I wrote this chapter in a day so I'm sure it's probably not as polished as it could be, but right now I like it as it is. There's a lot of stuff building up right now which will hopefully explode into a beautiful and satisfying finish. :) Thanks for staying with me for so long, I appreciate your lovely comments so very much!

Chapter 98

"Holy shit, what's happening?" Jackson's father cried. He jumped up from his chair and rushed around the table towards his son.

Jackson hissed and jerked away from his well-meaning reach.

"Yeah, right, maybe don't touch him right now," Stiles cautioned the man. "That he manifested the tail and managed to drop two grown werewolves means that he could be venomous all over. You don't want to be out of commission for an hour, do you?"

Mr Whittemore took a shaky breath and stared at his son who had backed up several yards and defiantly stared back from yellow and slitted eyes.

"It's okay, Scalyboy," Stiles said soothingly. He offered a hand as he also got up from his chair. "That happened, which is unfortunate, but it's definitely not the end of the world."

Without hesitation and almost a little desperately, Jackson pressed his flat hand against Stiles', carefully keeping the claws away that had also sprouted.

"Yeah, I mean, we talked about wanting to train with his venom," Erica said into the baffled silence. "Maybe not like this, but when's life ever going to accommodate us, huh?"

Jackson made a little growly sound and it had everyone on alert again, even if the surprise slowly made way for a sort of horrified fascination. Especially Lydia was eyeing Jackson up like she hadn't quite expected this side of him but wasn't disliking it at all.

"Boyd, Erica, please take Derek and Isaac somewhere comfortable," Stiles said quietly. "The venom will take a little while to wear off."

The two teens complied with the request, gathering their downed friends from the hardwood floor and dragging them off to the large blue couch.

Stiles watched as they carefully placed Isaac and Derek and made sure they would be able to at least somewhat see what was going on.

Meanwhile, Danny was ripping up a healing card to relieve the sheriff of his coffee burns. The used-up halves went into Danny's pocket; Stiles knew that his parents would take it into the preserve on their next trip there and plant it somewhere.

Stiles nodded his thanks and grinned when his father gratefully clapped Danny on the shoulder. Despite never having wanted for positive parental affection, Danny still smiled at the gesture like Stiles' dad was some well-liked relative.

If things went his way, it would sort of become true, Stiles realised. It was crazy to think that just a month or so ago Stiles had been ready to do away with Danny if he turned out to be a threat to his horrifically hurt friends.

Once Erica and Boyd were back from their small task and had sidled up to Peter by the kitchen island, Stiles addressed the still somewhat shocked crowd sitting around the table. "Okay, now that we're sorted, please stop staring at Jackson like he's a circus exhibit. He didn't mean to do this."

Erica grimaced. "I know, and I'm sorry. I was just so surprised to see that tail."

"It's different than a recording, I get it, but we knew that Jackson and Scalyboy would get there someday," Stiles said. "It's soon, but yay! It's soon !"

"Knew? You mean to say you hoped ," Kaleo said. "After all, with a kanima one can only hope for the best. It's certainly not a moment to rejoice."

"Excuse you, sir, I don't know what's your problem with me but no, I did mean I knew ," Stiles retorted. Lou was just as annoyed as his human, letting Stiles' eyes burn bright red in warning. "Jackson is not like other kanimas. He chose to bond with me, and therefore with the rest of us. Scalyboy obviously wants to belong somewhere and he and Jackson are both working fucking hard to make that happen."

Kaleo frowned. "Even so, I'm not sure you know what you're doing, kupua liilii . A kanima is a dangerous business all around, shouldn't someone with more experience handle this?"

Jackson hissed at him, his tail lashing violently.

Since Stiles understood only too well how grating this kind of interference was, he made no move to tell Scalyboy to calm down. He didn't need to, in any case, because Danny snorted. Loudly.

"Wow, dad, way to insert yourself in a situation you have no idea how to handle."

"I'm just saying that I don't think it's a good idea to let a teenager handle Jackson, even if he's an alpha werewolf," Kaleo defended himself. "No offence, Stiles."

"Oh, I am plenty offended," Stiles muttered and earned himself nods from all his equally annoyed and frustrated friends.

Danny's mother placed her hand on Kaleo's arm. "Dear, Danny's right. We came into the situation last and we're not part of the pack. It's not our place to tell them how to deal with their affairs. Besides, do you really think you know better? Or even know someone that does? I dare say not!"

"But-"

"Listen to your wife, Kaleo, and tread carefully," Peter interrupted him, eyes just as red as Stiles'. There was also a hint of fang showing as he spoke. "The pack agreed to let Stiles handle it, seeing how he is Scalyboy's chosen alpha."

Stiles' insides felt hot with gratitude at Peter's words. Because he was Scalyboy's alpha, not his goddamn master.

"In turn, Stiles then discussed with Jackson how to proceed, which, I'm sure you'll agree, is the most important thing here," Peter continued.

"Still, such accidents need to be avoided," Kaleo pressed and gestured at Isaac and Derek's still completely paralyzed bodies. "What if it happened somewhere someone could see?"

"It can't," Stiles told him flatly. "Not only did Jackson ask for a rune that prohibits it, but he also asked for a binding order to his kanima side never to lose his human form when in the presence of outsiders. Except for situations of mortal peril because fuck that shit."

"But he can't always know whether that's the case, can he?" Kaleo's frown deepened. "You're playing with fire."

"We're not playing at being supernatural beings, we're working with real magic here, and magic is making damn sure the spirit of the order is followed," Stiles growled. He allowed Lou to crawl all over his visible skin except the face. "We all trust my magic since it's never led us wrong. This right here is not him being out in mixed company, it's our pack. Scalyboy is allowed to feel safe in the company of his pack. Heck, he's allowed to come out whenever he likes when it's just us because that's the fucking point!"

Stiles' breath sounded harsh in the silence that followed his little tirade.

"What my kid said," the sheriff said after a beat. "All of it."

"Are you seriously supporting this madness?" Kaleo asked. "Just look at the two boys! Who knows how long this condition will last?"

"It was an honest mistake," Stiles repeated, rapidly losing his patience. "Don't you dare make Jackson feel bad about it or I'll have to ask you to leave."

Danny's father sucked in a sharp breath.

"You'd better shut up now while you still have a chance of being invited back," John advised him. While he didn't assume his implacable police officer stance yet, his tone was cool.

"Yes, please shut up," Zia hissed in a fair imitation of Jackson's displeasure. "Jackson is not your kid, he's David's and mine. And after a long discussion, we've decided to trust Stiles with Jackson's wellbeing."

"I daresay he's making good progress, too," David added. He smiled crookedly at his still wary and decidedly scaly-looking son. "I gotta say that Stiles was right. You do look fierce, Jax. Even more so in the flesh."

"He's come out more and more lately," Boyd offered. He raised an eyebrow at Jackson. "We don't mind his company."

"And he's a damn good friend to Stiles," Erica added. She grinned. "Hell, who doesn't need a friend who's willing to kill and hide bodies for you?"

Scalyboy preened a little, which made the rest of the teens titter quietly, even Lydia.

Stiles stepped close to Jackson and placed a hand on his T-shirt-covered shoulder. "Not that we're gonna use him for that, so get that thought out of your head pronto, Mr Mahealani. Jackson's parents have everything well in hand."

Kaleo, thankfully, decided that it was better for him to keep his mouth shut than to insist on his point of view.

"Good. Now, you're saying you wanna be part of the magic chastity belt society?" Stiles asked the kanima. "I don't know what it'll do to you if we do that, dude."

Peter stepped a little closer. "If I may?"

"Sure, the floor's yours," Stiles said easily.

Considering Jackson, and being regarded expectantly right back, Peter said, "I don't think it'd be an adverse experience mentally. Usually, kanimas are very tightly bound to their masters and wouldn't tolerate other bonds. But Scalyboy isn't just any kanima. He wants to integrate with Jackson, which means that the addition of other people into his magical awareness could help the process along."

"Yeah, it'd introduce the idea of existing in a werewolf pack to both of them," Stiles agreed. "I'm not worried about that part of it, especially since Scalyboy said he wants it. Nah, I'm worried about what the mountain ash I'll need to use to bind him would do to him physically. It hasn't hurt Derek or my dad, but he's neither human nor a werewolf, so. Valid concern."

Jackson stepped right into Stiles' space and bumped his shoulder in a fair imitation of a werewolf seeking contact with a packmate. "No concern. No hurt." He glared at Danny with narrowed eyes. "I go first."

"So noted. There's one other thing, dude." Stiles tried to keep his voice steady but even with Lou's help it still projected his sudden unease. "We, uh, might have to discuss whether Jackson wants to consider another option."

Scalyboy's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What option?"

Taking pity on Stiles' nerves, Peter took over and laid out their fantastical-sounding plan. "We might have decided last night to try out de-wolfing the turned gang members in our prisons. It worked with The Failure-"

"Scott McCall," Erica supplied in a whisper when her parents opened their mouths to ask. As one, Mr and Mrs Reyes snapped their mouths shut again and scowled.

"-and it might work again, now that Stiles' control over his magic has gotten so much better."

"You think you can repeat this feat of magic?" Danny's mother asked, shocked. "On such a large scale, even?"

"Due to circumstances, we have to at least try if we don't want to kill them all in self-defence," Peter replied in a tone that forbade any discussion. "And while there's no question that the de-wolfing has to happen to the hostiles all around us, Stiles and I thought it prudent to put it out here as well, in case our unwilling pack member would like to go that route - or any supernatural pack member that has had a change of heart. Provided that Stiles will indeed be able to repeat his unspeakable feat of magic, of course. We'd test it first on the prisoners, never fear."

"No!" Scalyboy hissed furiously, even more scales appearing on Jackson's skin. The teeth in his mouth turned sharp and pointy and the betrayed look on his face tore at Stiles' insides.

Erica and Boyd recoiled in horror as well, wolfing out at the sheer implication that this might ever happen to them.

"It's okay, my dudes, we're only speaking hypothetically," Stiles said.

Peter rumbled soothingly at the agitated kanima and wrapped his arms around his betas' shoulders. "Yes, relax, Scalyboy. It's just an option, but one we felt your human should know about. Your turning was very traumatic and we'd understand if Jackson wanted to go back to being human."

"We wouldn't like it, but we'd understand," Stiles said, choking up a little. "Also, if Jackson does want to turn back, I'd totally try to find a way to keep you here, okay? Just like I did with Lou."

"Promisssse," Scalyboy demanded imperiously.

"On my mum's grave." Stiles crossed his heart. To Lou, he thought, Man, that's real growth if he just snarls a little instead of flipping tables and people in a towering rage .

"If it's any consolation, I think Jackson will at least think long and hard about it," Peter offered. He took his glowing eyes from Jackson back to Stiles.

"I really hope so." Stiles sighed and again patted Scalyboy's trembling back. "But dude, we need to ask Jackson for his opinion on all this because even if he doesn't want to turn back, things would be super different for him if he joined our little club. Just ask my dad. He adopted Derek overnight. I'm pretty sure he'd adopt him legally, too, if Derek allowed it."

Peter smirked, first at Stiles' dad and then at his downed nephew. "You'll wear him down, John, I'm sure."

"I'm not even feeling ashamed," Stiles' father replied when the other adults in the room stared at him in surprise. "Werewolf bonds are ridiculous, even in humans. I didn't believe it until it settled in me."

"It's worse because of the strict exclusion to fend off The Bitch's magical poaching attempts," Stiles explained. "Jackson might hate the very idea. In fact, he probably will. So, consent from both of you is important, Scalyboy. That being said, we'd be glad to have you, if everyone in your family agrees."

Jackson huffed but he did lose some of his aggressive defensiveness.

"Well, it's not a question. He has our full agreement and permission," David said after exchanging a quick look with his wife. "Just maybe guarantee him an out clause? Because you're right, he might come to hate it even if he doesn't right now."

"Everyone's got it," Stiles reassured them. "This exclusive thing will only last until The Bitch is gone. After that everything will go back to normal, whatever that means for us."

"I wish I could join as well," Erica pouted. "But Peter can't allow it."

"Why?" Lydia's mother asked curiously.

"Pack politics," Peter answered her succinctly.

"And propriety, I imagine," Kaleo said. He smiled weakly at Stiles' father. "I haven't forgotten your admonishment regarding your son's … relationship but sharing this kind of magic … if true feelings are involved they couldn't even help themselves."

"Yeah, it's a thing and we're conscious of it, thanks." Stiles clapped his hands. "Moving on so we'll actually get stuff done today! I propose we get Jackson's opinion on this pack inclusion thing, then we'll wait for Derek and Isaac to lose their stupor, and then we'll do the thing for everyone else who wants it. Does anyone else want it?"

Erica's parents declined regretfully, although Stiles completely understood their need to be available for Erica and Boyd. In fact, he hadn't even thought about offering them The Pack Scratch for the exact reason that he didn't want to split Peter's focus like that.

Not so surprisingly, Jackson's parents both expressed an interest in joining the bond while Danny's parents decided to stay out of it and act as intermediaries between the two packs. Likewise, Lydia and her mother declined the invitation.

"We probably shouldn't divide into two clean factions anyway," Mrs Martin said, "but for Derek's sake I'm very glad that he won't be alone in his exile any longer."

"It's not easy to essentially be cut off from them, but it'll be a very good thing to have so many of us absolutely safe from magical manipulation," Peter agreed, his gaze unashamedly admiring Stiles' still partially mountain ash-covered form. "Even if The Bitch managed to get one of mine turned around, she wouldn't be able to enjoy her triumph for long."

"And she definitely won't get Stiles," Boyd said with such conviction that Stiles felt it in his mountain ash-laced bones.

"When will you try out this de-wolfing thing, then?" Jackson's father asked. "Today?"

"Whenever's good for Stiles," the sheriff said. "It all hinges on him, after all."

"While Stiles is doing his thing, we're doing everything else," Erica added. "Food runs, massages, blood donations to the ents in the preserve … whatever Stiles needs to get through it."

"You name it, we do it," Boyd agreed with her.

"You guys rock my world," Stiles declared and grinned. "But first things first! Scalyboy, we need Jackson back for a little while now. Don't worry, whatever he decides, we've got you."

"Seconded," Boyd said with a nod.

"Thirded." Erica grinned at Peter's sigh.

"Fourthed," came a croak from the couch.

"Ohmigod, Derek!" Stiles flailed and practically flopped atop his friend. "It lives! How are you?"

"Pissed off," Derek groaned. "And impressed."

" And flattened," Isaac cackled breathily. "Gah, this sucks so much balls."

Stiles scrambled to hug them both and then helped them to sit up properly. "You're still all floppy but you're getting better."

"It was just a tiny cut," Derek muttered and took a deep breath. "It healed over before we even reached the floor."

"You were out for approximately fifteen minutes," Lydia informed them. She smiled sultrily at Jackson. "Well done."

"Keep it away from the eyes of law enforcement, you two," Stiles' father said, unamused. "If Stiles is being watched like a hawk, the same goes for the rest of you."

Stiles flushed and turned his eyes heavenward. "Why. What did I do to deserve this pain?"

"Suck it up, Stilinski," Jackson sniped at him, scales, reptile eyes, and tail gone, "and kindly get on with the Pack Scratch Thing. I haven't got all day."

"Uh." Stiles stared at Jackson, completely thrown.

"Are you certain that this is what you want?" Peter questioned in his stead.

Jackson scoffed. "First of all, I'm not an idiot, thanks. Yes, it fucking sucked to be turned like that, but I'm not just gonna throw the rest of it away. If I did that, everything I've gone through would've been for nothing. And I do not let anything be for nothing, ever. And second of all, it's what the other me wants. It's insane how much he wants to be with you all."

"How did he … did you feel that? Or did he talk to you?" Stiles asked, excitedly scrambling back to his feet and grabbing Jackson's biceps and shaking him. "Dude, tell us all about it!"

"Hell no," Jackson shot back. He crossed his arms tightly in front of his chest and glowered at Stiles. "It's enough that he wants it and I don't hate the idea. Besides, I'm figuring that you can do your weird mojo any day. There's no rush to lose other me if I change my mind."

"You won't want to lose him," Stiles told him smugly. "He's amazing."

"True." Jackson loosened his arms again and smirked even more smugly. "I only get the best. Now, can we get on with it, or what?"

Happy about Jackson's decision, even if it came with a hefty dose of douchiness, Stiles allowed Lou to play to his heart's content and cover him in his most nightmarish costume.

"Sure, Jackson," Lou rumble-growled with Stiles' voice, suddenly all alpha and all business. "Let's get on with it."

Baring black fangs in a sharp grin, Stiles showed off his deadly claws and scratched a suddenly fascinatedly staring scaled Jackson's arm without further ado.

End of chapter 98