Snow smiled down at their beautiful baby son who was peacefully sleeping after a hectic and thoroughly enjoyable first birthday. She couldn't believe he was one already. She couldn't believe how happy she was. She couldn't believe she had this wonder in her life. Content didn't cover it, it was full blown happiness. And it was all because of Stiles and their child. Heaven's pantheon had blessed her the day she had met her husband.

For so long she had been on her own, hardly even daring to contact her beloved parents in case they were being monitored. On her own since she had fled Kunlun, she had left her home and beloved foster parents behind, because of the evil that followed her. She had lost everyone she loved but still she had never regretted her dual nature.
Her Cat was part of her very soul. What she regretted was not listening to her Cat and killing the threat that followed her the first chance she had. The only blessing was that she had made it abundantly clear that if her family were harmed then that malevolent worm Koi would not even see his death coming.

She may look like a fragile young human girl but her Cat was a tiger, once of the most dangerous solitary predators in the world and their prey never had a hint of the pursuit until they felt the warm breath of the big Cat on its neck.

Her little family were slowly making their way to her home and her parents. She wouldn't have taken the risk except her darling Stiles needed help understanding and developing his magic and her beloved foster mother would be perfect for the job. She had been a practising Spirit Medium and Shaman for nearly 80 years and still didn't look a day older than forty. Also the last message she had received from her parents had stated that Koi had disappeared and they hadn't seen him for at least a year. The final push to return home was that she wanted her parents to meet their grandson. They would be so happy and proud. Kit would adore them. Her only sadness was that he could not yet meet his father's father.

They hadn't travelled there whilst she was pregnant because pregnant Were Tigers were unpredictable. Not that she would ever hurt Stiles but literally everyone else was fair game.

Nothing on earth or heaven would stop her from keeping her beloved Stiles and their child safe. Nothing.

Stiles slowly got out of the jeep, he didn't take his eyes off the impassive face of the Hunter. Argent's hands were empty and hanging relaxed by his side. But Stiles could feel the number and type of weapons through his magic. The spilt blood and the violence expended resonated through him highlighting exactly what the Hunter carried and where.
Small knife in left ankle boot, scalpel in his thick belt, side arm in holsters under both arm pits and a larger dagger in a scabbard taped to the inner lining of his leather jacket.

It had been one of the very first lessons Snow's Mom had taught him. Using his Spark to assess risks in the surroundings so that he could protect his wife and child. She had forcefully hammered home that in order to protect them he had to protect himself. He had been so goddamn bruised and battered for days because of that sweet faced imperturbable usually gentle woman that he almost forgot his own name.

That very first lesson lingered in his mind as he stared into the icy depths of those blue eyes. A slow smile crossed his lips. Yes that would do nicely.

Chris Argent walked confidently towards the Stilinski kid, he was sure that he would get some answers when out of nowhere, a god damn tree branch whipped him in the gut. He drew in a startled breath, as he bent over, and then for Christ's sake he also got a disgusting mouthful of bark beetles.

He coughed and spluttered the mess out, and raised himself to stare menacingly at the kid. Who had the god damn arrogance to fold his arms, lean casually against the jeep driver door and fucking smirk at him. What the hell? For the love of God, they were still on the road, there weren't even any overhanging trees, where the hell had it come from? Fucking magic users, they were a pain in his ass.

He took a rash step forward, quick anger bubbling in his veins when his foot caught was caught by a god damn root that appeared out of the asphalt and started to wrap its way up his leg. He stared down in disbelief.

"What the hell are you doing Stiles?" he snarled, trying fruitlessly to tug his leg free, his hands hovering closer to his more accessible concealed weapons.

"In the evergreen words of Captain America, I don't like bullies Christopher" the low rough tones was a complete surprise to the Hunter. The light quick voice of the teenager was gone, weighed down with the echoes of grief and rage. But he still ignored the warning signs. The kid should be a pushover to someone of his experience.

"I'm not a damn bully. I just want answers about what's coming for you and your Were kid" Argent growled right back at him.

Those amber eyes darkened to almost black in fury "Don't you even think about my kid Argent or there won't be anything left of you for the insects to nibble on" the vicious certainty in Stiles' voice shocked the guy to his core.

Stiles stepped closer and hissed sibilantly "You are a bully Argent, you like to scare kids, young boys especially. Is that the real reason your wife killed herself Christopher, because she knew of your inappropriate boner for young boys?"

Disbelief and outrage blinded Argent for a few seconds as he instinctively reached for the guns in the holsters. Then he realised that there was a more physical reason for the fact he couldn't see straight. Thousands and thousands of silent insects were shrouding his head and shoulders. Fuck he couldn't breathe, he couldn't speak, he couldn't see. He couldn't get away, find a way to get clear because the damn roots were round both his legs. He couldn't breathe.

Stiles watched as the hunter fell into unconsciousness, trapped by the roots and the still covered by the dark mass of fluttering insects. He waited a minute more, just to ensure the guy was completely out of it before sending the forest denizens on their way. He didn't actually want the Hunter dead… yet. There would be too many questions to answer and he still had his preparations to finalise. However he would take advantage of the undoubted fact that Argent would not have told the pack or his father what he was going to do and they would have no idea where he was. His magic would disable the guy's cell and the lojack that was no doubt in that ostentatiously vicious vehicle. He could be safely stored in the SUV and out of Stiles hair with no one else the wiser.

There wasn't a lot of time left now.