A second non-con scene is in this chapter as well. Separated out with asterisks to avoid triggers.
Shit. "Derek, I'm really sorry. I…I didn't mean to overstep any boundaries. I misunderstood, and I was weak and vulnerable. I just clung to you."
He laughed. "Stiles, really. You need to stop doing that."
"Doing what?" I said, sighing. Overstepping boundaries? Really liking you? Asking you to cuddle with me? What?
"Underestimating yourself. You see yourself as nothing."
I couldn't bring myself to look at him.
He reached over and took my hand in his carefully.
"My dad's not here. You don't have to pretend." I was so, so embarrassed. And really wanting the ground to swallow me up and never spit me back out.
"What's so hard for you to grasp about this?" He asked and I could hear the frustration in his voice.
I looked at him finally, but I had no idea what to say.
"Why are you so convinced that you aren't something or someone to be liked?"
"It isn't about being liked," I said after several seconds of silence. "It's more about who is doing the liking."
"Okay," he said. "So, why are you convinced that you aren't something or someone to be liked by me?"
"Because you're you." It felt like he was making fun of me. But his eyes were so sincere. And he still held my hand, only letting go to shift.
"That is more of a reason for you to not like me." He said, a small smile on his lips.
I rolled my eyes. "You're so ridiculously attractive. You're strong and I'm wimpy. You're older and more experienced in just about everything. You could have anyone you want."
"Apparently not," he said.
"What?"
"I apparently cannot have anyone I want. Because the one I want is too obsessed with his insecurities and flaws to see anything else. Like how amazing his smile and laugh are, and how amazing it feels when he makes me laugh and smile. And how stupidly sarcastic and annoying he can be. How he can outthink almost everyone around him. How loyal and brave he is."
I stared at our hands, his holding mine tightly. I didn't know what to say.
"I want you, Stiles. " He said, taking a huge breath. "I want to date you. A real relationship. One that starts today, not the one we just made up. And for gods sake, we are never ever again saying that that was our first kiss."
Hell yeah. I couldn't hide the smile on my face. When I looked at Derek, he was smiling too.
"Is that a yes, then?" He raised his eyebrows at me and stared expectantly.
"Yeah," I said. "Wow, yeah. Of course."
He just smiled at me, turning to face the road again.
For another five minutes it was quiet. It felt odd, sitting in the car with my boyfriend, not saying a word. But with Derek that felt right. My boyfriend, Derek. Oh wow.
"Does the pack know?" I asked, suddenly very aware that Derek freaking Hale had just asked me out.
"I asked Scott's permission to ask you after we left the station, so he's the only one that really knows. But Erica has been on my ass all week about it."
I raised an eyebrow now, too. "Has she?"
He laughed. "She - and the rest if the pack - are getting increasingly annoyed at my heartbeat speeding up when you're around but my denial when asked about my feelings for you."
"So you tried to deny it, huh?"
I had been joking but he frowned. "I was trying to get to know you. I didn't want to throw myself out there completely then look like an idiot."
"So you let me look like the idiot, then?" I said, poking his side.
He laughed lightly now. "Yeah, pretty much. And then I had to put that ointment on you to paralyze you so that you'd have to stay at my house so I'd have a better chance at catching your attention."
I jerked my hand away from him. "You did that?! You asshole, I was freaking out!"
He laughed loudly. "I'm kidding. I didn't do anything. But I won't lie and say I wasn't slightly relieved when it started to kick in."
"Asshole," I said, pushing him lightly before taking his hand again.
He squeezed it tightly.
As Derek pulled into a parking structure, my heart started beating quickly. I had completely forgotten where and what we were doing.
"What's wrong?" Derek asked, his eyebrows furrowing.
"I just, I forgot what we were doing for a while. You distracted me." I took a deep breath.
"The whole pack is here. You're safe."
I nodded. We exited the jeep and met at the back of it. "So, I have a question," I said, staring at his lips.
He raised his eyebrows.
"So, you said we can't say that was our first kiss…so what is our first kiss like?"
He smiled and rolled his eyes. "Not happening, Stiles."
I gave him the best puppy-dog eyes and pouty lip I could.
He just laughed. "I'm not going to kiss you until these marks are gone." His moved his fingers lightly over the bite on my neck and then down my neck until he was resting them on my collarbone. His gentle touch paired with the intense look in his eyes sent a shiver down my spine.
"You're going to punish me for being attacked?" I asked, leaning in closer to his touch.
He shook his head. "No, I'm punishing myself for allowing you to be attacked." He stepped back from me, sliding his hand down my arm and intertwining our fingers. "Come on. Let's go get this figured out."
I sighed heavily to show my annoyance, but walked with him towards the building.
He lead me to an elevator where we rode silently six floors up.
"Which two did you guys get?" I asked as we exited the elevator.
"The girl and the one you said you saw at the station. They hadn't said anything last I was here, but maybe something came out finally."
"Out of curiousity…what are you techniques here?"
He looked at me out of the corner of his eye as he opened the door. "They heal quickly."
I was about to ask what that was supposed to mean until I walked in.
The two captured were standing – hanging? – in the room. A tarp had been laid down beneath them and I gagged at the amount of blood that had collected on it. The two of them, though, had no scratches. They heal quickly, of course.
I stepped behind Derek slightly. The pack, scattered around the room, looked up to greet us. Neither of the wolves looked up.
"Thank God," Erica said, standing up. "It was really getting annoying."
Derek didn't say anything as he let go of my hand and walked forward.
Erica kissed my forehead lightly, surprising me. "If you ever need someone to hurt him, I can help."
Derek growled without turning around. I laughed and thanked her.
Scott came and clapped me on the back. "Your dad take it okay?"
"Yeah," I said, shrugging. "Surprisingly, yeah."
"Yes," Peter said, coming out from another room. "We all are very happy about the new relationship in the pack, how wonderful. Can we all focus now?"
I really hated him. Seriously.
Scott rolled his eyes and stepped forward next to Derek. Without saying anything, both of them took of their shirt and tossed them behind them.
Erica giggled next to me as I felt my heartbeat rise at the sight of Derek's body. I elbowed her causing her to laugh harder.
I leaned up against the wall and crossed my arms. Isaac and Boyd joined Derek and Scott, shirts off too.
"Gonna help?" I asked, turning to Erica.
She laughed. "And get my new shirt messy? No way." She stalked across the room though, and flipped a switch on the wall.
Immediately after, both of the captured wolf's heads snapped up, eyes glowing. Whoa, okay.
"I'm happy to see everything healed," Scott said, stepping forward. "But unfortunately, you still haven't told us what we asked."
The girl growled and snapped forward towards him. I jumped, fearing that she would be able to reach him, only to see that her restraints held tight.
Her eyes snapped up and over the pack to me against the wall. She smiled cruelly. "You brought the human here," She cooed. "Caedon will be so happy when he arrives."
"Caedon isn't coming," Derek growled. "He doesn't know where you are."
The man spoke up now, a thin smile on his face. "You're right, he doesn't. But he does know where the human is. And you brought the human here…so it's good enough."
Derek and Scott growled in unison. Derek raked his nails across the face of the man, leaving four distinct bleeding slashes. Erica came to stand beside me again, her body tense and trembling. Shit.
"Stiles, have you gotten any work done on the jeep lately?" Scott asked, barely turning his head to look at me.
"No," I answered quickly. I was trying my hardest to figure out how he knew where I was.
Isaac was talking into the ear of the girl, too low for me to hear. After a couple seconds she smiled tightly. "Did your daddy give you good tips on intimidation, Isaac?"
Shit. Isaac howled loudly as he too ripped her face open. She yelled in pain and again tried to lunge at him.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. Shit. I remembered now. I had lost my phone last weekend while picking up dinner for dad and I. "My phone," I said, pulling it out of my pocket clumsily. "He's tracking my phone."
I tossed it to Boyd, who caught it easily. He dropped it immediately and slammed his foot down on it, completely destroying it.
I groaned. Was completely decimating it necessary? (Apparently not, because he continued to stomp on it.)
"I smell Caedon," Erica said from behind me. "Derek, he's coming now."
Derek growled loudly again, moving quickly from his side of the room to where I was. He grabbed my arm and pushed me behind him. He took a defensive position, glaring at the door. Scott was next to us quickly, also growling at the door. Erica flipped over us, leading me to believe she was actually serious about her shirt. She stood beside Boyd, who kissed her forehead quickly before they both shifted. Peter and Isaac shifted too.
Ah, home sweet home. Surrounded by a bunch of hairy, temperamental half beasts.
Sarcasm set aside, I felt oddly safe here, which maybe was dumb. I was the only human in a room full of wolves, three of which wanted to kill me. Still, i felt safe. It may have had to do with the fact that Derek's arm was twisted behind his back in order to hold my hand.
When the door flew open revealing Caedon a chill ran down my spine. A collective growl echoed throughout the building.
A cruel smile spread across his lips as he took in the scene around him.
"It was all too easy to get here," he said, still at the door.
"You inserted a tracking device on a cellphone," Scott snarled. "That's hardly something to be proud of."
Caedon took a few more steps into the room, still smiling. I wondered if he was going to shift or not. He shut the door behind him. "Now I'm sure we can work this out without a fight," he said, looking at me.
"Too late," Boyd snarled at him. Thankfully, Boyd's growls were enough for Caedon to move his eyes off of me. I moved closer to Derek and Scott. Derek growled loudly. Seconds later, the door opened again and three more wolves entered the room.
And then all hell broke lose. Snarls and growling, shouting and yelps of pain. I was pressed against the wall, watching the fight in front of me. Caedon had torn the two capture wolves from their restraints, and they were now using the chains that had once bound them to attack from a distance.
To my horror, I realized quickly that I had been right. The pack had quickly gone to attack their assumed enemy. But that wasn't where they needed to be. Scott and Derek worked together to fight off the smallest wolf (my match) as well as their assumed match.
Erica was screaming, extremely unprepared to fight the way her female counterpart was trying too.
I scanned the room to find a wolf where she would be of better use. Boyd. Boyd and the huge dude in the second pack were pointless against each other. They both depended on size and were wrestling in a corner, not hurting each other at all.
"Boyd," I called. I was surprised at how easy it was for him to continue wrestling while turned to look at me. "You need to switch opponents with Erica." She screamed as if to confirm this. He pushed against the other pack member roughly before jumping backwards. He barreled through the fighting to where Erica had been fighting. Thankfully, she had heard me too, and quickly flipped over the fighting to put herself up against the big guy. She was quick on her feet, light and fast. Perfect against the slow and oafish guy. Boyd broke several of the girls bones within seconds, delivering several hard blows. Okay, that was a good guess. I scanned the room again. Isaac was doing just fine as well as Scott. They had gotten lucky. The smallest wolf in the other pack was curled in a corner, shaking and bleeding. I looked at Derek finally and gasped. His back and neck were raw and bloody. He was on his knees, covering his head, no longer fighting back.
"Scott," I choked out. But Scott was busy. He and his opponent were back an forth, a clear winner and a clear loser every minute.
I looked around the room, trying to find a weapon. And where the hell had Peter gone?! I cursed at him, wherever he was. I found the kitchen quickly and pulled drawers open quickly and violently until I found a large kitchen knife. I ran back out to the main room and rushed at Caedon. Derek threw his hand out to stop me but I pushed him away from me easily, earning a growl in response.
Caedon pulled his arms away from Derek and attempted to block me, but I somehow was quicker. I drove the knife into his shoulder, shuddering as blood gushed out and covered my hands. I kept pushing deeper until I couldn't push the knife anymore, until he was on his knees grasping at it. And I only let go because his nails were starting to rake against my hands.
I was suddenly aware that all fighting had stopped around me. All the glowing eyes in the room were staring at me. And just as suddenly, there was movement again. The second pack all jumped towards me, trying to protect their alpha. My pack jumped after them, ripping at their throats. There was blood everywhere and I was completely unsure of who it was coming from.
"Call your pack off," Caedon growled at Derek as he ripped the knife from his shoulder.
"You," Derek growled back, standing shakily. I wanted to yell at him to just do what Caedon said, before Derek got himself killed. Dammit.
Caedon glared at Derek for several seconds before growling loudly, sending his pack to the corners of the room. Our pack followed them, taking defensive positions in front of them.
"Call them off," Caedon said again, stepping forward.
"You don't know who you're messing with," Derek said through clenched teeth. Dammit Derek.
DAMMIT, DEREK. His response caused Caedon to take larger measures to get what he wanted done.
I struggled against Caedon's grip. He had grabbed me and spun me around, lifting me slightly off the ground. I cursed at him now.
Derek lunged forward but stopped suddenly – and thank god he did – Caedon was holding the same knife I had used to stop him from killing Derek to now keep Derek away from us.
I stopped struggling, feeling the blade tight against my neck.
Caedon breathed out heavily. "Okay, now we understand, don't we?"
Scott and Isaac had both rushed to where we stood, leaving Caedon's betas free.
Caedon jerked his head towards the door and the two of them rushed out, pulling up the small werewolf that had not moved from his ball on the floor.
"We're going to settle this, just the three of us." Caedon said, barring his teeth.
"You're going to let go of him, and you're going to leave." Derek growled.
"Send your pack out, or I'll hurt him," Caedon said, pulling the knife tighter against my neck. I sucked in a breath.
Scott and Isaac growled, both of them bending lower to the ground, ready to pounce.
Caedon moved the knife. I felt my skin separate painfully. Caedon was staring at Scott and Isaac, pulling the knife across my neck slowly. Scott and Isaac backed up, growling still.
Derek stood up, his arms up in surrender. "Stop," Derek breathed. "Stop hurting him."
"Tell your pack to leave." Caedon demanded.
"Let them stay. They wont…we won't do anything. As long as Stiles is alive, we will all listen to what you want."
"Don't," I said, "Don't just give in because of me."
"Human in a wolfpack," Caedon said. "Such interesting dynamics."
"He's not just a human," Derek growled. "He's my…boyfriend."
My heart skipped a beat at the sound of that. Caedon's laugh drew my mind away from that, though. "Ah, good. Exactly why I'm here."
Derek narrowed his eyes but said nothing.
"You see, Derek," Caedon said, taking a step forward. He moved me effortlessly with him but the unexpected movement startled me.
"Please," Derek said, closing his eyes. "Don't hold him. Let him stand free."
Caedon laughed. The pack growled in unison. "Here's the deal I'll make with you here, Derek: if you tell him to kiss me – and it has to be a good kiss – then I will drop the knife."
"No," I hissed, just as Derek said, "Yes. Stiles, do it."
I glared at Derek, but he wasn't watching me. He was nodding his head, looking at Caedon. "He'll do it," He was saying. "He'll do it."
Caedon moved the knife away from my neck just enough to move me around to face him, then I felt the blade against my back. Without warning, he moved down and licked the blood dripping from my neck, his saliva burning the open wound. I flinched away from him, but he held me close, licking each drop of my blood sloppily.
I could see Scott out of the corner of my eye. His fists were clenched at his side. Isaac's hand was firm over Scott's chest as if to hold him there.
He moved his mouth up to mine but I kept my face in a thin, tight stare with a locked jaw.
"Derek, explain to your mate what he needs to do." Caedon said, a sick smile on his face.
Derek said nothing, but I could hear his heavy breathing.
Caedon laughed again. I pushed against his chest with my palms, knowing it was useless. I wouldn't stop fighting though. He moved me across the room to a large leather couch.
He pushed me down on it and despite my efforts, he was on top of me within seconds.
Derek lunged forward, but stopped before pouncing. I cursed. The knife was at my throat again.
"You are much like your father, Derek." Caedon said, a smile on his lips.
Derek growled in response.
"He killed my mate, you know?" Shit. "That's why I'm here." Shit. "To get revenge." Shit.
The entire pack growled again. I could feel my heart beating roughly in my chest. Maybe it would explode before he killed me.
"I'm seeing now that it's way more fun to torture you through him," Caedon said, adjusting himself over me. He cut the shirt from my chest and ran his fingers down my chest. Dammit, Derek, do something. "I hadn't intended to be so rough the other day, Stiles. You were being so uncooperative, though."
"Fuck you," I said, still struggling.
"Actually," Caedon said, "I intend to fuck you."
It was Erica's growl that was the loudest this time.
Caedon laughed. "Your pack is quite protective of you, Stiles."
"They're going to kill you," I hissed.
He just laughed and moved closer to me, his eyes never leaving Derek. Derek's eyes never left mine.
He was kissing my neck again, not nearly as rough as he had before. When I looked away from Derek, finally, I saw Erica sliding slowly across the room. She was quiet and slow, but methodical. I narrowed my eyes at her, but she just placed a finger over her lips and mouthed "Shh."
He was fumbling with my shorts now. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to focus on anything but this. (Nothing came to mind.)
He was slowly stroking me now. I was trying to move away from him, but it was of no use. And my stupid body was responding to him. Like I could control it.
"Do you see this, Derek?" Caedon hummed lightly. "Already hard. Easy."
"Fuck you," I said again, trying to pry his hands off of me.
He grabbed my hands with one of his and held them tightly. "Soon, my love."
Derek growled. I looked at him, tears in my eyes. His eyes were closed and his jaw was tight.
"Derek, please," I whispered. "Help."
Scott moved in front of Derek and stopped Derek from moving. Derek growled harshly at him, but Scott didn't back down.
Caedon continued stroking me, using his spit as lube. My body continued to respond positively to his touch, while I hated myself for it.
I sucked in a breath as he took me into his mouth and sucked slowly.
Derek was shouting unintelligible things. It now took both Scott and Isaac to hold him. I couldn't see Erica any longer and I hoped that meant that she had succeeded in whatever it was that she was trying to do.
Caedon stopped sucking finally, and I let out a deep breath. Hold it together.
He smashed his lips against mine roughly. I still fought against him, refusing to give in. He wouldn't win.
Finally, his body was pushed off mine, causing me to tumble to the floor, too.
I scrambled backwards, trying to get out of the way, as Boyd, Peter (where in hell had he been?!) and Erica flipped over the couch behind me and pinned Caedon to the floor a few feet away. Isaac and Scott had already let go of Derek, but he waited until I was far enough away to shift into his full-alpha form and pounced.
Caedon was only able to let out half of a muted scream before Derek was standing, his hands, shirt and face stained with blood. "Get it out of here." He said, walking towards me.
"Burn it," Peter said as he helped Boyd drag the lifeless body to the fireplace. Erica picked up his head – OH GOD, ERICA PICKED UP HIS HEAD.
He was kneeling next to me now, wiping blood on his jeans. "I'm sorry," He said. "Stiles, I'm so sorry."
The scent of burning flesh filled the room. "You ripped his head off," I said, smiling a bit. "I didn't know it was that serious."
He grinned. "Nobody messes with my…pack."
"Oh, just say it, already." Erica said, rolling her eyes. She was dragging another body to the fireplace now.
I looked at Derek questioningly.
"Not exactly how I planned that," Derek said, glaring over his shoulder.
"Did you want to present him with Caedon's head?" Isaac spoke up, laughing lightly.
Derek helped me up and handed me my shorts. "I planned this conversation to happen without the rest of you around," He said grumpily.
"Hello?" I said, poking Derek in the side. "Human pack member doesn't know what's going on."
He smiled at me. "Mate." He said, quietly. "Nobody messes with my mate."
I smiled wildly. I was so happy. This could not have worked better for me.
Then he was kissing me.
I stand corrected. It definitely got better.
