From the Ashes

From the Ashes: Chapter Twenty-Three

That should have been it but all the rage, fury, anger, fear and pain bubbles up to the surface. It's not enough that he's dead. He should be torn to pieces. He should be shredded until he is nothing but sinew for the earth to devour.

Stiles is barely aware of anything around him not even realizing he made the decision to actually shred the betrayers body. Nothing else matters. His mate is–

"Your mate needs you. Let me deal with this."

The voice is familiar and the touch on his side is warm. It smells like safety, like home, like– "Alpha?" he whispers as his shift recedes. He looks up at his dad and feels the weight of the world on his shoulders, but with a nod he feels the weight lift. His alpha will take care of everything.

"Go to your mate. He's–" Peter clears his throat. "He's not okay. He needs you."

Stiles's eyes widen as he whips his head towards his mate. "Honey bee," he whispers and scurries over to where his mate is lying much paler than he should be. "Isaac?"

The curly haired man blinks sluggishly and then smiles, his teeth stained red with blood. "M g-guard-an a-an-angel."

The young alpha chuckles wetly and nods his vision blurred by the tears. "That's me. You're my beautiful and sweet honey bee."

Isaac nods with a dopey smile. "Mhm." He reaches for his mate's hand. "Don feel goo," he mumbles slurring the words.

Stiles starts to panic and then grips his mate's hand tightly, his knuckles turning white. "My bite will save you. Just say yes. Please? Say yes and it'll save you. Okay?"

Blonde curls bounce as the blue eyed man nods. "Bite me." He drags in a wet breath. "Alpha."

Stiles bites.

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Peter, true to his word, deals with the remains of the betrayer and ushers his pack inside. He stands watch over his son, his son's mate and the other two kits. The alpha wonders how his son knew his bite would save his mate and he also wonders if his son knows what it means for both his mate and their unborn pup.

Felix refuses to go inside, instead slowly going over to his big brother. He hugs him from behind and nuzzles at his neck. Peter lets him, knowing how close they are.

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Stiles feels a shift in his core and glances down seeing the mark that was on Scott's wrist forming on his own. He clenches his jaw and ignores it. He focuses on his mate's heartbeat and how it's getting stronger. "Lix? I love you so much. You were so brave and when I get back you and I are going to snuggle a lot. Okay?"

Felix whines. "Where are you going? You just got back Mischief. Don't leave again."

The spark turns to look at his little brother. "I need to look after my skulk. It's my fox instincts but I will be back before you know it. I think you and Matka should be healed now. Can you go make sure she's okay for me?"

The youngest spark hesitates but places a kiss on his brother's cheek and hurries over to the house. Peter scoops him up and nods at his son before heading inside and shutting the door.

Allison watches her alpha closely. "Where are we going?"

Stiles stands and scoops up his now unconscious mate while Kira curls around Allison's neck like a scarf. "Somewhere safe. Just us four. He's going to be okay, but he'll be different." He takes off running and Allison follows right behind.

"Different how?" she asks.

Crimson eyes flash as he leads them to a safe place. "You'll see."

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Five Hours Later:

Stiles curls tightly around his mate watching as the girls prepare them all something to eat. Isaac is still asleep, and Stiles can't take his eyes off the peaceful look on his mate's face. The relief he felt when he could feel Isaac healing and when he could still hear the heartbeat of their pup was like the earth moved back into place.

Allison had noticed how he kept glaring at his wrist and helped cover it with a pair of gloves she found in the closet. Stiles hates it but it's not important right now. All that matters is his mate.

They eat Spaghetti Bolognese for dinner and the two girls help by hand feeding their alpha, so he doesn't have to let go of his mate.

By the time they've finished eating and have cleaned up, they're all so far past exhausted they can't see straight. Stiles wills his spark to build a nest and growls when his spark is accompanied by the shadows. "What the fuck?" he growls.

Kira tilts her head and shifts purring soothingly. Allison quickly follows her lead. Before long the nest and scent of pack have distracted the alpha enough that he barely notices when the shadows fade.

There is nothing left to do now except rest. The wards around the cabin were placed by Stiles himself and he knows that no one will get within a hundred yards of them. It's this knowledge that lulls him to sleep but the sleep is not peaceful. Not when the shadows won't be silent any longer.