A/N
Well. Here's chapter 5. I actually finished writing it a few days ago, but I was never satisfied with the way it starts...and I still haven't found anything good! Still I think it'd be bad to make you wait any longer!
Oh and I promised I'd make it up to you about last chapter being real short and kinda empty! Here goes! 2076 words without the notes! Officially the longest chapter I've ever written! (I think after that it's something like 1600 words for chapter 3 of "My best").
Now that you're correctly warmed up, let's go for chapter 5!
Chapter 5
Pack meeting was over and it was just the two of us staying at the Den. We were cuddled on the sofa watching a movie – a pretty boring one if you want my opinion, but the point wasn't so much about entertaining myself as to get an excuse to stick to his impressively muscled torso like an octopus so... who cared – when I suddenly remembered I'd been planning to ask him something whenever I got the chance.
So I just went for it.
-Hey, I was doing some research the other day, and I found something mentioned in that Bestiary about werewolves and mates and I was wondering if it really existed and how it worked.
He looked like he didn't want to talk about it, rather keep watching that movie where Mr Muscleman was saving the world from some kind of apocalypse while discovering that women weren't all air-headed bitches who broke your heart on the first occasion and could actually help when you're saving the world. Still he, Derek not Muscleman, turned his look away from the movie – and let's face it, how could he watch a dumb movie when he actually had the most awesomest boyfriend ever interested in stuff about him? – to look at me, answering my question with another question.
-How much did you read about it?
-Well, it really didn't say much, just a few stuff about destiny and how it was only legends. So does it really happen? Has it ever happened to you?
-Yes it is a real thing, and yes it did happen to me. You're it for me.
He just said that as if I was supposed to understand what it meant, or pretend like I didn't care about it. But, hey! I did!
- ER...Okay, good... I'm not really sure what that entails but let's say it's a good thing !
Derek sighed in exasperation. Well not that much, but at least high annoyance! I'm not even sure that's it, he can't really get mad at me anymore since I'm like his own personal brown-eyed Teddy bear. I swear the guy is such a cuddles freak, you wouldn't know at first sight, with him appearing, you know, all broody and like he wants to kill anyone who gives him the wrong look.
-Yes, it is a good thing, he said sounding fed up but still giving me a very fond look. Told you the guy was a softy!
-Should I just believe you? You just say this without any further explanation! For all I know, it could mean that you're gonna have me sacrificed by a one-legged-gnome from the North forest, dancing in the middle of twelve ham-coated tiny statues!
His look after I said that – in only one breath ladies and gentlemen – was priceless. I really wished I could immortalize that moment...Oh wait I could! Just needed to take my phone out and...Dang it! He can be so fast at collecting himself! I couldn't even finish thinking about taking my phone out that he was already back to his usual controlled self and scowling at me.
-How the hell do you even come up with this? Do you have a book about the worst jokes anyone can come up with?
-I actually do, I answered (almost) sarcastically. But it's not where it came from, that was actually a quote from this hilarious webseries I discovered...
Okay so, judging by the scowl still being there, and the frown getting more pronounced by the minute, I deduced he didn't feel like hearing about this for the moment...or you know, that he didn't give a freaking shit about it. So I just shut my mouth, tight-lipped – oh I can see it coming, you know I can do it...sometimes – and just let him speak.
-To answer you, no, being my mate does not mean I'm gonna experiment suspicious rituals on you but–
-Oh, too bad, I interrupted him, cause I could be into it. I mean as long as it doesn't get me killed, 'cause it would kinda ruin the mood for me, see what I mean?
Hum... now I could see how close I could get to having my limbs torn off one by one. Doesn't feel good being in this position, I tell you. I just stopped and literally bit my tongue to stop myself from adding anything else that would get me executed on the spot. 'Cause you see, we'd been together for what? Almost 4 months already? And we hadn't gone any further than heated make out sessions, and I really didn't want to die before getting some of this! Have you seen the guy? He's like a walking underwear commercial! With those pecs, and abs, and biceps and triceps and quadriceps, and Gawd! That butt! And (although I can't say for sure yet) most probably that–
-Enough fantasizing about me?, he interrupted my train of thoughts with the faintest smirk. Maybe we could get back on track with this conversation?
He didn't really give me the choice. I think I just imagined that question mark at the end of the sentence. But at least I understood it was in my best interest not to say anything about this.
-So... he took some time to carry on, testing me I think. Being mates means we are... ( I could see his hesitation, which was weird because, hey Derek Hale could've been the poster child for self-confidence...) STILES!
What?!
-You're rambling again!
-What? I didn't even say a word!
-In your head!
What the... He was reading my mind now?
-No I'm not reading your mind, it's just obvious what you're thinking!
-Okay, this is totally the proof that you are reading my mind!
-This is not the point ,he said, separating each word. What I was saying is... being mates means we are made for each other.
-I could have told you tha–
-Please! Let me finish. It means we were always destined to be together. It's a werewolf thing. From the moment I first saw you I knew you were my mate because all the... call that symptoms, were there.
-What kind of symptoms?
-Your smell, your voice, your appearance... everything I could see or hear about you was appealing to me. Like nothing else ever was. And after that, whenever you weren't around, I felt empty.
-You mean it was like love at first sight?
-No! Definitely not! I mean I pretty much hated you from day one. I was attracted to you but I couldn't suffer you at all!
I gaped at that. How could he even say that.
-What I mean, he went on, is when we met, I could only feel the pull, and the way that every physical thing about you was meant for me. And then after some time, when I got to know you more, I started to appreciate you and it quickly grew into love.
-Weird.
Really Stiles? You're an example to anyone who wish they were aces at witty comments and snappy replies, and that's all you got? I'm not proud of you.
-But I guess I can get that. Or at least process it. Just a question, why didn't I feel it?
-Because you're human, so you weren't as affected by it as I was. At most you just felt physically attracted for unknown reasons, but that's all. You're not as sensitive to all the mystique behind it.
Huh. That made sense. Plus it was kinda true. That I was attracted at the beginning without knowing why.
-And what else does that change that I'm a human? I mean it's bound to be a problem at some point! And that I'm a guy!? Oh man, tell me there's no supernatural Mpreg shit going on with you wolves!
-No there isn't! And it doesn't really matter because the point of the mating process is , unlike the name suggests, not to reproduce. I guess it should be called soulmating, because it's more about finding the ideal anchor, the perfect stabilizing element for a werewolf. So, no problem with you being a guy. And as for being human...
I could see he didn't want to tell me about this part but I gave him an insistent look.
-It only means that since it doesn't really affect you... you could walk away, and you wouldn't suffer about it.
Implying that he would. I could get why he didn't want to say that.
We were silent for a moment, avoiding each other's look, until I manned up – someone had to – cupped his face with my hands and turned it so he was forced to look at me. I leaned up and I just whispered against his lips :
-I'm not going anywhere.
And I brushed my lips on his in a light but lingering kiss. We fell silent again for a few seconds, our foreheads connected, breathing from the other's mouth...
And then I couldn't take it. Being silent was definitely not for me! I leaned back and asked as if no dramatically romantic moment had just happened :
-Okay, one more question. Why didn't Scott tell me about this? Does that mean that Allison's not his mate? Cause dude I will not believe you if you say so!
-I don't know if they're mates.
He was struggling a bit to gather his thoughts and I couldn't help a smug smile at the thought that I could unsettle him that much. But he still went on.
-I think I remember my parents telling me that usually, only born werewolves really felt the pull. I think it was something like any wolf feels it but it takes a lot of experience with relationships while being a werewolf to be able to distinguish it from any other attraction feeling. Sometimes it gets obvious, like seeing how affected Boyd was... From Scott's behavior I would say that what Allison and him have looks a lot like mating, but no one can know for sure except for the werewolves themselves, who they're mated to.
-Hum. And one more question?
This time he was obviously pretending to be pissed.
-Has Peter found his mate?, I asked hesitantly.
-Well, there's a reason he went ballistic after the fire when Laura and I didn't.
-Oh.
Was all I could say. I kind of expected that, but still, it sucks for him. I almost pity the guy... But at the same time, he is a psycho who almost killed everyone dear to me at some point so...
Silence settled again, but this time, Derek was the one to break it.
-I know about Cora too.
-Really?!, my curiosity was at it's highest. I may or may not be exaggerating.
-Why do you think I haven't killed Isaac yet?
I looked at him with eyes the size of basket balls. Baseballs? Definitely golf balls!
-Wow! Who would've thought, huh?
I took a few seconds before I said anything else.
-Okay last question...probably. Why didn't you tell me earlier? I had to verbally torture you to get you to tell me all that! Why?
-Because. I didn't want to freak you out, or make you feel like we were forced to be together. And I didn't think it would matter anyway since you can't tell it happened.
-Well it does matter! I said giving him my best angry frown. And judging by the look on his face it was pretty convincing.
I smiled and continued.
-Because that means that you wanted to jump me from the beginning, and trust me, that's valuable information if, or should I say when, I want to blackmail you!
He relaxed and played along.
-Oh that would be terrible! And may I ask, what kind of things you would force me to do?
-First off, I will have you take me... I didn't miss the mischievous spark that lit in his eyes as I lingered to let him imagine a lot of various things (probably involving one of us with less clothing than usual...or both of us!).
-...on our first official date as mates.
He looked almost disappointed until I added;
-And then many other different stuff.
I put a small kiss in the crook of his neck before moving away from the couch we were seated on.
Damn I really could do anything to see that playful and kind of frustrated smile of his...
A/N
To anyone who recognized the reference to the French podcast series "Le donjon de Naheulbeuk" : you're good people.
Anyways. How did you like Stiles POV for once?
I planned to write this chapter from the moment I started on chapter 2 (which was actually the first I worked on for this story), and it was certified with chap 1. I wanted a chance to have Derek explain how finding your mate isn't falling in love but more like knowing who you're most probably gonna fall in love with. I like the idea of them being made for each other but still actually having the choice.
Another thing. I'm not against writing or reading Mpreg (and it's kinda funny how I like it only in a Sterek stories!). I actually contemplated putting one in this story because wouldn't having Sterek cubs the best thing ever! But the thing is, I'm trying to stick to the original series as much as possible (you've probably noticed I haven't changed anything in the scenario so far, just added new thoughts to the characters) so I'm not putting anything that is probably not possible in the series... Although all my work is kinda ruined since the beginning of season 3 and the introduction of the evil – at least to any Sterek-shipper – Jennifer (damn you screen-writers!). So yeah, no Mpreg in this story... Plus I find Stiles reaction to this idea so funny!
Last piece of useless commenting... actually kinda useful! I'm not even close to getting started on the next chapter yet. I have a couple of ideas but I also have a freaking 30 pages report to write due 2-3 weeks from now so, just to say, please don't hate me if I don't update very soon!
(Those Author's notes are getting longer and longer with each chapter.)