This is the updated version of chapter 1.

1

THIS OR DIE

Marie stood mesmerized as raindrops slid down the window. She was finishing up dishes from lunch, and frowned at the stormy weather just outside the window. "Claire's sleeping, movie day?" a male voice rang from across the room. Turning, Marie saw her older brother holding up a DVD case. With her niece asleep, Marie sighed in relief. She loved her four year old niece, but the girl was a handful.

"Yeah I'm not one for going outside in the rain. Lazy Sunday sounds like a plan," she grinned back at him. Draping the damp dish towel over the oven handle, she was pleased to be finished with dishes. Her brother Matt turned the TV on and settled into his chair. Like most families, they had preferred spots in the living room. Matt sat in the same chair, and she sat on her couch. It was a routine. "What are we watching?"

"Something I picked up from the rent box at the gas station yesterday. I think it's a comedy," he replied. The DVD menu was displayed on the screen, and Marie pressed play. "Full moon is in about a week," he casually said as the introduction was still flashing across the TV.

"Yeah, so?" she questioned. Matt and her were born werewolves, and had years of practice at controlling the beast side of themselves on a full moon.

"It's the same day as the winter solstice," he said with measured words. Matt could hear his younger sister's heart rate increase at the mention of the winter solstice full moon.

Marie paused the movie instantly and turned to face her brother. "They're coming," she said in a whisper.

"Yes. They're coming." Marie gulped audibly before running a hand through her hair.

"What are my options?"

Derek Hale stood in the abandoned warehouse with a permanent scowl plastered on his face. "Do you guys not speak English or something? These aren't difficult concepts!" His loud voice bellowed throughout the open room. Erika, Boyd, and Isaac stood in defeat. The alpha rolled his eyes and snapped, "Again!" Erika had a look of determination on her face as she charged towards Derek, but was quickly thrown to the side and landed on the unforgiving concrete. Boyd then ran and jumped at his leader, trying to use his brute strength. Derek merely stepped to the side and watched the teenager slide across the floor. Isaac was the last beta to sprint towards Derek. While he was quick, Isaac wasn't quick enough and Derek's hand griped him on the shoulder and threw him to the ground next to his fellow pack mates.

"I now realize I should have given my dad much more credit for training his betas," Derek muttered under his breath. What he wanted most was to go back to the loft and relax for the day. He was tired after an entire weekend of sunrise to sunset of training without much progress. Suddenly, the pocket of his jeans vibrated. The three betas saw their alpha read a text message and stare at the phone in both concentration and slight confusion. Before any of them could inquire what the text message concerned, a very loud pair of shoes made their presence known in the warehouse.

"Derek?" An anxious voice called. Derek shut his eyes and sighed knowing that annoying human all too well.

"Stiles?" he called back with sarcasm. The teenager made his way further into the warehouse and nodded at the three betas in greeting.

"We've got a problem," Stiles announced to everyone.

"Don't we always have a problem?" Isaac said. One glare from Derek and Isaac cut the sarcasm and turned his attention towards Stiles.

"You're uncle is driving me insane. I can't do it man, I can't stay there another minute with him. You've gotta get someone else to babysit while you train," Stiles said almost running out of breath from talking so fast.

"Just, calm down. Someone needs to be there right now. I don't trust him," Derek explained.

"None of us do," Boyd added.

"Exactly. So why stick the helpless human with him, huh? Shouldn't one of you more…qualified individuals be handing that situation?" the sheriff's son used his wit to try to escape the task of watching over the recently resurrected psychopath.

"Drop it," Derek said in a loud voice. "We're done for the day anyways. Let's go back to the loft," he offered.

Boyd and Erika went home, as they had families to keep up an act with. Isaac however, lived with Derek in the loft. Entering the supposed bachelor pad, Derek spotted his uncle Peter on the couch watching some reality TV show. While the older werewolf seemed relatively calm, Derek turned to glare at Stiles who had made a big deal over nothing. "He's watching TV, what's the problem?"

"He won't stop…he…he won't stop bugging me about Lydia," Stiles admitted somewhat embarrassed and quickly made his exit leaving the three werewolves alone.

"Ahh dear nephew. Come to watch Kim and Kourtney with me?" Peter carelessly mentioned from the couch.

"No." Derek moved to the kitchen to grab himself a beer. When Isaac went to grab one too, Derek stared him down.

"Do you really care that I'm not twenty-one yet?"

"I could care less if you're twenty-one, that's my beer," Derek seriously explained. Recognition crossed the beta's face and he slowly shut the refrigerator door. He watched his alpha move towards the large window of the loft and pull his phone out. Isaac wondered who he was texting. Usually, Derek didn't bother with texting he just called people. It was quick and straight to the point. Brushing it off, Isaac went to the couch to watch TV with psychopath.

About half an hour later, a knock sounded at the door. Peter paid the noise no attention, and kept his focus on the dark haired celebrities on the television. Isaac turned to see Derek greet another werewolf. He could tell by the scent. He could also tell that this visitor wolf was an alpha, just like Derek.

"Matt," Derek greeted with genuine pleasure.

"How's it goin' Hale?" Matt responded.

"It's…going," he said looking behind him at Peter on the couch. "Come on in." Isaac stood up from the couch and met the other men in the kitchen where they sat down at the table. "Isaac, this is Matt Remming. Matt, Isaac," Derek tried to introduce.

"I see you're expanding," Matt commented with a smile and nod in Isaac's direction.

"Trying, but this whole training thing isn't easy," he took a swig of his beer. "Not that I don't appreciate the visit, but what's this business you wanted to discuss?"

"Full moon is in a week. The winter solstice full moon." Derek's eyebrows shot up at the other alpha's words.

"My sister, she's still at home with me," Matt started. Isaac didn't understand what the winter solstice and full moon being on the same night meant, but judging from the look on his alpha's face it was pretty serious. "After Annie died, Marie stuck around to help me take care of Claire. Derek, they're coming and you know what they will do if they find her." Isaac could hear Derek's heart rate increase, and watched as he fidgeted in his seat. Downing the rest of his beer, Derek set the empty bottle on the wooden table.

"When will the council come?"

"Probably the day after the full moon, two at the most," Matt said with a sorrowful expression.

"Someone want to explain to me what's going on?" Isaac finally spoke up.

"You haven't even taught your pack basic werewolf politics?" Peter's voice sounded from the couch. The eldest werewolf stood and made his way to the kitchen and started eating a bag of chips that were on the table.

"It hasn't exactly been on the top of my 'to do' list," Derek bit out.

"Mating season, son," Peter said to Isaac. The teenager was still lost and clearly didn't catch Peter's hint.

"There's a council, basically a group of alphas that govern all werewolves. They sort of enforce laws," Derek started to explain.

"Except some of their laws and practices are pretty archaic," Matt chimed in.

"Yes," both Hales agreed at the same time. "But there for a purpose," Peter added.

"If a full moon lands on a winter solstice, the council sees it as a blessing from their gods. To express their thanks, they make sacrifices to the gods," Derek said.

"Yeah, except their guidelines for the sacrifices are severely outdated. You see, a long time ago werewolves would pick a mate at a young age. Similar to how people would get married at young ages. The council never steered away from that practice, and they see anyone who isn't mated by twenty years of age as defying the gods' wishes," Matt said.

"Every time a full moon lands on a winter solstice and they make sacrifices, they sacrifice the unmated females who are of age," Derek said in a surprisingly calm voice.

"The council is law. You can't go against them son, it's suicide," Peter added to the miniature lesson of werewolf politics.

"You want me to take Marie as my mate," Derek concluded out loud.

"Who's Marie?" Peter pondered.

"My sister," Matt answered and turned his attention back to Derek. "You know being the daughter of an alpha, my father, she can only be mated to another alpha. You're the only one I trust that doesn't live halfway across the country. I don't want to lose my sister. Claire doesn't want to lose her aunt." Derek digested Matt's proposal as Isaac tried to make sense of all the new information.

Derek's mind was reeling. He knew the council wouldn't spare Marie. She was of age and still unmated. He'd only met her a handful of times over the years helping Matt with a few projects here and there, but he remembered her. Right after high school Derek was helping Matt move into his new house three towns over. Marie and Matt's pregnant high school sweetheart made lemonade for them while they unloaded the moving truck. The vivid memory left his mind as he snapped back to reality. Marie didn't deserve to be sacrificed by the nut job council just for being single. He knew she was a good person and deserved as good of a life as she could have in their twisted world.

"I'll do it."

Marie continued to keep her tears at bay, but only because her niece Claire was awake and buzzing about her bedroom interrupting her packing.

"Where are you going Aunt Marie?" Claire asked. Being born werewolves, Marie and her brother had known about werewolf politics and expectations their entire lives. It was nothing new, and to be honest Marie was lucky enough to have escaped the council's requirement for as long as she did. She was twenty-three and went three whole years under the radar.

"I'm just going a few towns over. I won't be far."

"But why are you leaving?" The small four year old looked up at her with worried brown eyes.

"I have to sweetie. You're daddy will explain it to you some day," Marie hoped that would satisfy the little girl's questioning. Fortunately, Claire became distracted with some books that were in the corner. Watching her niece, Marie had to bite her tongue to the point of blood. No longer would they be able to snuggle up in her bed and read bedtime stories. Matt would have to take that over. Claire didn't remember much of her mother, considering she was only a year and a half when Annie was killed. Marie was a mother figure to her niece, and now she had to move in with a random werewolf she'd only met a few times in her life.

It was a Monday night, and after Marie and Matt finished dishes it was time for her to. "Here's the address," Matt handed her a small piece of paper with his scribbled handwriting on it. "You'll be okay. We're only thirty minutes away. Claire and I will come visit all the time," Matt tried to say in an encouraging voice. Marie finally let a few tears fall.

"This is just all happening so fast," her voice trembled.

"I know. This was my backup plan. You had time Marie, you had plenty of time and it's okay that it's working out this way. Most women end up mated to jerks and have to move far away. You're less than an hour from home and Derek isn't a complete stranger," Marie glared at her brother's words, "Okay, so he's not super familiar, but Marie he's a good guy. I wouldn't allow this if he wasn't going to take good care of you. You know that. But the council's laws cannot be broken. This is the only way," Matt pulled her in to a brotherly hug and had trouble keeping his own emotions at bay.

Marie thought about one of her brother's friends named Jess who was found out by the council. Jess wasn't sacrificed, but she ended up being mated to a man in Montana who was supposedly unfaithful and wanted nothing to do with her. Thing about mates though, is you only get one. There's no such thing as separating or the equivalent of divorcing in the council's eyes.

"You're right. I'm going to be just fine. Take care of Claire, and don't forget the meeting at the end of the month for starting kindergarten. You have to go, Matt."

"We'll be fine. After the full moon we can come visit, how about that?"

"Sure," she responded weakly. Giving him one last hug, she walked out the door to her already packed car. She had tucked Claire in for bed early that night, and read her one last bedtime story.

Taking a deep breath, she turned over the key and soon backed out of the driveway. The entire drive to Beacon Hills had Marie on edge, nervous, and not fully paying attention to the road. She knew with each passing minute she was a mile closer to her future. Before she knew it, her car was parked in front of the address written on the piece of paper Matt had given her. 'You can do this. It's either this or die. I think I'll pick this. Matt said Derek is a good guy. I rather be with someone my brother trusts than with a complete stranger halfway across the country that will end up abusing me and making my life a living Hell,' she gave herself a little pep talk before stepping out of the vehicle to grab two of her bags. She had more in the trunk, but figured she'd get them later. There was no further avoiding it. She was going to meet her new mate.

Each step had her heart pounding louder and louder in her chest. She was almost positive Derek could hear it from inside his loft. Hell, even a human could probably hear it. Mustering up her courage, she finally knocked on the worn door.

A tall guy with blonde curly hair opened the door. He didn't look anything like she remembered, and seemed almost younger than the last time she'd seen Derek Hale. "Can I help you?" he asked her. Her eyebrows scrunched up in confusion.

"Derek?" she questioned while readjusting one of the duffels over her shoulder. 'Oh my God, what have I gotten myself into? He looks like he's still in high school! This is Derek Hale? Alpha of Beacon Hills? He doesn't look very alpha-like. What did Matt arrange?!'

"Hold on I'll get him," the blonde said much to Marie's relief. He left her standing just outside the doorway holding her bags. A few seconds later, a taller man appeared in her line of sight. 'That's Derek,' she thought to herself. He looked familiar. Dark hair, unshaven face, piercing eyes, and he looked much more "alpha-like" than the blonde who greeted her.

"Marie," Derek said with a slight smile and motioned for her to enter the loft. Immediately he took one of the bags for her and set it down.

"Uh, hi," Marie grinned nervously.

"Oh! This is the girl you have to make your mate, right?" Isaac said bluntly making Marie's face turn the shade of a tomato.

"Don't make it awkward or anything," Derek commented with a glare.

"I'll just go get my other bags," Marie said trying to make a quick exit.

"Oh no, Isaac, why don't you get the rest of her stuff. Here," Derek held out his hand for her keys, which she hesitantly gave him. Tossing them to his beta, Derek motioned for Isaac to get going. "Sorry about him," he explained in a softer voice to the woman in front of him.

"It's okay," she quickly replied.

"Here," he said while picking up her bags and leading her down the hallway to his bedroom. It was quite large, very spacious, but poorly furnished. A plain bed was the main focal point of the room, with a TV mounted on the wall across from it. There was on lamp and one blanket on the bed. To her surprise, he had two pillows, but they were both on one side of the bed so she figured he used both of them. Taking a deep breath, she forced a smile to her face. Ideas of making the room more livable were already streaming through her mind. They stood there in awkward silence for a little over a minute before they heard cursing from the entry. Walking out of the bedroom to investigate, they saw Isaac struggling to not drop one of the many bags Marie had brought with her. He only had two hands.

"Enough stuff?" Isaac asked with a teasing smile. With Marie standing in front of him, Derek shot his beta a warning glare.

"I know it seems like a lot, but Matt mentioned you just recently moved in here so I thought I'd bring a few things over," she said with a nervous laugh.

The guys brought her stuff to Derek's room, and she walked around to take in her surroundings. "You must be Marie," a smooth voice said from the stairs. Turning, she saw a middle aged werewolf stalking towards her. Looking to the hallway, she wondered just how many new roommates she would have. "I'm Peter," he reached his hand out for a handshake. She hesitantly returned it, but still felt on edge with another unknown man. "I'm Derek's uncle," he explained. Her hand instantly relaxed at that little piece of information, and Peter noticed.

"Don't," Derek's voice rang through the loft directed at Peter. Marie jumped back, extremely uncomfortable in her new surroundings. She missed Matt and Claire already. Peter smiled and turned to face his nephew. "Can't I introduce myself to my future niece?" Marie's heart rate quickened even more at Peter's words.

Derek heard her pulse rise and quickly became upset that his soon to be mate was uncomfortable. "Isaac why don't you take Peter to the warehouse," he suggested and was thankful that his uncle left without a fuss. "How do you feel about a drink?" he suggested.

Marie let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and said, "I think that's a wonderful idea."