Derek lay flat on his back in his bed, eyes staring up at the ceiling. The trail begins at 9 a.m. Derek should be asleep, he needs to sleep. He has to be ready for tomorrow. But he just can't. He had never needed a warm body in bed with him just to sleep. He had never needed to just hold someone or breathe them in to feel continent enough to sleep. He couldn't remember building this dependent, yet his body remembers and it is frustrating as hell. His wolf yearns for his mate, for Stiles to be curled into his side.
Derek sighs, turning over, eyes scanning the room. He might have to go for a run just to tire himself out. His eyes catch on the bottom drawer of his nightstand. Frowning he slides out from under the covers. He hid something there. Something important. His hands hover over the handle as he hesitates. What could it be? Should he open it? He hasn't had a flashback since Stiles was taken by those twins.
He growls. He hadn't wanted to let the blue-eyed wolves to even touch his mate. He didn't trust them. Stiles had only hugged him, nuzzling the crook of his neck, whispering "I love you" before following the two out of the room. Derek hadn't even said it back.
Taking a deep breath Derek slowly opens the drawer. Two things occupy the space. The keys to the camaro and a small velvet box. Swallowing, he lifts the box. Opening it to to reveal two silver bands. The smaller of the two, crafted for long, slim fingers, had a simple diamond engraved in the silver. Engraved on the inside was one name. Derek. The other band also had a name engraved on the inside. Stiles.
Derek blinks as a memory crashes into him.
They were sprawled out on the bed. Panting and covered in sweat. Stiles rolls until he is propped up on the wolf's chest. His fingers ghost over the crook of his neck, where a bite mark is already healing. Derek can't help but shiver.
"I wish there was a way to mark you."
The idea of being claimed for the world to see had Derek growling with desire. "I like you biting me."
The younger man smiles. "I'm not going to stop that. I just wish my claim would stay."
"I am claimed though. Anyone with a supernatural nose can smell that. I am yours." Derek cups his mate's face, thumb rubbing his cheek. "I will always be yours."
Stiles smiles, leaning into the touch. "I know that. But I want the whole world to see that you are mine."
Derek couldn't help but capture the man's mouth with his own. An idea popping into his head.
Derek's eyes start to swim as more memories start to jumble in his head.
Stiles smiling.
The two of them dancing. Hips grinding to the beat as the full moon pulls at him.
Stiles screaming at him with anger in his eyes.
Stiles panting as they spare. His shirt damp with sweat as he swings his fist.
Stiles holding him close.
Stiles saying goodbye.
Stiles humming to himself as he cooks. Oblivious to being watched.
Stiles straddling him, head thrown back in bliss as his hips moved.
Stiles' face scrunched up in frustration.
Stiles.
Stiles.
Stiles.
Derek falls back on his ass, tears filling his eyes. He remembers. He remembers everything. A sob crashes through him. His Stiles. His amazing mate. How could he have ever forgotten him. The man who threw himself in front of someone, willing to take the blow to protect them. A man who ran Derek's company even as it made him miserable. A man who was there for him even when he didn't know who he was. His mate. His Stiles.
Fuck. He needed to hold him. To pull him close and kiss him until they couldn't breathe. He needed his mate. And he wasn't here. He was alone somewhere. Derek clenches the box, a howl of frustration clawing at his throat.
He remembers and he is getting his mate back.
Derek sits in the front row of the lecture room. It isn't sure what was told to the university, but this entire hall was off limits to students and staff today. Looking around, Derek takes in the room. It was spacious, seated around 100 people and there wasn't an empty seat. Wolves were the main species of the crowd, but there were several vampires as well. They were dressed head-to-toe in heavy clothing, not a bit of skin showing.
Derek's pack surrounds him. Malia and Lydia by his side. Lydia's hand gripped his tightly as they waited. She had been the one to find him curled up on the floor, tears dried on his face as he stared at the rings in his hand. He told her, told them all, that he remembered. Now the only one that needs to know is Stiles.
The doors open and the Alpha council enters. Derek couldn't name any of them, he had never actually met them. All five of them wore stone expressions as they took their seats at the front of the room. An empty chair was set off to the side. It angled to face the audience and the council. Derek knew sitting in that seat would make someone feel alone and vulnerable, and he knew who was going to have to sit there.
Peter enters, smug smile on his face as he goes to stand beside the alpha council. Derek didn't have time to wonder what his uncle was up to because the next to enter the room is Stiles.
He was being escorted by the twins that had taken him away. Derek bit back a growl as he took in his mate. Stiles looked like utter shit. His clothes were ruffled, the same ones he had been taken in. Dark bags hung under his eyes, his hair stuck up in every direction, and his skin was pale. His brown orbs... were haunted and his magic had the sickly decaying smell again. Something was wrong.
Before Derek could even attempt to get to his mate, Stiles was sat in the chair and the trail began.
A/N: Hey guys! I am already working on the next chapter. I just have to find time to type it up. I have a big girl job now and my time is not going to be consistent enough to even think about this story for a bit. I promise I will update as soon as I can though. This story only has a few more chapters to go until it is complete. Thank you for reading! I hope you all are having a wonderful 2018 so far. YOLO! Until Next Time.