A.N: I'm so sorry for the long wait! Exams had me fried, and then the horror of Christmas shopping and decorating came along. Maybe I'm just being dramatic, but oh well. Anyways, I'm back with this gem of a chapter as my apology, and may be starting on another one. I want to update at least twice before Christmas break is over. I didn't use any music whilst writing this chapter, unless you count Midnight City by M83 for the last part with Stiles. Mind you, I loved writing for Scott, and I'd honestly love doing that more often.

DraxThePacifist: I have a lot of mixed ideas concerning your point. I mean, I've thought about it so much, but I'm still not sure. I'm thinking about doing either Male!Cora or actually bring Derek in place of him in 3A. it's an idea I've had in my head for a while, but will ultimately decide if Kate remains female or not.

. : Thank you, love! I enjoy writing this as much as you enjoy reading. :)

Also, if anyone's interested, I'll be posting a one-shot AU thing centering on Stiles and Derika's relationship. It doesn't connecr to this story, however. Anyways, have fun reading!

Scott groaned and rolled over, using his pillow to block out the rapping noise at his window. But, instead of being just a random bird or a loose tree branch like he had hoped, it was something else entirely. A certain prickly, leather-donning someone, actually. And now that she was ruining his relationship with sleep, Derika Hale was increasingly becoming the bane of his existence. A cold gust of wind whipped against his frame, (Didn't he close the windows?) causing the teenager to tighten his covers, squirming slightly. If he could just try, maybe he could go back to sleep...

"Scott. Wake up."

Nevermind.

"I'm already awake because of you," he returned with a grumble, shifting around in his covers. The only thing he was wearing were boxers. Not only was this was a complete invasion of his privacy, (not that Derika cared or anything.) but it was also embarrassing. If only Stiles could see him now - Wait, he didn't want that. That was gross, and awkward. Plus his best friend still had the hots for Derika, so better not mention this entire incident on the whole.

"Like, she scares me... but I kinda' get like, a boner at the same time..."

The words from their conversation earlier that week made Scott snort.

Apparently, everyone was right about him maybe having ADHD, because he had completely forgotten that Derika was still there. He could almost feel the young Hale's glare, followed by a sudden press at the edge of his mattress, which caused the teenager to uneasily shift farther away, for fear of his life.

"This isn't a joke," she snarled, and Scott was made to instantly regret not paying attention. He had also forgotten that Derika didn't just pop in to scare him for shits and giggles. Something must have happened.

"Your Alpha made another appearance. Killed some guy down at the movie rentals, and attacked some kid. I think he goes to your school."

His mood quickly went from interest to dread. Worrying the wall of his inner cheek, Scott leaned over to turn on his light. What greeted him was the sight of a somber Derika Hale, dressed in her atented assemble of leather, black, and jeans that seemed to be made specifically for her.

"D- Do you know who?" He asks, the slight stutter due to the heaviness of his tongue. Morning breath was gross- Focus, Scott, Focus, he thought amadantly to himself.

But Derika seemed to be amusing herself with his current position- clutching his sheets to his chest like a pristine virgin. He was a virgin, but that didn't matter. But the way- his thoughts died as the older woman rolled her eyes, stretching over to retrieve a shirt and a pair of jeans - both previously dangling precariously from the back of a chair. She then proceeded to toss them to him, which he begrudgingly accepted.

"Get dressed," the brunette rolled her eyes, tucking a loose strand of hair into place. "We're gonna' check it out. And I think I saw him on your lacrosse team. He was acting like a diva when the police got him out of there.

Scott froze, aldready having gotten up and midway through putting on his shirt. "You still watch me at lacrosse practice?" he accused, slightly miffed. But the description was as good as any. It nearly made him laugh, but didn't in case Derika decided to do more than glare this time. "Yeah, that must be Jackson," he replied, unabe to mask the chuckle evident in his voice.

Derika narrowed her eyes. "No, you idiot, I saw the game, remember? But that's besides the point. If it's the blonde guy with the 'my dad will sue' look that kept blocking you during the game, then yeah. Him."

"'My dad will sue'?" Scott couldn't help but snicker, pulling on a hoodie after slipping into his jeans. "Thanks, I'm using that one next time I see him."

"Whatever, McCall. Can we go now?"

"Yeah, sure, just let me- Derika," He groaned, finding himself staring at an empty window. Scott heaved a sigh, and followed soon after. Better get used to this.

Paired with the aching feeling of rejection and slight arousal, not to mention annoyance at his M.I.A best friend, Stiles parked the Jeep in front of the dilapidated Hale House. Quite begrudgingly, the teenaged boy closed the door to to his Jeep carefully. No matter what bad mood he was in, Stiles would never hurt his Betty. She was too precious for that. Although the tempting concept of driving far, far away, out of Beacon Hills still occupied his mind, (he was taking this rejection a little too far.) Stiles turned and trudged his way to the Hale House. At least he was mentally prepared to be shot down by another female occupying his thoughts.

He scuffed his fist against the door; the action lackluster, barely a proper knock. It didn't matter, because Derika had thay superhuman hearing thing and should be able to hear him, right? He then tried the lock, because if she wasn't, er... home, (if you could call this a home, perhaps a shell of one...) there was no way he was giving up a golden opportunity like this.

It was unlocked. Figures, since Stiles was beginning to think that there wasn't a lock in the first place. He pushed open the door, ignoring the obtrusive creak of the worn hinges. "Hey, Derika, I found ou- Holy fu- " He choked.

The reason being? Derika Hale dangling from a pull-up bar with ridiculous ease, wearing nothing but a beige sports bra, moderate jean shorts that seemed made for her, and a thin sheen of sweat coating her body. One that was much more curvaceous that his fantasies seemed to offer, he noted. Whilst Stiles was busy trying to find his breath and not ogle the spitfire female (Lydia who?), Derika had noticed him and narrowed her eyes, letting go of the bar only to land easily on her feet. Other than the narrowing of her eyes, the young Hale didn't seem so bothered. But then again, guys probably always looked at her this way, Stiles thought to himself with a pang of both guilt and jealousy. Like he'd have a chance with her anyway.

A slender hand curled into a fist and positioned at her waist, fixing the boy with a narrowed stare. "Well? You said you found out something. What is it?"

Stiles gulped inwardly, best efforts going into trying not to look at her chest, or anywhere else of interest in general. Instead, the younger boy found himself staring at a hole in the wall with an unexplained interest.

"Well, y-y'know, now doesn't really seem like a good time for you, so I'll j-just..." Finding himself stuttering an idiot, (as per usual) he made an inexplicable gesture towards to door, prepared to run. But, his plan was foiled the moment Derika grabbed him by the shirt and collared him against the nearby wall. A small drizzle of dust was picked up by the wind due to the sheer force (which was going to hurt in the morning, he wondered dimly).

Little did he know how much of a regular thing this would become, pressed into a vertical surface by a growling Derika Hale. Maybe if the she-wolf didn't look as though she was about to tear him apart, he would be enjoying this. But the force of fear overruled any other feeling. (and, thankfully, his hormones.)

"Not so fast, Stilinski," she snarled, prodding a finger against his chest. Stiles audibly gulped, afraid to look the older woman in the eye. Perhaps she forgot that no less than a week ago, he had tried to kiss her. This position? Was not helping that specific need. But she was talking again. Better stop thinking and listen, even though Derika mostly spoke in growls and snarls.

"If it's about the Alpha, it can't wait. I've been trying to reach Scott all day but he switched off his phone, the idiot." Oh look, there was something they actually agreed on. "So, indulge me, for once. What do you know?"

He rolled his eyes, despite their close proximity. "Well, you know, it's on my phone, and I kind of need to use my hands to show you that, you se- " Apparently already done with his sauciness, the young Hale gave a perfected eye roll (Did she like, practice in front of a mirror or something?!) and loosened her grip, stepping back and grabbing her shirt off the floor, thank god. Stumbling for a second., Stiles nearly forgot he owned a phone. And - Oh. Lydia. No, no, Derika. What was wrong with him today? Stiles thought with despair, trying to glance away from the tanned expanse of a toned stomach, busying himself by pulling out his phone and going into images.

A now thankfully clothed Derika stalked over to look over his shoulder, her dark brows scrunching together as emerald hues stared down at the image with intent. "Huh... It could turn into a full wolf. Can you send those to me? I want a better look."

Stiles could already see a problem with that. "Yeah, I can, but I don't have your num- " Before he could finish his sentence, Derika had plucked his phone out of his hand and quickly entered her number, handing it back to him.

"Now you do," she said simply, head lifting in a curt nod. "Just, no social calls, okay? And send me those pictures. I'll take a look at them later."

"On it," he replied quickly, and in the matter of moments, they were sent. He ought to delete them off his phone, but he should robably show them to Scott first. "Okay, sent. I... I should be going..."

Derika nodded again, and shifted away from the teenager. Stiles found himself feeling inexplainably cold as she did this. "Okay, Stilinski."

"See you, Derika..." He mumbled, and, not wanting to overstay his welcome, ducked out of the door, closing it on his way out.

Okay, so Lydia might have rejected him in the worst possible way, (Seriously, he was nothing like Jackson. What even.) but hey, he got Derika's number.

By the time he got home, Stiles was completely exhausted by his emotions. There were so many questions being raised by his mind, and so many mixed feelings swirling from within. Some made his chest clench with the familiar express of anger, but without the hot flash of red behind his eyes. Scott didn't bother to help his dad. That mountain lion could have torn him apart. Allison had her father, a hunter. He couldn't help the twinge of anger every now and then when concerning his best friend. Perhaps it was a bit selfish, he thought to himself whilst climbing the stairs with a bowed head, but this was his dad. The only family he had left.

But, disregard that for the while. There was something bigger going on and they couldn't see it. That mountain lion being placed out there in the open was no coincidence. It was ploy, and he'd bet anything that it had something to do with the Alpha. 'Animal attacks' sound familiar? He'd have to hash that out with Derika, and that caused an unsettle in the boy's mindframe. Usually, it was with Scott. But Derika was his next best option, seeing as she knew more about this, and was most likely even more emotionally invested in this whole thing than even Scott, who was bitten by the Alpha. But she came here looking for her sister, Stiles was suddenly reminded by the voice in the back of his head, and she wasn't going to rest until she found out what happened to her. Family.

And speak of the devil. Although his room was dark as the door swung open, Stiles could make out the familiar silhouette of the she-wolf, heavily leaning against the window sill. She was waiting for him, Stiles noted dimly, no hesitation before turning on the light.

Emerald irises barely faltered at the sudden obtrusion of light, but flickered up to meet Stiles's gaze, her eyes on his making the teenaged boy feel more than just a bit apprehensive.

"I heard about what happened. Mountain lion?" The soft snort that complemented her derisive tone said it all. Derika was disbelieving of this as well. "Bull if you ask me. Someone tried to cover up."

His gaze fell upon this nodding slightly as he moved to drop his bag on the floor. "Too much of a coincidence. Is that why you're here?"

Straangely enough, Derika wasn't that intimidating. Well, he was still wary of her, but today, the she-wolf seemed... intinuitive. Meaning less scary. And he? Somber. But perhaps it was just the rage and exhaustion, at a slow boil, hindering his senses. It would explain why he wasn't internally freaking out at the mere notion of Derika Hale in his room, or quailing under the woman's usual icy stare. But, tonight would be one of those rare instances where Derika didn't clash against him as an unyiedling force, whether it be physical or metaphorical. Because by the faint lines around her eyes, the young Hsle was just as tired as he.

"...where's Scott, that idiot. I think he's still with Allison or something. Like that's important. The Alpha made a move, and honestly, I wasn't expecting it."

"...Huh?" Being so immersing in the musings of his mind, Stiles honestly hadn't been paying attention, and apparently he should have, before Derika gave him a long stare, thankfully followed by the roll of her eyes.

"Nevermind, Stilinksi," Derika sighed, leaning off the window frame. The action caused a ripple in her trusty leather jaket, loosely streched around petite shoulders. Her usual Henley, check. Dark-jeans-he-should-not-be-lingering-on, check. "Anyway, I had a good look at the pictures you sent me. The most I could figure out by them is that the Alpha? Probably male. It can do the full shift, but so could Laura, so my guess is that it couldn't do the full shift before. But that isn't important. What's important is figuring out who lanted that mountain lion. Did your dad say anything about security tapes, cameras, anything?"

"My dad doesn't tell me anything," Stiles gave a snort, daring to steal a glance at the older woman, "But I guess I could try to find something out, I dunno..." A thought entered his mind, one that caused his blood to run cold. "Derika... you don't think that the Alpha's connected to the law enforcement, do you?"

She shifted, idly walking by his desk, pushing in his chair with her foot before bracing her hands against the wooden surface. Contemplative features greeted the anxious teenager before Derika shrugged. "I don't know. But I've been to the police station, thanks to you and McCall," The woman's momentary glare caused a wave of sheepishness and a nervous chuckle to resonate from the boy, "...And no, I don't think anyone there was a wolf. At least to my knowledge. Some wolves can conceal their scent." A wicked smirk tugged at her lips. "Like me. But look around, Stilinski. I'll do my own digging."

And with that, Derika eased off the desk and returned to the window, already lifting it open. Stiles heaved a sigh and nodded, even though the brunette was no longer facing him. However, the sound did not go unnoticed by the she-solf, because not a second later, a piercing forest-green gaze was upon him again.

"You okay, Stilinski?"

Stiles managed a small upwards tug of his lips; the ultimate failure of a smirk. "Don't strain yourself, Derika. I'm okay."

Though the she-wolf seemed disbelieving, Derika nodded slowly and without a farewell, disappeared out of his window before he could blink properly. Heaving another sigh, Stiles trudged over to close the window. The whipping wind was already starting to take it's course in her absence.

Reviews would be appreciated. I was super excited to write this!