He heard Derek coming from the stairs. About time longer Derek took, the more crazy theories Jackson came up with. He was practically dizzy with paranoia.
Jackson opened the door with too much force, he could hear that part of the wall crumble, before Derek could even touch the door knob.
"Jackson," Derek started with a grim look, but was cut off.
"Where have you been? When I said we needed to talk, I didn't mean take an hour. Something's got to be going on back in Beacon Hills," Jackson told him a in frazzled manner. It was very unlike him.
"You're right, we do need to talk. I um, Isaac called me as I was grabbing my keys. He was frantic and inconsolable; it took me awhile to get him talking. That's what took me so long. Jackson, he told me that Stiles died a week ago in car accident. You couldn't have seen him, it wasn't him," Derek mumbled, not quite meeting Jackson's eyes.
Jackson paled and just completely stopped, his demeanor changed. "No, Stiles isn't dead," even though he knew his words were true, it sounded too much like denial and disbelief. "Something's going on."
"Isaac's pretty sure he was the last one to see Stiles alive, if you want to talk to him I'll call him back. He'd be able to tell you about Stiles, they were together the last three months; today would've been there anniversary. I'm sure Isaac'll understand, after all, Stiles was the only one unaware of your little crush. Or maybe you just want his number instead?" He treaded lightly, knowing that none it was easy for the other werewolf to hear.
"Shut up Derek. Fuck, I do not want to talk to Isaac about Stiles. He didn't like Isaac anymore than he liked me; if Stiles ended up with him it just proves something was wrong. And Stiles isn't dead anyway," Jackson explained pointedly.
"Jackson, don't do this, " Derek sighed, rubbing his eyes, trying not to be too sympathetic. It would only make Jackson angry.
He looked Derek in the eyes, seemingly emotionless, and continued talking. "Stiles has this cluster of moles on the middle of his back, just to the left a little bit, it kind looks like it forms the letter J."
"I didn't peg you for the mouth-breather peeping Tom type," Derek said half jokingly with a raised eyebrow.
Jackson glared and rolled his eyes at Derek. "That's how I know Stiles isn't dead; he's sleeping in my bed right now, cluster of moles and all. Don't tell me Stiles is dead when he's not. Something is going on and it clearly involves him, so quit looking at me like I'm insane."
Derek looked passed Jackson, wide eyed with shock and vulnerability. "Stiles?" His eyes caught the inhuman claw marks running down Stiles' chest. "Christ," He shook his head, looking to Jackson.
"Wasn't me. He was already like that," Jackson held his hands up.
"What. The. Hell?" Stiles asked angrily through gritted teeth, only looking at Derek for a moment. "You don't have the right to bring someone else into this, it's not your business Jackson."
"I'm just trying to figure out what's going on. Those marks, if you need help-" Jackson started, but was abruptly cut off.
"It won't be from you. I don't like you, I never have and I never will. Mind your own business and just leave me the fuck alone! I don't want your help." He yelled and immediately felt bad; Jackson looked like a kicked puppy.
Stiles went and grabbed his shirt while Derek and Jackson stared at him. "What's going on Stiles?" Derek asked, stepping in front of him.
"Nothing, I'm leaving. You two have fun doing whatever it is that you do," Stiles grimaced. He stopped and just stood there for a moment, so clearly lost in thought. "Melissa knows you're here in New York, doesn't she?" He watched Derek with a heavy stare and a heartbeat that gave away his fear.
"Yeah," he nodded, "she called me about five days ago. Asked me where I was and then told me she had to get going. It was weird, but I didn't think too much about it. I figured it was one of those mom thing's." Derek admitted skeptically.
Stiles sat down, half dazed and staring at the floor. "I'm mad, but it doesn't matter because she's right. She is right. Melissa knew that I shouldn't be alone, and dammit, New York is obvious and I should've seen that one. I just. Shit," he finishes, still not looking at them.
"Everything's going to be okay-" Derek started with an slight amused smile.
"When did you become Mr. Positivity?" Stiles scoffed, cutting him off.
"We seem to make a pretty good team, and I'm guessing that won't be any different this time. We'll figure it out," Derek explained smugly.
Stiles looked at Derek. "Yeah, well, I'm sick of werewolves. I'm over it; I'm done. I don't want to team up or whatever. The two of you," he pointed at Derek and Jackson, "just need to leave me the hell alone. I'm done playing with the supernatural," Stiles huffed stubbornly.
"Why are you acting like this? I don't like it, " Jackson stated bluntly.
"You're not going anywhere Stiles. I can't let you leave in the state you are in," Derek informed him.
Stiles laughed, in that unamused agitated way that annoyed people tend to laugh in. "You're not my alpha, not even an alpha at all. I have see no reason to listen to you anymore."
"I was never your alpha and it's not like you listened to me all that well before," Derek rolled his eyes.
"You can't really be serious. You were my alpha, you had to feel that. And the only times I didn't listen were when your idea's sucked," Stiles explained pointedly.
"What are you talking about? You weren't my pack Stiles," he told him.
"How were you alpha as long as you were?" Stiles asked angrily. "Even crazy-not-all-there-alpha Peter knew what I was, and that was before there were any signs of it. You never thought twice about any of it; I was just Scott's annoying sidekick," he shook his head.
"You need more sleep Stiles, you're not really making much sense. Go lay back down and when you wake-" Jackson began, but was cut off.
"Stop," Stiles sighed. "Jackson just stop. I felt it when you became alpha, Derek and I was confused. I didn't know what I was then. I didn't know that I had set myself to be so loyal to you if you ever became an alpha. Just my luck, of course, you became one. Fucking werewolves; I was so fiercely loyal and most of the time it was too hard to fight it. You never suspected a thing."
"Stiles-"
"No Derek. I was there even when your actual pack left you. When I wasn't pack. I lied to my dad, did research for you, got the shit beat out of me by Grandpa Crazypants, I saved you, I kept Cora safe, started training with Deaton. I was there for you when they killed Boyd. I'm the one who told you Lydia wasn't the Kanima, oh, and I was the one who saw right through Matt. You trusted me. So screw you Derek, I was pack," Stiles all but yelled.
"You were Scott's pack, you just happened to always be around," Derek stated quietly, not meeting Stiles' eyes.
"Oh, is that how that went?" Stiles asked sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "Then why were you in the school that night? You think I didn't realize what was going to happen the moment I saw you? That part of you, the animal side, the alpha, knew what I was. You were going to get me to submit. If it weren't for lizard boy over here," muttered complaints were heard from Jackson, "I'd have submitted." Stiles' adam's apple bobbed.
"The fuck you talking about Stilinski?" Jackson asked angrily, jealously.
"You would?" Derek asked wide eyed and taking a step forward.
"I would have," Stiles emphasized, "that night, when you were the alpha. It's probably a good thing we were interrupted."
"Why?" Derek asked too quickly. Jackson smiled smugly.
Stiles closed his eyes and sighed. Whether Derek was an alpha or a beta, he was a very dominate wolf. He needed to be in charge, needed to be important, needed others to know that he was capable. Stiles hadn't noticed before. Stiles felt the pull; whatever bond that had begun to develop between spark-Stiles and alpha-Derek had carried over in someway to beta-Derek. Stiles was determined not to give into it. Derek wasn't an alpha anymore and the pull wasn't as strong as before, Stiles could say no.
"You gave it all up to heal your sister. I didn't expect it and my dad thought I was having some sort of attack, I was at the station with him. Everyone saw, an ambulance came and everything. Wasn't easy getting out of that one, Derek. It felt as if a three hundred pound weight was slammed down on my chest, I couldn't breathe. I thought I was dying. Now, imagine if I had submitted to you. Probably would be dead," Stiles explained, voice tight, while his trembling hand pushed at his hair. "And then you left, without telling anyone."
"I'm sorry. You're still hurt," Derek smirked. "Most often, submitted sparks and alphas end up together. Turned sparks, no matter the gender, can give their alpha werewolf children."
"I'm not sure why that makes you smile or why you're telling me that," Stiles breathed in, slightly spaced out. His mind was racing, Peter didn't just want the power Stiles would give him, he also wanted the family.
"Because sparks are a rare thing, but even more rare is the bond between an alpha and a spark that can get along and function well without that submission. A bond they feel even when the alpha may not be the alpha. It's not a thing that should be missed out on," Derek stated matter-of-factly. "I can't believe I didn't realize then, that you are the spark. I can't let you go again Stiles. It's too hard."
Stiles' heartbeat picked up and his lips parted. He knew what he wanted to say, but he was afraid of what could come tumbling out instead.
"Get out," Jackson yelled, his eyes flashing at Derek. "You're overwhelming him, leave."
"Derek don't do this, I don't want to want you. It would never work," Stiles told him quietly.
"Don't be so sure. You trained my betas, behind my back," Stiles looked at him with wide eyes. "Yeah, I caught on. They listened to you. I should've been angry, but I wasn't. That got me thinking, and that's why I was in the school that night. I wanted you as my second. Like I've said, we make a great team," Derek smiled and his eyes seemed to twinkle.
Stiles didn't say anything, he watched Derek.
"I have things to do, but I'll be back later. We should probably talk," Derek put his hand on Stiles' shoulder.
"Okay," Stiles nodded, still a bit speechless.
TAMT
"Legends of sparks were big in my pack and when Stiles said he was one, I had to look into it more. The outcome wouldn't be good for Stiles, not with him. I had to send him to New York," Melissa explained carefully.
"You could have told me. I'm not really a fan of surprises, especially surprises that wake up in Jackson Whittemore's bed. Christ, Melissa, Jackson is lucky I'm not an alpha anymore. You should have told me Stiles was coming," Derek spoke angrily into his phone.
"Now why would I do that? You two found each other just fine. It was bound to happen, you didn't need my help. Talia always said that you'd end up with someone the exact opposite as you, that's going to be Stiles. How is he? Peter really had him shaken up," Melissa explained.
"Peter? What the hell does he have to do with this?" He yelled. "Wait. You spent time with my mom?"
"He's the alpha. That power didn't just go away, because you gave it up. It doesn't work like that. Scott's a True Alpha, he didn't need that power. So," she trailed off, completely ignoring Derek's second question.
"So he is? Dad thought he would be; grandpa must be proud," Derek said grandpa as if it were unsavory.
He had gotten distracted easily, but he couldn't help it, he didn't know much about his dad's side of the family. Aunt Melissa kept her distance, as one of the few human from a prominent werewolf family, she had bad memories of werewolves.
"I haven't exactly told my father about it yet, he's still angry that Matt gave up his birthright so he could be with your mom. I've been told he has said Matt deserved to die in the fire," Melissa sighed. "I take it Stiles hasn't said anything about what happened with Peter?"
Derek took his cue from the obvious subject change and let it go. "No, didn't even get to it yet, but whatever happened wasn't good. He had some claw marks down his chest, few days old and starting to heal, but they were pretty bad. I never should of left in the first place, he doesn't trust me now and I'm going to earn it back. Nobody's going to hurt him again, and he'll never have to submit if he doesn't want to. Melissa, tell Peter the truth, that Stiles is alive and in New York. I think I have a plan," Derek explained almost eagerly.
"Derek is that a good idea?" Melissa asked skeptically.
"I don't know, but it's the only way for Stiles to be safe," Derek paused. "Dad missed you. He said that's why mom and him settled down in Beacon Hills, he heard it's where you went and he wanted to be close at least in distance to you. He talked every day about his little sister 'Lissa, it was sickening," Derek chuckled fondly at the memory.
"Thank you," Melissa's voice cracked. "If you hurt Stiles I'm going to kick your ass Derek, nephew or not. I'm serious," Derek could hear the smile in her voice.
"I'm not going to hurt him, I just want to protect him. Like I should have from the start."
I apologize, I apologize! My laptop took a crap and it took awhile to replace it. I am very easily distracted and kind of lazy, not a good combo. I started another story, this one is actually Stackson. I got caught up in it. Maybe I'll post it. I loved all the outpour of Stackson I got. I'm rooting for them, but apparently my subconscious likes Sterek. Oh, and this isn't going to be a love triangle or whatever. I'm not good at writing them. I'll have that figured within the next chapter hopefully. So who's scared for the rest of 3b? I am!