Authors note- I do not own Teen Wolf.
The water was like ice on his fingers. It was so mind numbingly cold he had lost feeling. The feeling of her smooth planes of skin he had only dreamed of touching was lost in a frozen sheet.
She sat perfectly still. Even with no clothes or sun to warm her she didn't shiver. She just sat letting him wash the blood away in the icy river. Her eyes blank with no emotion and locked into a stare at the dark water.
Placing the rag of her clothing he used as a sponge on a rock Peter looked to his goddess. She was no longer a fierce deity of the sun with bright eyes and glowing olive skin. Instead she was a pale delicate ghost that shimmered in the blue moonlight. The fierce flower he had been searching for had wilted right before his eyes.
He couldn't stand that. She was such a beautiful creature. She was strong and intelligent, the only person who could keep his interest. A true mystery he was taking time to solve. Now as he sat by her broken he couldn't help but feel anger bubble up. The one thing in his world he had admired taken away.
Picking up his hand Peter let his finger trace the ouroboros on her back. He touched gently in a circle following the snake. He let his mind wander. She was only thirteen when they put a blow torch or hot iron brand to her skin. A painful experience for any wolf yet their whole family endured it as children. A truly barbaric practice but Peter had not expected anything less from Michael Lykos.
Michael Lykos, The man who ruined his beauty. The name brought back the anger he had begun to feel earlier. He let out a breath to regain his composure.
He was better than the alpha. Peter Hale was not one to give up. It would take time, but he was patient. He would rebuild his beauty piece by piece. She would trust, respect and love him. A perfect flower preserved to his specifications.
"Why are you here?" A small voice trembled out into the cool midnight air. Peter looked up from her skin to the water in the river. It ran at a fast pace, but silent and calm. The wolf liked to think himself as the river in that moment. His mind was running a million miles on how to answer her question, but he remained steady and silent trying to find his serenity.
"I was looking for something." The younger wolf turned her head to him. She seemed to be semi aware now. Her emerald eyes were fixed on him with calculating precision. Evaluating his answer like it was game to her.
It always was a game in sorts. When she first arrived he was used to people playing his game. He would set up the situations; manipulate emotions and actions to get the desired results. Simple enough, especially for the pawns Peter was playing. When she arrived it was different. She was sharp. As soon as they laid eyes on each other she saw the weakness, laying out her game accordingly and made her move. He wasn't quick enough and for months he was stuck in a war between sides. It seemed he was losing more and more battles every day.
But the tables had turned. An outside force tipped the balance of power between the two into his favor. A factor he would more than likely not get in the future. He would take full advantage of her weakened state to catch up in the game. It may be dirty Peter Hale liked to win, at any cost. "Don't be so skeptical Viddy, you can hear my heart. I'm sure that you know what a steady beat means."
"Answer me this then, were you looking for me?" Her face was stone. It was the look she gave her family. She was trying to keep up her game. Asking questions to assess the situation, damage control.
He removed his hand from her back. Standing up he looked to her and she followed, her legs shaking and body trembling with the slight breeze in the air. Her faced remained solid though waiting for his answer. He stripped off the light jacket he was wearing wrapping her slender frame. Pulling her closer to his chest he felt the ice cold skin beneath his shirt pebbling his skin in goose bumps.
He had two options to answer her question. Either of which could be the truth. He could answer yes, of course I came looking for you Invidia, and as soon as I was able I went searching through the woods. It was an exaggeration of course and his reasoning for coming out in the first place was not to find her, but subconsciously he did stop looking for his flower as soon as he found her. He could use that angle as a weapon. Manipulate her with coddling and fake security. She wouldn't know the difference between his real feelings and the show he would put on for her. Not even his only family could tell when he was fronting a façade. She would believe him to be her hero nothing less.
Option two was simple. He would tell her the truth. In fact he had not been out searching for her. She was in the back of his mind as he walked through the woods as she wailed and cried. The truth was ugly he had to admit, but it would be a far better weapon in the game they were playing. Their world was ugly and she had seen the brunt of it, babying her now would serve no purpose and Peter wasn't the parenting type. What he was though was an artist with words being his craft. He would tell her the ugly truth and paint it beautifully. She would cherish the fact he was truthful and keep her self-dependency. It would be the same Invidia, except she would be indebted to him body and mind. An excellent pawn in the turning game.
The older wolf leaned in bringing his face closer to her ear. Pulling a loose strand of hair and tucking it behind her ear he answered her question. "No."
Her reaction was predictable, pulling away with the scent of anger and sorrow weighing down the air thick. Peter countered accordingly by grabbing her wrist and chin. Her stone face was starting to crack at the eyes; they wrinkled in fury along with her mouth. "Let me go Hale!"
"Not until you let me finish. Now Invidia look at me." He replied gently to her accusing voice. He would be kind and patient, soften her growing flame of hate. A tender voice of reason and control to his rekindling goddess.
She was stubborn but with just enough force he tilted her head to look in hurt filled eyes. They were a bright green storm raging in her gaze. Tears streamed down her face one by one as if she was in pain trying to keep them controlled. Maybe she was, but he would let her cry. She earned it for now.
"Invidia, I promise I will not stand by or let another person put a hand on you. I promise you will never have to go through this pain ever again." It was short and simple declaration. He followed it by rubbing a thumb across her chilled cheek. She closed her eyes and let his words sink in. He let her think about his statement a moment. He went over his words and found no fault in them. He made promises he could keep nothing more nothing less.
The air changed when she finally opened her eyes once again. The anger and sorrow was gone, replaced only by the washed out scent of roses and honey. She had accepted his offer and Peter was ready to begin.
"Let's get you some clothes and rest." He led the way and she silently followed. They trekked all the way back to the Hale home. Peter told her to wait as he fetched her some clothes from Laura's room. His niece was missing from the house when he entered. Everyone else was sound asleep and he went unnoticed. Grabbing a bag full of clothes and blankets he returned to Invidia.
She was standing perfectly still where told her to wait. His jacket was wrapped tight around her body revealing long slender legs. He couldn't help but stare. His eyes traveled down her body to her feet. They were bare on the ground as she dug her toes into the dirt. He had forgotten to grab her shoes. "I couldn't grab you any shoes, but I did get clothes and blankets."
"That's fine let's just go." He shrugged the bag on leading the way to a place where she would be safe until he could find a more permanent solution. The distillery was the perfect quick fix. Humans didn't use it anymore. Hunters stayed away and wolves flocked there. The best cover from a wolf was scent and if she was here and Michael decided to search for her he wouldn't be able to find her.
"You will be safe here for the mean time until I can find a more suitable place. All you have to do is watch out for stray wolves as they tend to come here, my nephew and his little girlfriend included."
"I can manage." She was observing her surroundings with a careful eye. Looking in every nook and cranny she finally found it satisfying enough to put her guard down. Taking the bag from Peter she looked lost for words.
"I will be back tomorrow at sun down. Try not to be too loud and get some rest." He moved to leave but her voice stopped him.
"What am I supposed to say?"
"That's a stupid question. You say nothing, I made a promise Invidia and this is me keeping my promise." He turned around to meet her eyes. She was close to him now. Her body was turned away as she craned her long neck to look at him over her shoulder. "I know you have been surrounded by liars all your life. I may be a lot of things but am I am not a liar, at least not without reason and I have no reason to lie to you."
"Your words are as good as any. I don't know you; I haven't seen Peter Hale, not really. A salesman at my door can give me his word and do we believe him? No, we don't. So why should I believe you? What makes you so different than everyone else Peter?"
Peter smirked before putting on a wounded face. "Viddy you insult me by saying I am unoriginal." She wasn't laughing at his humor. Her questions were serious and all in self-defense. No one wants to look weak. "I agree, you don't know me. In fact I would go as far to say not even my own sister dear Talia truly understands the depth of me and she's known me since birth. But that's why we are right for each other you and I. Who better then to trust other than yourself but an outsider? Someone who knows what it's like? A whole relationship started from a blank slate. And as much as I admire your lone wolf attitude I have seen you break and it doesn't fit you. Viddy needs someone, everyone does."
Peter made his way in front of Invidia during his counter argument. She was looking at him with skeptical eyes, but Peter shrugged her off. She was already in his hold all he needed was her trust. A few choice words and suave movements had her charmed. Picking up his hands the older wolf held her face gently looking into her eyes. He made another unspoken promise. "Let's stop being misfit toys abandoned on an island Viddy. Doesn't the outside world have a far better flavor to it?"
He closed the deal with a chaste kiss to her lips. She was still at first as he let his lips linger. When he began to pull away is when she reacted. She kissed him back with hidden desire but he let her be. If she wanted to be vestal he would allow that. In time he was sure to see her true colors come out.
There quick kiss ended when he pulled away to leave. She was the one to initiate the conversation. "So I will stay here and out of sight, right?"
"That's the plan. Think you can't handle it?"
"I told you I will be fine, just promise to bring me a toothbrush or something. I have a feeling I will be needing it."
"Of course."
Peter slept the next day away. He remembered grumpily telling his nephew and nieces that if they even thought about disturbing him he would have their heads. They more or less listened to their uncle. It surprised him though when he heard his name being called loudly into the room.
"Peter get up."
"Talia I am not a child anymore, you don't have to wake me up like one. Don't you have children to police around? Maybe teach Laura some manners or Derek how to clean? Cora could use some help in both of those departments."
She made a noise similar to the scoff she gave her children as she tapped her nails on the wooden door frame. "I am sorry for disturbing you Peter, I thought you just might want to know that your job has been calling and a woman named Anna is in desperate need of your help. Poor girl if she only knew how much you really cared."
Peter rolled his eyes from under his blankets. Throwing a pillow at the door he managed to catch Talia avoid it. Raising an eyebrow she added "Now you're just acting childish."
He looked up from under the covers to see her gone from the door frame. Getting up he took his time getting cleaned and dressed. Heading to the deli he saw it was a little bit busier than usual, but nothing Anna couldn't handle.
"Peter Hale! Where have you been? I have been slaving away all morning by myself! I almost had a heart attack. People just kept piling in and I didn't know what to do!"
Peter smirked as he handed a customer their sandwich. "And you said I was dramatic. The tables weren't even full when I walked in!"
"Only because when you walked it in it was two hours past lunch time. And besides I am a woman to be married in a month I am allowed a little theatrics."
Peter moved from the counter to lean against the storage room door. He had forgotten about her marriage. "That's this month already?"
"Yes Peter. I have only been telling you and talking about it for the last three weeks. I even came here and showed you my dress and cake."
That took him by surprise. He might not have remembered her talking about it but he would have remembered a cake and dress picture. "Really?"
"No, but the look on your face was worth that little lie. Don't worry though you will get to see them when I have invitations ready by the end of the week. I will make sure you get the best seat!"
"Well I hope I do, you know how much I enjoy a party." He smiled at her but her giddy face faltered when she turned to look at him.
"Peter have you been getting enough sleep?"
"For the most part, why is my handsome face lacking today?"
"Not really, but you forgetting about my wedding and you actually making a sandwich earlier concerned me. I thought making subs was written out of your work contract?"
He smiled warmly at her once again before touching her shoulder in a friendly matter. "Don't worry about me Anna; you should be worrying about your wedding. Speaking of which what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be out shopping for bridesmaids or something?"
"I do it after work and on weekends." She replied cleaning up after the remaining guest left the deli. Her brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail with a few loose strands flying in the air. Her face looked cheerful but it was evident the planning of a wedding was keeping her up at night as light circles hung under her eyes.
"Well that's no good. A girl like you should spend her last month devoted to her special day not stuck making people sandwiches. Why don't you take the month off for the wedding and honeymoon and get someone to fill your place?"
She straightened up from the counter. A small smile graced her lips as she let out a little giggle. "That's why I have you for silly. And besides I can't take a whole month off."
Peter countered her argument while getting more bread from the storage room. He saw she was running low and knew she would ask him when she realized they were out of her reach on the top shelf. "I don't see why not. You are the boss for the most part. Who's going to stop you? I certainly won't and the owner doesn't even come by to collect the money."
"Well who will I find to take the job? It will take me at least a month to interview and find someone."
"Actually I know the perfect girl…"
Authors note- And there was that chapter! Sorry it took a while and half of it was filler but the first part was really hard to write for me. First a big thank you to my good friend monkeygonetoheaven as she helped me on this chapter and always leaves awesome reviews! A BIG thank you to my other reviewers and alerters your support is so great and I love you guys!
So yeah a little update is I have my drawings for my up and coming story going up any day now so excited for that! Teen wolf season finale is tonight and that means my heart will probably break as it has been these last couple of episodes but I will have this story and that story to keep me company. I really hope you enjoyed it as I kind of liked writing it. The deli scene was pretty fun and I liked writing those because their relaxed and it lets me just have some fun with Peter. That's kind of what you should expect form my new teen wolf story when I start that….
Review and alert! I hope you have a very goodnight!