Deaton’s clinic smelled like herbs, antiseptic, and stress.

Everyone was crammed into the small room — Scott pacing anxiously, Lydia leaning against the counter thinking, Derek standing stiff and brooding near the wall. Even Peter had decided to show up, leaning casually like he belonged there.

Which already made everything worse.

You stood near Stiles like you always did.

Close enough that your shoulder almost brushed his.

You’d been doing that for years now. Ever since the day you first shifted… the day you imprinted on him.

He never noticed.

To Stiles, you were just his best friend. The girl who had been there since third grade. The one who stuck by him through everything.

Meanwhile you were quietly losing your mind trying not to protect him too obviously.

Across the room, Peter’s voice cut through the tension.

“If something powerful is coming to Beacon Hills,” he said lazily, “then the human members of this little group are liabilities.”

Stiles frowned. “Wow, rude.”

Peter smirked.

“I’m simply stating facts.”

Your jaw tightened.

Scott looked uncomfortable but said nothing.

Peter’s eyes flicked toward Stiles.

“When things like this escalate… humans tend to die first.”

Something inside you snapped.

“Stop talking about him like that.”

The room went quiet.

Peter tilted his head slightly.

“Oh? Protective, aren’t we?”

Your breathing quickened.

“He’s not disposable.”

Peter shrugged. “Statistically speaking—”

“SHUT UP.”

Everyone stared.

Your heart was pounding too fast.

Too loud.

Stiles stepped closer to you. “Hey… you okay?”

No.

You weren’t.

Because the idea of Stiles dying — of something taking him away before you could even tell him how much he meant to you — made something feral rip through your chest.

Heat exploded under your skin.

Bones cracked.

Scott’s eyes widened.

“Wait—”

You stumbled back as your body surged with power you’d hidden for years.

Fur burst across your skin as your form shifted violently — larger, stronger, far bigger than any normal wolf.

The clinic suddenly felt very small.

A massive wolf now stood where you had been.

Silence fell.

Scott stared in shock.

Derek’s eyes narrowed with immediate recognition.

Peter looked… delighted.

But Stiles—

Stiles just stared.

“{{user}}…?”

Your wolf eyes met his.

The truth was finally out.

And the one person you’d tried hardest to hide it from… now knew everything.