Chapter Text
April fifth was marked on the pack calendar with a large red circle and multiple arrows. There were even gold stars decorating the circumference of the red magic marker, though no one would own up to who had put them there. April fifth was the day that the manor would open up and become a temporary home and base for six other packs, all of whom had been affected by the Family in slight to excessive means. Chief in orchestrating the meeting was Danny who had put most of his actual work on hold to insure that every detail was planned and executed for their arrival.
“Do you have the background checks for me?” Stiles asked for the tenth time that day. It was still a week out until the meeting and the pack mom was beside himself with anxiety.
“They’re in a zipped file on your laptop, like they have been for the past three months. I already checked them out and so did Derek and Scott, if you really want to bore yourself with the read be my guest.” Danny knew that Stiles was just nervous about having so many strangers in their home and he honestly didn’t blame him. Derek had spoken to each alpha personally however and had made it very clear to them the consequences of stabbing the Hale pack in the back. In the end most of the packs that they had contacted through Helena had agreed to the terms of the treaty, essentially making Derek the alpha of seven packs instead of just his own.
The twins and Jackson were busy setting up a campground of sorts out in the lawn. The alpha’s, their mates and children and the young children and their parents would be staying in the manor, but because the there so many of them, many of the packs members would need to camp out on the property. During their stay, Derek and Stiles would stay in their own suite, Maria and Cora would stay in the guest suite that Maria had previously occupied along with Isaac and his mates. The rest of the pack had easily given up their rooms for the guests and would be sharing one of the large tent complexes that they had bought specifically for the occasion. Derek had even approved of RVs on the lawn and Stiles was busy spending most of his time with Deaton, going over the security measures that each RV would need to pass before they were admitted through the gate.
“I think Melissa and my Dad are going to be by for dinner, can you make sure the whole pack is home?” Stiles asked Danny as he sorted through some of the paperwork that was scattered around Derek’s desk. “Tonight I think we need to start the full cleanup of the manor.”
“Sure thing, I don’t suppose you’re going to let one of us off the hook to stay with Isaac will you?” Danny grinned and Stiles laughed, knowing all too well that Danny deserved the break after all the work he’d been doing for the pack.
“Sure, you stay with the pup,” Danny cheered and Stiles held up his hand, “after you help your mates clean up your suite.”
“Yeah, sure sounds good!” Danny smiled and went back to the message boards. Not only had he set up the website that had allowed all of the packs easy access to reach each other, but he also was one of the main people working to keep communication smooth. Isaac also often helped. He was nearing the end of the pregnancy and while it was inconvenient to have so many people around it couldn’t be helped since the safety of all of the packs was in question.
Stiles left Danny to it, going in search of the rest of his pups. Since the ordeal would be strenuous on all of the pack, they’d all agreed to divide up the responsibilities. Maria, Cora, and Derek were in charge of checking in all the packs when they arrived. Since the Hales were born it would be better for them to handle the mass influx of wolves and humans. It also helped that they were the only remaining Hales and that alone would keep their visitors in line. Maria had agreed to help because Helena and her old pack were coming up first and she would have an easier time working with them than one of Stiles’ other pups might have. When the packs arrived, Allison, Ethan, Melissa, and Lydia were all in charge of the cooking. Stiles would help oversee, but as his role in the pack was so important he would need to be with Derek most of the time to greet their guests. Aiden, Jackson, Chris, and John would form a security group that helped watch the entrances to the manor and grounds as well as to run patrols with the other packs. It had already been agreed upon that each pack would supply anywhere between one to four of their own members to keep up with routine patrols. It would be a good exercise to build pack bonding as well as to show the new wolves around the territory.
“Everything is looking good on the lawn.” Allison reported when Stiles spotted her at the bottom of the stairs. She was smiling warmly up to him, the stress of the impending meeting seemingly melting from her as Stiles wrapped her in a tight hug.
“Good, how is Isaac doing?”
“As well as can be expected.” Allison sighed and moved away from the man. “He’s resting in the guest suite with Lydia. She’s trying to make him as comfortable as possible.”
Isaac and Lydia had once upon a time seemed like unlikely friends, but the pack bond and their bond over their expected cubs helped bridge the gap. Lydia had announced that she and Aiden would be expecting in late November or early December, she was just barely two months along. The pack had been ecstatic at the news of another young member and were already expecting that the two would grow up to be great friends.
“That’s good, why don’t we go see if the tents are done? I asked Danny to make sure everyone was home for dinner, so I’m thinking that sandwiches for lunch should be fine.” Allison and Stiles left through the front door, hand in hand, and walked into a comical scene as the twins and Jackson seemed to be tangled in the tent gear. Derek and Scott were standing off to the side, doing their best to hide their laughter while it seemed that Deaton had already left. The tangled mass of wolves stopped when Stiles and Allison joined their Alpha and former Alpha on the sidelines.
“This is all Aiden’s fault.” Ethan whined, effectively untangling himself while throwing his brother under the bus.
“Hey, Jackson was the one who tripped first!”
“The keyword you need to know is first.” Jackson pointed out from his spot on the ground. he was sitting in the middle of the tarp with a smug smile on his face. Leave it to Jackson to make a mess and still look smug.
“How about the three of you come over here and we let Derek and Scott fix this mess? I think the garden could use watering and I’m sure Jackson would like to help you two out.” Stiles delegated and watched as things began to fall into place. The twins and Jackson made their way to the back of the house where the water lines were kept, playfully arguing the whole way. Allison and the pack mom started to hand the boys the rods that they needed to assemble the large tents. The task was complete quickly after and the four made their way back into the house to help start lunch.
The weather looked like it was going to hold out for the rest of the day. It wasn’t raining as much as a typical April, but it meant that the grounds just might stay dry through the mission they had in play. Danny, Stiles, and Allison had done their best detective efforts along with backup from John and the full force of the police department. They knew that the Family had set up shop in Oregon after one of Helena’s own had gone under deep cover for two months to root them out. He was a young druid, not even out of school. It had been hard for Derek to agree to let the mission happen, but the Family only took in children and having a strange teenager break their ranks was hard enough as it was, there was no way that they’d have put anyone younger on the job, but Jason was mature and capable. Stiles and Deaton had evaluated him themselves before they’d grudgingly given them some of their higher end magically enhanced gadgets.
“You thinking about Jason?” Allison asked quietly while Scott and Derek moved around them in the kitchen to prepare a salad big enough to feed the pack.
“Yeah, it’s been a few days, I’m just worried.”
“Me too, man, but he’s gone longer without contacting us before. They seem to really trust him and he’s too new to be close to Andrea so I’m sure he’s fine.” Scott reassured. Scott had also been very unsure about sending the boy. In a lot of ways Scott was the second to both Derek as the next alpha, but also to Stiles as the next pack mom. He was kind and cared to a fault and often he was the reason that Stiles could push on each day, just knowing that his best friend in life was there to share the burden with him.
“I know, but that doesn’t mean that I have to like it.” Scott and Allison took over most of the tasks in the the kitchen as Derek silently led his mate out the back door and into the private garden. The twins had set up an enclosure that was meant for pack only. Even John and Melissa hadn’t been allowed in the garden until they’d officially joined the pack. It was a space where everyone could go to just unwind and forget about the troubles of their day.
No one else was there. The three tending to the yard were around the front, making sure that the bed of flowers that circled around the manor were watered. Derek wasn’t often so quiet, but sometimes Stiles found that his mate would keep quiet for the younger man’s benefit. As much as Stiles loved to talk, he also loved the time he got to spend just wrapped up in Derek arms.
“If this is too much after we take down the Family we can call an end to the truce.” Derek offered as he large hands rubbed warm circles up and down Stiles’ arms. They were curled up on the bench nestled in the back of the garden. Stiles was sitting with his back flush against Derek’s chest, so close that he was nearly in the werewolf’s lap.
“We both know that I would never want that and that it would be impossible to keep everyone safe without the truce.” Derek hummed in response and silence fell between them again. He dipped his head down to nip gently at Stiles’ shoulder. “That is so not fair.” Stiles moaned as his head fell forward to give Derek better access. They didn’t have long alone. The rest of the pack would be home for lunch soon and Stiles really did need to go back and help start the sandwiches, but Derek’s mouth was doing wicked things to his pulse point and Stiles was finding it hard to remember why he wasn’t supposed to be enjoying himself with his mate at that very moment.
“We should go, the others are starting to come home.” Derek whispered against the shell of Stiles’ ear before his human teeth came out to graze against the soft skin.
“Fuck Derek,” Stiles hissed. He moved his body so he could straddle the man, bringing their lips together in a hot and needy kiss. “If you want me to go and get lunch ready you need to stop what you’re doing.”
“You’re the one straddling me and grinding your hips into me.” Derek breathed out, gripping at Stiles hard enough to bruise.
“Oh yeah, maybe I am.” Stiles half laughed half moaned, pulling himself away from his mate with a lot of over exaggerated effort. “Come on Sourwolf, we have a whole pack of hungry wolves we need to feed.”
“Right behind you, Red.” Derek grinned, all teeth, as he followed his lover back into the house. They made their way back into the crowded kitchen and every wolf in the room immediately wrinkled their noses.
“Okay guys, can we keep the hot and heavy makeout sessions to when we’re not all forced to spend time together?” Aiden fake complained.
“Hey this is your alpha’s house, he can do whatever he pleases.” Stiles swatted at Aiden who ducked with ease.
“Or whomever.” Derek leered.
“Oh yuck, suddenly I’m not that hungry anymore.” Scott made gagging noises and Allison fondly cuffed him over the head.
“Don’t worry, I’ll eat your portion.” Isaac called from the door and everyone made way for the very pregnant werewolf, Lydia at his side. Isaac had one hand poised on his stomach and his other tangled in Lydia’s.
“Do you think Scott could ever actually give up a meal?” Jackson spoke from his spot on the counter. Cora was standing at his legs while Maria sat on his other side, her legs swinging easily.
The pack fell into a comfortable level of noise. Most of them were home for lunch, though Melissa and Chris were still out. Stiles allowed his pups to take care of most of the sandwich making while he and Derek sat back. They often joked about how the betas were their children. Since Derek was firm in his stance to not turn Stiles unless necessary, children of their own would never be possible. They’d once talked about asking Cora for her eggs, then their children would be Stilinski-Hale in blood and name. In the long run, it was Stiles that decided that adoption might be the best route. Stiles felt that there were enough children in the world that needed good homes that he and Derek could help. Looking over at Maira as she leaned on Jackson made Stiles fell even more that he had made the right decision.
“What are you thinking about?” Derek whispered in his mate’s ear. The wolves of the pack would have been able to hear them easily, but it seemed that everyone was preoccupied enough to give them some space.
“I’m just glad we both got the big family we wanted.” Stiles smiled and turned to kiss his mate gently. “I know this isn’t quite what you were thinking…”
“It’s perfect,” Derek smiled back, wrapping his arms tightly around the smaller man.
“Are you two done being saps? We’re all trying to have lunch here.” Aiden complained as he opened the fridge and began to dole out drinks to everyone in the room. “We’re going to have lunch in the garden.”
The room emptied out slowly and yet the pair stayed put. Stiles relaxed as Derek pulled him closer, running his strong hands up and down his lover’s stomach. Derek mouthed at his ear, just as he had earlier and Stiles knew that joining their pups for lunch was not going to happen.
“What do you say we go upstairs? The house is technically empty.” Derek whispered in Stiles’ ear. His deep laugh rumbled through the human’s body and made his heart speed up.
“That sounds like a wonderful idea.” The pair hardly made their way into the room before they’d stripped down, the remainder of their clothes decorating the house.