A/N~ A little warning for the language. Mild cursing and so forth. Hope you guys are enjoying this. ~A

Chapter 7

Dyson Thornwood found himself in front of the Ashe. The man hadn't endeared himself to Bo when she found out he had used Lauren against her. Of course come to that neither had the lady doctor. Normally that would have been music to the werewolves ears, except right now he really didn't want to be the center of Bo's attention.

As it was standing in front of the rather pompous head of the light fae was giving the detective a headache and fae didn't get headaches. Explaining that he needed a few personal days had been hard enough when he was in front of his captain. In that case though considering he had accrued nearly a month and a half of sick, personal and vacation days, there wasn't a lot for the other man to do other than give his approval.

Fae, there were always going to be questions, not that it was anyone's business but his own. However, the Ashe, the Morrigan and the two councils seemed to see things a little differently. So as Dyson had headed toward the light fae compound he had developed a cover that he hoped would get him out of any type of interrogation.

"I will be leaving for several weeks and will be unreachable for that time," Dyson said simply when it was his turn to face the Ashe.

"Except of course for us," the Ashe said snobbishly.

Annoyance lanced through the fae werewolf as he responded. "No I mean that I will be incommunicado to everyone."

"Unacceptable, you will change…" the Ashe began.

"I will not discuss with you or anyone else what I intend to do on my seeking of a mate. Nor will I change these plans for you or anyone else." the words came out of Dyson's mouth along with a low-level growl that not everyone in the room heard but everyone definitely felt.

It was almost hysterical how fast the fae leaders mouth snapped shut. The seeking of a mate by the fae was considered almost a holy quest, especially among the shifters. To interfere with it was one of the few things where killing another fae if they interfere was acceptable.

Dyson hadn't taken on the quest in centuries because he thought that Ciara had been it for him. His soul mate gone to a friend and then lost to a traitorous leader. He really hadn't intended to use the search in this way but under the circumstances it was a worthy cause. Yet when he had heard the words coming out of his mouth it had felt right to say them now.

The look the Ashe was giving him was entirely too speculative for Dyson's peace of mind though. The fae leader brushed an invisible wrinkle out of his clothing as he said chidingly, "We weren't aware you were seeking a mate?"

"Seeking a mate is not something discussed outside of family, since I have no family left to speak of, there was no need to discuss it." Dyson said formally having regained his cool and a throbbing in the center of his forehead.

"So should we expect a bans to announce the nuptials between you and the unaligned succubus?" An unholy grin spread across the other faes face as he said, "I suppose there is more than one way to have her choose a side." he added gleefully.

Not so long ago Dyson would have agreed with the fae leader. He knew better now and dissuaded the other man f his ideas, "The succubus neither has the emotional depth or the control to even consider monogamy at this stage in her development."

The Ashe looked surprised and disappointed as he accepted Dyson's statements for the honest assessment they were, "Then I take it this will be a True Seeking?" the supposed elder asked.

"Yes. Therefore I will be unreachable. I thought you would prefer to be told."

Dyson said with a bit more respect.

"Thank you for your courtesy in this matter, Detective Thornwood." The Ashe said moderately, obviously trying to scheme a way to use this to his advantage. "Especially considering the private nature of the matter."

Since there seemed to be nothing else to discuss Dyson bobbed his head in a perfunctory bow and turned to leave. The Ashe though always having to have the last word said, "Detective?"

When the werewolf turned back the Ashe raised an eyebrow and said, "Good luck."

~O~

Stiles wasn't sure how Kenzi had gotten him back to his house, he had no memory of going upstairs to his room and he definitely hadn't undressed himself and put on his pajamas. He knew this because these were the worst pajamas ever. They were this extremely dorky paisley pattern, and about two sizes two big still. His aunt had given them to him for Christmas year before last and reassured the young Spark that he would grow into them. He still hadn't yet.

He stared at himself in the mirror, his hair had the spiky consistency it got when he had taken a shower and hadn't conditioned his hair. With an inordinate amount of trepidation, he tugged the waistband down on the pajama bottoms to find a different pair of boxer briefs on than before.

He was wearing the red orange pair with a black band. Yesterdays pair had been green with a gray band. The blush that suffused him, went all the way to his hairline. The knowledge that someone had seen him with bare pale skin and bone, and not much else, made him uncomfortable on several different levels.

He grabbed a t-shirt and jeans, socks and another pair of boxer briefs. It was obvious that these were fresh and clean before they had been put on him. The fact that they had been put on him without his participation though made him so uncomfortable he couldn't keep them and go through the rest of the day. He took off the accursed pajamas and the questionable underwear and climbed in the still cold water of the shower.

He showered and waited for his hair to be saturated before treating it with the conditioner. He then used his shower gel, his usual routine only took a few minutes, then he rinsed off, toweled dry and climbed out. Socks first, underwear and jeans, and then brushing his teeth. He was trying to remember what they had in the fridge to make for breakfast. Thank heavens it was Sunday, as he recalled their cupboards were practically bare and he would have the store to himself for the most part this afternoon.

Someone knocked on his door quickly as he was pulling on his trainers. He looked up to answer only to have Kenzi peek around the door and tell him, "Hurry up, we're waiting!"

"We? Who's we?"

"Derek, your dad, and me," she said, brows raised innocently and then furrowed as she studied him. "Why'd you shower again?"

Stiles own eyebrows raised as he said, "I took a shower last night?"

"Well not by yourself," admitted the gray eyed young woman, "you were so out of it we were afraid you'd fall asleep standing up in there so Derek took it with you."

For a split second Stiles wasn't sure if he was grateful that it hadn't been Kenzi helping him or even more mortified because it had been Derek in the shower with him. Who was he kidding he was mortified, his self esteem wasn't bad he just knew he was nowhere near the looks of the hunky Alpha wolf. "Derek saw me naked?" he whisper yelled at the young woman.

"Calm down, its not like you're the first male body he's seen." she looked lie she was going to say more but Stiles interrupted.

"Not reassuring Kenzi," Stiles said only slightly more calm as he continued, "Now he not only has to compare my skinny ass with his own tanned perfection but other muscle bound werewolves types as well, peachy."

He rushed past her before they could continue this highly embarrassing conversation and was halfway down the steps before the scent of food had his mouth watering. As he turned the corner there was his father and Derek dishing out Styrofoam take away dishes of food. There were breakfast burritos with scrambled eggs, sausage, and peppers stuffed and smothered with cheese and a large tray of crispy hash browns as well as several cups of very strong coffee. As soon as his father saw him, John handed his son one of the cups of coffee.

Stiles gave his father a beatific smile and told the younger man, "You are a god among men." Before taking several sips of scalding hot coffee. It kept his hands and mouth occupied so he hopefully wouldn't say anything too embarrassing. His father looked calm and smiling, so he figured they hadn't mentioned anything about werewolves, kidnappings or killings yet.

Stiles looked down at the breakfast fare and said accusingly to his father, "You went to the Bait and Tackle shop."

The Hale siblings watched as the Sheriff stuffed half a burrito in his mouth and chewed thoroughly and swallowed even before trying to answer. His response of "We are Apex predators Stiles, we were not meant to get by on rabbit food." had his son choking on his coffee.

Stiles then turned his accusing stare on the two werewolves who were watching the by play with eyes widened in surprise. Nope those expressions were innocent his dad was protesting his sons moratorium on fat, grease, salt, sugar and anything else unhealthy for his father. Stiles sighed and said, "Dad, you're the only family I have left," he looked at the others apologetically. Knowing this might be a sensitive subject for the Hales to hear, as he continued, "If a few dietary changes keep you with me longer, I'll make sure you eat like a chipmunk if I have too."

The Sheriff looked abashed for his outburst but still kept eating the cheesy goodness of the burrito, "You know there might be a better way," Kenzi offered,

as she shoveled some of the hash browns onto her plate.

Stiles looked up sharply and started shaking his head vigorously even though his father could clearly see him. The she wolf scowled at her student and friend, before she continued ignoring both of the other males in the kitchen. "Stiles, you need to tell him, do you think the Alpha's are going to leave the humans out of this little Battle Royale, they're cooking up? Plus I don't think they're the only players in this game. It would be better if he knew what was going on and was better prepared for what he might face." The teen was opening his mouth to argue with her until he finished hearing what she had said.

Wolves bane and mountain ash, that's what she was talking about. The sheriff's department couldn't even afford body armor for its officers. These men were going up against werewolves and who knew what other kinds of supernatural creatures. They didn't even have bulletproof vest at least informed they might have better arms and bullets that would actually work against the enemies they could be facing. At least a fighting chance, which was more than they had now.

Stiles stared into those grey eyes and saw a ghost pass over them. Her mother and her pack had been cut down by people who had used these very weapons against them. This time it could be used to help their small pack, which Kenzi had assured him he was a member of. The fact the Alpha was sitting in his house at his kitchen island having breakfast with he and his father seemed to prove this out.

Not to mention it would ease his mind and his guilt over not telling his dad the truth about what was going on in his town. "Dad, are you off today," Stiles knew the answer but it gave him a few extra seconds to collect his thoughts.

The older mans eyes danced between the trio as they all seemed to be having a conversation with only looks and eyebrows but he answered with a tired snort, "Yeah, I'm off. At least until something else happens and they call me in. Why?"

"I think we have something to tell you," Stiles said and turned worried eyes to meet Johns own. The fact that the older Hale sibling rose to his full height and moved to stand at his son's shoulder had the Sheriff's gaze following the younger mans movements. He saw his expression though and recognized the protectiveness that Scott McCall had once had for his son. "So what's the big news?" he asked.

~O~

Decaulion was very unhappy with the rest of his Pack. Not only had the middle Hale sister been able to slip right past them at the terminal. The youngest Hale and the two Betas they had managed to capture had also been rescued by the rest of the Pack.

The problem was he didn't know which of his Pack members to blame. He certainly couldn't blame himself, nor could he afford to accuse his informant on the council. That would be tantamount to suicide.

He had no idea how the elusive young McKenza had slipped through his fingers, nor which of the Hale Pack had created the plan to free their Pack mates. If he blamed Ennis or Kali he would have to face the other. They may not be a mated pair yet, but they were definitely a pair. They would watch each others back and the Twins while lesser Alpha's were stronger wolves especially when they combined themselves into the Super Alpha.

Then a spark of inspiration came to the Alpha. If he could arrange a battle between Derek and Ennis the two would kill each other thus weakening heir Pack. He was the Alpha of the Alpha Pack so Ennis power would come to him. He could also arrange it so that the Hales and their Pack would get the blame for Ennis death. Relieving him of the blame and Kali's anger and loss of Ennis.

This plan had potential it was merely a matter of timing and working out where to have the battle. The Alpha would figure it out, he was the apex of Apex predators after all. The boost of power he would get from either Kali or Ennis was worth the loss of an Alpha wolf.

The younger bitten wolf would be a good addition to his Pack. He would just have to get the youngster to kill off all of his friends and fellow Pack members. He looked around at his Pack, his band of murderers and thought to himself, should be a piece of cake.