Don't Give Up on Me

21

The group made their way to the subway station. Derek managed to get the poison out of Scott.

Scott began arguing with Derek who let out an annoyed sigh. "I'm saying we need a new plan, because next time, one of us is going to be too hurt to heal."

"Ugh, I get it," Scott said. "We can't save Jackson."

Ania shook her head. "No, but we can't kill him either."

Derek nodded in agreement. "I've seen a lot of things, Scott. I've never seen anything like this. Every new moon's just gonna make him stronger."

"But how do we stop him?" Scott asked.

"I don't know. I don't even know if we can."

"Maybe we should just let the Argents handle it."

"I'm the one who turned him. It's my fault."

Ania walked up to Derek and said quietly, "Derek, he chose this path. You may have bit him, but the rest is on him. You can't blame yourself for this."

Scott looked at Derek. "Yeah, but you didn't turn him into this. I mean, this happened because of something in his past, right?"

"That's a legend in a book. It's not that simple," Derek replied.

Scott frowned. "What do you mean? What are you not telling me?"

"Why do you think I'm always keeping something from you?"

"Because you're always keeping something from me."

"Well, maybe I do it to protect you."

"Doesn't being part of your pack mean no more secrets?"

"Secrets can protect those we love."

"How do you use it?"

"Go home, Scott. Sleep. Heal. Make sure your friends are safe. 'Cause the full moon's coming. And with the way things are going, I've got a feeling it's gonna be a rough one."

Scott left and Derek turned to Ania. "I understand if you need-"

Ania shook her head. "I'm staying. Are you okay?"

"Anywhere with you I am."

She frowned. "What are you saying?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

"I'm sorry, no."

"I swear, sometimes you're more oblivious than your brother."

Ania frowned. "The hell does that mean."

Derek chuckled and gave her a small smile. "Nothing, Ani." He tucked her hair back. "Been working late?"

She nodded. "You have no idea."

"Get some rest. If something comes up, I'll let you know."

Ania yawned and collapsed on the bed and fell asleep. Derek gently pulled the covers up on her.

Isaac and Boyd appeared.

"What is that?" Isaac asked.

"It's a triskele," Boyd replied. "Spirals mean different things -- past, present, future. Mother, father, child."

"You know what it means to me?" Derek asked.

"Alpha, Beta, Omega?" Boyd guessed.

Derek nodded. "That's right. It's a spiral. Reminds us that we can all rise to one or fall to another. Betas can become Alphas, but Alphas can also fall to Betas or even Omegas."

"Like Scott?" Isaac questioned.

"Scott's with us."

"Really?" Isaac scoffed. "Then where is he now?"

"He's looking for Jackson. Don't worry, he's not gonna have it easy tonight either. None of us will. There's a price you pay for this kind of power. You get the ability to heal, but tonight you're gonna want to kill anything you can find." He set Mateo down on a blanket on the floor.

Erica smirked. "Good thing I had my period last week, then."

Derek held up a spiked headband. "Well, this one's for you." He got chains and other items to lock them up.

Boyd asked, "What if we break free?"

Derek shrugged. "Then you'll do anything you can to get out of here. Probably try to kill me, then kill each other, and kill anything else with a heartbeat. Touch Ania and I promise it won't end well. I need you to hold her."

Derek began strapping the spiked headband around Erica's head and Isaac frowned. "So how come she gets to wear the headband?"

"Because she'll be able to withstand more pain than the two of you. I've got an extra one if you really want it."

"I'll pass."

He looked back at Erica. "You ready?"

She nodded. "Yeah."

"How do you not feel this?" Isaac wondered.

Derek looked at him. "I feel every second of it."

"Then how do you control it?"

"Find an anchor. Something meaningful to you. Bind yourself to it. Keep the human side in control."

"What's it for you?"

"Anger, though I think it might be changing. But it doesn't have to be that for everybody."

"You mean Scott?" Isaac questioned.

He nodded. "Yeah. All right, that should do it."

Derek finished locking them up and waited for them to shift. Being honest, he was nervous because this was their first full moon, and he knew what happened to bitten werewolves. Soon, they began shifting and pulling against their cuffs.

Derek moved Ania as far away as he possibly could, hoping she'd be safe. He dialed Scott's number and got his voicemail. "Scott, can you call me back? I'm probably gonna need some help. Definitely gonna need some help."

"Isaac!" Derek yelled as he broke free.

He restrained Isaac and he eventually calmed down. "Think you'll be okay now. Looks like you found an anchor."

Isaac nodded. "My father."

He frowned. "Your father locked you in a freezer in the basement to punish you."

"He didn't use to."

Ania's eyes fluttered open and she looked around with a panicked expression.

"Hey, you'll be okay," Derek said. "I promise. They're not gonna get you."

Ania nodded. "I know. I'd shoot their asses before they could come close." She looked at her phone. "Damn. Dad needs me. See you later. Thanks for the nap."

Derek nodded. "Good luck."

"Thanks." She left and Derek stared after her, watching as she walked away.