Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Is it going to rain the whole time we’re here?” Malia asked, looking doubtfully out the rain-covered window of the SUV that was waiting for them after they got off the jet. It was late morning and Seattle had greeted them with its most popular weather.

“It might,” Cora mused. She then adopted a serious tone. “So, the Barringer pack has asked for our assistance through Alon, as we know. The reason for the request was kept private, but it was a desperate, life or death ask for assistance. We need to keep everything polite until they tell us their problem. We don’t want to make a joking comment and turn out to be making fun of the very thing they need help with.”

“That’s why you’re the bestest Right Hand ever,” Stiles said, pride jetting through their bond. Cora beamed, but looked out the window so nobody could see. Except Stiles. “If it’s life and death and a desperate ask, then it’s bound to be someone important to the pack.”

“True,” Peter said, changing lanes while following the GPS. “Most times with potential allies on the way, you would be guaranteed the Alpha or one of the Hands would meet you, like Alon did. With none of the pack comfortable enough to leave their den, it might just be multiple lives on the line.”

The passengers in the SUV, already quiet, went still.

“Drive fast but safe, mate,” Stiles ordered.

“Yes, my alpha,” Peter said, face grim, and carefully sped up.

Within twenty minutes they were out of the city and near a forest. There was a huge three-story house that had to be a near city block long. There were multiple doors, a massive wrap around porch with swings and benches. It was a good guess that the entire pack lived in the same house. Impressive. It wasn’t a mansion, it looked like a nice country home. Just multiplied a few dozen times.

While Stiles was staying concentrated, he was putting away the knowledge he was accruing for his Spark book that Raven gave him. He was adding an entire section to the journal to record everything he learns, no matter if it’s Spark related or not. Using his newly released powers, he’d figured out not only how to recreate the book, but because it was so long, he added a spell that just his hand on the cover would ‘pull up’ whatever he was looking for.

They pulled up and when the Alpha and her mate walked out of the house, there was zero doubt who they were.

Stiles noted the rings around their eyes and the puffiness that said they were very tired and very worried.

Piling out of the SUV, Stiles immediately walked up to the Alpha. He bowed his head. “Alpha Barringer, thank you for having us. I’m Alpha Stiles Gajos,” he said and quickly ran through the introductions. “This is going to sound very rude, Alpha, but please just call me Stiles and share your emergency with us. I am very eager to help ease this tremendous grief and fear from your pack and yourselves,” Stiles told them, his Spark was already seeking solutions and vengeance. Something told him much vengeance was in the works and his inner animal was ready to help carry it out.

The alpha teared up and swiped at her pink-lined green eyes, running her hand through her wavy auburn hair. She nodded her head at him in respect. “Sorry, I can’t seem to control when the damn tears come. I thank you, Alpha Gajos, I mean Stiles. I’m Alpha Patricia Barringer, just Patricia please; and this is my alpha mate, Clint. Please come in and I’ll explain.”

“Excellent. Two of my packmates, Isaac and Liam, are happy to help with things are the packhouse if you need them. They both are good with pups or even kitchen work,” Stiles offered. The two had volunteered to help where needed until their alpha required their presence.

“We could definitely use some help in the kitchen. All the parents want to be with their pups,” Clint said, his blonde hair standing on end, blue eyes tired and scared. “I’m going back to Rory after I show them the way.” The man led Isaac and Liam into the packhouse.

Stiles hadn’t offered up Malia because he wanted his two Left Hands with him. He needed to be protected when his Spark was at work. At least for now. It was something he was trying to work through. Peter, Cora, and Malia accompanied Stiles, never questioning why they were there.

Patricia led them down the front of the long house. “About two weeks ago, a number of our little ones, toddlers, lost consciousness. They just fell over. Several were injured because their little bodies just collapsed. We are a pack of nearly seventy and there are a lot of kids, toddlers, and babies here. Always. Now the toddlers lived but nothing was left in them, like their little souls weren’t there anymore,” Patricia told him. Then came to a stop. She cleared her throat, looked down, swallowed hard and looked into Stiles’ eyes, her own full of tears. “It kept happening, younger and younger. Little pups just falling over, and nothing more than the most basic instinct keeps their heart and lungs moving. We have several doctors in the pack and other neighbor packs. They all sent their emissaries and none, even ours, could see anything to fix.  All of them said they were fine as far as any blood tests went. But they’ve needed help eating, most require bottle feeding. We’re keeping round the clock care, but there is nothing we can do. Three days ago,” Patricia said. Her voice cracked. “It hit the infants, the newborns,” she whimpered, putting her hand on her mouth. “My Rory. He’s only twenty-two days old,” she gasped, tears streaking down here face.

Stiles put his hand on her shoulder and filled her with calm. “We are going to fix this. I swear to the Goddess of the Moon, Earth and Beyond, I will make this better,” he said, calm and direct. He had no idea where this confidence was coming from, but after being awkward and talking a million miles an hour while flailing, he was good with it. He figured it had to be the Spark. Raven had wondered if his Spark was the reason for the ADHD and the flailing. Now that his Spark was alive and moving, that energy is being pointed in the direction it was supposed to be in. “Take me to them.”

Patricia swallowed hard and nodded, closing her eyes, and then taking a deep breath. Calm flooded her and she was able to pull the tears back and walk with her head up high, shoulders back. An alpha once more.

They entered the final door and walked down an eerily silent hall. With a pack of seventy or more, there should have been more activity, voices, giggles. Instead, all they heard was the sound of their shoes on the wooden floor.

“This is our clinic slash hospital for our humans. We’ve extended it because there are so many little ones ill,” she told him, still calm.

“How many patients?” Stiles purposely didn’t refer to them as infants or pups. Keep it level, surface. Save emotions for a time when you can afford to feel them. Stiles was pumping up his Spark. Not only to keep his own emotions from overwhelming him - he adored warm, wiggly, cooing babies - but to stoke the fire of his Spark to burn through whatever is affecting these children and turn it to ash.

“Seventeen,” Patricia growled.

“Fuck. We’ll fix this. Let’s go.”

Stiles took a deep breath when they walked into the huge room, nearly the size of a hotel ballroom. Tiny beds and cribs took up the center of the room, monitors beeping and IV bags hanging. There were full-size beds along the walls, and he saw parents laying with their pups, unwilling to part from them for a moment. He upped the power he was putting into keeping his emotions at bay.

There were so many.

They were so small.

Still little bodies, parents leaning over them or sitting beside them, laying with them, carrying them, rocking them. He saw Clint with a tiny baby in his arms, crooning to him. Fear and grief lining his handsome face.

Stiles was mad. He was fucking pissed off. His Spark was lighting up. “Take me to the first child to fall,” he demanded, plans and ideas already forming.

Patricia looked and her eyes widened at the sight of his silver eyes. “That would be Orion. It was just her for quite a few hours until a few more toddlers fell.”

“Right,” Stiles said and continued to build the power of his Spark.

Patricia led them to a woman and man sitting over a tiny girl, blonde curls reminding him of Isaac. He would heal her.

“Ari, Devon, this is Alpha Stiles Gajos of the Gajos Pack,” Patricia said and both parents nodded to him.

“Please call me Stiles and there is no reason to stand on ceremony. Let’s just get your baby girl better, okay?”

Nodding their heads, they both moved to the head of the bed so Stiles could have access. “Thank you for coming,” Ari said, her dark blue eyes tired and terrified.

“Of course. I will need to touch the child on the chest over her heart. Is that permissible?” Stiles was ready to get down to business. He had no idea where this confidence was coming from, but after being awkward and talking a million miles an hour while flailing, he finally felt as he’d always wanted to be. He figured it had to be the Spark. Raven had wondered if his Spark was the reason for the ADHD and the flailing. Now that his Spark was alive and moving, that energy is being pointed in the direction it was supposed to be.

“Absolutely,” Devon said. “Please, do whatever you need to.”

“When I worked on Raven, I put my hands on her and was able to search out the illness. That is what I will do. It may take a minute; it may take an hour. Especially as there are no visible symptoms. Once I find the illness, it is the same thing, a minute, or hours. I won’t be talking to anyone; I won’t hear you anyway. Peter, my mate and Cora can answer any questions you have. Let’s do this.” Stiles rubbed his hands together and closed his eyes, syncing his breath with the pulse of his Spark. He continued rubbing his hands together, it seemed to help the Spark heat up. Finally, he knelt next to her little bed and put his hand over her heart, feeling the bump-bump, bump-bump of it.

It pissed Stiles off that anyone would do this to a child. His Spark agreed and they dove into the physical essence of Orion.

Malia and Cora stood on either side of the bed, Peter behind Stiles. All three watching out for and guarding their alpha. Patricia standing next to Ari, Orion’s mother, though her alpha red eyes shot to Clint and Rory every few seconds.

“You’ve seen this before?” Devon whispered to Peter.

“You don’t need to worry. He really won’t hear you,” Peter said at a normal volume.

“Thanks. Um, so what happened?” he asked. “I mean if you don’t mind.”

“Of course, I don’t mind. My mate and alpha doesn’t like to share his accomplishments, but I have no problem doing so,” Peter said with a fond smile as he watched his mate.

“I’m telling him you said that,” Malia said with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

“Brat. Raven told me I could share it with whomever I wish,” he said with a mock glare before turning to Devon. “When we were with the Ramirez pack, Stiles detected the cancer that Raven was dealing with all with a single touch. Turned out to be stage four liver cancer and it was spreading to other places in her body. She’d even had the ‘get your affairs in order’ meeting just before we arrived there. Stiles detected it and he closed his eyes. His Spark led him to the cancer, and he metaphysically healed her by grabbing the literal cancer and throwing it behind him. When he opened her eyes, everyone was amazed. They could tell she was no longer ill. She was ecstatic. Then everyone told Stiles to turn around. There, on the ground, was the black cancer he pulled from her body. He thought it was more imagining the cancer to leave, not realizing he was physically doing it. It was amazing,” Peter said, unable to keep awe out of his voice.

“It was pretty crazy,” Cora agreed. “She’s going to get tested in a couple days to confirm it’s gone. Stiles insisted, just in case. He didn’t want to leave anything to chance. Before we left, Raven said she felt completely healthy for the first time in years. It was an honor to see the whole situation unfold.”

“Wow,” Ari breathed. “That is unbelievably amazing.” She stared at Stiles in awe.

The alpha Spark hadn’t moved a centimeter while he was doing his work.

“Will he be okay? Did he get tired after helping Raven?” Patricia asked.

Peter smiled. “He’ll be just fine. When they were asking him about how he healed Raven, he just shrugged and said ‘easy peasy’. That’s Stiles though.”

“Easy peasy?” Devon asked, shocked.

“Yep. It was funny as he… heck,” Malia said, changing her words quickly when she realized she’s in a room of protective parents.

“He slept a lot deeper than normal that night, but he didn’t sleep longer than normal, just deeper,” Peter told them. “Don’t worry about him. You have enough worries for now. Have faith in him. I certainly do.”

“Same,” Malia said.

“Absolutely,” Cora assured them.

Stiles. Was. Pissed.

Someone had put a spell on this child, a spell to weaken her until she died. It was so tightly woven together, there was no way Stiles could remove it without hurting the girl. He sent his Spark out, trying to find where the hell the spell had come from. His Spark sensed something coming from the east. Pushing harder, he saw it was another pack, a known enemy or threat.

Stiles tried waking the child up, but he was now certain the spell was laced into the life of the magic worker who did this.

That person was going to die. Painfully.

It would take the death of the magic worker to free these children. Stiles was okay providing that.

Coming out of his trance, he stood and started talking, startling the surrounding wolves. Except his own wolves.

“Patricia, this is a spell. We need to find the small pack in the east that you don’t have a good relationship with. That is where the magic user is. We kill the user, we wake up the kids,” Stiles said urgently.

Patricia growled, eyes glowing a fierce red, not needing to think it over. “It’s the Perry Pack. They are the only pack to the east before you hit the mountains. They’ve tried taking over our territory before. But they are so small it was laughable for them to even try.”

“Excellent, we’ll follow you. We must go now before it’s too late for the babies. We leave in ten minutes. Figure out who is going with you. I’m going to grab Isaac and Liam from the kitchen,” Stiles said and tugged the two pack bonds and within two minutes, they were running out of the house and getting in the SUV.

It only took Patricia five minutes to get everything taken care of. Patricia was coming, as alpha she needed to be there. Officially. Unofficially, she was going to get her vengeance. She would take down anyone involved in hurting all these babies. Whoever was involved in hurting her Rory. They would die today.

Pulling up to the fence that created the boundary line, they found the Perry Pack Alpha already waiting, the emissary behind him judging by the book in his hand. Two more stood in the Left and Right Hand positions.

Glad that he’d split the larger Barringer pack up to surround the area unseen, Stiles stepped from the SUV and walked directly up to the Perry Pack alpha. He was surrounded by Peter and Malia on his left, Cora and Isaac on the right. Liam was directly behind his alpha to protect his back.

Stiles showed the alpha his silver eyes, so they were warned about what Stiles could do.

“Alpha Perry,” Stiles said with a bow of his head. “Alpha Spark Stiles Gajos. Might I have a minute of your time? I’m here to speak to you about a situation that concerns your pack,” Stiles said, expression and scent covered so he looked and sounded neutral.

The alpha was definitely a mountain man type. Thick brown hair pulled back in a tail. Eyebrows so thick they appeared to run into his eyes to the point you couldn’t see the color of his eyes. He was wearing overalls with a plaid shirt over it. Stiles was suddenly glad he’d stopped wearing plaid shirts. He’d have to make sure they’d all been tossed if this is what he’d looked like.

“Alpha Percy Perry of the Perry Pack,” the man gruffly announced.

Oh god, Stiles don’t laugh. Don’t do it! He ended up needing his Spark to help keep him calm so he didn’t laugh at the jackass or kill him.

“Alpha, please meet my Left Hand and alpha mate, Peter Gajos,” Stiles said. “My Right Hand, Cora Hale.”

“What do you all want?” Perry demanded.

Stiles knew he saw the Barringer Alpha standing off to the side. She was more than willing to let Stiles handle this part so she didn’t lose her temper and start an all-out war.

“My pack and I were contacted to assist the Barringer Pack. We have had some children suddenly fall ill. From around five years old to newborns. They collapse, unconscious and haven’t woken up. It’s been weeks,” Stiles told him, watching his every movement and reaction, big or minute.

“What does that have to do with us?” Perry asked, utterly confused.

Stiles contemplated him and tuned his Spark so he could see the aura and truthfulness of the person he’s looking at.

“I am a Spark, Alpha Perry, I can sense and see magic,” Stiles said. Be ready pack, I have a feeling this is about to get ugly. “When I sought the reason for the children becoming ill, I saw a spell laid on them. A spell that weakens them severely and will eventually kill them. We wondered if the Barringer Pack has been under attack by another pack. What better way to handicap a pack then to harm its children, weaken the pack through broken hearts. The spell that I used led me to here, Alpha Perry. Are you aware of any spell being used against the Barringer Pack?”

Alpha Perry growled. “Of course not. Pups are not harmed even in times of war. Your magic is wrong.”

Pull in the net, mate.

He wanted Peter to get the Barringer pack to pull closer.

“My magic is never wrong. Shall I show you?” Stiles asked. Before Perry could answer, Stiles made the auras he saw become clear to everyone. “Ah. I see it wasn’t you after all, Alpha Perry,” Stiles said as he stared at the Left Hand and Emissary. “It appears your Left Hand and Emissary were working behind your back. Did you know that?” He growled.

The alpha growled back at him, eyes flashing before he looked at his pack member and emissary. “Tell them you had nothing to do with this.”

“Of course we didn’t, Alpha, we would never attack pups,” the emissary simpered.

“Come on, Percy, you don’t believe these strangers, do you?” the tall Left Hand asked.

The left hand is getting pissed, be careful, mate.

Stiles’ mate was the best. He was perfect as his Left Hand.

“Alpha Percy, you can tell their guilt by the more sickly color of their auras. Look around. Everyone has colors surrounding them, even yourself. Now look at their auras,” Stiles directed, using his Spark so the Alpha would see the truth, not be blinded by pack bonds.

Alpha Percy turned and really looked at them, seeing the putrid green-black color of the left hand and the yellow-black color of the emissary.

“What did you do?” Percy demanded. “Did you harm those children, Rusty?”

The left hand broke. “Did you think there was another way we were going to get the Barringer land?” Rusty sneered at Stiles. “Good luck with the babies, Spark. They’re all going to die.”

Stiles turned to the emissary. “Lift the spell or die.” The words were simple and direct.

“Not until I have the power of the Barringer pack and emissary,” the magic user told him. “Your magic too, Spark. Hand it all over and the children will live.”

Stiles felt him try to attack Stiles psychically. “You do know I can feel when you’re trying to attack me, right? Lift the spell now or you die.”

“Wait, this is my pack, let me handle this,” Perry said on a growl. “Josh, did you do this? Is this your spell?”

“How else did you think we’d get the power to take you out and then take out all the other alphas. Kill off their kids and why would they fight us, they’d be too filled with grief,” Josh, the emissary, said with a smirk. “And weak.”

“You kill him, or I will,” Patricia growled, bursting into her beta shift. “Release our children NOW!” her roar should the trees around them, birds flying away from the threat.

“Fuck you,” Rusty yelled, though he was visibly shaken.

“You have one chance to do the right thing, Alpha Perry. You have one minute and then I will do what it takes,” Stiles said, eyes solid silver, he let his Spark’s aura surround him in silver power and vengeance.

“Now just hold on one god-damn minute,” Perry said. He was obviously trying to find some reason to show that his pack members weren’t guilty despite their confessions.

“I’m sorry, Alpha Perry, with every word wasted here, those children, as young as 3 weeks old, will die,” Stiles growled. “Thirty seconds.”

Stiles was unaware he was exuding cold fury, more frightening than the mother who was wanting her newborn to wake up.

“You were warned, Perry,” Stiles said, voice deep and guttural as he drew in his Spark, ready to throw it out.

“Three, two one,” Stiles said.

With a blast of solid silver energy filled with the fury of the seventeen sets of grieving parents, the emissary instantly fell to the ground.

Dead.

“Call Clint, Patricia,” Stiles said, not taking her eyes off Perry and the left hand, Rusty. He glared at the left hand. “Be warned now. If this magic is at all tied to you, you can kiss your ass goodbye.”

Perry was staring at the emissary, seemingly still in shock over what had happened.

Patricia let out a sob. “They’re awake! Stiles, they’re awake!”

“Get back to them, Patricia. We’ll follow soon,” Stiles said, relief in his heart, thanking Goddess. His words barely made it out of his mouth before Patricia and other Barringer parents were running back to their vehicles and peeling out.

“Now. Would the alpha of the Barringer Pack turn her back to you and leave if we lied?” Stiles said to Perry.

Percy Perry of the Perry Pack looked at Stiles before turning back to Rusty.

Rusty bolted.

Stiles felt a surge of straight lust when his Left Hand sprinted after Rusty, catching him quickly. Then he felt pride when he felt Malia come up on his left side. His pack was amazing.

While Peter frog marched Rusty to Perry, Stiles saw the Barringer Pack that was still there, moved in closer to make sure nobody else got away.

“Are you going to do something about this, or do I need to?” Stiles asked, eyes and aura glowing bright silver. “I will not leave this land until that man is dead.”

Perry glared at him and growled. “You have no right.”

“Would you like to test that theory?” Stiles asked, half mocking, half threatening. “Seventeen, Perry. Seventeen children under the age of five, the youngest only twenty-two days old. What would that do to the parents in your pack? What would you do to bring seventeen babies back from near death?”

Perry stared at him. He cleared his throat. “Seventeen?”

“Seventeen tiny babies who couldn’t defend themselves,” Stiles told him.

Turning away, Perry walked up to Rusty. “Why?”

“We already told you. Because you won’t do what needs to be done. That’s why we were going to get the land and then take you out. We don’t need you, you’re a pathetic waste of the alpha spark,” Rusty said and sprang toward his alpha.

With a flash of his claws and a spray of blood, Perry roared as he slit the man’s throat, taking Rusty’s life.

Perry kicked him to make sure he was dead or maybe to show his anger. He finally turned back to them; his face older, sadder. “You won’t have any more problems from my pack,” he told Stiles. “We won’t try for territory, none of it.”

“I’m glad to hear that. If that promise is broken, you’re pack will be wiped out,” Stiles promised and Percy scowled, but nodded. “We’ll leave you to your pack,” Stiles said. With a nod, Stiles and the others piled in their vehicles and left the Perry Pack behind them for good.

Stiles told his pack it was hard to believe they’d just left the Ramirez Pack that morning. And the day wasn’t over.

Stiles, happily, spent the rest of the day meeting and checking over every child and baby that had been affected. Parents that had looked haunted and grief-stricken now glowed, barely letting their precious children out of their arms for a minute.

The parents knew he was checking to make sure all hints of the spell were gone, even though the Perry emissary was dead. Nobody had a single complaint. They were all grateful to the Gajos pack.

Once little Rory and the others had been checked out, Stiles then told them he’d put in a block so they could never be attacked by magic again.

More tears were shed, but it was the good kind, so it wasn’t bad. Stiles got more hugs that day then he’d ever had in his life put together. Praise from all the parents and then all of the pack was a bit overwhelming. Stiles loved to help people, but he didn’t want a lot of praise, it just made him turn red and stammer out his thanks.

The Gajos Pack finally got some rest that night in the suite of bedrooms that had been provided. They’d had dinner with the Barringer Pack and were presented with some of the most delicious food they’d had in years. Stiles ate so much he almost puked, but it was so good, his stomach didn’t matter.

Until he tried to move.

“Too much yum, Peter,” he whined, looking at his strawberry shortcake dessert with longing.

“I can see that. Everyone else stopped eating ten minutes ago,” Peter told him.

“Bedtime?” Stiles asked. He needed to lay down and digest the day and his food.

Peter nodded. “Come on, I’ll show you the way.”

They said goodnight to the pack and though there were dozens of people around, they were quickly released so they could sleep.

Once they reached the suite, Peter showed him there were three bedrooms, two beds in each. It was perfect for their pack.

“I took the liberty of choosing a room for us, if you don’t mind sharing with me,” Peter said, eyes looking vulnerable.

Stiles smiled. “That’s perfect, mate.”

“Good. I brought your bag in for you,” Peter said.

“Oh, thank you, Peter, I am dying for a shower. It feels like we’ve been here a week, but it’s only been a day,” Stiles said, feeling increasingly wiped out. “Yeah, I gotta shower now or I’m just gonna pass out.”

Peter looked at him, evaluating. “Are you gonna be okay in the shower? Want me to keep an ear out in case you get too tired?”

Stiles would normally tease Peter talking about showers and maybe he’d need a hand from Peter.

Oh goddess. A hand from Peter. What magical things he could do to Stiles with his hands.

Nope. Stiles was too tired to fantasize about those hands. Later.

“I guess just listen to hear if I fall over,” he told Peter with a loud yawn.

As quick as he could, he grabbed pajamas and headed to the bathroom that looked like the fanciest hotel bathroom. Showers with four heads and big enough for four people. It had touch screens for music and heat. It was insane but felt amazing. If he wasn’t so tired, Stiles would stand there for an hour, letting the relaxing but powerful water pressure ease his tense muscles.

It seemed to take forever to slip his t-shirt and sleep pants on. When he finally came back out, Peter was in pajamas reading on his bed. Stiles noticed his hair was wet. “Did you shower?”

“A quick one after I heard your shower turn off. I could hear you fine. Isaac and Liam’s shower is right on the other side of yours. Don’t worry, I didn’t abandon you,” Peter said with a warm smile. He picked up a bottle next to him. “I was thinking I’d give you a massage. I know you were tense most of the day.”

Stiles felt his eyes burn. Nobody had taken care of him in a long time. Not in such a simple way. “I would love that, actually.” He let his mate see his exhaustion.

Peter saw and pointed to the bed. “Excellent.” He got up and got a towel to place on Stiles’ bed, pulling the blankets down to the end. “Lay down and strip your shirt off.”

Stiles obeyed and lay face down on the towel.

The bed dipped as Peter climbed on and then he straddled Stiles’ thighs and settled in just below his ass. Stiles begged his Spark to keep him from getting hard. Peter’s cock that close to his ass was just asking for trouble. The best kind of delicious trouble, but trouble all the same. Stiles was determined to climb that man like a tree, but not in a house full of supernaturals who would hear every single moan that came out of him.

Peter drizzled the warm massage oil on his back and put his hands on Stiles’ shoulders and began gently working on the muscles. Stiles moaned anyway but it was from relief and the beginning of relaxation. Peter slowly began working his hands harder and harder, pushing, and pulling on Stiles, getting every stubborn muscle to relax.

“How does that feel, sweetheart?” Peter asked, his breath hitting Stiles’ ear and giving him body wide goosebumps.

“Mmmm hans er jamical, seep nah byeee,” Stiles mumbled as he drifted off to sleep. He thought he felt a kiss on his cheek, but it was probably the beginning of a dream.

Peter smiled, gently wiped off the remaining massage oil and tucked him into the blankets he’d pulled down. He couldn’t wait until he could slide inside that ass he’d been sitting on. It took everything in him to not get hard. Someday soon when it was just them. For now, he planned to woo the fuck out of one Stiles Gajos.

The next day was as chaotic as the last, but with a much different atmosphere. Voices were louder, laughter was heard in the once silent halls and rooms. The Barringer Pack was getting ready to throw them the party of the decade. Two other packs would join them, both from neighboring counties.

For the Gajos, however, there was no work left to be done. Stiles found their emissary and a couple of druids in the pack and sat down with them to learn everything they could teach him. The magic workers laughed as nothing they knew would push him any further. He was far more powerful than any mage they’d known. A Spark was the top of the magical food chain.

Alpha Patricia, baby in a sling on her chest along with her husband and mate, Clint, met with Stiles next, discussing what had happened and asking about protection and wards that could be put up. They listened to his suggestions, Stiles then went back to the emissary and the two worked together to ward the territory in waves surrounding the pack house. Levels of protection and alerts.

Peter and Malia spoke with the Left Hand and explored the territory, learning and teaching more about protecting boundaries.

Isaac was with the children. The pre-teens adored him, and he adored them right back. He was playing in the back with them, flipping them around and chasing them in games of tag and capture the flag.

Liam was there for capture the flag and led his team of teens to a victory, letting howls of victory fill the air.

The day was full of sharing ideas and accepting thanks for what the Gajos had done for them. Stiles just accepted his cheeks would be red all day.

In the late afternoon, cars, trucks, and SUVs began driving up the driveway. Older teens were out there, directing them to park in the giant lot near the house.

The yards, all corners of the house, front and back were covered with people. Everyone wanted to meet the Gajos Pack, especially the Alpha Spark.

At one point, all the alphas and their mates met with him and Peter.

Alpha Smythe, who lived to the west, shook Stiles’ hand. “We heard about what happened to the Barringer children and the informant told us that we were next. We were terrified and hid the children away for most of the last week.”

It was the same story for the Carson Pack from the north. “We were getting ready to take the kids and hit the road. We knew seventeen children had been attacked. We have twenty-one kids that age.” He shook his head. “I am just really fucking grateful, Alpha Stiles.”

Still red, Stiles dipped his head. “Goddess be praised. I’m just glad we were able to figure it out in time.” He gestured to Peter who handed him two small bottles. “Alphas Smythe and Carson, this is a potion I brewed up this morning. It is a liquid form of the spell I used to block the children from magical attack. One teaspoon and I mean only one, to each child under the age of five,” he said and handed over the bottles. “It doesn’t taste the best so you might want to have some orange juice or the like to cut the taste.”

Alpha Carson looked at his wife and both of them had tears in their eyes. “Thank you, Alpha Stiles. This is precious beyond measure.”

Nodding, Alpha Smythe agreed. “I can’t thank you enough. This will bring such comfort to the parents and all our pack.”

“You’re welcome. If you have left over potion, store it in a cool, dark place and you can use it on children born until it runs out. Contact me when it’s gone, and I’ll brew some more. I would teach your emissaries, but it’s connected to my spark and can’t be shared,” he said. It had a teeny, tiny piece of him in it. He wouldn’t ever put any piece of him in the hands of others. It was amazing what you could do with someone’s skin or tears, even fingernails, especially their essence.

After the giant feast that everyone helped prepare - Stiles jumped into the kitchen and made his mom’s favorite jelly roll cake filled with fruit and cream - there was dancing and fireworks, a true celebration of life.

Alpha Carson approached him with his Left Hand. “Alpha Stiles, can I have a moment of your time?”

“Of course,” Stiles said. He and Peter followed them to a quieter area.

“We have allies in New Orleans who can’t use their wards. Every time they try, it doesn’t work, and they are being attacked more and more because they aren’t protected. They’ve had other magic workers come and try to help but it just doesn’t take. I didn’t know if you had plans after helping the Barringer’s, but I have no way of helping them. If connecting you with them, even for a phone call, I will know they aren’t alone in this,” the orange haired Alpha Carson said. He had his arm around his mate, also with orange hair; they were too adorable. It reminded Stiles of Oz and Willow.

Stiles’ mind started racing, considering the alpha’s request. There were several options he could think of off the top of his head. He wanted to consult his Spark book, see what he could find out. “Let me talk to my pack for a moment and I’ll be right back,” Stiles said, already tugging in his pack through their bonds.

“Of course. Thank you,” Alpha Carson said and led his wife to the dessert table.

Once the pack was around him, he presented the case to them. It could be an extended stay while Stiles figured out what was going on.

“We could rent a townhouse or the like so we can relax. Plus, I don’t know about the rest of you,” Peter said with a grin. “I’ve always wanted to go to New Orleans. I think it’ll be a blast.”

There were nods all around.

“I want some beignets and coffee. I’ve drooled over them on the computer. I may need to buy a size up in jeans,” Stiles mused.

He and Peter found the Carson’s and told them they would go. The alpha’s mate gave Cora all the necessary information. She said they would call and let the LeBlanc Pack so they would be expecting the Gajos Pack.

One final surprise for the day was the call from Kira after a large yank at Stiles’ pack bonds, full of excitement and energy.

“Guess what!” she said, the words running together.

Stiles chuckled. “What?”

“I graduated early!!” she squealed. “Mom and Dad didn’t like what was going on in town. They thought I’d be better off with you since you know about the supernatural. Mom said she trusted you to keep me safe,” Kira told him proudly.

That choked him up. It meant more to him than any of them would ever know. Noshiko had seen Void in him. Had spoken to the demon, had been ready to kill Stiles to take out the demon. Stiles wouldn’t have blamed her. Once she knew Stiles was freed from the Nogitsune, she had kept her distance. Now, knowing she saw him as Stiles enough to trust her daughter with him, he felt healing come into his heart. Someone distant from the story saw who he really was now and put aside what was.

“I’m so happy to hear that,” Stiles croaked before clearing his throat. “We are going to be here a couple more days, but our next stop is New Orleans. How would you like to meet us there? We can get you on a first-class seat,” he tempted her.

“Heck yeah! Oh my god, New Orleans, I’ve always wanted to go there!” Kira squeaked.

“I will have Cora or Isaac contact you and give you the specifics about your flight time. Better get packing!” Stiles said, a grin in his voice. “Everyone is going to be so excited to see you.”

“Same here. It’ll be a relief being away from here. It hasn’t been pleasant, that’s for sure,” she told him. “Being with my Alpha will give me that safety that nobody gets here.”

He couldn’t wait to sit down with her and hear all about what was happening. They hung up and when Stiles told the rest of the pack - they’d all felt her excitement in their bond - everyone had cheered. Kira had a sweet, soothing energy and yet was a cheerleader at the same time. She completed them.

Later that night, he stood underneath the miracle shower, Stiles realized he hadn’t thought of his scarred face a single time. Nobody had commented or looked at him oddly. He nearly wept. He’d been terrified that he would… terrify people or children. But it hadn’t happened. What a world.

He killed someone. He thought it would weigh on him more, maybe cause flashbacks from the Nogitsune. There was nothing. He knew why he did it and what would've happened if he hadn't. That was enough for him.

They spent two more days with the Barringer’s before saying an emotional goodbye. All of them had become attached to the large pack. Dealing with babies and children and the raw emotion they’d all felt had created a bond with them all.

After a final hug to Patricia and Clint and a kiss for baby Rory, the Gajos Pack got in their SUV and drove away.

Next stop: New Orleans.

Coming up...

Video meeting in progress…

Alpha Ramirez has entered the room.

Alpha Barringer has entered the room.

Alpha Smythe has entered the room.

Alpha Carson has entered the room.

“Welcome my friends, I greet you all and hope you and your packs are healthy and strong,” Alpha Alonzo Ramirez said. Raven and her newly pink and gray hair giving her a spritely look despite her advanced age was sitting at his side.

“We are very well,” said Patricia with Clint next to her. “All our children are healed and walking around like nothing happened to them. It was miraculous.”

“Greetings,” Alpha Smythe said. 

“Hello Alpha Ramirez, how can we help you?” Alpha Carson said.

“This isn’t a request for help, so much as sharing upsetting information about an attack on a certain Spark we all know,” Raven said, her sweet smile going dark. “Okay, maybe a tad bit of vengeance could be involved…”

Chapter Text

Video meeting in progress…

Alpha Alon Ramirez and Raven enter the room.

Alpha Patricia has entered the room.

Alpha Smythe has entered the room.

Alpha Carson has entered the room.

“Welcome my friends, I greet you all and hope you are healthy and strong,” Alpha Alon Ramirez said; Raven and her newly pink and gray hair giving her a spritely look, was sitting at his side.

“We are very well,” said Patricia with Clint next to her. “All our children are healed and moving around like nothing happened to them. It was miraculous,” she said softly.

“Greetings,” Alpha Smythe said.

“Hello Alpha Ramirez, how can we help you?” Alpha Carson said.

“This isn’t a request for help, so much as sharing upsetting information about an attack on a certain Spark we all know,” Raven said, her sweet smile going dark. “Okay, maybe a tad bit of vengeance could be involved…”

“Oh…kay,” Clint said with a tilt of his head. “I’m interested in hearing more.”

Alpha Alon rolled his eyes at his dramatic emissary before losing the cheerful mien. “You all have met Alpha Spark Stiles Gajos,” he said and saw all of them nod. “However, you haven’t heard his story.”

“It is a story not to be missed,” Raven said, all teasing gone. “Do you have several minutes to listen?”

“Of course,” Patricia said, a frown on her pretty face.

“We received a call just a few days ago from Peter Hale, the Alpha Mate, asking if he and his friends could bring someone to our pack who needed to be hidden and protected as he healed from extensive wounds. We said yes as we knew Peter's sister, Talia Hale,” Alon said. The others in the meeting all had expressions of recognition. She had been one of the most well-known wolves in the country. “They arrived and I saw a young man who had been beaten and tortured. It looked like he was cut open everywhere. Broken ribs, concussion, claw wounds, a shattered bone from being stabbed. He seemed barely alive but managed to greet us and remained quiet.”

“Who did this?” Patricia demanded. “And why?”

Raven took over. “He was in a pack with two alphas, Scott McCall and Derek Hale, Talia’s son. Several months ago, a Nogitsune possessed Stiles,” she said.

Every alpha and mate gasped. Everyone knew what those were. It gave baby wolves nightmares and adults shivers of horror.

“Somehow Stiles survived,” Raven continued. “We know now it was due to being a Spark. Unfortunately, at the time, those in the pack couldn’t see Stiles anymore. All the saw was the face of the being that tormented and hurt them. They slowly pushed him out of the pack, abandoning him while he recovered alone from a horrifying trip through hell. Stiles needed to know if he was still pack or not, so he arrived during a pack meeting.” Raven cleared her throat, remembering the broken man who’d showed up in their pack. “They just attacked him. Saying he was trying to get the pack possessed or was out to kill them, that he was waiting for an opportunity to hurt them. Then they physically attacked him. McCall was his best friend. The others were at least allies, if not friends at one time. Claws across his arms, his face, punches in the ribs, head smashed against cement.

“The year prior, two of the pack wolves had experienced kidnapping and torture with Stiles at the hands of the Argent hunters. Two wolves and human Stiles. He helped free them and yet those two now turned on him and slapped him like the worst kind of insult. That was the least of the insults. There were many injuries, as I mentioned. The motley pack came here, not yet a full pack. I healed Stiles as best I could. The Goddess had decided he would retain the scar on his face, a challenge he still deals with. When he woke from the attack, his magic woke up with him. He became an Alpha Spark that day after the trials of simply surviving. I would like to show you the pictures of what he looked like not even a week ago. It is graphic,” she warned, but everyone nodded.

Alon pulled up the pictures and shared them with the room. Gasps and growls nearly killed the microphones.

“What kind of demonic assholes are they?” Alpha Carson’s mate exclaimed.

“My goddess,” Patricia said, tears springing to her eyes that she tried to blink away. “Monsters. Horrific monsters.”

Alpha Smythe tightened his mouth and crossed his arms. “What are we going to do about it. Whatever it is, we’re in.”

“We’re most definitely in,” Patricia declared with Clint’s rage filled face nodding next to her.

“Us too. I don’t know how much we can do, but we’re there,” Alpha Carson said with a sharp nod.

Raven grinned; her eyes glowing. “Most excellent.”

She and Patricia headed the team to decide who would do what. The Carson Pack couldn’t spare people, but they had friends in very high places who would love the chance to cause some mischief.

Alon passed on the information Peter had gotten him regarding the pack and its members. They set themselves to research even more.

The Ramirez’s son, Zo, was on summer break from college and took his seventeen-year-old twin sisters, Amelia and Annalisse to Beacon Hills strictly on an intel gathering mission.

When his sisters managed to ‘escape’ him as he traced the steps of the present pack members, he didn’t bother to catch up to them. Since it was summer break for schools and colleges, as it was for him, Zo believed all of the McCall/Hale pack would be near. Thanks to amulets from Raven, the siblings’ scents and heartbeat were obscured so they weren’t noticed.

While he ‘looked for his sisters’ as he told his parents, Zo continued his search for information. He followed each pack member and when he heard no more heartbeats, he scaled the fire escapes and easily broke into the Alpha’s loft. Stiles had told him at one point that he was the reason the loft was protected from regular and magical entry. With him gone, he couldn’t renew the alarms.

Handy for Zo.

Annalisse and Amelia were having the time of their lives. Nobody ever set them free like this. Zo had ‘no idea’ what they were up to. But he’d accidentally left out the list of the pack members, their addresses and, oddly, their vehicles and license plate numbers.

That was very helpful.

Like two little imps, they scampered around the town, finding the vehicles easily.

Raven, also accidentally, gave them amulets to make them near invisible. People would look right past them, not noting their presence at all, not hearing or scenting them.

Luckily, Annalisse and Amelia were fast. They loved pranks and had gotten fast to avoid discovery. They were down to a solid 62% success rate on not getting caught by their parents.

There might be room for improvement.

So, they were practicing.

Tires were a great way to start. Their dad had accidentally (That was happening a lot, they noted with grins.) left out a blessed knife from his grand-auntie. They and their brother heard the story all the time as kids that the knife was somehow guaranteed to hit its mark every time.

Practice came in the form of stabbing that blessed knife into every tire of every pack member. Thanks to being nearly invisible, there was nothing linking them to the mischief.

It was good they were unheard when they popped the tires, they couldn’t stop cackling. Not one person looked at them or heard them. It was heady, but they kept to their tasks.

When they saw Scott McCall, the alpha who used to be Alpha Stiles’ alpha and best friend, they followed him, listening to him talk on the phone about getting laid earlier that afternoon.

Annalisse pulled out her phone and began recording, knowing the wolf ears of her father would be able to pick up his voice when they shared it later.

“But that wasn’t even the best part,” Scott laughed. “Aiden, we totally fucked on the loft dining table not even an hour ago. I’m just hoping we cleaned it up so nobody sniffs it out. Fucking Derek, I think his freaking head would blow up if he knew. Not like he’s getting laid. Maybe he won’t know what sex smells like anymore.” Scott chuckled.

He listened to his caller. “Hey, Aiden, congrats on the college acceptance, by the way. Yeah, Deaton is getting me a place in college for veterinary medicine. I’m going to get a tech certificate first so I can be working as I go through school. I wonder if Deaton could do a spell that gets me in for free. I am the true Alpha, after all, I shouldn’t have to go through school.” He paused. “Hey, asshole, you know I’m the most powerful force in Beacon Hills!” Scott laughed. “I’m the top wolf here. Not even Derek Hale is as strong as I am.”

Approaching a park, Scott walked up to a food truck that was surrounded by tables. “Hey Aiden,” he waved to his friend, hanging up his phone.

The girls sat at the next table, still completely unseen or heard by those around them. This was proving to be gold.

After getting his food, Scott walked up to the table with the other man, who was clearly an alpha. The girls shared a confused glance. How did Scott not realize this?

Scott ate for a moment. “Like I was saying, now that fucking Stiles is gone, I can finally get the attention and accolades I deserve. Fucking loser. Probably living out of a hotel, crying about having nothing. I wonder if he’s all scarred up,” Scott laughs. “I bet he is. I’d love to see a picture of what he looks like now. Maybe he’s dead,” Scott mused casually.

“That sounds like it was intense,” Aiden said.

Amelia’s wolf tugged at her. What was Aiden after? He didn’t smell like he was Scott’s buddy.

“Yeah. I know, it was intense, but we were all pissed at him for what he did. When Allison yelled at him for stabbing her, I couldn’t hold it in. I meant to kill him, but instead, I sliced both of his arms wide open. Allison stabbed Stiles, getting her dagger literally stuck in Stiles’ arm bone. It was priceless! Jackson punching him in the ribs was therapeutic as he hated Stiles and always has. Then he was bitch-slapped by Lydia, Boyd and Erica.  That one was good. It didn’t hurt, but sure was a fucking insult. I guess Stiles, Boyd and Erica were held by Gerard Argent in his basement. They said at the time that Stiles got them out of there, I don’t believe it, I think they were just trying to make him feel better. Anyway, they bitch-slapped him. He was actually shocked. The coop dee grace was,” Scott paused.

“Coups de grâce,” Aiden told him. “Coo deh graws,” he pronounced slowly.

“Huh? Oh, really, that’s how you say it? Well, it’s fucking French of course I’m going to get it wrong. Anyway. The best ending was Derek’s. He knocked Stiles’ head against the cement wall so hard, I’m surprised it didn’t kill him. But then he wanted everyone to know how dangerous Stiles was, so he used his claws to rip open his face from his forehead all the way down to his jaw. I had to give him a high-five after Stiles managed to leave.”

Scott suddenly looked around, expression nearly paranoid.

Amelia elbowed her twin and gave a WTF look. The idiot obviously didn’t depend on his ‘amazing’ alpha senses. Was he that dense? He should be able to feel if someone was near, hear them, sense them. Not have to look around to make sure.

“Want to see a picture? Jackson snuck a picture of Stiles right after Derek got his claws into him,” Scott said, scrolling through his phone. He clicked on one and handed his phone over. “Check that out,” Scott said and stood up to return to the food truck.

Aiden watched him and quickly took his phone and clicked around on it. His own phone dinged, and he quickly returned Scott’s phone to its original position.

The twins looked at each other. Who was this Aiden and what was he doing with that picture? They would notify their dad as soon as they could.

Aiden looked at the picture and sighed, shaking his head, his scent said disgust before he schooled himself and breathed deep before Scott returned and took his place. “That is some attack. Definitely showed him how you felt,” Aiden said.

Annalisse narrowed her eyes. Why didn’t Scott notice Aiden wasn’t emitting any kind of friendship scent? Were his senses not working properly?

Scott grinned. “Right? I gotta admit, something about knowing Stiles is going to walk around scarred for the rest of his life just tickles me,” Scott said, chewing his chips with his mouth wide open.

“So other than the possession, what else did the little punk do?” Aiden asked, playing with his phone.

“He couldn’t keep his mouth shut. He always had some idea, paranoid about some untrustworthy person or some research or plan that he thought would help us win fights,” Scott said with a shrug. “I mean Lydia could do the same thing; I don’t know why he thought he was anything special.”

“Oh, so his plans and instincts were shit?” Aiden asked, slowly eating his food.

Scott shrugged again. “Yeah. He always wanted to fight and kill whatever we were fighting.”

“Went too far, huh?”

Nodding. “Yeah. I mean, sometimes the creatures were violent, but come on, everyone deserves a second chance. Death isn’t always the way.”

“Sometimes you just need to show violence and they’ll leave,” Aiden noted, glaring at Scott when he wasn’t watching.

Amelia tapped on her phone and held it to her sister.

He’s not on Scott’s side. The idiot can’t even tell this Aiden guy is an alpha.

Annalisse nodded. True idiot.

Amelia grinned and they turned back to the conversation.

“Oh Stiles left, alright. We told him if he didn’t leave California, we would kill him,” Scott said with a grin.

“Didn’t you give him a second chance?” Aiden asked casually.

Scott sneered. “When you run around the town hurting people, you don’t get a second chance.”

Aiden frowned. “I thought you said you gave creatures a second chance.”

“Stiles stabbed my girlfriend, he didn’t deserve a second chance,” Scott said, eyes glowing red.

“Your eyes, dude,” Aiden said, rolling his eyes as he looked down at his food.

Scott cleared his throat and blinked until his eyes were normal again. “Thanks man, I get so pissed when I think of Allison getting stabbed.”

“I’m sorry, dude. I didn’t know it was Stiles who stabbed Allison. I thought he was possessed,” Aiden said.

“Exactly. But he wasn’t! He used that as an excuse to sew fear into the pack and the town,” Scott said, eyes big and innocent looking.

“Uh huh. Damn. Well, I bet you’re glad he’s gone,” Aiden said.

“Very much so. Hey, do you wanna play video games? I haven’t found anyone to play video games with me,” Scott said.

“Naw, man, I gotta work,” Aiden said.

Scott’s phone rang and he rolled his eyes before answering. “Yeah, Derek, what’s up?”

“Get over here. Somehow the loft got flooded and I need the pack to help.”

“Dude. It’s my day off,” Scott complained.

“Scott, come off it. None of us want to do this, but the whole pack uses this place. Get your ass over here and do something helpful for once.”

“Fuck. Okay, I’m on my way,” Scott said and hung up. “The loft flooded.” Then he grinned. “Hopefully the smell of the water covers up the sex smell.”

“Yeah. Good luck. Later,” Aiden said as Scott gathered his food and left. Aiden got something out of his wallet and got a pen from the food truck owner. He returned it with a smile and walked back to his table, where he cleaned up the barely eaten food and tossed it before walking away.

Annalisse and Amelia waited until they saw Aiden ride away on his motorcycle. When they came out from their hiding spot and looked at the table, they saw a business card. Amelia grabbed it and they read it.

Aiden Steiner

They didn’t see anything else. Turning it over there was a phone number and a single sentence.

Call if you want some help. I’m a twin as well.

Annalisse looked at her sister in alarm. “Did he see us?”

“There was no way he could have,” Amelia said, looking worried.

They stared at one another before nodding. “Zo,” they said together.

Texting their big brother, they decided to meet in the preserve they’d been told about before they’d left home.

Zo found them and immediately hugged and scented them both. They were relieved to be back with him. He was tall and strong, like their dad, and always eased them, making them feel safe. Again, just like their dad. It was a clue to what kind of Alpha Zo would be when their father was ready to pass on the alpha spark.

“How did it go?” he asked them, tucking them against him as they sat against a tree.

“Lots of tires,” Annalisse said with a grin, wiggling her eyebrows.

Amelia copied the movement with an impish smile. “Including the good Sheriff’s car. We threw in a couple deputy cars just to make sure it wasn’t considered an attack on him. The pack cars were all in different places, so it looked less suspicious. We did pop an additional tire here and there, but all to people who lived in the rich neighborhoods.” Amelia reported. “What about you?”

“Well, I found out I would make a shit plumber,” Zo said with a shit-eating grin.

Amelia and Annalisse looked at him, jaws agape. “The loft? That was you? We’re impressed!” they responded before breaking out in giggles. “We heard Scott get the call to go and help clean up.”

“I might have also got some rather disturbing pictures of the wolf and huntress getting it on,” Zo said, skin slightly green. “It was… so gross.”

The twins looked disgusted. “Why pictures?”

Zo grinned. “Well, I’m thinking that the father of the little huntress probably wouldn’t approve of his little girl, doing the nasty with the crap alpha.”

The girls gasped. “You’re going to send the pictures to Argent?”

“Hell yeah I am,” Zo said. “Even got myself a burner phone to use and promptly destroy.” He began typing and the twins quickly sat on either side of him and watched as he attached five pictures to a text and several email addresses.

“Who are all the email addresses?” Amelia asked peering over his shoulder.

Zo grinned as he hit SEND. “I couldn’t be sure that the Argent girl’s father would punish her, so I hacked into her phone while she and McCall were in the shower. These are all the family’s hunter friends. I’m not including dear old granddad Argent until Dad gives the okay. He’s the hunter we’ve heard of before. The sick psychopath who loves to bisect supernatural creatures with a fucking sword. Honestly, I think we need to take the whole family down. Argent is trouble.” Zo said, voice serious and troubled. He shook himself. “That’s a talk to have with Dad. Now, tell me what else happened with you two.”

The twins, as they tended to do, shared the telling of the story, ending with Aiden’s card which they handed over to their brother.

Zo frowned and shook his head. “I’ve never heard the name. I’ll ask Dad about that too. If he sensed you and sensed you were twins, especially with the amulets, he’s got to have some sort of other power to him that we don’t know about.” He frowned. “At least he didn’t try to attack you or threaten you.”

They were quiet for a minute. Amelia knocked her shoulder against Zo. “We recorded McCall’s conversation with that alpha. Wanna hear it?”

Smiling Zo nodded. “Let’s do it.”

They chuckled their way through the video, rolling their eyes and commenting on what a complete dumbass he was. It was fun until they saw Alpha Stiles’ picture from the attack on his life. “Dad is going to flip.” Zo stood up and held his hands out to help his sisters up. “We need to get home. We’re going to need to call in the big guns.”

Chapter Text

New Orleans. Stiles couldn’t believe they were really there. They’d picked up Kira soon after they landed and had an emotional reunion before they hit the road. As soon as they’d settled into their hotel rooms, they’d left again and taken a long walk around the French Quarter in the morning mist.

Stiles' spark was bouncing around happily inside him. At times, he swore he saw spirits of women in long dresses, hands waving at him. He found himself waving back - like a crazy person - but when the spirits got excited, he was more certain it was spirits of fellow magic workers of the past. His pack looked at him, but he shook his head. They knew he had funny incidents, so they nodded and let it go.

They found Cafe Du Monde and had coffee and beignets. Stiles almost made himself sick on them and took a box home with more.

Something about New Orleans settled Stiles. It felt like home. He asked Peter about it as he swung their hands together. There was also a freedom to be themselves. Stiles had no problem being public with his partner and mate. Beacon Hills wasn’t the most tolerant of towns. Here there were no looks, sneers. They were normal and that was perfect.

“This is probably the most magically thick city in the country. It’s like magic in the roots, the foundations of the city. It doesn’t surprise me at all that you feel connected. My wolf feels very calm here, like it knows we are safe and accepted,” Peter told him.

“Accepted. That’s a good word for it. I feel like the city itself accepts us. I love it,” Stiles said with a wide grin.

They took the afternoon to wander and explore the French Quarter, rode on a streetcar, and saw the Mississippi up close before their meeting with the LaBlanc pack.

Right on time, they pulled up to what could only be called a mansion, they were buzzed in through a ten-foot-tall security fence. Stiles felt very weak wards that didn’t do a damn thing as they pulled up to the large front doors. There was definitely something dark around here.

The LaBlanc Alpha came out, a relieved and welcoming smile on his face. A tall, elegant woman was beside him.

Stiles got out of the car and walked to the couple. He inclined his head. “Alpha LeBlanc, Emissary LeBlanc, I am Alpha Spark Stiles Gajos of the Gajos Pack.”

“Alpha Spark Gajos, we welcome you to our territory. We grant you access to all our lands and pack during your time here,” Alpha LaBlanc said. He held out his hand and Stiles shook it.

Stiles grinned. Now that the officials were done, he pointed out his pack and mate and the rest of his pack. The LaBlanc’s were surprised at the diversity of their pack, which Stiles couldn’t help but be proud of. The Gajos Pack may have been born of tragedy, love, and friendship, but in truth they were very powerful and having a kitsune, spark, born-again wolf and coyote in their midst made them unique.

“I am Lucien, and this is my acting emissary and mate, Kat,” the black-haired alpha said. His hair, goatee and eyes were the darkest black Stiles had ever seen. His mate was as opposite as she could be with white-blond hair and crystal blue eyes. She was as tall as Stiles and had to be a queen in another life. Her bearing and grace were stunning. “These are my children, well, adults, but they’re still my kiddos. Jean-Luc and Cole.” Jean-Luc was a carbon copy of his mom. Cole was the carbon copy of their dad.

Stiles and his pack nodded and smiled at each one of them. Stiles took note of Cole. Their aura did not match what he saw. What was that all about? They smiled and it was sincere, but it was shadowed. Maybe he could talk to them later.

“It is an honor to meet you all,” Stiles chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. “I am the worst at subtlety. Let’s get to work on your problem. There’s no need to waste time. I felt your wards when we drove through and no offense, but they are old and basically useless.” He looked at Kat curiously before turning to Lucien. “You said ‘acting’ emissary?”

They both nodded. Kat looked embarrassed. “Our emissary passed away recently, and his wards died off and I’m trying my best to get the job done, but my magic is more about making my garden grow than protecting my pack,” she said, blushing.

“I’m very sorry for your loss and may Goddess bless you in your search for a new emissary. Kat, earth work is hard work, don’t ever doubt that. Goddess gave us what we were meant to have. You have a beautiful gift,” Stiles noted, catching a glimpse of her aura. “Beautiful indeed, your aura is stunning. Green and the very rare white. You are creative and have a very close connection to Goddess and the Divine.”

Lucien and Kat glanced at each other with wide eyes.

Stiles smiled. “Alpha Lucien, you are more rainbow shades which indicates large changes and you’re stretching yourself, perhaps a little too thin. When all this is over, you’ll want to get some down time to re-energize yourself.”

Again, the two looked at each other, shaking their heads.

“Well, hot damn, looks like we found the exact person we need,” Lucien chuckled. “Come on, let’s get into the air conditioning and feed you lot while we talk.”

“Sounds good to me,” Liam said, rubbing his teenage stomach.

As they ate, Stiles found out that once the emissary died, all the wards died with him. The wards they had been trying to put up all fail. Other magic workers had come and tried and nothing would work. It didn’t matter that they had huge fencing around their ten acres and a pack that would walk the boundaries day and night. Wolves, witches, and more had all breached their defenses.

“Alright,” Stiles said, wiping his mouth with a napkin. He loved Cajun food! Maybe he’d never leave New Orleans. “First things first, I will inspect your land. It could be a spell on the actual land, maybe on the pack, but we’ll take a couple hours and just wander. You are welcome to come, but I’ll just be wandering and talking to myself.” He blushed but it was the truth.

Peter smiled at him and rubbed his back. “He has a process and he’s right most of the time.”

Lucien put his hands up. “Hey, I’m not going to bitch. You do what you do and we’ll see what happens. I’ll let you explore alone unless you have questions. We’ll stay here, I don’t want to disrupt you.” He looked at the pack. “Would the rest of you want to go swimming? We have a huge pool and there are always people wandering around to hang out with.”

Isaac, Kira and Liam’s eyes lit up. Malia didn’t light up but shrugged and nodded and got a nod from Stiles to go have some fun. There was no reason to make them all follow along for this. Cora and Peter stayed with Stiles.

Soon enough, the three began wandering the fence. At one point, Stiles stopped and looked around and promptly plopped onto the ground, laid down and starfished in the grass.

Lucien and Kat checked on them and spotted them on one of the security cameras and chuckled. “He is a character,” Lucien noted.

“I know he will figure this out. I have a feeling,” Kat told him.

“Then I’m even more happy to have them here,” Lucien responded.

“Hmm. I think it’s in the ground. It feels like something is being pushed up from below. Negativity. Violence.” Stiles said with a frown as he stood back up. From below it devours. “Don’t freak out, because it’s just a comparison, but it reminds me of the Nemeton and the way it attracted all the supernatural.” He knelt down one more time, a heavy frown on his face. “It’s almost like it’s sentient. We need to find the source and destroy it. We need Kat and Lucien. Have him bring their five best fighters. This might get ugly. Tell them to empty the pool and get everyone inside and locked. This is all just in case, but better safe than sorry.”

Stiles stepped away and called Isaac. He told him what was going on and assigned Isaac, Kira and Liam and Malia to help guard the kids in the pack. They agreed and set to work.

Without leaving his alpha and mate, Peter called Lucien and gave him the instructions. A low whistle sounded, and they heard the distant sound of the pool emptying and doors and windows closing.

Lucien, shirtless and beta shifted, ran toward them with four hulking beta shifted wolves and, surprisingly Cole, who, even shifted, was much smaller and thinner than the rest. But the look of determination and readiness on their faces put away any concern.

Kat seemed to float along with them, her grace and beauty making her seem more fae than human.

“Status,” Lucien demanded.

Stiles understood his abruptness. His pack was potentially in danger.

“What I’m picking up is something is in the ground. Something pushing up from below. We had an incident like this before and it was rooted in a giant tree, it was a Nemeton,” Stiles started, and Kat nodded in understanding. “Kat, what I need from you is to walk with me, our pack surrounding us. Stretch out your magic and just feel. If you sense even the tiniest negative area, tell me. Something is rooted in your property and if I’m right, it is turning your territory into a magnet, so to speak. It is attracting the supernatural and with no wards,” Stiles said and shrugged. “It’s like open season out here, as you’ve experienced. For the rest of you, this could end in something as easy as magical weed killer. It could manifest as creatures of some kind; it could be anything from a person shaped creature to plants that are attacking. If that is the case, kill immediately. If there is a reason to stop, I will tell you.” He looked around. “Questions? No? Alright, Kat, you’re up.”

After Stiles and Kat were surrounded, she nodded and began walking. Their territory was huge, and it would take time, but they would work at it until the situation was taken care of.

Kat would stumble as she tried to keep her eyes closed, feeling with her earth magic. Stiles lightly touched her arm, gave her a tiny wisp magical boost and she grew steady, her feet sure in their steps even though her eyes remained closed. Lucien caught his eye and mouthed his thanks.

Two hours later, Kat took in a whisper of a gasp. “Stiles. I feel it. Oh, Goddess protect us. It’s dark and evil. Oh Lucien. It was Matteo. Our old emissary. He was pulling power out of the earth and twisting it,” she said, wiping her hands as if to clean them off.

“I’m going to boost your magic so you can protect yourself,” Stiles said, closing his eyes and empowered Kat, turning her power up by a hundred.

Smiling at him, her crystal eyes sure and ready. Turning suddenly, she began walking and within five minutes they saw it.

What should have been a sweet, old-fashioned well that still had the turning chain and a cute little wooden bucket, was leaking dark magic. So dark, you could feel the slime of it brush against your skin.

“Get ready,” Stiles breathed. His pack members shifted, Peter’s hand on Stiles’ shoulder, ready to protect him.

The closer they got, the more Stiles and Kat could feel it.

“Oh Goddess, the evil,” Kat gasped.

“Goddess protect us,” Stiles said at the same time. “It’s about to get interesting. Kat, we have to make it to that well, but it’s going to be hard. Our mates will need to stay on us.”

“Got it,” Kat said and shook out her arms. “Let’s do this.”

“Hell yeah,” Stiles said with a grin.

They all started running toward the well. Stiles felt the ground shaking under them, an earthquake to throw them off. “Push on!” he yelled.

Suddenly from the ground, what looked like mounds of mud rose up, stood, and came after them, blackened roots sticking out of them.

“What the fuck?” Peter shouted, he had never seen anything like this before and he’d seen a lot.

He swung his claws, but they just got stuck in the mud and the monster swung at him. Luckily, mud wasn’t very fast. But damn, the impact was painful even for the wolves. Peter jumped up and got back in front of Stiles.

The human shaped mud bodies kept coming at them. They weighed a ton but were stupid as the dirt they came from.

The betas, though frustrated, kept ripping off mud heads and arms. They kept the monsters away from Kat and Stiles as best they could.

Peter swung out and yanked at the head of a mud man and pulled it off. The body staggered and fell only to rise up with a new head pushing out of itself.

“Fuck! They’re just reforming!” Peter bellowed as all the betas and alphas fought the monsters.

Stiles, Kat, Peter and Lucien fought toward the well, but were pushed back further and further.

“What the hell can take out mud?” Stiles yelled, frustrated. They were still a good two meters away from the well.

Cole looked at him and shouted. “Sun? Dry it out?” They swung and beheaded another monster.

Stiles grinned as he took out his own monster. “Brilliant Cole! Close your eyes everyone!”

He enclosed the group of ‘weres in a protective bubble and borrowed power from the Goddess to power up a ball of heated light. He shone it on the well. Picturing the well on fire, a fireball that drove all water out and it appeared before them and began its job.

“Send your good power into the earth, Kat, we need to replace the bad with good. Feel it. Be it. Push it deep,” Stiles instructed, forcing more of his magic into his fireball. He felt the well start to dry as the water began to steam and evaporate.

Kat knelt and sent her positive magical energy toward the well, pushing the mud beings to the ground before turning into dirt and then dust.

“Excellent!” Stiles yelled, feeling the stones of the well begin to break down, chipping until the stones were dust.

In one final shove, Stiles grabbed Kat’s hand and pushed their hands into the ground, boosting both their power. “We’ve gotta pull it out.”

Strength from the Goddess filled them, and they yanked the well and the black roots dangling from it up into the air. Stiles’ sun ball circled it and suddenly with a burst of light it burst into a giant ball of dust and exploded.

Stiles waved his free hand up and made the dust disappear. None of the dark matter could remain.

Everything was suddenly gone. The well was gone, the mud monsters were nothing. It was over.

“Well, that was a workout,” Stiles noted, standing and removing the protective bubble around them. He popped his fingers and stretched his neck.

The group was staring at him oddly.

“What?” Stiles asked, looking at them, brow wrinkled.

“You just sound so casual after fighting monsters of mud and exploding things in the sky,” Lucien said with a smile and shake of his head as they walked around, making sure everything was good.

Stiles shrugged with a blush and smile. “Like I said earlier, I’m not really subtle. I say what I’m thinking which can get me in trouble.” He knelt and put his over the grass where the well had been. He smiled. “We did it. Well done everyone! Kat, you did wonderful. I have to admit the hero of the day is Cole. If you hadn’t suggested drying the mud out, we wouldn’t have been successful.”

“That’s my kiddo!” Lucien said proudly, smacking Cole on the back as the teen blushed; but there was shy pride in there too.

“Now, as we walk back, we will bless the land and get started on those wards. Tell me who to tie the wards too, who will receive notification of an attack or breach of your defensive line,” Stiles said, rubbing his hands together. He liked creating wards.

Lucien discussed the wards with his present pack members and introduced Stiles to his Left Hand. Then he announced Cole would also have the wards tied to them.

Stiles took Kat around the property and showed her how to draw protective runes and how to push power into it, Peter and Lucien not far behind. Goddess gave Kat the power shift she needed to form the runes and wards.

It was with a little too much glee that Stiles began weaving wards with Kat, encouraging her to have a little fun. Stiles created a ward that would cause the enemy to sink into the ground, similar to quicksand.

Kat, with a wicked grin and created a ward closer to the house that would electrocute anyone unwelcome.

Another hour and they were finally done. Stiles closed his eyes and felt the territory. It was good. “All done! The wards are up and working, they are attached to those who will take charge.” They all turned toward the house. “Is it dinner time? I’m hungry.”

Peter pulled Stiles closer and dropped a kiss on his lips. “Well done, my mate.”

“Thanks hottie-wolf! It was fun, wasn’t it?” Stiles grinned.

The rest of the wolves laughed, this odd Spark was powerful and hilarious. They’d expected someone older, someone that had worked up to the level of power this teen had. Lucien was boggled but didn’t care in the end. Not when his pack was safe again. He hadn’t understood the admiration the Carson Pack had for Stiles, but now he got it. He was also now added to the Stiles Admiration Club. SAC. Stiles would love that.

When they got to the house, Malia stomped up to Stiles, furious. “Why did you leave me in the house? I’m not a child!”

Stiles kept his gaze and voice steady. “Exactly. What position are you learning about in our pack?”

“I’m the Left Hand apprentice,” Malia said, confused.

“What is the first lesson in being a Left Hand?”

Malia’s face relaxed. “Protect those who need to be protected at all costs.”

“Where was my Left Hand?”

“With you,” Malia answered, understanding. “You wanted me protecting those who needed it.”

Stiles nodded. “Malia, you are one of my strongest fighters, I do not doubt your ability to protect and fight to protect. I needed you in there protecting those who needed it.”

“I get it now. I’m sorry Alpha,” Malia said, her deep brown eyes apologetic.

Stiles cupped the back of her neck and brought their foreheads together. “I trust you, Malia Hale.”

“I trust you too,” she whispered.

The pack was in the mood to celebrate so there was a huge feast of seafood, gumbo and huge platters of meats and bowls of vegetables and potatoes.

Stiles didn’t talk for nearly half an hour. He was too busy eating. Everyone smiled at his enjoyment, the Spark humming and nearly growling his way through his heaping plates of food. Plates.

Once dinner and dessert were done, Stiles moaned. “Peter, it happened again. Too much yum,” Stiles whined, rubbing his food belly.

“Ah, baby, I’m sorry,” Peter smiled and kissed him.

They went back to their hotel later that night and even though Stiles wanted to climb Peter like a tree, he fell straight to sleep, exhausted.

Invited back the next day, they went back to the LaBlanc house and once more ate their weight in food and spent the day in and out of the pool.

In the late afternoon, Stiles went to Peter who was talking with his counterpart in the LaBlanc pack.

Stiles sighed. “I’m going to take a walk. I’ll be okay alone.”

Peter got the hint of something going on. “Alright. Tug the bond if you need me.”

“Aye, aye Captain Hottie-wolf.”

Still chuckling at his own joke, Stiles wandered around the house. He sees Cole standing outside observing the swimming pool. Stiles walked over.

“Hey there, champion of the mud monsters,” he said, nudging their shoulders. “Walk with me?”

“Oh, um, sure,” Cole said and fell into step with him as they walked around the large estate.

“So, I’ve seen your aura, Cole. Can I ask what your pronouns are?” Stiles asked, voice gentle and accepting.

“He/him,” Cole said and looked at Stiles. He whispered. “I was born she/her. I saw you look at me when you first got here,” he whispered.

“Your aura isn’t feminine, Cole. Your aura is very much masculine,” Stiles told him.

Cole stopped walking; his big brown eyes shocked. “Really.”

Stiles smiled and nodded and kept walking. He gave Cole a moment to realize even Goddess knew he wasn’t who he was meant to be, but it never clicked.

“What does Cole look like in your mind?”

Cole was surprised, he’d never had someone ask him that. He gave it some thought. “He is tall. His build is wide and strong, muscular, able to truly protect with ease. He has a cool black goatee. His voice is deep and gruff. He stands up when he pees, obviously.

Stiles chuckled. “Obviously. How far are you into your transition?”

Cole’s jaw clenched. “There are no supernatural gender affirmation surgeons.” His bitterness was almost tangible. “No hormone replacement, nothing, it wouldn’t work on us. Regardless, we can’t risk blood tests coming back funky.”

“Fuck,” Stiles muttered. “I’m sorry, I didn’t even think of that aspect.”

“Yeah, it was kind of a huge letdown. I finally told my family, and they were so wonderful,” Cole said, dark brown eyes shining. “They had no problem with my chosen name. Changing the way I dressed and had my hair. It was all accepted with hugs and smiles. It was the perfect moment. Then when we looked into it and asked around, there was just nobody to help. ‘Were doctors don’t know how wolf biology would react to hormones.”

Stiles walked to him and embraced him. He projected comfort and acceptance and hope into Cole, hoping to heal his hurt.

As he did so, he froze and gave a sudden gasp.

“Stiles? Are you okay? Stiles?” Cole asked, shaking the Spark, hoping he wasn’t broken. Peter would kill him.

“Holy shit,” Stiles said, finally relaxing and moving again. “I am going to ask you something. Please know, I would never, ever say this if I had any doubts at all. Goddess just spoke to me and empowered me.” Stiles eyes lit up, excited.

Cole frowned and nodded. “Okay.”

“Goddess showed me how to perform a gender affirmation spell. You would be genetically male at that point. There would be nothing feminine left in you,” Stiles told him.

“Really? You can’t get my hopes up, man, I won’t be able to take it,” Cole said, tears in his eyes. “Please don’t say this just to make me feel better.”

Stiles stopped and took Cole in his arms again. “Like I said, if I had any doubt, I wouldn’t have even mentioned it. I wouldn’t have brought the topic up at all. I swear. Here, feel my certainty,” Stiles said and placed his palms against the sides of Cole’s face. He pushed his certainty, his confidence and his honesty.

Cole began shaking. “Really? I can be a man inside and out?” A single tear tracked down his face.

Stiles nodded. “Yeah. Goddess approved and She is in charge,” he said with a watery smile. “While I am ready to just do it now, I would advise you to talk to your parents or a friend, confidant.”

Nodding, Cole turned and started back to the house. “But you can do it tonight?”

“Sure thing,” Stiles said. “I’m going to meditate for a few minutes to ‘power up’,” Stiles said with air quotes. “Can you send Peter out?”

Stiles found a quiet place under a maple tree and began communing with Goddess. She praised him for how he’d helped and encouraged the LaBlanc pack. Stiles inquired about Cole and Goddess said while not all those who want to can be changed, this time it would work. Cole was destined to follow Goddess and work for Her. The spell would drain Stiles quite a bit. She told him if he did it too much, it would eventually completely empty his spark. This was a large ask on his magic. But She was right there with him and would help him. They communed in silence for a time.

“Hello, sweetheart,” Peter whispered as to not scare him.

“Hello, mate wolf,” Stiles said with Peter’s favorite grin.

“What’s going on? I can feel your spark inflating, I guess is the best word. Growing?” Peter asked.

Stiles turned to Peter, swallowing hard as his emotions overwhelmed him, tears in his eyes. “Peter, she’s giving me such strength. To help Cole. I get to help Cole. What an honor,” he said, voice quavering.

Peter took Stiles in his arms and rubbed his back as Stiles shivered and breathed deep, calming himself. “Baby, what’s going on? Help Cole how?”

Stiles sat back and his eyes flashed between his cinnamon eyes and silver Spark eyes. “She is letting me help Cole become who he was born to be. I get to help in gender affirmation surgery.” Stiles bobbed his head. “Well, minus the surgery.”

Peter was stunned. Stiles was truly blessed by the Goddess. What a huge thing to do. He would never get over his awe of his mate. Yes, Goddess was empowering him, but it meant his mate was strong enough to handle something this big. “How can I help?”

Stiles sat there and grinned at Peter. “You’re pretty perfect for me, you know that? You always give me everything I need, whether I know it or not. You are a gift.”

Peter felt the utter conviction in his mate’s words and turned pink. “How can I help?” he repeated.

“Right now, you can meditate with me, helping me center myself. When it comes time to work the spell, I’ll want you guarding whatever room we’re in. I can’t be interrupted. At. All.”

Peter thought quickly. “If they have a Bite room, that would be the perfect place. They’re usually in the basement so it’s more secure.”

“Brilliant mate-wolf,” Stiles said, kissing him softly, pushing all his passion into his mate.

Peter hummed and pulled him closer. “I need you.”

Stiles’ breath shuddered. “Oh yes please.”

“Let’s meditate before we get too lost in each other,” Peter said with a happy sigh. With one last kiss, they sat facing each other, holding hands.

They didn’t even stir until the LaBlanc family approached them, Lucien quietly clearing his throat.

Stiles and Peter took a deep breath as they parted. Hugging his mate quickly, Stiles thanked him before they stood.

“Good evening, LaBlanc family,” Stiles said with a smile.

“How sure are you?” Lucien asked, his eyes hard.

“As sure as I am that Peter is my mate,” Stiles said evenly, letting the alpha see the truth in his silver eyes.

Lucien stared at him for a long moment. “I am going to warn you that if you harm or turn on my child in any way, I will end you.”

Peter growled, but Stiles put his hand up. “Peter, we would react the same way if it was our child.” He turned to Lucien and held his hand out. “Feel my certainty, gifted from Goddess.”

They shook hands but stayed there, Stiles channeling his assurance of his own Spark and the presence of Goddess.

Pulling back, Lucien nodded. “Alright. I approve,” he said turning to look at his son. “Are you ready to be yourself?”

Cole looked like he was trembling all over, but his words were sure and strong. “I am.”

Peter asked them about a Bite room, and they discussed how they absolutely could not be disturbed. Stiles’ spark could not even waver.

Finally, they made their way to the Bite room in the basement just like Peter predicted. With final hugs and kisses and one more threatening look, this time from Kat, the door closed. Cole and Stiles were the only ones there.

“I will be mostly touching your head. But at certain moments, I will touch your chest and your abdomen.” Stiles pointed at his own body, so Cole knew it wasn’t invasive. “Do you agree to that?”

Cole nodded. “I agree.”

“Okay. The other thing is this is going to hurt. Even with magic, this is still shifting around things inside you. It shouldn’t hurt for long, and your wolf healing will help. I would’ve had someone next to you, but I can’t risk someone else interrupting. That is the last thing. I need you still and as quiet as you can be. Calling out in pain is one thing. Disrupting because you have to pee is another,” Stiles said with a wink.

Cole chuckled. “I get it. I’ll pee first.”

“Good thing for both of us to do,” Stiles agreed.

Ten minutes later, Cole is stripped down to boxers and muscle tank, on the mattress used for people who got the Bite.

“Ready?” Stiles asked.

“Been ready,” Cole said and nodded.

“Let’s do this,” Stiles said with a grin.

Sitting first at Cole’s head, Stiles dipped deep into his Spark.

There was pain but Cole kept quiet.

Stiles pushed and pushed, moving with the pulse of Goddess leading him.

Two hours passed by.

Four hours passed.

Five and a half hours later, completely drained but smiling, Stiles laid his hand on Cole’s cheek. “Congratulations, Cole,” he said softly. “You did very well.”

Cole’s eyes opened, feeling for any differences in his body. His arms were oddly shaped, and he looked down to see a wide chest, muscled and hairy. He lifted the tank and all he saw were muscles. Not caring that Stiles was there, he opened his boxers, eyes going wide.

“You’re welcome,” Stiles said with a cheeky wink. He got up and stretched before grabbing the mirror he’d requested from Kat. Walking back, he knelt and held it out to Cole.

Shaking as he brought the mirror to his face, a sob broke free at the sight of the wide jaw covered in a solid black goatee. His eyebrows were thicker, an Adam’s apple, wider forehead and nose. He looked nearly identical to his dad, one of the things he’d always wanted. For a solid ten minutes he just stared at his face from every angle.

“Here, stand up and I’ll hold it for you,” Stiles offered, wanting Cole to feel the difference.

“Whoa!” Cole was seeing things from at least four inches higher than Stiles was. “I’m taller than you now!” Then he stared at Stiles, shocked as he heard his raspy voice, deeper than Stiles’, nearly as deep as his father’s. “My voice!”

“It’s definitely deeper than it was. And yes, you are very tall now,” Stiles said with a chuckle. “You might be taller than most people. Remember your description of how you saw Cole? How does this compare?”

Cole stared at him. He looked exactly as he’d described to Stiles.

Cheering with his deep, raspy voice, he picked up Stiles and swung him around. Putting him down, he hugged him tight. “Thank you. I will never be able to say it enough, Stiles. You freed me. I’m not stuck anymore.” Cole grinned through his tears. He swiped at them. “I’ve gotta show my parents and Jean-Luc!”

With that, he dressed in suddenly snug sweatpants – matching his muscle tank that was now practically ripping – and ran up the stairs, a little clumsy as he adjusted to his extended height. The door opened and Stiles heard cheers and tears. Peter slipped inside and came down to him.

As soon as Cole left, Stiles let himself collapse on the mattress.

Peter hurried to him and held him close. “Sweetheart, that was amazing. He looks… hulking, really. He is big,” Peter noted with awe. Would Stiles ever stop amazing him? How was this just two weeks out from being beaten nearly to death. Now he was changing lives and protecting people. His mate. He was damn proud of him. “I’m so proud of you,” he whispered.

Stiles smiled tiredly. “Thank you, mate. I’m really tired, Peter. I need food,” Stiles said, sounding weak for the first time. “Text Alpha LaBlanc, I don’t want Cole to see me until I’m recharged. I won’t have him feeling guilty on this blessed day.”

Peter nodded and did as asked.

The family moved to the backyard so the pack could celebrate with Cole. Peter helped Stiles up the stairs and found a feast in the dining room. Sighing with gratitude, Stiles sank into a chair, shoving a chicken wing and buttered roll into his mouth, pulling out a perfectly clean bone. Peter filled three plates with cuts of meat, loaded potatoes and vegetables.

It was nearly a half hour of putting down as much food as he could before he spoke again. “Feeling more human,” he managed.

“Do we need to leave?” Peter asked.

Shaking his head, Stiles drained his glass of water. “Not yet. Goddess tried to warn me it would drain me, but I didn’t eat first. I was too concentrated on the goal. But I’m full now and if we can get me in a chaise lounge near the pool, I can kick back and rest while still being with the pack.”

They slowly walked to the backyard, finding the perfect spot for Stiles, who slid down onto the chaise with a comfortable sigh.

Peter left and showed up with a shake. “Compliments of Kat. It’s a protein shake.”

Stiles took a sip and hummed. “Damn, that’s good.”

“You’re welcome,” Kat said with a chuckle appearing next to them. “It’s got fruits and veggies from our garden with a little magic added.” She looked lovely in a blue cover-up that turned up the blue in her eyes. She looked ethereal with all her white-blonde hair floating around her. She sat in the chair next to him. Putting her head down, she cleared her throat several times as she fought tears. “You know. We contacted Alpha Carson and many other Alphas, trying to figure out what was wrong with our territory. Carson called Lucien and told him about you and how you helped the three packs. We tried to stay positive, but after so many failures, we didn’t put too much stock in hoping. Then the Gajos Pack shows up. Helping the kids stay safe. Isaac was baking with the little ones. Kira was hanging out with the middle school kids. Liam with the high school kids and talking to them about pack life. Malia was constantly vigilant and keeping an eye on the little ones and her pack. Stiles, you helped get this evil off our territory,” she said.

Lucien showed up, bare chested in swimming trunks. “You helped us defeat mud monsters.”

“Cole came up with the idea,” Stiles said with a smile.

Checking to see where her son was, Kat grinned as she saw him topless, diving into the pool. He was who he was born to be. “Cole,” she whispered, unashamed tears starting to stream down her face. “I will never, ever in all my years and beyond this world, never be able show you the depth of gratitude I feel. Look at him, how relaxed and settled he already is. He’s free. Cole LaBlanc is free,” she gave a harsh sob, Lucien rubbing her back, his eyes suspiciously wet. “He doesn’t have to sigh in defeat when he looks in the mirror or looks at the other pack members. He can truly smile now, walk proud in himself. You did this. Goddess did this through you. Please accept my gratitude,” she said, with tiny gasps and trying to keep from sobbing.

Stiles was so red he was about to pop. “I just followed Goddess. But yes, I accept your gratitude and pass that directly over to Her. You’re welcome.” He’d meant to comfort her.

Kat threw herself into Stiles, hugging him with all his might. “Thank you,” she whimpered into his shoulder after squeezing him for several minutes.

“You’re welcome,” he said, and she finally sat back. “If it’s okay, I’d like to keep in touch with Cole. We’re connected somehow. I don’t know if it’s because part of my magic is in him, but I’d like to text him every now and then.”

Lucien got his phone out and started tapping. “Here’s his number, mine, Kat’s, Jean-Luc’s,” he said gruffly. “I’m sorry, I have to hug you as well.”

Stiles felt himself grabbed up and hugged like he was a toddler. “You gave my son a new life. You have my loyalty and gratitude.”

“You’re welcome,” Stiles repeated. Again. “Really, it was Goddess, not me. But you are welcome. I think we’ve become family,” Stiles said with a smile as Lucien delivered him back to his chaise.

Peter handed his shake to him and urged him to drink it.

“How is he really?” Lucien asked, voice nearly a whisper.

“Tired, needs rest and food. But he’s not injured, just drained of energy. I’m going to take him back to the hotel,” Peter said, looking at his mate with love. He was so lucky.

“Your packmates are having a blast, would you mind if they stayed?” Kat asked. “We have plenty of room for them.”

Stiles nodded. “We’ll check to make sure, but yes, absolutely. I want them to have all the fun experiences they can.”

“You sound like a mom,” Lucien chuckled.

“You’re not lying. I am pack mom,” Stiles said and nudged Peter. “He’s pack daddy.” Stiles grinned.

“Imp,” Peter mumbled, kissing his head. “Drink. I’ll go talk to the kids.”

Peter approached Cora and Kira. “Hey, the LaBlancs have offered a sleepover if you want that. I’m going to take Stiles back to the hotel so he can rest.”

They looked out at the party. “I want to stay,” Kira stated, and Cora nodded.

“Us too!” Isaac and Liam shouted from the pool.

“Me too!” Malia yelled from across the yard.

Peter noticed his daughter was snuggled next to Jean-Luc who also looked content next to her. “We’ll pick you all up tomorrow.”

“Gotcha!” “Okay!” “Bye Mama!” “Bye Dad!”

Smartasses, all of them.

“Be good!”

Peter walked back to Stiles who had drained the shake and was chatting with Kat. “They’re all good so we can take off whenever you want.”

“He needs sleep,” Lucien decided. “Off to the hotel with you. Did you get good rooms?”

“Penthouse suite, only the best for my mate,” Peter said, puffed up.

“Very nice,” Lucien said. “If you need anything, anything at all, let us know.”

“We will. We’ll be back around ten in the morning,” Peter told them.

“Any time you want,” Kat insisted.

“Thanks,” Stiles said and stood up. “Wow. That shake is magic. I mean I’m tired, but the feeling of my limbs feeling like lead, is gone. Thank you, Kat,” Stiles said.

A beta walked up to them. “Alpha, here is the rest of the shake.”

Lucien handed the shake over, in a tall cup with a lid.

Stiles beamed at the beta. “Thank you so much. It’s delicious.”

“You’re welcome,” the shy beta said then blushed and whispered. “Thank you for helping Cole. It’s like a miracle.”

“The Goddess returned him to his rightful body. I was just the vessel,” Stiles said, sipping on the shake.

Peter and Stiles finally got out of the house and into the car.

Stiles finished the second shake as they drove. He sighed. “I love being in the crowd with the pack. But man, I like the breaks, you know. Having silence. Well, us talking type of silence,” Stiles said with a grin. “Guess what, mate wolf?”

Peter grinned as he pulled into the valet parking at their hotel. “What, my darling.”

“The shake is magic. I feel energized. Any idea what I could do with that energy?” Stiles let Peter see the naked desire in his eyes.

“Let’s go,” Peter demanded. He got out and threw the keys to the valet and pulled Stiles from the car.

They kissed the entire elevator ride up to the penthouse. Once inside, clothes were thrown everywhere as their mouths stayed connected. After he jumped onto the bed, Stiles whined when he saw Peter’s tanned and muscled body nude. His cock was huge, at least eight inches and so wide, Stiles knew it was going to hurt. He couldn’t wait. “Holy fuck, man. Get in me now!”

Peter growled as he crawled over Stiles. “You are so fucking gorgeous. Such pale skin and these beauty marks, holy shit, I want to kiss every single one.” Instead, he latched onto Stiles’ tan nipples, nibbling on them. His hand caressed Stiles’ muscled abdomen then finally reached Stiles’ cock. Peter moaned. Stiles’ cock was long. Like. Long. “Where the hell have you been hiding this monster?”

Stiles groaned as the sensation of Peter’s hand drove him higher. “I’ve just been waiting for you. You are my first, you know. My first and only.”

Peter puffed up proudly. “Hell yeah, first and only. And I am honored you would gift me with your first time,” he said and then attacked Stiles’ neck before licking and sucking his way up and down Stiles’ body, ramping up both of their lust. He enjoyed the light brush of their cocks when they moved. It was sensuous and sent chills down his spine.

“I’m going to try something. If it works, holy fuck, it would be amazing,” Stiles said. He put his hands on his stomach and pushed magic into him. Feeling it immediately, he grinned. “Done! Feel,” he invited, spreading his legs wide.

Peter looked confused. He stroked his hand down Stiles’ body. Stiles, impatient as always, took his hand and shoved it by his ass. “Feel!”

Brushing his fingers down Stiles’ cock and to his hole, Peter gasped, his cock going rock hard. Stiles’ hole was relaxed and wet like he’d been lubed and stretched. Testing the stretch, Peter easily slid two fingers inside him. “Oh baby, you are wet and ready for me,” he said, fitting a third finger easily. Peter knew he had some width, and this magic lube would help.

“Peter, if you don’t get your cock in me now, I’m going to magic something bad on you,” Stiles threatened. “I’ll make all your shirts into turtlenecks, and I’ll make you go bald. Now get in me!” To tempt his wolfy mate, Stiles grabbed his legs and spread and raised them, offering his hole to his mate. “Mate. Take me.”

Peter growled loud and long at the obscenely hot sight of his mate offering himself up. “Fucking hell. I love you so fucking much.”

“I love you too, cock in ass now!” Stiles demanded, his grin lightening his words.

Peter slicked his cock as he rubbed it against Stiles’ ass. Lined up, he pushed gently into Stiles’ hole, moaning at the fit as he slowly bottomed out, his cock getting choked by his mate’s tight ass. Stiles crying out the whole time.

“Holy fuck. You’re in me. Your cock is in me,” Stiles babbled as he felt himself getting stretched. “So good. Hurts so good. Move! Fuck me!” The pain just added a zing of pleasure to the experience.

Peter growled at his demanding mate, eyes shining blue at him. Pulling out slowly, he met Stiles’ eyes as he rammed back into him.

“Oh god, yes! Just like that!” Stiles groaned, his arms shaking around his legs. “More!”

Quite able to take direction, Peter began thrusting into him harder and harder as Stiles directed him.

“I’m gonna… Oh god I wanted to hold off… I’m gonna…” Stiles shouted and wailed as he came untouched all over his chest and Peter’s.

“Baby, oh yeah, come all over us.” Peter moaned, still fucking into him, chasing his own orgasm. It only took one pinch to his nipple by his mate, and he was done. A roar escaped him as he was coming in his mate. At the last second, he pulled out and finished coming on Stiles before shoving himself back into Stiles’ ass just because it felt that good. Unable to deny his wolf, he mixed their come on Stiles’ stomach and rubbed it in and then did the same to himself. They were now marked with each other.

“Silly wolf. Everyone already knows I’m yours,” Stiles said, eyes fluttering as he fought sleep, the intense passion and orgasm making him tired and limp.

“Yeah, well, now they’ll really know,” Peter said, kissing his forehead.

He pushed and pulled until they were switched. Peter lay down, Stiles on top of him, Peter still hard enough to stay inside his mate.

“That was…,” Peter mumbled, worn out. He’d never come that hard before.

“Mmmm. Best thing ever. I love being yours,” Stiles said and drifted off to sleep.

Peter let himself gaze at his mate with utter devotion. “I love being yours too.”

Stiles snuggled into him more and sighed. “Lovey wolf.”

Peter huffed a laugh and fell asleep with his mate.

The day the Gajos Pack left, Lucien and Kat joined a video meeting with the Carson Pack. They were soon joined by the Ramirez Pack, the Barringer Pack, as well as the Smythe Pack.

The LaBlancs told them what had happened, and the miracles Stiles had done with the Goddess to aid him.

“I can’t thank you enough,” Lucien said to Alpha Carson.

“It was really the Barringer Pack since they were the ones who called Gajos in,” Carson said. “But you’re very welcome. We’re quite the Gajos fan club around here.”

“That kid is making a name for himself,” Smythe joined in.

“He already has,” Alon Ramirez said. “Lucien, we have been meeting regularly to correct some wrongs. Stiles was horribly attacked by his first pack before he had magic to protect himself. Would you like to hear more?”

Lucien’s face went dark, eyes glowing red. “Yes. We will help, whatever it is,” he growled, Kat nodding with him.

“Here’s what happened,” Raven began a wicked grin on her face.

Chapter Text

“What the fuck is going on?! Has this world suddenly gone insane?” Lydia screeched, as she stomped into the loft, causing every wolf to clap their hands over their ears.

“What do you mean, Lydia, there is a lot of shit going on around here,” Derek growled. “Including my fucking loft getting flooded and my tires being slashed.”

“Same here,” Erica and Boyd said together.

“My fucking Porsche too,” Jackson added, eyes flashing. “That’s gonna cost a small fortune to fix.”

“My car as well,” Allison sighed.

“We aren’t alone you guys. My motorcycle got hit too. But when I called the Sheriff, he said all the cruisers got hit. They had cameras surrounding the station and there was nothing on there. There were some cars hit around the nicer parts of town too. It sucks, but it’s not just us,” Scott said. “It’s going to be fucking expensive to replace my tires.” His phone beeped and he dug it out.

“Who gives a shit about your goddamn tires!” Lydia cried. “All of my college acceptance letters are rejection letters! I didn’t get into a single college I applied for, Ivy League and regular. How is that even possible? I had perfect grades, activities, my essays were intelligent and interesting. How did this happen? Are we in some alternate universe?”

“Wait, what?” Scott growled glaring at his phone. “I asked my mom to read my mail and she said that I was turned down for all my veterinarian colleges! Deaton was supposed to get me in.” He gulped loudly. “What the hell do I do now?”

“Get in on your own?” Jackson sneered. “Like everyone else?”

“I am not everyone else. I am the True Fucking Alpha. I AM the pack! I deserve respect for carrying this damn pack. Especially when it comes to something useless like college,” Scott raged, his eyes glowing and claws releasing. “I should be supported by my pack in all things.”

“Get over yourself, jackass,” Derek said with a roll of his eyes. “You sound like Deucalion.”

“I’m a better alpha than Deucalion ever could have hoped to be,” Scott said, stomping to the window.

“Excuse me?” The small girl said softly, her hands resting on the edge of the counter at the Sheriff’s Station. Her ginger pig tails bounced as she looked around.

“Hi there, little lady. I’m Deputy-Sheriff Jordan Parrish. You can call me Jordan,” the baby-faced deputy said, a welcoming smile on his face.

“Yer pretty,” she said, her brown eyes twinkling. “My name is Molly Smith.”

“Well, hello, Miss Molly Smith. How can I help you today?” Jordan asked, charmed by her immediately.

“Um, well. I was playing with my friend Amelia and we got um…,” her cheeks turned a deep pink and sudden tears were glowing in her eyes.

“Molly,” Jordan cooed, his heart breaking at the sight. “What is it? You are safe here and can tell me anything.”

“Um, well, can I show you?” Molly asked, pulling out a tiny cell phone, looking at him with her big brown eyes.

“Of course, sweetheart. First, why don’t we step over to my office,” Jordan invited.

“Okay,” she said, pigtails bobbing with her nod.

“Would you mind if Deputy Brown sat in with us? She likes to help with kids that come in,” he said, pointing out the deputy who then stood.

“Okay,” Molly whispered with a nod.

“You can call me Dawn,” the deputy said with a smile.

“Hi Dawn,” Molly gave a little wave, instantly winning Dawn’s heart.

They all went into Jordan’s office and got seated.

“Now that we’re more comfy, why don’t you show us whatever you need to,” Jordan said.

Molly tapped at her phone, then pushed it toward him on the desk. “I got this and my best friend in the whole world got it too. My mama and my friend’s mama said to ignore it, but it keeps happening. Every hour, a new picture comes. And… and, you guys are the law and help people, right? So, here I am,” Molly said, looking down at her lap.

“Oh Molly, we will definitely help you, I promise,” Dawn said, her sympathetic gray eyes growing sad.

Jordan and Dawn looked at her phone and began scrolling… and scrolling. Dawn turned nearly green as she understood what was happening.

This innocent child was being sent pornography from an unknown number.

“I know who they are,” Jordan whispered, eyes filled with shock. He whispered the two names into Dawn’s ears and her eyes went wide.

“We need to get them and do it now,” Dawn said, lips tight with rage.

“I agree. Take Deputy Swartz with you,” Jordan ordered. “Molly, I need to talk to a couple people, but I’ll be just outside the door.”

“’kay,” Molly said, swinging her tiny Mary Jane shoes that she loved so much.

Jordan stepped out with Deputy Brown. “Deputy Swartz,” he called.

Swartz was known to have a gruff attitude but turned to mush around children. Kids loved him despite his eternal frown.

The tall, barrel-chested man walked over. “Deputy Sheriff,” he acknowledged, his dark gray eyes paying close attention.

“I need you to go with Deputy Brown to pick up two individuals. Disseminating obscene matter to a minor,” he told him and held Molly’s phone out. “She keeps getting them sent to her.”

Swartz leaned over to look at the small girl in Parrish’s office. His face went cold and pissed. “On it. Let’s go, Brown,” he growled.

Jordan gave them the address of the two in the pictures and the address of their most visited hang-out. He watched them leave and went back to Molly.

“Can I text my mama?” she asked.

“Yes, of course, you can,” he said, returning her phone to her.

A moment later, Molly moaned. “Ooh, Mister Deputy, I need the bathroom,” Molly said, bouncing her legs and sounding frantic.

“It’s right over there, the blue door,” Jordan said, taking her and directing her where to go. “Just come back here when you’re done.”

“Okay, thank you Mister,” Molly called and ran to the blue door.

She entered the bathroom and slipped the phone in her pocket. There was a tiny horizontal window just a foot or two from the ceiling. Perfect. With a graceful leap, she made it to the window. Looking back toward the door, she smirked and disappeared from sight.

“Allison Argent!” the roar sounded as the sliding door was shoved open.

Chris Argent stood there, absolute fury on his face. “Where the hell do you get off sending pictures of you and Scott fucking to all our hunter contacts. He was nearly in beta shift, Allison! How will that be taken in our community? What the hell were you thinking?” He walked right up to her, still yelling. “And why the hell did you allow those to be taken in the first place?”

“I don’t even know what you’re talking about,” Allison whined, her face pale. This wasn’t good.

Chris walked up to the computer that was on and typed something in. He stood back and swung it around so everyone could see it.

Everyone gasped as they got a look at the photos, switching every few seconds.

Allison riding Scott, head thrown back. There was Scott, fangs out and sideburns long, as he was on all fours, Allison behind him.

Muffled chuckles filled the room as they saw Allison rimming Scott as he wolfed out.

There was even a picture of the… finale of their encounter. He was coming on Allison’s face, gobs hanging off her eyelashes and nose.

“Damn Scott. That was fucking disgusting,” Jackson said, nose wrinkled.

“You fucked on my table?” Derek roared. “You disrespectful little fuck!” He ran toward Scott and threw him into the wall.

Chris was storming over to the wall when the door slammed open again.

“Scott McCall, Allison Argent, you are under arrest for disseminating obscene matter to a minor,” Deputy Swartz said, absolute fury on his face.

“What are you talking about?” Allison gasped. “We didn’t do anything!”

“Then tell us why there were pictures of you having sex on a minor’s texting app,” Deputy Brown said. “She’s been getting those damn pictures every hour. You are both under arrest for a class C felony which includes jail time. Turn around, hands behind your back.”

The entire pack was gasping and sharing horrified expressions. They whispered and talked about never expecting something like this from them. Slowly, they all moved away, not wanting to get in the way of the deputies.

Allison looked like she wanted to argue, but her father held up his hand. “Allison Katherine Argent, you keep your mouth shut and turn around like you were ordered. I can’t even look at you right now.”

“Dad, come on, I didn’t do it!” Allison said, tears streaking down her face as she realized just how much trouble she was in. “When can you get the lawyer?”

Chris gave a harsh laugh, eyes hurting and simply done with her. “You are even more twisted if you think I’m going to help you at all. You’re over eighteen now, get your own lawyer. You are no longer a daughter of mine,” he said and stormed out of the loft.

Allison stood there in shock, not fighting Deputy Brown as she was cuffed, heart pounding. Felony. Jail. She had no idea how those pictures were taken or how they got to the child’s phone. But if she was being framed, she may never get out of jail.

Scott also let the deputy cuff him. If he’d been human, he would have been bruised by the force the man was using to put the cuffs on him. He needed to call his mom, she would know what to do. A distant thought told him if Stiles was still there, he would either come up with a way to get Scott out of trouble or help him break out of jail. Jail. Maybe he could call Stiles. His mom wouldn’t be able to afford a lawyer. Maybe Stiles could help him out, they were brothers still. Stiles always forgave him and he would this time, too. Right?

“Mission accomplished,” Megan Smythe announced, entering the hotel suite they were sharing. “Little Molly Smith has done her job.” She gave them a bright smile.

The group of youth from the Packs greeted her with cheers.

Megan Smythe was nineteen and had been born very small and had stayed that way ever since. People couldn’t resist her youthful nature and small stature. She’d been imitating a child since she was in high school. It got her out of and into a lot of different things. Mostly mischief. Add in her ability to turn invisible and she was able to keep herself out of trouble.

The Packs, as they were calling the group of packs getting vengeance for Stiles, had given the youth of the Packs permission to come and create mayhem in the pack before the elder pack members arrived to bring the real trouble.

Cole LeBlanc, hugely muscled and with a sense of peace most of his pack had never seen before, was a calming presence to the youth of the Packs.

Zo Ramirez and Cole were heading up the group as the oldest. They’d caused more mischief that was just keeping them happy and enjoying their time. It was also growing relationships that could last forever. Zo and Cole had hit it off quickly and soon became like brothers. They doted on their younger members but were stern enough to keep them in line.

“Tell us everything,” Cole said with a big smile for Megan.

“It went exactly as we’d hoped,” she said brightly. Her voice was the same, just not as soft and innocent. “Jordan Parrish and Dawn helped me and looked at the phone and freaked. They sent off the deputies to arrest them. As soon as they were gone, I grabbed my phone and went to the bathroom and vanished out the window. Thank Goddess for my size because nobody bigger would be getting through that window. We should look at the video feed, it’s bound to be hilarious,” Megan finished.

The youth had spread cameras around many places in the town so they could keep an eye on their prey.

“Well done, Megan! You definitely played your part,” Zo praised, loving the grin on her face. She was adorable and Zo hoped he could get to know her. Her ginger hair and brown eyes that belied her innocent persona kept his eyes coming back to her.

“Really great work,” Cole told her with a smile as he worked on the computer before plugging it into the TV.

The loft popped up on the TV showing Lydia shrieking about her college acceptance letters.

“Ah, I see the Carter Pack has contacted their various powerful friends,” Cole said with a grin. “They are a small pack, but mighty.”

“I heard they even know the president,” Jean-Luc said.

“I honestly wouldn’t be surprised,” Megan said. “We know their pack pretty well and they never brag about who they know, but we see glimpses of things happening every now and then that could only be either magic or connections.”

They laughed their way through Scott’s ranting, imitating his ‘I AM the pack!’.

The door slammed open and Chris Argent stormed into the room. The Packs’ youth quieted and watched as Argent lit into his daughter and showed the other’s the pictures. There were pleased smirks and smiles all around the hotel room.

Megan perked up, grinning wide as she saw Deputies Brown and Swartz enter the loft and arrest Allison and Scott.

When the two were finally carted away, leaving the rest of the pack in utter shock, Megan and the rest relaxed. Applause broke out for Megan who gave a cheeky grin as she curtsied for them.

“Now I’m going to change. I mean I’m cute and all, but there’s nothing like my Levi’s and t-shirts. Give me flip-flops or give me death,” Megan said dramatically, grabbing her backpack and heading to the bathroom.

“Heathen!” Chelsea Smythe called to her little sister. “The girl has the most amazing wardrobe but it’s those damn jeans she wants to live in. I haven’t taught her enough, obviously.”

“Oh hush,” Megan said, already back and looking closer to her actual age of nineteen. Her hair was in a loose bun at the back of her head.

Zo kept glancing her way, both of them with pink cheeks.

Everyone else noticed them noticing one another and smiled. The idiots were completely unaware of the fact they all knew they were crushing on the other.

“So, boss man,” Zo said to Cole. “What’s the next phase?”

Cole rubbed his hands together, still so damn grateful to Stiles that he had the hands and body he was gifted with. He’d never felt more himself. “The elder Pack, so myself, Zo, Chelsea, Maya, Trey and Damon will be looking into Aiden and see why he was getting to know the pathetic alpha. The younger Pack will be overseeing the rest of the mischief making. You will be headed up by Jean-Luc,” Cole continued. He noticed his little brother sat up straighter, ready to take on responsibility. “We will meet back here tonight. Everyone with their burner phones on. You call or text as needed. No bullshit, keep calls and texts to business. While we are here to cause mayhem and terror, we still need to be careful. We do not want any of this to reflect on our packs nor the reason we’re here in the first place. The Gajos Pack and Alpha Spark Stiles. I have benefited personally and I take on this mission with utmost sincerity and responsibility. When we’re back here or back home, then we can go crazy.” He looked out at the fifteen youth, everyone under the age of 25. They all nodded and had serious expressions and he knew they understood. “Alright. Stick together. Be safe. Give them hell!”

They all cheered before separating into their groups to go over their plans.

Lydia walked into her room, tired and overwhelmed by the day. It had been two hours since Allison had been arrested and she hadn’t heard anything yet. Undressing, she went and stood in her shower, letting it beat down on her.

No college. No college. It was hard to understand the words. It made no sense. Lydia was a gift for any college. She had the best grades, she was valedictorian for fuck’s sake. She was part of clubs, she had extracurriculars. All her teachers had written her references.

She would think it was a prank if it weren’t for each and every letter being embossed. She wasn’t too proud to admit she’d called each college to confirm and she was turned down again and again. Somehow, she had been turned away.

Refusing to give into the tears burning her eyes, she concentrated on the task at hand. Grabbing her shampoo and conditioner, she started cleaning her long, strawberry-blond tresses. Deserving some pampering, she took her time, really massaging in her hair products. She took the same time and care with the rest of her body, scrubbing and buffing.

By the time she was done, her body tingled. Was there a smell? She sniffed and could almost smell a funky rotten egg smell. Odd. Shrugging, she grabbed her lotions and began rubbing it into her entire body forehead to toes.

Her door slammed open just before she was going to climb into bed.

“You didn’t get into any of the colleges we applied to?” Natalie Martin demanded.

Lydia sighed, tears sliding down her face as she shook her head. “I even called and each one confirmed I didn’t get in.” She shuddered and whispered, “I just don’t understand.”

“I can’t believe this. We have worked for this for years!”

Hoping her mom was angry for her and not at her, she looked up.

At her. Definitely at her.

“Lydia Jennifer Martin. I am embarrassed to know you,” Natalie said, sneer on her face. “You are hereby cut off financially. That includes phone, internet, your room and board. You can’t afford to pay what I would charge you, so we’re going to have you vacate the premises. You have two days to get all your belongings out of my house. You only get to keep this shit because I don’t want to have to deal with it,” she told her shaking daughter.

Lydia was crying, unable to believe what the hell was going on. “But… but I have nowhere to go.”

Natalie gives her a cruel smile. “What’s that saying you kids are saying? That sounds like a you problem, not a me problem. You have an hour to get out. Take what you can and within two days, return between the hours of noon to four and get the rest of this out. Oh and leave your keys to the car and house and your cell phone.” With that, she stormed out, slamming Lydia’s door.

Using her phone, she called several of her girlfriends, but each just hung up on her. Oh god. Her mom might have done something. This wouldn’t normally happen, any of the girls, including herself, would take any of them in if there was a need.

She got up and went to her closet, glassy eyed with shock and fear. Where would she go? How was she going to live?

Jackson.

Jackson’s parents liked her, they might let her stay with them.

Jackson lay in his sauna drinking a beer. He had put some foils in his hair to renew his blonde streaks. Everyone thought it was due to being in the sun for long stretches, but it was fake. He even learned how to do it himself. After years of playing with Lydia’s hair, he was proficient in the craft. After he rinsed the color out, he’d lather in a strong conditioner.

He added another dollop of medicinal soothing cream, something Coach had suggested once and after trying it, he was sold. It eased the muscles and helped one relax.

He felt his skin tingle and he rubbed his face before settling back for a nice long soak. Danny and Jake would be there in an hour, but for now, he enjoyed his soak.

Erica finished her bath and used her fingers to apply leave-in conditioner in her hair. She was much more careful of her hair now that she was well enough to work it. Smoothing lotion everywhere, she enjoyed the scent, although it kind of had a bitter egg smell. It must have been her nose. Laying in bed, she sighed. It had been a shit day. Although hearing Lydia and McCall didn’t get into their colleges was pretty epic. Served them right.

Boyd was in the tiny shower he shared with his entire family and growled when he saw someone had stolen or used up his body wash. He grabbed his dad’s which was thick and creamy and Boyd hated it, but knew he didn’t have a lot of options. Today had been a lot. Drama. Arrests. Guilty of sending profane images to children was disgusting. He felt the need to be clean and soaped himself up over and over. If he ever saw McCall again, he might just kill him. Scott had been one of the biggest proponents of beating Stiles nearly to death. All the while, the sick fuck was sending pictures to little kids. One more time with the wash, he was tingling and it told him he felt cleaner.

Derek stood under the hot shower, letting it run down his shoulders and back. It was hard to believe what he’d seen today. The college shit wasn’t his problem. But seeing Allison and Scott get arrested had been shocking. Learning what they’d done, sending their own sex photos to a child, sickened him to his core. He was going to kick Scott out of the pack with the ultimatum; disappear or die. He’d seen it before. His mother had kicked a wolf out of the pack because he’d tried to rape one of the females. Talia Hale didn’t stand for that so she booted him.

Derek would do the same thing.

Unbeknownst to Jackson, his mom had gotten a very disturbing call from a stranger talking about Jackson participating in the beating of another person who Jackson knew and had gone to school with. In addition, he’d taken a picture of the beaten person and was showing it to people as if he were proud. She walked toward his room, knowing he had Danny and Jake over.

Standing outside his bedroom, she listened to him for several minutes, trying to figure out what she was going to do about what she’d heard.

“Can you fucking believe that? Greenberg. Fucking Greenberg got a full-ride scholarship to fucking Harvard! How the hell is that even possible?” Jake shouted.

“We should’ve kicked his ass more,” Jackson said with a chuckle. “Speaking of, I have the best picture to show you. You guys remember Stilinski,” he said.

Mrs Whittemore peeked through the partially open door. Jackson and the other two were sitting on the couch in Jackson’s huge bedroom.

She saw him show his phone to Jake who gasped and slapped his hand over his mouth. Danny took one look and stood up. “What the hell is wrong with you? Is that real? Did you really do that to Stiles?”

“I helped, but come on, you can’t stand the little punk,” Jackson said, throwing his phone to the side.

“There is dislike and irritation, then there is hate and torture. Jesus, Whittemore, I knew you were an asshole, but damn. I’m outta here. I have to go before I kick your ass,” Jake said and left, passing Mrs Whittemore in the hall.

She quickly moved into the bathroom across the hall and hid so she could hear what would happen with Danny. She had a feeling the gentle, kind young man wouldn’t be able to remain with the proof of something so horrible. Stiles Stilinski was well-known in the town, being the son of the sheriff. He was known to be clumsy and loud as well as kind and funny.

“Jackson, how could you do this?” Danny asked, hurting with the knowledge Jackson was capable taking part in such an act.

“You don’t know what he did to us and other people in town,” Jackson insisted.

“The Nogitsune?” Danny asked with a frown.

Jackson froze, eyes wide.

“What, you think nobody else knows what goes on around this town? From my research, the Nogitsune is a demon that possesses the person and uses their body to accomplish the demon’s desires. Nothing Stiles’ body did was his fault or his doing. You were fucking possessed by a kanima, do you think you should have been tortured?” Danny sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I can’t be friends with someone who not only allowed this to happen, but also participated. Don’t call me.”

Danny walked out and Jackson instantly ran after him.

Mrs Whittemore walked into Jackson’s room and picked up his phone. Her eyes refused to take in what she was seeing. There was no way this young man deserved this; nobody deserved this. The amount of blood dripping from him, the agony on his face. The dark satisfaction on the pack’s faces. She powered off his phone and stuck it in her pocket. Pulling her own phone out, she dialed her husband.

Two hours later, when Mr Whittemore came home and the two discussed the situation, looked at the picture and shuddered in horror. Mr Whittemore needed a moment. He could agree he was an elitist asshole. Jackson had turned out the exact same. But this? This was an entire different story. He wouldn’t stand for this. Together they approached Jackson’s room.

When they opened the door, Jackson turned to them where he was moving the couch cushions around. “Mom have you seen my phone? I can’t find it and I’m thinking Danny might have snagged it. But I can’t call him, so I’ll need your phone for the night.”

“Excuse me, young man?” Mrs Whittemore demanded. “You don’t demand my phone.”

Jackson glared then dropped it and got a sad look on his face - all an act. “But, Mom, I think Danny is mad at me. I can’t stand when he is.”

“Too bad,” Mr Whittemore said. “The phone isn’t yours anymore. In fact, none of this is. We’ve purchased everything in this room and none of it is yours to use anymore.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Jackson demanded, but his stomach told him he might know exactly what they’re talking about. This could get very bad. Would they take the Porsche and make him walk or get rides? He wouldn’t stand for that.

“How about this?” Mrs Whittemore pulled Jackson’s phone out and flashed the picture of Stilinski at him. “How is this for a reason to take everything from you. You helped these people nearly kill someone! Do you understand that? Do you get that? You act so entitled and that is definitely our fault. But nobody, nobody deserves this. I don’t care what they’ve done.”

“You have no idea what he’s done! He deserved it,” Jackson shouted. He was holding back his wolf with all he had.

“If he’d done something that horrible, you should have turned him into the officials. Even if it was something you couldn’t explain,” his father said, meeting his son’s eyes.

Jackson stood there, silent.

“You’re out, Jackson. You need to pack a suitcase with clothes only. Everything else belongs to us. Your trust fund has already been absorbed back into my accounts. You no longer have anything. Your card has been canceled. Your car has been sold and will be picked up tomorrow. Congratulations. You’re homeless.” Mr Whittemore said, disappointment clear in his eyes. “We tried so hard with you. You never showed any sign of growth. Now you’ll have to grow on your own.”

“Get your bag and get out. You have thirty minutes,” Mrs Whittemore told him and his parents walked out of the room and out of his life.

Jackson stood there, lost and scared. Where would he go? Danny probably wouldn’t take him in. Nobody else liked him enough to help. Derek? He might take him in.

Thirty minutes later, Jackson was walking along the street, heading toward the side of town Derek lived on. He heard the clicking of heels and he looked over. Only one person had that familiar stride.

Seconds later, Lydia Martin herself came along, dragging two huge suitcases.

Fuck.

“You too, huh?” Lydia said, her voice shaking as she realized Jackson wasn’t going to be able to help her. She didn’t know where Jackson was headed, but she was determined to follow him.

“Yep. Had a half hour to get my clothes and get out. Why’d you get booted?” Jackson said, waiting for Lydia before matching her stride.

“Mom was infuriated that I didn’t get into any of the colleges I applied to,” Lydia said and sniffled. “I still can’t believe it.”

“My mom grabbed my phone and saw the picture of Stiles post-beating. They took my phone, trust fund, computer and they’re selling my Porsche,” Jackson said, his voice shaking. He wouldn’t shed tears. He wouldn’t. He did. “I don’t know what I’m going to do,” he whispered.

“Same,” Lydia whispered. “Where are you going? I’m going to follow you.”

“Derek’s, I guess. I have nowhere else. Danny and Jake are still pissed at me. Not that I even know their phone numbers. Not that I have a cellphone,” Jackson said with a sigh.

“Same,” Lydia repeated. “Derek’s will do until we figure out our next step.”

“It’ll do,” Jackson agreed, swiping at the tears on his face.

A loud sound woke Noah Stilinski from a deep sleep. Nobody should be in the house. He’d made sure Stiles could never get back in.

Grabbing his gun, he quietly went down the stairs, skipping the steps that would squeak. There was a soft glow of light in the kitchen and he slowly approached.

“Hands up,” he shouted as he turned into the kitchen.

The soft glow seemed to turn and dimmed until a hauntingly familiar figure stood there smiling at him.

“Clau… Claudia?” He couldn’t be seeing his dead wife in his kitchen after more then ten years. “Claudia? My Claudie? Is it really you?” He choked out, tears already streaming down his face.

A smile came on her face, the one she always had when she teased him. Always when she asked if he had been showing his love for their son when he was used to keeping his heart closed..

“Hey baby! Where is Mischief? Have you told him you love him today?"

Noah froze.

Chapter Text

Boston, Massachusetts

“I’ve always wanted to go to Boston. I want to take a tour while we’re here, maybe a trip to the museum. This place is historic,” Stiles said as they pulled away from the airport.

“Sounds fun,” Peter said with a smile.

“Uh,” Liam said, trying to decide how to address his alpha.

Stiles chuckled. “I know not everyone is as big a nerd as Peter and I are, so the rest of you can always just wander around.”

There were sighs of relief.

“Thanks, Alpha,” Liam said.

“I miss Jean-Luc,” Malia popped up out of nowhere.

“Ha! Hand it over Hale,” Stiles said, holding out his hand.

“What’s going on?” Kira asked, smiling as her alpha did. Anytime their alpha was happy, they all seemed to feel happy. It was so different from the McCall pack; it was almost shocking.

“I like Jean-Luc. It’s not a big deal,” Malia muttered, staring out the window.

“We are happy for you, Malia,” Liam said. “I think our alpha parents already saw your affection for Jean-Luc. They’re just being silly. It’s nothing against you or your beau.”

Stiles beamed at his pup in the rearview mirror, who then blushed and smiled. He couldn’t help feeling parental toward Liam. He guided the youth when he needed it. He got after Liam to do his online schooling, helping him with anything he struggled with, making sure he ate good, whole food, as with the entirety of the pack. The more safety the entire family exuded, the more the betas snuggled together, scenting each other, keeping everyone loved up.

“Thanks,” Malia said and snuggled into Liam who hugged her.

“Malia, once we are done here in Boston, we’re going to take some time and find a spot to settle in for a while, weeks, maybe a month or more. I think we’ve been traveling around enough for now. We’ll all decide where we go. But once we do that, we would be happy to fly you to see Jean-Luc,” Stiles told her. He was rewarded with a very rare pleased, nearly shy, smile. “Cora, go ahead with the case information,” Stiles said. They’d gotten the call the night before and Cora had been in touch back and forth with the pack in Boston. The pack they were traveling to had heard about Stiles’ deeds from the Ramirez Pack and they’d suggested calling the Gajos Pack to see if they could help.

They could help.

“Gotcha,” Cora said, her voice off. “We are on the way to the Flannagan Pack, on the outskirts of Boston. They have a small pack, seventeen, but they are strong and can defend their pack. Their territory meets the Donnelly Pack, who are the ones we are being called in to help with. The Flannagan Pack always had good relations with the Donnelly Pack. But ever since the old Donnelly alpha died,” Cora cleared her throat, her clear, strong voice dying. She sighed, worry filling her pack bonds. “Um, I’m sorry, Alpha, but can we pull the car over?”

Stiles jerked his head at her tone. “Of course,” he said and found an empty parking lot and found a spot behind a couple trees and came to a stop. He sent soothing love through the bonds, hoping to comfort her.

“Can we get out?” Cora asked, her voice getting quiet.

Stiles immediately got out as did the rest of the pack. “Cora, what’s going on?”

“Can you put up a barrier bubble so nobody can see us?” Cora once more asked.

Stiles did so, trusting his Right Hand but now fully worried why they had to go to this extent. It hadn’t happened before, so it must be bad.

Cora finally nodded and took a deep breath. “Alpha, The Donnelly Pack’s prior alpha was bitten, not born, he had a human wife and human children. I guess most of the pack found this shameful. Ever since the old alpha died, there are many who think he might have been murdered so his second could take over the pack and keep only wolves in the family. His second, Monroe, an unmated wolf, did step up as alpha and that’s when the Flannagan Pack started hearing rumors that the Donnelly’s began either killing or banishing those wolves who wouldn’t give their allegiance to the new alpha. Then they began.… um… torturing their humans,” she ended in a whisper.

Stiles stared at her, his heart pounding. “Tortured? Like hurt?” his voice sounded choked.

They all heard little pops and sizzles as Stiles’ hands began to emit sparks.

“Yes, Alpha,” Cora whispered. “The humans are hurt and treated as servants.” She swallowed hard. “All are being harmed; anyone trying to help is either treated like the humans or tortured. The reports say the abuse is especially horrific on the wife and three children of the former alpha,” Cora said. She looked at Isaac gratefully as he hugged her. She was completely confident in her abilities as Right Hand. But to have to tell her beloved alpha that what happened to him was happening to innocent men, women, and children was more than she could take alone.

“Children?” Stiles’s voice was trembling.

“Yes, Alpha. The human mate of the alpha has two boys aged fifteen and seventeen. And a ten-year-old girl. Other human children are being mistreated as well,” Cora said, her eyes burning at the thought.

Stiles held his hand up and the entire pack froze. They were still encompassed by the bubble, but they felt it turn solid. Stiles then moved and created another bubble away from them, turned it black and disappeared from their view.

The pack bond was silenced, and they gasped and cried out as they couldn’t feel their alpha. Immediately, they huddled together, Liam and Kira at their center.

Peter took Cora in his arms, soothing her and their other upset packmates with his scent. “Family, I know this is overwhelming, but Cora, you did exactly what you were supposed to do. Even if you know it’s going to upset our alpha or one of our pack. These are the moments when we must be our most brave. Every detail must be known for our alpha to know exactly what must be done. I know all this is disconcerting, pups. There would always have been a time when Alpha would have to face abuse from others. We must be prepared to support him and obey him. Our alpha is going to react strongly to this case, and he needs to get his fury out now so he can concentrate,” Peter said.

A sudden earthquake rocked the ground around them. There were shouts of alarm, but they kept one another balanced as the earth reacted to Stiles’ fury.

None of them had seen this before.

Peter had seen a lot of magic in his time, but this wasn’t magic. This was elemental.

“Peter, look,” Isaac whimpered, pointing at Stiles’ black bubble. The ground under his bubble was rolling, sending waves of fury in the shape of the earthquake they were feeling.

“He is protecting us, but we have to let him do this,” Peter said. Carefully, Peter eased his way over to the younger pack and kept as much touch as he could with them. “Do not ever fear Stiles. Even in his rage, he protects us. I also have a feeling nobody else is feeling this quake. If they do, it would be of little note.”

They worked at keeping their balance and comforting one another as the earth continued to roll.

Several minutes later, the ground settled, and they gave weak chuckles as their feet were once more sure in the surface they stood on. As they watched, the black bubble began rippling before exploding in sparks.

Their pack bond reopened, and they all sighed in relief.

Stiles stood there, his clothes in tatters, his body emitting sparks. He took a deep breath, expelling smoke. He then waved his hand over himself, and his clothes were mended and clean.

The pack’s bubble disappeared, and they surrounded their alpha, waiting to see what he said or needed.

“I apologize, my pack,” he said, his voice raspy. He swallowed and healed his throat. “I shouldn’t have this reaction anymore. I’m good now.”

Peter shook his head. “Stiles, darling, it’s only been a few weeks since you went through hell. It is totally expected that you would feel this way. I think you’d react this way, even if you hadn’t been attacked.”

“I agree. But that doesn’t excuse my reaction, I hope I didn’t frighten you. I would never harm you,” Stiles swore.

“We weren’t scared,” Malia popped up. “We were just worried.”

Stiles nodded. “Good. I need to hug you all. Come here,” he said, waving his hands toward them.

They encircled their leader and enjoyed having a moment of comfort and closeness. Most times, they would all tease about that kind of thing. But all of them needed this. There were soft rumbles of content and Stiles sent love, affection, and protectiveness through their pack bonds.

He turned and kissed Cora on the forehead. “You handled the situation perfectly. If you’d told me in the car, I might have hurt any one of you or the general public. Allowing me the privacy to hear something you knew would affect me was exactly what you should have done,” he said, pride and gratitude in his bond. He hugged her tightly.

“Thank you, Alpha,” Cora whispered.

His phone rang and it was Raven, asking about the burst of power she’d felt all the way in Reno.

“We’re going to be helping a pack that is abusing and killing off the humans in the pack,” Stiles quickly explained.

“Ah, I understand then. I will commune with Goddess to power you through and for peace. You must keep your head, Stiles. You can’t risk losing control,” she warned him. “Not like you just did. You kept your head enough to protect your pack. There is every possibility that you would harm them if you lost it. Do you understand?”

“Yeah. I get it. I’ll do my best. I would appreciate your commune with Goddess. I need Her with me,” Stiles sighed. “I’m sorry, Raven.”

“Sweet boy, you have nothing to be sorry for. You are the perfect person to go save those people. Do what you must, Stiles. Help those people and do what you must,” she repeated. “Free those people. I will have Zo calling local packs around Boston that might take on some of the survivors if they want to leave.”

“That’s a great idea. Thank you for doing that,” Stiles said with a smile. “I’m sorry if I scared you.”

“I just don’t want you hurting yourself or others. Well, aside from the dirt bags. Stay strong, kiddo,” Raven said. “Call me when it’s over.” She hung up.

Stiles took a deep breath and let it out. “Alright. Cora, is there anything else upsetting, other than the obvious?” Stiles asked as they moved back toward their SUV.

“No, Alpha, the situation doesn’t affect any other packs. However, there are whispers, and just whispers, that the second who took over the Donnelly Pack, Monroe, plans to grow his pack and then go after their neighbors,” Cora said as they resumed driving. Peter was in the driver’s seat and Stiles smiled gratefully. “This is the opportune time to put a stop to it. They haven’t bitten or invited anyone into the pack yet, according to my information. Hopefully, we can prevent that from happening.”

“Okay. Call the Flannagan Pack for me?” Stiles asked. “Put it on speaker.”

“Alpha Flanagan?” Cora asked.

“This is she, Cora. How are you my dear?” the warm voice responded. “I love your name, by the way.”

Cora chuckled. “Same for you. I’m good. I have Alpha Spark Stiles Gajos here on speaker phone to talk with you if you have a moment,” Cora said, her voice now all business.

Stiles was so proud of how well Cora did her job.

“Of course,” she said. “I am on speaker phone too, my husband and mate, Joseph Flannagan is here with me.”

“Alpha Nora Flannagan, Alpha Mate Joseph Flannagan, it is good to meet you both. Stiles Gajos here,” he said, taking the phone.

“Stiles, it is good to meet you. Please call me Nora,” she said.

“Alright Nora, thank you. We are on our way to the Donnelly Pack to fix the situation,” Stiles said, trying to keep calm. He felt peace come through the pack bonds and he breathed easier, his shoulders coming down.

“You’re not coming here first?” Nora sounded surprised. “You’ll need the muscle.”

“No, I won’t. Technically, I won’t even need my pack. What I need from you is an aerial photo of the Donnelly territory as well as notes on where the alphas and betas could be located and, if you know, the location of the humans,” Stiles rattled off.

“Of course, I’ll get my pack on that right away,” she said and heard voices and movement in the background.

“Another thing we will need is finding an alpha for the group that is left over. Some may want to move away even when the alpha and his group are put away,” Stiles said. “Zo from the Ramirez Pack is also looking for homes and packs.”

“We’ll make sure they have options. If it works with your plan, our pack can handle the aftermath. We have some friends in there and would very much like to help get them settled in and calmed.”

“Absolutely, that is greatly appreciated actually,” Stiles said.

“If I can ask, is there a reason you don’t need help?” Nora asked him.

“It’s a bit of a touchy subject but I was nearly killed by my former pack. This was before my magic came to life. I was a helpless human and they tried to kill me. I will not tolerate that, even if I have to wipe out the entire pack,” Stiles said, trying to keep his tone even.

“I understand,” Nora said. “I would do the same in your position. Alright. Let me get you that information as quickly as possible. Cora, I’ll send it to your email,” she said.

“Yes, ma’am,” Cora said, turning on her tablet.

“There are some good wolves still there, trying to protect the humans. To the point of them receiving punishment for it,” Nora said.

“I will be able to tell by their aura,” Stiles assured her. “No innocents will be harmed in this raid. I promise you that.”

There was a sigh. “I will trust that the Ramirez Pack was telling the truth about you.”

Stiles’ eyes flashed silver. “We will handle the problem.”

“The maps are on the way. Please let us know if you need help. There are a lot of werewolves for seven people,” Nora said, worry plain in her voice.

“We will fix the problem and let it be known that it was the Gajos Pack who took care of it,” Stiles assured her.

“My mate, Joseph is sending the pictures to Cora. Please call when it’s all over,” Nora plead.

“Don’t worry, we will,” Stiles assured her and hung up the phone.

Cora got the pictures and handed her tablet to Stiles so he could look around. The packhouse was dead center with other houses built around it in a giant horseshoe shape.

The shed was off the backside of the packhouse where there was a circle and the word ‘humans’ was there. Dead center of the packhouse was the word ‘alpha’.

There were also numbers and names. The human names and where they might be found inside the houses and outbuildings.

“They’re being kept like animals,” Stiles growled. “Alright, Gajos, listen up.”

Everyone sat up and looked forward. Even Peter was sitting up a bit taller.

“The humans are in the building behind the packhouse,” he said, giving Cora the tablet to show the others. “I will enter the packhouse and once I start causing trouble, I want you to get to that shed and protect the humans until I can fix the problem.” Stiles told them and there were nods all around. “If we see any humans inside, I will get them to you.” He turned to Malia.

“Malia, this is your time. You are stepping up into Left Hand Apprentice. You are in charge of leading your pack members to the shed and assigning them a place to guard and watching over them. Cora, speak to the humans and calm them. Isaac, you protect the pups. Nobody will hurt another child. Questions?”

“I won’t let you down, Alpha,” Malia said, face firm, ready to take on the responsibility.

“I know you won’t. That’s why you got this position,” Stiles said. “Peter will be with me and only him. There are over twenty humans on the property, most of them staying in the shed. It will take all of you to keep them safe. Thirteen betas live in the houses surrounding the packhouse. We have no idea who is participating in the abuse and who is not. Keep your bonds open, we will contact you that way.”

“I feel bad for them,” Liam said.

“Why?” Isaac frowned.

“Because they have to face Alpha. I wouldn’t want to if I was in their position,” Liam chuckled.

“Thank you for your confidence, pup. I won’t let any of you down,” Stiles told them all.

“We know,” Kira said. “That is one thing none of us worry about.”

Once they had parked down the road, Stiles walked to each of them and touched their foreheads. He strengthened them and made them a little tougher. Then Stiles silenced their footsteps and blocked their scent.

Peter nodded to Malia who then gathered the pack and began heading around the house.

“Peter, you’re my back. Stay as close as you can so I can protect you in a bubble,” Stiles mouthed in his ear. “We’re going in big. I love you, Peter Hale.”

With a tender smile on his face, Peter kissed him softly. “I love you too, Stiles Gajos.”

One more kiss, then they were standing.

In the manner of wolves and their claws, Stiles flicked his hands and black flames sparked and flared from his fingers.

“You are so fucking sexy,” Peter whispered.

“Right back ‘atcha, baby,” Stiles said, blowing him a kiss.

There was nobody on the porch of the house, so Stiles got to make his big entrance by blowing the door right off the house.

Shouts and yells quickly erupted, and wolves were running toward them and away from him.

Stiles had decided to do this the easy way. He found evil in each wolf’s aura.

Are you trying to get the nogitsune to possess us?

You tormented me for hours!

You got me stabbed!

No friend of mine.

… put you in your place.

With those words and the pain, he could still feel in his nightmares, Stiles let loose.

With a hoarse cry, he began shooting fire and lightning at the wolves. Every single one. The innocent ones wouldn’t burn. The abusive wolves were killed instantly. The depth of their hatred and determination to destroy and conquer shocked him. He’d never seen anything like it.

Taking down another wolf, he knew he’d be dealing with his choice to kill later, but for now, he was getting revenge for what happened to him and was happening to the Donnelly Pack.

To the children.

Wolf after wolf fell to the floor. The few humans and several children that were wandering around were pushed told to run out to the shed, which they did, keeping the kids in the center of their group.

They ran through the house, relatively unscathed. Peter had gotten a claw in the arm, but it healed so quickly, he didn’t have to pause in taking the head off a wolf when Stiles shouted to do so.

Stiles broke into a room and instantly roared in fury, silver fangs descending into his mouth, eyes shooting literal sparks in his rage. He froze all the werewolves in place as he took in the scene around him.

Two teens who had to be the former alpha’s sons were strung up, facing out, in chains on the far wall. But it was the small girl most of all that took him beyond anger. She was also chained up to the wall, but her little feet couldn’t touch the ground. She was suspended in the air by her arms, and it had to be absolute agony.  Immediately he freed them with a zap of his spark. He contained the small girl in a protective bubble until her brother could pick her up.

Go to the shed, you’ll be safe, Stiles told the eldest who nodded, shock in his wide eyes.

The teen nodded and picked up his sister carefully. Stiles saw why when she was turned, and he could see the whipped, raw skin of her back. Sending a healing spell at her, he then turned to the alpha of the pack. Once the kids were gone, Stiles began sparking all around his body.

His wrath would be felt. Nobody would touch those kids again.

“Monroe, I presume,” Stiles said, looking at the man who sat in a wingback chair, obviously thinking he was god over the territory.

“Ah, you’ve heard of me,” Monroe said, his blue eyes cold.

“I have indeed. I’ve heard you need to die,” Stiles sneered. “I can help you with that.”

Monroe quit looking at him, his shaggy hair covering his eyes. “You don’t need to kill me. These people are my pack.”

“So as alpha that means you get to torture humans and children?” Stiles yelled. “You bring shame to the word ‘alpha’.”

“Humans do not have a place in my pack. I can do with them what I want,” Monroe said, though he was starting to worry. He still couldn’t move his body.

Stiles flicked sparks at him, making it sting and burn. “You wanna kill me right now, don’t you?” Stiles said with a wicked grin. “Let’s show you what I can do before we carry on.” He felt Peter still at his back, protecting him. His mate was amazing.

Stiles surveyed the wolves in the room. “All of you are found guilty of abuse, attempted murder, torture and being general assholes. Your sentence is death,” he said, eyes glowing near white. He roared at them, silver fangs flashing.

Monroe watched in shock as every single wolf began falling to the floor, crying out before dropping dead. He stared at Stiles, eyes wide. How was this man so powerful? How did he have silver eyes and fangs? He looked into those silver eyes and saw his death.

“Have you not heard of me? Alpha Spark Stiles Gajos, nice to meet you, Monroe Dirtbag. I’ve decided you need to feel what it’s been like for those in your pack that you have tormented. No wolf healing. That would be cheating,” Stiles said with a feral grin. “You beat on children. Children! You fucking monster! For that, I curse you double pain. She was ten years old! All to feel powerful. The royal alpha, wiping out those beneath him. Now you’ll know exactly what they went through. Feel.”

Monroe instantly started screaming as whip lashes appeared on his skin, splitting his flesh apart. Bones crunched in his face. Ears bleeding. Teeth falling out of his mouth. Lips bitten, black eyes swelling. A pop split the air as both of his arms dislocated. Then he screamed as both of his legs were broken in multiple places, some white bone sticking out in various places. His hands broke, fingers breaking in different directions.

“Ooh, that sounds painful,” Stiles said. “But it’s never quite enough. You abused your pack. You tortured human children. You do not deserve to live. Now. Let’s finish the job, shall we?” Stiles grinned through his fangs. He threw the man to the wall with the chains and set him high enough to where he couldn’t touch the floor. Adding the wounds and injuries, it had to be absolute torment and misery.

Good.

Stiles sped up the time Monroe hung there. It felt like days of torture to him and only seconds for Stiles and Peter. His moans and pleading finally ended as his throat gave out.

“Go make sure we got everyone,” Stiles told Peter. “I’ve got this.”

“Of course, Alpha,” Peter said and kissed him before turning and running out.

Dropping Monroe to the ground caused horrible screams of agony as he landed on his broken legs.

“Now we fight,” Stiles said, his entire being and aura sparking like enjoying a sparkler on the Fourth of July.

He healed Monroe and they ran at each other. Stiles easily grabbed him by the throat and slammed him to the ground using one hand, bashing Monroe’s head into the hardwood flooring, cracking the wood.

He stood over the panting wolf. He may have been healed, but he was still exhausted. “Get up, you scum bag. You like hurting little kids. Men and women. You’re going straight to hell. And let me tell you,” Stiles said. He spread his arms wide, and a circle opened. There was nothing but black inside. “I have access to such dimensions. Guess where you’re going to spend eternity?”

Monroe started sobbing as he heard distant screams coming from the hole Stiles had opened. “Please, no. I’ll change. I’ll be a good alpha! Please!”

“You know, I might have had mercy at one time. But walking in here and seeing a baby, a child, strung up on the wall pisses me the fuck off.” Stiles eyes glowed silver with flecks of red. “Nobody deserves to go through that. Except you. Go ahead and jump in, they’re waiting for you,” Stiles said with a wicked smile as the horrible screams got louder.

“No! No, please, Alpha, please no!” Monroe cried, losing control of his bladder.

“Don’t lose your edge at the very end. Come on, you're a tough alpha! Accept your punishment as an adult,” Stiles grinned. This was too fun. He’d had no idea he could access a different dimension. It was just something he was somehow aware of as he gathered the new power.

“Alpha, please!” Monroe was on the floor on his hands and knees as he begged.

Stiles nearly felt a smidgeon of pity until he remembered the slashes from a whip on a little child’s back.

“Say goodbye!” Stiles said and held out his hand.

Monroe was gathered up like he weighed nothing and flung into the black hole, screaming the whole way. The dimension immediately closed.

“Goddess,” Stiles whispered. “I beseech you to accept my humble apology for killing so many.”

Fear not. It had to happen. Fate.

The whole thing took less than thirty minutes.

Stiles sighed, satisfied as he joined his mate who was helping a wolf in the kitchen. He wiped his hands off. “I would call that a successful mission.” He turned around and kissed his mate.

“You will never cease to astound me,” Peter noted with a grin, before becoming serious. “Alpha, they didn’t feed them. The pack is going to get a pot of stew going. We may need you to check for symptoms of starvation.”

“Of course I’ll check. Cora will call the Flannagan pack," he said, speaking loudly so Cora would hear him outside. "The Flannagan Pack said they’d be happy to help with the aftermath,” Stiles assured them. They looked relieved and he didn’t blame them. They needed to be around people they know, those who can comfort them.

Peter and Stiles walked out the back of the house and saw the shed straight in front. He puffed up proudly at the stance of his packmates. They stood at attention, heads swiveling to watch over the humans.

“All done,” Stiles called to them with a proud smile. “You all did a wonderful job and I’m so damn proud of you. This was something we’d never faced before, and we were only successful because we worked as a team. Let’s get these people some care.”

“Um, they need clothes,” Isaac said, his face red. “They were kept here naked.”

Freezing, Stiles felt the rage building back up before he took deep breaths and leaned on Peter to control himself. “I should have killed them slower,” Stiles said. “Liam, Kira head inside and contact pack members and ask for help. At least get towels, blankets, or sheets.”

The two ran into the house and Stiles asked Malia for a report.

“We were spotted pretty quick, but when your roar sounded, they forgot we existed and ran into the house. It was easy peasy,” Malia said with a smile, remembering Stiles using the phrase. “There are some injuries here. I don’t want to assume, but…,” she hedged.

“I’ll heal them. We’ll get them covered so they can keep their dignity and then we’ll help them inside.”

A few minutes later, the main room of the packhouse became a little medical clinic where Stiles healed everyone who needed it. Even some of the betas needed help. Monroe and his followers didn’t take kindly to any betas who tried to help the humans.

Cora had called Alpha Flannagan to come and take over the after care. They’d been expecting the call and were already on the way.

Once everyone was healed, one of the betas asked why all the wolves had to die.

Stiles stood and gathered the attention of all those present. “I know killing the wolves was extreme. I see auras, I see intentions. These wolves had nothing good left in them. At some point in time, something snuffed out the good in them. If we had spared any of them, they wouldn’t stop until they got their revenge. They would keep coming at you all until you were dead. You deserve a pack and a home of peace and safety. Now Alpha Flannagan is going to help you all get settled. You can either stay here or a new home in another pack can be arranged. Ah, here Alpha Flannagan is now, with plenty of betas to help you.” Stiles blinked his eyes to silver. “Spread the word so this doesn’t happen to other packs. The Gajos Pack has no problem taking out those who cross our path. They wouldn’t come out of it alive.”

The humans and betas nodded with big eyes. And there was a number of gossips who would indeed spread the word.

With that, the Gajos Pack was done in Boston. They were done.

After accepting the thanks of both the Donnelly Pack and the Flannagan Pack, the Gajos got back on the road. All of them were ready to relax.

Liam had a surprise for them and had made a couple secret phone calls. He grinned. “My folks are offering up their vacation home in…. Drum roll please,” and the pack played the drums. “Sunny Hawaii!”

The pack paused and then cheered. “Hell yeah!”

“I’ll sweeten the deal and hire us a jet, so we don’t have to sit for ten hours in a squished seat,” Peter said.

More cheers sounded. The pack could truly relax now. Stiles fell asleep on the way to the airport and Peter woke him to get settled in a seat. He finally woke up as the pack also was waking up to the announcement they were landing soon.

The sun was shining, the temperature was perfect, the house was a dream, and the private stretch of beach was heaven itself. They’d found paradise.

They had no idea that when they came back to the States, they would realize the story in Boston had boomed to near mythic proportions. Seemingly overnight the Gajos Pack became infamous. Able to heal cancer. Able to open hell dimensions. Willing to kill those who try to cross them.

Chapter Text

“Claudia?” Noah whimpered, tears openly running down his face.

“Hey Noah,” she said with a soft smile, looking at a picture of Claudia and Stiles smiling when he was around four years old. She traced his rounded cheeks and eyes the same color as hers. “Have you told our Mischief you love him today? Have you kept up with that all these years?”

He’d only kept the picture up because Claudia looked ethereal in the photo. “He, uh, after you… He changed his nickname to Stiles. And he, uh, is off at college. He got into MIT,” Noah said, trying to sound proud.

“Stiles, huh? It’s sad he didn’t keep his nickname, but I can understand. He’s not home, that’s sad. But I have magic, so I can recreate the last time he was here. I need to be in his room, it’ll have the most complete essence,” Claudia said, beaming. “I can’t wait to see him all grown up.”

“No! No, it wasn’t the best parting. We were angry at each other, and I’d hate for you to see the hatred coming out of him,” Noah lied. Anything to keep her from seeing the last time Stiles was there. Keep her from seeing what he had done. And hadn’t done.

“It’s okay, I can handle an argument, Noah,” she said with an eye roll. “I’ll just zip up there and take a look. I want to see how my baby grew up.”

With that, Claudia disappeared, and Noah raced up the stairs after her.

He got there just in time to see a blood-soaked Stiles, his skin gray, his face drawn with pain, enter the room. His face was bleeding so badly, blood streamed freely.

“Claudie,” Noah implored. She couldn’t see this. He would lose her. Again. He had no idea how she was here, but he didn’t want her to see this.

The specter of his wife turned to him, eyes glowing silver with anger. “Stay there and be quiet.”

Noah tried to argue, but he couldn’t even move his lips much less make a sound.

They both watched as Stiles stumbled into his room, grabbing a towel from his laundry basket and wrapped it around his bloody arm. They saw actual drops of blood hitting the floor around him.

A misty Noah walked into the room.

“What happened?”

Stiles wheezed. “The pack wanted me out. I guess this is to remember them by. They told me to leave the state, or they’d kill me.”

Noah walked out the door and was back in seconds and tossed the little metal medical kit and tossed it at his son, hitting his bleeding arm, causing a gasp in pain.

“I gotta say, if this is what the pack decided, I will support them. I’m glad I won’t have to hear your nightly screaming anymore. I’ll finally be able to sleep through the night. And to be completely honest, it’ll be a relief to not live in fear of the next time you try to get me fired. The jeep stays here, you don’t deserve it. If I come home and find it gone, I will have you arrested for grand theft auto. I’m not joking around here. I will throw your ass in jail. Got me?”

A tiny nod was all Stiles could manage.

Ghostly Noah walked out and disappeared. Stiles froze and Noah realizes Claudia had paused the memory.

She glared at him. “You monster!” Claudia cried out. “How could you do this to our son? I don’t even know you!” Her shimmering light began moving and bubbling as if it was boiling. “Explain yourself!” she yelled, freeing Noah’s mouth.

“You don’t know what he did, honey. He tried to kill people. He tried to stab his friend's girlfriend,” Noah said, hoping to convince her.

“Did you know I have magic, Noah? Did you know I can tell when you lie?” she stared at him, her eyes slowly turning silver. “What happened to my son,” Claudia demanded.

Noah realized he couldn’t do anything but tell the truth. What was she doing to him? “The McCall Pack attacked him and kicked him out of the pack. They used the excuse that the Nogitsune was really Stiles and that it was Stiles who tried to hurt so many people.”

“Was it Stiles’ fault?” she demanded.

“No, he was possessed,” Noah admitted, tears of shame burning his eyes at the utter disappointment in her shimmering silver eyes.

“So, you were tired of helping him with the nightmares, huh? What about all the nights and days Stiles was forced to take care of you, huh? What about all your years of being a fucking alcoholic around my child?” She was now yelling, and he could feel the force of it in his chest. “You left my child half dead! You left him there! What if he bled out? Huh? Would that have been a relief for you?”

Noah tried to deny it, but he had to tell the truth. “Yes, it would have been a relief. I couldn’t wait for him to be gone, whether through death or being threatened with death if he didn’t leave the territory.”

“Who are you?” Claudia shook her head. Her expression was torn with disgust and heartbreak.  She turned back to her son. “My sweet Mischief, always so alone.” She whimpered, tears streaming down her ghostly face.

Noah wanted to comfort her so maybe they could enjoy their precious time together, but he couldn’t speak again.

He had to stand there and watch as their son crept closer and closer to bleeding out. Claudia was sobbing softly, falling to the floor.

“Mischief. Oh, my sweet Mischief, I’m so sorry,” she cried.

They watched as Peter Hale appeared with a giant medical bag. He treated Stiles with such affection and worry. He had to listen as Stiles talked about not being able to go to the hospital because Melissa McCall may not be trustworthy. Noah had been living with Melissa at the time.

“Was she trustworthy?” Claudia demanded through her tears.

Noah shook his head. “We listened to Scott and believed him.”

Several people arrived at the house, identifying themselves as allies. They helped numb Stiles so Peter could stitch him closed as much as possible. It seemed to take forever.

Noah watched as these vastly different individuals were brought together because of what Stiles had experienced.

Then there was the panic of the pack finding out he wasn’t gone yet. The group of teens and Peter whirled around the house helping Stiles pack. Then they all left, leaving behind bloody towels and clothes. It looked like a murder scene.

The image faded until it was just Claudia and Noah. She was shaking with rage when she turned to him. “So. You think Stiles was guilty when he was really possessed huh? Let’s see how you like it,” Claudia’s eyes glowed silver until it was so bright, Noah had to turn away. It was too late, the glow was so bright, it sucked him right in.

Noah was suddenly in a tiny dark room. There was one window and he tried to look around, but there was no door, nothing but black, like nothing existed beyond the black. He walked to the wide window and was shocked at what he saw.

His body was moving into his bedroom and pulling on his uniform. He even attached his badge, got his gun, and holstered it. His body, he could tell, was now walking down the stairs of his house. Grabbing keys, his body left the house.

“Claudia!” Noah screamed, but he couldn’t be heard. He banged and slammed at everything, crying, and begging to get out.

His body got into his car and began driving.

“Huh. It’s been a long time since I drove,” he heard his mouth say. “But this is damn smooth. Not nearly as bumpy as the cars used to be.”

“Let me out!” he screamed. “Please!”

“Nope. You get to see how Stiles felt. Do you understand yet?” His voice asked.

“Let me out!” was all he could yell.

“That would be a no. That’s fine. I can mute your irritating voice. Watch all that happens and know this is because you failed my son. You failed as a father. Now hush. I need to concentrate on my driving,” Claudia/Noah said.

The rest of the drive was quiet. When he saw they were pulling up to the sheriff's station, he began begging again. He beat at the window until he was exhausted. Nothing happened, Claudia didn’t acknowledge him, and he slumped against the window. There was absolutely nothing he could do.

There was nothing Stiles could have done either, he realized. But it was too late. He still wasn’t sorry for what he did.

Claudia got out of the cruiser and walked into the station, waving at those who acknowledged him.

“Hey Sheriff,” Deputy-Sheriff Jordan Parrish said as he fell into step beside his boss. “Bad news. We had to release McCall and Argent. Molly went missing and took the phone with her. Since we didn’t get the phone, we just don’t have any proof. And we can’t find anyone named Molly Smith. We haven’t had any calls reporting her missing. I don’t know what is going on. I worry that she was kidnapped and was taken away after she showed us the pictures. I don’t know. I’m worried though,” Parrish sighed. “So, what are you doing here, I thought you were off tonight. Heading to Melissa’s, right?”

“Yeah. That’s the plan. I need to talk to you, Swartz, and Brown,” Noah said and walked into his office. “Meet me in my office now.”

“What are you doing?” Noah yelled. “Don’t do this, please!”

Noah’s body whistled a jaunty tune as he sat behind his desk. He took his name plate and tossed it in the garbage. The next move had Noah freaking out; his body opened a locked file cabinet that was being used as a bar for him. Claudia/Noah nodded and locked it back up. Then she went and turned on the camera that sometimes watched over his office. He turned it off when he wanted a drink or other things. He hoped Claudia wouldn’t find out.

However, with her opening that cabinet, he was fucked. How did she even know it was there? Claudia please! Please stop! Don’t do this! How are you doing all this?

“Because I can access all your memories,” she whispered to him.

When his three top deputies walked in, he sat and greeted them.

“What’s going on, Sheriff?” Parrish asked. “You’re acting weird.”

“I am acting oddly. I’ve been struggling with some things for a long while now. I’ve decided to step down as Sheriff,” Noah said, handing over his gun and unpinning his star badge. “You can use the camera in here to use as a confession.”

No!! Please! Claudia, don’t do this!”

It did him no good.

“What’s going on?” Dawn Brown asked.

Noah sighed. “I’ve been drinking on the job.” He handed a key to Swartz. “That key is to that cabinet over there,” he told them. “Here, Jordan,” he said, reaching into the desk and holding out a flask that was still half full. “There is another flask in the glove compartment in my cruiser,” he told them.

Parrish nodded at Brown. “Go have someone look and take pictures.”

Noah handed over his keys.

Please! I’m sorry! I get it now, please don’t do this to me. This is all I have!”

He did get it now. There was absolutely nothing he could do to control his own body. It was like he couldn’t contact his body to tell it to move. He was stuck in this room, taunted and tormented by his body being driven by someone else. At least it was his wife and not a demon, if that’s what the nogitsune really was. He understood but it didn’t make him feel sorry for Stiles.

Oh really?

Claudia, there you are. Please, please don’t do this. Being Sheriff is all I am!

Nope.

With that he was alone again.

“There are a couple more things. This has really been weighing on me. On the CCTV in here, if you look at October 8, last year, I had brought in a young woman by the name of Britney Groves, who I brought in for prostitution. She told me she’d do anything to avoid jail time as she’d been arrested for it several times in other towns. I let her give me a blow job and then I fucked her over my desk. I let the camera record it so I could watch it later and masturbate to it,” Noah said.

Noah, stuck in his head, began screaming in helpless rage. Claudia was tearing apart his life one sentence at a time. The punchline to his life was that it was all true. He did drink and he did agree to trade a blow job for avoiding jail time. Among other things.

“What else, Mr Stilinski,” Parrish demanded, glaring at him. He walked over and stood beside the desk.

Noah, from the window, noted the change in address. He was no longer sheriff. All his hard work, dedication, double and triple shifts. Days of missing his family.

The humiliation burned in his heart. These people usually treated him with deference, with respect. That would be all over for him.

Possession really can ruin your life.

His body cleared his throat. Noah opened the main drawer of his desk and reached for a secret compartment that Jordan was watching him open.

Inside himself, Noah was screaming again, pleading with Claudia not to do this.

“Go ahead and reach in there,” Noah said and walked around the desk, letting Jordan sit in his seat.

Because Parrish would be the interim sheriff until an election could make the decision, he realized.

Parrish reached into the hidden compartment and pulled out baggie after baggie of a suspicious white powder. He looks up at Swartz. “Grab a test kit.” He glared at Noah. “Why the hell would you do this? Are you trying to kill people by getting high?”

“How do you think I worked so many doubles and triples? I figured if I were so busy, I wouldn’t have to go home. I ignored Stiles enough as it was. I should have been arrested years ago,” Noah sighed. This is disgusting, Noah. “I neglected that kid so much. Not going home for weeks at a time and demanding he clean the house, make my meals. Claudia would have killed me if she were still alive. She would have divorced my ass and reported me to you guys.”

Inside his head, Noah was sobbing. He was going to be the laughingstock of the town. He might have to move.

A deputy brought in the test kit. Jordan quickly dipped the cotton bud into the powder then into the liquid. The cotton bud turned bright blue.

Positive for cocaine.

“Noah Stilinski, you are under arrest for gross misconduct, on two counts and for the possession of cocaine. You will also be facing charges for being under the influence while working,” Parrish said, cuffing the sheriff.

The sensation of the cuffs going on was foreign and felt so wrong. It was never supposed to be like this.

Swartz and Brown stepped out to make sure the paperwork was started right away.

“I know you’re a hell hound and are aware of the supernatural,” Noah whispered. “Stiles was attacked by the McCall/Hale pack. They nearly killed him then they chased him out of town. I didn’t do a damn thing to help, other than to tell him the pack had the right to do so. You should find him and see if he’s okay or if he needs help. You will find his phone number on your phone.” With that, he went quiet as Noah was then taken through the embarrassing arrest process. Claudia projected satisfaction when the deputies and workers stared in shock as Parrish escorted him out of his office. His former office.

Noah felt the embarrassment of these people seeing him taken down. He would never be able to have pride in his job again. It didn’t matter if he saved lives or kept the entire station running. All he would be remembered for now was being a drug and alcohol addicted sheriff who took sexual bribes.

He very quickly found himself stripped of his uniform and put in county jail clothes. Further humiliation was when, instead of watching him disrobe as was the process, all the deputies turned their back. It was a punch in the face that screamed shame. This action screamed that he was unfit to wear the uniform and they didn’t respect him enough to keep watch.

From there, he finished the check-in process and was delivered to a cell.

When the door clanged shut, it all got very real for Noah. He was in jail. He was fucked. Inmates did not take kindly to cops who ended up in jail. He’d either be beaten to death or spend his sentence in solitary confinement.

Noah. You will not fight your sentences. You will not fight what you confessed. Enjoy your time in prison. Oh, and in case you ever feel remorse for what happened to my son, he is now the most powerful magical being in the entire country. Soon the world. How does that feel? He didn’t need you to become great. It is you who is a shame, an embarrassment to the name you carry. Enjoy.

With that, he was jolted back into his body. Moving his body under his own control, he was shaking and shivering after his experience. He wanted to yell that he was set up or someone was blackmailing him. But he found his mouth closed and unable to open.

Claudia’s glowing form was grinning from the other side of his door. “Oh, yeah, that will happen if you try to talk about any of this or against my son. Have fun! Oh, and I’m getting you a roommate. Remember that shootout a couple of weeks ago? Well, the county jail is awfully full, so they’ve decided to move the shooter in here. I’m sure you two will get along. Don’t worry, they’ll introduce you as the former sheriff. Toodles!” She blinked out of vision.

At the same time, across town…

The shriek of a horrified off banshee filled the air and covered a two mile radius. People would end up going to see the doctor at the hospital when their ears began bleeding.

It was worse in Derek’s loft.

“My hair!” Lydia screamed as her hair began peeling off her head as she raked her fingers through it. “No! What the hell is happening?! My hair!”

Jackson was sitting there in shock as his own hair began falling out. Tears stung his eyes.

Homeless. Nearly bald. What a great day.

Derek gasped as his hair was falling out. Then he felt a tickle on his chest and found his chest completely smooth.

.

“Mom!” Scott screamed as his dark hair began falling out. “Mom! Fix this!”

.

“Boyd, Boyd, my hair, it’s falling out,” Erica cried.

“Same here. We need to get to the loft,” Boyd said, his voice calm as usual.

.

Allison was screaming into her arms, completely alone, with dark hair falling around her. Her father refused to speak to her and was already in talks with other hunters to send her to hunter rehab. It was going to be humiliating to begin with. Add on hair loss and it would be the worst time in her life.

.

At the same time, doorbells and knocks were heard around the homes of the pack. They each approached their door and each of them found a box. There was no ‘to’ or ‘from’ addresses, no post marking. Nothing of note. There was no scent attached to any of them.

Each person opened the boxes and growled low or shrieked in outrage...

The ungrateful wolves didn’t appreciate the boxes full of bandanas and wigs.

It seemed like a practical gift.

Chapter Text

Beacon Hills

“I. Have. No. Eyebrows!” Lydia’s shrieks filled the loft.

Jackson had already discovered his lack of eyebrows. At least he didn’t have to get them waxed for a while. Lydia would be able to draw him some. He hoped.

Derek’s gorgeous, thick black hair was thinning rapidly, beard becoming patchy.

The three now had bandanas on. Whoever the fuck was tormenting them was obviously winning.

“I called the bank to transfer money from my trust fund, Derek had gasped at the amount he didn’t have in the bank. “I was on the phone for nearly an hour trying to figure this out. But as it stands right now, I’m broke.” He had a look of blank shock.

“What?” Lydia asked, eyes wide. “Not you too!” Who would take care of her now?

“It’s just gone,” he said quietly. “They said the money was taken out of the bank, as it was being transferred to a different bank. All done legally somehow. They couldn’t tell me who did it. I could go to court, but that would take years,” Derek said, running his hand through his hair, only to gather a near handful of black hair. What was he going to do without money? He’d have to get a job of all things. Fuck. He wondered for a moment if it was Peter, but his uncle was so arrogant, he would have made a scene and made sure Derek knew he was the cause of misery.

“What the hell is happening? This is like torture town here,” Jackson whined. “This shit isn’t supposed to happen to people like us. We’re the predators, not the prey.”

“Could this be magic? Did someone curse us?” Lydia asked. “That would explain your money suddenly being taken away from you.”

Derek hummed. “It has merit. We’ll talk about it with the pack.”

Ten minutes later, the pack came trickling in, each wearing a bandana. Including the recently released criminal, Scott. Erica had chosen a blonde wig. The bob actually suited her, but she had tear tracks down her cheeks.

“What is happening to us?” she asked, walking up to Derek, needing answers from her alpha. “I can’t stop having nightmares. The basement,” she whispered.

“Me too,” Boyd said.

“I don’t know,” Derek said. “Lydia suggested magic. Now I’m wondering if it’s some demonic entity coming to torture us to break us down. I lost all my money,” he shouted and roared, before going absolutely still and was staring into space, still in shock over the abrupt change in his life.

Lydia was pacing around the loft, trying to solve the mystery when she stopped and looked around. “What is that smell?” Lydia finally demanded.

Derek shrugged. “The stinky chemical smell? I don’t know. I smell it too, but I’ve never smelled it before.”

It was familiar to Lydia but couldn’t place it. It stunk and as she walked around the room, she closed her eyes and took it in. “Holy shit, you guys! It’s a depilatory cream! Like to remove body hair, usually legs. It’s meant to make the hair fall out. Okay, people, we all need to hit the shower, not the bath, and scrub your hair and body really well. We need to wash it out. Once we do that it’ll just be a waiting game for it to grow back, but showering will help make sure it doesn’t keep getting worse.”

From there, they each took a shower, not wanting to go home and risk being seen. There were sounds from all of them as they watched more hair go down the drain. Derek was the lucky one who got to unclog the drain from all the damn hair.

After, Lydia and Erica braided each other’s hair in a manner that would hide the worst of the hair loss.

“This has got to be some kind of chaos demon, right?” Scott asked. His face went white. “What if it’s the nogitsune?”

Derek rolled his eyes. “Do you not remember what the nogitsune was really like? These are more pranks than anything else. The nogitsune would be here, rubbing it in, bringing death and destruction. This is high school shit. It’s not a nogitsune.”

“Stiles would know what it was,” Erica whispered. Stiles was on her mind. Seeing him in her nightmare, strung up across from Boyd and her. Time after time he was hit and electrocuted after he drew attention away from them. Finally, he was able to free himself and then them. He got them out of there alive, never getting lost. They’d bonded, even though prior to that they’d been mean to him. She missed Batman.

Scott gave a gusty sigh. “I hate to admit it, but you’re right. Should we call him? Er.. Find him first, then call him,” Scott said. They’d located the phones of Stiles, Peter and the others, crushed on the side of the road and in the preserve. There was zero way to find them. Luckily Stilinksi wasn’t exactly a common name, so that should help.

Lydia shrugged. “At this point, I’m willing to call in hunters to help us.” She looked around. “Speaking of, where is Allison? I know she was released too, but I haven’t heard from her since.”

Scott shrugged sadly, pathetic puppy expression on full power. “Her dad picked her up from the sheriff station and she hasn’t answered any of my calls and texts. I miss her already.”

Pulling out her phone which was now a pay-as-you-go phone from a convenience store, she glared at it. Humiliating. She dialed Allison’s house and tapped her fingernails on the counter.

“What?” a deep voice demanded.

“Mr Argent? It’s Lydia. I was wondering if Allison was home,” she said, sweet and polite as always.

“Allison is gone,” Chris reported. “After the picture debacle and the fact it was sent to all of the upper members of the hunter community, there was no way I would just let her stay here. She is going to rehab and will come out of it stronger. Don’t call me again or you’ll live to regret it.” A beep sounded as he disconnected the call.

Lydia and Scott looked at each other and grieved the loss of a person they both loved.

“We were supposed to have the Disney ending,” Scott mused, rubbing at his red eyes.

Lydia rolled her eyes. “I love Allison, but she was more hunter than your girlfriend. If her dad told her to kill you, she would have done it in a second.” She went to the kitchen so she didn’t have to look at him anymore. How was she going to find Stiles?

In a tiny cell in the sheriff’s station...

Noah Stilinski eyed his new roommate in his tiny jail cell. Damien Cosgrove had shot a man just to rob the local grocery store. When his wife rushed to her husband, he shot her too. Once the police arrived, Damien turned his gun on them. Noah took him down.

“Sheriff Stilinski, what the hell are you doing in my cell?” Damien stood to his full height of six-foot-five, a fierce frown on his already stern face.

“Oh, he’s not sheriff anymore,” Parrish said as he came around the corner. “Turns out he’s into cocaine, alcohol and letting people blow him so they don’t get a ticket or go to jail. Oh and he approved his son being beaten nearly to death by a gang of kids. You have a boy, too, don’t you Damien? A son you haven’t seen in years? Now, play nice boys,” he said with a grin to Noah. He turned away, whistling a jaunty tune.

Noah thought it might be the old hit by Elvis Presley. ‘Jailhouse Rock’.

Dick.

He was still overwhelmed by Claudia’s visit. Having to admit that he was fine with Stiles being dead and not having to see or deal with him anymore, left a sour taste in his mouth. He’d hid it for years, but the bitterness overwhelmed him, and it just kept adding up. Stiles was there when Claudia got her diagnosis since Noah was off on a case. Stiles was there when Claudia begged her son’s forgiveness for hurting him when she wasn’t herself. Stiles was there when Claudia died. He took Claudia’s last moments. He didn’t call Noah when it happened. Melissa had to point out that at eight years old, Stiles hadn’t been able to handle such adult things. But Stiles was the reason Noah hit the bottle. All he could see was Stiles. The kid who should have been dead and his mother still alive. Resentment grew. He learned how to hide it and show false affection, but it never fully went away.

Now he was paying the price.

Damien walked the two feet to where Noah was standing in his orange jumpsuit. “Orange suits you, Stilinski. I have lots of friends eager to meet you once we get over to the city jail. I’ll be preparing the way, making some calls, so you’ll get a proper welcome. Most of us have kids. I’m sure they’ll love hearing about your kid.” He grinned, voice dark as his eyes. With that, Damien held up his fist. “Meet the Crusher.”

Ordinarily Noah would roll his eyes, make a smartass comment, or threaten him. But he was in Damien’s world now. He glanced at Crusher and thought it was an appropriate name. That fist was bigger than both of Noah’s hands.

He put his hands up. “I don’t want any trouble, Damien.”

Damien grinned; eyes cold. “Well, that’s too bad, because I do. And guess what, pathetic piece of shit, I saw the picture of your son after his attack.” He dropped his grin as he listened to Noah gasp. “You deserve to be shot. You’re not a father. Now, let’s see if we can even out the damage.”

Crusher hit him right in the ribs and Noah felt his rib crack. Then there was the face smash which caused him to shout in pain. His nose broke. Maybe even his cheekbone. Holy fuck it hurt.

“That was for your kid,” Damien growled.

Noah was gasping in pain. He yelled out for the guard and Parrish came wandering back in as he was bent over with agony.

“What do you want?” Parrish asked, green eyes cold.

“I need a different cell,” Noah wheezed. “He fucking beat on me.”

“I don’t see any evidence of that,” Parrish said with a dark smile. “Stop trying to cause trouble or I’ll set you loose in the lifer population. They have a real boner for people who hurt kids. They may be tough killers, but they still love their kids. Now shut up, people are trying to work out there.”

Once again, Parrish turned and walked away.

Damien laughed, loud and boisterous. “Looks like I just got free rein on kicking your ass. Let’s start with your hands. Can’t hurt a kid with hands that don’t work.”

Parrish heard the screams and closed the door. The deputies had a lot of work to do and didn’t need to be interrupted.

Beacon Hills

Cole, Zo, Chelsea, Maya, Trey and Damon were the elder youth, and their mission was to find the Alpha Pack and see what they wanted. They could have left it to their parents but felt comfortable enough to handle it themselves. If the alpha’s meant to do them harm, it probably would’ve happened already. Especially given that Aiden had left a card for the twins.

It took them several hours of going back and forth in the town when they finally found an alpha scent and followed it to an apartment building. Oddly enough, it was the same building Argent lived in. They snickered at the thought of the ‘powerful’ Argents living below an alpha pack of werewolves.

They followed the scent to an apartment. Cole looked at everyone and they all nodded at him. They were ready for anything.

The door opened. “I knew you’d show up eventually,” Aiden said with a smile.

Zo recognized him from the girls’ video. “I’m Zo Ramirez from the Ramirez Pack. We come in complete peace. We’d like to discuss this little town with you and your pack.”

“Sounds interesting. Come on in,” Aiden said, opening the door with a flourish.

The six wolves went into the living room. There was a huge man, Ennis, standing behind a wingback chair that held a gorgeous woman, Kali, with dark eyes sharp on them. They saw the other twin, who introduced himself as Ethan. Finally, there was another wingback chair that held the alpha of the alphas, Deucalion Blackwood. They saw his sunglasses and cane and looked at one another. They’d had no idea he was blind.

Zo inclined his head. “Alpha Blackwood, thank you for allowing us here. We have representatives of the Ramirez Pack, LaBlanc, and Smythe. We are here to cause a little mayhem, to be frank,” Zo said.

“I like the sound of that. Please, come in and have a seat. We can discuss everything,” Deucalion said, his tone firm. They obeyed quickly.

The next hour was spent sharing the stories of what Stiles and the Gajos Pack had achieved.

Deucalion sat up straighter after hearing about Raven’s healing and the children at the Barringer pack.

“Do we know where he is now? He sounds fascinating. I think I would like to share a cup of tea with him,” Deuc said casually.

Cole caught it. There was a twinge in his face. Deuc wanted his sight back, which anyone would want. “They are currently on vacation as they’ve been on the road for weeks.”

“Does anyone know where they’ll be going when they get back?” Deuc asked. “I think this pack is going to be an exceptional ally. As would all of your packs.”

Zo answered. “Thank you for that. The Gajos Pack will be coming to stay with us a for a while in Reno.”

“I will have to arrange a meeting with the Right Hand of your pack,” Deuc said, getting lost in thought.

They spoke for another hour before leaving with phone numbers and emails to give to Stiles. They all caught a plane that night and went home.

Several days later...

Zoom Call.

The meeting rooms were packed tight as everyone in the Packs, youth and adult wanted to be in on the call. The packs waved at each other, and it was noisy for a long moment.

Patricia Barringer whistled. “Alright, let’s quiet down and keep this as calm as possible with so many of us here.”

At her whistle, all the youth took their seats and waited to be addressed.

Alon put up his hand. “I think you all know my oldest son, Zo and my daughters Amelia and Annalisse. They just returned from California where they were on assignment and have some news to share.”

Zo and the girls outlined what they did with the tires and the conversation they overheard with Scott and Aiden. Then their visit to the alpha pack.

Lucien LaBlanc tilted his head in thought. “Deucalion Blackwood?”

Zo nodded. “Yes, sir.”

Lucien whistled. “Damn. There is an alliance you definitely want, that’s for sure.”

“A pack of alphas? I know Zo said it was a very calm and respectful meeting, but should we be interacting with them at all?” Alpha Smythe asked. “It sounds potentially dangerous.”

“Trust me, if Zo thinks it went well, then it did. Deucalion and his Left Hand, Kali have zero problem showing how they really feel. If they had ulterior motives, Zo and the others would have known. I can call Kali, just to verify,” Lucien said. “It’s been a long time, but I think we can discuss what is going on.”

“Great idea, Lucien,” Alon said. “I know the youth went to Beacon Hills several times with bigger and bigger numbers of them. I think they enjoyed it all a bit too much,” he said with a chuckle that echoed within the other packs.

“Megan, you had quite the adventure,” Alpha Smythe said, smiling at his tiny daughter.

“You all know about the picture that’s gone around from McCall. Well, I reported to the cops that I was getting those pictures on my cell phone. I was dressed like a kid and it worked like a charm. They had to go through the embarrassing process of being arrested and put in jail overnight. Obviously, I couldn’t leave the phone, but I managed to get away. They were released that night. But it was sure fun,” she said with a chipper grin. Her eyes met Zo’s warm brown eyes and she blushed, returning his smile.

The Carson Alpha spoke when she was done. He was grinning. “We have had several interactions with professionals who had no problem working with us. We got the colleges to turn down Martin. The video was so fun to watch. We shut down Hale’s trust fund. He’s broke now, that money should belong to Peter now. But he said he didn’t need it and it was free and is ours to split. We’re talking eight digits here, folks. I suggest college tuition and pack home building for each of us. We can vote on a finance group who can manage the money and where it goes.”

“We can call it the McHale Scholarship,” Alpha Carson’s wife said with a chuckle.

By the laughter, it had pretty much been voted into being.

“What other kind of mayhem did you kids raise?” Alpha Smythe asked.

Jean-Luc raised his hand. “I’ve just begun training to be emissary a couple weeks ago and I was practicing dream magic. I used a spell on two of the pack who had betrayed Stiles in the most horrible way. I simply make them relive it every night.”

“Effective,” Alpha Alon said with a nod.

Everyone agreed.

Amelia and Annalisse stood and raised their hands. “While the guys were busy, us ladies raised some mischief. We went around and added a little ingredient to their shampoos, conditioners and lotions. It was meant as payback but also a good way to hit them right in the vanity.” People were swinging their hands, pushing them to tell what they did. “We put depilatory cream in all of their things. It’s a hair removal cream. The banshee screamed her head off. It was pretty epic.” Laughter broke out and the girls got high-fives for their badass vengeance. They waited for a moment. “Then we sent them all boxes of bandanas and wigs, just to help out. Jean-Luc was able to spell them so there was no scent attached to any of it. There was no stamp, address, et cetera,” the twins giggled. “They didn’t seem to enjoy it as much as we did,” they said together.

There was more laughter and high fives in all the rooms. Finally, Raven got everyone to settle down a couple minutes later. “I have an idea of what we could do to ramp up the fear until we get there to kick their asses.” She explained her idea. “We start sending letters or emails or texts, letting them know they have brought judgment and war upon themselves. We do this steadily for a couple weeks. Daily or every other day. Freak them the fuck out. I was thinking we would send a couple youth again to keep an eye on the situation and tell us if there is some way we can make it more terrifying for the pack. Like asking if they liked the bandanas,” Raven suggested a dark smirk on her face. “I was thinking Cole and Trey if they’re up to it.” Nobody caught the twinkle in her eyes.

Cole stepped forward. “I’m good for it. What about you, Trey?” He had a light dusting of pink on his cheeks.

Trey stepped up next to his Alpha and grinned. “I’m in, definitely. When do we leave?”

“Very soon. We’ll talk to you two when the meeting is over,” Alpha Ramirez said to his beta, who nodded.

Trey gave Cole a wink before he stepped back. He caught the pink cheeks and his stomach flipped. Trey couldn’t help but be attracted to Cole. He was so tall and strong with this confident, dominant personality that tripped his trigger like nothing else. Spending a couple weeks alone with him? Yes please.

The two flew out that night and got settled in an empty loft their parents had rented. The benefit of the location was the fact it was right across from the Hale alpha. Their windows looked into each other. It would be handy to keep track of them. The first assignment was to bug the loft. Trey and Cole grinned at each other and began to formulate their break-in.

The next morning, the two wolves delivered the first letter. The letters had been prewritten, so all the guys had to do was deliver one every couple of days. They would all be signed with a ‘V’ for vengeance.

McCall and Hale Pack;

Greetings. Did you like the bandanas? You all sounded so insulted by a very practical gift.

 It must be rough to be shown your own ugly side, isn’t it? Having no eyebrows has got to be rough.

We are coming. Very soon. You’ll never know when or where or how many.

By the way, that roast you had for dinner last night looked delicious.

-  V

Chapter Text

McCall and Hale Pack,

This letter is dedicated to all the people you have inadvertently killed through your inaction and clumsy handling of the supernatural. You bring shame to the name of wolf and should be removed from the supernatural. Did you know that’s possible? Something to look forward to. For some of you.

Jackson, your room reeks. Do your laundry, it smells worse than the locker room and your old coach’s onion breath.

There’s more than one coming for you.

-V

Jackson read it and promptly woke everyone up with his scream. Getting up, he looked around, half expecting someone to jump out at him. Shoving his pride aside, he ran to Derek’s room, calling his name.

Derek growled at him but woke up enough to read the note. His stomach sank. This wasn’t good. It was the second note in three days. They were in trouble.

“How the hell are they getting in here? In my room for fuck’s sake. You have alarms set!” Jackson said, his voice shaking with real fear.

Derek sat up and put his head in his hands. “I don’t know. I have no clue who is leaving these notes or why. It has to be magic that allows them to get in here. But even then, my motion sensors should have gone off. Deaton told me it would set off if someone intended harm to us.” He sighed. “I have some feelers out to my mom’s old allies to see if they have been targeted and if they can help us. I have no idea what else we could do.”

Hawaii

Stiles was in heaven. Coming to Hawaii had been the best thing to happen to their pack. Liam’s parents letting them use their vacation home was exactly what his tired pack needed. Two weeks, they’d decided. Then they’d get back to helping people.

Though Stiles was known for his pale skin, he was at the beach all the time and with Peter monitoring his sunscreen, he’d been able to get a decent tan. He was able to go around without a shirt, not worried about bursting into flames. He was thankful to his Spark that he no longer had the scars from the attack. It would have guaranteed he stayed in a shirt.

What Stiles didn’t know was the tan brought out his best features. Those honey-gold eyes seemed to glow even when he wasn’t trying. The moles everyone loved were harder to spot, but that just made being up close to him a gift. His long, lean body was shown off to perfection. The six pack he’d always hidden from the pack was on display.

The other benefit was his scar seemed to become camouflaged in the tanned skin. He still got stares from it, but it didn’t stand out as much and that helped Stiles relax into his perfect vacation.

Plenty of men and women tried to approach Stiles, but since Peter was always next to him, most lost their confidence and walked away. The pushy ones who did say something got to see Peter and Stiles make out. Or flash their eyes.

They’d spent the first three days resting. Recharging their batteries. There were no phone calls, emails, nothing. They kept the TV off. After they felt more themselves, they began exploring. They ate so much of the local food each day; they would have to walk around just to keep from being miserable.

On their fifth night, Stiles woke, though he didn’t know why. They kept the wide doors open all day and night, wanting the sound of the waves and the salt smell of the ocean to comfort them to sleep and then to wakefulness. Stiles slid into some shorts and walked out the doors, wondering why he was awake.

“My sweet Mischief. Look at you, all grown up. Oh, baby boy, my sweet baby boy.”

The achingly familiar voice came from his left, so he turned, his stomach tightening.

It was his mom.

Claudia Gajos stood there before him in jeans and a ‘stud muffin’ shirt that looked familiar. She had a bit of a glow about her, but other than that, she looked solid.

Stiles hoped she was because he was rushing at her. “Mama?” he whimpered.

She caught him and hugged him hard. He sobbed on her shoulder. He was much taller than her, yet her mom abilities made him feel like a small child receiving the comfort only a beloved parent could give.

“My Mischief. Oh, baby, I’m so proud of you. You have become an amazing man. Even more wondrous than I ever imagined. Let me look at you,” she whispered in his ear and set him back a little.

Stiles gazed at the face of his mother through tears he quickly brushed aside; the face she’d had before the dementia stole her away from him. A face so similar to his own, it was eerie. His own honey eyes looked on him with such love, it threatened to overwhelm him in the best way possible. Her softly curled chestnut hair matched his own and the delicate beauty marks on her face were in the exact same place as Stiles’.

Claudia looked so proud she might burst. “Mój syn. My son. Look at you. You look like a Gajos. Like a Gajos wojownik. My little warrior.”

Stiles preened at being called a Gajos warrior. It felt like that sometimes. He was a warrior for those who couldn’t be. That was his wish and hope. His mother confirming it filled the aching pit in his heart that her death and his father’s desertion left behind. “Mama,” he whispered, eyes filling with tears once more. “Are you really here?”

She smiled and put her - surprisingly small - hand on his face. He’d been used to her hands being bigger, able to cup his whole face.

“I am really here. Just for a time. But long enough for us to talk. Let us walk, Mischief,” she said, taking his hand.

They walked along the beach and Stiles told her everything. From the moment she left him until she returned to him. The body in the woods. Scott being bitten by a crazed Peter. Struggling through Scott’s transformation. Being abandoned by his dad and Scott in favor of work and a girlfriend. He stumbled his way through the Nogitsune, terrified she would be angry with him or disappointed. It would crush his soul.

Claudia stopped when he finally finished talking about his possession, tears making his voice tremble and shake.

“Look at me Mieczysław Stiles Mischief Gajos, formerly Stilinski, and yes, I sure as hell love your choice of surname,” she said with a twinkle in her eye. “I’ve been in the Fade, and I’ve seen all that has happened to you. Did I approach you and tell you I’m ashamed of you? That it was all your fault?” He didn’t answer. She narrowed her eyes. “I expect a response, young man.”

Stiles' stomach jumped. He hadn’t heard that tone in many years. But it was one he would never be able to ignore. “No, ma’am, you did not tell me you are ashamed of me or that it was my fault.”

Her expression smoothed out and she winked at him to let him know he was forgiven. “My son. You were put through hell. There was zero reason for you and your friends to drown yourselves in an ice bath on the word of that wannabe veterinarian. It was brought about by a man who has no direct contact with the Other side. Every magical being knows that particular spell left the ones participating with spirits like Swiss cheese. Holes inside that made them vulnerable, but somewhat safe. Scott and Allison weren’t possessed because they didn’t have the purity of mind that you had, that left you completely open to anything that happened by. That vet knew this and did it on purpose hoping to get rid of you permanently because of the magical potential in you. He knew you would be more powerful than he could ever dream of. That demon used you, horribly and horrifically. I can’t imagine what it must have felt like. The vet was never able to get his hands on the magic, you were too strong already.” She hugged him tightly. “You did everything you could and everything you should. You never stopped fighting, never stopped playing the demon’s game until you were freed.” She looked smug.

“What is that look for?” Stiles asked, tilting his head. “I’ve made that look plenty of times. Usually preceding someone asking, ‘What did you do?’.”

“Well, it appears that Peter, Lydia and Scott were the ones to free you,” Claudia said, smirking.

“But…” Stiles waved for her to continue.

“Well, who do you think gave Peter the idea and who gave Lydia the idea to use the wolf to call to you?” She said smugly, oozing with pride and victory.

Stiles gaped at her and then grinned. “Badass, Mama!”

They gave a high-five and laughed together. Sounding the exact same.

Then Stiles stopped and put his arms around her, holding her close. “Thank you for saving me. I don’t think I would’ve been able to beat it alone.”

Claudia squeezed him before resuming their walk. “You would have, however, the damage it would have done to you, would have been extensive. We thought it would kick-start your spark. But before it could, the pack… well, we know what they did.” She sighed. “About your father. I am so sorry for what he’s done to you, said to you. That was not the Noah I knew and loved. I don’t understand how or why he had so much hidden hate.”

“It was grief and alcohol,” Stiles told her. He shrugged. “It is what it is. I have you and that’s enough. Wait a second,” he said. There was so much there to take in, to think about. But first. “Earlier, you said ‘we’ thought it would kick-start it. Who is we?”

Claudia smiled. “Close your eyes, Mischief.”

He shared her smile and closed his eyes. He completely trusted her with himself. With his heart. He felt a hand on either side of his head.

“See,” she whispered. Stiles felt a whisper of magic take him over. “Good. Okay, sweetheart, open your eyes and look around you.”

Slowly blinking, Stiles cleared his eyes and looked around in shock. Surrounding them was a crowd of people. They felt familiar.

“This is your family, Mischief. Cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, great grandparents. Your history,” she told him. “This is the Fade. We can watch over you here.”

Stiles was fascinated as he walked closer to the spirits. He finger-waved at one older lady who grinned and waved back. Among the faces of his family, he saw glimpses of himself in them. There were a lot of honey-gold eyes. Lots of moles. Even his lips were repeated on other faces.

One shadowy man walked up to him and traced his long fingers down Stiles’ scar, his face sad. He moved his lips, but Stiles couldn’t hear him. He turned to his mom, questioning.

“He is your great-grandfather five generations back. He is sad that they couldn’t prevent the attack on you. He is sad and furious that you have to live with the scar,” Claudia told him.

Stiles smiled at him, touched that someone related to him felt that kind of sadness for him. “Thank you. I’m okay, though. People are curious but not intimidated or horrified. That’s what I was most afraid of.”

He cut off his words as his ancestors surrounded him, ghostly fingers tracing his smile and moles, his scar, his long fingers, that he finds out he got from his great-great uncle Stanisław. His relative was a prankster, grinning and randomly pulling hair or poking the others. Stiles cracked up and they gave each other finger guns at the same time which only made them laugh harder.

“He learned that gesture from you,” Claudia told him with a fond smile.

“Really?” Stiles grinned.

“Yep. He says you remind him of his younger self. He also says he is enormously proud of you,” Claudia told him. She suddenly slapped her hands over her ears. “Hey! Knock it off. One at a time or I won’t give you a chance to communicate with him.”

His ancestors straightened up and they spent the next two hours talking and meeting his family. Stiles’ spark loved the extended family and was constantly flickering and lighting up. There was much silent laughter and awe as he showed them what he could do.

Suddenly the crowd parted, and an older man approached, elegant and proud, with a strength to his bearing that told of him living through his own hard life.

“Mischief Gajos,” the man said in a heavy accident.

Claudia and Stiles’ eyes went wide as Stiles understood what was being said, no need for his mom slash interpreter.

“You are a warrior,” the man continued. “The bravest and most powerful of us all, with the humility and grace a leader needs to have. Mischief, continue to lead, continue to fight. The number of lives you’ve already saved and the number of those who admire you and respect you is well into the hundreds. When you feel tired and need your breaks - which you will need - listen to your spark. You’ll be able to help better and stronger if your spark is well rested.”

“Yes sir,” Stiles said, his body covered in goosebumps.

“You bring honor and respect to the ancient Gajos name and family,” the older man said.

Claudia and Stiles bowed their heads to him, not understanding why they did it or even knew to do it.

"Excuse me, sir, what is your name?" Stiles asked. He felt a connection with this man and didn't know why.

“I am Gniewomir Gajos, the first of our line. You do your family name proud. I am proud of you,” the tall, distinguished man said.

Stiles’ eyes misted over at the honor he felt being told these things by an ancient spirit. “Thank you, Gnee, uh, Gna,” Stiles huffed. “Can I just call you Pop-pop?” Stiles burst out before slapping his hand over his mouth. Now was not the time to piss off or insult his oldest ancestor.

Meanwhile, the man smiled wide and nodded. “I would like that indeed. I fell in battle before I could know my grandchildren. I’d like to have one now.”

Stiles beamed. “Thank you, Pop-pop. For your kind words and your belief in me. Knowing I have all of my family's approval,” he said, looking around at the crowd, his eyes once again misty with emotion. “You humble me, and I hope I can continue to make you and our family name proud of what my pack and I do.”

Pop-pop winked. “Until we meet again, Mischief,” he said and with a wave of his arm, the entire crowd dissipated.

He and his mom continued their walk, silence between them. Finally, Stiles had to say something. “This has been so surreal. Thank you for this Mama,” he told her. “I’ve missed you so much and you gave me everything I wanted and needed within the space of a single night.”

Claudia grinned and put her ghostly hand on his face. “I’m glad you have what you need.” Her smile faded. “Mischief, I have to leave.”

Stiles nodded and swallowed hard, afraid of the answer to his next question. “Will I see you again?”

She gave him a loving smile. “You will see me when you need me. As well as your ancestors. Never hesitate to call out any of their names and they will do what they can to help you. Now give your mama a hug ‘see you later’,” Claudia said, her smile wobbly.

He wrapped his mama in his arms, taking in her soft rose scent, the love he felt from her. The distant feel of a pack bond growing in his heart. And from her bond, hundreds more wisps radiating out and proclaimed Family with another strong tie to an ancient Pop-pop.

“I love you, Mama,” Stiles whispered, his tone fierce. “Thank you for this gift. See you later.”

“I love you too, my Mischief, my son. We will see each other again,” she said. “He’s on the way, and what a looker, my son!” She grinned. “See you later,” With one more stroke of his cheek, she faded into nothing.

Stiles couldn’t help wondering who was on the way, but stood there, staring at the ocean, trying to wrap his mind around the last few hours. He was so grieved that his mom had to leave, but also so full of wonder and love. He really needed…

“Stiles, love,” Peter said, coming to a stop next to him and grabbing his hand. “Are you okay? It felt like you were waking me up, but then the feeling led me here.”

Stiles smiled, tears flowing down his cheeks. “I’m good, Peter. But, damn, do I have a story for you.”

On their fifth day there, Stiles heard about local whale watching tours and jumped around with Cora and Isaac and decided they needed to go and go now. The whole pack went along and had a blast. They saw several humpbacks. They watched them breaching and gasped in wonder. The huge, graceful creatures leaping into the air and crashing back into the water, their long pectoral flippers slapping the water was mind-blowing. The best part of the was the last whale they saw. One humpback was especially curious and slowly approached the boat. Stiles gasped and danced in place. Not sure if animals could sense his magic, he used his spark and asked if the majestic whale would let him touch it.

He got his answer. The giant whale disappeared and then bobbed up out of the water right next to him. Instant tears filled his eyes at the absolute wonder and gift of it all. He reached his hand out and the whale’s nose bumped him. “Boop,” Stiles whispered with a watery grin. The feel of the whale was almost like wet leather, but bumpy as all humpbacks were.

When Stiles touched the whale with awe, he felt a recent injury on the whale’s flukes from a shark. Pushing his spark into the creature, he healed her, feeling it through his magic. The whale bumped him again before sliding along the boat, letting everyone see her amazing length and flippers. Stiles had the privilege of running his hand down the entire length of her, Peter holding onto him so he didn’t fall out.

Once she did that, she disappeared before breaching only twenty feet from the boat, making them all shout in surprise and excitement. They were soaked when she fell back into the water but were too busy applauding and jumping around.

She eventually swam away, but Stiles swore she rolled on her side and exposed her flipper and waved at them before sinking below the surface.

Stiles was giddy when he found out Malia had been taping the entire event beginning to end. He watched it over and over, still feeling a sort of connection to the whale.

He was recounting the story - again - as the pack watched on with patient smiles.

“Stiles?” A shocked voice came from beside him.

Stiles looked over and shot out of his seat. “Holy shit! Danny!” The two hugged even though they’d never been especially close. “How the hell are you?”

“I’m good, taking a gap year before college,” Danny said. “I was born here, and my grandmother still lives here.”

“An amazing place to be. We’re here on a two-week vacation.” Stiles turned to his pack. “This is Peter, Malia, and Cora. I think you know Kira, Liam and Isaac from lacrosse.”

“I do. Hey guys,” Danny said with a smile. He shook all their hands. He paused just a smidge when shaking Isaac’s warm hand.

 Isaac inhaled sharply. There was a tingle of something there, something between them.

Stiles invited Danny to join them, Isaac shooting out of his seat and offering it to Danny before running to order him a drink.

“Can I get something off my chest?” Danny asked, after he tore his eyes of Isaac’s ass.

Tilting his head in confusion, Stiles nodded. “Please do.”

“Okay. I want to ask about your scar, but I have a feeling it’s going to have to do with my question. What are you? You aren’t a witch or a werewolf, like these guys. Or a werecoyote,” he said, nodding to Malia. “But I can’t place you. I don’t remember getting this feeling from you in high school.”

Stiles had gaped at first, then closed his mouth and nodded. “You know. For some reason, I’m not really surprised.”

Danny rolled his eyes. “I’m pretty sure most of Beacon Hills knows about the supernatural thanks to McCall and Whittemore not having the sense to talk quietly. Aside from that, everyone knows funky shit goes on in Beacon Hills. I’m sure everyone has their own opinion on what it is that makes it different, but it’s not that big of a deal. So,” Danny said with his charming, dimpled smile. “That brings us to what you are. You are much more than you were in school, but I can’t really tell.”

Stiles tilted his head. “Do you have magic? I don’t get that vibe from you.”

Danny nodded. “It’s more a sensitivity. My grandmother passed it on to me when she passed last year. I can tell when I’m looking at someone supernatural. It helps me avoid the bad ones.”

“Nice. A Sensitive,” Stiles said with a fascinated grin. “I’ve never met a Sensitive before. Can I ask you a million questions? Are there any more in your family and can I meet them? Does it hurt? What does it feel like? Can other supernaturals sense your power?”

Danny chuckled and shook his head. “You have not changed, Stiles, that is for sure. But it’s my turn now. What happened to you?” He sighed and looked down. “I feel compelled to admit, I saw the picture of the aftermath. So I already know you were seriously hurt. I guess I was just curious about the how and why.”

Stiles gasped and began shaking. “There is a picture?” He whispered, horrified. His breathing sped up. “A picture,” he whimpered, looking at his mate. People had seen him at his weakest moment. Someone was showing it off.

Peter grabbed him and held his mate tightly, breathing slowly, emphasizing each movement. Over Stiles’ head, he flashed his eyes with a bit of fang to warn against upsetting his mate again.

Danny sighed, rubbing his face. Of course, Stiles wouldn’t know about the pictures. “Fuck. I’m so sorry, Stiles. That was so tactless of me. Jackson said he took the picture just after Derek hurt you. He showed it to me. I walked out immediately and that night I flew here. I couldn’t be near people who had that kind of hate in them.”

Peter’s eyes were glowing a furious blue. “I’m going to kill that little fucker.”

Meanwhile, Stiles was working to avoid a panic attack. He keyed into Peter’s breaths and his pack bonds and was hit with love, comfort and protectiveness. It helped his breathing slow, and he calmed down after a long moment. “I’m okay. I’m okay. I didn’t know anything about a picture, it took me by surprise.”

“Of course, you wouldn’t, I shouldn’t have said anything. My curiosity got the better of me. I should’ve known you hadn’t seen it. I just didn’t think,” Danny said, true remorse in his warm brown eyes. “I’m hitting all the bad points, huh?”

“No, you’re not. It’s just that a lot of terrible things happened very quickly,” Stiles told him, grasping onto the feel of his pack so he could stay calm. He looked at Peter, unsure if he could get the words out to share.

“Only if you want to, darling,” Peter said softly.

Danny’s eyes went wide. “Stiles, I’m so sorry. I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable or bring up bad memories. Of course, you don’t have to tell me anything. Crap. I can’t believe I didn’t even consider what retelling would mean to you.”

Stiles shrugged. “Will you tell?” he asked Peter.

“Of course,” Peter said and kissed him softly.

Danny was looking at them, his mouth nearly gaping. “Damn, Stiles! You were bi after all, huh? Nice catch.” He gave a big smile.

Peter gave a low growl. “Careful. He is my mate.”

Putting his hands up, Danny dropped his grin. “Shit, sorry. Apologies. I didn’t mean to offend. I’m just fucking up all over the place.”

“No, you’re not, Danny. There is no way you could have known any of this,” Stiles assured him. Stiles put his hand on Peter’s. “He really didn’t mean anything by it. Danny is an angel. Like Isaac,” he said, eyeing his pup and grinned. He’d already noticed the not-so subtle looks between the two.

“Isaac and Danny aside,” Peter said. “What happened to Stiles was horrific and it was a miracle he survived.” He saw Danny’s face go white as he looked back at Stiles, who lost his confident mien and looked despondent.

“It’s your story and if you’d rather not tell it, you don’t have to. I won’t mention it again,” Danny promised. He was getting a knot in his stomach about what could have happened to the bouncy, obnoxious kid turned confident, proud, and full of magic.

Stiles nodded at Peter. “Go ahead.”

“The pack in Beacon Hills did this to him. They kicked him out of the pack and then beat him nearly to death. He nearly bled out. The scar you see was a gift from my nephew, one of two alphas in the Beacon pack. Derek, Scott – the other alpha.

“Wait, Scott McCall is the other alpha?” Danny asked incredulously.

Stiles winced. “Yeah, he’s, uh, not great at it.”

“I would agree, and I’ve never talked to him about it. Okay, I’m sorry for interrupting, Peter. Please continue.

“We had Derek, Scott, Jackson, Lydia, Boyd and Allison took turns slapping, punching, and slashing at him with claws. His face was split open, arms slashed open, all with werewolf claws. Then they told him he needed to leave California, or they would kill him. He was healed by the emissary of a pack in Nevada, and she helped set his magic free. He is an Alpha Spark,” Peter said, looking at his mate with love and adoration. “He’s a miracle,” he whispered.

Stiles turned pink.

Danny, meanwhile, was outraged and shocked, dark eyes furious. “They did that to you? What the ever-loving hell? I’m so glad you were healed. I can’t even imagine how long healing would’ve taken.”

Stiles shrugged. “Let’s just not talk about it.”

Everyone nodded. They continued to talk about the supernatural and now that Danny was in the know, they got to tell their multitude of stories about the adventures they’d had so far.

“Hold on, you guys are the Gajos Pack who took out that pack in Boston?” Danny’s eyes were wide and awed.

Everyone puffed up a little.

“That was us,” Stiles said with a pleased grin.

“Dang. You guys are badasses! The hottest news among all the supernaturals. So, wait, if you are the pack going around helping everyone, how do people ask for your help?” Danny asked, sucking on his drink.

Isaac was practically drooling watching him, not realizing his mouth was open.

Cora shrugged. “Each pack we helped knew of another pack who could use our help. Word of mouth.”

“What about a website? You could encrypt the site with magic and make it so it’s only available to supers,” Danny suggested.

Everyone perked up - minus Malia - at his suggestion. Malia was paying attention but was more watchful than active in the discussion. She wanted her pack to be safe while they were involved in such a deep conversation.

Peter noticed and was extremely proud of his daughter. He nudged her packbond and sent his pride to her. Malia pinked up but otherwise didn’t respond or look at him.

“That is a great idea,” Cora said, already typing notes into her phone Kira and Liam watching her and whispering ideas so they didn’t disrupt the conversation.

“Danny that’s fantastic! You should tag along, help us get started and see what we do. I know Raven would love you,” Stiles gushed.

“Really?” Danny’s eyes got wide, and he grinned at the thought of an adventure. “Seriously? Hell yeah, I’d love that.”

“We could make you an official member of the pack for the course of a year since you’re taking a gap year. That way we have the right to protect you. If you decide to have a permanent home with us, you can tell us at any time,” Stiles said. “Cora, that’s the correct wording, right?”

Cora smiled; she loved it when Stiles leaned on her. “That is exactly what my mom would have said to a prospective pack member. She would do so after asking the pack if they would object,” she said, needing to be honest. She saw Stiles’ devastated face as he realized that he’d skipped asking everyone. Her alpha would learn, he wasn’t a born wolf who’d grown up knowing these things. “However, I, for one, would love to have Danny along. He’s got amazing ideas and knowledge, he’s fun and respectful. I approve.”

Stiles smiled at her, still feeling upset, but thankful for her words.

“I approve,” Peter said right away.

“I approve,” Isaac said, cheeks pink.

The rest gave their approval as well and Danny was welcomed into their circle, a warm yellow bond popping up in all of them. Danny gasped when he felt his bonds form.

They finished their time in Hawaii with getting to know Danny and meeting his family. His grandmother grabbed Stiles and the two spent hours on the porch discussing magic.

Danny packed up and said his goodbyes, eyes watering all around his family.

For the rest of the pack, they were happy to come home with a new pack member. But all were saddened to leave their peaceful paradise. They’d spent their last night on the veranda, watching the moon as it danced along the vast reaches of the ocean. It was perfect.

Next stop, Reno and the beloved Barringer Pack.

Beacon Hills

Trey and Cole ran to the dining room when they heard a scream followed by a roar. They’d broken into the loft again, set up various microphones and cameras. Alpha Ramirez had wanted some of the video footage to show the other elders before they came. They wanted to be familiar with who was who in the pack and see how they carried themselves.

Raven also watched so she could recite the next letters with Cole and Trey. They’d had pre-written letters but found that adding some personal touches to the letters was even more threatening and scary.

Trey and Cole grinned at each other and sat close to watch the cameras in the loft on Cole’s laptop. They also enjoyed the other’s heat and scent. The chemistry between them was becoming stronger, leaving them hungry for each other. Cole was always cupping the back of Trey’s head. Trey couldn’t help nudging and scenting Cole. One of them had to make a move soon.

.

“Derek!” Lydia screamed, bursting into the loft, the rest of the pack already there. Finding the letter next to her on her pillow had sent shocked shivers through her body. “This was on my pillow! In Erica’s house. It’s not just here,” she sobbed. She had been staying with Erica every few days.

Erica was shivering. “This is the fifth one! In my bedroom! Why are they doing this to us?”

Lydia read the letter aloud.

Hello Pack!

Lydia, did you know you drool in your sleep? It’s pretty gross.

Pack, you are not very united, are you? No trust, no respect for each other. You don’t know what a pack is truly like.

Derek, you should remember your mother and her teachings enough to know what is acceptable and what isn’t. You know how to be a part of a functioning pack. Alas, you don’t give a shit.

Well, neither do we. Every second, we grow closer.

Enjoy the countdown!

-V

Scott roared in fury. “That’s it, we need to call all the neighboring packs and see if they’ve been targeted. Then we can ask them to ally with us,” Scott said. “We need numbers. I can’t believe you haven’t mentioned that yet,” he glared at Derek.

Derek groaned. “Scott, you True Idiot, I literally talked about this the day Jackson found the second note. It’s been days since then and you can’t remember? And I did contact the packs and if you’d let me get a word in edgewise, I could tell you none of the packs within two hundred miles want anything to do with us. Whatever this is, we’re in it alone,” he said. He’d been hurt that his mother’s past allies hadn’t wanted to help. It was made clear; the Hale Pack didn’t give the best impression to anyone outside Beacon Hills. They were fucked.

“If you’re not going to do shit, I’ll do what has to be done,” Scott yelled, stomping out of the loft.

“Everyone out,” Derek said, tired to his core. Once everyone was gone, Lydia and Jackson going to Erica and Boyd’s respective homes, Derek collapsed onto the couch. He felt so lost. He had no idea what to do.

“Derek Stephen Hale,” a voice said, so stern and so familiar, Derek jetted off the couch and looked around, trying to find the source.

He gasped as he saw two distinct figures standing to his left. He knew where the voice came from.

“Mom? Laura?”

Chapter Text

Beacon Hills Apartment...

Cole sat on the couch in the small apartment, nudging Trey with his shoulder as he watched the cameras in the Hale loft. “I’m glad you agreed to come here.”

Trey grinned. “Ditto.

Staring at the screen, Trey noticed Cole was looking at him and blushed. How did Cole have the ability to make him blush, he never blushed! “What?”

“You’re gorgeous,” Cole rumbled at him and gently touched his chin before kissing him softly, their lips catching just the tiniest bit. Finally. Cole growled low. “Let’s save this for later.”

Trey’s big green eyes were staring at him, dreamy and happy. “Later,” he gasped out.

With one last silly smile, they returned to the screen.

Cole and Trey watched as Derek frowned and looked around the large room, as if looking for something. They wondered if he had gone off the deep end or whether he was hearing something they weren’t. They nodded to each other when they heard him speak.

“Mom? Laura?” Derek gasped.

Cole looked at Trey. “His family is dead, Trey. Call Raven,” he said. “I’m calling my father.”

It appeared that Derek was having a visit from his dead family, and they needed to know what to do.

In the loft…

“Mom? Laura?”

Derek tried to get words to form and leave his mouth, but nothing would come out. Finally, he got his mouth to cooperate. He began trembling. “Ho…How? Wh…?”

Laura rolled her eyes. “Spit it out, Bunny,” she said with a sneer.

The old irritation at the damn nickname came right back as if it had never left. It did help, though. “Why are you here? Why now?”

His mother stepped forward, her brown eyes so similar to Cora’s, were filled with fury. “Why now? Derek, are you serious? Why now? This pack is pathetic, and you are bringing shame and danger to the Hale name and territory,” Talia said. “I couldn’t be more disappointed and ashamed.”

Derek’s mouth dropped. “Mom! What?” His heart and stomach dropped at her words.

“We aren’t here for a family reunion, son. We’re here to tell you to straighten your shit out or you’ll lose your pack,” she told him. “Do you want to see how much you fucked up? Look behind us,” Talia said. Derek paused too long. “Damn it, I said look!”

His mother was not one for cursing. It let him know just how pissed off she was. He looked behind them and gasped as he saw the ghostly images of his siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles and even his father glaring back at him.

“None of the rest of our family wanted to come and speak with you,” Talia said and waved the image away. “Now. What the hell is going on in your head?”

“Yeah, and what you did to that kid, one of the founding members of your pack; that was fucked up. Stiles was a nice kid, Derek. He did not deserve what you did to him. If I’d been there, I would’ve beaten your ass,” Laura said, her disgust plain to see.

Derek felt sick. “He was… He hurt people, Laura. We couldn’t have him in the pack after what he did,” Derek insisted. This was not how a visitation was supposed to be like. Where was the encouragement, the pride, the love? The affection he missed was like a missing limb. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

“After what he did,” Laura repeated. “You mean when he was possessed?”

“Yeah, he went after almost everyone in the pack. He got Allison stabbed. He hurt Lydia and messed with her head. Nobody wanted him around in case he did it again,” Derek told them.

“That is utter bullshit, and you know that. The fact you are trying to sell the idea to us is unacceptable.” Talia stepped up close, their noses nearly touching. “Derek Stephen Hale, I could not be more disappointed in you if I tried. What you did to that child was disgusting, horrifying, and shameful. You were not being an alpha in that moment. You were being a bullying, unsupportive, wannabe dictator. That is not how an alpha acts, and you are well aware of that fact. If that child had not been possessed and went around hurting his packmates, I could understand having him sit back a few months from pack meetings. I can understand that. But he was possessed and had zero choice in what that demon did to him. “You were in a similar situation if you’ll remember. You fell under the spell of an older woman and did as she asked when she demanded information on the pack. Look what she did to us. Guess what? We don’t blame you for the death of our pack. We blame Kate Argent. So, what the hell gives you the right to punish that child for things he was not responsible for? Are you next? Do we get to string you up and beat the shit out of you? Scar you? Desert you and put the threat of death on you should you not leave the state for good?”

Derek could only stand there in shock as his mom laid out all his sins. But he ignored the idea that Kate was the same kind of situation as Stiles and the nogitsune. “What about you?” He shouts, tears in his eyes. “How did you never scent Kate on me? How come you never questioned that? I smelled like her perfume; I smelled it on everything!”

Talia stared him in the eye. “The morning of the fire, I’d heard from Satomi that an emissary was working with the Argents, possibly even covered up the Argent’s scents and sounds so they couldn’t be found.” She glares at him. “You weren’t to blame for Kate, that was all the Argent's doing and their emissary. Unfortunately, the emissary was also hidden, so we were never able to find out who it was. You weren’t at fault. Deaton deserves more guilt and shame in this than you did. He left the day before the fire, telling me he saw his presence would be a hindrance to the pack and needed to get out of town until things were safe. He was never clear about the why and how. But it’s too much of a coincidence that he left. We’ve always wondered if he saw it happening and split so he wouldn’t be killed or involved in any way.

“However, fire aside, your pack is a whole other story. You started biting kids who didn’t know any better and just wanted to belong somewhere. You then tortured them during full moons, literally torturing them. Why the hell did you think it was okay to strap them into those torture instruments? I do not understand where your head was at! Those tools were used for enemies, not your own pack members. You trained them from your level of ability and knowledge of your wolf, expecting them to automatically know what to do and how to do it. You should have started out simpler and with some kind of heart. You then got them to commit acts of violence against people, throwing them into a war they didn’t ask for.” Talia stepped back, hands on her hips as her dark hair swirled around her as she shook her head in disgust; dark eyes conveying her fury. “They went from innocent, lonely kids to violent, wannabe soldiers into this world you threw them into,” she growled at him and turned away.

“My turn,” Laura declared. “Our great-great-great grandma lent me enough magic to do this.” Running at him, she shoved Derek to the floor. Then she picked him up and shoved him up against the wall, cracking his head painfully against the cement. Using one of her hands, she held both of his to the wall. He fought her but couldn’t match her strength and only ended up with broken wrist bones. “I’ve always warned you that I’d rip your throat out. This time there’s no threat of my teeth because I don’t want to know what evil tastes like,” Laura said, saying the exact words Derek said to Stiles. “But let’s make sure you remember this little lesson for the rest of your life.” With that Laura pushed her claws into Derek’s skin and clawed him open from forehead to collarbone. Derek’s screams echoed through the loft. “Any of this sound familiar, brother dear?” Laura growled. “You then told him to leave the state, or he would be killed. How is that the action of a strong alpha leader?”

The pain was excruciating. Derek was panicking, wondering why he wasn’t healing. The pain was excruciating. “I did what I thought was best. I thought he was a threat!”

“Bullshit!” Laura dropped him on the floor and walked away, putting her back to him, shaking her head. “You don’t even believe your own lies!”

His mother walked up to him where he’d collapsed to his knees. “If you continue on this path, you will destroy these kids’ lives and futures. You will bring even more shame to the Hale name. And now, you’ll know you bring shame to your entire family and ancestors. Hell! You already lost three family members! I don’t blame Peter, Cora, and Malia for leaving. I would have,” Talia bit out.

Derek was still bleeding, and the pain wasn’t easing. “I’m not healing,” he gasped out. “Fuck it hurts!”

“I’m sure that young man had the exact same thoughts. Since you had no problem scarring him for life, you get to have the same damage,” Talia told him. “The emissary from my grandfather’s time in the pack gives you this gift with his disappointment.”

“I’m done. I can’t look at him anymore,” Laura said and disappeared.

Derek gave a sob. “I’m sorry, Mom. I’ll do better, I promise.”

Talia stared at him for a long moment and shook her head. “I don’t think I believe you. But I assure you, those letters? Not a trick. Watch your ass or you will regret it.” With that, she blinked out of view.

Derek fell to the floor, crying only to yell out as his salty tears stung the open wound on his face. He took off his shirt and used it to mop up the blood.

“Derek,” a soft voice said. “My Der-Bear.

Derek gasped, wiping blood from his face. “Paige?”

He staggered to his feet as he recognized his first love, the only pure love he’d ever experienced. He drank in every detail. She was older than he remembered, she was stunning. Probably what she’d look like at his age. “I love you, Paige. I’ve missed you so much.”

She smiled, her brown eyes warm, her long brown hair swaying lightly. “I loved you too, Derek.”

His blood turned to ice. “Loved? Past tense?” his heart felt like it was breaking.

A tear streaked down her soft, pale cheek. “You’re not the Der-Bear I remember. I understand being grief-ridden. But you’ve really hurt people, Derek. All your betas. Is that how you would’ve treated me if the Bite took? Now you don’t have any friends. You’re letting your grief form your life and your future. I’m so sad for you. Don’t regret life as it passes you by. Be better. Do better. Treat your pack better. Treat yourself better. If you do, I can see you again. Fail, and I’ll never see you again and I’ll erase my sacrifice from the Nemeton and you’ll have to live with the consequences. It wouldn’t be pretty.”

Derek sobbed and nodded. “I’ll do better, I promise! I’ll protect the pack and treat them right. Don’t leave me again, Paige.”

“You know what you need to do,” Paige said firmly. She stroked a hand through his hair and dropped a kiss on his forehead with a sad sigh. “Goodbye, Der-Bear.”

“Paige, no! Don’t leave! I’ll do better!” His body shook with his grief.

She was gone.

He sat there, on his knees, crying and dealing with the pain in his face, of his shame. His family. His Paige. The grief kept him crying for a long time, the sun setting out the window.

Getting up, he staggered to the bathroom and gaped in shock. He looked just like Stiles had. His shirt was soaked through. He grabbed a towel and dabbed at the bleeding flesh, cringing, and crying out. He had no first-aid supplies. He never bled long enough to need any help. He texted Melissa, shamed that he was suffering like a human. He never heard back from her. His only idea was tape. He taped a washcloth to his face. It would have to do. He'd have to give in and call Deaton.

South of Beacon Hills…

Erica popped the lock on the door, and they walked into the deserted house. She had borrowed her cousin’s car to drive them out to the lone house near a lake. “Are you sure your mom won’t come here?”

Lydia shook her head. “She hates this place; it reminds her of my grandma. They hated each other.” She snorted delicately. “It’s better than Derek’s place, that’s for sure. We should be safe here.”

Jackson, well acquainted with the Martin’s lake house, turned the lights on and made sure the curtains were closed, just in case.

Two hours later, they were relaxing watching TV; Lydia and Jackson on one couch, Erica and Boyd on the other.

Lydia muted the show and tilted her head. “Does anyone else hear that? It’s a buzzing noise and it wasn’t there when we first got here.”

The others closed their eyes than nodded.

“That’s strange,” Boyd said with a frown. “I’ve never heard anything like it.”

Hopping up, the four began searching for the source of the sound.

Lydia opened a door, and they walked in. The room and everything in it were white. Carpet, walls, couches. The door closed behind them, and the room was silent except for the strange whirring noise.

“It’s definitely coming from here,” Jackson noted.

Splitting up they walked around the room, finally meeting in the same place on the back wall.

“Something is in there,” Erica said. “Should we try and get to it? I’m dying to know what’s going on. Especially since it started after we got here.”

“Do it,” Lydia ordered.

Boyd and Jackson threw punches at the wall and the girls tore at the drywall when it was exposed.

“Holy shit,” Jackson muttered. “What the hell is that?” As they looked at the large beige machine. Buttons were lit up, flashing different colors.

“It looks like some ancient computer or printer or something,” Lydia said. “I wonder what it does.”

At that moment, the machine got louder, and they heard what was definitely a printer, and it suddenly spit out a piece of paper.

Lydia grabbed it and began crying.

Lydia, Jackson, Erica, Boyd,

Nice try, but you can’t hide anywhere. Return to the loft or face the consequences.

Next time, we won’t be so forgiving.

See you soon.

-V

Lydia cried, Erica screamed and even Jackson started shuddering. Boyd was just staring blankly at the white wall. The stench of fear and terror filled the room.

Fifteen minutes later, they were packed up and quietly left the house.

It took twice as long to get back to the loft as Erica drove as slowly as she could.

Beacon Hills Apartment...

Trey set up the recording devices to be shared with his alpha, Alon Ramirez, and all the other alphas who showed up on the screen.

They watched together as Derek was beaten up, seemingly by nothing. The man was crying and clutching at his bleeding face.

Raven chuckled darkly. “Oh my. It appears we aren’t the only ones pissed at this pack. He’s seeing his family from the Fade. Our own Stiles just told me last week that he spoke with his mother and was even introduced to his ancestors. He was filled with such emotion and joy; it was what he’d needed and deserved for a very long time. It seems as if Derek wasn’t that lucky.”

Alpha LaBlanc looked impressed. “Wow. His family seeing his shame. I couldn’t imagine hearing that kind of disappointment. That boy is shaken up.”

“Good,” multiple voices replied before laughing.

“We are nearing the day when we’ll converge on that town. It would seem we have more to look over than just the abuse inside the pack. It doesn’t sound like they’re a real pack. If they make it through our ‘discussion’, we’ll have to leave them with contacts and nearby packs they can go to. Then we’ll move another pack in to shut down that damn Nemeton, and take over the territory,” Alon said with the agreement of the other alphas and seconds. “We’ll keep on with the notes and Cole and Trey, you two keep on your toes and update us when you can.”

“Yes sir,” they answered and grinned at each other.

They didn’t see the audience that caught that special look and smiled. Alon and Lucien looked at each other and nodded. They would give their blessing for their beta and son to date.

Reno…

The recently expanded Gajos Pack landed in Reno and had a huge welcome from the Ramirez Pack. Alon actually picked Stiles up and swung him around. Raven squeezed him so hard he gasped. Malia looked irritated, but she hugged every person who greeted her. For long minutes, they went from person to person, greeting them and hugging them.

“We are so proud of the Gajos Pack,” Alon said once everyone quieted down. “The things you’ve accomplished, the people you touched. We welcome you back and our home is yours for as long as you would like.”

Everyone cheered and the Gajos joined them, relaxing with their extended family.

Stiles put a hand up. “Thank you for your amazing welcome, Ramirez Pack. I’d like to introduce our new beta, Danny Māhealani. We grew up together and he’s an incredibly intelligent tech guru.”

The pack all yelled welcome, it was a cacophony for several minutes while Danny waved and blushed, leaning into Isaac for comfort.

After the crowd dispersed, Stiles, Peter and Cora were brought into the huge meeting room.

Alon had a seat and waved to them as well. Stiles sat at the opposite end of the table. “Alpha Stiles, we have visitors who want to meet you. I’d like to introduce you to the Alpha Pack.”

A group of wolves walked in and joined them. One of them sat next to Stiles, a welcoming smile on his face, sunglasses in place, cane against the table.

“Alpha Stiles, I’d like you to meet Alpha Deucalion Blackwood. His Right Hand, Alpha Ennis, Left Hand Alpha Kali and the twins, Alphas Ethan and Aiden,” Alon said as each wolf nodded their head in the direction of the Gajos group.

“I was made aware of you during a trip I made,” Aiden said and caught Alon’s tiny shake of his head. “To the coast and we wanted to meet you and see if there was anything we could do for you and your pack. You’re doing wonderful things.” He and Alon had spoken before the Gajos Pack arrived about bringing up the conversation with Scott and the picture. Alon wasn’t sure it would be a good thing for Stiles to hear or not. The decision was made now, and Aiden understood. Why bring up the pain when there was no need to. Not now that all the alphas Gajos helped were working together to bring the Hale Pack down.

Stiles grinned. “That’s awesome, thank you. We can definitely chat about what’s going on and see if an alliance would work between us.”

The alpha pack smiled at him, nodding their thanks.

“It’s an honor to meet such a powerful alpha,” Deucalion said and held his hand out to Stiles, and they shook.

“Wow, those eyes really hurt you, don’t they?” Stiles asked with a frown. "For years. Alpha Deucalion, I'm so sorry."

Deucalion jerked. “How do you know that?”

“I read auras and yours is powerful, but wrapped in pain,” Stiles said, sympathetic. “Let’s see…”

The room was astounded that Stiles was reaching out to touch another alpha without permission. But something in the Alpha Pack knew they could trust this new alpha.

Stiles leaned to Deucalion. “Don’t move, please.” He placed his hand on Deucalion’s hand. Pushing his Spark into Deucalion, he healed the wolf’s sight and removed the darkness that lived in his soul and through him, the whole pack, who had been nearly destroyed by the loss of their packs. “That should do it,” Stiles said with a grin. “I bet that was bugging you, huh?”

"Bugging me?" Deucalion, shuddering and laughing, took his glasses off. The ugly red scarring around his eyes was gone; as well as the milky white that was all that was left of his damaged eyes. Deep blue eyes looked around, tears welling and falling. He saw his pack and reached for them, touching their faces, reacquainting himself with how they look, how much they had changed over the years. All of them had open, happy grins on their faces. The shadows were gone from their eyes.

He turned to Stiles, smiling and crying. “Thank you, Alpha Stiles. I can’t even begin to tell you what this means to me and my life and my pack.” He stood up and dragged Stiles into a hug.

Stiles grinned. “Happy to help! There is a cost, however.”

Deucalion stiffened. “And that would be?”

“I have got to have answers on how your pack works, how all your alpha-ness-es mixes together,” Stiles told him, waving his arms around.

Relaxing, Deucalion smiled. “Absolutely, I would love to tell you anything you want to know.”

Alon looked at his mate, Mia, and grinned. Deuc had no idea what he was getting himself into. They listened to Stiles’ chatter, smiling as he got out every single question he had all in one breath.

That was their Stiles.

The Loft…

Derek was on the couch, still in shock and going over everything he’d experienced that day when Deaton walked in, answering his call to help him with the wound on his face.

“You still have to knock, Deaton,” Derek told him, face clearly grumpy. Then he remembered what his mom and Paige said to him. He cleared his expression. “I apologize. How are you today, Deaton?” He paid close attention in case Deaton needed something.

“I’m concerned actually. Do you have several minutes?” Deaton asked, face calm and placid as usual.

“I do. Can we get the stitches done first? It’s not closing no matter what I do," Derek said. He'd gone through three towels already.

Deaton agreed and an hour later, the stitches were set. At least he didn’t have to ruin more towels.

“Thank you, Deaton, I really appreciate it. Now, let’s chat and see if we can help you with your problem,” Derek said as politely as he could. Stiles used to say he had Murder Brows. He was right. As usual.

Right before Deaton could speak, Lydia, Erica, Jackson, and Boyd walked in.

“We got another letter,” Lydia announced, tear tracks down her make-up free face.

“At the lake house?” Derek asked, shocked. They should have been able to be safe there, that’s the reason they went there. He’d been happy to have his loft back to himself. Again, remembering what his mom said, he was determined to be better.

“Yeah. Derek, you would never believe what happened there,” Erica agreed.

“Spooky and fucked up,” Boyd said, always concise.

“It said to return here or face the consequences. And next time they won’t be so forgiving.”

“Holy shit, what happened to you?” Lydia gasped, getting a whole look at Derek’s face and the bandage covering half his face.

“I’ll tell you after Deaton speaks.” Derek went to wipe his face and grimaced at the pain. “Okay, have a seat, Deaton was just about to talk about some concerns he has.”

Everyone sat and he noted that all four of them squished together on the love seat. They were obviously still freaked out. He didn’t blame them.

“Go ahead, Deaton,” Derek said and gave the vet his full attention.

“Thank you. There is a new pack traveling around the country. The Gajos Pack. The alpha is also a Spark which makes him incredibly powerful. The pack is diverse with different ‘weres and magics. They are making waves across the states. They help those who need it and take out those that require it. The alpha may be the most powerful magic practitioner in the world. He appears to have an affinity with healing. He has healed stage four cancer, a sleeping spell nearly killing small children. They even took out a horde of mud monsters.”

Everyone gasped. Jackson mouthed ‘mud monsters?’ to Boyd who shrugged with wide eyes.

“That’s amazing,” Lydia whispered. Stage four cancer? That was practically a death warrant.

“The pack is benevolent when needed and blood-thirsty when they want to be. They are known for moving in quickly and decisively to get the job done.  A couple of weeks ago, they took out an entire pack in Boston without touching a single person. It is said the emissary took out the alpha by sending him into an alternate dimension,” Deaton said, shaking his head in wonder.

“Holy shit,” Derek murmured, goosebumps breaking out everywhere.

“Ditto,” Erica added.

“The reason I’m sharing this to warn you. Make sure Scott and Allison are aware. Keep a low profile, work on the pack. No giving the Bite, no fighting, no mysterious deaths. We don’t want to do anything that will attract the attention of the alpha of the Gajos Pack. If there is any chance of an alliance, you need to show that you’re deserving of it.”

“Okay. Don’t make waves, keep our heads down. What else do you know?” Derek asked, memorizing everything Deaton said. This was his chance to change.

Deaton cleared his throat.

Derek’s instincts sharpened. Deaton was worried about something with a touch of guilt.

“I’m headed to Satomi Ito’s pack to discuss strategies and how we can strengthen our pack during this challenging time. Maybe discuss a temporary alliance,” Deaton said, clasping his hands in front of him.

Derek’s eyes narrowed on the druid. “So, knowing there is a threat, you’d rather leave instead of just calling Satomi?” He stood and walked closer. “Just like you ran off instead of helping my mom’s pack? Coincidentally the day before the fire. And you just happened to come back the day after. You didn’t even attend the funerals. Explain yourself.”

Deaton held his hands up. “I did the best I could back then. I was too grieved to go to the funerals. And the reason I want to physically go to Satomi’s is because I’m hoping to look around their library and ask around to see if there is anything that can help us.”

Derek got in his face. “You did the best you could? Deaton, I had a visitation with the spirits of my mother and Laura earlier. It scared the shit out of me. But she told me the Argent’s had an emissary handy who performed a spell to erase the scent and sound of a person.”

Deaton pales, hands trembling.

Eyes flashing red, Derek smirks, fangs descending. “Oh, Deaton, I do love the smell of fear and guilt. You know, Mom said I have to live with the consequences of my actions. This,” he said, pointing at his face, “is a consequence. It will never completely heal. I’m stuck with this scar for the rest of my life. Now I think it’s time you deal with the consequences of your actions.” Derek got in his face. “I think I’ll start my low profile tomorrow.”

“Derek, no, I’m sorry, I just wanted to keep the balance. The Hale family had to die to put things right. Kate wasn’t supposed to hurt you as she did. She was just supposed to infiltrate and kill the pack,” Deaton said, hands up.

Freezing, Derek glared at him as the rest of his pack gasped and growled. “You intentionally killed my pack? Bastard! I’m going to let my mother and sister punish you for eternity,” he growled and with one swipe of his claws, Deaton’s throat was slit open, blood spewing everywhere.

Lydia shrieked and ran. Jackson ran to the bathroom to vomit. Erica turned away, hands over her eyes. Boyd stayed behind Derek but refused to look at the blood pouring to the floor.

Derek grinned, ignoring the blood that now covered him and Deaton both. “Enjoy hell.”

Deaton tried to hold his throat closed, trying to figure out a way to stop things. Five seconds later, his eyes closed, and he fell to the floor, his heart stopping.

“I’m not helping with body disposal,” Lydia said, standing by the window.

“Me either,” Erica said, joining Lydia.

“Fuck,” Boyd said with a heavy sigh.

Beacon Hills Apartment…

Trey and Cole stared at the computer. “Did he just?” Trey asked, in shock.

“He did. Holy shit,” Cole said, immediately dialing his phone and putting it on speaker.

“Cole, how are you?” Lucien LaBlanc asked his son.

“I’m well, Alpha, but we have a situation that may require the plan to move forward quicker than we planned. Dad, Hale just killed his emissary, right there in his loft,” Cole said. He was a grown man but hadn’t seen much violence in his time. The mud creatures were the biggest fight he’d been in. He’d never seen someone killed. He looked at Trey and found a similar look on his face. Reaching over, he took Trey’s hand in his, squeezing softly.

Trey sighed and looked at him gratefully with a small smile.

“Holy shit,” Lucien said, needing a moment to process the information. “Okay. I’m going to call the alphas into a meeting, and we’ll solidify our plans. Raven from the Ramirez Pack will send the contents of the next letter for you to write,” he said. “You two take a few minutes away, go out for lunch or go throw a ball around in a park. Get away from this situation. Your mental health must be positive, and I know this is an intense time. Hold on a minute, let me make a quick call,” Lucien told them. Minutes later, he returned to their call. “Okay guys, link the cameras to the Flannagan Pack. Alpha Nora Flannagan and her daughter Felicity have already volunteered to be your back-up.”

“Thank you, Alpha,” Trey said. “I have their number; I’ll get in contact with Alpha Nora and get them a sign-in for the feed.”

“Good work, Trey,” Lucien praised.

Cole thought the pleased blush on Trey’s face was adorable. He couldn’t wait to kiss him again.

“Cole, I’m proud of both of you. You’ve manned this situation and made all the packs proud,” Lucien told them.

“Thank you, Alpha,” they said together and laughed.

“Alright, get out of there after you connect with Flannagan. We’ll update you in a few hours,” he told them, and they ended the call.

It was twenty minutes later when everything was done and prepared for them to leave. Neither one looked at the screen to see how Hale would get rid of the emissary’s body.

“I’m going to take you to lunch,” Cole declared.

Trey smiled. “I’d like that.”

“I’m also going to kiss you. A lot,” he said with a grin.

Trey leaned in and they kissed, quickly moving from gentle exploration to claiming and declaring their intent.

Cole broke away, panting. He leaned his forehead on Trey’s. “Be mine, Trey Barnes. I must have you as my mate.”

Trey grinned, his heart leaping. “I’d love that.”

Cole stood and smiled widely, cupping Trey’s face, rubbing his cheeks with his thumbs, looking into his stunning green eyes. “You’re so beautiful. I know this is soon and jumping the gun, so to speak, but I know what is in my heart. I know what my wolf wants. We will start slow, of course, dating and conversations and whatever else we want to do. But I need you to know I want you in my life,” he said. He’d learned since his transition that you have to go for what you want. Don’t let it pass you by due to fear. Be brave and make your dreams come true. “You are my dream come true.”

Trey stared at the tall, strong wolf in front of him, Cole’s deep brown eyes searing into him. His own eyes burned as he blinked to avoid crying. He’d never heard anything so beautiful and to have it said to him was, as Cole said, a dream come true. “I want that too. My wolf wants to know yours and I agree. I’m yours as you are mine.”

“I’m yours as you are mine,” Cole repeated, pulling Trey into a tight hug before kissing him softly, lightly tracing his lips with his tongue before deepening the kiss. Before he lost control and threw Trey over his shoulder and went to the nearest bed, he broke apart. “Let’s get out of here,” he finally said, grabbing Trey’s hand.

Unknown Location...

Allison gasped as she came awake. Looking around her, she was in some sort of cell, maybe six by six feet, a large door that was undoubtedly locked. Rubbing her face, she realized the last thing she remembered was being shoved into a van after she’d been released from jail. Her father washed his hands of her, wouldn’t even talk to her as they drove home. There was a large black van parked next to them at the apartment building and as soon as she opened her door, the van door slid open, and she was grabbed and felt a pinch in her neck and passed out.

Rehab, her father had said. What the hell would hunter rehab be like?

The door was opened, and a huge, muscled man stood in the doorway. “About time you woke up. Let’s go, Allison. Time for rehab to start,” he said with a dark grin.

She walked to the door, still a bit dizzy, nerves twisting her stomach into knots.

As soon as she walked into the hallway, she gasped. The walls were covered in poster-sized versions of the pictures that had been taken of her and Scott.

“Oh god,” she whispered, jaw dropping in horror, face burning with shame.

The man laughed. “This? Oh, this is nothing, Allison. Let’s go. Doctor Valack is waiting for you. He’s got interesting ideas to help those hunters who’ve gone astray. Ignore the bandage around his head, he’s sensitive about that.”

Allison just nodded, trying to hold back tears as she walked past a four-foot by six-foot poster of her with her face in Scott’s ass.

“I bet he liked that,” the guard said with a chuckle.

Ignoring the posters as best she could, she followed the guard into a room. There was a chair like a dentist’s chair and a huge screen facing it.

A man in a doctor’s coat, stood and held his arms out. “Allison, welcome. I’m Doctor Valack. Let’s get started,” he said.

There was an old, dirty looking rag tied around the man’s forehead, but she kept her eyes averted. It wouldn’t be good to piss off the doctor.

She had a sudden burst of either strength or idiocy. “Why am I here? I’m the Argent Matriarch, I lead the Argents!” she cried, hoping for some leniency.

“You’re so cute. You aren’t part of the Argent family anymore. Nobody will acknowledge you, nor will they use the last name you are no longer welcome to use. Maybe after your stay here.” Valack plucked a syringe off the counter. “Wally, would you hold Miss Allison still?”

Wally, Allison thought with a mental scoff. Nice name.

“Do you know why we call him Wally?” Valack asked, having caught the subtle expression.

Allison shook her head.

“Because if you bump into him, it’s like hitting a wall,” Valack told her with a grin.

At that, Wally grabbed Allison and pulled her back, holding her arms at her sides.

Valack was right. Wally was hard as a wall, his huge muscles having no problem holding her still.

“No, please! What is that?” Allison said, fear bursting through her entire body.

“Now most would let you wonder what this needle contains. I, however, enjoy sharing what we’re doing to you. It makes the fear and anticipation ramp up. This, my dear, is filled with kanima venom. It’ll hold you still for your first session in the Chair,” he told her, his expression eager.

With no hesitation, the needle was stuck in her arm and only moments later, she began to fall as the venom paralyzed her.

Wally picked her up and put her in the chair. She was further shocked by the straps that were pulled over her, locking her into the chair.

“The straps are just in case you break free of the venom. I doubt you will need it, but better safe than sorry. Alright, let’s get these visors on you,” Valack said, placing what looked like horse blinders on her so she lost her peripheral vision.

All she could see was the large screen in front of her.

“One more step,” Valack said.

A shriek and cry later, she had some sort of instrument attached to her eyes so she couldn’t blink or close her eyes.

“I’ll moisten your eyes occasionally with drops so they don’t dry up. We need your eyes working for your stay here,” he said cheerfully.

“Enjoy the movie!” Wally said brightly as he left the room.

The screen in front of her turned on and she screamed.

A werewolf was being bisected, intestines and other organs spilling from the open wound.

Flash after flash of murder, injuries, blood. Werewolves in a variety of shifts. She cried out again, unable to close her eyes against what she was forced to see. She then watched as an alpha turned full-shift into a silver wolf. Moments later, the wolf fell, beheaded.

No, no, no, she thought, crying. This was what they wanted her to become.

She didn’t think she’d be able to be this kind of hunter; she was more worried about losing her mind.

Blood and viscera filled the screen, and she screamed once more.

Beacon Hills Loft...

Scott slid open the loft door with a big smile.

“Where the hell have you been? It's been three days,” Jackson demanded.

“I was recruiting some help for the upcoming war,” Scott said proudly. “Meet the new McCall betas.” He waved his hand with a flourish.

Mason Hewitt, best friend to Liam, entered the room, eyes glowing gold, smelling of fear and anxiety.

Coach Bobby Finstock followed, golden eyes glaring at everyone.

Caitlin, the girl from the black light party followed, irritation shining in her wolf eyes.

The last person caused the entire room to gasp in shock.

Melissa McCall walked in, smelling of rage, golden eyes throwing daggers at her son.

Chapter Text

“What the hell did you do, Scott?” Derek roared. “We’re being watched, how could you do this? Are you trying to get us all killed?”

Scott glared at him, red eyes shining. “I did what I had to. I’m building this pack so we can withstand these attacks! This is war, Derek, how else do you think we’ll get through this?” He yells and the new betas backed away from the two.

“Did you even talk with these people about it?” Lydia demanded, seeing the confused looks on the new wolves' faces.

Finstock laughed harshly. “Are you kidding? He’s told us nothing! This crooked-jawed little freak comes up to me in the locker room as I’m trying to teach my assistant coach, Greenberg how to use a stopwatch,” he rolls his eyes. “McCall walked in, flashed these horrifying red eyes, grabbed my arm and fucking bit me! Then he bit Greenberg!”

Boyd looks around. “Where’s Greenberg?”

The new wolves glared at Scott.

“Go ahead, McCall, tell ‘em what happened to poor ‘ol Greenberg?” Coach bit out, gold eyes furious.

Scott shifted around. “He rejected the bite. He died pretty quick. Sad, but it happens.”

“That’s not true,” Mason interrupted, looking hesitant, but determined. “Scott found me working at the high school, I’m a part time librarian there. He bit me and dragged me to the locker room. He bit Coach and Greenberg. Suddenly Greenberg started spewing out all this black goo, it was coming out of him everywhere. He begged for help, begged for death,” Mason said. Then the small man broke down in tears.

Coach walked over and pulled him into his side. “McCall didn’t do anything, just stood there like a heartless asshole, staring at him. We tried, but there was nothing we could do. He drowned in that nasty shit. McCall just stood there. I mean Greenberg was a jackass, but nobody deserves to die like that,” he repeated, glaring at Scott. “Then he told me and Hewitt here that we had to come here, or we would die.” He glares at Scott. “You are nothing, McCall, you hear me? You may have red eyes and strong muscles, but you? Your heart? You are filled with that black crap, and I hope you drown in it!” he raged, green eyes flashing gold.

Scott stood there in shock. How could they not be excited about this new life he’d given them?

Caitlin spoke up, her brown eyes flashing gold under the fringe of her bright purple hair. “I was at the hospital, talking to Ms. McCall. I’m a medical tech. We were talking and he just stomped in and before we knew it, we were both bitten. Ms. McCall knew what he’d done, and she drove us here,” Caitlin shared, still glaring at Scott. “We’re trying to take in everything that happened to us, all these new parts and the hearing and vision. My god. And now we’re supposed to be these fighting creatures in a war? Dude, I just want to be able to make house payments and love my wife. He says I can’t even call her!”

Derek had heard enough, walked over and shoved Scott with a roar. “What the hell were you thinking?” He shoved him again. “Deaton was literally just here telling us about some new powerful and magical pack that is crossing the country taking out packs that fuck up. He said no biting. No killing. And here you are, fucking things up and costing our entire pack their lives. Including the lives of those you just bit,” Derek said, pointing at the new betas.

Lydia gasped. “Derek, what if this powerful pack are the ones sending all the letters?” Erica and Boyd began whispering to each other.

When Derek paused to take in what she was saying, Scott sucker punched him and slid away. He walked to his mom.

“Mom, you get it, right? Tell them! You know this is the right thing to do. I’ve told you about the crap that has been happening with the letters and all that,” Scott said, reaching out to his mom.

Melissa jerked away and walked further into the loft, away from the other betas. “No, I don’t get it, Scott. I’ve told you and told you that I didn’t want to be a wolf unless it was life or death, maybe not even then!” Her eyes flashed with fury.

“I’m sorry you’re upset. We need the numbers. I gave you all twenty-four hours to adjust to your wolf, you should be feeling the pull of me as your alpha by now,” Scott said, looking at the new betas.

“No! You are no alpha of mine. You’ve gone too far this time, Scott,” Melissa told him, eyes furious.

Scott’s eyes flashed red. “We needed the numbers. You’ll get used to it. Step in line,” he growled.

Melissa got in his face, her rage making her fangs descend. “I gave you life, how dare you do this to me!”

“Well, I gave you a new life! You should be grateful you have so much more power and strength,” Scott growled back.

“I don’t give a shit about power and strength. I will never forgive you for this,” Melissa told him. She looked right through him. “You are no longer my son. I have no children.” She ignored his shocked expression and turned to Derek, making eye contact. She stalked off to the corner and dug out her phone. 

Scott rolled his eyes and began talking to Erica and Boyd.

Melissa texted Derek. What choices do I have in alphas?

Walking to the kitchen, Derek texted back. You’re so new that you’ll need to have one soon. I’ll text Satomi Ito and you can talk to her about options. She lives a few counties up north. I’ll text her number and address to you.

Melissa nodded and walked to the door.

Scott sees her. “I’ll see you at home, Mom, we’ll talk then.”

Snorting, Melissa shook her head. “I won’t be there. You took away my autonomy and placed me and these other innocent people into a war we did not ask for and want no part of. Good luck, Scott. Sounds like you’re going to need it.”

Before he could stop her, she was down the stairs and in her car. Her phone dinged as she drove, and she saw the text with Satomi’s address and number.

Scott stared after her, but when he heard her car leave, he shrugged. “That’s fine. She’ll come around. She always does. Alright, well, I got even more fighters on the way. I talked with a guy named Theo, he went to school with me and Stiles. He’s an actual chimera and says there are four of them all together. Anyway, if we give up part of the territory to them, they’ll help.” His phone beeped. “Awesome. Speaking of, we have Theo, Donovan, Hayden, and Corey lined up to help as soon as we need them.”

Derek began pacing. Scott was going to get them all killed. What the hell was he thinking?

Before he could yell at him, his phone beeped. Then he realized every phone in the loft went off at the same time. They all shared a worried look before checking the message.

Alpha Derek Hale. You have been given warnings and threats. Your pack has killed and turned unwilling humans into wolves. You have been found guilty. Now we are following through, as promised. If you do not meet us in the preserve near the Nemeton, we will take that as a sign of war and will bring the might of fifty alphas and their packs down on you, your pack, your allies; and if necessary, your town. So come at noon or die. You are being watched. We will know if you try to leave.

The sound of Lydia and Erica crying and huddled together, shaking in fear, filled the air.

Coach grabbed Caitlin and Mason and dragged them close. “You turned us just so we could fight in a war and die? Thanks a lot, McAsshole,” Coach growled. “What time do you want us here tomorrow?”

“I think you should stay here,” Scott said, tapping away at his phone. “That gives us fourteen, two of us are alphas. That’s good, right? We can stand against them.”

“Fourteen? Did you not read the text, dumbass? Fourteen up against fifty alphas and their packs?” Jackson reiterated with a glare.

“That’s only if we don’t meet them. We’ll be there. There are reasons for everything they’ve accused us of,” Scott told him. “Now, everyone sit, we’re going to come up with a plan.

On the drive north, Melissa thought back over the years on the journey she’d been through with Scott and the world of the supernatural. She’d wanted nothing to do with it at first. She helped because that is who she was, she helped those she loved. There was never any joy in any of it or a chance to experience the wolves and the plus side of it, if there were any. Everything was doom and gloom.

She had always envied the people she had recently considered boring and uninteresting. To not have to live with the knowledge of this side of the world. She wanted it all gone, away from her. All she wanted was to do her work, helping people. To not have every situation be life and death.

Thinking of how her life was going to be now, the danger she could be in from the constant flow of hunters or unknown creatures. Suddenly a soldier. Expected to kill and fight.

The cycle of thoughts went round and round through her head. It was all too much. Tears streaked down her face, and she pulled over and sobbed. She didn’t want this; she’d never wanted this.

Regret filled her. She should’ve been there for Stiles. Ignored what Noah told her about how awful Stiles was. How Noah demanded she have nothing to do with him, not even to help him with first aid. She’d gone along with it because Noah made it so she wasn’t so lonely. So alone.

Even he let her down in the end, getting arrested and then finding out how cruel he’d been to Stiles.

She put her head against the steering wheel. “I’m so sorry, Stiles. You were wronged and you didn’t deserve any of what happened to you.

Reaching into the glovebox, she pulled out a notebook and a pen. Jotting some words down, she ripped out the page and used her parking sticker to stick the note to the dashboard.

She pulled back onto the road and when she could see the coast off the edges of the cliffs and the road was clear, she slammed on her breaks and swung the wheel to the left. Her sedan leapt off the road and with nary a scream, Melissa closed her eyes.

She never heard the crash or felt the impact.

Melissa McCall would be found two days later, her car unrecognizable, her body broken and crushed. A note was found on the dashboard.

My son, Scott McCall, has been threatening my life. I’m leaving Beacon Hills. He told me if he caught up to me, he would drive me off the road or kill me. I’m going to try and leave town, try to get away. If this note is found, it means he accomplished his goal. Please don’t let him hurt anyone else.

Trey was watching the screen in shock and called to his boyfriend. “Cole! First, Hale killed someone and now, McCall bit people who didn’t want it!”

Cole jetted into the room, grabbing hold of Trey. “Rewind it so I can see.”

Trey obeyed him immediately. Cole was more dominant than Trey and he was more than okay with following him. It was hot, but it also felt like comfort and safety.

Cole grabbed Trey’s hand, then watched the video and his face paled. “My god. McCall doesn’t care if people die. We have to call the alphas in. All of them. This must end now.”

He grabbed his personal laptop and sent a video call to his pack house. Someone was always available to answer.

“Hey big brother,” Jean-Luc said, his bright blue eyes twinkling. “I haven’t missed you, not even a little.”

Cole gave him a weak smile. “Yeah, same here. Jean-Luc, get dad, it’s urgent. Like life or death.”

Jean-Luc jetted off without another word, yelling for his dad.

Lucien hurried into the room. “What is it, son?”

“Alpha, it’s time. You’ve got to get everyone over here. McCall is going around biting people, including his own mother, and one of the guys rejected the bite and died. McCall left him to drown in black blood,” Cole reported quickly and concisely.

Lucien nodded; his dark eyes enraged. “Good job son. You two stay safe. Eyes open and ears listening. If you can lay low and stay in the apartment, even better. We’ll get you as soon as we get there.”

“We will. Thank you, Dad,” Cole said, relief filling him, and Trey relaxed a notch.

“I’m damn proud of you both. We’ll see you soon,” Lucien said and disconnected the call.

Cole turned to Trey, squeezing his hand. “We’re good on groceries since we just went. We lock the place down and wait for the pack to reach us.”

“Heard,” Trey nodded. He then leaned over and kissed Cole. He needed it.

Apparently, Cole did too. They grabbed onto each other and kissed, deeply and intense. Cole growled into his neck as he nipped and bit Trey’s tanned skin. “I want to fuck you. I need to. But we have to stay alert.”

“Agreed. Maybe when all this is over?” Trey asked with a wicked smile.

Cole grinned. “You can count on it,” he gave him one last firm kiss. “Before we lock down, I’m going to grab my binoculars out of the car so we can keep a physical eye on what’s going on over there. Told you I would find a use for them,” he teased, kissing Trey’s nose.

“You’re such a nerd, buying that spy kit at the sporting goods store. We were just supposed to buy a football, not a freaking three hundred spy dollar kit,” Trey laughed.

Cole flipped him off with a grin and headed for the door. Trey just watched him go, grateful for the snug jeans that were pulled taut across Cole’s biteable ass.

The video call opened and the group of alphas looked at each other. They’d all gotten the 911 message from Alpha Lucien and now they were ready to come up with a plan. The Alpha Pack, newly named the Blackwood Pack, was included in the call from their new home in Oregon.

“Scott McCall bit five people in the last couple days, including his own mother,” Lucien informed them, their disgust clear. “One rejected it and instead of putting the young man out of his misery, McCall left him to drown. Two new betas were forced to watch. Here is the video where they speak,” he told them and clicked ‘play’.

After watching the footage, gasps sounding through the screens, there were growls before they all settled.

Alon Ramirez called them to order. “This is no longer tormenting the pack who fucked with one of our favorite people. This is crossing the line. That idiot doesn’t give a shit about anything. I swear even this move isn’t about the letters. I think he’s using this to build his own power base. Why else would he bring innocent people into a situation that could possibly be dangerous? Raven and I are going. I’m leaving Zo and my mate Mia in charge. I don’t want to risk some retaliation that we don’t know about. We fly out in six hours, we don’t have anything sooner,” Alon said.

“I fully support the plan and the intent to go to Beacon Hills. But I must say, I’m feeling a bit guilty,” Clint Barringer cut in, sitting next to his wife, Patricia, his alpha. “We started this, and it has now led to a death.”

Alon sighed and nodded. “Yes, I agree that we pushed this situation. But McCall especially would have done this as often as he needed or wanted to. We’ll send some of Alpha Hale’s money to the boy’s family. Hopefully, it will help them.”

The other alphas agreed. Derek Hale had been a shit alpha, lazy and mean. McCall was all about power and people worshiping him as the True Alpha.

Finally, Lucien went back to their plans. “I’ve got five hours wait and then a four-hour flight. We’ll meet at the apartment Cole and Trey are in.”

Deucalion raised his hand. “Lucien, we can pick you up in our jet. We can be there in about four hours. It’ll still be another four hours, but it’ll save you having to go through security.”

The others discussed and scheduled their flights. It looked like they would all be in Beacon Hills within twelve hours. Then they would teach this pack some lessons. Raven sent the last message to Cole and Trey to send out to the pack.

When the call ended, Alon called together his most trusted pack members and updated them. The Ramirez pack would be locked down until Alon gave the all-clear. He said that he highly doubted anything would happen, but he wouldn’t leave his pack unprotected and unprepared.

Zo nodded; this was huge. His father was letting him step into the alpha position for this and he wouldn’t let his alpha down. He did make a note to text Megan. The tiny woman was constantly on his mind, and they texted daily. He wanted to make sure she was safe, so he could concentrate fully on his pack.

At the same time, the alphas were on the video call, Stiles and the Gajos Pack were in the cabin they’d been given by the Ramirez Pack. It was deep in the woods surrounding the pack house. It had four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Like the rest of the pack houses, the bedrooms were soundproof, which Stiles and Peter appreciated. Stiles suspected Danny and Isaac would test the sound proofing as well.

They were all in the living room chatting.

Stiles called their attention from where he was in Peter’s lap. This was their final ‘official’ meeting for a while.

“This is a gift for you, Malia,” Stiles said and held out a piece of paper. “Here is your plane ticket to New Orleans and a rental car to take you to Jean-Luc.”

Malia froze, her brown eyes wide. Her perpetual bitch face softened. “Thank you, Alpha,” she said quietly.

Stiles hugged her when she took the paper. “You stay as long as you want. When you’re ready to come back to us, let us know.” His voice softened. “If your heart wants to stay there, I will give my enthusiastic blessing.”

Malia knelt next to the chair Stiles and Peter were in. “But I’m the left-hand apprentice.”

Stiles cupped her cheek with a watery smile, tears and pride shining in his whiskey eyes. “I know you’ve been training Liam every time you learn something new. We adore you and want you with us, but we also adore you and want you to be happy and fulfilled. Go to New Orleans. See if you fit there. Maybe Jean-Luc would want to spend some time with us, to see where you both can be at home.”

Malia gave a rare smile. “Thank you, Alpha,” she said and leaned in to hug him tight. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“Always,” Stiles said. Stiles and Peter pulled her in and hugged her until she growled at them.

They were in the middle of a movie when Danny came over to the alpha mates. “Hey Stiles, I’ve got some hits on our website. There are a variety of problems, no emergencies that I can see. But there is a pack in California who are biting unwilling people and uncaring if there is a bite rejection. A beta there named Mason said he’d been turned against his will, as had multiple others.”

“Sounds like we’re going to California,” Stiles said, swallowing hard at the mere thought of having to go back to that state. “Write back for more information and we’ll head out tomorrow.”

“You got it,” Danny said and moved to sprawl over Isaac as he typed. He then closed the laptop and settled in for the movie.

After a call from Alon saying he and Raven had to leave for a couple of days and they were leaving in the middle of the night, Peter and Stiles retired to their room.

As soon as the door was closed, Peter dropped to his knees and tore Stiles' pajama pants off. He immediately swallowed Stiles’ cock whole, making him groan loud. Determined to suck an orgasm from his mate, Peter deep throated him as he growled. As always, it worked. Stiles bent over him, holding his head in place as Stiles grunted and groaned as he came down Peter’s throat.

“One of these days,” Stiles panted. “One of these days I’m gonna black out when you do that.”

Peter stood up, wiping his lips and sucking the come off his fingers. “I’ll take care of you if you do. I wanna fuck you, how does that sound?”

Stiles grinned and went to the bed and bent over it, wiggling his bare ass at his mate. “Come and get it.” He and Peter traded topping and bottoming. They both enjoyed taking turns.

Stripping quickly, Peter walked to him. “Do the trick,” Peter told him. “I love when you do it.”

Stiles closed his eyes and gasped out a sigh as his entrance loosened and lubricated itself.

Peter bent and licked right over Stiles’ ass, delighting in the sweet lube his spark had provided. With no warning, he shoved his cock into Stiles and they both groaned. There was nothing like fucking your mate. It was always intense, always felt like your souls were mingling, even during animalistic sex. He immediately began pounding into his mate, the room filled with grunts and growls.

“Harder,” Stiles ordered.

“Oh yeah,” Peter said and grabbed Stiles’ hips, pulling and pushing at the same time, harder and harder.

“Yes!” Stiles shouted, needing to be fucked, no softness needed.

It only took a few minutes before Stiles was coming again. Peter felt his cock get choked by the tightening of his hole and roared as he came.

They laid there for a moment before cleaning up and crawling into bed.

“I love you,” Stiles said with a satisfied smile.

“I love you too, mate,” Peter said, nuzzling into his neck.

“I had a weird dream last night,” Stiles mused.

Peter hummed into him. “What about?”

“Melissa of all people. I saw her with glowing eyes. What the heck, right?” Stiles had a knot in his gut about it.

“She would never be a wolf. She was like you, saying it was for life and death only and even then she wasn’t sure,” Peter said. “Besides, she would stay human so she could stay with the sheriff. He would freak out on her if she was a wolf. For all his support of Scott, I don’t think he liked the wolf aspect.”

Stiles thought about that. “True. Still. It was so real. But it also felt like she couldn’t handle it. So, it’s got to be a dream. As horrible as she was to me, how much she supported Scott and pushed me aside, I find it hard to care.” He sighed. “But still. Mama McCall was the mom I needed when I was little. I’ll search her out tomorrow.” With a nod, Stiles felt better with a plan in place. He kissed Peter’s head and snuggled in.

“After we sleep in, of course,” Peter said, and Stiles chuckled and agreed.

They fell into a deep sleep, satisfied, and fulfilled.

The sun was climbing over the trees as it neared noon, but even the sun had yet to urge Stiles and Peter out of bed. Sleeping in was a treat and they were taking full advantage. Stiles’ eyes were dancing under his eyelids, dreaming. He frowned and then growled.

Peter sat up, alert, but saw Stiles was just dreaming and settled back in after watching him for several minutes.

It wasn’t ten minutes later when Stiles woke.

Stiles sat straight up in bed and, eyes glowing red and silver, howled in rage. “Cole!” he screamed, the sound and the power of his fury swept through the house and out into the surrounding forest.  Ever heard the T-Rex roar from the movie Jurassic Park? That was the sound that left Stiles’ mouth, his rage a tangible thing.

He was hurt.

“Cole!”

Chapter Text

Stiles sat up and screamed. “Cole!”

Peter leapt out of bed in his beta shift, looking around. “What is it?”

“It was a vision, Peter. Cole is hurt. He’s in fucking Beacon Hills for some fucking reason. I can’t see who is hurting him or if it’s still going on or if it hasn’t happened yet. I have to go, I have to go,” Stiles said, his fear tangible. He got up and threw on jeans and a hoodie. “Cole was looking out a window with binoculars. I think someone saw him with them? The person ran and smelled Cole’s wolf scent on a car and followed the scent to their apartment where he attacked Cole,” Stiles said as fast as he could as he gathered his go-bag with weapons and herbs and anything else he could need in an emergency.

Unlocking the bedroom door, he sent a 911 through the pack bond and in thirty seconds the entire pack was in their room, and he quickly told them what was going on and ran down his initial plan.

“Danny, get the six of you on the next plane to California. Do whatever you have to in order to get there as fast as possible.” He turned to his mate, alpha silver eyes intent on his mate. “Peter, get our pack to Beacon Hills. See if you can work some magic and get the best seats. First class if it’s available. Whatever the cost.” Peter nodded, eyes shining at his alpha. 

Stiles sighed and rubbed at his face, his fingers stroking over his scar. “Why does it have to be Beacon fucking Hills,” he muttered. He just woke up but knowing where he had to go made him feel suddenly exhausted. “Cora, text Lucien right now and tell him to get there as well, something is wrong with Cole.”

Her phone was out and already tapping.

“How are you getting there?” Peter asked as he gathered his own go-bag and texted with his other hand.

“I’m going to teleport. I think I’ve got it down now,” Stiles told him. “I practiced enough. My spark is confident, so I am as well. Malia, I want you to still go to the LaBlanc Pack. They’ll need the extra help.”

She nodded and hugged him hard. “I’ve got this, Alpha. I’ll make you proud,” she whispered. Then she cleared her throat. “I should go pack.”

Stiles squeezed her before letting her go. “I love you all. Peter and Cora are in charge. I will contact you as soon as the situation allows. Head to the loft first but keep your ears open about meeting somewhere else. I have a feeling that’s where Cole is. At least near it. I have no idea why,” he growled in frustration.

Finally, he slung his backpack over his shoulders and gave out hugs. He kissed Peter hard, putting all of his fierce love into the press of their lips. “I’ll see you soon.”

“Be safe, sweetheart,” Peter whispered.

Stiles nodded and stood in the center of the room.

“Cole,” he whispered, the sound seeming to echo through the room.

Stiles was gone.

“Holy shit,” Liam and Kira said at the same time.

“Yep, that,” Malia whispered.

“Fuck,” Danny muttered.

Peter was shaking his head and blinking hard. “Okay, yes, we’re all a little freaked out and in awe of our fearless leader, but we have things to do. Let’s get Malia on her plane to New Orleans and the rest of us to Beacon Hills. Isaac, help Danny pack as he gets us plane tickets. We need to get to our alpha.” Peter said and everyone dispersed. Peter texted Zo since Alon and Raven were out of town, letting him know the change in their plans.

“Fucking Beacon Hills,” Peter said, shaking his head.

Stiles opened his eyes and saw Cole bloody and laying on the floor, Trey above him, growling and crying, trying to hold Cole’s abdomen together, his bloody hands slippery as pink, shiny things were exposed to open air. “Cole, please baby, hang on for me.”

Stiles unfroze after taking in the scene. “Cole!” He growled out and ran to them.

“Alpha Stiles?” Trey was in shock. “Oh Goddess, thank you! Please help him! I’ve been trying to hold him together, but he isn’t healing as fast as we’re used to.”

“Tell me what happened,” Stiles demanded, busting into his bag, and bringing out a bag filled with fine pink powder. He looked up at Trey. “I will want the full truth soon, but let’s start with what happened to Cole.”

Trey nodded, knowing he might end up pissing off a bunch of alphas, but Cole was worth it. There was no more time or room for secrets.

Stiles was trickling the powder over the gaping hole that was Cole’s entire torso. If Stiles hadn’t already blessed Cole with his magic when he’d first helped Cole, the wolf would have died.

“We were set to watch the Hale and McCall packs at the loft across the way. We noticed on the camera footage - we planted cameras and microphones over there - that they were starting to freak out. Cole wanted to see what a couple of them were doing because they were outside the camera range, so he busted out his new binoculars.” Trey huffs. “Sorry. Derek Hale saw him, at least that’s what I think happened. He ran toward this building, and we saw him sniffing our rental car. Next thing we know, he’s breaking into our apartment. Cole shoved me into a closet and Derek was yelling at him about the letters and stuff - we’ll come back to that - because he saw the video feed on the laptop as soon as he came in the door. Then he just gutted Cole and ran. I don’t think he ever saw or scented me,” Trey said and his eyes traced Cole’s features with love. “I’ve just been trying to hold him together; I was worried about… about his organs falling out. I didn’t know what to do.” He looked at the Alpha Spark, eyes wide and welling up with tears. “Thank you for coming, Alpha Stiles. Can you help him?”

Stiles took in the information and prioritized what he needed to give his attention to. Derek Fucking Hale could wait for a short time. He gave Trey a crooked smile. “Of course, I’m happy Goddess woke me and let me know help was needed. Now, come over on this side and we’re slowly going to push his skin to meet in the middle. It’s spelled, but I needed to do this hands-on so there’s less a chance of a mistake. So, slowly push, if you come across his organs, just use a finger to gently nudge it down and in.”

It took a half hour, but they slowly put Cole back together enough for Stiles’ spark to take over and seal the flesh. Then, before their eyes, the wound finally healed, scarred, turned white and faded away.

“Trey?” Cole mumbles, opening his eyes. Then he sat up. “Is he gone? Hale?”

Trey grabbed Cole and held him, his heart thumping that Cole’s first thought was of him. “He’s gone. He didn’t know I was here.”

Cole grabbed his chest. “He sliced me open,” he said, confused, seeing the evidence in the amount of blood around him.

“Alpha Stiles showed up, just… blink and there he was! He healed you,” Trey told him, tracing a finger down his cheek.

“I did, but Trey, you literally held him together until I got here. You are a hero. If you hadn’t done that, Cole wouldn’t be here,” Stiles told him, pride in his eyes.

Trey blushed.

Cole grinned and kissed his boyfriend. “My hero,” he whispered.

Stiles left and came back with a bottle of water. “You need to drink, make sure to flush your system.” Stiles stood and made sure Cole was good standing up and he was. “Both of you, go clean up and then come sit on the couch. We’re going to have a little chat about what the hell you’re doing here. And I want the truth. Be aware I can tell instantly if you lie or try to cover over and omit facts.”

Ten minutes later, the two sat and faced the alpha spark who was looking at them sternly. “Start at the beginning.”

Trey and Cole looked at each other and Cole nodded. Trey took a deep breath. “It started when the Ramirez Pack took you in to help you to heal. They were horrified by what happened to you and wanted revenge. Then as you helped pack after pack, those alphas joined the group wanting to avenge you.” Trey grabbed more water.

Cole chugged down the bottle then took over the tale. “There was a picture taken of you showing what they did It was taken after you were hurt. As pissed as the alphas were to know there was a picture being shown to people, they were more horrified by the evidence of what that pack did to you. It was knowing that a pack could do that to a pack member, knowing there was a pack out there willing to do such a thing. What would they do next and to whom? The evidence before them spurred them on. The alphas were determined to bring the pack down. They started sending letters to them just to fuck with them,” Cole said, and he pulled up the letters on his computer.

Stiles read them and couldn’t help it; he started laughing. “Raven. This has to be Raven’s touch.” That smart-ass, powerful, mischievous woman.

Cole and Trey answered. “Yep.”

“The plan was to come here, fuck with them, put them through some hell and then bring justice ‘wolf style,” Cole told him.

“You all really did this for me?” Stiles whispered.

“Well yeah. Why wouldn’t we?” Cole said with a smile.

Cole and Trey told him all about the depilatory cream, which had Stiles cackling and holding his stomach at the visual. They talked about the stolen money, the college rejections, the tires and all the rest of the things the packs youth had done. Megan’s story had Stiles gaping and applauding and laughing with glee. When Cole was finally done, everyone sat back.

Stiles shook his head, taking it all in. The vengeance that the packs had gotten was hilarious and overwhelming. To know that each of the alphas and their mates and right and left hands, the youth, all were involved because they cared so much about Stiles, and they went to these amazing lengths to avenge him. It was extremely humbling, and Stiles had to just bend his head and breathe for a moment.

He’d never felt so loved, so cared for. Safe.

He was seen. They saw him.

They never looked over him, passed over him or shut him out; ignored or mistreated him.

He would never be able to repay the packs for the feeling he had right then. Nothing else needed to come of this. The sensation of love and pride and delicious vengeance was something he’d remember for the rest of his life.

Now.

Now it was time to find the alphas and the McCall Pack and see what was going on. He had a feeling trouble was brewing.

“We’re going to the preserve,” Stiles stated.

Trey nodded. “We were supposed to be there with them already, but, well, Cole.”

“Gotcha. Okay, let’s get in a circle. You might want to puke after this, and I apologize. Just don’t barf on me,” Stiles said. “Eyes closed gentlemen.”

With a blink, they were standing in the middle of a giant meadow near an ancient tree stump. That fucking nemeton. Stiles hated it with a bloody passion.

There were gasps and surprised noises around both sides of the meadow.

Twenty minutes ago, while Stiles was helping Cole…

The meadow in the preserve was the perfect spot for their little standoff.

Because the alphas were all dramatic bastards, they waited for the McCall pack to stand in a loose group before entering the grassy field. One by one the alphas marched out, standing side by side, exuding power.

Alonzo ‘Alon’ Ramirez, Alpha Patricia Barringer, Alphas Smythe, Carson, Alpha Lucien LaBlanc, Flannagan, Daniels, Deucalion, Ennis, Aiden, Ethan, and Kali.

Scott sees Aiden and sighed in relief. “Hey Aiden! It’s good to see you again. Are you here to help us?”

Aiden narrowed his eyes. “Are you really that thick? I couldn’t be further from your side. There is nothing I want from you or to give you. Certainly not help. You bragged about the torture of a much-loved Spark. You showed me a picture of his ripped apart body. You make me sick and that was when my pack decided we were with the rest of this group.”

Scott had sagged at his words then puffed up his chest with self-importance and flashed his eyes bright red. “We have two alphas and four chimeras. We have more power than you. If you don’t want to get your asses beat, then leave now.”

Derek shook his head but flashed his eyes with a sigh.

The chimeras also flashed yellow eyes at the group across from them.

Alon snapped his fingers, his very stature demanding attention. “Damn, did we forget to tell you? We’re a diverse group, but we do have one thing in common.” He flashed his eyes and looked to his side where Alpha Barringer flashed her eyes and turned. It continued as the twelve theatrical alphas all showed off their red eyes.

Scott and Derek’s eyes went wide, blood leaving their faces. Three of the young betas clutched onto each other, shivering with fear.

Alon could tell those were the baby betas. They would be spared as discussed by his fellow alphas.

“You have been found guilty of murder, unwarranted Bites and the torture of a human spark,” Alon said, his voice loud and powerful. “Explain yourselves.”

Scott threw his hands up. “Hey, I can’t help it that Greenberg died. There’s no way to tell who is going to reject the bite. The rest of them didn’t reject it,” Scott told him, sounding like a teen whining when he was in trouble.

“So you admit to unwarranted bites,” Deucalion said, tilting his head.

“They weren’t unwarranted,” Scott insisted. “How the hell else would we be able to beat you?”

“It doesn’t matter if we showed up with the might of the army, nothing gives you the right to take away someone’s choice and force them into a life not suited for everyone. You acted selfishly, a terrible trait in a wannabe Alpha,” Alpha Carson said with a sickened sneer.

“I’m not a wannabe!” Scott cried sounding so whiny, every single wolf and beta rolled their eyes, including his own pack.

“Oh, but you are,” Raven said, her eyes swimming in purples and grays. “The True Alpha is a myth. All it takes is a magic user to tie the false alpha spark to. As long as the magic worker and their lingering magic is alive, the wolf would keep their borrowed alpha spark. You’ll be losing your spark any day now. Ever since Derek Hale killed Alan Deaton,” Raven said.

Patricia looked at Derek. “Yes, I do believe you were told by the spirit of your mother that you needed to clean up your act,” Alpha Patricia said. “Explain why you then killed someone.”

Derek growled. “He admitted to allowing my family to die in the fire that killed them. He could have prevented it, but he was working with an enemy, a hunter.”

Always quick, Scott piped up. “Wait. Derek, you killed Deaton?”

“Keep up, fake fido,” Alpha Nora said with a snort.

“To me, having a hand in killing your pack is an understandable reason for ending the life of the emissary,” Alpha Ennis said, nodding to Kali, who agreed.

“That is acceptable and for that, you get a pass on that charge,” Alon told Derek and saw the relief in his eyes.

“Wait, you killed Deaton?” Scott demanded, marching over to Derek, eyes red and fangs out.

“How many times must it be said?” Alpha Ethan said and stared at his brother, eyebrow up. “This guy is ridiculous.” There were noises of agreement.  Even from the McCall/Hale Pack members.

“I’m going to kill you!” Scott screamed and raised his claws.

In the blink of an eye, Scott was back in his prior position and was contained in a mountain ash circle. Raven waved, sparkles coming out of her fingers. She loved fucking with people.

Alpha Patricia Barringer spoke up. “Murder of the druid aside, we must address the charge of torture of a human.”

A loud pop sounded through the clearing, the scent of magic in the air.

“Are you talking about me? My ears are burning,” Stiles asked, suddenly standing in the middle of the small meadow with a nauseous Trey and Cole hanging off him. He healed them and scooted them in the direction of their alphas, who scented them and hugged them.

“Stiles, thank god!” Scott yelled, his entire being lighting up with relief. “You’re just in time to help us. Will you tell these people…”

Stiles looked right past him, looked instead at the line of alphas, and nodded deeply. “Alphas, it is an honor to see you again. Thank you for this. All of it. Just knowing you had my back, that you were mad on my behalf,” voice cracking, Stiles swallowed hard and cleared his throat. “I am humbled, and the feeling of love and real affection is something I will carry with me unto death.”

There were many watery eyes. Even with Scott still spouting off in the background about Stiles.

Stiles turned and snapped his fingers at him, silencing Scott. He then forgot him again and turned to finish his conversation. He was purposely not addressing Scott yet. He was too furious.

“Raven, you wicked little thing,” he said with a wink and burst of love toward her. “I love the way your twisted mind works. I would be proud to have produced this plan and carried it through. I want to thank the youth for the absolutely delightful havoc they created. Now. Tears and hugs are for later. Let’s get down to business.”

Stiles walked over to one side of the meadow, still in the middle. “Alpha Lucien, I’m sure you can see that Cole is now healthy and unhurt. He wasn’t unhurt less than an hour ago, before this pack showed up here,” Stiles sent a thumb over his shoulder. “I was awakened this morning in Reno and through the connection I still have with Cole, I knew he was in trouble. Cole and Trey were doing their job spying on the pack. Derek Hale saw them and followed Cole’s scent from their rental car to their apartment. He then broke the door down and gutted your son.” Before Lucien could bolt, Stiles held a hand up to stop him and then sealed Derek in a mountain ash circle. “Between Trey and I we were able to heal him.” Stiles sent an image to Lucien, showing what his son had looked like. “Now. Have your vengeance and…”

Stiles disappeared and popped up in front of Derek. He flicked him between the eyes, adding a little spark of pain. “Now he won’t die. He’s all yours Alpha Lucien. Cole, you can assist or take over, it’s between you two. I claim the last turn,” he said, looking into Derek’s frightened eyes with silver eyes, a haze of red passing through like clouds.

Lucien was across the field in the blink of an eye. Stiles was firmly Team Peter, but seeing the tall alpha, his black hair, eyes deep red, dressed in all black, he was majestic.

A roar of fury announced Alpha Lucien and just as he reached Derek, Stiles removed the mountain ash circle and stepped back.

Claws out, Lucien slammed into Derek and rakes his claws across the other alpha’s shocked face. “You will regret the day you were born!” he roars.

Stiles snapped and Derek was instantly healed, the wolf in shock as he realized the horrific pain was gone. Lucien just started in again, and Stiles gave a wicked grin.

At one point, Cole jumped in and gave Derek the same wounds he’d been given.

Stiles made sure that Derek would have one small moment of relief between attacks. It gave him hope for that split second only to be destroyed when he was plunged back into pain.

“I’m familiar with your pain, Derek. Remember what you did to me?” Stiles asked, snapping his fingers. “Hurts, huh?”

As some of the others came over to show support of the LaBlanc alpha and son, Stiles saw movement in the trees and cried out in joy. He grinned and ran to Peter, the rest of their pack right behind his mate.

“Peter!” Stiles jumped into his arms. “How did you get here so fast?”

Peter grabbed him and hummed in his ear, kissing him fiercely. “The Carson Pack sent a jet to us and from a private field, we were able to get here surprisingly fast. Danny and the Carson Pack tech team made an amazing team.”

Danny blushed but looked proud. Isaac was looking at Danny as if the sun rose in his eyes. Devoted.

Stiles went around and hugged and greeted each member of his beloved pack. “I am so glad you all are here. Did Malia make it to Louisiana safely?”

“She did indeed and is at the packhouse with Jean-Luc, helping out where she is needed,” Peter said proudly.

Stiles smiled. “Good. I’m glad she is safe. Well, it was a good thing I came,” Stiles said and gave them a quick rundown of the amount of stuff they’d missed.

Peter laughed aloud when he heard about all the mayhem. He wanted to meet all the youth and congratulate them. Peter was shocked to hear Derek killed Deaton but wasn’t at all upset. He approved, which they all understood.

“Scott bit Melissa, Peter. Remember that dream I had?” Stiles reminded him. “Gold eyes?”

Peter shook his head. “I will never stop being amazed at that boy’s audacity. Now, kiss me, mate,” he said and pulled Stiles close. They kissed and Peter held him for a long moment, being his strength. “Alright, so, what happens next? You have a plan, don’t you?” Peter asked his mate.

Stiles grinned wide and mischievous. “Maybe.”

“Uh huh,” Peter said and smacked his ass, making him squeal and laugh as they made their way over to the action.

Across the field, Derek was healed once again. Lucien and Cole saw the scar. “Where’d you get the scar?”

Stiles helpfully healed Derek for the moment.

“My mother.” he muttered, panting. “She was pissed at me. I’ve been trying. I helped Melissa, I thought it might be a way to make my mom proud of me.” He looked at Stiles, pleading with his eyes for mercy.

Stiles scoffed. “How did you help Melissa McCall?”

“Scott turned her and those others you saw,” Derek said, panting and trying to sit up, body soaked with sweat. “She wanted to get away from the pack and all the drama and fighting. I gave her Satomi’s information.”

“You saw Talia?” Peter burst out, bringing his presence to the attention of all there.

Cole and Lucien stood back so Peter could see his nephew.

“Answer truthfully,” Stiles said, and his words compelled Derek so he couldn’t lie or lie by omission.

“I had a visitation with Mom and Laura. They were really upset and disappointed with me. Mom was pissed. She lectured me and told me how bad I fucked up. She opened the Veil while I was standing there, and I could see the rest of our family. Dad and my brothers and sisters, aunts, cousins Gran and Gramps. None of them wanted to speak to me. They all looked so mad. Disappointed and ashamed of me,” Derek whispered. “Mom talked about Stiles and what he’d gone through when we attacked him. Then we talked about Kate and the fire and how Deaton was the emissary that worked with the Argents to start the fire,” Derek said and met Peter’s eyes, then his sister, Cora. “When Mom was done with me, Laura took over and beat the shit out of me. She put me through the injuries Stiles went through, repeating every word I said to Stiles. She said that I would have to remember the lesson for the rest of my life, so the scar won’t heal.” He met Stiles’ eyes, then looked at the scar that matched his own. “Stiles, I am so sorry. I won’t ask for forgiveness because I don’t deserve it. But please know I am sorry. I understand more now and there was zero reason to torture you like that.” Derek lowered his eyes and sighed. “It was shortly after that I killed Deaton.” He looked at his uncle and sister again. He wanted them to know he’d avenged their family.

Peter wrapped his arm around Cora and pushed comfort and love through their bond. “Later,” Peter breathed, and Cora nodded. There was time later to inspect everything they’d been told and seen.

Lucien and Cole talked and agreed. “We’re done with him now.” They walk across the field.

Raven, her pink and gray hair shining in the sun, stepped forward. “Stiles, my dear, since you’re here now, we would like to offer you the opportunity to face those who attacked you. Maybe start with sharing your upgrade.” Her grin was wide and excited.

Stiles stepped forward, eyes glowing silver. “Greetings to the Hale and McCall pack. I am Alpha Spark Stiles Gajos. Meet my packmates. You all know my mate and Left Hand, Peter Hale. Then we have my Right Hand, Cora Hale. My other betas, Isaac, Liam, Kira, and Danny. One of our pack, Malia, isn’t here. I am the alpha of this pack. I have a feeling you might have heard of us,” Stiles said with a smirk. “We are the Gajos Pack.”

“Oh fuck,” Derek muttered.

Chapter Text

“Oh fuck. Yeah, we’ve heard about your pack,” Derek muttered. Suddenly the stories of the Gajos Pack made sense knowing Stiles’ protectiveness and fury if someone he loves gets hurt.

Scott scoffed. “I’m not afraid of your stupid spark or your pack. You aren’t a real Spark or an Alpha. You’re just human Stiles. This is pretty pathetic to push it this far.”

Stiles suddenly appeared right in Scott’s face. As he gazed at his ex-best friend, clouds suddenly obscured the sun, a strong wind blew through the meadow whipping hair and leaves all around them. Everyone there had wide eyes and gaping mouths, looking around themselves in shock. Stiles eyes shone metallic silver, a cat-like pupil made of red, showing in the center. “What do you think of me now, Scottie?” his voice echoed in the wind.

Scott gasped before he cleared his throat and raised his chin. “I’m still more powerful than you. I don’t need to make a cloudy day to take you out, so stop making a fool of yourself. It’s not impressive at all, just stupid.” He didn’t even believe his words.

The wind swept harder, leaves and twigs flying through the air, cutting Scott sharply across his cheeks and arms but merely tickled the others.  “Careful, Scottie.”

Then everything died down. The sun came back out, and the wind disappeared.

Alpha Smythe stepped forward and cleared his throat. “Who here was impressed by Alpha Gajos?”

Every single hand but Scott and the Chimeras, was in the air. Including Derek and Jackson.

“Might want to keep that in mind, children,” Alpha Smythe said with a grin.

Peter grabbed his mate, helping him calm down. He kissed him softly until Stiles smiled.

There was an insulted gasp. “What the hell is this? You were serious about Peter being your mate? How the hell could you do this to me? You know what Peter did to me. How could you betray me like this?” Scott raged at the affectionate couple in front of him.

Stiles rolled his eyes and groaned. “You are still on about all that? Haven’t you let go? You clearly enjoy the benefits of being a wolf. Or would you still want to be an asthmatic loser sitting alone because you have no friends and can’t do anything the least bit athletic?”

“I am making do with what I have,” Scott insisted, ignoring what Stiles said.

“Be quiet Scott. Don’t speak unless you are asked a question,” Stiles said, pointing at Scott.

The alpha moved his mouth and turned red when no sound came out.

“Did you know your father is in jail?” Lydia piped up with a mean smile.

“Did you know I don’t care?” Stiles said, voice even, not bothering to glance her way. “Did you not notice the last name change? I’m a Gajos now. I want nothing to do with Stilinski.”

“Because you are nothing, Stilinski,” Jackson sneered.

Raven got pissed at that and walked up to Jackson, her tiny body emanating power and rage. “You should have had more care for Stiles and what he went through, Kanima. You were possessed, as was he. You should have supported him instead of attacking him, Kanima.”

Jackson growled, eyes flashing. “Don’t call me that. I’m not a kanima anymore. It’s gone. For good,” He sounded like he was trying to convince himself. “I’m a werewolf now.”

Raven waved a hand over him, and green scales began appearing across his face. “You sure about that? Well, you’ll never be rid of him now.”

Jackson felt his face and cried out in shock and fear. He looked at Lydia who looked horrified at the sight of the scales covering more and more of Jackson’s face and down his neck.

“You’re a kanima. You won’t need a master and cannot be controlled by one. However, by hunter standards, you are now a monster who needs to be put down,” Raven said with a grin. She leaned in and whispered. “You might want to start running.”

Jackson suddenly shredded his way out of his clothes and once more he was the kanima. He ran out of the meadow, leaving the McCall pack in shock.

“Why did you do that?” Lydia cried.

“Drop it, Lydia, you’re no sadder than I am,” Stiles said, rolling his eyes. He put aside any thought of Jackson, turned and walked to the new betas. “Coach, I’m damn sorry about this.” He turned and nodded to Liam.

Liam ran to Mason. “Are you okay?”

Mason shook his head. “I didn’t want this,” he said, dark eyes overwhelmed, voice breaking.

“I know,” Liam said, hugging his friend.

Coach shoved a finger at Scott. “That little piss-ant is in great need of a beat down. Stilinski, shit, sorry. Gajos, he bit me, and Mason and Caitlin here and then bit and killed poor Greenberg,” Coach said and explained what had happened.

Stiles glared at Scott; bright silver eyes furious. Taking a deep breath, he returned to the new wolves.

“I can remove your wolf sparks. I can return you to human if you’d like. If you want to remain a wolf, we can get you in contact with the Ito pack or alphas like these fine alphas and other packs,” he pointed over his shoulder.

“I want to stay a wolf, just not with Scott,” Caitlin said, her dark eyes flashing at Stiles. “I think it would help me do my job better at the hospital, but I have to have lessons or something to help me make sense of everything. I need to get some control over myself.”

Stiles grinned at her, and summoned Trey and Cole and they pulled Caitlin to the side and began talking quietly.

“I don’t want a damn thing to do with the supernatural, Bilinski. Fuck,” Coach said, rubbing his face. “Sorry, Gajos.”

Stiles chuckled. “No worries, Coach. I don’t mind Bilinski.”

“I don’t want to be a wolf either,” Mason said, hand held tight in Liam’s, so damn glad to have his best friend by his side. It was the first time he’d felt safe since Scott had found him and bitten him in the library.

“That’s fine,” Stiles nodded. “My other question is, do you want to remember all of this, or would you like me to wipe the experience from your memory?”

Mason and Coach thought for a moment.

“I want to remember. I already knew about the supernatural because Liam told me. I’m good with being aware,” Mason said. “Then I can be available to help, should it come up.”

“Well, I don’t want to remember,” Coach said with a snort. “I’ve always suspected something about this town but never wanted to actually know for sure. I want to think Greenberg had some condition that killed him. I want to go on a date with the hot guy at the coffee shop,” he continued, looking thoughtful. “I like his beard.”

Stiles grinned. “That sounds like a damn good plan, Bobby Finstock,” Stiles said, slapping his shoulder as the coach had done to him numerous times. “Mason, come with us. We’re going over to the Nemeton, the stump over there. We’ll put your wolf sparks into it to help it heal. Once the Nemeton heals, no more supernaturals will come through Beacon Hills.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Coach said and the three walked over to the Nemeton.

Stiles placed his hands on each of their hearts and called forth their wolf spark. It was easy because they were so new. They felt a jolt and then they were back to being human. Both smiled and knew everything was going to be okay.

Stiles took the small golden sparks and fed them to the Nemeton. The surface suddenly looked more alive. It was a step in the right direction. Not able to help himself, he looked at Coach and grinned. “Boop,” he said, tapping Coach’s nose and sent him to his house, remembering nothing about his time in the supernatural. “Good luck, Coach. I hope you get that date.”

“Mason, stay or go?” Stiles offered.

“I’ll stay,” he said, and he and Liam went to stand opposite the packs.

Stiles sent a quick burst of pride to Liam who was keeping near his friend to keep him safe. His little pup glowed with the praise.

Stiles was also proud to see that the chimeras were casually surrounded by a mix of his pack and the extra wolves who had come with their alphas. The chimeras were busy taking in everything, plans forming behind their eyes. The meadow looked like chaos but when you look at who was where, it was a highly controlled situation. The alphas knew what was going on. The chimeras and their place in the situation would be dealt with later. It let them know they weren’t a priority to these powerful alphas and magic workers.

Turning back to the other pack members, Erica and Boyd walked up to him.

“Back to slap me again? Despite our torturous past?” Stiles asked, arms crossed, expression hard. Their betrayal had hurt nearly as bad as Scott’s. The three of them had experienced hell together and they sent him back there with two slaps to his face. The insult, the betrayal, the horror, it all came back to him.

Peter touched his shoulder. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I just want to see what they want,” Stiles said. “Before I decide their future.”

“They hurt you again, I rip their heads off,” Peter said with a shrug.

“I’ll be right behind him,” Raven said, eyes glowing.

Soon Stiles heard Alon agree, Patricia and suddenly all his allies reminded him that he was not alone. The nightmare and horror he’d experienced was not going to be repeated.

Erica and Boyd were both trembling in front of the might of all the alphas and others that were standing up for Stiles.

“I’m so fucking sorry, Stiles,” Erica said, tears trailing down her cheeks. “I was a coward. Simple as that. I didn’t want to upset my place in the pack. I was a follower. I have no other excuse. Just the simple fact I’m a coward who couldn’t face the possibility of having to struggle.”

“And look where that got you,” Peter growled.

“No shit,” she agreed, looking at the ground, unable to hold Stiles’ gaze.

Boyd shrugged, also looking down. “Man, I’m with her. We both just wanted to stay where we felt sort of safe. I didn’t want to suddenly have all these violent people that I thought I could trust, coming against me. I didn’t want to be the next one they tortured,” he ended in a whisper. “I’m really sorry, man.”

Stiles stared at them, their auras upset but honest, their apologies were sincere. “I forgive you. Both of you. I will never trust you again, but I forgive you.”

Erica broke down in tears. “Thank you. Can I hug you?”

Swallowing hard, Stiles knew his limitations. “No. We won’t be speaking again after today. Two questions, do you want to remain wolves and if so, are you willing to find another alpha?”

“I want to stay a wolf. I’d love to find a new alpha, learn what being a wolf is supposed to be like,” Boyd said.

“Same. We’ll work hard to find a pack,” Erica promised Stiles. She really wanted the old Stiles back, her Stiles, Batman, but she acknowledged she didn’t deserve him. She had fucked that up. Instead, she would work to deserve her own sense of pride in herself. That would be enough.

“Be good. I don’t want to have to come back here because of you. This is the last and only time I give you a pass,” Stiles warned them. They both nodded emphatically.  He nodded to Cora who began giving them information on how to find a new alpha, connecting to the Gajos website. Info on finding available alphas was a new section on their site. It would do this group some good.

Stiles walked up to Lydia. “Lydia.”

She gave him her winning smile. “Stiles, it’s so good to see you. I’m impressed by how powerful you’ve become. I mean, not on my level, but you know. You look great.”

He hummed. She was lying through her teeth, of course. It was kind of nice to see her terrified. Her aura was screaming fear but trying to cover it with her over-inflated sense of self. He would fix that. “Right. So, I heard you didn’t get into any of your top choice colleges.”

She glared at him; the smile gone. “Did you have anything to do with that?”

He shrugged and grinned. “I wish I had, but nope.”

Alpha Carson waved his hand. “That was me!” he called from twenty feet away, a big smile on his face. The wolf had the coloring of a lion and indeed his teeth seemed just a tad sharper than normal as he looked at Lydia. “Wanna discuss it, missy?”

Lydia paled. “No, thank you.”

“Smart choice,” Carson answered as he turned back to the Flannagan alpha. He was certainly glad he’d finally been able to join the other packs. This was fun.

“So, Lydia. What are we going to do about you, huh?” Stiles rubbed his chin.

“I have an idea,” Alpha Patricia Barringer said, walking up to them, putting her hand on Stiles’ shoulder.

“I’d love to hear it,” Stiles said, turning to her with a wide smile, greeting Patricia with a warm hug.

She turned to Lydia, the woman who shared her red hair, but definitely not the soul. “Love the bandana,” Patricia said with a wicked smile and red eyes. “Has your hair started growing back yet?”

Lydia glared at the alpha. “Don’t you know it’s not nice to be a bitch?”

Patricia’s eyes brightened as she laughed. She wouldn’t give Lydia the pleasure of showing any anger. “Then why are you such a bitch? No answer? That’s what I thought. Now, I hear you are a banshee.” She turned to Stiles. “That power should definitely go. I know she’s very intelligent, so I think that should be locked up. Like she knows it, but can’t actually prove it?”

Stiles was nodding and smiling, impressed.

Patricia walked a circle around Lydia. “She is aware of the supernatural, but like her intelligence, she can’t talk about it or do anything about it. Oh, and she should still feel the dead. Even if she can’t scream for them to get relief,” Patricia said. “Pay for your crimes. All the people you’ve trampled on, bullied, insulted, looked down on. Now you’ll be the one that will endure bullying and being a general nothing. And there isn’t anything you can do about it,” she ended with her face in Lydia’s. “How does that sound, Alpha Stiles?”

Lydia whimpered, green eyes wide with fear. “Stiles, don’t do this to me. I have things I want to accomplish…”

Stiles caught her eyes, holding them with his, and grinned. “You are no longer a banshee, though the dead will still call to you…” he began reciting back Patricia’s words as a spell. Stiles swore he could see the intelligence in her aura being tucked away. She was no longer anything special. She was just another person on the street.

Stiles snapped his fingers, and she was in a ratty apartment. A waitress uniform with the name ‘Lydia’ pinned to it, was draped over a chair. She looked around, wondering why something in her was screaming out that she was special, she was more. She had no time for dreams, she had another shift at the diner before her night classes at the community college. Hopefully, she’d pass her math course. It’d been giving her a lot of problems. She felt like she could do it, it seemed to make sense but as soon as she put it down on paper it was like reading Greek and she couldn’t do that. Sighing, she was already tired, and she hadn’t even started her shift yet.

This whole time, Scott was still standing inside the mountain ash circle that Stiles had put him in, still silenced. After he snapped Lydia away, Stiles strolled down to where his ex-friend was pacing, still looking furious. Peter was right behind him, and Stiles could feel the dark joy Peter was getting from all of this.

“Scott. You look upset,” Stiles noted, a cheery grin on his face. This was going to be fun. He let the wolf speak again.

“What the fuck is going on, Stiles? How can you betray me like this? Betray all of us? Who made you judge, jury and executioner?” Scott raged, even more pissed when Stiles just gazed at him placidly, not the least bit upset that he’d hurt his best friend.

“Do you think you’ve done nothing wrong?” Stiles asked evenly, completely blocking Scott from smelling his rage and resentment.

“I have done nothing but protect my pack from this army you’ve assembled against me,” Scott growled.

Stiles snorted. He couldn’t hold it in. Laughter burst from him, true amusement over Scott’s dramatics. “You should’ve been an actor, Scott, though you’d probably suck at that too. I am truly proud that you would think I could pull all this off. But, no, I’m only here because Derek decided to hurt my heart-pup,” he said, referring to Cole.

“Heart pup?” Peter asked.

“Cole!” Stiles said as if it was obvious, his eyes going whiskey and warm as he waved to the young wolf.

Peter shook his head and smiled. “Of course. Makes complete sense.” It really did. Stiles was nothing if not a mom to anyone he deemed needed it. Once he decided he cared, you had a friend and caretaker for life.

“I approve!” Lucien called from across the field.

Cole was standing with his father with a happy grin, cheeks pink. “Heart Spark!” he yelled back.

“Aw!” Stiles said, real affection in his heart and eyes. He knew every wolf there could feel the joy in his affection for the young wolf.

Young. Stiles was younger than Cole in numbers. However, his experiences in life, especially the last two years, had aged him. That led his thoughts right back to Scott and his golden eyes went back to hard silver.

“So, McCall. You’ve been turning people who didn’t want it. You killed someone, apparently with no caring or sympathy. You’ve tortured someone and chased them out of the state. You’ve proven you are no true alpha. There is nothing true about you and there is nothing alpha about you,” Stiles told him, voice even and conversational.

Scott flashed his red eyes. “Well then, why am I still an alpha?”

“Good question,” Stiles said and clapped his hands right in Scott’s face. There was no need to, he just wanted to freak Scott out, throw him off. He removed the alpha spark, picturing it as a little red ball, almost like a snitch. They all watched it fly out of Scott and over to the Nemeton.

“You know what, while we’re at it. Hey Derek!” The remaining Hale alpha looked at him. Like Scott, Stiles zipped it right up and into the Nemeton.

Before their eyes, the Nemeton began to grow, nearly healthy. It was going to be massive.

“So, Scott, the spark that was given to you as a ‘true alpha,” Stiles used finger quotes. “Well, it wasn’t yours. It was stolen from the Nemeton by none other than Alan Deaton. Rest In Pieces, dickhead,” he yelled into the universe.

Scott was trying to punch Stiles but couldn’t reach for some reason. “You stole my spark! How the hell can you do that to me?”

Stiles turned to Peter. “Aw look, honey, the puppy is pouting.”

“I’m not cleaning it up if he potties on the carpet,” Peter said and pulled Stiles closer. “You’re so fucking hot when you’re handing out vengeance.”

Stiles grinned and kissed Peter. “You’re just plain hot,” he whispered into his mate’s ear.

“You are so disgusting, Stiles. I really expected better of you. Peter? You are fucking a killer?” Scott sneered at him.

Stiles wasn’t going to get into an argument with him, he just kept his gaze serene. “I don’t care what you think. Now, what to do with you?” He paced back and forth.

“That man ruined my entire life, Stiles. You know he did. You only started fucking him because we kicked your ass out of the pack. He pitied you and now look at you,” Scott said, looking them both up and down. “Pathetic killer fucking another killer. I guess it’s meant to be, isn’t it?”

The field went silent, and every head turned to them, every eye flashing.

Scott swallowed hard.

Peter growled and Stiles squeezed his hand.

“I won’t bring up the commonalities of those comments you made in comparison to yourself. But it’s always back to that with you, isn’t it? Poor Scott. Bit by an injured, abandoned wolf,” he said, turning and glaring at Derek. “A wolf stuck in a coma for six years, mad with the need for revenge after spending over two thousand days replaying the fire where he lost his entire family over and over and over. That wolf broke free and needed an alpha spark to be strong enough to avenge his family, so he found an alpha and took the spark. He needed betas, a new family. So, he did. It was instinct. Yes, Scott, you were bit against your will. Oops, there’s that comparison again, as Mason, Caitlin and Coach can attest. Greenberg could also attest to that, but you know, you killed him,” Stiles looked him over and shrugged. “I have a question for you. How would you have been able to do differently?”

“It doesn’t matter, I’m not in that situation. I only know my own truth,” Scott said, chin in the air.

Stiles snorted at the pathetic wolf. “Hey, since I took that stolen alpha spark, I don’t think you realize the color of your eyes has changed. Blue doesn’t look too good on you,” Stiles noted.

Scott scoffed at him. “You’re lying. Pathetic.”

“Use your phone, take a selfie, see for yourself,” Stiles invited.

Scott did and gaped at his own image. “Holy fuck,” he whispered.

“Still better than Peter?” Stiles asked.

“I will always be better than Peter,” Scott said, shoving his phone in his pocket.

“I think there is only one fair way to handle this,” Stiles said, nodding thoughtfully.

Scott nodded along with him. “Yeah, get rid of him and then we can talk.”

Stiles smiled. “Nah, I don’t think so. No, the fair thing would be for you to walk six years in Peter’s hospital socks,” Stiles said. He grinned at Peter when his mate chuckled. “I was thinking of what you could be dreaming about for six years. There’s the dream of family burning in a fire like Peter had to dream about twenty-four-seven. But you don’t love others like Peter does. You see what you can get out of them. Let them do the hard work of living for you. For instance, you think you’re so much better than me for what I went through with the Nogitsune. You think I caused chaos and pain willingly through my own will. So, Scott Rafael McCall, you are sentenced to a coma of no less than six years. In that time, you will live what I lived through with the Nogitsune, minute after minute. Hour after hour. Year after year. Let’s see how you handle it,” Stiles said, a dark smile lighting his face.

Scott was gaping. “You can’t do that to me! You aren’t judge and jury, Stiles. All of this is your fault, do you realize that? You know what, fuck this shit, you were told if you came back to California, you would be killed,” Scott said with a deep growl and blue eyes. All the sudden, he gave into a jaw-cracking yawn.

“Are you feeling tired, Scottie? Need a nap?” Stiles watched Scott’s eyes begin to dim. “Oh, hey, Scott? Riddle for you. Everyone has it and nobody can lose it. What is it?”

“Huh? What? That makes no sense,” Scott said, sinking to the ground. “You suck. Mom?” He squeaked and landed in an awkward pile on the grass. His coma had begun.

“You’ll get it eventually, Scottie boy,” Stiles said. He snapped Scott to a cot in the Eichen House supernatural unit. Scott would be safe there.

Stiles turned as he heard clapping. It passed, wolf to wolf, as they applauded him. “Thank you,” he said with a bow. “I would like to thank the academy and the best wolves and a kick-ass emissary, a guy could know. I wouldn’t have had this opportunity without all of you, my audience,” he said, finishing his acceptance speech with a low bow.

The applause grew along with howls; he joined in and let all of them feel the love, acceptance, freedom, and safety he found in their presence in his life. Stiles pushed the growing love into the Nemeton, and all of them stopped.

Before them, the Nemeton grew. And grew. Until it towered over the entire clearing, and they realized why there were no trees in the little meadow. It was the area under the canopy of the tree.

“Now!” a growling voice yelled.

The packs turned and saw the chimeras break free from those guarding them. Before a single breath could be taken, a giant root flew out of the ground and whipped the chimeras into a hole that magically opened. Luckily, none of the wolves were there, the chimeras had broken free just far enough away to only to prevent injury.

The same could not be said for the chimeras. A second later, the giant root settled back into place, a tiny green shoot waving at Stiles and he waved back dumbly, staring in awe and disbelief.

The packs looked around them. The miracle they’d just witnessed was mind-blowing.

Stiles stretched out his improved senses toward the giant tree. “It’s over.” He turned to his mate. “Peter, it’s over.” His eyes were wide. “The beacon is deactivated or canceled or whatever. There will be no more supernaturals coming to Beacon Hills.”

“Damn,” Peter said and closed his eyes. “It’s about time.”

“Holy shit.”

That came from the last person they needed to deal with.

“Derek Hale,” Stiles said, walking over to the wolf who was on the ground, looking like he was going to piss himself. “I almost forgot about you. How ya hanging in there, big guy?”

“I’ve missed you calling me ‘big guy’,” Derek said with a weak smile.

There was a gasp behind him. “Oh my god! Alpha, Derek has the hots for you,” Cora called. “Can anyone else smell that?”

General agreements and sounds of disgust were heard around the field.

Peter was growling, snapping his fangs at the threat, pathetic as it was.

Stiles took his hand and squeezed hard to pull Peter back to him. He gave a shudder of distaste. “Okay. Ew. Ignoring that,” he said, glaring at the red-faced wolf on the ground. “So, Derek. You are a born wolf, so I can’t take that from you. It’s in your actual DNA and you’d die immediately without it. But I don’t think you need to die. Yet. What I can do is tuck that adorable wolfy away deep inside your shriveled black heart. You, my non-friend, are going to live your life as a human for six years. The same sentence as Scott. All the things that make us humans great. No more of those pull-ups you love so much. In fact, you’ll have no real muscles. Let’s see, there’s getting tired fast. No quick reflexes. Not bullet proof, be aware of that one, dude. A wound that takes weeks to heal. What else? Oh, let’s go with the common cold, the flu, the squirts; ugh. Watch out for those after midnight burritos. You also might want to get some vaccinations. I mean, you’re not going to be immune to, you know, like smallpox or measles or something. Oh, but hey, good news, you don’t have to go to a veterinarian for health problems. Oh, but dang, you are broke so you can’t get insurance. Hm. Well, that’ll be a problem for you to figure out. Anything else he can look forward to, family?” Stiles asked, looking around.

“No instincts!” Mason called over.

“Yeah, limited hearing,” Liam added.

Danny piped up. “And Derek, if you get to know a special guy or gal? Wrap it before you tap it because you can’t smell fertility and might impregnate a girl. Not to mention you could get all sorts of fun diseases on your special places from any gender.”

Stiles nodded grimly. “Definitely a good one, Danny.”

“Getting fat!” Kira called.

“Oh yeah, that’s a good one. Can you see Derek with love handles and a beer gut?” Isaac laughed.

“Not worth picturing, pup,” Peter said with a grin and groan.

“How does all that sound?” Stiles said, with a used car salesman grin.

“Can’t you kill me instead? I’ll just end up dying,” Derek said, looking desperate.

“No can do, my dude. You do bring up a good point. Ah, there we go,” Stiles said, waving a finger in Derek’s face like it was a magic wand. Derek watched it in fear, not knowing Stiles didn’t need anything like that to do what he wanted. It just made it more theatrical. “Just so you can’t try to duck out on your punishment, I made it so you can’t kill yourself. No matter where you are or what you do, you will just lay there and suffer until you get help. You will not die. Not even if you walk off a cliff or into traffic. Sorry, kiddo, you’re living through it. Broken bones, yikes, those do not feel good, let me tell you,” Stiles nodded. “Oh, and that scar on your face? Expect a lot more. You won’t heal up all nice and pretty. Scars.”

“He’ll age quicker too,” Raven said. “The wolf won’t keep him looking younger.”

“Oh dang, so hopefully some wrinkles and maybe some jowls. Isn’t that a nasty word? Jowls,” Stiles said and looked at Peter and his pack, slowly mouthing the word. “Jowls.”

There were chuckles as they agreed it was a weird word.

Derek groaned.

“Oh, Derek, sorry man, totally forgot you were there. Note to self, the bite will do nothing, so don’t try it. And you won’t be able to talk about the supernatural either. Okay? Okay, good, let’s do this thing,” he said. “We’re not going to hurt the wolf, he will simply be asleep. When he awakens, he will not go mad. He will be slow to become active again. And don’t expect him to be happy with you,” Stiles told him. He touched Derek’s chest and visualized gathering the wolf in his palm and placing it softly under Derek’s heart, sending him into an extended sleep. Stiles stood. “Welcome to humanity. Dickhead.” With a blink, Derek was gone.

“I sent him to the edge of the preserve. He doesn’t realize it’s going to take him quite a while to walk to the loft,” Stiles chuckled. He turned to the large gathering.

There were no more threats. No more vengeance was needed.

“I am satisfied,” he said, voice echoing, eyes glowing. “Thank you, family, for giving me this vengeance. I will spend the rest of my life showing my gratitude and my love for all of you. You say I and my pack have done all these things to help you. But what you did for me…” Stiles' voice broke and he cleared his throat. “Ever… ever since I stepped foot in Reno and was greeted by the Ramirez Pack. I slowly gained a bigger and bigger family as I met all of you. I’ve never felt as fulfilled, as purposeful, as confident in myself, which is something I’ve never had. You have all shown such respect and honor toward my pack and me. It is humbling and I will do my best to show you all of that in return.” Stiles said, tears trickling down his cheeks as he smiled at everyone. “To family!” he yelled.

“Family!” Howls and roars filled the air. Stiles amplified his own voice and Raven’s so they could join in.

The preserve and all of Beacon Hills heard the howls that night and would talk about it the next morning in the supermarket and the coffee shops and the diner. Derek and Lydia will see each other in the diner. She’ll serve him breakfast and coffee. He will get a serious case of the runs from the hours old coffee.

It was a pretty good morning. Well, Lydia and Derek would argue with that statement, but it's not about them, is it?

Chapter Text

The story of Gajos could pass as a happily ever after. The Gajos Pack became famous worldwide. They were considered peacekeepers. They would keep the peace, no matter what it took to get there. It became obvious who was feeling guilty or not when the Gajos Pack was mentioned. Most would respond in awe, respect, or excitement. Others would whisper the tales of the Gajos to their little pups, so they’d be good.

Peter and Stiles mated soon after they left Beacon Hills, Raven overseeing the ceremony. There were nearly one hundred guests. It was immense. Stiles had to magically expand the tents and seating. Peter dropped Hale and became a Gajos which had Stiles preening and strutting around. Peter thought he was adorable.

The pack expanded and changed over time. Jean-Luc and Malia mated, and he joined the Gajos. The pack was invited to several matings over the coming years. Zo and tiny Megan. Trey and Cole.

The Gajos hosted their own ceremony when Isaac and Danny finally mated. Stiles threatened them with being perpetually itchy if they didn’t do it. The surprise came when Kira and Cora joined in the ceremony for their own mating. Peter handed Stiles a wad of green bills, having lost the bet on them finally announcing they were a couple.

Liam found a mate in the Flannagan Pack and had found a home with them. Mason ended up following him and was training to be an emissary.

Cole and Trey traveled with them occasionally, but when they adopted their first wolf pup, they settled down in New Orleans and stayed with the LaBlanc pack, building themselves a house.                  

Stiles and Peter had nearly cleaned out every baby store they came across. Being godfathers had them preening and trying to make sure the new parents had everything. Stiles even magically added an addition to the house they lived in just to store the number of gifts and baby items Stiles and Peter bought. They lived with the LaBlancs for nearly a year, wanting to be near little Flora, blessing her with lifelong health and protection against any kind of attack. The little girl was like a tank. Nobody would be able to hurt her.

Flora owned their hearts. Her black curls and her dark eyes tilted at the corners brought many to their knees for her. She was stunning and everyone wanted to be around her. Stiles thought it might be a touch of magic all her own.

Peter and Stiles never had kids. Neither felt the inclination. With Flora and their future godchildren and nieces, nephews and honorary grandchilden, they had all the love and familial connections they needed.

Three years after they left Beacon Hills, Stiles and Peter stopped in to check on them. Scott was still and quiet, though his eyes were continually going nuts under his eyelids. He emitted fear, everyone felt it from him. Many wondered what horror he was seeing.

Derek. Oh, poor Derek Hale. When they saw him, he was on crutches, his leg in a cast. He had glasses on and had to tilt his head back to read the menu in the restaurant.

Still a waitress, Lydia Martin served him, and they traded pleasantries. Apparently, she was still trying to pass that math class that challenged her so badly. He looked at her oddly, he knew she was near genius. But he found he couldn’t ask her about it. He wanted to ask why her hair was so gray with touches of white throughout, but he had a feeling that it would make her spit in his food.

The former alpha had a handkerchief in his pocket and was constantly wiping a runny nose. He looked miserable. They heard him mention allergies that wouldn’t leave him alone. Lydia just hummed and walked away, having no interest in hearing more.

Derek was dating.

Yeah. Derek Hale. Dating.

Derek Hale was dating Christopher Argent.

Peter and Stiles watched as Chris joined Derek in the restaurant and stroked his cheek, calling him ‘little boy’. Derek turned bright red and thanked ‘daddy’.

Stiles and Peter decided they’d seen enough. They left and then dropped in on Coach who had married Hot Coffee Guy. They had a son who walked around with a whistle around his neck. Caitlin had joined the Barringer Pack in Seattle, working in the clinic there that specialized in supernatural health care.

The Gajos Pack traveled half the year, the other half they stayed with packs, teaching and training. Stiles was famous for his warding skills. He would spend weeks instructing emissaries and druids how to properly ward and anchor their territories. Peter trained Left Hands. It was a very private, quiet training. Like fight club.

Stiles and Peter Gajos taught supernaturals and humans alike to live the best way they could. Share what you know. Do not be greedy with your resources. The tale of the alphas coming together for vengeance was told and retold for generations. People visited the Nemeton in the tiny, nothing town of Beacon Hills, worshiping Goddess under the still-expanding branches of the giant tree.

People whispered about the Gajos Pack in later years, talking about how they didn’t appear to be aging, they looked like they were in their forties, even when they were seventy years old. Nobody could explain it and nobody tried.

After all, you wouldn’t want the Gajos Pack coming after you.