Running with Wolves

Chapter 27

I wrapped my arms around Stiles' leg and growled at him, he groaned,
He said" Riley! Please?!" Scott walked in,
Scott said" What's happening?"
" A Riley fit, help me!" Scott laughed then wrapped his arms around my tummy, I growled at him, my eyes glowed. He backed away,
" Uh, no thanks."
" Scott!"
" He's angry, he doesn't want you to leave him again."
" Bubby, I've gotta go, come on. Please?"
I screamed" No!"
" Please?!"
" No!" Scotty tried to grab me again, I growled again,
Scott said" Come on, Riley, just this one time?"
" No!"
" Come on, please?"
" No!"
Stiles said" Riley, I swear, I owe you, okay?"
" No!"
" Ugh! Please?"
" No! No! No! No!"
Scott said" Will bribery work?"
" No, no, no!" Scotty pulled me off Stiles' leg, I cried, screaming at him, he held me out.
Stiles said" Come on, bub, just for a little while."
" No!"
" Please?"
" No!"
" Come on, this one time?!"
" No!"
" Please?! I'll let you play on my computer?"
" No!"
" Uh... I'll buy you candy?"
" No!"
" Scott, I'm out of ideas."
Scott said" Bacon burger?" I looked at Scotty,
" Yeah, yes, I'll buy you a bacon burger and fries. Ah?" I stopped fighting Scotty, he put me down, I pouted, looking at Stiles." Look, bubby, you're eventually gonna make friends that are your age, and you'll want to go hang out with them. Then I'll be the one pouty." I giggled," See, all better, huh?" I nodded my head," Okay, look, it'll be like I never left, you'll fall asleep and then I'll be back."
I said" Okay, Stiles."
" See, good job!" He kissed my head, then Scotty rubbed our noses together, I laughed.
Scotty said" Good night, little dude."
" Don't let the zombie bugs bite, bubby." He tucked me in, giving me tigger, I yawned and they walked out, Stiles turned on my starry sky light.

I woke up, I yawned, rubbing my eyes, I whimpered then grabbed Tigger, walking to Stiles' room. I crawled onto his bed, and laid down, I yawned, nuzzling my face against the pillow, I fell back to sleep.
I woke up again to Stiles' laugh, I whined, rubbing my eyes, making grabby hands.
He whispered" Hey, bub." He lifted me up, rocking me in his arms, I nuzzled my face against his chest. He laughed," Come on, let me get changed and I'll be in bed." He put me down again, I cuddled into his pillow, then he was nudging me. I whined, cuddling into his side, his arm wrapped around me." Goodnight, bubby."
——
Lydia and Allison had bruises, Stiles was holding me in his arms as he sat on a desk.
Derek said" I don't see anything."
Scott said" Look again."
" How is a bruise gonna tell me where Boyd and Erica are?"
" It's the same on both sides. Exactly the same."
" It's nothing."
Lydia said" Pareidolia. Seeing patterns that aren't there. It's a subset of apophenia."
Scott said" They're trying to help."
Derek said" These two." He pointed to Lydia," This one, who used me to resurrect my psychotic uncle. Thank you. And this one, who shot about 30 arrows into me and my pack."
Stiles said" Okay, all right, now, come on. No one died, all right? Look, there may have been a little maiming, okay, a little mangling, but no death. That's what I call an important distinction."
Allison said" My mother died."
Derek said" Your family's little honor code killed your mother. Not me."
" That girl was looking for Scott. I'm here to help him, not you."
" You wanna help? Find something real." Derek walked away, Scott followed, I looked at Stiles, playing with his shirt collar.

I was holding Stiles' hand as we walked in the tunnel,
Stiles said" Okay, what would a pack of alphas want with Erica and Boyd?"
Scott said" I'm not sure it's them they want."
" Okay, what, like Derek? Like they're recruiting?" Scot stopped, looking at two guy walk, I tilted my head," Hey, Scott. You coming?" Scott walked ahead of us, Stiles looked at me then lifted me up, catching up to Scott.

We were in Coach's class, I didn't really pay attention, till I heard Scott,
He said" Uh, no, Coach, I know the answer." Coach laughed,
Coach said" Oh, you're serious?"
" Yes. Risk and reward."
" Wow. Who are you? And what have you done to McCall? Don't answer that. I like you better. I like you better. Does anybody have a quarter?" I laid my head on Scott's chest," A quarter."
Stiles said" Yep." Scott covered my eyes as something flew out of Stiles' pocket.
" Stilinski, I think you, uh... you dropped this. And congratulations. Risk and reward. Put the quarter in the mug, win the reward. Okay, watch coach." Scotty uncovered my eyes, I looked at him, he ruffled my hair, then Coach made the quarter go into the mug. Everyone clapped," Okay. Danny. Risk, Reward."
Danny said" What's the reward?"
" You don't have to take the pop quiz tomorrow."
" Coach, it's not a pop quiz if you tell us about it."
Danny, you know, I really expect more from you at this point. Really. McCall. Risk, reward. The risk: if you don't put that quarter in the mug, you have to take the pop- the-the quiz. And-And you have to write an essay. Risk, more work. Reward- no work at all. Or choose not to play."
Scotty said" But isn't this just chance?"
" No. You know your abilities, your coordination, your focus, past experience- all factors affecting the outcome. So what's it gonna be, McCall? More work, no work, or choose not to play?" Scott put the coin down," No play. Okay. Who's next? Who wants the quarter?" Stiles drummed his hands," There ya go! There's a gamblin' man! Come on! Step up, step up." Stiles ran to the front, the door opened, and I saw Daddy and a deputy. I looked at Scotty, he wrapped his arm around me," Stiles."
Stiles said" Yeah, coach, I got it."
Daddy said" Stiles." They walked out, I looked at Scotty, he was listening to them.