Author's Note: So since it's a holiday and I am procrastinating doing my homework, I figured I'd post another chapter. It's also my way of apologizing for taking so long to post last time. I hope you like it. P.S. I got a review asking for Stiles to have some magical powers, but I like Human!Stiles. It makes him be even more badass because he doesn't need enhanced abilities to keep up with the werewolves. Now back to the story

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Chapter 17

Stiles POV

I spent the next day planning for what I was going to do. I might've told Derek that I would help Lydia survey the southern perimeter, but that is only a half truth. I do plan on going there but once I tell Lydia my plan, I will definitely make my way up to the warehouse.

I know that intervening in a werewolf battle is not the smartest decision that I have ever made, but I can't just sit idly by and hear about what happened to the pack from some other source. There are people that I really care about that are going to be fighting tonight, I don't think I sit somewhere and just hope for the best.

Do you have any idea how devastating it is going to be to find out that Scott was injured? Or Allison? Or Derek? Or Anyone? Scott is my brother. We've been best bros since forever and I don't want anything to happen to him. I still feel guilty about dragging him into this whole mess in the first place, I have to make sure he's ok.

I know that I shouldn't worry about Derek, I mean he is the Alpha, but I do. He has the horrible trait of self-loathing. He blames himself for everything bad that has ever happened. He won't think anything of being hurt in battle, as long as his pack is safe. That's where his stupidity comes in to play. He is more than willing to get himself killed for one of his pack members. I do think that that is a very admirable trait but at the same time that means that his focus is not fully on whoever he is facing, it's on the entire battle, which leads him to be in more danger. I can't risk him getting hurt. I know that these feelings I have may not lead to anything, but I still deeply care for him and I don't want to know what it will be like to hear that he didn't survive or that he was severely injured.

I have to be there, I have to protect my pack if all else fails. I won't jump into it. I plan on sitting outside the warehouse where I can have a clear line of sight so I can intervene if necessary. I am hoping that everything goes easy and they won't even need to know that I was there, but when has life ever been easy for us? If it does look like they are being overwhelmed, then I will step in. If I use the crossbow that I have, it will allow my presence to remain silenced. A gun will draw their eyes straight towards my location, but a crossbow could be fired from anywhere. Though I am more trained with a gun, it looks like tonight a crossbow will be my weapon of choice.

I'm so lost in my thoughts that I fall out of my bed at the sound of a knocking on my window. I look up to see Scott laughing at me through my window. He lifts it up and climbs in, still rocking with laughter. "Dude, you should've seen your face."

I groan and glare at him. "Haha, what do you want?"

"I'm just here to make sure that you aren't going to be doing anything stupid tonight."

Luckily, spending all my time with werewolves has led to my ability to lie without detection. "I'm not planning on doing anything tonight, besides meeting up with Lydia at the southern border of the industrial area." Not a lie. I'm going to meet up with her but then tell her my plan. After her yelling at me for 5 minutes, which we all know will happen, I will head up to the warehouse.

"What? You're meeting up with Lydia?"

"Derek didn't tell you?" Of course he didn't, Derek still has a problem with telling everyone everything. "In an attempt to keep me from coming to the fight, he has asked me to patrol the southern border with Lydia to make sure there are no wolves that are attempting a surprise attack from behind."

"Well that sounds like a good idea. But you guys are just going to let us know when you see one right? You're not going to fight them, are you?"

"No, I won't fight any werewolves that cross from the perimeter." Not a lie. "Lydia will radio if one is spotted." Also not a lie.

"Good. Want to do something while we wait? I don't have to be at the warehouse for another hour. When are you meeting up with Lydia?"

"In half an hour. I should probably start getting ready. Do you need me to give you a ride to the warehouse or anything?"

"Why? So you can figure out which warehouse we're going to be in and have an easier time following us? No thank you." I don't know if I should be shocked or not that Scott would guess my plan, but I have to pretend like I have no idea what he is talking about. Oh and crap, I guess I forgot about that whole 'knowing where the fight is' part. Oh well I guess I could always follow the sound of snarling.

"I told you. I'm meeting up with Lydia."

"Well I'm glad you're not being an idiot. I plan on catching a ride with Allison and her father. That should be an interesting car ride. A werewolf in a car full of hunters."

"Don't worry, they won't kill you, then. Maybe during the fight." I say giving him one of my best sarcastic smirks.

"Shut up, you ass. Well be safe tonight. I swear I will come find you as soon as the battle is done."

"Be safe."

He laughs at me. "I sure will, Mom." I throw my shoe at him, missing as he jumps out of the window.

I start to look around the room, trying to find my crossbow and the few arrows I have. Maybe I can run by Allison's place and pick up a few more. I could always say that I have it for protection tonight. No, she'd only say that I should use my gun since I am better with it. I guess I'll have to deal with what I've got.

Once I have everything I need together I head out of the house and go to pick up Lydia. She wasn't exactly happy about having me drive, but my jeep is a bit sturdier than her tiny car. We drove in silence until we got to where we agreed to sit and wait.

"I hate this, why do we have patrol duty again?" She complained, playing with her phone.

"Because Derek thinks that us 'weak humans' can't do anything besides get themselves hurt and/or everyone else."

"Well that is bullshit. I seem to remember knocking out a few baddies and whipping up Molotov cocktails that kills any mythical beast we've had to deal with."

"You don't have to argue with me. I definitely feel like we are an asset rather than a hinderace. Which is why I am going to ask you a huge favor?" I say with one of my best 'please' smiles.

"You want me to stay here and keep patrol so that you can go and check to make sure no one gets hurt during the fight." Ok, that was not what I was expecting.

"How did you know that I was going to say that?"

"Because you have a massive crush on Derek–"

"What? No I don't." How the hell does she know that? Maybe she is Psychic?

"Yes you do. You really think I didn't notice how you were hiding from the pack for those weeks and how when you look at Derek your eyes sometimes glaze over? You like him, I can tell."

"There's no point in me denying it, is there?"

"Nope. I understand why you want to be there. I feel the same way, but you have to understand that Derek wants you safe. He likes you too."

"What? No he doesn't!"

"Well, he doesn't realize he does, but he will eventually."

"What are you talking about?"

"Derek is really protective of you. He always pairs himself up with you."

"That's because I'm human and a member of his pack."

"Out of the two of us, you are definitely not the weakest. If he really wanted to protect someone who needed to be protected, he would pair himself up with me. But he doesn't."

I thought it over for a second. She couldn't be right about that. Derek doesn't look at me that way, and why would he? He is older and hotter and better overall. Why would he like me?

"You're wrong. He doesn't like me. If he did, I think I would notice that."

"He doesn't know it yet. He doesn't realize that he has those feelings for you. He is hardest on himself. He thinks that he doesn't deserve anyone so he shuts off the part of his mind that associates with it. He feels the need to protect you, but he thinks it is just because you're human. But trust me, it's more than that. I can tell."

"Well, we both know that if what you say is true–"

"Which it is"

"Fine. It will never happen. But I do need to make sure that he and everyone else are safe. So can you please cover for me?"

"Sure." I turn to walk away, "but promise me that you'll be safe. I don't want to hear about you getting yourself hurt by trying to be a hero."

I turn to give a half-smile. "We both know that I'm not a hero." Before I can hear her response, I run off in the direction of the warehouses. Even if Lydia was right, nothing was going to happen between myself and Derek. Derek could never be with someone like me. It's something that I've come to accept. But I still have to be there to make sure he's safe. I have to protect my pack.

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Author's Note: So we're coming up on the big fight scene. I swear I will try to post it as soon as I can. I really don't want to do my homework so I may even get it up by tomorrow. Thank you so much for reading and please review.