A Life Worth Living

Chapter 21

Laying back against the filled tub, Harry closed his eyes, immersing himself completely in his mind and magic. Slowly following the feelings that were echoing throughout his body. Time became insignificant as he focused solely on what was what. Trying to figure out what his magic was playing at echoing feelings not his own through him. Coming upon the strongest one, it was blue, pulsing with life and vitality and the second Harry's magic touched it, he knew instinctively that it was Derek. He could feel Derek, his emotions, his well-being. Mentally yanking himself back, he found another, golden, tightly interwind with his own magical core, now that, that was his son. He was strong, happy, healthy, albeit Harry got the sense he missed home.

Merlin's bloody hairy balls, why the hell could he suddenly feel everyone? Had this been there the entire time? Just utterly inaccessible? Had his sudden inclusion in a different part of the supernatural world somehow changed his magical core to fit in with this new life? Unable to help himself, he investigated the other bonds he had. There was a yellow one, a thin strand, this belonged to Jimmy, the young werewolf, he'd only spent a few days with, most of the time he'd been gone. He seemed very settled, happier than he'd been in a long time but very contemplative for whatever the reason.

Digging in deeper, Harry found a pulsing green one, Harry choked on a sudden inhale. This was Stiles, he was so conflicted, worried, scared and by Merlin, the magic he could feel just from the strand...it was immense. Stiles was going to be so powerful one day, and Harry couldn't wait to see what he became. Stiles was obviously finding it difficult to deal with the supernatural world. He'd need to have a talk with him, to see what he could do for the teen. Unfortunately, tonight was out of the question, he had to deal with Scott McCall, bloody typical. He'd call him tonight, seeing as his father would be working night-shift again.

The last strand was...incomplete, and blood red, it had a different feel to it when compared to the others. Why? What was different about this particular one? He didn't even need to touch it for it to be confirmed that it was Peter's, perhaps it had something to do with Peter being an alpha so it wasn't as easy to cause this sort of bond? Either that or trust has some part to play in it?

Noise suddenly startled Harry, bringing him out of his meditative trance – state – he'd been in. jerking in the bathtub, sending the water spilling everywhere, finally the words penetrated his mind. If he wanted to go to McCall's then he best get out now, it was nearing time.

"Thank you, Peter," Harry called, hastily grabbing his shampoo bottle and giving his hair a scrub before dunking back under. Once he was sure he had it all out, he stood, grabbing a towel before wrapping it around his waist and walking into his bedroom. Peter was already gone, closing his door he used a spell to try himself off before dressing in more comfortable clothing. He wasn't one for wearing suits a great deal of the time, in fact he hated it.

He felt more himself in a pair of jeans and a long sleeved top. Sliding his feet into a pair of trainers, he put his wand into his jeans pocket – which was expanded to allow it – he had those sorts of spells imbued into all his clothing for safety.

He wished he had someone who could give him answers to this mystery. He was feeling pack bonds to everyone, it didn't matter that they were different werewolves apparently. Hell, he was even able to sense Stiles, who was a Spark, Harry's eyes widened, staring unseeingly at the wall in shock. A spark who had the compatibility to become an Emissary, a member of the Hale pack. He was feeling the pack bonds to everyone, this was...strange. Alpha's were the ones with the strongest feelings towards pack bonds, but even Beta's could feel them too.

Was Stiles actually a member of the Hale pack? Was one full moon able to make the bonds flourish? Or was he able to feel them all because of his magic? Whether or not they were actually a pack or not? Groaning in despair, he rubbed his eyes tiredly. Perhaps Peter would be able to give him some insight to this new mystery.

"I'll talk to you both later, stay safe," Harry called out to them knowing both of them would hear him, as he Apparated to the garage, grabbed the closest keys, while opening the garage door before flooring it out there. It was very close to six o'clock, he didn't want to be late.

Ten minutes later and broken speed limits, Harry stepped out of his car at the McCall residence. What could he say? What would be the point of having magic and being an officer of the law if he couldn't bend the rules a bit and drive over the limit? Which he was entitled to do...just in the events of an emergency, which this wasn't.

Ensuring his car was locked, he made his way directly up the path, the curtains shuffled, and before he could knock, the door was opened.

"Hello, Mrs. McCall," Harry stated, "I take it Scott is in?" she did look slightly overwhelmed and hugely tired.

"Not yet, I haven't been able to get him on his phone," Melissa explained, "He must have gone to practice then to the vets afterwards." her shoulders were hunched, looking incredibly burdened by the news she's heard.

Harry pursed his lips, "You suspected this would happen," he deduced.

"I...yes, getting Scott to do anything these days is impossible. I...he's spending all his time when he's not at work or at school with his girlfriend, or up the stairs in his room talking to her," Melissa told him resignedly, not to mention she'd suspected drugs too but that was rendered unimportant due to recent revelations.

"I have a few things for you, that might make this easier," Harry added, patiently waiting to be let into the house, he couldn't very well converse with Scott in full view of neighbours. Nosy ones at that, judging by the amount of curtain flapping that was going on.

"Oh!" Melissa shook her head, "Come on it, I'm so sorry, I'm just a little...off-kilter."

"As is expected after the afternoon you've had," Harry said with sympathy as he wandered into the property, which was shining. This woman cleaned when she was upset, he realized, the appliances gleamed for Merlin's sake.

Melissa grimaced at the reminder of this afternoon, it had been hellish simply put. Not only had she found out what her son was hiding, she'd learned that he was a danger to himself and others. That he had murdered a girl, whether he meant it or not, he had ended her life brutally. The pictures burned into her mind had caused her to be sick earlier after they left, she hadn't eaten since then. Too sickened to even contemplate the idea.

"I have brought you this," Harry said, handing over a pendant with a hour-glass vial, filled with a fine powder. "You should keep it with you at all times in case of an emergency. In the face of anything supernatural, you smash the glass and will the contents into a circle either around you or the person you're afraid of. It will keep them contained, it's mountain ash." there was no point in telling her to believe it would work, since she knew it did, and thus would instinctively believe it did. Harry also didn't tell her he would know when and if she ever broke it, he wasn't going to leave her defenceless.

Melissa accepted the pendant, unconsciously relaxing knowing she wouldn't be completely vulnerable to the supernatural world. "Thank you," she said, gratitude and relief showing through her quite tough demeanour.

"You're more than wel-" Harry started to say, but was cut off, by the sound of a panicked Scott shouting through the house.

"MOM!" terror was evident in his voice.

Harry shook his head, another sign that he wasn't adjusting to being a werewolf. If he just used his senses, which should be second nature to him by now, he'd know his mother was alive and well. No doubt he was panicking due to the fact he could smell Peter, Derek and himself in his home. He wasn't sure even Satomi could get through to this stubborn boy. Out of them all, she was the one who could have the most success with him though. She had the patience to deal with unruly teens.

"Mom!" Scott said, relief covering his features before they zoned in on Harry, suspicion and anger mounting. "What did they tell you? You shouldn't listen to them,"

"Good evening, Scott," Harry said pleasantly, "I have told your mother everything, she needed to know...especially after you did the other night." his countenance turning grim at the end of the sentence.

"You had no right!" Scott roared in anger, his shift coming upon him without conscious thought due to his lose of control.

Melissa gasped in shock eyes going wide as she stared at her son, her very, very different son. Fear soon slammed into her, she could see something in her sons eyes that had most definitely not been in the eyes of Derek Hale who transformed for her. A feral-ness, an anger.

"Mom, no," Scott took a step towards her, his visage returning to normal, a look of contrite and sadness on his face when she stepped away from him pain tore through him. "I wouldn't ever hurt you," he said quietly, very subdued.

"You also told Stiles that, and how many times have you lost control and almost killed him?" Harry said his tone suddenly tired. "Kid...you lost control of your anchor and ignored Stiles when he told you to come to me, and the result of that...you killed someone when completely out of control."

"What...no! I didn't," Scott protested in complete denial. "I swear I didn't," his puppy eyes upon his Mom, trying to get her to listen to him.

"You killed sixteen-year-old Danielle Lewis from Devenford Prep," Harry informed him bluntly, "If you don't believe me, check your eyes, I'm sure Stiles has informed you of what they mean."

Melissa made a soft noise, just realizing that Derek too had blue eyes.

"Not everyone who gains blue eyes murdered in cold blood, sometimes a werewolf must kill in self defence, mostly hunters that are trying to kill them. Then there are those who kill out of mercy after the bite doesn't take, and are dying in excruciating agony." a grimace on his face.

Scott moved over to the mirror, flashing his eyes he backed away, horror consuming him, "No, no, no, no this isn't happening, it didn't happen." he muttered to himself. He couldn't have killed someone, he wasn't a bad person, he was good, he'd always been good. "I didn't do it, Peter made me!" in so much denial that he just couldn't swallow the idea he'd hurt – more like murdered – someone.

"Peter was with us all night," Harry retorted angrily, "Even Stiles would confirm it. Do not try to pass the blame for your own actions. You've been warned by Derek, Stiles and myself multiple times that this was where it was going to lead to Scott McCall!" smacking his hand on the table, before pointing his hand, "You refused to listen, this is all down to you! Your wolf was in control, not Peter Hale, but you do remember how Peter was? Because you are going the same way! You are an Omega! You need a pack otherwise this decline is going to continue...until you kill someone else. When that happens, there will be nothing I can do for you. You would be arrested and imprisoned, probably for life, however, if you were a threat to human life...you would be killed."

Scott just straightened up and shook his head, refusing to listen.

"The proper authorities already know about the murder, you will be receiving a suspended sentence so to speak. If you fail to follow through on any of the conditions of your continued freedom you will be arrested for that crime." Harry stated sharply, in professional work mode.

That made Scott pale, the fear he could feel emanating from his mother was soul crushing too.

"Believe me I will know the moment you don't adhere to the rules," Harry informed him seriously, "Are you ready to open your ears and actually listen to what I have to say instead of shaking your head and sticking it in the Nile?"

"Sit down, Scott," Melissa added before Scott could argue, "Now."

Scott grunted in frustration, eyes flashing blue yet again, before he reluctantly sat down.

Melissa grasped a hold of her pendant, finding reassurance in it.

Harry slid the paperwork towards Scott, a list of everything he had to adhere to.

He refused to even look at it.

"You will take yourself off the Lacrosse team effective immediately," Harry stated firmly, unsurprised when Scott stood up abruptly.

"No! I'm the first line! I can't quit!" Scott argued.

"You seem to think this is up for debate, Scott, it isn't." Harry retorted in annoyance. "If you don't you'll be put in prison it's as simple as that. This is no idle threat, and believe me, you won't like the supernatural prison you'd end up in." dissuading him of the belief he could get away with what he did because he was a werewolf. He seemed to pause hearing the words 'supernatural prison' good, he was listening. "So you can and will quit Lacrosse and any other sport. You will also give up your job at Deaton's, since you won't have the time for it."

"I can't! Please, don't make me quit my job!" Scott pleaded with Harry, his puppy like features not moving Harry the slightest.

"Four days out of the week, you will visit a nearby Alpha, who will teach you in all ways of the wolf, how to control yourself, how to gain a suitable anchor, and how to fight to let some off that pent up aggression off." Harry continued on, ignoring Scott's pleas. "Two of the days you'll spend with me, learning the consequences of Feral werewolves and the devastation the hunters cause the supernatural community. On the Sunday's you'll be busy doing everything asked of you in a reserve for the day."

Scott just stared at Harry with a look of stunned disbelief. This couldn't be happening, he must be dreaming, he must be having a nightmare. That was seven days a week! Glancing down at the paperwork, he noticed how very official it all looked and swallowed thickly. He would never get to see Allison! This wasn't fair.

It also didn't say how long for.

"The only reason they're being lenient on this murder...Scott, is because you are new to being a werewolf and underage, I fought for this for you, do not make me regret it." Harry informed the reeling teenager. "Sign the paperwork, do what must be done, and you might just dig yourself out of this hole you've built up around yourself. You might be underage, but you're nearly an adult, it's time to take responsibility for your own actions."

"Sign it, Scott," Melissa begged her son, she did not want to see him arrested and incarcerated. She still kept her distance from him, wary of all things supernatural.

Harry removed a pen from his jeans pocket and chucked it over to the teen.

Scott, sick to his stomach, picked up the pen and scrawled his name on the dotted line. He felt a slight zing like electricity, but Scott ignored it, without realizing what it was.

Only Harry felt the document become legally binding.

"You also," Harry gestured towards Melissa.

Melissa took the paperwork and actually read it over, once she deemed it what Harry said earlier did she sign it too.

Harry relaxed once both signed it, neither Melissa or Scott would be able to discuss anything related to the contract. Which meant Scott wouldn't be able to blurt out anything he saw or heard while with Satomi or even on the reserve...which included magic. Everyone was safe from the Argent family, or as safe as could be. He was sure Satomi would 'Alpha voice' Scott into keeping anything he saw or heard with her a secret too. Although, his spells were fool proof, the Alpha voice could be gotten around. Especially if you had the willpower, and surprisingly despite his utter inability to accept his wolf, Scott did show a great deal of willpower.

"It will begin tomorrow, I shall pick you up and take you to Satomi, the Alpha," He elaborated, "You may come as well, Melissa, if you wish to see first-hand what your son is going to be learning. Perhaps get some clarity from stable werewolves," a subtle dig at Scott, "Who can give you information, the knowledge that your son isn't so different after all." hopefully Scott wouldn't act like he did with Derek.

"Understand this...a wolf pack see each other as family, brothers and sisters, the pack is everything to them...keep your tongue in check and for the love of all that's holy, don't mention the Argent's, at least two that I know of lost their entire families, their blood families to the Argent's for the simple reason being that they were born werewolves. Don't turn around and tell them that their families deserved it as well. They will not put up with it the way Derek did."

Scott flinched and glanced side-ways at his mom, hoping she wouldn't realize what Harry meant. It was apparently too much to ask for, as she was just staring sadly, with shame and disgust clouding her scent. He just wanted to run, run away and never look back.

"Mom," Scott whispered, his throat choked up, self-disgust and shame coursing through him. He hated what he was, and his Mom was scared of him so that reinforced the idea that he was something unnatural.

"You have a phone call to make," Melissa stated, stepping back away from him, "I'll call you when dinner is ready," she took the long way around the kitchen to avoid him. Knowing she was hurting her son, but unable to do anything about it. She needed time, she just needed time to adjust that was all. Her entire outlook on life had shifted so abruptly in a matter of minutes.

Things would one day go back to normal, or as normal as her life would ever get with a teenager Werewolf son on her hands. Desperately trying to remind herself of everything Harry had said, his reassurances that her son was still her son, still loved her, just had a little bit different, temperamental.

Harry drove away from Melissa's house after a few minutes of idling, his phone calling Stiles from the passenger seat.

"Hey, Harry," came Stiles voice from the hands free speaker phone enabled call.

"Why don't you come to mine for a few hours of practice?" Harry offered Stiles, he had promised to teach him and he intended to keep that promise. "I can pick you up, I'm in the area."

"I'll be waiting!" Stiles exclaimed before a yelp was heard, Harry rolled his eyes his lips twitching, Stiles in his excitement had probably fallen over. "Bye!" he added before the call ended.

Harry chuckled in amusement, as he made his way towards Stiles' home. He definitely sounded a lot happier than he had sounded when he answered the call anyway. He'd need to talk about what was bothering him though.

He'd teach Stiles tonight because tomorrow...tomorrow Kate Argent would be facing retribution and the entire world would be made aware of her actions.

The hunter community would be brought to his knees, one hunter at a time.

A new kind would take it's place. A magical kind. His kind. Hermione was already working on it. What could he say, she moved fast and she was in the right department to make changes.

The days of old hunters was done.

There we go, no shouting, but that's how Harry is, Stiles has mentioned it often in the previous 20 chapters...He has to be a hella pissed to shout :D I like making his characters all different to some extent but always bad ass ;) I honestly can't wait to being more werewolves into it :D speed it up a bit give it a touch more drama ;) this whole Argent thing has lasted a hell of a lot longer than I anticipated! 21 chapters in and she's still alive...boy, next chapter we will see a bit of Stiles training, Kate getting her comeuppance and the reactions of the Argents...all of them or just Chris? Keep Gerard out of it for now? :P and yes, finally a mention of someone else from the magical world other than Teddy ;) it's entirely up to you if you want her in it or just mentioned from time to time like Walking Dead Wizard! :D Read and Review please!