R I C H • Stiles Stilinski BAMF

P R E T T Y • T H I N G S

PRETTY THINGS⎮CHAPTER FOUR

I embrace Lewis tightly, crying softly into his raglan while he patted my back sympathetically, "I know that it feels like it will never get better, that everyone you have ever loved is dying or leaving. I need you to stay strong and know that the pack is here no matter what, okay," he whispers brushing his hand down my back as I feel Laney's hands rub my sides.

"It'll be okay, Stiles," she whispers as I slowly use my hands to push the two away from me, my facade forming once more as I grimace. "Yeah, I know. Mark's bringing me some work to take care of until then I need to get my Dad's possessions in order and-" I sigh, "I have to talk to the pack, Dad signed the house over to Derek a long while ago." Lewis nodded, apparently coming to terms that I was going to keep my emotions in for the time being.

"Do you want me to come?" he asked instead of the question I knew he wanted to ask. I shrug, wriggling my nose in thought before raising my hand, "Nah, I'm sure I'll be fine." Lewis eyes me, "That's not what I was asking," he glares, "I know you're the best fighter in the pack, hell you've beat me more times than I can count on my fingers and toes."

"I'll be all right," I state a little more firmly as I watch his jaw clench.

"Alright," he holds his hands up in surrender, "Call me if you decide differently." Absentmindedly, I nod as I belt up my red washed out jeans, pulling a loose white tee over my bare chest. I shake my hair with a rough hand before grabbing the keys to my rental Audi. I wave politely to the pair before walking out the door and to my car. I'm just glad my location hadn't been leaked to the paparazzi yet, or else I wouldn't be able to leave the house without running over an innocent man yet to return to his family.

I sped right over the speed limit, uncaring to the cars the drove the speed limit around me as I emerged from them. Heavy rock music played out of the speakers as I allowed the flowing cold air to run over my heated face.

As I neared the establishment, I gently eased my foot off the acceleration, parking across two carparks just as I had all those years ago. I grabbed my lighter from the glove compartment, staring at it longingly before stepping from the car.

I place the death stick between my lips, eyes staring down at the white tip as I lower it into the open flame. Just as I removed it from my pink lips, I blew the smoke into the air carefully as if it was the aftermath of a kiss that aches to steal a life I was struggling to elude. I squeezed my eyes shut with a contempt sigh. I hadn't smoked in so long; it felt so wrong. It felt like I was breaking the trust and wish of my former husband.

Suddenly the pack emerged from the revolving doors, all of their eyes draw to mine as I squish the cigarette beneath my toe.

S C O T T -

"So," I frown, "Why'd you call this meeting?" my eyes drift between Peter, Jackson, and Derek who stand in front of the rest of the pack; who lounge on the pack sofa. Jackson swallows, pointedly nudging Peter forward to speak, "Well," Peter drawls, "We spotted young Stilinski at the grocery today, the first time we've been able to find him after the death of John. He looked okay but then he got a phone call from a lover perhaps, and he dropped his facade. He's tired and upset, and he's bringing his pack and this man, Mark, who's a hunter to town."

My head falls into my hands, "I've meant to tell you," I sigh, "The day they pulled the plug, I managed to explain everything to Stiles. I told him everything."

"And?" Jackson trails off, searching for Stiles reaction.

"I told him that we lied, the threat that we were facing and how all we wanted to do was keep him safe. I told him how Isaac couldn't eat, how we all fell into depression. How Boyd and Erica abandoned us regularly, how I nearly killed myself!" The pack flinched at my tone which had grown increasingly louder. "And he just walked around me and my mum and left, he was an emotionless void. He doesn't care about as anymore, he hates us!"