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It was dark when they rolled into the small town in the middle of nowhere.
Much darker, actually, than Stiles was used to in an urban setting. Not a single one of the streetlights was on. And while the stars were out, the moon hadn’t risen yet. Not that it would have made much of a difference, five days away from a new moon. Anyone without supernatural senses would be helpless out there on their own.
As Peter drove down the relatively short main road, Stiles tried to figure out how big this place was. But since the people here seemed to believe in going to bed early, all he could see was what the headlights of their car managed to illuminate. Which wasn’t all that much, unfortunately.
It was unsettling to be in a place that could pass for a ghost town if the front yards weren’t so well-kept and the cars in the driveways so clean.
Just before they would have left the town again, Peter turned right and drove past two more houses. Then the asphalt was replaced by gravel, and the houses by large trees on both sides of the glorified path. And then, finally, Stiles spotted a light source up ahead. The tension he hadn’t noticed building in him over the last few minutes abruptly fell away and left him lightheaded for a moment.
The years since they had left Beacon Hills had been great, in a way. They had the freedom they’d so desperately needed after Stiles had graduated. And being a pack of two meant they didn’t have to worry about anyone’s problems but their own. But Stiles’ paranoia had never gotten a chance of getting better because they were a pack without an alpha. Which meant they tended to be under a lot of scrutiny. The hunters were just waiting for a chance to take them down because, to them, it was only a matter of time before Peter went feral and dragged Stiles down with him. Lone alphas with varying degrees of sanity were hoping to win them over—often not reacting well to rejection. Established packs considered them a danger to their territories whenever they passed through… So it was no wonder Stiles expected things to go wrong more often than not when they were about to make contact with someone he hadn’t had a chance to vet.
This pack, Peter had assured him, wouldn’t try to do them dirty. They’d been allied to the Hales once upon a time and remembered Peter’s mother fondly. Which could mean literally anything, Stiles thought. But they’d reached a point where they didn’t have the luxury to be picky anymore. He just wanted to rest and let other people take over for a while. And no matter what Peter said, he could do with several nights of uninterrupted sleep, too. The price for this would hopefully not be too steep.
~
Alpha Patricia Moore was waiting for them on the front steps—the porch light behind her making it harder for Stiles to get a good look at her. But Peter was exhaling softly at his side, a small smile on his lips. This and the encouraging “let’s go say hello” went a long way in keeping Stiles calm.
“Peter, dear,” Alpha Moore said when they’d reached her. “It’s good to see you again.”
Peter nodded in a way that implied a bow—a sign of respect and submission that the regal-looking woman seemed pleased to see. More evidence that things should go well, making Stiles’ knees go a little weak.
The introductions were a bit of a blur—but thankfully, he caught that the alpha preferred to be called by her first name. And before he knew it, they were sitting on the alpha’s couch, two glasses of water in front of them on the coffee table, and Peter’s shoulder pressing reassuringly against his own.
“When you first called,” Patricia was saying to Peter now, “I admit I entertained the thought that we might cement our new alliance with a courtship. But I see now that it’s not an option anymore.”
Wait. What?
Stiles’ head whipped around so he could look at Peter for clues, but Peter appeared as surprised as Stiles felt. No help to be found there, then.
“A courtship?” Peter asked, managing to sound politely interested while he was probably questioning the woman’s sanity.
“Yes. Three of my younger pack members are still unattached and generally amenable to the idea. But rest assured that I won’t interfere with an existing connection.”
What?
Stiles fervently hoped that his face wasn’t doing anything funny. He’d hate to jeopardize their alliance by committing a social faux pas. Peter seemed to have caught on to what the woman was talking about, at least. He’d have to ask him later.
“Much appreciated.”
“Of course. Now, there are certainly other options. You’re still sure you don’t want to join my pack? It’d be the easiest solution.”
“Your pack already has both a left hand and an emissary. We’re too set in our ways to settle in other positions.”
“That’s fair. You’re welcome to stay with us for a while as friends of the pack. Maybe see how you get along with my youngest daughter. She’s not my heir but has all the markings of a budding alpha regardless. She’s been loath to leave the pack and strike out on her own, though. My niece and nephew would follow her in a heartbeat, but you know how it is.”
“A stable pack needs at least three betas.”
“Exactly. It’s been a tricky situation since she doesn’t easily trust strangers.”
“Not a bad habit to have.”
“Of course. But I still think she’d be happier with her own pack in the long run. She’d chafe under my oldest’s rule once he’s the alpha.”
“We’re strangers, too, though.”
“But you’re from a family that I can vouch for. And during the time I offered you to get to know her, she’d get to know you, too. You wouldn’t be strangers for long.” Patricia was smiling at them now, quite obviously amused.
“Can we have some time to think about it?”
“Absolutely. It’s late anyway. I have the guest room prepared for you. Sleep as long as you need to, and once you’re rested, I’ll introduce you to the rest of the pack.”
“I’m surprised you welcomed us all on your own. You don’t have any overprotective pack members?”
“Oh, I do,” she laughed. “But considering the circumstances and the time of your arrival, I managed to convince them to stay out of the way. Be prepared for their curiosity, though. My oldest still remembers you from back then, and a few of the others have heard of your family before.”
Peter’s face did something interesting in response that Stiles took notice of despite the increasing pull his exhaustion was having on him. Another thing he’d have to ask him about. Later…
“Now, let me show you to your room. Your young man is about to fall unconscious, I believe.”
Something about Patricia’s wording bothered Stiles, but by now, his brain was too addled to figure out what it was. Oh well. He was sure he’d have time for that over the next few days. Because they’d be staying for longer than a night or two. In relative safety, for once. He was kind of looking forward to it.
~
During the next full moon, they were still staying with the Moore pack. Stiles hadn’t been this relaxed since before he found out about the supernatural. Almost three weeks of not having to worry about where they would sleep and when the next person was going to take exception to their unusual little pack were doing wonders for the quality of his sleep.
Although, that first morning after their arrival had been more than a little awkward. Stiles had been rested enough to finally remember the questions he’d wanted to ask Peter. And… he definitely hadn’t expected the answers.
How had he been supposed to guess that someone would look at them and think they were romantically involved? And that, while they weren’t, Peter wouldn’t mind if the status quo changed? So after he’d gotten past his nerves, Stiles had changed the status quo. Very thoroughly.
It was only later that he’d remembered his second question—which Peter hadn’t answered because the alpha-to-be beat him to it with stories from the time both of them had been kids. It had been quite adorable to see Peter become flustered about the mischief he’d done. Stiles had loved to learn they had that in common.
And now they were watching the kids of the pack play—laughing and so full of energy only hours away from moonrise. The adults were talking among each other, eager for the day to be over and the run to start. Stiles could sense the same restlessness in Peter at his side. It was more playful than during the full moons they’d run together, just the two of them.
Seeing that, Stiles was sure that their solitary days were over. Peter wasn’t made to be a lone wolf. And Stiles? Much to his own surprise, the Moore pack had made him realize that he was thriving in company, too.
It didn’t hurt that Annabelle, Patricia’s daughter, was easy to be around. It had taken her a few days to warm up to them, but then… Stiles knew they’d get along well as a pack. They hadn’t talked about it yet, but he could feel the potential every time they interacted. As he watched her catch one of the kids out of the air in mid-leap and proceed to tickle him into breathless giggling, she looked up and sent a smile their way.
Yes, this felt right!
“You’ve decided, then,” Peter murmured into his ear, sneaking an arm around his waist and pulling him in. Stiles went willingly, leaning into the embrace.
“Just catching up to you, aren’t I?”
“How did you know?”
“Instinct,” Stiles claimed cheekily, making Peter laugh. It was one of his favorite sounds these days.
“We’ll tell her tomorrow, not that it’ll be news to her.”
Probably not, no. Tonight, the pack would run, and by the end of it, Stiles would bet there’d be two new bonds forming, connecting them to her.
“Thank you,” Stiles said after a pause.
“What for?”
“For suggesting we come here and try to rekindle an old alliance. It went so much better than I thought it would.”
“Patricia used to have a major soft spot for me.”
“The tiny-Peter bonus!” Stiles grinned.
“I’ll show you tiny Peter…”
“Ohhhh, promise? We have a couple of hours to burn before the run.”
As Peter chased Stiles into the house, accompanied by the whistles from the pack, Stiles made a silent promise to himself: He’d do everything in his power to protect what they’d found here.
It would be the most important task of his life.