Derek's POV
Derek, Cora, Aiden, and Peter drove to Mexico, and after two days, they arrived at the Calavera Compound at night. They entered the Calavera's in-house nightclub, scanning the area for their target.
Derek approached one of the hunters and said. "Where is Araya? I want to talk to her."
The hunter looked him up and down and asked. "Who are you?"
Derek's eyes remained cold as he replied. "Tell her my surname is Hale."
The hunter glanced at Cora, Aiden, and Peter before finally nodding. "Wait here." He said before disappearing into the back.
A few minutes later, the hunter entered Araya's office and relayed the message.
Araya thought for a moment before smirking. "Bring them to the warehouse. We'll deal with them there. And tell everyone to be ready."
The hunter returned and gestured for Derek's group to follow. As they walked through the compound toward the warehouse, Peter muttered. "I don't like this, Derek. They might ambush us and kill us all. We should have just sneaked in."
Cora rolled her eyes. "Shut up, Peter. We told you to stay in the car if you were scared."
Peter scoffed. "I'm not scared. I'm just saying you guys should be smarter and more cautious."
Derek didn't even look at him. "We didn't come here for a fight, Peter. We're here to retrieve what belongs to us."
Peter sighed. "And what if they don't want to give it back?"
Derek shrugged. "Then we fight."
As they arrived at the warehouse and stepped inside, they found Araya waiting for them alongside her son, Severo, and twenty armed hunters.
Araya's gaze swept over them before locking onto Derek. "I don't know if you're brave or just stupid for coming here, wolf."
Derek didn't flinch. "Neither. I'm just here to take what belongs to my mother."
Araya smirked. "I don't have what you're looking for."
Derek raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure." Araya said, crossing her arms. "And since the four of you were foolish enough to walk into my house, I think I'll make sure you stay here. Permanently."
She raised her hand, and in an instant, every hunter aimed their guns at Derek's group.
Derek simply smirked as his eyes glowed red. "I asked nicely." He said. "Now, you only have yourself to blame."
Araya remained unfazed. "Do you think I'll be scared just because you're an Alpha? I was hunting werewolves before you were even born."
Cora chuckled. "What about two Alphas?"
Araya's eyes flickered toward Cora, just in time to see her eyes glow red as well.
Araya's smirk faltered, and she immediately signaled to her men. "Release the fog."
From above, gas started seeping into the warehouse through hidden vents.
Derek remained calm. "Peter, Aiden, hold your breath. That's wolfsbane fog, and find cover."
Aiden quickly covered his mouth and ducked behind a stack of wooden crates. Peter groaned. "Damn it, Derek! I told you this was an ambush." But he still covered his mouth and followed Aiden.
Derek glanced at Cora. "Let's make this quick. Don't kill anyone."
Cora rolled her eyes. "Fine."
The two of them lunged at the hunters.
Araya shouted. "Shoot them!"
But it was too late. Derek and Cora were too fast for the human hunters. With each punch and strike, they knocked them out with ease.
Derek finally grabbed Severo by the throat, lifting him off the ground as he glared at Araya. "Old woman." He growled. "Give me what I came for, or I'll take it myself, even if I have to kill every hunter here, including you and your son."
Araya's expression shifted to shock. "Why doesn't the wolfsbane fog affect you?"
Derek's grip tightened. "I'm an Alpha. This little bit of wolfsbane is nothing to me. Now, my patience is running thin. Give me what I want before I turn this place into a bloodbath."
Cora smirked. "Or we could just read your memories."
Seeing her son struggling in Derek's grasp and realizing they were serious, Araya sighed in defeat. "You win. Follow me."
Derek didn't release Severo as he turned to Cora. "See if Peter and Aiden can still walk. If not, drag them."
Cora walked over to them. They looked weak but were still able to stand. "Let's go." She told them.
Araya led them through the compound until they reached a storage room. She stepped inside, unlocked a trunk made of rowan wood and filled with mountain ash, and pulled out a triskelion box. She turned and handed it to Derek.
Derek passed it to Cora. "Check if they're our mother's claws."
Cora opened the box, carefully examining the claws. After a moment, she nodded and confirmed. "Yes. These are hers."
Derek nodded in satisfaction before turning to Araya. "I'm letting go of your son now, but think carefully before doing anything stupid. If you attack me, I will kill everyone here without mercy."
Peter scoffed. "Why not just kill them now and eliminate future trouble?"
Derek shook his head. "We got what we came for. We have no personal grievance with them, so I won't kill them unless it becomes necessary."
With that, Derek released Severo and gave Araya a final warning. "I know you're thinking about using the gun hidden behind you the moment I turn my back, but if you do, it will be the last thing you ever do. Trust me."
Then, without another word, Derek turned to his group and said. "Let's go."
They walked out of the warehouse, leaving behind a tense silence.
Severo clenched his fists as he watched them leave. "Are we really just going to let them walk away like that?"
Araya shot him a sharp glare. "Do you think I want to let them go?"
Severo lowered his head. "Sorry."
Araya sighed. "Until we acquire yellow wolfsbane, we shouldn't go after them. You saw how strong the Hale siblings are."
Severo frowned. "I'll buy some, but it's rare and difficult to find."
Araya nodded. "There's no rush. But once you find it, we'll go to Beacon Hills and deal with them, and pay the Argents a visit as well. I heard Victoria was bitten but didn't take her own life."
Severo said. "I also heard that after Gerard and Kate's deaths, Chris and his wife quit hunting and disbanded their hunters."
Araya's expression hardened. "It doesn't matter. Once a hunter, always a hunter. Even if Victoria has abandoned the hunt, she still has a duty to take her own life. If she can't, I'll do it for her."
---
After leaving the Calavera Compound, Derek and his group drove for two days before finally arriving back in Beacon Hills.
When they reached the ranch, they found the entire pack gathered in the pack house's living room, chatting and relaxing.
As soon as Cora walked in, Boyd pulled her into a hug and kissed her.
Derek growled at him.
Cora rolled her eyes. "Grow up, Derek."
Derek snorted but turned his attention to a man he didn't recognize. "Who are you?"
Rafael smirked. "I'm Scott's incompetent father. I'm also part of the pack now. Nice to meet you. You must be Derek."
Derek studied him for a moment before shaking his hand. "Nice to meet you too."
Rafael then turned to Peter and asked. "And you are?"
Before Peter could respond, Stiles jumped in. "That's Peter. He's not one of us. In fact, maybe you should arrest him."
Rafael raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
Stiles grinned. "Because he's a serial killer."
Peter rolled his eyes. "Hey, all the people I killed were murderers. I was just getting revenge."
Cora snorted. "And what about Laura?"
Peter said. "How many times do I have to tell you? That was an accident."
Cora scoffed and ignored him, instead walking over to Allison and the other girls, sitting beside them and joining their conversation.
Deaton looked at Derek. "Did you find what you were looking for?"
Derek held up the triskelion box and nodded. "Yes."
Chris smirked. "I bet Araya wasn't too thrilled about giving that up."
Peter scoffed. "No, she wasn't. And I'm sure that old hag will come after us."
Derek shrugged. "And what can she do, even if she does?"
Peter frowned. "Easy for you to say. You have a pack, and not only all your packmates are Alphas, but they're all monsters."
Lydia narrowed her eyes. "Watch your mouth, Peter. A monster like you has no right to call me a monster."
Malia crossed her arms. "I don't know why, but I really hate this guy. Let's just kill him."
Peter panicked. "Wait, wait! Sorry! I didn't mean to offend anyone."
Scott smirked and turned to Aiden. "So, did Derek forgive you yet?"
Aiden glanced at Derek. "I don't know."
Derek sighed and sat down. "He can join us."
Scott nodded. "Then I'll give you the Bite later."
Stiles leaned forward and looked at Derek. "By the way, why does Peter want your mother's claws so badly?"
Derek glanced at Peter, who sighed. "Because Talia took a memory from me. And I want to know what it is."
To be continued... 😊