Chapter 30 - Return

AN: Thank you UndercoverKat and John for becoming p-atrons. If you want to support me and read ahead (I'm 3 chapters ahead for this one and season 3 on Teen Wolf) join my p-atreon. P-atreon.com/Hela698

A hazy vision unfolds as a figure is dragged across the rough ground. It's Isaac, his face smeared with dirt and blood, unconscious and vulnerable. The sound of ragged breathing fills the air as a girl kneels beside him, her hands steady yet urgent as she fumbles with a makeshift defibrillator. With a deep breath, she presses it to his chest, and a jolt of electricity surges through him. Isaac stirs, a low moan escaping his lips as pain radiates through his body.

Despite his desire to slip back into the comforting embrace of unconsciousness, the girl is relentless. She adjusts her grip, half-carrying, half-dragging him from the ground as the weight of his body drags them both down. Isaac becomes painfully aware of the sharp, burning sensation at the back of his neck, where jagged claw marks mark his skin. The girl tells Isaac that's how they took his memories away. She pulls Isaac onto a motorcycle.

"Listen to me carefully Isaac. No matter what you hold on to me tight," She tells him. Isaac nods doing as she said and they drive away.

Isaac squinted against the dim light, his eyelids heavy, clearly teetering on the edge of sleep. Just as he was drifting, a sudden rustle pierced the stillness of their surroundings, yanking him back to alertness.

"I hear something," he murmured to the girl beside him, his voice laced with urgency as he turned to glance over his shoulder. The sound of hurried footsteps echoed ominously, growing louder with each passing moment. Through the dense fog, a figure materialized, a man closing in with purpose. In a flash, he swung at the motorcycle, narrowly missing Isaac's head. Isaac instinctively ducked, adrenaline pulsing through him as he glanced back at this alarming adversary. What sent chills down his spine were the man's glowing red eyes, unmistakable markers of an Alpha.

The girl, sensing the rising danger, pushed the motorcycle to accelerate. Isaac's heart raced as he registered a second figure sprinting alongside the first. With their identical features, he realized they were twins, making the situation even more precarious.

"There's two of them!" Isaac exclaimed, panic tinging his voice.

In an instant, the pair found themselves cornered at a dead end, the looming twins striding towards them with a casual confidence, their heads held high and an air of predatory intent about them.

"Remember what I told you?" the girl asked, her tone a mix of seriousness and urgency.

"Hold on?" Isaac replied, confusion threading through his words.

"Hold on," she confirmed, determination etched onto her features. Without another word, she revved the engine and shot straight towards the twins, who instantly pivoted and began racing toward the motorcycle. One of the twins leaped over his brother, attempting to block their path, but the girl anticipated the maneuver, expertly swerving to the right. The twin landed with a thud, executing a dramatic superhero pose that cracked the asphalt beneath him, a low growl of irritation rumbling in his throat.

Without hesitating, the girl drove the motorcycle through a shattered window, crashing into the dimly lit expanse of a warehouse. The clamor of breaking glass echoed in the vast space as Isaac began to feel the effects of fatigue creeping in. His vision started to blur, flickering in and out like a faulty light bulb. He swayed unsteadily on the motorcycle, feeling the girl's frantic calls slip through the fog of his mind. Isaac tips the motorcycle taking them down.

The twins follow them into the warehouse and start taking their shirts off. One of them punches through the other twins back and they combine their bodies and become one super Alpha.

Isaac's eyes widen in fear and he crawls back from them.

"Duck!" The girl yells and aims at the super Alpha. She shoots an electric bazooka. On impact, it splits the Super Alpha back into shirtless twins.

Isaac's eyes go fuzzy from the flickering light and when his vision clears, the twins are gone.

The girl glares at him. "I thought I told you to hold on."

~~~~

Astrid expertly maneuvered the car into the dimly lit underground garage of the pack house, the sound of the engine echoing softly off the concrete walls. Inside the vehicle with her were: Allison, Maya, and Akari, a striking Japanese woman in her late twenties. Akari was dressed casually in light blue jeans and a vibrant red flannel shirt, complemented by a trendy pair of black sneakers with pink accents that hinted at her lively personality.

"Home sweet home," Astrid declared as she switched off the engine, the warmth of familiarity flooding her senses. They all filed out of the car, the aroma of oil and concrete mingling with the cool, underground air.

Akari stood by her, shaking her head with a bemused smile playing on her lips. "You and your mansions. I see not much has changed," she teased, looking playfully at Astrid.

Astrid chuckled, brushing a hand through her hair. "I was trapped in a tomb for 300 years. It's not like I had much room to change," she replied, her voice laced with lightheartedness but also tinged with the weight of her past.

Suddenly, a bright, high-pitched squeal shattered the ambient sounds of the garage. In an instant, a blur rushed toward Astrid and slammed into her, nearly knocking her off balance. Laughing heartily, Astrid looked down to see Kathrine, her daughter, enveloping her in a tight embrace.

"It's so good to see you too, my sweet girl," Astrid said, wrapping her arms around Kathrine, instilling a sense of warmth and safety.

Tears glistened in Kathrine's eyes as she hugged Astrid even tighter, her voice a mix of joy and desperation. "I thought I'd never see you again, Mother," she sobbed, her words breaking the otherwise joyous atmosphere.

Astrid pulled back slightly, cupping Kathrine's face in her hands, her gaze unwavering. "You have me for eternity, my love. Nothing is going to take me away from you ever again," she promised, the sincerity in her voice clear as she looked into her daughter's eyes.

As Astrid glanced up, she noticed the rest of her pack watching them with warm smiles, their expressions a blend of joy and relief.

~~~~

After their heartfelt exchange filled with emotions, Astrid decided it was time to introduce the newcomer, Allison, to the rest of the group. The moment Allison entered the warm living room, she was greeted with open arms, just as Astrid had assured her it would be. Kathrine and Athena recounted their recent encounter with Deucalion and how they had saved Cora, Boyd, and Erica.

"By the way, where are they?" Astrid inquired, scanning the room for Derek and the others, but finding them absent.

"They're at Derek's loft," Athena replied, her voice steady.

Astrid rolled her eyes, a mix of frustration and exasperation evident on her face. "Even after I set up a room for him here, he decided to get a loft instead. What was he thinking?"

Bella, who had been looking at Allison intently, stood up, a puzzled look crossing her features. "I'm sorry, but this has been nagging at me. Allison, have we met before? I could swear you look so familiar."

Allison furrowed her brow, taken aback by the question. "Um, no, I don't think so," she replied, her tone reflecting her confusion.

Kathrine stepped closer, scrutinizing Allison with an appraising gaze. "No, Bella might be right. There is definitely something about you that rings a bell," she said thoughtfully.

Suddenly, Athena's expression shifted to one of astonishment as a realization struck her. "Oh my goodness! You are the spitting image of Marie-Jeanne Valet—the Maid of Gévaudan!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Allison's eyebrows knitted together in surprise. "As in the Beast of Gévaudan?" she asked, trying to wrap her mind around the information.

"Yes! She was your ancestor, and it was she who defeated the Beast," Akari interjected, her admiration for the historical figure evident in her voice.

Maya chimed in, nodding enthusiastically. "You two could be mistaken for twins—if Marie-Jeanne were born in this era, that is," she added with a light-hearted smile.

Astrid leaned forward with curiosity, clearly intrigued. "How exactly did you all come to meet Marie-Jeanne Valet?" she asked, eager to know more about the remarkable figure who had seemingly woven herself into their conversation.

"Well..."

~~~~

Paramedics pull Isaac onto a gurney, preparing to move him out of the scene of the motorcycle crash.

"Just a sec', guys. I know this one." Melissa McCall steps into the light, placing a gentle hand on Isaac's brow. "Isaac, what happened?"

"The girl. She's worse," Isaac tells her.

"Are you not healing?" Melissa asks whispering.

"I will. Help her first. Please." Isaac insists.

"We gotta' move him, Melissa." The Paramedic tells her.

She nods, backing away to allow them past. Then turns to the injured Girl who struggles to speak.

"Find him... I have to find him..." The girl says.

"What? What was that?" Melissa asks.

"I have to... have to tell him..." The girl continued.

"Who?" Melissa asks.

"The Alpha..." The girl finally answers. Her fingers grasp at Melissa's arm. "Find the Alpha..."

"What do you want with Derek Hale?" Melissa asks.

"No..."

The doors clang back open, Paramedics charging in.

"Okay, let's get her out of here." A paramedic says.

Grabbing the gurney's rails, they pull the Girl up and away from Melissa.

"Not Hale..." The girl continued but Melissa couldn't hear her. The Paramedics pack the gurney in, no one hearing the Girl's last words as she slips into unconsciousness. "McCall... Scott McCall."

~~~~

A sea of colorful backpacks cascades through the school parking lot on the bustling first day of class, a chaotic blend of laughter and chatter filling the air. ZOOMING past idling buses and parked cars, a lone student darts into view on a dusty, well-worn motocross bike, its frame bearing the scars of many rough rides.

As he brings the bike to a stop, he removes his helmet, revealing Scott's youthful face, his eyes sparkling with pride over his recent upgrade from a humble bicycle to this more rugged mode of transport.

But his satisfaction quickly dims as he glances to the side and spots a sleek, jet-black motorcycle gleaming ominously under the morning sun—a stark contrast to his own vehicle. Intrigued and somewhat anxious, he notices another identical motorcycle parked just beside it, both appearing clearly brand new and polished to perfection.

Feeling a flutter of unease, Scott scans the bustling crowd for any sign of the owners, but all he sees are an array of typical teenagers thronging toward the sanctuary of the high school, each preoccupied with their own dramas and excitement about the new school year.

~~~

Navigating the thrumming mass of students, Scott and his best friend Stiles weave their way toward their first class, their conversation threaded with the weight of unspoken plans.

"You want to ask Derek for help?" Stiles inquires, trying to mask his curiosity with casual concern.

Scott shrugs, his brow furrowed in thought. "He's got the triskele tattooed on his back," he replies. "So there's got to be a way to do it without healing, right?"

Just then, a loud voice breaks through their discussion, drawing both boys' attention toward the nearby Administration Offices. The former Principal strides around, barking orders at his flustered secretary while energetically unpacking boxes filled with papers and school supplies.

"I don't know what happened to that library while I was gone," he bellows, his tone a mix of irritation and frustration. "but I want it cleaned up and--and what the hell is this?" He lifts a familiar-looking sword above his head, its blade catching the light as Stiles tugs Scott away from the door, sensing the growing tension.

Meanwhile, at Allison's locker, Lydia leans against the metal frame, glancing around as she waits for her friend to gather her books. Her keen eyes scan the busy hall, searching for any unfamiliar faces amid the throng.

"Freshmen. Tons and tons of fresh men," Lydia quips with a hint of mischief in her tone.

"You mean fresh boys. They're fourteen," Allison counters, rolling her eyes at Lydia's playful exaggeration.

"Eh, some of them are more mature than others," Lydia retorts with a playful smirk.

Allison gives her a knowing smile. "You know it's perfectly okay to be single, right? Take some time to focus on yourself, to work on becoming the best version of you."

"So, Where is your future wife today?" Lydia changes the topic, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

Allison chuckles softly, shaking her head. "She's with Derek. Now, don't change the subject," she insists playfully.

"Fine, but just so we're clear—I don't want a boyfriend. I'm looking for a distraction," Lydia says, her voice trailing off as her gaze suddenly sharpens. "Like that…"

Following the direction of Lydia's intense stare, Allison finally catches sight of two identical new students maneuvering through the crowd. Her attention is captured by the figure of the two teenager, clad in dark clothing, holding a black motorcycle helmets with gloved hands, the helmets gleaming against the backdrop of the swarm of students.

~~~~

Gently lifting the bandage on Isaac's torso, Melissa looks over the gash inflicted by an Alpha. The wound heals right before her eyes, tissue miraculously binding back to tissue.

"Yeah, it's healing. Visibly. Wow. They can't see this. No one can see this." Melissa says concerned.

"Cover it back up." Isaac tells her his eyes looking around.

"I don't think that's going to matter. You're scheduled for surgery. Which is obviously going to be very confusing for a lot of people." Melissa retorts.

"Okay, then... do something." Isaac tells her.

"Me do something?" Melissa asks surprised, "I'm relatively new to all of this. And F-Y-I, there's a Sheriff's Deputy stationed right outside the door."

"You tried calling Derek?" Isaac asks.

"Like five times." Melissa answers. "You don't have any other emergency werewolf contacts?"

"Astrid but I don't think she's back in town," Isaac says.

"Anyone else," Melissa asks.

Isaac thinks for a moment, "Call Scott."

Hurrying out of Isaac's room, Melissa finds Sheriff Stilinski and a deputy talking to a hospital administrator.

"Believe me I understand, but--" Stilinski says before noticing Melissa and walks over to her. "Melissa, help me out here." He points to Isaac's room, "Since the amnesiac in 215 can't tell us anything, the girl carrying the modified military stun gun in 216 needs to answer some questions."

He gestures to the other side of the hall where, through an open door, the Girl lies visible in her bed.

"That's kind of unlikely since she's heavily sedated." Melissa tells him.

But the Girl lies awake, gripping the removed IV in her fist while listening to Stilinski.

"When she un-sedates, you radio me. She's got ten grand worth of property damage to answer for. I don't want her going anywhere." Stilinski tells her.

The Girl glances to the beside clock--9:00 am. Returning her eyes to the ceiling, she stares up with worry. The look of someone who knows time is running out.

~~~~

Stepping inside Isaac's room, Kali dressed as a Nurse heads for his IV.

"Hello, Isaac. How are we feeling?" She asks.

"A lot better, actually. I think--" He stops short as she slips a needle into the IV. "What was that?"

"Just an anesthetic. We don't want you slipping away again." She tells him.

Vision blurring, Isaac peers down at the floor where he sees the Nurse is BAREFOOT. Her toenails are long, sharp and curved. Actually, more like claws.

Realizing, Isaac tries to sit up. But now he can barely seem to raise his head.

"Count along with me, Isaac. One..."

A clawed finger flicks up.

"Two..."

Another claw. Vision blurring, the last thing Isaac sees are Kali's eyes beginning to glow red.

"Three."

~~~

Scott rushes down the corridor with his mother, Melissa.

"Why didn't you tell me before?" Scott asks a frown on his brows.

"Honestly, I was hoping I wouldn't have to." Melissa admits.

"What do you mean?" Scott asks trying to understand.

"Everything you've been doing. The extra reading, the summer school, saving up for the bike--even though it scares me to death. I don't want to break a good rhythm." Melissa rants worried.

He stops to look her in the eyes."It's not going to stop. I'm going to be better this year. A better student. A better son. A better friend. A better everything. I promise."

"He's in 215. If he's not already in surgery." Melissa tells him.

Scott kisses her on the cheek and hurries around the corner, never noticing--

The girl, still in her hospital gown, barefoot and limping. She leans against the wall and peers down the corridor to find too many people blocking the way to the exit. Pushing off the wall, she turns back the other way.

~~~~

Under the glow of the operating room lights, Isaac lies unconscious while the Surgical Team gets to work.

The Surgical Assistant finishes removing Isaac's bandage and pauses, staring down. Scalpel in hand, the Surgeon peers over in confusion.

"What the hell is this?" The Surgeon asks.

The Nurses and Technicians peer down at Isaac's perfectly healed torso. Not a mark on him.

"All right, I've got an idea." The Surgeon says getting irritated, "How about we get him out of here and someone brings me a patient that actually needs to be operated on?"

The others nod quickly. An orderly steps in to wheel Isaac out. However, as the gurney is pushed forward, something odd comes into focus--

The Orderly's gloved hands appear to be perforated by the tips of claws.

Pushing Isaac's gurney down the corridor, the Orderly tears off a glove letting it fall to the floor. The second glove drops down next to the dark and dirty boots underneath the scrub pants.

Finally, the surgical mask comes off to reveal the face of Ennis. Grabbing a vacant wheelchair, he pulls it next to Isaac's gurney.

With Isaac now in the wheelchair, Ennis backs him into the open elevator. But then, as if sensing something, Ennis slowly looks up.

Scott stands at the other end of the corridor. He sees Isaac. Connects eyes with Ennis. And immediately knows.

Scott's fist snaps open to reveal claws. The transformation instantaneous, fangs out, eyes glowing yellow, he launches forward to attack.

Grinning with anticipation, Ennis snarls a response. His clawed hands come up in defense as Scott hurtles down onto Ennis. But the larger werewolf easily grabs hold of him and slams him into the wall of the elevator.

Still unconscious in the wheelchair, Isaac doesn't even stir as the doors close with a ding, werewolves grappling right beside him.

But Scott is like a puppy attacking a Rottweiler. Ennis smashes him from one wall to the next, knocking the breath and nearly the life out of him.

As the elevator ascends to the next floor, Ennis picks Scott up by the throat, raising him until his head nearly touches the ceiling.

The elevator dings again, signaling the doors about to open behind him.

"Don't you realize what you're dealing with? I'm an Alpha." Ennis tells him with a so Mister grin.

But Ennis lurches forward in shock as claws jam into his back. His head twists around to face... Astrid and Derek.

"So are we," She tells him. With her free hand, she smashes Ennis skull into the wall and then--despite the larger Alpha's size--lifts Ennis off his feet and hurls him right out of the elevator.

Ennis tumbles down the corridor past several shocked Hospital Employees.

The elevator doors clang shut and Derek turns to Scott with a look of concern. "Aren't you supposed to be in school?"

~~~~

School officials, parents and EMT's attend to the shocked but mostly unhurt students. Among them, Sheriff Stilinski surveys the mess with a look of total bewilderment.

Helping Lydia right her over-turned desk, Stiles notices Ms. Blake gazing over the damage.

"Ms. Blake? You okay?" He asks concerned.

She nods, unaware of a feather stuck in her hair. Stiles gently plucks it out. "Oh. Thank you,"

Past them, Argent watches an EMT finish bandaging the minor lacerations on Allison's hands which would have already healed if she wasn't preventing them for appearances.

"You okay?" Chris asks.

"I'm okay. But, Dad, the deer Lydia told me about this morning and now this. It can't be coincidence." Allison says.

Eyeing the broken windows, Argent looks about to answer when Stilinski walks over.

"Mr. Argent, you wouldn't have any insight into this, would you?"

Both Argent and Allison glance to Stilinski in alarm.

"Me?"

"Yeah. All this--this bizarre animal behavior. You must have seen something like this before, right?" He asks curiously.

"Uh, I'm not sure why I would... or why you would..." Chris says confused.

"Sorry, I could've swore I overheard my son talking about how you were an experienced hunter." Stilinski explains.

"Oh. Right." with a glance to Allison, "Not anymore." He lies.

Having noticed the exchange, Stiles takes a breath of relief. Then steps away to put his phone to his ear.

~~~~

The door clatters open and Derek carries a blanket-covered Isaac inside. Scott follows, talking to Stiles on his phone.

"I have got to stock up the supernatural medical supply at the pack house," Astrid mutters to herself.

Scott hangs up and pockets the phone. Derek sets Isaac down on the charred table in the middle of the room.

"You don't still live here, do you?" Scott asks.

"No, the county took it over. But there's something here I need." Derek responds.

"I gave him a room at the pack house but apparently he's to good to live with me," Astrid adds crossing her arm. She could see Derek smiling from where she stood.

At the broken floorboards, he pulls up strands of the wolfsbane Lydia placed around Peter's body to resurrect him.

"It'll help heal a wound from an Alpha." Derek continues his earlier statement.

"But it did heal." Scott says.

"Not on the inside," Astrid explains. She walks over to Derek helping him pull the dried flowers from the strands.

"Are you guys going to tell me who that was back there? The Alpha?" Scott asks, thinking back to the earlier encounter.

"A rival pack. It's my problem. I know you want to help. And you did. I owe you one. Now go home. Go back to being a teenager." Derek tells him ignoring the look Astrid is giving him.

Silent, Scott watches the two tend to their Beta. When he starts for the door, his eyes fall to his arm where the tattoo was. "Derek. If you want to pay back the favor now..."

Derek glances back, a suspicious look in his eyes.

"There is something you can do for me."

~~~~

The door marked girl's locker eases open and the Girl steps out. Sliding a hoodie over her shoulders, she peers down the corridor to find Allison and Lydia gathering their things from their lockers, preparing to leave.

"Is it me or is Beacon Hills turning into more like Beacon For the Totally Bizarre and Supernatural. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if I got home and my mother's fish jumped out of the tank and ate the skin right off my face." Lydia says getting fed up with supernatural.

Allison shuts her locker and both girls start in surprise. The Girl stands right in front of them.

"Where's Scott McCall?" The Girl asks.

"He had to leave. He was supposed to be back in class but," Allison says before suddenly smelling the fear roll of the girl as she looks at something behind them. She turns around and sees the twins from earlier walking away. She glances back at the girl and sees her walking away as well.

Frowning she contacts the pack through the mental link and tells them about the encounter.

~~~~

Back pressed to one of the lockers, the Girl holds her breath as she hears the door open.

But it's not just the Twins who step in. Kali's bare and clawed feet follow behind them. Then Ennis's black boots.

The Girl closes her eyes, trying to steady her breathing, trying to control her fear. Eyes opening, she spins around to attack.

Whirling the broom stick about like a bo staff, the girl defends herself with every last breath she has.

But the Alphas move far too fast, lashing out with calculated savagery, red eyes seeming to come from every direction.

Kali spins with a dancer's grace, her clawed feet slashing at the Girl. The broom stick clatters to the floor.

blood spattered across her cheeks, the Girl's back hits the lockers. She sinks to the floor while in front of her Deucalion uses a handkerchief to wipe blood from his hands. As the others drift back, Deucalion reaches out, grasping for something against the wall.

The Girl flinches back as Deucalion kneels in front of her. He raises his hand to touch her face, gently feeling the curves of her cheek.

"Beautiful," He says, his fingers trace over her lips, then to her tightly clenched jawline. "But defiant, aren't you?"

"Because I know something... I know you're afraid of him." She tells him speaking with difficulty.

"Of a teenage boy?" Deucalion asks mockingly.

"Of the man he'll become."

"I'm aware of a certain potential threat. But then someone once taught me a very smart way to eliminate threat. Get someone else to do it for you." Deucalion tells with an amused smile.

"That's not a very smart advice," Athena's voice calls out gaining their attention, "You can only be done with a threat when you deal with it yourself getting someone else to do it gives room for mistakes,"

Deucalion gets up and faces her noticing that there are 4 others with her.

"We have got to stop meeting like this," Deucalion says the smile on his face still present.

Kathrine smirks at Kali, "How's your leg?"

Kali responds with a snarl.

"Lets go we're done here," Deucalion says and they leave. 'A Jaguar, a Banshee and a Kitsune. This just keeps getting interesting.'

Suddenly Bella is pulled into a vision.

A darkened, empty corridor. Bella steps forward. strange whispers bounce off the walls. Shadows stretch across the floor. He continues on, almost seeming to drift toward something bodies. Several of them. Blood everywhere. Breath tightening in her throat, she can see their faces now. Lydia, Stiles, Melissa, Stilinski, Isaac, Argent, and Derek.

Someone steps over the bodies. Belle sees their disfigured face cuts covered everywhere and she screams.

~~~~~~~~~

AN: Be sure to leave a comment on your thoughts about the chapter. I enjoy reading them and as always have a nice day or night in my case.