Chapter 70

Scott stared at his hands, still thinking about the other night. He flexed his fingers. His heart beat erratically. He'd helped Peter. Pressed his hand over the soulless bastard's gaping wounds and took some of his pain away. Both Isaac and Allison argued about doing so.

He shuddered. The dirty feeling from doing it hadn't gone away since. Derek's absence still bothered him. It wasn't unusual. He had a life…probably. Scott wasn't sure, but he guessed that he did. But, Peter was really messed up and still recuperating. Coming to them, that damaged, wasn't just for show. Something was up, but what? Trying to figure it out was giving him a migraine.

"Scott, are you okay?" Deaton asked.

Scott looked up at his boss similarly to a deer caught ini the headlights and gave a faint smile.

"Yeah. I'm just tired."

"Did you get a chance to talk to Derek?" he asked.

"No, he wasn't home."

"Hm, maybe try again."

"I was going to go by after work," Scott replied with an empty nod.

There were a few appointments today. He was closing the clinic tonight. Stiles and Lydia insisted on going this time. Stiles was worried that a fight might break out. It was annoying. He was defending Cora left and right. He was even sticking up for Derek occasionally. What was he? The mediator? All of that running around chasing monsters was getting to him. He was forgetting what Derek had put them through in the past.

After closing the animal clinic, he and Allison drove by the hospital. Isaac was already coming out of the ER entrance by the time they arrived. Chris decided that it was better if the girls stayed in Beacon Hills for the time being and try to control the alpha pack problem from this end. Allison wasn't thrilled about it.

Lydia was even more temperamental. She wasn't speaking to anyone. She refused to be involved just like Danny.

"Does mom know?" Scott asked as Isaac got in.

"No, I didn't tell her," he said.

Allison who was driving looked at both of them. There was a question in her eyes, but she didn't ask. They just drove in silence to the loft. Derek's SUV was parked and beside it was Stiles's powder blue jeep.

Scott couldn't believe it. His fists clenched tightly. Derek was his new best friend now?

"Maybe Stiles came to talk to him before we could," Allison suggested.

"Let's go find out," Isaac said. His face was moot.

Scott got out quickly with the two of them in tow. He figured that Derek knew they had come. Whether he caught their scent or their headlights, he knew and Scott was ready for whatever came. The rage in his chest was tight. This needed to end. After all of this, Derek and his 'pack' were next to go. He and Scott couldn't coexist. Their morals were far too different.

Scott didn't knock before going into the loft. Derek, Cora and Stiles stared at the three of them with wide, unexpectign eye.

"Scott-" Stiles started. He stopped himself.

"No excuse this time?" Scott asked. His eyebrows flattened into a hateful glare. "If it helps, I'm as surprised as you."

Stiles swallowed and then let out a shaky breath. He'd never seen Scott like this. He was consumed by blinding rage. He hadn't been thinking clearly lately. Cora had told him about her encounter. She wasn't even pissed. She was scared.

"Here, I thought you were MY best friend," Scott growled.

"It's isn't like that Scott," Stiles said.

Cora put her hand on his arm nervously.

"Really? Then what is it like? Act like my best friend during the day and then go off hunting with these traitors at night? HUH?!" Scott yelled.

"Traitors? Scott, what are you talking about?"

"I think it's clear what he's talking about," Isaac said blandly.

He leaned against the nearby column comfortably. Scott and Allison encroached on the three slowly.

"Shut up, Isaac!" Stiles shouted. "When I want the opinion of a suicidal, I'll ask for it."

"Snappy," Isaac muttered. He looked at Scott and followed his lead.

"What has gotten into you?" Stiles asked. His voice rose in fear.

"I knew." Scott said, stopping a few feet away from them. "I knew something was up when Cora came to see me."

Derek's eyes flashed right then. Cora pulled Stiles out of the target zone between the two alphas.

"Scott, I believed you to be a great alpha. You had a great pack and strong, but you laid a hand on my sister," Derek growled. "A true alpha would never harm another who's done nothing wrong."

"I wouldn't have if she didn't get me thinking that you both are part of the alpha pack," Scott growled.

Derek shook his head. His forehead scrunched in confusion. What is wrong with him, he wondered. He was looking for a fight and Allison an Isaac were blindly going along with it.

"I told you-" Derek tried.

"I don't believe you," Scott said over him. "You're a liar and a killer. I can't let you do this."

"This?" Derek shook his head. "Have you lost your mind? You attacked her!? And, I'm about to attack you…"

Derek's eyes glowed again. There wasn't a choice. He had to protect his pack not matter what was left of it. If this was how Scott wanted it to happen then this is what would happen. Hopefully he would snap out of it. Derek wasn't sure if he could actually win this.

"Derek, don't," Cora said. She stepped forward, but Isaac grabbed her by the arms and flung her backward. She slid across the floor.

Stiles looked at Allison for help, but she had her ring daggers out, ready to defend herself. What the hell was she defending herself from? Him? They were friends or at least they were supposed to be. Stiles looked back at Cora, torn about what to do.

Scott roared loudly and leaped at Derek. The two fell to the floor. Derek's head cracked on the cold concrete loudly. He saw double for a second and then kicked Scott backward.

Cora was on her feet already. Isaac stepped in her path and grabbed her by the throat tightly, cutting her off from getting to Derek. She looked at Stiles desperately. He moved to help, but was quickly stopped by Allison. She lay a blade flat across his chest. It was a warning not to take another step.

"Don't Stiles," she said. "They're with the alpha pack."

He looked past her at Cora who was backing away from Isaac who'd been told by his master to kill. She didn't want to hurt him.

"That is my girlfriend," Stiles ground out.

"Who are you going to choose, huh? Your friends or her?" Allison hissed. Her hands tightened around her ring daggers that dangled at her sides.

"Are you my friends?" he asked.

"Scott! Stop! I don't want to fight you!" Derek hollered. His face shifted from its animalistic qualities back to normal. He held out his blood soaked hands, trying to shield his face, shaking his head. "I don't know why you think we're a part of them, but we're not!"

Scott snarled and slashed out at him. Derek let out an awful howl and stumbled backward, pressing his hand over his chest. blood oozed between his fingers. He panted heavily, looking up at Scott horrified.

"Derek!" Cora screamed. Her eyes widened. Isaac backhanded her as she wrenched free and tried to run to her brother. She fell to the floor. He picked her up and wrapped his arms around her so that she couldn't get free.

Scott swung at Derek again. His claws dug across Derek's face. Derek fell to his knees. Blood poured from his mouth.

"What? Can't fight back?!" His voice had morphed into something inhuman, something he'd never heard before.

Allison gulped uneasily but remained firm in keeping Stiles from interfering. Now it was more to protect him rather than keep him from helping Derek.

Scott grabbed Derek around the throat. His nails sank through the wolf's skin into his windpipe. Droplets of blood emanated around his claws and trickled down over Derek's collarbone. He breathed in gulps.

"Scott," Derek raspily said.

"It's over Derek," Scott said. He eyed the big window.

Cora writhed in Isaac's arm. Tears gushed over her face. Isaac remained moot.

"We didn't do anything!" Cora screamed.

"Then why did you try to kill Peter!" Scott bellowed.

"Scott, stop!" Stiles yelled.

Allison was starting to waver. She opened her mouth, but only a small squeak came out. Scott punched Derek square across the jaw, and still, Derek didn't fight back. He hadn't at all in fact, except to get Scott off of him.

"Scott!" Stiles yelled again

Scott halted, his fist in the air, poised for another punch. Derek's blood painted his knuckles like war paint.

"He's not even fighting back! Just stop."

"You're taking their side? After everything that has happened?" Scott said incredulously.

Derek weaved from side to side on his knees. His head lolled as he struggled to remain conscious. His left cheekbone was more swollen up to his eye which was blackened shut. The orange light that streaked thought he wide window made the blood on his face shimmer creepily. Disdain emanated from his eyes.

"It's over." Stiles croaked. "You're killing him."

Scott looked down at the alpha. His eyes glowed monstrously red. His chest puffed with seething breaths. He thirsted for more. The near lifeless look in Derek's eyes made Scott's upper lip rise with a toothy grin.

"That wouldn't be a bad thing. He could be with rest of his dead family," Scott sneered.

"Jesus, Scott. Do you here yourself? This isn't you." Stiles pushed Allison. She shoved him back, nicking him across his core and arm in one cut.

He hissed, but kept going.

"And you're not acting like my best friend! Do you remember when he would beat the shit out of you?!"

Allison looked over at Isaac. He still looked void of any emotion. His face was slackened like he hadn't slept in weeks or maybe he wasn't really alive. He was an empty shell that followed orders and who wanted all of this to be over permanently.

She gasped suddenly at seeing his eyes glow a subtle, shocking color. Oh my god, she thought. It was brief, but they'd turned fuchsia. Nobody else saw. Isaac wasn't even fazed.

What does that mean, Allison thought. His eyes couldn't turn that color, not unless…

"And you're acting like-" Stiles cut himself off. His eyes widened and he took a cautious step back.

Scott's scowl deepened. He dropped his fist but kept it clenched, and turned, ready to launch at his best friend.

"I'm acting like who!?" He yelled. Stiles shook his head, refusing to say. "WHO!?"

Stiles leaned back on his heels in disgusted disbelief.

"Peter Hale."

The ugly tension between them was thick. Scott was ready to start on his traitor friend next with no hesitation.

"Scott!" The call made all of their heads turn except for the barely conscious Derek whose head had fallen back.

"No fucking way," Stiles breathed. His eyes shot wide in disbelief, and his heart pounded even harder, making his chest hurt, at the sight that stood in the loft doorway.

"Let go of our alpha. Now."