Chapter Text
NOT ABANDONED!
Blabbing at the end.
Enjoy your read. (Not edited all mistakes are mine)
Chapter 15: Too Young for this shit.
*Talia's Pov*
Benjamin Delco's tyranny as Alpha faded much like a bad dream. It only took three weeks for the pack to completely forget the man. No one dared to whisper the name Benjamin Delco; no one dared to think about him. He was treated like the bogey man- in a funny way, I thought it all to be rather like Voldemort. The scars he left behind would never fade, but no one talked about him. No one spoke a word about his death or the ways they suffered.
Was it ignorance?
I'm not sure, but it was probably stupid.
I had little care to give about the formerly known Delco pack and its dead has been Alpha.
For me, (my second) Life couldn't have been better.
"LIA!"
"You're it Mikey!"
"NOT FAIR I WASN'T READY!"
Michael and I were chasing after each other. Free to roam and race each other without care; our parents watching fondly from the bench seats. The park was empty save for our parents. Isabella Bloom was loudly cackling while she chatted with my parents. My mother was curled comfortably in my father's arms. My father paying half his attention to their conversation while the other half kept careful watch on Michael and me.
It took six years for this to be normal.
It took six years of abuse, fear and terror for my parents to be free to be their true selves.
Talia Delco had been a strong little girl.
But Talia Hale- my name, my true name finally being used- was a survivor.
Emily West, Talia Delco- two of my selves who'd served me well but suffered greatly in their lives.
Talia Hale was my new beginning.
A third try at living a life more at ease.
A third try at creating a better afterlife.
"Caught you!"
I shrieked at suddenly being lifted and tossed up into the air. The rush of air and the swooping of my stomach incredibly thrilling. I grunted at being caught in large arms and laughed without care. My father stared down at me with a wide smile and mischievously placed me on his shoulders. I stood and balanced on them, laughing at the fun I was having. Michael laughed with me- then joined me and together we balanced carefully on the shoulders of my father.
I didn't care about anything else.
"I'm sorry Thomas and Mallory. There is nothing I can do."
Thomas and Mallory silently stared at the emissary before them. The words he'd spoken slowly sinking in and confirming their worst fears. Marcus made sure his face remained expression free, knowing if he dared to pity the couple it would only be insulting. Life was cruel, and Thomas and Mallory suffered greatly through it. Without a word, Mallory stood and left. She gave no goodbye or even spared a glance to her mate. Thomas closed his eyes and exhaled heavily.
"Thank you Marcus."
Emissary Marcus can't help but notice the lack of surprise in his tone. He points it out verbally, cautious- just in case the wolf before him lashed out.
"You don't sound surprised."
Thomas attempts to give a smile but only manages a half-hearted grimace.
"I suspected as much."
Thomas leaves, but he doesn't go home.
Not yet.
He knows Mallory well-enough to know she'd not be home tonight. The father in him told him to go find Talia, to find her and just-just focus on her. The wolf- the (supposed to be) Alpha in him raged and urged him to run.
Thomas just wanted to be alone.
Not forever… just-just for a second… or two… he just- just needed to breathe.
He collapsed to his knees and sobbed after the first exhale and then onwards just couldn't stop crying. He's deep enough in the woods that no one would bother him. Far enough from home that Talia- his pup, his daughter, the most important thing in his life- wouldn't accidently hear or come across him. Thomas needed to be strong as his worst fears had just been confirmed true.
Thomas Hale….. Would never be returning home to Beacon Hills.
Benjamin Delco may be dead but the bastard had still won.
He was bound and imprisoned to this territory, unable to ever leave.
Cursed.
He's not sure how long he spent crying alone, but eventually the father in him fought his way to the front of his mind. He stopped his tears, buried the grief and furious rage of his wolf to the deepest parts of his soul.
Thomas Hale may never be able to go home, but he still had something to live for.
Someone that needed him to be strong.
He'd not even turned the corner when he heard her cry out his name with giddy excitement.
"DADDY!"
He bent and welcomed her into his arms, and clung to her.
Memorised her scent, the feel of her small shape in his arms. He anchored himself to the little girl he'd willingly do anything for just to see her smile. Thomas knew that although he'd lost the most, he'd be better at coping than Mallory. He might have suffered but Benjamin Delco had broken her and now made sure she could never escape and start anew.
He clung tightly to his most precious treasure in life, and privately vowed to dedicate his years to her well-being.
Thomas Hale may be cursed but he will see to it that Talia Hale will be safe.
Above all else, Thomas will ensure his daughter lives her life free of the torture he's endured in his life.
Nothing in his life matters more.
Mallory blindsides him- they all do.
Thomas suspected nothing when he happened upon their gathered group. All he noted was the sour stench in the air and the grieving expression his little brothers wore. He looked to his father and found nothing but pure anguish and his sister's eyes raged coldly.
He instinctively looks upwards and focuses to hear the slow rise of Talia's breath and beating heart. Once he is certain she is truly sleeping, he turns to face his family. Briefly noting the unrepentant expression his mate wears. At the back of his conscience he feels his wolf stir, apprehensive of the atmosphere around him.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Cordelia is the one to respond. Any other day he would think fondly of it, proud and relived that despite the years he still knew her ways well enough. Today, he is on edge, ready for something but anxious as to what it could possibly be. He doesn't know why it feels as if he is readying for a battle of sorts. Not when he is among his most loved and trusted.
"When would you have deemed it time to tell us, brother!??" She hisses.
He flinches at the emphasis she puts on the term 'brother' hating how degrading and aggressive it sounds.
A single glance to where Mallory watches silently informs him of everything.
The Wolf in him wants to rage in defense. He claws and pushes in the back of his mind, demanding control. Thomas refuses to give in, instead he focuses on the grieving anguish on his brothers and father's faces. He lets their reactions be his reason and turns to address his mate with a tight expression.
"You told them." he calmly accuses.
Mallory does not cower, she never did and that was partly why he loved her. She returns his address with the same tone.
"You didn't."
James interrupts before anything more could erupt between him and his mate. A relief, as Thomas isn't too confident of how his wolf and Mallory would react. She's different from before and everything is still too raw.
"How do we know the Emissary was right!?"
Arthur pipes in just as quickly, supporting his twin with fruitless hope.
"Yeah!? The Emissary could be lying! He's stayed quiet and served Delco for so long, he could be-"
Thomas wishes it were true, but he's not cruel enough to let his brothers live in their fantasy. He firmly shakes his head and sternly speaks.
"I trust Marcus. He's trustworthy enough."
It hurts to see how his optimistic little brothers wilt at his words.
Everything hurts.
Thomas looks at Mallory and she defiantly stares back without expression. He asks her with his eyes if this is what she wanted. He doesn't understand why she would tell them- Can't see the purpose in letting them know. Cordelia steps forward with a snarl on her lips and her eyes bleeding red.
"YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO COME HOME!" she growls.
The Alpha power that charges through her wolf sparks wildly both in her eyes and voice. He feels only the slightest of twinges but easily brushes it off. Cordelia may be the Hale Alpha now, but she was never supposed to be. He could never see her as his Alpha, only his wild little sister. Behind her, James and Arthur cringe and submit, when Samson attempts to interfere, Cordelia orders him silent. The tension in the room rises at that, but Samson's wolf recognises Cordelia as the new alpha and he obeys.
"You were supposed to be the Alpha!" she snarls.
If he squints to see past the crimson red of her eyes, he can see the utter heartbreak in his little sister's eyes. Guilt twists and squeezes his insides and all Thomas can do is whisper his apology.
"I'm sorry…."
James and Arthur begin to tremble, no longer able to keep hold over their wolves. The atmosphere among them is heavy- almost toxic, with angry grief and betrayal. Then Samson speaks with a tone of persuasive hesitance…. His words dripping with suggestion.
But his hesitance does nothing as Thomas stiffens completely at the implied hint.
"And what about Talia…. Is she the same?"
Thomas was raised to become the Hale Alpha. He knew pack politics, was aware of the hard decisions Alpha's needed to make to protect the pack. He knew that a large part of being the Alpha of a pack, demanded a high amount of sacrifice. The first lesson he'd ever been taught was this.
The Alpha does what is needed for the good of the pack.
But he is not an Alpha- Benjamin Delco had seen to that.
Thomas was NOT an Alpha.
He darts a quick glance to his mate and finds confirmation to his suspicions by the way she stubbornly returns his glance.
Betrayed is too light a word to describe how he feels.
They argue.
Late into the night.
All of them hissing out their reasons and barely maintaining control over their wolves.
Eventually, he kicks them out.
Sends them away because he needs to think about this.
He needs to talk to Mallory.
They leave.
He looks to his mate and stares at her.
"Why...Why would you push for me to do this?" he whispers.
She bends down, places a hand on his knee and stares deep into his eyes.
"Because we promised our child would be FREE!" she passionately implores.
He gets it.
Understands exactly why Mallory would consider this the best option for their baby girl.
But Talia is not just his daughter.
She is his world… and they want to take her away from him.
"I promised that she would be SAFE!" he snarls, letting his wolf come to the surface with the outburst.
Mallory recoils back but she does not leave or cower.
"And she will be…. but not if we keep her here." Mallory counters coldly.
Then Thomas is left alone.
The world around him spins and his wolf rages in his mind. By the time morning comes it's no different, but then he hears his precious baby girl- his darling reason- his reason to live and everything stops just for a second.
"Morning!" Talia yawns as she stumbles her way to him, cuddling his sides.
He centres himself with the feel of her in his arms and the beat of her heart. He loses himself to the scent of strawberries and mint and when Mallory comes in, he musters up an empty smile. They play happy family but the argument is not over.
Thomas will fight his sister, brothers', and father if he has to.
He will fight Mallory too.
He won't let them take his baby girl.
*Talia's Pov*
There was a strange tension among the adults. Something I couldn't quite puzzle out. Any other day I would have ignored it, it's not my problem. Surely, it mustn't be anything too important, probably just normal adult problems like taxes or something…. Right?
"Boop! You're distracted again Lia!" Michael sang as he poked my cheek.
I sighed and flopped back on our kiddie mat and stared up at the fan. It was hypnotic and soothing to watch.
He was right…. I was distracted.
"Wanna talk about it?" He casually offered as he continued to draw.
Not really, but not talking about it meant stewing in the feeling longer.
Would talking about my issues to a child really help?
I let out a sigh and decided to try it anyway.
"Something's up with the grown-ups."
"Is it bad?" he questioned sounding worried.
"I dunno….. Did your Mama say anything?"
"Mmh… nope, but she's been busy with Jared's dad. I did hear her say that a lot of the pack wants to leave."
"tch… good. Let them go if they want" I muttered.
I had no care for the rest of this pack. Let them leave. Who needs them now that Bejamin Delco was gone? He'd only wanted them for the numbers anyway. Just as I was starting to fall deeper into my rather broody thoughts, Michael's face appeared above me tilted sideways much like an actual pup.
"You're worried." He declares with a nod.
I can only give a heavy sigh and poke him in the centre of his forehead.
"A little. But it's probably nothing."
It had to be nothing.
I should have known better than to hope.
The silent war among the adults comes to an end the day I discover the truth of it all.
The spark that lit the flame could be traced to sweet and well-meaning Michael. After sharing space with my boring broody self for another two days, Michael stomped his way home and all but demanded his mom explain why I was all mopey. The problem starts when Isabella genuinely has no idea as to what the hell was going on, prompting her to confront me herself.
After a very brief explanation, Isabella then stomps her way home with Michael and I under each arm.
It should really be known that one should never invite the fury of a Bloom.
Namely one Isabella Bloom.
She stomped her way to our house with a snarl on her lips that would send any sensible being running. All the while Michael giggled under her left arm while I uncomfortably groaned under her right.
It was truly a sight to see.
It was probably Samson who heard her first, or maybe one of my Uncles? Whoever it was must have sent out a warning to my parents. By the time Isabella Bloom, in all her fury, had reached the front of the house, my family were crowded in wait.
"Bella?" my mother prompted with caution.
Behind her I could sense the tense hostility radiating from my Uncles. It was clear neither of them trusted the angry she-wolf. I also noticed Samson's twitchy fidgeting as he stared at Isabella's grip around me. The unease in my belly grew worse, especially when I realised my father was no where to be seen.
Thomas Hale roars and the ground, the trees and every breathing creature trembles at the sound. Behind him follows Jared's dad and Emissary Marcus. I remember briefly thinking it interesting that the two men followed behind my father instead of Joshua Quinn, who for all accounts, was the official new Alpha for the pack. But the furious rage in my father's eyes was far more distracting.
"What is going on here?" He demanded.
My mother backs away from Isabella and shifts back into her human form, but her eyes are still an unnaturally cold blue. I dart my gaze between my parents, watching how Isabella prowls over to my father's side, and feel as if my heart is being strangled. Behind me, Michael whimpers from my painful grip around his arm, and his claws dig into my back. I'm too terrified to acknowledge the pain of it. The divide among us was clear and my parents were on opposing sides.
"Thomas, you're scaring the children," Samson scolds with warning.
Maybe the tension was influencing my perception on everything? Maybe I was hearing things I wanted to hear or feel at the time? Regardless, Samson's tone and words sounded like a threat to my young ears, and I flinched at the sound. Only then did my father notice my presence. Only then did he realise that I was all but shielding Michael from the aggressive adults.
"Lia!" He names before hurrying to me and checking me over.
At his touch, scenting and fretting, I feel my defences soften but not drop. While Michael desperately takes comfort from my father's worrying when it turns to him, I consider my mother who watches from where she stands beside Samson. My defences soften, but do not drop as it is clear whatever is happening is far from over.
"Daddy…." I quietly whisper.
He turns to me with those forest green eyes, their clouded and glazed with whatever thoughts are running through his mind. I don't like it. I don't like any of this. I hope he can see the fear I feel, the uncertainty and desperate question of 'WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?' in my child eyes.
Perhaps he does…
"Oh baby… my sweet darling girl…." He whispers in return.
Something in his tone terrifies me. It sounds too much like defeat and goodbye laced into one. He holds my smaller hands tightly in his larger ones and then turns to where his family and my mother stand watching.
"You won't change your mind will you…." He solemnly says, looking towards my mother.
My mother's eyes are still a cold inhumane blue, her gaze piercing and sharp. She doesn't say anything in reply, and in a way, that's an answer itself. Isabella snarls but my father's short order for her to stay put causes her to back down. Then Samson steps forward, looking as if he wants to comfort my father…. Yet…. His eyes constantly dart towards me.
I shiver at the attention he gives me as it feels ominous and dooming.
"Thomas, son, you know it is only for the best…. We're not trying to hurt you or anything…."
My father's grip tightens and he's trembling badly. There's a rumble in his throat, something feral and beastly. I try to catch his eye but he's too tall and distracted. Whatever expression he wears, or look in his eyes, seems to strike fear in his siblings. Not even my Alpha Aunt can bring herself to meet my father's gaze.
Only my mother stares back, watching her mate with that unyielding stare of hers.
"She is MINE!" Father snarls.
When Samson replies, there's something in his tone that causes me to shiver. It's a tone I recognise and am intimately familiar with. I, too, begin to tremble as my mind quickly makes sense of all that I've witnessed.
"She is a Hale."
It dawns on me like moonlight on the surface of a moonstone at the bottom of a pit of darkness.
The word passes my lips before I even realise, I've responded. All attention turns to me and my trembling frame, clutching tightly to my father's hand. When they look ready to dismiss me once again, I repeat myself, this time louder and stronger.
"My dear-" Samson starts but I cut him off with a growl, just as beastly as my father and cold like my mother.
"NO!"
I'm heaving and my eyes burn, possibly with tears or the sheer brightness of their beta glow. Regardless, I have everyone's attention and their stares bare down on me like mountain weights. I feel Michael at my back and his fingers twisting in my shirt. I feel my father's tight grip on my hands in his larger ones.
I face my mother and Samson and glaringly speak with conviction.
"I am my own. I speak for me."
I ease my grip out of my fathers and walk into the centre and Michael follows me.
The two of us, so tiny and small, standing in between the drawn lines between the gathered adults.
"This is stupid," I verbally voice and there's a laugh from Isabella that sounds so proud.
I turn to my father's family and glare as deadly as possible at each of them.
"Explain."
It's not a request, it's an order.
Surprisingly, after a few minutes of incredulous stares and a battle of stubborn will, they do.
Cordelia considers Thomas's pup with a searching glare. They'd moved the discussion inside, the lines between them all still clear. Cordelia finds herself at the end of the table with her niece across from her. On the left is the Hale pack except for Thomas's bitch. On the right is Thomas and his party of extras.
Although her father is the one speaking with the child, his tone soft and persuasive, she knows he has no real power in the moment.
None of them do.
Cordelia finds herself repeatedly thinking back to the small child's outrageous cry and order outside.
How?
How can a child, a creature so small and barely out of childhood, be capable of issuing an order to so many?
Above all else, why did they all feel that sliver of want to obey!?
Cordelia watches her brother's child with a searching glare.
"Is that all?" the child speaks with a mild scoff that, disbelievingly so, sounds bitter.
"You are a Hale, the only child of my eldest son, and you're pack needs you," Samson softly pleads.
Cordelia flinches at the stab she feels in her heart for her father's callous words. The hatred and anger that comes to life in her surges, encouraged by the pulsing Alpha power in her veins. The growl and flash of red in her eyes catches everyone's attention. But Cordelia ignores them all for the child across from her.
She has the bitch's eyes, an ugly brown that reminds her of dirt and shit.
"What do you think?" the child asks, and Cordelia feels her big brother's eyes watching her with silent desperation.
Cordelia is thinking plenty of things. She's thinking of the pack that await her return with hopeful prayers. She thinks of the agony in her brother's eyes the longer they discuss his pup. She thinks of the hatred she feels for the Bitch who stole her brother away and cursed him to this land. She thinks of her father and his blind grief for a son who can never come home. She thinks of her twin brother's who are tearing themselves apart in attempt to please everyone so no more loss could be had.
Above all else, Cordelia thinks of her own treasure, her own pup which waits for her return in Beacon Hills.
She thinks and understands just how cruel they are being to her Big Brother.
The child speaks before Cordelia can voice anything, her eyes steely and firm. She is the picture-perfect mix of both her parents, but Cordelia refuses to acknowledge anything the child might share with her bitch mother.
"You can't have me," the child starts and Cordelia spies how her father wants to protest.
But the child is obviously addressing no one other than her. Cordelia is uncomfortably impressed by her niece and the sister in her is proud at the obvious show of Thomas's teaching. Obviously, the child hasn't forgotten who holds the Alpha power for the Hale pack.
"Talia!" The bitch warns while glaring at her daughter.
Neither Thomas or his daughter acknowledge her, and Cordelia is gleeful at the obvious anger they wield.
"I don't want you," Cordelia shrugs with a laugh.
"Cordelia," Her father warns just as the bitch had her own pup.
Although he is her father, he is no longer Alpha, and Cordelia is tired. She wants to go home. She wants to forget all the horrible truths and facts she's had to face since coming to this cursed land. When her brother's niece nods her head with pleased acceptance of her words, Cordelia thinks she might warm up to the child the more she gets to know her.
"Then let's discuss a compromise."
Cordelia smirks and she feels her eyes bleed red, her niece doesn't cower back or submit.
She is her brother's daughter alright, and Cordelia will deny it till the day she dies, that apart of her is weeping with joy at knowing she may be able to leave with a piece of her big brother with her.
After a night of discussion, argument and compromise, The Hale's finally leave.
Cordelia can't bring herself to say goodbye to her brother.
Not again.
It's another regret she'll live to have, but for now, her anger and hurt was stronger than her love.
So Good news: you're going to get new chapters.
Sad news: They're going to be a lot shorter than my previous chapters.
They should be quicker though :)
You can all thank octaviaxanadu on Ao3 for being the comment that kicked my ass into gear.
I just don't feel as passionately for Teen Wolf as I used to so the drive to write for these fics isn't there. For me, the story is pretty much done, because I have it plotted out and everything. It's just writing it all into a flowing and sensible fic that keeps me stalled. So when I say the more reviews or interest that's shown in a fic, the more I likely I am to update, I'm seriously not kidding.
I don't feel the need to write if I don't think anyone is interested in reading it.
The more reminders I get that people are waiting the faster I tend to write.
Anyway, Much love and affection to everyone who still supports this story and all my work on this account.
Y'all be the real ones that help me fight through my Mental wars 3