Chapter 2
Derek stared at the closed door for a long time after it had slammed shut. His stomach felt as though it had a lead weight wrapped in wolfs bane lodged inside. His own words were still echoing inside his head. He had never meant to say those things; he had just wanted Stiles to leave before he got hurt. Moving purely on impulse he walked over to the beam that he had pinned Stiles to and rested his forehead against it. He clenched his hands into fists until his claws pierced his palms and blood dripped onto the floor.
"It's better this way" He whispered to himself. Derek was alone once again and all by his own doing. At least this time he knew no one else would be hurt because of him. He briefly recalled the few hours before Stiles had showed up.
Cora was knelt by the side of her bed, all her clothes and belongings where neatly placed on it ready to be packed away. Slowly she placed all her things into the black duffle bag that belonged to her brother. As she was placing a photo frame with an old picture of Laura, Derek and herself as young children into the bag a rogue tear slipped from her eye. She was startled by the sound of her brothers' voice coming from behind.
"Cora, you know this is for the best" Derek spoke softly trying to sound reassuring. He slowly moved to stand by his sisters' side and placed a hand comfortingly on her shoulder. He watched as she placed the last of her belongings carefully into the bag. Once the last item of clothing was tucked inside she zipped the bag closed and stood to face him.
"Are you sure there is no other way Derek?" Her voice was hushed and shaky, another few tears slipped down her cheek.
The older werewolf thumbed the tears away before gently wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into his chest in a tight hug.
"This is the only way I can know that your safe, Deucalion will not stop until he has what he wants. I can't risk you getting hurt you're the only true family I have left" Derek tightens his grip slightly and rests his head on top of her hair. Cora wraps her arms around his waist and holds on to him with all her strength. They both stayed in the tight embrace until it was time to go to Beacon Hills airport just outside of town.
The drive its self was silent neither of the Hale siblings could say the words that they both longed to hear. Once they were at the check in gate they embraced one last time with Derek placing a soft kiss on his sisters' brow. When she turned and walked away the Alpha watched as she blended into the crowd, even after she was long out of sight he just stood and stared.
He finally mustered the strength to walk back to the car and get inside, it was only when he was alone he allowed his own silent tears to slip. He drove home in the same silence, he felt as though Cora had taken his heart with her on the flight back to brazil, back to the pack she had stayed with for the last six years and back to where she would be safe.
Now Derek stands here all alone in a space he had originally bought for his pack, the pack he was hoping to create would be like the one he remembered when he was young. He had hoped for this place to be full of life and laughter, somewhere everyone would want to be. To fill the hole left behind by the fire.
The werewolf didn't know how long he spent standing with his head against the post until he heard his mobile buzzing on the table by the window. He waited until it stopped before slowly walking over and picking it up. He turned the screen on and saw a miss call from Scott. The last thing he needed right now was another round of arguing with an angry teenager. Derek locked the phone and placed it back onto the table.
Just as he was about to walk away the phone started to buzz again, Scott must be really pissed off. He reached to pick it up but stopped himself. No, he can't let the beta get to him. The Alpha knew he had to cut himself off from those he cared for, less the same thing that happened to Boyd, Erica and Cora would happen again, he needed them all to be safe.
Derek picked the phone up once it stopped, as he was about to turn it off a text came through.
STILES MISSING! CALL ME!
The Alpha froze and felt his blood run cold. Stiles was missing, how could this happen. He flicked through contact list and rang Stiles phone. Derek held his breath as the ringing tone continued for far too long, then came.
"Hey this is Stiles"
"Stiles!" Derek shouted only to be cut off.
"I can't make it to the phone right now, leave a message and I'll get back to you"
A low beep followed. The werewolf hung up before he left a stupid message begging Stiles to get in touch with him so he could apologize like a fool. Just as he was about to try again, Scott's caller ID came up on the screen. He paused for a moment before tapping the green icon with his thumb and putting the phone to his ear.
"Scott"
"Derek, what the fuck man, I tried calling you like six times. Any way has Stiles been to yours? His dad called half-hour ago thinking she was at my house, which he isn't so that means he hasn't been at home since I called him at 3:30!" Scott sounded panicked and spoke so fast that Derek almost didn't understand what he was saying. I takes the alpha a few seconds to reply.
"Yes I saw him earlier. He came by the loft about 4AM, he was pissed with me about Isaac. We argued and he left about half an hour later" Derek wanted to say more but stopped himself.
"Look dude his dad got home about 5 and Stiles wasn't home then or since so he's obviously out somewhere. The sheriff, Isaac and me are out looking for him. If he comes back to yours, call me!"
The line goes dead as Scott hangs up. Derek stands listening to the long dead beep, his heart racing in his chest. It was all his fault, if he hadn't scared Stiles, if he had just spoken with him like the teen wanted then this never would have happened.
Throwing his phone down onto the table, Derek let out a roar of frustration. He had to find Stiles and fix this mess; he had to make sure the teen was ok. The werewolf ran straight up the spiral staircase to his closet that was in the corner, he pulled out a pair of jeans and a shirt. He slipped them on as he made his way back down to the main floor and headed out of the door pausing only to put on his boots and grab his Henley jacket, phone and keys.
Derek got in to the corvette and sped off into the darkness of the early morning. He had a thought as he was running out of his building as to Stiles possible location. He remembered back when he first met the two teenage idiots after Scott had first been bitten. When he was trying to learn all that he could about the two boys he would follow them about their daily lives. Stiles for one would often go by himself up to the preserve, more specifically he went up to Hale ridge that over looked Beacon Hills. He would watch the teen for a while before getting bored observing the usually hyperactive teenager do nothing but sit on a rock for hours on end.
The route to the preserve seemed longer than normal. Derek noticed that the sun had begun to rise in the distance. He hoped he would find Stiles sat on that stupid rock watching the sunrise with that stupid smile on his perfect lips. He hoped that when he got there Stiles would shout at him for being an idiot and punch him before going home to where he would be safe.
As Derek approached Hale ridge he saw the outline of the jeep against the sun light. When he got closer he noticed that something was missing and didn't feel right. He stopped the corvette behind the jeep and jumped out of the car. Running as fast as he could up to the rock, praying that Stiles was just lay down asleep.
Just as he was a few feet away from the rock he heard a loud roar reverberating through the trees, stopping him in his tracks. The Alpha werewolf turned on his heels and took off in a full sprint towards the sound. He came to a dead halt when he found the source along with his heart that stopped beating at the sight he discovered.
Stiles was lay on his back in the dirt, above him was a large rabid werewolf that was slashing the teens slim body with its teeth and claws; it tore at flesh over and over again. Derek was shifting before he had time to think, his roar shaking the trees and scaring all wildlife within a hundred mile radius. The beast before him stopped its attack and glared in his direction.
Derek leapt forward and tackled the rabid beast, throwing it into the bushes. He pounced on top of it and preceded a fearsome brawl. Both wolves wrestled on the ground, claw and fangs tearing at flesh and bone. The Alpha was so consumed by rage he lost all trail of thought apart from kill. The brutal battle continued until Derek got the upper hand and managed to slice his claws along the beast's underbelly tearing through skin and muscle even piercing the tender organs inside.
The creature howled in pain and fell to the ground. Just as the Alpha advanced on his prey for the finishing blow the rabid wolf pulled itself up on to all fours and scampered in to the trees. Derek chased after it but only caught a glimpse as it jumped off the edge of the ridge and down onto the rock bed below. As he was about to check if the beast was dead he heard the faint sound of Stiles gasping for breath.
Derek ran back to the injured teen and fell to his knees by the others side. He bent forward trying to hear Stiles heartbeat, it was there but struggling.
"Stiles, Come on wake up!" The alpha screamed in a panicked voice. He looked over the unconscious teens body assessing the extent of his wounds. There were multiple deep gashes along his stomach and chest, his legs had been chewed and sliced. The worst by far was the deep cut on the left side of Stiles neck, it had missed any major artery but the wound was bleeding to much.
Fumbling in his pockets, Derek found his phone and dialed in 911. Just as he was about to hit call dread filled his veins as he realized that by the time an ambulance arrived, ether by road or air, it would be too late. Panic took hold and the werewolf couldn't catch his breath. This was all his fault.
Another person he loved was going to die in his arms because he was too weak to protect them. Dropping his phone to the ground he gently lifted Stiles upper body and slid himself underneath, cradling the dying teen close to his blood stained chest. He held Stiles as tight as he could without causing him further pain and nuzzled his stubbled cheek against the younger man's smooth one hoping to bring him some comfort. Tears refused to fall from Derek's eyes even though all he wanted to do was sob with grief. He would give anything to save the innocent teens life.
Derek tried hard to remember all that his mother had taught him about saving lives, he was even willing to give Stiles the bite if he thought it would work. Due to the extent of the teen's injuries even if he was bitten it would take to long for the transformation to heal him. Wait, the Soul Bite ritual!
The werewolf remembered the ritual that allows the Alpha giving the bite to infuse some of their own life force into the bite. It would give the person receiving the bite enough power to heal fast enough to save their life. He only wished he had paid more attention to his mother's lessons. He remembered there were warnings, as with all werewolf rituals, was unable to recall the exact risks.
All he knew now though was he didn't have enough time to worry, he had to act fast to save Stiles life. The teen took that moment to try gasp for breath and open his eyes. Derek stares at the wounded teens bloodied face for a moment trying to make a reassuring hush as he leaned closer to the others ear.
"Stiles forgive me"
Derek moves so that he can access the right side of Stiles neck. He hears the teen moan as he lines up his fangs. He uses all his focus to pull on his own life force. In the last second his eyes open wide, the Alpha red shines bright, he bites down into Stiles flesh. All his senses switch off, and all his is left feeling is the pull on his life energy. Derek feels himself being drained but he holds on forcing himself to keep going, he has to see this through. Stiles had to live.