Chapter Twenty One: The One True Alpha

Scott remembered the night he was bitten by Peter through his dreams. He remembered seeing a large, red eyed shadow stalking him, the stampede of deer, and a sharp, blinding pain in his side. Those nightmares used to cause him to lose sleep, but they ceased once he himself became an Alpha.

Realizing his true potential didn't give him a rush of power like he thought it would. Lyra would later explain that was because he was a true Alpha, but being a true Alpha meant coming into the power you already possessed rather than taking other's power for your own. he had hesitantly asked her what it had been like for her, the first time around, and her violet eyes had darkened before she finally whispered, "Addicting."

When the Triskelion Pack formed, Scott wondered how having three Alphas would effect each individual's power. He wondered if it would benefit them, or if at the end of the day, it would become their biggest impairment. His answer came the night that Peter once again escaped from their grasp and became a black shadow in the night, stalking them with burning blue eyes.

They had found out Peter had escaped thanks to the newest members of the Pack, who had been out patrolling the woods for any wolves lingering at the town's borders. More and more seemed to trickle in, drawn to both the new Alpha Pack and the pack that Peter had formed.

Scott stood next to Lyra as Kira informed them that the mill was now abandoned, with only the lingering stench of Peter's pack left in its wake. Her eyes didn't flash red, or even heat to red-violet as they often did when Peter's name was mentioned. They stayed a dark blue-purple, and were full of trepidation. That, in turn, made him feel uneasy.

He waited for her to rush out the door, to shift into her wolf form, but she stayed close to Derek and her eyes flickered to each and every one of them. It was surprising for him to see, since it felt like only yesterday she was ready to throw herself into the line of fire so no one else would get hurt.

Scott winced.

Then Lyra looked at him, violet eyes against dark brown, and her expression calmed. She gave him the slightest of nods, and then Scott realized why she wasn't taking charge.

He was in charge.

Awkwardly, he cleared his throat. "Um."

Everyone in the room quieted down and turned to him. Stiles and Isaac stood closest to him, then Derek and Lyra, followed by Abby, then the others were spread out and further back, but each set of eyes were fixed in him.

"So Peter got out of the mill," Scott began, following his instincts. "I think we should split up, pair up, and search to see if we can find where he is or where his pack is."

Derek leaned in close to Lyra as Scott spoke. "You're not taking lead?"

Lyra shook her head. "It's his turn."

Ooo0ooO

Stiles walked through the high school slowly, his footsteps echoing down the empty hallways. Next to him was Scott, who looked equally as cautious and alert.

"Man, we are never really going to get out of this place, huh?" Stiles asked softly, trying to lighten the tense mood.

Scott snorted. "Remember when I tried to howl over the intercom?"

Stiles rolled his eyes. "That's going to keep me up ten years from now from embarrassment for you."

"Thanks, dude."

"No problem, dude."

The boys kept moving, looking in every classroom, bathroom, and janitorial closet. When they found nothing, they went to search the pool area, then the field. Scott didn't pick up any scents, and Stiles couldn't find anything from the pack that might have been left behind. Chris Argent had taken it upon himself to give the boy some hunter training, and he was pleased when Stiles took to it quickly.

Scott pulled his phone out, lifting it to his ear. "Lyra? We're clear here. Yeah. Okay."

When he slipped the phone back into his pocket, he glanced at Stiles. "Redeavous at the peak."

Stiles nodded, and the boys headed back towards his Jeep.

The others, minus Victoria, were waiting for them when they got there. The Omega was sent back to the cottage with instructions to stay there and see if any wolves came sniffing about. As the newest member of Lyra's pack, she was only too eager to prove herself to her new Alpha and did what she was told.

Scott didn't miss the unease that radiated from Lyra each time she gave Victoria, in what her mind, was an "order'.

He didn't focus on that, however. Instead he took point at the front of the group, and told everyone that the high school was clear before they decided to investigate the reserve next. He decided to have them all go out as one unit, fanned out with only twenty yards between each person, so everyone was in sight of someone else as they combed through the dense woods.

Scott pushed away the thoughts and memories about the last time he was here, searching for someone. His eyes could almost make out Lyra's hunched form, shivering in the rain... But tonight was warm and clear, and very quiet.

Scott's eyes bled red for a moment when he realized just how quiet it was. It was like the woods was holdings its breath, frightened to make a noise. Was that because of them, or something else?

A snarl was the first warning that they were no longer alone. The large, familiar looking Omega emerged from behind a group of trees, his eyes cold and blue, and his teeth were bared.

To his left, he could see Kira's aura pulse. Watching the fox spirit was fascinating, since her aura was golden, taking the form of the fox itself, wrapping around the girl like a protective cloak. Her eyes shone amber, and she too bared her sharp teeth.

Everyone seemed to follow suit, eyes changing color, snarls rippling up throats in warning. Red, blue, and gold eyes fixed on the one wolf, then turned to the other wolves that appeared to stand behind the lone Omega. Chris Argent and Stiles stood close, each drawing a weapon.

Scott glanced at Lyra again. Part of him still expected her to step forward, marking herself as the Alpha. But the other part, the stronger part, called out for him to step forward, to make himself known as the Alpha of the Triskelion Pack.

Lyra looked at Scott, as though sensing his hesitation. Then her eyes flashed a brilliant red, and she reclined her head to him, shifting her body slightly so it was angled behind his.

Even though Scott didn't catch onto what she meant, his wolf did. It howled, recognizing that her body language was giving him the power, and that she was stepping aside so he could rise up. Even though she was older and stronger, he was a true Alpha.

Almost immediately, Abigail mirrored her sister's movements. Being a true Alpha herself, she could have just as much sway as Scott, but he had come into himself long before she did and she recognized that.

With a pounding heart, the true male Alpha looked forward, his eyes changing from a soft brown black to a deep red, looking at the group of blue-eyed Omegas before stepping forward, a growl rumbling in his chest.

Then the Alpha of the Triskelion Pack stepped forward once more, with his Pack right behind him, falling into line under his leadership.

Ooo0ooO

When the smaller Pack shifted, moving to flank the new Alpha as he stepped forward into his rightful place at the front of the Pack, another pair of blue eyes watched from the shadows.

Peter nearly snorted. So she made Scott the Alpha. Even with all of her power... what a waste. Someone should take it off her hands.

Smirking, Peter walked out into the opening, spreading his hands in greeting. "So. Scott. You're the big kid in charge, huh?"

Scott narrowed his eyes at his sire. "I'm not a kid. I'm an Alpha."

Peter scoffed this time. "Right, and I'm Brad Pitt. Look, kid, why don't you run along and let the real adults handle the situation, okay?" His gaze then slid over to Lyra. "Shame, Lyra. You had so much... potential."

"You sound like Deucalion."

"You make that sound like a bad thing," Peter said. "Luckily I'm not crazy like he was. He lacked... finesse."

"And you do?" Stiles called out. "Is that why you've already died once?"

"At least I came back. Wanna see what happens to you when you die, Stiles?"

Scott snarled. "You won't hurt any one else."

Peter lifted a brow. "Oh, I know. Apparently my wolves did that all themselves. Tell me, Lyra, did you like your welcoming party? I hear they knocked you out and the human didn't lift a finger to help you."

"That's not-!"

Peter cut off Stiles. "And boy," he tsked, "I guess that did a number on you. Is that why your scent is different again? Or should I say, back to what it was?" He sneered at the now red eyed Alpha. "i guess you can't save anyone, not even your own child."

Several snarls erupted from the wolves, most loudly from Derek, Scott, and Abigail. The latter strode forward, her eyes mad with rage, but her arm was caught by her sister. Lyra aimed a red eyed look towards Peter, not a glare, but a look devoid of emotion.

The older female Alpha pushed her sister back safely into the fold of the Pack, then stepped back herself, so she was positioned at Scott's right hand. She didn't say a word, she didn't snarl or growl, she didn't scream or curse. She merely watched Peter, like how a predator watches it prey, with patience, waiting until the right moment...

Only then did her lip curl up into a smirk.

Rage flooded Peter, hating how she looked at him like a thing that could be batted away with ease. He hated how she looked at him like she knew they knew who was stronger, and he hated how she didn't attack him like he wanted her to. She would have before, what was so different now?

As he watched the three Alphas formed a sort of triangle, with Scott at the point closest to the offending pack. Each set of eyes were red, burning like fire in the dark, and their Pack seemed to form into a solid wall behind him, until they were all one unit, one force.

Pack.

The Omegas sensed the shift, the way the power rippled through the air. They moved uneasily, uncertain now, looking at each other for direction, then towards Peter, who glared at the three with seething hatred.

This was the purpose behind Lyra not taking charge, and allowing Scott to fully become the true Alpha he was. It was he who named the Pack, and it was only right for him to lead the Pack. This was his home first, his territory to defend, and the others followed him as a united front, brought together by him and by him only.

For every Pack needs an Alpha, Lyra's father's words echoed through her mind as she watched Scott in his rightful place. Not to rule, but to lead.

And for the first time, Lyra finally took the role she knew she was meant for, what she had been meant for being raised in her father's pack.

She become the Beta.

Ooo0ooO

Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Wolf.

Author's Note: Please review.