Chapter Text
“Beacon Hills Sheriff Department, we have reports of a large black dog running loose near the preserve. Animal Control are unable to send anyone out. Please confirm.”
Sheriff Stilinski groans. He hates sending out his deputies on something so meaningless, especially something that should be handled by another department. He looks around the station, and smiles when he sees his son Stiles at his desk, building a pyramid out of office stationery.
“Laney, tell dispatch we’re on it. Stiles!”
Stiles flinches, and knocks over his pyramid, only to have the hole punch fall off the table and land on his foot. He stands up, wincing, “Yeah dad? I mean, Sheriff, Sir.”
John shakes his head “Deputy Stilinski, we have reports of a dog near the preserve, fancy taking a look?”
“Uh yeah, sure da-Sir. Sheriff. Yep. OK. So where am I going?”
“Go hop in a patrol car and Laney will send you the details.”
“Sure boss.” Stiles grabs his jacket, and his flashlight, and smiles at his dad as he walks out the front to his designated patrol car. As he’s settling into the car seat, Laney comes over the radio, “Deputy Stilinski, the dog was seen around the Johnson Road edge of the preserve. It’s unknown at this stage whether the dog is dangerous. Sheriff has requested that the dog be brought in and held for animal control.”
“Copy that Laney. Will update shortly. Over and out.” Stiles backs out of the parking spot, and begins the drive over to Johnson. He gets to his destination and flicks on the floodlight on top of the patrol car. He sees movement out of the corner of his eye, so he gets his flashlight out as well, turning it on and sweeping the light across the area. Then he sees it, except it doesn’t look like a dog, it looks like …
“A wolf. Wow.” Stiles reaches up to his radio on his collar, “Ah Laney, I’ve found the dog. Please confirm capture order.”
There’s a small pause, “Capture order confirmed Stiles. Confirm once complete.”
Stiles goes to the back of the car and opens the trunk. He pulls out the the collar and leash that that’s been fashioned out of rope, and quietly closes the lid. He begins to slowly make his way over to the dog/wolf, and starts talking soothingly, “Hey buddy. It’s ok, I’m not going to hurt you. I’m Stiles. I’m your deputy for today. I’ll try and make this painless for you buddy, but I’m pretty sure you’d hurt me more than I would hurt you. Wow, aren’t you pretty. Look at your fur. And your eyes, are, wow.”
Stiles stops in the middle of the road and just looks at the dog. The light from the top of the patrol car is shining across the dog’s coat, almost giving it a blue tinge. The dog’s eyes are an electric blue, and are staring in wonder at the deputy. Stiles crouches down, and lifts a hand towards the dog, opening his palm, and trying to coax the canine closer. The dog blinks, huffs at Stiles, then slowly makes his way closer. Stiles is stunned, he didn’t think it would work. He’s trying not to scare the creature, the urge to flail is strong, but he manages to not move until the dog, no, definitely a wolf, until the wolf has put his wet nose in Stiles’ palm.
“Oh my god you are beautiful.” Stiles strokes the wolf’s muzzle, along it’s jaw, until he gets to the neck, where he tangles his fingers in the wolf’s fur. “So soft too. You are amazing boy. So beautiful.” With his other hand, he begins to raise the make-shift leash, but the wolf senses the movement and growls.
Stiles drops the rope, and puts both hands up in surrender. “Okay okay, I’ve dropped it. It’s ok. I’m not going to harm you.” The wolf growls again, and then runs off towards the preserve. Stiles grabs the leash, and starts running after it. “No wolfie! Come back!! Please! I promise I won’t hurt you but you need to come with me because you are scaring people!! Please!!”
Stiles breaks through the first line of trees, and the wolf is nowhere to be seen. “Shit. Shit shit shit.” Clicking on his radio, “Laney, I’ve lost him. He took one look at the lead and he’s bolted. He’s in the preserve now, and I can’t hear him, so he could be a fair way in. Did you need me to follow?” Stiles hopes they say no. It’s eleven o’clock at night, and the preserve is scary at the best of times.
"Deputy Stilinski, no need to pursue. Please return to base.”
“Copy that. Returning to base.” Stiles looks down at his hand. He can still feel the softness of the wolf’s fur, and those eyes have burnt their way into Stiles’ memory. He looks one last time at the preserve before turning away, and walking back to the patrol car. He get’s in, turns off the flood light, and starts the car. With one last glance, he then turns the car around, driving back to the station. He puts the windows down, letting the wind wash over him, hoping it’ll clear his head. Suddenly, he slams on the brakes.
He swears he heard a wolf howl.