New town, new people, new school. This definitely wasn't going to be easy. But, if anything, at least he had family. Family that didn't want him dead.

The car breaks squealed as they pulled up outside the apartment building.

"Do you have everything?" His mother spoke so quick that he barely had time to think so just nodded in reply. "This is for the best. Just until I can get things cleared up…Until you learn to control it."

He nodded again. This time because, what else was he supposed to say.

"Thank you for saving me from the rest of my family, who want to kill me, by abandoning me in some town in the middle of nowhere with people I haven't seen in years."?

"Try and keep your head down, don't draw any unnecessary attention. They should be expecting you…Apartment 402."

The car door opened and he stepped out without saying a word. Walking towards the complex, bags in both hands. His mother shouting after him, before the car engine rumbled and then eventually silenced into the distance.

"I love you, Charlie!"

"He should be here any minute." She said, sitting at the table tapping her fingers on the mug wrapped in her hands.

"I shouldn't have agreed to this. This is a bad idea."

"Dad! He's your nephew. He has no where else to go, they would've killed him if he stayed. We can't turn him away…Not with what he's going through."

Chris was leaning against the wall, arms folded, eyes shifting between his daughter and the door. "So what? Because I retired from hunting, and you decided to date two, suddenly we're pro-werewolf?

"Don't call him that he gets here!" Allison scowled. "He's family. At least he's safe here."

"It's Beacon Hills, even we're not safe here." Chris turned, meeting his daughters desperate stare, she spoke without words, and Chris got the message.

"Please?"

He sighed heavily. "As much as I want to, what is there we can do to help him."

"We're not alone in this." Allison smiled slightly. "With Scott's help, and everyone else's, he can learn to control it."

"And what if he doesn't Allison. What if they find him. You gonna kill one member of your family for being a werewolf? Or other ones in order to protect him? Are you ready to make a choice like that?"

Allison paused and stared at her father. Her smile gone. sighing deeply she looked as if she was going to reply but just then the door knocked lightly before slowly swinging open

"Hello?" Came a voice.

A few seconds passed before a head leaned through the gap.

Charlie.

He was looking around the room before his eyes landed on Chris and Allison, staring at him.

"Oh…Good! For a minute there I, uh, thought I had the wrong one." He smiled nervously before walking into full view. It had been years since both of them had seen Charlie, and he had changed quite a bit. His hair was light brown, and messy, but a sort of styled messy, like he'd spent a few minutes on it in the mirror. He looked around 5' 11, taller than most of Allison's friends, granted not by much but there was a difference. And he had a slight muscular build, which was funny because he had the appearance of your average high school "geek", Glasses included. "Uncle Chris…Alli." He nodded at them.

"Hi, Charlie." Allison stood up and smiled but her tone sounded almost sympathetic. She wanted to move closer but found her feet rotted to the spot.

"I get it." He smiled again. "Now would be the time when I hug you but given the circumstances…You might get fleas." He joked, an attempt at humour that was met by an awkward silence. "Yeah…Mom didn't like that one either."

"You're room's down the hall to the left." Chris stated abruptly. "You can put your things in there."

"Yeah, sure. Thanks." Charlie stuttered, shuffling past them, awkwardly trying not to knock anything over with his bags, before disappearing into the spare room at the end of the hall.

"He seems distraught." Chris gasped sarcastically.

"Shut up." Allison scolded him. "He's obviously trying to make the best of a bad situation."

"Bad situation?"

"You know what I mean." She sighed. "I'm gonna go talk to him."

"Why is this happening to me?" Was one of the thoughts constantly running through his head. "If only I had been more careful. Taken my time. Fucking idiot!"

He sat on the edge of the bed, staring at his shaking hands as if he was waiting for it to happen, any minute now. He could feel it. Inside of him. It wasn't necessarily painful but it was always there, like an itch he couldn't scratch. It was driving him crazy.

He jumped at the sudden knocks on the door. For him they were like shotgun blasts going off in his ears.

"Charlie?"

"Yeah! Yeah, uh, come in." He yelled. Starting to take some clothes from one of his bags and filling the closet in the corner of the room.

"Hey." Allison smiled as she walked in. "How you holding up?"

"I'm…I'm good." He smiled back.

"God, it's been years." She laughed incredulous, opening her arms for a hug. "Come here."

Charlie smiled and entered her embrace. He never thought he'd get this kind of love from family again for a long time.

"How was your trip?" She smiled, pulling back for the hug.

"You mean the two thousand two hundred and twenty eight mile drive from Virginia that took thirty six hours?" Charlie groaned, proceeding to pile clothes in to the closet. "Confining."

Strike one Allison.

"Right…"

She rocked back and forth on her heels, contemplating a reply that would avoid as much awkwardness as possible.

"So…What's in the bags." She spoke again, trying to wear a reassuring smile.

"This one's clothes, obviously. That one is some of my other stuff, and that one is my hunting gear…which primary function is to kill, what is now my, entire species."

Strike two.

"Do you wanna talk about-"

"No."

Allison sighed. "Charlie…" She tried her best to come up with a helpful comment or motivational speech. Unfortunately the best thing that came to mind was "This stuff happens." Which obviously wasn't helpful at all judging by Charlie's laughter.

"Seriously?" He smiled, shaking his head. "Not to people like us, Alli."

"It's not so bad. You just have to learn to-"

"I spent the last year of my life training and hunting these things! Before that I didn't even know they existed!" Charlie snapped, with a lot more aggression than he first intended. "And now, thanks to some stupid ass move by yours truly, I am one! The family wants me dead, my mother dumped me here out of shame and I'm pretty sure I didn't pack any goddamn deodorant!" Charlie screamed, throwing his fist straight through the hardwood closet door.

Allison stood silent. She watched as Charlie took a deep breath to steady his shaking fist.

"I'm sorry." He exhaled.

"No…It's okay, I get it."

"Allison…" Chris mumbled, drawing their attention. They didn't even notice him come in. "School. You, uh, don't wanna be late for the first day back."

"Oh. Sure. Just give me a minute. Ok?" She smiled and Chris gave an understanding nod. She turned to Charlie, whose eyes were focused on the loaded gun in Chris' hand. "I'm gonna go, okay?"

"Yeah, just let me get my stuff and-"

"You're not going, Charlie." Chris interjected.

"What!? Why!?"

"You're seriously going to ask that question after what just happened in here."

"I had a moment."

"A moment?" Chris threw his head back and laughed. "You don't have moments anymore Charlie! There's only you and the wolf inside of you."

"Jesus! So I broke your closet, I'll buy you a new one!"

"You're not going to that school!"

"Enough, both of you!" Allison wedged herself between the two, turning to her father. "Our job is to protect him! He's been here all but five minutes and you've already pulled a gun on him."

"How are you going to protect him from himself? I said it before, Allison, I'll say it again, I never should have agreed to this." Chris spat. Silence fell. Charlie simply nodded and ducked his head. Chris himself may have realised he had crossed some sort of line but he was doing what he thought was right.

"Dad…" Allison broke the silence. "He's here now…And besides, I need to take him to Scott…Remember?"

Chris stared at his daughter and sighed heavily. He knew her stubbornness. Once she had made up her mind there was no changing it. "You want to take him, fine. But if anything goes wrong, you take care of it." He gestured to the gun in his hand. "Family or not."

The ride to school was quiet, Charlie sitting next to Allison while she was driving. Her squeezing his hand with a reassuring smile. Only really speaking when they arrived. "I'll meet you here after school, okay?"

Charlie nodded.

"Hurry up, we're late." Allison dragged Charlie through the main doors and down the empty hallways. "What's your homeroom?" She asked, stopping where two hallways meet.

"Uh…124B…I think." He stuttered. Once again drawing a smile onto Allison's face

"Perfect!" She squealed. "That's Scott and Stiles'."

"Who?"

"You'll know them when you see them. Anyway, mines is this down there," She gestured down one of the hallways, obviously it had to be the one opposite to where he was going. "But I'll catch up with you later okay?"

"Uh, sure, fine, yeah." Charlie mumbled in reply. Everybody spoke so damn quick here.

"Okay. Just remember, keep your head down and-"

"Don't draw any attention, yeah, I won't." He smiled, giving her one last hug before retreating down to his class.

Of course one of the things he must've forgotten was…He was late, which means as soon as he walked in the classroom-

"Who are you?" Came a voice, loud and sudden, drawing the attention of the whole classroom.

All he could think of saying was high-pitched. "Me?"

"No, the other kid who walked in to the middle of my classroom five minutes late." He smiled, sarcasm obviously, this guy definitely didn't look like your everyday teacher.

"I'm-" he cleared his throat, trying not to sound like a child. "I'm New."

"Ah, Crap. That's right." The teacher mumbled, studying pieces of paper on his desk,, until, eventually, picking one up and turning to the class . "Alright everybody listen up. Let's all welcome with a big…welcome or whatever, Charles Argent." He said, followed by chorus of different versions of 'Hello Charles' from the whole class. Except two boys, desks right next to each other, whose ears perked up as soon as his name was spoken. They looked almost the same. Except one was more muscular and tanned than the other

He shrugged it off before turning to the teacher. "It's Charlie, actually." He corrected.

"Well, pardon me kiddo." He said, with just as much sarcasm as last time. "Anything else you want to add? Got any middle names I should know about?" Charlie shook his head promptly. "Then just pick a damn seat, will ya."

Ignoring the urge to argue with, 'Coach Finstock' according to the name on the chalkboard, he made his way down the aisles of chairs, aiming for the empty seat at the back, trying to ignore the two boys whose eyes hadn't left him as soon, even though he was pretty sure one of them smelled him as he walked by.

He slumped into the seat and rested his head in his arms. He was so tired. Maybe Chris was right, maybe he shouldn't have come to school.

"Coach said 'Argent' , right?" The voice boomed in his ears, causing him to jump. "As in Allison Argent? Chris Argent? The werewolf hunting, maiming, and killing kind of Argents? Those Argents?"

Charlie desperately turned his head around the room, looking for the speaker, but nobody else looked fazed. Couldn't they hear this? That's when he realised. No, they couldn't…One of the few perks of being a werewolf I suppose.

"I don't know." Came another voice. "There's something else. He smells…different."

Charlie's eyes darted to all corners of the class before, eventually, landing on the source of the conversation. They two boys who had been staring at him during his introduction huddled close together, obviously attempting to whisper.

"Maybe he's got wolfs bane on him, do you feel woozy? How many fingers am I holding up?"

"Stiles, it's not wolfs bane."

'Stiles?…Stiles.' He'd heard it before.

That's right, Allison had mentioned them in the corridor. Scott and Stiles. That means the other one must've been Scott.

"Well, what is it?"

"I don't know. But if he's an Argent…We know where to find out."

"You're friends with a werewolf!?" Charlie spat at Allison, after the bell rang to signal the end of homeroom he practically ran out of the class to meet Allison as she was leaving her own. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Charlie!" She snapped, before looking around and lowering her voice. "Be quiet."

"Did you know?" He spoke again, this time in a rushed whisper.

"Who did you think was going to teach you to control it?" She replied.

"You! Not some…one of those."

"I don't know if you realised, Charlie, but you are one of those now. And Scott's different! He doesn't-"

"Somebody say my name?" They both spun round to see Scott walking towards them, an enthusiastic smile on his face joined by Stiles, and someone else Charlie hadn't seen before.

"Scott!" Allison smiled, shocked by the sudden arrival. "And Isaac."

"And Stiles…Stiles too." Stiles raised his hand.

"We heard there was another Argent in town. We wanted to meet him for ourselves." Scott smiled back, shooting a hand towards Charlie. "I'm Scott."

Charlie hesitated, staring at the muscular tanned teenag-…werewolf, before throwing his own hand forward to clasp Scott's. He was greeted by a lot more pressure than anticipated, hell if he wasn't a werewolf Scott probably would've broken Charlie's hand.

"So," Stiles rubbed his hands together. "We were just wondering if Charlie here, may I call you Charlie?" He nodded at him, and Charlie nodded back. "Was…uh, like you." He smiled nervously.

"I know what he is." Scott spoke, still locking eyes with Charlie. "I wasn't sure at first, but now." He inhaled deeply through his nose. "No denying it." Charlie's breath quickened and Allison could feel her face heating up.

"What?" Stiles stepped forward.

"Scott." Allison tried to draw his attention. She didn't want everyone finding out. Not now. Not here.

"He's-"

"Nervous because he's gay!" Allison blurted out the first thing that came to mind which drew a collective 'What?' from the group, including Charlie.

"There's a scent for that?" Stiles turned to Isaac who shrugged in reply.

"It's his first day and he didn't know how people would react. It didn't go so well at his last school. It's really quite sad." Allison nodded, pouting slightly.

"Dude!" Stiles sighed sympathetically, wrapping his arm around Charlie's shoulder. "Come on there are tonnes of gay guys here… I.E Danny: Gay lacrosse player…Or Ethan: Gay lacrosse players gay boyfriend."

Charlie couldn't help but smile, mostly because Stiles had no idea what was really going on but also because, damn, he was being really supportive. Even though Charlie didn't really hide the fact he was gay, he never had. He wasn't afraid or ashamed. That's why he wasn't really mad at Allison, if the subject had come up he probably would've told everyone anyway.

Allison pulled Scott away from the group, leaving Stiles to his motivational 'coming out' speech.

"Allison, he's a werewolf." Scott whispered, looking back and forth between her and Charlie.

"I know." She replied, tone hushed like Scott's.

"You know? I thought you're family were werewolf hunters…not actual werewolves."

"That's why he's here." She sighed looking at Charlie, who was now resting against a locker, smiled stuck on his face, as Stiles was speaking while acting out some pretty unusual hand gestures. "He needs your help."

"What do you mean?"

"He was bitten 3 maybe 4 days ago. He needs to learn how to control it."

"And what? You want me to teach him?" He scoffed.

"Just a little self-control! Do you remember what it was like when you were first bitten?"

Scott didn't answer. He did remember. All the times he had woken up in the woods, thought he'd murdered someone, lied to Allison. It was one of the hardest things he ever had to deal with and wouldn't knowingly wish it upon anybody else.

He sighed heavily and nodded. "Alright, I'll do it."

Allison smiled. "Thank you…" She sighed. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! Just…One more thing okay?"

"Sure. What is it?"

"You wouldn't mind, I don't know…" Allison shrugged nervously. "Not telling anyone."

Scott's face dropped. He was terrible at keeping secrets.

I know. Ironic, isn't it?

"What? Why?" he stuttered.

"It's just…He's not exactly ecstatic about being a werewolf and I just wanted to keep it under wraps for a while. Until he's, sort of, come to terms with it, y'know?" Allison smiled again.

Talk about puppy dog eyes.

"But Isaac's a werewolf…so he'll probably know."

"Yeah…"

"And Ethan and Aiden."

"Mm hm."

"Lydia's a Banshee, she might sense it."

"Okay."

"Kira's a Kitsune. I don't really know if she'll know."

"Got it."

"So the only person that might not actually know is…Stiles?"

"Only for a little while!"

"What's the point in keeping it from Stiles if everybody else knows?" Scott's brows furrowed.

"It's not anything against him it's just…If he doesn't need to know don't tell him. The fewer the better."

"Allison-"

"Scott please."

Scott sighed as he turned his gaze back to Charlie, still smiling as he was getting talked to death by Stiles. "If Stiles gets hurt-"

"He wont!" Allison stepped closer. "I promise. Now, just…act natural." She whispered, nudging him forward towards the group.

They rejoined the others apparently just as Stiles was finishing his speech with Charlie.

"Stiles." Scott spoke. "First period, we're gonna be late."

"Yeah buddy, just gimme a minute." He mumbled before beaming a smile back at Charlie. "Now remember. New school, new start. Be confident, okay? You are a predator."

'You don't know the half of it.'

"You are the hottest guy here." Stiles patted him reassuringly on the shoulders, before back stepping away towards his next class. He smiled, then he was gone. Isaac turned to Scott who just shook his head before descending down the corridor with Stiles.

"Was that…Was he flirting with me?" Charlie stuttered, still smiling.

"That?" Allison smiled. "That…was just Stiles."

"Is he…y'know." Charlie gestured to himself.

"Stiles?" She laughed. "No way. He's had this huge crush on Lydia since forever."

"Well does he know I'm a-"

"No."

"Oh." He mumbled. "Good."

"Oh my god! Charlie!" Allison's jaw dropped. "Do you-"

"No."

"On Stil-"

"No!" Charlie quickly interrupted. Perhaps a little too quick, he could feel the blood rushing to his face.

"Whatever you say, Charles." Allison winked, causing him to turn an even brighter shade of pink. "So," Allison nudged his elbow, smiling gleefully. "Next class, what you got?"

"Right, yeah." Charlie fumbled through his bag, pulling out the timetable of his classes. "History with Mr…Jesus that's a big word…Y-Yuki-."

"Yukimura." She sighed. "God! When we get home we seriously need to sync up our classes, I'm hardly in any of yours!"

Charlie simply placed his hands on her shoulders and smiled, much like Stiles had just done to him. "I'll see you soon, okay?"

"You sure you know the way?"

"Sweetheart I'm a predator, I think I can find a stupid history class."

"You're 15 minutes late." Mr Yukimura stared at the boy, wearily walking in the door to his class.

"Yeah, sorry. I, uh, I'm new." He mumbled, nervously scratching the back of his head. This was getting to be a pretty good excuse.

"Ah, yes. Charles, right?" He smiled, standing up from his seat. "I'm Mr Yukimura, and welcome to history." He lifted his hands as if he were proudly displaying the class. Once again, all eyes on were fixed on the new kid, The three that stood out the most were Scott, Stiles, and another girl seated next to Scott. He didn't know her, but there was something different about her…something like Scott.

Seeming to have got off lightly thanks to the whole 'new kid' thing, Charlie, instead of correcting the teacher and risk angering him further by saying 'It's Charlie.', just nodded thankfully.

"Please have a seat. Do you have any of your books?"

He cursed internally before staring at Mr Yukimura sheepishly and shaking his head.

Mr Yukimura smiled. "That's alright. Just take a seat and we'll see if we can get you some later. Okay?"

Charlie breathed a sigh of relief and wandered down the aisles of chairs, searching for an empty seat.

And found one…

…Right next to Stiles.

'No big.' He thought. ' Sjust a seat.'

But Stiles had noticed too and fired Charlie a friendly grin that made his heart skip a beat.

'Son of a bitch.'

Quickly making his way over to the vacant desk, avoiding Stiles' gaze as much as possible, he took his seat and, once again, nested his head in his arms.

"Now." A voice bellowed. God why did everything have to be so much louder when he was trying to relax. "Can anyone name one of the witnesses at the Salem witch trials?"

The room fell silent again, apart from the recurring boom of Mr Yukimura's voice every five seconds.

"Anybody?"

Each time was like someone banging drums inside his ears. It hurt. A lot.

"Come on! You know this."

Shut up!

"There were a lot of people…I'm asking for one. Just-"

"Walcott!" Charlie groaned, muffled by the jacket sleeves his face was buried in.

"I'm sorry, Mr Argent?" The voice resounded once more.

He raised his head from the desk before removing his glasses and rubbing his eyes, quickly putting them back on afterwards. "Mary…Walcott." He sighed. "Daughter of Captain Jonathan Walcott and his wife Mary Sibley, both of Salem. She was 17 when the allegations started in 1692. Her aunt, Mary Woodrow, wife of Samuel Sibley, was the person who showed Tituba, an alleged witch, and her husband John Indian how to bake a witch cake." The room fell silent, and Charlie felt all eyes on him. "I mean," He mumbled, growing hotter. "I think."

Mr Yukimura chuckled slightly. "Well," He smiled. "It appears someone is actually interested in my class."

Charlie slowly looked around the room. Everyone, every single person, was staring at him. Stiles, Scott, everyone. He just smiled and awkwardly waved at Mr Yukimura. "What can I say." He sighed. "The past is important."

"That it is, Mr Argent." Mr Yukimura smiled once more before turning back to the class. "Now everyone I want detailed reports about the Salem witch trials on my desk by this Friday. If you don't already have a partner I suggest you find one."

Stiles slammed his hands on his desk, drawing everyone's attention off of Charlie for once. "Dibs on the walking encyclopaedia!"

Charlie smiled, whilst fidgeting with his hands. Stiles was pretty funny - almost as funny as him - eventually he looked up to, unexpectedly, lock eyes with Stiles, who raised his eyebrows as if saying.

"How about it?"

Charlie's smile faded. "Me!?" He stuttered jabbing himself in the chest with his finger.

"No, Mr when-did-world-war-two-end McCall." Stiles snickered. "Yes, you!"

"Stiles-"

"Scott, please! I'm conversing. Go flirt with your girlfriend, or whatever you two are right now."

Charlie smiled again. Seriously dude, stop it. You're a fucking werewolf, you don't have time for stupid high school crushes.

"So, Charles! My boy." Stiles winked. "How about it?"

Charlie wanted to say yes so badly, but everything going on right now suggested this was the worst possible idea there was. What if he turned? What if Stiles found out? What if he killed Stiles? What if Stiles killed him?

Okay the last one seemed pretty unlikely but he was panicking.

He tried to speak but couldn't find the words. His mouth swung open and shut, eyes blinking rapidly. Until eventually the word flew past his lips before he had a chance to stop it.

"Sure." He smirked.

Damnit!