Wellity, wellity, wellity! Seems some fantastic little writer has already produced a fourth chapter Now I know you may all think you know which direction I was taking the end of the last chapter in but I've decided to twist this a little bit.

On with the story my lovers!

XoxoxoxoX

"You know exactly what 'this' is, Ms Keats. Don't take me for a fool." He growled lowly, bitterly.

Derek had backed me up against the door of his black Camaro, invading my personal space so I had to avert my eyes. The intense sensation I had when I tried to keep his gaze was too much and I felt cowardly standing before another Alpha, unable to even keep my head up.

It's because you're submitting to him…

"I believe you'll have to elaborate, Mr. Hale." I murmured quietly. "I really don't know what you're talking about."

"I'm talking about that phone call last week!" He growled again. I looked back up at him in complete surprise. So it wasn't…oh thank God! Stupid she-wolf, can't tell the fucking difference. "You're lucky I'm more than a little lenient on you and your brother for that stunt."

My breathing had returned to normal and I relaxed against the door of his car, crossing my arms over my chest with a smirk. My previous concerns abated, I felt myself take charge of the wolf in me and stood a little taller. I did not and would not submit to Derek Hale; not now, not ever…not yet.

"I see no problem with that. After all, I simply told you that if you had sufficient evidence to deem my brother and I no threat to you and your pack then contact us and we will help you. What more is there to talk about?"

"You dared to show me disrespect! In my town, in front of my pack and you think you can show up here, unannounced, and have the audacity to come into my pack, like you belong!" he snapped, stepping closer again.

I sighed and, with no thought to my self-preservation, I pushed him away from me so I wasn't trapped between his body and the cold door of the car. I paced a little, acting completely uninterested in his thunderous expression…although if he cared to take a step back and listen to my heart, he'd probably know differently. "Look, if you want anyone to blame for me showing up here out of the blue, then blame your uncle. He knew we were coming and didn't tell you. I was simply following instructions that you sent via Scott. Oh, and stop with the growling and flashing eyes, would you? You're not intimidating anyone, least of all me."

Derek simply growled angrily in response, eyes narrowing. "You think just because you're an Alpha that you can get away with things like this? Are you that completely fucking stupid?"

Alright, now you done crossed the line. "Listen here, Hale! I've been an Alpha a hell of a lot longer than you and believe me; I know exactly what I'm doing here! I'm standing up to some jerk off who thinks because his eyes can change a pretty red and he flashes some fang I'm gonna bear my neck in submission! Well fuck you, okay? We came here as a favour to a friend and believe me, I would love nothing more than to keep my brother and I out of this stupid feud you have with the Alphas! I'm here, in an act as close to submission as you will ever get from me, offering my assistance to you and yours, to keep you safe, and you dare disrespect me? Seriously Hale, fuck you!"

Derek looked more than a little taken aback at my outburst and frankly, so was I. I go angry, sure, with Nick, with other wolves but not like this. You kept your cool around other Alphas otherwise you looked weak, irrational, especially if you were a young female Alpha. Yet, here I was screaming down another Alpha in the darkening light with a whole warehouse of betas listening in on our conversation. Not how I envisioned this meeting going…at least no one is covered in blood yet. YET.

After a few more moments of silence I couldn't take it anymore. This guy was just staring at me like I was some kind of anomaly that he couldn't figure out and that just pissed him off. "So?" I demanded impatiently.

"So what?" he asked with an irritated shrug. His anger seemed to have decreased a little but that scowl was still firmly in place.

"Sooo, are you going to accept my offer or are you going to leave us the hell alone? If you don't want our assistance, then fine, you leave us alone and we leave you alone. But if you want it then tell me and maybe we can work something out."

"And what makes you think that I want your help, that I need it?" Derek asked with a raised brow.

I was stumped as to how to answer when the sounds of steady Beta hear beats and then it hit me. "You need me," I began steadily, looking him in the eye firmly. "You need me because you have a group of kids down there who are terrified right now."

"Don't assume you know anything about my pack after just a few hours –" Derek interrupted before I held up a terse hand to silence him.

"No, you don't get to talk. It's my turn now. You've been making grand gestures by stalking my home for almost a month and now I get my say. Alright, you have a pack of wolves, to be sure, but they are teenagers, they are kids and they are scared! Okay? They are scared. They didn't have to say it in words but the prospect of taking on a whole pack of wolves that have infinitely more experience than they do is terrifying for them. They need to be trained, by someone with experience in dealing with these sorts of packs."

"And you have that experience, do you?" Derek snapped disbelievingly.

I glared coldly at him. You have no idea how much I wish I didn't have this experience, you have no idea. "Yes, I do. My brother and I both. I am not calling into question your capability as an Alpha to train them; you helped them defeat an Argent and saved Jackson from being doomed to life as a Kanima. You are a good Alpha Derek; despite sending children to do your dirty work, you're good. But you don't know these packs like I do and trust me, you do not want to be caught unprepared or see any members of your pack die. From what I understand there has been enough chaos in this town over the last year. I just want to help you; I want to help them."

All was quiet again between us. I kept eye contact with him, watching for his reactions. His expression was blank, heart rate even. But his eyes still held that same mix of intense curiosity as they had when he had first laid eyes on me, an eerie familiarity. Although I suppose that after a month of sitting outside my house, he knew me well enough. He just had a face to put to the name now. Another agonising moment ticked by before my own impatience got the best of me once again.

"So?" I demanded, much more softly this time. I took a few tentative steps towards him with my hand outstretched. "Do we have a deal, Mr Hale?"

His eyes, finally green grey again, darted from my eyes to my hand for a brief second before his own hand reached out to grasp mine in an incredibly firm shake, holding onto it as he stared directly at me. "Yes, we have a deal Ms Keats." And he kept right on holding it.

Okay, those little electric jolts should not be there. I think it's time to let go now.

Hesitantly, although I'm not sure why, I withdrew my hand from his and took a few calm steps back. Derek stayed in the same position by his car. Again I felt nervous in his presence and I looked for a way out from under his gaze. As seemed to be a recurring trend, my salvation came in the form of Stiles.

"Hey guys? Since this whole confusion thing has been cleared up, can we go eat? We're all starving; no pun intended."

"Stilinski, it's bad enough that we're pack, don't make it worse on us, okay?"

I let out a little chuckle at their banter while I observed Derek shaking his head exasperatedly out of the corner of my eye. "Sounds like a good a plan as any. Would it be okay if I accompanied you all for some dinner?"

Derek shot me a disbelieving look. "Oh, so now you're going to ask permission?"

"I was raised to be polite Mr Hale, but only when the other party is polite to me. Keep that in mind and I we might be able to get along for the sake of pack."

"My pack." He emphasised with a low rumble.

I rolled my eyes. "Of course. Now come on, I'm not keeping a warehouse full of starving wolves waiting, not for all the Alphas in the world." I sent a small, nervous smile his way before walking back to the descending stairs with the heat that comes with eyes that follow your back as you walk away.

XoxoxoxoX

"Well, that wasn't nearly as painful as I thought it would be." Nick declared cheerily as he plopped himself down on the couch.

I snorted. "In what sense? The we-didn't-get-ripped-to-shreds sense or the fact that everyone could hear me losing my marbles at Derek tonight?"

"It was pretty funny listening to you two being so formal," Nick chuckled but backtracked on seeing my frown. "But honestly I think you handled yourself very well. Yes, you got a little confrontational but the guy is a possible candidate for Most Socially Awkward Werewolf ever! Seriously, didn't even get a hello or anything; how rude!"

"He also may have been a bit standoffish with you because I could practically smell the lust coming off of you when you were watching his back?"

"What?" Nick smirked innocently. "He's a good looking guy, I also happen to be an attractive looking guy…you never know, right?"

My smile tightened inexplicably and my heart squeezed just a little. "Yeah," I murmured quietly. "You never know."

Is that jealously I sense in your heart, dear Scarlett? My, my, and against your own brother making a simple joke? I did tell you it was destiny, didn't I?

Yes, but you're still a horny bitch who I can't trust.

"Hey, Scarlett? You okay over there? What planet did you just fly off to?" I heard Nick, as though he was at a distance.

I shook my head, completely spaced out. "Um, nowhere interesting? Hey, you want some cake or something? There's a tonne left over."

"Sure." He shot me suspicious look but didn't press further. We sat down at the kitchen counter and demolished two and a half cakes with many cups of coffee and tea before deciding to call it a night. It felt ridiculous to being going to be so early because normally our Saturday nights were filled with movies and food but today had been different, good or bad I couldn't really say, and as a result we were both whipped. The time was only 10 pm.

I ran myself under a quick steaming shower to rinse the day away. Not that I minded the smell of the young betas or the humans, even Peter the Creeper had a pleasant enough scent. But it was Derek's that was bothering me. Of course I recognised his scent the moment he was close enough for me to be overpowered by it…burnt wood, old leather, pine and that damn cologne. I scrubbed my skin as hard as I could unlike I was bright pink all over and I smelt like my body wash again. According to Nick it was a mix of vanilla, jasmine and honey.

As I was pulling a shirt over my naked torso I felt those stupid eyes on my back and that damn scent on the breeze. I felt a low rumble echo in my chest as I spun around, chest now covered. Of all the nerve!

"You know," I ground out, sticking my head out the window slightly. "It's rude to spy on a woman, especially when she's in the middle of changing. We may have to discuss boundaries, Mr Hale."

Red eyes gleamed briefly in the dark, but soon he stood close enough to the edge of the woods for me to see him clearly. I wondered briefly if he ever changed out of that leather jacket, so worn and patched.

"It's a favourite of mine." Came a faint reply, trace of a smirk in his tone. I startled back a little; only realising too late I had said that last part out loud. Not blushing, so not blushing!

"Whatever," I muttered bitterly. "What is it you want anyway? A text or a phone call is a much more conventional method of communication. Hell, even a howl would be."

"Wednesday night we're going to being training. You, Ms Keats and your brother; meet us at the house in the woods, about twenty minutes run from here. I'll send Isaac or Erica to come and get you." He said in the same tone as before, not even acknowledging that I had spoken. Rude, seriously rude.

"Fine, we'll be there. But seriously, next time you want to contact me you should -… and you've already taken off." I sighed exasperatedly, banging my head against the window pane as the sound of his foot falls disappeared softly. "Wait a second!" I called after him. He stopped walking. "Why did you come all the way to the house anyway? You and the kids usually stand off a lot further than that."

The air was silent for a few beats of a heart before his quiet reply floated back. "There's an Alpha pack out there Ms Keats, and if you're to be any help to us, I need to keep you alive." And then his feet took off in a sprint into the night until I could no longer hear them. I stood with my forehead still against the window, utterly perplexed.

Did Derek Hale do the wolf equivalent of walk us home? What the hell?!

XoxoxoxoX

The sun was so warm on my skin; even indoors it felt as though I was outside. It was perfect, perched next to a window in the sun with a pleasant breeze blowing through the trees near the house. I had one leg dangling out on the sill, starring absently off into the distance. It was still hard to believe at times that I had gotten so lucky, it should truthfully be illegal. But it wasn't. This was real.

This was a fairy tale.

"What are you doing?" A voice small voice asked quizzically from the doorway. I smiled softly and turned my head to him. He always thought he could surprise me but his little heart was too loud to my ears, his footsteps still clumsy and awkward.

"Just watching the horizon, my love. You want to sit with me?" I asked him, extending my hand as his tiny one embraced mine. I pulled him up to sit on my lap as he giggled with delight, leaning his little back against my chest. I was never exactly tall, but with his precious body tucked into mine I felt so big, so invincible.

"What are you watching for?" he asked as I pressed kisses into his slightly curled hair. "You always sit at this window."

"Just watching," I replied. "This will be a good chance for you to practice actually."

"Really?" he glances up at me, green grey eyes wide with wonder. "How?"

"All of your senses, from your little ears," I tickled my fingers lightly across the delicate shell, earning me a giggle. "To your gorgeous eyes and to the adorable nose of yours….they are stronger than other people's and that is truly a gift. But you need to practice, so one day you can see, hear, and smell everything that you need to, to become big and strong."

"Like you?" another excited glance over his shoulder, excitement palpable.

I smiled down at him, another kiss pressed to his forehead. "Yes, just like me. Now close your eyes and take a deep breath for me."

His little lungs filled quickly and deeply and his eyelashes fluttered against his cheeks. "Okay." He murmured back to me.

"Now," I whispered, leaning down so my head rested right next to his. "Can you tell me what you smell out there? Describe everything you can. And listen for any familiar sounds, and tell me what they remind you of."

I felt his little pulse racing as his deep breaths continued. I also opened up my senses to encompass a broader area surrounding the house. Soon enough, about fifteen miles away and getting closer, I found that familiar scent I was waiting for. Two, actually. Their footfalls beating rapidly against the ground. His eyes opened in surprise and delight and he turned around to me in triumph.

"I can smell them! It smells like the trees and his jacket! And the other one is cinnamon and wine! They're coming back?"

"Very good, my love! Watch the tree line." I murmured happily, wrapping both arms around him a little tighter. Both our hearts were pounding in time, watching and waiting with growing impatience.

Not ten minutes later, two figures appeared in the trees, slowing their pace down as they reached the house. Squirming in delight he leapt off my lap and raced towards the stairs.

"You're home! You're home!"

I heard his deep chuckle from near the porch and went to join them outside. I moved swiftly down the stairs and out the front door, left wide open as he had run to meet him. And there I found them. I was up in his arms, swinging around and around and tossing his little head back in the sun laughing in a playfully terrified way. He looked up at him like he was the only thing in this world that mattered and it caused the grin on my face to widen at the sight. Two carbon copies of the other, so perfect and real.

"Guess what?" he said giddily as he was set gently on the ground, clutching at his jeans. "I scented you guys before you even got here! I heard you too!"

"Really now?" he said running his hand through the little curls on head. "I'd better watch my back or you're going to be able to surprise me one day."

He growled playfully up at his father before turning to his uncle with mischief in his eyes. "Bet I could sneak an attack on you, Uncle Nick!"

Nicholas crouched low on the ground next to his nephew. "You think you can little man? I'm pretty fast!"

Little Daniel crouched low in response and sprang forward, knocking his uncle to the ground as they playfully wrestled with one another, snapping and growling in the clearing. His father finally turned his face on me and I felt like I could breathe again. It was so stupid, after all this time to feel like this, a love sick puppy, but every time his eyes fell on me, the world just seemed a safer and better place. He reached me where I stood, leaning against one of the pillars and stood behind me, arms wrapping protectively around my waist and stubbled chin on my shoulder. I sighed happily and leant back against him.

"He's learning quickly," he said softly, watching Daniel spar with Nicholas. There was a definite note of pride in his voice.

"Well, he is learning from the best." I replied, gasping as he nipped behind my ear. "Okay! So I guess he gets it from his father then!"

"Damn right he does!" A soothing kiss was placed on the tender skin. "I guess you'll just have to wait until the next one to get a look in genetically."

"Oh, the next one huh?" I asked playfully. "And what makes you think that I'll let you give me a 'next one'?"

"Because I know you too well; you'd love to have a little girl that looks just like you, fights like you…"

"Mm, good answer." I tilted my head to chastely press my lips against his, breathing him in deep. Perfection. "So how long do I have to wait for this next one?"

"I don't know. A year or two." A kiss planted behind my ear. "Maybe a few months." Another, more opened mouth kiss placed against my throat. "A few hours, maybe?"

I giggled and bared more of my neck for his access. "I might not even have to wait that long, you know." I whispered in his ear and I felt him freeze. It was now or never. I had known for a week now, just to be sure but now I wanted him to know as well.

I was spun around in his arms as he gazed down at me, trying not to show any hopefulness or excitement at my suggestion. Ever the stoic Alpha. "You mean…?"

I nodded happily, grasping one of his hands and placing it against my still flat stomach. "Congratulations daddy."

With a beautiful smile he lifted me up into his arms and spun me around, like he had Daniel before quickly placing me down to earth again, soft kisses raining down on my face, scratchy with five o'clock shadow.

"Daddy, why spinning mommy around?" Daniel's voice called behind us.

He smiled over at his son. "No reason, kid. Your mom just makes me happy, because I love her."

I nuzzled my nose against his before whispering against his lips. "And I love you too, Derek."

XoxoxoxoX

I didn't sit bolt upright. I didn't scream. I barely had the breath for that; I could have if I wanted to. I clutched at my pillow and cried silently into it, hoping not to alert Nick to my distress. There was no need to tell him about my dream, no need to relive it again. I still heard my imaginary son's giggle ringing in my ears, the warmth of his tiny body against mine.

"Why?" I whispered hoarsely to an empty room. "Why are you doing this to me? It was nothing! You know it was nothing. Please, I can't bear to dream those dreams anymore."

There in my mind's eye, my own wolfish face appeared, smiling bittersweet.

You know exactly why, but you're in denial. And do you know what denial does to people like us?

"Of course I know!"

Then if you know and you continue to live in denial, the dreams will continue. Do not blame me, they are not my doing. If you want to blame anyone, it's your subconscious creating scenarios of what –

"- will never be!" I muttered angrily and firm to the darkness. "You know my reasons. What we saw, it could never be. Not with Derek, not with anyone."

If you say so, dear. The Alpha's decision is final after all.

Wiping my tears hastily on my sheets and praying Nick wouldn't smell their lingering salt in the morning, I fell back into an unease and fitful sleep once more.

XoxoxoxoX

"Are you okay, Scarlett? You seem a little distracted today." Deaton casually asked as he peeled off some gloves.

I glanced up at him, bemused. "What makes you say that?"

"Well, for one thing. You've been stroking that cat for the past ten minutes while starring off into space."

I looked down and indeed found the cat I had been holding was lying contentedly in my arms asleep, purring loudly. She had been awake when I took her out of her cage. I had been day dreaming, thinking back to the dream on Saturday night following my first encounter with Derek. I had barely slept since then, fearful of what I would see again. "Oh, heh, guess I didn't notice." I mumbled and placed the cat back in her respective cage.

Deaton stared at me curiously, expression neutral. "Something's on your mind, I can tell. Would you like to talk about it?"

"No," I mumbled. He raised an eyebrow sceptically. "Okay, yeah, I need to ask you a wolf question."

"I'll try and answer as much as I can," Deaton reassured me, leaning back against the wall.

I took a deep steadying breath. "Alright, so, for the last three months, I've been having these…these dreams."

"Dreams or nightmares?"

"Honestly, I'm finding it hard to distinguish the two anymore." I sighed wearily. "At first, it was brief flashes of, um, sexual encounters with another Alpha. I think he was my mate, or he's meant to be. He's always saying 'mine' or something about claiming, I dunno. When they first started it didn't bother me at all. They were just dreams, nothing more than that. But now, especially since we moved to Beacon Hills, they've been getting more….um, more –"

"Graphic?" Deaton filled in helpfully.

"Yes!" I exclaimed, relieved. "And it's like they're flashes of the future, or something ridiculous because each new one that I have seems to have skipped ahead in time! I mean, just the other night I dreamt –" My throat tightened with emotion but I swallowed it down and pushed on. "I dreamt that I had a son, and I had just told my mate I was pregnant with another pup. What does it all mean, Deaton? Is it just something psychological or do these dreams have a deeper significance than that?"

Deaton stood stock still for a few moments, scrutinising me quietly before speaking. "Scarlett, you are aware of the mating customs of wolves, are you not?"

I looked down sheepishly. "Honestly? No. I was too young to have the talk with my parents and Nick has always been a little too embarrassed to go into detail. I've garnered the basics but not a whole lot more than that."

"Well, by the sounds of things, the she-wolf part of you has sensed her mate close by, even months in advance. It's quiet a common phenomenon as far as I know but rare as wolves do not always find their mate in this world. It's like your mind's way of giving you clues and hints as to who your mate will be so when you inevitably find them, you will know and declare yourself to them, them to you, on sight. I suppose it's the wolf equivalent of love at first sight; usually without the love at first."

I looked at him in shock, wishing now that I had kept my big mouth shut. Of course, it could just be a simple trick of the mind or the she-wolf wanting to get some action for her sex-starved human counterpart. No, of course it had to be a wolfish, psychic premonition about my future one and only, whom I would bear pups to and be with forever. No, no, no! I couldn't let that happen! It was unfair to another wolf or human to share the hardships I would have to face in this world without the added bonus of children. I always swore, not long after Deaton had brought me to Nick's family that I would never allow myself to be mated or the bring pups into this evil, vile world. Now, even my mind was acknowledging that that pledge would soon have to go unfulfilled.

"And," I asked shakily. "What if the wolf, say the one who is having the dreams, denies his or her mate's existence? Can the wolf part acknowledge it but the human counterpart deny it at the same time?"

"Oh that happens more often than not, although it's been awhile since I've met a mating pair around these parts. The wolf will instantly declare its claim on the mate by smell and sight alone. If you let go to your baser, primal urges then all is said and done quickly. But there is always a human element to the equation, and humans do not fall in love at first sight; not in reality anyway. At first they are so overwhelmed by the declaration of mateship by their wolves that they deny it, think it's nothing more than lust or a crush. A temporary, fleeting feeling. But, deny your mate too long, and you will very quickly destroy yourself. Wolves are stronger in packs and mates are strong when in the presence or at least close proximity to their significant other. If your wolf has declared the other its mate and the human part refuses…well, it leads to weakness, depression, and slower healing rates and in some extreme cases, death."

Oh good, I feel so much better now.

"Scarlett, just one more thing."

"What?"

"Have you seen you're mate's face in your dreams? Have you said their name or met then in reality yet?"

I stared at Deaton and said in a wavering voice. "No, I haven't see a face, said a name and I doubt that I've met them here in the Beacon Hills pack."

Deaton nodded slowly, but something in his steady eyes said that he didn't believe a world of what I had just said.

How can you blame him? Neither do you…

XoxoxoxoX

Dun-Dun-DUUUUUUH! Something's in the air, and I wonder what it could be? Hmm… once again, thank you to all those following the story.

To those of you who have posted guest comments that (for some bizarre reason) are not showing up in the comments section, FEAR NOT, I get notified by email and can read them there. You all literally make my day to see such kind words of praise, thank you; you are all the reason I want to keep writing.

Hope to have the next chapter up soon for you; review responsibly. Lots of love, Lithium xxoo