Seven years after leaving Beacon Hills for good, Derek Hale returned.
Driving the Camaro through town felt sad, strange, and a bit nostalgic. Things looked the same, but felt different.
He contemplated stopping for a room at the Inn, but decided to see the Preserve first. It had been years and he had missed the smell of home. He wanted to feel the preserve again and he knew that soon he would have to find Scott and make his presence known, but for now he wanted a bit of time alone.
He parked off the main road and walked through the trees, smelling and touching while walking in the general direction of the Hale house. He knew that the city tore it down after he left, since he gave them permission, but he still wanted to go back and see what the land looked like. See if there was any life there.
Derek broke through the clearing where the Hale house was and where a clear piece of land should be and found a stately home. Larger possibly than the Hale house was. He floundered unable to breathe.
*This is Hale property. Who would build here?* He felt his vision go white at the edges and was sure that if he was human he would be on the floor.
Just off to the side of the front porch, he spotted a shirtless man, with smooth broad shoulders, chopping wood with his back turned to Derek. His pale skin dotted with moles and a large tattoo taking up his entire back and his upper arms. A tree curving around his body like he belonged in its bark. He paused in his work. Set his axe down and shrugged on a plaid shirt. His jeans were still dangerously low.
Turning around the man didn't even raise his voice when he called out. "This is Private Property"
The man wasn't even looking at Derek. He was buttoning his buttons with long graceful fingers. He saw no threat in Derek. It made Derek's wolf itch.
Derek growled, advancing slightly out of the trees toward the porch. "This is Hale property."
The man stopped abruptly, looking up, then had the gall to laugh, his amber eyes gleaming as if this was the funniest thing to happen today. A smirk never left his face as he stated quite firmly. "You know Derek, it is customary to let the Alpha know you are coming prior to entering their territory. And this hasn't been your land in many years. This is pack land."
"Stiles" Derek breathed. It's almost like a prayer, like up until this moment Derek didn't remember every inch of Stiles and hadn't mapped it from memory for the last seven years.
Stiles face showed his confusion at the reaction, but he set he eyes cold and hard. Only quirking an eyebrow waiting for an answer.
Derek shook himself slightly, clearing his throat. "I didn't think Scott would mind me stopping by. This is my home after all."
Stiles sighed shaking his head. "There are several things wrong with your observation there, big guy. First, Scott isn't the Alpha; Second, Even if he was the Alpha, you still left the pack high and dry for over seven years; and Third, This isn't your home."
Derek felt so confused, his mind scrambling to understand who could possibly be the Alpha, if not Scott.
"But then who-" He was cut off when the front door opened with a bang.
Stiles immediately turned his attention away to the newcomer. An older, more mature, but still the same Lydia Martin.
"Alpha-"She called out, but stopped immediately when she looked up at Stiles.
"Go in the house Lydia" His voice was hard and there was a growl to the edge.
"But-"The girl wasn't looking at Stiles. She was looking at Derek with the same fierce eyes she has always had, but there was wisdom there, strength. Wisdom and strength that only came with time and battle.
"Now. Lydia." The command is strong and no doubt a lesser beta would whimper. Lydia didn't falter though.
"Yes, Alpha." Lydia glared straight at Derek, before slamming the door so hard it rattled threatening to come off the hinges.
Stiles turned back to Derek, his eyes still bleeding back to brown, the red rim clear as day.
Derek's Mind was racing.
*Holy Shit. Stiles is the Alpha of Beacon Hills. Holy Shit Stiles is a Werewolf. Holy Shit I ruined Stiles' life*
Then, Derek passed out.