Chapter 26

Peter, Phoebe, and Stiles led the pack through the back doors of Eichen House, while Malia and Lydia guarded the rear. Any orderlies or other supernatural creatures who had been unleashed to stop them were easily knocked out as the pack made their way through the halls. The whole pack was keyed up and on the alert for Theo and his pack, so when they rounded the corner it was almost too late to stop their attack. Stiles' claws barely missed his father's face, and Melissa was slammed into the wall by Malia, who apologized profusely once she realized who it was and helped the older woman to straighten up. Peter had checked his fist just before it hit Liam in the face, and the younger werewolf stepped back away from the other alpha in shock.

"Dad, why are you here," Stiles asked.

"He's Melissa's son, Stiles. And I'm the sheriff."

Stiles sighed. He should have known his dad wouldn't stay out of it once he learned where Scott was being held.

His nose twitched, and Stiles turned his head to gaze at Liam. The other boy's eyes were glowing gold as he took in the sight of Stiles' own new eyes. Stiles growled before turning back to his dad.

"You're a werewolf," Liam asked as the newly combined group made their way through the halls of Eichen House.

Stiles rolled his eyes, as he so often had with the younger boy. "Yes. I'm a werewolf now."

"And…Peter's your alpha?" Liam swallowed nervously.

Stiles paused to glance at the other boy. "Yes. He is."

Liam's frown was more telling than he knew. Malia and Stiles shared a concerned glance at the scent of Liam's jealousy, but it was the twitchy way that the other boy kept glancing around that had Stiles more alert than before.

The group came to the end of the hall and found a doorway where the stairs seemed to lead further down. Peter and Phoebe shared a look before Peter nodded at Stiles, who swung the door open. The stairway was dark, but the werewolves could see well enough, so they took the lead and the humans followed closely behind.

Once down the stairs, the pack was greeted by the sight of the true alpha strung up on the wall. New electric burns dotted his skin, and deep gashes that had not been allowed to heal were festering. Stiles threw up a little in his mouth, and even Peter almost gagged at the smell. Lydia felt a scream trying to rise in her throat. The young alpha was on the brink of death.

Stiles moved to release his former best friend, but the Dread Doctors didn't give him time. Soon Peter's pack was caught up in a fight that left them little time to think about Scott. The pack was doing pretty well against the Dread Doctors when a new attack came from the side. Theo slammed Peter into the wall, and it was clear that he was trying to find leverage to rip the other man's throat out. Stiles' gold eyes grew darker as he watched his hated enemy attack his alpha.

Grabbing Theo's shirt, Stiles flung him off of Peter. Fangs distended, Stiles flicked his tongue through them. "Your fight is with me."

Nodding to Stiles, Peter moved quickly to help Phoebe who was being overwhelmed. No sooner had he thrown her attackers away from her, than more came to take their place. Phoebe's magic was useful, but she couldn't do everything.

Noah kept Melissa behind him, and fired his weapon until he had to resort to using it as a club. Lydia stood nearby and was able to unleash her banshee scream to knock Theo's pack away when they got too close. But their real focus was Peter.

Theo had Corey take the first attack, which activated the pendant and sent him back into the wall. Then Theo rushed toward Stiles, scratching him with his claws and trying to tear his throat out. Stiles gave as good as he got, and the fight was more evenly matched than Theo would ever have admitted. Stiles had been fighting the supernatural as a human for years now, and Peter was an effective alpha and teacher.

Peter snapped the neck of the last of the Dread Doctors as Phoebe knelt beside Malia to heal a gash that wasn't closing due to wolfsbane. A loud crack made everyone turn toward Stiles' fight.

Stiles grinned through his fangs as he watched the life leave Theo's eyes. The chimera would never be a threat to them again. Throwing his head back in an instinctual gesture, Stiles howled. Soon, Peter and Malia joined him. Their pack was victorious.

Melissa's scream rent the air and drowned out the pack's victory howl. Everyone turned toward the reason they'd come to Eichen House and they watched in horror as Scott's beta ripped his throat out before dropping him to the ground. Scott offered a weak smile to his mother before the light dimmed in his eyes and he went completely still.

Liam turned, eyes red, and ran toward the door. A gunshot rang out, and he crashed to the floor. Melissa dropped the gun, gasping as she ran toward her son. Cradling Scott in her arms as tears rolled down her face, she whispered to him, begged and pleaded with him not to leave her.

The sheriff slowly bent down to pick up his gun, shocked at the turn of events. A sudden growl from Peter had them all turning, and they saw the Hale Alpha walk slowly toward Liam's body. The new alpha was trying to get up, still stunned from where the bullet had grazed his temple. Placing a foot on the younger wolf's leg, Peter prevented him from leaving. Liam turned, claws out and ready to fight, but Peter quickly reached down and ripped out Liam's heart. The new alpha died, and Peter drew back, now the only alpha of Beacon Hills. He held back the instinctual howl, knowing it was not appropriate in this place of death.

Melissa's sobs had become wails, and she clutched her son to her tighter than before. Peter watched her with sympathy, and if you had asked him in that moment, he would never have admitted that he had ever wanted the young alpha dead.

Stepping forward, Phoebe knelt before Melissa. "I can save him," she said.

Melissa's head shot up, eyes locked on Phoebe. "You can?"

Phoebe nodded. "I have a short amount of time, and it's an unusual circumstance. But since Peter and I are mates now, and because Peter killed Liam shortly after Liam killed Scott, I can revive him one time."

"Then do it," Melissa said.

"He'll be human again," Phoebe said. "I can't restore the alpha spark."

"Do it," Melissa pleaded.

Phoebe looked back to Peter, who nodded.

Reaching out her hands, Phoebe placed one over Scott's heart and another over the wound in his throat. Chanting an ancient spell, she watched as her hands glowed blue and then green before emanating an almost blinding light. If this worked, Scott would never be able to become a werewolf again, but maybe, Phoebe thought, that was for the best.