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“Dude, you know this is insanity? Right? Like – the textbook definition of!” Stiles ignored Scott, straightening the collar of his shirt one more time. He knew he was just putting things off but he could hardly be blamed. Scott was right – this was madness. “Stiles – there has to be a better way! My Mom said she could try – “
“No! I can’t ask her to take me on, Scott. I know just how stretched things are with you guys. This – this makes sense. Besides, what else am I going to do? The proceeds of the house will barely cover the cost of the medical bills – add that to the cost of the – the funeral – and – look, I’m swimming in debt.” He turned to his best friend, taking in the worried look on his face. “The Hales are the one Pack that have never been accused of abusing the people they take on. They don’t look down on humans – in fact, I know of at least two people from our graduating class who joined the Hale Pack and are thriving!”
“Thriving? Go on then – who?” Scott sounded skeptical.
“Erica Reyes and Vernon Boyd,” he stated. “And Isaac petitioned them for the bite and although they turned him down for that, they helped him get away from his abusive Dad. This could be a good thing.”
“Yeah, and you could also die! Besides, what makes you think they’ll take you? There’s been some talk about Jackson – “
“No – he’s going to England. The only person I’m up against is Greenberg. Are you gonna stand there as my best buddy in the whole world and tell me you think the Hales would choose Greenberg over me? Come on, Scottie, I need you to support me in this!”
“Stiles – “
“Please? I’m scared enough, dude, I need you to back me up. Okay?”
“Okay.”
It wasn’t a big ceremony – most people would be entering the whole process at the start of the summer rather than mid-term. Stiles had never planned to put himself forward but with what had happened to his Dad – he didn’t have much choice. Unless he wanted to enter Eichen House, the equivalent of the poorhouse, then this was his best chance at a decent life.
He gulped when the wolves walked into the square. With just him and Greenberg to be assessed, there was little time to prepare himself. The beasts were huge – much bigger than they had looked when he had watched these ceremonies in the past. They moved deceptively fast, ignoring the small crowd, all of their attention on the two young men.
He quailed as a large black wolf appeared suddenly at his shoulder, hot breath on his face as it lowered its head to his neck. Time froze and all he was aware of was the predator behind him, the heat of its body, and suddenly its razor-sharp fangs were pressing against his neck.
“Let the record show that Stiles Stilinski has been chosen by Peter Hale.”