Chapter 8
Every step Peter took away from the car was like a beating drum of a war. The pack watched in silence as he made his way towards Talia’s towering form. On the outside, his face was darkened and impenetrable, but on the inside, he felt as his heart was about to start beating wildly. His body gave no indication of change as he faced off against Talia with only five feet between them. When he spoke his voice seemed to echo and bounce through the clearing, “I found out why you were so desperate to find that time traveler.”
At his words, Talia’s shoulders twitched and her face broke into an expression of surprise before quickly being smothered back into a neutral expression. She raised an elegant eyebrow and slightly whipped her brown hair back out of her face. “Oh is that so,” she questioned with a conceited smirk upon her face.
Peter rolled his eyes at her sharply, glancing at the uneasy pack staring at the both of them confused. Peter again felt anxious as he wondered whose side they would take in the imminent battle. He took one wide look at them to remember what this pack meant before turning back towards Talia with an indignant look on his face. Derek and Stiles slowly approached behind him to stand beside him.
The moment Stiles took a step the entire pack’s attention, including Talia’s, shifted to the time traveler. Once he knew their attention was on him he straightened his back and hardened his face in acceptance of the battle to come. Knowing any one of these wolves could fall by his hands or him on their claws.
Peter took a step closer to the side to allow Talia the room to step down off the porch and onto even ground. The moment she did with a still mocking look on her face Peter felt the anger in his body rise at the injustice that had been done to him by his own sister. The woman that he played with as a child, which not only furthered his rage, but also his confusion. “Cut the shit, Talia. I know what you did to me,” at Peter’s words the pack looked towards him with confusion. In each of their minds, they wanted to pray this was something petty and not something as serious as it looked. For they too wished to not choose a side.
Talia chortled softly at Peter’s words her gaze sharp as they both stood completely still, “Is that so? Please enlighten us.” She cast her hands wide as she gestured to the whole of the pack surrounding them.
Peter’s eyes darkened as he gazed at her effort to make him back out. Her stance practically said look at this pack waiting for your news. Continue if you dare. Peter took a deep breath as he prepared for the next moments, hoping to not have to fight his sister. “Why?” Peter looked at his older sister in confusion to her every move. He tried to remember the sister he once loved, to see her here, but she was no more. This wasn't the woman that held him when it rained and sung him bedtime stories.
This, this was a monster of greed that had taken control of her.
“Why did you take the Alpha power knowing it wasn't rightfully yours? Is this the reason you always pushed me from the pack and shunned me?” With each word, Peter squared his shoulders in preparation for the oncoming words.
Talia’s took on an expression of shock before she glared at Stiles who stood slightly behind Peter watching her every move. She laughed mocking as she looked down her nose at Peter, “You do not deserve this power. You should never have been chosen to be the heir. I couldn't very well let you show off your natural alpha-ness, so it was the only option. If only you had been born as you were supposed to. A lowly beta.” At her words, the surrounding pack took on horrified expression. Quickly looking back and forth between the siblings. It made sense to them, they knew the moment Peter opened his mouth that only the truth would leak from him. What they didn't expect was Talia's scornful words in response.
Peter looked resigned with her response to his words. As if he feared those very words, but expected them. “Please TaIia. I'm asking you for the sake of our pack. Give it up to me now and here, gently. Don't divide this pack and push them against the family. I'm asking not as the chosen Alpha, but as your little brother. Give it up.” Even in Peter's slump, he seemed to still keep his mind on the surrounding pack's best interest.
Talia laughed at Peter’s pleading words for the sake of the pack as if they meant nothing, “It sounds to me you're only afraid they won't choose your side. If you want this power you’ll have to take it from me.” She growled the last words out as she shifted into a beta form snarling at Peter.
Peter shifted as well into his’ form waiting for the pack to make the first move. It all started with little Cora. With tears in her eyes, she made her move forward before going to stand beside Peter. This move astounded both Peter and Talia as they gazed at the tearful girl. “You're scaring me, mommy,” she whispered in her mom’s direction before moving to stand beside Derek. Who still stood to Peter’s left. Only now he was half shifted staring at his mom with golden eyes.
Shock ran through the majority of the pack that her own children had not chosen her side. This spurred more to move to Peter’s side. While other still stood in between them with a shock running through them. They made no move to chose a side, only stood back to let the two fight it out.
As Talia’s anger rose at the betrayal of two of her children she began to get ready to lung and end this fight before it started. Except for the moment, her feet left the ground she knew she had made a mistake because Peter was not only ready but more cutthroat than any other wolf out there. The moment she was in his range she was on the ground gasping as his claws settled over her throat in a piercing grip that punctured her throat. She didn't move in fear of driving the claws deeper. Peter may have won, but she still had one more petty move up her sleeve.
At that moment she released the alpha power from her brutal hold and allowed it to transfer to Peter’s form. He let go of her and threw his head back to howl as the power entered his body. That was all the opening she needed to leap for the person to his left. Within seconds Talia lay dead on the ground, but the damage was done. Derek stood before her fallen body with tears leaving his eyes as Stiles took a bloody gasp.
He staggered back as his hands went to his throat to hold the bleeding gash. As Stiles' legs gave up in strength Peter caught him. His own eyes a match for Derek’s frightened eyes. Stiles gurgled out a small chuckle as he leaned further into Peter’s arms, “Guess that answers what happens to me.” He looked on the verge of tears as he gazed at Derek and Peter’s rapidly darkening forms. He was losing precious time. “Its okay,” his hand reached for Derek’s bloodied claws as he smiled at the poor boy. His eyes shone a beautiful gold still, but as Stiles took his last breath they turned to a piercing blue. Then he was gone.
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Derek barely left his room in the weeks that followed Talia’s death. Peter harden and called the police telling them that a wild animal had attacked her while she was outside preparing for the family outing. The bought it pretty easily once they saw the shocked faces of the family members. It would be a closed casket funeral for the woman that tortured Peter the majority of his life, but Peter would do her good in death. He paid for the entire service. He would give his sister the funeral she deserved. The sister that took care of him before. The one he wanted to keep in his memories. He threw himself into the work that when all was said and done he didn’t know what to do. Talia was to be buried, but Stiles would never get the service he deserved.
The nemeton swept him into its forest and his body was gone. As if he had never been there. The pack pretended they didn’t know, but Peter couldn’t forget. He could remember every second of the short amount of time he had gotten with the boy. All he could think was why did he care about a boy he had known for a day or two. Why did he feel robbed of the time he should have had. Why? That single word was a question that plagued many of the Hales for the past week. Now each Hale trudged from their rooms to their cars. All headed to the funeral of the year, one of Beacon’s most known family head had passed in an unfortunate accident. Even Derek dressed to the nines looked like death warmed over. They stood in the graveyard staring as the memorial took place. After was all said and done many of the Hales left for the safety of their home, but Peter stayed. He continued to gaze at his sisters gaze questioning everything he had come to know. It was then that he heard it, small intakes in breath in between little hiccups. Peter narrowed his eyes and took in a deep scent. To his shock all he smelt was Stiles. Nearly breaking down into tears he followed his hearing until he was in front of a grave and a little boy was crouched over in a ball crying.
Peter sighed at his luck, but something in himself forced him to stay and help the young child. “Hey kid,” at his words the child froze and his breathing, while still scattered, lowered. Peter’s breath was taken away when the little face turned to view him and he had a clear view of little hazel eyes.
The child sat up and tried to wipe his tears to gaze at the man before him. That appeared to be in shock. “M-mister?” The child reached out and grabbed onto Peter’s hand to grip him. “Did you lose someone too?” He asked with his sweet face tilting to the side.
Peter smiled slightly at the kid before sitting beside him. He had completely forgotten that Stiles would have a past self. He was still here in a way. “I did. I lost my sister and someone much more important.” Peter shifted his body to lean against the gravestone behind them as he gazed up at the sun.
Little Stiles moved over to look at him, he hesitantly reached up to touch Peter’s stubble before giggling. Then he seemed to remember where and why he was here as he looked down. “I lost someone as well. My mom, but she’s been gone for years. Only now did they let us bury her.” Stiles looked sad, but then he shook it off as a man called his name.
Peter’s head snapped up as his eyes gazed at the Sheriff who couldn't see them. Alcohol radiated from the poor man. At that moment he became even more concerned that he may lose Stiles all over again. Narrowing his eyes he gently tugged Stiles up to go meet his father. Patting him on the head and smiling at him when he let him go to his father's side. The sheriff warily gazed at him before placing Stiles in the car.
As he walked around the car to the driver seat Peter stopped him grabbing him by the arm. In a low whisper, he told the man, “Be careful with your drinks Sheriff. I would never mind having to take that child from you.” Feeling that the warning was sufficient he turned and waved at Stiles once more before leaving towards his own car. Grief still filled him, but now so did hope.
It was a new beginning.