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Chapter Eight: Hunters & Alphas

Scott heard Chris before Deaton had even reached the doorway.

He burst out, looking between Deaton and Chris.

"Mr. Argent," Deaton said. "What brings you here?"

Chris nodded over to Ruby and said, "We need to discuss something."

Deaton nodded, "Of course."

He led him to the back and Scott glanced at Chris as he walked past.

"Watch her." Chris instructed.

Scott gave him a confused look as he passed and then looked to Ruby.

"Who's that?" Ruby asked.

"Just someone we know," Scott said. He knelt down beside her. "Do you know when Derek's coming back?"

"No," Ruby said. "He said he had stuff to do."

Scott sighed, "Come on."

"Why?"

"Because I'm not leaving you here alone." Scott said, grabbing her little hand and leading her into the backroom.

He didn't want the kid to get hurt. And if Chris was here, it was bad news.

"Does Derek know?" Chris asked. He said the name with distaste.

"I don't know, yet." Deaton said. "When is he coming?"

"We don't know." Chris said.

"Who's coming?" Scott asked, giving them his look that meant he wanted answers.

Deaton looked over to Ruby, "Hunters."

Ruby's eyes got larger and she asked, "Hunners?" Scott patted her shoulder comfortingly.

Deaton nodded and looked over to Scott.

"Why?" Scott asked, looking over to Chris.

"Her father," He nodded to Ruby. She looked at the floor and observed her shoes. "He got cocky."

"What?" Scott asked.

"Ruby," Deaton asked. "Are you staying with Derek?"

She nodded, "He's my alpha."

Chris inhaled sharply. Scott was still utterly confused and felt idiotic for not knowing.

"Call him and make sure-"

"What's going on?"

Everyone turned to look at Derek. Ruby ran over and hugged his legs.

"Hunners," Ruby told him.

Derek knit his eyebrows together. "Why?"

"Her old alpha." Chris told him.

Derek looked over at Chris suspiciously and lifted Ruby into his arms, balancing her on his hip.

"What about her old alpha?" Scott questioned.

Ruby buried her face in Derek's jacket.

"He built a pack," Chris said. "A dangerous one."

"Dangerous how?" Derek asked. "With the attacks?"

Chris nodded, obviously he had seen the newpaper articles. "They were all new. Too many new ones and he couldn't control them. Killed her mother, a few people a couple towns away. They're blaming it on a mountain lion again but a hunter took some out."

Derek held Ruby closer, dreading what was coming next.

"He's going to take them all out." Chris said. "Even the children were...taken out. There were rumors a few spread out and left."

Ruby tightened her grip around Derek's neck and he patted her back, "They're coming here?"

"They followed her here." Chris gestured to the child in Derek's grip.

"Why didn't he just leave it there?" Scott asked. "Why did he have to come here?"

"Some of the people killed were hunters. His family," Chris informed.

Derek nodded, "Does he have any allies?"

Chris shook his head, "We don't know that yet, either. They're just rumors reaching here."

Chris' phone rang suddenly. He took it out and answered, "Allison."

Scott and Derek could hear perfectly well what was going on.

"Did you tell them yet?"

"I did."

"Make sure they take precautions. All of them, okay?" There was a sense of authority there, almost desperate.

"Of course. Call when you have more details."

Chris hung up and looked between the men. "We'll discuss more later."

"Thank you," Deaton told him. "You've been helpful."

Chris nodded, leaving the room.

Derek stepped aside and waited until he heard Chris' car pull out until he said, "Any ideas?"

Deaton and Scott looked at each other. Ruby leaned her head on Derek's shoulder and looked up at him, "Are we gonna move?"

"No," Derek told her.

Ruby nodded. "They don't like me."

"They don't like any of us," Scott sighed. "What if they target everybody?"

"From what Chris told us, it's only one right now." Deaton said. "He will plan this out carefully. Make sure there are no ties to Beacon Hills, or to Ruby."

Derek nodded and Ruby clutched him tighter. "What do we do?"

Deaton sighed, "Wait him out, see what we're up against first. He could have a whole clan of hunters on his side or he could be alone."

"We should tell Isaac and the others, just so they know." Scott said. He and Derek shared a look of concern.

"Call them," Derek said. "Make sure they're safe."

Scott nodded and Derek turned to leave, "Derek."

He turned halfway and looked over to Scott.

Scott wet his lips and managed, "Be careful."

Derek nodded and turned, taking Ruby wth him.

When they got home, Isaac had returned from his extra credit class and Boyd and Erica had stopped over.

They all looked at him expectantly, wanting answers.

Derek looked down and set Ruby down on her feet. "We'll have a talk later, okay?"

Ruby looked up at him with her lips pouted and her eyes brewing with fear and frustration. "Can I stay?"

Derek put his arm over her shoulder and sat down on the couch beside Boyd.

"Scott called," Isaac started. "He told us about the hunters."

"I know," Derek said.

"What should we do?" Erica asked quietly.

Ruby sat on the floor beside Derek's legs and hugged his calf, leaning her head against his knee.

"We wait to see what we're up against," Derek said. "Until then, keep an extra eye out. Avoid anything suspicious. Alleys, anywhere where you're alone. If any of you are in serious trouble, you howl. Don't hesitate."

The wolves looked to their alpha and nodded.

Derek sighed, wondering how he was supposed to protect them all.

His pack would stay safe, that was for sure.

.

Isaac and Ruby had gone to sleep. Isaac laying on the mattress they'd kept upstairs and Ruby on the old couch with extra blankets because of the cold.

Derek stayed awake, making sure his territory was empty of threat. He looked over to Ruby from his seat in the chair.

Poor kid, he thought, probably saw the whole thing.

His eyes drifted closed and when he woke up again, it was still dark and he saw Ruby standing by him with a blanket.

"Can I sleep by you?" She asked.

"Yeah," Derek sat her up on his lap. She curled into his side and he wrapped his arm around her.

"'Night, Daddy." She murmured.

Derek froze and looked down at her.

She had a peaceful look on her face and he brushed some hair from her eyes.

"Goodnight," He whispered.