The pack had been in the clinic, listening to the desperation of a mother who begged her child to come home.
Scott had found the phone on a persons body who's skin had been peeled off. They were from an unknown pack, they couldn't even be identified. Even their pack symbol was torn off. The woman's voice sounded generic, to the point where they couldn't make out who it was.
"Hey, it's me again. I, uh, don't know why you can't seem to call me back. Maybe it's because you think you're punishing me. But, this is too long. It-it's too much. It's not about us. Something's happening in Beacon Hills, to the people here. I just... I just, I need to know everyone there with you is okay. So, can you just please, please call me. Please? One call. That's all I'm asking for. And, if you can't call me back, then I'm going to get my answer anyway. That means I'm coming up there myself if I don't get a call from you. I'm coming up there. So, just try... try to remember... it's my pack, too."
Hearing the beep left Jules emotional, she couldn't imagine what it felt like to be in that situation. Scott walked over to where the phone was set on the desk and flips it closed before looking at Jules, Brett, Liam, Mason and Theo. "You pulled this off of one of the bodies in the woods?" Theo asks while leaning against the door in an ominous way. "Malia did." Liam answers. "Yeah, there's six dead bodies. One of them had no face."
Theo's expression is one of intense concentration as he walks over to join them behind the reception desk. "Okay, so the one with no face—do you think that's the woman on the phone?" Scott sighs and shrugs, looking torn. "Maybe..."
"It's the same thing that happened to Aaron. It took over his body, basically stole his face and his DNA. So, that means whoever this woman is, she could be the other half of the Anuk-ite." Mason explains which evidently worries them all. "Which means she's just half of the problem. The other half, we already know about. Aaron" Theo gestures to Liam to emphasize his point.
"We don't know where he is, though." Liam retaliates. "Okay, hold on. Aren't we supposed to keep both halves apart? We know about one half. Let's just go for that one! That's Aaron." Mason sighs as he realizes Theo may have a point. "I'm not agreeing with Theo, but...I do think it would be easier to track down Aaron over a voice on the phone." Liam makes a face and waggles his finger at Mason. "That's agreeing with Theo." He says making Mason groan.
"Yeah, but I thought I'd try to soften the blow a little bit." Theo sighs and rolls his eyes in Mason's direction before speaking up in an offended tone of voice. "Is everyone completely shocked that I might be right?"
"No."
Everyone turns to look at Jules who had been staring at the phone the whole time while listening intently. However when she realizes all eyes are on her she finally speaks up. "Oh come on. Theo got you." She says pointing to Liam. "To fight you." She then directs her finger to Scott. "He also killed you or so he thought, got me to forget about Brett and got Mason and a bunch of others involved with The Dread Doctors. His plans were basically perfect, he just didn't expect to get his ass sent to hell by Kira. He's not stupid, his actions are just very questionable." Theo stayed staring at her, debating in his head whether she defended him or made fun of him...or both.
"Ok whatever. Maybe we're all right. Maybe we should be looking for both—Aaron and the woman on the phone." Scott stares at both Mason and Theo. "And, since you both agree..." Mason immediately hates the sound of this suggestion. "Wait, you mean me—" Theo, thinking the same thing, finishes his sentence. "—And him?"
"Yeah. You two find Aaron." Scott picks up the phone and holds it up for emphasis. "Jules, Brett, Liam and I will to figure out whose voice is on the phone." Liam takes the phone from Scott's hand and examines it. "If we find the other half, maybe we don't have to fight at all. We stop the Anuk-ite—"Scott eagerly finishes Liam's sentence.
"—We stop the war."
***
Mason and Theo had left shortly after, leaving the remaining pack members on the clinic just watching the phone and waiting for it to vibrate. After a moment, Scott begins to pace back and forth. Liam runs his hand through his hair and sighs as though he's bracing himself when he picks up the phone and flips it open to dial the number. Scott looks surprised and snaps the phone shut before anyone can pick up. "Do you even know what you're gonna say?"
"Hello?"
"We might only get one shot at this. What are you gonna tell her?" Jules interjects as she sees the two argue. "I'm gonna try to get her to meet us somewhere." Liam tells her. "Maybe that might not be the best idea." Brett adds. "Why? Then we'll know who they are." Liam questions. "And they'll know who we are." Before the group can debate this further, the phone begins to ring in Scott's hand, and they look panicked by this turn of events.
"Answer it." Liam tells him. "You're the one who wanted to make the call. You take it." Liam takes the phone from Scott but hesitates a moment too long, causing the call to go to voicemail. After taking a deep breath, Liam redials the number, putting the call on speaker before setting it on the exam table. They all lean in close to listen for whomever answers the phone.
"Beacon Hills High School, how can I—" Shocked, Liam snaps the phone shut and looks at the group with a wide-eyed expression.
"It's someone at school." Liam says aloud. "We might know who they are." Scott tells them. Just then, something in the tone of voice triggers something in her memories. She quickly grabs the phone and puts it up to her ear, listening to the voicemail once again.
"Hey, it's me again. I, uh, don't know why you can't seem to call me back. Maybe it's because you think you're punishing me. But this is too long. It's too much. And it's not about us... Something's happening in Beacon Hills, to the people here..."
The group of boys stared at her as she closed her eyes, listening intently to the voicemail. "Jules? What is it?" Brett asks her as he takes her hand. The sound of her name being said triggers a memory in her mind.
She was there. When Nolan and Gabe had beat her along with Liam. She just stared and watched, like she was afraid. But she wasn't afraid of them, she was afraid of being exposed. Her eyes open wide in realization.
"Finch. It's Mrs. Finch."
***
Scott had sent Liam to school while he, Jules, and Brett waited out in the halls. Mrs. Finch didn't even notice him as he sat down. "Welcome back." Gabe, who had sat down next to Liam says as he smirks at Liam. "Phones away, everyone, and settle down. We have a long way to go to get through the day. We'll start first with—" Mrs. Finch stops, shocked to see Liam sitting next to Gabe. "...Liam. I didn't think we'd be seeing you again." Despite Liam's best efforts to control himself, he can't help but let some of his attitude slip out as he shrugs. "Can't let my GPA go down just 'cause I got beat up in class."
"Yes. Well, I—" Gabe attempts to text Monroe to let her know that Liam is in class, and when Mrs. Finch sees him with his phone out, she takes advantage of the opportunity to change the subject. "Gabe, I said no phones." Mrs. Finch snatches the phone out of his hands and sets it on her desk before returning to the lesson. "Okay, let's get started. Okay, so when two people come together, we have a variety of possibilities. And how do we determine the probability of an offspring having a particular trait?"
As she talks and writes on the board, Liam reaches into his pocket and pulls out an ear plug, which he puts in his left ear before pulling out one of Argent's ultra-sonic emitter from his bag and hitting the button on the top. "We're talking about, like, your eye and hair color, or, uh, if you you have an extra digit, your hearing..." Just then, one of the girls sitting behind Sydney clutches her ears and goes running out of the class.
Out in the hall, the trio had their ears covered as the girl ran. They hid quickly as she ran past them and seeing as they weren't visible to her anymore they turned back to look inside the class.
Mrs. Finch turns away from the chalkboard and frowns when she sees the open chair. "Where did Rebecca go?" Liam, annoyed by the lack of response, sighs and turns the emitter off before putting it back into his bag. Out in the hall, Scott whispers to Liam quietly. "Anything?" Liam pretends to scratch his nose in hopes of covering up the sound of his response.
"No. No reaction at all."
Just then, Scott sees a man outside the hallway windows who appears to be holding a shotgun of some sort. He turns to look at Jules and Brett who are just as wide eyed as him.
"Liam?" Jules whispers. Liam rolls his eyes in annoyance, not wanting anyone to catch on to what he's doing. "What?" Jules wasn't able to answer as Mrs. Finch began speaking again. "Three volunteers, please?" Gabe raises his hand and goes up to the chalkboard for one of the genetics problems while the trio begins to panic as hunters make their way inside the school
"Did Gabe get a text out?" Jules asks Liam. "I don't know." Liam answers gruffly. Liam stands to his feet and goes up to the board as well to distract everyone from his muttering. Out in the hallway, the trio ducks behind the staircase, frowning in concern as they watch the mysterious person rattle the locked door to the school. When the man finally unlocks it, Scott lunges toward the door, only to find that it is a now-alarmed maintenance man there to repair the school; what Scott believed was a shotgun is actually a level and toolbox. Scott gives the man an apologetic look as he walks away and Jules slaps her hand to her forehead while Brett give Scott and awkward but encouraging smile for his attempt.
"Hey, Liam? You better hurry up. I think we're running out of chances." Jules says desperately as she continues to watch the class. Liam, still at the chalkboard and not paying any attention whatsoever to what he's writing, looks back at Mrs. Finch, who is working with Sydney at her desk, with an awkward expression. He slowly reaches into his pocket and pulls out a paper packet full of powdered wolfsbane, which he pours onto the chalkboard eraser. Just then, Mrs. Finch finishes helping Sydney with her assignment and calls out to Liam.
"Liam, that's not even remotely close. Why don't you have a seat, and let's try this again." Liam carefully lays the eraser down at the bottom of the chalkboard, and Gabe, who has been watching Liam out of the corner of his eye, smirks as he realizes what he's doing. Liam takes his seat without a word as Mrs. Finch walks to the chalkboard and begins to erase his work with the eraser he just covered in wolfsbane, stirring up a cloud of it in front of her that she begins to inhale it. Liam watches her closely and seems to believe it is having an effect on her when suddenly, she sneezes with such force that the chalk dust and purple powder flies everywhere.
The trio all sigh at the reaction or should they say no reaction to the wolfsbane. Mrs. Finch only sniffles as she rolls her eyes and mutters under her breath. "You'd think I'd be used to that after twenty years." Mrs. Finch goes to brush off the chalk dust on her blouse and immediately freezes when she sees the wolfsbane powder on her as well. "Uh..." Mrs. Finch touches the wolfsbane on her shirt and rubs it between her fingers for a moment as she realizes what is going on. Her demeanor becomes cold and emotionless as she responds to it without even turning to face the class.
"That's it for today. Class dismissed." The students look at each other, both confused and happy to get out of class early. Gabe launches himself to his feet, grabs his phone, and rushes out the door with the other students. Mrs. Finch is still facing the chalkboard, but seems to be able to sense Liam hesitantly gathering his books to leave without making eye contact with him.
"Not you, Liam. You stay put."
She sets the wolfsbane-coated chalkboard eraser down and then turns to face him.
"I get it. I know what you're trying to do." She tells him. "You do?" Mrs. Finch shrugs as she walks toward Liam. "You're upset and you wanna get back at me." Liam frowns in confusion. "Upset?"
"Because I stood by and did nothing for what Gabe and Nolan did to you and Jules. I'm your teacher and I should have protected you."
"No!" Liam considers her words and begins to backtrack slightly. "No. I mean, yeah... But no, that's not why I'm here. I know about your pack." Mrs.Finch tries to play it cool but Jules can see how nervous she is from a mile away. "My what?" She asks him. "I know what you are."
"Say it. Out loud! Say it!-"
"Jules now is not the time for Twilight references." Brett says trying to shush her. "There's never a bad time for Twilight references."
"Both of you shut up and listen!" Scott says in a whisper shout. "Liam, I..." Mrs. Finch holds firm against his arguments. "You're a Werewolf." Liam says as she laughs. "I'm-I'm a what?"
"A wizard!"
"Jules I swear to God." Scott says rubbing his head. "Okay Okay, I'll stop...for now." She says smirking as they continue to listen. "A person who turns into a wolf on a full moon...?" Liam says confused. "Oh, God. Yeah, right. And I can probably only be killed by a silver bullet..." She says nervously as Liam frowns, becoming somewhat serious.
"No. No, that's not totally true." He says leaving her concerned. "Are you on drugs?" She asks him leaving him surprised. "Huh?"
"Well, I know your father's a surgeon at the hospital..."
"No, I'm not on drugs! Mrs. Finch, you're a Werewolf."
"Hydrocodone?"
"You have a pack."
"Oxycodone?"
"You said it on the phone."
Mrs. Finch, having expended all of her patience, cuts him off with a harsh tone of voice. "That's enough. Liam becomes visibly frustrated by this conversation. "You can't hide what you are!"
Mrs. Finch begins to lose her temper and decides to end the conversation. "I don't know what you're talking about, but you really need to go. Now." Liam stands his ground and remains motionless as Mrs. Finch roughly points her finger at the door.
"You need to leave this classroom right now. You have to leave my class. Go—
"Hey, it's me again. I, uh, don't know why you can't seem to call me back. Maybe it's because you think you're punishing me. But, this is too long. It-it's too much. It's not about us." The trio stands there with the phone in hand as the voicemail plays. Mrs. Finch can only look at them, stunned as the voicemail keeps playing. "Something's happening in Beacon Hills, to the people here. I just—" At her wit's end, Mrs. Finch snatches the phone out of Scott's hand and slams it shut before speaking in a demanding tone of voice.
"Where did you find this?" Scott looks at her with surprise and sorrow as he explains the days events.
***
"I told you, I don't know what the Primal is. I don't know what an Anuk-a-whatever is." She says flustered. "I-I was just trying to call my daughter. Where did you get this?" Scott's head cocks to the side as he tries to figure out Mrs. Finch's motivation. "You said you were in a pack. That was you on the phone. That's what you said." Liam says with a frustrated tone.
"I don't know what business it is of yours, my personal life! I am the teacher, you are the students. I don't go digging into your personal life outside of these walls, you shouldn't be digging into mine!" She tells as them until Jules realizes she must not know what's happened. "Did you reach any of them before they died?" She asks Mrs. Finch, her face becoming stunned as she looks at Jules with despair.
"What...? What are you talking about...?" Scott watches Mrs. Finch carefully to determine whether or not she is telling the truth, but when her eyes widen in shock he knows that she didn't know.
"Mrs. Finch, I'm sorry...but your family, they were attacked...and they're dead."
Mrs. Finch, devastated, begins shaking her head in denial and arguing in a soft voice as tears fill her eyes. Although the women didn't help her in her time of need, Jules knew exactly what she was feeling and felt sorry for her. "Dead? They...No, they can't be dead, because...They were just, they were... They were in the woods. They were just-they were just hiding out. They were scared." She says. "We found that phone on a body. There were three men, two boys..." Mrs. Finch's eyes widen in alarm at this news.
"What about my daughter?" Scott gulps anxiously, knowing that the rest of the story will not be easy to tell. "Well, there was another body, but, uh..." Mrs. Finch closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before looking at Scott once again. "But what?"
"We couldn't identify it. The skin was stripped down to the muscle. There was no DNA. The pack tattoo was still there..." Mrs. Finch, still in denial, throws up her hands and begins arguing once again. Okay, sorry, but this... Um... No, this doesn't make sense. I mean, this isn't how biology works."
"That's what the Anuk-ite does—it finds a body, and it takes its face. It takes the whole identity of that person." Liam explains as she tears up. "Not my daughter. No, not my daughter." Mrs. Finch, trying her best not to cry, sits on the top of her desk as though all of the energy has bled out of her. Liam walks over to her in hopes that he can somehow bring her closure.
"There's a way to find out."