Peter used his nose to guide him. The smell was very subtle, and he was sure that he wouldn't have been able to find it if he hadn't encountered it before. Seattle, when he was eighteen, horny and away from his family. It had been a great summer. He had lost several kind of virginities back then. Covens were fun when they didn't know you were a werewolf. When they did they immediately tried to kill you, though, so he knew he had to be careful.

He wondered if he would register at their radars. He wasn't a full fledged werewolf yet - he couldn't be. If he had died an alpha he had to live an alpha. Right know? He was an omega, and he knew it. Between that and his condition of weakened resurrectee, he seriously doubted they would notice. That would give him an early advantage.

He was the alpha of Beacon Hills. He just needed to reclaim his title from the pups that were running around like they were big shots.

He had taken the title from her niece once, and somehow he still felt guilty about it. That's why he hadn't murdered Derek. Guilt. It felt so odd to feel guilty about what was technically his right. And yet...

The scent became stronger. Sweet flowers, roses. Jasmine. This was a powerful coven.

Of course witches would be the first to be attracted to a holy sanctuary as the Nemeton. Even he had felt it pulse. When Blake had finally winded down, he could feel the magic of the place increase tenfold. The whole town was vibrating with it, even if people didn't notice. Emotions were heightened. Colors were more intense. It looked like Beacon Hills was a whole new place.

And soon it was going to have a whole new set of residents. He could feel them.

He finally reached the place where the scent was the strongest. It was a house, in the suburbs. Looked like a big house, so there could be anything from a small coven of three to a full fledged fraternity. He wondered how to approach them.

He could ring the bell.

"Yes?"

At the door was a young woman, probably around Scott's age. She didn't smell strongly of magic, so he supposed she was a serving girl. Or maybe a young initiate.

"Hello. My name is Peter Hale. I don't know if I'm in the right place. "

"Well, that depends on what you are looking for."

"I don't know how to say it without sounding a bit crazy."

"Well, say it. I'd be the judge of it."

"Can I talk to your mother instead?"

She gave him the stink eye. And yelled for her mother.

"My, my. Peter Hale."

"Sabrina? What a coincidence."

It may have been too much of a coincidence. Or maybe not. After all, Sabrina had boasted to him of being among the rising stars of the witchcraft circles in Seattle, and it was relatively close. She would've been among the first ones to feel the Nemeton.

That could complicate things, or make them a lot easier.

"And to what do I owe this pleasure, old friend?"

"Friend? If I recall correctly, your mother tried to kill me."

"Well, that was because you took my virginity. And my brothers'. The two of them."

"Yes, I remember that. You also took mine. All three of you. All of them."

The women laughed. He had forgotten how musical her voice was. And apparently her daughter's was as melodic as hers.

"Well, my little wolf, don't stay there, do come in. May I offer you a place at my table?"

"And I am honored to receive your hospitality."

"You remembered the words?"

"I'd never forget them."

"Please. We were about to begin dinner."

He followed them to the main room. A large table had been set up, and no less than thirteen seats were available. As a guest he received the place of honor, at Sabrina's right. Her daughter was at her left. She introduced him to her coven, witches and warlocks distributed along the table, mostly young people, except for what looked to be the old Warren crone. He hoped she didn't remember him.

"Hale. Are you here now to try and fuck my granddaughter too?"

"I wouldn't dare to do so, ma'am. I am not the wolf I used to be."

"No, you are not. You are weak. I can see it in your aura. What happened to you?"

"I died. I latched myself onto the brain of a Wailing Girl. I used her magic to come back."

"A ghost."

"I am flesh."

"You are nothing."

He was not nothing.

"I may be a little indisposed, but that does not mean I am not of use to you."

"Of use to us? You?"

"I know why you are here."

"Every supernatural creature within three thousand miles knows why we are here, you don't need to be special for that."

"No, what I meant to say is, I know why you are here. The reasons that unleashed it."

"The sacrifices?"

"Aye."

"So you know how to tap into the Nemeton's power? You may prove yourself of some utility, Hale. If you are not lying."

"I am a guest under your roof. A lie would revoke my privileges and get me out of here, wouldn't it?"

"Fucking my daughter was supposed to do that too, and yet you stayed."

"Mother, how many times have I told you, it was consensual!"

"Bah, lies and wine it's all you've served me. But fine, I'll bite for now. What do you want?"

"Your help. Recovering. Recovering my power."

What he always wanted.

"We can't just give you your powers, we don't deal with the magic of the moon, remember?"

"Oh, no, nothing like that. Just help with the local pack. After all, if I kill their alpha I will gain its powers."

"That sounds feasible. But, not until you have helped us."

"Melinda, you have yourself a deal."

"In that case, shut up and have dinner. I don't want to keep you here any longer that I have to. And remember that if you and Sabrina decide to go to her room I'll know, and I won't be pleased."

"Mother!"

"Hush, now. I'm hungry."