The Pack betas were happy to follow their Alphas' orders. It was tough right now. They recognised one of their own was suffering in the room next to them. Cora's pack bond had snapped into place the minute she crossed into the house. It was startling but none of the betas were complaining. The best way to describe it would be harmonious - the bonds were almost singing they were that happy.

The Betas would do as bid. Derek and Stiles needed them to guard the Cortez pack. It was odd to guard a pack and watch as a whole gamut of emotions raced across the other packs faces. There was anger and a lot of indignant looks. At least they were smart enough not to say anything. Pity as Lydia was hoping to reduce at least a few of them to tears. It could be her entertainment for the evening.

There had been a moment when they looked ready to bolt. It had been when Rosa Calaveras came in with the Sheriff. It was too much for one of the younger Cortez betas. He dashed at the door, feeling the need to run.

Erica outright cackled at the idiot. There was no reason to be diplomatic any longer. Plus if someone doesn't want to be a laughing stock then they shouldn't be stupid.

The Cortez pack discovered why none of the Hales had moved a finger. The Fae had spelled the door. As Danny reached the door there was a lightshow. He got blasted back across the floor with a yelp, landing just in front of his Alpha.

There were no words that could describe the Alphas expression. He was desperate but he was not stupid.

Lydia couldn't resist the opportunity to make a comment. "Wow. Do you pick your betas on their brains?"

Jackson hugged his mate. How could he not? There was nothing he didn't love about her, even her acerbic wit. It gave him an opportunity to add his own scorn. "Be fair Lyds, not every pack gets a you or Stiles."

Erica ducked behind her cup to hide her smirk. They may give Jackson shit for how pretty he looks but he had brains. He had only given the pack the name of the two obvious genius'. Plus, she was sure all the betas were operating on the same principle. The Alphas had not told them to behave - they weren't going to.

"You're a bunch of teenagers."

Wow. That was a lot of scorn coming from Alpha's mate. It was okay as Lydia could guess why. It must be difficult. The Cortez pack would not have expected to be beaten by the young pack. They had come here thinking the would have an easy time taking over. It was arrogance and stupidity. It was not the Hales' fault that the Cortez pack had not done its homework.

Lydia nodded in response. "You're absolutely correct. I'm still smarter than any of you. What does age have to do with it?"

Strange. They had no answer. In all fairness none of the Hales' had expected an answer. There was no good one that was for sure.

So back they went to tense silence.

It was fun.

Not.

They were all listening to the conversations in the other room. Cortez enjoyed the part where Calaveras was the spotlight of the interrogation. It was nice to see that the Alpha and his mate were intolerant of her just as much as them. It was not perfect. The pack could see the burden of blame would not rest on their shoulders alone. The Alphas wanted the whole picture before they acted.

It was refreshing.

It was frustrating too. No one liked knowing their fate was up in the air. Uncertainty was the killer. It was weird.

Carlos didn't like Hale's mate. The boy had a ridiculous amount of power for one so young. It would not be an exaggeration to say you could taste his family's magic on your tongue.

They didn't mind it as much right now. The Fae's anger was directed at the bitch hunter. That opinion soon changed! What was the boy thinking?

Carlos hissed in horror, upon hearing the invite. "Is the Luna out of his goddamn mind?"

Isaac frowned not liking anyone insulting Stiles. "Stiles is the best."

Carlos snorted. The boy was crazy. He had just invited a hunter who wanted his balls to dinner. Were they to be the main course? His own mate was hugging him and you didn't need enhanced senses to know that she was terrified.

"How does a Fae run with a wolf pack?" Antonio asked as none of the others were brave enough to do it.

Most of the Hale pack shrugged, they didn't know the answer. Derek and Stiles for most of them had always been together. They were not aware of how it started.

Scott was and he could chuckle about it now, "Stubbornness."

"That is not an answer."

Lydia was quick to respond, tilting her head to the side. "And yet that is the only answer you are getting."

There were a lot in the pack curious about the origin story of the Alpha couple. Stiles and Derek fit in many ways but they would have clashed before it got working. It didn't matter - they wouldn't allow any interloper to question their Stiles. He was the Alphas mate and had more than proved himself.

Antonio shook his head, "It's not right."

Isaac because he was the one who could get away with the snark best, "You're welcome to leave at any time."

Erica grins around the apple she bites into, "Nope they're not. Stiles saw to that didn't he?"

Malia had stayed quiet. She usually prefered going in for the kill. Her Pack was teaching her the art of playing with her food. It was fun even if it wasn't efficient. "They should be grateful the last person to upset him he turned to dust ... I think."

The Cortez pack already knew they were in trouble. This was just showing them the gravity. There was no lie in the words said. They were subject to the whims of two dangerous, protective Fae.

This could not end well.

One of the said Fae walked back into the kitchen and announced as if there was nothing wrong. "Dinner will be served."

Dinner was a full affair as the only one missing from the Hale pack was Melissa. She had yet to finish her shift but Stiles was a good son. "Hey Dad, I will have some stuff that you can take to Mama McCall."

His Dad shook his head in resignation. He knew Stiles wanted him to be happy and this was his subtle to encourage them. He was just grateful that his son was supportive of his new relationship. "Thanks son. How is Cora?"

"Thanks to Nana, Isaac and myself she will make it."

That caused several people to freeze their motions. They were not subtle and honestly it was tragic. Stiles was not going to go to the trouble of killing anyone at the dinner table. It was unsanitary, plus he'd put effort into the food.

"Relax. No one will die at the dinner table. My pack are eating the food. I wouldn't poison it."

The pack all snort as it actually was a rule. The rule was sacrosanct. They deserved one place where they could eat and chat undisturbed. It was the Sheriff who suggested it knowing how important it was to have an area of peace.

Peter who can't resist the opportunity to be an asshole. "We all respect the Sheriff's rules."

Derek smirked, "I have to."

The Sheriff said nothing just raised his drink in acknowledgement. It was a great truth and would rankle their guests. "Pass the potatoes please son."

Derek did as his father-in-law bid. "Here you go."

Every little bit of this little scene was to cause upset and annoyance in their guests. The pack was continuing on their normal routine completely ignoring their guests.

Jackson sighed, "Can we play Lacrosse after dinner?"

Derek snickered, "As long as you don't want me to join sure."

"Stiles?" Scott was the one to ask. He had the best puppy dog look. Stiles would have been happy to play but he was not leaving his 'guests' unattended. He wouldn't do that to Derek.

"Love to but can't. You Pups can have fun."

Rosa sneered, "How quaint."

Stiles smiled, it was the type of smile to have you on guard. It promised nothing good that was for sure. It was freaky how you could be smiling and look dead at the same time.

"You know what. You could always change and have a game of hunt the hunter."

Lydia hummed, "Would it be more fun or less fun than when you hunt with the Wild Hunt?"

Stiles liked the question and gave it an honest answer. "It depends. The Hunt is the Wild Hunt for a reason. We don't play, we go in for the kill. The Hunt itself can be fun and that is what I live for."

Peter quirked an eyebrow at Derek. The others would swear up and down that as Stiles spoke, there was a flash of red in his eyes. It would not be surprising being an Alpha's mate brought its own power. It would be interesting to see how that power affected Stiles, being a Fae.

"You would have been a terrifying wolf."

Derek squeezed his mate's' hand, fondness shining through. He knew this but Stiles would never have to change for him. "He is terrifying as he is. He doesn't need to change."

John couldn't resist the chance, "He was like that as a kid."

This is what he wanted in his life, Stiles thought. He wanted the big back bonding dinner's. He didn't mind being the source of teasing. He was well aware of his responsibilities both to the pack and to the Fae Crown.

Stiles wanted their 'guests' to disappear. He was being a good boy. He didn't put too much strength into his imagination. Well on the off chance that he might actually make them disappear in a black hole. It was the perils of being a Fae as your magic was will-based. Stiles' strength of will would always cause potential problems.

It was just part of the fun.

"You're all horrible people. I'm brilliant and you know it." Stiles said with a sense of self that belied his teenage years.

The Betas were all nodding their heads. It was clear that the Luna was well loved and no one was vying for the spot. Antonio found it odd as it often happened in the first few years of a new pack forming or reforming in this case. Power is power and is always craved in some form. The position of Luna (Alpha's mate) could be a tenuous and short lived one.

Carlos had had enough, "Why do we have to sit here?"

Stiles turned almost teary eyes on him. "You don't like my food?"

Seeing the real anger in the eyes of the Hale pack. He was smart enough to explain. "The food is amazing but either kill me or let us go. The waiting is cruel."

Derek dropped his fork, "Who won the pool?"

The Sheriff sat back, looking too pleased. He was the winner and now had several favours he could trade with members of the pack. They shouldn't bet if they weren't willing to do the forfeit. He would be kind to them - mostly.

The Sheriff added some sage advice, "No one likes to be ignored. Good cop trick."

Rosa didn't like to agree with the Cortez pack on anything. She was with them about the disrespect, "Why have us here if you intend to ignore us?"

Lydia was the one to retort. "Maybe we wanted to enjoy our food without getting indigestion through unpleasant conversation?"

All nodded, as it was true.

The Hunter matriarch wasn't smart enough to ignore the bait. She rose to it like a bull to a red flag. "What would be unpleasant?"

Derek started, "Well I have questions ... Like why are you and the Cortez pack at war? Oh and why you decided to use my territory as a continued warzone?"