𝙳𝙾𝙻𝙻 𝙿𝙰𝚁𝚃𝚂⠀⠀⠀⠀⁸
𝗩𝗢𝗟𝗨𝗠𝗘 𝗜. Cry Wolf

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓
▏𝗦𝟬𝟭𝗘𝟬𝟲︰𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿▕

❛ LIKE...A WITCH? ❜

SCOTT ENTERED THE THIRD FLOOR OF THE GROCERY STORE'S PARKING LOT, a smile playing on his lips as he effortlessly carried four heavy grocery bags.  With the strength that came with being a werewolf, he no longer had to take breaks to use his inhaler. Hell, he didn't need his inhaler anymore.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott's smile quickly faded as he surveyed the parking lot. His eyes narrowed, and he grumbled under his breath as he realized his mistake.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀He had parked his mom's car on the fourth floor, not the third.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀With a resigned sigh, he adjusted the grocery bags and headed towards the stairs. His werewolf strength might have made carrying heavy bags a breeze, but it couldn't magically move his car to a different floor of the parking lot.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott entered the fourth level of the parking lot and started walking around, but couldn't find his mom's car.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀This is what I get for spending twenty minutes in the toy aisle, he thought.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀With a resigned huff, he set his grocery bags on the ground and fished out the car keys from his pocket. He clicked the button to activate the car's alarm, hoping to hear the familiar beep that would lead him to his mother's vehicle amidst the sea of parked cars on the fourth floor, but only silence greeted him.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀A sudden realization dawned on Scott as he stood there, puzzled and frustrated. With a spark of inspiration, he raised the car key fob, pointed it upward toward the ceiling where the fifth floor was located, and pressed the button again. To his relief, he heard the distinct chirp of the car's alarm system from above.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀A wry smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he realized his mistake. He had parked the car on the fifth floor, not the fourth or the third.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As Scott's foot moved against one of his grocery bags, the bag shifted, causing it to tip over.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀He watched in dismay as a glass of milk slipped out of the bag and clattered to the ground, the glass rolling underneath the car parked in front of him.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Oh, crap," He muttered. He definitely didn't want to get down on the parking lot floor to get the bottle back.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott couldn't believe his eyes as he leaned down to examine the milk bottle. It had rolled back to him, but this time, it had three deep claw marks across it, causing some of the milk to spill out onto the ground. His heart raced as he stared at the marks, realizing something had deliberately slashed at the bottle.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀A chill ran down his spine as a growl sounded behind the car.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Every instinct in his body screamed danger, and he slowly looked through the car's windows to face the source of the sound.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀His eyes widened in terror as he caught sight of a pair of glowing, blue eyes staring back at him from the darkness.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott's heart raced as he ran through the parking lot, the menacing growls of the pursuing werewolf echoing in his ears. Every glance over his shoulder revealed the relentless werewolf hot on his heels.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Finally, he reached the third floor and took refuge behind a parked car, gasping for breath, acutely aware that his pounding heart could be heard by—what he assumed—the Alpha. Desperation and fear gripped him as he tried to devise a plan to escape.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Then a lightbulb went off in his brain.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀He darted out from his hiding spot and rushed into another row of cars. With nimble agility, he clambered onto the hoods and roofs of the parked cars, leaping from one to another. The alarms of the cars blared loudly, drowning out the sound of his own rapid heartbeat.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As he approached the second floor, he hid behind another car, grateful for the momentary respite. He began to catch his breath and contemplated his next move.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Then his phone rang in his pocket.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀But before he could react to the ringing, a heavy thud sounded on the car's hood and hands sent him flying into the air. He let out a startled yelp as he was slammed down onto the car's hood, his vision briefly blurring. Panic surged through him as he realized who had attacked him.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek loomed over him with a scowl, panting heavily, "You're dead."

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SCOTT'S ANGER AND FRUSTRATION BOILED OVER AS HE SHOUTED AT DEREK, but the older werewolf appeared entirely unperturbed by the situation. "What the hell was that?" Scott demanded, his voice filled with a mix of annoyance and fear. He followed Derek down the parking lot, his heart still racing from the encounter.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek shrugged casually, not showing any signs of remorse. "I said I was gonna teach you," he replied calmly, glancing over at Scott. "I didn't say when."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott scoffed and held his hands out in exasperation. "You scared the crap out of me!"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek let out a small, sinister chuckle and continued walking, his eyes fixed on Scott, "Not yet."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott's defensiveness shone through as he sought reassurance from Derek. "Okay, but I was fast, right?" he asked.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek's response was blunt and unyielding. "Not fast enough," he declared, showing no emotion in his words or expression. Scott gaped at him, feeling a mixture of frustration and confusion.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"But...but the car alarm thing. That was smart, right?" Scott pressed, trying to find some validation in his actions during the chase.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek tilted his head slightly, a faint hint of emotion crossing his face, though it was brief. "'Til your phone rang," he admitted.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Yeah, but that was—. I mean—." Scott's frustration finally reached a boiling point, and he stopped walking. His breaths came quick and ragged as he yelled at the older werewolf, "Would you just stop? Please?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek let out a deep, audible sigh, signaling his willingness to listen. He turned to face Scott, who continued to express his frustrations, "What happened the other night—Stiles' dad getting hurt—that was my fault," Scott admitted, his voice filled with guilt as he recalled Noah Stilinski getting hit by a car when a mountain lion attacked the school yesterday. "I should have been there to do something. I need you to teach me how to control this."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek shook his head, his jaw visibly clenched. He sighed deeply before responding, "Look, I am what I am because of birth. You were bitten. Teaching someone who was bitten takes time. I don't even know if I can teach you."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott, feeling a strong sense of determination, held his hands out once more and implored, "What do I have to do?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"You have to get rid of distractions," Derek's response was blunt and to the point. He reached into Scott's pocket and retrieved his phone, holding it up for the teenager to see that it was Brietta who was calling.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek made his point clear as he pushed the phone closer to Scott's face. "You see this?" Derek said, his voice firm. "This is why I caught you. You want me to teach you? Get rid of her."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott's refusal to distance himself from Brietta was evident in his scoff. He couldn't fathom the idea of cutting ties with someone who consumed every thought he had. "What, just because I like her?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek's frustration reached a breaking point as he abruptly pointed Scott's phone at him and then smashed it against the wall. "Wait! Wait! Whoa, whoa!" Scott yelled desperately, but it was too late. The sound of shattering glass and plastic filled the air, leaving Scott in shock and bubbling anger.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott's anger flared as he stared at the shattered remains of his phone, but Derek's words quickly redirected his focus. Derek observed his reaction and questioned, "You getting angry?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott narrowed his eyes at Derek, a mixture of frustration and determination in his expression. Derek continued to explain, "That's your first lesson. You want to learn how to control this. How to shift? You do it through anger, by tapping into a primal animal rage, and you can't do that with her around."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott's determination shone through as he responded to Derek's teaching, his eyes narrowing into slits. "I can get angry," he declared firmly.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek's voice was stern as he barked out his response. "Not angry enough!" he emphasized. "This is the only way that I can teach you."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott frowned as Derek finished, "Now, can you stay away from her? At least until after the full moon?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀At Scott's silence, Derek huffed, "Look, I know it's hard, but, sometimes, you have to stay away from the people you love to protect them." Scott noticed something flicker in Derek's eyes, something that almost looked like pain and longing, but was gone as soon as it came.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"If that's what it takes," Scott responded, his voice tinged with resignation.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek could sense the hesitancy in Scott's response, and he became more resolute in his tone. He leaned in closer, looking Scott squarely in the eyes, and spoke firmly, "Do you want to live? Do you want her to live? Yes, or no?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott didn't need to hesitate or ponder Derek's question. His response was immediate and clear. "Yes," he affirmed, his voice filled with determination, "If you can teach me, I can stay away from her."

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BRIETTA CAREFULLY REMOVED THE BANDAGE FROM HER COLLARBONE, her fingers trembling slightly as she unveiled the raised scar etched there, a painful reminder of the encounter with the Alpha werewolf.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As Brietta observed the scar on her collarbone, a sinking feeling settled in her chest.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀It was a stark reminder of the supernatural world she had been unwillingly thrust into, a world teeming with danger and concealed truths.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀A nagging voice told her that this wouldn't be the last scar she would bear.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Tears welled up in Brietta's eyes as she stared at the scar, a symbol of the struggle she had faced.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She briefly contemplated covering it with a bandage, as if to hide the evidence of her ordeal. But then she realized that the scar was more than just a mark on her skin; it was a testament to her strength, her resilience, and her survival.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀With a determined resolve, she decided to leave the scar exposed. It was a part of her now, a visible reminder that she couldn't be broken, even if she didn't entirely believe it herself.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As Brietta looked down at her bare neck, her emotions began to well up. A single tear escaped from her eye, and she was flooded with memories of the necklace that used to adorn her neck. It was the necklace her mother had given her, a precious and sentimental gift from a woman who could no longer be there for her.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She inhaled sharply, snapping out of her sea of emotions. Brietta discarded the bandage, and turned away from her desk mirror, a sudden noise drew her attention to the window.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She snaps her head toward the window and slowly rises from her seat. Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt a pang of fear as her mind flashed to the Alpha and his menacing red eyes.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Frozen in place, she listened as another clinking sound echoed from the window. Her heart raced, and she took a step back, her thoughts racing with dread.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀But a small voice in her head reminded her that if the Alpha were outside her window, he wouldn't give her any warning.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Summoning her courage, she cautiously approached the window, her trembling hands slowly pulling back the curtains. Relief washed over her as she made eye contact with Scott outside.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Opening the window, Brietta felt a sudden thud against her forehead. "Ow!" she yelped. She quickly realized that Scott had thrown a small rock to get her attention, but ended up hitting her head instead of the window.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott winced from outside, offering an apologetic smile. Brietta grumbled before breaking into laughter, feeling a wave of tension lift from her. She rubbed her forehead, her mood lightening in Scott's presence.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Motioning for him to come inside, she said, "Come up."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott flashed her another apologetic smile and climbed up the metal steps attached to the tree outside her window. Brietta watched as he jumped from the steps to the window ledge.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀With a hint of humor, she asked, "Is this what you guys did the night you got bit?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott cringed slightly as he dangled from the ledge, admitting, "Yeah."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta rolled her eyes playfully before stepping back to allow Scott to enter her room. He landed on his feet gracefully, adjusting his clothing.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta couldn't help but smile as she said, "So, what are you doing here? It's pretty late, Scott."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott shrugged, a sheepish smile on his face until his gaze locked onto her scar. His expression grew serious, and Brietta felt a pang of unease.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott stepped closer, and his fingers brushed gently against her scar. Tears welled up in Brietta's eyes, waiting for him to speak, but he simply cupped the back of her head and pressed his forehead against hers.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Inhaling deeply, Brietta felt his breath brush against her lips as he whispered, "I still think you're beautiful. More than beautiful."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀He then pulled her into a warm embrace, and Brietta nuzzled her head into the crook of his neck, a single tear escaping her eye.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀They held each other like that for what felt like an eternity, their silence speaking volumes as their love washed over them.

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BRIETTA FELT LIKE EVERYONE WAS STARING AT HER.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta's heart raced as she continued to walk down the hallways of Beacon Hills High School. She couldn't help but feel self-conscious, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She tried to steady her breathing and remind herself that it was all in her head, but the feeling of being the center of attention was overwhelming, especially when it wasn't for a good reason.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As she made her way toward her World History class, she couldn't shake the nagging sensation that everyone was whispering about her, judging her every move.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta released a heavy sigh as she entered the classroom, her eyes locking with Scott's, who was getting up from his desk at the back of the room.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Determined to put the uncomfortable moment behind her, she navigated her way through the maze of desks and students. It felt like a journey that took forever, but she finally reached Scott, who was waiting with that reassuring look of concern on his face.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Are you okay?" Scott asked, his face reflecting concern, his eyes resembling those of a sad puppy. Brietta furrowed her brow for a moment before forcing a nod and a fake smile. "Yeah, I'm just getting used to things," she replied, trying to sound more confident than she felt.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Unconsciously, her fingers drifted up to trace the faint scar on her collarbone, and Scott's gaze followed her fingers, his frown deepening.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Something flickered in his eyes, something that Brietta couldn't quite read.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta took a deep breath and settled into the seat beside Scott just as the bell rang, marking the beginning of their first period. Scott hesitated for a moment, hovering over his seat before finally sitting down.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀A wince crossed his face as he did so, and Brietta couldn't help but notice. Concern etched her features as she leaned in closer to him. "Are you okay, Scott?" she whispered, her voice filled with genuine worry.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott's response was interrupted by the creaking of a chair being moved, drawing the attention of both him and Brietta. They turned their heads to see Stiles, who had taken a seat in front of Scott, his jaw clenched tightly.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta shared a quick glance with Scott, and then they both directed their attention towards Stiles. Scott leaned forward in his seat, his gaze fixed on the back of Stiles' head. With a tone of concern, he asked, "Still not talking to me?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott's attempt to break the silence was met with, once again, no response from Stiles. Frustration and concern crept into Scott's voice as he tried again, this time with a more specific question, "Okay, can you at least tell me if your dad's okay?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles remained frustratingly silent, his agitation evident in the way he rolled his tongue in his mouth.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott's voice held a glimmer of hope as he continued, "It's just a bruise, right? Some soft tissue damage? Nothing that big—." However, he trailed off when Stiles interrupted him with a scoff and a shake of his head, his anger palpable.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta, sensing the escalating tension between Scott and Stiles, decided to intervene. "Scott." She muttered Scott's name and gave him a pointed look, silently urging him to consider the bigger picture.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀While she may not have entirely agreed with Stiles' reasons for being angry at Scott, she understood where he was coming from.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott nodded in acknowledgment of Brietta's silent plea for understanding before turning his attention back to Stiles. "You know I feel really bad about it, right?" Scott sought to convey his remorse, his voice filled with sincerity. However, Stiles remained resolute, keeping his head forward and refusing to engage in the conversation.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Okay," Scott let out a sigh of frustration, his eyes briefly flicking toward Brietta before he continued, "What if I told you that I'm trying to figure this whole thing out, and...that I went to Derek for help?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles' curiosity and concern got the best of him, as it often did. He grunted in frustration before finally turning to face Scott, "What did he say?"

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"WH—? HE WANTS YOU TO TAP INTO YOUR ANIMAL SIDE AND GET ANGRY?" Stiles summarized in disbelief as he walked out of the classroom, with Brietta and Scott in tow.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott hummed, making Stiles scoff and look at Brietta, "All right, well, correct me if I'm wrong, but every time you do that, you try to kill people, and those people are usually us." Stiles motioned to himself and Brietta, emphasizing his point.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott looked a bit sheepish as he nodded and admitted, "I know. That's what he means when he says he doesn't know if he can teach me. I have to be able to control it."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta raised a point, her eyes fixed on Scott as she reasoned, "But you said he was born a Werewolf. That's like being born blind; you accept it early, and it's just there. You're clearly fighting it, and Derek has never known any other way. So, how can he teach you when his ability comes as easily as breathing?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Groaning in acknowledgment of the challenging situation they found themselves in, Stiles turned to Scott and asked, "Okay. When are you seeing him again?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta turned to Scott, waiting for an answer, her curiosity piqued by Stiles' question. Scott shrugged, sending Brietta a small look that she didn't notice, "He just told me not to talk about it. Just act normal and get through the day—." Stiles stopped walking and rolled his eyes, clearly exasperated with Scott's inability to provide a straightforward answer.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott clarified, "He's picking me up at the animal clinic after work." Stiles nodded in response, apparently satisfied with this arrangement.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles made his decision, stating, "After work. All right, well, that gives me to the end of the school day, then." His intentions were unclear to Brietta and Scott, leaving them curious about what he had in mind for the remainder of the day.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta furrowed her eyebrows and asked, "What're you going to do?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles smirked as he revealed his plan, saying, "Teach Scott myself."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta smiled at the prospect of their impromptu plan, then glanced over at Scott. "Alright. Let's meet at lunch," she agreed.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta's smile faded slightly as Scott winced and shook his head, expressing his reservations by saying, "I don't think that's a good idea."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta sought clarification, asking, "You really think Derek can teach you better than Stiles and I can?" Scott inhaled sharply, appearing torn for a moment. He tilted his head and wore a small frown before finally exhaling and confessing, "Derek told me that you wouldn't be safe around me until I figured this out. I think he's right."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta initially let out a small chuckle, thinking that Scott might be joking. However, as she realized he was serious, her eyes widened slightly. She glanced over at Stiles, hoping for support, but he seemed reluctant to take sides, avoiding direct eye contact with her.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta scoffed, her frustration clear as she turned back to Scott. "Well, I really don't give a shit what Derek thinks," she retorted, her arms held out in a dismissive gesture. She continued, "Besides, this is Derek, we're talking about. A few days ago you thought he was a murderer, and now he's some saint who you follow blindly?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Another scoff escaped Brietta as Scott shrugged off her concerns. She then turned to Stiles, who appeared somewhat sheepish under her scrutiny. She asked him directly, "You're seriously on board with this?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles huffed and finally looked up at Brietta, his expression reflecting his inner conflict. He hesitated before saying, "I mean..."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta let out a humorless laugh and shook her head, clearly frustrated. "Wow. You know what?" She held her hands out, her expression filled with disappointment as she pinned Scott with a glare. "Listen to Derek, see where that gets you," she declared firmly before storming away.

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DURING THEIR TIME IN FRENCH CLASS, Allison Argent couldn't stop talking about the Beast of Gévaudan. Brietta found the topic fascinating but had to maintain a poker face and insisted that it was just a folktale.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀But the Argent girl brought up that folktales had to come from sightings and Brietta being in her own world, accidentally agreed and was now sitting in the lunchroom with her and Lydia as the Argent teenager read from her book.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Lydia furrowed her eyebrows at the unusual title, taking a bite of her chicken, and asked, "The what of who?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"The Beast of Gévaudan," Allison repeated before looking back at her vintage book and clearing her throat, "Listen. 'A quadruped wolf-like monster, prowling the Auvergne and South Dordogne areas of France during the year 1764 to 1767. La Bête killed over a hundred people, becoming so infamous that King Louis XV sent one of his best hunters to try and kill it, along with the woman that summoned the La Bête'."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Boring." Lydia appeared unimpressed by the story. In contrast, Brietta was genuinely interested in the topic. She leaned in and asked, "How did the woman bring La Bête to life?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Allison noticed Brietta's genuine interest and smiled before continuing to read another paragraph from her source, "'Even the Church eventually declared the monster a messenger of Satan'."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Lydia maintained her stance on the story, commenting, "Hmm, still boring," while tilting her head in disinterest. However, Brietta hushed her.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Allison continued sharing details of the legend, mentioning, "Cryptozoologists believe it may have been a subspecies of a hoofed predator, possibly a mesonychid."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀However, Lydia's disinterest was evident as she drooped her head dramatically and groaned, "Slipping-into-a-coma bored." On the other hand, Brietta leaned in with keen interest.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Allison continued with a small smile, undeterred by Lydia's lack of enthusiasm. "'While others believe it was a powerful sorcerer who could shapeshift into a man-eating monster'," she added with an ominous tone, "but they weren't far off. The woman who created La Bête was named Cordelia Rénetsahc, a servant of nature."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta shrugged and inquired, "Like...a witch?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Allison nodded as Lydia rolled her eyes and nonchalantly plopped another piece of chicken into her mouth. She asked with an exaggerated smile, "Any of this have anything to do with your family?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"This," Allison inhaled deeply before reading aloud, "'It is believed that La Bête and Cordelia Rénetsahc were finally trapped and killed by a renowned hunter who claimed his wife and four children were the first to fall prey to the creature and sorceress'."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She then lifted her head with a small smile and revealed, "His name was Argent."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Lydia, ever the skeptic, responded with indifference, "Your ancestors killed a big wolf. So what?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Allison clicked her tongue and shook her head, explaining, "Not just a big wolf. Take a look at this picture." She flipped to the next page, revealing a picture that resembled the Alpha and leaned into the book to make sure Lydia and Brietta could see it clearly.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"What does it look like to you guys?" Allison's question hung in the air as both Brietta and Lydia looked at the picture with wide eyes, their expressions shifting from intrigue to shock and horror.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The image had triggered something deep within Brietta's memory, and her thoughts drifted back to the Alpha.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Hearing Allison call their names, both Brietta and Lydia snapped out of their trances and redirected their attention to her.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Lydia, recovering from her initial shock, declared, "It looks...like a big...wolf." She gathered her belongings and offered a bright smile to her friends. "See you two in History," she said before making her way out of the lunchroom.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Allison assumed, "Guess you don't believe it either?" She closed her book, her expression reflecting some disappointment. However, Brietta shook her head and asked, "Do you have a copy?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Allison beamed at Brietta's question, clearly delighted by her interest. Brietta returned the smile as Allison reached into her backpack and produced a copy of the book.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta gratefully accepted the book, reading its golden title, 'La Bête du Gévaudan'. She then turned to Allison and said, "Thanks, Allie."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Allison waved her off with a warm, grateful smile and admitted, "I'm just glad somebody believes me."

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AFTER LUNCH HAD ENDED, Stiles had messaged Scott to meet him at the lacrosse field. Scott was initially hesitant to skip class, but once he pictured Brietta in his mind, he headed down to the field to meet Stiles.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles handed a black strap piece to Scott and instructed, "Now, put this on." Scott accepted the strap, a look of curiosity on his face, "Isn't this one of the heart rate monitors for the track team?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles nodded sheepishly, "Yeah, I borrowed it."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott nodded as he looked at the strap, then glanced at Stiles with a slightly raised eyebrow. "Stole it." he corrected with a hint of amusement.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles rolled his eyes and responded, "Temporarily misappropriated."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott chuckled at their back-and-forth, rolling his eyes playfully. He listened as Stiles explained, "Coach uses it to monitor his heart rate with his phone while he jogs, and you're gonna wear it for the rest of the day." Stiles then rummaged through the gym bag and pulled out a phone that clearly didn't belong to him.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott immediately recognized the phone as Coach's, and he raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that Coach's phone?" he pointed out, his curiosity piqued. Stiles confirmed with a nod and a somewhat guilty expression, "That I stole."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott tilted his head at Stiles with a deadpanned look. Stiles shrugged innocently in response to Scott's scrutiny and then continued to explain, "All right, well, your heart rate goes up when you go wolf, right?" Scott nodded, acknowledging this fact. Stiles went on, "When you're playing lacrosse, when you're with Brie, whenever you get angry."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀He shrugged once again, emphasizing his point. "Maybe learning to control it is tied to learning to control your heart rate."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott's eyes lit up with recognition, "Like The Incredible Hulk?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles took a deep breath and nodded, adding, "Kind of like The Incredible Hulk, yeah."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott shook his head with a bright smile and a touch of humor, declaring, "No, I'm like The Incredible Hulk!"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles rolled his eyes in mock exasperation, "Would you shut up and put the strap on?"

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AFTER LUNCH HAD ENDED, Brietta made a bold decision to skip class and headed to the only place she believed she could get the answers she wanted.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek Hale's house.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Standing a few yards from Derek's house, Brietta pulled her sweater closer around her, feeling the chill of the woods that surrounded the ruined residence.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Determined, she called out, "Derek!" Her voice echoed through the quiet forest.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As she began to step toward the house, Brietta suddenly felt a presence behind her. Without looking back, she scoffed and addressed the person behind her, her tone filled with irritation, "What do you think you're doing?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek, standing behind Brietta, shrugged and replied, "Helping Scott."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta rolled her eyes and swung around to face Derek, who was shirtless. She expressed her skepticism, saying, "Helping him? We both know that you can't help him. Not really." She held out her hands, which were tucked into her coat pockets, to emphasize her point. "You're not some Mr. Miyagi or Yoda," she added.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek scoffed slightly at Brietta's skepticism and replied, "I'm the closest thing he's got."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek stepped up to Brietta, which made her eyes flare with anger. He spoke bluntly, saying, "If you want to help Scott, let him go. His best chance is with you out of the picture."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta's eyes widened, and she couldn't help but let out a dry laugh. She responded with a mixture of disbelief and frustration, saying, "You have got to be kidding me."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek pursed his lips, clearly resolute in his stance. He told Brietta firmly, "Go home, Brietta." With that, he walked past her and headed toward his house, leaving her behind. As Brietta turned around to stare after him, her eyes fell upon a tattoo on his back.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀It was like a bucket of water was dropped on her. "What does that symbol on your back mean?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"It's none of your business," Derek called out, continuing to walk to his house.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta, undeterred by Derek's initial response, called out with a sense of determination, "It is because I've seen it before."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The package she had gotten days ago had that exact symbol. A package she hadn't opened.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek froze in his tracks upon hearing Brietta's words. He turned around to face her, a look of seriousness on his face that she had rarely seen, except when he discussed the Argents or the Hale fire. "Where?" he asked.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta tilted her head at Derek, her curiosity piqued. She revealed, "It was on a package that was sent to my house."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek's eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer to Brietta, a sense of urgency in his demeanor. He asked, "What was in the package?" Brietta shrugged in response, maintaining her calm despite his proximity, and admitted, "I haven't opened it yet."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Give it to me." Derek's demand for the package was met with Brietta's refusal. She scoffed and shook her head, firmly stating, "No. Not until you tell me what the symbol means to you."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Brietta," Derek's voice held a warning.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Derek," Brietta's voice held tenacity.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Derek took in a sharp breath and implored, "Whatever is in the package, I should see it first. Just trust me."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta scoffed at Derek's request, wearing a fake smile as she replied, "Trust you? I can work with you, Derek, but I won't trust you."

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"SON OF A BITCH!" Scott cried out in pain as one of the balls struck him in his balls, and Stiles couldn't help but grin at his apparent aim, "You know what? I think my aim is actually improving."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Wonder why," Scott gritted. Coach's phone beeped, signaling Scott's rising heart rate, and Stiles commented with a tut, "Don't get angry."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"I'm not getting angry." Scott narrowed his eyes but continued to endure the barrage of lacrosse balls.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀After being bombarded with around thirty balls, Scott's breathing grew heavier, "Stop. Just wait. Can we just hold—." However, he was cut off by yet another ball striking him. In pain, he doubled over and groaned.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles looked down at Coach's phone and noticed Scott's heart rate spiking dangerously. Scott's heartbeat was 160 and rising rapidly. Worried, he called out to Scott, but Scott's heartbeat continued to rise rapidly. Scott's heart rate hit 180 a moment later.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀With great effort, Scott managed to break free from the duct tape and gripped the grass in front of him. His heart pounded in his ears, and he let his mind drift.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Eventually, his mind landed on the thought of Brietta and the emotions he felt around her.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As Stiles observed Scott's heart rate on Coach's phone, he saw it gradually decrease.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀He approached Scott, who had flopped onto his back, and expressed his realization, "Scott, you started to change." Stiles looked at Scott, wondering what emotion he was experiencing.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"From anger," Scott huffed, "But it was more than that. It was like the angrier I got, the stronger I felt."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"So, it is anger, then. Derek's right." Stiles realized, although, some part of him knew the answer all along.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott, still panting, admitted, "I can't be around Brie."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Just because she makes you happy?" Stiles sought, making Scott shake his head with a frown, "No, because she makes me weak."

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AFTER BRIETTA RUSHED BACK HOME, she wasted no time in running upstairs to her room and heading straight for her closet.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She swung open the closet doors wide, her eyes scanning the small space until they landed on the box she had received with the three interconnected swirls.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀With determination, she grabbed the box and made her way to her bed. Her dog, Birdie, followed her into the room and jumped up onto the bed as Brietta began to peel open the box. Her face scrunched up in concentration as she worked on opening it.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Once she successfully opened the box, Brietta discovered a small envelope inside, adorned with the same three swirls.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀There was also a necklace with three swirls that seemed strangely familiar yet unfamiliar, leaving Brietta feeling a sense of confusion.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She took the necklace out and touched her bare neck. At the time she'd gotten the package, she still had her mother's necklace. She carefully placed the necklace back into the box and then turned her attention to the envelope.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Tucking her loose hair behind her ears, she gingerly opened the envelope, revealing a small card inside. Brietta's eyes scanned the card and its contents, but her reaction was one of frustration and disbelief.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The card wasn't written in English.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀It was fucking symbols.

𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄

I planned to add something about Brietta missing when she was young...that'll have to wait.

▍PUBLISHED . . 10/07/23 — ♡︎ ୫
© POETICLULLS,                    2023