FOUR MONTHS AGO…
I took Aaron home, still glad he made it out of that whole ordeal alive. But at least I know, when it matters, he'll listen to me. Though, I don't plan on running into another Kanima anytime soon. And I NEVER want to see Gerard again. I took Aaron up to the house. He used his key to get in.
Ben was still on bed rest; recovering from when Matt shot him. I looked at Aaron as I closed the door, pointing an authoritative finger at him. "Don't tell him just how close you came to being creamed tonight."
He scoffed. "It wasn't that bad."
I looked at him with a dumbfounded expression. "Uh, yeah, Aaron, it was."
"Relax. He's used to it by now. Or, at least, he should be."
"I don't think he'll ever get used to hearing stories about his son being in places he shouldn't have that could have ended in his death."
He waved it off, walking away. "You want a new shirt?" Mine was soaked in dried blood and covered in claw marks. Including the three holes over my heart. I look like something out of a horror movie, but I shook my head anyway. I was going straight home after this, so there wasn't any point. He shrugged. "You're loss."
He disappeared down the hall to his room. I walked down the hall, but went past his room and went to Ben's. I put my hand on the door, making the gap wider. Ben was sitting up in his bed with a book in his hand. I stepped into the room as he looked at me. "Hey."
"What happened?" He looked more concerned than I was expecting. I'm not really sure what to think of him these days.
I shrugged. "All that matters is that the Kanima's not an issue anymore."
He closed his book. "Well, that's good." He looked down and I sighed. You could cut the awkwardness with a knife.
"I was just bringing Aaron back. I'll let you sleep."
"Sara," his voice sounded pained, full of regret.
"I'm going by Kit, now. Everyone knows."
He nodded. "We need to talk."
"I know." I walked in further. "Gerard said some things…"
"What did he say?" worry flashed across his face with a sudden urgency.
I sat on the corner of the bed, filing it away. "A couple things. One being that my mom was his daughter." My eyes locked onto his, daring him to lie to me. "I'm assuming you knew." He gave a slight nod. "And, I'm going to assume I know why you didn't tell me."
"Sara-"
"You know how much I wanted to know more about her, and you kept this from me anyway? How long have you known?"
"Lily told me."
"You've known for seventeen years?"
"How does it benefit you to know the kind of people you're related to? Especially considering who they are." He looked at me almost like I was crossing a line, like I was making matters worse. "You don't go around asking questions about your father."
"Because I know who he was, Ben," I said, slightly raising my voice. "His name was Phillip Jacobson. He moved from his home town in Chicago to Nevada, where he met my mom. He was a normal guy. And a human, might I add. Which doesn't make any sense since I was born a tiger. You know the rules."
"I do, but that's not the point. The tiger genes can skip a generation-"
"Like what happened with my mom and the Argents; I know. But that's not the case here."
"Then what is?" he said it like he was just humoring me at this point. Like he wanted me to hurry up and get it out so that I could drop it and pretend this never happened.
"He wasn't my father." I've never said it out loud before. The words sounded foreign, yet normal at the same time. Some of his facial features seemed to relax. But he wanted to drop it and therefore wasn't going to say anything else. "You knew that, too. Didn't you?" The realization was just hitting me. And his silence said enough. "You know who he is." He didn't look at me.
I felt like I didn't know who he was. Like this person that I've looked up to for years was a stranger. Or maybe I was the stranger to him. And maybe this was what Gerard wanted. He knew I'd question it. He knew Ben knew more than he'd told me. He knew there were too many secrets between us. He wanted to drive us apart. And it worked.
I stood. I just stared at one place on the floor. Words were not enough to describe my feelings, not that I have to explain anything to him. It was too much to process. This whole night has been one new piece of information after another. And I'm not sure who to believe. But I know who not to.
I walked out of the room without a word. I was going to mention what Gerard said about me having a brother. But I don't want to talk to Ben anymore. Besides, If my dad wasn't even really mine, my real father is probably out there somewhere with a family of his own.
Maybe he doesn't even know I exist. Maybe he doesn't want to. Either way, if my brother was at the lacrosse game, it means he and my father live here, in Beacon Hills. Which also means I can find them.
PRESENT DAY…
"Are you sure?" I crossed the living room and into the kitchen.
"Positive," Sam's voice replied through the phone. "I don't know where they are. Erica and Boyd never made it here. I've asked everyone in my pack. No one matching their description has come around asking about joining." I sighed. "I'm sure you guys will find them."
"Yeah. Thanks anyway, though."
"Oh. You're still fine with Aaron crashing with you?"
"I still think you're the better Alpha to be teaching him these things, but, yeah, he can stay here."
"I know what you mean, and I wish he could stay-"
"But?"
"But my pack's not as understanding as you are."
I scoffed. "If a pack can't accept it's Alpha's brother, then I think a new pack is in order."
"Yeah, I'll take that into consideration," he said mockingly as the door bell rang.
"Okay, gotta go."
"Alright, bye."
"Bye." I hung up the call and then sat my phone on the kitchen counter. I walked past the island and to the front door. I sighed to myself, ready for bed and the day to be over. I don't understand why Derek doesn't just use the key I gave him. Three times now I've had to let him in.
I grabbed the knob and then swung the door open. I stopped dead in my tracks, all the air leaving my lungs. Normally when I see someone I don't like, my body instantly goes into fight mode; heart pumping, adrenaline coursing through my veins. But this time…nothing.
My feet shuffled backward, the door swinging wide open. He helped himself, stepping in like he owned the place. "Not really the…'welcome home' I was expecting." He followed me across the room. I finally managed to move in a different direction and went to the kitchen.
My arms dove across the island for the phone. "Not so fast," he said as his arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me back, my finger tips inches from the phone. He spun me around and slammed my back into the counter. "What's wrong, Beckett?" he chuckled.
He was having way too much fun with this. I should've known this would happen. I should've known that this day would come. And here it is. Right when my life is in order. Right when I think I might have found something to call normal. And then it all comes back. He comes back.
He showed me that grin I didn't know had a devil behind it; the one that used to make me melt in a different way. "Miss me?"
No, Tobias.
I didn't.
TWO WEEKS EARLIER…
I slid the door to Derek's loft open and stepped inside. I pulled the door closed out of habit. I was running on auto pilot, have been for the last twenty four hours. My mind was still in a fog. It wouldn't stop replaying the same scene. Derek quickly approached me, concern on his face. "What happened?"
I followed his gaze down to my blood soaked shirt and stained hands. My eyes did a quick sweep across the room. Peter stood in the living room. The usual place I find him. But he also looked slightly worried. I'm sure it comes from whatever he thinks might have followed me. The Alpha pack in town has him on edge. We've developed a love-hate relationship. More hate than love. But neither of us has tried to kill the other. Yet.
I looked back at Derek, taking in a breath. When I let it out, it was shaky. "It's not mine," I said numbly. "It's Aaron's."
"Is he okay?"
I shook my head, "I don't know." He put his hand at the small of my back and guided me to the couch. I sat as he did the same across from me on the table. He grabbed my hands and held them in his. Peter lingered in the background. Derek looked me in the eyes, "Tell me what happened."
I gathered my thoughts, trying to remember how this mess got started. "Aaron was up in Oregon, visiting Sam," I started. He nodded. I'd already told him this back when Aaron left, but I needed to say it to help get my bearings in the story. "A few days ago, Sam had mentioned something on the phone, in passing, about feeling like he was being followed. Since I told him to be on the lookout for Erica and Boyd, he thought maybe his senses were just on high alert. But that wasn't the case.
"He called me last night and said that the man who'd killed their mother was there, and trying to kill them. But, that happened when Aaron was a baby, all those years ago…"
"So, how'd he find them? Why now?"
"Because he's an Alpha. One who is now in Deucalion's pack," I answered. Derek closed his eyes with a sigh. He was thinking the same thing I was: we did this. By looking for the Alphas, we exposed not only us but those around us. "I hurried up there as fast as I could. But I was already too late. They fought and Aaron got caught in the middle. Sam was beaten really badly. But he was on the ground with Aaron in his arms." I paused, the scene crystal clear in my head. "The Alpha was dead; Sam killed him."
"I thought Sam already was an Alpha," Peter said. I nodded, ignoring his insensitivity to the topic at hand. He let out a low whistle. Probably he's imagining how much stronger that made Sam. I rolled my eyes.
"Aaron was in pieces. There was no way he was going to make it. So Sam bit him. But even with the added boost of killing the Alpha, Sam was on his last legs. It seemed the bite was working…and then it wasn't."
"You know it can be a gamble," Derek tried reassuringly.
"Yeah, but that wasn't it. The bite was working and then it wasn't."
"Is Aaron human?" Peter asked.
"Completely." I looked at him. "Sam and Aaron are only connected by their mother, who was human."
"So, different fathers?"
You have no idea. "Yes." I looked back at Derek. "When I saw Sam's bite wasn't working, I bit him."
"I thought you couldn't," he said.
"I can. But it's different. It's like the Nemeton itself is biting you and it works every time."
"Then what's the problem?"
"It wasn't working as fast as normal. Aaron's alive but it seems like he's in some kind of…coma."
"He needs to heal."
"I know," I sighed. "But, with everything Sam's done for me, I wish I would've been there sooner."
"I know."
"So…" Peter's voice broke the air again and I sighed, dropping my head. I wish he'd go away. But without him I won't have anyone to trip when the Alphas start chasing us. "Who's Aaron's father?"
"Ben, my uncle. He's human," I said.
"Yes, but… So, you're not actual blood relatives to any of them."
"Family's not just blood." I sighed. "But, you're right." Something I've been saying to him way too many times recently.
He grinned, but quickly moved on. "And what about Sam? Who's his father?" I leaned back into the couch, deciding how to answer. I wait too long to answer, he'll know something's up. I don't answer, he'll know something's up. I avoid the question, he'll know something's up.
With Peter being back from the dead now, I talked to Ben about the elephant in the room: that fact that he's Sam's father. Ben toyed with the idea of telling Sam about it for a month. I think Sam's mature enough to make the decision himself. Ben's not so sure. I think he fears Sam becoming Peter. I would too if I thought it were a problem.
Ben wasn't doing anything so I helped push things along. I told Sam that Ben knew who his father was and all he had to do was ask. A couple weeks went by, and then while Sam was here on break, he asked. And Ben said no. It broke out into this huge argument, which was only made worse when Derek and I got involved. I told Derek about the feud between them and why. I told him about Peter, too. It only went downhill from there.
My eyes looked to Derek for a reaction, maybe a nudge to one way or the other. He was neutral, leaving the ball in my court. As usual. But during our four person argument, everyone took a side. Ben was on his own side, while Sam and Derek were teaming up against him.
It ended with Sam finding out. After their last words were said and Sam and Ben stormed off like children, Sam found me and Derek and asked me to tell him. And I did. Ben wasn't talking to me already so I figured I wouldn't lose anything by it. But Ben and I are a different story.
I stood. "Look in the mirror."
PRESENT DAY…
"To be honest, I was really hoping the rumors you were dead was true."
He scoffed slightly, pretending like that jab meant nothing to him. But I know deep down it did. "Well…the rumors about you were true." He looked me over as he spoke, "Here you are in Beacon Hills. You went back to the only town you said you've ever called home, you're living close to your only living relatives, and then join the pack of the new Alpha on the block, who you're dating?" His smile dropped. "And you wonder how I found you."
A low growl filled my ears. But it wasn't coming from Tobias. I looked to my left and saw Isaac. I'd forgotten he was here. His claws and teeth were out, eyes glowed. I swore under my breath. "Don't take another step," I warned him. But he looked like he wanted to rip Tobias to piece. Part of me wanted to let him. But I know that's a battle Isaac would lose. He also doesn't know the history between us. He doesn't have any idea who this person is.
Tobias chuckled and then looked back at me. "That your guard dog?"
"Why would I need one of those when I can kill you myself?" As soon as the words left my mouth, his hand was around my throat. I gagged at the sudden motion. I felt the tips of his claws break the skin of my neck just enough to let me know they were there.
"Don't make me do something I'll regret," he warned. I growled at him, my eyes glowing red. He laughed. "Why am I not surprised you'd disguise yourself as an Alpha?" He pretended to think, "Well I guess being a Beta didn't get you too far."
"Why are you here?" I ignored him and got straight to the point. I didn't want to hear his subtle jabs.
"I'm here for you, of course."
"Yeah, cause that worked out well last time."
"Actually it did." He sighed in remembrance. "My father would thank you in person, but…he sent me." I've never seen such an evil look on his face before. What happened to him after I left?
I tried to ignore it and move on. "What do you want with me, this time?"
"'This time'," he smiled. "You're not still holding a grudge are you?"
"You tricked me into falling in love with you so you could kill my pack. Yes, I'm still holding a grudge."
"I didn't trick you."
"Then what do you call that?"
"I'd call it love."
"Love?" I scoffed in disgust. "Did you not here the part where you used me?" He opened his mouth but I kept talking. "There were twelve of us in that pack, Tobias, only two walked away. You did that."
He stood in silence for a minute, looking off somewhere. Then he nodded. "Yeah, I did." His eyes flicked to me. "But I'd also do it again." He said it like he wasn't talking about killing people. Like he was talking about going down to the store for a gallon of milk.
"You're disgusting."
"You're beautiful."
"Get out."
"Com-"
"Get out!" I yelled. He froze, eyes locked on mine. I think he was finally getting the point. His claws left my neck, and then his hand. He pushed off the counter top he'd pinned me to and then took a few steps back. I backed away from him, closer to Isaac.
"So that's how it's going to be, huh?" he said, staring at the ground. I didn't want to say another word to him. "Fine." He walked to the front door, which was still wide open. He stopped a foot from leaving, and turned to look at me. "Sam and Aaron were just the beginning." He left saying, "Their deaths are on you."
TWO WEEKS EARLIER…
"You've got to be joking," Peter scoffed, truly believing I was. I crossed my arms, looking at him like he was the idiot for not believing me. His expression dropped. "You're not joking."
"Why would I be joking?"
"Oh, I don't know. I could probably think of a million reasons."
"Okay, name them."
He scoffed. "What are you, twelve?"
"Peter," Derek said. "It's true."
"Thank you for the confirmation. But I'm just trying to figure out how."
I put my hands up in mock defense. "I am not having that talk with you." I walked past him and to the bed where my bag was.
I could almost hear Peter rolling his eyes. "What I mean is who-" When he stopped talking I looked at him. Realization was hitting his face. He had to think back farther than he thought to remember who she was: the woman he had a kid with and didn't know about it. "Lily."
I could tell the name had special meaning to him by the way he said it. I'm sure he cared for her a lot. But having sympathy for him feels wrong, so I quickly changed the subject. I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulder. "I have to go meet Lydia. I'm late and now I have to stop at the house to change first."
I walked up to Derek and kissed him goodbye, a nice habit we've gotten into. Then I headed past Peter. He grabbed my forearm, stopping me. I looked at him. I could see the wheel turning in his head. "Why are you telling me this?"
I had lived with the Hales a few years before the fire. Talia insisted on it. And while they respected her decision, Peter didn't. That's where our love-hate thing started. After I left, she took the memories of me staying there from all of them, to protect my identity as the Kirin. I'm not sure how Peter remembers me from back then, but clearly parts are missing. He wasn't always a conniving jackwagon. That's a more recent development.
I smiled. "Maybe one day I'm hoping you'll return the favor."
PRESENT DAY…
"Who's deaths?" Derek asked. "Sam and Aaron?"
"I don't know." I paced around the living room in frustration. My cheeks were hot with anger and my head wanted to explode. I knew there was a chance, if he were alive, that I'd see him. Sure enough, he's alive and here, in Beacon Hills. I'm surprised he hasn't killed his father and taken over the pack.
"Maybe he meant all of us," Isaac sounded unsure as to whether he was supposed to say anything or not. I stopped and looked at him.
"What do you mean?" Derek asked him.
"Well…he said he wanted Kit." He looked at me. "Isn't that what he wanted last time…?"
I nodded, "And he killed my pack as a bonus." I stopped talking and started thinking. And then it dawned on me. "Boyd and Erica." I looked at Derek. "We know they have them."
"They're going to kill them," he nodded, thinking the same thing I was.
"You mean, start with them. Until Tobias is dead, none of us are safe."
