What Once Was Old Is New Again

by Laurel-Wolford

The three sophomores (Liam, Mason, and Brett) arrive beaten and disheveled at Stiles' house in the middle of the night during the Super Moon. Who attacked them and why? Where are Malia, Scott, and Theo? Will the McCall Pack be able to weather this latest (metaphorical) storm in tact? (I am horrible at summaries that don't give too much away.) Will eventually be a crossover.

1. Chapters 1-18

What Once Was Old Is New Again

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the laptop on which the story is typed. I read through several stories that triggered ideas for this one, but I was reading as a guest and couldn't save them. If anything sounds the least bit like a story that you have posted please let me know so that I can give proper credit to those who deserve it.

Please read and review: it's my muse!

SPOILER ALERT! Season five is getting small rewrite. Why? Because that's what fanfiction is all about. I'm keeping what canon I like, discarding what I don't, and making up what I want. I just watched the mid-season finale and really liked where some of the canon is going, but there are a few things that I will need to change in order to get this story where it needs to go. Since no last name is given for the twins I'm going to use the actors' last name: Carver.

Summary: The three sophomores (Liam, Mason, and Brett) arrive beaten and disheveled at Stiles' house in the middle of the night during the Super Moon. Who attacked them and why? Where are Malia, Scott, and Theo? Will the McCall Pack be able to weather this latest (metaphorical) storm in tact? And if they can't, what will happen to them?

Part 1

"Keep running!" Brett yelled over his shoulder, both to Mason who was struggling to keep up and to Liam whom Brett was basically pulling along. The newer werewolf may have been much smaller than Brett but he was seriously strong, and he was trying to run back toward those who were pursuing them.

"I think . . . it's just . . . up . . . ahead!" Mason struggled to reply to the tall wolf.

Brett cleared the line of trees and found himself in a suburban neighborhood. He paused just long enough for Mason to catch up and point them in the right direction, and to readjust his hold on his former rival.

"Liam!" Brett growled, eyes glowing and teeth bared as he struggled against him. "You can't go back there! They'll kill you!"

"I have to!" was the reply from the crazed beta. Just then Mason broke through the trees and stopped by Brett long enough to point to a non-descript house three houses from where they currently stood.

"There" the word only audible thanks to Brett's enhanced hearing. The three took off again toward the house and the hope of safety that it represented.

It took less than a minute for the trio to reach the house and for Mason to start pounding on the door. Brett had both arms wrapped around Liam as he continued to struggle to go back the way they had just come. "Liam, be still." Brett continued to try to get through to his friend. Mason continued to pound on the front door until it was thrown open by an aggravated resident.

"WHAT?!" Stiles yelled out the door to whoever was pounding on it. However the instant that he saw the trio he was in panic mode. "Oh my god!" He exclaimed. "Get in here." He all but pulled the three younger men in off of the front stoop. He couldn't help but notice that Mason and Brett both looked back toward the trees at the end of the street. Put that with the way that Liam was struggling against them to get back that direction he knew that whatever had happened must have happened there. His instinct to protect his pack took root first and opened the jar of mountain ash that he and his dad had started leaving on a shelf by the door and used it to seal out whatever was after them.

With that done he turned to the boys. "What happened? Who did this?" Noticing that Brett and Mason were still trying to keep Liam in check and couldn't answer he stepped up to the young wolf. "Liam! Buddy! Calm down." Stiles tentatively reached out to touch the side of the boy's face. "You're safe now. Shhh!" He spoke as calmly as he could. It seemed to be working. "There you go. You're safe. That's it. Look at me." Stiles continued to speak to Liam with the tone of voice that was normally used for rabid dogs. Although looking at the boy Stiles concluded that the comparison may be fairly accurate. "Shh! Shh! You're safe now, Liam."

Liam struggled less and less against Brett and Mason until he finally stopped. He blinked, his features returning to human. The boy looked up with tears in his eyes. Tears of confusion, pain, betrayal, loss, grief. It was all Stiles could do to not burst in to tears just looking at him.

"Stiles?" Liam's voice was so weak and timid. Stiles did the only thing that any decent person would do. He grabbed the boy around the shoulders and wrapped him in the tightest hug he could. He immediately felt the young man's arms wrap around his waist. It felt as if he was holding on for his very life. Which, based on how the three boys looked, that may not be too far from the truth.

Not letting go of Liam, Stiles looked back and forth between the other two boys. "What happened? Who did this?" Whoever had done this to his boys was going to pay; seriously pay. He may like to give them all shit, but as the surrogate big brother that was his job. Right? But woe be unto anyone else who tried to hurt them.

Mason and Brett shared a long look that seemed to carry the weight of an entire conversation. Together, they both looked at him and said the last thing he ever thought that he would hear.

"Scott."

Part 2

"Scott did this?" Stiles asked. Again. "Scott? True Alpha Scott?" They continued to nod their heads in answer to his repeated questions. It wasn't that he didn't believe them, he did. He just couldn't quite get his head to accept that his best friend had done this. He wouldn't do this to someone he hated, let alone his own people. Not unless . . . Oh, now that's a terrifying idea.

Brett's werewolf senses immediately noticed the changes in the older teen. Increased heart rate (which was already fast to being with), increased anxiety (which was already pretty high), and was that fear he could smell? Without thought he guided to Stiles to sit on the couch two steps away before he passed out on the floor. Liam was still clinging to Stiles so he ended up sitting so close to him on the couch that Liam was all but in Stiles' lap. Neither seemed to notice.

"What is it?" Brett was nervous to ask, but he was even more afraid to not know. Brett and Mason sat in the two chairs opposite the couch. It was a much needed reprieve.

Stiles still had a faraway look in his eyes, as if he was trying to put together a puzzle in his mind. "Was it just Scott or were Malia and Theo with him?" He refocused on the two boys across from him and their silence and deer-in-the-headlights look they both had confirmed it. "Theo."

Mason looked confused when Stiles didn't elaborate. "What about Theo?"

"He's won." Stiles looked utterly defeated. "Wait!" His head snapped up so fast that Liam actually growled thinking something was attacking. "Sorry," Stiles started rubbing soothing circles on the boy's back. "Where are Lydia and Hayden?"

At the mention of Hayden's name Liam burst into a fresh round of tears and clung tighter to Stiles. He had no idea what was going on. He looked to Brett and Mason for answers.

"Hayden died a few hours ago," Mason softly informed him. "Liam, Mrs. McCall, and I were there with her." He hung his head as the tears silently made their way down his face.

Stiles sat further back in the couch and patted the seat next to him. Without hesitation Mason jumped up and curled into Stiles right side.

Brett was leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "Mason brought him to my house as soon as Parrish came for her bo . . . her b . . . When he came for her." He wasn't crying yet, but as he brought his hands up to rub over his face he knew they weren't far off. Stiles tapped his foot on the carpet to get Brett's attention.

"I'm out of arms," Stiles said softly. "But come here." He tapped his foot on the floor in between where his feet would be. No hesitation. Brett all but dove for the spot of the floor and clung to the older teen's right leg while he left one pressed up against his back in a makeshift hug.

There were only two things that Stiles wanted more than to know the rest of the story: That the boys knew that they were safe, and that Lydia was safe. He removed his arm from around Mason long enough to grab his phone out of his back pocket before rewrapping it. As he hit the send button in the text message to Lydia there was a knock at his door.

Both Brett and Liam were on their feet and wolfed out almost before the sound of the knock had even registered with Stiles' brain.

"Stiles, it's me!" Lydia's strained voice came through the wooden door. The two wolves stopped growling, but they did not shift back. They stayed vigilant and ready, just in case it was a trap. Stiles unlocked and opened the door to see Lydia standing there; a bruise clearly evident on her left cheekbone.

"You alone?" Stiles asked in a very direct, almost harsh manner. Lydia looked so taken aback by the question that that was enough of an answer for him. He stepped back to allow her to enter the house. Still not having said a word, he shut and relocked the door. She turned around to give him an earful, but was met instead with a face full of his chest as he wrapped her in a tight hug. It took just a fraction of a second for her to return it. She wasn't quite sure when they'd become such close friends, but was so glad that they were. A low growl behind her had her spinning around quickly.

"It's okay guys," Stiles took a step away from the banshee and toward the growling wolves. He slowly made his way back to the couch. Almost before he has actually sat down, the three young teens were back in their curled up positions around him. Lydia's eyebrows just about touched her hairline, but wisely, no words came out of her mouth. "A little help here." He whined, inclining his head to the other side of Mason.

Knowing that she was going to have to wait to hear the backstory, she sat next to Mason and carefully pulled him in to her side. He eagerly went; he was the only one of the three sophomores that had anywhere near full control of his mental faculties at the moment, so that meant that he was the only one of them that could be moved without triggering a possible wolf-out. Stiles used his now free hand and began to . . . well . . . to pet the wolf at feet. That resulted in Brett trying to snuggle closer to Stiles; not that it was possible, but the kid gave it a great try.

The five teenagers stayed silent and motionless, save for the occasional sniffle or the rubbing of a back, for what seemed like hours. It was probably less than thirty minutes, but time seemed to be moving differently with everyone lost in their own thoughts.

"Parrish is a Hellhound." Lydia softly blurted. Stiles' shook a little as he tried to clear away his thoughts to focus on what the red head has just told him.

"Interesting." He replied. After a beat he added, "What the hell is a Hellhound?"

"Long story short," she informed him. "He's the Bearer of Death and Guardian of the Supernatural."

"Oh," was all he could say as he processed it. "That actually kind of makes a sense in a 'well-this-is-Beacon-Hills-after-all' kind of way." She nodded her head in agreement with his assessment. "I need to make a phone call, but both of my hands are a little full," Stiles said to her. She gave him a half smirk in reply. "Could you dial Derek for me?" He finished. Her eyes widened a little, but wisely chose not to ask him why.

She grabbed his phone off of the arm of the couch where he had set it when he had gotten up to answer the door upon her arrival. She scrolled through the contacts until she found, "Sourwolf." Rolling her eyes and trying not to giggle (it just somehow didn't seem appropriate) she pressed the call button and then put the phone between Stiles ear and shoulder.

She could hear it ring twice before a gruff voice answered.

"This better be important," he grumbled. Stiles, having long ago gotten used to the grouchiness of the older wolf wasn't even phased by the way he answered the phone.

"I need you here. Now," was all Stiles said. No yelling, no demanding, just calmly stated.

"I'm on my way. I'll be there in less than twenty-four hours," came the unhesitant answer. Stiles' shoulders slumped slightly.

"I'm not sure we have that long." His voice suddenly sounded old and tired. Apparently Derek heard it too.

"I'll have help to you as fast as I can. I'll call you when I'm closer." Derek ended the call. Stiles lifted his head up just enough for Lydia to grab the phone before it fell. She gently set it back on the arm of the couch.

Neither of the older teens spoke. They both let out a long, heavy sigh, and leaned in to the back of the couch. Both with sleeping teens snuggled in to them, it didn't take long for them to doze off as well.

Part 3

Two snarling, teeth-gnashing werewolves jumping to their feet, followed almost immediately by a cautious knock on the front door woke Stiles, Lydia, and Mason and had them on their feet too. The two older teens glanced back and forth from the door to each other, trying to decide what to do.

"Who is it?" Lydia asked in a scared voice.

"It's Ethan," came the unexpected reply. Stiles and Lydia both looked like fish with their mouths open and their eyes open wide.

"Ethan?" Stiles repeated loudly, too shocked to move.

"Derek sent me," Ethan relayed through the still closed door.

"Derek?" Lydia replied louder than Stiles had.

"Are you two going to keep parroting everything back to me? Through the door?" That made Stiles almost jump as he hadn't dawned on him that he hadn't moved yet.

"Coming. Sorry," Stiles said.

"S'ok," came the reply. "But, when you open the door don't remove the ash yet," he informed them.

"Why not?" Stiles asked as he opened the door to reveal the former alpha werewolf.

"Because of them," he nodded his head toward Brett and Liam, who were shifting their weight back and forth on their feet as if trying to decide if they should attack the new arrival. "I could smell them before I even got out of the car. It smells like you have two feral, rapid puppies backed in to a corner. And it looks like that's a fairly apt description."

"It's been one hell of a night," Lydia sighed to him by way of explanation.

"Looks that way," he agreed. "Okay, so here's how this is going to work," the young man explained. "Once I'm inside the ash, neither of you will touch me. I'm going to sit over here against the wall in plain sight of both of your betas and be very, very still. You're going to reseal the ash and go back to sitting exactly like you were before I arrived. No sudden moves. Got it?" Both older teens nodded their heads slowly.

Stiles used his left foot to sweep away a small amount of the ash allowing their former school mate to enter the house. Good to his word, Ethan took one step inside and two steps to the right before the slid slowly down the wall to sit on the floor. He had kept his head up, but his eyes downcast trying to indicate to the young wolves that he was not there to threaten them or theirs.

With the door shut, locked, and resealed, Stiles slowly walked back to the couch where Lydia was already seated with Mason. As Stiles sat down the two wolves sat at the same time, but they made sure that they facing the new comer. Neither shifted back to human, but remained vigilant. Once everyone was back down Ethan raised his eyes to the wolves, make sure to keep his gaze soft and non-threatening.

"Lydia, Stiles," Ethan spoke in a soft reassuring voice. Though clearly speaking to the two older teens he never broke eye contact with Brett and Liam. "I need you both to take a few deep breaths and try to project as much calm as you can. It might even help a little if you snuggle back in the couch a bit, as if me being here is of absolutely no concern to you."

They did as he asked. Lydia leaned back, pulling Mason with her. She began to rub soothing circles on his back. As she did, he curled in to her side and seemed to stop shaking. Once those two were calmer Stiles too leaned back, though he did not try to pull Liam or Brett with him. He did, however, try to rub Liam's back and the part of the back of Brett's head that he could reach. This seemed to help the two young boys. They stopped growling, though they refused to shift back to human, and they curled a little closer in to Stiles.

No one said anything for a few moments. Ethan tore his gaze away from the wolves to visually take in his surroundings. Although, every few seconds he would glance back to the wolves, consciously keeping his gaze soft. This seemed to have the desired effect as within a few moments the boys shifted back to human form. However, each time Ethan would return his gaze to the boys they would flash their eyes gold at him.

After another few minutes of this, the eye flash settled down to once every three or four times he'd look at them. "Would someone care to fill me in?" Ethan asked, looking at Stiles and Lydia for the first time since he came in to the room.

"Well, uh . . ." Stiles began. "I'm not sure where to start." His arm twitched in reflex of him wanted to rub the back of his head and neck, but then thought better of removing his hand from Brett. Probably wise on his part. "Really long story relatively short, there's a new big bad in town, and a former classmate from elementary school showed up at the same time. Coincidence?" He tilted his head in question. "I think not."

Ethan nodded his head as he listened, always looking back to the two boys wrapped up around Stiles every so often. "You think he's involved?" The former alpha asked.

"Before tonight I was about 80% certain. Now? I know he's involved; it also wouldn't surprise me if he was the one pulling all the strings." Stiles shrugged his shoulders at this. "He showed up to try to save Scott from the first attack, out of the blue. He's being manipulating everyone since he got here. He had a literal hand in what happened tonight to my pups. And his very first lie started with a tale that included you."

Ethan looked up surprised. "Me?" He raised his eyebrows, stunned. "How was I involved?"

"When Sc . . ." thinking it was probably better not to say his name right now he quickly restarted his explanation. "When we asked him how he and when he was bitten he told us that it was a few years ago. That he never knew who it was because before his first full moon his alpha was killed by two of his own betas – twins." Stiles gave him a knowing look. "He also said that the twins then went on to kill almost his entire pack so there was no one left to teach him about being a werewolf."

Ethan processed that for a moment before responding. "You're right. That was a lie." Stiles nodded and had an 'I-told-you-so-grin' on his face. "A-Aiden and I hated our maker. We stalked him night and day for almost two months before we killed him. We would have known if he had bitten some teenager during that last month. And he didn't. He was too busy beating the fear of . . . well . . . of him into our pack. Let's just say that almost everything we learned about being an alpha we learned from him; something I am not proud to say." Talking about his brother was still tender. It probably always would be.

Lydia looked over at Stiles deep in thought. "You really did say from that first night that something was off. Didn't you?"

"You bet your cute ass I did," he replied in a sing-song voice. "Why does no one ever listen to me?" He asked rhetorically.

Ethan shrugged his shoulders. "I would have." He stated simply.

Stiles' eyes (and Lydia's too) opened wide. "You would? Why?" He asked, flabbergasted.

"Because you're almost always right," he said matter-of-factly.

Lydia cocked her head in thought then nodded. "True. Well, not about everyday stuff," she corrected. "But about the big, supernatural stuff you are." Stiles stared at her before turning to stare at Ethan.

"Really?" He asked shocked. "You both agree that I was right?"

Lydia pointed at the darkening bruise on her cheekbone. "Anyone who would intentionally damage this face is clearly a bad guy," she said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"He did that to you?" Stiles and Ethan both questioned, earning them soft growls in reply.

"Sorry. Shh. Shh." Stiles tried to calm to two wolves down.

"I had gone to the school library too look something up about Parrish, when I had a banshee moment. He was standing behind me and asked me about it. When I said that someone was going to die tonight, in the library, he grinned like he knew some sort of sick secret. He said that he couldn't have me telling anyone. So he backhanded me to knock me out. When I came to I was locked in a closet. When I finally managed to escape my phone was gone so I came straight here." She explained to them.

Stiles was trying so hard to stay calm because he knew that the more upset he got then the more upset the two wolves would get. And right now keeping them calm was more important than his anger. But just barely more important. And as soon as he was allowed to feel strong emotions again he was going to be super pissed at this. He was struggling and he could hear the low warning growls from Liam and Brett, who were confused due to the lack of any apparent threat.

"You need to calm down Stiles," Ethan reminded him. Stiles was trying to use deep breathing so he could only nod in response.

"What three things cannot long be hidden?" Stiles mumbled under his breath. "The sun, the moon, and the truth." He repeated the answer a little slower. "The sun, the moon, the truth." Each time he repeated it a little slower. It seemed to be helping both him and the two wolves. Finally back in charge of his emotion he looked up at Ethan who wore a look of blatant curiosity.

"Where did you learn that?" Ethan asked.

"Brett, here." He replied patting the tall boy's shoulder. "He learned it from his alpha Satomi."

For a brief moment Lydia and Stiles were worried that Ethan's eyes might actually pop out of his head.

"Satomi? Satomi Ito?" He asked in clarification. Receiving nod in response he just hung his head in his hands. "This is turning in to a nightmare. Someone from this pack attacked betas not only from his own pack, but from an allied pack – Satomi Ito's pack no less – tonight. That's what triggered your call to Derek wasn't it?" The former alpha looked up at Stiles expectantly.

"First off, HE isn't actually part of the pack," Stiles defended. "And second, it was the two that ARE in are pack that make this an ever bigger issue."

"Two?" Now it was Ethan's turn to start losing the reign on his emotions. "Two members of your own pack, plus this other idiot, attacked these three pups tonight?" He wanted to make certain that he was understanding what he was hearing. Lydia's eyes were lost in thought, her face pale (making the bruise stand out that much more), she continued to hold on to Mason and rub circles on his back as she nodded. "Do I even want to ask which two?" Ethan was trying to remember all of the members of Scott's pack, but it had been too long since he'd been back.

Stiles was afraid that if he said the actual names that it might trigger the young wolves again. Thankfully Ethan seemed to understand that. "Derek's cousin slash my girlfriend and . . . and . . ." He couldn't bring himself to say it. He could barely admit it to himself let alone to someone else that it had been Malia and Scott with Theo tonight.

The way that he was having trouble saying the name along with the most noticeably absent person, Ethan quickly put two and two together. He really wished he sucked at math. He held up his hand to stop Stiles from having to continue. "Hold on. Are you really telling me that this kid from elementary somehow manipulated everything so that he, along with" Ethan mouthed the word 'Malia' as he pointed to Stiles, "and his" Ethan motioned to Liam "maker, attacked not only his own beta and human pack members but also a beta from an allied pack's – Satomi's pack?"

Lydia was still staring off in to space. "That about sums it up," she confirmed. Stiles just nodded. He was getting a serious migraine headache from all of this.

"Oh. My. God." Ethan spoke slowly, almost as if he was in a dream. "This is a fucking nightmare." Stiles couldn't fault the former alpha's logic, although he did think that he must be missing some vital piece of information if this was Ethan's response. Ethan continued lost in his own thoughts. "It's going to be a blood bath. The streets will literally run red with blood." That caught the attention of Lydia and Stiles.

"Want to run that by me again?" Stiles asked incredulously.

Ethan took a deep breath and slowly exhaled as he figured out how to explain it to the two of them.

"Let me ask you this. If it had been the other way around; if Satomi, one of her betas and their friend had attacked these three what would be your initial response?"

"The streets would run red with blood," Stiles admitted. Lydia's narrowed eyes and sharp nod indicated her approval of his answer.

"Now do you see what I mean?" Ethan asked.

"Well . . ." Lydia drew out the word as she finally spoke. "Fuck."

Part 4

Stiles, Lydia, and Ethan lapsed in to silence as their minds tried to process everything. Mason, Liam, and Brett had finally dozed off using Lydia and Stiles as their pillows. Ethan had his phone out and was typing quickly. He thought he'd use the moment to get Derek as up to speed with what information he had so far. This was definitely a situation that you were better off knowing what you were walking in to.

Lydia picked up Stiles' phone and sent a text to Jordan letting him know that her phone was stolen and that she needed him to come to Stiles' has as soon as he could. And to text back Stiles' phone when he got there so he wouldn't have to knock. At the questioning look on Stiles' face she turned the phone so that he could read what she had written and to whom. Understanding lit up his features as he nodded his head.

Ethan slowly stretched himself out along the wall against which he had just been sitting. Even that little movement caused Liam and Brett to open their eyes. Liam growled low in his chest and Brett's eyes flashed gold. Once Ethan was still and he was clearly no more of a threat than he was before they closed their eyes and dozed off again. Ethan had his phone face down on his chest and his hands folded across his stomach. He would occasionally pick up his phone, type something, and then set it back down. After watching this happen a few time Stiles figured out that the phone must be on silent mode. But how did Ethan know when a text came back in? The question must have been on his face because Ethan explained quietly.

"When I get a text the phone lights up. The light warms up my chest." That was a neat trick Stiles thought. That's why it took a few seconds for him to realize that the vibrating phone he heard was his and not Ethan's.

Lydia looked at the screen and mouthed, "Parrish." As she disentangled herself from Mason and stood Ethan opened his eyes.

"Be slow, talk soft, and don't touch," Ethan directed softly. She nodded her understanding.

As she opened the door she put her finger against her lips indicating to him that he should be quiet. He nodded his agreement. Like Lydia, the mountain ash had little effect in keeping him out of the house. After shutting and locking the door she turned to head back to the couch and was met with two pair of yellow eyes above bared teeth. Although the eyes were directed at the new arrival it was still intimidating.

"Lydia," Ethan spoke calmly. "Go back to the couch and get in as close to the same position that you were in as you can." She started back that direction. As she walked in front of Jordan Parrish she quickly whispered to him.

"Don't move and do exactly what Ethan tells you to do." Jordan looked down at the floor, seeing Ethan for the first time. Jordan nodded that he understood. Lydia was finally back under a re-settled Mason before Ethan spoke again.

"Keep your head up but do not look them in the eyes yet," was his first instruction to the deputy. "Now, very slowly walk to the chair across from Lydia and sit down." Jordan followed the older wolf's instructions.

Jordan had never seen the boys act like this before. He knew that Liam sometimes had a tough time controlling the shift of the full moon, but this seemed like it was about something other than just the moon that still shone brightly in the sky outside. Once he was seated Ethan gave more instructions.

"Sit back in the chair and place your hands on either your knees or the chair arms so that they are clearly visible to the boys." Once that was done, "Now, keeping your gaze as soft and as non-threatening as possible look at them. Meet their eyes but always be the first to look away. Glance around the room for about two seconds then look back to them again. Keep doing it." Jordan had no idea what was going on but he was willing to go with the flow for now since Lydia and Stiles had deferred to the man lying on the floor.

"Now spend more time looking around the room before you look back. But don't look to Lydia or Stiles yet. Especially not to me," Ethan directed. The two young wolves had stopped growling and were now just appraising. "I'm sure you have a ton of questions but they're going to have to wait until we make sure the boys aren't going to try to rip you in to little, tiny pieces first." Jordan didn't speak although he wanted to, but he did offer a subtle nod indicating that he reasoning behind it. Within about a minute the two teens shifted back to their human forms, but as they had done with Ethan they would flash their gold eyes when he looked back. And as before it slowly becoming ever few times he looked and so on.

Within a couple of minutes they were settled back in to Stiles who had been trying to be very still during this so as not to startle the wolves. Now he started to rub Liam's back and Brett's neck again, allowing them to feel his calm and acceptance of the new comer.

"Good," Ethan said to Jordan. "Now you may look directly at Lydia and Stiles, but every so often glance back to the boys with the same non-threatening look. And whatever you do, do not turn around to look at me. You and I can introduce ourselves after the sun comes up."

A tiny nod that appeared to be more of a twitch was the only response that Jordan gave to Ethan before he looked to Lydia.

"Do I want to know any of what's happened tonight?" He asked trying to project calm and peace.

"You definitely will want to know, but the explanation may have to wait for daylight," she informed him dejectedly. He nodded. A strange thought crossed his mind that that was all he seemed to do was nod. He wanted to at least smile at the thought but knew that it would be a bad idea. "The only relevant information that you need right now," she continued. "Is that the boys were attacked a few hours ago by Stiles' girlfriend, our mighty leader, and the new kid. And f.y.i. – using their names right now is a really bad idea." She nodded to indicate how serious she was, as did Stiles and the look on his face.

Scott, Malia, and Theo attacked Liam, Brett, and Mason? No wonder everyone was on edge and freaked out. How long ago did it happen? It was close to 2 in the morning now, so it would've been within the last four hours. Did the sheriff know yet?

"Have you told your dad yet?" Jordan directed the question to Stiles.

The young man shook his head. "Not yet. We've been trying to keep all talking to a minimum in order to try to keep the pups calm," he answered the deputy. "Not that it's working all that well," he added almost as an afterthought.

"I would say that all things considered that you're all doing a fantastic job," Jordan reassured the teen. "I know that Liam's control during a regular full moon isn't always the best and this is a lot more stressful than a regular full moon night. The fact that they didn't pounce first and ask questions later is impressive." Jordan just watched Lydia and Stiles as they continuously snuggled with the three young boys.

The more he sat there the younger the three sophomores looked. Logically he knew they were sixteen but with their eyes closed and being curled up they just seem so . . . young, was the only word he could come up with. It wasn't fair that they had to be the ones to deal with this crap. No one deserves to have their own friends turn against them, but these three were such good kids. And then there's Stiles and Lydia who themselves are caught up in the middle of defending friend from friend. Life is seriously messed up sometimes.

"I had the same reaction when they told me too," Ethan spoke softly but Jordan knew that it was directed toward him.

"How do you know what reaction I'm having?" Jordan turned his head to the side to answer the man on the floor behind him.

"Keep facing forward. I'm a werewolf. I can smell the emotions rolling off of you. Confusion. Disbelief. Disappointment. And something between disgust and anger. How'd I do?"

"Pretty much dead on," confirmed Jordan. "You're not someone I've met before. How did you know to be here?" he asked.

"Stiles called Derek Hale for help. It was going to take him almost a full day to get here so he called me to come play guard dog until he made it," Ethan explained. "Although from just the little that I've been able to pick up over the last few hours I kind of foresee my stay being extended." He didn't sound upset or angry at the idea. More like annoyed, as if he should have expected it.

"I suggest we get some shut eye before the sheriff gets home and we have go through this whole process again," Ethan offered.

Jordan nodded and tried to relax in the chair without having to move too much. He knew that the werewolf behind him was right, that they'd have to go through integrating the sheriff into the room and that going slow and being still were not exactly something that ran in the Stilinski genes.

Part 5

Jordan woke to a tap on his left shoulder. Ethan was crouched down next to him with his finger pressed to his lips in a signal to stay quiet. He then tapped his ear, then his nose and then indicated outside, relaying to Jordan that he'd heard and smelt something outside. Jordan nodded once in understanding. Ethan pointed to himself and then the front door. He then pointed to Jordan followed with a sweeping gesture to the couch. Ethan's got the door covered and it was Jordan's job to keep everyone on the couch safe and as calm as possible. With one more quick nod from Jordan they both started to move.

By the time Ethan, having shifted during his journey over, stood a step behind the door the two young werewolves must have sensed something was amiss. They were both on their feet facing the door, completely wolfed out. Jordan was indicating to Lydia, Mason, and Stiles to get on the floor behind him as he raised he gun he had pulled from his back holster. Ethan could smell the wolf's bane in the bullets from half way across the room. Good information to have. Because although he hated getting shot, it wouldn't usually kill him. Those particular bullets, however, just might if he were to step wrong and end up in the line of fire.

The front door opened with a crack as someone pressed against the door hard enough to break the lock, but had kept ahold of the door so that it didn't go flying open. The intruder stepped inside causing Ethan to question all of his senses. His sense of smell and the person's strength were indicating werewolf, but the fact that the intruder crossed the mountain ash with no problems indicated that he was not a werewolf. That was a puzzle he could get an answer to later. As soon as he smelled the not-wolf's sense of victory at seeing his prize in front of him Ethan stepped up behind him and dug his claws into the teen's neck.

Ethan could see that Liam and Brett were torn between wanting to attack and wanting to run away scared. If this was who Ethan thought it was then their mixed emotions would be perfectly understandable. Ethan spun so that he pinned his captive against the back of the door, barely allowing his toes to reach the ground. He wanted this punk kid to see his eyes so that he would know that he was completely capable of carrying through on any threat he might make.

"Theo, I presume." It was more of a statement than a question. The kid managed a squeaked reply that Ethan was taking as a yes. Ethan took a long sniff of Theo from him collar bone to the back of his ear. "Why do you smell like a wolf AND a coyote?" Ethan asked banging Theo against the door again.

"W. . . wi . . . with . . . . Ma. . . Mal . . . Malia," he was finally able to choke out. Ethan slammed him on the door again.

"Wrong answer," he growled quietly. "I didn't ask why you smell OF a coyote, I asked why you smelled LIKE a coyote." Theo didn't even get a chance to answer for himself before Stiles had put all of the pieces together.

"Chimera," Stiles offered.

"The . . . first," Theo choked out. "It . . . it's why . . . Ma . . . Malia . . . trust . . . trusted . . . me . . . first," he added. His smile appearing even more maniacal with all of the blood in his mouth.

"You hurt my pack and for that I want nothing more than to kill you," Stiles stated as he stood up to come to stand between the intruder and the two freaked out wolves that had shown up on his doorstep for protection. "But that would bring out Void Stiles and give you exactly what you wanted. I refuse to let you win. However, my friend with his claws wrapped around your vocal cords has no problem with solving my problem for me. You're dead and I'm not Void Stiles. I win, you lose." Theo looked down at the wolf who was literally holding his life in his hands and between the blue glow of his eyes and the murderous look on his face Theo had no doubt that it was well within the realm of possibility. And for the first time since deciding to come here himself to get Liam he was seriously doubting that it would work, or that he would be able to get out alive.

Ethan slammed him against the wall again. "I hear that you've been telling lies about how you were turned and by whom." Theo's look must have conveyed his confusion because the larger wolf continued on. "You were not turned by someone who was then killed by his own twin betas. Never happened," Ethan asserted.

"D. . . did . . . too," Theo argued.

"First off, your heart beat just gave you away. Second, there would have been zero survivors to tell you it was the twins. And third, the alpha was under surveillance for two months before he was killed and he never bit a two-bit, punk-ass kid like you." Ethan slammed Theo in to the door to make his point.

"How. . ." was all Theo managed to get out.

"How would I know?" the angry wolf supplied. Instead of a direct answer Ethan gave him a warning. "Run back to your false alpha and tell him all of these people are under MY protection and that if he thinks that he can take me then he should grow a pair and come see me himself." Another slam.

"Who . . . are . . . you?" Theo was fairly certain that he was going to black out from blood loss before he even made it out of this house.

"Ask Scott if he still has the konji behind his ear, because I still do. But from what I hear it doesn't really sound like he should." With one last slam Ethan stepped back dragging Theo away from the door so that it could be opened. Ethan then tossed Theo across the yard as if he weighed no more than a rag doll.

Part 6

"I need to wash the blood off my hands, Stiles," Ethan stated in instant he turned around.

"Aw," the teen chuckled. "The sight of blood to much for you these days?" Ethan answered by rolling his eyes.

"Not me, you idiot." He motioned to the two young werewolves who were staring at Ethan's hands as if trying to decide if they wanted to tear the hand off and eat it or tear it off and throw it out the door. "The smell of blood, especially his, is driving them into a frenzy that we can't afford to have right now."

Stiles turned around and saw the looks. "Oh shit!" Stiles grabbed his shoulder and pulled him out of the front room in to the kitchen and over to the sink.

"Thanks. Go back in and make sure that no one moves. If the boys do, let them." Ethan gave the instructions and then set about cleaning all of the blood off of his hands and from beneath his claws. Once he was satisfied that all of the blood was off of him and out of the sink he turned off the light and returned to the front room.

Lydia and Mason were still on the floor, where she had him tucked behind her. Jordan was still standing between the chair where he'd been earlier and the couch, having tucked his gun away out of sight, with his hands at this side where they were clearly visible. Stiles had walked back to his spot in front of the boys, but instead of facing the door he was facing them. Ethan stopped and leaned on the doorframe with his hand clasped in front of him. He looked as if he didn't have a care in the world.

The two boys were still shifted, although with the intruder gone, the smell of blood gone, and everyone back in their line of sight they stopped growling. Ethan had to strain to hear it, but Stiles was softly and slowly repeating the mantra that he'd used earlier. Being right in front of him Ethan knew that it was loud enough for the younger wolves to hear. It may not make a lot of sense to them yet as their wolves were still fully in control, but it was beginning to have the desired effect. As they began to calm each major muscle group began to relax. After a few more minutes, other than their eyes, their features had regained their human form. Another couple of minutes and their eyes returned to their original shades. Stiles cautiously took a small step forward and then opened his arms wide for the younger teens. And they crashed into him and held him so tightly that Jordan was just about convinced that he was going to pass out from lack of oxygen.

Once they were firmly ensconced in Stiles' arms Lydia pulled Mason around from behind her and sat down next to him. Jordan had to remind himself that he had to move slowly and couldn't just collapse in to the chair, even though he was afraid his legs might give out if he wasn't seated soon. Finally, he thought to himself once he was fully seated.

After the two young men settled down a little Brett raised his head from where it had rested on Stiles' shoulder and he looked over to Ethan, who was looking at the hugging trio with an impassive look on his face. He and Brett locked eyes and Brett just bowed his head once in acknowledgement and thanks.

"Brett," he stated not letting go of Stiles or Liam.

The older wolf returned the nod and gave his name. "Ethan." Brett held his gaze for a brief moment longer before returning his complete attention to hugging the two teens in his arms.

"We need to get everyone upstairs," Ethan said quietly. Lydia is the first to move as she rose to her feet helping Mason stand in the process. She wrapped one arm around his shoulders and guided him to the stairs. Sensing their friend move, Liam and Brett turned to watch only to have Stiles guide them to follow the preceding pair. Ethan motioned for Jordan wait. Once Stiles and the boys were out of sight Ethan relaxed his pose and let out a long breath that he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He walked over to Jordan and held out his hand.

"Ethan Carver," the werewolf offered.

"Jordan Parrish," the deputy replied shaking hands.

"There's obviously more this story," Ethan motioned to front room, indicating whatever it is that happened that resulted in him being called. "But we're both going to have to wait until sun up to get any answers." Jordan nodded. Ethan indicated that they should head upstairs; he turned off all of the downstairs lights as they went. "The wolves are understandably twitchier tonight than normal so you and I, as the outsiders, need to be super aware of everything we do, everything we say, and especially all of our body language."

Jordan nodded and decided to try to mimic all of Ethan's behaviors for the rest of the night. As the duo approached Stiles' room he heard all talking cease. He could only imagine that the wolves perked up and either shifted or at least have their wolf eyes showing.

"Stiles," Ethan said very softly and reassuring. "It's only Ethan and Jordan." He could then hear Lydia and Stiles begin to reassure the boys.

"Shh. Shh. Shh. You're safe," Stiles said. "They're friends. You're safe." Ethan was really impressed that all night Stiles had reinforced that they were 'safe' and not 'okay.' Because they were so not okay and they would have heard the lie immediately. And that would have resulted in a whole other mess of trust issues.

Ethan and Jordan came in to view in the hall way and stopped. They did not approach the door to enter but they stood there long enough for the wolves to acknowledge the sight of them. They slowly sank against the wall on the opposite side of the bedroom so that they were facing the entrance to the room. They sat on either side of the door so that anyone would have to get past at least one of them before they could enter.

"It's only three," Ethan said to Jordan. "Try to get a little more shut eye." Both men, trained fighters that they were, leaned their heads back and almost immediately dozed off. They may have seemed to be deeply asleep but they both were completely alert for any movement or sound.

Inside the room Stiles was trying to get everyone situated in a place to sleep. He had Lydia lay in the middle of the bed with Mason on the far side of her and Liam closest to where Stiles would be sitting. But Liam wouldn't go near the bed. Neither would Brett. Stiles, Lydia, and Mason were all at a loss.

"The sheets smell like her." The voice came from the hallway but both men were so still that it Stiles a moment to process that it was Ethan that spoke. Her? Who her? Oh crap! The sheets smell like Malia. How could he have forgotten?

He started taking all of the linens off the bed leaving that mattress and pillows bare. "Toss them out the window," Ethan told him. So, out the window went all the linens and blankets. He was sure he dad would be so confused when he pulled up and his son's bed sheets and comforter were on the front lawn.

Now it was fairly easy to get the wolves on and near the bed. Lydia in between Mason and Liam. Liam had the back of his body pressed up against Lydia while his hands were clinging to Stiles' right arm. That was the arm that Stiles had put on the bed to use as his pillow. Stiles' right leg was sticking straight underneath the bed, while his left knee was bent up close to his chest. Brett sat in close to the same position as Stiles: sitting on the floor facing the door with his arm as his pillow. Except Brett was the closest person to the door. The hand that was on the bed was also holding on to one of Liam's ankles. Not tightly, just enough for both wolves to be touching. He was also sitting close enough to Stiles that the young wolf was holding Stiles' left knee against him like a blanket.

Oh, what a sight they all must have made.

Part 7

Jordan's eyes popped open when he heard the sound. He glanced over to see that Ethan was already aware of whatever it was. Though Ethan still appeared to be in a relaxed position, although his head was no longer leaning back against the wall, Jordan could see that his muscles were taunt and ready to fight if the need arose. Jordan watched as Ethan's nostrils flared slightly as the werewolf took in the scent of whatever (or whoever, he supposed) had brought him out of his nap. Seeing Ethan's body relax, head lean back against the wall with his eyes closed, Jordan released the breath he had been holding.

Ethan brought his head back upright, glanced over at Jordan to make sure he had the deputy's attention, then motioned with his head toward the direction of the stairs. As the two stood up slowly, more from the aches and stiffness then the need to not scare the younger wolves, Ethan poked his head into the bedroom where the others were still sleeping.

"Stiles," he said softly, but firmly. "You're dad's home."

Lydia and Mason started moving in response to Ethan's statement, Brett opened his eyes to analyze the men in the door before reclosing them, Liam scooted closer to both Brett and Stiles, and Stiles remained immobile.

Not waiting for the sleeping teens Ethan turned to head downstairs. He motioned for Jordan to go down first. The sheriff did a double take at seeing one of his deputies coming down his stairs who, based on the exhausted and disheveled look of the younger man, had obviously slept up there. The questioning glance from Parrish to Ethan and back didn't go unnoticed.

"Sheriff," Jordan greeted his boss as the two young men crossed the room. "This is Ethan Carver, sir." Ethan held out his hand to the older man.

"Sheriff," he acknowledged. The sheriff shook his hand, releasing a little of tension in his stance, but he still had a rather puzzled look about him.

"Parrish?" Jordan had yet to figure out how the sheriff could always make his last name sound like an entire sentence instead of just one word. The sentence clearing being, "Tell me what the hell is going on before I have to start shooting and/or arresting people." Occasionally it also implied, "And how is my son involved in this mess?"

"Good morning, sir," rang from the top of the stairs as Lydia allowed Jordan a small reprieve from having to answer his boss. The boss who was, understandably, getting more and more confused by the minute.

"Lydia?" His tone indicating that whatever was going on was going to be messier than he had originally thought. "Mason." The name come out sounding something between a sigh and an 'I-should-have-guessed.' The sheriff put one hand on his hip and with the other he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Who else?" He asked the room in exasperation. Lydia answered in her completely blunt Lydia-esque manner.

"Stiles, Liam, and Brett are still upstairs." She casually pointed to the top of the stairs now that she and Mason had made it to come stand by their friends. She and Jordan had touched hands last night while he was still in the jail cell, but with everything that had happened she needed . . . more. She needed to touch him, to make sure he was really there, to let him know she cared, to feel protected by him. Without any, well . . . with very little, hesitation she walked over to Jordan to put her hand in his, interlocking their fingers. Jordan smiled, no . . . beamed, down at her and tightened his grip on her hand enough for her to know that he wasn't planning on letting go any time soon.

"Do I want to know?" The sheriff's strained question drug Lydia and Jordan out of their moment. Before anyone could answer verbally, Ethan was turning toward the stairs putting himself between them and people with whom he was just speaking. A small portion of his brain noticed that Jordan barely hesitated to follow Ethan.

"INCOMING!"

The verbal warning was the only help that Stiles was able to offer before to teenage boys with glowing golden eyes came rampaging down the stairs. They stopped when they say the older werewolf, though still in human form, at the bottom. They quickly glanced around the room. As soon as their eyes landed on Mason both wolves' eyes immediately stopped glowing. With a threat no longer imminent Ethan moved out of the way to walk back to where he'd been standing, as did Jordan.

The two teen boys nearly ran over to Mason and sandwiched him in a hug. They were whispering in his ears about not doing that again, about not leaving without telling them. Ethan could smell the worry from the wolves and the relief that he was safe, as well as hear everything that was being whispered to him. Once again, his heart broke for them. "So young," he thought.

Stiles trudged down the stairs scratching the back of his head while yawning loudly. "Morning Dad," he mumbled.

"Stiles," the sheriff ground out. The way the sheriff turned his name in to a demand made a small twitch of a smile appear at the corner of Jordan's mouth. Instead of the implied question that Jordan's name invoked, Stiles' name came across more as, "I know you're in the middle of some big mess that most likely has a supernatural explanation so you better start talking quickly before I lose my temper."

Releasing a heavy sigh Stiles pointed to one of the chairs. "You'd better sit down, dad. This could take a while." Stiles sat in the middle of the couch and found himself suddenly surrounded by three sophomores. He couldn't help the lop-sided grin when he realized that they boys were back in the same spots there were in last night. Liam on his left, Mason on his right, and Brett sitting on the floor in front of him between his feet. Though they weren't snuggled this time they were still sitting super close. It was almost squishing him, but he was more than happy to put up with it.

The Lydia smiled softly at them as she noticed the same thing that Stiles had. She decided to sit next to Liam this time, with Jordan sitting on the arm of the couch behind her. Ethan mimicked his position on the opposite end of the couch. The sheriff didn't miss the fact that everything in their body language and group body language screamed that this was an 'us vs. them' moment for these kids. And he'd do his damnedest to make sure that he ended up in the 'us' group instead of the 'them' category.

"Before we start," Stiles began. "I want to make sure that everyone knows everyone else." He tapped Liam on the leg then pointed over to Ethan. "That's our friend Ethan Carver. He's one of the good guys." Liam nodded before looking back at his hands that were clasped in his lap. Ethan hadn't expected the surge of happiness, contentment, and pride at hearing Stiles words. It made him sit up a little straighter, a little taller.

"Mason," Stiles tapped the teen on his leg as well. "Again," pointing to Ethan. "That's Ethan. And have you met Jordan Parrish?" He asked as he pointed to the deputy seated behind Lydia. He nodded, his eyes wary and tired. "Do you know everyone, Dad?" Stiles asked his father.

"I've met everyone if that's what you're asking," replied the sheriff.

"Close enough for us to get on with the explaining," Stiles shrugged. "Okay." He smacked his palm on the thumb's end of his other fist, repeatedly. "Where to start? Where to start?" He asked himself as he continued to fidget. The sheriff sat back in the chair, put one ankle across his other knee, and then pinched the bridge of his nose again.

"Start at the beginning, Stiles," Lydia supplied gently. His head whipped to give her look that let her know that he thought she was being less than helpful. He wanted to snap at her, but none of this was her fault. She's being trying to pick up the pieces as much as he has. He took a breath and made sure his voice was calm. For the most part he succeeded.

"And which beginning would that be, Lydia?" He voice only held a small amount of snark. Jordan put his hand on Lydia's shoulder to remind her that she wasn't alone. She let out a huff of breath as she seemed to sink into the couch, the weight of defeat on her narrow shoulders.

"How about we start by you telling me what a chimera is?" Ethan suggested. It seemed like a safe place to start and he really wanted to know about it anyway.

"Right," Stiles clasped his hands together. "There are these guys called the Dread Doctors . . ."

Over the next hour or so every person added their own portion of the events that led up to them all being in that room at that moment. Questions had been asked and answered. Tears were shed, both of sorrow and of anger. By the end of the tale they were all emotionally exhausted. Silence followed as each got lost in their own thoughts.

"Let me make sure I understand this," the sheriff finally spoke up. "Parrish is a Hellhound that takes the bodies of the chimeras to the Nematon. Theo is a chimera who has somehow managed to convince Scott and Malia that these three," he motioned to the boys sitting with his son, "need to be killed for who knows what reason. Theo broke in last night, which is why the door is broken. You called Derek Hale for help who then called Ethan to be here until Derek himself could get here. And Ethan was part of the Alpha pack that came to town a few years ago, but then he and his brother stuck around to help against the Nogitsune."

The sheriff searched all the faces of those across from him finding all heads nodding and all of them looking like they bore the weight of the world on their young shoulders.

"Well then," he sat forward in his chair, unconsciously mimicking the posture of his son – elbows on knees with hands clasped together in front of him. "How can I help?"

He could literally watch as muscles and postures relaxed on the people in the room. He was glad that if he could help in no other way that he could offer an emotionally safe adult that would take their side.

Part 8

The group spent the day at the Stilinski house since it was Sunday. It was a quiet, somber affair. The sheriff slept for a little while since he hadn't gotten home until after sun up. The others dozed off and on throughout the day. Without seeming to even have to discuss it or be conscious of it, Ethan and Jordan made sure that one or the other of them was awake at all times. There was no laughter, no joking, no smart ass comments. There were very few comments period.

The house had the atmosphere of a mausoleum. There was no need to whisper and yet they all did it instinctively. They moved quietly. Hell, even Stiles was quiet and still. Lydia stayed tucked in to Jordan's side on one end of the couch most of the day. Ethan and Stiles had each claimed one of the chairs facing the couch.

Liam spent most of the day in the fetal position on the floor between Mason and Brett with his head in Brett's lap and Mason's hand resting on his hip. Brett had has arm out across the front of the couch behind Mason's back, and Mason would occasionally lean his head back on Brett's arm or he'd lean over a little and rest his head on Brett's shoulder. Occasionally Liam would turn over and rest his head on Mason's leg. No one ever said anything about it, but they could all see the tears that were silently leaking from Liam's closed eyes. Whenever there was even the slightest sniffle Brett would use his free hand to run it through Liam's hair.

They all barely moved. They didn't eat, the thought of food made each of them sick. The only repeated movement was Ethan occasionally texting back and forth with Derek who was still on his way.

When the sun was no more than a few hours away from the horizon the sheriff made his way down the stairs. He'd noticed how and quite the house was when he'd awoken, so he wasn't sure if anyone was even in the house still. He stopped at the bottom of the stairs to take in the scene before him. Acid churned in his stomach. The only thought that kept running though his mind was, "They're broken." It was both a statement of sadness and a reminder to himself that he needed to find a way to help them.

As he made his way toward the kitchen he glanced at the front door and noticed that it hadn't been repaired yet. Reflex made him turn to say something to Stiles, but one look at the group made him rethink it. Hell, he wasn't even sure if anyone (other than Ethan) had even noticed that he had entered the room. But he knew that sometimes it was doing the ordinary, mundane things that helped the most.

"Could someone help me repair this?" He asked in a normal speaking volume, but even that had a few of them startled.

Just as he suspected would be the case, Ethan and Jordan immediately got up to help. The enhanced strength came in handy when it was time to hammer in the nails. They made sure to reinforce the door frame so that the chances of it being able to be forced open were drastically reduced. Lydia and Stiles watched them work, but neither of them was actually focused on the trio.

Once the door was repaired the Sheriff and Jordan made sure that all of the tools were put away. Ethan was back in his chair and Jordan was back next to Lydia. The sheriff disappeared in to the kitchen. Some clanking and general banging around could be heard. The first time he made a noise everyone jumped, after that the somber group was used to it.

As the sun began to set the sheriff entered the silent front room.

"I know that you probably aren't all that hungry, but I made some soup. You all need to eat something even if it's just some of the broth." He motioned for everyone to follow him. The occupants slowly dragged themselves up and into the kitchen.

Some folding chairs had been set up around the table so that there were enough seats for everyone. At first there was just some quiet slurping as no one (other than the sheriff) consumed anything except the broth of the vegetable beef soup. One glance around the kitchen told Ethan that it was made from scratch so he took a bite of the solid content.

"Sheriff," he spoke quietly once he had swallowed. "This is really good." He used his spoon to point to the bowl of soup in front of him.

"Thank you," came the reply. "And please, call me John." He smiled at the young man.

Ethan didn't know why, but the thought of being allowed to be on a first name basis with Stiles' dad made him almost as warm inside as the soup did. That was the second time since he'd been here that someone had just randomly said something that had so deeply affected him. He knew he originally came here because he owed Derek. And he was bored. But mainly because he owed Derek. But now? Now he knew that he would stay and protect these people no matter the cost to himself. They had accepted him without question and he felt needed and appreciated. "How the hell did that happen so fast?" He wondered to himself. He'd have to think about it later, because right now his stomach was letting him know how much it appreciated the soup and wanted more.

Looking around the table he noticed that he wasn't the only one that suddenly realized how hungry they were.

"Is there any more, sir?" Jordan asked, glancing over to his boss.

He nodded his head in the direction of the stove. "There's plenty." He smiled at the Deputy. "Oh, and Parrish?" The sheriff waited until the younger officer was looking at him. "When we're off duty you can call me John." He smiled softly at the young man.

"Thank you, sir." He grinned, and then ruefully shook his head as he realized what he'd just said. "I mean, John." He wandered over to the stove and refilled his bowl. He walked back to the table and set down his bowl.

"Does anyone else want any more while I'm up?" he asked around the table. Soon he'd refilled everyone's bowl. The three wolves actually went through a third bowl as well. If anyone wanted any more than that, unfortunately the pot was empty. John thought that he'd made way too much, but he realized that he was going to have to stock enough food to feed a small army over the next few days, at least.

Although the tone was still quiet and somewhat withdrawn, the three youngest had some color back in their faces, as did Lydia. Her bruise was a deep purple, almost black, and her cheek bone was swollen to the point of making her eye not able to open all the way. John wouldn't be surprised if she had a hairline fracture. The atmosphere in the room was slightly more at ease than it had been, which John took as a good sign.

Stiles stood up to start clearing the table. Mason and Lydia hopped up to help him. Brett and Liam headed over to the kitchen to start cleaning up the dinner's preparation mess. With so many helping it only took a few minutes for all of the dishes to be put in the dishwasher and for the kitchen and dining room to be cleaned.

Even though there was no real reason to stay there, no one left the kitchen/dining room. It seemed like no one was quite ready to go back in to the front room. They all stood and sat around in silence, though it wasn't the same unnerving silence that had descended in the front room. This was more like the silence that follows a big meal when everyone is full and content and no one wants to break the moment.

Unfortunately, someone else decided to break it for them. The three wolves popped their heads up at the same time, having heard and smelled the same thing outside. It was confirmed to the rest when someone from outside shouted.

"ETHAN!"

Part 9

Ethan reached the door first, but was unable to open it. It took him a split second to understand why – the mountain ash. Luckily, Parrish and Stiles were only about a step behind him. Stiles swung the door open so hard that the stray thought that if Stiles had been a wolf he'd have rip the door off its hinges ran through Ethan's head.

Standing just off of the porch were Scott, Malia, and Theo (who still looked a little pale from blood loss). Ethan noticed that the sun had long since set and it was nearly full dark outside. Stiles and Ethan stood side by side in the door way, both with their arms folded across their chests. Jordan stood a step behind and to the side of Stiles with his gun drawn but his hands down at this side. Ethan could both hear and sense the others coming in to the room. Lydia was shielding the boys behind her outstretched arms, even though it may have partially been to hold the two young wolves back from attacking. John mirrored Jordan's stance on Ethan's side and one step back, gun drawn.

"What do you want?" Stiles ground out through clenched teeth to the trio on his lawn.

"What do we want?" Scott repeated the question as though he would've thought the answer was the most obvious thing in the world. "We came to make Ethan pay for what he did to Theo. We also came to lay claim to Liam; he's coming with us." Scott took a step forward as if to assert his authority.

"And what exactly did I do to Theo?" Ethan asked almost casually.

"He came here to talk and make peace and you ruthlessly attacked him," Scott accused. "You could've killed him!" Because Scott had walked forward a step that left Theo behind him, meaning that Scott couldn't see the amused smirk that appeared on Theo's face. The group inside the house was stunned, frozen, and silent. Until they all burst out laughing that is.

The longer the laughter went on the more confused both Scott and Malia became. Every time Stiles or Ethan would try to talk they'd start to laugh again. This went on for several minutes before Scott finally let out a roar. A roar which had Brett wrap his arms around Liam's waist as the young beta took an involuntary step toward his alpha.

"Scott," Ethan spat, not having missed the movement behind him. "You're an idiot." Scott looked more confused than insulted. Ethan poked a finger at the mountain ash shield and blue electricity sparked from the contact. "The house is warded with mountain ash. I can't get out." He tone of voice indicating that he was trying to explain something to a two year old. "The only way I could've gotten out to him is to have someone break the seal, which I wouldn't have done. Because if it came down here in the front then it would've been down in the back. How could I have been sure that it wasn't a trap or a distraction?" Ethan tried to point out the flaw in Scott's logic.

"But you nearly killed him," Scott argued.

"Oh, that part's true enough," Ethan agreed, which caused an even more confused look on Scott's, and Malia's, face. "But not because I went outside." He'd let them try to work through that on their own. "I mean, did you see what he did to Lydia?" He pointed behind him. "That alone would've been cause for vengeance."

Scott and Malia took several steps forward until they could see Lydia inside the well-lit house, her bruised and swollen cheek prominently on display. Malia gasped, bringing her hand to her mouth.

"No," she whispered, the smell of shock and denial rolling off of her in waves. "He wouldn't." But she sounded more like she was trying to convince herself than anyone else. She glanced back and forth between the banshee and the teen behind her.

Scott just looked between Ethan and Stiles as though he was trying to put together a puzzle. "So you admit to attacking Theo?" He directed his question at the older wolf.

"Proudly," came the reply. "But I never set foot outside the house." Ethan couldn't believe that Scott still hadn't figured it out. Neither could Stiles.

"Oh my god, Scott," Stiles bit out in exasperation, his head shaking and arms flailing. "Theo came inside. He's. A. Chimera." Stiles broke off each word to make sure that Scott heard and understood each one. "He broke open the door and just walked inside, across the mountain ash. That's when Ethan protected us." Stiles looked at Scott as if he'd never seen him before.

"Tha . . . that's not possible," Scott denied, though it didn't sound convincing to anyone.

"Think about it Scott," Stiles prodded. Malia was the first to see all of the pieces fit together and took a step away from Theo, toward Scott, with a combination look of shock, terror, and disgust on her face.

"It's a lie, Scott," Theo defended himself. He knew he was about to lose everything he'd been working towards. "Stiles has turned the others against us because I told you that he murdered Donovan." There, Theo thought to himself, explain that to everyone Stiles.

Scott stared at Stiles. "Is that true? Is this because I got angry about you murdering Donovan?"

Stiles shook his head in disgust. "You two keep saying murder as if I meant for him to die. It was an accident."

It was Scott's turn to shake his head. "How is beating in his skull with a wrench until is splinters and is smashed in an accident?"

Stiles eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head. "What the hell are you talking about?" Stiles nearly screeched. "We fought. I climbed up the scaffolding to get away from him but some of the rebar and tools slid off a shelf that broke and impaled him. I called 9-1-1 but by the time the deputy got there his body was gone." Scott's eyes narrowed at Stiles answer, but then flickered to Jordan and then back to Stiles.

"Yes," Jordan barked out sarcastically. "Let's blame the Hellhound who had absolutely no idea what he was doing." John reached out his arm and set his hand on the deputy's shoulder. He didn't say anything, just left his hand there to offer his silent support.

"Hellhound?" Scott, Theo, and Malia all asked, getting sidetracked from the main topic. John cleared his throat indicating that they should try to stay focused.

"Uh, right," Stiles tried to remember what he'd been saying. "Anyway, what happened to Donovan was an accident. I didn't mean to kill him. I was just trying to get away from him. He was trying to kill me. He'd even bitten me." Seeing Scott's skeptical look, "Don't believe me? Ask Malia. She's seen it." Scott glanced over to the werecoyote for confirmation.

"The back of his right shoulder," she supplied.

"That just proves that you had motive, not that it was an accident," Theo interjected.

"Oh my god," Stiles threw his hands up in the air in exasperation. Before he said or did something that he might regret Stiles actually walked away from the door back toward Lydia and the boys. Without hesitation Ethan stepped to the middle of the door with the two officers flanking him.

"You still don't think your boy over there is a chimera, do you?" Ethan asked Scott.

Scott shook his head. "It's not possible. We've all seen what happens to the chimeras."

"Then you won't mind a little test," Jordan interrupted.

"What kind of test?" Scott asked skeptically.

"Simple," Jordan clarified. "Come touch the barrier. You've seen that we can't get through it. Show us that you three can't either."

Scott thought about it for a moment then nodded. He walked forward and hesitantly touched the barrier with his hand. Blue light rippled out from the contact and he pulled his hand away with a hiss. He indicated for Malia to come up and touch it. She too got shocked by the blue lightning. When Scott motioned to Theo, Theo shook his head.

"This is stupid," he said. "What does this prove? That we we're dumb enough to touch it and get shocked? No thanks." Theo held up his hands and shook his head. That got Scott's attention.

"It's the fastest way to prove that they're wrong," Scott explained. He and Malia each grabbed one of Theo's arms and drug him forward toward the door. When he was standing directly in front of it they let him go.

Knowing that Jordan seemed to have a plan, Ethan took a step back and switched places with the deputy. Seeing Theo's hesitation Jordan reached across the barrier and yanked Theo into the house and right in to the waiting claws of Ethan. Scott and Malia stood there in shock, eyes wide and mouths agape.

Instead of having his claws through the front of Theo's neck, this time Ethan had them wrapped around his spine. Theo wrapped his hands around Ethan's wrist behind his head, whether to try to remove the claws or to make sure that they stayed in and didn't rip their way out was unclear.

"Nice, J," Ethan smiled at the deputy, who grinned at the nickname. John just chuckled. Malia and Scott still hadn't moved. "What was it you were saying about it being impossible that he's a chimera?" Ethan asked Scott. Scott just stared at Theo in disbelief.

"Yes, I'm a chimera," Theo admitted. "All that proves is that I have more reason than anyone to defeat the Dread Doctors." He looked pleadingly at Scott. "That's why I came here; I needed your help so that they wouldn't be able to do to anyone else what they did to me."

That made enough sense to Scott. "Let him go," the alpha growled to former alpha. "He's part of my pack and I need him in order to defeat the Dread Doctors."

"You claim this mutt as pack?" Ethan asked for clarification.

"Yes," Scott grumbled around his elongating fangs. He wasn't sure when it had happened but he did think of Theo as pack now. Seeing her alpha shift, Malia shifted too. Ethan heard a low growl behind him and knew that Liam had also shifted when his alpha did. But he trusted the others to keep the kid from hurting anyone, including himself.

"Then as his alpha you too shall be held responsible for his actions," the former alpha announced. "You see Scott, there's a lot more to being the alpha of a pack than you realize," Ethan informed him. "As his alpha you are held accountable for his crimes. In fact, he may get off with a slap on the wrist while you end up with your throat ripped out." Scott's stance shifted a little as he looked a little surprised. "THAT's what being the alpha is all about. It's all on you, both good and bad."

"But he's old enough to make his own choices," Scott said, though it came out sounding more like a question than a statement.

"This isn't the human world where you can just ground him, Scott," Ethan explained. "You're the alpha. That's why it's so important to keep track of and train your betas." Ethan motioned over his shoulder to the fidgeting Liam. "And you've done neither with this pup. He's not fully trained and he's allowed to wander around without you with him or your scent on him."

"What are you talking about?" Scott asked confused.

"How are you even an alpha?" Brett piped up from inside the house where he still struggled against his friend.

"I keep wondering the same thing." The voice came from behind Scott and Malia causing them to spin around in alarm. A body stepped out of the shadows.

"Derek," Scott whispered. Was that a twinge of fear in his voice?

Derek sauntered forward a few steps. "Scott," he began, the disapproval dripping from every syllable. "What the fuck have you done this time?" He crossed his arms across his chest and raised an eyebrow.

"It wasn't me," the young alpha defended himself. "It was these guys." He pointed in to the house. Derek's other eyebrow shot up to join the first.

"The only thing that they" as he jutted his chin out toward the house "did wrong was to trust you," Derek replied. He took a step closer to Scott, anger radiating off of him, enough to cause his cousin to take a step back away from Scott. "You trusted a stranger over your best friend. The friend who has been with you since the day you were bitten. The one who has stood by you through everything. The one, though he's human, has stood next to you against every nasty thing that has come for your head.

"You turned against Lydia," Derek continued. "The one who's been through just as much as you have, if not more. The one who has to know and feel all the death that being around you causes. The one who's been there through it all too. You attacked your own beta. And worse, on the say so of a stranger. Not only that, you attacked a human member of your own pack. AND, the beta of an allied pack. Seriously Scott, no one here will have to kill you because his alpha will do it for us." Derek just shook his head in disgust before he turned his anger on his cousin.

"And you," he spat. "You chose a stranger over your own boyfriend. The boyfriend that has been with you through everything. Who has protected and loved you. You chose the one person that you knew Stiles didn't trust. And then you chose to go after your own pack members."

Malia hung her head in shame. She knew she'd screwed up. If she'd done this in the wild she'd already be dead.

"Malia," Stiles stepped forward toward the door. "I see that you realize how badly you messed up." She nodded her head, not daring to look up at him. "I understand that your coyote recognized Theo's coyote," that caused her to jerk her head up and look back and forth from Theo to Stiles. She hadn't know that he was part coyote. "And that's why you trusted him. I'm not upset that you betrayed me; that's pretty much par for the course of my love life. But you tried to kill the boys. And I cannot forgive that."

Her mouth moved before her brain engaged. "You forgave Ethan," she spat as she motioned at the wolf still holding on to Theo.

"He," Stiles explained. "Came to town as a bad guy, tried to kill me and Scott, and then became a good guy. He's never tried to hurt the boys. Never. If fact, he's only ever tried to protect them. While you . . . you were one of us first. We trusted you and you betrayed that trust. That's the difference." Malia dropped her head again. "No one inside this house will ever be able to trust you again."

The most painful part of hearing Stiles is that he didn't yell, he didn't sound pissed. He sounded forlorn and sad. He was just so resigned to the fact that this had happened that it broke her heart in to a million little pieces, knowing that she had done that.

"Malia," Derek spoke quietly but firmly. "The only reason that you will be allowed to leave here with your life is because you are my cousin, my blood. But if I see you, hear you, smell you, or in any way sense you near Beacon Hills again I will kill you myself. Do you understand?" He waited until she looked up and met his eyes and nod before continuing. "Then leave now and never return." He turned from her as she took off at a run toward her house.

"You can't do that," Scott sputtered. "She's in my pack, not yours." Derek took a step closer to Scott, so that he was just out of arm's reach.

"You don't have a pack anymore," the older wolf ground out through clenched teeth. Scott's eyes narrowed.

"I'm the True Alpha. I'm the only real Alpha in Beacon Hills. You have no right to speak to me like that." Scott's eyes blazed blood red in his anger.

"Satomi would have something to say to that. In fact, I'm pretty sure that the only thing keeping Brett from trying to rip you in to little pieces for insulting his alpha is the mountain ash barrier." Scott glanced over at the door to see that Brett was, in fact, standing in the doorway in wolf mode. And no one was trying to stop him or placate him, which spoke volumes to Scott.

"Besides," Derek brought Scott's attention back to him. "You're no True Alpha. Not anymore. You may still have the red eyes, but everything that made people want to follow you is gone."

"Who are you to speak to me like that? You're not even an alpha anymore!"

"I may not be an alpha," Derek admitted. "But I am still the oldest member of the Hale pack and you are standing right in the middle of Hale territory. As long as you were protecting the innocent I've let you believe that you were in charge. But this is MY territory, not yours. It has never been yours. And nothing you can say or do can change that."

Scott glared at Derek before smirking. "LIAM!" Scott roared in alpha mode.

The short beta wrenched his arms from the humans holding him. He met resistance in the form of the sheriff and his deputy, but that didn't last long as he grabbed both guns and crumpled them in his hands as easily as he would have crumpled paper. When they moved to grab him he shoved the sheriff who hit the wall and collapsed about 10 feet away. Jordan proved slightly more of a challenge due to his combat skills. But even they were no match for the strong beta, who sent him hurtling in to the opposite wall as the sheriff. Ethan couldn't do much to help because he still had hold of Theo who had started to struggle when Liam started distracting his captor. That left Brett.

Brett turned to face his friend. He had nearly a foot of height on Liam, but Brett knew that meant nothing because Liam was seriously strong. Especially when his IED got triggered, which it looked like it had. "Liam!" Brett yelled to his friend as he tried to get through to him. Liam tackled Brett ramming them in to the barrier causing them to ricochet back in to the front room. The way that they landed allowed Brett's longer body to completely cover Liam's smaller one. He used it to his advantage as he pinned his friend beneath him.

Liam roared and gnashed his fangs at his friend. But Brett was not to be deterred. "Liam look at me," Brett spoke firmly to the struggling boy beneath him. Liam finally did lock eyes with him, but he still fought against him. But that moment was all that Brett needed to know that he would be able to get through to Liam. "What three things cannot long be hidden?" He asked softly. "The sun, the moon, the truth." He supplied the answer himself, but there was something about the look on Liam's face that indicated he'd understood. So he repeated the question.

"What three things cannot long be hidden?" He waited a heartbeat before reciting the answer. "The sun, the moon, the truth." Liam's struggles became less forceful. Brett concentrated on slowing his own racing heart hoping that Liam would feel it and slow his own.

"What three things cannot long be hidden?" This time Liam mouthed the response with him though no sound escaped his lips. "The sun, the moon, the truth." Brett's heartrate had slowed enough that he shifted his facial features back to human, wanting to show Liam that Brett was not a threat. In response Liam too shifted back to his human face.

"What three things cannot long be hidden?" This time Liam answered with him. "The sun, the moon, the truth." Liam blinked at he looked up at Brett and really saw him this time. He eyes held questions but the only reply he received was Brett's whisper. "The sun. . ."

To which Liam's reply was automatic, "The moon . . ."

And together they finished the mantra, "The truth." When Liam looked up at Brett with those blue eyes, so lost and confused, it broke his heart.

He just dropped his head forward on to Liam's should and whispered in his ear, "You're safe now. I have you." Again and again until Liam relaxed completely on the floor. Tilting his head up to tuck his face in to the crook of Brett's neck.

Once the skirmish inside settled, Derek returned his glare to Scott and smirked. Scott just looked stunned. It shouldn't have been that easy to break through to a beta who'd been commanded by his maker alpha.

"You see Scott," Derek snarked. "Even your beta doesn't really want you anymore." The alpha just stood frozen. "Release your claim to Liam and I'll let you leave with your life." Derek was so calm and matter-of-fact about the statement that Scott almost thought he was kidding. However, one look in his face showed that he clearly was not.

"And if I don't?" Scott asked curious but not quite defiant.

"You'll leave in a body bag." Again with the calm voice. Which meant that Derek knew he'd won and that Scott had no other good option than to capitulate.

He voice was sad and quiet. "I hereby release all claims to the beta Liam Dunbar." He hung his head in defeat.

A long sigh of relief could be heard from inside the house as the need to get to his alpha left Liam. Brett may have been able to calm him down enough to allow himself to be held on the ground, but his wolf had still smashed against its cage trying to get to its alpha. With the alpha claim gone the wolf instantly settled.

"Because of our history," Derek spoke to the teen in front of him. "I'll allow you one chance to leave. Leave Beacon Hills and never return. If you ever set foot in Hale territory again I will kill you myself."

Scott stared at the man for a moment before deciding that he was very serious and would indeed follow through with his threat. "What will you do to Theo?" Scott wasn't sure that he wanted to know.

"That's no longer your concern," Derek responded. "Unless you'd like to join him?" Scott shook his head and then took off running, not bothering to look back at the house.

Derek walked to the open front door. Although unable to enter yet he was able to reassure himself that everyone was still alive and ultimately okay. The sheriff and Parrish were waking up, with Stiles and Lydia, respectively, helping them up. Ethan still had his claws wrapped around Theo's spine. Mason was crawling over to where Liam and Brett were laying on the floor hugging each other.

"Someone want to let me in?" Derek chuckled. Stiles smiled and walked over to the front door and used his foot to break the seal of mountain ash. Before Derek could take a step inside the house he found his arms full of a crying Stiles. Derek didn't know what to say; Stiles had never hugged him before. The chemo signals coming off the human were confusing: relief, sadness, betrayal, fear, gratitude, love. Not romantic love, but more like familial love. Derek returned the hug until Stiles was able to compose himself. It told of what kind of day it had been when no one questioned it or teased either one about it.

Stiles regained his composure and stepped back from Derek. He wasn't sure why, but Derek suddenly felt empty without the touch. He glanced over at the young human trying to figure out why, but to no avail.

"What about this asshole?" Ethan reminded the group that he was still holding Theo.

Everyone was now back on their feet and the gathered around the wolf and the chimera. "I personally vote that we kill him," Ethan offered. He'd fully expected to be met with disapproving looks, but instead he was met with nods. That actually kind of freaked him out a little.

"No one's killing anyone," John spoke up. Ethan let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

"Dad," Stiles turned to his dad. "I'm usually the first one to advocate trying to save someone's life, but no human justice system will be able to handle him. And he needs to be brought to justice. So that leaves only two choices that I can see. Eichen House or Nematon." Stiles looked around at the group.

"Eichen House won't hold him," Lydia piped up. "He's not supernatural," she pointed out.

"Then I'll take him out to the Nematon," Derek said. Ethan jerked his head toward the other former alpha.

"No," Ethan said quietly. "I said that they were under my protection and as such I'll do it."

"Their protection has always been my responsibility," Derek argued. "The only reason you're here is because I called you. You've been trying to get away from your old life. I can't allow you to do something that could jeopardize that." Derek gave Ethan a look of pride and understanding.

"You are such a boy scout," Ethan joked which caused the others, except Theo obviously, to chuckle. "Here we are arguing over who's going to kill him not because either of us want to but because we don't want the other one to have to be the one to do it." Ethan reached out his free hand and lightly smacked Derek on the arm. "What a pair we make."

"Please Ethan," Derek pled. "Keep them safe here just a little longer." He reached out and dug his claws into the front of Theo's neck. Ethan withdrew his hand and placed it on Derek's shoulder.

"I'll protect them with my life," he swore. "You two just don't take too long."

Derek nodded as he and Jordan led Theo out in to the night.

Part 10

By the time that Derek and Jordan got back to the Stilinski house barely an hour had passed. The teens had all contacted their parents and let them know that they were staying the night and would be home in the morning to get ready for school.

School. How were they supposed to go back to school in the morning as if nothing had happened? Hayden was dead, Theo was dead, Scott and Malia had been exiled. Nothing would ever be the same.

Even though it wasn't yet ten o'clock every spare blanket and pillow had been piled in the middle of the front room floor and the chairs had been pushed back away from the couch. Mason, Brett, Liam, and Lydia were already cuddled together on the floor. Ethan was sitting on the couch chuckling as he watched them wiggle around and try to get comfortable. John was puttering around in the kitchen. And Stiles was upstairs changing clothes.

"Stop laughing, Ethan," Lydia grumbled, which just made the wolf laugh more.

"I can't help it," He chuckled. "You guys are funny."

"And how exactly are we funny?" She demanded, elbowing Mason in the ribs.

"Because you all are fighting against the pull of the wolves," he explained. That made everyone in the room stop and look at him, including Stiles who had been walking down the stairs.

"Explain," Brett leaded his head back so that Ethan looked upside down to him.

Ethan sighed. "In the wild, when wolves want to offer each other comfort for whatever reason they can't exactly hold hands or give hugs. So they curl up in a big pile with each other. You guys are trying to do that instinctually, but at the same time your logical human brains are fighting against it." He shrugged his shoulders as though the explanation should have been obvious.

"Okay," Lydia made the word sounds like it was several syllables longer that it really was. "That may explain Liam and Brett, but that doesn't explain why Mason and I can't get comfortable."

"You may not be a wolves, but you're still part of a wolf pack." They both turned over on to their stomachs to look at him for further explanation. "You two are in tune enough with all of the wolves around you and their chemo signals that the need to be in a . . . puppy pile is affecting you as well." He grinned. "Just give in and go with it."

Lydia barely had time to squeak as Ethan dove between her and Mason. The latter, of course, grinning as the sexy wolf tried to cuddle.

"Hey!" Stiles fussed as he continued walking down the stairs. "Hands off my pup!" Ethan felt as if he'd been slapped. He'd thought that things were better between them now.

"He's a minor," Stiles began to explain, a grin slowly spreading across his face. "No being touched by the sexy older wolf." Ethan grinned as he realized that Stiles had been teasing him. Sort of. In response Ethan just pulled Mason in to a tight hug and stuck his tongue out at Stiles. Stiles just laughed and softly kicked Ethan's foot.

Ethan wasn't attracted to Mason. Yeah, the kid was good looking and nice, but he really was too young for him. But that didn't mean that he didn't like to rile up Stiles, or that he didn't like to cuddle with hot guys.

"Does that mean that all wolves have the love language of physical touch?" Lydia asked as she patted the blankets next to her, motioning to Jordan to lay down next to her. He toed off his shoes and laid down allowing Lydia to snuggle in to his side, using his chest as her pillow.

"Love language?" Ethan asked confused.

"Yeah," she confirmed. "There are five love languages. A love language is how a person shows love and wants to be shown that they're loved or cared for. There's physical touch, quality time, words of affirmation, acts of service, and gift giving. What you said about wolves is a good description of physical touch." She explained. "It doesn't have to mean sexual touch. Just physical contact; like holding hands, cuddling, a hand on a shoulder, and those kind of things."

Ethan thought about it for a few minutes. "Yeah." He conceded. "That would be a good way to describe it." Then another thought occurred to him. "But the human side of us werewolves may have a different love language. Which would explain why you guys couldn't get settled." The room's occupants nodded as they started thinking about it. "What are the other ones like?"

"Well," she said. "Quality time is just about being together. Like we have been today. Just together. Words of affirmation is about needing to hear the 'I love you' and 'you're cared for' kind of things. Gift giving means you like to shower people you care about with gifts, even if they're small little things. And acts of service means that you like to do nice things for the people you care about, just because you can."

The room fell in to a contemplative silence as they each tried to figure out which best described them.

"What are you?" Jordan softly asked the woman in his arms.

"Words of affirmation with a little quality time thrown in," she answered.

"Gift giving and acts of services," floated through from the kitchen. They all looked up as John walked in. "What?" he asked at their looks. "Yes, I was eavesdropping. Don't give me those looks." He smiled as they laughed. The first semi-real laugh he'd heard since this started. It was a really nice sound.

"Quality time," Jordan admitted.

"Words of affirmation," said Mason.

"It's a toss-up between quality time and acts of service," Stiles announced.

"Human me is quality time with words of affirmation a close second," Brett stated. "And my wolf is totally physical touch."

"Me too," agreed Ethan.

"Me three," admitted Derek.

"I have to admit that I've become a lot more touchy-feely since I was turned. But I didn't understand why. Now I know it's because it's what my wolf craved." Liam blushed as he spoke. "But I've always been physical touch, so it's just gotten even worse."

"Aww," Stiles crawled out of the chair where he'd been sitting and laid down on the far side of Liam. "My pup needs more hugs." He laughed as he pulled the shorter teen in a big hug. Liam pretended to struggle for a few seconds before giving in and snuggling deeper in to the hug.

"Okay you guys," John tapped the back of the couch getting their attention. "It's getting late and you all have to get up pretty early in the morning. Light's out." The obligatory groans and pleas were the response, but by the looks on their faces he could tell that they were all fine with going to sleep. It had been a long few days and they were physically and emotionally exhausted.

Stiles rolled Liam over and playfully pushed him closer to Brett. Stiles then scooted closer to the two wolves. Derek laid down behind Stiles sliding his arm under the teen's pillow. On the other side of Brett, Mason was using Ethan's arm as a pillow as the older wolf had snuggled up behind the human. Ethan had that hand touching Brett's shoulder. Lydia had her back up against Ethan as she cuddled in to Jordan' arms.

John just smiled a content, fatherly smile as he turned off the lights and headed upstairs to bed as he thought to himself, "They're going to be okay."

Part 11

Morning came far too soon for anyone's liking. The room was filled with grumbles and groans as the occupants slowly came to full consciousness. By the time that all of the blankets had been folded up and they and the pillows put away, the pot of coffee that Stiles had finished brewing was ready. It was 6:30 in the morning and the sun hadn't even decided if it wanted to wake up yet. There was no way that any of them were going to be able to function without caffeine. Even John stumbled downstairs when he smelled it.

"Are there any more eggs?" Derek had his head in the refrigerator. Stiles shrugged not knowing.

"There should be about a half dozen in there," John answered.

"I was going to make eggs, but do you have stuff to make pancakes or French toast instead?" Derek asked John. The two set about making breakfast for everyone and Stiles started a fresh pot of coffee since the first one was already empty.

Soon enough, everyone was seated at the dining room table eating the pancakes. Maybe inhaling would be a more apt description. There hadn't been enough bacon or sausage for everyone so it was just lots and lots of pancakes. But no one minded. It was just nice to be together.

So it was that thirty minutes after waking up, the dishes were in the dishwasher, which was then started, and they were figuring out who was driving who.

"Liam's on my way," Lydia chimed. "I'll drop him off, go home and get ready, and then pick him up on the way to school."

"I've got to drive across town anyway," said Derek. "So I'll take Brett."

"That leaves me with Mason." Ethan gave an exaggerated wink. They all laughed, especially when Stiles smacked Ethan upside the back of the head.

"I'll have my dad drop me off at school," Stiles supplied.

"Speaking of across town," Jordan added. "Are you going to be okay at school by yourself Brett?" Although Jordan didn't know him all that well, he found himself strangely protective of the three youngest members of the group.

Brett nodded uncertainly. "I should be. But I promise to call or text if there's any problem." The group made sure that everyone had everyone else's numbers before they dispersed.

An hour later found Stiles, Lydia, Mason, and Liam gathered at Lydia's locker. "Everything seems weird," she mentioned. "No one has any idea the shit that happened this weekend. Look at them." She made a sweeping motion toward the hallway full of students. "They're oblivious. It doesn't seem right."

"I keep looking around waiting for Hayden to walk down the hall," Liam spoke softly, but they heard him. They also heard the heartbreak behind his words. Stiles wrapped him in a hug and set his chin on the young wolf's head. Lydia and Mason both rubbed his back. They heard a few sniggers from people passing in the hall but chose to ignore them.

"I'm pretty sure it's going to be an extra crappy day," Stiles said in his usual sarcastic tone. "So let's just go get it over with." The four walked off in different directions toward their classes.

Derek and Ethan were at Derek's loft getting cleaned up.

"Thank you," Derek said sincerely. He held out his hand to Ethan. No explanation as to the reason for the thank you was needed as Ethan already knew.

"You're welcome. I'm glad I came." He shook Derek's hand. "They're good kids who've been through hell."

"Yeah," the older wolf agreed. "And now they're an alpha-less pack."

Ethan nodded. "I was thinking about that. The only thing they're really missing is someone with the red eyes of an alpha. They already have us."

Derek narrowed his eyes at the younger man. "Explain."

"Part of being an alpha is the physical strength and the wisdom or experience, right?" Derek nodded. "You and I are both former alphas. We still have those things. We just have the blue eyes instead of the red." Again Derek nodded. "There's got to be some way for at least one of us to regain that extra oommph that makes a beta an alpha since we've already had it once."

"Hmm," mumbled Derek. "You think that you or I should regain our alpha status and claim this group as our pack?" He wanted to clarify.

"When you put it that way it sounds kind of weird, but I was actually thinking about protecting the others. Without an alpha they're omegas. And you and I both know that's not a safe thing to be." Both former alphas nodded in agreement.

"Brett has an alpha," Derek informed Ethan. "So he's still pretty safe."

"True, but he smells more like this pack than his own. I could barely smell Satomi and even then it was only after I was told that she was his alpha that I knew to try to find it."

"Yeah," Derek agreed. "He spends so much time with Liam and Mason that he became an honorary member of this pack."

"So that still leaves him in danger," Ethan finished the thought process for both of them.

"Well, hell," Derek sighed. "Let's try to find Deaton and ask him."

The two left in Derek's truck. The clinic was still closed so he hadn't been back there. They decided to try his apartment. As the two wolves entered the layer of dust on everything indicated that it had been some time since the druid/veterinarian had been in his home. They exchanged a look that screamed, this can't be good.

"Try to find anything that could lead us to him," Derek instructed.

Derek walked directly over to the desk and began searching through the books that we open on top. Under them all was an envelope with "Derek" scrawled on the front of it.

"Ethan," Derek held up the envelope to show his companion.

Derek,

If you're reading this than I am still not back. I left to try to find information on the Dread Doctors. But since you're at my apartment I've either been gone too long or there is some sort of emergency. If it is the former, please do not come looking for me. I'm probably already dead and you'd just end up getting yourself killed too and I couldn't handle that being on my conscience.

If it is the latter, I have spoken with a friend of mine and let her know that I am leaving her phone number for you. Though she is not a Druid she is extremely knowledgeable and powerful. She should be able to help you with whatever you need. (804) 555-2283

I hope to see you soon.

Alan Deaton

"Because that is in no way creepy," Ethan said, trying to ignore the shiver that just ran down his spine.

"Should we call the number?" Derek asked. Seeing Ethan nod, even if it was hesitantly, Derek took out his phone and called the number.

"Hello?" A female voice answered.

"Hi," Derek said, not knowing how to begin to explain why he called. "A friend of mine left a note with your phone number and instructions to call if I had an emergency." That was lame and he knew it. Based on the eye roll from Ethan, he knew it too.

"Alan Deaton?" she asked.

"Yes," he confirmed. "I came to his apartment looking for him but found a letter addressed to me instead.

"Is this Derek?"

"Uh . . . yeah," the older wolf was puzzled.

"Is this an over the phone emergency or do I need to be there in person?"

"Don't know," he admitted. "I wanted to know if there's a way to return a former alpha to his alpha status."

There was a pause on her end of the line. "Why?"

"Some things have happened here and now there's a pack without an alpha, which puts them in a dangerous position. I want to make sure that they're protected." He had a feeling that her question was a test. He just hoped that he passed.

"I'll be on the first flight out. Text me the address." She hung up before he could even ask her name. But at least he seemed to have passed whatever test she'd given him. He quickly text his address to the number he'd just called.

"Now," he looked up at Ethan. "We wait."

School sucked, Stiles was right. The tittering Liam had been hearing throughout the day had been getting steadily worse between each class period. He'd just come from history class here he had to sit next to an empty desk, where just a few days ago his girlfriend sat. As they left the classroom Mason took his hand. Liam gave it a squeeze in thanks.

Lydia saw what was going on and figured that it had to do with Hayden. So she walked up to them and gave him a kiss on the cheek before holding his other hand. Liam ducked his head as he blushed. Lydia and Mason just smiled at their friend. Stiles walked toward them and just held his arms open for the young wolf as he walked straight in to them and allowed himself to be wrapped in his friend's embrace. The four teens stood in close contact with each other.

Another laugh and Lydia jerked her head up at the chortling juniors. "What the fuck is your problem?" she bit out. Mason had to grab Lydia around the waist to keep her from stomping over to them.

Stiles leaned down to whisper in Liam's ear. "Do you want me to go kick their asses?" Liam chuckled.

"You know I love you, man, but," He began. Stiles just nodded.

"I know, I know. I'd get my ass handed to me," he acknowledged. Which brought a small smile to the shorter teen's face. "But it's the thought that counts. Right?"

Liam hugged him tighter. "It's definitely the thought that counts, big brother." Stiles grinned at being called his big brother and just hugged as hard as he could. Then he pulled Liam behind him as he turned to face the juniors.

"You guys have a problem?" He demanded.

"Just watchin' the love birds," the laughed.

"So guys aren't allowed to touch unless they're gay. Is that it?" Stiles asked angrily. "Where you not hugged enough as a child? Is that the problem?" That caused his group to laugh, which did not sit well with the bullying juniors.

"Why don't you come over here and say that to my face, dick face?" the clear leader asked.

"Why don't you say that to ours?" They spun around at the voice to be greeted by three large guys, all with their arms crossed over their chests. Two of them obviously older and one a lot taller.

"Who the fuck are you?" they demanded.

"We're the over protective big brothers," Derek told them.

"You guys okay?" Ethan looked toward his "pack". They nodded.

"They thought they'd have a laugh at us because Liam just came out of a class that he'd had with Hayden and needed a hug," Stiles informed them. Brett walked from behind the two older wolves and came around and gave Liam a big hug. Joking around, he lifted him off the ground by his waist. The short wolf just laughed and slapped his shoulder.

"Put me down, you big dork," he chuckled. And Brett obeyed.

"I suggest that you all never come near our family again," Ethan threatened the juniors. They just nodded and pushed each other faster down the hall.

"That was priceless," Mason said. "Where have you two been since I came out of the closet?" He joked.

"Whatcha doing here Brett?" Stiles asked confused. He looked down at his feet and started to blush.

"I . . . uh . . . I didn't like being over there by myself," he said quietly.

"So he text us and we picked him up," Derek told them. The other four nodded in understanding. Liam took his hand.

"We missed you too, Brett," he told the taller wolf. Brett just smiled down at his friend. The feel of Liam's hand in his make him warm all over. He knew that physical touch was Liam's love language, and well as that of their wolves, but he couldn't help but hope that maybe it meant a little more. Brett wasn't naïve. He knew that Liam had real feelings for Hayden, and Brett would never want to demean those feelings. But that didn't mean that he didn't relish the feel of the young wolf's hand in his.

"We're about to have lunch," Lydia told the three newcomers. "Wanna join us?" They nodded and the group headed out to the courtyard to sit down. Derek had his arm around Stiles with his hand on his shoulder.

"We went to Deaton's today," he told the teen.

"Oh yeah? What happened?"

"There was a letter with my name on it. It said that if we had an emergency to call a number so we did. Some lady said she'd be on the first flight out here." The whole group was listening to the conversation.

"Some lady?" Stiles inquired. "You didn't ask her name?"

"I didn't get a chance," Derek defended himself. "She hung up on me." That had the other laughing.

"So, Brett," Mason got his attention as they sat at a table. "You just come by to harass us for the day or are you going to join us cool kids and transfer Beason Hills?" Brett looked around the table at the faces looking back at him. They each held of look of interest, but there was no demand. And he knew in that instant that no matter his choice they would support him. They might teased him either way, but they would stand by him 100%.

"Don't know," he admitted. "Hadn't really thought about it. If I stay there I'll be the only one of us in that school. If I come here, I'll be with the rest of you but I won't be able to play lacrosse the rest of the season." Stiles and Liam both flinched at that, knowing how much the sport meant to the three of them.

"That's okay," Lydia piped up. "We still love you no matter which school you attend." The others nodded eagerly. And he knew that they did. He knew that somehow he'd found a real family. Even if he'd just met a few of this this weekend. He still knew. And based on the laughter and looks that he saw being passed around the lunch table, they all knew they'd found their family too.

Part 12

That evening found the group at Derek's loft. Derek, Ethan, and Brett had gone to the grocery store to pick up food for dinner and breakfast. They had also swung by Brett's home to grab an overnight bag and some pillows and blankets. By the time that the other's arrived, also having gone home to get sleepover stuff, Derek was in the middle of cooking dinner.

Brett had his homework spread out on the large table that had been set up near the kitchen. One by one the other students joined him as they worked on their homework as well. Someone would ask a homework question to the room as a whole and someone else would answer. Derek and Ethan even chimed in once in a while. About an hour later John and Jordan knocked on the door. They helped with dinner and homework.

"Alright," Derek interrupted. "Clear the table. Dinner's ready." Within minutes, all the school books had been put away and the table had been set. Everyone sat around the table as dinner was passed in a clockwise direction. Soon all the boys were inhaling their food.

"Guys!" Lydia hollered. They all stopped mid-bite. "I know that this is literally a pack of hungry wolves, but you can still use table manners." She fussed at them. They all, including John, ducked their heads and took their elbows off the table. They all ate much slower after that, actually tasting the food.

"Thank you for dinner, Derek," Lydia thanked their host. "It's delicious." She meant it, but she was also trying to remind the others to thank him as well. She shook her head as they all repeated after her with their mouths' full. It was a start, she supposed, smiling ruefully.

After dinner, homework was finished up while John and Jordan were caught up on what had happened that day. Before long Derek hit a light switch and a projector screen dropped down out of the ceiling. He didn't have a television because he had a projector. John claimed one end of the couch, Jordan and Lydia claimed the other end. The rest piled in all of the blankets and pillows that everyone brought. And, yes, Stiles talked them in to watching Star Wars. They all groaned about it, but no one actually minded.

Derek was propped up on a bunch of pillows and Stiles was using his stomach as a pillow. Not really paying attention Derek started rubbing Stiles back absently. Brett and Liam were in pretty much the same position with Liam using Brett's stomach as his pillow. Ethan and Mason were both on their backs in between the others. Everyone was touching, but no one was really paying much attention to it other than to notice how comforting and peaceful it felt.

About half way through the movie there was a knock on the door. Derek paused the movie as Ethan got up to turn the lights back on. Derek wandered over to the door and slid it open. On the other side of the door were four people none of them had ever seen before; one girl and three guys.

"Derek?" The girl asked looking around the room.

"Yeah," he stepped in their line of sight. The power rolling off of the new group was palpable to the wolves who were all on their feet. Which instantly had the rest on their feet.

"You called me earlier," she informed him. He glared at each of the four new comers in turn then stepped back to allow them entrance. But one of them couldn't come in.

"Um . . ." the dark haired man sputtered. "Could someone invite me in please?" Derek just leveled a glare at him.

"Give me one reason why I should," Derek narrowed his now steel blue eyes at him.

"Because he's one of the good guys now," came the reply from the woman who'd just entered the loft. Derek and Ethan both raised an eyebrow at that.

"Let's start with introductions," the youngest of the new four interjected. "I'm Jeremy Gilbert," the young man pointed to himself. Then he motioned to the woman standing next to him. "This is Bonnie Bennett." He indicated the man that had entered with them. "That's Tyler Lockwood." And pointing toward the open door. "And that's Damon Salvatore."

"What are you?" Ethan asked bluntly, eyeing each of them speculatively.

"Rude, much?" Damon rolled his eyes at the blunt werewolf.

"You want in?" Derek growled.

Damon sighed and threw his hands up in the air. "Fine, fine. I'm a vampire." Ethan then looked toward Bonnie.

"I'm a witch," she waived, smiling. "Jeremey's a Hunter." Everyone stiffened at that. "And Tyler's a hybrid."

"Hybrid?" Stiles questioned. Tyler nodded. "Like a chimera?" Stiles raised an eyebrow at the young man. The wolves shifted and the two officers pulled out their guns.

"Uh . . ." Tyler looked around the room starting to freak out. Normally guns didn't faze him much but he could smell the wolfsbane bullets from halfway across the room. "A little help?" He stared at Bonnie.

"Not a chimera," she stated. "Part werewolf, part vampire." Noting that did little to comfort them she could only shrug her shoulders at her friend.

"How did you become a . . . hybrid?" Stiles asked, testing out the word. "It wasn't crazy scientists, was it?"

The newcomers looked at him like he'd lost his mind. "No," Tyler replied. "I was born a wolf and then got turned by a vampire. And no, that's not the whole story, but it's too complicated to get in to right this second."

"Sooo . . ." Stiles summarized. "Not a chimera?" Tyler shook his head.

"Not a chimera." He insisted.

The Beacon Hills group all let out a huge sigh of relief and all weapons, including fangs and claws, were put away.

"Great," Damon spoke from the doorway. "Now that that's settled, will someone please invite me in?" He was getting both frustrated and insulted at being left in the hallway. Although, seeing their reaction to Tyler he had to admit that he may have been safer where he was.

Derek glanced at Stiles who only hesitated slightly before nodding. "Fine," Derek growled. "Come in." Damon sauntered in to the loft.

"Thank you." He looked around. "Nice place," he said being serious. He liked it.

"Thanks," Derek answered.

"So," Jeremy spoke again. "We've introduced ourselves. Could you all tell us who you are?"

Stiles took a step forward, almost tripping in the blankets. That caused Derek to roll his eyes and Ethan and John to chuckle.

"I'm Stiles Stilinski," he offered his hand to Jeremy. "I'm human. As is my dad," he pointed to John. "Sheriff John Stilinski, and Mason Hewitt." Stiles indicated the young teen. Then he motioned to others in turn, "Derek Hale, werewolf; Ethan Carver, werewolf; Brett Talbot, werewolf; Liam Dunbar, werewolf; Lydia Martin."

"Let me guess," Damon interrupted. "Werewolf?"

"Banshee," Stiles glared at the vampire triumphantly. "And Jordan Parrish, Hellhound."

After a moment of silence Damon was the first to speak. "First off, there are waaaay too many werewolves for my comfort. Second, what is a banshee? And third, what the hell is a hellhound?"

"I figured if anyone was familiar with banshees and hellhounds it would be the walking dead," Stiles snarked.

"That's un-dead, thank you very much." Damon rolled his eyes. "And why would I be familiar with them?"

"Banshee," Lydia recited. "Or the Wailing Woman screams when someone's about to die. And Hellhounds are bringers of death and guardians of the supernatural."

"Ah," Damon nodded uncomfortably. "I can see why you might think I'd be aware of them."

"I have a question," Tyler asked looking around the room. "How did you wolves shift when it's not the full moon? How did you do that partial shift?" The wolves in question all looked at each other and then at Derek.

"Why don't we all go have a seat?" he indicated the large kitchen table. The Mystic Falls four-some sat on one side of the long table and the Beacon Hills group sat squished together on the other side.

"In answer to your question Tyler," Derek began once there were all seated. "I believe that we may be a different breed or off shoot."

"Huh?" was Stiles eloquent response. Derek laughed.

"Do you only turn on the full moon?" Derek asked Tyler.

"When I was just a werewolf, yes." He explained. "On the full moon I'd turn in to a full wolf, fur and all. It was excruciating. It would literally break every bone in my body in order to allow it to heal in wolf form." The four wolves cringed. "But as a hybrid I can turn, or not turn, at will. Still hurts like hell if I do decide to turn."

"Interesting," Derek acknowledged. "Only a few of our kind can shift in to full wolf form. What you saw earlier is usually the extent of our shifts. The full moon affects us, meaning it's harder to control our wolf side, but it don't control us." Tyler looked intrigued.

"As interesting as this isn't," Damon cut it. "Does anyone have anything to drink?" At the sound of all the chairs across from him sliding back slightly her rolled his pale blue eyes. "Oh get over yourselves," he huffed. "I meant alcohol." While the others relaxed their posture a little Derek got up and walked in to the kitchen with the vampire behind him.

"What's your poison?" the wolf asked. Damon raised his eyebrow. "And you wonder why we're on edge when you freak out at a question like that." Derek retorted.

"Right," Damon admitted. "Something strong. As long as it's wet and goes down smooth I'm not picky." There was a snort of laughter from the table.

"Ethan," growled Derek. Ethan looked up at him with extra innocent eyes.

"Yes, Derek?" He grinned. Derek rolled his eyes.

"Keep it in your pants." The older wolf huffed. Ethan just laughed out loud. Damon was lost until he thought back over what he'd said. He didn't know that he could still blush. Wow. Interesting.

"Oh my god!" Stiles dropped his forehead on the table with a loud bang. "I can never un-hear that." That had everyone around the table chuckling, including the group from Mystic Falls.

"So," Bonnie asked with a smile now on her face. "You called me." She spoke to Derek when he sat back down and started rubbing Stiles' back. "What can I do for you?"

"Well," he began. "Due to some recent events, these kids have lost their alpha wolf. And without an alpha they become omegas, lone wolves. In our society that's a very dangerous thing to be. It's one thing for Ethan and I to choose the life of an omega, it's a different thing for the pups to have it thrust on them." Bonnie and Tyler nodded their understanding. "Ethan and I went in search of Deaton to ask if there was a way to turn a former alpha back in to an active alpha."

"Former?" Jeremy asked.

"I used to be the alpha of my own pack. But my sister was poisoned and the only way to save her was with the extra healing power that come from being an alpha. Basically I drained enough of my wolf's battery to go from being an alpha to an omega." Derek explained.

"My twin brother and I used to be alphas too," Ethan said. Lydia and Mason both put their hands on his back in support. He hated to talk about Aiden. "But the Durach stole it from us and then he was killed."

"What's a Durach?" Tyler asked.

"A Dark Druid," Bonnie answered for them. Bonnie looked at the two former alphas. "So you both used to be alphas, but not of this pack. Correct?"

"Correct." They said in unison.

"Let me do some research," Bonnie said after thinking about it for a moment. "Will you all be okay for a day or so?"

"Yeah," Stiles spoke up as he lifted his head off the table. "The immediate threat has been dealt with, but seeing as the Dread Doctors are still out there it won't be long until they come for us."

"Dread Doctors?" Damon questioned. "Do I even want to ask?"

"Probably not," Lydia told him. "But that can be a story for another day."

Bonnie and her crew stood to leave. "I'm glad you called Derek," she said as she shook his hand. "Between all of us we'll get this sorted out."

Derek walked the group to the door. "Thank you for getting here so quickly. You have my number. Call if you all need anything."

He closed the door behind them and turned around to find the "pack" had followed him in to the front room and were now staring at him.

"What?" He asked concerned.

Leave it to Mason to sum the evening up in one word. "Intense."

Part 13

It was late after the guests had left so instead of finishing the movie they decided it was time to go to sleep. Derek offered John his bed as he'd planned on sleeping downstairs with everyone else. John smiled, hugged the wolf and made his way up the spiral staircase.

They all took turns changing in to their pajamas before collapsing in the pile of pillow, blankets, and bodies. The bodies weren't tucked together as tightly as they were the night before, but they were all within arms' reach of each other. Derek turned out the lights and was the last one to lay down.

Brett was laying on his back with Mason and Liam deciding to use him as their personal body pillows. He had one on each side of him snuggled up along his sides, with their heads on his shoulders. This was something that he could definitely get used to. He'd been friends with Liam back before Liam was expelled. They were . . . frenemies, he'd thought was the right word. They were friends, but they were also each other's arch rival and biggest challenger, especially when it came to lacrosse. Brett, even before he acknowledged to himself his lack of sexual preference, had been attracted to Liam. And Liam had always been more open about touching than most other boys. But now that Liam understood why, and had been validated that it was normal, he was even more open about it. Not that Brett was going to complain about it. Not in the least.

While he had one arm wrapped around Mason's waist, the other was rubbing up and down Liam's back. He'd occasionally stop to play with the hair at the nape of the shorter boy's neck before returning to his back. In return, Liam was rubbing his fingertips on Brett's chest, above his heart. Brett doubted that Liam even realized he was doing it. Brett fell asleep feeling more content than he had in a long time.

Derek heard the heartrates and breathing of the others around him slow down as they drifted off to sleep. He had too much on his mind still. He was trying to understand why Stiles' hug earlier affected him so much. But the more he thought about it the more confused he got. All the while Stiles laid next to him wiggling around trying to get comfortable, even though he was already asleep. So Derek slid one arm under his neck and the other around Stiles' waist and pulled him closer to the oldest wolf. Stiles instantly settled down with his head on Derek's arm, spooned up against him. Derek didn't want to think about the fact that his own wolf instantly settled down as well.

Liam's heart was pounding against Brett's ribs. It was so hard and so fast that it woke him up. The smaller wolf was obviously having a nightmare if the sweat covered body was any indication. Brett started rubbing his back trying to get Liam to calm down.

"No!" Liam yelled out in his sleep. Brett didn't know what to do. He unwound himself from Mason and wrapped both arms around Liam. He began whispering in his ear trying to soothe him but it wasn't working.

"Leave them alone!" Brett could hear and feel the others wake up at this yell. He even heard John come partway down the stairs. Derek waved John off letting the older man know that it was under control.

Seeing that it was a nightmare and not a physical threat, the older two wolves scooter closer so that they could touch the young pup. Soon, all of them had a hand on Liam, trying to reassure him silently.

"NO!" He woke up panting. He tried to disentangle himself from Brett's arms but the taller wolf wouldn't let got. Liam gave in and laid his head back on Brett's chest. At least until he smelt the blood. He pulled his head back.

"Brett," Liam hissed. "Oh my god! I am so sorry. I didn't mean to!" Brett rubbed Liam's back trying to reassure him.

"I'm fine." Brett told him. "It's just a few scratches. They're almost healed." He took of his t-shirt and wiped away the remaining blood. He was right. The marks were only welts now and even those were fading. "No harm done." Brett tossed the bloodied shirt toward the kitchen then pulled Liam's head back down to his now-healed chest.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked softly. Liam shrugged. He knew that talking about it might help, but he didn't want to seem like he was afraid of everything.

"Berserkers?" Derek asked quietly. Liam nodded.

"Partially," he admitted.

"Those things freak me the fuck out," Derek confessed. "I still have occasional nightmares about them."

"You do?" Liam asked in a small voice.

"Hell yeah, I do." Derek said. "I bet all of us here that's faced one still has nightmares about them."

"I do," piped up Mason.

"Me too," added Lydia.

"Definitely," admitted Jordan.

Brett squeezed tighter as Derek continued. "Don't ever be embarrassed about your nightmares. Because if they scare you they probably scare all of us." Liam nodded in understanding. "Hell, I still have nightmare about Ethan here." Derek chuckled, pushing Ethan with his foot.

"Me?" Ethan ask innocently. "What did I do?"

"You hosted a rave in my loft, you dufus," Derek said grinning.

"Oh yeah," Ethan reminisced. He looked up at Liam. "That was me."

They all laughed and laid their heads back down. Liam snuggled deeper, if that was possible, in to Brett's arms. He felt safe there. Like nothing could get him. It also helped to know that he wasn't the only one that had nightmares. That made him feel normal. And that was a good thing.

Part 14

Breakfast was a rambunctious affair. Derek and Stiles were the first ones awake so they started cooking eggs, bacon, sausage, and toast for everyone. A fresh pot of coffee was waking the others up. People staggered in for the coffee and then Lydia was the first to go get ready for the day while the guys all sat around yawning.

No one talked about Liam's nightmare. It wasn't that they were trying to pretend that it hadn't happened, it was more that they felt like it had been addressed last night. Especially since it hadn't happened again. Liam looked a little better this morning too. As if he'd slept better than he had in some time. And Derek thought that if the kid had been keeping those kind of intense nightmares to himself he probably did sleep better knowing that he wasn't alone. Not physically alone, and not in the way of being the only suffering from the nightmares.

Lydia came back to the kitchen just as Stiles was setting plates full of bacon and sausage on the table. Brett and Mason had set the table and Liam was pouring orange juice for everyone. Derek brought over two plates full of scrambled eggs and set them on either end of the table. As he sat down everyone started talking and passing plates. It didn't take long for plates to be piled high with food and for it to start being inhaled.

"Uuhhmm," Lydia cleared her throat loudly. When they looked at her confused she just smiled and said, "Manners." They rolled their eyes, but complied. All elbows were off the table and napkins were in their laps. She laughed to herself, 'if I'm going to end up being the mom of this bunch then they will at least have good manners so that they can attract respectable partners.'

The laughter and talking picked up again. John looked around the table and smiled. 'This is what's it's supposed to be like,' he thought to himself. 'I could get used to this.' Apparently Derek was on the same wavelength.

"I had an idea," Derek told the table at large.

"Did it hurt?" Asked Stiles around the toast in his mouth. Derek just reached over and smacked him upside the back of the head. Softly.

"Twit," he replied laughing. "As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted," Derek smirked at Stiles who just grinned back. "I own this entire building. Its got, what, ten floors? We could easily turn this in to a home away from home for everyone. They could have their own room. We could build a huge pit for . . . what did Ethan call them . . . puppy piles." He looked around the table to gauge their responses. "What do you think?"

"Hell yeah!" Stiles was the first to comment.

"I'm in," John said. "I know I'm the old man, but I'd still like to be a part of this if you'll have me."

Stiles was the first one on his feet. He wrapped his arms around his dad's shoulders from behind and rested his chin on his dad's shoulder. "Of course we want you." The others nodded. "You're Dad." Stiles grinned as he turned his head to look at his dad. "What? You think I'm the only one here who wants to claim you as Dad? I don't think so. You officially belong to all of us. From now on you're just Dad." Stiles gave his dad a big squeeze and then went to sit back down.

He hadn't even made it to his chair before both Lydia and Liam were out of theirs. Before John knew it he was in the middle of a family hug. He didn't mean for it to happen, but he could feel the tears running down his face. 'Maybe they weren't the only ones that were broken,' he thought to himself. They all settled back down in to their chairs and finished eating.

John looked at Derek. "What do you have in mind to work on first?" Derek seemed to think about it for a few minutes.

"Probably the pit so we're not always sleeping on the floor," he decided.

"Sounds like a plan," the sheriff agreed. "I've got some vacation time saved. I wouldn't mind helping out."

"I'd really like that . . . Dad," Derek grinned at the sheriff who just beamed back at him.

"Oooh, me too, me too," Ethan and Stiles said in unison. Everyone laughed.

"Stiles you have school," John reminded his son.

"What about me?" Brett spoke up. "I don't know what I want to do about school."

"Have you talked to your alpha?" John asked. Brett shook his head.

"I'll take you over to talk with Satomi today if you'd like Brett," Derek offered. Brett perked up and nodded.

"Whoever's riding with me, I'm leaving in ten minutes," Lydia announced as she got up from the table. The other three that would need a ride jumped up to hurry and get dressed. She just smiled and shook her head as she collected dishes to take in to the kitchen.

"Thank you for breakfast, Derek," Lydia walked over and kissed him on the cheek. "And thanks for letting us all invade." She smiled at him.

She walked behind Jordan and kissed him on the side of his neck. "Are you going to walk me down to my car?" She whispered in his ear. He nodded furiously as he sprang up from the table. The remaining four men chuckled.

"Somebody's whipped," Ethan said as he leaned back in his chair.

"You know she hasn't been with anyone since Aiden, don't you?" Derek asked the twin. Ethan set all four legs of the chair back on the ground.

"No," Ethen shook his head. "I didn't know." He watched her with Jordan as they walked out the door.

"Aiden's death hit her pretty hard," Derek told him. "She never really talked about it, but it changed her."

"I noticed that she was different," Ethan admitted. "But I didn't know that was why." A lone tear ran down his cheek. Derek reached out and put his hand on his friend's shoulder.

"You two should talk sometime," Derek suggested as he stood up.

A few minutes later Brett and Derek stood in the kitchen cleaning all of the breakfast dishes while Ethan cleaned up the table. John came back now that he was dressed in his uniform.

"You guys have a good day," John said as he headed toward the sliding door of the loft. "I'll see you tonight."

"Bye Dad!" echoed throughout the loft as the three wolves sang out at the same time.

As John opened the door he was startled by the quartet of people standing there. "Morning," he greeted. "They're in the kitchen." He waved them in as he headed off to the station.

"Come on in," Derek hollered from the other room. "There's still some breakfast left if you're hungry."

"Thanks," replied Bonnie. "But we're good." The four sat at the table anyway so that they could talk to the three wolves.

"I didn't expect to see you guys again so soon," Derek said as he and Brett were drying and putting away the dishes.

"I have some answers," Bonnie told him. "But I also have to ask if I can have access to other information." Before her statement could be clarified the front door slid open.

"Derek!" The new arrival called.

"In the kitchen," the former alpha replied. Around the corner sauntered Isaac. He stopped the instant he laid eyes on Ethan.

"Him?" He directed his question to Derek but never took his eyes off of Ethan.

"Him?" Ethan lazily pointed a finger toward Isaac. He also directed his question to Derek.

Brett looked back and forth between the two older wolves while Derek just let out a long-suffering sigh. "Ooh, tension," Brett joked. "Is this the 'I want to rip your face off' kind or the 'I want to rip your clothes off' kind?" Damon laughed at the amused look on the teen's face.

"Is there a difference?" The vampire asked. Brett tilted his head as he pretended to think about it.

"Not in this house." The two joked.

"I like you, kid," Damon told Brett, whose reply was a wide grin.

Derek was still looking back and forth between Ethan and Isaac, having tried to ignore the comments from the peanut gallery. "Guys," he tried to sound calm. "We're all on the same side now." They both broke eye contact with each other in order to stare at him like he'd lost his mind. "We're all here to help keep the pups safe. Remember?" He glared each of them in to submission.

"Fine," they both grumbled.

That settled, at least for the moment, Derek turned back to the witch. "What information did you need access too?"

She looked up at him with a slightly uncomfortable look on her face. "I need to talk to an alpha." She wasn't sure if that was something of a taboo subject or what the social norms of their society were.

"Oh," Derek breathed out in relief. "Is that all?" She nodded. "I've got to take Brett over to see his alpha today anyway. You could come with us if you'd like." She nodded enthusiastically.

Isaac sat down at the table with his now food laden plate. "Who are you people?" he bluntly asked.

"I'm Bonnie," she began. "This is Damon, Jeremy, and Tyler." She pointed to each one as she said their name.

"What are you?" He asked around a mouth full eggs. He didn't understand the knowing grins that were being passed around the room, nor why Ethan now had his head down. And why did Brett and Damon just fist bump each other? Isaac was confused.

"Sorry," Damon cleared his throat. "She's a witch," he pointed to Bonnie. "Jer is a Hunter." When Isaac tensed up Damon was quick to clarify, "Not that kind. He only hunts vampires." Isaac relaxed slightly. "Tyler is a hybrid – part werewolf, part vampire. And I'm a vampire."

"That explains why it smells like a rotting corpse in here," Isaac mumbled as he continue to inhale his food.

"Isaac," Derek growled in annoyance.

"What? It does." The teen defended himself.

"I really hate to agree with him," said Ethan. "But he's right. It does." He nodded his head.

"I know that," Derek bit out. "But it's still rude to say it." Apparently Lydia's lessons in manners were starting to rub off on him.

Damon and Tyler just looked shocked. They sniffed at themselves. "I do not smell like a corpse," Damon stated firmly.

"Sorry," Brett spoke up. "But you do." He pointed to Tyler. "His wolf side covers most of his smell but he does too a little."

"Really?" Tyler asked. "How have I never noticed?"

"You're probably used to it," Jeremy offered. "I know the specific twitch I get when you or Damon walk in to a room, but I'm so used to it that I don't pay any attention to it anymore." The hunter shrugged as if that explained everything.

"Hmm." Came the reply from both vampires.

"Who's Pretty Boy?" Isaac asked looking up at Brett.

"You never met Brett?" Derek asked confused. Isaac shook his head. "This is Brett Talbot. He's one of our pups. He's in an allied pack but he's part of this family." Isaac nodded his head in understanding. Since Scott and Derek were never in the same pack he got how someone could be in one pack but still hang out with another pack.

Once he was finished eating he asked the one question he'd been wanting to know since he got the text from Derek to get back to Beacon Hills asap. "So why am I here?" Isaac directed his question to Derek but then looked around the room hoping that anyone would answer.

"Scott went off the deep end," Ethan spoke first. "He tried to kill his own beta, Brett, and a human member of his pack."

Isaac's jaw dropped. Almost a minute ticked by before anyone said anything. "Isaac?" Derek ventured.

The tall blonde shook his head to clear his thoughts. "Sorry. I'm just having a tough time wrapping my head around that." He looked up at Derek as if to ask if this was real. Seeing Derek's nod he just shook his head in disbelief as he stared off in to space. "I lived with the guy. I would never have seen this coming."

"He's been handled," Ethan informed him quietly but firmly.

"And by handled do you mean that you killed him?" Isaac glared at the twin.

"No," Ethan all but yelled. "Derek exiled him." Isaac's gazed shifted to his former alpha.

"It's true." Derek confirmed. "Ethan didn't kill anyone. I exiled Scott and Malia."

"Malia?" Isaac was confused. "The werecoyote?" He remembered when they helped Scott change her back to human. But that was the last he remembered hearing of her.

"She and Stiles were together," Derek had come over to the table and sat across from his former beta.

"So wait," he interrupted. "Stiles' best friend and Stiles' girlfriend attacked Scott's beta and two other pup?" He saw nods from around the table. "Scott almost tried to kill you because he thought you were mistreating your own betas." He said to Derek. "Why on earth would he try to kill his own? And how is Stiles?"

"Theo," was Brett's reply to the first question.

"Crappy," Ethan answered the second one.

"Theo?" Isaac thought for a moment. "As is Theo Raeken?" They all nodded slightly intrigued that Isaac knew the guy. "Last time I saw him was fourth grade."

"He managed to twist Scott's head around," Derek informed him. He looked at the clock. "Tell you what," he said as he stood. "I've got to take Brett and Bonnie to see Satomi. These guys can fill you in on everything while we're gone."

Ethan nodded as Derek continued. "And you two," he pointed between the two wolves. "Try not to kill each other while I'm gone." He picked up his keys as he headed toward the door. "Ethan I'll text you when we know something and then we can meet at Dad's."

"Kay," Ethan agreed as Derek, Brett, and Bonnie closed the door behind them.

"Dad? Who's Dad?"

"Brett, calm down," Derek put his hand on the beta's knee to keep it from vibrating. "You're making the entire car shake." Once the movement stopped Derek removed his hand. Bonnie was sitting in the back of Derek's Charger since she had the shortest legs.

"I don't even know why I'm nervous." Brett shrugged his shoulders. He started playing with the hem of his shirt.

"You're going to be fine, Brett," Derek reassured the young beta. "The only one of us that has anything to be nervous about it me. So take a deep breath and calm down." They pulled in to park. Derek turned off the car and turned to face Brett. "That's it. Just breathe." Once the teen's heart rate settled down a little Derek got out of the car. Brett got out and then helped Bonnie out of the back.

"What do you have to be nervous about?" Bonnie asked Derek as they walked in the front door.

"This is Hale territory," he informed her. "Anything that happens on it is ultimately my responsibility. Therefore what happened to Brett is my responsibility." Bonnie's eyes got big as began to understand that these wolves were a lot different than the ones she was used to. They had a lot more rules.

"Brett!" A cute blond girl that looked to be about twelve came running up to the tall wolf. He bent down and swept her up in a big hug. He spun her in circles making her giggle and Derek and Bonnie smile.

"Lor," Brett smiled as he set her back on her feet. "I've missed you kiddo." He took her left hand in his and turned to introduce her to his companions. "Do you remember Derek Hale?" He asked her she nodded.

"I don't think we were ever properly introduced," Derek stepped forward and offered her his hand to shake. "I'm Derek Hale. And you are?"

"Lorilee Rohr," she replied as she shook the larger wolf's hand. "I'm Brett's little sister." Bonnie grinned as she stepped forward.

"I'm Bonnie Bennett." She shook the young girl's hand as well.

"Where's Satomi?" Brett asked his little sister.

"In her parlor," she said as she pulled Brett behind her and further in to the house. Derek and Bonnie followed the siblings. They stopped when they got to the open door. Derek, and Brett immediately bowed respectfully to the alpha. Not sure of the protocol Bonnie ducked her head in respect.

"Please, come in," Satomi motioned for them to join her. Lorilee sat next to her alpha and her brother sat next to her. Derek and Bonnie sat on the small couch across the low table from her. "Tea?" The alpha offered.

"Please," Derek smiled. They were quiet as Satomi prepared tea for each of them. After the first sip Derek set his cup back down on its saucer. "I have come to beg your forgiveness." He bowed his head and would not meet the eyes of the alpha.

"What has happened that you need my forgiveness?" She asked in her quiet way.

"I left someone that I thought I could trust in charge of protecting Beacon Hills while I was away," Derek told her, still not looking up at her. "But I was mistaken in my trust and your beta was threatened and hurt in my absence."

Her eyes widened for only a fraction of a second then she looked over to Brett who ducked his head. "Who is this person?" Though her voice was soft there was steel behind it.

"Scott McCall," Derek admitted. "I should have come to you sooner but my first priority was to make sure all the pups were safe and then to make sure that the trespass had been dealt with."

"And has it?" She demanded.

"Because of his past help in protecting the community I allowed him his life, but he has been exiled. Never to return upon pain of death." His head stayed bowed. Satomi was quiet for a moment as she looked over to her beta. Brett met her eyes and nodded.

"Very well," she said. "Forgiveness granted." Derek's shoulders slumped in relief as he looked up at the elder. Bonnie suddenly realized that this could've gone very, very badly. Relief washed over her that it hadn't.

"Thank you, Satomi." He offered a grateful smile. She nodded her head in acceptance.

"I feel this is not the only reason that you are here today." It was not a question.

"I don't know what to do about school," Brett spoke up. "I like my school and I like the lacrosse team. But after this weekend it's very lonely and . . . I'm . . . afraid." His sister took one of his big hands in both of her smaller ones. That made him feel better about admitting his fear, so he continued on. "I like the idea of transferring to be with the others so I'm not alone, but then I won't be able to play lacrosse the rest of the year." He shook his head. "I know it's just a stupid sport, but it helps me vent my aggression."

Satomi reached out her hand and set it on her beta's shoulder. "If it is important to you then it is not stupid." She smiled at him and he softly smiled back. "However, this may be a good time to discuss something with you and your sister." She had both hands back in her lap as she looked over the brother and sister sitting next to her. "With most of our pack wiped out during the dead pool and the Nematon being reactivated this place is no longer safe for us. I am taking the pack and we will be leaving Beacon Hills." Brett and Lorilee instantly had tears in their eyes. He reached forward and pulled his sister back against him.

"I had been hoping that Scott would be willing to allow you two in to his pack until you both finished school." She hung her head in regret. "But, alas, that is not to be. I now have no choice but to bring you with us." They knew she always wanted them with her, but that she had been willing to let them stay for their teen years.

"Actually," Bonnie spoke up for the first time. "That's why I'm here." Satomi tilted her head as she assessed the young woman in front of her.

"You are no wolf," Satomi stated.

"You're right. But he is," she pointed to Derek. Satomi looked back and for between the two.

"But he is not an alpha," she said. "He can make no claim on them."

"He used to be an alpha," Bonnie replied. "I think I can help him become one again. But I'd need your help."

Satomi thought for a moment as she looked in to the young faces of her betas. "What can I do?"

"May I touch your hand?" Bonnie asked respectfully. "I need to be able to feel the difference between your alpha and Derek's current state so that I can help his wolf remember how to be an alpha." The witch explained.

"Are you an emissary?" The elder asked.

Bonnie shook her head. "No. Alan Deaton is my fourth cousin. Several generations back there was a schism in our family about how to help the supernatural. Some chose the path of the druids and some chose the path of the witch. I'm one of those witches."

Satomi seemed to think about that for another moment. "If it will help protect these young ones then I'll do what I can to help." She held out her hand.

Bonnie got up and walked around to the end of the table so that she knelt between Satomi and Derek. She gently touched the elder's hand, and was startled at the raw power that she felt there. She then reached out her other hand and touched Derek's hand. There was power there too, but nothing like Satomi. Understanding that the difference could also have to do with age and temperament and any other number of factors she mentally made a note of the difference and delved deeper in to Satomi's energy toward her wolf.

The image appeared as a large wolf in a cage that was nearly too small to hold it. Definitely too small to be comfortable. Bonnie then searched Derek for the same place inside him. His wolf was smaller and there was room to spare in the cage. But she could see the ghost of an outline of where his alpha wolf used to be. So then, how to get his to grow?

She imagined herself reaching toward the cage the held Derek's wolf. It padded over to her and sniffed at her hand. She saw a white light leave her hand and enter the wolf. It seemed to float in the air as it struggled and groaned against the light. But she could sense that it was working. It was getting larger.

Bonnie removed her had from Satomi and placed both hands on Derek's hand as she reconnected to his wolf. Her physical ears could hear his groans of discomfort but she continued on. She kept directing the light in to the wolf. Occasionally, she'd envision that the light was red since she'd been told that that's what color an alpha's eye were. She continued until she felt herself start to drain of energy. She pictured the wolf back on its feet. It was bigger than it had been. There was no denying it. It was only about halfway to where it needed to be though.

She withdrew from Derek's energy and sank to the floor. He opened his eyes to look at her. There was an obvious difference. They weren't red yet, but they were no longer blue. Instead they were a vivid purple; halfway between the two shades. He looked up at Satomi who stared in awe. Brett and Lorilee were also stunned.

"It is possible," Satomi whispered more to herself than to anyone in the room. She glanced over to her two betas and then back to the now violet-eyed wolf across from her.

"If, once the transformation is complete, you will allow them into your pack long enough to finish their schooling then they may stay here with you. With my blessing. Assuming it is their choice to do so." Derek nodded.

"They will always be welcome with me and I will extend my protection to them, regardless of their pack affiliation." He bowed his head slightly in respect but his eyes never left hers.

"I'd like to stay." Brett spoke softly. "I'm almost done with high school and all of my friends are here." He looked at his alpha pleading for her to understand that he didn't want to leave her. She smiled a motherly smile at him and touched his cheek.

"You both will always be a part of my pack and a part of my heart. No matter where you live." She used her free hand to cup the young girl's cheek as well. "I will support whatever choice you make, little one."

Lorilee looked back and forth between her brother and her alpha. Her brother puller her in to his lap. "You don't have to decide right this second Lor," he told her. "This is a huge decision. But if you do choose to stay, you and I already have a place to live." Brett glanced over to Derek to make sure that he hadn't over stepped his bounds. Derek nodded once in agreement.

"I don't want to leave you Satomi," the young girl said quietly. "But I don't want to leave my brother." She clung to her big brother, who wrapped his long arms around her and held on as tightly as was comfortable for her.

"Young one," Satomi spoke softly. "I would chose my big brother too." She smiled knowingly at the young girl who smiled back. She crawled out of Brett's lap and stepped over and wrapped her alpha in a hug.

"And Brett," Satomi turned her head toward the tall beta. "You can always find another outlet for your aggression but you can't find another family." She smiled knowingly at him. He blushed and ducked his head.

Derek looked Satomi in the eye when she turned her gaze to him. He placed his hand over his heart as he spoke. "I will protect them with my life, as if they were my own flesh and blood. This I swear to you."

She nodded in response. "I know you will."

"Go pack an overnight bag," Brett told his sister. "I want you to meet the rest of our new family." She squealed and ran off toward her room.

"When will you leave?" Derek asked Satomi while they waited.

"Within the week." Brett's eyes got big. He thought he'd have more time to say goodbye. He stood up and walked to his room to pack more clothes not knowing what to say to that revelation.

"This will be hard on him," she said to Derek.

"We'll make sure they're both loved and safe," he replied. Bonnie eagerly nodded her head in agreement.

Within minutes they were in the Charger and plans had been made to meet up with the others at the Sheriff's Station.

Part 15

Derek kept his sunglasses on when they four walked in to the Sheriff's station. He hadn't been able to get his eyes to go back to their human color. Bonnie had said that it was probably just his body trying to adjust to the changes. And he could feel other changes too. He felt more like himself than he had in some time. He felt stronger, more powerful, and more in tune with his surroundings.

John was behind his desk leaning back in his chair as he chatted with Ethan, Isaac, Damon, Tyler, and Jeremy. When Derek's car full walked in to the office Ethan got up and stuck his head out the door.

"J!" He hollered at Jordan across the room where he was standing by a filing cabinet. The deputy made his way in to the room and closed the door behind him. Derek took off his sunglasses and they all, except those from his car, gasped in surprise.

"They're purple," Isaac breathed out.

"Thank you Captain Obvious," Ethan retorted, rolling his eyes.

"Hey," Isaac defended himself. "I just got here a few hours ago and I'm still trying to process everything. Alright?" He threw his hands up in the air.

"Boys?" John made it sound like he was asking if there was going to be some sort of problem.

"Sorry, Dad." Ethan mumbled. Derek couldn't help but grin at that.

"Yeah, sorry." Isaac had just met the man and wasn't ready to start calling him Dad.

"Thank you," John responded. He looked up at Derek. "So what's it mean?"

Bonnie answered. "He's about half way to being an alpha again." She informed them. "I'm too wiped to do more today. Besides, it's probably better to let him get accustomed to a little at a time anyway."

"And Satomi's moving her pack out of Beacon Hills," Derek informed them. John and Ethan immediately looked to Brett.

"It's okay," he assured them. "Lor and I get to stay since Derek's going to be alpha and take us in." It was bittersweet, they all knew. "Speaking of," Brett pulled his sister out from behind him. "This is my little sister Lorilee Rorh."

"You mean OUR little sister, don't you?" Ethan grinned. Lorilee blushed.

"Yes, Ethan," Brett answered dryly. "Our little sister. She's twelve. Lor," Brett continued. "This is part of our new family. "That's Ethan," he pointed who and what each person was. "He's a werewolf like us. So's Isaac. Damon is a vampire, Tyler is part werewolf and part vampire, Jeremy is a vampire hunter, and John is human. We all just call him Dad." He tickled her ribs as he said the last part.

She giggled more at her silly brother than the tickling. "Hi," she waved at everyone.

"I'm going to be transferring schools," Brett announced randomly. He hadn't even realized that he'd made his decision. But something about sitting in that room with the others and he just knew that he needed to be with the rest of his pack.

"You need help with getting everything situated?" John offered.

Damon stood up. "I got this," he raised his hand slightly and started walking toward the door. "Come on Pretty Boy." Brett just shook his head at the nickname. He kissed Lorilee on the head.

"Stay with Bonnie. I'll be back soon. Love you."

"Are you sure about this?" John asked Bonnie as the Damon and Brett left the office.

"He's probably the best one to handle it, actually." She told him. Tyler and Jeremy looked unhappily convinced. They didn't like the fact that he was, but he really was.

"Okay, then," he reluctantly let agreed. John looked up at Derek. "I've managed to schedule Parrish and myself off the rest of the week so that we can help at the loft."

"Sweet," Derek smiled.

"You holding up okay?" Damon asked Brett as they entered the high school.

Brett shrugged his shoulders. "Been better, been worse."

"Don't I know it, kid," Damon thought the teen was keeping a good head on his shoulders considering everything that was going on around him. The two walked in to the school's administration office.

"May I help you?" The secretary asked.

"Yes, ma'am," Damon spoke for the two. "My nephew is going to be moving in with me, since his foster family is moving out of Beacon Hills. So I need to get him transferred to this school." Brett looked at the floor. He wasn't sure if he was going to cry at the thought of the others leaving or laugh at Damon's explanation.

"I'll need this form filled out," she said as she reached in to a drawer in her desk. She handed the form to Damon, who slid it over to Brett without looking at it. "I'll also need to contact his foster parents and the foster care system to verify the information."

Brett looked up when he felt Damon move. The vampire was leaning over the counter toward the secretary who was looking directly in to his eyes as if she was in a trance.

"You do not need to contact anyone except his old school for his transcripts," Damon spoke slowly enunciating each word.

"I do not need to contact anyone," the secretary repeated in a trance-like tone.

"He will be able to pick up his class schedule from you before he starts school on Monday morning," Damon continued.

"Monday morning," she repeated.

Damon stood up straight as the secretary blinked rapidly. Brett hurried through the form before handing it back to the flustered woman.

"Thank you," Damon told her sincerely. "You have been most helpful." Damon took Brett's arm and led him out the office door.

Once they were far enough from the door that they wouldn't be heard Brett had to ask. "What was that?"

"That was Compulsion," Damon informed him. "We vampires are good for more than just smelling like rotting corpses." He winked and the tall wolf laughed. His first real laugh in what felt like ages.

The bell signaling the end of class rang while they were standing there, so Brett indicated to Damon to follow him. Brett led them to where he'd seen the others the day before.

"Brett!" He heard Mason yell down the hall. "Damon," the human greeted when he got closer to the duo.

"Hey Mase," Brett replied. "Where are the others? I have news."

Mason looked around the hall. "They should be around here somewhere." He still didn't see them, but he also didn't have Brett's height advantage.

"Here they come," Brett and Damon said at the same time. They just looked at each other and smiled.

"Hey guys," Brett greeted Lydia, Stiles, and Liam.

"Okay, we're all here," Mason interrupted the greetings. "What's the news?" They all looked at him expectantly.

"I start school here on Monday," he grinned.

"That's great," Stiles said as he hugged the taller teen.

"Oh, I'm excited," Lydia added when she hugged him.

"Now all the cool kids will be here," Mason joked, remembering his teasing from the day before.

"That great," Liam said.

"Then why do you sound so sad, Short Stack?" Brett looked down at his friend. He thought that Liam would be happy that he'd be there.

"I just feel bad that you won't get to play lacrosse the rest of the season," the smaller wolf said as he shrugged his shoulder. "I know how much playing means to you."

Brett couldn't help it. He grabbed Liam around the waist and lifted him up in a big hug. "I love the fact that your first thought was about me being able to play a sport that I like to play. Thank you, my friend."

Liam blushed as Brett set him back on his feet. Damon's head snapped around down the hall as he heard someone make a rude comment about Liam and Brett.

"I'll be right back," Damon stalked off.

"What's his problem?" Stiles asked as they all turned to watch the vampire pin two boys against the lockers. He got right in their faces and spoke so quietly that even Brett and Liam couldn't hear him.

"He heard those guys say something mean and he's going to make sure that they never do it again," Brett smirked. Yeah, he could get used to having the vampire around to watch their backs. Especially Liam's. Brett could let most things just go in one ear and out the other, but Liam tended to take things very personally.

"I didn't hear them," Liam looked up at Brett.

"They said it pretty quietly. I barely heard it and that was only because I was looking in their direction," Brett told him. Liam took Brett's hand to let him know that it would be okay. "Do you ever not think about others' feelings?" Seeing Liam's confused expression he explained. "That's twice in less than two minutes when you've been more worried about how something would affect me than how it would affect you."

Liam blushed and looked at his shoes. He just shrugged a shoulder as Damon sauntered back to them.

"That should take care of that," The vampire smirked.

"Do I want to know?" Stiles asked.

"Compulsion," Damon explained. "We vampires can get humans to do and think what we what them to if we try." Seeing their concerned looks he continued. "I try not to do it, but sometimes it needs to be done. And in this case it was either compel them to never do it again, or drain them where they stood." Damon shrugged. "I went with the less messy option."

Lydia just rolled her eyes. "Men," she sighed. "You're all the same. Regardless of breed." She shook her head in good humored disapproval. That got a chuckle out of the others.

"Oh, I almost forgot," Brett interrupted. "Lorilee is going to be staying with us now." Liam perked up.

"She is? That's great."

"Who's Lorilee?" Stiles, Lydia, and Mason all asked at the same time.

"She my twelve year old sister."

"We have a little sister?" Stiles asked.

"I have a little sister?" Lydia asked at the same time. Brett laughed and nodded. "Is she here?"

"Not at the high school," Brett told her. "But she's with Derek and Bonnie."

"Then why are we just standing here?" She asked them in all seriousness. She turned Brett and Damon around and had one hand tucked under a bicep of each one as she started leading them toward the exit.

"Lyds," Stiles yelled. "You're our ride."

"We'll make sure you get picked up," she yelled back. "You boys have a good rest of your day!"

Since Brett and Damon had walked from the Station to the high school Lydia drove the three of them to the loft. The first thing that they noticed when the elevator door opened at the top floor was the yelling. They hurried to the open door of Derek's loft. Isaac and Ethan were standing toe to toe with steel blue eyes staring daggers in to molten gold eyes.

Derek and Tyler were trying, unsuccessfully, to separate them. Bonnie had a Lorilee tucked behind her and Jeremy was trying to make sure that no one got near the girls.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?" Lydia yelled. All the occupants froze. The little girl saw her older brother and ran to him and he scooped her up in his arms.

Lydia crossed her arms across her chest. "Explain." No one said a word. "Now," she growled. Suddenly everyone was talking at once. She held up her hand and they all stopped. "Forget it! I don't want to hear it!" She turned to Brett and his sister, led them out the door before yelling back in to the loft, "You coming Bonnie?"

Bonnie didn't bother with words. She just grabbed her purse and took off after the angry banshee. Derek turned to look at the two younger wolves. If looks could kill they'd be dead right now, thought Damon.

"Do I dare ask what that was about?

"These to. . ." Derek couldn't even calm down enough to explain it. So the vampire looked between Tyler and Jeremy.

"Tension," Tyler said succinctly, reiterating what Brett had said earlier about the two. "And I'm pretty sure that there is no difference." Tyler just rolled his eyes and shook his head as he walked over to the couch.

"And we might need to buy a measuring tape at the hardware store," Jeremy chimed in. "Just to put the issue to rest once and for all." Damon shook his head at his friends as he walked in to the kitchen and poured two glasses of whiskey. He handed one to Derek who drank the whole thing in one swallow.

"You were supposed to sip that," Damon whispered conspiratorially. "Not shoot it."

Derek slammed the glass on the counter. "I can't get drunk anyway," the werewolf said. "But I'm hoping that it will at least take the edge off enough so that I don't try to rip their throats out." Damon raised an eyebrow. "With my teeth." And that led Damon to shoot his whiskey.

"Is it always like this around here?" Damon asked the wolf.

"Those two have never really gotten along. They'd established a truce last time they were here, but I'm thinking that it may have ended." Derek pinched the bridge of his nose trying to hold back the headache. "A big part is the fact that there is no real alpha to call them on their shit. They know it will be me, but that leaves the spot for top beta, for lack of a better phrase, open. And they're trying to figure out which one of them it will be. Isaac thinks it should be him since he's the only beta of mine here. And Ethan thinks it should be him since he used to be an alpha." Derek refilled his and Damon's glasses. This time the wolf sipped the whiskey.

"Personally," Derek spoke a little louder to make sure that the other knew he was talking about them. "I'm thinking I'll let Tyler have the spot."

"What?" "That's not fair."

Tyler grinned at the quarreling wolves. "I'm only half a wolf and I'm still twice the wolf that either of you are," he goaded. "Ha!" It was a good thing that he had enhanced speed because Ethan and Isaac both came charging at him. He barely had time to dive off the couch before they landed in a heap directly on top of where he'd been sitting.

He ran out the front door and around the walkway to the other side of the floor. The two wolves were hot on his heels.

"Was that a good idea?" Jeremy walked in to the kitchen. He reached in to the fridge and pulled out a can of Dr. Pepper.

"They're not fighting with each other anymore. Are they?" Derek pointed out.

"But they're both after Tyler." Jeremy took a sip of his drink. "It's two against one."

"Three things," Said Derek. "One, being half vampire I have no doubt that Tyler can take care of himself. Two, they needed a reason to fight with each other instead of against each other. And three, they just really needed to blow off some steam. Even if it does come to blows with Tyler it will be nowhere near what they would do to each other. They might pick on him, but they'd beat the shit out of each other."

Jeremy and Damon thought about that logic for a minute before they heard Tyler. "Jer!" He sounded a little panicked but not really hurt. "A little help!" Jeremy just grinned before he set down the can and took off to help his friend.

Brett sat in the back of the car with his little sister pressed up against his side. "You okay kiddo?" She nodded.

"Yeah," she said.

"I'm sorry if those big, dumb wolves scared you," Lydia said from the front seat.

"They didn't," the youngest replied. "Not really. They were just arguing over who would be the better big brother."

Lydia let out a harsh laugh. "Of course they were." She just shook her head. "Well, I'm Lydia Martin," she told the girl.

"Lorilee Rorh," came the reply.

"We're not all like those two," Lydia said. "They've just never really gotten along. And they're boys, so they're doubly stupid."

"Hey!" Brett protested. But not too much since his sister was giggling like the little girl she was.

"Who wants ice cream?" Lydia offered. With all of the affirmative responses she drove them to a little mom-and-pop ice cream parlor that she'd always loved.

They stayed for close to an hour before deciding it was probably safe to head back.

"Lor," Lydia said. The little girl met her eyes in the rear view mirror. "Since you, Bonnie, and I are the only girls we're going to have to stick together. Okay?" She winked at the little girl.

Lorilee grinned, rather evilly her brother thought, and nodded enthusiastically. Brett just groaned as he slunk lower in the seat.

"Is it safe to come in yet?" Lydia yelled as they stepped out of the elevator. Damon was standing in the open door so suddenly that all except Bonnie took a step back in surprise.

"You get used to it," Bonnie said in a stage whisper.

"For the moment," the vampire replied. "Derek got your text and just left to pick up the boys from school."

"Why do I smell blood?" Brett asked as they walked in to the loft. The four stopped in the doorway and stared at the sight in front of them. Tyler and Jeremy were sprawled on the couch. Jeremy had a split lip and Tyler had a black eye. But what had them frozen were the mangled and bloodied bodies of Ethan and Isaac on the floor. Black eyes, split lips, a few bones sticking out, at least a dozen broken ribs between them.

Lydia turned to glare at the two on the couch. "Um," Damon interrupted. "Ethan and Isaac started it. Tyler and Jeremey just ended it." Lydia looked back and forth between the guys. She stepped toward the bloodier duo.

"Why aren't you healing?" She asked them.

Her answer came from Damon. "Derek thought it would be a good lesson for them if they had to wait until he got back to ret set their bones." Lydia cocked her head to the side in thought.

"Okay," she shrugged and walked off. That had the two wolves whining even more. Brett just crouched down in front of them.

"That's what you get for scaring my little sister," he told them.

"OUR," Ethan repeated.

"Is that supposed to make it better or worse?" the younger wolf asked. The two wounded wolves hung their heads in shame, knowing that he was right. "I'll have her come talk to you after Derek lets you heal and you're not all bloody." Brett stoop up and walked to the dining room table to sit by the girls to wait for the others to get home.

"Where is she? Where is she?" Not sure which one of the boys spoke since both Liam and Stiles ran from the elevator to through the open door of the loft. Mason just rolled his eyes and laughed as he followed as a more reasonable speed. Derek chuckled and put his hand on Mason's shoulder as the wandered in to the front room.

Liam had picked up Lorilee and was spinning her in a circle. "I missed you kiddo," he told her. Back when he and Brett used to be tight, Liam had started to think of the girl as his own little sister. And now, here she was. She really was going to be their little sister.

"Move it," Stiles demanded. "It's my turn." Liam set her down only for her to be picked back up by Stiles. She just giggled.

He set her back down. "Sorry," he blushed. "I got a little excited. I'm Stiles Stilinski," he told her. "Oh," he waved toward the front door. "And that's Mason Hewitt. But it's more important that you know me." He winked at her, setting off another round of giggles.

Derek walked over to Ethan and Isaac crouched down in front of them. "Learned your lesson, yet?" They both nodded and ducked their heads. "Alright then. Liam, Brett. Come help out your brothers." Derek stood up and walked away as the two youngest wolves helped reset the broken bones of the two older wolves. Once the bones had been reset, the rest of their bodies started to heal themselves.

Derek had wandered in to the kitchen to see what he could make for dinner. Damon wandered in after him. "How come you had the pups do it?" The vampire was trying to understand the hierarchy and social structure of this new breed of wolves.

"Which one should I have helped first?" Derek asked in return. Derek saw the lightbulb go on for Damon.

"Ah," he nodded. "Smart."

Derek asked Damon to help him with dinner and two oldest members started cooking for their ever-growing family. It suddenly hit Derek that he had just automatically added the Mystic Falls four in to his family without even thinking about it. As he looked out across the loft, it seemed he wasn't the only one.

"Homework," Derek called from the kitchen. Liam, Mason, Stiles, and Lydia all brought over their books and started working. Brett had Lorilee in the front room with Tyler, Jeremy, and Bonnie. Ethan and Isaac had been excused, by Brett, to go get cleaned up so that they could apologize to their new little sister.

"I don't get this," Liam grumbled staring at his history book.

"What subject?" Derek asked as he peeled carrots.

"US History," came the unhappy response.

"Shoot," Damon said. "Who knows . . . I may have been there." He smirked. Liam lifted his head to stare at him.

"Um . . . okay," he said. "What legal action changed the entire tone of the 1920s?"

"Prohibition," Damon answered without missing a beat. "Nothing like the Roaring 20s."

"Where you actually around during the 20s?" Liam asked. The only answer he received from the vampire was his signature smirk.

"Yes," came Bonnie answer from the front room where she was cuddled up in to Jeremy's side. Damon just rolled his eyes.

"So much for an air of mystery Bon-bon." He teased his friend who just laughed in return.

"Math help," Mason piped up. Derek walked around to stand behind the young human and looked over his shoulder at the book.

"Which one?" Mason pointed to a problem on the page and then to his notebook. Derek looked back and forth between the two. "Oh, here." Derek pointed in the notebook. "You've got to remove this from both sides so it clears out."

"Thanks," Mason erased where he'd messed up and then started correcting the answer.

"You know," Damon leaned over to Derek. "I'm not real big on family bonding moments, seeing as my own family was severely dysfunctional," snorts of laughter could be heard from the couch. "No comments from the peanut gallery," he retorted, which just made them laugh harder. "Anyway," he turned back to the wolf. "I may not be much of a family person, but this is really cool. Totally something one could get used to." He bumped his shoulder against Derek's.

"Yeah," Derek agreed. "I already love it. Even you guys." He admitted to Damon who looked a little surprised. "I was counting the number of people in the family and realized that I had automatically counted you four."

Tyler wandered in having wanted to be a part of the conversation, but not wanting to yell across the room and disturb those doing homework. "None of us have had what you might call normal families. But this," he motioned around the room. "This is definitely worth fighting to be a part of. I can't speak for the others, but I'd be honored to be a part of it," he said to the older wolf.

Derek smiled. "Me too! Oomph! Me and Bonnie too!" That did it. Derek just grinned.

"I am not an emotional person, don't say a word Stiles." Stiles put his hand back down on the table and focused back on his English. "But you guys are seriously about to make me cry." Tyler walked around the counter to give him a hug.

"Need help with anything," Tyler asked once he'd stepped back.

Derek pointed in the far back corner of the room where there was a stack of folding chairs. "Will you make sure that there are enough chairs?" Tyler turned and started counting the number of chairs at the table and the number of people to make sure they matched. He pulled out more chairs.

"Is there going to be enough room at the table?" Tyler asked as he set up the chairs.

"Looks like I need a bigger table," Derek acknowledged. "We'll have to be a little squished tonight. We can do something about it tomorrow."

"No need," Bonnie said and she walked over. "Clear everything off." The students pulled all their stuff off and slid back. Bonnie closed her eyes and held her hands out above the table. Slowly it started to elongate. It took less than one minute for it to spread to the correct size. "There," she smiled as she turned to go back to the couch. "I still suggest that you replace it tomorrow, but it should be more than fine for tonight and tomorrow morning."

"Wow," Lydia breathed. "That was amazing."

"Thanks," the witch beamed.

About an hour later John and Jordan walked in. "Hey all," Jordan greeted.

"Hey J! Hey Dad!" Ethan greeted from the floor by Lorilee. He and Isaac had apologized and now she had the two wrapped around her little finger. She knew it, and so did they. And so did the rest of the family.

"We're going to have a guest for dinner," John announced as he came back down the spiral staircase after changing out of his uniform.

Derek glanced at Tyler, who had apparently been relegated to chair duty. He chuckled as he got another chair out. "Who?" Derek asked. John's gazed flickered to Liam.

"Dr. Geyer." Liam's head snapped up so fast that Derek thought he heard it pop.

"My step-dad?" Liam wasn't sure if he was confused or worried. He wasn't sure if he wanted his parents to know. This was HIS thing, HIS family. He didn't know how he felt about having his step-dad there at HIS table. Brett could smell his concern, they all could. But Brett was the first one to his side. He pulled a chair up next to his friend and took Liam's hand in his. Just enough to let him know that he wasn't alone.

"Why?" Derek wanted to know.

"I stopped by the hospital this afternoon to speak with Melissa," he leaned back against the edge of the half wall between the front room and the kitchen so that he could see everyone. "She doesn't understand all of what happened, just that Scott came home and told her that he had to go stay with his dad in San Francisco. All he would tell her was that he'd really messed up and that he didn't have a choice now." John rubbed his face with his hand. "He's already gone. He left that night. She's put in her two weeks' notice. And with all the crap that's been happening . . ."

"We need someone in the ER," Derek finished the thought for him. John nodded.

"Are you sure he'll be able to handle it?" Damon asked. He could hear the pup's heart pounding from across both the counter and the table. He wanted to make sure his new family (and God help him, he'd already started thinking of them as his family) was safe and protected.

"I think so," John tried to reassure everyone.

"Well," Derek interrupted. "I hope he gets here soon because dinner's almost ready." He looked up at the students. "Clear the table. Liam, come here." Liam walked over to Derek as Brett picked up his books for him. Derek didn't say anything, just wrapped his arms around the young wolf. The hug was immediately returned and Derek could feel some of the tension leave the younger man's body. Well, until there was a knock at the front door and then he just tensed right back up. "We've all got your back," Derek whispered in his ear. Liam nodded and took a deep breath before heading to the front room to greet his step-dad.

John was leading in Dr. Geyer. "Hi," Liam raised his hand in greeting awkwardly. Liam almost felt bad for the guy who was looking around the room in total confusion.

Derek walked forward and offered his hand. "Dr. Geyer. I'm Derek Hale." The doctor shook his hand. "Welcome. Come in. Please have a seat. We're just about to eat and I do hope you're hungry." That was everyone's cue to get to the table. John made sure that the doctor was seated between him and Liam. Brett made sure that he was next to Liam to offer his support.

Bowls and plates of food were being passed around the table. "Is dinner always this big of a gathering?" He leaned over and asked Liam.

"Yeah. And breakfast too," he answered his step-father.

"Dr. Geyer," John spoke.

"Please," the doctor interrupted. "Call me Mark, Sheriff."

"Okay, Mark," replied John. "But only if you call me John." After the nod continued. "I know that I asked you here to discuss some sensitive police business, and that since we're now all sitting down to dinner that you're confused. But if you'll bear with us, we'll all explain after dinner."

Mark looked around the table and then looked, really looked, at Liam. His step-son's face asked for his acceptance. And was that fear in his eyes? Liam was afraid of him? Well, that will never do. "Of course, John. This dinner looks too good to waste." He saw Liam exhale a deep breath out of the corner of his eye. What on earth has him so afraid? It's not the others, he's leaning in to the kid next to him. And why does he look so familiar?

Brett caught the look and smell from the doctor and turned his head toward him. "You may not remember me," he began. "I'm Brett Talbot. Liam and I used to play lacrosse together."

"That's why you look familiar. How are you doing? Still at the prep school?" He didn't know what else to ask. He figured that the topic of the old school would make Liam tense up again, but he relaxed a little more instead. Interesting.

"I'm actually transferring," Brett informed him. "I'll be starting at Beacon Hills on Monday."

"Where all the cool kids are," Mason piped up. Mark hadn't even realized that Mason was halfway up the table on the other side.

"Hi Mason," Mark said. "I didn't know that you were here too."

"Yup," he grinned. "You know me and Liam. We're a package deal." The others around the table chuckled at his youthful humor.

"I know I'll never remember all your names but I wouldn't mind an introduction." Liam blushed as Lydia looked like she'd been sucking on a lemon.

"No one in this house has any manners," she mumbled. Mark looked slightly offended.

"Don't worry," Liam leaned over to him. "That was directed at us for not introducing you before." Mark looked relieved. "She's big on manners." Mark liked her more and more. Liam introduced him to everyone at the table.

Sooner than Liam had hoped for, dinner was done. Jeremy, Lorilee, Bonnie, and Mason stood to clear the dishes off the table. Brett tried to stand up but Liam pulled him back down and pulled him closer to him. He needed the physical touch of his friend. Brett scooted his chair toward Liam's and since none of the chairs had arms on them, he was able to tuck his hand in the small of Liam's back without the doctor seeing it. Brett was about to asphyxiate on the nervousness rolling off of Liam.

"The sun, the moon, the truth," he whispered under his breath. He barely moved his lips, so Mark didn't notice anything, but he knew that Liam had heard him. He saw his shoulder relax just the slightest little bit.

John slid his chair back a little so that he could face Mark. "I'm sure that you're aware by now that Melissa McCall is leaving Beacon Hills." Based on the strange look on Mark's face that was not the opening line he'd been expecting. But he just nodded that he'd been informed. "And I'm sure that you're more than aware that Beacon Hills has some very strange cases that show up in the ER." And with the nod, although his expression was now one of wariness. "Well, the two are related." Again, not what the doctor was expecting.

John was trying to ease Mark in to this in much the same way that Stiles had tried to do with him. But it didn't seem to be going so well. "A little help?" John looked at the other end of the table to Derek.

"I'm a werewolf." There. He'd said it. It was out, there was no taking it back.

Stiles' forehead crashed on the table as Derek reached over to rub his back. Lorilee was giggling. Lydia had her hand over her mouth, not sure if she wanted to laugh or yell. Mark turned in his chair, his eyes wide in unbelief, to stare at the owner of the voice. Brett just moved his hand from Liam's lower back to on his should so that Mark could see the physical support that his step-son had.

"Say again?" Mark asked.

Liam swallowed hard and took a deep breath. "I'm . . . a werewolf." He looked his step-dad directly in the eyes as he said it this time. Brett gave Liam's shoulder a small squeeze of pride. "I know it doesn't seem possible," Liam started to explain, but Mark just held up his hand for Liam to stop. The pain coming off of Liam was like a physical punch to the gut to Brett.

"Actually," Mark spoke slowly. "It explains a lot." Liam's, and everyone else's at the table, jaw dropped. "It happened right after you came in with your broken ankle from lacrosse tryouts, didn't it?" No words. Liam had no words right now. He could only nod. "I've seen a lot, and I do mean a lot, of crazy things since I started at this hospital. That was just the first time I'd notice that you were affected by it." He looked at his step-son. "Did you think I wouldn't love you anymore if I knew?" Liam shrugged. Mark just reached forward and wrapped his step-son in a hug. "I've told you before and I'll tell you again. I may not be your biological father but I love you as if you were my own blood." He pulled back so that he could look Liam directly in the eyes. "I love you, no matter what."

Brett could smell the salt from the tear that ran down Liam's cheek. By instinct he leaned forward to wipe it away. That movement made Mark remember everyone else at the table.

"Are you all werewolves?" He asked, eyes stopping on Mason.

"God no," Damon spit out, breaking the tension.

Derek raised his hand. "All wolves." All of the werewolves around the table raised their hands.

"Are the rest of you human?" Mark looked back to the sheriff.

"I am," he informed the doctor. "So's my son and Mason. We count among us a witch, a hunter, and vampire, a vampire/werewolf hybrid, a banshee, and a hellhound." Each raised their hand as John said what kind of supernatural being they were.

Mark just sat back in his chair trying to take it all in. Then he turned to Liam. "How does this affect your IED, and vice versa?"

Liam shrugged the shoulder that did not have Brett's hand on it. "They both make the other one more difficult to control. But I'm learning." He reached up and placed his hand over Brett's and looked back over his shoulder as his friend. "Brett taught me a great mantra to help keep me calm and focused."

Mark nodded as he looked back and forth between the two boys next to him. There was something there, he just wasn't sure what. Liam had always been more touchy feely with his emotions so it could just be that, but there was something in the way that Brett looked down at Liam that lead Mark to believe that there may be something else going on as well. He'd have to keep an eye on that to try to figure it out.

He turned back to John. "So what does this have to do with Melissa?"

"Her son is the one that bit me," Liam supplied, feeling more talkative now that his step-dad was okay with him. "It was that night that I came with the broken ankle. I was dragged up on the roof by something else and the only way that Scott could keep me from falling off the edge of the roof was to grab a hold of my arm with his teeth. And since he was an alpha werewolf, I got turned."

Jordan spoke up suddenly. "That night," he looked down the table to John. "You said you needed five minutes because you were bringing in your own specialist."

"That was me," Derek said. Jordan looked like he had finally solved a million piece puzzle.

"Long story short," John brought the attention back to him. "Melissa kept us informed of any supernatural occurrences so that we could make sure that Beacon Hills stayed as safe as possible."

"But with her leaving you needed a new inside man, as it were." Mark deduced. John just nodded. "Understood." He turned so that Liam could see the seriousness of his answer. "I'll help however I can." His heartbeat was steady so they all knew he was telling the truth.

"You can start by coming back tomorrow and helping me with my lacrosse," Stiles chimed in from down the table. John shook his head and Mark just smiled.

"That I can do," he informed the teen. "Anyone else for some lacrosse?" Liam, Brett, Stiles, and Isaac all raised their hands. "Alright then. I'll be back after dinner tomorrow, if that works for you all." They nodded.

"You're welcome to join us for dinner again if you'd like," Derek told him. "We're usually a little more animated and welcoming than we were tonight."

"Completely understandable," Mark admitted. "I would love to join you all for dinner again." He looked at his watch. "But I do need to get home to Liam's mom." He glanced over at his step-son. "Speaking of which, I'm going to tell her that you're staying with a friend whose parents are out of town for the next couple of weeks so that your friend didn't have to stay by himself. Sound good?" Liam nodded vigorously and nearly tackled Mark in a hug. Mason wasn't far behind in giving Mark a hug along with Liam. "I'll see you all tomorrow." Mark waved as he left, sliding the loft door shut behind him.

"Well," interjected Damon. "That was anti-climactic."

Part 16

The pile of blankets and pillows was set up again in front of the couch. John sat in the side end he'd been on last night. Damon claimed the other end. The rest all curled together in the blankets. Stiles talked them all in to letting them finish Star Wars from the night before. And, of course, they agreed. Ethan turned off this lights and was walking back over to the puppy pile.

"Where are Jordan and Lydia?" he asked as he looked around the loft.

"They went downstairs to spar," Derek informed the former alpha. "Jordan's been teaching her some self-defense."

"Ah." He shrugged. "Okay."

"Someone please make sure that the volume is up really loud," Tyler joked. They all laughed, but Derek turned the volume up just the same.

Lydia drew back with a cocky grin as Parrish wiped the blood from his lower lip, a brow arched in both pride and amusement as he watched the Banshee. They had been going at training for weeks now, and Lydia was continuously getting better, often surprising herself. She had always been the type to throw herself head first into something, to push through and only stop once she'd ended up victorious, and though she may have had doubts at the beginning when she and Parrish had started training she now felt foolish for ever doubting herself. Maybe it had something to do with her Banshee blood, maybe it was just her being…Lydia, but whatever it was, she took to hand to hand combat with ease, like something was sliding into place and clicking within her brain.

Parrish's tongue darted out to swipe at what was no doubt the sting of his lip, and Lydia's eyes were drawn to the sight. Various times throughout the hour that she and Parrish had been training she had caught the man's pale eyes casually scanning over her form, his gaze lingering in places that left her even more breathless than she already was. She wasn't stupid. Far from it. They had been going through this back and forth, tug and pull war for a while now, each trying to get the other to finally give in. To cave and make the first move.

Usually Lydia made the first move. She had never been shy, knowing what she wanted and then taking it, but there was something about Parrish that made her feel surprisingly self-conscious, nervous even, and some day's she wasn't sure how to take it. In turn she knew that Parrish was battling with the fact that she was still in high school and not quite eighteen yet. While he was only a few years older than her, he still prided his job as an officer of the law and she knew that he struggled with his desire for her. And he did desire her. She could see it in the heat of his eyes, the way his body stiffened at times when she was near – like he was holding himself back so as not to reach out and take. She wanted him to take.

Despite that, Parrish liked to tease her relentlessly when they trained. It was like he took the opportunity of close contact and used it to his full advantage; often times holding her immobile against him, curving his body around her just so, his breath hot in her ear until Lydia was panting with more than exertion.

"You're getting pretty good at this." Parrish breathed deeply, his chest rising and falling in a way similar to Lydia's own. In a way that she knew drew the man's eyes.

She grinned ferally, a skill she had learned from running with wolves. "I've got a good teacher." She said, moving into a fighter's stance again, her face drawing serious.

Parrish ran his eyes over her, long and leisurely, and heat pooled low in Lydia's belly, spreading to that place between her legs. As if Parrish was aware of it he gave a wicked grin, his eyes flashing faintly of that orange/red before shifting back to their normal color. Lydia tried not to shiver.

She struck, digging her foot against the wood to gain momentum. Her palm shot out, the heel of it quickly seeking out Parrish's nose. Parrish managed to smack her hand aside just in time, grabbing at her wrist and tugging hard. He used her sudden unbalance to grab hold of her hip, twist her around and pull, until her back was slamming hard against his front. Lydia sucked in a sharp breath and ground her teeth together, knowing that Parrish was going to next attempt to slide his arm across her shoulders and keep her immobile. Before he could do that she lifted her foot and with as much strength as she could muster slammed it back down onto his own. Parrish sucked in a sharp breath of pain in her ear, and Lydia grabbed hold of his arms as he bent forward, and using the momentum she jerked on his limbs hard, bending at the waist.

Parrish shot over her shoulder and slammed into the floor, his eyes wide and his mouth gaping as he tried to suck in a gulp of air. Lydia, still holding onto one of his wrist's, immediately twisted and straddled him, drawing her right elbow back and holding her hand with her fingers bent at the first knuckle, her palm showing. She pressed harder against his shoulder, digging him into the floor. "I win." She gasped out, scanning Parrish's face.

He lay still under her aside from the rapid rise and fall of his chest. His eyes were still slightly widened, surprised, and his mouth was slack. Lydia took in the sight of him, feeling something predatory almost course through her system at the knowledge that she had been the one to put that expression on his face. She felt a bead of sweat slide down from her temple and down her cheek, lingering on her jaw a second before falling to splash onto her breast before finally running into the tight material of her work out gear.

Parrish's eyes followed the entire movement. A breath of silence passed between them. Heated eyes. Bodies tensely coiled. And then Parrish was surging up even as she was reaching down.

Their lips locked in a hard press, a little painful even, but they both moaned from the first touch. Parrish's arms were around her waist then, dragging her even closer and Lydia breathed out a gasp when she felt his hardness press intimately against her core. Unable to help herself she swayed with her hips, and this time Parrish broke away from their kiss to moan, his eyes tightly closed.

Lydia was overcome with the urge to feel bare skin beneath her hands and jerked hastily at his shirt, finally pulling it over his head and tossing it carelessly across the loft where they were training. She stared down at him a long moment, her mouth lack and a needy breath leaving her lungs. But then she was tugging his mouth to hers again and then they were devouring one another.

Parrish got her shirt off at some point. She wasn't sure when, just the next thing she knew they were skin to skin. Her top had been made with a sports bra, so she hadn't bothered to wear one, and the sensation of Parrish's chest pressed so firmly against her breast left her whimpering for more. Parrish seemed to understand her need, because suddenly his hands were on her, and Lydia's head dropped back with a strangled gasp when his thumbs brushed against her hard, sensitive nipples.

Her hands shot downwards, beginning to fumble with the clasp of his pants. She was terrified that Parrish would snap out of his lust induced daze at any moment and stop what was happening between them, so she needed to get him naked as soon as possible and inside of her before that happened.

Suddenly Parrish was standing, bringing her with him, and when he took a step back Lydia whimpered, because she thought that moment had come, but then he was sliding his pants and boxers over his hips and they were hitting the floor. Lydia's eyes widened and her breath left her lungs in a rush at the sight of him. He was thick and long, bobbing against his stomach seductively. Lydia was on him in under a second. She coiled her hand around his dick, moaning at the smooth hardness of it even as Parrish was reaching around her hand to awkwardly push her leggings down. Lydia hurriedly moved to help him, and she had just stepped out of them when Parrish's arms were around her waist, lifting her. Her leg's circled his hips automatically and they both moaned at the sensation of their most intimate parts rubbing against one another.

Parrish licked eagerly at the hot cavern of her mouth as he stumbled forward, and then Lydia's back was pressed up against one of the large round pedestal's running from floor to ceiling of the loft. She dug her heel's into the back of Parrish's thigh's and began to buck against him, already wet, and the slick friction was the most amazing thing she had ever felt.

"Need you inside of me." Lydia breathed around their kisses.

Parrish groaned, a shudder wrecking his body before his fingers splayed on her ass and then he was lifting her slightly, his hips circling, searching, and then finally sliding home.

Lydia cried out as she was filled. It had been a long time since she had last had sex, and Parrish fit her so amazingly, her walls clenching around him tight and desperately. She dug her nails into his shoulders as she pulled away, leaning her head back against the pillar and staring down at Parrish with dark eyes.

Parrish's own had turned full fiery now, his face a mask of tight control as he slipped in and out of her, his mouth open and panting with his movements. There was something about his eyes that drew her in, made the Banshee within her rise close to surface, and Lydia vaguely wondered if maybe they were similar monsters. The thought thrilled her somehow, and she moved her hips against Parrish's as much as she was able, pushing down for each of his thrust's, making the man groan and his eyes clench tight.

"Feel so good." Parrish drew out in a harsh whisper, burying his face in her shoulder. Lydia slid her hand up his neck and into his hair, digging her fingers in and tugging backwards hard. Parrish hissed as his head was jerked back, but it wasn't pain that shone on his face, only pleasure.

"I want to see you." Lydia breathed, rolling her hips.

Parrish rumbled against her – an actual to God growling rumble – and then his grip was tightening on her hips and he was thrusting hard and long into her. There was something absolutely animal like within his hard, hungry gaze, and it made Lydia shiver all over even as she whimpered with pleasure.

They fucked one another with a near brutal intensity, and when Parrish's skin began to grow hot against her own it was like a flame within her core was being ignited. Lydia gasped at the fiery friction, each pump of Parrish's hips sending a surge of tingling warmth within her, against her sweaty skin, and filling her head until she became nothing but mindless cries of pleasure. It seemed like she teetered over the edge for ages, but then she was free falling over, her body growing tense and her back arching as pleasure so hot and consuming shot through her Lydia couldn't contain the shrill scream that ripped past her lips. For a very slight moment she was coherent enough to worry about her powers and accidentally hurting Parrish, but at the sound of her breaking apart Parrish only seemed to get even more lost within his own monster as well.

His hips pistoned against hers, his eyes absolutely blazing by now and his jaw locked hard. Lydia could feel him beginning to shake as her muscles clenched tight around his dick as her orgasm continued to spiral, and then he gave one more hard snap of his hips and buried his face in her neck again, and Lydia felt his mouth open as he let out a labored cry that sent chills across her body. His hips jerked faintly against her own, and she could feel him pulsing within her a moment before his body finally went still.

They stay locked together as they both came down from their high, both breathing sharp, hands clinging. Lydia's hand lifted to begin brushing against Parrish's slightly sweaty hair, and his hard grip on her hips had softened, his thumb brushing back and forth against the soft skin of her stomach. Finally Parrish pulled out of her, and Lydia sighed at the loss, carefully placing her feet down on the floor. She was a little wobbly, her legs weak, and Parrish kept his arms around her, holding her steady. She laid her head on his shoulder, blinking slowly and looking around the empty floor.

"Derek's going to be so mad we made it smell like sex in here." She muttered faintly.

Parrish's laughter echoed. "He can just get over it."

Part 17

When Lydia and Jordan came back in to the loft she was surprised at how loud the movie was.

"Could you have that up any louder?" She yelled over the action sequence. Derek aimed the remote at the projector above him.

"You two need to go shower," was his only response. She shot him a look that screamed that she was less than impressed. If the slight widening of Jordan's eyes and the flush of embarrassment were any indication, then he'd figured out both the sound issue and the request for them to shower. He tried to steer Lydia toward the stairs, but she was still glaring daggers at Derek. "There's a reason that a room full of people with enhanced hearing had the sound up so loud," he was trying to tell her nicely, but she was being so obstinate that he was going to have to be blunt.

"We know you two just had sex," Lorilee beat him to the punch. The occupants of the room groaned and Lydia blushed as red as her hair. Stiles rolled over to his side and dropped his head his head on Derek's chest. He used the other hand that was not tucked under him to essentially cover his face.

"Great," Isaac droned. "We're supposed to be keeping her safe, not exposing her to . . . things like this." He waved his hand in the general direction of the couple.

"I knew about sex before tonight, dorks," The twelve year old smacked Isaac with her pillow. "I'm a wolf, remember?"

"You're not a wolf yet, missy," Brett raised an eyebrow at his little sister. She blushed a little and laid her head back down on the pillow that she was readjusting after she hit Isaac with it.

When Stiles' head had dropped on Derek's chest it hadn't felt all that great. But where his head remained on his chest it felt warm and nice. Stiles was still covering his face with his hand so he was breathing heavily in to Derek's side. Between the young man's body pressed all along his side and the chemo signals and pheromones being volleyed all over the room, Derek was worried that he might start to lose the tight grip he was trying to keep on his self-control. He didn't know if he wanted Stiles to touch him less so that he could think clearly or touch him more so that he could flip them over and pin the human under him. He wanted . . . he needed . . .

"Just please so take a shower," Derek repeated his request. He tried to sound nicer about it, he really did. But he knew that it came out sounding more snappish than he'd intended. Embarrassed that everyone knew what she'd just done Lydia nearly ran up the stairs to get away from them, with Jordan following behind at a more respectable pace.

"Hey J," Ethan called up to his friend. Jordan looked down the stairs at the wolf with an eyebrow raised in question. "It's about time." Ethan, and everyone else in the front room, just grinned as Jordan too ran up the stairs.

Derek pressed play on the remote. "Wait," Stiles said. Derek paused the movie again before it had even had a chance to restart. "I just thought of something."

"Did it hurt?" Derek threw the question at Stiles like Stiles did to him that morning. He'd been able to regain some clarity of though once the couple was out of the room.

"Hardy har har," Stiles rolled his eyes. "Seriously, though. We don't know the others' love languages."

"I don't speak French," Damon deadpanned from the couch. Stiles sat up and turned around.

"Really? You went to the language of love?" He said in his best Pepe LePew accent.

"What's a love language?" Asked Jeremy from where he laid next to Bonnie. A brief explanation of the five love languages was given.

"And we figured out that the wolf side of all of us is physical touch," Brett told them.

They all thought for a few minutes. "Quality time," their little sister answered first.

"Totally," agreed Brett.

"Words of affirmation," Isaac decided.

"It's a toss-up," Jeremy said. "Between acts of service and physical touch."

"Mine's acts of service," Bonnie stated.

"I'd have to go with quality time," Damon suggested.

"Really?" Questioned John. "I would have thought acts of service."

Damon raised his trademark eyebrow. "What makes you say that?"

"I've only known you for a day and already I see all of the little things that you do for the people around you," the sheriff explained. "You probably don't even realize that you do them."

"You helped with dinner," Derek told him, reinforcing John's observation.

"You helped me with my homework."

"You helped me switch schools."

"You came with me across the country at a moment's notice."

"You gave up your soul mate for the next sixty years or so, so that Bonnie could live."

"You stopped the bullies in the hall at school."

"Okay," he acquiesced. "But this right here," he motioned to all of them. "Just being together makes me happy. And when did I turn in to such a sap? Someone, please, shoot me now." The others chuckled at his way of trying to play off having any emotions or caring about anyone or anything.

"So then you're acts of service with some quality time," Ethan decided for him.

"Ty?" Bonnie prodded.

"I think I have to agree that the wolf is physical touch," he nodded to himself. "But so is the vampire part of me. The human side though . . . probably words of affirmation."

"The vampire side is physical touch?" Stiles asked. Seeing Tyler's nod the teen looked up to the couch. "You too?"

"Yeah," the elder vampire agreed. "I think it's the predator part. It's very tactile." That had the wolves looking inward to gauge whether that was true of their wolves too.

"I can see that," Derek was the first to concede the point.

"It's the Three Fs that make us, as predators, all about physical touch," the hybrid explained.

"Three Fs?" John was almost certain that he didn't want to know, but his curiosity got the better of him.

"Yeah," he smirked. "Feeding, fighting, and . . ." His eyes flickered to his new kid sister. "Let's just say that those two," he pointed up to the shower "have already figured out the third one." That got a small laugh from everyone except Lorilee, who was trying to figure out how sex started with an f.

Stiles rubbed up against Derek's side as he wiggled around trying to get comfortable. Derek barely caught the moan before it escaped his lips, the contact was so unexpected and his nerve endings seemed to be on overdrive. He dropped his head back on the pillow behind him. He really needed to reign himself back in before his attraction to the human lying next to him became obvious to anyone with eyes.

"Derek," Stiles leaned over and whispered in the vicinity of the wolf's shoulder. The feel of Stiles pressed up against his side and the feel of Stiles' breath on his neck was almost Derek's undoing. "What happened with you and Braeden?"

The thought of the mercenary was a mental splash of cold water on his face. He cleared his throat before he could speak without sounding like he was growling. "We went our separate ways about six weeks ago. It was amicable. We just needed different things, is all." Derek pulled Stiles in closer to him, his unconscious body language screaming exactly what it was that Derek needed.

"Oh," came the teen's small reply. Stiles looked down at his hand on Derek's broad chest. "Derek," he spoke again. "What is . . ." he waved his hand back and forth between the two of them. Some small part at the back of Stiles' brain knew that every person in the room was listening to their conversation, but most of his brain felt muddled and almost drunk and didn't care at all. He knew he was safe in this room.

"Don't know yet," came the quiet answer. That was a non-answer as far as Stiles was concerned.

"I thought you were straight," he said to the wolf.

Derek thought for a moment before answering. "I'm a born wolf." As if that explained everything. Feeling the confusion coming off of the young man in his arms he elaborated. "Born wolves are more in tune with their wolf side. And in the wild sex to reproduce is more of something that the females worry about. For the males sex is more about . . ." He wasn't sure how to put in to words something that had just always been a part of him. "Look around this room. How many females are there?" He gave Stiles a moment to really look around the room.

"There are only two," the human answered. "But only one that is physically capable of reproducing due to age." Stiles tried to look at the people through the eyes of the wolf on whom he rested his head.

"Exactly," Derek confirmed. "This is actually a fairly good representation of a pack in the wild. And as you can see, there's got to be more to the wolf's biological imperative to have sex than just to reproduce. Male werewolves, especially born wolves, are like that. Our sexuality is more . . ." he searched for the right word.

"Fluid," Brett provided for him. Derek glanced over to see the other born wolf mirroring his and Stiles position with himself and Liam.

"Yes," the older wolf acknowledged. "Thank you. We're more fluid. We also have a tendency to be attracted to strong personalities that challenge us. Even bitten wolves, if they'll allow themselves to admit it, are more fluid than they were when they were human."

"It's all about what's inside the wrapping," Damon chimed in from the couch. Derek nodded.

"Oh. Okay." Stiles thought about what he'd just heard.

After a moment of contemplative silence, Liam spoke softly. "Is that the reason . . ." Like Stiles, Liam motioned between himself and his wolf-shaped pillow.

Brett pulled Liam a little tighter into his side. "I'm a born wolf, like Derek. I've known my whole life that the only part about the person's physical aspect that's important is that that I find it attractive. It's never been about labels, only about feelings." He played with the soft hair at the shorter wolf's neck. "You're still getting used to the idea of being a wolf, let alone all the changes that come with it." He was trying to not scare the crap of the teen stretched out alongside him. But every time Liam would move, hell, every time he'd breathe, Brett could feel the heat of Liam's skin and the soft breeze of his breath. And it was driving him to distraction. He was only able to stay the least bit focused because he'd had so much practice holding back and repressing his feeling towards the boy in his arms. But it was as if there was something in the air that made holding back nearly impossible. Especially if his traitorous body didn't start behaving.

Liam thought for a moment about what everyone had said. He could definitely see the changes in himself since being turned. So he could understand what they meant about the fluidity of wolves. But at the same time, even before he became a wolf, there had always been something about Brett. Liam could almost instantly find him in a room, no matter how crowed. For as long as he'd known the taller boy Liam had felt drawn to him. He wanted to touch him, to be near him. It hadn't ever been a sexual thing, at least not consciously, but Liam had needed to be close to him.

And now as a wolf, things had only intensified. The first time Liam saw Brett after he'd been bitten, Liam's wolf rattled against his cage. Liam had thought it was anger. But looking back, he thought that it was in recognition of, not just another wolf, but his brother. No, that's not the right word. But there was something that his wolf knew instantly that his human brain is just now starting to pick on.

Yes, he had feelings for Hayden. Like they said, she challenged him. But he wasn't the complete emotional wreck that he thought he should be if it had been an all-encompassing love. He thought about what he'd feel if Brett died. The tidal wave of emotions that hit him was unexpected. So, not the same reaction as with Hayden. This was deeper. This was more . . . something. Liam just couldn't figure out how to describe it to himself, so he knew he'd never be able to explain it to anyone else.

Brett knew that Liam was processing what he'd heard, and Brett was more than willing to give the boy time. But when the surge of emotions coming from Liam hit his nostrils he pulled the dark haired teen closer. Liam was all but laying on top of him now, Brett had pulled him in so tight. And that wasn't helping his body stay relaxed. Whatever was going through Liam's mind, Brett wanted to kiss it all better and make him forget his worries. Brett wanted to worship at the alter that was Liam, again and again.

What the fuck was wrong with him? Brett felt like he was in some drug induced haze. He lifted his head and glanced around the room to see that everyone else's eyes looked as glassy as his felt.

"Ethan. Isaac." Derek's near-growl in the silent room make everyone jump. "Go open the windows and outside doors. We have seriously got to air out this room." The two betas slowly complied. When the first breeze blew in from the open window and Brett got his first breath of fresh air his head started to clear. And that's when it dawned on him.

"They're at it again," Brett mumbled to himself. But the noises of agreement let him know that he wasn't the only one affected by the pheromones and chemo signals raining down on them from the shower upstairs.

Within a few moments the open windows and doors seemed to be doing their jobs. People were starting to move around and talk to each other in hushed tones. And then Lydia and Jordan came down the stairs.

"New rule," Derek ground out through clenched teeth. "No sex of any kind is allowed in this building until bedrooms with their own ventilation systems have been built." Lydia and Jordan looked around the room; they'd obviously missed something.

"Okay," she drawled out. "Any particular reason?"

Derek growled in response. He flashed his purple eyes at her and growled. Jordan instantly pushed her behind him in a defensive position.

"One word, lovebirds," Damon rolled his eyes as he smirked at them. "Pheromones."

"Chemo signals," Stiles added just to make sure that they understood. Lydia and Jordan glanced around at the occupants. John and Lorilee were both blushing and looking horrified. The rest looked like . . . well, like they'd all just been (or were about to be) thoroughly ravaged.

Lydia brought both hands to her mouth as her eyes went wide. "I'm so sorry," she stammered behind her hands. Jordan could only blush as he pulled Lydia so that her face was hidden in his chest.

"Sleep," John said as he stood up. "I think it's time for sleep." He nearly sprinted up the stairs. The conversation hadn't really disturbed him. It was more enlightening than anything. But that many aroused people in one room was more than a little uncomfortable. Especially when his own son was one of those people. He figured that they hadn't realized that a few of them were letting out soft growls and low rumbles in their chests. They had all looked like they'd been drugged. And in some way he supposed they had been. He didn't envy them their enhanced senses sometimes. And this way definitely one of those times.

Part 18

Morning came way too early for the people sleeping in the loft. Damon was the first one awake, not that he'd slept all that much. He'd made the kiddo sleep on the couch and he'd put her feet in his lap. With last night's awkwardness he didn't want her sleeping in the middle of the hormone-laden group on the floor. He slid out from underneath her feet and silently wandered in to the kitchen. The first thing he did was start the pot of coffee. The next thing he did was try to figure out what to make everyone for breakfast. With his head in the fridge he realized that they were going to either need a bigger fridge or more than one.

Jordan was the second person awake so he came in to help. He started on the bacon and sausage as Damon started on the French toast. It didn't take long for the others to start waking up and moving around. Lydia sauntered in to the kitchen. Without even realizing she was doing it she pulled out all the coffee mugs and started filling them up. Damon had already set out the milk, creamers, and sugar on the side of the counter closest to the table. She handed off mugs as people made their way in toward the smell of food and caffeine. Once everyone had their cup, and the pot was empty, she started a fresh pot. They were going to need a bigger pot.

Once everyone was seated at the table, it was evident that the food and coffee were working since people were starting to talk.

"Who's going to take me to school?" Lorilee asked.

"I will," Damon offered. "That way we can get all your emergency contact information switched over without any questions."

"I'll go with you to show you were it is," Brett said mid-yawn.

"Speaking of school," Derek look toward Isaac. "Have you finished high school yet?"

The blonde shook his head. "No. I've got my senior year left." Derek nodded then looked to Ethan.

"What about you?"

"Naw," Ethan replied. "Didn't stick around long enough."

"That's settled then." Derek looked back and forth between the two. "Brett starts at the high school on Monday and so do you two." They both groaned but knew better than to argue.

"Littlest Gilbert," Damon interrupted their complaints. Jeremey knew he was in trouble when Damon used that nickname. "You haven't finished either. With everything that happened you missed most of your senior year." Jeremey could see where this was going. He wanted to argue, but part of him wanted to finish too.

"I know, I know," he said. "I start on Monday too."

"You guys should come play on the lacrosse team," Stiles suggested. The others just smiled and shook their heads as they finished up their breakfast.

Soon enough, Lydia left with Stiles, Liam, and Mason; and Damon left in Derek's Charger with Brett and Lorilee.

Brett gave directions to Damon on how to get to the middle school. When they pulled in to the parking lot and turned off the car Brett turned around to look at his little sister.

"Remember," he told her. "We're moving in with our uncle, Damon, because our foster family is moving away." She nodded that she understood. As the three walked toward the school she walked in between them and held each of their hands. They smiled down at her as she just grinned up at them.

"May I help you?" The secretary asked when the three walked in.

"Yes," answered Damon. "My niece and nephew here are going to be moving in with me, as their foster family is moving out of Beacon Hills."

"Oh," she replied. "I'll need to contact foster care services to confirm."

Damon leaned forward over the desk and compelled her that she didn't need to call anyone. She just needed to update Lorilee's information.

"Just need to update the information," the secretary responded. Lorilee watched in amazement. She'd heard what he could do, but to watch him do it was really cool. It only took a few minutes to get all of the new contact and emergency contact information. Then Damon was shuffling his "niece" off to class.

"Have a good day," he told her as he gave her a hug. "Bonnie will probably be the one that picks you up today. Okay?" She nodded as she ran off toward her homeroom class.

The school day went by quickly and before they realized it Stiles and Liam were heading out to lacrosse practice. Practice started off normal enough. But about half way through Coach walked up to Stiles and grabbed his facemask to get his attention.

"Stilinski, where's your other half?" Coach demanded. Stiles first thought was to try to figure out why Coach wanted to know where Derek was. Then Stiles blushed furiously as he realized that a) he'd just thought of Derek as his 'other half', and b) that Coach must have meant Scott.

"I don't know Coach," Stiles replied. "Last I heard he'd move to San Francisco to live with his dad."

"Last you heard?" Coach yelled. "Aren't you two joined at the brain?"

"No sir, Coach," Stiles said. "I'm the only one of the two of us with any brains." The anger and bitterness in Stiles' voice had Coach Finstock stop and really look at the player.

"Come here Stilinski." Coach pulled him by his facemask away from the other players. "What the hell is going on?"

"Not sure what you mean Coach," Stiles tried to play dumb.

"McCall's gone. Yukimora is gone. Your annoying girlfriend is gone. And you and Dunbar don't like to be more than an arm span away from each other." He gave his student a long look. "I know I act like an uncaring hard ass most of the time, but there's something big going on."

Stiles just stared at his coach for a moment before deciding to test the proverbial waters. "How much do you know about what really goes on in Beacon Hills?" He asked cautiously.

"Enough to know that stories about what goes bump in the night are more than just stories," the coach said quietly. Stiles has always wondered how the coach never noticed all the crap that went on during some of the games. Apparently he had noticed.

"Scott and Malia, my now ex-girlfriend, have been exiled from Beacon Hills by the local Community," he tried to explain.

"Community sounded like it should start with a capital letter." Coach was more observant than he'd been given credit.

"It does Coach." Stiles sighed. "Over last weekend they tried to kill Liam and two other of our youngest members." Coach's head spun to Liam.

"I'd kick his ass out too," Finstock admitted. "How does Dunbar fit in to all this?"

"Liam, take off your helmet," Stiles whispered. The coach's eyes got large as the young player that was standing across the field removed his helmet then turned back to look at his coach and his friend.

"How?" was all Coach asked.

"Werewolf," was Stiles' succinct response. Coach looked from Liam and then back to Stiles, who he looked up and down appraisingly.

"Oh no," Stiles smiled. "I'm human."

"Figures," Coach snarked.

"But I do have some good news for you Coach," Stiles grinned.

"I could use some."

"One of the other boys that was attacked is transferring to Beacon Hills."

"How is that good news?"

Liam jogged over. "Because Coach. It's Brett Talbot from Devenford Prep."

"Talbot? Why do I know that name?"

"Tall blonde. Kept kicking my ass last year," Liam told him. Coach's face lit up.

"That kid's coming here?"

"Yes Coach," Stiles answered as he bounced up and down on the balls of his feet. "He starts Monday. He know he won't be able to play the rest of this season, but he'll be here for two more years after that."

"Hehe," Coach's laugh sounded somewhat evil. "You leave his eligibility to me." Coach grinned as he started to turn to walk away.

"There's more good news Coach," Liam piped up.

"Isaac Lahey is back," Stiles informed the coach once he'd turned back to them.

"Lahey? Wait, is he a . . ." not sure how to ask the question. In response, Liam just flashed his golden wolf eyes.

"Yes, he is." Liam confirmed. "He'll be here on Monday too."

"Do you remember Danny's boyfriend? The twin?" Stiles asked the coach.

"Ethan? Yeah."

"He's back too."

"Does he play lacrosse?"

"Not yet," Stiles sing-songed the answered. "But with his fantastic reflexes," Liam flashed his eyes again so that Coach knew exactly what they meant. "I'm sure he'll be a natural."

"Don't forget about Jer,"Liam reminded his big brother.

"That's right," Stiles smiled. "Another friend of ours will be starting here on Monday as well."

"Is he a . . ."

"No, but he is more than human. He's a Hunter."

"Again with the capitalizing." The coach shook his head.

"It's some mystical, magical definition. Needless to say, his reflexes are above average." Stiles confirmed.

The coach turned to Stiles and got close to his face. "You bring these guys on Monday and if they're all as good as you say they are you'll get an automatic A in my class for the rest of the year." He turned to walk back to the rest of the team, but then a few steps away he turned back to face them. "And tell Lahey that I'm looking for a new captain."