The Big Bad

Chapter 18

Peter lurched for Kali as soon as he knew his nephew was going to be just fine. Derek was injured not dead that's all that mattered. Peter didn't waste a second before he dug his claws into her chest before pulling out her heart while it was still beating. He hadn't been feared for no reason, he was swift when he attacked, no warning, no second chances, he didn't listen to begging and pleading. He had a fierce reputation, one that existed to this day. If Kali underestimated him, well, that was on her.

Derek held his breath, watching Peter closely, expecting him to gain a surge of power and become Alpha. Preparing to lose his Beta and left hand in a single swoop. Surprised by how much that hurt, but not surprised Peter would take the immediate chance to become Alpha again.

It didn't happen, Peter just dropped the heart, intending on dealing with her later. Cut her up and burn the body, after what happened to Argent…he was never risking an enemy returning again. A curious but not at all surprised look on his face that he hadn't morphed into an Alpha.

Derek's pounding heartbeat began to slow, with the realisation he wasn't about to lose Peter again. Either to madness…or to Alpha-hood. The presence of pack allowing his wounds to heal a bit faster…despite the fact the wounds were inflicted by an alpha, they hadn't been caused by an alpha's claws, allowing the hole in his chest to heal at a normal rate for werewolves.

"Peter," Derek warned as Peter approached him, had he missed any signs of the Alpha powers going to him? He hadn't felt any powerful manifestations or even the pack bonds with him breaking. The darkness of the Alpha packs sparks…might have caused him to snap.

Peter wasn't giving Derek his full undivided attention, ear cocked out listening to Harry and Deucalion fighting. "Accept it," Peter said, thrusting his hands out, Derek just waited for the agony of his own heart being ripped out, but the claws barely touched him, instead of he felt Kali's powers as if he had been the one to strike the killing blow. "Easy, the taint will not last long." Peter held onto his nephews shoulder. Wincing at the sound of Harry's roar of pain as Duke managed to land a blow.

"Go," Derek urged Peter to go to his mate, his own wounds healing more rapidly at the sudden influx of Alpha powers gifted to him. Slightly ashamed of his own reactions, he should know better, he could feel the bond with his uncle. He should have trusted him.

Peter had barely taken a step in that direction, when Derek begun to pull himself up. So very grateful that Cora, Isaac and Stiles weren't here for this, Cora and Isaac were more durable but Stiles…if he'd been here…he would have been very vulnerable. Yes, he was learning magic, but he wasn't quite there yet, not to be able to deal with two power hungry, murderous Alphas.

From what he understood though, they hadn't had any intentions of killing him. They'd been surprised by the fact he was alone, they'd expected at least one Beta to be with him. They'd wanted to force him into killing one of his Beta's. His phone had been smashed in his pocket during their rough handling off him. So they hadn't had a chance to try and trick any of the Beta's into coming…thank the moon for that.

Using the walls and furniture to help him on the way, the sudden influx of alpha powers – which would be working its way down the entire pack – he didn't feel much of the pain he would otherwise be in. Grateful at least, that only a wall had been damaged, Harry said Mundane appliances didn't react well with magic. So, if they had been destroyed, they would need replaced. The wall though, would be as good as new by the end of the fight.

He didn't doubt Harry would survive for a second.

"The police are going to be on their way," Derek rasped out, worried about exposure. There was no way they could explain this when they got there, that's for damn certain. "People will have heard the noise." Despite the fact he didn't have any neighbours nearby… the noise was massively overwhelming. Wincing as Duke's claws dug into Harry's stomach, he saw Peter falter in place, as though he wanted to join the fray and take care of Deucalion. They were bruised, bloody, severely injured, but neither looked ready to give in the slightest.

Peter shook his head, gritting his teeth, but remaining firmly on the spot. He had every confidence in Harry that he would win the fight. He disliked immensely that he was not using magic to his advantage. Unfortunately, Harry was pissed off, he'd lost his chance to go after Argent and the Calavera's who he had a bone to pick with. That fury was being unleashed on Deucalion. "The area is warded," Peter informed him bluntly, "The fact they managed to get in is suspect."

"What do you mean?" Derek asked, heart beginning to pound again.

"This place is warded to the nines, not only should you have been warned of company…they shouldn't have been able to get in without explicit permission." Peter revealed simply, magic wasn't new to him, he knew it like he knew the back of his hand. "There's something more going on…" and wasn't that absolutely terrifying considering how powerful Harry's wards were? let's not forget the wizard himself.

"Oh my god! What's going on?" Stiles blurted, take-out in his slack hold, staring at the destruction, "Are you hurt?" he said, before a sardonic grin appeared on his face, "Because I can see right through you!" peering through Derek, a little concerned but mostly smug, he'd never thought he'd get to use that line in his lifetime and for it to be literal. He was still standing, he was obviously going to be alright. He knew how durable werewolves were. He let out a cry of indignation when Cora smacked the back of his head as she made her own appearance, only relaxing when she saw Derek was fine…well, alive anyway. She was used to seeing pack injured in one form or another.

Peter snorted, making no effort to hide his amusement.

"Holy shit!" he cried out, as Deucalion was blasted off his feet with a wicked right hook from Harry. The werewolf landed with a bellow of pain in a tree. Harry didn't waste a second in following him.

Isaac hid behind his injured Alpha, seeing the two werewolves go at it was singularly the most terrifying thing he'd ever seen. They were hulking masses of destruction and he knew they could snap him like a twig. Cora stood next to her brother, letting him lean on her a bit, sniffing a bit, no wolfsbane, no scent of alpha on the wound, good it meant it should heal quite quickly.

Harry still slavering in righteous fury, this bastard had prevented him from getting his revenge. His death was going to be slow and painful, as he bound after him, just as he was getting up from the tree. The adrenaline prevented him from feeling anything that the other Alpha had done. He knew he was injured, he could smell it, but it was insignificant as they battled it out.

Lurching forward, his bunched up hands punched Deucalion in the chest, barely managing to side sweep the claws that were just inches from his jugular in retaliation. Deucalion was aiming to kill while Harry beat him bloody, in no hurry whatsoever to kill the werewolf. He wanted him to suffer.

"Please stop playing with Deucalion, sweetheart, and kill him," Peter said softly, watching as Deucalion went flying face first into the mud. "I don't think my heart can take more of almost losing you." Again, he never wanted to lose his mate, not after he being the one to call him for aid. He knew Deucalion wouldn't and couldn't beat his mate, he was much too powerful for that, but all it took was one wrong move.

Harry scowled before growling low in his throat, looking petulant, as if Peter had declared his fun over.

"Don't look like that, we'll have fun with Kate," Peter said, a savage grin on his face.

Harry grunted, before he picked up Deucalion's leg and flung him like a rag doll from side to side until he heard his spine break and the werewolf stop breathing.

"Puny God," Stiles cackled, watching the scene in front of him with reverence. Crouched over laughing, his stomach hurt and his face ached, but he just couldn't stop, it was the most hilarious thing he'd ever seen. If you discount the fact that a werewolf had died, but Stiles wasn't Scott. Wasn't one for giving second chances.

Cora tried to keep a straight face, she really, really, did but it was hilarious. She hid her bout of giggles in Derek's arm, she did have her reputation to think about after all.

Isaac however, burst out into almost hysterical laughter, shaken by what he'd just witnessed. Derek pressed his hand against Isaac's shoulder, trying to give him the comfort of his Alpha, while not dislodging Cora. Who's comfort meant the world, he'd thought he'd lost everyone for a brief time, then Peter came back and then Cora.

"He's definitely your mate," Peter whispered dryly, recalling Derek's earlier words, oh his nephew had well and truly succumbed to Stiles, keeping him away was an exercise in futility. He should know, he hadn't been able to stay away from his mate, even when he'd declared himself uninterested. He'd just kept following him everywhere, hindsight told him he wouldn't have found Harry if he didn't actually want to be found. Part of Harry had wished to be courted, just as part of Derek did too and he would be. Stiles was nothing if not headstrong and determined.

Slowly Harry's shift receded, leaving behind a once again very naked Harry.

Isaac flushed bright red, embarrassment coating his scent.

Stiles just rolled his eyes, more used to nakedness, they all changed in the changing rooms and he had also seen his dads deputies in various stages of undress as a youngster. Often crashing into the changing rooms when they were changing out or into their uniforms. Plus, it wasn't as if it was nice to look at, he was blooded and wounded, still healing from the wounds Deucalion had inflicted. Cora barely blinked other than to give Harry an appreciative once over, without any sexual zing of course, Harry was her uncles mate, she wouldn't even complete such a betrayal let alone oogle his mate in that manner.

Peter was swift at going to Harry's side, as he swayed a little, keeping him upright. "Let's get you healed up," he said, not going overly 'mother-hen' on him, well aware that he didn't like it. Neither did he come to that, neither were pups anymore.

"We need to take care of this first," Harry explained, wincing, even just Peter grasping a hold of him made every single wound ache fiercely.

"What do you mean take care of?" Isaac asked, only to jump back in shock as the body of Deucalion caught fire. Cora paled, but remained stalwart. She might not be as badly affected as Peter, she hadn't been in the fire, but she had watched in shock as her family perished before running and running.

Harry had said this in order to prepare Peter for what was coming. Within minutes the body was reduced to ash. Then with an additional wave of his hand the ashes were scattered. "Another one down." he stated, grimacing. Merlin help him, the adrenaline was beginning to wane further, leaving him feeling every single nick that had been pressed to his skin.

Peter took most of Harry's weight as he got him inside, easing him to the sofa. "I'll be right back, get them something to eat and drink." He ordered one of the others before taking off down Harry's trunk, which had a permanent place of resident here for Stiles and Lydia to read what they liked. A lot of them were from Deaton's own library actually, waste not want not. Harry had gone through them though, and deemed only a two out of them all unsuitable, for now.

Stiles urged Derek to sit as well, he still had a hole in his stomach, and despite his teasing he was worried.. Cora helped where Stiles couldn't, after all he couldn't lift a werewolf off the ground. Even if he was able to keep them afloat in water. Thankfully the werewolves would know despite his teasing that he was concerned Otherwise he would have come across as rather unfeeling, it's perhaps why he found it difficult to make friends. His sarcasm was rather on the blunt side. "I'll go get it!" with that Stiles scampered off to get soda from the fridge, something not diet, since they needed sugar and something high in carbs to combat the energy they were using to heal.

"Isaac get some warm soapy water," came the demand by Peter, who was still in the trunk. Suggesting Isaac instead of Cora because he knew Isaac would feel better having something to do.

Stiles didn't hear that, as he grabbed the pasta that had been left over from dinner, and scooped them into two different bowls, plucking forks out the drawer, shoving both bottles of soda under his arm he plucked the two bowls up in his hands before making a beeline for Harry and Derek, the urge to protect and care not surprising him the slightest, even before he became a member of a pack…he was very protective of his father and showed he cared by feeding him.

Isaac passed Stiles, as he grabbed a bucket and began to fill it with water, pouring in a generous amount of antiseptic stuff that they had lying around. The werewolves didn't need more than that, but they had every single thing a human would need if they were hurt and sick in the house. For Stiles and Lydia. Derek had gone overboard, but it had been explained to him. The need to take care of all members of the pack was strong, especially since the bonds were just beginning to settle. His wolf understood all the ways a human could be hurt, by either pack members or just every day scuffles. It was better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

"Here, drink this," Peter shoved a small vial into Derek's hand, uncorked Harry's before passing it to him. Cora wedged herself next to Derek knowing the pack bonds and touch would help him heal all that faster. "It smells and tastes disgusting but it will heal you." He added in exasperation when Derek looked like he'd rather squash it in his hands than drink it. Honestly, you'd think Derek thought he wanted to kill him still.

Peter dunked the clean cloth into the water and began to wipe Harry down, taking care of the wounds, which were many.

In his exasperation, still able to smell the embarrassment, Harry grabbed the cover over the sofa and covered himself. Ruefully shaking his head, smiling at Stiles and inclining his head in thanks as he accepted the soda and bowl of pasta the teen had so generously gotten for him.

Inhaling sharply, wincing as Peter washed down the very deep wounds that Deucalion's claws had caused earlier. "Damn, it Peter," he grunted. It was all the way through muscle and bone, it fucking hurt.

"It needs wiped out," Peter stated, but he did gentle himself further, "You should have used magic. isn't it always you who's telling me not to go in half cocked?" it wasn't often he got a chance to reprimand Harry, who was definitely the more level headed one of them both.

"I was this close," Harry gestured with his fingers, "This close to getting them." still angry but the emotion behind it was muted due to the mass outpouring of fury he'd pummelled onto the Demon Wolf.

"I'm sorry," Derek said quietly, entirely subdued, understanding now why Harry had been so furious. It wasn't entire due to the Alpha pack getting in here but his missed chance.

Harry snorted, "It's hardly your fault, don't start smelling up the room with your guilt, it's offensive. I chose to come, I could have just left you to it." which was all true, but anyone who knew Harry knew he'd help anyone before himself. "Plus, if it wasn't for you I wouldn't have had answers." All true enough, the Alpha pack were after Derek, and if Peter hadn't been in desperate need, he might never have gotten his mate back. Wouldn't have gotten information to his godsons murderers from Gerard Argent, and wouldn't be about to get his long awaited revenge. "Plus, it's not like they're out of the picture for good, another opportunity will crop up." Which just meant getting in touch with his contact again, and paying an absurd amount more, but utterly worth it.

Harry and Peter both ignored the 'pleased' 'happy' 'contentment' that exuded from Derek instead. He might be the Alpha, but he was a young one. Harry and Peter were the 'pack Elders' with more experience so it was natural for Derek to look to them for help with answers and be pleased with how things are going.

"She's starting to stink up the place," Isaac grumbled, glancing at the heart and body of Kali with a grimace.

"Ah, I see you took care of another one of our problems," Harry murmured, not at all surprised. Wincing at the feel of Peter prodding around the wound at his side, carefully removing the wood imbedded in his back from where he'd painfully landed against a tree. Gritting his teeth, chomping a load of pasta into his mouth to stop himself saying something he'd regret. The wound wouldn't heal properly if the splinters weren't removed. "I wish I had seen your face when the Alpha powers didn't affect you," he said with devious amusement.

Derek chuffed out his own amusement, "Wasn't really surprised," he commented around a mouthful of pasta. He was beginning to realize why, Harry never said anything in jest, he meant every single word he said, and he'd told Peter that he'd never be an alpha, but would have the power and strength of one though. The purple eyes hadn't been mentioned but Peter did have them now. In fact they were purple with a neon blue ring round it, barely discernible, the only reason he could see it was because he was a werewolf.

Cora made a mental note to find out what had happened later, but it sounded like Peter had tried to become an Alpha again.

Peter rolled his eyes from where he was focusing on making sure that nothing would hinder Harry's healing. Removing stone, wood, dirt, all the debris. He could smell that Derek was already fully healed, alpha powers would do that for you.

"Any wounds on your legs?" Peter asked, feeling down them himself.

"Broke my ankle but it's healed," Harry shrugged, before gulping the potion down and washing it down with his bottle of soda. Turning around, he eyed Kali's body with a wry grin, before waving his hand, it didn't take long at all a mere minute there wasn't even a smell of fire or burnt body in the air. Harry waved his hand in the direction of the broken wall, and the ash zoomed on out, leaving a perfectly un-scorched floor behind.

Then just like that the hole he'd made when he flung Deucalion through it, begun to repair itself, the room beginning to warm up a bit now that the wall was repairing itself and less wind getting in.

"How are you so big?" they were massive compared to the rest of them, it was decidedly unfair, all they got was a small beta shift. "Are we all capable of that?"

"It's not the only shift he can do," Stiles piped in, "He can full shift into a wolf too."

"Being able to fully shift is a Hale family trait, its why we're always highly sought after…" Cora trailed off, and it was mostly the females who could accomplish it oddly enough. Her mom and Laura had been able to do it, she hadn't observed anyone else doing it, not even her grandfather.

"You could, if you become an alpha and kill your Beta's for their powers. What you were seeing was a physical manifestation of his insanity. Too many Alpha and Beta powers rushing through his veins. Even Ennis and Kali weren't that bad, although she was getting close, her feet. She couldn't control her shift, she would have become a liability if she couldn't gain control. Not everyone had Deucalion's strength of will." Harry explained, wincing occasionally as he explained to them. Peter pressed himself against Harry, fingers light to touch his neck, draining the pain from him.

Harry in turn pressed himself against Peter, reassuring the worried werewolf that he was just fine.

"You've killed a lot of Alphas?" Isaac asked leery.

"I've never had to kill one before today," Harry gave Isaac a look that suggested he needed to man the fuck up and stop being a terrified idiot. His stench was foul, and normally wouldn't mind it, actually find it amusing, but he was sore, grouch and just not in the mood for the usual theatrics. "Plus, as you've no doubt noticed, I haven't gained more power, I can't." flashing his purple eyes as proof. He didn't know whether it was his magic who had forced the werewolf change instead of killing him or making him a werewolf without magic. Or if it was some cosmic punishment…personally Harry saw it as a result of being two different things.

To be able to create and take care of pack…something which he would have loved to do, hadn't been in the cards for him. The closest he ever got to pack bonds was with Peter…but that was a Mating bond mixed with an Emissarial one. He'd gotten over his inability to help people or lead a pack a long time ago.

"Then how did you get your Beta shift to be so big?" Stiles asked, genuine curiosity.

Harry shook his head, "I didn't do anything, first time I shifted into Beta shift that was the form I had. I had no idea anything was different until I came across another of my kind." Remus was a different sort of werewolf, and exactly what he thought he'd turned into. Until the wound healed, which had confused the hell out of him, then the next few days were a blur of agony as his body fought the change, his magic refusing to cede control, he was Master over Death, that wouldn't be magic easily dismissed. In the end the bite and the magic seemed to come to some agreement, and the pain stopped and the change happened.

"I thought you warded the loft?" Stiles asked, a little hesitant to say anything but feeling the need to. "Shouldn't the wards have stopped him?"

"Yeah, if one of you had been here when Deucalion came the wards would have activated. He didn't want to kill Derek so the wards didn't register him as a threat." Harry said with a bitter sardonic sneer of self-annoyance. His self-recrimination obvious. "Any warning from the Nemeton?"

Derek hunched in on himself, shaking his head.

"There's obviously some sort of interference," Harry scowled frowning, what could it be? He happened to glance at Derek…and it struck him. "Of course, the three-fold-knot. The ritual sacrifices, she has her own claim on the Nemeton and you, because you're under her charm. Has anyone piqued your curiosity? Do you feel attracted to anyone in particular? Thinking of someone occasionally? It doesn't have to be something drastic."

Derek was just about to shake his head, when realisation dawned, "Jennifer Blake," he murmured, sickness coiling within his gut.

Stiles made a strangled sound, "Blake? Our teacher? Seriously! Is the school cursed?"

Harry chuckled, an amused grin spreading across his face, "It might just be," he murmured, well aware of the curse on Hogwarts at least until Voldemort died and the curse ended with him. "What did your senses tell you about her?" he asked Stiles, staring directly and intently at the teen.

Stiles startled, "Um…nothing?"

"You don't actively use your magic while at school?" Harry easily deduced, "It's hardly surprising, you're still new, but in time it will become second nature to use your magic to detect any and all threats. I wouldn't be surprised if you find yourself surprised by the amount of supernatural creatures in your school."

Stiles just stared at him blank faced.

"You've only really been introduced to Darach's, Druids and werewolves, that will change, it's why I suggested to you to read the book on magical creatures." Harry explained patiently, as he always was with Stiles. "We're just lucky that we went for Deaton when we did…and speaking of which…I hope you don't have an aversion to tattoo's because you're getting one."

Stiles paled, swallowing thickly, "Needles?" he didn't like needles.

"It will stop anyone from being able to do that ritual and claiming your magic," Harry explained it's need, "It's a magical tattoo, I suppose we can make it invisible to everyone except for pack…by the time you end your Journeyman training you'll probably have dozens. Runes to help you heal, to make you more powerful, defensive spells, invisibility runes, the world is going to be your oyster. If you're against it…I can cancel your appointment."

"I'll drain the pain, you won't feel anything," Derek quickly reassured the teen, all for him getting that tattoo after what Deaton had nearly done. The thought of anyone harming his mate…of rendering him insane…terrified him to the core. whether he knew he had magic or not, Stiles was at his core magical, his talents had always been there, it wasn't something new. To lose it would be detrimental to his mental health.

"Runes can do that?" Stiles asked gaping, why hadn't he been focusing on Runes? Squeezing Derek's hands in silent thanks for his support and suggestion.

"Drawing runes with the right ingredients and your magic you could ward a house against fire…against enemies…prevent someone from beta shifting…lock away their werewolf, take away powers…" Harry trailed of with a shrug.

"Can a druid do it?" Derek asked, his voice strangled and raspy, still reeling over the fact the girl he'd met just once had done some sort of magic on him to make him fall for her. Even Cora had stiffened along with Derek, listening intently to what was being said.

"Of course he could have," Harry said bluntly, "They wouldn't have been weak…but against humans? it probably would have withstood the attack. Even if it was just the once…there's a reason I didn't take pity on him…and it wasn't solely for selling yellow wolfsbane to that woman." Wasn't solely against the individual attack against his mate or Stiles for that matter.

Cora's eyes flashed in her only show of anger what her uncle had been through.

"When…when are they coming?" Stiles asked, anxiety building and skating down his spine.

"Tonight, seven PM, she's very sought after, she's coming out of hours to do your tattoo." Harry explained, "She owes me, I saved her life." it was the only reason he wasn't paying for it.

"Do you have any runes?" Stiles asked, aware they could be invisible since Harry had stated as such.

"No, our magic as I've said before is fundamentally different." Harry sighed, closing his eyes and resting against Peter. He'd get in touch with his contacts later…right now he just wanted to sleep, to rest. "Yours is too I suppose, Runes are just a stepping stone until you learn every nuance of your powers."

"Rest," Peter murmured, running his hand through Harry's hair, the tips of his claws scratching away at his head, uncaring at the looks he was no doubt receiving for being tactile with his mate. He refused to be ashamed of his desire to look out and protect his mate, even if he could look after himself. "I'll wake you before seven," knowing Harry would wish to be awake by then. When he looked up, nobody other than Derek was staring at him.

It was a wistful sort of stare, happy to see some semblance of his uncle before the fire, but also wondering at his future when his mate was old enough.

"Maybe we should take care of the Darach ourselves?" Stiles suggested, he was a student, easily underestimated, she wouldn't think anything of him approaching her.

"Given the rituals she's doing, she could very well overpower us, bewitch us, we wouldn't stand a chance, unless we were able to trick her into draining her powers," Peter said with a derisive snort. "We have no idea what she wants, what she's building up her powers for, although I have a fair idea." It was no coincidence that the Alpha pack had come then a Darach.

"Because of the Alpha pack, right?" Stiles piped in, "I've got her picture running through the police database to find out who she is. So, if she's in it, we might get an answer…her name isn't Jennifer Blake though, not unless she's three years old or worse two hundred and thirty-nine years old."

Peter watched on in pride, "Harry's right about you, you're going to make one hell of an emissary," he told the teenager. He was already protecting the pack with attention to detail that was astounding him, he went through everything with a fine tooth comb. He was doing everything right instinctively, it was as if he had been born to be an Emissary. Or perhaps it was the fact he'd grown up with a father who was an officer of the law.

"If she finds out they're dead do you think she'll leave?" Isaac asked, frown marring his features.

Cora rolled her eyes, poking Isaac in the side for his stupid question. She'd been with two packs her whole life, she knew all the in's and outs, all the nuances. So, of course she knew that the Darach would be taken care of, to let something like that just leave the territory was just inviting trouble and making you look weak.

Peter turned to face the Beta Werewolf, grateful that he was not Derek's second. He'd spent way too much time with McCall and it was showing. He would need to be corrected, so that in future, he understood how packs work. "She's a Darach, using dark magic and sacrificing people for her end goals. Just because the Alpha pack is taken care off...if that is why she's here…doesn't make her any less of a threat. You cannot and must not let a threat live. If you do, you're contemning others to death. Threats must be taken care of so that they cannot hurt anyone else again, or worse come back to your territory and kill those under your protection or members of the pack."

Stiles was nodding, "It's like the police just letting serial killers go," he saw the world for what it was, "She put a spell on Derek, we will take care of her." His tone becoming grim, angry, defensive. Stiles glanced at Derek, who was sound asleep. Hearing his phone go off yet again, he began typing away, reassuring both Erica and Boyd that everyone was fine. Erica's parents wanted to spend some time with their daughter and her mysterious boyfriend, right about now they were probably having lunch. Speaking of lunch, he thought wryly, moving over to the take-away that had slipped through his nerveless fingers earlier.

Peter idly wondered if it was the possessiveness he felt regarding everyone in the pack, seeing them as his…or if it was uniquely Stiles being protective of his mate. If Stiles was completely human, he wouldn't be aware of the potential one could say…the fact that Stiles was Derek's mate. He wasn't entirely human, had he already unconsciously bonded to Derek? On his half of the bond of course, Derek would have known Stiles was other if a bond had flared up. Which meant his half of the bond was still unmoored in his determination to keep Stiles at arm's length. However, long that will last, especially after he turns eighteen. Wolves didn't care about age, but it did take into consideration the humans laws from it's human mindset.

The urge to ask was strong, but Derek didn't want Stiles to know, perhaps it was a 'yet' turn of phrase either that or he just didn't want Stiles to ever find out. It was stupid if you asked him, but he was also stupid, he'd let his mate go, tightening his hold against Harry as if expecting him to disappear.

"Here," Stiles said, putting Peter's portion of the Take-away on his lap, before moving onto Cora and Isaac, leaving more than enough for Derek and Harry. Lydia and Jackson were coming later, after their 'date night' and Erica and Boyd were going to try but nobody was to be surprised if they couldn't. They were basically living in each other's pocket right now.

Isaac moved to get cutlery and passed it out before sitting down. "What is Blake isn't the Darach?"

"The scent of a Darach is…unmistakable," Peter answered, "They smell of Pictor, ozone and the sewer," he informed the teens. Glancing at Harry who was beginning to stir, no doubt at the smell of food, he would need a lot to recover. No doubt his outer wounds had healed, while his insides healed now. The distinctive scent of healing was obvious to his nose.

"Wait…I've smelt that," Isaac gaped, "It was when the birds all flew into the school windows…it was just for a bit, a brief moment I thought…well I thought it came in the window when the birds managed to break them."

"She was performing magic, she must have been behind the birds actions, the sacrifice gave her a power boost…not much of one…animals that small don't house much in the way of power." Peter said thoughtfully, at least from what he had read. "The question is why?"

"Probably a cloaking spell," Harry murmured, blinking open his eyes, "She knew she was dealing with werewolves,"

"But why Virgins?" Stiles asked, already standing and retrieving Harry's food, handing it over, "What did she gain from them?"

"Could be a few things," Harry admitted, immediately digging into the food, swallowing it quickly, he hastily answered. "Could be a glamour, that exudes innocence and that causes a thrall over everyone that sees her…"

"Or?"

"More like and," Harry murmured, "She set it up to entice Derek, her end game is not known or…is it known how far she'd go." a grim look on his face. Slightly grateful Derek wasn't awake to hear all this.

"I want to help," Stiles declared hotly, staring Harry down, refusing to back down.

"What do you think, Peter?" Harry asked, around a mouthful of Chow Mein.

"He's not the Left Hand, Cora is set to be, she needs to be the one to learn to handle threats and recognize them." Peter stated firmly, she wanted to feel useful, to have a say in the running of the pack. When she joined her old pack…she had been young, so there had been little expectations forced upon her. Being a Hale and her earlier comments…he could easily deduce that a few of the wolves had been after her for her sole ability to have a child that might be able to full shift. The Hale bloodline was a long and renowned one, even if they were always small in terms of pack member. Hell, there was more than one Hale pack so to speak, they weren't the Hale pack, but the Jones pack, they had a pack at the other side of America. Laura had refused to go to them for sanctuary, perhaps in fear of being asked to cede to the alpha and lose her own Alpha spark?

"But I'm the Emissary, I'm supposed to identify threats as well," Stiles pointed out, not backing down.

"Technically human/hunter threats to the pack amongst other duties," Peter corrected, before conceding, "Which she is, she's not a creature per se, which would be left to the Left Hand." The Emissary and the Left Hand were supposed to work closely together, but there had been a massive rift in the Hale pack, Talia too busy trying to modernise it that she hadn't seen the threats at her own doorstep and she'd paid a very heavy price for it, they all had. He didn't need to tell Stiles all this, he knew everything there was to be an Emissary of a pack, he'd been reading extensively, not just books from Deaton but a few journals from the Hale vault.

"It falls under both their jurisdictions." Harry shrugged, "They need to learn to begin working together, best do it with someone to oversee it and see how they cope. Cora isn't used to doing things collectively, and I don't think Stiles is used to it either…which means a steep learning curve."

"Agreed," Peter nodded, eyeing both of them speculatively. He knew Stiles a great deal more than his own niece which rankled. She was alive though, that's all that mattered, he'd get to know her properly all over again, even if it took years. "It's not just a matter of agreeing on a method, but actually working together and able to anticipate each other's moves."

"Like you and Peter did with Deaton?" Stiles said thoughtfully, they had spoken in sync with each other. Knew each other well enough to anticipate what the other intended to do. He reckoned in a fight that Peter and Harry would move and work quite well with each other. Glancing over at Cora, he made a thoughtful face, could they work together like Peter and Harry did?

"Exactly like that," Harry confirmed. "Well, why not? She'll be easier to find than the other Darach on my list." And there was little doubt Deaton's sister was a Darach, just as corrupt as the Alpha pack she defended. Adding when it became clear that Isaac, Stiles and Cora were slightly confused by his statement. "Deaton's sister. The one who tried to detain us in the bank with mountain ash."

"After you've gotten your tattoo, you do your best work in the dead of the night, it prevents someone seeing something they shouldn't." Peter pointed out, finding his meal, leaning back, it felt rather odd beginning his preparation to have Cora take over as Left hand for when he wouldn't be here. They would be taking care of threats from afar, starting with the Argents and Calavera's. Nothing and nobody would touch the Hale pack.

He would make sure of it.

No, Peter thought, as Harry's hand slid into his, they would take care of it. Their reputation would be so fearsome that nobody would dare encroach on the Hale lands.

Do you guys actually prefer chapters over my replying to every single review I get? It was mentioned on A03 FB page and I sort just of assumed you'd all prefer chapters to answers since I know i couldn't do both...and here you go! The next chapter! Will Stiles deal with the Darach on his own? Proving himself and advancing in his magic? with Harry and Peter distracted by the twins? Or will they just slink out of town never to be thought of again? Or do you guys actually want to see them as part of the Hale pack? It would give them an even more terrifying reputation I suppose but who actually likes the twins? Will we see alliances in this from packs and such all around America? preventing any other 'accidents' like the Hale pack? With Stiles making money out of selling magic amulets and runes etc...or will he just do it on the side and become an FBI agent? R&R please!

Someone has asked me to post this and I'd forgotten when posting until now: Remember to wear masks, wash your hands after handling anything coming into your house from the shops! including foods and the things it comes in take all necessary precautions. Take care and stay safe everyone xx