![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/2021-sm-be-cover.jpg?resize=703%2C980&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Title<\/strong>: Becoming <\/p>\n \u201cFuck!\u201d Stiles cried out, falling back on the ground, churning pine needles and wet earth as he went, his eyes focused on the thing coming at him. He felt his headlamp tear from his head as he went down. It was too dark under the thick canopy of the preserve to make out what was attacking in the failing light of the evening, but it didn\u2019t look like anything he had ever seen before.<\/p>\n Teeth clamped down hard on his side. His screams echoed in the icy air floating on visible wisps of exhaled breath, tears coursing down cheeks hot with fear and anger. Black spots swam across his vision. He was going to die.<\/p>\n He didn\u2019t want to die.<\/p>\n No! He refused to die out here for his father, Tara, or the other deputies to find. He gathered his strength, trying to think past the searing pain and suffocating fear.<\/p>\n Stiles flung out the hand that had his stun baton looped on his wrist. Finding the button by sense memory alone, he slammed the baton down on the back of the creature\u2019s skull with a crackle of electricity.<\/p>\n The thing released him, ripping its mouth away. It howled as it pulled back. Stiles managed to crawl into a sitting position. He brandished the weapon with one hand, letting the charge buzz loudly in the quiet of the woods while he pressed the other hand to the wound on his side.<\/p>\n \u201cGo on, try that again,\u201d Stiles hissed, taking in gulps of air and getting slowly to his feet. He refused to stay on the ground if that thing came at him again. \u201cI\u2019ll thrust this so far down your throat your ass will spark.\u201d<\/p>\n The beast shook its head, making grunting growling sounds that turned the blood in Stiles\u2019 veins to ice. Spittle flew as the beast lunged.<\/p>\n Stiles slammed the baton down on its shoulder, giving it another full charge. It whined, turned, and ran in the opposite direction.<\/p>\n \u201cShit, fuck,\u201d Stiles breathed harshly through his teeth, leaning back on the tree he\u2019d fallen onto when the beast had lunged. He kept his eyes out on the woods around him. He started to walk cautiously back towards the road home, his weapon at the ready.<\/p>\n While that last hit had been pure luck and bravado, he silently thanked the self-defense classes that Tara, one of his father\u2019s deputies, had suggested he take years ago when he\u2019d begun to spend so much time at the station. She\u2019d signed on as his sometimes guardian when his dad\u2019s duties took him away. Tara had also been the one to encourage the Sheriff to allow Stiles the baton last year. It was a well-known fact that Stiles liked to run the preserve trails when he could, and, as safe as the area was, the occasional animal attack was a concern. Tara carefully didn\u2019t mention the target Stiles made as the Sheriff\u2019s only son and the department\u2019s darling.<\/p>\n Stiles took a minute to try and locate his headlamp. When it proved elusive, he dug his phone out of his jacket pocket, sucking in his breath as the movement jostled the wound on his right side. Luckily, the fight hadn\u2019t broken his phone or cracked the screen and Stiles was able to flick it into flashlight mode to make his way out of the preserve. Stiles reached the road with no sign of the attacking monster. He paused, lifting his shirts to look at his sluggishly bleeding side. He pressed at the skin around the wound and winced, sucking in air through his teeth. It hurt like hell.. The continued bleeding wasn\u2019t a great sign, but it didn\u2019t seem worthy of a hospital visit from what he could see in the dingy street lights. Or the bill that would follow.<\/p>\n Stiles clambered into his Jeep and cursed the fact that it was a manual. He locked the doors and set the baton on the passenger seat to rummage under the seat, holding his breath against a scream when doing so causing him to put pressure on his wounded right side. He dug out his first aid kit and then cleaned the wound as well as he could under the dim car light before slapping some gauze and tape on it. He\u2019d give it a better look once he was home, but it would do for now. Tossing the kit back, he started up his Jeep and began the painful drive home, doing his level best not to tense up his stomach muscles. Stiles knew he was driving much slower than usual and hoped he didn\u2019t attract the patrol deputies\u2019 attention. He was just glad that it was late enough that the roads were mostly clear, even if he wished he hadn\u2019t put his daily run off so late today.<\/p>\n Pulling into his spot in the driveway, Stiles parked and turned off the Jeep. He laid his head against the window and closed his eyes, listening to the engine tick as it cooled down, just letting the pain wash over him. Finally, sucking in a deep breath, he looped his baton back around his wrist. The door popped open with a creak as he eased his way out of the vehicle. The more time went by and the more adrenaline wore off, the more painful it became to move. Stiles knew he needed to get inside, get the wound cleaned, and adequately bandage it before he could finally crash into his bed.<\/p>\n He shuffled from his Jeep, across the yard, and up the front porch. White puffs of breath filled the air in front of him as he unlocked the door, jiggling the key and knob as it stuck like usual. He got inside as quickly as he dared and shut the door behind him with a soft click. Stiles toed his shoes off and left them on the mud mat under the coat hooks, where he hung his baton. Then, he began navigating his way through the darkened house.<\/p>\n He knew his dad was in town working a double tonight. Jonah, one of the deputies, had just had a new baby and was out on paternity leave. Noah Stilinski had worked a lot of doubles over the last six years since his mother, Claudia, had died. The Sheriff was either working doubles or he was out of town on county business. If he had to guess, Stiles would say his dad made it home about once every couple of weeks these days.<\/p>\n Stiles made his way up the dimly lit stairs, passing the faded squares on the wall where pictures used to hang.<\/p>\n Stiles figured his dad had stopped seeing this house as home when they\u2019d realized his mom wasn\u2019t returning from the hospital. He knew that his dad loved him. Noah Stilinski just had a hard time looking at a son who took after his mother in looks and mannerisms and being at a home that he\u2019d built with the woman he\u2019d loved. Stiles was used to his dad being out of the house and relatively absent from his life.<\/p>\n He reached the top of the stairs and went into the bathroom. Flipping the light on, he spent a minute cursing it as his eyes adjusted before he extracted himself from his jacket and shirts. Carefully peeling away the makeshift bandage he\u2019d applied earlier, he gagged a little at the pain and the blood. He straightened from where he\u2019d leaned on the bathroom sink to catch his breath and shut the bathroom door, turning to the full-length mirror on the back of it to get his first look at the injury throbbing on his side.<\/p>\n A gash that could loosely be called a bite mark, jagged and bloody, was visible on his side near his hip. It didn\u2019t look deep, just painful and ugly. There was bruising showing up around the edges of it already. It was still bleeding sluggishly down his hip and into the waist of his jeans. Stiles picked up his shirt but breathed a sigh of relief when he realized the beast had bitten him under his shirts and jacket and not through them. At least he wouldn\u2019t have to worry about threads or fabric in the wounds along with dirt and whatever potential diseases that thing carried.<\/p>\n After throwing away the bandaging from the car, he rummaged around under the sink for the peroxide, some antibiotic cream with some numbing agent in it, and the tape and gauze. Stiles set the supplies on the lid of the toilet and turned on the shower. He finished undressing and stepped under the spray to rinse off the mud that had caked-on through his clothes from his wrestling match with the monster. He figured his sweats were a dead loss, shredded and muddy. Quite possibly his jacket as well. He hadn\u2019t taken a good look at his shoes after he\u2019d taken them off downstairs, but he thought they\u2019d held up well enough.<\/p>\n Sighing, Stiles braced his forearm against the side of the shower and leaned his head on it, letting the water run down his side and over the bite. Grinding his teeth together against the pain, he took up a cloth with his free hand and, keeping his eyes closed, began to clean around the wound as gently as possible.<\/p>\n He stood under the spray after he finished washing for a few minutes longer, still leaning against the wall and just letting the pain fade to an acceptable level before he turned the shower off and grabbed a couple of towels. He wrapped one around his waist, careful of the wound, and used another to give his hair a ruffle. Stiles patted the bite mark dry using a small hand towel.<\/p>\n The bleeding had mostly stopped, cleaned up, and didn\u2019t look as bad as it had at first glance. It was still a jagged and ugly thing; painful, too. Stiles wasted little time pouring peroxide over it, catching the excess with the towel and dabbing away any runoff. Then, he rubbed in the antibiotic ointment before sticking a large square of gauze on it. He taped that down securely. He cleaned up the bathroom and took the trash to throw away in his room. There was no reason to leave it for his dad to possibly find and get upset about if he came home while Stiles was asleep. He didn\u2019t expect his dad home that night, but there was no reason to tempt fate.<\/p>\n Stiles threw his clothing in the hamper; he\u2019d sort out what was salvageable later. Then, with the last of his energy, Stiles pulled on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt before turning off his light and curling up under the covers. He was careful to stay off his injured side.<\/p>\n He was starting to feel feverish, and a headache was blooming behind his eyes. He hoped that the monster hadn\u2019t given him rabies. He\u2019d researched that shit once upon a time, and he was not interested in the required needles for the treatment. Today had been the first day of winter break, so at least he didn\u2019t need to worry about being up for school in the morning. Hopefully, this was just the adrenaline crash and he\u2019d feel better after a good night\u2019s sleep.<\/p>\n Stiles dreamt of fire.<\/p>\n The heat seared his bones through to the marrow.<\/p>\n Smoke billowed around him, crowding the air out of his lungs. Children screamed, choked, and fell into gasping silence. There were others nearby shouting, begging, and praying.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease, please.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet us out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hot.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t breathe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMama, mama, please.\u201d<\/p>\n Bolting awake, Stiles sat up in his bed, a hand on his chest that was wheezing with each breath he took, and his legs tangled in the sheets. Staring straight ahead, he reoriented, grounding himself in the familiarity of the room and attempting to shake off the lingering effects of the dream. They were the most realistic dreams he\u2019d had since his mom and Scott had died.<\/p>\n He listened to see if he\u2019d made enough noise to disturb his dad if he was home, but didn\u2019t hear anything at first.<\/p>\n It was like a physical blow, knocking him back against the wall at the head of his bed. He whimpered, attacked with everything<\/em>, every sound. The creak of the floorboards echoed. He recognized his neighbors\u2019 voices from three houses down, but he heard the audio for a porno instead of early morning greetings. Birds chirped shrilly, drilling into his head. Stiles heard movement that he realized was his dad fixing coffee in the kitchen while squirrels chittered over something at the same level.<\/p>\n Clapping his hands over his ears, he whimpered again, sliding down the wall and curling into the bed. It stopped as suddenly as it had begun. Cautiously, Stiles lifted his hands from his ears and then sighed in relief. He thought he\u2019d gone deaf for a brief moment before realizing that he\u2019d just stopped hearing the entire world.<\/p>\n He uncurled, sitting up, moving with caution, not wanting to trigger another attack. He breathed in and gagged, \u201cWhat is that smell?\u201d A cursory search had him staring at his hamper with confusion and sniffing the air as scents seemed to speak to him in a language he almost knew. He wasn\u2019t altogether sure he wanted to know the language when it came at him like this, though.<\/p>\n \u201cFucking christ.\u201d He stumbled back as a veritable wall of sounds attacked him again. \u201cThis is some fresh bullshit,\u201d Stiles muttered, huddled on his bed with his head pressed beneath his pillow until it passed. Hoping it would pass.<\/p>\n There was a knock at his door and Stiles just moaned from his nest of blankets. His dad opened the door and poked his head in, eyebrows raising when he saw Stiles huddled up in the middle of his bed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou ok, kid?\u201d he asked, stepping into the room. His uniform was already on, freshly pressed, lines crisp.<\/p>\n His dad smelled like fresh coffee, soap, and stale whiskey. There was comfort and sorrow in that scent that Stiles wanted to simultaneously hold close and push away. He winced as his sinuses burned, closing his eyes and breathing through his mouth briefly.<\/p>\n \u201cThink I caught a cold or something,\u201d Stiles said. \u201dI think I\u2019m just going to stay in bed for a bit longer, maybe watch something. Take it easy today, ya know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProbably a good idea.\u201d Noah paused. \u201cYou going to be okay on your own?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019ll be fine. Nothing a little rest won\u2019t fix,\u201d Stiles assured him, and, even though the answer was obvious, he couldn\u2019t stop himself from asking, \u201cI thought that you were off today?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was until Marty fell off his ladder while putting up Christmas lights. He\u2019s in some kind of decoration war with a neighbor.\u201d His dad laughed, shaking his head and rolling his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cJeeze,\u201d Stiles winced. \u201cHe\u2019ll be okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, just strained his shoulder and back. He\u2019s out until after Christmas and then probably on desk duty while it heals.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPoor guy,\u201d Stiles commiserated. \u201cCould be worse, though.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d His dad leaned over and ruffled Stiles\u2019 hair. \u201cYou\u2019re starting to grow your hair out, huh? I didn\u2019t know that you\u2019d changed your mind about that, kid.\u201d<\/p>\n Stiles ignored the sharp, familiar bite beneath his ribcage. He\u2019d stopped buzzing his hair in August. \u201cI\u2019m letting it grow out some. See how it looks after all this time,\u201d he said, grinning and hoping it wasn\u2019t as brittle as it felt. \u201cTry something new for the new year.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlright, just try not to let it get out of hand, though.\u201d The sheriff stood back up, nodding to him, the scent of bitter citrus mixing in with the coffee\/soap\/whiskey. \u201cBe good. I\u2019ll see you tomorrow. It\u2019ll be another double today, so I\u2019ll catch some sleep in the bunk at the station. If you need anything, Tara should be available for you. She\u2019s not on shift tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Dad.\u201d Stiles watched his dad turn away and felt his smile fading, the sharp edge of pain already dulling again. \u201cLove you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLove you too, kiddo,\u201d he said, shutting behind him as he left.<\/p>\n Stiles fell back a little on his bed, as emotionally drained as always after interactions with his dad, which left him feeling guilty, as usual. The strange language of scents had been there again and almost entirely focused on his dad this time. He didn\u2019t know what to think about that, but it was something to add to the growing list of strangeness for the morning.<\/p>\n He stared at his ceiling for a few minutes before the previous night came slamming back into his awareness. He untangled himself from his blankets as fast as possible, getting a hand to his side. The side that didn\u2019t throb in pain.<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t hurt,\u201d he whispered, looking down. Stiles made his way into the bathroom, trying to ignore the spikes in his hearing and smell. A few moments against the wall in the hall while he listened to the Barrys having a morning fight over dirty dishes, and then he was in the bathroom.<\/p>\n Shutting the door, he sat on the toilet lid and carefully pulled off the bandage. He didn\u2019t see the gash on his side at all. Standing, he moved to the mirror on the door to get a better look.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s gone.\u201d His words echoed back at him. He softened his voice to a whisper. \u201cWhat the actual fuck.\u201d<\/p>\n Fear shivered through him. Was this how his mom had felt when she\u2019d started to forget things?<\/p>\n \u201cNo. No!\u201d He shook his head. \u201cI saw that thing, and there was<\/em> a wound here.\u201d He hustled himself out of the bathroom and back down the hall to his room. He rummaged in his hamper, finding his muddy clothes. Pulling his shirt free, he saw the blood on it. \u201cOk, ok,\u201d Stiles muttered, taking a moment to breathe and fight through another bout of cycling senses before he moved on.<\/p>\n Stiles went to his trashcan next, upending it and finding the discarded bandages from the night before. They were as bloody and disgusting as he\u2019d expected. \u201cOkay, so that was real. How does a wound disappear overnight?\u201d Stiles wondered aloud, as he always did when he was trying to think. \u201cI wasn\u2019t exposed to any gamma radiation or other comic book device that I\u2019m aware of.\u201d<\/p>\n His hearing chose that moment to spike again. His knees buckled and he sat on his bed, bouncing briefly. Closing his eyes, he rubbed his fingers over his temples. He tried to focus on how to get back to a baseline so that he could start researching what was happening to him. There was more going on here than disappearing wounds and overly sensitive senses. Focus wasn\u2019t one of his strengths on the best of days, but he tried to pull<\/em> his hearing back in from the activity in the houses around him. He attempted to focus his hearing on his room, approaching it similarly to his panic attacks, concentrating on the hum of the laptop, the shuffling of his feet against the carpet, the scrape of fingers scratching against the fabric of his sweats.<\/p>\n Opening his eyes, he glanced up, catching sight of the blown glass ornament on the bookshelf glittering sharply in the sunlight. He flinched when his hearing snapped back to normal. His vision then began to kaleidoscope, to telescope. Stiles would snap to a zoomed-in view of each grain of wood on the bookshelf, each prism of light from the ornaments dangling from the shelf, and then back to his normal vision so fast that he felt almost blind.<\/p>\n He cycled through his senses this way a few more times, with his sense of smell acting up, as well, until it seemed to level out the more he tried to focus on maintaining a balance between all his senses together. It wasn\u2019t an easy task, and as soon as he got distracted, he\u2019d find his hearing or vision trying to make out what was happening six blocks away.<\/p>\n He didn\u2019t for a minute think that this was the end of it, but he needed to find out what was going on. He made a quick trip to the kitchen to make an egg and bacon sandwich and grab some coffee before retreating up to his room and booting his laptop up. By the time he\u2019d finished eating his breakfast, and his mug was long since empty, he\u2019d run out of printer paper twice.<\/p>\n \u201cLycanthropy,\u201d Stiles said to himself, glancing between the papers and the screen in disbelief. \u201cMotherfucking werewolves\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He wanted to scoff, say this was some poorly done prank. He reviewed his memories of the night before again and, with what was going on today -the healing bite, the super senses \u2013 well, he just couldn\u2019t dismiss it.<\/p>\n He\u2019d ended up down a rabbit hole on the internet and finally found one bulletin board that looked like it might be somewhat legit for a certain value of that term. He double- and triple-checked the code he\u2019d set, then made an account and added a very carefully worded post. He\u2019d see what came of it. He hoped the lessons he\u2019d bribed out of Danny, the hacker kid in school that one of the deputies had picked up a couple of years ago, would keep him hidden from anyone that came snooping.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I\u2019m a werewolf,\u201d Stiles said out loud, trying the phrase out and ignoring the disbelief in his tone. \u201cI\u2019d always hoped I would be a wizard.\u201d He flopped back onto his bed and stared at his ceiling.<\/p>\n Did this mean he was going to turn into a beast on the full moon and attack everyone? His research hadn\u2019t been detailed on that front. Some of it was pretty firm in the slavering beast category, some of it was a complete fantasy, and he now knew more about people\u2019s werewolf fantasy porn than he ever wanted to. Another school of thought pointed to werewolves as basically normal humans with just a little extra something. Stiles was going to go with the rule of thumb he\u2019d learned over the years when he\u2019d had his research binges. The truth was usually someplace in the middle and hidden in the weeds.<\/p>\n Super hearing, check. Super vision, check. Super nose, unfortunately, check. Super strength, need to test. Super healing?<\/p>\n He looked down at his side, where it was perfectly smooth under his t-shirt. \u201cShit,\u201d he said with feeling, closing his eyes against the reality of what was happening. \u201cFuck,\u201d he muttered, gnawing at his lip. He hoped he could pull this off. He figured if he didn\u2019t end up mauling someone next month, he\u2019d have to find a way to tell someone, his dad or Tara. He couldn\u2019t imagine keeping this a secret for very long with Tara, and this was not a conversation he wanted to have in any universe with anyone. Hopefully, he could come up with some proof so he didn\u2019t end up occupying a bed in the psych ward.<\/p>\n He realized he was hungry again, so he took his dishes into the kitchen, washing and setting them in the drainer. He made up a pot of noodles, baked some meatballs, then dumped all that in the pot with some sauce. He fucking deserved it after the night he\u2019d gone through and turning into a werewolf. Grabbing a fork, he took his pot to the living room to eat while he watched something on one of their streaming services and tried to forget the horror show that was taking over his life.<\/p>\n Hours later, unable to resist the need to know more, Stiles was back at his computer doing some more research, checking to see if somebody had answered the message he\u2019d put up.<\/p>\n He\u2019d already tested strength on the old weights in the basement. That had been another item checked off. It hadn\u2019t been the best idea to do on a full stomach, but it hadn\u2019t taken much to realize he was going to have to keep an eye on the fluctuations of his strength for now. He\u2019d figure out how to explain the hole in their wall down there to his dad later. Luckily neither of them went down there very often. He gave thanks to whatever was listening that he was on winter break. He had no idea how he\u2019d manage any of this if he had school to worry about too.<\/p>\n There were a few dickish responses to his post, but nothing substantial, so he ignored it for now and shut his laptop down. He ran his hands down his face feeling much older than his seventeen years.<\/p>\n He always did this time of year, between the anniversaries of the two deaths that defined what he considered the end of his childhood. His mother\u2019s death in November after a lingering illness had been hard enough for an eleven-year-old. To have his best friend end up sick and having their asthma complicate it in such a way that they passed away on Christmas morning. Well, that made this time of year agony for both him and his dad.<\/p>\n He probably wouldn\u2019t see his dad much until mid-January, just as he hadn\u2019t seen him much since the anniversary of his mom\u2019s death last month. He couldn\u2019t blame the man overmuch.<\/p>\n He\u2019d let go of a lot of his anger he\u2019d in that first year towards his dad. He just felt a lot of pity for him. He loved his dad and recognized that he hadn\u2019t dealt well with the loss of his wife, single parenthood, and a son with a double dose of grief within such a short amount of time.<\/p>\n \u201cSleep,\u201d he reprimanded himself. He needed to rest now and stop his thoughts from ping-ponging around his brain. He hated this time of year. He spent a long time forcing himself not to get wallow inside his head. This time of year was difficult, though. Usually, he\u2019d find something to distract himself. It was supposed to be deciding whether or not he would take the tests in January for early graduation at the end of the month.<\/p>\n Werewolves were not something he\u2019d expected, but he couldn\u2019t deny that this would certainly be distracting. He fell to sleep, thinking that he\u2019d rather be planning his argument about early graduation with his dad than dealing with being attacked and changed into some kind of beast.<\/p>\n Stiles woke to the front door slamming. He flinched awake from more dreams of fire, pain, and death. He didn\u2019t know what those dreams were about, but they disturbed him deeply. They swirled like smoke around his dreams, mixing in with replays of the attack.<\/p>\n He rolled over and slapped his hand at his bedside table until he came to his phone groaning when he read the display. It was only eight in the morning. He\u2019d hoped to sleep in much later today. That way, he could ignore his problems that much longer.<\/p>\n At least he was getting better at this hearing control thing. The door shutting had been loud. He doubted that his dad had slammed it shut. He could hear his dad moving around downstairs too clearly for it to be normal, but he wasn\u2019t tuning into the daily show put on by the neighborhood. His sight was more manageable, so long as he didn\u2019t focus too hard on something in the distance, it stayed pretty level.<\/p>\n He pushed himself the rest of the way out of bed. He was awake, and he might as well get up. He needed a good run, maybe that would clear his mind some. He threw on some running clothes, making a mental note to grab his running bag out of the Jeep at some point soon.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Dad,\u201d he called as he passed the kitchen where his dad was once again in uniform. He didn\u2019t look like he was settling in to stay either. \u201cYou headed back out?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust stopped in to grab some files I left in the safe here. I\u2019ll be working all day again. You be careful running around today.\u201d His dad gave him a look over the mug of coffee he was drinking in large gulping swallows.<\/p>\n \u201cWill do, Dad,\u201d Stiles said, grabbing a banana and a bottle of water before heading to the door. \u201cLove you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLove you too, son,\u201d his dad replied.<\/p>\n Bitter orange hung heavy over coffee and whiskey when Stiles slipped by him, and he made a note to see if he could figure out what those scents meant if they meant anything beyond the fact that his dad drank too much of both coffee and whiskey these days.<\/p>\n Stiles grabbed his lighter jacket and his keys, looping his baton on his wrist, before heading out to the Jeep. He thought he\u2019d run at the school today. He wasn\u2019t feeling entirely comfortable going back into the preserve just yet.<\/p>\n Getting to the high school, he parked quickly and headed towards the track. He was always surprised by how spooky the area felt when school wasn\u2019t in session. Shaking the feeling off, he began to stretch and warm-up for his run, ignoring the others around him.<\/p>\n A few other kids were running already. Stiles figured they were like him and die-hard runners, or else they were training for the lacrosse tryouts that were due to take place after winter break.<\/p>\n He started to run, falling quickly into a runner\u2019s headspace. Letting his mind blank and then slowly fill with what he needed to work out. He let everything roll around in his mind, looking at the different pieces of the puzzle and trying to figure out how they fit, or if they did fit at all.<\/p>\n He\u2019d gone running in the preserve two nights ago after skipping the night of the lunar eclipse. It\u2019d been dark, and he\u2019d almost been to the Jeep when he\u2019d been attacked on the running path by a giant monstrous-looking beast. He\u2019d been attacked, bitten, and despite how crazy it sounded, he\u2019d been changed.<\/p>\n \u2018Werewolf,\u2019<\/em> Stiles thought as he settled into the rhythm of feet hitting the ground. That thing hadn\u2019t looked like Lon Cheney at all. The thing had looked like some mutant experiment, not any kind of wolf he\u2019d ever seen. He mentally squinted, feeling the trickle of fear tickle his spine when he remembered the muzzle, drooling with the razor fangs, the hooked claws, and the matted fur that smelled like death and rot. He guessed he could call it a wolf, but only because he didn\u2019t know what else to call it.<\/p>\n He let the thoughts cycle through, not dwelling too long on any of them right then. He finished his run and started his cool-down walk, stretching his arms, legs, and neck before heading back to his Jeep.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, when he got to the parking lot, he saw the Jackson Whitmore had just parked.<\/p>\n \u201cGreat,\u201d he muttered. The two of them couldn\u2019t seem to breathe the same air without getting into a fight. Not since long before Scott had died, and it had only gotten worse over the years.<\/p>\n Stiles might have also bribed and blackmailed Danny, Jackson\u2019s best friend, into helping him improve his, not entirely legal, computer skills over the last few years. Jackson had discovered this not too long ago and was determined to make Stiles pay even more for making Danny upset.<\/p>\n \u201cStilinski,\u201d Jackson sneered, \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, Jackass,\u201d Stiles said without pausing on his way to the Jeep, \u201cHaving a party, what does it look like? I was running Einstein.\u201d He got to his Jeep and opened the door only to have Jackson slam it shut out of his hand.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t get to come running on my track without permission,\u201d Jackson snarled at him.<\/p>\n Stiles felt anger course through him in a red hot wave, rumbling like an earthquake in his head. Getting ready to turn around and tear into Jackson, he turned to the side and caught his reflection in the side mirror of his Jeep. His eyes were glowing gold and he was starting to acquire extra hair on his face.<\/p>\n \u201cBack off,\u201d Stiles gritted out around a mouth of fangs, closing his eyes and leaning his forehead against the cool metal of his Jeep door. He pulled in a few deep breaths, trying to will the changes away.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy should I, loser?\u201d Jackson grabbed Stiles by the shoulder and forced him around. \u201cI\u2019m not afraid of you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe you should be,\u201d Stiles snapped and shoved Jackson away from him. Jackson practically flew across the two parking spaces between the Jeep and his car. \u201cLeave me alone, Jackass, or you\u2019ll regret it.\u201d He pulled the door of his Jeep open quickly, starting it up and peeling out before Jackson could recover from his shock.<\/p>\n Stiles slowed down once he was out of the parking lot, drawing in deep breaths and glancing in the mirror. The glowing eyes, fangs, and sideburns were gone, but the alien anger was still there, rumbling under the surface. He drove around town for a while until he felt calm enough to head home.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, son,\u201d his dad was getting into his car when Stiles pulled up.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, dad, thought you were working?\u201d Stiles asked, turning off the Jeep and hopping out to head over to his dad.<\/p>\n \u201cI am. I spilled lunch on my uniform and needed to grab the spare here. The one I keep at the station is at the cleaners,\u201d Noah said with a smile. \u201cI thought you were going to be running today?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I just got back,\u201d Stiles replied with a shrug. \u201cI used the track at school. I wasn\u2019t feeling the preserve today.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you do what you can.\u201d It was apparent that his dad\u2019s attention wasn\u2019t on the conversation with Stiles anymore but on what was coming through the radio in his car.<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Dad,\u201d Stiles said after a minute. \u201cEat something semi-healthy for lunch, would you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, love ya, kid.\u201d He shut the car door and started to back out of the drive.<\/p>\n \u201cLove you too, dad.\u201d Stiles let out a breath and wondered if he\u2019d ever felt so entirely alone as he did right then.<\/p>\n He headed into the house to clean up and get something to eat. Then he put in a few more hours of research on his now glowing eyes and those ridiculous sideburns.<\/p>\n There were a few answers to his queries on the bulletin board. Some were just bullshit. Even as ignorant as he was, Stiles could pick those out pretty well.<\/p>\n To: [MM@gmail.com]<\/p>\n From: [Art@gmail.com]<\/p>\n Your question is an interesting one. Werewolf mythology is pretty interesting when you know where to look. There are many theories out there about why the werewolf myth stays so strongly in our collective memory. When it comes to the comparisons or what werewolf packs might be like versus actual wolf packs, well, I always favored the Alpha, Beta, Omega theory.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re interested in learning more from an old librarian interested in myths, send me a PM on the board here.<\/p>\n Art<\/p>\n \u2018Well,\u2019<\/em> thought Stiles, \u2018Isn\u2019t<\/em> that interesting?\u2019<\/em> He shot a private message off to Art as soon as he found the mechanism, this time with a few more questions. He kept himself as hidden as possible, just in case. Still, he crossed his fingers that he\u2019d get answers to his questions and not stranger danger invitations. Stiles was a cynical kid who was fast growing into a cynical adult. He\u2019d be eighteen in April, and if he took his school counselor\u2019s advice, he\u2019d be graduating at the end of next month.<\/p>\n \u201cIn case I need to go live in a cabin in the woods and live off Bambi and Thumper.\u201d He sighed and leaned back in his desk chair, flailing when it tilted a little too far. He reached out and grabbed his desk to pull himself back up, only to pull the desk over on top of him.<\/p>\n Stiles lay on the floor stunned, back aching from the desk chair that had managed to flip him out just as the desk crashed down. He bit his lip as he noticed he\u2019d landed wrong on his arm and had broken it. Wincing, holding back the tears of pain that were threatening, he managed to get out from under his desk. He moved his arm gently, cradling it to his chest, and went to get his phone to call for help when another sharp pain shot through his arm, bringing him to his knees. Pain blurred his eyes and he heard the bone crunch at the same time he felt it. Everything went black.<\/p>\n Stiles came to, staring at his ceiling, feeling tired and shaky. He lifted the arm that had been broken and noticed that it was perfectly fine. \u201cHuh,\u201d he managed through a dry throat. \u201cSo, super healing, but it doesn\u2019t do much about the pain.\u201d He moved his arm a few more times, still feeling the phantom pain. He wasn\u2019t sure if that was a good thing, but at least he wouldn\u2019t have to explain a broken arm to his dad today.<\/p>\n He got to his feet, staggering some, and straightened his desk back up. Checking to make sure that his laptop had survived the crash, he saw that it was okay with some relief. He set it down and went to get more to eat and drink. He theorized that healing must take a lot more energy than average if it left him feeling so shaky.<\/p>\n He made himself a bowl of cereal for dinner and sat staring at the refrigerator as he ate, trying not to think about anything for a little while. Magically healing arms, horrid nightmares, he\u2019d about reached his limit for the day.<\/p>\n He grabbed his laptop after he changed into a worn t-shirt and shorts, he put on a movie and just got lost for a while.<\/p>\n Stiles dreamt of fire again. It burned all around him.<\/p>\n Children screamed, whimpered, and cried.<\/p>\n Adults shouted, begged, and cursed.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease, please.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet us out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hot.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t breathe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMama.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlpha, please.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCome, little wolf.\u201d The voice slid into the dream as if it belonged there, in Stiles\u2019 head. \u201cCome out and play.\u201d<\/p>\n A discordant note struck. The voice was compelling, but it was wrong. It didn\u2019t belong here. Stiles yearned toward it all the same.<\/p>\n \u201cI am your Alpha.\u201d It pulled at him stronger now. \u201cYou will come to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Stiles had always been a contrary shit, though. He pulled back harder than he\u2019d leaned forward and a rope snapped.<\/p>\n Stiles woke face down in the middle of the preserve; his shirt was gone. Luckily, he was still wearing the sweats he\u2019d gone to bed in. Picking himself off the ground with a grunt, he could feel the leaves and mud crusted to both his bare feet and chest. He didn\u2019t know how he got here. He remembered watching a movie the night before, the hazy dreams of fire, and he had a hazy memory of a very creepy voice.<\/p>\n \u201cRight, so apparently I tried to follow creepy,.\u201d Stiles looked around, brushing absently at his chest. He vaguely recognized this part of the preserve from his runs. Getting his bearings, he started in the direction most likely to lead him home. He\u2019d have to pass by the burned-out ruin that used to be the Hale house. The place had given him the shivers the last few years whenever his runs had taken him nearby. He\u2019d made a point to avoid it on all but the brightest and sunniest days.<\/p>\n He trudged through the woods, trying to ignore how beaten up his feet were feeling and hoping that his dad hadn\u2019t noticed him disappearing.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t just walk out my front door like this,\u201d he muttered, rubbing his hands over his head, knocking a few more leaves and some caked dirt out of his hair. \u201cI really hope I didn\u2019t leap out my window.\u201d<\/p>\n As he got closer to the Hale house, he felt himself begin to tense up, even more than usual. He smelled something with his new super sniffer but couldn\u2019t place it.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is private property.\u201d Looming out of the trees was tall, dark, and handsome. The man also looked angry enough to tear Stiles in two.<\/p>\n Stiles narrowed his eyes, mind screeching to a halt when the guy took an obvious sniff in the air.<\/p>\n \u201cYou!\u201d He stomped towards the other man, stopping only when something in his brain clicked into place. \u201cI recognize you, Derek Hale, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, why?\u201d Derek\u2019s eyebrows went up and then back down as he glared.<\/p>\n Stiles was fascinated. He\u2019d never seen eyebrows so expressive before. He shook his head to get himself back on track. \u201cWho the fuck do you think you are? You attacked me in the middle of the preserve, bit me, and changed me into a werewolf. What the fuck, man?\u201d Stiles had the brief thought that he should be wary of Derek, but he was too pissed to be scared at the moment<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t attack you.\u201d Angry eyebrows were now angry, confused eyebrows. \u201cOr bite you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, someone sure did, and now I have glowy eyes and fugue states that have me half-dressed in the middle of the woods.\u201d Stiles had paced forward, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at Derek.<\/p>\n \u201cSomething bit you?\u201d Derek leaned forward, taking an even more obvious sniff of Stiles. He reached out to touch Stiles on the shoulder. He managed to look shocked, confused, and angry all at once when Stiles slapped his hand away.<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Stiles huffed. \u201cWhat, you think normal people end up half-dressed in the middle of the preserve days before Christmas?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t bite you.\u201d Derek flashed his eyes at him.<\/p>\n Stiles wasn\u2019t sure what that was supposed to mean. They were a beautiful blue, but he had the feeling that Derek was trying to show him something else. \u201cWell, how do I know that?\u201d Stiles asked, poking a finger at Derek\u2019s chest. \u201cYou\u2019re a werewolf, I got bit, and now I\u2019m a werewolf. You see where I\u2019m going with this, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t touch me.\u201d Derek\u2019s glare went up a notch, and Stiles pulled his hand back. \u201cOnly an Alpha can change someone. They have red eyes.\u201d He flashed his blues again and said. \u201cI\u2019m a beta.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAgain, how would I know that?\u201d Stiles shouted, turning around in a circle and waving his hands around. \u201cAll I know is I was attacked by some huge slavering beast a couple of nights ago, and now I\u2019m all this.\u201d He gave jazz hands as he indicated himself. \u201cI\u2019ve had two days to research, but the internet is not as forthcoming on actual lycanthropy as you might think, man.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek sighed long and hard. \u201cCome with me, and I\u2019ll tell you what I know. I suppose you want to put some clothes on too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, I do.\u201d Stiles stopped, unsure what he was going to say, and Derek was already walking away. \u201cHey, wait up. Any chance you have a spare pair of shoes, slippers, flip flops?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you ever shut up?\u201d Derek didn\u2019t turn around but did seem to be leading Stiles over the less rough parts of the path.<\/p>\n Stiles shrugged, even though Derek wasn\u2019t looking at him. \u201cI don\u2019t talk that much. You must live a solitary life. I\u2019ve made sure to avoid the station since all this happened, though, too afraid I\u2019ll let something slip about turning into Lon Chaney Junior Junior.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek whirled on him. \u201cYou haven\u2019t told anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat was definitely not a question,\u201d Stiles snarked back. \u201cBut, no, I haven\u2019t told anyone. If I don\u2019t end up mauling someone in the next month or so, I\u2019m going to have to tell my dad or someone, though.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek\u2019s eyebrows were doing something too complicated for Stiles to interpret on such a short acquaintance.\u201cIt isn\u2019t safe. You can\u2019t tell anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDude,\u201d Stiles started to say, feeling his own eyebrows beginning to lift.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t call me, dude,\u201d Derek bit out, looking like he wanted to bite Stiles.<\/p>\n \u201cDude<\/em>,\u201d Stiles said again just to be obnoxious. \u201cI\u2019m going to tell my dad at some point, or he\u2019s going to find it odd that I\u2019m howling at the moon every month. If not him, then one of the others is going to have to cover for me, at least until I can get a hold on this and get my own place.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t have to howl at the moon every month.\u201d Derek rolled his eyes skyward as if asking for strength. \u201cIf you learn to control it, then it shouldn\u2019t be a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Stiles sat down on the steps of the Hale house once they came to it. \u201cWho is going to teach me? You?\u201d He laughed and then choked at the look Derek gave him. \u201cHey, I\u2019m still not sure you didn\u2019t bite me in the woods the other night. What are you even doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n Derek looked to be fighting with himself. Words were obviously not his strength, \u201cMy sister came to town to look into some things, she hasn\u2019t been answering her phone, and I can\u2019t feel her anymore. I came to find out what happened. If you\u2019ve been bit, then someone killed her and took the Hale Alpha spark.\u201d He opened the front door of the ruin that had once been his home.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay.\u201d Stiles spread his hands out in a stop motion, \u201cThere is a whole lot to unpack there. Give me a minute.\u201d Stiles grabbed the t-shirt and socks that were thrown his way, dropping them almost immediately. Picking them up, he managed to drag the shirt on and sat down again to put on the socks.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Derek\u2019s eyebrows were doing that complicated thing again. Stiles was starting to figure that it meant that Derek was confused and didn\u2019t like it.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, so your sister came back to Beacon Hills to look into some \u2018things\u2019<\/em>.\u201d Stiles put air quotes around \u2018things\u2019 and stared at Derek. When Derek just stared back, Stiles sighed. \u201cI am going to assume by \u2018things\u2019 you mean wolfy things.\u201d He manfully ignored Derek\u2019s growl at that.<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n God, it was like pulling teeth with this dude. \u201cOkay, and she stopped answering her phone or checking in, so you came out here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh-huh, and the part about not feeling her anymore?\u201d Stiles felt his eyebrows raise again as he looked at Derek.<\/p>\n Derek looked like he wanted to start moving around but was refusing to give in to it. \u201cPacks have bonds. Laura was my alpha, and when the bond snapped, I felt it and knew she\u2019d died. When I didn\u2019t become an alpha, it was only logical to assume another wolf killed her and stole the spark to become an alpha.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay.\u201d Stiles smiled encouragingly at Derek. That was a lot of words, and Stiles believed in positive reinforcement. \u201cGood, information like that is what I need to figure this out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFigure what out.\u201d Derek was growling now. \u201cYou need to stay out of this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, how about no?\u201d Stiles looked at Derek with his best \u2018you have to be shitting me\u2019 look. \u201cI\u2019ve been bitten by the wolf you say killed your sister, and I\u2019m going to assume you mean to,\u201d Stiles made a gesture across his throat with a finger, \u201cthis other wolf. Well, I\u2019m a little unhappy with the guy \u2013 the girl? I don\u2019t want to be sexist here. Anyway, I would like to have words with this alpha myself before you go all grr.<\/em>\u201d Stiles held his hands up like claws and scrunched up his face in an imitation of an animal snarl.<\/p>\n \u201cGo all grr.\u201d Derek looked like he had no idea how he\u2019d ended up in this conversation, which was fair. Most people didn\u2019t know how they ended up in their discussions with Stiles. \u201cI\u2019m not taking you for a fight against your alpha.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re not my alpha!\u201d Stiles growled, chest rumbling as he came off the porch in a move sudden enough to have Derek take a step back before he braced himself. \u201cThat beast bit me without consent. Is that what werewolves do, just go around biting innocent people and screwing up their lives? Then laying claim to them like they\u2019re property?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d Derek\u2019s face went, if possible, even more blank. \u201cThe bite \u2013 it\u2019s supposed to be a gift. It isn\u2019t supposed to happen like this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, it wasn\u2019t a gift for me,\u201d Stiles spat. He felt the bones in his face begin to stretch, hair starting to shift and grow down the sides. At the look on Derek\u2019s face, he figured his eyes were glowing again. \u201cI didn\u2019t ask to be attacked and scared out of my mind in the woods. To be bitten and changed. To have to hide what I am from the world for my whole life now? Or, what, I\u2019ll end up on some lab table?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou could,\u201d Derek nodded. \u201cOr there are hunters that could come and kill you if they think you don\u2019t have enough control or whatever bullshit reason they come up with.\u201d He looked at the house behind Stiles.<\/p>\n Stiles stumbled back in horror, his mind tumbling as more puzzle pieces clicked into place. He looked between Derek and the house. \u201cHunters did this? They burned your home down and your family? They were all werewolves?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe were mostly born wolves. Some of us were human. We were just a family.\u201d Derek shook his head and looked back down at Stiles. \u201cYou can\u2019t tell anyone. You can\u2019t trust them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I should just trust you then,\u201d Stiles said, then sighed. He didn\u2019t think Derek was any real threat right now. \u201cFine, I won\u2019t tell anyone, for now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood,\u201d Derek said, glaring again. It seemed to be his default expression. \u201cYou should go home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t finish talking about this alpha thing.\u201d Stiles flapped his hands as he spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can talk later,\u201d Derek said, his head tilted to the side. \u201cSomeone is coming, and I don\u2019t need to answer questions about you being here, especially without your clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFine.\u201d Now that Derek mentioned it, Stiles could hear a car making its way down the rough track that passed as a road towards the house. \u201cStiles Stilinski, sheriff\u2019s kid. You should be able to find my house easily enough. Just try not to be obvious about it. You kind of look like a thug right now,\u201d Stiles said as he got ready to head off into the woods toward the road that would take him past his house\u2019s backyard. It was a long way home, but there was less chance anyone would see him that way. \u201cI\u2019ll come up with a reason why we know each other later before any of the people that care have a chance to get too nosy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGo,\u201d Derek hissed at him, waving him away like he was trying to swat a troublesome fly.<\/p>\n \u201cFine,\u201d Stiles stuck his tongue out at the back of the guy\u2019s head and started to run home.<\/p>\n His dad wasn\u2019t there when he let himself in the backdoor, so Stiles figured his dad either hadn\u2019t noticed him missing or assumed he\u2019d gone for a run once he woke up. It would explain the backdoor not being locked. Kicking it shut with his foot Stiles noticed a note and his keys on the kitchen table.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t forget your keys next time, kid or your baton. We got it for a reason, stay out of the woods until we can talk. I mean it, Stiles.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHuh,\u201d Stiles muttered, picking up the note., \u201cGuess that means that something has happened in the woods.\u201d He wondered if it had anything to do with his nighttime excursion and if he\u2019d hurt anyone, but he hadn\u2019t noticed anything that would lead him to believe he\u2019d done more than roll around in the leaves and dirt.<\/p>\n He poured himself some cereal, eating it standing up. He wondered where his phone was, absently figuring he should text his dad and let him know that he\u2019d made it home okay. Rinsing the bowl and spoon, he dumped them on the draining rack, his mind on his conversation with Derek in the woods.<\/p>\n He headed up the stairs to shower off the woods and get dressed. Luckily, his feet weren\u2019t too bad off and were already healing. He\u2019d had a moment of panic when he thought that something might get healed inside the cuts and scrapes, but that didn\u2019t seem to be the case at the moment. Wrapping a towel around his waist, he headed into his room after emptying the water tank of all their hot water. He grabbed at a pair of underwear and was dropping his towel as he turned around.<\/p>\n \u201cDerek!\u201d His voice pitched higher than he\u2019d ever admit to as he clutched at his towel in front of himself. \u201cWhat the fuck, man?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t finish talking.\u201d Derek had the gall to look confused like Stiles was the one being rude.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, okay.\u201d Stiles took a breath. \u201cWe are going to discuss your lack of social skills later. For now, turn around.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy.\u201d Derek crossed his arms in a creak of leather. His frown turned suspicious.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause, you neanderthal, I\u2019m naked, and outside of a locker room, I like to maintain some mystery. Just turn around.\u201d Stiles stared at Derek until he huffed a sigh and turned his back to Stiles.<\/p>\n Stiles managed to get a pair of underwear and sweats on before drawing a deep breath. \u201cYou can turn back now,\u201d he took a t-shirt from another drawer and pulled it on.<\/p>\n \u201cYour modesty preserved?\u201d Derek asked dryly.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you have a sense of humor under all that leather,\u201d Stiles said, ignoring the actual comment. \u201cGood to know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou wanted to know about the Alpha,\u201d Derek said, keeping his arms crossed and glaring impressively.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, why do you seem so sure I\u2019m going to join him and be his puppy?\u201d Stiles demanded, still feeling affronted at the thought.<\/p>\n Derek sat down on the end of Stiles\u2019 bed. He planted his feet on the floor and his hands on his knees. He huffed a breath as if looking for a place to start talking.<\/p>\n Stiles felt his eyes drawn to the thighs that were so tightly encased in those jeans. He had no idea how Derek could breathe without the seams straining. Those thighs were a work of art, and he wanted to ask Derek to stand up and turn around, just to see if the ass was equal to the thighs. He thought it might be. He\u2019d been a little distracted in the woods, but he remembered the glimpses he\u2019d managed, and this man was one of nature\u2019s wonders.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know I can smell you, right?\u201d Derek asked, looking at him with an unamused expression on his face.<\/p>\n \u201cI know that I can smell better, but deciphering it hasn\u2019t been a top priority. I mean, the super strength, super hearing, and other things took more precedence in the grand scheme of things.\u201d Stiles shrugged, not sure what Derek was getting at.<\/p>\n \u201cI can smell your chemosignals and pheromones,\u201d Derek said, rather more dryly than Stiles thought necessary.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, that\u2019s interesting,\u201d Stiles said, leaning forward and ignoring the laughter in Derek\u2019s tone. He tried to pull the majority of his attention off Derek\u2019s magnificent thighs and back to the topic of werewolves. \u201cYou\u2019ll teach me how to tell the differences, right? There are so many tests we can run.\u201d Stiles felt his mind start to whir away with ideas. \u201cOh, I forgot to take my meds today.\u201dHe laughed. \u201cNo wonder I\u2019m so scattered up here.\u201d He waved a hand around his head.<\/p>\n \u201cMeds?\u201d Derek was using a question mark again. Stiles hadn\u2019t even known him a day, but he felt that was progress.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I have ADHD. So, I have trouble focusing.\u201d He paused, fishing the bottle out of his bedside drawer. Explaining his ADHD in as simple terms as possible, he continued. \u201cAlso, a little trouble with impulse control, but between the meds,\u201d he shook the bottle, \u201cand the exercise regimen recommended by the last doctor who wasn\u2019t an asshole, I\u2019m doing pretty good.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know if those meds will work for wolves,\u201d Derek said slowly. \u201cYou\u2019re going through a lot of changes now, but most of them won\u2019t settle completely until your next full moon. Your first moon as a wolf is important in a lot of ways. That\u2019s one of them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo, is there a way to reverse this?\u201d Stiles asked, ignoring Derek\u2019s words and dry swallowing his pill.<\/p>\n \u201cNot that I\u2019m aware of,\u201d Derek said with a shake of his head.<\/p>\n Stiles appreciated that he didn\u2019t try to lie to him, as far as he could tell. \u201cYou make it sound like I\u2019m going to be tied to this alpha for all time or something,\u201d Stiles said, plopping onto the kitchen chair he\u2019d commandeered after the fiasco last night. \u201cI didn\u2019t sign up to be a werewolf, but you say there is nothing I can do to change that.\u201d He waited for Derek\u2019s nod. \u201cWell, I\u2019m not going to be someone\u2019s puppy puppet just because they attacked me in the woods.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou won\u2019t have a choice. I told you about the bonds,\u201d Derek insisted, his hands curling into fists. \u201cHe\u2019ll call you, and you\u2019ll go. It\u2019s why you were in the woods last night.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHmm,\u201d Stiles said and thought over a few things. He didn\u2019t wholly trust Derek, so he would keep some things to himself, for now, the substance of his dreams being one. They felt too important to share or to dismiss. \u201cWhat about these hunters you were talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey burnt down my home, trapping my family inside and killing them,\u201d Derek snarled.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone?\u201d Stiles asked, although he had vague memories of the Hale fire, \u201cThe children?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no mercy with hunters\u201d Derek deflated. \u201cThere never is, just death, betrayal, and more death.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey sound like a regular party crowd.\u201d Stiles sighed. \u201cI need to know how to resist the alpha. Stop telling me I can\u2019t and start giving me ideas on how I might do it.\u201d Stiles growled at Derek. He knew his eyes were glowing again, so he shut them and took a couple of deep breaths. \u201cLook, I\u2019m exhausted. I\u2019ve been so tired lately it\u2019s ridiculous.\u201d He added as an afterthought.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s part of the change,\u201d Derek said. \u201cWe didn\u2019t have many bitten wolves in our pack, but I was old enough to remember the last one before the fire. The first month was a lot of sleeping, eating, and training.\u201d<\/p>\n Stiles leaned forward, his elbows on his knees and chin in hand. He had no reason to trust Derek, but what he kept coming back to was that he had no choice right now. He had to trust someone. Derek seemed to know what was happening, even if his social skills seemed to be lacking in some areas.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere were you for the last six years?\u201d Stiles asked suddenly, eyes wide. Maybe they\u2019d been living in a cave hidden in the woods. That would explain so many things.<\/p>\n \u201cNew York,\u201d Derek\u2019s eyebrows scrunched as he replied, \u201cDo you ever stay on one topic?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cADHD, dude,\u201d Stiles sat back and shrugged. \u201cI\u2019ll hyper-focus on something, usually not at all relevant to what I\u2019m supposed to be doing, or I\u2019m all over the place. The meds help, but they aren\u2019t a magic cure. And New York, really?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, why.\u201d Derek tilted his head slightly, his brow furrowing as he frowned at Stiles.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, not that I\u2019m one to talk, but you don\u2019t seem like you\u2019ve spent a lot of time around people, is all.\u201d Stiles tried to put it delicately when Derek just stared at him, he sighed. \u201cDude, your social skills are pretty bad.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy do I need to use them with you,\u201d Derek said dryly.<\/p>\n Stiles stared at him until he saw the slightest tick at the corner of Derek\u2019s mouth, \u201cHa, wolf\u2019s got jokes. You\u2019re hilarious.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll look around today and find somewhere we can train,\u201d Derek said, standing. \u201cThat is if you still want my help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, dude. I\u2019ve gone about as far as I can on the training without more information.\u201d Stiles said, standing, getting ready to head to the door and walk Derek out when he crouched up on the windowsill. \u201cWhat.\u201d Great, he was losing question marks now.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll get in touch when I have a place,\u201d Derek looked him over, \u201cKeep doing what you are and try to keep from mauling anyone if you get angry.\u201d He leaped out the window and was already to the preserve by the time Stiles got to the window.<\/p>\n \u201cHa ha ha, that was a joke, right?\u201d Stiles called after him, \u201cDon\u2019t maul someone, yeah buddy, right at the top of my list there already.\u201d<\/p>\n So, it looked like, at least for now, he was going to throw his lot in with Derek Hale. That meant Stiles was going to need to do a whole new type of research. He needed to know everything he could find on the Hales and the Hale fire. He also needed to understand what happened to Laura Hale, and then he\u2019d get back to his bulletin board buddy to see if he could corroborate Derek\u2019s \u2018only alphas can turn someone\u2019 speech.<\/p>\n That is if Art wasn\u2019t a false lead on the information. Stiles rubbed his hands over his head a few times and sat down heavily on his bed. Suddenly everything felt like too much. He\u2019d been turned into a werewolf by something that attacked him during a run in the woods. Yeah, maybe he shouldn\u2019t have been running so late in the evening, but it wasn\u2019t his fault.<\/p>\n Now he was a werewolf, and some hunters probably wanted to kill him and a super-hot werewolf that would be training him. This could all only end in disaster.<\/p>\n \u201cOh my god.\u201d Stiles had a sudden epiphany. \u201cHe could smell me.\u201d He looked down at his cock. \u201cWell, he could definitely smell you.\u201d He flopped back on the bed, throwing his arm over his face. This was going to be so awkward, but that was the theme of his life most of the time.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, enough navel-gazing.\u201d He slapped his hands together and sat up. First things first, he would get something to eat, then he was going to call his dad and find out what was going on with the woods. He glanced at the clock in the kitchen as he poured a bowl of cereal and saw that it was only eight, which explained why his dad thought he\u2019d gone running. He usually went before dawn when he had trouble sleeping. He\u2019d had the headlamp for those times. His dad hadn\u2019t mentioned it, so he hadn\u2019t noticed its absence yet. He rinsed his bowl and pulled out his cell from the pocket of his sweats. Hitting the speed dial for his dad, he waited while he listened to it ring.<\/p>\n \u201cStiles, I\u2019m a little busy right now.\u201d His dad\u2019s voice was crisp. He was obviously in full-on sheriff mode.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I know. I got your note, and I wanted to let you know I made it home,\u201d Stiles said. \u201cAlso, I was worried about your warning.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust some animal attacks, we\u2019re looking into it.\u201d His dad sighed, and Stiles heard him shut a door, closing out some of the background noise. \u201cI\u2019d appreciate it if you\u2019d stay out of the preserve until we know what\u2019s going on out there. Go running around the neighborhood or the track at school, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, dad, sure.\u201d Stiles nodded even though his dad couldn\u2019t see him. \u201cDo you know when you\u2019ll be home?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot until late,\u201d he sighed, and Stiles could almost see him running a hand over his face like he did when he was tired. \u201cI\u2019m going to be covering for a few of the other deputies so they can be home with their families for the holiday. I need to deal with what\u2019s going on here, and then I need to travel over to Springwater for work.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMake sure you remember to eat,\u201d Stiles said. \u201cMore than coffee and pastries, Dad.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hear ya, kiddo,\u201d he said. \u201d \u201cI\u2019ll check in with you if I\u2019m going to be any later than tonight. You let me know if you head out, okay? Just text me. I might not be able to take the call.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Dad.\u201d Stiles forced himself not to grip his phone too tight. \u201cLove you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLove you, too, kiddo. Look, I gotta go.\u201d The Sheriff was back in his voice and Stiles heard someone murmuring in the background.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. Bye, Dad.\u201d Stiles hung up the call and just stood in the kitchen for a moment, wondering when he\u2019d become so alone. He knew his dad loved him, but they were like two planets orbiting each other, and it had been like that for so long he could only vaguely recall what it had been like before.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, if he isn\u2019t here, I can do what I need to,\u201d Stiles said to the empty room. Time to look at the silver lining here.<\/p>\n He headed across the house to the office, finding it unlocked as he\u2019d expected. Opening the door, he made his way over to the computer and booted it up. He logged in and found that his dad wasn\u2019t in any files, which was good. Stiles had set up an account for this, though, and he had his own log in once he got into the system. No sense in being so careful getting into the files only to have his dad realize that the Sheriff\u2019s username was logged for files he had never seen.<\/p>\n The Hale fire files were first, which Stiles figured would be with the unsolved case files. He wasn\u2019t clear on the actual events surrounding the fire. Between losing his mom and then Scott in such a short amount of time, he hadn\u2019t been paying much attention to anything outside his own home. The Hale fire had been one of the few things big enough to penetrate his little bubble of grief, especially since his dad had been part of that, though he\u2019d only been a deputy then.<\/p>\n Stiles remembered being at the station, waiting for his dad, when Derek and Laura Hale had come in. Both had had that dazed look of shock that Stiles had still been seeing on his dad\u2019s face at the time. Derek was practically curled into himself and Laura was barely holding herself together.<\/p>\n He\u2019d only been eleven, but he\u2019d recognized the pain so intimately that he\u2019d had to leave the room. He\u2019d made it into Tara\u2019s office and gotten the door shut before he\u2019d descended into a panic attack. When she\u2019d come in and held him, he\u2019d just sobbed on her shoulder. It had been one of the rare times he\u2019d allowed himself to let go with his grief around another person. Tara had taken him home and stayed with him while his dad worked through the night. It hadn\u2019t been long after that when Tara had become his secondary guardian while his dad was out of contact or unavailable.<\/p>\n Actual details of the fire, though, that was a mystery. Stiles printed the file out quickly; he didn\u2019t want to risk being in the system any longer than he needed to be. After that, he pulled up the database and put in the names of the Hale fire survivors.<\/p>\n Derek Hale DOB November 7, 1989<\/p>\n Laura Hale DOB August 15, 1986<\/p>\n Peter Hale DOB October 27, 1976<\/p>\n \u201cJesus Christ,\u201d Stiles swore. They were all so young. He knew that Laura was probably dead if he took Derek at his word, and he knew where Derek was, for the most part. That left Peter. Derek hadn\u2019t said anything about him and Stiles didn\u2019t know of him from around town. He wondered if he\u2019d moved away. A few clicks of the mouse cleared up that mystery. Peter Hale was a resident of the long-term care ward of Beacon Hills Memorial. Stiles printed out what he had on the Hale\u2019s records and then backed out of the system as carefully as he\u2019d managed to get into it.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Danny,\u201d Stiles breathed as he shut everything down after wiping the history as well as he could, doing the same to the printer as he got his copies. The lessons he\u2019d bribed out of him had left Danny very unhappy with Stiles, but it was paying off in spades now.<\/p>\n He left the office and headed up to his room to study the files. He\u2019d use his laptop and see if he could get into Peter\u2019s medical records later. It had just given his current known address, so he\u2019d have to do some digging to find out why a werewolf was in the long-term care ward. Maybe the magical healing had a limit. It was something to look into.<\/p>\n He was curious to see why the Hale fire had been marked as accidental, though. Derek had seemed sure that it was arson, and with the number of the dead, the department should have conducted a more thorough investigation than the case files were showing. Derek might be biased against hunters, though. Stiles couldn\u2019t say, not for sure, as he didn\u2019t know enough about this new world yet.<\/p>\n He wasn\u2019t naive enough to think that even regular humans wouldn\u2019t try to hunt down the werewolves if they knew about them. Werewolves were different and people tended to hate what was different. They had trouble enough with prejudices among their own species; why wouldn\u2019t they hunt down what would easily be seen as a separate species, a threat to their own?<\/p>\n On the other hand, he didn\u2019t think that werewolves would turn out to be the paragons of virtue and all that is good. The Alpha attacking him and Derek\u2019s belief that this Alpha killed Laura for her power were evidence of that. None of it spoke to a peaceful and retiring species.<\/p>\n \u2018So, accidental, hmm.\u2019<\/em> Stiles sat on his repurposed kitchen chair facing his laptop and read the reports in his hands.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is bullshit,\u201d Stiles muttered when he came up for air nearly two hours later. Stiles could trust nothing in the Hale file besides the basic facts, and even those were suspect. Between reading the reports, researching terminology, and looking into how actual arson investigators worked scenes, he\u2019d decided that it was either the worst case of incompetence he\u2019d ever seen, or there had been some hefty bribes and blackmail at play back then. He\u2019d need to get his hands on the full arson report, rather than the summary that he\u2019d printed with the file, but from what he could see, there was either some half-assed work going on or some people out there were very dirty.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to vote for dirty,\u201d he muttered, shuffling the papers and sticking them in the back of his filing drawer to keep them from being found. He grabbed his laptop and dumped it on his bed when his stomach growled again.<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d He glanced down at his stomach and then looked at his phone to see that the time was 11:30. \u201cHuh, I guess I should eat.\u201d He laughed when his stomach growled again as if in agreement. Thudding down the stairs, he turned into the kitchen, mind on food and research. The calendar hanging next to the microwave caught his eye when he turned to the cupboard for a bowl, and he froze.<\/p>\n December 25th.<\/p>\n Fuck! Christmas.<\/p>\n His dad had mentioned the holiday, but he\u2019d completely ignored it. They hadn\u2019t celebrated Christmas in over six years. Today was the sixth anniversary of Scott\u2019s death, and he\u2019d forgotten the date.<\/p>\n Choking on air, he steadied himself on the back of one of the chairs, squeezing his eyes shut. He managed to stave off the panic attack this time. Opening his eyes, he saw that his hands were normal, but he\u2019d left some interesting grooves in the chair back.<\/p>\n Swiping his keys off the table, he grabbed a jacket at the door and shoved his feet into a pair of ratty sneakers. He shoved a pack of pop tarts into his jacket pocket, opening another with his teeth, and climbed into the Jeep. He backed out of the drive and finished his pastry, stopping only when necessary. He came to Beacon Hills Cemetery, pulled in the parking area by muscle memory alone. Hopping out of the Jeep, he shut the door and traded the pop tarts in his pocket for his keys.<\/p>\n Heading into the cemetery, he followed one of the paths he\u2019d memorized six years ago.<\/p>\n \u201cHey Scott.\u201d He lowered himself to the ground. Tearing open the packet, he shoved the wrapper into another pocket. \u201cIt\u2019s been a while.\u201d He studied Scott\u2019s grave and absently pulled up a few weeds with his free hand.<\/p>\n \u201cThings are weird,\u201d he said, chewing methodically. He thought about what he\u2019d tell him if he was still alive. \u201cI\u2019m a werewolf now, for one. Yeah, didn\u2019t see that one coming, I bet.\u201d He laughed, remembering all the games of make-believe he\u2019d played with Scott. \u201cI don\u2019t know what to do about it, but I bet you think it\u2019s cool. I\u2019m learning to control it, and if Derek Hale isn\u2019t some evil villain in disguise, then he\u2019ll be helping me figure it all out. The Hales were all werewolves, or most of them anyway. I\u2019ll have to ask Derek more about werewolf genetics later.\u201d<\/p>\n He laid back on the grass next to the headstone and thought about the last few days. \u201cDerek is also hot as hell.\u201d He started to laugh. \u201cHot as Hale, I\u2019ll have to remember that one. So even if he is evil, I\u2019ll have some nice eye candy when he kills me.\u201d He rolled his eyes at himself, even as he chuckled.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, that\u2019s all that drama,\u201d he said, lifting a hand from behind his head and waving it to encompass everything. \u201cI don\u2019t know what to do about dad, but we\u2019ve talked about that before. I know my dad loves me, but I don\u2019t think he knows what to do with his life outside of his job anymore. He hasn\u2019t for a long time, and, buddy, I\u2019m getting tired. When mom died, he crawled into the bottle for a while, and when that didn\u2019t fix anything, he crawled into work. He never did crawl back out of work, and he\u2019ll still share the evening with the bottle more than he should. He\u2019s not violent or anything when he drinks, you know that, but sometimes I don\u2019t know whether he means what he says then or not. I don\u2019t know what he\u2019ll do if or when I go away to college next year. I do know I can\u2019t stay with him, Scott, not like this. Not when he hardly notices when I\u2019m around. He makes me so angry sometimes, but mostly, I\u2019m too tired to deal with it anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n He closed his eyes and just lay there, both hands behind his head as he thought about Scott. Scott had been his best friend from the time they\u2019d been in diapers. Scott\u2019s mom, Melissa, had been a support source for both Stiles and his dad in the month following his mom\u2019s death. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, Scott had come down sick one of the nights Stiles had been staying over. Scott went into the hospital, and like Stiles\u2019 mom, he never came back out. Grief made his stomach clench, and his heart hurt, but he swallowed it back. He\u2019d lost both Scott and Melissa that day. She\u2019d moved back east to be closer to her family after Scott died. Leaving Stiles\u2019 raising to his dad and the deputies at the station, not that anyone would ever blame her for leaving.<\/p>\n Sitting back up, he ran a hand over the stone, \u201cI miss you, dude. I\u2019ll be back later with an update about this whole werewolf thing.\u201d He got to his feet, trudged back to his Jeep, and headed home to finish his research. He felt a little lighter after talking with Scott, but he also felt the need to direct his attention somewhere other than the old wound of his grief.<\/p>\n His return to the house was a lot more composed than his exit had been. He parked and pulled his phone out to see the time. It was nearly three. He\u2019d been gone longer than he\u2019d anticipated, but his dad wasn\u2019t back yet, so he\u2019d head up and get back to looking into Peter Hale.<\/p>\n His stomach interrupted his plans as he passed the kitchen. Okay, he\u2019d do some more research after he got something to eat. Those pop tarts hadn\u2019t lasted long. He made a couple of sandwiches using the last of the lunch meat they had. He added it to the list on the refrigerator door, grabbed his plate, and headed up the stairs.<\/p>\n He got to his room and was at his door when he realized that someone was in it. He tried sniffing out who it could be, but he still didn\u2019t know how to do much more than identify primary scents. Stiles would learn the chemosignals and pheromones that Derek talked about later. Then he listened, being careful not to cast his hearing out beyond his house.<\/p>\n \u201cJust get in here, Stiles,\u201d Derek said from the other side of the door.<\/p>\n \u201cFor fuck\u2019s sake, Derek.\u201d Stiles juggled his plate as he opened the door and glared at Derek.<\/p>\n \u201cYou could wait until I\u2019m here, even if you aren\u2019t going to use a door or call ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t have your number,\u201d Derek said from where he sat, reading a book from his shelves.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not that hard to ask for it before jumping out of windows,\u201d Stiles complained. \u201cSo, I assume since you\u2019re here that you found a place to train?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Derek said. Stiles watched how his eyes scanned the room as if looking for something hiding in the nonexistent shadows.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay.\u201d Stiles sat and took a bite of his sandwich. He decided he\u2019d look up hyper-vigilance later and see if he was correct about his musings. \u201cSo where are we going to be training my illustrious wolf?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA loft apartment downtown,\u201d Derek said, rattling off the address. \u201cCome by tomorrow, and we\u2019ll work on your control.\u201d He stood and headed towards the window.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know my dad\u2019s the Sheriff, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d Derek looked at him with a question on his face.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I hope we\u2019re going to be in this loft legally then.\u201d Stiles just smiled at the glare he received.<\/p>\n \u201cI own it,\u201d Derek said before turning and jumping from the window again.<\/p>\n \u201cDamn it.\u201d Stiles took an angry bite of his sandwich. \u201cI meant to ask him about the fire.\u201d<\/p>\n That was going to be something that would have to wait for tomorrow. He finished his meal and spent the rest of the afternoon and evening researching Peter Hale\u2019s medical records. There was something off there, but Stiles wasn\u2019t sure what.<\/p>\n His dad came home after he\u2019d been at it a while. He poked his head in the door of his room, and he raised his brows at Stiles. \u201cYou\u2019ve been out of this room since you got back from the preserve this morning, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course.\u201d Stiles smiled. \u201cI had to eat, and all the food is in the kitchen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHilarious. I\u2019m headed to bed. I have another long one tomorrow. I have to head over to Springwater and deal with a few things. I\u2019ll be there overnight at least; you\u2019ll be okay here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be fine. If I need anything, I can always call Tara,\u201d Stiles assured him.<\/p>\n His dad looked at him closely. \u201cLove you, son,\u201d he said and knocked his fist against the frame a couple of times and nodded at his son.<\/p>\n \u201cI know, dad. Love you, too,\u201d Stiles said, picking his laptop back up and smiling, \u201cGo to bed, old man. You have a full day tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n After his dad left, Stiles spent the rest of the evening on his laptop. He sent in the paperwork he needed to finalize for his school and to get his appointments for his testing dates after the break.<\/p>\n When he finished with that, he hit the board and sent a few messages back and forth with Art. It was difficult getting the information he wanted without giving too much away, so that was a slow-going endeavor. In his oblique way, Art had confirmed Derek\u2019s assertion that only alphas could turn someone, and rumor said that their eyes glowed red.<\/p>\n Eventually set his laptop aside and got ready for bed. He double-checked that his window was shut and locked. Then he wedged his chair under the knob of his closed door. Hopefully, that would keep him from wandering tonight. As he settled into sleep, he hoped that the nightmares would stay away.<\/p>\n Stuffing a pop tart in his mouth, Stiles turned into the parking lot attached to the address that Derek had given him the day before. It was 8 am, but he had another of those dreams last night and wanted out of the house. He\u2019d at least waited until after sunrise, but he hoped that Derek was up.<\/p>\n Shutting the Jeep off, he headed into the building. Eyeing the ancient elevator, he considered the stairs for a brief moment. Shrugging, he made his way in and closed the door before heading up to the top floor. The box rattled alarmingly, and Stiles decided he\u2019d take the stairs down if he made it out of the thing intact.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re early,\u201d Derek said, coming into view as Stiles stumbled from the death trap of an elevator.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t be early. You didn\u2019t give me a time,\u201d Stiles said before getting a good look at Derek. His mouth went dry. The man was wearing another pair of those painted-on jeans and nothing else, the top button undone, and his hair was the cliche of sexy bedhead.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy, why are you doing this to me?\u201d Stiles closed his eyes and tried to will away his physical response. Derek Hale was hot on a typical day, but he was a walking wet dream right now, making the endeavor difficult.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat.\u201d Derek scowled harder at him, if possible, giving the air a sniff.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t even, mister!\u201d Stiles shook his finger at the other wolf., \u201cI\u2019m seventeen. Wind makes me horny. You are just \u2013 gah!\u201d Stiles just waved his hands around. \u201cLook, I\u2019ll try to control it, but you keep your sniffer to yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek just looked at him with raised brows. \u201cGah?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m done with this conversation,\u201d Stiles determined with a clap of his hands. \u201cSo, what are we training today?\u201d<\/p>\n Derek directed him towards the other side of the loft where there were some exercise mats and weights out.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have quite the setup for someone who hasn\u2019t been here in six years,\u201d Stiles said as Derek had him use the weights to see where his strength currently was.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve had someone we trust looking in on our properties while we\u2019ve been gone,\u201d Derek said, motioning Stiles over to some mats set up on the floor. \u201cNow we meditate.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think that\u2019s going to work very well,\u201d Stiles said, once again ignoring Derek\u2019s glare. \u201cI\u2019ve never been very good at it, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou need to find an anchor,\u201d Derek shrugged. \u201cYou seem to be doing okay right now, but when the next full moon comes, you\u2019ll need an anchor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAn anchor?\u201d Stiles asked, sitting on one of the mats and mimicking Derek\u2019s pose.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, an anchor is what holds us to our humanity,\u201d Derek said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat doesn\u2019t make sense,\u201d Stiles argued. \u201cI mean, I get having a focal point if the wolf part of the brain wants to be too forward, but you are human.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe are, and we aren\u2019t,\u201d Derek replied, \u201cregardless, you need to find an anchor. Something that will help you hold to your humanity, especially when the pull of the moon is strong. A good enough anchor might be some help against the pull of the Alpha.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, that I can get behind.\u201d Stiles slapped his hands on his thighs. \u201cLet\u2019s get to anchoring.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou,\u201d Derek stopped and pinched the bridge of his nose. \u201cNever mind, just close your eyes and focus on what makes you human.\u201d<\/p>\n So Stiles closed his eyes and thought about what it meant to be human and what it meant to be a wolf. He didn\u2019t know how as a werewolf there was such a definitive distinction between being wolf and being human, but Derek was his only expert at this point.<\/p>\n His dad \u2013 his dad<\/em> \u2013 was a point in the human column; so were Tara and the others at the department. He wasn\u2019t sure that any of that would hold him to humanity, though. He loved his dad, and his dad loved him, but the bond between them was stretched pretty thin these days. He was closest with Tara at the station, but until he could tell her about werewolves, there was going to be a wall between them.<\/p>\n \u201cStiles,\u201d Derek\u2019s sharp voice brought him back out of his thoughts. \u201cAny progress?\u201d he demanded.<\/p>\n \u201cI know a few things that won\u2019t work.\u201d Stiles shrugged. \u201cI don\u2019t think this is going to be as easy as you seem to think it will be.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think it will be easy,\u201d Derek replied, rolling to his feet in a move that had Stiles choking on his tongue.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are so unfair,\u201d Stiles muttered, clambering to his own feet.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Derek turned back to look at him as he pulled a shirt on, finally.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing, just talking to myself over here,\u201d Stiles babbled, moving his hands in a shooing motion.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re a strange kid,\u201d Derek said after staring at him a minute.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m the strange one?\u201d Stiles started to laugh until he had to sit down again, \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019m all the much younger than you are, by the way, so lay off the kid crap.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m 22,\u201d Derek said. \u201cI\u2019m not a teenager.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo what, I\u2019m a teenager,\u201d Stiles shrugged, \u201cI also turn 18 in about four months. So, like I said, old man, lay off the condescending bullshit, okay.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek stared at him until Stiles\u2019 cell phone rang, pulling their attention to it. Stiles grabbed for it and looked at the caller ID. It was his dad.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, dad,\u201d Stiles said, watching as Derek\u2019s head tilted just enough to show he was listening.<\/p>\n \u201cStiles.\u201d The Sheriff was in his voice, so it must be serious. \u201cI heard from one of the deputies that you went over to the old loft on Wilmington Street.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYep,\u201d Stiles said. \u201cSorry, I forgot to text.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStiles,\u201d he sighed. \u201cWhy are you at the loft? You don\u2019t know anyone in that area.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know, dad,\u201d Stiles replied. \u201cThis is Derek Hale\u2019s current address, though, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d The Sheriff\u2019s voice was cautious now. \u201cHow would you know that, son?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been talking with Derek for a few months now, online.\u201d Stiles laughed, giving his dad the fabricated response he\u2019d come up with last night about not only why he was here, but also about why he was hanging out with Derek Hale, someone who hadn\u2019t been in Beacon Hills for six years. \u201cHe came into town the other day and we ran into each other, literally.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve been talking to Derek Hale online.\u201d There it was, the sigh of exasperation. \u201cHow did you come to talk to Derek Hale online, Stiles?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne of my roleplaying boards,\u201d Stiles said, shrugging even if his dad couldn\u2019t see him. He didn\u2019t think he needed to tell his dad that he hadn\u2019t been on one of those boards for the last year. \u201cHe ended up in one of my groups. We got to talking about monsters and magic. He let slip some information, and you know how nosy I can be.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m aware.\u201d Stiles could almost see his dad pinching the bridge of his nose. \u201cSo, you figured out that he was Derek Hale from Beacon Hills?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I never said anything since I didn\u2019t expect to meet him in person,\u201d Stiles replied. \u201cAfter what happened to his family, I didn\u2019t think he\u2019d ever come back here. It was a surprise to run into him yesterday. I insisted on coming over to visit.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, you did,\u201d his dad sighed again. \u201cStiles, just be careful. Derek came into town to report his sister missing two days ago. He probably doesn\u2019t want to play any games right now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Stiles glanced at Derek, whose face now resembled a stone statue. \u201cI got that. He\u2019s really worried, dad. He said that she\u2019s never been out of contact like this. They\u2019re conscientious about it since the fire.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know, son.\u201d Another sigh. \u201cWe\u2019re doing all we can. When I get back from Springwater, unless something comes up, you should have him come over for dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can ask,\u201d Stiles replied without commitment. \u201cHe might not want to leave the loft for very long, though.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust ask.\u201d There was the sound of a door opening and voices coming from his dad\u2019s side of the line. \u201cI\u2019ve got to head out. Let me know if you go anywhere else, please, Stiles. A text is all I\u2019m asking for.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Dad. I\u2019m sorry I forgot. I just got excited about seeing a friend.\u201d He played the lonely kid card, and it worked, just like it always did.<\/p>\n \u201cI know. Love you, kid.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLove ya, Dad.\u201d Stiles ended the call. \u201cI assume you heard all that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t play roleplaying games.\u201d He glared at the phone in Stiles\u2019 hand and then at Stiles.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe not, but we need a reason we\u2019re hanging out for now.\u201d Stiles shrugged,. \u201cPlus, if someone hears us talking about werewolves, we can just play the roleplaying card for them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not coming to dinner,\u201d Derek responded immediately.<\/p>\n \u201cI figured.\u201d Stiles flopped down on the only real piece of furniture in the loft other than the bed in the corner. \u201cYou need a new couch; this one is terrible.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t get it for you.\u201d Derek huffed at him, exasperation obvious.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course you didn\u2019t.\u201d Stiles laid down with his head over the back of the couch, tilting his neck so he could see Derek. \u201cIt\u2019s killing my back and I\u2019ve been on it less than a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek\u2019s eyes flashed blue and he turned away. \u201cYou are unbelievable.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAm I?\u201d Stiles asked, smiling without malice. \u201cI don\u2019t know about that. You know, I\u2019m not even sure if I should be trusting you. You seem hellbent on tracking down your sister and this alpha, leaving me behind to figure everything out on my own.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek turned back around to stare at him. His eyes flashed blue again before he closed them and pinched the bridge of his nose.<\/p>\n Stiles was used to eliciting that expression, so he wasn\u2019t too concerned about it. However, he did wonder where Derek got off telling him about control when his eyes kept impersonating a strobe light.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I mean come on, Derek,\u201d Stiles continued. \u201cI can\u2019t get all the information from my senses like you can. As you said, none of my abilities are stable yet, and as for the smelling thing\u2026\u201d Stiles trailed off, waving a hand in the air in frustration. \u201cIt\u2019s like I\u2019m in a foreign country there; I hear the language, but I don\u2019t have anything to compare it to, so I can\u2019t translate it beyond \u2018Ms. Casker smells like peanut butter now\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek gave a long-drawn-out sigh. \u201cI\u2019ll teach you that, but we need to get your anchor first.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause that will be what helps you find and defeat this alpha? Or because it is the best place to start with me and my fluctuating abilities?\u201d Stiles rolled his head on the back of the couch to stare straight at Derek and saw the look of surprise that flashed across his face. \u201cI\u2019m not actually an idiot, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI want to catch the alpha.\u201d Derek shrugged without shame. \u201cYou could be a help in doing that if you can control yourself. So yes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA means to an end?\u201d Stiles gave a bitter smile. \u201cOr bait?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re becoming a pack, one way or another,\u201d Derek said. \u201cThat means we\u2019re brothers.\u201d It looked like Derek would continue on that theme, but Stiles was choking on his laughter.<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Stiles managed, waving his hand at Derek when he calmed down. \u201cWe are not brothers. I can possibly get behind becoming a pack. My research has shown that it\u2019s important for werewolves to have one, but there is no way in this universe I will ever consider you my brother.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek looked a little hurt for a second before he covered it up with another scowl. \u201cFine, if that\u2019s how you feel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, don\u2019t get your panties in a twist, boo.\u201d Stiles smirked when Derek growled at him. \u201cIt would be a little disturbing to want to jump my own brother, is all I\u2019m saying.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat the fuck.\u201d Derek\u2019s eyes were so wide that Stiles could see the whites easily.<\/p>\n Oh, look, we\u2019ve lost the question marks again<\/em>, Stiles thought with a sigh. \u201cMan, you said you could smell my pheromones and chemosignals, right? Well, do they smell familial at all?\u201d He stared at Derek, feeling his eyebrows lift. \u201cBecause if so, we need to talk about some things.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re impossible,\u201d Derek finally said after a long moment.<\/p>\n \u201cPractically my middle name,\u201d Stiles said, rolling to his feet. \u201cSo, are we done with this training for now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor now,\u201d Derek agreed, crossing his arms and giving Stiles a nice view of taut muscles outlined by his shirt. Brotherly was not an option here.<\/p>\n \u201cThen let\u2019s talk about your sister and this alpha,\u201d Stiles said, moving towards the counter in the kitchen area and hopping up. \u201cI\u2019ll need to get you some whiteboards or something so we can lay things out easier.\u201d He glanced around the apartment, trying to think about what he would need to start putting things together.<\/p>\n Derek stood there in silence, glaring at him, but Stiles was getting used to his glares. While Derek had more time and training as a werewolf, he didn\u2019t seem to want to hurt Stiles physically. That muted his fear response quite a bit.<\/p>\n \u201cYou reported your sister, Laura?\u201d Stiles stared back at Derek until he nodded reluctantly, \u201cOkay, you reported her missing, which is a good strategy if you are right and she\u2019s dead. If they find her body, later on, you should make sure you have a decent alibi for the twenty-four hours surrounding her time of death.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was in New York getting ready to fly out here when I felt the bond snap,\u201d Derek admitted through clenched teeth. \u201cI didn\u2019t kill my sister.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDidn\u2019t say you did, dude.\u201d Stiles waved away Derek\u2019s ire. He continued as thoughts tumbled over and took shape in his mind. \u201cI\u2019ve given Dad a reason that we know each other. You\u2019ll have to pretend you can stand to be in the same room as me,\u201d he said, raising his eyebrows at Derek\u2019s glare and pointed at him. \u201cWhich means you can\u2019t glare at me like that around him and maybe tone it down when we are out in town.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t see why you had to tell your dad anything,\u201d Derek growled, stalking closer. \u201cYou should have kept him out of it.\u201d<\/p>\n The way Derek moved towards him flipped all kinds of switches for Stiles, and he just stared for a minute when Derek got right up in his space. \u201cYou know, your eyes are beautiful. What color are they?\u201d<\/p>\n Derek\u2019s head snapped back, his head tilting in what was evident confusion. \u201cWhat does that have to do with anything?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHmm?\u201d Stiles leaned closer, trying to get a better look. He overbalanced on the counter and caught himself with a hand on Derek\u2019s chest. His excellent and substantial chest. He snatched his hand back before it could give it a testing squeeze that would probably get him tossed into a wall. \u201cNothing just noticed them and was curious.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou -\u201d Derek shook his head, obviously deciding to let it go. \u201cWhy did you tell your dad anything?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause he\u2019s my dad and he\u2019s not stupid,\u201d Stiles said. \u201cThe deputies knew I was here, so he did, too. You\u2019re lucky it was him on the phone and not Tara. She\u2019d be harder to lie straight out to. This way, the story will go through dad and circle to her, and I\u2019ll just have to confirm it.\u201d He laughed and tried not to think that his dad knew more about him through his deputies than with any first-hand knowledge. \u201cThis way, we have a reason to be around each other without being too suspicious and it gives you an in with law enforcement if something happens.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLike what,\u201d Derek grunted, but he looked to be taking in what Stiles was saying.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, like those hunters you were talking about, and I don\u2019t think you would have warned me if you didn\u2019t think they\u2019d show up here eventually.\u201d Stiles gave Derek a glare of his own. \u201cThis way, maybe they\u2019ll be a little hesitant to take you on if you are at least on speaking terms with the sheriff.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ll suspect both of you as being sympathizers at the very least,\u201d Derek warned.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, well, it\u2019s not like I can change what I am,\u201d Stiles said. \u201cI don\u2019t want my dad to be in danger, but unless I suddenly move out and live completely separate from him, I don\u2019t think this will stay hidden more than six months or so.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re still in school,\u201d Derek said with a frown.<\/p>\n \u201cOk non sequitur, I\u2019ll bite.\u201d He laughed at his pun, \u201cYes, I\u2019m still in school, but I\u2019ve already been in talks with the career counselor about taking my tests in January for early graduation. I was going to put it off, but after all this, I don\u2019t think that would be a good idea.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy wouldn\u2019t you want to graduate early?\u201d Derek asked.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause my dad wanted me to have the full high school experience.\u201d He shrugged. \u201cWhen I got back into the right frame of mind for school, I had fallen behind some. I managed to catch up quickly and moved ahead faster than he wanted me to. He asked if I wanted to miss out on everything. I knew he meant that he didn\u2019t want me to take the advanced track. I still managed to get through everything quicker than I should have.\u201d Stiles laughed mirthlessly. \u201cAs I said, I was going to put it off, but I already sent in the paperwork to move ahead the other day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSchool will probably be difficult for you until you have better control,\u201d Derek replied. He didn\u2019t seem to be agreeing or disagreeing with him. \u201cCollege won\u2019t be any better.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I just about took Jackson\u2019s head off the other day when he was a dick at the track.\u201d Stiles thought about how Jackson had flown the short distance between the two vehicles and how close he\u2019d come to mauling the asshole. \u201cCollege can wait, or I can do some online classes while I figure out how to attend class long term.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHmm.\u201d Derek looked at him, a complicated expression on his face. \u201cYou\u2019re smart, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n Stiles laughed. \u201cWay to make that sound insulting, dude.\u201d Laughing some more, he nodded. \u201cYeah, I\u2019m pretty smart. There have been some hurdles through school, but I\u2019ve managed.\u201d Raising his finger, he pointed it at Derek. \u201cDon\u2019t think I didn\u2019t notice you changing the subject, though.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t.\u201d Derek frowned, snapping his jaw shut, huffing. He glared at the wall behind Stiles.<\/p>\n \u201cYou did,\u201d Stiles argued. \u201cNow, am I bait or your partner in taking down the alpha?\u201d<\/p>\n Derek was silent, arms crossed. He glared at Stiles at full power now. \u201cWe aren\u2019t partners. I let you help because you\u2019re going to end up in the middle anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo, bait it is, then?\u201d Stiles sighed. \u201cI\u2019ll have to trust you to be my backup, and dude, you do not inspire that kind of trust right now.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek shrugged, looking completely unapologetic. \u201cI didn\u2019t say that you had to trust me. I just want to keep you from killing someone and bringing hunters down on our heads before I can get the alpha.\u201d<\/p>\n Stiles stared at him and wondered at the pinch of hurt Derek\u2019s words caused. He\u2019d known that Derek wasn\u2019t interested in anything but his own need for vengeance and that Stiles was just a means to an end for him, but still. \u201cOuch. I\u2019m crushed, Derek. I may never recover.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll get over it,\u201d Derek said with a roll of his eyes. \u201cOnce I take care of the alpha, I\u2019m going back to New York.\u201d He looked at Stiles with some speculation in his eyes, \u201cI could probably try and find someone to help you afterward.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour generosity knows no bounds.\u201d Sarcasm rolled off Stiles\u2019 tongue, sharp and cold. \u201cI get it, I do, but maybe you can be a little less of an ass while we pretend to be friends in front of my dad and around town.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause if you don\u2019t, you\u2019re going to be their suspect, and even if you\u2019re cleared, the town will still think of you as a suspicious character. None of that will help with your goal of taking down the alpha.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t care.\u201d Derek managed to shrug angrily. His tone was dismissive.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, good talk.\u201d Stiles felt exhausted trying to deal with Derek. \u201cI\u2019m going to go get some coffee and work on pushing my graduation date up since those are things I know I can accomplish today.\u201d<\/p>\n He stopped and patted Derek on the shoulder, ignoring the glare he got. \u201cSee ya later, Sourwolf.\u201d He headed out the door and down to his Jeep. He needed some coffee.<\/p>\n That set the pattern that became his routine over the next few days.<\/p>\n When his dad made it back from Springwater, they did their quick single gift Christmas exchange, awkward hugs, and Die Hard <\/em>tradition. Stiles couldn\u2019t say how their traditions became more uncomfortable and silent every year, but they did. When they went their separate ways, the sheriff spoke to him a bit more about Derek, but he didn\u2019t seem suspicious about the friendship. If anything, he seemed relieved that Stiles had an actual flesh and blood friend again.<\/p>\n The dreams of fire and death continued to disrupt his sleep every night, and he found himself in the preserve twice more, but he thought the meditation \u2018find your anchor\u2019 sessions with Derek were helping some. He still hadn\u2019t told Derek about the dreams; he wasn\u2019t sure what to think of them. He figured it was his active imagination putting the things he was reading about the Hale fire into his dreams. He could do without his active imagination, just this once.<\/p>\n That was the status quo for the next week, and then a jogger found Laura Hale\u2019s body. More to the point, they found half of her body. The Sheriff\u2019s department was cordoning off the preserve and commencing a search for the other half.<\/p>\n \u201cExcuse me?\u201d Stiles stared at Derek in horrified shock. \u201cHalf?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a hunter\u2019s device for ensuring that a wolf stays dead,\u201d Derek said, shrugging as if it meant nothing, but Stiles could see how haunted his eyes looked.<\/p>\n \u201cIf hunters killed your sister, what about this alpha?\u201d Stiles asked, moving on without giving in to his desire to hug Derek.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d Derek scowled. \u201cIt means there are hunters in town, though.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I got that,\u201d Stiles said dryly with a roll of his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ll probably know I\u2019m a werewolf,\u201d he said. \u201cWhich means if they\u2019ve seen you with me, they\u2019re going to assume you are one too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLucky me,\u201d Stiles said, taking a bite of one of the sandwiches he\u2019d brought over to Derek\u2019s place. The guy never had anything to eat except some protein bars and the occasional carton of take-out leftovers. \u201cNot much I can do about that now, though.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSchool starts in a couple of days,\u201d Derek said, again changing the subject.<\/p>\n \u201cYep, I\u2019ve already got my paperwork in, and Ms. Dillon emailed me this morning. I\u2019m on the list to take the scheduled tests this month. After that, I\u2019m all done with high school. Assuming I pass,\u201d Stiles laughed. \u201cIt was amazing how easy it was once I decided to do it. I had more credits than I\u2019d thought.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo, you won\u2019t be in school after this month?\u201d Derek asked.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, as long as I can pass the tests. I won\u2019t be in school this month beyond checking in with Ms. Dillon and any studying I need to do in the school library. I still need to find some way to tell my dad, though.\u201d Stiles shrugged and changed the subject back to Laura. \u201cDid they say anything about the cause of death?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Derek huffed. \u201cThey\u2019re checking my alibi.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, that\u2019s routine. You\u2019d have a lot more trouble if you were skulking around in the woods or had been being all sketchy when you got into town. Instead, you reported her missing and contacted your online buddy,\u201d Stiles pointed a finger at himself and ignored Derek\u2019s eye roll. \u201cEven if you didn\u2019t come over for dinner, you\u2019ve managed a couple of decent conversations with my dad and the occasional deputy around town. So, unless something unusual pops up, you\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean like checking my online presence and seeing that I\u2019ve never been part of any online role-playing group.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I took care of that after I left here that day.\u201d Stiles waved that worry away.<\/p>\n \u201cYou took care of it.\u201d Derek\u2019s eyebrows looked like they might lift right off his forehead at that.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I got your information and you are a member of one of my bulletin boards. You have been for the last four years, and though you usually lurk, you\u2019ve been in a few of the smaller campaigns.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek sighed, shaking his head and apparently deciding just to let that go. \u201cI have to figure out a memorial for her once she is released.\u201d He sat down on the couch and just stared at the wall. It looked as if things were starting to catch up to him.<\/p>\n \u201cDerek,\u201d Stiles stopped. He didn\u2019t know what to say to the man that had lost the last real member of his family. He did know what he\u2019d hated to hear when he\u2019d been on the other side, though. \u201cI\u2019ll help in any way I can.\u201d<\/p>\n Over the last week, Stiles had realized that while Derek might have some genuine social and anger issues, he wasn\u2019t a bad guy. He was just dealing with a lot and it didn\u2019t help that he didn\u2019t know what to do with Stiles at all. As a person or a werewolf.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be fine,\u201d Derek snapped just before his shoulders slumped. \u201cI\u2019ll be fine,\u201d he repeated, a little quieter.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course you will,\u201d Stiles agreed, coming to sit beside him on the couch. He was careful not to touch Derek since that always seemed to unsettle him. \u201cDoesn\u2019t mean you have to be fine right now, though.\u201d<\/p>\n He didn\u2019t bring up the fact that the deputies were going to be scouring the preserve for the other half of Laura\u2019s body over the next few days or that the alpha hadn\u2019t made any sort of move beyond having Stiles end up half-naked in the wood a couple of times.<\/p>\n Derek turned his head to look at Stiles and finally seemed to see him. \u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAny time, dude,\u201d Stiles said with a smile.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t call me, dude,\u201d Derek ordered, but there was a slight tic at the side of his mouth that showed his amusement.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s late. I need to go home and get some sleep,\u201d Stiles said reluctantly. It was becoming more difficult to leave Derek alone every day. He was genuinely starting to like the guy. Derek was gruff and kind of an asshole, but he\u2019d been helping Stiles. In just this week, Stiles had come to call him a friend. He didn\u2019t know if Derek would say the same thing, but he thought he saw a slight softening of Derek\u2019s attitude towards him.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll see you tomorrow.\u201d Derek said. \u201cWe can go running in the preserve if they open any of the trails.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure,\u201d Stiles nodded and headed towards the door. \u201cHey, if you need anything, my window is open.\u201d He left to the sound of Derek\u2019s amused huff. It warmed him all the way to the gas station.<\/p>\n Pulling up next to the pump, he noticed the two black SUVs that pulled in behind him and felt the hair on the back of his neck go up. He shot a text off to Derek and another to Tara at the station, she might not be in the know, but if someone was following him, she could at least document it.<\/p>\n He got out of his Jeep, despite Derek\u2019s reply to \u2018Get out of there idiot, go home.\u2019 He needed gas, and since he\u2019d be home alone, it was probably safer here than to let whoever was following him home.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Miss Mary,\u201d Stiles said with a wave. \u201cCan I get twenty on pump two?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Stiles.\u201d Mary shook her finger at him \u201cDon\u2019t go buying a bunch of junk in here. You need to make yourself a real meal. You can\u2019t live off peanut butter cups and soda, young man.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m young still,\u201d Stiles said with a laugh, pulling his wallet out. \u201cI should take advantage while I can get away with it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBe careful,\u201d Mary laughed with him, taking his money and waving him off. \u201cTake too much of an advantage, and you\u2019ll start to look like Bill here.\u201d She pointed to the enormous orange tabby that was curled up in his bed, glaring at Stiles.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, Miss Mary,\u201d Stiles said. \u201cBill has a nice, plush life. I could get behind that.\u201d<\/p>\n Miss Mary smelled like lavender and lemon and cat. Stiles turned his head and sneezed twice. He smiled apologetically at the older woman, but she just waved him off.<\/p>\n \u201cGo fill your Jeep up, you rascal,\u201d Mary swatted at him.<\/p>\n Stiles was still laughing as he left the store and headed towards his Jeep. He kept an eye on the SUVs while he started to fill up and wasn\u2019t surprised when the doors opened and a group of rangy-looking men stepped out and moved towards him.<\/p>\n \u201cHello,\u201d Stiles said with a smile. \u201cYou folks lost? I don\u2019t recognize you from around here.\u201d He took in the hunting rifles and bows they were carrying. He widened his eyes and frowned at them. \u201cYou\u2019re not going to hunt around here, I hope. The preserve is off-limits for that kind of thing. You shouldn\u2019t have your guns out here, either. There\u2019s an investigation going on right now anyway, so it\u2019s closed for camping, too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe saw you with Derek Hale,\u201d the man that had taken point said. He was of average height, stocky build with short-cropped brown hair scattered with grey. He sported a matching beard, trimmed neatly, and a hunting rifle held across his body.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah?\u201d Stiles leaned forward, interested. \u201cDerek is a friend. You know him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s dangerous,\u201d he snapped viciously, waving the weapon he was carrying. \u201cYou\u2019ll stay away from him if you know what\u2019s good for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWow,\u201d Stiles said, eyes widening. He stepped back. \u201cI don\u2019t even know you or your buddies here, so I don\u2019t think you get to have an opinion on my friendships.\u201d<\/p>\n The pump stopped and Stiles pulled the nozzle out of his gas tank and hung it back up. He turned, tightening the cap back on his tank, keeping the men in the corner of his vision.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re being nice and warning you to stay away from Derek Hale,\u201d one of the others said as he stepped forward, face twisted into a sneer.<\/p>\n \u201cStill don\u2019t know who you are,\u201d Stiles said, slipping his hands into his pockets and leaning against his Jeep. He curled his lips into a smirking smile that had earned him detention in every chemistry class he\u2019d had with Mr. Harris last year. \u201cSeems kind of rude, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n The man who\u2019d spoken originally stepped forward. \u201cI\u2019m Christopher Argent. Who are you?\u201d<\/p>\n Stiles let his smile creep onto his face slowly as he replied, \u201cStiles Stilinski, and it looks like you are going to need to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho the hell do you think you are, kid?\u201d One of Argent\u2019s bully boys stepped forward, a knife in his hand.<\/p>\n \u201cNot the group of grown men intimidating an underage kid at a gas station,\u201d Stiles replied as he watched two County Sheriff\u2019s vehicles pull into the station with their lights on.<\/p>\n The group of assholes stepped back as Stiles gave Tara a wave when she stepped out of the lead vehicle.<\/p>\n \u201cStiles,\u201d Tara started, approaching slowly, her eyes not leaving the weapons, \u201cWho are your friends?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Tara,\u201d Stiles said with a quick wave. \u201cNot sure who the rest of them are, but this gentleman here says his name is Christopher Argent. I was telling them that the preserve is closed to hunting if that was what they were looking for.\u201d<\/p>\n Tara and her partner, Ben Rowder, had managed to circle the area closest to Stiles while deputies in another vehicle were coming up on the other side of the group.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019d be correct, Mr. Argent,\u201d Tara replied. \u201cAre those weapons loaded?\u201d Tara\u2019s service weapon was in her hand at her side while she asked her questions.<\/p>\n Stiles heard the anger riding every word she spoke and, if it were anyone else, he\u2019d feel sorry for the hunters that had fallen into her bad books.<\/p>\n Derek\u2019s Camaro pulled in on the other side of the station and he got out to head towards Stiles. One of the deputies moved to stop him.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s okay, Donny, that\u2019s Derek. Mr. Argent here was telling me that I should stay away from him, but he wouldn\u2019t say why.\u201d Stiles turned wide eyes to Christopher Argent. \u201cWe\u2019ve been friends for a while and my dad, the Sheriff<\/em>, knows him.\u201d<\/p>\n Donny let Derek pass and he headed over, planting himself next to Stiles and glaring at everyone. \u201cHunters?\u201d Stiles whispered so that only Derek would hear him. Derek gave a short nod.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid I\u2019m going to have to ask you gentlemen to come down to the station,\u201d Tara said, gesturing to the other deputies around them. \u201cPlease put down your weapons and come along peacefully.\u201d<\/p>\n Stiles saw that each of the deputies had their weapons out, and while they weren\u2019t yet pointing them at the group of hunters, they were ready to do so. He noticed the deputies were in gear. Someone had let them know about the weapons involved in time to put on their vests between his text and their arrival. He glanced at the store where he was sure Miss Mary had her nose pressed to a window.<\/p>\n \u201cI think there has been a misunderstanding here,\u201d Argent tried to defend himself, carefully holding his weapon away from his body.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are in a public area with loaded weapons,\u201d Tara replied. \u201cThat is against the law. I\u2019m sure that your lawyers can explain the misunderstanding to me once we get to the station.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I won\u2019t let him stand there pretending to be human,\u201d one of the taller men said, his blonde hair almost entirely covered by a ball cap. He brought his rifle up and aimed it at Stiles and Derek.<\/p>\n Instantly the deputies had their weapons out and up. \u201cSir, put the weapon down.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, he doesn\u2019t get to stand there pretending to be normal,\u201d he ranted, practically foaming at the mouth with his need to attack.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph.\u201d Argent had laid his weapon down as soon as the deputies had shouted. \u201cYou need to put your gun down, son.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I have to protect everyone from those beasts.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPut your weapon down, or we will shoot!\u201d Ben said a few feet to the side of Tara.<\/p>\n It all happened in a matter of seconds. Crazy hunter shot at Derek and Stiles, Derek yanked Stiles around to cover him, and the deputies opened fire on the hunter.<\/p>\n Stiles felt the bullet hit Derek\u2019s arm from where he had it wrapped around him. \u201cYou\u2019ve been shot.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Derek said through gritted teeth. \u201cIt\u2019s been laced with wolfsbane. I can feel it already.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShit, what do we do?\u201d Stiles said, shoving Derek back some to try and get a look at his arm.<\/p>\n \u201cNeed to get this bullet out,\u201d Derek said. \u201cThen I need one just like he shot me with so I can heal the poison.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, okay.\u201d Stiles took in a deep breath, \u201cI\u2019m assuming you don\u2019t want them to know the bullet is still in you then?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, they can\u2019t do anything, and the risk of being found out is too great,\u201d Derek said, adjusting his arm, covering the wound.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, look, we\u2019ll say you were grazed, but you\u2019ll refuse medical attention,\u201d Stiles said. \u201cThey won\u2019t like it, but there isn\u2019t much they can do about it. I\u2019ll grab one of those bullets and you can tell me what I\u2019m supposed to do with it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHas to be one marked with the wolfsbane stamp. A regular bullet won\u2019t work,\u201d Derek said, leaning back against Stiles\u2019 Jeep, which now had two bullet holes in it as well.<\/p>\n \u201cStiles, you okay?\u201d Tara came up to them as the rest of the deputies began to block off the scene and arrest the remaining hunters.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d Stiles assured her. \u201cThe Jeep caught most of it, Derek got grazed, but he doesn\u2019t want to go to the hospital.\u201d He glanced at Derek and then moved a little away to talk with Tara. \u201cI think he has a phobia about hospitals like I do. It really is just a scratch, but I\u2019ll make him keep an eye on it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a good thing you texted me, Stiles. This could have gone down a lot uglier than it did.\u201d They both turned to look at the mess behind her. It was pretty ugly already. Two of the hunters were down and not getting back up, another was wounded, and the other four were in cuffs in the back of the deputy\u2019s vehicles. \u201cDo you have any idea what they wanted?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Stiles shook his head because, while he did know, he was still bewildered by their blatant attack on him at a gas station in the middle of town. \u201cChristopher Argent told me I needed new friends and that Derek Hale was dangerous and to stay away from him. He got all intense and intimidating when I asked why and told himthat he didn\u2019t get to decide who I was friends with.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, take your friend home and get his arm cleaned up. You\u2019ll have to leave your Jeep until we can clear it from the scene.\u201d She gave him an apologetic look. \u201cI\u2019ve got to get back, but you probably want to give your dad a heads up since this is going to go out over the radio.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShit,\u201d he cursed and ignored the amused tilt of her mouth as he nodded his thanks. \u201cI\u2019ll call him now, get it out of the way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf he\u2019s not back, I\u2019ll have one of the others take your statement so I can sit with you tomorrow, okay?\u201d Tara asked, pulling him into a quick hug, made awkward by her tactical gear. \u201cScared the crap out of me, little brother.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSorry,\u201d he tried to smile, but he could already feel the adrenaline crash trying to happen. \u201cI\u2019m going to be at Derek\u2019s tonight. I\u2019ll feel better there than home alone. I assume you\u2019ll be at the station.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d she said, stepping back and holding him at arm\u2019s length. \u201cWe are going to talk about Derek Hale, though, but I suppose he\u2019s safe enough. Go on, now. I really have to get back over there.\u201d<\/p>\n Stiles watched her walk away before turning back to where Derek was standing, pale and shaking. \u201cHead to the Camaro. I\u2019ll meet you there,\u201d he said to Derek. \u201cI want to check on Miss Mary really quick, and then we can head to the loft.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek\u2019s glare was weak at this point and he stared at Stiles\u2019 chest for a moment. His brow furrowed before he nodded and headed over to the Camaro.<\/p>\n Stiles watched Donny follow him, probably to get a statement, before heading over to the store. He entered to see Miss Mary sitting on her chair looking at him with wide eyes, the store phone in her hand. \u201cI called them as soon as I saw those vehicles had blocked you in, Stiles. They said they were on the way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I noticed that they didn\u2019t look very friendly and sent Tara a text about it.\u201d Stiles shrugged. \u201cThey\u2019re going to tow my Jeep, so I\u2019m going to go with Derek for now. You going to be okay, Miss Mary?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be fine,\u201d Miss Mary sighed, finally hanging up the phone. \u201cThat was terrifying, but you have a good young man. He protected you quite well, just like a knight in shining armor.\u201d She gave a fluttery sigh, a hand pressed to her generous chest.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve been reading your romances again, Miss Mary,\u201d Stiles said with a laugh. \u201cDerek is just a friend and he\u2019s here because of his sister.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh yes, terrible thing. The fire years ago was bad enough, but for them to just start to come back home and then poor little Laura killed. That poor boy, you tell him I\u2019ll stop by that place he\u2019s living and bring him some casserole. He can\u2019t be eating right all by himself while he\u2019s grieving and then this.\u201d She waved her hands around to indicate the mess outside.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d Stiles pulled his face into a solemn expression. He felt no remorse about using what weapons he had against the hunters, even if one of those weapons was the number one gossip in Beacon Hills. \u201cThat was Christopher Argent. He was trying to tell me not to be friends with Derek, trying to say Derek was dangerous, but dad did those checks I pretend not to know about.\u201d They shared a little laugh at that. \u201cAnd Derek was the one to protect me tonight, so I don\u2019t know what they have against him, but I\u2019m worried about it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, don\u2019t you worry, Tara and the deputies will help your father figure it all out,\u201d Miss Mary said with a firm nod.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I\u2019m sure they will,\u201d Stiles agreed. \u201cI\u2019m going to head out and give dad a call, then try and get some rest tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou take care, Stiles, and take care of young Mr. Hale as well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWill do,\u201d he said and gave a jaunty wave, secure in the knowledge that he\u2019d just passed one of Beacon Hills chief gossipers enough fuel to set her up for weeks. It would help keep Derek as a victim of the hunters and hopefully give them pause before they tried anything else.<\/p>\n Now, he needed a bullet. Keeping his eyes on the crime scene techs that were arriving now that the living assailants had been hauled away, he circled the vehicles from the side opposite all the activity until he reached the nearest vehicle with a door open. Stiles poked his head in and saw a duffle with more weapons and a box of disposable gloves on the floor. He slipped on a pair of the gloves and started digging through the duffle until he found a wooden box. He flipped the box open and found bullets with a flower of some sort stamped on the end. With another glance around, he took the box and pulled off the gloves, slipping both into his pocket. He walked back around the car and waved at Mickey, who was the head of what amounted to their forensics lab.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to take Derek home. If anyone asks for us, we\u2019ll be at his loft. I don\u2019t feel comfortable going home with dad out of town. Who knows if they were following me around or not.\u201d Stiles shuddered.<\/p>\n \u201cSure, sure,\u201d Mickey said, his eyes watching his guys gather evidence while he stopped to talk to Stiles. \u201cTake care of yourself, kid. This got ugly fast from what I heard.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, it did,\u201d Stiles agreed before giving a wave and heading back towards the Camaro. Derek was leaning against the side, looking pale and sweaty. \u201cWell, you don\u2019t look too good. Give me your keys. You can\u2019t drive like that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you get it?\u201d Derek ignored him, so Stiles batted his hands away and grabbed the keys out of his pocket.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course I did,\u201d Stiles replied with false affront before he led the unresisting wolf to the passenger side door and got him settled. Once he was in the driver\u2019s seat and backing out of the parking lot, he glanced at Derek. \u201cSo, wolfsbane?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was in the bullet.\u201d Derek managed to shrug his jacket off.<\/p>\n Stiles got a glimpse of a large hole in the meat of his bicep, black lines running out from around it. The smell was horrendous and Stiles gagged for a second before he caught himself. \u201cHow bad is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf it reaches my heart, I\u2019m dead,\u201d Derek said, leaning his head against the window.<\/p>\n \u201cWell,\u201d Stiles managed, taking the turns that would lead him back to the loft. When they got there, Stiles had to help Derek up to the loft, which meant making use of the death trap elevator.<\/p>\n \u201cI can do it,\u201d Derek muttered, trying to walk on his own, only to thump up against the elevator walls and lean hard as the elevator moved upwards to the loft apartment.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure you can,\u201d Stiles said with false cheer, \u201cBut you don\u2019t have to now, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n They survived the elevator, and Stiles got Derek laid out on the couch. \u201cOkay, now what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou need to open the bullet,\u201d Derek gasped out, and Stiles noticed that the black lines had disappeared under the sleeve of Derek\u2019s shirt.<\/p>\n Stiles made Derek sit up so he could get the shirt off him and see how far the poison had gone. He grimaced at how close those black veins were getting to Derek\u2019s chest and quickly popped open the bullet. \u201cOkay, now what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPour what\u2019s inside into a pile.\u201d Derek managed to get his shirt off with only a small struggle before falling back on the couch.<\/p>\n Stiles did so and then looked back at Derek for further instructions.<\/p>\n \u201cLight it on fire.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLight it on fire,\u201d Stiles repeated blankly.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, then take the ash and press it into the bullet wound.\u201d Stiles could see that he was gritting his teeth against the pain and that damp sweat was visible on his skin.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, this is all sorts of fun,\u201d Stiles muttered. \u201cHow am I supposed to light it? I don\u2019t have any matches.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got a lighter in my pocket.\u201d Derek lifted his hips and tried to get out the lighter that Stiles could see outlined, but he didn\u2019t seem to have the strength.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, this isn\u2019t how I imagined getting into your pants,\u201d Stiles said, smacking Derek\u2019s hands out of the way and wriggling his fingers into the tight denim to pull out the lighter.<\/p>\n He flicked it on and set fire to the pile of debris from the bullet. It sparked and flashed before leaving behind a pile of dark ash. \u201cOkay, now I just press it into the wound, no problem.\u201d<\/p>\n He gathered up the ash and turned back towards Derek, only to find him passed out and pale. \u201cGreat, just great.\u201d<\/p>\n He leaned over and pressed the ash into the bullet wound, waiting for it to do whatever it was supposed to do. Derek arched up off the couch, growling and eyes flashing, before slumping back down, once again passed out. The black lines were beginning to disappear, though, and Stiles could hear Derek\u2019s steady heartbeat, so he told himself not to worry. Stiles cleaned up and tossed the blanket from the back of the couch onto Derek before grabbing his cell.<\/p>\n \u201cStiles.\u201d The relief in the sheriff\u2019s voice was palpable.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, dad,\u201d Stiles said, trying to sound reassuring. \u201cI\u2019m fine. Tara and the deputies got there on time, and so did Derek.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI heard.\u201d His sigh of relief echoed between them. \u201cTell that boy that he has to come to dinner now so I can thank him for saving you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSaving me?\u201d Stiles heard something in his dad\u2019s voice that led him to believe that something had happened that he wasn\u2019t aware of.<\/p>\n \u201cMickey told me the trajectory of the bullets that hit the Jeep, son. If Derek hadn\u2019t moved you, according to Tara\u2026\u201d His dad didn\u2019t finish, but Stiles heard the fear in his voice and felt his fear swamp him.<\/p>\n With shaky legs, he sat down on the end of Derek\u2019s bed, the only other real piece of furniture in the loft at the moment. \u201cWow, I didn\u2019t know it was that close. I\u2019ll let him know. I was going to stay here at the loft tonight if that\u2019s okay.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s fine, kid,\u201d his dad said. \u201cIt looks like they were following you and not Derek, despite what they were saying about him. I\u2019d feel more comfortable with you there. I\u2019ve got some deputies keeping an eye on the loft for now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Dad,\u201d Stiles said. \u201cAre you coming home?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot right now. You\u2019re okay right?\u201d his dad asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I\u2019m fine. Maybe a little shaken up, but I\u2019ll be okay,\u201d Stiles reassured.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay then, I need to finish up here before I head home unless you think you need me?\u201d the sheriff asked, but Stiles could hear him already shuffling papers and starting to type on the computer.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I\u2019m fine,\u201d Stiles said. \u201cYou finish up, and I\u2019ll see you when you get back to town.\u201d<\/p>\n They talked a few more minutes before Stiles ended the call. He set the phone down beside him on the bed and stared across the room at Derek, who was still passed out on the couch. He got up and managed to get Derek\u2019s shoes off before covering him up again. Feeling exhausted himself, Stiles kicked off his shoes and took his jacket off before crawling up onto Derek\u2019s bed and curling up under the covers to try and get some sleep.<\/p>\n Stiles woke to the sun shining into his eyes from Derek\u2019s large, uncovered windows and to the smell of eggs and bacon. He sat up, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand, before crawling out of Derek\u2019s amazingly comfortable bed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re awake.\u201d Derek\u2019s voice was gruff, but there was something else in it as well. He was transferring scrambled eggs from a pan onto a large plate. Another plate piled high with bacon and sausage sat next to it. \u201cGood, breakfast is ready.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUm.\u201d Stiles\u2019 brain was still half asleep, and the image in front of him didn\u2019t compute, but he knew better than to say that. \u201cThanks?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour dad called,\u201d Derek said, handing Stiles a plate with some of everything and a fork. He gestured towards the couch and the coffee table, so Stiles headed that way to eat. \u201cHe won\u2019t be back for a couple more days and asked if I wouldn\u2019t mind having you stay with me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe say why?\u201d Stiles asked, sitting and forking up some eggs. \u201cI know I felt uneasy last night about going home, but things should be fine today, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Derek shrugged. He still looked uncomfortable that he had even the most minor of relationships with the sheriff. \u201cHe didn\u2019t tell me much. Just that the hunters aren\u2019t talking and that another died at the hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShit,\u201d Stiles muttered around his eggs. \u201cSo we don\u2019t know if there are others around, then?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Derek said, eating his breakfast. \u201cWe know that Christopher Argent\u2019s wife is in town since she went down to try and bail him out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow did that go?\u201d Stiles asked with a tilt of his head.<\/p>\n \u201cThey go before the judge this morning. I guess charges and bail will be decided by then,\u201d Derek replied, obviously not putting much thought into it.<\/p>\n \u201cSo we\u2019ll be roomies for a bit, then?\u201d Stiles asked, but he didn\u2019t doubt that Derek would let him stay. \u201cYou could always stay at my house; we have an extra room if you want.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy can\u2019t you just stay here?\u201d Derek\u2019s brows furrowed at him.<\/p>\n Looking at the dingy brown of the leather covering the couch, Stiles said,\u201cWell, as lovely as this couch is, I don\u2019t think it\u2019s made for sleeping. Leather isn\u2019t comfortable to sleep on, is all I\u2019m saying.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHmm.\u201d Derek looked down at his plate and took a couple of bites of his eggs. \u201cI like it here and you can sleep in my bed. I\u2019ll take the couch like last night.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHopefully not like last night,\u201d Stiles said, scraping the last of his eggs up, \u201cI don\u2019t want to deal with any more bullet holes, thank you very much.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek stood and took their dishes before heading back to the kitchen area.\u201cI\u2019ll take you by your house to get some clothes and things. \u201cThen, I want to take you somewhere, introduce you to someone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh,\u201d Stiles said, standing up and heading into the bathroom to wash the bacon grease off his hands. \u201cOkay, I\u2019m ready.\u201d He came back out running damp hands through his hair. It was still pretty short, but it was beginning to grow out enough to be noticeable when he looked in the mirror.<\/p>\n Derek grabbed his leather jacket and shrugged into it. \u201cCome on.\u201d<\/p>\n Stiles stepped into the elevator after him, still unsure of the contraption. He pulled his phone out to see what time it was and stared at it for a minute.<\/p>\n \u201cFuck,\u201d he said and looked at Derek, who looked utterly unruffled. \u201cIt\u2019s late, how the hell did I sleep so long?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI told you before.\u201d Derek glared at him. \u201cDon\u2019t you ever listen? Your body is completely changing from human to werewolf. From what I remember, it\u2019s an exhausting process. You need to eat more too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI listen,\u201d Stiles said a bit defensively. \u201cI just didn\u2019t expect to sleep well past noon, even after last night.\u201d<\/p>\n The elevator came to a stop and they headed out of the building to Derek\u2019s car. Stiles climbed into the passenger seat this time and caught the scent of cleaning products just over the leather. \u201cYou\u2019ve been awake for a while if you managed to get the scent of death out of your car, talk to dad, and then make food. I\u2019m pretty sure you had to go to the store to get ingredients for that since last time I looked, Old Mother Hubbard had stocked your cupboards.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI woke up a few hours before you,\u201d Derek said as he pulled out of the parking lot. \u201cI had things to take care of.\u201d<\/p>\n They sat in silence for a few minutes before Derek came to a red light. He looked over at Stiles and then laid a hand on his shoulder. \u201cThank you for your help.\u201d<\/p>\n Stiles wanted to laugh; Derek was so awkward at the moment. He didn\u2019t because he was growing very fond of this awkward Derek who was trying so hard, even if he did revert to glaring scowls before too long. \u201cYou\u2019re welcome,\u201d Stiles said. \u201cIt was no problem. We\u2019re pack, aren\u2019t we?\u201d<\/p>\n Derek took his hand back to start driving again, and the silence grew heavy between them. \u201cYeah, we are.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood,\u201d Stiles said. \u201cThat\u2019s really good.\u201d He studied Derek for another minute. He was still the fucking hot leather-wearing, scowling, grumpy guy he met a couple of weeks ago, but he was also becoming like a friend to Stiles. \u201cPack,\u201d he murmured, turning to look out his window as they drove towards his house.<\/p>\n The rest of the drive passed in comfortable silence.\u201cCome on in,\u201d Stiles said once they\u2019d pulled into his driveway. \u201cMight as well be comfortable while I take care of things here.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek scowled but shut the car off and followed him into the house. Stiles unlocked the door, holding it open for Derek.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to go pack up some things for the next few days.\u201d Stiles shrugged at Derek\u2019s curious look. \u201cI don\u2019t know when dad will be back. Even with what\u2019s going on, I doubt he\u2019ll make it back here in the next few days, and he\u2019ll be busy at the station after that. If I need anything, I can always call Tara, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay.\u201d Derek nodded, moving into the house, seeming to be taking in everything as he looked around.<\/p>\n Stiles tried to imagine what the place looked like to a stranger. The faded material on the furniture. Dust that gathered on shelves no matter how much Stiles tried to clean. Marks on the walls where pictures used to hang and the apparent spots on the mantle and shelves where pictures had been removed and never replaced. He wasn\u2019t embarrassed by his house, but he was aware it was an empty place, especially since his mother had died.<\/p>\n Stiles gave himself an internal shake and got back on track. \u201cYou can grab something to drink in the kitchen if you want,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m going to head up.\u201d He jerked a thumb towards the stairs. He put his words into action and grabbed a duffle to shove some clean clothes into. Wrapping his laptop and cords carefully, he put that in the case along with his files on the Hale fire.<\/p>\n It might be awkward, but he still needed to do some research. \u201cHey Derek, you do have internet, right?\u201d he yelled down the stairs.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t have to yell; I can hear you just fine,\u201d Derek said. From the sound of it, he was climbing the stairs.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, do you have internet?\u201d Stiles asked again, quieter this time. He looked up as Derek came through his bedroom door.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Stiles, the loft has internet and Wi-Fi.\u201d Derek looked like he wanted to roll his eyes at him but refrained.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay.\u201d Stiles shouldered his duffle and his computer bag. \u201cThen I guess I\u2019m ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n Once more in the car and on their way to meet Derek\u2019s mystery person, Stiles wondered for the first time if Derek would get upset about his research into the fire. He decided he\u2019d put off that discussion as long as possible, just in case.<\/p>\n They were pulling into the Beacon Hills Memorial\u2019s parking lot before Stiles realized who they were more than likely going to meet. He kicked himself for not doing more research on Peter Hale. He knew the guy was in some sort of coma or dissociative state, but he hadn\u2019t dug far enough to know what the diagnosis was precisely.<\/p>\n \u201cSo,\u201d Stiles started to say, but Derek was already out of the car and waiting for him before he managed to finish the word. \u201cRight.\u201d<\/p>\n He got out and followed Derek into the hospital and up to the long-term care ward. He hung back when Derek signed in, then followed him down the hall to an open door. Stiles looked in the doorway that Derek had entered and looked at the man propped up in a wheelchair staring out the window.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is my Uncle Peter,\u201d Derek said, unnecessarily. \u201cHe\u2019s the only survivor besides me, now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened to him?\u201d Stiles asked because he had the feeling it had to be pretty bad for Peter to end up in here with the werewolf healing factor. \u201cIs he a wolf?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Derek said, taking a chair near his uncle. \u201cHe was in the house when the fire started. He was the only one who got out of the house alive. He was hurt bad.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy is he here?\u201d Stiles asked, leaning against the wall near the door. He felt icy fingers dance along his spine the longer he was in the presence of the catatonic wolf. \u201cI thought he\u2019d heal, or you would have taken him with you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLaura said we couldn\u2019t take him with us.\u201d Derek looked like he\u2019d disagreed, but left it at that. \u201cHe was too hurt and we didn\u2019t even know if he\u2019d survive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat seems kind of harsh,\u201d Stiles said, turning his gaze from the scarred wolf and looking at Derek. \u201cWere you able to check on him over the years?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Derek ducked his head a little. \u201cWe knew that hunters were responsible for the fire and we weren\u2019t sure whether they were going to come after us. Laura said he\u2019d be safe here since he was in a coma, that the hunters wouldn\u2019t bother with him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat doesn\u2019t seem right.\u201d Stiles came off the wall and walked closer to Peter. Leaning down, he looked closer at him. Red hot ants crawled across his skin, and he backed away quickly. \u201cI don\u2019t think your sister should have left him here by himself, especially under his own name.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek shrugged again. \u201cI didn\u2019t think about it for a while, but when I did bring it up, Laura told me it was her decision. She was my alpha and my older sister. She knew best.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, if something like this happens to me,\u201d Stiles said, \u201cdo me a favor and don\u2019t leave me as a sacrifice to whoever comes after me, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure,\u201d Derek said seriously, and even when Stiles squinted his eyes at him, he couldn\u2019t tell if Derek was joking or not.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, why did you bring me here?\u201d Stiles asked. \u201cI mean, it\u2019s nice to see your uncle and everything, I guess, but I feel like there is more to this than that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis,\u201d Derek said, gesturing at Peter. \u201cThis is what hunters do. They set our home on fire and killed almost everyone inside \u2013 eleven people, children, and humans among them. They didn\u2019t need a reason beyond the fact that they could.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI got that,\u201d Stiles said in slight exasperation.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, you don\u2019t, or you wouldn\u2019t have attempted to face down those hunters at the gas station,\u201d Derek practically snarled at him. \u201cYou could have been hurt or even killed, and they wouldn\u2019t have cared.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe, maybe not.\u201d Stiles stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jeans. \u201cI wasn\u2019t going to bow to their intimidation tactics, though. I may not have a handle on all this wolf stuff, but I do have my own resources to use in our protection.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat would you have done if they\u2019d killed one of those deputies?\u201d Derek asked, standing and moving towards Stiles, backing him into the wall. \u201cYou could have lost control of your wolf. Right now, they don\u2019t think you\u2019re one of us, but once they do, you\u2019ll never be safe again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cListen, buddy.\u201d Stiles poked a finger into Derek\u2019s chest. \u201cI\u2019m not going to roll over because those rejects from redneck college think they can tell me what to do. If I don\u2019t do it for you, I sure as hell won\u2019t do it for them. You can take your growly grumpy self out of my face because I\u2019m not going to sit by and let them get away with it, either.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re going to get yourself killed,\u201d Derek snapped, face scowling directly into Stiles\u2019. \u201cYou\u2019re going to get your father and all those that you love killed if you aren\u2019t more careful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you don\u2019t get out of my face like this, I\u2019m going to kiss you,\u201d Stiles said, swallowing down his annoyance and fear. He smirked at the startled look that came into Derek\u2019s eyes. The threat did get him to back up some, though. \u201cI understand that you\u2019re cautious about hunters, but I\u2019m not going to hide because of what might happen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re infuriating!\u201d Derek took Stiles by the shoulders and gave him a quick shake as if trying to get through to him.<\/p>\n Stiles felt his eyes flash and he shoved Derek back. \u201cMaybe I am, but you don\u2019t get to decide how I\u2019m going to react to those assholes. I\u2019ve never backed down from bullies, Derek, and that\u2019s just what they are: bullies with guns.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThose guns will kill you.\u201d Derek\u2019s frustration leaked through his voice as it dropped to a whisper. \u201cThey\u2019ll kill you.\u201d<\/p>\n Stiles got it, then, or at least he thought he did. Derek was alone now and Stiles was the only one here with him. Peter was catatonic, Laura was dead, and Derek had no one left. No one but this newbie stranger. He\u2019d called Stiles pack, and maybe, just maybe, Derek was as hungry for a connection to someone else as Stiles was these days.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m hungry again,\u201d Stiles said, pushing himself off the wall Derek had backed him into. \u201cLet\u2019s go get something to eat and talk about what happens next.\u201d He turned and left the room without looking back.<\/p>\n Derek was right behind him as he reached the car. He waited until they were seated before turning to look at Derek. \u201cI\u2019m not going anywhere, Derek. Yeah, those assholes might try and kill me, but I don\u2019t think they\u2019ll risk it right now. They\u2019re here for something else besides you and me. We need to find out what brought them, and then we can get rid of them.\u201d He smirked at Derek\u2019s glance. \u201cOne way or another, we\u2019ll get the hunters out of town.\u201d<\/p>\n They ordered pizza back at the loft and Stiles set up his laptop while they waited for it to arrive. He was doing a quick search to see if Art had gotten back to him when his eye caught a post about halfway down the page.<\/p>\n \u2018Revenge Spiral seen in California\u2019<\/p>\n He clicked the link and saw an image of a deer with what looked to be a spiral carved into the side. The background in the photo was disturbingly familiar.<\/p>\n \u201cDerek,\u201d he called over to where Derek was doing pull-ups on a bar he\u2019d set up in the doorway of the bathroom.<\/p>\n Derek just grunted and continued to work out. Usually, Stiles would be very appreciative of such a view but now didn\u2019t seem the time.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat exactly is a revenge spiral and why is someone carving it into deer in our town?\u201d Stiles asked and watched Derek freeze halfway through a pull-up.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you say?\u201d Derek slowly relaxed his arms and dropped from the bar, turning to look at Stiles.<\/p>\n \u201cA revenge spiral.\u201d Stiles gestured to his laptop. \u201cIt looks like one was found on a deer, and if I\u2019m not mistaken, that deer is in our preserve.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShow me,\u201d Derek strode across the room shirtless and sweaty.<\/p>\n Stiles took a breath, trying not to swallow his tongue. It didn\u2019t help because now he could smell Derek. Leather, cardamom, and rich dark chocolate filled his nose and made him a little light-headed.<\/p>\n \u201cShow me,\u201d Derek demanded again, standing over the couch where Stiles had set up with the laptop.<\/p>\n Stiles turned his laptop to show Derek the post on his message board. \u201cI found this site that first day before I met you. A lot of the information is shit, but there were some things on here that rang true, so I keep an eye on it. This photo popped up. I didn\u2019t see it until now since things have been hectic the last few days.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek leaned over, putting his hand on Stiles\u2019 shoulder as he read the posting. \u201cFuck.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah?\u201d Stiles looked up at him. \u201cWhat does it mean, Derek, and should we be as worried as I think we should be?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis is probably why the hunters are here. If they\u2019ve seen this and put it together with Laura\u2019s death, then they think they are hunting a rogue wolf out for revenge in Beacon Hills.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn other words, they\u2019re here for you.\u201d Stiles ran his hands over his face, feeling suddenly tired. \u201cThis is just awesome. So, what do we do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, but this isn\u2019t good.\u201d Derek stood up and began to pace the loft.<\/p>\n Stiles let his eyes follow him while he thought. \u201cDo you think this is why Laura came back?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe.\u201d Derek stopped and looked at him. \u201cIt would make sense, I suppose.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo, whoever did this probably lured her here to kill her,\u201d Stiles said, horrified. \u201cThis wasn\u2019t a spur of the moment thing. This was premeditated murder if that is what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek turned and looked out the windows at the fading light of the day, but not before Stiles saw the look of despair on his face. \u201cI should have come with her.\u201d It was said so quietly that if Stiles hadn\u2019t had werewolf senses, he wouldn\u2019t have heard it.<\/p>\n \u201cThis isn\u2019t your fault Derek.\u201d Stiles set the laptop on the coffee table and crossed over to the vast wall of windows to stand beside Derek. \u201cYou haven\u2019t said much about your sister, but what you have said has left the impression that Laura did whatever she deemed she had to. If she thought she needed to come here and deal with this, then you weren\u2019t going to stop her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe told me to wait in New York for her, that she would only be gone a few days, and then when she came back, we would celebrate Christmas and the New Year together.\u201d Derek sounded so lost that Stiles wanted to hug him, but he refrained.<\/p>\n \u201cIt sounds like she wanted to check it out, but she didn\u2019t take it seriously.\u201d Stiles mused, \u201cI think we should take it seriously, so tell me exactly what this means.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a symbol of revenge when done like this,\u201d Derek said. \u201cI don\u2019t know all the history behind it. That wasn\u2019t something I\u2019d learned before the fire.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, what else?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA wolf or a pack will draw it to declare that they are on the path of vengeance, usually after a pack death from an outside source.\u201d Derek paused, obviously searching his mind for the details he\u2019d learned. \u201cThis one on the deer, that\u2019s just the beginning volley. The declaration, if I remember right. Next would be the death of those that are guilty.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGuilty of what?\u201d Stiles wondered.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d Derek was quite obviously frustrated. He blew out a breath. \u201cI just know that an alpha or their counsel usually decides something like this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut the only alpha here that we know of is that crazed monster that probably killed your sister and bit me.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek stared at Stiles, a kind of horror etched in his eyes. \u201cLaura wouldn\u2019t have been able to keep from coming here if news of this had reached her. We might not live here anymore, but this is Hale territory, and she\u2019d have felt the drive to protect it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think she knew who or what wanted revenge on the Hales?\u201d Stiles asked, tapping his fingers on the side of his leg as he thought.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think so. I didn\u2019t find anything in the Camaro or left in her motel room when I checked on it before reporting her missing,\u201d Derek said.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think the alpha was targeting Laura for more than her alphaness, or was it against the Hales as a whole?\u201d Stiles asked. \u201cLike did your mom have anyone who would harbor a grudge long enough that they\u2019d come after the last of the Hale pack?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Derek said, frustration leaking out. \u201cI don\u2019t know any of this. Laura was the alpha heir; I was going to be a beta. None of that would have been something I needed to know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut Laura would have told you now if you were in danger, right?\u201d Stiles put a hand on Derek\u2019s shoulder but didn\u2019t take offense when Derek paced away from him.<\/p>\n \u201cI think she would have,\u201d Derek replied, \u201cif she found anything to indicate that it was us that the spiral was targeted at. If she had time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d Stiles nodded. \u201cIf she had time. So, her death could have been threefold. Her alpha power, revenge, and to keep her from talking.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Derek said. \u201cThe werewolf you describe as coming after you \u2013 the monster? That isn\u2019t how we look during the shift; he has to be sick somehow. I would think it was an omega that got her spark, but I don\u2019t think an omega could have gotten the drop on her and killed her.\u201d<\/p>\n Stiles was silent as he thought about that. He decided to keep his opinion that Laura could have been distracted enough that anyone or anything could have gotten to her. \u201cYou talk about omegas like they\u2019re outside a regular pack. When I did research, an omega seemed to be a normal part of wolf packs.\u201d He hadn\u2019t followed Derek when he\u2019d moved away, but he hadn\u2019t sat back on the couch either. He just crossed his arms to stop his fingers from fidgeting and watched Derek.<\/p>\n \u201cWe aren\u2019t actual wolves, Stiles,\u201d Derek said, his exasperation evident. \u201cAn omega is a lone wolf in a way. They have no pack bonds and will slowly go mad. Go feral.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFeral?\u201d Stiles felt his breath hitch. \u201cIs this something I need to worry about?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot at the moment,\u201d Derek said. He went into the kitchen and got them both a bottle of water.<\/p>\n A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door. Stiles paid the delivery driver and carried the boxes into the living area. Tossing them onto the coffee table, they sat on the sofa and ate directly from the box.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, not at the moment\u2026\u201d Stiles encouraged Derek to continue.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have a pack bond to the alpha.\u201d He shook his head at Stiles\u2019 sputtering denial. \u201cYou do. It might be thin and unable to influence you much, but it is there. We\u2019re also pack, so the bonds between us are starting to grow. That will be enough to keep you from going completely feral, as long as we are careful on your first full moon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo, this alpha douche is part of the reason I\u2019m not crazy.\u201d Stiles chewed on his pizza in contemplation. \u201cEven though the evidence is showing that he\u2019s probably a crazy feral alpha?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA rogue alpha,\u201d Derek corrected. \u201cMost alphas don\u2019t go feral in the traditional way since most pack bonds originate from them. They go rogue.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet me guess.\u201d Stiles felt his lips twist in distaste. \u201cRogue alpha is just a diplomatic way to say feral alpha. Who knew that the werewolf world had politics? That might be more than I can take.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlpha, beta, omega,\u201d Derek said with a shrug, sitting back on the couch and wiping his hands with the napkins provided by the pizza place. \u201cIt\u2019s a spiral of its own. An omega can become a beta, and a beta can become an alpha, and an alpha can, eventually, become an omega.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLike your tattoo.\u201d Stiles waved a hand at him. \u201cThe triskele.\u201d At Derek\u2019s look, he smiled. \u201cOf course I looked it up. I didn\u2019t get much beyond the general meaning, but I\u2019m guessing yours means more than some religious structure or a paganism interest.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Derek said, scowling at his flippant attitude. \u201cIt\u2019s to remind me of the cycle in the pack structure, especially after ours was destroyed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, about that,\u201d Stiles said, ignoring the way Derek\u2019s glare seemed to intensify. \u201cHow and why did the hunters do that, after so many years of the Hales living in Beacon Hills? I\u2019m guessing they knew about you before that time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey knew,\u201d Derek said. \u201cI don\u2019t know that they needed a reason to kill us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, but how, then?\u201d Stiles asked, once again back to feeling like he was pulling teeth to get information out of the other man. \u201cHow come your mom or someone else didn\u2019t see them coming?\u201d<\/p>\n Derek was back on his feet, angry, and if Stiles didn\u2019t misread it, guilty. \u201cA hunter got close to a younger member of the pack. Secrets were given away and the pack was betrayed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho was it?\u201d Stiles waved away Derek when he growled at him, \u201cNot the kid, but the hunter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe was an Argent,\u201d Derek bit out. \u201cKate Argent.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAny relation to our pal Christopher?\u201d Stiles asked, already putting together the parts that Derek wasn\u2019t saying.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s his sister,\u201d Derek said, once again glaring at his reflection in the windows.<\/p>\n \u201cWonderful,\u201d Stiles said. \u201cI guess we can expect her to show up at some point if she\u2019s still alive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMore than likely,\u201d Derek agreed.<\/p>\n \u201cFanfuckingtastic.\u201d Stiles went to the kitchen and washed the grease off his hands before returning to the couch to do a little research.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going out,\u201d Derek said suddenly. \u201cYou don\u2019t go anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy can\u2019t I come with you?\u201d Stiles said, standing up and following Derek to the door.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I told you to stay here.\u201d Then he was gone before Stiles could so much as look at the shoes he\u2019d taken off shortly after they\u2019d arrived at the loft.<\/p>\n Stiles stood there looking out the door and debated following him but ultimately decided not to. Derek quite obviously needed some time to deal with things and Stiles had research to do. Putting together what Derek had said, it wasn\u2019t too hard to figure out that Derek had been the younger wolf who had given away pack secrets. Stiles wasn\u2019t sure that he agreed that Derek had betrayed his pack. Especially if his calculations were correct and Derek was fifteen or barely sixteen at the time this was going on.<\/p>\n Stiles sat down at his laptop and typed through the protocols that should keep him hidden from anyone who would be looking. He got into the county\u2019s database and pulled up their information on the Argents. He scrolled through, ignoring most of Christopher\u2019s information, but saving it offsite so he could print it out and study it later. He went in further and found Katherine Argent. He didn\u2019t follow that trail back to the FBI to see if they had her fingerprints because he wasn\u2019t as secure in his ability to get through their protections.<\/p>\n He set up a deep dive on her name and found that she\u2019d taken a position as a substitute teacher at the high school right before the fire under her alias as Katie Silva. Things began to fall into place as he saw that she was at least six years older than Derek and his teacher.<\/p>\n \u201cFuck.\u201d Stiles closed his eyes against the information, letting it sink in. His stomach churned, but he shook his head and got back to work. He couldn\u2019t figure out how she\u2019d gotten past the fingerprinting to be a teacher with her false identity but guessed that the hunters had an in at some level to help them pass in situations like that.<\/p>\n Stiles opened a blank document and began to copy and paste as much information as he could. He\u2019d already saved Katherine Argent\u2019s file offsite with her brother\u2019s file and hoped he\u2019d have time to look into that more thoroughly.<\/p>\n He felt the day dragging on him once he\u2019d finished saving everything, so he shut it down and decided to get some sleep. He hoped that his nightmares of the fire were over. He couldn\u2019t remember any from last night anyway.<\/p>\n He dragged a pair of sweats and a t-shirt out of his bag before changing and curling himself up on the couch. He refused to take Derek\u2019s bed again, and as uncomfortable as the sofa was, he figured it was better than the floor.<\/p>\n He was running. The air was ice in his lungs.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, little beta,\u201d the voice crept in. It delved deep into his being, calling more than his surface self.<\/p>\n The wolf howled. He was on the hunt. Stiles fought the wolf. He didn\u2019t want to hunt. It wasn\u2019t time to hunt yet.<\/p>\n Wolf and man tangled in his psyche. He felt the phantom echo of the bite on his side. Hot breath at his neck, slamming his head into a hard surface. He whined as pain crackled in his bones. Fangs stabbed into the back of his neck, shaking him hard enough to rattle his bones. His wolf fought him, attempting to submit. Stiles forced the wolf back, refusing to give.<\/p>\n \u201cI am your alpha. You will obey me. It\u2019s time to hunt. My prey waits for death, for my vengeance.\u201d<\/p>\n He was in the depot behind the elementary school\u2014most of the school buses parked in their barns. One sat to the side, and that was where he needed to be. A red haze filtered over his vision as he walked across the yard to the bus.<\/p>\n \u201cVengeance,\u201d it whispered through him. He felt the burning pleasure of what he was about to do. \u201cFinally, they begin to pay for what they\u2019ve done.\u201d<\/p>\n There was a man on the bus. He was panting loudly. Stiles could smell the scent of fear over the alcohol the man had consumed that night. He could smell that the man had pissed himself as soon as his first footstep had touched the bus.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, please,\u201d he whimpered at the back of the bus, crouching against the emergency door. Stiles had already disabled it when he had chosen his killing ground. \u201cI\u2019m sorry. I didn\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow you do.\u201d Stiles\u2019 voice echoed strangely in the bus. \u201cYou have to pay your dues. We all do eventually, Mr. Meyers.\u201d<\/p>\n Stiles felt the shift come over him. He lunged towards the man, tearing at him with teeth and claws. Blood poured hot down his face, flesh tore beneath his teeth, beneath his claws. He reveled in the bloody death he left on the floor of the bus when he stepped back.<\/p>\n \u201cLook at you, my beta.\u201d Another man was there when he\u2019d finished. \u201cYou will make a wonderful packmate. Beautiful in your destruction.\u201d He reached to touch Stiles.<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u201d Stiles screamed, coming awake. He was standing barefoot and shirtless in the preserve. Trees and the scent of blood surrounded him. His hands were covered with what could only be drying blood. His chest was covered with it as well. When he swallowed thickly, he tasted the sweet-salty copper of it. Staggering, he fell to his knees and began to retch uncontrollably.<\/p>\n \u201cStiles.\u201d It was Derek\u2019s voice coming from some distance away. The crash of his footsteps sounded as he hurried in Stiles\u2019 direction.<\/p>\n Stiles couldn\u2019t answer. He just kept retching until his stomach was empty. Tears ran down his face. He crawled from where he\u2019d been sick and curled into a ball at the base of a tree. He was shaking, cold and hot at the same time.<\/p>\n \u201cStiles.\u201d Suddenly, Derek was there, reaching for him. \u201cCome on, let\u2019s get you up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI killed someone.\u201d Stiles\u2019 voice was a whisper, his throat burning with more than stomach acid. \u201cI practically ate them.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek squatted down next to him. He leaned in and scented the blood on Stiles. \u201cAll I smell is animal blood. Rabbit, maybe some squirrel in there. I don\u2019t smell any other blood but your own.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI saw, I saw it!\u201d Stiles said emphatically, mind still muddled from what he\u2019d seen and done.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, let\u2019s get back to the loft.\u201d Derek hefted Stiles up to his feet and began to lead him out of the preserve. \u201cWe\u2019ll talk there.\u201d<\/p>\n Stiles made the trip back still half in a daze. His stomach clenched against getting sick again. He\u2019d heard what Derek had said, but he didn\u2019t quite believe him. Derek managed to get him into the Camaro, buckling him in like he was a child.<\/p>\n Derek looked at him for a minute before leaning over him to get something from the back seat. He dropped a scratchy blanket in his lap. \u201cYou\u2019re shaking. You\u2019re either in shock or cold. Use this.\u201d He shut the door and went around the car, getting in and turning the engine over. He began to drive back to the loft in the grey light of predawn.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks,\u201d Stiles managed through his sore throat. He wrapped the blanket over him, trying to get warm.<\/p>\n \u201cI shouldn\u2019t have left you alone last night.\u201d That was all Derek said after that.<\/p>\n The drive to the loft was silent, both of them caught in their thoughts. Stiles was trying not to remember what had happened. The warm rush of blood when he\u2019d bitten the man. The excitement, the thrill when he\u2019d stalked, hunted, and killed the man on the bus\u2014the draw to the other man who had praised his kill and talked of more.<\/p>\n Derek pulled into the parking lot and came around the car to get Stiles out since he couldn\u2019t get his fingers to cooperate enough to undo the seatbelt or open the door.<\/p>\n Derek was surprisingly patient and gentle with him as they got back to the loft apartment, taking Stiles straight into the bathroom and sitting him on the closed lid of the toilet.<\/p>\n He wet a cloth and began to wash the blood off Stiles. Stiles just sat there, his brain still trying to process as it came back online. When Derek bent down and looked into his eyes, Stiles managed a small smile of thanks.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re up to it, a shower would probably help.\u201d Derek said. \u201cI\u2019ll get you some clothes to change into.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks,\u201d Stiles repeated at Derek\u2019s back. Derek just nodded and continued out of the room, shutting the door behind him.<\/p>\n Stiles got up and turned to the shower, quickly setting the temperature as hot as he could stand. He grabbed a clean cloth from the shelves next to the sink and tossed it in the shower. Stripping his ruined clothing off and leaving them piled on the floor, he finally stepped under the spray. He took a handful of Derek\u2019s body wash and the cloth, and then he began to scrub.<\/p>\n Stiles didn\u2019t think he\u2019d ever feel clean again, and he washed his mouth with some of the water. Gagging, he fought not to get sick again when the water\u2019s heat was too reminiscent of the feeling of the blood.<\/p>\n \u201cStiles, your clothes are on the sink.\u201d Derek\u2019s voice cut through his thoughts. \u201cI brought your toothbrush, as well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d Stiles\u2019 voice was a croak. \u201cThanks, Derek.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll talk when you get done,\u201d Derek said. \u201cI\u2019ll be in the kitchen.\u201d<\/p>\n Stiles heard the door shut and hoped that Derek wasn\u2019t going to expect him to eat anything anytime soon. Stiles opened the shower door, stepping on the mat. He grabbed his toothbrush from the top of his clothes and then added some toothpaste to it before getting back in the shower.<\/p>\n He scrubbed at his teeth as hard and thoroughly as he had his body. He was reasonably sure he\u2019d never forget the taste of blood at the back of his throat or on his tongue, though.<\/p>\n Finally finished scrubbing and brushing, he tossed his toothbrush out the shower door towards the bathroom sink. He just stood under the hot water, leaning his arms on the wall and ignoring the fact that some of the moisture on his face wasn\u2019t water.<\/p>\n \u201cFuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck,\u201d he muttered, hitting his fist against the wall in a steady beat, the word echoing in his ears, just over the sound of his heart. When the water began to cool, he finally made himself move to turn it off.<\/p>\n Climbing out of the shower, he dried off and dressed quickly, grateful that Derek had included socks with the sweats. The sweater must have been one of Derek\u2019s since Stiles had never seen it before. It was dark red, fitted at the shoulders, and hung down over his hands when he put it on.<\/p>\n He walked out into the open area of the loft and turned to head towards the kitchen. Derek had unearthed a couple of bar stools from somewhere and situated them at the counter, so Stiles sat down in one.<\/p>\n \u201cHere,\u201d Derek said, sliding a mug of something steaming hot across the counter to him.<\/p>\n Stiles took the mug from him and sniffed it. He got the scent of mint and chamomile with a touch of honey. He just nodded and attempted a smile since he wasn\u2019t sure what to say beyond thanking Derek again.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry I wasn\u2019t here last night.\u201d Derek sat in the chair next to Stiles. His shoulders hunched as if expecting a blow. \u201cI should have been here to stop this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDerek,\u201d Stiles sighed gustily. He didn\u2019t want to get into Derek\u2019s martyr complex at this particular moment. \u201cThis wasn\u2019t your fault; I don\u2019t blame you for what happened. Unless you had some part in my killing someone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI had nothing to do with what happened,\u201d Derek said sharply, looking up. His eyes flashed blue for a minute before he got himself back in control. \u201cYou didn\u2019t kill anyone either. Just\u2013Just tell me what happened from your point of view.\u201d<\/p>\n Stiles took a sip of the tea to soothe his throat and calm his stomach.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was hazy at first. I felt, well, I guess I would call it my wolf. It wanted to go hunting, but I didn\u2019t want to. Something didn\u2019t feel right. I don\u2019t have a problem with my wolf and you know that,\u201d he said, looking at Derek.<\/p>\n Derek dipped his head in acknowledgment. He\u2019d remarked on how well Stiles had taken to the bite and training, especially for someone unwilling.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, the fact that I wanted to fight against whatever was pulling the wolf part of me set off some serious red alerts,\u201d Stiles added, drinking some of the tea to soothe the rasp in his throat.<\/p>\n \u201cWere you awake?\u201d Derek asked. He leaned forward, looking at the mug of tea until Stiles took another drink of it.<\/p>\n Stiles set the mug down on the counter and thought. \u201cNo, looking back, I\u2019m pretty sure that I was asleep when it all started. For the better part of everything, I was running on my subconscious mind.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll right, go on,\u201d Derek said, sitting back again.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, then there was a voice.\u201d Stiles shuddered. \u201cThis really creepy voice, male, I think. At least, it had the feel of a man to it. He called me his \u2018little beta\u2019, told me to come hunt and that I didn\u2019t have a choice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSounds like the alpha.\u201d Derek nodded like he hadn\u2019t expected anything else. \u201cWhat happened after that? Just tell me what you can remember.\u201d<\/p>\n Stiles took a deep breath and let it out before he could continue. \u201cHe said that our prey was waiting for death, for vengeance. The next thing I knew, I was in the old bus yard and the red haze was even more noticeable when I was looking around there. I went straight to the bus where a man was hiding. I don\u2019t know how I knew to go there, but it\u2019s where I knew I had to be.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek laid a hand on his knee when Stiles\u2019 breath caught and he fought down the urge to gag again. \u201cIt\u2019ll be okay, Stiles; you didn\u2019t kill anyone. Finish telling me what you saw and I\u2019ll explain.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, okay.\u201d Stiles took another shuddering breath, drinking in the scent of Derek. The leather, spice, and green plants spoke of comfort and safety, which Stiles desperately needed. \u201cI got on the bus and the man was in the back. I could smell him and I knew what I smelled. It was his fear and shame and he\u2019d pissed himself at some point. I could smell that, as well. Vengeance kept running through my mind. Other than that, I wasn\u2019t really thinking in words. I spoke to the man, but it didn\u2019t sound like me. My voice echoed weirdly.\u201d Stiles paused and took a deep breath before continuing. \u201cThen I attacked him. I killed him with claws and with my teeth. I tore him apart, Derek.\u201d His voice began to climb and he felt the hysteria bubble up from his chest.<\/p>\n \u201cStiles! Stiles!\u201d Derek reached over and shook him gently. \u201cYou didn\u2019t. You did not kill anyone. It was the alpha; he\u2019s trying to call you out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d Stiles felt lost. He wanted to curl up and forget what he\u2019d seen, what he\u2019d done the night before. \u201cDerek?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf he gets you to hunt with him and kill, it will solidify the pack bond that you have with him.\u201d Derek pulled Stiles up and led him over to the couch. \u201cHere, sit,\u201d he ordered Stiles down and then covered him with the throw before moving to get another blanket off his bed, adding it to the pile.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you sure I didn\u2019t kill anyone?\u201d Stiles heard how small his voice sounded and hated it, but he couldn\u2019t seem to get over what he\u2019d seen.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t smell any blood on you that wasn\u2019t an animal.\u201d Derek paused. \u201cOther than your own. He probably called you and, when you resisted, your wolf went hunting for what it would consider appropriate prey.\u201d Derek shrugged when Stiles looked at him with wide eyes. \u201cThe alpha probably carried you along with the bond while he made the killing that he\u2019d wanted you to take part in.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo he killed someone then?\u201d Stiles asked, eyes squeezed shut against the inevitable. He hoped the answer was no.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know for sure, but probably,\u201d Derek said. \u201cI have never trained to be an alpha, but I have heard some things about this. Laura and my mom both sometimes had emotions bleed over the bonds. They had a lot of control, though, and it didn\u2019t happen very often and never as purposeful as this seems to be.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was revenge. That\u2019s why the alpha killed that guy,\u201d Stiles said. \u201cIf he did kill him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what you said,\u201d Derek agreed.<\/p>\n \u201cSo we need to find out if he did kill someone. And if he did, we need to find out everything we can about them because this is suddenly bigger than just your sister if he\u2019s killing people in bus yards for revenge,\u201d Stiles said with a shudder as he remembered the end of the dream.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Derek moved to sit next to him on the couch.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was very creepy. He called me beautiful, but it was gross, and then he moved to touch me. That\u2019s when I woke up in the preserve. I was trying to get away from him. I knew I didn\u2019t want his hands anywhere near me.\u201d Stiles shuddered again. \u201cHe gave off some nasty bad touch vibes.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek raised his brows and then nodded. \u201cSome alphas \u2013 not my family, but some \u2013 believe that their betas belong to them in all ways. Those packs tend to be pretty small, only about a handful of wolves.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo it wasn\u2019t just vibes. This alpha is really into lack of consent, what with the bite and now his creepy seduction attempts.\u201d Stiles felt like getting sick all over again.<\/p>\n \u201cIt seems that way.\u201d Derek shook his head and stared hard at Stiles. \u201cThe bite is a gift. My mother always said that. It was something I grew up just knowing. What happened to you was an abomination and could have resulted in an out-of-control omega here in Beacon Hills. The fact that you have enough control to keep from going omega and to fight off the pull from the alpha is amazing. I don\u2019t think anyone else could have pulled this off.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStop, you\u2019re making me blush,\u201d Stiles said, attempting to gather himself back together.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve never seen you blush about anything, even when you should,\u201d Derek muttered the last part of his sentence.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, when is that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe way you eat curly fries or molest the straws in your drinks,\u201d Derek answered automatically. Stiles saw that his ears were turning pink but decided not to say anything.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, never mind that, then,\u201d Stiles said, hiding a smirk at the thought of Derek flustered by him. The idea helped kill some of the gross feeling lingering from his interaction with the creep in his dream.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to head to the bus yard and find out if my,\u201d he paused at that point. \u201cIf my dream is at all true.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll have to be careful,\u201d Derek said. \u201cIf I\u2019m right, I doubt the body has gone undiscovered. If it has, it won\u2019t be for very long.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, it won\u2019t.\u201d Stiles swallowed harshly. \u201cThere will probably be a lot of blood, and if someone doesn\u2019t find him soon, then we can call in an anonymous tip if we find a body.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay.\u201d Derek stood, looking down at Stiles. \u201cAre you sure you\u2019ll be okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, of course,\u201d Stiles said, and at Derek\u2019s raised eyebrows, he shrugged. \u201cI don\u2019t have much choice, do I?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou could wait here,\u201d Derek suggested. \u201cI could go look and let you know. You don\u2019t have to see it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think.\u201d Stiles paused and tried to think of what he needed to say. \u201cI need to see it with my own eyes, or I\u2019m never going to be able to get it out of my head. At least this way, I\u2019ll know what happened a little more clearly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlright,\u201d Derek said with another careful look at him. \u201cGet your shoes on, and we\u2019ll head out.\u201d<\/p>\n Riding in the Camaro towards what was most likely a murder scene had Stiles reflecting on this new life. He was a werewolf, Derek had become something of a friend in the last week or so, and an alpha out there wanted to make Stiles his murder puppet while creeping on him.<\/p>\n Werewolves and all that came along with it was not the direction he\u2019d thought his life would go, but he doubted anyone in his previous life did either.<\/p>\n \u201cDerek,\u201d Stiles said, getting the other wolf\u2019s attention. \u201cThanks for being my pack.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo problem,\u201d Derek said, scowling at his steering wheel after he\u2019d parked. \u201cI\u2019ll take care of the alpha, Stiles. Don\u2019t worry about him too much.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think you will,\u201d Stiles said, a little shocked that he trusted Derek to follow through on his promise. \u201cYou won\u2019t leave me behind when you go back to New York, right? I mean, you\u2019ll stay in touch?\u201d Stiles asked. He didn\u2019t know why it was essential to make it clear right now, but he felt unmoored and desperately needed to know.<\/p>\n \u201cAs long as I can, I\u2019ll stay in touch with you, Stiles,\u201d Derek replied, and while that wasn\u2019t unequivocal, yes, it was close enough for Stiles.<\/p>\n \u201cCool,\u201d he said and got out of the car. The scent of blood was heavy in the air, and Stiles was surprised that people without supernatural senses couldn\u2019t smell it. \u201cI wish you\u2019d been wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo do I,\u201d Derek said, frowning towards the bus yard just a few feet away. Flashing blue and red lights were already there, as well as the police tape and deputies to keep out the gawkers.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s Tara.\u201d Stiles pointed. \u201cI\u2019m supposed to meet up with her about the hunters at the gas station later, anyway. Let me see what I can get from her.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek grabbed his arm and pulled him back. \u201cOr we could wait here and listen in to the conversations happening over there without them telling you to go away.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, yeah.\u201d Stiles blinked at the thought. \u201cThat would be better, wouldn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n Derek looked at him with a quirk of his lips that Stiles had taken to mean that Derek was amused.<\/p>\n \u201cUh-huh, smart ass, what are they saying?\u201d Stiles asked with a roll of his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cThey think an animal got into the bus and killed one of the bus drivers. They\u2019ve identified him as Garrison Meyers.\u201d Derek listened some more. \u201cHe had a known drinking problem. When he was attacked, they think he was too intoxicated to get away.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGarrison Meyers,\u201d Stiles repeated and then winced when he saw that Tara was looking his way. \u201cI need to go talk to her. It would be noticeable if I didn\u2019t try and find out what was going on since they\u2019ve seen me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGo on.\u201d Derek waved him off, obviously still listening to the crime scene techs to see if he could pick up any more information.<\/p>\n \u201cTara, what a surprise to see you here,\u201d Stiles called out as he came up to the police line. \u201cI thought you\u2019d still be busy cleaning up from the other night.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Tara said sardonically. \u201cI\u2019m sure it\u2019s a shock to the system to see me at a crime scene. The real question is, what are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell.\u201d Stiles shrugged. \u201cDerek was taking us out to get breakfast when I saw the lights. You know me, I had to make sure my favorite people are safe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh-huh.\u201d Tara glanced over to where Derek was leaning against his car with his arms crossed, a scowl on his face. \u201cDid you nag at Derek until he brought you over here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNag.\u201d Stiles drew back in false affront. \u201cI would never.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPoor guy.\u201d Tara shook her head at Stiles\u2019 antics. \u201cHe didn\u2019t know what he was getting into when he became your friend, did he?\u201d<\/p>\n Stiles grinned at her. \u201cProbably not. Now, he\u2019s met me in real life and it\u2019s too late for him to back out now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you\u2019ve seen we\u2019re okay, so you can head on to your breakfast date,\u201d Tara told him, reaching over to push him away from the line gently.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened, Tara?\u201d Stiles turned serious. \u201cYou might be joking with me, but you look upset and the techs are pretty green looking.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know I won\u2019t tell you anything about an active investigation,\u201d Tara began to say.<\/p>\n \u201cI know.\u201d Stiles held his hands up as if suing for peace. \u201cJust, this doesn\u2019t have anything to do with the other night, does it?\u201d<\/p>\n Tara looked at him, startled. \u201cThat what\u2019s bothering you? No, this doesn\u2019t have anything to do with that. We have most of the assailants in jail right now, so you don\u2019t need to worry about any of them for the time being.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a relief.\u201d Stiles went to head back to the car, but paused. \u201cHey, Tara \u2013 will any of them make bail and, if they do, are they staying in town?\u201d<\/p>\n She looked uncomfortable, but nodded. \u201cChristopher Argent is already out. His family recently moved here, so he\u2019s out and waiting for his day in court, but if he bothers you again, you let us know.\u201d She fixed him with a look he knew all too well. It was one that he knew better than to argue with. \u201cMatter of fact, Stiles, I\u2019m going to insist that when you come down to the station this afternoon to give your official statement, that you fill out a restraining order against each of these guys, especially against Christopher Argent. Now, Derek\u2019s an adult, so I can only advise him strongly to do the same. These guys seem to have some kind of beef with him and a restraining order will give him some measure of protection if one of them starts to harass him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I can do that. I hope I don\u2019t have to deal with any of those guys again, to be honest,\u201d he said, wiping suddenly damp hands on his jeans. \u201cYou\u2019ll be the one signing off on my statement and the restraining order?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, kiddo.\u201d Tara reached over and ruffled his hair. \u201cStanding in as big sister guardian until your dad gets back. You go have breakfast with your internet boyfriend. We still need to have some words about internet safety later.\u201d She raised her eyebrows at him.<\/p>\n \u201cJesus, Tara,\u201d Stiles huffed with a laugh. \u201cIt\u2019s not like that at all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo?\u201d Tara eyed Derek over Stiles\u2019 shoulder. \u201cToo bad.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou are a wicked, wicked woman, Tara Graeme.\u201d Stiles shook his finger at her before turning serious. \u201cStay safe, Deputy Tara.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou too, kiddo.\u201d She turned around as her name was called. \u201cI\u2019ve got to go back to work.\u201d<\/p>\n Stiles waved at her, turned, and headed back to the Camaro and Derek. \u201cI didn\u2019t get much from her, but I didn\u2019t expect to. You get anything else?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot much,\u201d Derek said as he slid back into the car. \u201cI can tell you that I didn\u2019t catch your scent anywhere near here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I couldn\u2019t smell much over the scent of blood, so I can\u2019t help much on that front. You smell anything else?\u201d Stiles had been working on his senses, but he\u2019d only been practicing deciphering scents for a couple of days. His hearing and anger spikes had been more critical on the control scale.<\/p>\n \u201cI did catch the scent of something,\u201d Derek said, frowning as he shifted gears and they headed through town. \u201cIt was familiar, but I can\u2019t place it. It might just be something in Beacon Hills from when I was a kid, but I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, let\u2019s head to get something to eat. I don\u2019t think I can handle meat right now.\u201d Just the thought made Stiles\u2019 stomach lurch. \u201cI will not turn down pancakes, though.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe diner?\u201d Derek asked with a level of resignation that Stiles didn\u2019t appreciate.<\/p>\n \u201cThe diner,\u201d he agreed firmly. \u201cDon\u2019t pretend that it\u2019s such a hardship to eat there. I know you like their food.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe not for every meal,\u201d Derek said, turning the car around and heading towards the diner on the other side of town.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t eat every meal there,\u201d Stiles defended with a grin. \u201cJust every meal I can get away with.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek just raised a judgemental eyebrow at him and continued to drive. \u201cAfter breakfast, we\u2019ll continue to work on your training. You need to be able to decipher scents as soon as possible. You don\u2019t want to have everything overwhelmed by one strong scent. That\u2019s dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay.\u201d Stiles shrugged in agreement. \u201cI need to look up this Garrison Meyers as well, find out why the alpha would kill him while claiming revenge. He wasn\u2019t a werewolf, was he?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, not that I\u2019m aware of,\u201d Derek said, pulling into the parking lot of the diner.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, it sounds like we have a plan for the day. Let\u2019s eat and then get to it.\u201d Stiles was up and on his way into the diner before Derek could say anything to him. Stiles was doing his best not to think about what had happened last night and the part he\u2019d played in it, even if it was just as a viewer. His stomach churned, and he felt his anxiety rise as his mind started to play over what he\u2019d seen.<\/p>\n A warm hand settled on the back of his neck. \u201cBreathe,\u201d Derek\u2019s voice was a quiet rumble in his ear. \u201cThis is not the place to lose control. We\u2019ll get the food to go if you don\u2019t think you can handle this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, no.\u201d Stiles shook his head but leaned into the warmth of Derek\u2019s hand. \u201cI\u2019ll be fine. I need to stop thinking about it for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek grunted, his hand dropping as he moved away from Stiles.The warmth and sense of safety Stiles had gotten from Derek\u2019s hand was immediately missed. Shrugging his disappointment off, he followed Derek to a booth.<\/p>\n After they ordered their breakfast, they sat in silence. Stiles listened to the diners as they came in and left. News of someone dying on the bus was all over town now. While Tara and his dad might want to keep a lid on things, Beacon Hills, while not a small town, did have a small-town mindset, and everyone would know everything before lunch if Stiles didn\u2019t miss his guess.<\/p>\n The waitress delivered their orders to the table before Stiles had a chance to say anything. Stiles caught Derek\u2019s eye after she left and nodded over towards the table of three older men discussing their theories on the killing.<\/p>\n \u201cI was thinking. Everyone is going to know about Meyers\u2019 death by lunch. I might have underestimated this town,\u201d he muttered, stabbing a bite of pancake and swirling it through the syrup on his plate and sitting back.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe,\u201d Derek said, eating his breakfast with small, precise bites.<\/p>\n Any other day, Stiles would mock him for his dainty werewolf manners, but he just finished his meal as quickly as possible. They drained the last of their coffee and Stiles glanced at the gossiping customers around them one last time.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d Derek said quietly. He stood and threw some money on the table to cover the food and a generous tip.<\/p>\n Stiles scowled at him but didn\u2019t argue. He\u2019d tried to fight Derek paying for everything when they\u2019d first started eating together, but Derek had just frowned at him and said they were pack. Stiles had gotten the impression that he\u2019d hurt Derek\u2019s feelings if he insisted on paying, so he let it go for now.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, back to the loft,\u201d Stiles said, following him out. \u201cI should probably text dad, check-in with him. Find out if he knows when he\u2019ll be back. I also need to check in with Tara and see when she wants me down at the station to do my paperwork.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek just hummed at him in agreement and they drove back to the loft.<\/p>\n Stiles texted his dad but didn\u2019t get an immediate reply. He did get one from Tara and made arrangements to meet with her later to give his statement and start the restraining order paperwork.<\/p>\n Stiles and Derek worked on his senses for a while until Stiles\u2019 frustration started to get the better of him and he began to flash his eyes and snarl at Derek. Then, they meditated for an hour to help him find his anchor.<\/p>\n Derek drove him to the station, where they both gave their statements about the incident with the hunters and Stiles filled out the restraining order.<\/p>\n \u201cYou need to fill one of these out for yourself,\u201d Stiles muttered when Tara walked away to get the forms.<\/p>\n \u201cIt won\u2019t do any good,\u201d Derek said, shrugging. \u201cI\u2019ve told you that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, it can\u2019t do any more damage than what\u2019s been happening, Derek,\u201d Stiles insisted. \u201cJust fill it out. It can\u2019t hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt could,\u201d Derek muttered sullenly.<\/p>\n \u201cDerek, have you decided what you\u2019d like to do?\u201d Tara asked, returning to her desk with a stack of papers from the printer.<\/p>\n Derek heaved a sigh, looking at Stiles, and then he looked back at the deputy. \u201cI\u2019ll fill out the restraining orders, but I don\u2019t know how much good they\u2019ll do.\u201d<\/p>\n Stiles got ready for bed that night, satisfied that he\u2019d helped Derek stand up to the hunters, even if nothing ever came of it. He finally received a short text from his dad saying he\u2019d be home the next day. Falling asleep, Stiles made a note to look into Garrison Meyers after school. He\u2019d almost forgotten that the first day back was tomorrow and he had to meet with Ms. Dillon. Derek had agreed to take him home early to get ready and then to the school for the meeting.<\/p>\n Fire roared. The ceiling buckled.<\/p>\n He had to get out. Get out.<\/p>\n The heat burned to the bone.<\/p>\n What was happening? Why?<\/p>\n Wolfsbane in the air. Perfume.<\/p>\n An attack. Murder.<\/p>\n He would have his vengeance.<\/p>\n Stiles broke through his dreams, shooting up in the bed. Derek jerked back from where he\u2019d been leaning over him to avoid a hit to the face.<\/p>\n \u201cFuck,\u201d Stiles said, breathing rapidly, cold sweat prickling on his skin as it dried in the air of the loft.<\/p>\n \u201cWas it the alpha?\u201d Derek demanded. He\u2019d insisted that Stiles take his bed while he slept on the couch again. In part to make sure that Stiles wouldn\u2019t get out the door without Derek being aware. He sat next to Stiles now, his hand on the bed where it had fallen from the shoulder he\u2019d been shaking Stiles awake.<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Stiles said. \u201cAt least, I don\u2019t think so. I just dream of fire, probably because of the research I was doing on the hunters and the fire. It made its way into my subconscious.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou looked into the fire?\u201d Derek asked. He stood up and moved away. \u201cWhy would you do that?\u201d He sounded angry, but Stiles thought he detected some fear behind it.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I wanted to know what I was up against,\u201d Stiles said warily. He knew that this was always going to be a sore subject for Derek, but he was so off-kilter from waking that the filter on his words was utterly gone. \u201cYou know the fire wasn\u2019t your fault, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWasn\u2019t my\u2026\u201d Derek stopped pacing and looked at Stiles with something akin to horror etched on his face. \u201cYou know.\u201d His tone was accusatory, his eyes beginning to flash blue.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Stiles protested, wincing when Derek glared at him after glancing at his chest. \u201cI\u2019m not lying, not really. I did some research, and I can guess what might have happened. Between what you\u2019ve said and what I turned up on the Argents, I deduced what probably happened.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen you know it was my fault,\u201d Derek replied, sounding gutted. He sat on the couch, legs giving out as if his strings had been cut. \u201cI betrayed them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, it wasn\u2019t.\u201d Stiles got out of the bed and stomped across the room to sit on the coffee table in front of Derek. \u201cYou were used by what my research shows is a manipulative mass-murdering bitch.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek looked at him with devastation in his eyes before he crumpled into himself. Stiles could sympathize to a certain extent; he blamed himself for his mother\u2019s death, and for Scott\u2019s, though he knew it wasn\u2019t logical or realistic. That didn\u2019t stop it from hurting like a raw and open wound every time he thought about it.<\/p>\n \u201cDerek, it wasn\u2019t your fault,\u201d Stiles repeated. \u201cI know that you don\u2019t believe me, but it really wasn\u2019t. She took advantage of a fifteen-year-old boy and used that to attack your family.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek was trying to pull himself together and it didn\u2019t look like he was doing so well. Stiles noticed that Derek was retreating to his default when he didn\u2019t know how to deal. Anger.<\/p>\n Derek\u2019s eyes flashed and he stood up so suddenly that Stiles flailed back for a moment before he caught himself.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t know what you\u2019re talking about,\u201d Derek snarled, eyes flashing blue and his teething lengthening before retreating to normal. \u201cYou are just a stupid kid that got involved in this world by chance. You don\u2019t understand any of it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou might be right,\u201d Stiles said, standing carefully and nodding. \u201cI still say it wasn\u2019t your fault.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek glared at him, then looked out the window. Stiles followed his gaze and saw that the sun was beginning to rise. \u201cI\u2019ll take you home so you can get ready for your meeting at the school.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, okay.\u201d Stiles realized that their conversation was over for now. \u201cLet me grab my things.\u201d He didn\u2019t bother changing his clothes, just slipped his feet in his shoes and threw his stuff into his backpack and laptop case.<\/p>\n Derek was waiting next to the elevator when Stiles got there, his face set in a permanent glare.<\/p>\n Stiles ignored him, knowing that he wouldn\u2019t get anything out of a Derek that was so defensively angry.<\/p>\n He\u2019d think about why he could read Derek so well later when he was alone and could spend some time analyzing it. Or maybe he would just ignore it until it went away like he was doing with about half of what was happening right now.<\/p>\n Derek made it to the Stilinski home in record time. The early grey light of predawn was starting to show in the sky when they arrived and Stiles hurried through his house to change his clothes and repack his bag for his meeting with Ms. Dillon.<\/p>\n He was back in the Camaro and on his way to the school in no time. The sun had risen sometime while he was in the house and he had about thirty minutes before the first bell when he arrived at the school.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Derek,\u201d he made sure to say to his silent chauffeur. \u201cI don\u2019t know how long this will take, so, unless you want to wait.?\u201d At Derek\u2019s glare, he moved on. \u201cI didn\u2019t think so. I can find my way home afterward. I will see you later, right?\u201d He couldn\u2019t help but ask the question.<\/p>\n Derek grunted. \u201cYeah, I\u2019ll be in touch.\u201d He pulled away almost as soon as Stiles shut the door.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, isn\u2019t that fantastic? Pissed off the werewolf that\u2019s supposed to teach you how to werewolf. Awesome, Stiles, just awesome,\u201d Stiles muttered to himself, hitching his bag on his shoulder. He walked into the school, ignoring everyone around him. Just like he had for the last few years, he went directly to the counseling office to talk with Ms. Dillon, the counselor, about the testing schedule and what he had left to do in the school itself before he could graduate.<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Stilinski.\u201d Ms. Janice smiled at him, rising from her desk to greet him. \u201cI noticed that you changed your mind about finishing up your schooling ahead of time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d Stiles shrugged his backpack off and sat down in the chair across from her. \u201cI know my dad wanted me to do the normal school thing, but I\u2019m getting bored and I don\u2019t want to hold back anymore just to fit into some arbitrary timeline.\u201d He had sat down and gone over reasonable arguments for this that didn\u2019t include werewolves anywhere in it.<\/p>\n Ms. Dillon shuffled some things on her desk and pulled out a file, which turned out to be his. \u201cYes, I can see that.\u201d She smiled at him to take the sting out of her words. \u201cMr. Harris has been sending more notes about you than usual this year.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, he\u2019s not my biggest fan,\u201d Stiles agreed. \u201cI try to do what I\u2019m supposed to, but the more bored I get, the more distracted I get. So, I thought about the options you mentioned and decided this was the path I wanted to take.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour email made it clear that you\u2019ve thought it through. The rest of your correspondence regarding the matter was highly informative and thorough,\u201d Ms. Dillon said, nodding and making some notes in his file. \u201cWe just need to get you a schedule for your testing, then. You\u2019ll have the next two weeks to study for them. We\u2019ll schedule you for testing on the 18th and 19th. If we use both full days for testing, you\u2019ll finish by the cutoff dates, and we should have the results back early in February.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do I do about school and classes between now and then?\u201d Stiles asked, wanting a clear idea of what the next few weeks would entail, at least academically for him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can take the next week and clear out any past due assignments you have to turn in, but as of right now, your classes are complete. As long as you pass these tests, high school is over on the 20th<\/sup>.\u201d Ms. Dillon smiled at him. \u201cI have no doubts that you\u2019ll pass with flying colors.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Ms. Dillon,\u201d Stiles said, standing and hooking his backpack with his hand. \u201cI guess I\u2019ll clean out my locker and take my textbooks to the library. I should be able to turn them in today.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat sounds like a good plan.\u201d She smiled. \u201cYou can take advantage of the library and study halls here if you need them to study.\u201d<\/p>\n Stiles was already shaking his head, \u201cI don\u2019t know how well I would focus there. It\u2019s a good option if I need it, but I think I will be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n Stiles smiled at her and headed for the door with a wave of farewell.<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Stilinski \u2013 Stiles?\u201d She sounded oddly hesitant for the first time since he\u2019d known her.<\/p>\n He turned around. \u201cYes, Ms. Dillon?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a delight to watch you move through this school.\u201d She paused as if weighing the wisdom of her following words. \u201cYour mother would be quite proud of you.\u201d<\/p>\n Stiles felt a lump stick in his throat. Ms. Dillon had worked with his mother at the library before finishing her degree. \u201cThanks, Ms. Dillon. I appreciate that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGo forth and conquer,\u201d she said with a slightly watery smile.<\/p>\n \u201cI shall, I shall,\u201d Stiles replied with a salute, just as he had when his mother had said the same thing to him. He hurried out of the office, throat too full of grief to say anything else.<\/p>\n He made his way quickly to the library and the table back in the far corner. He just sat there trying to breathe, like he always did when his mom came up in conversation with someone who knew her.<\/p>\n Once he got himself under control, he cleaned out his locker, throwing away the junk that had accumulated in the last few months and stacking up the books that he would need to turn in to the office and library before he left. He made his way to the few classrooms that had assigned work over the break. He turned in his assignments before heading to the library to check in the textbooks.<\/p>\n Done with that, he sent a text to his dad to let him know that he\u2019d be at the house when Noah got in.<\/p>\n It was just after noon when Stiles headed out of the school. He shouldered his bag, now filled with the detritus of his high school career, and headed out to walk home. He wished that he felt okay enough to call Derek for a ride but figured they could both use some space after this morning. Really, he just didn\u2019t want to call and have Derek refuse to answer the phone, but he wasn\u2019t going to think about that.<\/p>\n He was nearly halfway home when he heard a car pull up beside him and he felt those icy fingers of fear pirouette up his spine once again. He did his best to look unaffected as he found himself staring into the face of Katherine Argent, hunter and murderer. He wasn\u2019t even going to label her other crimes right now.<\/p>\n \u201cHello,\u201d he said with a hesitant smile as he stomped down the rage that was trying to build inside his mind. \u201cAre you lost?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, sweetie,\u201d Kate said, a crocodile smile stretching her mouth and turning Stiles\u2019 stomach. \u201cI believe you\u2019re just who I\u2019m looking for. You\u2019re the Stilinski boy, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I\u2019m Stiles,\u201d he said, wondering what the hell was going on and if he could call for help before she tried to kill him. \u201cUm, Stiles Stilinski, that is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere was a bit of a misunderstanding between you and my brother,\u201d She gave him a flirty smile, and he had to force his stomach down. \u201cI\u2019m Kate Argent.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, uh.\u201d Stiles hooked his pack up higher. Preparing to drop it and run, he hoped he wouldn\u2019t have to. \u201cI don\u2019t think I can talk to you.\u201d He held tight to the act of the stupid high school kid and prayed to make it away from her without a bullet hole in his person.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, come on, sweetie.\u201d Kate opened her door. Blond hair fell away from her face in waves as she uncoiled herself from the car. She was wearing tight blue jeans and a low-cut red top. She was the image of what would appeal to most teenage boys.<\/p>\n If Stiles hadn\u2019t known about what she\u2019d done, she might have been able to fluster his bisexual heart. He did know, and she smelled of wolfsbane, gunpowder, and deceit. He hadn\u2019t even known that deception had a scent until just now.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, really,\u201d Stiles said, backing away. He made sure to keep that dopey teenage boy look on his face. \u201cI don\u2019t want you to get in trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI won\u2019t get in trouble.\u201d She smiled, her red lips curving up seductively, and she winked at him. \u201cI just want to clear up this misunderstanding?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat misunderstanding?\u201d He forced himself not to say, \u2018your brother and his gang accosted me at a gas station and then tried to kill the deputies who came to tell them to stop.\u2019 He had a feeling that wouldn\u2019t go over well.<\/p>\n \u201cChris was perhaps a little too enthusiastic in his approach,\u201d she said, leaning forward and giving him a good view of her breasts. She laid a hand on his arm, brushing down the sleeve of his shirt before pulling back. \u201cBut we just wanted to protect you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProtect me?\u201d Stiles kept his voice steady, his heart beating too fast when he\u2019d realized that she was moving towards him. \u201cHe told me that my friend was dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDerek Hale?\u201d she asked, and she began to walk around him in a circle. \u201cDerek is dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDerek wouldn\u2019t hurt anyone,\u201d Stiles said, leaving out that Derek planned to kill the alpha because that was a whole other story. He followed her movements, even as he was getting dizzy turning in circles. \u201cHe\u2019s been my friend for a long time and my dad did a background check on him and everything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure your father looked everywhere he could,\u201d Kate agreed, coming to a stop right in front of him. \u201cHe just doesn\u2019t know where to look. I promise you, Derek Hale is dangerous and you should stay away from him if you want to stay safe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t understand,\u201d Stiles said, forcing the anger he felt to stay down. The absolute last thing he needed to do was flash his eyes at her right now.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re a cute little thing, aren\u2019t you?\u201d She said, leaning in, \u201cJust take my warning seriously, Stiles, if you want to be safe. Derek Hale is dangerous. Stay away from him. Get your dad to stay away from the Argents. We\u2019re just here to help.\u201d With that, she turned around, got back in her car, and left.<\/p>\n Stiles sucked in a shaky breath. Spots danced in his vision as he waited until her tail lights were out of view before he bent with his hands on his knees and drew in great gulping breaths of air not polluted with wolfsbane or her potent mix of scents.<\/p>\n \u201cCreepy lady is creepy,\u201d he muttered, but it didn\u2019t seem like they knew that Stiles was a werewolf. They seemed to think that he was just some poor dope that had somehow become friends with Derek. He also got the impression that they intended to kill Derek sometime soon. He didn\u2019t know if they thought Derek was the alpha or were just trying to use him to draw out whoever was leaving spirals and bodies lying around.<\/p>\n He waited a few minutes and then pulled his phone out of his pocket. Stiles tried calling Derek, but he didn\u2019t pick up. He refused to let that make him uneasy or angry. Stiles left a short message telling him that Kate was in town and being creepy. Then, he texted him the same message. That done, he hurried home as quickly as possible. He had no desire to be accosted by Kate or the hunters that had probably come into town with her. Once he was home, he shut and locked the door.<\/p>\n Dropping his pack, he slid down the door. He felt his breath begin to come in gasps. His chest felt tight. He closed his eyes. He tried to breathe. In and out, in and out.<\/p>\n It took a few minutes, but the dizzy feeling began to fade and he could breathe again. When he opened his eyes, he still felt sick to his stomach and wobbly. He got to his feet before looking down and realizing that his claws were out.<\/p>\n His anxiety began to climb again and he couldn\u2019t concentrate on putting them away. He moved out away from the door and managed to get to his room. He tried the breathing exercises that Derek had run through with him. It wasn\u2019t helping and he could feel it getting worse. The hair was beginning to sprout on his face. His mouth was full of teeth. Teeth that didn\u2019t quite fit while he was mostly human.<\/p>\n \u2018Find your anchor,\u2019<\/em> he heard Derek\u2019s voice order in his mind. It was a common refrain during their meditation sessions.<\/p>\n He tried to cast his mind out to find an anchor to keep his shift under control. He hadn\u2019t had problems to this extent since those first few days, not since Derek had begun to help him. He remembered Derek saying that he would be changing a little bit more each day until his first full moon as a werewolf.<\/p>\n Stiles found himself staring at his bookcase, filled with books that he\u2019s collected over the years. The books that his mother had given him or encouraged him to read. He could almost hear the sound of her voice as she read from the books. Fiction, histories, biographies, and anything that caught his eye were on those shelves.<\/p>\n \u2018Knowledge,\u2019<\/em> Stiles thought as everything began to ease down. Knowledge, knowing things, books. That was his anchor. He felt the fangs melt away; his claws disappear.He hurried into the bathroom to look into the mirror. His eyes weren\u2019t glowing and he\u2019d lost the sideburns he\u2019d felt. He looked like his usual everyday self.<\/p>\n \u201cFuck me,\u201d he said with a sigh of relief. He started to giggle. He\u2019d never admit it to anyone, but he was full-on giggling in relief. He sat on the bathroom floor, almost dizzy with it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Title: Becoming Author: Sibyl Moon Fandom: Teen Wolf Genre: Paranormal\/Supernatural, Pre-Relationship, Shifters Relationship(s): Gen, Pre-Derek\/Stiles Content Rating: R Warnings: Hate Crimes\/Hate Speech, Torture, Violence \u2013 Graphic, Discussion-Murder, Discussion-Rape, Discussion-Torture, Murder, Violence-Canon-Level, Kidnapping, Drug\/Alcohol Use. Per Drug\/Alcohol use: Sheriff drinks heavily in one scene. Discussion of Rape\/Assault: Kate Argent & Bite… Continue reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4,7,9],"tags":[39,20,40,28,30,31],"class_list":["post-473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-gen","category-quantum-bang","category-teen-wolf","tag-derek-hale","tag-fix-it","tag-pre-derek-stiles","tag-quantum-bang","tag-stiles-stilinski","tag-teen-wolf"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sibylmoon.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/473","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sibylmoon.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sibylmoon.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sibylmoon.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sibylmoon.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=473"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sibylmoon.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/473\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sibylmoon.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=473"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sibylmoon.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=473"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sibylmoon.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nAuthor<\/strong>: Sibyl Moon
\nFandom<\/strong>: Teen Wolf
\nGenre<\/strong>: Paranormal\/Supernatural, Pre-Relationship, Shifters
\nRelationship(s)<\/strong>: Gen, Pre-Derek\/Stiles
\nContent Rating<\/strong>: R
\nWarnings<\/strong>: Hate Crimes\/Hate Speech, Torture, Violence \u2013 Graphic, Discussion-Murder, Discussion-Rape, Discussion-Torture, Murder, Violence-Canon-Level, Kidnapping, Drug\/Alcohol Use. Per Drug\/Alcohol use: Sheriff drinks heavily in one scene. Discussion of Rape\/Assault: Kate Argent & Bite as assault\/rape. Hate Crimes & Hate Speech: As related to werewolves & hunters.
\nBeta<\/strong>: Twigen<\/a>, Alpha Read<\/strong> by DarkJediQueen<\/a>
\nWord Count<\/strong>: 57,600
\nSummary<\/strong>: A few days before Christmas, while out on his nightly run, Stiles is attacked by a monster in the preserve. When he begins to change, it doesn\u2019t take him long to figure out what\u2019s happening to him. Once he discovers Derek Hale is back in town, he finally has a few answers, even if they lead to more questions. Stiles isn\u2019t sure he can trust the other man, but he believes that Derek is as invested in tracking down the feral alpha as Stiles is and that will have to do for now.
\nArtist<\/strong>: Penumbria<\/a> ( Also on Ao3<\/a>)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/2021-SM-BE-Ch1.jpg?resize=780%2C121&ssl=1\")
<\/h1>\nChapter One<\/h1>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/2021-SM-BE-Ch2.jpg?resize=780%2C121&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nChapter Two<\/h1>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/2021-SM-BE-Ch3.jpg?resize=780%2C121&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nChapter Three<\/h1>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/2021-SM-BE-Ch4.jpg?resize=780%2C121&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nChapter Four<\/h1>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/2021-SM-BE-SceneArt.jpg?resize=780%2C580&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/2021-SM-BE-Ch5.jpg?resize=780%2C121&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nChapter Five<\/h1>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/2021-SM-BE-Ch6.jpg?resize=780%2C121&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nChapter Six<\/h1>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/2021-SM-BE-Ch7.jpg?resize=780%2C121&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nChapter Seven<\/h1>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/2021-SM-BE-Ch8.jpg?resize=780%2C121&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nChapter Eight<\/h1>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/2021-SM-BE-Ch9.jpg?resize=780%2C121&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nChapter Nine<\/h1>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/2021-SM-BE-Quote1.jpg?resize=780%2C424&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nPart Two<\/a><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"