An Alpha's Cub

Pilot

Chris pulled up at the house, running a hand over his face. Moving always tired him out but it had to be done. Allison might not enjoy it but it was a necessary evil. They had decided to go back to Beacon Hills – his hometown – because of something Kate had told him. There was a rouge Alpha in town and he had every intention of taking care of it before it became a problem.

He closed the driver's door and was about to move around to grab the groceries from the back when he noticed something on the front porch. Victoria wasn't home yet and Allison was at school, so no one was at the house and no one was supposed to be here either. Chris quickly checked his gun before he crept closer "Hunter," he gasped, quickly kneeling down next to the small boy who was curled up on his front porch "Hey, kid." Hunter's face twitched even as he flinched away from Chris' hands. The older man cursed his sister internally. There was no doubt in his mind that Kate had left the boy here without even waiting to see whether anyone was home. Hunter was his nephew and if he could, he would have taken him away from Kate years ago. She had done nothing but abuse him for years "Hunter, it's alright. It's me, Chris."

Hunter looked up with tears in his eyes, studying his uncle for a long moment before he threw himself into the man's arms "'Cle Chris?"

"Hey, kiddo," he smiled, ruffling the boy's hair "What are you doing here, kid?"

"Mummy," Hunter mumbled, tightening his grip on Chris' shirt when the man made to pull away. He let out a small whimper.

Chris bit his lips, bringing Hunter up with him as he got up "Let's get you inside, shall we? Have you eaten anything yet?"

Hunter buried his face in his uncle's neck and shook his head "Bad."

"Bad?" Chris frowned in confusion. His stomach clenched and he honestly wasn't sure what Kate was doing to the boy when he wasn't around. If he hadn't been blocked by Gerard, he would have called CPS on his sister a long time ago. The way she treated the boy was... He didn't know what changed between them and Hunter wouldn't tell him. At first, Kate had been somewhat excited for the kid but her mood had changed quickly and Chris had no idea what happened.

"No food. Bad," Hunter explained or more like mumbled into Chris' skin.

Chris leaned forward, placing Hunter on the counter "You're not bad, Hunter," he told him, trying to pry his fingers away from his shirt "Are you hungry?" Hunter curled into a ball on the kitchen counter and nodded quietly. Chris ran a hand through the child's hair "I'm going to grab the groceries from the car and then I'll make you some food, alright? Stay here."

Allison raised her eyebrow, looking at Scott, completely unimpressed. She was glancing over his shoulder periodically to see whether her father was here already but that didn't seem to be the case "So what happened?" she couldn't help but ask when the awkward silence got too much for her "You left me stranded at the party."

"Yeah, I – I know," Scott winced "I know. I'm really sorry, I am. But – You're going to have to trust that I had a really good reason."

"Did you get sick?" Allison frowned, worried for the boy. He really had looked bad then, so it was an easy leap to make.

Scott shifted uncomfortably "I definitely had an attack of something."

"Am I going to get an explanation?" the Argent raised her eyebrow. She peeked over the boy's shoulder again, seeing her father drive up. What she didn't expect was to see that her little cousin was there as well.

------------------------------------------------------

Allison was so distracted at seeing Hunter that she almost missed what Scott said next.

"Can you just find it in your heart to trust me on this one?" the newly turned werewolf questioned sheepishly.

Allison hummed absentmindedly, seeing her father with Hunter clinging to him. The six-year-old had a habit of clinging to people he trusted when he wasn't feeling well or uncomfortable. Allison could imagine that this many people were slightly overwhelming for the little boy and not for the first time, she internally cursed her aunt for what she had done to the little one "Am I going to regret this?"

"Probably," Scott shrugged with a small grin before watching her expression "So is that a yes on a second chance?"

"Definitely yes," Allison grinned before startling into motion when her father waved her over "That's my dad." She gestured to the man "I better go." With one last smile to Scott, she made her way over to the truck "Hey, Hunter."

When the boy didn't react and actually flinched at her light touch, Chris grimaced apologetically, tightening his grip on the boy a little more "I'm sorry," he murmured, running his free hand over the boy's head "Today isn't one of his better days, it seems."

"When did he get here?"

Chris' eyes darkened a little and turned to strap Hunter back into his car seat "Kate dropped him off a few hours ago."

"And by dropped him off, you mean..."

"Left him on the porch," Chris replied.

Allison let out a gasp, her hand stilling on the handle of the backdoor "She what? How could she...?"

Chris shook his head, his eyes darkening. He had an idea on why Kate had changed her behaviour towards Hunter as drastically as she had but even if that was the reason, it didn't make it right... Hunter was just a kid "I don't know, sweetheart. I really don't."

"Can I take him out for ice cream?" Allison asked, settling down next to Hunter who was playing with his hands the way he always tended to do "Is that something you'd like, Hunter?"

Hunter looked up at her "Me?"

Allison smiled sadly "Yes, you. So, what do you say? Fancy some ice cream? I would hate to go alone."

Hunter nodded with wide eyes. He hadn't had ice cream in forever. The last time was with Allison when she took him out the last time he was with them. It's been close to a year since he had last been with his uncle and he was sure that his mother was trying to keep him away from the rest of his family. Apart from his grandpa. Hunter hunched his shoulders. He didn't like his grandpa.