Archive of Our Own

1- Formation

Gerard Argent fucking sucks. Stiles thought as he slowly sat up in bed. The lacerations on his back were taking forever to heal. The old bastard was extra fond of a spiked flogger. Gerard was smart enough to do his torture below Stiles’ collar, which made lying to his dad about being pranked by the opposing lacrosse team. 

The entire kanima- debacle left Stiles and all his friends (he didn’t know if the Hale betas actually considered him a friend, but that is a problem for another day) enormously screwed up.

Jackson evolved from homicidal lizard boy to full-blown wolf, and Erica and Boyd returned to Derek after Stiles doubled back to free them. Scott has been groveling to Derek for a week for the Alpha to take him into his pack, even after Scott violated the man into biting Gerard. 

Stiles could tell that Derek was relieved that the geriatric Argent was no longer a threat, but also traumatized from his body being used. Again. Yeah, that whole family was crazy, except maybe Chris. 

Stiles would never tell Scott he thought his girlfriend inherited some crazy, but Erica and Boyd’s dried blood on her arrows and Derek’s on her daggers say otherwise. 

“Stiles! There is a horde of teenagers plus one ex-convict in my living room waiting for you. Please tell me you’re awake?” The Sheriff's voice carried up the stairs. 

Whaaat? Stiles shook his head, trying to clear out the last of sleep. 

He got out of bed and threw on the nearest set of clothes. The stairs creaked under his feet, which stopped moving when he saw the group of people standing around the couch. 

Scott, Allison, Lydia, Jackson, Erica, Boyd, Isaac, and Derek hovered in a semi-circle. His dad was looking at them with his ‘Sheriff Glare’, and they all looked at the ground, avoiding eye contact. 

“Um, hey guys. What are you all doing here on this fine Saturday morning?” Stiles flopped onto the couch, trying to look casual, but his nerves were haywire. The last time all of them were in the same room together, Derek and his betas were trying to kill Lydia. 

“Derek told us all to come,” Scott shrugged. 

Stiles raised an eyebrow in the Alpha’s direction. 

“After the-” Derek paused, eyes darting to Noah. “Eventful lacrosse game, I’ve decided to do better, and make us an actually functioning group.”

Noah’s face pinched at Derek’s odd word choice. “You guys do realize that I’m the Sheriff, right? And that means I can smell a bullshit story from miles away.” He turned to Stiles. “Now son, I know you’ve been lying to me for months now, and I’ve let it slide since you’ve never really gotten hurt. That was until last night. So, explain. Now. All of you.”

Stiles wrung his hands together, trying to figure out how to explain to his father how the night he found Laura Hale’s mutilated body, was the night Stiles started running around with werewolves.

Derek on the other hand just picked his head up and went into his beta shift. 

“What the fuck just happened to his face?” Noah jumped back.

“I’m a werewolf, sir.” Derek straightened his back.

“Werewolves are real,” Noah’s voice was awestruck.

Stiles looked at his best friend. “Scott buddy, show'em The rest of you might as well show him too.”

At that comment, five pairs of Beta-yellow eyes flashed at the Sheriff. 

“Since when?” Noah rubbed his hand down his face.

“Since the start of the spring, the night you found me in the woods. That’s when Peter bit Scott. Then Derek killed Peter. Then the Argents showed up. Then Derek bit four teenagers. Then one of the four became a lizard puppet that killed a bunch of people. Then Lydia’s love helped Jackson become a real wolf. But Gerard had taken Erica, Boyd, and me. But we all lived and here we are.” Stiles ranted, all of the past events that weighed heavy on his chest spilling from his mouth. He didn’t even notice that he had begun crying until his dad gathered him in his arms, shushing his sobs.

“That was a lot of information, some of which we will definitely discuss later. But honestly, it makes everything from the past few months make a lot more sense.”

“Dude, Gerard kidnapped you?!” Scott moved from Allison’s side and crouched in front of Stiles.

“Yeah. I want to know more about that too since I was told it was a prank.” Noah placed his hands on his hips.

Stiles wiped his tears, “It’s humiliating. I let an old man beat me up.”

There was a whine from the group of teenagers still standing. “Batman, you distracted him from us, that isn’t cowardice, it's stupid bravery, “ Erica whispered.

“What does she mean by ‘distracted’?” Lydia looked up and down Stiles’ body.

The wolves in the room all took deep whiffs of the air, then let out low growls. 

“Stiles, you’re bleeding,” Derek’s voice was pinched. 

“It’s nothing.” Stiles made eye contact with Erica and Boyd, who saw everything. “Say nothing.”

“Tell me everything,” Derek growled and flushed his red eyes at his betas.

“No,” Stiles argued. “I’m fine.” He refused to have them worry about him. He knew he couldn’t heal like a wolf, but he’d be damned if they saw him as weak.

Boyd’s chest shuddered with a shaky breath. “He whipped him. Every time Stiles said some sarcastic comment or refused to tell Gerard about you, he got lashed. Stiles had turned the electricity down, so Erica and I were slowly healing. He took all that pain to save us, even after we attacked him and Scott.” 

“Let me see, son.” Noah reached for Stiles’ shirt. 

Stiles quickly maneuvered to the back of the couch, ignoring the way the abrupt movement pulled at his wounds. Unfortunately, he wasn’t faster than a werewolf. Derek caught Stiles by the wrist, keeping him from running up the stairs. 

Stiles started crying again. “Please, leave it alone.”

“Pack cares for pack.” Derek rubbed little circles with his thumb on the back of Stiles’ hand.

“I’m human, I can’t be pack,” Stiles mumbled.

“Says who?” Allison pushed off the mantle.

“Your demented grandfather,” Stiles snapped at her. Gerard had a lot of nasty things to say about Stiles being the wolves' ‘weak human’ and ‘plaything’. 

“He’s wrong. My dad was human.” Derek had a sad smile on his face.

“Really?” Stiles met Derek’s pale green eyes.

“Yep. And he was one of the strongest members of the pack.”

Stiles scoffed, “Figueratey or literally? It’s hard to feel strong when you're surrounded by literal wolves.”

“Both. He needed to be as the Alpha Mate.”

“Alpha Mate?” Stiles hadn’t come across that term in all his lycanthropy research.

“The term is given to an alpha’s spouse. They basically have the same rank and control over the pack as the alpha,” Derek explained. He was looking at Stiles with an emotion Stiles couldn’t quite place. 

“So, even as a squishy, breakable human, I’m a part of your pack?”

Derek lifted his head to the ceiling as if praying for something. “Stiles, you were my first beta. Now lift your shirt up.”

Stiles was speechless at Derek’s revelation that he was his first beta, so he just turned around and lifted up the back of his shirt. Stiles grimaced at the collective gasp that went up through the room. 

“How are you not in crippling pain?” Jackson breathed out.

“Wow,” Stiles snorted. “Nice to know you care, Lizard-boy.” Stiles pulled his shirt back into place. “I’m clumsier than a drunk baby deer, my pain tolerance has grown a lot over the years. Plus the last few months with werewolves who haven’t completely learned to control their strength has given me a new perspective on tolerating slash hiding my injuries and pain.”

All the wolves in the room gave Stiles guilty looks, and Derek and Scott audibly whined. 

“We’ve hurt you?” Scott asked.

“Not always on purpose.” Stiles shrugged like it was alright. “I’ve been shoved against a few walls and hit over the head with a car battery-”

“I’m so sorry,” Erica blurted.

“Like I have been saying, I’m fine. It’s okay. All is forgiven, Catwoman.”

“So,” Noah dragged out the word. “Now that all the secrets are out, why did you gather at my house?”

Derek gave Stiles a lingering look, then made eye contact with each and every person in the room. “We are a pack. It is time we started acting like one. So, from now on, we bond, train, eat, and just spend quality time together. Some packs are like family,” his voice started strong and then softened out. “And I’d like to have a family again.”

His words echoed around the room, a comforting weight settling on everyone’s shoulders. The wolves felt their bonds settle into place.

“Even me?” Allison asked, looking small.

“Grief makes people do crazy things, as long as you don't try to kill us again, yes, you’re pack too.” Derek gave her a small, hesitant smile. 

It was the first step, but a big one. It was hard for Derek to trust, and now he opened up his pack to eight teenagers. 

I will do whatever it takes to keep him happy and give him a family, Stiles vowed to himself. The look Derek had on his face was one of hope, and that gave Stiles hope. 

They spent the rest of Saturday and Sunday coming up with logistical plans for training, and overall quality time as a pack. Between school, lacrosse, and jobs, it was hard to get everyone's schedules aligned, but they figured it out. 

“Ok,” Derek clapped his hands together. “Tomorrow morning we meet at Scott’s house since he’s the closest to the school, and then arrive together.”

“Sounds good” “Yeah” “Alright” multiple voices agreed from around the room.

Stiles took in the people around him. In a few weeks, he had gone from Scott’s sidekick to a part of a pack. He has never had this many people who considered him a friend before. Hell, the fact that Lydia Martin was spending time with him, breathing the same air as him, would normally send him into cardiac arrest. But after watching her declare her transforming love to Jackson, his crush finally died. That death also pushed feelings for a certain Alpha werewolf to the surface. Feelings he didn’t even realize he had. 

The lingering touches and intense gazes Derek has been giving him did not help with Stiles’ growing feelings. 

When they all pulled up to the school, a parade of weirdos, Stiles felt the stares of the student body. He used to be able to disappear into the crowd, but now, especially with the extravagance of Derek’s Camaro, everyone looked at them.

The pack each got their goodbyes with the alpha. It probably looked bizarre to others, but Derek insisted on scent-marking everyone. 

Lydia wiped Erica’s lipstick from Derek’s cheek, and then it was Stiles’ turn. He intended on just walking past Derek, maybe bumping his shoulder against the older man, but Derek grabbed Stiles’ wrist. 

Oh god, Stiles wanted to dig himself a hole. 

Derek gently pulled Stiles closer, and with his free hand, he ran it first through Stiles’ buzzed hair then lower, tracing down the back of his neck. Derek grinned when Stiles shivered at his touch. 

“I have to get to class, Sourwolf.”

“Have a good day.”

Stiles managed to nod and then walked off. He hoped that all the watching eyes didn’t look too much into their interaction.

2- Addition

Scary eyebrows run in the family, Stile thought as he took in the sight that was Cora Hale.

Apparently, word of a new Hale Alpha had spread through the supernatural community and reached Cora all the way in Brazil. 

Cora thought it was Laura. Somehow, the trauma from the fire severed all her previous bonds to her family, even the alive ones. Cora spent years thinking everyone was dead. Stiles didn’t know how she coped. 

The moment Derek saw Cora in the preserve (she ran from the airport), he fell to his knees in tears. The pack was working on the weapons training but quickly decided to let the siblings have a private reunion. Later that night, everyone met up at Derek’s new apartment (the train depot has a safety hazard), and Cora gave them a rundown on the last years of her life.

Stiles had to hold back his laughter at the sight of Isaac drooling over Cora. It became even harder when he saw Derek slap Isaac upside the head, growling some sort of threat.

She easily integrated herself into the pack’s routine. By the end of summer, it was like she had always been there. 

For their junior year of high school, the pack figured out a way for everyone to never be alone. There were always at least two of them together in their classes. 

Stiles spent most of his class time with Lydia since she was the only other pack member in AP classes. He had AP US History, AP Calculus, AP Biology, AP Latin, and AP Chemistry with Lydia. English 3 with Erica. He spent his free period with Jackson and Boyd in the library. 

He walked into his first period with Lydia. It was relay day in Calc. Lydia saw the board and gave Stiles a menacing glare.

“I will win.”

“You always win, Lyds,” Stiles laughed.

And the only reason Lydia won was that Stiles tripped when they raced to the teacher’s desk. 

They all had lunch together. The tables in the cafeteria weren’t meant to seat nine people, but since wolves were tactile, they all basically sat on top of each other. Literally for the couples. 

“Coach’s drills this morning were brutal,” Scott complained, throwing an arm around Allison.

“Nothing can be as bad as when Derek has us doing laps at the train yard,” Erica said around the red lipstick she was reapplying, legs in Boyd’s lap. 

Stiles groaned when he remembered the four hours of running Derek had them do. The train yard may not have been a habitable place to live in, but it made a great obstacle course for endurance training. 

“No. I think that group of omegas that we fought on the east side of the preserve were pretty rough.” Jackson ate his fries, and Lydia ate her salad, sitting on his lap.

Stiles nodded and took another bite of his chicken wrap. He broke his bat on the back of one of those wolves.

Cora sat in between Isaac and Stiles. “Have you guys had to encounter the famous Hale Iron chains?”

Everyone at the table nodded. 

Stiles had never been tied up by the chains like the rest of the wolves (not like he would mind Derek tying him up, nope, bad Stiles ), but Derek did have Stiles do resistance training with the chains.

Cora smirked, “Then I guess we are all used to brutality.” 

Stiles really enjoyed being around his pack.

3- Marked

Stiles lounged against Derek’s unfairly comfortable couch, wrapped in said wolf’s jacket. Since wolves ran hot, he kept his apartment freezing. 

“65 degrees isn’t freezing, Stiles,” Derek told him the first time Stiles complained. 

So he retaliated by stealing Derek’s jacket every time he came over. The first time Stiles took it, Derek complained the whole night about how it’d never smell right anymore, but he never took the jacket away from Stiles. 

He wished he had the jacket when the first cold front hit Beacon Hills. It was the anniversary of Claudia’s death. Stiles knew that Scott knew the date, but didn’t bother to ask him to accompany him to the graveyard. 

The tissue paper wrapped around his bouquet of dahlias and orchids wrinkled as Stiles grabbed them from his passenger seat. The air bit into his skin, the flannel he threw on not keeping him warm at all. 

We walked the familiar zig-zag route to his mom’s grave, avoiding walking on top of any resting souls.

“Hey, Mom.” He set the flowers in the rusted vase at the base of her headstone. “I know I normally come with Scott, but our lives have been so busy lately, I didn’t want to interrupt him. I have so much to tell you.”

Stiles sat on the cold ground and told her everything, from Laura to Jackson to Cora arriving. 

“You’d love it. The house is full of noise again. Dad doesn’t have to worry about me as much because that pack is always around to protect me. You’d even like Derek, despite his grumpy, frowned-up face. Under all those eyebrows there is actually a teddy bear.”

“I’m not a teddy bear, Stiles.”

Stiles flinched so hard he gave himself whiplash. “Dude! You can't just sneak up on a guy like that.”

“Don’t call me dude.” Derek sat down next to him.

Stiles just looked at Derek. Why was he here? “How much of that did you hear?”

“Just the end.”

“How’d you know I’d be here?” Stiles picked at the dying grass.

“Scott. He called me all panicked when he realized what date it was, saying that someone needed to be here with you.” 

“That’s,” Stiles paused, overcome with emotion. “That’s really nice of you.” Stiles noticed a package sitting on the other side of Derek. “Whatcha got there?”

Derek ducked his head down, and Stiles saw a faint blush on the tip of his ears. He then basically threw the box at Stiles. “So you can stop stealing mine.”

Stiles frowned at the box, then at the wolf, then back at the box. Slowly he unwrapped the light blue paper and inside the box was… a new leather jacket. It was a soft, muted black with red stitching. Stiles pulled it from the box and gasped when he saw the back. There was a red triskele in the middle of the back. 

Don’t think too far into it. Stiles told himself. Just because he got you a custom-made jacket, with his tattoo on it. And when I put on the jacket, the marking will be in the same place. Like I am Derek’s. Stiles had to stop himself before his thoughts got too imaginative. 

“This is amazing. Thank you.”

Derek nodded with a preening smile. “Tell me about your mom.”

~

Erica was glaring at Stiles. After ten minutes, he caved. “What?!”

“How come you get a new leather jacket and get to match the alpha and we don't?”

Stiles just shrugged. “I don’t know.” Then his eyes widened with the look he got when he got a brilliant idea. “But it’d be really fucking cool if all of us had matching jackets, all marked with the triskele.”

Erica pumped her arms in the air in victory. “Yes. Do you hear that Der? Your dear Stiles wants all the betas to have matching jackets.”

Derek walked into the living room and crossed his arms over his chest. “Okay. Send me all your measurements. They should be here in a few weeks. 

Stiles was confused. Why did Derek give in so easily? And why didn’t he correct Erica when she called Stiles his? 

Erica forced her way onto the couch, between Stiles and the armrest. “We’re going to match,” she squealed and traced her fingers and the nape of Stiles’ neck.

Her celebration was interrupted by a vicious growl that sliced through the air. Both the occupants on the couch turned to see Derek glaring at Erica’s hand on Stiles’ neck, eyes bright red.

“Oh,” was the only sound Erica let out. She full-on grasped the base of Stiles’ neck and quickly yanked her hand off when Derek let out another growl, claws popping out. Erica smirked, “Interesting.”

Stiles had no clue what was going on. Derek normally scent-marked Stiles on his neck, and the other wolves touched each other’s necks all the time. So what was the big deal?

Over the next few weeks, it became clear that it was a huge deal when the rest of the pack tried to scent mark Stiles’ neck. They could hug him, cuddle him, lay on his lap, but the moment any of them went near his neck, Derek growled and leveled them with an Alpha glare until they took their hands or face away from Stiles’ neck. 

It was Erica’s favorite game. The next two that liked to rile Derek up the most were Lydia and Jackson. The couple would corner Stiles and rub all over him. If anyone had told Stiles a year ago that Jackson Whittmore would randomly kiss his neck just to get a laugh when Derek smelled him on Stiles, he'd laughed in their face. Jackson didn’t even care when Derek broke a few of his fingers after Jackson spent a whole movie night running his fingers through Stiles’ hair. 

It was the running joke of the pack: How long before Derek growls and replaces the scent of another on Stiles’ neck with his own? The longest was three hours. The only reason it took so long was Boyd had hugged Stiles at school, and when that taller teen wrapped around Stiles, one of his forearms accidentally brushed the side of Stiles’ neck. The moment Stiles stepped into Derek’s apartment, the wolf rubbed his entire cheek up and down Stiles’ neck, leaving a patch of beard burn. 

“THEY’RE HERE!” Cora burst into the apartment carrying a large box.

A mad scramble occurred as all the teens tore into the box for their jackets. Everyone found their respective outerwear and tried them on.

Allison let out a low whistle, “We look hot.”

“They’re just going to stare at us more at school,” Stiles noted. The more he got acquainted with the pack, the more he picked up on their habits. He seemed to smell the air more, listen in to hushed whispers, and sense when there is a threat. More than once at school, he got goosebumps when he caught someone staring at them, and he got an urge to hide his pack away from prying eyes that might come back and hurt them. 

Stiles was right, of course. They came to school in their usual procession of cars, but when they emerged in their new jackets, the crowd grew silent. 

“How did they manage to get more intimidating yet more attractive at the same time?” “I never thought I’d find Stilinski hot.” “So is leather like the symbol of their gang?” The whispers started up and reached Stiles’ ears. He didn't know whether to be embarrassed or flattered, so he just walked to class with Lydia.

Stiles went to English with Erica after lunch, and it was a reading day. Stiles was grateful for reading days because it meant he didn’t have to write. His parents both had Polish in their family, and it was the language Stiles spoke primarily as a child at home. English only became prominent when the sheriff started at the station. 

When his mom died, Stiles vowed to never forget what she taught him, so he became fluent in Polish by reading and writing in the language. But, the downside was his brain processed Polish better than English, so his English papers sucked. The grammar just came out all wrong.

Stiles was deep in his runic magic history book when he felt a tap on his shoulder from the girl sitting at the desk across from him.

“Um, I was just curious about where you got your jacket. I was thinking of getting a new jacket before it got even colder outside.” She rushed out. 

Stiles’ eyebrows furrowed, amber eyes guarded. This was one of the students he caught staring at the pack frequently- mostly in the parking lot and at lunchtime. He quickly checked her body language. She wasn’t leaning forward, and her hands were clenched in a fist between her thighs- she was nervous. So just a curious bystander, not a hunter.

 He opened his mouth to answer when he was interrupted by a low rumble from the other side of the room. Erica glared at the girl from where she sat. Stiles rolled his eyes at the unnecessary protectiveness coming from Erica. 

Stiles snapped his eyes to her. “Down, girl.” It was a semi-order. Stiles didn’t want to scare the innocent human.

Erica bared her teeth at him and let out another, almost animalistic rumble. Stiles bared his teeth back, a deeper growl emerging from his chest. His skin itched with irritation from the blatant challenge. 

Lately, Stiles has been taking more of a leadership role with the betas. He believed Derek let him do it because of all the research he’d done, he knew more about wolves than the bitten betas. Stiles had a sort of new techniques for their control and found new ways to deepen pack bonds. 

“You know what, don’t worry about it.” The girl broke the challenge.

“Hailey, right?” Stiles asked her.

Hailey nodded.

“Don’t mind Erica, she won’t bite unless you ask nicely.” Stiles smiled at her. “Derek ordered the jackets from some fancy European artisan website. I can ask him for the link if you want.”

Hailey pursed her lips. “That sounds way outside my price range.”

“Derek likes to spoil Stiles,” Erica purred from Hailey’s right. Hailey jumped at Erica’s closeness.

Stiles ground his teeth at her disobedience and her teasing. She loved to insinuate that there was more to Stiles and Derek’s relationship than just Alpha and Beta. “He got us all jackets, Catwoman,” Stiles said, ignoring the blush he felt on his neck.

“Yeah, only after he got you one because you kept stealing his. And then you made some comment about the pack matching, and he got the rest of us jackets.” Erica ran her fingers across the back of Stiles’ neck. It felt wrong. 

He shoved her hand off quickly. “You know he hates that.”

“You know, only Scott touches Ali’s neck, Jackson with Lydia, Boyd with me, Isaac with Cora, and well...” she dragged out the word.

“Erica,” Stiles’ tone held a warning in it. He knew the connotation of neck marking in wolf culture (after he read a bunch of tomes in the Hale vault after he got sick of the growling). But neither he nor Derek was ready for that conversation. Especially since Stiles still had ten months until he turned eighteen. The constant teasing from the pack made the feeling he’d been burying had to ignore.

“Oh, come on Batman, we all know it.” Her hand reached towards his neck again.

Stiles grabbed Erica’s wrist tightly before she could touch him again. She was pushing his limits and she knew it. “Leave. It. Alone.” Stiles felt a buzz of power under his skin and in his tone of voice. Erica needed to back down, now.

Finally, Erica bared her neck at him and after a few tense seconds, Stiles let her go.

“Go back to your desk, Erica,” Stiles’s voice was low with authority. He felt slightly bad when she flinched away from him. He knew it hurt when he didn’t call her ‘Catwoman’, but he needed her to know that he was serious. He had to come up with a way to apologize to her later. Not for putting her in her place, but for hurting her feelings.

Erica went back to her desk, and Stiles turned back to Hailey.

“If you want a good leather jacket at a decent price, try that camping store at the mall,” Stiles tried to go back to his cheerful self, not bossy Stiles.

She nodded at him, wide eyes, and went back to her book.

Shit, I scared her. Stiles opened his book with a sigh.

He noticed that she never got herself a leather jacket. 

4- Leader

Stiles knew they were getting a little too animalistic with their training to be on school property but the lacrosse field was nearly empty, so he let the growls slide. They were sparing, practicing human hand-to-hand. It was supposed to be ‘no powers’.

Jackson and Scott were circling each other, teeth bared and hands curled like claws. The goal was to pin the other wolf in under two minutes.

Stiles snapped his fingers and the two lunged at each other. Scott was stronger, but Jackson was faster. Scott managed to get a few good blows to Jackson's abdomen, but Jackson evaded every headlock Scott attempted.

Stiles saw the glint of venom, but before he could stop the beta, he nicked Scott’s shoulder and launched Scott into the air, his body landing yards away on the field. 

That wasn’t normal training. Stiles scanned the field, patience disappearing at the sight of Hailey in the stands. How much did she see? He needed to handle this.

“Jackson!” Stiles’ voice echoed across the field. 

All the betas tensed at Stiles’ shout. They knew that tone. It was the same tone he used when they got distracted during study sessions or tried to steal a piece of food while he was cooking dinner or touched his neck. Jackson was frozen on the spot. 

“Allison, Boyd, take Scott home. Lydia, drive them in my Jeep home. Erica and Isaac, you get to help me with Whittmore. Cora, if I faint, you carry me.” He kept his eyes trained on Jackson, the only sign he got that the others listened to his orders were the sounds of shuffling feet. 

Everyone acted. Boyd helped Scott up, the fluffy-haired teenager leaning heavily on him due to the kanima venom taking full effect. 

“What do you want us to tell Derek?” Allison asked. 

“The truth,” Stiles shrugged, taking off her signature flannel. He’d be damned if Jackson tore it.

“He’s not going to like you dealing out this correction on your own,” Lydia said with a smile.

As the school year went on, Derek and Stiles became more of one unit. It was becoming clear that Stiles was Alpha Mate, but that also made Derek even crazier and more protective over him. 

“Just go home, Lyds. I’ll deal with Sourwolf later,” Stiles kissed her on the cheek and shooed her off. 

Jackson Whittmore looked scared as Stiles stalked towards him, slightly proud of how the events of his life had turned around. Who ever thought I’d be able to make Whittmore scared of me, huh? Go Figure.

“What is the point of our exercises?” Stiles walked in a slow circle around Jackson. Erica, Isaac, and Cora fanned out slightly around the two, trapping them in. 

“To learn,” Jackson answered, chin held high. 

Oh, so he wanted to be cocky? Stiles cocked an eyebrow at him, and stopped a few feet away, holding Jackson’s gaze. “And when we aren’t at home, how are we supposed to practice?”

“Normally and no blood.” Jackson’s hands were trembling violently at his side, but he held Stiles’ gaze. 

“So why did you launch Scott across the field, and nick him with your other claws?” Stiles rolled his neck from side to side, feeling his runes that channeled his spark warm up.

“McCall thinks he’s stronger just because he was the first of us. I wanted to prove him wrong.” Jackson crossed his arms, trying to look smug but failing as Stiles saw his neck bob with a nervous swallow.

He knew he was screwed from the moment Stiles yelled his name. 

Stiles jumped at Jackson, wrapping his arms around the blonde’s neck and pulling him to the ground. Stiles refused to give Jackson a moment to defend himself before locking his arms around the blonde's neck and legs around his thigh. It was a jiu-jitsu hold that immediately immobilized the victim, the more they struggled, the more they choked.

Jackson wiggled against Stiles’ hold, but Stilinski stilled him with a snarl, “This is a normal pin, Whittmore. You owe Scott an apology.”

“McCall had it com-” Jackson was cut off as Stiles tightened his arms.

“Don’t make me let Erica and Isaac have a go at you.” It was an empty threat, but a potent one. Erica and Isaac liked to fight for the position of Stiles’ favorite, and they loved proving their worth during training, no matter whose blood they spilled. They just wanted the Alpha Mate’s approval.

At the mention of the names, they let their bloodlust show in their eyes.

Jackson tried to pull Stiles’ arms from his neck, but Stiles used some of his magic to strengthen his hold, feeling color bleed into his eyes. “You will apologize to Scott, and, since you refuse to yield, you have to take the girls on their next shopping trip, and pay.”

Jackson’s eyes widened. Stiles knew it wasn’t at the apologizing part. The girls could easily rack up nearly three thousand dollars in one shopping trip if left unsupervised.

“Now, yield,” Stiles’ snarled again.

Finally, after he started to turn blue, Jackson lifted his chin and bared his neck at Stiles.

Satisfied, Stiles let Jackson go.

“Take him home.” He shoved Jackson into Erica’s arms. 

“What about you?” Isaac asked.

“Use your nose, pup,” Stiles angled his head toward the edge of the woods. He felt Derek approach right after he jumped on Jackson. His tattoo of the triskele that he got right over his heart warmed as the alpha got closer.

Isaac nodded at Derek and then helped Erica drag a still-weak Jackson to the parking lot.

Cora just shook her head at the wolf and then… ran into the woods. 

“Come on, Big Bad, you know I can handle myself and the betas.” Stiles picked up his flannel from the grass, dusting off the dust.

Derek barked loudly at Stiles, pawing at the ground. “You could've been hurt.”

“But I'm not hurt. So no harm no foul.” Stiles was annoyed and touched by Derek’s concern

Bark. Bark. “We’re supposed to be learning to do this together.”

“I know I’m supposed to let you make all the final decisions, but eventually, we’ll share that role. Jackson needed to be taught a lesson and his ego needed lowering.” Stiles walked toward his wolf. 

He felt Hailey staring at his back but fought the urge to turn around. Something in his gut told him he didn't have to worry about her running off and yapping on about what she just witnessed. And if she ever did get any bad idea, Stiles’ magic grew with every full moon.

Derek let out a low growl, then gently bit down on the hem of Stiles’ flannel and dragged him into the woods. “We are not through discussing this.”

It turned out that Derek was super proud of Stiles for finally exerting his authority over the pack. They were getting closer to Stiles fully accepting his role as Derek’s mate. The idea was terrifying and thrilling at the same time. 

Terrifying because once they bonded, Stiles would be Derek’s ultimate weakness and strength, and Stiles knew their enemies would use that against him.

Thrilling because Stiles had been falling in love with the Big Bad Werewolf for almost two years now and was getting sick and tired of waiting. His birthday was just after the end of junior year, and Stiles was counting down the days.

5- Full Moon Activities

Of fucking course hunters attack on the full moon, Stiles cursed in his head, looping to rope tightly around one asshole's wrist. 

The pack's original plan was for the pack to run drills all afternoon, exhausting their bodies before the moon rose. It was a tense day at school, everyone feeling the buzz of the moon’s pull under their skin. Coach had to kick Scott, Jackson, Isaac, and Boyd out of lacrosse practice because they couldn’t control their strength. Stiles got two days' worth of detention after he rushed out of Calculus to help them meditate and calm down.

The hunters were apparently called by Victoria last year, but they held off when they heard of her death. It was an ambush. The pack was picking up an unholy amount of pizza for their lazy night in when a volley of arrows launched at them from a roof across the street.

Stiles thought it was a miracle that there were no innocent bystanders on the street. The hunters were dumb enough not to coat their arrowheads in wolfsbane, so instead of weakening the wolves, it only angered them. Especially when the humans got wounded. Any form of tiredness the pack was feeling was replaced with adrenaline when the smell of blood filled the air. 

Stiles wanted to cry at the sight of scattered, discarded pizzas on the sidewalk as they chased the hunters down.

“You’re an abomination,” one guy spat at Allison. “Running around with these beasts. You probably let one of them breed you, huh? You little traitorous whore!”

The guy’s jaw crunched loudly under Scott’s fist. The fact that he only got punched once was surprising to Stiles. If Stiles was closer to him, Stiles probably would have broken a few of his bones for talking about one of his pack members in such a vile manner.

“My dad and Chris are on their way,” Stiles announced as the last restraints were tied. 

He felt a warm body press against his back, and then a hand traced his throat, where an arrow had nicked his skin. “You’re hurt,” Derek's voice rumbled with suppressed growls. 

“Lydia has an open wound on her shoulder from where she got hit,” Jackson’s voice was tight with emotion.

Stiles clapped his hands together, “Okay, we’re going on a run.”

“Now?” “It’s the middle of the night?” “It’s a full moon.” Multiple people spoke up in protest. 

“Hey! How about we leave the abandoned building full of hunters and discuss our plans elsewhere?” Stiles motioned his arms around the room. He didn’t wait for replies and walked out of the building. When he heard footsteps following him, he took off in a sprint, knowing the wolves would follow. 

Stiles knew the moon boosted all the wolves' powers, but he needed to get them to the woods, where they could bask in the moon’s light without interruption. They all fell into an easy rhythm of running, weaving through the trees even though there was no path to follow.

Just before they got to the highway that cuts through the middle of the preserve, Derek finally spoke up, “Where are we going, Stiles?”

“You trust me, right Der?” Stiles didn’t even sound out of breath from his running.

“With my life,” Derek replied without hesitation. 

“Okay. We only have a few miles left.”

The pack followed their Alpha Mate without arguments, even though they were confused. Stiles noticed a car coming down the road as they cut across, but knew they were running fast enough that none of them would be hit. He cast a look over his shoulder just to make sure everyone was keeping up and saw Allison bring up the rear of the group, the car stopping just a few feet from her. He was proud of her for not panicking and keeping moving. 

God, I hope whoever is in that car doesn’t follow us, or they’re about to get an eyeful, Stiles prayed, the clearing with the Nemeton finally coming into view.

Stiles only knew about the ancient tree from his research about his magic. After failed attempts to get Deaton to explain more about what a spark was, Stiles began to look into supernatural archives on his own. He learned that his spark was natural magic that could be pulled from the universe around him. It also taught him why Beason Hills was such a supernatural shit show. The Nemeton was an ancient tree that expelled magic into whatever land it grew on. It also drew otherworldly things to it. 

“You made us sprint through the woods for a tree stump?” Jackson asked, annoyed.

“No. There’s magic here. I can feel it. I don’t want to scream, but it does make my throat itch.” Lydia looked around in wonder. 

“So, we all know how the full moon makes wolves stronger. It can also make your abilities stronger,” Stiles cleared his throat, his next statement awkward. “In the same way you can pull pain, wolves can speed up others’ healing process on the full moon. But-” he stopped anyone from getting any crazy ideas. “- it only works on mates and only on the full moon.”

Everyone began naturally pairing off. 

“How does this work?” Isaac wrapped an arm around Cora.

“Youhavetolickattheirwounds,” Stiles rushed out. God, I feel like I’m organizing an orgy.

Derek’s eyebrows rose. “Did you just say we have to… lick at each other’s wounds?”

Stiles rocked on the heels of his feet. “Yep.” 

Derek breathed deeply and closed his eyes. And when they opened, they shined Alpha red, and he howled- a long, deep sound full of hurt, longing, and want. The Alpha swept the teen into his arms, drawing an embarrassing moan from stiles when he began to lick at his neck. 

Normally, the pack would be disgusted, but the urge to protect and join the Alpha pair was overwhelming. 

 Stiles writhed in Derek’s arms. He had dreamt of the Alpha’s tongue on his body multiple times before, granted he didn't think it’d happen because they were attacked by hunters, but hey, he’d take what he could get.

The sound of a branch snapping broke everyone’s trace, and they all saw a figure standing at the edge of the clearing.

Hailey. It was probably her car, and she is one of the curious humans, Stiles mused from Derek’s arms.

No one appreciated the interruption, letting threatening growls escape fanged mouths.

“Quiet!” Derek’s voice boomed over the growls. The entire preserve seemed to freeze.

“I’m calling the police!” She screamed

“No. Your phone’s dead.” Stiles climbed out from Derek Hale’s lap. He started using his magic to assess the threat the moment the branch broke.

Hailey put her hands out in front of her as Stiles walked closer.

“You have always watched us, Hailey. At lunch, in the halls, in the parking lot, that one day on the lacrosse field when Jackson threw Scott.” Stiles tilted his head to the side, hand coming up to wipe away a tear that slipped from her eye. “Don’t cry.” He hated seeing humans scared of the pack. The pack fought so hard to protect the humans of their town. 

Hailey shook her head back and forth. “I promise, I won’t call the police. I won’t tell anyone what I saw.” She stumbled over her words as she begged.

Stiles gave her a small, sad smile and shook his head. “You don’t even know what you have seen, what you have been watching for the last two years. Yet. You have seen too much anyway.” He called on the magic that ran right under his feet.

Hailey tried to turn and run but was stopped by Erica standing behind her. Hailey backed away from her blonde’s teeth, right into Stiles’ chest. 

“You’ll be fine Hailey,” He whispered right next to her ear, then his palm slammed into her forehead, erasing all memory of the night in the woods.

Both Hailey and Stiles slumped on the ground unconscious. Magic that manipulated humans always took a huge toll on him physically, and the events of the night finally caught up with his body. Derek carried Stiles, while Boyd took Hailey back to her car, and called the Sheriff to handle the clean-up. Noah had a busy night.

+1-

Holy fucking shit, I made it, Stiles grasped the empty tube that represented his diploma in his hand. I didn’t think I’d survive high school. 

Allison Argent, Vernon Boyd, Cora Hale, Isaac Lahey, Lydia Martin, Scott McCall, Erica Reyes, Genim Stilinski, and Jackson Whittmore all walked across that stage, despite the skipped classes, the absences due to almost dying, and the murders.

Stiles felt a warmth in his chest as the pack, no, his pack, walked to the parking lot to meet Derek. Their Alpha had the loudest whoop in the crowd every time one of their names was called. 

Derek leaned against his Camaro, looking unfairly attractive in a light blue henley and grey wash jeans, he’d even shaved his beard down to just stubble. Stiles threatened to shave his eyebrows off if the older man ever cut his beard all the way off. 

“Okay, picture time,” Derek ordered them. 

By the end of the bombardment, all their cheeks were sore from smiling, but their spirits were high. Stiles no longer held back his excitement and gave in to his urge to howl into the sky, feeling so victorious. All his betas and his mate joined in the joyous song. 

Three rhythmic car honks sounded from next to them. Stiles made eye contact with Hailey. She was starting to grow on him, so he waggled his eyebrows at her, coaxing her to join in. She’d seen enough odd pack activity to howl with them. Finally, he watched her give a little “awooo” from in her car. 

Stiles needed to talk to Derek about extending their ranks. Hailey drove off, but Stiles knew he’d be seeing more of her in the future.

Derek pulled Stiles in close, gently gripping his chin. “Congratulations, my love.”

Even though Stiles had been eighteen for almost a year, the couple never had any PDA in public since Stiles was still in high school. But the feeling of finally being able to kiss his mate in front of the world trumped the happiness he felt from graduation.