Soulmates | Derek Hale - Chapter 57: Chapter 57

Derek knew it was a bad idea to leave and help Chris with a lead in South America, but with a pack he can trust Derek didn't fear for the safety of his children. The safety of their caretakers was more concerning, for his kids were hard work.
So he enlisted the only one who he knows that can handle the kids for more than one day.
"But who will look after us?" Florence questioned, stealing a piece of toast from Freddie's plate.
Freddie took a waffle from hers, eyes widening as he spotted Peter walk into the room, "Oh no."
"Does mum know about this?" Luna questioned, sipping at her coffee as she eyes Peter wearily.
"No, but she'll be fine with it," Derek shrugged, "I'll tell her when I leave."
Luna scoffed, "That'll go well."
"I'm your uncle," Peter reminded, "More than capable of watching you rugrats."
"Great uncle," Florence corrected.
Peter rolled his eyes and sat down, nudging Kit awake, the youngest Hale was asleep with his head in his breakfast.
Kit looked around in confusion, wiping the bread from his face as he spotted Peter and grinned mischievously.
Derek pretended not to notice his sons troubled gleam and stood from the table.
"I'll be back as soon as I can," Derek promised, saying goodbye to his children and leaving before Peter could change his mind.
"Peter, have you ever pierced a nose before?" Florence questioned, innocently pouring milk into her cereal.
Peter stared at her in confusion, "No, but I resurrected myself - can't be much harder than that. Why?"
Luna interrupted before Florence could speak, glaring warningly at her sister, "Florence, you're seven, mums told you thousands of times you can't get a nose ring!"
—
With Derek gone, Luna didn't get a quiz every time she left the house, meaning she could visit Sam without the usual level of suspicion.
They sat on the deck leading onto the lake in the Hale house grounds, leaning back against him as their feet dangled in the water.
"Sam?" Luna looked away from the water, blinking up at him, "Are gonna talk about it?"
"About what?" Sam asked.
Luna rolled her eyes and huffed, "Oh I don't know, maybe the fact that we made out yesterday and we have her to acknowledge it?"
"What's there to say about it?" Sam started, sitting up, "We're together now, right? I mean, I want us to be - only if that's what you want!"
Luna smiled awkwardly, "I just didn't want to assume..."
"You think so much," Sam pointed out, leaning over to kiss her, "in that big brain of yours. We're still best friends, we just... kiss."
"Best friends that kiss?" Luna asked in amusement, "Not boyfriend and girlfriend."
"You spent the past three years ranting about how boys ruined education and you wouldn't get a boyfriend until you had a degree or two," Sam reminded playfully.
"I may of gotten a little ahead of myself," Luna blushed, "I still stand by my statement, though, education first!"
"So what I'm hearing, is that we can still kiss when we're not in school?" Sam teased, laughing as Luna whacked his chest.
"Yes, idiot, we can still kiss," Luna laughed.
"Great," Sam stated before gently pulling Luna down to lie beside him, kissing her silent before she started on another rant.
—
Luna frowned thoughtfully as she made her way back to the house. Everything with Sam, it was honestly perfect and she wouldn't want it another way.
Luna jumped back in surprise as she pushed open the front door, finding Peter behind it staring at her suspiciously. Luna sighed, obviously her dad had Peter trained in the 'helicopter parent' strategies.
Peter chuckled, raising is brows at Luna as he sat on the couch, "You have a twig in your hair."
Luna turned red and hurriedly tugged the branch from her hair, glaring at Peter's taunting grin, "Not a word."
"I'm silent," Peter teased, holding up his hands innocently.
Luna made her way to the starts, cursing under her breath, wanting to disappear into thin air. At least she was distracted from her mental battle about Sam.
Peter watched his niece walk away, noticing the unusual unconfident manor to her. Luna waltzed around the place like the owned it, she always had - finding her doing any differently always meant something was up.
"Your dad was insufferable when he first met Maeve," Peter called after her, Luna stopped and turned back, listening intently, "I could've punched him, honestly."
"Why?" Luna questioned, sitting down on the opposite couch.
"Honestly, he was so stupidly in love with her he didn't consider any of the risks of actually being with her," Peter replied, "Despite both of their families and their circumstances they chose to stay together, making their lives so much harder than needed."
"Why didn't they choose not to get together?" Luna frowned, "You don't have to be with your mate."
"It's rare with mates to break up or deny the bond," Peter answered, "Denying the bond is a struggle, and severing it completely is agonising- but it still happens, no one will force you to stay with your mate. But sometimes the pull is too strong."
After watching Talia and Seths relationship fail and Maeve and Dereks up and down saga, Peter was certain he was an expert in mate bonds by now.
Luna stared down at the carpet, "How to do you really know someone is your mate, and not just someone you like - can you even like anyone else?"
"You can love anyone, Luna, not just your mate," Peter reminded, "But sometimes it takes an event where the bond is threatened to trigger the bond, many figure it out then. Your parents were constantly in danger, it didn't take long to realise - though if you ask me Derek knew the moment he saw her."
Luna nodded slowly, it made sense... but she and Sam weren't her parents, Luna wanted him to really love her for her, not because of the bond.
—
Stiles and Maeve had successfully intervened the hunters on their case, they were itching to go home but Maeve had been requested to check out another departments case before they left.
Maeve and Stiles sat down at a desk at the back of the briefing room, Stiles was practically buzzing in excitement at being in the room as an agent and not an intern.
"Everyone this is Agent Hale head of our undisclosed devision and Agent Stilinski, they are here to brief our case. Often departments will work with each to determine the case's best fit," The agent told his students, turning to the screen, "Our case was sent to us from the crisis response team, their recent manhunt had them chasing down a bizarrely feral unsub in the wilderness of North Carolina."
Stiles sat up eagerly in his chair, Maeve sighed tiredly, pondering if it were too early to retire. She loved her job dearly, but she hated being hours away from her family.
Maeve's nose scrunched as Stiles loudly slurped on his water, looking up to pay attention as the screen flickered on.
"Can you act like an adult?" Maeve hissed, rolling her eyes as Stiles puffed up his cheeks like a glow fish.
Maeve dropped her pen and folder as her husband appeared on screen, flinching back as Stiles suddenly spat out his water, spraying it across the person sat in front of them.
Surely that wasn't Derek.
The agent glanced at his unprofessional co-workers, "Is there a problem, Agent Stilinski?"
Maeve couldn't speak, blinking slowly at the video of Derek running. She knew he had gone to help Chris with a lead, but had he really got spotted two days in? By the FBI at that.
"No, sorry, I just got a little, uh, excited," Stiles stammered, scratching what Maeve called his 'atrocious' beard, "A little question though, that guy up there, what's he wanted for?"
"Murder," The agent answered bluntly.
Maeve silently groaned, wanting to sink under the table. She was glad she didn't parade her family around her work, else everyone would know their bosses husband was wanted for murder.
"Its uh-" Stiles interrupted again, wincing at the agents glare, "Sorry. What kind of murder exactly?"
"Maximum."
Maeve and Stiles shared a look, they were screwed...
Maeve practically bolted out of the briefing room, Stiles hurrying behind her. Their co workers didn't spare them a second glance, the moment Stiles stepped into the building the siblings have been a chaotic yet productive duo. Stiles wheezed, jogging down another set of stairs - he didn't think he'd ever seen a woman run so fast in heels.
Two days. Derek had been gone two days and he was wanted for mass murder. Maeve slammed her office door shut and closed the blinds, she slouched down in her chair and dialled Derek's cell. Though, with Derek's inability to use any form of technology, it would be lucky if he picked up.
Stiles flipped through the paperwork he'd stolen from the agent, "they know he's in South America. No mention of Chris."
"I am on the verge of strangling you right now," Maeve didn't bother with greetings, rolling her eyes as Derek's laugh echoed through the speaker.
"What have I done now?"
"There's currently a swot team looking for you dead or alive," Maeve replied dryly, "How have you been caught already?"
"I've been a bit distracted, Chris and I found Kate."
"What?" Maeve and Stiles exclaimed, "Kate?"
Maeve wasn't surprised, Kate lived to make her life difficult, and naturally Kate was difficult to kill. In a way, Maeve was glad Derek found her, that way Kate couldn't just pop up out of the blue.
"Why cant she just die?" Maeve muttered, "We'll deal with her later. Right now we have to stop you getting arrested, like usual! So don't go anywhere and don't let anybody see you."
"Why?"
"Oh I don't know, Derek, maybe to keep you hidden from the entire task force hunting you down!" Maeve argued, rubbing at her temples, "They're on their way, so just be careful until Stiles and I find you."
Stiles stared at her in surprise, "We're going on a swot invasion? No way!"
"Not the time," Maeve glared at his excitement.
"Can't you stop it?"
"The permits are already filed and the teams are moving," Maeve sighed, "There's only so much I can do. So just sit tight and wait for Stiles and I to save you."
"That makes me feel so optimistic."
Maeve growled quietly, "Shut up or I'll leave you for the swot team to use for shooting practice."
—
Jamie and Archie settled down on the stands, Luna satbetween them, scanning the field as the lacrosse game started. Luna religiously attended Sam's lacrosse games all through high school, hunters on the loose weren't going to change that.
Luna looked between her godfathers, asking simply, "So, how much money is going in the betting pool for when Sam and I get together?"
Per tradition ( and addiction ) Jamie and Archie were still avid gamblers, time and more key life events increased the value of the bets. Lorraine was coming into a lot of money once the Sam and Luna bet concludes. Talia found herself at a money loss once it was revealed Maeve was pregnant with Kit.
"A lot," Jamie replied, eyeing Luna in disbelief, "Is one of us going to become very rich, Luna Talia?"
Luna grinned, "Perhaps. Though weren't bets on hold until you went to rehab?"
"This bets been placed since you were born, kiddo," Archie chuckled, watching the way her gaze lingered over Sam, "Anything you want to tell us? We wont tell your dad."
"Thought that rule went out the window when Florence convinced you mum and dad we're getting a divorce just to test your secret keeper skills," Luna reminded.
"That was a very cruel test!" Jamie argued, "Broke my poor old heart."
The only thing broken was Derek's eardrums hearing Jamie sob and shout at him down the phone - because of course, it would be Derek's fault if he and Maeve were to divorce.
"You're thirty-five not sixty," Luna laughed, "Honestly though, you two will be the first two know if Sam and I become a couple."
"You haven't denied anything!" Jamie practically squawked, those on the stands staring at him confusedly.
"On that note, I'm going to the bathroom," Luna rolled her eyes, tugging her coat tighter as she jogged down the stands.
—
"Why aren't you in bed?" Peter questioned, pausing as he went to enter the kitchen, spotting Florence sat at the top of the stars.
Peter thought Luna was a difficult child to care for, but after Kit deciding he wanted to hear the whole Harry Potter and the philosophers stone before bed, Peter quickly changed his mind. Freddie and Florence often listened to him, but apparently not today- Freddie was outside trying to coax the ducks upstairs whilst Kit was well read to and blissfully asleep.
"Freddie's snoring," Florence lied, slowly making her way downstairs, sitting down on the bottom step.
"The truth, please," Peter argued, crouching down in front of her, "What's wrong?"
Florence wrung her hands nervously, "I think I did something bad, uncle Peter."
"Well, I'm no stranger to that," Peter chuckled, "You can tell me."
Florence let out a sniffle, hiding under the hood of her dressing gown, "Some lady's going to hurt Luna. I didn't tell Luna!"
Florence had been frightened out of her mind when her first vision involved her sister getting hurt, she didn't even want to think about what she saw in hopes to get it out of her mind.
"Shhh, it's alright," Peter soothed, "why didn't you tell Luna?"
"They said it doesn't always happen... if I don't tell no one will know," Florence cried, "But Lu will get hurt and it's my fault!"
"Hey, it's not your fault," Peter assured her, "This is the first time you have ever saw something, Florence, and you're right it could be wrong and not happen. We just have to make sure it doesn't. So, who was hurting Luna?"
"Some woman," Florence gulped, wiping away her tears, "She- she looked like granny. Maybe a werewolf, she looked like a monster."
Peter felt sick, he knew exactly who Florence was talking about.
—
Luna scowled as she inspected her smudged eyeliner in the mirror, only to smudge it further as she went to wipe it away. The girls locker room was silent, everyone was out watching the game - Luna revelled in the silence for just a moment.
She didn't know how her parents managed to fight against issues like hunters constantly for years, she was barely managing after a few days.
Luna glanced over her shoulder, a shadow emerging from behind the doors leading the to pitch. It was too loud to hear the quiet movement over the crowds for a human, but Luna heard the footsteps perfectly.
"Who's there?" Luna called out, trying to stop her voice from shaking.
She didn't know why she was afraid, but something felt terribly wrong. Luna walked away from the sinks, cautiously glancing through the lockers. Before Luna could even move or try to fight back, her body was slammed against the lockers, winding in pain as the locks dug into her back.
Luna's gaze shot up to her attacker, her heart falling to her stomach as she recognised the woman- even past the supernatural features.
"Kate?" Luna gasped, wriggling to get out of the hunters hold, "get off!"
Kate let out a wicked chuckle, "No can do, little Maeve."
Luna scoffed, Little Maeve? Obviously Kate's years away to plot hadn't improved her creativity. Kate was honestly a mystery to them all, Luna had spent a long time trying to figure out why Kate was so obsessed with her family but came up with nothing.
Luna saved her energy for a most likely fight, standing still despite Kate's hands around her throat, "What do you want?"
"Revenge," Kate hummed, tilting her head as her claw ran across Luna's chin, "Why not pick the one thing closest too them?"
Luna wasn't afraid, she knew Kate wouldn't kill her— she was too valuable. But injure to the brink of death? Possibly.
"One of four," Luna argued bitterly, her eyes glowing, "Lucky me."
Luna kneed Kate in the stomach, as the woman stumbled back in pain Luna only had seconds to run. It was a battle of cat and mouse, Luna would gain the upper-hand only for Kate to snatch it back. Luna tried to make a break for it, but Kate yanked her back.
Luna roughly collided with the floor, her head slamming against the concrete. She let out a groan, ignoring the blood running from her head as she kicked Kate away. Luna knew she wouldn't make it out of the locker room unscathed, but that didn't take the fun away from getting a good kick in Kates head.
Kate growled at the impact, swiping her claws at Luna but the werewolf easily deflected, stumbling to her feet as she ran to hide behind another set of lockers.
Luna was suddenly filed with hope, maybe she would make it out, she could find Sam and get help. Her hand clenched around the door-handle, yanking it open, she went to run but collided with a solid chest.
Luna faltered, eyes wide as she slowly looked up to meet the hungry stare of the hunter. He raised his fist, with a harsh hit the world went dark around Luna.
Beacon Hills won the game, Sam catching the final goal celebrated by Coach running a full lap of the field shouting profanities at the other teams coach.
As the self proclaimed best friend in the entire universe, Suzie knew something up was up with Sam and Luna, and watching the way they stared at each other through the game ( Sam even took a lacrosse ball to the head by paying attention on Luna and not the ball, werewolf reflexes be dammed )
Suzie snatched the lacrosse stick from his hands, whacking him across the stomach, "Samuel Deaton!"
"What?" Sam winced, taking the stick back from her.
"You like Luna," Suzie accused, staring at him suspiciously as he fell silent, "No, you don't like Luna. You... love her?"
Sam sighed, "Yeah, maybe, I don't know Suze."
Suzie frowned, "Are you two okay?"
"Yeah, course," Sam assured her, pushing open the door to the lockerrooms, "Why don't you find her, I'll talk to you later, yeah?"
Suzie nodded, dashing off back to the stands to quiz Luna. She approached Luna's godfathers, frowning as Luna was nowhere to be seen. It wasn't a surprise, Luna always disappeared if there was a library nearby.
"Where's Lu?" She asked them, scanning the crowds.
Archie blinked in confusion, "Thought she was inside?"
Suzie grew nervous at the mens look of dread, they didn't have to be werewolves to sense something was wrong. Luna's godfathers rushed to call for help, whilst Suzie hurried to get Sam, if anyone could find Luna it would be him.
Suzie barrelled inside of the locker room despite the protests of the indecent players, she rolled her eyes and covered them with her hand, calling over to one of the players, "Oh please, like you have anything impressive to hide."
The boys laughed and chanted before ignoring her presence as she searched for Sam, she found him thankfully partially clothed at his locker. In typical Suzie fashion, she was momentarily distracted from the task at hand.
"Is that a hickey?" Suzie all but shouted.
"Jesus Christ Susan!" Sam jumped, tugging on his shirt as he whirled around to face her, "What the hell are you doing in here?"
Suzie gulped nervously as she remembered the task at hand, quietly telling Sam, "We can't find Luna."
Suzie watched Sam take a deep breath, trying not to panic as he slammed his locker shut and led them out of the locker rooms into the hallway. Sam frantically looked around, trying to pick up on Luna's scent. He tried not to worry, but ultimately felt filled with dread.
Sam pushed through another set of doors, "Have you checked the library?"
"Its closed," Suzie reminded, jogging after him, stumbling as he suddenly paused in place.
Suzie wished she were a werewolf as Sam jogged back down the corridor, panting as she followed him into the girls locker rooms.
She jumped back in surprised as Sam's eyes glowed, "What is it?"
"She was here," Sam explained, looking around at the broken lockers, "Someone else was here too, someone supernatural. Luna didn't go without a fight."
Sam's suspicions were confirmed at the sight of Luna's blood on the floor, if he weren't afraid, he was now. Jamie and Archie hurried into the locker room, Archie noticed his brother moments away from freaking out.
"Sam, we've called the pack," Archie said calmly, "We'll find her. You just need to calm down-"
"Don't tell me to calm down!" Sam fumed, glaring furiously at his brother, "Luna could be hurt! Anyone could've taken her and she's out there alone with no one to help her! Who knows what they've already done to her... she could be dead!"
Archie took a deep breath, staring at Sam knowingly, "But she's not dead. You would feel it, wouldn't you?"
Sam avoided his brothers stare, closing his eyes to breathe calmly. Luna was still out there, he hadn't been hit with the earth shattering pain of her leaving this world. He still had a chance to find her.