Part 23

                                    

                                          
"I found it!" Deaton exclaimed holding white flowers in his hands.
Peter looked up at the man who had just burst into the room.
Finally, some hope for his situation. And not a moment to soon. Although, they discovered the spell had been a dud, it had still severely weakened him and he had been stuck on bed rest for a couple days now.
Deaton rushed into his room and began preparing the flowers as a medicine. A while later, he gave the concoction to Peter who eagerly drank it.
Because Ashley used her powers, the spell wasn't fully enacted and its effects over Peter were diminished. Though it sucked his lifeforce for a time, it ultimately couldn't take his life because Ashley came back on her own. However, if it continued to linger, it would still have detrimental effects over Peter.
With the help of the white wofsbane though, Peter was sure to make a full recovery.
xXx
News travelled fast in a small town.
Deaton had saved Peter. And now the Hale werewolf was leaving. Today.
Ashley had mixed feelings when she received the news. She was relieved that he wasn't dying anymore. But she also hasn't quite figured out her feelings towards him.
She paced about in the living room of Deaton's empty house.
Her past self had loved Derek. Her amnesic self had loved Peter. Now that she her two selves were merging, she was confused about who she actually loved.
She fiddled the pen in her hands as she pondered over her feelings for the two Hale wolves.
Derek had been her first love. Someone who had showed her what it meant to love. Someone whom she'd loved for a long a time.
Peter had been there for her when she needed it. He had always been there for her. 
True, he had a lot of faults. He was always over-compensating, probably a side effect of having grown up under an illustrious sister. He was ambitious, always pursuing more. Ashley figured it was because he was never content with what he had. He always felt something was lacking.
Ashley sighed as she slumped into the couch. She couldn't help but list down Peter's bad traits.
And that's when it clicked.
His bad traits.
She never saw that in Derek.
Ashley had always adored Derek. Seeing him as a boy who loved deeply. A person with the potential to be a great leader. With Derek, she had put him up on a pedestal.
With Peter, it was different. She knew more about Peter than she did Derek. He was more human to her, more personal. She had spent time with him, conversed with him. That's why she knew more about his vulnerabilities, his imperfections.
But she had also seen his better side. His human, tender, caring side. The one who would brave death for her. The one who fiercely protected and loved her. The one who continued to fight for her and searched for her.
The one she loved.
Yes, Peter Hale was imperfect. But she loved him for all his flaws and brokenness.
Ashley's heart quickened as she reached the conclusion.
She loved Peter Hale.