AN: here's chapter three! Thanks to all who have reviewed/read/favorite-d etc so far! ILY all!

I know this one is a bit shorter, but I didn't want to jam too much into one chapter. This chapter is a little lighter emotionally than the first two, I think we all needed a break.

Disclaimer: I do not own TW or the characters, just my AU/AR. (and MY OC). Also FYI, this is un-betaed, so all the mistakes are mine


Alpha She-Wolf

Chapter Three


She barely made it to the meeting about on campus employment on time, because apparently rolling around in the grass and tickling her was more important to her pack-brothers than her figuring out how to get a job. Since not many of the Hale Pack that went to school had jobs that weren't volunteer positions their minds were boggled. But despite their efforts to convince her she didn't need to go, she made it.

That meeting lasted only a half hour because of all the orientation meetings. She met Braeden outside the auditorium and they sat together listening to the school administrators talk about school policies and suggest them what they could be doing the second half of the day (tour the town, get to know your neighbors, attend one of the scheduled Q and A sessions, attend the activities fair etc). After that, they stood in lines to get their welcome packets including finalized class schedules and reading lists and information for their academic advisor appointments.

"Why did they make us move in on a Thursday, if they essentially only needed to talk to us for a half a day on a Friday?" Braeden asked flipping through her welcome packet. "We already had our schedules weeks ago, and our books. The only new information is this that we have to email our academic advisors and meet with them by next Friday."

"Not everyone grew up in Beacon Hills, Bray. I guess they wanted to make sure we get settled in before everyone else starts to arrive tomorrow and we start classes on Monday. Give some time to the out-of-towners to get used to Beacon Hills and Hale College campus." Erica responded. "I guess I should call Melissa and let her know I can move up my check-up, I thought this would be an all day thing… I don't really want to go to any of those panels or the activities fair."

"Me either. And don't call Melissa just yet, we have lunch plans." Braeden said. "I told Rose that we'd meet her for lunch at the pizzeria up the street. Call Melissa after."

They walked up the street and got to the pizza place just as Rosalyn was pulling in the parking lot. They waited as she parked. The Beta practically skipped over to where Braeden and Erica stood and Erica felt the happiness radiated through their bond.

"Good news?" She asked as they walked inside and waited to be seated.

"Yes! There were no kindergarten openings but there was an opening in the preschool! They want me to come in for training and lesson planning next week! I got the job!" She said excitedly.

"I'm so happy for you babe." Braeden said hugging her girlfriend and kissing her cheek.

"Me too Rose." Erica said as the waitress came over to lead them to a table. "Not happy enough to kiss you though."

Rose laughed as they sat down. "We'll get there one day Alpha." She said with a wink and Erica couldn't help but laugh. They giddiness from her beta was infectious. "I'm sorry if this is affecting you…I'm just so happy. I have a mate, an alpha, a new town to call home, a great job…I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. I've been on my own for so long, it's nice not to be."

Erica felt bad that her news might bring down her beta. From their talks Erica gathered that Rosalyn did not trust male alphas, and by the way Stiles, Jackson and Isaac acted toward her this morning, she probably had a negative view of the Hale Pack. Erica was worried about her beta and the Hale Pack getting along. She really wanted this conversation with Derek to go well and for their two packs to merge, but she also didn't want to put her beta in an uncomfortable situation.

"I'm happy you're happy Rose." Erica said with a smile, while trying to find a way to break the news. Part of her didn't want to say anything, just in case the conversation with Derek didn't go well, she didn't want to bring down Rose's good mood for nothing. But on the other hand, Erica was excited at the prospect of talking to her mate again and wanted to share her excitement with her beta and Braeden.

Rose narrowed her eyes at Erica. "You're holding something back…"

"Derek texted her." Braeden said. "She's probably unsure on how you would receive the news."

Erica kicked her friend under the booth. "Do you have mind reading powers now too you sneaky, all knowing, Druid?"

Braeden grinned. "No. Lydia texted me."

"And how did Lydia know?" Erica asked.

"I really don't know. But you are delusional if you think that Stiles and Isaac didn't initiate their little gossip phone tree after they found out."

Erica was about to retort when she smelt the anxiety and fear coming from her beta. "Rose, it will be fine. We're just talking, he won't hurt either of us."

Bray, obviously knowing a bit more about her partner's past than Erica did, pulled her into a hug in attempt to put an end to the woman's unease. "Rosalyn, Derek isn't like your father, and he isn't like the Jackson Alpha…he will never lay a violent finger on you, neither would his pack. If he did, Erica or myself would tear him apart." Braeden whispered to her mate.

Rosalyn nodded. "But what happens when you get back together, will he make you cast me out?"

"Derek Hale can't make me do anything I don't want to do my dear." Erica told her still shaking beta. "And I would never want to cast you out. I want us to merge into one pack. I want us all to be one big family. I want you to have pack-brothers and pack-sisters. Don't you want that? That feeling of family?"

Rosalyn nodded.

"There is family dinner tonight at Wolf's Run." Braeden said looking at Erica and Rose. "They usually have a party after, Dad never let me stay so I kind of wanted to tonight. I know we said we'd go see my aunt tonight, but we can go in the morning. I don't know if you two will be invited after Erica and Derek talk, but… would you two be angry with me if I go?" She asked.

"Of course not." Erica said.

"I wouldn't mind." Rosalyn said. "Alpha, if he does invite us to a meal…you won't leave my side will you?"

Erica sighed. "I promise you Rose, you will not be alone until you feel at ease okay?"

Rosalyn nodded, and they resumed the meal. They talked about Erica and Braeden's first day, Rosalyn's new job and planned the weekend of moving Rosalyn out of her apartment in San Francisco and a quick visit to Marin Morell.

After they were through, Braeden volunteered to show Rosalyn around town and Erica texted Stiles to come and get her for her check up with his mom.


She had been in the car for five minutes. They were still parked in front of the restaurant where she had lunch with Braeden and Rosalyn, and Erica had absolutely no clue why they were not moving. All she knew was she was at her wits end due to his antics. Since she got in the car there had been exactly forty audible sighs from her friend in the drivers seat.

"Oh my god Stiles! What?" She said losing her patience.

"You didn't bring me lunch." He sighed again.

Erica glared at the empty fast food containers at her feet; they were new and smelt of a burger and curly fries. "You ate already. Is that really what the dramatic sighing was about?"

"You didn't know I ate dearest Puppy." Stiles said. "And no, I was sighing because, while yes you still smell like our pack, you also smell like the home-wrecker."

Erica quickly grabbed the back of his head and slammed it into the steering wheel. "I warned you not to take cheap shots at my beta." She said as he rubbed his face. "Oh, don't be a baby, you're a wolf. You'll heal."

"Have you been reading the 'Derek Hale book of making friends'? Because that situation gave me déjà vu." Stiles told her while shaking his head and starting the car.

She didn't say anything until he made a wrong turn. "We're supposed to be going to your parent's house Stiles."

"No can do. Mom said she needs certain equipment that we can only get at Beacon Hills Memorial or the new sick-bay at Wolf's Run. And since you'd feel awkward at Wolf's Run until you talk with The King of the Sour-Wolves…"

Since the battle with the Thorne's, there had been many changes at Wolf's Run. Derek had four extra houses built for the growing pack bringing the grand total to eight (not including the Den). He also tore apart the Pool-House apartment and turned it into an infirmary, which along with the files belonging to the late Dr. Deaton, anyone could use to treat supernatural wounds or ailments. Melissa had found this helpful over the last few months (especially after Erica's miscarriage). Stiles and Danny made use of the medical library, they tended to compare and contrast human and werewolf physiology to their pre-med texts while studying. The construction had called for called for some rearranging of living arrangements, but there weren't many complaints.

"Stop calling it sick-bay Stiles. This isn't Star Trek." She said with a smile.

"Quit being such a kill joy Puppy." He laughed. "Oh, and FYI…recap of last night's pack meeting before…you know…the topic of you came up."

"Stiles, don't say anything that will get you in trouble…" Erica warned.

He snorted and rolled his eyes. "Anyway, you know that doctor who has seen too much supernatural shit to ignore it anymore? The one who had been hounding mom and dad all summer?"

"Yep. Dr. Joesph. He's a tool."

"Well that tool now officially knows about werewolves as of this morning. Mom and Derek gave him the talk. They figured that it would be nice to have someone else in this town to have their eyes peeled." He told her in a tone that conveyed that he was just as against this decision as she was. "So, on the plus side, one less person that thinks we're in a cult. Yay."

"Why in the hell would he let Dr. Handsy in on our secret?" Erica said under her breath in surprise.

Stiles pulled over at this, giving her a glare. "Excuse you?"

"When I was sick… that's what I called him. He never did anything, but his hands liked to linger. He creeps me out."

Stiles' eyes flashed yellow and he whipped out his phone, beginning to furiously text. "Well, he was supposed to observe Mom giving you your check up today if you were okay with it. But guess what? Big brother Stiles isn't okay with it now. Call your Beta and your Braeden, we're going to Wolf's Run."

A small part of her wanted to say that he had no business ordering her around; she was the alpha. But the other part of her didn't give a shit about rank and did what she was told. He was her pack-brother and if he felt like he needed to protect her she would let him.

"Fine. But everyone is civil to Rosalyn. If Derek and I get back together she'll be your pack-sister like I am, and the girl already has issues with male wolves, so be nice." She growled at him.

Stiles paused from texting to give it some thought. "I suppose she didn't do anything wrong. I'll relay the message. Everyone will be on their best behavior." He said before continuing with his text. "I wish Derek picked up his phone for me, I could just tell him this shit…one butt-dial while Cora and I are having sex and he blocks my calls for life…its unprofessional." Stiles said under his breath as he pressed the send key before calling his mom and telling her the change of plans.

Erica smiled as she dialed her beta's number. "Hey, Rose? I'm sorry to do this to you, but we're going to Wolf's Run now. I can't do my check up at the hospital, and it seems that my mate has been making bad decisions without me around, so I can't put this off… I will not leave you alone, neither will Bray, I promise. Now tell Bray what's going on and that I'll meet you both at the gates in ten…" Erica then looked out the rearview mirror where she noticed a black camaro had parked and its driver was making his way to her car door. "Okay, maybe you'll just meet Stiles there in ten, he promised to be nice." She said hanging up.

"Dear god. Was he following us around?" Stiles said noticing the man now opening his passenger side door. "Way to look normal Derek. You know if you're trying to repair a relationship, you don't stalk your significant other. Sends a bad message."

Derek simply glared at Stiles and held out his hand for her, still managing not to look her in the eye. Her heart felt like it was in her throat…had it really only been a day and a half since she last saw him?

"Be nice to Rosalyn, please." Erica said, taking Derek's hand and glaring back at Stiles. "Tell her and Bray I'll be there soon, and don't force them to go in the gates if they aren't ready."

Stiles rolled his eyes at her. "Your not my alpha currently so I really don't have to take orders from you if I don't want to... but you are significantly better looking than my alpha so I guess I'll listen. Just this once. You two kids have fun!" He said re-starting his car as she shut the door and walked with Derek towards the camaro.


They stood in front of the car for a moment. It was very uncomfortable. He was looking at her neck, which did not have her triskele on it, for the first time since he gave it to her. She had forgotten it this morning, in the rush to leave the room and prevent a fight between Jackson, Isaac Stiles and Rose, and now she felt bad. Had she hurt him again?

"Derek? Are we getting in the car? Or are we just going to stand here?" She asked.

The answer surprised her. He grabbed her into a hug and started petting her head and sobbed. She started sobbing too.

"I missed you so much." She told him through her tears.

Moments later came the first words Derek Hale had said to her in weeks. "I missed you too Erica. I love you."

"I love you too Der." She whispered to him. "I'm sorry for what I said, it was uncalled for. I was so angry, I wasn't even thinking."

He pulled back from the hug and looked her in her eyes. She was so happy she was finally speaking to her again she was afraid to say anything else and ruin the moment. So she waited for him to speak.

He did after a few long seconds. "I'm sorry for shutting you out and pushing you away. No matter how bad it gets between us, we should never shut each other out like that."

"We messed up Derek. And we let our pack suffer because of it." Erica sighed. "We let each other suffer because of it. We can't continue like this."

"I know." He said looking up and noticing the prying eyes on the streets observing them. He led her towards the car and they both didn't speak again until they were seated. They turned towards each other. "I need you in my life. I need you with me, at my side. I don't make good decisions knowing you are out there moving on with your life… I love you, and I don't want you to feel like I'm taking advantage of you… but I'm a better person, a better leader with you as my partner."

"No one can make me do anything I don't want to do Derek. I love you too, and I feel like I'm better around you as well." Erica smiled. "And really Derek, Dr. Joseph? That's the human you decided to let in on our secret?"

He looked down in shame. "He seemed trustworthy, and he basically knew already."

"Well, I hope this doesn't blow up in our faces…" She said. "So, how do we do this?"

"What? Forgive each other?" He asked.

"Yes."

"Well, let's table the original fight for now. I don't think we are both in a place that we can calmly talk through those issues without fighting." Erica nodded in agreement. "Right now we need to address your new beta, and ensure that you don't fracture off from the pack when we fight in the future… Bray tells me you couldn't translate our howls last night, meaning that you are well on your way to not being a Hale. We need to fix that, and we need Melissa to give you a clean bill of health."

"I'm not giving Rosalyn up Derek. I like her and she's Braeden's mate. She's had a hard life, I think our pack can be what she needs." Erica said.

"Braeden gave me the cliff notes on her last night. I wanted to accept her into the pack. Once you and I re-form our bond you will feel the connection with my betas again and I'll feel a connection with Rosalyn."

"Really you'll let her in the pack?" Erica said hopefully.

"Of course." Derek said. "Why do you smell worried?"

"Because, I'm worried about the pack not accepting her because I bit her, or her constantly being afraid of you and the boys."

"Unfortunately, there are many wolves like Rosalyn. Mistreated by their home packs or abandoned and orphaned as pups. Most, people like my father, are taken in by other packs, and live relatively normal lives. Some like Ethan and Aiden end up at a breaking point and end up killing their way out of a bad situation. And then there are the runners, like Rosalyn. We'll do our best to make her at ease Erica, but sometimes coddling her is worse, it makes her feel more on edge because she can sense the act."

Erica was grateful at his willingness to accept her beta into the Hale Pack but she was also confused. "I thought packs like the Thorne's rarely exist anymore? There are more wolves out there that hurt their own?" She said in shock, suddenly feeling the need to go on a rescue mission and save every mistreated wolf she could.

"Erica, there are good people and there are bad people, no matter what species they happen to be. The Thorne's were a special brand of bad. But yes, bad people lead some wolf packs. It's a fact of life. It's up to packs that do good to protect their home territory and offer help to anyone that has been mistreated."

"Packs like ours." Erica said.

"Like ours. That is if you want to merge packs. I understand if you want to go off and form a pack of your own."

"No, I want us to be one pack Derek. Yes, I feel the desire to give my bite to others, but I want those people to be ours." Erica admitted.

Derek gave her a smile and leaned forward and kissed her. She kissed back. It felt like the past few weeks were ancient history now that they were talking and she was getting kisses again. They could get through this. They would work on their relationship, and their pack and they would come out of this stupid fight stronger than they were when it started.

That was until a pained howl sounded. At that howl, all hopes for a good day of reuniting and joy were squashed.

They broke the kiss and Derek's eyes flashed red. "I don't know who that was."

Erica felt her face change. Because she was able to translate the howl that simply said: Under attack. Help me Alpha.

"Drive me to the preserve Derek. Someone attacked my beta."


AN: hope you enjoyed! See you in a few days for chapter 4!

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