The Sheriff's Son

by LittlestWolf

It's summertime, and Peter has convinced Derek that it's a good time for pack bonding. Scott drags Stiles along with him each day, despite the complaints from Stiles. One day, Stiles skips out and finds that a new pack has entered Beacon Hills. But he doesn't quite get the chance to tell the pack...

5. Stupid Constant Lying

I woke up to an empty bed. Dammit.
I rolled over only to realize how sore my body was. I groaned. And then I just wanted to cry again. The memory of yesterday's events were suddenly flashing violently. I laid on the bed, staring at the closed door. I could hear talking on the other side. The pack was there, I'm sure. I didn't want to see any of them.
Derek walked in then, the door opening slowly and quietly. He frowned. "I didn't mean to wake you up," he said, shutting the door behind him. "I was hoping you'd get a bit more sleep."
I sat up slowly. My body was stiff. "What time is it? I've been sleeping since two in the afternoon."
He frowned.
"What?"
"You don't remember?" He sat on the edge of the bed, still frowning.
"No, what?" Shit. What did I do?!
"You woke up a lot," he said.
Panic attacks. I used to have them all the time as a kid after mom died. I never remembered them. But they left me exhausted. I stared at my hands. "I'm sorry if I hurt you," I said. When I was little, I had hit dad a couple times when he had tried to comfort me before I was ready. "I...I haven't had a panic attack in a long time."
He nodded. "I know. I called Scott."
"That's embarrassing." I said, taking a deep breath. "Look, Derek, about asking you to sleep next to me..."
He shook his head. "For another time," he said, grabbing my hand. "Let's get you showered and fed. You still smell like him."
I stared at our hands. "I just don't wanna be a burden," I said finally.
"You're not a burden, Stiles. I'll spend forever trying to prove that to you if I have too."
"I don't know if I understand." I swallowed. "I don't want to be reading you wrong."
"I complimented your cock yesterday and you're worried that you're reading me wrong?"
I looked at him then. He was grinning. I could feel the red in my cheeks. It made him grin bigger.
"I like you, Stiles. But I really need you to shower. His smell is...I need it off of you."
"Is it that bad?" I said, moving slowly off the bed.
"It's a healthy mix of protective alpha and jealous crush," he said, winking.
Fuck. He was hot.
He went to his dresser and ruffled through it for several seconds before pulling out a sweatshirt and shorts. "There's towels in the cabinet in the bathroom." He said, handing me the clothes.
I thanked him and stared at the door.
"It's just the pack," he said, coming to stand next to me. He was watching me carefully, almost as if he thought I might snap at anymore. Then I remembered that that's all I'd done the past twelve hours. A calm sleep interrupted by vicious panic attacks.
I sighed. "Yeah, I know. It's just weird. They all saw me...I was crying and naked and"
"Stop," Derek said, interrupting me. "They saw that you were attacked. Do you understand, Stiles? You were attacked. You have absolutely no reason to feel ashamed of what we saw yesterday afternoon. It was the direct effect of an attack on a member of the pack. They felt and still feel nothing but anger about what happened. And trust me, I know. I can sense their feelings, just like I can sense that you're anxious about leaving my room. We all wish we had been there to protect you before you got hurt. And we all will be there to protect you next time."
He was looking me in the eye, the first time I'd seen him talk to directly to someone. Not to mention it was probably the most I'd heard him say at one time.
"Stiles, you really need to shower." He said, a small smile on his face.
I smiled back slightly. My lip was sore and swollen. Even though I didn't want too, Derek led the way out of the room. The pack was loud now that they knew I was awake, barely acknowledging me. They were grouped around the table that was covered in stacks of paper. "What is all that?" I asked Derek as he started to move towards them again. "All the information we could find on the other pack. I'll show you after you shower."
I wished I could just see it all now, but Derek was pushing me towards the bathroom gently.
"You smell," he whined. "Please stop being so stubborn."
I smiled at him before shutting the door behind me.

It wasn't until then, smile still on my face, that I saw how much damage had been done. My smile faded quickly.
My chest was a mess of black and blue bruises. The cuts had begun to heal but were still disgusting. How the hell was I supposed to hide all this?! My arms were, for the most part, fine. I hope a simple tshirt could cover most of the bruises and cuts, but there was the bite mark on my neck. Shit. Dad was not going to believe anything. Hell, he probably wouldn't even believe the truth.
I turned the water on and stepped into the shower. The water stung the still-fresh cuts and tender bruises and I struggled to find a comfortable temperature. Despite how bad it hurt to scrub my chest and neck, I really wanted to get rid of the smell.
I stood in the hot water for longer than I needed too. My brain was confused and crazy, which, to be fair, wasn't too different from any other day.
Yesterday I had been attacked – raped, basically. And then Derek – I had no idea where to even begin with him. He had slept with me last night – with me, next to me, whatever. And held my hand. And told me he liked me. But it was Derek.
And I really didn't need to go over the many reasons why I was totally not his type or worth his time, but I was doing it anyway.
A knock on the door interrupted my ever growing list (not attractive enough, not muscular enough, not strong enough – emotionally and physically – a hazard, a virgin, totally not experienced enough – with anything – totally annoying….)
"Yeah?" I said, shutting the water off.
"You've been in there for an hour, we were getting worried." It was Erica. She sounded genuine.
"Seriously, an hour?" I got out and started to pat myself dry. These cuts and bruises were seriously annoying.
"Just about," She said. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah, fine." I said. I slipped the sweatshirt on (smelled deliciously like Derek, of course) and then the shorts. I shook my hair, splattering the fogged mirror with drops of water. When I left the bathroom, my towel and clothes awkwardly in my hands, the pack was around the table again. Derek turned slightly, watching me out of the corner of his eye. He looked at the clothes then back at his bedroom.
I walked across the loft and into his room. There was a hamper by his dresser. I dropped the clothes inside and took a deep breath. I joined the pack around the table. Scott put his arm around my shoulder gently and whispered an apology.
"What is all this?" I asked, thumbing through some of the pages.
"All we could find on this pack," Isaac said, not looking up at me from the laptop he was typing furiously on. "Which, apparently, was a lot."
Boyd dropped a stack in front of me. "Can you look through these and tell us if you seen any of those faces around recently?"
I nodded, my stomach churning. "You don't have to do it now," Derek said. "It's a lot all at once."
I shook my head and sat down between Scott and Isaac. "I want to help."
I started going through the pages, suddenly feeling very aware of the whole pack's eyes on me.
The first four pictures were of people I'd never seen before, but the fifth page held a picture of a man I'd seen at the station yesterday morning. I set it aside without saying anything. A collective low growl echoed through the room. The sixth and seventh pages were of faces I hadn't seen, but the next three looked familiar. I had seen them randomly throughout the summer, at the grocery store, movie theatre and while driving. The pack stared at the pictures that were now laid out in the middle of the table as I continued.
Four more pictures of people before I saw the girl. "This is the one that was at the market," I said, placing it in the middle. "The one that grabbed my waist."
Derek and Scott were the only ones to growl this time. Erica picked up, seeming to size up her female enemy. The last several pages were people I hadn't seen before, too.
"The alpha," I said. "He's not in here."
Scott nodded. "We know what he looks like."
"Right." Yesterday. He got away.
"So this is all of them?" Isaac said, pushing the top of the laptop down so he could look at the pictures.
"Not necessarily," Derek answered. "Just the ones that Stile's has seen around. There could be more. Six is a pretty common pack size, though."
"Obviously," Boyd said. "Why does it feel like their pack is a mirror of ours?"
"Yeah," Scott said, standing up. "I was thinking the same thing."
I stared at the pictures.
"They have the one girl," Scott said, picking up the picture. "Just like us. Like Erica. And they have this huge guy, like Boyd. One of these is supposed to match me, and one is for Isaac. Alpha against alpha, obviously. And this guy must be against Stiles."
Derek shook his head. "The alpha isn't against me. He's against Stiles."
"No," Erica said. I was shocked that she stood up to him like that. "Alpha against alpha. He's just using Stiles to get to you."
"Why?" Derek said, running his hand through his hair.
"It's working, isn't it?" I said, finally speaking up. The pack's eyes turned to look at me again. "I mean, who cares why? Just that if this is what they're doing, then it worked. It got our attention."
Derek sighed heavily. "I don't get it. What do they want?"
"From the stacks of paper and reports that we found, they just want to create havoc." Isaac said.
"No, that's not it." Derek said. "In all of these reports there were several murders. Noone has been murdered in Beacon Hills for a while."
"Thank God," I interjected. "That was getting old."
Scott laughed lightly.
"But this is definitely a plausible theory." Derek said. "But we still don't know why."
"So we tracked the brunette to that four square mile area in the woods. We should head back there. Erica definitely in the lead…she's the match." Boyd suggested. "Right?"
"I think we should be careful approaching it that way," I said. "It seems too easy. What if they make it seem like that's what they're trying to do, then we put Erica up against the brunette and she has some weird something that totally can annihilate Erica but Scott could easily take care of?"
"He has a good point," Isaac said. "It does seem too easy."
Derek nodded. "We need to know their strengths before we decide how to approach them. Stiles is right in that putting us up one on one could be dangerous. Our best bet is to get them on their own, but us in numbers."
"How do we do that?" Scott asked. "We can't stay together until we find them all. Stiles' dad is already suspicious. He's called me three times in the past four hours asking when Stiles will be home.
Shit. My dad, I had forgotten about him almost entirely. "What am I supposed to tell him?" I said, groaning.
"You can't see anything," Boyd said. "Except for the neck bite."
"Hey dad," I said sarcastically, "I got bit in the neck by a werewolf, but don't worry about it, Scott, along with three other classmates and Derek Hale – yeah, the one I accused of murder twice – they're all wolves too, and they totally have it under control."
"You met a girl." Erica said, shrugging slightly. "You and Scott went to a party and you met a girl."
I groaned.
Derek nodded. "It's the best cover up we have. Keep your shirt on until everything heals. Other than that, you met a girl at a party."
I groaned again. "I'm telling my dad that I lost my v-card at a party to cover up a wolf epidemic?" This seriously sucked.
"No one said anything about your virginity," Boyd said, a slight smile on his face. "But by all means, if it makes your dad less suspicious, then go for it."
"You two should head over there now," Derek said. "Stiles, I know you hate lying to him. But until we get this cleared up…"
"Yeah, I get it." I said, closing my eyes. This was so stupid.
Scott stood up from the table and stretched before grabbing my keys – wait. My keys.
"Why is my jeep here?" I sighed. "Who drove my jeep? Scott, I swear, you suck at stick shift. If you damaged my transmission…"
"Relax, Isaac drove it." Scott said, rolling his eyes.
I took my keys from Scott after standing up. There was no way he was driving my baby.
"Do you have clothes in my room, Stiles?" Derek said, walking towards his bedroom.
They were all bloodied, but I followed him anyway.
Once inside, he shut the door behind me. "Stiles, please. Be careful."
"I didn't mean for it to happen," I said, leaning against the wall, looking away from him.
"I know. But I'm not letting you leave until you promise me that you'll be careful. I know you want to help. I know because you were always right there with Scott last year."
"I protect my pack, too, Derek."
He sighed. "I know, Stiles…"
"Scott will be with me. We'll call if something comes up." I didn't want him to be so concerned about me. (Okay, I liked it, but still.) There were bigger things that he needed to be focused on. Like finding the asswipe that attacked me.
He took my hand gently and swallowed hard. "Okay," He said.
"Okay," I repeated.
He sighed and let go of my hand. I yearned for him to hold me again. Like last night. But that wasn't possible right now. Bigger things, Stiles. There's bigger things.
"Drive safe. Text me when you get home. Let me know how it goes with your dad." He reached behind me to open the door.
I nodded and turned around.
The pack definitely was suspicious that I didn't come back out with clothes, and to be honest it wasn't the sneakiest secret talk I'd ever had, but still.
Once in the jeep, Scott started asking questions.
"Okay, what was that? You can't just go off into his room and whisper and not tell me. And he was holding your hand yesterday. And totally more occupied with you than the freaking alpha yesterday. And you didn't complain once about him touching you, or carrying you, or staying at his house again, or being with him. And he wouldn't stop looking at you, and he was growling at even pictures of that pack and believe me, I'm pissed too, but what is going on?"
I just shrugged.
"Stiles. I'm serious. My alpha and my best friend."
"I don't know," I said, feeling my cheeks turn red. "He's hot."
"Yeah, so?" He said, exasperated. "There has to be other hot things to get you over Lydia."
"Maybe it doesn't have to do with Lydia," I said sourly. "Ever think of that, Scott?"
He frowned. "I didn't mean it like that. I just…I thought you hated him."
"I thought so too. He's not so bad." I wanted this conversation to be over. I didn't even know what was going on.
"I've been trying to tell you that." Scott said, squeezing his fists together. He was getting impatient. "But I wasn't trying to get you a boyfriend." He groaned.
"He's not my boyfriend," I said. "Protective alpha."
"Stiles, I can sense things, remember?" He was totally annoyed.
"I don't know what's going on, Scott. I was attacked and then he was all protective jealous alpha-like, then we slept together and he's being really nice, and he's really nice, Scott, and he's really hot, Scott."
"You what?!" He said, clapping his hands together excitedly. "Dude, Stiles!"
"No, not like that. Didn't you hear me complaining about still being a virgin like, ten minutes ago?"
He shrugged. "I got excited for you."
We were both quiet until we pulled into my driveway.
"I mean, I'm still happy for you. It's really weird. But you sound like you really like him."
"I do, Scott," I said as I opened the door and getting out. I felt like admitting it out loud was beneficial for everyone involved. "I really do."
He clapped his hand on my shoulder and walked with me into the house. Being in the house again made me uneasy. I avoided looking at the couch. Scott steered me out of the room quickly.
Dad was at the kitchen table reading a newspaper. He raised an eyebrow. "Stiles, where is your phone?" He put the newspaper down. "I called you twenty times."
"Uh," I checked my pockets. Derek's pockets. Shit, I should have changed. Where was my phone?
"It died at my house last night," Scott said. "My charger doesn't work on his phone, sorry Sheriff."
Dad didn't look like he totally believed it. "What have you guys been doing?"
"Uh," I said again. I really should have prepared for this. Instead I spent the ride over thinking about Derek. Shoot.
"Just hanging out at my house," Scott said, filling in again. "You know, the normal stuff. Xbox and pizza and stuff."
Dad stood up and walked around us into the kitchen. "And beer, right?"
"Uh, what?" Scott and I said in unison.
"Considering Stiles can only say two words, I assume a hangover is the reason that you're home at noon."
"No," I said, clearing my throat. "We just didn't sleep. No beer."
He didn't look impressed at all. Then he saw it. The bruise on my neck. I saw his eyes go from mine to my neck. "Stiles…"
"There was some beer," Scott said, trying to distract him. "Mr. Stilinski, we didn't drive or anything. We were at a party, and there was beer and we were trying to fit in and Stiles told me it was a bad idea," He was rambling. Dad held one finger up and Scott shut up.
"What is this?" He was looking closely at my neck and I was hoping with everything I was that he didn't pull the sweatshirt down to take a better look.
"Like I said, Sheriff," Scott said, stepping forward again.
"No," Dad said, putting his hand up again. "Stop talking, Scott. I asked Stiles, not you."
I put my hand over it, rubbing my neck nervously. "Look, dad. We were at a party, and there was beer, and we drank a bit, and there was a girl, and we made out," Did this even sound a little bit true? No. Not at all. "But that's it."
"Well, obviously not." He said, frowning. "The mark on your neck suggests more went on."
"Well yeah, I mean, dad, come on. It's just a hickey."
He was still frowning. "Stiles, I thought we talked about the whole drinking thing."
"It was me," Scott said, stepping forward again. "Really, Sheriff. I pressured him into it."
"Scott, stop talking." Dad was upset.
Scott backed up again, sighing.
"You were just telling me that I should find a girlfriend," I said, shrugging slightly.
"Yeah, a girlfriend, not a one-night-stand."
"Dad, I swear, we made out, she gave me a hickey, I probably left one on her, too. That's it. Nothing else happened."
He shook his head and turned around, looking out the window. "Who's party was it?" He asked once he turned around again.
"That's not fair," I said, just as Scott said, "Isaac Lahey." I jabbed him in the ribs.
"Lahey?" Dad asked.
We nodded. Way to throw Isaac under the bus, Scott.
"Was Hale there, Stiles?"
"What? No." I said. He wasn't buying it. At all. "No, I mean, maybe. It was a party, I didn't see everyone who was there."
"What was this girls name?" He asked. "Or were you too drunk to even get that much out of her?"
"Erica," Scott said.
Great. "Erica Reyes," I said. "She goes to our school."
"Isn't she the girl that had the seizure at school after you beat her on the rock wall?"
"Oh come on," I dropped my shoulders. "They weren't connected!"
Dad sighed. "Okay." He was still frowning. "I'm disappointed in you, Stiles. I expect more from you."
I nodded and turned around. Scott followed me upstairs.
He handed me my phone once we were in my room. I collapsed onto my bed and ignored it.
"You should probably text Derek." He said, collapsing onto the floor.
"Why? To tell him that I successfully lied to my father again, and have perpetually disappointed him?" I didn't look at Scott to gauge his reaction. I didn't care.
"Stiles…He really cares about you."
"My dad or Derek?"
"I was talking about Derek, but I mean, your dad cares too."
"Do you remember what happened after she died, Scott?" I was talking into my pillow, but I knew he could hear me.
He was quiet for a long time. "Beer just made it more believable, Stiles. I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to bring that back up."
"No," I said, turning. "It's not that. I've gotten drunk before, you know that. But he didn't know and I wasn't even drunk and this wasn't a girl, it was some guy that attacked me and my dad cares about me. He should know what happened. But instead he's just sitting downstairs being disappointed in me because I drank and he doesn't want me to become some raging alcoholic."
Scott didn't answer. I didn't blame him. How would he respond?
I plugged my phone in then texted Derek.

Hey. He believed us.

Good. Are you okay?

I just lied to my dad. Again.

I'm sorry, Stiles. I have to go. We have a lead.

Right. Let us know.

I fell asleep, again. That's all I wanted to do. At least until these wolves were gone.
When I woke up, Scott was still in my room, playing a game on my computer. I yawned and sat up, rubbing my eyes.
"Dude, you slept forever." Scott said, standing up immediately. "I am dying of boredom."
"What time is it?" I said, getting out of bed.
"It's almost noon…you slept all day and night and halfway through today."
"Serious?" I asked as I looked at my phone. He was serious.
"Yeah, and Derek wouldn't stop texting me asking if you were doing okay. This whole relationship thing is weird."
Derek had been texting me a lot, too. I read through them.

(8:30am, today) Scott said you're still sleeping, but text me when you wake up.

(4am) I'm giving these jackasses hell.

(Midnight) I want to talk to you, Stiles.

(Yesterday, 9pm) Still sleeping?

(Yesterday, 3pm) Scott said you fell asleep. Good.

"They found them?" I asked, pulling Derek's hoodie back on. I must have taken it off last night at some point. It smelled so strongly of him.
Scott nodded. "Yeah, Derek said we could head to Peter's apartment once you're up, but was seriously grouchy about the idea of me waking you up to go."
"I wouldn't have cared," I said, pulling shoes on. My heart was racing. "Why are we going to Peter's apartment?"
"That's where their keeping the two that they caught. Peter really is being helpful."
"Still dno't like him," I said as we left my room.
"No one does," Scott said, laughing. "Hey, text Derek. Tell him we're on our way."
I threw him my phone as we got into the car. "You do it, I need to drive."
I watched him out of the corner of my eye – he texted Derek then read the messages between us quickly before putting my phone down again.
"I saw that," I said, rolling my eyes.
"Saw what?" He said, but he was laughing.
"I would tell you if I knew something," I said. I think I was telling the truth.
He just shrugged, still laughing.
My phone rang and he picked it up.
"Shit." He said, staring at it.
"What?" I said, glancing over. I couldn't see. "Who is it?"
He didn't answer me, his face pale. I watched him slide the bar to answer the call then put it on speaker. "Hello, Sheriff, this is Scott."
"Where the hell is Stiles?"
Shit. "Here, Dad," I said. "I'm driving."
"Where are you going?"
"Scott's house," I said, really hoping he would buy it.
"I'm looking at a text from you to Derek Hale right now, Stiles."
Scott and I both cursed.
"Yeah," Dad said. "You better be at the station in five minutes and explain this before I murder this guy."
"Why is he even there?" I said, groaning.
"He provided alcohol to minors," He said. "That's illegal."
Shit, shit, shit. Our stupid lie got him in trouble. "Dad! I didn't even say he did that," I cursed again. "I don't even know if he was there!"
"Why are you so quick to protect him, Stiles?"
"Innocent until proven guilty is all we're saying," Scott spoke up.
"Get your asses to the station, both of you."
He hung up.
"Shit." I said.
Scott just nodded.
When we pulled up to the station neither of us moved.
"Scott. What do I do now?" I felt like crying.
"Follow Derek's lead. He can get out of it."
"And if we're not in the same room with him, then what?"
"I hope to all things holy that I can hear his story through the walls and can cover our asses too."
"We're relying on your superpowers to keep Derek from being thrown in jail. Isn't this just fantastic." I cursed again.
We walked slowly into the station. Sharon frowned when she saw us, buzzing us in without a word.
I dragged my fingers against the hallway walls on the way to his office. Took a deep breath before opening the door.
Scott followed me in.
I was relieved to see Derek sitting across from Dad, hands folded in his lap, looking extremely professional.
"Sit." Dad said, glaring at us both.
There was a chair on either side of Derek. We sat down.
"Talk." Dad said simply.
Scott and I were silent.
"How long has the secret relationship been going on?" Dad said looking at me, raising an eyebrow.
"I – what?" I honestly had no idea what was going on.
"Derek explained himself. So you explain yourself."
I glanced at Derek. He was watching Dad, not me. "I don't really know what you're talking about." I admitted. What the hell was this?!
Dad rolled his eyes. "Okay, so Derek. Since Stiles has apparently lost the ability to talk, I'll ask you. How long have you secretly been dating my son?"
"Two months, Sheriff." Derek said, his voice strong and authoritave and so effing sexy.
My jaw dropped. What. The. Hell. Did. I. Just. Hear?!
Scott was gaping too.
"And?"
"And Stiles repeatedly asked me to come meet his father formally," Derek continued. "But I was foolishly nervous – or not so foolishly, maybe. I had Scott cover for us."
What.
"And?" Dad said again, staring at me.
I just swallowed. Shit.
"And I really like your son, Sheriff. I'd like your permission to date him – or, rather, your blessing."
Dad stared at the three of us for a long time. I had no idea what he was thinking. I didn't dare turn my head enough to look at Derek.
"Scott, do you have anything to say?" Dad said, ignoring what Derek had just asked, or implied, or whatever.
"I'm really sorry I lied to you, Sheriff." He said, finally closing his mouth. "It seemed like a good idea at the time."
Dad turned to me. "And when were you planning on telling me, Son?"
I swallowed hard. "Uh."
"Stiles has wanted to be public since day one," Derek said, nudging me slightly. "It was me who was nervous about it."
"Why were you nervous, Hale?" The question seemed oddly accusatory.
"Why was I nervous about dating the sheriff's son, sir?" He smiled one of his amazing smiles. The ones I've barely seen. "Well, I believe that question answers itself. If you're anything like Stiles, you're something to be afraid of."
I needed to pull myself together. This needed to be believable.
"Dad, look," I said, sitting up. "I'm really sorry we lied to yesterday about the party and stuff, I was just really embarrassed. I've never had anything like that, you know? I mean, it was the first time we even kissed and then there was hickey and I was totally freaked out and not prepared for you to see it and start asking questions."
My heart was beating quickly, but it sounded totally believable.
"And again, Sheriff Stilinski, I do apologize for the mark. I was being careless."
"Really careless," Dad said, nodding.
Derek frowned slightly.
Dad sighed and leaned back in his chair. The room was silent for a long time.
"Hale, are you sleeping with my son?"
Derek coughed, the question catching him totally off guard – all of us. "No, sir. No. Like Stiles said, sir. It was the first time we kissed."
Dad narrowed his eyes at him.
"I intend to take the relationship slowly. I truly cherish your son, sir." Whether he was lying or not, the words made my stomach churn. I really, really liked him.
"This is too much," Scott said. "I've been covering your asses for weeks and that was bad enough, I really don't need to hear you guys flirting at each other to the sheriff." Scott said, groaning.
This almost seemed real, dammit.
Dad nodded his head once. "Okay. Dismissed."
We all stood up.
"Except you, Stiles. You stay."
I took a deep breath. Derek squeezed my hand lightly before shaking dad's hand and leaving the room. Like always, I craved for him to be next to me again.
I swallowed hard as the door clicked shut behind Scott and Derek.
"Does he treat you right?" Dad said, without looking at me.
"Yeah," I said, nodding slightly.
"Is he going to hurt you?" He still didn't look at me.
"No," I said. "He's really sincere."
"You accused him of murder." Dad said, finally looking up. "Twice."
"I was really wrong about him," I tried to laugh but it caught in my throat. I had been really, really, wrong. And now everything that happened was a cover-up story for the stupid other pack.
Dad looked at me carefully, confused and concerned. "Stiles, is this what you want? Cause I'll throw him in jail for sleeping with a minor."
"No!" I said, stepping forward. "We haven't…we won't." I shook my head. "It took him two months to kiss me cause he was scared of you. He's not going to sleep with me." I really wished this lie were true. I really wished Derek were mine.
He nodded. "Okay. We'll talk more later. Derek said you were meeting his uncle tonight."
I nodded too. "Yeah. Peter."
He cleared his throat. "Okay. Go on, then."
I started to leave, but he cleared his throat. "What is it?" I asked, turning around again.
"Son, don't lie to me anymore." He didn't look at me when he said it. It was almost as if he knew the whole thing was a lie. I wanted to tell him everything right there. That Scott was a wolf, and Derek was a wolf, and I was totally in love with Derek but Derek would never actually notice me other than the fact that I was in his pack, which wasn't even his choice to begin with. But instead, I just nodded and agreed.
So tired of lying. So tired of it.

When I went outside, Derek and Scott were leaning up against the jeep talking intensely.
Scott stood up when he noticed me, pushing Derek playfully but also rough. Derek tossed Scott the keys to his car and opened the driver's seat door to my jeep. "You and I need to talk," He said. "Get in."
Scott was already in Derek's car, probably overly excited that he was driving something that wasn't his mom's crappy Nissan.
I sat awkwardly in the passenger seat of my own jeep. I handed Derek the keys. It was silent until we were two blocks away from the station.
"We obviously have some things to talk about," Derek said, clearing the silence. "Some lies to get over."

I wished I would just disappear. I did not want this conversation right now. At all.