The reflection of the SCHOOL BUS shimmers across the windshield of Allison’s car while she tries to keep a stealthy distance behind it.

"You think I’m getting too close? I’m getting too close, aren’t I?"

"That depends. Are you just following the bus? Or are you planning to mount it at some point?" Gabriella said from the backseat

The boys were on the bus going to a cross country meet and with the events of last night Allison forced Lydia, Erica and gabriella to go

Things have been awkward between Gabriella and Erica since the day in Derek's loft.

"So I should back off?"

Lydia flips the page on the book she was reading "That also depends. Do you mean the bus? Or the ex-boyfriend you’re currently stalking?"

"Am not stalking him"

"This is literally a Stalker road trip" Erica said

"I dont care after what happened, I’m not

Gabriella sighes "So was the not let them out of your sight thing literal? Or more like a general rule?"

"Literal. Why?"

"You’re under a quarter of a tank"

Allison looks to the GAS GAUGE NEEDLE "Oh, come on"

"I’m also pretty sure that bus holds a lot more gas than this Toyota"

"What if we stop?" Allison said

"With the bus going at a steady  sixty-five including time to pump gas? It would probably take about half an hour to catch up going at least a hundred and ten"

Allison’s eyes flit from road to gas needle and back.

"Is it that big a deal? So we lose them for a little while. We know where they’re headed" lydia reminded her

"You didn’t see what happened" Allison kept her eyes on the bus

"I know who started it" Lydia said as she takes out her lipstick

"And how exactly do you know that" Erica asked

"I overheard aiden tell ethan"

"Ofcourse" Erica rolled her eyes

Lydia raised an eyebrow, glancing over at Gabriella in the backseat. "So, what's the deal with you and Aiden, anyway?"

Gabriella stiffened slightly, her eyes narrowing as she glanced out the window. "nothing"

"Oh, come on," Erica pressed, jealousy peaking through her voice "we all know you used to date"

Gabriella's fingers gripped the edge of the seat as Erica's words hit a little too close to home. She forced herself to relax, though it was a struggle. "Used to," she muttered, her voice colder than she intended. "But it doesn't matter now."

Erica leaned forward, her tone skeptical. "Right, sure. You two used to date, but that doesn't explain the way you were looking at him back there."

Gabriella shot a quick glance at Erica, her jaw tight. "I wasn’t looking at him. I was looking at the situation. There’s a difference."

Gabriella's fingers gripped the edge of the seat as Erica's words hit a little too close to home. She forced herself to relax, though it was a struggle. "Used to," she muttered, her voice colder than she intended. "But it doesn't matter now."

Erica leaned forward, her tone skeptical. "Right, sure. You two used to date, but that doesn't explain the way you were looking at him back there."

Gabriella shot a quick glance at Erica, her jaw tight. "I wasn’t looking at him. I was looking at the situation. There’s a difference."

Lydia, ever the mediator, chimed in with a smirk. "Uh-huh. So, what happened with you two, exactly? Something tells me it's more complicated than just a breakup."

Gabriella sighed, her patience thinning. She didn’t want to talk about this, especially not with Erica so insistent on prying. But the tension in the car was building, and she wasn’t sure how much longer she could avoid answering.

"He's with Deucalion," Gabriella said flatly, her words carrying a weight that silenced the car for a moment. "That’s enough reason for me to keep my distance."

Erica frowned, leaning back in her seat, clearly trying to process what Gabriella had just said. "So you're saying it’s not about him? It's about the fact that he's part of the alpha pack?"

Gabriella nodded, her eyes fixed on the passing road. "Exactly. I’m not going to let myself get tangled up with someone who's loyal to him. I can't afford to be distracted right now."

Lydia looked between the two, sensing the deeper emotions Gabriella was trying to suppress. "I get it," she said quietly. "But just so you know, ignoring your feelings doesn’t make them disappear."

Gabriella looked out the window, her mind racing. She wasn’t sure if Lydia was right or not. The last thing she needed was to be pulled back into Aiden’s world. She wasn’t sure if she could handle that.

"Can we just focus on the bus?" Gabriella asked, trying to change the subject. She wasn’t ready to dive deeper into this conversation, not yet.

Erica crossed her arms, but asked one final question "did you two have sex?"

"Erica!"

"Did you?"

"No"

[...]

ꜰʟᴀꜱʜʙᴀᴄᴋ

Lips locked to hers, Aiden presses Gabriella up against the closet, Breathing hard, Gabriella draws her lips from his "if my parents catch us we are totally dead"

Aiden smirks, his hot breath tickling Gabriella's ear as he nuzzles into her neck. "Let them try to stop me. I'd like to see them attempt to keep me away from what's mine."

His hands roam greedily over her curves, squeezing and kneading the supple flesh. He nips at her pulse point, just shy of breaking the skin.

"Besides, it's so much more thrilling when there's a chance of getting caught, wouldn't you say?" He purrs, grinding his hardening length against her hip. "The adrenaline, the risk...it only makes me want you more."

Aiden captures Gabriella's lips in another searing kiss, his tongue delving deep to taste her. He walks her backwards until the backs of her knees hit the bed and she falls back onto the mattress with a soft bounce. He crawls over her, caging her in with his arms.

"Now, where were we before we were so rudely interrupted? Ah yes..." He trails off, dipping his head to lave attention on the sensitive skin of her throat.

His lips blaze a trail of hot, open-mouthed kisses along the column of her throat, stopping occasionally to suck hard on the delicate skin, determined to leave his mark on her.

One hand slides up under Gabriella's shirt, calloused fingers skimming over the smooth expanse of her stomach before cupping the swell of her breast. He kneads the soft flesh roughly, thumb flicking through the thin fabric of her bra. His other hand tangles in her hair, tugging her head to the side to give him better access.

Aiden's hips grind down against Gabriella's, the rigid length of his arousal pressing insistently against her core. The friction sends sparks of pleasure racing up his spine and he can't help but let out a low groan, his lips moving to her jawline.

"Fuck, Gabs...you drive me crazy," he rasps, voice rough with desire

He rolls his hips again, letting her feel the evidence of his need for her. His hand leaves her breast to hook in the waistband of her jeans, fingers deftly working to undo the button and zipper. He needs to feel her skin against his, needs to bury himself inside her tight heat and claim her completely...

Aiden's fingers deftly pop the button on Gabriella's jeans and slide down the zipper, the sound loud in the charged silence of the room. He hooks his fingers in the waistband and tugs the denim down her hips, taking her panties with them. The scent of her arousal hits his nose and he growls, low and hungry.

He sits back on his heels, drinking in the sight of her sprawled out beneath him, flushed and panting. Gabriella's shirt has ridden up, exposing the smooth skin of her stomach and Aiden can't resist dragging his fingers over the dip of her navel. He looks up at her through his lashes, eyes dark with lust.

"You're so fucking beautiful, Gabby," he rasps, voice rough with desire

Aiden leans down and presses a trail of kisses along Gabriella's stomach, His hands slide up her sides, pushing her shirt up further until he can cup the heavy weight of her breasts. He thumbs her nipples through the thin lace of her bra, rolling the stiff peaks between his fingers.

Aiden's hips grind down against Gabriella's, letting her feel how hard he is for her. He wants nothing more than to rip off the rest of their clothes and bury himself inside her, but he forces himself to slow down, to savor this moment. They have all the time in the world now...

He reaches up and unclasps Gabriella's bra with deft fingers, letting it fall away. Aiden's gaze is drawn to her bared breasts like a magnet and he can't resist leaning down to capture one rosy peak between his lips. He sucks hard, tongue swirling around the sensitive flesh, giving her a taste of what's to come...

Aiden's lips close around Gabriella's nipple, suckling greedily as his hand kneads the soft flesh of her breast. He lavishes attention on the sensitive peak, alternating between gentle flicks of his tongue and strong suction, determined to drive her wild with need.

His free hand slides down her body, fingertips tracing the curve of her waist and hip before dipping between her thighs. Aiden groans at the feel of her wet heat, his fingers sliding easily through the slick folds. He teases her entrance, circling the sensitive bundle of nerves at the apex of her thighs.

Aiden's hips continue to rock against Gabriella's, the rough fabric of his jeans providing delicious friction against his aching arousal. He wants nothing more than to be inside her, to feel her tight walls clenching around him as he drives them both to ecstasy, but he holds back, wanting to draw out her pleasure.

He releases her nipple with a wet pop, blowing cool air over the damp skin to make her shiver. Aiden works his way down Gabriella's body, pressing open-mouthed kisses along the smooth expanse of her stomach. When he reaches the juncture of her thighs, he looks up at her through hooded eyes, a wicked grin on his face.

Aiden dips his head and drags the flat of his tongue through Gabriella's slick folds, groaning at her exquisite flavor. He sets a steady rhythm, lapping at her most sensitive spots and reveling in every gasp and moan that falls from her lips.

Aiden's tongue delves between Gabriella's folds, lapping at her most sensitive spots with single-minded determination. He groans at the taste of her, heady and intoxicating, and redoubles his efforts. The sounds of his lips and tongue working her flesh fill the room, broken only by Gabriella's breathy moans and the creak of the mattress as she writhes beneath him.

He flattens his tongue, dragging it from entrance to clit in one long stroke before focusing his attention on the sensitive bundle of nerves. Aiden circles it with the tip of his tongue, flicking and teasing mercilessly until Gabriella is writhing and gasping his name. Two fingers plunge into her slick channel, curling to stroke that spot deep inside that never fails to make her see stars.

Aiden loses himself in the taste and feel of her, in the desperate sounds she makes as she gets closer and closer to the edge. He wants nothing more than to feel her come undone, to be the one to send her flying apart. His own arousal throbs almost painfully, but he ignores it, focused solely on Gabriella's pleasure.

He redoubles his efforts, suckling her clit between his lips as he pumps his fingers faster, harder. The obscene sounds of his ministrations fill the room, mingling with Gabriella's cries of ecstasy. He can feel her tightening around his fingers, her body drawing taut as a bowstring, and he knows she's close.

With a final, hard suck, Aiden pushes Gabriella over the edge, sending her careening into blissful oblivion. He gentles his touches as she comes down, lapping at her through the aftershocks until she's boneless and sated beneath him.

[...]

Erica dropped the subject not believing Gabriella as the road comes to a stop

Allison checks the TRAFFIC on her phone. "There’s a jack-knifed tractor-trailer a few miles up"

Gabriella pulls out her RINGING PHONE to see Stiles’s name on the display "Hey Stiles, we were just headed to a movie--"

"I know you’re right behind us. Put me on speaker"

With a shrug, Gabriella hits SPEAKER and holds up the phone so everyone can listen in "Scott’s still hurt"

Allison frowned "What do you mean still? He’s not healing?"

"No, and I think he’s actually getting worse. The blood’s turning black"

"Well, what’s wrong with him?" Lydia asks

"Do I have a Ph.D. in Lycanthropy? How should I know?"

"We have to get him off the bus"  Allison said looking at the bus

"And take him where? A hospital?" Erica said sarcastically

"If he’s dying, yeah. Stiles, there’s a rest area coming up in a mile. Tell Coach to pull over"

"I’ve been trying"

"Reason with him"

"Reason? Have you met the guy?"

"Just try something"

[...]

Stiles and Gabriella hurry Scott into the rest stop men’s room while Lydia, Allison and erica shuts and locks the door behind them.

Scott slumps down against the stained tile wall and his jacket falls open to reveal his bloody torso.

Kneeling to him, Allison lifts his shirt and looks over the wounds "Oh God. Why didn’t you tell us?"

"Sorry"

"Okay, just--give us a second"She pulls the others aside to whisper "This shouldn’t be happening. I’ve seen him heal from worse than this"

"What do we do? Call an ambulance?" Stiles asks

"We can't, don't you think a hospital will wonder how he got hurt and when he starts to heal don't you think they'll wonder how" Erica said

"You know, it could be psychological" Lydia said

"What do you mean? Like psychosomatic?"

Gabriella nodded agreeing with lydias theory"Somatoformic. A physical illness from a psychogenic cause"

"Exactly" Lydia looked at the rest of them with confused looks on there face "Yes, it’s all in his head"

"Because of Derek. He’s not letting himself heal because Derek died"

Gabriella shakes her head "Derek is the matt Donovan of our universe no matter how many times we try to kill them he comes back up"

Gabriella opens her purse and pulls out a TRAVEL SEWING KIT " we need to Stitch him up..he has to believe he's healing"

They glance back to Scott. Breathing becoming more and more labored, he holds his hand tighter over his shirt, blood seeping between his fingers

Gabriella pulls out a needle"He’s going to need another shirt. Where’s his bag?"

"I’ll get it. I can’t deal with needles anyway" stiles pauses at the door "You know what you’re doing, right?"

Gabriella kneels down to him "yea my mom taught me"

"How fast can you--I mean what if the bus--the bus could leave"

"Make sure it doesn’t"

"We can help" lydia said as ushered stiles and erica out of the bathroom "Come on"

Allison pulls the thread through and begins working, quickly and methodically stitching up Scott’s wound as allison watches in worry

Wound closed, Gabriella knots the thread. When Allison notices Scott’s eyes are not only still closed, he’s not moving.

Not even breathing.

"Scott? Scott?"

Allison's voice made Gabriella look up making her notice Scott's unresponsive state

"Crap" Gabriella shook him but that didn't work

Panic shot through Gabriella as she saw Scott’s unmoving form. She leaned closer, pressing her fingers to his neck, hoping to find a pulse. "Come on, Scott. Don’t do this now," she muttered, the fear in her voice breaking through her usual composure.

Allison’s hand was on Scott’s shoulder, her eyes widening. "What’s happening to him? Why isn’t he responding?"

Gabriella’s mind raced. The stitches should've been enough to stabilize him. This was more than just blood loss—it was like he’d given up completely, his body surrendering to the trauma he couldn’t process.

"Scott, wake up," Gabriella said firmly, giving him another shake but nothing happend so she decided to press against his wounds

Gasping for air, Scott lurches up in pain. Allison looks down at him, hands at his pale cheeks.

Gabriella let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding, relief flooding her.

"Welcome back, dumbass," Gabriella whispered, a weak smile breaking through her worry.

Scott’s gaze moved from her to Allison, then back again, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Did...did I pass out?"

"Yeah, you did," Allison answered softly, brushing a hand across his forehead

[...]

They were all at the bus, they left the car back at the station since it was out of gas and Allison didn't wanna leave Scott.

Lydia was sitting next to stiles, Allison next to scott and gabriella next to Erica.

"I'm sorry" Erica said making Gabriella pull her gaze away from the window

"For?"

"For not trusting you since your Deucalion’s daughter...I did trust I just, I was kinda jealous...I saw the way you looked at aiden and he looked at you, I just- I don't know"

Gabriella’s eyes softened as she looked at Erica, her initial surprise melting into something more understanding. "Erica... Aiden and I, whatever that was, it’s long over. He was a mistake. I know what it might have looked like, but trust me, it didn’t mean anything."

Erica's shoulders relaxed slightly, but she still seemed hesitant. "I know that now. It’s just... when you’re around him, it’s like you’re reminded of another part of your life that I can’t be a part of. Like a part of you that’s... not with me."

Gabriella placed a hand on Erica’s, her tone gentle but firm. "You’re the one I’m with now, okay? You’re the one who sees me for who I really am, not as Deucalion’s daughter or as someone with history. Just me. And I want you to know, you’re the one who matters to me."

Erica looked down, a small, relieved smile tugging at her lips. "I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. It’s just... I'm not used to feeling this way. I mean, jealous."

Gabriella gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "You don’t have to apologize, Erica. But from now on, you can talk to me. No more guessing games, okay?"

Erica nodded, her smile growing a little wider. "Okay."

They fell into a comfortable silence, the tension finally beginning to dissipate. For the first time in what felt like days, they both felt a sense of calm, even amidst all the chaos around them but what they didn't notice is a certain alpha listening in

[...]

The view of the Glen Capri changes, exterior updating as modern cars whip past while buildings rise up to surround the still iconic but no longer isolated motel.

A SCHOOL BUS rumbles into the lot, doors swinging open.

Coach and his Cross Country team disembark.

An exhausted Scott and Stiles step out, followed by Allison, Gabriella,  Erica and Lydia

A WHISTLE BLOWS and Coach holds up a handful of ROOM KEYS in front of the gathering students.

"Listen up. The Meet’s been pushed to tomorrow morning. This is the closest motel with the most vacancies and least amount of good judgment in accepting a group of
degenerates like yourselves. You’ll be pairing up. Choose