Chapter Ten:

Cody looked over to his best friend, eyeing the pool of dried blood beneath Malcolm's knee. Seething in rage he turned towards Stiles who was still stumbling around trying to get up. Stiles' head was still spinning, his nose bleed wouldn't stop. He could vaguely make out a humanoid shape walking closer before he felt himself being hoisted in the air and thrown bodily across the room.

"Oof" Stiles choked out as he hit the wall. Cody was on him again in seconds, holding him up by his collar and snarling in his face. "I'm going to-"

"Stop! Wait!" Stiles cried in fear. "You need me!"

"Oh?" Cody spat, raising a fist.

"Open your eyes! There's a ring of mountain ash around your friend. You can't free him. I can!"

Cody thought about that for a second before letting Stiles down. He pushed and shoved Stiles unrepentantly towards his captured pack mate.

"Move! Faster! Free him and then I'll get to you."

"Let me get up!" Stiles pleaded as Cody shoved him forwards again.

Malcolm eyed the two of them approaching and clicked his tongue.

"Cody… you could just use him to break the barrier, you don't need him to do it himself."

"Shit, you're right." Cody smirked.

Stiles looked up quickly in comprehension before he suddenly found himself thrown in mid-air again. He crashed hard and skid along the floor into the ring of mountain ash, breaking it. Stiles grimaced as a sharp pain shot up his arm, it must have snapped. Crying out in pain Stiles tried curling himself into a ball only to be viciously kicked aside as Cody freed his friend. Malcolm rubbed his tender wrists and got up stretching his legs.

"Man that feels good! Cheers buddy." Malcolm grinned. Cody smirked and extended his claws. As Stiles made to stand Cody stamped his foot onto his chest, pinning him to the floor. Stiles gasped in pain, he grasped Cody's leg with both hands and tried desperately to push him off but to no avail. Cody raised his arm, ready to slash his victim's throat. Stiles closed his eyes, preparing himself for whatever was coming, but it never did. Slowly batting open an eye he saw Malcolm holding Cody's arm.

"Stop, let's just go."

Cody looked at his friend and glared. "They took you hostage… you should be the one ripping this cunt's throat out."

"Yeah but I'm free now, thanks to you. Now come on…"

"They need to be taught a fucking lesson." Cody snarled, shaking Malcolm's hand off. "What better way to leave a message?"

"Cody, please. Let him go. He's human."

"No."

"Cody, you owe me."

Stiles wasn't sure he was hearing things correctly, was Malcolm protecting him? Stiles tried wriggling free again but to no avail. He tried to look his attackers in the eye but they paid him no attention.

"Malcolm I really don't care. They hurt you…"

"Yeah, yeah they did. They shot me. But look here…"

Stiles watched confused as Malcolm gently pressed his palm onto one of Cody's claws, drawing little specks of blood. Suddenly Stiles remembered that all alphas can share and steal memories. Malcolm must be showing Cody what happened. After a while Cody retracted his claw and glared down at Stiles, removing his foot off Stiles' chest.

"This is your one off." Cody barked at Stiles with a tiny subtle, sliver of gratitude. "But Malcolm, I don't recognise the fucker that shot you."

"More werewolves must have arrived in town. I'll redo the spell when we get home."

Malcolm turned and gave Stiles a small nod, Stiles looked at him carefully before returning it.

"Tsk." Cody huffed, rolling his eyes. Cody grabbed Malcolm's hand and led him out of the loft.

Stiles, still sprawled on the floor, listened for their footsteps to fade away before carefully pulling himself up. Inspecting himself he could tell his arm and several ribs were broken, there was his blood all over his shirt and face. Taking slow, deep breaths and using the last of his remaining strength Stiles hauled himself up onto the stairs. Sitting up he took a few minutes to calm down, regain his breath and finally pulled out his phone to call for help.

Outside Deaton's Clinic:

Derek had stopped by the loft to pick Stiles up on his way to Deaton's. Scott and Cora had awoken and been filled in on what had happened while they were unconscious. Scott smiled at the twins appreciatively, he had a feeling they weren't all bad. However everyone was badly wounded in some way or another. Aiden was barely alive and Cora realised most of her was still paralyzed. Stiles and Scott took turns telling Isaac what happened tonight on Ethan's cell phone. They reached their destination soon after. Deaton stood outside the door waiting for them, not looking pleased. His sister was beside him, her face showing no emotions. Isaac stood behind the druid siblings, looking worried.

"What were you thinking Derek? Attacking them like that?" Deaton asked.

"I was protecting Isaac."

Morell shook her head "No. You were being stupid and reckless and…" Deaton raised his hand to silence his sister.

"Come inside, all of you. I'll see what I can do for the wounded before we talk damage control."

"I have to say… killing a Cavere. Not easy. I may have underestimated you." Morell smiled wryly. "How does it feel Derek? Becoming an alpha again?"

Derek refused to answer the woman and entered the building, everyone else trailing behind. Ethan was holding his brother up whilst Stiles helped Cora stumble her way inside. Deaton motioned for Aiden to be seen to first, he was clearly in the worst shape.

"So, you guys… didn't find and kill him?" Isaac asked quietly. Scott looked his way.

"No, it was two other people. Cody… is still out there so you're still marked." Scott said apologetically. "We didn't set out to kill anybody, well I didn't… but things got out of hand… Derek's an alpha again. Someone else lost their life tonight."

Isaac nodded in comprehension. "So I take it the Cavere are mad at us…"

"Oh you have no idea" Morell interrupted, "That pack has been around for centuries… yet they still number around sixty. Very rarely do they find someone they consider worthy of joining. Tonight they've lost one of their own; there'll be hell to pay. Not to mention the true alpha they're after slipped out of their clutches."

"We beat them once didn't we?" Aiden chuckled. He hissed as Deaton applied a strong antiseptic ointment onto his wounds.

Morell looked at the twin in disbelief, as if she was looking at an imbecile. Morell patronizingly slow clapped. "You managed to beat one, in a five on two fight. Before you all fled like scared puppies from the remaining one."

"You didn't see her fight!" Aiden spat. "That Chinese lady was fucking insane. She was like… fighting twenty of Kali at once."

Scott grimaced. Cora nodded vigorously in agreement, "I hope I don't ever run into that bitch again."

"Right…you lost to a chick" Morell said coldly, her face still expressionless. "How do you think you'll fare when the rest of the Cavere arrive, out for blood? It's been a few weeks now. It won't be long before they're finished up north. Beacon Hills is next."

No-one answered. Derek folded his arms and leaned against the wall in thought. "We still have a few options. Peter… knew this would happen. It's why he… persuaded… me and Cora to go to South America. While he stayed and made preparations."

"Do you know if he finished any? Before… you know…" Scott asked.

"No, but he was very keen on one thing." Derek eyed the wall, "He wanted to explore the limit of Lydia's powers, and how it could help us."

"Lydia? Oh I'm sure your uncle had Lydia's best interest at heart!" Stiles exclaimed sarcastically. "She doesn't have to be involved; we don't even know she has… any powers beyond… the death thing."

"We need anything we can get at this point Stiles. We're going to have to talk to her."

"No… I don't like it." Stiles sighed.

"But it is her choice." Derek stated. "You're just as much in the wrong keeping her out of this. We all know she's a banshee, if she wants to explore that further than that is solely her choice. We'll be there to support her if she does."

"It's probably best you be the one to talk to her." Deaton said looking at Stiles.

Scott walked over and placed a reassuring hand on his best friend's shoulder.

"So, what did you find Derek? From your trip," Ethan muttered. Derek inhaled deeply before explaining.

"Peter knew of someone, a werewolf. She and her pack went head to head with the Cavere several decades ago. Both packs decimated each other but inevitably the Cavere won. With her pack massacred, she found herself alone and fled to South America."

"And you found her?" Isaac questioned.

"Peter had a lead. This woman eventually started a family, thinking she had escaped her past. Peter met someone who knew someone who knew her. But no, we didn't find her. Turns out she was hunted down and butchered long ago."

"Oh…"

"However, it did take the Cavere time to track her down and end her life. We found her daughter Annabeth. No-one loathes the Cavere more."

"What makes them worth seeking out?" Morell asked. "What did she give you?"

"Information. They were the only pack who ever stood up to the Cavere successfully... at least for a short while. They used… magic, spells, runes… and sacrifices".

Morell nodded in comprehension. "Magic certainly levels the playing field… but the sheer energy required would have been... enormous. Not something any of us have. There is a limit on how much any one person can use without dire consequences. I remind you that even with all the people Jennifer Blake sacrificed she still ran out of power in a night."

"But she did kill an alpha and easily took down three others…" Isaac noted. The twins glared at him.

"And we're actually even considering doing the same?" Stiles looked around, wide eyed in disbelief.

Derek shrunk back, almost as if in shame. "We talked with great detail with Annabeth. Her mother's pack had a way… to keep their magic replenished. A method we also happen to have access to here, a potential great source of energy."

Something instantly clicked around the room.

"The Nemeton" Several voices murmured.

"But… that would require sacrifices. After all the trouble it has caused us we should burn that accursed stump and be done with it!" Stiles shouted.

"Stiles… these sacrifices… don't necessarily have to be human." Deaton reasoned.

"What? Animals? No… that's still…"

"I don't see why you get a say." Derek snapped. "You're not a werewolf. The Cavere aren't hunting you down."

Stiles turned and glared at the man. "But I am not pack?"

There was an awkward silence throughout the room. Broken by Aiden's little whimper as Deaton applied a cold gel onto his sides.

"They have other weaknesses, we can work on exploiting those instead" Stiles continued. "A pack that big… not everyone is close to everyone else."

"Go on Stiles…" Morell clicked, evidently interested.

"Not everyone in the pack was an original member. The people the Cavere recruited along the way… had their own pack beforehand. They had friends and family that the Cavere killed. That's… bound to rub some people the wrong way."

"Stiles, you're giving these scum too much credit." Derek chastised. "They abandoned and betrayed their old packs when they joined the Cavere. Their members are old; I doubt they even remember their old packs."

Stiles pursed his lips. "Not necessarily true. Malcolm let slip that Cody was their latest recruit. Once the Cavere gets a new recruit, if they're not an alpha then the pack finds them an alpha to kill. It was Cody who killed Deucalion."

More silence around the room. The twins looked at each other. Morell stared at the ground.

"Deucalion was only killed recently. Cody… can't be much older than we are."

"But they wouldn't betray each other, out of fear if anything." Scott said.

"Where are you going with this Stiles?" Deaton asked. "Scott is right, the Cavere are undoubtedly the most powerful pack out there, who in their right mind would betray them?"

"You think we'll beat them by talking about feelings? Appealing to their non-existent humanity?" Cora chuckled. "I knew you were stupid but this…"

"I just know… they aren't all entirely bad. Ok?" Stiles said. "I think… we can maybe get through to some of them. At the very least we'll get some more information."

"That plan is ridiculous…" Aiden muttered. "Talk to them? Really?"

"Worked somewhat with you and your brother didn't it?" Stiles retorted. Aiden was about to say something but Ethan squeezed his arm, silencing him.

"Just because Malcolm spared you doesn't mean you're now best friends for ever." Morell mocked.

"We don't even know we'll see them again." Cora pointed out. "We no longer have a hostage… but they still have tabs on Isaac. We're at a disadvantage."

"But we can turn that into an advantage." Deaton spoke. His sister nodded.

"They might know who we are now but not where." Morell said. "We haven't got long but Isaac is-"

"Bait" Isaac mumbled. "Just great"

"Yes, the Cavere pack's goal is still the same. If no-one else gets marked they will have no choice but to come for Isaac first. This lets us choose the location." Morell stated, folding her arms.

"So… plan?" Scott asked.

"We do all three." Deaton stated with an air of authority. "Stiles, you need to talk with Lydia as soon as you can. Me, my sister, Derek and Cora will discuss and look over… supernatural options. And if there is an opportunity to talk to some of them… in guaranteed safety, then it's worth a try."

Several hours later:

Eventually everyone left. Deaton had done his best to patch up everyone. It was the early hours of the morning and he was beyond tired. He finished wiping someone's blood off his working desk before sitting down to take a well-deserved break. Derek had given him a list of badly scrawled handwriting detailing various spells Annabeth had told him about, her mother taught her well. However all of the spells, names and various drawings were unfamiliar to Deaton, they were of another origin. Morell said a few looked familiar but had no idea what they did. Deaton sighed, he knew one day this would come but he didn't count on becoming so attached to the pack. It inspired him, urged him to try his hardest to protect these people. After a cup of green tea he made his way to the exit, towards home and a warm bed. What he wasn't expecting was Stiles.

"Stiles!" Deaton shouted. "You frightened me. I thought you left ages ago."

"I did… but then I came back."

Deaton looked at the boy, he was unusually calm. His face was pale and sombre. His breathing was heaving and his hands were tucked away sheepishly into his pockets. His eyes looked like they had been crying, red and slightly puffy.

"Is everything alright?"

"Yes… I mean… no. I wanted to speak to you."

"And it couldn't wait?"

"Please…"

Deaton sighed sympathetically. "What's on your mind Stiles?"

"Earlier… when Cody barged in. He beat the living daylights out of me. He… threw me around like a rag doll. I thought I was going to die, that he was going to kill me."

"Yet you still want to talk to them?"

Stiles looked at the vet in hurt, not sure whether or not to continue. Deaton raised his hands as a simple apology.

"I felt… powerless. Helpless. I was scared. Scared I was… never going to see my dad, Scott, Lydia… ever again. I was so scared."

"Stiles…"

"Teach me."

"Huh?"

"Magic. Teach me magic. Please… I don't ever want to feel like that again. I want to fight, to be able to protect those I love."

"Stiles… not everyone has the capability for magic. Some are born with the gift. Others work and study for years before even casting their first spell."

"How do you know I don't have the gift? I remember this one time… with mountain ash. Something about a spark…"

Deaton paused. "Follow me Stiles."

Together they went to the storage room; Deaton hopped onto a small stand and pulled a jar from the top shelf. Stiles coughed as clouds of dust descended upon him. Deaton took something out and placed in on the counter.

"What… is that?" Stiles said, observing the object carefully.

"An acorn. That's all it is. Take it in your hand Stiles"

"What now?"

"I don't know. You tell me."

"Nothing… it's just a dumb seed."

Deaton smiled. "Stiles… sleep with it tonight ok? Keep it in your hand as you slumber. Tomorrow, you call me and tell me what happens, if anything. Now come on, we both should be getting home. I'll give you a lift."

Beacon Hills Motel:

Cody and Malcolm exited the stolen vehicle, leaving it two streets away from the motel. As they climbed the stairs to their room they could tell something was wrong. Running up two stairs at a time they burst into room to find everything had been torn to pieces. The window was broken, the sofa upturned. The carpet is ribbons and the furniture in pieces. Malcolm instantly made his way to his bed, sighing in relief upon finding his belongings untouched. Cody drew his claws but instantly redrew them when he saw Xiao come out of the bathroom. She looked livid, seething pure rage through clenched teeth. Her clothes were dirty and tattered, her long beautiful hair in dire need of a wash. Her eyes showed she had been in mourning, fresh tears still lining her eyes. Evidently she must trashed the motel room, wouldn't be the first time.

"I hope he was worth it." Xiao said quietly, looking at Malcolm.

Cody frowned in annoyance. "What's that supposed to mean? What happened here?"

"They came for you, the true alpha, those freak twins and two werewolves you didn't tell us about. James is dead."

Malcolm shot up in shock. Cody's jaw dropped, lost for words.

Xiao punched the wall in anger, leaving a dent. "I will find them, I will rip them slowly apart, and I will watch their blood paint this town red." She snarled. "I've known James for centuries, they will pay. Dearly. ALL OF THEM."

Cody rushed to her side, holding her in a warm embrace, trying to calm her down.

"I didn't know you guys were here…" Malcolm murmured.

Xiao looked at him in disgust. "What did you say your IQ was again? Over two hundred? Your lazy, careless, stupid approach got yourself taken prisoner and as a result; James killed. Cody called for back-up, Zaid sent us."

Cody froze. How was he going to explain this to Charles? How could Zaid possibly cover for him for a fuck up this major? His head felt hot and sweaty thinking about it. He was in deep trouble. He was still on probation, trying to prove to the pack he is worthy.

Malcolm whimpered, wilting under Xiao's intense gaze.

"What now…?" Cody whispered.

"I take James's body back to the pack."

"What will you tell them?" Cody asked slowly, dreading the answer.

Xiao looked at both boys carefully, finally she sighed. "I will tell them we came here in advance because everything appeared under control up-state, I will them we were expected and ambushed accordingly... by the true alpha and his pack."

Cody relaxed his shoulders slightly. "You'd to that for me?"

"We've lost one dear friend tonight. Let's not make it three. Charles isn't known to be a forgiving man." Xiao muttered quietly. "However, I expect both of you to stay and do your job. Redo the runes daily, we had two unexpected surprises tonight."

Cody nodded. "One of them shot Malcolm."

"Mark them then retreat, wait for back up. Within a week, we'll all be here. We'll have our revenge, James killer will not escape me. But If you get caught again… don't expect back up."

Malcolm nodded while Cody closed his eyes in acceptance.

"Thanks Xiao… I mean it." Cody whispered. "Thanks for taking the heat for me…"

"I haven't done it yet…" Xiao shrugged flippantly. "I have been with the pack longer. They'll be less harsh with me. And also, find somewhere else to stay."

Xiao beckoned the two of them to help her carry James's corpse, wrapped in a bed sheet, to her car without being seen. She waved goodbye and drove off.

The two wolves went back to their room, grabbed their belongings and walked back to the stolen car. They left a small pile of money on the desk for the owner, but nowhere near enough to pay for all the damage. Malcolm was still in shock, shaking slightly as he sat in the passenger seat. Cody sighed and leant over, wrapping his arm around his friend.

"You ok?"

"James…"

"I know" Cody smiled sadly.

"I can't fully remember the last time we lost one of our own… it was either Jessica or Amirah back in the 1930's, I barely knew them. Charles… will be furious. James wasn't an original but he's been with the pack for centuries."

Cody looked at his friend's face; there was no sign of sadness or remorse. In fact, it surprised Cody to see his friend calm, teary… but softly smiling?

"You don't seem too upset about it…"

"You don't understand… James… was the one who caught my brother. James forced my brother with his mental power to spill everything. My brother would never have betrayed us. James… was the one who was responsible… for the Cavere finding me, my pack."

Cody looked at him, his face showing no emotion.

"Malcolm… that was like years and years ago. We're your pack now! I'm your pack now!"

"I know, I know but… tonight brought up some memories. They were my family you know… I can't say I'm sad James is gone. We never got along. He was all for killing me back when I was recruited."

Cody nodded sympathetically and squeezed Malcolm's shoulder.

"Keep this to yourself ok?"

"That goes without saying." Cody smiled. "But hey… you're that old? 1930s?" Cody teased.

Malcolm shoved him off, slightly cheered up. "No, shut up. It's wolf years that count; I'm still twenty thanks to our pack ritual."

"Geez, being twenty for a century." Cody laughed. "Talk about clingy."

Author's Note:

Sorry for a whole page of talk talk talk. It's Christmas time so I can't write as frequently as I'd like. To clarify yes the OCs (Cody, Malcolm) are main characters along with Scott's pack, they may or may not die. I haven't decided. They'll have a massive role in events yet to come. Thank you guys so much for reading my first story, I hope it's not too confusing. I've been thinking of maybe adding some romance but it'll be the first time I write any ever. I'll try and finish and upload the next chapter just after Christmas!