Title: Another Shot

Time Together: 18 Months

Stiles Stilinski had felt more than rejected when Derek broke things of with him. Even though Derek said he loved him the day before, the break up seemed to fit their time line. Stiles knew what a mate was at this point, he read about it ever since he started his research, although he never heard of a human being a mate, but he knew that's what was happening between them.

Stiles never brought it up; being mates. Derek was a fight or flight kind of guy and flight was just always easier. Allison and Scott looked to be mates, which was cool because the hunters code didn't oppose their relationship, but why didn't Derek want to be mates? Did he not want a mate?

Allison and Scoot walked up from separate ways, he knew they were planning something, he knew he had changed, but he couldn't allow himself the words anymore. Stiles moved to run, when he noticed Danny was walking up from the right. One more turn and Lydia was revealed walking up to his left, with a rather intoxicating look of "try it" sculpting her face.

"Stiles," Jackson called, "it's the pack effect. Whether or not the Alpha is here, we still have to look out for each other." Jackson started to unbutton his shirt and stripped of, as Stiles gave him quite the puzzled look. Then he noticed everyone else stripping, bathing suits covering their bodies. "And when one member's burning?"

"We have to put the fire out," Scott whispered into Stiles' ear. "Now!"

Stiles was taken over by Scott's arms, and soon the feel of squirting water pelted his senses. Before he knew what exactly was going on, he started coughing and gagging, the surprise catching him too off guard. Scott released the seizing body to the ground, swiftly patting and rubbing its back.

"Stiles, I'm so sor-"

"Stop! Damnit, just stop!" Stiles took a moment to stand up and feel the weight of his newly drenched clothes. "I don't want to talk. I don't want your protection. You ignored me for the longest time to spend every second with Allison, and I don't appreciate you coming to help me when you feel I can't do anything." He shouted, his words falling on scared and confused ears. "All of you just let it go. I have no pack, so just leave me the fuck alone."

Stiles stalked off, leaving behind a group of scattered brained individuals. He couldn't understand why none of them would accept the fact that they just weren't Derek. Scott was a wolf, but he didn't enjoy the full moon runs. Jackson was an ass, but rarely did he show care for anyone but himself. Danny was into guys, but he wasn't as strong as Derek. They just weren't Derek.

That night Stiles fell into a sleep, the kind of sleep that an empty Adderall bottle can bring. His body was off, but his brain was very much on. He thought of why Derek left him. Why did Derek leave him? Why'd he have to leave town? Just…why?

"You're doing it wrong, Stiles."

"What?"

"You're doing it wrong. I didn't leave you just so you could turn you back on your friends."

"You shouldn't have left me at all! Derek, you shouldn't have left me."

"I had to. You know that."

"No, you could have stayed."

"They would have gotten you if I stayed."

"I don't care. I miss you."

"I miss you too, Stiles."

"Are we actually speaking right now? Or is this a dream?"

"It's real."

"I miss you, Derek. Please come back."

"I can't, they still have eyes on you."

"I still have your jacket and shirt. I wear your jacket every night. Please come back to me."

"As soon as possible. I can't stand hurting you. But first you have to realize that you can't leave your friends. That's what tipped these guys off in the first place."

"Why can't they just leave us alone?" Stiles stepped into Derek's chest, resting his head. "It's not against the rules. I love you, Anubis"

"I love you too."

Stiles awoke to a light knocking at his bedroom door. The clock on his night stand sang two in the morning.

"What, Dad?"

"Sorry, just us." Allison said as she and Lydia walked in.

"Your dad let us in though. He was glad to see us even though it's way too early in the morning." Lydia and Allison sat at the edge of Stiles' bed.

Seeing them, Stiles locked his words away again. He had nothing to say to them besides the words "get out."

"Stiles," Allison paused; her words lost at the sight of disdain in the boys eyes.

"Stiles, we need you." Lydia continued, "Derek didn't just leave you, he left the pack, and without him around, we all need you to be our Alpha, even the guys do."

"Stiles, Lydia and I have always looked at you as our Alpha, but now you're just being so damn…"

"Sorry. It's disgusting. You knew he was leaving before any of us, you had time to brace yourself, and we didn't. A pack dies without an Alpha, and if you don't step up, we're going to."

"Lydia-"

"No, Allison. This is stupid. You want him back so badly that you can't talk to any of us about it, then go get him. I'm tired of this moping bitch act." Lydia stormed out in a fiery blur. Allison sat there, head hung low. The silence was cutting, and Stiles could sense the tears about to fall from her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Stiles. I never reali-"

"Shut up. Let's go."

"What? Where?"

"You're gonna help me find Derek." Stiles said as lifted her head and smirked.

They were standing outside of the Argent garage when two cars pulled up. Headlights blinding as the morning sun in a baby's eyes. Stiles grabbed Allison's arm and pulled her behind him. She was right; he needed to be her Alpha.

"Chill, Stilinski." A deep voice called from behind the lights, "We're here for you."

The car cut of and Stiles watched as Jackson and Scott rose from the interior. He looked over and saw the fiery vixen who left earlier and Danny stepping from within the other vehicle.

"What do you need us to do, Stiles?" Danny smiled.

There were few places Derek would leave to go, but Stiles cursed himself for not realizing it before. The wolf had never left. He first noticed it when Lydia was yelling at him, the room smelled strongly of the wolf, which made Stiles wonder. But then he remembered his dream, and how Derek said it was real. Derek had been in his room. The theory cemented when he saw the crimson eyes looking into the car at a red light.

"Unfortunately I only need Allison." Stiles ran up to the front door of the Argent house and started banging furiously.

Stiles was in position, these hunters had better be ready for the amount of hell he was about to rain upon them. He opened the front door to the warehouse they rented out as their base of operations.

"Who the hell do you think you guys are?" The hunters turned, stunned at the sudden intrusion.

"Eric, how the fuck did this kid-" a swarthy, gruff hunter started.

"I jammed your shit. Keep up."

"He's a wolf!"

Stiles hit the ground, a sharp pain reaching through his torso and attacking his brain. "Shit." He whispered. Slightly finding comfort in the irony of being shot because of Derek twice.

"Stiles!"

"What the hell is going on here?" the gruff hunter declared.

Derek hovered over Stiles, lifting the boy's shirt to inspect the wound.

"What's going on is," Chris Argent walked in through the door armed with what looked to be pocket bible, "you just shot an innocent, which I have to report. Sadly, that's not all might have to report. Not only did you shoot, aiming to kill, an innocent, but I might also have to report how I let this werewolf exact a possibly fatal wound on the one with the premature trigger finger."

"He can't do that. Nowhere does it say they can hurt us because we hurt one of our own."

"True, the boy is human, but, unfortunately for you, it would appear that this boy and Mr. Hale are mates. And, per the Argent-Hale treaty, erected June third of 2011, it is also within my right to eradicate you from not only the society, but this earth. I'll leave up to them demon you've been haunting, he deserves verdict."

"Just leave." Derek growled. Stiles would be alright, but if the hunters stuck around, they wouldn't be.

"You heard him, get out of here. Do expect a lengthy review to be upon you soon. Especially since you knew this kid was human, and I can prove that. Wow, broken laws and treaties. How will you ever be allowed to even own a firearm again, I don't know. Let's go boys."

Derek scooped Stiles up and carried him to the truck that was waiting for them outside.

"So you went to Chris after I left?"

"Yes."

"Then you guys followed me."

"Yes."

"What happens now?"

"You take me back…hopefully."

"Anubis, you are possibly the dumbest person I've ever met, dumber than Scott, but I can forgive you; this time."

"Really?"

"Don't do it again, or else I swear to the moon you howl at, I will kill you myself."

Derek flinched at how serious Stiles was being. An audible "gulp" filled the room and Stiles laughed. Derek smiled and caressed stiles' hip.

"What happened to the hunters?"

"Chris says they have to go on trial. And we'll probably have to be there."

"Thanks for not killing them."

"You wouldn't have had it any other way. What were you doing there anyways?"

Stiles looked out his window and sighed. "Establishing myself as Alpha."

"My Alpha." Derek cooed and nuzzled his mates' neck.

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