Stiles quietly pulled into the school parking lot on Monday. He couldn't believe that he had left his best friend-and Derek-in the woods and was too afraid to go back and see what had happened to them. Maybe he calmed down and is out there whining about how Alison hates him. Or maybe he was still eating Derek.
"Oh God" he didn't want to picture his best friend eating anyone, but it made perfect sense. Why else wouldn't Derek have contacted him? Because he thinks you're a hyper active idiot. Sometimes he hated his subconscious. His thoughts were interrupted when Alison popped out of nowhere and gave him a hug.
"Have you heard anything?"
He wrapped his hands loosely around her "No, he might still be eating Derek"
Alison immediately stepped back and looked at him horrified "Why would you say something like that?!"
Stiles twitched nervously "Uh…you're right! Derek's a tough guy, I'm sure he got away or something" he tried to smile reassuringly.
Alison didn't know how to feel about Stiles' rambling, but she gave him a small smile before walking into school. Stiles flailed a bit in dismay before following after her. "So what do we do now?"
Stiles shrugged "Don't know. We could go back to Derek's place, but what would we do if Scott's still out of control?"
"Maybe we could reason with him?" If Stiles expression was good for anything, than her suggestion wasn't such a good idea.
"Or" Stiles began, still giving his friend the-are you stupid-look. "We could try and find Derek"
"And that'll help us how?"
Stiles shrugged and readjusted his backpack strap "I don't know. Maybe he'll know how to bring Scott out of it since he's been a werewolf all his life" Alison just stared at him with mild disbelief on her face. "What? There's gotta be some perks for a pure breed"
Alison shrugged and looked ahead. She couldn't really argue with his logic since she only found out about werewolves a few days ago. And you practically jumped at the chance to kill one, smooth. "Ok, we have a plan. All we have to do is get through the school day"
Stiles actually laughed at that as they reached their classroom "Yeah, God forbid we have a normal day at school" Alison didn't respond and instead stared wide eyed into the classroom. Stiles was a little miffed about that, but quietly turned to see what she was looking at. Sitting in his usual spot at the center of the room was Scott McCall. Stiles felt his jaw drop and didn't bother to fix it. He was just too surprised to care who was staring at him.
"Yeah, God forbid" Alison whispered next to him. Sometimes I hate myself.
The day actually went by quickly. Stiles and Alison spent most of it trying to talk to Scott. She gave up after the second teacher warning, but Stiles pressed on. By the end of the day, he had earned a week worth of detention and still hadn't managed to speak with his friend. I'm beginning to think he's ignoring me.
"Well, at least we don't have to find Derek" Alison stated as they watched Scott walk out of school.
Stiles nodded in agreement. He really didn't want to go looking for the beta. Or what's left of him. "Why do you think he hasn't spoken to us?"
"Maybe he's mad that we left him in the woods"
Stiles turned in time to see how upset that made her before she hid it with curiosity. "Me, maybe. You, never. He'd be too happy that you were alive to be mad"
She flashed a quick smile, letting him know she appreciated the comment before letting it drop. "So, what now?"
"Now I'm gonna get some answers" he said before running out the doors and to his car. It wasn't long before he caught up with Scott, who was casually walking back home and began the routine. "Hey Scott!" No response. "What, no bike today?" Nothing. He's really ignoring me. "Here doggy, doggy!" That one earned him a glance of distain, but his friend remained silent. "Oh come on! I'll just keep bothering you until you talk to me" still nothing, but he could see the slight upturn of Scott's mouth before he took off down the block at an unnatural speed. Damn dog.
He floored it, focusing on the road since he already knew where he was going. He pulled in front of the McCall residence just in time to see Scott walking to his door.
"Scott, wait!" He yelled as he fumbled to get out of his car. He sprinted across the front lawn and reached out to grab the wolf, but Mrs. McCall stepped in the way as soon as Scott cleared the door.
"Stiles" Melissa addressed him with a nod
Stiles flinched back and flailed briefly before resting his hands impatiently on the door frame. "H-Hey Ms. McCall. I just need to talk to Scott about somethin-"
"No"
Stiles shut his mouth and just looked at her. Blinking once…twice…"No?"
"No" Melissa smiled at him "You're going to go home and leave Scott to his responsibilities that he's been ignoring for far too long" she added, turning him around and pushing him away from the door. "And tell Allison too"
Stiles turned around to argue, but she had already shut the door. Good job Stiles, what now? He was saved from anymore brainstorming when his phone range. He quickly fished it out of his pocket and accepted the call without seeing who was calling. "Hello"
"Stiles" Allison. "Did you talk with Scott?"
Stiles glance back at the house "No, but I still have a few ideas-"
"Try them later. You need to get to my house"
"Wait, what? Why?!"
"You'll see when you get here" she didn't elaborate before hanging up.
Stiles shoved his phone back in his pocket and glance at the house again. "Ok, you win this time, but I'll be back and…more annoying than ever!" he pointed threateningly at the house. Anyone passing by would've thought him crazy for yelling at a house, but thankfully the street was empty. You need a hobby Stiles. He turned and walked to his jeep.
Melissa walked into her kitchen to find her son smiling down at his homework. "Is something funny?" he only shook his head and kept working. She leaned against the door frame and just watched him with a fond smile "So how long do I get to enjoy this?"
"Enjoy what?"
"My son being responsible instead of making me worry all the time"
He stopped working and looked up at her, a sweet smile on his face "Does that mean you're not worrying about me? Right now?"
Melissa opened her moth to respond, but no words came out she tried again with the same results. She was always worried about her son. Scott's smile grew into a full grin as he watched his mother flounder for a response. And he knew it.
"Don't worry mom. I'm going to keep doing this" he patted his text book and smiled warmly. "There's just going to be more…house guess than usual"
"As long as they don't stop you from doing schoolwork…or mess up the house" she added the last one with a glare. Scott just nodded and went back to work. Melissa didn't even have time to relax before the doorbell rang. "I guess that's one now"
"Don't worry. We're going to finish our homework together before heading out"
She had a question on the tip of her tongue, but stopped herself. "Alright" she turned to go out the kitchen.
"Try not to worry so much, mom. I'm just going to show him some things and look for someone. Everything's going to be fine"
She glanced back at Scott's warm smile and shook her head "I don't think I can" she left to get the door.
Scott sighed, slumping back over his book. Well, it was worth a try.
Stiles must've set a record making it to Allison's house. Quickly hopping out of his car and walking to her door. He was about to knock when the door swung open and Chris was staring at him.
Stiles took a step back instinctively, his hand still raised to knock "Um, h-hi Mr. Argen-"
"Save it" Chris cut him off, grabbing his raised hand and pulling him inside before shutting the door.
Stiles waited for him to say something, but he just locked the door and started walking. "Uh, Allison c-"
"I know" he threw over his shoulder and kept walking.
Stiles threw his hands up, making random gestures to the room before slamming them at his sides and following the adult.
Chris quickened his pace when he heard the teen following him. He opened a door and began walking downstairs to the basement. "Close the door behind you"
Stiles did so before following him down "So, are you leading me to my death? Maybe bury me in the woods after?" Chris stopped and looks up at him. "What? It's like the perfect set up! You even got the creepy serial killer silence thing dow-"
"You know, I like you a lot better when you're NOT talking" Chris interrupted, irritation clear in his voice. Stiles instantly shut his mouth and Chris continued down the stairs. He hangs out with werewolves? He sped up his pace.
He could hear voices around him, but couldn't make out what they were saying. Where am I? He tried to open his eyes, but they wouldn't budge and his body felt too heavy to even try. He gave up, ready for some more sleep, but was jolted out of his haze. One of the voices was practically shrieking and he could sense the panic in the air. What happened? The last thing I remember…Derek's eyes shot open and he flinched away from the blurry figures around him. Most of them backed away, but one stayed close. He growled at it, but it only moved closer, whispering words he couldn't understand. He blinked a few times, clearing his vision enough to see Allison and Stiles standing behind her, looking relieved about something. He blinked some more, looking around for the other figures, but there were only three others in the room besides himself. Allison, Stiles and….Chris. He shot up straight and nearly keeled over from the pain in his chest, but was caught by several hands.
Stiles reached out to stop Derek-forgetting how dangerous an upset werewolf could be- and Allison quickly joined him. "Easy big guy. Don't want to pull those out" Chris moved around to the other side of the bed and helped us push the wolf back down.
Those? Derek looked down at his chest, trying to find the cause of his pain. He sluggishly lifted his hand to check, since he couldn't see anything from this angle, but Stiles stopped him.
"Trust me" he started, swallowing nervously before continuing "You don't want to touch that" Stiles liked to believe that he was tougher than most teens by now thanks to his after school supernatural activities, but he might have screamed like a little girl when he saw the inflamed cuts on the wolf's torso.
Derek lowered his hand back to his side and tried to relax "Where am I?" He asked, trying to focus on the three humans, but his senses weren't cooperating.
Allison was the one to answer "My house"
Derek immediately tensed up. So much for relaxing "Why?!" he didn't even try to keep the distain and irritation out of his voice.
"Because I brought you here" Chris stepped back into Derek's sight, showing his own anger. He didn't like the wolf's attitude and was not going to put up with it. "I went back later that night to see what happened and found you unconscious in a clearing, no alpha in sight" he leaned down over the bed. Not quite menacing, but not friendly either "last time I checked, Scott was trying to kill anything in sight, so why are you still alive?"
"Not everything, just you"
"And us" Stiles chimed in, receiving a glare from the wolf. "Come on Derek. We kind of have a crisis to deal with"
Derek watched the teen flail, his irritation rising, but he nodded and relaxed. "He wasn't trying to kill me. I just kept getting in his way"
Stiles gawked at him "What, werewolves have some kind of bro-code, but humans are fair game" Derek glared again, but Stiles didn't care. "You get to just sit by while he comes after all of us…..Oh God. Is he going to attack the town? No, he didn't kill his mom-"
"Stiles!" everyone yelled. The teen shut up and took a few steps back, but continued to fidget.
With that taken care of, Allison turned back to the task at hand "Will he come after us?"
"No, he's had time to adjust to his new power and regain his senses-"
Stiles jumped back into the conversation, literally "That's great! We just have to deal with normal wolf Scott-"
"No"
Stiles glared at the wolf "But you said-"
"He's an alpha wolf with teenage hormones" Chris cut in, tired of hearing the boys voice all together.
"Dad-"
He cut her off with a raised hand "We go by a code, but I am not going to sit by while an inexperienced and out of control alpha runs around free"
Stiles focused his glare on the hunter "So, what? Your just gonna lock him up until you deem him in control" he emphasized with finger quotes.
Chris nodded "All we need is bait" he looked at Derek and the teens followed suit.
Derek didn't like the way the hunter was looking at him and showed his discomfort in a growl "No" he tried to sit up, but Allison and Stiles pushed him back down. "I am NOT helping you hunt Scott"
"Calm down Derek. No one's hunting Scott" Allison tried to calm the wolf, but it was clear he wasn't listening. Derek growled and pushed up off the cot with his werewolf strength. The teens struggled to stop him and Stiles accidentally pressed on his wound, reopening it and spilling black blood all over the place.
Derek's chest lit up in pain and he slammed his head back into the pillow and roared.
"Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!" Stiles chanted, fumbling to stop the black blood flow while Alisson searched for medical supplies.
Chris didn't move from his spot, watching the teens fumble until his wife came down to help. Drugging Derek with a week dose of wolf bane before cleaning and stitching the wounds closed. By the time she was done, Derek had fallen into a drugged sleep.
"There" Victoria cleaned her hands off and threw the wipe with the rest of the trash "As long as nobody touches them, they should heal relatively quickly.
Stiles ducked down in shame at the comment "Right, no touching. Why isn't he healed anyway? He's a freaking werewolf. And what's with the black blood?"
Chris was wondering if he could get away with shooting the kid, but the glare from Allison derailed that thought. "A wound from an alpha is meant to be a punishment to lesser wolves and takes longer to heal. The blood turns black when their healing factor slows down and leaves them light headed and slightly disoriented until the wound closes"
"So, how are you going to catch Scott? Derek's not going to cooperate" Allison ignored the look of disbelief from Stiles.
"He doesn't need to. He'll be out of it long enough for us to catch the alpha"
Stiles looked from one hunter to the other "You're really discussing this? Allison, Scott's our friend. Are you really going to help your Dad, a freaking hunter, catch him?" she looked away in some kind of turmoil. He turned to the other hunter "And you. You have no right to hunt him. He hasn't killed anyone, so-"
Chris was in the teens face now, calm thrown to the wind "I can't let an alpha in his state-"
"What state?!" Stiles yelled back "He was back at school today as a regular kid. Not some super wolf butchering people"
Chris's hands balled into fists at his side, ready to throttle the boy when his wife cut in. "He may not be killing people now, but we can't let him go unchecked" both men turned to face her "A teen, especially a bitten one, was never meant to be an alpha. The status puts an enormous amount of stress on their psyche. Add that to a teen's hormonal imbalance and you have a very unstable and unpredictable beast"
Stiles stayed quiet as Victoria gathered the trash, but that could only last so long "What do you mean his status?"
"An alpha is the highest status a werewolf can have. He'll be physically stronger than the lower classes, but he also has responsibilities and…urges that they don't. He will be driven to mark his territory and protect it-"
"Ok, so re-teach potty training" Allison face palmed while her parents stared at him dully, not even a hint of a smile on their faces. Stiles shrugged "Ok, maybe later"
Victoria didn't miss a beat "He'll also feel the overwhelming need to grow and protect his family from anything or one he perceives as a threat"
Stiles was completely focused on her words, but he still wasn't sure if he heard that right. "Grow? As in-"
"Turning other's to strengthen his pack" Chris supplied.
Victoria nodded "The bigger the pack, the stronger he is"
Stiles was at a loss for words, so Allison cut in "Like strength in numbers?"
"Yes, but it will also make the individual members stronger and faster-"
"Ok, ok. Enough!" he might have said that a little louder than he wanted, but his mind was racing and he was beginning to panic. "Scott hates being a werewolf. He would never do that to another person"
"Before"
That one word sent dread spiking through his veins "And NONE of this explains why you need Derek"
"We explained it perfectly" Chris could feel the teens glare, but refused to look at him "Derek is a wolf outside of his pack. He is either a potential threat or pack mate"
"So, Scott will come after him"
Chris nodded "And when he does, we'll catch him"
Allison didn't like this idea. She didn't want to treat her friend-her love-like an out of control beast, but she couldn't stand by and let him kill whoever he wanted either. That probably includes me and my family. "I'll help you"
Chris nodded. He wasn't really happy to hear that, but he couldn't keep her out of it with her own life in danger. He looked at Stiles who-for the first time since he met the boy-was quietly staring at the floor. He walked up to him, but didn't touch him or enter his personal space. He didn't need to.
Allison stepped up to her friend and wrapped him in a comforting hug "It's the best thing we can do for him Stiles"
Stiles couldn't believe how completely out of control the situation had gotten and that this was their best plan of action. He looked up at Allison and was relieved to see how much this as hurting her. She still cares about him. He could feel her parents' gazes on him, but he couldn't look at them. Instead he looked at Derek, who remained oblivious to this whole conversation. He won't approve of this. Not after his family….but Scott might kill him too. "I'll help you"
I'll help you. Those words have haunted him for the past few days. How could he agree to such a bad plan? Derek was going to kill him for sure this time and if he doesn't, Scott will. But hunters are considered a threat. They had to do something or Scott would just kill them. He hadn't spoken to the Argents since that night. Sure, Allison had tried to talk to him, but he wasn't in the mood…or paying any attention to what she was saying. The only thing he could really focus on was his best friend who still hadn't spoken to him and was attending school as if nothing-completely off the supernatural scale-had happened. That was really starting to get to him.
Allison spotted Stiles at his usual spot and sat down with her lunch. She hesitated for a second before beginning to eat, figuring that by her friends unblinking gaze, he still wasn't going to talk to her. Stiles hadn't even noticed she'd sat down beside him as he stared across the room at Scott, taking in everything. Originally when this strange behavior had begun, Scott would sit at random places. He didn't really socialize, but he didn't ignore whoever he sat with either. Now it was different. He'd stop jumping from table to table and stayed at one in the far corner of the room with a few others. Stiles couldn't really see who they were, but from the brief moments he could see Scott in the crowded lunch room, he could tell that he was doing more than tolerating the interaction. He couldn't take this anymore, he needed to speak to his friend.
Thankfully Scott got up and left the lunch room for something. Stiles jerked out of his seat to follow when Allison grabbed his arm. "What are you doing?!" she hissed at him.
Stiles didn't even look at her, still focused on the door Scott had left through "I'm gonna talk to him"
"We already tried that-"
"Well, I'm gonna try again" he pulled out of her hold and took off. Allison shot up after him.
Scott walked calmly into the boys locker room, humming lightly as he set his stuff down on a bench "You know, we could've talked about this in the lunch room" he turned to face his stalker "I was really enjoying today's special"
Jackson didn't have the patients for this "Bite me"
Scott raised an eyebrow "Bite you?"
"Don't play stupid McCall. You owe me!" he really didn't have the patients for this.
Scott just looked at him before bursting into a fit of laughter. Jackson growled and walked up to him, slamming the hysterical teen into the lockers "Shut up! I know you're an alpha, so give me what I want" he slammed him into the lockers again when he didn't respond. "It's not funny!"
"Yes, it is" Scott replied, smiling from ear to ear before shoving the teen away and into the other set of lockers. Jackson barely managed to stay on his feet and quickly shuffled away from the wolf. Scott could smell the fear radiating from him now and he could easily place it as one of the best things he's ever smelled "You demand that I bite you. That I owe you. How can I not laugh at that?"
Jackson tried to compose himself, not let the other know that he was afraid, but he couldn't stop the light trembling of his body or the shaking in his voice "I-I was there when you killed the alpha. I helped-"
"Oh, right. You threw the fire bomb" Scott looked at him thoughtfully, but Jackson could see the mischief sparkling in his black eyes. Were they supposed to be that color? He was pulled from his thoughts when Scott started walking about the room "Well, I guess I should thank you for your help, but there's a few problems"
"P-problems?"
"Yes, but just a few. They mostly have to do with how you're an egotistical moron who only looks out for himself and doesn't care about anyone around him!" Jackson flinched back as Scott all but yelled at him. He was up against the lockers before he even noticed the wolf move, red eyes glaring into his own "Why would I give such a heartless bastard this gift?" Jackson could barely understand what he was saying over the growls twisted into his voice "I should just kill you now. Save everyone the trouble of having to deal with you and your pompous attitude" he lifted him off the ground, claws scrapping lightly against his throat.
"Scott!" Red eyes shifted to see his best friend looking panicked and his ex…pointing a small crossbow at him. "Scott, this isn't you. Just put him down and let's go finish our lunch"
Scott turned his head to give his friend a disinterested look, vaguely registering the wheezing sound coming from Jackson "You're not in a position to tell me what to do Stiles" Allison raised her weapon, showing that she meant business, but he didn't really care.
"Put him down Scott" she made a show notching the arrow back.
"You should put that down before you get hurt" the arrow whizzed passed his head and bounced off the wall, skittering to a stop somewhere on the floor.
"Put. Him. Down" she notched another arrow, but didn't get the chance to aim. The crossbow was out of her hands before she felt the pain of claws digging into her wrist and she was being pressed into the wall before she noticed the clawed hand around her throat.
Stiles wasn't really sure how he ended up face first on the cold tiled floor, but it didn't stop him from full blown panicking.
"No, let him up" Stiles tensed at the sound of Scott's voice. Who's holding me down? There was a quiet growl before the weight above him moved and he shot up off the ground.
Scott smirked at his friend's skittishness as he stood and turned to look at his captor. "Don't be rude Isaac. Say hi"
The teen glanced at his alpha's amused smirk before grunting at the human. His wolf features quickly fading.
Stiles gawked at him "I-Isaac? You turned Isaac and" he looked over at the pretty blond holding Allison against the wall and she smiled politely "…who the heck is that?!" The smile dropped and she growled at him, fangs barred and eyes glowing.
Scott chuckled to himself "I'm sure you remember Erica" he put his hand over his mouth to stop himself from outright laughing as Stiles gawked again.
"That's Erica?! B-but she's-"
"She's what?!" The she wolf snapped at him.
"-dropped dead gorgeous!" Stiles finished
Scott gave up and collapsed against the locker in a fit of laughter-dropping Jackson in the process-at the shocked expression on Erica's face. Jackson quickly crawled away from the wolf and went to stand behind Stiles, too shocked to utter a sound. Erica quickly recovered from her shock and flashed her best smile-teeth back to their normal size-and watched as he fumbled over whatever he was trying to say.
"Uh…S-Stiles? Little help!" Allison wheezed. The she wolf's grip had tightened around her throat before and she hasn't let up on the pressure even though she'd calmed down.
"Erica" she turned to look at her alpha "Let her breathe" Allison gulped down air once the hand left her throat, but she remained pressed to the wall.
"Scott-"
"No" he quickly cut off his friend. "I'm only going to say this once Stiles. Stay away from me"
Stay away?! Stiles couldn't believe this. "Oh sure, I'll just leave you to your crazy wolf instincts. Who's next on your list, Jackson?" He gestured to the teen behind him.
Scott just looked at him calmly, but his eyes reflected a bit of madness "When the time is right, I'll find you" he glanced over at Allison "And for your sake, Derek better be ok"
Allison froze at the comment. He couldn't know! "My sake? You're the one that tried to kill him"
Scott smiled again, but there was nothing happy about it "True, but I left him alive and in the woods" Allison paled as he gestured to the others and walked out the room, both following behind him.
Stiles waited a moment before turning to the teen behind him "What the hell were you thinking?!"
Jackson jumped a bit, but quickly went back into his jackass persona "I don't have to explain myself to you" he brushed pass him and left.
"Well, hope enjoyed your chat" Allison stated dryly while the boy flailed angrily.
"What is wrong with that guy?!" He caught the look on Allison's face and sighed "Ok, I screwed up. But I had to try…and why are you looking at me like that?"
The color hadn't returned to Allison's face "He knows"
Everything clicked in place and Stiles panicked "W-Wait, he can't know-"
"He just said it Stiles!"
Stiles threw up his hands in what he hoped was a calming shut up, he'll hear you gesture "No, he said Derek's not in the woods" and he knows the Argents have something to do with that.
Allison fumbled for her phone, Stiles' gestures and comment making her panic more "I need to tell my dad. We have to move him"
"Where?"
"I don't know! We have to do something!" she hissed at him and was quiet satisfied when he jumped and walked back into a bench, yelping when he fell over.
Chris felt his heart constrict painfully, but he didn't let it stop him from acting. He jogged pass his wife, ignoring her come here gesture as he made his way to the garage.He was shocked to find out that with all of their precautions, Scott had already discovered where Derek was. It wasn't really a setback considering he had many locations to store a werewolf and plenty of time to move since the alpha was in school, but he would've liked a little more warning. How did she find out that he knew? Did she approach him? Did he approach her? Did he threaten her? The questions kept coming as he prepared his truck for transport. He didn't plan on using chains, but he made sure he had enough wolf bane to keep the wolf out of it. He prepped a shot for the road, now all he needed was Derek. He walked back into the house and headed for the basement, syringe hidden just up his sleeve. He nearly dropped it when he reached the bottom. Claw marks lined the walls and one of the windows had been smashed, no werewolf in sight. He doubled checked the room to confirm this before heading back upstairs. Ok, that's a setback. Stubborn wolf.
He found his wife by the phone in the living room "Derek's gone" she started and turned to face him, shock written all over her face. "Broke a window who knows how long ago. I'll go look for him, but we'll need another plan" she nodded and he turned to leave. He couldn't have gotten too far.
"Perhaps it's for the best"
The best? He turned back to face her "Why?"
"He's coming"
That could've meant anyone, but he knew exactly who from the look on his wife's face and his timing couldn't be worse. He shook his head and turned to leave again "Then god help us all"