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Courtesy of Mr. Harris, Aspen, was cradling a warm cup of coffee in her hands at three in the morning, glaring down at her chemistry homework. As punishment for skipping out on his class, he assigned a written essay based on each law of thermodynamics. Knawing on her thumbnail, she kept the music on her phone low enough if by the off chance that Isaac tapped on her window.

She was able to squeeze in a nap after Charlie left her room, and she was, in a way, thankful for the girl. Aspen was free to move her back without feeling the stitch tug at her skin. Of course, she would have to get used to Charlie's obnoxious snoring heard from the other room, but as long as the blonde didn't get involved in werewolf matters, Aspen had no problem with her living here.

Gulping the last bit of coffee, Aspen set the cup on her nightstand along with two previous ones she had finished earlier. She stretched her hand out, preparing her fingers to cramp when she finished her essay when a frantic knock came from her window. She immediately dropped her pen, and a wave of panic flooded her mind as she threw her legs off the bed to cautiously approach her window. Aspen was working on controlling herself even when she was afraid. She recalled back at the cemetery when Sheriff Stilinski abruptly caught them snooping; she had to squeeze his tie to contain the familiar feeling circling her wrist. She noticed her pillow slightly hovering behind her before she clenched her fist, and the cushion let gravity pull it back down.

Aspen paused for a moment seeing Isaac staring at her from the other side of the glass. She knew she shouldn't have been surprised, but it didn't stop her hesitant hand from unlocking the window and letting the boy climb inside. Almost immediately, Isaac began mumbling to himself, undoubtedly silent scoldings from the abundance of profanities that left his lips. Aspen furrowed her brows as she put her hands up to calm the boys down.

"Woah Isaac, hey, what's going on?" Aspen rushed over to the door and twisted the lock, knowing already if Charlie was awake, she would barge in the room to question the commotion on a school night. Or tell Aspen she was kinky for sneaking a boy in her room.

"I messed up..." he mumbled to himself as he paced the corner of her room. "he's dead and--and I don't know how it happened..."

Aspen kept her distance at the door, but she could see Isaac sweating and panting as if he ran to her house. "Dead? Who's dead?" Aspen kept her voice steady, not wanting to alarm anyone in the home or the troubled boy before her. "what happened?"

Isaac gradually begins to slow down until he stopped completely and looked at Aspen's wood floor, fist clenching and unclenching by his side. "My dad...he's dead," he muttered in disbelief, the words leaving his lips still didn't seem to process in his brain. The news wasn't the only thing that frightened Aspen but the dry eyes from Isaac as he spoke. Her lips were parted just slightly as if to speak, but nothing reasonable came to mind. They were both in shock, but Aspen kept her eyes glued to Isaac, who hasn't made eye contact since he entered her room.

"How?" Aspen was able to croak as she cleared her throat, taking a step closer.

Isaac ran a shaking hand through his hair. "They're going to think it was my fault...I--I was the last one with him. Derek will think it was me..." Though he slurred the last bit, it didn't keep Aspen's eyes from narrowing, something burning in her chest.

"What did you just say?" she questioned, "What does this have to do with Derek?" The burning in her chest wasn't just rooted from confusion, but something she only felt around Scott or Derek. Around a supernatural. She tried ignoring the feeling, saying it was only in her head. The boy was silent, his breathing becoming heavier, which one stirred Aspen more. She tilted her head when she noticed something missing from the boy's face, nearly making her heart stop. "Your bruise is gone," she told herself out loud, "Why is your bruise gone?"

The boy jerked his head up, and Aspen staggered back with air hitched in her throat as she witnessed Isaac's eyes glowing a golden amber. Her iris' flashed white for just a moment before turning to their natural brown. Her throat stung of betrail but not against Isaac, but Derek. He knew how much she cared for the boy, and dragging him into the supernatural world would not benefit him in the slightest. There was a scream pressing against her lungs that she couldn't vocalize. Aspen was numb, shocked, but sadly, not surprised that he would take the offer. Derek was many things, but he wouldn't force the bite upon anyone as his uncle did.

"Aspen, please...let me explain." Isaac trembled on his excuse, but she already understood his reasoning and feared the repercussions of his choice. That didn't mean she would hold off on questions.

"Why...why--why would you let him bite you?" her frown was overpowering enough to rub off on Isaac. He could hear the ache in her tone and regretted coming to see her.

He brought his lower lip between his teeth as he shook his head, still trying to wrap his head around why he had let it happen. "At the cemetery, that werewolf or--or Omega as Derek called it--it tried to attack me, Aspen. It tipped the Loader over, and I fell into one of the graves I was digging up. Derek showed up and helped me."

"By help, you mean he bit you," Aspen said bitterly.

"Not before I thought it over," Isaac stepped closer to explain his reasoning, but Aspen stepped back.

"Oh, how thoughtful of him, he let you think it over before turning your life into a living hell."

"My life was already a living hell!" he shouted, a pathetic laugh heaved with his words. "You know that more than anyone!"

"Of course I do!" she fired back, her eyes glossing with frustration. "But is it worth having to endure pain during a full moon every month? To be chained like an animal because you don't know when you'll hurt someone? I know how this works Isaac, I had to watch Scott claw at his skin to take handcuffs off of him after we hooked him to a radiator! I can't do that to you too."

Isaac's eyes were dagger in her heart, the sharp point digging deeper. "I'm sorry." Isaac said, "But I hate feeling worthless and incapable of defending myself. This was my choice, and I'm sorry that you don't agree with it and that I even bothered coming here in the first place." Isaac waited for a moment, watching Aspen's eyes stare at her twiddling hands. The uncomfortable void was eating him alive and wanted to leave before he felt another tinge of guilt.

Isaac went to walk back to her window before he felt a small hand touch his bicep. Relief washed over him at the grazing touch and looked down at Aspen; her features softened. "I understand why you did it. As much as it sucks, I get it, and I can't be mad at you," she paused for a moment as she removed her hand from his arm and sucked in a breath. "It's just...you were the only sane and good thing going for me. Allison is an Argent, which is a problem in itself. Lydia has been acting up and possibly the one responsible for all these killings. Scott is a werewolf, Stiles is frantic as hell, and I come from a family of Elementalist. So, yes, when the only person I can keep my guard down around turns to werewolf, I'm going to be upset. I just wished you've spoken to me so we could have figured out another way."

Isaac gripped his honey hair with an aggressive sigh, "I know we could've figured something out. I just can't do that, Aspen. I can't do the things you can."

"Is that part of why you did it? Because of my power?" the worry lines on her forehead were creasing more than ever with confusion for the conversation had taken a whole turn.

"You can defend yourself. I mean, your weapon is right at your fingertips, and all I've got is a phone to call the cops, and I'm even too scared to do that. Maybe I'm selfish for wanting a little more power, but you were always trying to fix the problems that you didn't have to worry about. I don't want you to have to deal with my bullshit." Isaac almost crocked his words with exhaustion that was spiraling around him.

"You think you don't deserve anyone caring about you because you never had it, and it scares you." Aspen's stern tone was proven to be veracious by the boy who couldn't find the words to reply. "Well, this is what it looks like. This is how concern from another person feels. And I won't stop caring even if you push me away, so don't bother trying because I'm stubborn, and I know for a fact you know that already."

Aspen let a huff flee her lips as she finally let out all her frustration and crossed her arms over her chest. She expected another shot back from Isaac, but the boy stayed placid, watching her for a moment. "You are really stubborn," Isaac stifled a small laugh. The smile that he didn't wear often broke through his lips, and Aspen was weak in the knees. She hated the contagious smile and shook her head, biting back her own laugh.

She didn't respond, yet somehow Isaac knew the air was clear between them. "Where is Derek?" Aspen asked simply, tilting her head.

Isaac quirked a brow. "Why?" he queried cautiously, already getting used to hearing her heartbeat quicken. It soothed him in a way, being able to listen to her emotions like a record. 

"I just noticed he doesn't stay at his old house anymore. Just wondering where he's hiding these days." she shrugged nonchalantly, but Isaac could already feel her anger directed toward the new Alpha.

"I was actually gonna go to 'im now if you want--"

"Perfect." Aspen's tone was blunt but fueled with new fire. She grabbed her jacket from her desk and trotted toward her window, slipping her arms through the sleeves. Isaac took notice of her change of attitude since she cracked all her marbles and was now a fully powered Elementalist. The smallest things easily provoked her, and he noticed her having to hold down her papers and pens from floating when Mr. Harris would make a sassy remark toward her in class. "Are you coming?"

Isaac looked up from his daze seeing Aspen tapping her fingers anxiously along the window panel. He slipped his gaze to her nightstand, and the reason for her buzzed eyes was clearly answered. "You're either on a coffee high or pissed at Derek," Isaac said, following Aspen out the window to walk across her roof and make their way down the side.

"Coffe has water in it. I'm doing fine."

"That still isn't an assuring answer, June."

<•>

Aspen followed Isaac into a dark alleyway until they arrived at a door that would appear to be a place to steer clear from. The perfect hideout for Derek Hale. When Isaac heaved the heavy door open, the thick smell of humidity filled her nose, making it twitch. With every step they took to descend the lengthy metal stairs, sounds echoed off the brick walls. Unlike Isaac, who was now gifted with night vision, Aspen kept a firm grip on the banister as they traveled deeper into darkness. They made it to a large platform next to an abandoned railway train, where Aspen could already feel Derek's presence.

"Derek!" Isaac called out, taking long strides inside the train while Aspen had to jog to keep up. The tires on the train wined with more weight pressuring on top of it, and Aspen wondered if it was stable enough to contain such movement.

Looking ahead, Aspen saw nothing but Derek's glowing red eyes in the darkness. "What's wrong?" he asked more so directing his focus to Aspen, not expecting her presence tonight.

"My dad," Isaac breathed, taking a step closer to his Alpha. "I think he's dead." it seemed the realization finally dawned on the boy as his words were dragged.

Derek crept out from the darkness with his head held high, and his chest puffed out as his glowing eyes diminished under the dim lights. He glared at the boy, partial confusion on etched on his face. "What did you do?"

Isaac shook his head, "That's the thing; it wasn't me."

Derek breathes roughly through his nostrils as he looked down at his feet before peeking up toward Aspen. "What are you doing here?" Aspen's eyes briefly flashing white said it all and slid his tongue, along his teeth, nodding toward th exit. "Give us a minute Isaac."

Isaac seemed reluctant at first but knew Aspen wanted a moment alone with his Alpha. He gave a stiff nod before glancing at Aspen and stepping out of the train to wait by the stairs.

Derek didn't miss the way her eyes very carefully followed his. He knew biting one of Aspen's friends would come back to haunt him, but he didn't expect her so soon. Especially after her injury. "Aspen..." he tried warningly before the girl could strike him with an air blast to the chest.

"You're a selfish son of a bitch Derek Hale," Aspen seethed, her words dripping with poison.

Derek shook his head "Your friend was getting beaten by his father. I saw what he needed, and that was confidence to stand up for himself."

"So, is that what you're doing now?" Aspen hacked with a sharp laugh, "you're going bite teenagers for your new pack? Isaac was vulnerable, and you manipulated him by using his past to get him to accept the bite."

"Can't you see that's why I did it?" he defends sternly, pointing his finger to emphasize his meaning toward Isaac, who was likely listening to everything they were saying. "To give him the confidence that he needed to stand up to his father."

"And what if his father didn't die? What if Isaac would have hurt him if he lost control?" she rose a questionable brow, just waiting for the pathetic excuse.

"It wouldn't be any different then what he did to Isaac.," he shrugged, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "if anything, you should be thanking me for helping him."

"Thankful..." Aspen reciprocated his words, trying the pitiful excuse on her tongue. "I'm supposed to be thankful that you turned my friend into a werewolf that is forced to submit to the full moon and lose control? Am I supposed to be thankful for that?"

Aspen plopped down on a seat in the train, resting her elbows on her knees with a frown. Derek heaved a sigh and leaned on a pole near Aspen. He noticed her nails digging into her palm, and he could hear her rapid heart slamming in her chest. She had grown since the first time he met her in her bedroom. The girl he approached was frail and award. Now she was driven with fire. "I have a plan, and Isaac is a crucial part of that. I'm sorry that it had to be him, but he's strong. His body wouldn't have accepted the bite if he wasn't."

"What plan? Are you just picking kids at random for your pack, because I swear to god if you touch Stiles--"

"Aspen..."

"What!" Aspen furrowed her brows when Derek approached her and gripped her chin to look up at him. Her eyes were pure white and didn't falter into brown when she blinked. Isaac's footsteps were heard when he made his way into the train to investigate the commotion.

"You need to learn control. The full moon will have an effect on you too." Derek said sternly before Aspen swatted his hand away and pushed herself off the seat.

"Worry about your plan or whatever the hell it is you do down here. But stay out of my business." with her eyes fading brown, she stormed out of the train brushing by Derek roughly.

"Wait," Derek called out, squeezing the bridge of his nose, keeping his eyes to the ground.

Pausing halfway, Aspen sucked her teeth before rolling back on her heal. "What?" she breathed, already exhausted from speaking to the Alpha.

"Don't say anything about Isaac. We still don't know who killed his dad, and the police are going to automatically assume it was him."

Aspen softened her eyes for a moment to look at Isaac. She had a bad feeling about the bite that was bestowed upon him. Derek said he had seen confidence in the boy, but Aspen knew after tomorrow, Isaac Lahey would be a new person.