Prologue: A Tale of Two Packs

Stiles was watching as the pack started their fourth run around the preserve. He grinned as the Betas did as their Alpha ordered even if they were complaining. He was starting to get an idea of what pack life would be like for them. He could admit that he loved it, even if they were frustrating the hell out of him right now.

Derek was standing by his side and asked him, "Why did I bite teens?"

Stiles snickered, "Coz you were on a power high and they were most likely to survive the bite."

He was trying to be a supportive mate but Derek made his betas so now he had to live with his choices. There were no swaps or take backs when it came to Betas - well not if you were a good Alpha.

Derek sighed, "It seemed like a good idea at the time."

Stiles out right laughed at his mates petulant tone. He knew Derek loved his pack but at the moment, they were showing all their teenager like ways. They did not like what they were having to learn about the pack traditions. Stiles knew he was going to have to lay it on the line for them to understand. For now, he was having fun watching them train. Training for the pack involved runing around the preserve, lots and lots of times.

Seeing Derek's pout, Stiles hugged his mate. He was trying to be as supportive as possible. "You love them and you know it. We will have to make them understand."

Derek huffed, "I know but it is not sinking in yet." There was a mounting frustration in his voice. Stiles got it. He knew what was at risk or what trouble could arise if things went wrong.

Stiles agreed with Derek about the importance of training the betas on the traditions. He wondered if he was going to need a plan B. There was things he could do with his magic that would make them see. It would be mean. It would make the point that he, Derek, Chris and Peter had been trying to drill into their heads all week. If it did get the point across then it would be worth expending the magic.

Things were coming to a head as the pack visit would be starting in three days. Derek and he would need to make a decision about what to do. They had been trying to prepare the pack and the house all week for the impending pack visit by the Cortez pack. In all honesty, there were a few times having bitten betas made a difference. Derek hadn't even thought about it until this pack visit came onto the agenda.

The traditions at time were too foreign for the modern teenagers. For Derek and Peter it was easy as they had grown up with the traditions. Allison and Chris knew all about the traditions as hunters. Gerard had been adamant they learn all they could about werewolves including the traditions. For the crazy old man, his reason was so he would be able to better kill every last wolf. It was turning out quite handy for Chris and Allison now that there were part of the pack. Stiles hoped Gerard was turning his grave watching Chris and Ally be happy as part of the Hale pack.

Stiles was also at an advantage being a Royal Fae as he'd learnt the customs of all the magical races. Sure, it would be odd for him to defer to Derek in all things like the Alpha's mate would. If he had to explain away things - he could reveal his Fae status and then he would be okay. It was the last thing he wanted to do. He was hoping to pass as a spark and Emissary, not a Fae Mate as the other pack would know he was dangerous.

He could play the game of being weaker than he appeared. He just hoped the visit didn't last too long. He was not the type to play for too long, there was too much of his grandmother in him. He had too many people compare him to Mab in the past for him to believe otherwise.


Carlos Cortez was desperate and too stupid or prideful to admit it. He had upset the Calaveras Clan and as such was looking to move his pack. He had looked at the territories and saw the Hale one as the one he could take out. The Pack was once the strongest one on that coast but a fire had all but wiped the pack out. He was sure that a pack visit (a scouting mission) by any other name would get his plans started.

The Alpha was Talia's son and he was all but certain that the boy had not had any training for the role. Carlos was sure he could manipulate the Alpha. After all he would need an Alpha to lean on as he learnt the ropes. Carlos could be that Alpha - he was a nice guy.

Well he could pretend to be and that was what would count.

That was not forgetting his ace in the hole - he had the boy's sister. He would be grateful for the return of his sister and distracted as a result. So despite his wonderful plan, his second Antonio, was still frowning at him,

"Look cheerful ... our problems will soon be over."

His mate curled up into his lap. He loved his wife and she had helped him stay anchored the last few days. Carlos hoped he would be able to repay her faith in him. It was not his fault that Rosa had declared a price on his head but it happened nonetheless.

"If you say so."

Carlos rolled his eyes, "You worry too much. There is only Peter and Derek left from before the fire. The betas are all bitten teens."

His second just snorted. He was of the opinion that his Alpha was being stupid but what could he do? He didn't think a pack that had made an Alpha pack disappear would be such an easy target.

Antonio would be right.

Carlos would learn his lesson but it may cost him his life.


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