"I'm telling you Jackson, something's not right."
The alpha sighed into his cell phone. He'd gotten this sudden instinct, like a feeling. Stiles was in danger.
"You're sure it wasn't just anxiety?" he asked. "Maybe a passing thing?"
"I'm sure it wasn't," Scott insisted. "I've known Stiles since we were little kids. I'm like zoned in on his energy. I felt something happen. It was this terrible feeling. I don't like what I feel now either. I feel like I'm slowly losing our connection. I can barely sense him."
Jackson sighed a little impatiently.
"What do you expect me to do about it Scott?"
"You could help me try to find him," Scott suggested.
There was Jackson's wolf again. Something within him urged him to obey even though he'd made a deal with Peter. His wolf wanted to obey Scott, and he found himself making up his mind.
"Okay," he agreed. "Do you want me to pick you up? You can ride in my Porsche."
Scott couldn't help continuing to be amazed at his new beta's kindness. He knew Jackson wasn't still the kanima, but could something else had taken him over? Then it hit him. It was probably the bond he'd created between them last night. He was Jackson's alpha now. Scott felt stupid suddenly, like he should have been able to guess at that...
ooOoo
Stiles didn't know where he was. He was running through darkness. He could hear a slowly pounding sound in his head.
"Stiles," a voice echoed in his brain.
He looked around. The voice was definitely male. Something told him that if he could find a way to answer it he could emerge from this darkness.
"Stiles."
Who was this voice? Why couldn't he escape this darkness?
ooOoo
Derek wiped Stiles' forehead with a damp cloth for about the third time, looking at his mate's calm expression in sleep. That's what Stiles was to him, as much as part of him still didn't want to love, his mate.
"Stiles," he whispered.
The boy kept sleeping. He wasn't dead. Derek could hear his heartbeat. He was probably just weak.
"He'll wake up soon," Peter spoke.
They were in the Hale living room. Derek was knelt down next to the couch where he'd brought Stiles to rest. Peter was standing in the corner of the room watching. Derek turned at his words, his eyes hopeful.
"Hope so," he said. "Do you really think it'll take?"
There was none of Derek's usual edginess in his voice. It surprised Peter a little. This was a gentler-spoken Derek, almost like the teenager he remembered before Kate.
"I honestly can't say Derek. He's breathing. That's a good sign."
"He has to," Derek said, looking at the floor with frown. "I care about him."
"How very interesting Derek," Peter mused. "You claim he annoys the hell out of you most of the time. You see nephew, I knew you had a heart in there somewhere."
Derek eyed him, his eyes wide and sad. He couldn't even make a retort to his uncle's words. This had shaken him. The confession of love for Stiles that had exploded forth from him in agony replayed in his head.
"Maybe I've been wrong all these years," Derek whispered, his eyes unreadable, looking at his uncle. "I never allowed anyone close, anyone to see, but maybe that's what I needed. How did this happen Peter? When did I start caring?"
"Love is a funny thing," Peter said with a smile. "I told you that before Derek. Don't underestimate it."
They continued looking at one another, nephew and uncle. Peter's eyes seemed kind enough, but they still had that guarded expression to them. Derek wasn't going to be able to read his uncle today.
"Derek come here."
It was surprisingly gentle. Peter held his arms out. Derek sighed. He needed it right now. Was it bad to need? He stood up and let himself embrace his uncle.
"It'll be okay Derek," Peter told him in that faux voice with a hint of suggestion to it.
Derek continued to look forward, frown in place, but eyes slightly emotive, his head on his uncle's shoulder. Peter raised his hand behind his nephew's neck, seeing the claws extend. He could do it now. He could take what he wanted. Did he want to do it this way? Derek suspected nothing. He was still surprisingly still and emotionless in his embrace. Peter felt his nephew's heart. He hesitated, his hand shaking. Could he kill him? Part of his mind flashed to Derek as a little boy.
"Uncle Peter!" the boy said happily. "Look!"
Peter exhaled and lowered his hand, feeling extremely guilty. He hugged his nephew harder. No he wouldn't do it this way. He would be alpha again, but not by killing Derek. He had to stick with the plan. Stiles groaned and coughed. Derek jumped out of the embrace, walking forward quickly.
"Stiles?"
"Derek," the boy mumbled, his eyes opening.
Their eyes connected. Stiles tried to use his arms to push himself up.
"Ow!"
"Don't move," Derek said, lifting up the boy's t-shirt.
The wound was still there, but no longer bleeding. Derek had continued to clean and heal it. He stretched out his hand again, black veins bulging in his arm. Stiles sighed contentedly. Derek placed a hand on the boy's face, eying him with concern.
"I'll be alright Sourwolf," Stiles told him in a weak voice. "I would have died if not for you... "
"I would never allow that," Derek assured him. "There was a price Stiles. I had to give it to you. Your body won't heal that wound without the bite. It'll eventually kill you."
"Its okay," Stiles said, forcing a smile to reassure him. "I wanted it to be you I think. You saved me Derek. You've been there... "
Derek's heart quickened with emotion. He always would be there. Stiles let him hold his hand.
"I love you too Derek," the boy said suddenly. "I didn't get to say it earlier. I heard you though."
Derek's expression remained gentle, soft. He buried his face in the boy's buzzed hair, inhaling his scent. His wolf jumped for joy. Stiles was going to live. The bite seemed to be taking. His body wasn't rejecting it.
"Are you hungry?" he asked.
Stiles nodded
ooOoo
Jackson parked near the perserve. Scott stepping out of the passenger door and sniffing at the air. The smell of blood worried him.
"Its Stiles," he said.
"I know," Jackson told him. "I smell it too. He must have been hurt pretty bad. Its his blood I smell though."
Scott clenched his fist at his side. He swore to himself, if Derek had anything to do with hurting his best friend, he would murder him. His eyes flashed red with anger.
ooOoo
Author's Note: I appreciate all the continued support of my readers, and am always glad to get your feedback. Do you like this idea?