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Alex was once again running late, he didn't know why he was always late. Well he did, he always got too engrossed in his research in the library. He had a school project on local history that he needed to complete. Stiles, Lydia and He had been deep in the stacks of books looking for the books they needed when his phone had gone off.
Where are you? Family dinner remember.- D
Shit. I forgot. I am on my way now.- A
"Guys I have to run, I forgot we had family dinner that I have to get to" Lydia suddenly looked thoughtful.
"Alex, how did you forget tonight was a full moon, I mean you live in a family of werewolves."
"Hey, I am not a wolf. I forget these things sometimes. I can't help it if my own calendar works on the new moon and not the full." Was Alex's reply as he stuffed things into his bag.
"How a Nogitsune was born into a family of werewolves I will never know." Stiles said fondly, "Like how?"
"Ask my dad. He was the one who had sex." Muttered Alex. Having finished packing his bag he gave them both a wave as he ran out of the library towards his Mini that was parked in the car park.
"Do you think we should have told him he could just shadow travel there?" Queried Lydia
"Nah. I think he needs the time driving to calm himself down. You know how he can get around his family." Alex meanwhile was driving five miles above the speed limit to get home as fast as he could. It took in only ten minutes but he still felt bad about being late for family dinner on a full moon. He parked in the driveway, although it looked more like an expensive car dealership given his family's love of expensive cars. Three Jaguars, a Camaro, a Shelby Cobra and two Porsches, of all of his family Alex probably had the most normal car. His little red mini was his pride and joy that his dad had gotten him for his sixteenth birthday after they caught him looking at the brochure whilst in the garage. He got out of his car, grabbed his bag and all but ran into the Hale house. Their house was more a mansion than anything, a huge, sprawling three-story mansion. All the Hale family lived there as one big family and pack. Skidding into the kitchen,
"Sorry I am late, I lost track of time." Yelled Alex to his family.
"Don't worry, dinner isn't for half an hour, the moon isn't up for another two hours." Replied Thalia as she put fish into the oven.
"DEREK!!! I thought you said I was late." Said Alex as he walked into the large lounge. Derek was sitting on the sofa playing on his tablet. Cora and Jackson were busy playing MarioKart on the large plasma TV.
"I just didn't want you to be late." Said Derek slightly guiltily.
"I was worried I was going to come home and there would be a load of wolves all over my dinner, or have you forgotten when you ate my steak last year." Alex's voice was slightly disapproving but held a deep affection for his cousin.
"I was hungry, I had just finished basketball practice." Derek was now pouting, his beautiful face made, even more, to look like a kicked puppy.
"You are such a puppy. No eating my fish today, it is all mine, all of that fishy goodness is going in my tummy."
"Has anyone ever told you that you spend too much time with Stiles? You are starting to sound like him" there Jackson over his shoulder whilst sending a trio of red shells after Cora.
"I take that as a compliment, sounding like an intelligent and very powerful spark who kicked your ass last week sounds like a compliment to me." Snorted Alex.
"He cheated! I can take him." Growled Jackson
"You can't cheat at ultimate frisbee, at least not our version."
"Using magic should be banned." Pouted Jackson
"So should using wolf strength and speed, but that never stopped you now did it?" Smirked Alex right back
"Now children, no need to fight. If you can't accept pack frisbee rules then why do you play?" Came a smooth voice from the doorway. Peter Hale, in a low V-Neck and jeans, was leaning against the doorframe with a glass of something bright orange in his hand.
"DAD! Your back!" Alex ran up to his dad to give him a hug.
"Yes, I am pup, and so is my rather impeccable hearing. There is no need to shout at me." Peter was busy hugging his son and nuzzling into his caramel hair. Alex loved his dad a lot and getting to see him when he was back from the office was always a highlight for the young fox. Peter Hale was the managing director of HaleTech, California's number one tech firm. Talia Hale was the CEO and Finn Hale as their CFO. It was a true family-run operation with all shares owned by the family which guaranteed that the Hale Pack had full control over everything their company did.
"How was New York? Did you get me a souvenir? Did you see the red pandas?" Alex said all in a rush.
"New York was crowded, dirty, noisy and smelly. So nothing new there. Of course, you can get it after dinner along with everyone else. Yes, I saw Seriozha, he is doing well, just had a new cub with Ekaterina." Souvenirs were a Hale family tradition, they had enough money to buy anything they wanted so instead they made a point of always getting each other gag gifts, small souvenirs and joke products from wherever they went or travelled. The first time Jordan had joined them for Yule he had been in shock at their ridiculous gifts for each other. Seriozha and Ekaterina had been Peter and Lucifer's gift for Alex when he turned fifteen. Although Alex loved all animals, as did all the Hales, but he had an affinity for anything that looked vaguely like a fox, even if he knew the red panda and foxes were not related. The two red pandas had been on a fur farm and had been severely malnourished when Peter found them. He bought them as a gift for Alex before donating them to the New York Zoo under the name of his son. Derek also had a pair of bobcats which his parents got him in the same year. Everyone who knew the Hales were werewolves found it hilarious that a gruff, muscular werewolf, like Derek, was a massive cat lover and currently had three who lived around the house.
"Where is everyone else?" Queried Derek from his spot on the sofa.
"Talia is in the kitchen, Mark is building the fire for this evening. Laura is still at work but she should be home soon, Finn and Sophia were looking at some new plans she made for that old warehouse in town, something about turning it into an art and youth centre. Malia is just at Theo's, hopefully, she has a shower before coming down for dinner. Jasper and Jasinder are currently out with Parrish for a stroll, Jasper keeps shifting. He is a very cute little pup, I will give him that, but would rather we didn't reveal the supernatural to half of Beacon Hills." Cora snorted
"Considering how much of this town seems to be in on the supernatural I doubt it matters, you would have to live with your head in the sand to not notice the ridiculous stuff that happens in this town." Peter nodded good-naturedly at his niece. She was right of course. Barely a single street didn't have some form of supernatural living on it. The beacon of Beacon Hills drew in many different creatures to the preserve and the town, who somehow all managed to live together under the leadership of Talia Hale. Alex always thought it was one of the most impressive things about his aunt. She managed to keep the peace between many different supernatural people who live around their town.
"Alex, can you please go and have a shower? You smell like dust and sexual frustration. Let me guess... Stiles and Lydia?" Drawled Peter
"Are they still tiptoeing around each other?" Asked Derek
"Same as always, those two are so oblivious to how perfect they are for each other. The Banshee and the Spark. Two very intelligent people yet they can't seem to figure out how much the other loves them. Being near them is enough to make me gag." Cora faked vomiting over the side of her stool.
"Go get a shower, my little moon."
"I am not a wolf or a moon."
"Of course not but you are still my little moon, even if you are a kit." Smiled Peter
"Not a kit." Grumbled Alex as he went upstairs to go and get a shower before dinner.
~~~~~~
Dinner at the Hale Mansion on the night of a full moon was loud, joyous and vibrant. All of the family sat down in the dining room and ate the delicious meal that Thalia had prepared. Despite their wealth and busy lives, the family had always stayed true to their roots in providing for their own Pack, everyone helped with the cooking and they all bonded over hours in the kitchen. The amount of food required for a full moon was astounding by most human terms, but for the family of wolves and a fox was a good starter for their moon run where no doubt a stag or four would be hunted and their inner wolves satisfied. Thalia sat at the head of the table. Mark, her husband sat at her right whilst Peter sat at the left. They were all talking about the company and various charities, the epitome of refined elegance and class. Further down the table, the story was not quite so tranquil. The teenagers were all being loud and rowdy, even Laura, despite being married to Jordan and having two twin children was equally as loud as her siblings and cousins. Laura had met her mate just out of high school, Jordan despite being a hellhound, was a cheerful, kind and caring person who fitted perfectly with Laura's loud and brash personality. Their twin children seem to follow in their parents’ footsteps. Jasinder was very loud whereas Jasper, despite his control issues, was quite quiet. All of the family were buzzing with the supernatural energy of the moon as it started to rise into the sky. Alex would sometimes join them on their runs but he decided to stay back at home and skype Stiles. Stiles' dad was working the night shift, like all full moon nights so the two of them would likely end up gaming through half the night until the Hales came back from their full moon run. Alex sometimes wished that he was a wolf, like the rest of his family, particularly when he was younger as his Kitsune powers had not developed until he had turned 14. His family had all been able to see his shadowy fox aura even if he showed little, if any, of his powers. It was because of his dad, Derek, Stiles and Lydia that he had come to accept his differences and learn to trust in his inner fox.
~~~~~~
Two weeks had passed since the full moon. The night of the new moon was upon the Hale pack. For most packs, the new moon was not important and not marked apart from the first one in spring which was the supernatural new year. For the Hales, the new moon had become just as important to the family as the full moon. When Peter had fallen pregnant and given birth, they had assumed that they would have a new wolf however the son had been born a Kitsune. Of the thirteen types of kitsune only one was affected by the moon, the void kitsune was at the peak of its power and most active on the night of the new moon. The void of the moon in the night sky was their territory. Peter had missed many full moons because of his job and because of his trips however he had never missed a single new moon since his son had come into his powers two years previously. The whole family, apart from Jordan and Finn, who both had work commitments, had gathered for the night of the new moon. Whereas the full moon was a raucous affair with lots of noise and play fighting among the family the new moon was quieter but equally as joyous. It was the one time that Alex got to release his own nature. He got to be himself in his entirety along with the rest of his family.
Derek, Laura and Cora were sparring in the back garden when they heard the rumble of Alex's mini coming up the drive. The car came to a stop before they heard the door open and slam as they heard footsteps jog up towards the house, two other doors opened and closed in their cousin's mini. The scuffed steps and soft clicking of heels told them immediately that it was Stiles and Lydia who were with their cousin. All three kept their eyes on the back door of the house, as they heard the three teens coming through the house. Alex and his two best friends came out into the garden. Alex's eyes already start to flash between their normal ice blue and deep void of his true form, just the pupils. The full eye wouldn't change until later when the young fox pushed through the barrier to release his full form.
The three siblings were all dressed in jeans and Henleys for comfort and convenience with training. The memo seemed to have skipped the three best friends. Alex was dressed in tight skinny jeans, a black shirt with bejewelled constellations in the fabric and a pair of limited-edition Alexander McQueen trainers on his feet. Stiles was wearing bright comic book Vans, a pair of black chino shorts and a multicoloured rainbow drip black shirt. Lydia came last, having picked up a bottle of sparkling water from the fridge on her way out. The petite banshee was wearing velvet Louboutins partnered with a Gucci snake pattern dress hugging her frame whilst a pair of Valentino sunglasses sat on top of her head, stark against her fiery hair.
"Are you three going to a fashion show or are you here to train before the new moon?" Asked Cora, her eyebrow raised at the three.
"No, we just got back from one,” said Lydia as she settled into a sun lounger
"I didn't know there were any shows in LA today, otherwise I would have come with" called Derek, his sisters may be happy with comfortable clothing but Derek was a little bit of a clothes horse. He enjoyed shopping particularly with the three teens who had just arrived.
"I knew you had that interview today that you wanted to do about your cat trust. I didn't want to distract you from that, also we only decided to go like two hours ago."
"How did you get to LA in time?!" Gasped Laura.
"Nogitsune remember." Alex flashed his eyes at his cousin," Also it wasn't in LA, it was in Shanghai."
"My darling son, I hope you didn't just admit to crossing international borders without taking a passport or going through customs. That would be very illegal." Peter had come out of the House with Mark beside him, both carrying glasses of red wine.
"We had our passports with us."
"And Visa?"
"Um... yeah I forgot that."
"Next time ask Hector to ring one through before you go, I don't feel like having to bail you out of a Chinese jail."
"Like they could have kept us."
"True. But still, next time get a visa done before you cross half the world for a fashion show. Was it worth it?"
"Seriously Peter, you shouldn't encourage him." Remarked Mark playfully from beside him before taking a deep sip of the ruby liquid he was holding.
"He is his father's son. Mischief is in his blood," said Thalia as she came into the garden in a red pantsuit.
"I resent that comment. I never went to another country illegally!" Cried Peter, his eyes sparkling in mirth.
"No, you are right, you never did that. But if I was to give you a list of all the illegal, or morally questionable, things you did in your youth then we will be here until the next new moon little brother." Peter's only response was a low growl and taking a sip of wine.
"Anyway, I thought we should get in some training before dinner. Ultimate frisbee?"
"YES!" Yelled the younger generation. Jackson and Malia had come round the back as Thalia asked, Danny and Erica, following them closely behind.
"Boys vs. Girls. Danny, do you want to play as well?"
"I would rather not get into the middle of supernatural frisbee. I still remember the last time I tried." Danny flexed his arm back and forth. Jackson wincing slightly at the fact he had given his best friend a horrific cut and scar by playing too roughly when he was younger. He went to sit down beside Peter and Mark, watching the game, every so often looking out of the corner of his eye at Peter, a slight blush going down his neck.
The ten supernatural creatures spread out across the large back garden, ready to play again the other team. Whilst the boys had a Nogitsune and a Spark the other team had a banshee who could pretty much disable the other side with a scream.
"Ready? Set! GO!" Thalia threw the frisbee into the centre where it was immediately pounced on by Laura and Derek who collided in mid-air, the frisbee flew over towards Malia immediately there it back over to Erica before it got intercepted by Jackson who had run over the siblings who were in a pile. The game became increasingly more violent and fast-paced as time went on. As they watched Thalia, Mark and Peter all sat drinking their wine, Danny when not busy glancing at Peter was cheering on his various friends. Just as the game came to an end with the girls seizing victory Peter held out a glass into thin air before his husband materialised into the space, taking the wine and taking a deep sip.
"Evening Luce, how was work?" Queried Thalia as she glanced at her brother in law.
"Torture as always." Mark silently laughed into his wine.
"I can only imagine darling." Peter gave Lucifer a kiss on the cheek, "I still find it so sexy that you have a day job"
"Gross, Dad. No one wants to hear about your sex life." Alex yelled as he jogged over. "Papa, you came back for the new moon." Alex hugged his other dad tightly. Lucifer hugged him back.
"Hey, Little Devil. How was your week?"
"Not a devil. Or a demon. Just a trickster." Smirked Alex, "It was the same as always, too many people, too much stupid, not enough tofu for lunch."
"Get up to any mischief? Manage to doom anyone's immortal soul to yours truly."
"Nope, I had a chemistry exam to study for with Stiles. Lydia was with Danny. So, no soul reaping to be done, I have to keep my GPA up."
"Rightly so, unfortunately, your cousins seem to have forgotten that." Thalia turned to glare, not at her own daughter but at Jackson and Malia, both of whom were on academic probation for their low marks and repeated offences.
"When is the new moon at peak?" Asked Derek from where he stood, Erica in a headlock as she tried to steal his crisps.
"9.43 pm this evening. So dinner is early at 6. That way we will be finished before this one gets too hyped up too much." Mark jerked his head at Alex who was showing signs of loss of control as his eyes flickered more and more into his black depths.
The meal that Hales had was quieter than the full moon but Alex was getting increasingly more active and alert as the power of the dark rose and his own dark nature started to show. His body was buzzing with energy and his irises were now pitch black as his power coursed through his body. A shimmering fox aura of pure black and purple sparkling power had formed around him just as Dessert was finishing, sharp fangs already filling Alex's mouth.
"Derek and Stiles, take him outside before he starts to vibrate through the floor or drains all the power from the entire house. Again." Derek got up and put an arm on his cousin's shoulder before steering him out of the dining room, Stiles trailing behind them whilst eating a half-full bowl of ice cream.
~~~~~~
The adults had decided to retire into the sitting room whilst the group of teens were outside, they could hear the loud whoops and laughs of their children. All of the werewolves were nursing wolfsbane whiskey, a brewery they had bought for Mark made a speciality range of supernatural liquor and alcoholic beverages.
"How do you think they all are?" asked Mark
"They seem well, though Alex seems to be more... agitated the normal. He isn't usually this out of control for a new moon. He normally keeps it under wraps but he seemed to be barely able to control himself today." replied Thalia
"So it wasn't just me that was wondering about that. He seems to be struggling. Do you think his fox has gotten stronger? I mean it would be quite normal for it to be maturing right about now. He is almost an adult.” Reasoned Peter.
~~~~~~
Derek was waiting outside Alex's room, shifting from foot to foot, his palms sweating. He wanted to knock but he didn't know how. He knew that Alex could hear him waiting outside but he still stood there waiting until he plucked up the courage to knock. Slowly he breathed in and out, raised his hand and knocked three times.
"Hi Derek, how can I help?" Alex asked cheerfully as he opened the door, smiling at his cousin. He didn't give a single hint that he had heard his cousin outside his door.
"Um... um... eh... can I... eh... maybe talk to you?" Stuttered Derek. Alex motioned him inside and towards his sofa. Derek sat down on the dark blue sofa that was in the bay window looking out over the back garden and toward the preserve. Just before Alex closed his door one of Derek's cats ran into the room and jumped onto his lap, before curling up as Derek scratched behind the ginger tabby cat's ears.
"So what did you want to talk about?" Asked Alex, he had sat down at the other end of the sofa, hands curled around a large mug of tea.
"Um... just wanted to talk about school I guess." Alex raised an eyebrow at his cousin.
"Well, school is fine. Doing all my AP classes is a bit stressful, I have so much work that I need to do. But Stiles and Lydia certainly help a lot. We study together a lot. Jackson sometimes joins but not often, he doesn't really like Stiles, or at least he pretends he doesn't. Malia doesn't really care all that much, but she said that she wants to go into gardening or something like that, and we both know she isn't a big fan of dealing with humans so I guess maybe her not going to college would be a good idea. Cora is pretty good but she seems to be super busy with sport, I don't see her all that much."
"That's cool."
"Derek we both know you didn't come here to ask about my schooling"
"Um... yeah... how do I put this. You know you are a kitsune right?"
"If the fox aura didn't give it away, I think the fact you know I am, as you're my favourite cousin, and were there the first time I shadow travelled."
"But like you are a nogitsune, a Kukan, a Yako."
"Yeah. I am a void kitsune, but seriously hate the term Yako. Just cause I am a void and a dark kitsune doesn't make me evil or anything. All foxes are tricksters. It is our nature. I may be a dark kitsune, but I am not evil or bad. Just a void."
"That's what I am trying to get at. You are a void. You don't experience normal stuff."
"Normal stuff?" Alex had a sceptical look on his face, one eyebrow raised at his cousin.
"How did you know that you were different and didn't want what other people wanted?"
"You mean being asexual? Well, I guess I never noticed. I just don't want sex. I don't have any need for it. I mean, it is just a void where sexual desire would be. But don't think I can't love. Just because I am a void of a lot of things doesn't make me not want intimacy or love. I know it sounds cheesy but even love can overpower a void."
"I think I may be like you." Derek looked close to tears at this point." I was at this party tonight and this girl, she wanted to have sex and I just couldn't I don't what it. Why am I not normal?" Alex hit Derek across the head and then brought him into a hug.
"Being asexual or being gay or anything else is not not normal. It is just what it is. I don't feel sexual desire. My dad is bisexual. He is married to the Devil. He didn't think he would ever fall in love, but he did, to the King of hell. But he also loves me a lot. He loves my Papa and he loves me, he loves our pack. He is almost as much as a void as I am but both of us love our pack and our family so much. Being asexual is not about love. We can love and I do. I love my family and my pack and all of you. Never doubt that just because I am a nogitsune that I can't love. We do. It just takes a bond. I love my dads and I love you all."
"Oh." Derek looked a bit lost, Alex could sense something was wrong.
"You said there was a girl? What happened?" Derek's lip started to tremble slightly and tears started to form in his eyes.
"Um... she... um... was touching me. She is in class with me... she has always been looking at me and wanting to hook up. Then I went to this party and I stepped outside and she followed me... there was no one else out there." Derek took a deep breath " She followed me to a bench and then she tried to touch me. It felt all wrong. I didn't want it. I don't want anyone like that. She said that I was handsome and beautiful and hot. It just felt so wrong. I hate that all she seems to see is my body, it is all anyone sees." Derek was trembling and shuddering. Alex decided to do something he hadn't done or shown anyone he could do, he knew it wasn't exactly good to do but he could see his cousin needed it. He placed his hand on his cousin's neck and started to pull. Pull out the emotions, all the negativity and all the hurt and panic. The veins in his arms pulsing black with all the emotion he was pulling from his cousin's body. Derek looked up as he started to feel himself calm down until there was nothing but neutral emotions.
"What was that?" Derek whispered
"One of my powers, I almost never do it, it isn't healthy to do but you needed it." Alex turned to look at his cousin, his eyes were black, not a single flash of white in the void that made up his eyes. Derek could see fangs in his cousin's mouth. Alex's fox aura was a shimmering black shadow around them both, drinking in all the emotion that had made it visible to the normal eye.
"You shouldn't do that if it isn't healthy for you."
"I didn't say it was unhealthy for me, it is unhealthy for you and can be deadly and addictive to us both. Nogitsune who do it too much get addicted to absorbing all the emotions and often become addicted to the darker emotions as they are more powerful. Though I guess we could get addicted to the happy emotions, just the ease of finding and making misery, pain, strife and chaos make those more common. I have never done that to another being. It is like your wolves' pain drain, just we take everything."
"Take care of yourself little cousin, I don't want an addict for a cousin otherwise who would I have at my side to tease Jackson and Cora."
"I can't promise to do it again, just only if the situation needs it. You needed to calm down and get rid of those bad thoughts, so it was worth it. Now, I have school tomorrow so I need to get to bed."
"Yeah, sure, sorry." Derek got up, walked to the door before turning around, "Alex... um... can I stay with you tonight? I don't want to sleep alone, my wolf doesn't want to sleep alone."
"Sure, Der-Bear, go get some PJs on and then we can get some sleep." Five minutes later found Derek and Alex both in sweatpants and t-shirts.
"Left or right side?"
"Left." Replied Derek. Getting into bed and turning off the light the two cousins lay there and closed their eyes.
Thirty minutes later found the two fast asleep. Derek's big bulk safely tucked into Alex's warm body as the fox nuzzled against his cousin's neck and hair.
~~~~~~
Derek had asked to meet his parents and Peter and Lucifer in his mother's office. When he had asked she had simply raised her eyebrows at her son. She seemed to know that this would be coming at that he would eventually decide to talk to her. Thalia had noticed his mood seemed to be fluctuating between depression and happiness. The deciding factor was her nephew, only Alex seemed to be able to get her son out of his extreme depression. They had sat down in the study, the four adults facing the young wolf. The bulky and muscular wolf looked small and as he was trying to curl into himself and hide from their view.
"Now Derek I don't think you asked us here to ask about your college options did you?" Asked Thalia calmly
"No... I need to tell you some stuff. I don't think I am like a normal wolf..." Derek was trembling slightly as he looked at his hands
"Go on." Encouraged Mark, his kind face slightly pinched in worry for his son
"So you know how Alex is asexual. I think I may be like that. I don't want it. I don't want sex. But we are meant to want it. Wolves are meant to procreate. Why didn't I want it? It felt so wrong, I didn't want her, I didn't want anyone touching me." All of the adults looked very alarmed and worried as Derek became more hysterical. They could see that the young wolf was traumatised by something, something had happened to him.
"Derek, tell us what happened. What did someone do to you?" Peter's voice had a slight growl to its timbre, his eyes flashed slightly. Who had hurt the poor pup?
"I was at that party last night, it was overwhelming. I went outside. There was this girl. She followed me. Told me how beautiful and handsome and hot I was and that she wanted me. She touched me. I didn't want it but I was too frozen to stop it. She... she had her hand down my trousers. I was so scared. I couldn't stop her. Only when Boyd came out and smelt my fear and came over did she stop. I was too weak to stop it. I'm pathetic." Derek had started to cry as he talked. He looked up at the four adults with a red-stained face and tears falling down his face. All the adults looked at him with sympathy, Peter more with anger, not at Derek but that anyone would hurt his nephew.
"You are not weak. You are strong. You had your choices and body violated by that girl. Never, and I mean never, think you are weak. There is nothing at all wrong with not wanting sex and not wanting someone to touch you. You have the right to decide your own body and your own consent. Give me her name and I will rip her throat out. You do not deserve, nor does anyone deserve, to be molested or touched without their consent." Peter looked straight into Derek's eyes as he said this. All the others nodded as he said as such.
"But doesn't it make me weak, a wolf who can't even stop a human?"
"No. It doesn't. We may be stronger than humans but we still feel emotions as much as they do. No one is ever going to think you weak or think less of you for not knowing what to do in a situation like that. So you don't want sex. That is fine. No one in this pack will ever be discriminated against because of how they are. I won't allow it." Stated Thalia firmly. Mark and Peter nodded firmly, both agreeing with the Alpha, Lucifer remained silent. His face oddly enough seemed tense. He was busy thinking about the stuff he would do to the girl who had hurt his nephew. Exchanging a quick glance with Peter he swept from the room.
~~~~~~
It wasn't until later that evening when all the teens had gone to bed that Lucifer walked into the sitting room. Blood splattered across his white shirt.
"Do I want to know?" Asked Thalia
"If she doesn't want to know I do." Muttered Peter into his whiskey
"Curiously enough that girl comes from the Argent family. Or should I say came from the Argent family? Or what was the Argent family? I don't like people who hurt my family. And the people I don't like often seem to have terrible accidents. Such a shame."
"Thank you Lucifer," Thalia said as she came and gave him a hug, Mark came up as well and shook his hand. Peter just winked at him from the sofa.
"They shouldn't have gone after Derek. They wanted Kate to seduce him into giving her intel to burn the house. Kill all of us in one go. They just didn't really think about how he is not okay with that and is seemingly asexual just like Alex. Should have done their homework... amateurs. You do realise they are mates."
Thalia looked up at this.
"Derek and Alex?"
"They have a soul bond. Two asexual guys but they do have a soul bond. It is the reason they are so close." Said Lucifer as he conjured a glass of bourbon into his hand.
"It makes sense, they have always been so close." Murmured Mark.
"Should we tell them? Or let them figure it out themselves?" Asked Peter
"Let's enjoy the show, I'll bring the popcorn Darling" smirked Lucifer
~~~~~~
The weeks after the party and Derek being molested by the even more recently dead Argent were oddly calm. Derek had asked to go to therapy and had taken Alex with him as moral support. The two of them had been bonding even closer with the more shared time. Derek had been having increasingly bad dreams and nightmares about the sexual assault and had woken up screaming and yelling multiple times. It was always Alex who managed to calm his cousin down and would end up sleeping in the bed holding his muscular cousin tightly with the three cats lounging in the bed almost every night.
The two of them seemed completely oblivious to their attraction and bond to each other. The rest of the family now had a betting pool on which couple would get together first; Alex and Derek or Stiles and Lydia. The family found it a great source of amusement at every single event that the couples attended. They all seemed to be doing an intricate dance around the other partner, wanting to move further but unwilling, or not knowing, how to do so. Stiles was very clear in his pining after the red-headed banshee, always helping her carry her bags and being a perfect gentleman towards her in every single instance. Lydia, who was normally so confident and could stare down an alpha werewolf like it was nothing would suddenly get slightly shy and lost around the spark she was secretly in love with, every time he brought her home-cooked cookies or a coffee. Neither realising that Stiles was trying to show he could provide for his mate. Instead, they hid it behind the pretence of just being friends who studied together and researched for the pack a lot in the library. Even if now rather than sitting across from each other they now sat on the sofa with Lydia’s head in Stiles’ lap as they read the ancient tomes kept in the Hale Library. All of the wolves could smell the attraction and admiration between the two and thus lots of the pack had bet on them being first to couple up.
Alex and Derek were an enigma to most of the pack, apart from the adults who had been in the room at the time when Derek had admitted to being asexual just like his cousin, and when Lucifer had announced them as mates. The fact that despite all of the time the two of them spent together not even one whiff of sexual attraction occurred between them had thrown the pack off. However, the two of them spent almost every night and day together quietly being content with small touches and the company of the other nearby.
What none of the family knew is that the four supernatural beings had already made an agreement with Cora to rig the betting. They had confided in her that the four of them knew of the betting against them and brought her on board to bet on them kissing at the exact same time. They could all split the profits and enjoy a nice day out in LA if they won at the expense of their families’ pride. They all thought it would be a good idea.
~~~~~~
The plan had come to a conclusion when the pack was having a pool day in late August, the temperature was well into the thirties, all of the pack had gathered at the house, not just the Hales but all of the slightly further out members. The back garden of the Hale mansion had some 50 odd members of various species. The other teenage members of the pack were also there: Allison, Scott, Erica, Boyd, Danny, Isaac and Sean. Chris had taken up a place talking to Peter and Lucifer, it had been common knowledge that since Victoria’s suicide following being bitten by a rogue Alpha that Chris had become a close third with Alex’s parents. A hunter, a wolf and a fallen angel made for an interesting dynamic. For once the Sheriff and Jordan had both managed to get off work to come and enjoy the pack pool day. Noah had decided to just sit down and talk to Mark about the general situation in the county and about the woodwork that Mark had been doing. Jordan was happily sat with Jasper on his lap trying to munch his way through a small plastic toy whilst Laura was chasing Jasinder around the garden. Lydia and Stiles had decided to lay out in the sun on a pair of loungers, both of their pale skin tones glowing in the bright light. Despite what many thought about Stiles he was actually quite toned due to his workouts with Derek and Alex, a slim waist leading to broad shoulders, his beauty marks and moles dotting his creamy skin. Lydia was wearing a bold black and red bikini which matched her hair perfectly as she sat sipping on lemonade as she listened to Stiles explain a new spell he had been practising. Derek and Alex had already jumped into the pool and were lazily swimming around each other just enjoying the refreshing water.
“Stiles, Lydia, why don't you come to join us?” yelled Derek
“Okay, we are coming,” Stiles said as he offered his hand to the banshee to help her up off the lounger.
“Oh, is it that time already?” sighed Lydia as she walked over to the pool and sat on the edge with Stiles next to her. Derek and Alex swam over to be treading water just in front of them.
“Three, two, one.” Smirked Alex as he dragged Derek into their first-ever kiss at the same time as Stiles leaned over and started making out with Lydia. The garden suddenly became very quiet as the entire pack slowly realised what was happening. The two future emissaries were fiercely making out whilst the nephews of the pack alpha were slowly kissing and nuzzling into each other.
“Took you long enough, now I think that means I won the bet, now pay up suckers!” Yelled Cora as she went to collect her money, leaving her friends, cousin and brother to enjoy finally being with their true mate.
Lucifer turned to Talia and said,
“You know I don't think we did a bad job as parents, do you?”
“No, I think we were pretty reasonable,” she replied as she smiled at seeing her precious son so happy in her nephew's arms.
FIN