Chapter Seven: Moving On

One Week Later

Standing alone at the base of the foothills, Lyra looked out over the land that she had once called home. Abigail and Matt had done an incredible job at rebuilding. Covering the land by the lake were a few houses, forming a U, with the large main house standing in the middle.

Abigail and Matt currently took up residence in the main house as Alpha and Beta, while Sam and her mate and their kids took the house to the left, and Isaac and Pierce shared hm the smaller house to the right.

Right now, all of them were gathered outside the main house. The group included Derek, Scott, and Cora. The other Beacon Hills Alpha asked if he could come along when Lyra said she was leaving, wanting to meet with Abigail and to see Lyra's old home.

They were all together to discuss Peter, who had showed up some time ago and left Cora and Abby a message that he would see all of them soon. The Alphas wanted to see if there was anyone was in any immediate danger. There was concern for Sam and her kids, who were barely old enough to walk.

Derek took Lyra's place in the morning meeting, since she went off alone for a walk.

Turning, she headed up the hill, where a line of trees stood at the peak, overlooking the valley. Matt had explained that more trees had been planted as grave markers for those they had lost so long ago. These were for her parents, the Alphas, as well as Matt's parents, who were the Betas. Matt felt it was best the trees were planted here, so they could always look over the land that had been their home.

Lyra walked up to the nearest tree, which had her mother's name and date of birth and death etched deeply into the bark. Her fingers brushed over the grooves.

"Hi, Mom," she whispered softly.

She sat down in front of the two trees marked for her parenrs. She gazed up at them, watching how the sun light filtered through the leaves. There was a family of squirrels in her father's tree, which made her smile.

"I miss you," she said, before looking down at her hamds, which was playing with the long blades of grass in front of her.

she sighed, trying to gather her thoughts. "I wish you were here. There's so much that has happened, more than will happen, and I wish I could ask you what to do. I know you would know what to say." She laughed. "You'd probably tell me I'm overthinking this."

"I'm scared though," she admitted. "I have accepted who I am, what I am. I thought I had control over my wolf, but now I'm not so sure. I've done so many awful things and I'm afraid that's all catching up to me. I feel like if I lose control even for a moment, I'll lose myself and I'll become like..." She stopped, swallowing thickly. "That I'll end up just like Deucalion."

Then she took a deep breath. "But I know now I have a family who will protect me and will make sure I won't go to the dark side, so to speak. They love me, and I love them. So I guess what I'm trying to say is... I'm not going to let my fears control me. I'm not going to let my past keep me from today, or my future with Derek."

She released a shaky breath, reaching out to touch a crisscrossing root. "I love you. I always will. And maybe one day, I'll see you again. But until then..." She stood up, and turned to walk away. But she stopped and looked over her sholder. The wind blew through the trees, rustling the branches. "Goodbye."

When she turned again, she saw her sister and Derek waiting for her at the bottom of the hill. Abby smiled gently, and Derek watched her with a calm, understanding expression.

Lyra felt as though something lifted off of her chest and she drew in a deep breath, feeling lighter than she had in years. Then she smiled, her chest expanding, filling with the love she felt for the two people waiting patiently for her, so she went to them.

Ooo0ooO

A few hours later, the large group was sitting together out by the lake. Lyra sat next to Sam, whose arms were full with her kids. They were about a year and a half now, and full of energy. Their hair was just as red as their mom's, and they all had their father's blue eyes.

One of the girls made her way over to Lyra, crawling into her lap. Lyra stilled, eyeso wide.

Sam grinned at Lyra's expression. The two girls, April and Autumn, we're much more bold than their brother, Chase. Autumn, who was now tugging at Lyra's hair, was giggling madly.

"Autumn, behave," Ryan said, coming to Lyra's rescue as he scooped his daughter into his arms.

Autumn pouted, still reaching out for Lyra. "Up!" she insisted.

"Oh, that's okay," Lyra said awkwardly.

Derek shook his head. He leaned forward, resting his chin on Lyra's shoulder. "You don't like kids?" he asked softly.

"Kids are fine. I don't not like kids."

Derek and Abby exchanged a look. Derek remembered how Abby mentioned that Lyra felt she wasn't mother material, and never wanted kids.

Sighinges silently, he wrapped his arms around her waist. He knew that he could never pressure Lyra into anything, like having kids. That choice was hers. So he kissed her shoulder and dropped the subject. There would come a time where they would discuss it, but right now, he knew she had other things on her mind.

Scott, who was sitting across from Lyra and Ryan, grinned when April tottled over to him. He tickled her, making her squeal.

Lyra sighed, leaning back against Derek. She looked over at her sister. "What did you guys talk about this morning?"

Abby sighed, looking troubled. "What to do about Peter, mostly. No one has seen him since he showed up here. Rumor has it, however, he's got quite the group of followers."

Lyra frowned. "Where did you hear this from?"

Pierce, who was currently holding Chase, raised his free hand. "I've been running on patrols. Those two cronies that jumped Abby and Cora had no problem squealing when I caught up to them."

Lyra arched a brow. "Is that all they did? Squeal?"

"Maybe more than that. I let them go. I figured whatever I did to them wouldn't compare to what Peter would do if he found out they snitched."

"He won't be happy, that's for sure," Derek commented.

Lyra turned a little so she could lean her forehead against the curve of his neck. "Will he kill them?"

"I doubt it. He's not like Deucalion. He likes to keep his hands clean."

"Meaning he'll get someone else to do it," Isaac concluded.

"Basically," Cora said, who was sitting next to Isaac.

"Great."

"If we run into anyone else that works for him, do we kill them?" Scott asked, looking unsure.

"No," Lyra and Abby said in unison.

Matt frowned. "And if they try to kill us first?"

Everyone exchanged a silent look.

Scott spoke first. "We have to protect eveyone. But we don't have to kill anyone. We don't have to be like them."

"I agree," Abby said. "There's been enough death."

Ooo0ooO

Later that night, Lyra and Derek sat at the edge of the pier, looking up at the moon.

Lyra skimmed her bare foot along the water's surface.

"What are you thinking about?" Derek asked, reaching over to play with the ends of her hair.

"Just how much everything has changed. The last time I was sitting on this pier, I was eighteen and my father gave me that necklace," she said, gesturing to the obsidian necklace Derek now wore.

Derek touched it. "Do you want it back?"

"No. I think he would've liked you to have it."

Derek smiled a little.

She smiled back, leaning against his shoulder. "So I was thinking. Kids. You want them, right?"

Derek blinked. "Well... I thought about it, and I didn't completely hate the idea."

"Neither do I."

Derek smiled again. "Really?"

Lyra laughed. "Don't look so surprised. I mean, I didn't think that I would ever want kids. With everything that happened to my own family..."

"Hey," Derek said, covering her hand with his. "There's no rush. No pressure. I'm happy with you. It's your choice, remember that."

Lyra looked at Derek with a warm, loving expression. "Have I mentioned that I love you?"

"Not since this morning," Derek said, amused.

"I love you," she murmured before pressing her lips to his. She pulled away, nuzzling his neck. "Just give me some time. Once this whole Peter thing blows over, we'll talk about it more."

"Sounds like a plan."

Lyra sighed, resting her head against his shoulder, and smiled. She felt happy about this, knowing she was making the right step towards her future with Derek. The thought of kids made her stomach flutter nervously, but it wasn't a sickly flutter. More like a nervous anticipation paired with a feeling of hope that she wasn't quite used to.

And she wanted to get used to it.

Ooo0ooO

Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Wolf.

Author's Note: Please review!