~Breathing Angel Style~
By: Aerys Krystie.
Theme: AU.
Plot: Three years after Jackson left Derek and his pack, he returns injured. Scott has become an alpha, with Derek under him as the favorite beta. Between them and the betas that Scott has made, they managed to keep Beacon Hills relatively safe. When Jackson comes back, he brings back with him something they aren't sure they can kill.
Warnings: Slash, language, violence, OCs and major OOC.
Disclaimer: Everything of and referring to Teen Wolf is not mine. This is a non-profit, fan-made story. Please support the official release.
oOo
The road less traveled was one that brought about epiphanies. That's what some would say, as they walked along the backwater road, starving and injured. The occasional lone car would speed by, making the injured attempted to duck into hiding. The struggled was becoming too much and the gentle, seductive whisper of Death was alluring. He could feel the sly fingers plucking his soul, trying to lure him behind a bush where he could die in peace.
As much as he wanted to, Jackson Whittemore was not a quitter. He didn't give up when his body was riddled with werewolf pneumonia that changed him into something that was only ever a legend to werewolves. He didn't give up when the wolf-shifter took over and made him a person of interest to the alpha pack that wandered into town. He didn't give up when a coven of witches took his friend, trying to rip out his heart so they could absorb his magic.
So he pushed on. His legs could barely support his weight and every limping step made his hind right leg pound with agony. The burning sensation was spreading up to the base of his tail and was slowly makings its way up to his spine. If he didn't get to his destination soon, he would be another dead wolf by the side of the road.
He was starving and dehydrated, but he still pushed on. He would only rest for a few minutes at time, not wanting to give the poison any longer than that to paralyze him. He remembered what it did to his pack and he wasn't going to go out like that. He would be damned if he was going to have his throat ripped out by another because the poison sent him insane.
Jackson had been walking for the last six days. Three days ago, he was carrying the she-wolf that he tried to claim as a mate. Sierra was everything he wanted, but there was something in the back of his mind that kept telling him she wasn't good enough for Derek's pack. He kept trying to push that back and it would always come back with a vengeance. No one he met was good enough for Derek's pack, but he wanted to be with Sierra and had courted her. She finally accepted him.
Before they could mate, the pack was attacked. No one saw what it was, just that it swept through them and it left most dead. The ones that were left alive wished they were dead. Parents had to kill their pups as the poison took over them. Sierra was poisoned, but she managed to keep it hidden for three days. She had attacked Jackson as he carried her and bit his hind leg. He had ripped her throat out, leaving her body on the side of the road.
The only thought in his mind was to get back to Beacon Hills. He needed to find Stiles or Scott, someone that could help him. Someone that could help with the poison and help him repress the memories of killing his intended mate. His mind kept trying to wander back to Derek, but he fought it off. Derek was probably angry with him for leaving or just didn't care. After all, they weren't mates and Jackson was responsible for Peter biting him.
A truck sped by, horn blaring. Jackson flattened his ears, trying to ignore the pounding in his head from the loud noise. The driver didn't see him, which was a good thing. He knew he didn't have the energy to duck for cover. As much as he knew it would protect him, he just wanted to keep walking. His pace was slowing as the days of no food and water caught up with him. It probably didn't help that it was summer and there was no rain.
The poison was making it impossible for his magic to work. The exhaustion didn't help much, either. He could see the welcome sign to Beacon Hills and his ears pricked up. He was only a few miles from the town boarder. A burst of energy surged through him and he ran towards the sign. All he could think was that he was nearly there, nearly home.
As soon as he was a mile from the sign, Jackson threw back his head and howled. He needed them waiting for him, if they wanted to. He wasn't sure how any of them were going to react, since he just left without saying anything to them. He couldn't deny the call of an alpha, though. Since Derek wasn't an alpha any longer, he needed someone that could give him guidance and let him grow.
His body seized as the poison grew and stretched up to his spine. He fell to the dusty ground, rolling a few meters and yelping in pain. He forced his body to stand and work through the pain. He was so close that he couldn't give up. He couldn't lie down and die. His eyes searched the darkness of the forest that surrounded the road.
Jackson's eyes widened and he tried to step back. He ended up sitting down, staring at the large gray wolf that was stepping out of the darkness. His coat shimmered sapphire and emerald in the light. He threw back his head and howled, but Jackson couldn't return the greeting. Derek was massive as a werewolf and he was even bigger as a wolf-shifter.
Derek stepped closer and Jackson saw that he was four inches taller. His paws were larger and his eyes were a constant battle of blue and green. Jackson got to his feet and limped forward, freezing when Derek snarled. His teeth were bigger, too. He knew that Derek could smell the poison in his body and probably didn't want to be anywhere near him.
Jackson raised his head and stepped closer. Derek growled in warning, baring his teeth. Jackson didn't care. He had spent the last six days making his way back to the town and he wasn't going to be denied an audience with whoever the alpha was. He could smell that Derek was a beta in the pack, but wasn't going to let Jackson into the town.
"What are you doing back here?" Derek demanded as he blocked Jackson's path.
"I've come home."
"You're not welcome here."
Jackson flinched at the venom in Derek's words. He glared at the earth wolf. "You aren't the alpha and I doubt you speak for him!"
"Jackson?"
Jackson blinked and looked around Derek to see Scott and a werewolf he didn't know. The tension left his body when Derek stepped back. Scott smiled and Jackson limped over to him. He noticed the way the werewolves wrinkled their noses at his scent. He knew he smelled putrid, thanks to the poison that was basically decaying his muscles.
Scott sighed and gently stroked Jackson's head. "Come on. Deaton should be able to help you and you're exhausted. Derek, can you carry him, please?"
Derek shifted into his human form and scooped Jackson into his arms. Jackson whined as his infected leg was bumped. He heard Derek telling him to shut up mentally and Jackson swallowed his pain. He honestly never expected Scott to become an alpha, yet it didn't seem that impossible. Scott did have some good qualities when it came to being a leader, such as compassion. Jackson would gladly bare his throat to Scott, if he wanted it.
oOo
When Jackson woke, he was in a dark room that was sterilized. He felt a lot better, to the point that he shifted into his human form. He let his eyes adjust to the darkness and listened to the heartbeats that surrounded him. There was one in the room, but he could almost smell that it was Derek and he really didn't want to deal with him.
Swinging his legs over the gurney, Jackson ran his hands through his hair. He looked to the corner that Derek was standing in. All he saw were the swirling blue and green eyes. Derek stepped towards him and Jackson growled, narrowing his eyes. He hadn't forgotten that he wasn't welcomed back in town, according to Derek. Scott didn't seem bothered by the fact that he had returned.
He got to his feet, so he could hold his own ground. He fell to his knees, gasping as pain shot up his right leg. You aren't ready to walk around, idiot, Derek stated and left the room. Jackson just hung his head, trying to ignore the pain. He was having serious flashbacks to when he was had the pneumonia and Derek ignored him. At least, back then, Derek had a reason to treat him like he had the plague.
Jackson used the gurney to stand and that was it. He couldn't make it to the door, unless he shifted into his animal form, which would speed up the healing. So he got back on the gurney and shifted back into his wolf form. He closed his eyes and let sleep claim him. He could feel the healing restoring the muscle that was decayed. It repaired and he would probably be fine when he woke up.
As his body repaired, he heard people entering the room. Allison petted him gently, telling him she was glad he had returned as she had missed him. Isaac came in after her and hugged him tightly, saying he was badly missed. Stiles came in and joked about how Derek was letting his sexual frustration rule him, mentioning that he was nearly unbearable to be around, especially if someone mentioned him. A new person came in and held their hand to his nose, introducing themselves as Liam and not the Liam that was with Mark Doyle.
Jackson was left alone for a few hours, until the door creaked open and a female entered. She introduced herself as Malia and she wanted to know if Jackson was real. She said that the others had told stories about him. Her favorite story was how he fought the witch leader and then took the bullets to save Allison and Stiles. That was the only story there was out there on him. Before that, he was a piss poor excuse for a werewolf and a murdering kanima. Jackson liked her, though. She was gentle and quiet. She reminded him of Tsuki.
Malia was called away by Scott, who took her place. He didn't say anything for a long while, just petted Jackson. He finally sighed and asked why it took him so long to come back and Jackson forced back a flinch. Scott mentioned that Allison and Stiles felt responsible for him leaving, as he had nearly died to protect them. Jackson wanted to say that that wasn't the reason. He had left because he couldn't handle being denied by Derek any longer. He needed to feel as though he belonged.
If anyone ever asked him how it felt to be a part of a snow wolf pack, Jackson would lie and say it was great. They didn't need to know that he had his ass kicked for two years because he had the scent of another on him, which had claimed him. It took him nearly three years to prove that he didn't have a mate. When finally was allowed a mate, they were attacked and she was taken from him. It wasn't the best time of his life, but it had its moments and that was really all that mattered.
Scott lovingly ran his fingers over Jackson's ear. He said that Jackson was always welcome into his pack and in his mind, Jackson heard Derek tell him to leave before he destroyed this. Jackson's eyes snapped open and he jerked back from Scott, falling off the gurney in the process. His leg was basically healed and he shifted into his human form, telling Derek to go to hell.
As he stood, Scott stared at him. Scott hadn't changed much in the three years. His face had matured a little and he was more built than before. Scott reached over and touched Jackson's cheek, shaking his head and pulled back after a moment. Jackson knew he hadn't aged in the slightest. The same thing with Derek. They looked exactly as they had three years ago, even down the stubble that Derek refused to shave off.
Scott grinned and beckoned Jackson to follow him. Jackson waved a hand over his body, dressed in an instant as he followed the alpha out of the room. He was in the basement of the Hale house. He was surprised that they remained there. There wasn't any reason for them leave, though. With Derek's magic, if extra rooms were needed he could add them with a thought.
They went to the kitchen and Allison immediately hugged him. Jackson smiled and returned the hug. As they stood there, Jackson let his eyes slide over the group. Isaac grinned at him and Jackson saw that he hadn't changed in the slightest, either. He was still as boyish as ever. Stiles' face became a little more angular, but he was still long limbed. He didn't look as gangly as before. He released Allison and looked her. Her hips had developed a little more, getting ready for childbearing, but she was still beautiful.
Jackson's eyes fell on Liam and Malia. They were staring at his eyes and then looking at Derek's, which were glaring at Jackson. "So you're the same as Derek then?" Malia inquired innocently and flinched when Derek growled.
"I'm not nearly as selfish," Derek snapped.
"I'm not nearly as stupid," Jackson retorted.
The tension in the kitchen went up and Jackson shook his head, leaving the room. He heard Scott growl at Derek before he followed. Jackson went to the front porch and sat on the top step, looking out at the trees and remembering the last time he was there. He could still feel Stiles' fingers in his ruff, while Isaac rested his head on his abdomen and Scott face-planted his ribs.
It was memories like that that Jackson tried to repress. He didn't want to think about what he'd left behind, because an alpha called out to him. He didn't want to think about what he'd done to forget about Derek, which he knew he needed to keep hidden from the prying mind of a certain earth wolf. He didn't need to give Derek another reason to hate him. Now that he was back, everything came flooding back.
He remembered when he played fetch with Allison and Isaac. He remembered the first time Chris saw his wolf form and threatened to shoot him if he mounted him. He remembered the way he would have done anything to protect Derek and his pack. He would have done anything to protect Scott and Stiles, even though they weren't technically part of the pack. They were kind to him, despite the way he had treated them. It was the least he could do for them. He remembered feeling wanted and as though he was part of a family.
Scott placed a hand on his back and Jackson turned to look at him. Deciding that feeling sorry for himself wasn't the best way to come back, he asked, "How's everything been in the three years I was away for?"
"A few months after you left, I became the alpha and Derek submitted to me. Peter disappeared, as well. We haven't heard from him. I found Malia and she became part of the pack. Liam needed somewhere to fit in, so I gave him the bite. Vincent hung around for like a year, teaching Derek how to use his magic. Tsuki left, but he comes back when something bad is about to happen. We managed to get Mark Doyle to stop his mob business and go into the herb trade, which came in handy a few months ago." Scott grinned, sliding his hand up to Jackson's shoulder and pulling him close.
"What happened a few months ago?"
"Doppelgangers! There was a second me, Stiles, Allison, Derek and double of Ethan and Aiden. And yes, Stiles was the first to ask: 'Is it classified as emo if I want to kill myself?'" Jackson smirked and shook his head. "Turns out that we needed white ask from a three hundred year old maple tree to kill them. They were causing havoc for three weeks before Mark got it in. Turns out that his mob connections come in handy for rare stuff like that."
Jackson nodded and rested his head on Scott's shoulder, not caring that the pose was intimate. It felt good to be close to someone that didn't hate him. "Sounds like you've had a busy three years. Who are Ethan and Aiden?"
"A pair of alphas that wandered into town and decided to stay. Enough about us. What about you?"
Jackson tensed slightly. "What about me?"
Scott nuzzled the top of Jackson's head, inhaling deeply. "I can smell the nervousness, Jackson. And I can hear your heartbeat. What happened to you while you were away from us?"
Jackson closed his eyes as Scott continued to nuzzle him. He forgot how good it felt to have someone take care of him, instead of kicking his ass. "I joined a pack. We took down a griffon that was trying to take over our territory. Yes, griffons are real, too," he confirmed when he sensed Scott's surprise. "I was with them until we were attacked a week ago, unless I've been out longer than a day."
"Two weeks ago," Scott corrected and Jackson jerked back. "Deaton removed the poison that was growing in you, but we think it did more damage than we could see. Derek went into your mind and said that it was mostly exhaustion. We fed you through an IV."
"Damn," Jackson whispered and took up his position against Scott's shoulder again. "I was more fucked up than I thought."
"Wow," Allison said from the door way. Jackson and Scott looked back at her. "You really have a thing for the alphas, don't ya, Jackson?"
Jackson stuck his tongue out at her, but then glanced between her and Scott. "When did you two break up?"
"Two years ago," Scott answered, brushing his fingers over the scars on Jackson's neck. "We still love each other, but we couldn't make it work as a couple. As comrades, we're a force to be reckoned with."
"So that's why Isaac smells like her and she smells like Isaac." Jackson nodded. "Well, I'm not sure about that force."
Scott stood and smirked. "Sparring match, then?"
Allison rolled her eyes and went back inside. "Wolves," she muttered and Jackson got to his feet.
Jackson walked down that steps and removed his hoodie, throwing it to the side. Scott pulled off his shirt and Jackson raised an eyebrow. Scoot looked great for someone that had no definition three years ago. Jackson shook his head and focused on the way Scott was standing.
"No wolf and no magic. We're doing this as humans."
"You could never beat me as a human, McCall," Jackson taunted as he started to circle Scott. It was an instinct from being a wolf. Scott was also doing it.
"Things change."
Jackson blocked the punch aimed for his cheek and Scott blocked the kick for his ribs. Scott pulled back, but Jackson didn't him a chance to catch his breath. He rushed in, his elbow connecting with Scott's nose. He kicked out the alpha's knee and smashed his face on his knee. Scott cursed and fell back, his werewolf healing kicking in.
If Jackson was the way he was four years ago, he would've pointed out that Scott wasn't playing fair by letting himself heal. However, it felt good to have his blood pumping again. He held his hand out to Scott. The alpha glanced at it and Jackson stepped back when Scott's next move flashed into his mind. He knew that was cheating as well, but he wasn't ready to make out with Scott McCall in front of the Hale house. He had no idea why Scott would even be thinking something like that.
Scott jumped to his feet and smiled at Jackson. "That was over way too quickly. I think next time I'll have to see how my alpha self goes against your snow wolf. Derek lets me dominate him, but I get the feeling you won't be as much of a pushover."
Jackson shrugged and grabbed his hoodie, heading inside with Scott. He wished it had lasted a little longer, but he was glad to know he could kick Scott's ass as a human. He also wished that he hadn't worn such tight jeans as they restricted some movements. They went into the kitchen and found it empty. Jackson shrugged and created a meal of waffles and pancakes for himself, smothered in fresh fruits that he was dying to dig into.
Scott sat beside him and looked at the food. "Stiles said that you had gone vegetarian," he muttered as he took a strawberry. "Can I ask why?"
Jackson's hands shook, so he lowered the knife and fork and inhaled deeply. "I can't stand the idea of spilling blood. After knowing what I did as the kanima, I couldn't handle killing for sport and then I found out that I felt the same way about meat. It's a weird quirk, but it isn't one I'm about to give up."
Scott bit into the strawberry and nodded. "That makes sense. We're not here to judge you. Just make sure you get your protein and iron." He stood and nuzzled the top of Jackson's head, inhaling the fresh scent that always surrounded the snow wolf.
Jackson rolled his eyes. "Sure thing, Coach," he said and ate a blueberry. He frowned when he noticed that Scott was staring at him. "Are you okay, Scott? You've been acting strange since I woke up."
Scott frowned. "I don't know what it is. I mean, you've always been attractive, but now I feel the need to claim. I felt it the day Derek's scent started to fade from you, but it surrounds you again."
"You're an alpha. I apparently let off a pheromone that attracts alphas and makes them want to claim me. I guess it's my submissive personality. Maybe I'm just attracted to power." Jackson shrugged and licked whipped cream from his lower lip, smirking at Scott.
"That's not nice." Scott growled and took a deep breath, stepping back. "Look, I won't do anything about this if you don't want me to."
Jackson raised an eyebrow. "Is it your scent that's clinging to me like a bad smell?" When Scott shook his head, Jackson nodded towards the kitchen entrance. "He won't let you claim me."
Scott nodded slowly. He had felt Derek's glare on him for the last minute and was nearly certain he didn't want to fight the earth wolf. "Claim him already," Scott ordered and left the kitchen via the backdoor, likely to run off the frustration. It seemed that going for a run was still the only way to work out sexual frustration.
Jackson ignored Derek. The close proximity to Scott was enough to make him horny. He ate his breakfast and then stood. Derek was leaning against the kitchen frame, glaring at him. Both of them frowned and turned to the back door. Jackson knew he had heard someone walking around back there, but there wasn't a scent or a heartbeat.
He narrowed his eyes when Derek stepped in front of him. He pushed his way to the front, ignoring the scoff from Derek. He sniffed and frowned, stepping back, pressing his back to Derek. He hooked his foot around Derek's ankle, tripping him. Derek held onto him and they both crashed to the floor, just as a stick sailed past and embedded in the wall.
While it was in the air, it had a strange blue-pink tinge to it. Once it struck the wall, it went back to being a normal stick. Jackson got to his feet, ignoring Derek as he cursed about the hand on his sternum as Jackson stood. He sniffed along the stick and gazed at the strange marking on it. He went to touch it, but his wrist was caught and Derek glared at him.
"You don't just touch strange, magical sticks, moron," he snapped and released Jackson's wrist. "At least I know how you were poisoned."
"What's going on?" Liam asked as he and Isaac entered the kitchen. The werewolves froze and took in the bizarre scent. Liam wrinkled his nose. "Jesus fuck! What is that?"
"Ozone," Jackson muttered as he tilted his head at the stick. He placed the tip of his left index finger to it, pulling it back when it sizzled. The smell of ozone invaded his senses and he tilted his head.
"You've come across this before?" Isaac inquired as he pushed between Derek and Jackson to look at the stick. "Are those runes?"
Jackson shook his head. "It's Greek. It's an enchantment."
Isaac groaned and threw his hands up. "Not witches again!"
"No, it isn't witches," Jackson murmured as he ducked under the stick, looking at the other side. "This is something else. I've got no idea what, but I'm sure there's something downstairs about what it might be." He looked between Derek, Isaac and Liam. "So who wants to help me look?"
oOo
In the end, it was a very reluctant Derek Hale that helped Jackson with the research. Vincent had instilled the languages into Derek, which made it a lot easier to go through all the tomes. Stiles came down after a while and tried to ignore the tension in the room. It went well, until Jackson and Derek collided and growled.
Stiles tensed and edged towards the door, ready to make a getaway if it came down to it. Jackson narrowed his eyes. Derek tried to stare him down, but Jackson wasn't about to submit to him. He wanted to say that there was nothing between them, but their emotions ran too high when they were in the same room.
Jackson tensed when Derek's eyes dropped to mouth. He stepped back when Derek bowed his head and cursed himself when Derek smirked. He grabbed the book he wanted and went back to his chair. Jackson exhaled shakily and sagged against the bookshelf, grateful that they were bolted to the floor. He grabbed the book he was after and went to the opposite side of the room, flipping through the pages and trying not to think about how nice it was to have Derek that close again.
Stiles went back to his laptop and searched through any kind of creature that would leave the scent of ozone behind. Jackson glanced at his fingertip, which was still marked from the magic of the stick. He curled his fingers and frowned. The ozone scent had been around after the thing attacked his pack, but he didn't stop to think about it. It wasn't until Sierra told him what it was that he even realized there was a scent.
He glanced over his shoulder at Stiles. The human was rubbing his eyes and smothering yawns. They had been down there for hours. He created a can of energy drink beside the laptop and turned away before Stiles could see who it was. Jackson's eyes were drawn back to the burn on his fingertip. It didn't hurt. It didn't do anything, except remind him that he had touched some kind of magical stick.
Jackson stood and went over to the laptop. He leaned over Stiles as he brought up a search engine and typed in the words of the enchantment. He frowned when he saw that it was a Greek prayer to the Goddess Gaia. He rested his chin on top of Stiles' head as he read through some of the texts out for it. Nothing was terribly helpful about what kind of creature would use the prayer to power sticks and fire them at wolf-shifters.
He thanked Stiles and used his magic to grab all the books that were in Greek. He stood in the middle of the room and flipped through the pages, trying to find anything. He discovered that the Goddess of the earth in Classical Greek times was either Demeter or Gaia. For some reason, no one seemed able to agree on what her name was. Both of them had a daughter named Persephone who spent six months of the year with Hades.
His pen was scribbling down anything that might be of interest to their case. Scott came down and told them that dinner was ready. Jackson waved them on. He wasn't going to stop until he found out what had followed him. He needed to know why he was being hunted. He doubted he was the only surviving member of the pack. Even if he was, why would whatever want to wipe out that pack? They hadn't done anything bad in the three years that Jackson was with them.
"Jackson, dinner," Scott reiterated with a hint of a growl.
"Yeah, I'm not hungry. Besides, I think I've almost found it." His eyes scanned the page in front of him and he missed Scott moving towards him. He hissed as claws dug into his neck, forcing him to tilt his head back and bare his throat to Scott.
"That's what I thought. You eat with the rest of us from now on. I don't care what you and Derek have going on between you, you will not put anyone in danger with your pissing matches. Am I clear?"
Jackson's lips parted as the claws dug in further. "Yes, sir," he whispered.
"Good." Scott's eyes roamed over Jackson's face, stopping at his mouth. He leaned forward, but snapped out of it when Derek growled. Scott removed his claws and Jackson pursed his lips. "Head upstairs."
Jackson walked around Scott, hand over the next set of scars on his neck from a werewolf's claws. He sat at the dining table, grinning at everyone and helping himself to the vegetables that were on offer. He sat between Stiles and Liam. He half-listened as they talked about what was happening around the town. It seemed that everyone had fat bank accounts to live off of, thanks to some unknown benefactor. They had called on Danny to do a back trace, but had come up empty.
All too soon, the conversation turned to Jackson and what he had done for the last three years. Jackson admitted that his time away was fairly boring compared to what they had to face, but all of them took an avid interest in the griffon he and his pack took down. He left out the part of trying to mate with Sierra, but figured it was about time to mention to everyone that his pack was attacked two weeks ago.
Silence fell over the table. "So you brought it back with you?" Derek asked and arched a brow.
Jackson clenched his jaw as everyone's eyes turned to him. "I wasn't expecting it to follow me. It could have taken me out while I was on the road. And it was after you, not me."
"Is that so? It wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you."
"Maybe it just knows what a douche you are and wants to remove you," Jackson snapped and stood, glaring at Derek. "If it wasn't for me, that stick would be in your spine!"
Derek growled and stood as well. Scott sighed. "Sit," he ordered with a hint of alpha in his voice.
Jackson and Derek slowly sat down. They didn't speak again during dinner, but they didn't stop glaring, either. Malia and Stiles tried to change the topic to something a little more lighthearted, like the weather. Jackson pushed his plate away and left the table, heading back to the basement so he could continue with the research. Just anything to not think about what Derek said and to not let the guilt seep in until he was useless. To hell with Derek, anyway.
End Chapter I.
Thanks for reading. This story is nearly complete. I just need to figure out how it all ends. I hope you enjoyed the chapter and hope to see y'all in the next chapter!
R/A/F if you please!
Until the next one!
Peace.
Auska.