The door opened.
Asher's stomach dropped.
Noah Stilinski stood there, one hand holding a paper food bag, the other resting awkwardly at his side.
Fuck… not now, Asher thought, already forcing a smile onto his face.
"What brings you here, Mr. Stilinski?" Asher asked, trying to sound casual.
Noah lifted the bag slightly. "Asher… can I come inside for a moment?"
The smell hit him instantly.
Roast hare.
His favorite.
Asher hesitated, fingers tightening on the doorframe. "Thank you, Mr. Stilinski, but… right now it's really not the time—"
"Are you kicking me out again?" Noah asked quietly, already stepping forward and setting the bag down just inside the door.
He straightened, sighed, then turned away.
"Alright. I'll leave. I won't disturb you."
Guilt slammed into Asher's chest.
Sharp. Heavy.
Memories of the last time he'd pushed him away—when Noah had only tried to help—rose uninvited.
"No—wait," Asher said quickly.
Noah paused.
"…Come inside."
Noah nodded once and stepped in.
The door closed behind him.
He glanced around the house briefly, then back at Asher, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"Asher… I'm really glad you're fine now,"
Noah said. "Not seeing your bones through your skin anymore is really great news."
He chuckled softly.
Asher just listened.
"Stiles told me," Noah continued, "that you got together with the girl you liked. Erica, right?"
Asher nodded.
Noah's smile faded into something more serious. He exhaled slowly.
"I just wanted to tell you something," he said. "What you did… that took real strength. Not just facing Derek alone to save your friends, not just having survived that animal attack
... but fightning to crawling out of that desperation."
He paused.
"Your father would've been proud of you."
He turned toward the door.
Asher's chest tightened.
"Wait," he said.
Noah stopped.
Before he could think better of it, Asher stepped forward and wrapped his arms around him.
"Thank you, Mr. Stilinski…" Asher said, voice breaking.
His eyes burned.
"Thank you for everything," he whispered, hugging him tighter. "And… I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being so mean to you."
Noah stiffened for a moment—then hugged him back, firm and steady.
"It's nothing, son," Noah said quietly. "It's just my job."
He pulled away gently.
"I should go."
And then he was gone, the door closing softly behind him.
Asher stood there for a long moment, wiping at his eyes.
[That's the knight of this town, right?]
The voice in his head spoke suddenly, breaking the tension.
Asher sniffed and huffed a quiet laugh.
'Knight?' he replied inwardly.
[Isn't the sheriff like a knight?]
Asher chuckled, shaking his head.
'You dumbass…'
Asher picked up the food bag and headed upstairs.
As soon as he opened his bedroom door, he stopped.
Erica was staring at him.
Worried. Quiet. Her eyes searched his face like she was afraid he might disappear if she looked away for too long.
"Asher…" she said softly.
Ah… she heard everything…
Damn those werewolf senses…
He closed the door behind him and walked in, placing the food bag gently on the desk. The smell of roast hare filled the room—but neither of them acknowledged it.
Outside the window, moonlight poured in.
The full moon had risen.
Asher glanced at Erica instinctively.
Nothing.
No tension. No pain. No loss of control.
She was still herself.
Slowly, he sat right beside her. The chains rattled faintly as she shifted toward him.
Silence lingered for a few seconds.
Then Asher spoke.
"You know… when my adoptive mother died this summer…" he began, voice low, fragile. "I…"
Erica held her breath.
"I tried to kill myself."
Her eyes widened instantly.
"W–What…?" she whispered, shaking her head. "No—Asher, no…"
"It wasn't because of her," he continued, forcing the words out. "I… actually… kind of hated her."
Erica froze.
"She used to beat me," Asher said quietly. "Every time she had the chance. I was alone. Rejected. I didn't think living was worth it anymore…"
His hands trembled in his lap.
Erica's tears spilled over.
"Asher…" she sobbed.
"The sheriff came to check on me that day," Asher said. "And found me while I was trying to do it. He shot—at the ropes. Saved me."
As he spoke, Erica's gaze drifted to the wall.
The bullet holes.
Her vision blurred completely.
She had always thought she knew suffering—bullying, isolation, epileptic seizures.
But compared to this…
It felt like she had lived in paradise.
And yet—
At school, Asher always smiled.
"But now…" Asher said softly.
His trembling hand lifted, cupping her cheek.
"I think I've found a reason to live," he said. "Scott. Stiles. The others… and you, Erica."
He leaned in.
Their lips met.
The kiss was slow. Deep.
Moonlight washed over them as the full moon reached its peak—but nothing broke. Nothing snapped.
"I love you, Erica," Asher whispered against her lips.
"I love you too, Asher," she replied without hesitation.
Their foreheads touched.
"I won't ever stop loving you," she said.
Asher smiled faintly. "Then… let's live for each other."
"Let's live for each other," Erica echoed.
They laughed softly, foreheads still pressed together.
Asher felt… good.
Lighter.
Maybe—just maybe—he should have opened up sooner.
Then—
BZZZT—BZZZT
Asher's phone rang.
He frowned slightly and pulled it from his pocket.
Stiles.
To be continued...
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