Derek had finished his usual amount of push ups and went to the kitchen to make himself a salad. He wasn't a five star chef by any means but his mother always taught him the importance of nutrition and protein. Some of his happiest memories were of those cooking lessons she used to give her kids. He remembered then like it was yesterday. He remembered how Scott was kept away from the mixing bowl during baking as he developed the ability to eat half the mixture when no one was looking. His mother would be holding Cora on her hip, Scott was barely starting to walk and Derek was just starting school. Laura would try to take charge since she was the oldest therefore she was definitely the smartest and did not have cooties.

Derek smiled at the memory as he pulled back the fridge door and got out the lettuce only to give a huff of disappointment as he shut it and saw Heather standing there.

"Skulking now are we?" he greeted her with, "Gotta warn you that's a hard thing to do around werewolves"

He put the lettuce in the counter and started chopping it. Heather crowded over him in a way he didn't like anyone to. He hid his discomfort, he didn't want to let this girl know how much she got under his skin. He wouldn't even look at her.

"Good thing I am a werewolf then isn't it?" she countered with.

He simply scoffed, "Not like we are" in a smug tone he had every intention of being condescending.

She stared at him insulted but it fast turned into something else.

"Who's Allison?"

He whipped his neck around to look at her instantly. How does she know that name?

He wasn't focusing and he cut himself. He gave a small grunt as it stung but quickly healed. Some of his blood was still on the knife so he rubbed the excess on the side of his trousers and was surprised to see her looking at him so horrified.

"Aren't you gonna wash that?!"

He shakes his head casually, "No. Why would I?"

"Why would you?!" she scoffed in disbelief, "You just contaminated your food you can't eat that!"

Derek looked at her oddly. "Werewolf blood can't be contaminated or infected"

She looked confused and gave a shrinking, "Oh"

"You didn't know that, did you?" He observed offhandedly.

"My dad didn't tell me much. He told me what I needed to in order to conceal... who I am"

Derek saw something in those words that he hadn't until now.

"You sound ashamed" he pointed out

"Shouldn't I be?"

"Not of being a werewolf"

She just stared at him like he'd just tried to tell her the sky was green. If it was nothing to be ashamed of her why would her father want a normal human child and wife? Why would he abandon his pack and shun his werewolf abilities? Why would people hunt them down and call them abominations?

Why would my mother leave me because of it if it was nothing to be ashamed of?

Derek could tell she didn't believe him. He didn't know whether to be insulted or feel sorry for her. He quickly stopped that train of thought and reminded himself they didn't know anything about this girl beyond what she was telling them, which could all be a big act to gain their trust.

''She's not Kate''

His brother's words ringed in his ears so hard he almost didn't hear Heather repeat her first question.

"Who's Allison? I was pretty out of it but I heard Stiles and Erica argue about her. Who is she?"

Derek knew that this wasn't his story to tell. Stiles would talk more openly about his sister when he was ready.

"It's not my place" he told her stiffly.

"where is she? Did something happen to her?"

"HEATHER!" He yelled to shut her up. The first time he had referred to her by name rather just "she" or "her".

It worked briefly before she asked another question. A simple question for a long explanation.

"What did I do to make you hate me so much?"

He groaned. He didn't hate her. He just didn't like or trust her. The girl really hadn't done anything deserving of it either. It sprouted more from his own paranoia mixed with his past experience that caused him to distrust the girl immediately. He was beginning to relent on his opinions but he'd made such a big song and dance about them he felt like he couldn't go back on them.

"We don't know a damn thing about you and you expect me to trust you?! Around my family? Around my pack? You don't understand since you've never had eith-"

He was cut off with a swift slap to the face he wasn't expecting to be as strong from a girl who looked so small. It didn't really hurt but he could sense the force and emotion from it.

Her eyes were unapologetic and unforgiving. Unfortunately for her, neither was Derek.

His claws had begun to retract when he suddenly heard a string of no's from Stiles who had stepped in-between them.

"Move"

"Derek calm down" He soothed

"MOVE!" He bellowed much more ferociously now.

Stiles put his palms on Derek's shoulders and began to push back gently as he tried stalking towards Heather, who was currently watching them both in fear.

"Derek" he said calmly, "Look at me. Derek look at me"

In his aggravated state he still couldn't resist the pull that voice had and obeyed him.

"Derek" he repeated

"She hit me!" he grunted

"I know. I saw"

"Then why are you protecting her?!" he yelled.

"Because Derek look at her!"

He finally did. Initially with the intention of scaring her but he saw he didn't need to. She was cowering in the corner near to sobbing. She looked so terrified and helpless.

Stiles realised what he had to do. If this would have happened in the outside world without his protection she would be dead already. But he couldn't protect her and himself, he could barely look after himself as it was. He was hiding it well but inside he was just as much of a mess as she was.

He knew he had to stay for both of their sakes.

"I'm protecting her..." he paused preparing for Derek to get even madder, "... because she's pack"

Derek just stared at him with pure bewilderment while Heather gave out a confused and audible "What?"

Stiles stared between the two. He started looking at Derek, "I talked to Peter..."

Then turned to Heather , "...and you can stay here with us. W-With me. If you want to"

Derek looked back and forth to see the look on their faces. He could hear his heart beat just that bit faster to let him know how nervous he was. He really wanted her here. He was starting to believe his brother's theory that the two of them were mates after all.

She looked taken aback but complimented in the way a popular girl nominated for prom queen would pretend to be.

"Erm y-yes!" she spluttered. Then she coughed to try to play it off, "Yes I want to be here with you"

She looked at Derek with a look of victory in her eyes but she smiled so sweetly she seemed genuine to anyone else watching. Except Derek, "I want to be here with all of you"

Derek couldn't believe this bullshit. Surely not?

He shoved Stiles' hands off of his shoulders and went to look for his alpha over these ridiculous allegations.

After he'd left, Stiles did something he wasn't expecting to.

"You shouldn't have slapped him. Do you realise how quickly your life could have ended just now?"

She didn't answer and looked away from him guiltily. He grabbed her arm and forced her to face him. "Do you?!" he emphasised.

"Yes!" she answered impatiently.

Seemingly satisfied with her answer, he let go and stepped back.

She could tell this incident was one that wouldn't be forgotten.

Without a word, he walked away.