FIVE

"Stile, an arrangement of steps that allow people, but not animals, to climb over a fence." Scott reads out the definition of Stiles in the library the next morning at school. It was just me and him, trying to figure out what Stiles meant.

"Yeah, somehow I don't think these are the Stiles we're looking for." I told him, shaking my head.

"Maybe Malia and Lydia's found something." Scott looked over at my way.

"No. She's been taking a make-up test all morning and I don't know where Lydia is, maybe trying to figure things out, too." I tell him. That's when I heard a howl, making me groan. Oh, Malia! "I guess the test didn't go well."

We jumped up and we left.

✢

We entered Lydia's basement, who was surprisingly home, and she let us in as well as her mother did. I hear soft growls from Malia, who was in her coyote state. Her crystal blue eyes shine at us.

"Malia. It's okay, you're safe." Scott calmly told her, and I stayed behind as he stepped forward. Malia growled at us, I notice the Sheriff coming down behind Natalie, Lydia's mum. "I'm not gonna hurt you. I think she's calming down." Malia just snarls.

"Maybe you should growl back?" Sheriff suggested. Malia just continued to growl at us. "Scott, you're the alpha. Can't you just make her a little more docile?" Malia growls lowly at us, raising her head.

"She's not the problem," I hiss. "We are. This is her territory, maybe we need to get out of here," I told Scott softly. Malia barked at us.

"Yeah, come on, come on." Scott whispers back. We walked around the corner, and we waited there.

"Malia came here to get through the full moons," Lydia explains. "Then we started to use the lake house."

"I thought you said a wild animal got into the lake house," Natalie turned to her daughter. I smirked. Busted.

"Just be happy about all the thing I don't tell you." Lydia bickered back. That's when Malia finally turned back into her normal self. But, she was naked.

"It's all right, I'm okay," Malia softly said making me smile at her. She sounded so innocent. Natalie then went forward and gave Malia her clothes back.

"Any idea what made her shift?" Sheriff asked.

"She's under a lot of pressure," Scott explained. "School, her life after graduation."

"Her mum trying to kill her," I added, pressing my lips together.

"That shouldn't make her shift," Scott softly said. Scott turned to me. "Could it be connected to Stiles?"

"Hard to tell since we don't know what a Stiles is." I murmur, biting on my lower lip.

"It's a he." Sheriff spoke, surprising us all.

"Who?"

"Stiles." Sheriff nodded. "It's a family nickname. I never used it but, uh, my father did." Scott and I looked at each other, we have something.

✢

Claudia comes in with Sheriff's box as Scott and I sat down on his couch. We sat opposite to them, as Claudia sits down next to her husband. "Thanks, Honey," Sheriff murmured and opened the box. "He was an Army engineer, ended the war one bridge at a time." He hands Scott a picture, there was a man in a black and white photo.

"And he went by Stiles," Scott figured.

"So, what's this got to do with the wild hunt?" Sheriff asked. Scott and I looked at each other and I nodded.

"We think somebody was taken from us." Scott tried to explain.

"Any idea who?" Sheriff asked and I fought back an eye roll.

"Uh, the Ghost Riders would have erased our memories," Scott explained more.

"Well, now, that's convenient." Sheriff muttered sarcastically, making me smile.

"We found a clue," I add. "The word Stiles."

"And that's why you wanna talk with Elisa?" Claudia figured.

"Hm," Scott nodded. "Maybe he can figure help us figure it out. Maybe he knows what we're lookin' for."

"Now this is someone your age?" Sheriff asked and I nodded. Maybe.

"Yeah. I..." Scott turned his head towards me. "I think he was our friend. Maybe he was our best friend."

"I can guarantee you, my father can't help you." Sheriff told us, standing up. I pressed my lips together. We've got to try. He took the picture back from Scott.

"Couldn't we try?" Scott asked.

"Scott, he lives in a nursing home three towns over." That's when something catches my eye. An old lady. I bit harder on my lower lip as the lady creeps around the back of the couch, not alarming anyone. She stood by the doorway that leads to a hallway.

"The following steps have been canceled." The lady spoke. "The following steps have been canceled." Is anyone else not seeing this!? My lips parted as she turned around and walked down the hallway.

"Can I use your bathroom?" I asked rather quickly and smiled.

"Sure," Claudia agreed. I then got up, and I walked down the hallway. Did I mention we were in their house? I hear the sound of metal clanking together, making my heart pound. I turn another corner carefully, my eyes traced on the old lady who stood in front of a wall. There was a table in front of the wall.

"Why are you here?" I asked. I step toward the lady carefully, as she wasn't responding. "Is there something you wanna tell me? What stop has been canceled?" I stop when I'm five steps away from her.

I reach a hand out towards her, frowning. "Stacey?" Claudia had put me back into reality and I turned around. "Did you find it? The last door on the left."

"Found it." I reply, spotting the door.

I walk back into the lounge, hearing Scott and Sheriff argue. "You're not hearing me, trust me, you don't wanna talk to him." Sheriff told Scott.

"We just need a few minutes," Scott begged him.

"Scott, my father can't help you," Sheriff scowls.

"Just a few questions, five minutes." Scott promised.

"You know what?" Sheriff raised his voice. "You don't just talk to this guy! Okay? Find another way,"

"But, what if this is the only way?" Scott asked.

"Scott, you have your answer," Claudia tried before I walked over to Scott and took him by the arm.

"Sheriff, please!"

"Scott," Claudia firmly said, standing up. Scott sighed.

"The answer's no," Sheriff softly said.

"Come on," I mutter to Scott, and he nodded.

✢

"Stilinski said no, didn't he?" Malia asked the next day at school as Scott, Liam, and I stand behind her and she closed her locker.

"Yeah,"

"But we're still going anyways?" Malia turns around to us.

"Yep."

"Or you could stay here and help me convince Gwen she's in danger," Liam offered.

"It's not your job to convince her," Scott softly said. "It's your job to keep her safe."

"Just kidnap her," Malia told Liam.

Liam followed us as we started to walk down the hallways. "Do not kidnap her," I told Liam, and he nodded.

"We'll be back tonight after we talk to Stilinski's dad." Scott explained to Liam.

"Do we really have to do this?" Malia groaned.

"He's our only lead." Scott reminded her.

"Okay, what if the Ghost Riders show up?" Liam asked, jumping in between. We stopped and turned to him.

"Then you'll handle it, Liam," Scott told him. "And look, you're not alone, you've got Mason, Corey, and Hayden. Okay? Just find a safe place or Gwen and keep her there," I place a hand on Liam's shoulder and smiled.

"Any suggestions?" Liam asked, looking over at me.

"It doesn't matter, as long as she's safe." I remind him. "And remember, your pack has your back." I didn't mean us, I meant Mason, Corey, and Hayden. His own little pack. Scott and Malia turned to the door and I lean to Liam. "If you need any help, I'm only one phone call away, but remember; you can do this."

Liam gave me a smile and I gave him one as well before I ran after Malia and Scott.

A/N

I didn't edit this so sorry if there's mistake x

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