Chapter Thirty-Three

Currently I'm in the locker room with Isaac, Scott, and Sheriff Stilinski, surrounded by other players who were gathering up their things trying to go home.

"I have to meet the medical examiner and figure out what happened with Jackson, but I've got an A-P-B out for Stiles. His Jeep's still in the parking lot, which means... well, I don't know what it means. If he answers his phone or email or if either of you see him—" Sheriff Stilinski ranted, and Isaac cuts him off.

"We'll call you." Isaac reassures.

"Guys, after everything that's happened lately..." Sheriff Stilinski looked guilty.

"He probably just got freaked out by the attention or something. We'll find him." Scott tells Sheriff Stilinski and I nodded.

Stilinski nods, but doesn't look encouraged. He motions for his men, including my Dad, to follow and the locker room begins clearing out. 

An unusually distraught Coach approaches Scott. He can't seem to stop turning his whistle over and over with his fingers. "McCall, we need you on the team, okay? You know I can't put you back on the field next season unless your grades are up." Coach tells him.

"I know, Coach." Scott nodded.

"I mean I yell and scream a lot but it's not like I hate you guys. Well, I kind of hate Greenberg, but that's different. I'm just saying we... I need you. Get your grades up, okay? Get back on the team." Coach spoke.

"I will." Scott promised.

"I know." Coach softly said, before turning away.

"Is that everyone?" Scott asked as the locker room was clearing out rapidly.

Isaac sighed. "I think so." The sound of metal ripping off hinges turns Isaac around. A locker door clatters to the floor as Scott rifles through the inside, pulling out one of Stiles's shirts, jacket, and shoe. "You're gonna find him by scent?"

"Yeah, we all are." Scott glances between me and Isaac.

I held onto one of his t-shirts, Scott has a t-shirt, and Isaac held a shoe. "How come I have the shoe and you guys have the t-shirt and jacket?"

I then looked up and my eyes snapped over to see Derek standing there with his hands behind his back. "We need to talk." Derek said.

My entire freezes and eyes widen as Peter Hale comes out behind him. I went rigid, and I could feel myself being back at the lacrosse field again, being bitten all over. "All of us." Peter noted.

"Holy shit." Scott's mouth dropped. "What the hell is this?"

"You know, I thought the same thing when I saw you talking to Gerard at the Sheriff's station." Derek glares. Fearfully, I take a step back. I am terrified of Peter. I cowered myself behind the boys, trying to not have a panic attack.

How the hell is Peter Hale alive? What voodoo shit has he been into?

"Okay, hold on." Scott butts in. "He, he threanted to kill my Mom. And I had to get close to him. What was I suppose to do?"

"I'm gonna go with Scott on this one." Peter pipes up. "Have you seen his Mom? She's gorgeous."

"Shut up." Scott and Derek snapped. I was still too in shock to even say words.

"Who is he? And why does Paige look like she's going to pass out at the sight of him?" Isaac questioned, glancing at my way worriedly.

"He's Peter, Derek's Uncle." Scott informed. "He's the one that bit her. Little while back, he tried to kill us all, and then we set him on fire, and Derek slashed his throat."

"Hi." Peter waves.

"That's good to know." Isaac murmured.

"How is he alive?" Scott questioned, thinking my exact thoughts.

"Look, short version is, he knows how to stop Jackson." Derek cuts right to the chase. "And maybe how to save him."

"Well, that's very helpful, expect Jackson's dead." Isaac updated them. The two Hale's looked at Isaac.

"What?" Derek asked.

"Yeah, Jackson's dead." Scott continued. "It just happened on the field."

"Okay, why is no one taking this as good news?" Isaac asked.

"Because if Jackson is dead, it didn't just happened." Peter informs. "Gerard wanted it to happen."

"But why?" Derek turned to his uncle.

Peter steps forward and I take another step back, wanting nothing to do with him. He's the one that turned me, he's the one that's caused me all this pain and suffering. "Well, that's exactly what we need to figure out. And something tells me the window of opportunity is closing. Quickly."

—

I knocked on Stiles' door later that night. I was unable to sleep and when Sheriff Stilinski informed that Stiles' was alive and okay, my heart sored with happiness. I was tearing up as I knocked on his door, something I never do.

The door opens and I let out a sobbing gasp seeing the sight of him. He was still in his lacrosse uniform, his cheek was bruised, and lip was bloodied. Stiles gave me a small smile.

I bawled my eyes out at the sight of him. "Who—Stiles? I—I want names." Even though a part of me already knew who had done it as soon as I stepped through the door and Stiles closed it behind me. My entire body shakes with anger and fury and I stare at Stiles through my tears.

"Paige, it's okay, really—" Stiles tried to brush it off.

"Don't." I snapped angrily. "Don't you..." I choked up a little bit, fresh hot tears streaming down my face. "Don't you dare say it's fine when it's not." My voice cracks as I tell him this. I've had one hell of a night, but nothing compares it to what Stiles' has been through.

Stiles stepped closer to me, pulling me in for a hug and I buried into him. "I'm okay now, Paige."

"Please. Just tell me who." I begged, wanting my answers to be correct so I can kill him myself.  I have never felt so much rage before. I looked up at him, our eyes meeting.

He looked down shamefully. "Gerard..." My eyes glow brightly. "Paige, please. Not tonight. Please." I stopped all my wild thoughts that went through my brain as I heard Stiles' quiet pleas. My sobs quieten down and I nodded.

"Okay." I whispered. "I'll catch up with you on everything tomorrow, how about that? Tonight you need rest. Do you need anything?"

He gulped. "Ah... A glass of water would be nice."

I nodded. "I'll be back." I went down the hallway and immedtaly called Scott as I walked. "They found Stiles." I instantly said as soon as he picked up.

"Oh, thank God." he breathed out. "Would you be able to make it out to the Hale house anytime soon?"

I pursed my lips. "I... I don't know. Did you find what you're looking for?"

"Yeah, Peter found the laptop." He informs and I nodded.

"Keep me updated, please. I'll let you know if I can come." I said before hanging up on him. I walked downstairs and into the kitchen, seeing Sheriff Stilinski with two hands resting on the counter, looking like he was in a debate.

He glances up, seeing me. He gave me a tight smile. "Hi, Paige."

"Hi." I breathed out.

"You okay?" He noticed my puffy eyes and red cheeks. I nodded, still feeling myself slightly tremble. "Come here, I know." He pulls me into a fatherly like hug and I couldn't help but let out a few more sobs.

"I should've... Done something..." I whimpered.

"Hey, no... Those guys are assholes for beating up Stiles. And I'm going to find out whoever did it, I'm gonna... I'm gonna call their school." Sheriff Stilinski assured me and I frowned into his chest, tilting my head away. This must be a lie Stiles' had told.

I gulped, pulling back. "Thank you... And I'm sorry..."

"It's not your fault." Sheriff Stilinski reasures me. I nodded, wiping my tears away. "You're welcome to stay the night, too."

"I'll sleep on the couch..." My home was currently empty and Sheriff Stilinski knew that.

"Or in the spare bedroom." Sheriff Stilinski suggested.

"Or that," I chuckled. "Um—Water. Stiles wanted water." Sheriff Stilinski nodded and grabbed a cup from the cupboard, bringing out a clean glass. He fills it up with the tap and gave it to me.

"Take care of my son, will you?" Sheriff Stilinski asked me quietly. "Just... Make sure he talks to you."

I nodded. "I will. I promise, I will. Nothing will happen to Stiles ever again. Not under my watch."

He hands me the glass of water. "You're a great friend to him, Paige. He speaks highly of you." I smiled at that. "And I can see why."

"Goodnight, Sheriff." I tilt my head at him.

"Noah." Noah tells me. "You can call me Noah." I felt my heart sore and I grinned a little, before my smile fades a little.

"Night, Noah." I turned on my heel and walked back up the stairs, knocking on the door. Stiles opened the door, he was changed into his PJs.

Stiles gives me a small smile. "Thank you." He closes the door behind him.

"Um... Your Dad said I could stay the night, in the spare room." I murmur to him, handing him the glass of water and he takes a sip on it.

Stiles nodded. "Yeah... I—I would like that, actually." We both took a seat on the bed. Suddenly, another knock on the door was heard. "Dad, I said I'm fine." He called out, before the knock continued. "Dad, how many times do I have to—" He walked over and opened it, seeing a tearful Lydia Martin standing there.

She glances at me. "Is this a bad time?" Lydia whispered, her voice cracking. I moved forward.

"No, no." I assured her. "It's okay, right, Stiles?"

"Y—Yeah." Stiles nodded, pulling the door more open so she can walk through.

"Um... Your Dad let me in." Lydia quickly mentioned.

"Do you want to come in?" He offered. Lydia takes a few steps forward into the bedroom and he closes the door behind him.

I walked over to Lydia, noticing she was about to burst into tears. "They won't let me see him." Her voice cracks. "And I was suppose to give him something back." She sobs and I pulled her in for a hug. "He kept asking for it back." She holds up a key in her hand, gripping it tightly.

I looked over Stiles worriedly. "I'll..." He leaves and I ushered Lydia over to sit on Stiles' bed.

"It's okay." I tell her assuringly. "It's okay."

"It's not." She sniffled and Stiles comes back in with a roll of tissue paper. 

"Hey, sorry, I didn't have any tissues, so, uh..." He offered her a toilet roll and she takes it, smiling a little.

"That's fine." She sniffed. "God, I'm such a mess." Lydia sighed as the cell phone rings. "God. You have 17 missed messages from Scott."

"I know." Stiles answered.

"You're ignoring him?" Lydia asked.

"No. No, not really," Stiles shrugged.

She glanced between us. "I feel like I just interrupted something..."

"N—No, you didn't." I shake my head. "We're fine."

Suddenly, Stiles' phone went off again and she looked over at me and Stiles, worried with Stiles' phone clutched into her hand. "You're gonna wanna read this."

⇉

Lydia and I had both left together seeing as Stiles' didn't want to, which was fair enough. I drive in the car, going to the place where Scott had told me to go.

Lydia looks out the way as I drive. "So... You like Stiles?" She asked.

I bite my lower lip as my hands grip the stearing wheel. "I don't know." I admitted.

"Okay, picture this." Lydia begins. "You're standing on a cliff, you turn around, and who do you see there? I would say close your eyes, but you're driving." I pictured myself standing on the edge of the cliff, the water beyond me. I had turned around and I saw Stiles. Not Derek, but Stiles. I smiled a little. "You saw Stiles, didn't you?"

"Yeah," I answered. "I did."

"Then... It's Stiles." Lydia confirmed for me. My confusion between Stiles or Derek is clear now. I liked Stiles. I've always liked Stiles.

"Oh." I mumble.

"Isn't that a good thing?" Lydia asked.

"Yeah—I just don't know if he likes me back." I tell her.

She scoffed. "Are you kidding me? The boy is in love with you." I blushed deeply, turning down another road.

Suddenly, my phone rings. I picked it up, slowing down. "Stiles?"

Lydia gives me a smugged look. "Look, any chance you can take on one more?" Stiles asked.

I looked at Lydia. "Are you keen for a detour?"

⇉

Lydia, Stiles, and I had finally arrived at the metal work compound. We had no time to waste, so, Stiles decided to drive his jeep straight into the wall, making a dramatic enterance. When we had gotten to Stiles' house, he insisted on using his Jeep. I couldn't say no.

"Did I get him?" Stiles asked, opening his eyes.

"You had your eyes closed?!" My eyes widen at him from the passenger seat, while Lydia was in the back. I looked over, seeing that the Kanima was on the floor, a few metres away from Allison. Lydia shrieks when it leaps onto the hood of the Jeep, it's hand swinging a clawed hand up with a shriek.

Stiles, Lydia, and I all climbed out in a hurry. "Jackson!" Lydia shouted, standing. "Jackson!"

"Lydia!" I yelled out, worried as Jackson held one hand up. But, in Lydia's hand was a key. The creature blinks and looked at the key. Lydia was panting.

The Kanima's eyes blink back to human eyes, the eyes of Jackson, now half transformed again. Lydia gives him one last look of regret, as if knowing what's about to happen. Jackson slowly takes a few steps back from Lydia once he took the key.

Jackson slowly turns to face Derek who is now standing once again. Jackson lowers his clawed hands, lowering his defenses. Purposefully making himself vulnerable to attack. Derek grabs the moment and strikes, digging his claws into Jackson's ribcage. Peter rushes out and guts Jackson from the back. As the wolf hands tear back, Jackson staggers forward and Lydia takes hold of him before he can fall. Struggling to keep him up, she slowly guides him to his knees.

Red blood—human blood—on his torso, Jackson looks on her with his own eyes, seeming to recognize her. Then he whispers a question. "Do you—" He choked out. "Do you still..."

"I do." Lydia cuts him off, her voice cracking, giving him a nod. "I do still love you. I do, I do still love you."

Finally, Jackson's eyes close and his head gently rests on her shoulder.

We watched silently, my heart breaking for Lydia as I stood next to Scott, Stiles, and Allison. Only when his hand opens and releases the key to the ground does she finally let him lie. I looked at Stiles with teary eyes, in disbelief.

He gently takes my hand, lacing them together and giving it a squeeze and we both looked back at Lydia and Jackson. Lydia was sobbing.

I then pulled away from Stiles and walked over to Lydia. I gently took her arm and helped her up. She turns to me, and I opened my arms and she accepted. She hugs me, burying herself into me as she sobs quietly. I looked over at the others.

"Where's Gerard?" Allison asked, noticing that Gerard was missing.

"He can't be far." Chris informed us. Suddenly, the sound of claws scarping against the ground was heard and I looked over, seeing Jackson's fingers moving against the ground.

Lydia pulled away from me, hearing the sound, too. She gasped. Jackson's eyes opened, a bright steal blue and he rises.  As he pushes up to his knees, strands of hair appear at his cheeks, growing toward the ears which now taper out to points.

Jackson finally stands. He was finally a werewolf.

A primal roat fills the metal works as Jackson cries out at the night like a bird spreading its wings for the first time. His eyes dim back to normal, claws retracting. He lowers his head and breathlessly looks to us. Somehow alive. 

Finally Lydia runs into his arms. Everyone seemed relieved, even me. Expect Stiles. Scott turned to him. "What?"

"He scratched my Jeep."

⇉

The old blue Jeep rumbles to a stop between the bleachers on an empty field. Scott and Stiles jump out and begin pulling lacrosse gear from the back. I reluctantly joined them, stumbling out of the Jeep.

"You really think she's going to come back to you?" Stiles asked him. Last night, Allison had officially broken up with him.

"I know she is." Scott then looked between me and Stiles. "What about your plan?"

"The ten year plan?" Stiles asked. "I... I think it's going good. Hopefully." Scott nodded in understanding as I stood there in confusion.

"What plan?" I asked, curious to know.

"You'll know in time." Stiles winked at me before the boys made their way to the field. I stood there in confusion.

"What?" I whispered under my breath. I begin to walk my way over to the boys, joining them. Stiles drops a bag full of lacrosse balls onto the grass while Scott takes his position at goal.

"You know what I just realized? I'm right back where I started." Scott tells us.

"What do you mean?" Stiles asked.

"I mean no lacrosse. No popularity. No girlfriend. Nothing." Scott listed.

"Dude, you still got me." Stiles sounded offended.

"And me." I added on. "Sure, I might not have been there at the very start, but I'm here."

"I had you before." He looked at Stiles. "You... I didn't have you before, but I'm glad to know you're always be with me."

I smiled. "Duh. Friends with trauma stay together, right?"

"And you've still got me." Stiles ranted. "Life fulfilled." I took a seat on the grass. My legs spread out and my hands behind me, my hands digging into the dirt. "Now remember. No wolf powers."

"Got it." Scott nodded.

"No super-fast reflexes, super eyesight, hearing, none of that crap." Stiles narrowed his eyes at Scott.

"Okay." Scott agreed.

Stiles winds back, but pauses again. "You promise?"

I smiled, giggling. "Will you just take a shot already!"

Finally, with every bit of strength and concentration he can muster, Stiles sends the ball flying. Scott caught the ball.

"I said no wolf powers!"