Most of the ride was quiet and I kept a close eye on Stiles, not wanting him to spiral even further down that hole. None of what happened was his fault, but I remember him saying, previously after it was over, that he remembered everything that the Nogitsune had him do. To this day he still kicked himself for all that had happened. I didn't want that to happen now, especially since this hasn't happened this time around. I hated even telling him about it, but he needed to know I think. He needed to know what we were preventing this time around. I just hope it wasn't a mistake.

"You know the worse part of it, I mean besides those that died?" Stiles said suddenly, head leaning against the window and eyes closed.

"What's that?" I asked.

"The hell my dad must have endured. Thinking that I was going to end up the same as my mom and then realizing what was going on and knowing what I did, well what it did through me. I can't imagine what was going through his head at that time. Either way he was losing me, and he couldn't do anything about it."

"I won't lie, it was a difficult time for him. But he knew we were working on bringing you back." I told him.

'How did you do it?" he asked.

"Remember that mind reading thing I told you about?"

He nodded.

"Lydia and I did that. It had you trapped in your own mind. I connected the three of us and we searched for you. When we found you, we had to get your attention."

"Okay, and how did you get my attention?"

"You're pack, how does a wolf call for his pack?" I asked him, knowing he would know. he laughed at looked over at me.

"You howled? That's how you pulled me out?"

"Yep." I smirked. "Howling called to you, and I was able to separate you from the Nogitsune. The problem was that when we were able to separate the two of you it created a carbon copy of you to use. So essentially there were two of you running around. But where you were getting weaker and dying it was getting stronger, pulling your energy from you to it."

"so how did you kill it? I mean you did kill it didn't you?"

"No, it can't be killed, only trapped. We were able to track the Nogitsune, or Void as Kira's mother referred to it, to the school. It… created another world there called Bardo, another story we will save for later. But it created illusions inside that world. Its goal was to have me kill you to stop the destruction it was causing."

"Did you consider just killing me? I'm sure I considered it if it would have stopped it."

"No, that was never an option I entertained. I was going to save you no matter what."

"And you did. How?"

"It was Kira and I who saved you. the theory is that a Nogitsune couldn't be two things at the same time. It was a fox spirit so if I changed it to a wolf then they would negate each other, and it would be able to be trapped. We found a specific container that had to be used and trapped the spirit of it inside."

"And that stopped it. so, what happened to the container after that."

"I'm not really sure. Argent and Isaac took it with them when they left, after Allison died."

"Oh." Was his only response, followed by more silence. We were getting closer, coming up on the turn off leading to the old Hale house.

"You said that the Nematon being active is what made the Nogitsune resurface. So, if the Nematon is already active now, does that mean it could already be back?"

I tensed at that. I hadn't thought about that.

"Shit, I didn't think about that. I need to go check on it and then I might need to call in reinforcements."

"What kind of reinforcements?"

Sighing I turned off and slowed as we got closer to the house, even from a distance it looked as if it were falling apart. At some point the city had condemned it and tore it down. I had forgotten how decrepit it looked before then.

"Kira Yukimura and her mother, their Kitsune. Still fox spirits but the opposite of a Nogitsune is."

"Oh, well that sounds… fun." Stiles sighed. I snorted as I turned off the jeep parked in front of the house.

"Should we go up and knock or beep the horn or something?" he asked. I listened closely and could hear a singular heartbeat inside, the scent surrounding it was purely Derek, no sign of Peter at all.

"No, he knows we are here." I told him, getting out, slamming the door. Stiles scrambled out his side then came to stand next to me.

"I know you can hear me Derek. I'm not here to cause you harm. I am hoping to help you." I spoke no louder than my normal range as I waited, listening. I could hear him moving, though quietly. "I just need to talk to you. I have information you might want."

I waited, Stiles shuffling next to me, looking around nervously. No further sound was made from inside. So, he was going to be a stubborn bastard. Sighing I said what I knew would bring him out.

"I know about Laura. I know how she died."

A growl came from inside but still no Derek. Fine, he wanted to play it this way.

"I also know about Kate… and I know about Paige." I said. that did it. the growl grew louder, and Stiles jumped, taking a step back. rushed footsteps and then the door slammed open, and Derek stood there, looking just as he had before, when I was 16. The same angry scowl on his face, which was less intense without the facial hair. he eyes glowed a bright neon blue as he glared at me.

"Holy shit." Stiles whispered. I pulled him behind me.

"I'm not here to cause trouble or to hurt you in any way. I just want to talk, that's all." I told him.

"Who are you? What do you want? How do you know about them?" he spat out, marching down the creaking steps over to us. I held up a hand to stop him, backing us back a few more steps to keep some distance.

"my name is Scott McCall and I told you I just want talk."

"Talk about what? What is it you know about Kate and…" he stopped before he said her name. I really hated reminding him of that time in his life. It was tragic and its part of why he became the angry man standing in from of me.

"Look, there are so many things I can tell you, that I need to tell you, but I already know you won't believe me because you don't know me. Right now, you don't trust me, and I understand that. But what I can do right now is give you a piece of information to hopefully extend an olive branch. Hopefully, it will help you see that I am on your side, I only want to help."

"What could you possibly help me with. You're a kid, you don't know what is going on."

"You would be surprised what I know but that's a conversation for another time. First I want to show you something, but know I am not the one you are looking for."

"Oh yeah. what's that? what is it you think I am looking for?"

"You're looking for the alpha that killed your sister."

He growled louder and started to shift.

"Stiles get in the jeep, now." I told him. he complied with no argument. He just barely got the door shut before Derek ran at me. I braced myself for the attack then used his momentum to push him away. Shifting I crouched to defend myself.

"I'm not your enemy Derek."

"Alpha. You're him." he snarled running at me again. I wasn't quick enough this time and took a punch in the chest, dropping me. Before I could bounce back he was on me, claws coming closer, aiming for my throat.

"Scott." Stiles called.

"Stay there Stiles. Don't move." I grunted, gripping Derek's wrist to keep him from killing me. he moved his other hand to strike, and I used his adjusted position to shove my foot in his stomach flipping him over and moving to straddling him. I used as much force as I could to pin his arms to the ground and kept my body close enough so that he couldn't use the same move again.

"I told you I am not the one you are looking for."

"you are the only alpha I have seen here. So, if you aren't him then who is?" he asked.

A loud howl sounded from the forest near us, catching all of our attention.

"My guess is that's him now." I said, hopping up and backing away. I could catch the faint scent of wolfsbane and remembered the shallow grave Derek had made for Laura.

"Get to the right side of the house. You'll find a rope sticking out of the ground, pull it, keep pulling until you have it all, its laced with wolfsbane. Get it and bring it back. we might be able to use it. We will keep him distracted." I told Stiles. He nodded and got out running to the side of the house.

I backed up to stand next to Derek, both of us shifted and waiting, facing the direction we could hear the quiet lumbering steps of Peter.

"Who is that?" Derek asked.

"The alpha you are looking for." I told him just as glowing eyes appeared through the trees, the shape slowly coming into focus as he got closer. I had forgotten how frightening he was in this form, but I do remember how we defeated him. I didn't think it would happen this time. we had to set him on fire before.

He stopped right at the edge of the tree line and watched us, or me rather.

"Did you bring him here? Are you working for him?" Derek asked. I snorted.

"Hardly and I think you brought him here."

he's protecting you."

"What? Why?"

"I think he's trying to protect you; he thinks I am a threat to you."

"You're a kid, I could take you out easily. Why would he need to protect me from you?" he asked, and I rolled my eyes.

"It's something you can ask him later." I told him, taking a measured step forward. "I know who you are, but I don't think you are ready for anyone else to know." I said to Peter.

"Scott, I got it." Stiles yelled, his hurried footsteps stumbling to a stop when he caught sight of the giant wolf. Peter's attention turned to him, and I growled.

"You don't touch him. Ever. I will lace everything he eats with mountain ash and line every article of clothes he has with it to keep you away. He is off limits to you." I snarled moving to block his view of Stiles. "I know who you are, and I know what you are after. I have information that can help you get the revenge you want but if anything happens to him or me or any of our families, you won't even get close to finishing what you have started. If you don't believe me, try me." my heart was beating out of control, and I was vibrating wondering which way this meeting would go. would he heed my warning or try to prove me wrong.

He looked at me and I could tell he was contemplating what I just said. my gaze never wavered, daring him to try and prove me wrong.

"You don't want me as your enemy. I know more than you think, and I know things that you don't that pertain to you. Leave now and don't even think of going near him and I will tell you what you want to know." I added. He gave a low growl before backing away slowly then turning and running away.

I only relaxed when his footsteps faded, and I could no longer hear him. sighing in relief I turned only to be yanked up by Derek as he gripped my shirt and slammed me into the side of the jeep.

"Who are you kid? And what the hell just happened? Why did he listen to you?" he growled in my face. I prided his hands loose and shoved him back.

"I told you; I want to help you."

"Help me? you just told him that you wanted to help him."

"No, I said that I could help him. And honestly helping him helps you too. despite what you think we are on the same side."

"Same side? He killed my sister. We are not on the same side."

"I know but," I said stopping him from attacking again. "you wouldn't believe me if I told you right now. you don't trust me, and I get why, especially after that confrontation. But I swear I just want to help." I reiterated. He studied me for a minute then huffed, shaking his head.

"You should leave now and don't come back. I see you again I kill you." he said turning back towards the house. Stiles scurried away from him and over to me.

"God, you always were a stubborn asshole. Will you just stop and listen for a fucking minute." I shouted.

"I don't even know you, so how could you possibly know that." he said, stopping but not turning around.

"I know more than you think. Despite what I look like I have been through more shit then I ever wanted to go through, and it all started 2 nights ago when I was bitten." I told him. he turned back and raised that eyebrow of gloom at me.

"You were bitten two nights ago? Impossible. You're an alpha there is no way you could have just recently been turned."

"Technically its true. The alpha that was just here is my maker and yes it was two nights ago but… look there's a lot I want to explain to you but only after you start trusting me."

"And how am I supposed to trust you. you said that you are willing to work with him. why would I trust you after that?"

"Because I am about to give you a piece of your family back."

"What?"

"You didn't lose all of them in that fire and I'm not talking about your uncle."

"What are you talking about?" he asked losing the defensive posture he had.

There was another survivor of that fire that night. Not all of them died."

"You're lying." He said, hands clenched, and his eyes flashed but he stood still as a statute looking at me.

"I'm not. Your sister Cora is still alive, and I am going to tell you where to start looking."

"There's no way. she was in the house when it caught fire." He said, uncertainly.

"If I tell you where to start looking for her, will you come find me. I wasn't lying when I said I have information for you, this is just a piece of it. there is so much more you need to know. But only after you find her."

He shook his head, looking unsure.

"I'm not lying Derek, she's alive. She was able to get out of the house, I don't know how but she was. Its something you can ask her about when you find her. I wouldn't lie about something like this. I know how hurt you were when it happened, when you thought you lost everyone but Laura. I wouldn't put you through that again. Just promise that when, not if, you find her that you will come find me and we can talk."

I held my breath waiting for him to say something. I needed this work. As much as I needed Stiles with me on this, I also needed Derek. It may have taken us a while, but we became close over the years. I didn't want to lose that now.

"Okay." he said, taking a few steps forward. "Say that I believe you. if I find her, I will find you and we can talk. But, if this turns out to be some kind of cruel joke, I will still find you, but it won't be to talk."

"Fine, but I'm not lying and I'm not pulling a prank. You need to go to Mexico. She's there somewhere I can't pinpoint it for you. I only know she was with a pack there, that's where you start. If you know of any packs down there then you should contact them. They may be able to give you an exact location."

"Mexico? She's been in Mexico this whole time?"

"She was also in South America for a while, but I don't know exactly when. I just know that when she found out you were alive, she was in Mexico and was going to start making her way back here to find you. Just like you thought she was dead, she thought all of you were dead as well, so she fled when she escaped."

"I still don't know if I can trust what you are saying."

"I know, but you're curious enough to at least look into it. Just go and when you come back, I will tell you everything."

"How will I find you?"

"You're a wolf, just scent me out." I snorted, rolling my eyes. "But if you want a more human way of doing it then go to the animal clinic in town. I work there after school. if you don't find me there then Deaton, the vet, will know where I am."

He nodded once and I took that as agreement.

"I'll leave you alone now. hopefully I see you soon. And be careful, the Argents are back in town." I told him. he raised the doom brows again. I beckoned to Stiles, who was standing still holding the rope watching us, and we got back in the jeep. "Oh, and just so you know there's a nice, sort of, loft for sale downtown. It might be a bit safer for you than being here. Especially since Kate knows about this place. Just something to keep in mind."

Stiles started the jeep and backed out leaving Derek standing there watching us.