Soulmates | Derek Hale - Chapter 24: Chapter 24

Stiles walked towards the crime scene with panic written all over his face, looking past all of the officers, "Dad?"
Finding his father nowhere to be found, Stiles quickened his pace, taking a deep breath as he spotted a body.
"Dad?" Stiles asked an officer hopefully, but sighed once finding it wasn't him, "Has anyone seen my... Has anyone seen my dad?"
Stiles felt his breaths grow uneasy, taking a chance, calling out for the detective, "Maeve?"
Stiles approached the dead body by the ambulance, staring at the bloody hand of the body in shock.
"Stiles?" Noah called over, Stiles turned around with a sigh of relief, "What are you doing here?"
Stiles rushed forward, pulling Noah into a hug, his father hugged back despite the confusion over Stiles' arrival.
Inside the car parked discreetly enough away, Chris nodded towards Stiles, "That one's Stiles."
"Another friend of Allison's," Kate figured, watching him suspiciously.
Chris looked hesitant as he turned to his sister, "Are you gonna tell me about that talk you had with her?"
Kate sat forward curiously, "You tell me something first the night you came across those two betas. One of them was smaller right?"
"Hmm," Chris hummed.
"Well was he just smaller or could he have been younger too?" Kate pieced together, blinking in surprise as another car pulled up "Hold on a second."
Maeve climbed out of the Range Rover in a hurry, her partner, Collins, following in suit. The detectives flashed their badges at one of the deputies, stepping under the crime scene tape.
"Now that's interesting," Kate smirked, "Little Maeve's a cop, huh?"
"Kate," Chris warned, glaring protectively.
It was old habits that kept Chris protecting Maeve from Kate, but now Allison was the age Maeve was, Chris had them both to protect.
Kate chuckled, shrugging, "We all know what she is Chris."
After the revelation of Maeve being a werewolf, Maeve was lucky to have left when she did, they had her murder all planned out. Elizabeth was gone the second she heard of it.
Maeve only took a few steps before she was tackled into a hug, staring up at Stiles in shock, "Maeve!"
The day stiles finally overtook her in height was a very tragic day for Maeve.
"Is everything alright?" Maeve asked worriedly, speaking in hushed whispers as Stiles caught her up on the latest news.
"Now that's interesting," Kate watched the two of them suspiciously, eyes wide as they both went silent as the sheriff approached them.
Chris tried to hide his annoyance, "Kate, she's not the one killing people."
Kates eyes narrowed on him, "Do you really know that?"
Chris stared at Maeve was she got to work, analysing the crime scene, she was still the Maeve he raised, but yet she was so different.
—
Maeve stood in the middle of a bridal store, stood in an ivory mermaid gown, sheer lace covering the bodice, seeping down into the train.
Maeve smoothed out the dress in the mirror, "I don't think I want something extravagant."
Maeve was in complete disbelief when Jake proposed only a few months into their relationship, especially being recently divorced, but he assured her that it was what he wanted and the wedding was soon in the works.
Jamie's girlfriend, Amara, and their friend Jazz, sat on the velvet couch, helping Maeve make a decision.
"But you have to! You need to look like a princess for your big day," Amara exclaimed excitedly.
Maeve laughed softly, "I don't need a big dress to feel like a princess."
"I think you do," Amara argued, browsing some of the dresses hung up on the rack, "What did you wear the first time around?"
Maeve thought back fondly of her wedding, "Something simple."
It was hard to look back at her wedding, the memories of the fire and her divorce always clouded her mind, but there was no point denying the happiness she felt when marrying Derek.
Amara somehow grew more excited,
"That's the point, now is the time to dress up!"
"Yeah maybe," Maeve sighed, staring at her reflection.
"And once the weddings over, babies!"
The friends noticed Maeve visibly freeze, her short breaths in the tight dress becoming shorter.
Jazz glared at their excitable friend, smiling sympathetically at Maeve, "Mara!"
"What?!" Amara frowned in confusion, quieting down.
"I don't know if we're gonna have kids, Mara," Maeve pointed out, staring at some dresses to try and distract herself.
Amara was puzzled, "But Jakes always talking about kids"
"I'm just not in the place to have anymore," Maeve shrugged, lying through her teeth as she walked away from the mirror, "I don't think Luna wants siblings either."
Maeve's mind practically laughed at her, knowing that was a straight up lie.
"Does Jake know this?" Amara questioned suspiciously.
Maeve reached down to pick up a glass of champagne from the table, taking a large gulp, "We've spoke of it."
Amara suddenly dashed off, looking ready to burst with excitement, "That's it, that's the dress!"
Maeve laughed to herself as she watched Amara run off, only to sigh at Jazz's stare, "You don't want more kids because you're scared, or because you don't want to?"
Jazz had become a very important friend in Maeve's life, her first friend after divorcing Derek, an actual girlfriend that she could confine in with anything.
"I can't go through that again, Jazz," Maeve replied quietly, "I would love more kids, but I don't know."
Jazz nodded slowly, "And Luna?"
"She's content with the cat for now but who knows with her," Maeve smiled knowingly.
It was a known fact amongst the Hales that Luna wanted a brother, naturally it only came around after Maeve was joking about mini Dereks running around riot.
"And Derek?"
Maeve froze at her words, lifting the dress as she walked off the small podium, "What does Derek have anything to do with this?"
"You know exactly why," Jazz stated, staring at Maeve like it was obvious.
Maeve glanced down, her gaze landing on her hand, her new engagement ring shining, "Do I?"
"Don't you stand up there and lie to me saying you've felt nothing since Derek's come back into your life," Jazz argued, her voice stern.
Maeve rolled her eyes, playing back her emotions, "Other than untameable anger?"
"Maeve," Jazz warned in disappointment.
"Of course I'm going to feel something, we were married for five years," Maeve reluctantly admitted, "Everytime I see him with Luna I feel like I've been punched in the gut and I hate it. Hating him is a lot easier than feeling like I do right now."
"And what do you feel right now?" Jazz questioned softly.
Maeve stared at her friend, her breath uneasy whilst overwhelmed by her emotions.
"Let's try on that princess dress!" Amaras voice broke the tension, rushing back with a puffy white dress in hand.
"Yes!" Maeve pretended to cheer, taking the dress from Amara, dashing off into the changing rooms before Jazz could question her anymore.
Jazz shook her head as she watched Maeve rush off, Amara sat down beside her on the couch, frowning at the older woman, "Is she okay?"
"She will be," Jazz forced a smile, speaking clearly knowing Maeve could hear her, "Once she stood running from her emotions that is."
Maeve was halfway through getting out of the wedding down as her phone rang, picking it up as she stepped out of the dress, "Lu?"
"Mommy!"
"Yes, hi baby," Maeve greeted, struggling to put the dress back on the hanger as she held her phone, "Mommy's a bit busy right now, is everything okay?"
"Uncle Kieran fainted."
Maeve went to grab the next wedding dress to try on, but paused, turning to pick up her normal clothes instead.
"Can you explain to mommy what happened?" Maeve asked, shuffling into her pink work suit trousers.
"I told him that mr Peter wasn't asleep and he didn't believe me, but I spoke to him! So he must be pretending! Uncle Kieran went really pale and fell on the ground."
Maeve blinked in surprise, trying to process what Luna has said as she buttoned up her blouse, "Okay, is your dad home?"
Luna was known for her imagination, sometimes it was hard to tell the truth from a lie with her, but something about this just felt off.
"No."
"Is anyone with you?" Maeve hopped around the small dressing room as she tried to pull on her boots, almost falling as she slid one on.
"Uncle Deans laughing at uncle Kieran."
Maeve slid on her trench coat next, "Alright, good, stay with Dean, I'll be home soon, okay?"
"Where are you going?"
Maeve picked up her bag, tossing it over her shoulder, "I'm going to find your dad and uncle Stiles."
"Is this about mr Peter?"
Maeve stopped as she went to push back the curtain, "What makes this say that?"
"I don't know."
"Lu, I have to go, sweetheart," Maeve sighed, "I love you."
"Love you too."
Maeve smiled apologetically at her friends as they looked to her in confusion, "I'm leaving."
Amara pouted, "But there's still dresses left!"
"Emergency," Maeve waved goodbye, dashing out the door, "Sorry!"
—
"Peter freaking Hale," Maeve grumbled as she sprinted into the hospital, "Of course."
Noticing a few startled visitors, Maeve flashed her badge, pointing to the door as she ran, "Everyone out now!"
As the visitors scurried away, Maeve reached reception, sighing in relief spotting the both of them, "Derek! Stiles! Boys, get out of there right now - it's him!"
Derek and Stiles turned around at the sound of Maeve's voice in shock, "He's the Alpha! Get out!"
Turning back around, the both of them were greeted by Peter Hale looking completely healthy, "You must be Stiles."
A sudden protectiveness of the teen jumped out as he addressed Stiles, walking forward to push Stiles behind her, ignoring Dereks warning to stay back.
Peters nurse appeared beside him, "What are you doing here? Visiting hours are over."
"You - and him. You're - you're the one who - Oh, my - and he's - Oh, my God, I'm gonna die," Stiles ranted looking between the Hales in disbelief.
Maeve was frozen in place for a second, sure that her emotions would consume her from seeing Peter look completely well in front of her after six years.
But that wasn't her Peter, that wasn't the Peter she knew would never kill a member of his family.
Meeting Peters cold eyes, Maeve saw red, walking forward, she effortlessly knocked out the nurse, the human landing on a heap on the floor at Maeve's feet.
"That's not nice. She's my nurse," Peter pointed out mockingly.
"She's a psychotic bitch helping you kill people," Derek scoffed, glaring at his uncle as he shoved Stiles behind a desk, "Get out of the way."
"Oh, damn," Stiles stumbled back, hiding behind the main desk.
Maeve grabbed his arm, practically pulling him out of the room, "Get out of here - don't you argue with me, Stiles!"
Stiles nodded silently knowing Maeve's tone meant the final word was hers, dashing out of the hospital.
Making her way back, Maeve's anger only grew at Peters words, "You think I killed Laura on purpose? One of my own family? My mind, my personality were literally burned out of me. I was being driven by pure instinct."
"Pure intstict? What was next? Coming after Derek, me?" Maeve's loud voice beat Derek to it, standing beside her ex husband, "Carry on killing the family line?"
"Now, Maeve, that wasn't very nice-" Peter began, his amusement growing at Maeve's temper.
"Laura is dead because of you!" Maeve growled, going to shove Peter back but Derek caught her arm, "You're lucky I haven't killed you!"
"You want forgiveness?" Derek looked disgusted at the thought, he felt Maeve tense under his hand.
"I want understanding. Do you have any idea what it was like for me during those years?" Peter questioned almost innocently, "Slowly healing, cell by cell. Even more slowly coming back to consciousness. Maeve always seemed to understand, tending at by bedside."
Maeve was borderline livid, "Maybe it was almost dying dragging your burnt ass out of a burning building! Maybe it was because you were my best friend, but apparently not now! Because the Peter I knew could never kill his niece!"
"Speaking of nieces," Peter hummed, "When do I properly get to meet my great niece? She seemed chatty last time I saw her, she definitely has your fire, Maeve."
Derek didn't try to hold Maeve back as she flew forward, the sound of a bone snapping mixed with a slap filled the room. Derek was too busy concentrating on not killing Peter for bringing up his daughter.
"Yes, becoming an Alpha, taking that from Laura pushed me over a plateau in the healing process. I can't help that. I tried to tell you what was happening. I tried to warn you. In fact, I did warn you."
"You told a six year old when we were in the next room!" Maeve scoffed, "That's hardly a warning, you idiot!"
"I was going to wait, for dramatic flair - but - When you look this good, why wait? Derek, Maeve , you have to give me a chance to explain. After all, we're still family," Peter stated, smirking at the two werewolves who suddenly looked too far apart, "Aren't we?"
It was Dereks turn to take a swing now, Peter stumbling back at the force of his punch.
"You bastard," Maeve stared back at Peter sadly, turning to storm out, "I'm going to get my daughter before this lunatic decides he wants to kill another Hale."
Derek watched Maeve disappear around the corner, now his main concern was gone, his anger could finally settle.
"You really screwed that one up didn't you, Derek?" Peter whistled, "I always knew she was too good for you, always waiting for the pin to drop."
Peter watched his nephew in amusement, waiting to see see how far it took to get Derek angry, to see how much his restraint has changed since he was eighteen.
Derek kept his gaze on the floor, focusing on Maeve and Luna, his anchors.
"You're a dad now, huh? You haven't turned into your father, now have you Derek?" Peter drawled, "That would be very unfortunate..."
Dereks eyes glowed, turning to his uncle with raging anger, throwing the first punch sending them both to the ground.
—
Maeve almost fell through the doors of the hospital, blinking as the shock finally settled.
Stiles stood up from the bench by the doors, rushing to her side "Maeve!"
Maeve frowned, letting Stiles lead her forward, "Come on, Maeve. You okay?"
Once they reached Maeve's car, Maeve leant back against it, taking deep breaths. It was Stiles' turn to be surprised, he normally saw Maeve being the one to comfort people, not the other way around.
"There was a time peter and I were best friends," Maeve explained, her voice pained by guilt "I don't... he killed his niece, how could he do that?"
"Maeve-" Stiles watched as tears pooled in Maeve's eyes.
"That isn't the Peter I knew," Maeve voice started to shake, a sob finally escaping her lips.
Stiles sighed, pulling the detective into a hug, allowing her to cry on his shoulder. The two of them were both known for hiding their emotions over the years, but time and time again proved that they weren't afraid to share them with each other.
"It's alright, Maeve," Stiles comforted, "You didn't know. It's not your fault. You didn't do this."
—
Maeve stared out of the large windows facing downtown, watching everyone pass as rush hour slowed down, the sound of Jakes voice tuning out.
Getting dressed up and going out for a date after finding out one of your best friends is an alpha running around killing people, your sister in law being one of them, was not what Maeve wanted to be doing.
But she hated to admit she had been neglecting Jacob with all the Derek and the alpha drama, and he'd grow suspicious if she missed another date.
"What do you think, babe?" Jake smiled, Maeve blinked, trying to piece together what he was saying "The deal?"
Maeve sighed, business talk confused the hell out of her sometimes.
Jake frowned, "Is everything alright, Maeve?"
Maeve sipped on her wine, "Luna's been a bit difficult this week, nothing major."
That wasn't exactly a lie, Luna could cause havoc at the blink of an eye, and she was especially determined to drive Maeve mad now Derek was home.
"Maybe she'd do better in a new environment," Jake suggested, "I don't doubt that it can be unsettling living with so many people."
Jake had always had a problem with Maeve's roommates, he knew they were apart of her exes family, and his opinion, an ex should stay an ex for a reason.
Maeve scowled defensively, "Her uncles? They bring more comfort if anything."
Maeve definitely couldn't tell him how living with her pack eased the young wolf.
Jake shrugged, "I still think it would be better if you moved in with me."
Maeve just nodded, taking a larger gulp of her wine.
It was going to be a long night.
Maybe if you told him the truth about Derek you wouldn't have to lie to him, Maeve wondered.
—
Maeve jumped awake, her hand flying to rest over her chest as she settled her breathing, glancing to the side to check Jake was still sleeping.
Nightmares had been frequent since she was a child, they were once of Kate, then of the fire, now the alp- no, Peter, was the main star. Derek always seemed to make her nightmares go away when she was in his arms, the same went for Luna, but now she didn't have Derek.
Maeve didn't hesitate as she walked around his room pulling on her clothes, grabbing her bag and keys before quietly leaving his apartment.
The cold hit her legs as she made it down to the driveway, not even bothering to put her heels back on. Maeve breathed a sigh, unlocking her car.
"He's not the type I pegged you for."
Maeve whirled around at Peters voice, glaring at him as she tried to climb into her car "Leave me alone, Peter."
"How'd you know I was out here?" Peter teased, holding his arm in front of the door, "Upset I interrupted your late night rendezvous? Bad dream?"
Maeve threw her heels onto the seat, crossing her arms, "How'd you get into my head?"
Peter smirked, staying silent, knowing it would annoy her.
"I'm not a child, Peter, don't treat me like one," Maeve growled, "Whilst you played sleeping beauty for the last six years I was here feeling guilty for not getting you out quick enough!"
"I risked my life for you, my child's life for you," Maeve kept her shouting quiet, given the time, "And the thanks we get? Killing your niece!"
Maeve saw Peters eyes flash away from the red, to the annoying blue that her daughter shared, but of course, with Luna it was much cuter.
"Just tell me something," Maeve sighed, watching Peter slowly morph back into his alpha side, "Did you know what you were doing?"
"No," Responded Peters deep growl, letting go of the door before walking away, "Drive safe."
Maeve watched with wide eyes as he ran away, if it weren't to the cold biting at the ends of her silk dress, she could've stood there for hours trying to piece together that conversation.
—
Maeve sighed, sliding the lock on Dereks loft, already knowing he'd be inside and most likely awake despite it being 3am. Derek was always the night owl, when Luna was a baby and decided to be up all hours of the night, it was a blessing that Derek was the only one that could get her down back to sleep.
When walking up to the loft, she hadn't intended on going to find Derek, but there she was walking up that set of extra steps towards Dereks loft.
"Derek?" Maeve called out, heels clicking as she walked down the stairs.
Derek moved out of the kitchen, looking to his ex in confusion, "I thought you had a date."
Maeve shuffled her feet awkwardly before sitting down on the couch, "Yeah, well, I couldn't really focus."
Derek knew Maeve better than anyone, he could see something was bothering her by just the look on her face.
Derek sat down on the coffee table in front of her, "Are you okay?"
"I don't understand how we missed it," Maeve breathed, sitting back on the couch, anxiously running a hand through her hair.
"It's Peter, he's always been dramatic," Derek noticed her shoulders fall, staring at her sympathetically.
He knew she was feeling guilty, he was too, but Maeve had felt guilty the moment Peter was placed on the hospital bed after the fire.
Maeve bit her lip, "What if he's telling the truth? What if he really didn't know what he was doing? We both know Peter couldn't hurt one of his family."
"It's been six years, do we even know Peter anymore?" Derek argued, trying to soothe her worries, "Look how much we've changed."
Maeve curled up on the sofa, picking up a throw pillow she's surprised he'd even brought, "How do we deal with this? With him?"
Derek held her hand, Maeve's teary gaze falling on him, "You trust me, right?"
"Yeah, I do," Maeve answered quietly.
"Maeve?" Dereks gentle voice let Maeve's tears fall.
Derek leant forward, pulling his ex into a hug, Maeve didn't flinch, instead she just lay her head on his shoulder.
"It's not your fault."
Maeve didn't even question how Derek knew she was thinking that.
"I should've got him out quicker," Maeve sniffled, reaching up to wipe away her tears.
"It's a miracle you even got him out at all Maeve," Derek reminded her, smiling sadly as Maeve turned to look at him, blinking in surprise.
"Whatever you're planning," Maeve sighed reluctantly, "Be careful."
Derek nodded, "always."
Derek let go of Maeve as the door slid open slightly, Maeve sat up on the couch as she followed his gaze to the door.
Luna stepped out behind it, bundled up in her onesie and blanket, smiling innocently at her parents.
Maeve blinked back her tears, looking to her daughter suspiciously, "Why aren't you in bed?"
Luna mocked her mothers stare, "You're not in bed."
Derek snorted a laugh at his daughters response, quietening down as Maeve glared at him warningly.
"We're the adults, we don't have a bedtime," Maeve reminded her.
Luna scowled, "It's not my night with daddy. Why are you allowed to see him?"
Maeve could tell by the grumpy tone to her voice that Luna was tired, letting out a sigh, holding out her arms, "Come on then."
Luna ran down the steps, climbing over Derek before settling down on the sofa beside Maeve, curling up at her side, it was less than a minute before she fell asleep again.
Maeve ran her hand through Luna's hair, smiling down at her, shaking her head in disbelief, growing tired herself.
Derek stared at the both of them lovingly. This was his family, and he was going to get it back.