Chosen
The abandoned warehouse was where they usually met. They had come from different walks of life, each with their little burdens or bigger burdens. And they had all somehow found their way to the pack.
Deucalion's pack was the largest of the Hale alliance. An alliance of packs spanning all across the United States, from Beacon Hills, California where the Hale family themselves were located, all the way to the East Coast, to Boston, the packs were scattered roughly along the Canadian border. A pack in Washington State, two in Minnesota, three around the general Chicago area, one up in Maine, and this pack in Boston, Massachusetts.
His pack used to count a remarkable nine members, six of whom he had turned himself. The other three had been Omega's wandering around to find his pack after losing their own, he had taken them in and had not regretted it so far. The two oldest members of his pack were Waldorf – whose real name no one even knew – and Susan Hayworth, 41 and 56 years old respectively. These two and another Omega, Paul, were old school rockers. Usually they showed up in biker attire, with their Harley's parked outside the warehouse. Paul usually had his girlfriend with him, a Beta turned by Deucalion himself: Abigail was now 23 years old, blonde, sensual, beautiful. Waldorf, who had a nickname for each of them, just called her Butterfly because that was just how delicate she looked. If you didn't cross her. Because when she was mad, that girl would easily claw your face off. Then there was Steven Jones who had taken to call himself Statler, so he and his best friend were literally 'Statler and Waldorf', the two grumpy old Muppets. Statler was a little criminal genius, faking ID's, hacking records, keeping them off the radar. And the two youngest members of the pack were Liam Field – who didn't talk much – and Marco Lombardi.
The two remaining members of this pack were dead. Killed in a brutal ambush by the Hunters. Justin Sun had been only 21, the most recently turned, but so very loyal. And Ross Carter had been the closest to a friend Deucalion could name. He felt the loss even after over a month.
Waldorf knew Deucalion sometimes woke up screaming, remembering the ambush. But none of them could understand what it was like. To see it all – the blood, the brutality, to hear the screams, feel the life drain from them as if it was your own – only to wake up in cold, dead darkness. To know that the death of two of your own would be the last visual memory you would have next to the face of the psychopath who thought taking your eyes was a fitting response to a peace-offering.
When Deucalion joined the rest of the pack today, it was the first time in weeks that he seemed... strangely content. He followed the warmth of the fire they had lit and were sitting around, joined them there. That was unusual. He normally sat a bit separate, lost in his own thoughts. The poet and thinker, while they mostly were in it for the fun. That was the difference between them and him. Almost all of them had accepted the bite just for the thrill. He had not accepted it, it had been forced onto him and while he could have given up on it then, he had chosen to live, chosen to accept his new role and change the world with it. It had been what he had tried to do for as long as he remembered. The child in him, the child he had been when he was bitten, still refused to believe that it should be impossible for them to exist alongside the hunters.
Waldorf watched as their Alpha joined them, then grinned.
"You're in an exceptionally good mood, Boss," he then said. Deucalion turned towards him and smirked.
"I am. I am in a very good mood, thank you for noticing, Waldorf."
"So, what's the happy news?" the older wolf inquired.
"The girl from the library. She's a moonchild."
"Ohhh! Nice!" Statler declared. Susan however did not seem to excited. The older woman looked up with a frown.
"You're thinking about turning someone new?" she asked. He heard the worry in her voice.
"We're incomplete now. Vulnerable as a pack. The sooner we get the missing wolves replaced, the better."
"You can't just replace Carter and Sun," Susan protested. Deucalion sighed and rubbed his eyes behind his glasses. Wrong choice of words.
"Of course not. That's not what I meant. Carter and Sun were family, they can't be replaced. But the pack needs to be strong. We are the strongest pack in the alliance, the others rely on us and we need to deliver."
"I agree with the Boss," Waldorf noted.
"But a girl. Is that wise? Considering that, as you say, we are vulnerable now, and you know how unstable freshly turned she-wolves can be..."
"Which is why, should it come to that, I will rely on you two to make sure we all get through this," Deucalion explained. Susan and Abigail exchanged quick glances, the younger she-wolf shrugged.
"I am not a babysitter," Susan then grumbled.
"No. But you are, as oldest female in the pack, burdened with this role."
"You love it, don't even lie," Abigail teased.
"And what's so special about this girl? Why her? Why now?" Marco asked.
"She's not more special than any of you. Born with the moon in her blood. The first moon child we've come across since... well, since Sun."
There was a moment of silence, as if they had wordlessly agreed to appreciate the sacrifices made briefly when mentioned. Sun had been running with the pack for only little over two years, he had been the baby brother, the puppy. Losing him had perhaps hit them all the hardest.
"Is there even a point in arguing with you over this or will you just go ahead and do it anyways?" Susan finally broke the silence. Deucalion smirked.
"I'll just go ahead and do it anyways," he confirmed. There were soft chuckled from Waldorf, Statler, Paul and Abigail, even Liam pulled the corners of his mouth up to a rare smile. Only Marco remained silent. Susan sighed loudly.
"Fine, whatever. You're the Alpha," she declared.
"Thank you for your trust. All of you."
Paul lit a cigarette and the pack sat in silence for a while, Statler poking in the fire with a long stick.
"So when are you going to do it?" Waldorf asked after a while.
The response of their Alpha however was cut short when a mighty howl filled the night. The pack sat up instantly, Deucalion rose to his feet. He knew that howl, would recognise it anywhere. The wolves were on alert, staring at the large gate of the warehouse. The night outside was dark and calm and they could all sense the presence. An overwhelming power, approaching in the dark.
The figure could hardly be seen until she was almost in the warehouse with them, her dark fur blending in with the shadows of the night. Only her red eyes gave away that she was there. Susan instantly rose to her feet and went to get a large blanket from the trailer. By the time she returned the wolf that had joined them was just shifting back into her human form. The men of their pack bowed, turned their gazes away from the currently completely naked woman in their midst. Not because she wasn't an absolute sight for sore eyes, her beautiful curves definitely worth staring at. But out of respect, they all looked away. All except for the one who could not see her, even if he wanted to.
But he didn't have to see to know she was there. He recognized her scent – a forest after a summer rain, wild flowers. And he could not help but smile, delighted by her presence.
"Talia."
Susan came closer, politely bowing before she placed the blanket on the majestic she-wolves shoulders.
"Thank you, Susan."
"I'd bring some of my clothes but I... I don't think... it's not what would suit one like you I suppose..."
"It's alright, Susan, thank you."
He heard her smile. Clear and unmistaken in her voice and he could vividly picture it on her face. And then she turned towards him, he somehow knew it exactly. "Deucalion."
He smiled.
"What brings you all the way out here, Talia?" he asked and offered his arm. She took it and watched him carefully while she did. He seemed to be doing well, didn't he? Adjusting. Despite the loss of his eyesight she could still recognize the man she knew. Deucalion was still there. The pack also looked well – those that remained of it at least.
"I hadn't heard from you since... I was worried."
"I am humbled by your concern," he admitted. She felt like he stood taller. He had always been prouder than most, had always been one of the few people who looked her directly in the eyes when they talked while others tended to look away like they could not deal with who she was, with what she was. Deucalion had always been different. But he had changed since the events in the distillery, she could tell. She had been worried it might be pulling him down, that he might have retreated into isolation and depression. But she had been wrong. He was holding himself up remarkably and she was so proud of that. Of him.
"It is good to see you well, Deucalion. My father sends his regards. Oh, and Cora asks when you will be visiting, she has discovered a certain talent in weaving flower crowns and she wanted to make you one."
There was a collective 'Awwwwww' from the rest of the pack and Deucalion had to chuckle. But then he was serious again.
"I... need to figure some things out, before I can think about returning to Beacon Hills. As much as I want to."
She nodded silently, then placed a hand on his arm.
"I want you to know whatever you chose to do, my pack supports you. The alliance supports you."
He sighed.
"You're here to ask me if I plan on taking revenge on the Argent's, aren't you?"
She smiled.
"Am I being that obvious? It's just... Father is very determined that Gerard Argent has to pay for his dishonour. You know how he is that way."
"I don't see a point in it, to be honest. I... what happened to my Beta's was terrible, but I don't blame the entirety of the Argent family. I blame Gerard. I will, once I have figured things out for myself, seek an audience on neutral ground with the Matriarch. She will hear me out, I know that."
"Are you sure? I mean... you haven't seen her in a long time."
He smiled a little and nodded.
"I know her. Even after all these years, I believe that she will not tolerate unnecessary bloodshed. I was hoping... should she agree to negotiate a truce with the rest of our kind... if Richard would join, show our people's willingness to cooperate."
"He believes in you, Deucalion. He always believed you to be chosen for a greater purpose. I think he will listen to you," she insisted. Deucalion smiled and turned towards her, took her hand and it made her startle.
"And you? Do you believe in me?"
"You know that."
"I do. I just like hearing it," he said, his voice a soft growl that made her knees turn soft but she forced herself to keep standing. It didn't get easier when he raised his hands, touched her face, his fingertips on her cheeks, then her lips.
"Don't..." she whispered. Because no matter how strong she was, she was not that strong.
"It's the only way I'm ever going to see you again..."
It took her a moment, before she reached up and took the dark glasses off his eyes. Underneath, the scaring was hardly visible. It was good to see that. The last time she had seen him - in Deaton's clinic - he had looked terrible. Severely burned, his flesh peeling. It had taken her all of her control to not cry for him because he deserved more than pity. But his eyes were not the same anymore. They were pale, empty. She remembered them to be so full of live, so full of hope and promise. She put her hands on his cheeks and leaned closer, her lips gentle on his eyelids. First the left, then the right.
"I am sorry, Deucalion. I am sorry this happened to you. And I admire your strength, your faith in people, your vision of peace. You are a great man. And I believe in you."
He stood still as she spoke, her lips on his scared lids, her breath warm against his skin. He wanted to protest when she stepped away but reminded himself that she was not his after all. She had chosen another and he would have to live with that, no matter how much he would have given to be with her. "What will you do about your pack?" she then asked, suddenly very matter-of-factly, as if to cover the relative intimacy of that moment they had just shared.
"I intend to change someone. A girl I came across recently, a moonchild of great potential, I believe."
"Oh? Should I be concerned?"
She saw him smirk and it made her smile in turn. There were glimpses of the Deucalion she knew. He may be blind, but he was still the same man, and underneath it still the same quirky natured boy she had known so long.
"Jealousy doesn't suit a woman such as yourself, Talia. There will never be one quite like you."
She laughed, a sound he had always greatly enjoyed and that would never change, especially now that he couldn't see her, and her voice was all he had left to remember her by. "You know, I am not as upset about the fact that I am blinded as I am about the fact that you weren't the last thing I saw."
"Oh you're still such a flirt, unbelievable!" she declared, still laughing. They returned to the campfire and the rest of his pack where Abby handed the superior she-wolf one of her dresses - white, short and frilly - fitting her much better than any of Susan's clothes would have but still did not do the Queen of all wolves justice. But she accepted gratefully. He listened carefully for it and smiled, knowing that her greatness came not from slaughtering rival packs or hunters, but from being the one woman all packs in the alliance had agreed they could follow, to the end of the world if she asked them to. her father may in title still be the King, but it was Talia they were truly loyal to.
"Will you stay in town, or will you return to Beacon Hills right away?" he inquired as he sat down with his pack again.
"I might stay a few days. Meet that girl you chose."
"She can only profit from it. The Queen of Wolves present to share her wisdom."
"And I imagine with all your political responsibility, it's been quite a while since you ran around butt naked in the woods, MyLady," Waldorf said with a wide grin – the man who knew no respect at all. But it made Talia laugh and that was very well worth it.
Author's note:
It's the weekend, I have no live, so have another chapter! And probably tomorrow another one as well...
A main reason why I started this fic in the first place was because I wanted to explore what Deucalion would be like with a pack – a real pack of Beta's that follow him because they care for him and he cares for them and they are not just rolling with it because they're too terrified to go against him. We haven't really seen anything like that on the show aside a few insights into how Derek was when his pack was still happy – before everyone was dead and gone, you know. I imagine in a time where packs don't have to constantly fear for their lives they'd be super fun to hang out with. Also I wondered about how big Deucalion's pack was. Like, we've seen the guys with him in 'Visionary' – but were they all of them? Or were there more? Since he said killing his Beta's made him stronger, did that mean just Marco or did he eventually kill others as well? Well, I think he had a much bigger pack and I already love all of them!
No Lyka in this chapter, I only noticed that when I was already done. But she'll be back in the next one. I just really, really wanted to write that scene with Deucalion and Talia ^^
Leave a review (or a message, I like messages too ^^), I need to know if my Talia does the canon character justice, it's difficult to write such characters convincing...
