Chapter Text
Stiles had lost all track of time by now, he knew he couldn’t have been here for more than a few hours, but it felt like much longer than that, his voice was hoarse from screaming, his body hurt everywhere.
He couldn’t deny that he’d taken a beating, but he couldn’t help the grim satisfaction he felt with the knowledge that he’d not given in, he’d not broken no matter how hard they tried.
“Alright, enough.” Gerard said, looking at his watch and then looking at the four men in the basement. “He’s not going to break.” Stiles managed a small smirk and Gerard punched him in the ribs for it. “Take him and the betas out to the woods. Kill them all. Make sure they are somewhere the Alpha can find them.” Gerard ordered, indicating Erica and Boyd who were both tied up unconscious in the corner of the room, and the men all nodded in acknowledgement.
“What about him?” George said, motioning to Stiles, “Can I have a bit more fun with him first?” George said, grinning at Stiles who fought back a violent shiver.
“Do whatever you want to him.” Gerard grinned, obviously seeing the disgust on Stiles’ face, “Just make sure it hurts.” Gerard said before climbing the stairs quickly and exiting the basement.
Stiles’ legs collapsed from under him when George untied the ropes and chains that had held him in place, he cried out in pain as the movement aggravated his injuries, his bare knees colliding hard with the floor. He didn’t know how to get out of this, how to save Erica and Boyd, how to save himself. His wrists were bleeding freely now that the chains were no longer cutting into them and he tried to keep pressure on the worse of the two, worried that he would bleed out before they even got out of the house. His back throbbed with every movement, his ribs were agony with every breath he took, sure that at least a few of them were broken. He was in pain and he was terrified, he couldn’t see any way out of this and he knew that he had more pain ahead of him before they finally let him die.
George wrapped a hand around his still bleeding wrist and then dragged him out of the basement and through the house, exiting into the preserve a few moments later. Erica and Boyd were slung over two of the other hunters’ shoulders, Stiles couldn’t remember their names he just called them idiot, dumb and dumber, Gerard had drugged both Erica and Boyd with wolfsbane and they had showed no sign of movement the entire time that Stiles had been here. He prayed that they were just faking it, prayed that any moment now they would move and then the three of them could try and fight their way out of this. It didn’t happen.
Instead they continued deeper into the preserve, the ground was littered with sharp twigs and sticks that cut into Stiles’ feet and he stumbled forwards whenever George pushed him. He was freezing and he was sure it was because of shock, it wasn’t exactly a cold night, but wandering around the preserve with multiple injuries and wearing only his boxers was sure to be sending him into some kind of shock. Stiles wondered vaguely how long it would take him to die of exposure if he just ran now, the chances of him getting very far were pretty slim, George would probably shoot him before he got more than a few meters. But, if he was honest with himself, he wasn’t going to run, and not because he couldn’t, not because he was scared to die, but because he wouldn’t run, he wouldn’t leave Boyd and Erica with these monsters, not if there was even the slightest chance that he could distract the hunters long enough for them to survive.
He could run, but he wouldn’t. They were his pack and he would protect them for as long as he could. Just as he had protected the others earlier by refusing to give Gerard any of the information he wanted, no matter what the cost had been to Stiles, what the cost would still be.
“Alright, that’s far enough.” George spoke into the silence and Stiles turned around slowly to look at him. He was a tall man, dark hair and bright blue eyes, he looked deranged though, something in his eyes spoke of the madness inside him. Stiles tried not to shiver.
Boyd and Erica were both dropped carelessly to the floor and Stiles watched for a moment, but neither of them showed any sign of movement. It was up to him, he’d have to distract them, he’d have to do whatever necessary to protect the two of them.
“Take off your boxers.” George commanded and Stiles looked at him in shock. He knew that this was to be expected, the way that George had been touching him all night left very little room for doubt in Stiles’ mind, but still, the idea that this was what he wanted, it stunned Stiles into silence, his brain shocked and frozen. “I’m not messing around kid, take them off.” George repeated and Stiles could do nothing other than stare at him, his eyes wide and his mouth hanging open in shock.
George seemed to have enough of this after a moment because he took a step forward and went to grab hold of Stiles’ arm. Stiles managed to flail backwards and out of his reach, tripping over a root behind him and falling backwards onto the ground, crying out in pain as he landed on his back and rolling over as quickly as he could to ease the pressure off his back.
He heard the laughter of the hunters behind him and gritted his teeth, he hated the fact he felt so powerless in this moment, that there was nothing he could do to protect himself as he felt George’s weight settle on his lower legs effectively pinning him in place.
Stiles tried to wriggle out of his grip but it was no use, George held him by the shoulders, pushing his face into the ground and laughing as Stiles fought back as much as he could.
“Come on boy, I’ll go easier on you if you relax a bit.” George said, his fingers brushing the waistband of Stiles’ boxers and Stiles thought he might genuinely throw up as his boxers were pulled down slightly and he felt cold hands on his bum. He was terrified, there was no other way to say it, pure terror that was running rampant through his body, all he could think was that he was going to die tonight, that Erica and Boyd would both die as well because he was too weak to do anything about this.
“I think you’ll need some lube.” One of the other hunters called out, laughing loudly and Stiles tensed up even more, he couldn’t do this, he couldn’t survive this. He could feel George laughing as well, feel his hands groping at his ass, Stiles was shaking all over, he wasn’t sure if it was shock anymore or just terror.
“Kill the wolves, I can use their blood.” George taunted and Stiles saw red, something inside him broke and he felt a warmth in his body, spreading and settling in his chest, it felt, oddly, if felt safe. His mind was screaming at him to protect Erica and Boyd, protect them, he had to protect them, had to protect his pack. But he couldn’t do anything, he was pinned underneath George and there was nothing he could do no matter how badly he wanted to. Stiles heard one of the other hunters unsheathe a sword and stroll towards Boyd and Erica who were both still lying motionless on the floor.
George turned Stiles’ head and then held him tightly in place so that he could see the hunter standing over Boyd.
“I wonder if he’ll wake up when you cut him in two? Or if he’ll just never feel a thing?” George laughed and Stiles gritted his teeth, he couldn’t let this happen, he had to do something. He tried to wriggle out of George’s grip, tried to do anything, but it was no use, there was nothing he could do. He screamed internally, screaming for someone to help them, to protect them, to please save them.
He watched as the sword swung downwards a scream of denial torn from his raw throat.
Except it didn’t connect.
The hunters were all staring in shock at the faint blue glowing mist that was surrounding both Boyd and Erica and that had stilled the sword in its path.
“What the fuck is that?” One of the others hunters growled, watching in fascination as the first hunter swung the sword downwards again and once again it was stopped by the glow around them.
“Keep trying.” George ordered, lifting his weight off Stiles ever so slightly to look at the scene in front of him. The hunters kept hitting at the glowing mist, eventually trying to kick and punch and even shoot through the mist. Stiles felt a little bit nauseous at that, like something was pulling at his gut, an odd tickling sensation that made him feel sick.
He could see the mist beginning to shift in places and he wasn’t sure how he knew but he knew that it was cracking, that soon it would fall and Boyd and Erica would both die. No! He screamed in his mind, they have to be saved, he had to protect them, he had to do something.
He felt something building inside him, he wasn’t sure what it was but there was something inside him, something powerful and warm, something that felt safe. Protect them, he whispered to whatever it was, please protect them.
The feeling of power and warmth spread quickly through his body until he was squeezing his eyes shut and fighting back a scream, his teeth gritted together and his whole body arching in pain, George’s weight leaving him suddenly and he pulled himself to his knees, the heat forming in the pit of his stomach. Then suddenly it was leaving just as quickly, Stiles cracked open his eyes and saw lightning arching around the clearing, multitudes of colours sparking off him and forming a dome around him, the four hunters approaching him with weapons clenched tightly in their hands.
He could see Erica and Boyd just outside of the dome, still lying motionless, he was terrified they were already dead. He screamed then, the lightning overtaking him and he felt completely out of control, he couldn’t do this, he wouldn’t survive this, it hurt. It hurt so much. He couldn’t control this, he wasn’t strong enough.
The lightning was sparking everywhere, he could hear the hunters screaming from inside the dome, but he couldn’t see them, all he could see were the sparks of lightning hitting the ground, scorching the earth black where they struck it.
“No!” A voice echoed around the clearing, “No! Please!” one of the hunters was begging, “No! I’m sorry! Please, please stop!” Stiles was screaming in pain over their pleas for mercy, he couldn’t control it, it hurt too much, he wanted it to stop.
“Please.” Another voice screamed, Stiles wasn’t sure who it was, he couldn’t feel anything now beyond the pain and the demand to protect Erica and Boyd, to protect his pack.
He could hear the hunters screaming, begging, he wanted it to stop, he didn’t know how to make it stop. They started to fall silent one by one and Stiles knew they were dying, knew he was killing them, was murdering them and there was nothing he could do about it, he couldn’t stop it.
Eventually there was only George’s voice left screaming and begging and Stiles couldn’t help the small sense of satisfaction he felt when his voice too fell silent.
A few minutes later the lightning stopped and Stiles was left panting on the floor, the earth black around him and only dust to show the remains of the hunters.
When he finally managed to catch his breath and look around he was relieved to see that Erica and Boyd both seemed to be completely unharmed. He crawled forwards, his body screaming at him in exhaustion, he needed to rest, he needed to sleep. But he couldn’t, not yet, he needed to keep going, for them, for the pack.
He felt the warmth in his stomach again and it gave him enough strength to get up, to push forwards. He shook both of them lightly, called out their names, but there was no reply.
“Come on, Erica, Boyd, wake up.” Stiles urged, shaking them weakly. There was no response.
He stumbled to his feet, looking around for something, anything he could use. There was nothing, he was in the middle of the woods in his boxers with no weapons and no defence, two unconscious werewolves and surrounded by the ash of the men he murdered.
“Please,” He sobbed, “Please, help me.” He muttered. There was no-one here to help him, other than the ball of warmth in his stomach. He knew he wouldn’t be any use here, he needed to get help. He needed to get to Derek, to their Alpha, then he could come back and get Erica and Boyd. He glanced back at the two wolves who were still not moving and the faint blue mist that was fading from around them. “Protect them.” He whispered almost silently and was surprised when the mist seemed to strengthen around Erica and Boyd and he felt the warmth pull slightly in their direction.
He wasn’t sure what to feel, whatever this was inside him obviously protected Erica and Boyd, but it had also helped him to murder four men, and okay they weren’t innocent human beings, in fact, they were pretty horrible human beings, but still, he’d murdered them. They’d begged and pleaded and he’d murdered them. He’d tried to stop it, tried to stop the lightning but he couldn’t. He couldn’t control it and he’d murdered them.
He stumbled away from the clearing, hating the fact that he was leaving the two of them behind but knowing he couldn’t do anything to help them by staying here. His injuries throbbed with every movement and he tried not to sob in pain as he made his way back towards the house.
He was glad to find the house was empty when he arrived, his clothes still scattered on the table downstairs. He managed to find a damp cloth and wipe off most of his blood, causing some of the wounds to start bleeding again. He sighed heavily, rooting around the basement until he found some bandages and applied them quickly before putting on his clothes as gently as he could.
He raided the kitchen until he found some good painkillers and swallowed a handful not caring that he was probably overdosing. He was a murderer. The words kept echoing in repeat in his mind, he was a murderer, he’d killed them. He left the house, stealing the keys for one of Gerard’s vehicles and driving slowly back into town.
He ditched it at the school where his jeep was still parked in the car park and slid lovingly into the old seats. He took a deep breath, trying to figure out what his next move was going to be. He leaned over and opened his glovebox, pulling out his phone that he’d stashed there before the game. He winced as he sat back up straight, his back throbbing in agony, his whole body screaming at him to stop, to wait, to rest, to sleep. But he couldn’t do that, not if he wanted to protect Scott, his dad, Derek, the rest of the pack.
The screen showed over thirty missed calls and texts, some from his dad, some from Scott. His fingers hesitated over the screen, he wasn’t sure he wanted to know what had happened in his absence. He knew Gerard had ordered Jackson to kill himself so that he could evolve into the Alpha kanima. He didn’t know if anyone else knew that information.
His phone vibrated in his hand again and he looked to see a text from Scott. Not a text asking where he was or what happened to him or anything like that, no, it was a text saying that Jackson was turning into some kind of Alpha kanima and that he needed Stiles to come to an old warehouse where they were all meeting, and possibly bring Lydia because she might be able to save Jackson.
Stiles stared at his phone in shock for a few minutes, unable to believe that Scott, his Scott, hadn’t even looked for him. He felt tears building behind his eyes and the warmth inside sighed, almost as if giving him a gentle hug, Stiles tried not to freak out over it, whatever it was.
He turned on the ignition, running his hands soothingly over the steering wheel before trying to figure out where the hell Lydia might be. He knew he didn’t have much time, but he didn’t know how he was going to do this, how was he going to find Lydia? He felt a tug in his chest and ran a hand across his chest, wondering what the hell that was, then it pulled at him again and he understood. He wasn’t going to ask how it happened, for once he was just going to go with it without thinking the worst was about to happen. You murdered four men, the voice in his head supplied.
“I protected Erica and Boyd.” Stiles muttered in reply, trying not to worry about the fact he was talking to himself.
He turned the wheel in the same direction as the pull and within a few minutes he found Lydia sat in her car on his street, which surprised him but he decided not to question it. He pulled up behind her and got slowly out of the jeep. Lydia saw him coming and got out of her car, taking in his bruised face with a look of confusion on her face.
“What happened?” She asked, he shrugged, he didn’t want to tell her, didn’t want to tell her that he was a murderer.
“Come on,” Stiles said, motioning to his jeep, “We’ve got to go.”
“Go where?” Lydia asked but she was already heading around to the passenger side of the vehicle.
“There might be a way to save Jackson, I’ll tell you on the way.” Stiles said, climbing back in and revving the engine before going to the warehouse. He told her, told her everything, about going out to find Laura’s body in the woods, Scott getting bitten, Peter Hale being a psychopath, Derek becoming the Alpha, the others all receiving the bite, Gerard Argent and Allison. He may have missed out all the information relating to tonight, he didn’t need her to know that he was weak, that he’d been kidnapped and then murdered four men to escape, God, he’d killed them, he’d killed them.
“Stiles,” Lydia said sounding concerned, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, yeah I’m fine.” He said slowly, nodding in agreement, trying to fake the fact he was fine, hopefully succeeding. Lydia paused for a moment and then nodded and Stiles felt himself relax slightly.
It didn’t take them long to get to the warehouse, his phone beeping constantly and Lydia reading out the texts to him. He gritted his teeth, knowing that he had no choice but to drive his jeep through the wall and hope for the best.
He squeezed his eyes shut and floored it, smashing through the wall easily and then slamming to a stop when he felt it connect solidly with something. He opened his eyes and saw the kanima sprawled across the floor, Lydia was already rushing out of the passenger door, running to Jackson, calling his name.
Stiles could only watch in shock, looking around him at the devastation in the warehouse. Isaac had two knives sticking out of his chest, Peter stood next to him, Scott was clutching onto Allison like his life depended on it, Chris looking at Jackson in astonishment.
Stiles looked at Jackson who was slowly returning to human form and Lydia was smiling at him with such love in her eyes that Stiles couldn’t help but grimace slightly, once up on a time he had loved Lydia, it was only recently when he’d got to know her a little bit that he realised he didn’t love her the way he thought he had done, that he only loved her as a friend, it was nice to see her happy but he still thought she could do better than Jackson.
He watched in muted horror as Derek and Peter both stabbed Jackson with their claws and then felt the astonishment as Jackson finally became a werewolf just as he had wanted all along.
He leaned against the jeep afterwards, resting his raw back against the cool metal but not applying any pressure. God, he hurt, he hurt so much and he was so tired. But he couldn’t stop, not yet, not when there were still things he needed to do. He closed his eyes, he could rest, just for a moment he could rest.
He felt hands grab at the material of his shirt, slam him hard into the jeep and he fought back the urge to cry out in pain. Stiles opened his eyes and saw Derek glaring at him in hatred.
“I knew I couldn’t trust you.” Derek spat.
“What?” Stiles said confused.
“I knew it, I always knew it.” Derek raged, and Stiles stood there in silence confused as to what the hell was going on, “I should have known. Scott wasn’t smart enough to come up with that plan on his own, it was you, it must have been you.”
“I don’t know what you’re on about.” Stiles supplied, looking around at the warehouse, nobody else seemed to have noticed their conversation and he wished he could have a little back up to help with the angry Alpha.
“Scott was working with Gerard!” Derek growled, “But you knew that already didn’t you? You were the one who thought up that stupid plan, you are the only one manipulative and deceitful enough to do it, you act like you’re my friend, act like I can trust you and then all along you are plotting this behind my back.”
“Derek, I promise you…” Stiles started, cutting off when Derek slammed him back into the jeep again and Stiles fought back the urge to scream in pain.
“Don’t lie to me. You planned this, you’ve been working with Gerard, I know it. Don’t lie to me.”
“I’m not lying. Listen to my heartbeat, listen to me, I’m telling you the truth.” Stiles insisted still trying to process the idea that Scott had been working with Gerard, how was that possible? How could Scott have done this?
“You’re just a very good liar.” Derek snarled, “I don’t trust you. Why would I? You’re not pack, why the hell would I ever trust you?”
“What?” Stiles said, his heart beating rapidly, Derek couldn’t mean that, he couldn’t. Derek stared at him, obviously registering the look of shock on Stiles’ face.
“Oh come on,” He sneered, “You don’t actually think I’d want someone like you in my pack?” Stiles felt like he’d just been punched in the stomach. “You think I want some pathetic human who’s only use is being a sarcastic little shit? Someone who I can’t rely on? Someone who would betray me the first opportunity he gets?”
“Derek,” Stiles began, “I didn’t…”
“Save it Stiles. I don’t believe a word you say.” Derek growled walking away from Stiles who was still stood against the jeep in complete and utter shock.
He was trying to process everything, Scott had been working with Gerard, Gerard and his goons had beaten the living crap out of him, had nearly killed Erica and Boyd, he had somehow managed to save them although he wasn’t sure how he’d done it, or even if he had done it, and he’d murdered four men in the process and after all of that, after everything he’d done for the pack, Derek didn’t want him. He felt like he was falling apart.
Scott approached him slowly, an arm slung around Allison’s shoulder.
“Dude,” Scott said, “What happened to your face?” Stiles licked his lips nervously and felt the split in his lip.
“What do you think happened Scott?” He hissed angrily.
“I don’t know Stiles, you tell me. You disappeared off the lacrosse field, you left without telling anyone where you were going.” Scott said just as Jackson and Lydia appeared.
“Don’t tell me you got spooked and ran Stilinski?” Jackson gloated and Stiles frowned.
“No.” Stiles replied, his whole body was throbbing with pain and he just couldn’t understand this, surely Derek was mistaken. “You were working with Gerard?” Stiles said gazing at Scott, he wanted him to deny him, wanted him to tell him it wasn’t true.
“I had to.” Scott replied, “He was threatening my mum, and he was threatening Allison.”
“Right.” Stiles said slowly, “So that made it okay to do this?”
“Derek will get over it.” Scott replied, Jackson and Allison nodded in agreement whereas Lydia just looked at him with concern.
“What about me?” Stiles asked.
“What about you?” Jackson sneered, “Why would he care about you Stilinski? He’s a freaking werewolf. What are you? Nothing. That’s what.”
“Jackson.” Lydia scolded, “Stiles got me here. If he hadn’t then you’d be dead or worse.”
“Anyone could have done that.” Isaac piped up from nearby and Scott nodded in agreement.
“Yeah.” Stiles said, already heading for the driver’s side of the jeep, trying to ignore the voice in his head that was telling him he was a murderer, that he deserved this. “You’re right. Anyone could have done it. It takes someone pretty special to betray our Alpha though. To betray me like that.” Stiles said coldly.
“I didn’t betray you Stiles.” Scott said. “I came up with the plan all by myself, just because I didn’t tell you doesn’t make it a betrayal.”
“You knew what Gerard was going to do and you didn’t tell me.” Stiles replied, knowing he needed to leave and soon, he was finding it hard to breathe, he knew he was about to have a panic attack, he needed to get away and calm down by himself. He needed to leave. Scott had chosen Allison over him, Scott had sacrificed him to Gerard in order to save Allison. He couldn’t breathe.
“I get it.” Scott hissed, “You always think you’ll have a better plan, always come up with something smarter, something that I never could. You think that if you monopolize that then I’ll still need you Stiles, but you’re wrong. I came up with this by myself. I’m so sick of you thinking you always know best. You don’t.”
“I know.” Stiles said sadly, he didn’t know what was best, he’d murdered four men to protect two members of a pack who didn’t even want him. He should have just let them kill him. He wanted to say something, wanted to defend himself, but this was Scott, this was his brother in all but blood, how could he tell him? How could he tell him that he’d murdered four people? Four people that had tortured him for information, four people that had been working for Gerard, when Scott was also working for Gerard. And Scott had known? He handed Stiles over to Gerard in order to spare his mum and Allison? Was that where Stiles’ fitted into his life now?
He was driving away before he even had time to process the fact that Scott was still talking. He couldn’t deal with this, he couldn’t. He was falling apart and he hurt and he just wanted to rest. He knew he couldn’t though, Erica and Boyd were still out in the woods, hurt and alone, he needed to get to them before he could rest.
But he needed a plan. He headed back to his house, sighed heavily when he saw his dad’s cruiser on the driveway, he hadn’t even thought about how worried his dad must be. He opened the door slowly, not surprised to see his dad already coming through from the kitchen and staring at him like the sun had just risen.
“Stiles!” He called out in surprise, “Oh thank God!” He said already rushing forward and pulling his son into a hug, Stiles winced as his injuries were touched but he tried not to let it show. “What happened?” His dad asked already pulling away from him and looking at the injuries on his face, “Kid, what happened? Where did you go? Who did this?”
“I’m okay dad.” Stiles said, he didn’t want to lie his dad, he was fed up with lying to him about every single thing, but he couldn’t tell him, he couldn’t tell him what he’d done, he’d killed them, he’d murdered them, his dad would have no choice but to take him in, he couldn’t put him in that position.
“You’re not.” His dad replied. “Stiles, please talk to me.”
“I can’t dad.” Stiles said, feeling on the verge of tears, “I can’t lie to you anymore, I can’t. But I can’t tell you this. I’m sorry.” His dad studied him for a minute, his eyes wide with worry, Stiles could tell his dad was scared for him and it was making him angry to feel so helpless.
“Tell me you’re okay? That it’s not drugs or something?”
“It’s not drugs.” Stiles replied and his dad relaxed slightly. “I promise dad, if I could tell you this, I would. I promise. But it’s not my secret to tell. I’m just trying to protect you.”
“Stiles, I’m the adult, I’m supposed to be protecting you. Please, kid, you can trust me, let me protect you.”
“I do trust you. Dad, I trust you. I love you. I want to tell you, I promise that I would if I could, I want to, I just, I can’t. Please don’t make me.” Stiles said and that seemed to finish it, his dad breaking eye contact and looking more troubled than he had done before.
“Okay, okay, I won’t ask you anymore details Stiles, but I’m here, if you ever need to talk I’m here, okay?” Stiles nodded, not trusting himself to speak. His dad gripped his face again, studying the cuts and looking at him with worry.
“I’m okay dad, just some guys on the other team roughed me up a bit. I promise you. I’ll be fine.”
“You best had be.” His dad said seriously and Stiles nodded before finally heading up the stairs and to his room. He wanted to lie down in bed, wanted to cry and break and fall apart, but he couldn’t, not yet, he had a job to do, he needed to get to Erica and Boyd.
He pulled out a map of the town, trying to locate where he thought they were in the preserve, he wasn’t sure what he would need to help them get back on their feet, the only thing he could think would be to drive his jeep close enough to them and then haul them into the jeep, he wasn’t sure how he was going to do that, he could probably lift Erica but there was no chance he’d be lifting Boyd, not without help.
He heard his dad leave the house a few minutes later and he couldn’t help but be a little grateful, he didn’t want to fake that he was okay, he needed all of his energy just to keep going. He started to pack a few things when he felt a weird pulling sensation in his stomach, just like he had earlier when the mist had appeared around Erica and Boyd, he had a moment to worry about what the hell it meant when the sensation got stronger and his knees buckled.
“Oh God,“ He muttered, he felt dizzy, really dizzy. He felt the weird tugging again and everything started to darken around the edges of his vision. “Help.” He muttered, knowing there was nobody around to hear him. He felt the tugging sensation again and everything faded to black around him.
Erica woke up in the woods with absolutely no idea where she was or how she got there. The last thing she remembered was Gerard injecting her with something, but she was sure it had been daylight then, now it was the middle of the night at least. She looked around her and gasped in shock when she saw Boyd next to her, a faint blue mist surrounding his motionless body.
“Boyd!” She said, shaking him until he began to stir, she watched as his eyes blinked open and the blue mist around him began to fade.
“Erica?” He said in confusion, “Where are we? What are we doing here?”
“We’re in the preserve. I think we need to get back to Derek. Check that everyone is okay.” Boyd nodded in agreement and they got slowly to their feet, both of them staring at the circle of blackened earth only a few feet away from them. “What happed do you think?” Erica mumbled but Boyd only shrugged, neither of them could think of an explanation for what had happened here.
“Do you remember anything?” Boyd asked.
“No, last thing was Gerard injecting me.”
“Me too.” Boyd said, sniffing discreetly, “Smells weird though.” He said.
“Yeah.” Erica agreed, “Like lightning.” Boyd nodded in agreement. “We should get going, we need to warn Derek if it’s not too late.”
“Okay.” He agreed and they started back towards town.
They had barely run for five minutes when a man stepped in front of them, it was obvious that he was an Alpha, the bright glowing red eyes gave him away. Erica and Boyd slowed to a stop and looked around nervously when several other Alpha’s moved to surround them. Erica noticed that there was a girl struggling against one of the other wolves and she quickly realized that they were planning on doing the same to them.
Almost immediately after that thought a fist was swung towards her head and she flinched backwards, knowing she wouldn’t avoid it in time and gasping in surprise when the blue mist returned and the Alpha’s fist was pushed away from her.
“What the hell is that?” One of the Alpha’s said, staring at the mist around both Erica and Boyd and trying to attack them again, the mist still stopped him.
Boyd swung a massive fist in his direction and they both watched in amazement at the fist connected solidly and the man went down hard.
“Ennis!” The only woman in the group called out, snarling at them as she ran over to Ennis to check he was okay. Erica and Boyd both started to move backwards towards the now gap in the clearing and Boyd reached out and pulled the other beta towards them, she came easily and the other Alpha’s were just staring at them in a mix of amazement and anger.
They walked backwards for a few minutes until the Alpha’s were out of sight, Erica quickly undoing the ropes of the other beta’s wrists and removing her gag.
“Are you okay?” Erica whispered and the other girl nodded, looking at the mist that still surrounded them.
“What is this?” She whispered quietly and Erica and Boyd both shrugged.
“Derek might know, we should get back to him. Check he’s alright.” Erica said and the girl stared at them with wide eyes.
“Derek? Derek Hale? He’s the Alpha?” She asked and Boyd nodded, “I’m, oh god, I never thought, I didn’t know he’d survived.” They looked at her in confusion, “I’m Cora, Cora Hale. Derek’s my brother.” They were stunned into silence.
Boyd glanced nervously at the woods around them.
“Come on, we should hurry, we don’t know who else is out here.” He said ushering the girls ahead of him and glancing back to where the Alpha’s might be coming from, he didn’t know what this mist was or how long it would last, he did know he didn’t want to be out here when it disappeared.
They ran quickly through the preserve and were back in town within fifteen minutes, already tracking the scent of their Alpha and finding him at the train station easily.
“Derek!” Erica called out and she saw Derek glance up at them in surprise and then freeze when he saw Cora. He moved towards them silently, as if in a trance, unable to believe the sight before his eyes.
“Cora?” He questioned, his voice breaking with emotion and tears spilling from his eyes as she nodded and he pulled her into a tight hug. Peter appeared from the shadows and stared at them in surprise before he too moved towards them and pulled Cora into a hug. “I don’t understand. How are you here? How are you alive?” He asked in confusion.
Derek was in shock, he knew that. His wolf was howling sorrowfully despite the fact that Cora was standing here alive in front of him and he knew it was because of what he’d said to Stiles. The moment he’d met Stiles he knew he was his mate, he smelt a thousand times better than Kate had, he was a million times more irresistible, but Derek couldn’t trust him, he’d trusted Kate and look where that had gotten him, and then, just when he was beginning to think that he could trust Stiles, that Stiles might actually be his true mate, he’d betrayed him, he’d worked with Scott to give Gerard the bite. Then Stiles had waltzed in and saved the day and Derek was so mad at himself for ever trusting Stiles, he’d seen how hurt Stiles looked when Derek said he wasn’t pack and Derek had gone with it, shoved it in Stiles’ face that he was only human that Derek would never want him in the pack. He knew it was harsh but Stiles had betrayed him. He couldn’t let himself fall for it again, he couldn’t let himself believe that Stiles actually cared about him.
So he’d said some horrible things and then run back here to mourn his loss in solitude, except then Peter was there and now Erica and Boyd and, and, Cora, his sister, someone he never thought he’d see again. He wanted to be happy, wanted to be glad to see her, but all his wolf could think about was Stiles, how they’d yelled at him and said horrible things and to go fix it now. He couldn’t. He scowled. Stiles betrayed him. He couldn’t and wouldn’t miss him.
“There was a pack of Alpha’s in the woods.” Erica supplied and Derek blinked, he hadn’t been aware they were talking, his mind still caught up on the fact that Stiles betrayed him and Cora was alive.
“An Alpha pack?” Peter asked in confusion.
“Yeah. They caught me a few weeks ago when I was coming in this direction, I’d heard rumours that there was a Hale as Alpha and I had to come, I had to know who had survived, I didn’t expect to find both of you.” Cora said, still looking on the verge of tears, “Was there anyone else? Did anyone else survive?”
“No.” Derek said firmly, he wasn’t about to tell Cora that Laura had survived only to be murdered by Peter, after all the wolf hadn’t been in his right mind, it wasn’t fair to blame him really. Peter looked at him in surprise but then nodded, he could understand what Derek was thinking.
“I just, I can’t believe this.” Cora muttered and Derek couldn’t help but agree.