It wasn't long until Stiles found himself hopelessly lost in the grand city of Dunsmuir. The numerous roads quickly became mazelike in nature with no apparent rhyme or reason to their setup leaving him constantly turned around. It was the kind of place that you could only know the layout if you were born and raised there.

Worse yet, the stacked buildings made it next to impossible to keep a visible landmark in view despite his numerous attempts of peering up on his tiptoes.

Being lost was something he could handle. Hell, he had been lost more than his fair share during his romp in the woods with Scott. No, what was really getting under his skin was all the Hunters. There were numerous amounts currently stationed there and hanging out in the city. More often than not he saw them and to avoid being spotted he had resorted to ducking into alleyways.

It left him with frayed nerves and a jittery stance.

The reason that the Hunters were so abundant outside their usual numbers had to be because of him and Scott. While this filled him with a sinking feeling at the risk of getting caught, it also instilled a small measure of relief. All this pointed he was still possibly on the right track to finding Scott.

Unfortunately with the cities setup of high walls in place, this left very little easy escape routes. There was no way he could simply dash into the forest like last time. That meant that if he got spotted it might not turn out for the best especially since he had no backup.

His nerves were beginning to fray from the mounting stress of the situation causing him to want to punch the next person to walk by him.

If there was any silver lining to the situation it was he had a lot of eavesdropping material and his disposal. Making his way through the city he saw that there was at least one Hunter on every road chatting up with a civilian or one of their buddies. If there was going to be anyone who was going to talk about an omega werewolf in the area it would be a Hunter off duty and hopefully drinking a bit.

If there was thing that was true, it was that Hunters liked to brag. And if they were inebriated then all the better.

Over the course of the day, if he saw a Hunter in just the right position that allowed him to sneak up just so then he took advantage. His heart always felt like it was going to beat out of his chest when he did so but he just tried to focus on Scott and how the dumb oaf was relying on him.

So far he heard numerous "blazing feats of glory". No mention of hide or hair of Scott.

What he did find was a courier station.

The urge to sink to the ground in relief was almost overwhelming. Something was finally going his freaking way and it made him feel on top of the world. Before the throngs of people could push him down the paved street and make him lose sight of this blessing, he plowed through without excuse to enter the establishment. It was only then he realized he still had no money to barter with.

You have got to be freaking kidding me rang in his head. The dagger he still had stowed away in his boot was briefly considered to be used in some kind of trade but he figured there was no way a courier would think that was a fair exchange and the map he had was too useful. Stealing was quickly becoming the only torrid option.

Lady luck apparently was rooting for him as soon he noticed the woman behind the counter was struggling with what looked to be a box. Upon inquiry, she revealed she had locked the money box and lost the key. Some quick thinking had him lying that he was an apprentice to a locksmith. The young lady didn't look to be convinced but he guessed he looked trustful enough for her to let him have a go. That or she was very desperate.

It was only after he had successfully opened it, with some magical help deftly hidden, that he breached the subject of a trade for his service. She looked to be close to tears, happiness he hoped, as she accepted. He found out she was the daughter to one of the couriers and was covering for a lunch shift.

That explained it then.

She putzed around as Stiles sat in a corner to try and write a letter to his Dad. As soon as his pen hit the paper his mind went blank. Oh there went a tumbleweed.

'Stiles you can do this, you only have to explain you are on the run for your life and Scott is who knows where and oh yeah, a wolf sorta adopted your son.' The frustration was beginning to make his head ache. There was no way to subtly put it that he had royally screwed up. Gritting his teeth he finally wrote out,

"Hey John, It's your little man. You probably are wondering where I went off to a couple of days ago. Well, I messed up Dad. I don't know how else to put it. My friend needed me for something and I agreed. He didn't try and coerce me in anyway and no I didn't persuade him back because I know you think I'm the brains for every time we both screw something up. We lost each other when stuff went south and I'm trying to find him. I'm safe and I hope to be home soon. Whatever the Hunters have told you is probably true but I promise I haven't gone to the dark side like they most likely have said. If they said anything about my friend, well part of that is true to and I'm sorry I didn't tell you but it wasn't mine to tell. Key points though, I'm safe, my friend I believe is safe, I'm going to find him, and I'm going to come home once I find him. I will explain everything then and please don't come and look for me. By the time you get this I have no idea where I'll be. I love you, and I can't wait to see Beacon Hills again. God, I did not think I would ever say that.

Love your little man

It was finished with a flourish as he stared down at his handwriting. He knew it was vague and would probably anger his Dad more than placate him but he couldn't risk any more information. If it fell into the wrong hands and got passed to certain dangerous people it would not end well for him or his family. What he had down would just have to do. The important thing was that if it reached his Dad, at least he would know he was safe.

Stiles gave it to the lady behind the counter and she promised she would send it off with the next courier heading that way. The relief that swept through him upon exiting the establishment was palpable. Time was not on his side to allow him to take a moment to revel in it and instead he had to set off once again through the bustling roads with a heart that was a bit lighter.

It felt like time was slipping through his fingers as the day wore on and no word of Scott was mentioned from even the drunkest of Hunters. The thoughts of maybe giving up for the day and trying to leave the city were crossing his mind when he walked past what looked to just another alleyway. That was he initially took it for until felt a strange tug course through his body rooting him to the spot directly in front of it.

People bumped into him obviously annoyed by the sudden obstacle to their path earning him a couple of obscenities thrown his way. Stiles ignored them as a coil of trepidation unwound inside of him. Somehow he didn't need to look down the pathway to know what awaited him down it. Almost in a trance, he felt his feet turn towards the alley and slowly he began to walk forward.

The same sensation from last night when the Darach had spoken to him with her velvety voice began to descend upon him. This time he didn't have Wolfy to snap him out of it. The fear would hit later but right at this moment a certain level of peace sat within him not allowing his brain to properly connect that yeah, he should be freaking out.

The peace turned into euphoria when he found himself standing in front of a solid wooden door that in his right mind, would have found out of place in the dingy alley. It had stone steps leading up to it and cut quite the image surrounded by the dank surroundings. For now all he could relish in was the relief filling him as if this was where he was meant to end up after all this time.

A loud church bell rang nearby and Stiles felt himself snap out of whatever trance had been invoked over him. A large shiver came unbidden to run through his body as his thoughts finally became his own again. Yeah, that was something he was starting to get sick of. Two times in one week was just too much for him.

Once had been enough.

Just as he was about to step away from the door and reevaluate his life, the door began to creak open. This caused him to jump back with his arms upraised in a rather poor defensive position. He really needed to learn some better combat skills.

Searching eyes met his own when the door fully opened as a middle aged woman stepped forward into the alleys dim light. She wore some kind of medical garb with her auburn hair pulled tightly back into a bun with nary a hair out of place. She looked to be one of those ladies that demanded meticulousness in all aspects of her life and others with the way her eyes seemed to scan over his dirty clothes as if it was a personal offense against her. It didn't help that he probably smelled.

He had to resist pulling on his clothes in shame. Her gaze was that judgmental it even got to him, someone who at this point had little give a shit about someone thoughts on his clothing of all things. She almost seemed to sneer at him as if this was an entire waste of her time before she turned around and waved him in while she walked back into the building leaving the door open just a crack.

"Well come in before you catch a cold. I've been expecting you all day." Her voice was like glass mixed in a bucket of ice, unexpectedly cold and sharp.

"Yeah, um, I'm not sure if I want to do that. I already got caught in one of your traps you set up out on the road." Stiles snarked back crossing his arms in front of him. That house spoke of magical properties and the woman did not come across as someone entirely normal. "Because see, I like this whole thing called living."

She reappeared in the doorway looking not at all amused by his commentary. Stiles guessed that she was one of those people that always had it her way.

"It's always easier when they don't snap out the daze." She sighed pinching the bridge of her nose. It was then he noticed the bright red sheen to her nails.

"Not sorry about that at all. Now who the crap are you?" He pointed a finger at her in accusation. She must have some reason for bringing him down here and he was dead set on finding out what it was. He had to be careful though because if his instincts were right she had magic.

"You may call me Jennifer." The now named Jennifer spoke slowly as if he was an idiot that needed to be catered to. "And I had word that you would show up on my doorstep today by a certain Darach."

Stiles body betrayed him by taking a slight step back with the sudden spike in fear that coursed through his body. The name alone after that visit was enough to make the hair on the nape of his neck rise. It didn't help that he was in a foreign city with his only back up unable to help him in the least.

"I see you have met her then. We have had our dealing in the past but she has a certain-" Jennifer paused slightly tapping her lip in thought, "-air about her I suppose that can damage lesser beings. She sent you here yes?"

"She didn't really send me anywhere. More like coerced me." Stiles mentioned remembering the whispers that had filled his ears. "And yeah, not a lesser being here. Just a regular person here, no need for the jabs."

"Normal, lesser, anyone is below her in those terms. Even I hesitate to displease her but you are here for a reason. Let us not linger here at the entrance. It's rude." She truly did look put out with the whole thing. Her fingers were rhythmically tapping on her arm in annoyance.

"What do you know about the Darach?" Stiles ventured ignoring her plea to resume the conversation inside.

"If I tell you that will you stop with the childish behaviors?"

Stiles rolled his eyes before responding, "Sure, yeah, will do." He wanted to mock salute her but at the last second controlled himself.

"She is something much older than you could imagine and for some reason she has taken an interest in you. Whether that is a good thing or a bad thing is still up in the air for creatures such as her time hold no meaning. She also has eyes in unusual places." Her eyes glimmered slightly with that last tidbit but Stiles attributed it to the light.

"That is all you can tell me?"

"Regrettably for us both, the Darach only is truly known by her own followers and the other supernatural creatures that encounter her. For us she will always be an enigma on almost all levels."

"Well great." Stiles sighed pulling down on his face. It's as if life just wanted to keep kicking him while he was down, not ever letting him truly have a foot hold in any aspect.

"Now enough with this diddle daddle. I know you arrived on my stoop for a reason and that reason is the Alpha."

Stiles gaze shot up at that locking eyes with the domineering lady. Her smirk showed that he had just demonstrated all she had known. He found himself not caring.

"What do you know about it?" He all but demanded sounding probably like the petulant child that she viewed him as.

"I know quite a bit but I am truly weary with our current scenery. For this conversation I must insist we retire inside. I have herbs boiling for a customer and if they turn sour it is you who will have to pay." Her eyes turned cold as all her patience ran out.

Stiles was caught between a rock and a hard place. For one thing he really didn't know if he could leave even if he wanted to. She had the look of someone who had a plan and that plan was not going to change unless she allowed it to. The other aspect was that right in front of him there could be all the answers to the questions that had plagued his mind for the past couple of days.

Winging it probably wouldn't turn out too horribly. That was all he really had done for a strategy anyway and he hadn't died yet. The spark flared inside him as he took a step forward towards the doorway. Fire was also a nice backup if he needed to escape.

Jennifer stepped back to allow him entry into what looked to be a small cottage on the inside. "Now that wasn't too hard was it? I'm glad you have some lick of sense in that empty noggin of yours."

Stiles ignored her blithering remarks about his lack of intelligence. The house setup was the focus of his interest at the moment. It looked like all those classic evil witches cabins that were in the fairy tales that had dotted his child hood. His mom had tried to discourage him from reading them.

Herbs were strung from the rafters as well as bottled in jars on shelves among an assortment of other ingredients. A fire crackled in the center with a large pot hung over it boiling furiously. The architecture and décor screamed a working medicinal herbalogist that focused on the potion aspect of the career.

"Make yourself comfortable while I take care of this." She directed him towards a set of chairs that were orientated around a round table off to the side. Strewn across the tabletop was jarring equipment with no room for the primary focus of an eating table. He perched his butt on the edge of the chair not allowing himself for a second to become complacent.

He watched her wave a hand over the pot and to his non surprise the ladle began to stir in a steady rhythm.

She glanced back at him with raised eyebrows but didn't say a word. So she did have magic. Meeting another with magic was not common but it did happen. There had to be more than a couple in a city this size but he didn't kid himself that he would know the specifics.

"There isn't much known to the masses about the Alpha outside of what the Hunters allow to leak out with their insufferable boasting." She talked as she worked being efficient in both elements without a drop in level of skill. It was clear she had talent in multitasking.

"You apparently do." Stiles remarked back still eyeing his surroundings.

"Yes but I am not one of the mere masses if that wasn't clear from earlier. I assume you think it is some mindless animal that is ageless, something that just is among the trees that has always been but that is where you would be wrong."

Jennifer threw a bunch of green herbs into the pot causing a burst of smoke to pour out before turning dramatically to bear down upon him. Stiles instinctually pushed back into the chair as she stared down at him when a small fit of coughing hit him.

"There is a thing called personal space you know that right?" She ignored him and stared directly into his eyes.

"That thing out there is not what you think it is. It is not a mere overly large wolf." Her words were spoken with finality and sternness as if she didn't believe he had the brain processing power to fully comprehend what she was saying.

"I'm pretty sure it isn't a turtle if that is what you are trying to say." Stiles responded between small coughs trying to get a breath of fresh air among all the smoke that seemed to be increasing.

She pulled away with him with an aggravated sound. "C'mon Stiles, you have to be smarter than this to have the Darach take notice in you." It was clear she didn't often take time to talk to people that she thought lesser of her.

"What are you trying to say because you need to just say it already?"

"It's no animal. That thing out there is a werewolf."

Stiles felt his stomach drop. If what she was saying she was true and his gut was saying it was, then Wolfy was a person inside and not the animal he had believed it was.

"I can tell you know it's true. The poor thing was once a part of the Hale clan that lived in the northern regions until tragedy struck and the Alpha became who he is now. Poor Derek Hale, doomed to wander the lands trying to find the one who betrayed him and his family as a mindless animal. Any trace of the man he once was has long been erased by hatred and the urge for revenge."

Derek, the name rang in his head. It was an odd disconnect to have the image of Wolfy in his head in dynamic with this faceless visage named Derek Hale. Her description also was not fitting what he had experienced so far with the Alpha.

"That is all I was told to tell you and now the part of my deal is done." Jennifer could barely be seen in the smoke that now filled the room. Stiles was realizing the burning in his lungs was getting worse not better. His urge to find more about this Derek was strong but his urge to not asphyxiate was a bit higher on the priority list.

He needed to get out now.

"Then I should probably go then." Stiles went to stand up but his legs weren't agreeing with him. "What the fu-"

"It's a neurological agent. I myself am immune after inhaling small doses over time but for lesser being like yourself it can do some corrupting for a short amount of time." She sounded almost bored like this was tedious for her.

Stiles anger rose to the surface like a geyser. This was getting so old and he was not going to put up with it. Yeah he was stupid for coming in here but that didn't mean he deserved whatever she had in store for him.

"I'm leaving, right now." Stiles made his voice sound as threatening as he could make it while he felt like hacking up a lung.

"I really don't see how that is going to happen. See, the deal was to not harm you until I gave you the information but now that is done." She walked over near him as if he was just another gear in her machine. "Don't worry too much, you are just going to be the conduit for a couple of big potions I need to make and if you live then you will be free to leave."

His spark seemed to leave his control as the fire in the center of the room flared and roared to a much greater height almost licking the ceiling and completely engulfing the pot that had been resting in the center. Jennifer let out an undignified squeak and flinched away from the growing heat. Her face turned to him and looked to be filled with surprised mixed with the usual indignation.

"If you don't get me out of this house right now I'm going to burn it down." It was almost as if he was just the emotion anger itself.

"How are you even doing this? The smoke should have disconnected you from your magic." Her voice was full of curiosity and for the moment forgot the growing fire hazard in her house.

"I'm not going to say it again. I'm leaving so get me out of here!" Stiles this time didn't wait for her help and instead tipped out of chair and began to crawl towards the door.

Jennifer rushed over to him as he rolled over on the ground just as she descended upon him. His hands came up to battle with hers as she attempted to grip him and pull him back into the house.

"You cannot leave now. You are too great of asset." She tried a big heave to pull him back but Stiles used his dead weight to counteract the pull. His legs were slowly getting their feeling back. It might be because the air was slightly clearer here on the ground.

The fire, fueled by his intense anger, rose in the background but Jennifer ignored it focused solely on him. They grappled on the ground as more of her herbs began to catch fire and spread the heat even further.

"I hope you didn't like your house." Stiles managed to get out.

"It's just a thing and things can be replaced." She spit back trying to pin his hands by his head.

His legs were still dead and his hands were pushed down by his head. The fire must have been a fluke because as of now his spark refused to respond to any of his further urges. The fire in the background was now growing of its own violation.

Her sneering face inched closer to his and all her could notice was her once perfect hair was in disarray mirroring her mental shift.

"Now, how about me and you fix this mess you created." Her knee dug into what he thought might be his spleen painfully. "You will make up the cost of all that you have made me lose and if you aren't a pitiful husk of what you once were at the end then I'll leave you in some alley for the dirty low life's to find you. I'm sure they wouldn't mind a young thing like you."

"Go to Hell, oh wait, looks like your house already is trying to recreate it for you."

"Once you have settled down I can fix it you ingrate." She slapped him as she yelled out the last word.

Stiles was about to retaliate with words when an arrow seemed to appear in Jennifer's shoulder. She looked to be as shocked as he was as they both stared at the new object in their midst when words rang out from behind them.

"Get away from him."

Stiles twisted his head towards the new voice and there standing in the doorway was his new angel, Allison Argent in all her sweeping glory with her deadly bow posed to fire another arrow. She looked furious but her face showed she knew she was in control of the situation.

"Allison!" Stiles cried out in delight, "Great to see you."

"Wow, of all the people that would show up it's the universes greatest joke that it would be an Argent." Jennifer spoke slowly rising from her position on top of Stiles. Once he was out from under her surprising weight he began to scoot backwards towards the entrance and his savior Allison.

"Keep talking and I can add another arrow to you." Her voice was calm and cool like a mountain spring.

Jennifer stopped talking but the fear of becoming a human pincushion was not apparent on any of her features. As she stood there almost proudly with the raging inferno consuming her house she looked to be the picture of a damned soul in Hell. The arrow still poignantly sticking out of her shoulder didn't seem to faze her.

Soon arms hooked under his armpits and began to quicken his leaving of the house.

It wasn't long until his body bumped down the few steps and he was lying out in the cool air of the outside world.

"You are a top grade idiot aren't you? Really Stiles, what made you think at all that was a good idea. I barely found you in time." She rushed out looking him over for injuries.

"You really won't let me breathe for just a second will you?" Stiles gasped out enjoying the 'fresh' air of the city flowing into his lungs.

"Idiots don't get a moment." She finally let up on her examination.

Stiles glanced up at her and tried to smile but she shut it down with a look. He pulled himself up to a sitting position and tried to massage the feeling back into his legs faster. The prickly feeling was creeping up them and intensifying as he did so. It was then he noticed the steps and door was no longer even there. Just the blank stone wall of the alley greeted him.

"Yeah, that might not have been my shining moment of glory." Stiles admitted.

The fear that he had shut down in the moment began to creep up making him realize that he might have had some difficulty getting out of there on his own. Okay, probably a little more than just some difficulty but the chance was still there that he could have escaped on his own. A small chance but that still counted.

Allison sat down next to him and gave him a pat on the back. While they had never been 'friends' they did have some connection due to Scott which got Stiles thinking.

"What are you doing here Allison? How did you get away from the other Hunters?" Stiles inquired feeling confused. The last time he saw her she had been trapped under another man's body as he had run away in one direction and Scott in another.

"I was tracking Scott after your little show in the woods and came across your particular trail." She shot him a look as if to say she knew about Wolfy or Derek or the Alpha, hell he didn't know what to call him anymore.

"Well I'm glad you found me when you did. I haven't had much luck in finding Scott here." Stiles told her not proud of how little he had accomplished.

"He's not here Stiles."

"He's not?! Then what are you still doing here saving my ass?" Stiles attempted to stand and while he wobbled a bit on the first step he did manage to make his legs keep him upright. Allison followed suit and stared him down as if to say 'how dare you question anything I do when I just saved you'.

Allison's face soon though changed to shame and sorrow as she looked away from his gaze. "He got caught Stiles, he's at the Hunters homebase in Sonoma."

Fuck.