A/N: Obligatory copyright statement – I do not own Teen Wolf, nor any of the characters represented in this story.
Stiles grabbed a couple of sodas and went to sit on the couch to wait for Ethan. He kept thinking about Ethan's words, claimed mate. Stiles considered that he and Derek were mates even though Derek hadn't admitted it yet. The love between the two of them was something he'd never felt before, it was a powerful pull so he knew it was different and special. Perhaps Derek's reluctance to admit things came from his experience with Kate. Stiles still growls to himself when he thinks about her and wishes he could've had the opportunity to kill her himself for the damage she inflicted on Derek for no other reason than he was a different species than her. He has thought of digging up her grave and salting and burning her bones as a precaution against anything that might happen in the future. Man I watch way too much 'Supernatural.' He chuckles quietly to himself as Ethan comes out of the bathroom.
"What's so funny?" Ethan says as he sits next to Stiles on the couch. Stiles grins as he asks, "If I dug up a body and salted and burned the corpse, would that send their soul straight to Hell? Sort of a prevention tactic, like in Supernatural."
Ethan openly laughs, "Wincest or Destiel? And to answer your question; I'm not entirely sure, I've never had to deal with demons or malevolent spirits."
Stiles smirks as he shifts on the couch to get more comfortable, "Destiel every time!" Ethan chuckles and the atmosphere in the cabin gradually settles. "So tell me what you meant by claimed mate." Stiles prompts.
Ethan looks at him thoughtfully for a moment, "How much do you know about werewolf mates and the lore associated?" Stiles responds, "I've researched a lot, but nothing concrete I guess. I always thought Derek would let me know if there was anything important I needed to know. Then again, he hasn't actually told me I was his mate, so maybe he doesn't know or maybe I'm not what he wants in a mate." Stiles' eyes flick downward and he visibly deflates as the second part of his confession sinks in and settles in his stomach.
"Stiles, I'm sure that's not the case," Ethan reaches out a comforting hand and places it on Stiles wrist as Stiles looks at him with wide and vulnerable eyes, searching out the truth in his statement. "Let me tell you the history of the werewolf mate lore and the difference between mates and true mates before you jump to any conclusions." Stiles nods and relaxes against the couch as Ethan begins his explanation.
"Now then, a lot of werewolf mate lore can be equated to the human ideals of marriage. The main difference involves the lack of the 'divorce' concept for werewolves. Werewolves mate for life, and it's literally a 'death do us part' scenario as when one partner dies, the other is quick to follow. That changes when a human is mate. If the human dies, the wolf will follow or go feral; but if the wolf dies, the human usually lives. It also changes when the human is the Alpha's Mate, as the human doesn't stay human for long because it is unsafe for the pack to have a vulnerable Alpha through a vulnerable mate." Stiles nods as he follows along, processing and filing all of this information away. Internally his heart is sinking because he's asked Derek for the bite but has been refused, which must mean that he's not Derek's mate.
He tunes back in as Ethan stopped talking and is looking at him as though he's expecting a response. Stiles blushes as he says, "Sorry, I got lost in my head for a minute after you mentioned the Alpha's Mate being turned. What was the next part?" Ethan sighs fondly as he repeats, "What has your research revealed about mates versus true mates?"
Stiles looks confused as he says, "I didn't know there was a difference. I've never run across the term true mate in any of the research I've seen."
"That's because true mates are very rare and the information is only passed along when a true mate couple finds each other and bonds. Any werewolf can have a mate, but not all werewolves have true mates. For example, a werewolf with a true mate will always feel them and seek them out. They will never be able to properly mate with anyone else." Ethan replies looking lost in a happy memory. "My parents were a true mate couple. They would tell Aiden and me stories and fairytales as children about true love and true mates. When they died and the Alpha power was passed along to me, I received their memories and the information about true mates." Ethan stops for a moment on a shuddering breath.
Stiles gives him the pause before deciding to switch subjects briefly, "So how did Aiden also become an Alpha?" That seems to have snapped Ethan out of his melancholy. "A rival pack attacked us after our parents' death to try and steal our territory, but Aiden ripped the Alpha's head off as it had me pinned and was going for my throat. He didn't get the Alpha's memories because the transfer doesn't work when the death is violent." Stiles reaches out and lays a comforting hand on Ethan's leg but doesn't say anything, hoping that the gesture conveys his sense of sorrow for his loss.
Wanting to switch subjects back to mates, Stiles asks his next question. "So if the true mate bond is only passed from one couple to another, is there a reason you brought it up with me?"
Ethan visibly shakes himself out of his memories, thankful for Stiles subject changes as he responds, "There is a reason that I wanted to date you Stiles. You are so fiercely loyal to your pack and your friends. You would make an amazing mate for any wolf." A blush appears on Stiles cheeks but Ethan continues before he can say anything. "However, after seeing Derek's reaction to my courting I realized that he already loved you and wanted you as a mate. Then I watched for your reaction and saw that love and affection mirrored. So I knew it was a lost cause on my part."
Stiles is stunned and his mouth opens and closes searching for words while his emotions flicker from elation to sorrow, confusion to compassion, but end up neutral as his mouth closes and lips thin. Pain and jealousy calm the storm of emotions as he remembers that he is here for answers on how to deal with Derek's forced infidelity during Erica's heats.
Ethan picks up on the emotions but decides not to comment. "I believe that with that amount of love and affection flowing between you two, you are a true mate couple. You were made for each other and can love no one else." Stiles flinches as he asks his next question, "How does any of this affect heats in female betas?" Ethan's eyes go wide in comprehension as he remembers the Hale pack has a female beta. His eyes narrow and flash red as his anger bleeds through in realization. The puzzle pieces of this surprise requested visit are slotting together and he is pissed as Hale's stupidity.
"Tell me that is not why you are here." Ethan says in barely controlled rage. "Tell me that Hale is not as stupid as I think he is and is not fucking his beta while his mate remains unclaimed. Tell me that is not the case before I go there and castrate him while ripping out the beta's uterus with wolfsbane laced instruments."
Stiles looks suitably frightened at the threats against his pack and holds his hands up in a placating manner as he says, "Ethan, calm down. I cannot allow you to attack my pack unprovoked." Ethan blinks, as he reigns in his anger and his claws and fangs recede though his eyes remain red. Stiles smirks slightly after the tension is diffused, "A wolfsbane coated scalpel for neutering, huh? I'll have to remember that next time Jackson starts being a douche." They both chuckle as the anger is momentarily forgotten.
"Yes, that is why I am here and asking you these questions. I don't think Derek knows about all of the mating lore as his family died when he was 16. I've been having the betas go to his uncle with questions about mates and mating, but I refuse to cause he makes me slightly uncomfortable in that pedophile-sleaze ball kind of way." Stiles shivers at the thought of getting 'The Talk' from Peter. "Erica's heats started after you guys left and things went back to normal. We tried to let it pass with her mate helping, but apparently only Derek's knot will alleviate the heat. She's on some powerful contraceptives, but I know it's just a matter of time before she gets pregnant and if that happens…" Stiles trails off and slumps in misery.
Ethan understands the unfinished sentence but is also a little worried. "Stiles, if you are his true mate, then he shouldn't be able to impregnate her. But he should have given you a claiming bite, which for an Alpha's mate is a turning bite, and then the heats would stop." Stiles looks up sharply as what Ethan just said registers and he grounds out, "What?"
Ethan grimaces at the spike in anger he can feel from Stiles but he tells him the rest of the true mate lore. "For the mate bond to be proper there has to be a claiming bite at the moment of sexual release in the junction of the neck and shoulder. Werewolves and humans will have a permanent scar there, healing factor aside. For human Alpha mates the bite is a turning bite on the Alpha's knot. There are other ways for the mate bond to form, such as pregnancy, but the bond is not complete unless the claiming bite occurs."
Stiles is still seething in anger and says, "So if I've asked for the Bite and my Alpha refuses, what are my options? Would you be able to bite me and turn me?"
Ethan looks shocked again. "You've asked for the Bite and he didn't do it? He is either the dumbest Alpha in history, or is playing a martyr by keeping you human and giving you the option to leave. I would gladly give you the Bite, but it would break any pack bonds that you have and connect you to me and my pack. However, if Derek is your true mate, then your wolf will seek him out anyways and literally rip apart any competition. Meaning you will kill any female betas that are currently in your pack, mated or not."
Stiles looks devastated. He can't even begin to comprehend killing his friends even though it makes sense that his wolf would do so without remorse if he was no longer tied to the pack. He tries to stay angry with Derek for putting him in this situation, but his rational brain knows that playing the martyr is always go to mode. Stiles put on his face of determination and says, "Then I withdraw my request for the Bite from you for right now. I cannot in good conscience ask for something that could potentially harm my friends. I think it's time for a long overdue discussion with Derek about priorities and the future."
"I agree," Ethan nods. "Now drop the formality, you didn't actually ask me to bite you." He laughs and Stiles looks embarrassed for a second before he's laughing too. As they calm down, Ethan tenses up and sits straight as he cocks his head to the side. Stiles knows that something is approaching that he can't hear and starts to get nervous. "It's a beta." Ethan whispers.
Just then the door to the cabin bursts open as Scott barrels through wolfed out, looking for a fight. As he takes in the scene before him, his face scrunches up in confusion. "Stiles, what's going on?"
"Hiya Scotty Boy! I was just having a chat with Ethan. I was going to stay here for a few days because of…" He trails off waving his hand in the air but everyone knows what he's talking about. Ethan's growling quietly and Scott looks downtrodden as well. Scott suddenly comes back to himself and narrows his eyes as he says, "Wait! You two aren't…" Scott waves an arm between them implying that something more was going on than he was being told.
Stiles immediately responds with, "No!" At the same time Ethan says, "If he wants to." Stiles shoots Ethan an incredulous look while Ethan chuckles. "Why are you here, Scott?" Stiles asks.
Scott glares at Ethan briefly but then remembers why he came here. "Oh yeah, Derek passed out and won't wake up! We don't know what's wrong with him but the last thing he said was 'Stiles' so I came to get you."
A/N: This was a hard chapter in that I didn't want to have to repeat everything Peter said, but Stiles needed to get information so I didn't have much choice. I'm planning on wrapping this up next chapter, but since Season 3 has me thoroughly disappointed thus far, my muse has stalled out and I will update when I can.