A burnt figure lay on the wooden floor of the burnt house. It was covered in dirt, worms surrounding it and broken pieces of wood lay atop the creature.
"So are we all sure about this," asked Stiles, clearly disgusted. He took another look at Lydia who glanced back and nodded at him. Damian grabbed his shoulders reassuringly and moved past Stiles to the body and knelt to examine it. He hovered over it for a while before reaching into his jacket and pulling out 2 blood bags that were half full. Derek looked at the blood and took a deep breath. Damian passed him one of the bags and opened the other one. Damian placed his hand over the pack and with abnormally sharp claws slit his wrist and let his own blood pool into the bag. Derek watched him and then proceeded to do the same. He took a look at his dead uncle before turning back to the paler figure.
"Why do you want to help?" Derek asked. Damian did not take his eyes off the crimson liquid and only once the bag was full did he lick the wound, close the blood bag and turn to Derek and replied,
"Regardless of whether I helped or didn't, Peter Hale returns. At least now it's on our terms-"
"No as in why have you helped at all. You didn't need to enroll at a school or get to know any of us but you have. Why?" clarified Derek.
"I'm 16, Derek. I want the high school experience, I want friends and it's easier to do so when I don't have to lie about who I am. Barely anyone is a lone wolf. Most people want a pack." Derek looked the kid up and down before turning away. A small smirk spread across Damian's face. "After all, isn't that what your two new toys are for. Your pack." accused Damian. The older man whipped his head back and glowered at Damian. The only response was a smile. "Derek, I'm not here to condemn you. After all, your selfish actions led to a young girl being cured from epilepsy and becoming a more confident, self assured woman. You created a space for a lonely boy to find comfort." Damian paused and then looked at Derek with pity before continuing, "I must say though, they are awfully incompetent. Time is running out after all and I wouldn't want to be up against him with those two as they are by your side." whispered Damian. He turned his head and just watched as Stiles and Lydia seem to have an interesting conversation away from their own. Every now and then, they would erupt in laughter usually with Stiles cracking a joke of some sort. "You know only a few months ago, Lydia used to pretend as if Stiles didn't exist. They make quite a pair don't they," Damian pondered moving his eyes toward Derek. Derek, still shook with anger and surprise, glared at the redhead and Stiles and then nodded. Damian called the two over before grabbing the two blood packs and connecting them to tubes and forcing them into the dead body squeezing the blood into the body. "Lydia I am going to need a drop of your blood now." he demanded. Lydia nodded and pulled out a sharp needle and pierced the tip of her index finger. "Derek your wrist." Derek proceeded to allow the vampire access to his wrist as Lydia began to drip her blood onto the burnt corpse. Damian grabbed the wrist of the alpha and placed it into the hand of Peter and forced Peter's hand to envelop Derek. Damian gulped. Hopefully this works out.
Death has a price. Even when you plan meticulously in the event of it, death always seems to take something as it's prize. Peter Hale had thought his plan was foolproof. Scott and his gang wouldn't endanger Lydia and bring her into the supernatural world and Derek wouldn't pay her any mind so the last trace of her existence would lead her to bringing him back. Something else decided to meddle and that seemed to be the cost of cheating death. A creature unlike any other he had witnessed wearing the skin of a young 16 year old boy. So he was now stood with mountain ash around him in a circle with four faces staring at him. 3 of them were in shock but the palest face seemed to look triumphant. He smirked and knew exactly what to do now to unnerve them.
"Happy Birthday Lydia," smirked Peter. Lydia looked at him and then looked around confused.
"It's not my birthday," she revealed. Peter's eyes narrowed and he looked at their faces to see if they were lying. He immediately looked up at the sky and almost buckled to the floor. It wasn't a full moon. He shouldn't be here, not yet at least. But somehow here he was living and breathing ahead of schedule.
"I assume you've finally figured out that you woke up a bit early," an unfamiliar voice rang. Peter looked around and it was the newcomer who spoke. "I have to take credit for that. Who knew a bit of Derek's and my blood would have such magical properties?" Peter continued to stare at him and he returned the favour. "Well I think a family reunion is in order. It's a bit late so me, Stiles and Lydia will be off now. Have fun!" he snarked. Peter's eyes followed the three leaving before another figure entered his line of sight. His nephew stood in front of him with his arms crossed. Peter smiled whilst Derek frowned.
Stiles watched as Damian made his own way home in his car. His jeep and Derek's car were the only two vehicles left. Stiles looked at the sky and then turned to look at the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He couldn't let her go home alone especially as she would have to walk through the nature preserve with the Argents patrolling and the Kanima prowling. He breathed in and said,
"Do you want a ride home." Lydia looked back at Stiles, smiled and nodded. Stiles smiled back and strutted to his car, making sure to open the door for Lydia and started the jeep. For a while, the car was almost silent. There was an exchange of pleasantries and some small talk but for the most part, there was only silence. Stiles continued to drive but periodically glanced at Lydia trying to gauge her reaction.
"Please stop looking at me like that,"
"Like what."
"Like I'm a ticking time bomb about to explode. I'm okay Stiles." The car halted to a stop and Stiles moved his body to face her.
"Are you because I'm not! I just saw a man come back from the dead and I've known about the whole werewolf thing for a while so if you are completely fine then I'm impressed."
"What do you want me to tell you."
"The truth would be a start." Lydia looked at Stiles with a deadpan expression. "I know, I know. I'm a hypocrite."
"Well for one you should grow your hair out." Lydia smirked. Stiles against his will let out a chuckle and slyly took a look at his hair in the mirror before she continued, "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Well, we-I wanted you to be safe and well this world isn't-"
"No why didn't you tell me that you were the one to find me and save me that night." Stiles paused and peered at Lydia's face. Her eyes glistened with tears threatening to fall.
"I didn't think it was important who saved you or who you believed saved you." There was a pause and they locked eyes for a while before Stiles broke eye contact. "Lydia, if you are going to join us and be a part of whatever we have going on, please be careful."
"Stiles, I can take care of myself-"
"Please, Lydia." He pleaded. She stopped and looked at his face.
"Ok Stiles," she whispered.
The sun had began to rise as a black car had parked at a abandoned home surrounded by forestry. The house seemed to have been built in a similar style to the Hale family house. Two figures left the car and nodded at each other before entering the home. The house was dirty with cobwebs and moss all over the outside but the inside was kept in pristine condition. They made their way into a basement and opened the door. Smiles graced their faces.
"You really didn't have to do this, my good friend," said one of the men.
"It was my pleasure."