Whispered promises

Chapter 72

The loft was filled with an assortment of guns, a table displaying their lethal potential. Derek's eyes scanned the array of weapons, his unease evident. "I still don't like relying on these things," he confessed, his voice tinged with frustration. The sight of the guns reminded him of his lost power, a reminder of his former supernatural abilities.

Braeden, proficiently clipping a magazine into her own gun, understood Derek's internal struggle. "I get it," she sympathized, her voice calm and reassuring. "You miss your power. I would too." She paused, meeting his gaze. "But it's not about power,. It's about being able to help. I know you don't like feeling helpless."Derek told her .

Derek sighed, the weight of his vulnerability pressing upon him. "I'm human," Braeden continued, her voice resolute. "Do I look helpless?" Her words carried a quiet strength, reminding Derek of her own capabilities. "You're a much better shot than me," Derek admitted, acknowledging her skill and determination.

Braeden recognized the direction in which Derek's thoughts were heading. She saw the doubt in his eyes. "Do you really think you won't be coming back?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"Not alive," Derek responded, his words heavy with the weight of his convictions. He had made peace with the possibility of his own demise.

Braeden's voice softened, filled with frustration . "You know I'm not okay with that," she said, her words echoing. "You finally got the girl, and you're worried you won't come back?"she questioned. Derek nodded, acknowledging the complexity of his emotions. "I am, but if it saves Scott and Kira..." he trailed off, the unspoken understanding hanging in the air. He was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of those he cared about.

"To be honest, I don't think this firepower is enough to take down even one Berserker," Derek proclaimed, his voice laced with a mix of frustration and determination. The task at hand seemed insurmountable, the odds stacked against them.

Just then, Peter descended the spiral stairs, his presence commanding attention. He spoke with a voice filled with wisdom and experience. "Not even close killing a berserker is next to impossible isn't just about firepower," he declared, his eyes meeting Derek's. "It's breaking the animal spirit from the human ."peter explained .

Derek nodded, realizing the truth in Peter's words. "Well the one person we know with that kind of experience is Argent " " he admitted, his voice tinged with concern. "But he's not getting back to me."Derek told Peter .

Peter's gaze held a flicker of hope as he offered a solution. "Well then We're going to need help," he suggested, his voice filled with conviction. "Like Katrina , Like Malia, maybe Liam, Ella, and Ralph. Definitely me." Peter concluded .

Stiles is going through Scott's closet looking for something for Malia to sniff so she can track Scott. His shirts smell like fabric softener so Stiles looks in the dirty clothes hamper in the bathroom and comes up with a pair of boxers. Malia makes a face and then decides to sniff his pillow instead. She gets a scent and they're off.

••••••••••••••••••••••••

Inside the cramped confines of the van in Mexico on the way to the church Kate has Scott and Kira , Derek and Stiles struggled to hold Liam down as the full moon's influence compelled him to shift.

Derek, feeling a sense of helplessness, desperately tried to tap into the control he had learned through his family's mantra. But this time, the familiar words seemed to lose their soothing effect, failing to calm the young Beta's wild transformation.

. "Liam, focus, okay? Find your anchor," Stiles's urged, hoping to guide the young werewolf toward a moment of calm amidst the chaos. Derek watched intently as Liam's hands dug into his own flesh, his claws threatening to break free. The young Beta began to regain control. The storm within him subsided, and he started to calm down.