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"𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐞... 𝐈𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐤."
Mason had been stuck with the newly formed couple ever since school ended, and while he adored his best friend and the new girl in his life, he was starting to feel nauseous from the constant lovestruck looks they exchanged. They were in the Dunbar boy's bedroom, surrounded by a haze of romance and video games.
Nova had managed to convince Liam to let her stay the night again since Scott and Kira had taken over the loft. She couldn't bear the thought of being sent to the Stilinski house, not when her godfather Noah would no doubt bombard her with questions about her new relationship.
Meanwhile, Morgan and Derek had offered to get a room at the shabby motel they were staying in as a thank-you to the Alpha, but Nova quickly dismissed the idea. The thought of hearing her parents be intimate made her stomach turn. Instead, she decided to stay at Liam's, even if it meant lying to her family. They thought she was at Lydia's, so they'd never know the difference... or so she believed.
Mason's groan brought her back to the present. She couldn't help but giggle at his latest failed attempt at the video game. She'd been watching them for a while, but once Liam's focus shifted to the TV, Nova lost interest. She stood up, feeling a snack might help distract her mind, and headed downstairs.
The Dunbar house was far nicer than her rundown apartment, and the spacious kitchen, complete with a walk-in pantry, only deepened her envy. She took her time choosing a snack, but just as she reached for a bag of chips, a hand shot out, gripping her arm.
Nova gasped, ready to scream, but the person quickly covered her mouth. Her blood ran cold as she thought she was under attack, but the familiar scent of musk and firewood hit her nose. Her heart stopped.
"Peter?!" she hissed, spinning around to face him. Her uncle's signature smirk curled at the corners of his lips, but it was the dark glint in his eyes that sent a chill down her spine.
"We're leaving. Get your stuff, sunshine," Peter commanded in a low, menacing tone, ensuring no one upstairs could hear.
Nova's temper flared. "Don't tell me what to do, sunshine," she spat, trying to shove him toward the back door. He didn't budge, and instead, his grip tightened painfully, nails digging into her arm, forcing her to meet his gaze.
"You've got twenty seconds to get your stuff, or I'll show your little boyfriend and his human friend what a real werewolf looks like."
Nova didn't need to be told twice. The words struck fear into her heart, and without another word, she darted up the stairs, heart racing as she grabbed her things.
Liam and Mason were still absorbed in their game, but noticed her panicked state immediately.
"What's going on?" Liam asked, brow furrowed as he watched her stuff her hoodie into her bag.
Nova hesitated, her mind scrambling for an excuse. The ticking clock and Peter's threat loomed over her, but she forced a calm expression.
"My parents called Lydia," she said quickly, her voice steady despite her pounding heart. "They found out I wasn't at hers, so Noah's here to pick me up."
Liam frowned, his concern evident. "But you were going to stay over...?"
"I know," Nova said, forcing a smile. "But my parents... you know how they are." She didn't let him ask any more questions before she kissed him on the cheek and rushed out the door, throwing a quick wave to Mason.
The moment she was in Peter's car, the oppressive silence settled over them. She didn't dare ask where they were going—she could tell by the grim set of his jaw that he wouldn't tell her anyway.
When they pulled into the familiar parking lot of the dark underground sewers, the weight in her stomach deepened. The sounds of dripping water and creaking pipes filled her ears, and her fear escalated. But it wasn't until she turned the corner and saw Chris Argent, his body impaled with a metal pole, that the bond she once felt with her uncle completely snapped.
A berserker emerged from the shadows, and Nova's breath hitched. Her eyes darted to Peter, but the sight of duct tape and rope in his hands made her blood run cold.
"Go to hell, asshole!" she screamed, desperately trying to push past him. But with a snap of his fingers, the berserker grabbed her, its grip like iron. Peter didn't speak, only watched as his niece was bound and forced to the ground next to Chris.
Nova sobbed quietly, her mind reeling. Why was he doing this? Why to her?
Chris stirred faintly, but Peter was careful not to wake him. He had no intention of letting the Argent hear his plan.
"You could've avoided all of this, Nova. If only you had stayed away from that baby-faced beta," Peter continued, his voice cold and detached. "But you couldn't resist, could you? I warned you. Now look at the mess you've made. You really are your father's daughter."
Nova's mind raced, tears blurring her vision. What did he mean?
Peter paced in front of her, a sickening sense of satisfaction in his step. "It was foolish of me to think I could control a Hale. But manipulating one? That's where I excel. I couldn't risk you finding out what my plan was. Kate said it was too dangerous after you got involved with a member of the enemy's pack. So here we are."
Nova's heart thudded painfully in her chest, understanding dawning. But she still couldn't fathom what he was saying.
"You won't be getting your siren powers back 'the humane way,'" Peter continued, stepping closer. "No, I'm the villain in this story. The hero? Well, I'll be getting rid of him soon enough. And for that, I need your help."
She barely registered his words as he leaned down, his voice almost a whisper. "You're going to kill him. You're going to kill Scott McCall."
