Suddenly, the door creaked open, and Jane stepped inside, her presence immediately commanding attention.
She gave a small, reassuring smile as she looked at Scott. "It's me, Scott."
Scott's posture relaxed slightly, but his eyes never left her, still suspicious of the unexpected visit.
Stiles, still half in shock from Javi's sudden nap, blinked at her in confusion. "Jane? What are you doing here?"
Jane's gaze shifted toward Stiles, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes before she answered coolly. "I came to talk. There are things you need to know."
Kira and Malia exchanged glances before turning back to Jane.
Kira crossed her arms. "So, you're the one who made Scott and Stiles promise to keep Javi in the dark?"
Malia's gaze sharpened. "And you were Deucalion's beta, right?"
Jane's eyes flickered between them, her expression calm but unreadable. "Yes, I did. And yes, I was."
Malia tilted her head slightly, a hint of skepticism creeping into her tone. "Was?"
Jane nodded, leaning against the wall with a measured exhale. "I left his pack."
Scott's frown deepened as he studied her. "You left?"
Jane met his gaze without hesitation. "I did."
Malia's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Her usual wariness gave way to intrigue. "Why?"
Jane's jaw tightened for a fraction of a second before she spoke. "It was... complicated. Deucalion had his ways, and at some point, I realized I couldn't follow him down that path anymore."
Lydia stared at Jane, her breath hitching as realization dawned. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
Stiles noticed her reaction, frowning. "Uh, Lydia? You okay? Because judging by that face, you recognize her."
Lydia gave a slow nod, her voice quiet but firm. "Of course I do."
Stiles raised an eyebrow. "Wait—what? But isn't this the first time we're meeting her?"
Lydia shook her head, her expression growing more certain. "No, Stiles. We know her. All of us."
That got everyone's attention. Scott straightened, Stiles blinked in confusion, and even Malia and Kira glanced at each other, sensing the shift in the room's atmosphere.
Stiles squinted at Lydia, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Lydia, what are you talking about?"
Jane stepped forward, her lips curling into a small smirk as she studied Lydia. "Still as sharp as ever, Martin. I was wondering if any of you would figure it out."
Then, with deliberate ease, Jane pulled off her glasses and swept her hair back, revealing the features that had been hidden beneath subtle changes.
Stiles' eyes went wide as he gasped, his hand flying to his mouth. "Holy—oh my god! How are you alive?!"
Scott's stomach twisted as recognition hit him like a freight train. His voice was barely above a whisper. "Jane... How? How did I not see it?"
Malia and Kira exchanged uncertain glances.
Malia crossed her arms. "So... we're just standing here pretending we know what's going on?"
Kira gave a small shrug. "I think we're missing some context."
Jane let out a small chuckle before turning back to Scott and Stiles, her smirk softening into something more nostalgic. "Of course you know me. Because I'm Javi's older sister."
Stiles' voice stammered as he took a step forward, still in shock. "But... how?! We saw you die! I— I cried at your funeral, you know?!"
Scott exhaled sharply, turning to Malia and Kira as he tried to process it himself. "She's Javi's older sister... The one we thought died from an illness."
Malia and Kira exchanged glances, nodding in understanding.
Lydia was still staring at Jane, her mind racing to catch up. "Wow... I mean—you're alive, and now you're a werewolf?"
Scott sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "Yeah... I barely recognized you. Guess the new hairstyle and your name threw me off."
"Well, it has been years, Scott. People change... or in my case, evolve."
Stiles ran a hand through his hair, still trying to wrap his head around it. "No, no, no, hold on—this doesn't make any sense! We went to your funeral! Your funeral, Jane! How do you just—come back from that?!"
Jane's smirk softened slightly as she looked at them. "Because I never really died."
Jane leaned back slightly, her fingers absently brushing against Javi's hair as he slept, her gaze distant. "Well, my brother told his side of the story. Now it's my turn to tell you mine."
Lydia crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "We're all ears."
Jane took a deep breath. "When I was dying, Deucalion showed up. He saved my life—that's how I became his beta."
Stiles ran a hand down his face, exasperated. "And you just... went along with it? No questions asked?"
Jane met his gaze evenly. "I didn't have a choice, Stiles. I was dying. It was either that or let nature take its course."
Scott's expression softened, his voice quieter. "That must've been tough..."
Jane let out a bitter chuckle. "Tough doesn't even begin to cover it. I had to make a decision, and if you're wondering why I didn't come back? I was terrified. My parents would have freaked out, and Javi... he was just a kid. I couldn't put them through that. So I went along with it."
Lydia arched an eyebrow, studying her. "And what happened after that?"
Jane shrugged, her tone casual despite the weight of her words. "Oh, you know, the usual. I fulfilled my duty as Deucalion's beta. But it didn't last long. Like I said, I couldn't go along with his ways forever."
Scott nodded, understanding. "His methods were... extreme. Ruthless, even."
Jane's expression darkened. "Exactly. That's why I left. I couldn't be part of his twisted vision. After I broke away, I trained on my own. Kept my distance. But I never stopped watching my family."
Scott's eyes widened slightly. "You were watching them?"
Jane nodded. "When they flew to Europe, I stayed here. I had my own battles to fight—hunters I tangled with. But I handled it."
Malia let out a low whistle. "Wait, you 'handled' them? As in...?"
Jane met her gaze, a cold glint in her eye. "As in they're not a problem anymore."
Scott's eyebrows shot up. "You took on hunters... alone?"
Jane simply nodded.
Malia smirked, clearly impressed. "That's badass."
Stiles, still trying to process everything, just shook his head. "Yeah...
Kira tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "So after you took care of the hunters, I'm guessing you flew to Europe?"
Jane nodded. "Yeah. But when I finally found them..." —her voice faltered for a second— "I was too late. My parents were murdered. Killed by a werewolf."
Lydia's eyes narrowed slightly. "But Javi said it was a burglar."
Jane exhaled slowly, rubbing her temples. "Because that's what I made him believe. I erased his memories of anything supernatural—it's an ability I developed through training."
Stiles' eyes widened as realization dawned. "Wait—so you're the one who sent him to that school?"
Jane met his gaze, nodding. "Yes. Javi had nowhere to go, and I couldn't risk him getting caught up in the supernatural world without understanding it. That school... it was the only place that could give him the skills to protect himself, even if he didn't know why he needed them."
Scott frowned. "But why not just tell him the truth? Why make him forget?"
Jane's jaw tightened. "Because if he remembered what really happened, he'd go down a path he wasn't ready for. He would've been consumed by it, Scott. I had to make sure he lived his life first—without the weight of that knowledge crushing him."
The room fell into silence, each person processing the weight of Jane's words.
Lydia's gaze flickered toward Javi, still fast asleep. "It was you, wasn't it? You made him sleepy."
Jane nodded. "Yes. I couldn't let him see me—not yet."
Stiles threw his hands up. "Wait, wait, hold on! You met him during Dr. Langer's case! We literally questioned you as one of the suspects. He saw you then!"
Jane let out a slow sigh. "And look what happened after that, Stiles. He was agitated, restless. His instincts were telling him something was off, even if he didn't know why. Seeing me again—something buried deep in his mind—was starting to surface."
Scott's expression grew serious. "So you put him to sleep to stop it from happening?"
Jane nodded. "If he remembered me now, everything I tried to protect him from would come crashing down all at once. And I'm not sure he's ready for that."
Lydia folded her arms. "And when will he be ready?"
Jane's eyes softened as she looked at her sleeping brother. "That's not up to me anymore."
Malia tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "So... do you know which werewolf killed your family?"
Jane exhaled slowly, her tone calm but heavy. "A rogue one."
Scott's brows furrowed. "And what happened to it?"
Jane's lips curled into a dark smirk. "I handled it—just like I did with those hunters."
A heavy silence settled over the room. Scott exchanged a glance with Stiles, while Lydia studied Jane carefully.
Malia let out a low whistle. "Damn."
Stiles ran a hand through his hair, still processing everything. "Okay, so let me get this straight. You faked your death, joined Deucalion, left Deucalion, hunted down your family's murderer, erased Javi's memories, sent him to some crazy Sherlock school, and now you're just... what? Watching over him like some supernatural guardian angel?"
Jane nodded, her expression calm. "To sum it up? Yes. But I let Javi figure things out on his own while he was at that school."
Kira raised an eyebrow. "And what did you do next?"
Jane shrugged, a hint of nonchalance in her tone. "I returned here to Beacon Hills, living my life as a nurse at Memorial Hospital."
Scott's jaw dropped in disbelief. "Wait—wait, you've been here this whole time?"
Jane chuckled lightly, the sound almost reminiscent of her old self. "Yup, just biding my time. Waiting for Javi to return."
Stiles shook his head, still trying to piece everything together. "You anticipated his return?"
Jane nodded with a knowing look. "Yeah. I knew he'd come back for his senior year. And, luckily for me, you met me during Dr. Langer's murder case. I got to plant the seed for that promise."
Scott sighed, rubbing his temples. "Now everything's falling into place."
Stiles sighed, shaking his head. "Tell me about it. And, Jane, isn't it a bit ironic? Sending your brother to a school that teaches him how to read people, then keeping all these secrets from him?"
Jane smirked, but there was a hint of guilt in her eyes. "I did what I had to do. It wasn't easy, but I couldn't risk him finding out. Not yet."
Javi snored loudly.
Lydia glanced at him, her expression filled with concern. "Is he going to be okay when he wakes up?"
Jane nodded reassuringly. "Absolutely. I just put him to sleep for now."
Stiles let out a sigh of relief, his shoulders relaxing. "That's a relief. I thought you were going to erase his memories again."
Jane shook her head, her expression calm but firm. "There's no need for that. Everything is under control."
Jane gently lifted Javi's head and placed it on her lap, using her thighs as a pillow for him to rest comfortably.
Stiles furrowed his brow, voice tinged with concern. "What are you doing? What if he wakes up?"
Jane met his gaze with a composed expression, her tone steady. "Relax. As long as I'm here, he won't stir. He'll stay unaware of everything we're saying."
Lydia's eyes widened as she noticed the wedding ring on Jane's finger. "Wait... are you married?"
Jane gave a small nod, her expression softening just a fraction. "Yeah."
Stiles raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback. "Who's the lucky guy?"
Jane let out a quiet sigh, her gaze drifting for a moment. "I don't know if you've met him, but his name is Derek Hale."
A stunned silence fell over the room, the weight of her words settling in.
"Derek Hale?!" Scott, Stiles, and Malia echoed in unison.
Lydia's eyes widened in surprise. "You're serious?"
Jane smirked, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly. "I'll take that as a yes. So, you know him?"
Stiles chuckled softly, his gaze shifting between Jane and the floor. "We've had some... 'interesting' encounters with him."
Jane raised an eyebrow, a knowing look in her eyes. "I bet you have. He does have that effect on people."
Scott, still processing the new revelation, shook his head slightly. "Wait, wait, wait. You're married to Derek Hale? The same Derek Hale we've all crossed paths with? That Derek Hale?"
Jane nodded, her expression softening just a bit as she thought of him. "Yeah, that Derek. Life's funny, isn't it?"
Malia crossed her arms, still skeptical. "This just keeps getting more complicated."
Lydia looked at Jane, her curiosity piqued. "How did that happen? How did you and Derek... end up together?"
Jane smiled faintly, her gaze distant as if recalling something personal. "It wasn't easy. But sometimes, when you're both broken in your own ways, you find something that makes sense together. Derek's been through a lot, just like I have. It took time, but we found our way."
Stiles shook his head in disbelief, his tone light but filled with a hint of genuine curiosity. "I never would've guessed. So, you're a werewolf, married to a werewolf, and we're all here... together. This is like one big supernatural soap opera."
Jane chuckled at Stiles' comment, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Welcome to my life, Stiles. It's a little more complicated than that, but I'm sure you'll catch up."
As if on cue, Derek arrived, his sleek Camaro pulling into the driveway. The engine rumbled as he parked, his signature leather jacket visible through the window.
Stiles' eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Derek. "You're leaving?"
Jane gently placed Javi's head back on the cushion, her fingers lingering for a moment before she kissed his forehead and stood up, smoothing her clothes. "I have to. I've already stayed longer than I should have."
She turned to the group, giving them one last look. "Take care of my brother for me, okay? Call me if you need anything. I'll be around."
Derek rolled down the windows, a playful whistle escaping his lips. "Come on, Jane. Time to go."
Jane smirked, rolling her eyes but with a hint of affection. "Yeah, yeah. I'm coming."
She turned back to the group, her gaze lingering on them for a moment, the weight of everything they'd shared together hanging in the air. "Well, it's been... interesting. But I really do need to go, and—remember, don't tell him about me."
The group nodded, understanding the unspoken weight of Jane's words. Stiles, with a sigh of dramatic relief, added his own touch of humor.
"Of course, we know the risk. Just... you know... take care. And for the love of God, don't die on us again!" Stiles said, half-joking but with real concern in his voice.
Scott and the group exchanged glances as Derek got out of the car, his posture unusually relaxed and confident. As Derek leaned against the vehicle, Scott couldn't help but approach him, curiosity getting the best of him.
Scott raised an eyebrow, looking at Derek with a mixture of surprise and interest. "So... you're married now?"
Derek nodded, an almost imperceptible smile flickering across his face, a rare glimpse of the man behind the stoic exterior. "Yeah, I am."
Lydia, not one to miss a beat, smirked as she raised an eyebrow. "Well, that's a surprise. Never would have imagined you as a husband."
Derek let out an exasperated sigh, rubbing the back of his neck in that familiar, self-deprecating way. "Yeah, yeah. I know. Believe me, I never thought I'd be in this position either. Things just have a way of happening, I guess."
Stiles, still processing everything, couldn't help but add in his own brand of humor. "This is just... different. Seeing you smiling. It's like the end of the world is coming."
Scott chuckled, a grin forming on his face as he looked at Derek. "Well, you might not be the picture of terror at the moment, but I think we can all agree that a smiling Derek Hale is a rare sight."
Derek just gave a half-shrug, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly in a way that was almost unrecognizable to those who had only seen his more guarded side. But the shift in him, even just a little, wasn't lost on anyone.
The group lingered for a moment, the weight of their conversation still hanging in the air as they all processed what they'd learned. Jane's departure, Derek's rare smile, and the complex web of connections tying them all together.
Jane joined them, walking over to Derek with a playful smile on her lips as she slid her hand into his. "Well, isn't it nice, Derek? To have a lovely wife like me?"
Derek chuckled softly, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards as he looked at her with affection. "Yeah, it's definitely... unexpected."
The group exchanged amused glances, and Lydia raised an eyebrow. "Well, I can't say I ever imagined Derek Hale in this kind of situation, but here we are."
Jane smiled, her expression softening as she glanced at Derek. "Yeah, things do have a way of surprising us, don't they?"
Stiles let out a dramatic sigh. "A rare sight indeed... Derek Hale, smiling and happy. I'll have to mark this day on my calendar."
Scott, still processing everything, shook his head with a smile. "I think we all will."
Derek just shrugged, looking back at Jane with a subtle but genuine warmth in his eyes. "I guess life really is full of surprises."
Stiles raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Wait a minute, why's your name Jane Anuevo and not Garcia? Sorry, just curious."
Jane glanced at Derek for a moment before turning her attention back to Stiles, a hint of surprise in her expression. "That's a good question," she began, her tone thoughtful. "After... everything that happened, I decided to change my name. Garcia had too many painful memories tied to it. Anuevo feels like a fresh start for me."
Scott nodded in understanding, his eyes narrowing slightly as he processed her words. "So that's why we didn't recognize you."
Jane's gaze darkened for a moment, a brief flicker of the past crossing her face. She nodded slowly, her voice softer now. "Yeah. I needed to leave that part of my life behind. So I chose 'Jane' because it felt simple, uncomplicated. And 'Anuevo'... it means 'new' in Spanish. A new beginning."
Stiles, processing this, gave a nod of understanding. "I get it. Sometimes you need to reinvent yourself to move forward."
Derek stood quietly beside her, his expression unreadable but supportive. Jane smiled faintly at the group, a quiet strength in her demeanor. "Exactly. And sometimes, starting over is the only way to survive."
Jane raised an eyebrow, glancing between Kira and Scott, her tone teasing. "So, are you two together?"
Kira smiled softly, a gentle warmth in her expression. "Yeah, we are."
Scott wrapped an arm around Kira, pulling her a little closer, his smile genuine. "We've been together for a while now."
Jane nodded, a hint of approval in her gaze before she shifted her attention to Malia and Stiles. "And what about you two?"
Malia chuckled, her expression amused as she glanced at Stiles. "Yeah, we're together. Stiles isn't so bad after all."
Stiles grinned, a playful glint in his eye as he shrugged. "Is it too obvious?"
Jane smirked, shaking her head slightly. "Not at all. But you two do make it pretty clear."
Lydia, who had been quiet, couldn't help but smile at the group dynamic. There was something comforting about seeing everyone so connected, even in the midst of all the chaos they'd endured.
Jane turned her attention to Lydia, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "That leaves you as the single one. So, have you and my brother figured things out yet?"
Lydia met her gaze, a slight blush coloring her cheeks, though she kept her cool. "I wouldn't say figured out, but we're... working on it."
Jane raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Ah, the classic 'working on it.'"
Lydia crossed her arms, giving Jane a pointed look. "Hey, we've got time."
Jane chuckled softly, the playful tension in the air dissipating a bit. "Good luck, then. But you know, with my brother, patience is key."
Lydia nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I'm learning that."
Jane and Derek stood by the car, ready to leave. Jane gave one last glance at the group, a small, warm smile on her face.
Jane: "Alright, I've got to go before Derek gets impatient. Take care of each other, okay?"
Derek gave a simple nod, his usual stoic demeanor softened just a bit. "See you around."
Scott, Stiles, and the rest of the group nodded in return, their faces a mix of relief and unspoken gratitude.
Stiles waved playfully. "Good luck, don't die again, alright?"
Jane chuckled, the corners of her mouth curling into a genuine smile as she slid into the car next to Derek.
Jane: "No promises, Stiles, but I'll try my best."
Derek started the car, and with a final wave, they drove off, disappearing into the distance. The group stood there for a moment, the weight of everything settling in. There was still much to process, but for now, they knew they could breathe a little easier.
As Jane and Derek's car disappeared around the corner, the group stood in a comfortable silence, each of them processing the whirlwind of revelations and emotions.
Scott broke the quiet first, glancing at Kira, his voice soft but with a trace of amusement. "Well, that was... a lot."
Kira smiled, leaning against Scott slightly. "Yeah, you could say that again."
Malia, who had been quiet up until now, crossed her arms with a smirk. "I'll admit, I didn't see that one coming. Jane's a lot more complicated than I thought."
Stiles, still adjusting to the shock, gave a small laugh. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure my brain's on overload right now. A secret werewolf sister, faked deaths, a whole new name... and a wedding with Derek Hale? What's next, a pack of were-cats?"
Lydia, who had been deep in thought, finally spoke up, her voice calm but thoughtful. "It's all a lot to take in. But at least we know Javi's safe now. Jane's keeping an eye on him... in her own way."
Scott nodded, his gaze distant as he thought about Javi, still resting peacefully in the house. "Yeah, that's what matters. Jane might be unpredictable, but she's not leaving him in the dark anymore. She'll protect him, even if it means keeping him unaware."
Stiles, always the skeptic, tilted his head. "You think she's really done hiding stuff from him, though?"
Lydia met his gaze, her expression thoughtful. "Maybe. But there's something about Jane's decisions that I'm still not sure of. She did a lot to keep Javi in the dark. But if she's really changed... if she really wants to protect him, maybe now is the time for him to know."
The group stood there for a moment, considering Lydia's words.
Scott finally broke the silence with a small smile. "For now, we'll keep an eye on him, too. We've got his back, no matter what."
Stiles grinned, giving Scott a playful nudge. "Yeah, and I guess we're all sort of... family now. Who knew?"
Malia chuckled at that, shaking her head. "I never thought I'd say it, but... I'm kind of glad to be a part of all this. Weird as it is."
The group laughed lightly, feeling a sense of unity amidst the chaos.
Lydia glanced back at the house, her thoughts on Javi. She hoped he'd be okay when he woke up, even if there were still a lot of secrets and complicated feelings left between them.
For now, they'd all go their separate ways for the night, but in the back of their minds, they all knew this was far from over.
The puzzle pieces were slowly falling into place, and the mystery surrounding Javi, his family, and the new dynamics in their lives was only beginning to unfold.