I WAS HALF asleep still as I sat on the ledge down in the train station. My forehead was leaned against the railing in front of me, a blanket wrapped around my shoulders. Boyd stood near me, watching as Derek trained with Erica and Isaac.

Isaac being thrown across the room again made me open my eyes, sighing.

"Does anyone wanna try not being completely predictable?" Derek asked cockily. I made eye contact with Erica and smiled at her, encouraging her to try again.

Apparently she misinterpreted my look, because next thing I knew she was kissing him. I cringed when he threw her off of him, glaring down at her.

"That's the last time you do that," he said firmly as he pointed a finger at her.

"Why? Because I'm a beta?" Erica glared right back. No, because you're sixteen and underage, I thought to myself, but I was too tired to even think about arguing at the moment.

"No, because I have someone else in mind for you," Derek said mischievously. I couldn't surpress my eyeroll at whatever dumb plan he'd constructed.

"Are we done?" Isaac asked from the floor, "I've got about a hundred bones that need a few hours to heal."

"Come here," I watched as Derek walked over and held out a hand. When Isaac took it, Derek broke it. I cringed at the snapping noise, "A hundred and one. You think I'm teaching you how to fight? Huh? Look at me! I'm teaching you how to survive!"

I gazed unamused at his dramatic words. Isaac seemed to think it was a bit of a stretch as well.

"If they wanted us dead why aren't they coming for us now? What are they waiting for?" He asked. I assumed he was referring to the hunters—the Argents.

"I don't know," Derek said, "But they're planning something. And you, especially, know that's not our only problem."

I zoned out for a split moment as I thought back to the sound of my father screaming for help as an unknown creature tore him to part. I focused again when Derek continued talking.

"Whatever that thing is that killed Julia and Isaac's father, I think it killed someone else last night. Until I find out what it is, you all need to learn everything that I know. As fast as I can teach you," Derek finished off.

I huffed as I stood up, making my way up to the loft, "Have fun kids."

I walked myself all the way to my bedroom where I dropped off my blanket. I shrugged out of my clothes and changed into a pair of jeans and a tank top tucked into them, throwing on a flannel over top. I tossed my hair up into a ponytail so I didn't have to do much to it, and downed an ibuprofen.

Once I was ready I slipped on a pair of sunglasses and grabbed a tissue to stick in my back pocket. It was easy to slip out of the loft due to everybody being down training. I'm pretty sure Boyd noticed, but didn't say anything either way.

I coughed as I gripped the handles of Isaac's bike. I planned on heading to see Scott and or Stiles.

* * * * *

I was bent over slightly as I coughed, trying to keep quiet. Stiles had specifically said that if I was too loud then someone would come in and I'd be good as dead. He also really didn't want to help me to begin with, but I'd managed to persuade him.

I sighed as I leaned against a locker, crossing my arms and closing my eyes. I'd been in the boys locker room a few times before, but I still hated the smell.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Scott asked as I opened my eyes. I wiped the back of my hand across my forehead as I stood straight.

"I needed to talk to you," I said simply.

"You said you didn't want Erica to turn and then you showed up with Derek," Stiles said with his arms crossed. I narrowed my eyes at the two boys.

"That doesn't mean anything. I was there because of Erica, not because of Derek. I honestly disagree with him turning teenagers into werewolves, but I still have to live with him and put up with him," I defended.

"Look, you said you needed to talk to us, so talk," Scott demanded.

"It's about the thing that killed my dad," I said before flicking my eyes over to Stiles, "Derek was talking about how some mechanic was killed by the same thing."

"Yeah, I know," Stiles flailed an arm about, "I was literally there when it happened."

"Okay," I rolled my eyes, "So do you guys have a plan or anything?"

"How do we know you won't go telling Derek everything we say?" Scott challenged.

"Oh, calm your werewolf ass down," I scoffed, "I'm not his bitch. I don't go around telling him everything."

"Fine," Scott sighed, "We kind of have a plan."

* * * * *

When I got home the loft was empty. I figured Derek and Isaac had gone to take Boyd and Erica home, or to school. I honestly wasn't sure.

I decided to take a shower, mainly to avoid Derek recognizing Scott and Stiles smell on me. I ended up sitting in the shower to go through my routine, my head hurting too bad to stand and do all that.

Once I was done I got out and rung my hair out. I pulled it up into a ponytail to let it dry and started drying my body off. I had to go to my room to get my clothes, however, because I hadn't brought any with me.

"Julia," Derek's voice called through the door as he knocked twice, "You in there?"

I exhaled deeply, placing a hand over my racing heart. I adjusted my towel before opening the door to glare at him half-heartedly. His eyes seemed to rake over my body before meeting mine.

"You seriously need to stop scaring me," I said in a flat voice as I walked around him. Derek followed.

"I was coming to check if you still feel sick," he stated with his hands in his pockets.

"Another thing you need to stop doing—asking me if I'm still sick," I grumbled as I entered my bedroom. He leaned against the doorway.

"I'll take that as you're still feeling sick."

"Yep," I sighed as I pulled out a pair of sweatpants, a tank top, and a hoodie. I turned and gave him an expectant look, tightening my grip on my towel. He smirked as he took the hint and left, closing my door behind him.

Once I was dressed I flopepd onto my bed. I didn't bother hanging up my towel to dry. I was too tired and the pounding in my head was returning. I glanced at the time and saw I had time to nap.

With that thought, I curled up into fetal position and closed my eyes.

* * * * *

"Remind me again why we need to wait for Allison to gets her grandfather's keys," I mumbled to Stiles as we stood side by side at the lacrosse game. I was still cold even though I had on sweatpants and a hoodie. Perks of being sick.

I was a bit on edge because I had spotted both Erica and Boyd in the stands. Something told me they weren't just there to enjoy the sport. I also had told Derek I was going to Joey's house, not hiding in the shadows of a lacrosse game.

"So that we can get into the office," Stiles was lightly bobbing up and down.

"I could just pick the lock and save us the time," I stated as I turned to look at him through my sunglasses. I understood that I had to keep myself hidden since I was a fugitive, but I honestly though wearing sunglasses at night brought more attention to myself.

"We can't risk him realizing someone actually picked the lock--he'd have a full police report done and the last thing we need is to have the police after you for more reasons," he rambled.

"Got it," I nodded blandly, rolling my eyes. Stiles was a total spaz and had a talent for annoying me.

"Speaking of which, Allison just got the keys," Stiles grinned and grabbed my arm, pulling me with him. We passed the bleachers where Allison subtly passed the keys to Stiles.

I glared at the boy as he held up a hand for a high five. He lost the smile and awkwardly played it off as if he was going to scratch the back of his head. We walked side by side towards the school before something caught Stiles' eye. I followed his look to see what appeared to be Lydia Martin crying in her car.

"No," I said sternly when I could tell Stiles wanted to go over there.

"Just real quick," Stiles pleaded. I pursed my lips and rolled my eyes.

"I'm counting to twenty and then I'm leaving."

I watched as Stiles sprinted over to the girl's car, proceeding to lean over and chat with the strawberry blonde. I stuck my hands in my pockets and closed my eyes, trying to cease the persistent pain. I swear, eating only made it worse. At least when I did eat, Derek made it so I didn't have to slave over cooking.

It felt like I'd just closed my eyes when Stiles was shaking my shoulder, "C'mon, let's hurry this up."

I gulped back the vomit threatening to appear just from him shaking me and nodded. I followed him into the school and towards Gerard's office to search for a supposed 'beastiary'. I silently swept the halls with my eyes as Stiles unlocked and opened the door.

Then, the two of us began searching the entire room while trying not to disrupt anything or make it obvious we'd been in there.

"I have no fucking clue where it is," I whispered over to Stiles as I shook my head, running my hand through my hair.

"Just keep--"

"Hello, Stiles. Julia."

I quickly turned--successfully giving myself yet another migraine--to see Erica standing in the doorway with a smirk. Suddenly she had a tight grip on both of our arms and was dragging us further into the school.

"Seriously Erica?" I snapped. She frowned slightly at me but didn't stop dragging us. I groaned as my stomach flipped.

It wasn't long until we were in the pool room, where Derek stood with a basketball in his hands. He glared at Stiles and I when Erica pushed us forwards, proceeding to stand beside her Alpha.

"Stiles," Derek's eyes then dragged over to me, "Julia."

"Derek," Stiles nodded while I simply crossed my arms and rolled my eyes.

"What did you see at the mechanics garage?" Derek didn't waste any time, grilling Stiles right away. I glanced over at the teen.

"Uh, several alarming EPA violations that I'm seriously considering reporting," Of course Stiles responded with sarcasm. I flinched when Derek suddenly popped the ball in his hands like it was nothing, "Holy God," Stiles gulped.

"Let's try that again," Derek said cockily. I glared at him.

"All right, the thing was pretty slick looking. Um, skin was dark. Kind of patterned. Uh, I think I actually saw scales. Is that enough?" The werewolf duo gave him a bland look before he continued, "Okay, because I've somebody I really need to talk to--" he stopped when he caught their glare, "All right, fine, eyes. Eyes are, um, yellowish. And slitted. Um, has a lot of teeth. Oh. And it's got a tail, too. Are we good?"

They didn't seem to be looking right at Stiles, instead they had a fearful expression painted on their faces.

"What?" I snapped.

"Have you seen it? You have this look on your faces like you know exactly what I am talking about," Stiles rambled stupidly.

Something jumped down out of nowhere, easily knocking out Erica.

"Run!" Derek shouted, grabbing my arm and pulling me with him.

The tail of the thing swung out and sliced across his neck, barely missing my own as he fell into the pool. He managed to also tug me with him, submerging me into the freezing cold water.

Stiles helped pull us up, wrapping one of Derek's arms around his shoulder. I did the same with his other, coughing.

"Where is it? Can you see it?" Stiles asked frantically.

"You should've called Scott," I scolded the spaz.

"I don't see it but I can smell it," Derek panted. I struggled to keep myself up while also aiding Stiles in keeping Derek up.

"Maybe it ran off," Stiles suggested.

"Doubtful," I scoffed.

"You two need to get me out of here before I drown," the alpha ordered.

"You're worried about drowning?!" Stiles exclaimed, "Did you notice the thing out there with multiple rows of razor sharp teeth?!"

"Did you notice I'm paralyzed from the neck down in eight feet of water?!" Derek snapped.

"Oh, shut the fuck up, it's only seven feet," I spat right back. Derek's eyes looked over to me with a fierce glare, one I returned right back.

"Okay. I don't see it," Stiles interrupted our bickering. I looked around and didn't see it either. We both started swimming closer to the edge.

"Wait, wait, wait, stop, stop," Derek rushed out when the lizard-ass monster reappeared. It looked at the water weirdly.

"What's it waiting for?" Stiles muttered.

"I don't know, and I don't care as long as it's not killing us," I never looked away from the thing.

"Wait, did you see that? I don't think it can swim," Stiles said after the monster got scared of touching the water. I exchanged a look with the boy, neither of us knowing what to do.

a/n

hello i know this is kinda an awkward place to end the chapter but there wasn't really a good place to stop so this will have to do.

also holy fuck we passed 1k reads!!!!! thank y'all so much for reading this shit & supporting it!

ps there's something i've been subtly hinting @ with julia but so far no one has commented abt it & i can't really hint abt it without totally giving it away so pay attention!