"I came here to return your weapons not so you can convince me stay out of supernatural drama"

Gabriella was into Chris's apartment to return the weapons that they used when they were trying to catch cora and boyd, but Chris is trying to convince her to stay out of supernatural drama

Chris sighed, crossing his arms as he leaned against the kitchen counter. "Gabriella, you're smart. You know how dangerous this world is. You don't need to be in the middle of it, especially with everything you've already been through."

Gabriella placed the weapons case down a bit harder than necessary, her eyes narrowing. "Dangerous? Chris, my entire life has been supernatural drama. I don't get to just walk away from it."

Chris's expression softened, his voice quieter. "I know. But that doesn't mean you have to keep throwing yourself into the fire. You're young. You could have a normal life—"

"A normal life?" Gabriella let out a bitter laugh, cutting him off. "Do you really think that's an option for me? My family, my friends... they're all caught up in this. And thanks to my dad, I'll never be free of it."

Chris hesitated, recognizing the frustration and pain behind her words. "I just don't want to see you lose yourself in all this. Your mother... she wanted more for you."

Gabriella's jaw clenched, and her gaze shifted to the floor. "I know what she wanted," she said, her voice softer now but still resolute. "But she also taught me to stand up for myself, to protect the people I care about."

Chris sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Just... promise me you'll be careful. That you'll come to me if things get out of hand."

Gabriella looked up at him, her expression softening for a moment. "I appreciate the concern, Chris. But this is who I am. I won't sit on the sidelines while my friends and family are in danger."

Chris nodded reluctantly, his gaze steady. "Fine. Just... remember you have people who care about you, Gabriella. Don't try to carry everything on your own."

Gabriella nodded, a faint hint of gratitude in her eyes, but her resolve didn't waver. She picked up the weapons case, holding it firmly by her side as she turned toward the door.

"Thanks for the concern, Chris," she said, her voice steady, though there was a subtle edge to it. "But I can handle myself. I've been doing it for a long time now."

Chris's gaze followed her, a mix of worry and resignation in his eyes. "I know you're strong, Gabriella. Just... remember that strength doesn't mean you have to do it all alone."

Without another word, Gabriella turned the handle and opened the door. She paused briefly, glancing back at Chris. For a fleeting moment, the tension softened, a quiet understanding passing between them. Then, with a small nod, she stepped through the doorway, letting it close behind her.

As she pressed the elevator door, her resolve hardened. She wasn't about to be deterred by well-meaning warnings or fears. She knew the dangers; they were a part of her life. And, like always, she'd face them head-on—her way.

The elevator doors open. Gabriella drifts in from the corridor, mind elsewhere as she reaches for the panel to hit the button for the LOBBY. But then she notices SOMEONE already there, fingers touching the braille just under the button.

"Going down?"

"What the hell are you doing here?"

Turning to face Deucalion, Gab flicks open her hand, unsheathing her claws.

"Come on, Gabriella, put those away, this is no way to great your father"

Gabriella's eyes narrowed, her claws glinting in the dim elevator light as she held her ground, refusing to back down. "Don't call yourself that," she spat, her voice cold and steady. "You lost the right a long time ago."

Deucalion raised his hands slightly, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "Is that any way to talk to family? I thought your mother raised you better."

A flash of anger crossed Gabriella's face, and she took a step closer, claws still outstretched. "Don't you dare mention her," she said through gritted teeth. "She's not here because of you."

Deucalion tilted his head, unbothered by the accusation. "You're still holding onto that anger, aren't you? It's clouding your judgment. Making you reckless." He let his hand hover over the elevator panel, stopping it mid-descent. "Which, by the way, is exactly why you should come with me. You're still so raw... so unfocused. I can help you harness that power."

Gabriella scoffed, her claws glinting as she tightened her stance. "I'd rather burn out than ever let you 'help' me."

He sighed dramatically, his smile fading. "You're making this difficult. I'm only here to offer you a place—where you can be with those who understand you, those who won't ever abandon you." His tone hardened. "But you should know, if you're not with me, then you're in my way."

Gabriella's gaze was unyielding as she took a single, purposeful step forward. "Then get ready, because that's exactly where I intend to be."

Deucalion's smile returned, colder this time, as he released the elevator panel, letting the car resume its descent. "Then I'll be seeing you soon, my dear. Very soon."

The elevator reached the lobby with a soft chime, and as the doors slid open, Deucalion stepped aside, gesturing with mock courtesy. Gabriella held his gaze for a beat, then strode past him without another word, her heart pounding but her resolve like steel.

[...]

The steel door to the loft SLIDES back with a CLANG and Gabriella rushes inside.

"I know where they are--" She stops short, noticing Derek is not alone. Boyd,Erica, Cora and Peter stand by him. A meeting interrupted.

"Same building as the Argents. We know" Derek said not taking his eyes of the map infront of him

"Cora and I followed the twins" boyd said

"Then they want you to know...why didn't you tell me"

They looked at eachother uncomfortable not knowing what to say before cora spoke up "because your Deucalion's daughter, you are compromised"

Gabriella scoffed "compromised? Seriously"

"you used to be one of them how do we know you won't go back" Derek said

Gabriella's eyes hardened as she took a step forward, her gaze flicking between Derek and the others. "Go back? You really think I'd ever choose them over my friends? Over all of you?"

Peter raised an eyebrow, watching her with his usual detached amusement, while Boyd and Erica exchanged uncertain glances. Gabriella could feel the distrust simmering in the room, a barrier thick and stifling.

"Erica, boyd cmon you believe me"

But they just look at her, not trusting her.

"I'm sorry...but I saw the way you looked at aiden yesterday" Erica said

"What way?"

"like you missed him"

Gabriella's jaw clenched as she looked at Erica, frustration and hurt flickering across her face. "Miss him?" She scoffed, her tone tinged with bitterness. "Aiden is part of Deucalion's pack, and whatever we were to each other before—if there ever was anything—it's gone."

she turned and headed toward the door, her hand hesitating on the handle. She looked back over her shoulder, her voice calm but determined. "I'll be out there, doing what needs to be done. And when you're ready to trust me, you know where to find me."

Without waiting for a response, Gabriella pulled the door open and stepped out, leaving the loft behind, her mind set on proving herself—whether they believed in her or not.

As she made her way outside the building but paused when she sees ethan "what the hell do you want"

Ethan leaned against the side of the building, his arms crossed and a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Relax, Gabriella. I'm not here to start a fight. Just wanted to talk."

Gabriella narrowed her eyes, her fists clenching. "If this is some trick, you're wasting your time."

Ethan raised his hands in mock surrender. "It's not a trick. I swear. You might be against us now, but you were once my bestfriend"

"So you being here has nothing to do with Deucalion?" Gabriella said in disbelief

"I didn't say that"

Gabriella's eyes darkened, her stance stiffening. "So this is about him. I should've known." She turned to leave, but Ethan reached out, gently grabbing her arm.

"Gabriella, wait." His voice held a rare edge of sincerity. "It's not just about him. Deucalion... he wants you back in his pack, yes, but I'm here because I remember who you are. We went through hell together. You were like family to me before any of this."

She pulled her arm free, her expression hard. "Then if you remember me so well, you should know that I'm not the same person I was back then. And I'm never going back to him."

Ethan sighed, his gaze steady but conflicted. "I get it. But he's not going to stop, Gabriella. He's set on pulling you back in, one way or another. And trust me, he doesn't care how many people he has to hurt to make that happen...he wants you to meet him at the abandoned mall of the edge of town, he wants you to come alone"

Gabriella's resolve didn't waver, but a flicker of worry crossed her face. "and if i don't."

"Then whoever he kills next is gonna be your fault"

[...]

Pulling on her jacket getting ready to go to the mall, Gabriella picks up her keys helmet when Isaac appears at the door "Where you going?"

Gabriella turned to face him "Hey. I was just going to get some... food. To eat"

"I'll come with you"

"That's okay. I can go alone"

"What are you getting?"

"Um... Chinese?"

"I love Chinese" He moves to grab the keys from Gabriella, but she stops him.

"Isaac, I can eat alone. It's okay"

But Isaac picks up the helmet anyway. "I'm not letting you go alone"

Gabriella meets the boy's perfectly sincere gaze and, finally, gives a grateful nod "atleast you still trust me"

"Yea, well, members of the shitty fathers Club need to stick together"

[...]

The HEADLIGHT on Gabriella's car cuts a path through the shadows inside the abandoned mall.

Pulling to a stop, shengets out with Isaac behind him "We're going to talk to him. Try to reason with him. That's it and if that doesn't work...it's gonna be a blood bath"

"For us or for them"

"Not sure"

Isaac nods with a thoughtful look as he closes the car door

"What?"

"It's just--I'm actually kind of hungry now"

"So am I"

Hand to his shoulder, Gab leads him forward to the entrance of the mall

A silhouetted Gabriella and Isaac proceed cautiously into the bowels of the mall, a structure both bare and foreboding.

Standing just outside one shaft of light, Deucalion cocks his head, listening to their approach "You didn't come alone"

"Yeah... this is Isaac, which you already know"

"I'm not talking about Isaac"

The CRUNCH of boots turns Gabriella's head.

Five silhouettes step into the light. Derek, Scott,Erica, Boyd and Cora.

"Seriously"

Derek steps into the light, he's a werewolf, fangs bared, RED EYES GLOWING. The others transformed behind him, they approach, steady and fearless.

"Derek, don't. no one has to get hurt. If someone dies--"

"Him. Just him" Derek points at Deucalion

"Just me? Now how's a blind man find his way into a place like this all on his own?"

Derek pauses, lips pulling back from his fangs as he hears the CLICK OF KALI'S CLAWS against the cement floor.

One-by-one the Alphas slip out of the shadows. Kali, Ennis, Ethan and Aiden.

Isaac glances to Gabriella with a worried look as, all around them, werewolves maneuver into fighting position

SNARLING, Derek rushes Deucalion. But Kali launches toward him, feet slashing.

Suddenly a FLASHBOLT ARROW whistles past and strikes the Twin Alpha, EXPLODING against them in a BLINDING FLASH.

FLASHBOLT ARROWS FIRE one after another, bursting into brilliant whorls of light

Derek pulled to his feet by Ennis. Scrambling forward, Scott swipes at Ennis's ankle, catching him right in the Achilles' heel.

Ennis staggers forward. Derek's feet hit the floor, but he stumbles as well, Ennis's hands still locked on him.

Both werewolves tumble BACKWARDS.

Ennis and Derek both go off the side of the escalator platform.

Their bodies fall, SLAMMING TO THE.PAVEMENT with a TERRIBLE CRACKING SOUND the world turning black.