Howl 3

A Recap on Riley

Name: Riley Stilinski 'Melle'

Face claim: Amelia Zadro

Age: 16 going on 17 in this book. 

As there is an ongoing debate on how old Derek is, let's just say there is a 6 -8 year age difference between Riley and Derek.

Adoptive parents: Noah and Claudia Stilinki.

Adoptive sibling: Stiles Stilinski.

Biological parents: Lillian Melle, unknown father.

Half-siblings: Vince and Ramona Melle.

During the first book, Riley was only Stiles' twin; a normal girl with wit and sarcasm as her only defence against the supernatural world they were thrown in.

After a few encounters with Derek, she soon discovered they are mates, something that only happens one out of a hundred times for a werewolf. That was the start of their rapidly growing relationship.

However, during the final battle at the Hale House, Riley suffered a fatal gun wound inflicted by Beacon Hill's local Karen – Kate Argent.

Derek foiled Scott's plan to 'cure' himself by killing Peter and became the next alpha to save Riley via bite.

Riley healed but was turning into something with purple eyes.

In Howl 2, Riley's mission was to find out what she's turning into. With only the name 'Melle' as a clue, she trusts Derek would support her throughout this journey of self-discovery.

However, being the new alpha gave Derbear an ego boost and he started biting self-esteem-deprived teenagers left and right without telling Riley.

It took some help from Lydia and Stiles to make her realize she ain't no man's option while she should be his priority, and Riley ended up dumping Derek's ass.

But shit hit the fan when Derek started suspecting Lydia to be the kanima and, with their newfound friendship, Riley felt the overpowering urge to protect her. With that mindset, she developed a new set of supernatural abilities that would leave everyone's heads turning.

Recap: So far, she possesses the usual werewolf abilities (only wayyyyy more enhanced), plus thermal vision, the ability to see auras, experience snippets of the past, can sense and project emotions, can heal others, and produce a kick-ass shield that no living soul can pass. #YouShallNotPass. She also has an alpha roar that can make normal alphas and werewolves submit.

It took a near death experience for Derek to come to his senses and apologise to Riley for acting like a dick – er, asshole. Luckily for him, she gave him a second chance.

During the kanima events, Riley discovers she's being followed and watched by a silver-eyed figure who later turns out to be her sister, Ramona.

Ramona drops the bomb that Riley's adopted and that her family/pack has been killed by a pack of rogue werewolves. Oh, and she's also a Dire Wolf – not a viking wolf as Riley likes to call it to annoy Ramona.

For the full story on how Dire Wolves came to exist, please read Howl 2: Chapter Crumbling.

Ramona also informs Riley that she's the last remaining Dire Wolf alpha and has a brother and a pack waiting for her to lead them.

Riley sets out with Derek, Scott, Chris, Peter, Isaac, and Ramona to stop Gerard's diabolical plans with the hopes of saving Jackson, who turned out to be the kanima all along. And did I mention Peter has a very obvious crush on Ramona and does nothing to hide it?

Realizing that becoming a werewolf and stealing Derek's alpha title was Gerard's plan all this time, Riley offers him the bite as she's a Dire Wolf alpha with more power than a normal werewolf. Not knowing that the bite will permanently damage him, Gerard accepts it and, well, puked black stuff everywhere. And I mean everywhere.

With Gerard out of the picture and Jackson saved, things could return to normal in Beacon Hills.

Or not.

As there is a pack of alphas on their way and even Peter is intimidated by them, which says a lot.

Congratulations, you're fully caught up, now you may enjoy the rest of Howl 3!