Chapter 9 When Weres' Collide… Part 1

Sorry for the massive gap in writing but eh it's here now :3

Warnings: M/M - Although at this point that really shouldn't be a surprise!

Spoilers: Entire First Season

Disclaimer: I own nothing except for the witches!

Heart thudding with paws blazing a trail through the woods I realised I had no idea where I was heading. I was confused and felt more alone than I ever had before which past experience said could all be resolved by going home. Home. To who, the mother that apparently helped to plan this? I wasn't going back to my so-called Father. He was wrong when he said that it was a barrier in my mind that was influencing my feelings for him. I could remember it now like a different memory that ran along side my previous ones, he'd said how sorry he was and how if there were any other way he'd stay. A part of me wanted to forgive him. That part though was greatly overshadowed by the rage. Maybe it was a barrier influencing me. Or more likely it was the knowledge that he'd deliberately stripped me of my power, the magic from the very core of my being, which of course was to protect me. He didn't even deny that he was under his own freewill at the time and yet he had the indecency to pretend that Derek was the monster just for being born a wolf? Whether purposeful or not, because of him I'd died and he responded to that by slamming my spirit into a dead body? Realising this I came to an abrupt stop with a surprising grace for a corpse. I mean to inhabit another's body it would have to be dead. It would explain why I couldn't feel another spirit's presence but then how did this heart- my heart - still beat? Blood was flowing through my veins, my chest still rose and fell as I breathed, albeit somewhat differently to how I was familiar but breathing all the same. Panther's were a symbol of travel between worlds as they were at ease whether on land or in water. It wasn't like I had lessons in this kind of thing, witches were as educated in the magical arts as they chose to be, independent study and all that. I needed to know as much about my situation as possible and for that I need to go home. Focusing for a brief moment on my destination I flashed myself home, or at least that was my intention. Snarling in frustration I started running - not having magic anymore was going to be a ridiculously large pain.

Racing forwards at a speed that would have once been beyond me it didn't take long before the trees started to thin out and I could hear the familiar rumble of traffic. Creeping forward I glanced a street not far from my own. Unfortunately today was national 'let's all stand in inconvenient places' day as the street had enough Beacon Hills residents in well, inconvenient places that they couldn't fail to notice a large feline if it broke the tree line. Great. At least the woods ran parallel to my house. After another quick glance I turned right and within seconds was at a comfortable speed that should have turned everything into a blur, yet the woods remained perfectly clear. I suppose that's one perk. The heightened senses weren't exactly a downside either. Darting across the road and into the back garden before any other neighbours popped up I met another obstacle - my lack opposable thumbs.

Great. The momentary joy I'd felt that the protection spells around the house still recognised and didn't attempt to treat me as a threat plummeted upon seeing that handle. Even knowing that I didn't need a key thanks to the ownership spells still being intact didn't help with turning the handle. Unless…raising up onto my hind legs with one paw braced against the door I used the other to swipe down at the handle - which promptly bounced straight back into place. Snarling I lunged at the door and despite its spell reinforcements, still gave a rather satisfying shudder. Glaring hatefully at the handle I pushed back my squirming thoughts as I placed my teeth around the handle. A slight tremble of anticipation moved down my body as I lowered my head - and the door swung open. Predatory instincts suddenly flared to life as muscles tensed whilst my sense swept the area. Besides the smell of burnt wax, lemon scented bleach, a strange metallic smell and several others I wasn't yet familiar with, there didn't seem to be any fresh scent trails. Pausing once more I listened out for that tell tale thud-thud of a heartbeat. Detecting none, I felt the tension ease from my body as I moved less cautiously into the hall. It was definitely my house and yet it seemed different somehow.

A few moments later when I crept into the living room I realised that nothing had changed, my perspective was just closer to the floor than I was used to. But what if I could change that? Panther's were a symbol of change, even in the magical world, if only I could just shift back to human. My Father seemed to think this body was a suitable replacement for me then surely he didn't intend for me to permanently walk around on four legs. Or maybe he did but felt that I should just be grateful to be alive. He might even be expecting a thank you card, well he better not hold his breath. I vaguely recalled hearing about were-panthers before but honestly it could have been from some low budget TV show for all I could remember. Unless, somehow I am one? Well I've dated a werewolf long enough to know some of the tricks to find out. Derek always told me that the surest way interrupt a shift was through pain so maybe that would work? Deciding to take the plunge before I could think my way out of it - I charged head first into the coffee table. Pain briefly enveloped my skull that remained very much feline, until a strange sense of power surged in the area and removed the pain. Healed it. Werewolf trait number 1: accelerated healing, check. Curious, I turned my focus inside and onto the warmth I could feel encasing my entire body. Fingers crossed - mentally anyway - I tried to pull back the heat in the same way I'd once controlled my magic. Apparently there wasn't much difference as it immediately responded to my will, only it reared suddenly and pulled me up onto my hind legs. It's heat twisted around my body until my limbs started to grow cold as the fur retracted. Still stood up the heat warped my spine back as bones repositioned until I was stood, very much human in my living room. The heat seemed to have centred in my chest where it was more concentrated, not painful, just more condensed. It was strange feeling it at my body's core, ready to be called upon at a moments notice which I couldn't help but suspect would be soon. Looking down at my hands I realised two things simultaneously. One I was definitely human again and secondly I hadn't realised my total lack of clothing until now. Suddenly glad to be home alone I walked up the stairs to my room as my human sense of dignity insisted that clothing was currently my top priority.

My room didn't seem to have been touched at all since I'd left, even thinking the word died just felt ridiculous when I could feel evidence to the contrary as if every heartbeat was a deliberate effort to reassure me. Taking the first items of clothing I touched I was soon dressed in a pair of black jeans and a dark blue hoodie. The familiar feel of fabric brushing against my skin was settling of my nerves as I started to think clearly. I needed to find out what had happened while I was away and what had happened to me. Deciding to briefly investigate the latter I turn around to face the mirror on my bedroom wall. Human eyes looked back at me with a definitely familiar face. My face. Quickly rubbing my eyes to check it wasn't just wishful thinking I was relieved to see that I was still very much myself - again. I was pretty sure I'd heard that souls reflect our bodies but maybe it was the other way round. Either way I was glad to have some degree of normalcy. Curious now as to what else I'd regained I flicked my wrist in gesture at my lamp. Nothing happened. Elevating the power level I tried again. Nothing. Summoning more magic than I usually would for a previously simple task I felt it collect in my hand as I waved again. Yelping in surprise as my hand coursed with heat and grew claws, I jumped back as if I could get away from it. Large claws were protruding from the end of my fingertips and the lamp hadn't so much as wobbled - I'm not sure which bothered me more. Steadying my rapid breathing I focused on pulling the heat back from my hand as I had before, the claws retracted completely as if they'd never been there as the heat returned to my core. I realised now that I could still feel the heat there pulsing, concentrated again and was hit by a longing for the magic I'd once had. Magic that had pulsed through my veins, magic that was my birthright as a witch of two blood lines now left as a mere shadow of my former power. It wasn't that I had ever believed myself superior to shape shifters, hell I was head over heels in love with one, just it always seemed like such a physical ability. I was more of an energy bolt and duck kinda guy. In hindsight I should have probably paid more attention when Derek was teaching Scott how to fight using his abilities. I'd always started out watching them spar but my eyes could never stay focused on the movements, after a while they just attached to Derek's face. The way his face remained a stone mask as he had effortlessly dodged Scott's punches and flowed seamlessly with hits of his own. Eventually I'd catch his eye though and he'd smile for a split second before Scott took advantage of his distraction and landed a blow - promptly followed by being whipped through the air at a tree or even a parked car that one time. Derek seemed to always feel my gaze instantly which had always been part of the fun in watching him spar and pretend not to notice. He always claimed that he wasn't aware with a smirk tugging on the corner of his lips the entire time. His senses were clearly too sharp, my senses however whilst still heightened were only a fraction of those I'd had in my shifted form. I assumed that went for the speed and strength too although I couldn't think of a way to test that now whilst Derek dominated my thoughts. Had he managed to get away or had the alpha – Peter -finished what he'd started in the hospital? Dread gripped my heart as I raced down the stairs towards the house phone - I was pretty sure my phone had been in my pocket when I died which meant I'd definitely need a new one. Dialling the number I knew by heart I felt the blood drain from my face as Derek's voicemail came on straight away. His phone was switched off. I huffed angrily when I realised I couldn't use magic to sense him either. Our link still seemed to exist still but without magic to pinpoint him I could only tell that he was alive and very angry. Right now though I only cared about the alive part the anger I could deal with later. Where could he be? Not that I wasn't desperate to see my Mum and let her know I was okay but she was less likely to be in a life threatening situation than him. Although thinking about it I would have thought she would have been helping my Dad with the ritual. Walking into the living room brought with it a more potent wave of the metallic smell from earlier. The coffee table I'd ran into before seemed to be the source of the smell and as I looked closer I realised it should have been obvious why. In one of my visions, whilst on the other side I'd seen my Mother at this very table with blood pouring freely from her wrists' as payment for contacting the dead. It was from the blood that the smell seemed to be coming from, a strong stench of copper that mingled with the odour of burnt wax. Why would she waste so much energy with only a slight chance of contacting me when she knew my Dad was trying to bring me back to life? I needed answers. She might have been deceiving me by working with my Dad the entire time but I had to believe it was for the right reasons. Her I trusted. Him? Not so much. So I had a goal which would be a great start if I even knew what day it is. Moving back into the kitchen to look at the calendar I was shocked to find today's date. It was the night of the school dance which I would have been disappointed to have missed if I'd didn't know that there was no force on Earth powerful enough to make Derek go to a high school dance. Not that I wouldn't have tried anyway. Glancing again at the calendar I realised it had only been 12 days since I died, disintegrated, blew up or whatever the hell happened to me. 12 days. It had felt like weeks. Pulling my focus back to the present I learnt that my Mum was currently working a night shift at the hospital. With the location firmly imprinted in my mind I pulled up my hood and walked out of the front door not even registering the absence of Stiles' Jeep next door despite the late hour.

White lights illuminated the corridor as I paused just inside the hospital entrance. Looking around I immediately recognised the nurses manning the front desk from my frequent visits. Taking half a step towards them I froze - I didn't know what reaction to expect. They were my Mum's colleagues so I couldn't help but assume they knew something had happened to me. The question was what? Obviously they wouldn't know the truth unless my Mum had decided she'd like to take up residence in the psych ward. But were people under the impression that I was dead, missing or had my Mum told them I was away somewhere as she fully expected my Father's ritual to be a success? Options' 1 and 2 would be too difficult to explain so I averted my gaze as headed for the private patient rooms. Eyes sweeping the corridors, looking for my Mother when I looked at faces but also out of my newfound animal instinct as I took in exits and took stock of potential threats. Thinking of animal instincts triggered a sudden idea. I may not be able to use magic to find my target but I had a new set of skills now including very acute hearing. Darting into an empty corridor I leant my head back against the wall, closing my eyes and focusing on the sounds around me. I could hear everything. Almost too many heartbeats to count, Doctors voices muffled by surgical masks, the drip-drip of IV's and that was just from inside the hospital. Even now I could hear traffic as clearly as if I was beside the car and yet despite all of this noise it wasn't even slightly overwhelming. Instinct again dictated my actions as I sought out one particular voice. After dismissing certain noises I found I could only hear people's voices until I began to filter the unimportant ones out. However, I heard two familiar voices that I hadn't been expecting - Lydia's parents arguing. The arguing wasn't unexpected but the fact that they were both here could only mean that Lydia was involved. Focusing on the sounds of their voices acted as a beacon easily traced to their location. They were talking to a Doctor who looked like he was having to bite his tongue to keep quiet. That tends to happen though when your patients' parents can only viciously snipe at one another instead of forming a united front when their daughter has only just avoided death. Deciding against approaching either of the two vipers I sought out the familiar strawberry blonde hair that signalled my best friends presence. All of the rooms in this area were the expensive single patient rooms that seemed to be the only thing Lydia's parents could agree on. Only a half dozen were in the immediate vicinity and sure enough the second one I glanced in held the unconscious form of Lydia Martin. Bandages encase large sections of her body but the hospital gown seemed to be covering even more making it difficult to judge just how badly she is hurt.

"Alex?" A surprised female voice sounds from behind me, turning around I see Allison. Something about her expression looks just so devastated that I can't help but move into the arms she'd already opened - apparently I had a similar expression. Pulling out of the hug I assessed her face once more.

"Allison what are you doing here?"

More surprised flashed across her face as she defended "I'm checking on my friend since you decided to skip town." Annoyance faded quickly from her tone, "Sorry I've just h-had a rough night." Not that I didn't care about whatever ordeal she'd been through but I couldn't help but assume it was relatively trivial in comparison to my current situation and even more so to Lydia's. Still I could feel my face contorting into a mask of sympathy.

"It's fine I just want to know what the hell happened to her?" So maybe my voice rose a little in anger but hey my best friend could be dying for all I know. Allison didn't seem to be offended in fact her face took on a haunted look as she replied, "Animal attack."

Animal attack. Those words replayed themselves over and over in my mind. Sure an animal attack was bad but in this town? Animal attack meant one thing - Lydia had been the victim of a werewolf attack tonight.

"I have to go." I was dimly aware of Allison leaving and how the emptiness seemed to shroud her voice. Frowning slightly at her brief visit I pushed open the door to Lydia's room. Standing by her bedside it was obvious now how injured she is. For the second time she had been damaged by werewolves; first emotionally by what she'd seen at the video store and now physically. She looked vulnerable. Lydia hated being vulnerable. I would not let her get hurt again; no one else would harm so much as a single hair on her head. My were-panther side seemed to agree with my resolve as I felt the heat flare across my body and coil just beneath my skin. Placing Lydia's hand in both of my own the heat instantly dissipated as I promised, "I'll find whoever did this to you and I'll make them pay."

"Well I'm not sure how Derek will feel about that seeing as he's the one that did it."

Looking up I glared at my Father who stood across the room from me having just flashed in.

"Derek would never do that." The defence came easy - I was accustomed to having to defend him. Everyone assumed they knew him and that he was a monster. He wasn't. Never has been nor will he ever be. Yet still it was the first line of attack everyone used against him.

"Like he'd never join his Uncle's pack?"

I couldn't help but smirk at him now, "Funny thing about being dead, you get some really helpful visions. Seeing Peter manipulate Derek for example." I hadn't technically seen that but I knew how easily Derek would have been misguided by the promises of his only living family member.

"Ah but he still joined his pack didn't he? Whether tricked or not he follows Peter now who seemed to feel your friend here would make a great bargaining chip. You can thank - Stiles is it? - for her surviving this long." Derek wouldn't hurt Lydia he knows how much I care about her. Not that he'd attack anyone anyway. He wouldn't. Couldn't. Unless he lashed out in grief and she just happened to be in his way at the time? I wasn't sure, which must have shown on my face as he smiled in triumph.

"No need to worry about him hurting anyone else son, he's been dealt with." Confusion flitted across my face now and my Father's smile became truly wicked.

"Derek's dead."

No. He couldn't be. He isn't. I can still sense him. I must have said that aloud for my Father replied, "How could you sense him? You don't have any magic anymore, anything you're feeling is purely in your imagination."

"That's what you don't get though, do you? We're not bound by magic we're just bound together. Forever. So I sure as hell don't need it to know that the man I love is still alive!" I'd always had a temper but now I had a truly feral side to give it that extra push and the smug smile on my Father's face pushed me that little bit closer to the edge.

"The man you love? He isn't a man he's nothing more than a mongrel that howls at the sky. He may not be dead yet but I assure you he will be after tonight."

More heat rose to the surface of my skin as it started to roil with my anger. "If you go anywhere near him, I swear I will kill you." It didn't matter anymore that he's my Father I could feel in my gut that he was the real monster, which a voice behind me seemed to agree with.

"That won't be necessary son." Turning around I saw my Mum had entered the room that I now realised I could feel her essence in – a sort of baby monitor spell to watch over my injured friend. It was upon realising that she was even looking out for Lydia I dropped any concern I had about her actions and hugged her.

"I'm so sorry baby I should have put an end to this madness a long time ago." Her eyes swam with tears but I found my own face twisting in confusion.

"What on Earth are you talking about Violet? You've known what this has been all about from since we first met." My father's voice was taunting and a very freshly planted barrier snapped in my mind. He'd never been bitten by accident as he claimed, nor did he leave us to protect us. We'd removed him from our lives once he started taking my blood to try and make himself more powerful. I could still remember how ferocious my Mum had looked as she unleashed a barrage of spells on him when she found out. A look she was giving him now.

"Oh yes I knew from the start that you were only with me for a child, but I assumed you just wanted to have one with another witch to avoid having to explain to a human why yes the baby cried and the lights went out but no he isn't possessed just a little more than human." Her eyes clouded as she presumably remembered all the times I'd knocked off the power to the whole street during my 'terrible twos'. Eyes sharp with rage again she continued, "But I never dreamed even at your worst your goal was to create a child you could just use as a battery! Worse still you then took his power for your own as if it was your right?"

"Wait – so you didn't do that to protect me from them b-becoming a burden?" It had been bothering me but I could understand if she had, being a witch in the 21st century – or any for that matter was not an easy feat.

"Of course not sweetheart, your magic is no more a burden than your hair being blond. It's who you are. No matter what's been done to you." She practically spat the last part with rage at my Father who seemed bored with our conversation.

"Well I suppose 17 years late is better than never for you to finally figure out part of my game plan. But I believe that I have to thank you for the rather unexpected gift your family carries. Not only did you provide me with a tremendous source of magic," he inclined his head towards me, "but also you failed to mention that were-panthers run in your blood."

Confusion showed on my Mum's face until it turned to a look of horror as she looked at me no doubt sensing my energy, which must surely be different now. A swish behind us seemed to snap her out of it as we turned to see the door lock itself and the blinds close. Defensive incantations began to pour from her lips as an energy bolt launched us both into the wall. Blood began to run from a large gash down the left hand side of my body as my Father raised his hands again at the injured form of my Mum who was holding a hand up to her heavily bleeding shoulder.

"You really should have stayed away Violet, you might have been a match for me once but now you're just as much a threat as this pathetic human on the bed."

As he launched the fatal spell towards my Mum I felt her hand slick with blood grasp my own and as the howl of an injured werewolf reached our ears I realised two things; Derek was in trouble and I was about to watch my Mother die.

A/N: Actually really happy with this chapter and now that I'm finally settled in at University (I got in!) and have the time to write I'm hoping to get this story wrapped up soon…or at least this part anyway as I am considering carrying it on but we shall see! I have almost no time at all to write this week but will try to get it done in the next couple of weeks

Reviews will significantly speed up my the posting of the next chapter…ahem