Chapter 14

Crossroads (Part 1)

Unbeknownst to Ashley, she had been followed by the Twins who heard her entire conversation with Derek. Under orders from Deucalion, they reported back to him the identity of the Darach.

Upon receiving the news, Deucalion imprisoned Ashley to stop her from trying to help the others. He and the Alpha pack had grown fond of the girl, and he didn't want her to be caught between the two packs.

They were at a crossroads now and every decision will have implications for the future. Deucalion had a feeling that Ashley's decisions would weigh heavily on the future of everyone.

Ever since she's joined them, she had been a fountain of information. The Alphas came into town on the advice of Ashley who had premonitions of the Darach. Of course, it wasn't without limits. Ashley needed to encounter or touch a person to catch glimpses of the future. That's why she never saw anything related to Boyd or Erica and that was a good thing. Knowing her personality, Deucalion knew she would have attempted to warn her friends. Even now, she struggled against his orders and managed to warn Peter.

The more time she spent with someone, the clearer her visions of the future became. Which was why she was more sensitive to visions involving Peter and Derek rather than someone like Cora for example. Ashley knew the Alpha pack would attack Derek and was able to get a phone call out to the older Hale before being captured by Deucalion and the others.

As he sat and mused over this, Ashley's words from the first time they met came to mind.

"Please," Her sincere brown eyes pleading with his frowning blue eyes. "Please, don't give in to hate."

In the end, he just wanted to protect the compassionate girl who had tried to save him. He wanted to keep her safe and free from harm. Even if he had to go against her wishes.

xXx

The truth was finally revealed. Jennifer Blake was the Darach. And now Derek and his pack had to protect her from the Alpha pack.

Just when he thought he had found solace in someone, it was all dashed to pieces yet again. Unconsciously, he recalled happier times from when he, Laura and Ashley were in New York. They had been running away from a painful tragedy but it had also been a fresh start for them. It was gradual, but he had turned back to his happy playful self.

Coming back to his hometown had stirred up painful memories for him. It made him sullen, irritable, and angry. He had lashed out at Scott, Peter, and everyone else. He made mistake after mistake and when he tried to fix things, he dug himself into a deeper hole.

He thought he finally did something right with saving Jennifer and now he finds out that she had been deceiving him all along. He could barely contain his anger. That, and the guilt of not believing Ashley.

Ashley. His family who had always been by his side. He had pushed and pushed her away. Telling her she was annoying and hurting her time and time again. But somehow, Ashley had always there for him. Despite everything, she still loved him.

He clenched his fist as he recalled his last words to her. The look of pain and hurt on her face was buried deep into his mind. He had hurt her and the thought consumed him with regret.

xXx

Peter hung up the phone. Ashley had called him and asked him to help Derek and like the fool he was, he had said yes. He got into his car and raced through the streets towards the Beacon Hills hospital.

He sighed as he recalled one of their conversations.

"You got to stop! You got to stop chasing after power!" Ashley screamed at him when he found out what he'd been up to after he awoke. "You have a family you need to think about!"

"This! Is! For my family! For my family's power!"

"You know what, no!" She shook her head madly. "This is what you do! You put on this façade and act all arrogant and selfish, but deep down I know who you really are Peter."

"Oh really? And what's that?" He questioned her with sarcasm.

Ashley paused before answering: "That deep down you care. That you love and want to be loved."

The answer surprised him. Once again, she saw right through him.

"How does the bad guy prove he's not that bad?"

He spoke quietly and gave her a melancholic gaze.

"Choose good." Ashley answered after some thought. "Start with what you can. Be nicer. Help out. And as you continue to do so, they'll start to realize that you're not so bad."

Ashley smiled at him then embraced him.

He had chased after power for so long he forgot the whole reason why. He had chased after power for the person he loved. To protect her. To ensure the tragedy that happened to him will never happen to her or his family.

Now was the time he had to start being a better man. For her.