Derek, Peter, Erica, Issac, Boyd, Chris and Allison were running through the woods toward the Argent house; Derek in front, Peter and Chris flanking his sides, and Allison, Erica, Issac and Boyd bringing up the rear.

Nobody tried to speak.

Chris could tell that Derek was just itching to use that werewolf speed of his to leave them all in the dust and the only reason he was keeping pace with the humans at all was the fact that he had no idea just what kind of situation they were running into. For all they knew Stiles had been killed the moment the moment the eldest Argent hung up the phone and, instead of rushing to the boy's aid, they were now running to their deaths. Chris snarled under his breath at the thought that someone from his own family, his own father would become a common murderer. That he would stoop so low as to kidnap and torture a human boy whose only crime was to be mated to a Hale.

Chris grit his teeth as he remembered the boy's cries of pain.

Derek had just finished explaining Gerard's sick plan to the hunter and his daughter. Chris was doing his best to keep his composure at the news while Allison, whom he had tied to a chair to prevent her escape, looked like she was about to be sick. Erica and Issac looked like they were about to wolf out any second while Peter and Boyd's eyes held a cold fire that threatened swift retribution on those who would dare harm their pack mate.

Seeing that look in the eldest Hale's eyes sent a shock of familiarity through Chris's spine. It had reminded the hunter of a time long ago, of when those eyes had looked on him with a love deeper than anything he had ever experienced before or since. Of when they looked at anyone who dared to hurt Chris with the same passion and anger. The hunter had to swallow thickly in order to quash the feelings that were trying to stir inside his belly.

"I don't understand." Allison's voice was soft and fearful. "Stiles has nothing to do with the wolves, why would Grandpa touch him?"

Derek leveled his eyes at her, "Stiles has everything to do with us!" he snarled. Chris instinctively went to step closer to his daughter only to be stopped by a hand around his throat and an arm around his waist. He sucked in a breath as his back was pulled tight against a painfully familiar chest. Derek stalked over to the bound girl making sure to hold her eyes with his own, "Stiles is more connected with the wolves than he will ever be with humans. He cares for us, loves us, is loyal to us, all without any obligation or ulterior motive. He means more to us, more to me, than you will ever know. He knows about us and it is for this reason alone that Gerard wants him."

Allison growled, "So it is your fault if he dies."

With a bellowing roar Derek lunged forward, his jaws snapping only a hairs breath away from her face.

Chris tried to jerk out of Peter's arms but the wolf only held him tighter. Teeth nibbled his neck. He tried not to shiver.

"I have done all that I can to keep Stiles safe," Derek snarled lowly, "I know he is my mate and yet I am forced to stay away from him in order to keep him safe." Allison blinked, momentarily stunned by Derek's confession. "I love Stiles more than life itself and yet I have to stand by and watch from afar." The Alpha added in a sad whisper.

"If you're his mate then why do you keep involving him in your world?" Allison asked accusatorially.

Derek snorted, "Have you met the boy? I can't stop him. I can only try to keep him safe."

"Well that certainly turned out well."

Derek's eyes bled red, "AND WHOSE FAULT IS THAT!?" he bellowed. Allison jerked back eyes wide with fear. Chris flinched. Peter bit his neck in warning. "If you and your family had left us alone and followed the code like you were supposed too then none of us would be in this mess."

A loud ringing suddenly pierced the air.

Without taking his eyes off the young huntress Derek's hand slipped into his pocket. Pulling out his cell phone Derek switched it on without looking at it.

The scream that came through the other end would haunt them all for years to come.

Hearing the teen scream like that had triggered something in all of them. Chris, Erica, and Boyd had recognized the sound of the cattle prod in an instant. Allison's face exuded abject horror. Peter whined softly. And Derek. Derek looked sick. Gerard had laughed at their silence. He had then gone on to offer them a chance at saving Stiles' life if they came to the clearing just behind the Argent house. Now all seven people, hunter and werewolf alike, were running through the preserve toward the Argent house with one goal in mind.

Get Stiles back.

At any cost.

The tree line suddenly stopped as they burst through the forest and into an open field. The wolves skidded to a stop. Five heads began looking around frantically.

"What is it?" Chris asked.

"Blood." Peter said softly.

"I suppose you're here looking for your toy."

Derek and the others wiped around. What they saw made them freeze. On the other side of the clearing stood a man over six feet tall, with flaming red hair and muscles that bulged out of practically every part of his body. This is not what made them freeze however. No, what made them look on in sheer horror was the fact that this man had his arm wrapped tightly around the neck of a battered, bound and naked Stiles. The boy looked like he had been through hell. There wasn't a single part of him that wasn't marked. Cuts, bruises, and burns, many of which looked fresh, decorated the once pale flesh turning it red. His hands were tied behind his back and his ankles were bound tightly together with thick, blood soaked rope. Tape sealed his lips and his eyes so badly swollen that he couldn't even open them.

"Humas." Peter snarled the man's name like it was a personal insult.

The man smiled sadistically, "I see at least one of you knows who I am." Humans' free hand began rubbing circles into the teen's hip, his fingers dangerously close to Stiles' private parts. "Then you know what I am capable of."

Allison gasped loudly behind the wolves. Chris cursed viciously. Peter and Issac immediately dropped down into a crouch behind Derek.

Humus laughed loudly, "Awwww, what's the matter little wolfies? Upset that I hurt your pretty little play thing?" Humus tightened the hand on Stiles' hip and rolled his pelvis. Stiles let out a muffled sob as he tried to pull away.

Derek let out a feral roar.

Humus laughed again, "If you want him so badly, all you have to do is ask." With no warning Humus shoved the boy toward the Alpha. Stiles stumbled over the ropes around his ankles and would have fallen flat on his face if a pair of familiar, warm arms didn't wrap tightly around him to prevent him from doing so.

Leather and trees filled the teen's nose. He whimpered through his gag. Derek immediately pulled the teen away from his tormentor. Using his nails he stripped Stiles of his bindings. He lay Stiles down on the ground.

"Stiles-

"Run," the boy rasped.

"What?"

Stiles turned his head into the Alpha's chest and looked up to where he thought Derek's face was, "Run."

That's when the forest exploded.

Peter had just enough time to knock Chris down and to cover the hunter with his own body before the arrows rained down. Pain tore through Peter's back as arrow after arrow pierced his skin.

"Peter!"

Said wolf pressed his body closer to Chris'. No way. No way in hell was he letting Argent or his men take another person from him. He grunted as another arrow lodged itself in his shoulder.

"Peter get off!" Chris slammed his elbow into the wolf's stomach in an attempt to roll the latter off of his back.

"No." Peter snapped as he pressed himself tighter.

"Peter you'll die!"

Before the wolf could respond there was a loud series of howls. Shouts came from the edge of the woods. The unmistakable sound of flesh ripping apart and bones breaking filled his ears. Knowing that they had to get out of there Peter rolled off the hunter. He knew the plan would have to exclude him the moment he tried to stand up. Pain tore through him like a liquid fire.

He couldn't keep the whimper in as he dropped back on the ground.

"Peter!" Chris rolled over immediately and crawled to the wolf's side. He didn't warn the other man before grabbing the arrows sticking out of his back and yanking them out. He tried to ignore the others roar of pain. He rolled the wolf onto his back, sparing a quick look around them before shielding the injured man with his own body. The battle seemed to have moved just past the edge of the clearing. Chris could still hear it. Pained howls melded with human screams as the age old rivals went at each other with a vengeance Chris had never before experienced. Derek had taken Stiles and run. Somewhere in the back of his mind Chris realized that he should be angry about this. But spending time with Erica and Boyd had opened up his eyes in more ways than one, and for the first time in his entire life he felt like he understood.

A soft groan interrupted his thoughts

Blue eyes immediately snapped back down to his lap. His heart thudded painfully in his chest.

"Peter." He called quietly to the wolf. Peter swallowed thickly. His eyes fluttered open only to cross slightly as he tried to focus on the hunter.

"Chris," he swallowed thickly as his voice cracked. A soft smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. One of his hands came up to rest softly on his former flames cheek, "I'm so glad you're alright." Peter coughed harshly. Black ooze seeped out of the corner of his mouth. Chris could only stare in horror as thick black veins crawled frighteningly fast up the wolf's neck.

The hunter was could feel hot tears pooling in the corners of his eyes, "Why? Why would you risk your life for mine? After everything I've done to you, after everything my family has taken away, why would you still try and save me?"

Peter slid his thumb over the stubbled jaw. "I would do anything for you my mate."

Chris felt his stomach drop. "Then don't die."

The wolf smiled sadly, "I'm glad I got to see you one more time. Tell Derek I'm sorry." Peter swallowed thickly. A single tear slid out of the corner of his eye.

Then they went blank.

"No. nononono, Peter no." Chris grasped the lapels of the wolf's shirt and cradled his head in his lap, "Come on Petey, please. You can't die. Not again. Not now." The hunter began to shake the younger man in an attempt to wake him up. Nothing happened.

Chris placed a soft kiss of the wolf's chilled lips, "I'm sorry. Please, please come back to me."

"Well, well, well, look what we have here." Chris stiffened. "The failure of a hunter and his little pet werewolf, together at long last. It really is too bad." Gerard's voice was taunting. He sighed dramatically, "I've told you before Christopher, never get involved with a wolf. They bring nothing but trouble."

"And what kind of trouble do they bring exactly?" Chris snarled as he raised his head to look at the eldest Argent.

"Why, just look at you," Gerard took a step closer to the pair only to have Chris pull Peter's body farther into himself, "protecting the enemy. Defending the one that killed your sister."

"Kate deserved what she got. She was a murderer."

"She was doing her job!" Gerard snarled, "A job that you were trained to do! A job at which you failed the moment you allowed that monstrosity into your pants!"

Chris' eyes narrowed dangerously, "I was train to follow a code. A code that says that a werewolf doing no harm is to be left alone. Tell me Gerard, what exactly did the Hale's do so wrong to deserve being burned alive in their own house?"

"They existed."

"And what about the human children?"

Gerard shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, "When fighting a war there are always casualties."

Chris felt sick.

From behind his back Gerard suddenly pulled a gun. "It really is a shame Christopher. If only you could have been more like Kate, or Victoria."

Chris growled, lowering himself over his mate's body, "I'd rather die first."

For the briefest moment a look of sadness flashed in the grizzled old hunter's eyes, but the very next second it was pushed away. "So be it."

Sorry this took so long. This seriously did not want to be written. I think I went through about five different ideas before settling on this one. I hope you all like it. Please give me feedback so I know how I'm doing. I promise the next chapter will be up faster.