Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter 1

The crunch of tires on dirt and twigs was nerve wracking, perhaps tonight was just nerve-wracking she thought.

“You really think the cops found a dead body?”

Her hand was gripping the handle above her head as the cab jostled over a particularly rough dip in the road.

“You think Beacon Hills P.D. has that kind of humor Reyes?”

Her eyes flicked over to the older man behind the wheel. He grimaced.

“Fair point, Hopefully Dr. Owens is there so we can spare you too much gore; and so, we don’t have to stay out here long, it’s creepy as all shit” He murmured as the Ambulance finally passed the Beacon Hills Preserve sign.

Her grip tightened on the handle slightly as her partner parked the vehicle a few yards away from the flashing police cruisers. The two of them unbuckled, climbed from the cab and retrieves their duffels and a black body case.

They were pulling on sets of blue nitrile gloves when Sheriff Stilinski rounded a police cruiser and approached them.

“Sorry to pull you two out this far, I know it’s usually Coroners job but” He grimaced in the cold drizzle of water misting over them, “We have to hurry, it’s going to start raining” He motioned with his flashlight keeping the beam low.

“It’s alright Sheriff, I’m Reyes; This is Val”

Sheriff Stilinski’s eyes drifted over to her with his flashlight.

“We know each other”

Val tipped her chin out before clearing her throat.

“C’mon let’s get this half bagged” The Sheriff turned away and the two medics looked to each other quickly.

“Half?!”

Reyes was still retching behind the bumping of a cruiser when Val got the zipper of the body bag up, the grind of the plastic teeth mixing with the pattering of the rain.

Sheriff Stilinski patted Reyes’ back offering a bottle of water.

“We’re going to be out here for a while, trying to find the upper half so we can make an identification”

Reyes made a weird noise causing Val to give him a wry smile.

“I can stay with the Sheriff; you could head back in Reyes”

The older man nodded, straightening and rubbed at his pale face. “I’ll -uh- let our shift manager know then”

Val followed her partner to the ambulance, loading the black bag. Reyes handed her a spare and her duffel bag; bidding her Goodluck he climbed into the drivers’ seat and left.

“I’m going to follow my men in a sweep; you feel safe enough to wait here?” Sheriff Stilinski tilted his head to her as she walked back to his cruiser.
“Worried about me Noah? I’m Flattered” she flashed a grin, the lip ring on the left side of her lower lip catching the lights, He rolled his eyes.

Val laughed reaching out to pat his shoulder

“I’ll be fine! Remember I practically grew up out here; go on” she motioned.

The Sheriff nodded eyeing her for a moment before walking over to join his officers.

Val exhaled slowly before settling her Duffel and the bag on the police cruisers trunk. She turned to lean against it, pulling the hood of her jacket up before feeling in the pockets, retrieving a slim metal case of dark colored cigarettes and a scuffed-up Zippo with electrical tape covering one side.

She placed one of the black sticks in her mouth tucking the case away safely before squinting at the lighter in the dark, thumb running over the electrical tape. She sighed heavily shoulders sagging; she clicked the lighter to life using the flame to light the stick and inhaled deeply.

The taste of clove and cherry laced the smoke filling her lungs and making her groan appreciatively.

She exhaled after a moment, watching the flashing red and blue dancing off the trees, Through the rain drops she could somewhat make out the sound of the K-9 unit working its way out into the forest.

Val took another drag, cognac-colored eyes studying the darkness of the preserve just barely lit up by the dim rays of the full moon.

She exhaled another plume of the off-white smoke, flicking ash from the end of her cigarette.

To her left a branch cracked just beyond the tree line. Val’s head whipped around eyes narrowing to glare into the dark.

Another twig snapped, this time behind her.

She stood fully, pushing away from the cruiser. Her free hand raised to twist her fingers into the chain of the necklace resting on her collar bone. She took another drag from her cigarette hoping to calm her nerves.

Exhaling she strained her hearing, listening into the woods. The K-9 unit was far off the lone Bloodhounds heavy barks almost a whisper.

Leaves rustled somewhere around her, and she spun on her heel, fingers moving to grip the pendant just under the material of her hoodie, resting in her cleavage. Her eyes narrowed.

The darkness seemed to shift in the trees. It moved just above the brush; shadows almost mimicking along somethings back.

With the red and blue dancing along the trees she couldn’t pinpoint anything. Yet.

Something was watching.

“Val?”

She flinched violently and turned to almost groan at the sight of the Sheriff and his son.

“Stiles? What the hell are you doing out here!”

She dropped her cigarette, snubbing it under her heel, glancing back at the tree line but found nothing, looking back at Stiles, nose scrunching as she frowned.

The teen offered a sheepish smile, “Uh Moonlit walk?”

Val let out an involuntary snort of amusement, as Noah Stilinski rolled his eyes at his son.

“I was going to take him back to his jeep” The Sheriff muttered, before meeting her eyes.

Val raised her right eyebrow, a clean vertical line through it showed a pale scar through it just near the end.

“But maybe you could do it? I need to get back to the search”

She smirked, “Yeah no problem”

Sheriff Stilinski nodded his thanks; gave his son a pointed look then turned his back to them walking away, Val turned her head to the teen Stilinski and swatted his arm earning a gasp of pain. She motioned for him to start walking.

Surprisingly, he was compliant and began leading her through the woods.

“Soo”

“Don’t start, you should be at home in bed. You have classes tomorrow” She cast him a glare, hands in her pockets as they finally emerged next to the jeep after a good ten minutes.

Stiles pouted opening the door to climb up into the cab. “Why do you get to be here?”

Val secured the door behind him once he was settled into his seat. Reaching in through the window to scrub one hand along his buzz cut.

Stiles scowled jerking his head away.

“I’m doing my job Mischief, now go home” she ordered stepping back to put her hands back into the pockets of her hoodie as Stiles started the jeep, He paused looking at her.

“Be careful”

Val scoffed rolling her head.

“Puh-lease Mischief, I’m the most dangerous thing out here” she joked.

Stiles only laughed.

As the Jeep backed up onto the road, she tapped her fingers on the electrical tape over the zippo in her pocket; goosebumps rising along her skin.

Somewhere from the thick of the woods a bone-chilling howl rose through the trees. Val didn’t hesitate to get back to the police cruisers.

///

Sunlight was blinding to any third shift employee. Val grimaced as she punched out on her time clock. Squinting in the beams of light that filtered into the Hospital from its large windows.

She had forgotten her sunglasses, again.

Despite working her shift and the exhausted she still couldn’t go home.

Shifting the book under her arm to hike her duffel bag back onto her shoulder she nudged the Hospital room door open with her foot.

“Good morning!” She managed just enough upbeat energy for the patient inside.

Sitting in an empty chair, she maneuvered the bag to the floor, before pushing her side bangs from her face. “Sorry I’m late, work was…rough” she smiled at him.

Val had grown up in Beacon Hills, spent her whole life surrounded by forests and the townspeople. So, as she got older, she tried to give back to the community; by being EMS and showing up after shifts to read to a Rehabilitating burn victim.

“Okay, which did we say we’d read today” She studied the book in her lap before opening it to the marked page.

“uhm” she paused reading the titled then huffed out a laugh, “Hansel and Gretel.”

Cognac brown eyes studied the foreign language before she cleared her throat.

///

The Front door opened with an oppressive groan. Val sighed heavily, body sagging as she entered the house.

Now she was fully exhausted. Toeing her shoes off; she tossed her backpack onto the couch hearing the book within thud when the bag rolled off onto the floor. She grimaced and rubbed her eyes not caring about makeup smudges as she trudged for the stairs.
The house was dim and silent. Something she was long used too with its residents' varying schedules.

A shower that’s what she wanted she concluded making her way up to the second level. A shower and the chance to comatose. Hopefully until her next shift.

Her bedroom door opened with a soft squeak from where she had left it ajar the previous day. The lingering scent of incense wafting to her nose. She stepped in glad her curtains kept most of the sunlight out to leave her in dim lighting.

After gathering clothes and taking an overly hot shower she re-entered her room in a loose crop-top and sweatpants that hung low on her hips. She perked up slightly seeing her phone lit up from where it had been tossed onto her bed.

Picking it up she dropped to sit on her bed, pulling her legs up to cross them, ignoring the way the bedframe squeaked, just like the stairs and door in the house aged, worn.

Unlocking her phone screen, she opened her text messages.

Unknown number: Laura Hale is dead.

Val’s stomach dropped, cold sweeping her veins quickly. Her eyes went to the list of numbers along the top; she didn’t recognize them. Her arm dropped, free hand reaching up to grip the pendent hanging hidden under her top. Her eyes looked across the room, blurring slightly as she looked at a photo half hidden on her dresser.

“Fuck”

Chapter Text

The flint of the Zippo sparked to life, the flame igniting the end of the clove cigarette.

Val inhaled greedily, leaning back on the porch chair. Savoring the taste on her tongue and burning in her lungs, she swung her legs up, resting her ankles on the porch railing.

Her nerves were shot, along with her day; the unknown messenger had dropped some heavy news on her. While she hoped the individual was who she thought it was, she knew better than to get her hopes up after so many years.

But Laura Hale dead? If she were to genuinely believe that then she should probably worry right? An age-old friend just dying wasn’t exactly normal. Val exhaled tilting her head to her thought’s; eyebrows raising. Then again, back not so many years ago.

6 years Her brain supplied, six years ago this would’ve been cause for alarm, it HAD been. But that was all past, right?

Val was finishing up the clove cigarette and debating another when the familiar rumble of an engine made her sit up. In time to spot the well-known blue jeep pull into the drive next to her dark green Dodge Charger

She raised an eyebrow as Stiles Stilinski wrestled his backpack from the vehicle, nearly falling out himself; before fixing himself and rushed for the porch. Only stopping when he spotted her, his mouth fell open as she raised an eyebrow.

“Ah-hah Shit, hey Cuz” he flashed a nervous grin climbing the steps.

“What’s got the fire lit under your ass?”

Stiles sputtered indignantly, “Nothing! just- uh loads of homework, you know how it goes; Shouldn’t you be sleeping? Super weird you’re awake right now Val” he rattled on flashing a quick smile as he passed her walking into the house.

Val rolled her jaw, tongue rubbing along her top set of teeth, counted to twenty then sighed. She needed to cut back on smoking anyways.

Growing up a Stilinski was an experience. Val couldn’t get into trouble then lie her way out of it like most kids. Not when the whole town knew she was the Sheriffs niece.

Noah and Claudia Stilinski had gained custody over their niece when her mother died of an overdose, with no known father she was given to the closest relatives.

Her Aunt and Uncle did their best to raise her proper, even when their own son came along; then with Claudias declining health. When Claudia did succumb to her health issues, and the Sheriff turning to alcohol. Val feeling some sense of responsibility at sixteen; took too keeping her nine-year-old cousin in line until Noah dragged himself from his darkness.

Because of her decision, Val Stilinski became highly attune to her younger cousin.

Stiles: to other people was a spastic disorganized ball of ill-timed decisions that found trouble like a magnet. To Val? Stiles was her little minion of mischief and curiosity. An ADHD riddled genius filled with random facts and open-minded wonder.

She loved Stiles, while he did tend to get into trouble, she swore she’d always try to be around to drag him to his feet, dust him off and send him of his way to another hair-brained caffeine fueled mission.

So, being practically bypassed when he had been in the woods just last night after Noah and her had bagged only half of a dead body? Nope.

Stiles was already working on a deep dive when she made it to his room, resting her shoulder on the doorframe to slide her necklace pendant along the length of its chain.

While his focus was on his laptop, Val took in what she could.

His bag was on his bed, the covers made neatly but clothes (mostly graphic tees) dotted the floor.

“Did you know; Wolves have not been in California since the 1920’s?” he didn’t bother turning, only typing in a way she wondered how his laptop could keep up.

“Gray wolves get spotted now and then.”

He made a half-interested noise and Val took that as invitation enough moving into the room to rest her hands on the back of his chair watching over his head.

“How was Lacrosse practice?” Her eyebrows knitted together as she watched him type in the search bar.

Heightened Senses

“On the bench” he mused scrolling before opening another tab and typing.

Rapid healing

“Want me to talk to Coach?” She rubbed a hand to his buzzcut, frowning at his so-called research as a knot of anxiety began to form in her stomach.

“Oh God no” he sounded mortified. “But he uh did ask about you” His typing paused. “Please tell me you aren’t dating Coach; he’s like Dad's age.”

Vall rolled her eyes, “No, Bobby is just a friend.”

“Who is like Dad's age, and you call him Bobby that’s gross” He chimed opening another tab.

Val winced at the humanoid wolf towering over a scantily clad maiden. “Maybe I have an older man fetish” she vied hoping to knock him off course. It worked somewhat when he froze, gagged then shuddered.

“I’m joking mischief” she cuffed his ear, other hand twisting her pendant again.

“Werewolves? What’s got you on the deep dive.”

Stiles leaned back, dropping his head back onto her to look up. “Coach wants us to write a paper.”

Val only frowned; she knew full well what Finstock taught.

Stiles sighed explosively looking back at the screen. “Fine, fine I just…It’s a what if thought?” he mused reaching for the keyboard. “Like what if werewolves were in Beacon Hills.”

Val huffed, “They better be good at staying off your radar then.”

“Probably be cool to be one, though right?”

Val stood walking for his door; her knuckles white as she gripped her necklace chain.

“Val?”

She paused at the doorway, looking back at him. “I dunno, I’d probably want to be something less furry” Stiles's laughter followed her from his room.

                                                                                                            /////

Val was sprawled out on her bed, idly scrolling social media when Stiles leaned in to announce he was going out with Scott for a bit.

“Be careful” she called after him before waiting silently until she heard Roscoe start, the jeep chugging away.

She tapped her screen a few times before finding the correct contact and pressed call.

Holding the phone to her ear Val’s eyes closed.

It picked up on the third ring.

“Bad news?” the smooth voice mused almost sounding amused.

“I was informed this morning that Laura Hale is dead.”

Silence met her ears then followed by a soft exhale.

“Who told you this.”

Val looked up to her ceiling seeing the strings of fairy lights she and Stiles had strung up there a few summers ago. “I have my theories.”

“The Sheriff is asking about the animal attacks, and we may have another problem.”

She rubbed her face. “Which is?”

“Scott McCall”

Val’s mouth pulled into a frown, “What about him?”

“He may have been bitten.”

Val’s sat upright, oh no…

“Is everything okay?”

“I have to go” she pulled her phone away ending the call a free hand gripping her necklace,

Stiles had just been researching werewolves. “This can’t be happening.”

                                                                                ///////

Laura Hale was dead.

Scott McCall was possibly bitten.

Stiles was in the center of it all.

Val pinched the bridge of her nose. Her shoulders were hunched in, and her head was pounding. Yesterday had been so piled on she never got around to sleeping and by the time Stiles had gotten home she couldn’t ask him anything because he was rushing to work.

Now her shift was over, and she had already gone to read to her patient.

“Order for two today, Val?”

She lowered her phone in surprise looking at the barista, who held out her order.

“Shit, yeah” she pulled her wallet from her hoodie, “Sorry” she mumbled freeing her debit card.

The Barista only smiled gently as the transaction finished and Val took the cups nodding her thank and left the coffee shop.

Squinting past her sunglasses she wiggled her nose turning to walk for the police station.

Val frowned; her skin itched like someone was watching her. She spun on her heel, eyes looking around the semi-busy street.

Nothing unusual.

“There’s my favorite niece!” Sheriff Stilinski smiled widely holding a hand up, the second she got back into the bullpen.

“As far as we know, only niece” Val chimed handing a cup over.

“You spoil me, whole milk, right?” He gave her a pointed look.

“Yes. Do not tell Stiles" She ordered taking a drink from her own cup.

“You been home yet?”

She shook her head, “No but I will be, I can check on Stiles.”

“I guess there’s a party tonight” Noah mused.

Val gave him a playful glare, “Do not think about breaking it up.”

Her uncle scowled.

She swept her hands out, “Let teenagers be teenagers.”

He didn’t budge.

Val groaned tipping her head back, “What if I swing by and do a quick monitor?”

He looked at his to-go cup thoughtfully, then took another drink. “Fine”

Val grinned.

                                                                   /////////

“I’m home!”

Val kicked the door shut, groceries in hand. She tilted her head frowning.

“Stiles?” Cognac eyes flicked to the clock on the wall it was still early. Putting the bags on the kitchen table with her keys she moved to climb the stairs.

“Stiles?” she nudged his door open cautiously.

The Teen in question was sitting on his bed head in his hands.

“Mischief?”

His head shot up and her breath caught, he looked terrified.

“Val?”

She stepped forward, dropping to kneel in front of him reaching a handout to settle it on his cheek, he relaxed into the touch staring blankly.

“I feel like a shit friend.”

She licked her lips. “Did you and Scotty have a fight.”

Stiles shrugged eyes looking behind her. She turned on her toes and dropped her hand eyes widening.

Long claw marks were raked down the back of Stiles computer chair.

“He didn’t listen Val, I don’t know what to do. It’s almost the full moon” Stiles's voice was soft fear lacing it.

“I told him to cancel his date with Allison to the party and he freaked out.”

Val swallowed thickly, her chest tightening.

“It’s all going to sound crazy but-”

“I know” she whispered hand reaching up to grip the front of her shirt. “I already know Stiles” she looked back to him.

“I don’t have the time to explain how, but we have to keep an eye on Scott. He could potentially be dangerous.”

Amber eyes met cognac, shades of brown mixed in a turmoil of emotions. Stiles felt like something was off, her expression. She knew what was up, but how much did she know?

Hell, how much do I know? He thought panicked.

She rubbed her cheeks nervously, “Here’s what we’re going to do, you go to the party and keep an on Scott. I’ll be close by if anything happens you call me.”

Stiles nodded numbly, blinking a few times as she rose to her full height turning for the door.

“H-how much do you know.”

Val paused and Stiles watched her shoulders tense up.

“More than enough…start getting ready.”

Val shut her bedroom door, placing her back to it sliding down to the floor exhaling softly.

Her hands found their way into her hair, nails itching at her scalp.

Scott had been bitten, and now Stiles was involved.

Stiles was involved.

She squeezed her eyes shut, “Fucking hell.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 3

“Val? Val!”

She blinked looking away from the rising moon, Stiles was looking at her nervously fingers tapping the steering wheel.

Val had followed his jeep in her charger to the party, the two of them stopping a few blocks away to leave the charger in a safe hiding spot; she had then ridden with Stiles to the party itself, slouched down in the jeep’s passenger seat.

“Sorry” she tapped the door handle sitting up.

“You sure this is a good idea; A lot of people know you and that you’re older.”

Val rolled her eyes, “And we both know everyone prefers to see me lurking and not your father.”

Stiles hummed in agreement, fingers tapping the wheel.

“So, what do I do if Scott ya know” he bared his teeth comically and gave a weak attempt at a growl.

Val’s marked eyebrow rose, lips twitching. “Well one, that looked hilarious, two try to get his separate from everyone else and call me, I can handle it from there.”

The two of them fell silent before Stiles rubbed his buzzcut and fixed his shirt staring in the rearview slightly before looking at her expectantly.

“All good”

He grinned before clambering from the jeep and saluted rushing to the house.

Val smiled endearingly as he caught up with a group of classmates. Raising the clove stick to her lips she took a slow drag, eyes trailing up to the full moon rising in the sky. Exhaling she frowned as a prickling sensation crawled up her spine, settling at the base of her skull to linger in a slow burn. Opening the passenger door and climbing down from the jeep she stubbed the clove cigarette out under her shoe heel and tucked her hands in her hoodie pouch.

Teenagers were crowded around the house when she entered, only a few took one look at her. Some ducking away hiding plastic cups others either giving her a wave or just continued with what they were doing.

It was a normal reaction, the Sheriff had sent his niece out for man a noise complaint on the parties, Val never arrived shouting or in a uniform. So, the party goers realized her presence rather quickly was to keep them in line and monitor rather than shut down parties.

She tilted her head catching the sound of Stiles rambling somewhere before she stepped out into the backyard.

“Val! Hey welcome!” a few Lacrosse members waved as they walked past, one passing her a plastic cup before retrieving another and the team members disappeared inside the house.

Val raised the cup sniffing its contents before taking a slow drink; eyes travelling over each person present. She grimaced at the poor mix of grain alcohol and mixer.

Continuing to walk around, she finally spotted Scott and his date Allison the two dancing together on the back patio.

She circled the patio just enough before the low burn in her neck spiked into a sharp pain and she grunted, dropping the cup to press her palm to it. It was feverish under her touch, and she grimaced as her vision began to blur.

“Shit” she stumbled slightly, squeezing her eyes shut before inhaling slowly and blinked a few times. She straightened and gritted her teeth moving towards the back gate, she fumbled with the lock before unlatching it and staggered out.

Val shook her head trying to clear the black spots and whined as the pain slowly began to subside to a dull throb. Moving further from the house she exhaled.

////////

Stiles wormed his way past a group of people stepping out onto the back porch breathing heavy, Scott had just bolted and after quickly running out to the Jeep he found Val gone, she had to have come inside.

He turned and flailed catching Danny’s arm. “Danny-man have you seen Val tonight?”

Danny glanced at Stiles hand on his them at the teen himself. “Uh yeah, I passed her a cup outside on the back patio. Haven’t seen her since.”

“Thanks man” Stiles let him go to push and weave himself to the back door. He stood on his toes on the patio looking over the heads of teenagers searching for his cousin.

He felt his heart drop as the sight of the open gate and made his way to it, bursting out of it to see the dark of the forest.

“Val?”

///////

Soft ringing drew Val back to consciousness. She grimaced blinking blearily and lifted her head from the tree trunk.

She groaned and patted at her jeans finding her phone, she freed it and squinted at the bright screen reading the name before answering.

“Mischief?”

“Val? Thank God! Where did you go, Scott left the party and then went mental when I told him Derek Hale drove Allison home! I think he went to go hunt him down I gotta go check on Allison.”

Val grunted rubbing at the back of her head, looking around soft breathes coming out in small clouds.

“I…something, happened at the party” She stated taking in the trees around her. She struggled getting to her feet before frowning.

“Did you say Derek Hale?”

Stiles made an annoyed sound. “Yes Val! Scott said Derek must be the werewolf who bit him. He’s been creepy stalking ever since Dad found the body in the woods.”

Val felt her fingers numb, eyes looking around the darkness.

“Stiles that’s impossible.”

“Yeah, I know, but Derek’s our only lead so Scott’s going after him.”

She paused, back stepping as she tried to get her bearings. “No Stiles, you don’t get it Derek- “

A howl echoed the trees, and she hissed the burning pain exploding in her neck causing black spots ion her vision.

“Fuck, I…gotta go” she hit end call and gripped her neck with her free hand.

She turned to look further into the woods and exhaled shakily before moving, each step causing the heat in her neck to pulse.

Val moved through the trees quietly avoiding tree roots and holes like she had the area memorized like a map. She kept her phone in her pocket, eyes slowly adjusting to the moonlight. Filtering though the thinning canopy to see where she went.

The burn in her neck was a small fire now, and she could almost make out voices carried in the cooling wind.

One was slurred and higher pitch, sounded panicked. Scott?

The other was lower, and annoyed bordering lining angry. The tone seemed to ease the pain in her neck.

She stepped over a root moving closer and froze in her spot as the air shifted and she lifted her chin.

The voices had stopped, something was wrong.

Ignoring the throb in her neck, the fire flaring almost becoming like sparks in her veins. She clenched her back teeth.

Danger.

She began to move through the trees. Following any instinct, until a burst of light and a loud pop made her curse falling to the leaves.

Val groaned rubbing the spots from her eyes catching a yelp and a new voice giving orders. She blinked rapidly and pushed her hands to the ground, tucking her feet under her to rise from the crouch, head snapping around to look.

“I think there’s a third one.”

“I heard it to the left.”

The sparks in her veins were fading, but the sound of dead leaves rustling made panic fill her briefly and she bolted.

Immediately her sudden noise made the others give chase and she grimaced ducking around the trees. She caught the sound of a bowstring before something slammed into her shoulder piercing it. Val yelled stumbling into a tree and whined bracing herself to reach around to the injured shoulder. Something protruded from it.

“Fuck” she breathed.

“I hit it!”

She pushed away from the tree and forced herself f forward.

Behind her she heard another click then a second bowstring snap. She jumped.

The arrow bolt buried into the tree as the trio of men caught up. Slowing down to look around.

“Shit I thought I had him.”

“it wasn’t Hale, he no doubt was with the new one, this must be another from his pack.”

Val leaned around the truck, gripping the bark with her nails and fingers to peer down. The branch under her feet creaked slightly.

One of the three men gathered below shushed the other two and she held her breath hunching into the tree as he looked around, briefly glancing up. She set her jaw muscles tensing. The blue eyes looked away.

“Little Monsters quick, they’re gone, but it makes three of them” The men circled the area. Val swallowed keeping her body tense when they lingered around the tree again.

Finally, the three moved on. Val exhaled body relaxing as she leaned away from the tree trunk and fell sideways.

Landing in a heavily grunted crouch, she reached a hand up and behind her shoulder fingers wrapping around the crossbow bolt protruding from it.

She let out a strangled yelp giving a rough yank and inhaled sharply when the bot was ripped free. Panting she held it in front of her and hissed through her teeth.

“Hunters”
////////

Sunlight was starting to peek over Beacon Hills when Val finally made it into the Stilinski household.

After calling Stiles to confirm him going out to pick Scott up from the preserve, she made it back to the neighborhood her charger was in and with one uncomfortable drive home where she was leaned on the steering wheel to avoid blood on her leather seats. She was finally stumbling up the stairs after firmly parking the dark green vehicle in its spot.

She didn’t know how long Stiles would be on his rescue mission or if Noah would show up randomly. So, she quickly locked herself in the bathroom. Kicking her converse off and began the process of stripping off her mud-covered jeans as she turned the shower water on for it to heat up.

She grunted struggling to get her hoodie over her head, cussing with each movement to her injured shoulder before giving up and began hunting through the cupboards then the drawers, finding a pair of scissors in the med kit under the sink. She stood before the mirror to cut the hoodie off, carefully avoiding her undershirt and hair.

Pausing to inspect the blood-soaked material and the puncture wound in the shoulder, she huffed before dropping the dark blue stained fabric into the trash and the scissor in the sink. She turned pawing at her shoulder lightly before stripping out of the rest of her clothes, finally getting into the shower.

Stiles words were stuck with her from last night.

Derek Hale was the werewolf that bit Scott. Derek was in town?

She frowned dropping her head under the spray of warm water.

It was impossible.

But Laura Hale was dead, and Hunters were in town.

Val turned slowing her eyes at the pain of the water pounding into her sore shoulder and it puncture wound.

“What did you do Derek?”
///////

The sound of the front door slamming shut alerted Val of Stiles return.

Patting at the gauze wrap on her shoulder she quickly pulled on her loose V-neck and screwed the lid back onto the sweet-smelling ointment tucking it into her desk drawer just as Stiles knocked on her door. Wiping her hands off on the towel hanging on the back of her door she quickly tucked her necklace back into her shirt, before opening the door.

“Easy Mischief, you’ll wake the whole town” she teased as he rushed in.

“Scott said that Hunters are real too!”

She raised her eyebrows as her cousin sat on her bed.

“He did?”

Stiles nodded tiredly rubbing a hand over his buzzcut. “I mean yeah, between him whining about Allison -who’s okay by the way- Scott said there were hunters out there after him and Derek, you didn’t see them?”

Val shook her head, dropping to join him on the bed. “I must’ve been in a different part of the woods, you’re positive its Derek Hale involved in all of this?”

She pulled her feet up tucking them under her as Stiles nodded furiously.

“Yes Val! He’s gotta be the werewolf who bit Scott, He’s been stalking Scott. He probably killed that person in the woods and hid the other half of the body!” He motioned with his hands.

Val let her lip ring tug on her lip ring, the black metal clicking at her canine, her eyebrows pulled together.

“That just doesn’t seem possible” she stated, reaching up to twist at the chain around her neck.

“Val; trust me the guys a stalker with serial killer vibes” Stiles exhaled dropping back on the bed, He stared at the ceiling for a moment before frowning and rolled his head to look at her.

“Val?”

She hummed still twisting the chain around her fingers, eyes staring across the room distantly.

“You didn’t seem surprised that I said Derek Hale was a werewolf”

His cousin looked down at him eyebrows relaxing.

“Because you told me already” she stated.

Stiles eyes narrowed, “Maybe on the phone but you didn’t freak out then”

Val rolled her eyes this time, “Stiles you mentioned it before the party”

He frowned looking to her ceiling fan trying to remember.

“We should really monitor your Adderall intake Mischief” she laughed gently reaching out, nails scratching gently at his scalp.

“Maybe…You didn’t freak out or deny werewolves when I told you; did you already know about them?” he shot up eyes wide knocking her hand away.

“Val do you know something?”

His cousin settled her hands in her lap, cognac eyes clouding over slightly.

“Val?”

She sighed loudly and moved to stand. “I may know more than I’d like to admit kiddo” she spun on her heel, looking down at him. “As of currently, there’s too much I can’t tell you for your own safety; but I can try to help you with Scott.”

“What about Derek Hale? And the Hunters?”

Val tipped her head, eyes looking away as she tucked her hands into the pocket of her sweatpants, looking like she was weighing some options. “Best Advice? Call me to handle it and try to keep out of their way.”

Stiles scoffed, “My best friend's now a werewolf, He’s a supernatural danger magnet.”

Val pulled her hands from her pockets crossing her arms over her chest, eyebrows pulling together, “More like you are the danger magnet, best to keep me on speed dial.”

Stiles nodded in agreement already reaching for his phone.

“On that note” He glanced up from his screen.

“We need to get Scott more in control.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 4:

“Flowers? Now Val I thought I felt more than friendship.”

Val raised an eyebrow over her sunglasses tapping her to-go cup and she leaned back.

“Relax Bobby they’re for a patient.”

Coach Bobby Finstock chuckled setting his bag down, his own coffee in hand.

“Oh, come on Val I’m just teasing, I can’t give my friend and sponsor shit?”

She exhaled a chuckle, relaxing her muscles as he grinned, it was beginning to be a rough week.

Saturday would be the first Lacrosse game of the season according to Stiles; Scott was having a difficult time controlling his werewolf behaviors on field, causing him to dislocate Jackson Whittemore’s shoulder. Then the same night Derek Hale had shown up in he and Stiles's video call; ripping Scott from his chair and Stiles had gotten the beginning of the threat before the call froze, by the time Stiles had gotten Val into his room the call had just dropped, but Scott informed Stiles Derek had warned him to not play in the upcoming game.

“Val” Finstock snapped his fingers in her face making her jolt.

She blinked a few times looking at him.

“I was only joking about the flowers” Bobby’s face was pulling into worry, like he had insulted her in some way.

Val forced a smile, “I know sorry, it’s been a stressful week already, how’s the team look this year?”

He grinned, “Oh great,” he lowered his voice “But don’t tell any of them.”

She laughed at that. Bobby leaned back smiling lightly at her before he took a drink and frowned.

“Hey…the Sheriff isn’t really going to screw us with a curfew, is he?”

She raised her own cup, “There’s half a body out there; Bobby, he’s got to keep people safe” She took a long drink savoring her tea.

Finstock groaned, “Can you convince him to wait till after the game.”

“And risk people’s safety?” she mused looking over the top of her cup.

“Oh, Come on Val! My first line is a powerhouse, this McCall kid just got great overnight I swear!”

She hummed you have no idea.

“You know he asked to be taken out of this game?” Finstock scoffed shaking his head in disbelief, “Kid almost gave me a heart attack.”

Val raised an eyebrow. “He asked to be taken from the game?”

Bobby nodded grinning, “The kids worried about hurting someone, It’s Lacrosse!”

She tipped her head; he had a fair point. Finstock sat up suddenly, “You should come out to a practice, or at least come back out when I’ve got cross country going, show these kids how to navigate through a forest.”

Val rolled her eyes, “I’ll think about it Bobby.”

////////

“Whatever you’re getting ready to go do, I hope you have a good plan.”

Stiles yelled flailing in his chair as Val stood in his doorway.

“What me? Nothing” he sputtered.

She rolled her eyes.

“Where-Where have you been?”

“Out with Bobby” she stated inspecting her nails, leaning from the doorway.

“Coach Finstock” Stiles corrected making a face.

“He’s my friend” she stated, “I’m on shift tonight, try to stay out of trouble” she warned.

She should’ve known Stiles and Scott were up to something.

/////

Laughter echoed the trees, children giggling as they ran to hide.

The oldest girl with dark hair covered her eyes counting loudly.

“Nineteen, twenty! Here I come” she spun around, her eyes flashing red before the screams started.

“Val? Kiddo?”

Val flinched, stepping away from the hand reaching for her shoulder; finally looking away from the pale dirt covered face and lifeless eyes.”

Sheriff Stilinski and the Coroner stared at her concerned.

“Val”

She cleared her throat, “It’s her, that…that’s Laura Hale” she breathed turning her back to the body, one hand raising to grip the front of her work hoodie, she could feel the pendent under the material.

Sheriff Stilinski nodded to the coroner, who turned to the cover the body; Noah gently led his niece from the room.

“I’m sorry I had to do that, I know it was a long night at work, but I need someone other than Derek Hale to identify her and you two were almost the same grade, and friends.”

She shook her head, “It’s okay that was…that was just shocking. Who; who did you say your suspect was?”

Her uncle grimaced, “Sadly; Derek that’s why I called you.”

Val exhaled softly; her stomach was twisting. Noah settled a hand on her shoulder, and she flinched making him sigh.

“I’m sorry kiddo” he let go of her shoulder, “until we check his alibis; he’s in lock up.”

Val scrunched her nose, “Didn’t that family suffer enough already” she stated bitterly.

Noah watched as his niece left, he wanted to offer something in comfort; but he needed to deal with his suspect…and his meddling son.

/////

Val rubbed her neck feeling the hammering of heat beginning, this was dumb. Actually, it was beyond dumb.

She groaned and reaching out opened the station door. Her whole body tingled as she walked past the uniformed officers and through the bullpen.

This was insanely stupid.

She had to be sure though, taking a left instead of a right she walked back to the holding cells.

Derek Hale was glaring at the wall, green-hazel eyes narrowed. His nostrils flared and he straightened; the scent of orange blossom and cloves laced with cinnamon scented the air.

Turning his head, he uncrossed his arms and stood.

Val lowered her hand to her side, looking away from the officer on duty. Tucking her hands into her hoodie she directed her attention to Derek.

“Glass?” he moved closer to the cell bars, eyes looking to the holding cell officer, the man was snoring at his desk though Derek knew just seconds before the man had been wide awake.

“The hell are you doing here” she hissed eyes narrowing at him.

He looked back at her frowning. “I could ask you the same thing” he gestured but she only kept her stare, He exhaled slowly reaching out and settling his hands on the bars.

“There's an Alpha, he bit some kid and turned him; I think the Alpha killed Laura” his voice lowered.

Val’s eyes searched his face before her tongue swiped out along her lips. “You’re the one who told me about Laura” she murmured expression keeping but he noticed how her eyes seemed to brighten. He nodded.

“Glass, I need to find the Alpha.”

“No shit” she deadpanned.

Derek leaned his forehead to the bar’s eyes staring her down until she finally looked away.

“You can’t let that kid play tonight, Glass.”

Val frowned, “I can’t make that call Der…”

A growl echoed the room as Dereks eyes flashed blue. Her own eyes met his and Derek reeled back; his own returning to normal and growing wide as the cell bars grew hot.

“Do not threaten me Derek” she warned the scent of cinnamon growing overwhelming in the air.

Derek’s expression softened slightly, confusion and pain growing in his eyes.

“I would never threaten you Glass.”

He studied her face as her shoulders slowly relaxed and she turned her head away.

“You know how dangerous we can be, He’s new to this; he will hurt someone”

She inhaled slow and deep before turning away. “I hope your alibis come back good” she stated.

Derek leaned his forehead back on the bars watching her retreat down the hall.

//////

“Val? Back again, I thought you’d be going to the game.”

The brunette slowed her steps, still grasping the vase in her hands to turn to the nurse.

Jennifer smiled softly at her.

“Yeah, I will be, I just…wanted to drop these off for him” she held the flowers up, the bouquet a put together mix of purples and blues with white and flashes of green.

“Oh, how lovely” Jennifer studied the flowers tilting her head.

“Sweet Violets, those are out of seasons.”

Val shrugged, “I have a person, is it okay if I?”

The nurse nodded and Val grinned as she opened the door for her to step into the room.

Val brightened as she saw the Male form in his wheelchair. “Surprise! I brought you some nature” she skirted the chair to settle the vase on the windowsill, turning it for the best angle.

“I grew the violets myself” she stood fixing her hoodie and spun on her heel walking back to stand behind his chair.

“You always said I had a way with plants.”

Cognac eyes lowered studying the locks of hair and she exhaled softly leaning down to settle her cheek on his head; eyes fluttering closed.

After a moment she sniffled slightly and straightened blinking away tears, “I uh…” she cleared her throat. “I need to get to the game, but I’ll see you soon, okay?” Her hand pets the locks of dark blonde curls.

“I’m still looking for a way to fix you I promise.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 5:

Every exhale was a cloud in the air, feeding into the electrical charge that hung around the field. Val inhaled slowly on her clove, nearly choking in protest when it was pulled from her grip. 

“On school property kiddo” She pouted up at Noah who gave her a smirk putting the stick out under his shoes. Val exhaled the last lungful of smoke. 

“I just lit that; surprised you got off for the night” she mused as they followed the group. 

“I have Deputies Val, they can do their job without me micromanaging” He chuckled slinging an arm around her shoulders, “I’m surprised you’re out with-“  he stopped himself as she smacked his chest. 

“Subtle uncle Noah, Subtle” she ducked away from him to rush to the bench. 

Stiles yelled when she slung over him; “Gotcha!” 

He gave a nervous laugh before spotting his dad as he got closer leaning over. “Hey son, any chance you’ll see some action tonight?”

Stiles gnawed on his glove, as Val gave him a slight squeeze arm around his chest. “Action? Yeah plenty” he stared off at the field. 

Val patted his shoulder, lowering her voice. “It’ll be okay mischief” she murmured squeezing his shoulder before straightening. 

She turned her head and flashed a grin. “Good luck tonight, Bobby!” 

She winked as Coach Finstock gave her a bright grin waving curtly. Stiles made a gagging noise as Val chuckled following Noah into the stands. 

“Oh, there’s Melissa” Noah mused, Val made a cat call; causing his face to turn red as the woman turned and brightened. Val motioned her up. 

“Val, Noah! Exciting evening, right?” 

Vall pulled a stick of gum from her pocket, “Super exciting” she mused, unwrapping the gum and popping it in her mouth scowling at the way Noah smiled triumphantly at her.

The game started, Val remaining tense as she watched Scott’s every move as he ran. Each miss, each shoulder check and labored breath.  

She didn’t focus on anything else, one hand gripping the pendant under her hoodie as she observed. Scott was starting to react to the crowd, the smells, sounds, instincts. Her neck was growing warm, skin prickling along the back of her neck when Scott the ball, once twice…three.

He was starting to stand different, shoulders hunched and head down. Her eyes flickered down to Stiles; he was looking back at her then glancing across the bleachers. 

Val frowned before following his gaze, her stomach dropped. “Argent” she whispered recognizing the Hunter. 

“Val?” 

She blinked looking at Noah, the stands were erupted into cheering, the game was over. 

“Sorry, tired” she lied smiling; her eyebrows raised when the Sheriffs phone rang. Noah sighed pulling it free as the bleachers began to clear. Val glanced out to the crowd spotting Stiles but not Scott. Her cousin looked back at her then his Dad.

“I…are you sure?” 

“Dad, everything good?” Stiles called only for Noah to raise a hand motioning for a moment. 

Val frowned as Noah nodded, “Okay thank you” He hung up as Stiles approached. 

“Derek Hale was released, alibis check out and it was wolf fur, Sacramento found on Laura Hales body.” 

Val nodded slowly, seeing Stiles eyes widen. 

Noah sighed, “Look Kids I-"

“Gotta Go” Val and Stiles unison before smiling. 

Val tipped her head to Noah, “Go, I got Stiles” He nodded smiling gently and stepped off the bleachers. 

The cousins watched him for a moment before Val looked to Stiles, “Call if anything goes wrong.” 

Stiles nodded and bolted across the field as Val exhaled slowly, pulling her metal pack and lighter from her jeans. 

The field was quiet when she was halfway through her smoke; a gentle tug was on her neck, she turned and nearly jumped in shock. Derek stood next to the bleachers, glaring out onto the field, Val followed his gaze instinctively and pulled her hood up onto her head. She internally swore as she recognized Jackson Whittemore picking up an abandoned Lacrosse glove. 

Shifting her weight, Val gripped the railing and vaulted herself off the bleachers. Landing next to Derek. The action made Jackson look over. Derek only glared before turning and stalking back to the forest, Val kept her head down following him into the dark. 

“I told you not to let him play” He stated as they moved into the trees. 

“And I told you, I can’t make that call” she chimed taking a final drag from her smoke.

“We need to be more careful” He growled stopping to turn to her, Val copied tossing her spent filter. 

“What’s this we shit?” Val’s mouth twitched as Derek’s eyebrows pulled together in a scowl on his expression. 

“Really? My alibis were practically shit, and I was told everything checked out fine.” 

Val hummed looking into the forest, “Sounds like you got lucky.” 

Derek studied her face for a moment before reaching out, one hand holding her opposite cheek and the other holding her neck, Val turned her head to him. Derek’s forehead settled against hers, eyes closing. Val pulled her hands from her pocket’s hands settling on each of his cheeks, her eyes fluttered closed. Derek’s thumb was rubbing at her neck, over the pressure point for a moment before he spoke. 

“Thank you for helping” he murmured. 

Val hummed before his hands pulled away. She watched as the lone Hale walked off into the dark. 

                                                                                                                     ////////

“STILES!” Val kicked the door shut juggling the pizza box and soda. 

“Stiles! I brought home pizza” She called before pausing to listen she could hear movement upstairs. Climbing to the second level two steps at a time she nudged open Stiles's bedroom door cautiously, Thankfully the teen was typing on his computer. 

“Hey spastic” 

He jumped turning to look at her, “Hey sorry, doing more” he trailed off.

“Werewolf research?” she offered walking in with the box and twelve pack. 

“Maybe” Val looked over his shoulder. 

“Wolfsbane?” 

He hummed shutting the tab before looking at her. 

“Pizza for dinner?” 

“Noah's at work and the diner was insane after the game” she settled the box next to his laptop, flipping it open. 

“And I figured we could spend time together” Val picked up a piece half-folding it. 

Stiles perked up, “Like…answer some questions kind of time?” 

Val chewed on the bite she had taken, “I’ll only answer what I can” she warned. 

Stiles bounced excitedly, “Deal! Are you a werewolf?”

Val swallowed roughly, reaching down to rip open the pop case and pull out a can. 

“Right to it huh? No, I’m not”

“Are you human at least?” 

She smiled opening the can one handed, “Technically yes.” she motioned with the can, looking down at herself "As far as we could tell?"

“How do you know about werewolves?”

She took a drink wincing, “The Hales.” 

“So, you actually knew them, you know Derek?”

“I knew them yes, Derek…fairly well at one point.” 

Stiles rocking in his chair, finally reached for a slice of pizza. “Why, like why’d they let you know? were you a part of their pack, Packs are a thing right?” he shoved the slice into his mouth. 

“Yes, packs are a thing, every wolf needs one, I was…something to them; so, I was a part of the Hale pack. Derek may still consider me pack” Her mind lingered on the other night as she spoke, the tugging pain in her neck, the beckoning call of pack. Then just a few hours earlier Derek’s hand on her neck and face, the quick glimpse of utter trust before he had closed his eyes. 

“Why did you never tell me?” 

Val froze, eyes looking at him fully. His eyes stared at her, and she sighed, pulling his spare chair over with her foot and sat heavily tossing her pizza back into the box. She swept her hands along her jeans. 

“I never told you because...” she exhaled leaning back in the chair. “I never told you because I know how dangerous these things can get, the supernatural is vastly unknown and can be highly dangerous.

When the Hale fire happened, I figured that part of my life died with them, I took everything I knew, who I was to them, What I….” she inhaled slowly, “I basically took a whole person and buried them deep.”  She met his eyes, “I was so distraught after the fire the only way I felt I could keep my family safe was to just not be it anymore; being in the dark kept you safe, all of you safe.” 

“Then Scott got bit” he murmured. 

“Then Scott got bit” she confirmed, “And now…I may have to be that person again” she looked at her can. 

“Does it scare you? What you are?” 

Val shrugged, “Sometimes, as far as I’m concerned, I’m human, but even I know that’s not really true” she met his eyes, “But I will do my best to keep you safe.” 

Chapter Text

Chapter 6

“Hell yes, end of shift!” Val sunk back into the ambulance seat; sunglasses perched on her nose as the sun had started to rise in the skies.

Reyes chuckled opening his mouth to comment when their radio squawked before dispatch’s voice came through. 

Val sat up with a groan as Reyes sighed turning on the siren, “Always on a Monday” he chimed. 

“It’s not even Monday!” 

As the Ambulance reached the school, Val exhaled heavily debating on texting Stiles but her and Reyes hit the ground running. 

The Sheriff had them follow a K-9 unit into the tree line when Val tracked a spotty blood trail at the edge of the parking lot. 

The dogs found a man, a bus driver, unconscious and bleeding in a pile of leaves. A deputy assisted in helping her and Reyes get the man on the gurney. 

Just as they were about to load him into the back of the ambulance; he sat up screaming and struggling.

“Shit VAL!” Reyes barked at her as the two of them struggled. The sheriff’s deputies rushing over to help.

Val stepped back immediately when the Deputies reached them helping Reyes, immediately retrieving a syringe and small bottle from a bag. “The hell is that?” A deputy asked. 

“Sedative” Reyes snapped as Val stepped back in calmly and stuck the driver quickly pushing the plunger in.

Her neck prickled, making her lift her chin slightly, eyes looking through her bangs to the school windows. 

Stiles and Scott were visible amongst a group in a window. The second Scott made eye contact with her; he backed away Val lowered her eyes pulling the needle to help Reyes' finish loading.

///////

A Black Camero was in the parking garage when she stepped from the elevator, the engine idling as it waited, blocking her Dodge Charger in its spot. 

Val groaned unlocking her truck as she got close, quickly tossing her bag in, and shutting the lid. Turning to raise an eyebrow as the window lowered. Derek leaned onto the center console looking up at her.  

She exhaled and reached out taking the door handle to open the door and dropped in, Derek raised his eyebrows mouth twitching into a faint smile before his nose wrinkled. 

“I just clocked out from work” she defended. 

“You reek of blood” He commented. 

Val rubbed her face, grimacing as she avoided smudging her eyeliner. “A bus driver got attacked last night, school bus was torn apart.” 

“The Alpha?” 

She shrugged before jerking for the seatbelt when Derek sat back and suddenly hit the gas pedal the Camero shooting forward. 

“Shit” she quickly pressed the buckle in and relaxed against the leather. 

“Scott?” Derek grunted.

She shrugged again, “There was at least one distinct set of claw and teeth marks, but if Scott was involved then he’s going to have questions, and he’s going to find the one person he knows that can give him answers.” 

Derek’s grip tightened on the wheel as he drove them out of town. “Glass” his tone was warning. 

“He doesn’t know about me Der; he’s not going to ask me questions” she stated absentmindedly tapping her zippo on her thigh. 

Derek pulled the vehicle into an alcove of trees, parking and shut the engine off. 

“The Alpha isn’t going to stop” he muttered opening the door, Val unbuckled quickly to follow him out into the trees, lazily lighting a clove cigarette. Derek only side eyed her before continuing. 

“He’s trying to get Scott’s wolf side to respond to him, persuade it to follow him.” 

Val hummed exhaling smoke as they broke through the trees approaching the burnt husk of the Hale house. She hesitated at the foot of the porch steps; Derek looked down at her noticing how her face was beginning to pale out slightly. He could hear her heartrate pick up, her breathing shallowing out. 

“Glass” 

Her eyes were distant; glossy. 

Derek stepped back down towards her, hands reaching out. “Val” 

She tore her gaze away from the house, panic flashing briefly taking a deep breath. Derek settled one hand on her cheek the other cupping the back of her neck. He tugged slightly; pulling her closer to settle his forehead to hers. Val closed her eyes, reaching up to hold his face; having dropped her smoke. She could feel Dereks thumb rubbing at the pulse point on her neck. 

“Sorry, I”

Derek hummed silencing her, “We don’t need to talk about it.” 

Val nodded before swallowing and sighed, Derek squeezed her neck gently before slowly releasing her.

“We need to figure out a plan to deal with the Alpha” he started, one hand trailing down to twist his fingers with hers; making her follow him in and up the stairs.

“If we found out who he is, it may be easier to catch him off guard in his human form” She offered as Derek pulled her into a room, letting go of her hand to begin pacing. She sat herself on the charred remains of a bed, eyes flicking around the burnt room, despite the damage and years she knew it was his old bedroom. 

“I could help you at that point- “

“NO” Derek turned eyes flashing blue. “I don’t want you getting anywhere near this Alpha Glass, he…what if he figures out what you’re capable of?”

Val scoffed, scrunching her nose as she braced her hands behind her, bedsprings squeaking. “Things are different Der, it’s not like when we were younger, I have more control and training.” 

Derek only stared her down, eyes hard. “I’m not going to risk you Glass, we get Scott; if I can teach him then he can help me kill the Alpha” Derek stopped pacing and Val sat up. He turned for the window eyes narrowing and raising a hand slightly. Val eased herself up from the charred frame moving closer, shoulder bumping into his as she leaned on her toes, to look past Derek. She spotted the police cruiser making its way up the drive immediately. 

“Sheriff would send a car; you’re technically squatting in squalor” she teased. 

Derek side eyed her with a frown, for her to be silent and to show his distaste at her weak joke. They watched as the Officer climbed from the driver’s seat, looking up at the husk of a family home. Dereks arm shifted, forearm pressing against the side of her hip to keep her hidden just by his shoulder. 

Val looked back to the cruiser before moving her own hand to twist her fingers with his; gaining his attention, His head tilted to his shoulder. 

“Dog” she whispered. 

Derek nodded looking back out the broken windowpane. Immediately down in the cruiser the K-9 began to agitate, barking wildly and paw at the window, Val’s eyes went to follow the Officer, the poor guy already looked uneasy but was doing his best to try and calm the German Shepherd
She squeezed Dereks fingers, and his head tipped forward, a low rumble echoing in his chest. 

The dog was attempting to make his way through the window, causing the officer to panic, “Okay, okay we’re going!” the uniformed man rounded the vehicle climbing in and the two of them watched the cruiser pull away. 

Val felt the bubble of a laugh come up making Derek look at her raising an eyebrow, “Old Dog new tricks?” she joked. 

Derek scowled as she laughed at her own joke. 

Val calmed when his fingers twitched with hers and he pulled her to face him. His eyes were searching her face, gaze intense. “Glass”

He stopped, frowning and suddenly broke the gaze looking back out the window.

Val blinked and leaned to look with him. Scott McCall was walking out from the tree line. 

“I know you can hear me; I need your help.” 

Derek carefully, guided Val back down to the main level, hand still gripped firmly around hers, before pausing at the door. Scott was already waiting on the other side. 

He turned raising his hands to her face and neck, pressing his forehead to hers. “Stay here” he mouthed before she could reach for his face, then dropped his hands and turned, opening the door enough to step out quickly. 

Val pressed her back to the door as it shut, tilting her head to listen to the two wolves. 

“Okay I know I was a part of you getting arrested, and we basically announced you being here to the hunter.

Also, I don’t know what happened to your sister, But I think I did something last night, I had a dream about someone; but someone else got hurt” Scott sighed, “Turns out that part may have come true” 

“You think you attacked the bus driver.” 

“Did you see what I did last night?” Scott's voice was panicked. 

“No”

“Then can you at least tell me the truth? Am I going to hurt someone?”

“Yes” 

“Could I kill someone?” 

“Yes” 

“Am I gonna kill someone.” 

“Probably” Derek tipped his head as Scott’s shoulders sagged. 

DING

Derek tensed; Scott’s face pulled into confusion. He shifted looking at the door and Derek straightened, pushing his hands into his jacket pockets drawing Scott’s full attention. 

Val grimaced, finally freeing her phone from her work pants. Hopefully, Scott didn’t recognize the tone, it was generic. She quickly opened the screen and silenced the phone, before scowling at the message. 

Little Mischief: I thought you didn’t work till later? Where you at! You promised to keep me in the loop and there’s a mauled bus driver!

She lowered her phone, listening to hear Derek strike his bargain with Scott, telling him to go back to the bus to remember. She looked back at her phone screen, quickly typing out a response to her younger cousin, as she moved away from the door.

Val: Out for a bit, I’ll tell you what happened with the bus driver when I get home.

She shut the screen, dropping her head back with a groan. She raised an eyebrow when her head settled on Derek’s collar bone, and she parted her eyelashes looking up at him. 

“He’s a pretty oblivious werewolf, he couldn’t even scent you” He grumbled.

Val huffed out a laugh lifting her head and stepped forward to turn facing him. “He needs time and training Der…but I have been purposely covering my scent lately.” 

Derek’s eyebrows moved in acknowledgement before he reached out, hands finding their spots at her neck and cheek. She steps into his space as his forehead settled to hers; raising her own hands to hold his face, feeling the beginnings of stubble. 

“I need to go home for a while.” 

“Yeah, you reek of work” he muttered, thumb rubbing over her pressure point. 

“And your solution is to try, and scent mark me to cover it?” 

Derek scowled, dropping his hands to step away. “I’m just…. you still smell like pack, but you don’t at the same time” he grunted, ears slightly red at the tips. 

Val paused, looking at him; cognac-colored eyes mixing with what Derek might have interpreted as hope, sadness, and something he was sure he was misreading. She was looking at him the way she had before the fire before the world got crappy. 

“You still consider me pack?”

Derek stiffened, there was a soft break in her voice when she whispered the words. Like she had really been hoping for confirmation. He hadn’t really done much to confirm that yes, he did, The Hale family pack bond was still intact; He had felt it spark to life that absolute second, he had gotten into town. 

He had followed it and seen her exit the coffee shop and in that moment; he had been terrified. Yes, he had reached out to tell her about the loss of Laura. But actively seeing her had settled the grief-stricken wolf in him, there was still someone, some pack. 

At first, He thought she wouldn’t notice but then she had stopped and turned looking, he panicked and had stepped out of sight. After she had gone and the panic had faded, he realized the spark was there, and something from it made his chest ache a bit less. 

Then she was there, outside the holding cell. Older than the last time he saw her when he and Laura had loaded into the car and taken off, hair still that wavy auburn brown-, and cognac-colored eyes. The hoodies she was wearing seemed to be a way to hide herself. But she was there staring him down and the gravity of the situation was all that kept him for reaching out for her, his wolf howling for acknowledgment from pack. Not just pack, his best friend. The only one he had left.

He hadn’t ever confirmed it though, just showed up post-game; and she followed him. Like always. Then they had reached for each other, and Derek had felt like maybe he could do this, he could get Scott to listen, he could take down the Alpha who had killed his sister. He could survive this; his whole being had just felt so much better the second his forehead was against hers and her palms were on his face.

He blinked relaxing his shoulders, “Of course Val, we’re always going to be pack.” 

The scent of happiness and warmth was explosive, and he felt his mouth twitch as Val held out her hand, an offering. 

He fit his with hers and studied her face. “I can take you back to your car…but”

“Our spot at eight?” 

He almost smiled, “At eight” he confirmed. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 7 

We’re always going to be pack.

Val exhaled bitterly glaring at her reflection, smoothing at her shirt front before dropping her arms in defeat.

“You look nice.” 

She turned her head to look at Stiles who’s partially leaned into her room, studying his older cousin with curiosity and a gentle look. His eyebrows lifted, “Got a date or something?” 

“Or Something” Val states walking to her closet stepping out of view to strip the shirt off and retrieving a regular t-shirt to pull on instead and pulled a dark green pull over hoodie off its hanger. “Where have you been?”

“Oh, you know, playing Robin to Scott’s newly found Batman” Stiles whined walking in to drop onto her bed, dragging a pillow under his chest. 

Val pulled her hair free from her hoodie collar after pulling it straight, hand reaching up to check the security of the chain that was always around her collarbone. “Don’t sully yourself…wait which Robin?”

Stiles bared his teeth at her, and she flicks him a wicked grin, “You’re no Jason Todd little cuz, but I’d say you’re more of an Alfred if Scott’s Batman.” 

His expression drops to horror at that. “Ouch” 

Val laughs turning to drop on the bed next to him, flopping her arms out to tickle at his ears. Stiles batted at her hands as she snickered sitting up. 

“Don’t be a sourpuss Mischief, Alfred’s a badass” she countered.

Stiles only hummed watching as she stood to gather her zippo, metal smoke case, ID badge and wallet, tucking them into their corrective pockets. 

“How long will you be gone?”

Val tucked her phone into her jeans pocket, wallet mirroring. 

“Depends” she muses. 

“On?”

“Maybe I’ll get lucky” she waggled her eyebrows and Stiles retched. 

“Oh Gross!” 

Val hyena cackled and settled in her desk chair to pull her leather boots on, deftly lacing them. 

Stiles watched her eyebrows pulling together, “It’s not Derek is it?” 

Val paused long enough to give him a questioning look. 

“Everyone keeps saying he’s back, but I have yet to see him” she sat up, running a hand through her hair to push the locks back. 

“Good” Stiles murmured as she stood and dusted herself off before turning to her desk, swiping the contents from the top into a drawer and shut it. “Guys a psycho” 

Val hummed as the sound of a lock clicking caught Stiles ears and he raised an eyebrow. She turned smiling at him. 

“If you’re still up; we can do movie night when I get back” she offered reaching out to rub his buzzcut. 

Stiles cackled batting her hand away, “Deal!” 

                                                                                                                               ////////

Val was shivering on the bus bench, hands tucked into her hoodie pouch and shoulders hunched in. The rubber heels of her boots patting the sidewalk as she bounced. 

“Fucking shit” she hissed regretting not bringing a heavier jacket. 

She rose to her feet when the sleek black Camaro pulled up to the old bus stops curb, waiting in front of her. Reaching out to open the passenger door, turning to drop into the seat and shook off a shiver pulling the door shut. 

Dereks eyes glanced over as she pulled the safety belt on; He guided the Camaro from the curb and sent it down the road. Settling into the seat; cognac eyes glanced down at the temperature dials, noting they were set to have the heat going. Something a werewolf didn’t need to worry about. She shifted hiding an amused smile. 

“We can’t expect him to stay in control every time” Derek started. Val groaned dropping her head back; of course, Derek was still hung up on Scott and his control. 

“I would’ve handled it if he’d gotten out of control. You act like I’ve never handle an out of hand Werewolf before” She commented. 

His eyebrows drug down as he glared at the road. “Not with a literal Hunter mere seat's away” he countered referring to the past game. 

Her marked eyebrow rose, “so you were there at some point?” 

Derek didn’t look at her, but the tip of his ear she could see was darker in the light of the dash.

“I couldn’t risk a kid exposing us or you to a hunter.” 

Val shifted in her seat, “I could handle Scott and Argent, Der” she looked out the window. 

“With an injured shoulder?” his eyes left the road to look at her genuinely, eyes reflecting blue in the streetlamps they passed under. Val grimaced and licked her lips. 

“You think I wouldn’t notice? I smelled the blood the night it happened, your blood” his eyes glanced to her marked eyebrow “I remember what your blood smells like Glass. I also know you aren’t healing like you normally would” He looked back to the road taking a turn. 

“We can’t risk wolves getting exposed; or you. The Hunters would have an absolute heyday with someone like you.” 

Val scoffed out a laugh at the odd phrase. “Careful Derek, such sweet words would make me think you cared.” 

Derek frowned, “I’m trying to keep you safe Val” his tone was low. 

“And I was raised and trained to be fully capable to handle myself” she snapped giving him a dark look. 

The Camero jerked to a halt, causing her to catch her hand onto the dash; she winced at the jolt to her shoulder. 

Derek threw the car in park and inhaled slowly through his nose, staring out the window. His eyes flashed as he exhaled. 

“Val, despite everything that we’ve been put through. And any bad feelings we may have towards each other because of them. I really didn’t want to start a fight with you tonight.” 

She cut her eyes away from him, chewing on her bottom lip. Taking in the gas station he had stopped at, and uneasy and long forgotten weight forming in the pit of her stomach as she felt his stare. Only Derek could make her feel this amount of guilt because she couldn’t accept what he was meaning. 

“I need caffeine” she finally stated unbuckling the seatbelt and opening the door to climb out.

Derek growled annoyed with the situation and followed suit, shutting the door to round the vehicle, keeping an eye on Val until she entered the station, he reached for the pump.

                                                                                                                               /////

Cognac eyes are flickering over the colorful wall of cans when she caught movement through the station windows. Reaching in she pulled three cans free before walking for the register, snatching a few bags from a hook on the shelves. 

The cashier smiled as she set the energy drinks and beef jerky on the counter, quickly moving to ring the items up.  

White hot pain shot through her neck, and she hissed inhaling slowly turning from the counter eyes looking out the window. Two vehicles had pulled up on the front and back end of the Camaro and she could see a trio of Hunters circling Derek. 

“Val?” she turned quickly to the cashier realizing it was the kid who normally saw her during her own work shifts. 

“Sorry Mandy” she pulled her wallet out retrieving her card to swipe it through. 

“Not working tonight?” Mandy smiles warmly. 

“Nah spending some time with a friend” She stated as Mandy slides her bag over. 

“Ooh sounds fun!” Mandy sings while Val steps away and pauses at the door when Derek takes the single moment Argent turned away to glance at her, His eyes filled with warning. Hand gripping the door handle she watches as Argent wipes off the windshield before turning to smile at Derek saying something, he turned for his Tahoe. 

Derek only let him get a few steps before he said something, and Argent chuckled turning to motion to one of his men. 

Val clenched her jaw as the Hunter got close before smashing the butt of his gun into the driver’s window, laughing, and backed away. She wrinkled her nose, heat and electricity circulating under her skin. The hunters didn’t seem to notice the way the awning lights flickered overhead; Derek only stood with his shoulders back watching them load up and pull off.

Derek glared at the retreating vehicles before turning his attention to the gas station doors as Val pushed them open, eyes dark and hair catching the wind as she stormed towards him. 

“What happened” she demanded. 

“Just the usual veiled threat” he muttered voice tight, walking to his door and his nostrils flared at the sight of the broken glass. 

Val pulled a face at the sight, joining him before glaring off in the direction the argents had gone in. “Absolute Douche” she huffed raising a hand, index, and middle finger up, the rest curled in. 

Derek watched her make a tight counterclockwise circle and felt his lips twitch as the shards of glass shuddered before rising and reforming the window.

“You can door that but not fix your shoulder?” he tipped his head to her, eyes showing amusement. 

Val rolled her eyes and rocked slightly to bump her good shoulder to his. “This is different, c’mon let’s get this over with; I have plans tonight” she turned away to go to the passenger side. 

“You have plans?” Derek raised his eyebrows as they both dropped into their respective seats reaching for the seat belts. 

“Oh yeah” she pulled an energy drink out opening the can, “Hot date with Coach Finstock” she chimed taking a drink. 

Derek’s head snapped to her; eyes wide because her heart rate had remained steady during that statement. Val looked at him swallowing before her lips curled into a smirk. “I’m fucking joking” she laughs as Derek looks out the window expression mildly pained with the possible shock. 

“It’s hard to tell when you’re lying” He grumbles. 

Val paused before humming and tilts her head, it should be she trained for years to keep her heartrate and chemo signals in check. “Glad to know I still got it.”

                                                                                                                           /////

The drive to the Hospital was short, Derek having fell into a silence that she would swear he was pouting. 

Once there they parked and exited the car, Val led him through the halls, her ID badge hanging off her belt; but as they drew close to each door Derek noted how each card reader would flash green just as she pushed the door open with a sleeve covered hand. Not once did the badge touch any of them.

“How long?” he asks as Val carefully nudges the correct room door open with her boot, gulping down the last of her energy drink, she was already getting dark circles under her eyes. 

“I can give you five, but if he freaks out, I won’t be able to block it” She motioned with her head and Derek nodded stepping past her. Val followed; after a quick glance down the hall and sighed rubbing under her eyes as Derek pushed the curtain back. 

She hovered at his shoulder as he stared the Bus Driver down. 

“Open your eyes.” 

Silence. 

Derek glared inhaling softly and side eyed Val at his shoulder, she gave him an encouraging nod and he looked back eyes flickering blue before he straightened his shoulders. 

“Open. Your. Eyes” he ordered. 

The drivers' eyes slowly parted open, and he turned his head enough to look at them. Derek exhaled through his nose. 

“Tell me what you remember.” 

“Hale” 

Val frowned, stepping forward, chest pressing to Dereks shoulder. 

“How do you know my name?” Derek shifted his weight, instinctively Val caught the cuff of his jacket; even when she knew if couldn’t stop him. 

“I’m…sorry” the driver breathed. 

“How do you know my name” Derek’s voice rose just slightly, and Val tugged his sleeve, something wasn’t right, she could see the light leaving the drivers eyes.

“Der” 

“No Glass he knows something.” 

“No Der, he-“the heart monitor suddenly flatlined the shrill noise making Derek snarl stepping back in a flinch. Val instantly pulled on his jacket cuff to grab his hand.

“Glass, he-“ 

“Dammit Derek, he’s gone, and we can’t risk getting caught” she snapped pulling more insistently. Derek made a low noise turning as she pulled him from the room. 

Val led them through the halls as the nurses ran for the room; people were beginning to yell; codes being called over the speakers. 

The two of them made their way out of the hospital without being seen, the second they hit asphalt however Derek realized why when Val stumbled over her own feet and he had to quickly slide an arm around her, palming her waist to pull her into his side and keeping her on her feet. 

“Dammit Glass have you been using magic this whole time!” he hissed.

Val let out a sort of breathless laugh, her hand flat on his chest to keep herself from curling in on herself. 

“It’s fine, I’m fine; just…been a while. Cloaking spells are rough” she whispered as Derek got them to the car and guided her into the passenger seat. 

“I’ll drop you at your house.” 

“No! just” she inhaled slowly when Derek twisted in his seat looking at her in shock from her outburst. “Just the usual spot Derry please” her head settled back on the headrest.

His eyes flashed looking at her, “Glass.” 

“I can handle it” she stated firmly. 

Derek frowned before nodding guiding the dark vehicle to the long familiar spot.

Val swallowed a breath; blinking sluggishly, as Derek pulled up to the street corner; she could see the Stilinski House down the street; this was as close as she would let Derek get. Forcing herself up and unbuckling she popped the door handle only stopping when Derek grabbed her hand.

Turning to him, Derek was quick to grab her neck, moving the hand from hers to her face and pulling her close. Placed their foreheads together.

“Derek?” she breathed. 

“It’s fine” he murmured, and Val shivered as her hands cupped his face, immediately warmth swept into her fingers and palms briefly. Werewolf Energy

“Get some rest” He ordered pulling away. 

Val huffed out a laugh, retrieving her gas station bag and thanks to Derek’s donation of energy she was able to lithely make it down and across the street, To the dark house perched waiting for her, 

Inside was quiet when she entered, ears trained to hear the now familiar roar of the Camaro as it pulled away. Moving up the stairs she blinked feeling the small burst of energy fading quickly. A soft smile tugged her lips when she saw Stiles door ajar and the light still on. 

“Hey Mis-“ she fell silent when she pushed the door open. 

Stile was slumped at his desk, mouth open in a snore. Laptop screen dimly lit up with some half-finished school essay. 

Her heart ached when she spotted a movie by his laptop, some Stallone film they hadn’t watched together in years. 

Because they both loved old school action movies. 

Val sighed petting his buzzcut, “I’m sorry Kiddo” she whispered hand settling.

A new buzz of soft warmth swept through her, and her eyes widened as Stiles groaned, she saw it; thin lines travelling up her hand that rested on him, veins glowing with a soft golden light, energy.

Snatching her hand back she cradled it to her chest and quickly backed out of the room, rushing across the hall to shoulder check her door open, quickly kicking it shut behind her to press her back into it. 

“Fuck, shit” she breathed feeling sick at the burst of fresh energy, squeezing her eyes shut, she slid down to sit, despite the warmth coursing her veins she felt cold in her chest. 

Breathing in short staccato, fear slowly took over the warmth as it subsided, exhaustion sweeping over her, her hands were shaking. 

She’d never lost control like that before, for her whole life no matter how often she had used magic as a child or how little she used in the last six years. She had never unintentionally pulled energy from someone. 

No that was a lie…sometimes a victim or patient needed to be subdued when Reyes wasn’t looking. 

But never Stiles, she had never pulled from Stiles. 

You just did, you’re going to lose control of it again…because you forgot how to maintain. 

She had used too much in a few short weeks, she inhaled a raspy breath, recognizing the warmth had flowed straight to her back, spreading out from her spine, and prickling along her skin. Growing into a sharp pang she grunted. Then the pain pulsed and ridged along her spine, pulling a whine from her. 

You’re going to lose control again.

Chapter Text

Chapter 8:

Cool air hovered the night, reaching through the window, fluttering sheer curtains. Something akin to soft whispers drifted in with the breeze eerie and calm as it caressed the heat along her spine.

The lingering howl of a wolf was on the wind, sending prickles along skin. 

Val jack-knifed up in bed, inhaling deep and desperate. Blankets twisting around her torso and waist. Her collarbone ached and her arm burned something fierce. 

Wincing she reach out, batting for her table lamp and blinked away spots as the soft light filled the room, she angled her arm to inspect the cause for pain just above her elbow. 

Nothing

Just tanned unmarred skin. 

She reached up to scratch at the spot on her collarbone; before realizing that spots pain was quickly fading. She blinked before a thought struck her. 

“Derek” 

Shoving the covers back, she moved from the bed to stand. Only to sway and sit back down as her vision swam. She was still drained from the Hospital excursion days prior. There was no way she would be able to find Derek, not when.

Her phones alarm began to blare, and she gave it a weak scowl. 

“Shit” 

She had a double shift that day. 

////////

Sure, enough the day was hectic, some idiot caused a three-car pileup, a mechanic nicked his arm open. A few old ladies just wanted attention and to top it all off Reyes was out sick. 

Val groaned as she and her temp partner wheeled a cardiac arrest into the hospital ER watching nurses take over. 

“Val?” 

She spun on her work heel blinking at the familiar voice. 

Melissa McCall smiled at her from behind the nurse’s station. 

“Hey Momma McCall” she sighed as Melissa blushed at the nickname, after several years she still wasn’t used to it,

“Long shift?” Melissa mused smiling more warmly against the flush on her cheeks. 

“The start of one,” that got an eyebrow raise. 

“Pulling a double” Val huffed out a laugh raising her hand to scratch at her marked eyebrow only to flinch. 

“You okay Val?” of course Melissa caught that, she reached for the younger woman. 

Val sighed extending her arm, she knew better than to argue with her. She pushed the sleeve up, “It’s nothing just a-”

She slowed seeing the state of her arm. 

“Muscle Bruise” she finished noting the blossoms of blue and purple angry against her tanned complexion.

Melissa held her wrist frowning at the marking. “Let me get you a cold pack and some pain reliever” she turned quickly to gather the items leaving Val to stare at the mark in shock. It hurt yes but not like the bruise it presented, it felt like something was lodged in her arm just under her skin. 

“Derek” she murmured. 

“You say something Honey?” 

Her head snapped up looking at a concerned Melissa holding her promised items. 

“Hm? Nah…just thinking” she lied easily taking the products from her. 

“Well try to be more careful, oh could you do me a favor and check in on Scott, I’ll be working my own double and he knows to respond to you as well” Melissa smiled. 

Val nodded dutifully. “Of course,” she grimaced as her walkie squawked and she tilted her head to listen to the hail from dispatch. She exhaled a heavy sigh, “Back to it” 

“Oh wait!” Melissa turned quickly to the mini fridge stashed under the nurse’s desk, quickly retrieving an energy drink, and tossing it to her. 

Val caught it easily with a wink, “Thanks Momma!” she called turning to rush after her partner. 

As soon as she climbed into the back of the ambulance and got the doors shut her partner had the bus moving. Taking a moment, she had, she retrieved her phone and quickly fired off two texts. 

Little Mischief: Busy day today, can you check on Scott for Melissa? May also want to take dinner to Daddio so he doesn’t order the diner again. 

She switched text threads. 

Der aka GrumpyPaws: let me know you’re okay.

With that she tucked her phone into her duffel and flailed as the ambulance careened around a corner. 

“Hells Davis warn a bitch” she shouted. 

“Corner!” the man called back sounding like he was smiling. 

Val only scowled at the back of his head braced herself and slapped the cold compress to her arm. She missed Reyes. 

//////

Stiles was starting to freak out. Scott wasn’t picking up and God knows where with Allison. Val wasn’t answering his texts -yes, he knew she was at work, but this was an emergency- and he had a murderous werewolf bleeding out in his passenger seat. 

Which all together was scaring Stiles shitless. He needed a plan, one better than Scotts ‘just hold on I’m working on it’ plan.

His eyes glanced back over to Derek, he was breathing heavy through his nose, sweating profusely. Stiles was sure he was starting to smell like death, so it hadn’t been a complete lie to Scott. He looked back at his phone; it was starting to get dark out. He needed help, and it was an emergency. 

Tapping the screen quickly with his thumb he found Val’s contact and hit the call button holding it up to his ear. 

“This is Val I’m at work so leave a message.” 

The line beeped and Stiles inhaled, the one time she didn’t answer. 

“Hey look, I know I’m not supposed to bother you at work” He started, Derek side eyed him as he spoke a curious scowl on his face. It just made Stiles skin crawl. 

“-But I could really use your werewolf knowledge; hopefully, you know something about werewolf injuries? Because I don’t and apparently, we’re running out of time” 

Derek was full on staring at him now, eyebrows drawn down in a full glare, Stiles tried not to squeak in fear. 

“Who the hell is that” Derek hissed. 

Stiles hung up double checking his screen for Scott’s latest idea. “My cousin, maybe she’ll check her phone soon” He tucked his phone away and started the jeep up. 

 C’mon Val I really need your help.

/////

Val groaned stretching her back as she finally exited the ambulance. The last few hours had been rather rough.  While some calls had been actual emergencies, others were ranging from dramatic or attention seeking. 

She felt drained, more so than normal. Taking the last gulp of her third energy drink she ignored the ache in her arm and stiff pain in her neck, taking care to toss her spent can into a passing garbage can. 

Her exhaustion could be due to the continuous use of her magic again, in the last few days of reconnecting with not only Derek but the Supernatural world again she had been on constant use.  Ducking past the Nurse’s Station to avoid another conversation with Melissa, she made it to the locker room.

Quickly pulled her hoodie off she grimaced at the sight; the bruise had begun to spread. Angry splotches of violet and blue looking like a mess of watercolors, and yet.

She squinted raising her arm in the fluorescent light to look closer. There just under the bruising she could see it, faint black lines following her veins, it was moving too crawling up her forearm and bicep. It almost looked like. 

“Poison” She breathed. 

A jolt of white-hot pain tore through the base of her skull, and she gasped, her vision spotted, and her knees buckled. Quickly slamming her hands onto the locker room counter she managed to stay upright, just long enough for the pain to weaken to a soft throb before vanishing. 

She inhaled shakily, a crackle of electricity; weak and feeble sparked in her neck before the throb returned. 

Something is cutting off the pack bond.

“Derek” her hand fumbled with the side pocket of her duffel on the counter. Retrieving her phone, she opened the screen. 

There was no response from Derek at all today, But Stiles had called once and texted several times. Scrolling through the increasingly panicked messages she frowned and listened to a voicemail that was equally unsettling.

She pressed call on his contact. 

It rang twice. 

“Thank God!” 

“Mischief what’s wrong?” 

“I need you to meet me at the veterinary clinic! I can’t fix this- I am not cutting your arm off dude!” Stiles shrieked. 

“Stiles! What is happening?” Val could feel the panic forming in her gut, she really hoped this wasn’t what she thought it was.

“It’s wolfsbane! I don’t know what to do, my research didn’t cover this and Scott’s taking forever” there was a slight pause and a weird retching noise following by the sound of something wet hitting concrete. 

“Oh my god what is that? Why is it black?!” 

Val’s eyes widened, “Stiles, I’m on my way do not do anything!” she ordered before hanging up not bothering to wait for her cousin’s response. Throwing her duffel bags strap over her shoulder she practically sprinted from the locker room, feeling the warmth of her magic spread her veins to cloak her from other eyes. 

If it wasn’t Scott in danger, she could only think of three others in town currently that could even be affected by Wolfsbane poisoning, and she only had a connection with one of them, currently. 

Not bothering with her seatbelt when she dropped into the charger, she started the vehicle throwing it into gear, the tires squealing in protest when she sped from the parking lot.  

/////

The clinics exam room was charged, the energy in the air buzzing with panic and uncertainty. 

Scott struggled reaching into the drain grate as Stiles shook an unconscious Derek Hale, trying his best to wake the injured werewolf. 

Scott finally gave a please sound as he managed to tap into his wolf side, claws extending from his fingertips to gingerly clasp the bullet. He pulled his arm free and stood shouting triumphantly. 

“Scott? Stiles?!” 

He nearly screamed as Val burst into the exam room. 

“Val! I uh” 

She looked from Scott to the bullet between his claws and down to the floor where Stiles had just managed to punch Derek awake, the older man was blinking in a daze. 

“Derek?” her voice drew his eyes to her as Stiles got to his feet. 

“He’s dying Val!” 

She nodded looking at Scott as she quickly pulled her hoodie off and held out her hand. “Scotty, Bullet. Get him off the floor boys” she ordered as the scent of panic in the room began to fade with the warming air, a strong flux of cinnamon lacing the calming heat. 

Scott handed over the bullet before surging down to help Stiles lift Derek off the floor. 

Val grimaced biting the end of the bullet, tapping the powdered wolfsbane flower onto the counter. She pulled her zippo from her work pants, flipping it open and clicked it to life. 

Scott and Stiles grunted getting Derek to his feet as she set fire to the flower watching the sparks dances as it did. Val waited for it to die down before leaning over the embers and parted her lips murmuring before letting drool drip from her mouth into the ashes. 

“Oh Gross” Stiles gagged.

Val ignored him, scooping the mix into her hand, and turned to Derek quickly pressing the paste onto his wound. 

The reaction was instant, Derek roared falling back to the floor as the mix seeped into the wound, He snarled with fangs and claws. 

Val pulled Scott and Stiles back, dropping to straddle the older werewolf hands grabbing his face as he writhed on the floor. Derek thrashed and grunted before his hands shot up clamping onto her own face, claws dangerously close to breaking the skin on her jawline. 

Finally, he stilled body going limp for a moment as he panted, claws slowly retracting, and he blinked his eyes open. The vibrant blue fading to his mixed green. 

“Glass?” he stared up at her as she smiled gently. 

“There you are.” 

Derek exhaled a huff of relief and pulled her down to press her forehead to his, Val could feel the stuttering throb in her neck fade out, instead a pleasant warmth blossoming from it, The pack bond. 

“You should’ve called be the second you got hit” she muttered. 

Derek was silent for a moment, “I don’t have my phone” he murmured sounding slightly embarrassed. 

Val breathed out a soft laugh. 

Behind them Stiles cleared his throat, “Uh…Val What the actual hell?” 

Derek’s eyes opened to glare in the teens general direction as Val let go of his face making him do the same. She stood holding her hand out to help Derek up to his feet. Derek frowned when Val let go of his hand to pull Stiles into a side hug asking if he and Scott were okay. 

They nodded yes. 

“You know each other?” Derek stated nose twitching as he inhaled the mingling scents in the room. 

“Yeah?” Stiles looked confused, “Val is my cousin, aren’t werewolves supposed to scent these things?” He looked from Derek to Scott who shrugged. 

Derek however shot Val a stern glare and she was quick to look at the ceiling. “We uh…don’t smell the same Mischief.”

Stiles glanced back at Scott who gave a slight nod of confirmation nose twitching, he looked back to Val. “What like cause were different genders?” 

Val hummed, “No, more like I purposely hide your scent, I use my own or… my magic to hide you from people.” 

Stiles mouth fell open, “What? Magic?!” 

“Okay I’m super confused” Scott whined. 

“Glass is a witch that worked for my families pack” Derek stated gruffly locating his shirt to pull back on. 

Val winced as Stiles made and indignant sound, “You didn’t tell me that!” 

Letting her cousin out of their side hug she rubbed under her eyes, the exhaustion of the day winning against her adrenaline rush. 

“I said I could only tell you what was safe to admit, which I guess all of that is out the window” she pinched the bridge of her nose before looking at Derek. “At the risk of it becoming a common phrase for me, what happened” she demanded. 

“Kate Argent is in town” 

While Val may have not been a werewolf, the expression on her face was deadly enough. 

Derek looked over at Scott, “You think the Argents aren’t dangerous, I can prove they are.” 

/////

Without his car Derek took Val’s keys to drag Scott to the Hospital, casting a quick glance to Val when she chose to follow Stiles to his jeep. 

“Glass” 

She paused and He pulled her close, hands on her neck and cheek. She held his face placing their foreheads together. 

“Thank you” he whispered. 

“Yeah, well It’s my job” she snarked before letting him go to walk backwards. “I need a few hours, call me when you find your phone” she turned before he could argue and quickly joined Stiles in the jeep. 

Stiles licked his lips as he gently coaxed Roscoe awake. 

“Are you going to stop lying now” he stared at the steering wheel, annoyance and hurt in his voice. 

Val exhaled slowly, retrieving her cigarette case and lighter from her pants. “The lies I told were only in attempts to keep you safe…to keep all of us safe” she lit a stick inhaling slowly as she rolled the window down. “But I guess those will do more hinderance than help now” she leaned back as he got Roscoe in gear and pulled from the spot. 

“So…you’re going to tell me?” 

Val pulled the stick from her mouth exhaling as she ashed out the window. “Food first Mischief, then…yes I will tell you" She murmured. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 9:

Pained cries filled the air, cutting through the heavy scent of blood that mixed with the warmth of cinnamon. 

The muzzle sneezed before sniffling, black furry ears flattening then lifting; there was another type of cry in with the other. Soft pitiful cries from an infant. 

Paws scuffed the ground, fur sleek under the moonlight. She moved along nose following the scent. The air was beginning to cool, and the moon was full. Who was out here?

She trekked around a tree and paused tilting her head. 

The young woman was breathing harshly, cradling the infant to her chest. Sobbing quietly as the newborn wailed. 

“Stop, please stop” 

“She is cold”

The woman gasped turning and made a choked noise at the sight of the nude woman with glowing red eyes and dark hair. 

“Fuck, please don’t eat me, I’ll leave I promise I just” She swallowed as the woman knelt beside her, nostrils flaring as she pointedly avoided looking at the hem of the stained dress, or the fluids slowly soaking into the earth. 

“You know what I am?” 

The younger woman didn’t respond, and she inhaled taking in the cinnamon and ozone. Oh well that explained a few things. 

“You know magic” 

The new mother nodded; she was beginning to grow pale; lips tinting blue. She smiled softly.

“My name is Talia Hale, I won’t hurt you, but you and-“ she reached out gently placing a warm palm to the infants head. “This little one could probably use my help” 

The infant stopped her cries, Cognac eyes peering up at the werewolf in wonder. Talia’s eyes burned a brighter crimson under the child’s gaze. Her nose scented something floral, sweet with just a hint of musk. This child had magic as well. 

“Her name is Valeena” 

Talia stroked the child’s cheek with a knuckle smiling softly. 

“Valeena” 

“Val!” 

She blinked as Stiles clicked his fingers in front of her, “Sorry; say again Cuz?”

Stiles looked down to stab his fork in his takeout container. They were still in the jeep; just sitting in the Stilinski driveway, Chinese take out in hand. 

“You were going to tell me the truth now Val, how you know the Hales, why I had to find out from Grumpy Brows that you have magic, that stuff” Stiles muttered fishing out a piece of kung pow chicken. 

Val nodded solemnly, yes of course. 

“Do you remember the story of how I ended up in custody with your parents” 

“Kinda, your mom overdosed?” Stiles said it cautiously, but she nodded. 

“Yes, out on the Preserve when I was six, just months before you were born” she could see the gears turning in his head. 

“Talia -Derek’s mother- found me wandering in the woods in the dark, They’re the ones who found my mother at that campsite” 

Stiles paused his stabbing at his takeout. Val took the time to inspect her Lo-Mein in the dark. 

“I met the Hale’s that night not knowing my mother was dead on some bench in a campsite 

Talia just; she found a kid. Six years old who reeked of natural magic; wandering the woods in January. She brought me home, introduced me to the pack then sent out herself and others to find a parent. They found my mother and called the sheriff at the time” She exhaled. 

“Uncle Noah happened to be working, he was a Deputy at the time. He had to-“ she paused, thinking of how she had to identify Laura; is that how Noah had felt? Her fork twisted the noodles, but she didn’t pull them the container. 

“I bonded quickly to the Hale pack, and Talia she decided maybe keeping an eye on me would help” 

“Because you could use magic?” Stiles raised an eyebrow. 

Val inhaled slowly, settling her container down before shifting to raise her left hand, “No” her palm glowed and Stiles eyes widened as warm golden light snaked up from her palm, tendrils rising to twist and roll together in a small ball above her palm. 

Val’s fingers curled to clench the light in her palm. 

“I am magic” she stated. 

“That’s cliché as hell” 

Her eyes cut to Stiles, meeting a cheesy grin, and huffed opening her palm. His grin dropped into shock at the golden marble in her hand. 

“Whoa, that…you just turned light into glass” he paused then sneezed as the scent of cinnamon overwhelmed the jeep. 

Val smiled gently as Stiles opened a window sneezing again, it made her laugh slightly before she exhaled slowly leaning back. She really was running on fumes now. 

“Val?” 

She lifted her eyes to him, his own were wide and filled with questions. 

“Sorry, I haven’t used my magic in so long; it’s draining, and I have been using A LOT these last few weeks” she murmured staring at the marble in her palm, rolling it around slowly before she closed her fingers around it and squeezed. The marble crunched under the pressure; cinnamon scenting the air again before tendrils of light curled her fist soaking into the skin. She exhaled shivering at the rush of energy. 

“Why cinnamon” Stiles sniffed again. 

“Magic has a scent, usually ozone, iron, earth something; mine is cinnamon because its still so weak” 

“So, you don’t need like candles and herbs, or a pentagram?” 

She smiled, “not usually no, my magic is different. And that really is more ritual magic” she stated. 

“But it drains you?” Stiles studied her face in the glow of the streetlamps behind them. Dark circles were still under her eyes. 

Val nodded, “Magic has its limits Mischief, at least that’s what they say; but it’s really the body”

Stiles nodded face pulling into thought. “So, if you perform a spell or whatever, Derek could find you by scent; would Scott be able too?” 

His cousin nodded, “Although Derek doesn’t have to rely on Scent” 

He gave her an odd look. 

“We’re still pack, my bond with the Hales is based with my magic because I’m not a werewolf”

“Can he feel when you’re in danger?” Stiles side eyed her. 

Val shrugged, “I think so? It’s not Derek’s job to protect me though, it’s my job to try to protect him, that was my role in the pack” 

“Protect from hunters?”

“From Danger, hunters, anything that can threaten the packmates” 

Stiles suddenly laughed; Val raised a marked eyebrow. 

“Sorry I just, it’s funny to think of you out in a fight with the supernatural and protecting Derek…dudes really into his wolf side” He paused before snorting. “Oh god that makes you like Van Helsing” 

Val threw a fortune cookie at him. The two devolving into laughter. 

//////

The Stilinski house was dark, Noah was out at work, leaving the two cousins to stumble in: still giggling to themselves.  Stiles was making poor Van Helsing jokes as Val locked the door stifling laughter. 

They climbed the stairs as Stiles dived into his research talk. 

“So now I have to add witches, that’s going to be one hell of a dive” 

Val smiled as they both entered their shared bathroom simultaneously reaching for their toothbrushes. 

“I mean that’s what we figure I am, although I don’t think some things line up” she shrugged as they fell silent while they brushed. 

“Well, I’m starting with witches anyways” his words were muffled as they finished. 

“Not tonight you aren’t” she countered earning a scrunched nose. 

“Fine!”

Val side hugged him, pressing a kiss to his temple. Stiles gave a feeble struggle. “Night mischief” 

“Night, hey” They paused in their doorways, Val leaning on her to look at Stiles. “Why does Derek call you Glass?” 

She tilted her head, “Glass? It’s just something he’s always called me, like I call you Mischief” 

He nodded slowly before stepping into his room, pushing the door shut. Val doing the same. 

In the dim of her fairy lights, Val let her shoulders sag. Magical use was so exhausting. Quickly locating something more comfortable to sleep in she changed before collapsing onto her bed and stretching out with a groan of approval. It quickly faded to a whine when she heard her phone buzz on the side table. 

Rolling to retrieve it, she sighed as Derek’s name flashes across the call. Her nose wrinkled in thought. She could…. not pick up. Just claim she had already fallen asleep. Despite having told him to call her when he had located his phone. 

The buzzing stopped and she exhaled. 

DING

She gave a choked laugh opening the screen. 

Der aka GrumpyPaws: Ignoring me doesn’t do you any good when I have your car.

She sighed thumb hovering the screen for a moment

Der aka GrumpyPaws: And I know you aren’t asleep 

She groaned and forced herself upright. 

Val: Fine but it better not take long, I’m exhausted. 

Der aka GrumpyPaws: The House

Val muttered under her breath at the thought of the long walk but pulled herself from her bed to locate her boots and a hoodie; of course, he’d make her trek all the way out into the woods. It was already starting to get colder at night.

/////

Quietly easing the back door shut and locking it was the easiest part. Stiles had been snoring already when she had checked on him and with Noah at work, she didn’t worry about waking him. 

Stepping off the porch she shivered, yes, the nights were getting colder. It didn’t bother her as much as it should have. She used to run on the preserve at night with Derek and his family during the full moons. 

She moved for the tree line. Had she lied to Stiles earlier about how she had met the Hales? Yes but, she ducked under a branch. Stiles didn’t need to know the whole details of how she came to be with the Hale pack. 

Working her way further from town and deeper into the woods she inhaled deeply. The trees gave of a charge of energy she could feel just under the surface of their bark. She craved energy from her overuse of magic. While today hadn’t been a major drain, using the singular spell on Derek’s wound had been enough to drain what little she had gained back in the first place. 

She eyed a particularly large tree before shaking her head, if she pulled from anything now, she’d be wired, awake and unable to rest properly. 

Instead, she pulled her lighter and smoke case from her sweatpants pocket. Each clove had a small symbol etch on it to give a small jolt of energy without hyping her too badly. Lighting the stick, she inhaled deeply squinting in the moonlight before stepping over a protruding tree root. Her boots were sticking to the soft ground making her movements slower and slightly jerky. At least she had laced them properly. 

Pulling from a particularly soft spot with a scowl she exhaled a plume of smoke. Eyebrows furrowing as a crackle of magic echoed in her neck. 

She paused raising to pull the smoke from her mouth. The forest had gone silent. Animals muted leaving only the rustle of leaves and the creak of tree branches. She took another inhale continuing her path, eyes flickering along the darkness. 

Predator, her brain supplied. 

She exhaled working to keep her heartrate even and flicked ash from her smoke. She took another drag feeling the soft rush of energy. Her ears picked up a shuffle of footsteps and a husky pant. 

Werewolf

Her tongue darted out licking her lips, she would have half and half chance of the situation, but she could tell from the energy in the air, this wasn’t Derek. 

Alpha. 

Somewhere a branch snapped, a big one. 

“Fuck” she dropped her smoke and broke into a sprint. 

The reaction earned an immediate howl, and the Alpha was giving chase. Val knew better than to run, she had been raised by wolves. Werewolves like regular wolves were predators they enjoyed the hunt, the chase. She in its eyes had stupidly given it what it yearned for. 

Diving around a tree to turn sharply, she risked a glance behind her. A flash of red made her look forward, willing her legs to keep up. 

The Alpha roared as it chased after her, she knew better, it was faster than this it just wanted to corner her, to have her wear herself out. 

Val swore as she spotted a tree down in her path, leaping she planted her hands on the trunk and managed to flip herself over it. Landing in a roll she hissed as branches and rocks burrowed into her clothes digging into her skin. She forced herself upright to continue running. 

Patting at her pockets she scowled, all she had was her phone wallet, zippo, and smokes. Nothing that counted as a substantial weapon. She’d have to risk using her magic to try and defend against the Alpha, or at the very least a spell that would alert Derek to her danger. 

She needed time though. She raised her hand trying to focus. Warmth flooded her palm, and she curled her fingers into a fist. She turned on her heel and raised her hand. 

Silence. 

Val swallowed, eyes staring into the dim night. The alpha was gone. 

A shaky breath left her, and she stepped back, standing on the toes of her boots. She tried to focus her hearing, but her breathing was in short pants in her ears. There was no way the Alpha had just stopped. 

A branch broke and she spun on her heel. The alpha lunged through the trees slamming into her. Val shrieked as a humanoid paw pushed her into the ground. Struggling under the weight as the werewolf’s breath hit her in hot clouds. 

It growled low lowering its muzzle to her. She yelled as its other paw pinned her left leg, claws pinching into the fabric of her sweatpants. 

Crimson eyes bore into her as saliva slung in thick tendrils towards her face the Witch screamed when a sharp pain puncture her thigh, The Alpha tossing its head back howling. She pulled her arm free and punched at its chest. 

The magic built up in her palm exploded into blue light, A barrier forming and slammed into the Alpha throwing it back through the trees. 

Val exhaled heavily staring after it as the light dissipated and she shuffled backwards, attempting to get her legs under her. Her left leg screamed with pain. She pushed herself to stand a broken sob falling from her as the pain pulsed. 

A hand clamped onto her bicep as her legs gave out and she screamed twisting to swing her arm out, Magic rushed her veins, bursting out in a burst of yellow, lightning crackling. 

A second clawed hand batted at the wrist, sending the magic in the opposite direction.

“Fuck Glass Stop it’s me” 

Val blinked taking a moment from her fear reaction and recognized the blue eyes glowing in the dark. She gave a strangled sob turning to throw her arms around Derek.

“I got you” the beta breathed, and reached down, sweeping her up into a bridal carry. “We need to get out of here” 

She nodded holding onto his shoulders as Derek glanced back to where she had thrown the Alpha before turning away to carry her through the trees. 

/////

The trek back to the Hale home seemed shorter with Derek doing the walking, or Val had slipped in and out of consciousness too much to determine how long it had actually been. 

“Hang on” Derek moved one hand to open the door and shifted her weight carrying her up the stairs. 

Walking into his crumbling room her paused, “Down” he grunted before lowering her to her feet. “Wait here I’ll go get some light” he turned away disappearing through the doorway. 

Val groaned reaching down to gingerly touch at her leg, the material of her pants was thoroughly soaked with blood. She cast her head around, reaching out blinding till she felt what remained to be the bed. She settled a hand on it and inhaled before sweeping her hand in a counterclockwise motion. The bed shook slightly before she exhaled, her eyes burned. 

Turning she managed to drop onto the bed and exhaled heavily. 

“Next time maybe you should come to me” she muttered weakly when Derek re-entered the room, light spilling from a lamp. Flashlight in hand. 

He grimaced drawing close observing the blood, nose wrinkling. “We need to get you patched up” his eyes lingered to the bed, it was no longer charred and burnt through, instead it looked as it did the day before the fire. 

“stop using magic” he ordered. 

Val looked up, raising an eyebrow. “Okay MOM” she sassed before pulling her personal items from her pockets setting them on the bed as Derek brought the light over. “I have an emergency bag in my car, in the trunk. If you get it, I can at least patch myself up for now, hopefully I can focus my healing in my sleep” she explained. 

Derek nodded, leaving the room again to go out for her items. 
////

Val grimaced shimmying off her sweatpants, free hand gripping onto Dereks shoulder as the werewolf kept his back to her, using the flashlight to inspect the items in her medic bag. 

“okay,” she patted holding her hand out, he passed a bottle to her and she leaned heavily against his back, her weight nothing to the werewolf to gingerly pour the liquid on her leg. She sucked in a breath as the burn coursed her nervous system. 

“Motherfucker” 

Derek tilted his head to her. “That stuff reeks”

“Well yeah” she bit out, handing him back the bottle, he held out a water bottle instead and she rolled her eyes. “Really?” 

“It reeks Glass” he stated firmly. 

She muttered under breath about prissy werewolves and sensitive noses before dumping the water over her thigh. She tilted the lantern to inspect the puncture wounds. Three on the outside of her leg, one on the inside and one directly to the front. 

“How bad is it?” Derek shifts behind her. 

Val huffed, “he could use more practice at a piercer shop” she leaned her head back, “There's a hidden pocket in there with a glass jar, taped lid” Derek dug around a bit before she heard the clink of glass and the lid click open. 

The scent of herbs and something floral rising from the jar. Derek gave a strangled sneeze. 

“Glass are you walking around with your own stuff?” 

She rolled her eyes, “Yes, quit bitching, it’ll help me heal faster” she patted at his hip until he held the jar out to her letting her dip some out to apply gingerly to the puncture wounds, hissing slightly as she did so. “Okay, gauze” 

He held the roll out and Val began wrapping her thigh. She paused before turning to grab his hand pulling it back to her, “claw” she ordered. 

Derek snorted but flicked his hand open, claws growing from his nail beds. She held the gauze tight and directed his claws to slice through it. “Good boy” 

“Glass” he stated warningly as she tied the wrap off. 

“Okay okay Grumpy Paws, pants?” 

Derek held out the backup pair of sweatpants she had kept in her car. Val struggled for a moment before sighing and finally managing to support her weight on Derek’s back enough to get the pants on. 

“The Alpha was strictly following you” He started as she limped forward. 

“Yeah? I don’t need a fan club…. or a stalker” she grimaced as Derek turned finally picking up the lantern as she made it to the renewed bed and dropped onto it with a grimace. 

“According to your… cousin I’m a good Stalker” he stated. 

Val scoffed, “you have some stalker tendencies, I can see how Stiles would make that assumption” 

Derek made a face, “I still don’t see how you’re related to him” He watched as she settled on the bed positioning to her right side. He raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing?”

“I’m going to sleep Derek” she stated. 

He watched her for a moment before walking over and shrugged his jacket off before joining her on the bed. He leaned against her for a moment. “You’re freezing”

“It’s fucking cold out Der” 

The werewolf huffed at her tone before settling back behind her and settled his leather over both of them, Val gave a noise of annoyance at his movements. One arm sliding under her head to pillow it, and she gave a sleepy hum when his hand settled on her injured thigh, fingers stretching. 

The pain from the wound was beginning to fade. A fuzzy feeling was forming in her head, dissipating the aches and sharp stabs. 

“Try to sleep Glass” he mumbled behind her. Val blinked sluggishly. She should’ve felt nervous or embarrassed, or maybe Derek should’ve. 

She vaguely made out how his palm rubbed gently at her leg, no doubt scent marking. Derek’s face tucked into neck, breathing into her hair. “Der?” 

He paused. 

She blinked reaching a handout from under the cover of the leather jacket. Raising her hand. “Never mind” she snapped her fingers and the lantern shut off. 

“Goodnight Der” 

He only responded by pulling her back into his chest more. Lulling her to sleep in the warmth. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 10: 

The air was damp, indicating rain; a drop in temperature for the season, preparing for a Californian winter. 

Yet while the cold reached her nose and forehead, she was warm. A heavy weight was slung over her left side, large hand tucked to hold her other shoulder. Warm forearm protective around her collarbone, guarding her throat.  

Val parted her eyelashes, Cognac irises squinting in the growing daylight, her pupils dilating. Grimacing she shifted around enough to move her trapped arm, running her fingers along her thigh, she could feel the itch of the bandage; her leg didn’t hurt as bad as it did last night, but that didn’t mean it was fully healed. 

She tried to roll and scowled when she couldn’t. 

“Derek” She pushed against the arm attempting to move it from her face; that response was a grunt of disapproval. 

“C’mon Der I have things to do today.” 

He exhaled clearly annoyed; the sound was similar to a growl as his face nuzzled into her hair for a moment longer. 

She rolled her eyes, “just like when we were kids” she snarked pushing at his arm until he gave up and let her go. Val sat up rubbing her hands along her face. 

“You look like hell.” 

Val exhaled, giving him a sharp glare. She reached for her phone to check the time, mental cursing at how early it was. 

“I’m sure your eloquent words make it hard to fend off the ladies.” 

A laugh escaped her when Derek’s hand thumped her side somewhat gentle like. She turned enough to look down at him; his eyes were still closed and face half-turned into the renewed pillow. 

Val’s tongue swept out to wet her lips as she watched him for a moment. Finally, she inhaled an reached out dragging her knuckled across his cheek, before turning her hand to bury her fingers into his hair.

Derek opened an eye to look up at her. 

“I have to work tonight, so I’ll come by tomorrow.” 

Derek hummed this time; feigning annoyance but she felt him lean up into her touch. Leaning over as he rolled onto his back, she settled her forehead to his, one of his hands settling on her neck. 

After a moment, she leaned back Dereks hand falling, she held her keys up in her grip. 

Derek scowled shifting to pat at his jeans, as she stood. 

“Nice try Der but I know your tricks” she winked as he frowned.

Val stood pulling her phone free and opened the screen, she gave the werewolf a playful swat to his hip before moving to the exit, forcing herself not to react to the slight pain she still had in her leg. She hit the call button reaching the stairs. 

“Hey it’s me…. yeah, we’re still on for coffee.” 

////

The coffee shop was bright and relatively loud, the before church crowd milling around inside. Val exhaled slowly at the sound of the bell ringing above her head. The inside was still bright even behind her sunglasses. 

A hand raised above the small crowd of heads catching her attention and she weaved through the gathered people to a table, smiling as she sat. 

“You, okay?” Coach Bobby Finstock slid a mug to her, concern etched onto his features. 

Val hesitated, hand close to her sunglasses, fingers brushing the frames. “Just don’t laugh okay Bobby?” 

He motioned and she lifted the frames. 

Finstock grimaced and pressed his fist to his mouth. 

“It’s bad isn’t it” she groaned. 

“When was the last time you slept? Christ Val, I don’t think I've seen you look this exhausted since well…. since you were in high school” 

She slumped back into her chair settling the glassed atop her head and reached for the mug he had gotten her. 

“Just... a lot going on is all, Work and personal shit” she raised it taking a slow drink and tried not to make a face at the taste, an almost chemical feel and burnt cream. That was probably not a good sign. 

“Maybe you should take some time off Dear?” He looked genuinely concerned, which was fair. “Can’t have my sponsor fall off a wagon of her own” he chuckled. 

Val huffed out a laugh, “I’m not a sponsor I’m your friend, besides, I wouldn’t do that to you” she took another drink. “But c’mon time off? That sounds irresponsible.” 

Finstock laughed as she raised her marked eyebrow, smiling. “Okay, let's start; how have things been going since out last coffee?” 

Val listened intently as Finstock told her about his work week, Which kids frustrated him (mostly Greenburg) Which managed to amaze him. Good and bad. 

She tried not to laugh outright when he brought up Scott and Stiles. Bobby knew she was related to the spastic teen, but they never touched base on that.  They didn’t need too, these coffee meetings while pretty much unnecessary had become habit for them to just vent out the problems of daily life. 

“I really, really appreciate this Val.” 

She raised an eyebrow, Finstock kept leaned onto the table. 

“The coffee dates, I mean I know it's not an actual date, but you’ve kept faith in me for this long. It’s nice to know I still have a decent friend” He smiled. 

Val returned the smiled reaching out to settle a hand on his, “Anytime Bobby.” 

The man gave a somewhat nervous laugh looking away. Val leaned back before frowning slightly tilting her head as her neck prickled in a warning.

“Telling you, we start with Derek; he will lead us to the alpha.” 

She twisted in her chair slight to look behind her into the coffee line, blood chilling at the sight of the blond woman with the two men. She quickly faced Finstock as the woman’s head turned. She swallowed; it was Kate Argent. 

“Val?” 

She blinked meeting Finstock’s eyes, “Sorry spaced for a moment” she offered a weak smile. 

Bobby nodded, “Maybe we should call it, you need to go home and get sleep” he commented finishing his coffee.

Val huffed as he stood following suit. “When did you become my dad.” 

Finstock laughed, “I’m not old enough to be your dad….and that would make this all the much more awkward” he slung an arm across her shoulders as they walked to the door. 

“Nah, but you’re like a safe age for a Daddy kink?” Val offered. 

Finstock paused eyes going wide, she winked. He laughed loudly. 

\\\\\\\

“Ya know” 

Val looked up from under her hair towel, raising her left eyebrow. The one with a scar line marked through it. 

“With how often you and coach have coffee together, you think he’d remember me” Stiles stated entering her room to sit on the end of her bed

Val chuckled to herself, tossing her hair towel to her basket and fell backwards. Stiles copied, the two of them staring up at the ceiling, to the twinkling lights strung across the ceiling shining through the streams of dark colored gauze netting, he knew had been up there since the Halloween after they had hung the lights. 

“Really want to be on Bobby’s radar?” 

Stiles frowned, “No…Wish I was off a lot of peoples radars actually.” 

Val hummed reaching for her chain, the necklace settling along her throat. 

“The Alpha” she questioned. 

“And Derek” 

She rolled her head to her cousin. “Derek’s not bad” she stated softly. Stiles just kept his arms crossed. 

“Well, I don’t trust him, he’s sketchy and highly unhelpful.” 

Val hummed twisting the chain with her knuckles, “Real quick to judge their little cuz” 

Stiles scoffed, “I get that you have a whole connection with his family, but C’mon Derek is an ass. I don’t see how you just blatantly trust him” he turned his head to study her face as she continued to look up at the ceiling.  A soft sad smile on her lips and something almost unreadable in her expression. 

“You don’t know him like I do kiddo.” 

Stiles eyes flicked down to the chain she was still twisting around her fingers. 

“Just, believe me when I say he’s trying his best.” 

Stiles looked up at her face meeting her eyes, they almost seemed to glow in the soft light. He licked his lips before looking at the ceiling again. “Sure” 

Chapter Text

Chapter 11:

“Why can’t we have one quiet night?”

Val tightened her grip on the safety handle above her head as Reyes took the ambulance around the corner sharply; lights and sirens going. 

“Maybe stop saying that and we actually will” She sassed with a grin as her partner scowled, she pointed “Oh Oh! Take fourth its faster!”

Reyes cussed giving another jerk of the steering wheel forcing Val to make a sound as the tires squealed in protest. 

The Video stores parking lot was already a mess. Police cruisers scattered around the lot and Civilians milling around as Val and Reyes parked and climbed out going to the back of the bus to unload the gurney. Val’s skin itched with the sheer chaotic energy in the air. 

She glanced at Reyes, “Wanna check out the kids and I’ll go in” he nodded quickly. 

Shouldering her bag and dragging the gurney along into the store, A few deputies only glanced at her before continuing to catalog the scene as she stood waiting patiently. 

The room’s energy was thicker in here, she could almost taste it. Parting her lips as she pulled on a set of gloves, she realized with a jolt of dread she could. 

Fear, panic; rage and… Confusion?

Val frowned, why confusion. 

Getting the video store clerk into a bag and onto the gurney went quickly, the deputies having finished their own task rather effectively. Val took her time zipping the bag aware this would be the only time she could up close examine the extent of the wounds. 

The definite claw marks as the throat, and fang punctures. The Alpha hadn’t held back. She could almost see the stark white bone of the victim’s spine. Val forced back a shiver when her knuckles brushed the skin of the man's face, thankfully for the barrier of her gloves. 

A secondary team was there to take the body to the coroner, leaving her to take note of loud yelling when she emerged back outside. 

“Rent-a-cop bullshit! I just want to go home!” 

She frowned. 

“Hey whoa is that a dead body?!” 

Cognac eyes rolled at the sound of her cousin’s voice as the coroner’s assistants wheeled the gurney past. Leave it to Stiles to draw unnecessary attention. She quickly rounded the ambulance to cut off more yelling. “What’s going on out here?” 

Sheriff Stilinski looked relieved to see her, “Mr. Whittemore is ready to leave but we need to make sure he’s clear; he hit his head pretty hard” Noah explained. 

“I said I’m fine” Jackson snapped. 

Val reached out settling a hand on the teens shoulder; watching him pause as she felt the warmth of magic sweep from her arm to her palm and through his jacket. 

“It’ll just take a minute Jackson I promise.” 

His blue eyes met hers and Val offered him a warm smile, slowly he nodded, and Val motioned with her head to lead him to the cab of the ambulance. A warm warning tingle flared in her neck, and she lifted her head slightly, spotting Derek and Scott perched on the ledge of the video store roof. Derek’s eyes were dark as he stared down at her, flashing blue briefly. Instinctively she dropped her hand from Jacksons shoulder, Derek looked away to say something to Scott.

“I’m fine really” Jackson seemed calmer now, still irritated but mildly calmer after the rush of magic she had given him. 

“Well better safe than sorry, be a shame to let our Star Lacrosse player leave without double checking” She offered a bright smiled while pulling some gloves on. 

Jackson smirked at her words as she went through the routine before tilting his head enough to look at the back of his head. 

“All good from what I can see-“ she paused lowering the collar of his jacket eyes on the back of his neck. “You’ve got some marks back here did you get cut?” even as she asked her blood seemed to chill.

“No that… that’s from something different” he mumbled. 

Val leaned back to give him an encouraging look, “Well let me clean it up and cover it then you can go” she offered, turning for her bag. 

“It’s not that big a deal” Jackson muttered beginning to grow annoyed. 

Val chuckled as she opened a bottle of wound cleanser. Soaking a cleaning swab quickly. “It’s an open wound it could easily become a big deal” she lowered the collar again dabbing at the crescent marks gently. 

“Thanks, uh-“ 

She hummed as she medical taped a clean gauze to him, smiling yet again. “Stilinski, Val Stilinski” she offered pulling her gloves off.

Realization dawned in the teens eyes and Jackson frowned, “Like related to Stiles?”

She nodded crossing her arms, “And the Rent-a-cop sheriff” she quoted making his face turn red. “Keep the wound clean Jackson” she winked before motioning, “You’re free to go home kid.” 

He nodded numbly walking away quickly. 

Val exhaled slowly as he did, she knew what those marks on his neck were. 

Werewolf claws. 

/////

Her bedframe groaned in protest when Val fell onto it. 

After twelve hours she wondered faintly how she was still standing, rolling onto her back, she pulled her phone from her work pants to check its messaged, her mind wandering to the latest Alpha attack. 

Why had the Alpha been so aggressive on this kill? He had toyed with the bus driver, so why outright murder the Vider store manager?  Had he been the one to mark the Whittemore kid’s neck? Why hadn’t he killed Jackson?

Her messages were quiet nothing from Derek or Stiles. 

She forced herself to her feet unzipping her hoodie, ignoring the jolt of pain in her thigh. Tossing the hoodie into a hamper she pulled her shirt over her head frowning at the discomfort in her shoulder. Twisting before her dresser mirror, she frowned at the bandage on her shoulder before peeling it from her skin. The arrow wound was still there, slowly starting to close but the edges still looked angry and red. 

Maybe she should just heal it, Derek wasn’t wrong; she had the skill to do so. She had healed her leg out of necessity, yet could she risk the magic? To use enough power to heal herself a second time when she already felt like she was running on a half tank constantly. 

Her eyes drifted to the spans of her back, to the lines of black ink that made up the four diamond shapes on her skin. 

Two along her spine and one on each side of it. Each diamond made of intricate knotwork, with alchemic symbols and runic markings inside it. 

The one closest to the arrow wound wasn’t as dark as the other three in fact it seemed to be fading from her skin entirely. 

Shaking her head, she turned away from the mirror tossing the shirt into her laundry basket. She needed a shower. 

//////

Derek scowled as he climbed into the Camaro, He’d come to the school to figure out if that blond kid had seen anything. 

Which obviously he had, An Alpha was hard to forget. 

Yet the second Derek had gotten close he had immediately scented the lingering scent of Val’s magic on the little shit. All hopes for a calm conversation had went out the window at that point. 

Then he had pinpointed magic to the kids' neck and after a quick look to confirm that yes those were his claw marks and left after that. 

He was a Beta anyways nothing could come from his marks. 

Derek pulled his phone free opening it to find Val’s contact clicking it before putting his phone to his ear. 

“This is Val, I’m either at work or sleeping leave a message.” 

He pulled the phone away glaring at the screen before hanging up. 

He could just go get her, he knew which house it was now, Yet the woman had been on constant alert lately; using her magic at every turn and instance Derek required. A feat that could be incredibly tiring for someone out of practice. He looked back at the screen typing out a quick message before tucking his phone away and started the Camaro. 

//////

“Gotcha!” 

A wall of muscle tackled her, sending them rolling across the forest floor. 

Val shrieked out a laugh pushing the teenaged girl away. Laura grinned wildly. “Told you I could track you this far” she stood dusting herself off, the action flicking the excess blood; soaking from her shirt at Val’s face like rain drops. 

“C’mon we gotta go help the Alpha!”

Val blinked raising a hand to wipe at the red droplets from her cheek staring at the smear on her fingertips. 

“Laura, wait” she lifted her eyes and swallowed lowering her hand to the video stores tacky carpet. The lights flickering overhead from the swinging fixtures. 

“Laura?” she pushed herself to her feet, the carpet itches as her bare skin as she moved to follow the tee. 

A video shelf rocked, as she approached it, clawed hand raising to grip the top of it, leather cuff of its sleeve-soaked slick with blood.

“Derek?” 

His head rose and she froze at his blood smeared face, blue eyes glowing as he growled, fangs dripping. 

Val swallowed stepping back and closed her eyes. “Wake up” 

Metal squealed under the force of claws. 

“Wake up Val” 

A high scream made her fall-back eyes opening, she couldn’t breathe as the Alpha stared down at her, red eyes boring into her, black muzzle close to her face. 

“You’re dreaming wake up.” 

The Alpha roared and she screamed. 

Val inhaled roughly, flailing before she dropped, pain bursting along her body as she hit the floor. 

“Ow” the witch blinked away spots as she stared at her bedframe. 

“Val?”

She rolled on her back as Noah stood in the doorway to her room. 

“You okay kiddo?” concern laced his voice matching the emotion in his eyes. 

She nodded slowly, “Yeah bad dream” she sat up looking at her hands then around her room before standing, she picked up her phone to check the time. 

“You’re home early.” 

“Parent teacher night” he called doing back down the hall as Val opened her messages. 

“Already? Should I go buy some more migraine medicine” she called back with an amused tone. Her uncle laughed down the hall as she read her newest text from Derek. 

Der aka GrumpyPaws: Come to the house when you’re up 

She exhaled and closed the screen rubbing her face to turn for her closet. Someone was going to owe her a lot of sleep when all this was over. 

Sleep. 

She paused holding a clean pull over hoodie to look at her bed, thoughts still lingering on her dream. 

More like nightmare. 

Pulling the top on she ran a hand through her hair, ruffling it. She should let Derek know about it. Gathering her boots and regular items she turned for her door. 

“Noah! I’m headed out I shoulder be home later!” 

Rushing down the stairs she barely caught her uncle’s normal speech. 

“Where’s the fire cuz?” Stiles looked surprised at her being upright, shouldering his backpack as he climbed down from the jeep. 

She mocked a laugh at him as he grinned. Going for her Charger, her skin prickled as she reached for the door handle, exhaling heavily. 

“Dammit Derek”

Climbing in to start the engine she tried to ignore the needle like sensation puling her veins a warning, Pack was in trouble. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 12:

The edge of her phone tapped the steering wheel. 

Cognac brown eyes glaring past her sunglasses out into dimming light, the sensation in her skin had finally moved to the occasional electrical pulse in her neck. 

It wasn’t the Alpha, that much she was sure of, but it didn’t make the possible danger Derek could be in any less real. 

Movement came from the forest and Val’s eyes widened as her foot instinctively stomped down on the brakes. The Charger’s tires protested loudly making Derek have enough time to slam his palms down on the hood of the dark green vehicle, when it squealed to a halt in front of him. 

He inhaled shakily staring into the cab to see Val pull her sunglasses off, shock on her expression. 

Exhaling in relief he pulled his hands from the hood and moved to the passenger side, opening the door to climb in. 

“Drive. Away from the house” he ordered. 

His packmate nodded numbly, quickly turning the Charger around to go back into town. 

Val licked her lips as she got her pulse to relax. 

“Hunters?” she asked eyes watching the road. 

“Kate” 

She inhaled slowly, “You should’ve called me to join you after work.” 

“You needed sleep Glass.” 

She sucked her teeth glancing at him before looking back at the road. 

“With how much you stress me out there’s never enough sleep Der.” 

He finally looked at her and gave a head nod as if to say, you’re probably right. Before holding his hand out. Val took it, intertwining their fingers as they went silent while she drove. 

Derek let his forehead hit the window when she finally said it. 

“Why are you shirtless?” 

//////

“So, they’re after the Alpha as well then.”

Derek nodded still chewing as Val leaned back in the booth seat, the two of them were in a small diner, she hoped her uncle and his Deputies wouldn’t pop up in 

After searching the Charger and finding no extra clothes, Val had been forced to stop and buy Derek a shirt before taking them to the Diner because, No Derek you are NOT distracting without a shirt. We can’t go in if you’re half dressed. 

The werewolf was in the middle of a steak when he explained why Kate and her lackies had paid him a visit. Val rolled the paper sleeve of her straw between her fingers slowly balling it up as Derek continued to inhale his food. 

“There isn’t much of a choice then?” 

He glanced up at her reaching for his water glass. 

“We do have to get Scott to help us?” 

Derek nodded swallowing, “I need to teach him how to control his shift.” 

“Controlling his shift ain’t shit if you can’t fight” she sang to herself mostly, sitting up. 

Derek only frowned, “Then we teach him to fight too.” 

Val wrinkled her nose looking to the window, “He’s a kid Der.” 

“I learned when I was a kid” he countered, “So did you.” 

“Then the two of us shouldn’t need some new age Were to help take down an Alpha” she bit out annoyance seeping into her voice. 

“He’s part of his pack.” 

“He’s a kid Der, it could have very well been me or…” she inhaled slowly not wanting to think of how Stiles had also been in the woods that night. “We were all in the woods the night Scott was bitten, The Alpha was even watching me at some point. It hasn’t made any more pack since Scott. We need to figure out why it’s killing the people it has been killing.” 

“Val” 

“Everything the Alpha has done up to this point has been with a purpose, Killing Laura? Probably for the power. Biting Scott, to make a pack” she motioned with her hands. “Those are the obvious, if we found out why the bus driver, the video store clerk the-” 

“Val” she fell silent, meeting his eyes, they flickered blue briefly. “He’s psychotic and power-hungry that’s it.” 

She exhaled, “I just… If we bring in Scott; then Stiles will follow, I don’t want him getting hurt.” 

Derek frowned going back to the remains of his meal, “I still don’t see how you’re related to that annoyance.” 

She shifted to lazily knock her boot to Derek’s shin earning an unamused look. She flicked the balled-up paper at him, earning a smirk before she scowled feeling her ankle become trapped between his shoes. Derek gave her ankle a gentle squeeze before returning all his focus to his meal. Val watching in silence until her phone buzzed on the tabletop. 

Picking it up to open the screen, she sat up pulling her ankle free. The action caused Derek to pause looking up. 

“It’s Stiles” she explained scrolling through the text. 

“Noah was at the parent-teacher conference. Some mountain lion caused issues in the parking lot…Noah got backed into.”

He watched her carefully, ears listening for her heartrate. 

“He should be okay though; Chris Argent shot the mountain Lion” She quickly began typing. 

“The animals will be coming out from the forest more with the Alpha around” Derek stated and sat up fully. ”Do you need to go?” 

She glanced at him, then her phone. “Maybe; do you feel safe enough to go back home.” 

“Just drop me at my car, I’ll give it a day or two.”

She grimaced but agreed and Derek flagged down the waitress. The woman smiled brightly at him but seemed confused when Val handed over her own card. Finishing up the two of them left the diner. Climbing into Val’s Charger for the witch to drive them back out to the preserve. 

////

Putting the Charger in park when she saw the taillights of the Camaro. Both Packmates opened their doors to climb out into the cool night to inspect Derek’s vehicle before he relaxed. 

“Well at least you hid it well enough” she joked making him roll his eyes. 

Derek reached out catching her neck to pull her into his space, other hand holding her cheek as he placed his forehead to hers. 

“Thank you for coming to get me” he murmured. 

Val hummed palms holding his cheeks. “Someone’s gotta keep your ass alive.” 

“I hope your uncles okay.” 

She nodded forehead rubbing his. “I can just fix him once he falls asleep.” 

“Don’t overdo it Glass we need to be ready.” 

She exhaled as they both fell silent. 

“I’ll be fine Glass” He finally pulled away making her frown. “Go.” 

“Sure” 

Derek raised his eyebrows, and she held her hands up walking back to her car to drop in. He didn’t move until she had pulled the vehicle away fully. 

/////

“Where the hell were you!” 

Val gave Stiles an unimpressed look as she entered the house tossing her keys into the bowl.

“I was… busy, how is he?” 

Stile sputtered before rubbing his buzzcut, “Busy with Derek” he muttered. 

Val rolled her eyes. 

“Melissa said to ice it and he should be fine. I got him some pain killers and he went to bed early.” 

She nodded as the two do them moved upstairs. 

“I’ll go in once He’s in REM sleep, I got enough power I can heal any lasting damage, I doubt he went into the Hospital if Melissa was at the school.”

Stiles nodded leading her into his room, Val fell back onto his bed as he dropped onto his computer chair. 

“I’m sorry I snapped when you came in… I’m pissed at Scott, not you. Even if you are running around with a Broody Eyebrowed Asshole.” 

She tipped her head, “He can be pretty broody” she rolled onto her stomach, “Why are we pissed at Scott? Because of” she ticked her head in the direction of Noah’s room. 

“That’s part of it” Stiles spun his chair. “So, I went to see Lydia today, after last night with the Alpha I wanted to see if she was okay” Stiles turned to pick up a pencil to fiddle with as he talked. 

“Okay?” Val frowned, “Given how in love with her you are, I’ll overlook how uber creep that could’ve been” Stiles shot her a glare, Val only motioned with her hand for him to continue.

“WHILE I was there, I may have gotten a look at her phone; and I found something” he turned his back to her and Val huffed before pushing herself up to roll off the bed, popping to her feet she stood behind him. 

Her eyebrows shot up, “Did you steal her phone? You uber creep stalker” 

Stiles sputtered before glaring, “Really? Should we talk about how you just let Derek do stalker shit to us?”

Val pursed her lips; she tilted her head eyebrows raising. “Fair enough continue.” 

Stiles nodded, “I found a video, I almost just deleted it waiting for Scott; but I figured I should show you before trying to sneak it back to Lydia.” 

He tapped the screen before holding it up to her. 

Val’s eyes arrowed, trying to focus on any details. They widened when she spotted it. Black fur, large muzzle distorted with a snarl and thick ivory fangs. Bright crimson eyes burned against it. Her breathing hitched, heartrate spiking. 

“Is that it? The Alpha?” 

Cognac eyes met the amber of her cousins and Stiles swallowed, excitement fading into fear. 

“Val?”

She blinked before breaking eye contact completely before nodding. “Yeah, yeah that’s an Alpha” she handed the phone back feeling the anxiety in her veins. 

Stiles nodded slowly pausing, “I’m going to delete it, do you think you can help me get it back to her.” 

She nodded to her cousin’s request, “I can drop it tonight, I should probably let Derek know about it.” 

Stiles raised an eyebrow, “Why?”

“Did you see the size of that fucking thing.” 

Stiles shrugged, “Isn’t that normal? Like the shift, the size” 

Val regards him for a moment, considering lying. Stiles didn’t need to know did he. What if she didn’t tell him? She looked back at the phone. 

“No Stiles, many Alphas can't shift like that, this thing is…it’s a monster” she took the phone tucking it into her pocket. Stiles made sure to text her Lydia’s address. “This Alpha is dangerous” 

Stiles nodded; Val leaned down hooking an arm around him to give an awkward hug. Palm flat on his chest, Stiles raised a hand to grip it when she placed a kiss to the top of his head. 

“You need to sleep Mischief, I’ll handle this.” 

Stiles nods slowly, he did suddenly feel drowsy and the warmth seeping her palm into his chest comforting. It was nice. Stiles hummed as Val guided him to his feet, his head was feeling fuzzy. 

Magic, it had to be.

“Val?”

She hums this time, directing him to his bed, his eyelids are heavy now. 

“Don’t forget Dad” he slurs out, he should probably be upset, she was using her powers to make him tired, but honestly it felt kind of nice.

“I won’t, sleep mischief“ her voice is far away by the time he’s tucked into bed. 

 ///////

Val pulls the door to Stiles room shut, feeling the cool metal in her hand, dulling the last of her spell.

It wasn’t fair, using magic on her family. But occasionally, Stiles could take a break from the Adderall and Noah could dream of more peaceful things. 

She made her way down the hall, carefully letting her magic work again, this time opening Noah’s door soundlessly for her to creep in. Her uncle was snoring heavily, but she could feel discomfort in the air, how his energy was in turmoil. She inched to stand next to the bed reaching out to settle a hand on his forehead. 

It was almost instant, Noah relaxed into the magic; letting it heal any ache and pain.

Val drew her hand back, fingers curling in slightly. Noah continued snoring burrowing deeper into his bed. 

Val smiled stepping away. Leaving her uncle’s room. She pulled the door shut behind her. 

Moving back down the hall, she walked as silently as she could. It wasn’t hard, another nice benefit of being raised with werewolves. Fox stepping along the wood floor and avoiding that one squeaky floorboard she stepped into her room pushing the door closed. 

She reached back into her hoodie, retrieving Lydias phone. She’d have to magic it back to the girl. She toed her boots off. Sighing at the relief and opened a drawer to her desk. Retrieving a piece of chalk, she quickly drew a circle on the desktop. Placing the device in the center she drew a few runic marks around it.

Inhaling slowly, she relaxed her shoulders, then held her hands over it. 

“Not too much, not too little” she closed her eyes feeling the warmth pooling in her palms. Spreading her fingertips. The scent of cinnamon filled the air. Val’s eyes opened as the warmth began to cool in her palms. Lowering her arms, she stared at the empty spot on her desk, the chalk markings were burnt away. The desktops varnish just scuffed with the heat.

The Witch exhaled exhaustion sweeping her form, she stepped back dropping to sit on the edge of her bed, her back was beginning to ache, like someone had left a heating pad there for too long. 

Groaning she fell back letting her eyes close. 

//////

Cool air swept through her room, brushing along her bare arms. Val grumbled at the temperature change before the window was lowered, not quite shut; but enough to it only let in a slight breeze. 

The covers of her bed lifted before the mattress dipped, the weight behind her radiating warmth. A single hand settled on the back of her neck burrowing under her hair. 

Val rubbed her faced tiredly with her wrist, before speaking into her pillow, voice thick with sleep. 

“Back seat not good enough?” 

The was a pause, the painful crackle in her back fading slightly. 

“Might be too big for it” Dereks voice broke the silence. 

Val smirked and shifted enough to inch closer to the edge of the bed, “Get comfy then Der.” 

She could feel the werewolf shift around, hand leaving her neck as he got settled. Val opened her eyes slightly, blinking sleepily before wriggling to roll over facing Derek. 

“What is it Glass” his eyes flashed blue in the dark.

“Remember when we were kids? How we said we’d never grow out of the slumber parties?” 

She could probably hear the exasperation in his exhale. 

“Guess who was right” She cooed quietly reaching out to tap her fingertips along his jaw repeatedly. 

“I will take that finger off Glass” his growl was almost threatening; she only smiled and settled her palm on his cheek feeling the beginning of stubble. 

“No, you won’t, you’d never intentionally hurt me Der” she murmured feeling her eyelids grow heavy. 

Derek sighed, “yeah” he reached a handout, cupping his palm to her neck. 

“I wouldn’t” 

Chapter Text

Chapter 13:
 
She studied the starlit skies, cooling wind sweeping along the top of the parking garage as clove scented smoke rose in the air.
 
Val hummed idly and shifted to sit upright, legs dangling past to headlights of the pickup. Raising a hand, she flicked her wrist, the cord around it swinging up to let her catch the stopwatch. She exhaled another puff of smoke marked eyebrow raising as a low growl echoed the parking garage. Her mouth pulled into a smirk before she clicked the start button and slid down from the truck.
 
Fox stepping her way down the levels, she kept her eyes focused in the dim lights before pausing. Her head tilted.
 
She flinched out a jump when car alarms started blaring. “Fucking hell” she raised a hand to rub at her ears before shaking her head and moving quicker through the levels.
 
Rounding a corner, she caught sight of Derek, fully body-slamming Scott onto the hood of a car.
 
“You’re dead”
 
“Three minutes ten seconds”
 
Scott turned his head, eyes widening as Derek released his grip stepping back. Val held up the stopwatch to show the two werewolves.
 
“I…were you timing me?!” Scott looked betrayed as he got to his feet.
 
“Val gave him an innocently confused look. “Huh? No, I was timing Derek” she looked to the Hale. “Not bad but you could’ve been faster.”
 
Derek gave her a frown making her hold her hands up. He looked back at Scott.
 
“Want to know how I caught you?”

Scott gave a yell when Derek fished his phone from his pocket, turning to show the screen lit up with Allison's missed call. 

“This is how I found you, She’s a distraction.” 

Val grimaced at Derek’s brash tone, wondering vaguely if she should intervene but Derek suddenly threw Scott’s phone the younger Werewolf yelling in protest when the device shattered against a concrete wall.

“Val!” Scott looked to her panic and shock in his eyes. 

She exhaled slowly seeing Derek’s sudden quick and heated look to her.  

“Scotty” reaching out to pat Derek’s arm while tucking the stopwatch into her hoodie, she stepped between the two of them. “Think about this, Allison is human the daughter of well technically our sworn enemies, if she’s a distraction to you, then the Alpha can use her to make you weak and obedient” she stated, holding her hands loose in her pouch. “Derek does have a valid point” she finished feeling the pack bond in her neck go from a crackle like warning to a soothing hum. 

Scott did as any teenager would and groaned throwing his head back, all attitude as he rubbed his face. “Fine” he whined out stomping a foot just enough Val felt the corner of her mouth twitch. 

Derek is still scowling as he trails behind them. Val walking with Scott back to his car. Watching the younger werewolf pull out his car keys. Scott is looking down at the door handle when he pauses; brown eyes lifting to puppy dog perfectly at Val.

“I really like her Val.”

Fuck her heart almost breaks for the teen, then she remembers Derek did have a point and Stiles… 

“Then do as we say Scott” her voice is firm. 

He sighed, shoulders sagging before nodding and opens the door. 

“Is Stiles still mad?”

Val backsteps till she can feel the heat radiating from Derek, her packmates fingers just brushing along the small of her back. 

“Define mad?”

Scott only makes a face before resigning defeat and starts the engine. 

Val blows out a breath as Scott drives away, Derek’s hand is fully settled into the small of her back now; warm and mildly presenting protection. 

“He needs to learn now” Derek’s voice is strained. 

“You’re such a hypocrite Der” she practically sings stepping forward to spin on her boot heel walking backwards. “We both know what I mean” she shot quickly with no heat as his eyebrows pulled together.

Derek let out something close to a growl before frowning, realizing she was walking backwards. AWAY from him.

“Where are you going?”

“Easy Lassie, I left my zippo up on a truck.” she calls, turning on her heel again to pick up the pace. 

She exhaled a breath into the night air when she reached the top level spotting the truck in question. Sure, enough on the hood she could make out the small electrical taped wrapped rectangle. The sight was a weird kind of relief, the zippo. 

Drawing close, she reaches out fingers brushing it. Electricity crackled from her fingertips up her spine as she gripped the lighter. 

The alpha

She steps back shoving the lighter into her jeans, turning to walk back down to Derek. 

Remain calm, don’t let it feel a reaction.

As she moved further into the levels, the crackle began to fade. She broke into a sprint the second it was gone. 

Rounding the last corner she nearly screamed as Derek was suddenly there. Blue eyes flashing and fangs elongating; looking for danger, the threat a single arm swung out to catch her and cage her into his chest. 

“He’s gone” she pants swallowing in air, “He’s going to follow Scott.” 

Derek gives a curt nod, glaring out into the dark. Arm holding her to his side as he directed them to the Camaro. Val let out a relieved breath once Derek got the engine started and directed them to Scott’s house. 

“Are you…” Derek falls silent, jaw ticking in frustration. 

Val rubs her face, “I’m fine Der. Just…I need to start being more prepared” she states. 

Derek frowns at that, “I told you-“

“To stay low, yeah essentially. Can’t do that shit when the alpha is following me as well” she snaps. 

Derek grimaces and she sighs dropping her head back on to the headrest, reaching out to settle a hand on his leather covered forearm in apology. Derek relaxes at the touch, moving his arm to catch her hand, slotting their fingers together. 

“Probably wouldn’t hurt to be prepared” he finally admits. 

Val nods.

/////

The McCall house is dark and silent, a sure sign Melissa is at work and Scott was obviously a lying little shit. 

Derek circles the block before parking the Camaro in a discreet spot, cutting the engine and the two of them climb out. 

Val being familiar to the area, because as much as she watched over Stiles growing up she watched Scott. Package friendship. 

“I really need to make a copy of Stiles copy” she groans as they hover under Scott’s window. 

“Stiles What?’ 

Val only feigns innocence, “We -uh- gotta climb” she chimes pointing up at it with an awkward smile. 

Derek huffs and quickly slings an arm around her waist, “could just use magic” he grunted tightening his grip and jumps. They land on the porch overhang and Val shoots him a sharp glare, the back of her hand smacking his chest. 

“Warn me next time” she hissed. 

The corner of Derek’s mouth twitched in amusement before he slid the window up and motioned. Val huffed and quickly climbed in raising a hand, her palm glowed softly casting warm golden light around the room. 

“He’s not here, his scent is old” Derek grunted. 

“You broke his phone Der, He’s a hormonal teenager with a girlfriend” Val mused turning to sit on the bed. 

Derek’s eyes narrowed as she lowered her hand, the light fading out. Her scent of clove smoke and orange was mixing with Scott’s scent, and it was making his wolf side pace in agitation. 

“We’re just going to have to wait for him” she commented. 

He grunted and dropped to sit in the armchair by the window, they fell silent; Derek fully aware that while he could see in the dark, Val could not. So, he looked to her listening to her steady heartbeat. She sat with her eyes closed, leaning back with her hands planted into the bed behind her. She still looked fairly like how she did six years ago, somewhat. Her auburn hair was longer, curling at the ends. He could make out the winged black eyeliner she wore; the way she used a blunt canine to tug on her lip ring, one leg bouncing slightly. 

It was still Val. The pretty faced Hale pack protector, but he could tell the loss of pack had played with her mentally for years. 

It made guilt gnaw at him.

“You’re staring Der.” 

He jerked his head back around missing the smirk she gave. 

They sat in silence for a while until they heard a vehicle pull up, Derek remained seated listening to Scott’s rapid heartbeat, Val stood hand reaching out as she heard the footsteps on the stairs, Derek caught her hand guiding her just behind the chair. 

If Scott was already panicked, they didn’t need him reacting poorly to their presence. 

The door burst open as Val stopped moving. Scott slamming the door breathing heavily before lunging forward having spotted the open window, he pulled it down locking it. Dropping the blinds before looking out. 
He reached over, turning the floor lamp on and gasped at the sight of them. 

“You seriously need to stop doing that!” He glared at Derek and Val rolled her eyes in agreement shrugging a shoulder. 

“So, what happened? You talk to him?” Derek raised an eyebrow. 

“Yeah, we had a nice conversation about the weather” Scott sassed, “No he didn’t talk!”

Derek frowned, “Well did you get anything off of him an impression?”

“What do you mean?”

Derek shook his head standing frustrated Val caught his arm looking at Scott. 

“Remember your other senses are heighted, communication doesn’t have to be spoken” she explained “What feeling did you get from him? Think Scott” 

The teen met her eyes and sighed scratching his head, “Anger?”

“Focused on you?”

“No, no, not me but it was definitely anger I could feel it” Scott took a breath. “Especially when he drew the spiral.” 

Derek went rigid next to Val as her eyebrows shot up, head snapping to look at her packmate. 

“What?” Derek asked. 

“He drew this spiral on the window of my car, in the condensation.”

Derek’s head tilted to Val, recognition in his eyes as she swallowed. 

“What? You have this look like you know what it means?” Scott studied them as Derek suddenly swept a hand to Val’s lower back, pushing her towards his bedroom door. 

“No, it’s; it’s nothing” Derek muttered following her. 

“Wait, Wait, wait” Scott caught his arm, “Wait a second.” 

Derek glared down at his hand then at Scott. 

“You can’t do that” Scott snapped, “You can’t ask me to trust you and keep things to yourselves” Scott looked to Val, eyes pleading. “What does the spiral mean?”

“It’s doesn’t mean anything” Derek stated but Scott held the witch’s gaze.

“He buried his sister under a spiral Val; what does it mean? Please” 

Val licked her lips, eyes looking to Derek; his own flashing quickly in warning before she sighed looking at Scott defeated. 

“You don’t want to know kiddo” She whispered before Derek herded her from the room. 

////

Derek settled into the driver’s seat, frowning deep as Val shut the passenger door. There was a slight pause then she turned, smacking at his arm and shoulder. 

“Shit” Derek held up his arm as she continued for a moment, “Glass!” 

“I. Fucking. Told. You!” she snapped still swinging, half in triumph, half in annoyance. 

“Glass” he repeated, finally catching her wrists. 

“What did I tell you! He’s had a purpose for everything he’s done. He’s had to have a fucking plan, but no! Der-bear just had to be fucking right!” 

“First, do not call me that ever again, and second how was I supposed to know. I haven’t seen anything with a spiral “ 

Val huffed as he let go of her wrist. Falling back into the passenger seat, Arms crossing with a frown. “Unless you haven’t been looking, but Scott now has, the Alpha is after something.” 

Derek started the Camaro, frown deepening as he thought. “He knows what you are” he stated finally. 

She tilted her head, raising an eyebrow at him. 

“The Alpha, that’s why he’s only ever chased you and maybe punctured your leg so far” His eyebrows pulled down, “He knows what you are, and he wants to use your power to get his revenge.”

She frowned; the thought made anxiety burn in her chest. She raised her hand, twisting her fingers in the chain around her neck. 

“Unless he’s a Hale, he’s shit out of luck.”

Derek studied her for a moment before looking forward. Instinctively reaching over for her free hand, she slid hers with his and he squeezed it. 

“He wants revenge; now we need to figure out what for.” 

Val studied their hands, feeling anxiety numb. “Der; at this point all we have is a bunch of half-baked theories and bodies it’s jack-shit for anything else” she hit head to the seat annoyed. 

“We need a starting point.” 

“We need help” he muttered. 

Val rolled her head to look at him, “Where do you expect us to get help?”

“I have an idea.” 

////

Val groaned when Noah knocked on her door the next morning. 

“Enter those who dare” she called into her pillow; arms stretched across her bed. 

Noah poked his head in raising an eyebrow and chuckled. 

“Val” 

She grunted. 

“Did you party last night?”

She shifted her head to look at her uncle, “Hardcore, I did all the drugs and drank all the liquor.” 

He shook his head, “well hopefully you’re alive enough to keep an eye on Stiles later.” 

She gave him a thumbs up, he hesitated in the door though. 

“What?” she frowned. 

“I just… I’ve been so busy I haven’t gotten a chance to ask if you’ve been doing okay, losing Laura Hale and then Derek being in town.” 

She hummed rolling onto her side to properly face him. 

“Noah, my friendship with Laura was mostly school based and Derek was a grade younger than me…. Whatever connection I had with them is long gone” she glanced at the time on her phone.

“Like you should be.” 

Her uncle only studied her face before nodding. As he backed out of the room, she could faintly hear Stiles alarm going off but she was too busy trying to ignore the bitter feel in her mouth from her own words. 

////

Little Mischief: Scott and I are no longer fighting…still angry though.

Val studied the text as she stood in the coffee shop line. 

Little Mischief: is Derek really trying to teach him?

She exhaled moving her thumb along

Val: trying to being the key word, why do you ask?

She glanced up as the line moved forward. 

DING

She looked back at her phone. 

Little Mischief: I know you trust the creeper, but I don’t I think I have an idea to get Scott in control faster, But I need a favor. 

Val sighed; this was her life now. 

Val: What do you need me to do?

////

“Knock Knock” 

Coach Finstock looked up from his papers and felt himself smile. 

“Val!” he stood as the woman stepped into his office, holding a to-go bag, she held it up.

“Brought you lunch” she announced. 

Finstock chuckled motioning her in “So you might need something from me?”

She shrugged, setting the bag in front of him. 

“At the risk of sounding like a shitty friend; yes” 

Finstock chuckled, “I’ll consider you shitty if this order is wrong” he stated taking the box out and opened the lid, he grinned.

“You’re safe, what can I help you with?” He dug in the bag for utensils. 

“Well,” Val sat, crossing her ankles. “I was thinking about when you told me to come out and run with cross country again.”

He shoved a bite in his mouth nodding as the scent of BBQ filled the office. “Are you?” the words were muffled. 

“Possibly, but it reminded me it’s been a while since I ran, So I should prepare.” 

“Val” she looked to him, “Get to the point.” 

She smirked, “I need a heart monitor band for a few days.” 

Coach nodded and took another bite standing with a hum, “Deal, wait here.” 

She tilted her head to watch him leave before standing and rounded his desk opening drawers hunting. She pulled the man’s cellphone from a drawer and quickly tucked it into her hoodie pouch fixing the drawers and stood quickly moving back to her seat. 

“Okay one rule, do not fuck it up it’s expensive equipment.” 

She stood when Finstock reentered the office holding a backpack. 

“I’ll take care of it Bobby.” 

He smiled, “Good and good luck” he pattered her arm before returning behind his desk. 

Val nodded, leaving his office and ducking through the locker room. She exhaled as the door shut behind her shouldering the bag to pull her own phone from the pocket. She typed quickly phone swooping when she got a fast response and moved along the empty hall, raising a hand to sweep over her. Magic wrapped around her as she walked. 

Reaching the library, she let the magic drop as she spotted Stiles alone by a window. 

“Special delivery” 

The teen flailed at her sudden appearance. 

“Holy shit Val!” 

She smiled and held the bag out, his eyes lit up taking it, “Did you get it?”

She hummed retrieving Bobby’s phone from her pouch and held it out. 

“Holy shit” Stiles repeated reaching for the phone. 

She moved it from his hand, “Rules, don’t fuck up the equipment, no snooping Bobby’s phone and I never helped you.” 

Stiles eyebrows rose. 

She sighed, putting the phone in his palm. “I’m going against Derek because your family, so I was never here…make sure to get it back to Bobby before the end of the day. The phone…middle drawer of his desk” she instructed. 

He nodded excitedly, “Thanks, I really feel like I can do this better.” 

She sighed smiling, “Goodluck mischief” 

Chapter Text

Chapter 14:

Der aka GrumpyPaws: I have a lead on the Alpha, meet me at the house.

Little Mischief:  He’s officially a psychopath we need to meet at the school, Scott’s about to lose his shit!

Val clicked her tongue, hand still braced on the driver’s seat and stomach pressed against the center console. She inhaled, then exhaled. 

“Derek?’

The Beta didn’t respond. 

“Derek” her voice was firm now and she felt him move in his seat.

“Why in the holy hell is Dr. Deaton tied up and gagged in your backseat.”

More Silence. 

She closed her eyes feeling annoyance fill her, sucking her teeth in obvious dislike. 

“Derek Hale if you don’t fucking answer me, I will stop this vehicle against your will.” 

“I have reason to believe he is the Alpha.” 

Val closed her eyes, mentally counted to ten and sat back in her seat. 

“And how, dear Der did you make this assumption?”

He didn’t look at her, only pulled a folded-up paper from his jeans to show her. 

“So… Because the towns Veterinarian was the first to find a spiral on a deer, you assume he’s the alpha” she looked to him as he nodded. 

“And how did Scott and Stiles get involved?”

“Scott showed up while I was attempting to get answers.” 

“You beat him-“ Derek opened his mouth. 

“No, shut it…Der, I used to work under Dr. Deaton; working in his clinic helped me realize I wanted to do more… he’s a kind man there is no way he is the Alpha.” 

“He could be the werewolf that killed Laura making him into an Alpha.” 

She gaped at him, before blinking and shook her head. 

“Do you- Derek, I understand this has been highly stressful for you but right now you sound insane.” 

“We have to make sure” his grip tightened on the steering wheel. 

“By committing assault and kidnapping” she deadpanned. 

He let out a long breath and Val rubbed her forehead, “Okay. Okay We meet with the kids, and we figure this out, but if he isn’t you and I are having a talk about your so-called detective skills.” 

She looked back over her shoulder again grimacing; “And self-control.” 

////

Val sat with er arms crossed as they reached the school, Derek parking behind Stiles jeep. 

She opened the door climbing out when Scott and Stiles approached, both looking mortified. 

“Where’s my boss?” Scott stated. 

“In the back seat” 

Scott looked into the car before whipping around. “You tied him up! Val, you let him tie up Dr. Deaton?”

Val grimaced, “Actually Scott I just got picked up, didn’t have time to fix it” She motioned, holding a handout to block Derek as she heard him let out a soft growl at Scott’s shout. 

The two werewolves glared at each other, eyes flashing. 

Val frowned at their behavior, then looked at her cousin. 

“Please tell me you have a plan.” 

Stiles held up the bolt cutters. Him and Scott turning for the school. 

“You said I was linked to the Alpha” Scott stated, “I’m going to see if you’re right.” 

///

Val watched the boys go through the doors before she lit her smoke, raising an eyebrow at Derek who was glaring at the ground. 

“Keep that up and your face will freeze that way” she teased leaning against Stiles jeep. Derek joined her upwind of the smoke. 

“You shouldn’t defend him like that.” 

She rolled her eyes inhaling another drag. 

“I’m not defending him, Der; but waving your metaphorical wolf dicks in each other’s presence have only succeeded in you two butting heads.” 

Derek’s mouth opened when the school’s loudspeakers clicked and gave feedback. Val turned. 

A high-pitched strangled wail emitted from the speakers. Derek’s eyes closed as Val choked on her smoke. 

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“What in the fresh hell” Val choked out a pained laugh as her packmate grimaced the wailing finally stopping. 

Val leaned over to brace a hand on a knee coughing out some more laughter. “Maybe that should’ve been a lesson for him to learn -oh fuck my throat-“ she rasped. 

Derek thumped her back gently concern on his features until she straightened tossing her smoke to wipe at the edges of her eyes. 

“Oh, that was hilarious.” 

He grunted as the speakers clicked again, this time a low growl echoed out. Val stepped away from the jeep as Derek raised his eyebrows catching her whisper. 

“Stiles really is a Yoda” 

////

“I’m gonna kill both of you!” 

Derek snapped as Val giddily bouncing on her boot heels. 

“What the hell was that? What are you trying to do attract the entire state to the school?” he gave a quick glare to the witch. 

“Sorry, I didn’t know it would be that loud” Scott looked at Stiles as Val clapped moving to give him an enthusiastic shake. 

“Yeah it was” Stiles chimed, “And it was awesome!” he sang. 

Derek looked at his glaring, “Shut up.” 

Stiles huffed, “Don’t be such a Sourwolf” 

Derek glared before looking at Val. “Glass” he bit out as she laughed softly, walking back to stand at his side, “Now I see it” he muttered as Val smiled at the teens. 

“Ignore GrumpyPaws” 

Derek shot her a look that only translated to ‘do not encourage this’.

“It was brilliant plan” She offered as Scott leaned to look in the Camaro. 

“What’d you do with him?”

The two frowned looking back. “What?” 

Val’s eyebrows rose at the sight of the backseat empty, the car door open. She turned back to Scott and Stiles.

“We didn’t do anything” she voiced as heat exploded her neck forcing a strangled gasp. 

A growl echoed behind them before Derek grunted jerking forward blood spilling from his mouth. 

Stiles and Scott yelled stumbling back, Val’s eyes following as the Alpha lifted Derek into the air and flung him. 

The Alpha roared. 

“Run” she shouted as it turned to her.

Val yelled when the Alpha’s claws caught her throwing her back into the jeep. 

It hunched down to all fours as she choked in a gasp, vision spotting; her hand rose to touch the edges of the gashes on her collarbone. Her eyes lifted; crimson eyes bore into her; breath fanning her face. She inhaled as the eyes burned brighter. 

She whimpered as the heavy paw landed on her still injured leg; muzzle close to her nose. Her eyes burned as she kept its gaze. Briefly the world wasn’t as dark around them. The Alpha’s growl lowered, something akin to a burn. Val inhaled slowly, the pain in her neck easing into the soothing warmth. The Alpha tilted its head muzzle brushing her jaw before it broke eye contact and stepped back scenting the air. 

Val’s eye followed it, The Alpha paused looking back to her before swinging its head around. It shot away from her. 

Her tongue swept her lips and she pushed herself to her feet looking around. Pain coursed her neck as she stepped towards the school, the heat travelling into her chest and becoming like lightning. She flinched. 

“I’m sorry Stiles” she stepped back, eyes searching the dark, only it wasn’t dark to her anymore. 

“Derek” 

Leaves crunched as she ran to him, sliding to crouch, pressing fingers to his neck. His pulse was faint. She reached down to roll him to his back; warmth flooded her muscles as she lifted him up and dragged him towards the Camaro. 

Pack, protect pack. 

She whined, pushing Derek into the back seat retrieving his keys. Shutting the door she moved along the vehicle, hands slick with Derek’s blood as she opened the driver’s door, dropping in she started the engine. Her eyes looked up at the school. 

Pack must protect pack. 

“I’m sorry Stiles” she whispered eyes looking into the rearview oat Derek’s form. 

“Fuck I am so sorry” she put the Camaro in gear and tore backwards from the spot before smacking the gear shift and took off the school. 

Her hand patted around her hoodie pouch finding it empty. 

“Fuck” her phone and other items must’ve flown out when the Alpha had tossed her. Forming tears stung in her eyes. Stiles was in danger, and she couldn’t ignore the pack bond to help. She didn’t have many options, taking a shaky breath she reached out for the car’s stereo glancing up in the mirror at Derek. She yelled, foot hitting the brakes. 

The Camaro’s tires squealed, and Derek let out a pained groan when he slid off the seat into the floorboards. 

Val twisted to look at him. “Fuck, Sorry” She looked back at the mirror. Panting as she studied her eyes in the surface. Her eyes: they hadn’t been the shade of brown only moments ago, they had looked. 

She shook her head, setting her forehead on the steering wheel. “Okay” she inhaled deeply, “It’s okay, It was going to happen eventually, It’ has to happen, to save Stiles” 

To save pack. 

She reached for the Stereo again, foot finding the gas pedal as her eyes burned and warmth shot down her arm, palm settling over the radio; the air in the cab scenting heavily with cinnamon. 

The sound of a cell phone ringing echoed the speakers as she continued to the preserve. 

“Val?” Noah answered on the third ring. 

“Noah thank god!” she sobbed out. 

“Val is everything okay? You sound upset.” 

“Something happened at the Highschool, Stiles is in trouble! Some Psychopath is killing people” she blurted out. 

“What? Val-“

“Get everyone down there and be car-“ The speakers crackled, and she hissed pulling her hand away hitting the steering wheel, “Fuck!” 

She jerked the wheel to move the Camaro through the trees.

 
\\\\\

Blood trailed from the vehicles open back seat, along the dead leaves and up the front steps smearing the front porch of the Hale house. 

Val grunted dropping Dereks semi-limp form onto the floor of the living room, rolling the werewolf to his stomach and wrestling his jacket off. 

Alpha wounds take longer to heal on a Beta. 

She pushed her sleeves up her elbows despite already being covered in blood and inhaled. Her eyes were aching. 

The wound on her friend’s back was visible in the dark, she’d have to jumpstart his healing. Planting one boot firmly to the floor she knelt over Derek lacing her hands together onto his wound. 

Gold light illuminated the room as it emitted from her hands, she clenched her teeth. The skin on her back burning like a brand as the magic began its task, slowly stitching the damaged body back together. 

\\\\\\

“Val?” Her muscles ached, fire like heat blistering along her back. How long had she been here? Seconds, minutes, hours? She couldn’t tell anymore, she just kept feeding the spell. 

Derek moved his arms. 

“Don’t, don’t it’s working” she croaked out, there was a metallic taste on the back of her tongue. 

“Are you? Glass, stop” he struggled to move but she pressed her weight to her hands pinning him down. 

“It’s okay Derek, it was going to happen eventually,” her voice was thick eyelids drooping. The pain in her back was turning into bolts of lightning in her veins. Her lungs were desperate for air even as she inhaled. 

“Val, stop you’re going to burn off your seals” Derek protested weakly pushing at the floorboards, but his body was still too weak. 

The magic was pulling his organs together, repairing bone and muscle. 

Val wheezed in a breath; her vision was starting to blur and spot, cold creeping into her fingertips. 

Derek’s wound finally pulled together and she groaned body giving in to fall back onto the floorboards next to him. 

“Glass” Derek finally pushed himself up reaching for her as the ground before to vibrate, his eyes widened. 

Val screamed. 

The sound forced him to cover his ears, eyes flashing bright blue as the floorboards of the house shook violently. A heavy and explosive pulse of magic rippled the air in a shockwave and Derek snarled as it slid him along the floorboards into a crumbling wall. 

His vision blacked out. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 15:

Laughter echoed the garden, Talia smiled as she watched from the back porch; her husband next to her.

“He’s getting better control of his shift.”

She nodded taking a sip of her coffee, “I think Valeena has been helping him get in control.”

“And how has her control been?”

Talia lifted the mug to take a drink, “Surprisingly well thanks to Peter.”

Hazel’s green eyes peered through the underbrush, watching the older girl turn on the spot with curiosity on her face.

He waited as she frowned hunching over, eyes narrowing as she tried to locate him. Green flashed gold before he lunged from the bushes.

Valeena squealed out a giggle as Derek tackled into her, wrapping his frame around hers, they hit the ground rolling. Derek laughed, fangs glinting in the light; Valeena pushed him off faking a pout, “No fair! I can’t scent you when you hide.”

“Didn’t Uncle Peter tell you to-“He paused face screwing into concentration in his beta shift to find the words. “Scent feelings?”

“Sense energy” she corrected sitting properly as he sat in front of her, shift still present.  “He keeps saying I’ll get there and I’ve been trying, but-“ she looked down at her hands, turning grass and clover between her fingers.

“It’s hard”

Derek tilted his head, “You’ll get it Glass.”

She lifted her head to look at him, “You seem a lot surer than me.”

“Duh!” Derek reached out, claws fingers gingerly holding her face. “I know you will” he grinned around a mouthful of fangs.

Valeena smiled raising her hands to hold his face, “Why?” she scrunched her nose at the younger boy.

“Cause you’re my best friend” he stated factually.

They leaned forward, foreheads touching as their eyes closed. Derek inhaled slowly, taking in the scent’s that reached him. Ozone, earth and something floral.

Valeena inhaled as well, heart rate slowing as they sat. Derek’s eyes opened, his shift fading away, but gold burned brightly as Valeena looked back at him her eyes flashing in response to his, He’d never forget the color.

“You’re my best friend too.”

\\\\\\

Liquid metal peered through thick eyelashes, large hands warm on her cheeks, her heartbeat roared in her ears.

“Valeena!”

Derek’s voice was like a pop in a muffled barrier, her name pulling her back; inhaling slowly she tilted her head back, gray eyes tracking the room.

The air felt alive, each heartbeat like a drum that came from herself, Derek and any creature outside. She could taste the concern on the tip of her tongue. Muddled with the fear and pain that clung to the char of the house like an echo; Dulling out to relief and curiosity that emitted from Derek’s palms into her skin like a perfume.

“Glass?”

Her eyes finally met his, and hazel gave way to blue at the connection to gray.

“Derek”

He exhaled out a laugh, dropping his forehead to hers.

“You… Fuck that scared me” he lifted his head and met her gaze again; the gray was slowly melting away.

“What color?” Her voice was soft.

“Gray”

Val looked away, nodding stiffly. “Only one then” she murmured referring to the seals.

Derek sat back in a crouch as she sat up eyes looking around as if she could sense something he couldn’t.

“Let me see”

She side eyes him.

“Glass”

Exhaling in partial annoyance Val turned to face her back to him, gingerly lifting the back of her hoodie up over her head to discard the tattered material. Derek immediately began lifting the hem of her t-shirt.

Three of the diamond tattoos were still inked dark against her skin, but.

Val shivered when his palm settled on her skin, where the faded diamond had been.

“Der?”

“It’s gone burned clean off” he stated hand still on her back, his fingers move along the other diamonds tracing their lines, “The others seem to be intact still.”

Val exhaled sharply as the sensation and Derek took that as a sign to lower her shirt before settling on the floor properly. She leaned back into him, body relaxing when he hooked an arm around her settling on her collarbone.

Frowning as he feels the dried blood there, he closes his eyes, lowering his head to nose at her hair.

“I need to make sure Stiles is okay” she whispered after a moment; Derek nodded. “He needs to be alive Der, I…the pack bond wouldn’t let me save him or Scott.”

“If he’s anything like you. He’s fine”

\\\\\\

Stiles bounced his foot, anxiety gnawing his gut.

His dad exhaled, lowering his cellphone from his ear as a Deputy approached holding out a set of familiar items.

“Thank you” Noah’s voice was tight, as he let the Deputy walk away before looking at Stiles then the contents in his palms.

“Phone, wallet, cigarette case and her lighter; he made sure she wouldn’t have anything, you’re positive she took off after him?”

Stiles swallowed, “Why else would she leave me behind, you know how Val can get”

The sheriff nodded, motioning a few deputies back over.

“I want an APB out, not just on our suspect but for my niece Val Stilinski, for all we know she could very well be a hostage.”

His Dad looked to him, “You’re absolutely positive it was Derek Hale.”

Stiles gave a jerky nod earning a headshake and a sigh before returning to giving orders.

Scott pinning all the blame on Derek spur of the moment had seemed smart; but now.

He twisted his fingers together, Deaton was fine and getting checked by EMS, Lydia Allison and Jackson were safe on their way home, only Scott was distraught because Allison had dumped him.

Stiles looked out into the forest.

Val and Derek’s body though? Both gone.

Val had abandoned him, left him and his friends to the rage of the Alpha. After promising to keep him safe she just…

He sighed rubbing his head as his dad called for him.

Val where the fuck are you?

\\\\

“It’s a bad idea Glass.”

Val drug the charcoal along the floor, eyes flicking up to look at Derek. The werewolf hovered the doorway to what had at one point been a sunroom.

“Says the crowning prince of bad ideas” she sassed continuing to etch the markings onto stone.

“Glass, going into Dreams is dangerous, you of all people know that.”

Val sat back studying the marks, “I have to make sure he’s okay.”

Derek rubbed his face, “So you have a seal burn off, giving you access to more power and the first thing you decide to do is just walk right into the veil.”

She stood tossing the charcoal to dust her hands, “yes, because our pack bond made me abandon my very ‘Human’ cousin, are you helping or not?”

Dereks face screwed into distaste, nose wrinkling. Val raised her marked eyebrow, and he groaned stepping into the sunroom as she smiled.

“’You’d do it without me either way” He muttered out stepping over the charcoal lines and lowered himself to settle in the center of the circle, legs stretched out in front of him. Val followed, placing herself between his legs and resting her back on his chest.

“I see one problem I’m pulling you out” he warned.

Val huffed holding her hands up for him to take. “You remember how to?”

“Yes”

She inhaled nodding as her body relaxed into him, eyes shimmering gray in the dark as Derek’s bled bright blue.

\\\\

Stiles shot upright in bed, breathing heavy and sweat rolling down his neck.

“Val?” his voice echoed in the dark of his room.

A light clicked on to his left and he whipped his head around. Val sat on a throne like chair of branched and flowers a blue-eyed shadow hovering just at the back of the chair.

“Hello Stiles”

He swallowed hard pushing the covers back and swung his feet to the ground, toes sinking into soft moss.

“What the-“

“You’re dreaming, but this conversation is real” his gaze drew back to her.

“It really, is you?”

A stiff nod.

“You…You left me Val!”

Her eyes softened, “I know, and I am so sorry. I tried to ignore my pack bond to save you and I just…I couldn’t.”

Stiles licked his lips watching her expression. “Is Derek alive?”

Her eyes flicked to the side, looking at the blue-eyed shadow that had drifted down to her shoulder.  “Yes”

“Scott pinned everything on him.”

Her eyes shot back at him, dark depths glowing a liquid gray.

“Holy shit your eyes, did the Alpha-“

“No; I just…I’m more myself now is all, this shows what I am; like Dereks are blue. A witches can be gray.”

Stiles nodded, “Well Dad now has and APB on Derek for the murders; and you as a hostage, he put your stuff into evidence.”

Val nodded dramatically uncrossing her legs to stand, “We need to lay low for a while, I’ll find a phone to keep in tough, but the full moon is coming; so, you’ll need to prepare for Scott”

Stiles sighed “Yeah he’s so hung up on Allison dumping him, he’s going to be all whiney now.”

Val suddenly spun to face him, having been watching the shadow hovering over her. It growled lowly.

“What?”

“Allison dumped Scott.”

Val moved forward reaching out to grip his shoulders, her touch was warm on him. “Stiles listen carefully, a heartbroken werewolf can be highly volatiles, especially on a full moon; you have to be extremely careful.”

“Oh-kay? I will”

She exhaled, looking to the darkness around them.

“I have to go, it’s dangerous to be in the veil for too long like this.”

She stood and placed her palms over his head, “I will leave you with some protection this time.”

Stiles shuddered as her hands ghosted over him, his skin warming with magic.

“I’ll be in tough” her voice faded as his dream began to haze “Be careful.”

\\\\\\\

Val inhaled deeply; eyes opening. Derek tensed around her as the floor cracked, the sigil etched on stone flaring in gold before hissing as it burned slowly away.

The witch suddenly flailed clawing at her skin, it felt like something was crawling under it.

“Whoa whoa, Stop Glass stop” Derek caught her wrist and she let her head drop back onto his shoulder. “I’ve got you” he whispered.

He held onto her wrist as she took ragged breaths, waiting until her heart rate became steady before releasing her and swept his arms around her.

“You cut it pretty close, what happened.”

Val blinked, staring up through the broken roof to watch the stars. “Scott pinned it all on you” she murmured. “I’m labelled at a possible hostage.”

Derek exhaled and nosed her hair away to settle his face into the crook of her neck “How do you want to do this then?”

“I need my stuff and then sleep.”

Derek raised an eyebrow. “Then what?”

“Then we deal with a full moon” Val reached a hand to her collarbone frowning at the lack of weight there before settling her fingers on Dereks forearm.

“Well let’s go get your stuff then we can rest.”

\\\\\\

“What do you mean gone?”

Stiles blinked himself awake, smacking his lips and pulling his face from his pillow.

“No, don’t touch anything; I’ll be in soon.”

He turned his head as his door opened. His Dad looked surprised to see him awake.

“Whazzup Pops?”

Noah looked hesitant before sighing. “You haven’t heard from Val, have you?”

“No, it’d be hard with her phone in evidence.”

His Dad rubbed his chin “Yeah about that, somehow during processing everything but Val’s phone went missing last night.”

Stiles frowned, “That’s…. weird”

Noah nodded before motioning, “I-uh- gotta go handle that, call me if anything happens.”

“Of course,”

Stiles waited until he heard his father leave the house before falling onto his back, a string of confused yet amused laughter bubbling up from him.

\\\\\\\

Derek groaned stretching out on the mattress his eyes opened flashing blue, left palm feeling the empty spot next to him, panic slowly rising in him.

“I’m right here Der”

Sitting up he squinted in the shadowed room spotting Val sitting with a bag, rummaging inside.

“Thought you were only going to get a few things” he murmured rubbing his eyes.

Val looked up, soft smile quirking her lips, “I did, but-“

She freed an object from the bag, a metallic rod she flipped expertly in one hand before flicking her arm out, the rod snapping open to extend a full six feet.

“I won’t be caught unprepared anymore.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 16

Howling echoed the trees, light from the full moon highlighting each breath she took. Eyes squinted to investigate the trees. Movement caught her eye, and she pushed off the remains of the back porch, hitting the ground to break into a dead sprint as the movement shifted on her right, giving chase.

Boots pounded the dirt, dried leaves fluttering and crunching as her lungs began to burn from the exertion. Her heart was thudding in her chest but the adrenaline in her veins pushed her further, swiftly squeezing between two trees and leaping to scale a rise of rocks.

The growling behind her was close, she could feel each soft swipe of claws and hear the huffs as he breathed.

She grunted throwing herself to the side startling him as he lunged forward. Clawed hands swiping the air as she rolled a laugh bubbling up when she pushed herself up to her feet, spinning on the toes of her shoes to grin wildly as glowing blue eyes tracked her, she clicked her tongue and turned continuing into the forest.

Another howl rose above the trees, and she slowed, breathing heavily, eyebrows raising in confusion. She yelped as something collided into her, arms wrapping her waist to keep her up. He snarled quietly head tilted to listen to the Howl as it sounded again. Desperate and angry.

Instinctively she reached up and back settling her palm on a fur covered cheek, her eyes lit up gray as blue glared into the trees.

“He’s hunting” she whispered, a low growl was her response as the arms slid away and he stepped to stand next to her. She smirked swatting his thigh gently.

“Go fetch”

Derek gave a snort tearing away from her and she chased after him.

\\\\\

Catching up to Scott was easy enough, getting him into the woods, child’s play.

The younger werewolf snarled getting to his feet as Derek landed at the end of the slope.

Scott made to lunge but something blunt racked into his ribs before connecting to his legs sending him to his knees and earning a yelp.

Val spun the Bo-staff, the wind whistling softly with it, Eyes widening when Scott quickly got to his feet. But Derek was quicker and caught him lifting him up to slam him back down, snarling into the teens face.

Scott flinched, backing away from them quickly, baring his fangs in a last act of defiance.

Derek growled as Val directed the end of the staff at Scott just as he jumped up charging them.

It was short-lived as the Bo Staff connected to his chest, forcing the wind from his lungs and redirecting him to the ground, her eyes flashed gray. Something slithered along the forest floor, catching his wrists and ankles.

Scott Snarled.

“That’s enough Scott, stop.” Val’s voice was layered with the order.

Scott panted staring up at then as Derek approached, the older mans beta shift slowly melting away in the shadows as he stood next to Val.

“What’s happening to me?”

Derek rolled his jaw; “Exactly what he wants to happen.”

Scott stared at them in confusion. Val exhaled.

“We gotta get him home” she flexed her wrist the Bo staff shrinking into itself as she reached into her hoodie pulling free a flip phone.

Derek nodded, going to help Scott up as he suddenly felt his wrist and ankles come free.

Val dialed quickly before holding the phone to her ear.

“Val?!”

“Yes, we got Scott” she murmured as the teen dusted himself off, she could feel Derek walking back to her, his body heat seeping in through her hoodie.

 “Thank god”

“We’ll take him home, text this number when you get yourself home” she glanced back as Scott drew close, Derek quickly slinging his arm over his shoulder as the young wolf grew pale.

“I will, be safe” stiles murmured before hanging up.

\\\\\\

Val stood in the doorway as Derek dropped Scott onto his bed, turning to walk back to her.

“Wait.”

The two packmates looked to Scott.

“I can’t…be this and be with Allison” Scott licked his lips studying them both.

“I need you to tell me the truth, is there a cure.”

He inhaled shakily as Derek turned his head to look at Val; seeing sympathy in her eyes; he sighed.

“For someone who was bitten?” Derek looked back to him, “I’ve heard of one; I don’t know if it’s true.”

“What is it?” Scott sat up.

“You have to kill the one who bit you” Val murmured interrupting Derek; His eyes cut to her quickly.

Scott’s eyes widened, “Kill the Alpha?”

Derek looked back nodding as Val bit her lip with a one shoulder shrug.

Scott exhaled, looking around his room in panic. Derek stepped closer. “Scott; if you help me find him, I’ll help you kill him.”

Scott swallowed before nodding.

Derek nodded back before turning away to sweep an arm around Val’s shoulder guiding her back down the stairs.

Val side eyed Derek, spotting the corners of his mouth twitch in a pleased motion.

\\\\\\\\\

The front door to the Hale house shut and Val spun in her heel.

“Was this your plan the whole time?”

Derek’s eyebrows rose; “Not the whole time, you don’t like it?”

She exhaled running a hand through her hair.   “We both know what happens when a Beta kills an Alpha Der”

He nodded placing himself in front of her, “Scott doesn’t, Glass I’m doing this for the-“

“The good of the pack” she unison with him and closed her eyes in exasperation. “I don’t want to keep lying to the boys.”

A warm hand settled on her neck, then another on her cheek his forehead pressing to hers, tip of nose bumping to tip of nose.

“Once we kill the Alpha, we can fix it” Derek’s voice rumbled in her ears.

“Until then, it’s you and I.”

Val exhaled reaching up to hold his face, heartbeat remaining steady. “You and I” she promised.

\\\\\\

The lighter clicked open then shut, it opened again. The flint scratched as her thumb rolled the wheel, no flame ignited but the wheel rolled again.

Cognac eyes stared out into the forest glossy and unfocused, the wheel turned again.

Derek frowned watching Val, the witch didn’t move, just continued to stare off thumb working the lighters wheel.

Moonlight had begun to give way to dawn; Derek had managed to sleep some but once the pull of the moon had started to give, he’d woken to the emptiness of the bed and had followed Val’s scent to the crumbling back porch. He hadn’t said anything only watched her as she watched the dark.

His nose could pick up the scents in the night air, under the fading scent of her last clove smoke though h could faintly detect cinnamon. Magic. She was still casting magic. The thought of her continuous spell work made his eyebrows furrow. She was using too much.

“We need a plan.”

The wheel grinding stopped, and he raised his eyebrows.

“Glass”

She tilted her head, and he caught the small sliver of gray that had flashed briefly. “A good plan Der, at this point the Alpha is going to speed up his process, we’re going to need to trap him.”

“We can’t even find him.”

The lighter clicked shut; “Had an idea for that” she stood quickly, stowing the lighter into her jeans, wiping her palms on the material to look at him. “You probably won’t like it.”

Derek scowled, a growl threatening to escape him. “I usually don’t”

He lips twitched, “Well once we get the boys, you really won’t like it” she mused stepping towards the door. She stilled when his hand wrapped around her bicep, eyebrows pulled back down and expression almost a mixture of emotions.

“Glass….you need to be careful, with how much you use” he managed.

Val exhaled and smiled softly to him reaching out to settle a hand on his cheek. “Relax I got it under control” she stated, before moving into the house reaching for her phone.

Derek watched, as uncertainty and annoyance built inside him.

\\\\\\\

“Don’t ever do that shit again” Stiles voice was muffled as his buried his face in he fabric of Val’s hoodie, lanky arms tight around her.

Val hummed holding him equally tight. Cheek resting on his head.

“Didn’t have much of a choice” she murmured as Scott stood awkwardly be the doorway.

Stiles let go stepping back.

“So, what are we doing?”

“Something idiotic” Derek grunted from where he glared in a darkened corner.

Stiles and Scott looked to Val.

“Ignore GrumpyPaws he just doesn’t like my plan.”

“Which is”

Val smiled lightly.

“We’re going to set our own trap for the Alpha.”

Stiles raised an eyebrow and motioned. The witch waved her hand over to Scott.

“Scotty-boy is technically linked to the Alpha, so we’re going to use that to determine the Alpha’s next move.”

Stiles glanced over to Derek who only scowled, but there was something in that scowl, the way his eyebrows twitched, and his eyes showed concern. Not a good sign, he looked back to Val.

“Does the idiotic part involve your magic?”

She nodded and Stiles sighed, “And whatever it is; Derek doesn’t like it.”

“Pretty sure Derek doesn’t like a lot of things” Scott muttered, Derek’s glare hardened and shot to him.

“I’m going to use my magic to reach out to the Alpha through Scott, if I can find a connection then I can see what his next target is planned to be” Val explained in a factual tone as she stepped up on a burnt couch to sit on the back of it.

“You can do that?” Scott perked up, puppy eyes hopeful.

Val tipped her head in thought, “In Theory yes” she mused.

“In theory” Stiles raised an eyebrow.

“In any case with a spell similar to this there’s a possibility that the Alpha could be skilled enough he could also reverse it and use the spell to track us, Specifically Glass; Who he’s already tried to claim as pack as well” Derek growled out stepping from the corner to hover at Val’s side, hands gripping the back of the couch as he shot her a warning glare. Val only closed her eyes and shrugged to brush off his tone.

Stiles mouth fell open in shock, he quickly closed it shaking his head “Can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I’m with Derek. Nope”

Val wrinkled her nose in annoyance as her cousin crossed his arms shaking his head, Derek swung his own to give her a smug expression as if Stiles agreement with him pleased him.

“Unless anyone else can track the Alpha this is our only choice; and I’m fairly certain neither of you have been able to track his scent.”

Derek’s smug look faded and Scott looked like a kicked puppy, Val looked to Stiles who looked uneasy.

“Then it’s our only option.”

\\\\\\\

“Thought you didn’t need sigils and ritual stuff” Stiles hugged his knees from where he sat.

Val dusted her hands off after tossing the charcoal stick to Derek. He caught it but looked at the item like it deeply offended him.

“It helps funnel the magic, the move I use the more…unstable it can be” she stated stepping over the line, she had drawn around Scott on the dusty floor.

“So, you do need it” Stiles grinned making her scowl.

“Sometimes yes okay” she stood in front of Scott.

Stiles hummed wriggling like he was pleased with his assumption of being right.

“So, what do I do” Scott looked nervous.

Val focused her attention on Scott. “All you have to do is be in shift for this then I can handle the rest” she held out her hands for him to take. Scott nodded and lowered his head inhaling slowly.

Val’s eyes burned gray as Scott’s head lifted gold meeting hers.

The air rushed cold, and Val blinked looking around, everything was dark beyond the circle, and she could hear faint agonized screams. Voice muffled echoing with it. Her skin prickled as two dots of red glowed pacing around the circle moving with the muscular slide of a dark form on four limbs.

The creature paused settling into one spot to watch her.

Val’s fingers twitched; it rushed forward.

A hand dug into her hoodie and yanked her backwards as the world brightened like an on switch had flipped.

“Hol Shit!” Stiles shouted as Scott fell back onto the floor, face pale.

Derek’s forearm locked around Val’s collarbone palm holding the bend of her neck as she breathed heavily, eyes slowly clearing.

“Val?”

“Mr. Harris, he’s going after Mr. Harris” she swallowed eyes staring up unfocused on the ceiling, gray glowing in the dim light.

Stiles bit his lip looking at Scott who was still on the ground eyes wide and burning gold.

\\\\\\

“I get that Harris is a dick, but I mean for what reason does that make the Alpha want to kill him?”

Val paused as Stiles stumbled, reaching out to keep her cousin upright as Derek stopped to keep himself firmly at her side, he hadn’t left it since he had pulled her from the spell.

“And how is this impromptu hike going to help us? I’m guessing I’m the only one who can’t see in the dark, gonna break my neck Val” Stiles fixed his bag as she guided him over a tree root and Derek continued to lead their little group further into the woods.

“It would get you to shut up” Derek muttered his back to them as he lifted his chin to the air, he was just radiating annoyance at this point.

“What’d he say? Val! Your dog boy is being an ass” stiles squawked earning a low growl.

Scott’s eyes flashed at Derek in the fading light.

“Boys play nice” Val huffed climbing up onto a fallen tree trunk, “We’re almost there” she made to jump down and huffed when Derek held his hand up to her, taking it to hop back down next to him.

Scott and Stiles glanced at each other.

Warm light lit up the area, golden strands forming around Val’s hand as she raised it above her head and looked to Stiles.

“Better Mischief?”

He grinned, “Yes actually.”

The group continued further, each few minutes the trees seemed to grow thicker and denser around them making the forest much darker. Val’s magic soon became the only source of light.

Suddenly Scott made a retching noise reeling back a few steps behind Stiles and covering his nose.

Derek hesitated as well, eyebrows drawn down in a scowl and nose scrunched up.

“What the fuck is that smell” Scott whined as Stiles sniffed, confusion evident.

“Barrier magic” Derek grunted out, “This one mimics a scent that keeps werewolves at bay.”

Val hummed and smiled proudly at him. “Look at you remembering things” She turned to the teens who caught the brief flustered expression on Dereks face before he quickly turned his head away.

“It mimics a scent to deter supernatural creatures, but also hides the ward from human eyes” her arm raised palm facing behind her and swung back.

A metallic thud echoed the trees, golden light sparking from her hand to dance along an invisible surface that gave way until they were looking at a rusted and vine covered shipping crate.

Scott’s mouth fell open as Stiles gestured in surprise, Val swept her hand up, the golden strands of light rising to form soft glowing orbs that hovered over them. She turned to the crate sweeping her hands over a large iron padlock that held onto thick chains, The lock unlatched and fell with a low thud, the chains rattling against the crate.

Derek stepped forward as Scott sniffed tentatively.

“The barrier is gone.”

Stiles stepped forward as Derek pulled the shipping crates doors open, Val bumped her hip into her cousins, and he looked at her watching the gray in her eyes seem to glow with amusement.

“So. Here’s my plan.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 17

Adrian Harris sighed, wiping his chalkboard clear before dusting his hands off and turning to retrieve his jacket.

Fixing the collar, he paused eyebrows pulled into confusion as he picked up the crumpled paper on his desk opening it before blinking at the list of names. He swallowed before tucking it into his jacket, moving to the door and paused as a low growl filled the room. 

“Please don’t kill me.” 

“Do you know who wrote that list?” The voice was gravelly, echoing. 

“Laura, Laura Hale” Harris stated quickly. 

“Do you know why she was looking for you?”

Sweat rolled down Harris’s neck. 

“I know why, turn around Adrian”

He hesitated. 

“Turn around and I’ll show you.”

He shook his head. 

“Turn around” 

“No, please” his voice shook as it came out small. 

“Look at me! Look at what you’ve done!” 

A desk flew into the wall making Harris flinch.

“Get down!” a force knocked him to the floor as another desk flew through the air. 

Derek lifted his head glaring at the classroom door, swinging shut. He stood as Harris coward. 

Lights flooded through the window making him flinch, sirens sounded.

“This is the police, you’re surrounded, no one leave the building”

He looked back to the door with a growl before bolting for the other one. 

\\\\\\

“Here’s what we’re going to do” Val stood before the shipping crate arms crossed a clove smoke between her knuckles. 

“We begin by splitting into two sets, Scott you’re with Stiles. You two will be decoys for the Argents, probably Kate. Bitch is always up for a chase” she looked to Derek motioning with a shoulder. 

He exhaled before pulling his hand from his jacket and tossed his keys to Scott. 

“Der, you follow Harris, hopefully you can intervene before the Alpha kills him” she continued. 

“I will be in the secondary vehicle in town. If shit goes south, then we aren’t leaving Derek to fend for himself” she inhaled, “Hopefully we get lucky and can herd the Alpha out here back to you two.”

Stiles raised a hand earning an eyebrow raise. “Val every cop on the force knows your Charger.”

She grinned an uncrossed her arms dropping her smoke to reach out behind her and knock on something in the dark of the crate a hollow metallic sound rang out. 

“I got that part covered; did you bring what I asked?” 

Stiles nodded, finally getting to unshoulder his backpack to retrieve two walkies he held them out. 

“Range is shit though.” 

Val took them, eyes flashing gray briefly as electricity sparked from her fingertips dancing into the formed plastic. 

“Not anymore” she held one back out to Stiles, before unshouldering her own bag to pull a smaller bag out to hand over as well. 

“If you aren’t using the Charger then what are you using?” Scott asked curiously.

Val smirked looking at Derek who raised his eyebrow looking amused. 

\\\\\\

Tires squealed on the pavement; the Camaros headlights lit up the darkness as the engine roared. 

Stiles raised his walkie clicking the button on the side. 

“B and R to Glass, come in Glass.” 

The speaker squawked seconds later. 

“B and R?” Val’s voice sounded as Stiles leaned to check the mirrors, Scott gripped the steering wheel. 

“Batman and Robin, we haven’t seen the hunters yet, what’s it like on your end?”

The button clicked. 

“Waiting for Sourwolf to cross my path, how’s your Robin?”

Stiles looked to the driver’s seat; Scott was practically death gripping the steering wheel.

He thumbed the button, “Freaking out.” 

Scott shot him a glare as lights flashed in the rearview mirror. “Got hunters on our tail now Glass.” 

Scott glanced at the mirror before pushing the gas pedal down more. 

“You remember what to do if you get caught?”

Stiles looked down to the floorboards at the bag nestled between his feet. “Yeah, yeah I do.”

\\\\\\

Val dropped her walkie as the police radio crackled. 

Noah’s voice carrying as she sat up reaching a handout palm flat on the dash. 

Gray overtook Cognac and the vehicle rumbled; engine coming to life. She pulled her hand from the dash and dropped it to the gear shift. 

“-on foot in the industrial district”

\\\\

Derek slid turning on the pavement before jerking forward sprinting into a building. 

The police cars were closer, and he could hear dogs barking, he turned hunching and snarled eyes flashing. 

The two K-9 units yelped before running back out of the building. 

He exhaled stepping back. 

Something hit the machine behind him, sparks flashing, he grunted barely recovering before another went off forcing him to dive behind the machine. 

He leaned as he spotted Chris Argent lowering the crossbow.

“Shit” 

The roar of an engine seemed to catch Chris off guard as he shouldered a semi-automatic. 

Tires squealed as gravel flew.

Derek exhaled as a bright ruby red SS Chevelle swung through the building. 

The passenger door flung open. 

\\\\

Magic flooded Val’s palms, gray eyes burning bright. 

Golden lines in the shape of symbol and ancient words glowed along the glossy red surface. 

“Holy shit” Stiles whispered. 

“This has just been sitting out here?” Scott’s eyes were wide. 

“When I needed to stop being magical everything went into this Shipping crate, this vehicle; is on that list because, it only runs on my magic, no engine no parts just me. My magic mimics everything it needs.” 

“Which makes it incredibly dangerous” Derek cut in, “The Chevelle literally uses all your focus Glass.” 

Val shrugged her shoulders, “It’ll be fine for one night.” 

His eyebrows pulled down in a scowl and she reached past Scott to pat the older werewolf’s chest. 

“It’ll be fine I promise.” 

\\\\\

“Move your ass HALE!” 

Derek jerked forward just as the bullets started flying, Ricocheting off the panels of red in little bursts of blue light. 

He landed on the passenger side of the Chevelles bench seat hearing the door shut behind him before the vehicle lunged forward away from the bullets. 

Derek’s breathing was heavy as he sat up, Val kept her head forward eyes burning gray as she gripped the steering wheel golden ropes of light wrapping her hands to the car. She had the hood of her sweater pulled up and a scarf covering the lower half of her face. 

“I was close” he stated as she tore the vehicle around the corner. Derek patted for the safety belt. He was durable yes, but something about his packmate behind the wheel of this monstrosity again made his skin crawl. 

“And?” Val took another sharp corner, instantly slamming on the brakes at the sight of the police cruisers blocking the end of the alley. “Fuck”

The two stared as the police force levelled their weapons at them, Sheriff Stilinski raised the walkie to his mouth. 

“You have nowhere to go, turn off the vehicle and exit with your hands up.”

Derek kept his gaze on the sheriff. “Glass?” 

“Hold on” came the muffled response and his head snapped to look at her as the scent of cinnamon filled the vehicle, a copper undertone lacing it, blood. 

Concern and panic swelled up in Derek’s chest only to be replaced by anger and shock when bullets began to rain down on the roof, ricocheting again off the Chevelles renewed magical barrier. 

The Sheriff shouted something just as Val flung the car in reverse. Derek snarled as the front end swung around and he spotted Chris Argent on a building before the vehicle tore off. 

“Glass!” Derek’s nose was scenting more blood. 

“I’ve got it” she snapped just as the Argents Tahoe whipped into view. 

But Kate didn’t stop, didn’t block them, she just sped past the Chevelle. In the reflection of the Tahoe Derek saw why. 

There wasn’t one. 

Val had used a third spell on the Chevelle, effectively making it disappear and hiding them both. 

Derek looked forward; anxiety ate at him. 

\\\\\\

The Chevelle shuddered before the engine died. The forest around them slowly returns the noise of wildlife. 

Val slumped back in the seat, raising a hand to push her hood back and lower the scarf. Derek didn’t miss how she took a few extra seconds to quickly wipe under her nose, clearing the crimson away. 

“That way incredibly stupid” he stated gruffly. 

Val sighed, “Hey Harris is alive; besides I wasn’t far away, I would’ve backed you on the Alpha” she swung her head to him. Her grin faltered at his scowl, Derek turned away rolling his jaw and practically kicked open the Chevelles door to climb out. 

“Der?” Val felt worry in her veins, cold and sluggish. She scrambled to open the door ignoring the wave of dizziness as she looked at him. 

Derek stood in front of the Chevelle glare dead set. 

“Der, we can try again. I’m sure the Alpha-“ 

“Does ignoring your own stupidity run in your family?” 

Val paused, blinking at Dereks sudden outburst, “Excuse you?” 

“Glass since you’ve burned a single seal off you’ve been using your magic excessively” he spat, eyebrows pulled low into a glare.

She huffed, “Der it’s the Chevelle, I can handle it.” 

He shook his head, “It’s not just the Chevelle.” 

Val tensed when he fixed his glare firmly on her rage burning. 

“You’ve been using magic continuously for day, the same spells for hours, and piling more on top of each one, you haven’t released the spell you used to find the Alpha, you have one on Stiles for protection. I know for a fact the Chevelles got two more on it and the radios!”

“I can handle it” her voice was quiet. 

Derek surged forward and she winced when he snatched her wrist raising her arm to shake her hand, the skin stained with her blood. “You call this handling it! You’re going to burn yourself out! You’ve done it before and you’re doing it again. You know the power is addictive and you’re playing into it!” 

Val huffed, “I can handle this just fine Der” 

“You’ve never been able to handle your magic, Glass.” 

Val stiffened, between the suddenness of the topic and Derek’s willingness to snap at her. She was now realizing how pissed he was. 

“I have always handled my magic just fine.” She repeated. 

Both his eyebrows shot up at that, the look he gave her something akin to annoyment. 

“We both know that’s a fucking lie.” 

Anger and embarrassment warmed her face and Val clenched her fist in his grip, she wanted to retaliate by opening her mouth and lash back at him, but Derek only powered on. 

“Val” great now he was using her actual name. 

“You did this when we were younger, you get a taste of your power, and you start to abuse it. Then you’ll get reckless and then you start to lose control. We’re trying to hunt the Alpha, not burn yourself out” 

“I can handle it” she stated again, more firmly. “I am being careful” the words escaped her clenched jaw, the air charging with electricity. 

“You’re still human” he had fixed a steady gaze on her, his voice low and even. It made her palms sweat, like her body was anticipating where this was about to go. 

“This” he shook her hand at her again. “This isn’t handling it, if you lose control this time, there isn’t enough of us to save you or anyone else this time” 

“Don’t” 

“This time it could be Stiles you kill.” 

No sooner had the words left Derek’s mouth did it happened. The pulse of energy was backed with pain and rage. The air reeked of cinnamon as the heatwave of magic slammed into Derek, ripping the Werewolves hand off her and all but rag dolling him into a tree. 

Val let out the breath she was holding. 

Just as Derek got to his feet, eye flashing her body tensed every muscle ready to throw another spell but Derek only stared her down, eyebrows set firmly. 

Cold realization filled her. 

Because she had just proven him right, she had blasted off the spell with only one thought, she was losing control. 

A shaky and weak breath left her, matching the defeated and cracked words that followed. 

“Fuck you, Derek.” 

She turned, stomping out into the darkness of the woods, Derek didn’t bother following her; he just watched with a pained look on his face. 

\\\\\\\

Derek glared into the dark, annoyance rolling his blood. 

He had been so close tonight, He had the Alpha in the same room, then the cops had shown up. 

While Val had been pretty spot on about the Argents and making an escape plan. Realizing she had several spells still in use and pushing herself to that edge had really angered him. 

To the point he had lashed out and as expected she had reacted. 

He ran a hand down his face. Why couldn’t she understand he was just worried, this wasn’t the first time she’d overused it, and it had ended poorly. He was just watching out for her. They were pack he was supposed to watch out for her. 

His ears picked up the sounds of the Camaro as the boys drew closer into the woods. 

He scowled at the Chevelle waiting until Scott parked his car next to it. 

“Where’s Val” Stiles got the question out before Scott could cut the engine. 

Derek only opened the Drivers door and motioned for Scott to move. 

“Derek where’s Val?” Stiles tried again as he dropped into the seat. 

“She took off.”

\\\\\\\

This time it could be Stiles you kill.

Fuck Derek, just fuck him.

Who was he to judge her skills? To judge how she handled her magic. 

Val struggled in air as she slowed herself to a walk. She knew the risk of overuse, of abusing magic. This wasn’t her first time with magic all though she had been a lot stronger when she was younger; the power more enticing more…. Everything

You got the seals to handle it better she reminded herself arms raising to hug herself when the cold air began to seep past her hoodie. 

Seals that were beginning to break. 

She huffed continuing through the trees. Maybe Derek had a point; he could’ve been less of an ass about it. 

He worries for you came her little logical voice. 

She went still, “Fuck” she stomped a foot. Because while Derek had come home, and their pack bond had returned. The two of them had a lot of unresolved issues sitting on the back burner, instead falling into the comfort in each other they had as children and focusing on the Alpha.

But it made many things get lost in translation. 

She tensed when a twig snapped, and she turned eyes glowing gray. 

“Derek?”

Silence met her and she swallowed, moving to step around a tree, breathing rapidly. 

There was nothing. 

She frowned stepping back something swung just above her sight line, and she looked up. 

Her breath caught in her throat. 

Her necklace chain hung from a branch, glittering in the slow peeking sunlight, barely coming through the trees. The pendant that hung from it made her heart clench. The Hale pack Triskele spun lazily. 

The Necklace didn’t make her breathing catch though, no it was the flower twisted into the chain, petals purple in the light. 

She exhaled, raising her hand to let her fingertips touch it. The items slid from the branch to her palm, and she cradled them to her chest, looking out to fix a glare to the thinning tree line. “Okay, I see you“ 

Chapter Text

Chapter 18:

“How was your patrol?” Peter Hale mused not looking up from his book as his sister entered the house.

He paused, eyes lifting from the pages as new scents reached him. Turning his head he spotted his very nude Alpha with her arm around a young woman’s shoulders; she was covered in filth and reeked of blood and fluids, in her arms a sniffling newborn.

“Huh”

Talia frowned before he stood and moved closer.

“I need you to not bitch and watch this child so I can help the mother, we need our emissary and quickly”

Talia took a blanket from the back of the couch wrapping it around the new mother before gently taking the newborn from her and turned offering the child to Peter, watching as he grimaced, shoulders tensing up.

“Think you can handle this simple task brother?”

Peter frowned and forced himself to reach out, taking the child and shifting the small form around until he found the correct way. “I am not incapable sister; do I look like a child” he muttered as the Alpha swept the mother from the room.

A soft sob drew his attention, and he looked down as the infant began to fuss.

“Please don’t” he muttered attempting to rock it.

The fussing grew to little sobs before Peter was grimacing at the pitchy wails that came from the small form. The werewolf glanced at the doorway, ears straining to hear his sister and their new guest, if he didn’t stop this now the brat would wake up the whole house and he was not ready to deal with a cranky set of wolves.

He looked back down spotting a sliver of color between the sets of dark lashes.

“enough” he stated calmly blue eyes flashing Beta gold at the child.

The wailing stopped suddenly, and his eyes widened as the child looked up at him, cognac-colored eyes focusing on his own eyes, Peter tilted his head before letting his eyes flash gold again.

His eyebrows shot up in surprise as silver glowed back at him, the liquor-colored eyes now drowning in the molten metal.

“Well, that is a new one” he murmured before baring his fang at the infant, the response was a coo and tiny hands reached for his face.

The Werewolf pulled the child closer to his chest chuckling as silver faded back into the normal color, a warmth of emotion flooding his chest.

“Let’s get you cleaned up and in some clothes little one”

The infant fussed when he did his best to bathe her, only settled after he flashed his eyes again. Finding the least horrid of Laura’s infant clothes and getting her dressed, Peter exhaled settling into a wingback chair, cradling the small form against his chest.

“You are a very unique one, no fear in the care of a wolf”

She squirmed in his arms as Peter held a claw out tickling her nose. One small hand reached out to take ahold of his finger.

A floral scent reached his nose before small golden sparks formed up along her skin, dancing up to her small grip and tickling his finger with static.

Peter’s eyes widened, “Very unique indeed”

\\\\\\\\\

The scent of disinfectant, and astringent reached her nose; quickly fading away to the scent of cinnamon.

Val lowered her arm as the warmth of the camouflage spell tingled over her.

Exhaling slowly, she entered the hospital room and eased the door shut, letting the glamour magic finally fall away as she sat on the neatly made bed, lacing her fingers together and settling her elbows on her knees.  

She stared blankly for a moment at the clean lines of the linoleum tiles before sucking a breath in between her teeth.

“I spent nearly every single day of six years, coming to this room and reading old fairy tales to you, using what little magic I could tap into at the time to try to heal you in some way” She bent her hands to study her palms.

“Any spell, any incantation I knew to fix you; and nothing seemed to work, so I just…Gave up” her eyes lifted,

“But this whole time” her jaw flexed as she studied his eyes, “This whole time you-“ she swallowed and sniffled raising her hands to rub at her face trying to ignore the growing sting in her eyes, She stood from the bed stepping over.

“I guess you couldn’t really tell me though” she stared down at him. “Pretty smart to have me learn things that can come in use huh?”

“Val?”

She licked her lips lifting eyes to study her newcomer, her mouth twitched.

“Nurse Jennifer, just in time” She raised a hand and motioned, the red-haired nurse gasped as she was pulled into the room the door swinging shut and locking behind her.

“Val, I can explain” she breathed eyes growing panicked.

Val’s eyes burned steel gray as she looking back down, “You don’t have to, Peter is going to tell me everything”

\\\\\\\

“Peter? Peter”

Talia stepped into her brother’s room, eyes flaring red before she paused.

Peter’s eyes glowed gold briefly in warning before he looked back down at the bundle in his arms.

“Honestly sister we have enhanced hearing, you don’t have to yell; you’ll wake the little one” he trailed the backside of a claw along the infant’s cheek.

“And she sleeps so soundly in the arms of a wolf”

Talia exhaled, shoulders relaxing before she straightened.

“The baby needs to feed from her mother”

Peter motioned to his desk to the empty formula bottle sitting there, “I already handled that, I doubt her mother’s milk is any good, I could smell the drugs in that woman’s blood” He gently shushed the child when she squirmed.

“You still have to give the baby to her mother” Talia stated as she watched him with growing unease, she had never seen Peter like this before, not even with her own children, with pack.

“She needs a name” he mused seeming unfazed by his sisters’ words.

“She has one, it’s Valeena”

“Valeena” he echoed, a smile pulling at his lips as he watched the newborn.

“Peter” Talia stepped forward.

Her brothers’ eyes shot up and flashed gold as a warning growl sounded making her own eyes flash red at the challenge.

Peter’s fangs shrunk as the infant cooed in his arms and looked back down at her, shushing softly as he stood swaying just slightly to soothe her.

“I will return her when the mother asks for her my dear Alpha” he bit out, “Until then her mother can rest, and I will watch over the child”

Talia’s eyes narrowed before she finally left the room.

Peter smiled to himself looking back down at Valeena. “I hope she never does, because it will be you and I then”

\\\\\\\

“Please Val, I can explain” Jennifers eyes looked from the woman to her patient.

Val sucked her teeth, hands still braced on the handles of the wheelchair, eyes still burning their steel gray.

“I’m sure you could and honestly kudos to you; I’m so rusty that you were way off my list” her eyes looked down, “both of you” she raised a hand to soothe her palm along blond locks.

“Val, please be careful” Jennifer’s voice was soft.

A wry laugh escaped the brunette’s lips, and she looked at the nurse again.

“Something you should know then; you can be expendable-“ she started.

“He needs me”

Val clicked her tongue, raising her scar marked eyebrow. “For now, but me? He would never hurt me” she straightened fully moving to crouch in front of the wheelchair.

Exhaling the witch reached out to hold onto the scarred face. “This is really going to suck” she murmured finally meeting Peter’s empty blue gaze.

The gray of her eyes glowed as the air scented with cinnamon and her vision became red.

\\\\\\\

Derek shook his head in annoyance as a ring echoed his hearing before it faded.

Blinking away blurred vision he eased the window open before slipping into the room, wrinkling his nose at Stiles scent. He rose to his full height and fixed his jacket eyes searching around the room.

Val had to have protective seals on the house, that could become active in the event of danger, but not to a pack member.

Moving across the room, he paused listening for a moment before finding the house empty. He frowned, after last night he had fully expected Val to have just returned home.

Opening the bedroom door and following the mingling scents of the Stilinski family he found the witches bedroom. Her scent was stale, slowly being overpowered by Stiles and the Sheriff. It made anxiety chew at him; if her scent was this old then she had never come home, so where was she?

He reached into his jacket to retrieve the phone there and opened the screen scrolling through the contact.

Hopefully she will calm down by now.

He tapped her contact and held the phone to his ear. As it rang his eyebrows pulled down into a scowl before the phones automated voicemail answered in the monotone voice reciting the premade message and number, He hung up before it could beep.

Maybe she was still made. He pushed the phone into his back pocket and looked around the room before exhaling and turned to sit on the edge of her bed rubbing his face. With a groan he fell back onto it and glared at the twinkling lights strung across the ceiling.

“Dammit Glass”
 

\\\\\\

Each breath was a harsh rattle, every gasp for oxygen felt like meat hooks tore at her lungs. The burn of bile in the back of her throat as her eyes fought to refocus in the haze of pain.

“Val, Val!”

Nurse Jennifers hands were pulling at her shoulder, her voice sounded hollow, and the witch felt her head grow fuzzy, vision finally starting to clear; but she could see herself hunched over on the floor, tears streaming down her face as Jennifer tried to get her to her feet.

She could smell the grief and the fear that rolled off her in pungent waves.

Anger, it flooded her senses, boiled in her stomach and ached in her chest.

They all had to pay; they all needed to die. The argents had taken them; killed the pack and destroyed the so-called balance.

Everything was bathed in a film of crimson, and she was moving to stand. No.

No, Val was still on the floor; and she was looking up. But she was also standing over herself, watching herself.

She was so angry, she was….

“Hello Darling” she spoke to herself.

Peter spoke to her.

Val gasped in air finally, her back pressed against Jennifer and she was looking up at Peter; who stood over her a soft smile on his lips.

“I have been waiting so long for you to figure it all out Sweet Pea” His hand settling on her head and Val gave a cracked sob, tears streaming down her face as the gray in her eyes began to change, a warmth of color slowly creeping from the edges of her irises.

“Now, we need to have a little chat before Derek manages to piece it all together hm?”

\\\\\\\\

Stiles burst into his room, mumbling to himself, he threw his backpack down before falling into his chair and opened his laptop.

“Oh-kay need to figure-“

“Stiles!”

He spun his chair at his father’s voice. “Yeah Da-Derek” He stumbled spotting the form by his bedroom door.

The werewolf held a finger to his lips before motioning to the door as the Sheriff made it to the top of the stairs.

“Yeah Dad!” Stiles jumped up rushing to meet his father at the doorway, being sure to pull the door close behind him.

“What’d you say?” his dad looked confused.

Stiles cleared his throat, “What? I said Yo…Dad” he scoffed.

Noah raised his eyebrows, “Uh listen, I’ve got something to take care of, but I ‘m gonna be there tonight. I mean for your first game” he smiled.

“My first game” Stiles licked his lips, “Gosh, great, awesome uh” he nodded. “Good”

His Father chuckled, “I’m very happy for you and I’m really proud of you” He stared at Stiles for a moment.

“Val would be too”

Stiles felt his muscles tense in anxiety.

“Yeah, she always is”

Noah exhaled through his nose, “You uh, haven’t heard from her, have you? None of us at the station have and I mean” his dad looked at the wall for a moment

“I’m starting to worry a bit, none of this makes much sense. But Val…”

Stiles shifted his weight, eyebrows pulling together. “What do you mean Dad”

“Just, Derek Hale kidnapping her, Val as far as I knew was one of Laura’s best friends, so why would he do this…any of this”

Stiles sagged against the door, “She was?”

Noad nodded before grimacing. “I… Val had to be the one to identify Laura Hales body”

Stiles mouth fell open.

“Well,” his voice shook, “It’s Val she’s tough Dad; probably tougher than both of us and who knows” he shrugged. “Maybe Derek’s not all bad?”

Noah nodded with a thoughtful hum before reaching for him.

“Oh, a hug” Stiles muffled

I am proud son, and I will be there”

“Yup, huggie, huggie huggie” Stiles chanted as the Sheriff smiled sadly before patting his shoulder turning for the stairs.

Stiles breathed deeply before turning to rush back into his room. He shut the door exhaling into a grunt when Derek grabbed the front of his jacket pushing him back into the closed door.

“If you say one word”

“What you mean like, ‘Hey Dad Derek Hales in my room bring your gun’?” Stiles rambled quickly.

The werewolf paused studying his face and he smirked slightly.

“Or ya know anything you do to me could really piss off Val”

Derek breathed heavily through his nose; eyebrows pulled tight.

“Yeah, that’s right if I’m harboring your fugitive ass its my house my rules buddy” he thumped Derek’s shoulder.

Derek glanced at his shoulder before rolling his jaw and nodding leaning back to fix Stiles jacket.

The teen grinned copying the action with a scoff only to flinch when Derek mocked a flinch at him.

“Oh my god” he muttered before dropping into his desk chair.

“Is Scott going to get the necklace?” Derek hovered behind him.

“No but he’s going to try” Stiles began opening his laptop again, “In the meantime I have an idea” he settled in as Derek got closer. “The night we were trapped in the school, Scott sent a text to Allison asking her to meet him there”

“So?”

“So, it wasn’t Scott” Stiles explained.

Derek glanced at the laptop, “Well can you find out who sent it?”

“No not me, but I think I know somebody who can” He paused hands hovering over the keyboard.

“Was Val really Laura’s best friend”

Derek stood taking a step back. “No”

Stiles lowering his hands turning the chair to look at him.

“They were pack and fairly close in age, but Laura had other friends, Glass only had two and one of them was” he fell silent.

“You” Stiles finished, “Val’s best friend was you” he whispered turning back to face his laptop

Derek moved to a chair, sitting to stare at the wall next to it.

\\\\\\

“Say Dad…Dada?”

Valeena looked up from her book, Peter frowned, leaning back in his chair.

“Honestly Daniel we’re working here”

His brother-in-law gave a weak laugh bouncing the fussy child in his arms, “Sorry Peter, I thought you two were somewhere else, Good morning, Val”

“Morning” she offered before sitting up in her chair, eyes bright. “Is Dewek?” She looked at Peter, cognac-colored eyes hopeful”

The man sighed and motioned, “We can study your spells later, but we’re adding articulation as well my dear”

Valeena grinned, shutting her book as Daniel sat on the couch. She quickly joined his as the bundle that was infant Derek became more vocal.

“I can’t get him to settle, Peter you always kept Val calm-“

“Sweet Pea was already a calm child; wolves can use their bond to silence their offspring” Peter stated before turning to his book.

Daniel groaned “And I’m human” he grimaced as Derek’s pitch rose. “Peter?”

“Nope”

Daniels eyes closed in defeat as Derek wailed.

Then stopped.

Peter raised his eyebrows as Daniel opened his eyes.

Derek’s focus was intent, gold eyes following the swirling tendrils of equally golden light gently twisting and pulsing over Valeena’s hands her eyes burning bright silver.

“Well, that fixes that then” Peter mused closing his book to stand as Valeena gathered her hands around a spiral of light. The light dimmed briefly and she smiled at Derek before opening her palms to show him the twisted spiral of glass in them.

“The Alpha’s son cooed reaching clumsily for it.

“He was bored, he just wants someone to show him things” Her eyes faded back to normal as she smiled up at Daniel. “And he likes stressing you out”

“Sweet Pea such strange ideas” Peter petted her hair.

Valeena frowned at Peter. “Aren’t Ideas, Dewek told me” she smiled back to the baby. “He tells me lots”

\\\\\\\\

“You want me to what?”

Stiles motioned to his computer. “Trace a text”

Danny exhaled, “I came here to do lab work, that’s what lab partners do”

“And we will once you trace the text” Stiles countered.

“And what make you think I know how”

Stiles paused, “I uh- I looked at your arrest record, so”

Danny grimaced, “I was thirteen and they dropped the charges”

“Whatever” Stiles held his hands up in defense.

“No” Danny reached for a chair, “We are doing lab work”

“Oh my” Stiles turned to his computer sighing as Danny sat glancing behind them.

“Who’s he again?”

Stiles looked at Danny then behind him where Derek sat in a chair with a book in his lap.

He looked back at his computer. “My cousin” he cleared his throat, “Miguel” he reached for the keyboard.

Danny frowned, “I thought your cousin was Val”

Stiles bobbed his head, “both things could be true”

Danny glanced back again, “Is that…blood on his shirt?” he whispered.

Stiles sat up looking back at Derek over his shoulder, “Yeah, Yes. Well, he gets these horrible nosebleeds” he rushed, fingers tapping the desk.

“Hey Miguel”

Dereks’ eyes lifted from the book slowly.

“I thought I told you; you could borrow one of my shirts” Stiles stated.

Derek only snapped the book shut standing to toss it on the bed, He began pulling his ruined Henley over his head.

Stiles looked back at Danny, “So anyways we both know you have the skill to trace that text so we should probably-“

“Stiles” Derek interrupted making both teens turn.

“Yes?”

“This…no fit” Derek shook the shirt in his hands annoyed.

“Then try something else” Stiles scoffed looking to Danny, “Sorry” he paused noticing Danny’s gaze, and his jaw dropped, glancing between Danny and Derek’s tattooed back where the man was pulling on a different shirt.

“Hey! That one looked pretty good huh?” He looked back at Danny as Derek fixed the hem of the blue and orange striped shirt. He patted Danny’s arm, gaining his attention.

“What do you think Danny?”

“Huh?” Danny quickly looked at the laptop then Stiles, eyes guilty.

Stiles pointed with his thumb ignoring Dereks scowl. “The shirt”

Danny sighed, “It’s” he swallowed “It’s not really his color” he mumbled quickly looking down as Derek pulled off the shirt.

Both teens turned back to the computer.

“You swing for a different team, but you still play ball don’t you Danny-boy” Stiles fought to hide a grin.

“You’re a horrible person”

Stiles smirked. “I know it keeps me up at night, anyways about that text?”

“Stiles”

They looked back as Derek held up another shirt, “None of these fit”

Stiles blinked before looking at Danny expectantly. The other teen reached for the laptop.

“I’ll need the ISP, the phone number and the exact time of the text” he stated.

Stiles spun his chair stretching with a smirk.

Chapter Text

Chapter 19:

“There”

Danny finished typing and the screen changed

“The text was sent from a computer, this one” he motioned to the screen as Stiles and Derek crowded his shoulders.

“Registered to that account name?” Derek asked as Stiles grimaced.

“No, no no that can’t be right” Stiles looked to them then the screen where in bright red letter it stated Melissa McCall.

Danny shrugged standing and picked up his bag, “That’s what it says. Don’t be late for the game” He warned walking to the door.

Stiles exhaled in disbelief as Derek walked across the room to retrieve his phone from his jacket.

“It couldn’t be Melissa, I….what are you doing?”

Derek only glanced at him before pressing the call on his phone, lifting it to his ear. He began at the beep.

“Glass, you need to meet me and Stiles at the Hospital; we have something maybe the Alpha” HE hung up looking at Stiles.

“She still had the burner phone on her?”

“Yeah, call Scott we need to get to the Hospital”

Stiles jaw went slack, ”What? No, I need to get ready for the game”

Derek looked at him, eyebrows pulling into a scowl as he fixed a glare at Stiles who swallowed nervously.

“Yeah, okay I’ll get my keys”

\\\\\\\

“Did you get the picture?”

“Yeah, I did, it looks just like the drawing” Stiles rolled his eyes as Scott’s voice through his phone speaker.

Derek reached over, grabbing his wrist and pulling the phone towards him ignoring Stiles grimace as he mouthed Ow repeatedly in the driver’s seat.

“Hey, is there something on the back of it? Theres gotta be something and inscription and opening, something”

“No, no the things flat” Scott stated “And no it doesn’t open” he sighed. “Theres nothing in it, on it, around it. Nothing”

Derek exhaled through his nose

“And where are you? You’re supposed to be here, you’re first line” he asked Stiles before gasping. There was a muffled question as Derek let go of Stiles arm letting the teen take it off speaker.

“Man, you’re not gonna play if you aren’t here to start”

Stiles gripped his steering wheel. “I know, look if you see my Dad, can you tell him-“ He glanced at Derek. “Tell him I’ll be there, I’ll just be a little bit late, okay?”

He waited for Scott’s agreement, “All right, thanks” He hung up sighing.

Derek studied him for a moment, “You know you’re not gonna make it”

“I know” the teen groaned leaning back in his seat.

“And you didn’t tell him about his mom either”

Siles sighed, “Not till we find out the truth”

The two of them stared out the jeep’s windshield at the Beacon Hills Hospital sign.

“Has Val responded?”

Derek exhaled slowly through his nose, expression annoyed.  “No, nothing”

Stiles shook his head, “This would be easier with her, She’s a paramedic and volunteer in the long-term wing. No one would question why she’d be here”

Derek frowned, “Are we ignoring the fact that she was technically labelled kidnapped, by me who; everyone thinks is a mass murderer”

Stiles shrugged out a nod, looking back at the hospital. “She could’ve just…magicked herself invisible”

Derek glares hard at him and Stiles holds his hands up defensively.

“What? She’s got magic; why not use it?” Stiles cringed under the glare, “Why do you have such a problem with it”

The werewolf broke eye contact looking forward, “We need to get this over with” he changed the subject.

Stiles sighed, “Fine fine”

“Oh” He looked back, “One more thing” Derek’s palm caught the back of his head, and his forehead hit the steering wheel.

“OH MY GOD!”

The Werewolf pointed at him, “You know what that was fore, now go” He motioned “GO!”

Stiles groaned exiting the jeep.

Derek scowled watching him.

\\\\\\\

Exhaling slowly, Stiles wrinkled his nose at the disinfectant smell. He pulled his phone from his pocket as he spotted the nurse’s station, but Melissa wasn’t there.

“Shit” he dialed quickly stepping away out of view of the station and pressed the phone to his ear.

“What?” Derek’s voice was gruff.

“She’s not at the nurse’s station”

“Well find her”

“How dude? I can’t just wander the Hospital yelling; we should’ve just waited for Val”

“We don’t have time, look go to the long-term care and ask for a Nurse named Jennifer, she takes care of my uncle”

Stiles hummed walking down another set of hallways.

Find the long-term ward he wandered aimlessly for a moment before locating that Nurses station and found it empty as well.

“Seriously does no one work here” he asked loudly.

Derek huffed into the speaker. “Try my uncle’s room” he offered before giving the number and Stiles set off mumbling room number as he passed them

He hesitated to approach the correct room, the door was open, but it was dark. Stepping in, he frowned at the vacancy of it.

“Dude there’s no one here” He stepped in further squinting; something was tossed onto the bed.

Derek made a noise, “That’s not possible…”

“Well, I’m in here, this room is empty-“ he exhaled shakily when he picked the item up from the bed, the bundle of dark fabric shaking out and swallowed thickly. “Val’s hoodie is here”

He could smell the cinnamon and clove that clung onto it like perfume, could recognize the front pocket by the fraying

“Stiles, get out of there! It’s him it’s the Alpha” Dereks sudden shouting jolted him from the room, and he turned stopping as he spotted a man at the hallway junction.

He smiled gently at the teen, the action pulling the burn scars along his face. “You must be Stiles
 

Stiles exhaled stepping back.

“I have heard so much about you”

He turned for the other way spotting who he guessed was Nurse Jennifer.

“What are you doing here?” she stared him down, “Visiting hours are over”

Stiles pointed at her, “You..” he looked back at Peter who had straightened to his full height. “And him”

He stammered for a second before looking at Jennifer, “You’re the one who” his mouth fell open, “Oh and he’s the…oh” Stiles felt panic in his veins. “Oh my god I’m gonna die” he looked between them. “I’m gonna die” he repeated.

Derek’s elbow swung out suddenly, clocking Jennifer in the face and she fell to the floor.

“That’s not nice” Peter looked unfazed by his sudden appearance. “She was my nurse”

“She’s a psychotic bitch helping you kill people” Derek glanced at Stiles, “Get out of the way”

“Oh damn” the teen dropped out of their sight.

Peter walked towards Derek.

“You think I killed Laura on purpose? One of my own family”

Derek growled charging forward, eyes flashing blue. Peter effortlessly caught him by his front and threw him into the walls of the hallway

Stiles panted shoving his back to a wall as Derek hit the ground, Stiles mumbled to himself before moving on all fours, crawling down the hall.

He almost screamed when someone grabbed him, “Mischief!” inhaling he reaching out grabbing at her forearm, “Val oh god! It’s Peter he’s the-“

His cousin grabbed his face, “You need to get out of here” she hissed glancing behind him as Peter lifted Derek by his throat.

Stiles gaped at her, watching her face. “Oh god, Val..”

“My mind, my personality was literally burned out of me” Peter explained as he drags Derek down the hall, the beta struggling. “I was driven by pure instinct”

Derek choked for air, inhaling and his eyes widened. “Glass!”

Val stood pulling stiles behind her, eyes flashing gray as her hand rose, “Derek!”

“Ah” Peter gave her a scolding look and she halted, magic still forming in her palm, but as his eyes flickered crimson she lowered her arm, a dazed look settling on her features.

Peter dropped Derek crouching to dig in Jennifers pocket for something before tucking it into his coat.

Getting to his feet Derek growled. “You want forgiveness” he swung connecting to Peter’s jaw, before moving to kick only to get blocked, Peter gripped the front of his jacket.

“I want understanding” He cracked his head to Derek’s before kicking him in the chest throwing him across the floor.

Stiles yelped diving out of the way as Val remained still, eyes cloudy.

Derek groaned face against the tile.

“Do you have any idea what it was like for me during those years” Peter glared at him.

Spitting blood onto the tiles Derek began pushing himself up.

“Slowly healing cell by cell”

Derek grunted as a hand latched onto his jacket’s collar and his lifted his head; eyes pained.

“Glass”

She didn’t look at him, only faced forward, but the once gray of her eyes was now glowing faint pink.

“Even more slowly coming back to consciousness, the only person by my side being my darling Sweet Pea” Peter smiled fondly at Val before glaring back at Derek.

“Yes, becoming and Alpha, taking that from Laura pushed me over the plateau in the healing process” He shrugged, “I can’t help that”

Derek snarled planting a hand on Val’s stomach and shoved, prying her grip off and stood swiping at Peter, the older Were stepping back to avoid it easily before catching his other fist and twisted. Bones cracking, Derek crumpled to his knees with a groan.

“Fuck…C’mon Glass” he hissed, and Peter clicked his tongue.

“She can’t here you Nephew, she has to follow the orders of her Alpha” He twisted more forcing Derek to hiss in pain.

“I tried to tell you what was happening, tried to warn you” he offered before lifting and throwing Derel through the glass of the nurse’s station.

He sighed watching his nephew struggle to drag himself to the back. Peter turned his head to Val as her eyes still burned pink.

“Be a dear, would you?”

She moved forward following Derek, the light in her palms sparking as shadows slid along the floor.

Derek coughed, pulling himself across glass and tile, grunting to get his back against the wall, He could taste blood in his teeth.

Glass crunching under a boot made him look up and he struggled to breathe.

“Glass…Glass you have to snap out of it” he pleaded as the shadowy vines slithered along the walls, reaching to pull at his arms. “VAL!”

“I already told you” Peter sounded annoyed now. “She has to listen to her Alpha” he sighed before smiling fondly at Val and petted a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

“What did you do to her” Derek swallowed blood looking back at the witch’s pink gaze.

Peter glanced at him, “Did you really think your pack bond with my Sweet Pea was stronger than mine? You and Laura abandoned her like you did me, we’ve only had each other” Peter dropped his hand facing Derek

“I was going to wait for Dramatic flair, but” He reached next to him, picking up a mirror to investigate it as Val tightened her fists, the vines pulled taut to hold Derek to the wall.

Peter smiled as he spun the mirror, the burns on his face beginning to fade. “When you look this good; why wait?” he set the mirror down.

“Derek, you have to give me a chance to explain myself, after all” he settled a hand on Val’s shoulder.

“We are family”

Chapter Text

Chapter 20:

Being a Werewolf meant your senses were heightened, like smell, sight and hearing. It gives you inhuman strength and the ability to heal swiftly.

And it gave you bonds.

Pack bonds ran deep within Werewolves, an emotional connection that provided insight into another member of the pack itself, useful if there was one injured or even in danger.

Derek couldn’t feel his pack bond clear enough when her eyes that had been flooded with silver began to tint pink.

His gaze shot to Peter, watching the older man pace the crumbling form of the Hale house.

“You did something to her”

Peter hummed, turning to look at him then to Val, who was seated on the charred floor, eyes still that unnatural pink as the charcoal spell circle flared gold around her,

“Honestly? No, Sweet Pea and I always had a stronger connection than she did with the others, apart from you naturally” He stood at the edge of the circle watching her with and expression of contentment. “Serving her Alpha with magic comes naturally due to pack, but this bond of ours makes us so much stronger”

Derek tightened his intertwined fingers into a white-knuckle grip. He could smell the blood before he saw it trickle from Val’s nose, “Then make her stop”

Peter raised an eyebrow at him, “She’s in the middle of a location spell”

“She’s been pushing it as is lately; you’ll make her burn herself out” Derek managed through a clenched jaw.

“Please out of the two of us, I’m the only one even close to knowing how far she can go” He stated but Derek caught the scent of concern ebbing from his uncle.

“That was before the seals were put on her”

Val suddenly made a strange noise and blood dripped from her parted lips.

“Peter!” Derek rose to his feet.

The Alpha scoffed, but shifted his foot, sole of his shoe smudging the circle and the spell broke with a crack. Val slumped backwards onto the floor with a gurgling gasp, eyes clearing to their cognac hue.

Peter hummed crouching down to brush her hair from her fair, thin black lines rising from his fingertips.

“Those seals are troublesome” he mused as Val gasped in air greedily eyes starting to focus.

“They keep her in control” Derek countered shifting his weight from foot to foot as he felt the pull of the pack bond return.

Peter only ignored him as Val swallowed in air, one hand reaching up to loosely take him wrist, “Let’s get you into a chair darling” He cooed.

She nodded weakly, allowing Peter to lift her to her feet, moving to settle her into a wingback that creaked under her weight.

Derek clenched and unclenched his hands from his spot on the stairs

Peter smiled gently cradling Val’s chin in his palm. “You’ve done very well sweet pea” he whispered earning a drained smile.

He stood and looked at Derek who stepped off the staircase and pushed past him to crouch and reach out holding Val’s face, pressing his forehead to hers with a soft exhale, she held onto his wrist’s eyes closing.

“You may call her Glass, Nephew; but that doesn’t mean she is” Peter rolled his eyes at the display turning away.

Derek ignored him rubbing his thumbs along Val’s cheekbones. “Are you okay?”

“Jus need to rest” she murmured, “ ‘M sorry Der, I cant ignore the pull its easier to give in”

He exhaled through his nose leaning back to pull her into his chest.

“If you two are quite done with your display”

Derek glared at his uncle.

“We need to go find my Beta”

\\\\\\\

Scott exhaled walking through the locker room as the other players began filing out, holding the towel firmly around his waist.

“By the way McCall apology accepted”

He turned, looking across the room at Danny. “I didn’t apologize?”

“Every time you got the ball tonight you passed it to me” he stated pulling his shirt on.

Scott smiled, “Every time I passed the ball you scored”

Danny nodded shouldering his backpack, “Apology accepted” he repeated with a grin walking to the door.

Scott huffed, smiling, and turned to his cubby, he paused as the lights went out, leaning around the shelf.

“Danny?”

He sighed walking through the locker room for the light switch, finding it he flicked it on, but nothing happened, He groaned looking around before pausing as he spotted movement “What the hell”

Watching as a lacrosse ball rolled from the showers, He frowned walking over and leaned down snatching it up he turned and gasped.

Derek stood at the far end of the showers; Val next to him; closing her hand into a fist the faint glow in it dimming in her palm.

“Thank God! Where the hell have you been!” he relaxed moving towards them, “Do you have any idea what’s been going on?!”

The two remained silent, but their eyes strayed to look behind Scott making him turn.

Peter stepped from the dark, turning the lacrosse stick in his hands. “I really don’t get Lacrosse” he frowned at it.

Scott studied him, recognition washing over him like cold water. “It was you”

“When I was in high school, we played basketball” Peter gave him a serious face, “There’s a real sport”

Scott turned looking at Val and Derek, both remaining silent.

“Still, I read somewhere that Lacrosse comes from Native American tribes, and they played it to resolve conflict” He paused looking up, “Or did you tell me that Sweet Pea? Do I have that right?” He settled the stick on his shoulder looking around before humming and removed it continuing to spin the equipment in his hands.

“I have a little conflict of my own to resolve Scott” he set the stick to the side looking back at the teen. “But I need your help to do it”

Scott stared him down, “I’m not helping you kill people”

“Well, I don’t want to kill all of them” Peter raised his eyebrows. “Just the responsible ones, and that doesn’t have to include…” He paused thinking before looking at Derek

“Allison” the beta provided.

Scott turned staring at him in shock first then Val. “You’re on his side?”

Derek looked from Scott to Peter as Val licked her lips hesitantly.

“Are you forgetting the part where he killed your sister” He glanced at Val, “Your best friend!”

“It was a mistake” Derek uttered.

“And really Laura wasn’t Valeena’s best friend, that would be Derek” Peter stated factually his tone light.

“Whatever” Scott snapped staring at the two in disbelief.

“It happens” Derek’s voice was tight

“Scott” Peter caught his attention gently making him turn. “I think you’re getting the wrong impression of us”

“We really just want to help you reach your full potential” Val finally spoke.

Peters’ expression brightened, “Exactly”

“By killing my friends”

The Alpha’s eyebrows rose, “Sometimes the people closest to you can be the ones holding you back the most”

“If they’re holding me back from being a psychotic nut job like you, I’m okay with that”

Peter studied him for a moment before taking a few steps forward, Scott tensed looking back at Derek and Val, eyes panicked.

Peter raised his hand staring at it. “Maybe you could try and see things-“ his claws grew from his nail beds and he looked at Scott. “From my perspective”

Scott yelled as Peter’s claws suddenly dug into the back of his neck.

Derek frowned eyes flickering between the two, eyebrows pulled tight as Val’s breath caught and his hand reached out, gripping her wrist before she could move.

Peter pulled his claws free as Scott groaned, clutching his neck and dropped to the floor.

Derek looked at Peter watching his retreating form.

“Scott” Val murmured as the teen struggled to breath on the floor.

The Beta grunted eyes flashing gold as he rolled onto his back.

A droplet of blood in water

A running shower

Figures with gas cans dousing the Hale house in the night.

Those same ones getting murdered by the Alpha

Howling and snarling

The Hale house burning while voices screamed in the basement choking on smoke and flames

Peter burnt in the hospital, healing slowly; with Jennifer watching over him

Laura approaching him in the woods. His involuntary shift

Scott writhed on the ground before he sat upright gasping for air.

\\\\\\\

“What did he do to Scott”

Val turned her zippo between her fingers. “Pretty much what he did to me, showed him”

“Showed him what”

“Everything” she flicked the top open watching the flint catch, “Everything that brought us to this point”

“And you’re just okay with this?”

She stared at the flame, “I have to be”

Derek paced the spot in disbelief before turning to her.

“Glass, listen to yourself. You can’t think agreeing with Peter because he’s the alpha will, What? Keep people safe?”

She snapped the zippo shut looking at him finally, “yes I do”

“Why” Dereks eyes flashed, why was she being so distant suddenly; why follow Peter.

She studied his face, and Derek felt his throat tighten at just how distant her eyes really were.

“He’s all I had left Der”

He stepped back as she stood tucking the zippo into her jeans pocket.

“We had all been through so much and then after the fire…you and Laura just…you two just left us here”

He blinked and inhaled, shoving his hands in his jacket pockets. “Glass it wasn’t safe, we weren’t safe anymore, Laura-“

“If it wasn’t safe, why would you just abandon us Derek” She clenched her hands,

“Talia always said there was safety in Pack. We could’ve found a way; but instead, you left the two of us defenseless, it wasn’t safe and you left us behind, I was bound in seals and practically human and Peter?  Peter was essentially a fucking corpse in bandages!”

He flinched at her pitch, the hurt she felt lacing her words and scent. Bitter and sharp.

Val inhaled roughly, her eyes misting and raised her hands to hold her mouth as she blinked a few times.

He struggled not to reach for her.

Lowering her hands with a sniffle, she focused her eyes on him again.

“We may have been saying how it’s always you and I Derek; but for the past six years it’s only been me and Peter” she whispered.

“Now he’s the Alpha” her arms swung out, “And I have to trust my Alpha” she bit out fixing a glare on him as she stepped back. “How is what he’s trying to do any Different than what you were doing anyways” she spat before turning to walk away from him

Derek groaned rubbing his face and exhaled deeply

Val exhaled shakily, rubbing her face as she drew closer to the Hale house, spotting Peter on the porch; his eyes flashing crimson before fading.

“Will you be alright?” he tilted his head, indicating he had heard their argument even from this distance.

Val sniffled, “If I say no are you gonna be mad?”

Peter hummed reaching out to holder her face as she got close, “Not exactly, mostly disappointed”

She swallowed, blinking fast.

“When this I all over, you two can have some time to talk, fix your issues rekindle that disgustingly sweet friendship. Until then; I will keep my promins to you Darling”

She nodded and he smiled ominously, “Now come. We have things to do”

\\\\\

“Are you sure?”

Scott frowned sniffing the air again, “Left” he sat back in the seat. “Yes, I’m sure. She and Derek are both working with Peter, the Alpha”

Stiles made a face, “It’s just...it’s Val” He looked at him expression horrified. “What if he’s like brainwashed her or something?”

Scott groaned, “Stiles can we forget about that right now! We’re suppose to be looking for Jackson before Mr. Argent does!”

Stiles frowned looking back at the road and cleared his throat, “yeah yeah okay…where to next”

Scott leaned back out the window.

\\\\\\\\\

Keep an eye on them

Track them

Hunt them like they hunt us

Peter’s words whispered like a prayer in her memory, each silky syllable he spoke woke something primal just under her skin.

Fueled by the rage she could feel in their pack bond, it burned with unresolved emotions she had felt for years.

No more helplessness, no more fear just the need to taste that sweet calming flavor of revenge. It should’ve scared her, or at the very least make her quake with uncertainty.

The need to appease her Alpha’s grief-stricken bloodlust was her only form of validation currently.

Val rolled her thumb over the zippo’s wheel, eyes focused on the Argent house.

Peter’s needs made Derek’s concern shadow in comparison

It had been nice she supposed; that Derek’s return had sparked some hope in her. Yet Peters words rang truer. Derek and Laura had abandoned the two of them

Peter had never left her, and she had never left him in return.

Why couldn’t Derek understand that?

Another grinding roll of the wheel

Anyone could say that she wasn’t acting like herself, following the older Hale’s orders with no question, each spell he requested burning more ink from her back.

With each broken look from Derek and worried text from Stiles begging for an answer, maybe she was acting out of sorts? Or maybe she was acting how Peter had raised her confidence in power and muscles tense ready to strike.

What if? for six years she had been acting other than her true self?

The wheel clicked to a halt movement drawing a breath from her.

Kate Argent had just come out the front door.

She looked just like she had in the coffee shop that day, unbothered and pretty.

Like she wasn’t that manipulative bitch from six years ago, that had murdered an entire family.

Val’s fingers twitched, disgust rolling in her stomach, remembering how things had gone so wrong that day.

How pretty words from the blond hunter had swayed Derek and his naïve nature, principles weakened from grief had made him easy prey.

The two of them had fought that day, that’s all they had been doing in those days at that time. Words were spat with such hatred and unspoken emotions, tearing their way into their very souls that the pack had been forced to watch in silent horror. The aftermath had drove her into the comfort of Peters boundless affection of her, but sent Derek into Kate’s traitorous claws

Her own teenage pride had helped in the downfall of her pack. Disgust and self-loathing burned shame into her, the realization uncovering like a rock being buried for years in dirt.

Kate was getting into a vehicle.

Her open hand twitched, she could end it. One massive spell could easily correct all the fucked-up things that she felt, warmth ran along her fingers

Track them

Hunt them like they hunt us

She clenched her hands at Peter’s words. He had told her this in the Hospital, holding her face while his blue eyes had become overwhelmingly red.

‘But don’t kill yet my dear, I wouldn’t want that, you just bring them to me’

Magic slipped away, taking its warmth with it and she was left standing in the forest letting the cold air draw goosebumps from her arms.

Chapter Text

Chapter 21

Stiles slid across the kitchen floor, pulling open the fridge and retrieved the half gallon of milk out laughing to himself. He raised it turning and paused.

Noah sat at the dining room table, files and papers spread out.

“Whatcha doing?”

“Work” came the reply

“Anything I can help with?”

The sheriff paused, “You know if you poured me an ounce of whiskey that would be awfully nice”

Stiles jolted abandoning the milk jug on the counter to retrieve the Jack Daniels and a glass. Sitting at the table he reached for a file “Any leads” his dad swatted his hand away with a pen.

“You know I can’t discuss that with you” His dad looked back down

Stiles opened the bottle ready to pour

“Not too much” Noah murmured.

The teen glanced up looking from his distracted father to the papers as he had a sudden thought.

The whole situation would’ve made Val scowl but in the same breath she would’ve looked at Stiles and winked, maybe given a go-ahead motion with a smirk.

He filled the glass to the brim as his father stayed focused.

“Okay here you go dad” he set the glass down.

“Thanks” Noah lifted the cup eyes still focused on the papers. “Bottom’s up”

Stiles watched him drain the glass, settling the empty tumbler on a coaster moments later.

“You know, Derek Hale would be a whole Hale of a lot” Noah paused, “Hale of a lot….”

“Hell of a lot?” Stiles offered.

“Hell” his father repeated with a thumbs up, “Yes”

Stiles bit his lip; the alcohol was clearly working already.

“He would be a hell of a lot easier to catch if we could get an actual picture of him”

Stiles frowned, “How do you not have a picture of him?”

His Dad looked around before picking up a photo, “It’s the weirdest thing it’s like everything we try to a mugshot, it’s like two laser beams were pointing at the camera” He held it out to Stiles sure enough large spots of blue obstructed Derek’s face above the information plate.

“Nice” Stiles murmured.

“Oh my god, that ounce hit me like a brick” Noah pulled his glasses off rubbing his eyes as Stiles pulled more papers to him, “-and I have said way too much and if you repeat any of that” he leaned back pointing at Stiles.

He sputtered, “Dad it’s me, I’m not gonna say anything, If I did…it would’ve been to Val”

Noah studied him for a moment before sighing.

Stiles opened a file as his dad looked at the table, “See the thing is they’re all connected” he motioned “I mean, the bus driver that got killed, he was an insurance investigator assigned to the Hale house fire”

Stiles leaned over looking at the words his dad was looking at.

“Terminated; under suspicion of fraud” He murmured.

“Exactly”

A light bulb went off in the teen’s brain. “Who else?”

“The video store clerk, who got his throat slashed, he’s a convicted felon with a history of arson”

Stiles swallowed, “What about the other two guys, the guys who got killed in the woods?”

Noah motioned, “Priors all over their records, including”

“arson” Stiles finished looking over the table he licked his lips before looking down, “So maybe they all had something to do with the fire”

Noah tossed some papers down, picking his glasses up; Stiles reached for the jack Daniels, “Another shot?”

The sheriff motioned, “No, no no more”

“Dad c’mon you work hard, right? You deserve it, Val would understand”

Noah paused studying his face then sighed  “Oh my god, I’m gonna have such a hangover” he rubbed his forehead chuckling.

Stiles laughed, “You mean you’re gonna have such a good night’s sleep” he picked up the glass turning to fill it again.

“I’m gonna have an eternity in the lowest circle of hell” he whispered.

Noah took the glass when he offered it, “Just don’t tell Val” He joked still focused on the papers as he raised the glass gulping it down.

“Promise” Stiles watched the amber liquid vanish his dad hissed putting the cup down.

“I’m still trying to figure how Val fits into this”

Stiles licked his lips, eyes flicking to the papers briefly.

“Maybe Val knows something the cops don’t, She and Derek”

“Then why not tell us?”

“They could be scared” Stiles offered

“Everyone was scare the night of the fire; hell, Val seemed so broken after it”

Stiles sat up to lean on the table.  

“Well, Val was Laura’s best friend, right?” He got a nod. “What if she and Derek knew who started the fire, but they were just scared to say so

Whoever started the fire might be dangerous enough that they just couldn’t say anything? I remember how she was after the fire; she was on high alert; she wouldn’t” He licked his lips thinking back, realization dawning. “She never let me out of her sight”

Noah exhaled heavily, bobbing his head almost drunkenly. “Val should’ve felt safe, I would have kept her safe”

Stiles stared hard at his dad, he could see the alcohol working.

“Dad; she was teenager and her best friend’s family was killed in their own home during a housefire, with no one knowing how or why. We both know the basics of an investigation, you taught us Arson is the hardest to solve”

Noah slid his glass across the table to him.

“Derek kills his sister and several other people then kidnaps the only person who could possibly know why, that’s why it makes no sense”

Stiles leaned over to inspect the papers again. “Maybe; whoever started the fire came back, killed those people and Laura. Derek comes home and he gets pinned for it all” Stiles shifted a few papers.

“Val was with us the night at the school, he may have saw her as someone that could help prove his innocence…or he was trying to protect her from whoever is really behind it” He picked up the whiskey bottle, pouring his father another glass and watched him gulp it down yet again.

Stiles leaned back, scrunching his nose in thought as he picked at the label on the bottle.

“Ya know”

He looked back at his Dad.

“When that cougar ended up in that parking lot, I checked with animal control. You know the instances of wild animal reports were up seventy percent over the past few months?”

Stiles licked his lips, his leg starting to bounce.

“It’s like theyre going crazy, running out of the woods”

“Or something is scaring them out” Stiles voice eyebrows pulled in thought before they raised.

Noah sighed leaning his head into his hand, he chuckled looking at Stiles; watching his son stare at the table; he smiled fondly.

“You know I miss talking to you, it’s like we never have time-“

Stiles patted his pockets suddenly, “Dad, you know what I have to make a phone call, I’m sorry” he stood quickly nearly knocking his chair over.

“I do, I miss you kids” Noah slurred eyelids drooping as he reached for the whiskey bottle.

Stiles turned away, tapping at his phone screen.

“And I miss your mom”

The teen froze lowering his phone turning. “What’d you say?” his voice cracked slightly as his heart clenched.

Noah grabbed the bottle, and Stiles quickly crossed the room to place his hand on his dad’s wrist to stop him.

The older man sighed eyes closing as he smiled, “Thanks” he pulled his hand back inhaling to rub his face. “I should go to bed”

Stiles moved around the table to help him as his father stood on unsteady feet.

Guiding him up the stairs, Stiles noted how his father didn’t seem as heavy as usual

Noah jerked to a halt by Val’s bedroom door, arm shifting awkwardly to brush his fingers to the wood panel.

“I really do hope she’d okay, dunno what I’d do if I lost one of you kids”

Stiles chest tightened and he inhaled shakily, the warm scent of cinnamon lingered in the hall.

“I’m sure she’s going to be okay Dad” he murmured coaxing his father to his room and settling him into his bed.

“Thanks Son, don’t forget to get that candle” Noah slurred into his pillow

“Candle” Stiles repeated eyes looking to his fathers door”

“Mhm”

Stiles took the stairs slowly, walking into the dining room to spot the whiskey bottle, missing. He could see the back door propped open from the kitchen doorway.

A paper sat on the table, scrawled in Val’s familiar writing with a single word.

‘Melissa’

\\\\\\

The whiskey bottle exploded against the tree. Glass shattering off into the night as liquid soaked into the trunk.

Val could feel her body shaking as she licked her lips. It felt like claws were in her chest, her free hand tightened around the chain of her triskele necklace.

Turning away to walk further into the woods. She had begged Peter to let her check on her uncle and Cousin, He had only allowed it after she promised the use of her glamour.

She hadn’t expected an emotional unload though.

Val grimaced as a dull throb pulsed through her neck. It briefly flared into heat before cooling like static.

Pack is calling

She groaned rubbing her face and made her pace quicker. Peter must’ve started his plans. Hopefully Stiles got her note and could be where she couldn’t

\\\\\\

He just had to lure Jackson to the house.

Lure Jackson and stall until Scott showed up, because Scott would show up.

It was simple, Derek couldn’t argue with it. Val hadn’t seemed concerned with Peter’s plan but then she hadn’t looked Derek’s way since their…fight.

He didn’t really hate Jackson; he was going to go in to offer Jackson what he’d been asking Scott to get him. Then lure the little jerk to the house.

Yet.

Derek turned to seat himself on the locker room bench picking Jacksons phone up from his iPhone stand.

He could smell magic in the air, Val’s magic.

He felt his fangs itch under his gums. Maybe he could scare Jackson more than initially planned.

\\\\\\

The cooling night air was burning her lungs when she finally reached the Hale house; swallowing air greedily, pressing a hand to a tree trunk trying to calm her heart rate.

Peter’s whole plan revolved on getting Scott to join them; while she couldn’t go against her Alpha; She didn’t like the thought of using Melissa McCall. So, she had left Stiles the note with the hope that maybe he could help intervene.

She wasn’t worried for Stiles safety around Peter, they had a deal and breaking that deal wouldn’t be in Peter’s favor.

So now she could focus on Derek’s half of the plan, luring Jackson

Blinking sweat from her eyes, movement caught her attention, and she squinted eyes burning pale grey to see through the dark.

Scott was running up the porch steps partially shifted and clearly panicked.

She swallowed another breath ignoring the ache in her side and let go of the tree.

The brief thought of how she needed to start running with Finstock again was only that. Brief. When she felt metal prongs dig into her shirt burrowing into her side.

Electricity shot through her. The kilowatts are stronger than her basic self-protection spell. Her knees buckled and her mouth fell open.

A hand clamped around her mouth muffling the short scream that tried to escape her.

“Keep that on her, if she can’t focus, she can’t use her powers”

Val’s vision swam as she looked up. Kate Argent gave her a tight smile.

“Hello Valerie” she cooed as Val’s knees buckled and the prongs of the stun rod jabbed down into her shoulder next.

Kate reached out pushing hair from the witch’s face. “Hang tight, I’ll bring our boytoy along” 

Chapter Text

Chapter 22

Electricity pulled, travelling though the chain-link and into the handcuffs.

Derek snarled arching his back to grit his teeth as the currents raced his veins.

Kate hummed idly turning the dial watching the werewolf writhe in pain. Derek let out another snarl eyes flashing. She rolled the dial down letting the electricity die off and he slumped against the fencing chest heaving. Kate pursed her lips, amused, then tipped her head to look at Allison who stood in the doorway.

“What is he?”

Kate hummed “Shapeshifter, Lycan…Werewolf” she laughed. “To me he’s just another dumb animal” She turned the dial again and Derek shouted as the current pulsed again before she turned it back down.

“Come here” she motioned for Allison as she reached out to grip Derek’s jaw turning his face to nod at his fangs.

“See these right here? Those are canines also known as fangs” she looked back at Allison. “Made for the tearing and rending of flesh. Not something you’d find on those cute little leaf-eating herbivores, is it?”

Allison shook her head, “This is a joke to you?”

Kate huffed, “Sweetheart there are werewolves running around in the world, everything’s a joke to me; how else do you think I stay sane”

Allison inhaled eyes watering “So it was him in the high school? And all the animal attacks”

Kate pushed Derek’s face away and turned off the spotlight.

“There’s actually three of them, another younger one like him called a Beta, and then there’s the Alpha” she turned to Allison to lead her across the room. “Alpha’s the pack leader. Bigger stronger, nastier. Those are the real ugly motherfuckers”

Kate paused and held her hand out. “Along with them is this one, nearly every pack I’ve met has at least one that seems more human, but they’re just as dangerous” She pulled the burlap off the figure.

Allison inhaled softly.

The woman was strapped to a chair, an I.V. drip pierced into her neck and the wires attached to her similar like Derek’s

Kate studied her expression, “You’ve seen her before?”

Allison blinked a few times. “uh…yeah she works with EMS”

Kate scoffed. “She would, this is a witch. Some packs have one, they use them for magic; keeps the packs hidden and cleans up their messes” She tipped her head. “Usually, they keep close to the Alpha; this one however” She reached out brushing a lock of hair from the woman’s face. “She’s pretty attached to Derek over there. Her kind blend in easily enough but they are just as bad”

Allison swallowed lifting her chin. “Why is she held like that?”

“Witches like her can use their magic if they have a clear mind, on a human a sedative is calming to them, well it keeps her docile” Kate mused before leading Allison from the room and rolled the door shut.

“When were they planning to tell me?”

Kate leaned against the door, sighing. “They still haven’t decided if they’re going to tell you”

“Why?”

“Let’s just say if you react badly when you find out” Kate clicked her tongue. “Not good” she moved for the tunnel.

“What do you mean not good?”

\\\\\

There was water dripping.

A slow steady drip-drop that was beckoning her awake.

Everything is fuzzy though like someone tucked a blanket around her brain and then shoved cotton balls in her mouth.

Sedative.

Val forced her eyes open, oil and makeup crusting her eyes

Gross

She swept her tongue out along her lips.

“Glass?”

She lifted her head, wincing at the dull ache in it and blinking. She couldn’t see in the dark, the sedative was blocking her inhuman half.

“Der?”

The metal rattle and scrap of the door made her wince and she side-eyed the doorway.

“Good morning sleepy heads” Kate’s heels clicked as she walked in. “Look at us all together again, although…Three’s company” she winked at Val, who only let her chin drop to her collarbone.

Derek glared as Kate hummed walking to the table to dig through his jacket.

“Which one of you is going to tell me about the Alpha”

Val rolled her eyes as best she could, Derek only scowled.

Kate looked at Val who only moved her head to look up at the ceiling pointedly ignoring the hunter. Kate looked at Derek who only glared.

“Really? You two are sticking together on this?” Kate pulled his wallet free. “Of course you would, Little Valerie and Derek always stuck together…well used to stick together” She smirked raising an eyebrow to look between them. “It used to be so sweet how you two were so inseparable”

Val’s fingers twitched and she closed her eyes, willing her heartrate down. Kate was going to try her normal shit. She knew it.

“C’mon Derek he killed your sister”

Val exhaled slowly lifting her head to watch as Kate dropped Derek’s jacket and turned to him holding his wallet.

“Now either you’re not telling me because well, you want to kill him yourself, or for some reason” she pulled his I.D. free. “You’re protecting him” she smiled at the card before approaching him.

Holding it up and taking his chin in hand. “Look at that sour face” she grinned “I bet you always used to get people coming up to you saying, ‘Smile Derek, why don’t you smile more?” she stepped back to turn away “Don’t you just want to kick those people in the face”

Derek glared at her back. “I can think of one”

Val snorted in amusement, causing Kate to glance at her. The blond rolled her jaw before smiling.

“Promise?” she turned back to Derek. “Cause if I thought you’d be that much fun, I’ll let you go” she smiled, walking back to the table to sift through the other items there.

Derek looked to Val who kept her gaze to the ceiling and clenched his jaw.

“Cigarettes and a lighter for you Valerie? That’s it” Kate picked up the zippo inspecting it.

“I like to travel light” Val slurred blinking slowly.

Kate hummed nails picking at the tape wrapping the zippo before ripping it off making the witch lift her head.

“Hm, well that doesn’t seem like something one would cover” Kate turned the zippo to catch the once hidden design in the light.

“Or do you not like flowers?”

Val kept a glossy stare on the engraving of the flowers before her eyes flicked to Derek just briefly then to Kate

The blond smiled, feigning a shocked gasp. “Was this from you Derek” she turned to the Werewolf. “A gift to show how close the two of you once were, well until she turned on you?” Kate looked to Val. “That’s what he told me, how you turned your back on him” she walked over to hover at the witch’s shoulder.

“Did it hurt when he chose me instead? When he gave himself heart and body to me instead of you?” she curled a lock of Val’s hair around her fingers.

Val raised her marked eyebrow, “Gave seems to be subjective, if I remember correctly; it’s considered statutory bitch” she sneered.

Kate tilted her head studying Val’s eyes. “So much anger, maybe I chose the wrong one out of the two of you? Although you both grew up rather pretty” she gripped Val’s face making the witch glare.

Kate smiled, “Too bad I’m not into women” She pushed Val’s face away walking back to the table to pick up a cellphone opening the screen.

She sighed, “All right; let’s see” her thumb scrolled “Nothing, nothing”

Derek pressed his head against the bars clenching his jaw.

“God, I hate this detective crap” Kate muttered.

Derek looked at her, “Are you gonna torture me?”

“Or just talk us to death” Val drawled from her chair making Kate stop to glance at her. The blond smiled, tossing the phone onto the table she turned back to Derek.

“Oh Sweetie, I don’t want to torture you” she cooed walking closer. “I just wanna catch up” she hummed to herself looking back at Val briefly. “Remember all the fun we had together?”

Derek’s nose scrunched up, “Like the time you burned my family alive”

Kate chuckled, turning back to him.  “No, I was thinking more about the hot crazy sex we had” she purred before smiling. “But the fire thing, yeah that was fun too” she laughed when Derek lunged at her.

“I love how much you hate me” she looked him over, “Remember how this felt” she ducked to lick up Derek’s stomach making the werewolf snarl at her.

“That was disgusting” Val suddenly stated making Kate look at her.

“Jealous?”

The witch wrinkled her nose, “Of what? Your lack of consent?”

Kate scoffed, stepping back. “I really don’t want to torture you two, but”

Metal clanged as the door slid open, two men stepping in. “But they do so” she walked for the door. “Tell me when they break” she rolled the door shut behind her.

Val blinked owlishly as one approached her, a syringe in his hand.

“Oh, hey yeah tell the Doc I’m actually good on this hi-gh!”

She hissed as the needle pierced her neck, heat exploding into her veins followed by an uncomfortable itch that began under her skin.

“Fuck” Val’s head dropped back as the world seemed to blur and swirl together.

“Glass” Dere’s voice seemed so distant.

“Warm and fuzzies” she slurred slumping into the chair further, she could barely register the sounds around her that mixed with Derek’s snarls and yells.

“Oh fuck” the world spun as something jerked her upright and her back was slammed against the iron fence, arms pulled above her head, her toes cold on the damp concrete.

“Hey…who took my shoes”

Metal pierced her stomach white hot pain causing a moment of sobriety. Val wheezed in a breath bordering a scream

The hunter grinned, ripping the knife free watching her gasp for air, eyes wide with a hazy shock.

“Fucking-“ her eyes flashed gray.

“Juice ‘em”

She screamed when the electricity shot along the fence and met her skin.

\\\\\\

The universe needed to stay out of his way.

Peter had a precise plan for revenge. Nearly perfect, when ones practically in a comatose like state trying to heal for years, they can just think plans through.

Become Alpha, get a Beta. Have Beta help him kill the Argents, simple foolproof.

So, he thought.

Instead, his first Beta was continuously rejecting him, the Argents were on high alert; and now his nephew and his precious Sweet Pea were missing!

He was far less worried about Derek, but the chance of Valeena with him was high, so if he found one, he found both.

He had tried to track both their scents; the reek of hunters had overpowered theirs at first before the hunters had just thrown the scents off completely. Smart move but it was impeding his plans.

He had attempted to get to Scott through his mother; that had ended with that babbling teen rear-ending his vehicle.

So, Derek tried to trick Jackson and got himself and Val caught.

That made Peter resort to going after Scott AGAIN, this last time the Veterinarian had stopped him. Now he had to go after the Argent girl.

But she had clammed up, no doubt sensing the creature that Peter was and took off as soon as she had an opening.

Scott must’ve felt proud of that. Which left Peter standing in a Macy’s dress section; frustrated and ready to take his rage out on something.

Then he smelt it, the scent of medication, the hint of bodywash and perfume was muddling it, but he knew it well the warm scent of magic; Valeena’s magic.

The source, that babbling teen. Standing with an armful of dresses by the changing room.

Peter tilted his head studying the boy, sniffing the air slightly and chuckled to himself. Protection spell. His Sweet Pea would do what she could to protect her little cousin.

At least Peter was good at adapting his plans.

Chapter Text

Chapter 23

“’M sorry Derek”

He blinked his eyes open, grimacing at the metallic twinge of blood on his teeth. Turning his head enough to look past his bicep, He could see Val strung up next to him; her body slumped against the fence behind her. She must be weak from whatever drug they kept shooting into her.

“Not your fault, Kate would’ve caught one of us eventually”

“I meant ‘bout our fight” she slurred rolling her head towards him before groaning and closed her eyes.

He sighed and dropped his head. “Don’t worry about it, you had a point I- we did abandon you” he corrected himself

Val made an disgruntled sound followed by a huff of laughter. “Fuck we fight a lot then; no idiot…I mean the one ‘fore the fire”

His head snapped back up, eyes widening.

Val blinked her eyes open slowly to stare up into the dark of the ceiling. “I said some real fucked up shit to you that day and it feels like that fight led us…here”

She swallowed thickly fighting against the haze that clouded her brain.

“We were kids Glass”

She snorted swinging her head from side to side almost dramatically. “Doesn’ matter, I said shit to hurt you and it fucking… it drove you to that bitch” she bit out trying to find her footing again to ease the pull on her wrists.

“Instead of just talking to you, I just put blame on you and all that shit and it-“ she paused eyes burning as her brain replayed that day. The screaming the anger.

“I didn’t mean to kill her” she croaked out.

Derek closed his eyes, breathing slowly. “I know, I shouldn’t have said you’d lose control on Stiles” he tipped his head to her. “He is annoying though”

“You were a teenage boy once too”

Derek scowled as she gave an amused grin, before it fell and she looked back at the floor.

“You might not be completely wrong though, I” she inhaled deeply. “I drained from him without meaning to”

Derek tested the chains again, leaning to look at her as best he could.

“You haven’t done that in a while”

She nodded.

Derek leaned back into the fence staring at the door.

“Did Peter promise not to hurt Stiles?”

“Yeah”

“And you believed him?”

There was a pause.

“Glass”

“I have to Der, he promised”

Derek exhaled through his nose, eyebrows furrowing.

The door shook before rattling open.

“Yay; round two”

\\\\\\

Th line rang, an electronic hum in his ear as Stiles held a tie up to his shirt and frowned.

“That doesn’t match, shit Lydias going to kill me” he tossed it aside reaching for another.

“The number you are trying to reach is currently unavail-“

He clicked his tongue hanging up and redialed.

“Cmon Val” he bounced on his feet, tossing the ties aside to chew on a thumbnail.

“the number-“  

He scowled hanging up spinning as there was a knock on his door. “yeah”

The sheriff pushed the door open. “Hey, I was just about to head out”

Stiles tossed his phone on his bed, “Any leads?”

Noah sighed, “Nothing yet” he frowned looking at the mess that was his son’s room, the collection of ties and button ups thrown around on the bed.

“A lot of effort if you’re just going with Scott”

Stiles blinked looking back at the pile before clearing his throat and rubbed his head. “Actually dad, I uh… I have a date”

“Oh I…that’s great” his father smiled before frowning. “I don’t need to have a talk with-“

Stiles flailed, “Oh god no! Dad please just no”

Noah sighed in relief.

“Val already got to me…with charts” Stiles muttered making his dad chuckle. He smiled slightly, “That was horrifying and graphic enough”

“Guess I’ll have to thank her for saving me from doing it” Noah murmured.

Stiles laughed softly motioning back to his mess, “Could definitely use her help right now though, I don’t think any of my stuff matches” he chewed on his thumbnail again. “You think she’d mind if I checked her closet, I know she had some button ups”

Noah patted his shoulder, “I’m sure she wouldn’t mind, just don’t go crazy in there”

The room still smelt of cinnamon and the barest hint of clove.

Stiles pushed the door open fully inhaling deeply and felt his shoulder relax.

Val’s room was still lit up by the string lights on her ceiling, the bed still made. It was just frozen in time.

“I’m headed out!” his dad called, boots heavy of the stairs.

Stiles hummed, looking over his cousin’s desk. Val wasn’t a clean freak by any means but as he looked around, he noticed there was nothing that gave away to what she really was.

No crystals tucked away, no spellbooks among regular paperbacks. Her dresser didn’t have any jars of herbs. Nothing he thought a witch would have due to his research. He’d been in this room many times over the years, but had he actually looked? Probably not, if he had he would never have been the wiser. There was really no evidence of his cousin’s true nature.

If she had really been hiding for what she was for so long, it would make sense he supposed.

He turned for the closet, pulling the door open and sighed. Most of it was just hoodies crammed in, dark colors next to her work clothes. He pushed the hangers around checking the button ups he could find.

The closet was just a normal collection of clothing.

Had he been hoping for something? Maybe.

Maybe he hoped for just some shred of proof to Val being a witch, that maybe there was a book, or a box filled with witchcraft that could help him find her. But everything was just so. Human.

Scott had a theory that the Argents had Derek; but what if they also had Val? Did they think she was a werewolf? Would they use her as bait for the Alpha?

He pulled a shirt out staring at it with a small frown.

After the Hospital incident where they found Peter was the Alpha and Stiles had seen Val’s eyes turn pink and not gray; he’d turned to the internet, hoping that there was something to explain the sudden change in color, but he had no luck.

He’d already had issues comparing Val to other witches, anything she had done, and he saw didn’t match entirely up to what Witches could do, or how they did it.

Val could just produce magic with a muscle twitch it seemed. His research told him Witches usually needed a spell or a potion. Which she also did.

He hung the shirt back up reaching for another and held it up nodding. It would have to do. He pushed the closet door closed and turned only to stop and step back swinging his head to study a picture frame.

His head tilted, eyebrows pulling together, reaching out with a free hand he lifted it off the wall to study it closer.

How had he never noticed this?

It was Val, teenage Val. With whom he guessed was Laura Hale, Derek and another female were in the photo as well, all four of them standing somewhere in what looked like the Beacon Hills preserve.

Laura and the other girl were almost on top of each other as they were in a fit of laughter.

Val stood with Derek behind her, one of his arms wrapped around her collarbone and his face almost hidden in her neck, Val was also laughing with the other girls as she clung onto Derek’s arm

Stiles exhaled turning, tilting the picture before hooking it back on the wall.

If Val was anywhere then she had to be with Derek.

His fingers tapped the frame before he dropped his arm and left the room his stomach twisting.

\\\\

Her heartbeat was drumming in her ears, the sound was becoming unbearable.

Val inhaled roughly as she was brought up, air finally expanding her lungs as the hand at the back of her head loosened.

“Are they talking yet?”

She sputtered out water as Kate paced the room.

“No, this one keep making jokes” the hand pulled her up to her feet and she stumbled to keep her footing.

“Thanks for the drink” she wheezed earning a glare.

Kate made a frustrated noise, stepping into her line of sight.

“C’mon Valerie, Derek can heal but you? I mean if these methods don’t the drugs will eventually kill you”” she crossed her arms.

Val licked water off her lips studying Kate’s face, her eyes briefly flicking to the side where Derek was before continuing eye contact with the woman. She exhaled a sigh of defeat and Kate couldn’t help but grin.

“Tell me who the Alpha is” she breathed leaning in.

Val closed her eyes, tipping her back. “Forgive me father”

Kate stepped forward, glancing at Derek then back at the witch. “Father?”

“It’s been years since my last confession” Val lifted her head expression amused.

Kate swung, hand connecting to the witches’ face and the male hunter threw her to the ground.

Val rolled onto her back, cackling as Kate glared.

“Gag her”

The laughing was muffled as the hunter tied a cloth around Val’s mouth before pulling her over to chain her back to the fence.

Kate settled into a chair as she picked up her phone and scowled before looking at the male hunter.

“Leave I’ll handle it”

Kate watched him walk out before opening her phone and dialing her voicemail.

 “Hey, it’s me, I’m getting tired of leaving messages, I want to know where you are, Call me Now”

Val squinted at Kate as Chris Argents voice came through the speaker.

Kate inhaled deeply to sigh as she hung up. “Unfortunately, Derek, if you two aren’t going to talk” she set the phone down. “I’m just gonna have to kill you” she reached for the dial next to her.  “So, say Hi to your sister for me” she smiled pausing as Derek lifted his head to look at Kates back.

Kate tilted her head. “You did tell her about me, didn’t you?”

Derek’s eyes cut away glancing to Val who kept her gaze on Kate.

“The truth about the fire?” Kate stood smiling tauntingly at him.

“Or did you?” She gasped standing in front of him. “Did you tell anybody?”

Dereks eyes flicked to the side and Kate laughed. “Besides the obvious of course”

Dereks eyes looked down as Val closed hers.

“Oh sweetie, that’s just a lot of guilt to keep buried”

He glared at her.

“It’s not all your fault; you got tricked by a pretty face”

Val snorted as Kate laughed.

“It happens! Handsome young werewolf mistakenly falls in love with a super-hot girl; who comes from a family that kills werewolves, is that ironic?” she looked to Val who was side eyeing her now, the gag still in place.

“Is it ironic” she moved to lean towards Derek. “That you are inadvertently helping me track down the rest of the pack again?” she chuckled

“We’re just a little bit of history repeating” She turned away walking back to the table and paused hand tapping on the radio box there. Her expression shifted to thought.  “History repeating” she whispered. Her face lit up with realization.

She turned to walk back in front of Derek. “It’s not Jackson is it”

“Oh no, no, no He’s got a little scratch on the back of his neck, but he’s not in love with Allison”

Derek swallowed, eyes raising to meet Kate’s as her smile grew.

“Not like Scott”