Chapter 19

Peter and Phoebe awoke twined in each other's arms. As awareness came over them both, Peter glanced down at her and noted the blush rising on his witch's face. Smiling, he greeted her before moving to the bed to get ready for the day.

Peter disappeared into the bathroom, and Phoebe lay in the bed for a moment, eyes closed, as she took in the feel of the burgeoning mate bond. Warmth spread through her, and the bond connected to both her magic and his alpha spark flared to life. She felt a weak query from Peter's end, and smiled. It would take work, but one day they should be able to feel each other's emotions. It had been this part of the bond that had scared her at first, but the longer she'd spent with Peter, the more she'd grown to like the idea. Sometimes she couldn't quite figure out what he was thinking, and she hoped that feeling his emotions through the bond would help.

Sighing happily, she leaned back into the pillow, but Peter's scent curled around her, and she sat up hastily, unaccustomed to the new feelings coursing through her body. If Peter felt her arousal, he didn't send any emotions along the bond.

Phoebe climbed out of bed and checked on Lydia before hurrying to her bathroom where she'd laid out clothes for herself the night before, to quickly shower and change for the day. When she was done, she wandered out into the kitchen, where she found Peter in a t-shirt and sweatpants, completely relaxed in his own home as he made a healthy omelet for each of them.

Phoebe set the table before pouring each of them a glass of orange juice. Once she was finished, she sat at the table to wait for Peter to finish cooking, and was struck dumb for a moment by how domestic the moment was. It was one they had shared countless times since he'd let her move in with him to keep her safe, but for the first time, it was starting to feel like more. Uncertain of her feelings, and unable to tell what was caused by their new bond, Phoebe pushed it aside to consider at a later time.

Once Peter had plated the omelets and sat at the table with her, he spoke. "How do you feel today? Any lingering pain or weakness?"

Phoebe shook her head as she swallowed a bite of her omelet. "No. I feel stronger than ever. You? Any ill side effects?"

"No," Peter said, smiling. "I feel stronger than I ever have before."

Phoebe beamed back, and they were both silent as they finished the rest of their meal.

An hour later, a knock sounded at the door, and Peter got up from his chair to answer it, placing his tablet on the side table, as Phoebe looked up from her spell book. Peter let Stiles and Malia in before reclaiming his chair.

"How is she," Stiles asked, almost as soon as he'd entered the living room.

"She's fine," Phoebe assured him. "She hasn't woken yet, but she's just sleeping, trying to recover."

Stiles heaved a sigh of relief. "That's good."

There was a moment of silence before he spoke again. "I had to tell my dad about the pack last night."

Peter raised an inquiring eyebrow. "How did he take it?"

"Well, considering Scott was in my house and tried to attack me again, the explanation of why I'm in your pack went pretty well. He seems to be okay with it."

"He attacked you again?" Malia growled as she spoke.

"The pendant threw him off. Pretty sure Dad was going for his gun," Stiles admitted.

Peter snorted. "I'm sure he was. He's leveled a gun on several people who wanted to hurt you, even when you were possessed, and many thought it was the only way to stop the Nogitsune."

The fact that Peter could talk about the Nogitsune possession like it hadn't made him try to kill everyone, the fact that he didn't trust Stiles less because of it, really meant a lot to the teen. It was one of the reasons he wanted to be Peter's beta.

Stiles coughed awkwardly. "Yeah. I remember. On that note…" he hesitated a moment before continuing. "I'd like to talk to you about what we discussed before. When Lydia's better, I mean."

Peter nodded. "Whenever you want."

Malia glanced between them curiously, but before she could open her mouth to ask, a sound caused her to turn toward the room Lydia was in.

"She's waking up," Peter said.

Phoebe and Stiles stood to walk toward the bedroom. Lydia groaned as she came awake. Peter moved to make a bath of the healing herbs that Phoebe had placed in there, and Stiles helped Lydia sit up in bed.

"How do you feel," he whispered.

She smiled at him. "Better, thanks to you."

His blush traveled from his forehead to his neck, but he smiled in return. Lifting Lydia into his arms at Phoebe's instruction, he carried her into the bathroom and placed her gently on the closed toilet lid before he and Peter left to allow Phoebe and Malia to help her into the bath.

Once Lydia was in the bath, Phoebe and Malia left her to clean up and soak in the healing water. The pack gathered in the living room once more, discussing Theo and Scott, and Eichen House, and waited for their newest pack member to be ready to join them.

. . .

Two days later, the pack had gathered at Peter's apartment again for lunch and a meeting. Everyone had mostly healed up after the physical and emotional trauma of Eichen House. Lydia was still a little sore in her muscles, but Phoebe had given her some herbs to use for tea, and it was helping immensely.

After they ate, the pack sat in silence for a few moments before Lydia spoke. "I've been thinking."

Everyone turned toward her and gave her their full attention.

"What is it," Stiles asked.

"It's about Scott," she said.

Malia growled, but said nothing, prepared to listen.

"I know that Theo has been manipulating him," Lydia continued. "But that doesn't quite explain his behavior. Just because he wants to give someone a chance doesn't mean he would hurt people like he has been, especially Stiles. I think something else is going on."

"Like what," Phoebe asked. Now that the mate bond was in place, she didn't want to risk leaving Scott an alpha, but if something was wrong with him, they would have to help him, for the sake of his friends.

Peter frowned, saying nothing. He had wanted to kill Scott before to take back the alpha power that he felt had been stolen from his family, from him. A Hale should be the alpha of Beacon Hills. But he would keep silent for now, because he could never win if Scott got his pack back.

"His behavior started before Theo showed up. He was at least a little aggressive before then. So, what if Kate did something to him," Lydia asked.

"So how would we fix it," Stiles asked.

Malia frowned. "How do we know he didn't just change after Mexico?"

Phoebe nodded. "It happens. Sometimes alphas change, turn against their packs."

Lydia nodded. "I know. But if something is wrong, shouldn't we help him?"

Everyone turned to look at Stiles. "If something is wrong," Stiles began, "I would be relieved, and I want to help him if that's the case." He locked eyes with Peter. "But I can't trust him as my alpha again."

Peter's shoulders relaxed minutely, and if Stiles wasn't looking for just that, he would have missed it. Lydia and Malia shared a look, both of them relieved as well. They both cared about Scott, and if Stiles had wanted to go back to his pack, both of them would have, but it would have been difficult because neither was sure they could trust him ever again. Lydia especially, would continuously be questioning his decisions and his motives.

"So what do you suggest," Peter asked, turning back to Lydia.

He wanted Scott dead, but he needed a pack more, especially if he could get Stiles as his bitten beta. He knew he couldn't kill him if he wanted that to happen. So, he'd play along for now, and hope for Scott's demise anyway.