Isaac

Author's Note: Sorry for the wait, packing up and moving to a new city for grad school ate up a lot of my time/energy/attention. No warnings necessary for this one. It is what I think would happen if Isaac had still been around after Liam became a werewolf and he went to Isaac for help (although the Teen Wolf writers would do a better job). Also, I can't wait to see more of Corey (Cory?) in 5B. He is now my favorite new character (not new favorite character), especially now that it is clear that Theo is a villain. That invisibility/camouflage ability is interesting and new, as far as I know. Anyway, I hope you enjoy reading and reviews are always appreciated.

Whenever he had some free time Isaac made sure to get all his homework and studying done. There was no way to tell how hectic and crazy things might get at a moment's notice, so it was impossible to predict if he would have time to get it all finished. Plus with the new addition to the pack things had gotten a bit stressful again.

As if summoned by thought, Liam came over to sit down across the table from Isaac, looking tense and anxious, "Isaac, can I talk to you?"

He was confused as to why Liam would want to talk to him, "About what?"

"Well, you know … werewolf stuff."

That narrowed it down a little but he was still somewhat confused, "Okay, but why are you asking me?"

Isaac didn't bother adding something about Scott. He was pretty sure Liam was purposely not going to their alpha, but he didn't know why.

Liam looked over his shoulder, like he was worried someone might be eavesdropping, before he answered Isaac, "We're both betas. I thought maybe it would be easier talking to you than to Scott."

Isaac nodded at that, it made sense that an alpha would be a bit intimidating to a newly turned werewolf. Derek certainly had been. Scott wasn't Derek, but then again Liam hadn't exactly had much choice in whether or not he got bit so he might not have the same impression of Scott that Isaac had.

"Alright, what do you want to talk about?"

Liam hesitated then, as if he hadn't actually figured out how to say it all, "Well, what was it like for you? How did you deal with it? I mean, werewolves and wendigoes and mouthless assassins?"

He could tell what Liam was hoping for, but Isaac was going to have to disappoint him, "Ah, well, it wasn't like that for me. I asked to be turned into a werewolf and Derek, the alpha who bit me, tried to prepare us for everything we might face."

Liam sighed dejectedly, "That's not helping."

That wasn't much of a surprise. Isaac was more used to needing help than being helpful, so he wasn't really sure what to say. Liam hadn't asked to become a werewolf and had no idea what he'd been dragged into. When Isaac had been bitten he'd at least been told what was out there, even though Derek hadn't bothered giving him the entire picture. There was also the little fact that he'd had a choice and chose to step into the world of the supernatural.

But the limited picture that Derek had revealed to his betas had been a problem. Things had gotten bad quickly after he'd made his three betas and Derek hadn't prepared them as well as he could have. Erica and Boyd had run off because of it and Isaac had come close to doing the same. Being a werewolf wasn't exactly easy. Isaac didn't want to see Liam struggle the same way Erica and Boyd had.

So he tried again, "That doesn't mean it was easy. Derek gave me a choice and I said yes, but he wanted us to be … warriors, soldiers, so he could stand up to the hunters and other packs. I didn't question it much, I just accepted it and tried to survive."

Liam still didn't seem pleased, "So I should just accept that this is my life now?"

Isaac shrugged, "Sometimes it isn't any different than before … I think. I can't really go back to the life I had, not that I'm complaining. My life kind of sucked before I became a werewolf. But there are plenty of days when it never come up at all."

"It doesn't feel that way."

"I know. The beginning is the hardest … especially the first full moon or two."

Liam didn't look convinced by what Isaac had said as he stood from his chair, "Well, thanks, I guess."

As Liam walked away, Isaac could tell he hadn't helped much. It was disappointing but not surprising. His experience had been almost the opposite of Liam's. Plus he'd come very close to running away with Erica and Boyd. The real reason he'd stuck around was Scott, not saving lives and helping people like Scott was always trying to do. Maybe that made him selfish, but did it matter why he stayed if he helped others?

Regardless, he had studying to do before he went home. Beacon Hills was getting dangerous again, which meant schedules were once again impossible to predict. Add in his relationship with Scott plus teenage hormones plus a certain something from them both being werewolves and his time at home was spent eating, sleeping, and having sex whenever Melissa McCall wasn't around. Thus, it was a good idea for him to finish studying at school and hope the rest of the pack did a better job than him at helping Liam adjust to life as a werewolf.