Stiles was plotting how to kill the coach slowly - he had seriously planned murders one through fifty one. His ADHD meant that it wasn't just idle passing thoughts they were creative, well thought out plans down to how he could evade capture. It really was a bad thing that he'd spent so much time around law enforcement as that meant he knew the ins-and-outs of the system.
Still the coach had decided that since the sudden upsurge in the Lacrosse team success - he was gonna take most of the first string, and this year that had included Stiles, to a track and field meet. In his words, he was taking advantage of all the suicide runs that he made them run. The bit that all the teens had an issue with was where they were all signed up without their permission; the Coach had circumvented them and gone straight to their parents for permission.
Stiles did not like the idea of going to the neighbouring county for the meet. It meant the pack was split - the only small mercy and small mercy was all it was –the Alpha's pack was split as Thing One and Thing Two were on the bus with them. It seemed that they were smart enough not to challenge Stiles again, and he may or may not have bought his baseball bat with him. It was his special bat one that Derek would be jealous if he could actually hold it.
Finstock raised an eyebrow and barked, "Stilinski!"
"Yes coach. This is a track and field meet." He explained as if Stiles' IQ was about thirty points lower.
Stiles smirked, "I know but me and few of the guys want a game when we get to the motel."
Finstock snickered, "Who wants to play with you?"
He frowned when Jackson, Danny, Scott, Boyd and Isaac raised their hands. "Huh since when did you get popular?"
Stiles shrugged but he figured it was probably around the time that Lydia got a hold of his wardrobe; he started dating Derek and the cool kids started talking to him and not knocking him into the walls. "What can I say no is immune to the Stilinski charm."
The annoying part of having bantered with the coach was that Danny was now sitting next to one of the menace twins. He wasn't sure what to think about Ethan; on the one hand - he was part of the Alpha pack, but on the other hand - he was looking at Danny like he hung the stars. Having been around enough mated couples, and being part of one himself he knew that wolves only tended to look like that around their true mates. Of course, one of the pack would have find their mate with an enemy pack - it wasn't like the rest of the pack didn't have enough star-crossed lovers.
Still Stiles wasn't Scott, and as much as he loved his friend - his friend didn't quite see the world the same way he did. He looked at Jackson who was sitting in the sits behind his best friend, and Jackson was more than okay with Stiles sitting with him to help protect Danny. Okay so Finstock looking like the world was about to end was an added bonus; one that had Jackson and Stiles sharing a smirk or two. Jackson had not forgiven the coach for making him a Co-captain.
Stiles was not about to let their newest pack member suffer - if he was in love that was one thing, but he would be warned and forearmed and that was all they could do. Stiles was stumped about how he get through to Danny - it was not like on a closed cramped bus he could yell, 'watch out you're next to a psycho wolf.'
The fact that said wolf was sitting next to him meant he couldn't say anything quietly as he would be heard. He looked to Jackson to see if the beta had any ideas and got a shrug in return. Stiles pondered the problem and figured if everyone knew him as the annoying ADHD kid why not play up to type? He started with one text, followed by another, and another, and another. He didn't stop until success had been scored.
Also Jackson uttered about blackmail proof as he finally had proof that his best friend was not perfect. Still Stilinksi's plan had worked, the continual texts had pinged that just maybe something was wrong. So when Thing One asked, "Is everything okay with you?"
Danny quirked an eyebrow suspiciously, "I was just wondering the same thing about you."
It was the first small success that they had had on what was fast becoming the journey from hell. Stiles had never seen tailbacks this bad ever; this traffic was ridiculous and the bus was too cramped and enclosed for his pups. "Do you need a break?"
Ostensibly anyone who was listening would assume he was just talking to Jackson but he looked at Scott, Boyd and Isaac as well as they were on the backseats behind them. Once he got nods from all of them he started to plot anew. He didn't mind, and it let his brain contemplate a new problem. The wolves would need off the bus as this bus was fast becoming like a cage and the last thing he needed was five pups all wolfing out and fighting. He didn't think that Coach Finstock's whistle would be enough to get them to separate. He was just glad that creepy Jared was taking up all of the coach's focus right now.
Stiles figured that the best thing would be to go with the direct approach, "Hey coach can we have a break please."
He managed to stretch out the please, and added extra adorable pout and puppy dog eyes at the ends. His favourite bit was where all of his pups added on a please at the end, and added their own puppy dog eyes.
Finstock was wavering he missed the old days; he missed the days where he could use divide and conquer amongst the players. Admittedly since they had gelled and become friends they'd started winning but they were also harder to control so really it was a catch-22 for him.
He shook his head trying to firm his resolve; he would not bow to the puppy dog eyes. He wouldn't bow; no siree not Bobby Finstock but then the Lahey kid added his own puppy dog eyes and damn Stilinski and his friends. "The next exit we'll stop."
Stiles smiled in relief, "Thanks coach my next plan was to make Jared sick."
Finstock looked at the kid and realised that he was deadly serious, which made him glad that for once he'd let the whiners win. The last thing he needed on what was fast becoming a hellish journey was for the bus to stink of sick. He shook his head in fond bemusement as annoying as Stilinski could be - life was never boring around him that was for sure. Finstock was just glad that so far Stilinski hadn't put his immense brain to evil pursuits. He'd been a little worried but ironically his friendship/whatever the hell he was calling it with the Hale boy seemed to have settled him. "I'm glad that you have never used your powers for evil."
The grin he got in return was angelic, which was just wrong as he knew all too well - how well the kid could plan. He was just glad that he had promoted the kid to the first string as he was just that quick footed. He'd noticed in the last year; how the kid had gotten to the point where no one could tackle him because by the time the tackle came he simply wasn't there. "Thanks coach."
Stiles was certain that the bathroom break was a fantastic idea of his, and he'd yet to say anything to the wolves about the way their girls were following the bus. It just wasn't his place either they'd not said anything and the girls were pissed. In which case, he had no intention of getting between the girls and their prey, or, they were following without the wolves' knowledge in which case they should use their noses better.
He looked up at the sun, and was glad for the warmth he was a Cali kid and would always prefer the heat to the cold, even in cases like this where it was unbearably warm. "You gotta love the sun."
Jackson snorted, "Better if the murder twins weren't along for the ride."
Stiles grinned showing his teeth, "Hey now. Daddy Deucalion promised to punish anyone harming our pack. Then again that is if I leave enough left for him to punish."
The betas all smiled at that, content to know that no matter what happened the Alpha's mate would always have their back. The group wouldn't say it aloud lest Stiles' ego swelled to epic proportions but it was his compassion and loyalty that helped the pack bind into the unit was today. They all had matching eerie grins when the twins growled in response.
The pack was all coalesced around him, including Danny who was pouting. "It's not fair I like the guy and you say he is trying to murder you."
Jackson shrugged because really in the Hale pack trying to murder one of them was not really grounds to be excluded from the pack. There were very few in the pack, who could throw stones in that regard at least. Stiles was the one to answer, "You're a great guy and the last thing we want to see is you hurt. Just be careful."
Jackson grinned at Stiles as he'd unknowingly stumbled up on the best way to make Danny cautious. His friend loved with his whole heart and liked to throw himself in hundred percent with whoever he was with. Sometimes though he could be reckless and he would go with someone more because he was told that he shouldn't. This way, Danny would proceed with Ethan and Jackson privately wouldn't bet against his friend seducing Ethan away from the Alpha pack.
Danny blushed proving exactly why everyone loved him. "Okay thanks guys."
Bravely Danny actually walked over to Ethan and started talking to him making his twin brother scowl. He sent scowls in Stiles' direction as if he was to be held personally accountable for his twin liking Danny. Stiles just did his best to look as innocent as possible as he let the pack talk and buzz around him. In truth none of them was feeling too happy being away from their territory or Alpha. So at least by being around Stiles who smelled like their Alpha it helped soothe them if only a little so that they didn't feel like they were crawling out of their own skin.
Stiles was sympathetic and let them crowd him as much as they could get away with in human view without it looking weird. "You know when we are on our own I will let you hug me so hard and puppy pile me okay."
He got weak smiles back in return and that made him once again want to plot torture against Coach Finstock. "Let's just get through this run. It's not the preserve but you all like running."
They herded back onto the bus, and Stiles sent a quick text to Allison.
Little Red:Don't stay hidden and keep your eyes open I think someone is stalking us.
Hunter: Like what?
Little Red: Who the fuck knows with our luck? Let's just hoped it isn't our new virgin sacrificing friend.
He hadn't said anything just yet as Stiles was hoping beyond all hope that all this was in his head but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being stalked. He hoped it was nothing but ever since he'd started to run with wolves - his instincts about such things had developed into a fine art.
He did snort at Lydia's response. Queenie: Thank fuck that we've all taken care of that problem.
Stiles privately agreed, and was glad that Derek had not insisted that they wait. The thing was that he'd been only too happy to wait despite his famed protests to the contrary. Still after all of Derek's trauma with Kate Argent; he was only too happy to let Derek set the pace. Jackson sniffed the air and quirked an eyebrow at Stiles assuming that he would have the answer. Stiles chose to flash his cell over showing Lydia's message than actually voicing it. There was a tentative truce with the Alpha pack but that didn't mean that he was going to volunteer information about pack members that could be used against them.
After the fourth hour of the debacle even Stiles was struggling to see the funny side of it. And his over aiming goal in life had distilled down to something very simple - destroy the whistle. He couldn't help it; he sent a text to the pack on the bus. Little Red: Viva la revolution. We need that whistle!
It was light hearted and a bit of fun but Stiles felt that destroying the whistle would definitely go far in helping inter team harmony and cohesiveness. He was surprised when it was Danny who managed to lure the coach close enough; funnier when Ethan trapped the coach by them. Well Stiles was only too happy to take advantage of the situation. Quicker than even some of the werewolves could track Stiles hand shot out and unhooked the whistle from around the coach's neck.
Finstock's bellow was victory and sweetness in itself. He made grabby hands in Stiles direction, so Stilinski threw it to McCall who flailed around and it ended up out the bus. He shoved his head out of the window but the whistle was a lost cause. He was furious, but when he turned around he was faced with McCall's dopey face and he just couldn't believe that he was malicious. He could believe that Stilinski would do it in a heartbeat but McCall didn't have a devious bone in his body. Stilinski started haranguing his friend, which was amusing, "Damn Scotty we were only playing. Sorry Coach, I'll buy you a new one to say sorry." He said without an ounce of guile.
Finstock sighed because really this whole incident just summed up this entire trip - he hated the way he'd been made coach of the track and field. He hated it; he had no passion for it like Lacrosse but the fact that Stilinski was man enough to own up to it rather took the wind out of his sails, "Whatever Stilinski just make sure you keep your promise."
Finstock's cell broke the unnatural silence that pervaded the air. "Hello."
Seeing the coach crush his can in his hand, left Stiles to guess that he wasn't happy with the news - whatever it was. Finstock cursed a few more times under his breath before ending the call. Stiles knew he wasn't the only one who was wondering what the hell was going on. He was just the one brave enough to say something. "Coach?"
"Well kids the craptastic day gets better the meet is cancelled but we will have to stay overnight at the motel as it is too late."
Stiles rolled his eyes and sent a text to Erica. Little Red: Heading to the motel follow us.
Well if there was a small mercy it was that the pups would have their mates close by which would keep them anchored in the strange surroundings. Erica's text made Stiles smile, Catwoman: Puppy Pile!
Stiles wondered if he would ever miss the days where the most he ever wondered was whether or not Jackson was intending to shove him into a locker. Those days were simpler that much was true, but not necessarily happier, and he wouldn't sap for all the simple days in the world. Thinking of his mate he decided to get help as he still couldn't shake his feeling so he sent Derek a text. Little Red: Could be nothing but thinking bad druid is following us.
He didn't have to wait more than a few seconds for the reply to come through. It was simple and to the point - like Derek. Big Bad Wolf: I'm coming.
He was a 21st century boy and didn't need his man to feel safe but he wouldn't lie to himself and say that he wasn't happy that Derek was heading in their direction. He wanted the whole pack together - safe.
Stiles looked at the motel as they were pulling into the car pack - and he was not amused. It was creepy, dark and dank - not in the way that screamed we-charge-rooms-by-the-hour, but more that this was probably the real life example of the Shining, or, the Manager's name tag would read N Bates.
The girls stepped out of Lydia's car, and their wrinkled noses suggested that they were about as impressed by the shabby motel as he was, which was to say not very. Stiles grinned as the girls came over to them as the coach stomped off in direction of the entrance. Stiles didn't give a shit as he knew that no matter how the rooming fell the pups would end up sleeping with him in a sprawling puppy pile.
He hugged them fiercely, "I am so glad you are here!"
The girls cooed and melted in a way that would make their mates jealous, apart from the fact that they remembered Stiles was essentially Pack Mom and wouldn't do that to them. Oh, and Derek was possessive, and would rip the head off any one who looked at his mate in that way.
Their reunion was interrupted by the return of the coach; he snarled, "Boys, two to a room. Pick and I don't care just I don't want to hear of you getting up to any sexual perversions. "
He said this particularly looking at the pack members. Scott wrinkled his nose, "We are not like that."
Allison laughed at her boyfriend, and Lydia laughed at their combined innocence in the ways of pleasure.
Lydia smirked, "Well you are all very pretty and what other reason would we suddenly form a tight knit group."
Jackson smirked, "Well looks like Danny is taking up the opportunity to have two to a room."
Stiles rolled his eyes, "Who you gonna share with Jackson?"
Jackson eyes flashed to Lydia, which made Stiles smile. "Yes you can but until the coach does his final check who are you 'officially' sharing with?"
Jackson smirked, "You as it will make coaches head explode."
Well that is more than a good enough reason for Stiles as he heads forward to their room. He sees the puppy dog eyes he rolls his own eyes, "Oh My God. It is not like you all won't puppy pile me in minutes anyway."
Well that had been the plan but unlike at the pack house the pups were antsy. Stiles was stuck on a bed with the girls lying all over him. He took a minute to appreciate the irony of this - that now he could no longer appreciate it was when the action found him. They were all getting annoyed until Lydia snapped, "For fuck sake go and run."
The boys were all pouting, but it was true. Stiles could say from being a connoisseur of not being able to sit still. "Oh I'm with Erica go and run you will feel better."
Of course, all of the wolves bursting through the door at the same time meant they'd caught the attention of Coach Finstock.
Finstock burst through the door and Stiles could only wish that he had a camera to capture the sheer incredulous look on the coach's face. It was definitely a face that should be captured and immortalised. Well it was not every day that you walk in on a student who up until this last year was considered part of the 'losers' caste of the High-School on a bed with all the popular hot girls on his bed.
The coach opened his mouth once, and promptly closed it again; he did this several times and Stiles patiently waited for him to get his sentence out, mainly because the girls were still on top of him and he was too busy silently laughing. He was looking at the other bed where the boys should have been, but it was Stiles sending them on their run that had bought the coach to his door. "Stilinski I have no idea what you did over the summer but Kudos on raising your game. Although I think their boyfriends might object."
Stiles was laughing so hard and had to huff a stray piece of blonde hair out of the way. "Coach I will let you into the greatest secret about girls."
"What Stilinski?" He asked.
The shit eating grin made him regret ever asking but figured he'd asked so he should at least listen to the answer.
Stilinski, looking completely composed, "Well it is true what they say, 'Girls just want diamonds or a gay best friend to listen to them."
Finstock was bemused, "Stilinski since when are you gay?"
Lydia snickered, "Since he bagged Derek Hale."
They all tensed at hearing the howl. Stiles knew who was howling having long since been able to distinguish the distinct howls. As fun as winding the coach up was they needed him gone as Isaac was in trouble. Lydia was the one who spoke up, "You know Jared said he might throw up coach. You might wanna check before you lose your deposit."
Lydia was quick and that was just one of the reasons why he'd had such a long crush on her. They all waited the prerequisite amount of time, which was until they heard Finstock in someone else's room yelling at them before scrambling out of the door in the direction of the howls, especially as there was now more than one howl.
He hoped they got there in time and whoever hurt his pups better be gone.
Jennifer Blake was watching in satisfaction as her concoction worked - both of the twins who'd taken part in her beating were dosed with the hallucinogenic Wolfsbane. She'd followed them to the isolated hotel, and known that they would be unable to resist the urge to run. She had dosed the bushes by the motel running path with a little special Wolfsbane.
It was too bad when the Hale wolves were dosed at the same time. She had no quarrel with them unless they sided with Deucalion. She watched as the Hallucinogenic properties took hold and the werewolves natural aggression took care of the rest. The twin had set up on the curly blonde pup - it was tantamount to bullying and they were doing nothing for the stereotypes about pretty kids if they didn't know how many bones in the human body. She had to admire the sadistic side of testing it out on a live specimen - just a shame it was such a cute puppy. The fact that they were interrupted by another wolf was more fascinating. This one reeked of power and prophecy but he was not the Alpha of the territory.
If only she hadn't dispelled the mixture afterwards not wanting to leave a trace for Deucalion to trace her with. She wanted to scream in frustration as the Mage approached. He had the female beta with him, and if only she'd been dosed with the Wolfsbane as well, then he might have had his hands full. Alas that was not the case and as much as she would like to pretend otherwise she did not yet have the power to cross paths with a mage and kill Deucalion.
She had to prioritise and her revenge over Deucalion took precedence over her need to watch the twins downfall with her own eyes, besides as the Wolfsbane had progressed; it was all very Shakespearean - friend vs friend and brother vs brother. They would no doubt kill each other and that was good enough for her.
Stiles had reached the scene and froze at what he was seeing - personally he didn't give a shit if the power twins killed each other but the fact that Scott was facing off against Isaac and Boyd against Jackson - well that he had a big problem. "Flashlight and stay behind me, that includes you Erica."
Lydia thrust one into his hand and he deliberately shined the light into their eyes, feeling a lot like his Dad did on a drugs bust. Sure enough there was the tell-tale sign of being influenced - the bloodshot eyes told him everything. Only it was too bad that it wasn't simple drugs, as the werewolves would be able to metabolise it.
The wolves were all growling and crouching, it was clear that they were all planning to attack. This would not end well for anyone involved and the last thing Stiles needed was for a free-for-all puppy brawl especially when two of them had the unfair advantage of being Alphas.
Lydia and Allison screamed at the attack commencing clearly worried for their mates'. Well, Allison screamed for a second before remembering she was hunter and dipped to her back for a blade. Life was just less scary when you had a weapon in your hand.
Stiles didn't know what the fuck was wrong and this was going to suck but he couldn't let any of them get hurt. He steeled himself, "Follow me and stay close. Lydia I know you can fight but please stay close. I don't want you to be infected too."
The blonde beta struggled but ultimately she would obey the Alpha's mate. She wanted her mate to be okay and right now he was facing off against a pack member. It broke her heart and she had to chant in her mind 'under a spell'. She needed him to be okay but Stiles was right the last thing they needed was for her to fight and then she get infected too.
The girls followed Stiles into the centre of the area and watched in amazement as he threw up what could only be called a containment field if they were willing to admit to their geekdom. Stiles was panting as this was no small task even for a mage. He was containing the wolves - stopping them from killing each other, and he had cast a protective warded circle around him and the girls. This was going to make him crash so hard but as long as everyone was alive then he would be okay with that.
He doesn't think he just orders Lydia, "Lyds I need to know what the fuck they've been dosed with and how the fuck to counter it."
Lydia flips her phone out and she was really glad that she'd insisted that she get the cell phone model that had the net included. She is letting her brain work on overdrive, "Okay this sucks. They are werewolves ... they have."
Stiles had basically created little pockets to house each werewolf in, and one of them got the bright idea to charge at Stiles protective shield. In lighter situations, Stiles would have laughed his ass off at the way Jackson had bounced off the wall and yipped like he was a dog. In his frustration and mounting tiredness, "Oh shut up Cujo, you know better."
"Stiles!" Lydia growled.
"What?" Stiles whined, I mean come on poor guy was expending a lot of energy right now to make sure that everyone stayed in one piece. "This is taking a lot from me I need the counter yesterday Lydia."
She snapped right back. "You fucking translate Archaic Latin."
"I would but I'm keeping everyone alive right now." Stiles retorted.
Allison just sighed and hoped that her two genius friends could find a solution before they killed each other. As Stiles protection had a fatal flaw there was nothing to protect Stiles and Lydia from each other.
Stiles would dearly like to panic but knows that now is not the time and thanks his ADHD that allows him to focus on more than one problem at the same time. He has a brainwave, "Lydia look up types of Wolfsbane."
Ethan screamed, "You want to keep me from my mate."
Aiden rolled his eyes, "And you'll leave me for a human!"
Lydia bitched to Allison, "Lord save me from men and their dicks."
Allison laughed, "Not the time Lydia."
Erica snickered, "Hey now, sometimes it is their most useful part."
Lydia was continuing her reading and could guess which entry it was, "Got it. There is a spell counter it is done by Emissary's to let Wolves dream whilst healing."
Stiles snorted, "Well someone has adapted this Freddie Kruger Style."
Lydia couldn't argue with that, "Here please save him."
Stiles just kept his hands raised as he read through the phrasing. If there was one thing he'd learnt was that pronunciation mattered - after all that one time he'd ended up a girl for twenty four hours because he'd fluffed a stress. Finally he started, he was so glad that his mom had insisted he learn Gaelic and Polish, even if the Gaelic had seemed weird - more than a few spells required it.
He kept up the chanting and willed the Earth to help him free the wolves of the toxin in them. He knew he succeeded when they fell to their knees and black smoke poured from their noses. He was just grateful that they collapsed - it would be a bitch to get them back to their rooms but he wouldn't have to worry about a fight over misplaced aggression
The girls breathed easier when the danger passed, and ran to check on their mates. Stiles was pleased as they would heal faster with their mates. He was surprised to feel his own mate close by; so close in fact he was in the clearing. He was about to ask calmlywhy he was suddenly friends with Deucalion but couldn't channel the energy. Ah hell, he guessed with Derek appearing he felt like he could rest because between one breath and the next - the floor was coming up to meet him.
Derek moved forward with worry in his eyes as he watched Stiles tilt forward. He was in place to stop his mate falling but he was not happy that Stiles had collapsed into his arms; this was going to be hell if Finstock caught up to them. Not to mention there was the uneasy truce between him Deucalion.
Deucalion looks in the direction of Derek and even with unseeing eyes, "It is not your fault. It is the Darach."
Scott's eyes opened first perhaps testament to the fact that he was a true Alpha. He hugged Allison and then cried out, "Stiles."
He looked at Derek with worry in his eyes, after all this was his best friend, "Is he okay?"
Deucalion could growl in frustration or take a higher road and unwittingly the Darach had just leant him the keys to his victory. "Yes but he channelled and expelled a great deal of energy to keep all of you safe."
Scott sighed, "It's what he does." What he didn't add was the bit about where it was sometimes at the expense of himself.
All the awakened people were focussing on the Alpha's mate, who was content to snuggle into Derek's body. Tellingly he wasn't a sleep, "We'll help you deal with the bitch if you leave us alone after."
Scott, Allison and Lydia all laughed at the way Stiles could be sassy and bossy while in an exhausted sleep. It was even funnier when you took in Derek's face; the Alpha was torn between fond amusement and exasperation.
Derek was finding that since he'd mated with Stiles he was becoming use to this strange state of emotions. He looked over at the other Alpha to test how well he'd taken his mate's suggestion.
Derek wouldn't enjoy working with the Alpha pack but if this was the way to clear both threats out of Beacon Hills then he would suck it up and put his big girl pants on. It was disturbing that he could hear that in his head in his mate's voice.