Uncertain Future

Beacon Hills High was alive with the steady hum of students talking, books slamming shut, and the occasional buzz of someone's phone going off. Jasper blended into the usual flow of people as he walked down the hallway with Scott and Stiles beside him. Allison had already gone to class, but Jasper was looking forward to catching up with her at lunch. Despite all the chaos their lives had picked up recently, days like these gave him a strange sense of calm.

They slowed as they neared the lacrosse field. Coach Finstock's shouts and whistles echoed as a group of guys suited up for practice. Jasper was set to play in the starting lineup today, and Scott looked equally amped, though he wore a thoughtful expression as they picked up their pace toward the field.

"Hey, Jasper," Scott started, catching his attention. "Derek offered to train me. He says it'll help me control... you know, my wolf side."

Jasper raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "So, you'll actually get a handle on those new instincts?"

Scott nodded with a hint of determination. "Yeah. He's intense, but... I think it's a good idea."

Jasper gave him an encouraging nod. "Good. It'll be a lot easier to play normal if you're not one step away from shifting mid-game."

Scott laughed but grew serious as they reached the field. The players were already lining up, and the coach blew his whistle at them to hurry up. Jasper met Scott's eye with a smirk. "Guess it's go-time."

After a rigorous practice, both of them were sweaty and exhausted but more energized than they had been at the start. Jasper had always loved the rush of the game, and having Scott on his team made it even better.

When practice ended, they walked back to the locker rooms, talking about everything from scoring strategies to upcoming games.

Jasper had already guessed that Kate was in town. Jasper knew Kate was a Hunter who had more than her fair share of history with werewolves—and he'd bet she hadn't come to town just to catch up with family.

By the time he caught sight of Allison at lunch, Jasper had already tucked away his unease. She was sitting by a tree near the edge of the field, her hair catching the sunlight as she flipped through a book. When she looked up, her face lit up, and Jasper felt a familiar warmth settle over him.

"Hey, stranger," Allison greeted as he sat down beside her. "How was practice?"

"Rough, but worth it. Scott managed not to knock anyone over this time," he teased.

She laughed softly. "That's good to hear. I think he's trying hard, especially now with... everything else."

They shared a look, their mutual understanding unspoken but solid. Allison's hand found his, her fingers warm against his own. For a moment, everything felt blissfully normal, but then she glanced away, her expression changing slightly.

"So... tonight," she started, her voice hesitant. "I was hoping you'd come over. I know Scott mentioned it already, but… it's just that I'd love to introduce you to my aunt."

Jasper forced a smile, but he couldn't ignore the slight tension in his shoulders. "I'd like that," he replied, keeping his tone as light as possible. "But tell me about her—what's she like?"

Allison's face softened. "She's a bit of a wild card. Always off traveling somewhere, usually on some 'adventure,' as she calls it. She's intense, but she cares. And... I think she'd really like you."

Jasper laughed softly, though he couldn't shake the edge of caution he felt. "Let's hope so."

The rest of the day flew by. As he and Allison walked out together after the final bell, they fell into an easy conversation about plans for the weekend and classes they were already tired of. But every now and then, a flicker of worry would pass over Allison's face as if she could sense something was amiss.

"Jasper, I know it sounds silly, but... do you ever feel like things here are about to change?" she asked, her gaze serious.

He met her eyes, feeling a pang of empathy. She was picking up on the shift, even if she didn't fully understand why. "Maybe they are," he replied, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "But that doesn't have to be a bad thing. Change can be good, too."

She smiled up at him, reassured, and they continued toward the parking lot, where her aunt's car was already parked, gleaming under the afternoon sun.

As Jasper drove away, his mind circled back to Kate Argent. He knew she would inevitably pull Allison into the world of Hunters and the supernatural—and he wanted to do everything he could to keep her safe from that. But he also knew that hiding the truth wouldn't last forever.

Tonight, he decided, he'd face Kate Argent with a smile—and start laying the groundwork to keep Allison out of her aunt's world.