Louisa Lloyd

"Is this Louisa?"

I hold my breath before answering. The person on the other side of the phone sighs tiredly at me.

"I know this is you, Lou." He whispers softly.

Now it's my time to sigh. But mine is in pure content after hearing his voice. It has been so long. I'm tempted to say no, hang up and block his number.

But the heart wants what it wants, right?

"It's me." I say slowly, pacing around my room. The tiny lights above my bed twinkle as I walk.

"I knew it." Edward's laugh fills my ear and I shudder. How I missed that sound. "My sister told me you called."

"Yeah..." I bite my lip as a smile finds its way to my mouth. I haven't heard his voice in months.

"How are you?"

"A lot has happened in the past few months." I chuckle darkly. If only he knew. "But I'm alright. What about you?"

"I'm alright." His soft British accent masks his words. I know him to well not to believe his words.

I cough to show him I didn't fall for his words and he sighs. We both have been doing this a lot since our conversation started.

"It could be better. If you were here."

My heart stops. Now it's my turn to sigh. I don't answer, nervous about the entire conversation we're having. His is nerve wracking.

"I want to see you." He finishes. "I miss you. My sister misses you."

Remembering the times Fiona, Edward and I spent hanging out on my bedroom back in London brings tears to my eyes. I can't do this.

"Edward..."

"I missed your voice... So much." He confesses. "Just tell me where you are and I'll run to you. I'm sorry for what I did to you... I need you."

"Edward, don't. We broke up for a reason-"

"A stupid reason, Lou." He says, raising his voice. "I lov-"

I hang up before he can finish. Taking a deep breath I throw my cold body into the warm bed, sobbing silently. He can't be serious, after everything that happened back in London... He can't be serious, he has to be joking.

Edward doesn't love me. And I don't have feelings for him.

Then why am I crying like a baby?

•^•^•^•^•^•

Hurrying down the corridor for our next class, Stiles whispers to Scott and I.

"I only found one thing online called the Kanima. A werejaguar from South America that goes after murderers."

"That thing wasn't a jaguar." Scott and I reply at the same time. We all know what we saw.

"And I'm not exactly a murderer."

"But you did see it kill someone. Which is probably why it tried to kill you. And probably still wants to kill you." Taking his arm away from my shoulders, I stare at Stiles, worried. "And probably won't stop until you're dead."

"You know, some days I really begin to question our friendship." Stiles turns to me and says ironically.

I shrug and stop by my locker. The first thing I notice when I spin the lock and open the door is a blue heart-shaped card with a photo attached to it.

I choose not to read it right now as not to disturb Scott and Stiles' conversation about the Kanima, and keep walking side by side with Stiles babbling about Lydia. With my book in hand and the card inside my pocket, we enter our first class of the day.

And as soon as I close the door behind my back, Coach yells for us to sit down and shut up. My seat is next to Isaac and I ignore him the best I can.

"What's that?" Stiles sticks his head in front of me. "Ooh, a love letter? Who's the unlucky bastard?"

"Shut up." I hit him in the face with my notebook as I inspect the note.

I thought Happiness started with an H... Why does mine start with U?

It's cheesy, but super sweet. I silently make a list of possible candidates that could've sent me this. Isaac or Matt. And that's it. I'm not that popular and guys don't find me that attractive.

Unfortunately, the grumpy boy next to me growls under his breath as Stiles reads the note out loud, making the poor boy jump in his seat.

I smirk, covering my face with my hair to prevent Isaac from seeing my smug expression.

Dropping into the seat behind me and Isaac, Jackson pokes my shoulder and grabs my neck, our faces now close to each other.

"What the hell's a Kanima?"

I spin back to Scotty and Stiles in panic. But before I can respond Coach slams a book against his desk. And I lean back, away from Jackson's enquiring eyes.

"Listen up. Quick warning before we
begin our review. Some of you, like McCall, might want to form study groups since tomorrow's midterm is so profoundly difficult I'm not even sure I could pass it." He claps his hands together. "All right, I need a volunteer at the board to answer the first question."

Hands go up around me as Jackson pulls me back. Scott and Stiles soon sit by my side, ignoring coach's glare. They talk for a while about Jackson being taken by Derek.

And Jackson does not release my neck. He smirks over my shoulder every few seconds, and I feel someone's eyes on my back.

Just ignore him.

"Paralyzed. From the neck down. You have any idea what that feels like?"

"I'm familiar with the sensation." Stiles sneers.

"Wait, why would Derek test you? Why would he think it's you?" Scott asks.

"How should I know?"

"Do they think it's Lydia?" It's my turn to question.

She has been a little off and distante but I still care for her. She's still a friend. Even if this said friend chooses to ignore me. It's fine.

"All I heard was her name. And something about Chemistry." Jackson whispers a little too loudly.

"Jackson, you have something you want to share with the class?" Coach interrupts our little chat.

"Just an undying admiration for my Coach." The bastard smiles proudly.

"That's very kind of you." Coach seems pleased but soon shouts. "Now shut the hell up."

Scott pulls Stiles forward and away from Jackson. And me. But I forget the two dumb asses and lean forward to hear them and help.

"How do we know it's not her?"

"Because I looked into the eyes of that thing and I saw pure evil." I say and Stiles finishes for me.

"When I look into Lydia's eyes I see fifty percent evil. Maybe sixty. No more than forty on a good day."

"That's not a very good argument." I pat his back and smile apologetically.

"I'm aware of that. But I swear, it's not her. It can't be. Lydia's fine."

I look back. Sitting quietly at her seat in the back, Lydia certainly appears fine.

Tired of this conversation, I sit back and enjoy the silence Isaac provides. He doesn't look at me, doesn't even say a word. And I like it that way. It just shows his true colors.

Feeling my eyes slowly closing, I shake my head and the calm thoughts abandon my mind as I stare at the front of the class. Where Lydia stands, chalk in hand, right in front of the board.

I notice she wrote something in the board.

EMPLEHENOEMOS

"Oh..." I cover my mouth with my hand and gasp.

She wrote 'someone help me' but backwards, all over the board. Lydia glances back to the class, everyone watching her. Everyone gives her sympathetic smiles.

"Okay then. Anyone else want to try
answering? In English?" Coach mocks and some smart ass laughs. I glare back at him and he pales.

"What is that? Greek?" Scott asks Stiles, bjs voice barely a whisper.

"Actually... it is English." He answers our friend, who gasps when he sees what Stiles photographed with his phone.

With the touch of a button Stiles flips the photo horizontally to reveal the message Lydia has written over and over on the board.

I lay my head on the table and sigh. This little outburst isn't going to help her situation. If Derek and his minions were already convinced she's the Kanima, now they had their doubts erased.

What is going to happen to her now?

•^•^•^•^•^•

Next is Chemistry class. We can't let Isaac and Erica close to Lydia, we don't know what they'll do to her.

So I take it as my mission to stay by her side the entire time. Well, my brilliant idea goes down the toilet as soon as we step inside the classroom.

Group work.

"Derek wouldn't kill her without proof." Scott has been trying to ease Stiles, who's nervous and scared for his crush.

"So then he tests her like Jackson, right? But when and where?"

"I think here and now." I eye the door where Isaac and Erica enter.

Seeming almost to glide in, they catch everyone's attention. Even Mr. Harris glances up from his desk. The only one who doesn't seem to notice is Lydia. As she settles in her seat Scott and Stiles swoop in, on either side of her as she glances at the two of them.

I'm left to sit by Allison, across from them. If needed, I can always get there fast. No big deal.

Allison eyes Scott a quick shake of his head,
dragging their chairs over to sit like bodyguards. Lydia throws a curious glance at them with a questioning look.

Harris shuts the door and turns to address the class. He starts walking around, shooting his less favorite students a glare.

"Einstein once said 'Two things are
infinite: the universe and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe.' I myself have encountered infinite stupidity..." He pauses at Stiles's desk for a not so subtle punctuation. "So to combat the plague of
ignorance in my class, you're going to combine efforts through a round of group experiments. Let's see if two heads are indeed better than one."

I snicker and look around, my ears focused on Isaac. He has been making weird noises. Maybe it's time for his plan with Erica do start. To test Lydia.

And then kill her.

"Or in Mr. Stilinski's case, less than one. Erica, take the first station. You'll start with..." Every male hand in the class shoots up. Even Isaac's. This time I glare at him. He smirks back. "I didn't ask for volunteers. Put your hormonal little hands down."

The hands drift down with disappointed grumbles as Harris aims a pen at Scott.

"Start with Mr. McCall." A nervous Allison watches Erica smile, pleased at the pairing. And I pat her back reassuringly. Scott will behave. He won't fall on her traps.
"All right. Next two..."

"Louisa, Mr. Lahey." My eyes widen and Allison and I share an uneasy glance.

Isaac and I aren't on speaking terms. How are we supposed to do this without setting the room on fire or killing everyone around us?

As we settle down on a desk, the materials in front of us and Lydia on the other side of the room, I turn to Isaac and, for the first time since we broke up, I whisper to him carefully, not really wanting to infuriate the best within him.

"Please don't do this."

"It's not like we have a choice." He answers back bitterly.

"You can get away from Derek at any time! You could be happy with your friends."

"Are you calling yourself my friend? Because you're not." His intense eyes lock with mine and I can see hurt behind his prideful facade.

"Whatever you're thinking of doing, wait. Give us a chance to talk to Derek."

"You can't stop it."

"Just watch me." I lean closer to him until my nose hits his. Ignoring the butterflies on my stomach, I keep my gaze locked with his. "I don't care if you bring an army with you. We won't give up easily. And you won't take Lydia."

He opens his mouth to answer my threat but Harris hits a bell on his desk.

"Switch."

The students split up, rotating to new lab stations. But before she can leave, I grab Lydia's arm, whispering to her.

"Listen to me, okay? Don't talk to Erica or Isaac."

"Why?"

"Just don't. Trust me, all right?"

"Girls, let's go. Next station."

I reluctantly step away from Lydia as I take a seat next to I girl I have never seen before. Seriously, how is this possible?

She does everything alone as I just sit there, staring at Lydia's back like an eagle. Looking over my shoulder, I smile at Stiles, who has the pleasure of sitting next to Isaac.

I hear the threat he throws at the light haired boy and turn completely around, staring at his face with admiration. I didn't know he had it in him.

"If you harm one perfect, strawberry-blonde hair on her head, I'm going to turn your little werewolf ass into a fur coat and give it to her as a birthday present."

I nod my head appreciatively and turn back to my partner, the girl sending glares at me. I shrug and don't bother making small talk.

Harris slams his palm onto the bell. Finally.

"And switch."

The next lab stations form: Allison and Erica. Stiles and Scott. Lydia and Isaac. And I'm destined to rot in hell, for sure, because my new partner is the same girl from before. Guess no one really wanted to work with her.

I smile apologetically and start working, letting her catch a breath. She hasn't stopped since the beginning of the class, and even when I paired up with Isaac, the only thing I did was talk to him while he worked.

It's not fair. And I'm feeling horrible.

After taking care of the experiment in front of me, I watch Isaac take his place next to Lydia. I really don't know what to do, and looking back at me friends, neither do they.

My partner and I share a smile before minding our own business. I listen to Allison and Erica's conversation as I stare at the table.

"What are you going to do to her?" Allison asks. I look up at her.

"Don't you think the better question is: What's she going to do to us?"

Catching their whispers as well, Scott glances at me and then back at Allison. Erica notices the looks between them.

"I have to say, you guys are cute together. But you know, I've always had this feeling like I'm a little psychic. And I just don't think you're going to last." I snort at Erica's stupid attempt to make Allison jealous.

They talk for a while as they work in the crystal, and I make small talk with my partner for the remaining minutes. I sigh in content as Harris hits the bell again.

"Time. If you catalyzed the reaction correctly you should now be looking at a crystal."

At the same time, Isaac sits by Lydia as I sit by Erica. They both watch Lydia raise a beautifully formed cluster of crystals between her fingers.

"Now, the part of this last experiment I'm sure you'll all enjoy. You can eat it."

While other students bite into the sugary experiment, Isaac smiles in anticipation as Lydia slowly brings the crystal to her lips. Feeling suddenly nauseous, I jump out of my seat and before she can put the damn thing in her mouth, I grab it.

And it a portion of it, leaving a small price to her.

"I just wanted to taste it. Mine was horrible." I smile politely and, as shaken up as I am right now, sit back on my chair next to Erica.

Lydia eats the rest of the crystal and I groan, pressing my hands against my throbbing temples.

I'm immune to the venom. And so is Lydia. Erica smirks at Isaac, who stares at me, shocked. I turn to Scott and Stiles, unsure of what to do now.

I'm so dead.

A defeated Stiles slowly sinks into his seat while I notice Isaac give a nod toward the window. Following his look, I see Derek. Standing outside. Watching from a distance and receiving very disturbing informations. They have to decide which one of us is the Kanima.

One of us is going to die soon. If we don't start acting soon.

Stiles and Scott leave me and Lydia outside the school, waiting patiently for them to finish their talk inside Coach's office. I understand they want to keep us safe but we could get killed or kidnaped out here.

Making small talk with Lydia isn't easy. For once, the bubbly girl doesn't open her mouth to bash my clothes or compliment my jacket or even point out a hot guy in the distance.

Nothing. Just silence. Cold silence. Like she knows something is happening.

Looking to the side after huffing in desperation I notice Scott striding to the Lacrosse and Stiles running to me and Lydia.

I flinch as, staring at the doors behind us, clearly noticing how Isaac and Erica stride down the empty corridor with malevolent purpose. Isaac drags the tips of his claws across some of the lockers lockers, sending a high pitched scream of tearing metal ricocheting across the walls of the corridor.

We have to move. Fast. Meeting Stiles halfway with a confused Lydia by my arm,

"Where are we going?" Lydia asks as I drag her to Stiles' car.

We share a look. It's his turn to take care of the conversation.

"Study group." These are the only ones Stiles mutters as we walk.

And Lydia is still looking at Allison and I like she knows something is up but doesn't want to ask or talk about it.

"Yeah, remember what I told you yesterday?" I improvise, my eyes sharing the panic I know is running through Stiles' veins. "Stiles and I have been talking about this for weeks, how didn't you remember?"

"Oh." Lydia says, stopping by Allison's side. "I probably forgot. No worries."

I sigh in relief. We are still in danger, and yet here I am, delighted by my friend's answer.

I'm crazy. That's the only explanation I've got for my behavior.

"Let's go then."

"If we're doing a study group, why didn't we just stay in the library?" Lydia chooses to speak to us as we cross the sidewalk.

"Because we're meeting up with someone else." Stiles answers.

"Why didn't they just meet us in the library?"

"That would've been a great idea."

"Okay, hold on-" Lydia stops but Jackson grabs her by the arm with authority.

"Lydia, shut up and walk." He says protectively and we walk behind them.

I sit in between an angry Jackson and a confused Lydia in the backseat of Stiles' jeep, as Allison rides shotgun. Gripping the wheel of his car, Stiles floors it through the school parking lot.

As we arrive to Scott's house, also my house of course, Stiles helps Lydia out of the jeep to join Allison and Jackson at the steps to the McCall home. I stay behind, inspecting our surroundings.

No one is here. Yet.

"If we're studying at Scott's house, where is Scott?"

"Meeting us here." Stiles says, and then adds, whispering. "I think. I hope."

Allison throws him a look. He gives a shrug as they hurry to the door. While he digs for a key, Allison whispers to Jackson.

"Thanks for doing this."

"I need to talk to her anyway."

Allison nods, but eyes him a moment longer. I do the same, understating there's something unsettling about his darkening expression. The door swings open as they enter and Stiles waits for me to enter as well before locking it.

He then flips the deadbolt. Then latches the chain. He turns to a suspicious Lydia.

"There's been a few break-ins around the neighborhood."

Clutching their bookbags they all stare at the door and I take this as an invitation to check the windows and lock them all. Then Stiles wedges a dining room chair underneath the knob. Lydia looks at him in disbelief.

"And a murder. It was bad." Stiles shrugs once again.

As he retreats from the door, Allison gives Jackson a nod to the stairs.

"Lydia, follow me. I need to talk to you for a minute." Jackson says.

"Seriously, what is going on with everyone?" Lydia says under her breath.

While she follows Jackson up the stairs and into my room we stay downstairs. How do I know that? Well, I can tell from the way Lydia gasps at the decoration of my walls.

"So pretty!"

I laugh gleefully and my happiness is spread to the other too. But soon, our joy is sucked from us as I sniff the air and a certain smell invades my nose.

Allison stands next to the wall, Stiles' phone in one hand and her crossbow in the other.

"You need to get here now." She whispers into he phone. Scott.

On the other side of the room, Stiles peers out to the street outside where four silhouetted figures stand. Derek and his pack. I can see them from where I stand in the middle of the room.

The sun is almost set. I stand back, waiting for the right moment to act. It's not like they want to kill me. Sarcasm detected.

Allison and Stiles throw cautious glances at Derek and his minions outside the window. With the hand not holding the crossbow, Allison pulls out her phone.

"What are you doing?" I ask, crossing my arms in front of my chest and leaning against the wall so I can see what's happening outside.

"I think... I think I have to call my dad."

"But if he finds you here. You and Scott-"

"I know. But what are we supposed to do?" She asks, scared. "They're not here to scare us. They're here to kill Lydia."

Breath tightening with anxiety, Stiles looks at the phone in Allison's hand. Neither of them knowing what to do. But I do.

"Don't." I whisper. "Don't do it. We can fix this."

"You think so?"

"I know so." I nod and it's my turn to look outside and glare at my old friends.

Stiles looks down at the crossbow in Allison's hands when I walk back from the window.

"I got an idea. Just shoot one of them."

"Are you serious?" Allison gasps.

"We told Scott we could protect ourselves. So let's do it. Or at least give it a shot, right?" Trying to be brave, Allison gives a nod at the encouraging words Stiles says. "They don't think we're going to fight. If one of them gets hit, I guarantee they'll back off. So shoot one of them.

"Which one?"

"Derek. Shoot him. Preferably in the head." I suggest darkly.

"If Scott was able to catch an arrow, Derek definitely can." Allison says. I don't even want to know what she's talking about.

"Fine. Shoot one of the other three." I pout.

"You mean two."

"I mean three." I raise my eyebrows. "Erica, Isaac and Boyd."

Stiles glances out the window to the street and hits his forehead with the back of his hand. I join him and gasp.

"Where the hell's Isaac?" I groan and gasp at the sight reflected in the window.

Isaac, ready to strike, behind us.

Before any of us can react, Isaac grabs Stiles, lifting him off his feet and tossing him clear across the room. Allison raises the crossbow to shoot. But Isaac moves too fast, knocking the weapon up so that the dart fires harmlessly into the ceiling.

Grabbing a handful of her coat, he lifts Allison up and sends her flying. As she smacks painfully to the wood floor, I raise my hands in the air and hit the back of his next.

He doesn't fall, just lets go of Allison and turns to me instead, his glowing yellow eyes on me.

Suddenly my phone rings from the table in the center of the room, and Isaac jumps at the sound. Allison takes that moment to run upstairs.

He lunges for the phone but I catch him before he can touch my phone but he sees who's calling. And I see it too. It's Edward. There's a crash as I grab Isaac's wrists and pull him back, sending him against the wall.

But he saw Edward's name and the photo. The photo I've kept all these months as his contact picture. A photo of the two of us, kissing at his birthday last year.

"Allison? Louisa? Stiles? What's happening?" Lydia yells from upstairs.

"Get back! Someone's trying to break in. Go!" A breathless Allison shouts on top of her lungs.

While Allison is having a fight of her own upstairs, I have to deal with Isaac and a ringing phone.

His yellow eyes lock with mine as he tries to grab my arms. I turn around and jump into the couch, quickly getting away from his claws.

"Are you really going to hit a girl?" I taunt him as his sharp nails grasp my neck. He lifts me up from the couch and I can't move.

He has my neck trapped in between his hands and I shake my legs around, trying to somehow hit him. But I can't. He's stronger.

"Don't make me hurt you."

"Do it." I can feel the air slowly leaving my lungs and I gasp for air. "You're here to kill me. Finish it."

He looks me dead in the eyes and I see a moment of weakness there. Taking it as my chance to escape and end this once and for all, I bury my own claws into his shoulders and shove him away, head first into the wall.

Just then, Allison comes downstairs with a fuming Scott who carries a paralyzed Erica. I grab a barely conscious Isaac by the arms and they follow me outside.

It's dark outside. Standing by his side, Boyd and Derek stare at us as I open the door. I'm the first to throw Isaac to him. Derek doesn't move to catch his fallen minion.

Scott let's out a powerful roar. Erica's paralyzed body tumbles to the grass next to the three of them.

Eyes burning with a furious yellow glow, Scott and I step confidently over the threshold. Stiles and Allison follow, remaining on the porch as Scott strides down the steps. I keep a distance between Scott and I as we walk towards the Alpha.

Not our Alpha.

"I think I'm finally getting why you keep refusing me, Scott. You're not an Omega. You're already an Alpha." Derek says calmly eyeing Scott. "Of your own pack."

Stiles and Allison glance to each other, realizing who Derek is talking about.

"But you know you can't beat me." He finishes his little speech and Scott smirks.

"I can hold you off until the police get here."

Derek cocks his head, listening. The faint sound of a siren approaching. I nod proudly at Scott. I didn't know he called the cops.

"And Louisa... This isn't over yet. You belong with us. You and I were friends even before you met these tools, I took care of you, and this is how you thank me?"

"Don't talk to me like I owe you a thing. Go die on a hole, Derek, and then see who cares."

And then someone, no something scurries past us. The clicking of sharp claws is the only thing that's heard. At least the werewolves, like me, catch the noise easily.

Following Scott's eyes up to the roof of our house, I gasp. A sinewy, jet black body perched on the roof of our home, glowing eyes peering down at us. The Kanima.

Thin lips curling back to expose a double row of teeth, it opens its jaws and unleashes an inhuman shriek. Everyone but me takes a step back as the creature darts across the roof and leaps off. In a flash it's escaped to the other side of the house, disappearing into the darkness.

"If it's not Lou... Lydia..." Stiles pants, and I can see it pains him to say those words.

Derek turns to Boyd and nods to the two fallen warriors by their feet.

"Get them out of here."

As he retreats back to race off the door clicks open. Lydia steps out.

"What... The hell... Is going on?"

Shocked, I stare at the innocent girl Derek and his pack nearly had killed. But I'm not the only one surprised. Derek, Stiles, Scott and Allison all turn to the open door of the house.

I know for a fact Lydia wasn't alone upstairs. That means-

"Jackson." Scott and I whisper, turning to face the dark corner the Kanima, our friend Jackson, disappeared into.

•^•^•^•^•^•

SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE! I was so busy but now I can update more often. I promise :)
So, how was this chapter? Good? Meh? Or bad? Tell me what you guys think! :)
I know I've said this before, but I'm in love with this story.

Ps: I ship Edward and Louisa! What should their ship name be?

Bye guys!
:)