Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Wolf or its characters
These drabbles can be read chronologically or not. Dealer's choice. I'm writing them in a progression style but they all pretty much stand alone.
A chorus of soft grunts and pants echoes through the loft quiet as Derek works through the motion of his typical calisthenics routine. It's a standard ritual that he performs almost every day, without fail, and has it memorized to the point he could do it in his sleep.
The heavy thud that sounds when Derek drops down from the pull up bar echoes too. He glances at the bar, seeming to consider another set, but nods as if to say to himself 'that's enough' and wipes the sweat from his brow with the hem of his shirt.
After he does though, he grimaces. Now that he's not in the moment he takes notice that he is fairly sweat and gross and decides that a shower is in order before he does anything else (probably read. He likes to read and relax after a workout).
He winds up the stairs to the second floor where his room is. Cora is out, doing…Cora things with Boyd and Erica, so he doesn't feel ashamed when he takes off his shirt halfway down the hall and throws it into his room before entering. Derek halts in the doorway, however, as he's greeted by the long, strong, pale expanse of back.
"Oh hey," Isaac says as he turns half way around and throws on his shirt.
"Hey," Derek greets in his normal gruff demeanor, now no longer distracted by Isaac's back and skin. "You headin' out?"
"Y-Yeah, I was…gonna go hand out with Scott and Stiles." Derek can tell that the last bit is added as a second thought. He can tell by the shifting of his eyes and picking at the hem of his shirt sleeves that he's worried Derek won't approve. That he'll be angry that his Beta is socializing with another wolf outside of the pack. He's not though. He's never begrudged Scott his decision not to join the pack, despite what others think. It was Scott's decision to make and if he made it despite Derek's (loud) opinion on the subject (strictly for the others safety of course) then so be it. If Scott changed his mind, he's welcome to join the pack; with only minimal hazing on the part of the others he's sure. If not, then Derek isn't worried that Isaac will leave to be an Omega with McCall. He knows what will happen to him without the strength and security of a pack. And he knows where his pack and home is.
"Give them my best then." Derek tells him as he walks further into the room so it doesn't look like he's brigading the exit.
Isaac smiles, seeing that he's not in trouble or that Derek isn't angry with him. "Ok. I will." He tells him and claps Derek on the shoulder, giving it a squeeze as he passes.
Derek goes ridged but then untenses when the other leaves. He probably should have come up with a better excuse for why he did that to Isaac so often then 'pack members use touch to signify bound'. Now he's worried that Isaac has caught up on it and will be touching him more often. Or worse, he'll catch on.
Thankfully, Isaac is still learning. So he believes the lies, or rather fibs, Derek tells him to alleviate suspicion. Like how it wasn't a big deal for him to be living with him, or that he was now allowed to share a part of his room, or that it was normal for them to sleep curled up together because it was strictly for the basis of warmth and pack strength.
Yeah….that was it….
He feels horrible about it, using his position and knowledge as both the Alpha and more experienced werewolf to take advantage of Isaac's trust but…he's selfish.
The way Isaac looks at him, with that bright smile and shining eyes like he has all the answers and is finally doing something right, is something that he craves. And, if he were being honest with himself, it's not just that feeling Isaac gives him that he craves.
Derek shakes his head, as if he can literally discard the thoughts with the motion, and pulls out a fresh shirt from his drawer.
"Isaac!" He bellows and hears the boy bound back up the stairs on long legs, several steps at a time.
"Yeah?" The teen asks as he peaks his head in from around the door.
"Have you been wearing my clothes?"
Derek holds up the shirt in question that so obviously smells like Isaac. It had been refolded and shoved back into the drawer carefully in order to deter suspicion of it being moved. But Derek can smell it. The Beta's scent is all over the garment and probably others since it's been put back.
"Um…no. I picked that shirt up by accident yesterday thinking it was mine." Isaac says, rubbing the back of his neck to let Derek suspect that it's not the whole truth but truth enough. "I only wore it for like a second it still should be-"It's fine. I was just wondering." Derek cuts in.
The other male nods and makes some sort of gesture signifying that he's going to go and Derek nods.
When he hears the front door of the loft slide closed Derek looks at the olive shirt in hand and wonders what to do with it. Tentatively he lifts to his nose and smells, picturing Isaac in it and thinking that he'd look good in green but even better in his green shirt. His wolf growls possessively in approval and Derek drops the shirt to the floor and riffles out a new one.
He ends up washing all the shirts in the drawer along with the olive shirt. As suspected they all reek of Isaac and Derek can't handle his clothes smelling like the Beta.
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*-Fun facts about wolves (because some people were confused): Though wolves are a pack, 'grouping' species by nature the idea of personal space is still very defined in a pack. Getting too close to another wolf in the pack, if unwarranted, may be considered a hostel gesture and thereby instigating conflict between the members. Traditional instances of touch are usually reserved for communication, grooming, and conservation of heat in cold months than actual affection. This rule has one exception where in 'courting' wolves touch frequently before becoming mates (and wolves mate for life).
Also-in a den the Alpha male or female is typically always give a selected, 'prime real estate' spot in the den that is off limits to the other members. Except, of course, for the Alpha's mate (and eventual pups before they become full members)