Scott couldn't believe it. This was power, and what was more, he actually felt confident. That wasn't typical of his wolf. Until now he'd felt like he was still growing into his wolf uneasily. This felt right. He couldn't help grinning, and Derek had to resist wanting to knock the grin right out of him. Stiles noticed this with a worried look. Well, this would certainly be interesting if nothing else.

"This is where I leave you," Xaiu told them all. "Remember, you now have a choice. Scott or Derek."

Derek watched his superior exit through the front door. If looks could kill...

"Well Derek," Peter spoke first. "I trust you know where my loyalties are. With you... "

He feigned an affectionate look, and Derek nodded, seeming to buy it. Stiles felt a wave of distrust. Was his mind jumping to conclusions, or did Peter seem to know Xaiu a little too well?

"This is ridiculous," Derek said irritably, glaring at them all. "We're all pack here. Nothing has to change right?"

Scott looked a little defiant, and Derek in turn looked even more angry.

"Right Scott?" he practically growled.

"Let me ask you something Derek," Scott began, his tone snide. "Where do you get off thinking you can order me around? You're not my alpha. I told you."

Derek snarled at him, his face contorting, fangs barred. Scott's own features shifted, his new red eye color coming out, and he snarled back. Stiles' heart sank, and he knew everything had changed. This was it. The bend in the road. From here on out there would be no uneasy alliances. It was either Scott or Derek. If you had asked Stiles a year ago who he supported it would have been Scott no question, but now...

"Stiles?" Scott questioned him.

His best friend looked a little disbelieving. He had sensed Stiles' conflicting feelings.

"Surely you wouldn't choose him?"

Stiles felt his mouth open. Even Derek's eyes were on him now. This was insane. Scott hadn't even been an alpha for five minutes! Derek was his friend too. How could he be asked to choose?

"Scott," Stiles said quietly. "I... I don't know. Okay? You're my friend. Derek's my friend... "

Scott nodded, turning back to Derek with his angry wolf face.

"Like I said," he growled. "You aren't my alpha. You've never been. I already told you that."

"Have it your way," Derek spat at him. "Get out of my house."

Peter kept his face surprisingly neutral through all of this. Scott gave a low snarl and walked past Derek, turning to Stiles.

"I'll change you," Scott told him. "Is that what you want?"

Stiles felt fresh conflict fill him. Is that what he wanted? Now? In the midst of all of this? His eyes moved to Derek. Was that a hint of fear he saw in the Sourwolf's features? Fear of what? He only knew he felt something in Derek's eyes pleading with him. Don't do it...

"I'm not sure yet," he told his best friend.

Scott had felt Stiles' conflict with his alpha senses. He knew that Derek was part of his hesitation, but he didn't push it.

"Why are you still here?" Derek snapped at him.

Scott turned back to Derek and snarled loudly, before stomping for the front door. Stiles felt his heart sink again. No goodbye, see you later Stiles...

"Well that was certainly interesting," Peter commented, giving them all a small smile.

No one else was amused.

ooOoo

Stiles flopped onto his bed with a sigh. He couldn't stop thinking about the state of things between he and Scott. They'd been more and more distant since Allison had left town. Sure he could get that at first, but they were bros. Scott had always trusted him and confided in him. They had been somewhat distant before even that. Instead it was Derek he had saved. It was Derek he'd lay paralyzed next to at the police station. He wanted to keep believing Scott was still his best buddy, his brother from another mother, but lately it just didn't feel like it. Scott had offered him the bite, but why? Why after all of the avoidance? That was an answer he wanted at least. He was going over to Scott's to ask him. Why had he offered him the bite? Why had he been brushing him off lately? It probably wasn't a good time, but Stiles deserved some answers...