Peter sighed at the sight of his Beta sitting atop the trunk of his nurse's car. She arched a brow as he approached her, his hands finding her hips as he chided, "Why do I feel as if this has something to do with the fact that I took Melissa out tonight?"

"Don't flatter yourself."

"You really need to work on this jealous streak of yours, Marcella." He plucked the keys from her grasp and pointed a stern finger at her, "it's an unladylike and unattractive quality."

"What did you need her for anymore?" Blue eyes rolled at him, "you got better."

He grinned wolfishly, "I certainly do."

The woman blushed faintly and slipped off the trunk. Resting her hand on it, she asked what they should do with the body.

"Leave it for now." Peter steered her toward the passenger side as he spoke, "she'll keep until we get rid of Kate."

When he opened the door for her, she slipped inside. The car was clean, but smelled faintly of cigarette smoke and perfume. Curious fingers popped open the glove box, only to find registration papers and a box of Kleenex. Marcy was vaguely pleased- it didn't appear as though Jennifer had any family or close friends to speak of, no one to come looking for her body. As

Peter slid into the driver's seat, she looked at him. He was perfectly lax, shoulders and features free of any tension, and frankly, it put her on edge. The phrase the calm before the storm came to mind and she hoped vaguely that he was genuinely indifferent to his nurse's murder.

He started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot without a word. His hand came to rest on her thigh, his thumb absently stroking over the nylon as he watched the road.

"After we deal with Argent, we'll have to work on your control."

Marcy stayed quiet and turned to look out the window. "I have to get back to the lab."

"Oh?" His touch trailed along her inseam, earning a shudder from her before he trailed his blunt, human nails down to her knee, "why's that?"

"I left my jacket there. Plus I have to lock up."

"If that's all, I'm sure you wouldn't mind some company?"

The woman glanced at him, a shrewd frown on her lips as she asked, "you're not thinking of trying to poison me, now are you, Pete?"

"And lose my most proficient Beta?"

"If I'm your best, you're in trouble."

Peter smiled at her, all teeth and spite as his claws came out to prick, "Such insecurity isn't like you…you're not having second thoughts about me, are you?"

"No, of course not."

"Good," His nails dug into her knee, sending a gush of blood down her leg as he leaned over to growl in her ear, "because I am not someone you want to deceive, Marcella. I can be quite jealous myself, you know."

"I can feel that," She grit out. Teeth clenched tightly, she took him by the wrist as he pulled to a stop outside her campus. "You gonna let me go, or what?"

The man retracted his claws and tipped her chin to face him. His blue eyes flickered over her soft, frightened features and he inhaled deeply, able to taste it in the air as she dropped her gaze. "Marcella…you're not keeping things from me, are you?"

"Like what?"

Peter pressed a light kiss to her lips, nuzzling their noses together a moment before he answered honestly, "I don't know."

One of her hands came up to cup his cheek. "After we kill Kate…I don't want to do this anymore, okay?"

His grip tightened just a touch as she leaned her brow against his, "Do what?"

"Hurt people."

"But you're so good at it," The Alpha praised, a coo against her lips as he grinned, "Just look what you did to Jennifer, and I didn't even have to ask for that."

Marcy cringed, earning a soft noise of sympathy from the man. Peter took her bottom lip between his teeth and sucked it gently, the action drawing a gasp from her. His tongue slipped past her lips to seek her own. Deeply and sensually, he explored her mouth while his fingers traced the curve of her cheek with his claws. A smirk tugged at his lips as she shuddered, and Peter pulled away. The woman wasted no time pressing forward, her hand grabbing the collar of his shirt to pull him back into the kiss.

"Later," He promised, a lazy smile on his swollen lips. Her arousal hung in the air, making him hard in his jeans as he stared down at her flushed features. In the back of his mind, he knew he wouldn't be able to keep her this way much longer. Peter knew Marcy wasn't stupid, she knew he was using her as an ends to a means, knew he was manipulating her with sex and praise, but he did care for his Beta. She had kept her promises, been loyal to him without fault. Even when she had left him alone at the school she hadn't tried to stop him. His gaze swept over her features. Her cheekbones high and regal, her lips full and red from their kiss. She was a beautiful woman and although it didn't show in her face she was exhausted, he knew she was. Emotionally, mentally… Perhaps once all this ugliness was over they could take a few days to themselves. But he would have to push her away first- if she was having second thoughts, she could get herself killed. Could throw a wrench in his plans, although he was sure it would be unintentional if she did.

Peter gave a nod in the school's direction, "go get your coat."

With one last dubious look, Marcy slipped out of the car. When she returned, his hand sought hers and they went back to her apartment without a word between them for the entire drive. The moment they crossed the threshold of her door, Peter grasped her by the back of the neck. He pinned her easily to the wall, the action surprisingly gentle as his larger body blanketed her petite one. The Alpha scented the woman, enjoying the way his stubble scraped against her cheek.

"Do not think you are getting laid tonight," Marcy teased as her hand came up to cup the back of his head. Her fingers flexed and tangled in his thick dark hair and she gave it an experimental tug, "I'm nobody's second choice, Hale."

"Second choice?" He purred, sucking at her neck until the skin bruised and healed under his lips, "Marcella, please."

The woman allowed herself to be turned, even allowed him to lick and nip at her mouth as his hands trailed over her sides and stomach. She chuckled absently, catching his wrists when they went to pull her shirt over her head. "You think just 'cause you're pretty now, I'm gonna forget you went out with another woman tonight?"

Peter sighed, rolling his eyes as he stepped back from her. He smoothed the soft material of her silk blouse with a delicate touch, "That was for the pack."

"Mhm."

"Marcella, do you really think I would waste my time chasing a single mother when I could have you?"

Her blue eyes stayed sharp.

"Okay, so maybe it wasn't exactly a painful sacrifice on my part, but I came home to you, didn't I?"

"You got cock blocked by a teenager," She replied, poking him firmly in the chest as she sauntered away from him. The man watched her go, eyes dropping to her swaying hips as she went on, "Not exactly sexy, Hale."

Peter smirked and moved behind her, "You're right."

"I know."

"And while we're on the subject of doing things for the pack, I have a proposition for you." He push some of her dark hair away from her neck and nuzzled at the expanse of pale skin, "Well, proposition makes it sound like you have a choice. I have a job for you."

Marcy let out a contented sigh as he pulled the collar of her shirt away and placed a gentle bite at the apex of her shoulder. "Oh? And what's that?"

"I want you to get to know Derek." His tongue, hot and firm, swept up to her ear. "In a more…intimate sense, than you have been."

The woman stiffened, her pulse skipping as he continued on nonchalantly.

"I know it's a lot to ask…but I really think it's the best way to cement his loyalty to the pack." Peter placed a soft kiss just under her jaw, "since you don't want to hurt anyone, I thought maybe you might enjoy this- it's a task that you're more than qualified for, wouldn't you agree?"

"'You want me to fuck your nephew?"

"Marcella, please. There's no need to be crass."

She turned in his arms, blue eyes sparking with hurt as she looked up at him. His features were placid and calm, maybe even a touch amused and it broke her heart. Her bottom lip began to quiver as she sneered at him, "Are you kidding me?"

"Why would I joke about this?" Peter tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear, "If he forms an emotional attachment to you, he'll be less incline to stray."

Outraged, she pushed him away. The Alpha didn't so much as stumble as she screamed at him, "How dare you? How dare you ask me to do this?!"

"Mar-"

Peter's head snapped back as she slapped him. His claws grew out, eyes flashing but his anger dissipated when he turned back to look at her. Her eyes shone with tears, her hate and rage dampened by the quiet scent of them as her whole body shook.

"You've controlled every aspect of my life, Peter. You've turned me into a monster, you've turned me into a murderer, but I am not going to let you turn me into your whore."

"Oh, Marcella," He said, voice dripping with venom as the tears finally cascaded over her lashes, "I already have."

Her posture shifted and the sadness, the pitiful expression and heartbreak, drained from her face. Her expression hardened, turning cold as she stepped toward him. A wicked smile crossed her lips as she spoke, "What? You think I'm your whore because I've fucked you?"

As the cruel smile spread across her lips, Peter was struck with love her, for not wilting away from him. His sentiments didn't last long however, his heart clenching as she carried on spitefully.

"You think if I didn't need you I would look twice at you?" Marcy shook her head with a biting laugh. It wouldn't have hurt so much if he could just catch a hint of a lie on her, a stutter of her heart, that terribly distinct smell of deceit- but there was nothing. Not so much as a whisper of it as she peered up at him with mocking eyes, "Some broken old man? You think if you weren't my Alpha- if I wasn't loyal, I'd have anything to do with you?"

"You think if you didn't spread your legs whenever I came around I'd put up with your silly little crush?" Peter shot back, but she only smirked wider. She had caught one of his deeper fears and knew it, and she fully intended to twist the knife now that she knew she was the one holding it.

Marcy tutted at him, "Oh, touched a nerve there, did I? You think because you don't wear it anymore," Her claws caught his face, digging into the freshly healed skin as he glared down at her and she spat, "that you're any less of a cripple? That you're any more useful now that you're out of that goddamn bed, Hale? All you're good for is tearing things to pieces."

Peter wretched away from her. Blood that had dribbled from her claws slid back into the wound, healing instantly.

"And when Kate's dead, you'll be just a listless damaged man without a pack," She swallowed the lump in her throat as she finished, "Because Derek will never forgive you for killing Laura, and I don't need you anymore."

His cool blue eyes fell to her face and he arched a brow at her, "Are you done?"

"Get out."

"Gladly." Peter turned on his heel and ignored the near silent sob she gave as he slammed the door behind him.

A/N: Hate me yet? One chapter left.