Episode Two: Guess Who is Coming to Dinner Pt1

Stiles was not sorry about the abrupt ending to playing tour guide. He hadn't been making it up in front of the lame Alpha. He and Allison did need to go hunting and eradicate the creatures in the preserve. It may seem mean but Sprites had no redeeming features. They bred like rabbits. They caused mischief in towns wherever they went. Worse still for Stiles they manage to mess with magic flows. It was ridiculous how annoying they can be.

Gah.

Stiles did not need this bullshit when he had a stupid Pack trying to muscle into Beacon Hills. He was not worried that the Cortez pack could succeed. They wouldn't. Derek and their pack had seen off an Alpha pack so he was not worried. It was just an annoyance he didn't need if he was being honest.

He would prefer to be back home with Derek, helping prepare the dinner. It was relaxing and domestic and all kinds of things he never believed he wanted before Derek. Instead he was traipsing through the forest after annoying nasty little creatures.

He couldn't deny he liked to hunt. He may not be as wolfy as his bae but he could hunt just as well. It was fun most of the time, Sprites were a rare exception.

It was ridiculous the way he and Allison were creeping through the forest. He was a cheater, he was using his magic to mask their scent. He wanted them dealt with but with minimal fuss. After all, he did have to attend the bullshit dinner. He had games to play and would delight in causing mischief.

The little blighter was running up the tree as if that would stop him. He looked at Allison, motioning wind with his hand. She caught on quick as her grin was radiant. She waited as Stiles built his energies up and blasted them at the tree. The sneaky sprite fell out of the tree with a yelp. He never made it to to the ground as Allison got the creature with an arrow before it could enact a vengeance curse.

Stiles dusted himself. "Would you like a dust off of your clothes?"

Allison looked down at her jeans and grimaced. She knew the dinner was important and would be starting soon enough. "Will you wrinkle your nose as you do it?"

Stiles snorted, "Do I look like a sixties suburban housewife to you?"

It was clear another thought struck him, "We'll keep the blood on the weapons."

Allison shrugged, her eyes twinkling with mirth. If there was any doubt how her and Lydia could be friends - this was a conversation that would put them to bed. "Well you like to cook, you clean up in the Pack House and the betas call you mom."

Stiles was not quite sure what he could say. He settled with a tart, "I would not look good in a skirt and pearls."

"That is much more than I want to know about my Alphas' love life."

Stiles would not admit just where his mind went. It was obvious. He could surprise his mate with a private show. Derek deserved something nice considering all the bull shit going on right now.

The sun was getting low in the sky when Carlos Cortez finally got to meet the Alpha of the territory. Carlos could admit to feeling a certain amount of intrigue about Derek Hale. He'd hoped that he would be able to muscle in on the territory. Today had made him realise that would not be the case. For a beta who'd not had any formal training - He'd achieved an impressive amount.

They were at the steps of the Hale mansion. It was light and airy but screamed of money. It made him itch. He'd lot everything with his one stupid act. He wanted to growl with annoyance but it was the past - He could only move forward. Derek Hale greeted him on the steps. He had a presence that even an Alpha paid attention to - it was yet another thing to grate on Carlos' nerves.

Yes Derek Hale was one of those enviable Alphas. Carlos had met his type before, he didn't shout or bark orders at his betas. His authority was absolute so it was unnecessary and he was all the more impressive for it. He would say it if only in his own mind. This pack scared him. There was something about them that made you stay aware.

Carlos remembered his manners and shook the Alphas' hand. "Thank you for the gracious invite into your territory Alpha Hale."

The Alpha smiled back at him, accepting the handshake. It was all teeth. "I am always happy to make new friends. What do you think of Beacon Hills?"

The question was cordial in tone. What Carlos did not understand was the way Hale was looking through his pack members. It was clear he wanted someone. Who? He didn't know about Cora did he? Carlos had kept back his sister as an ace-in-the-hole. He chose to respond to Hale in a similar tone,

"It is not the friendliest place not like back home."

Derek looked sad to hear it but all his pack could see the mirth in his eyes. "I am sorry to hear that. I hope my pack has been nothing but courteous."

If you knew Derek well then you would know that was his Deputy voice. The one he adopted when he had no choice but to be polite even if he thought you were an asshole.

"Your mate was brief in his introductions." Carlos replied not bothering to hide his annoyance.

Peter shrugged, not caring if he came across as an asshole. "Yeah he grabbed Allison to go hunting down the Sprites. He wanted to introduce himself this evening. Like I said before, he picked up his mannerisms from his grandmother."

Carlos was still no closer to discovering why this grandmother was important. It didn't make sense. Why would he care? Who was she?

Derek chuckled, "Forgive Stiles he can be impetuous when it comes to taking care of a problem. He protects the pack."

"He lives like a wolf." Carlos said with admiration in his voice. It was true even if he was a rude little shit.

Derek did not like the lilt to the Alpha's voice. There was an admiration he should not be hearing in a mated Alphas' voice. He was reminding himself that he needed to not rip the guy's throat out.

Yet.

They needed to know why they were here and would any more problems be following them to Beacon Hills.

Derek did what all normal people did when they wanted to deflect, "Come let's eat."

Stiles was at his finest and showing perfect timing. "Hey honey I'm home."

Derek had never loved his mate more than in that moment. You had to love Stiles sense of dramatics. There he stood just behind the Cortez Pack, standing there with not a speck of dirt on him. On top of that, he had the blood dripping from his shiny sword. Oh, and Allison standing behind him looking like a vengeful Katniss.

The Cortez pack finally got to meet the Alpha's mate, Stiles. He was a youngster in their eyes. A pretty teenager on the cusp of manhood. No scratch that, it was clear he was more than that.

Stiles smiled, "I'm sorry if you thought I was dismissive earlier Alpha Cortez. It was not my intention, I hope you can forgive the transgression."

Peter knew that tone. He would use it in school whenever he was in trouble. Derek just grinned at his mate, kissed him despite the blood.

"I know how you get when chasing down a foe."

Stiles grinned not even a little bit sheepish, "Be right back just freshening up."

Stiles waited until he was on the stairs before turning back, "Forgive me, where is Cora? Derek is looking forward to seeing his sister."

Oh. He had struck a nerve. It was fun to make a whole pack pale. Ah bless they thought they could shock his pack. There would never be a time where Stiles would let anyone take advantage of his pack.

Carlos stuttered, "I wasn't aware you knew."

Stiles smiled but there was nothing sweet about it. He made things clear, "I made sure all Hales' were safe. When I discovered she was alive, Derek and I checked on her."

Derek nodded taking up the explanation, "My sister was safe and we had enemies at home. It was prudent to stay where she was safe."

The alpha recovered his composure quick enough. He was beginning to hate this dinner. Things were tumbling out of his control faster than he could control. He had to think quick on his feet, "She was joining us ... as soon as the initial greetings were complete."

Stiles was about to show his true colours when there was a knock at the door. Was he ever going to get a shower? They'd just about managed to get the pack through the door. They were a skittish bunch. He wondered who they were running from?

Derek looked to Stiles to see if he knew who it was. All he got was a shrug so this wasn't planned chaos. He sighed. If this was going to end with the pack hiding another body. John was going to make him do all the paperwork for a month as that was the current bet.

When he opened the door. He saw Victoria Argent and Marrin. Oh well, what was a few more hunters at the table? It was not like he wanted Cortez and his pack here. He could only hope this would make the dinner brief.

"Hello Victoria. It is a pleasure as always."

Victoria may have relaxed some but she could still pull off pissed off hunter matriarch. She did it with such cold aplomb. It was stunning and Derek could appreciate it. There was some advantages to being the woman's Alpha.

"We have a problem." She announced uncaring of the Cortez pack members being there. She was not interested in anything they had to say so she paid them no attention.

Derek wanted one week of calm. He was not asking for much was he? It would be nice to have one week where he just did his shifts and focussed on Stiles and the pack.

Stiles huffed, uttering more than one Fae curse under his breath. "Erica and Boyd can you see the guests seated please?"

There was no need for them to move if people were being sensible. After all Carlos' pack were all werewolves so it was not like they wouldn't hear anyway. It didn't matter though, this was Hale pack business so they would not be in the room when it started.

Carlos looked at his mate. She pursed her lips, this pack was not standing on any of the traditions. If anything it was clear they were inconveniences which was impolite. It was galling even if it was true. The worst part was they knew they had no bargaining chips and no room to make any demands. Carlos' blood ran cold hearing the conversation in the hallway.

"The Calaveras clan want to come to Beacon Hill on a vendetta hunt."

Hale sighed, "Who are they hunting?"

He could practically feel the Argent woman shrug, "Who knows? She didn't say."

There was a growl and a huff. It was from the Alpha's mate not Hale. So what was the boy's deal? He was something other- that much he knew. Antonio spoke up beside him,

"May I ask how Hunters came to be part of your pack?"

Carlos was wondering if Antonio wanted to use the strategy. It would solve his problems if he could. I mean it was quite a coup for the young Alpha. He now had all three of the living Argents as part of his pack and one of them was even a wolf!

Peter smirked, his Alphas were not in the room so he did not have to play nicely with this pack. He was getting more and more pissed with them the longer they kept Cora from him. How dare they not let her come?

"I'm an excellent lay. Victoria was turned by one of the Alpha pack and Allison loves her Scotty with all her heart."

The Cortez pack shuddered hearing the Alpha pack mentioned. It was yet another reminder that this pack was special as they were still here. The Alpha pack was not.

Carlos could hear the conversation continue,

"Is there any indication about when?"

The woman responded, "Who knows Rosa sounds pissed."

"How pissed?"

Victoria took a deep breath, "Like she is preparing for war and she is bringing the clan behind her. I recognise the tone ... I've done it in the past."

There was another knock at the door from what they could hear. The pack could only hope this was not someone else looking to cause more complications. Carlos waited with bated breath, much like everyone else in the kitchen/dining area. There was movement and an upturn in their heartbeats.

They heard, "Grandpa!"

At the same time, "Cora!"

Peter didn't care about the visitors upon hearing Cora's name he raced through the pack house. She was gorgeous and so alive. It was beautiful. There was nothing that would ever heal what the fire broke in him but a small part of it healed seeing his young niece. She was looking rough for someone with supernatural healing powers.

Peter saw Stiles' grandparents so this must be good. Mab looked pissed, homicidally so and Edward was looking ruffled even as he tried to heal Cora. It must have been bad for the the Fae Royal couple to intercede.

Mab didn't have time for niceties. "Where is the cowardly leader?"