I fluffed out my hair in the vanity above my desk and smiled. Pulling on the watch and bracelets, I let them slide down my wrists as I spritzed a bit of perfume. Still smiling, I touched up the mascara that was already trying to smudge on the corner of my eyes, when my gaze fell down to the picture that sat on my desk. I fondly recalled the three of us laughing stupidly about something that now escapes my memory, but it was a perfect day regardless.

"What do you think, Allison?" I gestured to myself and down to my outfit, "Do you think Lydia's gonna approve?" She didn't reply but I ignored that dull ache still residing in me whenever I stared too long at her picture. "I think so too, it looks great. And my converse are going to go perfectly with it," I squeezed into my shoes as I said so, looking away from the picture when I heard the doorbell ring downstairs.

"June, Stiles is here!" I took one last look in the mirror and made a grab for my backpack. Double checking that I had everything, I unplugged my phone and shut the door to my bedroom. Ginny was back in the kitchen, pouring two travel mugs of coffee and already dressed for work.

"Are you sure you two don't want breakfast before you go? You have some extra time," I shook my head, kissing her cheek as I grabbed the first filled mug.

"Stiles is taking me, we're making it a date."

Ginny nodded, kissing my cheek in turn before I was rushing back to the front door. I shut it behind me and was met with Stiles leaning against his jeep. He smiled at me, and I walked up to kiss him on the lips chastely. He was quick to get back in the jeep and start the car as I hopped in as well. He pulled out of the drive and together we were off, him grabbing onto my hand and squeezing.

"First day of senior year," I commented giddily, and that earned a soft smile from him, eyes flickering with excitement.

"Last first day ever," he replied and my smile dropped.

"Um, it better not be, we've got colleges to go to, buddy."

"Last first day of high school, then," He corrected, and I nodded in contentment.

"That's more like it," I sat back and watched the familiar streets wind around to a place I was fairly sure didn't have breakfast.

"Stiles."

"Hmm?"

"Are we going to your dad's work?" Him not taking his eyes off the road was answer enough. I slapped him lightly on the chest in disbelief, "Stiles!"

"Look I'm sorry, there's just something I have to take care of."

"But food," I whined, feeling my stomach growl.

"I just need to check this out with my dad, something doesn't really feel right with Theo Raeken. I just - I need to see if there's anything we can dig up on this guy."

"But food," I muttered, as we pulled in to the station and Stiles parked the jeep. As soon as the engine cut, his gaze snapped to mine when we still heard a constant groan that sounded similar to that of his car engine. His eyes widened in realization that it was in fact my stomach growling in protest of having no food in it.

"I promise you when we're done, we'll get some food, okay?"

I pursed my lips, "You're paying."

He kissed me on the cheek and hopped out of the car, me following right behind him. As we walked through the station doors, my phone beeped, and I pulled it out to see a message from Scott.

Deaton agrees with you, the claws are definitely talons. To be more specific: a harpy eagle.

Pausing my stride, I replied, Okay, I know for a fact that there isn't any kind of record of any supernatural species coming fully equipped with harpy eagle talons. More specifically talons that can supposedly drain you of your power.

Stiles spotted his dad and ushered the both of us over. He started talking to his dad while my phone buzzed again.

He also mentioned the rules of the supernatural not being as rigid as he first thought. Or that someone might be trying to change those rules.

My heart began hammering at the thought of what Deaton was guessing at. I wasn't trying to sound boastful or anything, but the only people who I could think would ever even begin to explore changing the rules that the supernatural follows would be witches. And not even I, the most gifted (to put it very delicately) witch I knew, was capable of doing such a thing.

But before I could truly dwell on Scott's text any longer, I was interrupted by an enormous eye roll that I could feel resonate in my soul directed at both Stiles and myself. Stiles' dad proceeded to turn around and walk away from the two of us. My boyfriend, as misguided as he was, took that as an invitation to follow along

"Alright, I know his family left town around the time Theo was nine or ten," Sheriff Stilinski opened the door to his office and Stiles shut it behind the three of us, "His older sister got in an accident when he was eight."

"Please go to school," The sheriff begged before turning to me, "Please, make him go to school."

"Dad, this kid is a werewolf," Stiles pressed, not backing down as per usual.

"Your best friend is a werewolf," Stilinski reminded him, before gesturing over to me, "You're dating a witch, who I'm pretty sure could blow us all to kingdom come at any given moment if she really wanted to. You're friends with a werecoyote. I still don't know what Kira's supposed to be. But when the flying monkeys come soaring through this station, you will have my undivided attention. Until then, just go to school." I could genuinely see the wear and tear of the stress of keeping up with Stiles had put him under. Part of me also wondered if I was going to look that way trying to keep up with him.

"What did you do?" Stiles was once again proving my point by moving on to the next topic at lightning speed. He pointed a suspicious finger at his dad.

"What? What do you mean, 'What did I do'?"

"There's something different about you," Stiles gave him a thorough once-over, and stepped closer.

"What are you talking about?"

Stiles got so close, he was practically nose-to-nose with him. He kept moving around, sniffing him like a bloodhound. I was fairly certain that if Stilinski hadn't stopped him, he'd've pulled out a TSA scanning kit that he would've somehow managed to illegally obtain and miniaturize.

"What is it? What's different?"

"For the love of god, Stiles, go to school. And get your girlfriend some food, I could hear her stomach growling the minute she walked into the station." They both looked at me, and I shrugged, blushing.

"I will go if you promise to do a full background check of the Raekens." 

"No," Stilinski declared. "You know what? Just because I'm the only law enforcement officer who knows anything about this, does not make it my responsibility to do something every time you have a minor suspicion."

I was still on the prospect of food and Scott's text when a lightbulb went off. "Except you're not the only law enforcement officer who knows anything." Both Stilinskis looked at me and I jerked my head backwards in the direction of the deputy whose desk we passed earlier.

"Parrish!"

Jordan was quick to get out of his desk and open the office door. He hesitantly glanced around at the three of us: Stiles with his suspicion, the sheriff with his exasperation, and me with my starvation.

"Yeah?"

"Can you run a-" Stiles and his dad started speaking at the same time, before Stiles stopped. He waved his father on to continue, and the sheriff rolled his eyes once more. "I need you to run a background check."

Parrish looked both relieved and annoyed, "For who?"

"Theo Raeken and his family. Anything you can pull up." Parrish jumped when my stomach made a sound of a whale giving birth essentially, and he was quick to make an exit.

Stiles turned to me, "This will only take about fifteen minutes. School afterward?"

"Fuck you, Stiles, get me some goddamn food."

                                                                                     *****

"So you ran a background check," Malia confirmed as we all hiked up the stairs near the student entrance. "And all you found was a speeding ticket?"

"Speeding ticket signed by Theo's dad eight years ago." Stiles informed her. I would've pitched in had my mouth not been full of hash browns. I was happily munching on my food while Stiles led Malia and I along.

"Which means what?" Malia was at a loss.

"Who speeds?" Stiles turned around, and I was slightly afraid to answer the question in fear of it being rhetorical. "People trying to get away from something." It took all I had to not roll my eyes.

"Well how many tickets do you have?" Malia asked.

"None," Stiles didn't even bat an eyelash.

I swallowed my food, "How many tickets would you have if your dad didn't get you out of them?" I smirked at Stiles, knowing he was caught.

"Seventeen." Malia and I both shared a look before looking back over at my boyfriend. I found a trashcan and threw the remnants of my breakfast away, and by the time I came back, I heard Malia sharing her opinion.

"I don't know, Stiles. I mean, I see why you're worried. He's really hot," I smiled when I saw Stiles' expression take a turn for the disbelieving. I turned back to Malia, who wasn't paying the slightest attention. "He's got like great hair, a perfect body. You should definitely feel threatened."

Stiles glanced back over at me and my far too casual appearance, "Thank you. Because I do. Now more than ever!"

"You want me to torture him?" Malia went on, and I smiled.

"No torturing necessary, Mal."

"I'm pretty sure I could take him."

"You know something, I bet you're right. I'd pay good money to see that happen," I went on, staring as my gaze fell back to Stiles.

"Look, you guys, I have a plan. Alright? There are steps to doing this right."

"Enlighten us."

"We get the story, we verify the facts. You find the piece that doesn't fit and - and catch him in the act. That's how you do it." Stiles glanced over my shoulder and rolled his eyes. Both Malia and myself followed his stare to see Theo stepping out of an SUV and turning to face the high school. He met our gazes and waved, giving us a large smile.

"Why are you so suspicious of this guy?" Malia asked, turning back to Stiles.

"Because I remember Theo from the fourth grade, okay? That's not Theo." The bell rang overhead, and I heard Malia say something about not being late to her class. I myself was still staring at Theo, eyebrow raised as he hitched up his backpack and made his way inside.

"June, you with me?" I turned back to see Stiles staring at me with concern.

"Malia's right, he's not hard on the eyes." Stiles gave me a blank stare. "He's so not my type, though."

"Somehow that does little to comfort me."

I rolled my eyes, taking his hand, "Oh would you relax, Stiles. You've got nothing to worry about."

"Yeah, not really feeling much better after that statement." Kissing his cheek, I sighed, not entirely sure what would make him feel better. He gave me the opportunity when he spoke up again. "Just out of curiosity, what exactly is your type?"

Smiling, I answered, "You know, my type is kind of all over the place."

"How so?"

"Tall, dark hair, brown eyes. I like dimples on a guy, and oh my goodness all the moles and freckles I can get my hands on. I like guys who really throw themselves into something without so much as caring what anyone else thinks. I love a guy who loves his family, and is protective of his friends. I also love it when they like to solve mysteries. Usually my type of guy is right in the end."

He stopped walking with me and smiled, "You think I'm right?"

I shrugged, "I don't know what I think about Theo, Stiles. But I do know that I trust you, and I trust your judgment. So whatever you're going to do, I support you in it."

I was nearly cut off when Stiles crashed his lips onto mine. I placed my fingers in his hair and kissed back, pouring love and support into it. I could tell that whatever I said, he needed to hear, and badly.

"I love you," He whispered, and I smiled.

"I love you. Now come on, we're not going to be late on the last first day of high school." Stiles and I walked the rest of the way to the school hand-in-hand, enjoying the privilege of making it so far in our lives. We parted ways at the entrance, for Stiles had to head down to a forensics elective he was taking, and I had my sights set on the library. Before I could make it there, my eyes fell on Scott as he emptied out his backpack into his locker.

"Scott!" I called, rushing over to him, smiling widely. His eyes lit up when he saw me, and smiled back.

"Hey June, ready for your last first day of high school?" He asked me, still placing notebooks and textbooks into his locker.

"Of course, I'm only taking like two classes this year. But onto more interesting things, are you ready for your first day of AP Biology? You have your notes, your textbook with notes in it..."

He shrugged, sheepishly smiling, "Yes, I've got everything. As for if I'm ready, well I guess so."

"No you don't," I mimicked his smile, "You know so. You've been studying harder for this than anybody I know, and that's just so you can take the class. If you're as serious about this as I believe you are, you're going to do amazing."

"You think so?"

"Yes, I really do. Although, word of warning: You've got Mrs. Finch for AP Bio."

"I know, she's supposedly the best."

"Oh she is, no doubt about that. But she's the best because she pushes people like no other. She's not going to let anything slide in her class, and she won't shelter anyone from what she thinks."

"Okay, I feel like you're trying to dissuade me from this class."

"I'm just saying you have more potential than most. Make sure you show her," Another bell rang overhead, and I took that as my cue. "You're going to do great, Scott." He smiled at me more sincerely, and I smiled back before turning my body in the direction of the new library. I walked down a ways before finding a new set of familiar faces. Well, backs I should say. I purposefully walked a little faster until I was directly behind the two.

Playing it off like I was casually walking, I bumped shoulders with Mason. Turning back to them, I smiled, "Hey guys, ready for today?"

Liam offered a relaxed smile and wave while Mason whipped the book he was holding behind his back and gave me a paranoid smile. My eyebrow quirked in curiosity and suspicion. "You alright there, Mason?"

"Fine," Both the boys replied, and it took a great deal of effort not to roll my eyes. Glancing at the book, I noticed how old it was, but couldn't quite make out the title.

"That book doesn't look your speed, Mason, looks more like mine. You want some help with it?"

"No, no it's - it's fine. It's for a - a video game. Yeah, yeah a video game."

Not buying it for a second, I replied, "Alright, well when you want my help with whatever's actually in that book, send me a text. Liam," I nodded his way before turning back around. What I heard Mason not-so-quietly whisper after nearly stopped me in my tracks.

"Like I said, June, she knows things. She knew what that thing was that attacked the both of us and Lydia. Not to mention she survived facing an explosion head-on. And her Himalayan healing recipe? I can't find it anywhere on the internet or in the library..."

I sighed, wondering why Liam hadn't told Mason about all of us yet. We all agreed that it was for the best, but he seemed to be reluctant still. Making a mental note to ask him about it later, I once again made my way to the library. Finding a snug table, I set down my backpack and dug out my laptop from its depths.

Ultimately, I was just planning on browsing Tumblr and Pinterest until the cows came home (or until my class started), but that day I decided to check my email. What I found in my inbox were two unopened emails, and I was faced with two problems staring at me almost uncomfortably.

Opening separate tabs, I decided to scroll through each college's website and pulled out a spare notebook. I uncapped a new pen, and drew a clear line dividing the page in two. I labeled the left side Stanford and the right side Yale. Immediately under the right side, I put in bold: Ginny's alma mater. I decided to check out Stanford first, and flagged the email one of the administrators sent me with multiple letters of invitation for a private tour. I also filled out the form Yale had sent for a free package of Yale gear, as I was a sucker for free clothes.

I was interrupted from my perusing when someone placed a lone copy of Things Fall Apart down on the table across from me. Glancing up, I tensed when I saw Theo smiling down at me, tentatively tapping the chair.

"This seat taken?" He asked, and I shook my head. He took that as an invitation to sit down and immediately take in what I was doing.

"College applications already?"

"Just weighing my options for the moment," I replied carefully. I stared down at the orange book. "Chinua Achebe, huh?"

"Oh, yeah. First book we're reading in World Literature. It was syllabus day, so Ms. Allen didn't really have anything for us other than just to check out this book. So basically, I have the rest of the period to myself."

"Cool," I said, nodding my head in what I hoped was a nonchalant way.

Theo didn't seem to bite, "I take it colleges are not the only options you're weighing, then."

I admired his directness, "Thinking logically is what I do best."

"So then, what have you been thinking about me joining the pack?"

I hesitated, putting my pen down onto the notebook, "I can't say."

"No?"

"I don't have all the facts yet, haven't gathered enough data."

"Well, what do you want to know?"

"You say you've moved back here, why did you leave?"

Theo's smile fell ever-so-slightly, and he glanced down, "Starting with the hard questions here. We left because my sister passed away. She fell into a river and died from exposure. We all just needed a fresh start."

I flinched in sympathy, but I didn't verbally offer any condolences. "Why are you looking for an alpha? Where's yours?"

"Same as before. He's dead, was killed by two betas in his pack. Twins, I believe." I sighed, rubbing my hands over my face when I thought about Ethan and his dead twin.

"Okay, why Scott? Why come for the alpha who seems to attract the most trouble? Certainly you could find another alpha closer to where you were previously."

"You know Scott, June. Admittedly, you know him more than I do. He's a true alpha, he didn't take his power from someone else, he earned it. I want to be in a pack of someone worthy of their status, not someone who kills for rank."

It was respectable, I'll give him that. He was making it difficult to not like him, but every time I silently commended him for his answers, I thought of Stiles, and his adamancy on Theo being untrustworthy. He was why I felt reserved, and I felt like I needed to respect that more.

"Okay, but how did you convince your parents to move you all the way back out here? I mean, after all that you've been through, I'd've thought that you'd've steered clear of this place."

"Life works in funny ways, I guess. My parents know about the supernatural, and know that I'm essentially an omega. Coming back here as a means of protecting their only living child wasn't a difficult choice to make." We lapsed into silence as I let that information sink in slowly. I was drawn out of my thoughts when Theo spoke again, "What about you?"

"Me?"

"Why did your parents move you to Beacon Hills?"

"My parents didn't move me, I was kicked out," I snapped slightly too harsh. "Sorry."

"No, it's me who should be sorry. I had no idea."

"It's just my Guardian and me. My parents are in New York."

"Wait, wait, wait, so you were cast out?" I nodded. "How?"

"It's a long story."

"I'd be happy to listen."

I pursed my lips, smiling tightly, "Maybe some other time." I was literally saved by the bell as it rang overhead, and I started clearing my things off the library table. Theo bade me farewell, and left the library before I did. I shrugged, making my way to my AP US History class that I was eagerly awaiting all summer.

                                                                       *****

"I'm just saying, Harriet Tubman is a badass, and deserves an entire unit solely on her life experiences."

"So you say," Malia was thoroughly uninterested in my long rant after finding out the syllabus for my class didn't go as in-depth as I would've preferred. Scott and Kira tuned me out, Scott having learned that skill over the summer, and taught it to his girlfriend as they poured over their AP Biology textbooks for their upcoming test tomorrow.

"Seriously, Mal, she's a black woman who was the first woman to lead a charge during the Civil War, all while living with a disability. She's the epitome of a role model and we all need to appreciate her more."

"Sounds like you should date her instead," Malia snipped, glancing down at her school work. My lip curled as my grip tightened around my pen. The person I was actually dating came up next to where I was sitting and spread out two papers in front of all of us. He stood back and let us observe what he discovered.

"So you found something," Scott questioned.

"Another signature," Stiles nodded, leaning in closer so as to not be overheard. "This is Theo's dad's signature on a speeding ticket from eight years ago." He gestured to the white paper that Parrish had pulled earlier this morning.

"Now this," He pointed at the green paper that sat next to the ticket, "Is his dad's signature on a transfer form to Beacon Hills High School from just a few days ago." He leaned back slightly as if he just showed us the most damning evidence in existence.

"How did you get his transfer form?" Kira smartly noticed, and I peeked my head up at Stiles as Scott followed up Kira's statement.

"Did you break into the administration office?" He chided and Stiles rolled his lips together.

"No I did not break into the administration office."

"Sweetie," I stated while everyone gave him the same look around the table.

"Okay, I might've broken into the administration office. Can we just focus, on the signatures please?" I directed my attention back onto the papers next to me. "They're different."

"They're sort of different," I couldn't help but feel like Malia was agreeing for agreement's sake.

"They're completely different," Stiles corrected, "Come on. Look. The garlands don't even match, the undulations of the sinuous stroke are totally off. And look, look at this," He traces over a signature with his fingers, "Perfect example of the Criminal Tremor."

"Just how much do they teach you in that forensics class?" I wondered aloud and Stiles flicked my ear.

"So now Theo is Theo, but his parents aren't his parents?" Kira was at a loss.

"Someone's not someone," My boyfriend brilliantly clarified, "And when I figure out who that someone really is, someone's in big trouble." His left eye narrowed in what might have been confusion from his own statement.

"But no one's done anything wrong," Scott argued.

"Yet." Stiles was deadly serious, "If Theo's parents are both psychotic killers, then obviously we should not trust him, right?" I flinched, staring back over at Malia.

"My parents are Peter and the Desert Wolf," She monotonously replied, shutting him down immediately.

"Okay," Stiles exasperatedly rubbed at his forehead, "It's fine. It's fine." He began clearing up the papers and muttering under his breath. "You know what? I'll just, figure this out myself, right? I don't need you, or you, or you, or you." He pointed to us each respectively before marching off. "I don't need anyone!" Was yelled to us from Stiles' retreating figure.

Scott, Kira, and Malia looked to me in surprise. "That seems a bit harsh on you," Malia mentioned.

"Yeah are you okay?"

I smiled knowingly, gesturing with my pen, "Just wait for it."

On cue, we saw Stiles' blue hoodie burst through the doors back into the library. He made a beeline for our table and marched right up to me before kissing me firmly. My hand went to his face for a moment, feeling his freckles by his ear.

"I'm sorry, I need you. That was a total lie." He started walking away again, but not before looking back to me and pointing, "I love you. Love you lots."

I smiled, then turned back to my friends, who all smiled teasingly. Blushing, I glanced down at the notebook in front of me before I was saved by my phone. My screen was lit up with a text from Lydia, instructing me to meet her at some address urgently.

"That's Lydia, I'll see you guys later."

"What - I thought we were going over a study plan for this year," Malia protested as I shoved my spiral notebook back into my backpack before pulling out my car keys.

"We can and we will," I assured her before turning on my heel, "After you text me with a fact you find interesting about Harriet Boss-Ass-Bitch Tubman."

                                                           *****

"Why is it that whenever something bad happens in this town, it seemingly starts with dead crows?" My mouth was parted as I glanced up at the section of roofing that was littered with the clawed up carcasses of the birds.

"Do you have any idea what caused this?" Parrish stood behind me as I gaped up at the house we were on the side of.

"Yeah, Jennifer Blake is back and with a vengeance," I retorted, and Lydia whacked my arm. Rubbing it, I sighed, "Okay, I don't think dark druids are at play here. You said she had night terrors?"

"They go beyond the medical term for it, though," Lydia answered, nodding, "She vomited up a black substance that had feathers in it."

"And the actual night terror? What did it consist of?"

"Things grabbing at her mostly, but it starts with a bird always trying to get in at the skylight."

I ran a hand through my hair in frustration, "Well this just doesn't really add up."

"That's kind of why we called you."

"No I get it, but you said Tracy said the skylight was sealed for weatherproofing, right?"

"Right, but I opened it, if it was sealed before, it sure isn't now."

"And now those birds are dead at her skylight. That's interestingly not what perplexes me."

"Really," Lydia was dubious, "The dead birds aren't what confuses you?"

"Nope," I popped the 'p' sound for effect, "I'm confused as to how the skylight was opened. Even if Tracy was asleep and fueled by a night terror, she couldn't be strong enough to open it by herself."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying, who or what opened the skylight, got into Tracy's room, and left a slew of dead birds in their wake?"

I'm so sorry. I started this chapter and really could only work on it one bit at a time. Bear with me you guys, I'm super excited for this story. And also equally excited for the American Assassin trailer which is gonna fuck me up real bad. Anyways, vote and comment, I love you guys. As you read, Wicked Witchcraft is creeping up to 40k, and I just want to take the time to thank you all for sticking with June. Love you lots! Unedited mostly. Xx.