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Chapter 9

Gently pressing on the break Stiles brought the Jeep to a halt right outside Derek's building. The teen looked over at his still unconscious passenger; Derek was wrapped tightly in the grey blanket that Deaton had found in the back of the clinic, he looked better now that the blood was no longer covering his strong jawline and cheeks.

The teen took in a deep breath and prepared himself for the hike up the mountain of stairs that lead to the loft. After he jumped out Stiles walked around the Jeep to the passenger side, he slowly opened the door, making sure that the older werewolf didn't fall out. Once the door was as wide open as possible, the teen positioned himself as close to Derek as he could. He gently hooked his left arm behind his mate's torso and his right under his knees, with precise care Stiles lifted Derek out of the Jeep.

Derek flopped almost weightlessly against Stiles' chest, his head resting against the teen's left shoulder. Stiles felt his mate shiver as the blanket that surrounded him slipped, exposing the man's chest and shoulders.

Stiles quickly turned towards the double doors that lead to the staircase. As he walked into the building it was pitch black, the teen-focused on his vision making his eyes change to their Alpha red allowing him to see everything through a red filter. He carefully made his way up each flight of stairs now recalling his last visit to the place. If he had known that night that all this would unfold, he would have stayed in his bed and never left it again.

He reached the loft faster than he had originally thought possible also he was barely out of breath, even in werewolf classes Stiles had yet to explore the full extent of his werewolf strength. He somehow managed to slide open the steel door that Derek must have forgotten to lock. Once inside Stiles quickly surveyed the open space, from the layer of undisturbed dust that covered most surfaces along with the musty scent it was obvious no-one had been here since Derek last left.

The Alpha teen carried his mate over to the large bed, he carefully lowered him on top of the dark blue sheets making sure to lower his head onto a soft pillow. Once he was sure Derek was comfortable he carefully unwrapped the blanket. Seeing the man's thin form still made a knot tighten in his stomach, he just hoped that Derek would awaken soon. He gently pulled the sheet from beneath the sleeping man and placed it over him covering him completely; Stiles grabbed the blanket and placed it over the sheet giving Derek more warmth.

Standing up straight Stiles found himself drawn once again to the sleeping man's face, even with the cuts and a large bruise on his cheek the teen had to admit how handsome Derek Hale was. He didn't know how long he was staring for when the unconscious werewolf let out a low whimper, as though he was caught in a nightmare. The teen remembered Deaton's suggestion of skin contact to help Derek's healing.

Stiles walked around to the other side of the bed and carefully pulled back the covers. He made quick work of removing his usual dark green plaid button up shirt and his black tee that was underneath. Now that his torso was completely bare, he slipped off his sneakers and climbed under the sheets. Derek was still making low whimpering sounds as the teen slowly shifted closer, once he was by the werewolf's side he carefully moved his arm under Derek and pulled him to his chest.

Derek instantly relaxed into Stiles' hold, he even moved slightly closer to the teen's warmth. Stiles tightened his grasp a little and rested his head back on the pillows. Now that he was in such close proximity to his mate he could smell his natural scent, it was almost earthy and sweet at the same time. A sudden warmth filled his chest, similar to the feeling he got when he was in a puppy pile with Scott and Isaac, but yet it was completely different at the same time.

Stiles didn't know how many hours he lay in the bed holding Derek but eventually, the older werewolf rolled away from his grasp. Also feeling the need to move, the teen carefully extracted himself from the bed. He took a quick glance back at Derek who now looked comfortable and warm. The teen now turned his gaze to the large window and the world beyond it. Finally, he had the time to think, everything he had believed about that night had been blown to smithereens. He had been so convinced that Derek had been the one that attacked him that the thought of it being someone else was had never been considered.

Now the teen had to question what had actually happened. Stiles closed his eyes and tried to go back to the events that had taken place, he clearly remembered Scott's phone call and his argument with Derek right here in this very place. He even remembered crying as he was driving to the preserve, but all that happened there in the woods was all blurred.

Stiles thought that now might be a good time to try and get answers from the wolf. The teen-focused on the part of his mind that he knew the wolf dwelled, he felt its presence begin to come forward. 'You're having trouble remembering' the wolf sounded as cocky as ever. Stiles huffed and whispered angrily "No shit Sherlock! Tell me what happened!"

'I can't tell you, it is something you need to remember for yourself. You need to focus, what is the last thing you remember, the sights, sounds, smells; remember it all as clearly as you can' The wolf once again retreated into the back of Stiles' mind.

The Alpha teen groaned in frustration, his inner wolf was about as helpful as a chocolate teapot. But he still tried to follow the given advice; Stiles took in a deep breath and focused on when he was at the ridge.

He could see the silhouette of the town in the night and could hear the leaves rustle in the wind. A sudden chill ran through him as he remembered the cold of the night seeping into his skin, the jeep wouldn't start, he needed to get warm. The sound of a cracking branch followed by the agonizing pain from sharp teeth embedded in his calf. The pain of being dragged along the ground and the claws ripping into his chest. A loud roar echoed in his skull, the one he heard just before everything went black.

Stiles' eyes open wide as he gasps for breath; every nerve ending is on fire as though he had just been through the whole ordeal all over again. 'Keep going there is more to remember!' The wolf's voice screams at him. Stiles takes a deep breath then closes his eyes again.

The distant sound of scrapping animals registers in the back of his mind. The battle becomes more intense, and then one lets out a shriek of pain. The scent of blood fills his nose, it's his. He can feel each fresh wound that covers his body, he is going to die. A sudden bright light almost blinds him, and a silhouette of someone leaning over him. "Stiles forgive me" echoes in his ears. He feels a new pain at the back of his neck, a rush of power, no more pain, and a roar. He Roars.

The Alpha teen jumps to his feet as he tries to catch his breath. He can feel the tears rolling down his cheeks; every aspect of the memory was still flowing through his head. He now knew the truth! Derek hadn't attacked him, the man had saved him from another creature and then had turned him to save his life.

When he had finally taken in enough oxygen to prevent a panic attack, Stiles sat back down onto the bed. He slumped forward and rested his head in his hands, the teen was now hating himself, after the past week of blaming Derek for everything he now knew he was all wrong. While he had been loathing the older werewolf, Derek had been tortured by the Alpha pack. The teen now just hoped he could make this up to his mate.

That was something else that didn't quite make sense, in the memories he had just relived, none explained how they had become mates. His stomach suddenly dropped, there was obviously more that he couldn't remember. But right now Stiles knew he couldn't go through that again so soon.

Stiles wiped away the tears from his cheeks and shook his head to get more blood to flow to his aching skull. He sat up straight and looked back over his shoulder, hoping that Derek hadn't woken to see him freaking out mid-flashback. Thankfully the older werewolf was still flat out, he had moved slightly so that he is now on his side facing Stiles but his eyes were still closed and his heartbeat was beating at a steady rhythm.

Suddenly Stiles felt parched, he couldn't remember the last time he had a drink of anything. Surely Derek wouldn't wake in the time it would take him to go to the kitchen and get a glass of water. The teen took another glance at the sleeping man before slowly and silently rising to his feet. He carefully made his way to the other side of the open planned room to where the modern kitchen resided. He looked through the glass cabinet for a clean glass or cup, soon enough he spotted the tall clear crystal glasses at the back of one of the cabinets. As quietly as possible Stiles opened the glass door and reached inside, he pulled out two of the tumblers. Derek would also need a drink once he awoke. He stepped over to the sink and turned on the cold water tap, allowing it to run for a few minutes to clear the water that had been sitting in the pipes for the last week.

Just as Stiles was about to place the first glass under the running water, a loud pained whine came from the direction of the bed. The teen halted all movements and listened. The whine turned into a deep groan, followed by the sound of rustling bed sheets. The teen-focused on the hearing Derek's heartbeat, the gentle rhythm from before was now a fast pounding. Derek was awake and in distress.

Stiles instantly felt the familiar pulling sensation he got when Scott or Isaac was anxious or worried, but this time it was a thousand times stronger than he had ever felt. The teen slowly placed the tumbler in his hand on the counter top and the turned off the tap. He then cautiously turned around to face the bed; Derek had managed to pull himself so that he was sitting up, he was looking around the room obviously confused and scared. The Alpha teen could hear Derek's racing heartbeat and his gasps for breath.

Without thinking Stiles walked over to the bed, he stopped in his tracks as soon as Derek spotted him and the man's green eyes widened and he almost leapt from the bed in shock. The older werewolf let out another whine that Stiles instantly read as fear. Derek was scared of him, this was not good. The teen slowly raised his hands in a surrender pose hoping to show that he was not a threat. The wounded man on the bed responded by letting out another fearful whine and drew his knees up to his chest, the position obviously an attempt to make himself smaller. Stiles' heart ached at the sight.