Chapter 7: The other alpha
He had told Stiles and Malia that he was headed for Argent's house, and that was true he did have plans to stop by the hunter's house but first he had to make a different stop.
Deucalion had moved out of the apartment building him and Argent had both been living in right after their last fight. Scott was pretty sure it was a move of self-preservation, living that close to a hunter without his pack to back him up would be stupid. And Deucalion wasn't stupid.
Scott knew the other Alpha had left town not long after that. But had at some point moved back. Scott probably wouldn't have known it, not unless that man had gone about killing people again. But Deucalion left him a letter at his house a few months back. It was simple, informing Scott that he wished to remain here and swearing he had no plans to retaliate against the pack or harm anyone else. He had even left his address so that Scott knew where to find him.
It took him less then two days to track the man down and demand he tell him what he was really up too.
Deucalion had been calm the whole time telling him that he had meant what he said. He told Scott that Beacon Hill's would always draw their kind and that he really wanted to stay. When Scott called him on the bullshit, saying that he only originally came here for him and Derek, Deucalion didn't deny it. He said things were different now.
Scott still hadn't believed him, not until the man sat down on his couch and told Scott point blank that he was safer here. That without his pack, while not an omega, he was still weaker and that being close to Scott's pack would offer some protection, unless Scott declared him an enemy.
Scott had growled and said they weren't going to protect him from his enemies, the other Alpha gave a deep dark laugh, and told Scott that he had only made the mistake of leaving an enemy alive once, and even then, it wasn't truly his mistake. But with Jennifer dead he didn't have anyone else after him. Not that that would stop hunters or wolves seeking his Alpha powers.
Scott hadn't been sure how he felt, when him and his pack weren't listed as an enemy. It should have bothered him, that this man who had done so much damage to him and his friends didn't see him as an enemy. But the truth was the day he let Deucalion live and the day he didn't run him out of town he showed the man, that while they weren't friends, Scott didn't see him as an enemy anymore.
So, he agreed to let Deucalion stay.
It had taken him a week or so after that to tell his pack about the other Alpha. There had been some yelling and bitching but eventually the other's agreed to leave the man alone. And so far, they had.
But now if there were other wolves, maybe a pack, here attacking them. They might need another fighter. And despite how little Scott wanted to see the other Alpha in action again, it might be needed.
As he pulled in front of the large two-story house, Deucalion now lived in, he saw the other man walk out his front door. Scott pulled his bike to a stop and took his helmet off and let the other man come to him.
"Scott." Deucalion said with a curious tilt to his head.
"Deucalion," Scott said, "There was an attack at the school."
The Alpha in front of him frowned," It wasn't me."
Scott almost laughed, "I know. We think another pack is moving in."
He sighed, "I guess I'm here to warn you, and ask for you to keep an eye out. Let us know if you see anyone." He wanted to ask if he would fight with them if it came to it, but something caused him to hold back.
"Do you know how many?"
"No. I couldn't get a count, it had to be a good number though because neither could Malia." He
sighed and shifted his helmet to his lap.
"What else?" The Alpha asked taking a step closer.
It should have caused Scott to be nervous, on edge, having the man so close. But he didn't feel threatened, so, instead he closed his eyes and leaned forward against his helmet.
"There are kids missing, Stiles' dad is trying track them down, see if maybe they just missed the bus." He took a breath, "but 8 kids, all missing the bus the same day."
"Seems unlikely, yes." The other man agreed.
"Did you get a sense of another Alpha?" The question caused Scott to open his eyes and look at Deucalion.
"What do you mean?" He could sense other Alpha's? He knew he could tell when he was close, like he was now with Deucalion there was a power about the other man that buzzed almost in the air around them. But he couldn't remember a time he felt it not in the presence of an Alpha.
He was a little taken back when Deucalion sighed and shook his head, "Derek didn't teach you anything did he?"
Scott glared at him.
"To be fair," Scott defended his friend, "I don't think his mother taught him anything. He wasn't supposed to be an alpha."
"Close your eyes." Scott felt annoyed but did as he told, "now what do you feel in the air around you?" The other Alpha said, almost in Scott's ear. The sudden closeness caused him to open his eyes and jump. But Deucalion placed a hand on his shoulder, steading him.
"Close your eyes." He gritted his teeth and did as he was told, trying desperately to ignore the flashes of memories of how the twins had tried to teach him, the one time he asked for their help.
"What do you feel?" Impatience was clear in the other man's voice.
With his eye's closed he tried to feel something, from the area he knew the other Alpha was. At first all he could do was focus his hearing, the steady heart beat only slightly calmed him down. Then he took in the man's scent, sharp and metallic, he was about to give up when the buzz in the air caught his attention. It wasn't really a buzz, truth was Scott didn't know what it was. But it was like the air around Deucalion was humming and when he focused his sense towards himself he could feel it around him.
"The air," He said, "It's like its humming around us."
"Good." The other man said, soundly proud? Scott would have to think about that later.
"Now shift your senses away from us and towards the house."
Not even bothering to acknowledge the man, Scott did as he was told, and it was weird because he could actually follow the trail of the strange humming in the air towards the house. And when his scenes hit the house he drew in a sharp breath and opened his eyes. Because he could feel how much of it surrounded the house, a giveaway to how much time the other man spent there.
"Wow." He said turning to look at Deucalion. The man smiled and took his hand away from Scott shoulder. "How long does that hang around? Should I head back to the school right away? Or can I meet with the pack first?" He asked excited to learn something new, something that could be extremely help fool.
Of course, it hit him like a punch to the stomach when he realized that this was how the Alpha's could always find Derek and why Derek could never find them. They had all known how to do this and Derek hadn't been taught anything from his mother, so he was underprepared to be an Alpha.
"Scott?" He heard his name and looked up.
"Are you alright?" Deucalion asked, and Scott was pretty sure the man really wanted to know. He was also sure he was starting to get a headache.
"I'm good. So, school now or later?" He asked looking away.
"Something like this, you should be able to sense another Alpha for a day maybe two. But only if he was involved with the attack and he used his power. If not, then only for a few hours. If I were you I would return as soon as you can."
"Thanks." He said, still not looking at the other Alpha, because he wasn't sure how to feel, he was grateful for the help but angry about his realization. He started up his bike and took a hold of his helmet, ready to put it on and get moving.
"Scott." The alpha said causing him to hesitate.
"If you need me, I'm here."
He looked up, surprised, but Deucalion was already walking back towards his house.
He didn't look back as he left the other Alpha behind. He debated heading straight back to the school, but Argents house was closer and he really wanted to let the hunter now what was going on. So, he went there first.
Which would have been a great idea, if the man had been home. Scott hadn't even had to knock to know there wasn't anyone home, the man's new house was empty. So, Scott turn his bike back on and headed home. The next closest place. He figured he would warn his mom, let her call Argent then head to the school then to Stiles house to meet the pack.
He should have expected it really, when he pulled up in front of his house and saw Argents car parked behind his mom's in the driveway. He shook his head, lately it seemed if Argent wasn't here, Stiles dad was. It seemed their parents had become closer, closer than they were before all the supernatural shit came into their lives.
Somewhere along the way the three of them had made a decision that they weren't being kept out of the loop anymore and that they were going to play a larger part in the kids, lives.
Malia and Liam had found it funny, until they realized they were included in that. They each had received lectures about ditching school or missing homework more then once. Stiles thought it was great, having his dad being parental and bossy towards the whole pack and not just him. And Scott while annoyed at first found he liked having his mom knowing what was going on. She was good with advice especially if he was doubting himself.
As for Argent, Scott wasn't sure how the man had done it, but somehow, he had become an overprotective father figure to all of them. Each member of his pack respected the man and knew that when he said something you listened.
Those thoughts put him in a better mood as he opened the front door, "Hey guys." He said heading straight for the kitchen where he could smell coffee and hear them moving around.
"Hey Scott." Argent said, as he walked into the room, with a smile.
His mom put her cup down and hugged him, "Hey honey."
"I though Stiles was with you?" She asked as she looked behind him.
"Oh, he was but he's at his house, waiting for the pack." Argent raised a brow at him.
"There was an attack at the school. A bunch of kids are dead, bus driver too. And some are missing. The Sheriff and Parrish are trying to locate them, but I'm thinking they were taken." He looked back at his mom, "I was swing by to give you a head up and then heading over to Stiles, we are having everyone meet up there to talk about it and see if we can plan or prepare for more attacks." His mom moved fast wrapping him in another hug.
"Want me to come?" Argent said, already standing up.
"Yeah. I have to stop by the school first, though."
"That's' fine, want to ride with me?" The man said moving to place his cup in the sink.
"Sure." Scott said, dropping his helmet on the counter.
His mom gave him a sad smile, "Be safe."
Argent rested his hand on her shoulder, reassuring her, and Scott could see his mom's smile widen and he wondered when they had reached this point. He also wondered if he should be weirded out because he was pretty sure his mom was blushing, and Argent's smile was a little too big.
The two seemed lost in their own world, and there was only so much weirdness he could take,
"Ready?" He asked and watched in amusement as they both stiffened and pulled away, like they had forgotten he was there.
Argent nodded, and Scott tried not to laugh as they both turned and headed out of the house.
It was only when they were in the car and driving towards the school that either of them spoke.
"Why are we swinging by the school? I would have guessed that would be the first-place you kids went after hearing about the attack." Argent asked.
"We did." He said looking down at his hands, "But I want to try something."
He didn't even have to look up to know the man was looking at him, waiting for Scott to give more of an explanation.
He sighed, "I went to Deucalion."
Argent made not pleased sound, probably angry but didn't say anything.
"To warn him I guess, and he asked if I had sensed another Alpha."
"Sensed how?" Argent asked, and Scott looked up. Cause now the hunter was curious, not angry.
"That's what I asked. And he taught me, I don't know, a way to feel if another Alpha has been around. It's weird but I can do it. So, I want to try at the bus. See if this pack has an Alpha with them."
"Hmm." Argent said, or well-made the noise. "I didn't know that was possible, but it explains some things."
"Yeah." Scott muttered and looked out his window.
Argent seemed to get a sense for his mood and they rode in silence.
When they pulled up to the school, a couple of deputies and their cars, where still in the parking lot and they seemed me be keeping an eye in the bus.
They both got out and Scott didn't miss that Argent had grabbed a gun. Then they both moved quietly around the cops, until they could approach the bus unseen.
Then Argent gave him space, stepping away watching the area around them. Keeping an eye out for danger, ready to fight if need be. It settled something in Scott having the man watch his back.
Scott closed his eyes and tried to find that humming sensation again. It seemed harder than before, like he couldn't quite reach and find the humming without Deucalion's help. He growled and felt his features shift and tried to find that feeling again, he imagined the steady weight of the other Alpha's hand on his shoulder and the he focused his senses again. it was only after he felt the humming sensation around him that he realized he had done it. He smiled and searched out towards the bus trying to find another Alpha's presence.
There wasn't one.
He sighed and opened his eyes.
It didn't mean this pack didn't have an Alpha, it just meant there hadn't been one here when they attacked the bus.
He turned and head back to where Argent was keeping watch. The man didn't say anything just fell into step with him as they moved back towards the car.