Little Wolf (The Youngest Sequel)

Chapter un

"You need help getting in the shower?" Lydia's dad asked gently, standing by the bathroom door.

Lydia was slowly recovering from the attack, but the question of whether she was a Werewolf or something else still loomed over everyone. Despite her vulnerability, she couldn't let go of her sarcasm.

"Maybe if I was four and still taking bubble baths," Lydia replied, raising an eyebrow.

Mr. Martin gave her an exasperated look. "Right. I'll just wait outside then, where it's slightly less sarcastic." He sighed before leaving the room, closing the door behind him with a small smile.

When Mr. Martin came out, he spotted Stiles slumped in a chair outside the room, fast asleep. Next to him, Kylie sat cross-legged, watching Peter Pan on his phone, her eyes wide with wonder.

"He's been here all night?" Mr. Martin asked, genuinely surprised, as he approached Melissa, who was walking up to them.

"All weekend," Melissa corrected with a nod, her voice carrying a mix of appreciation and concern.

Kylie glanced up, noticing Mr. Martin, and gave him a bright wave. He returned it with a soft smile, his eyes showing his gratitude for the young company Lydia had, no matter how peculiar it seemed.

Nearby, a nurse emptied a trash can, trying to do so quietly. As she turned to leave, Stiles stirred, mumbling in his sleep. "You're dirty," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

The nurse startled, glancing at him with a mix of confusion and mild offense before hurrying away. The noise must have pulled Stiles from his light slumber because, in an instant, he snapped upright, eyes wide and wild as he looked around, locking eyes with Melissa and Mr. Martin.

Caught off guard, he stared at them like a deer in headlights, and Kylie tried to stifle a giggle. She paused her movie and reached over, patting Stiles' arm. "Hey, wake up," she said with a soft grin.

Melissa exchanged an amused look with Mr. Martin, and he nodded, clearly understanding. "Thank you for staying here, Stiles," Mr. Martin said, his tone softened with genuine appreciation.

Stiles blinked sleepily, taking a moment to register where he was. He looked down at Kylie, then back up to Lydia's dad, rubbing his eyes. "Oh, yeah. Of course, I... just wanted to make sure she was okay," he said, yawning.

Kylie looked up at Melissa, her wide eyes curious. "Is Lydia going to be okay soon?" she asked, her small voice carrying a blend of hope and worry.

Melissa knelt next to Kylie, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "She's getting better every day, sweetheart. And with people like Stiles looking out for her, she'll be just fine," she reassured, her eyes meeting Stiles', sharing an unspoken gratitude for his dedication.

Stiles nodded, a determined expression crossing his face, though a yawn quickly interrupted it. "Yep, just... doing my job. Werewolves, hospitals... never a dull moment," he murmured, his tired humor earning a chuckle from Melissa and Mr. Martin.

Kylie smiled and resumed her movie, leaning against Stiles, who blinked, looking half-asleep but still resolute in his commitment to Lydia and, now, his growing bond with the pack.

"How about we get ourselves some candy?" Stiles asked Kylie after a while, his eyes tired but twinkling with the promise of something fun.

Kylie's eyes lit up as she nodded eagerly. Stiles groaned as he got up, but the smile on his face was genuine. Picking the small child up, he dragged himself over to the vending machine, bouncing her lightly as he went.

He set her down and made his selection. The machine whirred, the candy bar spiraled forward, but it didn't drop—hanging instead, stubbornly clinging to the hook.