Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/826613.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Choose_Not_To_Use_Archive_Warnings, Graphic_Depictions_Of_Violence,
      Underage
  Category:
      M/M
  Fandom:
      Teen_Wolf_(TV), The_Dresden_Files_-_Jim_Butcher
  Relationship:
      Derek_Hale/Stiles_Stilinski
  Character:
      Derek_Hale, Stiles_Stilinski, Sheriff_Stilinski, Carlos_Ramirez, Chris
      Argent, Lydia_Martin, Adrian_Harris, Ms._Morrell_(Teen_Wolf), Scott
      McCall_(Teen_Wolf), Jackson_Whittemore, Isaac_Lahey, Allison_Argent,
      Vernon_Boyd, Ethan_(Teen_Wolf), Aiden_(Teen_Wolf), Alan_Deaton, Erica
      Reyes
  Additional Tags:
      Alternate_Universe_-_Canon_Divergence, Alternate_Universe_-_Fusion,
      Alternate_Universe_-_Dresden_Files, Wizards, Vampires, Bonding, Magical
      Stiles_Stilinski, Magical_Violence, Slow_Build, Sheriff_Stilinski_Finds
      Out, Necromancy, Zombies, BAMF_Stiles, BAMF_Derek, Angels, Demons, Urban
      Sorcery, Guardian_Mages, Sex_Magic
  Series:
      Part 1 of The_Hale_Clan
  Stats:
      Published: 2013-06-02 Completed: 2013-07-05 Chapters: 6/6 Words: 59339
****** The Night the World Changed ******
by elrond50
Summary
     Events far from Beacon Hills, long in motion, have impacted the town
     in ways unknown until now. A single event hundreds of miles away
     opens up a broader world to Stiles and his friends.
     The Time of Change approaches and events far and wide have great
     impacts for the pack. What is so important about Beacon Hills that
     makes it a destination for the supernatural? The Hale Family has been
     pivotal for generations; why were they targeted?
     Nothing is as it seems.
     (Merged Beacon Hills events into the broader Dresden-verse. Set after
     the book Changes.)
Notes
     The creative vibe hit me and I'm running with it. The chapters of
     this work will all be song titles.
     (Season One of TW compliant (to an extent), Season Two events out of
     sequence, Season Three events folded in as they help the plot of this
     story.)
***** Dream Within A Dream *****
Stiles was a Dreamer and he was Dreaming. Since childhood, he’d loved roaming
the world in his sleep. Not a nightly thing, but when the Dream Realm opened,
he took it. Now he was floating high above Northern California looking out
across the world with content. He could ‘feel’ his friends sleeping or doing
things he’d rather not know about.
The peace of his town that night made him feel buoyant, but when flashes of
light and ripples of energy began pulling his attention away from his home
town, he suddenly found himself peering across the plane of the world, drifting
farther from home on waves of stronger and stronger energy.
In the distance, he could discern vast, grotesque figures dueling other shapes
clad in gray. Light, heat, explosions, all rippled across his vision. Silvery
golden light flashed in broad arcs around the hideous figures. Part of him
could not believe he was seeing such a battle…never had his Dreams shown things
like this. Then he could feel it, the pull, and saw rivers of energy flowing
like blood towards an ancient temple that loomed like a vast volcano in the
Dream Realm. It was growing ever larger, dominating the Dream Realm like Mount
Doom and Barad-dûr combined. Fear engulfed him as he watched it grow,
lightning-crowned and pulsing with evil.
The night sky began to shine as the stars became glowing runes encircling the
Dream Realm. Magic… he could feel it all around. The looming temple was
bursting with it and the Stars responded to that thrum of magic. He could see
the Runes -- the constellations of the Zodiac -- alive and looking down on the
Realm. But the Temple’s power now began to blot out their light. 
Specters of Death loomed over the Temple complex. The rolling energy bounced
him from the raging battles. The dueling figures expelled power with the ease
and majesty of characters from the fantasy comic books he enjoyed so much, but
these were no fantasy. The Dream Realm was a state of being, a place from which
to view reality. What he saw here was real, the wonder and the horror, and he
drifted ever closer.
The foundation of the Dream Realm shook as some of the mighty creatures fell,
leaving a golden figure standing out in stark relief to the vast shadows. The
figures in gray roared and battlements of the Realm crumbled.
A blinding flash of red light exploded from the top of the temple and Stiles
was thrown back. He could feel the Dream Realm shatter, the tether to his body
lost in the cataclysm, tossing him like a ragdoll as wave after wave of horrid
energy with feel of death radiated from the explosion. Death itself rose from
the shattered Temple and he watched as thousands died in an instant, exploding,
each violent death adding to the tsunami of energy.
The shattered Dream Realm flew into fragments. Normally, Stiles loved to fly,
but now he did so to race from the vast shards of the broken Realm.
S...t…i…l…e...s
A large shard flew right through his Dream-self and Stiles screamed. Everything
changed. His vision rippled. Lightning coursed through him and he could see a
new world. Horrific images ripped through his mind. Fire, blood…death…pain. And
he SAW. Things…everything. Above, he could see Angels warring with Angels. He
could see the pits of Tartarus and Gates of Hell. All around were hidden doors
leading to distance places littered around the world. Rivers of light and dark
flowed through everything. Lights of people illuminated the landscape. Turning,
he saw the vast fountains of energy still erupting from the ruined temple. And
still, pieces of the shattered Dream Realm flew all around.
Shadows flowed across the lands. He could feel the screams from other Dreamers
across the globe, those connected to this Realm, and his screams melded with
theirs a shadows closed in on him, suffocating him.
Stiles…
His vision swam with more horrific images. The stench of death permeated the
Dreamscape. Shadows circled like sharks homing in on prey. Never had he been so
lost. Never had he wished to leave the Dream Realm, but he could not wake up.
Horror after horror replayed in his mind’s eye. He raised his hands to shield
his eyes, and faint glowing blue rune appeared…a small shield formed to keep
the worst of the horrors at bay. Still the shadows circled.
Stiles!
His name echoed across the Realm, but he could not see where it was coming
from. He turned this way and that, but the shadows moved closer. A flash of
light blazed from above, then swooped down to push him through the encircling
mass of shadows. He was plummeting, but the light was right there pushing him.
STILES!
Faster he fell or was pushed. He was getting hot. The images of the night were
seared into his mind. He couldn’t breathe. Everything ached. He was falling,
enveloped in light that obscured the shattering Realm, making it impossible to
see if the shadows followed. Patterns that were so familiar came back to him.
STILES!!!
Choking, he awoke and shot up gasping for air and reaching down to his left hip
which felt like he’d been branded. Nausea overwhelmed him and he raced into his
bathroom, past whomever had called him, heaving his guts out; feeling as though
everything he’d ever eaten was coming up.
He was gasping for breath and he could feel a panic attack building. A voice he
didn’t expect was next to him. “Breathe.” He was pulled back against a solid
chest and hand holding his chest lightly. The voice from behind him whispering
softly, “Breathe with me.”
“Stiles!” his father’s hand was on his shoulder grasping and holding him as
well. “Son! You’ve been screaming and thrashing about for the last two hours.”
Stiles could feel the panic and horror recede. Why Derek was holding him and
making him relax was a question for another time. The concern and fear coloring
his father’s face in front of him made Stiles start to panic again. He dropped
his head, “I’m…”
John Stilinski pushed two fingers under his son’s chin and forced him to meet
his gaze. “Don’t bother trying to say you are fine. We couldn’t wake you and…”
Derek spoke over Stiles’ shoulder, “Sheriff, perhaps we should give him a
moment and talk downstairs.” He paused for a second. “I don’t think he’s going
to be able to sleep for a while. Let him pull himself together.”
Stiles disengaged himself from Derek and frowned at him, not angry, just
confused. “What are you doing here?” he asked softly, fearing that his voice
sounded as wrecked and broken as he felt.
“Good question,” the sheriff snapped, torn between being grateful for the help
and irritated that one of the least trustworthy citizens in town had just
crawled through his son’s bedroom window.
“I heard you screaming from the street,” Derek replied. “I didn’t know if the
Sheriff was home or not and though maybe you needed help.”
John raked a hand through his hair. “Stiles…get cleaned up and come
downstairs.” He was pulled into a tight hug. “You scared me kiddo.”
 
===============================================================================
 
 
John Stilinski walked down the stairs, a hand on Derek Hale’s shoulder all the
way, adrenaline still surging almost as strongly as when he’d been awakened by
Stiles violent moaning in his sleep. He normally ignored noise from his teenage
son’s room, but tonight his son’s cries were terrifying. When he burst in and
saw Stiles sweating and thrashing in his sleep, he’d tried to gently wake him,
but it was no use.
When Derek suddenly popped in through the open second floor window, John had
been shocked. But the surprise had been when Derek knelt next to the bed as
though he belonged there, and placed his hand on Stiles, also trying to wake
him.
It had been excruciating watching Stiles thrash about and to hear the screams
that were torn from his throat. John never wanted to hear that again. When
Derek told him something was wrong…that Stiles wasn’t there, John wanted to
demand answers, but he needed Stiles safe first. The look on Derek’s face
stopped him from yelling at the young man. He didn’t see the man that scowled
and was prime suspect number one for anything that happened in town. He
suddenly saw the broken sixteen year kid whose family was destroyed by a fire
in one night almost seven years ago. All the anger John had towards Derek and
the unanswered questions vanished with that look and the concern for Stiles
evident. It was like he had forgotten he knew Derek from before…before
everything changed.
Pulling himself back to the present; he poured a cup of coffee and offered one
to Derek which he surprisingly took. “Not surprised you heard him from the
street. You’re around the area often late at night”
Derek swallowed and let out a deep sigh. “You know more than you let on don’t
you?”
John wasn’t Sheriff for nothing.  He shrugged and waited for the young man next
to him to start talking.
“I need Stiles here to explain everything. I don’t know what happened up there,
but…it was bad.” Derek stopped as he heard Stiles noisily come down the stairs.
 
===============================================================================
 
 
Stiles stood leaning against his sink for several minutes before he splashed
water on his face and brushed his teeth. He knew Derek could hear him if
anything was wrong. And boy were things wrong right now. ‘Still smell the…still
feel the…’ His thoughts circled around and around, but he could not shake the
horror that went soul deep. He moved to leave the bathroom and the pain in his
hip flared again. He pulled down his shorts and underwear and gasped. There was
a mark…something on his hip that wasn’t there before. He grabbed his phone and
took a few pictures. It looked like a rune to him, but he couldn’t be sure.
‘Fuck, dad better not think I got a tattoo!’
Bone tired, he made his way downstairs to face his dad and his reluctant ally.
He refused to examine exactly how he felt about the werewolf being there to
help him. Derek and he had a complex relationship. And it always made Stiles
uncomfortable to examine any feelings he had concerning the man. They fought,
argued, and worked together, but Stiles both feared and wanted to be near the
man. Confusing.
Seeing Derek and his dad talking softly at the kitchen table made his heart
rate jump and after his ordeal he didn’t need any more of that. He wanted
coffee, but settled for a glass of juice before taking his seat. He could feel
the heat already.
“How’re you feeling, kiddo?” his dad asked innocently enough. The tone warned
Stiles though that nothing less than the whole truth would be acceptable. And
with the werewolf lie detector sitting next to him, Stiles didn’t have the
mental energy to evade or deflect.
“Honestly, wretched.”
He would have laughed at the looks expressions of his dad and Derek if he
wasn’t wiped. Their eyebrows were in their respective hairlines. They had
expected him to lie or evade. ‘Perhaps I can escape by giving enough truth to…’
his thoughts were cut short by the twin frowns now replacing the surprise.
“I was thinking out loud again wasn’t I?”
John chuckled. “I can always count on your lack of brain filter to eventually
give yourself away.” He was about to get the heart of the matter when his phone
rang. “Stilinski.” He listened for a few moments. “Be right there.”
Rising, he lightly grabbed Derek’s shoulder and took a moment to compose his
thoughts. “I have to go and I’m asking, please watch Stiles today, I don’t want
him alone. We’ll talk when I get back.”
Derek nodded. “I’ll watch him.” He stood up and reached over and grabbed Stiles
and pulled him up. “You look like Hell. We can play a few rounds of something
until you can try to sleep.”
Both John and Derek were shocked when Stiles didn’t protest the babysitting or
the orders.
 
===============================================================================
 
 
The crime scene was something out of a horror movie. John had seen too many
terrors of late that were hard to explain. Well, he could try to explain them,
but it opened up old wounds and some things were best forgotten. But those
memories of past times were coming back like a fog lifting.
“Do we know anything?” he asked as he walked up to the ‘victim’ taking in all
the blood splattered around the room.
“License and registration of the room say this is Jason Ivan Rogers of Phoenix,
Arizona. The DOB says he’s thirty-five. But…”
The body was in the center of a king sized bed. The man was naked except for
some very expensive boxers. The blood splatter was all over the room angled out
from the man’s chest. It looked around and saw the chest cavity was blown open
as though the heart had exploded. However, the man’s corpse was desiccated as
if it had drained of all its fluids years ago. No way did the man look like the
thirty five year old he was supposed to be.
“But,” the Sheriff continued, “That corpse looks like it’s been dead for forty
years. What the hell?”
What was worse was the second body in the bathroom. The lady was young, could
be about Derek’s age and dressed very nicely. It was the bite marks and blood
loss that worried him the most. He knew from Stiles’ obsession with horror
movies what he was supposed to be looking at…but then again he knew that things
that went bump in the night were far more real than he wanted to know.
“Get both of them to the County Medical Examiner. Let him make heads or tails
of how this all relates.” Sheriff Stilinski sighed and shook his head. “This is
not the way to start off the day.”
 
===============================================================================
 
 
Scott McCall was Stiles’ best friend since elementary school. They were like
brothers so it wasn’t shocking to either Stiles or Derek when Scott popped his
head in the window. “Dude, what’she doing here?”
Stiles shrugged while Derek rolled his eyes. “We’re playing Capcom which he
sucks at. What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be working at
Deaton’s?”
Scott frowned. “He closed up today. Said he wasn’t feeling well and that we’d
reschedule the regulars tomorrow.” He flopped down on Stiles’ bed and took the
controller away from Derek. “So what are you really doing here?”
“Stiles had a bad night so I’m making sure he’s okay at the Sherriff’s
insistence.” Derek yanked the controller back from Scott.
“Wait…you mean your dad knows that Derek is here? How did that happen?”
Derek dropped the controller next to Scott as he rose. “Stiles can explain it
all. I’m going to the guest room to nap. Stiles, please, I’m asking, don’t go
anywhere without telling me. Your dad asked me to watch over you today and I am
because it’s serious.”
Stiles’ mouth dropped open. “Did you like just ask me to listen and with a
please?” He turned to Scott, “Do I have a fever? Because Derek Hale did not use
‘please’ in a sentence with barking out an order.”
“Stiles,” growled Derek.
“There’s the grouchy sourwolf Alpha we all know so well.” Stiles put his hands
up and sighed. “Fine, yes, I’ll stay here or wake you if I need to go
someplace.”
Derek nodded and walked across the hall to the guest room. It took Scott a few
moments to pick his jaw up off the floor. “Dude, if any of us said something
like that to him we’d get eaten. He must like you.”
Stiles waved off his friend. “Whatever. Give me a fair fight, he couldn’t play
for shit.”
Scott waited for a few moments and then sniffed his best friend. “You smell a
little different. Well, you smell a lot like Derek, but you smell…it’s
different from the normal Stiles odor.” He grinned as he commented on his
buddy’s scent.
“Rude! I haven’t showered today and I’m sure it’s the lingering stench of
nightmare stress.” Stiles paused and took a deep breath. “That’s why Derek is
here. I had a nightmare and I could not wake up.”
“That…wow…” Scott paused for a moment and shrugged. “Deaton mentioned sleeping
badly, but you sound like…your heart rate went up as you talked about it. That
bad?”
Stiles nodded and dropped his head to his chest. “Scott, of all the shit we’ve
seen since you became a werewolf…add it all together and multiply it by a
hundred and it doesn’t come close.”
In the guest room, Derek listened to the boys’ conversation and filed away all
that information. Stiles needed to open up and Scott was the only one that
could pull it all out without a fight. His heart clenched at the pain and fear
still lingering in Stiles’ voice. He knew that wasn’t normal. Something was
wrong…dreadfully, dreadfully wrong.
 
===============================================================================
 
 
When John walked in he could hear the playful banter of Stiles and Derek coming
from the kitchen. It added to his thoughts that they knew each other far more
than Stiles let on. Part of him worried and part of him suspected that Stiles
was fascinated by the older man. Those were thoughts for another time, he left
work early to deal with Stiles and everything that might involve. The grunt
from Derek telling Stiles to ‘Shut Up’ made him smile and shake his head at the
interaction in front of him.
“I see you are no worse for wear, son.” John grabbed a sports drink and leaned
against the doorway. “What’s for dinner?”
Stiles’ smile made John cringe and so did the answer. “Turkey meatloaf with
spaghetti squash and roasted asparagus.”
“If I didn’t know better I’d say you didn’t love me.” John made his way to the
living room and turned on the news. He’d leave them to the culinary adventure
that he was sure Stiles devised. The kid was a menace in the kitchen, but he
managed some decent food all the time. The bizarre case from early in the
morning ate up most of his day and he wanted to catch up on current events.
“In our continuing coverage of the mass murder suicides at Chichen Itza last
night, Mexican authorities continue to comb through the wreckage and try to
count the bodies. Current estimates put the dead in the high hundreds…”
Stiles walked in with a snack for his dad and caught the images on the TV. The
plate fell to the floor. Derek came running out of the kitchen just as John
surged out of his chair.
“Stiles!” Derek kept him from collapsing while John grabbed his hands. “Stiles,
what is it?”
“I dreamt that!” he managed to get out as fought his panic attack.
“What?” John asked. “You dreamt that – carnage?” The images on the TV had
warnings all over them.
Derek maneuvered Stiles down to the sofa. “I need to make a call.”
John held up a hand. “Wait.” But then he waved for Derek to go ahead.
“Stiles…I’ve been patient and I’ve made allowances, but you need to come clean
now. What are you into, son?”
Stiles took a deep breath and nodded. Derek came back with a glass of water and
motioned for the sheriff to follow him into the kitchen. “I…I texted someone
who might be able to help. You want answers and you’ll get them, but Stiles
is…something is wrong and I don’t even have a clue where to begin.”
John sighed and nodded. “I know something is off. All day I’ve felt like a fog
is lifting and a lot of it has to do with you!”
Derek gulped and looked nervous. “Like what?”
The sheriff took a moment and weighed his options. “Derek, let’s focus on
Stiles and then we can talk about you.”
They went back into the living room where Stiles was changing channels trying
to find more information about what he’d seen on the TV. He was attacking the
issue like he normally did. “Derek grab my laptop, I need to research this!”
A knock on the door interrupted everything and Derek opened it to let Alan
Deaton into the house. “That was fast.”
Deaton shrugged. “Let’s say I had a feeling I was needed here.” He walked over
and offered his hand to the sheriff before looking over at Stiles. He frowned
and shook his head. “Something changed alright.”
John glared at Deaton, raised both hands, and took a deep breath. “Okay, I’ve
managed to deal with waiting most of the day, but now I want answers!”
“Dad…”
“NO! Stiles, no, I want the truth and I want it now.” John crossed his arms and
Stiles deflated. “I can handle it.”
Deaton cleared his throat. “Sheriff, there is more to this world that you might
think.”
John gave him a ‘no shit’ look and motioned to Derek. “Like the fact that
werewolves exist?”
Stiles spit out his drink and Derek lost his composure for a second. “What?” he
managed to choke out.
His mouth curved a bit and a glint in his eye signaled he wasn’t as stupid as
everyone thought. “Let’s skip that for a second and move onto last night. What
the hell happened to Stiles? We could not wake him and he was screaming in
agony.” John shuddered at the memory.
Deaton pulled out a business card and handed it to Stiles. “Get your laptop and
type in that address.”
Stiles jumped up and went to get his computer. The three adults waited in
silence waiting for his return. He came down and typed in the URL. “What is the
Paranet?”
“Some years ago an…association was formed of people with gifts of some range.
Real psychics, mediums, witches, all of them looking out for each other.”
Deaton ran a hand along his head. “There is far, far more to this world than we
know. More than I know that is for sure. But last night, last night every
member on the Paranet had terrible, terrible dreams. It’s still being pieced
together.”
“Okay, but what about Stiles?” John was trying to be patient, but he was at his
limit.
Derek finally spoke up. “Deaton, Stiles says he dreamed about the suicides at
Chichen Itza last night.”
“What?! What did you see?” Deaton dropped in front of Stiles. “It’s important,
no one knows anything yet, but we all dreamed of death…such death.”
Stiles gulped and Derek could feel the panic rising from the teen. “Deaton,
he’s starting to panic again.”
Deaton backed up and put a hand on the sheriff’s shoulder. “I want to try
something. I want to hypnotize Stiles and walk him back through last night’s
events. If he actually dreamt what happened then it could be a clue. I wouldn’t
ask…but last night…” Deaton shuddered. “It won’t hurt him and it will keep him
from having these panic attacks while trying to remember.”
John looked over at Derek calming Stiles down and nodded to Deaton. “But if it
gets intense then stop right away. I’m not going anywhere.”
Deaton moved to sit next to the teen and made Stiles look at him. “I want you
to focus on my voice. Listen to my voice and let everything fall away…”
Stiles listened and soon was back on the Dream plane, but was looking at
himself on the Dream plane. “I was floating above our town taking in the peace.
Nothing threatening, nothing dangerous lurking, and looked out and enjoyed the
moment. But off in the distance there is lightning and explosions. I wander
closer and I see rivers of…blood flowing towards a temple. It’s growing bigger
and bigger.
Above me I see the stars…the Constellations are hanging just out of reach,
glowing brightly, but they are making out different Runes. I’m distracted…there
are figures fighting all around the temple. It’s a war of ages. And the temple
is huge now.
An explosion of red light rips out from the peak and the Dream Realm is broken.
Shards are flying everywhere. Death is rising from the ruins.
The screams of horror…so many die in an instant.
A shard flew through me…it hurts. But the shadows are coming. I…I try to fight
back.”
In an instant, Stiles was screaming again, but a golden glow enveloped him and
threw Deaton back a step and blinded the men around Stiles for a second. The
trance was broken, but Stiles was still breathing hard. “Fuck, I have a
headache.”
“Language,” John said automatically. “You okay?”
Stiles nodded and looked over at a very dazed Deaton. “Did you learn anything
from my trauma?”
Deaton doesn’t meet any of their eyes. “I have a contact through the Paranet.
I’ll see if I can get him to come here. Stiles…why haven’t you ever mentioned
you could Dream walk?”
Stiles and Deaton’s talks have been as enlightening as a Zen master trying to
explain why a moment in time is an eternity; not very helpful in his
estimation. Stiles could work a little magic and was a ‘Spark’ but that was all
he ever got out of Deaton. And he wants to know why Stiles never said anything
to him? “Dude!”
John’s face darkened and Derek stood up. “Sir, we…yes, we’ll tell you
everything. But Deaton…get that contact. Stiles needs the help. That was as
intense as last night.”
Deaton left and the sheriff pointed at both Derek and Stiles. “This has waited
all day.”
Stiles looked at Derek and Derek nodded. “Dad, it all started that night I was
on the Preserve looking for the dead body.”
“The dead body of Derek’s sister that you accused him of killing!”
Stiles held up his hands. “Dad, please let me tell you this and then you can
kill me. Please?” He waited until his dad nodded. “That night Scott was with me
and he got attacked. But the bite made him into a werewolf.” Stiles paused and
waited for his dad to interrupt again.
John sat back and waited. Stiles continued. “That was when it was discovered
there was an unknown alpha around. Derek was hunting for him too.”
“Look,” John said. “I…I remember things today I could not have when you first
showed up. I remember your family now like it was yesterday. And I know your
family secret.
Derek was looking down at his fingers.  “You know I’m a werewolf?”
John nodded. “Stiles, who else among your friends are werewolves?”
Derek put a hand on Stiles shoulder to stop him. “Sir, how much do you know?”
“I’m putting pieces together now. Who else is a wolf?”
“Scott was bitten by my uncle, who I killed for killing Laura. He was the
monster rampaging around town.” Derek ran a hand through his hair and took a
deep breath before continuing. “I turned Erica Reyes, Vernon Boyd, Isaac Lahey,
and Jackson Whittemore. The first three to give them something; a place,
health, a purpose. Jackson blackmailed me which might be why that was a shit
storm.”
“I’ve seen the Martin girl and Danny around you a lot too.”
Derek nodded, “Lydia and Danny are friends of the pack through Jackson. Allison
Argent is the tragic romantic counterpart of Scott so it’s…complicated, but
we’ve worked through some things. We had a lot of difficulty coming to
understandings and to make it all work. It’s still not there. It’s the island
of misfit toys to be honest.”
Stiles laughed and then frowned. “Dad…I didn’t want you to know any of this.
It’s not safe. I didn’t want to know any of this, but it happened to Scott.”
John stood up and started pacing. Stiles and Derek sat and waited. Trepidation
and fear were radiating off Stiles so much that Derek reached over and gave him
a shoulder hug. John walked into the kitchen and back out with a slice of
cheesecake. He dared Stiles to say something as he finished it.
“Look, I worked some of that out already. Like I said…it’s like a fog lifting.
I knew the Hales, knew your parents. Laura babysat Stiles a few times. Details
I’ve forgotten are clear again. When you came in the window last night I was
surprised, but not shocked. I think I knew about weres from your mother, Derek.
I know I knew about the Argents before and Kate…”
That name hung in the air and Derek dropped his head. Stiles was the first to
see blood dripping from Derek’s hand. He ran to get a towel while Derek tried
to regain his composure.
John cleared his throat and sighed. “Derek, last night when you were calling
Stiles…I remembered you the night of the fire. Lost, bewildered, broken…that,
that moment is when so much rushed back to me. I knew Kate Argent had something
to do with that arson back then, but couldn’t prove anything. Within a month
you and Laura were gone and the case forgotten. The video footage of the night
that Lydia and Jackson were at the video store caught something on film that I
knew Deaton knew about. It started to jog my memory, but it was always just
beyond my reach. All these little events and the lying from Stiles…I knew it
had a pattern, but it was like it would vanish into a fog.”
Derek sighed and shrugged helplessly at the sheriff. “I wish I had answers, but
I came back here because Laura did. I planned on staying a few days and now
it’s been a few months. But it’s been a ride from hell and there has been this
intense urge, instinct, need to rebuild my pack and soon. I don’t know why!”
“Big shock there that you don’t know something,” Stiles muttered which earned
him a slap in the back of the head from Derek and a death glare from his dad.
“What?”
“You, my dear son, are moments away from being grounded until the next
millennium.” He paused and took in the two of them sitting next to each other.
 “Now, how well do you know each other?”
Stiles and Derek looked everywhere, but at each other. Finally Derek spoke up.
“He’s pack, but I don’t tell him that because it will go to his head. I could
sense his distress last night and I was already on edge. Something last night
made it worse than a year’s worth of full moons. Then I heard his panic while I
was walking by. That’s how I was here.”
Stiles smiled. “I’m pack? Of course, where the hell would you be without me?”
Another smack to the back of his head had Stiles muttering again.
John hid his chuckle behind his hand and went back to what he meant. “That’s
all well and good, but my son tends to accuse you of murder every few weeks.
Hard to overlook.”
Stiles sputtered for a few moments and sighed. “I tried to make up for that.
Sorry, Derek, not sure I ever apologized. But I did save your life when Jackson
was a nasty creature were-lizard thing!” Stiles’ stomach loud rumble reminded
them that dinner was still waiting.
John sighed. “Okay, this isn’t over, but we need answers and those will have to
wait until Deaton’s contact can provide answers.”
Stiles got up and stretched. “Say, dad, what was that case you ran out of here
so early about?”
“In for a penny, in for a pound.” He sighed again. “Some guy in a hotel room
looks like he had his heart ripped out. Really shouldn’t tell you this though.
But none of it made sense. The body looked like it had been dead for years but
his driver’s license showed him to be thirty-five. There was a second victim in
there, but…I swear Stiles if I hear you mention this to anyone I will beat
you!” Stiles blanched. “She looked like she’s been attacked by a vampire.”
Stiles’ eyes went wide. “DAD!” He pulled open his laptop again and showed him a
headline from some weird site linked from the Paranet. ‘Multiple bizarre deaths
reported across the country. Hearts exploded out of their chests. Twenty plus
reports.’ “Oh fuck, what happened last night?”
John looked at the site and then made a note to check with the FBI in the
morning. “This just keeps getting better and better doesn’t it?”
 
===============================================================================
 
 
Stiles managed to go to school the next day and the week progressed slowly.
Derek harassed Deaton for any further information, but so far there is very
little. But rumors were flying and the news was full of mass disappearances
across Central and South America.
“Danny, dude, would I steer you wrong?” Stiles was begging for help. 
“Yeah, after your cousin Miguel thing. Which I still haven’t forgiven you yet.”
Danny smirked at him. “What does the pack need now?”
“I shouldn’t tell you this because my dad would kill me. But you’ve heard about
the massive issues south of the border? Well there have been lots of cases
here. I need help with the database.” Stiles smiled widely at Danny. “Please?”
“Stiles, what am I looking for?” Danny sighed and looked over the information
that Stiles had compiled. “Stiles…what is this?”
Stiles looked around and whispered, “It might be evidence of vampires.”
“No shit!” Danny was excited and then leaned back. “Are you pulling my leg?”
“NO!” Stiles ran a hand through his hair, uncharacteristically now a mop.
“Just, things are happening that are really strange and Dad has been tight-
lipped since he first mentioned the case. Derek has been antsy and…ugh!”
Danny through his hands up in surrender. “Okay, Stiles I’ll see what I can do.
But you owe me more than one!”
 
===============================================================================
 
 
Derek was out at the Preserve looking towards the burnt out husk of his family
home. The ache in his chest never lessened no matter the time since the fire
wiped out his family. The despair, anger, loss, betrayal all threatened to
overwhelm him at any given moment. It took a moment to sense that someone else
was in the woods.
Turning quickly he listened to the fall of footsteps and sniffed the air to
catch a scent. “Magic!” It wasn’t something he’d smelled this strong in ages.
He quickly turned and ran towards the sound and smell. He stopped a few feet
from a guy he’d swear could be Scott’s older brother. “Who are you?”
A man in his mid to late twenties, with classic Spanish features, tanned skin
and dark eyes smiled at him. He was wearing a gray cloak that was frayed at the
bottom and looked worn. He had a sword by his side and Derek could make out a
gun as well and in his hand was a staff that looked like it was a bit battered
and used as well. He man smiled and his face showed the easy laugh lines
despite the weariness that had been there moments before. “I’m Carlos Ramirez
and I believe that I was called here.”
“Who called you?” Derek stood his ground, but his unease was growing.
Ramirez’s smile faltered a bit. He looked around and raised his staff and the
runes etched in it glowed a bit. He circled around and finally his eyes settled
on Derek again. “I don’t think I’m welcome here. And I was called here by a Dr.
Deaton.”
Derek let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. “You’re here to help
Stiles. But why are you here?” He asked as he motioned all around him but it
lingered on his burned out home.
Ramirez looked around again and lowered his staff. He headed towards the house
and stopped outside the front and frowned at the sigil on the front door.
“You’re an alpha aren’t you? I can sense magic all through you, but you are
connected to this place. There is power here. Hard to explain. Something is
amiss.” He shook his head and turned back to give Derek a charming smile. “So
who is Stiles?”
“Now that is a question begging for an answer.” Derek motioned for Carlos to
follow him. Derek pulled out his phone and sent a mass text to the pack. “I
need to call his dad.” In a few minutes it was arranged for all of them to
assemble at the Stilinski residence after school.
 
===============================================================================
 
 
It was odd, but Ramirez had told Derek to unplug all the electronics in the
household as a precaution. A pile of teenagers barreled in while Derek was
helping the sheriff and Carlos arrange the living room to hold a meeting.
Deaton walked in right behind the pack and shook Carlos’ hand. “Thank you for
coming.”
“I wasn’t expecting to meet a werewolf pack.” Carlos smiled, but sadness tinged
his voice as he continued. “A friend of mine was very close to a pack of his
own. But they’ didn’t have a natural alpha as their leader.”  He walked right
over to Stiles and smiled broadly. “You must be Stiles. I’m Carlos Ramirez,
Warden Commander of the Western United States, Wizard of the White Council and
all around awesome guy. Even if I hadn’t seen your picture I would pick you out
of this group blindfolded.” Several of the wolves muttered about egos, but
Carlos kept smiling.
“What can you tell me? That dream, it still lingers in my mind.” Stiles was
shivering again and the whole pack wanted to comfort him. Derek moved first and
placed a hand on the teen’s shoulder. Just like that, the shivering stopped.
Carlos raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
He moved back and grabbed his backpack and pulled out some chalk and a bowl. “I
need some water please. As pure as possible. Now everyone, Stiles and I will be
in the circle do not move please stay as still as possible. You will be able to
hear this, but only he and I can see it. DO NOT BREAK THE CIRCLE.”
Soon Stiles was sitting cross-legged across from Carlos inside a chalk circle.
The bowl of water was between them. Carlos muttered something and Stiles felt a
snap of power around them. He could actually see the magic. Carlos reach for
Stiles’ hands and whispered. “Close your eyes and think of that dream. Let your
mind go back. You are safe in the circle.”
Everyone in the room could hear Stiles voice as the entire dream sequence
replayed. The house shook as he recounted the horrible explosion and the deaths
that followed. There was a sudden flash inside the circle and steam was rising
from the bowl.
“HOLY SHIT!” Carlos said was he stood up and banished the circle. “I need a
moment.” He walked into the backyard.
Derek helped Stiles up and asked, “Are you okay?”
Stiles dropped his head, “No.”
Carlos came in a few minutes later. His eyes shining with unshed tears. “I
apologize. Your dream…it did happen. Events at Chichen Itza have been.” He
sighed and plopped back into his chair. “I shouldn’t tell you any of this, but
secrets have a way of biting you in the ass. Wizards are the worst of all when
keeping secrets. What you saw was a curse that wiped out the entire Red Court
of Vampires.”
The entire room exploded into questions at once. Carlos raised his hand to stop
them. “Look, you are a bunch of werewolves, a watcher, and a Stiles so don’t
freak about some damned vampires. There are seven courts of vamps…well five
now, and some are like hangers on existing independent of a Court. All the
fairy tales you’ve read have some basis in reality as do most myths. But back
to it. You saw magic enacted on a level that hasn’t been seen in centuries,
maybe millennia. Magic had been stable for a long time and now that curse has
unleashed a storm, like when the Ice Age ended. It’s only been a few days and
no one knows what the aftermath really is yet.”
Stiles was indignant, “Wait a minute, what do you mean by ‘a Stiles’ that’s not
funny!”
“It wasn’t a joke. You had some gifts before that, might have made a decent
witch in time. But now…”
The sheriff moved closer to Stiles and fixed Carlos with a glare. “But now?”
Carlos took a deep breath. “It feels like he’s blown wide open. He’s raw and
his channels are throbbing. It feels like his talent levels got a boost and
that flash of light was a protection spell the likes I’ve never seen. Not sure
what to say, except that Stiles, you might have the makings of a wizard.”
Jackson busted out laughing on the sofa. “Oh God, Stiles is Harry Potter!”
Lydia smacked him in the head which only set Isaac and Erica off.
Scott and Derek moved to Carlos. Scott motioned to his best friend. “What does
that mean for Stiles?”
“For now, he needs the basics and Deaton here can get him started. But while
I’m here I need to investigate something.” He walked over to Derek and placed
his hands on his shoulders and met his eyes. To meet a wizard’s eyes directly
is to meet in a Soulgaze, the true measure of a person is taken in a two way
street. It was like a battle of wills for a second and then Derek pulled away
rubbing his eyes.
“Interesting.” Carlos rubbed his chin for a bit a small smile flirting across
his face. “You and I need to explore your house tomorrow. Sheriff, if you will
join us tomorrow, please?” He motioned for Stiles to follow him outside. “You
need to focus on your focus. Start meditating and I’ll have Deaton start you on
the basics as soon as possible. I’ll be swinging by every so often to check on
your progress.”
Carlos paused for a second and got an evil glint in his eye. “So is Derek
single? Not every day you meet someone that looks that good and knows about the
supernatural. Not that the ladies don’t love me, but a walk on the other side
never hurt anyone.”
Stiles sputtered for a second and he blinked a few times before muttering. “Not
that I know of…I mean…he…umm…what?”
Carlos laughed. “Oh this is going to be fun.” He winked. “I’ll see you again
before I leave. Oh, a word of warning. As you gain power and ability, you will
lose the ability to use technology. Might want to get used to not having a cell
phone.” He walked away as Stiles started cursing.
Derek was next to Stiles as soon as Carlos walked away. Derek’s werewolf
hearing had picked up most of that conversation. “You okay?”
Avoidance was one of Stiles’ best friends. “That idiot Jackson is having a ball
with this isn’t he?”
“He and Isaac are in rare form.” Derek sighed. “Better get in there before your
dad eats a ton of pizza.”
Stiles quickly took off screaming, “Dad, you better be having a salad and no
red meat!”
 
===============================================================================
 
 
John walked towards the remains of Hale House with Deaton next to him. Derek
was already waiting. The guest of honor was not there yet. John ran a hand
through his hair. “What exactly do you know about him? Other than that he has a
very high opinion of himself.”
“He’s a Warden and that means he isn’t to be trifled with. I know plenty, but
much of it I can’t share. I’ll let you in when you need to know. But know that
this isn’t Harry Potter we are talking about, this is Lord of the Rings type
stuff.” Out from the woods Deaton saw the wizard walking towards them. “Hello,
Warden.”
Carlos waved and headed up to the house. “Hi everyone. Sorry I’m late, but the
forest doesn’t like me. I had to veil to get here without a massive headache.”
He took a deep breath and nodded at Derek. “Permission to enter your home?”
Derek was startled by the request. “Of course.”
Carlos walked in and raised his staff and muttered a few words. He swept the
staff left to right and a faint glow from his staff slowly built to illuminate
the remains. Slowly he walked the rooms and would pause. “The basement is
through that door?” he asked. Confirmation from Derek allowed him to continue
down as he made his way around the basement. He stopped and looked at Derek for
several minutes. “I’m very sorry for your loss. Your pain is so deep when I
looked at your soul, it was almost overwhelming.” He touched Derek’s arm and
motioned for him to head upstairs.
John and Deaton were waiting for them as they emerged. Carlos took a breath to
clear his head. “Sir, I know that you know this was arson and preplanned, but I
think there is more to it. This is a place of power. There are several lines of
magical energy centered under the house. The land recognizes Derek here. It
knows him. His family guarded the magic and kept it safe. His family was
murdered for a reason. He’s the last of the guardians; a young alpha with a
young pack. Given everything I’ve seen over the last few years I can say that
is no coincidence. Someone wanted to get rid of the Hales and it wasn’t the
reason you’ve been given.”
The other men stared at Carlos for a minute. John spoke first. “Why would
anyone want to get rid of them? I don’t understand.”
Carlos nodded. “Places of power make it easier to perform ritual magic. That is
why Chichen Itza was so devastating. They used blood magic and a place of power
for the ritual spell and it still has ripples happening across dimensions.” He
turned to Derek. “Bring Stiles here during the day and have him walk through
here. Stay close, you ground him, he is from here, part of your pack, he can
see the energies more clearly. As a Dreamer, he could see some things and might
not have understood what he was Seeing. He’s been opened up. He will be seeing
a lot of things in the future. His instincts will be as good as yours on some
levels. Trust him.
“I have business in Chicago. I’ll be back in a few days.” He smiled broadly at
Derek for a second. “When I come back we are having dinner and we’ll discuss
what you’ve learned.”
Derek didn’t get to answer before the wizard was off through the woods. He
turned to John and Deaton and frowned. “What was that?”
John laughed. “I think it’s called a date.”
 
===============================================================================
 
 
Derek found Stiles sitting in his room pouring over books that Deaton had given
him. His laptop was open to various sites trying to figure out what he’d been
told a day earlier. “How’re you doing?”
Stiles jumped and tried to growl at Derek. “Jeez! Warn a guy will ya?!” Stiles
settled back down. “Trying to get an understanding of this and its more than
making mountain ash work, which by the way is now much easier.”
Derek settled on the bed and picked up a book and started looking at it. “Not
easy reading is it?”
“No. Deaton keeps telling me that there are whole other worlds out there.
Trying not to think about it. My future was graduating, college, marrying
Lydia, having some kids. Now I have no clue.”
“Well aside from marrying Lydia, because Jackson would kill you, all that is
still there.” Derek offered a hint of a smile.
Stiles put his book down. “Dad, said that you’d need me Saturday morning. Any
reason why?”
“Carlos wants you to walk through the house and tell me what you see and feel.
He said you’re sensitive now to variations.” Derek didn’t comment on Stiles
change in breathing or heart rate at the mention of Carlos.
“Dad said that Carlos was concerned about the fire in whole new ways. You
okay?” Stiles moved closer to Derek, but not too close.
“Yes, no, I don’t know. What he said made me think and it feels painful all
over again.”
Derek looked nervous and Stiles eyed him for a moment. “What aren’t you telling
me?”
“He sort of asked me out on a date,” he mumbled.
Stiles heart rate went all over the place and he swallowed in a suddenly dry
mouth. “Oh?” he managed to get out.
Derek shrugged. “So what have you learned?”
Knowing a subject change when he heard one, Stiles forced a smile and picked up
a book and pointed something out. “Yeah, fairy godmothers are real and
terrifying apparently.”
 
===============================================================================
 
 
The pack was all seated at one table at lunch. It was Friday, the weekend
loomed and most of them were taking about plans. Erica and Boyd had plans,
Jackson and Lydia had tickets to something, Allison and Scott were trying to
reconnect as a couple, and even Danny and Isaac had plans to do something with
some non-pack friends. Stiles just kept pushing his food around while everyone
kept going on and on. It took him a few moments to realize all conversations
had stopped. He looked around, “What?”
Lydia rolled her eyes and stared right at him. “What on earth are you frowning
about?”
“Nothing,” Stiles said slowly. “Why would I be frowning?”
“Does this have anything to do with the fact that Mr. Full-of-Himself Wizard
asked Derek out on a date?” Isaac asked with a mischievous grin on his face.
“Because despite the attitude the man was hot.” Danny elbowed him hard in the
ribs. “What?”
“Seriously, you’re upset that Derek has a date?” Scott asked incredulously. “I
mean I know he’s better now, but still.” Allison elbowed him in the ribs.
“What?”
Erica reached over and punched Stiles in the shoulder. “Now why would you be
upset about that? Because Isaac is right, Mr. Wizard is a total hottie, and
well…”
Stiles sighed. “I’m not upset,” he supplied. Doubting looks from his friends
met his gaze. He picked up his tray and started to leave. “Really, thanks guys,
don’t know what I’d do without you.” He left and headed to an empty classroom
and pulled out a book. A sheet of paper fell out. It was the first thing Deaton
gave him to review. A simple phrase was all that was on it. ‘Know Thyself.’
He didn’t look up when the door opened. Stiles didn’t want company and didn’t
want a pep talk; especially the kind his friends normally supplied.
“So what’s this all about, Stilinski?” Jackson asked as he sat down near
Stiles. He smirked when Stiles raised a questioning eyebrow. “Derek doesn’t
want you alone.”
“That the only reason you’re here?” Stiles couldn’t meet Jackson’s gaze and
continued to read over the same paragraph over and over again.
Jackson sighed and shrugged. “Look, you’re always running into danger despite
your claims of wanting to avoid situations. You actually managed to get Lydia
to do what you wanted once. You’re a hell of a lot more than you think. And if
you tell anyone I’m saying this I will kick your ass. Stiles, you may not be a
male model, but you’re this person who can hold center stage all the same.
Lydia saved my life and I know you had a hand in it too. I owe you one. Talk to
Derek. Use your annoying mouth for a purpose for once.”  He smiled and clapped
Stiles on the shoulder. “Good talk.”  
Stiles sat for a moment and pondered his feelings. The words on the paper
seemed to glow for a second. “Know Thyself,” he mumbled out loud. “What happens
when you aren’t sure anymore?”
Stiles managed to make it through the day and avoided all his friends. He felt
raw and exposed. His mind was all over the place. He texted Derek and told him
he’s be at Hale House around ten in the morning.
As he fell asleep a feeling he hadn’t had since the Nightmare Night came over
him. For the first time though he felt a sense of purpose. The Dream Realm was
still broken but he had a goal in mind and no time to explore the damage across
the Realm. He made his way to Hale House and it stood in front of him, whole
and inviting.
As he entered, he caught glimpses of the past. Picture frames on the walls
would shimmer and change into new people. The whole house called to him to
explore, but he was there for a reason and he had no idea why. A younger
version of Derek appeared before him. Something was off. He didn’t look like
the rest of the family. But there was a smile on his face he’d never seen
before and before he could say anything it was gone. A strong pull forced him
to move further into the house. He was in the library. This room was completely
gone with the fire. All around him was a lost treasure trove of knowledge. A
book stood out on a shelf, illuminated by its own light. As he glimpsed it, he
could not make out the title. All of a sudden the warmth of the house vanished.
He could feel them, the shadows loosed on the plane after the curse was cast.
He did not fear them, but was concerned. The house was now as it was, burned
and ruined. He could feel the shadows moving around. Walking back out, he could
not tell how many of them there were. Courage, he gathered it up and began to
marshal his will to return home.
Shadows circled him. Their thoughts were just beyond his ability to hear. But
fear, that he could feel. They were sapping his courage. He stood up straighter
and tried to tell them to be gone, but no words would come. The rune! He
remembered the rune and a blue glow appeared in front of him and the shadows
fled.
Back in his room, Stiles sat up and groaned. “What the hell are those things?”
 
===============================================================================
 
 
The morning was crisp as Stiles walked up to Hale House. The current picture of
a broken ruin was playing against the warm welcoming image he saw last night.
The overlay of both images was giving him a bit of a headache, but he knew this
was important. “Hey, Derek.”
“Stiles.”
The double vision blurred again and he could see the teenaged Derek from the
Dream in the adult version before him, but again something seemed off. Ignoring
it for a moment, he went in and the double vision gave way to shimmering
magical mirrors hanging all over the house. Each one offered a window into the
past. They were everywhere.
He wanted to rush, but this was new. The past was opening up and Deaton told
him to listen to what his instincts told him. ‘Go slow, take your time.’ So he
fought the urge to rush and methodically made his way around the foyer and then
parlor.  Several times he caught glimpses of a young Derek in the mirrors. They
all lined up with the adult version. Nothing out of sorts. The way was blocked
to where the library once stood, but he managed and the mirrors were out in the
open. His heart broke looking at all that knowledge lost. And he caught a
glimpse of a teenaged Derek, maybe his age, and it was wrong. He could see it,
taste it almost, the offense coming off of the teenaged Derek.
A flash of metal caught his eye and was gone. He turned quickly. “Where was
your room?”
Derek jerked at the sudden voice, full of authority and concern. “Up there,
still mostly in one piece.”
Stiles took off and was in there. All around were the mirrors, past and present
overlapping. He was looking for something and under some debris, under some
burnt books he could sense it. The offense, that which did not belong. Quickly
he fumbled around his pockets and found a pen, He used it to push aside the
debris and uncovered a burnt bracelet. Recoiling he refused to touch it.
“Do you have a plastic bag or something to place this in?” Stiles was holding
it away from his person.
Derek found a plastic bag from when he was squatting in his old family home.
Stiles dumped the bracelet in bag and then quickly took it from Derek. “We need
to get this to Deaton.”
It was a short trip to the veterinary clinic that Deaton ran. Stiles handed the
bag over and when Deaton saw what was in there he too recoiled and dropped the
bag. Stiles looked at Derek and swallowed before asking. “Derek, who gave you
that bracelet?”
The answer shocked no one. “Kate.”
***** Of These, Hope *****
Chapter Summary
     Stiles has to adjust to his recent changes and Derek has to rethink
     his worldview. Things aren't always what they seem.
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Carlos Ramirez eyed the burnt bracelet with disdain. “Well that solves a small
mystery leading to a bigger one.” He dropped it back in the box Deaton had
placed it in. “Someone studied you for a while. I bet the sixteen year old you
reeked of dark magic. Your ex wasn’t a mage, but someone close to her was.”
Derek slumped and ran a hand through his hair. “So, it wasn’t just teenage
hormones.”
 “You carry so much pain and guilt.” Carlos eyed him closely across the table.
 “I read your soul like you read mine. I have my regrets, but I wonder how you
cope day-to-day with yours. I will say, magic played a role in letting down
your guard. But that is a conversation for another day.” Changing the subject,
he winked at the werewolf. “Thank you for the date.”
Derek rolled his eyes while cracking his neck. “Not sure this is much of date.
I don’t even know you.”
Laughing, Carlos nodded. “All too true, but you will be seeing me sporadically.
Consider this more of a get to know you meal. You are a potential wizard’s
alpha. And if I were one of those scholarly types, I’d be all over this
situation trying to figure it out.” 
“Why? What’s so special about my pack or Stiles?” Derek frowned mentioning his
pack-mate and… friend. “Other than he’s got magic.”
A slow wicked smile crossed the wizard’s face. He tapped the table for a few
seconds and then took a long pull of his beer. He regarded the werewolf for a
few more moments before responding. “Wizards of White Council strength tend to
be solitary. Whether Stiles is that strong yet remains to be seen, but he’s
part of a pack. One that is rising like a phoenix from the ashes of betrayal.
One tasked to guard a very specific place which happens to be a place of power.
My job is to look at these events and ponder their meaning. Or would be if I
was that type of wizard.”
He paused for a second and smiled again. “Does Stiles know where you are right
now?”
Derek shrugged and then sighed. “He knows.”
“And?”
Derek growled. “Why is it so important?”
Carlos shrugged and took another pull of his beer. “You’ll see. Now, what’s
good here?”
===============================================================================
 
The flicker of a candle flame illuminated Stiles’ room. He was sitting in the
middle of the floor trying to meditate by using the candle as a focus. He
turned off his phone, turned off the laptop, and turned off the lights. Having
ADHD made focusing difficult, but Deaton told him he had to find his center and
to learn to ground.
Snap
It was like being in the Dream Realm suddenly except he was awake. His
awareness was sensitive. He could ‘feel’ things he never experienced before,
like wind moving around him where there was no wind. Sounds from the street
filtered to him, the feel of neighbors like lights on a landscape. It was all
so AWESOME!
Suddenly the world went white and he was in a windowless, door less, room all
in white a blank canvas that his senses could not read. “Oh My GOD, this is not
cool.” Panic flooded him.
“It’s fine kiddo.” A man of medium height with dark blond hair, tanned skin and
green eyes came over. He cocked his head sideways and gave the teen a grin a
mile wide. “I must say that you impressed me.”
The panic quickly vanished and Stiles took in the man in front of him. “Okay,
where are we? And who are you?”
“You’ll have to figure out who I am. Such knowledge is not free. As for where
you are…well, you are in a little safe corner of the Dream Realm so we can have
a private chat. It’s perfectly safe.” He smiled again and motioned to a chair
that appeared out of nowhere.
“One, Rude! I’m new to this whole magic thing and now I’m traumatized the first
time I manage to focus!” Stiles sat and frowned. “Also rude to not tell me who
you are.”
The man laughed; it felt like sunshine, warmth, and happiness all in one and it
made Stiles feel at ease, the rest of his anxiety bleeding away. “Okay, so
that’s a no go on who you are so how about why am I here?”
The room changed and suddenly they were sitting all alone at a café in Paris.
“Still the Dream Realm, so no worries. Neat trick you pulled that night the Red
Court died. All kinds of things fell apart that night. But in the middle of
utter chaos; confused, alone, and desperate, you managed to summon a protection
glyph and empower it. Something you should not have been able to do, but you
did. Such things get noticed even in the mayhem of that night.” He looked over
at the teen and appraised him again.
“I waited a bit to see how you handled the changes and you did what you always
do, jumped head first into it and attacked the problem.” He smiled again.
“Things which have been considered a weakness will become strengths if you
persevere.”
Stiles blinked and sighed before motioning all around. “Seriously! It’s like
Deaton on steroids. Can’t ever get a straight answer! What do you want?”
Laughing again, the man shrugged. “Patience my young Padawan. It’s not
something I want, but rather simply letting you know that I rescued you that
night. That you are on my watch list now.”
“Watch list?” Stiles paled. “Like watch how?”
“Don’t worry about that. I’m too busy to bother with your hormones. Same song
with every boy your age for eons.” The man stood and they were back in the
white room. “Here is my one piece of advice. As much as people hate to do it,
you need to examine yourself. Know Thyself, Stiles. It’s a maxim for millennia
for a reason. Know Thyself.” The man punctuated those words with a finger to
the center of Stiles’ forehead.
Stiles came back in a rush. The half melted candle signaled that he’s been
‘gone’ for awhile. The piece of paper with Know Thyself was on his bed. Under
it was a scrawl he could barely read. ‘I left you a clue to figure out who I
am. Use your brain.’
===============================================================================
 
Pack meetings at Derek’s loft were loud messy affairs. He wasn’t big on décor,
but Erica and Lydia, in conjunction with the traitor Isaac, forced him to
actually furnish his place properly. There was plenty of room for the pack to
sprawl when they are all there. Everyone was there but Stiles. “Why didn’t one
of you wait for him?” Derek paced back and forth. “I told you not to leave him
alone!”
Jackson huffed, “Look, he’s always getting detention from Harris. The man hates
him. Lacrosse practice ends before he gets out and well, Allison had to get
Scott for some errand. I had to get Lydia, and well Danny and Isaac…not sure on
that front.”
Erica and Boyd looked at each other and shrugged. “We left when normal people
leave,” Erica snarked. “Besides, isn’t Stiles going to be Mr. Wizard?”
Derek snarled at them. “Not for several years and he’s not to be left alone!
He’s…you know that danger means nothing to him; it’s only an invitation for his
curiosity to get the better of him.”
The door swung open, Stiles ran through it, and slammed it closed. He was
breathing hard and Derek was next to him in a flash. He sniffed the teen and
frowned. “Why do you smell like fear?”
Gasping for air, Stiles leaned over and took a few deep breathes.
“Give…me…a…second.” Lydia thrust as glass of water into Stiles’ face and he
downed it. “Thank you my sweet, sweet princess.”
“Stilinski!” Jackson growled from the couch.
Stiles waved him off. He let Derek guide him into the seating area and plopped
him down on the open loveseat. Derek sat down next to him. “Okay, don’t think
I’m crazy.”
Scott laughed and shook his head. “Too late for that, Stiles!” A pillow flew at
his head from Stiles.
“Enough,” Derek barked. “Your sanity aside; what?”
“I think Harris is something supernatural.” Stiles chewed on his lower lip
while the pack took in this information. He took silence as a cue to continue.
“I was sitting there in detention being all bored. Like, I’m totally caught up
on my homework, but I couldn’t text anyone because that’s what got me in
trouble in the first place. Anyway, I started to focus and I could see it was
like the Dream world overlapping, but Harris, he didn’t look human. There was a
darkness around him. But I tried to take a closer look and he broke my
concentration and threw me out. That’s why I’m not that late.”
“What do you think he might be?” Boyd asked. He was the quiet one, if he was
curious then the rest of the pack was probably in shock with curiosity.
“Not sure. Have to do some research and check it when that douche Carlos
returns.”
Isaac snickered, “Now why is Carlos a douche again?” Danny elbowed him. “What,
it’s a valid question.”
Lydia rolled her eyes. “Stiles, what about Harris set you off. Most of the
wolves have him and they don’t sense anything.”
“Other than he’s a giant asshat,” Danny stated.
“That’s a given.” Lydia threw over her shoulder. “You can sense energy now, got
that. But what specifically did it.” She snapped at Allison. “Take notes.”
Stiles took a deep breath and leaned back against Derek without thinking about
it. He closed his eyes. It all came back easily; he turned his focus to the
issue at hand. “The Chemistry room, I could see the lingering effects of the
students throughout the day. They leave imprints, some stronger than others.
But when I turned my attention to him. It was dark. Like a hole was there, no
more like a shadow. Like I could pull it back if I tried hard enough. But when
I tried to get there, he did something and I was back in my chair and
sweating.”
Lydia tapped a finger to her chin and glared at Stiles. “So what can you do to
find out? The wolves don’t sense anything so they’re out of that loop.”
“I…I have no clue. I don’t know how this works! I’ve got Deaton telling me to
know myself and I had some weird waking dream with some surfer dude telling me
to know myself and what am I supposed to know. Tired of all the cryptic crap!”
Stiles blurted out in his standard word vomit.
Derek leaned forward and turned Stiles to face him. “What was that? About a
dream?”
“Ummm” Stiles mumbled and started biting his nails.
Derek grabbed his hand and gently pulled it from his mouth. “It’s important,
what about a dream?”
“He…I’ve been to the Dream Realm twice since that night. Once was the night
before we walked through your house and the night I mediated. I got yanked into
a place…a blank room with the surfer dude.”
“Surfer dude? Really Stilinski? Was this one of your jerk off fantasies come
true?” Jackson scoffed. Scowls from Scott, Isaac, and Boyd all at once shut him
up.
“Look, he was blond, tanned, and handsome…what do you want? He looked like a
surfer! Rude! Anyway, he didn’t tell me who he was, but he did tell me that he
saved me that night from the shadows. Said I caught his attention. He wasn’t
menacing, in fact despite magically abducting me, he made me feel at ease”
All the betas were on edge in an instant, Lydia and Allison nodded knowingly to
each other while Danny rolled his eyes. Stiles looked behind him and noticed
Derek was growling and looked more sour than normal. “What? He wouldn’t tell me
his name and that he left me a clue, but I have no idea.”
Lydia rolled her eyes. “You’re useless and clueless. What else did your mystery
man say, Stiles?”
“That I needed to know myself, just like Deaton has! That though, it’s hard I
have to examine things. I’m a fan of avoiding a problem as long as possible and
hope it goes away!”
Erica threw a pen at Stiles making him duck. “Really, Stilinski? How inept can
you be? What the hell is wrong with taking time and pondering everything?”
Stiles fumed for a second. “I don’t know anymore, okay!” He leaned his head
back against the couch and stared at the ceiling. “Maybe I won’t like the
answers I find.”
Before he knew it Allison was next to him and Lydia moved closer. “Maybe you
will find answers to questions you didn’t know you had,” Allison said with a
soft smile.
Lydia smirked at Allison and then poked Stiles in the chest. “Listen! Know
Thyself means deal with your problems without hedging. So deal with them!”
Derek got up and headed to the kitchen. He turned back and frowned. “Stiles, do
you know what clue your mystery man meant?”
“No.”
“Then we search for clues, Stiles!” Lydia stood up and pointed at Danny. “Scott
and Danny will go to your house and look around. Scott’s been there enough to
be able to have a clue and Danny, well he’s smart enough to say yay or nay to
Scott.”
“I…NO! I don’t want them poking around my room!” Stiles was indignant. “Some
parts of my room are private!”
Lydia didn’t miss a beat. She poked him in the chest again. “It’s either Scott
and Danny or me and Derek. Pick!”
“You’re evil!” Stiles scrubbed a hand over his face. “Fine! Scott and Danny. As
long as it’s not Erica or you I think I can live.”
===============================================================================
 
The wolves started monitoring Adrian Harris after Stiles said he was a possible
supernatural entity. Derek thought it might be a good use of their stealth
skills. Lydia thought they were all idiots while Danny and Allison rolled their
eyes and said nothing. Stiles though had gone from public enemy number one in
Chemistry to persona non grata. Harris barely even looked at him the next day.
“Danny, it’s creepy. You know he loves to beat me up verbally and now…”
“Greenberg is the target of his wrath.” Danny shrugged. “He barely even looked
at you.”
“Think I should confront him?”
Lydia walked over after overhearing them and poked Stiles in the chest again.
“And do what? You need to figure out what he is before you confront anything.”
She stalked away and started chatting with a gaggle of girls.
“I know Jackson loves her, but she is frightening.” Danny shuddered.
“I can’t believe I had a crush on her for so long.”
Danny looked over and a soft smile graced his face. “Oh? Sounds like that is no
longer operative. When did this happen?”
“Not sure, but…she isn’t the one.”
===============================================================================
 
Trying to find inner peace in a room where Derek ordered Stiles to cut off his
wounded arm was a bit of a challenge. Deaton had Stiles staring at a candle
trying to light it with his mind. He was distracted, he knew that, but Stiles
was also tired. He was bruised from lacrosse practice. He was spending all his
spare energy either doing homework or trying to do mage work.
“Stiles, I heard you learned to focus enough to enter your heightened
awareness. You can do this, but you have to concentrate.”
Stiles backed away and threw his hands up in exasperation. “I’m trying. I can
sense things, but nothing is forming, no magic word, or sense of energy. It
flits by my mind and goes into the void. Maybe I’m not cut out for this."
“That’s not it. You can do this, but you are full of doubt and are confused.
Hard to go anyplace though if you don’t know where you’ve been.”
“A journey of a thousand miles…”
“Begins with a single step,” Deaton added. “Stiles, it will come when you
relax. I have it on good faith that you are extremely capable when the chips
are down. I know you got Scott through Werewolf 101 and I know you can figure
out Magic 101.”
“That was all deduction and guess work, we are talking the forces of nature
here! Guess work isn’t going to cut it when I could summon lightning or some
zombie hoard here by accident!”
“Listen, Stiles, necromancy is forbidden and…” Deaton smiled and shook his
head. He placed a hand on Stiles shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Those
things aren’t going to just happen. Have faith that you can do these things and
you will do these things.”
“OH MY GOD! You just sounded like Yoda! ‘Do or Do Not, there is no try’ When
did this become my life?”
===============================================================================
 
Derek looked down at his phone again and took a calming breath. The sheriff
wanted to see him while Stiles was at school. Derek walked up and knocked on
the Stilinski front door.
“Come in, Derek, though I’m surprised you know how to use the door.” Sheriff
patted him on the back and led him to the dining room table.
“What can I do for you sir?” Derek sat with his hands folded on the table in
front of him.
“First, you can call me John. And second, you can keep me in the loop about all
the magical goings on. Stiles likes to edit things to a minimum and that won’t
fly.” He fixed Derek with an intense stare. “I’m serious.”
“I know, sir. I’ll keep you informed, but some of what we’ve dealt with can be
very…strange.” He leaned back in his chair and shrugged absently. “Stiles can
be very stubborn and almost impossible to deter when he gets his mind set on
something. I try to keep him out of things…”
“Who are you telling? That kid is too smart for his own good by far. That and
his ADHD make for a lethal combination of mischief.” John smiled and laughed,
“I love the kid, but he’s a handful. Keep me in the loop, that’s all I ask.”
“Will do.”
John paused for a second and allowed a small smile to grace his face. “You
remind me of your mother at times. You’ve had more shit dumped on you than any
sane person could handle. Though you hanging out with a bunch of teenagers
might call into question your sanity. If you are ever in over your head, you
call me. You’re far too young to be going through life without someone to
advise you. I don’t mean werewolf stuff or that, though yes, call me, but I
mean life stuff.”
Derek swallowed and nodded, not trusting his voice for a second. “Thank you.”
“I should have seen it earlier, but I see it now. You’re still a kid in many
ways and you had all your safety and security taken away. Everyone needs a
place to be safe. If you want, we can make here one of them.” Derek took a deep
breath, but never raised his head. He nodded in acknowledgment.
John gave the werewolf a smile, cleared his throat, and then handed him a
folder. “Anyway, this is off the record and could cost me my job, again. But
you need to know that the FBI is investigating all the ‘vampire’ deaths. Agents
might probe all the deaths your uncle caused and the chaos that cost me my
deputies.”
Derek’s head shot up. “What?”
“I have a friend who is in the FBI and they have a task force that looks into
unusual stuff. Few years ago, a few agents and a Chicago PD unit ran into
trouble they couldn’t handle. Most of them died. Since then they started
looking more closely at…” he waved his arms around to get his point across.
“Do you know when?”
“Nope, but I have a feeling they will show at the worst possible time.”
Derek smirked and then let out a small laugh. “When Stiles finds out he’s going
to think this is an episode of Fringe or the X-Files.”
===============================================================================
 
Chemistry was a challenge under normal circumstances. Prof. Harris was a
taskmaster and loved to make his students tremble under his instruction. The
pack was under additional scrutiny since the detention session with Stiles that
went wrong as well.
“Danny, have you noticed Harris eyeing Lydia lately?”
Danny frowned at Isaac. “No, but Stiles tends to monopolize my time in class.”
“He was looking at her like she was a prize today. It was uber-creepy.”
“He likes her, she’s as evil as he is” Danny shuddered, “But do you think he’s
planning something?”
“No clue, but we need to really find out what he is, if Stiles is right.”
Danny sighed, “Stiles is a spaz, but he’s right more often than not. Just don’t
tell him I said that.”
Isaac frowned. “I don’t like it. Maybe we can get Erica to flirt with him and
see if he’s human after all.”
“Why be mean to Erica? Hang on, we’ll figure something out.”
===============================================================================
 
Coach Finstock had a particular affinity for sadism during that practice
session, Stiles thought. His whole body ached and he knew he was going to be a
walking bruise. He stunk and could not bear the idea of smelling himself for
the short drive home. A hot shower was called for.
Stiles showered and let the hot water ease tortured muscles. He made his way
back to his locker and frowned that all the wolves on the team had already
recovered from the evil practice that Finstock had subjected them to. At least
Danny was in the same boat he was.
“Stiles! When did your dad let you get a tattoo?” Scott asked as he sat down
next to Stiles’ locker.
“What are you talking about?” Stiles dropped his towel and moved to put on his
clean boxer briefs.
Danny, Boyd, Isaac, and Jackson made their way next to Stiles locker. Scott
pointed to Stiles’ hip. “That on your hip.”
“You checking out Stilinski, McCall,” suggested Jackson. “Think Allison might
need to know what you’re into now.” He waggled his eyebrows for emphasis.
Danny elbowed him in the ribs. “Shut up, Jackson. But what is that Stiles?”
“Shit, I forgot all about it. I got it the night of the nightmare.”
The guys all groaned and Boyd patted Stiles on the back. “Better be glad that
Derek likes you because Lydia will have your head. Think maybe that’s your
clue?”
“Oh. My. God! You’re right, I’m dead. She’ll kill me and Derek will help.”
Stiles groaned as Danny punched him in the arm. “What was that for? Now I’ll
have bruises on my bruises!”
“Scott and I had to rummage through your room, asshole! I’m still traumatized!”
Stiles was offended. “I did my laundry! There wasn’t a big mess!”
Scott and Danny shared a look and Scott moved close and only the wolves would
hear it. Danny already knew. “Dude, you forgot to hide your sock!”
“I refuse to be embarrassed by Stiles-time things.” But Stiles was beet red.
The wolves howled with laughter as they walked away.
“Well, I’m traumatizedand Lydia and Derek will both hear about your ‘tattoo’,”
Danny hissed.
===============================================================================
 
It wasn’t exactly a place that John normally frequented. If he needed a drink
there was some at home, but he wanted information and he knew one person who
could give him plenty of it. He spotted his mark and sat down next to him.
“Chris, I know better than to ask how you’re doing.”
Chris Argent looked over and shrugged. “What can I do for you, Sheriff?”
“John, not here as anyone other than John.” He motioned at a table in the back.
“Can you spare a few?”
Picking himself up from the bar, Chris made his way to the hidden booth.
“What’s so important that it brings you out looking for me?”
It took a few minutes to compose his thoughts before John plowed ahead. “You’ve
had a shitty year. My condolences.”
Chris gave the sheriff a long look before nodding. “Thank you. But something
tells me that you aren’t here for that.”
“What do you know about the White Council?” John didn’t think Chris had ever
been caught off guard, but that question floored him.
“How…why do you want to know?” A shrug was his response. “I’ll bite and throw
you a bone. Let me tell you a story.
“When I was nineteen, I went out on a job with my uncle and two friends of his.
Rumors had surfaced of a rogue wolf running around a small town in Iowa. Come
to find out that some necromancer had captured, killed, and resurrected four
omega wolves. The four of us against four wolves might have been bad, but
against zombie wolves…we were out matched and I thought I was going to die.
“Along comes his guy in a gray cloak and in an instant he’s flashing this sword
and the zombies were no longer a threat. Nothing we did could make a dent,
nothing, but some schmuck with a sword! Then he battled that creepy fucker
and…if you ever see a wizard’s duel, don’t. Run away! Still makes the hairs on
the back of my head stand up. The wizard, Morgan, I found out later, beat the
necro-fucker and beheaded him. Just like that. The only word he said the entire
time was as he was leaving, he said ‘amateurs.’ I kid you not.”
Chris paused and pointed at the sheriff. “Found out later he was one of their
top Wardens. Most hunters stay away from wizards. ‘Do not meddle in the affairs
of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger.’ Arrogant bastards if you
ask me, but…” Chris rubbed his face for a bit. “We never knew what they did
until it was lost.”
John leaned forward. “What do you mean?”
“A war has been waged for almost a decade, a war between wizards and vampires.
The vamps came very close to winning a few years back, almost wiped the wizards
out. Any protection we had from the real nasty creatures was gone. As a group,
we hunters realized just what they did for us and tried to help. Don’t think it
helped much, but something happened to turn the tide of their war. They won.”
He took a long drink of his beer.
“You don’t sound very happy about that.”
Chris nodded and scowled. “When you were a kid, you ever turn over a rock and
see all the things that crawl out from under it? The vamps weren’t beaten, they
were wiped out! They were the rock and now all kinds of things are going crawl
out. But the wizards, they are weakened and nature abhors a vacuum.”
 John shook his head and frowned. “What are you saying?”
“A bad moon rising.” Chris threw back the rest of his beer and motioned at
John. “Now, why all the interest? Don’t tell me it’s nothing, because if you
know about the Council then something is up.”
===============================================================================
 
Stiles managed to avoid Lydia the next morning at school until he heard her
steps storming downing the hall. He turned in time to catch her pissed
expression.  He started backing up right away. “Drop them!” Lydia said as she
walked right up to him in the hallway.
Stiles looked around, “Are you insane? I’m not dropping my pants in the school
hallway!”
“You are an idiot! You get marked the night of your nightmare and forget to
tell anyone? No, you drop them now so we can find out what your clue is!” She
had him up against some lockers effectively trapping him. “Don’t make me do it
for you!”
Stiles noticed Boyd, Isaac, and Scott move closer, forming a wall around him.
“I hate you all!” Somehow, he knew this ambush was planned. He popped open his
jeans and pulled them down with just enough of his underwear to expose his left
hip. He was thankful he had on Underarmor boxer briefs instead of some of his
comic book boxers.
Lydia pulled out her cellphone and took a picture of his hip. “I should totally
make you strip and walk around naked for being a moron, but I won’t subject the
rest of the school to your boney features.” She stood up and whirled away. “You
owe me, Stilinski!”
The guys started laughing the moment Lydia was down the hall. Stiles’ ears were
bright red. “I really hateyou guys.”
Scott stayed behind as the others moved away. “Um, Stiles?”
“Yeah,” Stiles knocked his head against the lockers in hopes of forgetting his
mortification.
“Lydia, was on her knees in front of you with your pants open.”
“I kinda noticed that.”
Scott rubbed the back of his head. “Your scent never changed. Nothing, no
arousal or anything.”
Stiles stopped and bumped his head against the locker again, the implications
hitting hard. He could lie and know that Scott would not call him out on it,
but he couldn’t do that anymore. “Yeah,” he whispered.
===============================================================================
 
It started with Jackson being an ass. Carlos dropped by for a visit and to
assess Stiles’ progress, or lack thereof, when Jackson opened his mouth. “So,
what makes a wizard so great? I see a sword and a gun that doesn’t seem very
impressive to me.”
That started a cascade of questions from the other wolves. “What exactly can
you do?” “What the Hell is a Warden?” “Why do you wear a cloak?” “Are you more
Harry Potter or Gandalf?” “Why do you carry a gun?” It went on and on.
Carlos finally had enough. “Okay, Hale Pack, tomorrow at noon it will be you
versus me. We’ll be out in the Preserve away from prying eyes.” He smiled at
Derek and winked. “Loser buys the beer and we’ll have Stiles and Lydia keep the
score.”
Derek was wary, but nodded. “Okay, it will be the wolves against the wizard.”
He pointed at Carlos, “No disintegrations.” Carlos answered with a smile.
Stiles came up to Derek after Carlos left. “You think this is a good idea?”
It took a moment before Derek responded. “Probably not, but we only spar
against each other. I don’t think we’re in immediate danger so it will be good
to see how well we work against an unknown opponent.”
“This is not going to end well is it?”
Derek gave the teen a partial smile and a shrug. “There is always hope.”
Stiles placed his hands over his heart. “Oh my God! Was that optimism I heard?”
he doubled over laughing when Derek shot him the finger.
===============================================================================
 
The sun was bright and the air crisp as they assembled at the Hale House. There
was little wind to carry scents. It was the perfect day to practice.
Derek, Boyd, Erica, Jackson, Isaac, and Scott all stood on one side next to the
house while Carlos leaned against a tree smiling. “Six against one, oh, the
odds!” Carlos laughed. “If you get me you win, but if I take out four of you I
win. Remember, despite my awesome looks and amazing abilities, I’m human so
please limit the injuries to superficial ones.” He winked, yelled, “Catch me if
you can!” and vanished.
“Move in pairs, stretch your senses. Magic does funny things,” Derek growled
out and took off with Jackson. The pack raced to different points to move in
the search pattern they talked over earlier. He paused as gusts of wind spread
out around the Preserve, sending dirt, leaves, and other debris all over the
place. ‘He’s trying to disorient us and cover any trail he might have left.’
Lydia sat back and looked down at her nails. The sudden breeze sent her hair in
a tumble that she tried to smooth down. She barely glanced over to Stiles as
she got comfortable, “You ever going to address the werewolf in the room?”
Stiles was trying to follow the action via meditation, but Lydia’s presence
made it hard. “What are you talking about?”
“How are you as smart as you are and yet so dumb? Your. Crush. On. Derek!” 
“I…” Stiles was going to lie, going to deny it, but part of that was the
problem he knew. He kept lying to himself. He hoped Lydia’s voice wasn’t
carrying. “Doesn’t matter.”
Lydia thumped him in the chest. “Are you serious? His head is up his own ass
and you’re so far up yours that I’m surprised either of you can see! Who has
been watching you and helping you through this whole thing?” She raised her
hand to stop him. “Deny that you like him!”
“Can’t,” Stiles started playing with his shoelaces. “What if he doesn’t feel
the same way?”
“You spent ten years trying to get my attention, Stiles, and my constant
ignoring you never stopped you from trying. What’s different?”  She grinned
wickedly. “Time to have that self-exploration you never wanted. What’s
different, Stiles?”
Derek caught snippets of Lydia tearing into Stiles, but he had to focus on the
mage sneaking around the woods. He knew from his mother and grandfather that
werewolves had some defenses against magic, but he’s been young the last time
he’d met even a strong witch. The problem was he had no idea if some of those
magical defenses were for born wolves versus made wolves.
He’d read Carlos’ soul, he knew what the man was capable of. It would be a good
test for the pack and a measure of their growth. The wind gusts were now
limiting visibility and there was no pattern to them that he could detect yet.
They had the advantage of knowing the land and super senses, but magic could
confuse and disorient. The wind wasn’t helping. For once, he did not rush
headlong into the fight. Deaton’s warning that a Warden was not to be trifled
with rang in his head. He stopped and motioned for Jackson to stop as well.
Poor pups, can’t find the bad wizard. What happened to those super sense s?
Derek could not smell the wizard or hear his footfalls. The voice was broadcast
all around, no discernable point of origin. He strained and could only catch
the scents of his pack, their sounds as well. He crouched low to lessen his
profile. Carlos could see them, but they could not see him.
A howl pierced the air and there was a flash about a hundred yards away. Before
he could react, Boyd went flying through the air and landed with a thud.
One down
Derek moved to where Boyd had been. He motioned for Jackson to flank him to his
left. Boyd had been with Erica. He caught her growls, but more wind was
limiting what he could pick up. He and Jackson moved quickly to the position
that he’d seen Boyd in. Another howl rent the air and before he could react he
saw Erica out on the ground.
Two down
Scott roared from down the dried creek bed. The wind began to build again.
Leaves and dirt were everywhere. Scott and Isaac were growling. They may have
pinned the wizard down.  A pressure wave made him flinch and cover his ears as
he and Jackson raced there and saw Isaac go down in another flash of light. It
was too easy for the wizard and Derek was fighting the urge to go full alpha.
Scott was still on his feet, but shaking his head, confused and disoriented.
Three down and without breaking a sweat.
They circled and tried to pick up a scent or noise. Derek whirled and could not
yell fast enough as Carlos appeared behind Jackson and had his sword at his
neck. “And Jackson makes four. I win.” Carlos smiled broadly. “So shall we have
steak tonight?”
Jackson started cursing up a blue streak. Carlos laughed, “You’re just mad that
I find Derek hotter than you.” He patted the wolf on the shoulder and moved
closer. “We’ll have to do this again. It isn’t often we get to practice actual
combat techniques.”
Derek scowled and headed back to the house.
Lydia stood up and wiped off the dust and dirt she might have been sitting on.
“Deal with your shit, Stiles. Meanwhile I have to deal with Jackson’s pride.
And don’t think I haven’t forgotten about your clue issue either. We’ll have a
research date next week! I can only sort out your issues one at a time
otherwise you’re a big tangled mess!”
===============================================================================
 
Stiles walked into his house moping. He was tired, irritated, and annoyed. “I’m
home, dad.”
John poked his head out of the kitchen. “Hey, son. How was your day?”
“Fine,” Stiles muttered and headed into the kitchen to grab a drink. “Dad? How
do you tell someone you like them?”
“You’ve been telling Lydia, you love her since the third grade.” John smiled at
his son. “It’s been eight years son and I think she’s settled on Jackson.”
Stiles plopped down in a chair and put his hands on his head. “I don’t
think…when she saved Jackson, I knew. But…not sure. Dad, I think she was a safe
crush.” A tear trailed down his cheek.
“Stiles,” John started and then stopped. He moved over and put his hand on his
son’s shoulder. “Son…who do you like?”
Throwing his head back, Stiles barked out a laugh. “Been in front of me for
months and I ignored it. Hoped it would go away. Told myself it was a phase.
Ignored my dreams. And now, I can’t ignore it anymore.”
“Then, you man up and tell him.” John gave his son a small smile. “It’s okay
you know. I’ll love you all the same.”
Stiles glared at his dad for a second. “You knew?”
“I’ve been preparing myself since I found you outside that gay bar. At first I
thought it might be a joke, but I heard you ask Danny more than once if gay
guys found you attractive. The more I thought about it the more I noticed your
eyes. You follow a few very attractive girls, but a hot guy can rip you away in
a heartbeat.
“Add in the fact that you and a certain werewolf have been circling each other
for weeks, maybe longer. Scott was complaining to Deaton one day about how much
you and Derek fight and I’ve seen the two of you together as well.” John arched
an eyebrow daring his son to deny his words. “So is it Derek?”
“Yeah, and he’s not exactly the most open person with his feelings.” Stiles
banged his head against the table. “I’m such an idiot.”
“Only advice I have is to be honest. And stop hiding from your feelings. Deaton
told me that there are whole worlds opening for you and that you need to focus.
I think getting everything open with Derek is a start.” John ruffled Stiles’
hair. “Just…Stiles, remember that he has baggage and cut him some slack.”
“He’s got an airport’s worth of baggage.” Stiles smiled sadly. “I’ve seen him
happy. I’ve seen the way he smiled before the fire. I want to put a smile on
his face, but I have no idea how.”
John knelt next to Stiles to look him in the eye. “Maybe you should be his
friend first and let things happen. But that still requires you to be honest.
Be there for him like he’s there for you.”
Stiles sighed and leaned back again. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not
swimming in friends. I’m hyper, obnoxious, loud, a smart ass, and a know it
all.”
“Enough of that!” John pulled his son into a tight hug. “You’re smart, loyal,
and can be funny. I think Derek already knows all that. Just…be who you are.”
===============================================================================
 
“Nice to see you again, Derek.”
Scowling, Derek sat down next to Carlos and offered a half smile. “You know
your heart rate never changes and you never give off the scent of desire around
me. Remind me why we are here?”
“Because I kicked your teenaged pack’s collective ass.” He smiled broadly.
“There are many reasons, but let me tell you a story over dinner. That might
help explain some things.
“A few months before the fire killed your family, a series of events happened.
Now, normally there are about two hundred Wardens. I should be a regular Warden
and not a regional commander. But over the course of a week we lost one hundred
and eighty Wardens. We were at war with the Red Court and they opened up a huge
offensive against us. They prepared to destroy us in one fell swoop, but for
the actions of my friend in Chicago, they would have won and the world would be
burning now.
“There is a long game being played here. I read Sheriff Stilinski’s report and
you would have died if you stayed in town much longer after the fire. I’m
certain of it. You are in danger even now. I don’t know who ordered your family
removed, but they were and there was no one to investigate the liberal use of
magic that was used to accomplish that goal.
“The compulsion spells around that bracelet are serious violations of the Laws
of Magic and would have been detected under normal circumstances. But there was
no one to detect their creation. Dozens of non-Warden wizards died during this
period as well. The Council has still not recovered.”
Carlos took a deep breath and grabbed Derek’s hand lightly. “If I were a
scholar, I would be all over Stiles and your pack, but I’m a combination police
officer and soldier. I’m a damned good wizard, but there are too few of us for
me to really focus on what Stiles might mean. You wanted to know why we are
here; it’s to arm you with knowledge and to…how do I put this. You need to move
on from the past and trust people again. I read your soul. I know your pain.
And I did have another motive. Inertia is a very hard thing to overcome so this
is a swift kick in the pants for someone else.”
Derek frowned. “This is not just for my benefit. How am I not surprised?”
“You do get to spend time with me and bask in my brilliance.” Carlos’ smile
faltered for a moment. “How many of those sigils have you seen around town?”
It took a few moments for Derek to respond. “A few.”
“It is a sign of an Alpha pack and that rarely means something happy. Be
warned, there is little I can do to help you. I’m mainly in LA and already the
psychics are warning of dark tidings coming. I’m plugged in down there. I have
some contacts in SF too, but you need to trust and make some contacts too.” The
waiter came and they ordered food and some beer.
Carlos smiled and took a deep breath. “Stiles is close to making a
breakthrough. I can tell. When he does I’ve told Deaton to give him advanced
defensive training. And…Derek, your pack bond is weak. I’m no expert, but your
attack patterns were disjointed. Packs are supposed to be as one. You weren’t.
The Alphas are here or coming. Be ready.”
===============================================================================
 
The knock on the door interrupted Stiles as he was making his way through one
of the books Deaton insisted he read. Grumbling as he fumbled his way down he
was shocked to see Carlos on the other side of the door. “I thought you had a
hot date.”
“Jealous?”
A million retorts came to mind, but Stiles never gave them voice. “Why are you
here?”
“Not going to invite me in?” Carlos gave Stiles a dazzling smile. “I brought
dessert.”
Relenting, Stiles opened the door wide. “Come in.”
Carlos handed Stiles a container. “Derek said you loved curly fries and any
kind of sweets. So that’s caramel chocolate cheesecake.”
“Man, I can’t hate you if you bring me cheesecake.” Stiles took the container
to the kitchen and came back to see Carlos sitting on the couch. “Thank you. I
have to ask though; why are you here?”
“Stiles, all kidding aside, you came to my attention and I feel it is my
responsibility to mentor you.” Carlos motioned for Stiles to sit next to him.
“I remember being your age and wanting all the answers. I had two dick mentors
who loved to play the role of stoic mystic wizard. It was bullshit. They hated
to be questioned and liked things to be a certain way. Screw that.”
Stiles frowned and waited for a minute before asking, “Then why is Deaton a
pain in the ass?”
“Because I also learned that knowledge must be earned. Power without wisdom is
a very dangerous thing. For wizards acquiring knowledge is a tool of our craft.
You want answers without earning them. I get that frustration of wanting to
know NOW.” He held up his hand to stop Stiles from speaking.
“However, I must weigh different things against one another now. I must go and
I’m not sure when I will get back. You are a huge target as an untrained
potential wizard. We, you and I together, are going to do a bit of advanced
magic. And if my guess is correct, you will find ways to reverse engineer what
we do and it will help you along.
“Please, do not mistake this as an excuse to bypass the basics. Magic is a tool
and sometimes we are limited by our imagination and power levels only. I’m
showing you this for your safety and the pack’s.”
“What are we doing?” Stiles was excited at the prospect of understanding
something.
 “We are going to build wards around your house and Derek’s. They will be keyed
to you and you will see how they are constructed and how to reinforce them.
Standing next to each other, Carlos instructed Stiles to slip into his
heightened awareness. “One day, this will be second nature. See the power
flows. Notice the boundary around your home. THAT is a threshold and the
stronger the sense of ‘home’ the stronger the threshold. We build wards from
those basic blocks.”
Carlos gathered energy and Stiles watched as he slowly wove out the energy
along the threshold of his house. Energy flowed smooth and even building a wall
around the house with entries at the doors. Carlos nodded at Stiles. Taking one
of the teen’s hands Carlos passed the ‘key’ to the ward to the boy. Along with
the key went the power link. “There. Your house has some defenses. At Derek’s
you will weave as I support.”
Stiles sputtered, “But that was so smooth!”
“Learn by doing.”
Later, Stiles slumped on the couch and waved bye to Carlos. He could still feel
the thrum of magic in his hands and the amazing flow of power pulsing through
him. But he waited for Isaac to give him some aspirin. He was getting a
reaction headache to using that much power for the first time.
‘I have to go back to LA. I’m not old enough to have my Wizard’s foresight, but
I feel something requires my attention. Trust your instincts Stiles. You were a
Dreamer and can see things that others, including most wizards, will never pick
up on. Tell Derek to listen to what I told him earlier.’
 Stiles kept an arm over his eyes as his head started to pound. The last words
that Carlos said still made Stiles smile despite the headache. ‘Oh, and there
is no need to be jealous.’
“God, I feel awful.” Stiles cradled his head and wanted to roll into a ball of
misery and weep.
“Here.” Isaac handed him some meds and a glass of water. “So, is he still a
douche?”
“Nah, he brought me cheesecake and actually taught me something. Though this
headache…maybe he is a douche.”
===============================================================================
 
He’d gone for a run to try to get lost and clear his mind, but he ended up
here. Derek was sitting outside of his old family home starring at it. His
knees were into his chest with his hands holding them tight against his body.
The night before had been one of tossing and turning. Another night of no sleep
and heavy guilt. Now in the sunlight, it could not break the cloud over him.
The words rang in his head, “Pack bond is weak.” So much of what had occurred
could have been avoided. Boyd and Erica still showed signs of their torture.
Allison had been manipulated and Scott had been targeted all because Derek knew
he was a terrible Alpha. His mother would have the pack rallied and able to
meet the challenge, his dad would have advice and a kind word. Failure rang in
his head. Failure. He failed them all. His betas were alive thanks to luck and
fortitude. But trust…it came down to trust.
He rocked back and forth as he thought about the fire. Coming back hadn’t been
a choice. He came for Laura and then stayed for revenge. Now, after everything
he couldn’t leave. His mom would have had answers. Laura would have had
answers. He was supposed to be in grad school not building a pack. But the
fire…
Grief was not something he allowed himself. It was his fault. Except…now they
were telling him that maybe it wasn’t his fault. Not all of it. He never cried,
he didn’t get to, he held onto his anger, but now…if it wasn’t him that caused
this…But he failed his pack too often. Failure.
The soft sounds of footsteps didn’t make him turn. Somehow he knew who it was.
They seemed to find each when in distress. Derek tightened the grip on his
legs.
When Stiles sat down next to Derek he didn’t say anything. All his instincts
screamed at him to come to Hale House. The tension radiating off Derek was so
great even he could taste it. He was as close to the wolf as possible without
touching. The silence built between them. Finally, Stiles reached over and put
his hand on Derek’s shoulder.
In the end, it was a simple touch that undid him. All the anger, grief, pain…it
broke like a dam. A single tear, the first in years, fell and the touch turned
into an arm. Before he knew it he was sobbing into Stiles’ shoulder. The hug
was a lifeline in the storm of his emotions. The only words he heard were the
ones he needed the most, “It’s okay, I’m here.”
===============================================================================
 
Heading back to school in the early evening was not something that Isaac
planned to do, but he’d been horsing around with Jackson and Boyd and forgot to
get his Algebra homework. He wasn’t scared, but he heard about the alpha attack
in the school before he was a wolf. The school had been empty and dark then; a
bit unnerving. However, the sun was sitting up and he had time to get back to
the loft before Derek started to worry.
He was humming to himself when raised voices caught his attention.
“You need to do something about this or I will!” That sounded like a very angry
Mr. Harris.
“What exactly do you want me to do?” And he was yelling at Ms. Morrell. “I have
no proof that anything happened. What I do know is that your penchant for
singling him out is legendary.”
Isaac risked getting a little closer so he could see. They were facing off and
he could tell Harris was very angry and his scent was tinged with
something…different.
“He’s a menace! You know something is odd about him!”
Isaac saw Ms. Morrell’s face draw tight. She pointed a finger at Harris.
“Menace, that’s rich coming from you. Remind me why you are here again? What
was your sentence?”
Harris pulled back as if struck and he moved closer to the Guidance Counselor.
“Listen to me, I may be exiled, but I am not without some ability!”
“Funny, I thought you were an angry, recovering alcoholic, burned out teacher,
who can’t get laid. Excuse me if your threats fall flat.”
“Do something about Stilinski, or I will take this into my own hands! You’re
here for a reason, do your duty!”
Ms. Morrell waved him off. “I don’t take orders from you and I’m not inclined
to aid you in your grudge. Be warned though, you’re trapped in that form and if
anything should happen to you it might mean a permanent end for you.” She
smiled wickedly. “And don’t forget, I’m not your jailer. How did you put it
when you met me, ‘Don’t bother me, you’re here to observe’.”
Isaac took off before he could be seen. ‘Screw the homework. Stiles was right,
there is something about Harris and Ms. Morrell too.’
Chapter End Notes
     This is a great deal of fun. I love the Dresden universe, but found
     the Teen Wolf characters to be irresistible. Additional elements are
     in the offing.
***** Stripped *****
Chapter Summary
     Building a pack takes work.
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
After Derek’s emotional breakdown, Stiles managed to get Derek to Stiles’
house. He was a wreck and Stiles didn’t want to subject the Alpha to the pack.
His room still looked like a disaster area, but the bed was free of clutter.
“Sit,” Stiles ordered. Derek didn’t argue and plopped down on Stiles’ bed. The
teen went over and pulled off the Alpha’s shoes and socks.
“You don’t have to undress me.”
“Let me take care of you for a bit.” Stiles bit his lip before helping Derek
remove his shirt and jeans. He chuckled, “Figures you’d like black underwear.
Never figured you for a micro trunks guy.”
Derek’s lips quirked into a small smile. “They’re comfortable and they were on
sale.”
Stiles laughed. He gently pushed Derek back into the bed and pulled the
comforter over him. “I’ll be right back. We both could use some water.”
When Stiles got back, he stripped down to a t-shirt and his briefs. Before he
could ponder where to go, Derek reached over and pulled him into bed. Much to
Stiles’ surprise, Derek used his chest as a pillow. Stiles started stroking
Derek’s hair. “How’re you doing?”
“Thank you.” Derek pushed his face tighter against Stiles’ shoulder. “Thank you
for being there.”
“Hey, man…” Stiles wanted to say so much, but he knew, in his heart, he knew he
had to do this right. His father’s voice rang in his head, ‘Be his friend’ and
he took it. “I’m your friend. You’ve been there for me.”
Derek knew he had to give voice to his thoughts and to listen to what Carlos
said. His voice came out small and slightly muffled, “I trust you.”
A smile spread across Stiles face. “That is the nicest thing you’ve ever said
to me. I…Derek, man, no one, not Scott, not anyone, has been there for me like
you have. I think Dad will since we let him in, but…it scares me for him to be
so close to all this.”
Tightening his hold on Stiles, Derek looked up at the teen. “It is frightening,
but we need to trust him. Stiles, I’m twenty-three…I don’t have all the answers
and…we can’t do this alone.”
Stiles banged his head against the pillow and tightened his grip on Derek. He
spoke past the lump in his throat. “You’re right. Carlos…told me to trust my
instincts. He didn’t have me build wards for no reason. There was a dire
message in teaching me this.”
“We both have to take his messages to heart.” Derek sighed and rubbed his head
against Stiles’ shoulder. “The pack needs to be stronger. I’m open to advice.”
“That was the wrong thing to say, dude. I have all kinds of suggestions.”
===============================================================================
 
John walked up the stairs and noticed that Stiles’ door was slightly ajar. No
lights were on and the Jeep was in the drive way, so he assumed that his son
was home. He peered in and almost started to yell, almost, but he took in the
sight and paused. Derek was curled around Stiles and his son was pulled close.
There was no sign or smell of sex and the door had been open. The peaceful
expression on both their faces made him smile and shake his head. He’d have a
talk with Stiles about sleepovers before he talked to Derek. But the
contentment radiating from the bed made his heart feel lighter than it had in
years.
He went back downstairs and pulled out some notes that Chris Argent sent over.
He had more information about the FBI Special Task Force than John’s friend
did. The Chicago incident involved some kind of werewolves, but not the ones
that Hunters normally focused on. The ones in Chicago were magically induced. A
whole series of events in Chicago and around the country were spelled out.
Including on one Halloween years ago, a dinosaur ended up miles from its
museum. While at the same time a tornado raged through downtown. No logical
explanation given.
In the files were all kinds of things that the Hunters knew about the Wardens
and wizards in general. ‘There is a werewolf sleeping in my house next to my
future wizard son and the things I need to worry about have increased
exponentially. How is this my life?’
He needed to make plans. Chris had given him some knowledge and so had Deaton.
Derek had been forthcoming so far on events around the area including a vague
warning about another pack potentially in the area. “How the hell do we manage
to remain in the dark?”
===============================================================================
 
“Derek didn’t come home last night.” Isaac stated loudly as he plopped down
next to Boyd at the pack table in the cafeteria. “I have news!”
Jackson reached over and stole Isaac’s apple and rolled his eyes. “What is it?”
Erika handed her banana over to Isaac as he pouted over losing his apple. Erika
poked him in the ribs, “Yeah, the news; what is it?”
Scott, Allison, and Lydia all joined the table. Scott looked around and
frowned. “Why are we quiet?”
Boyd pointed at Isaac. “We’re waiting for him to tell us his news. So far all
we’ve got is him being upset Jackson took his apple.”
Lydia rolled her eyes. “What is the news?”
“I’m waiting for Danny and Stiles to get here.” Isaac smiled.
Scott swallowed part of his sandwich and motioned for Isaac to continue. “They
aren’t going to be here. They are meeting with Ms. Morrell about some community
service project.”
Isaac’s eyes started looking everywhere. The other wolves noticed the uptick in
Isaac’s heart rate. “NO! I overheard her and Harris get into an argument last
night. I wanted to tell Derek, but he never came home. Stiles was right, Harris
isn’t human.”
Allison reached over and grabbed Isaac’s hand. “Calm down and tell us
everything. And, next time…tell everyone the moment you know something.”
“Okay, but where was Derek?”
Jackson rolled his eyes. “With Stiles, dude reeked of Alpha this morning.”
“What?” Scott screeched as he fell out of his chair. All conversation around
the cafeteria stopped for a second. Scott situated himself and turned back to
Jackson. “Why was Derek with Stiles!”
“How should I know? But it wasn’t sex, so you can keep checking him out without
Mr. Badass Alpha kicking your ass.” Jackson snorted.
“Can we focus, please,” Lydia ground out. “Isaac first and then you two can
hose everything down with testosterone.”
As Isaac relayed everything he heard, Lydia and Allison locked eyes and nodded.
Allison picked up Jackson’s phone and texted Danny. ‘Pack meeting at the Loft
afterschool. All hands on deck.’
“That was my phone,” Jackson snarled as he took his phone back.
“Yeah, but everyone knows Danny responds to you first.”
===============================================================================
 
“It’s important that everyone have extracurricular activities on their
transcripts.” Ms. Morrell stated pleasantly. Danny and Stiles exchanged a
sideways glance at each other before turning back to the counselor. “I think
this would be very good for the both of you.”
“We have lacrosse afterschool,” Danny stated, looking at Ms. Morrell as though
she had two heads. “And we both have potential top five academic standing.”
“Because number one is taken,” Stiles commented glumly.
“I am aware of your current obligations, but I think two Saturdays a month
would add a nice bonus when it comes time for college applications.”
Stiles stood suddenly and grabbed Danny by the shoulder and nodded at her.
“We’ll think about, but we have other obligations like restoring historic areas
and saving rainforests.” He all but yanked Danny down the hall away from the
office.
“The fuck, Stiles!”
“She was trying to probe my mind! I could sense her around the edges of my
awareness. Sorry, I panicked and had to get out of there.” Stiles leaned
against some lockers. “But what the hell with volunteering at the hospital?”
Danny stared at Stiles like he’d grown a second head. “WHAT? How can you tell
that someone is probing your mind? Oh shit, now I might have panic attacks!”
“Calm down, only one of us gets to panic! It was in one of the books, about how
magic is based on willpower in part and as you gain strength willpower grows
and with it mental defenses.”
Both of their phones buzzed at the same time. Danny sighed and leaned against
the locker next to Stiles. “Now what the hell is going on?”
===============================================================================
 
Derek was waiting out in front of the school when the bell rang. There was no
practice that afternoon so the pack walked out as one. The betas stopped at
some unspoken cue from Derek. “Erica, drive Stiles’ Jeep to the Loft and take
Boyd and Isaac with you. Stiles and I will be there within an hour.”
“Wait!” Lydia declared as she marched on Derek. “We have serious business to
discuss!”
“I know, Lydia, and we will. But something came up and I need to talk to
Stiles. We will be there soon.”
Lydia frowned, “This had better not be about your love life because there are
more important things than private makeout time!”
Stiles frantically tried to stop Lydia from going there and was mortified as
Lydia brought up anything close to resembling him dating Derek. “Kill me now,”
he groaned.
“Maybe later, Romeo.” Derek winked at Stiles and motioned for him to get in the
Camaro. “Lydia, we’ll be there as soon as we can.”
“Whatever!”
Stiles slumped in his seat and tried not to be miserable. A hand on his
shoulder pulled him out of his thoughts. “Huh?”
Derek gave him a small smile. “Ignore them.” He gave Stiles’ shoulder a
squeeze. “There is something you need to see.”
The drive to Stiles’ house was quiet. Derek pointed up the stairs and Stiles
took off. In the middle of his bedroom were three large boxes with his name
emblazed on them. “What the hell?”
He moved over and picked up the letter sitting on top of the boxes.
Stiles,
This is a gift for the beginnings of your collection. I am not the type of
wizard who loves to research. Here are a number of books that belonged to
friends and acquaintances over the years. Keep them safe and imagine them as
part of a library of your own someday.  Some of these are very rare and
consider those on permanent loan. You’ll know which ones I’m talking about.
Concentrate on your studies and trust your instincts. Also, make sure your
sourwolf smiles from time to time.
Carlos
PS. I had some brownies deliver these boxes. You need to cultivate your
contacts with the Fae. Brownies make excellent housekeepers. If you continue to
hang out with wolves consider hiring them. I hear wolves shed!
CR
Stiles doubled over laughing. Derek snatched the letter from Stiles’ hand and
groaned. “Great, more dog jokes.”
Finally calming down, Stiles wiped his eyes and looked at the boxes. “So how
did they get here?”
Derek shrugged. “I got up to grab some water and take a piss. I came back in
here and there they were. I couldn’t touch them. I assume they are keyed to
you.”
Stiles nodded and went over and opened the first box. Inside were over a dozen
books many showing some age, all bound in leather. Some were thin, but most
were thick and one looked like a giant reference book. “On my God,” he
whispered. “This is AWESOME!” Stiles opened all of the boxes and his eyes got
wider and wider. “Derek! When, How, OH MY GOD! I need Lydia and Danny. This…”
Derek grabbed Stiles and guided him back down the stairs. “You’ll get to them,
eventually, but there was something that required an emergency pack meeting.”
“Oh yeah.” 
Lydia was waiting for them at the door as they walked in. “You had ten minutes
to spare.” She eyed both of them and raised an eyebrow. “Huh? What was so
important?”
Stiles eyes went wide. “Carlos, sent like boxes of books, many that are rare
and deal magic and history. Some are in different languages. But I didn’t get a
chance to explore because Derek dragged me from the room.”
“Okay, unexpected. When do we get to go through them? Danny should join us so
we can have a cross referenced archive. Jackson can take notes and…”
Isaac growled, “Excuse me, but there is a reason we are here and it’s because
Stiles was right about Harris and Ms. Morrell is not human either!”
“How do you know about Morrell?’ Danny asked as he jumped into the
conversation. “She was trying something with Stiles earlier that freaked him
out!”
Derek growled and everyone went silent. “Obviously there have been some
developments. Isaac, you speak first, then Danny and Stiles will give us their
information. Then we will plan a course of action.”
Everyone stared at him for a second. Isaac snapped out of his stupor and
relayed his story. Danny and Stiles followed.
Derek moved to sit next to Stiles on the sofa between him and Jackson. Derek
started rubbing Jackson’s neck. Everyone stopped talking as Jackson groaned in
pleasure and happiness. Derek grinned at his first beta. He noticed the shocked
looks on everyone’s faces, but he continued to rub Jackson’s neck making the
boy relax. He gave Stiles a small wink.
 “We will be discussing some changes soon. But one thing that starts now – more
touching. I want my scent on all of you and not in anger or sparing.” Derek
stretched and pulled Stiles closer while keeping a hand on Jackson.
Erica looked over at Stiles and gave him a look. “What did you do to Derek?”
===============================================================================
 
Alan Deaton looked over his shoulder and frowned. “Ms. Morrell, what can I do
for you?”
The young woman gave the vet a long look before moving around in front of him.
She smoothed her blouse before speaking. “I am very interested in what you are
doing with Mr. Stilinski.”
“The Sheriff comes by from time to time to ask about wild animal attacks or
various information about local fauna.” He went back to reading lab results and
making case notes.
“That is not who I meant, Alan, and you know it!” She tapped the table to get
his attention. “What are you doing with Stiles?”
He tapped his pen a few times and then shrugged. “We both know he’s special and
I think he needs a guiding hand.”
“We’ve known each other long enough not to bullshit one another, Alan. He
recognized when I was trying to read him and he’s managed to avoid me over the
last few days.” She leaned back against the wall. “I may be able to help since
you are retired.”
“I was pulled out of retirement by a Warden. If Stiles wants to avoid you then
there is nothing I can do to make him be around you.” He shrugged at her again.
“I fail to see why you are interested.”
She waited a second before smiling. “He almost saw past Harris’ veil. He’s in a
right fury over it and wants me to deal with Stiles.” She laughed, “A Warden,
you say. The Council should be less busy with the Red Court vanquished.”
Suddenly, Deaton laughed coldly, “We’ve both seen the signs. We know what the
psychics are feeling. The Council is weaker than any time since Merlin
vanished. I will do as I was asked and help Stiles. Do nothing to interfere.”
She nodded. “We both know I can help, if you let me. I’m in far more practice
than you are.”
He fixed her with a stare. “It is some of your motives that I question.”
===============================================================================
 
The loft was full of energetic young wolves. Boyd and Jackson were wrestling
around on the floor while Erica and Isaac played cards trying to avoid getting
tangled with the mayhem. A knock on the door took the pack by surprise. Isaac
got up. “Erica, don’t look at my cards!” He pulled the door open. “Mr.
Argent…hi.”
Chris Argent inclined his head slightly. “I need to speak with Derek.”
Coming down the stairs, Derek could sense the rise in tension among the pack.
“Mr. Argent, please come in.” He eyed the pack. “Why don’t all of you go bother
Stiles for a bit? Though take some food so the sheriff doesn’t get eaten out of
house and home.”
Derek motioned for Chris to take a seat. Derek waited for the pack to leave
before joining the hunter. “I’m surprised to see you here.”
“John said I needed to come and talk to you, not at you. I’m shocked you let me
in.”
Rubbing his chin, Derek paused before speaking. “I smelled you on the sheriff a
bit lately. I trust him so…you would not come here unless something required
you to.”
Chris looked down at his hands. “I remember you, when you were twelve. Clear as
day I see you sitting under a tree near the library sketching. Your mother
saying something about her shy artist. That came back to me while talking to
John and it hit me. John is concerned and I share some of them.”
“What are your concerns, Chris?”
“I know you have little reason to trust me and God knows I’ve made plenty of
mistakes. Beacon Hills is one of those places that attract the kind of
attention that no place wants to attract. When your family was here, they kept
most of those types away.” He raised his hand to stop Derek from speaking.
“Derek, there is nothing I can ever do to make up for what Kate or Gerard did.
Allison and Scott…they are part of you now. John and I have talked about this
more and more. Your pack needs more training. I’m talking integrated hunter-
wolf tactics and abilities. You’ve managed to get by with luck too much.” 
Derek nodded and leaned back. “I’ve been forced to be honest with myself
lately. I’m an alpha, but I wasn’t really in line to be one, nor was it
something I ever wanted. But, I need to do better and live up to the Hale
family name. I know you know that a Warden has been visiting. I’m taking to
heart his warnings.”
Chris leaned forward, startled, “Wait, I knew a Warden had come to town, but
what warnings?”
“Do you know why he was here?”
“John told me it had to do with Stiles. That was it.”
“Then it is not for me to tell.” Derek frowned. “I will tell you that the
Warden made it clear that things were about to get dicey.”
Chris sat back and thought for a few minutes. “John trusts you. And a Warden is
leaving you to try to take care of things here. Then I think we need to get to
work.”
“Agreed, but we need to work a few things out first. I don’t want unsettled
issues coming up at the wrong time. We need to meet with John as well so we are
all on the same page.”
===============================================================================
 
“Why am I the one to always get escorted everywhere?” Stiles complained. “Danny
is a human and so is Lydia, but noooo it’s always protect Stiles. I’m not the
damsel in distress!”
“Shut up, Stiles!” barked Scott. “Man, I love you, you’re my brother, but like
Derek said, you are the biggest target of all right now. The only two places
you are allowed to be alone are the loft and your house! Just be glad he hasn’t
called your dad and have your Jeep taken away for your own good!”
Stiles stopped and stared at Scott. He never lost his patience with Stiles.
Stiles started biting his lip and lowered his eyes. “Sorry, just I’m tired of
being the weak link.”
“For fuck’s sake!” Erica groaned. “Idiot! YOU made the loft and your house safe
places. YOU or you and Carlos, but Deaton told Scott that those wards are
dependent on you now. And you heard Derek, if there is ever any danger those
are the only two places we can flee to. You did that!”
“Fine! So who drew the straw for Morrell duty and who’s on Harris?”
Erica smiled and hit Stiles in the arm. “Batman, I got Poison Ivy duty and
Jackson, aka Douche Wolf, drew the Mad Hatter.”
“We really are taking this way too seriously,” Scott thought about it for a
second and cried. “Hey, I want a secret identity too you know.”
Erica and Stiles shared a look and Stiles giggled, “Alfred, definitely Alfred.”
Scott’s face fell. “I’m going to find Allison, she at least appreciates me.”
===============================================================================
 
Lydia sat in the Chemistry room going over her notes. Prof. Harris asked her to
assist in some research and she was happy to assist. The wolves were all at
Lacrosse practice, except for Allison and Erica who had other obligations.
Derek had shown up and whisked Stiles away after lunch. She knew they weren’t
dating but she could see how close they were, the whole pack could. She had
other things to worry about that Stiles’ issues at that moment.
“What are we experimenting on today?” Isaac’s news about the Chemistry teacher
placed her on her guard, but the lure of knowledge overcame any reservations
she had about being alone with him.
“Bonding specific chemicals to iron to see if we can prevent rusting in water,”
Harris said while peering over his glasses at her. He walked behind her.
She smelled something odd and heard, “Etdormietcum dicorecordaberis.”
Next thing she knew she was sitting in her car with Jackson knocking on the
window. “Hey, Lydia, you okay?”
She started and then sank back in her seat. “I’m fine. I’ll see you at the
loft.”
===============================================================================
 
“I should be angry that you show up and whisk me from school, but on the other
hand, you are keeping me away from that bastard, Harris.” Stiles stopped and
frowned as they approached the turnoff for Hale House. “Derek, why are we going
there?”
“I need your help.” Derek paused and then looked over at Stiles. “I tried to
bury all the memories of my family after the fire. I couldn’t face them. But I
just started a journal to record everything I do remember. They deserve to be
remembered…and honored.” He felt Stiles’ hand on his and squeezed it lightly.
“But you can see things others can’t.”
They walked up into the house. Stiles could feel the old threshold, so long had
the family lived there that even years later, there was some element of home
lingering. They made their way to the basement.
“You sure you want to be here?”
“I need to do this, Stiles.” Derek led them down to a long wall. “Somewhere in
here was a door that led down to another room or two. I was too young to know
what was down there.”
Stiles closed his eyes and focused. With his fingers and inner sight he walked
along the wall and crease became apparent to his inner vision. Peering deeper,
he found the pressure point and hit the release. The wall moved back a bit and
slid open. Both he and Derek coughed as dust bloomed around them. Derek pulled
out a flashlight and they made their way down some stairs. “Wow, we found a
wine cellar.”
They walked a bit. Stiles noted the ages on some of the bottles and whistled as
he figured the collection might be valuable. Derek ignored him and continued
towards the back, he pointed, “Look back there!” At the far end of the room was
another door. It wasn’t locked and they went in.
The room wasn’t huge, but it wasn’t a closet. It was cluttered. A very old desk
was against one wall and there were two crammed bookshelves. The desk had
papers on them; a fine layer of dust was settled on everything. Stiles looked
at the books without touching them. There was an old safe opposite the desk.
Derek went to the safe and it opened with a turn of the handle. He gasped.
The safe was full of papers, folders, and various items. A box in the middle of
the center shelf called to him. Derek opened it and picked up a necklace with a
large quartz crystal hanging from the center. He touched it and his mind
blanked. Everything went white.
He was in the old library of the house. All around him was his family. He could
hear the laughs of times gone by. Voices he hadn’t heard in years rang in his
ears. His mother’s laugh echoed from the kitchen. In front of him all in white
was his grandmother. She gave him a bright smile. “Oh my darling boy…”
Her hand caressed his face and he leaned into the touch he hadn’t felt in so
long.
“Stop fretting about things that were beyond your control. I haven’t much
time…I can warn you of grave things approaching and you shall be tested as you
have never been. Trust and love again. The crystal you hold was given to the
family during the French and Indian War by a shaman for services rendered to
his family. It is very special in the right hands. We have lived here for over
two hundred years, in this forest. We have guarded since we came here and guard
again you must. It is your duty, but you will know when the time is right to
act. Be the man you were meant to be. Know we love you and there is nothing to
forgive. Grieve not and be strong…”
Stiles saw Derek go completely still. He kicked his Sight in and saw Derek
totally surrounded by a white light. He didn’t want to interfere; he could
sense a deep magic at work, but one that posed no harm to his alpha. He watched
as tears trailed down Derek’s cheeks. Stiles’ heart broke and then Derek
slumped and Stiles quickly grabbed him. “Derek, you okay?”
“Yes, no, I don’t know.” He was clutching the crystal hard and started
laughing. “I heard my mother’s voice. I heard them laughing. I heard my
grandmother’s voice clear as day. Oh God, Stiles!” He buried his head in
Stiles’ shoulder. “She…she told me to forgive myself and to do my duty. I’d
know when it was time. She told me it was okay to trust.” He threw his head
back and laughed in a way he hadn’t since the fire. “Cryptic old biddy!”
Stiles eyed Derek cautiously. “Are you sure you are okay, dude?”
Derek looked Stiles in the eyes. “Yes. Just overwhelmed.” He looked down at his
hand and the crystal in it. “This has been in the family for many generations.
I’m told it was gifted to the family by a shaman before there was a
California.” He placed it around Stiles’ neck and patted it as it fell
perfectly over Stiles’ heart. “You needed a focus stone.”
Starting to object, Stiles felt Derek’s finger go over his lips preventing him
from saying anything. “I’m trusting my instincts. You need to have it.”
For Stiles, as the stone settled over his heart, it felt like something
clicking into place. His awareness reached new levels, his Sight became
clearer, and the energy around him settled down. Slow…the only words flowing
across his mind. Not all jumbled and chaotic as normal, but a single thought as
he looked at Derek. Slow. “Thank you.”
Derek nodded and motioned around the room. “You got your secret stash of info
and I got mine too.” He pulled Stiles into another hug and let it linger. “Not
everything was lost.”
Stiles reached down and grabbed Derek’s hand. Their fingers intertwined.
“Sometimes…sometimes losing so much makes you appreciate what you have all the
more.” He gave the wolf another smile touched with a hint of sadness. “But we
are going to have to go through all this and my boxes too.”
Derek snorted. “The Pack research team is going to be busy.”
They left everything as it was. Derek knew it is all safer hidden away. The
trip to the loft was quiet with Stiles fingering the focus stone absently. They
arrived at the loft as the pack was arguing over food.
“Isaac lives here so he needs to learn to cook!” Erica gave the younger wolf a
smirk. “If one word comes out of your mouth about women and kitchens I will rip
your balls off. Heal from that!”
Scott, Boyd, and Allison drifted away from Erica and Isaac, not wanting to get
caught in the crossfire. Stiles moved between them and put his hands up to keep
them separated. “You know, it might be helpful if we made a schedule for meals.
Takeout gets old after awhile. That way no one person gets stuck with it and a
cleaning schedule so Derek isn’t picking up after everyone.”
“And,” Derek added, “A rotation schedule between here and Stiles’ house.” He
winked at Stiles. “That way he can kick people out when they overstay their
welcome.”
“What? Oh man, you get to tell dad that!” Stiles plopped down in the oversized
chair Derek normally favored. “The grocery bill will triple.”
Everything came to a halt when Jackson stormed through the door. “Where is
Lydia?”
Erica shrugged. “I had to get a pedicure after school. I assumed she would be
here when I got here.”
Jackson frowned and ran a hand over his face. “She was acting weird. She was
sitting in her car all still with a vacant look when I found her. She sounded
surprised and annoyed when I tapped on her window. She said was coming here.”
Lydia walked in with a bag in her hand. She rolled her eyes when Jackson rushed
over. “I had to pick up a few things, jackass. Back off!”
Derek moved closer and inhaled. His instincts said something was off, but he
had no idea what it could have been. Lydia came off as annoyed, but that was
usual. “What’s in the bag?”
“Some natural candles. There is way too much testosterone in the air.” She
smiled at Erica. “This place needs to smell more hospitable to the female
population.”
Derek was about to respond when he noticed Stiles was walking around the walls
doing…something. It looked like he was touching them but he had a vacant look
about him. “Stiles?”
The wards around the loft appeared to his inner Sight. He was examining the
wards and checking them for tampering. They flowed with energy, but he could
see their structure with much greater clarity than when he wove them. All the
flaws that could be fatal against an experienced mage called to him. “Derek,
everything feels so much sharper. Everyone, can you gather in the center of the
room. I’m going to reset the wards a bit. I see what Carlos was saying now.
This won’t take but a moment.”
The pack all moved to the center of the loft, getting close. Stiles raised his
hands and allowed the power to collect again. His center was easy to find and
the focus stone made it stronger, his grounding. He shaped the power as Carlos
taught him and he slowly sent it out in tendrils, allowing the power to settle
along the threshold. The feel of the pack around him enhanced the threshold,
making it solid in its own right. The wards pulsed with new energy. They
settled and flared into place. No weak areas stood out to him. Satisfied,
Stiles dropped his link and examined the work. “Wow.”
Jackson grabbed his shoulder. “Okay, that…I felt that.”
The whole pack had experienced the energy flow and a hint of the pack bond.
Derek clasped Stiles other shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “Building a pack one
moment at a time.”
===============================================================================
 
It had been an uneventful week when Lydia purposeful steps echoed down the hall
with Erica and Allison trailing in her wake. Stiles recalled the last time they
met a hallway ambush; he still shuddered at the memory. He started looking for
the closest escape route. “Stiles, it’s been two weeks since we talked about
your…tattoo. So, there will be a research meeting at your house.”
Stiles started to protest, but Erica gave him a wicked smile. “Slow your roll,
Batman. Derek already approved and so did your dad.”
“Besides, Derek said you haven’t had time to look at the books Carlos sent you,
with Deaton, lacrosse, and homework interfering.” Allison smiled and winked.
“Oh, it’s also a pack sleep over. Apparently you and Derek shared some thoughts
on building bonds.”
Stiles banged his head against a locker. “How do I get myself into these
situations?”
===============================================================================
 
John walked into his house and sighed as it was total chaos. He knew when he
drove up and saw all the cars that a pack meeting was taking place, but the
living room and dining room were a disaster. Stiles, Lydia, Danny, and Allison
were each on a laptop and John counted three digital scanners, one projector,
and two printers and they were yelling about the books Stiles received from
Carlos. In the living room, Jackson, Boyd, Erica, Isaac, and Scott were all
yelling about the video games they were playing. He took off his jacket and
smiled. “Where is Derek?”
Isaac smiled, “Our fearless leader has been tasked to deliver us food so not to
wear out our welcome and have wanted posters placed all over town for food
theft.” 
Erica swatted Isaac in the head. “Dumbass. He went to get Chinese because he
ordered enough for twenty and didn’t trust the delivery guy to do it right.”
He walked through the chaos of the ‘research’ room and gave his son a hug. He
noticed the projection had two images on the wall that looked similar. “What is
that?”
Lydia smirked at Stiles before answering. “That is your son’s mark he got the
night of his epic nightmare. The one he forgot to tell anyone about.”
John gave Stiles a stern look and then shook his head. “But why are they
different?”
Allison got up and pointed to the image on the left. “This one is a picture
Stiles took of it that morning and the other is a picture that Lydia took about
three weeks after.”
“Print me a copy.” He pointed at Stiles and frowned. “THIS is why I should be
kept in the loop. I do forensics for a living. What else do you have?”
“We are running them against known linguistics databases trying to get even a
partial match.” Danny pointed to a few of the books on the table. “Some of
these reference ancient languages and we are doing a manual search because
Lydia doesn’t trust computer translations.”
“Don’t start with me again Danny!”
“Kids!” John knew enough about children that arguments could get out of control
in a hurry. They were very smart, too smart, teenagers, but that didn’t mean
they couldn’t act like kids from time to time. “What else is all this?”
Allison showed John a few things. “We started translating the Bestiary a few
months ago and Danny wants to make sure we can cross index what we have with
these sources.”
“If we do this right up front then it will make everything easier.” Danny
smiled. “And I want it on a secure server with multi-encryption levels and
registered access.”
“And where are we going to put that you nerd?” asked Lydia. “Whatever, never
mind. That symbol on Stiles’ hip has changed, but it was raw and new when he
took his picture.”
Right at that moment, Scott, Boyd, and Isaac took off out the front door. A few
minutes later they came in with Derek holding boxes of food. “Hi, John.”
The boys came in carrying boxes of food. Derek paused next to John for a
moment. “I got you some Kung Po Chicken, I know it’s your favorite. I won’t rat
you out to Stiles.”
“I heard that,” Stiles pouted. “You know he shouldn’t eat that stuff!”
Danny was chomping on an eggroll when his laptop dinged. “Hey I think we have a
partial match on the Stiles’ tattoo-thingy.”
Lydia was over his shoulder in a heartbeat. “Can you transfer that image to the
projector?”
In seconds the data on Danny’s laptop was on the wall. Lydia and Stiles moved
closer to the image. “What language is that?”
Danny frowned and then leaned back, shocked. “Enochian”
Stiles flailed for a moment. “The Hell is Enochian?”
“The opposite actually,” Danny stated. “According to this it is the language of
angels.”
A huge bark of laughter came from the living room. Jackson was doubled over
laughing. “Oh classic! Stiles has been touched by an angel! Roma Downey will
show up at any moment.”
Erica frowned, “Who is Roma Downey?”
Jackson looked up and was greeted with a bunch of questioning looks. “I had a
nanny that loved that TV show.” More silence followed. “Whatever,” he muttered
and went back to playing the video game.
“Can we get back to the subject?” Lydia gave the back of Jackson’s head one of
her patented looks. “This mark looks incomplete.”
Danny pulled the two pictures of Stiles’ tattoo back up and then the Enochian
tables he found. “That means something, but it looks like half of a mark.”
Stiles sighed, “So my mystery man is some kind of angel and we have no idea
who.”
Allison nodded, “It’s a start.”
Derek demanded the research stop so the rest of pack night could begin. “Look,
the books and Stiles’ mark aren’t going anywhere. We’re going to watch a movie.
Which means no video games or texting while we watch.”
The pack settled into cozy spots around the room. Derek deliberately made sure
he sat on the couch and ended up leaning back against Stiles’ chest. “For
someone who is so boney, you’re amazingly comfortable.”
Stiles huffed, “Well for someone so fit, you weigh a ton.” They ignored the
looks from the rest of the pack as they settled against one another. Stiles
brought his hands around and pulled Derek tighter against his chest. “This
okay?” he whispered.
Derek wiggled back further and nodded. He looked at the pack all curled up
around each other. Isaac was bracketing Erica with Boyd on the other side.
Scott and Allison were on the floor in front of Danny, Jackson, and Lydia.
Derek grasped Stiles’ hand and whispered to the teen. “Not a bad idea.”
“You should know by now that all my ideas are good ideas.”
After two movies, the girls went up to the guest room to have girls’ night and
the guys settled in for a gore fest. Stiles moved Derek off of him and stood
up. He pulled Derek with him. “I have a session with Deaton tomorrow morning so
I need sleep.”
Derek shook his head, but started to move with Stiles. He gave the teen a
playful shove towards the staircase.
Boyd called out, “So how does Derek fit into that equation?”
Stiles rolled his eyes, “Duh, he’s better than a teddy bear for keeping bad
dreams away.”
They trooped up the stairs to Stiles’ room to get ready for bed. Both of them
brushed their teeth and then stripped down. Stiles down to a t-shirt and briefs
and Derek to a pair of black hip briefs. Stiles bit his lip and smiled. “On
sale?”
Derek nodded, “Oh yeah, Macy’s New York, Laura loved to shop there. I have
quite the underwear collection. Cuts down on laundry.”
They both got in bed and this time Derek pulled Stiles into a hug as they
settled in together. “Today was a good day.”
“Yeah, and dad actually commented on how they cleaned the kitchen without
yelling.”
Derek carded his hand through Stiles’ hair. He listened as the teen’s heartbeat
slowed into a nice easy rhythm. Some of the easy parts of pack building were
underway. The harder parts still had to happen. ‘The bonds are better, but can
still be broken. We’ll get there.’
===============================================================================
 
Stiles looked down at his sleeping body snuggled tight against Derek’s and a
deep sensation of happiness flooded his awareness. He could feel the happiness
and contentment from his friend. He made his way in his Dream form around the
house and the feeling of family was overwhelming. His dad was as relaxed as
he’d been since his mom had died. The girls were still giggling about their
boyfriends and he could hear the guys downstairs cringing as the wolves
overheard some of the comments. Stiles didn’t want to know anymore about some
of their sexual prowess he was overhearing.
The wards around the house radiated to his Sight. The pack was safe and happy.
Stiles took off and examined the empty loft and found those wards to be strong
and whole. A quick sweep of the area made him stop cold. He could feel
different energies now. He was floating above the high school and on the roof
was a glowing red glyph. It was different from any he’d seen. But on the
basketball court, he could see the sigil he’d knew to mean the Alpha Pack.
A glimmer in the distance caught his eye. It was on the far side of the
preserve on the opposite side of Hale House. He was there in an instant. The
energies of the area were different. Different in ways he’d never experienced.
The Glimmer expanded and was almost like a door. Part of him wanted to go
through, but something made him hesitate. In a blink he was back in his body
and snuggled against Derek.
“Welcome back.”
Stiles moved, but Derek’s arms kept him close. “How…how did you know?”
“I just do. Like the night of your nightmare; I knew then too. See anything
interesting?”
Stiles swallowed and tightened his hold on the werewolf. “Yes, but we can
discuss it tomorrow.”
===============================================================================
 
John walked into his kitchen and laughed. Derek was whisking batter in a large
bowl. There was a plate piled high with bacon and the smell of something
wonderful coming from the oven.
“You look unusually happy this morning.” John filled his coffee cup up and
refilled Derek’s. He looked around before he reached over and grab a piece of
bacon. “Don’t tell Stiles.”
Derek’s mouth quirked at the edges. “Stiles had some good ideas for bonding and
we’ll see this afternoon how Chris’ ideas for training pan out.” He started
ladling out the batter to make pancakes. 
The pack made their way into the kitchen to start helping themselves to the
mounds of food. Stiles glared at John every time he reached for some bacon.
Derek would cough to hide his smile. That would earn him a glare from Stiles;
Derek simply gave the teen a look which had the whole pack laughing.
Stiles looked over at the wall clock. “Damn, I’m late. See you out at the
house.”
===============================================================================
 
“Will wonders never cease?” Deaton exclaimed. “Stiles, you have very good
energy control. Though you do need to start to use a language when it comes to
magic. It insulates your channels from the raw energy. The spells structure
themselves. But the ‘foreign’ nature of the language works as insulation.”
Stiles rolled his eyes. “I told you, I think in terms of runes, sigils, glyphs
and the like. Those give everything structure to me. I can use Latin, in fact
Lydia has my Latin to almost novice Roman Catholic Priest.”
Deaton chuckled, “Now it’s time to teach you a personal shielding spell.” He
went to a cabinet and pulled out a small box. “Open it.”
The box was an ordinary gift box. “Aw, you shouldn’t have.” Stiles opened it
and pulled out a silver bracelet.
“I didn’t. That is from Derek on my instructions. That is your focus for
shielding.”  Deaton smiled again. “I imagine this will be easier than building
a ward around a house. Given that you are a science fiction fan I think you
have an idea of what shields can do?”
Over the next two hour, Stiles configured partial body shields, full body
shields, solid shields for physical attacks, energy shields for magic. Finally,
Deaton called an end to the session. “Well, Stiles, that was a good beginning,
but soon we’ll have to move on to other tests.”
Stiles groaned, “What tests?”
“You’ll see.”
===============================================================================
 
The wolves were lazing about in the sun while Danny, Lydia, and Allison sat in
the shade of the ruined house. Derek stood off to the side and waited for the
guest of honor to show up.
“What’s my dad doing here?” Allison asked as Chris Argent pulled up.
Derek smiled. “A new form of training and new ways of doing things.” He
vanished into the house and came out with two large plastic shipping crates. He
put down out front and went back in to get the other two. He nodded at Chris.
“Morning, kids,” Chris said as he opened one of the crates. He pulled out a gun
and smiled at them. “The Sheriff, Derek, and I had a chat and figured that you
need different ways of training. So here are a variety of paintball guns.”
All the crates were opened and more than a dozen paintball guns were available,
some pistols and some of the tactical variety. Numerous goggles were also
pulled out along with harnesses and other accessories.
“Two buddies and I set up a course just down the rise and in the old creek bed.
You will each have thirty rounds and a total of twenty four targets. The course
will be timed. Humans and werewolves will go through the course.” Chris pointed
further away from the house. “The course is over a football field in length.
This first go is a baseline assessment. After everyone runs it there will be a
break and a second session that Derek will explain then.” He motioned for the
pack towards the crates. They sorted through everything and began to assemble
their stuff.
Chris looked over everyone and made sure they were properly equipped. “First
up, Derek.”
Derek was at the start of the course, the entrance to the creek bed. The mask
took a bit to get used to, but he adapted. The tactical rifle is light and easy
to maneuver. The buzzer went off and he started down the course. His reflexes
were supernatural as was his hand eye coordination. With grace and speed he
moved down the course firing off single burst shots as the targets popped up.
Barely breathing hard, he came to the end and looked over at Chris.
“How’d I do?” Derek removed his mask and locked his gun.
“You hit all the targets, twenty-one kill shots out of twenty-four. Twenty-six
shots fired. Time was under three minutes.” Chris looked up with wide eyes.
“Impressive. I didn’t know you had weapons training.”
“Arcades and skeet shooting. I tried mounted shooting once or twice, but horses
don’t care for werewolves.”
Chris deadpanned, “Can’t imagine why.” He looked down at his list. “Okay, next
up – Boyd.”
Derek watched as the pack went through the course. Four of them were through it
when he picked up something in the air. His eyes flashed red for a second.
“Stiles,” he muttered and took off like a shot.
===============================================================================
 
Despite his exhaustion, Stiles made his way towards the area of the Preserve
that held the glimmer in the Dream Realm. It was further than he estimated, but
he wasn’t going to turn back. A clearing opened before him and to his Sight he
could sense magic in the air, but it was different. Moving into the clearing he
paused when seemingly out of nowhere appeared…
“OH. MY. GOD. You’re a centaur!” Stiles mouth hung open as an eight foot tall
being, half man, half horse stood before him. The horse was a beautiful
chestnut and the man was beautiful in an Abercrombie & Fitch kind of way.
Stiles could feel the power radiating off the centaur. He gulped.
“Hail, young mage! I am Reynard, Lord of the Summer Court. We’d felt stirrings
that this outpost was again occupied.”
Derek came crashing through the brush into the clearing. He saw Stiles standing
in front of a centaur. It took him a moment to process before coming up to
Stiles’ side.
“Hail, young Alpha and Guardian. I am Reynard, Lord of the Summer Court. I send
greetings from Titania, Queen of Summer, and warnings.” The centaur eyed them
both for a moment. “Long has your family guarded this forest and all that it
holds. Summer cannot allow this entrance to our lands to be in unfriendly
hands. We will honor our accord with your family, provided you can pass the
tests that are coming.”
Derek frowned, “What accord?”
“The Summer lands have an entrance here.” He pointed to the clearing. “Your
family’s home sits on a confluence of power. Guardianship was acknowledged and
lordship granted in return for these places being safe. Much has happened with
the wars; allies have fallen all over the lands – including your family. We
will honor our accords to a point young alpha. Should you fail, then Summer
will act.”
Reynard pointed to Stiles, “Know that the Time of Change is coming. Knowledge
weighs on you and wisdom is at its beginnings. We centaurs watch the stars for
its portents and what they say makes us weep.
“Young Alpha and young mage, Darkness is coming and it is like nothing that has
been seen in eons. All will be tested and everyone is threatened. You must grow
strong. Prove that you can do your duty in the coming weeks and Summer will aid
you when you call.”
Stiles and Derek watched as Reynard went to the center of the clearing and
vanished. Derek frowned for a second and turned to Stiles. Before he could
speak Stiles pointed to at him. “Why are you dressed like a commando?”
“What are you doing out here alone?” Derek snarled, ignoring the question.
“Come with me!” He started back to the course.
“I wanted to check out what I saw last night.”
“And you didn’t think it was important to mention?” Derek fumed.
“What the hell? I’m fine!” Stiles was getting worked up.
“I told you not to go out alone, Stiles. And you hid your intentions!”
Stiles sputtered for a second. “It’s no big deal.” They continued arguing as
they made their way back.
They came upon the pack as the last member, Isaac, was finishing up the course.
Derek was pissed and all the betas could sense it.
“Stiles! Enough!” Derek roared. He pointed at Scott. “Text the sheriff and tell
him that Stiles was out in the woods alone.”
The pack turned as one to stare at Stiles. Silence hung in the air for a
minute. He fumed and a buzz from his pocket stopped him from yelling at Derek.
‘You’re grounded.’ Stiles eyes went wide.
Derek looked at his phone. “Stiles, give your keys to Scott. He’ll drive your
Jeep for the foreseeable future.”
Stiles went rigid. His anger flared behind his eyes. The whole pack started to
look around as the forest felt alive. Trees sways and the ground trembled
slightly. Stiles gripped his focus stone and leaned against a tree. He reached
for his center and with great effort grounded himself. The anger calmed from a
storm to a small flame. Swallowing hard and without saying anything he took his
keys out and tossed them to Scott.
He walked past the pack, ignoring their looks, and to the crates. He suited up
and looked at Chris. “Can I take a turn?”
Chris glanced at Derek, who remained stoic, and nodded. “Sure, you need a
baseline too.”
Stiles took another calming breath and centered his awareness. Time slowed and
the buzzer sounded like it went on forever. He moved with speed and grace he’s
never known. He could feel the movements of the targets as they were coming
into place. His aim was true and his footing solid.
The pack watched as Stiles moved faster than they thought possible. Chris
whistled when Stiles finished. “Three and a half minutes. Twenty-one kill shots
all targets hit. Thirty shots fired. How did you do that?”
Stiles shrugged. “No idea, just did it.”
Derek cleared his throat. “Deaton told me you are a hyper-kinetic. As a mage it
might have some strange side-effects.” He moved back to the crates. “Okay,
listen up. Round two. We are going to have two-on-two games. Werewolves can
take three hits before ruled down. There is a catch.” He noticed the smiles
fall into frowns. “The teams will be different combinations that aren’t used to
working together. Or, can’t stand each other. Jackson, you and Scott will be a
team against Boyd and Danny.”
Everyone went out for a two-on-two twice before Derek called an end to the
training. He thanked Chris for his help. “Stiles, I’m taking you home.”
The rest of the pack filed out. Scott knew where Stiles was parked so he headed
that way. Stiles headed to the Camaro. He’d been silent for the afternoon, only
answering questions when they were posed. Most of the pack avoided him. He’d
partnered with Allison and Jackson. Both times came out a draw.
The drive has been in oppressive silence. Derek had to let Stiles in since his
keys were with Scott. Stiles walked past him to the kitchen. His temper was
flaring again having to be let into his own house.
“Stiles, sit.” Derek watched as Stiles leaned against the counter taking deep
breaths. “Stiles, sit down so we can talk.”
“Oh, you want to talk instead of just embarrassing the fuck out of me in front
of everyone. You want to talk instead of fucking ordering me to do things!”
“STILES! Sit down!”  
He slammed his water bottle down and threw himself on the couch. Stiles stared
up at Derek.
“Can you think, please, think about what happened this afternoon. Rationally
and from another perspective than your own?” Derek asked. “I gave you a direct
order and your dad agreed. You deliberately disobeyed that today.”
“I am tired of being escorted everywhere. I’m tired of not getting a say in MY
LIFE!”
Derek sat down near Stiles. “Okay, we’ll get to that, but think about what I
just said.”
Stiles took a deep breath. “Yes, I did what I wasn’t supposed to.”
“And the whole pack knew it,” Derek added. “Why did I do that in front of
everyone?”
Stiles looked down. “To humiliate me.” A finger raised his chin so he could
look at Derek in the eyes. He saw sadness in them.
“I would never do anything to hurt you, Stiles, not like that. I did it so they
would know. Discipline is vital for a pack, Stiles. All of them view you as the
pack second. You are the most important cog in the pack. You aren’t a wolf, so
your obedience isn’t mandated. You’re my friend more than anything. But they
know that you aren’t above them in pack discipline.”
“You used me as an example,” Stiles ground out.
“Pack building isn’t always about the fun things, Stiles. Discipline is crucial
especially if we believe all the warnings we’ve been given.” Derek placed his
hand on Stiles. “I’m proud of you, by the way.”
Stiles sputtered, “Why?”
“You didn’t argue or fight. You controlled your anger and your magic. You
handed over your keys and moved on. It took true maturity to do that.”
“I wanted to summon a ball of lightning and make you eat it.”
Derek nodded and squeezed Stiles hand again. “I know, but you didn’t. The pack
knows that no one gets away with rule breaking. How long do you think you’ve
earned being without your Jeep?” Derek raised a finger. “Keep in mind, an alert
went out that I doubt you’ve seen. This morning it was reported that over a
dozen mid-level magic users from the Paranet have vanished in the last twenty-
four hours. More than one with their house wards blown apart.”
Stiles hung his head. “Alpha pack and someone after mages; I…I think it would
be safer if I was with you or the pack all the time.”
Standing, Derek pulled Stiles up with him and into a tight hug. “I know you
value your independence. But we all value you alive and healthy more. I need
you safe. There will come a time soon when you will be in danger and there will
be nothing I can do. Until then, please. Let’s us protect you. Let me protect
you.”
Stiles put his head on Derek’s shoulder. The afternoon had sucked. He knew he
disappointed everyone. “Okay, I’ll try. But you can’t get pissed when I need to
be someplace and you have to drive me.”
“Deal.”   
===============================================================================
 
Reddite  resurget ex favilla et nova lux propius accedit: Surge, et hereditatem
vindicare.
Lydia woke with a start. Her hands and legs were covered in dirt. The sun was
rising and she was in the middle of the Preserve with no idea how she got
there. The last thing she remembered was getting ready for bed and answering
her phone. But that was last night. She started to panic; she could not
remember. “Where the hell am I?” She screamed.
Away in the distance Adrian Harris nodded and continued to walk away. The
bottle in his hands had what he needed for now. He looked up and smiled. “A few
more days and the moon will be in place. A few more days and I can be free.”
Chapter End Notes
     Et dormiet cum dico recordaberis - and remember when I say sleep
     Reddite resurget ex favilla et nova lux propius accedit: Surge, et
     hereditatem vindicare - Rise from the ashes and return; a new dawn
     approaches, rise and reclaim your heritage
***** Whisper to a Scream *****
Chapter Summary
     Stiles and Derek share while events grow darker around them.
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Warmth seeped into Stiles’ bones. The soft breaths tickling the back of his
neck made him relax in ways he’d never dreamed. Part of his awareness now
extended to cycles of the day, he could sense the sun rising. He didn’t want to
wake; it was a Sunday morning and that meant sleeping in and being lazy. Life
in Beacon Hills didn’t see it that way; panic flooded his awareness. He’s not
alone in his reaction. Derek bolted upright instantly as well.
Derek eyes flashed red as danger threatened the pack. He jumped out of bed and
threw on his clothes. “Lydia! I can feel her panic. She’s in the Preserve
somewhere. Wake the pack!” He was out the window after that.
Stiles pulled his phone out and called Scott. “Come on Scott, wake up!” Giving
up on his friend, knowing that he was dead to the world passed out. He did the
next best thing. “Melissa, hi, yeah, I know it’s early. I really need you to
wake Scott up. Yes, it’s a werewolf thing.”
A little over a minute passed before Scott picked up the phone. “Man that’s low
making my mom get me up.”
Stiles sighed, “Scott, Lydia - something’s wrong. Derek is heading to the
Preserve to search.” That got Scott moving. His next call was to Jackson, who
hung up on him after telling him Lydia was in trouble. Getting the rest of the
wolves mobilized didn’t take any effort.
Stiles paced and waited at home having no choice in the matter. His Jeep was at
Scott’s, he didn’t have a key to the Camaro, and he wasn’t walking anywhere.
Marching down the stairs, he got the coffee going and noticed that his dad
wasn’t home either. “Great, Stiles is all alone and can’t get anywhere.”
The doorbell rang, followed by pounding on the front door, broke Stiles from
his thoughts. The peephole showed Danny and Allison on his doorstep. “Come in,
guys.”
Allison nodded. “Scott told me to come here and Jackson called Danny.”
Danny rubbed his eyes, “Dude, coffee!”
Stiles rolled his eyes, but went to the kitchen to get the caffeine for his
friends. He brought out two mugs and handed them out. Restless nervous energy
coursed through Stiles. Deciding to put the energy to use, he went into the
dining room and started to look through the books that Carlos sent. He picked
one up and began to read it. ‘Theories of Combat Magic.’ The words flowed into
his awareness and seemed to imprint ideas, images, and patterns in his mind. It
was like a direct download of information into his head.
By the time, Stiles surfaced from the book he noticed that Danny and Allison
were at the table and back to researching as well. Danny smiled at the hyper
teen. “Welcome back, you’ve been in that book for almost an hour. Didn’t know
you could concentrate that long.”
“Wow that was weird.” Stiles’ thoughts were interrupted as his phone buzzed.
===============================================================================
 
Derek ran like the wind through the Preserve. The pack bond told him Lydia was
in distress and his instincts told him she was in the Preserve. He could feel
Jackson as well in full out panic to find his mate. Derek stopped and sniffed
the air, her scent was around, but he could not pinpoint where it was located
specifically.
A howl rent the air and Derek knew that Jackson found her. He ran up and saw
Scott and Isaac joining them. “Jackson, take her to Deaton’s. Scott, go with
them. Isaac, stay with me until Boyd and Erica join me and then go to Stiles’.”
He and Isaac started searching for clues as to how Lydia got there. Boyd and
Erica arrived and Isaac took off. Erica moved away from the areas that had been
searched and frowned. “Derek, this area is weird. I can’t smell anything.”
Derek moved closer and also noted the absence of smells. He turned to Boyd.
“Call Stiles. Danny or Allison should be there. Have Isaac bring Stiles here so
he can examine this place with his Sight.”
He paced around trying to figure out how large the area of wrongness was. The
forest itself knew something was not right and was trying to explain it to him.
===============================================================================
 
Derek was right behind Stiles as he moved towards the area that was missing
something. Stiles stopped and shuddered. “Derek, there is a magic here, but I
don’t know what it is. It feels alien, unlike the Fae we met yesterday, this
feels horrid.”
Stretching his awareness, Stiles tried to peer past the veil of magic around
the area. The whole area reeked of blood, pain, and death. He continued to move
forward. Reaching for the threads of magic to try to peer further; he was
thrown back violently and hit something hard. Darkness took him.
Stiles groaned and tried to sit up, but the pain in his head made him lay back
down. “Ow fuck,” he muttered.
“Thank goodness,” John said as he sat down next to Stiles. “You okay, kiddo?”
Groaning again, Stiles opened his eyes and frowned. “Dad?”
“Yeah, you’ve been out for a bit. Had us worried sick. Deaton said you got hit
with a backlash spell.”
Derek walked in a few minutes later and handed Stiles a mug. “Deaton said this
was a special tea to help with the migraine you’re going to have.” He sat down
on the other side of Stiles and pulled him closer. Stiles leaned back into the
touch and sighed as Derek started rubbing his neck, shoulders, and head all
while slowly leaching some of Stiles’ pain.
John’s eyebrows went up and waved a hand between the two of them. “Do we need
to have a talk?”
Stiles tried to roll his eyes, but winced as even his eyeballs hurt. “We’re
friends, dad. Did Deaton say anything else?”
“Lydia was covered in some kind of dark magic, but it was fading rapidly. She’s
in the guestroom resting.” John reached over and ruffled Stiles’ hair.  He
looked at the two of them again and shook his head. “Let me know when this
changes from friends. We’ll chat about sleepovers at that point.”
Stiles groaned from more than the headache. The tea was soothing him as were
Derek’s fingers. “Dad, we’ll cross bridges that need crossing when we get
there. Did we learn anything else from Deaton?”
“Apparently the pack bond is much stronger than it was even a month ago,” Derek
said quietly. “As much as I hate to say this; looks like your plans are
working.”
“You should know by now, I’m always right.”
===============================================================================
 
Melissa McCall finished looking over Stiles and sighed. “How do you manage day-
to-day, boy? I don’t think you have a concussion, but Derek is pretty hard, so
don’t slam into him too often…without planning on it in advance of course.” She
winked at her son’s best friend.
“Oh, no, please, no, just, no!” Stiles moaned. “Not you too! We’re friends!”
She gave him a look. “You think you’ve fooled your dad then you have another
thing coming, Stiles. No one is fooled.” She leaned forward and whispered,
“Friends don’t hold each other’s hands or snuggle together every chance they
get.” She gave him a pat on the back.
Derek walked back in the room as she was leaving. “Be good to him or you will
have me to deal with as well, Derek.”
He nodded, “Yes, ma’am.”
She went across the hall and knocked on the guest bedroom door. She entered and
sighed at the sight of Lydia and Jackson curled up around each other. “Lydia, I
need to check on you.”
Lydia sat up, “Ms. McCall, Dr. Deaton already checked me out.”
“He’s a vet and I’m a nurse; who’d you rather have examining you, someone who
looks after cats and dogs or someone who looks after humans?”
Lydia sat up straighter. She hit Jackson to wake him up. “If I have to be up
then you have to be up.” She let Melissa take her vitals and to check her for
any injuries or bruises that may have bloomed in the hours after she was found.
“How are you doing?”
“I can’t remember anything and I woke up in the middle of the forest…peachy!”
“Well, I can’t see anything wrong, but I suggest you take it easy over the next
few days and try not to force your memory to return. The harder you try the
harder it will be.”
“Jackson, take me home! We have school in the morning and finals are in a few
weeks.” Lydia thanked Melissa and the Sheriff on her way out. She turned back
to Stiles. “Research this week. I want to know what the hell is going on!”
===============================================================================
 
Danny smacked Jackson on his back. “Dude, have you seen the new guys!”
“No, but I’ve heard the uproar they’re creating.” Jackson stated while checking
his phone for anything exciting. “You’re heart rate is wild man. One of them
catch your eye?”
“Haven’t met them yet, but I have had twin fantasies in the past.” Danny smiled
broadly at Jackson while the other teen smirked back. “You told me about your
threesome and foursome fantasies before Jackson, so don’t get all bitchy with
me.”
“Whatever!” Jackson was going to say something else, but he saw the twins
coming towards them and stopped. Neither of the twins stopped walking, or even
broke stride, but they had to know. “Danny, they’re wolves!”
“What the hell is it with wolves around here? And they are hot!” Danny leaned
back against the lockers. “Tell me they aren’t part of the ones you’re looking
for?”
Jackson shrugged. “Dude, in this messed up town what do you think?”
Danny straightened up. “I’m perpetually single! You have Lydia, Scott and
Allison, Boyd and Erica, hell I think Isaac is starting to look good. I want to
be part of the mating game.”
“Derek and Stiles are single,” Jackson added.
“Seriously, they are the worst! When they finally get together it’s going to be
an epically craptastic romantic mess.”
“Well you can get some frustration out later. It’s going to be fun!” Jackson
winked and walked away.
===============================================================================
 
His nose was deep in his locker as he tried to get everything he needed for his
homework. Stiles was abruptly yanked from there and he noticed Scott had one
arm and Jackson another. “Hey guys, what’s going on?” He saw Boyd following
while Isaac finished getting all of Stiles things. “Guys?”
“Relax, Stilinski, we’re going to have a practice session out on the lacrosse
field,” Jackson said as he smiled wickedly down at Stiles. “Deaton told Scott
what we should do.”
Stiles gulped, “And where is Derek?” Something was up and it didn’t bode well
for him.
Scott smiled, “Him and Allison are running an errand for Deaton.”
Panic flooded Stiles. “You got rid of Derek for this practice?”
Neither wolf answered. Erica, Lydia, and Danny were waiting on the field for
them. Danny tossed Stiles a lacrosse helmet. Scott and Jackson let Stiles go.
He stumbled for a second.
Scott grinned wide. “Deaton said you need practice shielding and that you
needed to be tested in conditions that would make you want to shield.”
“Oh God!” Stiles muttered.
Isaac, Erica, and Boyd pulled up six buckets full of baseballs. Jackson rubbed
his hands gleefully. “You have to shield from us throwing baseballs at you -
hard. All the time thinking of all the dog jokes, insane babble, and general
torture you put us through on a daily basis.” His smile broadened at the
thought of payback.
“Jackson!” Scott barked. “We’ll start out slowly, but Deaton said not to hold
back, to change our angles. He said he warned you.”
Stiles scrunched his face in distaste. “Yeah, no he didn’t!”  He motioned for
them to move into position. He brought up his left arm that held his shield
bracelet focus. He poured his will and energy into and snapped a partial body
shield in front of him. He lowered his mask and screamed, “Bring it!”
Jackson fired a fastball first. It hit the shield and managed to bend it enough
to graze Stiles’ chest. Stiles adjusted his shield strength.
“That counts as a hit for Jackson,” Lydia announced.
Scott and then Boyd fired off fastballs at Stiles’ shield, both careened away.
Erica and Isaac launched theirs and they too careened away. Jackson smiled.
“Now it’s on!”
Stiles slipped into his hyperawareness. The wolves spread out and he expanded
his shield to a full bodied one. His will and power reinforced areas as the
balls came flying in. Five superpowered wolves and a wild card kept him moving
and changing his shield angles.
He switched tactics once, dropping to a knee and making his target profile much
smaller. At the same time he dropped his body shield and extended a hand threw
up a partial shield right in front of Scott, Isaac, and Jackson. All three ran
right into it. Stiles didn’t have time to focus on their howls of surprise. He
reengaged his body shield and just in time to avoid getting beaned in the head
by Boyd’s attack.
His energy flagged and a ball got through and hit him in the back. Pain surged
and he focused on the protection glyph from the Nightmare Night and used it to
power his shields. They flared with new life and he remolded them into
fullerene designs increasing the structural soundness. Stiles pushed the
shields further away and watched as the wolves’ balls were no closer than two
feet now.
He started anticipating their attacks and tried to angle off the balls to hit
another wolf. It only worked twice, but it made them adapt. He could only keep
that up for so long. His hyperawareness slipped as his energy reserves drained.
He went from anticipatory to reactive. A combined volley distracted his
attention and a lone ball sailed through a gap and nailed Stiles in the ribs.
The shield wobbled and another flew through and hit his thigh. Pain flared and
his concentration faltered; another hit his chest and his entire shield
structure collapsed as he did to the ground.
Another ball was sailing in; it was all happening so fast no one had a chance
to stop as he crumpled. A hand grabbed it before it could hit Stiles. He rolled
on his back and stared at an extremely angry Derek. Derek let the ball fall
from his hand and he knelt next to Stiles.
“Are you okay?”
“Hurts to breathe,” Stiles muttered. He groaned as Derek lifted him up.
“Defiantly sore.”
Derek turned to the pack. “I’m taking him to Deaton’s. We will talk about this
tomorrow afternoon!”
The ride to Deaton’s was painful as every pothole made Stiles wince. Derek
helped him out of the car and into the backroom.
Alan Deaton was waiting. “I’m told you deflected seventy-five of the eighty
balls thrown at you. You adapted more than once and even tried to use the
shields as a weapon against them. Good job!”
Derek growled as he helped Stiles out of his shirts. “You let them attack
Stiles unsupervised. He has a crack rib.”
“Shield practice in the old days, I’m told, involved throwing rocks, would you
prefer that method? This isn’t a game and it was as much a test for you as for
him.” Deaton intoned as he started wrapping Stiles ribs. Deaton looked over and
noticed Derek was holding in his anger. “You were twenty-four miles away from
Stiles when you sensed his panic. That is amazing for an Alpha-human pack
bond.”
Derek massaged Stiles neck while glaring at Deaton. “That doesn’t explain why
this was an unsupervised practice.”
“Derek, the element of surprise was necessary to see how you would both
respond. These are tests for a reason. I will not apologize for that.”
“And if Stiles gets attacked tomorrow and can’t run because he’s bruised and
aching? What then?” Derek was in Deaton’s face.
“Then make sure the pack is around him. Derek, Stiles did a great job and the
two of you share a bond that is very strong. Focus on what we learned. Stiles
will heal.”
“Stiles is human!” Derek roared.
“He’s a wizard, or will be, he’ll recover faster and he’s pack, that energy
will also help him. Derek, Stiles was in no more danger than if it was standard
lacrosse practice. I’ve seen Finstock’s practices. Maybe I should have him test
Stiles’ defensive abilities.” Deaton sighed. “Your concern is noted and this
test could only be done once. The next one will have to be like the course
Argent designed. I’ll speak to Chris and the sheriff to see what we can come up
with.”
Deaton walked out. Derek helped Stiles get dressed again. “You okay?” he asked
the teen.
Stiles gave him a soft smile. “Thanks…thanks for defending me. But, can I say
one thing and you not get pissed as hell?”
“Yes.”
“That was AWESOME!”
Derek dropped his head in his hands and sighed. “Why me?” he muttered.
===============================================================================
 
Adrian Harris felt them before he saw them. Power always called to power and
when he saw them he laughed to himself. Twin alpha wolves in sheep’s clothing,
how droll. Beacon Hills High School was crawling with the mangy mongrels he
knew. But he knew of the Hale family and had grown up with them in town.
Bitter was the taste in his mouth when he thought of his interrogation at the
hands of the sheriff for knowing how to accelerate and hide a fire. Many had
died because of him and yet nothing had changed for him and now a Hale was back
and building back his power.
He watched as Stiles came in and that bitter taste intensified. None knew, or
few did, of his involvement with that fire. But the son of the sheriff was a
mockery of that incident. The boy got on his nerves. And the boy had some
power, but it was hard for him to get its measure. All nervous energy and
flailing limbs. He was bright, but unable to concentrate. It was annoying.
The incident during detention still galled him. The boy had been messing around
and yet he’d come close to seeing him as he was seen by others with power. The
boy needed to be taught a lesson and that idiot guidance counselor refused to
help.
The alpha twins were watching Stiles every so often as they did Lydia and
Danny. ‘Lydia is mine, but this could be useful. The new moon is a little over
a week away.’ A plan formed and soon the boy would be broken and he would be
further along in a plan that fell into his lap. It might be a good day after
all.
===============================================================================
 
Lydia frowned as she made her way into Ms. Morrell’s office. She sat down and
waited for the counselor to speak.
“Your mother tells me you are having issues sleeping.”
“Whatever, its stress.” Lydia pursed her lips and checked her phone for
messages.
“You’ve had a pretty tough year. You got attacked by a mountain lion and your
boyfriend suffered a life threatening seizure on the field.”
Lydia smiled, “You forgot that his real parents died before he was born. Life
happens.”
Morrell took a deep breath. “I don’t think you’ve dealt with any of this at
all.”
“How would you define ‘dealing’ with it? Would you rather I be a pathetic
weeping mess blaming anyone and everyone for what happened?  Jackson is alive
and I love him. I will be fine because I am fine. I am not some weak girl who
falls apart when things get rough.” She smiled again. “It was nice visiting
with you.”
Marin Morrell watched Lydia leave her office and sighed. She tapped her fingers
on her desk. She dialed and number and waited for it to be answered. “We’re
having dinner tonight and I’m not taking no for an answer. We will come to a
resolution, Alan. I’ll pick you up at 8:00 sharp.”
===============================================================================
 
Alan Deaton sat down across from Marin Morrell and played with the water circle
his glass was leaving. “What did you want to talk about?”
“The new moon is next week and there is a celestial alignment of some
consequence as well.” She frowned. “I need to know what you are doing.”
“And I need to know what you’re planning as well. Don’t think I’m unaware that
you can rationalize your way into anything. It’s interesting that you’re here
as an alpha pack has begun to rear its head.”
“Fine, I met with Lydia Martin today and her mind shows signs of tampering.”
Deaton sat back stunned. “She had traces of dark magic on her a few days ago,
but I didn’t see that!”
“You’re out of practice and out of your depth. Healing and defense have always
been your fortes. You hate getting your hands dirty.”
“And you enjoy it too much. We are supposed to advise and be neutral.” Deaton
grabbed his water and took a sip. His eyes never left the woman across from
him.
“Touché, but we both know that the world we started in, that respected
neutrality, is gone. Look at what happened to your Hales. Magic is flowing
again and with it danger has increased. You need my help!” She sipped her
drink. “Everything is changing and you know it.”
===============================================================================
 
Stiles’ aches from the shield practice yesterday faded to minor pains. Deaton
was right, lacrosse practice earlier has more brutal on his body than the
baseballs. Greenberg loved to run him over. He really wished one of the wolves
would beat the crap out of that spaz, but no they thought it was fun.
Three different spell books were open in front of him. In his head he was
assigning runes, glyphs, and sigils different functions in spell components and
then reducing the sequence down to a single word. In his mind four symbols
encompassing rest, calm, sleep, and sloth now created a spell bound in the word
quiesco. It was strong enough to slow down a raging werewolf, but not enough to
tap his energy reserves. For a human, it would knock them out. He had one for a
lightning bolt, it wasn’t very strong – more like a Taser. There were a couple
of other spells he had, but he wanted to have a dozen ready for emergencies.
Something in his mind kept telling him he had to hurry, that there was no
margin for error. “Ugh, I need a break.” Stiles took a moment to center his
awareness and cast his mind out and Dream walk while awake. A quick tour of his
friends’ houses told him all was well. Derek was busy teaching Scott, Isaac,
and Boyd some moves he knew from Krav Maga. Stiles was all for the betas being
better fighters.
A ripple of magic roused his attention. He could not find its origin, but he
moved around the town looking for it. The glyph on top of the school glowed
blood red. It repulsed Stiles and made him feel ill. A spike of energy far away
pulled his attention from the school. Across the country he saw fighting in
Miami and in Boston. Powerful magics were being wielded by Wardens. He knew
that signature now. He was back in his body in a flash. “Oh My God…” tears
filled his eyes. He’d witnessed two more Wardens fall.
===============================================================================
 
“You’re quiet today,” Scott commented quietly to Stiles. “You haven’t said
anything all day. Are you okay?”
Isaac came running up and tacked Scott into a hug. “Hey guys!”
Stiles ignored them as they rough housed. Jackson joined the fray and Stiles
slipped away to the library. He was reading another book on magic. This one had
the history of the founding of the White Council in it. It was written in some
form of Latin that required Stiles to use Google Translate often.
“Are you avoiding us again?” Lydia asked as she sat down next to him. “That
looks intense. Can I read it when you are done?”
“Sure. How are you?”
“A nightmare or two, but having Jackson next to me has been good. He’s a big
teddy bear. You haven’t answered my question.” She fixed him with her patented
stare that demanded obedience.
Stiles took a deep breath. “I saw two Wardens fall last night. Lydia, they were
slinging some serious magic. Like those crappy shields I was using on Monday
would have been blown away in an instant. The wards protecting us…might, might
hold for a single spell, but…I can’t do this.”
A hand grabbed each of his shoulders. One belonged to Scott and the other to
Boyd. Jackson and Erica sat down next to Lydia. Isaac joined them as did
Allison. Lydia patted Stiles hand. “You’ve been at this a little over a month.
Stiles, Carlos told you it takes years to get to be a proficient wizard. You
can do this.”
He looked at the pack and they were all nodding, even Jackson. He smirked.
“Someone has to be able to save our dumbasses and Lydia needs help with that.
That means you.”  
“Great, Stiles to the rescue.” He looked at each of them and smiled. “Thanks.”
Lydia smacked him in the back of the head. “Next time just tell us what the
hell is wrong. Derek is slowly recovering from the angst train. We do not need
another passenger on it.”
===============================================================================
 
For Derek, waking up alone was starting to ache. The conversation between
Stiles and his dad had been awkward to say the least, but he and Stiles were
friends and there was nothing sexual going on. Yet, his brain supplied. He
wanted Stiles close, all the time. He needed him safe. The boundaries between
them had eroded to nothing. Holding or being held by Stiles gave him the best
nights’ sleep ever. He already knew that his presence alone grounded the mage. 
Sleep eluded him, so he clamored out of bed. The loft was silent; Isaac sacked
out with Scott for some project neither of them was going to finish. He tried
to stop the smile remembering Stiles yelling at the two wolves that he wasn’t
going bail them out of their lack of studying or homework.
It was becoming harder and harder to hide from his feelings. It was easier, far
easier when he was simply hiding and trying to get a pack. Now however, he felt
like a raw wound healing. He’d been able to, for so long, avoid feeling
anything other than guilt and anger. But those crutches were gone. That first
look in the woods, when Scott was looking for his inhaler, that was when Derek
caught sight of Stiles. Despite everything going on, the return home, Laura’s
death, a wild alpha, that first encounter with Stiles went deep. Deeper than he
wanted to acknowledge. Everything else added to his feelings and he trusted
Stiles, with his life. But when Stiles was throw back against him and knocked
out, Derek was panicked. The need to have Stiles close was growing and…
He stretched and went to take a shower. The steam and heat helped clear his
mind. Toweling off his hair, he walked into his room naked and jumped. Sitting
on his bed was an envelope. It was extremely disconcerting for a werewolf to
know that something or someone could get the drop on him like that.
He opened it and frowned. ‘Fucking, Carlos!’
===============================================================================
 
Derek was all too familiar with the Sheriff’s Station. Visiting John at work
was not something he really wanted to do, but he needed permission to do this.
“Derek, what brings you here?” John noticed the handsome man coming down the
hall with a slight scowl. “You okay?” He motioned for him to enter his office.
John closed the door and went back to his desk.
“I need your permission to take Stiles with me to San Francisco,” Derek asked
quietly. “Carlos sent me a note with an address in Chinatown. Said it was
urgent I go. I…I want Stiles to go as well because he may ask questions I
wouldn’t know to ask or see things I might overlook as insignificant.”
Falling back into his chair, John laughed and smiled broadly. “You just
described a partner, Derek. That’s why officers work in teams, especially
detectives. I’ve noticed the two of you feed off of each other. I know that the
pack has noticed. You don’t want to know what Scott tells Melissa.”
Derek frowned and huffed, “We fight a lot. But I also know that he’s my friend.
He’s a pain in the ass and obnoxious, but I like him.”
John nodded his head, “That kid is something else. I love him dearly.” He
paused to gather his thoughts. “I’m trusting you to be there for him as he goes
through everything that he’ll face. I don’t care how mad at him you get, you
stay with him.
“Derek, whatever is going on has cost your family dearly and continues to
plague the town. Stiles is seventeen and can make some decisions on his own.
Balance out his exuberance with your caution.” John paused again. “He’s waiting
for you, you know.”
“I know and…I ground him and he anchors me. We are getting to the point where
we mean the world to each other. But it’s a huge step. Things are good now. I
want them to be good.”
John laughed, “Life has a way of making choices for you when you least expect
it, Derek. You have a key to the house. Go pack his bag and surprise him at
school.”
===============================================================================
 
Stiles bound down the stairs of the school and down to Derek’s car. He hated
being without his own ride, but the Camaro wasn’t bad as far as passengers were
concerned. He smiled at Derek’s smile. “Hey there Sourwolf!”
Derek rolled his eyes. “Don’t call me that. Buckle up, we’re going on a road
trip.”
“Awesome, where and do I need to tell my dad?” Stiles pulled out his phone
ready to start calling around.
“Already taken care of. Your bag is packed and in the trunk. Though if I may,
could you please not leave your ‘Stiles’ time’ things out in the open?”
Stiles groaned. “Man, people need to keep from going through my private stuff!”
Derek looked over and frowned. “Your cumrag was in the middle of the floor,
idiot.”
“Oh…so…where are we going?”
“San Francisco, Carlos sent a note of a place I need to visit urgently. I’m
bringing you along, for some strange reason, to help me.”
Stiles smiled and reached over and patted Derek’s hand. “I’m irresistible. So
where are we staying?”
“That my friend is a surprise.” Derek shifted gears and headed towards I-5 and
San Francisco. Not twenty minutes into the trip Derek was having serious second
thoughts. “Stiles, I brought you with me to be useful! Stop messing with the
radio.”
“Dude, you have Sirius XM, I’ve got the crap local stuff. I want to see what
they have.”
“I will break your hand if you keep fucking with the stations. Leave it on one
station.”
Stiles searched and found ESPN Radio. “There we’ll listen to a baseball game!”
Derek leaned back in his seat and relaxed. “I like baseball. I played growing
up. I wanted to be the next Will Clark, Willie Mays, or even Barry Bonds –
before the steroid issue. I’m glad the Giants finally won a World Series. My
dad, my whole family, would’ve been ecstatic. Sucked that I was in New York
when it happened.”
Stiles squeezed Derek’s hand. “Well, I’m a total Mets fan and they are epically
bad. Like monumentally bad.”
They spent their traffic filled drive talking about baseball, baseball players,
how being a werewolf would have been like being on steroids if Derek had kept
playing, and which players were the hottest. Derek thought Ryan Vogelsong and
Madison Bumgarner were decent looking and Stiles admitted he had a thing for
David Wright.
The address Carlos sent to them was in the middle of San Francisco’s Chinatown.
Thanks to traffic it had been over a three hour drive. Derek checked them into
the Fairmont Hotel. It was close to Chinatown and also a very nice treat for
Stiles.
“Wow, to what do we owe this honor?” Stiles eyed the beautiful hotel. “This is
definitely a surprise.”
Derek smiled and let the valets get the luggage and to park the car. He walked
them to the check in desk. “Hale.”
Stiles looked around the ornate lobby as Derek signed paperwork and other
things. The warm hand on his arm brought a smile to his face. “Really, why are
we here?”
“It’s close to where we need to be and…I wanted something nice for the two us.”
The room was very nice. Stiles pounced on the king-sized bed and waggled his
eyebrows at Derek. “Look, plenty of room so you can’t complain that I’m
flopping all over the place.”
“Somehow I don’t think that this will make a difference. Just more space for
you to flounce around in.” He smiled while he said it. “Let’s make a deal;
we’ll take a cab to dinner, but we walk back after dessert.”
Stiles agreed and they were off. Stiles looked around and loved the feel of
Derek’s hand on him; either his thigh, hand, shoulder, or neck. He loved to be
touched. They got off near a pier and Derek led them to a restaurant. Soon they
were sitting and sipping their drinks.
“Can I ask you a question and I don’t mean to be rude,” Stiles started.
Derek laughed and nodded. “You can ask me anything, but I can refuse to answer,
but I will be honest.”
“How can you afford all this?” Stiles was blushing while he asked. “It’s nice,
but…I don’t want you to go broke or anything.”
“That is not a worry, Stiles.” Derek reached across the table and lightly held
Stiles’ hand. “You and the pack can try to eat me out of house and home, but
it’s not going to bankrupt me.
“The family has been here since before the Gold Rush. We’re old money. I had a
trust fund, all of us did, enough to get through school and then some. The
fire…money became less of an issue.”
Derek sighed, “I miss Peter, not the creature you met, but the man he was.
You’d have loved him. Hell, you, he, and Laura would have ganged up on me. But
Peter knew the ins and outs of the family finances. I ignored all of it until I
became the last Hale.
“Hale money was invested in things like Bank of America, before it was Bank of
America. Levi Strauss, Wells Fargo, Southern Pacific Railroad, and Hewlett-
Packard. There was a family trust fund that hadn’t touched in years. Money
collecting from dividends, interest, and other items.
“We were raised to grow up and find something to do. No being loafers. Hales
were productive members of society. Having some money meant a few less worries
other than werewolf issues, but it didn’t mean you could lounge around in your
underwear all day.”
Stiles giggled, “Isn’t that what you did for a while there Big guy?”
Derek smirked but chuckled, “As you may recall we were all a bit busy. But I
was able to get through school with a part time job and decent grades.”
Stiles leaned forward. “What did you do? I mean job and degree?”
“Oh you’ll love this. I was a bar back two or three nights a week at a gay bar
or two in college. The pay sucked, but it kept me from having to make up
excuses to go out on dates. After Kate, sex and relationships turned me off for
a bit. Wasn’t until I was a junior that I went out on a date.”
“And your degree?” Stiles prompted.
“Columbia, I have a degree in History. I minored in Literature. I’ve thought
about getting my Masters, but I got very busy out here.”
“Any plans on using that degree?” Stiles kept Derek’s hand in his.
“I…for so long it was place one foot in front of another and get through the
day. College occupied so much of my time that it helped. After you lot
graduate, I might teach. If I was teaching while you were in school you’d never
leave me alone.”  
Dinner ended and they wandered down to Ghirardelli Square for some ice cream
sundaes. The walk back was pleasant. Derek held Stiles hand. “Peter brought me
down here when I was ten. Dad was away on business, he was away a lot, and I
wanted to see a football game. So we stayed at the Fairmont and then went to
Candlestick. He told me all the stories of the Niners in their glory. I had a
signed Steve Young jersey once upon a time.”
The hotel was quiet and peaceful after a walk through San Francisco. Getting
ready for bed. Stiles walked over to Derek and gave him a long hug and a kiss
on the cheek. “Thank you for tonight. It was perfect.”
Derek kissed Stiles forehead. They settled into bed. Derek pulled Stiles close
and inhaled his scent. He wanted to take the next step, but he was happy. It
had been so long since he’d been happy that he didn’t want to lose that
feeling.
The next morning, after a quick breakfast, the address led them to a tea shop
in Chinatown. A young woman, a little older than Stiles, greeted them and
motioned for them to follow her. They were seated in a backroom that was full
of various knickknacks, books, and smelled of herbs. There was an age to the
shop that made it very welcoming.
An older woman of Asian descent came in and smiled at them. “Welcome, young
ones.” She paused and smiled at Derek. She took his hand as she said, “You look
like your mother. She would visit here every so often. I’m Chin-ma; what can I
do for you?”
Derek bowed to her. “Carlos Ramirez told me to come here.”
She sighed and went to close the door. Stiles instantly felt magic snap into
place. She returned with a tea service. The young lady came as well with a
large box and three books on top of the box.
“Please get comfortable: this will take a while.” She poured the tea and gave
them each a cup. “For clarity and mental acuity.” She reached over and took
Stiles hands in her own. “You were one of the few who saw what happened. You
Know. Little can be hidden from you now, but that also means you will be
hunted. The Time of Change is upon us. It is a time of great danger.
“A supernatural nation fell and old powers have rushed to fill the void.
Already Seattle has fallen. We fear Portland is next. All the magic users and
gifted are gone, missing, from Seattle. Those that can flee are. The White
Council is doing what it can, but there are too few Wardens. You are capable of
being in their class, but you need time.”
“Who is coming?” asked Stiles.
“So much to teach and no time left to do so. In the Age before this one, before
Winter took up the task of guarding the Outer Walls, the Fae, Summer and
Winter, united to defeat the Fomor in the Sidhe Wars and cast them into the
seas. Gods they were to some, but the Fae cast them out of their shared lands,
the Nevernever. They have come back and Winter has no strength to spare from
the Walls. Summer too is weaker from the Council-Red Court War.”
“How did all this happen with no one noticing? And who are the Fae Courts?”
Derek exclaimed.
Chin-ma laughed, “You are a werewolf asking such a thing! People refuse to see
until they cannot deny the truth anymore. Even then denial is preferable to the
truth. No one wants to admit they are powerless. You would have learned much
more of this as an adult. Your Uncle Peter was deep in the affairs of the Fae.
Charming and brilliant he was. Your mother preferred life closer to home.
“As for the Fae Courts: Queen Titania rules Summer with her Summer Lady, Lily.
Queen Mab rules Winter with her Winter Lady, Maeve. The Fae cannot lie, but
they can deceive. Do not ever bargain with them! They take words literally. For
you Stiles, to start talking with them could mean so many horrible things.
There are the WyldFae as well, mainly those under the Erlking. There is too
much to tell and no time.
“You though, are different,” she pointed to Stiles. “You had the gift and the
Sight already, but you can be a Warden. Magic is breaking loose again. Chichen
Itza was a sign and not a good one. The Time of Change has come and everything
changes with it.” She pointed to the box and the books. “Carlos told us to
prepare and send with you that which must be hidden. San Francisco will not be
abandoned like Portland. We have been here too long to not fight, but they must
not have those books! Alchemy and potion making are the knowledge in these
books. Liquid magic powered by will. Learn it well and it can serve you and
your pack.
“Great danger is already upon you back home. Summer cannot abide weakness at
its doorstep. Long plans are coming to fruition. You’ve been marked Stiles. You
are now a piece on the chess board; whether you are a pawn, knight, or bishop
remains to be seen. Your pack is your strength.” She paused and smiled and
motioned between them. “Find your balance between each other and you can
achieve greatness.”
Derek frowned and sat back in his chair. “I’d settle for some peace and
relaxation.”
“All those in troubling times wish it were not. Our challenge is to rise to the
occasion.” She reached over and grabbed one of each of their hands. “Do not
give into despair. Trust each other. But remember there are other Powers out
there, for good or ill. The Time of Change upsets everything. Build your bonds
and know your strengths and weaknesses. Allies will be hard to come by soon.”
She stood and walked to the back of the shop and returned with a picture. “This
me as a little girl with your great grandmother, Derek. We are both old
families and I fear my tomorrow’s are limited. Go get your car. Do not walk
down the streets with those books exposed.” She patted his arm. “The books are
free, but the box with everything a beginner needs to be an alchemist will be
$580. We accept credit cards.”
Derek laughed and handed over one of his cards. “I’ll be right back.”
“Stiles, you were marked somehow. I can sense it. I’m 113 years old and I’ve
seen a few things in my day.”
“You don’t look a day over eighty,” Stiles laughed as he pulled out his phone
and showed her a picture. She nodded. “That is incomplete, but angelic in
nature. Something happened that allowed an angel to fashion that. Even during
that night, in all the chaos, something had to allow one to act. They are all
about balance and free will. I’ve spoken to one once. Most annoying
conversation ever.”
He pulled over a napkin and drew the glyph he’d see on the roof of the school.
“Do you know what that is?”
“Demonic and that indeed would allow an angel to act. Be very careful, demons
are tricky and powerful. Something more is in play than anyone knows if
‘Heaven’ has acted.” She looked away for a second and had a distant look to her
face. She rose and came back with another book. It was small, thin, and bound
in leather. “Don’t be embarrassed. This came into my possession about two
decades ago from an old sorcerer. He lived in San Francisco for over seventy
years. He said one day I would find the right person to have it. It’s a book on
sex magic. Read it…it may be very useful soon.” She patted his arm as he tried
to get his deep crimson blush under control. “Don’t lose faith young one, he
loves you. He’s healing and that is because of you. Be patient.”
Derek pulled up and Stiles carried the books to the car. Derek carried the box
and wrestled it into the back seat. They said their goodbyes and were on their
way back to Beacon Hills. “I may have to think about a new car if I’m going to
hauling around betas, cargo, and other assorted crap.”
Stiles laughed, “Aw, the Alpha has to trade in his sports car for a family
van.”
===============================================================================
 
“So the lady we went to visit earlier said the glyph I keep seeing on the roof
of the school is demonic in origin.” Stiles chugged his glass of chocolate milk
while pointing at the drawing.
Danny was trying to match it against the database they had managed to build.
“Nothing so far.” He leaned back into the shoulder massage Derek was giving
him. It relaxed something in him; he could feel the pack bond too.
Allison frowned. “Does that mean there is a demon at the school, or someone is
a demon, or what?”
“We will have to assume a demon is there,” Lydia commented. “The glyph could be
a marker like the Alpha’s have their own sigil. Though having both of those at
the school doesn’t seem like a good thing.”
“So is it Harris or Morrell that is the demon?” Isaac asked from the living
room. “If I had any money I’d bet on Harris.”
“He’s a right bastard that much is for sure,” Jackson added.
A beep came from Danny’s computer. Danny’s eyebrows went up. “Huh?”
“What?” came an exasperated reply from Lydia.
“According to this, that glyph means something like restraint or contain.”
Scott walked into the room just short of panic, “What does that mean?”
“I have no idea,” Stiles replied. “But we had better be on our guard at all
times.”
Derek was behind Scott, giving him a shoulder rub, causing the younger wolf to
moan. “Again,” the Alpha started, “No one is to be alone. Danny, set the
tracking so we can find any of the pack phones. I’ll place a call to Carlos and
see if he has any clue about demons.”
===============================================================================
 
Chris, John, and Deaton were all sitting in lawn chairs near the Hale House.
Chris smiled, “This is going to be fun!”
Derek nodded. “Okay, it is the pack against Stiles. Two hits by paint gun or
capture by a wolf and he’s out. Three paint gun strikes from him on a wolf or
one on a human and you’re out.”
Stiles raised his hand, “What about a spell strike? I’m going full Kenobi on
you all!”
Scott frowned, “Kenobi was a Jedi, not a wizard. I don’t get it.”
“Sounds better than saying full Voldemort because he’s an ass and Jedi are bad
ass!”
Derek growled. “One spell hit on anyone and you’re out. Stiles has three
minutes before we will start after him. Chris is the rule keeper.”
Chris nodded. He pulled out his stopwatch. “Begin.”
Stiles smiled at them and vanished. The looks on their faces was priceless, but
he could not hold a veil for long. He took off like a shot and as soon as he
was out of visual range of the house he dropped it. There was an actual creek
and he walked through it to hide his scent as best he could. He was no Carlos,
but he refused to go down quickly.
A gun sounded off near the house and he knew that they were off after him.
‘Nine against one sucks ass!’ He raised his shield bracelet and sent some
energy into it. Extending his awareness he knew that the first pairing was
coming full speed. It was a ‘Flush the Quarry’ gambit. Again, he entered
hyperawareness. He was limited to a pistol and not a tactical gun. It was like
slow motion as he yelled, “Quiesco”at Boyd. The spell hit him full on and he
stumbled and sat down suddenly too tired to move. He turned and used his shield
to throw off Erica as she wheeled to get him. A quick burst from his gun nailed
her the required three times.
“Shit!” she yelled. “Man that was too fast.” She went to help Boyd while Stiles
took off without saying a word.
His awareness extended again. The humans were in a triangle formation near the
house. Isaac and Scott were swinging around behind him. Jackson and Derek…he
wasn’t sure yet. Stiles moved towards the house. He sensed it first, Jackson
jumping down from a ridge, but Stiles used his shield to physically throw
Jackson further down the incline. Without missing a beat Stiles said, “Fulgur”
while pointing at Jackson.
“Fuck, that hurt Stiles!”
Stiles took off after hitting Jackson with his mini-lightning bolt. ‘Three
down, I want to get at least half.’ He raised his veil and took off in a
sprint, curving away from the house and the area he’d taken down three wolves.
He knew Scott was around, dropping to the ground he aimed his gun, dropped the
veil and let a group of short bursts. They nailed Scott in the back.
“Dammit, Stiles, that’s cheating!”
Stiles turned in time to raise his strongest shield as Isaac tried to get a
jump on him. He pointed, keeping his heart rate even and said calmly, “Adligo.”
Isaac looked shocked as he could no longer move and fell on his side.
“Take care of him, it will wear off in in about five minutes.” He yelled at
Scott as he raced away. He used his hyperawareness to boost his speed. The trio
of humans was approaching. He raised a shield and it took all their paintball
hits. He veiled again and moved past them.
The house was in sight. He dropped the veil, but they were right behind him.
Again his shield took all their hits. Fatigue was setting in, but he gathered
his will and again pointed and yelled, “Procumbat!” All three of them went to
their knees in an instant.
Stiles heart raced as a hand went around his shoulders and a familiar voice
whispered, “Got you.” Stiles turned to face Derek. The whole pack was there at
the house now, he could feel their excitement, their adrenaline pumping, and
his heart was hammering as he looked into Derek’s eyes. He dropped his gun and
pulled Derek into their first kiss. Nothing could have stopped him at that
moment.
Surprise raced through Derek as Stiles kissed him, but all his reserve broke as
he pulled the teen closer and deepened the kiss. Lips parted and tongues swiped
at each other. Derek held Stiles’ neck while Stiles had his shoulders in a hug.
Time stopped for both of them. Everything they felt was in that single kiss.
Past, present, future all flowed as one in that single moment. The need for air
made them pull apart. Foreheads together, they took deep breaths as they stared
at each other.
“Not sure what was more impressive, that kiss, or Stiles kicking our collective
asses,” Lydia stated calmly.
“Dudes, get a room!” cried Scott while Jackson rolled his eyes.
Stiles turned, but Derek didn’t let go. He looked over at his dad and gave him
a smile. Stiles’ heart was racing again. “Wow!”
Chris nodded. “Very impressive, Stiles. And lots of things the pack can work on
to improve. None of you knew what he could do and you still rushed in. And your
attack,” pointing at Allison, Danny, and Lydia, “was too bunched together. He
had to use one shield and one offensive spell to deal with all three of you.”
John walked over and gave Stiles a hug. “That was impressive. We will have that
talk later, son. That was not an ordinary kiss either.”
Stiles looked at Derek and nodded, “No sir, it wasn’t ordinary by any means.”
Derek heard Danny tell Jackson, “Told you epically craptastic romantic mess!”
He hid his laugh as he hugged Stiles. He’d take that in spades!
===============================================================================
 
John handed Stiles a plate. He loved his son dearly, but he was not looking
forward to this chat. “So, you and Derek are moving forward?”
“Well we haven’t talked about it, but given that we keep kissing I’m going to
assume that yes, it’s moved forward.” Stiles had that faraway look on his face
again.
“Okay, then it is time for new rules. No sleepovers unless the door is open.
Dinner once a week together as family. No sleeping over at the loft unless it
is pack night.”
Stiles looked at him, thought about it for a moment, and then nodded. “Okay.”
“That’s it? No screaming, no fighting, no yelling? Where is my son and who are
you?” John reached over to check to see if Stiles had a fever.
“DAD! He’s not ready! The rules help me as much as help you preserve the idea
that I have a sex life, which I don’t! Besides…there are a few protections
magically that being a virgin provide.” Stiles smiled and winked at his dad. “I
promise to be good for the near future, but all bets are off after a month.”
John dropped his head in his hands. “Maybe I should threaten Derek. He might
listen.”
“He would listen because he respects you. Me, he has to hear talk all the time.
I’m betting I win in the end.” Stiles smiled again. “Don’t worry so much.”
===============================================================================
 
Monday, Stiles floated along all day still on a high from his weekend in San
Francisco, to his first kiss with Derek, to actually being competent with magic
and combat tactics. He aced two tests he didn’t study for because his brain,
for once, actually let him focus. The pack rolled their eyes at lunch but
didn’t say anything because Stiles was radiating happiness and the whole pack
was picking up on it.
Tuesday though, he’d overslept and arrived late. Derek had kissed him goodbye,
but Harris had given him detention for asking a question and now he was stuck
in school late when he had Things To Do.
Stiles walked in the Chemistry and sat down. He was alone, even Prof. Harris
wasn’t there. He slipped on the ring that Chin-ma had put in his pocket when he
wasn’t looking. It fit on his index finger perfectly and carried some kind of
charge.
“Look what we have here.”
Stiles’ head shot up as the twins walked into the room. The whole school was
buzzing with the late transfer of the two very handsome guys. He didn’t say
anything but let his will begin to pour into his bracelet. A spell moved to the
tip of his tongue should he need it.
“Ethan, looks to me like it’s the Alpha’s mate all alone and defenseless
afterschool.”
The twins were moving to bracket him in. Stiles remained silent; letting his
awareness shift and pick up on their movements – any hint of what action they
might take.
“Cat got your tongue, or should I say wolf?” Ethan said.
Stiles opened his Sight up and frowned. Something was off about them.
“Stiles, you’re late for our appointment.”
All three boys whipped theirs around to see Ms. Morrell standing in the
doorway. Stiles kept his sight up and noticed that she was very much covered in
magic.
“Sorry, but Harris gave me detention.”
“I’ll deal with Harris, you come to my office now. As for you two, I think you
should wait for Prof. Harris to show up. I think your transcripts showed you
were behind your classmates in the current material.” She placed a hand on
Stiles and pushed him towards the door. She raised her hand to keep him silent
until they reached her office.
“We didn’t have an appointment,” Stiles stated.
“No, but I saw the wonder twins stalking towards that class and decided to see
what they were up to. What are you up to Stiles?” She motioned for him to sit.
“I want to know now.”
“I don’t know you enough to trust you!”
“But you trust Deaton and you trust Derek Hale?” She scoffed. “Do you even know
what you are up against? Do you know anything?”
Stiles smiled and let his focus center. “Again with the trying to get into my
awareness. You rescue me to make me sympathetic to you, garner trust, and then
make me emotionally off balance. Nice try, my dad’s a cop, you don’t think I
know this stuff?”
“I’m trying to help you. What do you know about any of this Stiles?”
He smiled, “I know that Derek is in the building with Chris Argent. I know that
the model twins have left and I know that you know more than you want to share.
Perhaps it is you that needs to prove to be acting in good faith.”
Derek flung the door open. Chris was right behind him. “Stiles, we are
leaving.”
Marin watched them leave and frowned. She got up and went looking for Harris.
She found him in the Chemistry room banging his fist on the table. “Plan didn’t
work?”
“Interfere again and I will end you.”
She smiled at him. “Try it and let’s see who wins. I’m declaring the school
neutral. You do anything else or get some dumbass patsies to try anything and
it’s all over for you. You aren’t as smart as you think you are.”  
===============================================================================
 
“Are you okay?” Chris was looking over Stiles with care. “Did they touch you?”
A growl came from Derek without him noticing. The looks he got from Stiles and
Chris made him stop. “Sorry.”
“No, but I was ready for them. Harris wasn’t in the room. And those two feel
wrong, don’t know why yet.”
Derek pulled Stiles into a hug. “Was it a setup?”
“I think so, otherwise why was I alone with them. They knew going in they’d get
a shot at me.”
Chris and Derek’s eyes met and they nodded at each other. “Let’s go home. We’ll
deal with it soon.”
===============================================================================
 
“Are you sure he’s evil?” Danny asked for the ninth time that morning. “He’s
really hot and he flirts with me all the time.”
Jackson frowned. “Danny, please for the love of God, please don’t be alone with
him. Even I can acknowledge he’s hot, but they aren’t to be trusted.”
Stiles patted Danny’s shoulder. “Let me guess, you want your own epically
craptastic romantic mess?” All the wolves started laughing.
Sighing, Danny nodded. “Yes, I would. Especially if the kiss is as hot as that
one you laid on Derek.”
Allison, Lydia, and Erica all nodded. The guys frowned. Stiles laughed, “It was
a damned good first kiss.”
They all went silent as the twins walked by their table. Aidan winked at Stiles
and Ethan smiled at Danny.
“Those guys annoy me,” Scott muttered.
“If you think we annoy you now wait until the boss arrives.”
All the wolves heard it. They relayed what was said to the human members of the
pack. Stiles frowned but motioned for them not to respond. Stiles typed out a
text to the whole pack. ‘I have a plan. Do nothing for now.’
===============================================================================
 
Lydia was dreaming the new moon was high in the sky invisible to all. Suddenly
she was back on the lacrosse field the night of the Winter Formal. Glowing red
eyes are looking into hers. A dark mass was coming towards her. Claws are
ripping into her. She’s screaming again.
Pain
Agony
Blood
She’s jolted awake and screamed. She’s covered in blood and her feet were
muddy.  Jackson bolted through her door and panicked. “What the hell?”
In the Preserve, Adrian Harris was chanting over a cauldron. A vile of blood
was thrown in last:
Vocavi te  . Ego præcipio tibi, revertetur. Revertentur in terram hanc, ad
obediendum mandatis, ... Tibi rediit.
He smiled as the ghostly visage of Peter Hale stood in front of him. “There is
more than one way to get what you want.” He banished the ghost for now. ‘The
first new moon after Easter. In two weeks I’ll get what I need. Soon I’ll be
free and then they will all pay.’
The howls in the wind made him laugh as he walked out of the forest. It was all
in motion now.
Chapter End Notes
     Vocavi te. Ego præcipio tibi, revertetur. Revertentur in terram hanc,
     ad obediendum mandatis, ... Tibi rediit. - I call you. I command you
     to return. They shall come again into this land, to obey my commands,
     ... Return.
     (Updated text to fit timeline: Jackson is a junior not a senior.)
***** Midnight Sun *****
Chapter Summary
     Trolls, demons, and zombies...Oh my!
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Stiles was walking around Lydia’s room in his astral form, as his dream self
was called. Magic dusted everything, but part of it was Lydia. The dark magic
was trying to do something to her, but she had a resistance that repelled it to
an extent. He winked out of there and tried to find the signature that matched
what he’d felt.
‘The forest, of course.’
He came back to his body and rolled his neck. Derek was right there on the
phone with Allison, who was with Jackson and Lydia. Scott and Isaac were
patrolling Lydia’s neighborhood trying to see if they could catch anything out
of the ordinary.
“The magic trail is in the forest…again,” Stiles moaned as he stood up. Derek
was instantly next to him stabilizing him and pulling him close. He rubbed
against Derek’s stubble because he could now.
“Where?”
“Its’ near the clearing that leads to the Summer portal. Whatever ritual was
used there was uber-creepy. Derek, I could barely stand to be there, everything
was unsettled. And I was in spirit form. I can’t imagine what the hell that
place feels like live and in person.”
“You’re not going this time. Boyd and Erica will take Deaton to check it out.”
===============================================================================
 
Nothing resulted from Deaton’s search with Erica and Boyd. Now Stiles was back
in the forest where he really didn’t want to be. Derek was beside him as they
approached Deaton.
“So we have nothing to go on?” Stiles asked in frustration. “There has to be
something that registers, I can’t be the only one to see this stuff!”
“Stiles, you are more sensitive to all the energies now because of what you
witnessed and experienced. Whatever is playing with magic is covering its
tracks very well and you aren’t strong enough to break through its defenses
yet.” Deaton sighed and placed his hand on Stiles’ shoulder. “This time try to
see a signature. See what it is instead of trying to barrel through it.”
Stiles invoked his Sight and sent it along the edges of the crime scene, as it
was now called by the pack. The area was offensive to him making him want
vomit. Pain hovered at the edge of his awareness. His skin started to crawl the
longer he probed.
“Do you know a priest?” Stiles asked. “Because this is way out of my league.”
He shuddered again. “Seriously, this place is offensive.”
More energy rolled around him, overwhelming, he took off and threw up all over
a shrub. His stomach heaved again. It took several minutes before he noticed
Derek was rubbing soothing circles on his back. “Take me home please.”
The trip back to the house was quiet, Stiles spent the trip trying to force the
nausea to recede.
“You okay?” Derek gripped Stiles’ hand in his.
“No…not at all. Derek that area has the imprint of death, violent death. I
can’t go back there until I learn a shielding spell for that shit.”
“I haven’t heard back from Carlos, but he did tell us that sometimes it takes a
few days for him to return messages.”
“How is Lydia?” Stiles asked trying to take his mind off his stomach and the
vile taste that blood magic left around him.
“Desperate to find an answer and pissed that there isn’t one right in front of
her. She remembers part of her dream, but that’s it.” Derek squeezed Stiles
hand again. “Last I saw there was next to nothing in your fridge. I’m going to
run into the store and get some stuff, you sit here and look pretty.” He winked
at Stiles.
“Seriously, I look like crap right now. And ginger ale please!”
Stiles fingered his bracelet the entire time that Derek was gone. He was weary
in ways he hadn’t felt before and on edge. The familiar presence of
his…’boyfriend’ didn’t fit because they hadn’t talked about it, but they were
more than friends. Derek alone seemed to drive away all the apprehension. The
bottle of ginger ale thrust in his direction broke his mental train of thought.
“Thanks.”
“Let’s get you home and all secure again.”
An impromptu pack meeting was held at the Stilinski household. After a lot of
yelling, it was decided that Lydia and Jackson would stay in the guest room of
the Loft, with Isaac staying at Scott’s. Derek would room with Stiles. Erica
and Boyd could use Derek’s room to make sure there was plenty of back-up in
case of emergency and being at the loft would place Lydia behind Stiles’ wards.
Danny had his choice of crash zone.
John rubbed his forehead. “I know you’re trying to be hospitable and all that,
but I’m not sold on your boyfriend sleeping next you until this is resolved.”
“Dad, we’re moving people around so no one is alone. Allison has her dad there,
so she’s safe.”
John gave Stiles a look. “What am I, chopped liver?”
“Of course not, but you have to work to solve cases and stuff.” Stiles gave him
a hug. “Besides, we’ll obey your ground rules.”
“Son, when you actually obey the rules is when I think Hell will freeze over.
You’ve always been one to try to find ways around them and still claim
innocence.”
Derek watched the whole exchange with amusement. “Told you, you weren’t fooling
anybody.”
Stiles pouted. “Where’s the love?”
===============================================================================
 
The following Monday time crawled by for the whole pack. The alpha twins winked
every so often and Ethan continued to flirt outrageously with Danny. His
brother just scowled a bit. To Stiles it was like he was trying to pull a
‘Derek’ and failing at it. Stiles made sure a wolf was near him at all times.
He also made sure to avoid Ms. Morrell as well. Something made him wary of her
and he was learning to trust those instincts.
School ended and Stiles jumped in Lydia’s car and went back to his place. The
wolves had a training session with Derek while Danny was supposed to go with
Allison to learn how to better defend himself. That left the other two humans
safely behind his house’s wards. Lydia and he combed through the alchemy and
potions books. “Stiles, many of these are doable and you have many of the
ingredients. Let’s try a few.”
Stiles and Lydia went down to the basement, where there was room, and started
messing around with all the items that Chin-ma sent with him. The books were
opened up and soon the two of them were knee deep in potion making. They would
ooh and ah as they mixed various basic ingredients into beginners’ potions.
Lydia laughed when she made a potion that worked as a binding spell. She could
throw it at whomever or whatever and contain it briefly.
“We are going to have to have Danny help organize all this because we could
have a library of potion recipes in here and not know it.”
Scott and Jackson walked into the Stilinski house and frowned. They knew that
Lydia and Stiles were there, but could not place them. Both of them sniffed the
air and frowned at the smell.
Jackson pointed to the basement. “I hear them down there, but it stinks.”
Scott went down there and wrinkled his nose. “Dude, what are you doing down
here? The place smells like a factory and I don’t mean a candy one.”
A water bottle full of a pink liquid was thrust into his face. “I’ll have you
know that we are working on things that might help the pack,” Lydia remarked.
“This potion has the ability to charm someone for a few minutes. You can
literally get them to do anything.” She saw the look on Scott’s face and yanked
the bottle back. “Don’t even think about it!”
Stiles swirled a purple liquid in another bottle. He divided it into two
smaller bottles and nodded at Scott.
“What was that?” Scott asked.
“That is a defensive potion I brewed up. It’s my get out of jail free card.”
John came home and instantly yelled, “Stiles!”
The boy popped his head out of the basement. “Yeah, dad?”
“Open the windows and air this place out. It smells like the perfume counter at
Macy’s exploded in here.”
===============================================================================
 
Adrian Harris threw a beaker against the wall. The connection he needed with
Lydia wasn’t there. Wherever she was, she was hidden from him currently and
that left him two options at the moment, the witch-counselor or the witch-
doctor.  ‘Morrell loves to talk a good game, but is too smart to take sides.
That Vet though, he’s the loyal type. If Hale asked him for help, he would.’
He sat and pondered all his possible avenues of action. The pack never left any
member alone long enough to be alone. He dared not to try to get the twins to
act again. The witch was too close to them to trust getting another spell by
her. He’d watched her closely since their first confrontation and knew that she
knew more than she let on about the alpha pack. After the first part of his
plan was achieved then he would focus on her than that group. He needed an
alternative means of distraction for now.
He laughed as a plan formed. It would serve both as a distraction and as
payback. Many owed him favors, but he only had to cash in one chip. ‘Oh the
mayhem will be incredible!’
===============================================================================
 
The first time Stiles saw him, a shudder went down his body. Derek stepped into
Starbucks because Stiles needed fuel. It was early afternoon, with the sun high
in the sky, but the chill he felt made him shiver like it was winter. School
had been school and they had things to do plan and people to find. Stiles
needed his fix. Then he saw him, the Alpha of alphas. Deacalion. He’d heard the
name before, but putting a name with a face… He didn’t look that intimidating
on the outside, but something lurked below and that scared Stiles. The dark
glasses he wore hid his eyes, but somehow, Stiles knew that the wolf was seeing
him. It was but a moment, but it was enough. Derek returned with his coffee.
“What’s wrong?”
“We need to go to Deaton’s, now.”
Derek didn’t argue, instead leading Stiles back to the car quickly. They drove
to the vet’s office in silence. Deaton was surprised to see them. “I saw the
alpha honcho.”
“Okay, Stiles, what else?” Deaton’s expression didn’t change.
“I need new weapons, something to help.”
“You have a bracelet for defense, you need to find something to focus your
offensive spells. You are tied to the Hales and the Hales are tied to the
forest, go through the forest and see if you find anything that might be of
use.”
“The Haunted Forest? Seriously?”
“It is not haunted, Stiles. Something has disturbed the energies of that place.
Once everything is settled then it too will be at peace.”
Stiles did a double take. “Dude, you don’t get it! That place gives me the
serious creeps. Like when I was a kid and I thought Bigfoot lived out there and
wanted to eat me.” He elbowed Derek in the ribs because he was chuckling. “Hey,
I was five! And you lived out there when I was five. I bet you were a scary
eleven year old.”
“I was actually quiet and shy. Laura on the other hand would have loved
tormenting you if she knew you thought something scary lived in the woods.”
Stiles groaned. “You’re going to make me do this aren’t you?”
Next thing Stiles knew he was walking in the woods closest to Hale House with
Derek right next to him. “Dude, this is not cool!”
“Don’t call me dude. And its fine, Stiles. All this time you running around in
the woods alone and now you get some sense.” Derek gave the teen a wink. “So
what are you looking for?”
Exasperated, Stiles shrugged, “I have no clue. Deaton in his normal manner said
I would know it when I found it. Jerk!”
They spent the next two hours slowly walking around until Stiles noticed
something near the creek that ran towards the lake at the back of the Preserve.
He crouched down and picked up a heavy piece of wood. It was about as long as
his forearm and about wrist thick. “I like this.”
Derek held it for a moment and nodded. “I have some old woodworking tools. I’ll
help you carve it however you need it.”
Stiles moved the long stick in his hand and nodded. “Okay, this could
definitely work. Stupid, Deaton and his stupid insight.”
===============================================================================
 
Isaac was in the weight room trying to improve his strength. It was a pack free
day and everyone was doing their own thing. As one of the single members he
didn’t have someone to automatically hang with. Scott had plans with Allison
and that would have been where he normally spent a free afternoon, but not
today. He finished another set when he heard the doors bang open.
“What have we here? Looks like a lone wolf, not even worthy of being called a
beta don’t you think, Eth?”
Isaac swallowed hard as the alpha twins stalked into the room. He moved to
where he wasn’t quite cornered.
“I’d say he was more a weak little omega, all alone and lost.” A feral smile
graced the other twin’s face. “Where’s your pack? Where’s your boyfriend? I’ve
seen you trying to get Danny to pay attention to you. Where are they?”
“Danny isn’t my boyfriend and I’m…”
The twins moved closer. “You’re what? Scared? Going to piss your pants like a
lowly omega? Useless? Which of those were you going to say?”
“I’m not alone,” Isaac countered.
Ethan grinned again. “I think you are and we’re going to give you a lesson you
and your pack won’t soon forget.”
The twins moved as one to attack Isaac. But Isaac grabbed a weight bar and
shoved it right through one of the twins’ stomach. He got hit by the other, but
as he twisted away grabbed a dumbbell and smacked the second twin with it on
his head as he moved through the punch. Both twins were bleeding and
distracted. Isaac took off in a flash. He almost ran over Jackson and Danny.
“Dudes, run.”
“Why?” Jackson asked.
“Because the wonder twins cornered me and I kinda bloodied them up.”
A roar from the locker room cut short their conversation and they took off
towards Stiles’ house.
Once back there Derek frowned. “No more lingering around the school alone. Key
an eye out for the twins. They will be out for blood now. Twice the pack has
eluded them now.”
===============================================================================
 
It was Friday afternoon and the pack was eager to get out of school. The guys
were horsing around, Erica and Allison were gossiping while Stiles, Danny, and
Lydia were discussing new info in the database. The full moon wasn’t for a week
so everyone wanted to do something fun.
“I haven’t been dancing on a Friday in forever,” Stiles said with a small smile
thrown right at Derek.
Jackson laughed and patted Stiles on the back. “I’m all in if you can get the
boss-man to dance with you. I’d pay good money to see that!”
The pack split up to get ready. Derek was sitting on Stiles’ bed vetoing most
of his clothing choices. “Stiles, it’s the Jungle. I don’t want to have to
fight off a bunch of horny men trying to get into your pants.”
“As though I am the one they are going to notice, Mr. Model. I’m trying to hold
my own here.” Stiles pulled out another shirt and frowned. “I need something
tighter.”
Derek took stiles in his arms and gave him a squeeze. “You’re fine. Make you a
deal, you keep the masses from attacking me and I’ll keep the hordes off of
you.”
“Deal.”
===============================================================================
 
The music was blaring and some of Stiles bar friends were eyeing Derek. One or
two of them in a not so friendly way. Two of the drag queens looked like they
wanted to go caveman on the werewolf.
Jackson was out on the dance floor grinding it out with Danny. Isaac, Erica,
and Boyd were doing a group dance of some kind. While Scott watched Allison and
Lydia doing some grinding of their own.
“Dude, go join them. You know you want to,” Stiles told his best friend.
“I am so not coordinated enough to join that.” Scott was drooling as the girls
were putting on a show.
Derek pulled Stiles with him onto the floor. He whispered into Stiles’ ear, “I
told you I worked at a few gay bars in New York. Let’s put on a show. Just
follow along.”
The music pounded out a good beat and Derek hooked his arms around Stiles and
brought him tight against his body. He gyrated his hips against Stiles’ hips
while swaying enough to blend into the dancing masses. Heat flowed through the
two of them as sweat began to gather on their shirts. Slowly Derek let his
tongue lick Stiles’ jawline. One hand drifted down to Stiles’ ass and moved it
tighter to the beat.
Stiles moved with Derek and the beat. Everything was centered on Derek. He
surrendered as that tongue caressed his jaw. He threw his head back and exposed
his neck to the alpha. A kiss was placed on that place, the one meant to claim,
but it was a kiss of promise, but he was soon kissing Derek like he was
drowning and that was his salvation.
Before he knew it Stiles was turned around and his ass was grinding into
Derek’s crotch. Tight arms held him close to the man’s body. The wet caress on
his neck was driving him wild. “Derek,” he whined. It was all he could do to
keep from slipping to the floor. He moved to the beat and clutched at the
sensations of body heat, touch, and smell.
“Mmmm, mine, all mine, and everyone here knows it.”
Stiles couldn’t be bothered; he was in another world, blissed out and happy as
he danced with Derek. He pushed his ass back and rotated his hips a bit, making
Derek groan. He wanted to make the man lose some control too. Stiles turned the
tables and moved around and started rubbing against Derek’s ass and the man
started grinding back against him. He was seconds away from embarrassing
himself when Derek pulled him off the dance floor.
The pack was howling and giving out fist pumps when the couple returned. “Dude,
you two made everyone stand up and take notice!”
Stiles rolled his eyes at Scott. “That was awesome.”
Erica came over and kissed him on the cheek. “You finally got some game
Batman.”
Noticing that Jackson was all over Danny and that Allison and Lydia were very
cozy Stiles frowned for a second. “What’s going on?”
Derek leaned down and kissed Stiles. “Jackson is marking his territory so Ethan
will get a hint and who knows what’s up with the girls. Say goodnight to
everyone Stiles. It’s bedtime.”
“But…I haven’t had a drink or…”
Derek leaned close, “I said nothing about sleep. Let’s see how close to the
edge of those rules your dad set we can get to.”
Stiles instantly reeked of lust and arousal. He literally waved to all his
friends and sprinted for the door. Derek nodded to the pack. He smiled at the
rapidly retreating form. Perhaps it was possible for happiness to get even
better.
===============================================================================
 
Chris frowned at the pack. “Listen, I know you liked the paintball exercises,
but this is actual target practice. Everyone will shoot at least twenty rounds.
You need to be familiar with actual firearms. We will never use them in a live
fire exercise, but you need to know how to use one in an emergency.”
The pack went the through the exercise. Even with the noise cancelling headgear
the wolves were bothered by the noise of the gun. Stiles was good shot, but
Allison and Danny proved to be the best shots out of everyone. Lydia and Isaac
brought up the rear in terms of ability to hit the target.
Lydia moved close to Stiles as several pack members took a second turn.
“Stiles, I need to tell you something.”
That got Stiles complete attention. “Yeah?”
“I’ve been having dreams of the Hale fire, but like I’m there! I can also feel
my skin burning and then I wake up.”
Stiles sighed and slumped against a wall. “How long Lydia?”
“Since I woke up in my room covered in blood and mud and no one knows where
that blood came from. The dreams weren’t clear until last night. I think the
alcohol pushed me into deep sleep. I couldn’t escape the dream.”
He pulled her into a hug. “You don’t feel like anything other than Lydia
Martin, so that’s good. I think you need to sleep inside the wards until we’re
sure what is going on.”
Target practice ended and everyone sort of sprawled around. Chris sat down next
to Allison and Scott. He nodded at Derek, “Any news on your end?”
“The number to Chin-ma’s tea shop has been disconnected. You?”
“The news out of Los Angeles is bad. The hunters down there allied with some
local packs to fight off some wild creatures coming out of the ocean. They were
joined by your warden friend.”
Stiles moved closer, “What happened?”
“He did what he could. He held off the invasion as best he could, the hunters
and others escaped for the most part.” Chris sighed. “They don’t know if your
friend will make it. They got him out of there, but he was heavily wounded. A
Senior Council member came and got him. That was the last they’ve heard. But
they say LA has fallen.”
The whole pack looked from one another and shook their heads. Stiles cleared
his throat. “Chris, do they know what the creatures looked like?”
“Eight foot tall aquatic trolls that can sling some serious magic. Apparently
word out of Seattle is they specialize in torture.”
“And Portland?”
Chris shrugged. “Still standing, but they now hold the southern coast and the
northern coast. Northern California is in between them. Not a good place to be.
Not to mention they have the same on the east coast. Miami and Boston are held
now by a new supernatural power. All kinds of good news to share today.”
===============================================================================
 
Stiles sat in his room and started to meditate. Derek was out patrolling and
his dad was at work. ‘I’m an idiot not to have tried this before.’ He was naked
and slowly pulled his awareness outward, he was trying something new. He let
his hand caress the incomplete angelic mark on his hip. He called. Using all
his awareness, he pushed against the mark and called.
Suddenly Stiles was back in that stark white room. “Still very creepy.”
“You called me kiddo.”
Stiles did a double take and frowned. “You’ve changed.” The ‘guy’ in front of
him was now shorter and older than the ‘surfer’ guy he met the first time.
“On this plane, we can take any form we wish. On the earthly plane, we can
appear as we wish, but to act we need help, but that is neither here nor there.
You called?”
“What can I do to stop a demon and how bad are the Fomor?”
In a flash they were back at the Parisian café sitting comfortably. “That is a
lot of information you are requesting kiddo. And much if it is above your pay
grade.”
Stiles slumped, “What can you tell me?”
The angel pondered for a second and nodded. “Let’s start with the second item
first, it is both a secondary threat and a greater one in the long run. Stiles,
history isn’t what you think it is. Time exists on a scale that is beyond human
comprehension. Your life span dictates that lack of understanding. The Fomor
were vanquished in battle and then exiled. They were bereft of a power base of
worship.
“Worship isn’t everything to the pantheons, but it makes us relevant. Do you
think Apollo cares that he no longer has the most important temple in all the
lands? Wait, bad example, he’s a prima donna and always has been.
“There is a lot you don’t know and the Fomor returning is something that isn’t
good for anyone. For much of this Age, things have been stable. The Sidhe Wars
was the last huge upheaval, but that was early in the Age. Their return and at
this time is not good news to anyone.”
“That wasn’t very helpful,” Stiles huffed.
“Never said it would be. But as for demons, to me they are specks, but to you
they are dangerous.”
Stiles drew the glyph on the school for the angel, “What does that mean?”
The angel laughed. “You have a demon on your hands and one who isn’t happy but
can’t do much about it. This is an older glyph and very much a prison oriented
one. But that is all you have on your hand. If you had a ‘fallen’ then I would
be much more concerned.”
“Fallen? I thought demons were fallen angels.”
“No! A fallen angel is still an angel and has many of our powers, but they are
limited from their full power. A select few were bound and must follow rules
set forth in their punishment. Demons are creations of Hell. Stiles, be wary of
the demon, there is plenty of information out there so I can’t help you much
more than I have. But the Fomor are deadly and they are snatching up the
gifted, like you. There is something I can show you.”
“What?” Stiles gets out before he is hovering over the world and looking down
at it from the broken Dream Realm.
The angel pointed at several cities. “Some cities have magical defenses that
evolved naturally and some were created. Look at London.”
Stiles looked at London and all around it and through it were blazing shields
and wards. The Tower of London glowed on the Thames. Westminster was another
beacon of energy. There were layers upon layers of defenses guarding the city.
“Wow.”
“Indeed, but there is no Guardian in charge. San Francisco had a sorcerer that
lived there for years and effectively guarded the city. His defenses are still
in place, but have no one to guide them. All is not lost yet with the Fomor.
But humanity needs to use everything it has at hand to fight the coming
battles, the ones tomorrow will be far greater than the ones today.” The angel
poked two fingers into Stiles forehead…
Stiles felt like he had been thrown back in his body. He glanced up and saw
Derek smiling at him. “What happened to your clothes?”
“I needed to meditate and clothes got in the way.” Stiles blushed as he said
that.
“Does this mean you need to work magic naked too?”
The blush turned Stiles’ face completely red. “Great if I start associating
magic with nudity I’ll be throwing boners all the time.”
Derek came over and pulled Stiles up and into a hug. “I hate to break it to
you, but you already throw boners all the time. I can always tell.”
Stiles groaned and ran to the bathroom to hide his growing issue. Derek laughed
and went back down stairs. He yelled back up the stairs, “I brought you ice
cream, Casanova.”
“Give me!” He grabbed the pint of ice cream and moaned. “Oh, I ran into my
angel again and he told me next to nothing about the demon.”
Derek licked his spoon clean of ice cream and sighed. “Not surprised at all.”
===============================================================================
 
It was like they all wanted to make their presence known. After the alpha
twins, then came Deacalion, and now the bitch Kali. Because really, getting
named after the goddess who is supposed to end existence is right up that
wolf’s alley. But she’s next to another wolf that screamed murderer. They lock
eyes for a moment, but she is the one who is forced to turn away. Stiles’
mental defenses had grown by leaps and bounds. Something about her though makes
him want to ripe her heart out and then force feed it to her.
If there weren’t people around Stiles was tempted to walk right up to them and
make them eat lightning. But he was with Lydia and Allison. Scott and Jackson
were somewhere around there, but he could not cause a scene at the mall. His
dad would kill him.
But it placed him on edge. They were seeking him out. Quickly he texted Derek
that two more alphas had been spotted. He rolled his eyes at the response, but
obeyed the order to do nothing.
He waited a bit before he extended his awareness around them and searched for
signs of the alphas but found none.
There was a Game Stop there and Stiles needed to see what was new in stock.
Maybe he could persuade his boyfriend to buy him a new game since he was low on
funds and his dad refused to increase his allowance.
“Looks like you’re all alone, little man.”
Stiles whirled around and the big wolf was an arm’s length away.  He swallowed
his fear and shrugged. “Not really, my friends are next door and my boyfriend
is on his way.” Stiles looked around, but never let his attention leave the
wolf in front of him. “Where’s your keeper?”
“What? I have no keeper!” the wolf snarled.
“Really? Seems like you’re barely house trained. You shouldn’t be off a leash.”
Stiles shrugged and moved a step away to look at another game. Derek came
walking in with Boyd right behind him. Stiles gave him a quick kiss. “Told you
I wasn’t alone.”
The other alpha snarled and started walking out he paused at the door and gave
a feral smile. “A day of reckoning is coming little man. We’ll see who needs a
leash then.”
Stiles was about to say something when he got hit upside the head. “Ow! No
abusing the Stiles!”
“Don’t go antagonizing alphas with dog jokes!”
Seeking a strategic retreat, Stiles found the game he’s been eyeing. “Will you
buy this for me? Please?”
Derek took it from Stiles and put it back on the shelf. “Nope, your dad told me
not to spoil you by expanding your allowance. This would count as that. Now
those shoes you wanted, we can talk about those.”
“Seriously? How is this character building?” Stiles grumpily pulled out his
phone and texted his dad. ‘You’re mean. What’s the point of a well off
boyfriend if he can’t buy me things.’
‘You want things get a job.’
“I really hate you all sometimes.”
===============================================================================
 
The wind was howling. The whole pack was on edge. It was the day before the
full moon and the pull as beginning. Even the human members now felt the
secondary pull through the pack bonds. Stiles was drumming his fingers
relentlessly against the table. His mind was going a million miles a minute.
Images, sigils, spells, all kinds of things was filtering across his mind.
Energy thrummed just below the surface of his body. The demon glyph rounded
into his mind and he began to rummage through everything in his head to see
where it felt familiar.
“Mr. Stilinski, if you would please stop that incessant banging.”
Stiles pulled his attention back to the class and stared at Harris. Stiles took
a second before nodding, “Sure thing.” But then he was hit with inspiration. He
started a new beat and with both hands.
“Mr. Stilinski!”
“Yes, sir?” Stiles tried to act as innocent as possible. Stiles kept his
banging up, now on his jean covered legs.
“Stiles, get out!” Harris was fuming while the other students were hiding their
laughter.
Stiles acted as though he was offended but this was the result he wanted. He
was supposed to head to the library, but he slipped down the hall and into the
facility room that had access to the roof. Stiles walked around the area of the
roof and finally found where the glyph was hidden. He examined it to his full
sight. Under the large glyph was smaller writing. He peered as closely as he
could. Concentrating deeply, Stiles made that writing glow. He made out a few
words and frowned. “Okay it’s an incantation, but part of it is broken.”
The words flowed into his head and he saw what happened. The prohibition
against magic was weakening. The binding rune was broken. Stiles laughed and
pulled out his phone. ‘Found a spell under the demon glyph. It names Harris as
a host. We found our demon – figures it would be him.’
A quick mass reply came from Derek. ‘Do nothing. We need to know how to deal
with him.’
===============================================================================
 
Stiles had an idea how to deal with Harris, but the full moon was the next
night. He, Danny, and Lydia figured out how to rebind Harris, but if would have
to wait until the wolves weren’t under the influence of the moon. Derek had
originally banned the humans from the pack the day before and day of the full
moon. But he relented as the pack grew stronger and the wolves’ control grew
greater. The guys all decided to burn some energy by playing a pickup game of
lacrosse.
Derek was suited up too. “Someone has to protect Stiles from Jackson and
Isaac’s rambunctiousness.” He smiled as he patted Boyd on the back and gave
Jackson a shoulder nudge.  
A huge deep roar echoed across the fields. Derek turned and sniffed the air.
His eyes went wide and he paled. All the betas turned to see what had spooked
their alpha.
Jackson’s eyes got big, “Holy shit is that a TROLL?” A twelve foot tall
creature with broad shoulders appeared across the field. It looked savage and
mean.
Derek ran forward, jumped in front of it and screamed, “Run!” He quickly used
his lacrosse stick as a weapon, jumping up and nailing the troll on the head
with all the force he could muster. The lacrosse stick broke in half over the
hard head. Instinctively the pack moved to give the humans a chance to run.
Boyd and Jackson flanked Derek and attacked.
The troll grabbed Boyd’s leg as he jumped towards it and threw him right at a
charging Scott and Isaac. All three went down in a heap. While the troll had
Boyd’s leg Jackson slid right by the troll, extended his claws and swiped both
legs causing the troll to roar in pain.
Derek threw off the lacrosse helmet he had on screaming, “Run you idiots!” He
shifted into full alpha mode and roared back at the troll. Two arrows flew
right past Derek and into the troll. Erica circled behind and shoved part of
the broken stick into its back. She was backhanded away as a reaction. Derek
roared and attacked raking the Troll across its torso with two claw attacks. A
solid punch sent the alpha flying.
Stiles searched around. The wolves were scattered and trying to recover.
Allison was next to him with her bow. He noticed the troll moving towards
Scott, Isaac, and Boyd. He threw his hand out and screamed, “Quiesco!” The
troll didn’t even slow down as he walked right through Stiles’ spell.
“Shit!”
The wolves scrambled out of the way as Allison fired three more arrows which
only managed to piss off the troll. Stiles gathered everything he had and threw
up a shield in front of the troll. He shuddered as the troll ran into it. He
pushed more will into the shield and firmed up its structure. The pressure was
growing too great and Stiles let it go. He sank to one knee before Scott pulled
him up.
Derek charged again, this time with metal pole and used it as a baseball bat.
The troll ripped it away and impaled Derek on it. Blood gushed from his mouth
and the wounds. The troll hit him with an uppercut that sent the alpha flying.
“DEREK!” Stiles ran after him. He could feel the wolves racing to attack. He
pulled the pole out of Derek’s torso. A huge pool of blood was gathering under
the alpha. “Fuck, Derek?” Stiles could feel his life force. Slowly Stiles
gathered some energy and pushed it towards Derek. Soon it was flowing in a
steady stream. Stiles watched as the werewolf’s body rapidly healed. “You ok?”
“I feel like I got skewered by a troll.” He stood up and roared. His energy was
returning. He moved to rejoin the battle. The wolves were getting their asses
handed to them by the troll. He had to help them.
Danny had a gun out and was firing only to distract the troll from getting one
of the pack. Allison’s barbed arrows weren’t causing enough damaged but they
gave the wolves points to attack. Stiles’ reserves were low, the shield and
then shoving everything he had at Derek left him barely standing. Derek picked
up Isaac and performed their own version of the ‘fastball special’ Isaac
extended his claws and nailed the troll in the head. What counted as troll
blood blinded the creature and the wolves moved to create some distance.
The pack gathered and was preparing to run again when a lightning bolt arched
from across the field and nailed the troll in the chest. It was rapidly
followed by a fireball and then a force-blast that actually lifted it off the
ground and threw it back thirty feet.
Another bolt of lightning flew across the field as a man in a Warden’s cloak
marched across the playing ground. His staff was glowing with energy and
another lance of energy flew and threw the troll back even further.
A clipped English accent commented, “Normally this is when you run. I’ll meet
you at the novice’s home when I’m done.”
Not needing a second thought the pack fled to the other side of the school
where the parking lots were. Erica stopped before they moved into the building.
“Where’s Lydia?”
===============================================================================
 
Moments after the troll battle started, Lydia obeyed the compulsion and headed
into the school. Try as she might, she couldn’t break through it. Prof Harris
was waiting for her in the hall.
“So good of you to join me.”
“Let me go.” She started to lose focus as she heard the words “Not today my
dear.”
Harris quickly spirited Lydia away. He secured her in the back of his car and
quickly went to hide near the battle. There was a chance the last thing he
needed would be available and soon it was. A pool of Derek Hale’s blood ripe
for the taking.
He pulled a vial out of his jacket pocket and went over to it as the werewolf
and his stooge went back to the battle. He filled it up with the powerful blood
and took off.
===============================================================================
 
“Why are you still here?” the warden asked as he approached the school. “This
is not a safe place; a better place would be behind some pretty stellar
beginner’s wards I hear.”
Derek came up to the man and frowned. “Thank you for the timely rescue, but who
are you?”
“I’m Chandler, warden of the White Council of Wizards and I’m stopping by to
check on a Stilinski for Carlos Ramirez.”
“I’m Derek Hale, and this is my pack. We lost a member during the fight. She’s
missing we assume the demon took her.” Derek motioned for Stiles to join them.
“This is Stiles.”
“Jackson is beside himself looking and hey, I’m Stiles.”
The warden chuckled warmly. “You would be the one Carlos asked me to check in
on. Of course it would be while a troll is rampaging through the area.”
Stiles frowned, “Actually you’re here while a troll is rampaging through the
area at the same time a demon most likely kidnapped one of our members and
there is an alpha pack lurking around.”
“Huh,” Chandler mumbled. “Well, let’s add to your worries then because you are
also located between two Fomor strongholds and the Warden Commander of this
region is bed ridden for the next few months. There are more Wardens coming,
but the experience will be limited.”
Scott came running up, “We can’t find her. Harris is gone too. Her scent ends
in the parking lot.”
“So the demon took one of your pack-mates, do you have any idea why?” The
warden was leaning against one of the walls trying to organize his thoughts.
Stiles rubbed the back of his neck. “Not sure, but the angel wasn’t very
forthcoming either. Though I think I know how to hurt the demon, but it
requires rebinding him.”
“And now we have angels, capitol! A wiser wizard would back away slowly and
leave you to it. Lucky for you I’m not that wise. Do you have something of your
missing pack-mate’s? A simple tracking spell should get the job done.”
Derek yelled for Jackson. “Find Lydia’s car and get something like a brush that
has a hair in it.
Chandler took the hair from the hairbrush and tried to get a beat on the spell,
but it would not move. “Huh. Demon you said? Bastard must be blocking the
spell. I’ll have to try something stronger, but only from a safer spot. Your
house Stiles, your wards should serve.”
===============================================================================
 
Jackson was furious. “We should be out searching! This is getting us nowhere!”
“We are doing what we can, tomorrow is the full moon, Jackson. Your control is
tenuous at best. And we had our asses handed to us tonight,” Derek responded.
The whole house shook for a moment. Stiles came running down the stairs,
grabbed a bottle of water and took off back upstairs.
Derek followed. “What the hell was that?” he saw Chandler leaning against a
wall shaking. Stiles was trying to give him some water, but the wizard was
visibly shaken.
“That…that was a very powerful backlash spell. The house wards took most of the
juice out of them, and my protection circle ate a lot of it, but lord that was
rough.” He sighed and pointed at Stiles. “And that Stiles is why we don’t just
cast that kind of magic anywhere. If you’d done that anywhere but here you’d be
dead; I would be too. Christ!”
Stiles nodded and started his meditation routine. He was searching for the
source of that backlash spell. It was strong enough that it should have left a
trace.
He scanned Beacon Hills for any sign of that dark energy, but everything was
hazy. He came back to his body. “Plan B, has Danny found Harris’ address yet?
If so then we go there first.”
Chandler shrugged, “We got nothing here. The demon was prepared for magical
tracking which makes him very smart.”
Derek went downstairs to gather the pack. “Boyd, you and Scott scout around
Harris’ place and see if he’s even there. If he is contact us so we can execute
a raid. Allison, call your dad and arrange some heavier firepower. If he has
another troll I want to be prepared. Danny, see if the bastard has made any
calls and try to trace what cell tower he’s closest to.”
Scott and Boyd were off like a shot. Danny was in the dining room using three
different laptops to work his magic, while Allison pulled Isaac with her to
gather ammo from her house.
Within an hour all that work was for naught. Harris wasn’t at his place and his
phone wasn’t on any network. Derek held Jackson close whispering to the older
teen, “We’ll find her, Jax, we’ll find her.”
===============================================================================
 
Harris felt the scrying attempts from a mage. He knew it wasn’t Stiles and it
didn’t feel like either witch so he had no idea who was trying to find him.
What reserves he had left were exhausted fending off those attempts to find
him.
The moon still had two hours before it rose and then the pack would be useless.
They would be lost to the haze of the moon. His sleeping vessel would give up
her essence and he would call forth the vehicle of his vengeance.
The sun still had to set and he needed to gather what energy he could. The
spell keeping Lydia sedated was draining him as well. He started the fire he
would need and started his incantations. The grave was open and many of the
ritual components in place.
Waiting was the worst part. Nothing could be rushed, but every moment brought
danger to his plans closer.
The sun fell over the horizon and the spells he had in place gathered strength.
“Awake Lydia and witness.” She stood over the grave and memories began to spill
from her mind. Memories of things she had never experienced.
Harris stood on the opposite side. “Iam iamtempus est. Luna plena, et surrexit.
Surget cum eo. Surgere et reverti!”
A howl pierced the night as he poured the alpha blood into the grave and arrow
hit him in the shoulder. His concentration faltered. “NO!” He was grabbed from
behind and tried to break free, but he had no energy left. “NO!”
Stiles walked up and placed his hand over Harris’ heart. “Alligatuses daemon
iterum maledictus es hanc vitam.”A brand seared into Harris flesh as he
screamed. Energy arched from him into the grave and across the grave into
Lydia. The glow in Harris eyes faded and turned normal again.
Stiles grabbed his hip as pain flared again, but he maintained his contact with
the now bound demon. Scott dropped the teacher as though he smelled something
rotten. Jackson raced to help an unconscious Lydia.
The pack all watched with horrified fascination as Peter Hale climbed out of
the grave naked and confused. He looked around and plopped down next to the
floundering teacher. “I hope there is an explanation for this.” And promptly
passed out.
===============================================================================
 
As Adrian Harris woke he found himself tied down and in the middle of some kind
of abandoned…building was the best he could describe it.
“Awake I see.”
He looked over to see Derek Hale and Jackson Whittemore standing near him.
“What were your plans?” his student asked.
“Ruined now. You can expect your grade to reflect that.”
Derek punched the bound teacher in the chest, right over the brand. “You don’t
seem to understand your fate. You are bound and imprisoned yes, but you have to
answer to Stiles and ultimately, ME.”
Harris swallowed and felt it, the first compulsion. He stared at the man in
horror. “You can’t do this!”
“What were your plans?” Derek snarled.
“This…no this wasn’t supposed to happen! I was supposed to be free!”
Jackson stepped in front of Derek. “Can I rip his arm off? Maybe a leg? His
nuts, he won’t miss those?” Jackson gave Derek his attempt at puppy-dog eyes.
“Please?”
“You have two minutes to talk. Or else Jackson gets to play anatomy lessons
with your body. And from what I hear, it takes a very specific way for you to
die. So, what were your plans?”
===============================================================================
 
Stiles forced Scott to go with him to the store. A meeting was being held in
the loft with the whole pack and its ‘advisory board’ otherwise known as the
parents in the know. But there was no food at the loft so shopping had to be
done. Chandler said he might make it back for the meeting, but he was needed in
LA. Apparently LA was more important than Beacon Hills in the grand scheme of
things.
“Look, Scott, just find these items on the list. I’ll get my half and that will
cut down on the time we’re at the store so you can hang out with Allison before
her dad arrives.”
Scott took off while Stiles went through the produce section.
“My, my looks like the wolves have left the sweet lamb alone.”
Stiles recognized the voice and rolled his eyes. “Did you go to crackpot
villain school for those cheesy lines because dude, that was epically bad.”
Ennis was soon in Stiles’ face. “I can’t wait for the boss to take a huge hunk
of your hide out, make you bleed and then beg to either die or be turned.”
“You don’t know me very well do you? I will never ask to be turned.”
Ennis got closer and took a big long sniff. “And when we kill your alpha, I
will be the one to permanently remove his scent from you.”
“It will never happen.” Stiles straightened and picked up an avocado. “If you
will excuse me, I have a dinner to prepare.”
“Soon, very soon sweetheart, that will be me you’re cooking for.”
Scott walked up and growled. Ennis laughed in his face. “You’re nothing but a
little puppy. Once the word is given I will break you.”
Stiles pulled on Scott’s shirt. “Come on, we have food to find. Ignore the oaf.
They’re getting bold I’ll say that.”
===============================================================================
 
It was the first time that everyone was in the loft together. Chris, his dad,
Melissa, and Deaton joined the pack meeting. Stiles leaned against the kitchen
counter and tried to focus. He was exhausted from his confrontation with the
alpha tank. Keeping his cool was nothing something he did well. Or holding it
together with the thought of Derek being harmed. Dinner as a success though,
but now it was down to business.
Chris motioned towards the closed spare bedroom. “So what do we do about that
issue?”
“Hell if I know,” John said. “Stiles told me there was a zombie werewolf and I
didn’t believe him.”
“And yet my uncle is back from the dead and sleeping in the spare bedroom.”
Stiles frowned again. “What did you get out of my demon teacher? Why did he
bring back your uncle?”
Derek fell into a chair and sighed. “It didn’t start with Harris. He learned of
the plot against us from Kate when she seduced him with alcohol. He needed a
Hale to gain access to the power in the forest. He tried to use Peter’s nurse
to control him, but the sheriff here had Harris under protective custody when
Peter gained enough control to kill his nurse. He was brought back to kill me
and try to gain control of the power to free himself and get his revenge. We
mean nothing to him. It was all a means to an end.”
“Nice to know I am only a pawn in the plot.”
All eyes turned to Peter standing in the doorway. He sagged a bit and took a
deep breath. “Six years in a coma, to be used by a witch as an instrument of
revenge for a demon and brought back to try to be an instrument again.
Shakespeare has nothing on that. ”
The whole pack looked at him. Lydia got up and went to the kitchen and came
back with a bottle of water for Peter. “Glad you’re out of my head.”
“Indeed, Ms. Martin. It’s been years since I was in my right mind.” Peter
downed the water and sat on the stairs. “So, what now?”
Derek growled. “Good question, because Stiles technically controls a demon now
– neutered though he might be, and we have an alpha pack still in town.”
Chris raised his hand. “And an unknown force trying to take you out for control
of the forest.”
“Can we get through the rest of the school year without any more issues
please?” Isaac whined.
Deaton’s phone beeped. He frowned at the message from Marin Morrell. He clicked
on the message. “Show this to Hale.” He passed the phone to Derek.
Derek looked at it and dropped the phone. Stiles picked it and frowned. “Derek,
who is that?”
“That…that looks like my sister, Cora, but she’s dead.”
Stiles read the next message. “Alphas want to discuss terms of Derek’s
surrender for his sister’s safety.” “Fuck me. From the frying pan to the fire.”
Chapter End Notes
     Added a concept from Kate Griffin's 'Matthew Swift' series.
***** World in My Eyes *****
Chapter Summary
     Alpha battles and Midsummer Night dreams
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
“Before we do anything we need to know if that is your sister, Derek!” Lydia
stated adamantly. “The alphas have been circling us for weeks and now they are
making their moves.”
Melissa’s eyes narrowed, “What does the school counselor have to do with all of
this?”
“She’s like Deaton except she likes to get involved,” Erica spat. “What does
she know?”
Deaton shrugged. “She’s been trying to get information from me for weeks about
Stiles specifically, but I never said anything.”
John cleared his throat. “Derek, if that is your sister then we will get her
back, but you can’t go rushing into this. They are setting up a trap and the
only way to come out on top is to be prepared.”
“How do we verify this information?” Stiles asked. “I don’t trust them at all.
Ethan and Aiden seem alright sometimes, but that Kali bitch. I…” The venom in
his voice carried.
Deaton motioned for everyone to stop. “What Stiles, what?”
“When I see her I want to walk up to her and rip her heart out. I want to feed
it to her with a ball of lightning attached.”
“That is frightening on many levels, not the least of which you are focusing on
her instead of Deucalion. Why?”
Stiles leaned against the wall and rubbed his head. “I think she’s a mind-
witch. Sure Deca-bastard is the leader, but she’s the mother-fucking Wicked
Witch of the West. The two together are fearsome. If you ever talk to the
twins, I think she messed with their heads. She’s evil.”
John glared at Stiles for his language and cleared his throat. “Again how do we
verify this information?”
“I hate to say this, but the message went to Deaton,” Chris said. “He is the
best emissary for this. There are supposed to be accords for this kind of
thing.”
“Because they have proven so trustworthy so far,” deadpanned Scott.
“Actually Scott, Chris is right. I am the logical one to negotiate on behalf of
the Hale pack, just as Morrell most likely is for the Alphas. I can tell if it
is Cora Hale.” Deaton looked around and sighed. “Chris, I will need you as my
second. I don’t want the sheriff involved unless necessary and sorry, Melissa,
but you aren’t qualified to do this.”
“I’m happy to stay back and be health support.”
Derek was next to Stiles and they were supporting each other. Stiles placed his
head on Derek’s shoulder. “I’m sick of stupid things messing up everything.
Avengers opened this weekend and I haven’t seen it yet.”
“Really, Stilinski, that’s what you’re whining about,” scoffed Erica.
“I’m a geek! I’ve seen all the other Marvel movies opening weekend, and here is
the movie of the year and because of stupid alphas, demons, and zombie-wolves,”
he threw Peter a shrug, “no offense, I’m missing it!”
Derek laughed. “Okay. Sweetheart, when we get a chance I’ll take you to see
it.” He gave the teen a wink.
“Okay, then let’s get rid of them so my summer movie schedule isn’t messed up
any more than it already is. And ‘sweetheart’? Really?”
“Payback is a bitch, Stiles.”
===============================================================================
 
The next morning, the pack was at school and they all noticed that Ms. Morrell
wasn’t in. Danny soon texted everyone that the twins weren’t in the building
either. All day the pack was on edge.  
“Can we go a week without a crisis? Prom is in three weeks and I would like to
think I can take Lydia and not worry about it.” Jackson frowned as he speared
the veggie of the day. “Seriously sick of this shit.”
“Well winter formal was a disaster, why should Prom go well?” Danny asked. “Not
like the date I would have taken is around.”
Stiles kept his nose in the book and munched on his carrots. It took him a few
moments to realize that the talking stopped. “What?”
Erica rolled her eyes. “If you could, would you take Derek to Prom?”
“I don’t think he went to his own Prom in New York. But he’s twenty-three why
would he want to go one now?”
Allison reached over and grabbed his hand. “Stiles, if you could?”
It took him a few minutes to answer. “Yes, but I’m resigned to not being a
normal couple. I mean we’re dating but everything is strictly above the
beltline. And I can blame myself mostly. I don’t think I’m ready for the next
step. He might not be either, but…why the hell can’t I shut up?”
Isaac laughed, “We ask ourselves that question daily.”
“The two of you make a great couple, Stiles,” Danny said. “It’s like perfect
puzzle pieces fitting together to make a bigger picture. Kinda awesome to me.”
Stiles smiled broadly. “Thanks. Okay, Lydia I have something that will help
with Kali so we need to brew some juice tonight. I don’t want to put this off.”
She nodded and everyone returned to their original conversations. Stiles
thought about Derek in a tux and had to adjust his jeans. The knowing smirks
from the wolves pissed him off. He groaned and went back to his reading.
===============================================================================
 
As Deaton walked up to the bakery he was simply stunned that this was where he
was meeting Marin. The dessert counter looked very good so he decided on a
coffee and a pear tart. He saw her sitting in the back. He made his way over
and sat down opposite her.
“So are you officially working for Deucalion?”
“My services were required by him and his pack. I was unable to deny their
request for an advisor.”  
Deaton took a deep breath. “How long?”
“Long enough, but have been unable to get the information that he wanted about
Stiles. He’s important for some reason. I’ve seen stronger sparks, but
Deucalion wants him.”
“And Hale?”
She took a deep breath, “Is in the way of Stiles being his. Once Hale trades
himself for his sister then he will be tamed and Stiles claimed by the Alpha
alpha.”
“Is that Cora Hale?”
Marin sat back and nodded. “It is, they found her a few months ago. Every
scenario they see now leads to them potentially not getting what they want.”
Deaton frowned and took a bite of his tart. “I need proof that she is a Hale. I
need to see her and that is not negotiable.”
“Understood. If you will come with me…”
Deaton raised his hand to stop her. “I require safe passage back as well.”
Her mouth turned down and then she nodded. “Agreed. Though I would have thought
that that was understood!”
“Far too many of the old customs have been broken of late to offer any trust.
Many of them coming from you.” Deaton said and gave her a look.
“Fine. Let’s go.”
Deaton got up and followed her out to her car. A hood was placed over his head
and he let his hands be tied as well. He counted the number of turns, but was
soon lost. He was grabbed by his arms and marched some distance from the car
and into some kind of building. Suddenly, the march stopped and the hood
removed. He recognized the twins and could guess at the man in front of him.
“Greetings,” Deaton offered.
“To you as well,” offered Deucalion. “Pleasantries should try to be exchanged
from time to time. Now, it’s obvious you are here to verify the girl’s identity
please bring out our guest, Aiden.”
Deaton stood there and waited when a young woman that had the Hale look was
brought out. “Hello.”
The girl nodded. He stepped forward and asked for his hands to be untied. He
placed one of them on her head and the other on her wrist. In seconds he was in
her mind. He could see some of the damage done by the alphas, but it wasn’t
major just manipulative. Then he got to the fire and indeed those memories of a
ten year old could not be forged.
He came out of her head and nodded at the alpha. “I will inform Derek that this
is indeed Cora. We will be in contact.”
Deaton was silent the ride back as he was again hooded and tied. The bakery was
closed when he got back. Morrell and he exchanged no words during either ride.
Everything that needed to be said had been.
He walked back to his car and nodded as Scott stepped out of the shadows with
Isaac next to him. “Did you get it?”
Isaac nodded. “Danny has a close idea of where you were. Chris and the sheriff
are on it.”
===============================================================================
 
It was decided to wait until dawn of the following morning to raid the
location. It was an abandoned mill. John had three men with him as well as
Chris and another hunter he trusted. The men with him all knew about the
strange events that clustered around Beacon Hills County.
“Be careful, they are fast and they are deadly. Peter and Derek can’t go in
with us because of the gas we’re going to use. But they will cover us from
here.”
Peter leaned against one of the cruisers and rolled his eyes. “How did I get
roped into this? I should be in bed recovering.”
“You’re back from the dead that’s as recovered as its going to get,” Derek
replied.
“Shut up both of you,” Chris said.
Three canisters of tear gas went into the mill along with one of wolfsbane
aerosol. At a specified time the canisters fell into the mill. Chris and his
buddy went in from one direction while the Sheriff’s Department went in from
another.
Derek waited, he could hear the growls and the occasional staccato beat of
tactical gun fire. Two roars went up and he and Peter watched as the alphas
raced out of there. Kali and Ennis both had blood flowing from them. The
distance too great to cover quickly and even wounded, Derek didn’t want to risk
open engagement. This was a rescue mission. Deucalion calmly exited the
building and stared in Derek’s direction and saluted. He took off in a burst of
blistering speed. The twins weren’t around as far as he could tell.
John came out with Cora. She was coughing and wheezing. Peter ran up to her and
hugged her. Derek grabbed the bucket of water he had with him and doused her,
getting any wolvesbane off of her.
 “Take them to Deaton’s. I’m issuing an APB on that group. Kidnapping makes a
nice charge.”
Derek held onto Cora for as long as he could. “I thought…I…oh god! Cora!” Tears
held in his eyes as he held his baby sister.
Peter came over and pulled her into a hug. “Welcome home.” Peter laughed and
had tears in his eyes. “Welcome home.”
===============================================================================
 
The loft was full of excitement. The pack was gathered around, munching on
snacks and pizza that Stiles and Derek had picked up or had delivered. Comments
about a family resemblance were common. Deaton had checked her out and found
that while mentally stressed, undernourished, and tired, she would be fine. Now
there was a party of sorts in full swing.
Stiles shook Cora’s hand and she laughed. “You smell like my brother’s mate.”
Stiles blushed and sort of nodded agreement while shrugging. She laughed again.
“To smell like that would mean he shares everything with you.”
“Well not everything. I mean, I can’t wear his clothes because I’m like scrawny
and he’s muy macho.”
“Stiles!” came Derek’s reply from across the loft.
“Nice meeting you.”
She pulled him into a hug. “Yup, you reek of him.”
The whole pack welcomed her. While they were a little standoffish from Peter,
she fit in easily. Scott said Peter gave him the creeps. Erica and Boyd liked
him. Stiles could see that he was far from whole, but at the same time he was a
resource.
Derek walked over and pulled Stiles into a shoulder hug and kissed his cheek.
Stiles blushed.
“That will never not be shocking,” Scott said. “Grumpy wolf has left the
building and now we have affection wolf. Weird.”
Jackson cuffed Scott upside his head. “Dude, I like this Derek. No one wants
grumpy wolf back.”
Cora poked Isaac in the side and nodded her head towards the discussion about
Derek. “Grumpy wolf?”
“Yeah, Derek was a total sourwolf until he finally started dating Stiles. He
changed after that.”
“Huh, he was quiet at home, but he’d play with me if I asked. It was Laura that
was a terror.” She looked back towards Derek and smiled. “I’m glad he’s happy.”
Stiles laughed. “Oh I don’t know. My dad might want him back just a bit since
it would mean that my nightly teddy bear was indeed a bear and not a cuddly
wolf.”
Groaning, Derek disengaged himself from Stiles. “I can sleep here you know.”
“NO!” Stiles raised his hands to stop Derek. “Really, no, I need you there. I
can get to sleep you know.”
Derek came back and raised Stiles’ chin and kissed him lightly. “I know.”
“Really, you two are sickeningly sweet. Just stop already!” Erica pretended to
gag. “I don’t know if werewolves need a dentist, but we might with your sugar
overload.”  She turned to Boyd and smacked his arm. “Why don’t you treat me
like that?”
Allison and Lydia both shared a look and moved closer to their boyfriends.
Scott raised his hands and smiled. “Allison you are my world and you know it.”
Jackson nodded at Lydia, “Your love saved me. That’s all I got.”
Erica frowned. “Boyd, you have a lot of ground to make up.”
Danny gave Isaac a pat on the shoulder. “See what we have to look forward to?”
“They can keep it.”
===============================================================================
 
Stiles came out of the restroom still damp and rubbing a towel over his now
longer hair. Basketball shorts hung low on his hips. He smiled as Derek licked
his lips, but frowned when Derek’s expression changed. “What?”
Derek pointed at Stiles’ hip. “Your mark, it changed.”
Quickly Stiles grabbed his phone and took a picture. He looked at it and
frowned. “Huh, I thought it burned when I confronted Harris, but I thought it
was an angel-demon thing.”
“Stiles,” Derek sighed as he opened the teen’s laptop. He grabbed the phone and
sent the picture to Lydia and Danny. “What are we going to do with you?”
Blushing, Stiles straddled Derek’s lap. “Love me and my adorable ways?”
“That would not be my first choice of words to describe your ways right now,
but love…that is a given.”  Derek lifted out of the chair and carried Stiles to
the bed where he dumped him. “Get in, I’ll be right back.”
He came back smelling minty fresh and pulled Stiles close. They enjoyed the
closeness and relaxation that came with sleep. Derek nuzzled Stiles’ neck and
Stiles held Derek’s hand. They drifted off…
Derek held Stiles tight in his arms, resting comfortably in his bed when the
whole house shook. Stiles sat up and grabbed his head. “Derek, something is
attacking the wards. Here and the loft.” He groaned again as the wards were
pummeled.
“Stiles take them down, if you can’t hold them take them down and conserve your
energy.”
Derek yanked his phone out and sent a text to the pack. Both safe houses were
under attack. That meant sanctuary was at the Argent’s.
Focusing was difficult with pain and the fog of sleep all over his mind, but
Stiles found his focus and yanked the wards down in time with the next attack.
It would look like they collapsed. He pulled on some clothes in a hurry.
“Get downstairs. Wait! Escape out the window, I’ll draw them off,” Derek
started to leave, but Stiles placed a potion in his hand. “What?”
“Drink that before they take us. It will protect us from Kali for up to a day.”
Stiles fiddled with the cap. “This will buy us time. They aren’t fucking around
anymore.”
Derek raised his head and shook it. “She and the bruiser are here.”
They both exchanged a look and drank their potion down. Stiles grabbed his
backpack and headed for the window. He jumped on the ledge and down trying to
race away to Scott’s first. Derek headed downstairs and raced through the door.
He hit Ennis with a roundhouse but he stopped when he saw Kali holding Stiles.
“Come with us or I kill him.”
“Your master wants him alive.”
She gave him a look and smiled. “Accidents have been known to happen.”
Stiles listened to the exchange and hit his phone in his back pocket. It
activated the tracking program Danny installed in all the pack phones. Stiles
pulled his awareness in tight as he watched Derek surrender. He waited for his
knockout blow.
Darkness took both of them.
===============================================================================
 
Peter felt it, the shuddering of magic against the wards around the loft. He
knew magic. He knew the Fae and they taught him plenty. Another hit and he was
out of the bed.
“Cora wake up!”
She came down the stairs and the loft shook again. “What is that?”
“Magic, someone is attacking the wards.”
Peter frowned as the wards winked out. “Take cover.”
The door blew in and Deucalion came in flanked by the twins. “I smell two Hales
and one of you isn’t Derek. Take both of them. I may need the leverage.”
Peter thought better of fighting and simply went with his captor. “Why are you
doing this?”
“I am the demon-wolf come forth. I shall cleanse the way. Many things are
changing, Mr. Hale. I am revoking your family’s rights to its power, land, and
authority. And once that is accomplished this new pack of yours will be
forfeit. A new Age comes and I am going to be one of its Masters.”
===============================================================================
 
Derek came to and knew his arms were bound behind him. Dust tickled his nose
and it looked like he was in an abandoned store of some kind. He looked up and
saw Kali smiling.
“Nice to see you rejoin us.” She moved to look in his eyes. “I want to see
what’s going on in your head.”
He did nothing to avoid her gaze instead fixing his eyes on hers, he matched
her will and blocked her every attempt to get in his head. Finally she hit him
hard, knocking him over.
“I will get in there. You can’t hold out forever and when I do Derek Hale will
no longer exist.”  She moved back away and looked at him. “Pity I can’t kill
your pet because I know that would break you. But think of him under Deucalion
with no memory of you. Every feeling, every thought of you, all of it gone.
Oblivion awaits you.”
Derek watched her stalk off and leaned back against the pole. ‘I hope this
works, Stiles.’
===============================================================================
 
Stiles groaned as he came to. He quickly searched his surroundings and noticed
the circle around him. Layers of dust on the counters gave him a clue that
wherever they were had been abandoned for awhile. After finishing his cursory
look around the room he probed the circle with his magic and it was a weak
containment field. He rolled his neck to stretch it out and almost laughed that
his backpack was against the far wall.
He wiggled his wrist and the weight of his bracelet offered its familiar
comfort. Shifting his body a little also clued him in to the fact that his
focus stone was still on as well. ‘Amateurs’ he thought as he centered his mind
and realized that only a few hours had passed since he was taken.
“You could have surrendered and made this much easier.”
He turned to look at the traitor and shrugged. “I never do what I’m told.”
Morrell shrugged as well. “Derek will die no matter what you do or think you
can do. You’re a little spark that the big bad wolves are fighting over.”
He extended his awareness and found he was mostly held back. He could feel the
pack bonds and his bond with Derek. Derek was holding his own, but Stiles knew
it was time limited. He had to make a play soon.
===============================================================================
 
Derek winced as they continued to torture his body. Stiles’ potion kept him
lucid and blocked Kali, much to her anger. But he hurt, everything hurt. Ennis
loved hitting him hard. Even with the wolfsbane ropes and other spells, he
could heal some. That also pissed off Kali.
“I don’t know how you’re still functioning, but it can’t last and then I will
crush you.”
“Do you ever shut up?” Derek spat out some blood and smiled at her. “I’m used
to a constant stream of word vomit, but at least his is pleasant.”
Another blow landed on him. Derek cracked his neck and smiled again. “Does this
have a point?”
Kali screamed and attacked his mind again. “You will submit!” She turned to
Ennis and motioned him away. “Leave me with him. Go check after the twins they
tend to wander if not supervised.”  She glared at Derek again; her eyes
flashing red. “Now, where were we?”
===============================================================================
 
Stiles looked over at Morrell and frowned. “Why are you helping them?”
“There is more going on than you know, Stiles. Deucalion wants you for a
reason, but as long as Hale is in the way then you are protected.” She walked
up to him and frowned. “You only had to reject Hale and none of this would have
happened.”
“So I don’t get a choice? I love him, thank you very much. The thought of being
stuck with these alphas makes me sick!”
She stalked over and leaned down. “We don’t always get what we want. You are
the spark he needs for something. Once that happens then I’m free as well.
There are always prices to be paid.”
“So it’s this pack that pays the price for whatever you want you selfish
bitch!”
She slapped him hard. Her ring cut his lip; a small bit of blood welled and he
spit it out. She frowned and went back to the door. “Kali will fix it so that
you won’t remember anything of this life, Stiles. You pack bond will be
redirected to Deucalion. In a few days, Derek Hale will never have existed for
you.”
Stiles frowned, but inside he was smiling. He focused on the blood on the
floor. He used small parts of his will to move his blood towards the circle
keeping his magic contained. He needed some time and then he’d make his move.
===============================================================================
 
Derek slumped. The potion was beginning to wear off and Kali’s mental attacks
were constant. The bindings cut into him and he could not heal properly. But
the potion was keeping his energy up.
“You can’t keep this up forever, Derek. Once I break you, I will make you
forget all about your pack, your family, and your pet human. And then Dec will
come in and claim the centuries old Hale alpha power. You’ll be cast out as a
lowly broken Omega. No memory of who you were or what you lost. But the dreams
will haunt you.” She laughed as she stuck him with a cattle prod again. “But it
will slowly kill you. The loss of your powers will be your end because you will
never heal from this in mind, body or soul!”
He gritted his teeth and didn’t call out. He still felt it, the pack bond. They
weren’t dead. The bond with Stiles was there. Electricity coursed through his
body again, but he held onto those places in his soul. He had to hold on.
===============================================================================
 
Stiles looked as Morrell paced around the room. He knew that things weren’t
going according to plan. Derek was holding out longer than they thought he
should. Stiles focused his shields to a very narrow section and used them to
snap the ropes holding his hands bound. “Perfringo!” His blood ignited on the
circle and shattered it.
He pointed at a shocked Morrell and winked, “Fulgur!”She went down in a heap as
he tasered her. He dragged her into the closet and used a chair to block it.
His backpack was still in the room. “What a bunch of idiots.” He pulled out
some mountain ash and created a circle. “NO ONE MAY PASS!” She could rot there
as far as he was concerned.
He closed the door to the room he as in. He could sense Derek in the building.
Another ash line went down to keep any alphas from barging in. He focused on
his pack link and found Derek. He gathered his will and energy. The link with
Derek flared and grew brighter. “Derek, fight back she can’t hurt you. I’m
here.” On his phone he tapped out a message. “Now.”
===============================================================================
 
Derek felt the energy surge into his body. He could feel Stiles in his mind and
his wounds started to heal. The wolfsbane ropes no longer cut into his skin.
His eyes flashed open and he smiled at Kali.
“What are you doing? You should not be resisting!” She tried again to hit him
with a mental attack, but she got nowhere. “This isn’t possible!”
More energy flowed into Derek and his was whole again. The ropes snapped and he
surged up and grabbed Kali by the throat and hurled her against the cement
wall. She recovered and snarled back. She jumped at him, but he moved and used
his claws to cut her from breast to hip.
Kali fell to her knees. She turned and snarled again. Another alpha’s wounds
didn’t heal quickly. She jumped at Derek again, but a punch to the jaw sent her
flying. She started to shift into her alpha form. But Derek was on her again
and he shattered her right arm. She screamed – her shift was incomplete. Again
she was thrown into the wall this time head first.
Derek roared. He walked up behind Kali, yanked her hair back and exposed her
throat. “This is my town, this is my pack, and that is MY MATE!” His fangs
pierced the tender section of her throat. Powerful jaw muscles contracted
sending the teeth deep into her neck. Blood gurgled and with a yank, he ripped
her throat open, blood going everywhere. He spit out her tissue. Power flowed
into him; he claimed it as it surged through him. “Now for your boss.” Her body
was lifeless; Derek threw it away as though it was cursed. He wiped his mouth
and headed towards the door.
===============================================================================
 
Stiles released his link with Derek as soon as he was free. He broke the ash
line and moved out into the hall. He knew the plan had been to destroy Derek in
front of Peter and Cora. He got that from his quick share with Derek. They had
to be with the alpha asshole.
Two explosions on opposite sides of the building made Stiles laugh. “Pack’s
here.”
He had to buy time with the alpha jerk who thought Stiles was some princess to
be won. “Fuck that,” he muttered. “If anyone does the saving around here it’s
me!”
He turned and frowned. “Of course it was too easy.”
A growl and yellow eyes made Stiles want to laugh. “Let me guess they have some
more feral wolves here to make this harder. Fuckers.”
The feral wolf raced towards Stiles and bounced off the shield he erected.
Stiles pulled out a handful of mountain ash and muttered something and sent it
flying towards the feral wolf. The ash settled across the wolf and began to
burn it. Stiles waited until the wolf passed out to approach. He pulled out a
potion and dropped it on the exhausted werewolf. “That will keep you from
attacking me from my blindside. Now where is your boss?”
===============================================================================
 
The pack arrived at an abandoned mall about an hour away from Beacon Hills.
Originally an outlet mall, it was now a decaying remnant from the Nineties
boom. It was built on two levels and sprawled. There was a lot of space to
cover. The teams split up with their explosive ordinance divided between them.
They timed their entries to match and both blew open holes to announce their
presence.
Danny fired two grenades into the hole that the explosion created. His team had
Jackson, Lydia, and Erica. Allison was leading Scott, Isaac, and Boyd. Chris
and the sheriff were serving as emergency backups.
He dropped the night-vision goggles into place and moved in. “I really hate
this.”
“Do you want Derek dead and Stiles taken away forever?” Erica countered. “Now
move!”
“Of course this would have to be in an abandoned mall. Stupid economy,” Jackson
mumbled. “Someone’s coming!”
===============================================================================
 
The smoke and debris cleared from the forced entry point of a Sax outlet. The
wolves behind her sneezed and spurted at the dust, but Allison looked around
with her goggles on and notched an arrow. “Stay close, we have an unknown
number of possible targets.”
A roar silenced her team. “Oh no babycakes, just the one.”
Allison looked around and frowned towards the escalators in the middle of the
store. “Everyone look away.” She pulled out another arrow and fired two
magnesium flare-tipped arrows towards the top of the landing.
“Missed me!” The alpha tank jumped down and moved toward the pack team.
Scott rolled his eyes. “Of course it would be the tank psycho.” He shifted into
his beta form as did Isaac and Boyd. “Bring it, asshole!”
Ennis smiled and transformed into his alpha form. He roared and engaged.
Allison rolled out of the way and moved to higher ground. “Keep him busy!”
===============================================================================
 
Ethan and Aiden flew out from different directions. Jackson and Erica moved to
cut them off. Erica took one and instantly got clawed across the back. She
counter move sent one of the twins sprawling on the floor.
Jackson and the other traded blow for blow. Jackson knew he already had some
cracked ribs. He executed a jump kick and nailed the alpha in the face. The
handsome teen dropped to the floor and swept the legs from under the alpha and
as he was falling used his other leg to nail him in the back.
Danny had regular rounds in the gun he was carrying. The other one held the
wolfsbane bullets, but in these close quarters, he didn’t want to risk friendly
fire. The one of top of Erica was in range and he fired. He fell backwards
instantly.
Erica rounded on the wounded alpha with a savage attack of her own. Her wounds
weren’t deep but they hurt. She could hear Jackson’s labored breathing. She
noticed Lydia was ready so she sent her opponent in Lydia’s direction.
Lydia pulled out a vial from her purse. She waited until one of the twins was
in range and threw it at him. A cloud of gas enveloped him and he shifted from
beta to human. “What?” and he passed out.
“Ethan,” screamed Aiden and took off to help his brother. He got clocked over
the head by Erica and punched hard in the face by Jackson. Lydia walked over
and dropped another one of those vials on him.
Danny opened his backpack and pulled out some rope. “Help me secure them. You
two get to carry them because we can’t leave them behind.”
Jackson stared at his best friend for a moment. “In case you haven’t noticed.
We’re kind of in piss poor shape right now.”
“Suck it up, Jackson,” Lydia yelled. “Move it.”
===============================================================================
 
Boyd went flying as Isaac did a backflip over the rampaging alpha. Scott
advanced from behind Isaac’s distraction. He hit the alpha with twin clawed
attacks and a kick to the knee. Boyd came back and nailed the alpha in the
kidney with a broken steel beam.
Ennis roared and backhanded Scott. Two arrows tipped with wolfsbane hit the
alpha, one hit the shoulder the other in the thigh. He snapped them off and
tried to retreat, but Isaac hit him from behind.
Allison fired two more arrows. The alpha roared with their impact. She pulled
out a Special one, but she had to get a good line to fire it. It would inject a
super toxic form of wolfsbane into its target. She had to wait because it could
kill a Beta.
Isaac and Scott traded off attacking the alpha while Boyd came in and delivered
heavy blows when he was distracted. But the Betas were paying a price. They
were slowing and the Alpha was wounded, but not enough to keep him from hurting
the young wolves.
Boyd used a triple jump move to get behind the alpha tank. He grabbed a fallen
piece of rebar and shoved it with all his strength through the back and chest
of the alpha.
See her chance, Allison let the arrow fly. Right in the hollow of its throat
the arrow found its purchase. Blood gurgled and the alpha struggled for air. He
shifted back to human form and tried to pull the arrow out, but the poison was
coursing through his system.
Scott grabbed another piece of metal and drove it through Ennis’ heart. “Die
already!”
Allison whistled. “Come on, we have to find the others.”
===============================================================================
 
Stiles ran up a flight of stairs and saw Derek heading his direction. He saw
where Derek was pointing and followed. “You okay?” Stiles was taking in Derek’s
blood covered body.
“Sorry, but you won’t be able to rip Kali’s heart out.”
“Pity,” Stiles said, but paused before opening the doors and searching with his
Sight. “Derek, your family members are in there…but so is he and he’s
powerful.”
Derek turned as the two teams came. He frowned at the two alpha prisoners. He
looked at Danny and raised an eyebrow.
“They’re not bad, just misguided,” Danny shrugged.
“Come on!” Stiles moved them inside and he bent to free Cora while Allison
helped free Peter. “We have to hurry.”
“I don’t think you’re going anywhere.” Seemingly out of nowhere, the blind wolf
appeared. “I can still get what I want, Derek. I kill you and use your bond to
overwhelm your rag tag pack. And I still get the spark I want.”
Stiles moved the pack back towards the wall, but made no effort to leave. “I’m
sick of people thinking I’m a prize!” Something warned him against using magic
just yet. “I do want to know, since you’re in villain exposition mode, how you
attacked the Warden’s wards.”
A dark laugh echoed in the cavernous hall of the former food court. The
darkness at the center deepened is that was possible. “I am the alpha of
alphas.
“I am the apex of apex predators!
“I am Death, destroyer of worlds!
“I am the Demon-Wolf!"
He laughed again. “You think some simple wards meant to protect children could
hold me back? Hell’s fury courses through my veins. But you, Stiles that spark
of yours will be a firestorm when I’m done. You’ll be the heart of an empire.
And this will all be a forgotten nightmare. But first things first. The Hale
Alpha must fall!”
Derek jumped out of the way in time from a strike by the blind alpha’s cane. He
could smell wolfsbane on it. Derek executed a double somersault over Deucalion
and kicked out his back left foot enough to knock the other alpha off balance.
The Demon-wolf roared and quickly used his cane in a series of spinning attacks
to force Derek into a bad position. The cane was moving too fast for normal
eyes to see, but a wolf could pick it up. “The old order will fall. How
pathetic was your family? Hiding for centuries among lesser creatures. Slaves
they will be. Including the one you want to claim.”
Derek pushed off of the wall and used the momentum to slide along the floor.
Playing baseball had its advantages. His body flew by the alpha, but he reached
back with a hand, extended his claws, and tore into the Achilles tendon. He
popped up into a crouch and roared back.
“Not so stupid as I thought, Hale. But still no match.” Deucalion shook his leg
and the torn sinew pulled together in a flash. “Alpha of a ragtag bunch of
rejects. Leader of a fallen House. What have you done to earn anything, Derek?
Everything about you is weak!”
With that last word, he moved quickly and used his claws to attack Derek. They
traded blows, but Derek healed slower and that started to catch up. The Demon-
alpha moved faster than any wolf Derek had seen. His healing was faster and he
was strong beyond his frame. Derek was using the strength gained from Kali’s
death, but it wasn’t enough. Deucalion raked his claws down Derek’s back going
deep and drawing blood.
Derek turned away from the attack and used a leg sweep to knock the other alpha
away. His back was on fire. He pulled himself away and braced for the next
attack.
“And now it will end. You will fall and your pack will die, and your other half
will be broken.”
Stiles had waited and waited. During the whole battle he’d been marshalling the
pack’s energy, combining it with his own. They were weak, healing slowly. The
alpha wounds lingering. If Derek lost they had little fight left in them.
Stiles opened up his link to Derek for the second time and sent all that energy
to him; everything he and the pack had to spare. “We’re with you,” he
whispered.
“Pitiful! Your pack will watch you die and all hope with them.”
Derek felt the surge of power and everything in his body healed quickly, but
more than that. He could feel the mental hold the demon-wolf had been using to
wear him down break. He surged back up and threw the other wolf across the
room.
“Looks like you got a second wind. So much the better!” Deucalion flew across
the room but this time Derek was able to meet move for move and counter for
counter. His attacks found their mark more than the opposite this time.
The protection glyph appeared in Stiles’ head and he focused it on Derek. He
pushed it through the link and watched as Derek took on the slightest blue hue.
Derek jumped twelve feet in the air, over the next attack by the blind wolf, he
landed behind him and grabbed both arms; he ripped them back, tearing all the
tendons and muscles. The scream was inhuman. He reached down and exposed the
alpha of alpha’s neck. For the second time he bit into the neck of an opponent
and pulled out their power.
“No…” whimpered the dying wolf.
More power than he thought possible was coursing into Derek. So much power it
threatened to overwhelm him. But then he felt it, the link to his mate and his
pack. He let Deucalion drop to the ground and shifted into his alpha form. He
roared as the power pulsed in him. He was over seven feet tall now and the
power surged again. But the roared again and sent the power down the link.
All the betas felt it as a trickle and then a rush. Jackson’s ribs, Erica’s
gouges, Scott’s puncture wounds, Cora’s head, and Peter’s mind – all their
wounds, their minds, their souls all felt the power flowing into them healing
them. The human members felt the energy surge into them pushing their weariness
back. Stiles stood there and let the energy swirl around him. Derek turned back
into his human form. Stiles walked towards him and paused over the still alive
Deucalion; he grabbed the discarded cane. “You forgot something.” And thrust it
into the fallen wolf’s heart.
Derek sagged against Stiles. “Thank you.”
“I keep telling everyone, I’m NOT the damsel in distress here.”
“I never said you were.” Derek moved to check on the rest of the pack. He
paused as he looked at the now awake twins. “And what to do with you two?”
Stiles cleared his throat. “First things first, bring the bodies of the other
two alphas here. We need to burn them inside a salt and ash circle.”
Derek nodded and the betas went to bring the bodies back. Lydia and Danny stood
near the twins. “Kali messed with your heads.”
One of them, Aiden, Derek thought, answered. “They needed us, but as soon as
they had Stiles we would have been expendable. We don’t remember much from
before them.”
The betas returned with both bodies at that point and Stiles directed them to
be placed over Deucalion’s body. Stiles pulled out oil and poured it over the
three dead alphas; quickly he encircled them in an ash ring and then salt ring.
“Lydia, if you will do the honors?”
She nodded to Stiles and pulled out a mini Molotov cocktail. She lit the wick
and threw it on top of the bodies. The oil caught fire and ignited the pyre.
“Everyone out,” Stiles yelled. He was the last and he kept a shield up behind
him the whole way. The doors to the building closed and then the ground shook
from an explosion. “I was afraid of that.”
“What, you were afraid of what?” demanded Peter.
“He really was an agent of Hell. That’s two in one week!” Stiles shook his
head. “How are we all getting home and where are we?”
===============================================================================
 
The loft was crowded with the pack. Workers were trying to get the door fixed
while the pack tried to come down from the adrenaline high of the rescue. Derek
walked out of the bathroom in tight jeans, barefoot, shirtless with his hair
still damp. He chuckled at the sharp intake of breath from Stiles. He moved
closer to the twins sitting on the bench by the far wall. He crouched down to
get closer to eye level with them.
“You are not our enemy though you have much to do to gain our trust and my
trust specifically.” He looked them both in the eye. “To be honest I don’t want
you running off on your own because no good would come of that.”
Aiden cleared his throat. “We have no place to go.”
Derek sat down on the floor in front of the twins and nodded for the pack to
gather around. Danny sat next to Ethan and Lydia sat down next to Aiden with
Jackson right next to her. Derek pulled Stiles next to him and cleared his
throat. “After the fire that devastated our family, Laura and I fled to New
York. I was a little younger than you are, but I was cut off and drowning in
misery.
“You would have each other, like I had Laura, but it was a lonely and painful
time. I would not wish that on anyone. Everything you knew was taken from you.
I offer you sanctuary until summer is over to decide if you want to remain. If
you do, you will have to willing submit, not just to me but my designated
seconds as well.” He stood up. “Until then you are granted the hospitality of
the Hale pack.
“Thank you,” the twins said in unison.
Derek flashed his eyes for a second and grinned. He pointed at Ethan, “Break
Danny’s heart…”
“Dude!” Danny dropped his head in his hands. Derek shrugged and walked to the
kitchen.
Stiles rolled his eyes and walked into the middle of the room. In seconds the
wards were restored. “Okay, I’ll do dad’s later. Let’s eat!”
===============================================================================
 
The door cracked open and Marin sighed as she was rescued. She frowned at
Deaton. “It took you long enough.”
“If you’d like I can leave you here as Stiles intended.”
“That won’t be necessary.” She accepted the bottle of water and sighed as it
went down her throat. “Much better. I take it Hale won?”
“Yes and he’s now a true prince among alphas. He’s young and will grow into his
power. To say the pack views you in a negative light would be an
understatement.”
She laughed. “So what happens now?”
“We go back to work and you leave the pack alone at school. Derek shared his
power with them.”
She groaned. “That is how he didn’t go mad! That means the Hale pack is very
powerful now.”
“Yes and the twins are joining it.” He smiled at her. “Everything that
Deucalion wanted to happen the opposite is.”
“Bastard deserves it.”
===============================================================================
 
“In what universe does getting kidnapped not get you a few days off from
school?” Stiles sulked as he made his way inside. “I mean its Thursday, two
days off isn’t going to kill anyone.”
“You already missed yesterday,” Lydia countered. “Stop whining before I have
Jackson torment you.”
“Rude! I still haven’t seen The Avengers, meanwhile dad and Melissa want to
have a cookout.” A paper ball hit him in the head. He looked back and glared at
a snickering Isaac. It didn’t help that Scott was pointing at the blond wolf
and laughing as well. “Rude!”
Jackson sat down to Stiles and winked. “So, we have no danger around the
corner, right?”
Immediately suspicious, Stiles asked, “Whhyyyy?”
“Just, have things to think about and would like to be able to without the
world ending.” He smiled again.
Stiles gave Jackson a confused look and shrugged. “Nothing that I know of other
than Chris and Derek’s insane training programs.”
“Those are fun and we totally owe you from last time, Stiles,” Erica said. “I
don’t want to be the first one down this time. Make Isaac eat dirt first.”
“Hey!”
‘Picking you up from school tomorrow.’
“Seriously, Derek,” Stiles muttered. “I just got my Jeep back and now he’s
picking me up from school again.”
‘Imax Avengers 3-D tickets and a Thai buffet’
Stiles jumped up and did a dance. “I love my boyfriend!”
===============================================================================
 
Stiles sat back and patted his stomach. “Dude, I totally destroyed the buffet.
And that movie was AWESOME!”
After finishing his bite of Pad Thai, Derek laughed, “This is why I don’t bring
a pack of teenage boys to a buffet. One is enough to put a huge dent in their
profit margins. And I enjoyed the movie.”
Taking a deep breath Stiles stared at Derek, “Okay, spill it. I know you’re
hiding something.”
Derek took a deep breath and sighed. “I’m leaving for New York on Monday. I’ll
be back on Friday.”
“And you felt you couldn’t tell me this up front why?”
“Stiles, you’ll beg to come and pout that I’m abandoning you. With no imminent
danger at the moment I need to take care of the apartment back there and ship
things to the loft like the rest of my clothes and personal effects.”
Stiles thrummed his fingers on the table and nodded. “Okay, yes I will miss you
and yes I normally would beg to go, but…yes, I would do all that. I…I’m used to
you being right next to me and you’ll be on the other side of the continent for
a week!”
“And you’ll be in school and keeping the pack inline.” Derek smiled again. “But
your dad has the night shift tonight…”
“Let’s go!”
===============================================================================
 
Peter walked up to Derek and handed him a small book. “Something for you to
read when you get the chance.”
“Thank you.”
“When you get back, I would like to talk about the house and our future.” Peter
took a step back and stared out the window towards the Preserve.
“Peter…”
“Derek, read that first. Come back from New York and we’ll talk. I’ve been in
contact with a few of my Fae friends and this pack is no longer on probation.”
“Good to know. Was there anything else they said?”
Peter smiled, “Yes, that it was good to have a guardian here again. Have a safe
journey, nephew. I’ll watch over Cora and the over betas to the extent they
allow it. Stiles will listen to me if anything should arise.”
“If anything happens make sure Stiles doesn’t go overboard.”
“I’m not sure that’s possible. However, I’ll see what I can do if trouble
arises. I may have Christopher deal with it.”
“Chris…Argent?” Derek frowned.
“Yes, we knew each other back in the day.” Peter smiled fondly.
“On that note I have a flight to catch.” Derek made a hasty retreat.
===============================================================================
 
Derek dragged himself to the loft and collapsed on his bed. New York had been
as hectic as he remembered. He sighed when a lovely set of hands began to
massage his shoulders. “Your dad will kill me if he knew you were here.”
“He knows, he threw me out and threatened to disown me if I didn’t see you
tonight. The whole pack is tired of my whining.” Stiles dug the heels of his
hands into the tense shoulders. “I missed you.”
“Well, I have to go back in July to get everything else out of storage. But I
talked to John and this time you’re coming with me. I have tickets to a Mets
game too.”
Stiles fell over on top of Derek. “I love you…I don’t know what I did.”
Derek rolled over and cut off Stiles with a kiss. “You saved me. You loved me.
You’re you.”
Stiles linked his hand with Derek’s. “I did some research. I think we should
have our mating slash bonding ceremony on Midsummer. The only place that we can
do it safely is the big room under your family home.”
“That gives us a month to get it ready. Can you stay a virgin for that long,”
Derek asked with a sly wink.
“I’ve waited this long. Besides that will make it special.” Stiles bit his lip
for a moment.
“Out with it Stiles.”
“What did Peter send with you?”
Derek started laughing. “That book had a list of accounts the family has with
various banks. His note said, ‘While you’re there get our financial affairs in
order.’ So I had that to do as well as getting the apartment ready to sell.”
“That was it?”
“And I had to meet with an old family acquaintance. She wanted to set up an
arranged marriage, but was happy when I told her I had a mate.” He leaned over
and kissed Stiles again. “You’re the one for me and now I need sleep and so do
you.”
===============================================================================
 
“What are all these boxes and things?” Derek asked as he walked into the loft
after a day trip to San Francisco. “I’m gone for a few hours and…”
“Easy, Derek, but news spread that you defeated Deucalion and have reclaimed
the Hale seat of power. The fact that you didn’t go mad with power after
defeating the alpha pack has prompted the outpouring of gifts from various old
allies and packs. You are now considered a prince among alphas you’re that
strong.” Peter picked up one box and handed it to Derek. “That has an old
medicine tapestry to hang somewhere in the house for protection.”
“So we win, I didn’t go nuts, and everyone likes us suddenly?” Derek scratched
his chin as he looked through other boxes.
“Fear and respect in equal measures would be more accurate,” Peter replied as
he handed Derek some plans. “As I am technically still the family emissary to
the Summer Court, I know that the svartalves have inquired about building us a
new home. Given that Stiles is your mate and a powerful mage, they would be the
best to make sure technology and magic will work together instead of blowing us
all to bits.”
Derek unrolled the plans and took a deep breath. “How, how did you know?”
“Some drawings were in the box you sent back from New York. This is a modern
take on an English countryside manor. Outside would be stone work, three and a
half stories with a dozen bedrooms and many common rooms.” Peter placed his
hand on Derek’s. “Only if you want to, but the pack needs a home.”
“How much would it cost?”
Peter laughed. “Derek, the family accounts haven’t been touched in over six
years. We can afford to build this design and all the landscaping plans too
without draining the expense accounts. But to answer over eighteen million.”
Derek scoffed, “The fact that that sum rolls off your tongue with no issue is
disturbing. You need to work with Stiles and Danny to get the finances in full
working order. Jackson has an eye for investments and Isaac is as frugal as
they come. They could help.”
Peter rolled his eyes. “Derek, we aren’t going to go broke. We can send them
all to college and still not deplete the expense accounts. Calm down.”
“I need a job.”
“Wait until after the manor is built and all that is settled. Again, the family
accounts are fine. You don’t have to work.” Peter chuckled, “Though having a
teenage pack certainly increases food costs.”
“I can blame you for starting that trend. You bit Scott.”
Peter took a deep breath. “I know I wasn’t in my right mind, but that period of
time haunts me.”
“I was told not to blame myself for the fire and given a witch and demon tried
to use you I think the same should hold true.”
“I have been thinking about that, Derek.” Peter reached out to hold Derek’s
shoulder as he blanched at those words. “Calm down. Think about how things have
played out. If Kate hadn’t used you and another plan was used, you may not have
survived and the forest could be held by a dark power. We suffered greatly, but
we’ll rise again and you will lead us.”
Derek took a deep breath and changed topics by pointing to the plans for the
Manor. “Let’s look all these over and once approved they can start the day
after Midsummer.”
===============================================================================
 
Stiles was dancing in his seat as Derek drove them home from a night at the
Jungle. Derek was still the target of ire from some of Stiles’ flamboyant
friends, but he was okay with that. School was out and he still didn’t know
what to make of Jackson and Danny’s dance routines. Ethan joined them or would
dance with Danny when Jackson would join Lydia. Derek wanted to talk to Jackson
about it, but he wasn’t sure that was his place. He’d let the matter rest
unless it did become an issue.
After getting back to Stiles’ house, the teen went to take a shower while Derek
started looking over many of the books Stiles now had in his possession. He
knew the designs for the new library at the manor had Stiles (and Lydia)
excited beyond all reason. He heard his mate enter the room and smiled. “Wait,
let me see you.”
Stiles blushed and dropped the towel. “I…I know I’m not perfect.”
Derek moved and kissed Stiles lightly. “You’re perfect to me.”
“It’s not much to look like when it’s soft…”
“Stiles, I’ve felt you hard plenty of times, you’re fine - better than fine
actually.” He kissed him again. “And it’s not like you’re soft that often.” He
grinned wickedly.
“Why am I the only one naked?”
Deciding to tease his mate, Derek slowly discarded his clothing to his own slow
beat. Once his jeans came off he smiled at Stiles’ gaping mouth.
“Oh My God! You look so hot in a jock!” Stiles bounced over and helped Derek
take it off. “Michelangelo would weep if he saw you naked. I might weep.”
Derek kissed him again. “Stiles, no one will ever touch me except you.” He
jumped on the bed and spread out. “Now, there are a few things we can do to get
you prepped for our night.”
Stiles’ eyes went wide. “Oh hell yes!”
===============================================================================
 
Derek, Jackson, Scott, and Boyd started cleaning out the ‘safe’ room under the
ruined Hale House. Everything had to be moved. John showed up with a trailer to
haul junk and the pack cars were loaded with items that could be salvaged.
Peter looked through some of the heavy chests that had been brought in. “So
much was lost and yet more survived than I thought. “
Cora sat down next to him and looked through a few photo albums that had
survived. “Was this mom and you as kids?”
Derek stood a few feet away and listened. Even with everything he learned it
still hurt to have been involved with the fire.
“Stop,” whispered Stiles. “I can feel it your guilt and grief, Der.” He linked
his hands with his alpha’s. “You can grieve, but you aren’t guilty.”
“I know, but it still hurts.” Derek relaxed as he breathed in Stiles’ scent.
“You miss them and when the manor is built we’ll find ways to honor and
remember all of them.”
A week before Midsummer and the bonding ceremony, Stiles went down into the
room and started laying down all the symbols, sigils, and circles he needed for
a full magical bonding ceremony. He only allowed Derek to help paint the
symbols on the walls.
“Everything has to be just right and since you and I are the only participants
we should build the elements together.” Stiles flicked Derek’s nose. “Besides,
I can stare at your ass this way.” 
“Stiles! What am I going to do with you?”
Stiles waggled his eyebrows. “Well in a few days you’re going to ravage me.” He
laughed when he saw Derek adjust his jeans. “Score one for Stiles!”
===============================================================================
 
The night finally arrived. They were to be bonded and mated. Stiles led Derek
into the safe room. Completed arcane symbols were on walls and along the floor.
Three circles filled the room, each smaller than the other. Candles sat around
the room illuminating it fully. The couple made their way to the center. The
warm air caressed their naked skin. Once in the middle, Stiles closed all three
circles.
Derek stared into Stiles eyes and kissed him softly. “I love you,” he
whispered.
Taking both of Derek’s hands in his, Stiles pulled them over their heads. “I
love you too, Mr. Hale.” He returned the kiss and brought their sweat slicked
bodies together. At the same time Stiles, opened up his awareness to the magic
all around and to his link to Derek.
Hands moved to touch each other everywhere. Kisses moved along throat lines and
collarbones. Long thin fingers pressed into hard solid muscle. Thick sturdy
fingers traced whipcord muscle in return.
Still the energy built. Hands became more frantic with their touch. Stiles
moved his body and raised up and allowed Derek to enter him. “Ahhhh, oh god!”
Stiles held onto Derek’s shoulders as he lowered himself.
Derek arched back and held back the need to thrust deep. He rotated his hips
allowing his cock to do all the work of entering Stiles without hurting him.
“Stiles,” he whimpered. Soon they were moving as one.
Magic was building in waves timed to their growing arousal and passion. Derek
licked along Stiles collarbone, knowing soon he would bite that spot on his
lover’s neck meant to claim. Stiles reached to cup Derek’s face and stared into
his eyes. They glowed red as he bent down to kiss his wolf. The sigils on the
walls grew brighter and the circles glowed as well. “Oh god, Derek!”
===============================================================================
 
Allison and Scott arrived first. The pull for the pack was strong. They all
knew that tonight was the bonding ceremony for Stiles and Derek. They set up
some chairs around the pit for the bonfire. Stiles insisted since it was
Midsummer’s Night. Erica and Boyd arrived to start helping set up the bonfire.
Peter, Cora, and Isaac arrived next with some drinks for the evening. Shortly
after them Lydia and Jackson arrived with Aiden; right behind them came Danny
with Ethan. Finally John arrived with Melissa and Chris showed up too.
The pack was milling about as the sun got lower and lower until finally
setting. Peter walked up and got the bonfire going.
The first pulse of energy leveled the betas. All of them inhaled as one. Chris
grabbed Peter as he swayed. “You okay?”
“My nephew and nephew to be are playing holy hell with our link. It will be
shocking if the teens aren’t all naked and fucking before they finish in
there.”
John groaned. “It’s bad enough I have some idea of what my son is doing, but
for all of them to be experiencing it too, I need brain bleach.”
The second pulse of energy sent Jackson and Scott to their knees panting for
breath. “Oh jeez,” Scott moaned. “What the hell, Stiles!”
Jackson stayed on his knees for a moment before clamoring to his feet. “Remind
me to beat the crap out of both of them.”
The third pulse wave sent every beta down, the alpha twins, and the teenage
human pack members. Chris, John, and Melissa all stared at each other for a
moment. John chuckled, “Part of me wants to know what I’m missing…”
Melissa laughed, “And another part definitely doesn’t.”
Suddenly the bonfire flared. And a column of light danced around the house.
Music, drums and flutes, could be heard in the distance. The light around the
house grew brighter. Peter stared in fascination at the house. “Those are
dewdrop fairies! They are attracted to the magic.”
Two more pulses of magical energy had the pack on edge. “Damn, they need to
hurry,” yelled Isaac. “For crying out loud I’m about to shoot in my pants!”
“I really didn’t need to hear that,” Chris muttered.
Suddenly shades formed in the firelight. Wisps of energy and light slowly moved
around the fire, but a few made moved closer to the pack. Tears formed in Cora
and Peter’s eyes. The pack could see them suddenly, images of the fallen Hale
pack. Two stepped forward and touched the two Hales standing in the pack. In an
instant they were gone the wisps joining the dance around the ever growing
column of energy.
===============================================================================
 
Stiles placed his wrist right on one of Derek’s fingers and Derek, with extreme
concentration, grabbed the knife near them to make a small cut in Stiles to
draw blood. He did the same to his wrist.
Stiles put the wounds together. “Blood to blood, life to life, magic to magic.”
He resumed his frantic pace of riding Derek, giving in to the need. “Bind us,
body to body, mind to mind, soul to soul…”
Derek thrust harder his mouth started sucking along that spot on Stiles neck.
“Mine, and I am yours,” he whimpered.
All the magical elements in the room pulsed in time to their pace. Derek bit
down with his human teeth as Stiles cried out. Derek followed and room went
white with power as pain flared on their backs and hips.
 
YOURS
 
MINE
 
ONE
 
ALPHA
 
WIZARD
 
GUARDIAN
 
PROTECTOR
 
WE TWO ARE…ONE!
 
Slowly their breathing evened out. They locked eyes again and traded soft
kisses of tenderness.  All the candles had cratered. The sigils and circles now
glowed faintly, holding in residual magic.
Stiles panted, “Okay, wow…what a way to cash in my v-card.”
Derek shook his head and laughed. “We still have a few things to try.” He stood
up and held Stiles close. “I can feel you, here.” He placed a hand over his
heart.
Nodding, Stiles kissed him again. “I feel you in mine as well.” Hearing the
noise out front, Stiles undid the circles and led Derek back to the little
storage cubby that held their clothes. “We probably stink.”
“They can deal with it. I have to smell all their escapades they can deal with
the lingering scent of their alpha mating his partner.” Derek paused and ran a
hand along Stiles’ back. “My tattoo is on your back.”
Stiles looked down and smiled. “My mark is on your hip too.” They dressed in
shorts and t-shirts, no shoes, and made their way to the front. “I feel
awesome.”
“I feel loved,” Derek stated. “Thank you.” They kissed again before seeing the
pack.
Derek walked out of the house with Stiles holding his hand. He could feel
everything about Stiles and it made him feel safe. He nodded to the pack. He
could smell the arousal in the air and the scent that more than one guy had
lost control as well. He laughed. They, he and Stiles, did that.
“Welcome friends,” Derek smiled again. “Stiles and I are bonded now, fully and
completely. In honor of that I would renew our pack bonds as well.”
Jackson came up and offered his neck to Derek. “I took the bite for all the
wrong reasons, but now it’s right. I found my place.” First Derek kissed him on
his forehead and then bit him on the neck. The bite wasn’t deep, just enough to
draw blood. It healed instantly, but Stiles was there with a white handkerchief
to dab the blood up and a hug. 
Scott came up and swallowed. “You didn’t turn me and we’ve had some rough
times, but you’ve been my alpha for awhile.” He offered his neck. Derek smiled
and kissed his forehead and then gave him the light bite. Stiles gave his best
friend and hug and cleaned up the spot of blood.
Boyd came next, with the same sequence, a kiss, a bite, a hug, and a dab. Erica
and Isaac followed. Danny came forward and offered his neck.
“For you there is no real bite, but this,” He pulled out the knife he’d used
earlier. He kissed Danny’s forehead and gave him a token nip. He pricked one of
Danny’s fingers and handed it over to Stiles. Stiles dabbed the blood off and
gave Danny a hug.
The same thing happened to Lydia and Allison. Derek’s eyes widened a bit when
John walked up. “You are the alpha and you have claimed my son.”
“You are most definitely pack.” Derek repeated the same steps with John and
then Melissa. He was shocked when Chris came forward. “Christopher.”
“I offer you my allegiance as the alpha of my daughter’s pack.” He moved to
expose his neck and Derek gave him the same token nip as the others.
Cora and Peter smiled as they came forward and exposed their necks. “You are
the alpha of our family.” Derek gave them the bite and Stiles collected the
small blood offering.
Aiden and Ethan stood in front of Derek with their hands linked. “We offer you
our allegiance, our lives, and to the pack our friendship.”
Derek moved closer and nodded. “There is a price for this…it won’t be
permanent, but you will be betas. Can you accept that?”
Aiden nodded and moved forward. “Yes.”
With that Derek moved up and caressed the boy’s head for a moment. The teen
moved to expose his neck and Derek licked the spot before biting down. Aiden’s
eyes flashed red, tears leaked from his eyes and they slowly changed color and
suddenly they were the electric blue sported by Jackson, Peter, and Cora.
Withdrawing his fangs, he held Aiden until Jackson was there to help. “I’m
holding it in trust for you and your brother. It isn’t mine nor do I need or
want it, but it must be earned back.”
Aiden nodded and accepted the hug from Stiles as well as the cleaning of his
neck.
Derek moved up to Ethan and nodded. “Do you accept those conditions as well?”
“Yes.”
He smiled at the teen and moved closer. He positioned the young wolf and bit
down. Ethan’s eyes flashed red and, like his twin, tears leaked out as his eyes
changed from alpha red to a brilliant beta blue. Derek stepped back and whipped
the tears with his thumbs. “Welcome to the pack.”
Stiles cleaned Ethan’s neck before turning to face Derek and expose his neck.
“Though we are bonded…”
“We are also pack,” Derek concluded. He kissed the junction of Stiles neck and
used the knife to get a drop of blood from his mate. He pulled back and kissed
Stiles.
Stiles moved to turn, but Derek grabbed him and switched their places. He fell
to his knees and looked up at Stiles. “We are equals. I submit to you,” and
offered his neck to Stiles. The mage moved closer and nodded. He bit Derek’s
neck hard and also gathered blood from the alpha’s finger. Slowly they moved
apart. Stiles showed the bloody handkerchief to the pack. “Pack bonds are
forged through; love, obedience, friendship, but also through blood and fire as
we have learned.” He threw the blood stained cotton item into the bonfire and
it surged for a moment.
Derek laughed. “And now, if I am correct, many of you need to take of things…
No one may come to the loft tonight. Stiles and I have to finish our ‘bonding’
in our own way. Though you are all welcome for brunch at 11:00 tomorrow
morning.”
“Open a damned window when you finish,” scowled Isaac. “No one wants to smell
all that while eating.”
Derek and Stiles headed to the loft while the others lingered for a bit. The
bonfire illuminated them and several of the wolves cuddled in the firelight.
===============================================================================
 
Off to the side and hidden behind a veil, Lord Reynard of the Summer Court
smiled on the proceedings. “I know you are here. You can come out now.”
“I was wondering if you knew I was here?” said the ‘surfer angel of Stiles’.
“Would hate to think you are off your game.”
Reynard huffed, “It is I that is wondering what game you are playing, Gabriel.
They don’t know that they’ve garnered the interest of an archangel.”
“Given that they’ve dealt with two demonic entities in the last month or so I
feel they’ve earned a bit of attention.” Gabriel smiled. “Is Summer satisfied
with the result of the new Hale pack?”
“Yes, in fact there may be a future Lord Hale in this alpha. The svartalves
have been contracted to build a new Hale Manor. He is claiming the true Mantle
of Guardianship. Though even with a demon or two that doesn’t explain your
presence.”
Gabriel shrugged and motioned to the proceeding below them. “This is a moment
of truth for this timeline. What choices will they make, what events will be
set in motion by the forks in the road here. You want to know why I’m
interested? Points in Time like this…”
Below the pack was starting to break up and deal with the aftermath of the
bonding ceremony. Jackson stood for a second and reached into his pocket and
handed the keys to his Porsche to Aiden. He gave Lydia a kiss and smiled. He
motioned towards Aiden. “Take care of my baby; both of them.” With that Jackson
moved and put his arms around Ethan and Danny. The three of them headed to
Danny’s car.
Cora smiled and shook her head. She gave Isaac a kiss and then bounced over to
Erica and Boyd. They started heading back to Boyd’s truck. Isaac stood there
for a second before Scott walked over and pulled Isaac with him to Allison’s
car.
Peter laughed and grabbed Chris’ hand. “For old times’ sake?” Chris laughed and
nodded. That left John and Melissa gaping at the scenes they’d witnessed. They
laughed as well and headed to his house.
Gabriel turned back to Reynard and smiled. “That one choice by Jackson set in
motion all those other events. Instead of staying with Lydia tonight and
wondering what Danny was doing he went with his best friend. He would not
constantly fight with Aiden in the coming months as he looked more and more to
Lydia for friendship.
“Instead of pack tension and destructive emotions Jackson set in motion
exploration and openness. There will be rough times ahead for them all, but
tomorrow he and Scott will bond over losing the last of their virginities. One
choice let Cora explore what she needs to explore and also for Isaac to be
happy without feeling guilty.”
“All that in one choice?” Reynard snorted.
“There are millions of choices out there that lead to many different results.
In one reality I’ve been banished and a minor apocalypse has been averted. What
this timeline faces has impacts across most realities.”
At that moment they both felt the wards of the loft flare. Gabriel rolled his
eyes. “And the new couple starts over again.”
“It is a magical night, Gabriel. The stars portent a small calm before the
storm picks up again. Mab has her Knight back and he’s at Acrtis Tor. Does this
mage mean the same to you as your brother?” The centaur fixed the archangel
with a stare.
“His fate is his own. But there has never been one like him here; a Dreamer
wizard mated to a werewolf Guardian.” The archangel gave the Summer Lord a nod,
vanished, and was looking down as Stiles thrust into Derek while kissing him.
He watched as the magic danced all around the couple again. The wards shone
bright to any who could see even a hint of magic. The cries of pleasure made
him smile broadly. “Blessings be on both of you. Enjoy your summer respite…you
will need it.”
Chapter End Notes
     Two interludes are already planned before the next story starts.
     Thank you for reading; this has been a great deal of fun to write.
Please drop_by_the_archive_and_comment to let the author know if you enjoyed
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