From: Mason

You haven't seen Liam have you?

To: Mason

No? What's happened?

From: Mason

Don't know. We were on a run and he sped off, and I haven't seen him since. I'm sure it's nothing.

Rory bit her lip at the message her brother had sent. Only a week or two ago, she probably would have put Liam running off as just simply that—her brother's best friend had always been athletically more able than most. Yet Rory didn't know if she could take it so simply now.

Things were weird. So weird that Rory was about to skip class and look for Liam, when she definitely knew she shouldn't due to her algebra class going through more SAT prep. But Rory wouldn't be able to sit through an entire class with this on her mind—with Liam missing to a degree.

It was probably nothing, yet Rory couldn't let it go. Ever since Scott and his friends had started to take an interest in Liam, nothing had been the same. Nothing had been normal. Rory didn't know why, and to be honest she didn't overly care. Not unless it involved Liam, or her younger brother.

From Mason's text, Rory gathered that Liam hadn't been in a few periods by now. Although most teens didn't like school, that was out of character. Rory's stomach sank at the realisation.

Her feet sped around the corner—in the exact opposite direction to her algebra class—and arms gripped onto her shoulders as she pushed right into someone.

It was a familiar feeling, and Rory looked up to have bumped into no one else but Scott Mccall.

"Rory, what's wrong?" Scott asked almost instantly upon seeing the brunette. Not only was she in a hurry, but she looked shaken.

Rory was thankful that it was Scott she had bumped into—not only because he might be able to settle her nerves about where Liam had ended up, but also because her skin tingled whenever he touched her. A warmth spread that Rory had started to become fond of.

The brunette quickly shook off her thoughts and stared up at the taller boy. His dark eyes searched her avidly, clearly trying to figure out what had Rory so rattled. She was sure her eyes were wide and face pale. "Have you seen Liam today?"

Scott shook his head, although he started to become more alert. Rory noticed his eyes widen that were stuck to her like glue. "No. Why? Did something happen to him?"

"It's probably nothing," Rory spoke as she took a large breath through her nose. She needed to move on, to let it go considering it was more than likely nothing serious. There were a million plausible explanations as to why Liam was gone—and the majority of them didn't end in his imininent death.

Scott grabbed Rory's wrist gently and the brunette locked eyes with him as soon as he did so. She tried to ignore the tingling that spread. "Rory, it might be important. Just tell me—you look like you need to let it out."

And how he knew that exactly, Rory had no idea. But those simple words were all Rory needed for her to spill all that she knew from what Mason had told her—which annoyingly wasn't very much.

"I told you it's probably nothing—"

"Scott, I need your help."

Both Scott and Rory jumped slightly at the sound of somebody right beside them.

Rory only narrowed her eyes at the sight of seeing her younger brother there, looking rather sheepish as he approached Scott and herself.

Scott looked between the two Hewitt siblings, who both were locked in a stare—Rory's one of slight anger, while Mason looked like he regretted having made his way over. The last thing Scott wanted was to be caught in a sibling dispute.

Mason looked hesitant to ask Scott what he needed to now, but with one last look at his older sister he spoke. "Have you seen Liam?"

"I thought it was nothing," Rory had her arms crossed over her chest now as she glared at her younger brother. For him to be asking Scott about Liam, it seemed more than just nothing to worry about. "Seems like it might be something to worry about if you're asking Scott for help."

"Says you, who is running to him with as much as a text. You have no information on this and yet you're still worried."

"I bumped into him, for your information. And maybe—"

"Guys," Scott spoke now over the top of Rory, which made both the siblings turn back to face him. They both seemed to settle a little at stopping whatever standoff argument was about to ensue. "Let's just find him, okay? You can argue about who was in the wrong later."

And bringing the conversation back to how Liam was missing, made Rory sober up from the argument. Her mind moved back to finding Liam, and not about how her brother had lied to her. That she would for sure get too later.

"When did you see him last?" Scott asked Mason.

"Earlier this morning. He's not answering my calls or my texts, and none of our friends have seen him."

That didn't sound good from Rory's perspective. She had known Liam for a long time and never had he fallen off the grid like this. "Should we call someone, like his parents? They might have something."

Scott seemed hesitant at the mention of his parents being involved, Rory noticed it on his face. A small crease formed just above his right eyebrow, almost like he was trying to hold some information in. Despite her usual nosieness, she didn't pry. Scott had Liam's best interests at heart, she knew that and she trusted it. He wouldn't ever indanger him.

And if he did, Rory would have his head on a stick. That much she knew.

"We wouldn't want to worry them if it's nothing," Scott argued quickly, and Rory could see his point. Liam would be angry at them if they caused his parents more stress, he had already caused them so much. "Let's just start here—at school—and go from there."

They all agreed and were quickly scampering on their way to see Liam's teachers. A big lead could be here, because if he hadn't been in class then that could mean more problems. And Rory wasn't quite ready for that.

---

"Sorry, guys, Liam skipped my class—maybe he's sick. Like me."

Coach coughed after he answered the three students standing outside his office. Rory, Scott and Mason had gone from teacher to teacher that would have usually seen Liam all day, but had come up with nothing.

He had been absent from every class since Mason last saw him, which didn't bode well. Rory tried to ignore the bubble of fear blowing up in her stomach.

"He didn't look sick on our run," Mason confirmed to both Rory and Scott.

Scott had already pulled out his phone by the time the younger boy had said this. "He's not getting back to any of my texts."

"Mine either," Rory added on as she pulled out her phone from the pocket of her jeans. The screen was blank from notifications, minus the text from Lydia she had received five minutes ago. Rory didn't know why she asked the strawberry blonde if she had seen Liam, maybe it was the panic of trying to find people who might have had a clue. Either way, Lydia said she hadn't but had wished Rory the best in finding him. That small sense of hope from someone Rory considered a friend now was uplifiting.

"Same here," Mason mumbled and as he did, the final call bell was heard ringing through the hallways.

Rory cringed at the thought of missing her algebra class, but she simply couldn't go. Not when Liam could be in danger, she wouldn't take that chance.

"Go to class, Mase," Rory said now and she could tell by the look on his face that he was conflicted just like her. "Scott and I will find him. I promise."

Mason looked between the two as if he wasn't entirely sure. Rory sent him a small nod of encouragement, both for him to go to class and that they would find Liam.

"Text one of us if you hear from him," Scott added on to the Hewitt girl's statement.

With both of them giving Mason reassuring looks, the younger boy seemed to accept that he needed to go to class. And he also trusted Rory to handle it, she always knew what to do and came through with a result.

Rory just hoped she could keep her promise. She needed to.

Once Mason was gone, Rory turned to Scott whom already had his eyes on her. He looked regretful, and Rory already knew exactly what he was going to say from the look on his face. Rory had already thought before that you could tell all Scott was feeling by his eyes—those deep brown ones that said all his brain was thinking. And how she knew right then confirmed it.

"I'm coming to help, Scott. You're not doing this without me."

Scott did seem to look conflicted at whether or not to let Rory come with him. He got her point of view—Liam was like a brother to her, and he was missing. But it was possibly something bigger than Rory and all that she knew. He didn't want to drag her into the supernatural anymore than she needed to be, she didn't deserve that.

"You should go to class, I'll find him. I promise."

Rory shook her head adamantly now. She ignored the multitude of students running and rushing past her to get to their class on time. Algebra was the last thing on her mind now—she was going with Scott to find Liam. Or at least try. "I'm helping find him. I need to, Scott. I promised Mason, and I can't sit in math while something bad might have happened to Liam."

And the truth was, Scott understood completely where Rory was coming from. He too wouldn't be able to sit back if he knew someone he loved was in danger. Maybe he and Rory were the same in that way—helping people helped them. It made them feel good, it was what was right.

But he couldn't give anything else much thought when his phone started to vibrate in his hand. Both he and Rory heard the distinct noise of it in his hand, and rushed to look at the caller id on the screen.

Rory found herself grabbing Scott's arm to lean in closer, and let out a small breath of relief at the sight of Liam's name. He was calling Scott—which meant he was okay.

It was the body language of Scott that caught Rory off guard as he cautiously rose the phone to his ear. Rory instinctively let her hand remain on Scott's wrist and her grip tightened slightly at his tone. "Liam?"

Rory was leaning in to try and hear the other end of the call, but to no avail. She was left with only hearing a small murmur and realised she would have to rely on Scott's answers to decipher the call.

And by the look on Scott's face—watching it fall from cautiousness to a serious stare—Rory knew that it might not have been as good as she expected. Her stomach fell and her heart sped up, the realisation that Liam might actually be in danger was growing too real.

"Where is he?" Scott replied on the phone after a decently long pause. Rory only watched on, knowing that she couldn't do anything to help. Not yet.

"I'll give you the money." Scott's answers began to make less and less sense to Rory, who had no clue what money would have to do with anything. A trade off? Had Liam got himself in trouble with someone? If it was his teammates from Devenford then Rory wouldn't be afraid to storm over there and demand they stopped messing with him, she had done it once two years ago when they wouldn't quit bullying the boy.

Scott let out a shaky breath that only made Rory tense more. "What do you want?"

There was no way he was talking to Liam, and that made Rory's mind spin with possibilities as to who it could be, and what they wanted.

Scott had the phone gripped in his hand tighter as he hung up. Rory only looked at him now, not needing to even ask the many questions that flowed through her mind.

"This is bigger than Liam, Rory," Scott said now. Rory could see the reluctance on his face—whether it was being reluctant to let her help, or reluctant to be giving her bad news. "It's dangerous."

Without much of a thought, Rory already had her answer. She didn't care what stupid mess Liam had gotten himself into, she was going to help him. Someone had to look out for the boy and she wouldn't let him get himself expelled again. He didn't deserve that. "I don't care. I'll help in anyway I can—even if it's small. Let me, Scott. Please."

And against his better judgement, Scott let his head nod. Maybe it wasn't smart, and maybe it would end badly. He couldn't help but think about Allison—a girl who was so highly trained in her field, yet met her end due to the supernatural. Rory didn't deserve an end like that, but Scott also knew she wouldn't let this go. He wouldn't if someone he loved was in that situation.

"Come with me then, you have to know some stuff first."

Scott hoped he wouldn't regret what he was about to do.

---

Rory didn't know what reaction Scott was expecting from her, and to be frank she didn't know quite what reaction she was prepared to give.

Scott stood in front of her, behind the locker rooms of Beacon Hills High, and his face had completely morphed into something different. His facial features had contorted, hair grown on his face and teeth pointed out. And his eyes were glowing—a deep, vibrant red.

He was a werewolf. Scott Mccall was a fucking werewolf.

And Rory just stood blankly. She had no clue what her brain was doing to process, but apprently staring at Scott—who still looked like the Scott she knew, just slightly different—was the reaction she was going to give.

Fear didn't come into her mind, although maybe a little. But more confusion, because what in the hell had she gotten herself into now. And if this all connected to finding Liam, then how was he a part of this? Her head spun at the thought of Liam dealing with all of this—on his own made it even worse.

"Rory," It was Scott that spoke during the silence that had followed his change.

And it was Scott's voice that made Rory realise just how real this all was. She wasn't dreaming, if she pinched herself she would stay exactly where she was. With Scott staring at her, with caution jumping off his bones.

Rory looked up to look completely at Scott now—it wasn't like she wasn't staring before, but now she actually looked. And her eyes met his. His usual dark eyes were now a vibrant red, but yet Rory could still see him in them.

She could read them like she had been able to ever since she met Scott. He said everything with his eyes, and that hadn't changed. Rory could see the vulnerability in them as he watched her, she could see how it was almost a look of fright.

That bothered Rory. Because maybe she should be frightened—maybe she should have run for the hills at the mere sight of a werewolf. But it was Scott, the boy who promised to protect Liam despite not having a dire reason too. The boy who she knew wouldn't hurt a soul. The boy that she knew was good—like truly, purely good.

So, against any survival skills Rory had learnt in her seventeen years of life, the girl walked a few steps closer to where Scott stood. He watched her blankly, confusion knitting his brows together.

And Rory grabbed his hand, ignoring the claws that had grown from his fingernails. She squeezed Scott's hand tight, his skin as warm as it usually was. The familiar tingle that came with touching Scott was still there—and that made Rory's words come out way easier than she expected.

"It's okay."

They were two simple words—but they were ones that Rory truly meant. With her whole heart.

It was okay that Scott was like this. It was okay that her world had been changed. It was okay that Liam was somehow involved too. And everything that happened next, would be okay.

Rory didn't let her grip on Scott's hand go as she watched him morph back into the body she knew. He had a small smile on his face as he did so, and maybe a slight pink tint to his cheeks if Rory looked hard enough.

But she tried not to look at Scott too much, it made her head spin the more she did it.

"We can discuss the ins and outs of all this later. But for now, just tell me how we can help Liam."

---

scory riSE! i love my kids so much. and dw, rory will have a freak out about all this later lets be real lol but for now she cares more about protecting liam than letting herself really think about this because let's face it,,,, she's liam's mother.

but she won't freak out too much :----) because she loves her future boyfriend, even if he is a wolf!