Title: Burned Soul
Writer: Kaline Bogard
Beta: YouJustGotPitchSlapped
Fandom: Teen Wolf
Ship: Sterek
Classification: K

Burned Soul

Kaline Bogard.

Chapter 11

When he was remembering the sequence of events that took place that night, Stiles could not explain how he got there. Perhaps guided by the desire to save someone he loved, or better yet, blinded by such a desire that he acted out completely foolish.

As soon as his conscience recorded the fact that he realized he was falling on his knees on the high grass, leaning over the body until his arms encased the wounded body of Derek Hale, and he became the shield that protected him from the murderous rage of the enemy.

The enemy that progressed rapidly with its claws, ready to tear those who raided his precious shelter.

At the bottom of his mind, Stiles understood the folly of his act. He was an ordinary human, weak and fragile. He couldn't regenerate quickly, or use some sort of bizarre, supernatural power against the monsters dueling that night.

He was only human, weak but passionate. The perfect formula of a fool.

Stiles would just be divided in half as the claws of Aberline cross his body. But knowing that did not frighten him. In fact, for the first time since he had known the truth about Francis, Stiles did not feel afraid. Was it because of him being with Derek in his arms, the man who had come to rescue him. It was as if nothing else around him existed. He didn't care.

The boy closed his eyes and waited the few seconds that separated him from certain death.

But instead of pain, he was taken from the cliffhanger as a terrifying growl rippled through the air. Stiles dared to reopen his eyes and peek over his shoulder, he then noticed the werewolf stopped within killling distance of each other, golden eyes narrowed in anger. A large and intimidating presence. Both just stared for a second.

Aberline growled again, and Stiles felt that animalistic sound was an order. The wolf, the being ripped straight out of a nightmare, would not attack for his life. He would not harm his potential mate. But he would harm the one he was protecting.

But, greater that was the grudge and hatred against Derek, Stiles realized Aberline wouldn't attack while he was serving as a shield for the ex-Alpha.

Francis growled again, restless and ready to attack. The boy didn't move, even if he was afraid. He never thought his heart could beat so fast and so strong.

Derek, recovering a little, attempted to force the boyfriend off and go back to the fight. His gesture had the opposite effect, because rather than get off Hale, Stiles just stuck more to him. He knew letting go of Derek could be his death.

"Stiles-" Derek grunted.

"Shut up! I know what I'm doing!" Stiles grunted back. He paused for a second. "I think I know what I'm doing-"

The words were cut off by a moan of Scott. The Alpha was trying to stand up. But ended up attracting the Digammas attention. Seeing a chance to redeem his frustration, Aberline turned toward McCall and came to take a step before the despair of Stiles took shape in his voice.

"NO!" He shouted. "Don't hurt my friends! Please-"

Against all odds, against unimaginable circumstances, no more rational or logic, against all certainly and guarantee the plausibility of a situation… the werewolf obeyed. Gave up the onslaught aimed at Scott and remained standing, his very dark hair stained with blood, fangs evidenced by panting, eyes sagacious gold and bored into Stiles.

The boy swallowed without being able to believe. Time seemed to stop as if, suddenly, they were in suspension unrelated to the world around. He was very conscious of the wounded wolf in his arms, as well as Scott, who sat and took his hands to his head, with blood running down his face and dripping on the boy's shirt. As well as the twins, down on the lawn, and Peter, who struggled to rise in spite of injuries.

Yes, Stiles was aware of every minute detail that made up that painting, with elements of enlightenment, but that did not form over the scenario of his 'Burned Soul' as one called it. Rescued and saved from misery in which he lived, thanks to each one of those who came to their rescue.

Without a dam to prevent it, words poured out of his mouth, overflowing from his heart.

"This is my Pack," the whispered feeling caught the look of Francis Aberline on him. "And this is the man that I love. I already have a mate! You can't order me or whatever it is called. I will never be yours, because I've recognized my soulmate-"

The slow words was heard by the four werewolves who remained awake, including by the fountain head. Derek snarled, angry to understand the intent of the Digamma -make Stiles his mate- but the boy shook off the growl and forced him to stay quiet. Taking deep breaths, Stilinski continued. "If you hurt the people that are important to me... If you take me away from here... I won't have a reason to live."

The sincerity of those words hit everyone. Stiles was telling the truth, he put everyone he loved in the first place and didn't care to count in his own safety by those who considered him family.

Aberline had come to take a step toward the boy, calling his attention and gaining a look in return. Something in the chocolate eyes, maybe the unquestioned certainty to be fighting for the right, hit Francis in full. And his wolf also.

As the only response, the werewolf raised his muzzle and howled. A sad and desolate sound that sprouted from his broken and rejected soul. He accepted defeat. The howling was a painful outcry by having to accept the harsh reality. The young man who he had chosen as a mate would never be his.

There was a last exchange of glances. The eyes which were like liquid gold seemed to say goodbye to Stiles. He dropped down on all four legs and ran back to the house.

Scott let himself fall on the grass again, immensely relieved. While Peter finally sat up, he looked at everyone with the greatest expression of "what did I miss" on his face.

Derek took his boyfriend and held him like a lifeline. And Stiles returned the hug, pulling him against him and pressing the man against his chest heavily. Derek returned to human form immediately.

"You came." It was the only thing that Stiles managed to think of to say compared to the excitement of the reunion. "Thanks!"

"Sure," Derek replied, his tone low. "I felt sorry for the poor bastard who kidnapped you."

"What?!" Stiles tried to loosen up Dereks grip, but Hale kept him held to him firmly.

"If he knew the trouble that came with you..." and a groan of pain followed the provocative phrase.

Stiles attempted to pull away to assess the damage of his friends, but Derek refused to let him go. And then, suddenly, Derek was rubbing himself on Stiles.

"Derek... What are you doing?" It was difficult to ask having his face against the muscles of his elder.

The giggle, suspiciously sounding like Peter, reminded them that were not alone there. Although who answered Stilinski's question was Scott, not Peter.

"Trying to get the scent of the Digamma from you." The Alpha said.

"Get off the smell of what?" Stiles finally managed to get away. "Holy God, Derek, control your wolf, man! The next step is, like, what? Do you just want to pee on my feet to mark your territory?!"

Scott laughed loudly.

"You okay, though?" The young werewolf asked, sobering up quickly. "He hurt you?"

"I'm okay. Yep, he hurt me, but nothing deadly. You guys seem to have taken a beating."

"And we didn't even make much of scratch," Peter mumbled, annoyed. His chest, torn by claws of Francis, is now fully healed, albeit less rapidity than might be expected. The twins remained unconscious and neither Scott nor Derek seemed at their best state.

"We gotta get out of here." Scott made an effort to getup. His injuries healed faster than the others, perhaps because of his status as Alpha. "Then we can talk."

"I'm going to get some meds." Stiles rose along with Derek. "Aberline has a stock of them in his house."

"Don't you dare," Hale snarled angrily. "I won't let you go in that house!"

"Relax, Sunshine," Stiles patted his hand on the shoulder of his boyfriend. "You saw how I control the beast. If he didn't do anything to me at the peak of adrenaline, now he's not going to do anything at all."

"Stiles-" the ex-Alpha called in a strange tone of voice, ignoring the way Scott tried to swallow his laughter. Peter took a hand to his lips to disguise the laughter.

"What is it?" The boy stopped moving towards the Aberline house and looked at his boyfriend with some alarm. It was strange how the eyebrow of Derek twitched. It didn't seem normal.

"What did you call me?"

Stilinski tilted his head to the side, trying to remember. When he did, his face turned red and he looked down. It was the nickname.

Scott laughed boisterously, while walking up to Ethan to see the boy's state. Peter, who did the same to Aiden, also had fun with the situation. Only Stiles could get that tension to go away after a fight so serious. The relief of everyone alive would help too.

Totally embarrassed, the poor boy tried to stammer a reply, however was saved from embarrassment. They heard a loud growl and a howl that rose the hairs of everybody.

Aberline seemed to claim a new confrontation. But against whom?!

The answer to the question came instantly, when a deafening scream forced them to take their hands to their ears. A sound that succeeded in throwing McCall to his knees and made Derek stagger.

When silence fell over them again, all they did was stare at each other.

"Lydia!" Peter exclaimed, and Derek took a step forward.

But it was Stiles that beat everyone to it. It could have been the werewolves, but they were wounded and recovering with less ease than would be expected.

"Isaac and Allison are with her!" Scott warned Stiles, at the exact instant the boy jumped through the hatch door that had been destroyed, and disappeared inside the Aberline mansion.

Continues...

Note:

Just two more chapters untill the…END! :3