Derek woke the next morning feeling uneasy. Instantly he registered what was wrong. Stiles was missing from the bed where he usually lay beside the alpha until they were both awake. Derek jumped out of bed and began sniffing for his mate. Stiles smell was still around but it was from a few hours ago. There was no scent that was fresh. Derek ran quickly to check the rest of his apartment just to be sure he wasn't over reacting but he already knew Stiles wasn't in the loft because he couldn't hear his heart beat. When he entered the kitchen he found a folded piece of paper with 'Sourwolf' written on top. Derek unfolded and read Stiles neat handwriting.

Dear Sourwolf,

I'm sorry things had to happen this way but I know this was the best way to leave things. Please say goodbye to everyone for me. Scott, Ms. McCall, Allison, Kira, Issac, Lydia, Cora and Deaton. Would you do me one last favour please? I know I have no right to ask after all you have already done for me and all I have put you through, am about to put you through, but it would mean the world to me if you would deliver my jeep to Scott. I know he will look after it. Even if I am not driving it anymore I am fond of it and knowing it will be looked after will make it easier for me to find some sort of peace.

Thanks for everything you did for me Sourwolf. And I don't mean just this last week since my dad died. I'm talking about letting me hang out with you, teaching me to control my emotions and ergo my magic, for all the times you saved my life even if I saved yours a butt load more times than you saved mine. For looking after Scott even when he helped get you thrown in jail and for allowing me to be a part of the pack. Hell I want to thank you for threatening me even. I think I realised a long time ago that you only threatened me because it was the only way you could show you cared. You warmed up to me though, I knew it would happen and it did when we spent time together. I'll always remember the times we had that meant something to me. The time kanima/Jackson trapped us in the pool for hours, the time you saved me from your uncle Peter. But most of all I'll remember the nights you held me in your arms when I was too weak to be on my own.

I know I've babbled on while I was writing this letter but I needed to okay? So sue me if you didn't want to read it. But there is one thing I've been trying to work up the courage to tell you now for a while. Something that even if you don't feel the same way won't change how I feel about you.

Derek, I love you! I have for quite a while, I'm not sure how long exactly. I guess my ten year plan for Lydia sort of just fizzled out. Because while we were fighting the alpha pack I figured out that you meant so much more to me than she ever did. When we spent those couple of days thinking you were dead it was crippling. The pain was similar to losing my dad. The difference this time is that I lost someone that loved me back and I couldn't stay. I need time to get over all the pain and scars Beacon Hills has inflicted on me. I couldn't stay and see the ghost of my parents, Erica and Boyd wherever I went in town. Maybe someday I will find my way back there but for now I need to be somewhere else. I need to find a way to be stronger.

You know what's funny? Right now I feel I understand Jackson what Jackson felt when Scott joined the lacrosse team's first line. I'm just not strong enough and the only way to change that is to become stronger. So that's what I am going to focus on. Thanks again from me Sourwolf.

Remember even if you don't feel the same way it doesn't matter I'll always love you. Live a good and happy life Derek.

Stiles

Derek pushed the letter away as he fell forward on to the kitchen surface in front of him and throwing his head back he roared putting everything into that one heartbroken continuous sound for as long as he could manage. He was a fool. He had let the one man he ever felt something for leave without telling him that he felt the same way, without telling him that they were mates.

Three years or so later

Stiles was closing up the little shop he worked at after staying open late when he heard the door bell jingle. "Ah sorry we're closing now", Stiles said as he turned to face the late hour visitor. "Oh, sorry Mr. Williams I was just finishing up", Stiles muttered to his boss.

Gregory Williams was in his late fifties, hair greying slightly but not yet receding. He was the best boss Stiles could ask for. Stiles had collapsed outside his shop about eighteen months previously and the man had taken him in. He had offered to help around the shop as repayment for the man looking after him and then one day somehow he had found his self employed by the man to run the shop when he wasn't there. "It's alright Stiles, calm yourself. I only dropped by because I was passing the movie theatre on my way home when I saw that young man that has been courting you. He told me he was waiting for you. Evidently you are over an hour late. Did you forget maybe?" his boss smiled at him. His boss never seemed to get over the number of guys that came into his shop just to flirt with this particular lad.

Stiles looked at the clock behind the counter. Shit! He had forgotten that Adam had invited him out on a date earlier and he hadn't really said no. He hadn't really said yes either though. He liked the guy well enough he just didn't feel the spark he had once felt for Lydia or – or the other one. Stiles had not managed to think the man's name since the day he ran away. Adam was nice enough but Stiles didn't want to lead him on. Besides Adam might seem nice enough however there were moments when Stiles felt strange vibes coming from the man. Dark vibes that frightened him. "Well I didn't necessarily forget", he told his boss. "He sort of came by earlier and invited me to go see a movie. He wouldn't accept no for an answer so I didn't really get a chance to tell him I had plans."

"Stiles I don't remember us discussing the store staying open this late", Mr. Williams muttered. "If I remember you asked if you could keep it open the nights you were not busy. Are you trying to avoid that young man?"

Stiles smiled at his boss. The man cared for him like he was his own son and wasn't afraid to give his butt the kicking it need when it was for Stiles own good. "Yes that's what we agreed", Stiles replied.

"Well no more discussion then", Mr. Williams smirked. "Off with you. Get out my store and go meet your date. I'll close up for you. But Stiles", he added as the boy disappeared.

Popping his head back in Stiles smiled, "Yes boss?"

"You'll make it up to me tomorrow. I want you to finish those five tracking charms pronto", Mr. Williams informed him.

"Sure and I'll start working on developing those self cleaning mops", Stiles nodded before he vanished. He smiled as he rushed along the road towards the movie theatre. He was so lucky to have found himself working at Spellbooks. He was actually the one who performed the magic in the back workshop enchanting and preparing most of the goods they sold. He helped out with the shop floor business when he wasn't busy or late evenings when they stayed open to try and attract some extra custom. Gregory Williams had asked what his views were on those that believed in magic when Stiles first started helping him out. Stiles had answered honestly and the man had revealed his magic to the young man expecting to see shock. When Stiles had grinned and copied the low level magic Stiles had the pleasure of seeing the look of shock on his face instead. Mr. Williams had begun offering wages the moment his shock wore off.

"Stiles", Adam grinned as he saw the half elf. Stiles hugged the guy but pulled back quickly something was off about the man again. Stiles was pretty sure that it was only the guy's movie star good looks and the delicate friendliness he used that made him like the guy in the first place. At times it was like he saw straight through to the true man and all he saw was darkness.

"Sorry I was busy locking up the shop. You didn't wait this morning so I couldn't tell you I was busy", Stiles explained unapologetically.

"Oh that's okay it's my fault anyway", Adam replied as warmly as he could. Stiles still sensed the icy tone barely hidden and he was sure Adam knew he noticed. "Look we missed the last showing so how about I walk you home and maybe we stop on the way for a bite", Adam smirked. He gestured for them to start walking and led the way down the street. Stiles followed feeling stupid again for always thinking the worst of such a nice guy. Why did he always have to scrutinise guys and make them seem like monsters? Just because they weren't the guy Stiles really still longed for it didn't mean they weren't good people.

"I thought we might take a little shortcut", Adam suggested as he walked into the park. He turned as if he was frightened Stiles wouldn't follow him but continued the moment he saw Stiles walking with him through the trees that lined this part of the park. "It's a lovely moon tonight", Adam mused as he continued forward. "It'll be a full moon next week."

Stiles felt uneasy as he listened to the guy talk about the moon. The only people who usually bothered to notice the moon were those in the know, those who were part of the supernatural world. Did that mean Adam was part of his world? If so what was he? Stiles stopped walking forward deciding if there was a confrontation it would be better to keep it hidden in the woods. Adam stopped the second he heard Stiles stop moving and turned towards him. "Is everything okay?" he asked in a guarded tone, while he walked back towards Stiles. Stiles walked back until he felt his back hit the trunk of a tree.

"Yeah everything is great", Stiles tried to smile but Adam's expression showed him that his attempt was pitiful. Adam came right up close until he was pushing against Stiles' body. "Adam, what are you?" Stiles asked trying to steady his breathing. He had been away from Beacon Hills for three years and he'd managed to avoid life and death encounters within the supernatural world. But three years had done wonders for him. He had accomplished one of the things he told Sourwolf he would do in his letter. Stiles was stronger now, not physically because he wasn't a werewolf but he was by no means a helpless target anymore like he had been when he thought he was just a human.

"Well damn", Adam chuckled in his ear. "I didn't think you were in the know about the supernatural world. So are you just as intellectual about the supernatural as you are about the natural world? It doesn't matter. You see that is why I picked you out. You're just so good darn intelligent I knew you would be a good choice. I really wanted to do this a couple of weeks ago but it's just taken so long to finally get you alone out of that damn shop." Without adding anything further he bit Stiles.

Stiles screamed as he felt non human teeth tear into his neck's flesh. Concentrating his mind he threw his attacker away into the tree opposite, where the guy fell in the dirt and lay not moving for a moment. Stiles held his hand over his neck wound and tried to heal the wound but it wouldn't which caused him to panic. Why the fuck would his magic not heal the wound? Adam had been right when he assumed Stiles was just as knowledgeable about the supernatural as he was about the natural and he had multiple theories already running through his head when Adam began to stir. Now he would get some answers he thought as he pressed his hand to stem the worse of the bleeding. He just hoped that the worst of his fears were not about to be realised. If Adam was a vampire then Stiles swore he would kill himself because he would not only become reliant on killing to survive but also his connection to magic would be severed as an undead being. "What the fuck man? You bit me. What are you?" Stiles shouted as he summoned his magic to torture the man before him in his fury. Yeah he wasn't as serene about things as he used to be. Since his dad had died Stiles had been angry at the world. While he developed better control for everyday life he still had major anger issues. He watched with a pleased smile as the body before him shook with the voltage Stiles was summoning to shock him.

Adam laughed as he looked up, "Umm you're just full of surprises aren't you Stiles. I never had you figured for a mage." He stopped laughing as Stiles sent another shock through his body and he growled out in pain.

"I'm not a mage you creep. I'm something much rarer. I'm an elf or at least a half elf to be precise", Stiles muttered. Adam's head whipped up in surprise, he had heard of them. But they were supposed to all be dead. Didn't his kind wipe them all out years ago? Stiles gasped as he looked into the ruby red glowing eyes that replaced Adam's usual stormy grey. Fuck it! Stiles had been bitten by an alpha werewolf. That meant he would lose the rest of his humanity. He was about to become the first half elven werewolf to exist. Possible he would be the only one to ever exist but he pushed that aside to deal with later.

"Well it seems I made a mistake", Adam huffed as he braced himself on the tree and used it to help him stand himself up. "I guess I'll have to rectify that now. No fucking elf or half elf will ever be a werewolf", he snarled as he moved towards Stiles again.

Stiles held his hand out to hold the wolf back but the wolf struggled and kept moving towards him. Stiles increased the magic he was using to strengthen his hold but the wolf still moved towards him slowly. Stiles knew if the wolf got to him then he was dead so that left him with only one other option. An option he didn't really want to think about but it was not really a choice he had. Summoning voltage from the werewolf's own body again he used his power to amplify it until it reached the level he knew would kill Adam.

With a final pained howl Adam's body smoked and the red bled from his eyes. Stiles dropped the body to the floor as he felt the wound on his neck healing. Damn it! Stiles had considered the bite was from an alpha because he knew an alpha's bite would be immune to magic and heal of its own accord. Like when his body accepted the bite. Killing the alpha transferred his power to Stiles and it jump started the process. Becoming an alpha had caused him to heal in seconds because it forced his body to accept the power even quicker. Stiles looked with disgust at the body of the werewolf. As he turned he noticed a pendant hanging around his neck and bent to look at it. OH FUCKING HELL he thought as he recognised the design. It was a charm of his own design. When worn it enchanted the wearer so they would become irresistible to the target of their choosing. He didn't understand how it had become so powerful that he almost failed to succumb to its enthralling power. Someone had helped the alpha increase its power because he never put much power on them. He gave them just enough to get the wearer the attention of their target. As he turned away again he conjured flames that would burn the body and the charm away until nothing but ash existed. Continuing on the path Adam had started him on for his apartment Stiles groaned. He needed an aspirin for his head but of course the universe was screwing with him because he knew as a werewolf now that it would have no effect.

Two years later

Stiles was still working at Spellbooks and he was making great money since he had set up a small side business. It was actually sort of a blessing in disguise when he became a werewolf because he found he could work his magic with greater perseverance. His ability to channel magic was linked with his werewolf stamina he was sure of it. As such he managed to accomplish the enchanting and preparations for Mr Williams stock each night after closing. So instead of hiding away in the back and helping out on the till or shop floor when needed he had convinced Mr Williams to allow him to set up a side business in the small room at the back of the shop.

Any money he made there was his to keep minus twenty five percent. Stiles disguised himself as an old man magically and told fortunes, mostly. There were a few customers who were either supernatural themselves or believed in the supernatural and paid him to use his magic for other reasons but those matters were discussed discreetly between the two of them; as was the price.

"So what did Mrs. Richards want from you today?" Mr Williams asked his employee.

"She wanted her fortune told again", Stiles smiled at him.

"Again?" laughed his boss. "That woman has more money than brains if she can come in here and pay to have her fortune told every other week. Oh but I must compliment your skills in persuasion Stiles. You advised her about some products we sell to help her with various tasks around the house and she comes in every week for them now."

"I'm glad to hear it. You probably earn a pretty penny from her", Stiles yawned sleepily as he headed back in to his little sanctuary. "Send anyone in that needs me. I'm just going to rest my eyes." Stiles sat in his comfy arm chair and leant his head back closing his eyes. He wouldn't fall asleep not during office hours but just relaxing so he could sort through things in his mind had become a hobby when he had the free time.

As he relaxed he thought back to how he had handled becoming a werewolf.

Flashback

Stiles struggled home after being bitten. He had fallen asleep and slept amazingly well for the first time in years. The last time he remembered sleeping so well was in the Derek's arms. Looking at the clock he had been startled to realise he was late for work.

After work and after Mr Williams had closed up the shop he had come to speak with Stiles in the workshop.

"Stiles", he had begun. "Would you like to tell me what is wrong with you today? You seem very high strung and edgy."

"Well you know we have no secrets and that I think of you as an uncle", Stiles had started nervously. "The thing is something happened last night with Adam. Something bad."

"Ah sorry my boy. I thought you two would get on well together", Mr Williams had apologised. "Do we need to get the police involved or maybe work a curse on him so he regrets his actions?"

"No we don't need to do either of those things, they won't help. You see he was a werewolf. An alpha werewolf even", he told his boss. He saw his boss was looking confused so he asked, "Mr Williams you don't know much about werewolves do you?"

Gregory Williams had shamefully had to shake his head and admit he knew nothing about werewolves. "Well you see the thing is a werewolf can be vicious and animalistic when their wolf side takes over. And whenever their heart rate increases the wolf can be released not just on the full moon. Well alpha werewolves can infect and turn humans with a bite or scratch if the claws go deep enough. Adam bit me", Stiles finished lamely while he waited for his boss to catch up.

"So you are a werewolf now?" Mr Williams asked his employee to which Stiles had nodded. "Are you dangerous?"

"No I will be able to contain the wolf. You see I learnt to control my magic through training designed for and taught to werewolves to teach them control. It was a werewolf that taught me control so you don't need to worry about me losing control", Stiles smiled at his boss.

"So what's the problem?" Mr Williams asked.

"Well it's just that he didn't mean just to turn me. He intended to kill me so I was forced to kill him", Stiles paused. "Also a beta werewolf becomes an alpha by killing an alpha. An alpha is a stronger, more powerful version than the betas. By killing Adam I took his alpha status."

"And you're worried that you won't be able to control the power?" Mr Williams muttered with understanding. "Look I may not know too much about werewolves Stiles but I do know you. You had a lot of power before last night and you controlled it. You have never let it stop you doing what you see is the right thing. It sounds like being a werewolf requires a strong will which you already possess. After all working magic requires a strong will and I have never met someone with a stronger will than yours."

End of Flashback

Stiles smiled as he remembered the conversation. Shortly after he had discovered the alpha urges creeping up. It was like Derek had once told him in their rare heart to heart moments. His wolf side was relentlessly howling for him to create a pack and at times Stiles found himself asking himself why he didn't but he always came back to the same thought. It worked like an anchor grounding him from turning anyone. The one thought that always stopped him was the fact that he had a pack, his old pack back home.

It had been five years and he was stronger and that was one of the reasons he gave for his leaving. He had also come to terms with his dad's death at least as much as was possible without him visiting the man's grave. He felt he might be ready to return the only problem was him summoning the courage to actually go back there and face the people he had walked out on.

To face his mate, Derek. Yeah he could once again think of Derek without feeling the horrible guilt he felt before. That emotion had evolved into a much more complicated one. He was feeling guilty for the time he was now spending away since finding out and he was furious with Derek for never telling him. The man must surely have worked it out. That was just one of the many perks he discovered from being a werewolf. Being a werewolf not only gave him the heightened senses, strength and stamina but he had discovered his mate.

Another reason he needed the courage to return home was the alpha situation. Derek and Scott had managed to make two alphas work but he wasn't sure how it would work if he added himself to the mix. To be honest though he kinda hoped it would help if he ever made his way home because he had been playing peacemaker between the two of them for a couple of years before he left. Maybe he was deluding himself but he would never know if he didn't try. Or maybe since he had spent five years away from them, hurting them they might feel differently towards him.

"Stiles", came Mr Williams' voice as his head appeared in the doorway. "You have another customer." His boss opened the door wide and let the man behind him walk in before he said, "This is Deucalion."