There always things in the world that people didn't understand, certain things that remained a mystery and some secrets that were never shared. It was how the world worked, it was a continuous cycle of time that people followed and nobody stopped to question it. Nobody stopped to question how the concept of time had been created in the first place, how one day a person decided the idea of seconds, minutes, hours and that our lives would revolve around time.

It was inescapable that one day time would stop, that one day everybody would take their last breath and eat their last meal but there were some people in the world who didn't care. Some people found the concept of death rather morbid and it was, but there were also some people who found themselves tempting fate. Nobody knew how they were going to die, if they would make it long enough to meet their grandchildren or see humans inhabit the moon but some people lived in the moment. Some people didn't take the time they had on the earth for granted, they appreciated every moment.

Lilac Collins was not one of those people.

She knew that one day her fate would come, that one day she would look at her boys in the eyes for the last time, that she would take her final breath but sometimes she found herself thinking that time was closer than she imagined. Sometimes she saw herself taking advantage of the time she had and sometimes she found herself wishing it away. And sometimes, she found herself wishing she had no time left at all. But right now, she was content with things being the way they were.

There were things she would never give up, things she could never leave behind, things that kept her alive. Right now there were two things, or rather two people. Her boys. Scott and Stiles. Without those two she didn't think she would still be alive, they brought her out of her darkest time and she would forever be great full to them for it.

Time, time was something that didn't seem to be on their side. The alpha was a trickster, it walked the streets in disguise and nobody was any wiser. They were teenagers, people that should be worrying about what guy or girl was going to ask them to winter formal or what they were going to wear, but instead they found themselves worrying for their lives, and much of them they had left.

School lasted five days, five days of torture and useless knowledge and that left two days in a week. Those days were meant to relax, to forget about the stress of school but it was rather quickly that they found out that wasn't true, that no matter how much they tired to have a normal day, they would never get one. They would never be normal teenagers.

It was as she looked at the two boys, the way their brown eyes held exhaustion and how their skin was covered by dark bags that she realised how much this was taking over their lives, taking up their time. They were all clad in pyjamas, the tiredness had yet to leave their bodies as they sat. Crunching sounds heard throughout the brightly lit kitchen, a bowl of cereal in front of each of them and Lilac found herself enjoying the rare moment.

It was no secret that the boys were scared, that the safety of Lilac was quickly the most important thing to them, they would do anything to protect her and she would do the same for them. The night had been spent eating snacks, the floor littered with empty packets and bottles and the tv still played from the marathon of Marvel movies it had shown, it was something that would be normal to any normal teenager, a sleepover with best friends, but to them it was something so rare they would cherish it forever.

She didn't understand how two people cared so much for her, how she deserved to have such great friends but she found herself with a smile tugging at her lips at the feeling of being loved. It was something she had found herself longing, the death of her parents had deprived her of that feeling of want so it was something her heart skipped a beat over when she felt it. She found herself listening intently to the two sleepy boys, their voices still rather deep and scratchy. They talked about the winter formal, something she had almost forgotten about and to be honest, she found herself wishing she had. She didn't particularly enjoy being surrounded by large crowds, walking around in uncomfortable shoes or slow dancing to songs, she was a person who liked adventure, someone who liked adrenaline.

"Well I was going to take Allison but we kind of broke up." Scott spoke and the words seemed to hit him like a truck, the brunette girl still infiltrated his mind every second, he still loved her and no being able to call her his, it hurt. I could feel his pain, the heartache that settled in his chest and the sadness that he tried so hard to hard, I felt every bit of it.

"Well I'm thinking of asking Isaac." I spoke and I had taken no second thoughts to my words, but the two had, judging by the way their heads shot in my direction, their eyes squinting as they stared. Their protectiveness was something that they didn't hide well, they let it out for the world to see, especially when it came to guys.

"The quiet kid who never speaks?" Spoke Stiles and his words were spoken with annoyance, they couldn't exactly interrogate a kid they had never spoken to, they were being left with the option of letting her decide in her own and they didn't like that. They didn't want to take their chance with any guys, anybody that would break her. Not again. They would never forget that day she had shown up at Stiles doorstep, tearstained cheeks and quivering lips, the way it broke their hearts.

"Yes and he does speak to me all the time actually, we're friends." The words seemingly confused them, their eyes narrowing once more and their heads tilting to the sides quizzically. It was almost laughable, how mere moments ago they were talking about girls but as soon as the mentions of a guy leave my mouth, they changed. I wonder what they would have said if I spoke about a girl.

"Since when we're you guys friend." Scott enquired and it was almost sudden that I felt like I was in the spotlight, how in those crime movies they sit you in a room, shine a light over you to increase your nerves so that you confess, that's how it felt with the incoming questions.

"Since the first day of school when he held my hair for me whilst I threw up and we were partners for chemistry freshman year." I spoke and I didn't miss the looks of annoyance that plastered their eyes and how their lips downturned into a frown.

"So if you're just friends then why are you asking him to the dance." Stiles spoke and his voice was laced with an emotion that I could only decipher as jealousy, the scent was something new but I could tell by the way his eyes twitched.

"Well because he's cute and I'm sure that he wouldn't ask me himself and I bet he would be great in bed." I spoke and a small chuckle made its way from my lips, the words were sarcastic but the two boys had taken them rather seriously. Disgusted expressions now plastered their faces and it was rather amusing to watch.

"Ewww." They spoke, almost like a chant as their voices overlapped and I shook my head at their pettiness.

"I'm joking and besides Scott always talk about Allison and Stiles you are in love with Lydia so why can't I talk about Isaac with you." I spoke and the seriousness in my tone was evident, it seemed rather ridiculous and they seemingly agreed with my words as they sighed, defeated looks being sent my way.

"I'm not in love with Lydia, I told you that I like someone else Li." The words caused my mind to flicker back to the time he had told me this, the time we sat in the hospital together as we waited for Scott. Back when we thought Derek had killed his sister.

"Oh are you going to take her to the formal? Then can we meet her?" I spoke, the words giving off curiosity but I couldn't help but feel a pang of pain in my chest. My happy mood had been dimmed with those words and I hated myself for it. I had no reason to be jealous, it was rather stupid but the mate bond, it was messing with my mind. I found myself thinking about him at all times of the day, the protective feeling I had over him only seemed to grow with time and it all felt overwhelming. The fear of rejection was what stopped me from spilling my guts, I couldn't live without my best friend and that was enough to keep me away. I could never tell him, I could never tell him I we were meant to be more than friends.

"No she is apparently going with somebody else." He told us and his eyes staid trained on mine, I saw how eyes seemed to glass over slightly at his own words but blinked them away, he was hiding his pain. It was something he did rather well, I think it's where I learned it from.

"Well Stiles, it's her loss just show her what's she's missing." My words were ones of encouragement and I didn't miss the change in his emotions, the once acrid scent of sadness had changed into one of hope, it was evident as his lips tugged into a smile, his teeth baring.

"Oh yeah and Li if you and Isaac do you know then use protection." Scott spoke, him breaking the rather intense staring competition going on and he grimaced at his own words, the boy was like my brother and the thought of those words made a sickly feeling run to his stomach.

"Yes condoms, do you use them with Allison?" My words seemed to trigger embarrassment in him, his face turned a deep crimson and his eyes trailed to the ground, a small chuckle escaped my lips as I watched him. These two boys were too innocent for their own good. "Oh Scotty, Allison told me about you guys and don't worry I always use protection."

"Wait, you're not a virgin?" Stiles was the one to speak this time, his shocked expression matched the boys beside him, the two seemed to be rather in shock at my words and I wasn't surprised. It was a new development.

"No Stiles, why is that so surprising, just because I don't talk with you about my sex life doesn't mean I don't have one, are you a virgin?" But I didn't need the boy to speak to know the answer, I had heard the words leave his mouth before, the complaints of a hormonal teenage boy, he was sexually frustrated and it showed.

"I uh, I'm uh-" He began to stutter and I felt the wave of embarrassment he felt. His heart beat had risen significantly and I began to feel bad for the way he felt so ashamed.

"Of course you are Mieczyslaw, its nothing to be ashamed of, just promise me you'll wait to meet the right girl, wait to fall in love." My words seemed to pull at my heart, I was talking this way because I knew what it felt like, to have something that you once thought be something special taken away by somebody who doesn't love you, someone who used you.

"I guess." He spoke and I could see how both boys had squinted their eyes at me but I simply didn't meet their gaze, instead I stared at the ground. "Why?"

"Because then you'll want to remember it, you won't want to forget."

~~~

It was funny how quickly some days seemed to pass and how some days seemed to go by so slowly. There was always the saying that time flies by when you're having fun but Lilac was beginning to believe that wasn't true. She had found her life taken over, by the creatures that inhabited the town and it most definitely wasn't fun but the days seemed to pass with a mere tick of a clock and with that time, the more the problems seemed to grow.

She found herself back in the Jeep, back in the car that she was all too familiar with, one that smelled like mint and pine and one that she never got the front seat in. Her legs were once again cramped into her body, huffs of annoyance leaving her mouth as they drove, words spilling from each of their mouths as they did. A heated debate filling the air. It was something rather stupid, over the seasons of the year.

"Obviously summer is better Stiles, there's no school and you can eat as much ice cream as you want without getting strange looks. Oh and it's my birthday." My argument was seemingly valid but the boy seemed to completely disagree, he had always loved the cold time of year, the ones where he could sit in bed all day and watch Star Wars or wear his flannels everyday.

"No way, winter is like superior, it had Christmas. You love Christmas." He spoke, remembering all the times I had forced him to wear ugly Christmas sweaters and make me hot chocolate, the times in our life when I was still human.

"Stiles dude, it's obviously summer." Scott said agreeing with me but as I was about to reply I saw something. That something was a very nervous looking Jackson with a very scary looking Chris Argent.

"Guys look." I said and pointed in their direction before Stiles quickly pulled into the parking lot they were in.

"Is everything ok?" The werewolf asked the jock and hunter as he leaned out of the window.

"Hey Scott" Said Mr Argent without showing any emotion "Your friend here was having car trouble and I thought I would take a look." He told us wearing a fake smile.

"Well there's a tow truck down the street, I'm sure they can take a look." Stiles told the pair "Do you want a ride?" He continued

"Yeah Jackson you're way too pretty to be out here by yourself." I exclaimed sarcastically to the boy who seemed rather nervous by my presence as the last time he saw me I bust his nose and kneed him in the crotch. That's what he gets for talking shit about me. However, he nodded nervously before walking toward the car. Then we heard the sound of the engine starting before turning to see that Argent had magically fixed the car.

"Hey I told you I know a thing or two about cars." He said before walking back to his own car and driving away. We all jumped out of the vehicle and approached the boy who was just glancing at me nervous I was going to punch him again.

"What are you following me now?" He said trying to sound confident but his heart was beating like crazy.

"Yes you idiot, you almost gave everything away right there!" Scott told the boy in a frustrated tone.

"What are you talking about?" He questioned with a confused look. Seriously how dumb is this kid.

"He thinks you're the second beta." Scott told him and he looked even more confused.

"What?" He asked wanting the boy to clarify what he was talking about.

"He thinks you're me!" Scott shouted at the boy becoming more frustrated with him and hit the side of Stiles jeep. He then turned back to glare at Jackson. "I can hear your heartbeat from a mile away literally. Now he thinks that somethings wrong and now I have to keep an eye on you so he doesn't kill you." He shouted as his voice had risen significantly. Once again he punched the Jeep and I'm surprised he hadn't dented it but Stiles grabbed the boys hand moving him away from his previous vehicle.

"Okay, how about we step away from my jeep?" Stiles said but both boys seemed to ignore him.

"This is your problem, okay? I didn't say anything which means your the one who's gonna get me killed. This is your fault." He exclaimed. This boy made me so angry I might just punch him again to prove a point. Jackson shoved Scott backwards until his back made contact with the Jeep knocking Stiles shoulder in the process and him letting out an ow. That's it he hurt Stiles, I'm going to kill him. I grabbed his shoulder with my hands that had now grown claws and placed them around his neck lifting him off the ground, I could feel my eyes glowing their bright purple and my canines were extended as I growled at the boy.

"You hurt Stiles and his Jeep so now I'm going to kill you." I said and the boys face was beginning to turn blue from lack of oxygen until both boys pulled me away and Stiles gave me a hard glare.

"What the hell are you doing Li?" Stiles asked is a hushed tone.

"He hurt you." I told him as if it was obvious.

"I told you on the full moon, you don't have to protect me and I'm fine." He said as he held my hand to calm me down.

"But I can't help it." I said and mentally face palmed at my response. But as he went to question it as Scott once again began to shout at a very scared Jackson.

"When they come after you I can't protect you, I can't protect anyone." He exclaimed. I felt bad for Scott, he had always been such a nice guy to everyone and now he was a werewolf and had the power to make a difference and fight that's exactly what he did. He wanted to save innocent people and he wanted to fight for them. Me however apparently wanted to kill someone as soon as they looked funny at Stiles all because of our mate bond.

"You know now you have to do it, get me what I want and I can protect myself." He said in a sad tone.

"No you won't, trust me it only makes things worse!" Scott told the boy who scoffed. He was right ever since we have been thrown into the world of supernatural we have people try to kill us and we are always in some kind of danger, why would someone willingly want to have that.

"Oh yeah really, you can hear anything you want and run faster than humanly possible. Sounds like a real hardship." He said bitterly and this time I scoffed. He really thought our life was all sunshine and rainbows.

"Yeah I can run really fast now but half of the time I'm running away from people who are trying to kill me. And yeah I can hear things like how my girlfriend said she doesn't trust me before she broke up with me. I'm not lying to you, it ruins your life!" He exclaimed and I nodded in response, ever since I turned in like a new person and I can't decide whether I like the person or not.

"It ruined your life, you had all the power in the world and you didn't know what to do with it. You know what it's like? It's like when you turn sixteen and someone buys you a Porsche but they should have started you out with a nice little Honda. Me I drive a Porsche." He exclaimed cockily.

"Hunters won't care about what car you drive when the kill you." I said in response to the boys idiocy and walked away with my two best friends in tow before driving away from the boy.

~~~

It had been many hours since the Jackson incident and it was now dark outside. I was at Stiles house and we were in his room, I was laying on the bed and he was sitting at his desk chair on the computer.

"Hey Stiles, what do you know about mates?" I asked him and he turned in his chair to face me.

"Well when I was researching werewolves, I read that in rare occasions that wolves have a thing called a mate and it's like their soulmate. They would do anything for them. They are very protective over them and would kill if anyone hurt them. Why?" He asked confused as to why I asked him such a random question

"Oh no reason I just heard it somewhere and wanted to know what it meant." I said and he nodded before getting out of the chair and walking towards his door and turning to me and saying

"I have to go talk to my dad about something you can stay here and do whatever I'll be back in like 20 minutes." He said and left the room.

Great what