The plane touched down with a gentle bump despite the icy weather outside. Derek decided he would take the cold over the desert any he. He rolled his neck from side to side after hours of dozing in the same position and cracked his knuckles. He hated flying. The flight wasn't that bad, being in the air didn't annoy him, the plane didn't frighten him. It was the cramped conditions and the people around them, the mothers who let their kids kick the backs of seats and business men who kept the crew running back and forward with silly requests. The smell was sometimes overpowering due to the lack of ventilation, especially to Derek's delicate senses.

It was snowing gently outside as Derek walked out of the terminal with his kitbag slung over his shoulder. He stopped and took a deep breath, opening his lungs to the cold air. The desert, he told himself for the millionth time, was unnatural, and this, this cold crisp air was perfection. 'Over here, section fifteen.' A familiar voice said softly and Derek half smiled as he walked towards her heartbeat. She didn't need to speak, he'd picked it up as he walked over the packed snow, but it was a courtesy.

Laura was waiting in her silver Buick, engine running and the heat on full blast. Derek could hear it as he neared and shook his head, Laura may be a powerful werewolf but she still loved her 'kitten comforts'. As he got closer to the vehicle Derek frowned; she wasn't alone in the car. There was another scent, a young scent. Derek made towards the car, popped the trunk and dropped the bag inside, not looking over the parcel shelf or speaking. He couldn't understand why Laura would bring someone to his reunion with her. He got in the backseat and closed the door with a thud.

'Hello sister.' He said dryly, but he was looking at the stranger in the passenger seat. 'Who's this?'

'This is one of my students.' Laura said sweetly. 'She was forced to repeat a year because her parents are always moving about. I'm making sure she doesn't have to repeat the freshman year, so I'm tutoring her. Her name's Allison Argent.' Laura turned to him, her warm eyes full of mischief, pinning him to the spot. He wanted to flash his own eyes at her, show her he wasn't happy at all with her plan, but he didn't, he curled his fingers into his thighs and turned his face away from Laura to Allison.

The young girl in the front seat licked her lips and lifted her hand nervously. Her hair was tucked underneath a pink hat with a purple flower on the side of it, and her brown eyes looked friendly and pleasant. Outside it had started to snow in earnest and a silver layer was already covering the waiting cars around them.

'Nice to meet you Derek. I've heard lots about you.' She said politely turning in her seat to look at him.

'Yes, nice to meet you too kid.' He said trying to give her his nice smile. By the look of Laura's scowl in the rear-view mirror, he was failing. He didn't care, he didn't like this one bit, and Laura would have to explain herself as soon as he got her alone.

XXX

'Laura you cannot be serious!' Derek hissed. 'She's a kid. No, no way are we doing this.'

'You don't even know what this is yet.' Laura said sipping her tea. Allison was sitting in the living room at the coffee table with her books around her and her legs tucked under her bottom. Derek watched her in the living room mirror, his eyes fixed on the pen that she kept running along her bottom lip.

'You have reached a new low. I would expect this of me, but not you.' Derek snapped, glaring at her tea. When did she start drinking tea? In fact he had glared at the whole damn kitchen when he entered. Laura had always been a tomboy but there were pink cupcakes all over the room. There were cupcake magnets and cupcake placemats and cupcakes on the fucking mugs. He hated the room.

'I'm your Alpha Derek, remember that when you try to climb to the moral high ground, which I'm sure you of all people will need a map to because your morals are low!' Laura hissed, throwing the Alpha card onto the table. Derek was shocked at his sister. Laura had always been the voice of reason, telling him to tone down his pranks when he was a boy and manage his anger as a teenager, then later cool his revenge plans and try to forget Kate Argent. He was honestly disappointed in her. He knew she was trying to be dominant too, and it was failing. Normally he would succumb to her but as her Beta he had the right to point out when he thought she was in the wrong. It was one of the reasons that they were keeping a low profile and not putting a pack together yet. They would, they'd talked about a pack for a long time now, but Derek himself knew he needed to grow up and learn some responsibility. He was worried that his leaving his sister had left her open to corruption.

'Look, I'm making friends with her alright. Someday I'll tell her about us. I'll offer her the bite. How will that bitch feel then when her precious niece is one of us? She's a great kid; she'll be a great asset to our pack. I don't want to hurt her, I want to protect her.' Laura said. She wasn't lying, she believed that this was what was best. 'I…' She shook her head looking into the mirror Derek had been using to watch her. 'She reminds me of Carol.'

Derek snorted softly. Carol had been their cousin, and she would have been about Allison's age had she lived. Carol worshipped Laura, a lot, and Derek knew Laura missed her as much as she missed their own siblings. His hand covered hers for a second, his thumb rubbing across her knuckles.

'I'm not so sure about this.' Derek said taking his hand back. 'I don't like it.' It didn't feel right; he felt that by manipulating the girl he was betraying something he couldn't put his finger on. He knew it wasn't Kate or any old memories of their time together. He had no illusions that the woman was evil and all they shared had been twisted and manipulated by her evil soul. 'I just, I'll have to think it over.'

'I like her. We've bonded. I'm going to be her Alpha and I'm already your Alpha Derek, deal with it.' Laura said lifting her cup and taking another sip. Derek just glared before making his way into the hallway and taking his bag upstairs, mug in his hand.

XXX

Laura shrugged as Derek left the room and headed to where Allison was spread out in the living room. She stopped as she passed the window and looked outside. The snow was getting heavier, she was glad Derek had flown in when he had. Sitting down on the couch Laura tucked her legs below her and looked over Allison's shoulder. 'How are you getting on?' She asked.

'Good.' Allison said. Laura was an English teacher but she had made it her business to know every other freshman class and its curriculum, especially the one's Allison was in. She was glad to have Derek home, truth be told. She had promised Chris Argent that she would make sure Allison would not repeat further years.

Laura had been relieved that she had only ever met Kate Argent and not her older brother Chris. The hunter took a seat across from Laura at that Parent Teacher on a Friday night in late September and Laura was delighted that not only did he not knew her, he seemed to have no clue she was an Alpha. Kate had kept her twisted secrets from her brother from the moment she found out a werewolf pack was living in Beacon Hills. She hatched her own plan fuelled with hatred and murder. Kate, like every good bad guy had whispered those words into a restrained Laura's ear after the cops had arrested her and her brother for the alleged arson. Laura had never seen Kate again.

Sitting watching Allison study the cliff notes to King Lear Laura listened carefully to her brother upstairs. He was pacing the bedroom floor and she knew he was making a decision. Laura hated to be cocky but she knew he would get on board with her plan. Derek wanted revenge more than she did but more than that he wanted a pack. He wanted that familiarity and comfort offered by having others around you whom you could be yourself around. Laura decided she would use this festive season to show him what he was missing. Laura loved having Allison around; she was already like a little sister, she was what Laura was missing. She wondered what Derek really thought of Allison.

Laura tried not to smile when she heard Derek jog down the stairs. When he flopped down onto the sofa on the other side of Allison Laura was amused to hear Allison's heart skip a beat. Derek noticed the same thing, and his eyes bored into the girls back. Laura turned to look at her brother and Derek scowled. It was those puppy dog eyes. He hated those eyes because Laura had learned pretty early on in their life that puppy dog eyes beat threats of violence every time.

XXX

'What are you working on Allison?' Derek asked.

It happened again. Her heart jumped when he spoke. Derek smiled to himself; perhaps he could have a little fun here.

'King Lear.' She said, her voice catching in her throat.

'I'm not surprised. That's Laura's favourite.' Derek said moving forward to the edge of the seat and linking his fingers together and resting his elbows on his knees. 'Do you like it?'

'I do.' She said not pointedly not looking at him. Her hand was clutching her pen. It was adorable how her crush had developed so quickly. Derek shot a look at Laura but she was gazing at Allison with a thoughtful look in her eyes. That was never good.

'Derek.' Laura said standing up and walking to the double doors that led to the kitchen. 'How about some math assistance for Allison while I make dinner. Allison, take a break for five minutes but make him help you if you need it!'

XXX

'So where's your parents Allison?' Derek asked eyeing the plate of food in Laura's hand. Spaghetti and meatballs was one of Derek's favourite meals. 'My favourite.' He grinned at his sister lifting his fork in salute to her.

'I'll let you into a secret Allison. Every meal is his favourite. Honestly I'll grill sausages in the morning and he'll chew them like he's never eaten before mentioning it's his favourite. Then at lunchtime when I make a roast beef sandwich he'll tear into it like a starving man all while telling me it's his favourite!' Laura teased. Allison giggled and Derek glared at his sister while he tore off a piece of garlic bread.

'I like my food.' He shrugged. 'What's with the cupcakes?' He asked, sweeping his hand around the room before taking another bite of garlic bread.

It was Laura's turn to scowl. Allison was giggling in that annoying "I know the story but I'm too busy remembering it to share" kind of way. Derek waited, chewing his food slowly then swallowing.

'It was a competition.' Laura said. 'I got the freshman class to write a short piece of fiction then had them judged by the rest of the class. The person with the most points got to help me decorate my kitchen in a theme of their choice.'

'And you got the biggest girl in the class?' He asked, peering at the ceiling. Was it pale pink? Allison's laughing made him look down. She was rolling in her seat. Laura was still glaring. Derek found himself laughing along with her.

'No!' She gasped. 'She got the campest boy in the class.' Allison said between heaving breaths. Derek did laugh then. He could just imagine his sisters face when she seen the room.

'Don't worry your sweet head about it cupcake, I love it.' He said shoving her shoulder lightly. Allison let out a small scream and fell off her seat. Finally Laura joined the laughing in the room.

As he lay in bed later on staring at the snow covered windowpane he realised that Laura had cleverly defected the conversation away from Allison's parents. He sighed, wondering what the girls deal was and how she was related to Kate.

XXX

If Derek expected Christmas to be a quiet affair he was disappointed. Early on Christmas Eve he woke to the smell of food cooking. Derek loved food of any kind, apart from fish. He didn't like the smell, so he never tried it. He blamed the wolf for his likes and dislikes. Right now his stomach was growling as he picked out bacon, mushroom, tomato and cream cheese. And hot fresh beagles. He pulled on his jeans and headed downstairs rubbing a hand over his face in an attempt to wake himself.

He found Allison perched on the island counter watching Laura frying the bacon and mushrooms. Derek yawned and scratched his belly, then that smell of Allison assaulted him again. It was arousal. He offered her his best smile before taking the stool beside where she sat his arm next to her leg. 'Looking forward to Santa Clause coming?' He asked with a cheeky smile.

'Derek, I'm sixteen. I don't think he leaves me gifts anymore.' Allison said. Derek smirked, perhaps insinuating that the sixteen year old girl who has a crush on you still believes in Santa wasn't the wisest thing to do.

'You never know what the big guy will come up with.' Derek smiles cryptically. 'Laura still believes.'

'Hey if you don't believe you don't get breakfast.' Laura said from her place at the cooker.

'You know I believe.' Derek said, glancing at the frying pan. Laura laughed as she put the bacon on the bagels.

Allison hopped off the bench and sat beside Derek at the island. Laura sat on his other side. They ate in silence with just the radio for background noise. Derek scowled at every song that came on especially the Christmas tunes. Laura sang along to annoy him more. Allison giggled.

'Can you do me a favour?' Allison asked after a dip in singing, turning to Laura as she spoke.

'What?' Laura asked.

'Can you run me to the mall? I need to get something. My Dad's still out of town and my mum's buried knee deep in law books.'

'Sorry kid, no can do. I'm meeting friends for a Christmas Eve drink this lunchtime. Derek has no friends because he's a social moron though, so I'm sure he can take you. He hasn't had a proper run with his car yet.' Laura said teasingly.

'Really can you?' Allison asked turning to Derek.

'Sure why not.' Derek said, throwing Laura a dirty look over his shoulder as she got up to gather the dishes. Laura just smirked. Derek had to admit that Laura's enjoyment of Allison's crush on him was grating. He found the girl attractive, but she was sixteen and he was not comfortable with Laura constantly pushing them together. Sure Allison was a mature sixteen year old but she was just a girl. 'I'll grab a shower and meet you down here soon ok.' He said trotting back up the stairs.

The water was hot on his skin. His emotions were raging against each other. On one hand the girl was Kate's niece and he hated Kate, which made him hate her family by default, but Allison was a sweet girl and he couldn't do anything to hurt her. Her scent was intoxicating and if she were older he would not pause in taking her as his own. The more time he spent around her the more she was becoming part of Laura's pack. Of his pack. He shut the shower off and dried himself, he dressed quickly, jeans boots and a hoodie before he headed downstairs. Laura was already away.

They made their way into town in the Camaro. Derek drove like a demon, loving being back in his baby or so he said. Allison on the other hand held onto her seat. 'I'm going to die, I know I am.' She whispered, whimpering as they skidded into a corner.

'What, too fast for you?' Derek asked.

'In this weather? Yes.' She said.

Derek chuckled and slowed down to make her more comfortable. He reached a hand over and squeezed her knee. He felt her relax instantly. Her leg was hot under his hand. He gave it another squeeze before he pulled his hand back. 'Don't worry; I won't let anything happen to you.' He said trying to ignore the quickening of her heartbeat.

Allison wanted to go to the mall to collect some last minute gifts for her family. He indulged her, following her into each store and carrying her bags dutifully. Derek was not having a good morning.

The mall on Christmas Eve was a nightmare. The food court was packed full so he couldn't be bothered to wait in line for lunch. Kids were screaming as they ran from store to store, hyped up on Christmas cheer. Allison was enjoying the shops much more than he was; his arms were full of bags no thanks to her. Then she decided she wanted cookies or something, and she grabbed him by the hand to drag him back to the food court that had got busier if possible. She wanted a milkshake to go with her cookie.

'In this weather?' He asked in disbelief as they waited in the queue.

'It's hot inside the Mall!' Allison pointed out. Derek had to agree, it was hot. He was glad he had left his hoodie in the car and had opted for a long sleeve henley.

'Yes but it would freeze the bollocks off a Marine outside.' He grumbled to himself.

'What?' She asked eyes wide. He cursed himself, sometimes he would forget he was at home and not among rough Marines. Like yesterday when she found him working out with his feet on the coffee table doing push ups in just his jeans or last night when Laura had reminded them that some soldier stories weren't suitable for ladies of any age! Derek had pointed out to her that Marines were not soldiers but he was ignored. He folded his arms and huffed because clearly women knew nothing about anything important.

'Nothing, just being a Marine.' He said shuffling forward in the queue. 'This milkshake better be good.'

'You'll never taste better.' Allison said with a nod of her head.

She hadn't lied. The milkshake was damn good. They had sat in the Camaro with the heater on slurping the drinks as they watched people slipping and sliding on the slush in the parking lot, laughing at their antics. The cookies were good too, and Derek ate two to Allison's one, planning on coming back here in a few days for another one.

He dropped her home in the afternoon. Her house was empty. She tried to convince him to come inside for coffee but he declined, he had a few gifts to wrap. He waited until she was inside the house before he pulled the car away from the curb.

XXX

Laura came home after 3am stinking of sex. She flopped onto the couch beside her brother. Derek was watching Prison Break reruns.

'You need to get laid.' She said looking over at him.

'Already got laid today.' He said. She sniffed, she could smell a faint trace of female off him but he had showered since.

'You didn't.' She said.

'What?' He asked looking at her. He was in loose sweat pants and a grey hoodie.

'Allison?' She asked.

'What? No she's just a kid!' He scowled turning back to the television. 'I picked up some blond in a bar.' He said thinking of the brunette girl with brown eyes who just didn't have the coy smile or tinkling laugh he wanted. She sated a need and that made him happy.

'That's a lie.' She said.

'Alright I didn't pick up some blond in a bar, but I had sex is that good enough for you.' Derek snapped back at her.

'No need to take my head off little brother. Will you see her again?'

'No.' He answered. He loved his sister but he could do without her prying, especially into his sex life.

'Too hung up on Allison?' She asked, looking at her nails. Derek ignored her. Truth was, he did like Allison, and more than a twenty one year old guy should like a sixteen year old girl. She was bright, funny, and beautiful and she had the perfect scent. She would make him a good mate, he couldn't deny it. Mate or no mate however, she was too young for him. She had sent him a few texts this evening, nonsense about what her friends were up to at some teenage party. Her last text wishing him to sleep well was even followed by one of those annoying crosses for a kiss that Laura always finished her texts with.

'Look, I like the girl I really do. I don't want her to get hurt out of this silly plan of yours. I want her safe. I don't want the bite forced on her, and I don't want you to give it to her after the first time she agrees, or worse asks for it. I want her to see how it affects us; I want her to meet other people that have been turned.' Derek scowled. 'And another thing, stop leaving us alone together. It's like you want me to turn into some sort of sex pervert by chasing her.' Derek flicked the channel over for something to do with his hands, purposefully not looking at his sister.

'Oh my god, you really are hung up on her.' Laura said shoving his shoulder. 'Don't worry little brother, I like her too. I'll protect her when you go away to play soldier again. I couldn't hurt my kin's mate anyway. She's part of the pack now, whether she likes or knows it.' Laura kicked her heels off and rested her head on his shoulder. He glared down at her, noting how her makeup was rubbing onto his hoodie.

'She's not my mate.' He said. His cursed his heart when it skipped a beat, closing his eyes and taking a deep calming breath.

'Denial.' She sang as she stood up and went upstairs. Derek found Prison Break on the television and pushed all thoughts of long wavy hair and soft brown eyes out of his mind.