Episode 3: Shape Shifting Chaos - Pt 4

All the wolves were out on the preserve training as required by Derek. Derek was pleased to see the way they were taking to training even Erica was catching up fast. They were teenagers and had grumbled about it to begin with but he taken Stiles advice to heart and showed them why it was important. Once they understood the need for it – they had attacked it with new resolve becoming determined to be the best Beta. Derek had noted through the training that each of the betas had their own talents: Isaac was the best scout; Jackson was the fastest; Erica was the best tracker and Scott was the strongest. He was glad to see that Erica had managed to take to her powers; he was not sure about the serious leather kink she had developed. He intended to ask Stiles when they were next on their own and could not be overheard.

Even Derek could appreciate that he was worried by Erica's possible leather kink but was using his own leather jacket for the next exercise. He explained to the Betas what the final task would be for the day before they headed to Stiles' house, "Before you arrived I hid my jacket - you need to find it."

Scott was confused, "How?"

Derek resisted the urge to pinch his nose from frustration. He liked Scott most days but the boy could be rather slow. He often wondered why he and Stiles were friends on account of them being so different. He couldn't help but grin seeing Erica smack Scott up the side of the head.

"You use your nose you idiot," She snarked.

Jackson did not defend Scott in fact he high-fived Erica, "I like you Reyes, I really do."

"Thank you but any compliments will put me in Lydia's cross hairs."

Scott showing that he truly had no comprehension about how the world worked, "I don't get it you're a werewolf and she is a human."

Erica frowned, as she distinctly remembered when Derek and Stiles sat her down that they had told her that Lydia was Jackson's mate, and that he she was a banshee. She looked to her Alpha to see if she should correct him but he just shook his head so she settled for sarcasm, "Well if you wanna get on Lydia's bad side you go right ahead."

Derek did not bother to hide his laughter at that point. He was getting a vision of what this pack might look like in the future. He could see Lydia, Erica and even Allison bonding and becoming a very deadly trio within the pack. He didn't find himself minding either which was showing how well he had come since returning to Beacon Hills.

His phone ringing surprised him - it was Stiles. He answered it preparing to listen to him whining how expensive his jeep was but that was not what he heard.

"What is that thing?" Allison asked horror in her voice.

Derek was on high alert mainly as his bond with Stiles went haywire. All he could feel was an amazing sense of dread and fear flood the bond. He knew something was seriously wrong and he hoped it had nothing to do with Lahey's death. He hated Stiles attempting to reassure him.

"We'll be okay. Derek get here soon!"

"Stiles, Stiles!" Derek shouted even as he was racing towards his car. "Guys follow me Stiles and Allison are in danger."

Derek was proud of the way that there were no further questions asked - they just raced for cars. There was no time for talking the Alpha's mate was in trouble and Derek would move heaven and Earth to keep him safe. He hoped that Stiles could hear him, "We're coming."

Stiles hated that he could see Cody's mangled body but he forced himself to look. He was hoping the terror would help the adrenaline course through his system. It was a vain hope but he was hoping that he could make the paralyzer wear off. He just needed his magic so if the creature-feature headed back their way, then he would be able to shield them. Whatever the thing was it looked at both of them and Stiles could have sworn it looked at them as if it knew them but that was crazy.

The thing slithered away and whilst that was a relief he and Ally were relatively safe they were still stuck paralyzed on the floor. He heard the roar and relaxed knowing that Derek was here. "We're in here!"

Stiles relaxed when Derek cradled his head, "We're still paralyzed."

Jackson and the betas whimpered seeing the harm that had befallen their packmates. "What do we do?"

Derek was thinking about it and in truth they needed the police to get some evidence as it would throw the Argents off their case. Unfortunately though that would bring Argents and he did not want Gerard to get the names of his betas. It was a sad fact but secrecy and hiding were still the best protection that they could have. "Right guys Scott included I need you to try and track this thing down - Yesterday!"

Stiles was looking relaxed and Derek knew that was because he trusted that Derek would see him safe. He was not going to let a rebellious Scott ruin that. "Scott this is an order. You do not want Gerard Argent to link you or any of the other Betas as werewolves. I need you to get out of here."

Scott was gearing up to argue, and this was the one time that Derek would afford him some leeway because Allison was injured but there was where his understanding ended. It was not like he thought choosing a girlfriend from a renowned werewolf hunting party was the sanest move. He'd at least had an excuse with Kate in that he did not know. "Scott you need to go now!" He may have cheated but the Alpha command was enough to get the others moving and have them drag him away.

Stiles may have been paralysed but he still had his sarcasm, "That boy and his dick!"

Allison huffed, "He loves me"

"I know," he said calmly as Stiles had never doubted that, "but it is making him and you sometimes blind to reason."

Derek was smirking at his mate now he was able to keep Stiles safe because only Stiles would be able to take advantage of the situation. He huffed, "Leave her alone Stiles you should both be traumatised."

Stiles was starting to lose the paralysis as he could move his body a little, "Uh huh I'm pissed off ... it blocked me from my magic."

Allison was in agreement, "I couldn't hold my dagger."

Derek didn't know what it said about him and his pack. They were not terrified by the creature anymore or the death, only that they had no way to fight back. In fact it made the Alpha in him a little bit proud - his pack would be strong.

The Sheriff was the first through the door, "Stiles!"

Derek hollered for him, "In here, the need medical help. I only just got here."

The Sheriff and Tara ran into the room. They could see the teenagers and the way that Derek had tried to help them without disturbing the scene too much. They were impressed with his instincts, "What happened?"

Derek winced as he would have to give the non-supernatural version as Tara was here. "Stiles was here with Allison about his Jeep. Apparently they came in here so Stiles could arrange funds and were both jabbed with something that caused them to be paralysed."

The Sheriff was intent on making sure his kid was safe, the body could wait a few more seconds besides he trusted his deputies enough to start to process the scene. "Is your breathing difficult?"

Stiles struggled to move his head in a vague approximation of shake, "No just muscles were taken down."

Tara did not like the way some bastard had attacked two kids just so he could murder the mechanic. It seemed like a lot of effort and it was clearly a deeply personal attack. "Did you get a look at the attacker?"

Allison was the one to answer, "No they got me and then when Stiles came to help they got him too."

The EMT's had arrived and his Dad looked torn, Stiles though was quick to reassure, "Go and catch the bastard,"

His Dad had gratitude in his eyes and Stiles did not know why - the man had raised him and Stiles knew how it important it was to catch as many bad guys as he could to make the streets safer. He still didn't like it but he no choice so asked, "Derek will you go with him?"

"Of course Sheriff," Derek was offended a little that he even asked.

Stiles could see Tara frown and knew that she would have many questions when his Dad was on his own. He liked Tara a lot - she was the one deputy that listened to his babbling with no complaint. She didn't know Derek too well so she was going to grill him - If Stiles was a nicer person he might have warned his mate.

The hospital had sucked and Argents' had been speciest douches blaming Derek when he clearly wasn't. Gerard had been making all sorts of accusations about Derek but all had been calmly countered by his granddaughter. The worst thing for Stiles was he had to feign politeness with the Principal. In theory has there with Chris and Victoria to console his granddaughter but that had so clearly been his intent.

Melisa had come by and being awesome threatened to kick them out if they could not calm down and respect that it was a hospital. When Gerard had had the gall to point out that she had not included Derek in that threat Melisa had smiled toothily, "Why would I tell the soon-to-be Deputy that he can't be with his loved one?"

Gerard had thought he had an opening that he could exploit but Stiles had stopped that one playing the teenager card. "Sir I know that you think he is too old but we have told the Sheriff and we are well aware of the laws."

Derek and he had to bite back a smug smirk as Scott and Allison had not waited and they watched Chris and Vicky flush. Gerard had no room to manipulate and added in a sickly way, "Well isn't that sweet. Young love."

Chris had been was scared and that was not a good sign. Stiles was still pondering that aspect after all, he could understand why the werewolves would fear Gerard but why would his Hunter son fear his own father?

It did not matter as Stiles had thrown a minor tantrum saying that he felt fine and his Dad would allow him home as long as Derek was with him. He wasn't quite sure how but he was relieved when they let him go. He hated the way Ally was forced to go with her family as the epically racist people who as far as Stiles was concerned were poison

Derek had helped him to the Camaro and Stiles wanted to bitch him out but Derek had pulled the sad vulnerable face and just pleaded to let him do it. It had been Stiles undoing - He could not resist Derek's sad Alpha face especially as he knew how difficult it was for Derek to show vulnerability.

The pack had been messaged because Isaac, Erica, Jackson and Scott were all waiting at the door for him. His heart may have melted just a little seeing how lost puppy they all looked. "Come on kiddies lets go inside."

Derek placed him on the sofa and he was so going to sit by him but his betas beat him to the punch. Before he could so much as blink, Isaac and Erica had settled onto either side and Jackson was at his feet. He had no need to worry about Erica as she was the first one to ask, "You okay Batman."

"Yeah Catwoman," Stiles managed to set out even though he was clearly tired, "Love the new look." He added.

She brightened at the compliment. Yes it was extreme the leather and the curling iron but it was what she needed. She needed to separate her image from pre-bite to post-bite and this was what she had decided. The bite was more than just a cure - it had helped her unlock her confidence and sexuality. She had loved the first day when she had turned heads and it had made her smile when Jackson knocked out a douche who had made a less than flattering comments about her. "It works and Jackson is not a douche you know."

Stiles hand ran through her hair, "I know that he just doesn't let everyone see that."

Derek could see that Scott was fraction and he did not need the rebellious teen to shoot his mouth off and ruin the fledgling bonds that Erica was building. "Scott you are coming with me."

He complained, "Why me?"

"Because if I let Jackson help you will get no food you like." He offered as his only reason.

Jackson helped him sell it as a reason by laughing, "I wouldn't be able to pass up the opportunity."

Derek did not have the culinary skills of Stiles or the patience to cook all the food necessary. "Let's go and get pizza."
Derek would use the ride to try and talk some sense into the wayward beta. He liked Scott and knew that his mate adored him which is why he was not starting off with outright violence like a normal Alpha would for disrespect shown. Scott had a hard decision to realise and it could not be pushed it was one that he needed to come to himself. You see, at the end of the day, the boy was no longer human and the sooner he realised it, and accepted it, the happier he would be.

When they got back Derek snorted at the picture before him even it made his wolf flush with pride for his pack. All of his betas had fallen asleep around Stiles who was napping himself. Still, he quickly snapped a picture as evidence to use against any and all of them at a later date. He hated that there was a creature out there that had almost taken his mate from him. He hated that he Argents circling his new pack.

However for once he could balance it with things that he loved. He loved Stiles. He loved his new betas even if they were only pups. He loved that his home smelled like a truck pack house.

He could have been aggrieved by the fact that his betas had stolen his own time with his mate but that would be selfish. He would have time to take Stiles to their room and take him apart inch by inch. He would revel in each moan and whimper and would not stop until Stiles was tied to him screaming his name.

He sat watching his pack, nearly laughing at the way that Scott burrowed under Isaac's arm. The pack was here and nearly complete. The threats were circling and he knew that he would need one more beta if he was going to have a pack that could defend Beacon Hills from all threats. He rested against Erica and found himself dozing off thinking about scaled creatures and wondering what the hell it could be as there was way too many options for him to narrow it down yet.

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