Inked Wrists - A Theo Raeken Series

Chapter Two: The Girl in the Hospital

It has been exactly eight months since Y/N sacrificed herself to save Scott from the Wayward Souls. Stiles had held her in his arms when she died. Y/N was like the sister he never had, and the pain he felt was indescribable. The second she stepped onto the Nemeton, she was engulfed in a blinding flash of light and all of the Wayward Souls disappeared. When he felt her heart stop beating, he had stepped back, allowing Scott to carry her body to his car and drive to Deaton's, praying for any chance of saving her. Even with his abilities as a druid, the best Deaton could do was to stabilize Y/N in a coma. Stiles can still see the veterinarian's worried face, and the same fear reflected in the eyes of everyone in the room. No one thought Y/N would get hurt- she was strong and fast and so full of life. Seeing her deathly still in a hospital bed was the last thing anyone expected to see, but yet there she was.

Gently, Scott shakes Stiles' shoulder and he realizes he's been tuning out their conversation. "Are you thinking about her again?" Scott asks, and Stiles nods. "I just don't know what to think. Between Y/N gone and Theo showing up, it just feels like the world's turned against us." Scott shakes his head. "What is it about Theo that you don't trust? I get it, he isn't acting like the same boy from fourth grade, but none of us are. We've all changed in our own ways, why can't he?" Stiles turns to face his best friend, desperate to convince him of his beliefs. "Something's just not right! Maybe I'm the only one who believes it, but something's wrong about him. Also," he continues in a quiet tone, "The last thing Y/N said to me was 'When I'm in the hospital, put my name down as Y/N D/N.' The only reason she would use her fake name is if her soulmate was dangerous. When she stepped onto the Nemeton and replaced you in the sacrifice, for a split second I saw all these memories around her. Why would she have wanted to protect herself from Theo, someone she's literally never met before? It's because-" Scott cuts him off, now realizing what Stiles means. "You think she saw him in the Wayward Souls' memories." "Exactly. She wouldn't have any reason to suspect him unless she saw something that changed her mind." Scott exhales slowly, looking up at the sky in thought. "I don't know what she saw, but I have a feeling we'll find out soon enough. Besides, we have a pack meeting tonight, and I was thinking about inviting Theo." Scott laughs at Stiles' unhappy look. "Hey, keep your friends close and your enemies closer, right? We can see if he's trying anything and you can keep glowering at him the entire time!" Stiles just rolls his eyes.

The pack meeting goes surprisingly well. Theo seems to be genuinely interested in the wellbeing of the McCall pack, but Stiles can't shake the feeling that something is off about him. Why would Y/N want to hide her identity from him? What is Theo planning, and why does no one else except Stiles see that something's wrong? He can't help but stare at Theo's wrist, where he can just see the outline of Y/N's name written there. Eventually, Stiles is saved by the buzz of a reminder on his phone, and he grows quiet when he sees it. He waves goodbye at Scott, grabbing his phone and car keys as he does so. This has become his weekly routine, and so no one questions his abrupt departure except for the newcomer, Theo. "Where are you going?" Stiles keeps moving as he speaks, hoping Theo will leave him alone. "Visiting hours at the hospital." Unfortunately, the boy is not discouraged. "Guess I'll come too. Who are you visiting?" Irritated, Stiles just keeps walking, but he's forced to answer Theo when the boy steps in front of him. "A friend of mine. Why are you coming?" Theo just smiles that hateful smile. "We haven't exactly got off on the right foot. Maybe I want to see what you're hiding so you could actually trust me." Stiles tries to move around him, but Scott speaks from behind him. "It's fine if he goes with you, Stiles. We have nothing to hide." Stiles frowns over at Scott, mouthing 'What are you doing?' to his friend. Scott responds in turn: 'Hide her name. He'll find out soon enough, at least now you have control over how he discovers Y/N.' Stiles turns back to Theo unhappily. "Guess we have another visitor."

The car ride over to the hospital is quiet and tense. Stiles absolutely does not want Theo to visit Y/N with him. Y/N didn't want Theo to find her, and here Stiles is, taking him to see her. Scott is right, though. If Theo visits Y/N and is convinced that she's just another werewolf, he'll leave her alone. If Theo had found out about Y/N by himself, Stiles might not be able to stop him from realizing that she's his soulmate.