Chapter Text
The next day Stiles finds himself back in the loft surrounded on all sides by the pack. Some rumbling happily while others doze in their preferred laps. Stiles himself is sprawled over the laps of one wolf and one hunter. This way he can curl into their chests whenever he wants.
Currently, he is in the process of arguing with Cora over which Star Wars movie has the best cast. And of those best casts, which does the best job of accurately representing the world of Star Wars. It will then devolve into an argument about which director was best for the series. Isaac is calling them both nerds, and not listening as he rests in Cora's lap.
Occasionally Derek will chime in with his opinions. Usually just a simple grunted thing or a scoff. Stiles' animated hands don't keep the two men holding him from doing just that, however, they seem a little too interested in each other's hands, at the moment, to properly corral their third.
It isn't until Ethan breaks the chatter that any real progress starts to get made in this supposed, emergency pack meeting.
"So… when did this happen?" The beta comments, throwing a look with a little too much judgment at the trio on the couch. Cora snorts and Isaac seems to give it little thought. Peter on the other hand, grins so wide the others fear he might pull something. His possessive hands, marking his new mates as he stares down the lone twin.
"Yesterday. We uhh… oh this isn't going to be a problem is it?" Stiles groans as he pulls himself up so he is sitting rather than laying in Chris and Peter's laps. His ass between them with his legs over Peter, as he leans against Chris.
"It won't be darling, I'm sure all of the pack has been aware of my desire for you for a while now." Peter doesn't stop grinning as Stiles lights up in a blush. Derek just rolls his eyes. He could care less about who his uncle is taking into his bed, and far be it for him to ask to deal with Peter more often than when there are two other perfectly willing candidates.
"We knew about Stiles! Not about Chris." Ethan defends, pointedly staring at the way Peter holds the older man. Peter simply slips his hand lower, effectively making everyone uncomfortable. He relishes in the glares his nephew and niece give him. Chris clears his throat and shifts out of the hold. Peter doesn't pout as much as he rolls his eyes at his boyfreind's chastising look.
"I mean a hunter seriously Peter?" Isaac snorts although not unkindly. Chris gives him a look that speaks to an understanding of his sarcasm.
"Better than that pretty thing you brought back from the Jungle that one time." Peter grins with that ugly look that makes him look all the more monstrous.
"One time!" Isaac protests. Much to the giggles of the rest of the pack.
"…Peter and I have found common ground." Chris clarifies. Almost in a sterile manner as to not cause any unwanted discomfort.
"Is that what they're calling it?" Cora grins back at the three on the couch, and Stiles begins to see the resemblance, something that must have skipped over Derek.
"With so many enemies so close to my pack, better to make friends of those with pretty faces." Peter ducks he head to nose up the long line of Chris' neck. His other hand tightening on Stiles' leg.
Cora fakes a gag.
"You're antagonizing them." Derek is the one who chides now making Peter pulls away with another smug look.
"Still, unless you'd like the details, I assume you all can just accept that now we have two more to join our ranks." Stiles perks up at Peter's words. Sitting up in Chris' lap now, he looks at Peter with that agonizing hope once again. Peter hums into his sweetening scent.
Dark Chocolate and O-zone. Pears and slight anxiety. No matter how many times he implies or says that Stiles is pack, the little Spark never seems to get board of it. Peter, for one, will never get board of witnessing that reaction. His scent, in almost all it's forms, is intoxicating.
"Am I really pack?" This time he looks to Derek, to the Alpha. For permission, for acceptance. Peter would almost feel jealous if he didn't see the care that Derek holds for the boy, almost annoyed in himself for attaching to his new pack member despite how annoying he finds the boy.
"You know this will put you out of Scott's pack?" Derek's tone is impassive but his scent betrays him. He is too fond not to feel hopeful. One step closer to stretching that divide between the two packs.
"I…" Stiles is silent for a moment. He looks longing. Two foot holds in two packs. One of them is already slipping away, he knows it's not long before Scott leaves him out of the pack completely. Nothing so grand as a banishing, although that's what his mind conjurers up. Likely just the silent neglect that has already started worsening. He's not sure if he can take that.
"I know." He says. The finality in his voice, a damning sentence to the true alpha that he was once so loyal to. Rather than speaking to the fidelity of the Spark, it speaks to the character of his former alpha.
"And you would join this pack anyway?" Derek pushes. He already knows, he's known since the moment Peter brought the boy home. It was a long time coming anyway, just needing to wait for the right moment, but he could tell that this moment was close. Now, he won't loose it.
"… I know…" Stiles looks down at this, shame coloring his scent as he feels what Derek doesn't mean to be judgment.
"Good." Is all the alpha says to this. Stiles gives a small smile, knowing it means more than just the simple word implies. He's been around Derek enough to know what that small… not smile but not a frown either means. Just the look that Derek gives him, makes him feel that acceptance he was so hopeful for.
There is a shared moment of warmth as the bonds start to slip into place. As a Spark he can feel them, maybe not as well as a wolf, but still. They sit warm and thrumming in his chest, strong and sturdy. The other wolves purr and rumble in approval as Stiles slots so easily into their little pack.
Peter rubs up his calf, basking in his sweetened scent once again. All the betas are. They all want the young Spark as part of their pack and now that they have him, that he's happy to be theirs, they can't help but yip their approval.
"Welcome to the pack." Ethan offers, his arms crossed as he smiles down at the man on the couch.
"Let's see how long it takes for Peter to make you regret joining us." Cora snickers as Peter glares at her.
"One less ally to Scott even if it is just you Stilinski." Isaac speaks next.
"Well I didn't join for you ass wipe." Stiles shoots back, both their tones conveying that their banter is lighthearted in the face of this good news. Peter can tell, all of the betas are happy about this. All their happy and content scents feeding into each other's moods. The, pack as a whole, is content together. Metaphorically wagging their tails at the prospect of adding Stiles into their small family.
"No you clearly joined for Peter." Derek quips, much to Stiles' flustered embarrassment.
"Yes well, none of you wanted to put the effort into converting our young spark. Only myself and Chris put in the effort after McCall so royally fucked it up." Everyone looks a little chastised for a moment.
"Speaking of Scott… what you all said the other day? What are we going to do about … about Scott?" Stiles seems to work up the courage to say. It's clear he's not sure if he wants the answer to the question.
"Well, I for one think the first part to this plan is to take a step back from this whole conjoined pack thing." Peter grumbles, delighted that the only reason they had been staying in this farce of a joined pack, was now on their side alone.
Stiles scent started to turn sour at the mention of his former best friend. Peter caught it in time to quickly clarify.
"I don't mean that we abandon the pup. Frankly his beta's wouldn't deserve that. But I am saying that we take a step back. More toward two separate packs that occupy the same space." Peter's rushed tone sets everyone back to the topic. All looking thoughtful at what he's said.
There is a lot of nuance to the situation. Scott is not only knew to being an alpha but new to being a wolf in general. He doesn't know how to scent and be scented. He doesn't know how to read chemo-signals like a second body language. That leaves room for messy pack relations, and that cannot be helpful for protecting each other. Especially after the repeated threat after threat they seem to face weekly.
"Establishing your own meetings would be a good start. He tends to try and dominate the conversations." Stiles points out, making the pack frown at the 'your' rather than 'our'. Peter is quick to correct this.
"'Our' darling, you're part of this now too. You'll make the pups whine if you start setting yourself apart again." He gets a few glares from Isaac and Cora for that but it is true. Peter could smell it on them when the Spark had said it.
Stiles blushes and looks away as he corrects his language.
"Right, our meetings could stand on their own. I mean you have me now and I practically ran those things back before everything went to shit with the Nogitsune." The boy's tone perks up as he includes himself. Something Peter and Chris could absolutely get used to.
"Stiles. You won't need to run the meetings like before. You're a member of the pack like any other. You don't have to prove yourself to us." Derek huffs, seemingly annoyed. Stiles just sits there a little stunned for a moment. He'd not realized that others had seen through that.
"It's just that Scott doesn't really know … how… to structure something like that, and I never minded doing it. Made sure everything got talked about." Stiles tries to defend even if they can all tell that it had started to become a burden rather than a favor. Derek gives him one of those patented looks,
"If you really want to help with the meetings then we will work together, we've been needing an Emissary anyway-" Derek keeps talking but Stiles doesn't hear it. His brain starts to short circuit.
The Hale pack Emissary. Derek wanted him? Why him? Wouldn't he want to fight for Deaton or something?
"Baby?"
"Baby come back to us."
Chris' voice breaks through the dense wall of thoughts trying to encase his mind. His tone is soft and sweet with worry lacing the edges.
With the sudden realization that Peter must have heard that embarrassing spiral, he comes back to himself. He slowly turns to face the wolf and is confirmed by the worried expression on his face. Chris is holding him up against his chest as he stares into space. He next option is to look up at the face of his new alpha.
Derek's expression isn't much better, if only slightly more muted.
"Your emissary?" There is something wobbly in his voice as he if he hadn't quite understood the offer. Chris rubs along his lower back, keeping him secure in the older man's lap and comforting him as he returns from the small spiral.
"You're a magic user aren't you?" Derek raises an eye brow, as if to challenge Stiles into doing it. That kind of baiting usually works.
"I mean I guess but I'm not trained! The only thing I've done on purpose was that mountain ash circle and you had me break that almost immediately so it wasn't even really that helpful." Stiles hardens his face, but his insecurity shows through his words. He still doesn't believe he has a place here unless he can be used for something. It's a thought that makes both his boyfriends cringe.
"You only learned about this what yesterday. You're allowed some room to train and learn before we start expecting the world from you." Peter rolls his eyes at the ridiculous notion, exaggerating as they won't be expecting anything from him. They have no idea how much or little power Stiles has. Peter is betting on the former but that's because he can practically smell the magic oozing off of him. All that untapped potential just waiting for the Spark to wield it.
"But if I'm going to be your emissary then I need to know magic." He argues. Derek just shakes his head.
"You've been practically the of emissary of the McCall pack for almost two years now. What do you think you've been doing running relations between our pack and his." Derek comments, knowing that Stiles is intimately familiar with the roles and expectations of an emissary and that most of it does not need the use of magic. Practically all of it is politics, something Stiles has already been doing. Something he's been very good at.
"I know I know but-" Derek looks at him expectantly, that smug look on his face that makes him look all the more punchable. But he is right. Stiles knows he's right, he's seen the parallels of the work he does and the role of emissary. He's also just not used to that work being recognized as anything other than just his entry ticket to staying in the pack. Hearing Derek lay out all he's noticed of the meetings, seeing the pups and his boyfriends back him up? That throws Stiles off balance.
"We won't start today, today you're going to rest with the pups. But maybe once you're feeling a little better, we can go search for more resources to help you learn. Maybe even see if one of my contacts knows another Spark. See if they have any guidance." Peter coos, not hiding how excited he is about the fact his boy wants to learn about his power.
"You would join us on training days as well. Everyone in the pack has to go even the humans. It would also be a good time to practice with your Spark." Derek adds. All the pups get excited at that.
"You'll love it Stiles. It's basically just a work out and then we play games all day." Ethan assures the slightly nervous Spark. The other's nod too. Derek rolls his eyes.
"It truly is darling, you won't be sparing with the pups but I'm sure Chris would love to teach you to shot and fight." Peter gives his hunter a glinting look and Chris nods, leaning into the younger of their three to hum in agreement. Peter would love to see his two boys shirtless and sweaty, wrestling as they fight to pin each other down.
"I'd like to learn how to fight but I already know how to shoot. You know, sheriff's son and all. One of the first things he taught me was gun safety. With all the guns in the house for his job, it was pretty important." Peter notes the way Chris' scent spikes with attraction, eyes flashing in the face of such a mouth watering smell.
"I'll teach you to fight little one, we can go to the shooting range together too. Or maybe set one up where you normally train?" Derek grimaces at the thought.
"Maybe just stick to the range. You'll throw us off with the scent of gunpowder and the noise." The alpha suggests and Chris nods. He understands. Still he is excited to see his boy shoot for the first time. In all their time together, fighting side by side, Stiles hasn't gotten his hands on a gun so maybe it's time to change that.
"Good, now who gets to break the news to the alpha pup that he's not allowed back?" Peter sneers, hoping it's him that gets to see the way the boy's face drops.
"We should wait till the next meeting. I want all of us here for it." Derek says, his voice holding a command that makes the beta's listen to him. Then he turns to Stiles.
"Stiles. You don't have to be here for that if you don't want to. If I know Scott, it's likely he's blame you for this." Derek explains and Stiles ducks his head, knowing that he's right. Even if it's only Derek speaking, Scott may try to pin this on him. Still. He's part of the pack now and he stands with them.
"No, I want to be here. Emissary's duty right?" Derek frowns but hums.
"I want you to be there because you want to be, not because of an obligation. You are still recovering." Derek assures, making sure his newest pack member is taking care of himself. If he can't trust Stiles to do it, then he's not above making it a pack project.
"Either way I want to be there. Our first pack meeting." Stiles smiles to himself, content and happy in the knowledge that he is now part of the Hale pack. Derek as his alpha and Chris and Peter there for him too. Even if he isn't sure about a full relationship right now, he knows that he will want it to get there eventually. Maybe after clearing his head of the mess between the packs, he'll feel free enough, wanted enough, to go after what he wants.
"Good." Derek looks pleased at Stiles taking the initiative to stand with them. So do the pups and Stiles is pretty sure he can feel Peter purring under him.
This sort of warm collective happiness is something so foreign to him. Even the casual affection that might be seen between to friends, werewolf or not, is notably absent with the McCall pack. Stiles supposes that's because they aren't really friends. It's hard to imagine the comfortable banter or even the lack of tense muscles here, between the McCall pack. The few times they have gotten together just because, there is always a sort of tension in the air that never seemed to leave.
With Isaac or Cora he can see himself sitting comfortably in the living room as they game or read or just play on their phones. Homework and meals all spent together. A real pack.
Only seeing each other in times of crisis has put a strain on the McCall pack that will be hard to undo. It will take active work on all parties that Stiles just doesn't see happening. He feels slightly bad for Kira, being the newest to Beacon hills but there is some faith that Lydia will take her in just as she did with Alison. Besides, Kira is smart, smarter than Scott, she can take care of herself. It's not like he's never going to see them again.
Right now he has to take care of himself and his pack. That is the first priority.
The next pack meeting is scheduled for the Friday of that week. Not two days after Stiles decides to join the Hales. It gives him only so much time to settle in to the new routine. He sees he dad, trying to stay at his house as to not impose on Peter and Chris but it doesn't last long.
The Sheriff puts in the effort at least he has for the first few days since the confrontation. He takes Stiles out to their favorite dinner as he said he would and even starts texting him to ask him where he is going to be. Stiles has a hunch that it will go back to normal, pretending that nothing happened, in a few weeks but… for now it's nice. It helps him even if he can tell it's only cause the man feels so guilty. It's far from perfect, but it's better. Better than it was before, and at least the sheriff isn't avoiding him anymore.
The pack on the other hand welcomes him with open arms. The loft is always lively and if it isn't then Stiles can usually find Peter or Chris in their, now shared, apartment. Derek comments that it's going a little fast but Peter waves him off, telling him that just cause he's afraid of commitment doesn't mean he can dictate how many boys Peter keeps in his house. Stiles nearly chokes, so does Chris. They both glare at him, to which is responded with that award winning grin.
So that's where Stiles spends most of his time, sitting with Peter as they read over the information about Sparks. Dusty books from the vault pile up in the wolf's office. Most of the two days are spent lazily as Stiles recovers fully from his cold, putting on a little more weight as he regulates to a normal level now that he has access to consistent food. Peter absolutely preens at the fact that he can provide for his little mate.
Now that their bond is being fed, even if it is in-complete, it feels good. Both of them basking in the free flowing feeling of their warmth shared. They try to share it with Chris, cuddling up to him as Peter preens and tells him all that their little Spark is thinking. It thoroughly embarrasses Stiles, although not the biting humiliation but the softer flustered scent. Something Peter sends a large amount of time rolling in as their scents mix in his bed. His wolf has never been happier for it.
There is little talk of completing the mate bond but Stiles learns to reach for it more often, teasing it as he watcher Peter jolt and purr under the connection. He even learns to find his pack bond with Chris, weeding it out from the others and tugging at it. Playing with the warmth and fondness he receives from both even if Chris can't feel it. Peter is patient and he can wait as long as he want's to have his mates properly. He specifically looks into if Sparks can give the mate bite as well, excited for the prospect that the three of them will be able to share a mate bond.
Then Friday rolls around…
Now, as the Hales sit and wait for the McCalls to show up, Stiles is placed between the two older men, both pressing into him as he struggles to keep his head clear from the spiral. Their touch is grounding and their words help him to stay afloat. He wanted to be here, wanted to be a part of this. But now that he's here, he feels the weight of everything that's happened start to press down on him. He doesn't know what Scott will say, how any of them will react.
"They're here." Derek comments, glaring at the heavy metal doors of the loft. Stiles looks up despite himself as he sees Scott and the others walk in. The alpha's eyes find Stiles immediately. Stiles doesn't cower, feeling sort of proud that he doesn't. Even if Scott's gaze is one of impressive intensity.
Even so, what ever he was thinking the moment he caught Scott's eye, Peter lean in front of him, blocking the alpha from view.
Scott doesn't comment, doesn't even acknowledge Stiles in the room. Some how, that possibility didn't even cross Stiles as something that could have happened. It's possibly the worst of everything he's thought about.
"So we gonna get started?" Scott waltzes in, completely misreading the tension in the room. The others seem to notice, staying near the door as they face the Hale pack head on.
"Sure. We have a lot to talk about." Derek answers, his teeth grit. The whole Hale pack notices the lack of acknowledgement from Scott to Stiles. For someone who seemed so concerned with Stiles' health last meeting, he seemed unconcerned now. Not even a 'how are you feeling?'.
Despite the tension that Scott seems to be immune to, the other McCall pack members file in. None of them sit down. That leaves only the three of of lovers on the couch. The thought makes Stiles anxious, getting antsy to stand up and draw less attention to himself. Chris' hand on his knee stop him, a soft squeeze and a warm look help him to calm down.
He hadn't even realized that he had been fisting the back of Peter's shirt until Chris' hand called him back to the present. Instinctively he had reaches out to the two of them for comfort and reassurance. It's the sort of thing that, a week ago, would have seemed utterly ridiculous. Perhaps he isn't ready to completely move in with them yet, but there is clearly a deeper emotional connection that that can't be ignored. He is Peter's mate already after all.
Although, that shouldn't be surprising considering Peter is his mate and Chris is soon to be his mate too. A warm fuzzy thrum hums through him as he accepts that. His mates, comforting him and caging him in. Keeping him safe from the person who abandoned him. He loves them.
Fuck. He loves them.
Peter turns to look at him, his eyes slightly widened. Stiles knows in that instant that Peter has heard everything. He thinks with a hazy sort of warmth.
My mates. My pretty mates. I love them.
Peter whimpers. Actually fully whimpers, a tone so low that not anyone but Stiles and Chris can hear it over Scott's talking. It's followed by a rumble of approval and a look to Chris. Peter resists the urge to drag his mates back to his den and sleep warm and comfortable in their loving embrace. His wolf is howling at him to claim those pretty necks and take his boys home.
"So basically nothing's really happened since." Scott's harsh tone cuts through their buzzing mate bond as he finishes up the recap from the rest of the week. Peter's hand slips into Stiles' as they all perk up to pay attention, an understanding passing between the two that they will talk about this later.
They are at an angle that Scott couldn't see there hands through the back of the couch but Stiles' heart rate still spikes at the possibility. He's already worried about what Scott will say about him joining the pack. He doesn't really what to hear what words will be said if Scott learns just how involved he already is.
"Good. Glad that Beacon Hills is safe at the moment. Now lets get down to the real business of this meeting." Peter purrs, relishing in the glare that Scott sends him, unhappy that he's been usurped as speaker.
"The Hale pack is separating from the McCall pack." Derek states plainly.
It shocks the McCall pack into silence for a moment. Especially Scott. Whose eyes flick to Stiles for a second before his anger shows itself.
"What! What do you mean. We're one conjoined pack for a reason. Safety in numbers and all. I mean we need everyone to fight everything that comes through here." Scott reminds them, sounding a little desperate to argue his way out of this decision.
"That won't change. We are just separating the packs, officially. It's clear you don't respect me as an alpha of my own pack and so I'm changing that." It's not the only reason but Derek isn't going to bring up Stiles being one of the only reasons they stayed if he doesn't have to. Stiles would also like to just silently switch over, just stop showing up to the McCall meetings and hope that no one comments on it.
"Separate meetings and separate pack nights." Stiles catches a few of Scott's beta's mouthing 'pack nights' in confusion. It makes his heart ache for them. That they won't get to experience the joys of having your alpha break up a fight over which movie to put on in the background during another argument about witch board game to play.
"But- but what about Stiles!" Scott suddenly cuts in.
"He's does practically all the research for both packs right? Wouldn't that leave you with out that information?" Derek frowns at the automatic assumption that Stiles will be staying with the McCall pack. He doesn't say anything, determined not to draw attention to that fact until absolutely necessary. Stiles looks down at the implication that his only use is that of the researcher. That he's just a resource to Scott. Peter's grip on his little mate becomes tighter as he fights the urge to shout down the smaller alpha. Although it would likely end with less shouting and more clawing. Something not needed right now.
"We'll still share resources. Are you not listening to me Scott?" Derek patronizes, watching with a slight smugness as a muscle tightens in Scott's jaw.
"Resources" Peter sneers with disgust, hating the way his mate is being spoken about. Chris is frowning as well and Stiles' scent has soured significantly.
"Where will we have our meetings then?" Scott huffs, looking slightly more like a toddler with each whine that sounds from his pouting mouth. Not the wolf kind of whine that announces that a wolf is in distress, no, the human sort of whine that is high pitched and annoying. Scott sounds exasperated. As if this who ordeal is annoying him.
"You're an alpha aren't you. Figure it out." Stiles can't help but smile at Derek's harsh words. He isn't taking any of Scott's shit. He never does.
Scott just growls lowly. Clearly the idea of challenging another alpha in their own den seems like a good idea to him.
"I- so you're just kicking us out?" Scott huffs again, dragging the conversation out as he still hasn't gotten a satisfying answer as to why. Clearly Derek's answer was not enough for him.
"Yes." Derek simply answers, getting a giggle from the pups.
"Fine." Scott looks like he's about to burst a blood vessel. The glare he sports is no where close to Derek's but it is still there.
He doesn't stomp his feet but his pout sort of implies he wants to. Stiles winces as the alpha pup begins to make his way to the door once again. The others watch him go, including the rest of the McCall pack for a moment. Before they remember they are supposed to be on his side and begin to follow. Not before Lydia gives a raised eye brow to Stiles sitting between the two older men and Jackson winks at Ethan.
Stiles knows he should contact her. Tell her what's going on at the very least he owes her that much. For all he knows they have been listening to the same lie that the Hales were during the immediate after math of the Nogitsune.
"Stiles?" A grating voice calls from the door, expectant and demanding. It's Scott. Telling Stiles to get up and come. Like a master calling his dog. Stiles cringes at the expectation of his obedience. He thinks back to the years of answering that call no matter how reluctantly. Never once has he ever been obedient.
Scott used his skills as a bargaining chip to argue in an argument he wasn't even considered a real person in. Now he expects loyalty as undying as it has always been. Stiles hates it. He hates that when he looks at the alpha all he can see is that scared little boy just trying to fit in. A newly broken home and trouble at school. Bullies in the form of teachers and peers alike. He sees those big brown eyes that just want to feel loved and he sees his brother.
They regard him now, cold and harsh. There is nothing but resentment in them now. Not the gratitude that they had held when they had first met. Not the joy that he remembers and not the dopey naivety. He sees it now. What the pack had seen. The willful ignorance and lazy expectation that comes with everything being handed to him. weather that be in the form of Stiles answering all his questions or Derek providing guidance as to what a pack should be. He sees it now as Scott looks at him and still expects him to follow. All that power has certainly gone to his head.
"No Scott. Not this time." Stiles finally brings himself to say.
I can't follow you this time. I have to put me first. Just this once, I have to put me first.
"What? What do you mean not this time?" Scott pushes, his backward, afterthought call to his ex-friend turning into a full chested confrontation. He's turned to face Stiles now. At least making eye contact.
Peter squeezes his hand and Chris slips his arm around the boy's waist in comfort, sensing his discomfort. From this angle, Scott has a clear view of the three of them together. His eyes bore into their hold on each other, his mouth twitching strangely as he takes in the sight.
"I'm part of Derek's pack. So I'll be staying here." Stiles tries to assert himself but he feels shaky. This whole thing goes against everything he's been doing for years. Seeing his former friend's eyes turn cold and hard when before they barely passed over him in an acknowledgement of existence did something to him. He felt small, made small. Like Scott was trying to force him into compliance. All the worst parts of the alpha power without any of the care and protection that a good alpha has.
"What do you mean you're part of Derek's pack? You're choosing him? He betrayed me!" Scott's tone gets louder. His eyes flick down to the possessive hold that the two men have on the Spark as his anger builds.
"I'm not choosing anyone Scott. They were the ones who came to me. Who helped be after everything." Stiles feels that anger boil over his shaky apprehension. He isn't quite shouting… yet.
"I was grieving!" Scott does shout, his escalation in tone making all the wolves on edge.
"We all were!" Stiles now lets that anger show, joining in the shouting match that everyone in the room could feel coming.
"We all went through this together! We were supposed to heal together. You know, like a pack?" Stiles puts as much sneer into his voice as he can manage without it wobbling.
"How was I supposed to do that when you're the one who killed her!"
It hangs in the air, heavy as a death sentence.
No one says a word. They all just stare at Scott as if they struggle to understand the words that have just left his mouth. Peter is growling. So is Derek and the pups. Even Jackson has started to growl at the implication. The humans and human adjacent pack members in the room just stare, disbelief in their eyes. None of that stops Scott from continuing.
"I mean think about how Chris feels. Imposing yourself on Derek's pack like this." Stiles heart aches, the words feel like a physical mark across his insides. It strikes right at the center of his insecurity.
"What the fuck is wrong with you Scott." Stiles doesn't defend himself, nor does he disagree that Chris should feel that way. He knows that. He knows what Chris should feel toward him and that's hatred. Hatred and fear, neither of which Stiles would blame him for. So he yells for the fact that Scott would say something like that to him. He yells for the fact that Scott is supposed to be his friend and is now throwing his trauma back in his face as an argument to make him join Scott again. He doesn't want to go back to being the ignored pack member that no one has to worry about, because he's the one taking care of them.
"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you. You've killed people Stiles, you don't even have the shame to stay away from those you've hurt. I mean you're literally cuddled up to Peter right now." Scott's hand flies out to gesture to Peter as he pulls Stiles closer to him protectively. Stiles isn't having any of it.
He stands up, expressing mix of heated anger and betrayed hurt. He wont deny that he's killed. He still remembers those deaths and no matter how many times Peter or Chris whisper to him that it wasn't him, that it was the Nogitsune using him. That they don't blame him and that they are just glad that he is still alive with them, he won't defend himself. But he will point out Scott's hypocrisy.
"Like you're any better. Just two years ago you were fine with killing Peter if it meant you got your humanity back. You thought the deaths of the Hale fire were justified! Hell you said that to Derek's face! Not to mention how you intended to kill Gerard. A cruel and slow death but as long as you aren't the one with blood on your hands it's ok right? RIGHT?" Stiles spits as he shouts, finally the anger drowning out any hurt or loyalty he might have felt.
Scott snarls at him, his fangs and claws dropping as he bares forward as if poised to attack. Before he can even make the decision to initiate or not, there are wolves all over him. Chris' hands yank Stiles backward into his arms before he is pushed behind the hunter. Peter, in a half-shift, is the first to leap. The threat to his mate is too much to stand. Derek is slightly further away from the alpha pup so he gets there second. The pups are also readied, not yet engaging but ready for their alpha's command.
In a blur of snarling grimaces and flashing blue and red eyes, the two Hales hold Scott down to the ground. They are on top of him, Peter with his claws digging into Scott's wrists as he pins them to the side of the pup and Derek, kneeling on his spine to keep his body down. Scott lays on his front, chin on the ground and arms to his sides as the two Hales take him down easily.
They are all in half-shifts, struggling on the ground as Stiles watches from the safety of Chris' arms. While he relishes the warmth and protective possessiveness of his hunter, he's not done with Scott.
"You'd threaten another alpha's emissary?!" Derek growls, forcing Scott further against the ground as he speaks.
"You'd threaten my mate?" Peter's eyes are in a continual flash, even as Derek's have returned to their normal green. Stiles heart skips at the term. To hear Peter say it so openly… He likes it. He really likes it. Chris seems to like it too as his grip on Stiles tightens when Peter says it. As if to say 'ours',
"What are you both talking about!" Scott struggles, still not accepting that he's been subdued.
"Stiles isn't anything. He's not even in your pack. He's human!" The confusion and chaos ramps up and Stiles gets fed up. Everything is so loud and Chris isn't letting him speak. The betas are closing in as their instincts tell them to follow their alphas. It's all getting to be too much too quickly and the young Spark is just itching for it all to…
Stop
Please just stop
"STOP! All of you. Jesus. You're all acting like pups. Yes you too Peter." Stiles' words break through the posturing pups scramble.
"I am the new Hale Emissary. I have also just found out that I am Peter's mate. Soon to be Chris' too just so we're all aware. And I won't stand for my alpha scraping with another alpha on our own territory." Stiles takes a deep breath. He has the attention of everyone now. Peter is practically preening at him for his words and he can feel Chris' hands tighten on him as well. Ever his supportive boys.
The three of them get up off the ground. Leaving Scott to dust himself off with what little dignity he has left after that display.
"Stiles-"
"Shut up. I'm talking now. Scott did you read any of the books I gave you on werewolf etiquette?… Any of them?" Scott blanches. Suddenly, after all his accusations, feeling a little sheepish.
"I'm working on it."
"You said that four months ago. When I first gave you them."
"You know all of this stuff anyway, so why should I have to learn it." Scott argues again, that annoying whine entering his voice once again. Stiles fights not to cringe, Peter and Chris both do.
"Because I'm not in your pack any more! You're the fucking alpha Scott, if there was ever a time to grab your own responsibility by the reins. It's now."
"Where is this all coming from? Is it from them?" The alpha pup gestures to the Peter, next to him, and then Chris, over by Stiles.
"What the hell is a mate anyway? Like dogs?" Stiles just stares at him, baffled. Even some of the the McCall members look a little thrown off by the blatant display of ignorance.
"And you call yourself a wolf." Peter sneers, stepping away from the clearly defeated alpha pup.
"I didn't even want to be a wolf!" Scott shouts back at the receding beta. His eyes flash in an alpha command. An alpha command on someone else' beta. Peter whips around, his own eyes flashing, no sign of submission in sight. Not only is Derek Peter's alpha, Peter is the one who bit Scott. No way in hell he would ever submit to him. He teeth are bared in a challenge, claws aching to take that undeserved alpha spark from the boy. The only thing holding him back is the fact that his mates would never condone it.
It all suddenly bubbles up and Stiles rears back in a high pitched cackle. He laughs so hard he feels light headed. They all look at him strangely as laughs in utter bafflement at the statement he's just heard.
When he comes down, his face steels into something cold and harsh, his energy gone and want to just puppy pile with the pack overwhelming. Still he has to send this alpha pup away.
"Get out Scott." Stiles decides after a moment to collect himself.
"The Hale-McCall pack has officially separated. With Derek being the land's chosen alpha, you are simply a guest here. I suggest you don't take that for granted by throwing around your alpha spark like a petulant child. I mean seriously, what did you think was gonna happen! Peter would just bend to your will?" There is something close to a growl at the back of Stiles' throat. Something that makes Peter's heart flutter and heat pool lower in his gut.
"I-"
"Get the fuck out." That anger is replaced by a cold cruelty. The one Peter loves to see in his little Spark. Even Chris can sense the power that radiates from his angry mate. He looks on in almost wonder.
Scott shuts his mouth at least, looking pissy and indignant. He storms out of the loft with rage coloring his expression and the audacity to consider this a betrayal. Stiles doesn't care as he watches with a strength he doesn't feel. The others follow suit soon after, looking awkwardly between the two packs before chasing after their alpha. Stiles can't blame them for running after their alpha, instincts and they were all friends at one point. Maybe they see this as a betrayal too. Right now, Stiles can't be bothered to care.
As the door shuts with one last meaningful look from Lydia, Stiles finds himself not able to hold himself up any more. Shaky legs finally giving out as his body crashes hard from all the adrenaline coursing through it. Strong arms catch him and tug him back to the couch but all he can hear is his heartbeat and uneven breath.
He's curled up against something warm and firm, his fists clenched into something soft as he shakes. There is too much and his head hurt. He can't see or hear and he can't breathe. He can't breathe.
I can't breathe
Something warm presses against his back he flinches away but leans in after he settles. The warmth is nice but he can't breathe.
"-iles"
"Stiles, baby-" Chris calls to him, rubbing up the trembling boy's arm as he holds him. Peter comes up behind him and clings to him, a small whimper leaving his lips as he listens to the poor Spark's thoughts.
"Listen to our breathing okay? Breathe with us." Chris and Peter breathe in time together. Stiles tries to focus on the rhythmic pressure against his back and chest. His palm flattens against Chris' chest and he nods. He's trying, can't they see he's trying.
"We know darling, you're doing just fine. Keep going." Peter's low coo is whispered behind he ear. The soothing sound so close and the pressure helps to keep his world small. He can focus on the important things. Breathing, mainly. His boyfriends around him. Their words and scent. That's it. Nothing else matters right now.
"There you go, just breathe." Chris' voice grounds him as he doesn't dare open his eyes. Not yet. Not when everything else is already too much.
Slowly, slowly. Stiles begins to calm down, his breathing mellowing out and the soft gasps of air become fewer and further between. They sit with him patiently, comforting him and just breathing.
"Thank you." He mumbles into the chest of his boyfriend.
"Of course darling." He hears Peter murmurer sleepily from behind him. It's only then that he notices the other people around him. Another puppy pile seems to have started. With him, once again, at the center. There are several whimpering pups around him, scenting him now that he seems alright again. Even Derek has joined although less on the cuddling side and more just being there with everyone.
"Looks like I've started a trend." Stiles jokes, feeling the sticky tear tracks on his cheeks stretch as he smiles weakly at them.
"It was a stressful afternoon. This was always going to be the outcome no matter how poorly it went." Cora huffs, nuzzling closer into Ethan's hold on her.
"None of us were expecting it to go that badly. But she's right. I really didn't expect him to know that little about being a wolf. Considering he's been a wolf for almost two years." Issac sneers, finding slight satisfaction that he's managed to adjust much better than the pup who was bitten before him.
"But it's done now, we'll have our den back to ourselves." Peter sighs, clearly relishing the idea.
"You don't think he'll be an issue later on?" Stiles asks, skeptically. If there is one thing that makes Scott persistent, it's his own life being in danger. Of course, when it's someone else's life, he'll drag his feet when it comes to things like social conventions, or his own pleasure.
"I have no doubt that, once the alpha pup realizes what an asset you've been, he'll be back." Peter huffs, annoyed at the thought of having to deal with Scott again.
"He won't apologize. Not to me." Stiles' tone dips into that slight disappointment as he acknowledges the truth.
"I don't think I've ever heard him apologize to me." That gets a few eye rolls or huffs in agreement as to how ridiculous that is.
"It's not like you'd forgive him." Peter coos. Stiles is about to argue or at least protest but Chris cuts him off.
"Even if you tried, we wouldn't let you." Stiles gives a weak glare but doesn't say anymore.
"Good." Peter agrees with Stiles silence.
"He doesn't deserve it!" Cora chimes in with her usual judgmental tone.
"You really are a saint for putting up with it for as long as you did." Isaac admits.
Stiles just basks in the warmth of his pack. Finally his own pack. All on it's own, no need to dread every pack meeting or stress two days before hand to put everything together all on his own. Derek said that he would have help as it's usually the alpha's job to run things but that the emissary helps and guides. That's good, Stiles can do that. He knows too much about pack and inter-pack dynamics anyway so why not put it to use. Besides, when it's not demanded of him, he quite enjoys the research. It's part of why he's been so invested in learning all that being a Spark entails.
That and yesterday he had gotten to lean against Peter while they both read and cross referenced. Painfully domestic displays like that always get his heart fluttering. Not having to worry about anything because he won't have to face anything alone. Not anymore and not in the false way that other's have promised before. He realizes it's because he believes them. His hunter and wolf, he believes them when they say he is their Bambi. The little deer they will hold onto and never let go. He's never been taken care of like that before and he still struggles with it.
But here. Here, between his boys, he feels safe and lightened of the burden of the always being the one who has to know everything. Lest, he don't, and something goes wrong.
"Even if I couldn't hear your deliciously wonderful thoughts dear, I can almost see you thinking to loudly. Relax, it's over. All you have to worry about is which movie we are going to put on while Derek makes us all dinner?" Derek growls at him and Peter grins. Stiles almost cries again at the familiar display. Fondness radiates from them both, from all of them
His pack.