Fandom: Teen Wolf
Rating: NC-17
Authors: Sxymami0909 and Xtremeroswellia
Timeline: Takes place 1 year after the end of ‘Beyond The Sea’
Series: Post Finale AU
Pairings: Stiles/Lydia, Scott/Kira, Isaac Lahey, Sheriff Stilinski, Melissa McCall, Chris Argent, Derek Hale, Cora Hale, Aiden, Ethan, Danny, Braeden, Alan Deaton, Peter Hale, Malia Tate-Hale, mentions of Scott/Allison, mentions of Derek/Lydia, mentions of Stiles/Braeden
Part: 6/32
Summary: The one year anniversary of Allison's death is right around the corner just in time for a new threat to make it's way to Beacon Hills. With Lydia's banshee powers growing, and dead bodies piling up near the Nemeton, Scott and his pack need to work together to figure out who's behind the latest attacks and what knew evil is on the lose. Tension is mounting in the pack and relationships will be tested when an old ally returns to town with information that could help the pack. But can the pack trust their old friend or has the year passed hardened him to a point of no return?
Author's Note: This is a Stydia story, but it's a slow burn because a lot needs to be rebuilt and there are mentions of other couples and other friendships along the way. One year has passed between this story and 'Beyond the Sea'. You will get to see the missing year in a series of one-shots taking place between 'Beyond the Sea' and this story later on.
Previous Chapters: | One | Two | Three | Four | Five |
Chapter 6
Scott killed the engine on his bike right as the twins pulled their bikes into spots near his. He waited for Isaac to dismount before following him off and hanging the helmet on the handle. He glanced around and spotted Stiles near the stairs smoking. He sighed and shook his head turning to Isaac and arching a brow at the small cut on his head. “You’re sure you’re alright?” He asked as they started walking towards the stairs.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Isaac assured him. “It’ll heal in a few more minutes.” He patted Scott on the back, turning and following his gaze to the stairwell in front of the building. His eyebrows shot up. “He’s smoking?” There was surprise in his voice.
Scott pursed his lips. “He is.” He said simply changing the subject. “When we get upstairs let’s try not to bombard Lydia too much. She’s probably going to be really upset that this happened.” He said quietly spotting Cora coming over from the other side of the parking lot. “Hey Cora,” Scott called out, “You okay?” He asked just checking in. She’d text him back saying she was fine, but still.
“I’d be a lot more fine if I hadn’t collapsed in the middle of jogging in the woods,” she responded, clearly annoyed.
Isaac looked at her sympathetically. “I was at the sheriff’s station. They thought I was having a seizure.”
Cora sent him a sympathetic look and patted him on the back, “That blows.” She said as she rounded the staircase and spotted Stiles. Her eyes turned to slits and a look of disgust covered her face. She stepped forward plucking the cigarette out of Stiles’ hand, dropping it to the ground, and slamming her boot on it twisting the toe on the ground.
She grinned. “Much better. I didn’t expect to find you here,” she commented lightly, “But I can’t say I’m disappointed.”
Scott watched their interaction and wondered briefly how exactly Cora and Stiles seemed so close.
Stiles only looked mildly perturbed by her actions when he looked up at her, like he’d been expecting it. “Just admit you want your birthday present,” he responded, a hint of wryness in his tone.
Cora snorted, “Of course I want my gift.” She said obviously.
Isaac looked between them uncertainly and then looked at Scott, tensing a little, annoyed.
Scott placed a calming hand on Isaac’s shoulder sensing his annoyance. “Stiles,” he said interrupting their conversation, “Where’s Lydia?” He asked softly.
Stiles turned his attention from Cora to Scott, not surprised by the look of annoyance on Isaac’s face. “Upstairs,” he answered, looking past Scott to where Kira had just pulled up in her car, escorted toward the building with Ethan and Aiden.
Isaac pursed his lips, moving past them on the stairs and heading into the building silently.
Cora watched him go with arched eyebrows, “What’s his issue?” She asked curiously and maybe with a hint of concern.
Scott sighed, he had an idea, but he was going to keep that to himself. “I think we’re all a little on edge,” he told her. He glanced over his shoulder when he felt Kira near and smiled holding out his hand to her as he glanced between the twins. “You guys alright?”
Kira smiled softly as she slid her hand into his and squeezed it gently. She could feel his tension all the way in the parking lot. She glanced at Stiles and Cora. “Hey guys.”
Stiles’ expression softened momentarily at the look on Scott’s face when he spotted Kira and watched as she reached out and took his hand. “Hey,” he greeted her quietly.
Aiden scowled in response to Scott’s question. “Great,” he responded, moving past them and into the building.
Ethan pursed his lips, giving Scott an apologetic look. “Sorry, he’s...Aiden.”
Scott nodded and reached out patting Ethan on the back with his free hand, “You don’t need to apologize for your brother, but thanks for always trying to help out.” He said with a smile before gently tugging Kira towards the stairs, “You guys coming?” He glanced over his shoulder to Stiles and Cora.
The pair exchanged a look before Stiles rose to his feet, glancing sideways at Ethan. “Hey.”
Ethan smiled faintly. “Hey.”
Stiles took note of the tension in Cora’s body the moment the twins had shown up and he reached out hesitantly and gave her arm a quick squeeze before withdrawing his hand and following Scott and Kira. He had a feeling this was going to be a long, tension-filled meeting.
Aiden was the first one through the door and he didn’t bother knocking. He left it open behind him for the others. He glanced around frowning until he spotted Derek. His frown then upgraded to a scowl. “Where is she?” He asked right as Isaac entered the room hands in his pockets.
He glanced up at Aiden’s angry words and frowned.
“She’ll be down in a minute,” Derek responded evenly, pinning him with a look. He shifted his gaze to Isaac. “Hey. We ordered Mexican. There’s some in the kitchen if you’re hungry.” The food had arrived while they were waiting for the rest of the pack.
A moment later, Kira and Scott walked in through the open door, followed closely by Stiles, Cora and Ethan.
“Mexican food in the kitchen,” Derek repeated, nodding his head toward it slightly.
Scott pressed a kiss to Kira’s head, “I’ll be right back I’m just going to go talk to Derek really quick,” he said with a smile.
Isaac paused by them and nodded towards the kitchen, “I’d be happy to escort you to get some food,” he joked holding an elbow out to Kira trying not to look over at Cora and Stiles even as he wondered what the hell was going on with them.
Kira smiled at Scott and looked up at Isaac. “Thank you,” she said with a bright grin, sliding her arm through his and letting him lead her into the kitchen.
Isaac brought Kira over to the food and handed her a plate.
Cora grabbed a plate too as she nudged Stiles, “I’m starving,” she said as she starting picking at things. She held out a plate to him, “Mexican,” she deadpanned with a smirk.
Stiles made a face at her, shaking his head just a little as he took the plate from her. “My favorite,” he responded wryly.
Ethan moved over to them as well keeping his distance from Cora as he too reached for a plate. Aiden stayed in the living room though, plopping down on one of the chairs as he waited for Lydia to come down. He watched Scott approach Derek and studied them as they moved over to the large window.
Scott looked at Derek and then out the window. “What happened?” he asked almost inaudibly, even though he knew that all the other werewolves in the place could hear if they wanted to. “Is she okay?”
Derek pursed his lips. “Not really.” He was silent for a minute. “He came by looking for my sister. I’m sorry,” he glanced at Scott, “I didn’t realize they were so close. I had no idea he’d be seeking her out or I would have stayed with Lydia at her place.” He told him and then sighed.
“I told him to go, but,” he paused, “She wanted to talk to him. She was lost the minute she opened the door.” He admitted. Derek had heard the way her heart had practically skipped a beat and beneath the pain, shock and anger he’d felt from her, there had been genuine relief and even a bit of elation at seeing Stiles.
Scott sighed softly. “I didn’t think to say anything to him about coming over here, so I’m sorry. I told him not to go around her,” he admitted. “He said he wouldn’t, but he obviously didn’t know that you two are…” He shrugged. And he hadn’t really known that Stiles was as close to Cora as they appeared to be, because when the hell had that even happened? Nothing about this new version of Stiles made any sense to him even with the things that he did know now. The pieces just didn’t add up to make a complete puzzle and he wondered exactly how much there was he still didn’t know.
He wondered if Stiles would be around long enough for him to even try and find out.
Derek slipped his hands in his pockets, “It’s fine. How could either of us know,” he said his tone holding a bitter edge to it. “I didn’t want to eavesdrop so I’m not entirely sure what set her off, but one minute they were talking and then she started screaming at him. Full on yelling.” Derek tensed beside Scott.
“And when she stopped abruptly all hell broke loose. I felt her panic, her heart was beating so fast…I was nervous. By the time I came downstairs I was almost at her side when it happened. She closed her eyes and Scott, it’s like I saw the ripple of emotion fan out around her before it slammed into me.” He made a face.
“What Lydia feels...everything that goes on inside of her, well she’s equipped to deal with it or she will be once she learns how to control it, but we’re not.” Derek knew Scott understood what he was saying. They needed to find a way to deal with this new development and help her control it or it could be dangerous for all of them including her.
Scott shut his eyes, leaning against the wall of windows. So Stiles had been the one that upset Lydia. He’d kind of suspected it as soon as Stiles had texted him and then he’d returned the call. This was why he hadn’t wanted the two of them around each other until Stiles decided whether or not he was going to stay in Beacon Hills. He knew that Lydia’s emotions had been getting the best of her lately.
And looking at his best friend, at how self-destructive and as broken as he was, wasn’t any easier than thinking about Lydia carrying that kind of weight around. “Okay,” he murmured. He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “Okay, we’ll figure this all out, and we’ll find a way to get her abilities under control. Stiles said they’d expanded.” He pursed his lips, glancing up when he heard footsteps on the stairs. He reached out and squeezed Derek’s arm before moving toward the spiral staircase. “Hey.” His voice was quiet, calm as he held his hand out toward her.
Lydia took it immediately and stepped into his personal space. “Scott I’m so sorry, is everyone okay?” She asked softly as she met his gaze. She felt terrible that she hurt the people she was supposed to be helping.
Scott didn’t mind her being in his personal space. He didn’t mind any of the pack being in his personal space, really. It was part of being an alpha. “It’s okay,” he said gently. “Everyone’s fine. It’s not your fault. And we’re gonna figure it out. Okay?” He leaned in and kissed her forehead.
Lydia took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay.” She said even though she wasn’t convinced. “I’m going to get some water.” She said squeezing his hand gently and shifted out of his arms to walk into the main part of the loft.
Derek walked over to Scott as he watched her go, “She misses him, and it’s only gotten stronger since she saw him. The more time passes, the more she feels it.” he said keeping his voice low as his gaze traveled to the kitchen where everyone was getting food. “I can feel the pull...I don’t think you’ll be able to keep her away from him now.” He told Scott.
Scott swallowed heavily, watching as Lydia headed away from them and then shifting his gaze to Stiles. “I know,” he admitted just as quietly. Because he felt the exact same way, even if it was a different type of love he felt for Stiles.
Derek nodded. He hesitated and then patted his back gently. “If anyone can bring him back from the royal fucking mess he is, it’s you and Lydia.” He told him before dropping his hand and stepping forward his eyes falling on his sister talking to Stiles.
Scott reached out and laid a hand on Derek’s shoulder. “I don’t think there’s anything going on like you’re thinking.” His voice was quiet. He wasn’t entirely sure, but he wasn’t getting the sense from Stiles or Cora that they’d ever crossed that kind of line.
“You’re probably right. I still don’t like it.” Derek paused, “A couple of years ago I would have put up a fuss about them being friends. But it would have been for show because I know how good of a friend he can be and Cora deserves a friend like that in her life. But now...I can’t read him and that worries me.” He admitted.
Scott glanced at him sideways. Truth be told, he wasn’t thrilled at the idea of Derek finding out what kind of stuff that Stiles had gotten into in the last year, and he was pretty sure he was far from having the whole story. “I know,” he said instead. “If…” He hesitated. “If something happens that I need to do something drastic, I may need you to take over the pack for awhile.”
Derek’s head jerked towards Scott, “What does that mean?” He asked his brows drawing together with worry, “Scott, I, this isn’t my pack it’s yours.”
“Easy. I mean temporarily,” he said quietly, meeting his eyes. “Because I’m not letting him just take off again without a fight.” His jaw tightened.
Derek pursed his lips, but nodded. “I have your back. You know that.” He said quietly as he watched everyone starting to move towards the couches. Lydia was standing near Kira and Isaac who were flanking her on each side and Derek couldn’t help the tug of his lips. “I wonder if-” his words died on his lips when he heard Aiden’s angry voice boom through the living room making him tense beside Scott.
“There you are,” Aiden stood up glaring at Lydia.
Lydia sighed, “I really don’t have the patience for your diatribe tonight, I’m tired and just tired.” She said simply.
“Well maybe if you didn’t spend your spare time-”
“Don’t,” Ethan’s voice held warning in it. He wasn’t sure what his brother’s problem was. He knew Aiden didn’t love Lydia. Sure he liked her, but Ethan had a feeling it had more to do with wounded pride, which was a hot issue with Aiden. He felt he was better than Derek and Stilinski and took it as a personal insult that Lydia didn’t start things up with him again after Stiles left.
Aiden glared at his brother. “Why not?” He motioned over to Stiles, “It’s not like he doesn’t have eyes. And it’s not like all of us are idiots.” He turned to Lydia, “Maybe if you focused more on your growing powers instead of other things you wouldn’t be almost killing all of us with your crazy emotions.” He snapped.
Lydia tried not to wince at his words, but it was hard. “What I do with my personal time is none of your concern Aiden. And I didn’t mean to- it was an accident,” she said her words faltering. “I would never hurt any of you. Even you and you actually deserve it.”
Aiden stepped forward and Derek followed suit. He arched an eyebrow, “Are you crazy?” He inquired calmly, the look in his eyes telling Aiden to stay exactly where he was.
Scott took a step forward too and Isaac shifted towards Lydia.
Aiden shook his head, “So I’m the bad guy? She nearly kills us all because, who even knows why and I’m the bad guy?”
“You are so far out of line right now,” Isaac informed him, jaw clenching as he glared at Aiden. “Can we just get rid of him?” He looked at Scott. “Let’s take a vote.”
“Okay everyone just calm down,” Scott said, taking a deep breath even if his annoyance level was already skyrocketing. “Lydia didn’t do anything intentionally and you know she wouldn’t.” He gave Aiden a look of warning.
Stiles’ expression was a blank slate as he leaned back against the far wall of the room by himself, arms folded across his chest. He wasn’t surprised by Aiden’s anger in the least. The guy had always been quick-tempered and as far as Stiles was concerned, an asshole. This wasn’t news. He knew Scott was doing his best to give the guy a second chance because that was what Scott did, even if a second chance wasn’t deserved in a lot of cases. The tension in the room, however, was palpable.
Even Cora looked pissed off at Aiden for his comments about Lydia. “Of course she didn’t. He’s just pissed he’s not at the top of her to do list these days.”
Lydia’s face screwed up at Cora’s words. “While I appreciate the vote of confidence your complete and utter lack of tact needs work,” she quipped because if she didn’t joke about it she might just scream, which also would not be good.
Aiden set his glare on Cora, “You have no idea what you’re talking about little girl,” he could feel the growl in his throat as he shifted his body towards her.
Scott tensed when Aiden stepped forward, jaw tightening as he felt the escalating tension in the room.
Lydia stepped in his line of sight and pressed her hand against his chest just intending to move him back a bit, “You leave her alone.” She snapped. Lydia remembered all too well how Aiden had attacked Cora in the locker room. Sure Cora wasn’t her favorite person, but she was Derek’s sister and in general she didn’t deserve to be treated that way.
“I don’t need you to defend me either, for the record,” Cora responded, giving Lydia a look and then looking back at Aiden. “I kicked your ass when you were an alpha. What do you think I can do to you now that you’re not?”
Stiles pursed his lips, gaze shifting from his best friend who was looking somewhere between pissed off and worried, to Cora and Lydia who both looked pissed off, to Aiden who looked really pissed off while everyone else seemed tense and uncomfortable. And all too used to this kind of thing.
“And I’ll be more than happy to help her take you apart,” Isaac informed Aiden, eyes flashing yellow for the briefest of moments.
Lydia sighed at Cora’s words and then Isaac’s, “Guys stop it, all of you. We can’t keep doing this, fighting with each other only makes things worse and we have bigger things-” She didn’t notice Aiden’s eyes flashing back at Isaac until his hand tightened around her wrist, “Owe Aiden, you’re hurting me,” she whispered as she tried to tug her hand back from his chest. Ethan gripped his brother’s shoulder tightly and Lydia let out a small noise that she tried to stifle.
She was very aware of the anger coming from Scott, Isaac, Derek and Cora. She could practically feel it and it made something stir inside of her. Her breathing was picking up speed and she tried to step back again, but Aiden was still gripping her wrist too tightly for her to step away.
Scott started to move forward, but didn’t have a chance to get any closer.
Because Stiles beat him there, his eyes dark and narrowed. Dangerous. “Back up,” he said, voice dripping with venom, a mixture of familiar emotions stirring inside of him. “Now.” It wasn’t a request.
Aiden angled his head towards Stiles and smirked. “Look at you coming to your girlfriend’s rescue,” His eyebrows drew up, “Oh, that’s right,” he leaned into Stiles, “She’s too busy fucking Derek to be your girlfriend.” He knew how much Stiles cared about Lydia it had been clear when they were together.
“Stop it,” Lydia whispered, guilt churning in her stomach as she felt the same surge of emotion from earlier start building inside of her again. Her heart slammed against her chest and she was taking short shallow breaths.
Aiden glared at her, “I’m not afraid of him,” he looked back at Stiles, “You think coming back here looking the way you do and acting like you don’t give a fuck is going to intimidate me?” He asked his voice getting deeper as his eyes glowed.
Stiles sneered at him, stepping into his personal space, not caring about his yellow glowing eyes. He wasn’t scared of Aiden. He wasn’t scared of much of anything anymore. He heard Scott’s voice behind him, warning him and he knew in about two seconds his best friend was going to put himself between Stiles and Aiden the way he had on more than one occasion.
“I said back up,” Stiles responded, letting the energy inside of him take over and watching with satisfaction as Aiden let go of Lydia’s wrist and took a step backwards, eyes turning normal again. He took another step toward the guy, jabbing his finger against Aiden’s chest. “If you ever lay a finger on anyone else in this pack out of anger again, you’re gonna have reason to be intimidated because you have no idea what I can do.”
The entire room was still and silent.
“Now sit down and shut the fuck up unless someone speaks to you. Are we clear?” Stiles snarled.
Scott’s eyes widened as he stared at his best friend, mouth slightly agape not sure what the hell had just happened. He looked dangerous, lethal even.
Derek stood beside Scott his eyes on Stiles, surprise filling his chest and yet he couldn’t help the slight smirk pulling at his lips at the way Aiden was practically cowering in the seat. It had been months in the making, eight to be exact. He needed to be put in his place and apparently Stiles of all people was doing that.
Isaac stood beside Kira and during the process of Stiles yelling at Aiden he’d backed up at least two paces taking Kira with him. What the actual fuck, was the only thing going through Isaac’s head.
Realization crossed Ethan’s face and he swallowed hard, well that was an interesting turn of events.
Cora smirked in Stiles direction. Her gaze shifted to Lydia and the smirk slowly left her face. “Stiles,” her tone held a hint of uncertainty in it as she tried to draw his attention to the problem at hand now that Aiden seemed to be neutered for the moment.
Stiles glared at Aiden for another few seconds before letting the energy curl back into his own body, shutting his eyes and taking a deep breath before he turned to look at Cora, following her gaze to Lydia’s pale face. Shit. “Lydia, look at me,” he said softly, moving so he was right in front of her, though he didn’t dare reach out and touch her.
Lydia closed her eyes, the direct opposite of what he’d asked her to do. She felt the emotions building inside of her again and it was getting hard to breath. She shifted back her heartbeat turning erratic as fear swept through her. She didn’t want to hurt anyone. Her eyes flew open and she met his gaze, “Stiles,” she whispered his name the fear there clear as her chest grew heavier.
The fear in her voice urged him forward even though the last time he’d touched her when she was like this, it had made things worse. He hesitated for a second, reaching out and laying his hands on her shoulders very, very lightly. “Breathe,” he whispered, expression softening. “You’re okay. Everything’s okay, Lydia. Just breathe.”
Lydia’s hand jerked out and she had every intention of pushing him away, but her hand did the opposite inside, curling into his shirt as she sucked in a sharp breath and then let it out slowly, her body gravitating closer to him without her permission. She let her eyes close again and focused on the sound of his voice. She felt a different emotion building in her chest as the tension released around her body.
Warmth pooled inside of her, seeping into her skin and despite the fact that her eyes were closed she felt a tear slide down her cheek.
Stiles’ chest tightened as started to cry. He shifted closer, hesitantly sliding his arms around her and pulling her into his embrace. “It’s okay,” he murmured against her hair. His cheek rested against her temple and he closed his eyes, swallowing hard.
Lydia pulled in a quick breath when his arms slid around her. Her heart jumped in her chest clear as day to anyone who could actually hear it. She shifted her hand sliding it down his chest, he felt different, more solid and yet at the same time, exactly the same.
Her hand wrapped around him returning the hug, fingers sliding against the back of his shirt. Lydia melted into his arms like she never left them. Her other hand gripped his midsection as she tilted her chin up so it was resting near his shoulder.
Lydia closed her eyes as the storm passed, her emotions settling without fault. The expression on her face more relaxed than it had been in over a year.
Isaac was starting to get more than a little weirded out because he honestly had no idea what in the hell was happening. First Stiles had gone alpha on Aiden until the former actual alpha wolf had cowered and sat down in a chair without another word after eight months of nothing but a lot of words and threats of violence. Then Lydia looked like she was going to have some kind of nervous breakdown and the guy’s anger had vanished almost instantly as he turned to her and calmed her down two seconds after he’d been sure that Stiles was about to take Aiden’s head right off his body with his bare hands.
Seriously. What. The. Fuck.
The whirlwind change of emotions in the room was a little overwhelming and Isaac leaned back against the wall, glancing sideways at Kira, completely weirded out. When he looked at Scott, Scott looked as bewildered as he felt, and he was glad to know he wasn’t the only one who had no idea what in the world had actually just happened.
Cora came to stand beside Isaac glancing briefly at her brother before her gaze returned to Stiles and Lydia with Aiden and Ethan still sitting on the couch.
Scott took a step forward and then another few steps until he was a few feet in front of his best friend and Lydia. “Is she okay now?” He asked and even though his voice was quiet it sounded through the room.
Stiles knew the question was meant for him and he didn’t pull away from Lydia when he answered. “Yeah.” His voice was quieter than Scott’s even and it had already begun to dawn on Stiles what was going on. Something that never once occurred to him before, because it had never happened before. He swallowed hard, slowly sliding a hand up her back to keep contact with her as he drew away so he could look at her. “Okay?” he whispered.
Lydia met his gaze, “Yes,” she mumbled her hand still gripping his midsection her body relaxing at his touch. God, she was starved for him. She wanted to cry, but for once it wasn’t because everything hurt. It was because it finally felt like she was exactly where she belonged. Warmth spread through her body where his hand slid up and down her back and for a minute she wished he could feel what she was feeling right now. The quiet calm of everything settling inside of her. The inner peace that had destroyed the chaos in her mind. It was him. It had always been him, she just hadn’t realized it until it was too late.
Scott closed Kira’s door and waved a tired smile on his face as she pulled out of the spot and headed home. He let out a short breath and sighed. Ethan and Aiden were gone. Isaac had been sufficiently freaked out and so he’d gone home to process things and Cora as far as he could tell was upstairs with Derek and Lydia. It was late and the air was growing colder.
He let out a long breath and turned away from the parking lot heading back towards the alcove near the stairs where his best friend was standing. Scott wasn’t going to lie, he had been a little freaked out too, but not out of fear, out of the fact that he had no idea what the hell was going on. Scott closed the distance between him and Stiles quickly. “Stiles,” he hesitated, “We need to talk about what happened,” he said calmly.
Stiles stood silently at the entrance of the apartment building, face pale. He swallowed heavily as he struggled to process everything that had transpired in the last couple of hours. Getting through the pack meeting after realizing what was happening had been difficult, but he’d told them his theory; that there had been a sacrifice at the Nemeton. Whether it was human or animal, he had no idea. Either way blood sacrifice at a powerful tree stump only led to very bad things. They all knew it from very personal experience.
He’d gone on to explain that Lydia’s powers were expanding, that it was rare from what he knew, and that he’d do more extensive research in the vicinity of immediately. But he was going to have to sleep first because he felt completely drained. Like every bit of him was used up. He didn’t even have the energy to light a cigarette. He didn’t even want one.
He blinked slowly, taking a breath when Scott approached, hesitant but firm when he spoke. He was pretty sure only Scott had the ability to pull that one off. He rubbed his hands over his face, nodding slightly and slowly descending the steps, moving toward his jeep silently in response, digging his keys out of his pocket and handing them to his best friend wordlessly.
Scott took the keys from him and hesitated before turning and heading over to the jeep glancing over his shoulder to make sure his friend was following him. He unlocked the doors, tugged the driver’s side open and stepped into the car, pulling the door shut behind him and then leaning against the familiar seat waiting for his friend to do the same.
A moment later found Stiles sitting in the passenger seat of his own vehicle -- something that happened only a handful of times since he’d learned to drive. He stared blankly out the windshield, breathing a little unsteady, which once upon a time had been his norm. It hadn’t been his norm for a long time now. He shut his eyes. “I’m sorry.”
Scott let his head roll against the seat’s headrest until he was facing Stiles. “Why?” He asked quietly, genuinely confused. Stiles had managed to do in a matter of minutes what Scott had been trying to do for months. He wasn’t angry, he just didn’t know how his best friend had done that or what was going on and he needed to know.
Stiles raked a shaking hand through his hair, struggling to find the words to explain all the reasons he was sorry. “You mean aside from the fact I’m pretty sure I scared the living shit out of at least half your pack?” He was almost surprised by the familiar bite of sarcasm that sprang up that easily from his own mouth.
The corner of Scott’s mouth twitched as he watched his friend. He still wasn’t used to how freely Stiles was with the cursing, but they were just words. He could get used to it. “You did, which really for me is great because now I don’t have to do it.” He said simply with a slight shrug. Scott didn’t like having to put people in their place, but he would do it if necessary.
Stiles blinked a couple of times and turned his head to look at Scott to see if he was serious. He opened his mouth to respond and then shut it again, not even sure how to respond to that. “How are you not freaking out right now?”
Scott tilted his head, “Honestly? I’m not sure. I don’t know why you were able to do what you did and I want to know,” he said pointedly, “But,” he swallowed hard, “This is this first night I haven’t felt a fracture among the pack.” He told his friend quietly. “They’re all calm for the moment...even Lydia and honestly I can’t remember the last time I haven’t felt her pain. It’s a constant thing inside of me, always there so much so that’s it’s like a part of me,” he told his friend. “But tonight it’s gone and for the first time in a long time it’s just me and I feel good.” He said with half a smile.
Stiles studied Scott, feeling some of his own tension and anxiety and maybe even a tiny bit of guilt easing from his body. He leaned his head back against the headrest, falling silent for a moment as he drew in a breath and let it out slowly. “I think that maybe we have a lot to talk about,” he said almost inaudibly. He shut his eyes. “Can you drive me home, Scott?”
Scott watched Stiles for a minute holding back the smile on his face, “Yeah, I can do that dude.” He leaned forward and turned the car on before shifting it into gear. “And we definitely have a lot to talk about.” He said as he backed up the jeep and then pulled out into the parking lot.
Lydia shifted her eyes fluttering opened as a chill slid over her body. She frowned at the sight of the darkened sky above her. She could feel something soft and wet beneath her and when Lydia slowly sat up she realized it was grass. “What the hell?” She mumbled as she stood, the material of her short black nightgown blowing around her in the cool breeze.
Lydia turned around, her pulse quickening as she tried to figure out what was going on. She moved barefoot through the woods her heartbeat speeding up as she continued walking and the area around her became familiar. The sound of branches snapping behind her made her pause. Lydia glanced over her shoulder and a low growl sounded. “No,” she whispered.
Fear shot through her and she took off, her feet moving as fast as they could, leaves crushing beneath her feet. A cool wind whipped at her face as she pushed herself harder, the sound of growling behind her getting louder.
“Scott!” Lydia screamed his name.
She stumbled, but righted herself and kept going. Lydia could see a light in the distance and she ran for it, her legs tired, feet hurting and cut from the uneven ground. Hot breathe licked the back of her legs and before she knew what was happening her body was hurtling in the air. She screamed landing with a hard thud against something wooden.
Lydia winced, pain stretching across her back as she sat up and another spark of fear tore through her when she realized where she was. The nemeton. Her body was sprawled on top of the tree stump and she scrambled to get up and off of it, but before she could several shadows appeared around her, growling and echoing around the quiet area around her. She could smell their rancid breath and then one of them was above her, she opened her mouth to scream, but before it even came out she felt claws dig into the flesh of her stomach.
Lydia’s body arched in pain, a scream finally tearing from her throat as her eyes burst open, the feel of soft sheets beneath her sweat soaked body bringing her back to reality. She struggling against something --no someone-- grabbing at her. She was twisted in the sheets and when she shifted again pain ripped through her stomach and side. Lydia let out a distressed cry finally snapping out of it enough to realize it was Derek struggling to get her to stop moving.
“Lydia. Lydia,” Derek shouted, fear rippling through him. When she finally stopped moving, he was staring down at her with wide eyes, realizing he smelled blood. And he quickly reached out flipping on the bedside lamp and staring at her as he saw that her shirt was stained with blood.
Lydia dropped her hand to her stomach and winced, “Oh god it hurts,” She tried to sit up and a sharp pain tore through her body. Lydia felt something warm and wet on her hand and when she lifted it; her palm was covered in blood. “My dream, I,” her words cut off as she winced again, her heart slamming against her chest, fear bubbling up inside of her.
“Breathe,” he instructed, sliding his hand up to rest against her arm, black veins sliding up his arm instantly. “Tell me about the dream.” He used his other hand to cover the wound in her stomach to stop the bleeding.
Some of the pain eased and Lydia took a short breath and then another. “The daevas,” she told him letting out a shaky breath. “Chasing me through the woods.” Lydia licked her lips and blinked. “The nemeton.” She whispered. “I was on the nemeton.”
There was a noise near the door, “What is with all the screaming?” Cora asked annoyed, still half asleep.
“Cora, go into the bathroom and get the first aid kit,” Derek said, gritting his teeth as he focused on taking Lydia’s pain. “Hurry please.”
She frowned but did as he asked moving quickly to the bathroom banging through cabinets until she found the first aid kit. It looked brand new and she briefly wondered why her brother had gotten one when they healed fast enough not to need one.
Cora hurried back into the bedroom and was assaulted with the coppery tang of blood. She moved closer to the bed and her eyes widened slightly. Why the hell hadn’t she smelled that before? She ripped open the plastic around the first aid kit and then opened it and placed it down, “What the hell happened?”
“Her dream manifested itself,” Derek said grimly. He looked up at her with worried eyes. “The wounds aren’t too deep. I don’t think she needs stitches but we need to get a hold of Scott.”
Cora nodded, “I’ll call him.” She started to walk out of his room and then paused, “Should I tell him to bring Stiles?”
Derek grimaced involuntarily and looked down at the redhead. “Lydia, do you want us to call Scott and Stiles?”
“Just Scott,” She said swallowing hard.
Cora nodded and left to grab her phone. Lydia glanced at Derek as he cleaned the wound. “Is it bad?” She asked closing her eyes for a minute. She felt a little lightheaded and she figured that it was a mixture of shock and blood loss. Lydia was pretty sure she heard Derek say something about not needing stitches, so it couldn’t be that bad.
Derek looked down at her worriedly, wondering if he was wrong about the wound not being too deep. “Maybe I should take you to the hospital.”
“I don’t like hospitals.” Lydia said immediately. “Tell me something...does it look bad? Do you think it will scar?” She shifted her head and sighed. “My bikini wearing days are over aren’t they?” She asked with a dramatic sigh trying to draw the tension out of Derek. Lydia winced slightly when the sigh pulled at her wound.
Despite his worry a smile tugged his lips upwards. “You’re still beautiful, don’t worry.”
Lydia chuckled softly and winced again. She was silent for a minute, “This isn’t good, is it?” She asked quietly. She’d had nightmares before, but nothing had ever happened to her outside of her dreams.
“No, this definitely doesn’t fall into the category of good.” His voice was quiet.
Lydia rubbed his arm slightly. “I’m fine. Everything is going to be okay. This is probably just a fluke.” She told him hoping she was right. “I’m going to close my eyes and rest until Scott comes okay?” She said softly. Lydia could feel the slight throb of pain coming back, but she did her best to ignore it.
“Just try to rest. I’m not going anywhere,” Except that didn’t even matter since she was being attacked by her own dreams.
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