Forbidden Hidden Love (Teen Wolf)(Book 2)

Chapter 23

Derek threw Peter across the room again, following after him and punching his face when he landed on the floor. When Peter tried getting up, he kicked him down.

"You don't actu-actually think that I want to be the alpha again, do you?" His uncle said. "That wasn't my finest performance, considering it ended in my death. I mean, I'm usually more- okay, go ahead!" he yelled, as Derek prepared to launch another punch into his face. "Come on, do it. Hit me, hit me. I can see that it's cathartic for you. You're letting go of all the anger, self-loathing, and hatred that comes with total and complete failure. I may be the one taking the beating, Derek, but you've already been beaten. So, go ahead. Hit me if it would make you feel better. After all, I did say that I wanted to help."

At that, Derek let Peter go, breathing hard. "You can't help me."

He sat down as Peter got up.

"See? Prime example right here," his uncle stated. "I'm not healing as fast. Coming back from the dead isn't easy, you know. I'm not as strong as I used to be. I need a pack. An alpha." He looked up at his nephew. "Like you. I need you as much as you need me."

Derek scoffed. "Why would I want help from a total psycho?"

"First of all, I'm not a total psycho. And by the way, you're the one that slashed my throat wide open. But we're all works in progress, right? So, we need each other. Sometimes when you need help, you turn to people you'd never expect. You tried to build your pack. You tried to prepare for the worst. You weren't ready. Because of it, Gerard is winning. He's taking his time. He's toying with Scott. He's going after your wolves, one by one. He's relishing in his victory."

"How about you tell me something I don't know?" Derek asked, interrupting him.

"Oh, I'm going to. And it's gonna prove why you should trust me. Why you need to trust me. Because I'm going to tell you how to stop Jackson."

"What do you mean? Know how to kill him?"

"Actually, how to save him. There's a myth that you can cure a werewolf simply by calling out its christian name."

"It's just a myth," Derek interrupted.

"Well, sometimes myths and legends bear a hint of truth. Our name is a symbol of who we are. But the kanima has no identity. That's why it doesn't seek a pack."

"It seeks a master," Derek finished.

"And who else grows up with no pack? No identity?"

"An orphan."

"Like Jackson. And right now, his identity is disappearing beneath the reptilian skin and you need to bring him back."

"How?"

"Through his heart. How else?"

"You know, in case you hadn't noticed, Jackson doesn't really have too much of a heart to begin with."

"Not true. He'd never admit it, but there is one person. One young lady with whom Jackson shared a real bond. One person who can reach him. Who could save him."

"Lydia."

"Your best ally has always been anger, Derek, but what you lack most is a heart. That's why you've always known that you need Scott more than anyone. And even somebody as burned and dead on the inside as me knows better than to underestimate the simple yet undeniable power of human love."

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Fionnuala stopped Stiles on his way out to the field.

"Be careful," she whispered in his ear, pulling him into a hug. "I just saw that Jackson's here. You and I both know what he's capable of."