Chapter Two: Mall Craze

Derek looked around the small Beacon Hills mall and sighed, he knew it was tiny compared to a lot of places but he didn't like it all the same. All the scents overlapping each other, the emotions and highly unhealthy food served were all a muddled chaos for the senses. He had grabbed Stiles and scented the omega before Cora dragged the grinning younger man away into the mall and Derek waited a few seconds for Otto to catch up before walking in as well.

He knew he was supposed to be finding presents for people, the Hale family tended to do presents a little differently. The alpha tends to give gifts to all the kids as well as mates but each other person would pick a name from a basket and do a secret Santa gift. Derek wanted to give presents to Garrick and Stiles as well as his mother. He knew his mother was going to try to mix up the families, allow the Oseric family to get to know some of the Hales and the Stilinski pack that they were now a part of by extension. Derek knew Ricky's family was struggling with the newness of all this, they didn't understand what Ricky was going through because they didn't have a soul bond but it was the same as any other relationship full of deep emotions, only with the wolf underneath the actions of mates on either side of a soul bond there was also the irrevocable instinct and violence that came with threats against loved ones.

So for now Derek wandered around with Otto and walked into a bookstore and looked around hoping for something that Garrick might like. His beta had a thirst for knowledge and he loved holding onto it in a book, the internet and search engines were helpful and that's where Stiles usually got all his information but Ricky loved books. He searched the titles, breathing in the scent of familiarity and family then he touched one that smelled strangely like his lover. He tugged the thick book from the shelf and looked over the spine, running his fingers along the leather binding. He read the words etched into the cover, The Strength of Unity by Grayson Oseric. Derek's eyes widened and he tucked the book close to his chest, wondering how this was separated from the Oseric library because Ricky's family respected the hell out of the knowledge that was passed from parent to child and he hoped that this would make a good gift though he felt almost sad that he had to wait until Christmas.

Happy with his awesome discovery, wondering now if someone in Ricky's family had once been in Beacon Hills, Derek moved on to pay at the register. The book cost nothing of its true worth. He shook the shopkeeper's hand and Otto walked out of the store with him and shoved Derek gently.

"I like seeing you happy like this, Stiles and Ricky are good for you. You were always so serious before, a real sourwolf and now there is this little smile constantly trying to take up residence on your face. I didn't know what to expect because I didn't know about Cordelia either but it works somehow."

Derek glared at his brother for a moment before that grin Otto spoke of snuck back onto his lips. He threw his hands up in resignation that he was ever going to be serious like he used to be and nudged his brother back. "We were just as surprised when Stiles just up and claimed both of us, even if it wasn't a Bite. Now stop distracting me, I need to find something for Stiles, he likes gaming and movies but that's not really my area of expertise."

Otto looked up from his phone again and Derek was left wondering a little if his brother was talking to someone but refocused as Otto stared at Derek like the other alpha was a little slow in the head, "There is a entertainment store down that way, I'm sure we can find something for him there."

Derek nodded and they started walking but he kept looking around, hoping he might see Ricky or Stiles as they moved around the mall with the girls but he didn't see them surprisingly. He did feel something skitter up his back and scanned the crowd again. He tried to shake off the feeling but suddenly he could feel the wolf within trying to shake off the sensation of being watched but every time he looked around, there was nothing to see.

"You okay Der?" Otto asked as he pointed towards the entertainment store to the right but Derek shook off the feeling one more time and scanned the few stores around them and his eyes landed on something small in a trade shop and walked towards it. The gold whisky color of the stone resembled Stiles' eyes so well that Derek truly believed the stone was made in his omega's image. It was a stone with a flat edge of in the center was a little wolf and he smiled, thinking how appropriate and masculine the small piece of jewelry was especially as it was suspended on a long leather cord. It might not be practical but there was something about it that sang so Derek quickly purchased the pendant, knowing that it would settle right over Stiles' heart.

Otto snorted a little at Derek's purchase but when Derek looked over at his brother, all the younger man did was smile, "I already said Derek, I like this version of you."

Derek nodded and they continued walking through the mall, the alpha keeping his eyes and ears peeled for whatever was making him nervous and he wondered if it was just the overwhelming sensation of the mall. He found a brooch for his mother, green stone to match her dark eyes, and a small crystal flower for Ricky's mother and leather bound journal for Ricky's father as well as an old, but well preserved pocketknife for John Stilinski. He may not need to give gifts to everyone but this was their first Christmas and this was important to him as the alpha of Ricky and Stiles, his mother taught him that being an alpha was all about support and protection not about control and he hoped they would understand that. Someday they would have their own family, one that would be supported by other betas and alphas willing to trust Derek to lead, such as Scott possibly though Derek sensed that the other goofy alpha may be strong enough to lead his own pack, but it would center on his relationship with Stiles and Ricky as it should.

"You going to do any shopping while we're here?" Derek asked his brother.

The younger man shrugged, "I don't know who I should shop for as we haven't pulled our secret Santa names yet."

"There's no one you would buy a gift for anyway?" Derek asked, knowing he was prying but still curious about the younger Hale's focus on the phone in his pocket.

Otto shrugged, "No one of consequence, still just family for me."

Derek nodded, letting go of the issue especially since Otto's heart didn't lie. They walked towards the exit in an unspoken agreement to leave behind the crazy atmosphere of the mall in exchange for the car. He figured they could walk over to the organic food center and pick up some food and staples for while everyone was at the house, werewolves were notorious for eating someone out of house and home. Otto readily agreed to help pick out some food while they were waiting for Stiles and Ricky to rejoin them, Derek quickly dropped his purchases in the trunk of the Camaro, tucking them under a clean blanket he put there for just such occasions, or if someone ever needed help while he was out driving.

Stiles listened happily as Cora talked as they wandered through the stores in the mall, she was telling him what her high school was like, she was one of only a few werewolves so though people accepted wolves among the rest of the populace, Cora and her brother as well as a few others did not make it common knowledge that they were supernatural. It was just safer that way and because of that, they didn't join in any sports, which apparently Cora found annoying, she loved soccer and basketball and pretty much any team type game. Stiles had never been an active wolf, always one for research and video games.

He was just enjoying the crazy energy of his new packmate. Then she started to peter out on the subject and stopped with a giggle, "We're supposed to be shopping."

Stiles shrugged, "So what my mates don't know is that I used one of the few times Derek and Ricky left the room to order their presents and get them sent to my dad's house and they came in yesterday. Dad smuggled them in early today.

Cora threw her head back laughing jovially, "You are too much Stiles Stilinski, what are we doing here then?"

Stiles scoffed, "Throwing them off the scent of course."

"What did you get them?" she asked in a low scheming whisper.

Stiles paused with a grin and motioned her closer, she stood about six inches shorter than Stiles so he leaned down close to her and said clear, "None of your business."

Cora laughed and shoved Stiles, he stumbled back a few steps not surprised that she was actually really strong since she was indeed a werewolf of the Hale Pack, they were all really strong and fast. Stiles was no slouch in speed and stamina but he enjoyed that they were his pack now, he would hopefully never end up at odds with them. Cora decided that since they were there then she would get a couple gifts that she wanted to get and he was dragged into some women focused shops that assaulted the senses with too many scents overlapping each other and then something tingled at the back of his neck and Stiles shifted slightly to look behind him to find someone staring at him from across the mall, she was being incredibly subtle but he'd been watched for most of his life and he knew the signs even then.

He turned back to Cora and spoke to her, "Going to use the gents' room, you gonna stay here?" he asked her and she frowned at him, hearing the minute tremor in his voice but didn't know him well enough to guess what was going on.

"I'll be here, you okay?"

"Just feeling a little funny, be right back," Stiles returned with a hand to his stomach and a face that hopefully looked uncomfortable. He was really pushing his luck, knowing his heart was calm but not constant in the lies. He didn't feel all right though, so it slipped past Cora's notice and he walked away. He didn't look towards the women, focusing on the journey that would take him to the restrooms, he knew this mall like the back of his hand and where the cameras were, staying within line of them the whole way. He pulled open the door to the men's restroom and turned back just a glance to see the same woman tucking herself into the crowd within a nearby store. He took a deep calming breath as he closed the door behind him and pressed his back against it.

Who was she and why was she following him?

Stiles pulled his phone from his pocket and played with it, unlocking the screen just as the door shoved against him as someone was trying to walk in. Stiles turned to apologize and was met with a fist across the cheek and his skin burned as he stumbled away. He had a vague sense of a man, so the woman wasn't alone or there were two different problems all happening on the same day. He would think about it later, Stiles figured as he crouched and rushed the other man and knocking him into the row of sinks, the omega heard bones creak as the slightly larger man hit it too hard and he realized this was a man, not a werewolf. The man came back with another hit across Stiles' cheek and the flash of gold caught in the omega's vision, he was using some sort of knuckles and they burned like wolfsbane!

Stiles figured the only way he was getting out of this was to get out of the confining bathroom where he would have no camera proof of the attack since he was a werewolf and the attacker was a human, he would be blamed whether he was the victim or the aggressor. Stiles slipped on the linoleum floor and pulled on the door and got halfway out when the bastard grabbed him by the ankle and attempted to pull him back. Stiles could feel the burning along his ankle where the man was touching Stiles skin with the wolfsbane infused weapon he was holding. Stiles didn't know how the attacker had so quickly gotten to Stiles fragile skin.

Stiles winced and a hiss of pain slipped between his lips while he kicked out to dislodge the guy while his hands gripped the edge of the wooden door, making it creak in annoyance. Stiles grunted and finally with another kick the guy released his leg and he flew out of the doorway and stumbled to the ground, reaching out to catch himself on his hands. He limped a little on the burning leg as he rose to stand once again only to be tackled backwards from the front, pressing him into the wall next to the bathroom, Stiles locked his eyes on the dark haired woman who was pressing a blade into the side of Stiles' throat, "Hello omega bitch! This is what happens when you come home, shouting your Caste to the world and separating from you mate!" she hissed viciously.

Stiles could smell the burning of his skin once again as the blood trickled down the side of his throat, the wolfsbane whispering across his skin on the blade of the knife. He hadn't ever been attacked with wolfsbane before; he instinctively knew that she and the hooligan in the bathroom were hunters. He'd been warned of them but he'd been hidden up till now.

"Mates!" Stiles finally hissed even as he reached out through his bond with Ricky and Derek, calling for them. He could barely get another word out; there was too much pressure against his throat. He was trying to stall for time, giving his mates a chance to find him in the mess of scents and chaos of the mall.

"What?" the woman asked.

Stiles heard the scuffle of feet from behind the woman as Ricky came towards them in a flurry of rage, his eyes shifting to blue in his need to protect Stiles. Stiles grinned, the look feral in its intent and she was dragged away from him quickly. Her face was a mask of confusion as Ricky tossed her across the floor and pressed himself bodily into Stiles where he was still pressed against the wall. Ricky's throat reverberated in a heavy growl and Stiles pressed his hand against the burning nick in his skin. "Stay away from him!"

The woman watched them, as she gripped the knife in her hand and people all around them started whispering about what was happening. Wondering if they should be calling the police and the hunter must have realized. She took off and Stiles moved away from the bathroom door, aware that the other was just on the other side. Ricky must have scented the wolfsbane or something because he jerked open the bathroom door and saw the man down on the floor and Ricky snarled, his lips curling in anger. Ricky was about to step forward when Stiles gripped the beta's hand. Ricky turned towards Stiles and his eyes were alight with the electric blue of a shift on the cusp.

"No Ricky, if you attack him now, they could punish you. I need you."

Ricky's tension eased and the beta pressed Stiles close while he blocked the door so the other hunter couldn't escape. Stiles pressed his nose into the side of Ricky's neck, glad for the beta's comforting scent, which was chasing away the scent of burning skin as the wolfsbane started to heal from his skin and the mark along with it. It took only seconds for the healing to initiate and a few more after that for Derek to come rushing around the corner with Otto, Cora and Ravyn how on his heels. Derek caught sight of Stiles who was now unable to keep his body from shivering in the aftermath and Ricky's eyes refusing to shutter back to their normal shade and he walked over all while Cora was dialing the Sherriff on her cellphone. Derek made it to them and wrapped his arms around them both whispering to them gently, "I felt something. I should have never let you out of my sight!"

Stiles heaved out a shaky laugh, suddenly sure the alpha wasn't joking.

"What about going to the bathroom?" Stiles joked and when Ricky and Derek gave him matching looks of incredulity he spoke again, "Too soon?"

Cora walked over to them, "The Sherriff is almost here, bringing Parrish as well as Talia so she can see the hunter. There has to be a record of any hunter attacks because it can then keep future ones to a minimum." Stiles had previously known all this intellectually but never in practice, there had been so few attacks in Beacon Hills and the worst was the fire and death of Derek's father. This was going to hurt the alpha and Stiles was going to let him get dominant and protective, at least until the omega stopped shaking.

It didn't take long for his dad to arrive and after a quick hug and check of Stiles' injuries which were sore but healed then he slapped some cuffs on the hunter still cowering in the bathroom and Stiles' dad as well as Talia walked away after the alpha hugged Stiles and Derek and Ricky. She turned to Derek, "Get him home Derek and keep him there."

"Yes ma'am," Derek whispered back to his mother as Stiles watched the exchange with his face still tucked against Ricky's shoulder. As soon as Talia walked away, taking the rest of the chaos and notice with them, Stiles quickly found himself tucked between Derek and Ricky's bodies and they walked out even as Stiles tried not to shiver uncontrollably. He knew he was safe, but he couldn't let go of the fact that the woman was gone and loose, she would come back. She would try this again, knowing what Stiles was, he was a danger to the hunter philosophy of life: make less werewolves not more, especially the zealots who didn't care whether the wolves were hurting people or not.

They made it back to the cars and Derek tucked Stiles into the Camaro gently while he took the jeep keys from Stiles and tossed them to Otto who could drive it back easily. They headed back to the house after the beta and alpha pressed in around them like bookends. A comforting warmth that calmed Stiles like nothing else could. His eyes darted from his hands then back to the driver's side window then on to Ricky's side, over and over again all the while wondering if the woman knew where the Hale house was, or if they were leading her back to their home base right now.

Sensing Stiles unease, Derek turned and made a shushing noise in his mouth and deep in his throat, making it seem like a purr almost. "We're okay Stiles, the woman you spoke of is not following us, no one left as we did."

Stiles nodded but kept up his vigilance.

"I know what its like to be afraid," Derek whispered though inside the car, it still sounded loud to Stiles, who flinched knowing that Derek knew what loss felt like, what the danger of being a wolf pitted against hunters was like. Derek took a deep breath before he continued, "I never stopped looking over my shoulder, not for a long time and even now the thought of Stiles being targeted, the possibility of Ricky getting hurt makes me insane. I can't lose you two like I lost my father and Cordelia who I didn't even know well enough to mourn. I am having a really hard time not putting you both in a room and locking us in and putting pillows down everywhere."

Stiles wanted to laugh at that imagery but honestly; he knew that Derek was telling the truth. The alpha instinct was to protect and defend. Derek wasn't with Stiles when he was attacked and he was not handling it well. Stiles opened up the bond, trying to get a read on the pain Derek was feeling, there was a huge helping of self-recrimination and anger. Stiles pressed a gentle hand into the back of his alpha's neck and kneaded the tense muscles there.

"I'm okay Derek, I'm sorry I walked away from Cora but I needed to know if the woman was actually following me. I didn't know about the other guy, didn't realize he was following too."

Derek nodded and Stiles could smell the salt of his tear before it even dropped down onto his cheek and Stiles scooted over close enough to press his lips to Derek's cheek and sniffle as his own tears started leaking from his eyes, "You didn't fail me Der. That could never happen."

"Yes it could, you could die!"

"Even then Der, you would have done everything you could and you need to be there for Ricky, be there for each other if anything ever happened to me. I need to know you can keep on keeping on."

Derek shook his head sharply and Stiles let it go which was good timing since Derek was pulling the Camaro into the lot in front of the house and the jeep was there as well as the Oseric parents. Stiles and Derek got out of the car on the driver side and Ricky rushed out of the car and moved quickly around to take one of Stiles' hands and they walked inside the house and Stiles took in a deep breath and focused on the heartbeats in the house. If they were closed in their bedrooms then he wouldn't hear them because of the soundproofing. He turned towards the stairs, comforted by the scent of home and pack when Peter rushed into the foyer from the living room with his cellphone clutched in his hand.

"Stiles, are you okay?" he asked, his heartbeat erratic with fear and apprehension.

Stiles frowned; he had never received a warm welcome from Peter and had never had a reason to think the other wolf liked him at all. Derek looked shocked as well and Ricky's hand tightened around Stiles' fingers. "Little banged up but fine."

Peter walked towards them and Stiles could feel the tension rising. Peter had been incredibly obnoxious and purposefully hurtful in the past and now he was acting completely different.

Derek took in a deep breath and Stiles did as well, pulling back at the unusual scent of emotions wrapped around the other wolf. The omega frowned at the alpha, "Did you meet an omega? You smell different, all confused and emotional. You're always hard and emotionless all the times I've seen you and you treat Derek horribly for loving me and now you give a damn!"

Peter flinched at his words but he didn't walk away, he took another step forward and tried to touch Stiles but he jerked out of reach while Derek pushed his uncle back a step and the older man looked and smelled hurt by his nephew's action as well as possibly Stiles'.

"Just say it Peter, what's this about?" Stiles demanded though he suddenly wanted to be in bed sleeping. The attack and the wolfsbane infused injuries and subsequent healing tired him out so he was running out of patience. Ricky pressed Stiles' hand into the beta's chest and he could feel Ricky's heartbeat and it settled him somewhat. Derek was almost vibrating with the need to protect Stiles from anything else today, even his family if that was necessary.

"I met someone, her name is Carmen and she is an omega. I can never describe to you how sorry I am about the way I've treated all of you the past months, I could never understand the truth of bonding and loving someone else so much that being without her right now is painful."

Stiles nodded in understanding, he hated being away from Ricky and Derek, "It doesn't take back the way you treated me but I do understand."

Peter nodded, "Please let me know if you need anything. Talia said they have one of the hunters, having them in town threatens us all but definitely the omegas, you and Carmen." He shifted his gaze to Derek, "Protect him."

Stiles' alpha nodded and Peter walked away and they headed upstairs. They got to their room and Stiles moved away from Derek and Ricky to flop down on the bed. He listened as Derek and Ricky pulled off their coats and shoes, putting them down next to the door to take down later, he listened to the subtle and graceful movements they made until they walked over and started tugging on Stiles' shoes and his jacket. The omega smiled when Ricky's hand rubbed into the arch of his foot and he sighed. Derek was tugging off his shirt and unbuttoned his jeans as well. Stiles knew they weren't trying to have sex with him, the arousal he could scent on them was the normal scent that he knew was just part of being a newly mated trio. No what he could feel their need to just be close to him. He didn't open his eyes and didn't move unless they moved him. Soon they were pressed in close to him, Ricky pressing Stiles close to his chest with Derek a wall of strength and warmth at his back. Stiles took a deep breath and relaxed, wondering how a trip to the mall turned into the horrifying drama that happened but then that was his life, good thing Stiles was used to the drama his Caste brought down on himself as well as others.

"I'm sorry," he finally whispered to them. "I don't mean to make everything so complicated."

Derek and Ricky both shushed him, "Don't be stupid," they both said.

Stiles chuckled lightly, knowing they meant it so he settled into them and let their warmth calm his mind and soak into his skin and scent. The day wasn't over and the drama with the hunter was nowhere near done but right now he could pretend.