Chapter 22

Derek stayed with her for awhile, he kept her from falling asleep until after she showered. Once she had changed clothes, Derek made her take a nap and went to check in with Stiles. He had told Scarlet that they were working on finding the alpha. Scarlet didn't know how long she'd been asleep when she woke up and wandered over to Stiles' room. She pushed the door open and found Danny sitting next to Stiles staring at something. Scarlet glanced to the side to see Derek wearing on of Stiles' shirts an angry look on his face.

"It's not really his color," Danny said nervously. "Hey Scarlet, are you feeling better? I heard you were really sick."

"Yeah, she's better, Miguel has been taking care of her," Stiles quickly said. "So nice to have our cousin here to help, isn't it sis?"

"Yeah, uh, I feel a lot better now," Scarlet said as she glanced at each of the guys. Derek had tugged his shirt off and was looking for another one.

"Stiles," Derek snapped. "None of these fit."

"I'll need the ISP, the phone number, and the exact time of text," Danny replied as he turned to the computer.

"Hey Miguel, I think one of your shirts is in my laundry, why don't we go get that for you," Scarlet suggested. Derek followed her out of the room and back into hers. She grabbed the shirt he had given her last time he was over and tossed it to him. "Is there a particular reason my brother is pimping you out to Danny?"

"Do I look like I know," Derek asked as he tugged the shirt on.

"Danny and I do have the same taste in guys."

"Seriously?"

"Uh, tall, dark, and handsome, every girl's prince charming. The cool car, great body, and leather jacket are just perks," Scarlet said with a smirk.

Derek grabbed her hand and yanked her toward him. He kissed her hard as he wrapped his arms around her. "You forgot amazing kisser and fantastic in bed," he teased.

"I don't think I should mention that to Danny, since he thinks you are Miguel, my cousin," Scarlet said with a soft giggle. "You should probably get in there and let Danny stare at you some more."

"You want to come with me and put on a show," Derek asked as he smirked at her.

"Do I want to makeout with you in front of my twin brother and Danny? Uh, no," Scarlet said with a roll of her eyes. "I'll stay out of your way while you guys... play."

"Thanks for that," Derek said before letting her go. She smiled at him as he left the room. Scarlet flopped down on the bed after a moment, curling back up and falling back asleep.

Derek shook her awake a while later. She awoke with a start, her breath catching in her throat. "Hey, it's ok, just me," Derek said as he sat on the bed. "We found something."

"What is it," Scarlet asked as she sat up.

"That night at the school, Alison got a text from Scott's phone, that's why she showed up. Scott never sent her a text though. Stiles had Danny trace it, it was sent from a computer at the hospital under an account registered to his mom."

"Why would she do that?"

"We're hoping it wasn't her, just someone using her account. We have to go over there though and check it out. Do you want to come with us," Derek asked.

"Of course, let me get changed and I'll meet you guys at the jeep," Scarlet said as she scrambled out of bed. She quickly pulled on some clothes and rushed out of the house. Derek moved aside to let her climb in the back. She froze when she realized something though. "Stiles, isn't your game tonight? You are supposed to be starting."

"Yeah, it's tonight," he said as he met her gaze in the mirror. The rest of the ride to the hospital was silent until Scott called them.

"Did you get the picture," he asked.

"Yeah I did, and it looks just like the drawing," Stiles replied.

Derek grabbed his wrist and pulled it toward him so he could speak into the phone. "Hey, is there something on the back of it, there's got to be something. An inscription, an opening, something?"

Scarlet reached up and grabbed his hand, pulling it away from Stiles' wrist. "No, no the thing is flat, and no it doesn't open. There's nothing in it, on it, around it, nothing. And where are you? You are supposed to be here! You are first line," Scott exclaimed. "You're not going to play if you're not here to start."

"I know," Stiles cried. "Look if you see my dad, can you tell him, tell him I'll be there, I'll just be a little bit late. Ok?"

"You're not going to make it," Derek said as soon as Stiles hung up the phone.

"I know," Stiles replied.

"You didn't tell him about his mom either," Derek pointed out.

"Not really something you share over the phone," Scarlet said.

"Not until we find out the truth," Stiles replied.

"I thought you said you didn't think she did it," Scarlet said as she leaned up to look at Derek.

"I don't think she did it, but I don't know that she didn't."

"That makes no sense," Stiles pointed out.

"By the way, one more thing," Derek said as he reached for Stiles. He slammed his head against the steering wheel.

"Ow, god," Stiles cried.

"Derek! What the hell," Scarlet yelled.

"You know what that was for," Derek snapped. "Now go, GO!"

Scarlet climbed over the seat and joined Stiles. "Don't hurt my brother again. And you, don't objectify my boyfriend just because he's hot," Scarlet said as she pointed at both of them. "Call us if you need us." Scarlet tossed Derek her cell phone before following Stiles inside.

"Are you ok," she asked once they were far enough from Derek.

"I'll live, your activities this afternoon were far more scarring than that," Stiles grumbled.

"Sorry about that, we got uh... carried away."

"Is that what we are calling it now," Stiles asked.

"Shut up," Scarlet complained as she gave him a shove. They had arrived at the nurse's station by now. "Shouldn't someone be here?"

"Yeah," Stiles said as he glanced around. "He has your phone right?"

"Yeah," Scarlet said as she glanced around as well.

"Derek, I can't find her," Stiles said.

"She has to be there," Derek replied.

"I said I can't find her!"

"Ask for Jennifer she's been looking after my uncle."

Scarlet followed Stiles down the hallway and into a room. "Yeah well, he's not here either."

"What," Derek demanded.

"He's not here, he's gone," Stiles replied. "Derek?"

"Stiles, get out of there right now, it's him, he's the alpha, get out," Derek shouted.

Scarlet exchanged a look with Stiles as they backed out of the room. Scarlet turned slightly, screaming when she saw the man leaning against the wall.

"You must be Stiles, Scarlet, I already know," the man said smoothly.

Scarlet and Stiles both turned, freezing when they came face to face with the nurse. "What are you doing here? Visiting hours are over," the woman said lowly.

"You, and him, he, you're the one who, and he's the one, oh my god, I'm gonna die," Stiles stuttered out. "I'm gonna die." All of a sudden the nurse fell to the floor as Derek elbowed her in the face.

"That's not nice, she's my nurse," the man said.

"She's a psychotic bitch helping you kill people, get out of my way," Derek ordered. Stiles grabbed Scarlet's arm and yanked her down to the floor.

"Oh, damn," Stiles muttered.

"You think I killed Lara on purpose? My own family," he asked as he came toward them. Derek leapt over them launching himself at the man. Stiles and Scarlet scrambled to get out of the way as they began to fight. Scarlet hid under a desk in the nurses station, Stiles was just around the corner from her. Scarlet screamed when the glass above the desk shattered and Derek fell on the floor in front of her.

"Derek," she said softly as she reached out for him. He shook his head at her as he crawled across the floor away from her. She jerked back as the man appeared. She knew that he knew exactly where she was.

"Come out, come out," he called softly. Scarlet slowly slid herself out from underneath the desk and rose to her feet. "Its a shame that one so beautiful keeps getting hurt, but that's the price you pay for being someone's mate."

Before Scarlet could react everything went black. The man carried her down the hallway, following Derek's slow progress. He gently placed her on the exam table, turning her head so Derek could see her face.

"I was going to wait for dramatic flair, but," he said before spinning the mirror in front of him. He caught it and stared at his newly healed face. "When you look this good, why wait?"

He stared at Derek for a moment, Derek's gaze was locked on Scarlet who had yet to move. "Derek, you have to give me a chance to explain. Afterall, we're family, what's mine is yours, and what's yours is mine," he said as he brushed some of Scarlet's hair away from her neck.

"Leave her out of this," Derek growled.

"However did you end up with a mate as beautiful as her? So young and soft, tender flesh that breaks so easily. It's easy to see why you fell for her. Have you asked her yet?"

When Derek didn't reply the man had his answer. "Really? I would have thought someone whose light burns as brightly as hers does would be an obvious addition to the pack. No matter, you aren't an alpha, you can't change her, but I can. Just one bite that's all it takes."

Scarlet stirred slightly, a soft groan escaping her as she shifted. Her eyes fluttered open and she turned her head. "Derek," she murmured.

"No, I'm his uncle, Peter, he didn't tell you about me, did he?" Scarlet bit down on her lip and shook her head at him. "I didn't think he would, too many bad memories. That's why I had to meet you myself. See what all the fuss was about. Can I ask you a question?"

Scarlet nodded slowly, not trusting her voice at this point. She could see Derek out of the corner of her eye. Peter put a hand on her cheek and turned her head so she looking directly at Derek.

"Do you want to be like him? You could protect yourself, no more running to Derek or your brother for help, no more fear, you would be safe, no one could hurt you, you would be strong, you would powerful Scarlet. I can give it to you, one bite, that's all it takes."

"I don't want to be like you," Scarlet replied lowly.

"I didn't ask you if you wanted to be like me, I asked if you wanted to be like him," Peter pointed out. "Do you Scarlet?"

Scarlet felt tears welling up in her eyes as Peter ran his nose down the length of her neck. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her skin.

"You don't," Peter said, clearly impressed. "Or maybe, you want him to be the one who does it. You would truly be his then, an unbreakable bond."

"Get your hands off her," Derek growled. He had risen to his feet, his strength regained, fueled by his anger over his uncle torturing Scarlet. Peter let go of her and stepped back. Scarlet scurried off the table and over to Derek. He squeezed her hand as he pulled her behind him. "Stay away from her."

"Oh, she can go, now that I have your full attention." Scarlet took hold of Derek's hand and attempted to pull him after her. "No dear, he has to stay, there are a few things I need to explain to him."

"Derek, don't. Come with me please," Scarlet whispered as she stared up at him. "You aren't like him, don't let him do this to you, please come with me."

"Scarlet, go find Stiles, and leave," Derek said gently.

"But Derek," Scarlet started to say but he cut her off.

"Go Scarlet, I'll be fine," Derek assured her. Scarlet glanced between the two of them before taking a step closer to Derek and kissing him on the cheek.

"Be careful," she warned. She turned and looked at Peter. "If you kill him, I will find another alpha, let him turn me, and I will kill you myself."

"She's telling the truth, she's a fierce one," Peter said with a grin. "I like that in a woman."

"Scarlet, go," Derek ordered as he gave her a push toward the door. She glanced at him one last time before rushing down the hallway to find Stiles. She ran into him as she passed the nurses station.

"Where is Derek," he demanded.

"With Peter, we have to get out of here, Derek said to leave."

"Fine with me, we can leave without him," Stiles said as he grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the building. "We need to find Scott."

So, the previous chapter didn't get the response that I thought it would. It made me a little concerned, I'm writing this story for you guys as much as I am for myself. So if the direction makes you guys uncomfortable please let me know! I don't expect every review to be glowing and about how you think everything is, I'm not delusional. I appreciate honest feedback, so please let me know what you think!