For Good | Hale- TO/TW [8]

30 | Saying Goodbye

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The Bayou is filled with lit torches outlining the path to the lake. Two canoes are already prepared at the water's edge. Next to the small hut at the coast, two bodies lie on alters with a white cloth covering them.

Freya and Hope stand before the covered Alphas. Laura and Hayley sleep before them, never to wake again. Hope has tears in her eyes, but she forbids them from falling.

She catches their scents as they arrive. First, it's Derek and Teddy. The younger werewolf takes his spot next to Hope, taking her hand. Derek goes to the opposite side of the two corpses quietly, his eyes never leaving his sister.

Then, Lexi approaches Freya. The blonde witch stays silent like her husband. She, too, has tears in her eyes. She, too, does not let them fall.

Finally, Stella appears beside Hope. The dark-haired witch grimaces, her eyes still lined with redness. "Have they started yet?" She asks quietly.

Hope sees Teddy glance at his sister, concern in his expression. "No," he says. "The wolves are still coming."

Indeed, behind them, wolves were filling in any open spaces. The stench is welcoming. The wolves talk to each other, but they are all here for the same reason: to mourn their Alphas.

Stella nods and moves away. The moment the witch goes to Lexi, Hope feels the warmth leave her body. Teddy steps closer to her.

"Are you feeling better?" Lexi asks her daughter quietly. "Calmer?"

"Yeah," Stella answers. "I told Teddy. Does Dad—?"

Lexi nods, letting her eyes move up. Derek is already staring at Stella, sadness in his eyes. "You should talk to him. Whether that's now or later is your decision."

Stella's throat bobs. She squeezes her mother's hand before she approaches her father. Derek's green eyes follow her every movement.

She stops in front of his view of the corpses. She raises her eyes for a second before looking elsewhere. "Hi, Daddy," she whispers.

With a sigh, Derek wraps his arms around her. She steps forward, snuggling into his embrace as her throat closes up. She feels the tears coming back, but she chokes them down.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He asks.

Stella feels his muscles tense around her. "I don't know," she admits. "I just...I didn't want pity."

Derek shakes his head, tightening his hug. "I wish I could have helped. You shouldn't have had to go through that alone."

"My choice, Dad," Stella replies, looking up at him. "We reap what we sow, right?"

Derek rolls his eyes, a hint of a smile gracing his lips. "You're too much like your mother. You're going to kill me one of these days."

Stella chuckles, pulling out of the hug. "I think Mom will."

Derek shrugs. "You're probably right."

Stella squeezes Derek's hand and leans her head on his shoulder. When she looks back at Hope and Teddy, both are staring at her with sorrow-filled expressions. She sends them a glare.

"Can I say something?" Hope says suddenly. Everyone straightens at her request. "I know how much everyone's lost over all these years trying to get our family back together. And I know that you think that there's nothing else we can do. But I believe there is. There has to be. We have to save each other. We have to save always and forever."

"Till forever ends," Teddy mutters under his breath.

Hope sucks in a breath and glances at him. "Always and forever, until forever ends. That's our mantra. Every person here has taught me most of what I know about magic, and, if you're up for it, I'd really like your help figuring out how to save it."