Dedication: For R, who participated in every conversation, listened to every rant and answered all of the questions I had about this story, no matter how weird. (And they were.)
Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Wolf.
Prologue
Phoebe stood on her balcony, looking out over the San Francisco skyline. She'd moved here almost ten years ago from Beacon Hills to go to college and get training from a coven. Sighing, she leaned against the railing, watching the full moon. She missed her home, but didn't know why she would go back. Her parents had moved to England for her dad's job as soon as she'd graduated from college, with her blessing, of course. They'd mentioned more than once that they'd felt like they were abandoning her, but she'd encouraged them to go, reminding them that she still had her coven and that she'd come visit them far more than they would like.
She loved that they got to be in the country they'd always loved, and that they would have a chance to retire there. She missed them, but she didn't want to join them. Her home was here, in California, and she wanted to stay.
With the loss of the Hales, she felt like she'd lost her purpose too. Many times she, as a fledgling witch, had helped the Hale family at Talia's request. Many times after the fire, she'd wished she'd begun her training sooner, wished she'd had a coven in Beacon Hills to set more protection spells on the house.
The loss of the pack she'd been so entwined with had caused almost physical pain for months after she learned of the hunter attack. When she'd learned that Derek and Laura were still alive, she'd felt relief, and guilt for the relief. She'd had a crush on Derek for years before she'd moved, but he'd never been interested in her that way, too sure of himself, too cocky. And then there was Paige. And then Paige had died, and to her knowledge, Derek hadn't dated anyone else before she moved away.
The tragedy that had befallen the werewolf family she'd loved had made her stronger in a way. She'd put her best efforts into her studies, joined after school clubs that would aid her future career, and thrown herself into her magical lessons with her coven. She spared no time for parties, and the only socializing she did was at her clubs and with her coven. She read books for her literature classes, and always had one recreational book for when she felt like her brain was going to explode. She watched TV only to catch up on the news and to watch documentaries unless she was socializing. All of her spare time was spent with her head buried in a book about Latin, ancient magic, modern spells, protection talismans, and practicing her own magic – meditating and trying new spells.
The Hale tragedy had forced her to become the witch she was now. Her eyes flashed with the power burning inside of her as she watched over the city. One day soon, she was sure, she'd be able to once again watch over her city. One day soon, she would be able to return to Beacon Hills. In the meantime, she would prepare, and be ready when the time came.