Stiles got out of his Jeep and walked to the door without acknowledging Peter's presence. He heard the voice that whispered in his nightmares.

"Don't be unkind, sweet omega," Peter crooned.

"What do you want, Peter," Stiles asked with one foot over the threshold. "I have things to do before my beta gets home."

Peter chuckled. "Oh yes ... mated now, aren't we? It's fitting that you had to find another little cock-slut to take you in ... did Jackson tell you about us? How he begged for it? He was so much louder than you, but of course he's a natural-born werewolf – he could heal quickly. You were so delicate ... forcing me to delay my pleasure while you recovered ... quite the tease."

Peter was moving forward as he talked. Stiles did not move. Peter sniffed lightly. "But you've joined the pack in blood now ... you'd heal so fast while I filled you up. And ... oh Stiles ... is that a pup? What a sweet addition to my family that would be ..."

Stiles surged forward into Peter's face with a snarl. His eyes shifted to their wolf aspect and his fangs dropped. Omegas were naturally weaker and submissive but when in defense of mate or pup they could be savage. Peter regarded the enraged omega with amusement but Stiles could scent a faint uneasiness. A low rumbling growl sounded behind the older werewolf. Scott. Regardless of Peter's rank in the pack, Scott could not sit and watch him corner Stiles. He approached carefully, keeping Peter upwind of him. He heard Peter's declaration about the pup, saw Stiles' impressive display of aggression and decided he needed to make his presence known before there was blood.

"McCall. How loyal of you," Peter turned to regard the young beta. "Always watching out for poor, little Stiles."

"I'm not the one you have to worry about," Scott said with a fang-filled grin.

Peter snorted. "Threats? From you? Your family is hardly in a position for you to be so reckless."

"You know what?" Stiles snapped. "I'm so tired of you using pack to do whatever you fucking please. Don't you have anything original in that slime-coated brain of yours?"

Peter rounded on Stiles and had the omega pinned against the door jamb in a blink. Scott had barely taken a step when a dark shape went by him. Jackson grabbed Peter's jacket and pulled him away from Stiles and tossed him toward his car. Peter rolled to his feet and shifted at the same time. Jackson put himself between Stiles and Peter. The roar he released filled the late afternoon air – it was the sound of a wolf protecting den and mate.

Peter returned the roar and advanced toward Jackson. He paused when Scott and Stiles flanked the young werewolf. Stiles was burning with a fury he'd never experienced before ... the thought of Peter laying even one hand on his mate was angering enough but the pup he'd only just realized grew within him? Any threat from Peter and nothing would stop him from tearing the beta's throat out with his teeth.

The tableau went on for a few minutes before they became aware of another scent. Alpha. Jackson shifted back, glancing at Stiles and Scott to do the same. As they did, Talia came forward, her face a neutral mask but her scent was angry. She looked at Peter.

"What are you doing, Peter?"

"Dealing with a problem that should have been managed long ago, alpha," Peter replied calmly.

"And what problem would that be?"

"I had a mistaken dalliance with a young man and now he is using it to hurt and blackmail me," Peter said with just a hint of distress in his voice.

"What?!" Stiles yelped. He bit his lip when Jackson growled.

"Who and blackmailed how?" Talia asked with narrowed eyes.

Other wolves had seen their alpha headed at a run and were now standing behind her at the ready. Derek was among them but he stayed back ... Stiles was no longer his to protect. Peter was talking but his words weren't making any sense to Derek.

"Scent the omega, sister. He is with pup ... and I suspect the pup is mine," Peter claimed.

Jackson's head snapped around to Stiles, eyes wide. Stiles was shaking with anger and then he saw the sudden uncertainty in Jackson's gaze. After everything, Jackson didn't trust him ... why had he ever believed things could change?

With a pained look, Stiles backed away from his mate and jerked away from Scott's restraining hand. Jackson swallowed hard realizing what he'd done.

"Stiles, wait -"

Stiles shook his head. Peter. It always came back to Peter. The beta had ruined everything. He always ruined everything. Stiles struggled to breathe. He'd lost Derek. He was losing Jackson. Everyone in the pack was going to know what he'd done ... what he'd allowed to happen. Stiles could hear voices ... familiar ... his dad, Jackson, Scott ... he couldn't understand what they were saying over the hissing in his ears. Colors seemed to gray out. Stiles knew then that he would never be free of Peter ... he would never be allowed to have a family or mate or pack ... he was nothing more than a wet hole to fuck and that was all he was worth. With a broken cry, Stiles was shifting and running. He raced away blindly, not caring where he was going ... he only wanted to get away from the accusing and disappointed stares.

Stiles ran headlong into a broad, black-furred body – Derek. Stiles fought, growling and snapping at the beta. Derek was faster and he had a hold of Stiles' scruff before the young werewolf could break away. He whimpered helplessly in Derek's grip. When he finally went limp, Derek shifted back and pulled Stiles against him.

"Stiles ... Stiles ... don't run ... you don't have to run ... not again ..." Derek begged softly.

Stiles shifted back and looked at Derek. His amber eyes were full to the brim with pain and Derek's heart broke for the omega. What had happened to make him so ready to run from the one thing every werewolf needed? Pack was everything. Pack was where you ran to, not from. Derek nuzzled Stiles' temple and nudged his head gently until he turned. Jackson stood miserably nearby, tears welling in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Stiles ... please ... I'm so sorry," Jackson pleaded.

"... not his ... not his not not not not not ..." Stiles sobbed.

Derek released Stiles into Jackson's sudden and tight embrace. Jackson held Stiles to his chest and pressed soft kisses against his hair.

"I believe you ... please, little omega ... I believe you ..." Jackson murmured.

Stiles shook against his mate. Jackson looked up to see Derek watching with a pained expression. Looking over Derek's shoulder, he growled softly. Derek turned to see Peter approaching with Talia and the others. He stood, putting himself between Peter and the two mates.

"Don't get in the middle of this, Derek," Peter advised. "You've already been deceived by the omega once."

Talia stepped forward. "Derek? What do you know of all this?"

Derek glanced back at Jackson. The beta was ready to kill to protect Stiles. Derek looked back to his mother and alpha.

"I don't know all the details but I trust Stiles. If he says the pup isn't Peter's, then it isn't," Derek said, his gaze settling coldly on his uncle.

Peter rolled his eyes. "Please, nephew ... still thinking with our anatomy, are we? He isn't worth your trust."

Derek's lip curled into a snarl. "He's worth everything ... I just didn't realize that when I should have," Derek turned to his mother. "Alpha, please ... hear them out."

Talia looked at her son. Derek had been devastated to learn that Jackson and Stiles were mates. Now the omega was apparently carrying someone's pup. She didn't know why Stiles had run when it had been obvious to her that he loved Derek. She looked over at Jackson. Stiles had stilled and was leaning heavily against his mate. He kept his eyes downcast.

"Very well ... we'll return to the main house. My office ... Jackson, Stiles, Peter, Derek and Scott," Talia ordered. "The rest go home. We'll have a full pack meeting once we've worked this out."

"Alpha," came a deep voice. "I'd like to attend as well."

Derek turned to see Stiles' father standing nearby. His expression was one of deep concern for his son. Derek supposed the events of the past year would have been distressing enough without watching his son run for a second time.

"Of course," Talia said. "Derek, with me."


Jackson helped Stiles stand up and steadied the omega when they began walking toward the main house. Stiles realized his father was beside him and he balked, trying to pull away. "No ... no you can't go ... you'll find out ... you'll hate me ..."

Jackson held onto his mate firmly as John took hold of his son's shoulders.

"Stiles! Stiles ... there is nothing ... nothing ... that could make me hate you," John said earnestly.

Stiles shook his head. "You will ... you'll hate me ..."

Jackson looked at his mate sadly. He kissed the side of Stiles' head softly. "He's your father, little omega, how could he ever hate you? How could anyone hate you?"

Stiles looked up at Jackson, amber eyes studying turquoise. "It is hard to resist all this."

Scott snorted and even Stiles' father rolled his eyes. Jackson pressed his nose to Stiles' neck and inhaled deeply. Drifting just beneath Stiles' natural scent was something else ... faint and barely there but moaned.

"Stiles ... you smell so good ... Stiles ... I love you ... I love that you're carrying my pup ..." Jackson whispered.

Stiles shivered. He blinked back tears at the realization that maybe ... just maybe ... Peter wouldn't ruin this.


Talia looked at the individuals seated around the library. Stiles was sitting close to Jackson who had his arm around the omega. Scott was on the other side of Stiles. Stiles' father was sitting in a chair to one side. Derek was sitting in a chair near her own and Peter was sitting next to the fireplace. Talia sighed. She looked at her brother.

"Peter? Why do you think the pup Stiles carries is yours?"

"Because we've had a sexual relationship since the boy was sixteen," Peter said with a blush.

"Try since I was ten you sick bastard!" Stiles exclaimed. "And it wasn't consensual!"

Derek's eyes narrowed and he leaned forward. "What did you say?"

Jackson pressed Stiles back with a frown. He looked directly at Talia. "Stiles isn't lying. I was nine when he started with me."

Peter sighed. "I told you ... the lies have never stopped." Peter looked sadly over at Stiles. "I shouldn't have given in ... but he was persistent."

Jackson growled softly. Peter looked pityingly at the young man. "Jackson ... I gave into his blackmail and took over his riding lessons ... helped him with various other ... advancements."

"You son of a bitch ..." Jackson snarled.

Talia cleared her throat and the young beta settled back.

"What do you say, Stiles? Jackson?"

Stiles colored and looked down. Jackson tilted his chin up. Derek felt his chest tighten at the gesture. He had a very bad feeling about what Stiles was about to say. Stiles looked over at Jackson who nodded gently. He inhaled deeply.

"After the funeral for my mom ... I was – I just wanted to get out of there. I couldn't stand it," Stiles said. He looked at his father sadly. "I'm sorry, dad ... I know you needed me ... I just couldn't ... I couldn't look at that hole in the ground anymore."

John blinked rapidly. "Stiles ... I'm sorry I wasn't there for you."

"Wait," Derek said. "I remember that day ... you ran off, Stiles."

Stiles nodded. "Yeah ... went to where I hid when me an' Scott played hide and seek."

"And I went and stayed with him until he was calm enough to go home," Peter said smoothly. "He was very distraught ... understandably."

Stiles was shaking. Hearing Peter talk about it like he'd been making it up all these years made him furious. He looked at Talia.

"Alpha, I know he's your brother ... he's your second ... I can't risk my dad ..."

"Stiles, don't - !" John said.

Talia held up her hand. "Stiles, I would never cast out your father on unsupported accusations. Is that ... is that why you ran?"

Stiles ducked his head. "The first time he said he would tear my dad's throat out if I said anything ... if I let anyone know or see the bruises. The blood."

Talia paled. "What do you accuse my brother of?"

"He ... the first time he just made me suck him off ... he didn't start fucking me until the fourth time," Stiles said softly, tears running down his face. "When you announced ... when Derek said he wanted me ... he actually wanted me ..." Stiles looked up at Derek. "I couldn't do that to him. He – he's going to be your – he'll be the next alpha. He needs a mate without ... a mate that's pure."

Stiles sagged back against Jackson. The beta pressed against Stiles hair and nuzzled him gently. He looked over at Scott. The young were looked uncomfortable but then he cleared his throat.

"I know Peter started with Stiles back ... that far back, alpha. He came over the second time it happened ... his dad was home so he wanted to use my shower to clean up." Scott looked miserably at John. "I'm sorry, sir. I should have ... I should have told."

"Damn right, you should have!" John barked.

"Dad! Dad ... don't be mad at Scott ... he was scared for his mom. Peter could have ... he could have had her cast out too. We were kids, dad ... we didn't know." Stiles pleaded.

"Stiles ... oh god ... all this time?" John moaned.

Derek had a stricken expression on his face. He looked at Scott. "You knew why he ran? You knew and you let me ... oh god ... you let me collar him?"

Stiles growled. "You get mad at me, Derek ... leave him out of it ... what was he supposed to do? Challenge the next pack alpha? You decided to put that fucking collar on me all by yourself!"

"Enough!" Talia snapped.

Peter had remained quiet during the accusations. Derek was staring at him. This man ... the man who had suggested that he use the collar to teach Stiles a lesson ... this man had hurt Stiles ... had hurt Jackson ... and he'd listened to his advice and driven a wedge between himself and Stiles that would never be removed.

"Derek, calm yourself," Talia said softly. She could scent her son's growing anger. She looked sympathetically at Stiles. "I can't just take your word against that of Peter. If you had a scar ... anything to identify Peter as your attacker."

The blood ran out of Stiles' face and he gaped at Peter. "You ... you bastard ... you knew ... that's why you ... that's why you did it again ... when Jackson gave me the Bite ... it all healed. All the scars ... they're all gone."

"I still have mine, though," came a soft voice from the doorway.

Talia looked up with a frown. "And you are?"

"My name is Isaac Lahey." The boy said, entering the library. It was taking a chance to burst in on the alpha in a meeting but the look on the young man's face was determined. "I heard you were meeting to discuss Peter Hale. I thought you should hear everything."

Stiles vaguely recognized Isaac as one of the pack humans. They were a few years apart so they didn't interact often. Stiles wanted to hug him.

Peter growled making Issac flinch. Talia's warning growl made Peter withdraw. He looked at the alpha. "You can't listen to these ... children!"

"Derek," Talia ordered, ignoring Peter. "Bring Isaac here ..."

Before Derek could stand, Peter leapt toward Isaac. Jackson was in between the human and Peter in an instant, pulling Isaac to the side. Talia's roar did not stop Peter's attack. Instead, he continued running, slamming past Isaac who gave a sharp cry. Derek would have gone after him but Talia held him back.

"No, Derek! Peter is mine to deal with," Talia said. "See to the human."

Jackson was already trying to take some of the pain of from Isaac's wounds. The young man was lucky that Peter hadn't been able to get a full strike otherwise he would have been looking at his own entrails. Stiles was somewhat in shock ... Jackson moved back to his side while Derek took over taking care of Isaac. Part of him wanted to believe it was over ... after evrything ... it might actually be over.