Chapter 69

Lydia hugged herself tightly. Standing out in the middle of the road in the middle of the woods wasn't good. The darkness crept around her like an old friend she never wanted to see again. It brought back memories. She frowned. So much for summer vacation, she thought.

Stiles and the Sheriff came out to grab them and bring both young women back to the clinic. Isaac and Melissa were at the hospital so Deaton took care of their minor wounds. There was nothing but a couple of scrapes and bruises.

"Did you see it?" Scott asked. He held Allison's hand, giving it a light squeeze.

Allison shook her head and sighed hopelessly.

"It was there and then gone."

"Sounds like the alpha pack knows your every move," Peter piped up, making Lydia jump.

"Who invited you!?" Stiles demanded.

"I just came to see how the rugrats are doing after everything my nephew has done," Peter said.

"What?" Scott asked.

Deaton scowled at Peter but Scott didn't catch the look.

"Come on, Scott. I thought you were smarter than that," Peter drawled out. He walked over to the cabinets, opening one. After pointlessly sifting through it, he closed it. "You don't honestly think that the alpha pack is here JUST to kill you for kicks. Derek is trying to get Cora and him into their pack. That pack doesn't allow betas…but special circumstances maybe?"

"Bullshit!" Stiles spat. "Derek's a dick, but he wouldn't."

"How do you know? Hm?" Peter's eyebrows rose curious for an answer. Stiles's mouth hung open. He shook his head with fists clenched, turning away in frustration. "That's what I thought. Derek's always put you and your little friends in danger, Scott. You know that. And after what happened with Melanie? Come on. Use your head."

"How do you know?" Scott spat. "You've been missing for months."

Allison and Lydia remained quiet, becoming like specs that nobody really saw or noticed. They were okay with that for the moment. Scott kept getting more and more enraged as Peter kept on talking. Deaton shook his head at the Hale. He had no business meddling, but it was too late.

"I went on vacation. I didn't know that was a crime," Peter retorted. "And, I'm a very good listener."

"I don't believe you," Stiles grounded out. "You're a psycho!"

"Stiles," Scott said, his tone resigned.

Stiles's head tilted as he looked to Scott. He scoffed lightly in disbelief. Scott actually believed him? Stiles threw his hands up and took a couple steps away before he could do something he'd regret.

"You can't be serious? You believe him?" Stiles said.

"I don't know!"

"He's a psycho! He tried to kill Lydia at one point and he killed Laura Hale! Has everyone forgotten or do you all have amnesia!?" Stiles shouted.

"Scott," Deaton spoke up. "Stiles is right. Something's off about all of this. We don't have all of the information."

"You believe whatever you want. All I know is that Derek is rebuilding his childhood home happily and you are the ones suffering. It would be…terrible if another one of your friends was suddenly gone." Peter said.

Isaac didn't bother going upstairs to his bed. He collapsed on the couch. Looking at the stairs made him think about climbing them which made his feet ache more. I can close my eyes…just for a couple minutes, he thought as he laid his head back.

His knees bent over the arm of the couch, leaving his feet dangling.

The front door opened and closed. Isaac remained motionless, hoping that whoever it was would just leave him there. Sadly, he wasn't that lucky.

"Isaac," Scott said.

Isaac's eyes shot open, aching dully and bloodshot. He stifled a yawn and sat up on his elbows.

Scott's head pulled back.

"You look rough,"

"I haven't slept in almost 2 days," Isaac replied.

"Never mind then. Go get some sleep. We'll talk later," Scott said.

"We can talk now," Isaac said.

The resigned tone in Isaac's voice worried Scott.

"You need to sleep…"

"Scott" Isaac huffed. "I haven't slept well in over a year. Whatever you have to tell me isn't going to affect how well I sleep."

"Okay." Scott said. Isaac sat up fully, turning and sitting right on the couch.

Scott was more jittery than normal-a sign of conflict. Where there was conflict there was a shitload of trouble. It followed them like leeches.

"Allison and Lydia were in a car accident on their way out of town…" Scott started. The farther he got in his story, the sleepier Isaac felt. It wasn't that the news didn't bother him. It was the depressing tone that was lulling him.

Isaac scratched his head after Scott finished.

"At least Allison and Lydia are okay," Isaac said with a nod.

"Did you hear the part about how Derek is possibly consorting with the alpha pack? It might be his fault they've come back here," Scott snarled.

Isaac sighed. All in all, he didn't care. Even if it was true, what were they going to do? With the info given, it seemed so unlikely that Derek would be in on this. He was too busy rebuilding his house or whatever.

"No, I heard that. I'm just wondering why you suddenly so gullible?"

"What? I'm not-" Scott said.

"Peter is a liar and a psycho," Isaac said.

"I know," Scott said.

He resigned in the comfy chair across from the couch.

"I don't know…anything anymore," he said.

"How about we talk to Derek? I know we're not on good terms with him, but I don't think he'll lie to us," Isaac said.

"Do we know that?" Scott asked seriously. He shook his head in utter confusion. It was no secret that Derek had lied to them before.

"We'll go prepared if that helps," Isaac assured him.

Scott nodded blindly. Isaac rubbed his eyes. Scott was the alpha. He was supposed to be making the decisions, not crumbling like a seven year old child.

Isaac chuckled.

"What?" Scott said.

"Aren't you supposed to be the leader?" Isaac asked with a laugh.

"Shut up," Scott sneered. Isaac laughed some more.

"I'm going to sleep before we do anything. Go check on your girlfriend," Isaac said. He laid back down on the couch and was asleep in minutes with a throw pillow under his head.

He woke nearly twelve hours later. The sun lit the room at a different angle now and was no longer welcoming the day, but saying goodbye with the golden rays that split through the window. Nobody was home.

Melissa left a note for both him and Scott with twenty dollars set aside. Pizza it is, Isaac said. He tucked the money away in his pocket. His ear twitched at hearing his phone buzz across the table.

Scott texted, wondering if he was awake yet. That was the fourth text asking. He replied that he'd meet them at the loft. He looked down at his scrubs and made a face of disgust. He needed a shower first.

The headlight died as Scott shut off his motorbike. He parked behind Allison's car. She smiled at the sight of him and pushed from where she leaned against it.

"Lydia's not with you?" Scott asked.

"No. Her mom gave her a muscle relaxer. She's asleep."

"Good."

"What about Stiles?" she asked.

"His dad said it was better that he didn't," Scott replied. "And, I agreed."

Scott looked up the road. They parked a block away from Derek's loft. They probably didn't need to park so far away, but it just seemed like a good a idea.

Isaac didn't show for fifteen more minutes. He stalked out of the shadows. The collar of his black jacket was up, hiding his jawline.

"You look very fucking creepy," Allison said. Her eyebrows creased apologetically for her bluntness, but he just chuckled and shrugged.

"Are we going to pay him a visit or stand outside his window," Isaac asked.

Scott nodded and the three of them walked across the street.

"Derek?" Scott called out as he pounded on the metal loft door.

The thumps were heavy underneath his fist and made them ache dully. There was no response. Grabbing the handle, he gave a good pull, opening the door. The three of them moved cautiously.

"Derek?" Scott called out again.

There was no reply from the dark emptiness.

"I don't think he's here," Allison said.

She ventured forward, peeking into the rooms. She shook her head, confirming her thoughts.

"He's not here."

The three spun around to see a beaten Peter breathing heavily. He leaned against the door for support. His torso suffered heavy gashes. Gashes from claws. His cheeks puffed as he sucked breaths in and out quickly.

"What happened?" Isaac asked.

He took a step back from the former alpha rather than moving to help him.

"I was nearly murdered. That's what happened?" Peter snarled.

Allison turned to Scott. Her fingers tightened around her ring daggers.

"Derek just tried to kill me and the alpha pack was more than happy to join in on the fun," Peter continued. He slid down the floor. His stomach shook jaggedly with each intake.

"Why should we believe you?" Scott asked, his eyes narrowing.

"Believe me?" Peter scoffed incredulously. "I just barely escaped with my life. I should be leaving town, but I thought-hey, maybe the true alpha and his Buffy-wannabe friends might want to know."

"Sarcasm duly noted," Isaac commented unfazed.

Peter sneered. He removed his hand from his side. A rush of blood poured to the floor. He grumbled and put his hand back, pressing even harder the before.

Scott looked back at Allison and Isaac. Neither of them looked positive about this. Scott couldn't help thinking that Peter might be right. Every time he believed that Derek was a better person, he wasn't.

"So?" Derek asked. Cora walked across the floor. Her boots clomped softly as she contemplated the place.

He craned his neck, impatiently waiting. Cora spun around one more time. The half-moon illuminated the wood. The structure was as she remembered it when she was little.

"I know it's only the framing and foundation. We start all of the real stuff tomorrow," he added.

"Derek," Cora said breathlessly. She smiled. "I can't believe you're doing it. Mom would be so happy."

Derek smiled softly. She would, he agreed in his thoughts. This was their home. It deserved to be resurrected.

"I figured that after the house is finished that you could have the loft," Derek said.

Cora smiled happily. Her eyes sparkled at the words. Hers.

"Under one rule of course," he said.

Cora's face fell.

"Stiles isn't moving in."

"I'm going to punch you," she told him dully, shaking her fist at him.

Derek raised his hands playfully defensive. Cora swung and nailed him in the arm.

"Ow!" he whined.

"He's my boyfriend and if he's moving in with me then he's moving in," she said defiantly. "You're going to have to accept it."

Derek groaned. Part of the reason was because she hit pretty hard. The other part was that she was right, but that didn't mean he had to like Stiles.