I owe a couple of shout outs for suggestions on powers: Kaysco for Peter's locator power and TheBratPrince for the ability of sharing powers through their pack link. Everyone had such brilliant ideas, it was inspiring!

Warning for violence…

. ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ .

The flip lighter caught and lit, a familiar voice accompanying the sound.

"Hello Stiles. Miss me?"

Stiles stomach sank, but he grit his teeth, raised his chin and met the cold blue eyes of Jackson Whittemore dead on. "Jackson. I see you haven't dropped dead yet. I figured with your head so far up your own ass, you would have choked to death on your own shit by now," he said, channeling his inner Erica. His Catwoman had insisted he work on his sass level and he'd taken to it quickly. While mouthing off, though, he was shouting through his pack link. Derek! Derek, Peter, come quick! It's Jackson. I'm outside the art store! He's gonna try to take me!

He felt Derek's roar of outrage and pain through their link as well as the support of his fellow packmates. We're on our way, mate, stay strong. Peter has a bead on you, we are on our way. Keep the link open, we will find you, I promise mate. You are stronger than you know, use that, do whatever you need to do to stay alive and safe.

Jackson glared at him. "You little bitch, you'll pay for that," he growled and swung his fist at Stiles.

Pain exploded in his jaw and he fought with everything he had to not flinch or cry out. He heard the reaction of his pack and Derek, growls and snarls on his behalf. He could sense they were drawing nearer to him.

His tormentor looked at him appraisingly. "So, you've gotten braver since you got your little ass fucked, huh? Think you're important now since you've got an alpha screwing you? We'll see about that," he said with a smirk and nodded to someone behind Stiles.

Derek! was his last thought before he felt the blow to his head and his world went black.

. ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ .

"Peter, find him now!" Derek roared as his mate disappeared from their link. He was trying to fight the fear that was threatening to drown him.

"I'm trying, Derek, the power works by sensing where they are by looking their eyes, by them knowing where they are. With him unconscious, the most I can do is get us where he was," Peter said, hating the feeling of helplessness as he tried to find his nephew's mate. He had always had trouble connecting and bonding with other people since losing his mate, but he'd instantly bonded with the sweet omega and considered him one of his own.

They were nearly to the art store and when they got there, Derek let out a howl of misery. Stiles' bag of art supplies lay on the ground crushed, the paints leaking out on the sidewalk. Emotions welled up in him, making him feel like he was going to burst. All he could think of was his mate as he'd looked the first time he'd met him and then after his run in with Jackson in Beacon Hills, the broken body and broken spirit. He couldn't stand for his mate to go through it again.

"Peter, what's happening to Derek," Isaac asked, staring at his alpha in trepidation, feeling like was drowning in guilt for not protecting the Omega Mate as he'd been charged with.

Peter pulled the beta close and kissed his forehead. "This isn't your fault. This was planned, he would have gotten Stiles one way or another. As for Derek, I'm not sure," he said, staring at his nephew. Something was building up in him, he had a feeling another power was about to surface. Derek's eyes were glowing red, his hands fisted and his veins popping out of his neck and arms. He looked like he was going to explode. He drew his nephew into a nearby alley, knowing something was about to happen and not wanting the public to know. As the rest of the pack arrived and surrounded their alpha, they all stared in awe.

It looked like when someone took a picture of Kira, when her Kitsune spirit was surrounding her, a golden aura. This was red, though, and it looked like Derek's wolf, a much larger, spirit version, but his wolf all the same. A growl began building in Derek's chest, a vibrating sound that rumbled through all of their bodies. The power was growing and Peter had everyone back away, something was about to let loose.

With a roar that shook nearby windows, the spirit wolf broke free from Derek, a giant red specter with giant, razor sharp teeth and glowing red eyes that suddenly leapt from his body and shot off down the alley and turned the corner. It seemed to still be connected to Derek as his body jerked in the direction it flew off and he began running after it.

Peter didn't hesitate and ran after his nephew, thinking he saw a flash of red like a tether that was connected between Derek and the spirit wolf.

"It's found Stiles!" Derek shouted. "I can feel his wolf, see him in my mind. He's hurt, but alive!"

Peter finally felt hope and did his best to keep up with Alpha who seemed to have gained extra speed as a result of this latest power. He sent a message back to the rest of the pack. Erica, Kira, get a car, we don't know what kind of shape Stiles will be in. I'll update you on where we are, make sure Boyd and Parrish are ready to help us when we find him. The rest get back home and prepare for the homecoming of the Omega Mate and our Alpha. We will be bringing him home.

. ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ .

Stiles came around, instantly alert but keeping his breathing slow, trying to take in as much information as possible and sending it down the pack link, knowing Derek would be looking for him. He was tied to a chair in a small, dark room, no identifying features that would help Peter. He just had to hope that it would be enough. He felt the lump on the back of his head and the swelling in his face. It hurt like hell, he was used to not feeling pain now and it sucked to be back here, but he was stronger and wouldn't let it get him down. There was no way he was going back there again.

"Sleeping beauty, you've come back to me," Jackson said stepping in front of him. "You've caused a lot of problems, thinking you could leave Beacon Hills and forcing me to come find you. That wasn't very nice. I've got a lot of time to make up for." He grinned and held up his favorite ring which was already glowing with heat. "Let's get started."

The instant the burning metal touched his chest, he couldn't help the scream that escaped him.

Stiles! My mate, we are coming! I know where you are. Stay strong, little mate, you are mine and you are strong, do you hear me?

Yes, alpha, I am yours. Please find me.

I am, love. Show them how strong you are, show them they can't break you, came Derek's reply, the thoughts warm and filled with such love, Stiles couldn't help but smile, even through the pain.

"Oh, you think this is funny?" Jackson couldn't believe the little bitch was smiling even when his skin was sizzling and blistering from the burn he'd just inflicted. "Maybe you like it, huh? Want some more?"

Stiles just smiled serenely at him. He didn't know if it was possible, but he concentrated on his own healing, pictured his skin clearing of the burn, the swelling in his face and head disappearing.

Jackson couldn't believe his eyes. The nasty, blistering burn on Stiles' chest was slowly disappearing and if he wasn't mistaken, his face was less swollen than it had been. "What the fuck is this? How are you doing this?"

"How are you such a pathetic bully with a tiny penis? It just comes naturally," Stiles retorted.

Jackson snarled and, releasing his claws, slashed Stiles across his chest, watching the skin shred open easily, blood splattering them both. "You will not talk to me like that, you piece of shit bitch! Who the hell do you think you are?" He accentuated that with a punch in the mouth.

Stiles gave a bloody grin, his narrowed eyes glowing golden through the agony. "Who do I think I am? I am the Omega Mate to the Alpha of the True Pack. Who are you? You are nothing but a pathetic attempt at being someone who matters, a bully with daddy issues. And guess what?" he put his all into his healing, feeling the continued strength from his pack. He leaned forward, licking the blood from his lips. "You are going to die. Slowly. Painfully. Viciously." He turned to look at Jackson's goons who were watching him with expressions from fear to amazement and horror. "You all will too. I hope working for him was worth it. Your reign of terror is over Jackson Whittemore. Vengeance, thy name is Alpha Derek Hale," his voice was low, threatening, and his heartbeat was steady, promising his words were truth.

The men scattered around the room began to leave, hurrying to the door, Jackson yelling after them to come back. Then there were screams heard outside the room and Stiles laughed in delight, realizing his pack had found him. Looking back at him in real fear, Jackson slammed the door shut and backed away.

"Call them off, Stilinksi and I'll stop, I'll never bother you again," he promised, his gut filled with real fear for the first time.

"Not a chance, Jackass Wimpmore," Stiles shot back, feeling downright cocky.

Jackson realized he really had nothing else to live. Grabbing a knife from the table of instruments he'd intended to use on the omega, he held it to Stiles' neck, waiting for whoever came through the door first.

There's a knife to my throat, be warned, Stiles somewhat casually informed his pack.

Got it, we're right outside, be ready. Get to the floor if you can, sweet mate, Derek said.

Suddenly the room began to shake, the windows trembling in their frames, Stiles chair vibrated under him. For a split second before he dived to the side, making his chair fall over, Stiles caught sight of a red spectral wolf come through the door, like through, not breaking it, like straight up Ghostbustered through the door. He felt the wolf and knew it belonged to his mate and he was filled with pride and love at his strength. He also hoped someone untied him soon, he didn't want to miss what was going to happen.

Jackson gave a high pitched shriek of fear as a red ghost wolf appeared through the door and roared as it shot through the air straight at him. The shriek bled into a scream as the specter went straight through him, feeling like it was ripping him open, making him fall to the floor in agony.

That was when the door actually crashed open, more like it burst into a pile of kindling at the force of Derek coming through it with a roar, Peter close behind him. Immediately after making sure his mate was ok and safe for the moment, he turned to Jackson, dragging him up by his neck.

Peter ran to Stiles and quickly untied him, helping him up and pulling him to the safety of the corner of the room. They both watched in awe as the spirit wolf returned to Derek's body, like a breeze had suddenly washed over the Alpha, a red glow encompassing him before he returned to his normal form.

"I have done you a disservice Whittemore, I let you live after finding out all you did to my mate. But no more. I will fix that oversight right now. I would offer you a Death Challenge, but those are given out of respect, you deserve no such thing," Derek said conversationally, though with every other word, he was shaking Jackson by the scruff of his neck as he dangled several inches above the floor. "First, we will offer reparations to my sweet mate. Stiles, love, is there any vengeance you would like to exact on this pathetic excuse for a wolf?"

Stiles grinned at his mate, so proud he could burst. He was such a wonderful protector and he couldn't help being a little turned on by this raw display of power. Derek noticed and winked at him. "Well, I wouldn't mind if he tasted his own medicine when it comes to that damn ring of his."

Peter smiled at Stiles approvingly. "Well played, nephew. Would you let me do the honors?"

"Why yes, Uncle, thank you," Stiles smiled at him sweetly.

Peter had way too much fun heating up that dreaded ring and applying it several places over Jacksons struggling body, all while the wolf begged and pleaded for mercy. An odor filled the room and they looked at Jackson, seeing a suspicious stain appear at the crotch of his jeans and spread down his leg.

"Oh my god, did he just piss himself?" Stiles crowed, doubling over with laughter. "I never even did that!"

"Wow, a pillar of strength," Boyd noted from the doorway where he was joined by Parrish, Isaac, and Kira.

"Very manly," Kira said with a snort of laughter.

"Beloved, why is there blood all over your chest?" Derek said, really looking at Stiles, his eyes going a darker crimson then before.

"He used his claws to try and flay me open. Luckily, I was able to call up my healing and boy did that piss him off," Stiles said with a chuckle, unable to keep from feeling proud of himself.

"Such a strong mate," Derek murmured before turning his furious gaze to Jackson. "You used your claws on my mate? You dared to touch him in such a way?"

"I'm sorry," Jackson sobbed, tears and snot running down his face.

"That's a picture for posterity," Kira said and snapped a pic with her cell phone.

"Nobody lays a claw on my mate and lives to tell about it," Derek growled lowly. "Clear the room. Peter stay. We'll meet you at the car in a few minutes. Peter," he nodded at their prisoner. Peter stepped in and held Jackson still as Derek walked to his mate.

"I love you, my mate," Derek murmured in Stiles ear, hugging him fiercely.

"I love you too, badass wolf," Stiles returned, kissing his jaw, scenting him lightly. "Come back to me soon."

"I will. Go now, I'll be there soon," Derek said and turned his beloved over to Boyd.

. ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ .

A shirtless Derek joined Stiles in the back seat of the car fifteen minutes later. Peter was suspiciously absent. Derek just directed Erica to drive them home saying Peter would join them later. Stiles guessed it was part of being Derek's left hand that Peter would handle the 'clean up'.

"There is nothing left for you to fear in this life," Derek promised his mate as he pulled him into his lap, nuzzling into his sweet neck. "I am so damn proud of you for staying strong, Stiles. I know that couldn't have been easy."

Stiles sighed into the cuddles, feeling completely content despite what the last few hours had been filled with. "It was easy to be strong knowing I had all of you behind me."

"You'll never be alone again," Derek promised him.

"I know. I love you, my mate," Stiles said and leaned in for a kiss.

"And I you, my little mate," Derek replied, sealing their lips together.

. ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ .

EPILOGUE

Six Months Later

It was the night after the moon run and the pack had decided to have a movie night complete with puppy piles and tons of good food. The room was filled with cushions, sleeping bags, pillows and bean bags. Their pack was a bit bigger than it used to be, Danny and Ethan from Beacon Hills having left soon after Stiles and asked to join their pack. As soon as they swore their loyalty to the Alpha and Omega Mate, their minds were open to the pack thoughts and they knew it was meant to be. They fit in seamlessly and brought Danny's gentle compassion and protectiveness and Ethan's sense of humor and love for baking pastries which cemented him in all of their hearts.

Stiles and Derek were snuggled in their favorite love seat under a blanket. Derek couldn't keep his hands off the small mound of Stiles' belly which held the beginning of their new family. Though Stiles was in denial, Derek swore he heard two heartbeats when he pressed his ear to the bump. His alpha was infinitely more guarded of Stiles as well as addicted to having his hands on Stiles' belly at all times. Stiles grumbled but always had a joy-filled grin on his face.

As Isaac turned the TV on to put on a movie, Stiles saw what was on the screen and cried out "Hey! That's Beacon Hills!"

The whole pack quickly took their seats and Stiles turned the volume up. It was a national news program and the headline underneath the news anchor read: Beacon Hills Goes Bankrupt.

"This story has been in the works for some months now as we have investigated all the many stories that were brought to our attention from concerned citizens and family members of people who were hurt and abused by Beacon Hills own citizens and its leaders. It seems for years, there was systematic and planned abuse of a town omega who was unwillingly entered into an arranged marriage. While considered archaic, if all parties agree, it is not looked down upon. All sources tell us, however, that both parties in this arrangement were forced into it which violates their basic shifter/human rights. We were given a video, which we have altered to remove names of the victim which outlines the systematic and years long abuse of the omega in this arrangement when it fell through. What you hear might be disturbing."

The camera switches to a video which showed Talia Hale and Scott McCall as they had stood there in the pack's house so long ago. There were gasps as none of them had known Peter had taped it. Meanwhile, Peter just smiled like the wolf he was.

"How do you reconcile your abandonment of (video muted), watching him get beat up every day for, what, four years? More? How about you, Talia, you are a political force in that town, how do you explain turning a blind eye to the abuse of one of the townspeople? Not to mention an omega and even further, the Sheriff's son? Wouldn't that usually precipitate some kind of protection or justice against the people who abused him?" Peter's voice asked.

"Brother dear, why am I not surprised to find you here? What happened to (video muted) was unfortunate, but showed the protective nature of a town that was wronged by your nephew. Why don't you ask him why he abandoned his mate?" she responded.

"Protective nature of a town?" Lydia's voice was heard. "You consider a young omega being beaten daily to be protective? Really? If the blame were really on (video muted), wouldn't the town have sought him out? It wouldn't have been too hard to find him. But isn't it the fault of you and Sheriff Stilinski for trying to force two young people into an arranged mating? Something that isn't even done anymore. Stop trying to push off the blame when it is the two of you who are at fault. "And while I'm at it," Lydia's voice continued. "You are the most pathetic of shifters. Big bad alpha using his mate as an excuse to turn away from his friend. Why don't you admit the truth… you didn't want the damn town turning on you. It had nothing to do with your mate. You chicken (bleep) loser!"

"Why are you acting like this is all my fault? It was mostly Jackson Whittemore, he was the one who targeted (video muted) and got other people to beat him up," Scott said defensively. "Besides, if Mrs. Hale hadn't made such a spectacle of the mating ceremony being canceled, even Jackson wouldn't have had a reason to go after (video muted). I'm sorry. If I could go back, I would… I would…"

The video skipped to see Scott run out of the room and hearing Derek questioning his mother, his voice altered to be unrecognizable.

"Why are you here, Mother?"

"I'm not hostile, son, I heard of your mating and wanted to come and show you my support, perhaps help you plan the ceremony. I know (video muted) has been through a lot and may not know what all needs to go into planning. Besides, I brought the original document declaring your intention to mate so you could use it as your mating certificate. I thought it would make it more special for you since you have been intended for one another since (video muted) was born. A true love story," she said with a, very obviously fake, happy sigh.

"You don't really think we're going to buy this crap, do you?" Erica's voice was heard.

Talia's gaze went red before returning to their normal shade of brown. "Oh, my dear, it's not fake. I've realized how wrong I was for not defending young (video muted) and want to show my remorse by paying for the ceremony and maybe even a mating trip."

The video blacks out and resumes with Talia Hale looking like she'd just lost her mind.

"It was mine and you've stolen it! All this was supposed to be mine! You were supposed to get them to give me the power seat in the Senate, you've ruined everything! And you," she said, "You obviously weren't punished enough. I knew I should have told Jennifer to make sure you didn't walk away when she hit you with her car."

"You told someone to hit (video muted) with their car?" Liam's voice asked on a gasp.

"You. Did. What?"

The video blacked and came in on Talia again.

Talia growled at him. "I did what needed to be done. And I would do it all again. You stole this from me! That magic belonged to me! (Video blacked and came back on to Talia taunting Stiles who couldn't be seen.) "Yeah, your father is not innocent in all this," Talia taunted. "He wanted to use the magics to ensure he'd never have opposition in the run for sheriff again and to be given unfettered power in Beacon Hills. You might be interested to know that some in the Sheriff's department wanted to help you over the years, yet he shut them down, time and again. His way of punishing you for not coming through."

(Lydia's voice came through over the picture of Talia's enraged face.)

"They had this whole plan cooked up from the time (video muted) was born. The Sheriff would essentially get the town and she would get the Senate."

The screen returns to the news anchor. "After validating the sources seen and heard in the video, an investigation was launched against Talia Hale, Sheriff Stilinski, and Jackson Whittemore of Beacon Hills. Mrs. Hale and the Sheriff were both evicted from their positions and quickly left town as they became victims of human and shifter rights activists, who were outraged at the amount of abuse an omega was put through all for the gain of power. Both are being investigated by the government agencies they were trying to manipulate and are expected to face heavy charges within the next month. As the surrounding towns learned of what was going on, companies in Beacon Hills began losing business and soon many had to shut down and to file for bankruptcy. The intense reaction from other small towns also forced the resignation of the mayor and most of the police force. At this time, Beacon Hills, home of the Battle Born Clan looks more like a ghost town, certainly not a powerful shifter clan. As of the airing of this story, police and FBI have still not located the whereabouts of the major perpetrator of the violence toward the omega victim, Jackson Whittemore. If you have any information on where he is, please call your local authorities. Coming up, rumors of the first shifter who might be running for President…"

The pack was still sitting there in silence before a cheer broke out around the room. Stiles was frozen in Derek's arms. He'd been unaware that night had been taped. Who had done it? He looked over at his uncle who simply smiled at him and gave him a wink.

Thank you, uncle, was all Stiles could manage.

Anything for family, was his response.

As Stiles looked around, listening to the excited chatter as the last of the nightmare was put to rest, Stiles nodded. These people were family and they would do anything for each other, as it was supposed to be. He couldn't have ever imagined how much his life would change and he would go through all of that hell just to end up back here again.

"How are my cubs?" Derek asked, leaning over and kissing his baby bump.

"They are starving, alpha," Stiles said, giving him big, innocent eyes.

"Oh, are they?" Derek gave him a sweet, teasing smile. "And what are my cubs longing for? Some tea? Milk? Maybe some fresh fruit?"

"Actually, they are really jonesing for some curly fries," Stiles tried to keep a straight face but failed miserably, laughing as Derek tickled the sensitive skin of his belly.

"Hm, sounds serious," he said, chuckling at Stiles' vigorous nodding. "We'll have to fix that. I can't have my babies going hungry."

"It would be a tragedy," Stiles agreed. He snuggled into his mate and hummed happily. "I love you, my alpha."

"I love you too, little mate," Derek said, kissing him sweet and deep.

Stiles pulled back, pupils dilated, staring at his mate's lips. "So, how 'bout them fries?"

Derek mock groaned as he laughed. He hoped his mate never changed. He was perfect.

. ~ . ~ . ~ . THE END . ~ . ~ . ~ .

I hope you all enjoyed this story as much as I did. It was my first Sterek story, but certainly won't be my last. I have another one I'll be working on very soon. I hope to see you back soon! Thank you for every kudo, comment, and subscribe, it meant the world to me and kept me motivated.