Chapter Ten
One Week Later
Sometimes, his Betas forgot that they were werewolves. They forgot that along with strength and quick healing abilities, their hearing had sharpened as well. But, being a born werewolf Derek never forgot. Though his back was turned and his attention was on the box of partially burned books that he was currently searching, his ears were pricked as he listened to the ongoing debate amongst his Betas. They wanted to leave Beacon Hills. Specifically, Erica and Boyd wanted to leave but Isaac was undecided. They had been discussing this for the last few days every since they'd had to leave their homes to protect themselves from the Argents who were out for their hides now that Victoria Argent had died.
Derek didn't want to leave Beacon Hills. Especially, not with a kanima that he had unknowingly created when he bit Jackson all those months ago. No, he wouldn't leave Beacon Hills until he'd cleaned up his mess. Not to mention, he had no intention of leaving his mate behind. If he left Beacon Hills, then Genevieve would be by his side.
Genevieve.
He hadn't seen her in a week. Just as she'd promised before she had not seeked him out. Leaving him and his pack alone but Derek did check up on her. Watching her arrive and leave the high school from the woods by the school. He'd even slipped into her house a few nights before to ensure that she was sleeping well. He was sure that she could sense his presence when he was near but he didn't care. The truth was for as angry and scared, as he'd been the week before; she was right when she said that their bond wouldn't be over. And eventually, when everything was calm again, they would seal it.
It was for those reasons that Derek had brought the pack to his old house to search through the remains of the old books that his family had left after the fire. He and Laura had taken the books that hadn't been burned six years ago but he'd already searched through them and found nothing. That left the few that were partially damaged. Frankly, going through the books reminded him of his years at undergrad doing research for whatever paper he had due. It reminded him of Laura's constant teasing when she found him asleep at the kitchen with the pages of the book imprinted on his face. Thinking about his dead sister reminded that he hadn't seen Peter either.
But, the thoughts of Peter and Laura slipped from his mind as he recognized the scent of his pack approaching behind him. They'd made their decision. Being in hiding had taken its toll on them. They were scared and restless. As their Alpha, it was his responsibility to put them at ease. And if he couldn't then they would leave. The question was could he find the words to make them stay.
Genevieve had a busy week. Between the situation with Matt dying and his attack on the Sheriff's Department she had students in and out of her office all week. Now that she was resolute in what she wanted her role to be with Derek as his mate and possibly become his emissary she needed to know how it would work. So she had been burning the midnight oil at both ends by talking to pack elders and emissaries from all the major territories for the last week.
In thinking about her discussion with Derek the previous week she knew that although he might cover it well, he needed help. Specifically, he needed an emissary to help and guide him become the great Alpha she knew he could be.
Trust was the cornerstone for any emissary/Alpha relationship to work; both parties had to trust one another. Derek didn't trust anyone easily for obvious reasons given his past with Kate Argent. But, he had trusted her. And while he may have been hurt that she didn't share all the details of her past with him, she knew that at the end of the day, he would always trust her.
For that reason, Genevieve had waited until she had all the information she needed before making this much need visit to the Beacon Hills Animal Clinic during her lunch hour. She walked into the clinic and headed straight back to Deaton's office. The door was open so she knocked on the frame.
"Alan, do you have a moment?"
Deaton glanced up from the file he was reviewing with surprise written all over his face. "Genevieve, of course, take a seat." He closed the file and gestured toward the chair in front of his desk.
"I'd rather stand, this won't take long." Genevieve said as she moved to stand behind the chair.
"Sure. To what do I owe the honor of this visit?"
"I thought that we should talk. To clear the air so that there would be no more misunderstandings."
"Misunderstandings?" Deaton leaned back in his chair with a raised brow. "Misunderstandings about what exactly?"
"About us… or more specifically our roles in relationship to the Hale Pack. I made a few calls— several actually— just to be clear. It would appear I am not the first emissary to find herself mated to the Alpha of a pack. More importantly, as the Mate to the Alpha the lines of authority are quite clear."
"Meaning what?"
"Meaning that sealed bond or not, I am still the Alpha's mate and my actions are outside of your jurisdiction. Emissaries are not to interfere in pack business unless solicited for guidance. You had no right to tell me what I could or could not do with regards to my pack." Deaton slowly sat up straight. "As an emissary you are supposed to offer guidance, however I can't say that you have ever provided anything more than criticism. And even more it really was no help to the pack at all."
"I don't think I like your tone or implication that goes with it."
"I am not implying anything. I am telling you. You took a blood oath to be the Emissary to the Hale Pack. And based on what I've seen here you've been negligent in your duties."
"How have I been negligent in my duties?" Deaton stood up. "My duty as an emissary is to advise the Alpha, however it's not my fault if he refuses to take it or that continues to make the same mistakes."
"The sole advice you've offered to Derek is to trust Scott McCall and help him get rid of the kanima—,"
"And if he had taken my advice then he and Scott could have dealt with Gerard together. It didn't work. So now Scott and I will have to rely on an alternative solution to solve the problem."
"Do you even hear yourself? You and Scott. Scott McCall is neither an Alpha nor part of the Hale pack and you've given him more guidance then you've ever given to Derek."
"Scott McCall is a young wolf who needs help and I will do what I have to do help him."
"I'm not asking you not to help him. What I want from you is simple Alan."
"And what is that, Genevieve?"
"You can help Scott. I won't stop you. But you will not help Scott at the detriment of my pack." She turned and walked to the door pausing just outside the doorway. "Oh, I almost forgot, I called Alastair."
"Why?"
"Why did I call Alastair? The role of emissary for the Hale pack seems to open. This young pack is in need of a person who seeks to aid and strengthen without allowing their own bias to come before that. I accepted my role in this pack and its time you accepted yours. My pack needs an emissary and you can't do it so I'll find someone who can."
"Now, wait a minute. I've been an emissary longer than Derek has even been alive." Deaton protested.
"Do you think this is how I wanted this to be? It's not. I have to do what's best for my pack now. If you won't help this pack strengthen for the future, then you are of no uses to any of us. Consider your plan with Scott as your last official duty as the Hale Pack Emissary. Your blood oath to the Hales has been absolved." She turned then and left the clinic.
Walking back to her car, Genevieve was oblivious to her surroundings. She slid behind the wheel of her car pounding her hand against the wheel in frustration. She hadn't wanted it to go this way. Alan had been her mentor, her training partner since she was child. And now she had taken away the position that he had held for decades. But, after consulting with Alastair, her great-grandmother's second, about Alan status, she knew he'd left her no choice.
She put her key back in the ignition getting ready to start the car, when Isaac popped up in the back seat. "Jesus, Isaac you just about gave me a heart attack."
"Sorry," he replied ducking his head down with a brief grin. "I thought you knew I was here."
"My mind was elsewhere. So where have you been?" Genevieve said with a small smile as stared at Isaac through her rearview mirror. She instantly felt a reassuring tug on the bond that let her know that he was okay. She had been concerned with the pack had disappeared overnight. But, she knew that they would be safe with Derek so she'd left it alone for the moment.
"With Derek, we've been at his old house for the last couple of days. He's looking for something."
"Are you staying safe? No one's hurt right?"
"No, we're fine."
"When are you planning to re-surface? I'm sure that I don't have to tell you that a lot of people are concerned. Erica and Vernon's parents have both been to see me."
Isaac shrugged, "we-they want to leave."
"And go where?"
Again Isaac shrugged as he looked down at his hands. "Find another pack … another Alpha."
"I see. And what do you want?"
"We're pack and Derek is our Alpha," Isaac replied looking up and meeting Genevieve's eyes in the mirror. She read the confusion in his gaze easily.
"You know being pack doesn't mean you give blind allegiance to your Alpha—,"
Isaac snorted. "I know the Derek's not the best Alpha but I don't know that I want to run away to find someone better. Or find another pack hoping it will be different when it could be worse. It can always be worse."
"Or things can get better, if you give him a chance. You know without the kanima and Argents out for blood, I think—no, I know Derek can be better, more stable. Things are tense, now but when they calm down things will change for the better."
"That would be nice," Isaac scoffed.
Genevieve smiled and turned on her car glancing at the clock she noticed she needed to get back to work. She had yet another counseling session. "I'm going back to school. I have a meeting. Do you want a ride?"
"I'll just get out here. I just wanted to let you know what was going on." He reached for the car door.
"Isaac," she called just as he was about to get out. "I'm not going tell you what I think you should do because it needs to be your choice. But, Derek picked you for a reason and I think it would be shame for you to leave before you found out why. And I promise that it will get better."
Isaac nodded awkwardly and then ran out of the car. When he disappeared from her sight, she pulled the car out of the parking lot.
Derek brought up the last box of books and set them on the table. So far his search had been fruitless. There was no information referencing kanimas anywhere in the Hale family books. He was just pulling out another book, when he heard her walk into the house.
"I thought we agreed that you would stay out of sight," Derek said as he dropped the book back in the box and turned to see his mate standing in the arch way of his house. He took in the sight of her in dark jeans, with a black leather jacket snug on her petite frame and black riding boots. Her long black hair laying on her shoulders with a solemn smile.
"Funny, that's not exactly how I remember the conversation going. I recall telling you I'd give you a week to get things settled. From what I can tell you've done the exact opposite of that."
Derek sighed quietly but made no move to invite her in so Genevieve walked into the half burnt space with her hands in the pockets of her jacket. "How did you find me?"
"I had a little visit a couple of hours ago. And seeing as only one member of your pack can find me, who do you think?"
"Isaac," he guessed.
"Got it in one, he told me that Boyd and Erica were thinking about leaving."
"They aren't thinking about it anymore."
"You just let them go?" Genevieve asked surprised. "Do you think that's wise?"
"It's better than having members of a pack who don't want to be here." Derek answered crossing his arms defensively.
"They're kids Derek, scared and unsure. They didn't leave because they didn't want to be here. They want you to reassure them. You and I," she gestured between the two of them. "We were born in this world so we understand the dangers around it but they don't. They want you to reassure them. Why do you think they came to you first before they ran off? They wanted you to stop them." She stopped before him peering up at him from beneath long lashes. She placed her hand on his forearm.
Instantly, he felt her touch reverberate through his body, as his senses identified her as his mate. Derek closed his eyes and felt the tension slow leave his body. His forest green eyes flashed open staring the warm glow of her brown eyes. "How do you know that?"
Genevieve smiled as she shifted closer to him. "I'm good at my job. And I know kids, teenagers. They want your reassurance and your trust and they will follow you anywhere. They'll be loyal but that won't be given blindly just because you're their Alpha. It's give and take; they'll only give so much if they don't receive anything in return."
"I'll take that under advisement. Is that why you came here?"
"No, actually I came to talk to you about something else. I made some calls, how would you feel about getting an emissary?"
Derek arched his brow in confusion. "I thought that the vet was my emissary."
"No, he's not."
"Then, why can't it be you?"
"I thought about that. But, an emissary should give impartial guidance. And as much as I believe I could. I think it would be better if someone else served in that role."
Derek shrugged. "If you think I need one, then do what you need to do. But, I don't know how I feel about someone else coming here."
"It would be someone that I trust." She offered.
"Fine. Now, I think it's time that you go. I don't want you to get tracked by the Argents with Gerard in control of the kanima."
"You mean Jackson."
"Same difference."
"It's not the same but I'm not going to argue. I've been careful. I'm not even on Gerard's radar anymore since I don't have any sessions with Lydia. Speaking of her, have you seen Peter?"
"No, he's been suspiciously quiet and out of sight."
Genevieve pulled back slight from Derek. "That's not good. Have you tried to find him?"
"Nope," Derek replied as he gestured toward the boxes of books on the table spread out across the room. "I've been busy. I assume that Peter will eventually pop up."
"That's what I'm worried about," Genevieve started when the sound of footsteps gave her pause.
"Aww, that's delightful. Worried about little ole me. I don't know whether to be flattered or scared." Peter said as he stepped into archway across from Derek and Genevieve.
"Speak of the devil," Genevieve muttered under her breath.
Peter inclined his head to side and sniffed the air. "If I didn't know any better I'd say you weren't happy to see your dear ole' Uncle. Considering, that were all family now, I'm hurt. I truly am my dear sweet niece."
Genevieve rolled her eyes ignoring Peter as she returned her attention to Derek. "I'm leaving." She leaned up and kissed him on the lips. "Call me when you've found something."
Derek nodded not taking his eyes off of Genevieve as walked across the room. He held back a smile of amusement as she flicked a tendril of electricity at Peter who instantly fell to his knees in pain as she left. He watched as Peter slowly rose to his feet shaking off the shock as he went. "What do you want Peter?"
"You certainly know how to pick them."
Derek rolled his eyes and went back looking at the books studiously ignoring Peter.
"How inconsiderate. Really, after I came all this way, just to help you solve all of your problems, Derek. You should be happy to have me after all we're blood unlike that little witch you've mated to."
Without thinking Derek turned and slammed his fist into Peter's face sending him flying back. His nostrils flaring as his eyes bled to red. "She's more family than you'll ever be."
A/N: Thoughts? I love to hear what you think.