Stiles got up from the log, about to head back and search for Derek, when, something down on the ground by the waterfall, caught his eye. He walked closer, noticing a slab with the name Paige, engraved into the stone.
There were fresh flowers placed on the grave site. Pink roses, Stiles had seen once before, in the Hale's special garden by the manor.
Derek must have placed the flowers there recently.
Maybe that was where his Master went every morning? He thought.
Stiles looked down by his shoes, at the wildflowers that surrounded him, and bent down, picking a variety of purple, pink, and white, before heading over to a nearby tree that was wrapped with some wild vine. He tugged at it, breaking it free, and bunched up the wildflowers using the vine to tie them together. Once he was satisfied with the assortment, the teen brought it over to the grave and placed his bouquet next to Derek's.
"I'm sorry for what happened to you… and to him." Stiles voiced before closing his eyes, taking in the sounds of nature all around him, and the calming feeling that washed over him as a light breeze swept through, ruffling up his hair a bit.
Suddenly, there was a weighted pressure on the teen's shoulder, causing him to jump in surprise. He looked down noticing a manly hand clasping onto him and turned around, hoping to find a pair of familiar green eyes but instead found a pair of blue ones, looking back at him in amusement.
(Earlier that day)
Derek took his seat at the head of the table as his pack sat in silence waiting for him to speak.
"We need to advance our training with the young members of the pack. We need to make sure everyone is in top-notch shape and ready to fight, if necessary, in the next month." He announced to the group, as he looked around the room noticing the mixture of curious and confused eyes.
"Derek, we put the teens through that grueling training session months ago, which the majority of them are still trying to recover from, not to mention, everything has been rather calm on patrol," Boyd claimed, meeting the alpha's gaze.
"Yeah Derek, what the hell? The newbies usually get at least six months to train and work on their craft. It's taking a toll not only on them but us as well. We do have lives and other responsibilities, you know." Erica snapped annoyed, folding her arms into her chest.
The Alpha gave her a hard look but she just gave him one right back. If there was one thing Derek admired about Erica, it was her courage, where others would back down, she stood her ground. She was not easily tamed, which was probably why she was attracted to Boyd. He was on the quieter side, always careful to stay in line. They balanced each other well, like Yin and Yang.
"Babe, don't," Boyd said, shaking his head side to side, noticing his girlfriend's harsh stares.
Erica's expression quickly softened at his words, and she let out a defeated sigh. Boyd pulled her into his hold, giving her cheek a sweet kiss. Her once grumpy face turned up in a small smile and her skin flushed pink.
"What is the reason for this Derek? Is there a war coming?" Isaac asked softly, as he fidgeted with his hands.
At the sound of the word "War," The pack as a whole turned their full attention toward their Alpha questioningly.
"My Pet is pregnant."
Peter tensed up at the news, as the others congratulated the Alpha.
"That's awesome, Derek." Boyd voiced with a small smile.
"I get to be Auntie Erica, right?"
"Finally, some good news, we can always use more pack members," Isaac stated.
"Well, congratulations nephew. Looks like you're getting everything you ever wanted. Your family back."
Derek cringed at his uncle's words, feeling a slight sting at the thought of his family's demise, but let it go, as he continued on with the purpose of his meeting. "Now, let's get back on track. As I was saying, we need the pack prepared for any possible attack. Once this news gets out, it's bound to get ugly. It won't take much for outsider packs to try to fight us for our land, especially when our defenses are down. And there is still the matter of the teen's father, the Sheriff."
"You can count on me. I'll make sure that everybody is ready for war, or whatever problem comes our way." Peter voiced eagerly from his seat.
"Thanks," Derek replied warily, a bit shocked at his uncle's enthusiasm, wondering what was his angle in all of this.
It wasn't often Peter was so agreeable, not without an ulterior motive. The wolf did like to fight though, maybe that is what it was for him. He was always thrilled at the thought of showing his dominance over other creatures, his power.
Derek could still remember the many times his uncle Peter would tell him stories as a boy, about battles he was in, describing everything in detail, the blood, the wounds, the techniques he used. He remembered how it thrilled his uncle to talk and engage in such activities, almost as if it was merely a sport to him.
The young wolf enjoyed hearing of his uncle's adventures at times, watching as Peter would become animated with his hands and facial expressions. Though sometimes, the boy hid under the covers, scared, when his uncle described the horrible beasts he had fought, causing Derek's mother to give her brother a disapproving look. But Peter brushed it off claiming it would toughen the young wolf up, make him strong, fearless.
It was on nights like those that Derek would have trouble sleeping, nightmares of creatures out in the woods, and he would yell out to his father to read him a bedtime story. That was perhaps, Derek's favorite memory of his father as a child, having his dad comfort him with a children's story when he was scared, making him feel safe again.
"We all will help." Boyd joined in, taking his mate's hand in unison.
Isaac nodded in agreement but said nothing.
"Of course. After all, what is family for?" Peter added with a smirk, meeting Derek's gaze.
The Alpha cringed but let it go, excusing himself from the room, claiming he had lots to do.
(After Derek stormed off, leaving Stiles in the woods)
Peter walked down the front porch stairs of the manor looking annoyed, with a pair of dress shoes in hand.
"Maid, come here at once!" He yelled out towards a couple of maids who were outside hanging up clothes on a line to dry.
The two ladies eyed each other in uncertainty, not sure who should head over.
"Are you deaf? Come here, now." Peter snapped, clearly irritated by the pair's confusion.
The older maid quickly dismissed the other servant with a wave of her hand, before continuing on with her work, not bothering to pay Peter any attention.
The younger brunette with a ponytail and youthful looks came running over, not wanting to upset Peter any more than he already sounded.
"Yes, Mr. Hale." She answered coming over to the bottom of the staircase.
"I told you to shine my shoes. Do these look shined to you?"
"Well, I did sir…I" She started to explain.
He gave her a warning look as she gulped nervously.
"I will shine them again, sir." She said taking the shoes from him.
"And remember, I want to be able to see my reflection in them when you're done." He added.
"Yes sir, sorry sir." She said with a small bow, before quickly heading inside to fix her mistake.
Peter let out an annoyed sigh and set his sights ahead toward the field, noticing someone out in the distance. It was Derek, heading back to the manor looking quite upset about something.
He watched quietly off in the shadows as his nephew walked over to one of his guards, and ordered him to do something, triggering the guard to answer back with a "Yes, sir." All before Derek walked off into the manor, paying no mind to his uncle as he went.
Peter walked over to the guard who was about to head out into the field, "Guard, where are you going? I need your help with something very important."
"I'm sorry, sir. Lord Hale has given me a task that I must do. Perhaps, one of the other guards can help you."
"What did Master Hale ask of you that is so important?" Peter asked curious.
"He wants me to retrieve his Pet from the old waterfall location."
Peter's boredom quickly changed to interest.
"I'll tell you what, how about we switch? You do my request and I'll go fetch the boy. You don't want to get lost in these woods with night approaching, it's dangerous. I know these parts like the back of my hand, I can have the teen out in two shakes."
The guard thought about it for a moment before replying, "Okay, what do you need me to do?"
Peter lit up at this.
(Current time)
"You scared me."
"I tend to have that effect on people," Peter said with an amused smirk.
"What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing, not many people know about this spot."
"Derek showed it to me."
"Derek? You two are on first-name bases now? Interesting. Usually, my nephew doesn't allow such a thing."
"We aren't, not really, it's…it's complicated."
"Isn't it always?" Peter said with a chuckle before adding, "Anything involving my nephew is complicated."
"I'm glad you're here actually, I… I wanted to talk to you about something."
"What a coincidence, so did I," Peter replied with a smirk.
"Really?"
"You first, go on."
"Derek… I mean Master Hale, told me what you did to him. How could you do that to your own nephew, taking advantage of him at such a fragile time?
"He told you everything about his past?" Peter asked arching an eyebrow.
"Everything."
"Huh, I'm impressed. I didn't think he would have it in him to be so open with someone he barely knows, much less a Pet. You must have some special skills in the bedroom." Peter voiced giving Stiles his best bedroom eyes before continuing, "And as for my corrupt past with my nephew, well… it wasn't my proudest moment. Derek was grieving, as was I. We both lost a lot back then and what better way to get through pain than with the help of a loved one?" Peter claimed, stepping closer to the teen.
Stiles gave him a disgusted look, "How can you even justify what you did? He was only a boy. You were the only family he had left, he trusted you and you betrayed him."
"We consoled each other in our own ways. Derek needed a shoulder he could cry on and vent to. I was that shoulder. I, being older, dealt with grief differently than my nephew. I used sex to numb the pain. Was it wrong? Sure. Did it do the trick? Yes. Overall, I think things turned out all right in the end. Derek is alive and well, and able to run his pack, thanks to me. I stepped in when he couldn't. If I wasn't there, who knows if Derek would even still be alive."
"So, you don't take any responsibility for damaging your nephew? You don't think your actions are what screwed him up?" Stiles asked angrily.
"I try not to think back on it too much. I regret the conflict it has put between me and Derek. I just want to move on, and I think he should too."
Stiles watched on edge as Peter took another step closer to him, leaving only a foot between them. The smirk never left his face.
"Especially now that I'm going to be an uncle to this little one, soon." He said, lifting at the edge of the teen's shirt before sliding his big, warm hands underneath, feeling up on Stiles's bare stomach, running his hands in a slow, sensual manner as if trying to get a reaction from the boy.
Stiles gasped and tensed up, feeling uncomfortable by his touch. Peter's blue eyes flickered in excitement seeing the teen's reaction, as if, sickly loving his discomfort. After a moment or two, he removed his hands, backing up slightly.
"Forgive me, I guess I have to work on that consent thing. It's not often we have a baby at the manor." He voiced.
Stiles nodded weakly, fixing his wrinkled, slightly raised shirt, pulling it down to hide his baby bump, while trying to shake the creepy feelings coming over him. Peter had only touched him once and his skin was crawling. He wanted to submerge his body in a tub and wash away the memory. He could only imagine what it might have been like for Derek when he was a teen having his uncle's older hands all over him. He shivered at the thought.
"So, do you know if it's a girl, or a boy?" Peter asked, taking the teen out of his troubling thoughts.
"N…no."
"Hmm, hoping for a boy?" The older man asked, raising an eyebrow.
"What? I don't care what it is, as long as it's healthy." The teen answered, honestly.
"You should. Derek will."
"Why?"
Peter's smile grew.
Stiles didn't know if he could trust Peter. There was something about him that made the teen want to put a wall up around him, but he was indeed a part of the Hale family, Derek's uncle, and if Master was willing to give Peter another chance, Stiles should too.
When Stiles realized, he wasn't going to get an answer from the man, he decided to drop the topic and focus on something else, Peter's reason for finding the teen.
"What did you want to talk to me about?"
"Derek sent me to take you back to the manor. We better run along. Don't want to keep Romeo waiting."
Stiles let out a relieved sigh before nodding in agreement, The thought of seeing Derek again instantly calmed him, especially after interacting with Peter.
The teen couldn't wait to see his Master again. He just wanted to run up to him and be engulfed in his warm embrace, feel his long, muscular arms wrap around him in a tight, safe hold, hear his calming breath, and smell his naturally earthy scent once more.
It was silent as the pair made their way through the wooden area, passing by trees thick with ferns, avoiding the tree roots on the dirt ground as they walked, only the sound of leaves crunching, and twigs snapping under their shoes, filled the air.
As they reached the front of the manor Peter parted from the teen, stopping by the garden. Stiles turned back noticing.
"You're not going to escort me inside?" The teen asked, not wanting to get in trouble with his Master.
"No, I trust you know your way."
The teen nodded and turned to head inside when Peter suddenly called out.
"Oh, Stiles. I almost forgot. Derek asked that you meet him in the dungeon, he had something he wanted to show you."
"Really, the dungeon?" Stiles asked confused, remembering how upset his Master got with him last time he was there, banning him from it.
"That's what he said. You might want to go soon. My nephew doesn't take well to people that keep him waiting."