I don't know what happened. Chapter 60 came out rather strange, but I'm building a house here and needed some 'help'. For all of you who has followed my story so far: Thank you. I love your reviews, good or bad, and I'm trying to do my best to give you what you want. When I started this I never thought I'd still be working on it almost a year later. Thank you all.

Stiles an his dad are going on a short vacation. (Gay guys seem to pop up in the strangest places.) Isaac suspects that Alex is an exhibitionist. Alex makes plans for the future. Chris has a few strange friends, but they know their business and work fast. The house may be finished sooner than they first thought. Something or someone is lurking in the woods.

The investigation into sheriff Stilinski's indiscretion was practically over, and he was told to prepare to come back to work shortly. They did believe that he did it to protect his son, but a demotion was pending.

He'd urged Stiles to come with him to visit their relatives in Arizona, now that he was free to leave town. He wanted to spend a week with his brother before he had to be back on duty. Stiles hadn't seen his cousins since last year, and part of him wanted to go. On the other hand, he was reluctant to leave Derek and the others after all that had happened recently.

After the fight with Hester's pack, they had all tried to act normal. They had avoided discussing what Allison's new status would entail for the pack, and she was trying to pretend that nothing had changed.

Stiles didn't worry too much about it. Not being a werewolf himself, he didn't really understand what went on in their heads when it came to the pack-mentality. Humans liked to bunch together in groups too, and most people wanted a family, but the wolves obviously had this thing embedded as an instinct.

The only thing Stiles wanted was that his werewolf-friends would come to an agreement. He wanted them all to be able to hang out and be happy, regardless of their status. Knowing that it wasn't that simple for them he decided not to nag them, just gently 'push' them in the direction he wanted.

Being away for a week could make that impossible. Not that he felt that his influence had changed anything so far; Allison seemed to try to ignore the fact that she was an Alpha. Derek, who'd at first told Allison that she needed a pack, had not mentioned it anymore. Isaac and Alex were too indulged in each other to even care.

The only one who seemed a little concerned was Scott. He tried to act normal, but even Stiles could see that he treated Allison differently. Not that he hadn't showed respect for her before, but even if they both were Alphas, it was pretty clear who had the upper hand.

It was actually humorous to see how Scott changed when Allison was around. He acted like a lovesick puppy, and if he'd had a tail, it would have wagged every time she was nearby.

-o-o-o-o-o-

Embarrassing moments were starting to pile up, and at times it felt more like the norm. Being caught fucking in the restroom stall at the club was only the tip of the iceberg. On the outside, Isaac knew he looked confident and seemed to be taking it all in the stride, but not so much on the inside.

Between the first time when Stiles crashed through the door to tease them, and last night when Lydia had come running into the bathroom as Alex was about to wrap his lips around Isaac's cock, there had been a string of similar little 'accidents'.

That Lydia was at the loft at that time of night was surprising in itself, but it was almost like she aimed to catch them in the act. Isaac later learned that she'd come to deliver some DVD's she'd borrowed when she urgently needed to go use the toilet. That she almost peed herself from the embarrassment didn't change anything for Isaac.

They knew that Stiles was in the living room watching TV, but he would never even think about entering the bathroom when Isaac and Alex were there; not after the first time when he wanted to tease them.

Isaac didn't want to blame Alex; he knew perfectly well that he was partially responsible for getting them into these situations, but he'd soon discovered that Alex wasn't half as bothered about it as Isaac himself.

Sometimes, it looked like Alex got even more eager when there was a slim chance that they could get caught red-handed. That Isaac was unable to hold back was solely his own fault, but he did wonder. He had to admit that he was the 'aggressor' when they were at 'Jungle', but he had just been through a major trauma, and couldn't really think clearly.

Isaac wondered if Alex actually liked having an audience, or if it was only coincidental. The bottom line was that even if he sported a cute blush when it happened, he didn't seem to have any shame whatsoever. Alex also seemed eager to eavesdrop on Stiles and Derek, although it was rarely anything to hear. Those two were experts at keeping it down.

It wasn't that he minded so much. Isaac could feel the thrill when he knew somebody could hear them, but Alex seemed to seek out these situations. It happened way too often to be accidental. Isaac also worried that Alex' take on this relationship was purely sexual. They had never talked about the future, and even if Alex had cried out that he loved him when Joy had a gun pointed at Isaac's head, he didn't know if it was just a ruse.

Isaac wanted to talk about it, but he was afraid that he'd not get the answers he wanted. He'd seen Alex flirt with pretty much everybody they came across, and even if he liked 'flirty-Alex', he always felt a little pinch of jealousy when it happened.

The need to know was fighting with the fear of losing him, but Isaac knew he had to address it sooner or later, or else he'd go completely mad.

-o-o-o-o-o-

When Stiles left to go to Arizona with his dad, Derek spent every waking hour working on the house. Chris had called in a few favors, and the building project that at first had been estimated to take six months was now well on it's way to resemble a house.

Chris didn't even know why he spent so much time on this. He only wanted to help out a little to begin with, but over time he'd gotten absorbed with it.

It had been almost a week since the meeting with Hester, and Chris had done his best to act normal towards his daughter. Allison had participated in hunts many times before, and she'd showed promising qualities. That she killed the woman with her bare hands was a totally different story. That kind of blood-lust was rare, even amongst the most ruthless hunters, and he knew it was the werewolf in her that triggered it.

He had to admit to himself that he was scared of her, but even more, he was scared for her. A lone wolf was always something to be concerned about, and Allison showed no interest in joining Derek's pack. She didn't seem to want her own pack either, and that was also a little disturbing.

She would need the stability of a pack to be able to handle herself. Chris wondered if his own involvement in building the house could be a way of pushing Allison towards Derek. If she could live there with them, it would be safer for her. Not that Chris doubted that he could protect his own daughter, but he had to think about her future.

-o-o-o-o-o-

The roof was almost done. Derek knew that in some places, they had a tradition to have a small party for the workers when the last roof-tile was in place. He wanted to do that, but wasn't sure if it was such a good idea. The guys Chris had called in to help were an odd gang. Derek didn't know if they were hunters or not, but they didn't really fit the bill.

The electrician was heavy set, and his upper torso was covered in tattoos. Some of them crude as if they were made without the proper instruments. Derek suspected that he'd acquired them in prison. He drank beer constantly, but didn't show any signs of intoxication.

The guy on the roof was skinny as a toothpick, and he moved around up there like a monkey. His movements suggested that he could have a steady job as an acrobat in a circus. The plumbing was done by a fierce-looking character. He resembled a wrestler – almost seven feet tall – and with neck-muscles like a bull. He too sported multiple tattoos, but they were obviously all done by a professional.

The three of them all wore jeans and heavy boots, even though it had to be uncomfortable during the heat of the day. They had arrived on Harleys – big noisy beasts – and could possibly belong to a motorcycle-gang of some sort. Chris had told him that these guys owed him some favors, and Derek wondered what kind of business he'd had with them in the past. He didn't want to ask, because he sensed that Chris would be reluctant to answer.

Isaac and Alex had stayed away for a few days, and it was probably for the best. Derek could easily see these characters beating up faggots in dark alleys. He was pretty sure that they wouldn't start a fight, but it was better not to risk anything. Even with werewolf strength, it could be tough to overpower them; especially the giant plumber.

They didn't talk much; a few words during quick lunch-breaks was pretty much it. Other than that, they communicated solely by grunts and hand gestures. They worked fast, and the monkey-guy on the roof was practically done. The giant had installed vents and helped with the gutters, but besides that, he'd pretty much done the whole job by himself in a little less than three days.

Still contemplating about throwing a small party, Derek left the site to get some more supplies. He and Chris had been working on the outside sheathing, and hadn't had much to do with the other three during these days. They were supposed to install the windows and doors earlier, but there was a delay in the delivery, so it had to be postponed.

When Derek came back a couple of hours later with some more plywood, Chris was alone. The roof was done, and the guys had left with ha promise to come back to finish the plumbing and the electric when the interior was coming together. Derek had no words for how relieved he was about it. After unloading the pickup-truck he'd borrowed from Dr Deaton, he dug out the bottle of whiskey he'd got for the occasion. Even if Chris seemed eager to keep working, he took a break to make a toast.

-o-o-o-o-o-

Alex was seriously bored. With Stiles gone and Derek spending most of his time in the woods, there were not much to do in the loft. At Hester's house he'd always managed to stay busy. It was a big house and when the indoor chores were done he often tended to the garden.

He wanted to get a job, but who'd hire someone without a high-school diploma? During his years on the streets, he'd spent many days in the library; reading everything he found remotely interesting, but it wouldn't help much when he didn't have a paper to show for himself.

Hester had home-schooled both girls and also tutored Eric through the last bit of high-school. Jade and Eric had already taken several college classes, and Joy was going to start next semester. Alex had been so far behind that it would have taken a little bit longer to actually get him ready for a GED-examination.

Even if Hester was a genuine bitch for the most part, Alex had looked forward to the tutoring sessions with her. Those times he'd felt like a normal boy, and she'd had treated him as such. She'd been patient with him, and if he didn't know any better he'd have thought she was a professional teacher.

Alex wondered if he could actually attend school and get his diploma with Isaac, Stiles, and the others. He knew that Isaac wasn't particularly fond of studying, but he knew he needed to do it.

Isaac had told him that when he got the bite he thought he was invincible, and that he didn't have to even try to be like the others. He and a couple of other newbies had skipped school on a regular basis. They'd been both cocky and obnoxious, knowing that their life had changed significantly.

The three of them had been like outcasts before the bite, and they had done their best to retaliate after all the taunting and bullying they had been subjected to from their classmates in previous years. Isaac had also admitted that he thought Derek sucked as a leader, because he was unable to keep the pack together.

When the other two disappeared, Derek had taken care of Isaac in a different way. He didn't try so much to be the boss of him anymore, but had started to treat him more like a brother.

As a big brother Derek had showed much better skills, and he'd convinced Isaac that it was important to go to school. Derek himself had never earned a diploma, and he regretted it every day. When he lost his family in the fire, he'd pretty much dropped out of school and only luck prevented him from going rouge.

If it was impossible for Alex to actually go back to school, he had an idea that he and Derek could study together for the GED. He wasn't sure how to bring it up, but he knew it had to be done in a subtle manner. Derek never wanted to be reminded about his lack of formal education.

-o-o-o-o-o-

It was nice meeting his cousins again, although he felt like he'd outgrown them. Tim was almost seventeen now, and Linda had just turned fifteen. The age-difference wasn't so big, but the last years events had changed Stiles in so many ways. Last summer the three of them had had fun playing pranks on the adults, but it didn't seem so exciting anymore.

Tim had always been a computer-nerd and that hadn't changed much. He also looked the same as before. Linda on the other hand, had grown up and didn't look like a little girl anymore. It didn't change the fact that she still sometimes behaved like a baby. It wasn't like she was a spoiled brat, but she'd been very sick as a child and had gotten a lot of of attention. Even if she was mostly sweet and kind, she sometimes still threw a tantrum if she didn't get what she wanted.

They lived pretty remote, and there wasn't much to do around there in the summer. The only close neighbors were a family with seven children, and Stiles remembered playing soccer and baseball with them in previous years. Six of them were between ten and eighteen, and two years ago, they got a new little sister. Stiles was unable to recollect their names, but who could blame him; there were so many of them.

With nothing much going on in the small community, Stiles was treated like a celebrity when they went to hang out with the Anderson-family. Linda had spent a long time in her room changing outfits and putting on makeup before they finally were ready to go.

When they arrived, Stiles instantly understood why his cousin took her time with her looks. The oldest boy in the family – the sixteen year old – whom Stiles barely remembered from before, was something of a hunk. His tan skin and his bulging muscles told Stiles that he spent a lot of time outdoors lifting heavy things.

Linda stared at him doe-eyed from the moment he emerged on the porch. Stiles couldn't understand how it was possible to forget this guy, but when he got time to think about it he knew why. This guy – Christian – had been the one sibling who'd barely ever participated in any rough games. He'd been small for his age and had spent more time hanging out with Tim playing video-games.

Stiles noticed that the guy gave him a once-over before he greeted him a little shyly. He felt sorry for Linda. Christian was never going to look her way. This guy was as gay as they came. Last year, Stiles wouldn't have been able to spot it if he'd tried, but now he had a bit of practice.

It had to be tough for him. It was hard enough for a kid in the city to come out of the closet, but for someone living in the outskirts of civilization it would be an almost impossible barrier to cross. Stiles didn't know he he should let the guy know that he wasn't alone, or if that would make his situation worse.

-o-o-o-o-o-

Derek stared at the house. The almost full moon hanging over the treetops was the only light source, but it was more than enough for him. The sheathing was almost done, and the openings for the windows and doors looked like dark holes against the plywood covering the front of the house.

Chris had to leave for a couple of days, and Derek was a little relieved about it. Not that he minded working with the hunter. He was skilled and didn't waste time with unnecessary chitchat, but the guy seemed slightly obsessed with this.

The fact that his whole life was turned upside down could be a reason. He'd grown up as a werewolf-hunter, and his commitment to the task had been solid. A few things had changed over the last few months, and he'd started to question himself. Allison's fate had changed him even more. He couldn't call himself a real hunter anymore.

There would still be rogue wolves out there and Chris would probably still go after them, but it would be as part of a totally different team of hunters. He was almost part of the pack now, and would hunt with them.

Tomorrow Derek would bring Alex and Isaac to help with the insulation. The two of them needed something to do, but they were more or less all thumbs and Derek wasn't sure if they'd provide much progress.

Derek missed Scott at the site. He'd proven to be a good builder, but for some reason he hadn't showed up to help lately. It had probably something to do with Allison. She seemed totally at ease with the fact that she'd become an Alpha, but Derek suspected that she hid her innermost feelings. She knew what was expected of her, but was not willing to face the facts.

The rolls of fiberglass were piled up on the front porch, and Derek went over to make sure it was covered up. He didn't expect any rain, but it was better to be safe than sorry. The only sound he could hear, except for his own footsteps on the gravel, was the chirping from a multitude of crickets.

Suddenly, Derek got a creepy feeling that he was watched. He couldn't hear anything and drew his breath through his nose. There were no unfamiliar scents either, and he decided that it must have been some nocturnal animal passing by.

He decided to get back to the loft. It was late, and he wanted to start working as soon as the sun was up. A small rustle in the bushes made him flip around and scan the treeline. He held his breath and listened. A movement in the grass next to the driveway caught his attention, and he watched as a mouse darted across the open area and vanished into the vegetation on the other side of the road.

Derek exhaled and giggled a little embarrassingly. 'Time to get some sleep. Scared by a mouse.' He thought to himself as he walk to the car. After throwing a quick glance at the house again, he jumped into the Camaro.

The only thing on his mind as he left the woods was to get a bite to eat before he would go to bed. If he hadn't been so tired and hungry, he might have noticed the car that was parked at the crossroad. If he'd checked the rear-view mirror, he could easily have spotted a movement between the trees behind him.

Derek drove back to the loft, unaware of the fact that a werewolf had been spying on him for several hours.