Chapter 1

Stiles Stilinski, Scott McCall and Isaac Lahey, the seniors of Beacon Hills High, entered the school’s hallway as usual. Only Stiles had something in mind. Three more months till graduation, he thought merrily.

Stiles, a perfect straight-A’s student and is the only son of Sherrif Stilinski, had always aimed to become a notorious and respected lawyer in New York.... maybe somewhere in California? Or just in Beacon Hills, the first lawyer to operate his law firm in his room while playing computer games. He is known for his sharp tongue and quick wit; he knew that he’ll become a successful lawyer.

Whereas for his two best friends, Scott and Isaac, both might stay back for a longer while and if matters get worse, forever will be considered. These two were not what people in general think of them (which include loser, complete nobodies, etc.). Scott and Isaac were werewolves. Scott was naturally an Alpha and Isaac was beta. There was also a Jackson Whitemore, Beacon Hills High lacrosse hero (this one was not loser or nobody, but someone who was inarguably the hottest guy in the school. He went to England, however came back after six months. Stuck up, but he in the end would always been forced to help). Derek Hale, however, is at least in his thirty years. He was the pack’s head. Not to forget, Derek has an uncle and a sister, Peter and Cora. Peter was the one who bit Scott and turned him to what he was, while Isaac and Jackson was bitten by Derek on their own will.

Stiles looked ahead and noticed his crush, the pretty and smart Lydia Martin at the end of the hall by her locker with her best friend-slash-Scott’s on-and-off girlfriend/ally, Allison Argent. Lydia was what they would call a banshee (she hated that and what she could do was still a mystery to all of them) and Allison and her dad, Chris, (actually, the whole Argent family since the ancestral days) hunts werewolves and kill them. They now allied with Derek’s pack. That was so nice of Chris.

All of them shared the same class for three hours straight on Mondays so his Mondays were not as dreadful as other’s. Stiles kind of love the idea because it was the last time they’ll be together. Stiles was already accepted to Harvard and will enroll in four months time (he was required to stay in school and finish is formally). He overheard that Lydia will be going to Yale in four months time too (the same reason as Stiles).

He was about to make the most drastic move of his life. His feet shuffled excitedly towards Lydia until Scott pulled his backpack.

“Where do you think you’re going, dude?” These werewolves cannot read minds, so it was clear that Scott and Isaac had no idea. “Class is that way.”

Stiles could not help but to curse in his mind. “I-uh...”

“And gent’s that way,” Isaac pointed to the opposite end of the hallway, the direction they were from.

The human gulped. “Um, yeah. Thanks, bro.”

Damn Scott and Isaac! He wet his face thoroughly three times once he got into the gents and looked into the mirror. Water dripping of his face and it also made his t-shirt a little damp. You’ll tell Lydia you like her. You’ll tell Lydia you love her. And you’ll tell her today.

By the time he stepped into the first class, Mathematics, the bell rang and everyone, including himself scrambled into their seats. He looked at the far end to his left by the window. Lydia was fetching her books in her pink tote. He looked away nervously and pulled his phone out to text a quick text to Lydia.

Lydia, can we meet at the gym? I have something t

Before he could finish typing, his phone was snatched by his teacher. “Mr. Stilinski, I hope you just didn’t text in my class.”

“The lecture was supposed to start in an hour and you actually just settled your stuffs,” replied Stiles.

The Math teacher looked at him with a gentle smile. "Congratulations on Harvard, by the way, but that doesn’t mean you’ll get your phone until after class.”

Noises around him aroused. He felt small suddenly, like a microbe. It was not fun.

“Silence. I assume you’ve done your homework I gave you last week?”

He heard someone called his name. “Stiles, Stiles!”

Stiles turned, just to see three faces in front of him were a little too close. How these werewolves did crane their necks? It did not hurt them, did it? “Harvard, dude? Harvard?” Scott was either disbelief and happy.

“You didn’t tell us?” It was Isaac.

Stiles heard a snort. “With your less-than-stellar lacrosse skills? Congrats.”

“I got in with my stellar grades, you jealous baby wolf,” Stiles snapped at him.

***************************

Later that night at the Stilinski’s residence, Stiles hugged Lydia, the teddy he named after his crush as long as he could remember. “Lydia, I love you. I honestly love you,” he murmured into the teddy’s soft fur and sighed.

“’I love you, Lydia’?”

Stiles’ heart nearly tore out of its socket. “Forget what you heard; please forget what you’ve just heard! And please, stop wolfing in like that – I’m a human for my being’s sake!”

Scott’s lips curved into a sly smile. “We’ll see if I can forget that.”

“No, really, I mean it,” Stiles sat up as Scott pulled a chair. “Forget what I said earlier.”

“Fine,” Scott shrugged. “So you didn’t tell me about Harvard.”

Stiles shrugged. Was there anything to talk about Harvard? “I’m accepted in the Law department.”

“When did you submit your application?”

“Months ago,” Stiles admitted. “Why are you asking, anyway? Send in yours; it’s not too late.”

His best friend gave a knowing laugh, and he knew what it means. Scott cannot leave Beacon Hills. He still has obligations to follow and do. He has a pack to care. If he runs around alone and without a pack, he’ll become an omega. An omega is the lone werewolf, and a lone werewolf is powerless without a pack.

“I can’t yet,” he said. “I’ll enroll to a community college, maybe, and work extra hours at Dr. Deaton’s and at few other places.” Stiles pitied Scott. He pitied his friend more when he hears Scott’s sad voice and sad smile. Scott’s OK at studying, not a straight-A’s student, but he’s good at lacrosse and leadership.

Stiles looked down and patted his Lydia. “Whatever you say,” he said silently.

“I actually wanted to tell you something, Stiles.”

Stiles looked up to his friend and he could see Scott’s pain in his eyes. “I just wanted to tell you how grateful I am for having you as a friend. You’re the best friend that I could always rely on when I need someone by my side. That best friend is you. I just wanted you to know that. You’ve suffered enough with our secrets. I must thank you.”

“Dude,” Stiles grinned. “I’m leaving in four months and it’s like a hundred and twenty days from now.”

Scott grinned too. “I know. I just wanted you know that you’ve stick with me longer than any other normal human could. You’re a superhero of your own version. I admire your bravery and smarts and willingness to help.”

Stiles nodded understandingly, only he’s being playful; the usual Stiles. “I know, dude. You owe me a lot, including my nine lives.”

They were silent for a while. Stiles felt awkward, so did Scott. They were never like this, but both of them knew that there are more to talk about, only they can’t.

Stiles broke the deafening silence. “How does it feel like, you know, to be a werewolf?” Stiles never had asked that kind of question to Scott even though they were best friends. It would only burden Scott to answer. Whatever he could do are all complex stuffs – stuffs that Stiles does not care. Not until now.

“Awesome, but hard,” was all Scott answered.

“Oh.”

Scott smiled naughtily at his friend. “What, you’re interested?”

“No,” Stiles said, scowling. “I didn’t ask you. You suffered the most.”

“It’s not that bad, but there are so many things I gotta do. Oblige to Derek’s commands, argue with him and most importantly, being a teen. Also, working for Dr. Deaton and practicing lacrosse. Get home on time before my mom could kill me,” Scott listed, bending his fingers as he spoke.

“Great, my life is much harder than yours,” Stiles said.

“Why?”

“Because I’m the genius Stilinski kid,” Stiles concluded.