Part Three
DISCLAIMER: See Chapter One.
"You OK, man?"
Isaac looks up at Scott. "I don't know." It's the truth; he honestly doesn't know what he should be feeling right now. "He wasn't always like that. And he's... he's still my dad."
"He wouldn't have stopped hurting you. You know that, right?"
Isaac nods.
Scott's the only member of the pack he doesn't feel jumpy around. He hardly knows anything about Boyd. Jackson is the king of the school and Lydia is naturally intimidating. Erica...Isaac wonders if Erica was always like this and nobody noticed because nobody bothered to know her. Maybe all it took was the bite to bring it out in her. He doesn't even know where to start with Derek. There's something wholesome about Scott; it's been a long time since someone has treated Isaac as if he's someone who matters.
xxx
He steers well clear of the Alpha for at least the first five days.
They make conversation whenever they're in the same room together, but Isaac mostly keeps to his bedroom. There are plenty of books and a spare TV, so he's able to keep himself entertained.
On the sixth evening, Isaac's flicking through channels when he suddenly feels lonely. He wants companionship, and it's an ache he hadn't even known was there.
He leaves the bedroom and slowly creeps down the stairs. There's a film on downstairs; Derek is sitting on the sofa, eyes fixed on the screen. Isaac slowly approaches, his shoulders so tense they are almost painful. He expects the Alpha to ask him what he's doing there, or what he wants.
Derek doesn't react.
Isaac sits down on the opposite end of the sofa and looks at the images on the screen.
When the film's over, he realises Derek's been waiting for this.
xxx
The Argents and the Beacon Hills pack have an uneasy alliance, but the same can't be said for others. The Argents aren't the only hunters out there and not everyone is as tolerant and willing to compromise.
Boyd bursts into the loft, screaming the Alpha's name. He's carrying Erica; she's moaning in agony and blood is dripping from her shoulder.
"She's been shot."
The only way to get rid of the wolfsbane in her system is to burn it out of her before it reaches her heart. Boyd and Isaac hold Erica down while Derek holds a blowtorch to her wound. She screams and howls, bucks and twists against the hands restraining her.
Derek starts to growl low in his throat. The sound seems to calm Erica; her eyes close and she visibly relaxes as the healing kicks in.
Boyd and Isaac sigh in relief.
xxx
It's the full moon.
The pack has gathered in the woods. When Jackson asks why Isaac and Allison have been brought along as well, Derek explains that not all of the Hale pack were werewolves; some of his family were humans and they accompanied the rest of the pack on the full moon.
Both humans look away as the pack undresses. Moments later, the air echoes with howls that are carried on the wind.
Isaac's not remotely surprised to see Derek is the only black wolf. It's obvious which one is Lydia; she's not called the 'red wolf' just because of her hair. Her fur is a pretty cinnamon colour and her frame is smaller and slighter than most of the others. Isaac guesses Erica is the other smaller wolf, and Scott is the dark brown one. The two bulky wolves have to be Jackson and Boyd.
It's not long before Jackson's throwing his weight around. He might be able to do that in school, but Derek's clearly not having it here: one snarl and a flash of white fangs and Jackson's whimpering, exposing his belly. Even Lydia, one of the most strong-minded people in the school, seems to follow the Alpha's lead.
Isaac doesn't know whether to be impressed or terrified.
It's only now Isaac realises that although the Betas accepted Derek as their new Alpha, none of them were actually bitten by him.
"That's not unusual," Allison explains. "You don't have to be bitten by that Alpha to belong to his pack. Omegas can even join a pack, if the Alpha's OK with it."
"Omegas?"
"Lone werewolves. Dad says they're rare because they hardly ever survive. The more werewolves there are in a pack, the stronger the pack is and their chances of survival are higher."
"Kind of like actual wolves?"
Allison nods, but before she can say anything else movement in the clearing ceases abruptly. There's a tension in the air that wasn't there before. Derek is sniffing the air, one paw raised off the ground. He growls once and lopes off into the night, most of the Betas following him. Scott moves to go with them, but the Alpha turns and looks at him, silently delivering an order. Scott obediently pads back to where Allison and Isaac are sitting and stands beside them.
When the other wolves are gone, Allison takes something out of her jacket pocket. It's a small crossbow.
"What is it?" asks Isaac. Scott whines, pacing the ground nervously.
Allison's dark eyes scan the woods, watching for any sign of movement. "Something's out there."
xxx
"We need to keep an eye out for a symbol that looks like this." Derek holds up a picture of a triskele. Isaac's seen something similar on the Alpha's back when he's getting changed, but where Derek's mark is flowing and spiralling, this one is sharp, jagged and dangerous.
"What does it mean?" asks Erica. She sounds as confident as ever, but Isaac can see the uneasiness in her eyes.
"When there's a new Alpha, other werewolves take notice of him or her. Omegas sometimes come to see if the Alpha will accept him or her, but other werewolves have...different motives. There's a pack out there that's made up entirely of Alphas."
"And the symbol means they're coming to pay a visit," says Lydia.
Derek shakes his head. "The symbol means they've already arrived."
"That doesn't mean they'll actually come here," Jackson blusters, but Scott cuts him off.
"There have been two Alphas in Beacon Hills in less than three months. Three Alphas, if you count Laura Hale. There's no way they won't notice that." He looks at Derek. "What will they want?" He sounds uncertain, worried, scared.
"They'll want to test the new Alpha. See if he's got what it takes and if he deserves to lead a pack."
"And if they decide he doesn't?"
Derek doesn't need to answer.
Isaac decides to change the subject. "What was that thing you went after last night? Was it one of them?"
"No. I don't know what it was, but it wasn't a werewolf."
"And it's still out there." Allison's voice is quiet in the still air.
xxx
"Let me out! Let me out! Please!"
Isaac pushes frantically against the cold metal. He scrapes at the freezer walls until his nails are worn down and his fingers bleed.
"Why the hell would I do that? Huh?" His father bangs heavily on the lid, the sound making Isaac cry out and cover his ears. "You're just a stupid useless kid. You're nobody. You're nothing. Why would anyone even waste their time with someone like you?"
"Isaac!"
Isaac's eyes jerk open and he sees nothing but darkness. He's tossed around so much, he's become rolled up in his duvet. His face is wet with tears.
Above him, the Alpha's eyes glow like burning coals.
Isaac hides his face in his pillow and cries. He is out of the freezer, out of his father's house and he still feels every bit as worthless as his father said he was.
You're nobody. You're nothing.
"Isaac." Derek shakes his shoulder again. Isaac doesn't respond. He just curls up in the duvet, unable to stop sobbing and bitterly ashamed. He doesn't want Derek seeing him like this. He doesn't want anybody seeing him like this.
He finds himself being lifted effortlessly into a sitting position and settled against the Alpha's chest, his head resting on Derek's broad shoulder. An arm is wrapped protectively against his waist and a warm hand rests on the back of his neck. As his sobs gradually lessen, Isaac hears Derek growling softly to him; the sound rumbles through him and he knows exactly what the Alpha is trying to say.
You're safe. There's no need to fear. Be calm. Be calm.
When Isaac opens his eyes the next morning, the sun is shining through the curtains and onto his face.
To be continued…
