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The early morning had Derek sitting out on the balcony of the master bedroom in the newly finished Hale main house. He was sipping a cup of freshly brewed coffee, stretched out on one of the Adirondack chairs and inhaled the fresh scent of the trees and flowers that had new morning dew slowly dripping off the leaves.
The last couple of years saw a lot of changes happening in his life, becoming an Alpha again was one of the changes. The other was finding out more of the Hale’s had lived than Derek originally thought. When Laura had broken the pack bonds, Derek assumed it was just him, Laura, and Uncle Peter that were left. Derek had never been comfortable with leaving Peter in Beacon Hills, but he had no choice at the time than to follow Laura.
While Cora was the first to be found, Derek, with Peter, once Peter’s mind had fully healed, and Stiles’ help had found a few cousins, two of his brothers, and an aunt who were all still alive. They had all scattered after the fire, and because the pack bonds had been broken they didn’t all know who was still alive.
After gathering everyone once they became known to be alive, Derek was able to piece together more of that night and some of the guilt he harbored he slowly came to terms with.
One of the human cousins had been able to run out of the house and break the mountain ash line, letting as many of the family out as possible. However they all ran in different directions and scattered our of fear and confusion. Without Derek’s parents, and Laura newly receiving the Alpha spark, the whole thing became utter chaos.
When Stiles had first brought the files to Derek, he noticed that the number of people who had died, and been removed from the house was a smaller number than he originally was told had perished. Laura didn’t even wait to see if others had lived, she just assumed everyone died and broke all pack bonds.
Once it became known that more of the Hales lived, Peter put out a call and slowly family and other members of the once large Hale pack began to show up in Beacon Hills. The house had already started being built, and the building that Derek had his loft, he bought outright and began to refurbish more of the lofts and it became a place for other’s in the Hale pack to live until they could build or buy more housing. It was going to be a longterm project, but one Derek was happy to undertake with his brother, Jeremy’s help.
Derek had started therapy to deal with finding out about his family, becoming the Hale Alpha, and finding his mate all within a short amount of time. Sipping his coffee, Derek let his senses feel everyone in the house, to hear their heartbeats and feel the bonds strengthening as they all spent time together was more than he ever thought was possible. There was currently a pack pile in the basement, which was made just for such occasions.
Smiling and sipping his coffee, Derek felt deeply contented for the first time since tragedy had struck the Hale family. He smiled when he heard the sliding glass door opening and smelled, then heard his mate’s heart.
“Why are you up so early?” Stiles asked as he slipped onto Derek’s lap with his own cup of coffee in his hands. Derek wrapped an arm around Stile’s waist and sighed as he pulled him closer.
“I couldn’t sleep. Too much on my mind.”
“Hmm,” Stiles hummed as he sipped his coffee, then put it aside. “We’re still getting emails and messages from others who had been pack, and possibly more family members. My Dad is coming over later to talk to everyone. He wants to get official statements to put in the files. We know there are other Argents out there, but this time we’ll be prepared if they come.”
“Plus, your Dad just wants to see Peter.” Derek laughed at the face Stiles made.
“I don’t wanna know. I mean, I’m glad my Dad has found someone, but ugh. It’s just too weird. And so is the fact that Malia and Jackson are twins. Holy shit, does that mean they’ll be my step-siblings someday?” The horror in Stiles voice had Derek laughing at him.
“You know that you’re happy for him.”
Stiles huffed not because it bothered him, but because Derek was right. Derek kissed his mate and sighed in contentment.
“I’m on breakfast duty. Dad will be here in a little bit. Also, Boyd, Erica, Liam, and Isaac will be here to help and I think they want to be pack again.”
“Yeah, they wanted to talk to me. Seems Scott is having issues keeping his pack together.”
Derek felt his mates emotions and saw the sad look that came over him. He knew what a toll it has taken on Stiles because of Scott’s attitude and distancing himself from Stiles.
“Yeah, I don’t know what’s going on with Scott. Ever since Kira left to get control of her Kitsune powers almost three years ago he’s been pulling away from everyone. And, losing his Alpha powers has taken a toll. His Mom found a pack that’s going to help him because I told him I was no longer going to help hold him up. It’s why I was so late getting home last night.”
“I’m sorry, Stiles. I know how close you once were.”
Stiles didn’t say anything, he just laid his head on Derek’s shoulder and let himself be held.
“I’m happy, though, right here, with you and this new pack we’re building. I’m getting a magic teacher, and you’re more settled. This is good, Derek. Everything we’re doing is good.”
Derek kissed Stiles again and felt it deep down how happy he was. His good feelings translated down the pack bonds, letting everyone know how good he felt. He got responses back through those same bonds and the consensus was everyone else was just as happy. It would take time to repair and build relationships, but everything was coming together in a way Derek never thought could happen. Life may get complicated, and certainly Beacon Hills was going to throw crazy stuff at them, but this time they were prepared, and they were strong, and more importantly, they were happy and healthy. The Hale pack was growing and nothing was going to ever break them apart again.