Out of Place

The First to Betray Us

Everyone was working on translating the magical texts except of course Stiles, who had left to go strengthen the nemeton and keep an eye out for that golem.

While in the woods, Stiles made a few protection charms and laid a small trap that would hopefully slow the golem down if he ran into it. Now he was feeding power to the nemeton and strengthening the bond with it. Kneeled in front of it, hands in the wet dirt, he drew magic from the rest of the earth and pulled it into the trunk of the tree. The forest hummed around him and he heard the wind flowing through the branches. And he also hears someone walking through the woods alone.

Derek.

Stiles used his magic to cover himself like a blanket, keeping him hidden. But with how much he was giving the nemeton, it was harder to hide the small noises one makes; your heartbeat, breathing, the soft crunch of leaves under your feet as you move, or even just the wind hitting your clothes and making a rustling noise. And so, while he tried his best, all it took was one sound getting out for Derek to hear him. One little shift in posture and a stick snapped beneath Stiles' feet. Derek's head jerked over to look at the source of the sound.

When he saw that there was nothing there at first, he growled lowly. But when Stiles dropped the veil keeping him concealed, he growled even louder. It's a good thing Stiles remembered his hood!

"Alpha spark.", Derek acknowledged. Stiles nodded at him as if to say hello. "You're out here to strengthen the nemeton, aren't you?", Derek asked. Stiles nodded yes. Derek raised his eyebrow at that, no doubt wondering why the hooded man wouldn't speak to him directly. To test whether or not the man would speak, Derek shifted away from yes or no questions. "Why does your pack need the nemeton anyways?"

Stiles knew this wasn't going to end well the moment he heard Derek's footsteps and again when Derek noticed him. Now here he was, stuck in the predicament of do I talk or not. Luckily, Stiles remembered he was a spark and could conceal his voice. It wasn't a great cover and it wouldn't last long, but it was enough for right now. As soon as Stiles got back to his newly purchased pack loft, he would research everything to do with voice moderating spells. And he would have the rest of the pack members who practiced magic do so as well. Better safe than sorry.

Stiles spoke, his fake voice was kind of scratchy but it was the best he could do in this moment. "We just want the nemeton's help to find something.", he said. Derek looked a little shocked by hearing the man's voice but quickly steeled himself.

It wasn't someone from Beacon Hills, Derek knew he didn't recognize that voice from around here. But still, there was an underlying familiarity.

Maybe someone he met while out of state. But then that begged the question of who. "Do I know you?", Derek blurted out before he could stop himself. He knew it was stupid once he said it, the man would never tell him if he knew him.

"No. You only thought you knew me.", the man said. Derek sighed. Of course, there's no way of really knowing if he knew the man because he could cloak his lies and his scent. But Derek still hoped the man might say yes and tell Derek exactly where he knew him from.

The man started to leave and Derek made no attempts to stop him. He didn't know what to do and he didn't want to test the Alpha Spark's power one-on-one. Even when he heard the familiar sputter of a car engine, and the tires crunching on a gravel roadway through the forest, Derek made no attempts to go after him.

He just sulked home in defeat. If he had brought another pack member on his little walk then maybe he could've forced the other Alpha to take off his stupid hood so they could see his face. That's when Derek thought of an even better plan. Why take on the potentially more powerful Alpha when they could just hold his little girlfriend hostage!

Derek rushed to the loft, bursting the doors open, cursing the elevator for being so slow, and then gathering his pack 'round the living room. "Derek, what is it? We're all busy trying to figure out who the hell from the Mercury Pack is from Beacon Hills.", Lydia complained. "I have a plan to figure out the Alpha Spark's identity." That announcement took everyone by surprise. Derek continued, "We take the vampire-succubus hostage and he'll do anything." Scott's face showed he had some qualms with this plan. "I don't know Derek, taking someone hostage doesn't really sound like a good plan to prevent a war. Besides, we're supposed to be the good guys." "We ARE the good guys. We're just doing what's necessary to defeat the bad guys!", Malia exclaimed.

After much deliberation, Scott gave in and they decided to try Derek's plan. They had to find an opportunity to grab Elena though, and it wouldn't be easy. She rarely strayed from the Alpha Spark's side, and when she did it wasn't far.

But the McCall-Hale pack must've had luck on their side because that same day Elena left the Mercury loft on her own. And so, Scott, Derek, Lydia, and Kira started to stalk after her.

After a while, it became apparent that she was heading towards a Jack in the Box. Right as she stepped out of her car to go in, Kira electrocuted her, which seemed to just tick her off more than anything. Then, Lydia used her banshee wail to slow her down when she tried attacking Kira. Elena stumbled a bit but was quick to regain her composure. Her eyes shifted and in mere seconds she was in front of Lydia, sharp teeth in the dozens ready to rip out her throat.

That's when Scott pounced from behind and dragged her to the ground. They struggled for a bit until Derek came in and knocked her out with some kind of magical chloroform Deaton gave them.

They drove back to the loft and saw both packs having a standoff with an unconscious and tied up Jackson being held by the Mercury Pack's ginger kanina-wolf. They clambered out of the car, dragging the knocked out succubus with them.

The hooded Alpha Spark stood at the frontlines of their pack. Derek and Scott made the way to the frontlines of their own pack, leaving Kira and Lydia to handle Elena.

"Hale, McCall. Glad you two could finally join us.", the other alpha spat in his scratchy voice that sounded suspiciously clearer now. "Why do you have our pack member?", Scott grit out. "We could ask you the same question, you insolent overgrown dog.", the creepy twins said in unison. "Guys, they somehow knew we were gonna grab Elena and they took Jackson to negotiate.", Danny whispered. "How the hell did they find out?!", Scott grumbled lowly, turning back to face Danny.

"You do realize we can hear you? Did you forget you're no longer the only supernaturals in town?", the Alpha Spark chuckled. "Alright, I'll ask you then. How the hell did you find out we were going to take Elena?". Scott's voice wavered as he spoke even as he tried desperately to keep it level. The whole pack was on edge with Jackson in the hands of their enemy.

The only comfort offered was knowing they had Elena still in their deck of cards. Though that was likely about to change.

"Listen, I can't just reveal my sources to you for free, but I'll tell you what. You give us our pack member back, and not only will we let Jackson go, but we'll tell you how we know.", the hooded man said. The smirk barely visible under his hood was dripping off his words like venom.

"Fine. Give us Jackson first.", Scott said. The man just chuckled and shook his head. "That's not how this works, McCall.", the green haired one with freckles spoke up. "Let's just give them their little vampire freak, they don't even wanna fight us.", Issac whined.

"Listen to your mutt.", the blonde witch said. "'Brina...", the alpha cautioned her. "Sorry Alpha."

"Fine. Lydia, hand her over.", Scott ordered. "Wha- but-", she started. Her sputtering was cut off by an increasingly annoyed Scott. "Now!" The banshee huffed but conceded, practically shoving Elena into the Alpha Spark's arms. He caught her with ease and care. "Now give us Jackson.", Derek spat with a sharp glare at the other alpha.

The Alpha Spark only smiled and turned towards the unconscious Jackson. "Your turn, Jax.", he said.

And just like that, Jackson "woke up" and took the binds off himself. He kept his glare fixed on his pack in front of him the entire time. "Jacks-Jackson, what-", Ethan stammered. "I'm the one who told them your plan. And I'm joining their pack.", Jackson announced. The shocked, horrified, and betrayed faces of the McCall-Hale pack seemed to not even come close to phasing him as he and the Mercury Pack turned and walked into their loft.

The other pack could only stand in shock with their mouths gaping open like a school of fish standing in the parking lot.

"What just happened?!", Ethan's voice cracked.