I loved that I could play guitar. It helped with the pain, to sing. To play. It helped with the pain that life gave me.

My dad was dead.

My mother was an abusive drunk.

But then she'd do these things, like bust into tears when she'd seen my fear or when I flinched while she was joking around, and She would make me swear never to never leave her.

The things that helped more was the physical pain. Not from her, or from anyone else, but from myself. It calmed my mind and stilled my thought. The stings awoke me and I found that I could focus more as the red ran down my arm and the knife glinted against my skin. It was bad, but accurate.

I was at school right now, at lunch, strumming on my guitar ok the bleachers. I was singing "colors" by Halsey, my foot tapping. I'd gotten hot and looked around, making sure no one was around. I slipped off my shawl thing and sat in my tank top. Then I kept playing.

This time I played "Stitches," keeping an eye on the arm with the swollen, fresh cuts and the other with the stitches across the top.

"I thought that I'd been hurt before
But no one's ever left me quite this sore.
Your words cut deeper than a knife (oh)
Now I'm gonna need someone to
Bring me back to life.

Got a feeling
that I'm going under
But I know that
I'll make it out alive;
If I quite calling you my lover-
Move on.

You watch me
Bleed until I can't breath: I'm shaking.
Falling onto my knees.
And now that
I'm without hot kisses,
I'll be needing stitches.

Tripping over myself-
I'm aching-
Begging you to come help.
And now that I'm
Without your kisses,
I'll be needing stitches.

Just like a moth drawn to a flame,
You lured me in
I couldn't sense the pain.
You bitter heart cold to the touch (ah)
Now I'm gonna reap what I sow,
I'm left seeing red on my own.

Got a feeling that I'm going under,
But I know that I'll make it out alive;
If I quite calling you my lover-
Move on.

You watch me bleed until I can't breath-
I'm shaking.
Falling not my knees.
And now that I'm without your kisses,
I'll be needing stitches.

Needle in the thread,
Gotta get you outta my head.
Needle in the thread,
Gonna wind up dead.

Needle in the thread,
Gotta get you outta my head.
Needle in the thread,
Gonna wind up dead.

Needle in the thread,
Gotta get you outta my head.
Needle in the thread,
Gonna wind up dead.

You watch me
Bleed until I ant breath;
I'm shaking.
Falling onto my knees.
And now that
I'm without your kisses,
I'l be needing stitches."

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

"I'll be needing stitches all right," I whispered.

"Seem you already have them," a voice said.

My eyes shot open and I saw Isacc Lahey standing casually against the bleachers.

I set my guitar down and pulled on my shawl.

"Hello," I said, my voice shaking.

"You don't have to hide them," he said. "Not for me."

He stepped up the bleachers until he stood next to me then sat. He took his leather jacket off and pulled his elbows onto his lap.

There was no marks there.

"What are you showing me?" I asked him.

He moved his hands swiftly while I looked up at him and when I looked down all I saw was blood, dripping from a wound. I gasped. Right before my eyes, the shallow wound closed like it was invisibly sewn. My eyes went huge and any noise was cut off as my throat tightened.

"That's the only reason they're not there anymore. But... They used to be." He paused. "I hope I can trust you? To keep a secret?"

I nodded.

"What if I told you that you could be like me?" Isacc added after a pause. "You could heal instantly. You still get the pain but no one knows and the mark goes away. You can wear whatever you want." He brought his hand up and showed me his elongated claws. "And you don't have to smuggle around a blade."

"What... Are you?" I whispered.

"What do you think I am?" He whispered back.

"I... Think you're a werewolf," I said uncertainly as he shifted right there, his eyes yellow and his canine sharp.

I touched his face. "Wow."

He shifted back to human and leaned back. I realized he was trying to get me to do something, but it seemed to be lost. "You're not scared?"

"Why would I be? You're amazing," I said simply.

Let it be known I'd had a crush on Isacc since Freshmen year started.

"I... Am?"

"Yeah! Not only are you drop dead gorgeous, you're strong. You took all the things your dad gave you and still had the will power to-" I cut off, then hung my head. "I'm sorry."

"No. I- I didn't realize that people even noticed," he said.

"I live on the other side of you from Jackson. We're neighbors," I said sheepishly. "Ironically, my mom...." I shook my head and looked downs at my strings.

"I know. Both that we're neighbors and that your mom is as bad as my dad," he said softly.

"So, are you part of a pack then? Is all that stuff true?" I asked tentatively.

"Yes! And you can be too! You can be strong and fast and heal quickly and-" he paused. "They're dangerous. Hunters. They're trying to kill us. And there's another pack too. McCall. Scott McCall. Small, but just as dangerous and effective as the hunters. They actually have a hunter in their pack..."

"There's a lot you need to tell me," I said.

"If you want this life," he said back.

I paused, then asked one simple question. "In this life, who- or, rather, what are the rules? Who can be friends with who? Who's in the pack? Can we... Date?" I asked ever so softly.

He smirked. "There is only one rule: listen to the alpha. That's Derek. Boyd and Erica are also in our pack. That's it. And, yes, we're aloud to... Date," he said, leaning forward.

I blushed.

"That so?"

"Mh hm," he hummed.

I found myself leaning forward too and Isacc brushed his lips on mine before leaning back.

"Come with me. Everything will be better now. We'll protect you from harm and you can help us now. You'll be strong. You'll be free from your mom. I know it doesn't sound like a good idea and you don't want to leave your mom, but you have to."

He touched my cheek softly, looking into my eyes with desperation. "I don't want you to get hurt before I can really kiss you," he said.

"So kiss me," I said back.

He chuckled. "Not yet. I want to keep you here a while. I just officially met you. We're friends. You're going to want someone to lean on when you first turn. Worry about that for now. Jut that. We'll happen later." He winks at me.

I nod. "Okay."

"Then, what are you waiting for? How do I 'turn' as you say?" I asked him.

"The alpha. He'll bite you. And then-BAM-you're good." He smirked again.

"Okay. Let's do it," I said, more than ready.

"You understand the very real death laying over my head? It'll be over your head too."

"I'm sure. And I'm ready."

"Okay. Then let's do it."

We stand and he takes my hand, leading me to a black car with a man in the driver's seat.

"It's lunch," I said.

"And you're going N to let that stop you? You'll have to get used to a messy school schedule," the man said. I looked at Isacc and nodded.

"Okay. Let's do it."

Isacc opened the door for me. "Derek will drive you somewhere no one can see. We don't want you turning right here," Isacc said.

I nodded. "Makes sense."

I went to get in the car but suddenly I heard my name.

"Y/N!" Someone screeched.

My head turned to look towards a boy racing at me. Oh look. Scott and Stiles. Hm.

I slit my eyes at them and slipped in the car.

Derek drove away after Isacc slipped in the back.

We were gone. They were too late.