Just Breathe

Chapter 33

"Okay, so what's the plan?" Emma asked as the pack got out of their cars, her eyes tracing the edge of the woods where Malia was last seen. After various attempts to track her down which failed and almost got the new girl Kira killed, they finally decided to just track her down on foot. Everyone's gaze shifted to Emma who squirmed under their stares. "Well?" she asked again.

"Emma, since you are the only one of us who can actually take animal form..." Scott began, Emma shaking her head as she crossed her arms over her chest. 

"C'mon, you're not seriously making me go into the woods alone" Emma pouted like a child, a frustrated sigh escaping the pack as they just wanted this to be over so they could focus on shutting the doors in their minds. 

"Emma, what could you possibly be scared of?" Lydia asked, pointing out that Emma was indeed a powerful she wolf who had nothing to fear. Emma shrugged, keeping her eyes on the ground. Stiles' phone beeped, his eyes fluttering down to the screen.

"She should be afraid of Mr. Tate running through the woods with a gun, determined to kill the coyote who he doesn't realize is Malia" Stiles informed them, everyone's eyes going wide in shock. "Yeah. My dad just texted me. Guys, it's now or never" Stiles encouraged the group, giving them a small shrug.

Emma sighed, shaking her head with a roll of her eyes. "Screw it" she growled before dropping to the ground, howling as she shifted into the white wolf. 

Allison slung the tranquilizer gun over her shoulders, looking to Scott who extended his claws looking back with red eyes. "Let's do this" Scott shouted, Emma and Scott taking off running into the woods to the right, Allison and Isaac running the other way as they were going to try to find and stop Mr. Tate. 

Stiles and Lydia went another way, taking their time as they kept their eyes open for a killer coyote or a man on a mission to shoot. Either way, they had to be careful.

Emma ran as fast as she could, her paws thudding steadily against the ground. Scott's footsteps were steady as they ran a few feet behind her. Her heart pounded against her ribs, her muscles strong in wolf form which is what allowed her to sprint faster and faster.

Emma tilted her head, inhaling an unfamiliar scent. She took a deep breath, picking up on the musky smell of the wilderness that didn't belong to any of her pack members, reeking purely of wild animal. Emma's eyes went wide as she realized she had caught Malia's scent. Emma let out a little bark to signal to Scott that they were on the right path. Scott nodded, invigorated by the reassurance of her scent.

They ran for what seemed like another five miles before a loud scream ran through the woods. Emma skidded to a stop, Scott tripping over her before tumbling to the ground. He got to his hands and knees, listening to the screams as a wince came across his face. "Isaac" he breathed, his panicked eyes meeting Emma's.

Emma turned to the direction in which the sound came from, Scott's heart racing as he realized they could lose Malia, right here and now. "Emma" Scott spoke, grabbing her attention. "He's gonna be okay.  Allison's with him, and Isaac's strong. We are so close to Malia and if we turn back now she could die. We have to keep going" he tried to explain, Emma frozen in place.

Her eyes shut as she listened, finally hearing his heartbeat. It was loud and clear, Isaac still very much alive. "C'mon" Scott said softly, Emma taking one last listen before she turned back towards Scott, taking off towards Malia again.

As they kept running, Scott looked around his surroundings, remembering them. "Emma I know where she's going!" Scott exclaimed in excitement, Emma's eyes trained on him. "The car wreck that her mom and sister died in! She's returning the doll Stiles stole the other night!" he voiced, Emma barking in agreement.