Chapter 6

8-9-10 there was definitely ten fingers. Stiles counted his fingers for the hundredth time, this was absolutely not a nightmare, it was real. The newly turned Alpha teen stared blankly at his open palms as his arse went numb from the cold steel table that he was perched upon. His newly heightened sense of smell was driving him crazy as the scents that filled the animal clinic were overwhelmingly strong, the smell of different animals, people and medical equipment mingling together into something that turned his stomach.

Stiles was currently sat on the exam table in the back of the animal clinic, dressed in Scott's worn sweatpants and lacrosse jersey, waiting for Deaton to finish his tests. On the drive back from the preserve, Scott had woken him from his nap and insisted that they go straight to see the vet come werewolf doctor to find out what was going on with him. No matter how much Stiles had pleaded that he just wanted to go home, his so called best friend didn't budge. Thankfully they had found Scott's' spare lacrosse gear in the staff room of the clinic Stiles was able to cover up preventing his dignity from taking a further blow.

Deaton arrived at the clinic shortly after the three teens, having been called by Scott and updated on the situation, and had firmly insisted that Stiles have a full physical. The newly turned werewolf reluctantly agreed to be examined, on the condition that Scott calls his dad and let him know where he was. Both Scott and Isaac left to make the call leaving Stiles alone with the veterinarian who he still didn't completely trust.

All of this was shortly follows by Stiles being placed on the cold examination table, prodded and poked. Deaton had even made the poor teen open his mouth and say, ahh, as a flashlight was shone down his throat. After a long series of test, which included being made to shift back and forth multiple times and the vet being extremely surprised that Stiles was actually and Alpha. Finally being given the all clear on his physical health, the worn out teenager was given a moment's respite while Deaton read through a number of ancient books trying to find out how this whole shit storm was even possible.

Stiles was still counting his fingers when the bell on the clinic door rang, alerting him to Scott and Isaac's return. He looked up as they both walked into the room. Scott had a worried expression on his face, one that was mirrored by Isaac. He guessed that the call to his father hadn't gone well.

"What did dad say?" Stiles asked in a hushed voice, his left leg was shaking with a trapped nerve that showed his anxiety. He was almost scared to hear the answer.

Scott looked sheepish and clasped his hands together in front of his chest. "He, err, he was angry that we didn't call him as soon as we found you and that we brought you here. I told him we would explain everything as soon as he gets here, which could take a while as he is on the other side of town"

The Alpha teen nodded his head and looked back down at his hands. He knew a day would come that he would have to explain everything about the supernatural world to his dad, but he would never have guessed it would start with 'Hey dad, I'm an Alpha werewolf, Surprise!'. Stiles was fearing the moment that his father would walk through the door, the poor sheriff had been through enough shit thanks to his hyperactive failure of a son and now he was going to have to deal with said failure being a werewolf.

Stiles buried his hands into his hair and took a moment to focus on his hearing in hope to drown out the noise in his head. There were a million different sounds but the one that caught his attention was the rapid thumping of Scott and Isaac's hearts. Releasing the grip on his hair he looked back up at the two betas, both were stood in a wary posture, Scott was fiddling with his fingernails and Isaac was practically bouncing on his toes.

Stiles was suddenly overcome with the same feeling that had urged him to embrace Isaac at the preserve, he wanted to embrace both of the betas and reassure them. He quickly realised it was his Alpha instinct telling him to comfort his distressed betas. The Alpha allowed instinct to guide him as he hopped off the metal table and took a few short steps towards the younger teens. Scott and Isaac looked surprised that he was moving closer to them, Isaac even took a step back. Without saying a single word Stiles allowed his chest to rumble and reached forward gently wrapping his large palms around the back of their neck's, applying a small amount of pressure guided them both towards his body.

Scott was the first to give in and leant into the Alpha's grasp, he responded with his own low non-threatening growl and placed his nose close to Stiles' lower neck and deeply inhaled. He was overwhelmed with the scent of warm morning air and sea breeze; his entire body relaxed into the Alpha and he rested his head on Stiles' shoulder feeling completely boneless. Isaac had a moment of hesitance but followed his fellow betas actions, inhaling Stiles unique aroma and sinking into the embrace once again.

After a long moment, Stiles released his grip and leant back urging both beta teens to look up at him. Isaac had a light pink tint to his cheeks and Scott looked like he was about to fall asleep stood up. For whatever reason Stiles knew that both these younger werewolves were part of his pack and it was his job as their Alpha to protect them.

A loud cough interrupted their pack bonding. Stiles looked over to the other side of the room and spotted Deaton standing by the office door with an open book in his hands and a knowing smile on his face. All three teens took a step away from each other and turned their full attention to the vet. The dark skinned man walked over to the exam table and placed the book along with a bunch of printed on pieces of paper; he did a quick shuffle of the papers then gestured for the teens to come close. All the teenage werewolves closed around the table, Stiles being in the middle with Scott and Isaac on either side.

The vet finished organising the papers and with a serious expression on his face looked directly at the Alpha. "Stiles I need you to tell me exactly what you remember from last night".

The teen in question rolled his eyes dramatically, having already recalled everything in as closer detail as his mind remembered, twice. "Deaton, I have already told you what I remember. Scott called me about Derek kicking Isaac out. In a stupid rage I went to the loft to call him out for being an arse, he seemed upset then he just turned on me and screamed then he didn't want to see me or any of the pack. I left really stressed out so I went to the ridge to clear my head. Werewolf growls and attacks my leg; I try to fight it followed by lots of pain red eyes and Derek's voice. Next thing I know Scott and Isaac are there and I'm a werewolf and a frigging Alpha at that".

Deaton looks down at the mess of papers laid out on the table, the teens watch as his eye's scoured over the multitude of word and symbols all of which look like they were from some ancient culture lost aeons ago. After a good five minutes spent in silence, the vet placed down the book he had in hand and let out a long sigh. "I am sorry Stiles, I have read through every text and scripture I own and I have found multiple ways that a werewolf can gain alpha powers but none fit what has happened to you. The closest thing I have found is a ritual that transfers the Alpha powers from one werewolf to another through a bite but it wouldn't have been possible for it to occur in this situation"

Stiles slumped forward and rested his head in his hands, bloody typical no answers to this whole mess. He let out a huff of frustration when he felt a hand rest on his right shoulder, followed by another gently placed on his left. Without raising his head, he glanced at both of his betas who were subconsciously offering reassurance to their Alpha. He turned his gaze back to his hands and listened as Scott asked a question.

"Why wouldn't have it been possible for Stiles to get his powers through the bite?" Scott voiced the question that both Stiles and Isaac were thinking.

"Well, for one thing, the ritual requires that both the Alpha giving the powers and the beta receiving them both need to have strong feelings for the other, not romantic feelings but respect and loyalty. I don't have the full details of the ritual but I know that both Derek and Stiles have no positive feelings for each other" Deaton let out a small laugh as he finished speaking.

Just as Stiles lifted his head and opened his mouth to speak, the loud thud of the front door slamming open and the sound of hurried footsteps coming towards them interrupted him. The Alpha teen felt all the colour drain from his face, he knew those footsteps anywhere, Dad!

"Stiles! Where's my son?… Oh thank god" The moment Sheriff Stilinski spotted his son, he ran the short distance and pulled him into a bone crushing hug.

Stiles stood frozen for a split second, he could hear the pounding of his dads' heart and felt him gasping for breath along with the small shivers that ran through his whole body. The teen wrapped his arms around his father and returned the embrace, burying his face into the taller man's neck and inhaled the familiar calming scent. Both father and son stayed wrapped in each other's arms for a long moment before Stiles lifted his head and patted his dad on the back. "I'm ok, Dad but we need to talk"

The Sheriff leaned back to look intently at his son. "Damn straight we need to talk. What the hell were you thinking disappearing at 3 AM? Where the hell did you go for all that time? And why the hell are you at the animal clinic instead of the hospital?!" When the man finally stopped to take a breath, he looked over his son as if checking that he was still in one piece.

The Alpha teen felt like a deer caught in head lights, how on earth was he going to explain this whole mess. He looked over his shoulder at the others in the room for some sort of assistance, both Scott and Isaac had moved to the far side of the room and Deaton just stood behind the exam table with a small smirk on his face, traitors. Turning back to his dad, whose gaze had only intensified at the long pause, he gently maneuverer himself out of the older man's grasp while still keeping a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Dad, I think you should sit down. It's a long, confusing story that might take a while" Stiles tried to sound firm but he was sure his voice was shaking. Instead of the argument he expected from his father, the man just nodded his head and waited to be told where to sit. Deaton took this moment to offer his office as a better place to have the conversation.

All five males moved themselves into the small office, Deaton and the Sheriff took the two chairs, Stiles perched himself on the end of the desk and Scott and Isaac stood in front of the closed door. There was a long silent pause before Noah was the first to speak. "So who's going to start?"

Stiles opened his mouth to speak but was surprisingly interrupted by the Deaton. "Sheriff, I think the story may be more believable if it came from me" The vet glanced at Stiles asking permission. The teen gave a relieved nod of approval, thankful that he didn't have to retell the horror of the day before.

"I don't care who tells me, I just want to know what is going on. I spent the last twenty-four hours worried sick, I searched every inch of this forsaken town fearing that I would find my sons cold lifeless corpse tied to a tree with his throat slit, strangled and his head bashed in" Noah was visibly shaking with withheld emotions.

The guilt that sunk deep into his stomach made Stiles want to vomit, he hated that he had put his dad through that pain again. He only hoped his dad would not completely disown him after the truth was revealed. Deaton once again looked to him for the go ahead to continue and Stiles could only nod.

"Ok what I have to tell you will seem completely impossible, but I assure you it is all true and I'm sure Scott, Isaac and Stiles can help with a demonstration when necessary. There is no easy way to say this, but supernatural creatures exist and that includes werewolves which is what all three teens in this room are. The circumstances of how they became so are all different but what is most important is that Stiles is the latest of them to be bitten"

The tension in the room could be cut with a butter knife; all eyes were on the sheriff waiting for his reaction. Noah's own gaze was on the floor as he tried to process the information he had just been given. Stiles sat in silence as he didn't know what to do or say to help the situation. The silence broke when the sheriff practically whispered.

"So you're telling me that werewolves are real and my son and two of his friends are werewolves as well?" His voice sounded broken as he looked up at Stiles, his eyes pleading that this was all just a dream and he would wake up soon.

"I'm sorry dad, but it's true". With the last word whispered Stiles closed his eyes and focused his mind on shifting as slowly as possible. When he opened his eyes nothing could have prepared him for the look of terror that covered his dads' face, his stomach clenched and his eyes stung with tears. He stood from the desk and walked to the corner of the small room trying to hide. The sound of both Scott and Isaac moving then stopping suddenly made him glance over his shoulder, the betas had taken a few steps in his direction and Deaton had halted them with a simple hand gesture.

Stiles turned his gaze back to the wall in front of him as the tears slipped from his eyes. In his distress he completely forgets how to shift back to human. A gentle hand on his shoulder startles him into turning around, stood behind him is his father whose expression has no change to one of understanding and warmth. The Alpha lets out a sob of relief as he grasps his father tight and hides his still werewolf features into his dads' broad chest. The sheriff embraces his son tight and gently starts a comforting rocking motion while making a soft hushing sound.

"It's ok son, you're ok. We will figure this out" Noah continues to hug his son as his sobs eventually even out into small hiccups. When Stiles finally looks up at his father his features have returned to normal and his cheeks are damp from his tears, he lets a small smile grace his lips and slowly backs out of the embrace.

"Thanks dad" The Alpha teen says with a small chuff of laughter, in an attempt to cover his nerves. He looks back at the others in the room and sees that all of them have warm smiles plastered on their faces.