𝙳𝙾𝙻𝙻 𝙿𝙰𝚁𝚃𝚂⠀⠀⠀⠀⁶
𝗩𝗢𝗟𝗨𝗠𝗘 𝗜. Cry Wolf

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐗
▏𝗦𝟬𝟭𝗘𝟬𝟰︰𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗕𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘁▕

❛ DON'T LOOK AT HER LIKE THAT. ❜

"I'M NOT DOING THAT, BRIE," Ellington hissed into the phone, his eyes anxiously glancing towards Allison's closed bedroom door, praying she hadn't overheard.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta's voice crackled over the phone, a mix of concern and frustration evident. "Eli, please. It's important."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington's shoulders tensed as he listened to Brietta's voice on the phone, the worry and frustration in her tone cutting through him.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀He cast nervous glances towards Allison's bedroom door before rubbing his forehead with his empty hand, "What is so important that I have to steal something from a girl I like?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Technically," Brietta's voice came in with a slight pitch, "you wouldn't be stealing from her, you'd be stealing from her aunt."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington rolled his eyes as his grip on his phone tightened, "Brietta."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Please, Ellington," Brietta pleaded and, once Ellington heard the desperation in her words, he sighed heavily, "What is it that you want me to steal?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀A moment of silence came through the phone before he heard her, "A bullet."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington's eyes bulged, "A bullet?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Before Ellington could tell her anything, Brietta spoke up, "Ellington, just trust me. This is important."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington inhaled deeply as Brietta's voice came through again, "Do you trust me?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Without hesitation, Ellington answered, "Yes."

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BRIETTA SIGHED, ending the call on her phone. She turned to the men in the Jeep, a deep frown etched across her face. "He'll do it," she informed them with a reluctant nod, her voice carrying a sense of apprehension.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀In the passenger seat, Derek winced in pain, his uninjured hand hovering over the bullet wound. Brietta's expression tightened with concern as she leaned forward, gently placing a hand on Derek's shoulder. "Don't worry, Derek," she reassured him, her voice filled with a mixture of comfort and hope. The unspoken 'hopefully' hung in the air like a warning.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek's eyes flashed with irritation, and he tensed up even further when Brietta placed her hand on his shoulder. Without a word, he abruptly slapped her hand away, causing a collective reaction from Brietta, Stiles, and Scott. Brietta let out a scoff, while Stiles and Scott shot venomous glares in Derek's direction.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The Jeep fell into a heavy silence as Stiles continued to drive past rows of houses. Stiles's eyes flickered towards Derek, who was gingerly trying to remove his leather jacket, wincing in pain as he did so.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Hey," Stiles sighed, his tone a mix of annoyance and genuine concern, "try not to bleed out on my seats, okay?" He shot a brief, worried glance at Derek. "We're almost there."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Almost where?" Derek lazily questioned, his head bobbling up and down as if he were trying to keep himself awake.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Your house."Derek snapped his head up at Stiles' words, a scowl forming on his face as he protested, "What? No, you can't take me there."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The teenagers in the Jeep exchanged exasperated glances, their patience wearing thin with Derek's objections.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose, "Why can't we take you to your house? Isn't that where you want to be?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Not when I can't protect myself," Derek muttered, shaking his head.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta tilted her head, her gaze fixed on the back of Derek's head. Her voice held a note of curiosity as she asked, "How many people have you pissed off?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek turned to glare at Brietta, his narrowed eyes locking onto hers. Scott, sitting beside Brietta, emitted a low growl as a protective instinct surged within him. "Don't look at her like that," he warned Derek, his own eyes flashing a light shade of gold.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta noticed Derek's eyes widen slightly at Scott's warning, but he eventually turned back around in his seat, choosing not to escalate the situation further. Stiles parked his Jeep on the side of the road with an audible huff, bringing a momentary halt to the escalating tension within the vehicle.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles took a long breath before turning to Derek, his grip on the steering wheel tightening, "All right. What happens if Ellington doesn't find your little magic bullet? Hmm? Are you dying?" Stiles stared at Derek, who looked like a slap would send him to an early grave.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek shook his head, his expression grim. "Not yet," he admitted. He took a deep breath before continuing, "I have a last resort."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles laughed sarcastically, raising his voice. "What do you mean? What last resort?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek remained silent, opting to reveal his answer through actions rather than words. He pulled up his sleeve, exposing his bullet wound. His veins protruded from his arm, and the wound was caked in thick, sticky blood.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles and Scott turned away, their faces contorted with a mix of disgust and nausea as they tried to avoid looking at the bleeding wound. Brietta, on the other hand, couldn't tear her eyes away despite the revulsion. Tears welled up in her eyes as she watched the blood ooze out of Derek's wound.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀A shudder passed through Brietta, and she couldn't help but emit a strangled noise of discomfort. "Oh, we didn't need to see that," she muttered.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Oh, my God!" Stiles cried out, "What is that?" He coiled away and concealed himself behind his hand. "Ugh, is that contagious? You know what, you should probably get out." Stiles motioned to the door whilst hiding behind his hand.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Start the car. Now." Derek lightly growled, baring his teeth at Stiles.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott and Brietta stiffened in the backseat as Stiles scoffed, turning back to Derek with confidence, "I don't think you should be barking orders with the way you look, okay?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Stiles," Brietta muttered, but Stiles continued, "In fact, I think, if I wanted to, I could probably drag your little Werewolf ass out into the middle of the road and leave you for dead."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek seethed as he glared at the Stilinski boy. "Start the car, or I'm gonna rip your throat out...with my teeth."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott's eyes flickered yellow once again, "Stop threatening him. We're trying our best."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek huffed before leaning back in the seat as Stiles started the Jeep's ignition. As he did, he looked at Scott in the rearview mirror, "I'm starting not to like the whole Werewolf thing."

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AFTER ELLINGTON HAD RE-ENTERED ALLISON'S BEDROOM, the room seemed smaller now, suffocating almost, as Ellington and Allison sat on opposite sides of the bed. A thick, palpable tension filled the air, and it was clear that Ellington was the source of it.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington's eyes scanned all the boxes in Allison's room in a poor attempt to start a conversation until his eyes landed on an open box beside his legs. Right on top of the pile of things was a framed photograph of a man and a woman smiling. Ellington recognized the man as Allison's father, though he hadn't had much opportunity to get to know him. However, the woman in the photograph was a mystery yet strangely familiar to him.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀His hands reached out, brushing over the woman in the photograph before he grabbed it. He turned to Allison, who shifted closer to him, her curiosity piqued. "Who's this?" he asked, holding up the picture for her to see

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As Allison's eyes remained fixed on the photograph, her smile grew wider. "That's my dad's sister, Kate," she explained. "Except, she's more like my sister. She got here last night." There was a warmth in her voice, reflecting the deep connection she shared with Kate, and Ellington just felt the knife in his gut twisting at the confirmation.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington studied the photograph of Kate for a moment longer before glancing back at Allison. "I feel like I've seen her before," he admitted, a faint furrow in his brow as he tried to recall where or when he might have encountered someone who resembled Kate.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Mmm," Allison hummed, nodding slightly. "She actually used to live in Beacon Hills. Maybe you saw her once when she was around here," she suggested.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Maybe," Ellington muttered under his breath before setting the photograph down beside him. He motioned to Allison's box of belongings, and when she nodded with a smile, he grabbed out a bundle of photographs held together with a binder clip.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀He gently removed the clip, careful not to scratch the images, before he began sifting through them. A smile grew on his face as he perused the photos: bright cities, rainy streets, foggy woods, dingy houses, abstract paintings, small businesses with flyers strewn about, and random street signs filled the collection.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington chuckled as he came upon a picture of a broken stoplight, which made the stop sign look like a defiant middle finger. Allison leaned into him and smiled against his shoulder, saying, "I took that in Chinatown. God, I went there almost every week when we were in New York."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington's fingers ghosted over the picture, and he turned to Allison with a warm smile, saying, "These are really good."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Allison's lips parted in a gasp before she shook her head, snorting out a small laugh, "No, they're not. I stopped when I realized I was terrible at it. Framing's off, bad lighting. Believe me; not good." At that, Ellington shook his head; Sure, some were blurry, but Ellington thought that added to their charm.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"It's not about how they turn out," Ellington began as he carefully put the clip back onto the photographs, "it's about how they made you feel."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Allison's smile softened as she looked up at Ellington with warmth, "You're something else, Eli." Ellington's cheeks warmed, a light pink hue spreading, and he turned away slightly, making Allison giggle lightly.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington cleared his throat, trying to calm his redness, and asked, "So, uh, where have you lived?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Allison sighed deeply before pouting slightly, "Well, like I told you, I was last in San Francisco for three years. Before that? I only spent a year in each place as far back as I can remember." She scratched her head as she recalled the places she'd lived, "There's New York, Michigan, Vermont, Connecticut, Maine, Louisiana, Texas, Maryland, Nevada, Virginia, Illinois, and Canada."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀At Allison's list, Ellington's eyes widened, and he remarked, "So, that's..."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Every year of my life?" Allison assumed, and nodded, "Yeah."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington blew out a deep breath as his eyes returned to the box. He was about to ask another question, but pastel colors caught his eye. He retrieved a piece of paper to find a drawing of an orange, an apple, a pear, and a banana. "This is really good, Allie."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Allison laughed slightly, her brown waves bouncing around her face before she realized Ellington was serious. Her eyebrows shot up, "Seriously? 'Terrible' doesn't even come close to describing that." She gestured toward the paper in Ellington's hands.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀He tilted his head at her, his curiosity piqued. "Then what are you good at?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Allison looked away for a moment before turning back to Ellington with rosy cheeks, "I'm gonna show you if you promise not to laugh."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington narrowed his eyes at her, a playful smile on his face. "I promise not to laugh."

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"SO, I WAS NATIONALLY-RANKED AS A KID," Allison began as she moved past the threshold into her garage, with Ellington close behind her, "and my dad really wanted me to go on, but...I don't know, I just didn't really like it."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington glanced at the wall of boxes before his eyes moved over to Allison's mother's car. Ellington turned his back to Allison as she rummaged through one of the boxes, "Promise you won't laugh?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"I promise," Ellington chuckled before turning to Allison, only to jump back with a start as she playfully aimed an unloaded bow at him, a mischievous smile on her face. Ellington stared at where the arrow would be, and he felt a slight wave of discomfort wash over him.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Trust me, I don't miss twice, a distorted voice rang through Ellington's head as Allison tutted with a smile, oblivious to his momentary stupor, "This is a compound bow...and I'm pretty sure it requires an arrow to be harmful."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington snapped out of his strange state at the sound of Allison's voice and focused all his attention on her. At his silence, Allison frowned and lowered the bow, "It's silly, isn't it?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington's eyes widened, and he shook his head, "No, no. It's badass is what it is. I mean, archery? That's completely next level."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Allison put the bow back in its box as Ellington's gaze drifted to a wall of guns. His eyes widened as he stared at the locked-off collection, wondering what his sister had gotten herself into. If she needed a bullet, it might be in here or in Kate's bedroom in the Argent house.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The Argent teenager noticed his silence and followed his eyeline. Once she landed on the wall of guns, she cringed, "So, I guess I should explain," She and Ellington walked over to the wall of guns, "We're not some sort of separatist gun-nut family. My dad sells firearms to law enforcement."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington pursed his lips as his thoughts raced, struggling to make sense of it all. He eyed the collection and turned to Allison, "So, uh, are you planning on joining the family business?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"I don't know. You tell me," Allison shrugged with a small smile before grabbing Ellington's hands, placing them on her waist before she wrapped her arms around his neck, "would I look hot with a gun?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington's heart began racing with a mix of emotions, but he smiled down at her, "Doesn't matter much to me. I'll take you either way."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Their lips brushed against each other, but before they could close the gap, the squeaking of the garage door sounded. Allison's eyes widened, and she pushed Ellington away slightly. She grabbed him once she was free of his hold and pulled him beside her mother's car, concealing them both from the person entering.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Hey, Chris!" A feminine voice called out, and Ellington couldn't help but wonder if it were Kate Argent, "Get your ass out of the fifties and come help with the groceries!"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀From what Ellington could hear, Chris plopped a box onto the pile of boxes before his steps got closer. Ellington's heart stopped momentarily as Chris leaned against his wife's car, staring down at the crouching children, "Kids, you mind helping?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington instantly nodded, "Of course, Sir," just as Allison pursed her lips and added, "Sure."

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ELLINGTON LET OUT AN EXASPERATED SIGH AS HE RETRIEVED THE FINAL BAG OF GROCERIES FROM ARGENT'S TRUNK. The sun dipped lower on the horizon, casting long shadows in the front of the Argents' home. Just as he stepped away from the car and toward the house, his phone buzzed insistently in his back pocket, causing his heart to skip a beat.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Argent emerged from his house just as Ellington reached the front steps. Ellington extended the grocery bag to the older man with a polite, closed-lipped smile. Argent, with a slight tilt of his head, acknowledged Ellington's gesture with a gruff, "Thank you."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington cleared his throat awkwardly and, feeling the need to break the silence, reached into his pocket to retrieve his cell phone. As he held the phone in his hand, he glanced at the screen, momentarily distracted by the text from his sister.

5:54 P.M.

my sister (unfortunately):
▏eli, time is ticking
▏we need that bullet

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington grumbled under his breath, his frustration evident in his demeanor. However, his annoyance was momentarily forgotten as footsteps approached, and he looked up to see Allison walking towards him. He swallowed the lump in his throat, a mix of nerves and curiosity swirling within him, and tucked his phone back into his pocket.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"So," Ellington began, his eyes briefly flickering toward Argent, who was observantly watching their interaction, "do you still want to study?" His voice held a hint of uncertainty, as if he wasn't sure whether the previous events had changed their plans—or changed his plan of getting a bullet from Allison's aunt, who was closing her brother's trunk.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Argent cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "I think she'll concentrate better on her own," he stated, his voice carrying a note of authority. His gaze shifted between Ellington and Allison, silently emphasizing his point.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington's shoulders slumped, a mixture of resignation and understanding in his expression. He didn't particularly like the idea of going against his sister's wishes, but he also didn't want to raise Argent's suspicions by pushing too hard.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀It was a delicate balance he had to maintain, knowing that his actions could have consequences for both his sister and the watchful eyes of Argent.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Nodding slowly, Ellington replied, "Alright, then. Guess I'll see you soon." His gaze briefly met Allison's, who sent him an apologetic expression.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Argent's voice remained firm as he reiterated, "At school." Allison turned to her father with a glare, clearly frustrated by the change in plans. It was a Friday, and she had been looking forward to inviting Ellington over for the weekend, but her father's decision seemed to put a damper on those intentions.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington moved to hug Allison, wanting to offer her some comfort in the midst of the tension. However, his intention was interrupted by a stern glare from Argent. "You, on your bike," Argent commanded, his gaze unwavering and authoritative. Ellington reluctantly backed away with a frown.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Argent then turned his attention to his daughter, delivering a no-nonsense order, "You, inside."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As Allison began to turn around to go inside, a voice sounded from behind Ellington. It was Kate, and she didn't sound pleased.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Oh, come on, Chris! Really?" Kate exclaimed, her hands held out in exasperation as she approached Ellington. She walked up until she was standing beside him, clearly frustrated. "They were making out in the garage, not shooting amateur porn."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Kate's unexpected comment hung in the air, drawing a mixture of shock and amusement from Ellington. It seemed that Kate had a knack for breaking tension with humor, even in such an awkward situation.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Kate turned to Ellington and patted him on the shoulder with a warm smile. "You, with the adorable brown eyes," she said with a playful twinkle, "you're staying for dinner."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Despite the outward warmth of Kate's invitation, Ellington couldn't shake the unsettling feeling he had about her. Something in her demeanor made him feel uneasy, as if there was more to her than met the eye.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington hesitated for a moment, caught between the desire to be polite and the nagging suspicion that staying for dinner might lead to more uncomfortable situations.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington took a deep breath, recalling his promise to his sister. Despite his reservations, he decided to be polite and accept Kate's invitation. He nodded and replied, "Uh, thank you, Kate."

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BRIETTA GRUNTED AS SHE CLIMBED BACK INTO THE JEEP THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SEAT, the sound of ice in her coffee clinking against the plastic cup as she did so. Scott, ever the considerate guy, reached over to take the cup and Dunkin' Donuts bag from her, earning a grateful smile from the auburn-haired girl.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek's head bobbed in the passenger seat as Brietta settled into the backseat. He grumbled from his seat, clearly not thrilled about the detour. "Did you seriously have to go to a coffee shop?" he complained, his head tilting back to glance at Brietta as Stiles got back into the driver's seat.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta let out a light scoff before tossing the bag into Derek's lap. "A 'thank you' would be nice," she retorted, a touch of exasperation in her voice. "I spent a coupon on you."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek's frown remained, but he couldn't resist the temptation of the cheddar bagel twist in the bag. He grabbed one and took a bite, savoring the flavor. Brietta's eyes lit up with triumph.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Aren't you glad I made us stop?" she asked with a mischievous glint in her eyes. Derek, still not one for excessive words, simply grunted in response. However, he couldn't hide the fact that he took another bite of the twist, which earned a light giggle from Brietta. It seemed that her impromptu coffee shop visit had been a small victory in her book.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles started the Jeep's engine and pulled out of the Dunkin' Donuts parking lot. As he navigated the road, his eyes met Scott's in the rearview mirror. Concern etched across his face, he asked, "What are we supposed to do with him?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott shrugged with a growing frown on his lips as he handed Brietta her coffee. "Somewhere. Anywhere," he replied with a hint of frustration and uncertainty.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles rolled his eyes and scoffed, clearly irritated, as he kept his attention on the road. "Well, I don't want him in Roscoe," he muttered with a pointed glare at Derek, who was quietly nibbling on his bagel twist and staring out the window. "He's starting to smell like death."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott's shoulders rose in indecisiveness as he considered their options. Then, his eyes suddenly lit up with an idea. "Okay, uh," Scott began, "let's take him to the animal clinic."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta couldn't help but snicker at Scott's unexpected suggestion, which earned her a glare from Derek. The irony was not lost on them. Scott had worked at the animal clinic for over a year, and now he was proposing to take someone who was likely a supernatural creature there. It was an amusing twist, given Scott's own supernatural nature as a Werewolf.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles briefly glanced back at Scott but quickly returned his focus to the road. "What about your boss?" he asked, voicing a valid concern.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀A smile slowly spread across Scott's lips in response to the question. "He's gone by now," he reassured them, "and I still have the spare key from when I lock up on Wednesdays."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The idea seemed to alleviate some of the tension, and the prospect of having access to the animal clinic for their unusual situation brought a sense of relief to the group.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek swallowed a bite of his bagel twist and turned to Brietta with a questioning look. "Did your brother find the bullet yet?" he asked, curiosity and concern in his eyes.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta shrugged, taking a quick gulp of her caramel drink before reaching into her pocket for her phone. She scrolled through her text messages before answering, "No, but he's looking. The Argents invited him to stay over for dinner, and he slipped away to try to find it."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek let out an exasperated huff, his fingers tightening around the bag as he voiced his frustration. "Tell him to move faster," he urged with a hint of desperation. "If he doesn't find it, then I'm dead, all right?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"I'm starting to think that wouldn't be such a bad thing..." Scott muttered, and Brietta felt her heart seize at the thought of Derek dying. Derek, in response, shot Scott a harsh glare.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Then think about this," Derek retorted, his tone serious. "The Alpha called you out against your will," he continued, making Scott wince at the memory of the bus incident. Derek's voice grew even more solemn as he continued, "He's gonna do it again. Next time, either you kill with him, or you get killed. So, if you," he glanced at Brietta and Stiles, "and your friends wanna stay alive, then you need me."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀A heavy silence hung in the air as the teenagers processed Derek's words. After a long moment, Derek turned his attention to Brietta and said, "Your brother needs to find the bullet."

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IF THERE WAS ONE THING ELLINGTON TOOK FROM THIS NIGHT, it was the fact that he was not a good spy.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington had excused himself from the dinner table under the pretext of needing to "use the bathroom," but his real intention was to find Kate's bedroom.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As Ellington walked through a hallway upstairs, he felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He let out a grumble of annoyance but decided to check the text he had received from his sister.

6:32 P.M.

my sister (unfortunately):
▏i don't want to rush you but you have to hurry
▏i need that bullet in the next hour.
▏it won't be a regular bullet, it'll look a bit different. the weirder the better 🙂

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington let out a sigh of frustration after reading his sister's text. As he put his phone away, he noticed a door at the end of the hallway with a code bar beside it. The mysterious nature of the situation intrigued him, and he decided to approach the door. With a mix of curiosity and apprehension, he attempted to open it.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀However, as soon as he opened the door, an alarm went off, emanating from the code bar beside it. Ellington winced at the sudden noise and quickly shut the door to make the alarm stop. Just as he went to around, he heard Kate's voice from behind him, "Does that look like a bathroom?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀His heart raced as he tried his hardest to maintain his posture, "Not anymore," He motioned to the code bar.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Kate tilted her head with a smile, her demeanor surprisingly calm given the situation. She then gestured to another hallway, breaking the tense moment.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Use the guest bedroom," she suggested, her voice friendly and inviting, as if nothing unusual had happened.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington nodded in response, his shoulders deflating as he followed Kate's directions and entered the guest bedroom.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As he closed the door behind him, he caught a glimpse of Kate watching him from the end of the hall. Her lingering gaze added an extra layer of intrigue to the situation, leaving Ellington to wonder just how much she knew about his earlier escapade.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington flicked on the light switch, causing his eyes to narrow slightly as they adjusted to the sudden brightness. Once his vision adapted, he began to take in the details of the guest bedroom. However, something unusual caught his attention—a black object peeking out from under the bed. He crouched down to get a closer look and realized it was a duffel bag.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Curiosity piqued, Ellington glanced around the room. On the nightstand, he noticed a picture of Kate and Allison, both of them smiling. It suddenly dawned on him that this was Kate's room for the time being, which made the presence of the duffel bag all the more intriguing.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington, his heart racing with a mixture of anticipation and dread, quietly retrieved the duffel bag from under the bed. He opened it carefully, revealing a hat and scarf on top. His curiosity drove him to dig deeper, and he removed the clothing items, revealing a black box underneath.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀With a furrowed brow, Ellington took the black box out of the duffel bag and placed it on top. He hesitated for a moment, his hands trembling slightly, before opening the box. His heart seemed to drop as he caught sight of what was inside—hundreds of bullets neatly arranged.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Amidst the neatly arranged bullets, Ellington's eyes were drawn to a smaller box nestled near the middle. The box bore a symbol of a leaf and flowers etched onto the wooden surface. Intrigued, he reached for it and opened it up.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Inside, he found a row of ten holes, with only nine sharp bullets remaining. It was as if one had been used. The tips of the bullets were covered in a distinctive blue dust, which immediately struck Ellington as unusual. Ellington was pretty sure that normal bullets killed as well as decorated ones.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The weirder the better, right?

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington's curiosity got the better of him as he grabbed one of the bullets and discreetly slipped it into his pocket. He then turned his attention to the box's lid, where he noticed writing carved into the wood: ACONIT NAPEL BLEU NORDIQUE.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Recognizing that it was in French, Ellington quickly retrieved his phone and typed the words into a translation app. As the words were deciphered, he felt a shiver of unease wash over him. The translation revealed: Blue Nordic Aconite.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The unusual bullet and its ominous translation left Ellington with a sense of unease. Deciding to err on the side of caution, he snapped a picture of the bullet and sent it along with the translation to his sister.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Afterward, he carefully packed everything back the way it was, making sure not to disturb the arrangement of the bullets or the box.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Back at the animal clinic, Scott opened the back entrance, leading the way as Stiles and Brietta helped him move Derek into the building. They carefully placed the weakened man onto a pile of dog food.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀In the distance, the haunting howls of dogs echoed through the night, adding an eerie atmosphere.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta's phone buzzed in her pocket, and she quickly retrieved it to read the text she had received from her brother. As she absorbed the message, she turned her attention to Derek, her eyes narrowing with curiosity and concern.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Does Blue Nordic Aconite mean anything to you?" she asked Derek, her voice tinged with a sense of urgency.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀With as much force as Derek could muster, he nodded. His voice was strained as he replied, "He has to bring me the bullet."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles, never one to back down from seeking answers, narrowed his eyes at Derek and questioned, "Why?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek slowly lifted his head, fixing his gaze on the three teenagers. His voice was filled with a mix of vulnerability and desperation as he explained, "'Cause I'm gonna die without it."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The gravity of his words hung in the air, leaving them all with a stark realization that the bullet that was killing him held the key to his survival.

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ELLINGTON WASN'T ENTIRELY SURE WHETHER THE MOISTURE ON HIS HANDS CAME FROM TREPIDATION OR FROM HASTILY WASHING HIS HANDS. It might have been a bit of both as he made his way back into the kitchen, where all the Argents were gathered.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Hey, um," he began, his voice uncertain, "I should probably get going."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington reached for his coat, intent on leaving, but Kate's insistent plea halted him in his tracks. She spoke up, her tone inviting, "Oh, no, no, no, no, no! You have to stay for dessert. I wanna know more about you. Sit down."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Despite his initial instinct to leave, Ellington hesitated for a moment, then clenched his jaw and reluctantly complied. He took his seat beside Allison, a sense of unease lingering in the air.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As Ellington shifted uncomfortably in his seat, trying to find a more comfortable position, he became the center of attention. Allison's mother, Victoria, looked at him with a twinkle of curiosity in her eyes.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Allison was just telling us that you work as a cemetery caretaker," Victoria remarked, her tone friendly

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington nodded and replied, "Uh, yeah." He wiped his clammy hands against his jeans, feeling the weight of the conversation. "I make sure that graves are kept well, I replace wilting flowers. I even..." He hesitated for a moment, debating whether to reveal this particular detail, but ultimately decided to be honest. "I dug Laura Hale's grave. The woman who was attacked a few weeks ago."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Argent leaned forward in his seat, fixing a penetrating gaze on Ellington, "What do you think of the animal attacks? Any theories?" His question held an air of seriousness, and it was clear that he was interested in Ellington's perspective.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington's eyebrows furrowed as he looked around the table, considering the question. "Everyone's saying that it was a mountain lion," he replied, confusion lacing his words as if Argent were expecting him to say something else.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Kate couldn't help but snicker from her seat at Ellington's response. "It'd have to be a pretty large mountain lion," she remarked with a hint of amusement in her voice. Her comment was met with a shared look between her and Victoria, a look that left Ellington feeling somewhat uneasy.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"What do you think, Ellington?" Victoria sought, and Ellington, feeling somewhat uncomfortable under the scrutiny, shrugged in response, "I don't know," he admitted. "I mean, most of the cases I've seen were the usual causes of death. You know, old age or sickness."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As he mentioned the word "sickness," a heavy weight settled in his chest. It was the thing that took his mother from him. The thing that took his happiness from him.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington's gaze shifted to Argent, who wore a fond expression as he recalled a memory. "You know," Argent began, his tone nostalgic, "I grew up with a lot of dogs."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington's eyes widened slightly at Argent's revelation. "Really?" he responded, his curiosity piqued. "That must've been hectic."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Argent nodded and let out a thoughtful hum. "I saw one get rabies from a bat," he recounted, his voice tinged with a touch of solemnity. "It was transferred through the bite. You know, people think that a rabid dog suddenly goes mad. It's a lot more gradual."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington's initial interest waned as the story took a darker turn, but Argent continued, "First stage is subtle changes in behavior; they're restless, morose. It's the second stage that people know; the furious phase. That's when they attack. And we're talking any moving object."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Trust me, I don't miss twice, Ellington suppressed his wince as the distorted voice came back.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Did you know that a caged rabid dog will break its own teeth trying to chew through the bars?" Argent continued, oblivious of Ellington's discomfort, "It'll even rear back and snap its own spine. Can you imagine the amount of force it would take to do that? It's a complete character reversal. This harmless animal...turned into a perfectly vicious killer. And it all started with that one bite."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington and Allison exchanged a glance, their unspoken thoughts passing between them. Then, Allison turned to her father with a sad smile and asked, "But it died, didn't it?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Yes, because your grandfather shot it." Victoria informed, causing Ellington's head to snap toward her.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Because he wanted to put it out of its misery?" Allison assumed, but her father muttered a 'no', causing Ellington to look over at him.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Argent's eyes locked onto Ellington's as he spoke, "Because it was too dangerous. Something that out of control is better off dead."

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STILES AND SCOTT GROANED AS THEY HEAVED DEREK UP FROM THE PILE OF DOG FOOD, rushing him to the back of the clinic where most animal operations occurred.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Once they reached their destination, they let go of Derek, allowing him to stand on his own. Brietta flipped the light switch on as soon as everyone was inside the room.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀In the well-lit room, Derek wasted no time. He removed his shirt, revealing the wounds he had sustained.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek's veins were more prominent and the wound looked worse as he leaned on the metal operating table. The sight made Brietta cringe.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles stuttered. "You know. That really doesn't look like anything some Echinacea and a good night's sleep couldn't take care of." He tried to lighten the mood with a small scoff.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek's words were heavy with a dire sense of urgency as he spoke, each breath growing heavier with every word. "When the infection reaches my heart," he explained, "it will kill me."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Positivity just isn't in your vocabulary, is it?" Stiles sarcastically smiled as Brietta watched Derek move over to the counter and rummaged through the cabinets.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"What happens if Eli doesn't get here in time?" Scott sought, watching the man rifle through the cabinets.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Last resort," Derek searched through a drawer of pills. The three teenagers watched Derek slam the drawer shut before he moved on to the next one. At this one, Derek finally found what he was looking for, holding up an electric saw, "One of you is going to cut off my arm."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀A tense silence filled the room as the trio gaped at him, silently praying that Ellington would get there.

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ELLINGTON SHRUGGED ON HIS COAT, preparing to leave, while Allison walked him to the front door. She expressed her apologies once more, her tone filled with genuine regret. She handed him his backpack, and Ellington sighed with pursed lips as he strapped it on.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"It's fine, Allie," he reassured her, trying to put her at ease. "At least we got the first awkward family dinner out of the way."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Allison's eyes twinkled with amusement at Ellington's words, and she playfully leaned into him. "You saying there's going to be more family dinners?" she teased, her tone light and teasing. Ellington responded with a soft smile and a nod, indicating that he was open to the idea of future family dinners.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀However, when Allison moved in for a kiss, Ellington hesitated and pulled back, his gaze shifting to the doorway. His sharp eyes caught Argent watching them from the kitchen.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Your dad's watching," Ellington quietly pointed out, his voice tinged with caution. The doorway provided a clear view into the kitchen, and Argent's presence was a reminder that their actions were being observed.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Good." With a hint of mischief in her whispered reply, Allison leaned in and kissed Ellington softly. Their lips met, and in that moment, the world outside seemed to fade away. A sense of warmth enveloped them both, and for that brief instant, everything else ceased to matter.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀After their tender moment, Allison smiled at Ellington and opened the door for him to leave. He began to step out, thinking they were about to say their goodbyes, but Kate's voice rang out behind him, stopping him in his tracks, "Wait a second, guys."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington's spine bristled as he and Allison turned to Kate, who eyed Ellington. "What is it?" Allison sought, shutting the door.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Kate's hands fidgeted at her sides, and she let out a sigh before speaking, "Uh, I have to ask Ellington something."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington, putting on a display of compliance, nodded in response to Kate's request. "Sure," he said, his tone polite and willing despite his rapid heartbeats. "What's your question?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Kate's eyes narrowed, "Uh," A soft scoff escaped her before she smiled venomously at Ellington, "What'd you take from my bag?

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington froze as Kate's accusation hung in the air. Allison, standing beside him, shifted uncomfortably, sensing the tension in the room. Ellington, trying to buy himself some time and feigning confusion, questioned, "Uh, what?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"My bag. What'd you take from it?" Kate demanded, causing Ellington and Allison to share looks. The silence in the room was palpable, and Kate's glare intensified, "Do you need me to repeat the question? Maybe enunciate more clearly?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Argent, sensing the tension in the room, approached Kate with a quizzical expression, "What are you talking about?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"My bag was open in the guest room, and when I left, it was shut," Kate explained to her brother. "And Ellington comes in to use the bathroom, he leaves, my bag's open."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington felt a rising sense of panic at the accusation. He distinctly remembered closing the bag before he left the guest room.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Allison interrupted, shaking her head vigorously. "He didn't take—."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Something," Kate interrupted, "was taken from my bag." Her gaze settled on Ellington, "Now, look I hate to be the accuser here, Ellington, because I really do love those adorable brown eyes...but I don't know if you're a klepto, if you're curious, or if you're just stupid," All the amusement in her words disappeared, "But answer the question; what did you take?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As the pressure mounted and Kate pressed for an answer, Ellington's chest began to tighten. However, he stuck to his story, responding firmly, "Nothing."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Kate tilted her head, her eyes still filled with accusation. "You don't mind proving it, do you?" she challenged.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Allison, growing increasingly frustrated with her aunt's accusation, hissed at her in disbelief. "Are you serious?" she questioned, her voice filled with irritation.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Kate paid her no mind, continuing to talk to Ellington, "How about you show us what's in your pockets? Come on, Ellington. Prove me wrong."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Allison let out a scoff and held out her hands, her tone filled with defiance. "I'll prove you wrong," she declared boldly. "Uh, it wasn't Eli going through your bags. It was me."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"You?" Kate questioned Allison's confession with a skeptical tone.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Mmhmm," Allison hummed with a nod, her demeanor unapologetic as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a condom. Ellington's cheeks flushed a deep shade of rosy red. "Me."

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DEREK PLACED THE SAW ON THE TABLE AND PUSHED IT TOWARD STILES, who reluctantly picked it up. The sight of the saw seemed to have a visceral impact on Stiles, and he turned away, clearly feeling queasy.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Oh, my God," Stiles muttered as he dropped the saw back onto the table, his voice filled with disgust and concern. "What if you bleed to death?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek took a thick piece of blue ribbon and began wrapping it tightly around the top of his arm "It'll heal if it works." He told them, not looking up as he secured the knot.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles sighed anxiously, his face in complete disbelief. "Ugh," he gulped. "I don't know if I can do this."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Why not?" Derek looked at Stiles impatiently. "Well, because of the cutting through the flesh, the sawing of the bone, and especially the blood!" Stiles spluttered, rubbing his face.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀It was Derek's turn for a look of disbelief to cross his face. "You faint at the sight of blood?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"No. But I might at the sight of a chopped-off arm!" Stiles hissed.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek sighed, his eyes shifting past Brietta and toward Scott. "Fine. You do it then."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott instantly shook his head, "I'd rather not."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek glared at the newest Werewolf before turning his glare to Stiles while Brietta chewed on the inside of her bottom lip.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Alright, fine. How about this? Either you cut off my arm, or I'm gonna cut off your head." Derek growled.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles rolled his head at Derek, "Okay, you know what? I'm so not buying your threats any—." Stiles's words fell flat as Derek gripped his shirt and yanked him over the table.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott moved towards Derek, but Brietta moved faster, gripping Derek's uninjured arm, "Let him go. I'll do it."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott widened his eyes as he looked at Brietta, "Are you crazy?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta simply shrugged with a small gulp, "If Chucky can do it, I can do it."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek shook his head and he began to breathe even heavier, bending over slightly, "No..." He was silenced as he doubled over and vomited a black substance.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott cursed, Brietta gagged, and Stiles groaned loudly, whining, "Holy God, what the hell is that?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"It's my body," Derek grunted. "It's trying to heal itself."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Well, it's not doing a very good job of it." Stiles sassed.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Now. You gotta do it now." Derek ordered, making Brietta inhale deeply.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta approached Derek, positioning the chainsaw slightly below the ribbon on his arm. She raised the chainsaw a bit, adjusting her grip for better control. Her movements were deliberate and focused as she prepared to carry out the plan.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀However, just as she was about to bring the chainsaw down to sever Derek's arm, she suddenly stopped, leaving only a small slash. The abrupt halt was prompted by the buzzing of her phone in her pocket.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta let out a sigh of relief as she dropped the saw on the table. She reached for her phone and saw it was Ellington texting that he was outside of the clinic.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Thank fuck," Brietta muttered before she ran out of the room, leaving the men behind.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta made her way outside the clinic and spotted Ellington leaning against his car, a small bullet in his hand. He was closely examining it when she approached.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"You got it," Brietta sighed in relief as she reached out to grab the bullet from him. However, Ellington held it up and out of her reach, keeping it just beyond her grasp.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta narrowed her eyes at her brother, clearly frustrated and impatient. "What the hell, Eli?" she demanded. "I need that."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington shook his head, maintaining a determined stance as he continued to hold the bullet just out of Brietta's reach. He narrowed his eyes at his sister, his resolve unwavering. "I'll give it to you when you tell me what the hell's going on," Ellington insisted.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"I don't have time for this, Eli," Brietta grumbled in frustration. She attempted to rise on her toes to grab the bullet, but Ellington's height advantage at 5'10" made it difficult for her to reach since she was only 5'2".

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Make time," Ellington insisted firmly, his determination unwavering. He refused to hand over the bullet until he had some answers, and he wasn't going to back down from his demand. Brietta, still unable to access the bullet, ran her fingers through her hair, clearly exasperated by the situation.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta briefly contemplated not telling Ellington anything and resorting to a more forceful approach, but she realized that the truth needed to come out sooner or later. She took a deep breath, glancing away for a moment before meeting Ellington's gaze directly.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Werewolves are real," she began, her tone grave and serious. "The Argents, except for Allison, are Werewolf Hunters, and they shot a Werewolf with some magic bullet." She pointed at the bullet in Ellington's hand. "He's in the clinic, dying, and that bullet is the cure."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta's revelation was startling and left no room for ambiguity.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington staggered back for a moment, his expression one of shock and disbelief. "Werewolves?" he repeated, as if trying to process the startling revelation.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta let out a soft exhale, confirming the reality of the situation. "Yeah, Werewolves," she reiterated, her voice tinged with a mixture of resignation and concern for the dire circumstances they found themselves in.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington stammered for a moment, clearly still trying to process the shocking revelation. However, after a brief internal struggle, he composed himself and swallowed hard. "I don't know why I believe you, but I do," he admitted, his tone filled with a mix of uncertainty and acceptance.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta let out a sigh of relief, feeling a weight she didn't even know was there lift from her shoulders. "Maybe it's because you love me so much," she suggested with a small smile.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington snorted and ruffled the top of Brietta's hair, sharing a laugh with his sister. "Nope, it's not that," he replied playfully, their brief exchange lightening the tension that had hung in the air moments earlier.

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DEREK SNATCHED THE BULLET FROM ELLINGTON AS HE ENTERED THE CLINIC AND TORE OFF THE TOP OF IT WITH HIS TEETH, causing some kind of powder to fall onto the table. With swift determination, he grabbed a lighter from his pocket and ignited it. The sparks quickly grew into an electrical blue mist, filling the room with an eerie glow.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As fast as he could, Derek began to gather the powder into his hands. He hesitated for a moment, bracing himself for what was to come, before slapping the powder onto his wound.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀A collective wince ran through the room as Derek started to scream in agony. His finger went directly into the spot where the bullet had been, causing him to convulse and writhe on the ground uncontrollably.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott, Stiles, and the Chastener siblings watched in complete shock as Derek's screams pierced the air. The intensity of the moment was palpable as one last agonized scream tore through Derek, and then, miraculously, they all witnessed the wound beginning to heal right before their eyes.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Holy shit," Ellington couldn't help but mutter in awe as he watched the dark veins surrounding Derek's wound gradually disappear, followed by the wound itself.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀A long silence hung in the air after witnessing the incredible display of supernatural healing. Then, Stiles couldn't contain his excitement any longer and broke the silence with an enthusiastic outburst, "That. Was. Awesome. Yes!"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta playfully flicked Stiles on the forehead, earning an "ow" from him. Meanwhile, Scott watched as Derek slowly sat up.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Are you okay?" Scott asked, concern evident in his voice.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek, with a hint of sarcasm in his voice, responded to Scott's concern, "Well, except for the agonizing pain?" He stood up, his voice and demeanor suggested that he was back to normal, as if he had never been injured in the first place.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles shot back with a touch of humor, "I'm guessing the ability to use sarcasm is a good sign of health."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek just glared at him; he was good at doing that.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Okay, we saved your life, which means you're going to leave us alone," Scott warned Derek firmly. "You got that? And if you don't, I'm gonna go to Allison's dad, and I'm gonna tell him everything."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"You're gonna trust them? You think they can help you?" Derek scoffed, his gaze locked on Scott.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta caught Ellington shift uncomfortably beside her at the mention of the Argents, and she reached out to hold his hand, offering him a bit of comfort.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Well, why not? They're a lot freaking nicer than you are," Scott retorted, his frustration evident as he pointed at Derek with a defiant glare.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek just looked at him in amusement. "I can show you exactly how nice they are."

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⦗🌓⦘

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DEREK DROVE THE GROUP TO BEACON HILLS' CROSSING HOME, a long-term care facility. Just five minutes ago, they had split up, with Stiles opting to drive home, declaring that he had reached his quota for traumatic experiences that day.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Ellington, on the other hand, had expressed the need to process things at home. This left Brietta and Scott as the only willing teenagers to accompany Derek and find out what he was talking about.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As they approached the care facility, anticipation and curiosity hung in the air, as they were about to uncover another piece of the mysterious puzzle that had been unveiled in their lives.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek, Scott, and Brietta piled out of the car once Derek parked in the parking lot. Scott couldn't help but raise an eyebrow as he looked around. "What are we doing here?" he asked, clearly puzzled by their destination.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek remained silent, not offering an explanation, as he walked purposefully toward the building. His determined stride left Brietta and Scott with no choice but to follow, their curiosity piqued and their questions unanswered.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta and Scott continued to follow Derek down the halls, their expressions a mixture of confusion and curiosity. Their footsteps echoed in the quiet corridors as they made their way deeper into the care facility. Derek eventually came to a stop outside of a room and walked inside, prompting Brietta and Scott to enter the room after him.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Inside the room, they found a man sitting in a chair, wearing a jacket. However, the man didn't acknowledge their presence. He didn't look up, speak, or even blink. Instead, he sat there, gazing out the window in an unbroken, almost trance-like state.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness as she observed the man's vacant, unresponsive state. Her heart sank at the sight, and her eyes filled with empathy and compassion. The sight of someone in such a condition stirred her emotions, leaving her with a deep sense of sympathy for the man who seemed lost in his own world.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Who is he?" Brietta sought, her gaze shifting from the unresponsive man to Derek, who had been watching her closely. "My uncle. Peter Hale," Derek replied, his voice carrying a mixture of emotions as he looked back at his uncle, the man who now sat before them in such a disconcerting state.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta's gaze remained fixed on the left side of Peter Hale's face, the only side visible in the dim lighting of the room. Meanwhile, Scott turned to Derek with a question, his curiosity evident in his voice, "Is he...like you? A Werewolf?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek nods, "He was. Now, he's barely even human. Seven years ago, we were having a party and our house caught fire. Fourteen people were trapped inside. He was the only survivor besides me."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta couldn't help but detect a subtle shift in Derek's demeanor as he recounted these events, and it raised a sense of suspicion within her. There was something about his words that felt incomplete or not entirely truthful, and she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story than he was revealing.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"So...what makes you so sure that they set the fire?" Scott sought, causing Brietta to look away from Derek and toward her best friend.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"'Cause they're the only ones that knew about us," Derek grunts, a hint of anger in his words.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Well, then...they had a reason..." Scott shrugged, prompting Brietta to frown at him, "Seriously, Scott?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀He had the sense to seem sheepish, but Derek didn't let it go, "Like what? You tell me what justifies this." He then took action, moving Peter's chair to reveal the right side of his uncle's face—an area that bore the scars and burns caused by the fire.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek looks back at Scott with hatred in his words, "They say they'll only kill an adult, and only with absolute proof, but there were people in my family that were perfectly ordinary in that fire. There were kids in that fire. This is what they do. What all of them do."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Out of nowhere, a female voice broke the silence from behind them, "What are you doing? How did you get in here?" Brietta turned to see a nurse standing near the door.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"We were just leaving," Derek informed as he ushered Brietta and Scott out of the room. Despite their abrupt exit, Brietta couldn't resist stealing one last glance at Peter, her curiosity piqued by the mysterious man in the chair.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀One of the only survivors of the Hale fire.

𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄

Wrote this with a swollen finger in one day (i was stung by a wasp in my index finger 8 hours ago, shit still hurts)

▍PUBLISHED . . 09/23/23 — ♡︎ ୫
© POETICLULLS,                    2023