Author's note: Less than three months... Haha. Well, here it is. Hope you enjoy it. Thanks for all the favorites, follows, reviews, and PMs.
Chapter 9
Stiles spent Saturday morning in his room, doing nothing, but thinking whether he could trust Toby or not. He wanted too, but Toby wasn't making it easy for him. Toby kept secrets from him, important ones.
Stiles spun himself around in his computer chair. He knew he should have been more willing to help Toby. It was the right thing to do and he was going to do that. Well…he decided to tell his friends about Toby's request. He just had to wait for one of them to come over, after his father leaves for work. Isaac came over earlier, but he couldn't get pass the Sheriff.
Stiles became restless. He had to get out of the confines of his house. The closed walls were driving him crazy. At the very least, if he could see someone other than his father; it'd put his mind at ease.
A few hours of pacing back and forth and nail biting later, his father finally left to work. Stiles went downstairs to see his father out. He thought he was in the clear; that was until he looked out the front window-to watch his father leave-and saw a patrol car parked outside his house. Of course.
He returned to his room. He heard a thud at his room as he walked through the threshold of his room. He saw Jackson opening the window and entering through Derek's door. Stiles thought as he walked over to his bed, eyeing Jackson, why was he here in his room.
Jackson recognized the stare Stiles gave him. "I told you Lydia told me to stay with you." He sounded annoyed by her order. He walked over to the computer chair and sat down. He pulled out his phone.
Stiles saw the phone and all he could think of was communication to the outside world. He jumped forward, without thinking, onto Jackson, literally on him, and reached for his phone, asking, "do you have service?"
Jackson pushed him off; Stiles hit the floor, landing on his elbow. "I know I've everyone's type, but you're not mine." Stiles rolled his eyes and he rubbed his elbow. Jackson wasn't his type either.
"Can I use your phone?" Stiles asked, sounding completely desperate to use a phone. He was and he didn't care. He needed to speak with people. Someone other than Jackson.
"For what?" Jackson quickly asked.
"To call the president," Stiles instantly responded with sarcasm. Perhaps getting smart with Jackson wasn't one of his smarter moves. He cleared his throat and asked again, this time more politely. "Please, may I use your phone?"
Jackson growled low. He wasn't happy about this, any of this. He handed Stiles his phone.
He grabbed it and returned to his bed. He picked up his phone and quickly brought up his contacts. Everything told him he should call Toby, but he made it clear he wasn't going to share. Derek was his next choice; one problem with him: he didn't want to see Derek, especially not with Jackson around. Remembering he told Scott he'd call him. Scott was his decision. He dropped his phone on his bed; Jackson already had Scott's number stored in his phone. He scrolled down to "McCall" and held it for a couple seconds. The phone called Scott.
The phone rang twice before Scott answered. "Hey, is everything okay?" He asked right away.
"Yeah, everything is," Stiles answered. Why wouldn't it be? He questioned.
"Stiles?"
"Yeah." He answered, slightly annoyed.
"Why are you calling from Jackson's phone?"
Stiles rubbed his forehead. These questions weren't important. "It doesn't matter." It really didn't. "I need you to come over here." Stiles, Scott, and Jackson became silent. It had been months since Stiles had voiced his need for Scott. It was strange and at the same time, nice-familiar.
"Isaac and I will be over in a few," Scott finally said.
Stiles remembered there was a deputy parked outside his house. "I'm ground and my dad has a deputy watching me. You'll have to sneak in through the back window of my room." Derek's door.
Scott said "okay" and ended the call. Jackson and Stiles waited for Scott and Isaac to arrive. It didn't take them too long. They climbed up the side of the house and entered through the window. Scott approached Stiles. He had a friendly smile on his face. Isaac, the loner, stayed back next the window.
"So what happened with Toby? And did you figure out why the obsidian illuminated?" Scott asked.
Jackson put down his phone, giving them his full attention. Even if they didn't ask for it.
"All I know is whatever Haven did to me…" Stiles said when Scott interrupted. "What Haven did? What did she do to you?" It hit Stiles they didn't know what she did. Only Toby knew…maybe, possibly Ruby. He hadn't found the words or the right time to share with them.
Now was as good as any. He took a deep breath and released it. He explained when James and his pack left them unconscious in the cave and after he completed the ritual to become stronger, Haven performed a ritual of her own and on him. He didn't know what kind and what it would do to him.
Isaac asked, "have you told Derek?" Stiles cringed at the name. He hadn't told him and at the moment, he didn't plan to. Derek and he weren't on speaking terms.
Stiles shook his head.
Scott asked why it took him so long to tell them. "Because you and I weren't talking," Stiles answered honestly. Scott flexed his jaw muscles. The truth got under his skin.
Jackson smirked. "And because I've been dealing with my own personal crap."
"You've finally told them about Derek," Ruby said as she startled them. She came in through the window and made her way over to Scott.
"What about Derek?" Jackson asked.
Stiles widened his eyes at her. He hadn't told them. She gave him a nervous smile and mouthed "sorry" to him. He scratched the back of his head, nervously thinking of what to say. "The thing is…" He paused as a lump lodged itself in his throat. He was going to tell them. Scott already knew a part of it, but Isaac and Jackson had no idea. He didn't care what everyone thought about it. He didn't tell anyone because he didn't want to voice it, to relive it.
He gave in and lowered his shoulders. "Derek and I are mates," he said in a low voice.
They heard him clearly.
"They're potential mates," Rudy said, thinking she was correcting him. She wasn't; she didn't know about the other night. Stiles wasn't ready to have that conversation.
"But that's not why we're here," Ruby said. She sat down on Stiles' bed, twisting her long curly hair around her finger and middle finger.
Stiles nodded his head and smiled. Derek and his personal issue wasn't the reason they were in his room. "Toby needs your help," he said as he looked directly at Scott. "He says he's being followed."
Jackson mumbled out as he scoffed, "More protection duty?" He wasn't happy about this. Stiles didn't blame him; he wanted to be with Lydia right now.
"Does he know who's following him?" Isaac asked, finding his voice. Stiles answered "no." Toby didn't know who it is, but he was certain someone was.
Scott agreed to check on Toby. Stiles gave him Toby's number. Scott and Isaac left. Jackson did as well, shortly after. He wanted to check on Lydia.
Ruby was the only one left. Stiles asked her to stay with him for a while. She smiled and patted the space next to her on his bed. He sat down. She rested her head on his shoulder.
Stiles felt relief from the normalcy she brought in this moment. He lifted his hand and twisted a few of her curls around his index finger. Remembering she was wearing a wig Thursday, he asked, "why were you wearing wig?"
"I found it easier to follow Haven's rules than to go against them," she answered, shamefully. She didn't like that she was forced to surrender the way she did. He asked her why she took off the wig. "Scott said I looked better with long hair." She moved her head back from his shoulder and grinned.
"Hey," Stiles said as he grabbed her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. "When did Scott start trusting you?" Jealousy slipped out with his words.
She caught on and chuckled under her breath. "Jealous?" She grinned, practically smiled.
He let go of her chin and scoffed. "Not even." He was jealous that Ruby and Scott were talking to each other. Mainly because he missed both of them. He was upset that he couldn't hang out with his friends.
Danny came to mind. It had been a couple days and he hadn't heard from him. He didn't get a phone call or text. It was so unlike him. Or maybe Danny had tried reaching him, but his phone was disconnected.
Ruby pulled him from his thoughts. "So how was the make out sesh with Derek?"
Stiles jumped on her, placing his hand over her mouth. "Shhh, Don't voice it, someone could be eavesdropping." Ruby giggled. She mouthed "sorry" again. He felt comfortable to tell her about his night with Derek. He grabbed his phone and typed up a message about it.
He showed her.
Her eyes widened as she read it. "When?"
Stiles answered her question. "Thursday night." Excitement grew on her face, more than he thought it could be possible. Unfortunately, he was going to be a buzz kill. "I don't really want to talk about it." Like the understanding friend, she left it at that.
"So Scott and you are friends now?" She laughed, letting herself fall back on his bed. He rested his body on his bed, next to her. "So are you?" He asked when she didn't answer him.
She rolled on his side, but then quickly rolled off, growling. She over stepped her boundary. Her eyes flashed a golden yellow.
Stiles slid his arm under her neck. She didn't feel any pain. He guessed if he initiated it; they wouldn't feel the sting. "So?" He asked her again. He wasn't going to give up.
She turned her head to him, grinning. "If Derek is off the table, so is Scott." She flashed him a smile. There was something going on between them. Ruby didn't realize what she did to him. His curiosity always got the best of him.
"Grr!" He said, narrowing his eyes at her. She giggled.
"We're friends." She laughed. She was really getting a kick out of torturing him. "And to answer your wig question; Scott said he liked it better when my hair was long." Stiles pressed his lips together, thinking. Scott and Ruby, couple? They did make a cute couple, but where did that leave Allison?
He was surprised he was thinking about her. His mind wandered back to when she helped him find Erica and Boyd. He never thanked her for the help. He put that on his "to do" list.
Ruby rose from the bed. She made her way to the door, placing her ear to the door. She heard something. "I have to go," she whispered.
Stiles got up. He didn't want her to leave. "Do you really think it's smart to leave me alone?" He asked, sounding sad. He was trying to get her to stay.
She walked to the window and stuck her left leg out of it. "They're human." Stiles didn't want to believe her. "I have to go." He walked to her. She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. Her eyes blazed golden yellow. She swung her other leg out the window and jumped down.
He heard his name being called. It came from downstairs. He made his way to the front door. He came face to face with a handsome face. It was the deputy who was parked outside his house. "Stiles, I'm Deputy Parrish." The Deputy extended his arm to Stiles.
Stiles didn't respond at first. He studied Parrish. He was tall and built, but slender. His skin was fair; his eyes were blue and his dirty blonde hair was cut short. His face was like a teenager, soft and youthful. He appeared friendly.
Stiles held his final judgment for later.
Then he realized this Deputy was the one that answered when he called the Sheriff's station. Stiles extended his arm and shook Parrish's hand. "Hi. Is there anything I could help you with?"
"Yes. I was wondering if I could use your bathroom." Parrish cracked a grin, appearing slightly nervous.
Stiles nodded and walked down the hall towards the back of the house. He waved over his shoulder for Parrish to follow him. He stopped at the bathroom next to the kitchen. His father and he hardly used it.
"Thanks," Parrish said as he entered the bathroom.
Stiles returned to the front of the house. He sat down on the bottom step of the stairs. He kept reaching into his pocket, out of habit, looking for his phone. He was hit with the fact that his phone was up in his room with no service. He wanted to be mad at his father, but he couldn't be. His grounding was understandable.
Stiles came out of his thoughts when he heard the bathroom door open. Parrish came to the front. Stiles glanced at him. He was a handsome guy.
"So I'm bored out there," Parrish flashed a nervous grin. "And I was wondering if you didn't mind me hanging out inside here with you." Stiles didn't know what to say. He really had more important things to do than be where he was. He let out a "ha" with an exhale. "Sure." He didn't have a choice in the matter. It was either stay in this house alone or have some company.
Company it was.
Stiles and Parrish went into the kitchen. Stiles grabbed them a soda from the refrigerator. "So Deputy Parrish." Parrish interrupted him, "call me Jordan." Stiles cleared his throat. "Jordan." Parrish smiled. "what brings you to Beacon Hills?" He knew Parrish was new to the force.
Parrish took a drink of his soda before he answered, "after serving two years in the army as a certified HDT, I decided I needed a change." Stiles raised his eyebrows. He was impressed. "Something about Beacon Hills drew me here."
Stiles took a drink from his soda. In the last couple months, a lot of people have been showing up in Beacon Hills. Most of them were werewolves. He wondered if Parrish was one of them. He was going to try and figure him out.
"Parrish." Stiles cleared his throat again. "Jordan, do you believe in the supernatural?" He raised his left eyebrow, trying to act vague about where he was going.
Parrish smiled, revealing his pearly white. "What do you mean?"
Stiles leaned in closer. In a soft and suspicious whisper, he said, "like you know, werewolves?"
Parrish laughed. "No." Stiles observed his face, looking for some little hint of dishonesty. Parrish took another drink. Stiles couldn't see a single fault in his expression. Nothing. "I don't believe, but I like to keep an open mind."
Stiles leaned back. He liked Parrish's answer. He still couldn't get a read on him. Too bad Stiles wasn't allowed any friends over; he could have one of them used their super-hearing to detect if Parrish lied.
Without their ability, he had no choice, but to believe in his words. He finished his soda. Parrish did as well. Stiles heard a phone softly ring. It came from Parrish and Parrish was too busy in his deep thoughts; he didn't hear it.
Finally, he heard it and pulled it out of his pocket. He looked to see who was calling. "I need to take this." He got up and walked to the front of the house. He returned a few seconds later. "Sorry, but this is going to take longer than I was hoping."
Stiles exhaled with a soft laugh. It was nice of Parrish to feel bad. It was especially nice of him to want to keep Stiles company. Stiles was starting to like Parrish.
Once Parrish stepped outside onto the porch; Stiles sat in the living room. He channel surfed for some time. There wasn't a clock in the living room and his phone was upstairs. Since it didn't have service, he didn't feel the need to have it on him.
This was torture: no phone and no friends. Solitary confinement was all he saw for his weekend. At least during the week, he'll be able to go school and interact with his friends. Frustrated, he rose from couch and walked to the front door. He opened it and interrupted Parrish's call, "I'm going to be in my room."
Parrish nodded and walked down the steps towards the street, to his car. Stiles closed the door and went to his room. He stayed in there for hours. He played candy crush, for about ten minutes. He tried other things to keep himself from losing his mind, like cleaning his room. All he did was push everything into his closet. It was definitely not clean, but at least all his dirty clothes weren't lying around his room.
He laid down on his bed; face down on his pillows in the center. He replayed everything that had happened since the night he hung out with Derek. He had always thought his life had changed the night Peter bit Scott. It had, but not like now. His life had really changed and not from the extension of someone else.
It had changed the night he was with Derek at Lookout Point.
He rolled over on his left side and embraced one of his pillows. He sighed. The unnerving feeling of shame filled his body as the memory of his first sexual encounter-with Derek-played out in his mind. He should be happy about it. He got what he wanted: Derek and sex. There was something wrong about that night. He wasn't himself.
After awhile, he dozed off.
Stiles woke up a couple hours later, in a nervous sweat when he heard two high pitch sounds. He covered his ears, muffling the sounds until they softened. They went radio silent after a moment. He slowly removed his hands from his ears. The sound had lowered. He made out what they were: two people laughing, a man and a woman. He recognized the man's laughter to be his father. The woman, he had no idea who she was. At first, he thought maybe it was Melissa, but as he paid more attention to the laughter; it didn't sound remotely familiar.
He sat up in his bed and stretched. He let out a long yawn before he got out of bed. He walked across the hall and went into the bathroom. He had to pee. He heard the laughter again.
Once he finished and washed his hands, he went downstairs to see who was in his house. He rounded the stairs and saw his father in the kitchen, cutting carrots on the island. His father wasn't in his Sheriff uniform.
He was talking about Stiles when he was younger. Before he met Scott, Stiles didn't have any real friends because of his hyper-activeness. Stiles recalled those times. The kids in his grade couldn't handle him. Why should they? They were kids. He was lonely and misunderstood.
Everything changed when he met Scott in the third grade. He found his best friend, his brother. Stiles thought about his fight with Scott. They weren't really on good terms right now and it was getting under his skin. Everything was getting under his skin.
He walked into the kitchen and saw Haven sitting at the table, staring at his father like as if she was actually into him. "Hey, dad," he said, getting his father's attention. He went to the table and sat in the chair next to Haven.
She smiled at him. Stiles wasn't fooled by her smile. She was up to something and he was going to find out what it was. "Hi, Stiles," she said, kindly.
"Hello, Haven. Where's Toby?" Stiles asked. She mentioned in front of his father that Toby was her son.
She answered him, "he's with his father." That was a lie. "I was told you were grounded; so I didn't bring him along." Her voice was soft and sweet; stiles had to remind himself she was not a friend. Her-lively shade of-green eyes that reminded him of grass on a warm summer wasn't helping either. Her blonde hair was braided to the right and fell over her right shoulder. She had on a blouse that hid her skin, but was still luring.
"How old are you, Haven?" Stiles asked, beginning his interrogation. His father coughed, choking on the water he was trying to drink. He tried saying "Stiles," but he kept coughing. Stiles continued, "because you look awfully young to be interested in my father."
Haven sat there in her seat, smiling. She was amused by him. "Why didn't things work out with Tobias' father?"
"Stiles," his father finally said. Haven just continued to smile. "That's enough."
As usual, Stiles didn't stop. "Hey, I'm just looking out of you, dad." He extended his arm and pointed at his father. He genuinely was.
Haven giggled, covering her mouth like some innocent school girl. She didn't take offense to any thing Stiles was asking. She appeared to like the way he was acting, being protective of his father.
His father shouted his name for him to stop. Stiles tensed and became deadly silent and still. Then his father's phone ran. He flexed his jaw muscles and pulled out his phone from his front pocket. He answered it. He glanced at Haven with an apologetic grin. The call was work related and he had to take it.
Haven smiled at his father. She understood his responsibility as the Sheriff of this county. He stepped outside.
Stiles took the opportunity. "What are you doing here, Haven?" She rose from the table and made her way to the counter. She picked up the knife and continued cutting the vegetables. Stiles couldn't figure out her angle. It was getting under his skin.
"I'm keeping a close eye on you." She winked at him. She teased him with the secret she was keeping from him. A secret Toby was keeping from him. Possibly, Freddie and the rest as well.
His father returned. "Sorry, but I have to run to the station for something. It shouldn't take long." He spoke directly to Haven and not to him.
"Not to worry. I'll work on the dinner and it should be ready by the time you return." She smiled at him as she placed her hand on his arm, lightly rubbing it. She was getting close to him. Too close.
She was being the perfect woman to him. How could his father not like her? She was beautiful, sweet, understanding, and-most importantly-into him. He apparently found her funny.
He smiled and left the house.
Stiles needed to get his father away from her and soon. If he waited, his father would get attached, just like Melissa did with Peter. What if he found out she was a werewolf? He knew his father would be devastated.
"So when do you plan on telling me what you did to me?" Stiles asked. He remembered Toby said he was in transition.
Haven smiled, again, as she continued preparing the dinner. "Where's the fun in tell you?" He narrowed his eyes at her. She changed the subject, "do you know why people find nature beautiful?" Stiles shrugged his shoulders. He had an idea, but he also had a feeling his answer wouldn't be the same as hers. So he didn't answer. "Because when left alone in the wild, it grows without restrictions and that untouched and untamed growth is where the beauty lies." Stiles thought about what she said. He agreed with it. Man has made it's down beauty in the world, but nothing could compare to nature. Haven added, "like us werewolves, our first turn can be beautiful as well, but we're taught to believe we are slaves to the full moon and our anger."
She grabbed the thawed pork chops from the sink and placed them on the counter top. Stiles watched as she seasoned them. She fit perfectly in their kitchen. Stiles found himself moving closer to her like he was a guest in her home. "If my kind would just embrace our violent nature during a full moon, they'd feel no pain."
Stiles was intrigued. "But your nature is violent, why would that be a good idea to give in to it?" He asked.
She stopped what she was doing and looked him in the eye. "Not all violent things are bad. An artist sometimes channels violent and anger when painting." He still didn't understand her point. Like a mother trying to explain to her child right from wrong, she inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. "The wolf is a caged beast for 27 days and on the full moon it gets to be set free. When my kind fights for control during that time; it gets messy."
"They feel the pain of the shift," Stiles said, starting to get her point.
"Embrace your inner nature," she whispered to him.
Haven and Stiles became silent after that. She continued to make dinner for them. Stiles started to fidget. He wanted more answers from her. He didn't know where to start.
He took her advice: embrace your inner nature. He let himself be himself. He opened his mouth and the words came out. "I know Toby isn't your son. Why did you lie?"
She didn't hesitate to answer. "Freddie overheard you say that your father would be worried about you."
He moved on. "Have you found out who's been trying to turn people?"
"No." Stiles pressed his lips together. He was slightly disappointed she didn't find out. "But I can tell you, whoever it is, they're not werewolf."
They weren't werewolf. That didn't sit well with him. What else was out there roaming the streets of Beacon Hills? This was just another thing his friends and he had to worry about.
He asked another. "Why did James want to perform the ritual?" That question came out and caught both of them by surprise. Her more than him.
Her face slightly hardened. She focused on the pork chops she was cooking on the stove. She stared at it like as if it were a text book with information she needed. "It's not of your concern." She wasn't going to share. "Not yet, anyways." Her last words had such a haunting tone to them; they gave Stiles chills.
One last question came to mind. "In the caves, you told me I reminded you of someone." She gripped the pan handle tight. She nodded. "Who?" Stiles had thought perhaps she saw herself in him.
She didn't answer right away. Stiles watched as joy surfaced on her face and then loss and rage. It took a minute to push it all down and answered, "Alexander." Stiles sat quietly in the counter. "My son." Stiles' mouth dropped open.
Haven flipped the two pork chops. "You remind me of him. He was born human. This fragile little thing living with werewolves." She started to get choked up. It became obvious to Stiles that her son was no longer alive. "I couldn't protect him." She swallowed the lump in her throat. "And when I saw you…the fear in your eyes when James played that trick on you, I know I had to protect you."
"You offered sex to me?" He mused.
"I know." She laughed to herself, feeling foolish. "It was before I realized it was my son you reminded me of." Stiles saw she realized her mistake.
"How did it happen?" He asked, cautiously. He figured he got her to open up this much, a little more wouldn't kill. Or maybe it just might.
"An alpha named Trevor pissed off a group of hunters and stupidly led them to us, nomadic wolves. Omegas." She stared blankly at the pork chops as she relived her past. "I got separated from Alexander during the crossfire." Anger surfaced on her face, but no tears or watery eyes like Stiles imagined. She held her strong composer. "When I found him, Trevor crossed my path. He and the hunters' arrows hit me, stopping me." She paused, closing her eyes. "There was an explosion. Smoke and dirt filled the air. I called for Alexander, but nothing. Just the agony sounds of the wounded." Her eyes didn't water, but Stiles' did. He already knew what she was going find once everything settled. "I removed the arrows from my arm, chest, and leg and crawled forward to where I saw Alexander. As I reached forward into the smoke-I couldn't see through-, I felt a small hand. A hand-when I squeezed-did not move. I felt no pulse."
A lump built up in Stiles throat. The sadness vanished from Haven's face, leaving only the rage she felt that trouble day. His body became numb as his own emotion surfaced. He knew what it was like to lose someone, to be in arms reach and still couldn't do a thing to help. He lost his mother just like Haven lost her son.
She skipped to the end. "Fueled by a deadly rage, I killed Trevor and the hunters for getting in my way." That was the last time someone got in her way.
Stiles finally realized she was being genuine when she said she could protect him. He knew now that he could actually trust her. If only Derek was this honest with him.
Haven finished the pork chops and arranged the table. Stiles just watched her. She asked where everything was and when he tried helping; she denied his offer. "So do you know what Toby is?" Stiles asked as he sat at the table.
She glanced at him and smiled, again. "Are you asking me to out someone?" Stiles blushed. He didn't realize what he was asking. He shook his head. "How do you know him then?"
"You're so much like your father," she said. Stiles felt some pride when she said that. His father was a good man. The kind of man he hoped to be when he grew up. "I've met him once about a couple years ago."
She placed the pork chops in the center of the table. "Here, in Beacon Hills." His eyes widened. Haven had been to his town before. She noticed his surprised look. "This isn't my first time in Beacon Hills. I used to visit my friend Talia years ago."
Stiles opened his mouth to ask who Talia was when Haven said, "enough." He closed his mouth.
The front door opened. His father had returned and like Haven had promised; dinner was ready. His father commented how the house smelled wonderful. He rubbed his stomach as he approached the kitchen table. Haven welcomed him by placing a plate at the head of the table where he sat. The place where he always sat at.
They acted like a couple already. It was nice to see his father smile and be happy, even if it was just a moment. He thought perhaps they should be alone. He excused himself from the table, saying he wasn't feeling well. It wasn't hard for him to appear sick. All he had to do was think about the lies and things he had been keeping from him father to make his stomach turn.
At the request of his father, Stiles took his plate upstairs to his room. Just in came he got hungry. He ate it because he was hungry. He sat in his bed and devoured the food. Haven was a fantastic cook.
Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday went by like a blur for Stiles. Not so much on Sunday, but the rest of the days did. He was allowed to leave the house to attend school. He got to see his friends and like his father promised; he drove him to and from school.
Lydia made an appearance at school on Monday to see him. He liked that very much. She was more stable than the last time he had seen her. Scott and he were talking, a little. Ruby was speaking to him too (and not when Lydia was around). Most things seemed to be going back to normal. The only alarming thing was Toby wasn't in school. He was absent both days. Scott told Stiles that the pack-that included Derek-was looking for him every free moment they had.
Freddie went about his teaching without any hints that they (Haven and James) were up to something. He was actually acting like a normal teacher and didn't pay much attention to Scott, Ruby, and Stiles. That worried Stiles. He thought perhaps there was something more oppressing going on than keeping an eye on him.
After class, Stiles slowly walked through the halls, whispering to Scott and Ruby about his feelings about Freddie. They've noticed it as well, but they agreed to deal with Toby first. Ruby said she hadn't heard Haven talk about anything else going on in Beacon Hills.
Stiles knew his father was going to be arriving a few minutes late. He told his friends he had to get something from the guidance office real quick. He wanted to see if he could get Toby's address.
He arrived at the guidance office faster than he thought. He grabbed the doorknob. It didn't budge when he tried turning it. It was locked. "Crap." He said as he hit the door with his other hand.
"Can I help you with something, Stiles?" A gentle woman voice said from behind him.
He turned around and saw Ms. Morrell standing a foot away from him. "I…um. I…" He stammered on his words as he tried figuring out what lie he was going to use. He redirected the focus on her when he couldn't think of one. "What are you doing here? I didn't think students needed guidance in summer school."
She grinned, impressed with his observation. "Of course not, Stiles. I'm teaching a French course." She glanced at the door. She saw that he was still holding the doorknob. "Again, can I help you with something?"
Stiles removed his hand. "My friend, Tobias Carmichael, has been absent for a couple of days and I wanted to check in on him, but I don't know his address."
She knew where he was going. "So you thought that you could sneak into the guidance off and look through private files." She crossed her arms in front of her. A nervous sweat built up on his forehead. He was caught. He didn't know how to respond to that. He had to get out of this situation. He pulled out his phone and checked on the time. His father should be arriving.
"My father is here. Bye, Ms. Morrell." Stiles shouted over his shoulder as he turned around and sprinted to the student parking lot. Ms. Morrell called out his name, but he kept moving.
He made it to the parking lot just as his father pulled up. He was surprised he wasn't out of breath. He got into the car. His father asked how his day had gone. Stiles responded, "as usual as always." His father didn't know what a usual day for him was. He dealt with werewolves and hunters. He wanted to ask his father about his thoughts on Haven, but he didn't; he feared it would only make him feel bad for having kept things from him.
Stiles just sat, softly humming that familiar tune. His father enjoyed it. He tapped his index finger on the steering wheel, going perfectly along with Stiles' humming.
"Your mother always used to hum that melody to you when you were a baby." Stiles stopped humming. His father never mentioned this to him before.
Stiles smiled and continued humming the melody. It would bring him joy when his father compared him to his mother. He took it as a way of keeping her memory alive.
They arrived home and to their surprise, Danny was sitting on their porch steps, waiting. Stiles glanced at his father and then back at Danny. It had been a week since he's heard from or seen Danny. He was grounded and was pretty positive his father would send Danny away once they got out of the car.
"Dad," Stiles said, innocently as he began his begging.
His father interrupted him, "ten minutes." He drove into the driveway and put the car park so Stiles may get out. Stiles mumbled "thank you" as he got out. As soon as the door closed, his father pulled out of the driveway and drove off.
Stiles didn't question his father's motive. He jogged his way to Danny.
Danny started to get up, but Stiles placed his hand on his shoulder. "Sit down." Danny forced a smile.
Stiles jumped right into conversation. "Dude, where the hell have you been? I've needed to talk to you."
"Sorry," Danny replied, lowering his head. He was ashamed of something.
Stiles thought maybe he was coming off a little too rough on him. "Danny boy, don't sweat it. I'm just happy to see you. My pops grounded me and you're the first person he's allowed visitation." Stiles grinned at Danny as he playfully bumped shoulders with him.
Danny still didn't pick up his head. He had something on his mind. Stiles grabbed his arm, wrapping his own around his. "What's wrong?" Stiles wanted to talk about his first sexual experience with Derek. He was even willing to share who Derek was to Danny, but he could see his friend's trouble was more important at the moment.
Danny spoke, still with his head down, "I've been feeling the urge to try something, but I just don't know how to go about doing it." Stiles found it strange to see Danny so timid. Sure, Danny got nervous sometimes. Who didn't? This time was different. He didn't look at Stiles. Whatever Danny wanted to do; he wanted to do with Stiles.
Before Stiles could figure out what he was talking about, Danny turned to him and placed his left hand on the side of Stiles' face, moving his fingers in his hair and pulling him in. Danny's eyes closed as he paused for a moment. His eyebrows wrinkled like he was focusing hard on something. He took a deep breath and rushed in, touching their lips together.
Stiles froze. This was unexpected. His mouth was welcomed by Danny's tongue. It made his heart jump in his chest. Stiles slowly moved his tongue, caressing back. It was lovely, completely opposite to Derek.
Stiles placed his hand on Danny's side, pulling his body closer. Danny moved closer, pushing their faces together. Yes, this was nothing like Derek. Danny was an attentive lover. He was soft and kind.
Derek was manly and aggressive. There was no control to his kisses. He embodied the animal, the wolf. It was hot and heavy, every touch and kiss and lick. It wasn't like he didn't enjoy it; he did.
As they continued kissing, Stiles couldn't understand why he kept comparing Danny to Derek. They weren't the same. He knew that.
The melody-his mother always hummed to him as a child-surfaced. Even though he was mad at Derek, he was still Derek's mate and what he was doing, wasn't right. He was no cheater. This had to stop.
He opened his eyes. Danny cringed and pulled away. He pulled away like Ruby did when she kissed him. Stiles remembered that Ruby said about werewolves overstepping their boundary on a marked mate. They'd feel burning pain; just like Danny was feeling right now.
"Oh my god. Danny, you're a werewolf!" Stiles stated, completely baffled by his own words. Danny was a werewolf. How did it happen and no one knew? When did it happen? Stiles had his questions.
Danny didn't want to answer. He got up from the porch stops. "What?" He said as he took a few steps. Stiles got up. He tried standing face to face with Danny, but Danny kept looking away or closed them, cringing.
"I know you're a werewolf," Stiles said, this time in a softer tone. He explained his conclusion. "I'm mated with an alpha."
Danny asked, interrupting, "you're mated? And to a what?" He didn't understand.
Stiles didn't have the patience to explain it all to him. It would explain it to later, just not now. "It doesn't matter. Just know that no other werewolf can threaten or invade my personal space." He wasn't entirely sure how it worked, but that best explained it from his experience with Jackson and Ruby.
Danny nodded. He moved his eyes, glancing at Stiles and then looked down the street. He withdrew from Stiles. He was going to leave and Stiles knew it.
Danny started to walk away. "Danny boy, wait." Stiles tried reaching out for him, but Danny evaded his arm. He said he had to go. He needed silence.
As Stiles followed him to the sidewalk, Deputy Parrish pulled into his driveway. He stopped. His father had something to do. It explained why Parrish was at his home. Stiles turned his attention to Danny-who was already a block down the street.
He couldn't follow after him; not with Parrish here to stop him. He sighed, giving up on going after Danny. He thought maybe he shouldn't have pushed it. He came on too strong and scared Danny away.
Parrish called out his name from his squad car. Stiles turned to him, forced a smile, and waved. Parrish and Stiles went inside his house. Stiles asked where his father was. Parrish sternly said he couldn't say. It was "official police" business and that he wasn't at liberty to discuss.
Stiles didn't need Parrish's confirmation; he already figured it out. It was a homicide. Those cases were the only ones his father kept-tried too-under wraps. Lydia came to mind, but there was nothing he could do. He just hoped she was okay.
After an hour of channel surfing and talking to Parrish, Stiles retreated upstairs. Parrish returned to his squad car. When Stiles closed his bedroom door, he heard a thump. Someone came in through Derek's door. He smacked his forehead. He needed to stop thinking that. It wasn't Derek's door.
"Solitary confinement has finally gotten to you, Stiles?" He heard an arrogant voice say. It was Jackson. Stiles turned around. "Self-abuse?" Jackson added. He looked his usual annoying-happy self. Maybe Lydia wasn't involved with why his father left. He felt relieved. Lydia went crazy when Peter was controlling her.
"Why aren't you with the pack, searching for Toby?" Stiles asked as he walked over to his bed and threw himself on it. Lydia was probably insisting he watch over him.
Jackson didn't answer. "What's wrong?"
Jackson shrugged his shoulder. "Nothing is."
Stiles heard a heart beat accelerate. It wasn't his heart. It was Jackson's. "You lied." He stated, not wanting to say more. Why or how he heard Jackson's heart beat wasn't important. "What's wrong?" He asked again.
Jackson pressed his lips together. This was something he never did before. He was hesitating. Something was wrong. Did they find Toby? Stiles needed to know. "When you left with Haven a couple months ago, Peter taught us how to pick up on chemo signals." Stiles raised his eyebrow, not understanding what Jackson meant. "To smell emotion through sweat, like anxiety, stress, fear, joy, and even lust."
Stiles nodded, comprehending. It was the technique Ruby used to realize he was into Derek and Lydia and her. This werewolf world was getting more complicated and interesting by the day.
Jackson continued, "Derek picked up his scent near Lookout Point." This should have been good news, but that wasn't the case. Jackson displayed worry on his face.
Stiles feared the worse. Was Toby dead? The question kept circling around in his head like a merry-go-round.
"Derek picked up fear."
Fear was all Stiles heard. He jumped up from his bed and put on his shoes. He walked to the door. Jackson got in his way. "I was told to make sure you stayed out of the way."
The front door opened. Stiles moved around Jackson and went downstairs. Jackson didn't try to keep him from leaving because he knew he wasn't allowed over and if there was a struggle whoever was downstairs, would hear it. Stiles knew this too.
He jogged down the stairs. His father had returned. Stiles thought he'd plead to his father's sympathetic side. The side of him that allowed Toby five minutes to speak with him and allowed Danny ten minutes. "Dad, I need to check on Toby."
"You're grounded, son," his father replied, coldheartedly.
"I know, but Toby is in danger. You know, Haven's son." Stiles tried getting under his skin with Haven. He moved to the door.
The Sheriff grabbed his son's arm. He loosened his grip on his son when he realized how hard he grabbed him. Jackson came down, moving to Stiles and stood in front of him. He was protecting Stiles from his father. He breathed deeply.
"I said 'no friends allowed.'"
Stiles moved in front of Jackson. "I know, but I said Toby is in danger." His voice rose.
His father crossed his arms. He didn't believe Stiles. He knew if Toby was truly in danger Haven would have called the police. Haven would have called him. This behavior wasn't like his son. He noticed his son was changing, acting different. He voiced his thoughts. "What's with you, lately? This passed school year you've been getting into trouble, more than usual. You're always at the scene of some crimes and homicide." His father exhaled, waiting for a legit response.
Stiles sighed. He was tired of lying to his father. This had to stop. He was afraid that by knowing of the supernatural it could end in his father's death, but this lying was worse. He took a deep breath and everything came out. Everything from the day Peter bit Scott to Allison and her family were werewolf hunters. Derek was an alpha and turned Isaac, Erica, and Boyd into werewolves. Jackson was a killer lizard shape shifter called a Kanima.
Jackson growled at Stiles, forcing him to stop. Stiles had to stop. He was saying too much. His father couldn't take all of it in. No one-in their right mind-could.
Jackson was right. His father couldn't take it in and it wasn't because it was too much information at once. His father simply didn't believe. "Stiles, enough with the lies."
Stiles let out a grunt and his mother's melody returned. It was intoxicating. He started humming it. 5...2...3. 2...3...2. 5...2...3. He didn't know why he did want he did next. Or where the idea came from. He turned to Jackson, still humming. Jackson was in a trance. Stiles grabbed Jackson's face and pulled him in. He kissed him, right in front of his father.
When Stiles heard a growl, he parted from Jackson and stepped aside. Jackson's eyes were his usual cold steel blue wolf color. He looked at his father. His father's eyes were wide in disbelief.
Stiles pressed his lips tight together and whistled. Jackson, still in a trance, charged at his father and tackled him down. Stiles turned around and walked out the door.
