The female alpha was woken up from phantom pains. She ran a hand over her chest, still able to feel the sting of claws, remembering the weeks of recuperation. Shaking her head to rid herself of the image of Deucalion from her mind, as she pushed herself out of bed and dressed, wondering how the pack was doing. With a stretch, Mallory made her way to the kitchen, freezing when Isaac turned to look at her.
He studied her, brow furrowed, "So, you're an alpha?" He looked her up and down, searching for something, "I uh...saw your eyes when you attacked the twins," He stated, "Does Derek know?"
Mallory sighed,moving to lean against the counter, "No, he doesn't. I'll get around to telling him when he decides to appear again."
The beta nodded, tapping his fingers on the table. "And if Derek is dead?"
"Then he's dead." She rolled her eyes at the beta.
"So, you don't care that he might be dead?"
Mallory sighed, running a hand through her hair, "Of course I do, there's just more to worry about then someone as stubborn as a Hale. They tend to not die."
"Right..." Isaac blinked, surprised at her nonchalance at the subject, "So..how uh did you become an alpha?"
"...Not by choice."
"You were forced to become an alpha? Is that even possible?"
"So it appears," She sighed, going to the fridge, "Breakfast?"
Isaac blinked, snorting, "Sure." A grin appeared on his lips, "That's one way to change the subject, I suppose." Mallory stuck her tongue out at him, before starting breakfast. They ate in relative silence, before parting ways. Isaac went to school, while she wandered around town. Mallory didn't take note of how long she wandered around, but she found her feet bringing her to Deucalion's apartment building. She paused, unsure, before shaking her head and heading inside to the elevator. She needed answers.
Leaning against the wall after pressing the button for the penthouse, she began thinking of what she was going to say. The doors opened with a ding, and she moved down the hallway. Reaching the door, she raised a hand, but before her knuckles touched the door, it opened.
Aiden was rubbing his eye, groggily looking at her, "Why are you here?"
"I need to talk to Deucalion." She grumbled, arms crossing, slightly wondering why he wasn't at school. The teen shrugged, going back into the penthouse, leaving the door open. Mallory waited, thinking.
"Mallory?" Deucalion's voice brought her out of her thoughts, eyebrow raised,"This is quite a surprise, my dear." He listened to her heartbeat, hearing it quicken slightly, "Why are you here?" Green eyes looked him over, shook her head, and turned away from him and began walking down the hall. He followed, allowing her the time to compose herself. He knew it must have took a lot out of her just to come see him after what he done to her. He heard the ding of the elevator and smiled slightly. Seems they were going for a walk.
"You know I had no desire to be an alpha. Why would you?" She asked, leaning against the wall of the elevator.
He raised an eyebrow, "You belong with us, Mallory. I had hoped you would've seen that."
She snarled, "I'm nothing like you or your little pack. I don't belong with you." She stormed out of the elevator when it opened, Deucalion following with a shake of his head.
"You always were one for dramatics," Tsking, he caught up to her, "As much as you would not like to believe it, you are more like us than you think." He grabbed her arm, turning her toward him, "Do you know how?" Mallory's eyes narrowed, yanking her arm free, and crossing her arms.
"Enlighten me." Her attention was fully on the elder alpha.
Decualion hummed, nodding his head toward the sidewalk, starting down it,"You have always shown the prowess of an alpha, even at a young age." A smile came to his face, "I was so proud when you first fully-shifted. It is so extremely rare, and mostly exhibited by the Hales." Her eyes flared red, a soft growl leaving her throat.
"And? Get to the point." She spat, her gaze angry.
He tilted his head, looking toward her, "Has it not occurred to you that being able to shift implies you were meant to be an alpha?" Mallory scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"Has it occurred to you that I didn't want to be one? That type of responsibility...I could never do it." That gave him pause."You were always one for leadership, Father... I never saw the appeal of it. I was content following you." She sighed, dropping her arms to her sides, "Now...It actually tears my heart a little knowing I have to fight you."
"Mallory, darling," Deucalion exhaled, "We do not have to fight."
"I'm not going to just stand back while you attack my friends."
The elder alpha gently placed a hand on her shoulder, "I am not asking you to. We need not fight."
She rolled her eyes, letting him keep his hand on her shoulder, "It won't be that simple. You know that." He didn't reply, not wanting to get into a verbal scrabble. Mallory sighed softly, pulling her phone from her pocket to check the time. Humming, she returned it to her pocket, biting her lip, "I have to get going." The awkwardness was getting to her, and she just wanted to get away from it.
He pulled his hand from her shoulder with a chuckle, "That eager to get away from me, are you? Not going to escort a poor old blind man back home?" Mallory groaned, chin dropping to her chest, shoulders quivering slightly in laughter.
"I should just leave you know how to get back...But since I'm not cruel, I shall," She coughed, trying to hide her laughter, "Escort you home, old man." She peered at him through the corner of her eye, snorting at the resigned look on his face. He gently took her arm, and began the walk back to his apartment. After she left, the rest of the day was disappointingly quiet, nothing of interest popping up. The same could be said for the next day, it was just another usual day. Until late the next day.