chapter sixty
❝ you fooled me from the start ❞
smoke and mirrors

━━━━༺❀༻━━━━

"You two are not going to Mexico," Noah Stilinski hissed as he shut the door to his office. Kennedy and Stiles stood side by side. Kennedy tilted her head to the side, silently wondering how Noah could stop her from going to Mexico

Stiles held up his hand? "Dad, Scott, and Kira have been kidnapped and taken to Mexico. Okay? I think that's a pretty good reason for a trip to Mexico." He snapped. Kennedy nods, seeing Stiles's point.

Noah walked around his desk, inhaling deeply. "Okay. Even if Deaton is right about this," Stiles nods, "The best thing to do is to go through the proper channels."

"Mr. Stilinski,"

"That means calling the right law enforcement agencies, border patrol, putting out an all-points." Noah listed off.

Stiles cuts in, "Dad, I can't just wait around for the wheels of bureaucracy to start spinning in five different government offices. Okay? Someone needs to go down there right now, find them, and rescue them." He tells his father, "Ken and I are going." Kennedy's eyes are wide as she slowly looks back at Noah.

"I can keep you from going."

Kennedy shakes her head, "You can't stop me," She said with an innocent smile. Stiles and Noah both turned to look at the Hale, before turning to each other again.

"I'd find a way."

"I can throw you in a cell."

Stiles speaks up, "I'd have Kennedy break me out," He bluntly stated.

Kennedy gasped, clutching Stiles's arm. "It'd be like a cute escape room date!" She gushed with a grin. Stiles flashed a smile for a moment, before turning back to his dad.

Noah sighed as he shook his head. "Stiles, please. Just give me a little more time to verify something slightly more concrete than a psychic vision by some guy with a third eye!" Kennedy poured, feeling slightly offended by the psychic comment. "Look, I will call every law enforcement agency all the way down to South America if I have to. If nothing turns up, then I'll book three flights to Mexico." Kennedy rose a brow, looking at Stiles. "We'll all go. Okay?"

Stiles bites his tongue, "Okay, okay, great. Do I get a gun?" He asked as he clasped his hands together.

"No. I think your girlfriend with claws is enough," Noah said, causing Kennedy to smile wide.

Within minutes, Stiles and Kennedy climb into the Jeep. Silence sits in the air for a long moment. "We're going to Mexico without him, aren't we?" Kennedy asked, turning to look at her boyfriend.

"Oh, definitely."

༺❀༻

Kennedy gasped as Stiles threw a shirt at her face. Malia caught a jacket. "Here, try that."

Both girls smell their items, "Fabric softener." Malia shrugs. Stiles looks around, before rushing to Scott's bathroom. Kennedy and Malia are close behind, watching Stiles pick up a pair of underwear from the laundry basket.

"You're not making me smell that," Kennedy said with a grossed-out face.

"Ken, Scott's life is on the line." He said pointedly. Malia looks around, grabbing Scott's pillow off the bed. Kennedy takes the other, smelling it to capture Scott's scent.

Stiles nods, "Yeah. That works, too." He mumbled, "Much better than my girlfriend smelling my friend's underwear,"

Kennedy and Malia shared looks, following Stiles down the hall. "If you ever try to make me smell anyone's underwear, I'm going to kill you," Kennedy said as they hopped down the stairs.

Liam Dunbar leaned onto Scott's dining room table. Stiles scoffed, "Oh! Liam, go home. You're not coming with us."

"Why not?"

"Because it's a full moon. And I don't feel like driving all the way down to Mexico just to have you rip my throat out." Stiles explained. Kennedy stood in between Stiles and Liam, looking over.

"You can lock me up, right? Chain me down to the back seat or something?"

Malia looked at the boy, "You tore through the last chains, remember?" She replied. Kennedy licked her lips, thinking that point over. Liam broke through the chains, but that meant he was strong. Really strong.

"Yeah, we would have to freeze you in carbonite to get you down there," Stiles said as he looked at Kennedy. He frowned, noticing her mind lost in thought.

"Okay, then where do we get carbonite?" Liam asked dumbfounded.

Stiles narrows his eyes, "Seriously, you haven't seen it either?" He said disappointedly. He turned around, heading towards the door

"Wait!" Liam called out, "What if we put me in the trunk?"

Malia replied, "You'd get out of that, too." Kennedy looked over, her mind whirring with ideas.

"Liam, you've been a werewolf all of five minutes. You don't have to do this."

"I know I don't, but I want to," Liam said.

Everyone slowly turned around to look at Kennedy, who had a very Hale-like smirk on her face. "I hate when you make that face," Stiles mumbled.

Kennedy walked over. "Liam can come," She said. Liam smiled wide.

"What-"

"Stiles, I can call Braeden. Alright? She can get a van. I'm an Alpha, meaning as long as I ride with Liam everything should be fine, right?" Kennedy chirped as she looked over. "Plus, Liam's totally afraid of me."

Malia and Stiles snickered. "Afraid of you?" Stiles asked as he slowly looked between Kennedy and Liam. "What's scary about Kennedy?"

Liam's eyes are wide. "She's a freaking Alpha that is related to killer werewolves." He deadpanned.

"He has a point," Malia whispered, earning a glare from Stiles.

༺❀༻

Kennedy hopped out of the Jeep, helping Malia out as they walked around to the front. Stiles watched Braeden walk in front of her own vehicle, "How did you get a prison transport van?" He asked. Liam walked over, looking at the woman in thought.

"I'm a U.S. Marshal," Braeden said plainly.

"Yeah, I just thought that was just a cover," Stiles commented.

Derek Hale walked over, closing the door to his car. "Are we really bringing him?" He asked, gesturing to Liam.

Stiles looked over, seeing Peter walking over, "Are we really bringing him?" He retorted. Kennedy sighed, slouching her shoulders.

"We're bringing everyone that we can. And considering Scott and Kira were taken the night before a full moon, we should probably get going." Peter explained.

Kennedy looked over at her dad, "What is that supposed to mean?"

Peter looked at his daughter, "If Kate took Scott back to the same temple that she took Derek, how do we know she's not planning to do the same thing to him?" He asked. Kennedy looked down in thought.

"What, she wants to make him younger?" Asked Liam, confused by this guy's point. He didn't know a lot about Peter. Just that Peter made the Deadpool is a major douche, and is Kennedy's dad.

"Or take him back to when he wasn't a werewolf," Derek replied.

Kennedy looks down in thought, Peter speaks up, "A werewolf can't steal a true Alpha's power. But maybe a Nagual jaguar, with the power of Tezcatlipoca behind her," Peter trailed off, giving a sigh. "Maybe she can."

Stiles spoke up, "Not to sound like the annoying boyfriend who thinks his girlfriend is the center of attention," Peter rolled his eyes, still not a huge fan of the fact Stiles is dating his daughter. "But if Kate took Scott, why didn't she take Kennedy, too? She's a True Alpha, too."

Peter shoved his hands in his pocket, giving the boy a smirk. "Maybe Kate knew if she took my daughter she'd have zero chance of coming out of this alive," He replied, bored. Kennedy pursed her lips together, looking down awkwardly. "So, if everyone is sufficiently freaked out, I say we get going."

"Dad, we can't." Kennedy blurted. "Not without Lydia." She said. Peter rolled his eyes. Kennedy turned to her boyfriend, "Can you try calling her? She should've been here by now."

Stiles mutters a yes, walking a few feet away. "What's she doing at the school anyway?" Derek asked.

Malia speaks up. "We got Kira's sword, but we need something with a stronger scent. Lydia went to get a jacket out of her locker." She explained.

Stiles walked back over "Nothing."

"If she has a car, she can catch up to us." Braeden shrugged.

Peter pointed at the Marshall, "That's a good point. We'll call her from the road."

"No. What if something happened? What if she's in trouble?" Stiles explained.

Kennedy looked back at her dad, "Fine. You stay, you find her. We're gonna go on without you." He said.

Kennedy snapped her head over, "We are not leaving without Stiles." Kennedy said, the volume of her voice heightening slightly.

"I could call Mason," Liam suggests, causing everyone to look at him. "He has a study group at school. Maybe he could look for her."

"All right. Fine."

Kennedy slowly walks over to Malia. Everyone begins to prepare to leave. "I need to be back there with Stiles, Derek, and Liam." She explained, "You'll be okay riding with Peter?"

"He is my father. Maybe we could do some bonding."

Kennedy shook her head. "After everything, he's done? No. No bonding." She said, "He's done horrible things, Malia, I don't want you getting involved with that,"

Malia gave a pursed-lip smile, moving towards the Toyota while the others moved towards the prison van. "Remember what we're dealing with." Said, Peter. Kennedy came to a slow stop, standing next to Liam. "It's not just Kate, it's Berserkers." He explained as he shrugged on his coat. "You might see human eyes behind those skulls. Do not assume that there's any humanity left." Peter's eyes shifted to Liam. The teenage boy looked at the ground for a moment. "Oh. This little one is terrified of them, aren't you?" Kennedy narrowed her eyes in thought, moving slightly in front of Liam. "Don't worry, my friend. It is that fear that will keep you alive." Kennedy clenched her jaw. "A reminder to everyone. You do not fight Berserkers to survive, you fight to kill."

༺❀༻

Kennedy let out a sigh, leaning against the wall separating her, Derek, Stiles, and Liam from Braeden. She stretched out her legs, letting them rest on Derek's lap while her feet ended up on Stiles. "You know, this van isn't very nap-friendly," She commented, shifting in her seat uncomfortably.

"Well, good thing it's not made to take naps in," Derek commented. Kennedy pouted as Derek shoved her legs, leaning over as he put handcuffs on Liam's wrists. "All good?" Liam looked down, tugging hard for a moment. "Okay. I brought something to help you." Kenndey leaned her head to the side to see Derek pull out the Triskelion. Stiles looked over at Kennedy, who had an expressionless face. "This has been with my family for centuries. It's a very powerful, supernatural talisman. We use it to teach Betas how to control themselves on a full moon."

Liam slowly took it from Derek, observing its carvings. Stiles looked at Derek in confusion, who nudged both teens. "Yes, it's powerful," Stiles mumbled, clearing his throat.

"Very powerful." Kennedy hummed, rolling her eyes before leaning back and closing her eyes.

Time slowly passed. Kennedy was in and out of sleep as the sun began to set, and the moon began to rise. Stiles leaned back, looking out the back window. He was seemingly lost in thought. Derek looked over at Kennedy every now and again. "You never talked about Peter,"

Kennedy looked over at her cousin, "What about him?" She asked plainly.

"You didn't talk about how you felt," Derek deadpanned.

Stiles watched as his girlfriend slowly sat up. "My dad nearly burned to death to save me from a fire, and was stuck with his own thoughts for years. And because he lost my mom and me, he created some idea to kill all the supernatural in Beacon Hills. How do you think I feel knowing every motivation he had was for me?" Kennedy asked with such disgust in her tone. She hated herself. The survivor's guilt she had for being the cause of so many people's deaths was incomparable.

However, the conversation came to a halt when Liam tugged on his chains, "Whatever you were gonna teach me," Liam said. Kennedy noticed his claws, which gripped around the Triskelion. He looked up at Derek, his eyes shifting to a golden yellow. "I think you better start."

Kennedy turned, now facing the Dunbar. "Derek, you're the old wise one here," She said, keeping her eyes on the Beta.

"Liam, you with me?" Derek asked. Liam slowly nodded, his face dripping with sweat as he tried to control himself. "We have a mantra that we use. You repeat it, you focus on the words. It's like meditating. You say the words until you feel control coming back to you."

Liam nodded, "Okay." He winced, "Okay, okay! What are the words?"

"Okay, look at the triskelion. See the symbol?" Liam looked at the object in his clawed hands. "I have a tattoo on my back, it's the same thing. Each spiral means something." Derek explained.

Realization hit Stiles, "Alpha, Beta, Omega." He said.

"It represents the idea that we can always rise to one and fall back to another. Betas can become Alphas."

"Alphas can become Betas."

"Can Alphas become Omegas?" Liam asked.

Derek slowly nodded, "All you have to do is say the three words. And with each one, you tell yourself you're getting calmer, more in control. Go ahead."

Liam inhaled sharply, "Alpha, Beta-"

"Slower."

Liam looked at Kennedy, who slowly nodded. "Alpha... Beta... Omega.." He trailed off, breathing quickly and harshly. Suddenly he let out a loud groan, "Alpha... Beta... Omega..."

"Good. Say it again. Remember, every time you say the words, you're getting calmer."

Liam craned his neck as he spoke, "Alpha, Beta..." Kennedy's eyes widened as Liam's voice became deep and distorted. "Omega."

"Say it again."

"Derek, I don't think the powerful talisman of self-control is working." Said Stiles, pushing himself further into the corner. Kennedy looked over, wishing she sat next to Stiles. Liam's eyes turned yellow as he growled.

"Liam, say it again!" Suddenly Liam roars, standing up. The entire van shakes, causing Braeden to swerve. Kennedy falls back, watching Liam snap out of one of the cuffs. Kennedy grabs it. shoving the boy back.

"Derek?" Braeden calls out.

"I think we're gonna need to go a little faster." Shouted Stiles.

"Keep going!" Derek yelled, trying to help Kennedy push Liam back.

Kennedy looked over at Stiles and Derek, "Guys," She said with a shaky voice, "I don't know what'll happen if I go full Alpha-" Before Kennedy can finish her sentence, Liam snaps out of his other chain. Kennedy nearly falls backward as Liam pushes against her. She uses whatever wolf power she has to push him back again.

Braeden looked back, "We're almost there," She called out.

Kennedy's eyes widen as Liam pulls her onto the bench, the two still wrestling each other. Kennedy's eyes turn red as she roars at Liam, the two now about to fight in the back of this van. "Derek, I don't think Alpha, Beta, Omega is resonating with him," Stiles commented.

Derek looks over at Stiles, "You know any other mantras?" He asked in annoyance.

Kennedy's eyes turn back to hazel, "Liam!" She shouts, looking at the Dunbar, "What three things cannot long be hidden?" She asked loudly. Liam roared, shoving Kennedy into the wall, "Liam, look at me!" She shouts, her eyes turning red again. "What three things cannot long be hidden?"

Liam seemed to pause for a moment, Sun... The moon... The truth." He panted out.

Kennedy shoved Liam back into the wall of the van, "That's it. Say it again." She said, still keeping a firm grip on the Beta.

"Sun, the moon..." Liam's eyes faded from gold to their normal blue, his distorted voice becoming his own again. "The truth." Liam slowly let go of Kennedy.

"Derek?" Braeden called out.

"We're okay," Derek panted.

Kennedy still sat with Liam, her hands on his wrists as his breathing slowed. "Sun... Moon... And the truth." Liam said again. He looked over at Kennedy. He was human again, he controlled it.

"Oh my god," Kennedy breathed, pulling Liam into a hug. The Dunbar was shocked, especially considering Kennedy didn't like him very much. Nonetheless, he wrapped his arms around her, embracing it. "I'm the best Alpha ever,"

Stiles looked out the window, noticing they were coming to a stop at La Iglesia. "I can't believe I did it," Liam said, looking around. "For a minute there, I thought we were gonna fight and tear the two of you apart." He and Kennedy looked over at Stiles and Derek.

"Yeah. That would've made for an awkward ride home. So, thanks." Stiles said sarcastically.

Derek looked at the freshman Beta, "Think you can bring the same level of control and strength inside La Iglesia?" Kennedy looked back at Liam, who flicked his claws on his own. Kennedy smiled, sighing in relief.

"All right. We might actually be able to do this" Said Stiles, amazed. Derek stood up, walking towards the door. Kennedy turned her body towards the exit of the van. As soon as Derek opens the van door, Kennedy screams as he is yanked out of the van by a berserker.

Derek is tossed to the ground, before being shoved into a rock. Kennedy's eyes flashed red when she saw the creature hitting Derek in the chest. Kennedy jumps out of the van, running at the Berserker. She lets out a roar, jumping at it. The Berserker spins around, punching her in the chest. Kennedy's body flies backward, hitting the van. Braeden clambers out, grabbing her gun. The Berserker raises its claw-like weapon to stab Derek. Bullets fly at the monster, Braeden firing again and again to protect her boyfriend.

Kennedy stood up, letting out a deafening roar. The Berserker stumbled away, giving Kennedy time to run for Derek. "Derek!" She called out. Kennedy fell to her knees as Derek slid to the ground. He grunted and groaned in pain. Braeden rushed to his other side. Kennedy felt tears threatening to spill. Derek couldn't heal, not like she could. And without that, he could die. Kennedy's hand was wrapped with Derek's as she looked him over. "Derek," She whimpered out. Braeden looked at Derek's wound. Blood pooled in his mouth, and on his shirt. It didn't look good.

"How bad is it?" Asks Peter.

"I'm fine, I'm fine."  Derek breathed out, "Just get to Scott."

Kennedy shook her head, "Derek, I can't leave you,"  She told him. Derek's hand tightened around Kennedy's. Derek didn't love a lot of things. For many years, he believed he was incapable of it. However, just over a year ago when he saw Kennedy and her two friends in the woods, he learned what love was all over again. Kennedy was his family. Some of the only family he had left. He would do anything for her, even die.

"I'm okay," He told her. "Just find Scott, okay? I love you," Kennedy cried as she saw Derek smile at her. "We'll be right behind you. Go." Everyone stood there, unsure whether or not they should leave him behind, "Go!" Peter looked at everyone, his shoulders slouching. The eldest Hale turned to La Iglesia, running towards the building. Liam and Malia looked at each other, beginning to walk that way too. Stiles walked to his girlfriend, helping her up. "Hey, hey," Stiles and Kennedy looked down at Derek, "Save him."

Kennedy bit her lip as she kneeled down again, "I love you," She whispered as hot tears rolled down her cheek. Kennedy leaned forward, kissing Derek's cheek quickly before standing back up. Stiles grabbed the girl's hand, the two of them walking towards the doors. Kennedy looked back at her cousin. The one who took care of her when she was sad. The one who looked out for her, even when she hated him. He was her family. And he was one of the only people who never betrayed her.

"Derek!" Five-year-old Kennedy cheered as Derek walked into the house after his first day of middle school. The eleven-year-old boy smiles as he took the girl in for a hug, awkwardly lifting her off the ground.

Derek grunted as he held on to his young cousin, "Hi, Kenny! How was your day?" He asked her with a friendly grin.

Kennedy landed on her feet, bouncing up and down. "It was amazing! Dad set up a trampoline in the back yard, he said me, you, and Cora can go out there and play all day!" She gave a toothy giggle, still jumping.

"You had me at trampoline," Derek told her. Kennedy squealed laughing as Derek ran past her. The little girl ran close behind, waving at her mother as the cousins ran out the back door.

Kennedy followed her dad through the church. She tried to regain composure. She needed to find Scott, and she needed to find Kira. She wiped her hands over her eyes, trying to stop the tears. Peter ran through the tunnels, stumbling to a halt. "Okay, everyone stop, stop, stop, stop, stop." Peter says, panting from the running, "We gotta figure out where we are, then we gotta figure out how to find Scott and Kira."

Stiles's phone begins to ring, and he looks down. "How do I even have service?" He mutters, clicking the green button.  "Hi, Dad." Kennedy and Stiles walk to the side, "Okay, Dad, I know you're angry." Peter threw his hands in the air, amazed they are doing this right now.

"Oh, I'm beyond angry." Noah Stilinski snaps. "I've reached a level of fury that you could not possibly comprehend."

"Okay, well, when I get back, you can ground me."

Noah rose a brow, "Ground you? Ground you? I'm going to hobble you!" Kennedy and Stiles shared a look, hearing his dad sigh. "Now, please, tell me you're all right. Tell me that you're safe."

Kennedy tilted her head side to side, leaning to the microphone. "Do you want us to lie?" She sheepishly asked.

"Oh, God," Noah mutters. "Okay. Tell me, tell me what I can do. How can I help?"

"Lydia!" Kennedy says finally.

Stiles nods, "She was at the school when we called Mason to look for her, but now we're not hearing back from either of them." Stiles explained. The boy ran a hand over his face, "I don't know, Dad, I don't know what I'm doin'. You know, I'm just, I'm trying to save my friends."

Noah replies to his son, "Okay. I'll find Lydia and Mason." He says. "You get Scott and Kira. You save your friends."

"Dad, if it's one of the Berserkers at the school, you're gonna need firepower. A lot." Stiles told his father. He hung up the phone, him and Kennedy walking back to Liam, Malia, and Peter.

"What do we do now?" Liam asked.

Malia looked over the boy's shoulder, "Duck!" The Tate grabbed Liam, pushing him down. Kennedy jumps back as a Berserker swing at them.

"Get back! Get back!" Peter shouts, grabbing Kennedy. "Go, go, go!" The group sprint down the path, and away from the bone creature. Kennedy looked behind them as the Berserker chased them relentlessly.

༺❀༻

Peter dragged his daughters and their friends into an open space. Malia looked at Stiles, "Go find Kira and Scott," She said, tossing the boy Kira's sword.

Stiles looked at Kennedy. "Come on, Babe, at least I'm not fighting in a skirt!" Kennedy chimed with a wink. Stiles looked between them all, running down the hall.

The Berserker ran into view. Peter hid behind a pillar, looking at his two daughters and Liam. The three were oblivious to the fact that behind the bone mask, was Scott McCall. Kennedy snarled lowly. Kennedy jumped at the Berserker, swinging her claws. The Berserker grabs her arm, snapping it backward. Kennedy shouts in pain as he throws her backwards. Peter jumps in, hitting him. The bone creature's head snaps back, but he hits Peter. Kennedy snaps her arm back into place, looking up at Liam as the boy tries to fight too. The Berserker hits the teenage boy.

Liam falls to the ground, and Kennedy helps him up. Malia and Peter jump back in as Kennedy and Liam do too. Every hit, one of them was knocked back down. The Berserker looked at Kennedy, snarling as it hit her.

Kennedy's head snapped back. Liam and Malia fight the Berserker, each of them getting hit back. When Kennedy looked back, her eyes were red. She roars, running forwards. Leaping in the air, Kennedy hits the Berserker in the face. Kicking him in the chest, the Berserker tumbles to the ground.

Peter grabs the large claw from the table behind them. "Take him. Aim for the skull!" He tosses the claw at Malia. Peter and Liam grab the Berserker. The two male werewolves pin it to the wall. "Kill it. Kill it now!"

Stiles and Kira ran into the room. "No, wait, wait," Stiles calls as Malia raises her arm. "Malia, wait!"

Kira runs over, swinging her sword. Just as Malia goes to stab the Berserker, the Yukimura slices the claw. It falls to the ground, and Kennedy looks at her boyfriend in confusion. "It's Scott. It's Scott." Kennedy's eyes widened as she slowly looked back at the monster. Under the mask, she could see eyes. Familiar brown eyes. She exhaled sharply, realizing it was true. Scott was the Berserker.

Scott growled as he shoved Liam and Peter to the ground. Malia looked at the McCall in confusion before he hit her in the face. "Scott?" Kira called out as Scott approached the fallen Liam. Kennedy looked at her friend, her partner.

"Scott, it's me." Stiles pleads, but the Berserker version of their friend punches him, sending him to the ground.

Kennedy snarled, moving in front of Liam. She growled, and Scott grabbed her, shoving her into the wall. Kennedy grunted as she felt the stone against her back. Peter watched, waiting for someone to do something, like kill the McCall. "Scotty," Kennedy breathed out, seeing his brown eyes. Her feet slowly lifted off the ground. "Scotty, listen, please," The Berserker seemed to freeze for a minute as Kennedy eyeballed his fist. Liam and Stiles stood up, watching the girl. "Remember your first full moon? You had escaped into the woods to find Allison. I ran after you because I didn't want my monster best friend eating my new friend," Tears rolled down the girl's cheek as she let out a breathy laugh, "But I was wrong because you're not a monster. You're my friend. You're my best friend," Kennedy inhaled sharply, smiling sadly, "And you're a werewolf. You're an Alpha. You're Scott McCall."

Derek Hale stands over the shirtless teenage boy. "Is it really so bad, Scott? That you can see better." Young Scott McCall gripped his arm, the wound from the hunters struggling to heal. "Hear more clearly, move faster than any human could ever hope? You've been given something that most people would kill for." Scott looked up, "The bite is a gift."

"I don't want it."

The Hale leans closer to the McCall's face. "You will. And you're gonna need me if you want to learn how to control it. So you and me, Scott," He places his hand on Scott's shoulder. "We're brothers now." Scott doesn't say anything, but his thoughts are caught off by the sound of a voice, but not just any voice.

"Hello! Scott!" Sixteen-year-old Kennedy yelled. She was looking around the woods for what felt like the 5th time. Her breathing was heavy from running, and she couldn't help but feel angry at herself for letting him leave. "Scott? Where are you!?"

Scott pants heavily as he looks up at Derek. "That's Kennedy," He grunts. Slowly standing, Scott looks around. "Where is she?"

Derek glares at the young wolf. "Why is she out here?" He bellows. Scott looks up, not sure why Derek was so angry.

"She must have chased after me, I, I don't know." Scott groans as he stands up, turning to try and identify her location.

"Scott!" Kennedy yells again, her voice echoing in his ears. She had been looking for him for what felt like hours, now, and yet she couldn't find him. Tears brimmed her eyes as concerned thought entered her mind. What if he's hurt? What if he's dead? A sob escapes her lips as she now thinks about the concept of her best friend being gone forever. She stops walking, tears rolling down her cheeks as she tosses her hands to her side. "SCOTT!"

Her voice howls through the forest, catching the attention of the McCall. Leaving Derek behind, Scott runs in the direction he heard her voice. Derek stays behind, knowing what she did wasn't supposed to happen. He began to worry if this curse she had was breaking. Biting the inside of his cheek, Derek turns around and walks towards his- their destroyed home.

The brunette girl cries as she runs her hand through her hair. The faint sound of leaves crunching catches her off guard. Looking to her right, she sees a sprinting figure, wearing no shirt, and muddy jeans. She lets out a laugh of relief, beginning to run towards him too. Scott is faster, and grabs onto the girl's small figure, holding her in his strong arms tightly. Kennedy cries as her arms wrap around his neck, all the worries she had finally left.

Scott lowered his fist slowly. His eyes softened as he looked at Kennedy. His friend, his former crush, his Partenaire Lycan. Scott screwed his eyes shut, snapping out of the Berserker-like spell. He lowered Kennedy to the ground, the girl looking at him with a hopeful gleam in her eye. Scott's head snapped to the side as he reached his hand up to the skull on his face. He stumbled backward, trying to tug it off. Stiles grabbed Kennedy, the two of them watching.

The McCall looked at his hands, the bones and armor all over him. He began ripping it off. Pieces began to fall to the ground, and Kennedy eyeballed Scott's tattoo on his arm as he slid off a sleeve. Malia looked at her sister, then back at Scott in amazement. Peter, on the other hand, seemed rather annoyed as Scott pulled off the chest piece he previously had on.

His hands grabbed at the side of the skull mask on his face. Kennedy tensed up, watching her friend tug harshly. Suddenly, a crack slips through the mask, and a glowing light emits from the crevice. Kennedy gasps as Scott snaps open the skull, his full Alpha Werewolf face coming out as he roared. Scott looked forwards, seeing his friends. However, he didn't focus on them.

"You." That was all Scott said. Kennedy narrowed her eyes, turning around. Malia and her looked at their dad, who had an unreadable expression. "The only one who knew as much as Argent about Berserkers. About the Nagual. You taught Kate." Malia furrowed her brow, shocked. Kennedy came to the realization her dad had betrayed her, betrayed her trust. "You helped her. All for power."

"For my family's power." Peter snapped. Malia turned her body, backing up from her dad slowly. "To be rightfully inherited by me and my Partenaire Lycan." Kennedy's mouth opened in shock as she stared at the man she once called her father. "Not usurped by some idiot teenage boy, so incorruptible, he won't shed the blood of his enemies even when justified." Peter tilted his head, his eyes turning to their steel blue, "You don't deserve your power." He growled out. "Not power like this."

Malia stumbled back as Peter's face changed. It was like the Alpha back when Kennedy was only Kennedy Stallard, but more human. Peter roared, but then so did Malia. Malia ran at her dad, who swiftly punched her to the ground. Malia grunted as she fell. "Oh, sorry, sweetheart, we'll talk about this later." Peter pouted. Kira swung her sword, going to step towards the eldest Hale.

"Kira!" The girl turned around, seeing Scott and Kennedy standing side by side. Kennedy's eyes turned red as she glared down at her dad. Something in her was rising. Something she had struggled to suppress for so long. Peter looked at the two teens, craning his beck.

"You were my Beta first, Scott," Peter said slowly. Kennedy looked at Stiles. He could see it change in her expression. She wasn't necessarily losing control, no, but it was something else. "It was my bite that changed your life. And my bite that can end it."

Scott stood next to Kennedy. "Then, end it, Peter." He snapped, "Because you won't get another chance."

Peter roared loudly, running at Scott. The McCall did the same. The two men run at each other, meeting in the middle. Kennedy looked at Stiles, unsure what to do. Scott falls to the ground, and Kennedy looks at her dad. She remembered Laura's death, she remembered him almost killing her in the video store, almost killing her friends in the school. Kennedy remembered Peter biting Lydia. All the terrible things Kennedy had chosen to ignore or forgive, just because she wanted her dad to be the same man he was when she was little. Now, however, she could see he wasn't that. She'd never get the same Peter ever again. He was a monster.

The Hale duo circled each other. "You're my daughter, Bunny. Everything I do is for you," Peter told her. A single tear rolled down Kennedy's cheek as she shook her head.

"You don't get to use me an excuse anymore," Kennedy said, a look of pure hated falling upon her features. "Cause you and I?" Kennedy's eyes shifted to red as Peter rose a brow. "We were never a family." Kennedy roared as her face changed completely. Peter growled as Kennedy jumped at him, the two of them tumbling to the ground.

Scott flipped onto his feet. Kennedy is thrown into the wall as Peter blocks Scott's hit. The McCall grunts as he is punched in the gut. Scott ducked down, letting Kennedy kick her dad in the stomach. Peter roared as Scott flipped backwards. Kennedy fought her dad, blocking off his hits, as she claws at his arm. Peter grabs Kennedy's hair, tugging her down.

Peter punches Scott in the face, and the boy whips around him quickly.  "Come on, Scott," Peter snapped, "Come on!" Scott punched Peter, but the Hale blocked off the hit and threw him into the side. The wall cracked as Scott fall to the ground. Peter grabbed the boy by the throat, tossing him again. "Fight like an Alpha, Scott." The eldest Hale grabbed the Alpha, shoving him back.

Kennedy jumped off a wall on the side, tackling Peter from behind. Peter fell to the ground, and Scott punched the man in the chest. Kennedy lifted her dad by his shirt when Peter grabbed her head. Kennedy grunted as her dad slammed her into the pillar behind them. Scott swooped in, and Peter smirked. The eldest hale extended his fist, hitting Scott in the jaw, then the stomach, Peter growled lowly. Kira and Malia shrunk back. Kennedy looked up, grabbing onto the vines wrapping around the pillar, pulling herself up. Scott fell to the ground.

"You want to defeat me?" Peter asked the McCall, pulling him off the floor. "You're going to have to kill me!" Stiles jumps back as Scott flies through the air, his body smacking against the wall. Scott fell, groaning in pain.

"Good thing one of us is okay with that,"

Peter slowly turned around. He froze for just a moment, seeing Kennedy's face. He knew the expression well. He had seen it many times on himself. She was no longer fighting to survive. She was fighting to kill. Kennedy roared as she kicked out her leg, causing Peter to fall. Peter roared, grabbing Kennedy's ankle and tugging her back. The female Hale's back hit the stone as Peter swung her body to the side. She felt her back crack as she lands on the ground.

Liam runs out, looking between his two Alphas, and Peter. The Hale grabbed a church bench, throwing it in the air. Liam's eyes widen as he ducks to the ground. Wood shatters around him as he turns to see the man that caused all of this. Peter roared at the Dunbar. Kennedy and Scott looked at each other. Kennedy sprang to her feet, as did Scott. Peter looked between them both, growling. Scott approached the former Alpha.

Every hit Peter attempted to take. was deflected by Scott. Kennedy approached from behind, watching as Scott ducked Peter's hit. Peter shouted in frustration, trying to pursue the fight.  Scott kept a straight face as he deflected each and every hit. Until Kennedy came from behind, punching her dad in the back. Peter stumbled in pain, not expecting what comes next.

Scott punches Peter in the chin, causing the power-hungry Hale to fly into the air. Kennedy watched as Peter's body swung over the stone table, landing in a pile of old wood. Peter grunted in pain, looking up as Kennedy and Scott jumped onto the table. Kennedy glanced at Scott, the two of them sharing a look as they stood up. The Partenaire Lycan tilted her head as she looked at her dad.

The McCall, on the other hand, spoke up. "You were never an Alpha, Peter." He says to the man. Kennedy clenched her jaw, "But you were always a monster."

Peter snarled, moving to push himself off the ground. Scott jumps off the table. The McCall's fist collides with Peter's face. The eldest Hale falls back, rendering unconscious from the impact. Kennedy jumped down, looking at her dad with a sad, unreadable expression.

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Kennedy Happy birthday to you!"

Young Kennedy Hale with big brown eyes smiles wide as she leans over, blowing out the candles. Her family around her cheers loudly. Sloane Valet smiled at her daughter. Derek and Laura stood side by side, blowing party whistles. A pair of strong arms wrap around Kennedy, tugging her into his lap. "Happy 6th birthday, Bunny." Says Peter Hale. He had a warm, friendly smile.

The little girl wraps her arms around him tightly. "Thank you, Daddy!" She coos, shoving her face in his neck. The man sat the girl down, handing her a gift bag. Her eyes widen as she opens it quickly, pulling out the purple tissue paper. Gasping loudly, the girl squeals as she pulls out a white stuffed bunny. "Oh my gosh!"

"It loves pink, just like you," Peter softly, gesturing to the pink bow on the bunny.

Kennedy felt a hand link with hers. The Hale slowly looks up, seeing Scott. Her closest companion, and her Alpha. She smiled softly, her cheek having a smudge of dirt. Scott returned the expression, thankful he didn't do this alone.

Everyone slowly came out of their hiding spots, looking at the two standing figures. Scott slowly turned around, as did Kennedy. The Hale girl looked at everyone around her. Liam Dunbar, the newly turned werewolf who abandoned her after she tried to get him McDonald's. Kira Yukimura, the kitsune with badass fighting skills and socially awkward tendencies. Malia Tate, Kennedy's were-coyote half-sister who couldn't tell you how to do a single math question. Scott McCall, her best friend turned werewolf by her dad, and she was now his Partenaire Lycan. And then there was Stiles.

Her boyfriend. Her best friend. The love of her life.

༺❀༻

The sun began to rise on La Iglesia. Kennedy looked over at Derek. "Will I see you again?" She asks him.

Derek looks at Kennedy, smiling softly. "You know you will," He tells her. Kennedy sighs as Derek wraps his arms around her. He was alive and safe. And so was she. That was all either of them could have wanted. "I love you, little wolf,"

"I love you too, sour wolf."

Kennedy stood next to Scott and Kira, looking at Chris Argent. The Calaveras stood behind him. Kennedy looked at Chris sadly, wishing she had the chance to see him more. "There's enough yellow wolfsbane to keep Peter out for the trip back. But be careful."

Scott looked at the hunters, "You're really going with them?"

Chris shrugged his shoulder, "I made a deal with the Calaveras weeks ago." He told the alpha, "They'll leave you alone. All of you." Kennedy looked behind her, seeing Stiles, Malia, and Liam, "But only if I help them catch Kate."

"What if you can't?" Kira asked, covered in blood from her own injuries.

"I'll find her. Someone has to." Chris gave Kennedy a gentle smile. The girl returned it, playing with the arrow bracelet on her wrist. The Argent began to walk away, following the Calavera family.

Scott glanced at Kira, pursing his lips together. Stiles, Liam, and Malia approached the trio. Stiles wrapped an arm around Kennedy's waist, the girl leaning on his shoulder. "I'll tell Parrish to start the car," Malia said, walking away. Kira, Liam, and Stiles move to follow. Scott looks over Kennedy's shoulder, seeing Derek walking around his car.

Derek came to a stop, looking at the pair of Alphas. He gave a closed-mouth smile, nodding goodbye. Scott returned it, and Kennedy gave a wave. The Alphas looked at each other, wrapping their arms around each other's shoulders. "Do you think I could borrow that extra bedroom again? You know, now that my dad's gone bonkers and my cousin totally abandoned me."

Scott chuckled, patting Kennedy's shoulder, "You're always welcome at my place,"

༺❀༻

Stiles, Malia, and Kennedy walked into the Sheriff's office. Kennedy and Malia smiled as Stiles ran to his dad, hugging him tightly. "Dad, you smell terrible," Stiles commented.

"Yup. You do too." Noah joked. Kennedy and Malia shared a look. Noah looked at the girls, knowing they both had just lost their father, "Girls, come here." Malia looked at Kennedy in surprise, who gave a reassuring nod. The four of them gathered in a group hug. "I'm just so glad you're all safe." He says, "Hey, what do you say we get outta here, get something to eat?"

Stiles raises a hand, "Great. I'm starving." He shouts. Noah, Kennedy, and Malia begin walking away. Stiles goes to follow, stopping. He looks at his wrist, seeing he was handcuffed to the desk. "Yo, Daddy?" He called out, Kennedy and Malia looked over in confusion.

Noah, on the other hand, ignored his so. "What's your favorite food?" He asks Malia.

"Uh, pizza."

"Hey, Dad?" They all looked back at Stiles. Kennedy giggled, waving goodbye as she drags Malia out of the Sheriff's Station.

"Bring me back a slice?"

༺❀༻

School started up after that weekend, and Kennedy stood next to Coach Finstock, looking at Liam, Stiles, and Scott. "Then Stiles said that Scott and Kira were stuck in Mexico which was why they missed the game." Liam explained, "Uh, so we went down to Mexico to drive them back from Mexico and that's why we all missed practice." Bobby leaned closer to Liam, "'Cause we were all in Mexico."

Finstock looked at Kennedy, who shrugged innocently. The lacrosse Coach looked at Scott, "You took Kira on a date to Mexico?" He asked.

"It was our first real date." Scott defends.

"In Mexico?"

Stiles clapped his hands together. "They wanted to do something special." He told him. Coach looked between the three boys for a long moment.

"Okay. I believe you."

Kennedy rose a brow, "Really?" She asked.

"Absolutely not." Coach snapped. Kennedy shrugged, finding that more fitting. "But I've had experiences south of the border that would knock the genitals off you boys. Still, let me be clear to you two." Coach says, pointing at Scott and Stiles. "This kid's the best talent I've seen in years. So he's your responsibility now." Scott and Stiles looked at each other as Coach spoke. "You boys are gonna stick together. You're gonna look out for each other. And you're gonna have each other's backs. You got it?"

Scott smiled softly at Liam. The coach had no idea just how right he was. "We got it." Liam looked up, smiling at the McCall.

"And Stilinski, keep yours and Kennedy's business out of my office!" Kennedy's eyes widen as Coach walks away. Liam and Scott stifle laughs as Kennedy and Stiles turn red.

Kennedy looked over at Stiles, "I'm going to kill you," She said, narrowing her eyes.

"It takes two to tango!" Stiles shouted, squealing as he ran away from his girlfriend.

༺❀༻

Stiles climbed out of his van. Kennedy Hale sat at the edge of a pile of wood that was now all that was left of her childhood home. She held a small sign in her hands that once read Princess Kennedy's room. Stiles sighed as he slowly leaned onto the dead grass, sitting next to his girlfriend.

"Another adventure to add to the books," Kennedy sighed, holding the pink diary she's had for just over a year. She had got it for her sixteenth birthday from Ben, right before all of this started.

Stiles chuckled under his breath. "We really need our own TV show or something." He said, causing Kennedy to laugh. Stiles and Kennedy sat in silence for a moment, staring at the seemingly empty spot where the house once stood. "They would be proud of you, you know. Your family."

Kennedy softly smiled, "I'd like to think so," She said quietly. She looked over at Stiles, "My mom always said I'd be stronger than her one day, and I'd probably go off saving the world like Wonder Woman or something."

Stiles scrunched her nose, "I'd like to think you're more like Catwoman," He said casually. Kennedy looked over in confusion, raising a brow.

"I'm literally a werewolf," She deadpanned, "Why would I be Catwoman?" She asked in confusion. Stiles looked over, a gentle smile on his face.

"Cause I'm Batman, and we all know Catwoman was the best love interest for Batman."

Kennedy laughed as she leaned over, kissing Stiles slowly and softly. She pulled away, her hand caressing his face as she looked into his honey brown eyes. "I love you," She hummed, her voice soft like rose petals and sweet like candy.

"I love you, too," Stiles replied, leaning back in to kiss her again. Forever, Stiles and Kennedy's souls would be connected, unlike anything the world could describe. It was as if somewhere it was written the two were destined to fall in love epically and extraordinarily. They were soulmates, whether they truly realized it or not.

It was as though nothing could change their love for each other, but rather only make it stronger.

NATALIA'S NOTES 
━━━━༺❀༻━━━━

I just reread the ending and I'm tearing up! I love them! 

Anyways, that's the end of season 4!! Today is actually January 3rd, 2022, which means it is Kennedy's 27th birthday!!! It's weird to think that TECHNICALLY season 4-5 happened 10 years ago. Oh, how time flies (I'm laughing you just can't see me).

No, but really this is technically the first time I'm actually celebrating Kennedy's birthday, so in a few hours I'm putting up a short birthday special chapter that is her sweet sixteen from pre-season 1!! It's like 1K words, very short, very simple.

I loved writing season four, it is my favorite season after all. This was the chapter I deleted like 4K words of and cried about for three months & got writers block forever. This chapter is the source of my pain. Anywhore, I'm very excited for you guys to see season 5, which will be coming out soon! I'm not holding you hostage, I promise. I'm giggling thinking about the chaos I have created for myself with season 5 and I am so ready to see everyone's reactions. However updates will be slowing down as I don't know when the movie comes out and I don't wat to finish this book now and then have you guys wait 8 months for a new chapter. So please DON'T YELL AT ME for slower updates, I'm doing this for us. In the longer break periods, you can read my other fics (because the Kennedy multiverse is expanding as always) and I plan on updating Maps & Exquisite Corpse both very soon. 

As always, I hope you enjoyed this chapter because I did. I love each and every one of you, and I'll see you soon<3.

TOODLES!