Scott cut in when the laughing finally started to die down.

"So, now that we know my daughter is hilarious, which she obviously gets from me, we should definitely let Derek tell us about the Hunters that attacked him and that could be attacking us." That was all it took to sober the room.

Everyone's eyes were on him now, but at least now they weren't as hostile. There were more than a few encouraging looks. Even Stiles nodded encouragingly, so similarly to how he used to when Derek had trouble expressing himself eight years ago.

So, Derek told them everything.

It had felt good to finally be out of Nevada. Arizona would probably be a better choice. Hopefully, he would find a place to run, since he hadn't been running in nearly two months. The small town he had stopped in wasn't too far from the Tonto National Forest and he was itching to get out there and stretch his legs.

He pulled up to a cheap motel. They weren't his top choice of resting places, but he really just needed a safe place for his car and his bags. He would most likely spend a few nights out in the wilderness anyway.

After checking in and packing a few things in a backpack, so he would look more like a real hiker, he took off to the supply store not too far from the motel, where he bought some jerky, swedish fish, and a few water bottles.

The man behind the counter was a local so Derek figured he might be the best person to tell him a safe place to run.

"Do you have a map of the forest?"

The man nodded adding it to Derek's purchases. "You going hiking?"

"Yes, I'm an animal photographer, but I am big on hiking and not disturbing the animal's habitats. So, I can get natural looking pictures. Can you tell me the areas where its most populated with people, so I can avoid them? It scares away the animals." Derek was gruff, but the local seemed to believe him since he had a camera bag slung over his shoulder. This seemed to be the easiest way to get people to tell him where to avoid people in the national forests and if Derek had a minor in Photography that he never told anyone about, that he was finally using well, that was just a plus.

He circled a few places on the map that were populated camp grounds, starred wolf dens that he knew of, and even told him of a sparsely populated section that most campers and hikers avoided, but had very nice views of the tipped him a twenty and headed out to the forest.

Derek had been running for 2 hours playing with some real wolves, when he smelt them. People. But also the smell of gunpowder and Wolfsbane. Hunters.

He growled a warning to the other wolves sending them running. He didn't want to cause their deaths. Not these majestic creatures. Then, he took off running in the opposite direction. Toward the hunters.

As he got closer he could tell there were three of them. Two men and a woman. All armed and ready. This couldn't be coincidence. They were here for a reason.

He shifted out of his Full shift into his Beta shift, so he could easily attack if needed, but stayed low to the ground observing from behind a large boulder. They were moving with purpose, tracking him. He was just about to turn and leave when the group spotted a normal wolf. One that he had been playing with just a few moments ago.

The woman sneered at it, "Let's see if our doggie won't come to this wolf's rescue. Ohhhh Hale! Come out come out wherever you are. Or I kill the little wolf."

Derek couldn't hold back a snarl as he lunged at the woman taking her down. He growled at the wolf. Flashing his red eyes sending it away.

Just as he was about to rip out the woman's throat, she laughed and sang, "Down Doggie." Then, he felt the Taser hit his back. The man shocking him didn't let up until Derek's vision faded to black.

When he came to, he was tied to a cactus with rope soaked in Wolfsbane, still naked, with cactus spines digging into his back, which was very uncomfortable. There was a ring of mountain ash around him trapping him in, so even if he got out of the binds he couldn't get away.

Derek growled and tore viciously at the ropes, only succeeding in digging them further into his wrists.

"Now, Now Alpha Hale. What fun is it if you kill yourself for us?" The man closest to him snickered. He had a rather impressive scar running the length of his face, it looked like it was from a wolf's claw, but you never know it could have been something else he Supernaturally pissed off.

They spent the next few hours torturing him. They wanted him to give up information about the Hale pack. The new Hale Pack. The one he wasn't even in anymore. That he hadn't been a member of in Seven years.

Derek spit the blood running in his mouth in the woman's face. They asked about the Alpha. They asked about the Pack house. They asked about his role to the pack. What killing Derek would do to the Pack?

That was the only question he answered.

"Killing me will do nothing. As far as the pack knows or cares, I am dead and have been dead for seven years. I mean nothing to them. You are wasting your time."

"Why do you even care?" He added. He could feel his body fighting to stay awake. Blood was pouring out of a huge gash in his stomach and Wolfsbane was flowing in his veins. He didn't have long. He could feel it.

The woman cackled, the men joining in. "Oh, we don't care. We just wanted to make sure you didn't have anything useful to us before we kill you. It's time for all of the Hales to die, you see. Tonight you. Then, on the anniversary of your families' death the Hale pack with all die. They've gotten a little too big, a little too powerful and just like last time they need to be taken out. But this time no one will be left standing. Not the Pack, Not your sweet little sister, Not your Crazy Uncle. But don't worry dear. You'll be dead soon. Long before it they even think to look for you." The woman was smiling like she had just won the lottery. Like killing a Hale was the best thing she could ever do. Derek want to rip her head off her body.

No one could threaten his family. No one could threaten his sister. No one could threaten the pack. Even if they never wanted to see him again. Even if they hated him. Even if Stiles hated him. Even if Stiles had moved on. Stiles. Stiles was in trouble. Derek had to save him.

Derek roared. Ripping the bindings from his wrists as though they were paper. Derek's eyes blazed red and he advanced on the hunters, who stumbled away from him. They had gotten complacent. Expecting him to die soon. Derek had to protect his pack. His mate. He couldn't die. They needed him. He needed to warn them.

He walked right through the mountain ash like it was nothing. Grabbing the smaller man of the two and tearing his head right from his shoulders. Tossing it away, and letting the blood drip down his arms.

The man with the scar was scrambling along the floor, mumbling incoherently,"But how, the circle. You can't."

Derek silenced him by slicing clean through his throat. His claws full of blood, he turned to the woman.

She hadn't run. There was no where to run. Even hurt, Derek would have caught her. Wouldn't have let her go. Instead, she fired four rounds right into his chest, then his mouth was on her throat ripping it out. He let her crumple to the ground at his feet. Finally satisfied that this immediate threat to the pack was extinguished. Satisfied that her awful blood was on his lips. He smirked down at the bodies and his wolf preened. He had protected Stiles. He had protected the pack and his family. Well a little bit. He still had to protect them more. He needed to heal so he could get to Beacon Hills as soon as possible. He needed to tell them. They needed to know.

Finally, the extent of his injuries started to reach him, so he hunted down a bullet burning the Wolfsbane into his body. Feeling the relief as he coughed the last of the poison up.

He hunted down his backpack and camera, which he had hidden not far from the wolves den he had been playing at earlier. Allowing himself a few minutes to clean up the best he could, get dressed, and take pictures of each of the hunter's faces, scars, and tattoos hoping they could identify them later, before howling for the wolves, allowing them to finish the job for him. Thankfully he was in the most secluded part of the forest, so he could let the animals handle the bodies, since he was in no state to bury them. Even with burning the Wolfsbane from his system he was still healing slowly and unsteady on his feet. Before he left he slipped their weapons and any Wolfsbane he could find in his pack. He wanted to be prepared for anything in Beacon Hills, especially since Hunter clans all used different strains.

Luckily no one was around by the time he managed to shakily hike back to the motel. He slipped in, showered off the blood, changed, and checked out. He needed to put miles between him and this place as quickly as possible.

He drove until he was exhausted. Going through California, rather than Nevada. He didn't need to add any more bad memories.

Finally, he found a decent motel and checked in under an alias, so he could get some rest and not worry about more hunters looking for a Hale. He had a few days until the attack. He would be no good if he could barely standup when he got to Beacon Hills. He needed to be ready to help, even if they may not want him there. Hopefully Scott will listen to him or the pack will listen and convince him. Stiles used to convince him, but Stiles probably hated him.

He fell asleep thinking about Stiles. His eyes. His hair. His moles.

When he finishes telling the story, at least the version without all his thoughts of being in love with Stiles, most people were gaping at him.

Cora looked visibly upset and she wasn't the only one. Stiles' eyes are blood red and they aren't switching back.

"Well, that's what happened. I got here as quickly as I could. I wanted to be here sooner, but I uh had to stop though, because I couldn't heal when I was exhausted. Then, I didn't know where the pack lived and I wanted to see the Hale land before I called anyone or wandered into the station, but instead I ended up finding you." Derek rubbed the back of his neck, looking down at the table.

"Don't you dare apologize for stopping to rest, Derek Hale." Erica growled at him. She had tears in her eyes. Which she swiped away angrily.

"You could have died. How are you even here?" Malia asked bluntly.

"The pack was in danger." Derek stated simply.

Jackson blinked rapidly at his statement, as though he was trying to understand, but was having great difficulty. "But you haven't been with the pack for years. You chose to leave."

Derek's response was immediate and firm. "I don't care how long it's been. If the pack is in danger I will rip the world apart for you…. All." He never took his eyes off Stiles as he spoke, His own eyes flashing red.

Notes:

All the Derek love3
Swoon.

Also, I know Werewolves cannot go through mountain ash normally, this will be explained in further chapters. I don't want to reveal anything yet though!

Comment Comment Comment. I read every one and it makes me so happy I write chapters for them!