A/N: Oppsi sorry posted Chapter 15 by accident - now you have the right chapter under 14 - sorry about that. Thank to, rymilu for pointing that out to me!

My awesome beta AwaywardHunter proofed this chapter really fast, so here it is. Many thanks to calrissian18 for her help with the Stiles dialogue.

sharonpijl I hope the meeting with Deucalions everything you hoped for.

ValkyrieBeauty There will be more pydia moments in future chapters ;)

weregrrrl13 Good luck with college, and yes, I like to think those two could be perfect for each other - but it's a long road till then. :D

Chapter 14 Awkward

"Hey Lydia," Stiles greeted her from the third step of the stairs. "Just coming to get you."

Taking a few more steps down the stairs, she made Stiles back up. He looked really nervous and tense, Lydia could not help but think if he knew who was right behind her, he would probably knock out the vase next to him flailing around violently. As he looked into the living room, she saw Deucalion standing in a corner, his pale blue eyes glaring at her darkly. The twins looked at him uneasily and Scott seemed ready for a fight.

"This has got to be awkward for you, Lydia, having played tonsil hockey with every guy in the room. Well, myself and of course Ethan excepted." Ethan's face flushed an odd purple colour. Stiles blinked and clapped his hands together. "Well, it looks like I'm the only one in attendance at Lydia's Lip-Lockless party."

Everyone seemed to look at her somewhat strangely, except Ethan who looked at the floor. "Actually, I kissed you when you had that panic attack, so get over yourself."

The judgmental look on Scott's face annoyed her the most. It was like suddenly the twins looked a bit surprised at her as well. Deucalion's stare she rather avoided, given that he was actually the only one she had not kissed, at least not on the lips. Unlike Stiles she had better social skills than to bring that up. "Anyone else feeling like commenting on my active sex life?"

There was as silence that was then broken by a low growl, before Deucalion took a step forward. Despite the room being filled with people she had either snogged or slept with, she held her head up high. If he had something to say, he could say it to her face. "It's a simple but rather clever way to ensure loyalties, well as long as you don't come across a werewolf who does not feel like sharing so generously." His tone and look made her uncomfortable, there were few people who actually could make her feel bad for enjoying herself. Then he turned his head to look away towards Scott. "Although I would have thought you had better taste, Scott."

"In my defence, it was before my first full moon, I was under the influence ..." Scott looked slightly guilty at Stiles before he stopped as he heard Peter coming down the stairs.

"So what you're trying to say is that - I made you do it," he scoffed and clearly basked in everyone's appalled or downright loathing gazes. "Scott clearly has no taste at all, he is pining after a werewolf hunter with psychotic tendencies."

That got Peter a glare from Scott, but Stiles was faster. "What is this creep doing here again?" He pointed, agitated, in Peter's direction and obviously could not decide whom to look at more accusingly. In the meantime Aiden had unzipped his top but Scott signalled him to remain calm as he turned towards Peter: "Yes, what are you doing here?"

Ethan touched his brother's shoulder as if to say that maybe talking should be the first option.

"Helping out Lydia with her dreams, just as I promised."

Peter smiled at her and she bet he made it intentionally sound as if they had some ongoing deal with each other. Lydia thought about a way to clarify it when Peter came two steps further down and caused Aiden to advance. Then Ethan stopped him as Peter leaned relaxed on the corner piece of the railing. She knew from there he finally had Deucalion in his view and while the former alpha seemed more tense he also had moved slightly back.

Even though Deucalion was clearly nervous about having to face someone with his powers, he was not yet ready to let go. The room was filled with tension, but it was clear that at least three of the wolves preferred for this to be solved without a fight. "As I told you outside, you don't need to protect her. It's more the other way around."

"Well, I don't need protection, she can jump me any time," Stiles declared before looks from all the werewolves got him to shut up.

"What are talking about, she's hardly a danger to anyone," Aiden declared.

Lydia saw a grin rushing over Peter's face as Aiden made his comment and she wondered what he and Deucalion thought they knew about her. It made her think about what happened if she really was dangerous. That maybe by accepting help with her abilities she might indeed become as dangerous to her friends.

"As if she had any interest in you," Deucalion gave Stiles a dismissive look. "Given that she can't use you. You have no powers, you are completely insignificant," he then went on. "Do any of you even know what she is?"

Lydia was not that surprised that he knew, something about the way he spoke about her, seemed to come from a place of utter confidence. What was it that Jennifer has said about her? 'Look the innocent flower but be the serpent under it?' While Stiles knew about her being a banshee that meant almost nothing, since nobody had an idea what she was. Jennifer seemed to have known, maybe the other emissaries knew, too. Peter, as well as Deucalion, certainly had an idea about her powers. The question now was how much revealing that and what she could do might have an impact on the people that were her friends.

The room was tense but oddly everyone seemed to be curious about what Deucalion had to say, even Peter was, though he certainly knew the answer. Maybe he just wanted to hear if Deucalion had it right. His gaze was certainly more focused on the corner with Deucalion and the Twins, while Scott was in his wider field of vision and she and Stiles just at the edges.

While Stiles was certainly wishing someone would get rid of Peter once and for all, he was no threat in this situation. He was agitated and nervous and whenever she turned to look at him, he was staring at the floor. So she stopped doing it all together, to pay more attention to Peter and the other three werewolves. Scott's actions were pretty clear; he would try not to let things escalate and he certainly wasn't going to let anyone kill her. What worried her was how the twins might react to Deucalion's threats. They seemed to not believe him but Aiden's last comment made her wonder what would change when it turned out their former pack leader was right about her.

"She's a banshee," he said as if that was going to mean anything to anyone. "If you think finding dead bodies is the only thing she can do, you'll be surprised. As long as those two are working together all your powers are at risk. You think he'll stop now?"

Peter briefly met her gaze, smiling as Deucalion insinuated that he was after everyone's powers. He clearly was on a roll and it seemed everyone was interested in what he had to say.

"He will reduce you two to being omegas once again and there is just one way to stop him from doing it."

His words had an obvious effect on the twins, who looked really upset from her to Peter, only to briefly swerve to Deucalion. She had to wonder if that really was Peter's plan, revoking everyone's alpha status by draining their powers. The others at least seemed to consider that possibility.

"What would that be?" Scott asked in a tone that suggested he knew the answer already.

"Obviously, you let me kill her," Deucalion said in the most casual tone.

Lydia found herself taking a step back. At least it was comforting to see that Aiden finally stopped glaring in Peter's direction and was now facing Deucalion. "Don't even think about it."

"I think we made it quite clear on what we think of your methods," Scott stated flatly.

Deucalion just smiled. "You did let me kill Jennifer - trust me at one point, you will stand aside. I can wait." As if to make a point he leaned back and crossed his arms. It occurred to her that maybe killing her was not really what he was after. All that talk about what her powers could do, going up against everyone in the room, seemed like a bad strategy. He was clearly trying to plant distrust among them.

"You know, if you guys just want to talk about me as if I am not in the room, why don't you take it elsewhere," she said realising that she wanted Deucalion gone. Even more so she wanted all the boys to just leave her alone for a while. Then again she knew just to be safe, it was probably good to have at least Aiden around. That sort of bothered her, she did not want to have to rely on someone looking out for her all the time.

"Yeah, why don't all the homicidal werewolves leave?" Stiles said glaring at Deucalion until he realised that he was getting glared back on.

To her surprise Scott seemed to agree with that, only he was not looking at Deucalion. "I think that would be a good thing."

Peter smiled back at Scott before looking at her. "I'll leave when she asks me to."

Lydia realised that he would be back, even if she told him to leave now. Which oddly enough she did not want to do. Deucalion had raised so many questions and even though Peter was unlikely to give her completely honest answers she needed to learn as much as she could.

"Then ask him," Ethan said interrupting her thoughts.

Everyone was looking at her, Deucalion with a particularly dark smirk but she could tell the others expected her to tell Peter to get lost already. It would have been easy enough to do but she wanted to say something that did not necessarily would disappoint her friends but also would not cause Peter to leave if he was indeed serious. Before she could think of an answer, Peter had a different suggestion to make. "Or we could do something productive and talk about how to stop these killings…"

Aiden turned again but not without letting Deucalion out of his sight either. "Or we could kill you." He gave her a side glance and Lydia got the feeling he knew she had no intentions to actually send Peter away.

"I like the sound of that," Deucalion gave him an approving nod.

Scott took another step forward. "Nobody is killing anyone."

Lydia noticed that during the whole exchange Peter remained completely relaxed, it was almost as if he either did not care, knew it was unlikely a fight would actually happen or simply was overconfident in his ability to come out the winner.

"You don't get to order us around," Ethan said even thought he seemed to agree on not solving this with fighting.

"Come on, Scott, why not let them go all Thunderdome on each other? I can't see cutting down the murderous werewolf population of Beacon Hills as being an inconvenient thing for anyone." Lydia saw Stiles looking at both Deucalion and especially Peter almost as if he expected them to say something. Which was of course not going to happen. Neither of them could care less about Stiles' opinion on the matter. They clearly owned their acts. Encouraged by the lack of protest he continued. "And if the Wonder Twins and Mr. Destroyer of Worlds over there do manage to actually, effectively kill an already technically-dead dude, then Lydia's in the clear and Old Blue Eyes no longer has a reason to lobby for her head on a platter. It's a win-win?"

Deucalion shrugged. "She'd still be dangerous, she's a banshee. She could probably bring him back. Again," he smiled almost as if he was glad that possibility existed.

"That is true." Peter said looking at her fondly. "Hmm, Lydia still feel safe with your two trusted bodyguards?"

"We would make sure that she won't do that," Aiden said overconfidently.

Lydia shook her head. She did not need to see Peter's amusement about that statement to know how that Aiden was missing the problem. Then again she never really had related exactly what had been going on in her mind. Given how everyone was already gunning for Peter now, she certainly was not going to do that now.

"I'm getting slightly fed up with all this talk about killing. Especially given that for some reason he", was was pointing at Deucalion, "is the one talking about killing me and all you two and you," she said turning around to glare at Stiles, "can do is talk about killing him."

"That is a good point," Peter sounded pretty pleased with the situation. "After all - I'm here to help."

Stiles scoffed. "Wasn't your plan forcing her to participate in your sick little sex ritual? Because somehow I don't think 'help' is the word you were looking for."

Bringing that up again caused everyone to be silent for a moment, even Deucalion seemed as if he prefered this not being brought up. After all he was the real victim and even though she knew that, Lydia could not help but think that she was rather glad that he was far less dangerous now. She was not sure how she felt about Peter having his strength now but at least he was not running around gloating about killing his niece and advocating for everyone else to follow his example.

"Stiles is right. You don't get a pass after raping Lydia. We don't care what you have to say."

Scott spelling it out so directly did make her feel rather uncomfortable. Especially since looking at Peter didn't make her feel nearly as uncomfortable as looking at Scott. Not to mention the way he had been looking at her.

"It must be rather easy living in your world, Scott, where everything is so black and white. Luckily for this town, Lydia is handling this a lot more maturely than any of you. She is putting the life of the victims to come ahead of her own discomfort. Lives that are in danger because of your actions - not mine."

That latest comment certainly struck a chord with Scott. His fingernails briefly changed into claws before he managed to get a grip on himself. "We can stop whatever it is, without your help. In fact, if we get proof it is you, I'll help the others sending you back to the grave."

It was like his guilt clouded his judgement. Maybe that was really what this was about, knowing that Peter would certainly point out that it was their ritual that did attract whatever to Beacon Hills. Even more so, if it was Peter doing those killings, then it was not the ritual that was the cause of all this death.

"That's the attitude, Scott," Deucalion said sounding incredibly pleased. "I am sure you'll find something to confirm your suspicions."

"I hate to disappoint, but no they won't, because I'm not in the habit to randomly run around tearing people to bits," Peter said with feigned sadness.

Lydia was really getting tired of this pointless hostility. "If you aren't willing to talk about anything but killing, then why don't you go and take your unproductive attitudes elsewhere. Starting with him," she said staring at Deucalion. "I can't recall inviting him into my home, either. Given that he wants to kill me, I wonder why throwing out Peter is your priority?"

"That is a good question," Peter agreed.

"Here's a radical idea, how about Scott kicks out psycho-wolf over there while they," Stiles nodded over to the twins, "go all Voltron-wolf on our least favourite sociopath?"

Shaking her head knowing what Stiles would suggest, she realised she needed to get everyone out of here. The atmosphere was so toxic and testosterone ridden that all she wanted was some time alone to take a breath of fresh air. "You know Stiles, as someone who has tried all evening to get a lynch mob started, I would be careful to throw around the sociopath card."

Unsure why she was suddenly fighting with Stiles, she was nonetheless unable to stop it. Especially, since him shrugging his shoulder and laying it back on her got her furious. "I'm just trying to fit in with the cross-section you've assembled here, Lydia."

"Trust me, Stiles, it might look that way, but I don't find homicidal tendencies attractive at all," she shot back and turned to look at the room, where Scott sighed busy thinking on what to do judging by that expression on his face. The twins were somewhat taken by the discussion but Deucalion and Peter clearly had a great time. Lydia knew she should let it go but then she heard Stiles mutter under his breath. "Your dating history would beg to differ."

That was just something she could not take. While she knew it looked that way, she also had just said that it certainly was not that what she found attractive. In fact it was the one thing that troubled her most and she just found herself snapping around. "Leave, now."

Then she turned to the living room and pointed at Deucalion and then at Scott. "You leave - you leave." When she turned to the stairs and seeing Peter's smug smile, she added "You get out of my sight as well."

Scott was clearly angry at her and when she saw the kicked puppy look on Stiles' face she knew why but at the moment she was way too upset with him to undo some of the damage. Besides if anything she did deserve an apology. If she was honest, the only reason she had not asked the twins to leave was because Deucalion scared her and she would not put it past him to go after her if she was alone.

"As you wish", Peter said and went back up the stairs.

"Hey where do you think you are going?" Aiden yelled at him.

"Obviously, not leaving by the front door," Peter said as he disappeared upstairs.

Stiles had walked away from her while Scott began urging Deucalion to leave. He was giving her a final look that made it clear he would get her eventually. But her worry was with Aiden still wanting to start something.

"Just let it go, Aiden," Lydia said somewhat hopeful that he would not escalate the situation. "Peter clearly isn't the one having a problem following my wishes."

"Fine - we're leaving," Scott said opening the door signalling Deucalion to leave. The last one to leave was Stiles who clearly thought about something to say but then decided against it. Somehow Lydia knew it was a bad sign.

"That was ugly," Ethan said after a few moments. "Not that I blame you, Stiles sure doesn't know when to shut up."

Lydia hoped for Ethan's sake that their menage-a-trois would not go further than this room but given that too many people knew now, she understood the worried expression on his face. Aiden was still not saying anything, instead he gave her a distrustful look.

"I think maybe we should all calm down and get some sleep. Then tomorrow maybe we can talk about what to do."

It just occurred to her that as long as Deucalion was out there, he was a threat for her. Somehow she could not help but wonder if that was why Peter had not killed him. Then again it made no sense he had to know that Aiden would not let him harm her. Especially after him standing up for her before and given that he was not quite the same threat he used to be. Unless Peter was confident that Deucalion could somehow turn the twins against her.

Lydia looked up as Aiden came closer. "Mind if I check if your pal is really gone?"

"Go ahead," she said with a shrug.

Somehow Lydia was sure that Peter had left, just as she was sure she would hear from him again quite soon. Maybe looking through the house would help to get some excess energy out of Aiden's system. After he sprinted upstairs, she was left alone with Ethan and she decided to head down into the kitchen. Her appetite was gone but she already felt that she would need to eat something soon if she did not want her stomach to revolt.

"I wonder how he does it," Ethan suddenly said as he appeared in the door frame.

"Does what?" Lydia said not even sure whom he was referring to.

"Masking his scent like that - we should've noticed him much sooner but even as he was standing there, as far as my sense of smell was concerned, he might have been an illusion."

She shrugged and gathered supplies to make herself a sandwich. "Well, instead of threatening him - you might consider asking him about it, the next time you run into each other."
"You seriously want us to listen to him?" Ethan asked her in genuine surprise.

It was almost like she was talking to a wall whenever she had mentioned something in relation to Peter. "Yes, of course. I'm not saying take his word as gospel - but beneath the half-truth he might actually have useful information."

"Is that all?" Ethan said as he came a bit closer.

Continuing to prepare her evening snack, she considered her reply. "If he can help me get a handle on my abilities, then I'm going to let him teach me."

"Aiden won't like that, I'm not sure I like it."

Aiden not liking it was probably the greatest understatement she had ever heard. The whole idea that they did not like it made her angry. She was the one caught in the middle of this, first and foremost it was her problem. "Do you think I like it? That I want to dream about body parts being littered across graveyards? To be haunted in my dreams? I didn't ask for any of this."

Ethan seemed a bit taken back by her yelling and then said snidely: "As I understand it, he's responsible for all of that."

"I know," Lydia admitted, the frustration shining through in her voice. It was hard enough without being reminded of that detail. Her dealings with Peter were like getting saved from drowning by the person that pushed you into the lake. "It's not just that he owes me or is willing to help me, Peter seems to be the only one who can."

Ethan gave her a skeptical look and she could tell he was thinking about what Deucalion had said. Lydia couldn't even blame him. If Peter had set his mind to steal their powers, he might actually be able to pull it off. Contrary to what Deucalion said, he wouldn't necessarily need her help.

"You weren't surprised about the banshee thing - when Deucalion mentioned it."

"No, Miss Blake told me, right before she tried to strangle me," Lydia said. "Not that it told me much, it's not like there's anything written down about banshees anywhere that actually fits what I can do."

"But why keep it a secret? You could have told us," he wondered.

"The way Jennifer said it .. I don't know, I got the feeling it was better if I didn't tell anyone else until I found out more." Lydia had confided in Stiles but he understood that she didn't want anyone to know until she knew more. She supposed now it would make its way to Deaton. Maybe she should have asked him about it today but either way Lydia felt he might not have said much except some cryptic stuff.

She finished making her two sandwiches and then put everything else back into the fridge. "You know I'm glad you are looking out for me - but I do hope we find a solution that doesn't involve you having to hang around me 24/7."

"Why? Can't wait to get rid of us?" Aiden said accusingly from the door.

Lydia was not sure why but he was even more on the edge after that ugly scene in the living room. It shouldn't surprise her that he was loaded given what she had told him before that. Right now she just wanted to have a good night's rest without anyone around or with dreams about torn up body parts.

"Of course I don't want to get rid of you, but I need some space and I can't expect you to put your life on hold to look after me indefinitely," she tried to explain.

The worst thing about all this that she felt so unhinged and aggressive for no specific reason. That was not like her at all. Maybe the others were right and she did need to come to terms with what happened but it just was not the worst thing that had ever happened to her. In the last year the only thing that had kept bothering her was not knowing what she was and having so little control over what her dreams did to her. Even if Peter was the worst person to give those answers to her, he was also the only one. He owed her and for some reason Lydia felt that he knew that.

She had decided a long time ago that she did not want to get back at him, she was happy just getting him out of her head. Maybe the worst thing he did was actually make her feel like there was someone who might appreciate her for being eccentric and smart only to reveal it was all a lie. Peter had also planted the idea in her head that what she had with Jackson had been something special. Then she allowed that jerk to dump her twice, the second time not even bothering to text her.

"Well, he's gone for now. Not sure how he got in but he apparently left through your window - I closed it."

While Aiden replied with a rather flat tone, she still sensed his latent aggression underneath. Ethan seemed more sympathetic to how difficult this was for her but even he did seem to prefer to stay out of this.

"I think he'd already gotten what he wanted - his focus is now on stopping these killings before they get even more attention. Allison's dad said it, too - if that keeps going on, the wrong people will eventually notice."

Instead of an answer Aiden just walked out of the kitchen. She then heard the tv being turned on. Ethan sighed and left as well. So she gathered her sandwiches and passed quickly through the living room, where both twins sat on the couch. Aiden zapped through the program busy ignoring her, while Ethan was busy texting. Probably Danny, Lydia thought.

Back in her room she put the sandwiches next to her laptop and decided to let a few music videos run, just to distract herself from what was going on. Two videos in she relocated to her bed and wrapped herself into her blanket. It seemed cold and empty to her but at the same time having Aiden with her was not particularly appealing. She could not tell what happened but she had the feeling she'd botched their already undefined relationship a great deal. All her relationships were strained at the moment and while some of the blame was on her, she could not help but feel that Peter was the cause of all that trouble.

It was in the middle of a song when some tones that did not fit got her to sit up. Trying to figure out where it came from she looked around in her room and then saw the display of her cell phone was lit. She threw back her cover and went over to the desk when she saw that it said Peter was calling. It shouldn't surprise her that he had put his number into her phone.

"Disappointed I left?" he teased her.

"Not at all," she said flatly. "I asked you to leave, didn't I?"

"You told me to get out of your sight, that might pass for - Wait upstairs," his voiced sounded terribly amused. Lydia took a sharp breath. She had not even thought about what she had told him or how it could be interpreted. Now, Aiden's reaction made a lot more sense. "I thought since your boy toys are already so upset, I'd let them calm down a bit."

"How generous, given that all my friends are upset with me - because of you."

There was a moment of silence, then he said. "Because you are not nearly as upset with me as they are." There was more to it but it was not far from the truth. Lydia wished that was not the case. "You know how I happened to get the drop on Deucalion?"

"No, and I don't want to know."

"Maybe you should care - given that he contacted me, promised to help me getting back to power if I helped him to get to Scott."

"I see you just took his powers in all our best interests," Lydia replied, her voice full of sarcasm. "You always say I'm so smart but then you treat me like I'm dumb enough to fall for that."

"True, I used you because I wanted his power and that was the only way I could get it. I could just have killed him or warned the others, not that they'd have listened."

She hadn't expected him to spell it out so clearly. Although of course he was not yet done. "You think that your two protectors are helping you out of pure selflessness? Everyone is selfish, I didn't think I needed to spell that out for you." His tone sounded both belittling and disappointed before lightening up somewhat as he went on. "But I guess you just wanted to hear me admit as much."

"Then why make excuses?" Lydia asked feeling her throat tighten.

"Hmm, I wasn't trying to make excuses, I just like to point out that not every selfish thing I do is only beneficial to me."

There was this cold shiver running down her spine. Of course he had to bring that up again. "Beneficial? Given all the nightmares I had, the fact that my friends are freaking out on me, that a crazy, power-hungry werewolf is out there wanting to tear my throat out, I don't think me coming a couple of times merits the word beneficial."

"I was thinking more about all the people who won't get killed when we stop these senseless killings. But I would agree, I owe you a lot more benefits," he paused a moment. "Unlike your two bodyguards, I can give them to you and I'm not just referring to the vastly superior sex we could have."

Lydia could not help but being pissed at him for being both right and so annoying. Somehow she felt like pointing out that most of the time he just was being selfish but she dreaded him pointing out more instances that might have accidentally also have benefited someone. There was really no point in having that argument. Ignoring him bringing up the sex part again, she brought up another question.

"How come he knew what I was?" Lydia was sure Peter had not told him but Deucalion knowing was disconcerting.

"I'm not the only werewolf with an interest in what else is out there - maybe the ritual made him realise that or he asked someone. I certainly did not tell him."

It seemed to her that there was something about this whole Banshee deal he was holding out on. No matter how much she feared the reply, Lydia needed to known. "Is he right, though? Am I dangerous?"

"Very dangerous - which is why I would have preferred to keep it a secret. If word gets out," Peter paused for dramatic effect as if he didn't already sounded ominous enough, "you might be in even more danger."

"Why is that?" Lydia felt her voice slightly tremble, given that Peter sounded so serious about it.

"The reason banshees are so rare has something to do with not only humans hunting them down. There are those who fear your powers, those who want them for themselves. Which is another reason you might want my help."

"Because I can be sure that you're not after my powers as well," Lydia said and sat down on her bed.

There was a pause and she could hear the amusement that her words apparently caused. "Of course, I'm after your powers - but unlike Deucalion I don't believe I need to combine all the power in myself. Believe me, I'd much rather have you around."

Lydia believed him for some weird reason. If he was after her powers, he would never have returned her, nobody would have been able to find her in that cabin. While both Peter and Deucalion had killed, there was a difference in their motivation. Lydia didn't trust Peter all the way, but she was convinced that he would put an end to whatever was in that crypt.

"And Lydia - make sure you are not alone. Deucalion is after you and we both know he is not the only one."
"So you actually want the twins to stick around?" she said not quite believing it.

"Ideally, I want them gone - so I can look out for you," Peter replied. "But given that's obviously not going to happen, I'd rather know you're protected - as long as you feel safe with them."

"They're not going to listen to Deucalion - not after finding out he had killed Ennis."

The noise at the other end of the line told her that Peter was doubting that. "In case you haven't noticed - those two boys aren't the brightest. Fear and anger can cloud anyone's judgement. What I smelled from them during Deucalion's little talk wasn't just anger."

"Considering that they've never harmed me I'm inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt."

"Of course - just don't forget to avoid that dream. Since you did it last night, it might seek you out tonight."

"Don't worry I'll do my best to stay away from that thing."

Lydia was surprised when he said goodnight. After she did the same and they ended the call, she stared at the entry till the display went dark again. If there was anything she could call him - although she was curious to see when he would call back. For now she needed to go downstairs and make it clear to Aiden that she had definitely meant to sent Peter away. That the phrase she had used was not some hidden invitation as he had pointed out to her. Maybe that would calm him down a bit. She was not sure if she felt like making up or if that was a wise idea. This night would probably end like the last and given that it was better if she slept alone.

Going down the stairs in her socks she heard a fast paced car chase with gunfire playing overly loud on the tv. It was some stupid action film and just as she was halfway down, she heard Ethan say to Aiden: "At least you got your wish: I'm sure he got a good whiff of both our scents on her."

She stopped, hardly able to believe what she had heard. "But he didn't look upset."

"He's better at hiding it, but I bet he was pissed."

Then Ethan looked up and seconds later Aiden did the same. They probably could gather from the look on her face that Peter wasn't the only one who was pissed.

"Really?" she asked. "I kind of expected that from Peter - not from you."

Then she basically stormed up the stairs as fast as her socks would let her. So much for pack mentality and giving comfort, she thought. It was nothing but them marking territory and Lydia hoped they had the good sense to stay out of her sight for the rest of the night, as she loudly slammed and then locked her door.