A/N: Don't know when I'll get around to posting this one but here goes nothing! Thank You all for the reviews you keep me going!
He's standing there, staring at the red stained jeep parked right just a mile away from his burned up shell of house. His vision blurs in and out, a feeling he's not entirely unfamiliar burns through his skin, itching. He knows then, that everything he touches dies. The only accomplishment he's deluded himself into believing in, Isaac, is actually because of Scott. And this, this symbol of a challenge painted in animal blood on Stiles' jeep, this is Derek's work. He shakes his head in disbelief, having been in the same building with the teen but an hour ago. He'd hidden, like a coward in the other room, doing everything he could not to jump up from the ground and pull Stiles into his grasp.
He'd worked to hard to stay away, so much so, his wolf had almost taken over him in anger. Lydia had shot him for that, with a gun that Peter had 'momentarily misappropriated' from Allison. He'd smelled Stiles' scent on it and knew immediately he'd been the one to get the gun for Lydia. And of course he would have, he loved her. And no matter what she would always come first. The anger and jealousy rose in him faster than it'd ever done before, but he couldn't use it to hold back the wolf. It didn't work, he's not certain anger had worked much since Stiles. And then there was his scent on the gun, the gun that he gave Lydia to protect her from Derek. His wolf came out and he ran in a blind rage to rip the smell away from her. She had no right to carry his scent, but then again neither did Derek. Jackson and the others tried to get in the way, Peter was the only who knew there was no point in reasoning. Lydia pulled the gun up and shot him, in the heart. They rushed him to Deaton, where the vet ordered them all away. Ms. Morrell was there, in her gracefulness, to advise them on whether or not hunters would be coming. She had a knack for predicting the future. He'd remembered that from school. When Stiles entered, and the wolf pulled him towards the door, she'd only smiled. Like she knew, knew something Derek was too afraid to admit.
There's the sound of twigs snapping, but Derek doesn't, can't look at him, Peter. He can't face his uncle, who'd warned him. He'd told Derek that staying away was better for the both of them, one less weakness for Derek. How else would he have managed not to apologize to Stiles the night Jackson was saved? Peter stopped him, Peter forced him into reason. And he couldn't trust Peter, only Isaac and Stiles deserved his trust. Deaton was, by default, a trusted aid, still he refused to believe that the man could live for so long around their family and not manage to warn Laura against Peter. If he knew the kind of man Peter was, he should have warned her. That makes Derek angrier because he's loosing the people he care about and he doesn't think he could manage watching Stiles' body be buried or cremated. Peter remains silent looking at the jeep, taking it in and no doubt calculating how he'll manipulate Derek into doing whatever long term plan he's mapped out in his head.
"You visited him didn't you," it's a sighed statement, disappointment clouding the air he's breathing. He shakes his head. He didn't, but Stiles visiting Deaton at the same time Derek went would look suspicious to anyone. Derek himself could hardly believe it.
'It's a mix of Digitalis lutea and Antropa Belladonna,' Deaton looked down at the substance rubbed into the pavement, 'Dead man's bells and Deadly Nightshade.' He'd looked up at Derek, heart beginning to race, 'Separately they're deadly but these specific types mixed together are used to cause paralysis and hallucinations.' He'd followed the scent all the way to the jeep, too late for him to help. Instinct starts to kick in; his wolf no longer struggles with him. This is war now, they've gone too far. He hears his neck crack as he shifts, howling up into the sky. It's a long deep howl echoing until only dogs can here it, and even then, they carry it onward, a warning to the intruders. He feels Peter tense next to him. It's official, he's declared war on the alpha pack.
"You better have one hell of a plan," he warns, "because we don't have the numbers to fight off who knows how many alphas." He turns to his uncle, wolf still half in control.
"It's Stiles." That should be justification in of itself but Peter simply looks like he's coming to terms with death.
"They took him to rile you up," his voice changes, "we need a plan." Derek has a plan. For once in his fucking life, he has a plan. And it's going to work, he's going to make it work, "We need numbers." He can't stand Peter's doubt anymore and snaps at him for it, pushing him down into the leaves, teeth pinching the neck on his skin as they shut with a growl, drawing blood.
"I'm the alpha," He can smell Peter's smell, finally, "You don't get to question me. If you stay, you shut up and help me," He pulls away and Peter nods slowly, "Good." He stands up, Scott, Isaac and Jackson are rushing towards them. He steps over Peter without a single look back at him.
"What are you doing?" Jackson yells angrily. It's fine, he's angry about being dragged into war but he doesn't know yet. He doesn't know what Derek's managed to create within seconds, the plan he has in place for the idiots who took Stiles from him.
"Call it off," Scott warns. He's weary, like he's more worried about Derek's reason than he is about actually fighting.
"They took Stiles," Isaac and Scott immediately nod, filled with rage and prepare themselves mentally. Jackson looks at them confused, he doesn't understand. He hasn't gotten the gist of it yet.
"What the hell does that have to do with me?" He doesn't mean it. It's a defense mechanism to protect himself from being seen as weak, Derek knows this. But he can't take it now. And he knows he's going to need them to trust him without a doubt if he wants his plan to work. He needs them to trust him, if only to save Stiles.
"Listen up cause I'm only going to say this once," Jackson has the gall to roll his eyes, "If any of have a problem with me you might as well get out right now cause this," he motions between them, "It's not going to work if you don't get it all out now."
"I'm sure this isn't the right time to be," Peter shuts up when he cocks his head towards him. Good. He's learning.
"No more secrets," Isaac says out loud, "You trust us with everything and we trust you with everything." Jackson scoffs and Isaac look over at him, "We're a family through and through, we don't need to know every single detail of each other's lives just the basics." He looks at Derek, as if seeking approval.
"Fine," he turns to Scott, "I heard you talking to Gerard when Mat took over the jail and I blamed Stiles for doing the same, that's why he won't come near me." Scott sighs but nods reluctantly.
"I knew you two had something going on so I kept him out of it," There done. Simple. He can almost hear Stiles asking them if it was so hard, if they're going to hug now.
"Great," Jackson smiles, "I don't like any of you," a pause, "Isaac's okay but he's more like a mix between Scott, Stiles and you."
"We saw our family burn down alive in that house," Peter points at the wreck, "Excuse us if we don't care that you didn't get to meet your parents and got adopted by lawyers who gave you everything you wanted. Some of us have to live with the memory of their daughters' flesh burning off their bones begging for help which comes way too late." Jackson shuts up then and Peter steps next to Derek when he's done.
"If you're going to help, help willingly. Not out of guilt," He looks at all of them, "Let's agree that what we're going to do isn't going to be easy but it's for Stiles and we need to be a pack to pull it off." He steps closer, so they're standing in a perfect circle. Jackson nods next to Scott.
"I care about him too okay," he admits shrugging, "If any of you tell him that I will deny it until the day I die." They all make a silent promise that neither of them will mention it, at least not until Stiles is safely home.
"Where's Lydia?" Jackson stiffens and glowers at him.
"You tried to kill her and she shot you," He smiles, "probably fixing her make up." He's still acting like his usual jerk-off self and Derek can't have that.
"I could have killed you and I didn't," He can hear the Stiles in his head saying 'yep, he's pulling that card again. The You need me one.' But he's not, "I saw the way you looked at her, you don't need to pretend anymore. At school, fine, that's your business not mine but here, never again." Jackson nods slowly and somehow Derek feels safer, he's calmer.
"She's in the car," he motions over to the Porsche, Lydia steps out slowly and somehow she just knows to walk over to them. She stands next to Jackson, her hair down and make up gone, she's sticking to natural beauty and it suits her more.
"What happened?" Derek can feel it, Jackson's need to lie in order to protect her. She cares about Stiles, she won't ever be in love with him, but she does love him, if only like a brother.
"They took Stiles," She turns to Derek with wide, frightened eyes. He imagines that's what he looked like when he saw the jeep, "We're going to get him back." The determination in his voice shakes her out of her current state and she nods, equally as determined.
"What's the plan," she says staring into space before looking up at Derek. They all turn to him then, not bothering to think that he doesn't have one. They know, he thinks, they know he's their alpha now. He pulls out his phone.
"I'm going to send each of you a list," he looks at Isaac, "You and Peter are going to go on tracking duty. Under no circumstances do you confront the alpha pack is that understood?" They nod and he doesn't try to hide the smile that comes over his face, "Scott." This is the hard part he tells himself, "Do you trust Allison and her family." Peter looks at him, bewildered, ready to make a comment.
"Yes," Scott replies in a heartbeat, it's all Derek needs to hear.
"Then you know what to do," Peter sighs at the overwhelming large smile that Scott shots up at them. "Lydia you're going to collect the herbs and weapons I send to you from Deaton and the Argents. As much as they can get you do you understand?" She nods. Jackson turns to him now.
"It was faint but I could smell Danny and Gerard at Deaton's," Jackson's eyes shoot into a panic, he hadn't smelled it, "I'm telling you so you're not surprised at the names that will come up on the list." He sends the list to all of them and they open up the message. Scott is the first to freeze, the first to question.
"I don't want them involved," it's stern, like he's asserting himself, "I don't think Stiles would either." Derek nods, he understands.
"We need back up," Scott's still shaking his head, "People we can trust."
"They don't need to get involved," Scott whines, his resolve is weakened and it's enough to tell Derek that he's won the argument.
"They're already involved," Isaac puts a comforting hand on Scott's shoulder, "Jackson you're going with Lydia, she'll need help carrying the loads. We meet back here in an hour and Scott?" The teen looks up at him, face tense, "You get Allison and her family on our side, I'll handle everyone else."
"Are you sure?" There's genuine concern in his voice. The others pause to look at Derek, as if they're compelled to stay until dismissed.
"It has to be me," Peter sighs looking at the list, they share one final glance at each other, "One hour and we meet back here, get going." Lydia manages to run, in her heels, to the car. Jackson follows next to her and they're off just as quick. Scott sprints off towards the Argents and Isaac pulls Peter away towards the Jeep. He's not being smug when he runs off smiling, he just knows, somewhere Stiles is talking an alpha to death. Probably doubting that there will be a rescue, but doesn't know. He doesn't know that he's raising an army, that while he's talking away about not wanting to die, he's pulling them all together to kill the bastards that are holding him captive. And it's just too beautiful, Derek can't help but smile as he struts into the Sheriff's office.
"Derek," He reaches for his gun, not that Derek blames him. Scott's mother is there, sitting up straight staring suspiciously between them. He's not surprised, the two had to have more in common than their children being involved with werewolves in order for Scott and Stiles to remain so close. She's asking for permission of some kind and he gives it to her. He's not sure what Scott's told her, but he won't question his pack now.
"There's something you need to know," She turns to the Sherriff who's gaze shifts between the two of them. He removes his hand from the gun and Derek closes the door behind him. He walks up the Sherriff's desk, Ms. McCall right next to him. Yeah, Stiles has no idea what he's doing and it's going to work because it's for Stiles. And it's about time the universe made up for fucking up so much for no reason.
A/N: BWAHAHA! Derek's finally becoming an alpha guys! OMG! I'm so happy right now cause you guys! If you knew what he plan is! If you KNEW! Seriously though, I think we can all agree it's going to have a Stiles pizzazz to it, cause who do you think taught him to plan? ANY GUESSES AS TO WHO IS ON THE LIST? OR WHAT DEREK's PLAN IS?