Trigger warning for allusions to non-con of unnamed original characters and suicidal ideation.
Everyone who hadn't left moved into the living room to get more comfortable, eager to find out the details of Isaac's newfound status. Scott was pretty sure Isaac hadn't come into the role the same way he had, but he wasn't going to jump to conclusions. Derek had become an Alpha in an unsavory way, but it wasn't something he held against him.
"I guess I should start at the beginning," Isaac said, leaning back in the chair he was sitting in. "I went to France with Chris, as you already know. The Argent family compound had a suitable place for the cargo we were taking." Stiles looked away at the mention of the item that needed to be locked up. The whole Nogitsune ordeal was still a sore subject for them, for obvious reasons.
"A house full of hunters? I'm going to assume that didn't really work out too well for you for long," Peter commented in that way he had. Like anyone who didn't think the same as him was an idiot.
"No, not really. It was okay at first, while Chris was there. But when it was obvious that he was gone and not coming back, they weren't as welcoming as before."
"I'm sorry, I-"
"You didn't owe me anything," Isaac dismissed. Scott recognized the same Isaac from after the bite, when he pretended he didn't need anything from anyone. It was always so clear that it was an act, but it didn't seem to be anymore. He'd learned to depend on himself.
"Where did you go?" Scott asked.
"I was planning on staying in France, since my language skills were passable and I had all the paperwork set up for living there, but then I ran into a bit of trouble," Isaac said with a self-deprecating laugh. "You know, I always thought the stuff about Omegas was bullshit. Evidently it's a pretty big deal to some werewolves."
"What happened?" Derek asked tightly. Isaac hadn't been Derek's Beta for a long time now, but there was a bond that wouldn't be broken, no matter the distance. The idea of someone hurting Liam made Scott feel a certain way too.
"I crossed into a pack's territory. They showed me just how little they appreciated it. When I woke up a few days later, they took me to see the Alpha," Isaac said, chuckling as if he hadn't just mentioned being beaten within an inch of his life. "There was this whole ceremonial setup, with an honest to God throne. If my jaw wasn't still broken, I probably would've laughed."
"Showmanship is a lost art," Peter remarked dreamily.
"Living through the 'lesson' had earned me a meeting with the Alpha and an offer to join the pack. It was either join or die. I figured I would choose join for now and leave die on the table for later," Isaac shrugged. Scott sucked in a sharp breath at the nonchalance of Isaac's statement. "I was kind of in a bad place at that point."
"I wish you'd called. You always had a place here if you wanted it," Scott said mournfully. He would've done his best to help Isaac through anything.
"I was too busy punishing myself."
"You didn't deserve that." Isaac didn't respond to that statement and continued on with his story.
"It wasn't that bad at first. I had a bed to sleep in and food to eat. There wasn't more I could ask for. The pack didn't really do anything either, just kind of going on about their lives. The Alpha was a little bit of a dick whenever I saw him, but I was used to that," Isaac recounted, flashing a quick smile at Derek's grunt of protest. "It was when I started talking to some of the other Betas that I realized things really weren't okay." Isaac's face darkened in a way Scott had never seen before.
"Oh shit," Stiles murmured.
"There was a woman there, a few years older than me. She was in charge of the meals and I'd talk to her a little as I was getting my food. She was a bit timid, but nice. One day, a new werewolf was brought in, and he pretty much looked like I had at first. I offhandedly said something about how I hoped she hadn't gotten the same treatment when she joined the pack," Isaac said lightly, curling his lip up in a snarl toward the end. "I'll never forget that little sound of distress she made."
"What did she say?" Derek asked, digging the tips of his claws into the arms of the wooden chair he was sitting in.
"She didn't need to say anything. I finally opened my eyes and started looking past the end of my own nose," Isaac spat, grinding his teeth. "The Alpha came in and I watched him walk around the room. All the guys were dipping their heads toward him in respect, but the girls- there was fear there. The whole room stunk of it. And in that moment I knew. I knew. I looked back at the woman and that was all the confirmation I needed. Then I saw red."
Everyone around the room shared looks with each other, but Isaac was caught up in his past.
"I thought about all those times I'd sat back and watched the people I cared about hurt, killed. Like Boyd. Like Allison. I wasn't going to be a bystander any longer," Isaac hissed, closing his eyes as they flickered between colors. "I charged him. All I could think of was ripping his heart out."
"That was practically suicide. You never should've won that fight, not with that Alpha having the power of his Betas," Derek pointed out.
"I didn't care. One of us was dying that day and it didn't really matter to me who it was. But I guess all that pent up rage gave me the edge I needed."
"And you killed him," Scott said. He knew it was true, due to Isaac's change, but he felt the need to say it nonetheless.
"I think I might've actually eaten part of him as well, which wasn't my finest moment," Isaac chuckled. Scott and Stiles exchanged looks. While the killing sounded justified, it was a little worrying to hear Isaac be so casual about it.
"How did the pack react to that?" Derek asked.
"They didn't seem too torn up about it, honestly. But I hadn't even thought about what would happen next," Isaac said, throwing his hands up in exasperation. "Suddenly, I was their Alpha."
"That's usually what happens," Peter scoffed, nodding down at his nephew.
"I wasn't thinking that far ahead at the time. I didn't even think I was going to survive, but there I was with about two dozen people looking to me as their new leader."
"I have to admit, I never really pictured you as an Alpha. No offense," Stiles said.
"I never saw myself as an Alpha either," Isaac snorted, shaking his head.
"Where are they now?" Scott asked.
"Gone."
"What do you mean?"
"I didn't go all Deucalion on them, if that's what you're asking," Isaac said, glancing over at Ethan. Ethan didn't argue the point, knowing the dig was well earned. "They were all waiting for me to tell them what to do, but I've never been that kind of guy. I'm not a born leader like Scott and I didn't have the best example of taking care of people. So I found a place that was better for them."
"How did you do that?" Scott asked.
"I met with their emissary, who I made sure didn't know about what was going on with the last Alpha, and he put the word out through certain channels that I was looking to meet peacefully with other Alphas. It kind of turned into a strange interview process. I wanted to make sure everyone was going into a good situation, since I made it clear no one was staying with me. A few guys took off, but everyone else was happy enough to let me find a new place for them."
"You never thought about trying your hand at leading a pack?" Scott wondered.
"I could barely keep myself alive back then, let alone other people. This was the right decision for everyone, and I made sure to check up on them from time to time, to see if things were going well."
"Did it ever not go well?" Stiles asked hesitantly.
"Uh, I ended up with a few extra Betas every now and then at first, but that stopped happening pretty soon. My reputation spread fairly quickly, so I didn't have to take care of problems like that for long," Isaac responded coyly.
"And how many problems did you take care of?" Lydia asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Enough to send a message."
"Oh, come on! We want a number," Malia moaned, squinting her eyes in annoyance. Scott needed to make sure she wasn't spending too much time around Peter. Malia really didn't need that kind of influence.
"Enough," Isaac repeated, putting a respectable amount of weight behind that one word. They could come to their own conclusions about that.
"So what are your plans now? Come to see if Scott is treating his Betas right?" Stiles asked, biting his lip in nervousness.
"Why? Do you have something you need to tell me?" Isaac questioned slyly.
"Nope!" Stiles squeaked.
"Really though, what are you gonna do now? Are you planning on staying in town? You know there's always a place here for you, if you want it," Scott said earnestly. He truly would love to have Isaac back with them.
"I don't know yet. I'm just kind of seeing where the wind takes me for now."
"But are you happy?" Isaac looked away, choosing his words carefully before he spoke.
"I used to think I was meant to be a Beta. To be led and controlled. But then I realized I never had a chance to choose my own life. I'm not saying I was meant to be an Alpha. I'd probably be shit at it if I kept any Betas around for long, but helping other people find their place in life? I think I'm pretty okay at it. And that's enough for me right now."
"Will you at least stay for a little while? Things have been kind of crazy around here lately and it would be nice to have another friend around," Scott asked, hoping Isaac would agree.
"I'm not really the person you remember anymore," Isaac reminded him, giving him one last out. Scott would never rescind his offer to have Isaac in his life though. No matter what he said, he knew who Isaac was on the inside.
"Scott! Could you help me carry in my stuff?" Scott's mom called from the door leading into the kitchen. Before Scott could respond, Isaac sprang up from his seat.
"I got it," Isaac said, darting into the kitchen. "Let me help you Ms. McCall." Scott laughed when he heard the sounds of something being dropped and his mom squealing. He turned to watch her squeeze Isaac in a hug and fuss over him like only a mother could. Isaac's pink cheeks and bashful smile told Scott all he needed to know. Isaac hadn't changed that much after all.
Author's Note: That's all for this one. Just a short fic about how Isaac could've shown up in the final season. Thanks for reading!