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three months ago

"Something's up with Iris," Brett whispered softly to Lori and Isaac. They turn to see the girl prodding at her food but not eating it. Her eyes seem to drift around the room, unfocused and lost.

"She's too focused on the Deadpool," Lori sighs, "She took the losses of Allison and Aiden hard. She needs to realise it's not her fault, but i don't think any of us can do that. I'm going to go mingle, nothing I say will get through to her." Isaac and Brett exchange wide eyes.

"Do you think she has an eating disorder?" Isaac hushes to Lori, face pale and eyes flicking between yellow and blue.

"No," Lori says firmly, "She is too preoccupied with the Deadpool to eat. She fixates on things and brushes aside the important matters, like eating. Thats why I can't help her. She won't focus on anything except keeping us all alive." Lori leaves the boys to go to Kira and Malia, her blonde hair bouncing on her back.

Isaac and Brett watch Iris all night, whilst keeping their distance. She doesn't eat a thing and her mind seems lost and disoriented. Yet at the same time, nothing seems wrong. She talks. She laughs. She dances. It's like she's normal Iris again, and she wasn't surrounded by werewolves and supernatural creatures.

About half way through the night, Iris disappears. Brett scans the room but can't find her anywhere. He turns to Isaac, eyes wide and fearful.

"Where's she gone? She can't, she can't just disappear, we'd have noticed, we're werewolves for god sake," Brett frets. Isaac snorts and points to everyone else. Derek had brought some werewolf alcohol so everyone had the chance to get drunk. It gave Iris the perfect chance to slip away.

"You know how Lori said she didn't have an eating disorder?" Isaac says slowly, and Brett turns to him with a light in his eyes. The two dart away, up the stairs and towards the bathroom. The hear the retching before they reach it.

They open the door to see Iris crouched over the toilet, eyes full of tears and hands shaking. Brett's hands clench into fists and Isaac gasps.

"I knew it," Brett says shakily, causing Iris to turn to him suddenly. She lets out a sob when she sees him, and collapses into him and Isaac.

"You're sick Ris," Isaac mutters softly, stroking her hair. She sobs slightly as she clutches his t-shirt.

"I'm so sorry," she whispers, "I just have this pit of anxiety in my stomach all the time and it won't leave. I can't make it leave. This is the only way that helps." Isaac shares a worried glance with Brett as they looked to the small, shaking girl in their arms.

"Please Ris," Isaac begs, "Let us help you. It's not your fault, you have nothing to be sorry for. But you need help. We need you to be healthy so you can help us, yeah?" Iris nods softly, her eyes red and sore.

"Can you tell Scott and Kira?" Brett questions slowly. Iris bolts upright and begins sobbing again, shaking her head furiously.

"I can't, you can't make me, please" she begs, saddening both Isaac and Brett. This was their best friend, and they felt powerless.

"We'll help you Ris," Isaac mutters softly, "But you have to work with us too okay?" She nods and sniffles, cuddling further into Isaac. Brett strokes her hair comfortingly and whispers soft words to her making her grin.

"I just miss them," Iris finally admits, "Every time I close my eyes all I can see is Allison and Aiden. Erica and Boyd. Their faces won't leave my head." Isaac and Brett nod, understanding her words. The loss had been hard on all the pack, but Iris and Scott had taken it the hardest.

"We know Ris, we know."

now

Iris had decided to take a break from Bella, even though it consumed her with guilt. She was walking along the beach at La Push, her short hair ruffling in the wind.

The waves crash against the beach, and the salt air seems to clear Iris's head. For the first time in a while, she feels free and at peace.

Then her phone starts ringing.

"Hey Scott!" Iris chimes out, "Are you all okay?" The boys seems to be silent for a few seconds before he starts speaking.

"We have a problem." Iris's heart drops to her stomach. She knew she shouldn't have left. She knew something would go wrong, things had been going too well.

"What's happened? I'm on my way back. Is everyone okay?" Iris frets, starting to walk back down the beach towards Forks. Scott's laughter comes through the phone, soft and warm that soothes Iris's heart.

"I just wanted some advice, if that's okay?" Scott asks, worry seeping in his voice.

"Of course, you know you can always ask me anything Scott. You're my brother."

"Your old, old boyfriend Theo has come back. He's an omega but he's different Ri-ri. Stiles has shown us these signatures and they're completely different. And there's something that's different about him. I don't know, but then I can't just leave him right. He's so scared, I, I don't know what to do."

"Trust Stiles," Iris says immediately, "Always trust Stiles. He's always right, you should know that by now. He's our brother, we protect our brother. And Scott, there's a reason me and Theo broke up. I know things, things that I think you'll discover if you continue on this Theo-trusting train. Don't listen to him, you're falling right into his trap."

"What do you know?" Scott panics, "What did he do to you? Iris, tell me, or I'll get on my bike at once and come find you." Iris sighs, her protective side flaring at the desire to protect someone she used to care deeply about.

"He killed his sister Scott. Look into the dread doctors, Theo's working with them unwillingly. Don't trust him Scott, but save him at the same time. He was only a kid, he deserves better."