''So it's happening tonight then?''
Derek groaned. He became tired of his little brother's need for constant reassurance and reminding.
''Yes Scott, we're taking the Argent twins tonight. They're not that well guarded tonight. Two of the packs not so far from here are having some kind of showdown with each other. The drive's two hours away, by the time they realise, we'll already have them out of there''
Scott nodded silently. Derek had learnt over the years that meant he was either accepting what you were saying. Or he just didn't want to speak up about it. Either way, Derek wasn't in the mood to have him challenge him. Not tonight.
Although Derek didn't necessarily approve of the plan, it was Peter's plan. And he wasn't going to defy his alpha any time soon. Not just out of the strong sense of loyalty but due the fact that, although Peter may have been older, he was just as strong.
After Derek and Scott had been held by the Argents after the fire, Peter had become an obsessive amount more protective of his pack over the years. Recruiting more members and purposefully going after hunters. It lead to a hectic lifestyle of hadn't even stepped foot inside of a school since he was sixteen. Peter couldn't let his nephew go back. Especially not with the Argent twins in a neighbouring school.
Ah yes, the infamous Argent twins. The pair were only nineteen yet they had a lot of packs worried. They came from a strong unit of hunters, their father and grandfather being very successful in their trade. Peter had no doubt in his mind that Chris and Gerrard were already training them. Apparently the girl Allison, was skilled in Archery. Specifically with wolfsbane coated arrows. The boy, Stiles... was surprisingly dead on the radar. But that didn't mean Peter wasn't preparing for him. Perhaps they were keeping him under wraps. A secret weapon of sorts. But he had his own: Derek and Scott
It pained Peter a little to think that his two nephews were now 'weapons' but for the sake of survival, he trained them excessively. Made them stronger, faster, smarter. He tried his best to prepare them for anything. The hunters were unpredictable, especially the Argents. They were a strong family. The Lahey's were a small family. Just a father and son but they had their presence felt nonetheless. The Whittemore's only had one son as the Martin's only had one daughter. But those two weren't as prominent or as threatening so he didn't waste much time fretting about those two.
Erica and Boyd had become recent additions. Recent by Peter's standards as they'd been with the pack only three years. Whereas Scott and Derek were family. They had proved themselves in times of crisis so Peter kept them around. Even cared for them as if they're last names were Hale. But he wouldn't let himself get carried away with pack mentality too much. Peter was loyal. Yet he knew it could only benefit so much before it held a person back.
He liked Erica's fire and passion. The way her eyes glowed viciously in and out of wolf form. He also hoped that she would interest one of his nephews but was pleased for her anyway when her and Boyd announced their relationship. Even more pleased when she announced her pregnancy, which led to another addition to the pack, Talia. Who they'd honourably named after Derek and Scott's mother. He found it odd given that they'd never met her but he assumed it was simply to show their respect. Neither Derek or Scott challenged it. Scott liked the gesture. Derek did not.
Either way, the pack fell in love with the little girl and felt a strong sense of attatchement to her little giggles and cheeky grins. It was a shame she wouldn't be able to get a normal education but Boyd was more than able of providing her with one.
Boyd was the most quiet member of the pack. You could mistake it for being shy but it was so much more than that. It was sly, thoughtful observation. He always noted the little things in case they turned out to be important. He was usually the voice of reason. The calm. Which explained how he fit Erica's impulsive nature so well as he naturally dampened her fire without extinguishing it entirely. As cheesy as it sounded, they completed each other.
''Why do I have to stay home and look after Talia?'' Erica complained.
''Because honey, one of us has to. And if one of us has to get hurt tonight-''
''Which you won't!'' She interrupted vehemently.
''-I'd rather it be me than you'' Boyd finished.
She reluctantly accepted this and wrapped her arms around him. ''Promise me you'll come home in time for story time''.
He kissed the top of her head, ''Are you kidding? Daddy never misses story time''
She giggled as she buried her head deeper into his warm, broad shoulders.
She stepped back and looked up at him. She wanted to say it but Boyd just kissed her goodbye and said, ''I know''.
Boyd joined the others as they went over the plan one more time.
''Ready?''
''As we'll ever be''.
They all left Erica and Talia behind.
She was bathing Talia upstairs when she heard the door slam. She rubbed the soapy water over her daughters arms and body. Almost as if she recognised the situation, Talia looked up at her confused.
''It's okay baby. Daddy will be home in time for story time before bed'' she said the last part absent-mindedly, ''He promised''