help Liam, not hurt him. So that's what we're going to do."

"And," Stiles threw in. "We're going to have a long talk with him and his cousin here about what they are, and how they stayed hidden so long."

"Fine," Cadmus agreed. "I'll tell you whatever you want, on one condition."

Stiles scowled suspiciously, crossing his arms. "And what would that be?"

"No matter what," Cadmus said firmly. "No one says anything that could make it seem like Nova's been spying on him, okay? She's just as in the dark as he is, and he's the first friend she's made here. I'm not letting her lose that because some people see the worst in people."

Scott nodded readily. "She wasn't spying anyway, so it's not a lie."

Stiles looked surprised that Cadmus's condition was protecting Nova from losing her friend, but nodded all the same. Malia and Lydia did the same, and he felt himself breathe a little easier.

Lydia started toward the house and everyone started following her, but Cadmus stopped when Scott grabbed his arm. Raising an eyebrow, Cadmus glanced at Scott curiously as the other boy paused for a second. "It's all going to work out, right?"

Cadmus blinked in surprise before allowing a smile to tug on his mouth. "Yeah," he promised. "I've got your back. It might not mean a lot yet, but I'm here."

"It does," Scott assured him quickly. "You said you've been looking out for us this entire time, and your heartbeat never faltered. Besides, you care so much about Nova... you want to protect her as much as I want to look after Liam." Cadmus sent him a look, and Scott was quick to amend his statement. "More, sorry."

Cadmus shook his head and gestured to the lakehouse where everyone was waiting. "Like you said, they'll be here soon. Come on."

Scott placed a hand on Cadmus's shoulder, shaking his head with a small grin before both boys entered the building. It kinda made Cadmus feel like they were assassins lying in wait for their target, but no one listened to him when he suggested turning a light or two on to eliminate the horror movie vibe.

Actually, he was pretty sure Stiles like the fact it was unnerving as hell... that would make a crap ton of sense, really.

It wasn't long until Cadmus could hear Kira's car rumbling down the road, loud music coming from the stereo. He winced slightly, earning an odd look from Malia. Raising an eyebrow, he gestured around. "Can't you hear it?"

The werecoyote tilted her head and hummed thoughtfully. "Yeah," she agreed. "I can."

Stiles's eyebrows drew together. "Wait, you're saying your senses are more heightened than theirs?"

Cadmus rolled his eyes with a shrug. "I haven't exactly had a contest with any werewolves to test my abilities, Stiles. I'm the only dragon known of in North America at the moment, so it isn't even like I have references. Now, would you please shut up? They're at the house."

Stiles snapped his mouth shut when Scott nodded in confirmation, huffing under his breath again. Cadmus ignored him though, listening to Kira urging Liam and Nova into the house.

When they finally did get inside, Liam stiffened almost automatically at the sight of the assembled teenagers. He glanced at Kira with betrayal written all over his face. Nova was standing slightly behind him, and Cadmus noted with minor interest that Liam had shifted in front of her when he saw that they'd been conned. Interesting.

Kira smiled sheepishly as she went to stand by Lydia's side. "Sorry."

Liam scowled slightly, and Cadmus' nose flared at the clear anger the boy was experiencing. "What the hell is this?"

Stiles shrugged with a small hum. "Think of it like an intervention. You have a problem, Liam—"

Scott cut him off, unfolding his arms in a motion that left him totally open, his body language and tone earnest. "And we're the only ones that can help."

Liam watched as Cadmus locked eyes with Nova, who actually shrank back a little at the intensity of her cousin's stare. That hurt a little, he had to admit, but he also knew that his cousin was one of the timidest people he'd ever met. Now, she was surrounded by people she barely knew and didn't have the adrenaline or confidence to face them.

He hadn't thought that part through, clearly.

Rather than show his guilt, however, he leaned against the wall with a scoff. "And that isn't even taking Nova into account, really. Not sure who should be more worried, honestly."

Liam's face contorted into a snarl. "There's nothing wrong with Nova," he snapped, making Cadmus raise his hands with a small smirk.

"I never said there was, I just said she's got a problem too. Hence her being included in the intervention."

Stiles sent him a longsuffering glance, grumbling when Cadmus just winked in response. Scott seemed to get tired of the teasing and gestured to Liam with a hand. "You know something's happening to you, Liam. You've known since last night."

Liam's face tightened, but not anger this time. He seemed genuinely afraid, and it was a little heartbreaking to see but Cadmus pushed past it.

"C'mon kid, you can't seriously be this naive. You were attacked last night by an inhuman monster that wanted to kill you, and you watched it throw Nova off a damn building. Yet here she is, well and fine. You, on the other hand? You were bit when Scott saved your life... and this morning, the bite's mysteriously healed. You hear better, don't you? Smell better, move faster. You know that we're right."

Liam's hands clenched into fists, and Nova's hand timidly came to rest on his shoulder. "What are you saying?" he snapped, making Cadmus' smirk widen.

"Gee, you never watched a good horror movie in your life did you? Or Twilight, for that matter."

"Cadmus," Scott scolded, giving Lydia a sharp look when the redhead smirked a little. "Liam, there's no easy way to say this, but—"

"You're a fucking werewolf."

Every head in the room snapped to Cadmus at the blunt statement, making him raise his hands defensively. "What? What were you going to say?"

"A werewolf?" Liam echoed, disbelief etched on his face. "Yeah right."

Kira shook her head. "He's telling the truth, Liam. You're like us. Well, not like all of us, but you fall under the general umbrella term of us, you know?"

Lydia sighed, looking like she wanted to get a drink. "Scott is a werewolf, Kira is a fox spirit, Malia is a werecoyote, I'm a banshee, and Cadmus is..."

She glanced at Cadmus for confirmation, and Stiles cut in. "He's a dragon."

"And Nova," Cadmus continued, "is a phoenix."

Liam blinked a few times, making Cadmus worry that they'd broken the kid, but he eventually took a long, shuddering breath before speaking, pointing to them all in turn. "Werewolf?" he asked Scott, earning a nod. "Werecoyote?" Malia barely acknowledged him, but that was to be expected. "Banshee?" Lydia grimaced and held up a finger in acknowledgment. "Dragon?" Cadmus gave a little wave before Liam turned to Kira with a disbelieving expression. "Fox?"

Kira shrugged with a gentle smile. "Kitsune. But fox works."

Liam turned to Stiles with a set jaw. "What are you?"

Stiles scratched the back of his neck before speaking, his hands moving as he did. "Uh, for a little while, I was possessed by an evil spirit... It was very evil..."

Liam narrowed his eyes slightly. "What are you now?"

Stiles looked around at everyone before speaking slowly. "...Better?"

Cadmus felt himself take a harsh breath as Nova's eyes landed on the chains in the bag by the floor to restrain Malia. She made a small squeaking noise in the back of her throat, which come to think of it, was the first noise he'd actually heard her say since they arrived.

Small victories, he supposed.

Liam, who had turned to make sure Nova was alright, followed her gaze and grit his teeth. "Are those for me?"

Malia scoffed a little. "No, they're for me." Apparently, she thought it was necessary to accent her point because she flashed her bright blue eyes at the boy, who stumbled backward. Nova was the one to steady him, her hand moving to his back in a soothing gesture as Liam stammered a little.

"How did you do that?"

Scott's smile was kind. "You'll learn. But first, you need to get through the full moon."

Liam rolled his eyes, his words gaining a bit of an edge. "The moon's already out."

Scott raised an eyebrow, taking another step forward. "And you're starting to feel something, aren't you?"

Liam practically snarled at the werewolf, shaking his head. "I feel like I'm surrounded by a bunch of psychotic nutjobs! You guys are out of your freaking minds! I don't know how you did that eye-thing, and I don't care—Nova and I are walking out the door right now, and if any of you try to stop us, I swear to God, I'm gonna—"

Liam suddenly doubled over with a scream, clutching his ears.

Cadmus took a concerned step forward, but not for Liam. "Nova, come here right now."

His cousin didn't listen, of course, leaning down with Liam as she clutched his shoulders. "Liam, what's wrong?"

He glanced at her with wide eyes. "You don't hear that?"

Cadmus had been so involved with the conversation that he'd barely been paying attention to what was going on outside. He winced almost instinctively at the sound of loud engines and even louder voices. "Well shit," he muttered, turning to the door.

Lydia whirled on the boy with narrowed eyes. "Did you tell someone about this?"

Liam nodded weakly, leaning against Nova a little. Cadmus was actually quite impressed that someone his cousin's size was managing to hold them both upright. "My friend, Mason..."

The crowd screamed again, making everyone wince.

Liam groaned again, looking up at the group. "You said it was a party..."

Nova looked up at them with narrowed eyes. "You guys seriously did not think this through."

Stiles didn't register the insult, or he didn't care as he looked around. "Who did Mason invite?"

It was Kira who answered, her eyes widening in horror. "Everyone."

Cadmus moved forward instinctively as Nova yelped, her knees hitting the ground as Liam collapsed. He didn't reach her in time though, Liam's head rearing back as his eyes flared yellow. A loud roar practically shook the room, and Cadmus lunged forward, grabbing the younger boy as Scott moved too. It took both of them to restrain him even with their supernatural strength, yanking him out the door and to the boathouse. Cadmus didn't need to look over his shoulder to know Nova was following them despite Lydia advising her against it.

"He's my friend," she snapped at the older girl as Lydia tried to grab her wrist. "I'm not leaving him!"

"Nova," Lydia's voice was clipped. "He could seriously hurt you."

Nova's voice got closer, telling Cadmus that she was walking closer toward them. "He won't," she sounded more confident than he'd heard her since she moved into his house. "Now, don't you have a party to throw?"

Scott and Cadmus dragged a struggling Liam into the boathouse, trying to restrain him so they could chain him up, but the boy was fighting back so fiercely that Cadmus needed to look for another option. Nova was standing by the doorway, looking so sad as she looked at Liam, and Cadmus grit his teeth. There was no way he was going to convince her to leave, but he wasn't going to let her get hurt, either.

Raising his hand, Cadmus brought it down on Liam's head. Nova let out a small cry as Liam slumped, and Scott looked at him with something akin to relief.

"He'll heal," he assured Nova before looking back at Cadmus. "Help me with the chains, will you?"

Cadmus did so immediately, helping the werewolf to properly restrain the beta with the chains, leaning back on his heels as they finally finished. He sent Scott a wry grin, tilting his head. "Guess we work pretty well together, huh?"

Scott let out a breathy chuckle, moving so Nova could gingerly rest beside Liam. Cadmus watched as she ran gentle fingers through her friend's hair, a small pang hitting him as he remembered how young they both were.

"They are," Scott said quietly, making Cadmus realize he'd spoken out loud. "They're only fifteen."

Cadmus shook his head as another fit of sadness hit him. "What are we going to do with him?"

Scott's eyes were firm as Cadmus looked at him, the gaze so confident that it almost made Cadmus relax. "We're going to help him."

Nova looked up at the both of them, and Cadmus realized his cousin was near tears after the entire incident. "Promise?" she asked, her voice a little hoarse as she did.

Cadmus watched as Scott's eyes softened looking at the girl. "Yeah," he confirmed. "I promise. We're going to help you too, Nova. No matter what."

Sniffing a little, Nova ran a hand against her eyes. "He's in pain, isn't he?"

Scott nodded a little and Cadmus admired his honesty. "Full moons are hard to handle," he explained. "It's pretty painful the first few times. Eventually, you can learn to control it."

"That's what you did?"

Cadmus nodded, elbowing Scott gently. "Yeah, our Alpha here is practically immune to them at this point."

Scott blushed a little, and it was so darn cute that Cadmus smiled at the sight of it. "I wouldn't say that," he muttered as Nova stood.

"How come I'm not going nuts?" she asked, turning to Cadmus curiously. "Or you, for that matter."

Now that was something he could answer. "Dragons aren't affected by the moon," he said simply. "We're mostly ruled by emotions, which I learned to control pretty quickly as a kid so I never exposed myself. I might be able to shapeshift, but not in the same way were-creatures do." He flashed his eyes to demonstrate his point. "I can shift more and more as I mature. The only thing I don't have at this point is my wings. Those will probably appear at either eighteen or twenty-one though. For now, I just have scales that make me practically invulnerable, claws, and the ability to breathe fire. Mom thinks when I get my wings I might be able to full shift."

Nova looked confused, but a glance at Scott told him that the werewolf was interested in what he was saying. "Phoenixes, on the other hand, aren't classified as shapeshifters. Your powers are triggered by death, not the moon. Mom was reading some old book that said you might be able to summon your flames at will eventually, maybe even use them as a weapon."

Nova's face spasmed. "I don't want to use them as a weapon," she admitted.

Scott's smile was a little sympathetic. "I wish I could tell you that you won't ever need to," he admitted. "But the time might come where someone's life could depend on it."

Cadmus was about to speak again but froze at the sound of a low growl, turning slowly. "Oh shit."

Nova turned slowly and her breath hitched as she saw what Cadmus was seeing. Liam was awake and struggling against the chains.

"Those are going to hold him, right?" Scott asked Cadmus as the dragon drew his cousin behind him.

"Why are you asking me?" he asked incredulously. "I don't have a Ritcher Scale for werewolves!"

Their question was answered in a rather violent fashion as Liam roared, ripping through his chains and diving out of the lake house window. The sound of shattering glass made Nova cry out, but Cadmus and Scott didn't even hesitate as they threw themselves after the boy—just not out the window.

"Stay here!" Cadmus ordered Nova, running his ass off through the woods beside Scott. They were practically on top of Liam before the boy disappeared from sight.

Cadmus slowed to a stop, looking around as he tried to sniff the young werewolf out. He caught his scent just a moment too late, turning to warn Scott just as Liam pounced on him.

"This is your fault!" Liam roared, shaking Scott. "It's all your fault! This is your fault!"

Cadmus got a hand in Liam's collar and threw the boy back, not even feeling guilty as Liam hit a tree. Liam roared a challenge, but Cadmus was already feeling his scales creep up around his face as he growled low in his chest, putting himself between the beta and Scott.

Liam never got the chance to attack though, yipping in pain as a flash arrow embedded itself in the tree next to him. He took off into the trees, and Cadmus stared in awe as a middle-aged man approached the two teenagers. Cadmus leaned down to offer Scott a hand up as the werewolf tilted his head to the man.

"How did you know?"

The man smirked a little, resting his crossbow on his shoulder as he regarded the two boys. "I got your text."

Cadmus turned to look at Scott, his shift retracting as he stared in a little disbelief. "You sent a text to describe the problem?"

"No," the man corrected. "He sent me a text to tell me that my dead sister is alive and a were-creature."

Running a hand over his face, Cadmus shook his head. "That's even worse."

The man snorted and held out a hand. "Chris Argent... I've never actually met a dragon before."

Cadmus took his hand with a wry grin. "Cadmus Morales... guess I'm just special."

Argent snored before turning to Scott. "There's a clearing just north of here. All you have to do is corral him there-- the rest is taken care of."

Scott looked a little worried. "What are you going to do?"

The man looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "He's your Beta, Scott. The better question is... what are you going to do?"

Making a noise of desperation, Scott hung his head. "He won't listen to me."

"He will if you start using your own words," the man said kindly, his head turning at the sound of Liam crying out in pain. Tossing Cadmus a remote, he gestured to the woods. "Go."

Cadmus didn't thank him, not really having the time to even consider it as he and Scott exchanged glances and ran toward the noise.

Cadmus was expecting to find Liam hanging upside down in a tree somewhere as Scott and him burst into the clearing. What he was faced with instead, was Nova standing in a circle of glowing stakes as she stared Liam down calmly despite the fact that the boy had a mouthful of fangs.

"C'mon Liam," she coaxed, stepping forward a little and effectively urging him a little closer to her. "Remember what you said earlier? That I'm soothing?"

The werewolf snarled a little, making Cadmus step forward, only to be stopped by Scott's arm as the alpha watched in awe.

Nova was still talking. "I said something too, remember? I said I feel safe with you, Liam. I meant it, I still mean it. You'd never hurt me, I know that. All you have to do is prove it to yourself. Just a little closer."

Liam did take those couple steps, practically collapsing the moment he was inside the circle. Nova's arms wound around him immediately, her fingers going back to his hair as she whispered into his ear.

Scott gently took the remote from Cadmus and turned the emitters off. When Liam finally looked up from where his face had been buried in Nova's neck. "What's happening to me?"

Taking a deep breath, Scott's voice was soft. "The same thing that happened to me."

Liam began crying, his chest heaving as he collapsed back into Nova's arms. His voice was muffled, but Cadmus could hear him perfectly. "They can't know about this. My mom, my stepdad... I can't do this to them again."

Scott's eyebrows drew together. "What do you mean, again?"

Liam shuddered but turned back to Cadmus and Scott. "I got kicked out of school... and I deserved it. The way they looked at me when they saw what I did to that car..."

Nova made a shushing sound that even relaxed Cadmus. "Liam, it's okay—"

Liam shook his head, the tears coming harder as he spoke. "They can't see me like this. Like... like..."

Scott's voice was as soft as Cadmus had ever heard it as he finished the boy's sentence. "Like a monster?"

Liam nodded weakly, and Scott stood a little straighter, his eyes flashing red. "You're not a monster. You're a Werewolf—like me."

Nova was gaping at Scott's declaration, her arms tightening around Liam as his sobs turned into small shuddering gasps, but Cadmus just smiled at the alpha.

"Guess you found your words, huh?"

A/N

Three updates in like, twenty-four hours? Who is this imposter and what have they done with me?? I really hope you guys enjoy this chapter, because I really liked writing it. Seeing Nova and Liam from an outside point of view, especially Cadmus' is important to me... and I got to write our favourite blunt boy!