FYI: This story is beta'd by the awesome underwater-smiles!
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"So that was it?" Scott asked, not quite believing the explanation was that easy.
"Again, yes." Kali sighed from where she laid on the couch later that night. She ran a hand through her hair. "I told you after the first heat that you didn't feel much because of who you were. Now that you've bonded with the pack and, y'know, feel stuff, you are much more connected with the pack and sensitive to us."
"So this'll be a reoccurring thing?" Scott wasn't looking forward to feeling as if the slightest breeze would knock him over every heat.
"You'll adjust." Deucalion assured him, nuzzling at his neck. Being allowed to touch Scott this heat he had taken full advantage of. Derek sat on Scott's other side, pressed firmly shoulder to shoulder.
"I agree," he stated, "this was the first time your body dealt with the full onslaught of hormones the heat brings out, of course you'd feel sick. I'm sure next year it'll be different."
"Will it take a full year?" Scott asked. "This heat was really early, which also caught me off guard."
"It caught you off guard?" Kali snorted.
"Probably because of you—again?" Aiden nodded. Ethan elbowed him in the ribs and sent him a sour look.
"What he meant, alpha, is about your mood last night. You...it was pretty intense. We feed off your energy and you were so excited and, I guess, happy that it catapulted us into an early heat."
Scott blinked at him. "I can do that?"
"A powerful alpha can." Kali said nonchalantly. He felt a deep growl emanate from Deucalion's chest in agreement.
"It was nice to see you that happy." Derek murmured next to him and Scott felt his face go red. He took a deep breath, calmed by the scent of his pack, and prepared for a week full of awkward touches and zero personal space.
The next day Scott found himself staring outside the window in his room, leaning against the ledge and watching the clouds pass. For a rare moment he found himself alone, able to enjoy the peace and silence. The creak of the door and a powerful scent alerted him to Deucalion's presence.
"Ten minutes. That's a record." He commented. He didn't turn around, leaving his forehead pressed against the cold glass, but felt Deucalion come to stand behind him. Strong fingers brushed gently down the back of his neck.
"You're still troubled about something."
"It's nothing." Scott lied. Deucalion didn't need to know about his crushing guilt. He had to figure this out himself. How do you say sorry for years of abuse? How do you apologize for torturing someone you lo—
"That it takes so much of your attention, even during a heat, says different." Deucalion sat on the opposite side of the windowsill, hand falling to Scott's knee where it stayed. His heartbeat jumped from erratic to monotone several times over and Scott pulled himself away from his own thoughts and looked over the other man. As usual, Deucalion looked composed enough, though his eyes were still dilated from the heat and a slight sheen of sweat covered his body, but that was just from being this close to Scott. It was his neck that was most telling, the back of it bright red in a blush.
"I'll get over myself," he assured Deucalion. "Is everything alright?"
"Of course," was said back far too professionally. Scott tried to keep from smiling, and forced his eyes to glow a deep red and Deucalion shivered at the display.
"Time to go another round, then?" Scott knew what his beta needed and he leaned forward, but a hand on his chest stopped him.
"Uh," Deucalion seemed unable to form words for a moment but dragged himself back, although he looked pained from rebuffing Scott. "What I mean is, when was the last time you ate?"
Scott blinked, caught off guard. "I...don't remember?" It came out a question rather than a statement and he pulled back, honestly trying to remember. "Yesterday morning, before the test—no wait, wasn't that two days ago? Why?" Though he knew exactly where Deucalion was going. His stomach made a weird squelching noise and Scott winced. "Yeah..." He scratched the back of his head.
"You need food, and perhaps a break from the pack." Deucalion's eyes slid to the window. "Let's go out then, I'm sure we'll find something for you."
"Are you sure it's ok to leave everyone?" Which was a stupid question because before this heat he would actively avoid his pack for long periods of time.
"They'll survive." Deucalion responded dryly.
"Guess I am really hungry." Scott rubbed at his stomach. "And it'll be nice to see this city for once."
Deucalion gave a small smile. "I'm glad you approve." The slight waver in his voice was the only clue to Scott that something was off, but he didn't notice more until they were walking to the restaurant and he ran a critical eye over the older man.
"Are those new clothes?" Traveling constantly meant very few wardrobe choices. Scott only had two complete outfits, but he didn't recognize the blazer Deucalion wore now and ran a hand down the thick material.
"Ah, yes." Deucalion quickly looked away. "Just felt like a change."
"Looks good on you—" Scott cut off and his eyes widened. "Oh my god, are we going somewhere nice? Should I have dressed up?" Not like he could have; limited options.
"What—no, it's fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Scott," Deucalion said flatly. "You know me, this is typical attire for myself."
"True." Scott admitted. Although it wasn't until they were actually at the restaurant that everything fell into place. As he looked through the menu it clicked in his mind and Scott's mouth fell open, menu hitting the table with a snap.
"Is this a date?"
The world grew very quiet as both men refused to look at the other. A date. Like a real date, something all couples did. A normal thing. Scott's first date had been at a bowling alley. This was at a casual but upscale restaurant. Nothing was similar but both his face and eyes burned at the thought.
Deucalion straighten his back, coughing as he found his voice and glanced up at Scott. He looked so calm and collected as he spoke, like the past four years hadn't happened, sounding like the man Scott had first met. "I'd rather hoped it could be."
The weight of those words hit Scott and what they meant, what they could mean. He opened his mouth, tried to speak, and was forced to swallow unable to find any words.
"I'll understand if this is too much for you." Deucalion jumped on his indecision. "I don't want to push." And he truly sounded like he meant it, but Scott had gotten good at telling when the man was in pain, and it radiated from his eyes even if the rest of his body screamed that it was okay. Truth was, Scott wanted this. Maybe it was all he'd ever wanted since this thing started.
"This?" he forced out. "No, this is perfect." Scott couldn't smile because then he'd start crying, but the happiness inside him was so intense it was almost painful.
Like watching a sun rise, Deucalion's smile broke out slowly across his face, starting with a light in his eyes before the creases along his cheeks became dimples and Scott realized he'd never seen the older man smile in their entire time of knowing each other. It was almost shy, a bit uncertain, like he didn't have enough practice.
"Perfect? That's a pretty high standard."
"I have faith in you." Scott gave his own sheepish grin and spent the rest of dinner with a warm, bubbly feeling in his stomach that pushed out the hunger and guilt.
"You seemed like you enjoyed that." Deucalion prompted as they left a few hours later. The sun would be setting soon, but there was still plenty of light out.
"I liked that steak." Scott agreed and intertwined his hand with Deucalion's, making the older man jolt. The hand in his was slightly larger, with soft palms and rough fingertips. A memory flitted across Scott's mind at the last time he'd really paid attention to Deucalion's hand and he quickly pulled it closer to him, bringing the fingertips to his face. "I always wondered what this would feel like..." He trailed off at the look Deucalion gave him, or rather how his face changed. He'd closed his eyes the instant his fingers brushed against Scott's cheek, jaw tight and brow furrowed. He felt along the edges of Scott's face, feather light touches on his cheeks, down the bridge of his nose, stopping briefly against his lips. On instinct Scott drew the digits into his mouth and Deucalion was forced to bite his lips to keep quiet.
"Scott!" He frantically whispered and pushed them into a small alleyway. "If you do that again I won't be able to stop myself."
Scott released his fingers and gave a sharp grin. "How did I not find out until now your fingers were that sensitive?"
"I'm surprised you didn't." Deucalion admitted, leaning against the wall breathing heavily. Scott probably shouldn't have provoked him like that during a heat.
"Why'd you close your eyes?" he asked.
"Habit." Deucalion pushed a hand through his hair, mussing it up in a distractedly attractive way. "When I was blind, that was the only way I could 'see' the details of someone's face. Even my wolf vision wasn't that precise. It's a rather intimate gesture."
"Then I don't regret doing it." Scott grinned. Deucalion's hand whipped out and grabbed a fistful of Scott's sweater, dragging the young man forward and crushing their lips together in a demanding kiss. Scott worked his hands under Deucalion's dress shirt to slide them along the bare skin underneath.
"See? I knew we weren't done yet." Scott whispered against the other's mouth. Deucalion nuzzled against Scott's neck, licking and nipping at the flesh. His eyes were bright red and scent drenched in arousal, pressed this close to him Scott could easily feel his erection through their clothes. "Since we're in the phase of trying new things—" Scott thrust forward, making Deucalion whine, "—there's been something I kinda want to try. Let me know what you think." And he slowly slid to his knees, keeping his eyes on the older wolf the entire time.
The look on Deucalion's face was priceless. His jaw slackened immediately and eyes dilated until they were almost completely black. Scott inhaled deeply and shuddered as Deucalion's scent sharpened into an intense swirl of lust, need, desperation, and excitement until it was almost cloying. An erratic heartbeat pounded wildly in Scott's ear and he watched with great satisfaction as Deucalion's entire body trembled in anticipation. Scott leaned forward and gripped the zipper of Deucalion's pants in his teeth gingerly.
"Scott..." Deucalion was undone by the action, his voice a wrecked sob. Scott pulled down across the heated bulge, incredibly thankful everything went smoothly as he'd only ever seen this kind of thing done in porn before and didn't know if it worked in real life. This wasn't his first time going down on a person, just a man, but he refused to let his nervousness show and grinned as he mouthed through the open folds of clothes until he could draw out his prize.
"You ever imagine me like this?" Scott edged his beta, running lips against Deucalion's cock now that it was free. He glanced up and saw that his partner's eyes were screwed shut in an attempt not to come. Scott could help with that. "Look at me," he ordered. Deucalion's eyes flew open and he bit his lips at the sight of Scott below him. "Don't come until my eyes glow red, got it?" Deucalion nodded gratefully, although it was a double-edged sword. He didn't have to worry about ending things too quickly, but now he couldn't release until Scott's command. "You didn't answer my question."
"A long time ago, yes."
"Let's hope I live up to you're expectations." Scott purred, bringing his hands to rest on Deucalion's hips. "I want you to watch me the entire time." He commanded and Deucalion could only tightly nod, hands coming to clench around Scott's shoulders.
Scott swallowed the lingering doubt in the back of his mind and leaned forward, brushing his lips across the tip of Deucalion's head. He swiped his tongue out, happy to see precome already beading at the tip, and trailed a hand up to grip the base of the man's cock. It felt slightly odd, as he opened his mouth to slide the heated flesh into his mouth. His cheeks stretched and Scott had to force his throat to relax, trying desperately not to gag. Deucalion was decidedly better at this than he was. Scott soldiered on, constricting his throat before pulling back to breath.
"Sorry, I'll get better," he apologized and the hands around his shoulders tightened in response. Scott pushed forward again and stuck to drawing only the head of the erection into his mouth, sucking greedily before it popped out of his mouth and he lavished it with slow licks and a hint of teeth. He was slightly disappointed that he couldn't immediately deep-throat Deucalion, but it's not like he had a lot of practice. Scott let his hand join in and danced his fingers across a thick vein running from the base of Deucalion's cock to under the head, his other hand slipped into the fold of clothes to fondle at his sac, rolling it smoothly and pressing with just the right amount of force given Deucalion's choked groan.
With a flick of his nails Scott watched as come started to steadily leak in front of his face and different instincts clawed at him. He wanted so badly to be able to completely swallow his beta and watch Deucalion crumble, but Scott knew his own limitations. He tried a different tactic, darting his head forward and giving quick kitten licks to the tip of Deucalion's member. Soft and delicate he knew would be too little for the older man, edging and teasing him.
Deucalion was rigid above him, trying so hard not to thrust into Scott. His hands had left Scott's shoulders as his claws had snapped out and were currently buried deep within the brick wall he leaned against, panting heavily. A long moan was ripped from him as Scott sucked the tip of his head into his mouth, repeating the action several times before returning to his featherlike licks.
"...most beautiful—perfection." Scott caught the tail end of something Deucalion was muttering under his breath. "My alpha—" The words touched something deep in Scott's chest, like a fire and next thing the young man realized he had managed to swallow half of Deucalion down, throat seizing and clenching around the intrusion.
"Shit...Scott." The way he said it made Scott shiver and the primal part of his mind sink himself further onto the man's erection until he had swallowed the entire length. It was difficult to breathe and his neck hurt at the odd angle but Scott was proud he managed at least this. "Fuck!" Scott glanced up and met Deucalion's eyes, eyes that were solely focused on him, mesmerized by the sight before him and Scott hummed a question in the back of his throat and watched it destroy the man in front of him.
Scott's eyes glowed a bright red and he felt the skin in his mouth twitch and tighten as something splashed against the back of his throat, almost tickling. It kicked his reflexes into gear and Scott yanked himself back, coughing somewhat dramatically as his throat closed. Trying to swallow his first time had been a bad idea. It was a little embarrassing, he wasn't hurt, he just couldn't breathe.
Hands grabbed his shoulders to steady Scott and he took shaky gulps of air. "Sorry," he croaked a second later. "That's harder than you make it look." There was a snort of laughter before Deucalion pulled him forward into a powerful hug.
"Foolish, trying to show off." It sounded like the old Deucalion if not for the thread of worry in his voice. Scott didn't mind. As he pushed away, Deucalion ran a hand down his neck, eyes full of worry. "I—I'm sorry, I should have pushed you back. I just—"
"I made you lose control?" Scott grinned back and Deucalion huffed.
"Clearly."
"I'll do better next time." Scott promised, letting Deucalion help him stand up. He watched as the man tucked himself back in, a light blush still across his face.
"I'm not sure if my body can take that." The small smile gracing Deucalion's face lit up Scott's entire world.
"We're definitely going to have to play around with this role-reversal some more." Deucalion buried his head into Scott's shoulder and whined quietly, scent spiking yet again. "Maybe we should go home and try again?"
"You'll be the death of me, Scott." The young man intertwined their fingers again and they walked back out into the street. The sun was on the brink of setting, they had maybe another hour of light. Plenty of time to get home. "Perhaps we can take a shortcut?"
"Shortcut?" Scott let Deucalion tug him off the sidewalk and into the surrounding forest. The shadows were long at this time of the day, and the sun cast the world in a golden light. Deucalion's hand was warm in his and held tight, pulling him along.
A breeze ruffled at his hair and Scott blinked, memory sparking in his mind and for a moment he was in a different place, at a different time, and Allison was in front of him, smiling shyly.
Scott smiled. For once he was content on seeing the past. They were back in Beacon Hills and he was a teenager again, barely more than a boy with his ratty old hoodie on. There was no sadness in Allison's eyes yet, no darkness or the weight of responsibility.
"Scott." She giggled and it made his heart flutter. "I'm so happy for you."
Deucalion made him feel this way too.
"But you need to pay attention." Scott blinked again, harder. This was more than a memory. Even though Allison was still smiling her voice was serious. "Look out."
"What?" A coldness seized Scott's heart.
"Scott pay attention!" The world snapped into focus and Scott's senses became razor sharp, too late did he sense it.
"Deucalion!" Scott threw himself at the older man just as a gunshot rang through the air. He winced as something grazed his shoulder and the scent of wolfsbane made his blood run cold. Both men tumbled to the ground and Scott used his body as a shield.
"Scott!" Deucalion was frantic underneath, able to smell the wolfsbane as well.
"Step out where I can see you." Scott growled to the shadows and trees. Deucalion grew still as he scented out the area and his eyes turned red in rage.
"Hunters."
"Not just any, Scott." Chris Argent slipped out from behind a large oak, gun in hand. "Looks like your reaction time has improved since I last saw you."
"No..." Panic clouded Scott's vision and he felt his body freeze. In an instant Deucalion was in front of him, snarling dangerously. "If you're here—"
"There was a rumor that you and your pack had returned to America." Chris shrugged. At his gesture, the rest of his team appeared from the trees. Nearly twenty, far too many for Scott to handle. He sagged as he realized he hadn't been vigilant enough. They had stayed in this town for too long, he hadn't done enough research, hadn't kept his ear to the ground, hadn't looked at hunter movements since returning. This was his fault.
"Did Allison order this?" he asked, voice small. Chris paused and his smirk slipped just slightly, as if he hadn't expected Scott to ask that.
"She's in charge of the west coast units now, I'm not sure if word's reached her yet. I happened to be in the area and the Argent matriarch of the east coast recruited me for this. It's been a long time coming." He stepped forward and Scott felt as Deucalion prepared to lunge.
He quickly shifted his eyes to red and growled. "Don't attack." He made it an order.
"They mean to kill us." Deucalion whispered furiously, body fighting against the restraint. "I won't let them harm you." Scott sighed, Deucalion was blinded by the heat. Normally he would have seen their disadvantage; he never simply lashed out at enemies.
"There's too many." And Chris had wolfsbane bullets. He didn't even need to hit them in a critical area to kill. "What's your exact mission?" Scott questioned as he stood up.
"Would my answer make a difference?" Chris asked, frowning.
"Depends," Scott answered carefully. "Are you just after me or my entire pack?"
"Scott, what are you doing?" Deucalion hissed and stood up as well, whirling around to face him.
"Interesting that you would ask," Chris mused and took a step forward. "More interesting that you would care."
"Is it? They're my friends, my family." Scott ignored the man next to him and focused on Chris. "Who were you specifically ordered to kill?"
"You."
"I'll destroy you first—" Deucalion started but Scott cut him off.
"You've cornered the two strongest wolves in my pack. He's right, most of you will die." Scott glanced around and took in the numbers again. "You'll win, but most of you will die."
"We were prepared for that." Chris said sharply. "But I get the feeling you want to say more."
"If I go with you willingly, nobody dies." As soon as Scott had seen that it was Chris attacking him, the solution had appeared in his mind. A way to finally make up for all his mistakes, all the pain he had caused others. He could finally be free of this crushing guilt.
"What?" Deucalion's voice held betrayal in it and Scott couldn't blame him. He grabbed Scott by the collar of his shirt and forced their eyes to meet. "You do not get to do this."
"Looks like it doesn't matter what you want, Scott." Chris chuckled and Scott watched as his hunters prepared to attack. "Your beta is too loyal to let this happen."
Scott ducked his head. "I know." He felt Deucalion let go of him, instead sliding his hand up the side of Scott's face. He sucked in a deep breath and steeled himself. "That's why I'm making it an order." He lifted his eyes and met Deucalion's as they widened in shock. "During a heat, none of my wolves can disobey me."
"Indeed." Chris suddenly looked very interested and motioned his team to lower their weapons. "I've heard about that ability, but I've never seen it used in such a way before."
"If I leave with you willingly, promise not to go after my pack. It's just me you need."
"Looks like you remember my distaste for needless bloodshed." Chris said and lowered his eyes. "And that's...a very selfless thing to do."
"Do I have your promise?"
"Yes—"
"Scott, you'll die!" Deucalion interrupted, eyes wild. "Stop this idiocy, now. You're behaving like a fucking child. This will accomplish nothing!" He couldn't understand, Scott hadn't told him of the guilt that was eating at him more than the darkness ever had. He'd been stupid to think he would get a happy ending.
"Maybe this is for the best...after everything I did—" he tried to say but Deucalion grabbed him by the shirt again and shook him, desperate.
"I told you, if you must pay for your crimes then so should I!"
The answer came to Scott immediately and he knew what to do. "No you don't." Deucalion opened his mouth to argue. "I can pay for both of us. I took your darkness, I can take this too." He smiled sadly; it was cruelest thing he could have said.
"Please don't do this," Deucalion bowed his own head, begging. Scott felt his heart splinter, jagged edges tearing at his chest.
Coward. He was such a coward. He was supposed to have all these amazing and superior traits of a werewolf and in the end he was just a man. A flawed young man who was too much a coward to meet the eyes of the person he loved as he sent them away. He turned his head towards Chris.
"Sorry, Deucalion. Run to the pack now, don't look back." He glanced back to his beta and ran a hand one last time through his hair. "And don't cry. I don't deserve it."
"Stupid boy." Deucalion didn't raise his eyes to meet Scott's. Fitting last words, he supposed.
"Now, please."
Deucalion tore away from him. Turned and ran through the trees to where Scott knew their house was. He watched Chris' men carefully, but none tried to attack Deucalion's retreating form and he relaxed slightly.
"He might hate you for the rest of his life." Chris commented, eyes closed off. Scott shrugged.
"He should, he saw the worst side of me."
"That wasn't hate I saw just now." Chris finally walked up to him, scanning Scott closely. Judging him.
"I'd rather not talk about it," Scott said. He was ready for it to be over. He slowed his pulse down, calmed his heart and nerves, took a deep breath. This was what should happen. Bad guys are punished for their mistakes; they die. He couldn't take back everything he had done over the years, but he could pay for it.
Out of the corner of his eye Scott saw one of the hunters lift their gun and closed his eyes, waiting. He might be the bad guy but he wished—
"One second." Chris said and Scott's eyes snapped open. "Just give me a moment to talk to him, for my daughter's sake. They used to be close." Scott squinted, tilting his head. The hunters muttered among themselves but Chris sent them a harsh glare and the one aiming the gun at Scott sighed and lowered it. Chris grabbed Scott's shoulder and moved him further off into the forest next to the bank of a large river, still within sight of the hunters, but out of earshot. Scott regarded the man in front of him.
"That was a lie," he started. Chris glanced over to him and shrugged. He had a few more lines on his face, but otherwise appeared the same from the last time Scott had seen him.
"My heartbeat tell you that?"
"Yes," Scott frowned, "but I didn't need it to. You're not doing this for Allison, I'm just a bad memory to her. You're doing this for you, but why?"
Chris gave a dry chuckle. "Guess I just want my own answers." He paused and sent Scott another calculated look. "You're less of a bad memory to Alison than a cautionary tale, as a friend of mine once was to me. I think, more than anything, she regrets not being able to save you." A bitter taste rose in Scott, like bile it burned the back of his throat. More reminders of the people he had failed. "I don't think she hates you, though."
"She should."
"That's just a common theme for you, isn't it?" Chris observed. "You wear self-hate well."
"Is this going anywhere?" Scott was done with Chris' stalling tactics. He knew what was going to happen; he hadn't ordered Deucalion to not come back. If Scott knew the older man—and he did—Deucalion was just as stubborn as him and would gather the pack to return and fight the hunters, ending the peace he had brokered and probably killing everyone. "We don't have much time left," Scott warned.
"Do you know the stories of yourself and your pack, out in the world?" Chris asked instead. Scott rolled his eyes, irritation clear on his face.
"Sure: there's a killer boy with his bloodthirsty alpha pack wiping out anyone he runs across."
"That's a pretty tame tale, at least compared to what I've heard. What the men behind us have heard."
"Not sure why it concerns hunters so much," Scott said. "I deal mainly in wolf affairs."
"And the countless hunters you've slaughtered?" A hint of anger crept into Chris's voice at last. Scott noticed his posture change, becoming more aggressive.
"I don't know if I'd say countless." Scott looked at the ground, considering. "We weren't even interested in humans when Kali told me of the ambush. I decided on a preemptive strike. We attacked and left, the fact that hunters still came after us was their own fault."
"You had to be stopped, Scott. You were tearing through cities and causing massive destruction. I read my cousin's notes, all of us have."
"What notes?" Scott asked. "What destruction?" He thought back, trying to remember those first few months. Yes, he had killed countless werewolves, but not humans. Wolves tended to have their confrontations outside, away from prying human eyes so Scott was unsure of what destruction Chris referred to.
"She'd been tracking you for months, Scott. Documented every city you had been to and all the lives you claimed."
"You do that for wolf packs?" It made sense, Scott guessed. To track which packs were destroyed or if they moved, but still— "I kept tabs on the hunters around me. I was never tracked until I settled for a month in Brazil, humans weren't of an interest to me."
"Not just the wolves you went after, the humans who got caught in the middle." Chris crossed his arms. "If you'd just gone after wolves that's one thing, I don't deal in your internal affairs, but you know my code—" And he stepped close to Scott then, voice menacing. "I protected those who cannot protect themselves."
"I understand that." Scott bit back. Those were Allison's words, her code. "I'm not going to lie and say I couldn't bring myself to kill a human back then, I did so with ease when your cousin attacked me, but that was the only time. I simply didn't care about humans, they were beneath my notice. When you hunt wolves do you kill random animals that you see? No? See, same as me. I don't know what bullshit you were fed, but I didn't kill humans for fun. I regret all the lives that I took—all the alphas and their packs I massacred, but your cousin's the only one I don't. She was gathering an army! She already had close to fifty hunters with her, I wasn't going to wait for more to show up. Like you said earlier: needless slaughter."
"Why lie now, when you're about to die?" Chris fumed at him. "She had proof. She sent copies of her journal to the entire Argent family before you attacked her."
"Why would she send out copies of a personal journal right before I surprised her by my attack? It's not like any of your family would lie or falsify evidence to justify attacking werewolves, right?" Scott spit out. That Argent hunter, she'd been the same as Gerard. Lying to both sides to get the outcome she wanted. Either she would have killed Scott and been hailed a hero or died and condemned him with her journal of all his sins. "Why would I lie? I've got nothing to live for, no more secrets! I've admitted I'm a horrible person who needs to die for their actions, why would I omit this one thing?"
Scott pushed a hand through his hair, frustrated and blew out a harsh sigh. Why was he fighting? He should listen to his own advice. The sun had finally started to set, sinking below the tree line and making the shadows longer. Deucalion might have reached home by now.
"You know what? Never mind. It doesn't matter. Yeah, you can put those sins on me too, it won't matter in a minute." Scott looked back down to his hands. He'd gotten slightly paler from spending the past few months inside, the crisscross of white scars covered his arms seemed to stand out. He closed his eyes and thought of calloused fingertips running down his face. "C-can we just get this over with?"
"Maybe you haven't changed as much as I thought." Chris admitted and Scott resisted the urge to open his eyes. He wanted the discussion to be over with. "I don't think that this is as much about your guilt over everything that's happened, as it is about your guilt over a certain person." Scott jerked, eyes flying open and he knew he'd given himself away. Chris shook his head.
"Just as I thought, I saw the way you two were with each other." He spoke of Deucalion. "More importantly, I saw the way you looked at him. You care enough to die for that man, but you also want to die for him. That doesn't happen without great remorse."
"I—" He didn't know what he was trying to say. Only that the shame ate at him even more with what he was thinking. "Is it wrong that I feel more guilt from hurting just one person over all the others I've killed?"
"Honestly, I think the fact that you feel remorse at all is a good sign," Chris said. "You're...telling the truth about my cousin, aren't you?"
"I told you, it doesn't matter."
"It does to me." Chris' eyes flashed. Scott's eyes flared red in response but he tamped down his emotions.
"Yes, I'm telling the truth." Still a bit of a reckless teenager, Scott rolls his eyes again. Whatever needed to be said to make Chris Argent happy and to stop wasting time.
"I see," Chris replied softly. He looked sad, and a little angry. Fooled by a family member again. It had to keep hurting, making the same mistake. Scott looked away.
"Please Mr. Argent, you know Deucalion will try to come back with my pack. You need to be gone by then."
"Yeah." A heavy hand landed on Scott's shoulder and he jumped, startled. "You need to go, Scott." It took the young man an embarrassingly long time to figure out the hunter was telling him to leave, not that he had to die.
"What?" he asked, just to clarify.
"Go Scott, get out of here." Chris pushed him slightly but Scott refused to budge.
"What are you talking about?" He looked back through the trees where the rest of the hunters were gathered and waiting. "I'm supposed to—"
"Die? Stop being stupid," Chris cut him off, voice harsh. "Just as I'm talking to you for me—for answers, you're doing this for you. To die and pay for what you've done. You want to feel redeemed and take the easy way out." Scott felt a snarl slip out of him at the insult and tried to ignore the burn in his eyes. "If you truly wanted penance you'd try to be a better person, a better alpha."
"But I don't deserve to—" Chris slapped him. The world went numb and Scott's ears started to buzz as he blinked in shock. He couldn't remember the last time he was slapped.
"You're being a child." Chris put his hand on Scott's shoulder again and the young man flinched, but the hunter's eyes had softened. "I regret my early time as a hunter. I tried desperately to hang on to a code that was already being abused to feel better about myself, but after seeing Gerard and what he made Kate, what he was doing to me and how he was using all of us to fuel his blinding hatred to kill...it's a hard thing to realize your own father killed and had you kill dozens of innocent people. I was lost. My wife and sister were dead and I couldn't find a reason to keep being a hunter."
"...but Allison..."
"...gave us a new code and a new reason to move forward," Chris smiled and Scott could see the pride for his daughter in it. He thought of Allison's smile and his heart twisted. Chris and Allison's smiles were the same. "She became her own anchor and I followed suit. From there I've sought to be a better person, father, and hunter. It's not always easy, but things worth having rarely are."
"I..." Scott wiped furiously at his face as a tear fell. He didn't know, he just didn't know anymore. It had been so long since he felt sure of himself and now he was being offered a chance to make up for his mistakes. He wanted to live, he wanted to be with Deucalion and his pack, he didn't want to die, but he should. It's what he deserved. "Bad guys don't get happy endings," he finally muttered. Chris chuckled gently.
"Sorry to break this to you, but you're not a bad guy." Chris' hand moved up to ruffle Scott's hair and it was such a parental gesture that Scott had to wipe away more tears. He missed his mother more than ever. "You can do this, Scott."
"Yeah, ok." Scott took a deep breath.
"Fight to be better," Chris encouraged and pushed Scott away again. "Now ru—"
"Argent!" Chris and Scott both jerked as one of the other hunters came stomping over to them. "What the hell are you doing?" He pulled out his gun.
"Scott, run!" Chris yelled as he drew out his own pistol.
"Fucking traitor!" The hunter yelled as the two men leveled their guns at each other. Scott was torn.
"What about you?" he tried to call to Chris.
"I'll be fine, now run!" the man snapped at him and Scott turned, planning to leap across the river to make his escape. He heard the sound of a gun going off but didn't expect the white hot jolt of pain to sear through his leg and he collapsed with a cry, clutching at his left thigh. The scent of wolfsbane made his head spin and Scott realized he was a dead man.
"Scott!" More gunfire went off as Chris shot the hunter in front of him. The others started coming through the clearing and he was forced to roll behind a tree for shelter. Scott watched as the older man fumbled with his gun and removed a bullet. "Scott, here!" Chris threw him one of his wolfsbane bullets, a cure for the one currently coursing through his body. The air was filled with the sound of bullets as Scott reached out, hand straining to catch it when something brushed against his neck.
It only felt like a gust of wind or a hand sliding across his skin but Scott suddenly saw blood everywhere, all around him in a large puddle that steadily grew. His body had already gone numb and he slowly lifted his hand to his neck, feeling himself grow light-headed at the sensation of his own blood squirting through his fingers. This was too much blood too fast.
Scott stumbled, feet landing in the water and the pressure of the current pushed against him. Chris was firing back at the hunters and yelled something to him, but Scott couldn't hear. Looked like he got his wish; he got to die a villain. The water pulled him under and Scott winced as he felt the bite of wolfsbane in his bloodstream. His vision started to black out. This was just like when Deaton pushed him down in that bathtub, it felt the same, darkness creeping into his sight and claiming him.
He hoped Chris wouldn't die too.
.
.
To be continued...
A/N:
...ahem. Sorry for the cliffhanger.
