Stiles and his father stood maybe a little more than a meter apart but Stiles had never felt further from the sheriff than right now. "Hehe, so that just happened." Said Stiles trying so hard to wipe that look of pure unadulterated rage his father had on off.
"How could you keep all of that a secret from me?" the sheriff angrily said. Stiles was impressed that it wasn't a yell because his dad looked about ready to smash open the gun case just to shoot him.
"How many times do I have to say dad that everything's okay. Werewolves aren't that dangerous. The situations were just a little crappy."
"A little crappy," his dad faked laughed a ha the stabbed into Stiles' ears, "Well that's the biggest understatement I've ever heard! You should have told me about this as soon as Scott found out. Wait no you should have told me Scott was out in those woods that night you two snuck out. Damn it Stiles, how the two of you could be so stupid is beyond me! I'd expect that of Scott but you?"
"Well it's too late now dad. Sorry to tell you but there's no such thing as time travel. Scott would have already tried it if he could. He's had it hard for a few years now and I was just trying to help him through it. You know what that has gotten me, nothing! I've lost everything so now I'm getting it back, whatever it takes."
"Is that what this relationship with Derek is about? To spend a lifetime with someone you barely know just for a couple friends?"
"Of course not, I love him."
"Stiles you've hardly been dating him for a month now, do you really think you can honestly spend the rest of your life with him?"
"Yes."
"Please, don't kid yourself. Why are you trying to ruin your life like this. Scott obviously is looking out for you and doesn't want whatever happened to Derek's family to happen to you. Maybe you should listen to him."
"Dad would you?" His dad scoffed at that and Stiles glared "No honestly think about it. Think about mom. If she had turned into a werewolf and you met her and then someone tried to tear you away because the life was a little dangerous, tell me honestly that you wouldn't try and fight that."
His father was silent after that. "Dad please, my friends, my love, my life is already with these guys and I can't throw that away without trying everything."
His father let out a gruff groan as he sat down running his hands over his face trying to release the ever present stress. "Stiles go to bed. I have to think about this. I'll talk to you tomorrow when we both get home. Alright?"
"Okay dad." Stiles said quietly. "Good night"
"Good night son." The sheriff sighed out.
The next day Stiles came down stairs to have breakfast only to find his dad preparing for work. "Morning" Stiles said awkwardly. He really didn't know what else to say so he grabbed his favorite cereal and poured himself some.
"Morning" the sheriff replied as he flung his jacket on. "I'll be home later this afternoon. Then we'll talk." He stated as he walked out the front door and shut it.
"Woohoo. I can't wait" said Stiles sarcastically under his breath.
"Can't wait for what?"
Stiles turned to see Derek standing at the back door. "Hey."
"Morning. So how bad is everything?"
"Amazingly, not as bad as I was going for. He yelled and used his angry voice towards me but I think he'll get over it. I think he'll be going to see Ms. McCall and Deaton today."
"Unless he decided to go find Chris and becomes gun happy?"
"My dad wouldn't do that."
"You never know, I've seen people do some crazy things in order to protect their family. Who knows maybe it's for the best."
"Shut up" Stiles practically yelled standing as he tried to push Derek failing. "Don't you ever say something like that again. My dad would never do that and it most certainly would not be for the best!" Stiles looked directly into Derek's eyes "I thought this was for the best. You and me. I thought it would not only help the pack but the two of us. Derek I…"
Derek made hushing noises as he engulfed Stiles in a hug and gently rubbed his back. "I'm sorry Stiles, I didn't mean it. I love you and this is for the best. I promise you. Things are just getting a little more difficult to hide from the pack. Last night Scott held an emergency meeting about why you smelt like me and the others were beginning to question if I was trying to turn you or not. It just got a little heated. I guess I just thought it would be easier if this didn't happen, but let me tell you something Stiles." Derek said as he looked into Stiles' eyes as he held the boy by his hips "Sometimes the harder way is for the best and my mind just skipped that thought for a moment but its back and I want, no I need to do this. I need to be with you okay?"
Stiles nodded his head and leaned his head against Derek's shoulder and took in a deep breath. "So have they figured things out?"
"No but I believe they are getting close. Lydia might even already know but because she's in support with getting you back she's keeping it quiet. You're going to have to be on your guard. They'll be watching you and dictating everything you and I do."
"Wait so we can't see each other? Do I have to go and scrub down my body in the shower?" asked Stiles about to move but Derek just shook his head.
"Just go on like things are normal. If they find out they find out. It's not going to stop the outcome. I was even going to tell them all our plans so it doesn't look like I've betrayed everyone by making this my own personal decision."
"But it wasn't just yours" started Stiles.
"Yeah but it's going to look that way to everyone. An alpha's choice affects each and every wolf in the pack. Without explaining the plan before hand it looks like I am just out for my own gain. Stiles I may be gaining you but so is the entire pack. They should know in advance."
"Well we've got like a week before my birthday right? We'll tell them this Friday. I just want to focus on my dad at the moment if that's okay?"
"Of course it is. First your dad and then we'll tell the pack and then we'll mate and be together."
Stiles smiled at Derek as he split away to go to school but then stopped. "My dad thinks are relationship is to new, that we are too young and we'll be regretting this. Could that ever happen? I mean between mates? Or is it a sure thing that every morning I wake up wanting to pounce on you?"
Derek laughed a little. "I don't know about pounce. Think of it as you would a normal relationship. There will be a honey moon phase where we'll want everything to do with each other and then that more or less forms into a stable long lasting companion ship. Every once in a while we'll have a fight but eventually we'll get over it."
"But like how? Will we talk or will you just go all alpha?"
"Why would you think I would do that to you?" asked Derek getting a perturbed look on his face.
Stiles sighed "Look I've seen a really good relationship die before its prime leaving a boy to fend for himself with a dad too drunk to listen and a horrible marriage end leaving a boy scarred and alone. I just don't want us to end up like either of those so if this is going to work we have to talk."
"And we will. We are, right now. Remember we are partners and soon pack mates, if we can't last then neither can the pack. If I felt like this relationship would harm the pack or you, do you think I would do it?"
Stiles looked down "I suppose not. I just wish this wasn't so complicated. I wish my dad would be happy for me and my best bud would be standing by my side rather than walking away every time I even look his way."
"I know and one day it will be like that again. Scott really cares for you and once he sees how happy you are he'll welcome you with open arms."
"Okay well I better get to school."
"Okay, Stiles I love you."
"I love you too." smiled back Stiles.
"Oh and Stiles."
"Yeah?"
"I've already tried the big alpha thing with you way back in the beginning and look how that turned out, you were stabbed by an arrow. I think talking is actually getting us places rather than one of us lying face first in the dirt right?"
Stiles laughed at that "Yeah but the day is still young and my dad may not be but he certainly knows how to use a gun."
Derek laughed while Stiles walked out the door leaving the man in the house which Stiles paused for a moment to think that was a little weird but then he shrugged and guessed Derek would probably be scenting his room again.
Stiles managed to get to school in one piece as he parked his baby a bit farther from the school entrance and went in. To his surprise there wasn't a wall of werewolves sitting outside waiting for him to fall into some weird trap.
He went to first period where once again Isaac and Scott pointedly ignored him as he sat next to Emma and had a decent conversation with her before Harris came in and ruined everything with a pop quiz.
After that Stiles went around to his classes that day and still no confrontation. It wasn't until it was after lacrosse and he was walking back to his jeep feeling pretty calm that suddenly the wolves started circling. Erica and Isaac appeared from behind his baby as Boyd came from his left and Jackson from his right and when Stiles turned around Scott was standing there with red eyes burning in his irises.
"What's up guys? Since when do you guys want to even look my way let alone approach me?"
"Shut up Stiles, we can smell Derek all over you." Said Jackson still being his asshole self.
"What have you and Derek been talking about?" asked Scott firmly.
"Nothing much." Stiles said as he fidgeted.
The wolves growled lowly as they started closing a bit in on Stiles. Suddenly the dream where Stiles was slashed open by the pack popped into his head as his heart rate quickened. That made the pack suddenly stop as most looked a bit, wait was that, sadness, no more like stricken.
"Stiles you know we wouldn't hurt you." said Isaac sounding a bit torn.
"Well of course I know that." Said Stiles feeling a little confused to the sudden mood change.
"Well then why do you smell of fear? And not nervous I'm-going-to-ask-someone-out fear but the holy-shit-I'm-going-to-die fear." asked Boyd.
"Oh it's nothing, just thinking about other things"
"Like what? Is it Derek? Is he threatening you?" asked a suddenly angered Scott.
"What? No, Derek has been super nice to me which was more surprising because I wouldn't have expected him to be the one out of all of you to be kind but he's been helping me."
"Helping? With what?" asked Erica intrigued.
"Why should I tell you guys? You'll probably make him stop but I don't care what you guys say Derek and I are not going to stop. He's helping me with some of my issues that I'm having and I'd appreciate you all sticking your over-sensitive noses out of it." Said Stiles feeling pretty impressed with himself and how he was telling the wolves off.
"Stiles if you were having issues that needed assistance why didn't you or Derek come to me?" asked Scott who was obviously confused.
"Because you couldn't help, well actually, you wouldn't help. I tried talking with all of you a million times and only got the cold shoulder. Derek was the only one willing to take 5 minutes to see if I needed anything since you all abandoned me. You don't have to worry everything's pretty much fixed so just go back to whatever you were doing before smelling Derek and I and we can all just move on with our lives."
Now most of the wolves looked like kicked puppies after Stiles had just chewed them out but Stiles didn't care, okay he cared a tiny bit, but other than that Stiles was going to go home and talk to his dad who was probably going to go all psycho on him when he got home so he could worry about the pups later.
"Fine, we will once you just tell me what exactly Derek is helping with. I just need to know to make sure you aren't putting yourself in a dangerous situation." Scott inquired.
"I already told you, not telling, and just so you don't worry, I was in a far more dangerous point in my life before Derek came around to hear me out, so leave us alone." Stiles finished with as he pushed his way through the wolves and to his jeep. The teens backed away from his jeep as Stiles quickly drove away, only slightly happy that he was heading home.
Stiles got home with a slightly pleasant surprise. Dr. Deaton and Melissa's cars were in the driveway which meant Stiles dad was at least trying to talk about this with adults who know the general sense of what's going on.
Stiles grabbed his bag and went up to the house slowly. When he got close he started to hear voices but he couldn't exactly make out the words. His only thought was the voices didn't sound upset too badly so that was a relief as Stiles finally opened the door and made his presence known. "I'm home!"
"Stiles in the living room." called his dad.
Melissa had immediately stood up and gave Stiles a giant hug "We've missed you so much!"
Stiles desperately hugged the woman back finding it soothing as even though Melissa was not his mother, she was still the closest thing he had. "Me too."
After the hug Melissa sat back down as Stiles looked at the adults who were obviously still discussing everything. "It's been to long Stiles" said Deaton with a smile.
"Yeah it has." said Stiles shaking the man's hand as he sat across from him.
"We've been discussing what it would mean for you if you and Derek went through with this." His father said, still upset but feeling a little more informed.
"How much do you know about all of this Stiles?" asked Deaton.
"Honestly, Derek and I have only talked a little. I've been trying to do my own research but nothing's really popping up unless you count the loads of por-, never mind." answered Stiles going slightly pink after almost saying porn in front of the three. He really needed to have more interaction with others before he lost all sense of appropriate conversation with adults.
"Of course you wouldn't have all the information before diving in. How could I expect anything different." said his father in a huff.
"Derek's been too busy to go into full detail. Right now all I know is I'm the alpha's mate, I don't have full power over the pack but enough to warrant others from doing things that I don't find to be beneficial to the pack."
"Oh Stiles your position is so much more. Alpha mates normally become the natural care givers to the pack. They provide them with safety, food, and well think of yourself as everyone's mother. Always knowing best and the only person who can really deny you are the alphas." said Deaton.
"Yeah which are Derek and Scott." said Stiles with a grimace.
"And Peter and Boyd." pointed out Melissa.
"Wait what?" asked Stiles.
"Well during the alpha fight, Boyd and Peter also killed an alpha ranking themselves up." answered Melissa.
"And no one told me?" asked Stiles a bit worried. He could deal with Boyd being an alpha, heck he was an all-around nice guy, but Peter. He was already an alpha once and that didn't turn out so well.
"Don't worry Stiles they are all under control. Right now they are second rank to Scott and Derek." said Melissa.
"Okay so Scott and Derek are the same rank?" asked Stiles a bit more confused.
Deaton sighed "leave the boy out for a few months and he forgets everything."
"Hey it's not my fault." challenged Stiles.
"I know, I should've fought more, and then maybe we wouldn't have to be sneaking around as much as we've been doing. Alright I'll explain. Right now Derek should have the most rank out of everyone. He isn't taking that power for himself and Scott may end up on top if Derek's not careful. I have no problem with Scott becoming the head, but Derek I believe was always a better alpha. Not because of him being a born werewolf, but because he just seemed like he would be able to become a great leader like his mother. He's just had bad situations and now that there isn't a threat and Scott seems to be doing just as well as any alpha could normally lead a pack, I fear he might be stepping down, but if he does that he will become second in the pack and will have to follow Scott and I don't think Derek is very good at following."
"Okay so we don't want an inexperienced kid like Scott to lead a bunch of other inexperienced wolves so we give it to the next best option which is Derek. I'm talking about werewolves, how has this become my life?"
"Sorry dad but you'll get used to it." Stiles said giving a semi-supportive smile. His father frowned and turned back to Deaton as the man continued.
"Not only is Scott inexperienced but also he thinks too much with his heart."
"And that's a bad thing? Last I knew he was trying to protect Stiles from all of this and that doesn't sound like a bad thing to me." said the Sherriff.
"It wouldn't to you Sherriff because you're his father and as much as Stiles safety is of importance to not only me but everyone in the pack it was one of the most idiotic ideas the group has had yet."
"Why?" the Sherriff asked.
"A pack is only as strong and stable as not only their alpha but each individual that is within it. Stiles was one of the most important people in this pack that held everyone together and was able to not only strategize but able to successfully teach the wolves how to control themselves throughout the full moon. He's even helped Derek with his control and ability to function as an alpha which I believe is directly why he first approached Stiles to become mates. He felt the pack was weakening and felt his own control start to slip away again. I honestly believe if Stiles doesn't rejoin the pack soon, you might see a bunch of young out of control werewolves around with no stability and a bunch of trigger happy hunters to take each one out."
"Hold on I thought the hunters were good?" asked Sherriff.
"They are until their code is broken. Once that happens and the innocent lives of the town are in jeopardy, all walls come down and anything is possible."
"Okay so I'm not only pack mom, but the glue that's keeping everyone together and Scott still doesn't want me back?"
"I don't think Scott's in the right mind to bring you back. His only focus is on your safety, but honestly I think you would be safer in the pack then out at the moment. Derek is thinking about everyone's benefits here which is showing his true alpha side, but I'm afraid if he doesn't stand up to Scott soon, the entire pack might collapse."
"We were planning on telling them Friday. Probably after school so we have the weekend to hash it out and then Derek and I can complete the mates thing."
"That may not be soon enough. The full moons approaching and within a day the pack will be just as on edge as a newly turned werewolf, you might want to tell them tonight."
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Stiles got up and opened it revealing Derek. "Thought you might need some support or is it too soon?" asked the alpha.
Stiles smiled and pulled him in kissing his on the cheek and then walking him in the room. "We were discussing telling the pack and Deaton says we shouldn't wait. Tonight would actually be for the best. He also says that you should become the head alpha against Scott and I'm like why haven't you already done it. Sure Scott's a good alpha and friend but come on Derek, quit being hard on yourself for past mistakes and be the alpha this pack needs." Said Stiles as he pushed Derek down by his dad and grabbed a chair from the kitchen.
Derek looked at the man and nodded "Sherriff."
The Sherriff nodded back but turned back to Deaton obviously looking for something else to keep his eyes from glaring daggers at the man. "I don't know. Maybe I was thinking Scott would be better. It takes a real leader to know when what he's doing isn't helping the pack."
"Exactly, you allowed Scott to take control during the alphas' attack because what you were doing wasn't helping, but now that it's over your wolf sees Scott starting to do more harm than good for the pack and lead to confronting Stiles. Just because the timing was off with you becoming the head alpha doesn't mean you aren't meant to be it in the long run. The only reason Scott did so well was because he was trying to protect the pack and had you and Stiles to fall back on. Now that he and you aren't on the same page with how the pack should be run, things are falling apart and the only one who is seeing clearly now is you. And part of that reason is because of Stiles isn't it?"
Derek nodded looking over at the boy who smiled at him and he smiled back. "alright, tonight we will tell them, but most of them won't take it well."
"I think you mean only Scott won't take it well."
"What do you mean?" asked Melissa.
"Well the only one who wants Stiles away right now is Scott and that's only being driven on protecting him." said Derek.
"Even Jackson wants me there?" asked Stiles.
"Oh yeah, the other day he and Isaac were in my office saying how much better it was when you were still around." mentioned Deaton.
Stiles felt a warm bubble inside begin to grow at the idea of the pack still wanting him back. "Scott hasn't been the same without you either Stiles. He misses you and every day I see him, he looks a little more down." said Melissa.
"That's probably also because of the loss of faith the pack is having following him. In the beginning none of them questioned it because of the injury you had had. Now the more they smell Derek on you the more they believe Derek may be trying to get you back and the more they support him. They won't say it out loud but it's pretty evident in their body language." finished Deaton.
"Alright so tonight." said Stiles making it more final.
"Tonight." smiled back Derek.
"I'll be joining you." said the Sherriff. "I've been left in the dark long enough and I want to be there if things get to out of hand. I may just be a man but I sure as hell won't be left in the dark again." said the man with a pointed stare at Stiles.
"Sounds good to me," said Stiles and with that the small group started making plans for the different scenarios that could go and how each could play out.