Rise of the Moon

by Brightfire15

Sequel to Darkness of the Moon. In the grand finale, Artemis's wedding plans are put on hold when Derek is kidnapped by Kate Argent, who returns as a vengeful werejaguar. To further complicate matters, a hit list is ordered on the supernaturals in town and Artemis's young cousin, Liam, unexpectedly becomes part of Artemis's double life. Can the pack survive the danger coming? R&R!

2. One Hundred Seventeen

One Hundred Seventeen

Beacon Hills High, Pre-Hale Fire.

It was the night of the full moon. Overjoyed cheers and whoops echoed throughout the halls of Beacon Hills High.

The Beacon Hills Cyclones basketball team had just won the championship game against their competitors and all were celebrating—the team, teachers, the students and all the spectators. All, however, except for the team's star player, Derek Hale, who was hiding in the locker room under the running water of the showers. His dark eyes briefly glowed a cold, bright blue in the moonlight as he struggled to control his inner wolf.

It was foolish to play in the games on the night of the full moon, but Derek had been confident that he could control the wolf and not hurt anyone. Besides, it'd been a championship game. How could he have let his teammates down? Derek was their best player. They needed him and without Derek, they'd have lost and probably would've blamed him for it. He'd had to play.

"Gah!" moaned Derek, as he slammed his body against the lockers. He could feel his inner wolf trying to claw its way out. Why did it hurt so much? Why was lycanthropy so difficult to control when it was supposed to be easier for born werewolves instead of bitten ones? Out of desperation, he took his family's Triskelion out of his locker and repeated the chant that his Uncle Peter had taught him for control. "Alpha, Beta, Omega…Alpha, Beta, Omega…Alpha, Beta, Ome—gah!"

Derek was almost hyperventilating as another jolt of pain shot through his body and he could feel his wolf fangs beginning to emerge. Oh, gads, why wasn't this working? Suddenly, Derek's ears perked up when he heard the sound of a familiar voice.

"Derek? Are you in here?"

Derek's heart skipped a beat. It was Artemis Moon, his best friend. She couldn't show up now, not while he was like this. She didn't even know anything about the supernatural, much less that Derek was a werewolf. If Derek hurt her, he'd never forgive himself. He had to protect her.

"I'm right here, Huntress. But please…please, go wait outside. I…I don't want to hurt you." He added, so quietly, he didn't think anyone could hear it.

To Derek's horror, Artemis emerged from around the corner, looking just a little puzzled as she smiled. "Hurt me? Don't be ridiculous! We're best friends. You'd never hurt me. I'll prove it."

Before Derek could stop her, Artemis not only shut off the water but she gave Derek a tight hug, not caring that he was soaking wet and getting Artemis wet in turn.

Much to Derek's immense surprise and relief, he could feel his inner wolf quieting down and his control returning as he returned the loving embrace. His anger and fear faded away as if it had never been there in the first place. Artemis was calming him down, anchoring him. How had she done that? It seemed like ever since they'd first met, Artemis had changed something in Derek. When she was around, Derek's anger was replaced with something stronger, something that kept him grounded and made him feel complete. But what it was, Derek couldn't say.

Eventually, they broke apart and Derek was smiling. "Thanks, Huntress. I needed that."

"Come on. Everyone's waiting to go celebrate," said Artemis. "Let's get you dried off and go."

Derek smiled and took Artemis's hand as he allowed Artemis to lead him out of the showers.

Unbeknownst to them both, Derek's uncle Peter was watching the exchange with great interest.

XXX

Beacon Hills, present day

It was late and pouring rain by the time Artemis and the others returned to Beacon Hills. They were nearly a day overdue due to something in the shape of a sharp bone hitting Stiles' car and damaging the engine, forcing the group to make repairs before they could travel on. Naturally, by the time they reached Deaton's office, the pack met them with worried looks. They were even more concerned to see what Kate had done to their beloved Alpha as the sight of Derek as a teenaged Beta was quite a shocking sight to see.

"Holy crap," muttered Isaac, as Artemis laid Derek on the table. "Is this really Derek?"

Artemis nodded. "It's Derek when I knew him…before he left after the fire." She cast a worried glance at her mate. He had yet to wake up and to make matters worse, he was cold as ice even though he was bundled in a thick blanket and Artemis had held him close to her the entire ride to Beacon Hills. What if Kate's actions had done more damage than any of them knew?

"Wow," murmured Deaton.

Stiles perked up. "Wow as is 'I've seen this before and I know exactly what to do' wow? Because that's the kind of wow we're hoping for."

If even Deaton, a druid with extensive supernatural forte didn't know what Kate had done or how to reverse it, they were in seriously trouble.

Deaton looked regretful as he did a brief examination of Derek. "I think you overestimate my abilities, unfortunately. This is well beyond my experience."

"Well, do you think this is permanent or temporary?" asked Cora. They couldn't afford to have Derek in this condition. They needed him, his strength and his power, especially now that Kate was on the loose with dangerous powers. "Is there anything we can do?"

"I can't say for certain but I think it's temporary," said Deaton. "Unfortunately, we don't know the extent of Derek's transformation. We don't know if Derek's mind has gone back as well as his body. And until he wakes up, I don't know that there's anything you can do. So, until Derek regains consciousness, I suggest you all return to your homes and get some sleep. It's a school night and I think it's time you start paying attention to your lives outside of supernatural crises."

Artemis hesitated. She had no desire to leave Derek so soon after getting him back, but Deaton had a point. Nothing more could be done until Derek awoke. But someone needed to stay with him to help Deaton when Derek awoke. If Derek woke up and his mindset was still a teenager's, Deaton wouldn't be able to control Derek, especially if Derek panicked.

"I'll stay to help," offered Isaac, as though he was guessing Artemis's thoughts. "My grades are fine. I can skip a day. If that's okay."

As Isaac had a particularly close bond with Derek, given that he was Derek's first turn and Derek was like a dad to the young Beta, Artemis understood Isaac's reasoning and gave her consent, as did Deaton. Which left only one other problem.

"If Kate shows up, are you sure that Kate can't get in?" asked Artemis. It was a fair question, given how Deaton had been kidnapped and nearly killed by the Darach all those months ago.

Deaton nodded reassuringly. "If Kate truly is alive and what you say she is, she can't get in." He cast a proud glance at the building. "This entire facility is fortified against supernaturals. I promise, Derek will be kept safe."

Relieved, Artemis nodded and then tenderly stroked her fiancé's face before whispering into his ear, "I love you, Derek. Please come back." Then with great reluctance, the pack then left the clinic.

XXX

It was early in the morning by the time Artemis returned home. Save for the sound of her father's snores as he lay camped out on the living room couch, the house was dark and quiet, and judging from the bags under Rafael's eyes, the man had had a long, worrying day. Quietly, so as not to awaken Rafael, Artemis carefully crept inside the house, but in her own tiredness, she failed to notice the toolbox on the floor, which had been left out when Rafael made repairs to the leaking roof until suddenly, there was a loud crash as Artemis tripped and fell onto the dining room floor.

"Ow! Fart sucking—!" she hissed. She clutched at her aching leg, only to pull back her hand at the smell of fresh blood. The worn denim of her jeans was cut along with her leg, thanks to the sharp edge of the toolbox lid. Great. Just great. What's next?

"Artemis? Are you home?"

Artemis's head shot up at the sound of the sleepy voice of her father, Rafael, followed by the soft rustle of movement from the couch as he rose up and switched on the lights. Like magic, the worry in his eyes was replaced with relief as he strode over to Artemis, helped her stand up and then he held her close.

"Thank heaven you're back. I've been worried sick. You missed dinner," he said, concerned. "Are you okay? How's the pack?"

Artemis bit back a sigh as she mentally berated herself. She'd forgotten that in an attempt to mend fences with each other, she was supposed to have dinner with Rafael on nights when Melissa worked nightshift. And considering whose territory she'd just left and the fact that her phone had died before she could call Rafael about the delay in getting back, it was no wonder that Rafael had been worried.

"I'm fine, Dad," she assured him, as they broke apart. "We had some car trouble and my phone died before I could call you about it. We're all okay, I promise. I'm just sorry I woke you."

Rafael waved a hand, brushing it off. "Don't worry about it. It's my fault for leaving the toolbox out. Speaking of which, you're bleeding."

"I'm fine. It's just a scratch," said Artemis. When Rafael didn't look convinced and knowing he was thinking of that terrible night when Artemis nearly died, Artemis placed her hand on Rafael's shoulder. "Dad, I'm okay. Really. Look, it's already healed." As if for proof, Artemis lifted the denim up, revealing the already healed cut. "I'm fine."

After a few moments more, Rafael accepted this. "What time is it? And how was the trip?

Artemis glanced at the alarm clock on the table, which read ten past three in the morning, and turned it around to conceal it from her father.

"Later than I'd like," said Artemis. "Which means I'll give you the short version, because I really need to get some sleep. Kate's been turned into a werejaguar and somehow, she's turned Derek back into a teenager. And there was something else in Mexico, something big with an animal skull for a face. I don't suppose you have any ideas about it?"

Rafael looked alarmed as he shook his head. "No, that's new one, even for me. But the creature sounds familiar, so I'll check my family's bestiary, see if anything matches."

"Okay, great." Artemis yawned and fought the urge to rub her eyes. "I'd better get to bed before I pass out here on the floor. Good-night, Dad."

"Good-night, honey."

And with that, Artemis went to bed and was asleep before her head hit the pillow. Before falling into a deep, dreamless sleep, she wondered what tomorrow would bring. Kate was undoubtedly going to show up. No way would she have left Derek alone without some way to track him. And there was also no doubt in Artemis's mind that whatever that creature she'd seen had been, it was connected with the "forbidden power" that Araya had spoken of and was also the cause of Kate's nickname of la-loba, the Bone Woman. What were they going to encounter and would they be prepared for it so soon after the battle with the Nogitsune? Artemis could only hope and pray.

XXX

The next day, Sheriff Stilinski was filling out some paperwork in his office, relishing in the fact that it was easy, run-of-the-mill work instead of something supernatural related for the first time in months, when there was a knock on his office door and then Parrish poked his head in.

"Sheriff, got a minute? We have a strange situation," said Parrish.

Strange situation? There went his peaceful morning. "What is it?"

"Officer Haigh apprehended a kid trespassing on the Hale property—"

"Derek Hale's property?" interrupted Sheriff Stilinski, surprised. Nobody went near the Hale property without consent, especially now that Derek was in the middle of rebuilding the Hale House after so long.

Parrish nodded. "Yeah. Anyway, there was a bit of a scuffle with Haigh and the kid. You know how Haigh gets."

Sheriff Stilinski groaned as he rubbed his eyes. It was code for Haigh abusing his power yet again. This was the third time this month that Haigh been written up for police brutality and harassment. One more strike and Stilinski was definitely firing him and locking him up, regardless of how short-staff the police department was.

"Tell him he's suspended for the rest of the week," said Sheriff Stilinski. "I'll handle the kid. Was there anything else?"

Parrish shuffled his feet uncomfortably. "Yeah, there is. The kid's definitely a young teenager. But we've run his fingerprints eight times and the only record his match are that of Derek Hale's."

Sheriff Stilinski immediately shot up out of his seat, shocked, and without waiting for a reply, left his office and went into the other room. Parrish's computer showed Derek Hale's fingerprint file, taken from when he'd been arrested on suspicion of murder during the Nogitstune incident. It showed Derek as the adult he was now, but the person sitting on the bench, looking upset and confused was clearly not an adult Derek Hale.

"What the heck?" murmured Sheriff Stilinski. He looked at the kid. "Are you Derek Hale?"

Sheriff Stilinski's heart sank as the kid nodded, confirming Sheriff Stilinski's fears. Fingerprints didn't lie and were impossible to fake, the kid just confirmed his identity and what's more, the kid had been found at the Hale property insisting it was his. Which meant there was no doubt about it, the kid in front of Sheriff Stilinski was Derek Hale.

Sheriff Stilinski was just about to ask aloud how this was possible when suddenly, Stiles and Artemis burst into the room, out of breath and looking sheepish. They were supposed to be in school, but had left early when Isaac called them in a panic, telling them Derek had woken up scared out of his mind and hadn't recognized Isaac or Deaton before taking off to who knew where. Knowing that a wolf always went to its den when scared and knowing that Derek would naturally go to the Hale house, unaware of what'd happened to it, Artemis had tracked her mate's scent to the police department.

I should've known. "You two, in my office. Now!"

Artemis and Stiles didn't need to be told twice as they followed Sheriff Stilinski into his office.

"I need you two to be honest with me. Totally and completely honest with me," said Sheriff Stilinski. When Stiles and Artemis nodded their agreement, Sheriff Stilinski burst out, "Have you two been time traveling?"

Artemis looked as though she might laugh at this when Stiles' face twisted with confusion. "Hang on. What?"

"Because if time-traveling's real, I'm out," continued Sherriff Stilinski, ignoring their reactions. "You hear me? I'm done. I'm out!" Sheriff Stilinski had come to accept a lot of things being real since his exposure to the supernatural world Artemis lived in. But this was pushing even his limits. "You're going to be driving me to Eichen House! When you said you found Derek, you failed to mention that he was found swimming in the Fountain of Youth!"

"Dad, calm down. Time-travel isn't real and neither is the Fountain of Youth. I think," added Stiles, after a forethought. "We found Derek buried in a tomb of wolfsbane buried in an Aztec temple in Mexico underneath a church in the middle of a town that was destroyed by an earthquake."

Artemis gave Stiles a look that said he'd gone perhaps too far with his explanation.

Sheriff Stilinski sighed in as he leaned against his desk. Of all the policemen in all the world who had to know the truth about the world in which he lived in, why did it have to be Sheriff Stilinski of all people? Right now, he wished more than anything he could still be ignorant of it all because this was pushing even his tolerance limits as well as his sanity.

"Sheriff, look, we don't know why but Derek's been aged backwards by Kate. He can't remember anything," said Artemis. "I need to talk to him."

Sheriff Stilinski sighed yet again. "Well, so far he's not saying much of anything to anyone."

"Nothing's changed there, then," muttered Stiles.

Artemis scowled at Stiles. "Dude, not now."

"Sorry. But, Arty, you do realize that you talking to Derek might not be such a good idea? I mean, how're you going to explain to your mate that not only are you're his mate and older than him now?" demanded Stiles. "Or that you're not only a werewolf but a True Alpha? Derek won't believe it and he won't trust you."

"Have you got any better ideas?" demanded Artemis. She didn't like the plan anymore than Stiles did, but they had next to no options at the moment. A lone werewolf rarely survived on its own and with Kate on the loose and Derek's powers reduced, Derek was in more danger than ever before. He needed to be with the pack if he was to survive and for that to happen, they needed to gain his trust. "I have to do this if we want to get anywhere."

Without waiting for a reply, Artemis rose up and walked over to Derek, who'd been taken to an interrogation room so he could have some time alone to settle down. "Derek?"

Derek's head shot up upon hearing his name and his brow wrinkled in confusion as his eyes briefly glowed bright blue. "Who are you? Do I know you? You seem kind of familiar."

Artemis nodded as she sat down across from Derek. "I'm the True Alpha." As if for proof, Artemis made her eyes briefly glow bright red, making Derek gaze at her in awe and shock. "And yes, you do know me. Derek…there's no easy way to say this, so I'm just going to come out with it. My name is Artemis Diana Moon. It's me. It's Huntress. Do you remember me?"

"What?" exclaimed Derek. He narrowed his eyes and shook his head. "No, that's impossible. You're lying. I know Huntress. She's much younger than you and she's not the True Alpha!"

"You can hear my heartbeat. You know I'm telling the truth," said Artemis, calmly. She took out her birthday necklace from Derek from underneath her shirt and held it out to him. "And remember this? You gave it to me for my birthday."

Derek stubbornly shook his head again. "You call that proof? Not everyone's heartbeat changes when they lie and most people can control it. And you could've stolen Huntress's necklace from her if you really wanted to! You say you're Artemis? Prove it!"

Artemis sighed. Derek wanted proof? Fine. She would give him proof. "When I was little, I was in the woods running from a rabid dog, screaming for help. Suddenly, your hand shot down from a tree and I grabbed it. You lifted me up to safety and scared off the dog. I was shaking with fear and even though I didn't know you from Adam, I held you for dear life and I trusted you. You introduced yourself to me and then sang Disney songs to me in Spanish until I calmed down and I promised never to tell a living soul that you could sing. After that, we became best friends for life."

Artemis had never told anyone the full story of how she and Derek met and became friends and neither had Derek. Telling him the full story now was proof undeniable.

Upon hearing this, Derek paled, rose up from his seat and knelt down in front of her. He studied her face for several long moments before his eyes widened.

"Huntress?" he gasped. "You…you're a werewolf?"

Artemis nodded and then Derek's eyes darkened with anger. "Who did this to you? Who bit you? I swear to heaven, if they did this without your permission, I'll kill them!"

Artemis bit back a smile at Derek's protective behavior. No matter what age he was, Derek never changed. He was still her strong, protective and caring mate that she'd always known and loved. But there was no time to dwell on that now.

"It's not important right now. What is important is you, we need to keep you safe," said Artemis, firmly.

Derek frowned. "Protect me? From what? Does this have something to do with my family? What's happened to my house?"

Artemis sighed. This wasn't going to be easy. Kali, give me the strength to do this! Artemis remembered all too well how Derek had reacted the first time he learned of the Hale fire and the loss he'd suffered for it. Now, he was going to have to endure all that again and this time it might kill him.

"Derek, please sit down," said Artemis. Her tone gave no room for argument, so Derek did as he was told and then Artemis knelt down in front of him. "Derek…can you tell me the date?" When Derek did, Artemis bit her lip in concern. It wasn't the current date, far from it. When she in turn told him the current date, Derek was shocked and almost didn't believe it until Artemis showed him her phone and gave him a brief rundown on the man he'd become, telling him that he became an Alpha and had sired three werewolves. She gave Derek a little time to adjust before telling him more. "You've been aged backwards. We don't know how, but we're going to find a way to reverse it."

"Who did this to me?" demanded Derek. He couldn't believe that he not only grew to become an Alpha but had made his own pack but couldn't remember it. "And where is my family in all this? Where's my mom?"

Artemis swallowed painfully as tears stung her eyes. "Derek…Derek, I'm so sorry, but…Kate set the Hale house on fire. You, Cora and Peter are the only surviving Hales." She didn't mention that Laura had also survived, only to be killed at Peter's hand several years later to steal her Alpha power or that Peter had gone mad with vengeance and had been Artemis's Alpha before Derek killed him to protect her and help her. "And it was Kate who did this to you. She's also been turned on accident by another. I'm so sorry, Derek."

Artemis watched in heartbreaking horror as Derek suddenly found himself unable to breathe and then he roared so loudly in terrible grief that the whole building seemed to shake. Artemis then wrapped her arms around Derek and held him tight against her as Derek clutched her for dear life and cried into her shoulder. Artemis couldn't stop herself from crying as well, crying for her mate's loss and the pain of betrayal from Kate.

XXX

Two hours later, Derek had calmed down enough for Artemis to safely release him into the pack's care. It was decided that Stiles would take Derek to Artemis's house where Rafael was waiting with dinner and they'd set up the mountain ash barrier. There, Derek would wait until Artemis returned from consulting with Peter, who'd returned from his "personal trip." Artemis had little desire to talk to Peter, but he was the only other person in town who might have some clue as to Kate's motives for her actions as well as an idea on how to reverse it.

When Artemis pulled up outside of Peter's apartment, she was surprised to see Malia waiting for her. "Hey. What're you doing here? I thought you'd be with Stiles at the house."

"I was but then I heard you were coming to talk to Peter. Since he's basically Satan in a V-neck and with everyone else scattered, I thought you should have some backup," said Malia.

Artemis smiled just a little as she parked her bike. "Thanks, but I can handle Peter." Once upon a time, Peter had frightened Artemis, but not so much anymore now that Artemis saw Peter for what he truly was, was a lot stronger than Peter and had a powerful pack behind her.

"You can handle him better with me," said Malia.

Artemis could see that Malia wasn't about to be dissuaded, so she let the matter drop and followed the werecoyote inside the apartment.

Malia frowned as they entered the living room. "Do you hear that? It sounds like Peter's heart is pounding like crazy."

Artemis frowned as well. "Yeah, I wonder why." It was odd to think of Peter Hal of all people ever being nervous. Heck, even when the odds had been stacked against him, the werewolf hadn't seemed the least bit afraid. So, what could he have to be fearful about now?

"Believe it or not, even I get a little shy when it comes to proper introductions. I'm only human, so to speak," said Peter, not taking his eyes off the book he was reading. After turning the last page, he then closed the book, smiled and rose up from the couch. "Where are my manners? I do apologize. We haven't been properly introduced. I'm Peter Hale, you must be Malia. I must say, you have beautiful eyes. Do you get them from your father?"

Malia frowned in confusion. "Mother."

"Ah, of course."

Malia wasn't the only one confused. Artemis was too. Why the heck was Peter acting so weird and since when did he care about "proper" introductions, much less anything about Malia's bloodline? It didn't make a lick of sense, but Artemis decided not to ask as they had bigger problems than just Peter's weird behavior.

"I'm sure Artemis has told you all about me," continued Peter.

"The psychotic killing spree came up," said Malia, coolly. "Although, the next time you kill someone, would it kill you to make sure they stay dead?"

Peter's brow wrinkled in confusion. "I beg your pardon?" He looked at Artemis. "I know I've been out of town, but what is she talking about? We don't have a zombie epidemic, do we?"

Artemis scowled at Peter's pitiful joke. "No, we don't have zombies, but we do have an issue about you and the other woman you turned."

Peter groaned and shook his head. "Oh, for the love of—! Not you too! Like I told that nutcase, Araya, I didn't turn anyone else! I only ever bit you, Artemis! Why is that so hard to believe?"

"It's not, except for the fact that the bite isn't the only way to turn someone," retorted Artemis. "Or are you telling me that you honestly didn't know you could turn people with a scratch? Did you seriously not know that?"

Peter rolled his eyes. "Well, yeah, I knew. But only if the claws go in deep enough and it's supposed to be beyond rare. We're talking one in a…" Peter's voice wandered off and his face darkened with anger as he realized what Artemis was saying. "…million. Kate, I presume?"

Both Artemis and Malia nodded and the two young women found it difficult to laugh at the look on Peter's face as he began to pitch a fit.

"Can someone in this town stay dead?" ranted Peter. Jackson didn't die when he was supposedly dead, neither had Peter or Jennifer and now Kate had joined the list. Was there anyone who died and was going to stay that way?

"I think they were hoping you would," said Malia.

Peter gave Malia an annoyed look, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Can we stay focused here?" asked Artemis, in annoyance. "Peter, she's turned Derek back into a teen, both physically and mentally. Can you think of any reason why Kate would turn Derek back into a teenager?"

Peter was quiet for a moment. "What color were his eyes and did he know you?"

"Blue and yes."

"So, after he met Paige, before he met Kate," said Peter, as he started to pace the room.

"Wait, Derek and Kate knew each other?" said Malia, stunned.

Peter smirked. "Biblically."

"Excuse me?" said Malia, looking sickened.

Artemis scowled at Peter. "It wasn't like that." Kate and Derek had dated, yes, but they'd never even kissed, for heaven's sake! She turned to Malia. "Kate is Derek's ex-girlfriend. Long story short, Kate tricked Derek into trusting her and she was responsible for the Hale Fire."

Malia grimaced and then turned to Peter. "Can you think of any reason why Kate would turn Derek back into a teenager?"

Peter didn't reply for a moment as he began to think and pace. "Did he go to the Hale house when he woke up?"

Artemis nodded. "Yeah, he didn't remember the Hale fire."

"Well, if he didn't remember the fire, then he doesn't remember that it was Kate that set it," said Peter, in realization. "Kate didn't just take Derek back to his teen years, she took him back to the age when he still knew her, when he still trusted her."

Artemis paled and her heart sank at the implication behind Peter's words. "But Derek knows now what Kate did. I filled him on it."

"You really think that'll stop Kate? She's like a force of nature. Once she sets her mind on something, she won't stop until she gets it and right now, she needs Derek to do what she wants," said Peter. "Where's Derek now?"

"At my house with the others. He's—hold on." Artemis's phone then went off with a call from Jackson. Thinking it was urgent, she put the phone on speaker. "Hey, what is it? Is Derek okay?"

"I wouldn't know since we're not at your place. Lydia and I stopped to get gas at the station on 415 East 71st street and she had one of her banshee episodes," said Jackson. "The gas station attendant's been butchered in the bathroom and it has Kate's scent all over it. We called the cops, but it's going to be a while before they get here."

"What? That doesn't make any sense. I know Kate's a homicidal maniac but she's also strategic. Why would she kill an ordinary gas station attendant?" asked Artemis. "He was a yutz but he was human. She had nothing to gain from his death. So, what the heck's going on with her?"

Peter frowned. "Jackson, send a picture of the crime scene."

Jackson complied and soon Artemis's phone lit up with the most gruesome crime scene photos that Artemis had ever seen in her life.

"Whoa," murmured Malia. "That is disgusting." And this coming from the werecoyote who lived off uncooked meat for years of her life. "Why would Kate murder him?"

Peter shook his head. "This isn't a murder, it's a frenzy." A knowing smirk then crossed Peter's face. "She can't control the shift. She hasn't learned control."

"So, what, she wants Derek to teach her how to control the shift?" asked Malia, puzzled. "She took Derek and turned him into a teen just so he'd teach her control? That seems crazy, even for a psycho like Kate Argent."

Artemis clutched her forehead in realization. "Duh! She doesn't want Derek to teach her control! She wants the Triskelion from the Hale vault at the school." The Hale family had numerous vaults throughout the country, each one holding either enormous quantities of money and/or special items, heirlooms and supernatural artifacts that had been collected for centuries. Only a Hale by blood or supernatural mate of the Hale family could access said vaults, which explained why Kate needed Derek to help. She was neither a Hale by blood nor a mate.

Peter nodded in agreement. "Which means we need to get your place now. I sincerely doubt a mountain ash barrier's going to keep Kate away from Derek."

As if for proof of Peter's words, Artemis's phone then lit up with a call from Stiles. "Talk to me. What's going on? Are you all safe?"

"No, nobody's safe. Kate just showed up and Derek's left with her," said Stiles, urgently.

Artemis's heart skipped a beat. Derek had willingly left with Kate? Even after Artemis had told him what that lunatic had done to the Hale family? What the heck was Derek thinking?

"What? Why?!" demanded Artemis.

"She showed up and asked Derek to leave with her. When he refused, she came back with some goons and broke the mountain ash barrier. We fought but her pet monsters tossed everyone around like rag dolls. Then Kate said she'd kill us all if Derek didn't do what she wanted. That big lummox went with her on the promise that Kate would leave us all alone once Derek did as she asked," replied Stiles. "We don't know where they went, Artemis. I'm sorry."

"Oh, crap." Artemis took a deep breath. She knew this might happen. Why hadn't she been better prepared for it? "Okay, Stiles, listen, is everyone okay? How badly is everyone hurt?"

"We're all alive and considering what just happened, we're not too badly hurt. Why?" asked Stiles.

"Just checking. I want everyone to heal up. Malia, Peter and I got a lead on Kate and we're going after her. I'll call back in a bit. Stay with the pack and keep them safe," ordered Artemis.

She did not wait for a reply before hanging up.

XXX

Meanwhile, Derek was escorting Kate to the Hale vault.

He hadn't wanted to do this but after seeing Kate nearly killed his second pack, he hadn't been willing to let any of them sacrifice their lives for his. Even if he didn't have his memories or his Alpha status, Derek still felt a sense of protectiveness and affection for the pack and knew it was his duty to protect them and keep them safe, especially Artemis.

"Once we get into the Hale vault and collect the Triskelion, I'll be a very happy woman," said Kate. "You're doing the right thing, Derek."

Derek glared at Kate. "I don't care if it's right thing for you, Kate," he spat. "I'm only doing this for my pack. And you'd better keep your word. I get you into the vault and give you the Triskelion, you skip town, leave Huntress and my pack alone."

Once Derek handed over the stupid medallion, he didn't care what Kate did as long as she stayed far away from Beacon Hills and the pack.

"When I get what I want, I won't be a problem to her anymore," said Kate, smoothly. Knowing that Derek was most likely watching for any signs of a lie, Kate was careful to phrase her words. She wasn't lying, per se. Just withholding information. If her plans worked then Artemis wouldn't worry about Kate because Artemis would be dead. But Derek didn't need to know that. "Now, how much longer before we arrive?"

"We're here," said Derek, grumpily, as they reached the Beacon Hills High sign.

Kate blinked in surprise. "This vault was built under the school?"

Derek shook his head. "No, you moron. The vault was here first." And with that, Derek flicked his hand, extending his claws and then he plunged his claws into the rune-shaped lock on the side of the sign. There was a brief flash of electricity and then Derek turned his hand to-and-fro, causing the sign to turn and a staircase to appear.

"Werejaguars first," said Derek, rudely.

Kate ignored Derek's insult before she descended the staircase as Derek followed.

XXX

The skies darkened with storm clouds and the wind picked up in speed, signaling the approach of storm as Artemis, Malia and Peter pulled into the parking lot of the school. Suddenly, all three of them froze as an all-too familiar scent hit their noses.

"Do you guys smell that?" asked Artemis.

Malia nodded as she frowned. "It's the same scent from Mexico."

"What's she talking about?" demanded Peter.

"There was some kind of monster guarding Derek's prison in Mexico. I didn't get a very good look at it, but it was huge with an animal skull on its head," explained Artemis, as her heart skipped a beat. "It must be with Kate. Didn't Stiles say she had some monsters for goons?"

As if in answer, an all-too familiar growl then echoed throughout the area and Peter looked not only frightened but also sick.

"Oh, crap. I know that sound. That would explain Kate's nickname of the Bone Woman," he said, gravely. "I know what these things are."

"Don't keep us in suspense. What the heck is it?" demanded Artemis.

Peter looked grave. "Have either of you ever heard of Berserkers?"

Having memorized Argent family's bestiary as well as the Hale family's, Artemis immediately recognized the name and she paled. If Kate had managed to actually create and control Berserkers, then they were worse off than they thought. "Oh, crap."

"What's a Berserker?" asked Malia.

"Think of it as like a golem—a creature made out of a headless corpse, covered in animal bones for armor. It's not human, so it cannot be reasoned with. It will not show mercy because it knows none. It only does as is ordered by its creator, it won't stop in its mission and it's ten times stronger than a werewolf," said Peter, urgently. "And there's also one of them standing right behind you."

Artemis and Malia spun around to see the monsters that Peter described standing ten feet behind them, armed to the teeth and ready for a fight. Malia immediately shifted and took a defensive stance, but Peter grabbed her shoulder and held her back.

"Are you crazy?" hissed Peter. "Did you not hear a single thing that I said?"

"There's only two. We can take them!" insisted Malia. They'd gone up against worse enemies than that of a bone golem. Surely, they could take down the Berserkers.

"Yeah and your pack greatly outnumbered them yet they still got their butts kicked! There's only two, which means we have a greater chance of surviving. Now, if you want to live, I suggest you run!" ordered Peter.

Artemis took a defensive stance. While Peter was correct in the level of danger the Beserkers posed, she also knew deep down that she could handle it. But that didn't mean she was about to risk Malia and Peter's lives in the process.

"I've got this, guys. Go find Derek," she ordered.

Both Peter and Malia looked at Artemis as though she'd gone insane.

"What? But—"

"Go!" ordered Artemis. Her eyes glowed bright red as she invoked her Alpha command, forcing Peter and Malia to flee.

Once alone, Artemis shifted into her white wolf beast form and then charged at the Berseker. The Berserker swung at Artemis and she gracefully dodged it as she tucked and rolled around behind the Berserker. She then plunged her claws into the Berserker's back and tossed it across the courtyard like a rag doll, causing most of its armor to crack and break. The Berserker rose and swiped at Artemis with its talon, grazing her arm and causing her to bleed but the True Alpha barely noticed as she not only had a higher pain tolerance now but it also healed almost quickly as it had been made. Angry, Artemis then let out a powerful roar that froze the Besereker in its tracks just as it was about to attack again. She then grabbed it by its arms and tore the Berserker in two, causing it to crumble into dust.

Artemis let out a shaky breath as she reverted back to her human form. That was one Berserker gone. But who knew how many more Kate had created or would create once she found out about Artemis destroying one of them?

As if in answer, Artemis heard the sound of another Berserker and knew there was still a fight to finish. The night was far from over.

XXX

Meanwhile, down in the Hale vault, Derek and Kate were looking for the Triskelion. It was not an easy task as there was a large quantity of shelves containing boxes and other containers throughout the large, stone chamber and nor was the vault properly organized. Eventually, Derek got lucky and opened just the right box.

"Found it."

Kate sighed in relief as she took the offered box, opened it and took out the Triskelion. Much to her surprise, its appearance didn't seem to live up to all the hype. It was a small, wooden circular disk with Derek's tattoo engrave on it. What's more, when Kate held it, she didn't feel any different than she had a few moments ago.

"This is it? Are you sure?" she asked, as her eyes narrowed.

Derek nodded, not understanding Kate's reaction. "It's what you wanted. Now, will you please go?"

"And this is what'll give me control over the shift?" pressed Kate.

"Actually, no, because it can't."

Startled, Kate spun around see Peter and Malia descending the stairs, with dangerously calm looks on their faces.

"What are you talking about?" demanded Kate. "It's fake?"

Peter smirked as he shook his head. "Oh, no, it's quite real. It's been handed down through the family for centuries. But what isn't real is all the hype surrounding it. You see, Kate, what you've got there, is a lycanthrope's training wheels. The Triskelion is meant to act as an object for a werewolf to focus on until they find their anchor and true control over the shift. Talia used it to teach Laura and Cora, and I tried to use it to teach Derek. But he never used it to teach his own Betas because that silly little flea market trinket is more or less useless. It doesn't have any magic, nothing to give you the control you're after.

"What's more, when using that stupid trinket didn't help Derek with control, I tried to teach him to use anger and rage. But only for so well and so long. Then he met Artemis Moon, a seemingly ordinary little human girl that he'd rescued from a rabid dog. But as it turned out, she wasn't an ordinary girl, because right afterwards, Derek changed from an angry youngling to a protective wolf. Derek's desire to protect his precious Huntress of the Moon, his love for his mate, was far stronger than Derek's anger. Love became his new anchor and gave him the control he needed. It made him into the Alpha werewolf he became."

Upon hearing that all her hard work, all her planning had been for nothing Kate's face twisted in furious rage as she grabbed Derek by the scruff of his shirt.

"Is this true?! IS THIS TRUE?" yelled Kate.

"Yes, it's true!" yelled Derek. At this point, he didn't care if Kate knew. He just wanted her to let him go so he could be with the one he loved. "That stupid thing's useless and I love Huntress! She's been my anchor ever since we met! I—gah!"

As soon as he said this, Derek pulled back as if in pain and then his body twisted and distorted for several long, painful moments and then suddenly, he was fully restored to his adult self. Except for his eyes, which were now glowing their former color of bright blue as he glared at Kate. He was back, but at the cost of his Alpha status and powers, something that didn't make him happy in the least.

"You," he growled, as he shifted into his wolf form. "You are going to pay for this!"

Kate just growled as she shifted into her werejaguar form.

Before Derek could act, however, Artemis's howl echoed throughout the room and everyone froze in their tracks as Artemis then descended the steps. She was sporting a number of injuries that were healing rapidly, her clothes were torn and bloody but she seemed otherwise unharmed and what's more, she looked angrier than anyone ever seen before. She held up the few skeletal remains that had lingered after she'd destroyed Kate's Berserkers and dropped them on the floor, causing a clattering sound to echo throughout the room.

"Next time, get what you paid for, witch!" snarled Artemis. "All five of your little pets are gone. And guess what? You have an appointment date with the Calavero family."

Kate actually looked terrified as she took a nervous step back.

"Now, isn't this a fine turn of events? The hunter has become the hunted and she can't control the shift," said Peter, mockingly as they all encircled her like the dangerous predators they were. By now, all of them had shifted and were ready for a fight. "You really want to learn control, Kate? That won't be easy, since I highly doubt you could ever love anyone, especially not as much as Derek loves Artemis. So, that leaves anger as your only hope. You want to get angry, Kate?"

Kate roared and the fight was about to get underway, but then it stopped just as a series of gas canisters dropped into the room. Suddenly, they went off and the room was filled with a gas powerful enough to knock them all out.

By the time everyone regained consciousness, Kate was long gone and the safe containing all of Peter's money, a hundred and seventeen million dollars in bearer bonds, was gone. Stolen. And nobody knew who'd done it.

XXX

A week passed following the theft at the Hale vault.

During those seven days, Peter turned his attention to the theft of his money and the culprit. He didn't think it was Kate for one second, which meant that not only had Derek been set up but also Kate, and as Peter had never spoke of his hidden funds, it meant they had a dangerous new enemy to deal with, something that didn't bode well. To top it all off, Derek had to learn to adjust to being a Beta again, something that was not easy after so long. Though it was made less difficult by his pack, who reassured him up and down that regardless of the color of Derek's eyes, he was still one of their Alphas and they would still look to him for leadership and guidance and they still considered him family. It was a blessing that Derek was quite grateful for.

On the evening of the seventh day, Derek and Artemis decided it was time to finally announce their news at long last. They arranged for a special dinner at Derek's loft with the entire pack as well as their friends and family. Halfway through the entrée, Derek stood up and Artemis followed suit.

"Everyone, we have an important announcement to make," he said, smiling as he took Artemis's hand. "Huntress and I are engaged."

At once, everyone squealed and cheered in delight at this wonderful news. Melissa cried as she hugged her daughter and Rafael even shook Derek's hand. Erica, Cora and Malia began arguing about who the maid of honor would be while the boys argued about the positon of Derek's best man. It was truly a ray of sunshine in a dark, stormy time.