Chasing Shadows

Season 2, Episode 2: Shape Shifted

Sleep didn't come easily that night. Instead, I spent hours pacing around, lost in my head, Adele's 21 playing through my headphones on full blast. By the time "Rolling in the Deep" played for the third time, I was half-expecting Derek to stomp over, grab my phone, and chuck it against the wall. With his werewolf hearing, I knew he could hear every lyric.

I was in the abandoned railway cart, trying to lose myself in Adele's voice, when footsteps thundered down the stairs, fast and urgent. 

"Derek?" The person called out, sounding like a young boy. Possibly my age. "Derek!"

Heart pounding, I ripped out my headphones and froze. Was Gerard coming to finish us off?

"Who the hell are you?" I snarled after tackling him to the ground, holding my claws just above his throat.

"I'm—"

"Liz, get off him!" Derek's voice cut through, and he pulled me off the boy. He knelt beside him, his face creased with concern. "What's wrong?"

I stared at my brother, wondering why he suddenly cared so much about some random kid.

"My dad..." the boy gasped, struggling for breath. "I think he's dead."

Derek's expression hardened. "What did you do?"

I blinked, glancing between them. What did he do? What was going on here?

"That's the thing..." the boy stammered. "It wasn't me."

I cleared my throat, staring between them, feeling an intense need for answers. "Okay, hold on. Who the hell is this, and what's going on?"

Derek glanced at me, exhaling heavily, and I could see the guilt there. That's when it hit me. "You bit him?" I asked, incredulous.

"Liz—"

"And you didn't think to tell me?" I shoved Derek's shoulder, then turned back to the boy. Now that I was actually looking, I recognized him. "Wait. You're on the lacrosse team at Beacon Hills."

He nodded, looking a little green around the edges.

"Of course you are. Why is it always lacrosse players?" I groaned, pressing my fingers to my temples.

"Liz, calm down," Derek said, glancing at me as my eyes flickered to a glowing purple.

I took a deep breath, turning to face the boy. "Alright, what's your name?"

"I'm Isaac," he stammered, trying to stay calm but clearly struggling. "Isaac Lahey."

"Isaac, this is my sister Elizabeth," Derek said, attempting introductions as if this were a normal situation.

I rounded on Derek, my voice dropping dangerously. "Are there any other betas I should know about? Or is this the only one?"

"He's the only one... for now."

"For now?" I nearly shouted. "Seriously, Derek, when were you planning to fill me in? Is this what you've been sneaking around doing?"

Isaac looked like he wanted to sink into the floor, and Derek's jaw clenched in frustration. But before I could start another rant, Isaac spoke up, sounding almost desperate.

"Guys, please," he said, his eyes wide with fear. "My dad is dead. Can we focus on that?"

I took a steadying breath, turning to Isaac. "Alright, look," I said, voice sharper than I meant. "It was a full moon last night. You probably blacked out and did it yourself. Problem solved."