to taste your beating heart

Calum was surprised when he heard the pilot over the intercom announce that they were going to be landing soon. He’d spent much of the trip zoning out or watching tv or chatting with the others, he hadn’t even noticed how much time had passed. It was still surprising to him that they were even getting the opportunity to come to Beacon Hills, California. After all, he, Michael, and Luke had grown up in a foster home; the last thing he was sure any of them expected was to be able to travel this far, especially with the group that they were with. That wasn’t even including the fact that Isaac was taking them to an actual pack, an actual Alpha. Since being bitten, neither he nor Luke had been in a pack - all they’d had were each other and Michael. But, the thought of finding a pack, of finding a home was more inviting than Calum really wanted to admit. “Looks like we’re pretty much there, huh?” he asked, looking to his friends.

For as long as Astra could remember, she’d never felt like she belonged anywhere. Even growing up in a pack, her father wanting her to eventually take over as Alpha, she’d never felt quite right, quite secure. The moment she met Isaac, though, all of that changed, and she knew she belonged wherever he was, she belonged by his side. So, when he’d first brought up returning to his home town of Beacon Hills, California, she hadn’t hesitated even for a moment before she’d agreed to go along. While nothing had happened between them and she was sure she seemed mildly clingy at times, she just wanted to be wherever he was, for as long as she could be. Even now, she was settled into the seat on the plane next to Isaac, but she’d ended up drifting off not too long ago, too comfortable in Isaac’s presence and tired from the flight, but it was fine, because she felt safe.

Michael was leaned back in his seat, relaxing, though he was grateful that they’d be landing soon, because sitting around for too long was honestly making him stiff - and there wasn’t much room to get up and stretch his legs, not without blocking the middle of the aisle of the airplane. With the thought, he found himself stretching his legs out as much as he could in the position he was, but he peered back when he heard Calum speak and nodded. “It’s about time, too,” he said a little jokingly, “Not only am I getting cabin fever, but my legs are starting to ache a bit.” And, while he’d grown up with Calum and Luke, he knew there was something that sectioned them off from him now - they were werewolves, having gotten bitten one night when he’d stayed home alone. Even then, though, they were still as close as ever. And, they’d made more friends along the way. Peering over at Lyanna with the thought, he offered a smile, taking in the beauty who made his heart race in all the best ways. “How are you feeling, Lyanna?”

Payton shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Honestly, the trip had made her a little nauseous but, more than that, she was pretty sure that she’d developed a fear of flying. She’d done her best to stay calm during the trip, though, because she couldn’t risk transforming around the group. She hadn’t told them what she was, that she wasn’t a werewolf, because she’d been told from the day she’d gotten bitten and turned that werefoxes were weak, useless - and she didn’t want any of the people she’d grown close to to see her like that. “Oh, I really can’t wait for us to land,” she complained quietly to herself, chewing on her lip as she leaned her head back against the seat, breathing out quietly.

Stiles was heading home from the sheriff station, from his dad, trying to figure things out. They’d gotten Derek back and there’d been a mishap where he’d been a teenager for a little while, but that had somehow been fixed. But, somebody had broken into the Hale’s vault and they hadn’t yet figured out why. So far, nothing was happening, but Stiles knew better than to assume that that meant everything was safe. After all, Beacon Hills was never really safe, and he and his friends knew that better than most people. Shaking the thought aside, he ran his hands anxiously through his hair, still mentally trying to put the pieces together, wanting to be prepared for whatever was coming, wanting to keep his friends safe, his dad safe, the town safe. But, with everything that had happened since Scott had first gotten bitten, he knew better than to think that a town like Beacon Hills could ever be safe.

Lilah almost couldn’t believe that she was back in Beacon Hills. After what had happened to Paige, her family couldn’t bear to stay in Beacon Hills, not with all the reminders there. But, now they were back - and Lilah had learned a thing or two while she’d been gone. She’d put together the pieces of what had actually happened to her sister, she’d learned about the supernatural world, and she’d busied herself with training and learning how to fight monsters so that something like that wouldn’t happen to anybody else, ever again - and she had an entire list of people to go after. But even with all of that, she was still a teenager, which meant school and trying to keep up the appearance of a normal student, of a normal teenage girl, and she sighed with the thought, walking out of the house to try to get used to Beacon Hills again.

Derek didn’t like being at a loss for what to do. Peter had been annoying him to no end and, right now, all Derek wanted was some space, some fresh air away from his Uncle - not that Peter acted like much of an Uncle in the first place. Regardless, Derek left his loft while Peter prattled on about something that Derek didn’t even bother to try to tune into. He’d noticed that, since turning back from being a teenager, he felt weaker, his senses weren’t as heightened, but he tried not to worry about it. He tried to keep a level head. But, he knew that when things like this started to happen, it meant he was vulnerable - although he didn’t know what this was; he just knew that he felt weaker, he felt more open to attacks, he felt almost human. And he wasn’t a fan of it. Shaking his head to rid his mind of the thoughts, he frowned, letting his mind drift to something else - or, well, someone else, because that someone always seemed to make his concerns come to a halt: Winona George.

Marie was waiting patiently at the sheriff’s station for Jordan to get off duty. She and her brother were close - they were pretty much all each other had in this town. Marie wasn’t particularly close to anybody else, finding it easier to keep to herself, rather than to explore the variety of people within the confines of Beacon Hills. Looking at the time, she could see that her brother still had at least an hour and a half before he’d get off duty, so she eventually stood, shooting him a text to let him know that she’d be back, before she headed out to go get them both something to eat. At the very least, she could have a meal ready for him when he got off duty, rather than either of them having to cook when they got home. With that thought in mind, she settled her gaze ahead as she began walking to the nearest place to get food.

Luke had never expected a new beginning under such strange circumstances, and yet, it was happening. Everything he'd ever dreamed of had become a reality, and although he wasn't certain of where life would head from here, it was only going to get better. All he'd known was Calum and Michael, and after he was turned, Luke wanted more - a pack to depend on beyond his two closest friends; and when Isaac Lahey had showed up and offered exactly that, Luke had been quick to accept the offer. Hearing Calum's words, Luke nodded. "It's crazy, huh?" Luke offered his friend, his brother by everything but blood, a small smile. Still, his gaze was quick to return to his initial point of interest - Payton. She was introduced to Luke through Isaac, and Luke had become enamoured with the redhead almost instantly, having felt the need to protect her so strongly. Luke felt as though she was the thing he'd been missing. "It won't be long, Payton." Luke promised, voice soft and movements slow as he reached to rest his hand on top of hers, offering her hand a gentle squeeze. "We'll be in Beacon Hills in no time."

Sierra hitched her bag further up her shoulder, still holding onto her motorbike helmet. "Bye, Melissa!" She called with a grin, offering the older woman - and the mother of a good friend - a wave of departure before exiting through the hospital doors, running a hand through her blonde ponytail. The day had been a long one; but Sierra knew that, for now, she could rest. Her father would be training and her mother would be cleaning the weaponary, meaning that the young hunter had time to herself before dinner. But still, she couldn't feel like something big was coming, a storm, a war - something despicable. She hadn't been able to shake off the feeling since Allison died, since Stiles had been revealed to be possessed and then healed, since Scott had been revealed as the true Alpha. Exhaling heavily, Sierra got to her motorbike, pulling her phone from the pocket of her jacket, checking for any messages from any of her friends, feeling a strange sort of reflief when she saw nothing. Still, she would be glad to get home.

Isaac could remember how isolated he felt before he found his pack, and returning to that isolation hadn't been an easy decision, even if it was short time. After Allison Argent's death, Isaac just felt as though he needed time to recollect this thoughts and organise his priorities, and he found exactly where his priorities lay: at Beacon Hill, with his pack, his friends - and along the way, he'd found some good people in bad situations, people he'd quickly considered to be his friends, and Isaac promised them a better life in Beacon Hills, he knew Scott would do them no wrong. But one person, one of his new friends, had captured Isaac's interest - Astra, a young werewolf who had, so easily, captured his heart and held it firmly within her hands. Looking to Astra, sat beside him, with the thought, Isaac offered her a smile as the voice on the intercom spoke. "Astra," he murmured to her, leaning in so only she could hear him, not wanting to startle her. She looked ethereal when she slept, and although Isaac wanted to relish in the sight of her for longer, he knew exciting times were ahead. "Astra," he spoke a little louder. "We're almost home." Home. He hoped Astra would consider Beacon Hills home. He wanted to show her strength, stability, family that really mattered.

Lyanna had felt a whole range of emotions from the moment the aircraft had taken off, and now it was due to landing, Lyanna still couldn't decide which emotion she felt the strongest - relief, fear, uncertainty... Biting her lip to rid herself of her whirring mind, Lyanna looked out of the window to a sea of glittering lights, and perhaps hope was the strongest one of all. A new beginning was what Lyanna needed, and if Isaac's friends could deliver, like he'd promised, then she would take the opportunity with open arms. She could stay at a motel, find work to earn her keep, she could be safe here. Hearing Michael, a human in their newfound pack, speak to Calum, Lyanna felt a small smile tug at the corners of her lips with his words, a little amused. The boy was well over six foot, sitting for long periods of time in a space as cramped as an airplane must of been close to painful. "I'm not too sure," Lyanna spoke softly, looking to Michael as she did, taking in the sight of the handsome human. "A little afraid. What about you, Michael?" And Michael, goodness, Michael was the person who had made this whole thing worth it.

Scott McCall, as he walked to the Stilinski's, recalled the night he was bitten by Peter Hale, and all the events that had followed since. Everything had been thrown at him and his friends in a way that was almost difficult to keep up with, and Scott knew that the bite, the gift, came with the good and the bad. He considered himself lucky, surrounded by good people. Running a hand through his hair - his curls having been cut off quite some time ago - Scott took a moment to appreciate the Californian air, having never known a freedom quite like it. Stuffing his hands into the pockets of his hoodie, Scott took in the neighbourhood, smiling at a man cutting his lawn, until he noticed her - a brunette beauty he hadn't seen around before. Beacon Hills was a community where almost everyone knew each other, and this girl was someone he'd never seen around. Surely he should of seen her in school, she was about his age. Pausing in his steps, pretending to be preoccupied with pulling his phone from his pocket, Scott watched her for a long moment, memorising the way she walked, the way she looked in the dusk. Taking himself from his thoughts, Scott offered her a wave. "Hi..."

Naomi watched as the foul smelling substance began to bubble within the beaker, her chin resting in her hand, a mask covering her nose and mouth to protect her from the toxic substance, designed to kill quickly with just a few small drops in the mouth. Quickly finding herself restless and bored, Naomi stood to her feet and nodding to excuse herself, shrugging off the lab coat and quickly exiting the room that was kept strictly for the business of hunting. Taking off the protective mask, Naomi exhaled, taking a breath. "Well, that went well." She murmured to herself, tugging the hair tie from her hair and allowing her dyed strawberry blonde hair to fall past her shoulders once more. All of these homemade chemistry lessons were the reason why Naomi, after moving to a new school, was doing so well in science. They were also the reason she didn't have friends. Frowning with the thought, Naomi exhaled and moved to her room, knowing she had homework to do, shutting her door softly behind her.

Ashton sat in the car he had borrowed from Derek Hale, claiming it was an emergency, fingers tight around the steering wheel, but not moving, not yet. The feeling had been sitting within the pit of his stomach, the feeling of disaster, the gut wrenching feeling of instinctive knowing. Something was going to happen. It was going to happen tonight. Exhaling heavily, Ashton's forehead fell to the steering wheel in frustration, and as his dyed red curls fell to his face, Ashton tried to regain control, inhaling through his nose and exhaling through his mouth in slow, calculated breaths. Perhaps some food would do him good, he was becoming somewhat hysterical and a good burger had never hurt anyone. Allowing his fingers to uncurl from the steering wheel, Ashton lifted his head and climbed out of the matte black car, being careful not to be too rough with the exterior, knowing Derek would chew him up and spit him out if he dared even scratch it. Tightening his leather jacket, Ashton had been lucky enough to park near a fast food joint, and deciding it would suffice, he walked towards the neon sign above the entrance.

Winona was careful to tread through the forest, almost certain she remembered the pathway to the Hale family home like the back of her hand, having spent many summers running through the forest with Derek. As the wind blew through the leaves, she was certain she could hear the echoes of their laughter, and smiling fondly with the memory, Winona ducked under an overgrown branch. She was close, she was certain. She'd heard what had happened, about the fire, about Peter, about the Hale family, broken apart by ruthless hunters. It had been a while since Winona, whisked away by her family to protect her from whatever dangers occupied Beacon Hills, had stepped on this soil. Winona, under the disguise of dusk, made her way to the ruins of what once stood to be a beautiful home, and seeing the damage from the fire caused her heart to stay still for a frighteningly long amount of time. "Oh my god," Winona whispered.

Payton looked to Luke when she heard his voice saying her name, too distracted by her discomfort in the plane to really realize his hand was squeezing hers until he spoke again. She watched him for a moment before swallowing slightly and nodding. “Right,” she murmured quietly, shifting a bit, feeling antsy and caged-in, and she hated it more than anything. “Sorry, guess I’m not much of a flyer…” She made a slight face but returned the squeeze and tried to settle back in the seat, tried to relax.

Calum grinned slightly to Luke’s words and he nodded slightly. “Yeah, it’s a little crazy,” he admitted before he shrugged slightly, “It’s exciting, too, though.” After all, they were going somewhere new, and from all the stories they’d heard from Isaac, it sounded like it was going to be a worthwhile experience, full of excitement and adventure and danger. But, he knew, with his friends, he could definitely handle the danger, and all the experiences would be worth it. “It’ll be great, mate. I just know it.”

Astra shifted a bit, stirring when she heard Isaac’s voice, his voice drifting into her dreams and making her feel safe and comfortable. When she opened her eyes and was greeted with the sight of him, she couldn’t help but smile, albeit shyly, and she lifted her hands to rub the sleep from her eyes. “Really?” she asked quietly, yawning a bit, “We’re almost there?” She couldn’t help but look forward to it, curious about what Isaac’s hometown would be like. “Are you looking forward to it?”

Michael watched Lyanna with concern, unable to help it, because he just wanted Lyanna safe and happy - it was what she deserved it. For a while, he watched her silently, just taking her in, looking for any sign of outward troubles, but he smiled slightly. “You’ve got nothing to be afraid of, love,” he promised quietly, reaching to take her hand, giving it a squeeze as he took her in, admiring her. “I’ll make sure you’re safe at all times.” He winked teasingly, though he hoped that she knew he meant it. “I’ll protect you. No matter what.”

Lilah paused when she saw somebody wave at her, and she watched for a moment, unsure. She’d only just gotten back, was it really smart to start talking to people so soon? Still, she offered a small wave in response, unable to stop herself, finding herself attracted to the guy, even though she didn’t want to admit it. “Hi,” she greeted cautiously, “Um, do you live around here or something?” She arched a brow, curious.

Stiles had been walking by a house when he saw somebody in a window, and for a moment, he couldn’t help but watch, curious. The last thing he wanted was to be thought of as a snoop, but hell, he’d been seen as worst things before. Unable to help it, he stared, but he recognized the girl - she was new to the school. Curious, he made his way over, aware he definitely shouldn’t be doing this, certain it’d scare the shit out of the girl, but he moved up to the window to tap on the window anyway, hoping to get her attention.

Marie was heading to the department, but she blinked when she saw Derek’s car, arching a brow. Up ahead, though, she caught sight of Ashton. “Ash!” she called, picking up her pace to catch up with him, arching a brow in curiosity as she watched him. “Whoa, you look a little… Well, very upset, actually.” Her brows furrowed as she watched him with mild concern. “What’s wrong?”

Derek stuffed his hands in his pockets as he walked, though he was surprised to find himself heading to his old home. A part of him really didn’t want to be here, reminded of the memories, of everybody he lost, and he couldn’t figure out why he’d come here today, but he didn’t want to think about it at this point. Still, he blinked when he caught sight of somebody he knew, somebody he easily recognized. “Winona?” he called with confusion, his brows furrowing. What was she doing here, of all places?