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Derek and Chris looked at each other and immediately knew they had to talk this over as a pack. Bringing in theses kids would be a risk and that decision impacted everyone.
“My decision partially stands. you can stay here and recover, but I need to talk with my pack first.” Derek looked to the two boys and then stepped back straight into Stiles and took his hand for strength.
Stiles could read them well and did not like what was happening he followed Derek and Chris up to the others in the living room. Stiles knew things were bad because Chris walked straight to Allison and gave her a hug and pulled her over to sit with Laura. The others crowded around and were very concerned.
Derek sat down on the couch and broke the news.
“Their Alpha was Deucalion.” Cora and Laura both flashed yellow eyes and reached for their partners hands, Santiago looked nervously at Melissa and held her close. The others looked confused but knew it was bad. Derek took a second and looked around to the others. Then continued.
“Deucalion is an Alpha that is very similar to Gerard. He thinks humans are trash and Weres are the superior beings. He rules his pack by fear and force. His pack is small only 3 that I know of but the thing is they are all alphas. The unconfirmed rumor is that In order to join you have to kill your pack to join him.” He looked around at everyone and took a breath. Stiles could feel the duress from him and comforted him as best he could.
“The council has met with him a few times, but we haven’t been able to intervene as the council because he knows the game. We have no proof of anything.” Chris advised looking to Santiago who nodded.
“If the rumors are true than the injuries on Ethan and Aiden are just the beginning of it. If they ran it was for a reason. Deucalion wouldn’t wipe a pack and take on runts for no reason. They are not alphas so I don’t know why.” Laura jumped in and looked to Chris with a hand on her belly she patted it softly and continued. “My mom she told me that Deucalion reached out to her, offered her a spot. She refused, the rumors were out there and she was committed to her pack. Deucalion reached out to me after the fire. We were in colorado and he found me. Said it would be easy for me. Taking out Cora and Derek since they were all I had left. I refused to meet him and we left to New York that same day.”
Lydia looked to Derek, the brains had figured out where the conversation was going. “So you want to ask us if we want to let in the boys?”
Derek nodded. “This risk is not only impacting me. We don’t know if any retaliation will come, but Deucalion will not let things he likes slip away. We need to make a decision like this as a family.”
“But you want them here?” Stiles asked while he held Derek’s hand.
“They deserve a good pack.” He replied.
They sat there in silence looking at each other, thinking about the choices. To let the boys stay and risk a pack of Alphas coming for them. Or to let the boys walk away and be on their own. They talked about the hunters councils meeting with him. Plus rumors that they were unable to confirm.
There was a soft whisper in the now silent room. “We can’t let them go back.” Everyone turned and it was Isaac. “We are not that kind of family.”
Isaac spoke the truth, no one there could walk away from these kids. Not after knowing the life they had endured. Everyone was nodding in agreement around the room. They didn’t have it in their hearts to let them go back to the life they had. Laura placed her hand on her belly and looked to Chris. She knew this was a danger to his child and wanted his say in this. Chris just looked to Isaac and then at Laura and knew this was a fight he was willing to take. He took her hand and confirmed he was with her. The other couples looked at each other clans held each other. They were in this together.
“Then we plan for the worst. Perimeter runs are in groups of 3 now. Stiles and Danny keep the wards as strong as we can. Danny you should be strong enough now to be a conduit for the Ley lines. Later today we will get you to the Nemeton. John, Jordan I want eyes out for him as well. He has a few alias that I can give you to run. Not sure if he even has an emissary anymore but we can watch the members.” Derek commanded with ease, the training and preparation coming into effect. He looked around the room and everyone confirmed and understanding of their roles. “Ok let’s go talk to the twins. Let them meet everyone and get as much information as we can.”
“Wait!”
Everyone froze as they were standing up and turned to Isaac who was on his feet. He glanced at the door to the basement and Stiles knew what he wanted. Stiles threw up a sound barrier and nodded at him.
Isaac realized he had yelled and now hesitated slightly. “Before we go in there. I wanted to ask or maybe point something out. The twins are like me, they are very good at reading people. So you need to be honest becuase they will know how you feel. And I know everyone thinks they have an amazing poker face but I’m telling you now, they will know. So any reservation, any time you think they are lying, anytime you are upset with them. You need to be honest. If eveyone welcomes them with open arms a they will know it’s not real and be on edge. One last thing while they are twins they are not the same. Aiden has become the protector out of necessity. He will be the most on edge he will also be the most willing to work and train and please you Derek but not for the right reasons. Ethan feels like the quiet one but he is most like me, he just wants a good life. He will try and wiggle in and soak in any affection becuase he thinks it will go away any minute. So don’t over sell anything. We need to show consistency above anything.” Isaac was strsssed and clearly looking at eveyone to makesure they listened. Stiles was proud of his little brave golden boy, so he went over and gave him a hug.
“We will follow you on this Isaac.” Derek then Joined in and ruffled his hair and nodded letting him know that eveyone was on the same page.
The entire pack made their way down to the boys, who were sitting up now drinking the last protein shake they had. As everyone filled in around them, Melissa removed the now empty blood bag and fluids from them.
Aiden looked at her while she pulled the tubes out of his brother and in a defeated tone spoke quietly. “Thank you, we will get out of your way now.” As he pulled the blanket slowly back Stiles was the one to stop him.
“We are not kicking you out. We said you were safe here and we meant it.” Stiles moved forward and came up to the bed. “She is just cleaning up because he didn’t need any more blood transfusion not because we were moving you from the infirmary.”
Both boys looked to Stiles and Derek in disbelief. They thought for sure the pack would have decided against them. Aiden looked to Laura and Chris before looking to Derek. “You decided as a pack? To let us stay?”
Derek walked up to Stiles and wrapped an arm around his waist. “Yes. This was a choice we made together. Now I did say everyone was entitled to their secrets but we need to know. Is there a chance Deucalion will come for you?”
The boys looked at each other and slowly nodded. “He said this was training. That he was preparing us for something. Would never say what but that we needed to get us strong.” This time it was Ethan that answered.
“Did he follow you at all when you ran?” Stiles asked them.
“No, after we received ‘training’ from him or someone else they would leave us for a few days. We didn’t live with them, they kept us in a cabin.” Aiden answered wincing slightly at the memory. You could hear an audible growl come from Laura at the treatment they received. “After the last one we waited a few hours then ran, just headed in the opposite direction from their scents. Didn’t stop.”
Chris soother Laura with soft strokes of his thumb, “how many?” Her growl slowly subsided.
“The only people we have met were: Ennis, Kali and Braeden. Braeden isn’t a shifter but we’ve seen her a few times.” Aiden answered. “They would take turns…”
Chris and Derek looked at each tiger and understood, they both turned to Lydia. “Most likely Braeden is their emissary or close to it. No other reason to risk a non shifter around them. Lydia be ready incase she reaches out to you.” She nodded and Jackson instinctively wrapped an arm around her.
It had seemed with the time, medicine and close contact Aiden and Ethan were recovering, as they no longer needed the heat of the blankets and they were coming back to temperature. They managed to move the blankets off and relax together. They stared at their bodies covered mostly in bandages. Aiden started at the runes on the patches of skin he could see in confusion.
Danny pressed the runes on his own arms and the ones on Aiden glowed. “They are healing runes, just something to jump start your own healing.”
“You charged up my healing?” He asked confused, clearly this was his first interaction with this kind of magic.
“Kind of, I am a Druid, we are magic users who focus on balance. So you needed energy and I moved it from me and the land to you. Hence the recovery fuel.” Danny smiled as he shoot the large electrolyte drink in his hand.
“You gave me your power?”
“Umm temporarily but yeah I guess that’s one way to put it.” He smiled and then he went back to his laptop. “I don’t know how to ask this any gentler. But because you were taken so young do you remember any information to help me find any records for you. See if you were ever reported missing.”
Aiden the cautious and reserved one was quick to get defensive, “why do you need to know?”
Danny turned his laptop around and showed them the California IDs he was working on. “Well since you told me you had nothing, I wanted to get you both IDs. Incase you wanted to drive or anything. We don’t have to do this now if it’s too much but we are going to be pretty busy tomorrow.”
Ethan looked excitedly at the screen, then to Derek “you would let us drive?” It was now that everyone truly realized just how sheltered the twins were kept.
Laura was just holding it together when the glimmer of hope in Ethan’s eyes caused her to tip over the edge. There were full water works and she was wheezing, she just wanted to wrap both boys up in her arms and give them the life they deserve. Chris patted her on the back and handed off some tissues he’s gotten used to carrying around after the time a allergy medication comercial made her cry.
“I’m sorry.” She choked out behind her tears. “I just… you were treated…. This is a family…very pregnant…I’m not crying.” She managed to just get words out between breaths.
Derek walked over to Laura an patted her head. “I think it’s time for bed now.” He glanced at the Time at it was now just after 1 am. “You are welcome to stay here to sleep, we can get you separate beds like before, or if you are up for moving we can show you the house and you can pick your rooms out.”
“Rooms?” Ethan asked.
“Or room, you are welcome to share.” Stiles offered up. “But there is plenty of room here.”
The twins look at each other and came to a conclusion. They both sat up and tested their limbs, while sore they had full mobility. Under the bandages the bleeding had stopped but they handing healed away the scars yet. Aiden was the first to try. He swung a leg around and sat up on the edge of the bed. Twinging a little at the pain but it was bearable. Melissa stepped forward and lowered the bed so he wouldn’t have to jump down but only step off. He eased himself onto his toes then feet and stood up. He felt a bit uneasy but strong enough to walk. He took a few steps and looked to his brother. Who followed his steps and walked around the infirmary as well.
“Lydia you want to give a tour of the house?” Stiles asked while he was leaning back onto.
The pack headed slowly around the home, starting with the basement, the containment area, the armory, training rooms. Them up to the main floor. They took it slow at the boys pace but then when they were on the 3rd floor the boys noticed Danny was now being carried around by Jackson and was trying to keep his eyes open.
When the twins looked at him in confusion Lydia answered for the exhausted Druid. “You are using more energy walking around, his runes are still on you so he is still funneling energy. Just made him tired, he will bounce back in the morning.” Danny managed to give a thumbs up to Lydia while resting his eyes and head on Jackson.
With that they finished the top floor and the boys decided on getting rooms next to each other on the top floor. Turns out they liked the sun rise so they picked rooms on the side of the house where they could watch it come up every day. Since the rooms were sound proofed for privacy, Danny left one rune on and Stiles placed a simple ward up for Ethan to be able to trigger if he needed anything. After that everyone headed to bed and fell asleep quickly. The stress of the day taking a toll on them. Danny decided to join Lydia and Jackson incase he was too tired to actually react from the rune to help.
The following morning after a late start to the day went fairly normal. The twins did seem to walk on egg Shells but they ate with the pack and that was progress. As breakfast passed Derek looked to Danny, “how are you feeling? You ready to access all the Ley Lines or want to push it another day?”
Danny took another sip of his juice and replied “I can handle it.”
“He cuddled in his favorite Kanima and Banshee sandwich last night. Got all recharged.” Jackson quipped back, like he wasn’t the biggest cuddler.
Aiden and Ethan just looked in confusion and they realized that Derek introduced them by pack title not shifter. Jackson waved a hand and said “Were-lizard.”
Lydia did a tiny cheesy curtsy and said “Banshee.”
Stiles threw up sparky jazz hands and said “Mage.”
Jordan just laughed at them and said “Hellhound.”
The twins were awe struck just looking at the pack in front of them. It did comfort them to know that this wasn’t a normal pack.
“Danny, I want you Stiles, Cora, Laura and me to head to the Nemeton. The rest stay here, Lydia talk with Santi and Chris about how packs handle situations like this. Stay in groups, Mel and Jordan. I know you have work just be careful, you have your panic buttons.” Derek called out commands and the pack was ready to move.
A quiet voice came from Ethan “can we help at all?”
Derek remembered what Isaac had said and he was honest. “I want you to to focus on healing. But I won’t stop you if you want to train with us. Allison can take you thru the ropes. Oh and Isaac it’s grocery Monday so plan the list if you have time the boys can help you if they want to add anything.” Derek finished looking to Isaac who smiled letting him know he did good. The twins nodded and everyone broke apart.
The Hales plus Danny and Stiles headed to the Nemeton in Cora’s car. They drove as far as they could until the trees became too thick. They exited and began the now short walk to the Nemeton. Stiles pointing out random wards he’s put up plus Danny’s own runes that served as a perimeter for the Nemeton.
As they approached the inner rings you could instantly see the effect on Stiles who walked light as a feather, feet just lightly grazing the grass. Danny also felt the power and some of his control runes started to glow on his forearms.
Stiles walked over to the tree stump and touched the base. The rings began to glow from the inside out. Cora, Laura and Derek stood around the tree, they looked to Danny who was ready and taking off his shirt. He stepped up onto the now glowing stump. He looked around at the Hale’s and took a deep breath venting himself and reaching for the energy below him. He waited a little to be at peace then nodded. The Hales took a single claw and sliced their palms letting them blood drip for a second onto the center of the stump. Danny took a kneee off yen dipped two fingers in the blood and drew a Triskelion on the stump, then he drew a matching one in his left peck
Once Stiles saw the runes were compete and Danny was back to standing he used his magic to usher the magic up thru Danny.
When Danny felt the full force of the Hale Ley Lines he levitated slightly, then he focused on sending the magic back to the world around him. Just like they had been practicing. He pushed up to the north, then east , South and t finally west so he could feel the perimeter of their land. Along the way he felt all their old runes and wards. Once he felt the entire land he recalled the force and focused on grounding himself while giving thanks to the earth. He opened his eyes and he could see the aura of everyone around him, even the close wildlife. Anyone who put energy into this land he could feel.
He reeled everything down and out and slowly his eyes and runes stopped glowing, “Wow..” was all he could say. The exhaustion from yesterday was completely gone. He felt like a brand new man.
Derek may or may not have started a howl from the joy he felt radiating off of Danny and Stiles.
Stiles just laughed at his life partner. “I know. I cried when it was just me and Derek out here and I did this.” He held up a hand for Danny to get off the stump.
Danny kept his composure and didn’t cry but he did need a minute to gather his feelings. As he watched the fresh rune sink into his skin and become a tattoo. Cora and Laura showed off their matching tattoos , Laura’s on her shoulder and Laura had hers on her ankle.
“I really need to get one.” Stiles lamented as he traced the one between Derek’s shoulder blades.
After Danny recovered they loaded back into the car. Returning to the house knowing their runes and wards were stronger than ever. When they arrived Derek and Stiles were happy to see the twins thriving separately. Ethan was in the “foxes room” and Aiden was in the kitchen with Isaac working on what seemed to be a meal plan.
Derek walked over to Isaac and ruffled his hair while he looked at the menu, he pretended not to notice Aiden stiffen as if waiting to be hit or yelled at. “John had been craving pork chops, think we can work it in.” While he headed to the fridge to get his guilty pleasure a Diet Pepsi.
“Sure, we threw in a left over meal, but that was wishful thinking.” Isaac replied while he scribbled over the week menu and wrote things down on the grocery list. “Lydia! You’re up.” He turned to Aiden and let him in on the secret. “She had a knack for knowing exactly how much to get.”
Lydia walked over looked at the list and smiled as she scribbled numbers down on the paper. “Oh good , The sheriff was saying he was craving pork chops.” She finished writing items down and snuck in a little extra chocolate for her and Allison, plus a few of Laura’s strange cravings for the week that the guys could never keep up with.
Isaac asked “who’s on grocery’s with me today?”
Stiles just walked into to the kitchen and answered “Danny but he just fell asleep with Laura so don’t think his up for it.”
Aiden instantly stiffed and looked to Danny in fear. Derek again pretended not to notice instead he reached a hand out to Stiles. “Date night?”
Stiles fell into him and kissed him “date night at the grocery store? Way to woo a guy. Let’s go Sourwolf.”