Despite that he was hurt, he still tried out for the lacrosse team. He wasn't serious about it, but he had promised Charlie and Bella. The wounds he got weren't anything like when he was running around Beacon with the monster of the week. He surprised the coach who was 100% nicer than Finstock, but Stiles wasn't really sure he'd make the team.
The day that followed was one of the rarer nicer ones with sun, so the Cullens weren't present. Jessica told Bella that whenever it was nice Dr. Cullen took the kids out camping. It was just a thing that the town accepted and no one questioned.
Stiles did, but not out loud. He didn't want to bring any more attention to himself than he already has. Which is really hard considering that being the new kid who knew about the supernatural, he had attention from everyone.
His head was spinning with details he didn't have full access of information to. Billy and those who saved him seemed to know about werewolves but different kinds? Were there different kinds other than rankings? Stiles wouldn't be surprised at this point. He knew those different aspects of the moon affected wolves, but the sun? How did that factor in?
During lunch, Jessica manages to get Bella and Angela to go with her to Port Angeles. They invite Stiles to go too but he just couldn't stand shopping. He knew Bella hated shopping too, but the poor girl just couldn't get out of it.
After everyone went off to their next class, Stiles couldn't just sit still. He stopped by his locker to drop things off before he snuck out and went to the truck. He needed answers and he couldn't wait for his dad to get here.
"I was wondering when you'd be back. I wasn't expecting you so soon." Billy greeted him as he opened the door.
"My curiosity couldn't stand to wait another day. I know what Charlie said but..." During his time here he's gotten a very good sense of what Billy's and Charlie's relationship was like. So he stated more than asked, "Charlie doesn't know."
Billy shook his head. "He does not. He's heard the stories from our tribe, and as a police officer I'm sure he hears crazy stories but brushes them off as a drug or drink delusion."
Stiles took a deep breath. That made him feel calmer. It reminded him when his dad was still not in the know. It was less stress-inducing since there weren't too many threats looming overhead. Though since outing the Cullen-Hales a bit and now that he knows some of Jacob's tribe were something...Stiles has become aware of a tension in the town that wasn't there before. Charlie was safe from the supernatural if he didn't go out looking for it. Though at the same time there was the worry that his lack of knowledge could also get him killed.
"Now." Billy's voice brought him back to the present. "Why don't you tell me what you saw that night."
"A werewolf. It had blue eyes...and it was feral. Must have been without a pack for a while now...so it's possibly not from around here or any of the packs." Stiles said.
"Werewolf? Are you sure that's what you saw?"
Flashes of being pushed, shoved, tackled, chased, and hurt in many different situations by a different ranking of werewolves, both born and bitten. With a steady and serious gaze, he tells Billy, "I know a werewolf when I see one."
"Hmm..." Billy was quiet for a moment before he told Stiles, "Werewolves...don't happen by here much."
Stiles frowned, "Are...are you sure? I got a sense from the night of my accident that..."
That what? That Billy and his tribe members were more spiritually open and in the know about the supernatural? Knew how to better protect themselves because of it? Did he see any of their eyes glow? See them use any sort of super speed or strength? Did he see sharp claws or fangs?
No.
He just heard someone ask if he was sure if it was a werewolf while being treated by a pretty girl with claw marks.
"I thought..."
Billy smiled at him and passed over some tea, "Here. This will help with the nerves. You aren't wrong. Not completely. My people have been gifted by nature. Our ancestors have chosen the wolf as our chosen spirit animal, but we do not take orders from the moon."
Stiles frowned. "I...I don't understand."
"My people are shifters, Stiles. But only when a threat is near. A gene activates in our sons and daughters, as they are the younger and healthier ones with the capability to protect our people. And with training and practice, they can shift."
"Into wolves?" Stiles had to make sure.
Billy nodded. "Into wolves."
"Is Jake...?" Stiles wanted to ask but didn't get the words out. Part of him didn't want Jake to also be a wolf. His last friend who turned out to be a wolf hadn't really gotten back to him in a long time. He didn't want Jake to have a pack to choose over him like Scott had.
"No. Not yet anyway. The threat isn't as big...there are only a few wolves." Billy said solemnly.
"Okay so...if any of these wolves were to bite a person, they wouldn't change them into a shift too? And what is this threat? The werewolf I saw?"
"This is a power my people are born with, as I've said. We are not werewolves. So no, a bite from us would not cause someone else to become a shifter. And no, not the werewolf. Though according to Sam on his inspection to the Clearwater household, the presence of that wolf is beginning to affect and bring more of our children's inner gifts to be awakened."
"Still seems like there was another threat. One that isn't as serious but enough there that it activated the power in some. What is it? I want to help Billy. If not you guys, then to at least help keep Charlie and Bella safe."
"I admire the fire in you, Stiles. You have a very noble and brave spirit. And trust me, knowing you know is a bit of a relief...there is a limit to how much we can do. Literally, there is a limit. We have a truce with them...they cannot cross into our lands. Coming here is an act of war and we are within our rights to fight. For the sake of our people's safety."
"They? Who...what are they?"
"The leeches."
"There he is!"
"Dad!" Stiles hugged his dad tightly. When they both were satisfied the let go, and Stiles looked over to see Parrish. "Hey! What are you doing here?"
"Well, your Jeep couldn't hold everything you wanted and since we're leaving it with you then we thought I'd join him and give him a ride back." The deputy replied as he hugged Stiles too.
"Noah...why do you keep dropping off handsome young men when my daughter's in town?" Charlie came out to greet them as well. Bella behind him, blushing in embarrassment.
"Dad!"
"Sorry, but he's my side. Charlie, this is my deputy Jordan Parrish. Parrish this is Sheriff Swan. Don't hit on his daughter." Noah introduced them.
The two shook hands while Stiles snickered and Bella died a bit from the mortification.
Stiles and Parrish ate their ice cream cones in silence for a while before Parrish asked, "How have you been?"
"Alright, I guess..."
"You don't have to sugar coat things with me," Parrish told him gently.
"Why? Because you're a big bad monster that can handle my demons?" Stiles asked a bit more bitterly than he intended.
"Because I've been to war. And I didn't come back from it unhurt. I've seen things...I've done things...I've watched my friends die too, Stiles. I've been there. And no, there's no cure...no instant fix. But you're not alone."
"Aren't I?" Again, why couldn't he contain his bitterness? Where has it been hiding all this time?
Underneath he supposes. It's always been there but because he's taking his dad's advice as best as he can and tried to leave the problems of Beacon in Beacon, he's pushed it down. In moments like these, with such clear reminders of Beacon like Parrish himself, they all came back to the surface. And he was still angry and petty, and sad. He was still very, horribly sad.
"You're not. You don't have to stay away ya know. You can come back with us." Parrish told him.
Stiles shook his head. "Dad believes this place will do me good. And...and Charlie likes having me around and...it really is a fresh of breath air."
Parrish wrapped his arm around Stiles and pulled him closer. Stiles was glad for the comfort. Parrish's supernatural heat actually counteracted the coldness that the Nogistune left behind. It was nice to feel warm. "I'll miss you. Your dad misses you too, but I can see how you are a bit better. But...is something the matter?"
"..."
"Stiles?" Parrish prompted.
"I've run into some supernatural creatures."
"What?" Parrish asked, more alert.
"I was helping my friend in the woods. We got separated and I was chased by a werewolf." Stiles told him.
"A werewolf? Here?" Parrish questioned. He wasn't surprised much, not anymore. And small towns seemed to be a big lure for supernatural creatures apparently.
"Yeah, but that's not all."
Parrish sighed. "It never is."
"My friend belongs to the tribe that lives near here. According to my friend's dad that his people have a gift their ancestors passed down. Whenever there's a danger to the people, the younger generation able to fight, like the teenagers, have their gift awakened. They're shifters. They can turn into wolves...any time of day or night. They're not controlled by the moon."
"That's interesting. But there's more, isn't there?"
Stiles nodded. "The rogue werewolf that attacked me is causing more of their kind to transform earlier than they expected...or rather, more than they need. The power only ever pops up when there's a threat nearby."
"So you've said...but...what threat?"
Stiles was quiet for a moment before he said, "I thought they were werewolves too. They were a family of rich, mysterious, beautiful strangers people didn't really know. They're names were Cullen-Hale."
"Hale? Any relation to our Hales?"
"That's what I thought. I actually sent Derek a message but he hasn't gotten back to me. But it's not a connection." Stiles told him.
"How do you know if Derek hasn't called you back?"
"Because I know what they are...and they're not werewolves."
"Why do I not like how you said that?"
"Because I don't think a Hellhound is overly fond of the undead."
After saying goodbye to his dad and Parrish for the night, Stiles headed up to his room. They insisted they could all squeeze in but his dad and Parrish countered insisted that they already booked a room at the local hotel. Stiles still had the intention of going to the dinner with the Cullens. When he heard Billy's tale he thought about not telling his father. Parrish helped him to be convinced that his father meeting these people and setting things straight was important. His father would worry a bit more knowing Forks wasn't as monster free as he thought but would feel better knowing just how much danger Stiles might be in. So he asked Parrish to explain everything he had learned to his father and that they'd regroup later in the morning.
Stiles closed the door to his room and let out a deep sigh.
"Rough day?"
Stiles's eyes widened and he jumped a bit. His lacrosse stick was near the door so he clutched to it and lifted to his chest.
"Seriously?" Peter asked with an eye roll.
He could hear his own heart pumping wildly in his ears and though he lowered the stick a bit, his grip on it didn't loosen it. "What are you doing here?"
"I got your message," Peter answered casually. He was resting on the bed, propped up by Stiles's pillows and reading one of his books.
Stiles frowned, "I didn't send you any messages. I don't even have your number."
"True." Peter admitted as he pulled out a cell phone, "But I got your message anyway."
"This...this is Derek's phone. Where is he?" Stiles asked. He went to the window and was kind of hoping to see a sleek black Camaro outside.
"Heading south. Turns out that Erica and Boyd actually did get away and after running into some trouble, contacted Isaac. Together he and Derek left the mess that was Beacon Hills and they met up near the border. My guess? They're going to visit Cora."
Stiles let the information register in his mind. He wasn't sure if he was sad or angry. He was too tired to really care.
"So you're here because...?"
Peter closed the book and sat up to look directly into Stiles's eyes. "You said there were Hales here. I came to check in."
He didn't look away from Peter, but he didn't believe Peter was simply here to help or reunite with possible family. His old paranoia has tripled along with his ability to trust. "I've done some investigating since that phone call. You share a name, but no relation. So sorry Peter...there's no Alpha werewolf for you to kill and take power from. Sorry, you wasted your time."
"Do you think so little of me?" Peter asked with fake indignation.
It was Stiles's turn to roll his eyes. "Go home, Peter."
"Oh don't be like that. Come on, I'll be a good sport and we can drive back, in my car, together."
In a pivotal moment, Stiles came to a rather startling realization that he hadn't realized was so set until Peter offered him a ride back. This was the second chance he's been given to go back...and yet, "I'm not going back."
"What?"
"I'm not going back. I'm staying. Here in Forks."
"How long? You're not seriously going to leave Beacon's fate to McCall and the banshee are you? They're useless without you."
Hearing about Scott and Lydia from Peter made him frown and steeled his resolve. "I'm human, Peter. Let them handle it."
Stiles grabbed his night clothes and a towel with the intent to go shower and hope Peter leaves in the meantime. He was about to reach for his towel when Peter grabbed his wrist. "Scott's useless, Lydia is in denial, there is no clear pack in Beacon!"
He looked down at his wrist, up to meet Peter's eyes. "It's not my problem."
"You and Scott found my daughter and forced her back into human form! You can't just leave!"
"Derek left! He and his pack are gone...the hunters are gone...Malia is your daughter, don't use me as an excuse! You wanna help her...be in her life. Help her. But don't use me as an excuse for your fear or guilt or whatever...both you and Derek have made it perfectly clear that I had no business being in the supernatural world."
Peter growled a bit, "Some of us don't have the human luxury of opting out. This is our lives."
He had a bunch of new mysteries to solve, monsters to interact, and possibly dangerous situations to dissolve. Not that he was going to tell Peter that.
"Not my problem." He repeated.
Peter growled again and grabbed Stiles by the front of his shirt. They stared off before Peter shoved Stiles to the bed and in a blink, jumped out of the window and into the night. Stiles could only hope that was the last of it.
Notes: I wanted to thank everyone. You guys are awesome!
I now will feel more free to begin to step away from the canon plot/details. I'm still trying to figure out where I'm going with this and I needed a base. Which is why I wanted to be as close to the details as possible. As Stiles learns more, we will drift farther and farther and I hope you guys continue to enjoy.
Sorry if this chapter feels...weird. I had writer's block and wrote different segments in different orders before I pieced them together.