Two Weeks Later
The Bayou
Two weeks later found Mr Bhediya, Mrs Ikooko, Malia and Scott training in the wetlands with Mary watching intently, pleased with how far the young alphas have come.
Apart from working on coexistence with the Faction, Malia and Scott received lessons and training from the oldest members of the pack, ranging from supernatural knowledge, werewolf legends, leadership skills and combat training in all their forms; human, werecoyote/werewolf and coyote/wolf.
Pack trade secrets were shared and bonds strengthened, especially after all members of McCall Pack, which Malia insisted they keep the name, arrived in New Orleans and spent the rest of the week training and getting to know their new pack members before the younger generation left for Beacon Hills with Alan, Chris, Jordan and Melissa.
Now, however, Cora, Lydia, Malia and Scott were about to leave as well with the intention of having a real road trip which was going to lead them to Mystic Falls to pay Lydia's cousin Tyler a surprise visit, leaving Derek and Marin in New Orleans to keep an eye on things.
"How long have they been at it?" Derek asked Mary, approaching her.
"About ten minutes." Mary replied, having heard him approaching. "They work well together."
"Yeah." Derek agreed, proud of the two.
Mr Bhediya, Mrs Ikooko, Malia and Scott closed their sparring a few minutes later and approached Derek and Mary.
"Derek." Scott greeted. "How is training the new werewolves going?"
"Better than the training I gave you when you were newly turned." Derek replied, smiling.
"I didn't really want to learn anything other than how to control my shifts back then." Scott said. "And becoming human again."
"That's how some newly triggered werewolves react after their first transformation." Mrs Ikooko informed. "They see being werewolves as a curse and nothing more, which is when they are not using their abilities to their advantage."
"True, but at least this generation have an alpha who knows and understands how they feel and has provided means for it to understand what it is, what it's capable of and that it's not alone." Mr Bhediya said.
"An alpha never walks alone, and neither does he/she do anything alone. We're social people; everything we do is a team effort." Scott replied.
"Speaking of alphas never walking alone, you two are aware that it'll not be just the four of you on the road, aren't you?" Mary inquired. "Your personal protection teams will be with you every step of the way."
"We know. You've all made sure we don't ever forget it." Malia said. "Speaking of roads, I think it's time to leave."
Indeed it was time for Cora, Lydia, Malia and Scott to leave New Orleans but before that the latter two returned to the city to shower and after goodbyes were exchanged the four hit the road.
Niklaus' Mansion
As the days passed into weeks and Greta and Klaus' attempts for the former to regain her magic failed, the latter became frustrated and impatient.
Daniel had found out from Mystic Falls High School records who Scott and Liam were; Scott McCall and Liam Dunbar, both from Beacon Hills, a town that sounded familiar, and went to a high school of the same name together, at least until Scott graduated not long ago.
Klaus wanted to pay the town a visit, specifically Scott McCall, who killed Katerina, and his pack, but he couldn't do that yet because his pack wasn't complete and Rebekah was still at large. His conclusion was that he needed a new witch while he waited for Kimberly to find his sister.
Finding a witch was easy, finding a witch who was as well-trained, powerful and hundred percent loyal to him like Greta was not, Klaus knew that, hence his frustration at failing to have her regain her magic.
Mystic Grill
One person who shared Klaus' growing frustration and impatience was Stefan. The longer it took for the private investigators he asked Caroline to compel for him didn't find anything about Katherine's whereabouts the more he thought about doing something recklesser.
But as suicidal as he was, Stefan didn't want to put Bonnie and Caroline in more danger than he already has. They were the last link he had to Elena and he couldn't lose it as well. Stefan wished there was a way to kill the Mikaelson half siblings but...
That thought halted when he remembered that there was a way to 'kill' one of them, Rebekah, and since she was the one who killed Elena her death would be avenged. Stefan just needed to find the dagger Klaus used to 'kill' Rebekah for the last decades and find and 'kill' her with it.
But most importantly, he needed someone to hide Rebekah's body and use it as leverage to force Klaus to leave Mystic Falls since Stefan intended to die 'killing' Elena's killer.
Unknown to Stefan, while his hope for vengeance was rejuvenated Bonnie and Caroline, who were having lunch with him, fought the urge to tell him about their findings due to how miserable he grew each passing day there wasn't anything about Katherine's whereabouts.
On top of that, they felt guilty about keeping the details of what guaranteed Damon's death, more so who sealed Damon's fate. But Caroline didn't want to lose her vampire mentor who was now practically human and Bonnie just didn't know how to speak with Scott after what she learned.
It has been some time since their last late-night phone call, since before Rebekah killed Elena, and now that Bonnie knew Scott was capable of killing someone who looked exactly like one of her best friends, meet said best friend and go on with his life like nothing happened...
She didn't know what to think about him. Scott McCall was probably one of the nicest people Bonnie knew; his kindness and compassion are what began their friendship in the first place.
As much as she was glad that she and her friends didn't have to deal with Katherine Pierce anymore, nor Damon, she wondered if she could still trust Scott, if she could still confide in him should her friendship with Caroline go back to how it was pre-Elena's death.
Though Bonnie and Caroline were getting pretty close before Elena died, they became closer after she died. They now knew that they could truly lose the other at any moment and began to truly value their friendship.
That was one of the reasons the late-night phone calls with Scott came to a halt, the others being distance, separation and Bonnie feeling like she was taking advantage of Scott's offer.
Other than that, whether they liked it or not, Katherine was the last biological link to Elena and regardless of how much they disliked Katherine, she was their last biological link to Elena. If Katherine was alive, a piece of Elena was still alive but the revelation of the former's fate left them with nothing.
It was like Scott just broke the news that Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy didn't exist.
"What's with the hopeful yet resigned look?" Caroline asked Stefan, drawing Bonnie's attention.
"What look?" Stefan responded.
"The look you had just a second ago, Stefan."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Stefan replied, and proceeded to stand up. "But I have to check on Ric. He's been hitting the bottle hard these past couple of days."
With that, he left, leaving Bonnie and Caroline who watched him leave before they shared a questioning look, wondering what he was up to although they knew that he was right. Alaric seemed to be drowning his sorrows in alcohol, hard, but they didn't blame him.
Beacon Hills Preserve
"Eye color is important to supernaturals, especially shapeshifters as it shows one's species and rank but I haven't found a species with your characteristics yet." Alan said, addressing Corey. "But you need to know what you're capable of and how to safely use your abilities.
Scott has asked me to help you discover more of your abilities and train you and that is what I'm going to do. Are you ready?"
"I guess." Corey responded.
"Belief and confidence in oneself can be powerful deciding factors in life, Corey." Alan replied. "Scott wouldn't have been able to break a mountain ash circle and become a true alpha if he didn't believe in himself. Your abilities are a mystery and can be dangerous if you can't control them.
Believe in yourself like your friends and pack believe in you, alright?"
Corey acknowledged what Alan said and they got to work.
Road Trip
"What's our ultimate destination again?" Cora inquired from the back seat of Scott's car.
"Mystic Falls." Lydia answered, seating with her in the back.
"The same Mystic Falls Scott's hybrid father lives?" Cora asked.
"Yep." Lydia replied. "And so does Scott's vindictive original vampire half aunt Rebekah Mikaelsdotter. Or at least she did until she killed her former boyfriend's girlfriend after he tried to fool her."
"Its Rebekah Mikaelson, Lydia." Malia corrected from shotgun.
"Not according to Norse traditions." Lydia said, and explained. "Scott's biological paternal family is from Viking Age and Mikael was a Viking thus they are Norseman and as Norse tradition has it, surnames come from the father's first name and then the child's gender.
Mikaelson means Son of Mikael and Mikaelsdotter means Daughter of Mikael, so to be traditionally correct Rebekah's surname should not be Mikaelson but Mikaelsdotter."
"So that would make Scott Scott Klausson?" Cora inquired, and Scott, who was driving, pretended to not be paying attention.
"Well, Niklausson." Lydia corrected.
"I prefer Scott McCall Melissason." Scott found himself saying.
"I like Scott McCall Melissason." Malia said, and the two shared a look and smiled at one another.
"Will you two stop tiptoeing around each other and confess your mutual feelings already before you get us killed?" Lydia commented, having had enough.
"I second that." Cora said. "This is getting ridiculous."
"Maybe we agreed to stay as friends like you and Jordan, Lydia." Malia suggested, while Scott focused on the road. "Even though you still stare down anyone who shows some interest in Jordan."
"I don't..." Lydia began to deny.
"You do, Lydia..." Cora interrupted, and as they continued Scott noted that Malia didn't deny having feelings for him and that made him happy.
He found that he developed romantic feelings towards Malia over the past few months but though her chemosignals said that those feelings were mutual Scott felt like he was betraying Stiles again.
Sure Malia and Stiles weren't dating when the latter died and he was actually the one that ended the relationship but Scott still remembered his fight with Stiles over making out with Lydia that one time in sophomore year, and Stiles wasn't even dating Lydia.
The thing with a full moon was that it didn't plant ideas in one's mind, it just stripped away restrain and enhanced what was already there and on that day Scott was mad at Allison for breaking up with him when everything he did was to protect her.
He was also mad at Jackson, Stiles and the world and wanted to show it for once, or better yet, push back and Lydia knew exactly what to say and since she was the one thing Allison, Jackson and Stiles had in common and Scott noticed Lydia's intentions via her chemosignals and actions...
And Scott's restraint was being eaten away by the approaching, possibly super, full moon and he wanted to distract himself from the pain of losing Allison, Scott went along with what Lydia had in mind and they both got what they wanted.
Case in point was that Lydia and Stiles weren't dating and still Stiles felt like Scott betrayed him for kissing his longtime crush to the extent of treated him like a dog. Comparing that to Malia who Stiles actually dated and was his first, and only, romantic relationship...
And how Scott felt when he first found out that Allison and Isaac had formed "a strong connection, the kind of an emotional tether" and read between the lines for a quarter of the moment just before the surrogate sacrifice ritual, he thought that he knew how Stiles would feel about his reciprocated feelings for Malia.
Scott didn't get to fully process the discovery he seemed to be the last person to make before the ritual, but for the second quarter of the moment, he drowned in an ocean of betrayal, hopelessness, sadness and untold rage.
But after everything they all went through leading to that point, things that kept him too preoccupied to realize that the love of his life was moving on, Scott was tired; emotionally, mentally and physically, hence he joined Alpha Pack.
He realized that he had truly lost Allison on the third quarter of the moment and partially accepted that fact on the fourth and last quarter in which he also realized that if he dwelled on his heartache and break he was going to lose his mother as well.
Hence Scott swallowed it all, literally and figuratively, and focused on what he had to do, what they had to do, even after Stiles informed him at the very last moment before they went under that his father Rafael was back in Beacon Hills.
If Stiles loved Malia as much as Scott loved Allison and Kira, Scott knew how Stiles would have felt knowing about his and Malia's reciprocated romantic feelings.
'Pullover, we need to talk.' Raven1 said. 'I think you're finally ready to hear what I have to say.'
'What are you talking about?' Scott asked.
'Just pullover and tell the others that you'll catch up with them, Scott.' Raven1 repeated, and surprised Scott by addressing him by his name, giving him the idea that the conversation was important and so he followed through.
"Why are we slowing down?" Malia asked as Scott decelerated the car and drove to the side before stopping.
That caused Malia and Scott's protection teams, which were driving in two separate cars behind them, to stop as well. Talking about the teams; each team consisted on four people and they were from eight of the nine packs of New Beacon Pack, excluding McCall Pack.
Two drivers from Ikooko Pack and Okami Pack (MPG1 and SPG1), two trackers from Bhediya Pack and Volk Pack (MPG2 and SPG2), two strategists from Guerrera Pack and Phiri Pack (MPG3 and SPG3) and two 'muscles' from Crescent Wolf Pack and Paxon Pack (MPG4 and SPG4).
They were the best of the volunteers who volunteered to protect Malia and Scott at all cost and were chosen by Betas and Gammas including Alan, Jordan, Marin, Derek, Melissa and Chris just before McCall Pack returned to Beacon Hills.
All eight of MPGs (Malia's Personal Guards) and SPGs (Scott's Personal Guards) were let in on sensitive information like Scott's true nature an hour after they left New Orleans after they agreed to do anything to keep Malia and Scott's secrets to themselves and Scott compelled them.
"Uh, Raven1 wants to discuss something." Scott replied, taking off his seatbelt. "And I need a little break from driving, so I'll catch up with you (Cora, Lydia and Malia) after a run and a snack (patting his concealed blood flask)."
Cora, Lydia and Malia didn't have a problem with that, the former two actually saw an opportunity to ask Malia a few questions, and so after Scott got out of the car Malia took over driving duty and drove off with the protection teams although SPG3 and SPG4 were left with Scott.
"Why haven't you two made a move on each other yet?" Cora inquired after a moment.
"I've been asking myself the same question." Lydia said. "Compared to Scott's previous relationships, this one is taking ages to happen. Did you really agree to stay as friends?"
"Of course not." Malia responded. "If I had my way we would be dating and having sex like crazy by now but every time I think we're getting somewhere nothing happens and it's driving me crazy! No wonder Kira reeked of anxiety before they began dated."
"What?" Cora asked.
"I think what Malia is trying to say is that Scott is giving her mixed signals." Lydia said, and Malia nodded in confirmation. "The same thing happened with Kira after Allison died. Allison was moving on with Isaac and Scott with Kira but after Allison died Scott pulled away for a while to deal with Allison's death.
I guess when he was ready to move on with Kira he was hesitant to. Considering Allison died in his arms after she reaffirmed her love for him, I understand why. Kira did as well since she witnessed their last moment with Isaac and her mother."
Cora linked her hand with one of Lydia's and squeezed it in comfort, knowing Allison's death wasn't an easy subject, and Lydia returned it in gratitude.
"You think that Scott is hesitant about us because he is waiting for Kira?" Malia inquired. "That would make sense because some of the times things seem to be going somewhere he smells of guilt but he covers it within a moment's notice."
"If Scott was waiting for Kira he wouldn't be leading you on." Lydia replied. "I think it's something else, like falling for his late best friend's former girlfriend. I know I felt guilty for making out with Scott the first time Allison broke up with him.
Scott being Scott probably feels guilty for his obviously reciprocated feelings for you. Guilt has never done Scott any good. Ever."
"You've made out with Scott?" Cora inquired, curious.
"That's all you got from what I said?"
"No. But it's a highlight for me."
Malia blocked out Cora and Lydia and thought about what the latter said and things started to make sense and now that she had an idea of what was holding Scott back she intended to take matters into her own hands and make the first move like she should have a long time ago.
'What am I finally ready to hear, Belasko?' Scott asked after he, SPG3 and SPG4 took cover under the shade of a tree.
'The truth. But first, I'm sure you're aware that our connection strengthened after you became Alpha of New Beacon Pack and we are stronger.'
'Yeah. I am aware.' Scott replied.
'Then you're also aware that I now have access to your memories as do you to mine and I've had a full picture of your relationship with Stiles.' Belasko said. 'You might not like what I have to say but you need to hear it, Scott.
Do you recall that time Stiles said that sarcasm was his only defense? Well, what he considered to be defense was for the most part aggressive and other times passive offense onto people he considered foes and friends alike, including you.
And somehow you always allowed him to get away with it, you all did. I didn't understand why until that fateful night you confronted him about killing Donovan and he pressed for you to believe him and when you didn't say that you believed him he stepped towards you threateningly and you stepped away from him.
Theo might have manipulated things leading to that point to break up your pack but he gave you reason to finally stand up to Stiles and when you did Stiles became emotionally, physically and verbally abusive and aggressive like he usually became when things didn't go his way.
Don't try to defend him, Scott. Stiles' attack on you at the hospital proves me right and so does his careless response when you told him his father wasn't the only one who got hurt. "Oh, you'll heal." Did that sound like a response one would give to their injured best friend?
I actually couldn't believe that you forgot about your death wound and had Lydia on your mind at the time. You are not perfect Scott, you and I know that, but that doesn't give anyone the right to treat you like that, no one deserves to be treated like that.
Not you, not Lydia, not Isaac, not Liam and mostly definitely not Malia who offered Stiles unconditional support and he turned his back on her in return. Talking about that, I'm sure you noticed that Stiles' focus shifted to Lydia after his breakup with Malia, he didn't want to fix things with her.
Malia learned a lot of things from Stiles since you forced her to take human form and I'm sure she took note of the new direction he was taking and worked on moving on as well, settling on being just friends with him.
Since Stiles didn't show a problem with shifting his romantic interests to one of Malia's friends Malia probably took that as a lesson as well. But Malia's romantic interest in you might be because she didn't and doesn't see a problem with it to begin with.
You have to remember that Malia wasn't exposed to human norms until recently, the "bro-code" and such things probably make no sense to her and to be frank, when you live in our world such things are ridiculous given our life expectancy and limited social circles.
You love who you love and if they reciprocate that love the person they used to date doesn't matter because we live in the present and we are realistic about our chances of meeting someone who adds that spark to our lives again.
Hence it doesn't surprise me that Derek took another chance at finding love with Braeden even after all his previous relationships, none of which had a happy ending.
You need to stop thinking and living like the human you once thought you were and start living as what and who you are, Scott. Few people get the chance to find a second love like you did with Kira and fewer people get a chance to find a third love like you have with Malia.
Do something before you lose that chance, there's no guarantee you'll get a fourth one. As far as we know there's a possibility you can't be killed, which means you have a longer time to regret your mistakes than most people do.
Do you want to spend the rest of eternity regretting missing this chance? Although Allison ended up dying in your arms, I didn't see or sense regret from her for meeting and loving and dying in your arms when I went through your memories.
And Kira, she only left because she had to. You lived in constant danger and life and death situations and yet she only cared that you remembered her name and loved her, and only regretted becoming a danger to you and your mutual friends and she didn't choose to be a danger to you.
Do you regret meeting, getting to know and loving them? Would you have rather lived without knowing them and...?'
"No." Scott interrupted, voice firm even as silent tears fell down his checks and onto the ground.
His voice surprised SPG3 and SPG4 since there was relative silence for some time until then but they didn't comment, they just waited for their alpha and watched over him.
'Good.' Belasko said. 'Like Stiles once told you, it's OK to want something for yourself. I'll not say once in awhile because you need to be a little more selfish with what you want. If you go overboard I'll always be there to anchor you.
I know that you're your own anchor but I'm your familiar. My duty is to complement you and it's my pleasure to. I didn't say what I said about Stiles to disrespect and tarnish your memory of him; I said it because you needed to hear it.
If Stiles loved Malia as much as you loved Allison and Kira, he would have wanted her to be happy, but honestly and knowing Malia, she wouldn't have cared if he opposed your relationship.'
At that moment Scott felt his phone vibrate.
'Thank you, Belasko.' He said, while he took out said phone which was receiving a phone call. 'I did need to hear what you had to say.'
'You're welcome, True Alpha. Thank you for listening.' Belasko responded. 'Raven4 and Raven8 are taking good care of things in Toulouse with Peter and things are going well in Beacon Hills with Raven3 and New Orleans with Raven6.'
'And Raven5 and Raven7 are overseeing Lucien's lesser known former businesses and territories and Raven2 is scouting ahead while you're currently feeding. I got it, Raven1.' Scott added, and Raven1 acknowledged before Scott answered the phone.
"Mis..."
"Just Kara, Scott." Kara said, correcting her new ally. "You brought my son back to me and you've earned the right to address me by my first name."
A Witch's House, Missouri
"Have you found it, love?" Rebekah asked a young witch she recently found after temporarily settling down in the area.
"I did."
"But?" Rebekah inquired.
"I couldn't see the person wearing it, their image was distorted, but I can tell you they are a witch, a very powerful who I got the sense was able to sense my prying eyes and looked straight at me. I don't think going after the necklace is a good idea."
"Did you at least find their location?" Rebekah questioned.
"I saw a road sign that said Nice Town."
"Lovely. It's a town near Louisiana-Mississippi boarder. You wouldn't mind accompanying me, would you? I'll triple your price if you accompany me and if you successfully help me retrieve my necklace I'll add a little bonus and I may use your services again." Rebekah propositioned.
The witch didn't need to think about her choice, she needed the money, but she pretended otherwise before accepted.
"What's your name again?" Rebekah inquired.
"Tara."
"How do you feel about flying, Tara?"
Nice Town
"I hope this town is literally nice." Cora said, as they looked for a place to stay for the night.
"Ditto." Lydia supported.
"If you're looking for a nice place why are we going to Mystic Falls?" Malia asked. "We know Scott's father is there along with his pack and considering he's not that different from Peter, he'll try something once he discovers our presence there."
"I have a long lost aunt and cousin to meet for the first time and you're such great friends that you came to support and make sure that nothing happens to me." Lydia replied, before adding. "And because you wanted to escape from your new responsibilities and New Orleans politics."
"Our original plans didn't include taking over eight large packs and a whole city, you can't blame us for taking the first chance we got to escape." Malia said.
"We actual took over two very important cities." Cora corrected. "New Orleans, the largest city in Louisiana and Toulouse, a capital city in France with a nemeton."
"I can't believe we left Peter in charge of a city with a nemeton." Lydia voiced, truly not believing that they did that, before she informed Malia. "There's a nice hotel three blocks ahead."
"We didn't have a choice since you guys killed the guy Lucien left in charge." Malia replied, and acknowledged Lydia's suggestion. "Anyway, Scott has ravens watching and working alongside Peter even though he's not aware."
"I never thought Scott could be so..." Cora said, but couldn't find the right word to describe him.
"Cunning?" Lydia suggested.
"Cunning." Cora agreed.
"Sometimes life forces us to embrace and become what we fear to protect the people we love." Malia said, parking in front of the hotel Lydia told her about. "This looks expensive."
"We're rich, remember?" Lydia reminded. "And I already booked us the presidential suite online."
"Someone is looking for me." Scott informed SPG3 and SPG4 on their way to the hotel.
"Who?" SPG3 inquired, wondering if that was what her alpha was reacting to earlier.
"I don't know but they're a witch." Scott replied. "I'm not sure if I'm the target or my necklace is but they traced it. Be on full alert and tell the others. There are eight of you and four of us, so divide yourselves accordingly."
"So, this is what a presidential suite looks like." Cora said, after they checked out the suite.
"Yep." Lydia responded, mentally checking off presidential suite from her to-do list.
"I could use a presidential meal right now." Malia voiced.
"Is that a thing?" Cora inquired, hopefully.
"It better be."
"Relax, cousins. We can order..." Lydia said, but paused when everyone turned towards the doors and Scott, SPG3 and SPG4 entered a few moments later.
"Whoa." Scott expressed, impressed, but quickly reigned in his surprise. "The presidential suite, really, Lydia?"
"Yes, really. I'm not going to sleep in a motel or any rundown lodging establishment ever again. The last time we were at a motel you almost committed suicide and we're not going to have a repeat of that. Ever."
"You've tried to kill yourself?" SPG1 inquired; shocked and so were her pack members.
"Uh, yeah." Scott confirmed, giving Lydia a look. "Lydia will explain what happened. I have to speak with Malia."
With that Lydia was left to reveal the details of the visit to Motel Glen Capri while Scott led Malia out of the presidential suite and none of the shapeshifters missed Scott's racing heart rate and they wondered why that was, especially with his mastery over his body.