The creature had barely finished it's dramatic vow before Owen was diving at it clawing at it blow after blow, but for every strike he managed to land the witch struck back proving itself an even match for the Kanima.

All the while Owen was tussling with the horned beast Alex was chanting, Melissa helping to light the remaining candles and the sheriff was picking up the vials, glancing over his shoulder every other second to monitor the situation.

Owen's efforts were becoming more futile as his venom seemed useless against the creature, the speed of his attacks slowing but he was buying time for Alex to finish her spell and that's all that mattered.

But it was in vain as more women, around 13 of them all sheathed in red as though it was their armour, emerged from the depth of the forest.

Boyd was the first to be given his cure, undergoing what seemed to be a rather relieving procedure as his change took place, stretching his muscles before running to were Melissa had readily prepared sweat pants and t-shirts for the sparsely clad teens.

Those who followed next were Isaac, Erica and Danny who once they had received their clothes, ran to join the fight, Danny picking up his ring daggers that he had abandoned the month prior in there previous fight.

Despite their efforts they were still outnumbered almost three to one and the transformation took a toll on the teens bodies leaving there reactions slower and them themselves clumsier as they hadn't walked on two legs in four weeks.

Melissa was about to abandon her station in helping Alex to assist her skills in the fight just as an arrow came zipping through the air skewering one of the witches right shoulder. Another shot was fired and the sources seemed to be from a tree top from whence the witches came.

One or two of them went to attack their shooter but where blocked by an invisible barrier and as such rebounded as though there was a wall they couldn't break through.

Then the moonlight shifted, illuminating a grey haired man with ice blue eyes smirking down at the witches; a compound bow aimed with purpose in his steady hands and below him standing at the base of the tree holding what could only be mountain ash was a bald, dark skinned man with a black goatee with a small smile on his face at defying the creatures before him.

Chris called to his daughter once she had finished the transformation and gained stability over her new found ability to walk on two legs again and fired a grapple hook gun toward the lower part of the tree near to her which he promptly sent her a quiver of arrows down and her favourite bow.

He then continued to fire at the women who got too close the circle where Alex was giving the cure to the last remaining members of the pack.

There were just Stiles and Derek left once Scott began his transformation, but time was running out and the moon was almost at completely covered by red – almost at the point where in there would be no return for those unchanged.

And of course it was at that point that Alex was struck by Isaac being thrown into her, the two remaining vials being thrown the floor.
Melissa, John and Alex scrambled for the vials that began to roll away… toward the revenge driven fiend.

Alex sat up suddenly, face turning bleak as she reached out a hand toward the witch reaching down for the vials, it's webbed fingers almost within grasping distance.

The crackle caused a sound of alarm to rise from the remaining witches in the clearing as a shot of pure blue energy blasted from Alex's open palm straight into the chest of the creature in front of her.

There were cries of shock and panic as the green horned beast was sent tumbling backwards to where it then laid motionless, smoke rising from the black mess made in it's chest.

Silence stretched as the body began top sit up, a murderous glint in it's eye as it stared straight at it's attacker who hadn't moved from her spot in a similar position a mere 3 meters away from it.

"Get the vials, times running out!" Alex screamed as she put out both palms, blue energy deflecting the scarlet that poured from the creature ahead of her crashing in the middle.

"There's only enough time for one of us Stiles, go"

"No you idiot, the pack need you, you're their Alpha!"

"Well I need you Stiles and goddamn it if I'm going to have the guilt for you staying a puppy your whole life!"

"Damn it Derek don't pull that card on me, I need you to-"

"While you two are arguing about who's gonna be saved, you forget that I have two hands!" Melissa forced each vial into the pups mouths, forcing them to drink the bitter contents.

As the pair started the transformation, side by side, the other witches began to walk toward the creature fighting Alex – who's rune was glowing a bright cyan blue, just visible through the tare in her t-shirt.

They dogged the attacks launched by the surrounding werewolves and seemed uncaring of the arrows flying in all directions as they headed toward the demon.

When they reached it, the closest placed their hands on the creature and those behind them placed their hands on the shoulders of those in front, creating something similar to a web. Though this web seemed to act like a network of power, as the beast gained strength with every follower that too place in a link in the web; becoming even stronger in her match against Alex.

Alex who was losing, the electricity shooting from her hands seeming forceful and her stature decreasing as she wilted, an obvious sign that she was weakening. Owen placed a human hand on his mates shoulder watching worriedly at the mark on her collarbone as it flickered, her body taking the toll as her energy burned out.

Just as Alex's power drained out there was an overwhelming feeling of heat that washed over them all, a sense of burning power that left everyone dry mouthed and gasping for air.

A figure was stood straight behind her, eyes boring into the fiend, vision tunnelled as though they saw nothing else as they threw their closed fists toward it emitting a wall of pure fire. The sheer heat and energy crushed the high pressured river of scarlet eating its way to the group of witches who were soon engulfed in the wave of flames. The witches screamed in a downright agony as the smell of burnt flesh tainted the air, the fire never ceasing as much as the women tried to quench the flames.

The figure then slowly opened their fists, each frail movement as the uncurled their fingers causing the witches the writhe in their suffering. With a quick flick of the wrist their hands snapped shut and the witches were no more than ash piles on the forest floor.

Alex, who had gained some strength from her minuets rest, turned to face the one who had saved her.

But he wasn't looking at her.

There was something flaming from beneath the sleeve of his grey t-shirt and as he rolled up the fabric it revealed a golden glowing rune.
"φωτιά παιδί" his voice sounded scratchy and he coughed

"What the hell does that mean? He looked toward her, then got distracted by stomping on the dying circle of flames surrounding him.

"Stiles, let me see it" Lydia gently pulled his arm toward her.

"It means," Deaton said walking toward the group "'Fire Child'. In Greek if you were wondering"

"'Fire Child', well it would explain the sudden bursts of flames you seem to be sprouting" the sheriff said coming up behind his son, who turned and embraced his father "it's good to see you too kiddo" the older man choked.

"But there's no way you could get another rune without purposefully getting it unless…" Alex turned toward a now full human and clothed Owen who then nodded and finished her train of thought looking toward the now human boy in awe.

"Unless he was an Ucoonah"

After clearing away any evidence of the fight in the clearing the pack, including Melissa, John, Alex and Owen made their way back to the Hale house.

After a short but obviously comforting reunion with his daughter Chris left with Deaton, leaving Alison behind with the pack but telling her that he expected her home that evening, stating she'd had enough 'pack time' for a while and that he believed she could benefit from being at home once and a while.

As the others settled themselves down by the couches, bringing out spare blankets and cushions they all used on pack nights; Derek went into the kitchen with the shopping bags to sort out drinks and snacks for everyone. He hadn't noticed he'd been followed until Stiles was leaning his hip against the counter next to him.

"So,"

Derek raised an eyebrow in response but Stiles just looked down at his sock clad feet that he scuffed against the tiled floor.

Derek stopped what he was doing in favour of pushing Stiles fully against the counter blocking him in with his hips, arms on either side of the boy who looked at him in surprise through his thick long lashes. Derek scent marked him before growling in his ear and nipping at the lobe making younger man laugh, grinning as he felt the smile play on the older man's lips as he whispered in his ear.

"Just because we're back to normal now, doesn't mean I want the last month to be forgotten about. Just because we're back to normal doesn't mean things will go back to the way they were before because honestly?" Derek lent his forehead against Stiles' "I don't think I could even if I wanted too." He said pressing a gentle kiss on his forehead before pulling away and placing two bowls of snacks into Stiles' hands, grabbing the tray of glasses himself and making his way to the rest of the pack.

Stiles just smiled, shaking his head before marching after him placing the two bowls at either end of the coffee table accordingly before collapsing into the empty spot between Derek and Scott.

"So let me get this straight," he began "not only am I know a witch, but I'm a rare one that has a cool affinity for fire?"

Alex smiled a fond smile "Essentially yes, although being an Ucoonah is a lot more than just having a cool affinity."

When Stiles frowned she laughed and elaborated "Ucoonah's are rare, you have to understand that and they're rare for a reason. Having that much power in one human being is a lot to handle, because it's not just having a power over an element they have a lot more power than your average witch. If one Ucoonah went bad… It could be catastrophic, hence why there aren't a lot of them."

"But there's not… There's not a chance of me going bad right?" Stiles asked suddenly weary of the first time of he founded his powers, the fear of hurting those he loved returning full force.

"No, you have a strong anchor and you've worked hard on your control, I think your in safe hands Stiles" Alex smirked glancing between the two men.

Derek huffed and that seemed to be the end of that conversation.

"Scott, you want to tell us what happened when you went missing" his mother asked gently not wanting to pry but also as genuinely curious about what happened to the missing pup as everyone else.

Scott grimaced but sat up, placing a hand in Isaac's curls, who sat at his feet, seeking the comfort readily given by his boyfriend.

"The woman was called Ferox and she was the leader of the coven that the witch we killed was from," he said looking everyone in the eye, letting the information sink in.

"Okay, but then why take you?" Derek asked, resting a hand on Stiles' shoulder as he did so.

Scott sighed "Remember when Alex first had the prophecy that there would be another group of supernatural in Beacon Hills on the full moon? And just before me and Isaac left I was about to say something but I had to pee?" The adult's in the room looked clueless but all others nodded remembering the night he went missing clearly.

"You all presumed that it was just another pack, but I thought it could have something to do with the witch and those who knew her - maybe her family, a lover or her coven. Ferox had been listening to us discuss the prophecy; she guessed that I was close to breaking her secret and enlightening you on how naïve you were all being. So she took me to keep me quiet."

There was a moment of silence before Isaac climbed up beside Scott before hugging him earnestly.

"She mainly ignored me most of the time," he said looking of into the distance before grimacing "kept me in a cage in her make-shift den in a warehouse about a mile out of town" He picked up one of the bowls of snacks eagerly, looking at a chip with the most animated look as though that sole slice of fired potato held all his happiness in the world "But Jesus Christ am I glad I don't have to eat dog food anymore, I have never been more thankful for normal food in my LIFE!" savouring the taste of his snack, he lent back slowly onto the couch with a grin on his face whilst his friends stared on with a mix of horror at the fact that he ate dog food and smiling at how happy he looked; Isaac appearing to not know what face to make out of the two.

Then the Sheriff gave a quiet cough in order to get everyone's attention before nodding at the pack that surrounded the couch, with Derek and Stiles in the middle.

"So, Stiles, you made yourself a family here and decided not to include me, huh?" His dad had a grim look on his face as though he wanted to smile but he was pained to do so.

Stiles broke free from his sandwich between his best friend and his boyfriend to talk to his father "Dad… This family's a little different and a lot more dangerous that your usual white picket fence household. I didn't want you to get hurt in the process of all that goes on around here;" he looked miserable for a second before he felt a warm hand on the base of is spine where he turned around to see Derek giving him a small smile of encouragement, which he returned gladly. "But I didn't realise it was hurting you anyway" he turned and looked at the elder Stilinski "I'm sorry"

John stood sliding out of his jacket as he did so, as though to shed the sheriff for a while and be this boy's father for the first time in a long time, and engulfed his son in hug as he stood to meet him half way.

He hadn't realised it but his little boy wasn't so little anymore; instead of bending down to wrap his arms around his small frame he could now look him straight in the eye as swung his arms loosely around his broadened subtly muscled shoulders and torso. He could feel his soft brown hair tickling at the corners of his eyes, encouraging the droplets there to roll freely down his face as he buried his head into his son's shoulder, instead of the bristling feeling of the previous buzz cut he was accustomed to. The arms that wrapped around him were firm and strong and just like that John realised that his boy wasn't a boy anymore; without him realising Stiles had grown into a man before his very eyes and he'd just been too blind to see it. "Claudia would be proud of you son" he whispered lowly in Stiles' ear, so low that non of those with enhanced hearing would hear. At that Stiles pulled back and wiped away the tear that cascaded down his cheek with the back of his hand laughing lightly whispering a "Damned allergy's" before lightly punching his dad on the shoulder, receiving one in return along with a wavering laugh as the pair went to sit in their seats once again.

Once settled, a movie was set up but ended up as nothing but background noise as everyone ended up talking and laughing, conversations going on between separate pairs others chipping in now and again.

Stiles had been trying to catch Derek's attention from the other side of the couch for the last half an hour, failing miserably before he gave up on his subtle nudges that always seemed to get someone else and whispers of his name that always seemed to be drowned out by the loud sound effects of the movie.

He'd even tried secrete 'psts' sounds for the first ten minutes or so but stopped after Owen gave him an incredulous look saying he wasn't amused, making Stiles back track before thinking the hiss sounds might be seen as an insensitive jab at his scaly alter ego. Stiles sent him an apologetic look, hoping there was no hard feelings between himself and the kanima, to which Owen just rolled his eye's with a smirk on his face shaking his head slightly before turning back to the movie and Alex's obvious commentary on the characters stupid decisions.

Standing, taking the long way around the back of the couch Stiles brushed his hand along Derek's arm as he passed, finally making eye contact with the man as he turned to glance at him, giving him a meaning look that he could only pray translated to "follow me".

Walking to the kitchen collecting all the empty glasses he could hold as he passed he only hope that his boyfriend got the message.

A few minutes passed and he was wondering if he'd not been successful before he heard the kitchen door click quietly behind him. Turning he placed the now clean glass on the draining board before looking up at the wolf, taking him in for all that he was.

"Are you okay?" he said worry evident in his tone as he stepped toward the human.

Cutting to the chase, knowing they only had limited time before they were interrupted Stiles pulled him closer by his shirt once in reach crashing his lips into Derek's.

The kiss started with promise of more strong and fierce before turning more gentle and loving, their lips sliding along each others with ease as though they had done it thousands of times before.

Pulling apart for breathe Stiles opened his eyes not realising when he'd even shut them to see Derek breathing softly eyes still closed as he rested his forehead against Stiles'.

"I wanted to ask you something" Stiles said making Derek finally open his eyes but not moving away as Stiles played with the baby hairs at the back of the wolf's neck. Derek hummed leaning into the touch, eyes drooping as he relaxed making Stiles smile softly.

"You said we should wait," he continued, Derek opening his eyes at the serious tone, eyebrows furrowing "to talk about why my eyes went red, when… when I got this" he pointed to the first ruin he had that had shifted to the left side of his neck, the top point just about visible above his t-shirt collar.

Derek sighed, dreading when this conversation was going to occur but accepting that now was as good a time as any. At least Stiles had respected his wishes to wait until they were both human again.

Sitting at the table behind them, he indicated for Stiles to take the chair beside him taking his hand in both his own.

"Stiles, when Scott was first bitten you did a lot of research on werewolves and the laws around us, what did you find out about mates?"

"Not a whole lot then but I've read a lot more about it in the books in the library when you finally gave me access to it, why?" he asked perplexed at the odd question.

"Your eyes flashed red that night because your subconscious had accepted something, well partially accepted, when you accepted me as your anchor consciously your subconscious took it a step further in an unspoken vow that you wasn't aware of" the wolf sighed.

"Stiles, when I said I always loved you it wasn't a lie; from that moment I saw you and Scott in the woods looking for his damned inhaler I knew it was you, right from the start. Or at least my wolf did, after Kate I wasn't so trusting at all never mind going into another relationship." Derek kept his gaze low on his and Stiles' joint hands not seeing the boys confused look. "Stiles you're my mate."

He looked up at the beautiful man in front of him to see no emotion on his face.

"Okay"

"Okay?"

"Yeah"

Derek sighed "Stiles I thought you read tha-"

"That mates are for life, I know," Stiles looked at their hands just as Derek had minutes before "you seem to think this is any different to what I thought before" he smiled.

"What?" now it was Derek's turn to be confused.

"Der, whether I was your mate or not – even if they didn't exist – I don't plan on leaving your side anytime soon. I'm in this with you because I need you and you need me; the pack needs us together because we make each other stronger. So even if I wasn't your mate, I'd still stay with you till the day I die – this just gives me a nice excuse." He smiled that knowing loving smile that Derek adored and Derek couldn't be happier as he kissed it away.

Pulling back Derek could see his own eyes flash crimson in the reflection of Stiles' own as they bled red in return; sealing the mate bond.

They both felt the golden thread humming in the pack bonds that now joint the two in a life bound union and Derek felt his wolf howling as though he'd never been happier and if you asked him Derek couldn't say he had.

Later that night as the movie credits ran Melissa spoke out with a sly, knowing smile "So, are any of you going to update us on all the… Developments that have happened over the last month?" Resting her hand on John's shoulder from where she was curled up behind him she watched all the teenagers tense up before practically unfolding before their eyes.

Allison gently carded her fingers through Lydia's hair as the red head laid her head in her lap closing her eyes.

Jackson swung his arm around Danny's shoulder pulling his head to his chest and laying his own atop of his.

Scott bent down to press a kiss to the curly mop of hair on his boyfriend's head who'd gone back to his previous spot on the floor, Isaac pulling Scott's hands from where they rested on his shoulders to wrap around his neck making sure the tanned boys head rested on his shoulder. Scott then smiled breathing in Isaacs scent from the scarf he wore around his neck scent marking him.

Erica giggled from her place in Boyd's lap and Peter gagged, although the smile playing at the corners of his lips betrayed him, showing his true emotions.

Derek looked at all his family before turning to the man next to him, only to see him doing the same with a sparkle in his eye and a bright smile on his face hidden by the back of his hand that he was resting his head upon, arm on his knees that were brought up to his chest.

After a second, he glanced at Derek smiling at him with an emotion that could only be expressed as pure joy. Slowly but surely he reached out his other hand taking the older man's in his own, entwining their fingers and brushing his thumb along Derek's knuckles looking up at him with those big whisky brown eyes that, hidden in the depths that Derek wanted to drown in, held nothing but hope and love.

Derek smiled back hoping that all the tenderness and love he felt for Stiles was shown in his eyes as much as the compassion Stiles had for him was reflected in his.

The silence was drawn out around them both of them forgetting that they were surrounded by the people they loved, however much that pleased them to know deep down, and as Stiles reached out a long lone skinny finger towards Derek's face the man didn't even flinch.

"Boop" Stiles smiled as he pressed his finger tip to Derek's nose, shaking with laughter that erupted from him as the man before him started chuckling, eyes crinkling at the corners happiness over flowing as he threw his head back and laughed.

Notes

That's it guys, it's finished. I'm finally done.

Maybe I'll do a epilogue, who knows?

I don't quite know what to say other than thank you. All of you have, even if it's unknown to you yourselves, helped me through some really difficult times just by reading the crap I've written. I especially want to say thank you for the people who have commented, hearted, liked and given Kudos to this story and all my others because going back and reading some of them and seeing the love that people have for it really gives me hope sometimes and that's important and I hope you all know that you should all always have hope, no matter what.
I hope you all find your Stiles to your Derek or your Derek to your Stiles.

Thank you,

S