Stiles' heart was in his throat at Derek's words. Derek could have died. He had been so close to death. And now he brushed it off like it was nothing. Like the pack being in danger was enough to bring him back. The pack had faced plenty of dangers over the years. Why now?

Cora squeezed his hand under the table bringing his heart rate back down where it belonged. Thank god for him learning how to mask his heartbeat because it had been all over the place since Derek had stepped foot onto his land.

Stiles had tuned out of the conversations flowing around him, but he snapped back to attention when Chris' voice cut through the noise.

"Derek, do you still have those pictures or can you describe the hunters to me? So, I can talk to my old contacts and see if we can ID the threat?"

Derek looked up at Stiles at the question, clearly seeking some permission. "The pictures should be on my camera. It wasn't in the room with my other things, so it should be in my car. I also took their weapons and Wolfsbane, which could possibly help."

Jackson was already rising from his seat when Derek mentioned the Camaro.

"I keep my camera bag in the center consul, and the Wolfsbane is in my backpack." Derek spoke softly and Jackson nodded stiffly. Clearly hating that Derek was giving any direction at all.

Danny had been typing away on his laptop since Derek stopped speaking.

"There are no reports of bodies in Black Canyon City. So, it looks like the wolves took care of them enough that we don't have to be too worried right now. But they could have followed you before then, where were you before Arizona, Derek?"

Danny's question caused Derek to visibly cringe. He didn't want to talk about Nevada. He didn't even want to think about it. Let alone have Stiles find out.

"Nevada." He replied gruffly.

"Where and when did you stay?" Derek glared down at the table, refusing to look up at the man he loved so deeply and who's eyes were boring holes into him, when he mumbled his answer. "The Bellagio. Penthouse. All of April and May."

Stiles didn't say a word. No one did for a few seconds, until his uncle decided to give his opinion.

"Oooh Nephew, did you have fun in Vegas? The strippers there are always down for a good time."

"No." Derek snarled, eyes snapping up to his uncle, his gaze fiery. Peter smirked at him. His own eyes dancing.

Derek turned his attention back to Danny, who despite the tension was still doing what he did best on the computer. Derek watched his hands flow across the keyboard wondering if they would reveal all his secrets.

Derek couldn't help, but think back to his time in Nevada. No matter how much he wanted to forget.


Derek had never been to Vegas. When he and Laura had begun traveling he had been too young and after he had just never felt the need. Now he was alone and it was coming up on Stiles' Birthday. Derek could really use a distraction, so he chose Vegas.

It was loud and reeked of sex everywhere on the streets, but it was a distraction. He had booked the Penthouse at the Bellagio for himself. Luckily the owner was a werewolf, so the room was actually cleaned to his standards and there were a few restaurants and clubs that catered to the Supernatural around. He could even get alcohol that would actually affect him and right now, with Stiles' birthday tomorrow he really just needed to drown his sorrows.

He spent that first night falling into several bottles of Wolfsbane Bourbon. Wishing that the world had been a different place, one where he wasn't a werewolf and he wasn't a danger to the man he loved. Derek cried himself to sleep clutching his phone like a lifeline. There was the picture of Stiles, set as his contact photo not long after he had gotten the phone. Stiles had a mouth full of curly fries and his hair was falling in his eyes, but his eyes were bright. He was everything.

He woke up with a killer headache, that took a while for his healing to cure. The penthouse was lavish and probably too much, but all he could think of was how Stiles would react to it, and what Stiles would think of the Breakfast he had ordered. It was Stiles' Birthday. He would be 25. So, Derek ordered his favorite. Chocolate Chip Pancakes. Hoping that it would make him feel closer to the other man.

Then, he read every text Stiles had sent him. They had stopped six months after Derek left.

The last one was the worst.

Saturday, October 19, 2013
From: Stiles My Mate 10:28P.M- This is the last time you will hear from me Sourwolf. We're alive. Barely, but still kicking as usual. Ask Cora if you care for an update from now on, she still talks to the pack. To me. I can't do this, I can't keep talking to no one. I don't even know if you are reading these messages, but Be safe. Stay alive. I still love you, Derek. But I can't do this anymore.

Derek had almost called him after that one. Almost, but instead he had convinced himself that it was healthy for Stiles to move on and texted Cora instead to make sure the Pack was actually okay.

Derek had almost called him thousands of times, even more so on his birthday, but he had worked not calling Stiles down to science by now. If he read Stiles' text messages, looked at the photos he had, and listened to the voicemails he had saved from before, it was enough to keep him steady, anchored, without hearing him again, without touching him. Just barely enough.

Later that night he found himself in a club on one of the lower floors of the Bellagio. He was sitting in a booth by himself watching the crowd, drinking bourbon again, but not drinking to forget just yet. He didn't normally come out on this night. He stayed in and got drunk or went running and let his wolf take over.

There was only one time that he had spent this night with another person and it still left a bitter taste in his mouth. Three years ago, Cora had accidently let slip that Stiles was bringing a date to his birthday party. Derek had subsequently gotten drunk and ended up with a man resembling Stiles on his knees in front of him, mouth around him coaxing Derek to climax. It was nothing like that night. The night seared in Derek's brain for all eternity. Stiles' pretty lips falling open asking if Derek wanted him, before he took him for all he had.

Now Derek wasn't even sure why he was in this club watching strangers writhe on the dance floor. They didn't interest him. No one did. They all reeked of lust, alcohol, and sadness. Derek was sure he reeked of the same.

Then he spotted a man. Probably not much younger than Stiles would be today. They looked so similar. He didn't have the moles and as he got closer Derek could tell his eyes were too green, not the molten Whiskey Derek loved, and his smile was all wrong, but it was close and if he didn't look hard. He could pretend.

So, that's how he ended up in the man's hotel room. Turning him away so he could take him from behind, not breathing in his scent, and pretending that this man was his mate with constellation moles and a smile that lit up a room.

The man went in to kiss him after, but Derek rolled away, dressed and fled. He regretted it immediately.

Derek sobbed leaning against the wall not far away from the man's room. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number, while stumbling back to his room.

"Hold on." The voice on the other end spoke softly.

"Are you okay? I know you know what tonight is, so it has to be important for you to call. What happened Derek?"

Derek sobbed into the phone.

"Der, do you need me to grab Cora? She's just outside. I am far enough away to not be heard, but I can get her?"

"No, please she wouldn't understand." He gasped out.

"Derek, whatever happened it will be okay. I promise."

"I messed up. I messed up. It was so wrong and I can't take it back."

"How about you tell me what happened okay?" Her voice was soothing and she coaxed him to tell her what happened.

When he was done, his cries were softer and he had mostly calmed.

"Der, I know that you love him, okay? But, you are a grown man and you are allowed to sleep with other people, even if it feels like you are betraying him, you aren't, okay?"

"But, I slept with him because he looked like Stiles." Derek whispered the sentiment, barely able to admit it to another person.

"I know honey and I'm not saying that isn't fucked up, but you haven't let yourself move on at all. So, maybe this was the first or even second fucked up step toward normal ones."

"Do you need me to come there? I can leave tomorrow."

"No, you have a life. A job, a husband, a family."

"Der, I can make time if you need me to pull you out of a hole and if not me, you know Cora will come."

"Yeah, I know. I will call if I need it."

"Okay, I have to get back. But remember Der, you aren't alone, even though you left. You still have me. And Cora. And Peter even."

"Thanks."

He hung up and fell back onto the couch, putting his head in his hands. He sat there for a long time before he reached for the bottle of vodka sitting not too far from him.

After that, he spent the next two months so deep in the bottle he didn't know if he would ever be sober again.


Derek snapped out of his memory suddenly. Looking up at Stiles who was watching him carefully, before finally stating, "If the hunters had found me in Nevada, I would be dead, they would have killed me easily."

Allison gave him a sympathetic look, but it was Lydia who spoke.

"What makes Nevada any different?" She bit out, looking up from her own computer to examine him thoughtfully.

"I spent every day for nearly two months basically unconscious. I'm surprised it didn't kill me. Hell, a human probably could have killed me and I wouldn't have fought it."

Stiles' jaw hardened at his words, but he said nothing regarding it, instead he addressed the room.

"I think we should begin any research we can regarding the hunters first thing. We need to consider this threat top priority. The full moon is in three days so we don't have a lot of time. Tomorrow we will stock up on supplies and anyone who works will need to call in for the full moon and the day following at least. Everyone should stay here starting tomorrow. Keep an eye out when you go into town and do not go alone. The wards on the property and the Preserve will hold at least to warn of a threat coming. Danny anything you can dig up related to the pictures or the possibility of someone following Derek could be helpful. We also can't put it passed them that we are being followed. So be sharp. Chris let me know if the Hunter contacts yield anything or if you know any of them when you look at the pictures when Danny uploads them and sends them to you. Everyone get some rest."

The pack began to disperse at that. The Sheriff and Melissa bidding everyone Goodbye before leaving for the night. Derek stayed seated though, since he wasn't sure if he was allowed to just leave and go upstairs.

Stiles was leaning against the window, Lydia talking to him softly running a reassuring hand down his arm. Derek didn't listen in on the conversation, but he really wanted to.

Cora came up to him then, a small smile on her face. "Come on big brother, let's get you settled in."

Derek raised an eyebrow at her, but followed. He wanted an explanation and he was going to get one.

He followed behind her wordlessly. Taking in the sights of the pack now lingering in the halls chatting and discussing the hunters. They were so at ease, even with the threat looming. This was their home and there was no tension. Derek envied it.

Derek followed Cora into his room, stopping short when he looked up from the floor. He growled at his Uncle seated in the armchair next to Derek's bed reading a book.

"Relax Nephew, I come in peace." He held up his hands in surrender and lazy grin on his face.


Notes:

Well, I hope you like it. The next chapter Peter, Cora, and Derek talk. Sooooo if you're excited for that look out for it.

I left his caller a kind of mystery, but they will be revealed in the next few chapters. If you haven't figured it out already.

Comment comment comment. Pretty Please. That's how I know you liked a chapter!