Archive of Our Own

CAGED

Stiles cocked his head to the side and frowned, ever so subtly lifting his nose a tiny bit higher into the air. There was that smell again. In fact, there were both of those smells. That enticing earthy one, that was currently attached to the one that made him want to drill into his skull with whatever he could find.

He knew what the bad smell meant. Hunters. 

It was drilled into his instincts to avoid and run, but that other smell, it pulled at him and when combined with his inquisitive nature, there was no way that Stiles would not be investigating. On top of that, this was his town, well his and his dad's, who was sheriff, so had a legal claim to the town. The fact that hunters had dared come to his town, did not sit well with him. He knew the law though and with enough evidence, fabricated or not, they knew how to run hunters out of their town.

He followed the scent all around town. Well, around the parts of town that hunters would visit: the grocery store, the hardware store, a gardening store and the gas station. 

None of it boded well for Stiles.

There were no other shifters who lived here, it was part of the reason why his dad had accepted the job of sheriff in a tiny town where the most exciting thing to happen was old Mrs Hinkleman thinking someone was breaking in when she forgot to turn her television off before bed. It happened every three days like clockwork.

For Stiles, however, having no other shifters and living in such a dead end,town, was boring. He understood his dad's need for it though, his mom had been hunted for most of her life and had instilled that paranoia in them both. Werefoxes were rare and worth a lot. His mom had been the last of her family and now he was.

It was misty, but Stiles wasn’t sure it would be enough to hide him. He stood at the edge of a barbed-wire fence looking out over a field. It was too open and he felt too vulnerable. He’d wait until tonight, it was safer to shift under the cover of darkness and he could warn his dad what was happening. 

If he got caught now, no one would have any idea that hunters were responsible and it would give him more time to canvass the area.

‘What?’ Noah asked, the second he saw him.

Stiles scowled, his dad hadn't even taken off his gun and yet could read his moods like no one else could. ‘Smelt something.’

Noah rolled his eyes. ‘Please don’t go into detail.’

Stiles narrowed his eyes. 

‘Smelt like...’ He paused, knowing that this wasn’t going to go down well. Noah sighed. ‘It smelt like Beacon Hills.’ Stiles said in a quiet voice.

His dad froze.

They had left Beacon Hills shortly after his mothers death. Neither had been doing well and his dad was beginning to hide himself at the bottom of a bottle. Up until Stiles had unearthed a job offer. The position of sheriff, here. 

All he’d done was dig it out of the trash and leave it on the side. His dad had taken that as a sign to accept the job and that it was time for them both to leave Beacon Hills. Leave the place where his dad and his mom had decided to spend the rest of their lives. For his mom, she had.

Noah swallowed, ‘How so?’

‘That same metallic smell. And the musky earthiness underneath,’ Stiles answered, frowning. The combination of them just felt wrong. They were supposed to be separate and he felt it in his bones how wrong it was that they were combined together. He needed them separate, he needed the earthy, musky smell away from the metallic smell and safe.

He’d first smelt the metallic scent around the time of his mom’s death, he couldn’t remember when exactly. He’d been in a bad place and now that he thought about it, he’d mentioned that smell to his dad around the time that he’d found the letter. The musky earthiness had always been around. It had been strongest around the preserve and the school and his mom had been pleased and smiled every time he mentioned it.

‘Hunters.’ Noah whispered.

Stiles nodded. ‘I followed it to the outskirts of town, to an old warehouse, surrounded by land and a wire fence.’

Noah nodded. ‘Where in town was it?’

Stiles shrugged. ‘The usual places you’d expect. Hardware store, grocery store, gas station.’

Noah nodded. ‘And the earthiness?’

‘Mixed in with it.’ Stiles frowned.

‘That’s new,’ Noah said, staring at him intently.

Stiles nodded, ‘I figured I’d wait for the cover of darkness, then go investigate.’

Noah wiped his face with a loud, noisy sigh. ‘You be careful. I’ll clock back in and I want updates, as many as you can.’

Stiles rolled his eyes, ‘I don’t carry my phone or have opposable thumbs when I’m shifted dad.’

‘I know, that’s why I said as many as you can.’

‘Fine,’ Stiles grouched but relented and pushed himself into his dad’s space, scent-marking him and getting scent marked in return. ‘Love you.’

‘Love you too, son.’

It wasn't just dark when Stiles finally set off, but still misty too. Which, while annoying, wasn't a major disadvantage as he’d be able to see better than any hunters, but it did still hamper him. It meant that he would have to rely on his sense of smell and hearing even more.

Noah dropped him off a few streets from the warehouse in the sheriff’s cruiser, giving him a wry smile. To be fair, Stiles had been impatient and while it was dusk, it wasn’t quite night. Stiles grinned and waved at him as he set off, quickly running and jumping the fence.

He waited till he found some bushes to hide his clothes under, before texting his dad a thumbs up and shifting. It didn’t take long and he shook himself thoroughly, loving the feel of his fur shake. Stiles twitched his ears forward as he stretched, his front legs first, then his back legs, silently snapping his teeth in a relieved yawn.

He listened for a moment before deciding there was no one around and bolting for the barbed wire fence. The gaps were large and there was plenty of room for him to easily slide underneath, he barely had to crouch and he chuffed to himself in congratulations before he sniffed the ground, back legs propelling himself forward as he searched out the most recent scent trail.

It took him a while, longer than he liked but he finally found it, unfortunately, it led through a steel door and Stiles glared at it unhappily for a moment. The metallic smell was stronger here, almost overwhelming and he could make out the individual scents that made it up. Gunpowder, wolfsbane, oil and metal. The earthiness was still there, still underlying it all just like it had been around town.

Stiles put his nose back to the ground and began investigating. It was what he did best. There had to be another entrance, another way in that the hunters never even considered. He continued around the building, finding multiple doors, but all of them were either locked tight or led into an empty room with no other exits. Not a single window on the ground level was open, although a lot of them were broken. They all had bars over them and while he was small and skinny, there was no way he would be getting through them.

He finally found some bins to jump onto, where he could then half jump, half scrabble up onto the roof of a rundown shed and then with a bit of wangling, carefully slipped through a broken window that didn't have any bars.

He stilled, listening for anyone to have heard him, but it was all silent. He sniffed the air, the smell of hunters wasn’t as strong here. He trotted over to the door, inordinately pleased that it was ever so slightly ajar and scrabbled at the corner to open it. He shoved his nose through and sniffed carefully before wagging his tail and scampering through. He went along the corridor and down the stairs, pausing at the bottom to listen and sniff.

The smell of hunters was closer but still not near him. He silently padded along, waiting to catch a trail of them, but it seemed they didn't come to this part of the warehouse. He carried on until finally… finally, he did find a path that they had walked, although not today and possibly not for a while. Following it, he found that it led to a room full of nothing. Chuffing in annoyance, he back tracked until he came to a fresh trail. This one had them coming and going a lot. 

Unsurprisingly, it led to the kitchen. Another led to a toilet and another to several surprisingly nice bedrooms. Stiles shook his head, wondering just how long they were planning on staying. Unfortunately, he still hadn't found the source of the earthiness. He kept going until he finally found a slightly stronger hint of it.

The trail led to a door that was completely closed, so he listened intently for several minutes, before deciding it was safe enough to quickly shift back to his human form to open the door. He shivered and quickly tried the handle, pleased to find it open before shifting back. He waited for someone to notice but there was nothing. He entered the room, his heart dropping when he saw what was in it.

It was full of weapons. And while the earthy smell was stronger, so was the smell of blood. He crouched down and shuffled into the room, his ears lay flat to his head while he bit down on the growl that wanted to escape. This was a bad room and he wanted out, but his curiosity was stronger. He was determined to find the source of that smell. Only, where the scent was strongest, it seemed to also disappear. It led to a part of the room where there was nothing. 

Stiles walked all around the room, and each time he was led back to the same spot where the scent was strongest. It was also where the smell of wolfsbane was strongest too, but there was nothing there. Stiles retraced his steps and retraced his steps some more. He was missing something, he knew he was. This just wasn't possible, hunters weren’t magic.

He sat down with a huff, his ears flicking back and forth as he debated. The room wasn't much, everything in it was broken and useless. It had an old display case and cupboards lining the walls, an old worn down rug covered the floor and a broken lightbulb swinging from the ceiling.

Closing his eyes, he honed his senses, listening for any disturbance or noise to give him a hint, a clue, anything. His eyes flew open as he heard a thump. Looking around there wasn't anything different. He ran to the door, but there was nothing out there either. He huffed and went back to that spot and closed his eyes again. 

He heard it again, but this time he concentrated and realised that it was a heartbeat and that it was coming from beneath him. There was a room beneath him. Opening his eyes, he took a step forward to search for the stairs when he felt it. A draft. He looked around, his eyes narrowing as it suddenly clicked. He was an idiot, how could he not have realised? He scrabbled at the carpet and chuffed happily when it revealed a trap door.

Hunters loved their hidden rooms and hiding in plain sight, it was their MO after all. He glared at the ring pull and delicately grasping it in his mouth, he pulled. His claws scrabbled loudly on the rug as he slipped and it flew open with a loud bang. Too loud. He flattened to the floor but didn’t hear any response or movement.

He peered down the stairs, there wasn't any light but he could still make out the room below and it was where the scent and heartbeat were coming from. He trotted down the steps, peering around cautiously, but couldn’t see much until he got most of the way down. 

He froze as the cage came into view. It was right in his eyesight with a massive wolf lying down in it. The source of the musky earthiness and the heartbeat. The wolf wasn't looking at him, if it wasn't for the heartbeat Stiles would have said it wasn't breathing either. The smell of blood was also stronger now.

Unsure whether the wolf knew he was there or not, Stiles crept forward, his eyes twisting every which way on red alert for danger. The only way the wolf wouldn’t know he was there, was if it was unconscious, but it gave no sign of life apart from the sound of its heartbeat. Stiles crept closer, sniffing carefully. 

The wolf was covered in blood, wounds and wolfsbane. Stiles’ ears flattened on his back and he couldn’t help the growl that escaped but quickly stopped when he heard himself. He checked all around the cage, all the bars were infused with wolfsbane, which explained why the wolf was still trapped in there.

It was only when he was near the front of the cage again, that he realised the wolf's eyes were open and it was watching him.

Stiles chuffed at him but all the wolf did was close its eyes.

He frowned and sniffed again, carefully scenting the air. Blood, pain, wolfsbane. He closed his eyes and breathed in deep. Pain, despair, resignation and hunger.

He opened his eyes and darted back up the stairs, bolting to where he could remember the kitchen had been. He scrabbled at the door, uncaring if he left marks and yipped in victory when it opened. He stretched up and grabbed the first big thing he could and ran back down to the wolf. He could tell from the taste in his mouth that it was chicken, cooked, and with garlic and lemon.

He tripped down the stairs, stumbling to the bottom and fell ungainly at the entrance to the cage. Without bothering to get up, he pushed the chicken through the bars with his nose watching the wolf carefully.

It didn’t bother standing but did move its head, sniffing and leaning towards the food. It crawled forward, whimpering in pain but carefully picked the chicken up in its mouth before shuffling to the back of the cage.

Stiles barked, trying to convey that he would be back and turned around. He paused, watching the wolf who stared back at him, the chicken still in between them, uneaten. Stiles barked again and then flew up the stairs. He ran flat out the way he had come, up the other stairs and down the corridor, out the window and onto the shed roof. He didn't bother with the bins but jumped straight down, running as fast as he could back through the barbed wire fence. He ignored the pain when it yanked at his fur, pulling tufts out and slicing into his skin. He kept going, diving for the bush his clothes and his phone were in. Ignoring the clothes, he hit speed dial for his dad, pacing while it connected.

‘Stiles.’ His dad answered on the second ring.

‘They’ve got a wolf captive. I need bolt cutters and for you to pick us up.’

‘Are they there?’

Stiles shook his head. ‘No, and I made a lot of noise. It was just the wolf, it’s in a really bad way.’

‘You want me to bring bolt cutters?’

‘I’ll see what I can find, there should be something here, but if not…’ Stiles dithered.

‘I’ll bring bolt cutters. Be there in fifteen.’

His dad hung up and Stiles dropped his phone back on his clothes as he shifted and nosed through them for his boxers, grabbing them in his mouth he ran back. He didn’t want the hunters to return while he was gone and punish the wolf for the food he had given it.

He was careful going through the barbed wire this time, he didn't want his boxers to rip when he wasn’t sure if the wolf was male or female and he’d need to be human to get the cage open.

He knew the way to go and wasn't quiet as he pushed through the broken window, getting bits of glass into his paws and fur but he ignored the niggling pain it caused. He ran to the door, cocking his head and listening, but it was still quiet. 

He ran down the corridor and stairs, but instead of heading down to the basement, he headed for the weapon’s room, there had to be something there that he could use as bolt cutters. 

Bursting into the weapons room, he shifted back to human as soon as he skidded in, realising that he needed to be more careful in case the hunters had returned. He pushed things off tables and threw open cupboard doors, not caring about the noise he made. Even if the hunters did return and find him, he could put up enough of a fight until his dad got there.

He stopped and stared in amazement for a second when he realised he was actually looking at bolt cutters hung up on the wall. He didn’t want to think what they had used them for, seeing as they were covered in blood that smelled like the wolf in the basement. He grabbed them anyway and hopped on one bloody foot after another as he pulled his boxers on before running for the basement.

He yanked the trapdoor open with an even louder bang than before and descended the stairs a little more gracefully than he had the first time. The wolf was still in the cage but the chicken had gone and its eyes were open as it watched Stiles’ every move.

With the bolt cutters, it was actually quick and easy work getting the door open. What wasn't quick and easy was getting the wolf out. Stiles was surprised when it made no attempt to leave the second the door was open and he hesitated for only a moment before crawling in there with it.

The second he got close enough he could see why the wolf hadn’t moved and realised this was going to be harder than he’d thought. He wasn't sure the wolf would be any help seeing as it looked like all its legs were broken. He hauled the wolf, trying his best to move it gently but that was impossible. 

The wolf whined painfully and pitifully but didn’t do anything to stop him, allowing him to pull and yank to his heart's content until he had finally gotten them out. But the stairs were going to be a challenge. 

Stiles took a deep breath before he hauled as much of the wolf as he could into his arms and took a wobbly step forward. The wolf just allowed him and flopped its head over his shoulder, their legs dangling down.

Thankfully there was a sturdy railing down the side which he had to use to guide him up and rest his weight against. It was slow going and he felt his weight tip too far back, teetering on the edge of the step, too many times for comfort.

Stiles knew he’d been too long, taken too long and that his dad was waiting, had probably given up waiting by now and quite possibly called in his entire precinct.

He pushed the wolf through the opening and up onto the floor before clambering through the trapdoor, trying hard to ignore the pained whimpers it made. He heaved the wolf back into his arms, relieved that it made a slight effort to help him. 

He left the trap door open and headed for the main front door. There was no point in trying to hide the fact that he’d been there, the hunters would know someone was there the second they found the wolf gone so it was pointless and it would just waste time trying to hide his tracks.

He had to put the wolf back down to get the main door open. It was locked but he knew there were plenty of tools in the weapons room he could use to break it open. It only took him seconds to find the right one but he still felt like he was taking too long. He grabbed as much of the wolfsbane as he could and stuffed it into a bag he found on the side. His heart was beating loudly in his ears but he kept his mind on the wolf and not the situation.

There was no way he was going to get stuck here with the wolf for whatever sadistic games these hunters seemed to be playing. He was getting this wolf to safety and then he could plan out the hunters' demise. He was looking forward to it.

He put all his frustration and anger into breaking the door and tried hard not to notice how the wolf sniffed the fresh air as if it was the first time it had smelt it in a long time.

Hauling the wolf back into his arms, he took a breath and started off in a stumbling run to where his father should be waiting for him. It didn’t surprise him that his dad was almost at the warehouse, what did surprise him was that he was alone and he didn’t have to explain to the deputies why he was carrying a massive wolf in just his boxers.

Noah took half of the wolf’s weight and together they made it back to Stiles’ clothes and his dad’s cruiser a lot quicker than it would have taken Stiles on his own. The wolf whined as they got it in the back seat. Stiles gently stroked the wolf’s head. ‘You’re safe now, I promise.’

He ran to his clothes, grabbing them before running back to the car. He got in and his dad pulled away while he yanked on his clothes. Once dressed and once they were halfway back home, he anonymously dialled the station.

‘Yeah, I was walking past the old warehouse on Daffodil Crescent and I heard screaming. Like lots of screaming. I tried to get close but it's all locked up and the screaming didn't stop once.’ He hung up before the operator could ask him any questions.

‘You did hide your number right?’ Noah asked.

Stiles snorted. ‘What kind of amateur do you take me for?’

He kept his eyes peeled and the window open the entire way home. He wasn't just looking for any signs or smell of the hunters, but allowing the wolf to smell the fresh air and freedom.

His dad drove straight into the garage when they got home, and as it was now fully dark, it was a lot easier to take the wolf into the house without being overseen.

‘Bathroom.’ Noah grunted and Stiles nodded as they struggled up the stairs with the wolf. Although it was still a lot easier than it had been on his own. ‘Then spare bedroom.’

‘Floor first.’ Stiles panted as they entered the room. They needed to get all the wolfsbane out of the wolf’s system and quickly. Stiles could slowly feel it beginning to affect him. That was one bonus of being a werefox, while wolfsbane did affect him, it worked a lot slower on werefoxes than it did on werewolves.

He kicked the bathmat out the way and they gently lowered the wolf down.

‘I’ll get a lighter.’ Noah sighed, wiping the back of his hand across his forehead. It left a dirty red streak.

‘I left the bag of wolfsbane in the car.’ Stiles said and began sifting through the wolf’s coat for the worst of the injuries. There was a lot.

His dad returned before he had found all of the wounds with the bag of wolfsbane and a lighter. He started the warm tap running and together they set about burning the wolfsbane out of the wolf's system and cleaning him up.

It was dawn before they finally finished with the wounds.

‘Let’s just get him into bed and let his legs heal before we bathe him.’ Stiles sighed, rubbing a dirty hand over his face. He had unintentionally found out that the wolf was indeed male. ‘His healing should have kicked in by then and hopefully, he’ll be able to get into the shower himself.’

‘Sounds good.’ Noah groaned. ‘I need to shower and head back in. My shift starts in a couple of hours.’

Stiles nodded and they heaved the wolf into the spare room and onto the bed. They could clean the sheets afterwards. After being held and tortured for who knew how long, Stiles was not going to deprive him of sleeping in a bed his first night of freedom.

The wolf closed his eyes with a sigh as Stiles pulled a light blanket over him before gently running his hand around his head and ear.

‘Goodnight.’ Stiles whispered as he left the room, leaving the door wide open in case the wolf panicked and thought he was being locked in.

He headed down the stairs as he heard his dad start the shower and turning the hob on, began cooking. He figured eggs were probably a safe bet and at least were filling. He made a normal sized heart healthy omelet for his dad and two extra large ones for himself and the wolf, adding spinach, ham and cheese.

He heard the shower turn off just as the omelets were finished and dishing them up, left his and his dad’s on the kitchen table. He took the wolf’s upstairs, unsurprised to find the wolf breathing heavily in the exact same position he’d left him in. He placed the plate on the side of the bed, ready to be eaten whenever he woke and stroked the wolf’s head when he whimpered.

It seemed to help and the wolf quietened almost immediately.

‘Stiles?’ His dad whispered, peering in.

‘Coming.’ Stiles whispered back, giving the wolf one more rub before following his dad downstairs.

They quietly tucked into the meal just as Noah’s phone rang.

‘Sheriff Stilinski.’

Stiles could hear the deputy speaking on the end. ‘Sheriff we need you to come in early, we tried calling you earlier but we’ve got a situation.’

‘Left the phone downstairs, what’s the situation?’

‘We got an anonymous call at twenty-three hundred hours last night, screaming at the old warehouse on old Daffodil Crescent. Deputy’s Wilks and Pearson checked it out. Looks like it was used as a torture operation. They found numerous weapons and cages covered in blood. At zero two hundred hours, they apprehended several men attempting to gain access. We’ve got them in custody but Sheriff, it’s... It’s not a pretty sight, that warehouse.’

‘Hell, alright, I’m on my way in.’ Noah hung up and stared at Stiles.

‘I was not expecting it to be that easy.’ Stiles admitted.

Noah shrugged as he stood up. ‘Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn’t. Be good, kid.’

He kissed Stiles on the head before grabbing his gun belt and leaving. Closing the door securely behind him.

Stiles sighed and finished off his omelet. He went back upstairs to check the wolf, he was still sleeping and the omelet hadn't been touched. Knowing the wolf would probably sleep for awhile he jumped into the shower, quickly cleaning himself before checking on the wolf again and then turning in himself.

He woke several hours later, blinking blearily before the events of the night returned. He jumped up and checked on the wolf. He was still sleeping but the omelet was gone.

He smiled and went downstairs to the kitchen. Stiles spent the day checking his phone for any messages from his dad, cooking for the wolf and checking on the wolf. Every time he went in, the wolf was asleep or at least doing an incredible imitation of it. Stiles would leave food and when he went back to check, it would all be eaten.

Noah finally stumbled home late that night after a fourteen hour shift. He rubbed his eyes blearily and accepted the luke-warm lasagna Stiles handed to him. ‘It’s a shit-show but we have them dead to rights.’

Stiles frowned. ‘Even though there’s no body?’

‘Not here there isn’t, but they’ve left a trail. As soon as we had their names we were able to track where they’d been. They were in Sacramento a month ago where there’s a warrant out for them.’ Noah said, shovelling food into his mouth at a fast pace before swallowing it after barely chewing and speaking again. ‘Seems they were a bit too close to someone’s house who reported screaming numerous times. Nothing was ever found until that neighbour's dog returned with a human arm bone in its mouth.’

‘Eww.’ Stiles grimaced.

Noah nodded. ‘There’s a list of other places they’ve been, we’ve got officers out all over the country looking into where they’ve been staying.’

‘So they’re not getting out?’ Stiles checked.

Noah shook his head. ‘Not for a long time, no matter how many strings they pull.’

Stiles breathed out noisily. ‘Good, that’s good.’

‘How’s the wolf? He human yet?’

Stiles shook his head. ‘He’s asleep every time I check on him but he’s eating whatever I give him.’

‘He healed?’

Stiles winced. ‘I haven’t checked yet, I think he’s feigning being asleep.’

Noah sighed. ‘He’s scared.’

Stiles nodded.

‘Come on then, let’s go wake him and let him know he’s safe.’ Noah stood up and led the way, Stiles following behind him.

‘Surely he knows he’s safe though? I mean we got him out and everything. Cleaned up his wounds and got rid of the wolfsbane in his system.’

‘Fear isn’t simple.’ Noah said as he reached the top of the stairs and he pushed the door fully open.

The wolf didn't move on the bed. His eyes were closed and his breathing was dead and even.

‘You’re safe here now. We’re not going to kick you out, you can stay as long as you need to.’ Noah said.

The breathing stopped.

‘We do want you to get in the shower though.’ Stiles added. ‘It’ll make all of us feel better, especially you, I’m betting.’

The wolf cracked open one eye.

‘Are you healed now? Can you walk?’ Stiles continued.

Both eyes opened.

‘Coz that would help a lot. It would help even more if you could shift back.’ Stiles told him pointedly.

Both eyes closed.

Noah chuckled.

‘It would be nice but being human is not a requirement. You want to stay a wolf, we’ll run you a bath.’

The wolf’s tail wagged, thumping the bed twice.

‘Alright then.’ Noah stood up and Stiles heard him go into the bathroom and start the water running.

‘You are healed though right?’ Stiles asked, sitting on the bed and staring at the wolf. ‘And you know you don’t have to fake being asleep when I come in. It would be quite nice to have the company really. I’m the only shifter in this town and it's usually really safe. That’s the first time we’ve had hunters here. Did you hear dad say they’re locked up and won’t be getting out? You really are safe now.’

The wolf blinked at him and thumped his tail once.

‘Not much of a talker huh?’ Stiles asked, looking at him unimpressed. ‘That’s okay, I can talk for the both of us, my dad says I came out of mom's womb talking but ewww, I really don’t want to be thinking about my mom's womb. Are you a born shifter? I am. My mom was one, dad’s human but you can probably smell that.’

The wolf half sat up, keeping his nose on the bed but inching closer to him.

‘We’ve lived here for almost ten years now and oh, I don’t know if you realised, but my dad’s the sheriff here. So, like, you really are safe. I promise, we’re not just saying it, you are.’

The wolf nosed at Stiles’ hand and he grinned, taking it for permission to touch and stroke him.

‘Anytime you want company or contact, you come find me. I am all about company and cuddles.’ He sighed as he ran his hands all over the wolf’s coat, being careful not to tangle his fingers in as he doubted he’d ever get them back. The wolf was so dirty and matted, this bath was going to take a long time. ‘It’s been me and my dad for so long now it’ll be nice having another person around.’

‘Let’s get him in the bath before you talk his ears off.’ Noah said, his voice full of amusement as he stood in the doorway. ‘I think he’s been through enough.’

‘Hey!’ Stiles stood up, affronted. ‘I am a delight and you know it!’

Noah chuckled as he looked at Stiles, running his hand over Stiles’ head. ‘What would I do without you?’

Stiles grinned, leaning into his dad as he scent marked him. ‘Come on wolfy, let's get you clean. Hey, does this mean I get to come up with your nickname til you actually tell us your real one? Awesome!’

He frowned when the wolf shrunk back into himself and wouldn’t leave the bed.

‘You don’t have to tell us your name. Well, seeing as you're a wolf, it would be a technical impossibility for you to tell us your name, but if you don’t want us to know, then we won’t.’

‘We won’t push you, son.’ Noah said, agreeing with Stiles. ‘In your own time. While it would be nice to know your name, we don’t have to.’

The wolf ducked his head and slunk off the bed, hugging the ground as he crept towards them.

‘Bath time it is.’ Stiles clapped his hands together, wincing when the wolf jumped and scuttled back. ‘Shit, sorry.’

‘Come on son, let's get you clean. Stiles can make us some more food while he thinks of ways not to scare the life out of our traumatised guest.’ Noah said pointedly.

Stiles winced but nodded and loped down the stairs, wondering what to cook this time. He was getting a bit fed up of cooking, this was the seventh time today. Fed up of meat, something he didn't think he was ever going to say, he got out some fish, maybe a fish pie would be nice and would be quicker than a fish risotto.

He got the potatoes cooking and the sauce going, prepared the cabbage and he stirred the sauce continuously while he waited. He tried not to listen in to his dad and the wolf upstairs, but he was desperate to know what was going on. His dad wasn’t talking, just humming every now and then and there was lots of splashing and he’d heard the taps go on and off several times. Finally, the potatoes were done, along with the sauce and he could add them all together and shove them in the oven to cook, while he went upstairs.

He went into the bedroom they’d put the wolf in first and quickly changed all the sheets, chucking the dirty ones in the laundry and putting fresh, clean, scent free ones on the bed.

He knocked on the bathroom door before poking his head through. And promptly burst out laughing. The wolf was standing in the bath sopping wet and dripping but had his tongue lolling out happily while his dad, also soaking wet, massaged shampoo into him.

They seemed to have done his front half and all of his back, it was just his back legs, belly and tail that was left.

‘Perfect timing, you can brush through his coat starting at his face.’ Noah said, nodding his head to the comb sat on the sink.

‘Sure.’ Stile nodded. ‘Fish pie in half an hour.’

Noah nodded. ‘After this, I’m going to crash, but you two, enjoy.’

‘What time are you in tomorrow?’

‘Seven. It’s going to be another long day.’

‘I’ll bring you lunch.’

‘And go to college.’

Stiles flailed his hands, managing to miss the wolf, but slapped his dad in the neck. ‘But I’m ahead in all of my classes! My teachers won’t care if I miss a couple of lectures!’

Noah looked as if he was about to argue until he saw the wolf, who had hunkered down in the bath, with his ears flat. He sighed. ‘Get permission to do your classes at home. Cite a family emergency or something, I’ll confirm.’

Stiles nodded, pleased that he’d won. He rubbed the wolf’s head in victory. ‘Hear that Kujo? You get to keep me.’

The wolf rose hesitantly but threw Stiles a dismayed look.

‘No? What about Krull? The Warrior King?’

The wolf’s ears flattened and he bared his teeth.

Stiles laughed. ‘Someone's seen How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days.’

The wolf’s fur was patchy so it wasn’t as hard going as it could have been. A lot of the fur had been burnt off with the wolfsbane. They finished just before the pie did but before Stiles or his dad could get a towel on the wolf, he jumped out and shook. Sending water flying everywhere, all over himself and his dad.

Noah laughed, wiping his face dry. ‘Well, that’s me off to bed. Night, kids.’ He kissed Stiles head, wiped a hand around the wolf’s head and ears and pulled Stiles into him before he left.

Stiles smiled, his werefox settling happily at the familial contact. ‘Come on, you go to bed and I’ll bring you the pie. But just for today, tomorrow you can come downstairs with the rest of us.’

The wolf panted happily, his tongue lolling out and Stiles bounded down the stairs. He placed a quarter of the pie on one plate for the wolf, a portion half that size for himself on another plate and left the rest of it on the side for someone later. The way he was feeding the wolf up, he doubted it would last for him or his dad but he didn't mind.

He headed back upstairs, tucking two cans into his elbow but frowned when he reached the spare room only to find it empty. He paused, tilting his head to listen as he sniffed. He could still hear the wolf’s heartbeat, he followed the sound of it to his own bedroom.

The door was open and he stared, open mouthed at the wolf snuggled down in the centre of his bed, cocooned in his duvet. The wolf’s tail thumped happily as he stood there.

Stiles chuckled as he walked in. ‘Okay then but no food in the bed. I don’t want it stinking of fish.’

He put his plate down on the desk and the wolf’s one on the floor.

The wolf whined once but with a heartfelt sigh heaved himself off the bed and to the floor. The fish pie disappeared in less than five seconds.

Stiles snorted. ‘Good job I didn’t bother with cutlery for you.’

The wolf stared at him with an affronted look before turning his back on him and jumping back onto the bed.

Stiles rolled his eyes but tucked into the food happily. He carted the empty plates downstairs, leaving the dishes for tomorrow, and trotted back upstairs. He brushed his teeth, went to the toilet and quickly changed into some shorts. He usually slept in the nude but felt that was a bit too forward when sharing a bed with a stranger.

He humphed when he saw the wolf, spread out and covering most of his bed but he wasn’t put off. He climbed in and pushed and shoved at the wolf and the duvet until they both were comfortable. He yelped when the wolf pushed his cold nose into his neck but relaxed at the trust the wolf was placing in him.

He curled a hand around the wolf’s neck, pulling him close and closed his eyes.

Stiles woke the next morning with a start, he scrunched his face up and stretched. Freezing when he felt something warm and furry move beside him. He cracked open one eye and grinned when he saw the wolf snoring next to him. A part of him hadn't believed that the wolf would stay. That once he was healthy and able, he would be off. So it was a pleasant surprise that he had stayed.

He rubbed his hand over the wolf’s face, gently tugging at the ears before he got out of bed. He padded downstairs, instantly putting the coffee on and listened out for his dad. It was just him and the wolf in the house. Checking the time, he realised it was gone nine and his dad would have left over two hours ago.

The leftover fish pie was now in the fridge with a plea to leave some for his dad. Stiles chuckled and started frying up eggs and bacon, wondering if the wolf would stay in bed or make his way down. 

He’d told the wolf last night that he’d be eating down here with them and Stiles meant it. If the wolf didn’t come down on his own accord, then Stiles would be going up to get him. He hummed as he cooked, jumping around as he worked and singing under his breath. He plated everything and turned to head upstairs when he grinned. The wolf was sat under the table watching his every move. Stiles had been so distracted that he hadn't noticed him approach. He placed the wolf’s plate of scrambled eggs and fried bacon on the floor in front of his nose and pulled a chair out for himself.

‘I’m going to call my college and get it sorted so that I can do my classes from home for the next week. But after that, I really need to be going in. So far, I’m top of all my classes and there is no way that I’m letting that slip. Just don’t tell my dad, he doesn't know I’m on track to graduate with honours. I want it to be a surprise.’

The wolf hummed, placing his head in Stiles’ lap.

Stiles reached one hand down, playing with his ears while he ate. He planned out the rest of the day. He was going to have to go grocery shopping in the next day or so, what with how much he was feeding the wolf. He was lucky they’d just filled up the fridge and freezer but it was clear the wolf needed feeding up. At this rate, they only had enough food for another few days, but for today, he could play hooky and spend it with the wolf. Maybe the wolf would shift back and Stiles could spend the day helping him, helping him find his family and his way home.

The wolf did not shift back. 

Not that day or the next. 

Stiles spent the next week with the wolf sleeping in his bed every night and following his every move every day.

The problem came when it was time for Stiles to go back to college. The wolf was not happy about Stiles leaving the house and whined pitifully until Stiles’ jeep was out of earshot. When Stiles returned, the wolf was hiding under his bed and refused to come out until Stiles had shifted and curled up under there with him. Unfortunately, it started off a new routine. 

Now every night Stiles would shift too and the pair of them would sleep entwined in animal form. The wolf would still whine when Stiles left for college but would now greet him at the front door with a wagging tail on his return.

‘It's okay you know,’ Stiles overheard his dad saying one night before bed. ‘If you want to stay a wolf forever, then you can.’

Stiles swallowed and felt something shift in his heart. He loved the wolf, he wanted to keep him, but he also wanted and needed the wolf to be happy. And while he appeared to be, Stiles knew he wasn't, not really.

That night Stiles didn’t shift into his fox form, he put on some shorts and got into bed, patting for the wolf to join him. The wolf gave him a dirty look but complied. He wrapped his arms around the wolf, burying his face in the wolf’s fur.

‘Are you stuck?’ Stiles whispered.

The wolf didn’t respond, didn't huff or sigh or anything.

Stiles closed his eyes and thought about all the reasons why you could get stuck in your shift form. It was a long time before he fell asleep.

Stiles groaned when he woke up. He stretched out but froze when his leg came into contact with another leg. One hairier than his own. It was also more muscular and possibly slightly longer. He opened his eyes and blinked rapidly.

The wolf was gone. He was staring at a man. A man, fast asleep with dark hair and plenty of chest hair. His breathing was even and deep, his mouth slightly open showing off perfectly white bunny teeth.

Stiles relaxed back into the bed, feeling only slightly stalker-ish as he watched the man sleep. Only it was impossible for him to stay still. He reached his hand out, trailing his fingers through the man’s hair. It was as soft as it looked.

The man opened his eyes and Stiles smiled at him. ‘Morning.’

The man blinked rapidly, his throat working.

‘It’s okay, although it’s nice to meet you.’

‘Derek.’ The man said, his voice hoarse and raspy from disuse. ‘My name’s Derek.’

‘Well,’ Stiles said, keeping Derek’s gaze as he tried to figure out what colour his eyes were. ‘It’s nice to meet you, Derek.’

Derek’s throat worked but he didn’t open his mouth again. He nodded slightly, a small jerky motion that seemed to startle him.

Stiles slowly moved his hand so it was resting on Derek’s where he gave it a light squeeze.

Derek shuddered, his eyes closing.

‘You’re safe here Derek, I promise you,’ Stiles whispered, inching closer.

Derek shivered but opened his eyes. He nodded, staring at Stiles. ‘Thank you.’

Stiles smiled. ‘Anytime.’

‘You’re Stiles.’ Derek said. Stiles nodded. ‘Your dad is a sheriff. Stilinski.’

‘Yeah, shit, did we even introduce ourselves?’ Stiles' eyes bulged, how the hell could he have forgotten something so important? Derek had been with them for months now and didn't even know who they were. ‘Noah, my dad’s name is Noah Stilinski and yeah he’s the sheriff. Do you remember us telling you about the guys that had you?’

Derek’s eyes closed and his body shuddered again but he nodded. ‘Jail.’

Stiles nodded. ‘Do you know how they got you?’

His throat worked and Stiles could see his eyes squeezed tighter shut.

‘We don’t have to talk about it. I know it can be too hard.’

‘Kate Argent.’ Derek rasped. ‘She gave me to them. After she burnt my family alive.’

‘Oh shit! Shit! Derek, I’m so sorry.’ 

Stiles pulled him into his arms before he even remembered about consent, but then Derek was holding onto him tightly, pushing his face into Stiles’ neck. His body shaking as Stiles felt the tears, wet against his skin.

Stiles placed the plate of food on the table in front of his dad who was staring at him suspiciously. ‘What?’

‘You’re too quiet. What is it?’

Stiles chewed at his lips a moment. ‘He’s human again.’

Noah returned the forkful of food to his plate again and stared expectantly.

‘His name’s Derek Hale.’

‘Ah shit.’ His dad cursed.

Stiles sighed and waited him out. 

‘Just before we left Beacon Hills, there was a fire out in the preserve at the Hale house. It was believed only Laura and Peter Hale survived.’

There was a crash from upstairs.

‘I don’t think he knew there were any survivors.’ Stiles whispered just before Derek appeared in the doorway in a mixture of his and his dad’s clothes.

‘They survived? There were survivors?’ Derek rasped, looking paler than he had when he turned back.

Noah nodded. ‘Last I heard, Peter was in a coma but Laura hadn’t been in the house. She was fine.’

‘Where are they?’

‘I’ll find out.’

Derek nodded, his shoulders hunched in on themselves.

‘You hungry?’ Stiles asked, going to dish up another plate.

Derek shook his head but sat down with them.

Stiles placed the main dish in the centre of the table, giving Derek a spare plate if he changed his mind.

‘Do you want me to tell him the rest when you’re not here?’ Stiles offered.

Derek nodded silently then shook his head. ‘I was in a bad place, but this substitute teacher was always really nice to me. She’d make excuses to see me and made me feel… better about myself. She... she liked how I looked.’

Stiles swallowed and held his hand out, allowing Derek the choice of accepting it or not.

He slid his hand in and squeezed hard, painfully hard but Stiles didn't say anything.

‘Did you two have a sexual relationship?’ Noah asked after a moment.

Stiles took his phone out to give them the illusion of privacy while he squeezed Derek’s hand in reassurance.

Derek nodded without looking at him. ‘She kept pushing and I didn't want her to think I was a child. But she’d also ask about my family. I thought it was normal.’

‘It wasn’t.’ Noah told him gently.

Derek shook his head. ‘She was a hunter. I didn't know. She used what I told her to trap my family and burn them alive. She told me... After.’

‘She told you?’ Noah asked, looking shocked.

Derek nodded, still staring at the table. ‘She got hold of me after the fire. She wanted me to know how stupid I had been. How easy I made it for her. Then she handed me over to those guys.’

‘What was her name?’

‘Kate Argent.’

Noah nodded. ‘You’ve been with them ever since?’

Derek nodded. 

‘What did they want?’

‘Easier ways of finding us, killing us.’

‘They’ll be going straight to prison and won't be getting out any time soon.’ Noah said, watching Derek intently. ‘I’ll see what I can find out about this Kate Argent.’

Stiles frowned at his phone and felt Derek raise his head to stare at him. ‘Peter Hale is still in a coma in Beacon Hills general hospital. He was human?’

Derek shook his head. ‘No. Born wolf. So was Laura. She was meant to be the next alpha.’

Stiles looked up to him. ‘That’s why you thought they were all dead?’

Derek nodded.

‘I’ll put in for a leave of absence. I take it we’re driving?’ Noah asked, looking to Derek.

‘If... if that’s okay with you sir?’

‘Of course it is, son, and call me Noah.’ Noah slid his hand onto Derek’s shoulder and Stiles watched as Derek leant into it.

‘If Peter’s a wolf, why is he still in a coma?’ Stiles asked, wincing as the words flew out of his mouth and Derek paled. Where the hell was his filter when he needed it?

Noah sighed, sending him a look that wasn't quite disappointed, but certainly wasn't proud either. ‘I’ll head in now and get that leave sorted. You boys pack.’

Stiles nodded, already planning on what food and drinks to take with them.

Stiles stretched as they got out of the car and huffed as Derek beelined straight for the hospital’s front door. He glanced at his dad who looked stiffer than he felt before trotting after Derek.

Derek had been quiet since he’d returned to being human and practically silent since he’d found out about his uncle and sister.

Stiles frowned when Derek didn’t bother slowing down at the main desk to ask where to go, he seemed to already know. It hurt seeing him walk away without looking back. Stiles knew it was only a matter of time before Derek would be doing it for real. Stiles knew he was looking too much into this but he wasn't ready for Derek to leave.

Instead of catching him up, he waited for his dad, he’d be able to follow easily. He was finely attuned to Derek’s scent and refused to think too deeply on why. He already knew he would be taking it hard when Derek stayed here with his family and didn’t return with them. So he wasn't thinking about it. At all.

His dad clapped him on the shoulder and nodded his head towards the rest rooms. Stiles nodded and waited for him, it allowed them to give Derek a moment with his uncle before they caught up and entered the room. It also allowed Stiles to get his emotions under control, so that Derek couldn’t smell them.

Stiles couldn’t understand why a born wolf would be stuck in a coma and have been in one for so long. He knew his dad had thought the same and had checked that Kate Argent was long gone from the area. She was and no other Argents were here, but that wasn't to say she hadn't made contacts who were still here.

Once his dad was finished, they ambled along slowly, getting a coffee and a soda before knocking on the room Peter Hale was in.

‘You okay?’ Stiles asked softly, unsurprised that Derek was staring at his uncle as if he were the only thing in the world. 

What did surprise him was that Peter was scarred. Badly scarred. All over his face and probably underneath the blankets that covered him.

Derek swallowed. ‘I can feel him.’

Stiles frowned, his heart dropping but he refused to think or feel too deeply about what that meant. ‘You-you mean a pack bond?’

Derek nodded. ‘I felt it getting stronger the closer we got here.’

‘It’s how you knew which room he was in.’ Noah nodded, glancing at Stiles but Stiles refused to catch his eye.

Stiles felt something in his heart freeze painfully and he swallowed. If Derek had a pack bond with Peter, then there was no way he was coming home with them. Stiles had known it was a long shot, he hadn't even wanted to admit that he was holding out hope, but he’d still wished.

‘Can you feel any others?’ Noah asked Derek.

Stiles winced. He hadn't even thought of that. Derek had another family member alive, a sister, that he should also be feeling a pack bond to.

Derek frowned, then breathed out heavily, grabbing his chest and flopping into a chair beside the bed. ‘Yeah. Two.’

‘That’s good isn’t it?’ Stiles asked, the words tasting like ash. ‘You can feel Laura.’

Derek shook his head, looking amazed and vulnerable at the same time. ‘No. Two more, Peter and two more.’

‘Two more?’ Stiles repeated, staring at his dad, a small tendril of hope unfurling. Two more as in not family members? He hated the words he heard leaving his mouth. ‘As in Peter, Laura and someone else?’

Derek nodded and Stiles’ soaring heart thunked back down to earth. For a moment, he’d thought that maybe Derek had meant him or his dad. But then surely, if he felt a pack bond to one of them, he would feel one to both of them.

‘Do you know who?’

Derek shook his head, then frowned. ‘Whoever it is, I think they might be with Laura.’

Not him or his dad then.

Noah sighed. ‘And she completely disappeared after the fire. BHPD lost all trace of her.’

Stiles frowned and leant over Peter, inhaling deeply.

‘Stiles!’ His dad admonished, sounding appalled. ‘Jesus kid, you can’t do that!’

Stiles scrunched up his nose. ‘You smell that?’

Noah groaned. ‘You know I don’t have your sniffer kid.’

‘Derek?’

Derek hesitantly came closer, sidling up beside him. ‘Smell what?’

‘Wolfsbane. It’s faint, but I’m sure I can smell it.’

Derek’s face shut down but he leant over his uncle, sniffing carefully. He nodded and pointed to all the areas where his uncle was still covered in burns. But that wasn’t where Stiles was smelling it. He followed his nose to the cabinet by the bed where some of Peter's medication seemed to be stored. In it was a cream that had a label to be applied topically to burns. The wolfsbane that Stiles was smelling was coming from the tub.

‘It’s in this.’ Stiles said, about to pick it up when his dad stopped him.

‘Someone’s drugged his burn cream?’ Noah asked grimly, pulling out an evidence bag and shifting the tub into it without touching it. ‘Would that explain why he hasn’t woken up yet?’

Derek shook his head. ‘No, that would explain the scars but if they’ve been adding it to his drip, it would.’

‘I’ll make some calls.’ Noah said. ‘I still have some contacts here.’

‘Does that mean hunters are still in Beacon Hills?’ Stiles asked. ‘I mean who else would know he was a werewolf and that it would keep him in a coma and from healing?’

Derek swallowed loudly and Stiles winced, wishing he’d kept his mouth shut again. He seemed to always be putting his foot into it around Derek, no wonder he didn't want to stay with them. He walked over to him and leant into Derek’s space slowly so that Derek could move away if he wanted to.

Derek didn’t, instead, he sighed and scent marked Stiles. It made the fox inside him preen happily even though as a werefox, he didn’t need, want or require an alpha. It didn't mean that he was immune to the moods of an alpha, however.  Especially as he felt a certain connection to this one, a bond. 

Not needing a pack, or having ever had one, he wasn't sure if it was a pack bond. And Derek hadn’t mentioned anything about having a bond to him even though he was now feeling bonds to three family members that he hadn’t previously.

‘D-do you think he might wake up once it’s all gone?’ Derek asked, staring at his uncle.

Stiles brought his hand up, wrapping it casually around Derek. ‘Only one way to find out.’

He didn't want to offer false platitudes, mainly because what if he was wrong? What if Peter didn't wake up once all the wolfsbane was gone? How would Derek handle that?

‘I know a nurse here who I trust with my life. I’ll give her a call and see if she can be assigned to care for Peter.’ Noah said.

Stiles frowned, wondering if he meant who he thought he meant. ‘Mrs McCall?’

Noah nodded. ‘We kept in touch. She still works here but I didn’t tell anyone we were coming.’

Stiles nodded. He’d once been really good friends with her son, Scott but after his mothers' death, Stiles hadn’t coped very well. After their move, he hadn’t kept in touch. By the time he had come out of the tunnel of grief and had started to see the sun again, he’d felt too awkward to call him up. 

His dad turned to Derek. ‘She’s a nurse, I trust her. As far as I know, she doesn’t know about the supernatural and with Stiles constantly turning into a fox as a kid and running off. I’m sure she’d have let on if she did.’

Derek nodded, his worry easing. ‘Thanks.’

‘I’ll leave you two here to look after Peter. I’ll head to the police station, introduce myself and see what’s what.’ Noah nodded and clasped them both on the shoulders before scent marking them both, just like Stiles’ mother had taught him.

‘Thanks, dad.’ Stiles smiled at him but knew it didn't reach his eyes. 

They hadn't been expecting this. They hadn't thought that hunters might still be around. That Peter Hale had been kept in his coma deliberately. This was a whole different ball game and Derek feeling two more pack bonds? Why hadn’t those on the other end of the pack bonds felt anything? Stiles wasn’t liking any of this, least of all because this town reminded him of his mother.

They’d been close, being the only two shifters in their family. And while Claudia had known about the werewolves in Beacon Hills and had a treaty with their alpha, which would have been Derek’s mother, they had stayed away from them and kept themselves to themselves. They never went to the preserve as that had been werewolf territory, but there had been plenty of other places for them to go. The moon didn't have the same strong pull for them as it did for werewolves but they still felt its effect.

‘We should wash him.’ Stiles said, nodding towards Peter, looking peaceful as he lay there even though he had wolfsbane rubbed into all of his wounds. Looks could certainly be deceiving. ‘Get as much wolfsbane off of him as we can.’

‘Do…’ Derek flinched and looked down at the ground. ‘Do you think we need to burn it out of him?’

Stiles swallowed, feeling nauseous. He really hoped they didn’t so he shook his head. ‘No, it’s been rubbed onto him so washing it off will hopefully do the trick. Otherwise, we’d have to burn his entire body.’

Derek paled making Stiles regret his words but he nodded, looking determined. ‘I’ll wash him, you stand guard.’

Derek had thoroughly washed and dried Peter, twice, and Stiles was beginning to get worried. His dad still hadn’t returned. Neither of them wanted to leave Peter, especially with him being so vulnerable, but they were both getting antsy staying where they were.

Stiles didn't really want to go wandering around the town that reminded him of his mother. A place where he knew he would see her at every corner, hear her laugh at every shop, see her smile in every window and catch her scent on every breeze. He knew it would be worse for Derek, at least Stiles had only lost his mother.

 Derek had lost almost his entire family: both parents, siblings, aunts and uncles. He knew eleven people had died in that fire. Derek had eleven people that he would see all over town, yet he knew he had to get Derek out of this room. He would preferably get Peter out as well, but he still hadn’t heard from his dad.

‘Someone’s coming.’ Derek said, standing in front of Peter’s bed protectively.

Stiles glanced around the room, taking everything in but there was nowhere for them both to hide. And he wasn’t even sure what the point in them both hiding would be. It wasn’t as if they weren’t allowed in here. Derek was Peter’s family after all.

He glanced at the bed, the only place they could both effectively hide would be under the bed. He shrugged at Derek, who looked at him resignedly.

The door opened and a petite brunette woman entered.

‘Stiles is that you? You’ve grown so handsome! And you must be Derek.’ The cheery woman pushing a wheelchair looked extremely familiar.

 It took a moment for Stiles to place her. ‘Mrs McCall?’

She grinned at him. ‘That’s me. Sorry it’s taken me so long but the transfer is all in order. Your dad said that Derek here would do all heavy lifting.’

‘Oh yeah, didn’t think he’d get it sorted this quick, to be honest.’ Stiles said to cover their confusion.

Mrs McCall laughed and winked at him as if conspiratorially. ‘I think he pulled some strings but we’re to move your friend here before he’ll tell me what was so pressing.’

Stiles smiled weakly. ‘Thanks, Mrs McCall.’

‘No problem, he’s gone through all the official people if not channels so nothing will come back on any of us.’ She pushed the chair up to Derek. ‘You know how one of these works?’

Derek shook his head silently and watched intently as she showed him how the brakes and everything worked. 

Stiles’ phone beeped and he let out a relieved sigh to see the message was from his dad. He said to be nice to Mrs McCall, follow her lead and he was outside waiting for them. He glanced up to see Derek watching him and he smiled and nodded at him. Derek went back to listening to Mrs McCall.

In a matter of minutes, she had Peter disconnected from all the machines and Derek was hauling him into the chair.

‘Okay, head straight down the corridor, turn left at the end, another left and keep going. Your dad will meet you outside.’ Mrs McCall ruffled Stiles' hair. ‘I wish it was under better circumstances, but it's so good to see you. You look so much like your mom.’

Stiles attempted to smile but settled for swallowing as the tears pushed at his eyes. ‘Thanks, Mrs McCall. For everything.’

She smiled sadly. ‘Get on with you. I’ll go distract anyone who comes by.’

Derek nodded at her, still silent and pushed Peter down the hallway. Stiles waved at her and trotted to catch them up.

‘What’s going on?’ Derek hissed quietly.

‘Dunno. Dad said to follow her lead.’ Stiles admitted. ‘And that he was outside.’

He pushed open some emergency doors and a second later they were waiting by the truck his dad had hired to drive them back here. No one had wanted to use the sheriff’s cruiser and the truck had been rented in a name that couldn’t be easily traced to them.

They got Peter and Derek into the back seat, the chair into the truck bed and Stiles up front with his dad.

‘What’s going on?’ Stiles asked the second all the doors were closed.

‘Not sure, but I spoke to Tara, you remember her?’ Noah asked. Stiles nodded distractedly. The name was familiar but he was too concerned with checking their surroundings and memorising passing number plates. ‘She looked into Peter Hale and his care. His nurse was hired to look after him and only him, only no one can find any record of who hired her, nor does she seem to even exist as a person.’

‘What?’ Stiles frowned.

Noah hummed grimly. ‘She’s looking into it. I’ve got her looking into the fire as well. She’s already found a load of discrepancies and red flags. We figured it was best to move Peter before anyone found out or she started an official re-opening of the case.’

‘I think I might have found your third pack bond.’ Noah said, handing Derek a strong drink.

They had found a house to rent, on the outskirts of town with no passing traffic that backed onto the preserve. It was far enough away from the old house that Stiles hoped it wouldn’t be too traumatic for Derek but close enough to town for them to come and go easily.

Stiles paused with his hand full of crisps halfway to his mouth, his head whipping between Derek and his dad. He moved his free hand towards Derek, meaning to pat him reassuringly, only Derek’s hand found his and gripped it tightly. 

Stiles wasn’t going to turn him away, although he did curse his traitorous heart when it noticeably quickened. Luckily, Derek didn’t seem to notice. Stiles couldn’t tell if he was glad or not that Derek didn’t seem to notice every little thing about him.

‘Who?’ Derek’s voice was hoarse even though a second ago it had been fine.

‘Cora.’ Noah’s voice was gentle. ‘From what I can gather, she ran right after the fire, to South America. Met Laura along the way.’

‘They, they’ve been there the whole time? They’re safe? Both of them?’

Noah nodded. ‘I haven’t spoken to them directly. There were rumours of another Hale that had survived the fire, hiding out and finding safety down there. My wife had contacts all over, she liked to travel. I called one of them and they confirmed that both Laura and Cora are together and safe in a neighbouring pack they have close ties with.’

Derek closed his eyes, his throat working. He took a deep breath, opened his mouth, faltered, and took another breath. ‘Thank you, I’d like to speak to them when you do get ahold of them.’

‘Of course. I asked for them to be given my cell number.’ Noah reached out and clasped his shoulder.

Stiles smiled as Derek leant into the touch but his heart ached at the fact that Derek would soon have his own pack and wouldn’t need them any more. He was not looking forward to that day. In fact, he was dreading it and hoped it would never come, but beggars couldn’t be choosers and he couldn’t force Derek to like him back.

He was pleased that Derek’s family hadn’t completely perished in the fire. That he still had three relatives still alive, but he’d gotten used to the wolf living with them and being there. He didn’t want to lose that. He knew he got attached to people quickly, very quickly, and once attached was hard to remove. Kinda like a barnacle. And it was going to hurt when Derek moved on without him. He may not feel pack bonds, but Derek meant a lot to him and was quickly becoming family.

Stiles wasn’t sure if it was wishful thinking or not but to him, Peter already looked better. He’d lost the paleness and washed out look to his features and Stiles was positive that his scars didn’t look as obvious as when he’d first seen the man.

Derek wasn’t convinced but Stiles didn’t think he’d be convinced until Peter was awake and reassuring him personally.

‘I’ve also heard more about the fire.’

Stiles frowned. ‘That was quick.’

‘Yes and no. It seems this isn’t the first time it’s happened, nor was it the last.’ Noah sighed and rubbed a hand over his face, his scent resigned. ‘Although she does seem to have perfected her technique with you, Derek, there’s people tracking her with evidence that will hold up in a court of law. I’m working with Tara, on the quiet, to gather evidence here to add to that. She’s a good cop with a good reputation.’

Stiles narrowed his eyes, there was something his dad wasn’t telling them. ‘But?’

‘But she’s raised concerns the current sheriff either ignored evidence or was paid off.’

‘Shit,’ It was worse than Stiles had imagined. If the current sheriff had been paid off, then he’d be actively trying to stop them from uncovering anything. If he’d ignored or missed evidence, as long as he didn’t cotton on to what they were doing, they might have an easier ride of finding the evidence they needed.

‘Language.’ Noah said automatically but without any heat. His phone rang and Stiles watched him frown at the withheld number. ‘Sheriff Stilinski.’

The person on the other end was silent for a beat. ‘Someone I trust told me to call you urgently.’

Derek went still at the sound of the woman’s voice. Unnaturally still, his breath entering his body with a gasp.

‘Laura Hale?’ Noah asked, watching Derek’s reaction.

She was quiet again. ‘Yes.’

‘Let me hand you over to your brother.’ Noah handed the phone over to Derek but they all heard her shocked gasp.

‘L-Laura?’ Derek stuttered, his eyes watering.

‘Derek?’ Laura sounded disbelieving.

Derek started shaking, claws growing out of his fingers and his breath coming in quick short gasps. 

Recognising it instantly, Stiles pushed himself into Derek’s view.

‘Derek? Derek, can you look at me?’ Stiles asked, squatting in front of him but not touching. He would let Derek make that choice. He remembered having panic attacks, he’d gotten them a lot after his mom had died and everything had just been too much.

‘What’s going on? Who’s that? Derek? Derek?’

Stiles ignored Laura. He knew she’d be able to hear everything and should be able to figure out what was happening. ‘There we go, keep looking at me. Can you take a breath in? Good. And out. Keep looking at me. Laura’s still on the phone, she’s still here with us, okay Derek? Can you take another breath in for me? And out again. Can you hold the next breath in for a second longer? I’ll breathe with you. In. And hold. And out. And hold. And again. In and hold. A second longer and out again. Good. My dad’s going to take the phone but Laura will stay on the line okay? Do you need to hold my hand? Okay, here we go, keep breathing, that’s my hand on your left one okay?’ 

Derek whined, dropping his head down as tears spilled down his face.

‘You can say no Derek, but am I okay to touch you? Wrap my arms around you?’ Stiles was desperate to but knew it wasn't his call. He had a lot of experience with panic attacks after his mom had died. His dad had been the only one he’d been able to handle touching him. Anyone else had just made it worse.

Derek nodded, his entire body shaking and Stiles quickly enveloped him into a full body hug. It hadn’t been a full panic attack but that didn’t lessen what Derek had just been through and what he was feeling.

Stiles could hear his dad explaining to Laura what was happening, his voice getting fainter as he walked further away to explain how they’d found Derek while Derek tried to bury his face in Stiles' neck. 

Stiles let him, relishing the contact with Derek while he still had it while hating himself for feeling this way while Derek had a panic attack and was dealing with the after effects. He’d always felt drained, shaky and insecure, needing both reassurance and space. He knew it was different for everyone, but Derek seemed keen to keep his scent close and to allow Stiles to wrap himself around Derek and hold him tight.

Stiles wasn't sure how long he had been sat on the floor with Derek in his arms but long enough for him to get a crick in all his joints. Which for a shifter, was impressive. Derek didn’t startle when his dad entered the room and his breathing remained even. Stiles guessed that he’d fallen asleep.

It was nice knowing that after everything he had been through, he trusted them to keep him safe while he slept.

Stiles glanced over to his dad who took a seat and looked at them worriedly.

‘Laura?’ Stiles asked in a whisper.

‘Getting on a plane with Cora.’ His dad replied, keeping his voice low.

‘How did she react?’

‘Upset, worried, angry.’

Stiles frowned.

‘On her brothers' behalf.’ Noah expanded. ‘She thought wolves had helped hunters kill her family.’

‘Why?’ Stiles asked confused. Had they smelt other wolves around that time?

‘Laura was being trained to be the next alpha. When she didn’t get the alpha spark, she ran.’

Stiles rolled his eyes. ‘Even I know picking the next alpha is useless. The spark goes to whoever it deems fit in the pack, unless the alpha is killed by another wolf’s claws, trying to pick a successor is useless.’

Noah shrugged. ‘We didn’t know the Hales well enough to know if Talia knew this or not.’

‘We’re not even wolves and we know that.’

‘Only because of your mother.’

Stiles winced and nodded. His mother had travelled far and wide, and knew a lot about other weres, not just werefoxes. It had kept her safe until something else had gotten her. Stiles hadn’t done any of that. Maybe he would have, if his mom hadn’t died. But she had, and his dad was all he had left. They kept themselves to themselves and hidden from the supernatural community.

Coming back here, with werewolves, was a big thing for them. Even though neither of them had had to be convinced. Derek hadn’t even asked them to return, they had just organised it.

‘When do they get in?’

‘She’s going to text me the details as soon as she gets a flight.’

‘How did she sound?’ Stiles asked, knowing that his father would know what he was really asking.

‘Like a worried sister who’s just found out the brother she thought was dead is alive and needs her.’

Stiles nodded. ‘Does she know Derek’s an alpha?’

Noah shook his head. ‘I didn’t feel like that was my information to tell.’

‘No, that’s for them.’ Stiles agreed, shifting himself to get more comfy. He wrapped his arm more securely around Derek, who pressed himself closer to Stiles in his sleep, mumbling nonsense.

‘I’m going to go check on Peter, you alright down there?’

Stiles nodded. He wasn’t enjoying the circumstances, but was liking the feel of Derek pressed against him. It made him feel safe and wanted. Needed. He liked it. Derek gave him a sense of home and belonging and he didn't want to lose that but knew he would when Derek stayed here with his pack and him and his dad went back home.

He heard his dad’s cell ring in the other room and his dad answer it.

‘Sheriff, I’ve just got word on a warrant for the arrest of one Kate Argent in Ruidoso in New Mexico.’ A female voice said.

‘What?’ His dad replied, sounding surprised.

‘They’re executing it now. A family of eight just had a near miss with their family home being burnt down. Luckily none of them were in it, they were at the police station with their fourteen year old son giving evidence of his swim coach trying to sleep with him.’

Stiles assumed the female voice was Tara. He couldn’t remember her surname but vaguely remembered what she looked like. He’d liked her and his dad obviously still respected her.

‘Have you got any more information?’

‘Yeah, I think I’m going to need you in for this. Sheriff Halley ignored a lot of information that’s going to be brought to light.’

‘Hell.’ His dad sighed. ‘I’ll head in now, how big a blow out are you expecting?’

‘Big, if he’d done his job, this would have been unearthed years ago.’

‘Okay, I’m on my way. Thanks, Tara.’

His dad came back into the room and raised an eyebrow at him.

Stiles nodded. ‘I heard. Doesn’t sound good.’

Noah shook his head. ‘Once all of this comes to light, Beacon Hills will be looking for a new sheriff. The Hales were well liked and well respected. The public are not going to be happy that their sheriff glossed over a vital part of their community getting slaughtered.’

‘Do you think he’s going to try and hide it?’

His dad shook his head. ‘I won’t let him. Too many people have died due to his incompetence.’

‘Good.’ Stiles nodded resolutely. ‘Thanks, dad.’

His dad nodded. ‘Call me if you need anything. Peter looks better.’

‘I thought so too.’ Stiles agreed.

His dad gave him a look. ‘His scarring is almost gone.’

‘What? Really?’ Stiles asked, his jaw dropping. Peter was definitely on the mend then.

‘Really.’ A hoarse voice said from behind his dad, making them both jump.

Stiles whipped around, accidentally shoving Derek forward as he stared at the man standing in the doorway behind his dad. He blinked at him while pulling Derek back into his arms.

‘Peter Hale. It’s good to see you awake.’ Noah said while Stiles pulled a sleepy Derek upright so he could see.

‘Uncle Peter?’ Derek asked, staring wide eyed at him.

Peter stilled in the doorway, staring at them both. ‘Derek?’

Derek flashed his red eyes at his uncle and Peter flashed yellow ones in return.

‘Alpha.’ Peter sighed, a tension Stiles hadn’t seen leaving his shoulders. ‘It went to you.’

‘I don’t know why.’ Derek’s voice sounded small and scared. ‘It shouldn’t have been me. It-it was my fault.’

‘It was not your fault.’ Stiles said at the same time as his dad. ‘Kate manipulated you and she will pay for that.’

Derek snorted, his head hung low.

‘There’s a warrant out for her arrest. A family in New Mexico came forward. She pulled the same stunt, only they were at the police station giving evidence of her trying to sleep with the fourteen year old son when their house went up in flames at 2am.’ Noah said quietly.

Derek swallowed loudly.

‘What?’ Peter blinked, swaying on the spot. ‘Kate? Someone… Derek, you were fifteen! That happened to you?’

Stiles could feel Derek shaking in his arms but his face was emotionless.

‘Why didn't… How did nobody know?’ Peter gripped the doorway. ‘How did Talia not smell her on you?’

Derek shrugged. ‘I didn’t know she was a hunter. Not until after, when she…’

‘When she what?’

Derek swallowed. ‘She bragged and handed me over to other hunters.’

Peter frowned. ‘I don’t- I don’t understand.’

Stiles squeezed Derek, looking at him questioningly. Derek nodded, avoiding eye contact but then took a deep breath. ‘They held me captive, they wanted to know more about us and to develop easier ways of finding and killing us.’

‘How long?’ Peter rasped out, his fingers turning into claws and leaving gauges in the wood.

It was clear he could hear what Derek wasn’t saying.

‘The Stilinski’s found me a few months ago. We came back as soon as I found out you’d survived.’ Derek said, breathing deeply and gripping Stiles’ arm tightly.

Peter stared, waiting for more information.

‘About ten years.’ Noah’s voice was quiet.

Peter nodded, staring at nothing, looking utterly shell shocked.

‘I need to go into the sheriff’s station. We’ve been gathering evidence against Kate Argent to add to the charges going against her.’ Noah said. ‘It seems the current sheriff was negligent in the case of the Hale fire.’

‘Negligent?’ Peter repeated.

‘It was ruled accidental.’ Noah said. He patted Peter’s arm who startled at the touch. ‘I’m going to get that changed.’

Peter laughed hollowly and watched as Noah scent marked Derek and Stiles on his way out.

‘You hungry?’ Stiles offered after a moment of awkward silence.

‘Yeah.’ Peter sighed. ‘What I would kill for a steak.’

Stiles snorted. ‘No killing necessary, we’ve got steak in the fridge. You wanna help Derek?’

‘Yeah.’ Derek nodded, somehow elegantly getting up off of Stiles’ lap before he frowned. ‘I was on the phone to Laura?’

Stiles nodded as he headed into the kitchen, Derek and Peter following. ‘Her and Cora are getting a flight up here. They’ll text dad the details.’

‘They’re alive?’ Peter snarled, suddenly angry.

Stiles narrowed his eyes. ‘Yeah, why?’

‘Where have they been? Were they held captive as well?’

‘No.’ Stiles shook his head as he handed Derek an onion to cut up and set the pan heating up. ‘They’re safe in South America. They thought another wolf was involved as Laura didn’t inherit the alpha spark.’

‘Thank God.’ Peter snorted.

Derek frowned. ‘Why not?’

‘I’m sensing there's no love lost between you two.’ Stiles grabbed some baguettes and handed them to Peter with a knife.

‘Talia,’ Peter spat his sister's name. ‘Was training Laura to be just like her.’

‘I take it that’s a bad thing?’ Stiles asked while Derek looked at his uncle in confusion. He got the butter out the fridge and placed it next to Peter who was holding the bread knife as if he was debating seriously harming the baguettes.

Peter laughed again but this time it wasn't as hollow as before, but more sarcastic. He cut the baguettes up perfectly and swapped the bread knife for a butter knife. ‘Talia didn't believe in packs having a left hand. She couldn’t stand me but she couldn’t get rid of me either.’

‘Left hands are essential to packs.’ Stiles said slowly as he cut the steaks up into thick strips. ‘But that would explain how a hunter got in.’

Peter shook his head. ‘I’m not an angel, but she wouldn’t let me do anything.’

Stiles raised an eyebrow, he was beginning to get a feel on the type of man that Peter Hale was. He threw the onions into the pan, holding off on the steak. ‘I bet that chafed.’

‘Like you wouldn’t believe,’ Peter groaned.

‘And she was training Laura to be alpha?’ Stiles checked.

Peter nodded.

‘Didn’t Talia know that you can’t manipulate who the alpha spark goes to?’ Stiles blurted out astonished.

Peter blinked, going expressionless and hummed non-committedly. 

Stiles snorted. ‘I take it you didn't know that either?’

Peter huffed gently. ‘I’d heard, but never seen any evidence of it either way.’

‘You in a position to see either?’ Stiles asked, trying to get a feel of what Talia Hale had been like.

‘Talia didn’t keep a tight leash if that’s what you’re asking. But she was the only one who really socialised with other packs.’ Peter admitted, looking sad.

‘And you were afraid that Laura was going to follow in her mother’s footsteps.’ Stiles put together.

Peter nodded.

‘Mom was sure that Laura was going to be the next alpha.’ Derek supplied. ‘Laura got all the alpha lessons. We didn’t even know who the emissary was.’

Stiles paused, then nodded. That wasn't all that strange, some emissaries didn't want to be part of the pack, some did. He turned to Peter. ‘You know who the emissary was?’

Peter snorted. ‘Of course, not that Talia was aware of that.’

Stiles grinned at him.

Peter rolled his eyes. ‘Alan Deaton, local veterinarian.’

Stiles pulled out his phone and tapped at it. ‘He’s still here. Maybe we should pay him a visit. See why he didn't know there were hunters in town.’

Peter looked at stiles appraisingly before smiling. ‘Not that it will change anything but I like the way you think…’

‘Shit, where are my manners? Stiles Stilinski.’

Peter blinked. ‘Any relations to Claudia Stilinski?’

Stiles winced. ‘My mom.’

‘She was a good woman. I was sorry to hear about her passing. And I’m assuming she is whatever you are?’

Stiles grinned. ‘She never told you huh?’

Peter chuckled. ‘Sadly no and Talia ordered me not to pry.’

Stiles raised an eyebrow and threw the steaks into the pan.

‘I took it to mean not to pry about what she was. We became acquaintances though. Not quite friendly but enough to offer pleasantries.’

Stiles snorted. ‘Well seeing as Derek already knows and I get a good feeling off of you, but you need to promise to keep it secret.’

Peter raised an incredulous eyebrow. ‘I think you are the first person to ever say that about me.’

Stiles grinned smugly.

‘So what are you? You’re fathers obviously human and seeing as I have both you and your father to thank for saving both Derek and myself, I will keep your secret and am in your debt.’

‘Werefox.’

Peter blinked. ‘Really? I’ve heard of werefoxes but never met one. There are rumours that you’re extinct.’

Stiles nodded. ‘We’re rare and have learnt the hard way to be even more secretive than other supernaturals.’

‘I can understand and respect that. Is that why Claudia kept it from us?’

Stiles nodded sadly. 

‘How do you know so much about us if you kept to yourselves?’ 

‘Foxes like to roam and we’re good at keeping secrets.’ Stiles shrugged. ‘Mom had tons of contacts, Dad’s kept in touch with a few of them, it’s how we found Laura and Cora.’

Peter shrugged, his scent turning dubious. ‘Hopefully, Laura’s found who she is, rather than becoming an imitation of her mother.’

Stiles shrugged. ‘We’ll soon be finding out.’

‘Thank God Derek’s the alpha.’

Derek choked. ‘Some alpha, all I’ve managed to do is get tortured by hunters.’

‘Hey!’ Stiles glared at him. ‘You’ve found your pack. Peter’s out of the hospital and awake, Laura and Cora are on their way here.’

‘And you’ve acquired two more pack members.’ Peter supplied. ‘I’d say you’re doing a pretty okay job.’

It was Stiles’ turn to choke. ‘I’m sorry what? Two more pack members? You're not talking about Laura and Cora are you?’

‘And here I thought you were smart Stiles,’ Peter grinned smarmily and leant over to pierce one of the steaks with a claw that extended from his hand and bit into it. ‘Perfect.’

Stiles slapped his hand and grabbed the pan, pouring the steak and onions into the baguettes and grabbed one, leaving the other two for Derek and Peter.

Stiles didn’t question him any further, if he was wrong, then he wasn't sure he could handle the pain.

Stiles woke with a snort and blinked blearily. It was night time and his face was smashed into Derek’s neck. Hadn't he been the one looking out for Derek? Protecting Derek? So how was Derek the one with Stiles’ face in his neck and Stiles’ drool smeared over him?

He listened, wondering what had woken him. He could hear his father's heartbeat, along with his own and Derek’s, Peter’s heart beat and two others. They were in the same room as his father’s.

He lifted his head as he heard his father heading towards him. Derek opened his eyes at the movement and raised an eyebrow questioningly.

‘Dad’s home.’ He said, not questioning how they had gotten from the front room to the bedroom they were sharing. Nor did he question why Derek was still sharing a room with him, why look a gift horse in the mouth? ‘But he’s not alone.’

He felt Derek tense but then Derek pulled him out of the bed and tucked him behind him.

Stiles blinked at Derek’s muscular back, his eyes automatically following the contours and ridges.

‘Stiles?’ His dad called lightly, as if not wanting to wake him if he was asleep.

‘Yeah, we’re awake,’ Stiles called back, poking at Derek’s back and ignoring Derek’s admittedly impressive glower. ‘Who’s with you?’

‘I picked up Laura and Cora from the airport.’ His dad stepped back, looking surprised as Derek yanked the door open.

‘They’re here?’

‘Derek?’ Laura asked, from a little way down the hallway.

Derek glanced back and forth between Stiles and his dad before hesitantly stepping forward into his sister's sight.

‘Oh God, Derek!’ Laura sounded fraught and Stiles watched as Derek suddenly had his arms full of a beautiful dark haired woman.

She pushed her face into his neck then reared back, scrunching her face up. Stiles winced, knowing she had probably just gotten a face full of his scent and saliva and not the brother she had been expecting.

‘Derek, I’m sorry, I thought you were dead!’

Derek snorted. ‘I thought you were dead too. I didn’t even know Peter had survived.’

‘I’m so sorry. I can’t believe they had you all this time and I didn’t know!’ Laura pulled him close again, crying into the other side of his neck.

‘It’s okay, it’s okay. We’re all here now.’ Derek soothed her, rubbing her back.

Stiles looked down the corridor and could see who he presumed was Cora stood there, awkwardly watching. He nodded to her and she nodded back. He vaguely remembered her now that he’d seen her, they were the same age, had been in the same class, but ran in different circles.

He looked the other way and saw Peter stood there, his arms crossed, glaring at them. He squeezed past Derek and Laura and sidled up to Peter. ‘You okay?’

‘She may not have known Derek was alive, but she knew I was.’ Peter said, not bothering to speak quietly, knowing that everyone there would hear him.

Laura froze, pulling back from Derek and blinking quickly. ‘Uncle Peter? Y-you’re awake?’

‘No. I’m sleepwalking.’ He replied sarcastically. ‘No thanks to you.’

‘You were in a coma.’ Laura replied shakily. ‘We heal, we don’t fall into comas.’

‘We do if we’re being poisoned with wolfsbane.’ Peter retorted.

Stiles watched as Laura paled.

‘I-I. what?’ She blinked and looked to Derek for confirmation.

Derek nodded. ‘Wolfsbane was being added to his drip and mixed into his burn cream.’

‘Oh God,’ Laura looked nauseous.

‘Who?’ Cora asked from behind them. ‘Who would do such a thing?’

‘Hunters.’ Noah sighed.

‘H-hunters had Derek captive and were torturing him and they also kept uncle Peter in his coma?’ Cora asked. ‘But it was wolves who killed our family?’

Derek frowned. ‘No. It was the same hunters. I didn’t know she was a hunter. She-she bragged about it afterwards.’

Cora blinked and stared at Laura. ‘But… But why didn’t Laura become alpha then?’

Derek flinched.

‘The alpha spark chooses who it goes to, not the previous alpha.’ Stiles said, causing the two female Hales to stare at him. ‘And the spark didn’t choose Laura.’

‘Uncle Peter?’ Laura asked, staring at him in confusion.

Peter shook his head. ‘Not me.’

‘Me.’ Derek said loudly. ‘That’s why I thought you were dead. Because I became alpha.’

Laura stared at Derek.

Derek flashed his eyes at her.

She breathed in sharply, her own automatically flashing back beta yellow. ‘Oh. Wow.’

‘I thought mom was training Laura to be the next alpha?’ Cora asked, looking confused as she glanced between Laura and Derek.

Laura nodded, biting her lip. ‘She was.’

‘So how did Derek become alpha?’

‘It wasn’t up to Talia to decide who became her successor. The alpha spark picks.’ Peter explained. ‘Talia refused to believe that, she thought she could get around it.’

‘I, I was never going to be alpha?’ Laura asked quietly, looking gutted.

Stiles shrugged. ‘We’ll never know. If the fire had never happened, if Kate followed the code and hadn’t targeted Derek, who knows what would have happened?’

‘Who’s Kate?’ Cora asked. ‘And how did she target Derek?’

Derek swallowed. ‘She was a substitute teacher at school. She was nice, I thought she liked me. I didn’t know she was a hunter.’

Laura looked at Derek sharply. ‘But you were what, fifteen? Why would a teacher… oh God!’

‘She was arrested today. On multiple charges with airtight evidence that will certainly send her to jail.’ Noah supplied. ‘I’ve been helping the local police include what happened to your family to her charges.’

‘I-I thought the police ruled it an accident?’ Laura asked shakily. Noah looked at her. ‘I followed the case.’

Noah nodded. ‘It seems the local sheriff was negligent. He resigned.’

‘He resigned?’ Stiles repeated. ‘He wasn't covering it up?’

Noah shook his head. ‘Just incompetent. But he knows what it means, the public are going to be out for his blood.’

‘Why?’ Cora asked.

‘Because your family was well known and loved in the community and he let their murderers go free. He didn’t even bother looking into it, just accepted fabricated reports that it was an electrical accident.’

Cora swallowed, ‘So what happens now?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, Derek’s our alpha, I felt the bond as soon as he flashed his eyes. Are we moving back here now?’

Stiles held his breath as he glanced at Derek to see his reaction. He looked poleaxed but this was the million dollar question. The question that Stiles had been too afraid to ask.

‘I-I don’t know.’ Derek admitted. ‘I hadn’t planned that far, I just wanted to find you.’

‘With the hunters gone, there's nothing stopping us from settling here and rebuilding the pack.’ Peter mused. ‘I suppose it depends on the Stilinski’s.’

Stiles blinked, glancing at his dad who looked just as surprised as he felt. He felt slightly nauseous. ‘Us? Why us?’

‘Well, you’re pack,’ Peter informed them casually. ‘Are you moving here, or are we following you back to where you do live?’

‘We-we’re pack?’ Stiles repeated faintly.

‘Of course.’ Derek turned to him, frowning. ‘Do-do you not want to be?’

‘No! I do! I want to be pack!’ Stiles agreed urgently, gripping hold of Derek in case he was going somewhere. ‘I just... didn’t know that we were, pack that is. You want us as pack?’

Derek nodded. ‘You saved me. Stiles, you made me feel safe again. Of course you’re pack. Where you go, I go.’

Stiles blinked, his eyes suddenly full of water and he nodded his head. ‘Okay.’

His dad sighed. ‘Well, I was just offered the sheriff’s position here. It’s up to you kid.’

Stiles turned to Derek, grinning broadly and pulled him close. His hands sliding up to cup his cheeks and he pressed his face close to Derek’s, breathing in for a second. Then, ever so slowly, he gently pressed his lips to Derek’s.

Derek slid a hand around to the small of Stiles’ back, applying pressure so that Stiles’ body pressed them closer together. Stiles increased the pressure of his mouth, running his tongue across the seam of Derek’s lips, opening his mouth to slot his lips in between Derek’s when he did the same.

‘I take it we’re moving back then?’ Stiles heard Cora say but he didn’t answer, instead choosing to kiss Derek again.