Yearling

*Hi there, all! So this story was an idea given to me by Wulver. He was nice enough to provide the basis and let me run with it. I know I have a pattern of using female alphas in my stories (with names that begin with "A"-not on purpose I swear) but this one is quite unlike the others. First off, she's only eight years old. Second, she was not born alpha, but given the distinction after both of her parents (both alphas) and her brother died. Therefore, she has lots of power that she has no idea what to do with yet. However, she wants nothing to do with other alphas and their oftentimes sinister plans for her. Rather, she prefers the company of the goofy, yet loving, smart and funny Stiles. (Can't blame the girl.) He will become a guardian/father figure of sorts for her. I do plan on including Scott and quite a bit of Derek. Also there will be eventual Stiles/Erica, as I simply love the two of them together. My guess is this takes place just at the beginning of S3, and I'd like to bring some of the mysterious alpha pack into the mix. Thank you again Wulver for your great idea and for trusting me to bring your vision to the page! I hope I do not fall short of your expectations. Please R&R everyone; that would mean a lot. Have a great week.

All she could hear was the sounds of the chains. They clanged incessantly against his leg as he strolled the elementary school, now long closed for the day. The chains echoed through the hall, swinging impatiently, mimicking the movements of the man, or creature, rather, that donned them.

She used the size of the building along with her superior hiding skills to keep herself from being captured. In addition, her small, prepubescent body didn't emit the same hormone signature as the adults did, werewolf or not.

With remarkable control, she balanced herself on a narrow beam close to the ceiling. She quickly searched for an exit. There were several options, with only one being even remotely safe. The heating duct to her right looked tempting, especially because her eight year old body could likely squeeze between the wall and the swiftly moving fan. However, her fear of being sliced in two by the massive blades because of any misstep made her reconsider. She could always try to get to the highest beam and break through the glass roof to safety, but that would include lots of noise and possible injuries from the sharp glass.

She frowned. What would her parents have done? Well, not that they'd have had to think about this kind of escape. After all, they were adult alphas and never had to worry about every alpha on the West Coast trying to possess them like some sick carnival prize. Surely they wouldn't have hidden. They would have stood their ground, raised their claws and fought with everything they had.

However, her parents were long dead along with her teenaged brother. She herself was just a child, totally unable to harness her brand new alpha powers. This was why the other alphas wanted her…the little girl-child who inherited her parent's alpha status after they were brutally murdered by hunters. No child that young had the same responsibility thrust upon him or her, including those born alpha. At least others guided those children until they were grown up enough to take on the task of being leader.

But she had no such luxury. The alphas desired to take her in and mold her to their own specifications. They wanted to keep her…hold her prisoner, all under the guise of "teaching" her. Some of the younger male alphas planned to enslave her until she was of breeding age and they could mate, thus making their packs much stronger. Another female alpha that led a pack solely consisting of women, wanted her to join them in promoting some feminine dominance agenda. The elderly alphas wanted a successor to their throne.

The young blonde male chasing her through the school was slightly different. He was part of an alpha pack. His main goal was to train her to be the most vicious killer on record.

She'd have none of it. Screw their agendas. She never asked to be alpha. In fact, she was bitter and indifferent towards the entire idea. Her new power didn't make up for her parents and brother's lives. In fact, it paled horribly in comparison. She nervously tucked her nearly white blonde locks behind her ear. She aimed her ripe blueberry-hued eyes towards the ground. He was making his way closer to her. Any closer and he'd be right below her.

He began to swing the chain, giggling with malevolence. "Come on Andrea," said the blonde man. "No sense in hiding my dear child. We're only here to help you. Don't you want to be part of the alpha pack? I certainly want you to. We're all so excited about you, child. I know you're scared but we'd never hurt you, darling. Never." He held up something in his hand and shook it playfully.

She narrowed her eyes and focused on the object. Was it…a stuffed animal? Did he actually think he could lure her into submission with some velveteen rabbit…?

She took a deep inhale. It certainly was a rabbit. But it wasn't stuffed. Not with cotton anyway. No, this one was stuffed with muscle, bone and soft innards. Thick, crimson blood dripped on to the cold floor. Her mouth watered. Had she eaten in the last forty-eight hours, she would have scoffed at the alpha's offering. However, she was starving, having lived on very small rodents and the occasional snake for over a month. Her hunting skills were admittedly a work in progress, as her family had done most of the legwork. After all, in the wolf world she was still a baby, only reaching "yearling" status by default after her family's death. Left to her own devices, she knew she was probably destined to be the scrawniest werewolf anyone had heard of.

"Smells tasty, doesn't it?" he taunted. He dabbed some of the blood from the rabbit's wound on his index finger and sucked it off. "Mmm…It's still warm, Andrea. Just waiting to be devoured. I know you're hungry. There's so much more where this rabbit came from. You can eat as much and as often as you please, my darling…as long as you stick with my pack. We'll keep you safe and warm and fed. I only ask for a certain commitment from you, that's all. That's not too much to ask now is it?"

She took a moment to consider, her stomach violently battling her brain and her heart. Being warm and fed and safe would be like Heaven, but at what cost? This particular alpha had plans for her that would include her killing humans, and, at times, other wolves. The idea made her sick. Her body threatened to betray her. It wanted to jump down and tear apart the rabbit, all the while being under the protective shield of the large alpha male. Perhaps, she even mused, there was a woman in the pack…a woman that would nurture and care for her needs as a child.

She quickly shook those thoughts away and cursed herself for being an ignorant child. No, to the alpha pack she was a killing machine and that was all. They would fatten her up, making her strong only for the purpose of hurting others. She looked away from the rabbit and closed her eyes. 'No,' she thought. 'I don't need a rabbit. I don't need a mother figure. And I certainly DON'T need any alpha. Not you, Andrea Lilith Falk. Not ever.'

She waited until he planted himself just below her, now sure that he could easily hear her heartbeat. But she didn't care. He'd never get her. She watched him as he stood just below her, silently praying that he wouldn't look up. She got herself into a handstand position on the beam. Her little arms and core worked to keep her body upright, knowing she'd need some momentum if she was to execute a blow strong enough to do some damage. He took one step forward and she made her move, swinging down hard from the beam, folding herself at the center and kneeing him square in the face.

He fell backwards, smacking his head on the floor, causing him to see stars. Without missing a beat, she ripped the rabbit from his clutches and stole through an open courtyard, moving swiftly but without much thought to direction. She made two very short stops to get her bearings but it was more than enough for him to catch up with her.

She turned to see him exit to the courtyard, his long powerful legs propelling him towards her. His eyes glowed red and he snarled. Andrea ran, pushing her body to its limits, all the while imagining his hot breath on her neck. "You will be ours!" he roared into the black night.

Andrea grinned, her eyes flashing red as her legs moved swiftly. "We'll see about that."

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

"So, paintball was fun," said Scott, gazing outside of the passenger side window of Stiles' Jeep. The stars peeked through the trees like sparkling jewels. "I was surprised that was all you wanted to do for your birthday this year, though. But I guess it would be hard to top last year's camping trip." He giggled.

Stiles grinned. "Only me and you would put up a tent out in the middle of nowhere and end up being one campsite over from the Beacon Hills Community College ladies volleyball team."

"Yeah, you got a lot of mileage out of that 'I'm pitching more than one kind of tent' joke," said Scott.

Stiles laughed. "Even my Dad appreciated that one."

The night sky had a rich purple hue. Stiles pressed his foot on the accelerator, not wanting to be late. Since his mother died, he and his father had created the birthday tradition of each enjoying a cupcake followed by a shot of whiskey. Despite being the town's sheriff, the man didn't feel that it was so bad to share one drink a year with his son in the confines of their own home. In fact, the two had grown to relish the annual ceremony.

Stiles smiled, thinking of the first time his father laid a whiskey bottle down on the kitchen table. Stiles was fourteen and still in mourning. He'd been sitting with his head in his hands in the kitchen, lamenting that his mother would no longer be there to take part in the original Stilinski birthday tradition, which was letting Stiles drive his mother's Jeep around the block.

When he was just little, she'd sit in the driver's side and let him "steer" the vehicle. However, on his tenth birthday, she'd hopped into the passenger side and let him drive. Stiles had looked forward to every birthday just to get the chance for a ten-minute cruise around the block with his mom. He remembered that glorious feeling every time he put the key in the Jeep's ignition.

But that custom slipped away along with his mother's bright light.

"Here," his father had said, placing the bottle next to a store bought cupcake. "I know it's no drive in the Jeep but I figured maybe this could be something that's just for you and me." He poured the shot, along with one for himself. He smiled as he handed it to Stiles. "Happy Birthday son. There'll be plenty of time to drive the Jeep when you get your license."

Scott, who had apparently caught the scent of something that alarmed him, suddenly tore Stiles from his reverie. This put Stiles into an immediate state of uneasiness, as he had no desire to know the dangers that lurked on lonely country roads. "What is it?" asked Stiles.

"Wolves," said Scott. "Not locals."

"Shit," said Stiles. "The alpha pack?"

"I don't know," said Scott. "Gimme a second."

Stiles waited on bated breath for his best friend to respond. "Pretty freaking long second, Scott."

"I'm sorry," said Scott, nervously. "They're moving at a full clip. I'm having trouble keeping a read on them."

All of a sudden, Scott jerked his head to the left. It was two of them, breaking from the woods, with one appearing to be chasing the other. They were headed right towards the Jeep. "Stiles STOP!" he cried.

Stiles held fast to the steering wheel and slammed a sneakered foot onto the brakes.

But it was too late.

Stiles sputtered in shock as the Jeep rammed into the body of what appeared to be a little girl. He kicked the vehicle in park and Scott was quickly flying out of the passenger side door, his senses not tuned to the little girl, but to her pursuer. The young beta locked his knees and roared at what was a tall male with blonde hair. The large male scoffed. His eyes glowed red. "Stay out of this, mutt," he said to Scott.

"Don't think so," said Scott. "And I'm not a mutt."

Stiles was swiftly to the aid of the girl, his entire body trembling. She lay prone on her back, legs twisted unnaturally. There was blood staining her light blonde locks. He brushed a piece of bloody hair away from her face and studied her in horror. Her little body wasn't moving and she didn't appear to be breathing. "Oh God, Scott," he said, his lower lip quivering. "She's just a little kid. "I-I think I've killed her." He looked up at his friend helplessly.

The alpha male came forward a few steps. "Stupid," he said. "She's far from dead, boy." He looked venomously at Scott. "Take your human and get the fuck out of here. The child is mine."

"The hell she is," said Scott, baring his fangs.

The male growled and flashed his red eyes. He rushed Scott, reaching out a clawed hand and grabbing the beta by his throat. His claws sunk into the soft flesh of Scott's neck. He pulled the young man close to his face, never unlocking his gaze. "I told you to take your human and go. She is not of your concern." He dug his claws even deeper and Scott began to choke and blood spewed from his mouth.

"Stop!" cried Stiles, laying his head on the girl's chest, listening for a heartbeat. However, his own was pounding so hard in his ears that he didn't have a chance at hearing hers. "Help me with her! Please!"

Scott slammed a foot into the alphas crotch. He winced but refused to put the beta down. The two stared at each other. Scott's was a look of anger mixed with terror while the alpha's was simple amusement.

"I'm calling 9-1-1," said Stiles, taking out his phone with trembling hands. The screen was blurry because of the tears in his eyes. He blinked repeatedly to clear his vision before dialing. How would he tell the little girl's parents that he was responsible for the death of their beautiful young child? What would his father think of him? He felt selfish celebrating his seventeenth birthday when this child's life was now being cut so short. Suddenly a little hand grabbed his wrist. His eyes widened and a pair of deep blues met his honey browns.

"No cops," she whispered.

"W-W-What?" he rasped. He pulled back slightly, hanging up the phone. "You're alive? You're…oh my God."

The alpha male saw that the girl was awake. He tossed Scott to the ground and approached to the left. Scott quickly recovered and grabbed the alpha's arm, only to be swatted fifteen feet backwards onto the pavement. Stiles reared up onto his knees in an attmept to shield the little girl from the alpha's wrath. This earned him two powerful blows to the face, leaving a smattering of blood on the pavement next to his unconscious body.

Scott once again charged the alpha, his claws and fangs ready to tear into the creature. The alpha stood with legs apart, bracing for the attack. He smirked as Scott raced towards him. "Pathetic," he said as the beta charged. "What damage could you possibly do?"

"More than you'd think," said a voice from behind him. He spun around to see Derek Hale, eyes red and full of malice. Derek snapped his jaws and shouldered the alpha directly into Scott, who slammed into him from behind, ramming his claws into the blonde alphas back.

While Derek and Scott subdued the alpha, the little girl felt her spine begin to heal. The bones and discs moved back into place and hardened. She wiggled her fingers and toes and knew she'd soon be able to sit up. She looked over at the young man on the ground next to her, gently taking his hand in hers. "Hey," she said softly. "You okay? Hey…"

"Where is your pack?" Derek demanded of the alpha. He gripped him by the collar, eyes blazing. "You just gonna lurk around town, spying on all of us? Huh?"

The alpha laughed. "Well, if it isn't Mister Big Shot himself," he said, looking at Derek up and down. "You look more male model than alpha, but whatever."

"He asked you a question," said Scott, through gritted jaws. He stayed behind the alpha, claws sunk into his lower back, toying with the damaged muscles until the male groaned in pain.

"I heard him," the alpha grunted. "Doesn't mean I'm answering it."

"What do you want with the little girl?" demanded Scott.

The alpha sighed. "I think I made it clear that I'm not in a talking mood. Are you in special classes or something, mutt?"

"STOP calling me that!" said Scott, eyes glittering gold.

Suddenly Derek lifted his head, as did the two other wolves.

"Cars," said the little voice from the ground. Derek and Scott watched in astonishment as she lifted herself off the ground with ease, her femur bone cracking into place.

"P-Probably the town cops," said Scott. "Stiles' dad says they patrol this road at least ten times a night."

She cracked her neck and rubbed it before stretching. "Like I said before…NO COPS."

The alpha broke free of Derek and Scott, looking into the distance towards the sounds of the approaching vehicles. "You get off easy this time," he said, angrily. "But I'm coming back…for her. And I won't be alone."

He bounded off into the night, a series of profanities in his wake directed at Scott and Derek. They both looked down to see the little girl kneeling over Stiles. She caressed his head gently and whispered kind words into his ear. "He's okay but we don't have much time," she said. "We need to get him in the car and get the flip out of here."

Without hesitation, Scott and Derek lifted Stiles and placed him into the backseat of the Jeep. The little girl chose to join him there, holding his head in her lap, trying to coax him back to consciousness. She laid her hand on his wound and tried to heal him. Fortunately, this method worked as he began to stir and mumble. "But…my dad," he said, as if marbles were in his mouth. "I'll miss cupcakes and whiskey."

Derek and Scott quickly spread sand over the blood in the road and searched the area for any additional evidence. Next, Derek got into the driver's side while Scott took shotgun. Derek quickly turned the car around and tore off into the night. "We'll be safe at my place," he assured everyone, already dialing Isaac and Peter to have everything ready to tend to an injured human.

The girl continued to caress Stiles' head. He reached for her hand. "Are you okay?" he asked, his eyes still trying to focus. "I-I hurt you."

She smiled. "I heal fast. And what you did was nothing compared to what that alpha male would have done to me. Trust me."

The car went silent as the Jeep rode the curves of the country road, moving swiftly and earnestly to safety.

So tell me what you think :-) I'll explain why Derek just happened to be in the woods to save Scott from his ass kicking in the next chapter. Thanks again!