Lunch hour at Beacon Hills High—
Should've been normal.
It wasn't.
Because today—
Things didn't orbit around Scott McCall anymore.
They orbited around Aiden.
The cafeteria buzzed.
Noise.
Movement.
Chaos.
But at one table—
It felt different.
Controlled.
Scott sat down heavily.
Stiles dropped into the seat beside him.
"This is officially the weirdest timeline," Stiles said.
"We're in high school… and somehow he's the main character now."
Scott rubbed his face.
"Yeah… I noticed."
Across from them—
Aiden sat.
Calm.
Like none of this mattered.
Like all of this—
Was expected.
Allison arrived next.
No hesitation.
No overthinking.
She just… sat beside him.
Naturally.
Like she belonged there.
Scott noticed.
Stiles definitely noticed.
"Ohhh wow," Stiles whispered.
"That was smooth. That was dangerously smooth."
Allison ignored him.
Her focus stayed on Aiden.
"Tonight," she said quietly,
"What are we dealing with?"
Aiden didn't answer immediately.
He looked up—
Scanning the room.
Because something else was moving.
Not physically.
Socially.
Attention shifting.
Patterns forming.
Then—
He saw her.
Lydia.
Lydia Martin
Walking in.
Confident.
Untouchable.
And yet—
Her eyes went straight to him.
No hesitation.
No confusion.
Intent.
She didn't join them immediately.
Instead—
She took her time.
Grabbed a drink.
Talked briefly to someone.
But all of it?
Calculated.
Because she knew—
He was watching.
And she wanted him to.
Back at the table—
Scott leaned forward.
"Okay, serious question… are we hunting something tonight or are we getting hunted?"
Aiden finally spoke.
"Both."
Stiles froze.
"…I hate that answer."
Allison frowned slightly.
"You know what it is, don't you?"
Aiden's gaze shifted—
Toward the windows.
Toward the forest.
"I know enough."
A pause.
"It's not random."
Scott nodded slowly.
"Yeah… nothing is anymore."
Then—
A chair slid.
Soft.
Controlled.
And Lydia sat down.
Right across from Aiden.
Like she had every right to.
Silence.
Just for a second.
Because now—
All the pieces were in one place.
Lydia leaned back slightly.
Relaxed.
But her eyes—
Sharp.
"You're planning something," she said.
Not a question.
Aiden met her gaze.
"Yes."
Allison's jaw tightened slightly.
Not obvious.
But there.
Lydia noticed.
Of course she did.
A faint smile appeared.
Interesting.
"So," Lydia continued,
"are you going to tell us… or are we just supposed to follow you into danger blindly?"
Aiden didn't blink.
"If you follow, you survive."
Stiles choked on his drink.
"THAT IS NOT REASSURING."
Scott sighed.
"Can you at least pretend to be normal for like five minutes?"
Aiden looked at him.
"No."
"…Okay cool, just checking."
Lydia leaned forward slightly.
Closer now.
"Confidence is attractive," she said softly.
A pause.
"But overconfidence gets people killed."
Aiden didn't move.
Didn't react.
"Then stay close."
Silence.
Again.
But this time—
Different.
Heavier.
Because that wasn't a warning.
That was an invitation.
Allison spoke before Lydia could respond.
"I'm coming tonight."
Aiden glanced at her.
"Good."
Simple.
No argument.
No hesitation.
Lydia tilted her head.
"And me?"
Aiden looked at her directly.
"You already decided."
A small pause—
Then Lydia smiled.
Because he was right.
Across the table—
Stiles whispered to Scott:
"Bro… is this a pack… or a cult?"
Scott didn't even respond.
Because honestly—
He wasn't sure anymore.
Aiden stood.
Conversation over.
Decision made.
Like always.
But before he walked away—
He stopped.
Just slightly.
And said—
"After school. Forest."
Then he left.
And just like that—
Everything shifted again.
Allison stood next.
Following.
Without thinking.
Without hesitation.
Lydia remained seated.
Watching them go.
Eyes thoughtful.
Interested.
Calculating.
Then—
She stood too.
Slowly.
A faint smile on her lips.
"Yeah…" she murmured to herself,
"This is going to be fun."
Outside—
Clouds gathered again over Beacon Hills.
Dark.
Heavy.
Waiting.
Because tonight—
Wasn't just another fight.
It was the moment the story changed.
Not Scott's story.
Not the Alpha's.
Aiden's.
And this time—
Everyone else?
Was just trying to keep up.