Chapter 26:

I placed the small dog back into the cage after rewrapping the bandage around his leg.

"Good boy." I cooed, scratching his head.

"Finished?" Deaton asked as I stood back up. I nodded. "Good, I think you can go now and I'll lock up." He smiled.

I went to pick up my bag when the vet door opened. Deaton frowned slightly and I followed behind him as he walked into the reception area. I stopped abruptly as I saw it was Peter that had come in. He smiled at us.

"I've come to pick up." He said, looking directly at me.

"We're closed." Deaton stated. I noticed Peter inhale.

"He's claimed you." He mused. I clenched my jaw. "Oh, you've just become even more precious." He smirked. He stepped forward and I heard a hiss. Peter looked down at the wooden desk. "Mountain Ash. Now that's an old one."

His eyes flashed red as he shot us a glare. I watched as he drug his nails over the wooden surface, noticing the hiss was when his skin touched the wood.

"We're closed, please leave." Deaton said firmly.

Peter growled before spinning away and storming out of the animal clinic. I let out the breath I didn't realise I'd been holding and Deaton ushered me back into the surgery room.

"I think it would be wise to call and have Derek pick you up." He said. I nodded and slid my phone out my pocket, quickly sending a text to my boyfriend who replied back almost instantly.

From: Derek 3

Coming x

"Oh, so he only texts me a kiss when I'm in trouble." I muttered. I heard Deaton chuckle and blushed lightly, realising I'd said it out loud.

I sat on the floor and played with one of the more healthier dogs. He was a dark grey and white husky that was nearly recovered from a fractured leg. He plopped in my lap, lying on his back, and I smiled as I tickled his fluffy tummy.

"That one's taken quite a liking to you." Deaton remarked. "He was vicious when he first came in."

"He's a sweetheart." I smiled, gently checking his leg. "And almost completely healed."

I continued playing with him for a few minutes until the back door opened and Derek walked in. He chuckled as he saw me on the floor with the large dog and crouched beside me, letting the dog nuzzle his hand.

"You okay?" Derek asked, looking at me. I nodded and laughed as the husky in my lap launched itself onto Derek.

"He likes you!" I giggled as the dog tried to lick his face. He smiled and gently pushed the dog away from his face before scratching behind its ear.

"He didn't do anything?" he asked. I shook my head.

"He couldn't get past the mountain ash." I replied.

Derek nodded and placed a lingering kiss on my lips. I ushered the husky back into his cage before Derek grabbed my hand, pulling me up as he stood.

"Bye Deaton." I said as Derek towed me behind him. Deaton smiled and nodded. I had to jog to keep up with him. "Derek, slow down, I only have short legs."

I heard him laugh before he scooped me up in into his arms and continued walking. I loosely wrapped my arms around his neck as he scanned the woods around him.

"Is he still here?" I asked quietly. He nodded and I tightened my grip on him.

Derek growled and deposited me back on the floor, standing in front of me. I peeked around his arm and clung to the back of his shirt when I saw Peter. I slipped my phone from my pocket and quickly sent a text to Allison, hopefully starting a good chain of events.

From: Alli

On our way x

I lightly tapped Derek on the back with my phone, letting him know that I sent the message and his arm reached back so his hand was on my thigh. I knew this was the signal we were going to run; so I stuffed my hand in my pocket, getting a handful of the mountain ash powder Deaton had given me.

Derek grabbed my free hand and I threw the powder at Peter just before Derek launched into a run, towing me with him. I heard Peter roar before concentrating on my footing, making sure I didn't trip.

We'd just reached Derek's house when the Alpha caught Derek's leg, making us fall. Derek rolled and covered my body with his as gunshots sounded. I heard a yelp before Derek hauled me to my feet and pushed me towards Allison. We grabbed each other and looked around, everything turning silent.

"You two get in the house. Kate, go with them." Chris stated.

"What? Why me?"

"Do it Kate." He said firmly. Kate huffed and took us into Derek's house.

Something flashed past me and I turned to see Peter with Kate, his hand around her neck before his claws slashed her throat. Allison let out a small cry.

"Who's next?" Peter smirked. "Ah, Stephanie thanks for volunteering."

My eyes widened and I tried to dodge him as he came towards me. I released a strangled noise as he caught me by the throat.

"Steph!" Allison cried. I grabbed his arm to try and ease the choking hold he had on my throat.

A loud crash sounded and the front door flew off the hinges, landing half way down the hall. Derek stood in the doorway with ice blue eyes and a seriously pissed off expression on his face.

"Ah, ah might want to be careful here." Peter taunted as I felt his claws on my throat, making me swallow nervously.

"Let her go." Derek growled.

"Where are your manners nephew? Your mother taught you better than that." He tutted.

"Hey Peter, didn't your mother teach you it's wrong to abuse girls?" I remarked, flinging mountain ash powder in his face. He roared and I dropped to the floor as he let me go.

"Go." Derek stated, changing. "Get out!"

Allison grabbed me and we both ran out the house. I fell into Stiles as Chris pulled Allison to him. Derek crashed through the wooden porch and landed on the ground. Stiles held me back as the Alpha stalked out.

"Derek." I whimpered, clutching onto Stiles.

Scott collided into the Alpha as he went for Derek and Allison screamed as he flung Scott away. The Alpha walked towards Derek and I squirmed in Stiles' grip.

"No!" I screamed, breaking free.

I ran over and situated myself right in the middle. The Alpha paused before reaching his thick arm out and hitting me out the way. I landed a few feet away with a grunt and rolled onto my stomach. I looked up in a daze and saw Chris and Stiles unconscious while Allison was trying to pick herself up off the ground.

I felt something drip down my face a wiped my cheek, my hand coming away red with blood. I cringed before crawling over to Derek. I touched his face lightly.

"Please get up, we need you. I need you." I said softly.

A scream left my lips as a hand grabbed my neck, lifting me off the ground by a few feet. My hands flew up and grabbed the Alpha's wrist as he began adding pressure.

"Drop her." Chris stated, aiming his gun as I choked. I felt tears leak out my eyes and fall onto my cheeks as I couldn't get any air into my lungs.

An ear-splitting roar sounded before I found myself on the ground on my back, gasping for breath.

"Don't touch her!" Derek snarled, tackling the Alpha.

Chris and Allison's faces appeared in my view as they crouched either side of me. I coughed and Chris slowly sat me up before Allison grabbed and leant me on her. The Alpha roared and I saw he was on fire as he staggered towards us. Our eyes widened as Chris shot at him before Scott kicked the Alpha away from us, flooring him.

Derek, now human, crouched over his uncle and I grabbed Allison's hand as I watched him. I saw him make a quick slashing motion with his claws before he stood up, turning slightly. I saw his eyes turn red.

"I'm the Alpha now." His deep voice sounded slightly gravelly.

Scott nodded and I slowly stood up with Allison's help. Derek's head snapped in our direction and his eyes returned to pale green as his face softened when he looked at me. I tripped over to him and buried my face in his chest, his arms wrapping around me.

"Is it over?" I whimpered, looking up at him.

"It's over sweetheart." He said softly, hugging me close to his chest. I sighed and let myself relax against him as he stroked my blood matted hair. Derek gently lifted me bridal style into his arms. "I need to clean you up." He whispered, walking towards Stiles' jeep and indicating for Stiles to start it.

/

I walked out my bathroom, wearing Derek's shirt, and drying my hair with a towel.

"Let me see your head." Derek said, motioning me over to where he sat on the edge of my bed. I walked over and stood between his legs. His large hands held my hips before he stood up, towering nearly a foot taller than me. He inspected the cut on my hairline. "It's only a small one, it's already clotted over."

I indicated for him to lean down and he smiled once he realised what I wanted. He leant down and moulded his lips to mine as I locked my arms around his neck. Derek lifted me up so my legs were around his waist before falling back onto my bed so I was sitting on his stomach.

"Does it feel different?" I asked, playing with his hands. "Being an Alpha instead of a Beta?" I added.

"A little." He replied, lacing his fingers with mine on both hands. "I have more power now." I nodded and rested our linked hands on my thighs, hesitating a little. "What do you want to say?"

"You killed your uncle, you have no family now." I said quietly.

His face softened and he gently nudged me off him before getting off my bed and kneeling on one knee in front of me.

"Stephanie I love you more than you can imagine, you're my shoulder to cry on, my best friend, you're the reason I wake up every morning and fall asleep at night with a smile on my face. My life began again the day I met you. I don't know what the world has in store for us, but the one thing I'm sure of is that I'll be with you forever and I'll love you forever. People say finding your true love or soul mate is something that will never happen, but I found mine. I found you Steph and from now until the day I die you're the only thing I'll ever need, you're my one and only now and forever. I love you more than my heart could ever show and I want you to become my family, as my wife." Tears were streaming down my cheeks and my eyes widened as he opened a small box from his pocket. Derek looked up at me. "Stephanie, will you marry me?" he asked. I let out a small squeak before nodding my head furiously.

"Yes! Of course I'll marry you Derek!" I gasped. Derek smiled and slid the ring onto my finger. I sniffed before throwing myself at him, crying into his neck. "I love you so much Derek."

"You know I love you." He said, stroking my hair as he held me.

I pulled my head back and looked at him, causing him to smile as his thumbs wiped my cheeks. He pressed a short sweet kiss to my mouth before laying us both back on my bed. A laugh burst from my lips and I hugged Derek tightly.

"What?" he chuckled, wrapping his arms around me.

"I can't believe you just did that." I remarked.

"Propose to you?" he smiled. I nodded. "I was telling myself to wait, but I couldn't." I noticed a faint blush across his cheeks.

"I'm glad you didn't. You've just made me the happiest woman in the world right now." I smiled.

"And you're my woman." He smiled, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

Whoo! Peter's gone :D And Derek proposed!

Thank you to everyone who's reviewed so far, there's only a couple more chapters to this story; but there is a sequel so you don't have to worry :)