Wolfsbane | Teen Wolf

Chapter 20: Side Stories

Ashley's Monologue (Or if one was to interview Ashley Hale about Peter and Derek...)

First impressions of Peter? Not sure exactly when it was, when it started. He appeared more and more and somehow wormed himself into my heart. Before I knew it, he was already a big part of my life.

My first impressions of Derek? I don't know, I just took an instant liking to him. I just knew he was going to be Alpha and I just really believed that he would be a good Alpha despite his flaws. But he's also weak, could use more of his brain, could maybe stop and think before leaping into action. Still, I just felt that he could do it.

Then he finally becomes Alpha but he makes one bad decision after another. He kept showing that he's not meant to be a leader. He kept showing his weaknesses and flaws. But somehow deep down I still believed. There were always moments when he shined, shined bright like a diamond. He was weak but moments when he shined as a leader, as an alpha.

I always hoped that he would eventually become the leader that he was meant to be.

xXx

The Alpha Pack

After Ashley was sent to Hel, Deucalion disbanded the pack. The Twins opted to stay. Kali and Ennis left.

Deucalion had a lot to think about. Recent events had him recalling a time when he had wanted peace. A time when he was not driven by anger or revenge.

It was a good thing that Ashley had come to his life once again. He owed his change of heart to the girl. She was always trying to stop him doing violence. Though she often failed, she did manage to stop him from killing Ennis. She reminded him of how he could still do good.

Now, it was time to make amends.

xXx

A Week After

Derek crouched down before the Nemeton stump and examined it. There was no indication that a girl had disappeared in the exact same spot several days ago. He stared at the tree as a tear rolled down his face.

"Why?" He spoke to no one in particular. "Why were you here? You should have lived your life! Away from us! Away from me!"

Derek stood up and brushed the tear away with the back of his hand.

As much as he wanted to act indifferent, as much as he pretended not to care, it hurt every time he suffered a loss. It hurt to let someone get so close and to have them ripped apart from you. That's why he had never let anyone come close anymore. He figured if he didn't get close to anyone, he didn't have to get hurt.

But despite all his efforts, it happened again. He loved someone and he lost her. He thought these things no longer affected him but it turns out he had been lying to himself all along. He felt hurt with every fiber of his being. It was screaming inside of him trying to get out. And it took every ounce of strength to hold it back. He knew if it did, it would be the push that sent him over the edge. And he just couldn't afford to let that happen right now.

xXx

Jordan Parrish

Jordan Parrish had crossed paths with Scott's pack. The more they interacted with each other, the more light was shed on his situation. He was a Hellhound.

As to what brought him to Beacon Hills, the pack decided to help him investigate the matter. It was in the course of their research that they discovered that he had a connection to Hel. When Ashley traded places with Paige, it must've drawn him to the town. With Hel closed permanently though, what else was keeping him in town?