CHAPTER ONE

I am late, Genim 'Stiles' Stilinsky thought to herself. She didn't mean to be late but she couldn't help but stop by Starbucks at the airport. She needed a frapacinno like now. And then she was low on Adderall so she stopped by Walmart real quick to get a refuel on that. And just when she was at the cash register the call came.

"Hello?" she answered knowing what is on the other line. She waited with eyes closed.

"Where the hell are you?" a growl came through the other line. Her older brother, Jackson, growled through the phone. Stiles rolled my eyes. Stiles was expecting her oldest brother, John jr. (who she call JJ to annoy him), to call but whatevs.

"I'm on my way. Don't blow a gasket or anything."

"You know we are someone else's territory don't you?" he asked the obvious. "Meaning you have to be prompt. He doesn't know your scent or what you look like so for all he thinks...you can be an omega on the attack." He in that sentence was the alpha of this land. Alpha Hale.

Stiles don't know why she had to come to this freaking party anyways. Well she does...John's mate, Laura. She never met his mate before. She seen a picture of her and wow was she beautiful. JJ had been mad at her for two years since she hasn't gone for the wedding. But how was Stiles suppose to know when there was no signal in site for the past three months?

It is some kind of bonfire that they throw every year over the summer. She never went since she has been traveling over the summer but she heard it is pretty epic. Lots of food, good music, and awesome fireworks. This is the one time a year that Alpha Hale invites other packs to his land (which is big since Stiles heard he can be a hardcore Alpha).

"Fine, I'm coming." she groaned. She hung up and rung up my things.

Stiles said she was coming right away but that doesn't count if she gotten lost. She doesn't even have the damn address.

She had to call her brothers again...she doesn't want to but have to. So she thought her oldest brother would do since he won't really yell at her but act more of a father which still scares her.

"Hello?" JJ answered. His voice deep and already full of power.

"Hi, um, I'm lost," Stiles said nervously.

She could hear him sigh over the phone. She could already picture him pinching the bridge of his nose. "Drive towards the woods and you will get our scent. Follow it." and then he hangs up.

Well, good bye to you too, she thought as she turned the ignition on.

He was right. As soon as she drove towards the woods, she could smell the scent of every wolf. And then one delicious scent stuck out to her. Her wolf purring at the smell of it. It was a strong scent even though she was miles away. The aroma of a spicy yet musk scent of the woods that she loves already.

Must be the food, she thought as she drove faster with her stomach growling in agreement.

"Dude," she said to herself.

Her big brown eyes widened in the reaction of the Hale Territory. It wasn't just one big grand home of what she expected. But it felt like it was a neighborhood complex. Stiles counted six grand grey homes lined on opposite sides to one another. And in the middle of the homes was table of food and far back was what seems like a DJ table. She parked her car next to the second house she passed and hopped out.

Stiles didn't know where to begin. Maybe the food, she thought. As she went towards the table she could feel her heart pounding hard against her chest. Like it wanted out, now. She ignores it thinking it was nervous jitters for being with pack for such a long time. She grabbed a plate and began the search.

Her eyes scanned the table. Stiles took a whiff and her eyes snapped to the seasoned curly fries at the end of the table. She couldn't help but grab a handful and pile it on her plate.

"You must really love fries," a voice behind her said. She looked back to see a guy around her height grinning at her.

"It's what make them curly what gets me going," she replied. "I'm Stiles, nice to meetcha."

"Scott," he shook her hand. Stiles's raised an eyebrow at the guy. She could smell the sweet scent of spring (flowers?) over him. "Why do you smell like flowers?" she asked him as she took a step closer to the guy and sniffed his shoulder. Scott chuckles instead of flinching back like any other dude. "It's cool. I don't judge. I have this friend named Danny and he goes that way which I don't get how he would find mate if he's male as well but I think the supernatural has a way around that but think about it? Male being pregnant? Total mindblowi-"

"Dude, breathe," he laughs at her constant ramble. Stiles took a deep breath. She hasn't rambled like that in a long time. Being in a small village in Africa for the past four years didn't help her case of the love of talking. But now being with this guy for almost three minutes has managed her to talk one hundred words per thirty seconds made her smile. He's so my best friend, she thought. "It's my mate."

"Your mate? What about her?" she said as she grabbed for some more fries.

"I smell like her. I was just with her a few minutes ago," he explains. "The flowers..."

"Oh," she finally gets it. "Well she smells good not as good as these fries but good enough that she should have her own perfume or something. I mean wows times ten."

"Where are you from again?" Scott really wanted to know where this girl came from. She's awesome and funny and the problem being that she is a girl rang through his head. He's jealous to the max when Allison speaks to Isaac but here he is talking to some chick who could easily pass for a boy.

"Um, So-Cal? Close to the drought of Los Angeles." she said. "I am kind of with the Stilinsky pack with Alpha JJ."

"Alpha JJ?"

"Oh, I mean, Alpha John." she explains. "I call him that on the DL."

"You are with him? He seems too serious to have someone as awesome as you in his pack? And don't he have mostly guys in his pack?"

Stiles nods. "Only a few of them are mated but the girls don't interest me. They don't like to get down and dirty like us guys. Ya get me?"

"But you are a girl," he states.

"Yeah but I totally can pass for a dude with this cool cut, right?" she points at her hair. She shaved it four years ago (which Jackson yelled at her about) when she was head for Africa for the Peace Corps. She wanted to look less like a girl when she headed out there since one of the workers explained to her that more rape goes on down there. Stiles could easily defend herself among the humans but for precautions she shaved her head and wore one size to big shirts that didn't cling to her chest. Now her hair has grew since then to an overgrown pixie cut that seriously needs her bangs cut.

"Not really. I can smell that you are a girl but her features are also feminine," he states. Stiles shrugged at the subtle compliment within his sentence.

"How did we even get on this conversation?" she laughs. "That's my problem. I get distracted and you are the accomplice, Scott."

"Sorry, dude," he said. Stiles smiled. She liked that he called her dude. She wanted to hug him but knowing that he has a mate that could claw her eyes would not suit with her. So she clapped her hand over his shoulder squeezing it.

"Dude, I can see this becoming a beautiful friendship." she said.

"Me, too. A long distance one but still best friends, right?"

"Totally," Stiles agreed.

"There you are," Stiles heard that familiar angry growl from anywhere. She looked behind her too see her big brother, Jackson, with glowing golden eyes.

"Hey, I was just lookin' for ya but then I saw these curly fries and you know that gets me going and then I met my soul brother," she points at Scott, "and we had to become best friends right now or it would be the end of Stiles and Scott,"

Jackson didn't even look at Scott. He grabbed her roughly by the forearm (being considerate, grabbing the arm that's not holding her precious curly fries) and dragged her. He led her the largest house. One at end of the two meeting homes. This home was a black bricked home. The closer they gotten to the home the more the delectable scent screamed her name making her wolf want more.

Jackson led her to the kitchen where she see her oldest brother JJ and the third eldest, Jordan. Her eyes went to the island in the middle of the kitchen. Her brown eyes widened in glee. She has not had cupcakes in like forever. Instead of greeting her brothers who she hasn't seen face to face in like four years she went straight to the cupcakes.

"I am in love," she moans as she grabbed the chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting topping it off. She takes a bite closing her eyes. Stiles savored the flavor and finally swallowed. She opened her eyes and smiled a fudgy smile to her brothers. "Can't I get a hug?"

"No." Jackson and Jordan said simultaneously.

"And that's why JJ is my favorite," she said as she went for a hug to her eldest brother. He returned the hug reluctantly and gave her a peck on the forehead when she was pulling back.

"He's your favorite because he deals with your shit," Jackson snides.

Stiles ignores Jackson and takes another bite along with her fries. "It's been forever since I ate American food. Give me a break if I don't come here as soon as I'm off the plane." she said through a full mouth. Jordan smirks. At least she hasn't changed.

"Now where's your mate?" Stiles asked JJ. Instead of answering he leaves the kitchen to get her. "I want to kiss the chef of these cupcakes."

"Well, kiss away," a boy said. He was taller than Jordan and Jackson but not JJ. He came in with a shy smile with hands in pocket. He had bright blue eyes and dirty blonde curly hair that made Stiles want to run her fingers through. Even though the guy looked pretty shy, he reeked of power. Not of an alpha but a...

"You're a beta?" she questions?

"Yeah, so speak formally with me," Stiles could tell that he was joking by how his heart was racing. "My name's Isaac."

"Well, Isaac, I am in love with these cupcakes and I have to say this before you get claimed...will you marry me?" she takes another cupcake and takes a chunk out of it. "Cooking is a plus in a mate. And my name is Stiles."

"Cool name. So you are the Stiles that replaced my role as best friend for Scott." he leans in.

"Look, he's my soul bro and when the stars align they align. Our friendship was meant to be after two minutes. Two minutes!" she said holding up two fingers at him. Jackson rolled his eyes at his idiot of a little sister.

"Wow, she's cute."

"Why, thank you," Stiles turned to greet the woman who said that. Her eyes widened.

It was her. Laura. Laura Hale. The woman who his mated and married to JJ.

She's beautiful. Dark hair that should model for Pantene or something. Skin fair and flawless and amazing green eyes. And the way that JJ was around her. It reminded her of what he was like when she was a child. Protective. Who would rather have himself killed then to let anything happened to the one he loves. And for some reason she missed that side of JJ.

"We must warn you, Laura, but Stiles has a brother complex with John here," Jackson teases. Stiles narrowed her eyes at him.

"Ignore him. He's just jealous that he's mate less. That's all." She steps forward and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "Nice to meet you, Laura." Laura wouldn't accept a handshake. Instead she grabbed her into a bear hug. She had a good five inches on her on height but Stiles hugged back.

"You smell like family. My wolf really likes you," she said into Stiles's ear before pulling back. "I always wanted a little sister."

"I needed a big sister for like my whole life." Stiles said referring to having only boys raising her. "I'm a total train wreck with these three raising me. You should of saw the face that JJ here made when we had the talk about the 'Heat'." she laughs. JJ only growls.

"JJ?"

"He hates the nickname but John sounds so formal, ya know?" Laura nods in agreement.

"Did this one ever tell you about Gemini?" Laura asked her. Stiles was confused now. Laura scoffed and smacked John playfully on the arm. "You didn't? She needs to know."

"Well this is punishment for not coming to the wedding." he said flatly.

Alpha Derek Hale hates parties. If he had a choice he wouldn't even have them. But he did have a choice. But Peter being Peter persuading him that this is a tradition. That his mother would want this and all. That he shouldn't stop having the annual July 4th bash just because the worst happened fifteen years ago. That the Hale fire shouldn't stop their pack for having fun once in a while. Derek was already known as being the Raging Wolf. He even went on a killing rampage after the fire. It took him two years to control his wolf who was scorned so deeply. And being Alpha required control and Laura gave that to him. She gave him the title even if the pack didn't think he could handle it. And now ten years of being alpha showed them that even though he made mistakes, he accounted for them.

"You should at least look a bit happy," his Uncle Peter told him coming up handing him a bottle of Corona. "You might find your mate in this crowd."

Derek frowned. "It's been ten years. I doubt I would find my mate by now." he comments. By the Elders calculations, the average wolf finds their mate in their early twenties if not as soon as they turn sixteen. Now he's thirty years old with no mate. Peter claims that's why he could never smile but Derek doubts that is it. He's happy his older sister finally found her mate at the age of thirty as well with his ally and good friend Alpha John Stilinsky. Her being alpha's mate. Deer trusts John to take good of care of his older sister.

"Your sister did and had a child within a year afterwards," Peter said.

Laura named her son Gemini. Didn't seem like an alpha named but she growled at him and snapped saying that this is for John. Gemini Johnathan Stilinsky. That she named this after her young sister-in-law that she never met before. Saying that John misses her deeply and that naming the child after a loved one of his little sister who he raised as a daughter after the death of their parents when he was eighteen. Saying that John was more like a teen dad than an older brother to his younger siblings, mostly to his youngest sister who is about seventeen years younger than him.

"I don't need the distraction anyways," he said truthfully. Derek and his wolf agreed that having a mate to worry about more than his own life wouldn't be beneficial towards his pack. He rose the pack from the ashes into one of the most powerful ones in the country. The most feared after all that has been done to them. He doesn't need one other person to worry deeply about. Pack is first.

"You won't be thinking that when you find her," Peter argues.

That's what I'm afraid of, Derek thought as he takes a sip of the beer.

"Let's hope she can deal with this," Peter said gesturing towards Derek.

"What do you mean?"

"Meaning you're no fun and control freak which is not rare for an Alpha but let's hope she can loosen you up," Peter explained.

Derek sighs then takes a deep breath. As soon as he breathed in, his wolf began howling, scratching to get out. He thought his wolf was sensing danger but that wasn't it. His wolf was excited. Loving the scent of spices (cinnamon?) and something sweet (chocolate? cocoa?) that made his mouth water.

"Derek, you there?" Peter waved his hand over his vision.

Derek nods his head but then his legs began moving. It felt like his body was not his own. Like he needed to find this scent and before he knew it, he was running through the crown and ran inside his home. Not many people was inside. He could sense Laura and John and Isaac and even his nephew, Gemini.

"Wow, he has the Stilinsky brown eyes!" the beautiful voice said with a laugh that felt like music to his ears.

"I don't have brown eyes." a male voice said.

"I think you are adopted or something, Jacks," the voice said.

"Shut up." Jackson growled.

"Stop, you're scaring my favorite nephew."

"Derek are you okay?" Peter asked him following behind him as Derek walked towards the kitchen. He stopped at the entrance to see Alpha John and Laura standing at the corner; Jackson and Jordan on the other side and Isaac on the island next to...a young woman holding Gemini.

"I'm so gonna be the awesome Aunt," she said as she bounced Gemini on the counter. She made silly faces at him making him giggle a bit. "His laugh is so cute." she gushes.

"Wow, you made him laugh. Scott and I tried but it's so hard." Isaac said leaning close to the woman.

She looked up at him with a grin. "It takes skill to make someone laugh. I'll teach ya." she said as she ran her hand through her bangs trying to get it out her eyes but failing. Isaac smirked and brushed her hair back.

Derek's wolf growled in anger making him take a step and grab Isaac's wrist harshly.

"Alpha?" Isaac winced back. Derek usually wouldn't do this to his beta, his right hand man, but his wolf was taking over. Derek threw his arm back making Isaac fall back a couple of steps from the girl. He then looks down to the woman who was staring at him with confusement. Derek's hand brushed over her cheek.

"Mine," he said in a harsh growl.