Filler Episode - Chapter 8

Peter closed his eyes and sniffed as he entered the apartment.

"Please tell me there are some bagels left," he groaned.

Melissa McCall sat at the table with two stacks of books before her. Scott and Isaac were across from her with similar, but smaller, piles. Stiles sat hunched at the laptop that held the digital archives. Derek wasn't in the room, but Peter could hear him moving in the kitchen.

"The doughnuts are gone," Melissa replied with a look to Isaac and Stiles. "But there are plenty of bagels."

"Thank you, Melissa," Peter gave a genuine smile. "I appreciate your help."

Melissa smiled back.

"Any luck?" Peter plucked a sesame seed bagel from the box.

"The Latin texts are interesting, but I haven't found anything on yeti or frost giants," Melissa stroked the spines of the four books stacked beside her.

"Digital records are coming up empty too," Stiles rubbed his eyes. "Did you find anything?"

"Frost giants are mercenaries for supernatural circles I thought were hearsay," Peter scanned the books on the table. "Yeti -I still can't believe I'm saying that- are old magic and hunt in packs."

"That's more than we found," Derek leaned against the wall. "We're going into this meeting blind."

"No," Peter said. "The yeti are being controlled by someone like hounds on a hunt. They are looking for whoever hired the frost giants. We're a step removed from the true conflict. I would be happy to let if play out to its natural end, but this snowstorm shows that they aren't concerned with those that get caught in their wake."

"I've got an idea," Scott said.

"Do tell," Peter smirked.

"We know the frost giants know about Isaac and me," Scott continued. "The two of us join you as backup, maybe make it look like one of us is trying to be sneaky, but not too hard to find. They possibly don't know about Derek. He hangs back and tracks them back to their boss."

"Not bad," Peter nodded. "There is still the yeti to consider."

"We can't help that," Scott replied. "Something called them away. We simply don't know enough to cover everything."

"We're going to need a bigger pack," Peter chuckled.

"You could turn the rest of the lacrosse team," Stile leaned back in his chair. "Except for Jackson, that guy is a dick."

"Stiles," Melissa shot him a look.

"Sorry."

"It was a joke," Peter shook his head.

"Me, Melissa, Allison," Stiles counted people off. "Danny fit in great the other day. Lydia too."

"Excuse me," Melissa cleared her throat. "You are not volunteering for me, or anyone else," she looked to gathered werewolves. "Not that it doesn't sound wonderful, but I like my eyebrows too much."

Dereks's jaw dropped. Scott and Stiles stared at Melissa in complete and utter shock. Peter smiled broadly and looked to Derek, who glared at the room.

"Yes," he deadpanned. "I get it. My eyebrows vanish when I turn. It isn't an ascetic choice."

Melissa smiled at him over her shoulder.

He gave her a teasing pout then disappeared back into the kitchen. Peter cleared his throat.

"Melissa," he took a breath to steady himself, but a ghost of the smile remained. "You know now?"

"Yes."

"I will do everything in my power to keep Scott, and the rest of my pack, safe," he held her gaze. "I'm not going to lie and say that he will be fine. There are people out there who want to hurt us. As you can see, there are things out there that are dangerous, but I will do my best to make him ready for whatever we face."

"Thank you, I appreciate that," she said with a nod. "I didn't want to do something so cliche as to threaten you with neutering if you hurt my son."

"Of course," he smiled. "One more thing."

"Yes?"

"I'm going to get rid of this," he motioned to his face.

"You can?"

"I have been holding back the process."

"Go ahead," she watched him.

"You might want to look away," he said.

She shook her head. He shrugged and willed the burns to heal. There was a tingle along his skin as the scars were replaced with fresh skin. Peter let out a long sigh. He wiggled his eyebrows and rolled his shoulder.

"That was amazing," Melissa whispered.

"It felt amazing," he smiled brightly.

-

Peter stood in the shadow of the burned foyer. Scott stood  on the small porch in his beta form while Isaac was partially hidden in a snowdrift. Derek was camouflaged in a tree across the clearing. The front door was held open by a drift of snow. A constant dusting had settled over the preserve. Their tracks had filled in before they had settled into position.

Scott checked his watch. They had a few more minutes before the frost giants were supposed to arrive. He had opted to keep his phone at home. Replacing it again would be a pain in the ass. His mom was a lot more understanding about werewolves than paying for yet another phone. Next time she said she would get him a flip model that didn't even have Snake.

Movement in the trees announced the approach of the frost giants. There were seven of them. They moved in slow, steady strides and scanned the area as they went. One of them noticed Isaac. His location was passed along through a series of clipped whispers.

The seven frost giants set up a tight perimeter around the clearing. A dark form emerged from the center of their group. Shaggy ash-gray fur covered the tall figure. A pair of twisting, ram-like horns rested atop a sharp face. Its eyes were a smoldering red and the exposed skin was a rich amber. A tail lazily twitched in the snow at its back. Its coal black cloven feet rested on the accumulation without leaving tracks. A single, thick leather strap sat across its chest and held a pack secure on its back.

Scott blinked. He took in the seven frost giants and the figure. Recognition tickled the back of his mind.

"Krampus?" He whispered.

The beast nodded, "hello Scott McCall."

He straightened.

"Peter Hale, Scott McCall," Krampus turned to where Isaac was hiding. "Isaac Lahey," he looked to the tree where Derek was perched. "Derek Hale. I am Krampus."

Peter moved to stand next to Scott, "Krampus. I was prepared for many things, but I was not expecting this."

"Yeti, frost giants, and Krampus," Scott blinked. "My life is so strange."

Krampus smiled.

"So," Scott looked at Peter. "Are we supposed to fight him?'

Krampus laughed. He opened his mouth to speak and stopped. Peter and Scott looked to the tree line. Hoof beats sounded through the night air. It was almost as familiar as deer, but much larger. One of the frost giants curled itself around Krampus. Six deer-like creatures burst from the tree line. Gold bands were spaced on their antlers. On their backs sat a leather saddle and each held an archer with an arrow ready to fire. Twelve yeti followed directly behind them.

Three of the frost giants fell in a hail of arrows. Two more went down blocking a volley aimed for Krampus.

"That's all I need to know," Peter stepped forward. He let out a roar that echoed through the night and transformed.

The pack burst into motion. Derek pounced on a yeti, rolled, and took another two down from behind. Isaac popped up from his spot. He let out a roar of his own as he stared down at one of the riders. Its mount jerked back in fear and sent the archer tumbling into the snow. The two betas met in the middle of the chaos. They worked their way toward their alpha.

Peter landed in the snow in front of Krampus. The frost giant that had shielded him had a good dozen arrows in its back. Scott rushed forward; he drop-kicked an approaching archer out of the saddle. Peter grabbed Krampus and pulled him from the limp arms of the frost giant. He pulled the horned figure toward the house. Krampus swung the pack to his front as they went. Isaac, Derek, and Scott formed a wall of claws and teeth as their alpha moved.

"Go," one of the remaining frost giants yelled. "Go."

The three betas retreated into the house. Peter had shifted back into his human form. Krampus held tightly onto his pack.

"Derek," Peter snapped. "Escape tunnel."

"Fireplace," Derek slammed the door shut.

Arrows thudded the exterior of the house. The remnants of the front windows were shattered in a second volley. Peter grabbed the slab of stone at the base of the fireplace. He lifted it from its resting place with a grunt.

"Move," he growled.

Derek grabbed Krampus. Peter watched his three betas drop into the hole. He hopped into the tunnel. The stone slammed back to place.

"Wait," Krampus turned to look at Peter. "I can go no further. They will track me. Please, I need your help."

"Talk and move," Peter commanded.

"No," the horned creature held the pack out to the alpha. "Keep this safe."

"What is it?"

"This is what they are after," Krampus said.

"You need to explain."

"The magic that sustains me is built on belief. Faith and belief make me and my kind powerful," he rested a hand on the pack. "There has been an influx of belief in myself as late. This has made others covet my power."

"Others?"

"The one you know of as Santa Claus," Krampus replied.

The silence stretched steadily grew.

"Our lives are so strange," Peter sighed.

"Santa Claus," Isaac asked

"Yes."

"Ho ho ho. Rosy cheeks?" He asked.

"Not exactly," Krampus said. "The being known as Sinterklaas is not as sanitized as the version you know. He was once powerful, and his magic was plentiful. Belief in him, in us, faded. For years I was a specter of my former self. Lately, my name has grown while his has maintained the same status. This increase of power has made me a tempting target. Our energies are linked, as with the elves and yeti outside."

"Those are elves?" Scott blinked.

"Yes."

"Let me guess," Derek deadpanned. "They were riding reindeer?"

"Yes," Krampus looked to Peter. "They are bound to him. He has siphoned their magic to bolster his own power. I am still bound to him. It is how he is able to track me. The only way to sever this bond is with this."

He patted the pack.

"Which is?"

"Hope," he handed the pack to Peter. "Please. The danger grows with every moment I stay."

Peter picked up the pack. He slipped the strap over his chest and gave a single nod. Krampus strode back the way they came. A thick wooden staff made of gnarled twist of stick appeared in his clawed hands.

"Take care," he called. "Kill me if you see me again. I'll be under his control."

~

The snow had completely covered the town. Plows were running constantly to keep the roads passable. Even then, it was just barely safe. The sky was covered in a thick blanket of clouds that made it hard to tell the time of day.

Peter set the pack in the middle of the living room. Derek, Isaac, and Scott had taken position at the doors. Melissa stood behind her son with Stiles beside her. The pack was an intricately woven tube roughly two feet in diameter and over three feet in height. Crimson straps lined the top, bottom, and sides along the seams.

"Is it heavy?" Scott asked as they all stared at the package.

"No," Peter shook his head.

"It doesn't have a smell," Derek wrinkled his nose. "The wood. Leather. Something should have a scent."

"Old magic," Peter whispered. "Stand ready."

The tension in the room grew. Peter reached out and plucked the top from the package. He looked up at the others. Gently he pulled a bundle from the wooden cylinder. There was the unmistakable shape of a baby swaddled in the intricately woven blanket that Peter held. He carefully unwrapped the child. A pair of tiny horns poked from the forehead of the delicate amber skin. The same shade of gray fur, only much shorter and curly covered the baby. Stiles let out a manly squeak.

"Look at the little hooves," he took an involuntary step closer.

"A baby," Derek spoke softly.

"He said it was his future," Peter cooed and began to rock the slumbering baby. "Scott, call Deaton. Ask him to come over. It's urgent."

"Deaton?" Scott asked.

"Yes," he whispered. "Alan Deaton. Your boss."

"Why?"

"Just do it," he said in a singsong voice.