Author's Note: This is my first Teen Wolf story, however I have posted other stories on this site. This will be AU after season four and will introduce a few new original characters and my own plot. I also want to warn that because some facts aren't known or aren't consistent in the show, I will make them fit my plot. Like Derek's age for example. (He will be in his 30's in this story.)
This is rated 'M' for dark themes and adult content. This is your warning. I will not post ratings in each chapter, it takes away from the story flow. While this is a romance, there will also be plenty of drama and action. This will also be a slow burn romance.
Feel free to leave a review with your thoughts, comments and/or questions. I would love to know what you guys are thinking. I also try to respond to any PM's or reviews that are left as long as I am able to reply so please make sure you are logged in.
I am also looking for a BETA so if you have extra time on your hands are good with grammar and spelling, drop me a line. Until then, please forgive me for any mistakes. Being dyslexic makes writing a bit more challenging for me.
Thank you for clicking on this story, and giving it a try. I truly hope you enjoy it.
Deals in the Dark
Chapter 1
By: DanniMitchell85
BETA: N/A (Could be you!)
*~*~* Somewhere in the Tongass Forest, Alaska *~*~*
Running. Running was all she could do. Pushing the raging pain burning her back out of her mind, Meadow focused on moving forward. One foot in front of the other. Again and again. Mud and dirt mixed causing dry leafs to cling to her once semi-clean hiking boots, as twigs got tangled in the laces. The under-brush and small branches tugged and pulled at her jeans, cutting and ripping into the denim. She knew in her gut if she risked a glance behind her, she would lose what little advantage she had been able to gain. She couldn't afford to give up now, not when they were so close.
A strong gust of wind picked up, blowing through the dark forest surrounding her. Combined with the silver moon light overhead, many shadows came to life. It was difficult to tell what was a harmless branch or something more terrifying and dangerous. Pausing to listen to her surrounding, Meadow cradled the bundle in her arms closer to her chest. Wrapped within the warmth of her jacket, small hands clinched the front of her shirt. What little was left of it. Another gust of wind picked up and the child in her arms cried out softly as he tried to bury himself into her for comfort.
"Shh," she tried to comfort the fearful child. "Just a bit more, we are almost there." She fought to keep her own fear out of her words, but knew she failed.
"Their coming," the small child said with a whimper. She didn't need any type of heightened scenes or special gift to know his fear was coming off of him in waves. It would leave a clear trail to follow for those who were hunting them.
Having nothing else to offer comfort, Meadow took note of their surroundings. They had to be close, she knew they would die if they had much further to go. Recognizing their location, and with a deep breath, she took to running once more. Trying to tune out the many raging questions that flooded her mind, she pushed to focus on moving forward. Part of her was yelling for her to stop and just process what had happened, that there had to be a mistake or miss understanding. The other part was driving her to survive the night, there would be time to reflect later.
A loud, deep and vicious howl filled the night air causing the very ground beneath her to shake. Stopping for brief moment to regain her balance, Meadow knew time was running out. Pushing herself to move forward once again, she made sure to tuck the child safely in her arms.
Echoing howls called out around her. Each one sounding more dangerous and closer than the last. There was no telling how many there were. But she knew it didn't matter, she wasn't a match for even one of them. They were larger, stronger and faster than anything she had ever seen or heard of. Another set of howls echoed around her. Dread clutched her making it harder to breath.
Time was running out.
With burning lungs and rapid beating heart, Meadow ran on. Jumping over large roots and dodging around even larger trees, she didn't stop as the sound of snapping branches filled the silence. Moving around a large evergreen, she almost cried with relief.
They had made it.
Closing the distance, Meadow walked up to the tree that had been cherished by her people for so long. Its bark was smooth and white as snow. The tree stood towering over her with its thick branches twisting overhead, reaching out in all directions. Lower branches, heavy with the weight of time, bent and curved down as if offering a warm hug to those who stood under it. There were many different names for the great tree, but no matter the different titles, it was a tree of power.
A nemeton.
Many people today didn't believe in the ancient powers of old, didn't give a second though to the stories and myths. Meadow knew differently. While many of the stories did change over time, most of the details getting skewed, she knew the truth and many of the facts. She had been schooled on what truly lurked in the shadows, and educated on the different types of forces in the world. She wasn't an expert by any means, and never witnessed the wonderful power of the great tree, but she had hope. It was her faith in the nemeton that would be key in surviving the night.
Her sense of security shattered when warmth ghosted over the back of her neck. Rancid breath carried the stench of decay with every exhale. Her muscles become stiff as everything became numb. Within her arms the little boy clung to her with tears rolling down his cheeks. His cries where silent, his fear was reaching a new level. He was far too young to be facing death. Wrapping her arms around him tighter, she took a step closer to the large white tree.
With no resistance, she took another step. She fought to ignore the beast behind her, taking yet another step closer. With each step closer, she could feel the weight of the creature behind her. Step for step, the beast took one to match. So close now, she needed to only reach out and she would be able to touch the smooth trunk of the nemeton.
'Please,' she called out to the tree with a silent prayer. 'Let this nightmare end.'
"Did you really think we would let you go?" a chilling, yet calm, female voice called out from behind the large beast that stood at her back. "Did you really think we would just let you take what is ours?"
Biting her tongue, Meadow kept quiet. Holding the small child in her arms and keeping her eyes on the pure tree in front of her. Warm tears burned at her eyes. She didn't want to give up hope. However deep down she knew the outcome wasn't going to be in their favor. There was no more time. She hadn't been fast enough, hadn't been strong enough to protect the innocent one in her arms.
"He's just a boy," Meadow spoke more to herself then to those behind her. She didn't need to turn around to see others had now joined them. She wouldn't be surprised if they were all there to watch the final act, the final sacrifice.
"Age doesn't matter to the Great Power," a strong male voice replied. "Age makes no difference, blood is blood."
"And his blood is strong," another female voice called out with glee. "I can almost taste it. Feel it's power washing over me," she continued.
Steps could be heard moving forward and Meadow felt a weight come down on her shoulder. Clawed hands forced her around and pushed her back. Stumbling she lost her footing and slid down into the large roots of the tree. Tucking the small boy into her body, she used her knees as shields. Tears freely fell, and she did nothing to stop the flow.
Everything was numb. She could no longer feel her open and raw wounds, couldn't feel the cold of the night or even the earth below her. Only the sturdy base of the tree that held her up and the shacking child in her arms.
'Please,' Meadow called out silently once more. 'Please, don't allow them to hurt him.'
Things shifted around her. She could feel someone bend down and reach out.
"No," Meadow said aloud weakly, holding on as tight as she could. 'Please, how do I save him?' her heart cried out. 'Please someone tell me how to save him!'
"There is nothing left to fight for," the male said as he reached up and whipped away her many tears. His hands where large and strong. As he continued to wipe away the tears that fell freely from her eye, trails of blood where left behind. With eyes shut tightly she tried to push the urge to vomit down. The thought of his touch was sickening when his hands were still covered in blood. Their blood. "Nothing will stop us, nothing can," he said in a calm voice. "Hand us over the child and we will end your pain. Force us to take him and we will make you watch as we cut him open and spill his blood."
'Where there is life, death will always follow. Balance must be maintained,' a calming voice spoke to her. The words echoed in her heart and left a trail of warmth.
'This is more than just death, this is murder for an evil purpose,' she responded to the ghostly voice. 'I would gladly offer my life in exchange for his, if it's truly about balance. Life for a life.'
'Then it shall be done," the words echoed once more.
While she wasn't sure what the ghostly voice meant, she knew the others hadn't a clue about the silent conversation. She wasn't sure what had been talking to her, all she knew was someone, something, was going to safe the child. It's all she needed to know. She didn't have any fear of dying as long as he was able to survive. "As long as I have life in me, I will never surrender to anything so dark and wicked." Meadow vowed with as much confidence as she could gather. Looking up she glared into the eyes of the man before her. Dark powerful eyes stared back at her.
"I can respect your level of commitment," he told her. His voice warm and strong. "I hope you understand I am a man of my word. I won't end your suffering until the ceremony is complete. You will watch as I cut into the child and take from him what is rightfully mine," he informed her. Reaching out he once again touched her face, "Such loyalty is a beautiful and rare thing." He admired. "I am tempted to keep you."
"Rivet, time is running out. The cycle is almost over," the calmer of the two female's called out.
With a deep breath, Rivet reached out and took hold of Meadow's neck, lifting her up off the ground with little ease.
Without any type of warning, blinding white light flared up from behind her causing Rivet to release her. Temping the shield his eyes from the ever growing bright light, he stumbled back. Meadow could only watch on as he fell to the ground, the massive beast that had been the first to find her cried out in pain as it stepped inform of Rivet to blood him from the sudden light. What seemed to be causing them to all shriek in pain, filled Meadow with a warm comfort. Cries from the two other women echoed in her ears as they tried to escape.
"NO!" she heard Rivet call out. "Stop them!" He demanded.
What happened next, Meadow would never truly know. The creature that was once a werewolf rushed her, pain exploded in her side, and the feeling of weightlessness took over. While everything was flooded with powerful white light, her vision darkened. The last thing she remembered was hearing the heart wrenching howls of the child in her arms as her grip loosened.
END of Chapter ONE
I hope you all enjoyed the introduction! The next chapter should be out soon, until then please leave a review and let me know what you think.
