Gift
AN: Hi everyone, here is the final chapter of Two's a Crowd. I'm posting now as I'll be out later tonight. I decided not to post the summary of One's Not Enough. I typed it all up, but haven't edited it and was already far behind schedule with both these stories and decided not to delay posting to go through it all. I can still post it, but did a bit of a recap in the final chapters of One's Not Enough. I can still post the summary if you'd like me to, PM me to let me know. I probably won't edit it as I'm going to be going to start working on the next story.
As I've stated before, I'm going to go on a brief hiatus until I finish the story so that it's more organized than the prequel and first half of this story. I'm planning on the chapters being a bit longer than most of the ones in this story, but I won't know until I get to work on it. Also, I'm not sure what the title will be. I'd like to continue the numbering in the titles, but haven't figured out a good way to incorporate three yet, but follow me so you can be notified when I start posting it.
Anyway, as always, let me know what you think of this story. I'll use the feedback while working on the next story. Thanks, and I hope you enjoy!
The two packs piled into the cars before their caravan headed towards the valley. "If you needed our pack to be together, why not stop everything from falling apart," Stiles asked as Steve drove.
"I only came to observe originally. I wasn't supposed to get involved," Steve explained.
"Didn't stop you," August commented.
"By the time I did, things were already on a downward spiral."
"But you never warned him," Stiles stated.
"He did," Scott said. "It didn't go well. Theo had already gotten into my head."
"And Steve was a bit too emotional about the situation," August added.
"Okay, then why not get everyone back together when you had the rest of your pack working with the others?" Stiles asked.
"The same reason he didn't try to get you to work with me," Scott replied.
"Scott needed to rebuild his own pack, not have everyone following me."
"But things could have changed, they could have been different," Stiles stated.
"Steve really underestimated Theo as a threat," August replied.
"I was only there to observe Scott. You can't blame me for not being everywhere at once."
"Maybe if you had us come from the beginning," August mentioned.
"The only person to blame for what happened is Theo," Scott told them.
"How are you a chimera if you're only a harpy?" Lydia asked while driving her car.
"Ever hear of a male harpy?" Charlie asked her.
"That sounds like a cop out," she replied, not taking her eyes off the road.
"Hey, I didn't get to choose which powers I got. Though they are pretty sweet," Zach laughed.
"Maybe one day you'll learn to use them," Fiona commented.
"I can fly just fine, thank you."
"She's talking about these," Charlie said grabbing Zach's wrist and forcing the talons out.
"You need a manicure," Lydia commented, turning to look at the talons.
"We never got to properly train you after Leonard's injection," Charlie stated as Zach pulled his hand away from the beta. "Once everything's over with, we will."
"So, you're really smart?" Malia asked Leonard.
"Spent a lot of time indoors while growing up. Then spent a lot of time learning anything I could about the supernatural," he admitted as he drove the SUV onto the highway.
"And you're fast?" Liam asked Jay.
"And witty," he replied. Malia groaned next to him.
"It does get old, doesn't it?" Leonard chuckled.
"He's not even witty," she replied.
"He still is from time to time, not as often as he used to be," Leonard told her.
"What happened?" Liam asked.
"People died," Jay answered.
The car sat in silence for a moment. "See, that wasn't witty," Malia commented, causing Jay to smirk.
The caravan stopped outside the valley and the two packs were greeted by Mary, Tiberius, and Yuki.
"Mom!" Fiona ran forward hugging Mary.
"Son," Tiberius greeted August, extending his hand. August shook it in return as Yuki walked up to Steve and Charlie.
"I've been able to delay the vote," she told Charlie before turning to the alpha. "Are you sure they can do this?"
Steve nodded, looking back at Scott's pack. "I'm positive. Scott's everything the legends say and more."
Yuki nodded and the group moved towards Kaia. The kitsune continued to hover in the air, the ground beneath her devoid of the snow the packs were standing on.
"Okay, now what?" Stiles asked, observing Kaia.
"You won't like it," Steve said stepping behind him and Scott.
Jay stepped behind Malia, Charlie behind Lydia, and Leonard behind Liam.
"No, absolutely not!" Stiles yelled, turning to Steve.
"Stiles, we agreed to help," Scott told him.
"But Lydia is going to be probed by a beta," Stiles said.
"His name's Charlie," Steve corrected.
"Yeah, I'm not too comfortable with this either," Malia stated.
"Everyone in the pack can safely access your minds and your healing abilities. Hell, I could do it if I had claws," August told them.
"He's right, I've seen Charlie do it before," Lydia said. "To Liam and Scott, in the tunnels. I trust him."
"Can't you do her?" Stiles asked Steve.
"I have to tap into the two strongest for this to work."
Stiles went to open his mouth. "Stiles, I'll be fine," Lydia told him.
Stiles huffed as he turned away from Steve. "You're the strongest," Scott whispered to Stiles.
"Yeah," Stiles smiled, "I am—" Steve dug his nails into the back of Scott and Stiles's necks. The rest of the pack followed suit.
Black tendrils crawled up all of their arms, including Zach and August. The tendrils reached their chest before they stopped. The orange aura that covered Kaia started to fade before a flame rose from her chest. The flame spun until a large, orange egg formed. The two fell to the ground next to each other.
Leonard removed his claws from Liam, the beta stumbled slightly before rubbing his neck. The rest of the pack removed their claws as the werelion moved to help Kaia to her feet. "Hey," he sighed, smiling at her.
Kaia pulled Leonard into a hug. "I was worried you were going to do something stupid," she told him. She looked past him and saw the members of Scott's pack rubbing their necks. "Who are all these people?"
"We might have done something stupid," Leonard chuckled as he helped her walk back to the others. "I'll show you later."
Tiberius pulled out his pistol and fired at the egg. "What are you doing?" Scott asked as the bullet ricocheted off.
"Making sure no one else can be hurt by the phoenix," he answered.
"You can't kill it in its egg form," Fiona stated.
"We attack when she emerges then," Steve replied, shifting.
"You're going to kill her?" Stiles asked.
"She almost killed our whole pack," Charlie explained.
"She was kinda crazy too," Jay added.
"She was," Marin said approaching from behind. "But she can be saved."
Tiberius turned to aim his gun at her but August shot it out of his hand. Tiberius looked back at his son. "Let her finish," August told him.
"The phoenix will be reborn anew, all her previous experiences will be left in her former life," Marin explained. "You'd be attacking an innocent creature."
"She tried to kill my daughter," Yuki stated.
"The whole pack," Mary added.
"Julia found the phoenix egg years ago," she said, looking to Steve. "Julia captured the phoenix after her rebirth, torturing her in order to use the phoenix's power to eliminate the other supernatural. Nero and Gil joined her plan. The phoenix tried to hold off, but after years of endless torture, she broke. Julia planned to have the phoenix kill Randy, but Randy was able to calm her down. When Julia provoked her, the phoenix killed all of them except for Nero."
"How do you know this? You wouldn't have been more than teenager then," Yuki stated.
Marin turned to Tiberius. "Because Osmont told me how you and your father mortally wounded her."
"Not mortally enough," Tiberius muttered, looking back at the egg.
"Since she was able to go through her lifecycle, she can be reborn, free from the damage caused by your family."
"With the new information, we'll need another vote. Call Malik," Yuki told Mary.
Mary screamed Malik's name, shaking the ground beneath them.
"If she is innocent you can't kill her," Scott told Tiberius.
"Scott's right. She would have done nothing," Steve added.
"You, unfortunately, do not have a say in this matter," he told the alphas.
"Scott, I think he should stay out of this," Lydia whispered.
"Then give them back their right to vote," Mary said.
"I can't do that," Tiberius stated.
"We have time, before Malik arrive," Yuki stated. "I vote yes."
"We only need two of three, Tiberius," Mary reminded him.
"What have I been called for this time?" Malik asked as he walked up to the others.
"We are voting on what to do with the phoenix," Tiberius told him.
"Kill it," Malik said without hesitating.
"Everything Marin said is true, mom. I saw everything she went through while she was inside me," Kaia said.
Yuki nodded, "Spare her."
"Spare her," Mary said.
"You only get a vote in a tie," Tiberius reminded the banshee.
"Then give the wolves the vote," Mary replied.
"Dogs don't deserve to vote," Malik commented.
"By that logic, neither should cats or foxes," Yuki told him.
Scott and Stiles looked back at Steve, who shook his head.
"Why don't you tell everyone the reason you don't want to let the pack back in the Senate," Marin stated.
"This is none of your concern," he told her.
"You think the pack is a threat to the Republic, but not because their actions would bring a threat," Marin stated, ignoring the hunter.
"What is she talking about?" August asked his father.
"She can't be trusted," Tiberius replied.
"I was here with Deucalion when Blake was forming his pack," Marin stated.
"You knew?" Charlie growled.
"I found out what Blake was doing after he had turned the two of you. He was allowed to remain in the Republic so long as he stopped recruiting that way. It was over," Tiberius admitted.
"Except it wasn't," Charlie growled. "I found out he was going to get a new pack the night he died. I saved the kids he was going to turn."
Tiberius shook his head. "As the pack started dying, he knew that you would have been the one to find out. You superseded his control of the link. He warned me that once you found out, it would make you unstable," Fiona held back Charlie as he tried to rush the older hunter. "You would become a threat, especially if you knew that I knew." The egg shook and Tiberius pulled out his second gun, aiming at the egg. "We're killing her."
August ran in between the egg and his father, putting the gun to his forehead. "You have to kill me first."
"You know the code. concelamus, conserviamo, contegimus."
"That hasn't been my code for a while now. She's innocent. I'm protecting her."
"My God, I'll finish this," Malik said stepping forward. Leonard got in his way. "You've been spending far too much time with Jay. The times for games are over. You should go home, be with the family."
"I am with my family," Leonard told him.
"A prince does not belong with a pack of dogs," Malik stated as he moved around his son. Leonard placed his hand on Malik's chest holding him back. The older werelion rolled his eyes. "You'll learn one day," he said batting his son aside. Jay ran forward and knocked Malik to the ground. The werelion rose and grabbed Jay by the throat. "Attacking me is your death sentence."
"Malia, wait," Scott called out as Malia ran at Malik, swiping the hand holding Jay.
"Yeah, that'll improve political relations," Stiles commented, Scott turned back to Steve to apologize.
"I've never been good at playing politics," Steve told him as Malia was slammed into the ground.
The two alphas turned towards Malik and roared.
"That's my pack," Scott growled.
"You think I'm scared of the pup that's afraid to kill?" Malik replied, looking up at the them, his eyes glowing emerald.
Charlie and Liam roared as they shifted as well. "I'm not," Steve reminded him.
"You've failed at that before," Malik stated.
Flames emerged from the egg as it hatched, knocking everyone away. As the flames dissipated, a red-headed woman was revealed, hovering in the air. "So much violence," the phoenix muttered.
Everyone returned to their feet and stared at the phoenix, a light orange aura whipped around her as she slowly descended to the ground. "The decision was made," Tiberius sighed raising his gun and firing.
Zach flew towards the phoenix pushing her out of the way. Zach groaned when the bullet hit him and the two plummeted towards a tree. The chimera was stopped and felt something warm surround him. He looked up and watched as the woman's fiery wings slowly brought them to the ground.
The others froze as they witness Zach being shot and the phoenix brought him to the ground.
"She leaves unharmed," Yuki stated.
"But the vote—" Tiberius started.
"You shot one of the pack!" August shouted, cutting his dad off.
"Because they interfered with the outcome of the vote," Tiberius replied.
"The vote is no longer valid. Without the pack, Mary, or myself, this Republic is now disbanded, as it should have been long ago," Yuki stated.
"Malik, you are free to leave," Mary added. The werelion snarled. "Unless you'd want to fight all of us."
He huffed before walking away. The phoenix stared at Zach before raising her head and flying towards Kaia. "I remember what I tried to do to you. Why would you all risk your lives for me? I was a monster."
"Not all monsters do monstrous things," Lydia told her.
"You have a fresh start this time. You deserve it," Steve added.
The phoenix nodded and set Zach on the ground. Her wings grew and she lifted herself into the air disappearing above the trees.
Jay helped Malia to her feet as the pair and Leonard rejoined the pack. August walked over to Steve as back tendrils moved up the pack's arms. The bullet fell to the ground as Zach's wing finished healing.
"It might be time to reevaluate your code," Mary told Tiberius as the pack walked away. "Until then, the Republic will remain disbanded."
"What now?" Stiles asked once they reached the cars.
"We have to pick up some things," Steve said. "Follow me." They pulled up to the remains of the pack house, Leonard parked the SUV in the bunker while the others pulled up outside. "You guys want to get the stuff from the other bunker?" Steve said as he ducked down to Lydia's car. Charlie nodded before Lydia drove away.
"This is your home?" Stiles asked looking at the charred house.
"It was," Steve stated before heading inside, Scott following behind him.
"The burning was a new addition," August added, leading Stiles to the bunker. The two watch Jay move the weapons from the locker to the back of the SUV.
"You want some help?" Malia asked.
"I could slow down some if you wanted to help," Jay mentioned, coming to a stop.
"He hasn't changed," Kaia chuckled before the werecheetah ran off again.
Leonard put his arm around her and pulled her closer to him. "Don't encourage it," he joked.
August walked over to the locked and pulled off the paper with the symbols. "What's that?" Stiles asked.
"Ideas I had for pack symbols when we were starting out," August replied.
"Should have gone with that one," Stiles said, pointing to eternity knot. "Better than a lightning bolt."
"Celtic symbols don't really fit for us," August replied.
"Is it safe to be up here?" Scott asked, testing the floor beneath him.
"Safe enough. I just have to grab one thing," Steve replied walking into Jay's room. He picked up the charred bear.
"What is it?" Scott asked behind Steve and he turned the bear in his hands.
"Belonged to Thane before he died," Steve muttered. "It's mostly destroyed, but I don't want to leave it behind."
Steve turned to Scott and moved towards the door. "Your scar," Scott gasped. "It's gone."
"I don't need the reminder anymore," Steve replied. Scott tilted his head slightly before following the other alpha out of the house.
"Are there going to be any side effects to this?" Stiles asked on the drive back to Beacon Hill, pointing to his bleeding neck.
"Oh," Steve sighed, grabbing Stiles's arm. "We can heal you instead of just taking pain, but other than that no."
"Good," he said before turning to August. "Can you steal teach me how to fight so I can kick the ass of the next person that wants to dig around my brain?"
"Stiles," Scott scolded.
"I intend to make good on my promise," August chuckled. "Besides, it's looking like we're going to stay in Beacon Hills for a while."
The pack exited their cars after dropping Scott's pack at their homes. August opened the door and found Marin standing in the foyer.
"You travel fast," August commented.
"I didn't have to drop anyone off on my way here," she told them.
"Fair point," August said. "So much for having a pack in that area though."
"I have a feeling the balance won't be upset too much."
"Did you break in just to tell us that?" Steve asked.
"No, I was wondering if you needed an emissary since the Republic is no more."
"You want us to accept help from you?" Leonard asked.
"The one who warned us about taking Fiona into Eichen?" Charlie added.
"And then saved my ass twice the night we were getting her out?" August stated.
Yeah, I think we could use the help," Steve said with a nod. Marin smiled slightly before heading for the door. "You aren't going to stay?" Steve asked.
"No, I have my own place. We'll be in touch," she stated, before walking past the rest of the pack.
Steve slowly pushed open the door of Stiles's room as the boy was still asleep. "Wake up!" he shouted once he neared the bed, causing the boy to flail and fall out of his bed. Steve laughed as he helped Stiles to his feet. "Self-defense day one is off to a poor start."
"What time is it?" Stiles asked rubbing his eyes.
"Late, it's eleven in the morning."
"But it's the first day of break."
"Which is why we are training now instead of when you would be in school," Steve replied. Stiles sighed as he started to get ready.
The two drove to the preserve where they met August and Scott. Scott tossed a bat to Stiles as they approached.
"I still can't believe you said a bat was your weapon of choice," August mocked.
"Well, a gun seemed out of the question after the other day," Stiles replied.
"We'll get there," August said. Stiles turned back to August, his eyebrows raised.
"You ready?" Steve asked, moving in front of him.
"Um, no? I don't even know—" Stiles started before Steve tackled him to the ground. Steve rolled past the boy and jumped back to his feet. Stiles groaned as he lay on the ground, but turned when he heard keys jangle. "Did you take those out of my pocket?"
"Didn't think you'd hand them over freely," Steve replied.
"Okay?" Stiles said, getting to his feet. "Throw them back."
"Roscoe needs some TLC," Steve replied, shaking his head.
"Yeah, I know, just—" Stiles started before Steve ran off. "Hey!" Stiles shouted, moving to follow the alpha, but was stopped when the flat of August's blade pressed against his chest.
"You get past me, you can stop him," August stated.
"You have a sword," Stiles commented.
"It's dulled. I think you're going to want to give Steve some time with your car," August replied.
"You knew about this?" Stiles asked, turning to Scott.
"Maybe," the true alpha shrugged with a smirk.
"Fine, ya know what?" Stiles said, swinging the bat at August. The hunter blocked the strike before pushing Stiles to the ground.
"Wouldn't a mace be more fitting with the theme?" Scott asked as August helped Stiles to his feet.
"He said bat," August shrugged.
"Mom?" Kaia asked when she returned to the house.
"Where are the others?" Yuki asked.
"They're out, running errands."
"You've been gone all day. How many errands do you need to run?"
"We've been busy. Why are you here?"
"I'm going to Europe with Mary, your aunt, and your father. We just wanted to let you know."
"We do have phones," Kaia stated.
"I'm aware," Yuki commented. "But we've also made some small alterations to the house. Hidden compartments for your weapons mostly. We're also leaving behind some of our weapons as well."
"Really?"
"Our way of making up for what we didn't know. Tiberius elaborated a bit more. Had we known his reasonings, or what had happened, we would have done something sooner," Yuki stated.
"You didn't know?" Kaia asked, narrowing her eyes.
Yuki shook her head. "The Republic never got to be as open as I thought we'd become."
"What the Hell?" Melissa muttered as she walked into her house and finding Charlie painting the living room walls.
"Your house was turned into a bit of a war zone," Leonard stated, coming down the stairs.
"We figured we'd help clean up a bit," Charlie added.
"Well I appreciate it, but it's not exactly the first time this has happened."
"Won't be the last unless you start using that security system more frequently," Leonard commented.
Melissa rolled her eyes before setting her things on the table next to the door. She jumped slightly when Zach landed right behind. "Security system won't work too much against me, but I guess I'm the last of my kind now," Zach commented, carrying in a coffee table.
"That's a bit much, don't ya think?" she asked.
"It's dark outside, no one could see me fly. Plus, it's much faster."
"I meant the table."
"It's nothing," Charlie said. "It's not glass, but I guess that means less people can be impaled."
"Well, thank you boys, but I'd like to get some sleep now," she stated.
"Sure thing," Zach said as they moved towards the door.
"I'll see you at the hospital tomorrow?" Leonard asked as he stepped outside.
"I'll be there," Melissa replied, before closing the door behind them.
"I'm pretty sure I could make more heat by moving fast," Jay sighed as he waited for the popcorn to pop. Malia glared at him causing him to chuckle. "I can't believe you've never seen the Breakfast Club."
"Didn't watch many movies when I grew up in the woods," Malia stated.
"Trust me the mountains were way worse off than here, you're pretty much in town," Jay commented.
"No, I mean I grew up in the woods. As a coyote."
"That's insane," Jay laughed before pausing. "What's your last name?"
"Tate."
"Was the Desert Wolf a Hale?"
"No, my father was Peter Hale. Tate is my dad's last name."
"Oh, that makes sense then."
"What?" Malia asked.
"That Hales can turn into wolves. It makes sense that you could turn into a coyote."
"Is it only the Hales that can do that?"
"As far as I know, why?"
"Theo was able to turn into a wolf."
"The Dread Doctors stole Hale DNA?" Jay suggested.
"Maybe," Malia muttered, dumping the popcorn into a bowl.
"How do you predict the outcomes of people's choices?" Lydia asked.
"My mom explained that each of the voices we hear tell us a different scenario. The one who tells us the current path is usually louder, but if we listen to the other voices we could get an idea of the other scenarios," Fiona replied.
"I've tried that before, but it's—"
"Overwhelming?" Fiona asked, interrupting the other banshee. Lydia nodded. "It is, especially with multiple scenarios."
"I felt it when Valak drilled into my head. Before that, it was before Allison died. I heard a voice saying that if they didn't come to rescue me, she would be safe. I focused on that while another voice was screaming that she would die. I tried to warn the others—"
"We can warn them, but we can't control what they choose to do."
"Especially when it comes to protecting each other," Lydia sighed.
Fiona smiled slightly. "Should we keep going?" she asked pointing at the bottles line up on a fallen tree. Lydia nodded before screaming. Fiona screamed after, pushing Lydia's force further away and shattering all the bottles at once.
Stiles groaned as he stepped out of the Camaro. "You need a taller car," Stiles commented, spotting Steve in his driveway.
"I take it the first day went well?" Steve asked, smirking. Stiles scoffed at the alpha as he continued to approach. Here," Steve said holding out his keys. Stiles reached out for the keys, but Steve grabbed his arm, healing the human.
"What did you do to the Jeep anyway?" Stiles asked as Steve led him to the garage.
"Removed a lot of the duct tape for starters," Steve replied, opening the garage door.
Stiles examined the engine in silence. "It's like a new engine," he sighed. "I don't know how I'll pay you back for it."
"You don't have to. Think of it as a gift for saving me and my pack."