Stiles was smart wit, and a sharp tongue, a quick mind and an even quicker mouth, he was caring to those that he loved, and he was cold and hard to those that threatened those he cared about. He was fast and his mind jumped ahead of everyone else's, he saw pathways and links that other people looked over, he looked outside the box and saw a whole universe out there, and he saw the magic in it. He was the human who had come up with werewolves in less than 24 hours, he was the human who had solved a decades-old arson and murder case, he was the human who had believed enough in magic and in the world that he was now a part of that he had managed to make a mountain ash circle despite not having magic.

Stiles belonged in the supernatural world, and he belonged with supernatural beings. He was a natural part of the world and had slid into it as though he had always been there. He accepted that just because you had a monstrous face it didn't mean you were a monster, and he knew that just because you had a human face it didn't mean that you weren't the monster.

He learned fast and he accepted unfailingly. He was loyal, and he was ruthless with that loyalty when he needed to be. He cared so much, he gave so much, and he never asked for anything back.

He didn't get anything back.

Nothing good anyway. Those around him that were meant to give back to him, that were meant to complete the circle of pack that Stiles was always reaching out for never closed that circle, instead they took and they took and they took from the human, and they never noticed how drained he was looking, they never noticed how pale and tired he was. They never noticed the sadness in his eyes. Stiles wasn't a fool, he knew that what they were doing wasn't right, he wasn't oblivious to the fact that they weren't giving back anything for all the energy, time and devotion that he gave. But because of who he was, because of his loyalty and his love, and because he cared so damned much, he carried on giving and giving.

He would carry on until there was nothing left to give.

But Theo was going to make sure that that didn't happen, he was going to make sure that Stiles was appreciated and cared for the way that he deserved. Stiles saw only three options right now as to Pack, the same as the others. Derek, Scott, or the weird Mcall-Hale mix that they formed half the time. Theo was going to show Stiles and the others that there was a fourth option.

And along the way, he would get everything that he wanted as well.

Because the other two idiot Alphas didn't see what was right in front of them, they didn't realise how much power Stiles held over the members of their packs, they dismissed him as a weak, annoying human. They didn't see that he was the linchpin to the pack, the glue that held the tangles of it together by grasping it tightly.

Claim Stiles and you took most of the Pack with you.

Theo had planned to drive a wedge between Stiles and Scott, he had planned to prove to Stiles just how easily manipulated Scott was, and how unfaithful, but it had taken being in town for only a few days to see that he didn't need to do that, Scott had already done it all for him, all he had to do was prove to Stiles that he was the better option for him, and how much he wanted the other.

Stiles was suspicious of him, of course he was, because he had the brains and sense to recognise the preditor when he saw one, and unlike Scott, he wasn't stupid enough to buy into Theo insisting that he just wanted to be part of a pack, he knew that Theo was tricking the inbuilt lie detector that was werewolf hearing, finding the loophole in it the way Stiles did.

Theo allowed him to be suspicious for a bit, he wanted him to be, he wanted Stiles' attention on him, he wanted him focussed on him and nothing else, he wanted to roll around in all the attention that the teen was giving to him, and he wanted to revel in being the centre of the delightful human's attention.

He changed his plan as soon as it became apart that it was stressing Stiles out however, he didn't want to upset Stiles, and he didn't want him to feel suspicious of his own mind after everything that had happened with Nogitsune - and Theo's beast roared at the pain that Stiles had gone through, he was ready to rip throats when he heard the insinuation that Scott was making when Stiles, rightly, tried to warn him about Theo for the hundredth time, making Stiles flinch back from his supposed best friend who walked off without a backwards glance - and he didn't want Stiles so suspicious of him that he would not listen to Theo's offer. It was a fine balance, but one that Theo was sure that he could navigate with his knowledge of Stiles, even if it was from when they were younger, and before all the crap that they had been through.

Theo looked over his list of the McCall-Hale pack thoughtfully as he waited until he heard Stiles making it downstairs.

Stiles

Scott

Derek

Isaac

Jackson

Lydia

Liam

Mason

Aiden

Ethan

Malia

Kira

Allison

Erica

Boyd

They were an interesting mix that was for sure. And Theo was fairly sure that once he won Stiles over he would bring half of them with him. Their pack would start strong, especially with Hayden and Corey who were eager to expand their little pack and make a proper one.

Theo carefully folded his list and tucked it away as he heard the front door to Stiles' house opening and heard the change in his heartbeat, knowing that he had seen Theo in his car waiting for him. He looked up and met amber eyes that he could see flashing from the distance between them. He smirked just a little and raised an eyebrow in challenge, and that was all it took for Stiles to grip his backpack together and then storm across the road and bend down to glare at Theo through his now open passenger side window.

"What are you doing here?" Stiles demanded.

"I wanted to talk to you," Theo shrugged.

"And you couldn't have done that at school?" Stiles narrowed his eyes further, suspicion coming off of him in waves.

"No, not for the conversation I want to have. If you want to know what I am planning I will tell you if you come with me," Theo said, and then smirked when the suspicious look ramped up by about twenty. "Text one of your puppies to tell them who you are with, and you can text them when we are when we get there if you want, as long as none of them shows up to eavesdrop,"

Theo could see the internal battle going on through Stiles as he battled his natural curiosity against his natural suspicion, his desire for knowledge warring with the knowledge that this could be a really bad idea.

"I'm sending a picture as proof as well!" Stiles huffed digging his phone out of his pocket. Theo wanted to growl at the fact that he felt he needed proof that he was telling the truth to send to his pack, to the people that should always have his back and believe him, but then it worked in Theo's favour that he did feel this way, and so he put on his most charming smile as Stiles snapped a picture of him and quickly sent it off.

"Are you getting in?" Theo asked calmly once the text was sent and Stiles still looked at him unsurely. With a sigh that said he had a feeling he was going to regret this, Stiles opened the car door and dropped his backpack into the footwell before climbing it, his phone already pinging in response to his text as Theo started the car and drove off. "Are your puppies planning your rescue? Just remind them you're human if they decide to run me off the road,"

"Why do you keep calling them my puppies?" Stiles asked.

"Because they are, they're your wolves," Theo shrugged.

"They're not going to be planning a rescue unless they don't hear from me every half hour," Stiles warned.

"So suspicious, I would never hurt you, Stiles," Theo said honestly.

"Would you hurt any of the others?" Stiles spat out, clearly not expecting an answer, his expression when he got one was worth the risk to Theo's plans.

"Yes, especially if they threatened what I want, or you, though that is one and the same I guess,"

"What?" Stiles blinked.

"Hold that thought," Theo pulled into a car park and slid into a spot, watching Stiles' eyes take in where they were.

"This is…"

"Where your mum always brought us as kids," Theo nodded reaching down and grabbing Stiles' bag for him, throwing it over his shoulder before hopping out the car, a spluttering Stiles following him quickly.

They claimed their seats and Theo motioned for the order that he had pre-ordered to be brought over to them. He held up his hand when Stiles opened his mouth to start interrogating him, and to his happiness even though it earned him a narrowed eyed look, Stiles shut his mouth again and watched as their food and drinks were dropped off in front of them.

"This is…"

"What we said would be the perfect breakfast if our parents allowed us to order it," Theo nodded, "did you think I had forgotten Mica?"

"Don't call me that!" Stiles jerked back as though Theo had slapped him, the once-familiar name now sitting heavily in the air between them.

"Why? It is what I always called you, my name for you," Theo tilted his head.

"Because we're not those little boys anymore! You're not that little boy anymore, I don't know who you are!" Stiles glared at him.

"I am going to tell you who I am, what I want and why I am back, Mica, I don't want you to distrust me, far from it. Will you listen to me?" Theo smiled a little, allowing his masks to drop, allowing his real smile to come through, slightly too sharp, slightly too animal, but his real smile.

"Are you going to tell me the truth?" Stiles asked hesitantly.

"On the moon, yes," Theo felt a buzz of pleasure at the look of shock on Stiles' face, he had hoped that his human would know what he meant when he said that, and how serious it was for a were to make that vow, and as ever Stiles had not disappointed him.

"Why are you telling me now?" Stiles asked, hesitantly starting to take apart a doughnut when Theo nudged it to him, placing small pieces into his mouth as he watched Theo.

"Because I want you to understand me, I don't want you to be afraid of me or what I am doing here, and I don't want you to be suspicious of me, pushing me away," Theo answered. "I also don't want you worrying that you are imagining things, or that there is something wrong with you," He added, and this time he could not help the low growl that he let out when Stiles blanched backwards.

"What do you…"

"I have heard the conversations that you have had with Scott and what he has said to you. I don't want you to worry about your mental state after what happened with the Nogitsune and your mum. You are right to be suspicious, I am planning something,"

"So you are after Scott," Stiles sucked in a breath.

"No, I am here for you Mica. I couldn't care less about Scott. I want a Pack, a strong Pack, with territory, and I want to build it with you," Theo said firmly. He sat back in his seat and watched as Stiles' mouth dropped open and he stared at Theo trying to comprehend what he had just said to him.

"Wait, what?!" Stiles managed to say after a moment.

"I want a Pack, territory, and you, and I want to build it with you. I want you at my side Stiles, I want you to bring your puppies with you, and I want us to make a Pack,"

"But…I am…" Stiles started to say, he startled when Theo stood quickly and made his way around the table, sliding into the booth and leaving Stiles with no choice but to shuffle backwards to make space for Theo to fit into the space with him.

He looked up into the intent blue eyes of the other teen, able to see through the masks that he had been wearing since coming back to Beacon Hills, he was able to see the sharpness in those blue eyes, the cunning and the danger in them.

"Whatever you are about to say, I suggest you do not. You are what I want Mica, you are fierceness and fire, you're smart and quick, you're caring and you're loyal, you care about Pack and you know what it is to be Pack and to care for them. You would be amazing, Alpha Mate," Theo smirked when Stiles sucked in a deep breath, his eyes widening as he took in what Theo had said, delighted to know that Stiles knew exactly what that position was.

"Mate? That isn't a light word to throw around," Stiles managed to say, his brain clearly spinning.

"No it isn't, and it definitely isn't something that I would throw around lightly. I mock certain things, but something as important as that I would never. Mica, I was always coming back for you, and finding out that you already knew all about the supernatural world made me even more sure that it was meant to be. Mica, I never forgot you," Theo shook his head.

"You came back for me?" Stiles frowned.

"Yes, I was just waiting till I was old enough. As soon as I was bitten, the feelings I had for you became even stronger, and I knew that you were my mate. I learned about what was going on in Beacon Hills, I kept an ear to the ground, and I knew that the human that was running with wolves was you. As soon as I heard about the Nogitsune I got everything sorted out at home and headed here,"

"I am just the human Theo, I am not…Derek and Scott both…" Stiles cut off his words when Theo snarled, actually flashing his teeth in a display of breaking the teen's normally impeccable control. Stiles reached out and covered Theo's face, mainly ensuring that the side of his face was covered from the view of the staff in the cafe and the few other patrons that were there as well.

"They don't deserve you, and they are fucking idiots. Aside from the fact that you deserve better, they are missing out on what is right in front of them, you offer so much to a pack, and you have most of their betas twined around your fingers," Theo used the fact that Stiles was so close and already touching him to reach out himself.

He wrapped one arm around Stiles' waist, with the other he cupped Stiles' face almost in a mirror of how Stiles was covering his face. The human withdrew his hand quickly when he realised how intimate the touch was, but could not pull away from Theo as the warmth from the other sank into him. The gentle touch soaked into him as though he had been outside in the freezing cold and was finally sitting by a fire.

"They offer you nothing, worse than nothing, they take everything that you give them, your research, your blood, your tears, your pain, they take and take and take, then they treat you with derision, they treat you like you are lesser than them and not worth their time. I can offer you so much more than that, I can offer you better. You will have a proper Pack, you will be my equal, Alpha Mate," Theo breathed out into the space between them as he played his card.

"What are you?" Stiles asked looking into Theo's blue eyes, watching as the other smirked.

"See, so clever," Theo praised. "I'm a Chimera,"

"What?" Stiles frowned confused, his eyes scanning over Theo's face looking for a hint of a lie, or mocking, but seeing none.

"I am a Chimera, I was made, not bitten," Theo released Stiles' waist and face, but instead linked their fingers together. Stiles narrowed his eyes at him at the advantage that he was taking, and he considered shaking the touch off, but his curiosity got the better of him, and he allowed the touch.

If he closed his fingers slightly over Theo's, well he wanted the information.

"I was made by something called The Dread Doctors. They were experimenting on humans to give them a mixture of supernatural features. I am made up of Werewolf and Werecoyote, the wolf is more prominent than the other. They wanted to raise The Beast and thought that by creating us they could find a body that would be suitable for The Beast to possess," Theo felt Stiles shudder at the word and tightened his hand.

"What happened?" Stiles asked, though his voice was a little rough.

"I thought that they were my way to power, and I followed them for a while until I saw a different way. Corey and Hayden are Chimera as well, and we formed a Pack. I didn't want to be a tool for them to use and then throw away, and I wasn't going to survive with them. What they were doing was wrong, but that was the last reason for my choice to betray them and help defeat them with the Alpha in that territory and her Pack," Theo was hiding nothing, and though he could see that Stiles did not agree with his comment, he didn't say anything about it, choosing instead to carry on getting information from Theo.

"You defeated them?"

"Yes. In return, the Alpha taught us a few things, how to survive, our new instincts that were both natural and not. I spoke about you, and what you meant to me, and she told me about what she knew about Beacon Hills and what was going on here, what the rumours were saying about this place. I told her about you, and about how my animal felt when I thought about you, and she taught me about Mates," Theo nodded.

"And then you came here?"

"It was clear that I was never going to be a beta for her, and that my time there was limited. I have always struggled to be a follower. I was always coming back for you Mica. Thankfully my plans for both sides of my life merged well, and here we are,"

"Both sides of your life?" Stiles clarified.

"You, Pack and Territory," Theo said lowly. "Both are here, I want both, equally, and I want to make sure that you are happy, protected and don't end up killed because those idiots can't see that you're the glue that holds their Pack together,"

"Do you plan on killing Scott or Derek?" Stiles licked his lips.

"I thought about it," Theo shrugged looking down to Stiles' lips. "But you would not forgive me, and I found another way to become an Alpha,"

"Another way?" Stiles looked startled and interested and Theo grinned brightly.

"Hmm, come with me and I will show you," Theo stood and held his hand out to Stiles.

"What, but…" Stiles looked to the almost completely uneaten food.

"We can take with us what can be eaten later, there will be time for us to come back and do this again properly when we're less distracted," Theo shrugged wiggling his fingers.

Stiles sat there consideringly, watching Theo as he tried to go over everything that he had been told in the last hour, everything that he had been expecting had been wrong and he was trying to shift his view. He believed Theo, he believed that he was telling the truth, he could finally see the other, and he didn't want to admit at how loud and hard his heart was beating in his chest as he thought about what Theo was offering, what he wanted from him, he ignored that fact that Theo would be able to hear how hard his heart was beating.

There was no real question when he had gone this far into this though, and he slid out the booth to stand next to Theo, ignoring the pout on Theo's face when he ignored his hand. The Chimera came around quickly though and had the food that they could take with them boxed up quickly, their milkshakes poured into takeaway cups and led Stiles out to their car, the waitresses waving cheerfully at them.

"Where are we going?" Stiles asked five minutes into the car drive. He couldn't help but look at Theo as he laughed, his handsome face transformed with the laugh, especially as it wasn't his fake laugh that had made Stiles' skin crawl, this was a real laugh.

"You will find out soon enough, don't worry, I won't hurt you. I also have something special to show you as well," Theo winked at him.

"If that involves you taking your pants down you might as well turn back now or I will shoot you full of Wolfsbane the first chance I get," Stiles warned.

"It involves me without clothes, but not in the way that you are thinking, you have a dirty mind!" Theo smirked.

"What! I don't…"

"Do you think about me naked a lot?"

"No!"

"That was a lie!" Theo sounded both smug and happy and Stiles groaned covering his burning face.

"Shut up!" Stiles whined.

"I have thought about you naked, a lot, in many different ways and settings, since puberty really, I imagined what you would look like now, if you still had your moles, if your skin was still as pale and if…"

"Please stop," Stiles shook his head.

"Am I turning you on?" Theo smirked at him, and it was more dangerous, more dark than the smirk he gave while wearing his mask.

"No," Stiles said sharply.

"Lie," Theo said smugly.

"I…" Stiles could feel his cheeks heating up.

"I can hear your heartbeat, and smell your arousal Little Red," Theo reached out and tugged at the string of his red hoodie.

"That is cheating you know," Stiles sighed slumping back into his seat, slapping at Theo's hand.

"I know, I won't apologise for using my senses to my advantage," Theo dropped his hand onto Stiles' leg instead.

"It is still cheating," Stiles huffed shoving at Theo's hand half-heartedly, huffing when Theo turned his hand around and gripped his hand instead. "What do you intend to do with Derek and Scott? If you get what you want," He asked staring out the window. He could feel Theo's blue eyes on him for a few beats before he turned to focus on the road again.

"I intend to become Alpha, build my pack. The largest and strongest Pack rule the area, as long as they behave, respect my rules and don't turn Omega I will allow them to stay," Theo said lowly.

"And what is to stop them from turning your Pack back to themselves, or making more betas?" Stiles asked.

"One of the rules will be no creating betas. If anything happens such as with Liam where it is unavoidable then the beta will be brought to our Pack to become one of us, and the situation will be looked into properly. And we will make sure that the Pack will not turn back over to them by providing what it is that they need and aren't getting," Theo answered.

"I haven't said yes," Stiles glared at the side of Theo's head, glaring even more when Theo smirked without looking at him and squeezed his hand.

"But you haven't said no either, and you're still here,"

"What do you mean what they need and aren't getting?" Stiles ignored the smirk deepening at him avoiding Theo's comment.

"Proper Pack. Derek is a terrible Alpha and we both know it, the way he tried to train his betas, the way that he tried to control them, the fact that he is ignored the fact that you are obviously made for the supernatural world and hasn't pushed to make sure you are in his Pack. Scott is so busy running around after his dick that he is being a terrible Alpha, he also won't fully give into his Wolf, his Alpha. He wants to be human with the pluses of being a supernatural being. That isn't how it works. The Wolf has needs and instincts, and if it is ignored, or dampened then it creates friction. There is also the fact that when it comes down to it he won't do everything that is needed to protect his Pack,"

"But you will?" Stiles asked.

"I would kill to protect my Pack. I would kill to protect you," Theo turned to look at Stiles intently. "I would burn Beacon Hills to the ground and everyone in it if it meant protecting you,"

Stiles gulped slightly, he didn't need to be a werewolf to know that Theo meant that, he would do it. His heart was thundering in his chest, and he could feel his pulse jumping in his throat as his brain took in everything.

"Have I scared you?" Theo asked.

"Yes," Stiles answered honestly. "And no,"

"You deserve to be defended," Theo said before turning the car off the road. "Will you still come with me?" he asked turning to Stiles as he turned the car off.

"Yes," Stiles licked his lips as he looked at the Chimera, he had come too far, heard too much and was too curious now. He had to carry on.

The two of them got out of the car and Theo started leading the way through the forest, the silence enveloping them this time, neither of them seeming wanting to talk or able to talk as they walked across the bed of leaves, listening to the crunch of them under their feet and the normal noises of the forest as they walked.

Everything felt as though it was on a knife-edge, for the both of them, and they both knew that this was going to be the balance of what was going to happen next.

They walked close by each other, Theo's hands reaching out now and then to catch hold of Stiles and stop him from tripping over the branches and bumps in the soil as they walked, a small wry smile on his face as he did so.

Then they stepped into the clearing with the Nematon.

Stiles sucked in a breath and turned to look at Theo, freezing on the edge of the clearing. So much had happened here, so much had happened because of here, so much had happened because of the power here, and now it seemed that Theo wanted to play with that power now.

But he didn't jump to conclusions, he turned and looked at the Chimera, and waited.

"The Nematon has a power to it, it is neutral though, and it is bound to this land. If I bring my Pack here, a minimum of five betas and my Alpha Mate, and promise our Pack to defend and guard this land properly, to celebrate it and respect it, and to be a proper Pack, then there is a chance that the Nematon will give me an Alpha spark, if it finds me worthy,"

"And if it doesn't?" Stiles felt his breath catch.

"It will take the life from me," Theo said simply.

"Theo…" Stiles stepped further into the clearing, his heart feeling as though it stopped in his chest at the simple way that the other said it.

"That won't happen," Theo stepped forward as well and he wrapped his arms around Stiles' waist.

"How can you be so sure?!" Stiles protested, not moving from Theo's grip as he realised the risk that the other was taking.

"Because, I am sure," Theo gripped Stiles' chin suddenly and tilted it up, leaning down to press their lips together. The human froze unsure whether to lean into the kiss or pull back, but Theo was already stepping back towards the Nematon, he reached out to Theo anyway though but the Chimera's form started shifting, and then under his eyes, Stiles watched as Theo's form changed, seeming to melt and shift until Stiles was staring down at a Tawney wolf standing there looking right back at him.

"You can…" Stiles' knees went from under him and he sat down heavily onto the forest floor as he stared at Theo. He knew how rare it was for a were to be able to shift into animal form. He knew how impressive it had been that Talia Hale, Derek's mother, had been able to shift into animal form.

Theo chuffed and then walked forward to nose at Stiles' face, his tail wagging behind him as Stiles reached out carefully and ran his fingers through the soft fur of Theo's coat, looking awed over the other.

"Ok, so this is pretty impressive," Stiles laughed still stunned as he looked over Theo.

Theo changed back in front of him until he was kneeling in his human form right in front of Stiles.

"That is why I am confident," Theo said. He reached out to cup Stiles' face, the two of them ignoring the fact that Theo was completely naked in front of him, they couldn't look away from each other's eyes as Theo smiled softly at Stiles, his touch gentle as he ran his fingers over Stiles' jaw and cheek, his thumb tracing a couple of moles on his cheek.

"I've been let down so many times," Stiles said quietly, but Theo's ears picked it up, and they picked up the slight crack in his voice, and he heard the speeding up of Stiles' heart.

"You only need to take the risk one more time, and I promise, this time you're not going to be disappointed or let down, and this time, you're going to get everything that you want and deserve, a proper pack respect, care, love,"

Stiles sucked in a breath at the last one, his amber eyes scanning back and forth over Theo's face as he searched for the truth in his face. Theo was looking at him seriously, none of his masks, none of his tricks, he was an open book and Stiles leant forward to press their lips together, wrapping his arms around Theo's shoulders and pressing himself against the others' body.

Theo reacted right away, wrapping his arms around Stiles and holding him even closer, reacting to the kiss with a hunger and desperation that left no doubt in the human's mind that he was telling the truth. He was holding onto him as though he was worried that he would change his mind, but Stiles was sure and he pressed himself as close as was physically possible to Theo's powerful body.

When they parted Stiles' lips were swollen and tempting, and Theo could not resist leaning forward to kiss them another few times before he pulled back and ran his thumb over Stiles' cheek.

"We should get back, it is starting to get cool," Theo said concerned as he helped Stiles to his feet. He quickly yanked on his clothing and then held out his hand to Stiles again.

This time Stiles took the hand offered out to him. Theo looked at Stiles intently as he linked their fingers together, and Stiles could see him shifting gears in front of him, he was getting ready for the fight that was going to take place, and he was ready to protect what he had now.

"I am going to be fighting right at your side," Stiles promised. He had thought that the words would feel like a betrayal, and he thought that he would feel guilty saying it, but there was nothing but a sense of relief.

"I know Mica, I wouldn't have it any other way," Theo pulled Stiles to him and kissed him once more.

Stiles sat in the car hesitantly, he didn't want to leave Theo yet, he wasn't ready for them to separate, he was worried that it would feel as though the whole day had been a dream, as though it hadn't really happened and he was going to wake up tomorrow with the now-familiar ache in his heart instead of the warmth that he had now.

"May I come in for supper Mica?" Theo asked.

"Yes!" Stiles was a little embarrassed by the relief in his tone, but Theo smiled contently at him and had already started undoing his seatbelt to come in, and so he focussed on that instead. It was only when they were on their way up the driveway did he realise that his dad's car was there, he glanced at Theo but received nothing but a smile back, and so he led the way into the house.

"You still have the blanket, how many film days did we spend under this blanket?" Theo chuckled running his hand along the back of the sofa and the blanket that was thrown over the back of it.

"Probably a few hundred," Stiles snorted, his breath caught a little though as he remembered him and Theo snuggled together on the sofa and his mum throwing the blanket over them before putting a film on for them to watch together.

"Could I get a drink please?" Theo said softly pulling Stiles from his thoughts. When he blinked the Chimera was looking at him with equal softness and understanding on his face.

"Of course, come on, I will see where supper is up to as well," Stiles nodded and reached out almost automatically to take Theo's hand, needed the skin to skin contact and not needing to deny himself, Theo was not Scott or Derek and their Pack, he understood.

"Good, I am starving, it still takes a fair bit of energy to transform," Theo admitted.

"Do you do it often?" Stiles asked.

"Not that often Mica, not as much as I would like," Theo shrugged.

"Mica, that is a nickname I have not heard in a while," The Sheriff said, and they turned to see him standing in the kitchen at the cooker, an eyebrow arched at them.

"Sheriff," Theo nodded.

"Theo, been a fair while, and what I have heard of you recently hasn't been good," The Sheriff said lowly, his eyes going to their joined hands. Stiles went to pull away but Theo gently held on, stepping up right next to Stiles and looking the Sheriff in the eyes.

"There is a good reason for that, and Stiles was right to be suspicious of me because I was hiding who I was from the others and getting them to trust me, Stiles has good instincts, but I never intended to hurt Stiles, or keep up the lie with him. I have explained why I am here, what I am and what I want to Stiles today, and I am happy to have the same conversation with you Sheriff,"

"Right," The Sheriff blinked, clearly not having been expecting that.

"I also want to make it clear, I would like to have a relationship with Stiles, and he has agreed to that," Theo added.

"Right!" There was a lot more blinking from the Sheriff this time, and Stiles groaned at Theo's side, covering his burning red face with his free hand. "How about we have something to eat and sit down to have a chat, huh?" The Sheriff said, but he was looking more amused than suspicious now which both Theo and Stiles took for a win.

"I will get us something to drink," Stiles whined.

"Thank you, Mica," Theo grinned.

"Still can't pronounce Mieczyslaw huh?" The Sheriff snorted.

"I probably could if I tried, but I still prefer Mischief or Mica," Theo said sitting at the table. The Sheriff didn't say anything to that, but both teens caught the small, slightly sad smile, on his face as he turned back to the cooker. Theo took Stiles' hand in his once he had placed the glass of coca-cola in front of him and brought his wrist to his lips to place a gentle kiss on the area that was so important to werewolves and shifters.

Stiles settled down next to Theo at the table, pressing himself to his side. Theo turned and pressed his nose to Stiles temple as he wrapped his arm around this human's shoulders and hugged him close. The Sheriff watched them out the corner of his eye as his son sank into the touch and relaxed.

"You betrayed us!" Scott spat.

"Stiles was right," Derek growled.

"Yes, you should have listened to him," Theo nodded.

"How could you?" Scott said sounding so hurt that Theo couldn't help but scoff.

"Because you made it so so easy," Theo laughed.

"You aren't going to get away with this!" Scott spat.

"That is a little cliched," Theo shrugged.

"And factually incorrect," Stiles added as he strolled into the clearing.

"Stiles, you were right about Theo!" Scott said quickly.

"I know," Stiles shrugged.

"I'm sorry!" Scott turned puppy dog eyes onto his best friend, frowning confused when he carried on walking right towards Theo.

"I don't care," Stiles snorted.

"What…you mean you don't care because you understand why I thought that you were wrong," Scott nodded to himself. Derek turned and looked at him incredulously before turning back to where Stiles had come to stop in front of Theo who was rolling his eyes so hard it looked like it hurt.

Stiles looked at Theo whose smirk gentled a little into a smile, reaching out to comb his fingers through Stiles' hair.

"Mica is far too smart to figure you for this betrayal," Theo shook his head.

"Mica?" Derek frowned, a low growl forming in his chest at the touch.

"You haven't called Stiles that in years, not since we were children," Scott shook his head.

"Theo has been calling me Mica again for quite a few months now," Stiles said over his shoulder.

"What do you mean 'factually incorrect?" Derek asked slowly.

"At least one of them has something in the form of a brain," Theo snorted. Stiles took the hand that was offered out to him, allowing Theo to pull him into his side after pressing a gentle kiss to Stiles' wrist that had Derek growling again. "Stiles meant that it is too late, I'm not going to get away with this, because I already have. I may have wanted to have a little bit of gloating but Mica convinced me not to until after we had already won," Theo said, looking to Stiles with a look that could not be mistaken for anything but love.

"You think we aren't going to fight for this? It is just you two!" Scott said angrily.

"Sorry, but not just them two," Jackson said stepping out from the treeline.

"Wha…" Scott and Derek dropped into hunches ready to fight.

"Little bit of magic, I held Theo off from his big dramatic gloat, so I made sure that when he could finally do it it could be as dramatic as possible," Stiles smiled up at Theo.

The two Alphas watched with obvious growing understanding as Jackson was joined by Lydia, Liam, Mason, Aiden, Ethan, Malia, Erica and Boyd. The group were surrounded by the Pack, Corey and Hayden coming to stop next to Mason and Liam.

"Your dad won't agree with this," Scott gulped.

"He does actually, he and Parrish are also on our side," Theo smirked.

"And Peter of course," Theo nodded clicking his fingers.

"Peter?" Derek stepped back.

"You can't keep treating someone like a leashed animal and expect them to carry on being loyal to you," Stiles narrowed his eyes.

"And Peter cares for Stiles more than nearly anyone else," Theo hummed.

"Especially considering Peter and The Sheriff are bumping uglies," Malia nodded.

"Please stop describing it like that," Stiles whined.

"But that isn't…"

"You have Isaac, Kira and Allison left in your something of a Pack," Theo smirked.

"We spoke to Chris and he understands that this is Pack politics and has nothing to do with him, he will stay out of this, even if Allison decides to stay on your side. This isn't personal, it comes down to Pack and Hunter politics, and if he tries to interfere then he will be breaking the code," Stiles added.

"Of course, my clever Mica made sure that he phrased it in a manner that made it code related," Theo said proudly.

"You two are sickening," Jackson sighed sounding put upon before grunting when Ethan elbowed his boyfriend in the side.

"So, we are claiming the territory," Stiles waved his hands conclusively, ignoring the hissed squabble going on behind them.

"You need an Alpha to claim territory," Derek said slowly, but his tone had growing dread in it.

"We know," Theo said and between one blink and the next, his eyes went from human blue to alpha red. "My Alpha Mate and I are taking your territory," he said wrapping his arm around Stiles.

"No!" Derek roared.

"No what? The territory or the Alpha Mate?" Theo smirked tilting his head.

"Stiles is mine, he…" Derek started to say but was interrupted by the furious human.

"You have treated me like shit Derek Hale! I was here with you, at your side the whole time, I have supported you and I have been on your side and you have treated me like absolute crap the whole time. You have used me and expected me to carry on being loyal to you for the promise of any potential affection from you. I am not a doormat Derek,"

"So you have just taken up with him?" Derek sneered.

"Yes, because Theo loves me, and I have fallen in love with him," Stiles said, and Theo's red eyes widened a little as he turned to look at Stiles, hearing those words for the first time, hearing them right at this moment made them even more perfect, and there was absolutely no stutter in his heartbeat.

"How can you choose Theo's side?" Scott looked over the Pack behind Stiles and Theo, his eyes lingering particularly on Liam. He was clearly not expecting his first beta to snort.

"We're following Stiles, wherever Stiles goes I will go, and so will the others. He says that Theo is going to be a good Alpha, and so far he is right,"

"We all trust Stiles and his instincts, and more than anything Stiles has always been the heart and the glue of the Pack, not to mention the brains of it besides me, wherever he goes, we will all follow. He makes this a Pack and he binds us all together. He makes us feel like Pack, and he accepts us for who and what we are, and he has helped all of us accept that about ourselves as well," Lydia added, eyeing the two Alphas standing opposite them with distaste, and the clear expression on her face said how much of an idiot she thought that they were.

"You may stay in this territory as long as you follow these rules. If you can not follow them then you will leave now. If you break them then we will be within our rights to kill you. I want this to be a bloodless coup for my mate's sake, however, if you wish to make it bloody, I will be more than happy to indulge you," Theo threw two sealed envelopes to the feet of the other two Alphas, smugness and pride clear as he looked them over.

"You can't do this!" Scott shook his head.

"It is already done," Stiles said with finality.

"Do you think that they are going to fight it?" Stiles asked as he pulled on his pair of sleep trousers and passed across the large bedroom to the huge comfy bed that Theo was reclining on dressed only in a pair of sleep trousers himself.

"I don't know, their hearts were all over the places and they stank of anger and betrayal. I don't trust either of them, we're going to have to be careful for the next year. I don't want to risk any of you, we have backed them into a corner, I don't trust them not to do something, Derek on purpose, Scott lashing out in his anger," Theo sighed opening his arms so that Stiles could crawl into his arms, plastering himself along Theo's side and snuggling into him as the Alpha tangled their legs together.

"I thought that I would feel guilty," Stiles hummed.

"You don't?" Theo asked gently, running his fingers up and down Stiles' back in a soothing manner.

"No, I made the right choice for myself after giving them too many chances. And I am happy,"

"And you love me," Theo said.

"Don't sound so smug," Stiles huffed poking his Alpha and mate in the side.

"You love me, I am going to be smug about that for the rest of our lives," Theo taunted, but then his tone changed as he wrapped his arms around Stiles. "I love you, and I am happier than you will ever know that you gave me a chance and that you have fallen in love with me. I promise that you will never regret it," Theo promised against Stiles' temple.

"I know," Stiles tilted his head and pressed their lips together. "I know that you won't. We're going to have an amazing Pack, we're going to be strong and safe, and we're going to make sure that this Pack is going to be everything that it should be," Stiles cupped Theo's face and kissed him again, deepening the kiss further.

"I love you Mieczyslaw Stilinski," Theo said against his lips.

"You learned to pronounce it," Stiles grinned. "I prefer Mica though,"

"Me too," Theo chuckled rolling on top of Stiles and kissing him as he slid his hand down Stiles' side and under his sleep trousers.

"I love you too," Stiles breathed out as he tilted his head back into the pillow, revealing the mating mark on his throat for Theo to press his lips to.