Wow, one more chapter to go guys and then it's finished. Thanks to everyone who's read and reviewed it, you're awesome, and you keep me writing more!

It was a quiet night full of stars, a crisp autumn air that carried sounds for miles. Derek paused, it was too quiet around the house where Rebecca lived with her husband Fergus, surely there should have been some noise, a nocturnal animal, insects, but there was nothing. Derek didn't like it, but he pressed forward from where they'd hid the cars thinking of his Aunt Rebecca who hadn't said whose side she was on, but who'd winked at him as he left, like she used to when he was a kid and she promised to sneak him an extra cookie. Fergus her husband was a travelling business man and had married Rebecca as a human. They weren't true mates, Rebecca had never found her true mate, but they seemed happy. Several years ago Fergus had come back from one of his many trips a bitten wolf. He'd been attacked because he smelled of wolves, of the Hale pack. David had a theory at the time that the wolf who bit Fergus smelt their mate off Fergus, smelt Rebecca. That's why he was attacked. Fergus told them he preferred not to talk about it. Derek had to wonder now if this Alpha that was terrorising Beacon Hills was Rebecca's mate, insane with need to be with her that it lost all rationality. Perhaps that's why it killed Fergus.

Derek parked a mile back and he, David and Alan walked through the woods to the back of the house. Derek could feel distress coming from Rebecca in waves even from this far away. The scene smelt off, he couldn't scent death in the air. If a pack member died Derek assumed he would be able to smell it, David had spoken about it to him.

'Something's wrong.' Derek hissed to David.

'I know.' David said. He was shifting his feet uneasily. Derek frowned, his Granddad was rarely uneasy. Alan was behind them, taking low shallow breaths, his heart was erratic, his scent nervous.

Suddenly Derek twisted and had his father around the throat, feet an inch off the ground. 'What do you know?' He snarled. Alan gripped his arm and shook his head frantically. Derek glowered at him, shook his slightly. 'What aren't you telling us?'

David stood glaring at his son. Derek could tell the old man was pissed too. Derek lowered Alan to the ground and loosened his fingers slightly. 'Tell me.' His voice was deep, from his throat. It was the Alpha speaking to a beta wolf and not the son to his father.

'I just know Fergus was siding with Peter and Daniel and Rebecca wasn't and it was causing problems.' Alan said. Derek glared, tightening his fist. He already knew this himself, he and Stiles had been with her for part of the morning.

'What else?' David asked. Alan shook his head.

'Nothing that I know for certain. Derek you're my Alpha, and my son. I'll follow you to hell and back.' Alan said. Derek let go and turned away, walking towards the house. Alan followed rubbing his neck. David snarled at him as they walked.

Something shifted in the trees to their left and Derek shot out a hand and in seconds had Steve pinned to the tree. 'I'm here to help.' Steve, Laura's gorilla husband said with wide eyes. Derek glared at him.

'This is why I call you Meathead.' Derek snarled pushing away and edging closer to the house. There was no death here, no lingering scent of decay, a soul parted from a body. So what was going on?

Derek was almost at the garden fence when a twig snapped to his left. He froze, this time it wasn't his brother in law coming to help. Derek looked into the glowing red eyes of an Alpha wolf. Derek took a deep breath, sucking the air and the scent into his lungs. The other Alpha was Fergus Law.

Derek leapt towards him, body shifting as he moved. When he landed he was full wolf. He snapped his jaws at Fergus and snarled a warning. You're on my territory, his body language said. This is my family, you should submit. Derek half circled him for a second but Fergus wouldn't be alone, no wise Alpha would come into a fight without backup.

Fergus stood his ground, his paws apart, his head lowered. He was ready to fight. Derek was ready to give it to him. This was the wolf that had almost killed Derek's mate, and that thought made Derek's vision bleed red.

They clashed in a maelstrom of teeth and claws, muscle and fur. Derek was stronger, but he'd been Alpha for less time than Fergus. Derek could feel his experience, how much more comfortable Fergus was in his Alpha form. Fergus may have been an Alpha for years but Derek had David's blood in his body, as well as his family's loyalty. He also had David's training. They'd fought and wrestled for years, playing as a pup but David was teaching him valuable lessons. Derek put those lessons to use now as he tumbled against Fergus, tucking his head to his chest before twisting to sink his teeth into Fergus' flank.

Fergus howled, throwing out a vicious looking claw, catching Derek on the shoulder, spilling his blood. Derek yelped and jumped again when suddenly there was someone else in the fight. A beta wolf, it was Daniel, fighting with Fergus, surrounding Derek and snapping. Derek snarled at them both. He could take them, he knew he could.

There were other wolves too, wolves who were fighting where he left Alan, David and Steve. He could hear scuffles and yelps, one of them belonging to Alan. Derek couldn't pay much attention however, he had his own fight. Fergus and Daniel were holding their own.

Daniel fought dirty, snapping at Derek's feet and heels. He roared when Derek caught his cheek with his claws, rolling away to protect his eyes. The move distracted Derek though and Fergus was on his back, teeth in his neck. Derek roared and bucked trying to dislodge him. It wasn't working, Fergus managed to sink his claws into Derek's ribs.

Derek twisted, white hot agony shooting through him. The force of the two wolves hitting the tree forced it to crack and lean. It was also enough to dislodge Fergus. Derek turned on him again claws ripping into his arms as he hauled him away, throwing him into another tree. Fergus howled and twisted in mid-air, landing badly. Derek was on him, teeth snapping at his throat but Daniel launched himself into Derek's side, half forcing him off Fergus.

Derek heard a howl behind him, it was Alan again but he had no time to see what was going on because Daniel flew at him again. Derek reached his front leg up to protect his head and heard a crack; his left foreleg had been broke. He roared his pain and launched at Daniel again. Daniel smirked as he backed away.

'Hey big bad Alpha, come on.' he taunted. 'We're not allowed to kill you, Peter wants you alive long enough so you can see him teach that brat sister of yours some manners then claim your precious little mate.' Daniel taunted. Derek snarled again, froth dripping from his teeth.

Then other wolves were on him, another pack, snarling and biting and holding him down. 'Perfect. This is just where I want you. Let's go see my new pack before I kill you huh?' Peter said as the wolves fought to hold Derek, dragging him through the woods towards the Hale property.

Derek didn't go quietly, he snapped and snarled and drew blood from his captors but there were too many of them, he was overpowered. They were male, he could tell. And they thought they had the upper hand over him. Clearly they hadn't met the females in Derek's pack. That was what was giving him hope, the vicious Hale women coming to his rescue. A little voice in the back of his head warned him that he would never live it down if they did manage to save his life.

The house was lit up like a Christmas tree. It was full of pack. Rebecca was there now, and her twin Jennifer. Charlene was there too, and Derek picked up his Gran's heartbeat in the kitchen. His mom was pacing, she was first to notice the mob of wolves advancing on her home. Derek watched her face pale behind the glass. Then Laura was glaring out.

'See what I've done mummy!' Peter called for Ellie. Ellie came to the door, face like thunder. 'I'll get rid of this silly boy and you'll have a proper Alpha.' Derek stared at the man. His eyes were tinged pink now. He truly thought he was an Alpha already. That made him more dangerous that Derek originally anticipated.

'Oh Peter what have you done?' Ellie cried when Alan and Steve were dumped close to the porch. David was still struggling between two beta wolves.

'I'm going to show you. I'm going to show you all what power I have.' Peter said, his face was earnest and for a moment Derek remembered the man he used to be.

'You're fucking batshit you know that.' Laura snapped coming behind her Gran.

'Where's my little mate?' Peter asked looking around Laura as if he'd suddenly appear.

'He's mine.' Derek snarled, he couldn't help it; he couldn't control his need to claim again and again.

'But he'll be mine before the nights out; I'll ride him hard while he cries for you Derek. Begs for you to save him, but you'll be useless by then, wolfsbane blades keeping your skin open so you'll bleed to death whilst you watch.' Peter said. His eyes had a far off look for a moment, and a spike of his own desire reached Derek.

Derek stared. 'Laura's right. You are fucking crazy.' Derek said.

'Let him go. Let's see him try to get out of this one.' Peter said. The wolves around Derek let go and rushed back, afraid of the power of the Alpha. Fergus stood and he and Daniel advanced towards Derek. Derek stepped back once, then twice. He was being cornered but his arm and side had a chance to heal during the journey home. He pretended it was still weak and stepped towards Daniel. Reaching out with his strong arm, he kept his weak one cradled to his body before he feinted and caught Daniels head in his hands. He twisted quickly, breaking Daniels neck. Killing him instantly. For a second his wolf mourned the death of a pack mate, but quickly moved on to survival instinct, just a moment too late.

Fergus bowled into Derek and he was on the ground. Peter's claws ripped into his throat from nowhere, and for a second Derek panicked, but it wasn't deep enough. Fergus ripped through his belly, his blood poured onto his mother's neat green lawn. He couldn't die like this. He reached his arm up to grasp anything he could and caught Peter's neck. Derek pulled Peter close to his face. Peter struggled frantically but it was only aiding his demise, with blood bubbling from his mouth Derek smiled obscenely as he closed his claws tight, feeling his nails cut through skin, sinew, muscle. One long claw caught Peter's spinal cord. Derek didn't relax his hand until he felt Peter's spine.

Fergus snarled and advanced, furious at Peter's death, Derek watched, his vision blacking around the edges. Then he knew he was dreaming when Stiles with a roar launched himself into Fergus, Stiles hadn't even been on the porch with the others. Derek was hallucinating; this was the last daydream of a dying wolf, whishing his mate was there to save him. Wishing to see Stiles one last time before the end. He hoped someone killed Fergus, Laura perhaps. She would make a good Alpha.

Derek closed his eyes, he would just sleep for a second, just a second, and then he would get back to his daydream of Stiles sliding to his side with Fergus' blood dripping from his fangs. What pretty fangs Stiles had.

XXX

Stiles slid to a stop on his knees beside Derek's body. His mouth was dripping with the blood of the dead Alpha. Of Fergus. 'No.' Stiles said pressing his hands to Derek's wounds. There was so many, so much blood. 'No this can't be happening now. Not now. No.' Stiles said. He could feel his body changing, he was an Alpha now. Something told him if his mate died he would live on anyway, with this cursed Alpha blood.

Someone stepped up behind him and he turned, covering Derek's body with his own and snarling at them. He couldn't see who it was, didn't want to. All he wanted was for Derek to wake up and ball him out for disobeying him. How could this have happened?

'Stiles. It's only me.' It was Ellie Hale. 'You have to let us help him.' Her voice sounded a little frantic. 'Please.'

'Hey come on little Alpha.' Laura said kneeling behind him and putting her hands on his upper arms. Stiles snarled over his shoulder at her. Then a tiny sob sounded and Stiles was pulled back from the wolf. He turned his head and saw Amy standing in the trees eyes wide. Scott was beside her and his dad was looking on concernedly. 'Come on, you're in no shape to take care of him just yet.'

Stiles got up and walked to Amy, pulling her against him and hiding her face against his belly as Laura and Carter lifted Derek. He wondered when everyone got here. 'Hey it'll be ok.' He said to Amy rubbing her hair with his hands. He frowned when he got blood in it. Derek's blood.

'Is he dead?' Amy asked.

'No.' Stiles said. 'He's your big brother. You think we'll get rid of him that easy?'

Amy didn't respond, just sobbed into Stiles shirt.

XXX

Derek looked so weak, his throat a mass of blood. His belly was the same. There were cuts and bruises everywhere. His body was so damaged it was taking a long time to heal. Ellie and Laura had washed him down, letting Amy help when the worst of it was over. They couldn't even help him along by licking his wounds, not yet, because the Alpha in him could have felt compromised, weak and fought them, only doing more damage Even his mate couldn't help him, because his mate was an Alpha. So they sat by while he healed slowly, inside first.

At first it was blood, as quick as he bled out his body had to make more to keep him alive. Then when wounds did start to heal it was a slow process because he was tired and weak and any normal Alpha would be dead by now.

Everyone took a turn in his room, sitting watching him as he lay there. Strong and quiet. Wondering if he would ever wake up.

'What about the others?' Stiles asked Laura as he held Derek's hand, playing with his fingers.

'Dad's fine. Steve too, it was just a bump over the head with a pretty heavy plank of wood.' Laura said, and Stiles took a moment to appreciate he wasn't the only mate who was nursing someone here.

'So Steve's not as big a meathead as Derek thinks then.' Stiles said with a smile.

'Derek thinks Steve's an idiot because he married me. No matter who I married, Derek would claim they were an idiot.' Laura said. One of the boys was asleep on her lap. The other was on the mat in the room. They had insisted on seeing Uncle Derek and despite everyone's protests Stiles eventually told Laura to bring them in for five minutes. That was two hours ago. Stiles had never seen them so still for so long. The door opened and Linda came in with a tray of food. She was hoping the smell would wake her son but so far no luck. Derek just slept through everything. The twins woke then and followed their Gran out while Stiles and Laura picked at their dinner.

'Hey Stiles can I get some advice?' Carter asked later when he was sitting at the bottom of Derek's bed. Stiles was leaning against the headboard running his fingers through Derek's hair.

'What kind of advice?' Stiles asked shocked. He thought Carter hated him.

'It's about my job. I've applied for a few but I was thinking I would help you guys get your house ready so you can move in. I'm pretty good at DIY stuff. Do you think Derek would let me hang about if I did that first?' Carter asked nervously. Stiles cracked a smile at him.

'I'm sure he would.' Stiles said.

'Would you?' Carter asked softly.

'Would I what?' Stiles replied confused.

'Let me stay? You're an Alpha after all. No one's sure what's happening but would you?' Carter shifted uncomfortably looking around the room. The door opened and Isaac shuffled inside.

'I can't see why I won't.' Stiles said. 'Hey can you go hunt Amy out for me?'

'Sure.' Carter said getting up and leaving the room, nodding to Isaac as he passed. Stiles patted the bed and Isaac sat beside them, his hands running over Derek's legs for a second before his eyes darted to Stiles's.

'Is this ok?' Isaac asked.

'I think so. My instinct is to touch him too.' Stiles admitted.

Amy appeared moments later. 'How can I be of service?' She asked crawling up the bed and shimmying between Derek's arm and Stiles' legs. Stiles helped her move Derek's arm so she was resting her head on his shoulder.

'What's going on down there?' Stiles asked licking his lips. Isaac's eyes flicked from Stiles to Amy.

'What do you mean?' Amy asked. There was a lot going on, but the house had been designed so the bedrooms were private, the rooms were soundproofed so it was difficult to hear conversations going on in other rooms.

'What is everyone saying? About me?' Stiles asked. Isaac sniffed and Amy bit her lip for a second, getting her thoughts in order. Stiles looked at Derek, his peaceful face deep in sleep, healing.

'Well Daddy doesn't know what role you have in the pack but Granddad thinks you're the Alpha if something happens to Derek and he's willing to take your bite.' Amy said. Stiles heart caught, that was good right, and if David Hale was putting his stock in Stiles then he must be doing something.

'And the rest?' Isaac prompted. Stiles looked up, surprised that there was more to think about, but of course David was the Hale Pack.

'Some agree and some don't. I'd take you as my Alpha.' Amy said. 'Would you be our Alpha?'

'I don't know.' Stiles said. He didn't want to think about that, all he wanted was for Derek to open his eyes and glare for a while before demanding food. Amy shifted until she was comfortable her head on Derek's shoulder again, Isaac resumed his healing touches.

Stiles watched them; Derek looked so perfect and peaceful as he slept, but he was starting to look strong like his old self. He knew he should be careful, as an Alpha wolf he could intimidate Derek but he couldn't help but touch him. He resumed what he was doing, running his fingers through Derek's hair.