Chapter Eighteen: Us and Them

Lyra opened her eyes slowly.

The smell of blood hit her first, fresh, dripping slowly down from the wound on the back of her head to her neck and shoulders.

"Try not to move," a gravelly voice told her. "You have quite a bump on the head."

Lyra snarled reflexively. Her eyes rolled towards the voice.

Standing a few feet away from her was a tall, muscled man dressed in a black. His skin and eyes were equally as dark, although his black eyes seemed to have an odd bluish tint to them when they met hers. And he wasn't alone.

Several more wolves stood with him, varying in sizes, and they all watched Lyra like one looks at a bug under a microscope.

Lyra realized she was handcuffed to a hospital bed, although they were definitely not at the hospital. It looked more like an abandoned cabin, which smelled like rotted wood and dirt.

"So, you're Peter's band of misfits," she said finally, eyeing the wolves again. "And where is your fearless leader?"

The tall man stepped forward, a menacing look in his eyes. "Perhaps it would be better if you didn't speak, I really don't want to take away Peter's chance to kill you."

Lyra tested her restraints, rolling her wrists and ankles. They were made from leather and chain, strong, but...

She bared her teeth at the Omega. "Then where is he?" she challenged.

The Omega stepped back again, folding his hands behind his back. "He'll have his revenge soon. First, we had to pick up something along the way." He turned to one of the females. "Bring in the boys."

Lyra watched in horror was Stiles and Scott were dragged into the room, both cuffed and chained. She snarled again, yanking against her own restraints.

"They have nothing to do with this," she said towards the tall Omega.

He chuckled. "But they do. After all, hasn't this one-," he gestured to Scott, "the one who named you the Triskelion Pack?"

Ooo0ooO

The moment Derek pulled up the drive to the house, he knew something was wrong. His sharp gaze saw the broken down door, and he could pick up the scent of unfamiliar wolves.

"Lyra!" he shouted as he ran inside.

But when no one answered, he looked down and spotted a small pool of blood. He didn't need to stoop down to know whose blood it was.

Eyes blue, he yanked his phone out of his pocket.

"Derek," Chris answered after the first ring.

"They took her. They took Lyra," Derek snarled, pacing in the entryway.

"I'll be right there," Chris said immediately before disconnecting the call.

Derek inhaled deeply again and recognized Stiles' scent within the house, while Scott's only lingered outside the front door.

It only took minutes for Chris to pull to a sharp stop in front of the house. His eyes were grim, jaw set. "Tell me what you smell."

Derek looked at the blood again. "Lyra, she was hurt. And Stiles and Scott, I think they were taken as well. I can smell... seven or so different wolves. Some came inside, others stayed outside along the edge of the woods."

Chris looked around, his gaze lingering over every detail. "Stiles, he was with her?"

Derek nodded. "He... he had a free period, so he came over while I was at work. The sheriff had given Lyra the afternoon off. I think Scott was going to join them later, once he was done helping Deaton at the vet's."

"Do you know anywhere they might have taken her? Have you been able to track where they're hiding out?"

Derek shook his head. "We didn't... Lyra and I agreed to stop once she found out about... and after Matt, she didn't want to put anyone else at risk. We have Peter and we figured combining our strengths would keep the others at bay."

Chris frowned. "So they struck when they believed she was vulnerable. She was alone with no one to look out for her but one human."

Derek looked over at Chris, surprised at his factual tone. "But Lyra..."

Chris turned to meet Derek's gaze. "Was outnumbered and is pregnant. Has she been alone with just Stiles before?"

Derek blinked. "No... usually it's both Scott and Stiles here."

"Maybe two Alphas was enough to keep them away, but if she was alone with only Stiles..."

"He isn't defenseless," Derek pointed out, frowning.

"No," Chris agreed. "But do you think he would have put up a fight if he saw Lyra was already hurt, and that they were outnumbered ten to two?"

Derek exhaled, yanking a hand through his hair. "No."

"No," Chris repeated. "He and Scott would have gone with them. Right now we have to believe they will do whatever it takes to keep he4 safe. Until we find her, you have to believe that."

Ooo0ooO

Stiles had always wished he had some sort of superpower, especially once his best friend became a werewolf. It was difficult to be only human when you were surrounded by people who had more power than you did, even if they didn't ask for it.

Although he had considered the bite before, the only power he wished he had at that moment was the ability to read minds.

Lyra was staring at him from across the room, her eyes a dark violet, features etched with worry. Her lips were pressed together, because now that big ass wolf was hovering over her bed, snarling angrily at her last biting retort.

Clearly she was trying to tell him something, and probably would have if she didn't have just her own life to consider. Lyra might have been foolish in the past with her actions, but Stiles knew she wouldn't dare lift a finger if it meant bringing the baby harm. Or, at least, he hoped she wouldn't.

He stared back, wishing he could tell her it was going to be okay, that he and Scott were going to get her out of here. He wanted to say that Derek probably knew something was up already and he wouldn't come alone.

Instead, he remained silent, mostly due to the wickedly sharp claws hovering inches from his throat.

"Please," Lyra said slowly. "Let them go. You have me, why would you keep them?"

Stiles and Scott lunged forward, only to be held back, when the large wolf struck Lyra across the cheek. When she rolled her head back to glare up at the male, her cheek was already purple and her lip bleeding.

Gathering his courage, Stiles struggled against the female wolf who held him. "I wouldn't hurt her, if I were you," he warned.

The tall Omega turned, looking down at Stiles with a look of disgust. "And why's that, little human?"

"Don't you know who she is?" Stiles asked incredulously, lifting his brows at the wolves. "That's Lyra Hale."

"We know her name," one of the females snarled.

"Well, I'd hope so. She's one of the most powerful Alphas you've ever met. Did Peter ever tell you what happened to Deucalion? What about your friend Cyrus?"

When the other wolves exchanged looks, Stiles smiled, shaking his head. "Like I said, she's very powerful. Tell me, since I'm just a stupid human, how do you guys get your powers?"

When suspicions and wary looks were given to Lyra, Stiles looked at Scott. Scott met his gaze and nodded.

"And my friend here? He's a true Alpha. Do you really think you can take them on?" Stiles challenged.

Scott's eyes heated, then he leapt forward, his hands no longer bound. With a snarl, he lunged for the wolves surrounding Lyra.

Ooo0ooO

Lyra watched as Scott threw the Omega across the room, sending him smashing into the distant wall. With a growl, she snapped her restraints and got up, her gaze focusing on the clawed hand that was closing around Stiles' throat.

Her vision swam red, flashes of Peter killing Matt, of Deucalion killing her father, of too many people bleeding to help her and seeing Stiles in danger brought along of that up in one quick rush of anger.

Lyra bared her teeth, snarling at the other female. Although everything was screaming to grab Stiles, to push him behind her and to protect him, it was instinct that held her back.

So instead, she howled her fury, her wolf calling to her pack, and to her mate.

The other wolves cowered back as they watched her eyes change from dark violet to a blood red, and they shivered as the air pulsed with her power. They feared her despite hating her, and without Peter to spur them on, they stayed frozen with uncertainty.

But before Lyra could move, Stiles stomped his foot down on the foot of the female who held him, then sent an elbow back into her ribs. Even though he didn't break anything, it was enough to knock the breath from her lungs and for her grip to loosen.

Stiles ripped himself free, wincing when he felt her claws rip across his arm. He used his momentum to turn, bringing his chained hands up to strike the female so her grip on him was lost.

He backed up, moving to Lyra's side, breathing heavily.

Lyra felt a prickle go down her neck, a flash of silver in the corner of her eye, and she reacted immediately. "Close your eyes!" she screamed at Stiles and Scott.

She grabbed Stiles, shielding him with her body as the window exploded and the room was suddenly lit up with a flash bomb. The other wolves cried out as they were briefly blinded by the light.

When Lyra looked up, she saw two figured moving in from the doorway. She shoved Stiles forward, then managed to snatch Scott before moving him forward too.

"Lyra!"

"Derek!" Lyra called out, moving towards him. Relief rushed through her when she saw not only Derek, but Chris as well.

Derek took Lyra's hand. "Did they hurt you?" he asked, his hand reaching towards her belly before noticing her bruised cheek.

"Later," she told him, pushing and shoving him away from the other wolves. She glanced over her shoulder as they ran towards the car.

The tall Omega stumbled towards the doorway, blinking his ice blue eyes. When he spotted her, he snarled. "Don't think this changes anything, Lyra Hale! He will have his revenge!"

Ooo0ooO

Derek didn't let go of Lyra's hand until they were back at the Hale house. He could feel her heartbeat through her tight grip and it hadn't slowed down yet.

Once they got into the house, Derek sat her down on the couch before Chris helped set the door back on its hinges. It was broken and would need replacing, but there wasn't time for that now.

Scott and Stiles sat down next to Lyra. She reached up to touched their cheeks one at a time, as if to reassure herself that they were okay.

Lyra then stood abruptly, her eyes flashing red briefly. "Those... wolves broke into our house, they hurt my friends, my pack-,"

"Lyra," Derek said, stepping towards her, hands raised.

"No! This is because of Peter, because I let him live!" Lyra whirled away from Derek, pacing the length of the room. Agitation rolled off of her in waves.

"Lyra, there's nothing we can do now," Chris said.

Lyra turned again, her eyes changing between violet and red. Her breathing suddenly became short and quick, and briefly, her features shifted, showing her wolf before changing back.

"Lyra..."

Suddenly, Lyra cried out, doubling over.

"Lyra!" Derek cried out, rushing to her side.

Lyra gripped his arm tightly, her body slumping against his. Her free arm wrapped around her middle. "Derek," she gasped. "It hurts."

Derek felt the blood drain from his face.

Then Lyra looked down and with a shaky hand, touched two fingers against her inner thighs. When she lifted them, they were smeared bright with blood.

Ooo0ooO

Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Wolf.

Author's Note: The next chapter has references to miscarriage, so please proceed with caution.

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