Chapter 14

Acceptance

"You may never understand but I wish that you would. He's family."

"I thought we were."

For Riley, the first night was the hardest. She would wake up alone, scared and sometimes screaming. The nightmares wouldn't stop. Nightmares about the fire, about the alpha, nightmares about everything. She would have nightmares about the fire all the time, but now they were different. She never told Derek that he kept those nightmares away. They stopped once he entered back into her life. And now, he'll never get to know.

Riley didn't have the strength to go to school, work or anything. She stayed in bed and hugged herself tightly, trying to give herself comfort, but the one thing she knew would make her better was gone.

She'd heard stories from other girls at school that breaking up with someone hurt. The first one always hurts the most. She hated that they were right. She hated Derek for doing this to here. For making her feel this way. She also hated herself for letting him go so easily without a fight.

Riley was heart broken…And it sucked.

XXX

Her phone had been ringing nonstop for almost an hour. She heard it going off for a while on her nightstand when it vibrated itself off and onto the floor. Where she can now hear it going off.

With minimal movement, she leaned down to get her phone. She saw it was Scott calling and leaving messages for her. She figured she better answer it before he decided to come barging into her house and break things in his path to see if she was still alive. She was surprised he hadn't already.

She pushed the button but didn't say anything.

"Riley?" she heard Scott say, "Oh God, you're hurt very badly and it took all of your strength to crawl over to answer the phone for help…And now you're dead."

She couldn't help but roll her eyes, "I'm alive you dummy."

"Thank God, I've been very worried since last night. I figured Derek wouldn't let Peter hurt you, but then you didn't answer any of my calls."

"Derek is with Peter now…He wants nothing to do with me," she whispered.

"What? I'll be right over," he hung up.

Riley tossed the phone down at her feet and rolled over with the cover over her head.

Ten minutes later, Scott entered her bedroom, "Did you know that your front door was unlocked?" he asked and took another look at her, "You look terrible."

She sat up slowly, "Thanks, what a friend you are."

He sat down on the bed next to her, "What happened?"

"After I left the locker room, Peter and Derek showed up here. Don't worry nothing happened. There was just a lot of talking…Peter gave Derek the ultimatum; I accept the bite or he doesn't see me anymore. And to add more to that, if he refused…I would have been killed. He then proceeded to walk out my door and now I'm alone," she said.

"Hey," he said, "You're not alone. You still have me."

"No offense, but you have Allison…You wouldn't be enough," she said, "I was alone before Derek came back and now I'm alone again. Just like from the beginning, as if nothing changed."

"You still have Stiles," he said.

She turned to look at him and gave him a deadpan look, "Are you trying to make me feel worse?"

They laughed.

"It'll get better," he said, "Maybe it was for the best."

"I don't see how's that possible. I feel like apart of me is missing. Like I'll never be hole again," she started to cry.

Scott wrapped an arm around her and tensed for a second, like he sensed something, but let it slide to comfort her. She sobbed into his chest and whispered to her to try and calm her. It began to work after a while.

"Why do I feel this way?" she asked.

"I can't begin to understand what you're going through, but you'll get through this. And you're never be alone, I promise you. You'll always have me, Allison and even Stiles. We can be enough," he said. After a few more minutes, "You should consider taking a bath."

Riley pushed him away, "God Scott, sensitive much."

He couldn't help but laugh, which caused her to laugh with him. She leaned over to give him a kiss on the cheek. She looked back at him and they just stared at each other. She noticed he looked down at her lips and once his eyes looked back at her, she turned away.

Scott got up from the bed, "I'll see you later," he said.

"Yeah, I'll probably still be here sulking when you come by," she said before watching him leave.

Eventually she did get up to take a shower and after she was finished she felt a lot better. Better enough to even go down stairs to make herself something to eat. She didn't realize how hungry she was.

She couldn't help herself, but she started to feel numb again. She retreated back to her bed.

XXX

The second night, Derek stood over by her bed as she slept. She had no idea he was there, and that's the way he wanted. He didn't know if he could look at her sad eyes again. He saw the pain she was in and he wanted to make it go away. Even if he was the one who caused it.

He tried to stay away. He was successful the first night, but now he couldn't. He had to see her. He longed to see her again. He was keeping her safe, that's all that should matter. She'll understand one day, he hoped.

He reached down to move her hair from her face. Asleep, she looked peaceful and happy. He wanted so badly to wake her up and kiss her to make it all better, but he knew he couldn't.

Instead he leaned down to kiss her forehead. Once he did, he sensed something different about her. He didn't have time to figure it out because he was on a mission for the alpha.

He had to find Jackson.

XXX

Later that night, Riley was woken up by pounding on her front door. She pushed herself out of bed to see who it was this late at night.

She opened the door to see Allison standing on her porch soaking wet. She opened the door wider, "Come in, you must be freezing," Allison walked past her without saying anything. She noticed that she had been crying. She closed the door to follow her into the living room, "Are you okay?"

Allison turned on her heel, "I know about Derek," she said.

Riley was silent, "What about him?" she whispered.

Allison pushed her wet hair out of her face, "That he's a werewolf," Riley looked away, "And by the look on your face, you knew…Kate was right."

Riley looked back up, "Kate told you."

"I have someone who's not lying to me," Allison said.

"You have to understand why I couldn't tell you, Allison. You come from a long line of hunters. I was protecting him," she said.

"Because you're with him," Allison said, "Are you the other Beta?"

"No," she said.

"But you know who it is, and the alpha," Allison said.

"I only know about Derek," she said, "No one else."

Allison sighed, "Kate just dumped all this information on me and I don't know how to deal with it."

"That's because she's a bitch," she said.

"I just need someone to talk about this," Allison said, "Its so much to take in."

"You have me," she said.

Eventually, the girls sat down to talk.

XXX

The next morning, Riley woke up to the sound of her phone ringing in her pocket. She realized she felled asleep on the couch with Allison on the other side. She got up quietly without waking her up.

"Hello?"

"Riley, I need you to come get me," it was Scott.

"I'm a little busy."

"Its important…I've been shot. I'm at the animal clinic."

"I'll be right over," she said before hanging up.

She went up stairs to change and leave Allison a note, explaining she had an emergency.

She arrived at the animal clinic and saw Scott talking to Deaton, "Don't you own a shirt," she teased.

They both looked up at her.

"I'm glad you could come and get him," Deaton said, "He should be fine in a few hours."

Riley looked at him, "Of course, because it's not like it's a…bullet wound," she looked at Scott.

"He knows," Scott said.

"Oh," she said as she looked at Deaton, "Good for you, Doc," looking at Scott, "Shall we go."

"Riley," Deaton said as she looked at him, "Try to be careful,"

"Thanks, I will," she said slowly. Once in the car, "You get shot and go to the animal clinic…Its ironic."

"Not funny," Scott said.

"What happened?" she asked.

Scott explained what happened the night before with Jackson and Derek.

"Is he okay?" she asked.

"I'm sure he is," he said.

They were now at his house. As they got out of the car, Stiles pulled up, "We having a werewolf meeting?" he asked, trying to be funny.

"I hate to be the barer of more bad news but," Riley said, "Allison knows about Derek."

"She knows!" Scott said.

"Just about Derek," she said, "Not about you. She thought I was the other Beta."

Both boys laughed.

"It's not funny," she said. Stiles continued to laugh, "Shut up before I punch you," she said to him, "Kate let her in on the family secret."

"That's not what I need right now," Scott said, "That only gives Peter more fuel to go after her."

"Well, she's at my house," she said, "I think it'll be the last place Peter will look for a hunter."

"I hope you're right," he said.

"If it makes you feel better, I'll keep an eye on Allison. We are going dress shopping later for the dance," she said, "Oh and maybe you should know. Kate is the one who is responsible for the fire."

"And the plot thickens," Stiles said.

"Are you okay?" Scott asked.

"I'm fine now," she said, "It was a shock finding out, but now you know everything. I hate myself for lying to Allison because I was lied to."

"Lies can keep people safe," Scott said.

"Or it could get people killed," she said, "I better get back home. She might still be there."

Not known to Riley, Scott and Stiles went up to Scott's room to discuss that the Argents had kidnapped Derek. They couldn't tell Riley because they didn't know what she would have done.

Secrets can be necessary.

XXX

Riley drove her and Allison to the mall later that day, "Are you sure Lydia has to join us?" she complained.

"She's buying my dress as an apology," Allison explained.

"She can buy my dress," Riley said, getting out of the car.

"I know you don't like her but I want to go dress shopping with my two best friends," Allison said.

"Fine," she said, "I'll be nice…for like an hour."

"Thank you," Allison said as they spotted Lydia, "Lydia."

They walked over to Lydia's car, "What is she doing here?" Lydia asked.

Riley turned to Allison, "Only if she's nice to me."

During their shopping trip they ran into Stiles, which Riley figured probably wasn't by mistake. Lydia was off shopping with Stiles, since he would be the one taking her to the dance. Leaving Riley alone with Allison.

Riley turned her back on her for a few minutes while she looked for a dress. When she turned around she saw Peter talking with her. She grabbed a dress and walked quickly over to them.

"Allison," she said, getting their attention, "Go try on this dress. I think you'll like and it's expensive."

Allison took the dress, "I don't think this will fit me."

"You're never going to know if you don't try," she said. They watched Allison walk toward the fitting room. She turned back to face Peter, "What do you want?"

"I wanted to meet the famous Allison," he said, "The girl Scott is in love with. She might make a nice addition."

Riley stared at him, "What happened to you?" she asked, "You were never like this."

"People change when they loose so much. They become damaged," he said, "That Peter is no longer with us."

He started to walk away from Riley, "I wish that he was," she said as he stopped, "Because he was a great person."

He left without saying another word.

Riley got really light headed and swayed on the spot. Scott came out of nowhere to steady her, "What are you doing here?" she asked him.

"I followed Peter here," he said, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just got dizzy," she said.

"When was the last time you ate?" he asked.

"Yesterday," she replied. Scott made a face, "You shouldn't be here. Allison might see you."

"Alright. Just tell Allison you need to get something to eat before continuing shopping," he said.

"Alright dad," she said sarcastically.

By the end of the afternoon, all three girls found dresses for the dance on Friday. Riley wanted to go with Derek but that would never happen, even if he wasn't a wanted werewolf fugitive. She was really happy with her choice. Her dress was a nice dark purple that even covered her scars on her back. Lydia even helped her pick her dress, out of the goodness of her nonexistent heart.

XXX

Kate Argent wasn't having any luck of getting information from the captured werewolf, Derek. He wasn't talking even though she was running thousand bolts through his entire body to keep him from shifting and making him weak.

"Come on Derek, I don't want to torture you," Kate said, "I want to catch up. It's been years since I've seen you. Might even say that I missed you. I would have called you up but you have a new girlfriend. She is very spunky and pretty. I see why you keep her as company."

Derek growled, "Don't talk about her!"

"I see that she is a sore subject," she said, "Let's try something else…Remember all the fun we had together?"

"Like the time you burned my family alive," he said.

"I didn't get all your family. She is still alive and kicking," she said, "And no, I was thinking more about the hot, crazy sex we had. Is Riley as good as me? Does she know how to make your body quiver?"

"Don't you dare say her name!" he shouted, "She is nothing like you."

Kate smiled, "My, my, Derek are you in love?" she asked, "You are," looking at his face, "You don't hide it very well. That piece of information might just cost you. It's almost like repeating history. Once again, you're helping me track down the rest of your pack just like before. Your girlfriend got hurt in the fire all of those years ago, because of you. And I'm going to hurt her even worse this time, because…of…you."

Derek wasn't the type of guy to show fear in these types of situations, but when it came to Riley he couldn't help it.

XXX

For the dance, Stiles was going with Lydia, which was weird, Allison was going with Jackson, which words could not explain why, and Riley got talked into going with Scott, which was completely weird. Even though Scott wasn't supposed to be at the dance, he still had to go to keep an eye on Allison. His only option was to take Riley and hope that he didn't get caught.

Riley drove over to Scott's house to pick him up. She rang the door bell and his mom answered, "You're not Allison," she said.

"No, I'm not," Riley said, watching Scott running down the stairs, "Don't you tell your mom anything."

Both women looked at Scott, "I tell her things…sometimes."

"I want to get some pictures," his mom said.

"Mom," Scott complained.

"Its fine, Mrs. McCall," Riley said, taking Scott's hand, "We have time."

They finally got to the dance, "Do you want to dance?" Scott asked.

"Not really," she said, "Go fine Allison. It's okay."

"I should at least give my date the first dance," he said, extending his arm to her.

Riley rolled her eyes before accepting.

They danced one song together, "Go find Allison," Riley said, "I know you want to."

"You sure?" he asked.

"I'll be fine," she said.

Scott kissed her on the cheek, "Thank you."

She watched him run off to find Allison. She made her way over to an empty table. There was someone sitting there already. She couldn't think of his name, "Can I sit here?" she asked.

"Sure," he said, "I was just leaving."

She watched him walk away as she remembered his name Isaac; he was on the team with Scott.

After a while, "Why is a girl like you just sitting her all alone?" Peter asked, standing beside her, "You should be out there dancing," he extended his hand, "You don't get a choice on this one."

Riley takes his hand and lets him pull her out on the dance floor. She searches for Scott and sees him dancing with Allison. She catches his eye just as she and Peter begin to dance to a slow song.

Peter holds her tight, "This is nice," he whispers to her.

"Oh yeah, I'm having a great time," she said sarcastically, "What's on the evil agenda tonight?"

"Can't I be here enjoying a dance with you?" he asked. She doesn't answer, "I'm looking for a few good men for my pack…or women. Do you have any recommendations for me? What about that tall one?" he pointed. She looked at saw he was pointing at Isaac, "There is still you. You want to reconsider my offer? Though, we would have to wait a while on you."

"Why do you need more members?" she asked, "What's wrong with just Derek?"

"He's a bit preoccupied with the Argents," she looked at him confused, "Oh, didn't Scott tell you?" he asked.

"No," she whispered, "Tell me what?"

"Derek is behind enemy lines," he looked over at Scott, who was listening, "And I need Scott's help to get him back." Riley tried to step away from Peter, "Don't worry," he said, "I'll get him back." He held tighter on to her and pulled down on her dress around her neck to reveal her burn scars on her left shoulder, "What a pity? You have far too pretty skin to be plagued by scars," he started to lean down toward her shoulder, "Relax," he told her after she started to panic. He kissed her scar tissue very softly. He looked back at her, "Enjoy the rest of your dance."

Peter left her standing there on the dance floor. She looked over at Scott who shared the same look of terror. She stumbled from the dance into the hallway with Scott following closely behind.

"What was that?" Scott asked.

"You think I know," she said, "You should be with Allison. Peter is still around here. Why didn't you tell me Derek was missing?" she asked, angrily.

"I'm sorry," he said, "If you knew, you would only be getting yourself hurt. Don't try to deny it; I know that you would go after him."

"Someone has to," she said.

"Guys!" Stiles called, running up to them, "Have you seen Lydia?"

"Go look down at the make-out staircase," Riley said annoyed, "She's probably with Jackson."

"No, I just say him a minute ago," Stiles said, "He went out looking for the alpha and got caught by hunters."

"Great," Scott said.

"Stiles," Riley said, seriously, "Peter is here."

Stiles looked worried, "I have to find her."

"I can't help you and keep an eye on Allison," Scott said, looking around.

"Go back to the dance," she said, "I'll help him look for Lydia."

"Be careful you two," Scott said before leaving them.

Stiles and Riley took off, "Let's start at the lacrosse field. Jackson said Allison's dad was behind the school."

Riley stopped him, "Allison's dad is here. Why didn't you say anything to Scott?"

"I didn't want to worry him anymore than he already is," Stiles said, "We have to go."

Riley followed him outside. The headed toward the field when they saw the stand lights switch on. They started to run toward the lights.

"Lydia!" Stiles yelled as soon as they could see her standing in the middle of the field.

Riley could see Peter approaching the girl, "No!" she screamed as she ran faster.

It was too late. Peter had attacked Lydia right before their eyes. As Stiles and Riley got closer, you could see a lot of blood that could only come from a bite. Peter hovered over Lydia.

"Don't kill her," Stiles begged as she slowly approached.

Peter looked at Riley and then back to Stiles, "Of course not. Just tell me how to find Derek."

"What?" Stiles asked confused. He couldn't keep his eyes off of Lydia's bloody body, "I don't know that. How would I know that?"

"Peter please," Riley spoke up, "If you can't find Derek, how do you expect Stiles to do it?"

"Because he's the clever on out of the bunch," Peter said.

"I don't know," Stiles said again.

"Tell me!" Peter shouted.

"Alright, alright, I think Derek knew the hunters were going to take him so he took Scott's phones. All phones have GPS now," Stiles explained.

"So you can find him?" Peter asked.

"Yes," Stiles whispered.

"Good. Let's go," Peter said before getting up.

"No, I'm not just letting you leave her here," Stiles said.

"You don't have a choice, Stiles. You're coming with me," Peter said.

"She needs to go to the hospital," Riley said.

"I don't care anymore," Stiles said, "Just kill me."

Peter pulled Stiles up, "Riley is here to look after her," he said. Stiles turned to look at Riley, "Don't keep me waiting," Peter said.

"Stiles," Riley said, reaching out for him, "Its okay, I got her."

With one last look at Lydia, Stiles followed Peter off of the field.

Riley kneeled down beside Lydia, and checked that she was still breathing. She got out her phone to call Scott and applied pressure to the bite with one hand, "Scott, come on!" she cried into the phone. He didn't answer. She dialed 9-1-1 and then waited for them to show.

"What's going on?" Jackson asked, running to her.

"She was attacked by an animal," she said. Jackson bent down to pick Lydia up, "I've already called 9-1-1. They're coming!"

"She can't wait for them," Jackson yelled as he took off toward the parking lot.

Riley followed him and drove to the hospital in her car. Lydia was admitted and they waited to here from the doctor. The police were called. Riley and Jackson were each questioned separately.

She watched as Sheriff Stilinski walked into the waiting room and pushed Jackson against a wall, "What happed to that girl?"

"I don't know. I went out looking for her…" Jackson stammered.

"You just happened to wander into the middle of that field and you just found her like that?" the Sheriff asked.

"No sir," Riley spoke up walking to them, "I found her like that. I saw…I saw an animal running away from her when I was approaching. She was attacked by an animal."

"You sure?" he asked.

"I know what I saw," she said.

"You two should go home," the Sheriff said.

"I'm not going anywhere," Jackson said before the Sheriff walked away to talk to a doctor.

Riley looked at Jackson before he spoke, "You can go home. I know you don't like Lydia," he said, "I called Allison she should be here soon."

"She's not half bad," she said, "She even helped me pick out this dress."

Jackson looked at her, "It looks good on you."

"Thank you," she said, "She'll be okay."

He didn't say anything as she turned to walk away.

XXX

"Thank you for taking me to see her before we leave," Allison said to her aunt, "I just wan to see if Lydia is okay."

"It's not a problem," Kate said, "I know she's a friend. Be out in 15 minutes. I'm going to find a parking spot."

Allison got out before Kate drove off from the emergency entrance. Kate was driving around to find a spot at the visitor's lot when she spotted Riley. Kate sneered at the girl and gripped the steering wheel tightly. She looked around and saw no one was in sight before she stepped on the gas and drove the SUV straight into Riley.

Riley didn't have a chance to get out of the way. She didn't even see the car coming before it was too late.

XXX

Scott had found Derek before the alpha could, that why Derek was with him when he got the phone call from Stiles that Riley was in the hospital because someone ran her over in the parking lot at the hospital.

Derek stood outside Riley hospital room, looking at her through the window. He was listening to the doctor talk Scott and his mom.

It was bad. She was in a coma…and she might not wake up.

"She's stable for now," the doctor said, "All we can do now is wait. I have a nurse trying to reach her mother."

"Anything else Dr. Smith?" Mrs. McCall asked.

The doctor looked Riley through the window, "She might not have known but when we took her to X-Ray we noticed a separate image was captured…She was pregnant," Derek turned to look at the doctor, "As I said before, she might not have known. It was still to earlier in the pregnancy."

"Thank you," Mrs. McCall said before he walked away, "I'm going to see if they reached her mom yet."

"Derek?" Scott whispered.

Derek stood there not moving or acknowledging anything, "Leave," he finally said.

Scott watched Derek walk into Riley's room and sit by the bed before he left to find his mom.

Derek took Riley's hand in his own and looked up at her cut up face. He couldn't say anything for a while, "I'm sorry…I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. I should have been there," he almost cried, "Kate has taken so much from us…our baby was the last thing. I'm going to make this right, I promise you…You might not understand at first but you will in time. I'm going to fix you," he whispered the last part, "I love you."

XXX

Kate was dead. She died by the hand of the alpha, but before that happened that truth came out about what she did six years ago and what she did that night.

Now Derek stood over the burned body of his uncle. He was about to give the final fatal blow.

"Wait!" Scott shouted, "If you do this, I won't turn back."

Peter coughed, "Before you end this, Derek, you need to know. Before I came here I visited Riley in the hospital," Derek looked shocked, "She would never forgive you if the bite came directly from you…Now you can finish it."

"Derek!" Scott said.

"I'm sorry Scott," Derek said before he slashed Peter's throat. He stood back away from Peter and looked back at Scott with red glowing eyes, "I'm the alpha now."

XXX

Derek returned to the hospital after he killed his uncle. He sat down in the same chair from earlier, he took a deep breath as he lifted Riley's hospital gown to reveal the fresh bite mark on her right side. He sighed as he put back the gown and leaned back into his chair.

Derek stayed in the hospital all night until the next morning when Scott and Stiles came to visit Riley.

"Lydia's bite hasn't healed," Stiles said.

"Has Riley's healed?" Scott asked.

Derek looked up at Scott from his spot, "See for yourself," he said as he pointed. Scott walked over and pulled back her cover and lifted her gown. He saw perfect unmarked skin, "She accepted it," Derek whispered.

A/N: I can't believe I did it! I finally finished season 1! I hope you all enjoyed reading this chapter. I worked so hard on it. I will continue with season two shortly. Thank you for reading and sticking with end until the end. I won't create a new story for season 2, it'll be an add on to this one.

Please review...