Eclipsed

Full Moon

(Stiles' POV)

The night air of Riverdale smelled of rain and metal. The small winding streets were illuminated by streetlamps, but it was still mainly pitch black. Hailey was asleep in the passenger seat next to me. We were headed to interview Betty before making the drive back to Beacon Hills - I wanted Hailey to meet the pack so that she could trust me. We had come to an understanding, but she was still wary around me, despite the fact that we had been working together for two days. We still hadn't made any headway whatsoever on the case, so off to interview yet another person on the list. I pulled into the Cooper's driveway, turning off the lights with a gentle click. "Hailey," I whispered, reaching over and shaking her awake. "Come on. We're at the Coopers. I want to make this as quick as possible, so we're back in Beacon Hills-" I trailed off as Hailey put a finger to her lips, turning her unsettling gaze toward the house. Drawing her lips back to reveal her fangs, she opened the car door, taking a few steps toward the house before a scream rang out.
"Call 911," Hailey whispered, cocking her gun.
"Put the fangs away first." I countered, drawing my own. Together, we crept towards the house. Another scream, and then silence. Hailey gave me a quick glance, then signaled towards the door. Taking a deep breath, I took a few steps forward, then slammed the door.
"It's unlocked, dumbass." Hailey hissed, turning the doorknob with a click.
"Well, the intruder knows we're here now, so do you want to say it, or should I?" I asked. 
"Feel free."
"Federal agents!" I called.
"In here." Someone responded. Guns still drawn, Hailey and I entered the living room to find Betty and Polly Cooper kneeling over their parents. "Please help us. They've been shot." Polly pleaded, placing her hands against a now flat stomach. A maternal gesture, though she didn't head towards the two wailing newborns in the crib in the corner of the room. Hailey holstered her gun, and then rushed towards the two girls, checking them over thoroughly. There was blood on the both of them. I knelt next to Mr. and Mrs. Cooper, searching desperately for their pulses.
"They're alive, but barely. If the ambulance doesn't get here in time, there is no chance of either of them making it. Someone call 911!"

It was my second night at Riverdale Hospital, and I was getting tired of it. It was Friday night. I was supposed to be home with Lydia, Reese, and Riemann. I was exhausted, both mentally and physically, and I had no leads whatsoever, and only one plausible witness, who was too overcome with shock to remember anything clearly. Mrs. Cooper was out of surgery - she was going to make it. Mr. Cooper was entering his fourth hour of surgery, his odds dwindling as time passed. Grunting in frustration, I slammed my fist into the wall behind me. I felt helpless, the same way I did when I had come back to Beacon Hills.

"Lydia. Lydia Audrey Martin!" I yelled, chasing the strawberry blonde down the hallway. She had been ignoring me ever since I had pulled up with Derek - our longest interaction so far had been her hand brushing mine. She had thrown herself at Jackson when she saw him and had barely said two words to me. "Hey. We won!" I tucked Lydia's hair behind her ear, then brushed my hand down her side. As soon as it found purchase at her waist, Lydia winced and pulled away. I went stiff, realization dawning. "Lydia, were you shot?" I whispered.
"It doesn't matter, Stiles. I'm fine." Lydia muttered. Reaching out, I yanked her shirt up to reveal the wound on her side - that still had stitches in it.
"How could you not tell me about this - and don't tell me you had reasons! You have barely said two words to me since I arrived. Do you not want me here? Lydia, I told you I loved you, and I meant it. Don't lie to me now and say you love me if you don't mean it."
"No, Stiles. First of all, I didn't want to lose you again. None of us did. If there's a chance of you dying because we drag you back into something we've been fighting to escape for years, there's no way in hell we're about to. Second of all, I'm fine. I'm going to be fine. Third of all, you are the love of my life, and if we survived this, I wanted to make sure that there was someone left alive. You were the only person I was sure I could save. So, tell me, was telling you worth it?" Taking a deep breath, I placed my forehead against Lydia. Reaching out for her hand, I placed it against my heart. She did the same thing - it had become a tradition of ours over recent years - a calming factor in a whirlwind life.
"Lydia, I'm fine. I'm breathing. We're fine. But in the future, even if you're scared, you can say more than two words to me, okay?" 
"Okay."

"Betty, Polly, may I speak to the two of you? I realize that you're waiting to be released, but I promise this will be quick. I'd just like to know what the person looked like, so we can possibly ID them, and send out a bolo."
"It was weird. I couldn't really discern any of her features aside from the fact that she had violet eyes." Polly rubbed Betty's back as she spoke. "I apologize that we weren't more help, Agent Stilinski." I smiled at the two apologetically, before crossing the room to Hailey. 
"As much as I know it doesn't make sense to leave, I think we have to. I need a second opinion on this. I think I know what our killer is."
"Don't you mean who?" Hailey asked, glancing up from the file she was holding.
"Have you ever heard of therianthropes?"

"Therianthropy is the ability of human beings to metamorphose into other animals by means of shapeshifting. The most well-known form of therianthropy is lycanthropy, although there are other cases, such as Valkyries. Valkyries are distinguished by either shifting animalistic features or violet eyes." Hailey read. "Wait, why are we sure that the killer is a Valkyrie?" She questioned.
"Valkyries served the god Odin. They chose those who survived a battle and those who didn't. Those who didn't were then brought by the Valkyries to Valhalla. They were made immortal in a sense - they became warriors, trained to fight in Ragnarok, which literally means apocalypse. When the Valkyries were not choosing warriors, they were servants to them, despite the fact that they were daughters of royalty. If a Valkyrie fell in love with any of the warriors, they were exiled to Earth, cursed to remember their lives before. They are angry, vengeful spirits when choosing warriors. Imagine them when they're banned from doing that." I explained, swerving to narrowly avoid a truck barreling down the backroad behind my house. "OK, we're here. It's late, so Lydia's most likely asleep. I'll introduce the two of you in the morning, but for now, just take the guest bed. You have everything?" I asked, getting out of the car and unlocking the front door.
"Yeah, I think so."
"Great. The guest is right here. See you in the morning." I was already untying my tie and unbuttoning my shirt as I slipped into the master bedroom. Lydia was asleep on the bed, her fiery tresses spread across the pillows. She was wearing my lacrosse hoodie, which reached her knees. I quickly changed into sweats before lying down on the bed beside her.
"Stiles?" She murmured softly.
"Yeah? Lyds, I'm home." I responded, brushing my thumb across her cheekbone.
"I'm cold. Can you cuddle me?" She asked, keeping her eyes shut.
"Of course."

(a/n) the emotions. the feels. teen wolf is over forever, and i want this book to be my farewell. this show means so much to me, and to be able to pay it homage means a lot. thank you for reading my crazy thoughts. i love you all.

- e