Author's Note: Sorry it's so short... I just wanted to put this conversation in somewhere... Another chapter soon :)
"Tell me you told him," Derek said, looking at Stiles with raised eyebrows. They sat on the steps of Derek's disheveled porch—Stiles had insisted they do something other than sit in his room today. Though Derek had pointed out that "there's not much of my house to hang out in."
"Well he was a little shocked at first, but after he got over it, I think he handled it fine. It's just going to take some getting used to."
Derek looked ahead at nothing in particular, seeming to be somewhere else, thinking about something… After a moment, he said, "You know… You're the only one I've ever known that I don't feel… dominant to… that I don't feel the urge to control…" Stiles tilted his head slightly, "What do you mean…?" He didn't understand all this wolf stuff like Derek or Scott did.
"Let me try to explain it this way… Every time I'm around people… I just feel confidence. That's all, never any hesitation—that's why I seem to act so compulsively, you may have noticed. I can't help it. That's part of being an alpha—my natural instinct is to overpower, or protect, everyone around me, so I always feel in control of everything and everyone, and overwhelming confidence follows me. It's actually kind of annoying sometimes… But when I'm around you, I don't feel that way. I don't feel like I need to control you, and I don't feel confident all the time… You make me nervous, Stiles." He ended by looking right into Stiles' eyes. Stiles had actually never seen this part of Derek. It made him feel warm inside beyond belief. "Do you know the only other wolf that an alpha would feel that way about…?" Derek asked.
Stiles shook his head, kind of at a loss for words at the moment.
"His mate," Derek answered, leaving it to soak in. It was a heavy load to drop, especially on someone like Stiles, someone who was somewhat foreign to all the pack feelings.
"Okay so… define 'mate'…" Stiles said after a moment.
Derek gave him a look. "You know what that means, Stiles.
"Sorry, sorry… You know how I handle these things. I'm not good with big news…"
Derek couldn't help but give a small smile, "Stiles. I know. It's okay."
Stiles smiled back. They may not have looked like one of those sweet, tender couples in the way they acted, but deep down, they both somehow knew they felt that way. They had an almost animalistically deep and profound bond. It was an amazing, indescribable thing for Stiles… It was even kind of amazing for Derek, who had known what to expect, having been a wolf for so long. They were both leaning back on their palms, their hands only inches away. Stiles slid one finger out, touching Derek's hand, and Derek looked slowly down at it. His hands were larger, stronger than Stiles', but Stiles' were smoother, while Derek's were callused and rough, scarred and scratched from his battles. They sat there for a while longer, talking, never moving, their hands gently touching.