{"id":774,"date":"2023-09-23T05:01:56","date_gmt":"2023-09-23T09:01:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sibylmoon.net\/?p=774"},"modified":"2023-09-23T05:51:52","modified_gmt":"2023-09-23T09:51:52","slug":"better-off-bread-1-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sibylmoon.net\/index.php\/2023\/09\/23\/better-off-bread-1-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Better Off Bread &#8211; 1\/3"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-775\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Better-Off-Bread-1.jpg?resize=780%2C273&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"780\" height=\"273\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Better-Off-Bread-1.jpg?w=1000&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Better-Off-Bread-1.jpg?resize=300%2C105&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Better-Off-Bread-1.jpg?resize=768%2C269&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Better-Off-Bread-1.jpg?resize=900%2C315&amp;ssl=1 900w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Better-Off-Bread-1.jpg?resize=150%2C53&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><b>Title<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Better Off Bread<\/span><br \/>\n<b>Author: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sibyl Moon<\/span><br \/>\n<b>Fandom<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Teen Wolf<\/span><br \/>\n<b>Genre:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Humor, Romance<\/span><br \/>\n<b>Relationship<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Stiles\/Derek<\/span><br \/>\n<b>Beta:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Grammarly<\/span><br \/>\n<b>Warnings<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Murder, Canon-level-Violence, Discussion-Hate Crimes\/Speech in relation to Hunters and Supernatural Beings, Discussion-Poisoning, Discussion-Torture,\u00a0<\/span><br \/>\n<b>Word Count: <\/b>25k<br \/>\n<b>Summary<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Stiles has been taking care of the less than savory side of the supernatural world since his dad fell to a rogue hunter a decade ago. Opening up his own bakery and utilizing his spark made things easy as pie &#8211; or cake &#8211; depending on preferences. He\u2019s remained undetected all this time, but now he\u2019s got Derek Hale coming around asking questions. Worse than that, the werewolf is Stiles\u2019 unforgettable one-night stand from just the other night.<\/span><br \/>\n<strong>Artist:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.deviantart.com\/princess-lalaith\">Lalaith<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Author&#8217;s Note:<\/strong> This fic was a labour of equal parts love and agony. All the lovely art was created by the wonderful Lalaith just for the fic, including the chapter markers. The only piece that I did was the banner on the first chapter&#8211;a holdover from when I first began to write this fic.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-772 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Chapter_1.png?resize=700%2C100&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"100\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Chapter_1.png?w=700&amp;ssl=1 700w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Chapter_1.png?resize=300%2C43&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Chapter_1.png?resize=150%2C21&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whistling as he rolled out another batch of shortbread dough to go with the three he\u2019d already mixed, chilled, and baked. Stiles felt his lips curve into a smile, causing his whistling to stop. With efficient movements, Stiles put the batch into the oven and began to clean the counters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhat has you so cheerful at four in the morning on a Monday,\u201d Isaac grumbled, eyes half-lidded, his nose practically buried in a mug of coffee.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019m always cheerful in the morning,\u201d Stiles said brightly, finishing at the counter with a little shimmy. He tossed the towels into the linen bins and headed to the pantry to gather ingredients for one of the bakery\u2019s signature morning muffins. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t be able to run a successful bakery if I hated early mornings Isaac.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou\u2019re practically dancing around the kitchen and shooting out glittery hearts from your ass,\u201d Isaac said sardonically before gulping down his coffee, which was still too hot by the way he grimaced. He turned to refill the mug, dumping in enough sugar to make Stiles wince.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThat isn\u2019t a cheap franchise or a gas station coffee, Isaac. You should be tasting it, not drowning the flavor in sugar crystals,\u201d He said as he mixed the sugar, buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla together.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI hate coffee.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThen why do you drink it?\u201d Stiles poured in the espresso he\u2019d made earlier and set it aside to cool. He glanced over at Isaac, wondering if he\u2019d get a different answer to his question than he had the last dozen times they\u2019d had this conversation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt wakes me up.\u201d Isaac shrugged, wincing through another mouthful. \u201cAnd your coffee is at least palatable with sugar, better than the crap I have at home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThen why do you buy it.\u201d Stiles shook his head, laughing as he streamed in the melted butter that had cooled while he\u2019d rolled and cut the last batch of shortbread.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSometimes I can\u2019t make it to the bakery and I need to wake up,\u201d Isaac huffed and finished his coffee, moving to the sink to rinse his mug and slip it into the dishwasher. \u201cYou\u2019ve known me since I was 8 years old Stiles, I don\u2019t know why any of this is a surprise to you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cExactly!\u201d Stiles exclaimed as he tossed dirty bowls into the sink. He washed his hands, quickly toweling them dry before returning to the large mixing bowl to add the prepared dry ingredients to the rest, stirring by hand to avoid overmixing. \u201cYou\u2019ve been around me for the last twenty years; you should have developed a taste for coffee by proximity by now.\u201d Stiles frowned, twisting around. \u201cHand me those chocolate chips, would you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cProximity?\u201d Isaac laughed, grabbing the bowl of mixed dark and milk chocolate chips. \u201cIf that were the case you\u2019d be a lot more straight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHuh.\u201d Stiles narrowed his eyes at Isaac. \u201cYou say that like I don\u2019t know about the thing you have going on with that couple over in Sweetwater, brother dear.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWell,\u201d Isaac said, turning around and leaning back against the sink. \u201cI can honestly say that has nothing to do with my proximity to <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you.<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> And maybe I should have said, if proximity were a thing you\u2019d be at least a bit interested in women.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOh, I can\u2019t dispute that,\u201d Stiles said, waving Isaac over to help lay out the muffin tins. \u201cI\u2019ve seen that gorgeous man and his wife in the club. I\u2019d have trouble saying no to an invitation from them and you know I don\u2019t go for that kind of thing and I\u2019m not just talking about pussy.\u201d Stiles wrinkled his nose as he thought about the one time he\u2019d tried it\u2014the threesome, that is.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNot everyone is Danny and Ethan,\u201d Isaac said, rolling his eyes. He pressed the craft papers into the tins quickly. \u201cDiane and Colin are amazing, plus I\u2019m not looking to get involved into a permanent thing with them.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNo?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNah.\u201d Isaac finished and headed towards the sink as Stiles filled the tins. He began to wash up. \u201cI\u2019m not looking to settle down. I want what Dad had with Mom. I don\u2019t think I could settle for anything else.\u201d He shrugged when Stiles looked at him.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cMaybe.\u201d Stiles finished with the tins and moved to the ovens just as the timers began to go off. He removed the shortbread two trays at a time, the muscles on his arms barely straining as he turned, setting the trays on the cooling racks. He reset the temperature on the ovens and turned back to Isaac. \u201cWhat do you think? Fruit tarts?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cDo you have any special orders today?\u201d Isaac walked towards the cold storage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cJust one,\u201d Stiles said, sighing. He set the muffin tins into the ovens as they came up to temperature and set the timers. Then he headed to the sink and washed out the mixing bowl, his voice echoing slightly as he leaned into it. \u201cHe\u2019s one of the paranoid ones, so he doesn\u2019t keep a set schedule. I don\u2019t know when he\u2019ll be in.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIs he a supe or?\u201d Isaac called from inside the walk-in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHunter,\u201d Stiles said, his lip curling into a snarl before he could stop it. \u201cHe took out a family of werecats up in Amity. It\u2019s a small enough town and far enough away that he probably thinks that no one in the know around here will know anything about it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHow did you find out?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cDanny,\u201d Stiles said, setting the bowl to dry and then turning to wipe down the counter again. \u201cApparently Jackson knew them. He was godfather or something to one of the kids.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cDoes that mean Danny finally knows?\u201d Isaac came out, arms full of ingredients, tumbling them onto the newly cleaned countertops. He stared at Stiles with concern etched on his face.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNo!\u201d Stiles shook his head emphatically, mouth quirking at Isaac\u2019s sigh. \u201cWe were just catching up a couple of weeks ago and it came up. He asked if I could look into it, see if the car accident was really accidental because Jackson wasn\u2019t taking it well. Apparently, he\u2019s obsessing over it. Danny thought if I could reassure Jackson then he\u2019d let it go. He knows I still have connections with the sheriff\u2019s department.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cDanny still hasn\u2019t realized that Jackson is a werewolf?\u201d Isaac rolled his eyes. \u201cThat man is too smart to be this stupid and Jackson is not exactly subtle.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNo,\u201d Stiles said, sorting out the new set of ingredients. \u201cHe never realized that Ethan was one. I\u2019m not sure how much of that is down to Ethan and Jackson\u2019s ability to hide their nature and how much of it is to denial on Danny\u2019s part. Accepting that the supernatural exists isn\u2019t an easy thing, you know that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe didn\u2019t really get a choice about denial,\u201d Isaac said, flashing golden eyes at Stiles. \u201cI still have money on Danny knowing and not saying anything. Remember that when it comes out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe didn\u2019t have a choice, but we did well enough and you aren\u2019t the only one with that bet,\u201d Stiles replied. He pointed behind Isaac. \u201cGrab those tart shells I made up last night.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe did better than some of the others,\u201d Isaac agreed, turning to do as Stiles instructed. \u201cDid you already make the bread?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIsaac, you know I\u2019ve already finished the first round of bread,\u201d Stiles admonished, laughing. \u201cBread is the first thing I start; the first loaves have already baked. I have some proofing in the pans and trays over on the shelves. I\u2019ll start them when we open so you can have your fresh-from-the-oven slice then. If you\u2019d come in half an hour earlier\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cFuck no!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stiles laughed, throwing his head back, gripping the counter, his body shaking with it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHow can you be sure this guy is going to be in today?\u201d Isaac changed the subject. \u201cYou\u2019ve never been clear on that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cJust a hunch,\u201d Stiles said, finally getting his laughter under control. He turned to pull out the muffins as the timers went off, setting them on their cooling racks. He went to the sink to wash his hands before putting the tarts together. \u201cI\u2019m not really sure how to put it into words. It\u2019s not like I\u2019ve ever been able to train my abilities, you know that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYeah,\u201d Isaac had washed his hands and was spooning lemon curd into tart shells on the other side of the counter. \u201cSo it\u2019s like our instincts then?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSimilar,\u201d Stiles said, wiggling his hand back and forth in the air. \u201cI concentrate on what I\u2019m looking for. It helps when I have a specific event or even a name like I do this time. I don\u2019t want to end up giving an innocent bystander the wrong cupcake, ya know?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYeah.\u201d Isaac nodded. He moved the finished tarts to another set of trays and then onto racks. \u201cWe haven\u2019t yet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt\u2019s why I insist on the research,\u201d Stiles said, looking pointedly at Isaac.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYeah, yeah.\u201d Isaac stuck out his tongue, waving Stiles off. \u201cThe fact I\u2019m running checks and doing research is why I\u2019m not here at the asscrack of the day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019m sure that\u2019s why.\u201d Stiles finished the last of the berry tarts and got them onto the trays. He left them for Isaac to get onto the trays. \u201cYou\u2019ve been out of town, so I\u2019ve got his picture in the office. Take a look at it, then shred it. If you\u2019re manning the counter when he comes in-\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI know the routine Stiles,\u201d Isaac said, rolling his eyes. \u201cWhat are you going to do if you can\u2019t get him today?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI came in earlier than usual and set the runes,\u201d Stiles replied, switching out his dirty apron for a clean one. \u201cThat should leave him open to suggestion and make sure that he eats what we give him here in the shop.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAre you delaying the effects until tonight or longer?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stiles wiggled his hand side to side, \u201cI\u2019m using a new mixture of belladonna and arsenic, I tossed in a touch of foxglove just for a little poetry. Adding my magic into the mix should delay his death until tomorrow morning, but because I haven\u2019t had time to really see it in action, it could surprise us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019ll make sure that Boyd knows to be aware while he\u2019s on duty,\u201d Isaac said, pulling out his phone and sending the text. \u201cShould I let Erica know to expect a surprise in the morgue?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cMaybe?\u201d Stiles closed his eyes and leaned back against the counter next to the coffee pot while he waited for a new pot to brew. \u201cDepends on where he falls at and the circumstances. I\u2019d hold off on using this mix, but it feels &#8211; right.\u201d He opened his eyes to look at Isaac, at a loss for how to explain any further.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI get it,\u201d Isaac said, shooting off another text. \u201cI\u2019ll send Erica a text, better to have her aware. Last time we dropped a corpse on her she made us pay for weeks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stiles chuckled, turned to pull a mug off the hooks over the coffee machine, and poured a cup. \u201cI still can\u2019t believe that you all just go along with this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe were there in the beginning, and we\u2019ve been here through all the discoveries,\u201d Isaac said, his shoes squeaking on the floor as he walked towards Stiles. He tucked his phone away and leaned next to Stiles. \u201cWe know that no human justice system is equipped to deal with them. Not the hunters breaking their so-called <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">codes. <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Codes that their own councils refuse to enforce. We saw that firsthand when dad was shot. The human justice system sure as hell isn\u2019t equipped to handle the darker side of the supernatural world either. A feral werewolf, a wendigo who had made the turn, black magic users, and the others things that we\u2019ve seen. Someone has to do something about it, and we can\u2019t do everything, but we can take care of our corner of the world and keep Beacon Hills safe. We can keep our pack and people protected.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stiles sipped his coffee, looking at Isaac from over his cup. \u201cBeen practicing that speech?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou\u2019re an ass.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cTakes one to know one,\u201d Stiles shot back, grinning. He sighed, growing serious. \u201cI agree. Erica and Boyd have been an invaluable help. I know that they have their reasons and that they\u2019re pack\u2014or as close to one as we have, but\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cFuck Scott,\u201d Isaac bit out, shoving off the counter and pacing in front of Stiles. \u201cHe was an absolute self-righteous asshole. We\u2019re all better off without him, him leaving town was the best thing that happened to us as a pack. Thank fuck he never knew about all of this.\u201d Isaac gestured around them. \u201cOr your abilities.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYeah,\u201d Stiles agreed. It had been nine years since Scott had left, and Stiles hadn\u2019t heard from him once in all that time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When the others had been attacked by a rogue werewolf their senior year of high school, Scott had been home recovering from an asthma attack. They\u2019d tried to include him in their newly formed pack, but Scott had been jealous of the strength and healing the others now had, especially Erica. He hadn&#8217;t been happy when they discovered they couldn\u2019t pass it to Scott. Scott had wandered the preserve at all hours after that, hoping the alpha would attack him and cure his asthma.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cLike we were just going to let that crazy alpha run around attacking more innocent people just so he could get his asthma cured and become some sort of lacrosse star. Or whatever the fuck his plan was,\u201d Isaac snapped, coming to a stop, crossing his arms, and glaring at Stiles. \u201cThe fact he wanted to pull some \u2018thou shalt not kill\u2019 bullshit on you and then try and guilt you into finding an alpha to bite him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stiles sighed, drinking more of his coffee. He let Isaac go on without interrupting. This wasn\u2019t anything he hadn\u2019t heard before.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhat I don\u2019t understand is why you let that dickwad hang around with us for so long,\u201d Isaac said, sneering. \u201cHe manipulated and gaslighted you so much it was disgusting.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI haven\u2019t even talked to him for nine years Isaac,\u201d Stiles said, raising his brows at his brother. \u201cBesides he was my only friend until the attack.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHey!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou were my brother,\u201d Stiles said, waving him off. He turned and poured a second cup of coffee. It was almost time to fill the front cases and open the doors. \u201cYou had your own circle of friends. They tolerated me, but they weren\u2019t my friends then, and you know it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cMaybe,\u201d Isaac said, unwilling to concede the point. \u201cBut just because he was your only friend doesn\u2019t mean you should have had to put up with that crap. He tried to turn us in for murder!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHe didn\u2019t get very far,\u201d Stiles said, his mouth twisting a little as he thought back.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOnly because of your quick thinking,\u201d Isaac grinned. \u201cMountain lion attack. That was awesome &#8211; gross to set up &#8211; but awesome.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019m glad the three of you thought so,\u201d Stiles said, his mouth twisting downwards. Shaking away the memory, he lifted his cup and, ignoring the temperature swallowed half his coffee before setting it aside. \u201cLet\u2019s carry some of these out and start filling the cases.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSometimes I wonder what would have happened if we\u2019d told Dad,\u201d Isaac said quietly. Stiles wasn\u2019t sure if he was supposed to have heard it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYeah, so do I.\u201d Stiles picked up a tray of lavender-flecked shortbread and headed toward the front of the cafe. \u201cThat hunter\u2019s bullet would have probably still hit him, but we wouldn\u2019t have had to spend that last year lying to him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYeah,\u201d Isaac replied, following behind with his own tray. \u201cSorry.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stiles nodded, turning to back through the swinging door. \u201cCome on, we open soon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSo are you going to tell me why you were in such a good mood this morning?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHmm?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI told you earlier,\u201d Isaac said, setting his tray down and sliding open the doors on the case. \u201cYou were practically shooting glittery hearts out of your ass.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThat\u2019s a visual,\u201d Stiles said, pulling a face. He began to transfer the shortbread to the display plates in the case. \u201cMaybe I just slept well last night.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNo, that wasn\u2019t it,\u201d Isaac said, standing with an empty tray beside Stiles. \u201cYou only get that happy &#8211; oh &#8211; oh fuck.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhat?\u201d Stiles huffed, glaring at his brother before stalking back into the kitchen to get more pastries.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou got laid.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSo what. That isn\u2019t a crime; if I\u2019m not mistaken, you\u2019re getting laid regularly, too.\u201d He picked up a mix of trays and set them on a trolly before heading back up front.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNo, no,\u201d Isaac agreed, following behind practically on Stiles\u2019 heels. \u201cGetting laid isn\u2019t a crime, but this isn\u2019t your normal laid-back casual fucked look.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI should be more concerned that you\u2019ve categorized me to this extent, shouldn\u2019t I?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNah,\u201d Isaac disagreed, bumping Stiles\u2019 shoulder before grabbing some of the tarts to add to another section of the case. \u201cSo want to talk about it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">was <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">just your run of the mill one night stand Isaac,\u201d Stiles huffed, laughing as he positioned muffins into their baskets. \u201cI mean, don\u2019t get me wrong, the sex was fantastic ten out of ten, would totally fuck again. But it was just a guy I met at the club Saturday night.\u201d Stiles shivered and lost focus for a minute as he remembered Derek\u2019s hands and lips on his body. \u201cDefinitely would fuck again, but it\u2019s not like I expect to see him again. He said he was just passing through the area. Derek\u2019s from out of town.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou\u2019re attached,\u201d Isaac said, horror leeching into his voice. His fingers were frozen over a tart. \u201cHow do you manage to get attached in one night. One night of what I imagine was very little conversation and a lot of sex?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt was really great sex,\u201d Stiles said, not denying Isaac\u2019s claim about his attachment to Derek. \u201cWe talked a little, had to do something between rounds. I mean, he had very little downtime, if you know what I mean.\u201d He waggled his brows, laughing as Isaac scrunched his nose. \u201cBut we had time for some conversation. His name is Derek and he\u2019s from southern California. He has a large family and works for his uncle.\u201d Stiles paused, tapping a finger to his lips and glancing to the side at Isaac. \u201cHe\u2019s also a werewolf.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhat!\u201d Isaac whipped around from where he\u2019d begun stocking the case again. \u201cStiles &#8211; He told you he was a werewolf? What the fuck?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWell, he didn\u2019t tell me,\u201d Stiles said, raising his hands in an attempt to placate Isaac. \u201cBut his eyes got a little flashy, and then when I did that thing with my tongue that Erica taught me-\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI didn\u2019t want details for fuck\u2019s sake,\u201d Isaac said, thumping his head on the case once before glaring at Stiles.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAnyway,\u201d Stiles said, raising his voice over Isaac\u2019s complaints. \u201cHis teeth and sideburns made the briefest appearance. He has exceptional control, I think, and if I didn\u2019t already know what to look for, I wouldn\u2019t have noticed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cDid you know he was a werewolf before you went home with him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cStop judging me,\u201d Stiles said, pointing at Isaac. \u201cConsidering that he flashed his eyes while we were checking our compatibility next to my car-\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou\u2019re an idiot.\u201d Isaac sighed, turning back to continue filling the case. \u201cYou could have been attacked or bit.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHe wasn\u2019t an alpha and, I promise, I was only attacked and bitten in ways I consented to.\u201d Stiles\u2019 lips curved. \u201cThere was so much consent going on that my neighbors could testify to it if you want witnesses.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Isaac sighed, shaking his head, \u201cAre you going to see him again?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI just told you he wasn\u2019t from around here.\u201d Rolling his eyes, Stiles emptied the last tray and shoved it to the side to start setting up the coffee machine. \u201cPull down the tea and beans, will you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSo he\u2019s already gone?\u201d Isaac lifted the menu board, pushing it towards the ceiling. He reached into the cubbies hidden behind and began to pull out the containers of coffee beans and loose tea. \u201cYou need more of the Dante\u2019s Circle,\u201d He said over his shoulder, shaking one of the bags of coffee beans.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAnything else?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019ll go to the back and get it after you answer my question,\u201d Isaac said, lining up the tea and coffee on the counter to prepare for the morning crowd.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stiles sighed, turning to fully face his brother, \u201cYes, as far as I know he\u2019s left town. We didn\u2019t exactly exchange last names or numbers. We had some really fantastic sex, and while I\u2019d love to revisit that, I don\u2019t really have time between the cafe and bakery, not to mention our other activities.\u201d He gestured at the section below the glass case. \u201cWe even managed some decent breakfast conversation in the morning before he left.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSorry,\u201d Isaac said, scrubbing a hand through his curls. \u201cI just worry. You get attached and these idiots &#8211; they take advantage of that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019m not some fainting damsel,\u201d Stiles said, amused, as he directed Isaac through setting out the last of the morning setup; no matter how often he did it, Isaac always screwed it up if Stiles didn\u2019t coach him. \u201cI\u2019m perfectly capable of taking care of myself and facing the consequences of my own choices.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI know that, but it seems like\u2026\u201d He trailed off, shrugging as they moved around the counter and began to flip the chairs from the tables onto the floor. \u201cYou just have to worst taste in men usually.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHey!\u201d Stiles shoved Isaac when he walked by. \u201cI had a perfectly good relationship with Lucas a couple years back.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cLucas was boring as fuck,\u201d Isaac said, setting the last chair on the floor. He looked at Stiles, his expression dry. \u201cYou also said his fucking was boring.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWell, that\u2019s not &#8211; inaccurate,\u201d Stiles conceded. Shrugging, he pushed the trolley to the back. \u201cYou\u2019re here until noon, right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYeah, I have to take care of a few things this afternoon but I\u2019ll be back at closing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI don\u2019t know why you say that like we\u2019re open late.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhen I have to be here at four in the morning, closing at four in the afternoon <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> late.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cBig baby,\u201d Stiles said, shaking his head at Isaac\u2019s antics. \u201cI need to think about hiring someone else if I want to stay open later than that or be open more than four days a week, but\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThey\u2019d have to be pack and able to be in on our secrets,\u201d Isaac nodded. \u201cHow we became some sort of madcap modern version of Arsenic and Old Lace, I\u2019ll never know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI wish our set up was as innocent as that movie, but\u2014\u201d Stiles said, shrugging and splaying his hands. \u201cWhat can you do?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAt least we don\u2019t keep bodies in window seats?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNobody would believe me if I told them you were a classic movie nerd.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cGo unlock the door. It\u2019s time to open.\u201d Isaac shoved Stiles towards the swinging doors.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stiles went laughing. He unlocked the door, flipped the open sign over, and cut on the rest of the lights.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019m going to head into the office and get a look at that photo,\u201d Isaac said from behind him. \u201cYou decide how you\u2019re going to dose him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHis drink would be easiest, but I\u2019ve got a couple of cookies and a muffin in reserve just in case he doesn\u2019t order anything to drink.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cDo you already have them in the special orders section under the case?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNo, I\u2019ll do that now,\u201d Stiles said. He felt like smacking himself. He\u2019d gotten so distracted by his conversation with Isaac he\u2019d forgotten to prepare for their guest today. He hurried into the back and grabbed the pastry box he\u2019d set to the side before he\u2019d begun preparing his regular wares this morning. Heading back to the front of the bakery, he set the box on a plate under the case, out of sight. He\u2019d made black forest cupcakes for this order and a couple of lavender shortbreads. It\u2019d felt right.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOkay, I\u2019m going to head back now, I\u2019ll go over the numbers while I\u2019m there until you need me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI have everything in the program except last week; the papers and receipts are on the desk,\u201d Stiles said, waving him off as the door chimed and the first customer of the day walked in. \u201cI\u2019ll be back in a minute to put the bread in, but I\u2019ll need you to pull it out if we get busy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI know.\u201d Isaac disappeared through the swing doors.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWelcome to Better Off Bread.\u201d Stiles smiled. \u201cWhat can I get you this morning?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-770 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Chapter_2.png?resize=700%2C100&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"100\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Chapter_2.png?w=700&amp;ssl=1 700w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Chapter_2.png?resize=300%2C43&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Chapter_2.png?resize=150%2C21&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Derek sighed and immediately regretted it as the scent of the recent death filled his nose, and the taste of it coated his tongue. Grimacing, he stepped back into the crowd gathered in the movie theater&#8217;s parking lot. Pulling his phone from his jacket, Derek made the call he had been hoping to avoid.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHello nephew,\u201d Peter answered smoothly. \u201cI hope you have some good news this lovely Monday evening. Especially since I expected to hear from you yesterday.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWell,\u201d Derek said, keeping his voice down so it didn\u2019t carry to anyone nearby. \u201cI have news.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThat doesn\u2019t sound encouraging. Were you able to get any information out of Williams before he died?\u201d Peter groaned; the sound of a door shutting came through the phone. \u201cPlease tell me I don\u2019t have to cover up another botched death, Derek. We had this discussion last time. You know how to make a death look accidental, or for fuck\u2019s sake, like an animal attack if nothing else.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI didn\u2019t kill him!\u201d Derek whispered harshly, scratching at his jaw and looking around, but no one was paying him any attention; all their focus was on the crime scene on the other side of the tape a two dozen feet away.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThen he is dead,\u201d Peter said blandly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYeah, I\u2019m at the crime scene now.\u201d Derek glanced up, taking in the flashing lights and listening to the chatter of the crowd and the cops with half an ear. \u201cHe was found by a couple outside the movie theatre. Right now the cops aren\u2019t officially labeling it murder, but-\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cUnofficially it\u2019s definitely foul play.\u201d Peter finished darkly. \u201cDid you get any sense of who did the job?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI haven\u2019t been able to get close enough,\u201d Derek admitted. \u201cI called you as soon as he was identified and I confirmed that it was definitely Williams. I think it was supernatural though, I thought I caught the scent of something underneath everything before the smell of death overwhelmed it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cFind out,\u201d Peter ordered. There was a bang, which Derek took to be Peter slamming his fist onto his desk as he often did to emphasize a point. \u201cWe need to know who has been going around killing all these hunters and supernatural criminals over the last few years.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cDo we really?\u201d Derek wondered aloud. \u201cThey could just be another left-hand couldn\u2019t they?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI would know,\u201d Peter replied. \u201cBesides, the dead are too varied in their crimes to be targeted by one pack, coven or other group. This is definitely targeted, but no one knows by who.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThis could just be another agency like the one you\u2019ve built,\u201d Derek suggested.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cEven more reason to find out who it is,\u201d Peter said, voice lowering to a rumbled growl. \u201cI am unique &#8211; One of a kind. I find it abhorrent that some upstart thinks they can try to imitate me and risk exposing us like this. No, this is clearly an amateur. I would know if another agency existed in this area.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI don\u2019t know about that,\u201d Derek disagreed. \u201cYou said they\u2019d been working in this same area for almost a decade and they haven\u2019t been caught or brought any mundane attention to the area right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNot yet,\u201d Peter said sulkily, \u201cIt\u2019s only a matter of time though. Nevermind, just find them. What did you smell?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019m not sure,\u201d Derek said, letting the subject drop. As much fun as it was winding his uncle up, he did have a job to do. \u201cIt smelled reminiscent of ozone, the magical residue type\u2014not weather related\u2014with a touch of chocolate and cherries?\u201d Derek left off the hint of rich coffee that seemed to cling to the edge of the magical signature because he wasn\u2019t sure if that was coming from the detectives and other officers moving around the scene.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cReally?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou asked,\u201d Derek said defensively.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe scent of ozone is a good takeaway,\u201d Peter replied; Derek heard him tapping his keyboard. \u201cThere aren\u2019t many known magic users in town, which is odd for an area the size of Beacon Hills; there isn\u2019t even an official pack in the area. I don\u2019t like that place.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt\u2019s a nice town,\u201d Derek said before glancing back at the crime scene. \u201cIf you ignore the dead bodies and it seems most people do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cBeacon Hills doesn\u2019t make any sense,\u201d Peter said, still typing from the sound of it. \u201cKeep looking and keep me updated. I might have to come up there myself if things go on like this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cDon\u2019t come up here,\u201d Derek said, pinching the bridge of his nose. \u201cI don\u2019t want you to end up a victim here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou think I would?\u201d Peter sounded genuinely curious.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI think you would manage to annoy whoever this is to try for you at the very least.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHuh.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cPeter, seriously, don\u2019t come up here and try to annoy them into revealing themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSpeaking of acting as bait-\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNo one was talking about acting as bait.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHad the hots for anyone?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cPeter,\u201d Derek warned. \u201cYou\u2019re treading on thin ice.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cJust saying,\u201d Peter said. \u201cKate, Jennifer, Marcus, Linda, Thomas, Ken, Tina,\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cPeter.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNo,\u201d He said. \u201cThere wasn\u2019t any Peter in there. You have to admit nephew, that you have about a fifty percent chance of literally attracting the killer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019m hanging up now.\u201d Derek pulled the phone away from his ear.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cJust think about it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Derek hit the end call button and closed his eyes, pressing the phone to his head. Sometimes, he really hated his uncle. Shaking his head, he pocketed his phone and checked inside his jacket for his badge before heading to the front of the crowd.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cExcuse me,\u201d He called to one of the uniforms, watching the line.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cPlease stay back sir,\u201d She said tiredly, obviously having repeated the same line multiple times already. \u201cA statement will be made to the press when something is ready to be released.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou misunderstand,\u201d Derek pulled his badge out. \u201cI\u2019m a private investigator, Derek Hale. I believe that\u2019s Jonah Williams. I was hired to find him for a client. I just wanted to confirm his identity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI really can\u2019t divulge that kind of information Mr. Hale,\u201d She repeated, glancing over her shoulder as a large black man approached.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019ll take this Sarah,\u201d He said, waving her down the line. \u201cGo help Tay, she\u2019s about to punch Matty.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAgain?\u201d Sarah walked away at a fast clip.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWho are you?\u201d The detective crossed arms the size of hams, straining his shirt across his chest.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Derek eyed the other man; usually, he wouldn\u2019t be intimidated by such a blatant display, but there was something about this cop that set his instincts on edge.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cDerek Hale, private investigator,\u201d Derek replied. He didn\u2019t offer his hand. He had a feeling it wouldn\u2019t have been taken anyway.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhat are you doing at my crime scene Derek Hale?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cBoyd!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Derek turned at the sound of the voice behind him, arousal heating his blood instantly at the sight of Stiles striding through the crowd. His t-shirt and jeans were just as tight as the night before at the club, if slightly more casual. A shiver slid over his skin at the memory of the other man&#8217;s hands on his skin less than twenty-four hours ago, which had him mentally forcing himself back on track. He ignored the odd look he was getting from the detective, feeling his mouth curving upwards when Stiles stumbled briefly before righting himself without losing his armful of what looked like pastry boxes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cStiles,\u201d The detective, Boyd apparently, sighed. \u201cWhy are you here?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou know how gossip travels,\u201d Stiles said, his eyes widened briefly when he caught sight of Derek. He smiled at him tentatively before he turned back to Boyd. \u201cI heard enough to figure you\u2019d be here awhile. I brought leftovers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou never have leftovers.\u201d But Derek watched him reach for the pastry box that Stiles was carrying.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cEasy enough to throw a few things together and bring them out to you,\u201d Stiles said, shrugging. \u201cYou want to keep complaining?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boyd rolled his eyes, \u201cI hope you have something for Erica.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIsaac is taking something over to the van, he knows better than to bother her when she\u2019s with the body.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHmm.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHello Derek.\u201d Stiles turned to Derek, hands tucked in his pockets as he rocked on his feet. \u201cI didn\u2019t expect to see you again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHe\u2019s a dick,\u201d Boyd said dryly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOh?\u201d Stiles raised his brow.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019m a private investigator,\u201d Derek said, forcing himself not to roll his eyes. He turned back to Boyd. \u201cI was looking into Jonah Williams for a client.\u201d He glanced over towards where the body was shielded by the coroner and cops. \u201cI\u2019m pretty sure that\u2019s Jonah Williams &#8211; at least that\u2019s his vehicle.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cCome by the station tomorrow,\u201d Boyd said, staring at Derek. \u201cWe\u2019ll have questions for you.\u201d He turned and went back towards the body and the rest of the forensic team.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cA private investigator,\u201d Stiles said slowly, exchanging a look with Boyd. \u201cThat\u2019s a cool job.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cDoesn\u2019t he want to make sure I\u2019m going to stay in town?\u201d Derek frowned. \u201cOr where I\u2019m staying.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHuh?\u201d Stiles tilted his head. \u201cOh, he knows. Or if he doesn\u2019t, he\u2019ll know where you\u2019re staying within the hour. Boyd\u2019s good at his job. Also you obviously want information about this guy.\u201d Stiles jerked a thumb towards the scene. \u201cYou weren\u2019t planning on leaving were you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNo, just-\u201d Derek eyed the scene before returning his attention to Stiles. \u201cThat was the strangest interaction I\u2019ve ever had with a cop.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWell, we do things a little different in Beacon Hills, I guess.\u201d Stiles smiled, rocking on his feet once more. \u201cThough I have to ask if you have a lot of interactions with cops?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019m a private investigator,\u201d He reminded Stiles, stretching his arms over his head to work the kink in his shoulders out, enjoying how Stiles&#8217; gaze slid over his body. \u201cI have cases that bring me in contact with them occasionally. It can make things interesting sometimes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI thought you worked with your uncle?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt\u2019s his agency,\u201d Derek said, wondering if he could get more information by sticking around tonight. \u201cI\u2019m just one of the licensed detectives that work for him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cA family business then.\u201d Stiles grinned. \u201cThat\u2019s cool.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cKind of I guess,\u201d Derek replied, shrugging; deciding that the night was a wash on Williams and the mysterious assassin, he turned all his attention to Stiles. He wondered if the other man would be interested in another night together. \u201cThere are other people who work with us, but its a small agency. Just your basic detective stuff, nothing exciting.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cDon\u2019t ruin the mystery for me dude,\u201d Stiles said, stepping into Derek\u2019s space. \u201cI\u2019m imagining a little Miami Vice, Charlie\u2019s Angel\u2019s and a touch of Hawaii 5-0 in there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019m not sure how realistic that is,\u201d Derek said, smiling as Stiles, his hands reaching out to settle on his hips.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHmm, maybe, but it\u2019s really fucking sexy,\u201d Stiles replied, biting his lip and grinning.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYeah?\u201d Derek glanced around them before looking back at Stiles. \u201cYou realize we\u2019re at a crime scene?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He didn\u2019t say anything, just rested his hands on Derek\u2019s leather-covered biceps, raising a brow and tilting his head.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou do know there\u2019s a dead body only a few feet away?\u201d Derek nodded in the direction of said body.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThen maybe we should get out of here?\u201d Stiles leaned in, brushing his lips over Derek\u2019s before catching Derek\u2019s bottom lip with his teeth in a gentle nip. \u201cIf you\u2019re interested?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cA repeat of Saturday then?\u201d Derek grinned, his cock thickening in his jeans as the images of Stiles underneath him flashed through his mind.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOh, I\u2019m sure we can improve on Saturday,\u201d Stiles said, the corner of his mouth curved, eyes twinkling wickedly. \u201cThat was just a chance to get a taste of each other. Now, we can put what we learned to use. Don\u2019t you think?\u201d Sliding a hand down, he cupped Derek\u2019s cock through his jeans and gave a squeezing caress. Slipping his hand away, he pressed his body closer and kissed Derek again, sliding his mouth along his cheek and grazing his teeth along his jaw. \u201cMy place or yours?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYours, my place is a crappy hotel room,\u201d Derek said, fighting to keep a growl out of his voice. \u201cI\u2019m going to ruin you, you know that right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019m counting on it,\u201d Stiles said, eyes sparkling in the flashing lights of the cop cars.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cStiles!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cUgh!\u201d Stiles briefly thumped his head onto Derek\u2019s chest before stepping back. He patted Derek\u2019s chest. \u201cGive me a minute, big guy. My brother needs to be reminded of things he shouldn\u2019t interrupt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYour brother?\u201d Derek looked for Stiles to the tall, lanky man threading his way through the thinning crowd towards them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHe\u2019s adopted,\u201d Stiles raised his voice towards his brother. \u201cIsaac, what can I do for you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWho is this?\u201d Isaac crossed his arms, glaring at Derek, golden curls creating a halo enhanced by the crime scene lights.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThis is Derek,\u201d Stiles said, returning Isaac\u2019s glare. He stepped in front of Derek, looking up at his brother. \u201cHe\u2019s going to be around town for a few days. Now what are you doing here, did you need something?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cStiles-\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIsaac-\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cFine, but don\u2019t come to me when it all blows up on you,\u201d Isaac snapped, throwing his arms up and waving his hands before crossing them over his chest. \u201cWill you be in tomorrow?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHave I ever missed a day for anything less than an emergency?\u201d Stiles folded his arms across his chest.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNo,\u201d Isaac said, sighing. \u201cI\u2019m not happy about this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou don\u2019t have to be,\u201d Stiles said, shrugging undisturbed by his brother&#8217;s displeasure. \u201cBut it\u2019s also not your choice to make.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Derek watched the conversation between the brothers with confused interest. He knew there was another conversation taking place under the surface of what he was hearing and that it had to do with him. He could guess that Isaac wasn\u2019t happy that Stiles would be going home with him again. Derek scented the air and froze. Isaac was a wolf!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWell, that just ruins my night, thanks a lot Isaac.\u201d Stiles sighed when Isaac flashed his eyes in response to Derek\u2019s.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWere you going to tell me you were shifters?\u201d Derek asked, confused. \u201cWhy would you hide that from me\u2014how did you hide that from me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019m not a shifter,\u201d Stiles said. \u201cI wasn\u2019t hiding it when we met, because there\u2019s nothing to hide.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHuh.\u201d Derek found himself trying to catch Stiles\u2019 scent and realized the other man was correct. There wasn\u2019t any hint of shifter on him. What Derek did catch was chocolate and cherry mixed with that elusive coffee scent, though. \u201cYou smell like chocolate, cherries, and good coffee.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOkay?\u201d Stiles exchanged a glance with Isaac. \u201cI own a bakery. \u201cI didn\u2019t realize my scent was an issue.\u201dHe shrugged, smirking at Derek, before turning it onto his brother. \u201cHere that? <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Good<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> coffee, you know nothing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cShut up about your coffee,\u201d Isaac sighed, rolling his eyes at what was obviously a longstanding argument.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Derek dragged his gaze over Stiles again, ignoring the byplay between the brothers, \u201cIt\u2019s not, but I caught it earlier from the victim as well.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHe might have stopped in.\u201d He looked over to where the body was at. \u201cI didn\u2019t see who it was, but rumour has it that he wasn\u2019t a local. It doesn\u2019t really narrow it down though.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Derek nodded, his eyes narrowing when Isaac stepped closer to Stiles and glared at Derek.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAre you still going with him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIsaac,\u201d Stiles sighed, shoulders falling with the exhale. He turned and glared at his brother. \u201cWhat the fuck crawled up your ass?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI didn\u2019t know there was a pack here or I would have made myself known to the alpha,\u201d Derek cut in before they could start arguing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Derek had a feeling that he knew where Isaac\u2019s enmity sprang from, and there wasn\u2019t anything Derek could do about it other than leave the area and Stiles alone. Derek didn\u2019t plan on doing either. He needed to solve the case Peter had given him, and he wanted to see more of Stiles in better circumstances.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThere\u2019s no alpha in Beacon Hills,\u201d Stiles said, his shoulders going back as he stuck his hands in his back pockets. Stiles smiled, but Derek saw the warning in his gaze. \u201cWe don\u2019t need an alpha here, and we don\u2019t want one.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAlpha\u2019s are nothing but trouble,\u201d Isaac said, grimacing as he rubbed at his side. \u201cJust bite and run, not even an exchange of names.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Derek stared at the two of them. \u201cYour alpha bit you and left?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe alpha who <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">attacked<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> me,\u201d Isaac said, narrowing his eyes at Derek. \u201cIs no longer an issue, but they were feral as near as we could tell.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSo no alpha in Beacon Hills?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe don\u2019t need an alpha,\u201d Isaac said again, throwing his arm around Stiles\u2019 shoulder. \u201cWe have Stiles, he keeps us in line.\u201d Isaac grinned at Stiles when his brother shoved him off.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIf only I could make you do what I wanted,\u201d Stiles said, rolling his eyes. His gaze met Derek\u2019s. He tilted his head and smiled. \u201cSo, your place or mine?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Derek considered the question Stiles was asking and gave an internal shrug. They\u2019d already been together once, and everything had been fine. Derek knew enough now to keep an eye out, so he didn\u2019t have anything to worry about &#8211; especially since Stiles was human.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019m pretty sure we agreed that your place was the better choice,\u201d Derek said, smirking. \u201cI\u2019d much rather enjoy our time together than have to filter out the scents in my motel room.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cPerfect,\u201d Stiles said, clapping his hands together. \u201cGood-night Isaac.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cStiles.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019ll see you at the bakery tomorrow to open,\u201d Stiles said, digging into his pocket and pulling out a set of keys. \u201cBright and early. I\u2019ll have your coffee waiting.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cFine,\u201d Isaac said, huffing and pulling at his hair briefly before dropping his hands. \u201cI still don\u2019t like this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou don\u2019t have to,\u201d Stiles replied. He stepped up to Derek, meeting his gaze. \u201cReady to go? You can follow me if you don\u2019t remember the way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYeah,\u201d Derek observed the byplay between the siblings but stayed out of it. \u201cI was a little distracted the other night.\u201d He smirked, leaning in and dragging his nose up Stiles\u2019 neck.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe next morning as well?\u201d Isaac huffed again behind them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Derek huffed a laugh into Stiles\u2019 shoulder and raised his head to meet Isaac\u2019s glare.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYes, I imagine he was distracted,\u201d Stiles said before Derek could. \u201cWe had very friendly goodbye.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHmm.\u201d A slow smile curled Derek&#8217;s mouth as memories slip through his mind. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Isaac&#8217;s nose wrinkled and he took a step back, frowning harder, eyes pinching at the corners as he glared.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI think we should go get reacquainted away from here though.\u201d Stiles pulled back, ignoring his brother&#8217;s huff of disgust. \u201cWhere are you parked?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cJust towards the back there.\u201d Derek tilted his head in the direction of his car. \u201cThe camaro.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019m just a couple of cars down from you.\u201d He turned and waved to the still glowering Isaac before heading towards a blue jeep.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Derek looked over his shoulder at Isaac. He shrugged off the glare he got and turned to follow Stiles.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-769 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Chapter_3.png?resize=700%2C100&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"100\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Chapter_3.png?w=700&amp;ssl=1 700w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Chapter_3.png?resize=300%2C43&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sibylmoon.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Chapter_3.png?resize=150%2C21&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stiles shuffled up in his bed and leaned against the headboard as he watched Derek pull his jeans on. The other man had received a call not long after their second round &#8211; well, second round in the bed &#8211; and was currently trying to rush out of the apartment without seeming like he was running away.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cShould I be worried about that phone call?\u201d Stiles didn\u2019t bother pulling the blankets up from where they draped across his waist; after what they\u2019d done last night, it was a little late for modesty.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Besides, if Derek decided he was a threat and attempted something more than the glare he was sporting, even the sheets wouldn\u2019t be much of a shield. Stiles smirked; he wasn\u2019t precisely defenseless if it came to it\u2014naked or not.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt was just my uncle. Nothing to worry about. He just needs me to look at something,\u201d Derek said as he dragged his jeans up his muscled thighs. He refused to meet Stiles\u2019 gaze as he searched the room for the rest of his things.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAt-\u201d Stiles twisted to grab his phone from the nightstand\u2014where it had miraculously ended up at some point\u2014the sheet slipping lower on his hips. \u201cThree in the morning. This couldn\u2019t wait until daylight, huh?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cPeter says it can\u2019t,\u201d Derek replied, buttoning his jeans before looking over at Stiles. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t go if I didn\u2019t have to.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cFamily matters then?\u201d Stiles rolled his shoulders in an approximation of a shrug and decided to let the matter go for now. He didn\u2019t know the relationship between Derek and his uncle, but he sensed some tension. He guessed that having Peter as a boss didn\u2019t always go smoothly. \u201cI get it, I suppose. I can\u2019t imagine dragging Isaac out of someone\u2019s bed at two in the morning &#8211; no, that\u2019s a lie, I\u2019ve totally done that. Just not to send him to get stuff for work.\u201d Stiles made a face. \u201cOkay, that\u2019s it. That\u2019s the last I\u2019m going to say about it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhy do I find that hard to believe?\u201d Derek put a knee on the bed and leaned in to capture Stiles\u2019 mouth, one hand on his shoulder, the other on the headboard. \u201cI\u2019m not exactly thrilled about this myself. I had plans\u2014a lot of plans.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWell, you know how to leave a man wanting more Derek Hale,\u201d Stiles said, reaching up to grab the man\u2019s shoulder and drag him back down for another kiss. \u201cI hope tonight wasn\u2019t the end of it. Especially with the rude interruption. I had plans.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou have work in a couple of hours,\u201d Derek reminded him. \u201cIsaac would kill me if you didn\u2019t show up. I don\u2019t know him well, but he seems like the kind of wolf to follow through on unspoken threats.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stiles threw his head back and laughed. \u201cGo and do whatever your uncle needs done. Come by BoB when you get a chance later, I\u2019ll save you a muffin or something.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cBob?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cBetter off Bread. My shop is out on Sweeney Lane. There are a few other stores as well; it\u2019s one of the smaller historic districts in Beacon Hills,\u201d Stiles said, leaning back as Derek stood. \u201cI mentioned it earlier.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI was a little distracted,\u201d Derek admitted, slipping his phone into his jeans. \u201cI\u2019ll try to come by. If not, I could call you later now that I have your number.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSure. I wouldn\u2019t mind a repeat, one that isn\u2019t interrupted.\u201d Stiles grinned up at him. He\u2019d insisted on exchanging numbers in case they\u2019d become separated on the way back to his place last night &#8211; well, that and he\u2019d wanted Derek\u2019s number.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou\u2019re not going to let this go are you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019ve totally let it go,\u201d Stiles insisted. \u201cI\u2019m just saying that next time, we should turn our phones off if we want to be alone.\u201d He laughed when Derek rolled his eyes. \u201cGo on, hopefully I\u2019ll see you later.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIf I can manage it,\u201d Derek agreed. He left the bedroom, and Stiles heard his front door shut a few moments later.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stiles groaned and crawled out of bed with great reluctance. He grabbed a pair of sweats folded on top of his dresser and slipped into them before heading out into the hall, his phone in hand. He dialed Isaac.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI told you he was suspicious,\u201d Isaac said before Stiles could say anything.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSomehow I don\u2019t think he\u2019s really going to care about what I\u2019ve been up to the last few years Isaac,\u201d Stiles replied, pulling out the coffee grounds and measuring them into the basket. \u201cConsidering what we know about his uncle and what gets up to in those under the cover investigations of his agency, I don\u2019t think he\u2019s going to have a moral quandary about it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cBut his uncle might have a territorial issue about it,\u201d Isaac muttered. \u201cPeter Hale has been known to have one or two pissing contests. Someone usually ends up dead or maimed at the end of those.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cPossibly,\u201d Stiles agreed, leaning his hip against the counter as he waited for the coffee to get done. \u201cIt\u2019s one of the reasons we\u2019ve kept Beacon Hills free of pack influence &#8211; or alpha influence. We don\u2019t need someone running us and we haven\u2019t the means or the desire to take it beyond what we have.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou make us sound so sinister and everything. We aren\u2019t the mob,\u201d Isaac paused, and there was a crunch. Stiles grimaced at the sound of his brother quietly chewing in his ear. \u201cI mean, you\u2019re not wrong, but still. None of us have done well with authority we haven\u2019t chosen, and none of us will show our neck to some strange alpha just because his eyes are a different color and some hierarchical instinct says we\u2019re <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">supposed<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019ve wondered about that,\u201d Stiles said, pouring his coffee. \u201cDo you feel like you need an alpha? I mean, when we\u2019ve had the few pass through here\u2014have you felt that instinct to submit?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Isaac stopped crunching, and there was a heavy silence for a moment before he sighed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNot really, no,\u201d He replied reluctantly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHuh, I wonder why.\u201d Stiles frowned, chewing on his lip as he thought. \u201cEverything we\u2019ve come across says that you guys need an alpha to feel like a real pack and not to go feral. Maybe we should look into that after this business with the Hales has passed. Not to get an alpha, but to make sure whatever is going on doesn\u2019t eventually come back and bit us in the ass.\u201d He took a sip and winced at the burn. \u201cI\u2019m sorry I didn\u2019t think about it earlier. This could have been dangerous for you guys.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe aren\u2019t worried Stiles,\u201d Isaac said, sighing again. \u201cWe have everything under control and we\u2019re not going to go feral.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHow do you know?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cInstinct.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cBut\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cJust trust me,\u201d Isaac said, voice soft.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOkay, but you\u2019re going to explain this to me at some point.\u201d Stiles ordered him. \u201cYou know I hate being kept out of these things. I just worry about you guys.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI know, I will\u2014just not right now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They spoke for a few more minutes, agreeing to meet at the bakery later before hanging up. Stiles took his coffee into the bathroom to shower and start his day. He was already awake. He might as well head into the bakery early if he wasn\u2019t going to be rolling around his bed with Derek. He shivered. He hoped he had another chance to get that man back in bed. Derek was extremely talented with his hands and his tongue. He was fun to talk to as well. Yes, Stiles definitely hoped to hear from Derek later.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">***<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pulling into the parking lot of the local high school, Derek wondered what would make his contact want to meet here instead of in a well-lit diner\u2014<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOr hell, during daylight hours. Because this isn\u2019t shady at all,\u201d He grumbled as he climbed out of the car, grimacing at the feel of the damp morning air seeping through his clothes. He flashed back to leaving Stiles flush and warm against the sheets. Derek shook the image off, but the regret lingered. \u201cHow do I get myself into these situations?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">His phone chimed, looking down he saw that he had a text from Peter.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cRight, that\u2019s why.\u201d He hit Peter\u2019s name and waited for the other man to pick up while he scanned the empty parking lot.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI text so I don\u2019t have to talk Derek,\u201d Peter said as soon as they connected. \u201cShouldn\u2019t you be in your meeting or do I have another dead body to deal with.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou didn\u2019t have to deal with the last one,\u201d Derek said, biting back a sigh. \u201cYour contact isn\u2019t here and it\u2019s a little disturbing standing around a high school parking lot alone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cTry the lacrosse field, he probably got distracted,\u201d Peter said, and Derek could almost see his uncle rubbing his temple in irritation. \u201cGet the information from him. He might not seem like much, but he\u2019s got the inside line on everything that goes down in Beacon Hills according to my sources. We just need to get him to work with us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cRight,\u201d Derek replied without confidence. What kind of informant agreed to meet like this. Most of those he\u2019d previously met preferred public meetings if they met in person at all. \u201cHe knows who you are?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHe contacted us,\u201d Peter said. \u201cNow get off the phone and go find him. I need to know who is killing our targets and why.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou\u2019re just jealous they got to them before you did.\u201d Derek hung up on Peter\u2019s denials.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Derek scanned the area and saw the signs directing him to the sports fields. Hoping that the lacrosse field was in that direction, he locked the car and began to walk. His footsteps echoed eerily in the dimly lit parking lot.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSo you\u2019re the Hale boy. Looks like you could have played some lacrosse.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Derek spun around, gaze searching until he found a man around his uncle&#8217;s age leaning against the side of the school; a bright red sweatshirt and jeans were paired with hair that looked like it was defying gravity. This was not the man that Derek would have pegged as someone with his finger on the pulse of Beacon Hills.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAnd you are?\u201d Discreetly sniffing the man as he moved closer, Derek was surprised to find that he smelled of sage and incense. Derek wouldn\u2019t have guessed he was a witch. He wondered if Peter knew about that fact.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cCoach Finstock, call me Coach,\u201d He straightened up, sweeping his gaze over Derek. \u201cSo the Hales decided to poke around Beacon Hills as if they still owned the territory.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt\u2019s technically still Hale territory,\u201d Derek said, wondering what his uncle had gotten him into.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cDon\u2019t kid yourself kid. This hasn\u2019t been Hale territory since your great granddaddy ran away from it 65 years ago. The little drive-bys your family does every decade or so isn\u2019t enough for the land or the people you abandoned and we have our own pack here now.\u201d Coach Finstock grinned. \u201cPeter says you aren\u2019t here to take back the territory, but I wanted to make sure you carried the message back.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSure, but I don\u2019t have any authority over those decisions,\u201d Derek said, shrugging, already accepting that this meeting would be a total loss for his investigation. Finstock seemed to have a mistaken impression about why he was in town. As far as Derek knew, no one in his family was interested in Beacon Hills. Nobody ever mentioned it unless someone wanted a full accounting of all their territorial holdings\u2014which had happened precisely once in Derek&#8217;s memory. He only knew about Beacon Hills and the Hales connection because Peter constantly drilled these things into him.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou\u2019re the alpha\u2019s son. I know you\u2019ll get my words directly into her ear at least,\u201d Finstock said, rolling his shoulders. \u201cNow, for why you\u2019ve come.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe deaths connected to the town and most recently to my investigation,\u201d Derek informed him.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYeah, that.\u201d Finstock clapped his hands and walked towards the brightly lit lacrosse field, waving Derek to follow. \u201cI won\u2019t tell you much, but I can tell you aren\u2019t going to skedaddle without something.\u201d He sounded disgruntled by the fact.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhat do you mean you can\u2019t tell me much, Peter seemed sure that you know pretty much everything going on in Beacon Hills.\u201d Derek stopped walking next to one of the benches.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOh, I <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> tell you a lot, but I won\u2019t. Nobody ever listens to me, they always think Coach is full of shit. Let me tell you something kid, I see more of what\u2019s going on in this town than the people doing the doing.\u201d Finstock threw his hands around as he spoke.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cDoing the doing?\u201d Derek frowned. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t make any sense.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cTo you maybe, makes all the sense to me and that\u2019s all that matters,\u201d Finstock stared at Derek. \u201cI\u2019m not going to tell you who our guardian angel is. They\u2019ve been protecting Beacon Hills and it\u2019s people for over a decade now. We aren\u2019t about to put them in danger just to satisfy your nosy uncle and your curiosity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cMy curiosity\u2014\u201d Derek huffed. \u201cPeople are dead.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYeah, bad people that human law can\u2019t do anything about, and you or your uncle, we\u2019re just going to kill them anyway\u2014or turn them over to be killed. Don\u2019t act like you\u2019re all righteous here, Stud Muffin.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019m not doing this to satisfy my curiosity,\u201d Derek protested again, choosing to ignore Finstock\u2019s nickname.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSure you are, but remember the curious wolf loses his paw in the trap.\u201d Finstock nodded sagely before grinning, all his teeth displayed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cJust tell me what you can then,\u201d Derek said, holding the urge to growl at the other man.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHmph, no sense of drama. Youth these days,\u201d Finstock huffed before looking out over the field. \u201cHave you noticed what your <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">victims<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have in common?\u201d The man used actual air quotes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cBesides disappearing or turning up dead?\u201d Derek shook his head. \u201cWe don\u2019t get hired to find upstanding members of society, if that\u2019s what you mean.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThey aren\u2019t just shady characters that made a few people uneasy or threatened someone. Take this hunter, for instance. He\u2019s on a slab because he destroyed a pack in Oregon down to the babe in the womb. The one you were tracking before, she was a wendigo that had discovered human flesh\u2014newly fallen, but voracious and deadly in her appetite.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cLinda Layson came through Beacon Hills?\u201d Derek did some quick calculations. \u201cShe disappeared near the Mexico border. We have witnesses who saw her.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cBelieve what you will, I\u2019m telling you what I know.\u201d Finstock shrugged, frowning at Derek. \u201cBefore that there was the hunter who liked to torture his victims before finally killing them or turning them over to his hunting council\u2014he was a witch hunter though, so you probably didn\u2019t know him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThat\u2019s a lot of bodies already, how has no one noticed,\u201d Derek said, going back over his past tracking investigations, trying to see if any of those that disappeared had come near Beacon Hills.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cBecause our guardian is good and we protect them\u2014doubt they know about the guardian bit, despite everything,\u201d Finstock crossed his arms over his chest. \u201cAlways was a little slow about things like that. Now, you didn\u2019t answer my question.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhat?\u201d Derek pulled himself out of his thoughts to stare at Finstock.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhat do these assholes have in common? You\u2019re as slow as some of my students. Pay attention or you\u2019re going to lose something important. It\u2019s how I ended up with this job.\u201d Finstock shook his head.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Derek ignored most of what Finstock said. He realized it might be the only way to get through a conversation with the other man without either of them going off on a tangent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThey were bad people,\u201d Derek guessed, he frowned. \u201cWe already knew that\u2014at least for most of my bounties. We don\u2019t kill them if we can help it though.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNo, as I said, you leave that for who hired you. Because let me tell you, your Studness, if you think any of the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bounties<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you\u2019ve run in are still alive long after you passed them over then you probably believe the clouds are really cotton candy. Idjit.\u201d Finstock glared at Derek.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThat\u2019s up to the pack who has the grievance,\u201d Derek said, wincing when he realized he sounded more like his mother than he wanted to. She was a good alpha, but she preferred to keep her hands clean when it came to protecting the pack. To the point of pretending like the dark side of Peter and Derek\u2019s job didn\u2019t really exist.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cDoesn\u2019t make your hands clean or your uncle\u2019s,\u201d Finstock replied as if he read Derek\u2019s mind. \u201cMostly I called you here, because your bumbling around town is going to stir up the community and no one wants that. Your target is dead, your case is closed. You can go back to your cushy territory down south and leave Beacon Hills to protect its own.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIs that a threat,\u201d Derek asked, startled by the turn of conversation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cTake it how you want Studly-Do-Right. Besides what are you going to do if you find out the truth? You can\u2019t take them in, the only people who would have bounties on them are people your uncle wouldn\u2019t spit on if they were on fire,\u201d Finstock said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cBeacon Hills could be in trouble if someone else traces what Peter has,\u201d Derek said, even as he realized their conversation was over and he had nothing to return with to his uncle. \u201cYour <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">guardian<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> definitely will be.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe protect our own\u2014we haven\u2019t done the best job in the past, but now that we have someone willing to do what needs to be done? Someone willing to be the guardian we needed despite the risks. We&#8217;ll follow their lead and we\u2019ll protect this town and each other with <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">all<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> available resources.\u201d Finstock\u2019s eyes flared bright white, the air around him snapped and sizzled. The scent of ozone and fresh cut grass burned Derek&#8217;s nose. He forced himself not to take a step back.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou\u2019re a healer?\u201d Derek tried to fit that fact to the man in front of him. He was aware of the damage a powerful healer could do if they put their mind to it, he&#8217;d been expecting Finstock to be a hedgewitch not someone with real power.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAmong other things. Go home, this is your only warning Hale. Take it to your uncle and get out of Beacon Hills. This isn\u2019t Hale land\u2014not anymore.\u201d Finstock turned away and walked across the field without another word\u2014taking the scent of decaying foliage and sharp lightning with him.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWell, fuck.\u201d Derek muttered. Beacon Hills was mired in too many secrets and mysteries.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1><\/h1>\n<h1><a href=\"https:\/\/sibylmoon.net\/index.php\/2023\/09\/23\/better-off-bread-2-3\/\"><em><strong>Better Off Bread 2\/3<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/h1>\n<h1><a href=\"https:\/\/sibylmoon.net\/index.php\/2023\/09\/23\/better-off-bread-3-3\/\"><em><strong>Better Off Bread 3\/3<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/h1>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Title: Better Off Bread Author: Sibyl Moon Fandom: Teen Wolf Genre: Humor, Romance Relationship: Stiles\/Derek Beta: Grammarly Warnings: Murder, Canon-level-Violence, Discussion-Hate Crimes\/Speech in relation to Hunters and Supernatural Beings, Discussion-Poisoning, Discussion-Torture,\u00a0 Word Count: 25k Summary: Stiles has been taking care of the less than savory side of the supernatural world&#8230; <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sibylmoon.net\/index.php\/2023\/09\/23\/better-off-bread-1-3\/\">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":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[42,9,86],"tags":[11,88,60,39,24,59,46,30,87],"class_list":["post-774","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sterek","category-teen-wolf","category-wipbb","tag-au","tag-bob","tag-canon-typical-violence","tag-derek-hale","tag-magic-stiles","tag-romance","tag-sterek","tag-stiles-stilinski","tag-wipbb"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sibylmoon.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/774","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=774"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sibylmoon.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/774\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sibylmoon.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=774"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sibylmoon.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=774"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sibylmoon.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=774"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}