A/N:

I struggle a lot with this chapter, since I had a long scene with Stiles and Malia,

and I know some of you doesn't like it so... Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy it.

*I know that you all are eager to see some Sterek action, me too! So, bare with me please, next chapter will be all Sterek! :D*


Stiles watched frustrated as Scott went out of the window. He just said Malia was his mate and Scott left him there like all was right in the world. Stiles was pretty sure Scott could see and smell that he was not okay with that, since not only Scott's a werewolf but also knows Stiles since they were little boys. Sometimes Stiles really wanted to punch his bestie. Why couldn't Allison ever wait? Well, it wasn't really Allison's fault that Scott did those things and most times Stiles didn't mind, but sometimes he really wished Scott would see that he needed his best friend, like at that moment.

He got up from bed to go to his mother since he couldn't talk about his problem with his best friend and he really wanted to know what the hell happened. Stiles was so full of emotions, and he needed to figure out at least that. He passed his father who was in his office looking into some files with a glass of whiskey in hand. " Jesus, how serious was this thing? " Stiles found his mother in the kitchen, sitting at the table with her head lowered in between her folded arms. He could see that she wasn't okay too, but Stiles needed something to make him feel better. As he approached her, Claudia lifted her head, and his mother's eyes were red with unspilled tears.

"Hi sweetheart, I was gonna talk to you in a bit "

"Mom, what really happened? Talia was so out of herself she usually is so calm. She never swears, I actually can't remember hearing her swear, like ever!"

"Oh Sweetie, don't worry it's gonna be okay. I'm gonna talk to her later." She sighed, making grabby hands towards Stiles. "Come here, I wanna talk to you about something, okay?" He nodded, sitting on his mother's lap resting his head on her shoulder and she wrapped her arms around him, the action soothing him.

"I don't know how to say this. I was trying to stay out of it as much as I could, but..." His mother sighed again kissing his forehead.

"Is this about Malia? Mom stop, she just told me I am her mate. I know you don't like her, but I do. I really like her mom, and now she'll be your daughter in law, right? Isn't that what it means to be mates? Like a marriage kinda thing?" His mother got silent for a few seconds, and Stiles started to get nervous again. Because not only he didn't really know if he wanted to be with Malia forever but also he was seventeen that was going too fast, and Stiles wasn't ready for that kind of commitment.

"Sweety, it's not just a marriage kind of thing, it's more than that." She said, making him get up from her lap to sit in front of her.

"But it's a good thing, right? I read about mates with Scott, and I know that it means that we are a perfect match. I mean, you said the wolf in them knows when they find a mate." He said, poking his fingernails and she just stared at him confused. Why was he feeling this way? He should be happy! Why was he waiting for his mother to do something about that? To help him understand what was happening?

"Stiles, I know you like Derek, don't lie to me." His mother said looking sharply into his eyes.

"Doesn't matter how I feel about Derek mom. I'm not gonna just tell Malia that I like him if I'm supposed to be with her. And besides, I like her too." As Stiles said that, his mother's expression changed completely to frightened as if Claudia didn't expect that reaction from Stiles. She sighed looking like she was giving up on trying to convince her son not to be with Malia. Stiles didn't know if he was relieved or terrified.

"You're sure about this? About her?" His mother asked looking really nervous, maybe even as much as he was. Which did not help his own nerves at all, but what else could he tell her. Malia was his mate, sure he could fight it if they're not True mates, and Stiles was pretty sure they weren't but Stiles didn't know if he wanted to cause this kind of pain in their lives and Malia was so happy when she told him.

"Yes, I'm sure." He said, trying to sound sure of himself, cause Stiles was falling apart from inside out and he wasn't even thinking straight, but from the look on his mother face, he succeeded.

"Well, if you sure and if you want her." Claudia gave him a small smile. "If you're happy, then I'm happy too." Then she pulled him into her arms hugging him tightly. Stiles felt like if he stopped hugging her, he would fall, his insides were lurching, and he was holding his breath. Stiles felt like his world was falling down.

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Faraway from the Hale house and the pack, after a couple of hours, Derek finally stopped running. With his knees falling to the ground, hands touching the dirty, heavy breath coming out of his mouth hurting his throat, sweaty and shaky. " This is what you deserve. " Derek thought about all the wrong things he did. How was his fault that Paige died, and also how part of his family died. He was so blind with Kate, so young and stupid. Derek should have known Kate wasn't his mate, he would be an Alpha for God's sake! How stupid or in love a wolf have to be to ignore his instincts like that? Because yes, Derek could remember feeling something wrong when he said Kate was his mate. How could he ignore that? And Malia was on the same page as he was, young, in love and blind. God, the irony of that.

But his instincts were heightened now, Derek knew what he had to do, and more importantly, he knew Stiles was his and no one else's. But the boy wasn't feeling the pull, not like the wolves, witches, and others supernatural beings do, Stiles was only human. Sure, they feel something but not as strong, and maybe the boy could be fooled by Malia's affections. NO, Derek will not let this happen. Decided, he got up from the ground, took a deep breath to staid his breathing and ran back to his house.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Oh thank God Derek, are you okay?" Talia greeted him at the door.

Scowling at his mother, he said. "Where's everybody? I can't hear them."

"I sent Claudia home, and as for the rest they felt like getting away."

As Derek entered further into the house, he smelled the anger, sadness, confusion and regret that lingered there even after everybody was gone. "You tossed her out, didn't you mother?"

"This is her fault, Derek."

"You have no right to do that anymore! I will not tolerate you going behind my back!"

His mother looked at him, and Derek could feel the anger boiling from her eyes, but both of them knew, Derek is the alpha now, and Talia knew he was right, she couldn't make decisions without him anymore. "But Derek, you know I'm right." She said through clenched teeth.

"No, It's my fault. I should have done something earlier. I need Peter, get him and wait at the office, I will be right there." She nodded and left.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

As Derek walked through the house calling Isaac, he grabbed his phone to call Claudia and ask her to come to talk to him about her son. Derek found the door from Isaac's room closed and realized that's why his cousin didn't answer soundproof walls. Sometimes he would forget about the soundproof walls, after four years in college where they hadn't that. At college, Derek and Isaac could hear everything in the bedrooms, it was horrible, there was just so many things he was okay with hearing. That's why werewolves usually live far from the civilization in the middle of the woods, and of course, soundproof walls in all of the bedrooms, because no one wants to hear their pack mates getting intimate, alone or otherwise. That's why werewolves usually live far from the civilization in the middle of the woods, and of course, soundproof walls in all of the bedrooms, because no one wants to hear their pack mates getting intimate, alone or otherwise. Derek knocked at the door and entered, Isaac was sitting on the bed watching some show at his TV, but when Derek got closer, his cousin turned off the TV and got up with a frown, probably seeing the pissed off face Derek was displaying.

"How could you let my mother do that to Claudia?" Derek said.

"Derek, she's my aunt! How was I supposed to say that she can't throw someone out of her own house?" Isaac said exasperatedly.

Derek looked at his cousin scowling. "This is the pack's house, it doesn't belong to anyone, and you know it! I have to be able to trust you when I'm not around Isaac! You supposed to be my second, act like it!" He sighed deeply, scratching his forehead, as he looked at his cousin gaping at him.

Derek knew he crossed a line, but he also knew that Isaac had to change his behavior towards his mother in pack related issues. They're too young for that, didn't matter the seven years of training. Normally they would have ten to fifteen years, but his mother didn't want to wait that long and made them do everything faster. That was why the two of them grew apart from the pack, too much to do not enough time. But Derek knew it wasn't the same, it's a slow training and not just about behavior, read and understand. It's about personal growth as well. Derek started the training too early to be able to fully embrace the Alpha status, let alone Isaac, who had to train with Peter of all people. His cousin was not ready at all.

Derek rubbed his hand on his face. "Look, I shouldn't have said it like that. You know I trust you, Isaac. But when it's pack business you're not her nephew, you're her superior." That did not ease up things with Isaac, his cousin was still smelling sad, and Derek could not stand that. Derek didn't know if that was because he still didn't bond properly with his pack or if it was an Alpha thing now, but he felt the urge to comfort his cousin.

"Come here." He said, pulling Isaac into his arms, brushing his cheek on Isaac's, scent marking him. That apparently was all they needed, including Derek, who got a little less stressed with the whole situation. "Come on, Peter and my mother are waiting in the office."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Claudia arrived at the Hale house really fast, and Derek led her and Isaac to the office, where Peter and his mother were waiting. They all sat, while Derek kept standing.

"Why nephew, You're barely an alpha and is already barking orders?" Peter said smirking.

"I am not in the mood Peter."

"Well then, let's get this over with." Peter said.

"As most of you know, I found my mate. I do not wish to tell him right now for reasons of my own. And none of you will say or do anything about this." Derek said.

"Look, Derek, I don't know anymore. I was ready to tell him about you today, but Stiles said he likes Malia and he's very determined to be with her. I'm sorry, but maybe I was wrong." Claudia said.

"What the hell are you talking about? Are you implying that Stiles isn't actually my mate?" Derek said in disbelief, controlling the urge to sink his teeth into her throat.

"Well, it wouldn't be the first time you are wrong about it." Claudia said then tensed up looking apologetic.

"Excuse me!?" Derek said bewildered. Nobody knew the real motive that drove Kate to burn their house. Derek only had told his mother and Isaac. It was easier to let everyone think it was hatred for werewolves, cause after she burned his family alive, Kate was always saying she hated the werewolves anyway. Derek remembered his mother's words when he told her about Kate. "Let them think whatever they want honey, keep this between you and me, okay? This is not your fault she's a troubled girl." Talia had said, and he was more than happy to concede cause he could not handle the face their family would give him otherwise.

"Claudia! I told you this in a private conversation!" His mother said, growling at her best friend.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I just... I want my son to be happy this is very confusing for me." She said lowering her head, and Derek sighed folding his arms. He could understand her, cause Derek also wanted Stiles to be happy, even with Malia, before he could feel the boy's emotions.

"I know, but I had some time to think. Malia's wrong. She is young, in love and doesn't know what she's feeling. And yes, I know how it feels! But I'm not that young anymore, and I know that Stiles is my mate and mine only." Derek finished looking at Peter, waiting for what's to come. " Is Peter going be angry at me? " No one could predict his uncle's actions after the fire, and usually, they were always careful with Peter. For the past seven years, Derek's uncle had slashed out several times for no reason, even at work. It was a good thing Peter always had his own office.

"Don't look at me, I agree with you." Peter said like nothing major had happened. "Yesterday, my daughter told me Stiles was her mate, but I could feel something was off. You've been acting weird around him for a while now. Today, with your behavior, it was obvious for an observant person like me." His uncle smirked.

"How are you so sure Derek?" Claudia asked.

"I can feel what Stiles is feeling when I'm near him. It got so strong today after the ceremony, that I couldn't distinguish what was mine and what was his. And let me tell you, Claudia, despite what he might have told you, Stiles is not okay with Malia being his mate. I could feel it the moment she told him." Derek said, looking irritated.

"My God honey, this is amazing! That means you're bonding with him already, without him even knowing you're mates." Talia said amazed, and Derek eased up a little.

"But, he's confused and maybe, being human, makes him susceptible to love her, and I can't have that. I need Malia to find her mate if she really has one." Derek said the last part and looked at Peter again.

"What, you think I know who it is? I am smart Derek, but I can't see the future." Peter said.

"That's not why I asked you to come here, I have an idea, and you're not gonna like it."

"Again with that look nephew, just say it already." Peter said looking bored and rolling his eyes.

"In about a month school starts, and Malia will attend to Beacon Hills High this year." Derek said in a flat tone.

"No. She's not." Peter said shaking his head and getting up, towards the door. Derek followed him.

"Peter, this is not a request. She can't find her mate if she doesn't get to know people besides her family." Derek said, placing his hand flat on the door, blocking it.

"I said, No. She's too young, and I'm not risking my little girl in a school with a bunch of humans. You know that a lot of them still hate us." Peter said, defying his Alpha.

"Peter, she isn't gonna be alone Cora, Erica, Scott, and Stiles will be there, there's no need for concern. We hadn't an incident in years."

They stared each other defiantly, in the eyes for several seconds, cause Derek didn't want to make his uncle submit to him so early, with the pack on edge without the proper bond after the ceremony, especially cause this was Derek's fault, again. He's a fucking mess. But yet he didn't bend, looking fiercely into his uncle's eyes.

"Brother, you know this is the right thing for your daughter as well. When Malia finds her mate she will be happy, otherwise, she will be devastated when Stiles chooses Derek. They're True mates Peter, and that will happen eventually. And it's not like Derek is sending her to a boarding school, she will be with her pack here." Talia said. Peter looked at her angry, then nodded and went to the doorknob again.

"Can I be the one to tell my child that or are you declining me this as well, my alpha?" His uncle said sarcastically to him. Derek rolled his eyes and opened the door.

"Do not tell her about Stiles and me!" He said in a menacing tone at his uncle, who nodded still angry. "Isaac, go with Peter. I wanna know what he will tell her." His cousin nodded and followed Peter.

Closing the door again, Derek turned back to his mother. "Mother, this isn't Claudia's fault, it's mine, I shouldn't have let that happen. This is her son's life too, mom." Derek sighed, waiting for his mother say something. She was just so stubborn, well he got it from her, none of this would have happened otherwise.

"Okay, I may have overreacted, but you ran out so fast, it freaked me out, honey." His mother said to him, then looked at her friend with a soft glance. "I shouldn't have thrown you out, I'm sorry." Talia hugged her friend who was saying "I'm sorry" into his mother embrace.

"You have to tell him, Derek. If Stiles, in fact, isn't okay with it, then he must be quite confused, and I cannot drag this any further." Claudia said, determined not to follow her alpha's orders. And Derek knew he couldn't get between a mother and a son.

"I know. That wasn't how I wanted this to happen. I wanted to start things slow then tell Stiles after we were already dating. You know it's different for humans, and I didn't want to overwhelm him, but you're right. Give me a few more days I just have to figure out what to do."

"Okay, I should go, John is probably nervous waiting for me." Claudia said shyly, and Derek pulled her into his embrace, feeling the tension leaving her body as she sighed into his shoulder. It felt great, being able to calm his pack mate like this.

"I'm gonna start with the mating archives now, don't let anyone bother me unless it's urgent." He said to his mother after Claudia left.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Derek stayed at the office reading the archives on mating like he promised his mother. There were so many details, so many histories. It had specifics about how the 'awakening' of mates works, not only for were's of several kinds but witches, druids and others supernaturals beings. Derek couldn't read all of that in one day, that wasn't even possible. Rummaging through all of them, looking for what he should read first, what was important, he scattered the books all over the office floor, separating only those he wished to read. At first, Derek thought about reading only those related to werewolves, but in the pack, they had a witch and a druid, so he better read those too. And of course about humans, but those were too small and didn't have much content. They only had material covering about forty years before that day, Derek knew humans and supernatural didn't mix well before but nothing before forty years ago? That shouldn't be right. There were journals from Alpha's mates -witches, druids, other were's- but none written by human mates. Why didn't his father wrote a journal? " Stiles would appreciate a journal to know more. " He thought, frowning. After half an hour separating everything he should read, and putting back the rest Derek started with the druid stuff moving to witches next. Took him almost three hours to finished all of them and they didn't have nearly the same amount as the ones he was going to read next, about wolves. He needed a break, but the books couldn't be left out of the locked shelves so Derek couldn't actually leave the office without putting them back.

Stretching himself and popping his bones, Derek laid down on the floor thinking about what he found out. There was some pretty nice stuff, like, after the mating, true mates acquire special abilities. Could be just one of them or both, and he wondered which abilities he will acquire. Would Stiles acquire abilities as well? Being human, Stiles probably wouldn't. His mind then went back to that morning, "Is Stiles okay?" He wondered. The boy wasn't very thrilled with the idea of Malia being his mate. "But what if Stiles falls for her and Malia does not find her mate?" Cause even though was written on the archives that True mates always find each other, Stiles was human, maybe is different, didn't say. Derek couldn't just sit around and wait, but he couldn't do much at that moment. Maybe he should send a text, let the boy know he was thinking about him. Baby steps.

Derek:

I'm sorry about my mom, are you and your mother okay?

It seemed like Stiles was waiting for his text, maybe even writing one, because the answer came right away, filling Derek with joy and hope, making him think that everything would be okay and Stiles would be his.

Stiles:

You don't have to apologize for her, my mom is fine now, after talking to yours. What happened? What did my mom do? Everybody was crazy and shit.

Derek:

It was my fault. I shouldn't have left, that was what made everybody on edge.

Stiles:

Why did you leave? Nobody tells me anything. I know it was something about a vision my mom had, I overheard her talking about it with my dad.

Derek wanted to tell the boy everything and let Stiles know they're mates, so he could hold him tight and never let go. Derek wanted to kiss Stiles, leave his scent all over the boy so everyone could know Stiles was his. But he couldn't, not yet, he has to think about his pack, his family. And the balance and happiness of the pack are more important.

Derek:

I can't tell you.

Stiles didn't reply, and Derek didn't know what to say, because what he wanted he couldn't do. There were so many books to read yet. Not wanting to waste time anymore, he started to read again. The hours passed he was still halfway through, but the reading became more and more interesting. Derek's mother was right if he had read this he would have known right away that Stiles was his True mate, and he figured out why he had that uneasy feeling during the Bengel's pack dinner. The book said, when a wolf has a True Mate, whenever his mate gets intimate with someone else, the wolf feels a physical pain that angers him. "Intimate? Not gonna let that happen!" Derek also learned that he still had more to develop, with and for Stiles. This bonding feeling, 'the link' as they called it, will keep developing till the mates could feel each other's feelings from any place in the world. " That's amazing, it will be very handy when Stiles goes to college, but will Stiles be able to feel it as well? " He hoped so. Derek smiled brightly he regretted not having read those books before, but then.

"What?" He said to himself aloud. " Is that real? I have to ask mother. " He thought, blushing hard. Will he be able to talk to his mother about that? He had to Stiles will need to know about it. He was so nervous, what if that would make Stiles not want him? Getting up and running out the door to find Talia, he completely forgot about the archives and left the door opened.

"Where is Mother?" He asked Cora in the kitchen.

"I think she's in her room. Why are you so worked up?" His sister asked frowning.

"Nothing." Derek bolted upstairs, finding his mother in her bedroom, arranging some clothes in the dresser. "Mom can I ask you something… um, very personal?" He asked, not looking at her after he closed the door.

"What is it, honey?" Talia said, concern coming out of her voice with the look on Derek's face. Her son was terrified.

"I was, reading about mating, and I..."

"Ooh!" Her voice softened, and she sat on her bed patting beside her. Reluctantly, he did what she wanted. "You're reading fast honey I didn't think you're gonna get there just yet. Ask away."

"Everything that's written there, is true?"

"Well, I can't answer that I don't have experience with everything. Most of those archives are really old." Talia said smirking. Apparently, she wanted him to be specific.

He grunted, hiding his face in his hands. "Is knotting real?"

She giggled. "Yes, but as you probably already read, it will only appear with Stiles."

"Mom, that's not normal."

"It is for Alphas who have mates, makes it easier to conceive." His mother said frowning.

"Stiles can't even conceive!" He said exasperatedly.

"I know he can't, but I didn't make the rules Derek."

"Why didn't you tell me this before?" Derek was so frustrated, why couldn't he be normal?!

"You didn't even want to talk about having a mate Derek, how was I supposed to talk about this with you?" She raised an eyebrow at her son.

"Do you have it?" He asked blushing, if his mother said no, then maybe not every Alpha had.

Talia laughed at him. "Honey I'm a woman, It doesn't work that way, but yes I have something similar that does the job."

"This is..." He stopped with a halt, getting up from the bed. Stiles was near enough for him to feel, and the boy had his emotions all over the place, feeling frustrated, confused, angry, sad and guilty. Worst of all, most of it was towards Derek, if not all, but again, Derek could not know for sure whom most of the feelings belong to, him or the boy. Although Derek was not angry. He walked through the hall, down the stairs to look for Stiles but didn't find he could feel the boy even more near him, so he kept walking through the house, the door to the office was wide open. " Mom's gonna kill me." He thought, rushing to the door, then stopped in the doorway. Stiles was sitting on the ground in the middle of the books, seemingly looking for a specific book.

"What the hell are you doing?" Derek looked at the boy with a deep scowling, and when Stiles looked back, he met an angry face.

"What it looks like I'm doing Derek? I'm fucking looking for something about human mates! I gotta tell you, this is bullshit, you guys have nothing! And I mean fucking nothing! How you have nothing on this, huh?" How was Derek going to argue with that? The boy was totally right they had nothing useful on humans and the little Derek read before was already locked up.

"Those books stay locked for a reason, but you already know that! Get the hell out!" Derek couldn't stop the angry feeling he was getting, the boy was so damn angry, and because of it, Derek was too. But that was not supposed to happen, he should not be talking with Stiles that way. Why couldn't he separate his feelings from the boy, damn it?

"You're an asshole!" The boy stormed out of the room bumping hard on Derek's shoulder. And damn it, that sentence meant even more than what had just happened. Leaning at the doorway, Derek hid his face in his hands and sighed deeply. " What did I just do? "

"Hey man, Did you finished the archives already? We're going to that club I told you about, come with us." Isaac was by the door with one hand at the doorknob, Stiles and Malia were at the Jeep already, waiting for his cousin.

"I told you before, no." He said, glaring at his cousin, then closed the door. His day couldn't get any worse, he totally forgot about the date night Stiles was having with Malia.

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Stiles stormed out of the Hale house walking fast and huffing. He was so angry at Derek that he walked past his girlfriend and headed to the Jeep without a word, yanking the Jeep's door and throwing himself on his seat. As he slammed the door shut, Malia sat in the passenger seat. Stiles didn't know why he was that angry at Derek, not really. Because the angry feeling actually started after Stiles spoke with his mother earlier, It was like, deep inside he felt a need that Derek would make everything okay and when that didn't happen, Stiles just got mad. Derek denying telling him about what happened that morning aggravated so much that Stiles didn't even answer the man's message. And what was that at the office?! " Such an asshole! " He should be allowed to research what was happening to him, that wasn't fair! And just because Derek was the Alpha from there on, didn't mean the man could start bossing Stiles around, no way, not happening!

"Stiles, you okay?" His girlfriend asked.

"I'm fine."

"You're lying. Why?" She frowned looking at him.

"I really don't wanna talk about it, let's just have fun. I'll be okay in a minute. We're going clubbing." He tried smiling at her but the smile came out slightly sad, Malia didn't say anything though, just smiled back.

Malia's so understanding he was so lucky to have her! But then, why didn't he feel lucky? Why he still wanted Derek so much? " What am I gonna do?" He thought while driving to the club. Scott and Allison were already in the line waiting for them. Stiles parked the Jeep, fortunately close, probably because it was still kinda early and the club wasn't too crowded. Stiles was walking towards the club when Isaac stopped with a halt, few feet from Scott and Allison, making Stiles bump his face into the blonde's back.

"Ow, what the hell dude!?" He complained rubbing his face, because hello werewolf wall and his shoulder was already aching from Derek's shoulder.

Stiles kept walking, but Isaac didn't follow. In the middle of the path between Scott and Isaac, he stopped seeing the wary look Scott was giving Isaac. " What? " He thought, looking back at the blonde and understanding Scott's face. Isaac was frozen in place a mix of excitement and confusion being displayed, in a very open way. But Stiles dismissed it and kept walking. It's probably a werewolf thing and Stiles didn't want to be in the middle of it, not that day, that day he was going to have fun and get drunk. " Yes, that sounds great! "

Isaac started walking slowly to the four of them, who were waiting in line. Then suddenly, Allison was clinging to Scott like she was trying to avoid Isaac, with a little blush on her cheek and a tight grip on Scott's hand. Stiles looked at that scene thoughtfully, paying close attention. " Okay, now I'm curious, this should be interesting! " Especially when after that Scott introduced Allison to Isaac, and she smiled shyly at him, putting her hair behind the ear flirtatiously. Scott didn't see it or didn't care, but Stiles gotvery interested.

The club looked big from outside it had a shiny sign written 'Thy Boat' in bright pink, an enormous double door with only one side opened, with a very tall and very muscular man letting -or not- people enter the club.

"Doesn't look like a boat to me." He said at the door smirking to his friends.

"Wait till you get inside, smart ass." Said the tall and muscular man, with a bulky voice startling Stiles.

"Jesus! Man, you should be announced before speak! You almost gave me a heart attack!" The tall man looked smug as if startling Stiles was exactly what the man wanted.

The club allowed 18+ but marked the underage with a nonwashable stamp -of a boat- on the left hand. It was easy to pass for an eighteen-year-old, but twenty-one was harder, which, okay since Isaac was twenty-one and could totally hook them up. Inside, the club was bigger, if that was even possible. Back in the center of the club had a stage with a dance floor in front of it. There, was a band playing, the right side had cabins with a divan in each cabin and curtains for privacy. On the left side was a huge bar that actually looked like a boat with several tables not far from the bar. All of the bartenders and waitresses were wearing sailor clothes and hats, well, slutty sailor but still. Stiles then noticed security guards -scattered all over the club- also wearing sailor clothes. Not slutty of course, although that would be funny! He laughed at the image in his mind.

"Can you imagine those security guards wearing the bartender's clothes? I'd pay money for that." He said, nudging Scott with his elbow.

"That would be ridiculous." Scott and Isaac laughed, the girls probably didn't hear Stiles since the music was loud and they were a little far from him.

"Isaac, my man!" Stiles said, passing his arm around Isaac's neck. "Get us some shots!"

"Are you joking?" The blonde said confused.

"You know, Isaac, you seem like a smart guy, am I joking? Hmm, I don't think so, no! Come on, get us some shots!" He said grinning and patting Isaac's shoulders.

"No way, your dad is the Sheriff!"

"What! So? My dad's not gonna find out! Right, Scotty?"

"Like he didn't found out the last time I left you drunk at your bed?" Scott said laughing.

"Scott, you're supposed to be my best friend!" Isaac was frowning a bit. "Ohhh come on, Isaac, just one?! Please! We're at a club, people!" He pouted, looking at Isaac.

"Nope" The blonde answered.

"You're no fun, did you know that? I'm gonna get a drink from a bartender, you'll see! I'll use my charm." He winked.

Stiles did not get a drink those bartenders were tough little things. The girls wanted to dance, so they got some soda and water and left the bar straight to the dance floor. The music was loud in his ears, the air hot with all those people dancing around them, colorful lights touching their skin. The girls were dancing together, whispering in each other's ears, Stiles could see them laughing and having fun. Isaac was cautious in getting too close to Scott but seemed that the blonde was no longer afraid of getting too close to Allison. And she was not that shy anymore either, looking directly at Isaac like she wanted him to get closer. They were definitely flirting, and Scott was encouraging that, apparently.

"Hey, I wanna dance with you now." Malia said by his ear, getting off of Allison, looking in his eyes while tracing her finger through his collarbone till found his belly, in a sexy way. Then Malia turned her back to Stiles, clutching behind his neck with her hand, dancing in front of him, her ass was rubbing slightly on his groin. He gripped her waist and placed his head on her shoulder, the feeling of her ass rubbing into him making him a little horny.

He danced with her in that position, with his hand on her hip, kissing her neck. When Stiles looked up for a second to see the rest of them, he froze in place. Isaac and Scott were sandwiching Allison, in an almost pornographic way, dancing with their bodies sliding in synchrony. Scott was kissing Allison's neck from behind her, while Isaac was kissing her collarbone and she had her mouth slightly open. Trailing his gaze down to see the whole picture, Stiles saw Isaac's hand inside the girl's top a little above her waist making Allison's belly show a bit, Scott's fingers were digging into the flesh of her hip and she was gripping hard on Isaac's upper arm. Stiles felt the air getting hotter around him and he gripped harder on Malia's body. " God, that's hot! " Not that Stiles wasn't already getting hard from Malia's body on him but now his dick wanted desperately to get out and be used! What can he say, teenager hormones right there!

"You're enjoying watching them, aren't you? I can smell it on you." Malia said turning to face him and her eyes were piercing blue on him.

"No, I… I just…" He tried, but she just laughed and grabbed his hand, dragging him to the nearest available cabin, closing the curtain and shoving Stiles on the divan.

"It's okay I was enjoying too!" She said, hovering him. "Oh My God! What!" He thought, awed as she continued. "But now I want you!"

"You can have me. Yeah, I want that very much right now! You have no idea!" He said, because Stiles was really horny at that moment, and why not, right, she was his girlfriend.

She giggled at that, placing herself on top of him and lowering her head to kiss and nip his neck. Stiles' heart jump with the anticipation of what's to come. He slid his hands from her back to her ass, grabbing it and pulling her close to him feeling her hot body squeezing him. They were kissing hard, when a buzzing started in Stiles' pants, snapping him out of his arousal and opening his eyes. Stiles considered ignoring it for a second, but the phone buzzed again and again.

"Are you gonna answer that?" She asked irritated, sitting by his side.

"No?" He tried but stood frozen in place, and something told him to answer. Stiles was getting nervous every time he felt the buzzing in his body even his dick was getting affected.

"Just answer that already it's probably your mother, again!" Malia said angrily.

When Stiles saw Derek's name on the screen, his stomach dropped with strange guilt that Stiles didn't know where was coming from and he wanted to bolt. "It's Derek." He said, getting to his feet and going to the bathroom phone in hand. Derek was calling him! Why was the man calling, and in the middle of the night? Stiles entered the bathroom, and while heading to the nearest booth to sit inside, he answered the phone.

"What do you want?" He said with a harsh tone, because yes Stiles was still pissed at Derek, even though his heart was jumping in happiness with the man's call.

"Am I interrupting something?" Derek's voice was low and a little sad, it echoed in Stiles' head making his heart shrink and the anger disappear.

"No… Nothing, you can talk." He said that with a hand on his forehead. "What am I doing! Malia is waiting this is wrong."

"I'm sorry about earlier I found out something, and I shouldn't let this get to me, but it did." And damn, wasn't Stiles happy to hear that.

"Let me guess you can't tell me that either." He said, frustrated and huffing loudly.

"No, I can't. I'm sorry, but I promise you, I will someday." Derek said in that same tone as before, and those words meant something that Stiles didn't know what but was sure of it, and Stiles could not wait for the day to come.

"You're apologizing a lot today." He sniggered into the phone and Derek laughed a little.

"Barely became Alpha and I'm failing already, great." The man said in a playful tone.

"You know that's not true. Well, maybe, I don't know you won't tell what happened. When the day comes, and you tell me, then I can say if you're failing or not." He deadpanned.

"Very funny." Derek said not very amused. "Do you... have to get back to whatever you were doing?" And there it was that sad tone again. " What's up with that? "

"No, not really." He answered because, didn't want to stop hearing Derek's voice, it was soothing him in a way Stiles didn't understand.

The two of them kept chatting for about half an hour or so. They talked about the Alpha's ceremony because Stiles wanted to know how Derek felt, talked about Stiles' plans for the rest of the summer, Stiles invited Derek to go camping with him and his friends, the answer was 'maybe', which was better than 'no' and that was enough for Stiles. Derek was making dinner for the pack the next day and asked Stiles to help him. He was thrilled with that, spending time with Derek was what he wanted the most lately. Then they started talking about what they were going to cook for the pack dinner.

"Why not lasagna?" Stiles asked.

"I wanna do something different. I found an Italian recipe that I liked. It's called Gnocchi."

"It doesn't sound tasty." He sniggered.

"But looks tasty. I'm gonna sent you a picture." Derek said, and Stiles waited till his phone vibrated. He took the phone out of his ear and opened the picture.

"Does look tasty, is it like pasta?" He asked, curious.

"No, it's made of potatoes. Just have one problem." Derek said with an amused tone.

"What?"

"It's handmade and takes hours to prepare. You would have to come earlier to my house." Derek's voice sounded a little timid at the last part Stiles thought it was very endearing.

"I don't see the problem. What time do you want me?" He said, distracted. "God! I mean, what time do I have to be there?" He cursed in his mind biting his bottom lip.

Derek just laughed. "You can come after breakfast if you like."

But before Stiles could answer, Scott knocked at the bathroom booth. "Stiles! You're in there for over half an hour, what are you doing? Malia is pissed!" His bestie said.

"I have to go." He said into the phone, hung up and left the booth. "I lost track of time." Stiles said nervously.

"No kidding, and with Derek on the phone!" Scott said it exasperated.

"What? He's my Alpha I'm allowed to talk to him anytime we want. Besides he was the one who called me and wanted to talk to me." He said that last part with an affectionately smile.

"You know I supported you with Derek, but Malia is your mate Stiles, you can't do that to her." Scott had a deep frown and looked almost hurt for her.

Stiles gaped at his friend, he was feeling enough guilt and didn't need that reaction from Scott too, especially because Scott didn't even ask how Stiles felt about the whole situation. He opened his mouth to say something but couldn't think, what should he say. Without another word, Stiles followed his friend to the table where the girls and Isaac were sitting. Stiles sat beside Malia who didn't look at him. She was with her arms crossed and an angry face, while Allison and Isaac were talking low and too close to be with someone else's girlfriend.

"I wanna get out of here, I'm hungry." Malia said.

"Oh my God me too! Starving!" Allison said grinning.

"Let's go then," Stiles said, leaning to speak by his girlfriend's ear. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left you there to answer the phone." His girlfriend didn't say anything just nodded, and he kissed her cheek.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

The entire drive to the 24-hour Restaurant was silent. Malia didn't say a word to Stiles, and he kept babbling like he usually does when he is nervous. She just stared through the window, making him feel guilty as hell for wanting Derek so much and letting his feelings get the best of him. Stiles just kept thinking that, didn't make any sense. How could Malia be his mate if he couldn't stop thinking and wanting Derek? Sure he was hot and heavy with her an in the club, but he's a teenager, that didn't mean much. Besides, wasn't Stiles supposed to be wanting her instead? Or at least feel right about all of that, happy even? " She does not look happy either. Well, that's probably my fault. " He thought, getting out from the Jeep with her.

They stopped at a diner on the road, there only had a couple of people eating and a lot of empty tables. Before Stiles walked to the diner, he grabbed Malia's hand and pulled her into his arms. She looked sad now it was heartbreaking. Stiles apologized again, hugging his girlfriend tightly, she nodded into his neck. The couple stayed like that for a few moments, she breathing on his neck inhaling his scent and Stiles caressing her back in a soothing way. He could feel the tension between them lessening and Stiles breath out in relief, he didn't wanna hurt her.

"Come on, let's eat! My beautiful girlfriend is hungry, and I have to feed her." He said, stealing a smile from her, grabbing Malia's hand and walking to the diner hand in hand.

Inside the diner, Scott, Allison, and Isaac were sitting in one side of the table, Allison in the middle of the two boys leaving the other side for him and Malia. They all ordered food, and while waiting and talking to each other, Stiles was paying attention to the three of them across from him. It was like all three were dating, always touching each other when possible, looking into each other's eyes and flirting. " Looks like Allison wants to share too, huh. " He thought, wondering if maybe Isaac was her mate too, something told him that yes, they were.

Stiles rested his head on his hand, looking at them. "So, what's going on? Are you three mates or just, you know, fooling around?" He asked smirking, and Malia pinched hard his arm. "Ow! I'm human you know, that's gonna bruise. Geez, what's the matter, we're all friends here, right?" He said, rubbing his arm. She did not look amused. What could he say, Stiles is a curious guy.

Scott and Isaac exchanged glances as to communicate if they should answer or not while Allison blushed with the question and was clinging into Isaac, who wrapped an arm around her. Stiles looked at his bestie expectantly but was Isaac who talked first.

"Yes, she's my mate too." The blonde said beaming.

"Cool! Is Allison going to the pack dinner tomorrow? I'm making the dinner and let me tell you, is going to be good!" He said smiling. Stiles likes Allison, how could someone not like her? She is the sweetest person he knows.

"Can I?" Allison asked looking at Isaac shyly.

"Of course, you will be pack now." The blonde answered leaning to kiss her cheek.

As Stiles watched them, especially Allison, he could see that she was very onboard of the mate thing with Isaac too, which made him frown a bit, cause unlike Scott, who Allison knew for years, she had just met Isaac and was accepting so quickly.

She didn't even look afraid or any of the things Stiles was feeling about Malia. No, if anything, looked as if Allison was crushing hard on Isaac, and jumping head first into the mate thing. Stiles then decided he had to ask her about that, maybe she could lighten up everything for him, because if Allison was feeling the mate thing as well, then, maybe Malia was wrong somehow, because Stiles was definitely not feeling at all.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Stiles parked his Jeep in front of Allison's house, waiting for his courage surface because if he found out he wasn't actually Malia's mate, she was going to be devastated. Somehow, Stiles knew he was going to break Malia's heart, and he was terrified.

Allison was waiting for him, he asked her if he could come by her house in the morning before the pack night, to talk. So when Stiles finally built up courage and knocked at her door, she quickly opened. Allison had a big smile as if she had never been happier in her life.

"Happy, are we?" He said, stepping into her house. Allison laughed, showing her white teeth and cute dimples.

"I'm just excited about the pack dinner I always wanted to meet the pack."

Allison walked to the couch with little jumps with her feet, looking like a little lamb, those fluffy little bouncy and cute ones. Then she sat with her legs crossed on the couch, and when she turned her head to look at him, her curly hair fell down, and she rested her chin on her left hand, still smiling. Stiles never saw Allison that happy and suddenly he didn't even need to ask her anything. He knew that Malia wasn't his mate. But since he was there and she was willing to talk, didn't hurt to ask a few things.

"So, what you wanna know?" She asked cheerily.

He sighed and said. "You just seems to like the idea of Isaac being your mate too, and I just thought, why? You barely know him. Sure, he's hot and all that but, it's kind of serious, being mates I mean. You know that, right?" Stiles frowned a bit, but Allison didn't even flinch.

She opened her mouth to say something but paused, biting the tip of her little finger smiling. "Yes, I do know." She glanced around the living room as if she was looking for someone then scooted over closer to Stiles and said.

"I shouldn't tell you this but, maybe it's okay since you have a mate too. Lydia told me about mates a while ago. I didn't understand at first, cause I couldn't imagine not being Scott's mate and he never said anything, so I just assumed I wasn't. When he told me, it was like I could finally understand what she was doing."

"What do you mean 'what she was doing'?" He asked confused.

"She had a dream a few months ago, about her mate, like a vision. And then she broke up with Jackson, telling him she wants to be single when her mate finds her." Allison said.

"Ooh, so that's why they broke up, and Jackson is even more of douche than before. Makes me almost feel sorry for the guy, almost!" Stiles couldn't help but snigger at that, that guy was an ass. Stiles knew Lydia was a witch but didn't know she had visions. His mother said only powerful witches have and Lydia barely used her magic. "I didn't know she had visions."

"She doesn't. It's just how the mates pull works with witches."

"Cool, so that's how it's called, pull, huh. I kept saying 'mate thing'." He sniggered. "So... Mm. What are you feeling, for Isaac?" Stiles was curious, cause although he already knew Malia wasn't his mate, he wanted to know more about the pull of mates, especially for humans, cause then, next time that happens, Stiles would know what he was getting into. If there was a next time anyway.

"I can't explain exactly but I am happy, and I know in my heart, this is just right. You know, like Isaac was the missing piece between Scott and me." Allison said radiantly, her happiness was contagious and he smiled back.

"Yeah, I understand." Stiles didn't know why, but he understood exactly what she meant.