Soulmates | Derek Hale - Chapter 26: Chapter 26

Maeve was exhausted.
She was already doing overtime on her shift when she got a call from Stiles in hysterics asking her to come to the hospital. Maeve had been completely invested in her case for almost the past two days that the alpha drama had barely been her top thought.
Maeve sighed in annoyance walking through the halls, of course Stiles wasn't where he asked to meet her.
"Stiles?" Maeve looked around the hallway, cops coming in and out, "Stiles!"
Maeve spotted Melissa walking out of the guarded room, jogging after her, "Nurse McCall? Hi, do you know what's going on?"
Melissa turned to Maeve, the both of them stared at Lydia through the glass, "The poor girl got attacked by an animal on the school field."
Maeve stared at the claw marks on her body, gulping nervously. Killing Laura and turning Scott just wasn't enough for Peter.
Maeve grew nervous, "Did you see where Stiles went?"
"That way I think," Melissa nodded into the exiting hallway, Maeve smiled gratefully, walking in that direction.
"Detective? This isn't just about animal attacks, is it?" Melissa called after her.
Maeve sighed, shaking her head, "I don't think so."
Maeve followed the shouting down the hallways, holding back her groan of annoyance at the sight of Jackson Whittemore surrounded by a group of hunters.
Dean absolutely detested Jackson Whittemore, and by the smug luck on Jackson's face, she could see why.
Maeve pulled her badge out of her pocket, thankful that the hunters holding Jackson back didn't recognise her, "Put him down!"
"Whittemore!"
Jackson looked up in shock, falling back in relief at the sight of her, "Get these freaks away from me!"
The hunters released Jackson from their hold, scattering out of the hallway, Maeve rolled her eyes, approaching the teen.
"Are you okay?" Maeve questioned.
Jackson nodded slowly, pointing to the closet, "Stilinski's in there."
Maeve pushed open the door, nervously glancing between Stiles and Chris, her arrival going unnoticed by her uncle.
"Burn the house down around him?"
Maeve felt her breath catch in her throat, watching Chris carefully, "I hate to dispel a popular rumour stiles but we never did that."
"Oh right," Stiles laughed mockingly, "Derek said you guys had a code. I guess that doesn't apply to when Maeve was pregnant when your sister tried to burn her alive! I guess no one breaks it...."
Chris followed Stiles' gaze onto Maeve, his niece stared back at him sadly, and in that second he knew Stiles was telling the truth.
"What if someone does?" Stiles pressed, Chris keeping his gaze on Maeve.
Chris didn't want to believe it, he couldn't believe it.
"Someone like who?" Chris struggled to ask.
Stiles struggled in the arms of the hunters holding him against the wall, "Your younger sister."
Maeve noticed his discomfort instantly, glowing her eyes at the hunters, "Put him down! Now!"
Chris nodded at his hunters, the two men released Stiles, speaking to Maeve in barley a whisper, "Is it true?"
Maeve went silent, tears filling her eyes at the sight of his guilty expression, "Diana!"
"It's true."
Chris motioned for the hunters to leave, they quickly left leaving Stiles alone.
"Go Stiles," Maeve smiled assuringly at him, "I'll be fine."
"Maeve," Stiles warned, Maeve shook her head, the teen sighing in defeat, leaving the room.
"You couldn't look at me that day of the fire," Chris stated weakly, "I should've known..."
"Chris," Maeve blinked back her tears.
Chris shook his head, breathing heavily in shock, "I thought you hated me, that you left because you were scared of me."
"I wasn't scared of you," Maeve denied, "I had to protect my child."
"I won't let her hurt you, either of you," Chris promised sadly, "I swear, Maeve."
Maeve walked forward, hugging her uncle tightly, "I believe you."
Maeve finally let her tears fall as she hugged Chris, the past six years of wondering what happened to Maeve finally made sense to Chris, and any loyalty he held for his sister vanished.
—
Maeve ran closely behind Chris as they approached the Hale house, "Kate! I know what you did. Put the gun down."
Kate faltered noticing her brother stood protectively in front of Maeve, the werewolf looked sick at the sight of her aunt. Scott, under Kate's gunpoint, breathed in relief, he felt safe with Derek around to help, but with Maeve there he knew he had a chance of leaving alive.
"I did what I was told to do," Kate defended, glancing between Scott and Chris.
"No one asked you to murder innocent people! There were children in that house...ones who were human," Chris voice trembled with anger, "Your niece was in that house, your pregnant niece!"
Kate sneered at Maeve, "She's a monster like the rest of them!"
"No!" Chris raised his gun, stepping between his niece and his sister, "Look what you're doing now. You're holding a gun at a 16 year old boy with no proof he spilled human blood. We go by the code, Nous chassons ceux qui nous chassent."
Allison let out a nervous breath, whispering, "We hunt those who hunt us."
Chris loaded the gun, stepping closer to Kate, "Put the gun down. Before I put you down."
Maeve picked up on a familiar scent, her gaze falling on Allison stood closest to the house "Allison, come here!"
Allison looked to her cousin in alarm, but ran to hide beside Maeve as the front door creaked open, "What is it?"
Maeve grabbed Allisons hand, ignoring the frustrated look from her cousin, Scott's growl sounding from beside them, "It's the Alpha."
Peter emerged from the ruins in a sprint, circling the family and Scott, swiftly knocking them to their feet as he ran past, but left Kate and Maeve standing.
Kate glared nervously at her niece,
clutching her gun tighter, "Come on! Come on!"
Peter appeared in front of Kate, catching her arm in his hand, breaking her wrist as she tried to shoot him. Kate cried in pain, looking uneasy at the revengeful look Peter shot Maeve.
Maeve didn't move, frozen in shock, but at the sudden sight of Kate hunched over in pain, Maeve rushed over, taking the gun from her, tossing it over to Chris.
Peter easily tossed Kate back inside of his house, Maeve took a deep breath before running inside after them, finding Kate stood in the living room.
Maeve clenched her fists in annoyance as Allison ran into the house, crying at the sight of her aunt, "No!"
Kate ignored Allison, smirking at her other niece, "You have a cute kid, Maeve."
It was barley a second before Maeve's eyes started to glow, "Shut up!"
"You checked in on her lately? You did a good job hiding her all these years, just like you hid my mother," Kate spat, "Though, the family traitors have to cling together, don't they? She truly is adorable, like her father, those puppy eyes - We wouldn't want her to get caught in the crossfire."
Peter walked in beside Maeve, the betas arm went cold as he brushed past her, she felt so full of hate, yet a familiar sense of safety appeared with his presence.
If Kate said another word about Luna, it wouldn't be Peter she had to worry about.
Peter grabbed back into a weak Kate, yanking her to her feet, pressing his claws against her neck, "Ignore her, Maeve, she's taunting you."
"But am I?" Kate struggled in his arms, laughing sickly, "Then you'll deal with me?"
Allison looked between the adults, tears of shock and fear streaming down her cheeks. Allison had watched Maeve and Kate argue her whole life, assuming it was innocent, but watching them exchange words with such hatred, Allison could see how wrong she was.
"She is beautiful, Kate. She looks like you. Probably not as damaged," Peter stared at Allison, "Maeve did well protecting her from you."
Allison let out a shaky breath, looking to Maeve in confusion. Maeve avoided Allisons questioning stare, enough of the past had been brought up today, she didn't think she could handle anymore.
"So I'm going to give you a chance to save her. Apologize. Say that you're sorry for decimating my family, for leaving me burned and broken for six years. Say that you're sorry for trying to kill innocent children. Say you're sorry for trying to kill one of your own."
Peter leant towards Kate, whispering into her ear. "Say it - And I'll let her live."
"I'm sorry," Kate gulped, lying through her teeth, her heartbeat as evidence.
Peter smirked, sliding his claws across Kate's neck, letting her body fall to the floor, "I don't know about you, Allison, but that apology - didn't sound very sincere."
Maeve felt the fear she'd held onto for so long slowly fade at the sight of Kate's fallen body. She was finally gone...
Maeve watched Allison sadly as the teen cried over her aunt, but hearing a floorboard creak in the other room, Maeve grabbed her arm, "Let's go."
"No-" Allison refused, trying to pull her arm back.
"Allison, I know this is all confusing and you're scared but unless you want to get in the middle of a werewolf takedown, I'd go outside," Maeve hissed impatiently.
Allison blinked back her tears, staring at Maeve in shock, "You're one of them."
Maeve let out a sigh, but noticing Allison stood frozen in fear, Maeve looked over her shoulder to find Derek stood looking worse for wear.
Maeve wanted to smile at the thought of him being okay after days of his disappearance, but held back. Derek in the other hand, couldn't deny he was glad to see her.
Derek smiled apologetically at his ex, "You okay?"
Maeve's gaze fell on Kate's body, nodding her head slowly,
"Yeah."
Noticing the look on Dereks face, Maeve pulled Allison a little harder, dragging her out of the house, "Let me go, Maeve!"
"I'm the person keeping you from getting killed right now," Maeve replied harshly, letting go of her arm as they reached the porch steps, "So walk. I know you're angry but this is not the time, I'm trying to keep you safe."
Allison winced at the growls echoing from inside the house, "He's right, isn't he? Kate tried to kill you because you were a werewolf, that's why you left."
Maeve nodded slowly, "How long have you been like this?"
"Seven years," Maeve gazed across the woods, it felt like yesterday she was running there on the full moon where she stumbled across Derek.
A crash from inside sounded and Allison stepped closer to Maeve, frowning in concern, "Did Derek do this to you?"
"No, no, it just happened," Maeve sighed, turning in confusion as a Porsche came speeding through the woods, "It's complicated, okay?"
Stiles scrambled out of the car, Jackson not to far behind. Maeve's eyes widened in anger, "Stiles!"
The human winced at the sound of Maeve's voice, turning slowly with an innocent smile, "Hi Maevey..."
Maeve inhaled sharply, "Are you mental! What are you doing here?"
Stiles rocked on his feet, holding up the Molotov cocktail in his hand, "Trying to help?"
Maeve simply sighed.
—
"Allison!"
Everyone watched in anticipation as Allison pointed her bow at the glass in Peters hand, shooting the arrow skillfully, shattering the glass completely.
Maeve stumbled back against Derek as Peter lit up in flames, a panicked breath escaping her lips at the sight of the fire.
Derek caught her hips before she stumbled to the ground, Maeve froze at his touch, a familiar burn from his touch spreading across her body.
Derek looked to her in concern, gently tugging on her hand, breaking her from her trance. Maeve blinked in shock, but smiled gratefully back at him.
Derek was suddenly walking towards Peter, and it didn't take Maeve long to realise what was about to happen.
Scott shouted after Derek in alarm, "Derek! Derek, what are you doing?"
"What has to be done," Derek didn't bother to look back at the teen.
"Wait! You said the cure comes from the one who bit you. Derek. If you do this, I'm dead," Scott stressed, "Her father, her family - what am I supposed to do?"
Maeve felt the tears spring in her eyes, they were already falling by the time she looked to Derek, knowing the both of them were both in the same place as Scott.
"There is no cure, Scott," Maeve told him sadly, avoiding her uncles gaze, "You can't save yourself from this."
Maeve bit her lip as Derek stepped over Peters burnt body, Peters voice croaking from beneath him, "You've...already...decided. I can smell it on you!"
"Wait! No, no! Don't!" Scotts voice was fizzling out to Derek and Maeve, paying him no attention.
"Derek!" Maeve called over, slowly approaching her ex,
"Think about what you're doing."
Maeve knew that it needed to be done, Peter wasn't Peter anymore, he was a threat to their family and Beacon Hills. Despite this, Maeve knew that Derek was completely consumed with vengeance for the death of Laura.
Maeve stepped toward, meeting Dereks revengeful haze, "Derek?"
Derek stared at his ex, looking for approval of what he was about to do. Maeve glanced down at Peters burnt body, nodding her head as she closed her eyes, the sound of Dereks claws slashing peters throat reaching her ears.
Maeve slowly opened her eyes, blinking in shock at the bright red eyes staring back at her. He did it. Derek was an alpha. That thought alone calmed her completely, maybe things would be on the up from now.
"I'm the Alpha now," power practically radiated from his voice as he stared at the shocked faces looking back at him.
Maeve uneasily stepped forward, ignoring everyone watching her every move. Like always, Maeve and Derek fell into their own little bubble whenever they were with each other.
"Kate found out," Maeve told him nervously.
Derek nodded, "I know."
Maeve eyes suddenly glowed with fear, "Derek, who picked her up from school if you didn't?"
Thinking back to his conversation earlier, Derek took Maeve's arm, leading her towards her car, "Lets go."
Stiles jogged after the detective and her ex, "Maeve? What's wrong?"
Maeve turned around to face him, Stiles noted her glare meant she was serious, "If you aren't home in the next 10 minutes, we're going to have a problem."
Stiles nodded in confusion, Derek sighed holding his hand out to Maeve, "Give me the keys before you drive us into a tree."
Maeve dug her keys out of her pocket, handing them to Derek before unlocking her phone, calling anyone who could be with Luna.
"What's wrong with Maeve?" Chris questioned, approaching the family.
Stiles stared at Chris suspiciously, "She's probably terrified that your crazy sister hurt her daughter."
"No ones picking up!" Maeve locked her phone in defeat, staring at derek in compete fear "Why isn't anyone picking up?!"
"Kate showed up at the elementary school today, Luna barged into class looking for Dean," Maeve almost broke her neck turning to face Stiles so quickly, "She was fine!"
"You tell us this now!" Maeve fumed.
Stiles held his hands up in surrender, "I didn't want you to freak out."
"Freak out?!" Maeve looked ready to blow as she stepped towards Stiles.
"Alright, come on," Derek caught her arm, leading Maeve towards her car, looking back to Stiles, "Where's Lu?"
"With Archie last I checked."
Maeve sprinted through the loft doors, unlike Derek who calmed once picking up Luna's scent, Maeve couldn't calm until she saw her daughter.
"Luna?" Maeve called out, stumbling to a stop noticing Luna sat in the living room, colouring on the coffee table with Archie.
Luna grinned up at her mother, rushing over to Maeve, her fluffy dressing gown billowing behind her, "Mommy!"
"Oh, you're okay," Maeve cried, scooping Luna into her arms, holding her in a tight hug, "You're okay."
Derek finally caught up with them, walking into the loft, breathing out in relief at Luna without a scratch on her.
Archie noticed Dereks worn appearance, staring at his best friend in concern, "What happened?"
Derek let his new eyes glow, Archie choked on a breath at the sight, "Derek, what the -"
Derek would explain later, right now he was too concerned for his daughter. Maeve finally looked up from Luna, meeting Dereks gaze with a relieved smile.
Maeve reluctantly let Luna go, the tiny beta turned to her father next, attacking his legs in a hug, Derek ran a hand through her hair, kissing her head.
Luna suddenly stared at the door, stepping back from her dad, Derek noticed her protective expression, she did this every time someone turned up at the house. Dean liked to joke about them having a personal guard dog at all times.
"Maeve?"
Everyone in the room turned at the voice, an awkward tension settled in the room as they found Jake stood in the doorway.
Maeve wiped away some dried tears, "Jake? What are you doing here?"
"We had a date tonight," Jake reminded her, an unsettling look on his face.
Maeve blinked, completely confused, "We did?"
"Why is Derek Hale in your apartment?" Jake glared at the alpha in the room, "You said you had nothing to do with him."
Derek raised his brows at her in amusement, Maeve glared back at him, turning to her fiancé.
"What happened?" Jake frowned after her appearance, walking further into the room, "You're covered in mud."
Luna made a dramatic effort of dropping her colouring books onto the table, holding her arms up at Derek, "Daddy, I'm tired."
Derek had to hide his smirk as he picked up Luna, carrying her out of the living room, "Come on."
Maeve smiled at her daughter, "I'll be there in a minute sweetie."
Archie looked between the couple worriedly, rushing off towards the door, "I best be off... bye Maeve!"
Jake was practically seething with anger, "Him? He's Luna's dad?"
"Jake," Maeve began, her explanation falling flat.
"He's a wanted killer Maeve!" Jake shouted, "And you didn't care to tell me he was your ex husband!"
Despite dating for a few months, and Jakes surprise proposal, Maeve still struggled to try and tell him the truth about her, almost anything for that matter. She hated lying, she really did, but Maeve was terrified of the outcome of him finding out that she was a werewolf.
"He didn't do it!"
Maeve froze... that definitely wasn't the best start to defend herself.
Jake didn't drop his glare, "And you know that how? I mean, god, Maeve, how long has he even been back? How long as he been in the picture again?"
"Only a few weeks, he's only here to see Luna, I promise," Maeve told him with a frown.
"Why now? Where's he been these past months?" Jake questioned, something Maeve didn't know the answer to, "Need I remind you that he's a fugitive, you're hiding a fugitive! You're letting your daughter be around a criminal!"
Jake could shout all he wanted about her lying, but Maeve wasn't going to stand for him telling her her to raise her daughter.
"You seriously think I'd endanger my daughter? He's her father!" Maeve exploded, not caring that Derek could hear the whole conversation, "Think what you want, but Derek is a good father, and I'm not going to deny Luna that because her parents didn't work out. I've just told you he didn't do it! I was there that night, he couldn't of done it-"
Jake scoffed, "Oh, even better! What else aren't you telling me, Maeve?"
Maeve gulped, "That's it. I promise."
Jake shook his head sadly, struggling to even look at her. "I can't do this! I need a break. A break from you."
"Jake!"
Maeve closed her eyes, flinching as the door slammed shut behind him. It was inevitable, and it was her own fault it ended up like this, but Maeve didn't feel guilty.
—
Derek was walking out of Luna's room as Maeve reached the top of the stairs, his ex nodded him over, the both of them sitting at the top of the staircase.
Maeve stared at her daughters bedroom door, sitting sidewards on the step below Derek, "I'd sit here every night when you weren't here in case someone broke in and tried to hurt her. Jamie had to carry me to bed every night because he knew I'd sit there all night if he didn't. It wasn't until Dean moved in that I felt somewhat safe again."
Derek guiltily avoided her gaze, but Maeve took his hand, turning him back to her, "At the end of the the day we both need each other. But you need to let me go. I'll always love you, Derek, but right now I need you to be my friend, nothing more."
"I need to be able to not hate you for everything you've done so we can raise our daughter together. Be the parents she deserves, because right now we're failing her. We can't tiptoe around each other anymore, Luna was almost taken... we need to communicate," Maeve smiled sadly, "I don't want to give you false hope, Derek, things aren't going to be the same as they were, i don't think they ever will. I'm with Jake now, and it's not perfect, but I'm happy."
Derek noticed her frown, "Are you?"
Maeve blinked at his question, unsure of her answer as she nodded slowly, "I think so, yeah."
"I love you," Derek sighed reluctantly, "You know that I'll do anything for you. I just want you to trust me again."
Maeve smiled in relief, nudging his shoulder, "You're my family, whether you like it or not okay, Hale? And for that, I forgive you."
"You mean that?" Derek asked hopefully.
"Yeah," Maeve smiled back, reaching up to hug her ex husband, "I do."
Derek relaxed into the hug. It was a real hug, not a half assed, I hate you but still love you hug, a hug that brought comfort, safety, it made them both feel home. Derek could see, he knew, that Maeve was starting to trust him again.
Derek almost jumped out of his skin as Luna's kitten jumped onto his lap, closing his eyes before taking a deep breath, "Maeve. Get it off me... Maeve."
Derek had come to the conclusion that the cat was just as much as a nightmare as his daughter was, it wasn't a surprise, Luna had an eye for mischief.
Maeve grinned playfully at Dereks glare, "Now, I think you two are quite the pair, Derek."
Derek groaned, staring at the cat in disgust, "Maeve."
Maeve heard footsteps in Luna's room, taking the cat off Derek before standing up, "Luna Talia Hale I can hear you walking around. If you're not back in bed by the time I open your door-"
Luna's laughter echoed around the landing as Derek and Maeve walked into her room, finding her sat up with toys scattered across her bed, her braids completely lopsided from trying to sleep.
Luna grinned innocently, "Can I have another story?"
"I've figured out your game, missy," Maeve sat down on the end of Luna's bed, "and you don't need to trick your dad and me into spending time together, okay?"
Luna looked between her parents, "Do you like each other again?"
"We're working on it," Maeve smiled softly, "Which is a lot better than not at all, okay, sweetheart?"
Luna nodded slowly, lying back down as Maeve moved up her blanket, "Can you tell us what happened today? We're not upset with you that you left, we're proud of you for finding uncle Dean and staying safe."
Luna cuddled her wolf bear, "They said my aunt was there to pick me up but Auntie Laura isn't here anymore, so I asked miss which auntie and she said Kate - but you said never to go near her! So I ran to find Stiles and he took me to see nana and uncle Dean."
Maeve sighed, sharing a look with Derek as she moved to hug Luna, "It's okay to be scared. Do you feel scared now?"
"I'm a little scared," Luna yawned, holding her arms out for Derek, who was usually the first she went to for comfort.
Derek looked to Maeve, ex nodded him over, making room on the bed next to her, "No one will hurt you with me and your dad around, okay?"
Luna sent them a tired smile, leaning against Derek's shoulder, swiftly falling to sleep.