[23] Chapter Twenty-Three

Peter Freakin' Hale

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"I got to meet with the medical examiner and try to figure out what happened with Jackson. I've got an APB out on Stiles. His jeep is still in the parking lot, so that means - the hell, I don't know what that means. Um - look, if he answers his phone, if he answers his emails, if either one of you see him - " The Sheriff stressfully groaned, holding the small notebook in his hand.

The three teenagers Scott, Isaac and Clara all stood in front of the Sheriff while being in the lockeroom. Stiles was now official MIA, most likely kidnapped by Gerard, and Jackson was dead. He was dead and Clara thought that a party would be thrown because of it. But she wouldn't attend it because she just lost a friend, not a monster.

The four people were really the only remaining people in the lockeroom since everyone else left. Clara sniffled, wiping away her stray tears on her puffy face. "We'll call you. ook, he's probably just freaked out from all the attention or something. We'll find him."

Sheriff Stilinski nodded, looking sorrowful and probably growing grey hair for how much worry he was feeling. "I'll see you guys later."

He left, meeting up with the medical examiner and a few deputies. The three teenagers all looked at each other until Coach came walking up to them, well, more like Scott. "McCall." He said and for a split second Clara thought he was going to yell. But instead, Coach had this sober expression on his face. "We need you on the team, okay? You know I can't put you on the field next season if you don't get your grades up."

"Yeah, I know." Scott sighed.

"All right. I mean, I - I know I yell a lot, but it's not like I hate you guys. Well, I kind of hate Greenberg, but, you know, that's different. It's Greenberg. I'm just saying we - I need you on the team. Get your grades back up." Coach encouragingly said to him.

Scott nodded, having a look of determination finding its way into his brown eyes. "I will."

With that Coach left and Scott turned back to his two werewolf companions. "Is that everyone?"

"Yeah." Isaac nodded as both him and Clara turned their backs on Scott for a small moment. They quickly turned back once they heard a loud bang coming from Stiles' locker door falling onto the ground. "You finding him with scent?"

Scott threw a shoe at Isaac and a sock at Clara. "All three of us are."

"How come you get a shirt and I get a shoe?" Isaac questioned, looking at the dirty shoe in disgust while Clara rolled her eyes.

But the three werewolves' attention all focused on the sound of footsteps approaching. When they turned around, they were greeted by Derek who stood in the middle of the lockeroom with an emotionless expression.

"We need to talk." Derek stated sternly.

That's when a figure apperaned from behind the row of lockers and Clara's jaw literally almost dropped when she came face-to-face with the resurrected uncle, Peter Hale. He smirked at the shocked teenagers. "All of us."

"Holy shit." Clara exhaled, her eyes bulging out of her sockets while questioningly glancing between the two Hales. 

Scott stepped forward, bewildered. "What the hell is this?"

Derek cocked his head to the side, speaking bitterly. "You know, I thought the same thing when I saw you talking to Gerard at the sheriff's station."

"Okay, hold on. He threatened to kill my mom. And I had to get close to him. What was I supposed to do?" Scott angrily asked him.

"I'm gonna go with Scott on this one." Peter interjected which really wasn't necessary. "Have you seen his mom? She's gorgeous."

"Shut up!"

Isaac leaned over to Clara. "Who's he?"

"That's Peter, Derek's Uncle. Little while back, he tried to kill us all, and then we set him on fire, and Derek slashed his throat." Clara explained, the very fond memories of Peter Hale being one hell of a asshole and killing people. 

Peter smiled sweetly, giving the kind of smile that you would give to an annoying girl scout, and waved. "Hi."

"...Good to know."

"How's he alive?" Clara asked, crossing her arms while firmly looking at her ex-boyfriend. She felt like a mother giving a strong lecture to a child.

"Look, the short version is he knows how to stop Jackson. And maybe how to save him." 

Clara scoffed, crossing for her arms as Isaac tilted his head. "Well, that's very helpful except Jackson's dead."

Both Hale werewolves' faces dropped which caught Isaac's notice. "Why isn't anyone taking that as good news."

"Because if Jackson is dead, it didn't just happen. Gerard wanted it to happen." Peter said to them and while it did sound true, Clara could find it in herself to actually trust Peter freakin' Hale.

"But why?"

"Well, that's exactly what we need to figure out." Peter stepped forward with a small smirk. "And something tells me the window of opportunity is closing. Quickly."

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Once Clara got the phone call, she was basically breaking the speed limit while driving to the Stilinski household. Just when all the werewolves were gathering together to head to the Hale house, Clara received a call from Sheriff Stilinski that Stiles was home.

When Clara arrived at the house, she didn't even bother to knock and walked straight into the living room. Low and behold, the Sheriff was standing there waiting for her.

"Is he?"

"In his bedroom." Sheriff Stilinski answered.

Clara nodded in appreciation before hurrying up stairs. But all her excitement and anticipation about seeing Stiles suddenly withered away once she stood in front of his bedroom door. Now the feelings were replaced with nervousness. Her hand hesitantly lifted up and knocked against the wood.

"Dad, I said I'm fine." Stiles groaned from the other side of the door. When he whipped it open and found Clara standing on the other side, it was a major surprise to him as well. He honestly hadn't expect her to see him.

"Hey..." Clara trailed off. Her narrowed eyes fell over to the injuries on his face; the busted up lip and the red and bloody bruise on his cheek.

"Hi." Stiles gulped. "Come on in."

Clara nodded before walking in, hearing the door close behind her. She whipped around, meeting his stare. "What happened to you?"

He sighed, "Clara, really, I'm fine-"

"You don't look fine." Clara sternly said, surprising herself to see how angry her voice sounded.

"Gerard, he...I'm okay." Stiles avoided her burning stare and Clara decided to not push him, letting Stiles have a free pass since it looks like he's had a worse night.

She chuckled, fumbling with her fingers. "I might want to warn you. Lydia may be coming over in ten minutes since she said she wanted to talk to you."

All Stiles did was nod and realized how awkward the tension was between them. Clara noticed the uncomfortable atmosphere as well, wanting nothing more than too break it. Without notice, tears began to fill her sad pair of eyes. "He's dead."

Stiles looked up, his eyes wide as Clara continued. "Jackson's dead and I feel like it's my fault. I should have fought harder to save him, to protect him. He was my friend and now he's dead and-"

"Don't do that." Stiles abruptly interrupted, making Clara freeze and look at him. "Don't keep finding ways to hate yourself, okay? Because it wasn't your fault Jackson's dead, it's Gerard. He was controlling him and he forced Jackson to do it. None of what had happen in the past few months is your fault. Your parent's death isn't your fault. Ian's death isn't your fault."

"Stiles, don't-"

He didn't listen, "Derek cheating on you wasn't your fault, it was his own dumbass mistake. And you do deserve to be loved, okay? You're Scott and I's best friend and we need you. We love you. We can't lose you!"

Clara felt her lips tremble as she tried to form her words. She finally spoke, in a weak and soft tone. "I'm really glad you're okay."

Stiles just looked at her with glassy eyes as he croaked four words that he desperately wanted her to believe. "It's not your fault."

Clara didn't want to talk about this, about her downward spiral she had that night. "Lydia will be here soon." She said, not wanting to be here when the strawberry blonde got here. With no goodbye, Clara walked past Stiles and out of the room.

As she walked down the stairs and said goodbye to the Sheriff, she replayed Stiles' words over and over again in her head. It's not your fault. He said it like he believed it whole heartily. Problem was, Clara didn't believe it.

Three chapters in one day! One more chapter until the book is coming to an end.

Next and Final Chapter will include: Shocking Ending, Stara, Jara, Clerek, Tate and Clara making up, and feeling explosions!

~ ~ ~ ~ Monrox (Katie)