—

"Yeah, sure." Aaron shrugged, shoving a Dorito in his mouth while looking over towards the living room.

"You're not sending our daughter off to Mexico, Aaron."

The man frowned, "Why not?"

"W-What the hell do you mean 'why not'? She's seventeen." Ramona scoffed, "No, Ryder."

"It's for a good cause, mom." The teen tried again.

"I thought you didn't like Scott." Ramona furrowed her brows, stepping past her daughter to move in the kitchen.

"I wouldn't say that I don't like him. I mean, I'm definitely tolerating his behavior any time we're around one another- but that besides the point. I'd be going for Kira, not Scott. But again- what's the harm in helping two people that are at risk of death?"

Ramona wiped a hand over her face, slamming it down on the counter in front of her, her marriage rings smacking the marble counter harshly, "Is Peter going to be there?"

"Why would he be there? Doesn't matter- I'm kind of hoping that he isn't." She scrunched her face, "If he is, then i'll probably find my way back home."

"Is Austin going?"

Despite her daughter's boyfriend being human, he was probably the only person aside from Derek that she trusted to make sure that the girl stayed safe. She knew first hand how Ryder would simply throw herself into a situation to save someone.

"He's asking his mom."

"Is Isaac going?"

The Lahey was a close second in people she trusted to keep Ryder safe.

"Yep. You know he wouldn't let anything happen to Scott."

"Okay." Before Ryder could rush out of the house, she's stopped by Ramona's voice, "Ryder, if you die I will kill you."

"But I'd be dead—?"

"Don't question your mother." Aaron cut her off.

"Okay." She nodded, "Got it. I won't die."

As Aaron and Ramona watched their oldest leave the house, they failed to hear the banging of their youngest sneaking from her bedroom window.

•••

"How did you get a prison transport van?"

"I'm a U.S. Marshal." Braeden answered, walking around the vehicle to meet everyone in the middle.

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

"Why would that be a cover up?" Isaac narrowed his eyes in confusion, stepping out of Austin's car with the boy himself and Ryder following along.

Stiles wasn't given the chance to sass him back before Ryder's enraged voice filled the air,

"What the hell are you doing here?"

All eyes snapped to a rather embarrassed Josie, the girl pulling her teeth back in a wince, "I came to help."

"Help with what?" Her usually steady and calm voice cracked in anger as she glared at her little sister. Austin held back his comment of how the sound sent flutters to his stomach but nearly all the supernaturals in the room picked up on his heartbeat.

The girl was yelling at her sister for Gods sake, now was not the time to gush over how good she looked while she was angry.

"Help find Scott and Kira." Josie shrugged as if it were obvious, which, it technically was, but Ryder was too focused on how much trouble she'd be in when her parents found out that Josephine snuck out.

"I blame you." Her brown eyes narrowed in on Liam, the shorter teen stepping back.

Josie scoffed, "Don't blame him."

"I'll blame who I want to blame."

"Speaking of..." Derek's voice cut through the sister's argument, "Are we really bringing him?"

"Are we really bringing him?" Stiles rebutted, gesturing to Peter, who smile at Ryder, despite how her fists clenched at the sight of him.

"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."

"What's that mean?"

"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?"

"What, she wants to make him younger?" Isaac asked.

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

"A werewolf can't steal a true Alpha's power. But maybe a Nagual jaguar, with the power of Tezcatlipoca behind her...Maybe she can."

Austin eyed the man as he spoke, not really believing a thing he had to say. When was Peter ever truthful when it came to things like this? Almost never.

"So, if everyone is sufficiently freaked out, I say we get going."

"We can't." Stiles cut in before anyone could start moving, "Not without Lydia."

Ryder held back a groan. It was already bad enough that her sister snuck herself into this situation but now she would possibly have to deal with Lydia and Peter. Her mind was definitely going crazy.

It seemed that Austin may have picked up on her sullen mood as he stepped behind her, his arms slowly making their way around her waist as his head rested against hers.

"It's already bad enough that we're constantly surrounded by people i can't stand but now i have to be around them at the same time. While making sure my sister doesn't get herself killed." She turned in his arms so she was facing him, "I'm going to lose my mind, Austin."

He chuckled softly, "I'm sure you'll be okay. If it makes you feel any better, I wasn't aware Liam was coming either and now my protective older brother instincts are off the charts."

"It doesn't make me feel better." She deadpanned.

"Thank you for the honesty."

They smiled softly at one another before pulling away with a quick peck to the lips.

"What's she doing at the school anyway?"

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

"Nothing." Stiles huffed as he pulled his phone away from his ear.

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

"That's a good point. We'll call her from the road."

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

"Fine. You stay, you find her. We're gonna go on without you."

"Why are you in such a rush?" Peter's head snapped to Ryder at the question.

"You aren't?"

"Not at all."

"I could call Mason." Liam offered, "He has a study group at school. Maybe he could look for her."

"All right. Fine."

"I need to be back there with Derek and Liam. I've got some experience dealing with out-of-control teen wolves. Will you two be okay riding with Peter?" Stiles asked, facing Ryder and Malia.

Ryder instantly recoiled at the thought, "Absolutely not. Make room in that van for the four of us."

She grabbed Austin and Josie by the hands, gesturing with her head for Isaac to follow along.

"Okay, then." Isaac hummed, climbing in the back while Ryder gestures for Josie to get in the front seat with Braeden, the older woman nodding politely at the girls.

"Remember what we're dealing with. It's not just Kate, it's Berserkers. You might see human eyes behind those skulls. Do not assume that there's any humanity left."

"Great pep talk." Ryder scoffed.

Peter suddenly smirked, his attention falling on Liam, "Oh. This little one is terrified of them, aren't you? Don't worry, my friend. It is that fear that will keep you alive."

It didn't go unnoticed by the older Hale how Austin took a protective step towards the Dunbar, but he brushed it off, "A reminder to everyone. You do not fight Berserkers to survive, you fight to kill."

"What a weirdo." Ryder muttered to herself while everyone clambered into their respective vehicles.

•••

"I brought something to help you. 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."

"You didn't use it to teach me." Ryder rolled her eyes, her voice coming out as sarcastic as she knew the talisman didn't do anything.

"Because you taught yourself." Derek eyed her, his glare turning to the boys to get them to follow along.

"Yes, it's powerful."

Austin cleared his throat, "Very powerful."

Isaac decided to simply nod along, knowing that if he spoke he'd accidentally spill the truth. Last thing he needed was to get in trouble for exposing that the oh so powerful Hale family talisman was a lie.

•••

"Liam, you with me?" Derek grabbed his attention, "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."

"Okay. Okay, okay! What are the words?" He practically begged.

From the small window of the vehicle, Ryder could see Josie turned back in panic at the sound of Liam's whimpered words.

"Okay, look at the triskelion. See the symbol? Each spiral means something."

"Alpha, Beta, Omega." Isaac recalled, earning a nod from his, what he assumed was former, alpha.

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

"Alpha, Beta—"

"Slower."

"Alpha... Beta... Omega..." He groaned, repeating himself again.

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

Ryder refrained from rolling her eyes. She wanted to show that she was on their side but second by second, she could tell it wasn't working. It seemed she wasn't the only one as Isaac seemed rather unimpressed with Derek's attempt at calming the Dunbar.

"Say it again."

"Derek, I don't think the powerful talisman of self-control is working." Stiles said, backing up in fear as Liam's breathing grew heavier.

"Liam, say it again!"

Austin jumped back as Liam roared angrily in their faces, the van shaking harshly as he tried to escape the chains holding him back.

He had managed to pull one arm out, swiping his claws out to the person closest to him. Austin jumped in shock as Liam nicked his cheek, letting out a hiss that caught Ryder's attention.

Despite her greater judgement, Ryder decided to focus on helping Derek and Isaac hold Liam down instead of getting angry that he hurt her boyfriend.

She knew this wasn't his fault.

"Liam?" Josie called out, taking the beta's attention off of Derek.

Ryder began to pick up on how the sound of her little sister's voice seemed to ease the werewolf. Before she could say anything, however, Stiles spoke up again,

"Derek? I think we're gonna need to go a little faster."

"Liam!"

"We're almost there!" Braeden shouted at them, instinctively putting an arm out as Josie unbuckled her seatbelt to fully face the back.

"Derek, I don't think Alpha, Beta, Omega is resonating with him."

"I could have told you that twenty minutes ago."

"You know any other mantras?"

"Yeah. I do. Liam, Liam. What three things cannot long be hidden?" Stiles was ignored as Liam roared in his face.

"Jo?" Ryder turned around, taking the girls attention away from chewing at her nails anxiously.

Isaac looked down at Liam once he stopped fighting a bit.

"Yeah?"

"Talk to him!" She snapped as Liam barred his teeth at her.

"Liam! Liam, look at me. What three things cannot long be hidden?" His breathing grew softer as only her voice reached his ears, "What three things?"

"Sun... The moon... The truth." He panted out.

"That's it. Say it again." Austin encouraged, watching Liam's eyes lock on his, the golden slowly fading.

"Sun, the moon... The truth." He grunted out, whispering the words to himself as he finally stopped fighting, his heartbeat calm and steady.

Braeden called back as the car grew quiet, "Derek?"

"We're okay."

"I can't believe I did it." Liam scoffed in shock.

"Yeah, me either." Isaac backed away from him, catching his breath.

"For a minute there, I thought I was gonna tear you guys apart."

"You could've tried." Ryder crossed her arms over her chest, leaning back towards Austin, her hand rubbing near the cut Liam gave him.

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

"Think you can bring the same level of control and strength inside La Iglesia?"

Liam flicked his claws out, earning an impressed nod from Derek while Stiles spoke up,

"All right. We might actually be able to do this."

All hope was lost as Derek was snatched out of the back of the van and beaten by a Beserker who was scared off by Braeden shooting at it.

Despite her instincts to help, Ryder made sure that no one left the van until everything was clear. She instantly regretted it as she looked down at Derek's bloodied body.

"How bad is it?" Peter asked, looking concerned for his nephew.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. Just get to Scott. Just find him. We'll be right behind you." Derek waved them off. His green eyes landed on Ryder's brown ones, immediately sensing that she felt at fault, "I'm fine, Ryder. Go."

She shook off the guilt, rushing off with Austin and Josie close behind her, she could see Liam, Isaac and Malia in the front of them.

Peter took the lead on directing them through the run down building.

"Okay, everyone stop, stop, stop. We gotta figure out where we are, then we gotta figure out how to find Scott and Kira."

Isaac's witty comment was cut off by the ringing of Stiles' phone.

"How do I even have service...? Hi, Dad. Okay, Dad, I know you're angry."

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

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

"Ground you? Ground you? I'm going to hobble you! Now, please, tell me you're all right. Tell me that you're safe."

"You want me to lie?"

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

"She was at the school when we called Mason to look for her, but now we're not hearing back from either of them.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."

"Okay. I'll find Lydia and Mason. 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 turned to see the impatient faces of the others.

"What do we do now?" Austin asked, getting an immediate response from Malia,

"Duck."

"Go back. Get back!"

•••

Stiles ended up separated from the others. And while Ryder wanted to find time to remember about where the Stilinski had ventured off to, she was far too focused on fighting off the Beserker that cornered her and the others.

She had managed to convinced Austin to keep both himself and Josie out of sight while she and Isaac held the Beserker against the wall, letting Liam and Malia throw punches at it.

She could hear Peter's words of encouragement from afar but brushed them off, not too worried about killing the Beserker like he kept saying, but more so wanting to at least knock it unconscious so they could get past.

"Kill it. Kill it now!"

"No, wait, wait. Malia, wait!" Stiles ran in, a frantic look on his face, "It's Scott. It's Scott."

The slight intermission was enough time for, who they now knew as Scott, to shove them all a good amount away from him. The werewolves -and werecoyote- grunted at the impact of their bodies hitting the ground roughly.

"Scott? Scott, don't! Scott, it's me." Stiles was cut off by his supposed best friend back handing him.

Isaac groaned in pain as Stiles landed on him, his body slamming back against the ground.

Scott continued forward, stopping as Liam got in front of him. It took less than a second for the Dunbar to be up in the air with a hand around his neck,

"No!" Austin kept Josie against his chest, not allowing the younger teen to get any closer to the fight.

"Scott, Scott, listen, listen, listen! You're not a monster!" Liam breathes out heavily, "You're a werewolf! Like me."

Austin watched in anticipation as Beserker Scott let Liam down gently, reaching for the mask on his face to rip it off. He hummed lowly, a little underwhelmed with the reveal, he was brought out of his thoughts by Scott glaring at Peter,

"You. The only one who knew as much as Argent about Berserkers. About the Nagual. You taught Kate. You helped her."

"Knew it." Ryder mumbled, holding her stomach while simultaneously forcing Josie to stay behind her.

"All for power."

"For my family's power. To be rightfully inherited by me. Not usurped by some idiot teenage boy, so incorruptible, he won't shed the blood of his enemies even when justified. You don't deserve your power. Not power like this."

Ryder wasn't given a chance to warn Malia not to get involved before Peter threw her off to the side,

"Oh, sorry, sweetheart, we'll talk about this later."

"You were my Beta first, Scott. It was my bite that changed your life. And my bite that can end it."

"Then, end it, Peter. Because you won't get another chance."

The wolves charged at each other, throwing punch after punch, claws swiping in hopes of getting the upper hand.

"Come on, Scott." He taunted, "Come on! Pathetic. Fight like an Alpha, Scott. You want to defeat me? You're going to have to kill me!"

As Ryder stood protectively in front of her boyfriend and sister, she blocked out the rest of the fight as she stopped herself from commenting on how Scott should just kill him.

She knew the all mighty true alpha didn't have the balls to actually kill someone. Call her crazy, but if she were in Scott's position, all werewolf titles would have been out the window and Peter would be lying in a puddle of his own blood.

"You were never an Alpha, Peter. But you were always a monster."

•••

"There's enough yellow wolfsbane to keep Peter out for the trip back. But be careful."

"You're really going with them?"

Argent nodded, "I made a deal with the Calaveras weeks ago. They'll leave you alone. All of you. But only if I help them catch Kate."

"What if you can't?" Kira asked.

"I'll find her. Someone has to."

As the teenagers watch the adults walk away, Ryder couldn't help but scoff as she noticed Derek helping Braeden into her car.

"What's going on with that?"

"What do you mean?" He smiled at her,

"I don't care about your relationship status, Derek." She rolled her eyes, "You can fully turn now?"

"I evolved."

Austin rose his hand to cut in, "I would like to heavily point out that Ryder did it first."

His words earned a chuckle from the group while Derek simply shrugged his shoulders playfully.

"Whatever."

"Can we go home now?" Josie spoke up, "I want to spend my last living moments in peace before mom and dad kill me."

"Yeah, sure. Let's get out of here."

•••

"Then Stiles said that Scott and Kira were stuck in Mexico which was why they missed the game. Uh, so we went down to Mexico to drive them back from Mexico and that's why we all missed practice. Cause...We were all in Mexico."

Even after Liam finished speaking, Coach's face hadn't changed, "You took Kira on a date to Mexico?"

"It was our first real date." Scott told him.

"In Mexico?"

"They wanted to do something special." Austin shrugged.

"Okay." Finstock sighed, "I believe you."

Stiles seemed shocked, "Really?"

"Absolutely not. But I've had experiences south of the border that would knock the genitals off you boys." Austin tilted his head, wincing at the thought,

"Still, let me be clear to you four. This kid's the best talent I've seen in years. So he's your responsibility now. 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?"

Isaac furrowed his brows, "Uh...I'm not on the team anymore—"

"You got it?" Coach cut him off with a stern look.

The boys looked around at each other, smiling softly before they nodded,

"We got it."

—
A/N: Thats the end of season 4!!! gonna work on my other books for the time being. i say this very loosely because realistically, i'll probably get bored of my other stories and come back to this one.

tysm for all the support.