Chapter 77

Per usual lately, everyone gathered in the living room in the evening. Even Cora and Derek came around. Melanie found herself in Isaac's lap with his arms bound around her. Everyone was lightly chattering while watching a horror flick. An evil grin was permanently plastered across Melanie's face. She loved these movies, especially if they made her jump.

Lydia was curled up and jumpy against Aiden's chest. His gentle hold around her was warm and comforting, though she had become a force to be reckoned with nowadays.

"The alpha pack wants to meet," Scott said after the movie.

"Really?" Melanie said with a curious, yet mischievous voice.

"They want to meet at the Hale house," he continued. He glanced at Derek who seemed to already be informed and in agreement.

Scott explained the idea he'd come up with. It wasn't exactly a plan. It was more of a whim, a crazy as hell whim that would never work. None of their plans worked.

Scott, Isaac, Derek and Cora and the few others would meet, leaving the twins, Jackson and Melanie in the deep shadows of the surrounding woods. Erica and Boyd would be with Danny down the road as a last back-up. Last, meaning hopefully they wouldn't need them at all.

There was no argument. Scott waited for one and received a shrug from Melanie.

"You know me," she said. "This sounds unbelievably stupid and will probably get some of us killed. Stiles more than likely."

"Hey!" Stiles exclaimed in offense.

Danny snorted.

"I was wondering if Melanie was still in there," he quipped.

Melanie winked, grinning sheepishly.

The night of the alphas as Stiles proclaimed it was fastly approaching. Like the first day of school, the majority of them dreaded it. All of them had gone off on their own for a while to spend time with the ones they weren't sure they'd see again. Allison insisted that she and Scott spend time with their parents. Lydia and Aiden went off the grid. Cora and Stiles spent their night at family dinner with the Sheriff upon the man's request. Each of them acted as if there wasn't a terrifying confrontation on the horizon.

And now here was the night. At a near full moon, each wolf could feel the yearning. Scott showed up at the construction site later than Derek. The alpha pack was nowhere to be seen, even with their wolfy eyes.

"Calm down Scott," Derek said. Scott's fingers twitched. He heaved a deep sigh, releasing his nerves.

Melanie and Jackson lingered in the shadows, unseen by the night or its stars that tried to peek between the canopies. She leaned back against a tree, awaiting the signal. Jackson stared down at the ground with a bored expression. He traced shapes in the dirt. The summer wind smelled sweet of leaves still budding.

Stiles came stumbling out of the woods with his aluminum bat in hand. He stared around wildly as he made his way over to Scott and the others.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Derek huffed.

"You were supposed to stay at the station," Scott said, surprisingly just as stunned/ aggravated as Derek.

"And, I decided not to. Lydia stayed with Chris." He smiled and waved his metal implement in his hands like a happy child.

Cora rolled her eyes.

"If you get yourself killed I'm going to murder you," she hissed with annoyance.

He opened his mouth to argue the logic, but then closed it. Arguing would be pointless and would only end up with him getting injured before the showdown even started. He shrugged.

"When are they getting here?" he asked.

"They said when the moon was over head."

Stiles nodded blandly as he looked at the moon overhead. It hung like a balloon in the sky, full and elated. Its face stared down upon them and to Stiles it was worried. He shook his head.

"So they're late," he mumbled.

"Who's late?"

Stiles turned at the sound of Peter's malicious voice. He took cautious steps backward until he was mixed in with Allison, Scott, Derek, Cora and Isaac. They stepped in front of him as a shield. Stiles's hold tightened around the handle of the bat.

Peter looked around at the structure of the house. Not all of the walls were up. The roof hadn't even been built yet. He looked upon all of it with nostalgia.

"You're even putting the fireplace back in its original spot. How sweet," Peter said. He looked at Derek now. "I see that you and Scott have mended fences."

"Something like that." Derek said quick and short.

Peter smiled. A level of wickedness hid behind it. Looking from one to other, it made each of them uneasy. He was sizing them up.

"Is this really all who's going to show? Oh right, you're not suspecting us to visit Danny or Lydia. How's your father, Stiles?" Peter peeked between Scott and Allison at the twitchy friend.

Stiles's face turned white with fury. His nostrils flared with heavy intakes of air.

"Don't you dare talk about him!" he yelled. Cora held him back as he blasted forward.

Peter chuckled.

"Why are you here Peter?" Derek asked.

"Well, you wanted to meet with the alpha pack," he said. "Here we are."

The girl that Allison had seen in the elevator and the very same that had been described to Isaac by that girl in the car crash, Sid, stalked up behind Peter. Her plaid button up top was caked in dirt as was her short denim shorts. She wasn't wearing and shoes and her dusty hair hung in her face. Behind the heavily messy hair her eyes glowed blue. She growled.

"This past year has been a busy one. Trying to get rid of two alphas instead of just one has proven difficult, but then it came to me!" Peter exclaimed with great epiphany. "I could get one of you to kill the other and then we could settle for the winner. But, it seems that you all had other plans."

"Indeed."

Deucalion along with Kali walked up the road, toward the house graceful and calm. Kali snarled at Isaac. She was obviously still sore about Ennis.

"I'm going to kill you." Her eyes glowed ominously.

"Good luck with that, princess." Melanie said, coming out into the moonlight.

Jackson was at her side.

"What!?" Peter growled. "No!"

"This is unexpected." Deucalion said. "Last I heard, you were quite dead."

"Death and I don't get along," Melanie smarted off.

"I see."

Jackson snorted, though the pun was unintended.

"And, you've changed," Deucalion continued, inhaling through his nose deeply and taking her scent in.. "Hmmmm."

"You've brought others of your pack to get killed, Derek? How sad." Peter snarled.

Kali and Isaac remained in a staring contest, waiting for one to break. Melanie watched Kali closely. Her claws were unsheathed already.

Both alphas were dressed in black, though Kali wore leggings and a tank top while Deucalion wore his usual black leather jacket with jeans and a black t-shirt. Both of them were calculating in their heads.

"We can all walk away from this," Deucalion said. "Just join us, both of you. We've united both father and daughter here." Deucalion motioned to Peter and the girl. "He never even knew. Neither of them did."

Peter's nose wrinkled and he rolled his eyes at the term: daughter.

"You can know strength-"

"No." Peter growled. "You said we'd kill them. After everything they've done to me."

"Indeed I did. They'll be more useful alive however. They will help rebuild this family."

"Go screw yourself." This came from Cora. She stood firm and defiant. "You're idea of family is seriously fucked up."

"We know how it works. We won't kill our packs." Derek said with finality.

"Pity." Deucalion said.

It was quiet for several moments. Deucalion turned to Melanie.

"I was going to let you each keep one of your members out of good faith." He then turned to Isaac. The corners of his lips twitched and both of them knew. Deucalion could sense the bond between them.

His nostrils flared as he took in the scent of them. Beneath his sunglasses there was a red glow. Melanie gulped hard. Her heart thumped hard against her chest, trying to abandon ship. She glanced at Jackson out of the corner of her eye. He'd already shifted.

"Kill them." Deucalion ordered. The chill of his words made Melanie and Stiles waver, but only for a second.

The fight broke out quickly, like really quickly. Melanie turned instantly and went after Kali who was already leaping for her boyfriend. The twins dashed out of the trees, already changed into their more ultimate and disturbing form. Deucalion focused on Scott and Derek. He tossed Jackson aside easily with a shove.

The girl, Peter called her Malia, leaped at Stiles. Cora shoved him out of the way and was tackled out of the ground floor of the house and to the dirt. She screamed as claws suddenly dug into her side. Jackson pulled Malia away and threw her fifteen feet.

Peter looked at the twins as the ultimate feat and grinned slyly. Black fur sprouted over his arms and legs. His nose pushed out into a snout. Immediately he towered over the combined force by a foot in a half in his restored alpha form. Roaring, he backhanded the twins, sending them back into the shadows. They were on their feet quickly and coming back for more.

Allison jumped through the window frame nearby, avoiding the alpha fight and ran around the side of the house. Pulling her ring daggers free from her jacket, she swung with expertise at Peter, nailing him in his side. He howled in pain. She rolled to the side, avoiding the swipe of his claws aiming for her head, and ran for her crossbow.

Meanwhile…Isaac was getting throttled by Kali.

"This is going to be very slow." Kali promised darkly squeezing his throat even tighter.

He growled enraged. His hands were pinned down at his forearms by her feet. Her claws from her toes (which was mighty gross) were sunken into his flesh. Melanie kicked her off of him and jumped her. They fell out of the house.

Isaac rolled over. Air rushed into his lungs and he was dizzy for a moment. His throat was sore from her thin, crushing fingers.

Across the room, Scott was bleeding everywhere. Derek wasn't much better. Getting to his feet, Isaac ran at the alpha. The thought that he would probably end up dead didn't cross his mind until he already charged and then shoved Deucalion against the wall beside Scott.

"Oh, I am so glad you're alive. I'm going to love killing you." Kali snapped at Melanie as she bounced up onto her feet with anger.

Trading punches, Kali clawed across Melanie's abdomen. Blood rushed from the slashed. Melanie cried out, nearly keeling over. Kali laughed, grabbing a fistful of her hair and yanking her head back.

"I want to wait for the right moment. He'll charge out here, and I'll snap your neck just like he did to Ennis," Kali whispered in her ear from behind. A chill crawled over Melanie's shoulders. "Scream."

"Bite me, bitch!" Melanie snapped hoarsely. She dropped her head forward and then reared back hard into Kali's face. There was a loud crunch; probably Kali's nose. It wasn't enough to get her to let go though.

Kali gripped her by the throat hard and spun her around. Melanie's whole body throbbed with agony. Only adrenaline kept her going. At least two ribs had been broken. Not far off, Jackson and Stiles looked pretty roughed up as well. Jackson's forehead was bleeding all the way down the side of his face.

"This is pretty," Kali said, grabbing the ring around her neck. The chain pulled tight across the back of Melanie's neck. "I think I'll keep it."

Melanie wiggled for freedom, but was unsuccessful. There was only cruel laughter and those eyes so intent on torturing and teasing her before killing her.

They weren't winning. This was an alpha pack. Their numbers were smaller, but they had the power.

Kali pulled the ring from her neck. The chain snapped.

"If you're going to kill me," Melanie gasped. Her airways were closing as Kali's grip kept tightening. "I'm taking you with me."

Melanie sunk her sharp claws into her arms and kicked hard. She landed with a thud. That bitch wasn't going to win. Melanie stumbled to her feet. Kali was already standing with barely a scratch. A trickle of blood ran down from what use to be a cut on her cheek.

Melanie wasn't focused on her though. Not far behind Kali, Allison was holding her shoulder close to her body and watching as the twin fought against Peter.

"You're all going to die and then the town will be ours." Kali said.

"Fuck that," Melanie said in disgust.

Kali came at her once more and pinned her to the ground. Fighting them now was less difficult then it had been when she was more human, and the chances of dying were less, but that was it. She would've been dead long before now if she wasn't a werewolf.

Kali's claws pierced her neck.

"Get off, you bitch!"

The furious exclamation was followed by a loud snapping similar to chicken bones being broken. Kali fell limp and Isaac stared down at her out of breath. Melanie groaned and shoved her off.

"At least try to stay alive," Isaac said, pulling her up to her feet.

"I have to." Melanie said hurriedly. She started toward Peter with a speedy step. "Especially if we're supposed to get married."

Isaac stood there, stunned for a moment. He mouth hung agape with a grin. He wiped the blood from his nose. Deucalion had swung back his elbow and broke it. The bones in his hand slowly and painfully forced themselves back into their natural places.

"Get Allison!" Melanie yelled.

He nodded and ran straight for her. She was on the ground. Scooping her up, he rushed her out of the fighting zone.

Jackson grunted.

"I don't like that a girl is kicking our ass right now."

He spit out blood. Stiles coughed and wheezed. Malia had been throwing them around like dog toys. Both of them suffered from scrapes and rough scratches that were deep and clogged with dirt.

"I'm a pathetic human and you're a beta. She's an alpha and I think a coyote. Do Werecoyotes exist?" Stiles wheezed.

"I don't know! But we need a plan." Jackson said harshly.

"You, me and plans don't mix."

Growling from behind, halted their huddle.

"Move now!" Stiles shouted. He shoved Jackson to the side and ducked. Cora jumped back into the fray, tackling Malia from the side.

"A chick fight…" Jackson mumbled.

Stiles jumped up, limping and swung his bat at the coyote's head. She yelped and whined. Blood tainted the tip. Her head shot at him and he stumbled back as her teeth snapped at him. Cora, taking advantage, slashed her claws across her furry throat. Instantly, she was covered in blood. Her white shirt was dyed dark, rosy red. She blinked away some of the spray that had gotten in her eyes.

Jackson had turned and went into the house already.

Peter had the twins separated and pinned, ready to kill. His full form resembled that of a movie wolfman-large (15 feet tall), furry all over and rabid. He tossed Melanie aside easily when she interfered and snapped his jaws at her as if to say that she was next. Her back slammed against the trunk of a tree. She hung there, her feet barely grazing the ground. Her toes twitched in her boots uncontrollably. A stub sticking out lodged in her lower back. Peter froze at hearing Malia's yelp and whine right before her last breath. With a whine, he growled at the twins and then jumped over them and ran into the woods, disappearing.

Stiles rushed to Melanie's side. She felt the tree behind her, trying to find a way to separate herself from it. Isaac was still with Allison.

"Help me downI'm stuckhurry," Melanie said all rushed together through clenched teeth. She sucked in gasping breaths. Her throat tensed in pain.

Stiles wrapped his arms around her thighs and lifted her a bit. She groaned and gasped as he pulled her from the trunk. She slumped forward over his shoulder. He set her on the ground gently and covered the wound with his palm. Blood still poured through the tiny gaps between his finger. The stub that stuck her wasn't very long but it was wide. The wound was an inch and a half in. Stiles could stick three fingers in it if he wanted, it was that wide, but he didn't. Melanie coughed and grunted, shaking from the nerves struck.

"This is really bad." Stiles sputtered. He stared down at his hands which were now drowning in red.

"I'll heal." Melanie said. "We have to help Derek and Scott. They won't last against him. We have to go after Peter!"

"Melanie you're in no shape to fight. Jackson and Cora went in after Derek and Scott." Stiles kept her sitting there.

Melanie looked over at the twins who weren't far off. They looked just as rough as her. Ethan was unconscious. Blood fell in one streak from his mouth. Aiden choked on blood and tried to turn on his side to check on his brother.

In the distance, lights of a car could be seen racing up the drive. Danny was behind the wheel and stopped inches from Allison and Isaac. Erica and Boyd got out. Boyd hurried over to Allison. Picking her up, he put her in the car gently. She struggled to stay focused. Her shoulder was dislocated because of Peter. He lashed out at her hard and it was lucky that Melanie had jumped in when she did. Boyd got her to hug it close right before putting it back in place.

Isaac dashed past Melanie and Stiles, but neither of them paid any mind. Crashing ensued from the house and they all waited to see who would be walking out the front door. Roars and growls made each of them jump. Erica and Danny made their way over to the twins.

"Deaton and Melissa are waiting at the clinic."

"Take them. Come back for us." Melanie said.

Danny didn't like the idea, but there wasn't enough room for everyone and there wasn't time to argue. He shook Ethan but he didn't respond.

"Can you walk?" He asked Aiden. Aiden nodded. Erica and Danny took Ethan. Aiden followed at a heaving limp behind them, holding his side.

"Help me stand." Melanie ordered Stiles.

The crashing stopped dead after Danny pulled out and left the pale moon to light the Hale property again. Melanie's eyes adjusted quickly. Stiles kept her steady.

The crashing in the house stopped and there was nothing but silence. Melanie shook. She'd grown pale from the blood loss. She looked around. Isaac was walking around like a crazy person, darting one way and then the other. Melanie stopped at the dead girl whose feet she could see sticking out from behind the house.

"Let's go to the front," she said between breaths.

She grunted like she was going to vomit as he helped her. They took a few steps then stopped at seeing Scott and Derek walk out side by side. Both of them were splotched with blood and covered gashes. Derek looked down at us exhausted. Jackson and Cora stood behind them. Derek held up a head. Hair sprigged between his fingers. It was Deucalion's.

"No fucking way," Melanie said in disbelief.

"I thought we were going to die there for a minute." Stiles said.

Melanie laughed and so did Scott. This wasn't supposed to be the time for laughter. Everyone was hurt. The fight would haunt all of them. But, it was Stiles.

Isaac was still looking at the dirt. He grabbed a handful and smiled. Derek tossed the head to the ground.

"I still might," Melanie said. Her eyes fluttered and her whole body gave out.

"Mel? Mel!" Stiles caught her as she fell forward, passing out.

He looked at her back. Dark red stains trailed all the way down her jeans to the ground and covered her lower back and his hand.