I know the last chapter had filler vibes, but it was necessary

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When morning came, I woke up to see Malia standing at my door. With a small yawn, I sat up and told her to come in, smiling as I did so.

She walked over, wrapping me in a hug. "I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner. I've had a lot going on."

"It's fine, I get it," I told her, shaking my head as we pulled away from each other. "I'm just glad to see you're okay."

"I'm not the one sitting in a hospital bed," she pointed out.

"You will be if you keep trying to track down the Desert Wolf," I said quietly.

Malia immediately stepped back, her mouth falling into a frown. She didn't look pleased by what I had said at all. "That's not fair, Riley."

I ran a hand through my hair as I shifted in the bed. "She's a killer, Malia. A professional killer. Who has already tried to kill you once, remember?"

"Of course I remember," she told me. "But I can't let her get to me first, or she will kill me."

"Then let us help."

"Who is us?" she almost scoffed. "Last I checked, the Pack wasn't exactly working together. And do you really want to be around Scott? I heard what happened."

"You know I would put my issues with him aside if it meant helping you, Mal," I said softly.

"I'm not asking you to do that."

Shaking my head, I climbed out of the bed to stand in front of her, putting a hand on her arm. "You're my family. You don't have to ask."

She looked like she was considering it, before she shook her head. "You're already in hospital. I'm not going to be the reason you get back here."

"Malia-"

"She killed my family, Ri," Malia reminded me. "I'm going to find her. I'll text you, but I'm not waiting for her to come to me."

She then left, on her way to find the Desert Wolf. I wish I had been able to convince her, but Malia was stubborn. I couldn't fault her for wanting to find the woman who killed her sister and mother though; I had been thinking the same after Ennis had killed my mother.

After taking a moment to gather myself, I got changed and went out into the hallway. Charlotte and Iris had gone down to the lobby to grab something for breakfast, and Isaac had left to go and help Scott.

I was a bit disappointed to see him go, but Scott was still his Alpha and his friend, so I couldn't be mad at him for leaving.

After asking the nurse which room I could find the Sheriff in, I began to make my way towards him. On the route there, I noticed a certain brunette boy standing at the vending machine.

Walking up behind him, I wrapped my arms around his waist. "Planning on knocking this one over, too?" I asked.

He chuckled lightly at the little reminder of how he had pulled the vending machine over when we were here while Lydia was in the hospital. I felt one of his hands on my arm, while the other inserted a coin into the machine, "Not if it decides to give me my food this time. Do you want anything?"

Unwrapping myself from him, I stepped so that I was standing by his side. "I'm okay, thanks. How's your dad."

"He's awake," he said with a small smile. "And he knows everything about that night in the library. I mean, he knew before, but he thought it was Theo. I told him the truth and he doesn't hate me."

"Of course he doesn't," I said, knowing full well his father could never.

The metallic sound of wheels caught our attention, both of us turning to see two nurses rolling a gurney with a body bag on it through the hallway. I was about to say something when I noticed that Stiles had one of his confused thinking faces on.

Before I got the chance to ask him what was wrong, he grabbed my hand and led me to his dad's hospital room. I lifted a chair over so that I could sit beside him as he took a seat beside his dad's bed and grabbed out the man's laptop.

He was logged in moments later, beginning to sift through what I could only imagine being confidential files.

There was a small yawn before I noticed the Sheriff was now awake, squinting down at his son. "Is that my laptop?"

"Yep," Stiles answered, not really caring.

"Do you have my password?" the man asked. I almost laughed; you'd think he would already know the answer to that.

Stiles looked just as confused by the question, "I have all your passwords. You know they just brought in another body from last night?"

"Yeah, I was hoping you wouldn't find out," he groaned as he sat up. When he finally spotted me, he smiled, "Riley, good to see you. Stiles told me what happened, I'm glad to see you're okay."

"Thanks, Noah," I smiled gratefully. "You too; you're a real fighter."

"Someone's gotta keep you kids out of trouble," he chuckled. When he looked back at his son and noticed the boy was still going through his laptop, he held his hand out, "Speaking of which, give me my damn computer."

"Hang on, hang on," Stiles said quickly, moving out of reach of his father. The Sheriff groaned as he strained, still sore from his surgery, no doubt.
"I think there's some footage missing. Or something missing in the footage," the boy stated.

"I think there's something missing in your head."

I laughed, watching as the man reached for his laptop again, only for Stiles to turn away from him so he couldn't get a hold of it.

"You need your rest," Stiles claimed, continuing to go through the files in search of whatever he was after.

When I noticed a confused squinting look reach his face, I stood up from the chair to stand beside him. He played the video he found again so that I could see it, but  I immediately made him play it again, doubting what I was seeing with my own eyes.

Something large had just torn its way out of a building, black smoke sifting off of it and bright blue eyes. It reminded me of Peter when he was in his full wolf form, except this one looked bigger - much bigger.

"Stiles, what is that?" I asked quietly.

He watched the video again, zooming in. "I'm not sure, yet."
Stiles quickly emailed the video to his phone, before closing the laptop and putting it away.

"What's the plan?"

Stiles turned to look at his father for a moment, who nodded at his son. "I think we need to ask for help."

♧♤♢♡

It had taken a lot of convincing on Charlotte's behalf, but eventually, we managed to get Doctor Geyer to let me leave. Besides, we couldn't really have him examining me again, or he would've seen that the scar on the back of my head had miraculously healed.

Plus, Charlotte knew that I was going to help Stiles whether I had the hospital's permission or not.

Leaving the hospital, we had stopped by Stiles' house so that he was able to get changed considering he had been wearing the same clothes for a couple of days straight, apparently. He then revealed to me that the person we were asking for help from, was Scott.

The drive to the McCall house had mostly consisted of Stiles telling me how his dad said that forgiving himself could start by just forgiving someone else; someone else being Scott. I went on to tell him how my conversation with Scott had gone.

Stiles had his reasons, which I respected, but I had only just woken up yesterday, so I wasn't really ready yet.

When we arrived, Stiles pulled out his keys and found the one that went to the McCall house, unlocking the door and letting us both in. Figuring he would be in his room, that was the first place we looked.

We found him in his bathroom standing in front of his mirror. He was rebandaging the wound that was left behind after Theo had killed him.

I guess I had been half right in the end. I had told Scott that Theo's claws would end up in his back, but instead, he'd found them in his chest.

"Hey," Stiles greeted when Scott noticed our arrival. "Still not healing?"

He half shrugged as he taped the bandage down, "Sometimes it just takes a little longer. What are you guys doing here?"

Stiles took a step to lean against the frame of the bathroom door, but I stayed back. Being in the Jeep had been enough confinement, I didn't want to step into the small ensuite.

"Ah, you heard about the guy who got killed out at the communication towers, right?" Stiles asked, tapping the door frame with his knuckles nervously.

Scott nodded as he pulled on a shirt. He then walked closer, Stiles pulling his phone out so that he could show him the video which he had emailed himself.

"I think I may have figured something out," My boyfriend said quietly.

Scott looked surprised, brows raising as he looked at the other boy. "What, you guys want my help?"

"Stiles wants your help," I clarified, walking over and taking a seat in Scott's desk chair. Scott's eyes fell for a moment, avoiding mine, his guilt shining through.

My boyfriend hesitated, before nodding. "You said you can find the clues that I can't. Here, take a look."

Being needed by one of us seemed to perk Scott up the slightest bit, stepping closer to Stiles to watch the video. I observed from where I was sitting, considering I had already seen the video.

"This is when the technician first arrived. You see him going in?" Stiles narrated. "Then Deputy Clark goes in. Then something really big and really fast comes charging out. Now comes Clark. Eventually, the technician's body is carried out by paramedics."

Stiles put his phone away, looking at Scott who just appeared confused. "Okay, what am I missing?" The Alpha asked.

"I don't get why we came here for help," I mumbled, knowing full-well Scott would hear me.

Stiles raised his hands expectantly, being the only one who hadn't heard me, going on to answer Scott's question. "Two people go in. Three come out. I checked all the footage. Not a single person enters that building before the technician the entire day. So where does that something really big and really fast come from?

It took a moment, but Scott got there in the end, looking up. "There's another way in."

"Bingo," I sighed, letting him know he was correct.

Grabbing his keys, Stiles nodded. "Let's go and find it."

♧♤♢♡

"Can you at least try to be civil with him?" Stiles asked on the way to the communication towers. "Please? Even if it's just long enough for us to figure out how this thing got in?"

Scott had taken his motorcycle, while Stiles and I had gone together in the Jeep. Stiles had offered him a ride, but Scott turned him down politely. I figured it was because of me, but I didn't really care all that much.

I wanted to say no, that I shouldn't have to be civil with him, but I also wanted to figure out what this thing was before it could kill someone else, and Scott seemed to be our best bet in the manner.

"Fine. Only while we're at the communication towers," I conceded.

Stiles nodded, a small smile on his face, "Good enough for me."

Pulling up at the towers, Stiles pulled on his flannel while I grabbed a few flashlights out of the back of the Jeep. When Scott arrived, I handed Stiles the other flashlight and then all three of us walked in together. Scott wouldn't need one, considering his eyes.

We walked through the door space, where it looked like the actual door itself had been ripped from hinges. My shoulders felt tense as we walked further into the building. I knew we had seen the creature leave, but I was still nervous to run into it here.

"You see that?" Stiles asked both of us.

I walked over to be by his side, looking where he was pointing his flashlight. There was blood all over the ground and a machine had been knocked over. The metal on the front of the machine had large claws marks in it, lined with blood also.

"I see blood," Scott said.

"Lots of blood," I mumbled, looking at the puddle.

Stiles shifted the flashlight back a bit further, "Look where it leads to."

Noticing something beneath the large metal cabinet, Scott nodded and stepped forward. Crouching down, he put his hands under it and began to try to lift it. He strained terribly, the object not moving in the slightest.

On a normal day, he would've been able to lift it without question. Apparently, dying had taken a toll on his abilities.

Not being able to continue to watch him struggle, I touched Stiles' arm to get his attention. "Come on," I said, heading over to one side of the metal object.

Scott seemed to hesitate momentarily as he looked at us both, but when we crouched down and grabbed it also, he nodded. We all began to lift, and had had standing again within seconds.

Once it was standing, I could hear Scott's heavy breaths as he rested his head against the side of the object. Something was very wrong with his abilities if he wasn't able to lift this on his own, which was the last thing we needed with this new creature in town.

Stiles headed over to what he had originally spotted, which was a large hole in the ground that had been concealed by the thing we had just lifted.

"We're going down there, aren't we?" I stated.

Stiles gave me half a smile as he put an arm around me, "I think that's a given at this point, Ri."

"Just thought I'd check," I shrugged. I then gestured to the ladder, looking at the boys, "Gentlemen first."

The boys both rolled their eyes, chuckling half-hearted as they stepped forward. One by one, the three of us climbed down the ladder until we reached solid ground once more.

We were in an electrical tunnel of some sort, pipes along both walls and the roof, with only small lights here and there to illuminate the area.

Looking around, Stiles and I allowed our flashlights to search the surrounding area around the ladder. I was about to start walking when I felt Stiles grab onto my arm. Turning around, I saw why.

His light was shining towards the ground, where there was a strange blackish purple mist, like what had been coming off of the creature in the video.

Cautiously, we followed the trail until we reached a wall. Shining both our torches down, Stiles and I revealed two words written on the ground.

DAMNATIO
MEMORIAE

"What is that?" Scott asked.

Stiles squinted as he read it carefully, "It looks like Latin.

"Hold up those lights. I'm gonna get a picture of it."

Stiles and I did as we were told, focusing on the words so that they would be seen in Scott's photo. If only we had Lydia right now - her mother had had her transferred to Eichen House after what happened to her.

I'm sure Ms Martin thought she was doing what was best for Lydia, but from experience, I can guarantee that that place does more harm than good.

The side of the words Stiles was lighting up began to shake, before it went out completely. Confused, I turned to him, "Stiles, what are you doing?"

He grabbed the back of his neck, before he fell to the ground. Suddenly, Tracy stepped out of the shadows, her claws and fangs bared.

"You bitch," I snarled, throwing my hand up and drawing the air in the tunnel to me. A moment later, I thrust it all towards her, slamming her into one of the tunnel walls. I then dropped down besides Stiles, making sure he was conscious. "Are you okay?"

It looked like he attempted to nod, before he remembered he was paralysed, and said that he was alright. We both watched as Tracy climbed back to her feet and went after Scott, claws reaching for each other.

"Scott, behind you!" Stiles shouted.

Josh - the Chimera who had attacked Stiles - had joined also, electricity flowing from his hands. Pushing Stiles out of the middle of the floor, I stood up and began to walk over to the three. All I could feel was anger.

I took a deep breath, letting my senses overwhelm me as I closed my eyes. As soon as I began to feel my hair lifting off of my shoulders, I opened my eyes, knowing they would be glowing in the dark room as my ability filtered through me.

Pushing Josh back with the air I managed to syphon into the small hallway, I pinned him to the wall. When Tracy swung for Scott, he grabbed her wrist instead. Dragging her forward, he dug her claws into the incapacitated Josh.

The boy growled as the Kanima venom began to take hold. Scott removed the claws and I my hold, letting him fall to the ground beside Stiles.

"Sucks, doesn't it?" I heard my boyfriend mumble.

Scott threw Tracy to the ground harshly, the girl grunting as he did so. Scott's eyes were glowing their bright, blood red, his fangs out as his shoulders heaved in anger. I looked around, but couldn't see what he sensed. Either way, I drew the air in, prepared for whatever might show up next.

Scott growled loudly towards an empty spot in the hallway. I was about to ask him what he'd sensed, when Corey was suddenly peeling himself off of the wall. Apparently, he could camouflage himself. What I wanted to know, was where all these dead kids were coming from.

The Alpha continued to growl at the boy, who looked absolutely terrified. Scott prepared to take a step forward, when a voice echoed from behind us. "Okay! Maybe they're not ready to take on an Alpha."

My stomach churned at the voice, recognising it immediately. It was the last voice I'd heard in the darkness of the box. The last voice I thought I might hear.

Scott's claws and fangs retracted as his eyes shifted back, but I made no move to release the power I held. I wasn't letting my guard down around Theo again.

"Especially one that can smell fear," the Chimera said pointedly, the jab meant for Corey. That had been what Scott had sensed when he had been invisible to the eye.

"He's got fangs and she threw them around without even touching them," Corey reminded his Alpha, as if he was kidding.

Tracey was standing up again, walking over and picking Josh up at Theo's request with the help of Corey. Scott watched them all carefully, trying to piece together this scenario; after all, these kids had all been dead.

"What did you do?" Our Alpha asked.

"Found some new friends," Theo shrugged. "I don't take rejection well."

"Hey, Theo," Stiles greeted from his spot on the ground.

"Stiles," the boy nodded back. When he saw what we had been looking at on the ground, he brought his foot down on it heavily. The ground cracked, destroying the words beyond recognition.
"You're going to leave here thinking that you need to worry about me. But you're wrong."

"Really?" I scoffed, drawing more air towards me, my anger pulsing. Being down in this small tunnel wasn't helping my anxiety. "Because the last time you told me I didn't have to worry about you, I ended up in the ground."

"We're actually back on the same side," the boy smirked with a small shrug.

"I find that hard to believe," I said through gritted teeth.

"Well, I don't care what you believe. It's the truth." He pointed upwards to where the communication towers would be, "Because that thing. . . that's what we need to worry about. Scott, your pack and mine. We're gonna go back to school and pretend like we're normal teenagers, but at night, we're going to be fighting for our lives."

"What is it?" Stiles asked from the ground.

"It's not a Chimera."

"But it's just a kid underneath," Scott reminded him. "Someone like us."

Theo's head tilted to the side, "Not anymore."

As Theo began to walk away, I shook my head. "I'm not working together with you," I spat, pinning him to the closest wall. Pointing to the dark veins on my neck with one hand, I tightened my hold on him with the other.
"What'd you do to me?"

The boy laughed as he looked down at me, shrugging. "I have no idea what you're talking about. But, you should really get that looked at."

Tightening my fist, I began to shorten his air supply. He continued to smirk, but slowly, I could see he was beginning to struggle.
"Tell me. Now," I said in a low voice.

"Something the Dread Doctors cooked up," he answered with what little breath he had left. "Something to do with their plan, I don't know. They weren't too chatty; didn't exactly tell me everything."

"So go and find out."

"We're not exactly friends. I got what I wanted from them and they got what they wanted from me. I have no idea what was in that needle."

"No," I scowled, not believing him. "No, you're going to go to them and-"

"Let him go," Tracy snarled from behind me, holding her claws to my throat. "Or you won't just be paralysed."

I fell quiet, considering her offer as I looked at Theo's smirking face. All I needed to do was drop her faster than she could me. But was I faster than a Kanima's claws?

"Riley, let him go," Scott instructed.

I looked over at him with my jaw clenched, before I turned back to Theo. Taking a deep breath, I dropped my hold on him. My hair fell back to my shoulders as air began to flow through the tunnel at a normal speed once more. Tracy removed her claws, and then Theo and his pack left, the boy smirking at me over his shoulder as they did so.