The Bayou
Silence reigned after Scott called Oliver out but everyone's eyes were on him and they weren't welcoming, especially Mary's. Oliver wished for the ground to open so that he could disappear but he was no skinwalker.
He stepped forward as instructed until he reached the middle and stood there, facing the ground submissively.
"You're no longer Jackson's right-hand man and you're no longer welcome to this meeting." Scott declared. "You will be a harbinger of what's to come to those who disobeyed me as the first Omega of New Beacon Pack and you will not get the chance to work your way up the hierarchy for at least two years."
With that said he walked towards and stood in front of Oliver, right before he buried his right hand claws into Oliver's abdomen, drawing a cry out of him which caused Jackson to look away but not before he and everyone in view saw Scott's eyes glow a bright red, brighter than usual.
"Wha... What ar... Are you doing to me?" Oliver asked, feeling something being drained out of him from his wounds, it was like his life was bring drawn out of him.
"I'm keeping my word." Scott replied, without much emotion to his voice, and though most wondered what he was doing exactly they didn't ask.
Those in the line of sight of Oliver's eyes saw his eyes glow yellow but a second later the glow started to become dim and with each passing moment the glow became dimmer until Oliver's human eyes replaced his wolf eyes.
Malia wondered if Scott intended to kill Oliver because she knew exactly what he was doing and without Belasko's talons death was guaranteed for Oliver.
Unknown to her, however, and everyone else, except Belasko, Scott hadn't just drained Oliver's power; he had it virtually stored into his claws just like memories were although a part of the power added to his own.
He was able to achieve this feat after modifying the spell he used on Greta and Stefan, combining it with his ability to siphon pain although he specifically targeted supernatural energy, magic and power.
When Scott was done, he retracted his claws and steadied Oliver who felt weak, far weaker than he has ever felt.
"Malia is not just a member of this pack; she's an alpha and the only alpha beside me in this pack." Scott said, loud enough for those without super hearing to hear. "If anything happens to me, she will become the Leader of New Beacon Pack and Co-leader of New Orleans.
She will not be disrespected, and neither will any member of New Beacon Pack. I don't care who you are and I don't care about your experience or power, what I do care about is this pack and everyone in it.
What will uniting and returning werewolves to New Orleans be worth if we self-destruct because of internal conflicts caused by self-destructive and power-hungry individuals who care more about themselves than the pack? Nothing!
From this moment on, there are six ranks in New Beacon Pack; True Alpha, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omega. I hold True Alpha rank, Leader of New Beacon Pack, and Malia Alpha rank, Second-in-command and default Leader of New Beacon Pack should I die.
All of you, eight former alphas, hold Beta rank and will lead your respective original packs on my behalf along with Malia leading my original pack and you will answer to me. Beta rank is limited to eight at a time.
The man you see on video call to my left is my primary emissary Alan Deaton, my advisor, and on my right is my right-hand man Jordan Parrish. One of each people that are on your sides will hold these roles for you. You decide which. They hold Gamma rank and are limited to twenty people at a time.
Everyone, including Hayden and Corey (he pointed at them), who isn't here holds the rank of Delta, general rank of a member of our pack. Oliver and everyone that will lose their abilities by nightfall hold Omega rank, and anyone who will follow in their footsteps will join them.
Omegas will not get the chance to work their way up to Delta rank for at least two years after their demotion and only Malia and I have the power to promote and demote. Over there are two of our closest allies Chris Argent and Melissa McCall, they hold honorary Gamma rank."
By the time Scott was done with the ranks Oliver was able to stand on his own so Scott directed him to the side before he returned to his original position.
"Now that we are done with ranks, I'd like to inform you that rank True Alpha, Alpha and Beta form Beacon Council, the body that will assist me in governing our pack." He continued, and it was only then that some recalled what he said. "Like I said, ranks Alpha and Beta will lead their respective original packs on my behalf and answer to me.
This leads us to the decision we still have to make concerning the people we captured."
Scott opened up for introductions then discussion about the matter where everyone was allowed to voice their suggestions and opinions, apart from Oliver.
Vincent arrived at this point with a Delta Scott sent to get him before they left for the Bayou.
The Cafe Chim Lac
"Mother! Mother!" Seventeen years old Nia Nguyen called for her mother, running into her office.
"I'm at work, Nia. You can't run screaming and..." Kara responded, having been typing a work related document, but she was ignored.
"Van is back!"
Now that caught Kara's attention.
"Come again."
"Van is back!" Nia repeated, excitedly. "He was just brought home by the police."
Kara didn't waste another moment with questions. She just got up, informed a coworker that she had a family emergency and then she was out of the cafe and in her car in no time, Nia right there with her.
Gilbert House
Stefan laid on Elena's bed, house quiet even though he wasn't alone in it. He'd passed a fast asleep Alaric on the couch on his way to the bedroom, beer and bourbon bottles on the table, a common sight these days which went along with a beard.
Stefan couldn't blame Alaric when his own coping mechanism wasn't any different on some days. Today was just one of the days he just laid on Elena's bed, closed his eyes and let the smell of her bedroom surround him and think about her, imagine that she was still alive.
Stefan was glad that he was basically human, on some days, but on others he wished that he had his powers back so that he could avenge Elena's death, so that he could better hunt down Katherine and Rebekah and look for the person that terrified the latter and Klaus.
Right now, however, he just wished that Elena was beside him, alive and well, with Lexi, Damon and Jeremy alive as well, and Jenna.
Nguyen House
The first thing Kara did when she arrived home was hug her only son for dear life, a hug that was joined by her daughters before they all settled down and food was brought for Van. He looked as though he had been through hell, having bruises and lost weight.
"You're alright, son. You're home now." Kara said, more to herself then to him.
"What happened? Where were you? What did they...?"
"Slow down, Nia. Give your brother a chance to finish eating."
"It's alright, mother." Van said, pausing to look at his family, Kara and his sisters. "I know that you also want to know so I'll tell you between bites."
The Bayou
"You arrived just in time." Scott said to Vincent, making it clear to everyone who didn't know that he invited him. "We are discussing what to do with our captives. What do you suggest be done with them?"
Vincent expected at least one person would voice their disapproval about his invitation and being granted the opportunity to possibly affect the final decision but none did, even Oliver who stood alone, eyes downcast and looking defeated.
"I don't know about the others, but for witches, I suggest they be sent to Dowager Fauline Cottage, a prison and kind of mental asylum for witches who loss themselves to magic and those who commit crimes against the community are sent." Vincent proposed, thinking about Eva.
"But not all of them deserve to be sent there." He continued, recalling the people who were in the room protected by mountain ash. "Lucien blackmailed some of them to work for him by threatening their families."
"How are we to know which ones were forced?" Francesca asked, a valid question since they couldn't depend on their hearing because some people were skilled liars.
"By acquiring a magical sphere that detects and indicates when an individual is telling the truth or not when asked a question." Vincent responded.
"A lie detector?" Derek asked, unimpressed. "We're walking lie detectors but even we can be lied to by experienced and skilled liars."
"This sphere cannot be lied to." Vincent said. "Not even an experienced and skilled liar can deceive it."
"How would you know?" Jackson asked.
"I did research on it and intended to buy it from a private auction a while ago but Priest O'Connell beat me to it. It is how I found out that he is a collector of magical and dark objects."
"So, you want us to 'acquire' it from him, is that right?" Mr Bhediya questioned.
"It's the only way you'll be certain that you're punishing the right people." Vincent replied, looking at Scott. "Like any other prison, the Cottage has a limited capacity; you can't expect it to be able to sustain every witch captured, let alone everyone else."
"We could just kill them all and save ourselves the trouble and potential of having them use their experience and skills acquired from the suffering of our people elsewhere." Mr Volk suggested an alternative, and some voiced their agreement.
"Or, we could have them use those skills for our benefit." Benito, Francesca's brother and advisor, proposed, and earned everyone's attention, so, he continued. "With all that they've learned over the years, regardless of how, I'm sure they know more about us as a species than we know ourselves.
And considering they experimented on other species as well, the same can be said about them. Instead of wasting all that by killing and/or imprisoning all of them, we should consider selecting experts and specialists in their fields and offer them an opportunity to work for us."
"Offer people, who kidnapped, tortured and butchered our pack mates an opportunity to escape their punishments?" Mrs Ikooko questioned, clearly against the idea.
"It wouldn't be an escape if they serve the very people they kidnapped, tortured and butchered, Ikooko. Think about it. Having knowledge learned from our people's suffering and meant to be used against us be used for us." Mrs Okami reasoned, putting emphasis on "for us".
"How exactly would it be used for us?" Mr Bhediya asked.
"When was the last time you were tipsy, Mr Bhediya?" Benito inquired, and just as he expected, Mr Bhediya couldn't come up with an answer apart from when he triggered his werewolf gene. "Don't you want to feel the effects of alcohol once again, even if you would be just a little buzzed?"
As much as Mr Bhediya would have liked to say no, he knew that he couldn't truthfully say so. And he wasn't the only one.
Shapeshifters, who knew the pains of having the effects of alcohol taken away from them, or having never felt them even slightly, were very interested in what Benito had to say, even Derek, Malia and Scott, Jordan as well since he became a hellhound he hasn't been able to get drunk, not even tipsy.
Seeing that he had everyone's attention, even Oliver who had been sulking but now had his ears up, Benito continued.
"Well, guess what, you are not the only one who wants to feel that wonderful feeling again." He said. "Since the dawn of werewolves, there have been people who longed to feel the effects of alcohol, even just a little, but that longing has long evaded them and it has evaded you as well, thousands of years later. But that could change.
We have decades upon decades of knowledge and people who could make that happen. While the researches were aimed at exploring our weaknesses to harm us, we have the opportunity to turn things around and use all that information for something productive and profitable for us.
Here is the truth; we are just returning to society, we don't have the financial means to support our return to the city and ourselves. Most of us have been lying low, trying to make ends meet to support our families without being discovered. It isn't likely that that will change anytime soon.
Most of us don't have qualifications to get better employment, and those who do will likely be turned down because witches and vampires are everywhere and will try to limit our resurgence. But we have a way around that.
We have the potential, the assets and the means to grant the world what it has been longing for for thousands of years and provide for us. All we have to do is offer the assets three options; death, imprisonment or beneficial servitude to atone for what they did to our people.
If there were people who were indeed forced to kidnap, torture, experiment and butcher our people, we shall find out if they regret their actions or not. That is my suggestion, True Alpha."
Silence reigned afterwards, eyes on Scott, waiting to hear what he had to say. He hadn't offered any input on any of the suggestions so no one knew what to expect.
"I like your suggestion." Scott admitted, after a long moment, the thought of being able to feel the effects of alcohol was really appealing, but... "But I will not introduce drunken supernaturals to the world and neither will my pack.
Can you imagine what a drunken werewolf would be like? Let alone an alcoholic one? That, is not my vision for this pack, nor is it the hope I promised you and the beacon we aim to be."
Apart from that, Scott suspected Benito's suggestion was linked to his family's drug cartel. He suspected that he was trying to expand the Correa Cartel and planned to use the alcohol business as a cover, probably create a new drug as well and Scott was not going to allow that to happen.
"Thank you all for your suggestions, they've made things clearer." He said, having reached a decision. "Our solution for the captives is a combination of all your suggestions. We will give them the choice to choose between death, imprisonment and working for us for a different cause.
I'd like to know more about the sphere and witch prison you mentioned, Vincent. But after the meeting."
'Don't worry about the financial problem, True Alpha. It's covered.' Raven1 told Scott, who paused and pretended to be in deep thought.
'What did you do, Raven1?' Scott asked, like a parent who already knew his child has been mischievous and considering he was best friends with Stiles, he was well equipped to detect mischief.
'I, um, took the liberty of making Lucien's monies disappear during your fight with him.' Raven1 revealed. 'It was either I did it or let his associates do it instead. Would you rather I have left wealth built over centuries fall in the hands of people you just made enemies of?
It's my duty, as your familiar, to watch your back and complement you. In order for me to do that, I have to do things like acquire a few dark magic grimoires and your enemy's life's work and wealth, even if you don't ask me to.'
Scott sighed, not having a comeback although the new information gave him a few ideas.
"Concerning our return to the city, employment and financial situation, I'll provide accommodations for those who need them, along with food and financial support." He began, the ideas adding up. "But I want something in return.
The unemployed will work for me and children will focus on their academic careers and living normal lives supplemented by training to control their abilities and learning about the supernatural world and to defend themselves.
Betas, announce this to the pack and make a list of those who need accommodations and a separate one for those who agree to my terms. In the meantime, McCall Pack will watch over Beacon Hills while Crescent Wolf Pack will watch over New Orleans.
Paxon Pack will guard our captives and Guerrera Pack will keep us well informed on what is happening inside, around and outside New Orleans, especially anything that has to go with New Beacon Pack.
Phiri Pack will be our hunters, responsible for rescue, retrieval and capture tasks. Bhediya Pack will handle everything to do with electronics and be our cyber patrol while Okami Pack will handle our supplies and Volk Pack will patrol the city and the Bayou.
Ikooko Pack will be responsible for the accommodation process and distribution since they are familiar with my properties. Mrs Ikooko, please meet with Argent before he leaves so that you may discuss which properties are easier to defend, those are properties I want the pack to live in."
Mrs Ikooko acknowledged and so did Chris, Malia and every Beta. The meeting continued for a little bit longer with the focus on the burials of pack members killed in action, before Scott dismissed it after telling Jackson to move the Crescent Wolf Pack to one of the bigger houses he owned.
Josephine LaRue's House
"What did the Ancestors say about the developments?" Agnes asked Josephine, having spent the night wondering what was in store after last night.
"The Ancestors are divided." A tired Josephine replied. "Some want the boy dead. They say that Scott is a much bigger threat than they first thought, that he was holding back during his fight with Lucien and when his blood and wounds disappeared in black smoke, they felt a hint of his true power.
Others want us to ally with him. They admit that he is indeed powerful and a great threat, an abomination of some kind, but it's because of that they want us to ally with him, and because he just dethroned Lucien and put Vampire Faction in its place."
"I have to agree with them, Scott was holding back." Agnes said, gaining a questioning look from Josephine. "Come on, Josephine. He didn't even transform and yet one punch did a lot of damage to Lucien's face.
Apart from that, something about his title triggered a memory, and I did some reading to refresh that memory. Scott is a true alpha, the rarest canine shapeshifter and alpha there is. Little is recorded about true alphas but is known, their alpha sparks come from within.
They don't inherit their red eyes; they will them into existence and generate their own spark of alpha power. The stronger their will, the stronger their power. And last night Scott confirmed a previously unconfirmed rumor that they have an untold mastery over their bodies.
Lucien might have been hundreds of years old but the magic that made him pales in comparison to the raw power of a true alpha that knows what he is capable of and has the power of an unknown number of werewolves backing him, especially during a full moon."
Josephine was well aware of everything Agnes said, even the admiration in her voice, but she wasn't aware of the existence of true alphas. She was beginning to understand why the Ancestors called Scott an abomination.
He wasn't normal, not even by werewolf standards, the same way siphon witches weren't normal. On top of that, Scott was politically dangerous.
"What do you think is best for our faction, killing Scott or allying with him?" Josephine inquired, picking Agnes' brain.
"I think killing him would do us more harm than good. We already know how his pack reacts when provoked and how dangerous they are." Agnes answered. "Their primary target was Vampire Faction and they successfully carried out their plans in just a night, with Vampire Faction at its peak.
Scott managed to put your leadership in question and made himself appear as the better person, right after killing someone in full view of a room full of witnesses and while his pack was busy committing murder outside.
His power would be a great addition to our power source, but do we really want to have someone capable of that as an enemy? Or his murderous pack? Let's not forget his unidentified witch, and Vincent.
At the moment, I think it would be better if we repair our image and reputation by calling for a truce and get more information about Scott and his pack. But what I think doesn't really matter, the Ancestors..."
"The Ancestors have granted me the final decision." Josephine said, surprising Agnes since the Ancestors weren't known to do that, especially with such a big decision. "Like the great storm we were warned Scott was, he's turned things upside-down, and now we have to find our way to a new normal.
I guess Scott McCall will get the meeting he wanted, after all. But first, I have to meet with Kieran and Marcel."
French Quarter
"It's called True/False Sphere." Vincent told Scott on their way to St. Anne's Church on foot. "Its true state is a clear sphere the size of a tennis ball. It turns blue to indicate true answer and red for a false one. Although it can't be deceived, it does have one flaw."
"Which is?" Scott asked, not surprised since that was the nature of magic, it wasn't perfect.
"It's only limited to what the individual in question is aware of."
"At least we don't have to worry about that since Lucien's compulsions wore off after he died."
"About that, how did you kill him exactly?" Vincent asked, having been curious since their arrival at Marcel's house.
"I drove a piece of wood through his heart."
"How?" Vincent pressed. "Lucien was a very powerful vampire and..."
"And overconfident." Scott cut in. "Lucien didn't think that I could beat him; neither did anyone at the party. They didn't have any reason to think otherwise since they knew Lucien, what he was capable of and I was unknown.
But you saw me become Alpha of New Beacon Pack, possibly the largest pack to record. We are social people, the larger a pack is, the stronger it is and the stronger we are, individually and collectively."
Vincent read between the lines and noted that Scott was indirectly saying that he was stronger than Lucien.
St. Anne's Church
"They just disappeared without a trace?" Kieran asked his FBI friend over the phone, sitting on the front seat of the church, said friend having just revealed that the corrupt members of his faction had disappeared.
"It appears so. If I didn't know better, I would say that they got word of the arrest warrants issued for them and made a run for it. Do you know anything?"
"Nothing. I'll let you know if I hear anything." Kieran replied, before they ended the call.
He wondered what happened to his colleagues and if Scott had something to do with their disappearances or they found out about their impending arrests and decided to run.
"Priest O'Connell." Scott greeted.
'Think of the Devil and he'll appear.' Kieran thought, turning towards the church entrance and watched as Scott and Vincent walked towards him.
"I hope you realize that this is God's house." He said in greeting.
"We're well aware." Vincent replied. "But you're in possession of something we want."
"What would that be?" Kieran asked, standing up.
"True/False Sphere." Scott answered, and though Kieran tried not to show that he knew what they were talking about, he wasn't successful.
"This is God's house, so I hope you're not going to lie to us." Vincent said, before Kieran could respond. "Especially when we know that you have it and a few more magical objects in your possession."
"How...? (Sigh) What do you want with it?" Kieran inquired.
"To use it for what it was created for and prevent setting free unrepentant people." Scott responded.
"Are you repentant?"
"About?"
"The deaths you caused and chaos you brought to New Orleans and the Quarter." Kieran answered, seeing the red-eyed creature Scott was last night in his place.
"Are you repentant for the pain and suffering you allowed to happen to countless people and their families?" Scott returned the question, catching Kieran off guard. "I did what I did because I couldn't stand the thought of what all those people you let suffer were put through.
I know that doesn't make it better and I regret the loss of life but not the cause, not stopping the inhumane things that were done to people; humans, werewolves, witches, vampires and other beings alike.
But I'm not here to justify myself, I'm here because I want the Sphere. What do you want for it?"
Kieran thought about telling Scott that he wasn't going to give him the Sphere or make deals with the likes of him but someone came to his mind, his niece Camille. Since Marcel didn't honor their agreement and was losing his power, Kieran wasn't sure that he would keep her safe as they agreed.
Marcel was actually busy trying to start a romantic relationship with Camille instead of keeping her safe and away from supernatural business. So, Kieran came up with a new plan to keep her safe, even if it meant making a deal with the closest thing he has seen to the Devil.
"I want you to look after my niece Camille O'Connell and keep her safe and away from the supernatural world, even after my dead." He said, eyes locked with Scott's.
"I can do my best to keep her safe but I can't keep her ignorant to the world around her." Scott responded, maintaining the eye contact. "I've tried something like that and failed. You discovered the existence of the supernatural, what's to keep her from doing the same?
There are things that are just out of our control. What I can do is put her under the protection of New Beacon Pack without her knowledge until she discovers the supernatural world and then we will protect her with her knowledge.
On top of that, if you ally Human Faction with New Beacon Pack and she makes the discovery, I'll offer her training to defend herself and better protect her."
As much as Kieran didn't want to admit it, he knew that Scott was right, there were things that were just out of their control and that convinced him that Scott was taking the deal seriously, he wasn't just telling him what he wanted to hear.
"Alright, we have a deal. But this stays between us." Kieran said, and Scott and Vincent agreed. "Stay here."
With that, Kieran disappeared deeper into the church to a room leading to the attic where he kept harmless magical objects.
Deveraux House
"You only met Scott's mother?" Jane-Anne asked, not for the first time.
"Yes, Jane-Anne." Sophie answered. "How many times are you going to ask me that question?"
"And you're sure she's one hundred percent human?" Jane-Anne inquired, ignoring Sophie's question.
"I'm sure she's a nice lady and a great nurse."
"Sophie..."
"She didn't shapeshift into a werewolf nor did I sense anything werewolf about her, Jane-Anne. Give it a rest, OK?" Sophie interrupted, tired of her sisters questions. "While Scott was busy killing Lucien, Melissa was busy saving and teaching me to save lives. That's all!
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a job I have to get to, which I'm already late for."
Jane-Anne watched as her sister left, leaving her to think about what she sensed when she touched Scott last night and what he said about resurrection. She was sure that he wasn't just a werewolf but a witch as well, a hybrid.
But she wasn't going to confront him about it, Jane-Anne planned to use the knowledge as leverage for a rainy day.
St. Anne's Church
Kieran returned with the Sphere and with a bit of hesitance, gave it to Scott who looked it for a moment before he quickly put it into his pocket and then turned to the entrance.
"What is it? Who is it?" Vincent and Kieran asked at the same time.
"Two people, a man and a woman." Scott replied, judging by the sound of the footsteps.
'Marcel and Josephine.' Raven6 said. 'Josephine called Marcel to meet here. Before that, Marcel tried to recruit a witch, Katie, for a team up against you but quickly learned that you have ears and eyes everywhere.'
A moment later Josephine and Marcel entered, and were surprised to find Scott and Vincent there.
"What are you doing here?" Marcel questioned, looking at Scott.
"This is where Faction meetings are held isn't it?" Scott responded. "I heard that you were coming here and thought that it would be better if we all meet before you force me to kill you."
"If you know that we meet here, you should also know..." Kieran said, trying to defuse the stare down between the kings.
"I know." Scott interrupted. "I'm not here to fight but to discuss a way forward. We need to talk and find a way to coexist."
"You sent your pack to attack and kill my guys and killed Lucien yourself less than twenty four hours ago, and now you don't want to fight but to talk about coexistence?" Marcel asked.
"We can fight if you want us to fight, but at the end of that fight you'll be dead and I'll be leading both New Beacon Pack and Vampire Faction as King of New Orleans. Between that and finding a way to coexist, I'd rather find a way to coexist." Scott responded.
"That's why I asked Marcel to meet me here." Josephine said, earning everyone's attention although she focused on Kieran and Marcel. "He (Scott) has planted seeds of doubt to our leadership and choices.
If we fight against his proposal of coexistence, we would be nurturing those doubts and contributing to their growth until everything gets out of control and we lose it all. The Ancestors warned us about a great storm, that storm has arrived and it's changing the landscape.
What is best for our factions? Fighting against the storm or coexisting with it to ensure the survival of our factions?"
That got Kieran and Marcel thinking and in the end they truly cared about their respective factions and wanted what was best for them.