From the Ashes

From the Ashes: Chapter Sixteen

⚠️Warning: ⚠️
This chapter contains flashbacks of what Stiles suffered through at the asylum. There is also homophobic language used in the flashback. There is a flashback involving what looks like self-harm but is not. There is also a brief scene in the flashbacks of Stiles begging for death. Take care!

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Being woken up to a house quaking alpha roar is never a good thing and well the pack members leap from their beds and dash downstairs where Peter, their alpha, is trying to get past his mate. "Let me pass."

"Papa, you shall not pass!" Avonlee says with a giggle.

It's enough to break Peter out of his crimson eyed state. He doesn't take his eyes off his mate though. "Please? They're both out there and–"

"No, Alpha Mine." Claudia shakes her head. Then her gaze falls on the rest of the pack. "Betas please take the children and get breakfast started. We'll return shortly."

The adults quickly disperse: Theo grabs Avonlee. Jackson takes Maya. Hayley grabs Selene and Cora takes Stella. Jordan ushers them all into the dining room and heads into the kitchen with Vira, Amelia and the twins Helix and Harley.

It's only Kira, Allison and Isaac that do not follow them. Peter raises an eyebrow but the three of them don't budge.

"He's our Arufa, Alpha Hale. He needs us. We–Allison and I–are his skulk. Isaac is his mate. We won't get in the way, but he needs to know we will come when he needs us," Kira says softly but firmly.

Isaac and Allison nod as Isaac speaks next. "Mischief asked me to promise I would never leave him. Therefore, when he does the leaving, I will go to him."

Allison's fox ears won't go back in having popped out when they heard the roar. "He saved my life. I won't let him drown in the guilt he's surely dealing with on top of the other trauma he's lived through."

The alpha sighs but is inwardly grateful that these three care so much about his son. Little Mischief–not so little anymore–is building a fine pack of his own. "All right. Let's get going then."

"You know where he is?" Kira asks.

"The Nemeton."

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The clearing is still so quiet and filled with serenity that the emotions pouring off of the alpha make the sentient tree put up a cleanser barrier. "You must relax, Alpha Hale. Your emotion will only cause further harm here."

Peter holds in a snarl but takes a slow deep breath, his mate's touch grounding him. When his eyes open, they have faded back to their blue color. "Where are my boys?"

Slowly the Nemeton's trunk begins to open until the nest is accessible but when the alpha tries to get closer a vine flicks out at him. "No, Alpha Hale. Let them come to you."

"How long will that take? I need to–"

A giggle sounds as Felix peeks his head out. "Mama! Papa! Wookie!" he cries out and they watch as a little black fox blinks beady black eyes at them. "It Mis! See papa! I hep Mis be good!"

Peter smiles. "I bet you did, little sparkling. Can you come to papa and mama?"

Felix looks at his brother and tilts his head. "Go see papa and mama, Mis?"

The fox chitters and curls tighter into himself, but a little pink tongue swipes at the toddler's cheek.

Alpha Hale and Claudia, as well as the other three betas wait as patiently as they can for the fox and toddler to emerge. It takes another ten minutes but then vines slip into the nest wrapping carefully around both the fox and the toddler. The vines then help clean the two up and set them on the ground. Stiles still hasn't shifted back, but he sticks right by his little brother's side as they slowly cross the clearing.