—

Ryder walked into Scott's house to see Josie, Liam and Hayden curled up on the couch together. Hayden was on one end while Josie laid up against Liam's chest, the Dunbar's arm wrapped around her to ensure she was close to him.

She was thankful that the three were safe. She didn't want to wake her sister up, instead leaving the girl to sleep for a little before they went home.

She was concerned that Austin had hardly glanced in her direction when everyone returned safely. She figured it had something to do with him still being a little upset that she wouldn't let him tag along, but when she searched the room and locked eyes with Theo and saw the wavering smirk on his face, she was almost certain that the Raeken had something to do with it.

•••

"I talked to Liam."

Ryder looked over at her sister, "Yeah?"

"Yeah." Josie nodded, the movement being lagged due to her position on the bed.

The sisters were lying side by side on Ryder's bed, their eyes on the ceiling as they spoke.

"When?"

"On the drive back after Theo found us. Hayden was sleeping and we talked."

"A good talk?"

Josie shrugged, "I think so. He told me he doesn't like her like I think he does."

"No?" Ryder was confused. His actions showed otherwise.

"Nope. Apparently he feels like he owes her something for accidentally hitting her that one time in sixth grade. He feels like he should be extra nice to her for causing her pain."

Ryder hummed, "Makes sense... I guess."

It definitely made some sort of sense. She could see Liam's train of thought but she wasn't so sure if she liked where it was going. While he had no ill intentions, his lack of communication was hurting her sister.

"I know it's stupid and probably a huge risk, but I really like him, Ryder."

"I know. And I don't think it's stupid, alright? I'm sure Liam doesn't mean any harm, he's just a kid. All of you are."

Josie wanted to question her sister on what was going on with her and Austin, having seen the way the couple hardly interacted the night before, but she knew it would only force Ryder to push her away more.

Last thing she wanted was to lose her sister.

•••

"It's almost like this thing doesn't want to be found." Stiles huffed.

He, Lydia and Austin were currently in the woods in search for the nemeton.

When Austin found out what the Stilinski and Martin were doing, he wasted no time in tagging along. Stiles didn't question his sudden enthusiasm, chalking it up to him just wanting to do something.

He was unaware of the distrust the George teen was feeling towards Ryder and the questions he would face once Lydia left them.

Lydia shrugged, "Maybe it knows we're late for class. Because we've been here twice."

"Crap." Stiles sighed.

Lydia slowed her footsteps, "Can we talk to Parrish now?"

"We should have done that from the start."

"Hang on. If the Nemeton's covered in bodies, shouldn't you be able to find them?"

"Me?" Lydia pointed to herself in confusion.

"Yes, you. That's what you do. You're the Banshee, you find the bodies."

"Well, the Banshee's having an off day, so how about we talk to Parrish?"

"We can't." Stiles quickly stopped her.

Austin looked at him, "Why not?"

"Because one of the bodies...One of them— One of them could be..."

As Stiles trailed off, Austin narrowed his eyes, an expression Stiles couldn't quite grasp covering his features.

One of them could be Donovan.

"Could be what?" Lydia urged.

"One of them could be a clue." Stiles said.

Austin scoffed, the sound going deaf to the banshee's ears as she did the same,

"I'm leaving now, Stiles. I'm going to talk to Parrish and tell him he's the one taking the bodies." Lydia sighed, "It's always better when they know."

Isn't it? Austin thought, tilting his head slightly.

"Well then, he should know he owes me a Jeep."

As the Martin girl walked away from them, Stiles looked back to see Austin dragging his feet,

"What's going on with you?"

He wasted no time in responding, "I know."

Stiles frowned, "You know...what?"

He huffed, his dull eyes rolling at the other boys clueless expression, "About Donovan."

Stiles grew pale, "What? W-What are you talking about? Ryder told you? It was an accident, Austin, I didn't—"

Oddly enough, Stiles couldn't help but feel betrayed at the thought of Ryder telling someone something she promised to keep a secret.

"No, Theo told me. Don't worry, she kept your secret." In Stiles' eyes, Austin seemed a bit aggravated at that. He wasn't too sure why, he assumed it was because the couple told each other everything.

Then again, Austin was well aware before they started dating that Ryder wasn't someone that told anyone's business, no matter how close they are to her.

So was she really in the wrong?

No. At least Stiles didn't think so.

•••

"You guys are sure that's where Parrish is taking the bodies?"

"Lydia says that's what happens in his dream."

Josie looked up from her book at the voice, furrowing her brows as Theo and Stiles walked into the library. She could have sworn the Stilinski didn't like the Raeken, she wondered why the sudden change.

"I mean, you know if Lydia finds the Nemeton, she's also going to find Donovan..." Theo said, Stiles turning to him with a glare, "Sorry."

Josie stilled. What does Stiles have to do with Donovan?

"She's also going to find Josh."

Josh? Josie wasn't stupid. She knew both of the mentioned boys were dead. And only one thing crossed her mind.

The whispering, the sudden friendship between the two, the nervous expressions they shared. It was clear as day that Theo and Stiles had something to do with the deaths of Josh and Donovan.

She was curious if the others were aware of that too.

"You know what, maybe she should. I think things are different now for Scott. Especially after what he did to Corey. I don't think he's going to blame us for defending ourselves. Look, I know he won't blame you. Ryder doesn't."

Ryder. Her sister.

Josie's eyes widened. Ryder knows?

"Oh, shit." Her words weren't as quiet as she thought they were as Stiles and Theo's hurriedly looked in her direction.

"Josie?" Stiles called out, the Anders teen jumping from her seat, quickly gathering her things, "Josie, wait!"

"I didn't hear anything!"

Stiles wasn't fast enough, his eyes catching one last glimpse of her before the library doors shut.

"Dammit!"

•••

"Isaac."

The Lahey glanced around, blue eyes squinting as he tried to pinpoint where the voice was coming from.

"Isaac."

His lips pursed, "Wha—?"

"To your left. Your other left."

"Josie?" He finally caught sight of her, awkwardly brushing past students and moving in her direction, "What are you doing?"

"Have you seen my sister?"

"Not since earlier, why?" Her jittering nature had the Lahey worrying about her. "Do you need me to call her? What's happening?"

"You don't know?" She didn't give him the chance to answer, "I just heard Theo and Stiles in the library."

"Okay..." At the mention of the two people he couldn't really bother to care about, Isaac's interest flew out the window.

"It's bad. Then again, I could be reading the room wrong and i'm just delusional—"

"Josie, what's going on?" He cut her off.

"I think they killed Donovan and Josh and now they're covering for each other." She rushed out.

"...What."

•••

Scott and Theo got into the Raeken's truck after watching Corey get taken into an ambulance. The McCall suddenly remembered that their previous conversation got interrupted and spoke up,

"Hey, what did you want to talk to me about?

Theo brushed him off, "It can wait."

"If something's wrong, you should tell me. We've all got to start talking to each other again. This might not be the best place to start, Scott."

"You think I'm going to be angry?"

"Not with me." Theo shook his head, his hands tightening on the steering wheel.

"Theo, you can talk to me."

"Open the glove compartment." Theo watched as Scott did what he said, quickly pulling out a wrench, "It belonged to Stiles. He dropped it at the school."

"Dropped it when?"

Theo hesitated, his eyes fluttering to keep away the tears, "When he killed Donovan."

Scott's face fell, "What are you talking about?"

"You know he hurt his shoulder, right? You smelled the blood."

"That was the Jeep. He said the Jeep's hood fell on him." Scott recalled what his friend told him.

"No, no, no, that was Donovan. He went after Stiles at the library. I only saw the end of it. And when I saw what Stiles was doing...I couldn't stop him. I shouldn't... I shouldn't be telling you this. You should hear this from him..."

Scott straightened his back, "Tell me."

"I saw Donovan go down. Stiles hit him with the wrench, and then, he just, he just kept hitting him. Uh, maybe it was because he... He threatened to kill his dad. Or maybe Stiles thought he had to keep going to defend himself, but he just... He kept hitting him."

Scott couldn't believe it, "That's not possible."

"He crushed that kid's skull. I heard it cracking and splintering.nBy the time I pulled Stiles off him, half of Donovan's head was caved in. It didn't even look real." He stammered slightly,

"I keep telling myself that it was self-defense... It was self-defense, but... Scott, I'm sorry. I've never seen anything like it. And I've never seen anyone that angry. You... You should talk to Stiles. You have to talk to him. And maybe...talk to Ryder too."

Despite his inner turmoil, Scott still asked, "Why Ryder?"

"Cause she knew."

—
A/N: laugh out loud.