Chapter Sixteen: The Rule of Threes

"So what's up with the sudden team meeting?"

"Dude, I don't know. It's Lyra. I'm not questioning it."

"She didn't say anything?"

"Actually yeah, she gave us all agendas and once we're done, we're getting couple's massages. No, you idiot!"

"You don't have to be rude-,"

"Stiles! Shut up!"

Derek stood at the doorway, eyeing the group of young adults standing outside. Stiles, who had been arguing with the twins, winced when Lydia removed her elbow from his side. Isaac and Stiles just looked at Derek with tired expressions. Malia and Kira were the only ones who looked uncomfortable with the oddity that was Stiles.

Cora stepped forward first, followed by Max.

"Where's the others?" Derek asked.

"Coming. They were at the cottage," Cora said.

It wasn't long before everyone was gathered together at the Hale house, spread out across could hes, chairs, and the floor. All eyes were on Lyra, who was pacing in front of the window with troubled eyes.

"Okay, so, I guess you guys are wondering why I called you all here..."

"We are curious, yeah," Stiles said, spreading his hands.

Abby leaned forward, frowning at her sister. "What is it, Ly?"

Isaac, who was sitting on the windowsill, narrowed his eyes. He wondered if he was the only one who noticed how Lyra's scent was different now, not too much, but enough.

"Yeah, I mean what could it be that's got you all-," Stiles made a vague gesture. "I mean, it's not like you're pregnant or you got cancer."

Lyra stiffened, giving him a pained look.

Stiles' eyes widened. "Wh- You have... I mean, is that possible?!"

This time, it was Allison who elbowed Stiles. "Stiles. She doesn't have cancer. She's..."

Everyone fell silent, staring at Lyra with shocked expressions.

"Pregnant," Lyra whispered. "Yeah."

Silence stretched out, long and awkward, only to be broken by a startled outburst from Stiles.

"Holy shit."

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Lyra stared at Derek, who was ashen. She trembled, and it felt like every breath she took was sticking in her lungs like cement.

Isaac snapped out of it first, and walked over to her. He grabbed her arm gently, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Breathe," he instructed calmly.

Abby was by her sister's side in an instant. "Lyra?"

Lyra kept looking at Derek, who kept staring back, both of them unable to move. Lyra jolted when she felt Abby's claws bit into her skin.

Abby then turned her gaze to Stiles and the others. "Guys. Give us a minute. Wait in the yard."

When the room was cleared, Abby then approaches Derek, grabbing him and shaking his shoulder to get some kind of response.

Finally, Derek's eyes cleared. "Pregnant?" he repeated, his tone full of disbelief.

Lyra let out a ragged laugh. "I know. I was the same way when Deaton told me."

"Deaton?"

Lyra nodded, then told them about her trip to the vet. After she was done, she met Derek's gaze hesitantly. "Are you mad?"

Lyra was suddenly in Derek's arms, who firmly held her against his chest. Her eyes widened.

"How could you think that?" he growled against her ear.

Lyra pulled back, bewildered. "It's a little sudden! I mean, we're still dealing with Peter and his pack!"

Derek reached out, gently running his knuckles down her cheek. "I know, but I'm not..." He took a deep breath. "Lyra, why didn't you just tell me?"

Lyra turned to look outside. "Because I didn't know this would happen! I don't know if I'm ready!" Panic leaked into her voice. "I'm..." She whirled back around. "I don't know if I'm cut out to do this."

"Lyra..."

Lyra lowered her gaze, clenching her fists. She took a deep breath as well. "I'm scared."

Derek moved close to her again. He touched her chin so she'd lift her gaze. "I am too. We'll figure this out."

"We all will," Abby agreed, smiling a little. "After all," she looked at Isaac, then the others standing outside, "we're pack."

"We're family," Isaac reminded her.

Lyra sighed, leaning against Derek. "I'm going to need to read baby books, aren't I?"

Abby laughed, embracing her sister and brother in law. "I think we all are."

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Abby went to find Derek after Lyra had ushered everyone else back inside to answer their questions. He had moved to sit out on the back porch, staring out into nothing.

Abby sat down beside him, offering him a beer she had snagged from the kitchen.

"Thanks," Derek said, twisting off the top. "Cheers."

Abby tapped her bottle against his. "So, how are you feeling?"

Derek pondered that while drinking his beer. "It's hard to decipher it all. Happy. Scared shitless."

"You're going to be a dad. I think it's your prerogative to feel that way."

Derek shook his head. "I had no idea... I mean did you...?"

Abby frowned a little. "Isaac and I suspected. Her scent..."

"It's different," Derek said with a nod. Then he glanced at his sister in law. "What do you mean you suspected?"

"Her behavior is more erratic. It's like her wolf takes over, makes to act more on instinct."

Derek frowned. "Is that why she's been changing more?"

"Maybe. I remember my mom telling me that your wolf acts different when it knows it's in danger or if something is changing. It's survival instinct. My mom said it's almost like the wolf takes on a mind of its own in order to keep you and your child safe."

Derek sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's a lot to take in."

Abby laughed. "The rule of threes." When Derek gave her a confused look, she rolled her eyes. "You know, everything happens in threes? First Peter comes back, then Matt dies, and now this?"

"I'm guessing that doesn't mean everything will be smooth sailing here on out then?"

"For normal people? Maybe. For us? Probably not."

Derek leaned back, finishing his beer. "Great."

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Isaac sat with Lyra after everyone else left. She was curled up on one of the couches, playing with her hair absently, staring at the fireplace.

"So, a mom, huh?" he said, breaking the silence.

Lyra smiled briefly. "Yeah, I guess so. Who would've thunk it?"

"Not you, I'm guessing."

Lyra gave him an amused look. "Do you think Melissa has any baby books?"

"Maybe. You could always ask Chris for help too. Or the sheriff, I'd bet he has something."

Lyra lowered a hand to her stomach. "It just doesn't feel real."

"That's because you're not showing."

Lyra snorted. "True."

Isaac leaned forward, giving her a serious look. "We can stay, you know."

Lyra looked up. "Stay?"

"Abby and all of us. We can stay if you want. Colorado will be fine without us."

Lyra shook her head. "No. That's my sister's home and territory. You can't leave it now."

"Then I'll stay."

"Isaac," Lyra said, reaching out to take his hand. "I appreciate that. I'll be okay. I have a feeling Scott and Stiles will keep an eye on me, whether I want them to or not. Plus, like you said, I got the adults to back me up."

"Are you sure?"

Lyra nodded. "Abby needs you. You're the pack Beta. Don't give up your duties to her on my account."

"What do I need?"

Lyra and Isaac turned to see Abby and Derek walking back inside. Derek moved to sit next to Lyra, and Abby perched on the arm of the chair Isaac was in.

"I was telling Isaac you both don't need to stay to babysit me," Lyra told her. "I got enough babysitters as it is."

Abby gave Isaac an amused look, just her sister had just moments ago. "I told you she'd tell us to scram."

Lyra arched her brow. "Oh really?"

Abby stuck out her tongue at Lyra.

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It was dark and quiet. It smelled like old wheat and rust, but then again, it always smelled that way here. They kept him blindfolded, but he recognized the smell.

Peter lulled his head, listening carefully.

There. Footsteps were approaching and he could recognize whose they were.

The doors creaked open.

If he hadn't been gagged, Peter might have said something like, "Another visit so soon? Is marital bliss not all it's cracked up to be?"

Instead, he settled for scowling.

"So this is what happened to you."

Peter flinched. He had been expecting Derek, but Lyra's voice sent a chill down his spine.

He felt his skin prickly, sensing someone close to him. She had moved so quietly, he hadn't heard her over Derek's stomping.

"Cozy, Peter?" Lyra asked softly. "Tell me, how does it make you feel knowing that your pack is doing just fine without you? That they haven't even tried to look for you?"

Peter frowned around his gag. He hadn't expected them to be foolish, but he had expected some loyalty.

He sucked in a breath when he felt Lyra's hair tickle his neck.

Lyra leaned back, moving to stand close to Derek. "Let's go."

So they left Peter tied up in the mill, walking back to the house.

It had been a week since Lyra had announced her pregnancy. Derek had felt it was only right to tell her the secret he had been keeping. He was surprised when she didn't get mad, but instead, insisted on seeing Peter for herself.

She seemed to be lost in thought as they made their way back home.

Derek nudged her with his shoulder. "Are you okay?"

Lyra looked up at him, then smiled. She bumped his shoulder back. "Yeah. I'm guessing this is best case scenario."

"What do you mean?"

"With Peter. I mean, I could have killed him. Or you could have. But if he's still alive, we got some sort of leverage over his pack, right? They're not loyal, they're scared of me. He probably made a bunch of bullshit promises too about revenge. With him gone, they're exposed. They got the numbers but they don't have the brains."

Derek considered that. "Maybe. What if they find someone else to follow?"

Lyra shrugged. "My main concern is what to do with Peter. If we can't kill him, what can we do? Keep him tied up forever?"

Derek exhaled deeply. "I don't know," he admitted.

Lyra sighed, taking Derek's hand. "I don't want to be near him though. If he finds out that I'm pregnant..."

"He'll use that information to his advantage," Derek finished grimly.

"I should call Chris and discuss our options. Maybe he'll have some suggestions." When she saw Derek's uneasy look, she gave him a look. "Derek, he's not going to do anything. The guy danced with me at our wedding."

"I know. Old habit."

Lyra wrapped an arm around his waist, leaning against his side. "The Argents are good allies to have in our corner, you know that."

"I know. You're right."

Lyra grinned. "I know I am."

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Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Wolf.

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