For Good | Hale- TO/TW [8]

5 | Distraction

Rain pours down in the forest of Beacon Hills. Fat droplets of water smash into the dirt, flinging mud into the air. The black, red-eyed wolf ignores the sludge sticking to her fur and her face.

She races through the forest, her paws slipping and drowning in the dirt. Her eyes light her way through the darkness around her. Thunder booms, only making her run faster.

She skids to a stop next to two large pines. She sniffs the air, lifting her snout up as her eyes scan the area. She growls, barring her canines to the darkness.

She prowls forward, her eyes set on a grey tail. She lowers herself to the ground, her heartbeat slowing. The wind blows into her face and sends the scent of the unsuspecting animal with it.

She waits a second before she pounces onto the tail. Her teeth are barred at the other wolf as she clamps down on it. The grey wolf yelps and jumps. The black wolf swipes her claws threateningly.

This is my territory, the red eyes say.

The grey wolf takes a few steps back before she shifts back to Laura. The wolf growls. "Now!" Laura yells.

Cora jumps from the trees with a lit match. The wolf tilts her head to the side as the match drops to the ground.

A ring of fire surrounding the wolf ignites from the fire. She screeches and cowers only to feel the heat behind her. The wolf whines and cries, looking around for an escape. Fear flickers in her eyes.

"Shift back, Lexi," Cora orders.

The wolf shakes her head, more panic invading her senses. The smoke fills her snout, reminding her of painful memories. She sees Derek walk up to the ring and kneel down. "We need to talk," he says.

The wolf whines, bucking back. The burnt leaves under the fire smell of dead wood. Long-dead screams invade her ears. The wolf pants, her eyes flickering between red and normal.

"Lexi," Derek says. "Shift back."

Lightning strikes in the distance as the wolf curls in on herself. As thunder echoes through the forest, the wolf turns back into a woman. Her blonde hair is soaked as she pants on the ground. Her eyes flicker red once before they remain her normal blue.

Lexi looks at the Hales through her hair and growls, "You shouldn't be here."

Laura throws her clothes. They land in front of her. They instantly get soaked in mud. "Put it on," Laura says.

With a touch, the clothes are on her body. She chuckles under her breath, "I've missed the magic. Can't do it as a wolf."

Lightning strikes in the distance once more as she wipes the hair out of her eyes and gets to her feet. The fire rages before her. "Go home," Lexi says. "This doesn't concern you three."

"Home?" Derek scoffs, crossing his arms. Lexi's eyes soften as she glances at him. "My home is with you."

She shakes her head. "You know what I mean, Derek. Be with Stella. I'll be back soon."

"We need you back now," Laura states.

Lexi frowns as she tilts her head to the side. "I trust you and Hayley. Figure it out yourselves. I have something to deal with—"

Cora tosses Lexi a cell phone. Lexi catches it with confusion spreading over her expression. "Listen to the latest message."

Lexi wipes the screen free of water before holding it to her ear. "Alexis? It's Freya. Hayley and Laura are missing, and Klaus is coming to New Orleans. We need you."

Lexi's eyes land on Laura. "You certainly look like your missing."

Laura snaps, "I was. Hayley still is."

"And you need me? Why?" Lexi crosses her arms. "You are all perfectly capable of finding Hayley. Use Hope—a tether to Hayley's bloodline. Use Freya and Keelin— part of her pack and family. Hell, if Stella wants to, she can do a locator spell. I trust you all to find her."

"What happened to you?" Derek demands. Lexi does not look at him. "Answer me, Lexi."

Slowly, Lexi's shoulders slump. Her head hangs before she picks it up. She meets Derek's eyes and sighs. "You wouldn't care. None of you would."

"Try us," Laura says.

Lexi looks away, staring at the nothingness beside her. "Hunters came back to Beacon Hills. Killed Theo, not that I care about him. The rest of us ran them out. We thought it was over."

Lexi sat on her couch, flipping through a spell book. She found the grimoire when ransacking the hunters' hideout. She was interrupted by a knock at the door.

She frowned, closing the book. "Who is it?" She called, standing from the couch. She walked over to the door and looked out the peephole. She saw no one.

She opened the door and cautiously looked around. She found a large box on the doorstep. She picked it up and brought it inside.

She took a moment to stare at the box. It was overly scented with lavender as if someone had covered another scent. It was big enough to hold a kitchen set. It was damaged at the corners—caved in.

Lexi threw her hand out, claws extending from her fingertips. She dragged her index finger over the box, cutting it open. Blood filled the air.

Lexi slowly picked up the flaps and opened the box. A scream tore through her throat as she fell back. The box fell open completely, and the head rolled out.

She screamed again as tears began to slide down her cheeks. The head landed next to her and all she could do was stare into Peter's lifeless eyes.

It is impossible to tell whether the water on Lexi's face is from the rain or her own tears. Her lips quiver as she tries to calm herself. "The hunters were just a distraction," she whispers. "Their leader wanted us distracted."

"Who?" Cora asks, her voice level and calm.

Lexi lifts her eyes up. "Kate had a daughter in those six years where Beacon Hills was left defenseless. Taylor was upset when she found Peter. I guess he pissed her off too much."

Lexi glances between the silent siblings. "See?" She attempts a small smile. "I told you—you wouldn't care."

By now, the fire has calmed, it's flames barely licking the ground. Derek steps forward as Lexi lets out a shaky breath. He wraps his arms around her, tightly holding her up as her legs give out.

Her tears fall silently as she clings to his shirt. Cora joins in on the hug while Laura watches, her expression void of emotion.

"Well," Laura says, making the three look back. "First thing to do is find Malia. Then, we're going to pay this Taylor a visit."

Yeah... So, Peter's dead. Someone else will be soon. A lot of others. Maybe :)

Hope you enjoyed!

-L