Chapter 4

"What do you mean you're a virgin," Peter asked, with genuine shock on his face.

Phoebe had been staying at his place for two weeks, and somehow they were getting along well. From what she remembered of Peter, he could be a bit selfish, so she hadn't been sure it would work out, even as concerned as she was about Theo trying to hurt her again. So she'd been pleasantly surprised to find that Peter was a gracious host, not often grumpy, intelligent, and that they could hold conversations about many topics, ranging from books to movies, from werewolves to magic, from her experiences in college to his, and even conversations about life in general. But not usually this topic.

Phoebe glanced up from where she'd been cleaning the stove after Peter had made them lunch. "Well, you already know that I had a crush on Derek when we were younger. He never had any interest in me, and then I moved away to college."

Peter's eyebrow rose. "No one was good enough in college?"

She scoffed, returning her attention to the stove. "I got busy. And anything that might have been building was put aside after the fire."

"The fire?" Peter leaned forward in his seat, frowning.

"Yes," she continued hesitantly. "The Hale fire."

Peter didn't flinch, but the muscles in his face tightened.

"I was the Hale witch," she continued quickly. "I know I was young, but my place was with the pack. And I wasn't there to even try to stop it. And after I heard, I threw myself into my studies, college and magic. I learned so much because I didn't leave myself time for much else. I really only spent a lot of time with my coven. Even after, I spent so much time learning and practicing magic that nothing ever progressed far enough to…."

She sucked in a sharp breath, realizing she'd been rambling, and forced herself to stop, to wait for Peter's reaction.

Peter watched her silently for a moment. "You felt guilty over the fire? A fire you couldn't possibly have predicted or stopped at your age?"

She nodded, almost holding her breath. If he ridiculed her for the pain she'd felt that caused her to take her magic more seriously, she might cry.

But he didn't. Peter sensed a tipping point in his relationship with the witch, and far from wanting to laugh at her, he sensed his initial reaction would be the correct one.

Standing to move into the kitchen, Peter smiled gently, as he often did with the younger woman. "You wanted to help the Hale pack that badly?"

Phoebe nodded. "Of course! I was the Hale witch! It was my job! But I also…" She took a shaky breath. "I also loved the pack. I lost so many friends, people I considered family…" She trailed off and gasped. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to sound like I'd lost more than…I'm sorry." She turned away, busying herself with rinsing the dish cloth she'd used to clean the stove.

Peter allowed his hand to reach out to touch her hand, halting her movements. When her eyes raised back to his, he smiled again. "I knew what you meant. Just because I lost them doesn't mean you didn't lose them too. I'm not angry you grieved for my family, our family."

Phoebe smiled sadly. "I wish I'd been able to stop it."

"Me too," Peter said softly, surprised somehow that he still meant it.

They stood in silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Peter reached for her hand again, drawing her over to the sofa.

"Would you like to be a Hale witch again," he asked once they were seated next to each other.

Phoebe nodded. "I've always wanted that."

"Maybe you could be," Peter said.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I'm a Hale. If you still want to stay after what you've been through, you could always be my witch."

"Of course I'll stay," she exclaimed, eyes flashing. "I want to make those doctors pay for what they did to me, and make sure Theo never hurts anyone else! Besides," she continued shyly, "I owe you now."

Peter shook his head. "That's not necessary, sweetheart."

"No. It is," she said, eyes wide as they met his own. "I…I owe you my life. I want to repay that debt." Her fingers clenched nervously at the shirt she was wearing.

The smirk Peter felt never made it to his face. "Okay. You can owe me and we'll take down Theo and Eichen House together." He paused for a moment, taking in her eager scent. "What about Scott?"

She jerked as though she'd been struck, and Peter leaned back so as not to frighten her. But he did not recall the words. It had needed to be asked.

"I…I think he was there," she whispered, hands shaking.

"Where," Peter asked, eyebrows drawn in concern at her intense reaction.

"When Theo took me to Eichen House. I thought…" She swallowed heavily. "I thought I saw Scott. I think he was in on the plan. I think he did this to me too."

This time Peter did move. He moved closer to her on the couch, taking her hand in his own. "Are you sure, sweetheart?"

She nodded shakily. "The more I think about it, the more certain I am."

Peter placed a gentle hand on her cheek and turned her to face him. "If that's true, then he can't be trusted either. I had thought the pack could help us, but if Scott was in on your kidnapping…" He let the thought trail off.

"So what do we do?" She looked at him seriously. The trust in her eyes was more than he deserved, but her previous acquaintance with the Hale pack, her need for revenge, and her rescue was clouding her judgment. Something that would work in Peter's favor.

Wording his suggestion carefully, he said "Perhaps another alpha would be able to put Scott in check long enough for someone to get him away from Theo's influence." Peter let his hand drop from her face and lightly stroke the back of her hand again. "Or maybe we should call Derek. He could talk some sense into him."

"No!" Phoebe's eyes burned with anger. "I called Derek," she said, confirming what Peter had suspected. "He did nothing. He left me. He…he wouldn't believe us."

"That is disturbing news indeed," Peter said gravely.

"What about you," Phoebe asked.

"Me," Peter asked innocently.

"You were an alpha once. You could be again."

Peter appeared to consider this statement. "I was not a nice alpha before."

"But you didn't have a pack," Phoebe said. Stiles had delighted in telling her all about Peter's evil deeds, but she knew more about werewolves and bonds than Stiles did. "Laura and Derek left you. And Scott rejected you as his alpha when you turned him. You were alone. Of course you went a bit mad."

"That's true," Peter said, surprised that she knew that could happen to alphas without packs. "I was alone for a long time before I became Alpha. I suppose that could have clouded my judgment then."

"But if you had someone else in your pack before you became an alpha, you'd be more stable, right?"

"Betas can't turn betas, sweetheart," he said.

"No, but a witch would be a strong first pack member, wouldn't I?"

Peter nodded, leaning back into the couch. "That's true. You'd be willing to do that for me?"

"If you're willing to help me get my revenge."

Peter smiled. "Our revenge," he said, and a brilliant grin lit Phoebe's face.

"Our revenge."