For My Flesh Had Turned to Fur, and My Thoughts Had Turned to You

Chapter 1

They’ve known about the other pack for quite some time now. They know the pack is young and small, formed together more by accident and necessity than anything else. But, they haven’t done anything about them because they’ve been fairly quiet, kept to themselves, and haven’t caused any trouble. In fact, the only reason the Hale pack even knows the McCall pack exists nearby is because they can smell them occasionally while on routine territory checks and are informed of them by the local emissary. The Hales have been established in Beacon Hills for quite some time, centuries, generations, and Derek’s fairly certain that the only reason the McCall pack hasn’t wisened up and left Hale territory is because they don’t know about it. They haven’t been steeped in werewolf tradition and pack laws like Derek’s family has, and it’s for that reason alone, he’s positive, that his mother and alpha, Talia, has not approached any member of the McCall pack. She’s of the opinion that as long as they don’t stir things up and stay out of the way, then she has no problem with sharing her land with a pack that doesn’t know any better.

That is until the Hales start hearing rumors about the McCall pack acquiring a very young and inexperienced but powerful witch. If it had been anything but a witch, Talia might have shrugged it off, but when pack members report to her about strange scents and sightings in the woods because of magic, her hackles are raised. Magic and witches are the last thing she wants in her territory, especially if they are from someone who doesn’t understand the depth and consequences of his powers. The Hales and magical folk have never gotten along, and the only remotely magical-type people they communicate with is the emissary, who is more herbalist and healer than strictly magical.

Talia, though, needs proof, and strong evidence before she feels confident enough to finally approach the new pack and Alpha McCall. She might be willing to negotiate with them, even, but she wants to know what she’s dealing with first. So she sends her eldest son, Derek, for all intents and purposes, to spy on the McCall pack and their so-called witch, to see what the truth of the situation is. Never one to question or disobey, Derek accepts, transforms gracefully in a full-wolf, something only direct Hale descendants can do, and stalks his way to the woods where the last magical sighting was.